coimbatore l thursday l august 21, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION Israel to mobiliZe reservists for expanded Gaza operation Israel’s plan includes calling up 60,000 reservists and extending the service of an additional 20,000 currently serving in Gaza Strip Humanitarian crisis could get worse israel eyes ‘militant groups’ in hamas This comes as negotiators scramble to bring Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire ending 22 months of fighting, while international leaders and rights groups warn that an expanded assault, which Israel wants, could deepen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with most residents displaced, neighborhoods in ruins, and communities facing the threat of famine ■ ■ Although Israel has killed much of Hamas’ senior leadership, parts of the militant group are actively regrouping and carrying out attacks, including launching rockets towards Israel, an official said | P11 It remains unclear when the Gaza operation will begin, but it could be a matter of days as such a mobilization is largest in months 62K more than 62,000 Palestinians killed by Israel in two years CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI for the first time tn to hold survey of interstate migrant workers N i r upa m a V i s w a n at h a n @ Chennai Opposition members protest in the Well of the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament on Wednesday | PTI Now, people will have to decide whether it is right for a minister, CM or PM to run govt while in jail We are going back to medieval times when the king could just remove anybody at his will This is a Black Bill. I strongly condemn this Bill, which strikes at the very root of democracy This draconian step comes as a death knell for democracy and federalism in India This bill is unconstitutional… Who will arrest PM? BJP wants to make our country a police state Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader M K Stalin, Tamil Nadu CM Mamata Banerjee, Bengal CM Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM chief Acrimonious scenes in Lok Sabha as govt introduces 3 contentious bills Bills to sack PM, CMs, ministers sent to JPC P REETHA NAIR @ New Delhi The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed unruly scenes as Home Minister Amit Shah introduced three Bills for the removal of prime minister, chief ministers, and ministers under arrest for 30 consecutive days on serious charges. The Bills—the Constitution (One Hundred And Thirtieth Amendment) Bill 2025, Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2025; and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025—propose that if a PM, CM, or a Union minister is held in custody for 30 consecutive days for offences carrying a jail term of five years, they will lose their jobs on the 31st day . The Bills have been sent to a Joint Committee of Parliament comprising 21 members from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha for scrutiny . The Constitutional amendment bill will require the support of two-thirds of members in both Houses. The NDA lacks such a majority on its own. The introduction of the Bill after 2 pm led to unprecedented scenes as members of TMC and BJP nearly came to blows. When Speaker Om Birla allowed Opposition MPs to speak, Trinamool members charged into the Well, shouting slogans and some even tore copies of the draft law in front of Shah. Several MPs including Congress’s K C Venugopal, Manish Tewari, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and RSP’s N K Premachandran spoke against the bills, saying they violated constitutional principles, targeted federalism, and carried risk of misuse. Shah defended the bills, saying: “We can’t be so shameless to occupy constitutional positions while facing serious charges.” The House plunged into chaos when a TMC MP moved towards Shah’s chair. Amid the ruckus, Shah moved the motion by voice vote to send the bills to a joint committee. The panel, whose members will soon be named, has been asked to submit its report in the first week of the next session. Russia’s bid to shield India from US tariffs j aya n t h j a c o b @ New Delhi AMID rising tensions between New Delhi and Washington over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, Moscow has put in place a “special mechanism” to protect its energy ties with India from possible US sanctions, Russian Charge d’Affaires Roman Babushkin said on Wednesday . His remarks come days after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated the US’s possible secondary tariffs on India, adding to the 25% duties already in effect. The Russian diplomat stressed that the Russia-India strategic partnership has grown rapidly across Roman Babushkin key sectors, particularly defense and energy and asserted Moscow’s , role as a “partner of choice” for New Delhi’s military requirements. “Russia is the largest supplier of crude oil to India... on the contrary the sanctions , are hurting those who are imposing them,” he said. “Our special mechanism is in place to navigate any sanctions-related disruptions,” Babushkin said. express read Charge sheet filed in Ajithkumar case Couple kidnap daughter, arrested Madurai: The CBI on Wednesday informed the Madurai bench of the Madras HC that as per the court’s direction, it has filed charge sheet in the case of custodial death of B Ajithkumar | P4 Erode: Police arrested a couple, among six persons, for kidnapping their own daughter in a car on Tuesday, in a bid to separate her from her husband belonging to a different caste | P4 Shah-KC war of words Congress MP K C Venugopal referred to Amit Shah’s arrest when he was a Gujarat minister in 2010, Shah hit back saying he had quit before the arrest to uphold moral values Poll-bound Assam to get IIM India’s 22nd IIM will come up in Guwahati with a central outlay of `555 crore, as both Houses of Parliament cleared the bill. Assam is expected to to polls early next year LS passes bill banning online money games RAKESH K U MAR @ New Delhi The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which aims to ban online games played with money The government says the move is to . tackle gaming addiction, money laundering, and financial fraud linked to such platforms. The Bill says no individual, company or plat, form can offer, promote, or facilitate online money games in India. It also bans advertisements for such games on TV social media, or any dig, ital platform and prohibits banks and payment firms from processing such transactions. Sources said online money gaming is very addictive, leading to social harm and also financial loss. An official said 45 crore players lost money , with an estimated `26,000 crore loss annually . The Bill proposes the creation of a central authority that will issue guidelines and directions, which all gaming platforms must follow. Online money games as those where users deposit money in the hope of winning cash or other rewards. It covers all forms of online betting, including fantasy sports, card games like poker and rummy, and online lotteries. The Bill was passed by a voice vote after brief comments from Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, even as opposition members staged protests. Once cleared by both Houses of Parliament, offering or facilitating online money gaming will become a punishable offence, with jail terms of up to 3 years and fines of up to `1 crore. Advertising such games could attract 2 years in prison or `50 lakh fine. Amid concerns raised by political parties that large numbers of migrant workers could get added to Tamil Nadu’s electoral rolls, the state’s labour department is set to conduct a survey of interstate migrant workers for the first time to get a realistic picture of their populapress tion in TN. clusive The objective is to understand migration patterns, nature of work, health and living conditions. Though termed a survey, the exercise is aiming at 100% enumeration of every migrant worker with a rough target of finishing the exercise within six months. Earlier this month, numerous parties, including the ruling DMK and its allies, based on a media report, expressed fears that over 6.5 lakh migrant workers from Bihar could get included in TN’s rolls, following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. The SIR reportedly removed 65 lakh voters, including those who had migrated permanently to other states.  P7 TOP Court Questions powers of governors If a governor permanently withholds assent to Bills passed by State legislature, it could leave elected govt at his whims, SC observed | P9 Privatisation ok but protect pay: Court tells GCC R SIVAK U MAR @ Chennai The Madras High Court on Wednesday refused to stall the privatisation of solid waste management work in Zones 5 and 6 — Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar — of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), stating it is a policy decision of the state. This comes nearly a week after police action ended the sanitation workers’ 13-daylong stir against the move. The court, however, directed the GCC to negotiate with the private firm that was awarded the contract to ensure the workers are paid the same salary they were drawing until now. Privatisation of sanitation work is a policy decision taken in the interest of improving sanitary conditions and waste management, said Justice K Surender while disposing of the petitions filed by advocate K Bharathi, president of the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam. “In the present scenario, when the state has taken a decision to privatise solid waste management and sanitary work for keeping the city clean, the question of quashing the impugned resolution does not arise as it does not violate any law nor is unconstitutional,” he said in the order.  P7 Delhi CM Rekha Gupta attacked N i t i n R a w at & D i l i p S i n g h K s h at r i ya @ New Delhi/Ahmedabad IN a glaring breach of security , Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked during a public hearing at her residence on Wednesday morning. The attacker, Rajesh Khimjibhai Sakaria, from Rajkot in Gujarat, was arrested on the spot and is being jointly interrogated by IB and Delhi Police’s Special Cell. Police have registered an FIR under attempt to murder charges in connection with the attack. He has also been booked for allegedly assaulting Attacker’s mother seeks forgiveness Rajesh Sakaria’s mother said her son is not part of any political group but just loses self control when it comes to animals. She sought forgiveness and obstructing public servant from discharging his duty . Sakaria reportedly became upset over Delhi’s civic drive to capture stray dogs. Eyewitnesses described a commotion as Sakaria approached Gupta with what ap- peared to be court documents. After handing them over, he allegedly grabbed her by the hair and slapped her, hurling expletives before security personnel intervened. Gupta was taken to a hospital. DCP Jagdish Bangarva said Sakaria had been booked in five cases between 2017 and 2024, including assault, criminal intimidation, and liquorrelated charges. A senior police official, who is privy to the probe, said that it was a serious attack, adding it could have been life threatening. Police sources said the Ministry of Home Affairs is likely to review the security arrangements of CM Gupta.