The New Indian Express wishes its readers a OUR OFFICES AND PRESS WILL REMAIN CLOSED TODAY AND THERE WILL BE NO ISSUE OF THE PAPER ON WEDNESDAY HYDERABAD  TUESDAY  JANUARY 14, 2025  `9.00  PAGES 16  LATE CITY EDITION INDIA SUMMONS BANGLADESH ENVOY AMID BORDER FENCING ROW India on Monday summoned Bangladesh’s acting High Commissioner Nural Islam amid row over India’s construction of fencing on the border NO VIOLATION OF PROTOCOL, AGREEMENT: INDIA 5 ARRESTED BY BSF FOR SMUGGLING ATTEMPT With regard to security measures at the border, the Bangladesh envoy was told India observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments. Barbed wire fencing, border lighting, installation of technical devices are meant to secure the border, the Ministry of External Affairs said, adding that the focus is on tackling cross-border criminal activities ■ ■ The Bangladesh diplomat was summoned a day after Dhaka conveyed to Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma its deep concerns over India’s border security measures | P7 Security forces on Monday arrested five people, including two from Bangladesh, for trying to smuggle goods across the border 535 BOTTLES OF PHENSEDYL, A NARCOTIC DRUG, WERE SEIZED FROM SMUGGLERS 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 Will keep promise on J&K statehood: Modi MAHA KUMBH OPENS FLOWING WATERS AND FAITH: 1.5 CR TAKE HOLY DIP PA R A M I TA G H O S H @ Prayagraj E ARLY in the morning at the Kumbh, Vedic chants and Ram bhajans can be heard from every direction, as the faithful, towels on shoulders, make their way to the banks of the Ganga for a holy dip. This morning, a light fog sits above the water; by mid-morning, it is all clear as if it were the fog of unreason. As the first light of dawn broke over the Sangam on Monday, a sea of devotees, undeterred by the chilly breeze and cold waters of the Ganga took the holy dip on ‘Paush Purnima’, marking the commencement of Maha Kumbh 2025. More than 1.5 crore pilgrims took the dip on Monday, the UP government said. For octogenarian Bhabani Bhowmik, a retired schoolteacher from Siliguri, the dip was a transformative experience. “I took Ganga ji’s name and when I came out, I felt no chill,” she says. As the day unfolds, the rhythms of the Kumbh come alive. Boatman Nandkumar, from a neighbouring district, gazes longingly at the Sangam, hoping to bag a permit to ferry passengers. Brothers Gopal and Amit Mishra, meanwhile, tend to the spiritual needs of the bathers, applying sandalwood mark on their foreheads. In this vast, swirling tapestry of humanity individ, uals from all walks of life converge, each with their own story of spiritual seeking. Sabra, a Brazilian seeker, says, “I was born into a Catholic family, but did not practice it. For the last year, I’ve been chanting and g etting my f aith back.” Out of the blue, the bhule bhatkey shivir (lost-andfound camp) where a human being reinforces his faith in another, springs to life. A mother looks for her son, another seeks her ‘Sushila mausi’, and a stranger appeals to an Ashokda to return. As the day wears on, these names are replaced by others. Omar heaps praise on PM, thanks him for fair polls F AYA Z W A N I @ Srinagar Devotees at the Ganga in Prayagraj. The Maha Kumbh commenced on Monday after a gap of 12 years | PTI | P8 ` sinks further, hits all-time low B E N N K O C H U V E E D A N @ Mumbai THE rupee on Monday logged its steepest single-day decline of 58 paise (0.67%) in nearly two years, closing the session at a historic low of 86.62 to the dollar. The fall is attributed to the stronger American currency, surging crude prices, and the volatility in the equity markets. The last time the Indian currency took such a plunge was on February 6, 2023 when it shed 68 paise. The latest decline also suggests that the Reserve Bank of India’s measures to arrest the INFLATION EASES TO 5.22% IN DECEMBER Retail inflation fell to a 4-month low of 5.22% in December 2024 due to slower growth in food prices in the month compared to the year-ago period. In November 2024, the inflation was at 5.48% rupee fall may not be as effective as they should be. Since March 2024, the banking regulator had sold over $115 billion to prop up the local currency In . October alone, RBI sold a whopping $38 billion. According to traders and Turmeric Board in Nizamabad becomes a reality M V K S A S T R Y @ Nizamabad THE long-cherished dream of Telangana turmeric farmers is set to become a reality with the formal inauguration of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad on Tuesday . The official ceremony will take place at a city hotel, with Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piy- Yadagirigutta temple to allow cow adoption A S E S H A C H A R Y U L U @ Nalgonda OFFICIALS at the Yadagirigutta Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple have submitted a proposal to the Endowments department to allow devotees to adopt cows that have been donated to the shrine. The proposal was finetuned following suggestions offered by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy during his recent visit to the temple. The proposed system will allow devotees to adopt one or more cows. Adoption here means that they would not be able to take the cows home, but will be required to bear the annual expenses for each adopted animal. This is regarded as an act of service. Adopters will also receive special temple darshan privileges during visits. The Goshala, located on a 24-acre site at the foot of the Yadagirigutta temple and established in 1952, currently houses 34 cows, 63 bulls, and 90 calves. Each cow requires a daily diet of 5 kg of dry grass, 10 kg of green grass and 1 kg of feed, as per the Goshala management. A vet visits daily to monitor the health of the cattle. Temple Executive Officer A Bhaskar Rao confirmed that the adoption proposals have been sent to the government for approval. KAUSHIK REDDY, BRS MLA, ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO KARIMNAGAR FOR ABUSING JAGTIAL MLA DR SANJAY KUMAR |P4 ush Goyal and Nizamabad BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind participating virtually from New Delhi. BJP state secretary and turmeric farmer Palle Gangareddy has been appointed the national chairman of the turmeric board for a three-year term. The Centre issued orders to this effect on Monday . Gangareddy, a native of Ankapur village in Armoor mandal of Nizamabad, hails from a region known for its agricultural advancements. The establishment of a turmeric board has been a longstanding demand of Telangana farmers, particularly those in Nizamabad. With the efforts of Arvind, the Centre is now delivering on this promise, coinciding with Sankranti. CONTINUED ON P5 currency analysts this newspaper spoke to, the unprecedented fall is due to the high demand for the dollar, which also led to a massive withdrawal of foreign capital from equities. Since October, foreign funds have pulled out close to `2 lakh crore from equities. “The risk averse sentiment across the globe ahead of Donald Trump taking charge as the 47th President of the US and worries over higher inflation can further weigh on the rupee,” said Dilip Parmar, senior currency analyst at HDFC SeP10 curities. INAUGURATING the strategic 6.4-km Z-Morh tunnel in Sonamarg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he will keep promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, an apparent reference to the demand for the restoration of statehood voiced strongly by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. “There is a time for every work. And the right work is going to happen at the right time,” Modi said. In his address, Abdullah, whose National Conference party is a member of the Opposition INDIA bloc, heaped praise on Modi, saying his heart says the PM would soon fulfill the promise of restoring statehood to J&K. Omar’s statement comes days after he wondered if the INDIA bloc should be wound up if it was cobbled together only for the Lok Sabha polls. “My people, my cabinet colleagues and media ask me when will J&K get statehood again. I tell them the PM fulfilled his promise to hold elections in four months and my Narendra Modi (2nd from left) after inaugurating Z-Morh tunnel | PTI heart says that he would also fulfil his promise to restore J&K statehood,” he said. He also credited Modi for fair elections in J&K. “Not a single polling station needed re-polling. The credit for this goes to you, your associates and Election Commission,” he said. Through these infra projects, the PM kept his promise to bridge ‘Dil ki doori and Delhi ki Doori’ (distance between hearts and Delhi), he added.