BHUBANESWAR  SUNDAY  MARCH 09, 2025  `12.00  PAGES 26  LATE CITY EDITION WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS TAKE OVER PRIME MINISTER’S SOCIAL MEDIA A/C Women leaders from chess, science, rural entrepreneurship, empowerment and inclusive development posted their winning strategies TITANS FROM DIVERSE FIELDS JOIN HANDS ALL-WOMEN SECURITY COVER AT PM EVENT While Anjlee Agarwal, an advocate for universal accessibility, called for a stronger push towards a more inclusive India under the ‘Sugamya Bharat’ initiative, scientists Elina Mishra and Shilpi Soni highlighted the importance of women’s participation in science, urging more women to pursue careers in nuclear and space technology ■ ■ A security cover comprising only women police personnel was deployed at a mega event addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat’s Navsari on Women’s Day on March 8 The bandobast included 2,100 constables, 187 SIs, 61 inspectors, 16 DSPs, five SPs, one IGP and one Additional DGP rank officer 2,372 WOMEN POLICE PERSONNEL DEPLOYED FOR MODI’S SECURITY ON MARCH 8 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 UNBEATEN INDIA’S ONE FINAL PUSH FOR DESERT GLORY G O M E S H S @ Chennai A vehicle in flames after protesters clashed with security personnel in Kangpokpi district on Saturday | PTI IN sports, more often than not, history is written by winners. No matter what a team does or how far a team progresses in a tournament, holding aloft the trophy defines it. No other team knows this better than India. In the last three ICC white ball tour naments, India have reached the final three times, lost one and won one. How the third final against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy would end will be known on Sunday night. The win will also lay to rest the controversies surrounding the scheduling. One thing, however, is clear that the brand of cricket India are playing is something unique. One that head coach Manipur erupts amid with U.S. bid to restore free Dealingagri market push in movement in state J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi P R A S A N TA M A Z U M D A R @ Guwahati INDEFINITE SHUTDOWN CLASHES broke out in Manipur’s Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district on Saturday as the Centre tried to restore free movement for people on all roads in the ethnic violence-hit state. Over a dozen protesters were injured, one of whom reportedly succumbed to injuries. The protesters attacked a staterun bus and torched at least one private vehicle. At a high-level Manipur security review meeting held in New Delhi on March 1, Union home minister Amit Shah had issued directions to restore free movement and take action against anyone attempting to create obstructions. Acting on that directive, the Manipur State Transport (MST) operated two buses, one on the Imphal-KangpokpiSenapati route and another on the Imphal-Bishnupur-Churachandpur route, with security cover by personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces. Similarly, the Federations of Civil Society (FOCS), a conglomerate of 20 Imphal Valleybased organisations, took out a peace expedition from Imphal to go to Senapati which is a Naga-majority district. The participants, who were travelling in some vehicles, were stopped at Sekmai in the Imphal West The Kuki-Zo Council condemned the decision to “impose” free movement despite being “fully aware” of potential violence, and announced an indefinite shutdown across all Kuki-Zo areas from Saturday midnight Rahul warns of weeding out black sheep D I L I P S I N G H K S H AT R I YA @ Ahmedabad TAKING Congress cadre to task in a state where the party has been out of power for decades, party leader Rahul Gandhi cautioned a gathering of 2,000 workers here on Saturday that up to 40 leaders could be weeded out, if needed, to rebuild credibility in the state. Accusing some members of aiding the BJP in the state, he said, “For nearly 30 years, we have been out of power here. But the issue isn’t just elections — it’s trust. Until we fulfill our responsibility, the people of Gujarat won’t back us, and we shouldn’t ask for their vote until we fulfill our duty…,” he said in his 25-minute speech at Jade Hall. Pointing at internal challenges faced by the party, he said, “People of Gujarat want an opposition, not BJP’s Bteam …If 10, 20, or even 40 people need to go, so be it. Those who don’t carry Congress in their hearts have no place in our organisation.” On Gujarat’s economic issues, he urged the leaders to move b e yo n d s p e e ch e s a n d slogans. 16 protesters were reportedly injured and one protester succumbed to injury. Two vehicles of the security forces were also burnt by the protesters Manipur Police district by security forces and they returned to Imphal. Meanwhile, crowds were building in different parts of Kangpokpi district to thwart the march by FOCS and the movement of the MST bus. They erected barricades on a highway by putting boulders and burning tyres. When the MST bus entered Kangpokpi district, the protesters attempted to prevent its movement by pelting stones. This led to a confrontation and the security personnel used force to restore normalcy leading to clashes. The other MST bus travelled up to Kangvai, a small town in Kuki-majority Churachandpur district bordering Meitei-majority Bishnupur district, and returned. WITH THIS ISSUE THE NAKED TRUTH MAHA KUMBH: THE SECRET LIFE OF NAGA SADHUS PLUS 12 PAGES AS India and the US begin trade talks, New Delhi has conveyed that it has been reducing applied tariffs in agreements with developed countries, while emphasising a “mutually beneficial” approach and “sensitive handling of sectors like ag riculture”, a key focus of the Trump administration in seeking greater market access. A team of Indian officials led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited Washington from March 3 to 6 and engaged the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and their teams. President Donald T r ump said India has agreed to cut its tariffs “way KEY down now” because some- OBJECTIVES body is finally “exposing” FOR INDIA AT them, evoking sharp reac- U.S. TALKS tions from opposition par- Increasing market ties in the country . access, reducing Reducing “average ap- tariff and nonplied tariff significantly” tariff barriers, has been a key aspect of In- deepening supply dia’s recently concluded chain integration, mutually beneficial bilater- ensuring India al trade agreements with a does not turn slew of developed countries dumping ground such as Australia, the UAE, for products, and Switzerland, Norway and increasing the ongoing talks with the investments are European Union and United key objectives Kingdom. But the “tone and substance of the talks” and “understanding each others’ concerns to get to an agreement” is the new focus. “The teams will now get into sector wise, issue-wise specifics,” said a source. Asked about various statements coming out of Washington on tariffs and trade negotiations, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a press briefing: “We have in recent times entered into bilateral trade agreements based on tariff liberalisation with several partners.... The ongoing discussions should be seen in that context.” Trump’s tariff against India rolls out April 2. Gautam Gambhir spoke about from the moment he took over: winning brand of cricket, a philosophy they would want to follow. India, however, have not been able to live up to it, especially in the longest format. Home series loss after 12 years, Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss after ten years have added pressure on Gamb- hir as well as captain Rohit Sharma. A victory in Dubai is ever more important. The opponents on Sunday are New Zealand, the team India had beaten in the Group stages. The Black Caps have troubled India before and going by the records India should not slumber into complacency . Yet, for India the four-spinner Koshal’s merger with Odisha, a historic blunder: Jayanarayan M AYA N K B H U S A N PA N I @ Sambalpur SENIOR BJP leader and Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra on Saturday stirred a fresh controversy by terming the integration of Koshal region with Odisha a “historic blunder”. Mishra made the statement while addressing a gathering during disbursal of the second instalment of the Subhadra Yojana money for women. The Sambalpur MLA, who rose to speak immediately after the recital of ‘Bande Utkal Janani’, the state song of Odisha, first criticised the district administration saying, “There can be no state anthem but only one national anthem. Still, I don’t understand what is the point of reciting it on this stage.” Referring to the mention of only Utkal in the song, Mishra said, “The people of Sambalpur should know that Utkal refers to Cuttack, Puri, and Balasore. Odisha, as a separate state, was formed due to the integration of Utkal, Koshal, and Kalinga regions. Then, why do we sing praises of Utkal only, and not Kalinga or Koshal? What mentality is this?” He alleged the people of Koshal, which comprises western Odisha, have been historically neglected on all fronts. “You are exploiting us, our wealth, our mines, our agriculture, our forests... We were already exploited on many fronts, and now you are trying to exploit us culturally too. We had merged with Odisha and also participated in the movement for its sake. But now we regret that decision. It was a historic blunder, and we have admitted it on many occaCONTINUED ON P5 sions,” he said. theory has worked on the deviously slow wicket of Dubai International Stadium. Varun Chakravarthy is the mystery man, the guiley Ravindra Jadeja, crafty Kuldeep Yadav and ‘all-rounder’ Axar Patel will play their part again. When both teams set foot on the ground, a lot will be at stake. But for Rohit, a victory could propel him to a new height. P13