The New Indian Express wishes its readers a tirupati l wednesday l january 01, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l anantapur EDITION India’s Core sector production improves to 4.3% in November Output of cement, coal, steel, electricity, refinery products, and fertilisers showed positive growth in November, commerce ministry data showed Cement sector emerges top performer Coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity are the eight infrastructure industries collectively known as the core sector. The cement sector grew 13% in November, followed by coal at 7.5%, steel 4.8%, electricity 3.8%, petroleum refinery products 2.9%, and fertilisers 2%. Crude oil and natural gas output contracted 2.1% and 1.9% ■ 40.27% Output Growth hits four-month high ■ The latest data for November shows a four-month high in terms of positive growth in core sector output. In August 2024, overall core sector growth showed a contraction of 1.6%. In September and October, the growth was 2.4% and 3.7% (revised), respectively In November 2023, the core sector had recorded 7.9% growth Core sector’s contribution to the index of Industrial production 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 Punjab twist Farmer on fast seeks talks with Centre, SC grants time S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t y @ New Delhi a toast from the sky Two boys welcome the New Year while enjoying the sky cycling ride, which was recently inaugurated atop Kailasagiri, in Visakhapatnam | G Satyanarayana NDA govt striving to improve lives of poor: Naidu E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Guntur Stating that the people are his high command, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stressed that the TDP-led NDA government in the State was working towards improving the lives of the poor. Naidu distributed social security pensions to eligible beneficiaries in Yellamanda village in Narasaraopet rural mandal of Palnadu district. In a heartening gesture, he made coffee for a family and engaged in a candid conversation to understand their struggles. He instructed officials to provide financial aid to the family fo r s e l f-employment and housing. Speaking on the occasion, he pointed out, “Andhra Pradesh is the only State in the country to provide monthly pensions to over 64 lakh beneficiaries, with each recipient receiving `4,000 per month.” Highlighting that the State government is distributing pensions at the doorstep of the beneficiaries, Naidu warned that if officials are found disbursing the financial assistance at offices, memos will be sent to them. Asserting that true welfare lies in uplifting the lives of the poor, he criticised the previous government for mismanagement and destruction of public trust by imposing additional taxes and demolishing P4 systems.  Sorry I feel regret and I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what happened since May 3 last year CM apologises for loss of lives due to ethnic strife Urges people to forgive and forget past mistakes P r a s a n ta M a z u m d a r @ Guwahati On the New Year’s eve, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh apologised to the people of the state for the loss of lives during the ethnic violence. “I feel regret and I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what happened since May 3 last year. Many people lost their loved ones. Many people left their homes. So, I really feel regret and would like to apologise to all natives,” Singh said at a press conference. Pointing out that there has been some progress towards peace in the last three-four months, he said he was hopeful about the return of normalcy and peace on the New Year. “Whatever happened has happened. We have to forgive and forget the past mistakes and make a new beginning for a peaceful and prosperous Manipur,” the CM said, adding, “We all recognise 34-35 tribes. We should live together in the future.” While over 200 people died in the ethnic violence, 12,247 FIRs were registered and 625 accused arrested. Also, 5,600 arms and 35,000 ammunitions were recovered. “So, there is a good progress in tackling the issue. Centre provided enough security personnel and funds to help the displaced families. Altogether 2,058 families with a population of 7,549 persons have been resettled,” Singh said. Meanwhile, several Kuki women were injured on Tuesday when central armed police forces (CAPF) allegedly used force to disperse protesters at Saibol village in the Kangpokpi district. The trouble began when the local women allegedly resisted the “forceful occupation of community bunkers” by the central forces. Condemning the assault, the women wing of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum claimed that more than 30 women were injured during their “peaceful protest against the violence in Saibol-Twichin area of Kangpokpi district”. The organisation demanded that CAPF immediately cease its “intrusive operations” and allow the people to celebrate the New Year in peace. “The government must stop being Biren Singh, Manipur CM biased and take concrete steps to prevent such incidents and ensure that those responsible for the violence are held accountable,” the organisation further stated. After the chief minister’s outreach, the Congress wondered why Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn’t gone there yet. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “Why can’t the Prime Minister go to Manipur and say the same thing there? He has deliberately avoided visiting the state since May 4, 2023, even as he jets around the country and the world.” the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted three more days to the Punjab government to comply with its December 20 order to provide medical aid to 70-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-untodeath strike since November 26, and shift him to hospital. The court was hearing a contempt petition against the Punjab chief secretary and DGP for not complying with its order to shift Dallewal to hospital. A vacation bench of justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia accepted the Punjab government’s plea for three more days after Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh told the court that Dallewal has agreed to accept medical aid if the Centre is ready to hold talks with the protesting farmers. The protest is over non-fulfilment of farmers’ demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops. “We will not comment on what is going on, about negotiations... As of now we are only concerned with the compliance of our orders,” Justice Kant said. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that he has no instructions on the submissions made by the Punjab AG. “Taking into the consideration the totality of circumstances and keeping the interest of justice in view, we are inclined to accept the request to afford some more time for compliance with the directions issued by the court,” the bench ruled while posting the matter to January 2, 2025 for further hearing. Manipur accounted for 77% of violence in northeast last year M U K E S H RA N J A N @ New Delhi Central outreach During his stay in Manipur, Shah held more than 15 meetings with govt officers, officers of security forces, netas and over 100 members of civil society Strife-torn Manipur accounted for about 77% of all violent incidents in the Northeast in 2023-24, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in its annual report. It attributed the spike in violence in Manipur as compared to 2022, to ethnic clashes between the majority Meiteis and the KukiZo community Of the 243 violent incidents in the . Northeast that year, 187 were in Manipur alone. “The counter-insurgency operations in Manipur resulted in killing of 33 insurgents and arrest of 184 insurgents besides recovery of 49 weapons. Further, 80 cadres of insurgent outfits surrendered with 31 arms,” the report read. While the state government is primarily responsible for dealing with violence, the MHA took a series of “immediate and sustained” measures to manage the situation. During his visit to the state between May 29 and June 1, 2023, Union home minister Amit Shah held more than 15 meetings with various stakeholders, it said. Senior Punjab police officials meet farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal at Khanauri border in Sangrur district on Friday | pti 9/11 plea deal back on table as US def secy loses bid to reject it Defence chiefs to get aides from other services M AYA N K S I N G H @ New Delhi TAKING a crucial step in the process to integrate Armed Forces personnel, the personal staff officers of the service chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force will be appointed from other services with effect from January 1, 2025. Till now, the chiefs were getting Aides-de-Camp (ADCs) from their own units. “This change has been adopted by all the three service chiefs, signalling some major changes in 2025. It may appear a small step but it is a big message for transforming the defence forces,” sources said. To begin with, the Army chief will get ADC also from the Air Force, the Air Chief from the Indian Navy and the , Navy chief from the Army . This is part of the several Aides-de-Camp such changes that will roll out Aides-de-Camp over the next year. Sources said (ADCs) are the the initiative is led by the Chief personal staff of of Defence Staff, General Anil defence chiefs, Chauhan, who is working on a usually in the ranks of long-term plan to move the forcCaptain/Major or es towards the Integrated Theaequivalent ranks from tre Commands. other services. The Under the human resources ADCs serve the three reforms being undertaken, the service chiefs, force first set of cross-posting of juncommanders, and ior officers was executed in midcorps commanders. 2023, with mid-level and senior Defence personnel officers being placed in imporposted with t a n t b i l l e t s ove r s eve r a l governors are months. also ADCs A special Joint Division has been created at the Defence Services Staff College to foster a collaborative and interservice approach to ensure jointness and integration in warfare and focus on inter-service understanding and cooperation. This, sources said, will empower them to function effectively in the era of Theatre Commands. “Due impetus has been given towards developing greater tri-services synergy and enhancing jointness and integration under eight key domains—operations & intelligence, operational logistics, capability development, communications & infotech, training, maintenance & support services, human resources, and administration & legal aspects,” sources elaborated. India will be the first democratic country to adopt theaterisation through consensus building among the three services, they added. A military appeals court ruled against US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s effort to throw out the plea deals reached for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants in the 9/11 attacks. The ruling was announced on Monday night | P9 change in command State BJP unit set to get new president, four key contenders in race BSN Malleswara Rao @ Vijayawada With internal elections for BJP Mandal and District Presidents underway, several leaders have begun vying for the position of State President. While new Mandal Presidents are required to assume office by January 2, the election of District Presidents, originally scheduled for January 5, may be delayed. Once the District Presidents are elected, the BJP high command is expected to announce the new State party chief after Sankranti. Although speculation is rampant regarding the appointment, it has been learnt that D Purandeswari, the current State BJP chief, is seeking to secure a position in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet. Purandeswari joined the BJP after the bifurcation of the state in 2014. She has held various national-level positions before taking charge as the Andhra Pradesh BJP chief in July 2023. She has been credited with playing a key role in supporting the high command dur- PV Parthasarathi, Purighalla Raghuram, PVN Madhav & Sujana Chowdary | Express ing elections and maintaining strong relations with NDA allies -- the TDP and Jana Sena. As the BJP seeks to strengthen its presence in southern India, the high command is looking for a leader with a strong track record who can foster good relations with NDA allies while strengthening the party’s grassroots network. According to sources, four leaders are key contenders for the post: Adoni MLA Dr PV Parthasarathi, Vijayawada West MLA Sujana Chowdary, MLC PVN Madhav, and senior party leader Purighalla Raghuram. If the party opts to appoint a public representative, it may choose between Parthasarathi and Sujana Chowdary Should . the BJP prioritise ties with the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), it may select either PVN Madhav or Purighalla Raghuram for the top post. Notably, Parthasarathi is seen as a strong contender for the State president’s position due to his close ties with the party high command and his affiliation with the RSS. As a member of the Valmiki community from Rayalaseema, his appointment would be significant, as no leader from this region has ever been appointed to lead the BJP in the State. Parthasarathi has held various positions in the BJP at both the State and national levels and has contested elections, including a failed bid for the Kurnool MP seat. However, he was successful in securing the AdoP4 ni MLA seat.  JANUARY New Year’s Day Holidays 1. New Year’s Day 13. Bhogi 14. Makara Sankranthi 15. Kanuma 26. Republic Day 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 Bhogi 5 Makara Sankranthi Kanuma 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Republic Day 26 27 28 29 30 31 THIS EDITION CARRIES A SPECIAL WALL CALENDAR FOR 2025