HYDERABAD  TUESDAY  OCTOBER 15, 2024  `9.00  PAGES 16  LATE CITY EDITION TRIO WINS ECONOMICS NOBEL FOR WORK ON WEALTH INEQUALITY Economists Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson win Nobel for research into differences in prosperity between nations (From left) Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A Robinson RESEARCH ON WHY NATIONS FAIL OR SUCCEED By examining the various political and economic systems introduced by European colonisers, the three researchers explained why some countries are rich and others poor, the Nobel committee said. Their research also helped explain why countries with poor rule of law and exploitative institutions often become trapped in a situation of “low economic growth” ■ 1968 HIGHLIGHTING ROLE OF SOCIETAL INSTITUTIONS ■ “The three economists have demonstrated the importance of societal institutions for achieving prosperity,” Jakob Svensson, Chair of the Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences, said | P10 Acemoglu and Robinson wrote the best-selling book Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty published in 2012 WHEN THE SWEDISH CENTRAL BANK ESTABLISHED NOBEL ECONOMICS PRIZE 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 India expels six top Canadian diplomats, withdraws envoy UNPALATABLE Retail inflation at nine-month high of 5.49% Indian high commissioner ‘person of interest’ in Nijjar case: Canada Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi Canada’s Acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler leaves from the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi on Monday. He is among the six expelled Canadian diplomats | PTI CURIOUS TIMING OF THE COMMUNIQUE “It is no coincidence that it takes place as Prime Minister Trudeau is to depose before a commission on foreign interference,” the foreign office said in its statement KERALA HOUSE Resolution flays Centre for delaying Wayanad aid E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ T’Puram THE Kerala Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution against the Centre’s unreasonable delay in extending aid to the landslide-hit Wayanad. The resolution, passed after a three-hour adjournment discussion, urged the Centre to immediately release financial assistance as demanded by the state and to write off all bank loans of the affected people. The members pointed out that the delay in getting the Central aid would adversely impact the rehabilitation of survivors. Alleging bias, the strongly worded resolution said although the landslide at Meppadi in Wayanad on July 30 falls in the ‘disaster of severe nature’ category that wiped out an entire region of the district, the Union government has not released any funds so far. It termed the Centre’s attitude disheartening, noting that other states that faced natural calamities have got financial aid even without asking for it. Speaker A N Shamseer allowed a debate on the subject after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan agreed to the Opposition’s demand to discuss the matter in detail through an adjournment motion. Though the Speaker and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M B Rajesh pointed out that the government had already given a detailed statement, members of the Opposition insisted on a thorough discussion. Replying to the motion, Vijayan said two townships with 1,000 houses will be built to rehabilitate survivors. Opposition leader V D Satheesan urged the state government to exert more pressure on the Centre to release the funds. Congress MLA T Siddique, who represents Kalpetta in Wayanad, said people had high hopes after Modi’s visit but they are now asking if he came there just for a photo shoot. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE RETAIL inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), reached a nine-month high of 5.49% in September on account of rising food prices, data released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation on Monday showed. In August, CPI inflation was 3.65%, slightly up from 3.6% in the previous month. The highest inflation rate prior to this was recorded in December 2023, at 5.69%. According to the government, high base effect and weather conditions might have led to increase in inflation in September. The Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), which measures food inflation, was reported at 9.24% for September. The inflation rates for rural and urban areas were 9.08% and 9.56%, respectively . Meanwhile, the year-on-year housing inflation rate for September was 2.78%, up from 2.66% in August. The All India Electricity index for September was recorded at 162.5, with an inflation rate of 5.45%. Additionally significant declines in , inflation were noted for pulses and products, spices, meat and fish, as well as the sugar and confectionery subgroups during September. Manoranjan Sharma, chief economist, Infomerics Ratings, said: “The inflationary surge is attributable to the base effect, 9.24% food inflation in September up from 5.66% in August, and the spike in inflation rate for vegetables from 10.71% in July to 35.99% in August. In hindsight, it is clear RBI was right in holding the rates steady in its October 9, 2024 Policy. Constant caution, vigil, and monitoring are needed.” In addition, India’s wholesale price index-based inflation rose slightly to 1.84% in September, up from 1.31% in August, due to a sharp uptick in food prices. Food inflation surged to 11.53% for the month compared to just 3.11% in August, according to the commerce ministry’s data. Other major sub-indices, such as manufactured products, showed a drop in prices. RELATIONS between India and Canada reached a nadir on Monday as the foreign office announced the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats and the withdrawal its high commissioner and other diplomats after Ottawa claimed they were ‘persons of interest’ in the murder of Khalistani radical Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last year. Though Nijjar, a Canadian national, was not named, the insinuation was crystal clear. The six expelled diplomats are the acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert and first secretaries Marie Catherine Joly Ian , Ross David Trites, Adam James Chuipka, and Paula Orjuela. All six were given a Saturday deadline to fly out of India. The announcement came after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Wheeler and gave him a piece of its mind. “t was underlined that in an atmosphere of ex- Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Justin Trudeau The aspersions cast on him (High Commissioner Verma) are ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt tremism and violence, the Trudeau Government’s actions endangered their safety We have . no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security,’’ the MEA said. The MEA’s Secretary East summoned Wheeler and said India reserves the right to take further steps in response to the Trudeau government’s support for extremism, violence and separatism against the country . He was informed that the baseless targeting of the Indian high commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada was unacceptable. Earlier in the day, India trashed a communiqué that suggested that High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other diplomats were ‘persons of interest’ in the matter. Ever since Trudeau first alleged an Indian role in Nijjar’s murder, his government has not shared a shred of evidence despite repeated requests, the foreign office asserted. “This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains,’’ the MEA charged. But Wheeler later claimed his country had provided ‘credible, irrefutable evidence’. “Prime Minister Trudeau’s naked interference in Indian internal politics in December 2020 showed how far he was willing to go in this regard. That his Government was dependent on a political party, whose leader openly espouses a separatist ideology vis-a-vis India, only aggravated matters,’’ the statement added. First meet today of Kuki, Meitei and Naga MLAs since Manipur erupted P R A S A N TA M A Z U M D A R & MUKESH RANJAN @ Guwahati/New Delhi LEGISLATORS from Manipur’s Meitei, Kuki and Naga communities will sit down on Tuesday in Delhi for their first joint meeting since the eruption of ethnic violence in the state last year. The meeting, organised by the Centre, will be held on Tuesday . A Meitei legislator said he welcomed the initiative and was looking forward to attending the meeting. “We were asked to sit together as part of a peace initiative,” he told this newspaper. “There will be legislators from Meitei, Kuki and Naga communities, and the state’s different regions will be well represented,” he said. Some Meitei and Naga ministers and MLAs flew to Delhi from Imphal on Monday . Letpao Haokip, a Kuki-Zo minister, said all 10 Kuki-Zo legislators of Manipur have been invited for the meeting. “Some will definitely attend, but we are not sure how many,” he added. Meanwhile, an MLA camping in Delhi said 18 will attend the meeting – eight Meitei MLAs and five each from Kuki and Naga communities. A government official said the talks are part of the Cen- tre’s efforts to facilitate a dialogue between the warring communities. At least 250 people have been killed and over 60,000 displaced since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May last year. “I don’t know the exact agenda of the meeting as of now,” Awangbow Newmai, a Naga minister who is attending the meeting, said. L Dikho, a Naga legislator said, “I will attend it and see how best we can take up the initiative.” Union home ministry said on Monday a decision was yet to be taken on home minister Amit Shah’s participation. @ New Delhi Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu visit the Foxconn Interconnect Technology factory at Kongara Kalan on Monday Invest more in TG, build your image, CM tells Foxconn M R A V I N D E R R E D D Y @ Hyderabad STATING that Telangana will act as a “brand ambassador” of the company Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Mon, day urged Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn to consider investing in more industries in the state, in particular in electric and lithium ion battery sectors. The chief minister visited the Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) factory at Kongara Kalan on Monday to assess the progress of work on the upcoming facility During . his visit, he promised the company full support of the state government for ensuring timely completion of the project. The chief minister reiterated the state government’s commitment to facilitating the company’s ongoing as well as QUICK THINKING future operations in Telangana. CM reiterates full support Foxconn Interconnect of his govt to Foxconn, says Technology CEO and chairhe will speak to Centre if man Sydney Lu joined the needed for permissions meeting via videoconference Foxconn brings several and discussed the current operational issues to CM’s status of the project. Certain notice; officials told to operational issues were resolve them expeditiously brought to the notice of the chief minister who instructFoxconn seeks 66 acres ed, on the spot, the officials adjacent to FIT factory, concerned to resolve them CM responds positively expeditiously . The chief minister assured the company that the government will provide all infrastructure facilities required and there was no room for doubt about this. He also reassured Foxconn that the government will extend all support. The chief minister stated that his government was committed to fostering a business-friendly environment and attracting large-scale investments in high-growth sectors. Sources said that the chief minister also asked the Foxconn representatives to invest in the proposed Fourth City . The sources quoted Revanth as saying that his government would ensure that roads and Metro to the Fourth City will also connect the FIT. They said that the chief minister also assured the company that he will speak to the Centre, if necessary regarding any clearances needed. CONTINUED ON P4 , Now, controversy erupts over Surekha temple visit EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Vemulawada Many of the properties built on the Musi riverbed are now displaying messages citing a stay order, like the one on this house at Kothapet in Hyderabad Over a 100 Musi residents get HC shield from razing S B A C H A N J E E T S I N G H @ Hyderabad OVER the past 10 days, approximately 100 residents living on the Musi riverbed in Hyderabad have obtained stay orders from the Telangana High Court to halt the demolition of their homes. These properties, located in areas such as Chaitanyapuri, Phanigiri Colony, Satyanagar, and Kothapet, were marked for demolition as part of the Musi Riverfront Development Project (MRDP). The MRDP aims to revitalise the river, enhance flood p reve n t i o n a n d p ro m o t e tourism. Revenue officials, in coordination with the Musi River- front Development Corporation — the implementing authority for the project — had been issuing notices to the residents to vacate their houses and shift to the 2BHK units allotted to them. However, many of these residents have sought legal protection, claiming that they have lived in these properties for decades and in some cases, generations. Court notices can now be seen painted or pasted on many of these properties. Many houses mention, in big bold letters, messages like ‘’This house is under protection order vide Writ No. 27042/2024 before Honourable High Court’’. DAYS after a major row erupted over her comments, and the fiasco in a police station on Sunday, Endowments and Forest Minister Konda Surekha found herself embroiled in yet another controversy after devotees complained that her visit to the Sri Rajarajeshwari Swami temple in Vemulawada led to the rituals being delayed. Some devotees alleged that ‘Naivedyam’ and ‘Anna Puja’ rituals were delayed for about half-an-hour on Monday as the minister was performing puja to the presiding deity in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The minister visited the temple along with her family mem- bers for her grandson’s ‘Puttu Ve n t r u k a l u ’ ( t o n s u r i n g ) ceremony . According to temple rules, Monday being a ‘Dwadasi’, ‘Naivedyam’ and ‘Anna Puja’ rituals have to begin at 3 pm. But as the minister and family were performing pujas at that time, ‘Naivedyam’ and ‘Anna Puja’ to the presiding deity could be done only at 3.30 pm, it is alleged. As if this were not enough, the driver of the minister pushed aside one of the temple’s main archakas, which led to a lot of heartburn among the devotees and archakas, devotees alleged. EO denies allegations However, temple executive officer (EO) K Vinod Reddy denied there was any delay. Endowments Minister Konda Surekha performs special puja ( kode mokkulu ) at the Sri Rajarajeshwari Swami temple at Vemulawada in Rajanna Sircilla district on Monday “When we informed her about the ‘Naivedyam’ and ‘Anna Puja’, Surekha came out of the sanctum sanctorum at 2.55 pm. Thereafter, archakas performed ‘Naivedyam’ and ‘ nna Puja’ to A the deity Vinod Reddy said. ,” Later, speaking to media persons, the minister said that the state government will develop the temple on par with Yadadri. She said the chief minister was also very much interested in developing the temple. The government was planning to carry out gold plating of the temple’s ‘vimana gopuram’ (temple tower) and ‘pallaki’ (palanquin). The processional deities (utsava vigrahalu) would be made from silver, the minister said. EXPRESS READ 5 AIS officers move CAT for stay on DoPT orders Defamation suit: Court to record KTR’s statement Hyderabad: Five IAS officers — Vakati Karuna, Amrapali Kata, Srijana Gummala, A Vani Prasad and Ronald Rose — approached the Central Administrative Tribunal in Hyderabad, challenging the recent orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, rejecting their requests for cadre transfers. These officers had sought to remain in the states they are currently working in rather than to the states they were originally allocated to, following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh | P4 The Nampally court has decided to record the statement of BRS working president KT Rama Rao on October 18 in connection with his defamation suit against Endowments Minister Konda Surekha. The minister is accused by Rama Rao of damaging his reputation by linking him with the divorce of actors Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The court will also record statements of four witnesses in the case — Balka Suman, Satyavathi Rathod, Tula Uma and Dasoju Sravan.