KOCHI l thursday l January 23, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 20 l LATE city EDITION 20 cheetahs to arrive from Kenya between February and September The third batch of 20 cheetahs will arrive at Madhya Pradesh’s Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary between February 25 and Sept 25 File Photo 15-day quarantine at Gandhi Sagar sanctuary ■ 1952 Kuno National Park now has 25 cheetahs The cheetahs will undergo a 15-day quarantine before their release into the wild, officials said. A separate enclosure has been created at the sanctuary to house them during the quarantine period. A team of wildlife scientists will inspect the facility. Efforts will be made to pair male and female cheetahs, Dr Abhijeet Pawde, a senior wildlife scientist, said ■ Twenty cheetahs—eight from Namibia in 2022 and 12 from South Africa in 2023—have been brought to India under ‘Project Cheetah’, the Centre’s initiative to reintroduce the species to India Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park now hosts 25 cheetahs, including the 12 from South Africa and their 13 cubs born here when cheetahs were declared extinct in India 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 12 killed as they jump off train, hit by another In first meet, US flags irregular migration issue S u d h i r s u r ya w a n s h i @ Mumbai At least 12 rail passengers were killed and 55 others injured after they jumped off their train reportedly over a false fire alarm and were hit by another speeding train around the same time while crossing the tracks in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district on Wednesday . Reports said someone on the Pushpak Express, which was travelling from Lucknow to Mumbai, pulled the chain, raising a false alarm. As the locopilots applied the brakes to slow down the fast-moving train, sparks either from the hot axle or brake-jamming and the smoke spread into one of the cabins. It triggered panic among passengers who assumed a fire had broken out. Dhule Jalgaon In an attempt to save themselves, some passengers jumped off the train unaware that the Karnataka Buldhana Nashik Express was fast approaching from the opposite direction. As they tried to cross the track, many of Aurangabad A crowd at the site of them were mowed down by the oncoming train. the accident, near Maharashtra The accident took place between Maheji and PardPachora railway station | PTI hade stations near Pachora, more than 400 km from Mumbai. Both trains later reached their respective next stations and the accident site has been cleared, a L5 lakh ex gratia announced police official said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, ex- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced pressing grief over the incident, said, “The tragic inci- a I5 lakh ex gratia for the next of kin of those dent of the loss of lives in a very unfortunate incident killed and said the government will bear the near Pachora in Jalgaon district is deeply distressing. I cost of treatment for the injured pay my heartfelt tributes to them,” he said. “We are monitoring the situation and all necessary Toll could increase assistance is being provided immediately I am in touch . with the district administration,” Fadnavis said, add- The Jalgaon district administration said 12 ing, Jalgaon General Hospital and nearby private hos- bodies were recovered from the track. It said pitals are being kept ready for treating the injured the toll could go up as some of the passengers have sustained serious injuries passengers. Sebi moots mini SIPs at `250 a month B E N K OCHUV E E DA N @ Mumbai Seeking to increase financial inclusion among the under-served sections and inculcate the habit of systematic saving, capital markets regulator Sebi has proposed that fund houses launch sachetsized systematic investment plans (SIPs) starting at `250 a month. These small-ticket SIPs would be offered at lower costs but the discounted rates would apply only for three plans per investor. According to Sebi’s consultation paper, released on Wednesday, the scheme is to help small investors who are new to the mutual fund industry. Existing investors and those who opt for large SIPs would be excluded. The proposal caps annual investment at `50,000 per investor, per mutual fund, without PAN. However, Aadhaar verification is mandatory Investors are ex. pected to make a commitment for five years (60 instalments), though there will be no restriction on closing the plan early . The paper also suggests ways to help asset management companies (AMCs) to recover the additional costs they incur by subsidizing these sachet-sized SIPs. It says the AMCs can be compensated from the investor education and awareness fund maintained by the mutual fund industry Sebi will accept indus. try feedback till February 6. Chennithala, Satheesan put up united face amid reports of infighting war ned party leaders that there was no point in her conIn a public show of unity, ap- tinuing as the state in-charge parently orchestrated to dispel if there was no unity within the popular notion of a bitter the Congress leadership in feud brewing between Kerala. them, Leader of OppoReferring to Excise sition V D Satheesan Minister M B Rajesh’s and senior Congress jibe that both the leadleader Ramesh Cheners were holding sepanithala buried the rate press conferences hatchet and displayed on the same issue, mutual warmth at a Satheesan said, as a joint press meet on Ramesh Chennithala beaming Chennithala Wednesday . looked on, “Rajesh is The two war ring concer ned that we leaders called the meraise allegations dia conference at the against the gover nbehest of the AICC ment separately. We general secretary incame here unitedly to charge of the state, dispel his concern.” Deepa Dasmunshi. The leader of oppoV D Satheesan Chennithala and sition also ridiculed Satheesan, vying to Rajesh for asking why outdo each other in the race for the Opposition did not raise the chief ministership in case the corruption allegation as an adUDF comes to power in 2026, journment motion. “The minisheld a personal meeting before ter should read the rules of the presser to iron out differ- business once in a while,” he ● More on P4 ences. Dasmunshi had earlier said.  E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @T’Puram Rubio’s first bilateral meet of his tenure with Jaishankar indicates trajectory of India ties JAYA N TH JACOB @ New Delhi IN his first bilateral meeting after taking charge as US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio told External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that the Trump administration is keen to strengthen the US’ strategic partnership with India and urged him to address concerns of ‘irregular migration’. Jaishankar said India strongly supports legal migration. Later, talking to reporters in Washington, he said he flagged the delays faced by Indian citizens in obtaining US visas. Jaishankar-Rubio meeting was held at the headquarters of the State Department on Tuesday. That Rubio, a China hawk and an ardent advocate of India-US relationship, chose to have his first bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart is seen as a signal that the Trump administration is keen to bolster ties with India. During the meeting, they discussed ways to expand the strength and scope of their relationship and a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a ‘mutually convenient, earliest date’. The State Department said both sides vowed to strengthen the bilateral relationship. “Secretary Rubio also emphasized the Trump Administration’s desire to work with India to advance economic ties and address concerns related to irregular migration,” its statement read. Illegal and irregular migration was a key issue Trump raised during his campaign. In October last year, the US Department of Homeland Security deported over 1,100 Indian nationals as part of its efforts to target unauthorised migration. Jaishankar said India needs to verify their nationality adding: “We are open to legitimate return of , people.” Jaishankar said the Trump administration has substantial interest in the ongoing cooperation between the US and India, adding that he is optimistic about the trajectory of the bilateral ties. In a signal to China, foreign ministers from Quad countries opposed any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion | P9 tRUMP NUANCES h-1b STAND Trump said he likes ‘both sides of the argument’ on H-1B foreign guest workers’ visa, noting that he likes “very competent people” coming into the country Diversity STAFF SENT ON LEAVE Trump administration directed that all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave. Agencies told to develop plans to lay them off | P11 Darknet operator pardoned External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a meeting, in Washington DC | PTI Discontent nod for offshore mining of construction sand irks fishers Fishers’ unions threaten stir, state govt conveys disapproval, but geologists say move will boost economy | P7 Mu(n)ch Ado About Ingredients No small fry! Malayalis’ beloved banana fritter caught in tax tangle R a j e s h R a v i @Kochi The batter is leaving a bitter aftertaste! The humble banana fritter, known to Malayalis variously as ‘pazhampori’, ‘ethakkaappam’, ‘vazhakkappam’, etc., depending on where in Kerala you ask, finds itself caught in a tax tangle. The beloved fritters are being slapped with a hefty 18% GST, while their cheeky country cousin, the ‘unniappam’ — those adorable mini browns — enjoy a leisurely life in the cozy 5% tax slab. According to the Bakers Association Kerala (Bake), traditional snacks like ‘pazhampori’, ‘vada’, ‘ada’, and ‘kozhukatta’ are subjected to differential treatment due to differences arising on account of qUAD HAS A MESSAGE FOR CHINA classification of products under the Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN). Every item has a corresponding HSN code, which determines its tax rate. Although HSN codes are standardised globally by the World Customs Organisation, countries can set their own tax rates for each code. In India, the GST Council is responsible for deciding these rates. Kiran S Palakkal, president of Bake, points out that many sweetmeats and snacks are classified under lower tax slabs, while others, due to slight variations in ingredients or preparations, are placed in higher tax slabs. Sherry Oommen, a jurist who specialises in tax, commercial and constitutional law, notes that the question of classification is a vexed issue within GST. “The GST Department tends to adopt a stance where preparations not specifically covered for reduced levies are taxed at 18%.” Sherry explains that there could be situations where particular goods could get classified under more than one HSN, which will have a bearing on their tax ● More on P4 rate.  Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, who was sentenced to life for running Silk Road darknet marketplace that allegedly facilitated sale of drugs Prelim list Tata, MMS lead Bharat Ratna race RAJ E SH K UMAR THA K UR @ New Delhi It’s that time of the year when speculation mounts over the possible recipients of the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. Among the awardees this year could be towering politicians. There could also be a surprise element on the list that is released around Republic Day . Sources said industrialist Ratan Tata and former PM Manmohan Singh are in the preliminary shortlist for the most coveted award, albeit posthumously. The demand for conferring it on Tata picked up pace after his demise in October. The demand for honouring Singh came from the Congress and a few NDA partners, after he passed away on December 26. Another legacy could be up for grabs if Dalit icon and BSP founder Kanshi Ram figures on the list. BSP chief Mayawati has repeatBefore or after edly pitched for his recognition Republic Day with a Bharat Ratna. The government could Other names doing the rounds recommend threeinclude Samajwadi Party patrifour names for the arch Mulayam Singh Yadav, freeBharat Ratna before dom fighter and Hindutva ideoRepublic Day or after logue V D Savarkar, educationist February 5, when couple Jyotirao Govindrao Phule Delhi is scheduled to and Savitribai Phule, Bihar’s first go for polls CM Shri Krishna Singh, B P Mandal, whose Mandal Commission report triggered social engineering and gave reservations to OBCs, and former Odisha CM Biju Patnaik. Interestingly, senior BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh recently suggested the Bharat Ratna for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and his former Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik. 20 pages, including 4 pages of KOCHI Express