HYDERABAD TUESDAY OCTOBER 01, 2024 `9.00 PAGES 16 LATE CITY EDITION MODI SPEAKS TO BIBI AS ISRAEL STEPS UP LEBANON CAMPAIGN Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation in West Asia amid conflict in Lebanon CRUCIAL TO PREVENT ESCALATION, SAYS MODI ‘ISRAELI SPECIAL FORCES ENTER LEBANON’ “Terrorism has no place in our world. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages,” Modi wrote on X. Meanwhile, a report said Israeli forces have conducted small-scale, targeted raids in Lebanon in recent weeks. The Wall Street Journal reported that the troops entered tunnels dug by Hezbollah on the Lebanese side near border ■ ■ Sources told the US daily that the raids are a precursor to a wider ground operation that could begin this week. The troops are tasked with gathering intel and destroying Hezbollah’s assets near the border Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant on Monday said Israel will use all its capabilities, including ground forces, to achieve its objectives | P9 1,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, LEBANESE AUTHORITIES SAID 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 Can clip HYDRAA tentacles, says HC in stinging rebuke T G N A I D U @ Hyderabad MAKING it clear to HYDRAA and Revenue officials that GO 99 could be declared invalid if demolitions continue without due process of the law, Justice K Lakshman of the Telangana High Court on Monday warned that officials not complying with court orders could spend time in Chanchalguda jail or Cherlapally prison. Expressing his severe displeasure at the authorities for not adhering to proper legal procedures, Justice Lakshman reprimanded HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath and the Ameenpur tahsildar for failing to follow due process. “Disaster management doesn’t only mean demolitions,” the judge noted, urging the officials to focus on following proper regulations rather than acting without due diligence. The judge was hearing two writ petitions filed by Md. Rafi and another individual, challenging the “unlawful” demolition of their residential buildings in Survey Nos 165 and 166, Sri Krishna Nagar, Kistareddypet Gram Panchayat of Ameenpur mandal in Sangareddy district. While Ranganath appeared virtually the Ameenpur tahsil, dar was present in court. In addition to questioning the actions taken in Ameenpur, the court raised broader concerns about the role of HYDRAA and local officials in addressing illegal constructions and urban planning issues. Emphasising the importance of following the law, Justice Lakshman stated that officials should not act to appease politi- Disaster management doesn’t only mean demolitions. Focus on following proper regulations rather than acting without due diligence Officials should not act to appease political or bureaucratic superiors. Do you intend to intimidate the public? If so, the courts will not sit by quietly File picture of HYDRAA in action at Ameenpur Not part of Musi project: HYDRAA Justice K Lakshman, HC judge Hyderabad: HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath on Monday issued a clarification stating that the agency was not part of the demolition or eviction of residents living on either side of the Musi stretch. In separate posts on X, Ranganath stated that the Musi project was taken up by the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation. Noting that all the demolitions across the state were being attributed to HYDRAA, he said that this was creating “unnecessary fear” among people. Ranganath said that the agency’s jurisdiction extends only up to the ORR and its responsibility was protection of water bodies. We will never allow demolition of homes that the poor have built with their lifetime earnings. Bulldozers will have to go through us first cal or bureaucratic superiors but should instead adhere to established rules. “Do you intend to intimidate the public? If so, the courts will not sit by quietly the judge remarked during ,” the proceedings. He also commended their efforts to protect water bodies from illegal encroachments but criticised the authorities for demolishing structures on a Sunday in violation of a full bench , order of the high court that prohibits demolitions on Sun- days and after sunset. Ranganath’s argument that HYDRAA only coordinates with the tahsildar by providing manpower and machinery was rejected by the judge who remarked that the agency should thoroughly verify notices, sanction plans and other records before acting. “If a tahsildar asks you to demolish the high court or Charminar, would you do it without checking the records?” CONTINUED ON P4 he asked. KT Rama Rao, former minister Despite attempts to hinder us, we will protect water bodies... It’s about paving the way for a better future for Hyderabad and its citizens Ponnam Prabhakar, minister SC: Implement domicile policy from 2025 Introducing our new fortnightly page dedicated to interior design in City Express, where you can catch up on the latest trends in decor, gardening and homeware CITY EXPRESS @ P3 KARTHIK KK & BALA CHAUHAN @ Mysuru / Bengaluru ON a day the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathy BM and others in the MUDA site allotment case, a letter written by Parvathy to MUDA surfaced on Monday offering to surrender all the 14 plots that are at the heart of the controversy . In her undated letter to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) commissioner, Parvathy requested swift action to take back all the sites. “I have never sought wealth, property , or riches. I have lived carefully ensuring that , no stain touches my husband’s political career due to my actions,” the letter read. Parvathy mentioned that she had not discussed her decision with her husband, her son — Dr Yathindra, who is an MLC, or other family members. “This is a decision I made after consulting my conscience. The day the allegations surfaced, I had made up my mind to return the plots. However, some well-wishers advised me to reconsider as they believed these accusations were politically motivated. But my decision remains unwavering,” she stated. “The land plots, which were given to me by my own brother as part of our family ties, have turned into a controversy I nev. er imagined that these plots could cause my husband to face unfair accusations,” she wrote. Earlier in the day, the ED’s Bengaluru zonal office registered the case under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). ED sources, on condition of anonymity said the ECIR has been , filed based on the FIR registered by the Mysuru unit of Kar nataka Lokayukta last weekend. The Lokayukta police invoked charges of corruption, cheating and forgery against against Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathy, his brother-in-law (Parvathy’s brother) Mallikarjuna Swamy and a former landowner — Devaraju — from whom Swamy had purchased land and gifted it to Parvathy The FIR mentions . charges of corruption, cheating and forgery in the allotment of 14 MUDA housing sites in upscale Vijayanagar area of Mysuru to Parvathy in 2021 after her 3 acres, 16 guntas site in downmarket Kesare outside of Mysuru city limits was acquired by MUDA for a layout. Earlier in the day RTI activ, ist Snehamayi Krishna lodged a formal complaint with the ED. The 16-page complaint, a copy of which is with this newspaper, refers to a purported windfall of `55.8 crore to Siddaramaiah’s family through questionable means. Krishna alleged that there were ingredients of money laundering by the CM and his family members. The Lokayukta police booked the CM’s family on the direction of a special court on September 25. CM releases results; 11K job letters by Oct 9 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad STATING that appointment letters would be handed over to the selected candidates at LB Stadium on October 9, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday announced the results of the District Selection Committee (DSC) 2024, aimed at filling 11,062 vacant teacher posts. The results were declared in a 1:3 ratio. Candidates can check the results on the official website www.tgdsc.aptonline. in. The School Education Department conducted the Computer-Based Test (CBT) for the DSC between July 18 and August 5, 2024. The recruitment includes posts for school assistants, language pandits, secondary grade teachers, physical education teachers, and special education teachers at both primary and secondary levels in government and local body schools across the state. Verification of certificates at the district level will be done from 10 am to 5 pm between October 1 and October 5. Addressing the media after releasing the results, Revanth accused the previous BRS gover nment of neglecting the state’s education system. He pointed out that only one DSC notification was issued during the last decade under BRS, filling 7,857 teacher posts. “In contrast, our government has prioritised education by initiating the teacher recruitment process soon after taking office,” Revanth said. CONTINUED ON P2 SC lambasts Naidu for laddu politics P T I @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Monday observed that Telangana has a “legitimate interest” in pressing for domicile certificates in granting admissions in medical colleges even as it asked the state government whether it can put at abeyance its domicile policy for the present academic year. “Just put all the students on notice and see if the rules can be implemented from next year,” a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud asked senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the state government. The bench was hearing an appeal against the Telangana High Court verdict holding that the state’s permanent residents cannot be denied the benefit of admission in the medical colleges merely because they lived outside for the last four years and did not study in state schools in class 9, 10, 11 and 12. The state government, by the Telangana Medical and Dental Colleges Admission (Admission into MBBS & BDS Courses) Rules, 2017, as amended in 2024, mandated that only those students who have studied for the last four years up to class 12 in the state will be entitled to admission in medical and dental colle g es under the state CONTINUED ON P5 quota. SIDDU BUYS PEACE AS WIFE OFFERS TO RETURN ALL LAND DSC-2024 S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y TDP DOUBLES DOWN @ New Delhi Yashasvi Jaiswal (left) scored 72 while R Ashwin took two wickets to reduce Bangladesh to 26/2 on Day 4 | PTI | P11 RECORDS GALORE IN KANPUR BATTERS GIVE HOSTS POLE POSITION After bowling out Bangladesh for 233, India batters tormented visiting bowlers to rewrite records at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. They broke the record for the fastest team 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 in men’s Test cricket before declaring at 285/9 INDIA BROKE AN ARRAY OF RECORDS TO TAKE THE DRIVER’S SEAT ON DAY FOUR OF THE SECOND TEST AGAINST BANGLADESH RUN-RATE HITS ROOF Throughout their first innings, India’s scoring rate never dropped down below eight which also is the highest in men’s Test innings (min 200 balls). Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (71 off 51) and KL Rahul (43 off 68) slammed a half-century each while skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli scored at a quick pace to give India a lead of 52 runs. R Ashwin then reduced the visitors to 26/2 giving India a hope of victory, which otherwise was heading for a draw after more than two days of no-play THE Supreme Court on Monday criticised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for making a public statement that the previous government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy used ghee containing animal fat to prepare laddus at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. After going through the lab report, the court said it was ‘the rejected ghee’ that was sent for test and there was no primafacie evidence to show spurious ghee was indeed used for making laddus. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan also sought to know if the laddus that were said to have been made using contaminated ghee INSIDE TDP said it stands by Naidu’s statement, adding it has proof to show spurious ghee was used. “There is no going back... 100% it was used,” TDP spokesperson said were tested. “Whether that ghee, of which the sample was not found confirming to the standards, was used in the preparation of laddus?” it asked senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government. The bench said it was inappropriate on the part of a higher constitutional functionary to issue loaded statements before the conclusion of a probe, adding: “We should keep God away from politics.” It noted that an FIR was registered on September 25 and the SIT was constituted on September 26 to probe the matter, but the chief minister had already made a statement on September 18. “Where was the justification for him (Naidu) to go to the press and says all this, when a probe had already been ordered by the state?,” it said. While posting the matter for hearing on October 3, the bench directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek the Centre’s views on whether the state government should go ahead with its probe or an independent investigation is required. SAHITI INFRA MD ARRESTED I P3 MAHA APPROVES MARATHA QUOTA I P8 GOVT’S HIGHEST RECOGNITION Mithun Da dances his way into the elite Dadasaheb Phalke club EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Chennai VETERAN actor and BJP politician Mithun Chakraborty will be bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award—the government’s highest recognition in the field of cinema— this year. Once a sympathiser of the Naxal movement in Calcutta, Chakraborty became a Rajya Sabha MP on a Trinamool Congress ticket in 2014. However, he moved to the ruling BJP in 2021 ahead of the West Bengal Legislative As- sembly election that year. Earlier this year, he was also awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in the country . Making the announcement on X on Monday Union Minis, ter for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw wrote, “Mithun Da’s remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! Honoured to announce that the Dadasaheb Phalke Selection Jury has decided to award legendary actor, Sh. Mithun Chakraborty Ji for his iconic contribution to Indian Cinema.” The award will be presented at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony on October 8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reshared the post and wrote on X, “Delighted that Shri Mithun Chakraborty Ji has been conferred the I only wish to tell everyone that if I have reached this far, why can’t you? You should have the dedication and motivation. You should have the resilience to face difficult situations —Mithun Chakraborty prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, recognizing his unparalleled contributions to Indian cinema. He is a cultural icon, admired across generations for his versatile performances. Congratulations and best wishes to him.” A star in the 80s, Chakraborty has had a decreased presence on the silver screen in recent times. Although he was part of Bengali-language films like Kabuliwala (2023) and Projapati (2022), his last Hindi outing was the controversial The Kashmir Files (2022). He also served as the head judge or ‘grandmaster’ on the popular dance reality series Dance India Dance from 2009 to 2018. Mithun Da, as he was better known, made his acting debut with Mrinal Sen’s 1976 film Mrigayaa, for which he won the National Award for Best Actor. He bagged two more National Awards for 1992’s Tahader Katha (best actor) and 1998’s Swami Vivekananda (best supporting actor). Mithun Da’s claim to fame, however, was his distinctive dancing style in the 1982 superhit Disco Dancer, which is widely credited for ushering in the era of disco dancing in India through chartbusters like ‘I P7 Am A Disco Dancer’.
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