MADURAI l wednesday l march 05, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l LATE city EDITION Kuki-Zo groups defy Shah fiat, to block free travel in Manipur The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) said no free movement would be permitted in Kuki-Zo areas until the community’s aspirations are fulfilled File photo Demand separate U.T. with legislature The decision was part of an ‘eight-point charter of resolution’ adopted at an event on Monday. The resolution followed Home Minister Amit Shah’s directive to security agencies to ensure free movement for people on all roads in Manipur from March 8. COTU said its demand for a separate Union Territory with legislature is non-negotiable and that protests will continue ■ 250 Meitei body seeks action on Kuki group ■ The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of several civil society organisations of the Meiteis, demanded legal action against COTU for instigating violence Shah’s order sought to lift the curbs on travel through the areas inhabited by both Meiteis and Kukis since ethnic violence broke out Estimated number of people killed in ethnic violence in the state since 2023 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 EPS hints doors open to ties with BJP E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Coimbatore Hinting at a softening of his stance on an alliance with the BJP for the 2026 Assembly elections, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, on Tuesday refused to rule out , a reunion. He stressed that the ruling DMK is the party’s “sole adversary” and a splitting of votes will not occur in the upcoming polls. Speaking to reporters at Attur in Salem, the opposi- tion leader said he would unveil the party’s political alliance in six months. “Our aim is to defeat the anti-people DMK rule by ensuring the votes don’t get split,” he said. Asked if the AIADMK is in talks with the BJP , EPS avoided a direct answer, instead reiterating that the DMK is the party’s only enemy and no other parties are its foes. Palaniswami’s rem a rk s s i g n a l l e d a change in the position of the former chief minister, who has been categorical in his opposition to resuming ties with the saffron party since the AIADMK walked out of the alliance in September 2023. During the interaction, EPS also dismissed as speculation that the Dravidian major is holding talks with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. While DMDK general secretary Premalatha has main- Our [AIADMK’s] aim is to defeat the anti-people DMK rule by ensuring the votes don’t get split — Edappadi K Palaniswami, general secretary, AIADMK tained that the AIADMK has allocated a Rajya Sabha seat to the party, EPS said there have been no such discussions. “Have we told anyone that we are giving a Rajya Sabha seat to the DMDK?” he asked. Refusing to comment on the arrest of Amalraj, an ex-serviceman working as a security guard at the house of NTK president Seeman, he demanded action against a Dharmapuri district DMK functionary for allegedly openly threatening the collector and the superintendent of police during the party’s internal meeting. P7 Poor taste S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t y @ New Delhi Shreyas Iyer (L) & Virat Kohli added 91 runs for the third wicket against Australia in Champions Trophy semifinal | AP Desert storm: india in final G o m e s h S @ Chennai And just like that India are in yet another ICC event final. Their fourth in as many events in the last two years, second in a 50-over global event. But this Champions Trophy will feel special. On the other side were the Australians. Though naysayers might say it’s a team without three of their frontline bowlers, yet it’s still a grudge match after losing the 50-over World Cup final. The Aussies are always the biggest threat. Even on Tuesday in front of packed Dubai International Stadium, they threatened to run away with the match with some sumptu- ous hitting after electing to bat. But India were not having any of the surprises this evening. They had all bases covered and once again played with four spinners on a slow wicket. Whenever a partnership was building, India managed to break it. The wounds of World Test Championship final 2023 and the ODI World Cup 2023 to Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 are still fresh and any win would lead to some healing. The four-wicket win on the tricky Dubai surface once again showed why India have been dominating the shorter forms of cricket. Virat Kohli once again showed why he is the king of chase with a @ Chennai A 28-year-old engineering gold medallist, believed to have a mental illness, was remanded to judicial custody after he allegedly stabbed his father to death at their house in Adambakkam on Monday in a fit of rage, suspecting his father had poisoned the food. Though the jurisdictional police officers TNIE spoke to said Global trade war begins as high US tariffs kick in Canada and China hit back with equal tariffs on US, Mexico to take reciprocal action soon match-winning knock of 84. K L Rahul remained unbeaten on 42. Aussie skipper Steve Smith and Alex Carey played one of the best innings they have on such a surface. Mohammed Shami was in his vintage best picking three wickets including that of Smith. When Aussies were all out for 264, the smile that vanished from skipper Rohit Sharma’s face resurfaced. Unlike their reputation, the Aussies dropped three catches, including of Kohli when on 51. In the end, in the first ODI encounter between the two since the 2023 ODI WC final, India returned the favour, knocking Australia out of CT.  P13 The global trade war has officially begun with US President Donald Trump’s new 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and an enhanced 20% duty on Chinese goods, taking effect on Tuesday . Trump said the tariffs on Canada and Mexico are “to combat the extraordinary threat to US national security including public health posed , by unchecked trafficking” of lethal drugs such as fentanyl and nitazene synthesis, which could kill 9.5 million Americans. According to the White House, 68% of all drug poisoning deaths in 2022 and 2023 were caused by synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. In 2024, Mexico’s exports to the US were $506 billion and the total bilateral trade was $839.9 billion. The US exported $334 billion to Mexico, making it America’s top trading partner for the second consecutive year in 2024. The US had a trade deficit of $171.8 billion. Mexico is the biggest supplier of passenger cars to the US, with 23% of all US car imports. China’s total trade with the US was $582.4 billion in 2024, while the US exports to China was only $143.5 billion and imports were $438.9 billion, causing a trade deficit of $295.4 billion. In 2024, Canada exported 75.9% of all its goods to the US worth $410 billion, led by $107 billion in crude oil alone, and leaving it with a merchandise trade surplus of $102.3 billion. The tariff war has put global markets on edge and triggered retaliations by the affected nations. China and Canada—the US’ second largest trading partner and third largest source market, respectively—announced equal retaliatory tariffs. Mexico—the largest source market for the US and the largest auto supplier— said it would announce counter tariffs shortly . Canada announced a 25% tariff on $107 billion worth of US goods, while China slapped an additional 15% tariff on US farm goods like corn and soybeans. With the additional duties, the average effective US tariff rate on Chinese goods has hit 33%, up from around 13% before Trump began his latest term in January according to an anal, ysis by Nomura. Justin Trudeau, Canadian PM So today, the US launched a trade war against Canada, their closest partner and ally, their closest friend Claudia Sheinbaum MEXICAN PREZ The US’ unilateral decision affects our people and firms operating in Mexico Global markets tumble 1.45% Dow Jones Indl Avg 0.45% Nasdaq Composite 1.05% S&P 500 Index Updated till 11.25 pm MILITARY aid pause softens Zelenskyy E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi THE Trump administration has suspended all US military aid to Ukraine, halting crucial shipments and increasing pressure on Kyiv to seek peace with Moscow, deepening the rift with Europe. The decision comes after the blow-up in the White House last week during wh i ch P re s i d e n t D o n a l d Trump, infuriated over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s alleged ‘disrespect and ingratitude’, told him he was “gambling with a third world war”. Zelenskyy was asked to come back “when he is ready for peace”. “The President has been clear he is focused on peace... We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution,” a White House official said. Reacting to the development, Zelenskyy said he wants to “make things right” with Trump. “Our meeting in Washington on Friday did not go as planned. It is regrettable that it happened this way It’s time to . make things right. We want future cooperation and communication to be constructive,” he posted on X. Meanwhile, EU leaders announced a $841-billion plan to defend European countries and boost Ukraine’s security Twen. ty-seven EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the package. Since the start of the UkraineRussia conflict in 2022, the US has provided $65.9 billion in military aid to Kyiv. Further contributions are uncertain after Trump ordered a pause on aid, affecting deliveries of ammunition, vehicles, and other equipment, including shipments previously agreed upon under Joe Biden’s presidency . The US decision further deepens the rift between the Trump administration and Europe, as what the State Department described as the US’ “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” is now under threat. Maha Minister Munde quits after murder heat Reconsider proposal for S u d h i r S u r ya w a n s h i @ Mumbai Advantage Bhujbal? Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde on Tuesday resigned after his close aide Walmik Karad was named the mastermind in the horrific abduction, torture and murder of Santosh Deshmukh, a sarpanch in Beed. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accepted his resignation and forwarded it to Governor C P Radhakrishnan. Munde, 49, had represented the NCP led by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in the ministry. His vacancy could be filled by sulking party veteran Chhagan Bhujbal. Sources said estranged NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal could take Munde’s place in the ministry. Bhujbal has been sulking as he was not included when the Mahayuti ministry was first constituted. Bhujbal is an OBC and so is Munde Gory images of Deshmukh, 45, tied to a vehicle and dragged for several kilometres went viral on social media. The assailants, including Karad, allegedly beat him with an iron rod, and when he asked for water, peed in his mouth. These photog raphs are part of the Engineering gold medallist fatally stabs father; alert auto driver helps arrest him G a u t h a m Se lv a r a j a n — Donald Trump B E NN KOCHUV E E DAN @ Mumbai Pejorative ‘Pakistani’ not a criminal offence: SC The Supreme Court has held that using pejoratives like ‘miyan-tiyan’ or ‘Pakistani’ are in poor taste but do not constitute a criminal offense intended to hurt religious sentiments. A two-judge bench comprising justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, pronounced the verdict on February 11 after hearing an appeal filed by Hari Nandan Singh, 80, who was accused of making these remarks. While quashing the case, the court said there was no assault involved in the case to attract Section 353 of the IPC. It faulted the Jharkhand High Court for refusing to quash the trial court’s verdict. “Undoubtedly, the statements made are poor taste. However, it does not amount to hurting the religious sentiments of the informant.” The prosecution had accused Singh of hurting the religious feelings of the informant. The top court, however, did not find any evidence to justify the case. It said there was no assault or use of force by the appellant to attract Section 353 (assault or criminal force used to stop a public servant from doing their duty) of the IPC. “Therefore, the High Court ought to have discharged the appellant under Section 353 IPC... Additionally we find that , the appellant cannot be charged under Section 504 IPC, as there was no act on his part that could have provoked a breach of peace and accordingly, deserves to be discharged under Section 504 IPC as well,” the verdict said. The prosecution had argued that in 2020, when the complainant, an Urdu translator and acting clerk (Right to Information) at the Chas Sub-Divisional Office of Bokaro district in Jharkhand, went to deliver the infor mation sought by Singh at his residence, the accused allegedly abused him by referring to his religion. It’s a very powerful weapon that politicians haven’t used before because they were stupid, dishonest, or paid off that the youngster, who was unemployed, was struggling with mental illness for the past few years, it is, however, unclear whether he was subjected to a psychiatric examination by a competent professional before he was sent for judicial remand. According to the police, both the accused and his 60-year-old mother were unwell mentally The deceased, a . 68-year-old involved in real-estate business, had a strained relationship with his son for many years, they added. On Monday when the father , brought breakfast from a hotel, the son refused to eat it and stopped his mother from doing so as well. Accusing the father of poisoning the food, police said he stormed out of the house to buy food on his own. On his return, an argument broke out between the two, during which he allegedly stabbed his father multiple times with a pair of scissors. P7 Dhananjay Munde chargesheet submitted by the criminal investigation department (CID) in a local court. Deshmukh was murdered on December 9 after he tried to stop an extortion racket targeting Avaada, an energy firm. Seven accused, including Karad, have been arrested while one person is on the run. Sources said Fadnavis called Ajit Pawar and senior NCP leader Praful Patel to his bungalow, shared with them the CID’s findings, and added that Munde cannot be defended any longer. The decision to force Munde to resign was taken late on Monday night. Congress MLA Nana Patole accused Fadnavis of breach of protocol as he had announced Munde’s resignation in the media without sharing it with the assembly first. “Munde’s name should be added to the list of accused in the supplementary chargesheet,” he said. express read Kannada actress held for smuggling gold Bengaluru: Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence at the Kempegowda International Airport on Monday night for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold from Dubai. According to airport sources, the actress alighted from an Emirates flight and was held while passing through the immigration clearance section Alagiri to face trial in 2014 land grab case Chennai: The Madras High Court on Tuesday set aside a Madurai court’s previous order discharging former union minister M K Alagiri — son of the late DMK chief M Karunanidhi — from specific charges in a case relating to grabbing of land belonging to a temple by allegedly forging documents. Justice P Velmurugan, who pronounced the orders on the petitions filed in 2021, directed Alagiri to face trial in the 2014 case | P2 offshore mining in Gulf of Mannar: CM to centre E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Chennai Chief Minister M K Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urging the union government to reconsider the move offering a block of the Cauvery basin, which falls under the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve off the TN coast. The plan is to offer it to potential investors for hydrocarbon exploration and production as part of the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) Bid Round-X. The Directorate of Hydrocarbon, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, on February 11 offered 25 petroleum and natural gas blocks in various parts of the country to potential investors for hydrocarbon exploration and production. Incidentally, the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution opposing the union government’s decision to permit offshore mining in the Kerala coast. As per the notification, the Cauvery basin block falls under “Category I”, which refers to the sedimentary basin spread across various coasts in India If union government had consulted with the state, we would have explained in detail all the issues we’ve highlighted now Chief Minister M K Stalin with hydrocarbon reserves being already produced or exploited. Stalin, in his letter, said deepsea mining in the biosphere reserve may cause irreversible damage to marine habitats and degrade the overall health of the ocean, given the areas’ fragile ecosystem and rich biodiversity . The CM said the risks of sediment plumes, toxic waste discharges and habitat destruction affecting the livelihood of the lakhs of fishermen who depend on the Gulf of Mannar could not be overstated. P7