Chennai l sunday l november 16, 2025 l `12.00 l PAGES 26 l late city EDITION Trump scraps tariffs on some items including coffee, fruits The abrupt retreat from his signature tariff policy comes amid mounting pressure on his administration to combat high consumer prices Admits levies causing prices to shoot u-turn after party’s election losses The president signed an executive order on Friday that removes tariffs on coffee, tea, beef, fruit juice, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, and certain fertilisers imported into the US. “We’ve just made a slight rollback on some foods,” Trump said. He acknowledged that his tariff policy has contributed to a rise in consumer prices in “some cases” | P12 ■ ■ The reversal comes after voters in off-year elections this month cited economic concerns as their top issue, resulting in big wins for Democrats in Virginia, New Jersey and other key races around the US “The president is finally admitting what we always knew: his tariffs are raising prices for the people,” senior Democrat Don Beyer said $2,000 The amount trump proposed to give each American as tariff dividend 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 CM expected to dissolve House, stake fresh claim on Monday daughter quits lalu family, politics C S h i v a k u m a r @ Chennai R a m a s h a n k a r @ Patna A day after the Rashtriya Janata Dal-Congress-led Mahagathbandhan’s crushing defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections, a feud erupted within RJD leader Lalu Prasad’s family, with his daughter Rohini Acharya announcing that she was quitting politics and severing all ties with the family . “I am quitting politics and also disowning my family. This is what Sanjay Yadav and Rameez had asked me to do. I am taking all the blame,” Acharya wrote on X. Sanjay Yadav is an RJD MP and a close confidant of Lalu’s younger son, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, while Rameez is Tejashwi’s friend from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. Neither Sanjay nor Rameez reacted, deepRohini Acharya ening the mystery and fuelling speculation of pressure within the party and the family . Rohini Acharya had previously made headlines when she donated one of her kidneys to her ailing father, Lalu Prasad. Responding to Rohini’s announcement, her brother Tej Pratap, who himself was expelled from the party a few months back, said: “Those who are trying to harass my sister will not be spared. ‘Jai Chand’ (traitor) will be taught a lesson at an appropriate time.” JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said, “The daughter who saved the life of Lalu is now saying in pain that she is stepping down from politics and snapping ties with the family It is a big question on . Lalu and Rabri Devi.” ‘difficult exam keeping BCs out’ “Exam is different from education, but in the name of raising the standard of education, they are making the exam so severe that backward communities that have hitherto not had the chance to enter portals of university are kept out,” TN’s plea said Express Illustration Korean firm ditches TN for AP; won’t join incentive war, says min LJP(RV) chief Chirag Paswan greets Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna | PTI Opposition attacks DMK for ‘driving out’ investors Industries Minister TRB Rajaa, reacting to the decision of South Korean footwear major Hwaseung Enterprises to move its proposed investment in non-leather footwear manufacturing from Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh, said on Saturday that the state will resist the temptation to join the incentive battle among Indian states. TN will never be part of the “race to the bottom” by offering unrealistic incentive packages to lure investors, Rajaa said. He said the state will instead pursue a calibrated and regionspecific strategy Chennai: Opposition parties attacked the DMK over its alleged failure to attract investments and “driving out” investors to other states. While AIADMK leader EPS said the company’s move was a “humiliating reflection of DMK’s failed strategy,” former TN BJP chief Annamalai accused DMK of transforming TN into land of missed opportunities | P5 for attracting investment. He was responding to reports about the decision of the company — which had earlier signed an agreement with the Tamil Nadu government to set up a nonleather footwear manufacturing facility in Tirunelveli district at a cost of `1,720 crore — to move the investment to Andhra Pradesh. The in- vestment was expected to generate 20,000 jobs. Sources told TNIE that Andhra had offered free land to the company along with higher subsidies for power and other resources. “The firm asked Tamil Nadu to match the package, but the request was declined,” sources added. Rajaa, in his statement, said Tamil Nadu would not treat investment promotion as a “daily competitive game”.  P5 Mind games by Nitish before 10th term shot More arrests in terror module case RA J E SH KUMAR T HAKUR @ New Delhi A day after the NDA registered a stunning landslide victory in the Bihar elections, there was no doubt in anybody’s mind that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will get a record 10th term at the government’s helm. But Nitish being Nitish, he could suggest to the BJP that it should lead the government since it emerged as the single-largest party For its . part, the BJP could graciously insist that the mandate was for Nitish in the hot seat and should stay that way . In 2024, when he returned to the NDA after walking out of the Mahagathbandhan, Nitish enacted the same drama of asking the BJP to stake its claim for chief ministership, but the BJP respectfully turned it down. Of course, the final call will be taken by the BJP’s national leadership. “But, there is no chance of the BJP leading the government; it will send a wrong message within the NDA. The current arrange- ment is working fine,” remarked a senior BJP leader. The swearing-in ceremony is tentatively expected between November 18 and 21, depending on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s availability . Given the solid performance of Chirag Paswan’s LJP(RV) at the hustings — 19 out of 25 seats it contested, it could be rewarded with a deputy chief minister’s position. As for the BJP, it could name a Yadav leader from the party like Ram Kripal Yadav for the second deputy CM’s slot. The idea is to consolidate the BJP’s position in the Yadav vote bank, especially after making inroads into this demographic this time around. A state cabinet meeting on dissolving the outgoing assembly is expected on Monday, after which Nitish will submit his resignation to the Governor. Later, a meeting of the NDA legislative party will elect Nitish as its leader. Nitish will then return to Raj Bhavan and stake his claim to form the new government. BJP suspends R K Singh | P10 MHA probe into nowgam blast The Home Ministry (MHA) said a probe has been ordered to determine the cause of the Nowgam police station ‘accidental’ blast that killed 9 people, including cops, on Friday accidental explosion: dgp The explosion at Nowgam police station on Friday in Srinagar has raised serious questions on handling of explosives by police. DGP Nalin Prabhat said it was an “accidental explosion” | P10 A police woman consoles relatives of Mohammad Shafi Parry, a tailor who was among nine killed in the explosion at Nowgam police station | Zahoor punjabi e x p r e s s ne w s s e r v i c e @ Kolkata/Chandigarh/Srinagar MORE arrests continue in the Delhi car blast case with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) detaining Zanishar Alam, a 2024 MBBS graduate of Al Falah University, from his village in Suryapur market of Dalkhola in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district on Saturday . Alam was released late in the evening, NIA officials said. He had returned home on November 12 to attend a wedding. NIA officials traced him from Ludhiana, where his father lives. Acting on a tip-off, officials contacted Touhid in Ludhiana and collected details of his son.“He was released after questioning. His mobile phone has been seized, and told to be present if summoned again,” the officer said. Meanwhile, a surgeon from Pathankot linked to Al Falah University and two doctors and fertilizer store owners from Haryana was also detained. Sources said that 45-year-old Dr Rayees Ahmad Bhat, presently associated with White Medical College in Pathankot, was de- TN moves SC, wants deemed New low pressure may bring heavy rain to TN assent for anti-NEET bill SUCHI T RA KALYA N MOHA N T Y @ New Delhi The Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court against the President’s decision to withhold assent to the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021, passed by the State assembly to exempt Tamil Nadu from the National Eligibility-cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to medical colleges. The state has sought relief by praying to the top court to declare that the withholding of assent by the President as “patently unconstitutional, illegal and liable to be set aside” and hold and declare that the bill is deemed to have received the assent of the President. Alternatively, the petition sought the court to direct the union government to forthwith place the Bill before the President under Article 201 and 254(2) of the Constitution for fresh consideration and granting of assent under Article 254(2). As per Article 254(2), whenever there is repugnancy between state and central laws on subjects listed under the concurrent list, a state law can prevail if it is reserved for Presidential consideration and assented to. The state in its petition said the President’s decision to withhold assent to the Bill was communicated by the Union Home Ministry to the Governor of Tamil Nadu, who in turn communicated it to the government vide letter dated March 4, 2025. The petition is likely to be heard by the Supreme Court within a week as per SC registry and a senior official of the top court.  P7 SV KRISH N A CHAI TA N YA @ Chennai Tamil Nadu is bracing for an unusually intense phase of the northeast monsoon, with a low-pressure area having formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the Sri Lanka coast. The system, already exhibiting a tight cloud wrap, is expected to move west-northwestwards and bring widespread rain between November 16 and 18. Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said that the delta districts would be the first to experience heavy to very heavy rain on November 16. Chennai and its neighbouring districts are likely to receive rain on November 17 and 18. What makes this spell remarkable is that it is developing without any support from the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO), a major atmospheric driver known to boost monsoon systems. The MJO, a large envelope of clouds and rainfall that travels eastwards across the tropics every 30 to 60 days, boosts systems when positioned over the Indian Ocean.  P7 trading zone Samson to CSK, Jadeja RR dominate buzz; KKR brace for auction E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Chennai The trading window of the Indian Premier League has shown signs of maturity as the tournament has evolved over the years. With the window closing on Saturday, most teams seemed to have covered their bases, especially Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru making most of it. Going by the money left in the purse, Kolkata Knight Riders, after a poor outing last season, are looking to rebuild the team. CSK too are following a similar script. The two are expected to engage in a fierce battle to secure the choicest of players, especially Australian all-rounder Cam Green. Interestingly, most of the players released by teams will go into the auction pool. KKR are looking for a captain as well. The central figures on the last day of trading were Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja. The wicket-keeper batter was traded with the left-armspinning all-rounder. Samson landed with CSK for a figure of `18 cr while Jadeja left for Rajasthan Royals, surprisingly on a pay cut – `14 crore. For CSK, the move would help consolidate their fanbase and fortify their keeping with icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni, at 44, not growing any younger. CSK’s Sam Curran’s move to RR too was part of deal. CSK have managed to free up some `40 crore after releasing a host of players, including stars like New Zealand’s Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda and Matheesha Pathirana. Similarly, KKR have 13 slots open, including six Purse `64.30cr `43.40cr Remaining KKR CSK overseas. Mohammed Shami was bought in an all-cash deal by Lucknow Super Giants from Sunrisers Hyderabad. Though MI, the five-time champs, have a smaller purse (`2,75cr), they have already got a balanced team after securing Shardul Thakur, Sherfane Rutherford and Mayank Markande. Same is the case with RCB and PBK. Auction will be held at Abu Dhabi on Dec 16. tained by NIA on Saturday and is currently being questioned after investigators found that he was allegedly in touch with Dr Umar Un Nabi, the Delhi blast kingpin. Sources said Bhat was taken into custody to ascertain whether he was part of the “white-collar” terror module managed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. The NMC has cancelled the registrations of the four doctors — Dr Muzaffar Ahmad, Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, Dr Muzamil Shakeel and Dr Shaheen Saeed with immediate effect — for their alleged involvement in the terror module. WITH THIS ISSUE Devil’s Doctor d e M in e th Insid of the Urban Terrorist PLUS 12 P AGES e x p r e ss r e a d for sanitary staff Stalin launches free meal scheme Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday inaugurated the free meal scheme for sanitary workers in Chennai. “The scheme will be extended to all municipalities and municipal corporations across the state by December 6,” the chief minister said | P4 med college work CBI probe sought over fund misuse Chennai: A petition has been filed in the Madras HC seeking a CBI probe into alleged irregularities, misappropriation of funds in the construction of 11 medical college buildings in Tamil Nadu under EPS’s AIADMK regime | P4 bihar verdict Election result has lessons for all: CM Chennai: Reacting to the Bihar poll, CM MK Stalin said, “Bihar result has a lesson for everyone.” Election outcomes reflect welfare delivery, ideological coalitions, and dedicated management until last vote is polled, he said | P4