The International Cricket Council confirmed that 2025 Champions Trophy will be played in Pakistan and a neutral venue. This was necessitated after India refused to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns 2025 CT India likely to play in dubai Dubai would 1 There are indications thatwould play be the venue where India their Champions Trophy matches India and Pakistan 2 The ICC said thatby either country at ICC matches hosted events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue Apart from Champions Trophy, this arrangement will apply for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (hosted by India) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (hosted by India and SL) Kollam l friday l December 20, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION 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 Clear biomedical waste dumped in TN in 3 days, NGT tells Kerala S V K RISH N A CHAITA N YA @ Chennai The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday directed the Kerala government and its pollution control board to remove the biomedical waste and mixed solid waste dumped illegally at multiple locations in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district within three days, and file a compliance report on December 23. The southern bench of the NGT passed the order on a suo motu case hearing based on a TNIE article. The biomedical waste was from the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Thiruvananthapuram and Credence Hospital, while municipal waste was from the Leela Kovalam. The NGT has issued notices to all the three establishments, apart from the environment and health departments of both states for failing to curb the illegal activity . The bench, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member K Satyagopal, said Kerala should either take back the waste or sign an MoU with a common biomedical waste treatment facility in Tamil Nadu for safe disposal. “The waste dumped must be removed immediately,” the bench said, setting a deadline of three days. The TNIE article had said that hazardous biomedical waste from Kerala was being frequently dumped into Tamil ● More on P5 Nadu.  ‘Pitched battle’ outside House Two BJP MPs injured Unprecedented fracas Rahul Gandhi meets BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi who was injured in the clash | PTI Rahul booked by police over scuffle Kharge demands probe into ‘assault’ Delhi Police registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi under Section 117 (grievous hurt), 125 (endangering life of others), 131 (criminal force), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention) of the BNS | P7 Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, saying he was physically pushed by BJP MPs on Parliament premises, adding he lost his balance. He demanded a probe into the ‘assault’ | P7 Cross-complaints filed Ambedkar Statue on Parliament’s premises to the Makar Dwar. But The ongoing political face-off took at Makar Dwar, over 100 BJP meman ugly turn on Thursday after the bers had already assembled with Opposition and the ruling BJP got placards in their hands. into a ‘pitched battle’ outside ParA commotion followed while Raliament over Union home minister hul along with some others tried to Amit Shah’s remarks on B R enter the Parliament House. In the Ambedkar. Allegations flew thick melee, a few MPs fell down. Some and fast with both sides accusing of the Opposition MPs also climbed each other of resorting to a wall near the gate. violence, which left two BJP While Parliamentary AfMPs — Pratap Sarangi and fairs Minister Kiren Rijiju Mukesh Rajput — in hospiclaimed that both MPs were Will physical tal with head injuries. seriously injured by Rahul strength be While the BJP alleged and demanded his apology, used in that Leader of Opposition the latter denied the chargParliament? Rahul Gandhi pushed their es. “I was trying to enter Shivraj Singh MPs, the Congress said its Parliament and the BJP Chouhan, BJP party chief Mallikarjun MPs were stopping me, Kharge lost his balance afpushing me and threatenThe BJP is ter being pushed by the ing me,” Rahul said. indulging in BJP’s members. While BJP’s Anurag distraction “Rahul Gandhi pushed an Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj MP who fell on me, after rushed to the Parliament Rahul Gandhi, which I fell. I was standing Street Police Station to file a Congress near the stairs when Gancomplaint against Rahul, andhi came and pushed an MP who other allegation came from BJP MP then fell on me,” Sarangi said. Both S Phangnon Konyak who accused the MPs were admitted to Delhi’s Gandhi of ‘misbehaving’ with her. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Shortly thereafter, Congress MPs Unprecedented scenes unfolded also filed a police case against the after the Opposition MPs and BJP BJP MPs for manhandling their members came face to face at the leaders. Later, Kharge and 15 ConMakar Dwar, Parliament’s main gress MPs submitted letters to entrance. As announced in the Speaker Om Birla demanding acmorning, the Opposition INDIA tion against the BJP MPs who misbloc members marched from the behaved with Rahul and Kharge. P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the guidelines issued by Kerala High Court on parading of elephants at festivals, bringing relief to the devaswoms of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu, the major participants of Thrissur Pooram. A division bench of the Kera- la High Court had imposed strict restrictions on elephant parade, directing to maintain 3m distance between elephants and 8m distance between elephants and percussion ensemble at festivals. A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice B V Nagar- Illegal acupuncture centres thrive despite risks, say health activists T’Puram: Health activists have accused the health department of inaction against acupuncture centres that operate without qualified personnel, despite numerous complaints about treatments gone wrong. In February, a woman and her newborn died after a botched delivery by an acupuncture practitioner in Thiruvananthapuram. A report by the Ayush department to the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, following a complaint by health activists, failed to specify any action against acupuncture practitioners. P5 ‘Not waqf, Munambam land is sellable’ SC stays HC guidelines on elephant parade E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Kochi express read atna and Justice N K Singh observed that the restrictions imposed by the High Court contrary to the Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2012, were impractical. The bench noted that the HC should not have exercised suo motu powers in the case.  ● More on P4 S h ya m P V @ Kochi In a curious move debunking the Waqf Board’s claim, Farook College, Kozhikode, has said that Munambam land is not classified as waqf property, and the college received it through a gift deed. Members of the college management committee stat- ed this on Thursday before Justice C N Ramachandran Nair, chairman of the judicial commission appointed by Kerala government to investigate Munambam land issue and submit a report. They asserted that since the property was not waqf, the college had every right to sell the land. As relations thaw, NSS opens its door to Chennithala once again A B HILASH CHA N D RA N @ Kottayam Senior Congress leader and permanent invitee to the AICC, Ramesh Chennithala, whose political career looked to be heading south, has received an unexpected boost from the Nair Service Society (NSS). After an 11-year standoff, the NSS has extended an olive branch to Chennithala by inviting him to deliver the keynote address at the Mannam Jayanthi celebration, one of the most important events on the community organisation’s calendar, on January 2 at its headquarters in Perunna. The invitation comes as a muchneeded relief for Chennithala, who had been more or less sidelined following the Congress election debacle in Maharashtra, where he was the party’s in-charge. NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair said Chennithala was invited as he is a people’s representative and prominent politician. However, the underlying message is clear -- NSS is throwing its weight behind the beleaguered leader, who has been one of the victims of the generational shift within the Congress, following the UDF’s assembly election defeat in 2021. Speaking to reporters, My policy is to foster cooperation with everyone, not to promote conflict. I am delighted to be invited to the Mannam Jayanthi celebration. I will definitely attend the event Ramesh Chennithala Chennithala expressed gratitude for the invitation. “My policy is to foster cooperation with everyone, not to promote conflict. I am delighted to be invited to the Mannam Jayanthi celebration. I will definitely attend the event,” he said. Nair and Chennithala fell out amid disagreements over the latter’s induction into the Oommen Chandy-led cabinet. Nair had backed Chennithala, who was then KPCC president, for a key position in the UDF ministry in January 2013. Nair held that the UDF govt, which had come to power with a waferthin majority of a single seat, would not last long if Chennithala was not given a key post. He also asserted that there had been an understanding on this matter during discussions between former Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and NSS leaders on September 6, 2010. Despite deliberations in the Congress on Nair’s demand, Chennithala backed out, which provoked the NSS chief and strained their long-standing relationship. Although Chennithala was made home minister a year later, Nair refused to budge from his stance. “Ramesh realised his mistake and refrained from discussing it further. This allowed the NSS to change its stance,” Nair said. Nair was also reportedly unhappy with the high command’s decision to include Shashi Tharoor in the AICC, at the expense of Chennithala, although he didn’t express its publicly De. spite developing a rapport with Tharoor, who was invited to the Mannam Jayanthi celebration in 2023, their relationship quickly strained. With the decision to invite Chennithala, the NSS has sent the message that it is ready to back him again. The college management committee members, accompanied by their lawyers, met the judicial commission chairman and explained their stance on the issue. The management committee’s position is contrary to the Waqf Board’s claim that the Munambam land is ● More on P4 waqf property  . Five Hizbul terrorists killed in J&K encounter F AYA Z WA N I @ Srinagar devastated Nitha, sister of Nikhil Eapen who died in a car-bus collision at Murinjakal near Konni early on Sunday, is inconsolable during his funeral service at the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church at Poomkavu in Pathanamthitta on Thursday. Nikhil, his wife Anu, Nikhil’s father Mathai Eapen and Anu’s father Biju George were laid to rest after the joint service | Shaji Vettipuram Dy chair rejects notice to impeach Dhankhar RA J ESH K UMAR THA K UR @ New Delhi rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Thursday dismissed the impeachment notice against Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. Terming the Opposition’s bid an act of impropriety, Harivansh said the notice was drafted in haste and with the clear intent to tarnish Dhankhar’s reputation and undermine constitutional institutions. The three-page ruling, tabled in the House by Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody, said the notice was flawed a n d l a c k e d s u b s t a n t ive evidence. “A look at the notice reveals it could not be more casual and cavalier, wanting on every conceivable aspect and severally flawed—absence of addressee, absence of resolution text, incumbent Vice President’s name not correctly spelt in the entire petition, documents and videos asserted not made part, premised on the links of disjointed media reports...” it noted. Security forces on Thursday killed five Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including its operations commander Farooq Ahmed Bhat alias Farooq Nali, in a six-hour-long encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Two Army personnel were also in injured in the gunfight. Five AK rifles, 12 magazines, 4 grenades, and cash were recovered from the encounter site. Farooq was slain Burhan Wa n i ’s l a s t surviving aide and one of the most wanted militant in J&K. “We received information about the presence of Hizb terrorists in the Kadder area of Kulgam. The joint operation was launched by police, CRPF and Army in the village around 3.30 am today During the search . operation, security personnel came under fire,” said Brigadier Anirudh Chauhan, commander of 2 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, adding that the troops returned the fire, killing five terrorists. G a n d h i B h a v a n i n i t i a t iv e Memorial, museum to be set up to preserve T P Madhavan’s legacy R a h u l R @Kollam The memory of the late actor T P Madhavan continues to resonate with his admirers. To honour the legacy of the actor, who passed away in October, Gandhi Bhavan in Kollam has announced plans to construct a memorial on its premises in his name. Additionally, the room where he stayed for nearly a decade will be converted into a museum. Through the move, Gandhi Bhavan hopes to celebrate the actor’s remarkable legacy while fostering a space that encourages cultural and artistic exploration. Gandhi Bhavan secretary Punalur Somarajan said hundreds of people visit the institution daily to catch a glimpse of the room where Madhavan spent his final years. A portrait of the actor has been placed at the entrance of the room, making it easier for people to pay respects. “T P Madhavan spent almost the last 10 years of his life here. His room was on the first floor. Despite facing health issues, he insisted on climbing the stairs daily I kept urging him to shift . to the ground floor, but he was adamant, believing he could overcome the health issues. Unfortunately he left us. Since , his passing, fans have shown immense interest in his room and life at Gandhi Bhavan. This inspired us to build a memorial and convert his room into a museum to preserve his legacy said Somarajan. ,” Construction of the memorial is set to begin in January using contributions from Gandhi Bhavan and admirers of Madhavan. The initiative aims to celebrate the actor’s contributions to cinema while promoting appreciation of Kerala’s cultural and artistic heritage among younger gen- erations. Madhavan acted in more than 600 films during a career spanning five decades. “Madhavan was an avid reader and a compassionate individual. For his admirers, he was a towering figure — a talented actor and writer who left an indelible legacy His loss is . deeply felt, but through the museum and memorial, we hope to inspire younger generations to learn about his contributions to cinema and contemporary art. Our goal is to make this area a cultural hub,” said Somarajan. Madhavan had called Gandhi Bhavan his home since 2016. Known for his witty humor and radiant smile, he brought joy to those around him, even while battling amnesia. His kind and caring nature left a lasting impression on everyone at Gandhi Bhavan. “His jokes and elegant smile would light up anyone’s day. Even when his health deteriorated, he remained full of life, always checking on others and spreading positivity,” said Susan Thomas, general superintendent of Gandhi Bhavan. MVD lenient on fitness of school buses despite rising accidents The Motor Vehicle Dept has allowed educational institution buses whose fitness certificates have expired or about to expire soon, to continue plying for another 4 to 5 months | P4