tirupati l tuesday l february 25, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Bloodbath on Dalal Street: Sensex, Nifty Hit 8-Month Lows India’s equity market saw a sharp decline on Monday, with the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 plunging to their lowest levels in eight months File photo weak global cues, fii exodus a concern trump’s tariff plans cause ripple effect The sell-off was driven by weakening global cues and persistent foreign institutional investor (FII) selling amid concerns over US trade policies. The 30-share Sensex tumbled by 856.65 points, or 1.14%, to close at 74,454.41, while the Nifty50 dropped by 242.55 points, or 1.06%, to settle at 22,553.35. So far in 2025, both indices have declined by over 5% ■ ■ The downturn was fueled by a fall in US consumer sentiment to a 15-month low in February and expectations of inflation remaining high due to US President Donald Trump’s absurd tariff plans Experts believe the near-term scenario remains uncertain, with trade war, FII outflows, and high valuations weighing on investor sentiment 4.22 lakh cr is what investors lost on Monday as the BSE Sensex fell below 75K 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 surprise move APSFL chief Reddy quits post, TDP S V i s w a n ath @ Vijayawada In a surprising development, Andhra Pradesh State FiberNet Limited Chairman GV Reddy who created a flutter by dis, closing several irregularities in the APSFL during the previous YSRCP regime, and also expressed his ire at officials in the present dispensation for failing to rectify the lapses in the organisation, quit his post on Monday .   He also submitted his resignation to the TDP primary membership and the party national spokesperson post. In a letter addressed to TDP supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Reddy stated that he quit all the posts on personal grounds. “I extend my heartfelt gratit u d e t o yo u (Naidu) for the confidence you reposed on me, entrusting the key responsibilities to me. I wish that the TDP strengthens further, and be in the forefront in serving the people,” Reddy said. Making it clear that he had no intentions to join other political parties in the future, Reddy said he will practise law full time. After taking charge as the APSFL Chairman in November 2024, Reddy ordered removal of around 400 employees, who were appointed during the YSRCP regime in violation of norms. He made open remarks against APSFL MD K Dinesh Kumar for ‘ignoring’ his directions pertaining to strengthenP4 ing of APSFL.  April timeline AP back on track of growth: Governor for Modi, Yunus meeting likely S G uru S r i ka n th @ Vijayawada Both expected to hold talks on the sidelines of the 7-nation BIMSTEC summit in Thailand J aya n th J a c o b @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet the Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to Bangladesh interim government, on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) summit in Thailand in April 3-4. April 4 will be the main summit day of the sub-regional grouping. Though the possibility of the meeting between Modi and Yunus is being explored, there is no official confirmation yet. Modi will travel to Thailand for the summit, which was earlier slated for on September 3-4 last year but got postponed due to domestic political developments in the host country . India is promoting BIMSTEC as a model regional organisation, after SAARC became largely inactive due to the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Ties between India and Bangladesh waded into choppy waters after the removal of Sheikh Hasina as the prime minister. Speaking at a public event on Sunday just days after his meet, ing with Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain in Muscat, foreign minister Jaishankar expressed concern regarding the interim administration’s hostile approach towards India and the violence against minorities. Narendra Modi and Muhammad Yunus BIMSTEC model regional grouping, says India BIMSTEC consists of seven member countries: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. India is promoting BIMSTEC as a model regional grouping, after SAARC became largely inactive due to the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan “What is especially concerning is the ongoing attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. This impacts our viewpoint, and we have raised our concerns.” Jaishankar also responded to the Bangladesh government’s public criticism of India in the same event, describing it as contradictory and unproductive. “If officials from the interim government keep blaming India for all their problems, some of which are entirely unfounded, it sends a conflicting message. On one hand, they claim to want good relations with us, but on the other, they continuously blame India for their domestic issues. This is a choice they must make,” the external affairs minister said. Hopes dim as rescue ops enter day 3 E x press Ne w s S erv i c e @ Hyderabad AS the efforts to save the eight workers trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel since Saturday entered the third day, the rescue workers are not only battling against time but also the slush and seepage. The continuous seepage has turned the earth inside the tunnel into slush, slowing down the rescue teams. While the fate of trapped workers remained unknown as of Monday evening, officials said the tunnel boring machine has a safe chamber and the workers would be safe if they managed to enter it. Early in the day, Telangana transport minister Jupally Krishna Rao told a news agency that he was not optimistic A thriving economy is the foundation of a prosperous society , and Andhra Pradesh must lead the way in shaping India’s industrial future, said Governor S Abdul Nazeer, while highlighting the State’s vast coastline, abundant natural resources, and skilled workforce, which position it uniquely to achieve growth in sectors like renewable energy green hydro, gen, semiconductor manufacturing, and high-value exports. Addressing the joint session of the State Legislative Assembly and Council on the first day of the Budget Session on Monday, the Governor said it is equally important to ensure that growth is sustainable and inclusive. “AP’s development should not come at the cost of its environment or at the risk of widening social disparities. Policies must be designed with a long-term vision, integrating initiatives like Jal Jeevan Mission, Gati Shakti, and Make in India with grassroot empowerment programmes. Rural development must go hand in hand with urban expansion, ensuring that no community is left behind,” the Governor asserted. The Governor emphasised that education, skilling and digital access must be prioritised, equipping the youth with the tools they need to actively participate in the rapidly YSRCP MLAs boycott Guv’s address, Botcha reiterates Oppn status demand E x press Ne w s S erv i c e @ Vijayawada On the expected lines, YSRCP MLAs-led by party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, boycotted the Governor’s address of the joint session of the AP Legislative Assembly and Council, minutes after Governor S Abdul Nazeer commenced his speech, and staged a walkout on Monday the first day of the , Budget Session. Jagan and his MLAs arrived at the State Assembly at 9.58 am, and the Governor’s address commenced at 10 am. Three minutes later, YSRCP members, stood up and rushed to the podium raising slogans ‘We Wa n t Ju s t i c e ’ a n d ‘ S ave Democracy’. With Jagan indicating them to return at 10.09 am, they with- drew their protest, and along with their leader staged a walkout. Jagan folded his hands towards the Chair, before exiting the House. Later addressing the media outside the Assembly, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Botcha Satyanarayana said, “There are only two sides in the House. One is the treas- Weight loss? Dhoni may use lighter bat f i r o z m i r z a @ Chennai Indian Army personnel at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal project site | Express about the safety of the eight trapped workers. “Chances of their survival are very remote. I myself went up to the end, almost just 50 metres short (of the accident site) ... Mud has piled up to 25 feet,” PTI quoted him as saying. On Monday, 14 rat-hole min- ers and sniffer dogs too were pressed into service to find a breakthrough. The rat-hole miners are in addition to the 584 experts from NDRF, SDRF, Army, Navy and the National Highways Authority of India, as well as from JP Associates and Navayuga. Come Indian Premier League 2025, former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni might wield lighter bats. Since his U-19 days, Dhoni has been using bats weighing around 1,200 grams. The weight g radually increased as he graduated to the senior level. However, at 43, the most successful Indian captain is expected to bring down the weight of his bat by around 10-20 grams. “Four bats have been delivered MS Dhoni to Dhoni recently by Sanspareils Greenlands Pvt. Ltd, the cricket equipment company from Meerut,” a source in the know of the things told this daily. Suresh Raina, former India all-rounder and Dhoni’s ex-CSK teammate, also confirmed Full story: newindianexpress.com the same.  call to action PM Modi leads charge in battle against the bulge RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi THE battle lines have been drawn in India’s war on obesity , with Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching a nationwide campaign to promote healthy living and reduce the burden of obesity-related diseases. A day after expressing concern about the growing obesity epidemic in India in his Mann Ki Baat, Modi on Monday nominated 10 influential personalities to join the war against flab, spread awareness and inspire change. Those nominated include J&K CM Omar Abdullah, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, actor Mohanlal, Bhojpuri singer-actor and former MP Dinesh Lal Yadav (Nirahua), actor R Madhavan, philanthropist and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy, shooting champion Manu Bhaker, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani and singer Shreya Ghoshal. Each of them has been asked to nominate 10 individuals to further the cause. Nirahua quickly responded by inviting 10 others, including Uttar Pradesh Mandar Pardikar CM Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Chirag Paswan, Malini Awasthi, Dr Kumar Vishwas, and Bhojpuri actorstur ned-politicians Manoj Tiwari, Ravi Kishan, and Pawan Singh. “I’m very happy to join the campaign against o b e s i t y launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji,” Omar said on X. He nominated 10 individuals, including Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, changing global economy. “Only when every individual feels empowered and included, we can truly say that progress h a s b e e n a c h i eve d , ” h e observed. The Governor started his Sajjan Jindal, Deepika Padukone, Sania Mirza, Irfan Pathhan, Supriya Sule, Kuldeep Handoo, Sheetal Archer, Iqra Rasool, and Palak Kour Bijral. Anand Mahindra said reducing cooking oil consumption by 10% can have a significant impact on health, finances, and the environment. He nominated Anil Kapoor, P V Sindhu, Gul Panag, Nikhil Kamath, among others. Sudha Murthy nominated P T Usha, Anil Kumble, Mukesh Bansal, Kiran Bedi, Venkatesh Prasad, Tejasvi Surya, Mrunalini Deshmukh, Amish Tripathi, S Gurumurthy and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw. I’m happy to join the drive... obesity causes lifestyle related health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke Omar Abdulllah, J&K CM ury benches consist of the coalition parties, and the YSRCP, which is the natural choice of Opposition party A democracy . cannot function without an Opposition, which is the voice of the people. There is no option for the NDA government except conceding our demand for Opposition status.” Later in the day Jagan held a , meeting with YSRCP MLAs and MLCs at the party headquarters, where he emphasised the need for a resolute fight against the TDP-led NDA government amid growing public discontent. He urged party members to treat their current position as a battlefield, stressing that every step should be directed towards victory. He called for honest and sincere efforts to champion P4 the people’s cause.  nearly an hour-long speech by recalling his earlier address, when he mentioned how the State was left in financial disorder due to misgovernance, lauded Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for making significant strides during the last eight months in getting the State back on track through accountable and good governance. The Governor hailed the efforts of the NDA government to revive the past glory of the State. He highlighted the collapse of the irrigation sector under the YSRCP regime, citing the stalling of major projects, the destruction of the energy sector, and pending liabilities amounting to a staggering `1.35 P4 lakh crore.  express read SIT to probe Vamsi’s illegal mining ops Vijayawada: The AP government set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged irregularities involving former MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan, including illegal mining and landrelated offences. Chief Secretary K Vijayanand issued an order on appointing Eluru Range IG GVG Ashok Kumar as SIT head | P4 Elections to 5 MLC seats under MLA quota in AP Vijayawada: The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the biennial elections to the AP Legislative Council to fill five MLC seats. The elections will be held on March 20, 2025. The TDP-led NDA with a strength of 164 of the total 175 Assembly seats is poised to win all the five MLC posts in the elections.