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 ■ ■ KOllam l saturday l november 08, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION sheikh Hasina keen on fighting inclusive polls Gautam Lahiri Independent journalist A fter 15 months of her stay in an undisclosed location in India, exiled former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has finally spoken her mind in an exclusive e-mail interview. For the first time, she accepts “leadership responsibility” for the killing of citizens during the mass protest against her government from July 15 to August 5, 2024. Here’s the full text of the interview: The Bangladeshi authorities have banned the Awami League from contesting the general elections early next year. Are your party members considering running as independents? The decision to ban the Awami League is deeply undemocratic and a clear violation of Bangladesh’s constitution and of the fundamental rights of the electorate. It short-changes millions of people. Historically, when parties have not participated in previous elections, Bangladeshi voters have simply not voted, rather than transfer their vote press clusive to other parties. So our priority is to continue fighting for the rights of our voters. If the Awami League and its members refuse to contest elections in any form, what do you think the impact will be for Bangladesh? We are not refusing to contest elections. On the contrary we , ardently wish to participate. But we have been banned from doing so by an administration that is itself unelected and which clearly has no respect for democracy . We have to break this cycle of parties either boycotting elections or being banned, because it undermines the legitimacy of the gover nment. Bangladesh badly needs to hold a free, fair and inclusive election, so that the country can begin to heal and move towards reconciliation. You cannot achieve this by banning the Awami League. We are woven into the country’s modern history and independence, and tens of millions support us. A report by the Human Rights Watch estimates that When parties don’t participate in polls, Bangladeshi voters have simply not voted, rather than transfer their vote to others around 1,400 people were killed and thousands were injured during the anti-government protests between July 15 and August 5 over a year ago. The report says the vast majority were shot by Bangladesh’s security forces. As the Prime Minister at the time, do you take responsibility for the state-inflicted violence that led to your ouster? I mourn each and every life lost in the tragic violence of last summer’s uprising. As the country’s leader, I ultimately take leadership responsibility but the implication that I ordered or directed the actions of the security forces on the ground is fundamentally incorrect. All actions were taken in good faith and with the sole intention of minimising the loss of life or the further breakdown in law and order. Top court fiat to clear public spaces nationwide of stray dogs and cattle Send them to designated shelters after sterilisation, vaccination, says three-judge bench s u c h i t ra k alyan m o han t y @ New Delhi PM Narendra Modi releasing a commemorative coin, stamp of Vande Mataram | PTI Vande Mataram’s cuts sowed seeds of Partition: Modi Par v e z S u ltan @ New Delhi In a veiled criticism of the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said significant stanzas of the ‘Vande Mataram’ were axed in 1937, which sowed the seeds of Partition. He further asserted that ‘divisive philosophy’ is still a challenge before the country . “The spirit of Vande Mataram illuminated the entire nation during the freedom struggle. But unfortunately in 1937, , the key verses of Vande Mataram, a part of its soul, were separated. This division of Vande Mataram also sowed the seeds of the nation’s division. Why was this great mantra of nation-building treated with such injustice? This is important for today’s generation to understand because that divisive thinking remains a challenge for the country even today Modi said. ,” He was speaking at the inauguration of the year-long commemoration of 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ in New Delhi. He also released a commemorative stamp and coin on the occasion. The PM remarked that those who consider the nation a geopolitical entity, may find the idea of treating the nation as a mother puzzling. “But India is different. In India, the mother is the giver of birth, the nur- Authored by Bankim on November 7, 1875 Vande Mataram was written by Bankimchandra Chatterji on Akshaya Navami, which was on November 7, 1875. The song first appeared in the literary journal Bangadarshan as part of his novel Anandamath turer, and when her children are in danger, she is also the destroyer of evil. In the past, the world has seen the rise of this form of India,” he said. Noting that Vande Mataram is relevant in every era, in an apparent reference to Operation Sindoor, he said, “When the enemy dared to attack India’s security and honour through terrorism, the whole world saw that if the new India is the embodiment of Kamala and Vimala (forms of Goddess Durga) for the service of humanity, then it also knows to become Durga — the wielder of 10 weapons — for the destruction of terror,” Modi added. The PM said Vande Mataram is not merely a word; it is a mantra, energy a dream, and a , solemn resolve. “This one word fills our present with self-confidence, and gives new courage to our future. There is no such goal that we Indians cannot achieve,” said Modi. IN a sweeping directive on Friday, the Supreme Court ordered the removal of stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, railway stations, bus stands and other public places, directing that they be relocated to shelters following sterilisation. The court made it clear that stray dogs cannot be released back into the areas from which they are picked up. A special three-judge bench comprising justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria issued the order while hearing a long-pending case on stray dogs. “Every stray dog shall be forthwith removed from such premises and relocated to a shelter after sterilisation. They shall not be released in the same area,” the bench said. The bench held that the recurrence of dog bite incidents within institutional areas, including sports complexes, re- Highlights of the Sc order SC has made it the responsibility of the municipal body to remove stray dogs 1 School, colleges to conduct awareness sessions on first-aid in dog bite cases, reporting protocols 2 Dedicated highway patrol teams to to report in case of a cattle blocking highway flected not only administrative apathy but also a “systemic failure” to secure these premises from preventable hazards. The court expressed concern that India continues to report one of the world’s highest stat i s t i c s o f r ab i e s - re l at e d mortality . The bench then directed authorities to ensure the removal of all cattle and other stray animals from state highways, 3 All govt and private hospitals to maintain a stock of antirabies vaccines 4 SC says all highways to prominently display helpline numbers at regular intervals national highways and expressways, stating that “it is a matter of grave and continuing public concern... that accidents caused by cattle on publ i c r o a d s h ave b e c o m e alarmingly frequent.” The bench categorised its order in three parts. The first dealt with compliance, and mandated all states and Union Territories to submit comprehensive affidavits within eight Ajit says his son’s land deal stands cancelled Mumbai: Amid mounting pressure for his resignation over his son’s controversial Pune land deal, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday stated that the deal stands cancelled. His son, Parth Pawar, informed the revenue department of his intent and submitted the relevant papers. P8 PM: Bihar doesn’t want return of ‘jungle raj’ Chaos at Delhi airport People wait outside the arrivals gate at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The Delhi airport, the country’s busiest, plunged into chaos on Friday as 800 flights were delayed due to tech glitches in the air traffic control system | pti Kerala’s NBFCs now hold more gold than the UK If Kerala’s non-banking financiers were a country, they would rank 16th in the world for gold reserves — right after Portugal and ahead of the United Kingdom, Spain and Austria. Together, Kerala-based non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) now hold a glittering 381 tonnes of gold, a stash that surpasses the official reserves of several European nations and testifies to the state’s enduring obsession with the yellow metal. The combined holdings of major gold-loan giants — Muthoot Finance (208 tonnes), Manappuram Finance (56.4 tonnes), Muthoot FinCorp (43.69 tonnes), SPARKLING NUMBERS Muthoot Finance: 208 tonnes KSFE: 67.22 tonnes Manappuram Finance: 56.4 tonnes Muthoot FinCorp: 43.69 tonnes Indel Money: 6 tonnes (Source: Annual reports) Kerala State Financial Enterprises or KSFE (67.22 tonnes), and Indel Money (around 6 tonnes) — together outweigh the gold reserves of the UK (310 tonnes) and Spain (282 tonnes). In pure numbers, that is gold worth well over `4.6 lakh crore, based on current record-high prices. Kerala’s NBFCs have Total 381 tonnes quietly built up this vast reserve over decades, one household pledge at a time. In a state where gold is a savings instrument, a symbol of status, and now a financial lifeline, the business of gold loans has become both culturally rooted and economically powerful. “In tier-3, tier-4, and tier-5 cit- Jayakumar to be TDB president E x p ress N e w s S er v i c e @ T’Puram Caught in an unenviable situation in the wake of controversies surrounding Sabarimala, the CPM appears to have pushed its way out of a desperate situation with a surprise pick for the post of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president. Former chief secretary K Jayakumar, a veteran in handling the administration in Sabarimala, will be the new TDB president. The official order is expected to be issued after the chief m i n i s t e r re tur ns from abroad on Saturday Once ap. pointed, he will assume office immediately . The CPM state secretariat, which met on Friday, zeroed in on the retired IAS officer taking into account his vast experience in handling Sabarimala administration for several years as devaswom secretary, chief devaswom commissioner and chairman of the HC-appointed high-powered committee on Sabarimala.  ● More on P4 the local level, no solution was reached. We have conveyed our Can you imagine the Con- concerns to the Congress leadgress joining hands with the ership and hope the issue will CPM to challenge the IUML in be resolved before the elections the elections to a panchayat in are announced,” he told Malappuram? TNIE. Defying coalition dharma, Forced on the defensive, Conthe Congress is flirting with gress leaders now claim that the CPM, floating Janakeeya nothing is final. Wandoor MLA Munnani, in Ponmundam and KPCC working presito take on the IUML dent A P Anil Kumar which is the dominant said the party is open to force in the panchayat. talks. Neither ideological dif“Ponmundam has a ferences nor the UDF very distinct political unity have come in the h i s t o r y. T h e U D F way That too when the . doesn’t function there CPM has only a modin a conventional est presence in the sense. But since IUML panchayat. ...Several Congress has raised concerns, Both the IUML and workers have now we have asked local the Congress have placed their faith leaders to hold talks in the CPM - and never shared a cordial with the district leadrelationship in the we welcome their ership. No final seatvotes panchayat ever since sharing decision has its formation. As per V P Anil, CPM district been made yet,” he secretary the current undersaid. Meanwhile, the CPM standing, the Congress will contest 11 of the 18 seats, has taken a characteristically the CPM will field candidates confident stance, asserting that in five, and Team Ponmundam it will welcome support from any section disillusioned with will take the remaining two. IUML state general secretary the UDF. “We have no official P M A Salam made his dis- alliance with the Congress in pleasure clear. “Our stand is Ponmundam. But several Conthat elections must be fought gress workers have now placed as a united UDF front in all lo- their faith in the CPM - and we cal bodies. What’s happening welcome their votes,” said in Ponmundam is unfortunate. CPM district secretary V P ● More on P4 Although there were talks at Anil.  L a k shm i At h i ra @ Malappuram High stakes R A J E S H A B R A H A M @Kochi Continued on: P9 Cong & CPM join hands to fight Muslim League in Malappuram panchayat E X P RESS REA D Patna: PM Narendra Modi on Friday launched an attack on the Opposition, warning that the people of Bihar did not want a return of “jungle raj”. Modi said incidents of crime will rise if those responsible for lawlessness in the past came back to power.P8 weeks, detailing steps taken to address lapses identified in the amicus curiae’s report. Chief Secretaries will be held accountable for lapses, it said. The second part reaffirmed an earlier Rajasthan High Court directions on stray cattle, instructing all states to conduct joint drives to remove stray animals from highways. The third part requires all states and UTs to identify government institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, railway stations, and bus terminals within two weeks and secure them with fencing to prevent stray animal ingress. Local bodies and panchayats must inspect all listed premises once every three months. Any failure will attract strict action against responsible officials. The Supreme Court was hearing a suo motu case, initiated on July 28 over a media report on stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital. The next hearing is on January 13. As for the UN’s fatality estimate, we dispute that figure. It is significantly higher than the Ministry of Health’s own calculations and is based on undocumented and closely controlled evidence supplied to the UN Human Rights Commissioner by the interim government. It also appears to contain many members of the security forces and Awami League officials killed in the riots, but that hasn’t been made clear. The government has had over 15 months to arrive at an accurate death count, yet has still not published a definitive list of the dead. ies, gold loans are the first preference for any immediate requirement — whether it’s putting a son through college, painting the house, or buying machinery for a workshop,” says Umesh Mohanan, executive director and CEO of Indel Money . “The rise in gold prices has only made it more attractive. The rupee availability per gram has increased and more gold is coming into the market as people leverage their ornaments.” At Friday’s price of Rs 12,202 per gram — or Rs 81,000 per sovereign — the value of pledged gold has hit record highs. With RBI tightening rules on unsecured lending and rolling over of loans, NBFCs find themselves in a sweet spot. The liquidity crunch has driven borrowers to seek goldbacked credit, where funds are instant, secured, and flexible. “The gold price increase has been a boon to the Indian market, especially in the lower-income segment. With restrictions on unsecured loans, there’s a credit crunch — but gold loans have filled that gap,” adds Mohanan. However, this boom has also spurred the unorganised sector. Mohanan points out that only 37% of India’s gold loans are with organised players, while the remaining 63% remain in the unregulated space — pawnshops, small financiers, and local moneylenders.  ● More on P4 BEATIFICATION OF mOTHER Eliswa TODAY The celebration of Beatification will take place at Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadom, at 4pm.