Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV tirupati l thursday l april 03, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION KSDL goES global, to launch ultra-luxury soap for `3,000 The soap, to be sold for `3,000, is crafted from premium natural sandalwood oil and will be sold exclusively at airports and for export on demand 24th Maharaja of Mysore who commissioned KSDL Sustainable Packaging with Butter Paper More Products to Lure Global Buyers Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), which manufactures the iconic Mysore Sandal Soap, is going to brand the soap under its exquisite collection, ‘Kala Loka - Treasure of Karnataka’ and has designed an exclusive package. KSDL will replace its plastic packaging material with ‘butter paper’and use only electric vehicles on its premises ■ ■ Dr Prashanth PKM, KSDL’s managing director, said the luxury soap is part of the company’s international expansion strategy. A new manufacturing plant will be set up in Vijayapura KSDL revamps Mysore Sandal Soap packaging, signs Tamannaah Bhatia as ambassador, and plans to produce perfumes and cosmetics 331 dealers have been onboarded to establish outlets nationwide 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 n  on-Muslims in Waqf council and boards only for admin work, won’t run religious affairs Shah raps UPA amendment in 2013 that gave 123 properties in Delhi to the Waqf in just 25 days S  hah criticises Oppn for intimidating minorities and spreading needless confusion on bill  Gogoi alleges that the bill is a bid to attack the basic structure of the Constitution Sharp debate on Waqf Bill Application of Limitation Act The bill seeks to repeal Section 107 of the 1995 Act, which had rendered the Limitation Act, 1963, inapplicable to waqf properties. The Limitation Act imposes a ban on legal proceedings after a prescribed period. Section 107 has exempted waqf boards from the 12-year limitation period for reclaiming encroached properties Appointment of non-Muslims Amendment to Waqf Act proposes the inclusion of non-Muslims to the Central Waqf Council, State Waqf Boards, and waqf tribunal. It allows the govt to nominate three MPs — two from LS and one from RS — to the Central Waqf Council without mandating that they be Muslims. It also allows the appointment of a nonMuslim CEO and mandates that state govts appoint at least two non-Muslim members to Waqf Boards P r e e th a N a i r @ New Delhi A debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha on Wednesday saw fierce exchanges amid the Opposition’s charge that the legislation was unconstitutional and aimed at political polarisation. The debate which began at 12 noon, was yet to conclude at the time of going to print. After tabling the bill in Lok Sabha, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiran Rijiju said the government had no intention of interfering in their religious matters of Muslims, adding it was solely driven by the aim of transparent administration of Waqf properties. Dismissing allegations that the proposed legislation was an interference in the constitutionally guaranteed freedom in religious affairs, he said it deals only with properties. He also accused the UPA government of handing over 123 properties in Delhi to the Waqf Board just before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. “The government is not going to interfere in any religious institution. The changes made in the waqf law by the UPA government gave it an overriding effect over other statutes, hence the new amendments were required,” Rijiju said amid noisy Opposition protests. This bill is not about Hindu versus Muslim, this is law versus lawlessness Consider providing flexibility to states to decide composi-tion of Waqf boards - Anurag Thakur, BJP - KP Tenneti, TDP Union home minister Amit Shah makes an intervention in the debate on the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday | PTI Echoing Rijiju, Union home minister Amit Shah lashed out at the Opposition asserted that vote bank is being created by intimidating minorities and confusion is being spread in the country in the name of the Waqf bill. The non-Muslims in Waqf council and boards are meant purely for ensuring administration of properties in accordance with stated aims, he said. “The government does not want to interfere in the religious activities of Muslim brothers and the trusts associ- ated with their donations, i.e. Waqf Mutawali, Waqif, Waqf will all be Muslims, but it will definitely have to be seen whether the property of Waqf is being maintained properly or not,” he said. Taking aim at the Congress, Shah said if there had not been an amendment in the Waqf Act in 2013, there would have been no need to bring this legislation.”Elections were due in 2014 and in 2013, the extreme Waqf law was made overnight for the purpose of appeasement. As a result, 123 properties in Delhi’s Lutyens zone were hand- BJP wants the Muslims to feel that their rights are being attacked ed over to the Waqf just 25 days before the elections,” he said. He said the charity commissioner can be a person of any religion and he will ensure that the Waqf board is run according to the charity law, it is not a religious work, but an administrative work. The job of the Waqf Board should be to catch and throw out those who sell Waqf properties, he said. Earlier, initiating the debate, Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi alleged that the bill was an attempt to attack the basic structure of the Constitution, defame minorities, disenfranchise them and divide the society . The Congress leader also raised concerns over a controversial provision in the bill that states only a Muslim who has been practicing the faith for at least five years can make donations. Criticising the clause, he said it was disturbing that the government had taken it upon itself to issue “religious certificates” to individuals. “It is a sad situation when the government decides who qualifies as a practicing Muslim,” he remarked. “Will they apply the same rule to people of other religions? Why is this requirement being imposed only on Muslims? Why is the government interfering in religious matters?” It is against minority rights, religious freedom and is unconstitutional - Akhilesh Yadav, SP ACA bids to make Visakhapatnam new home of SRH BSN Malleswara Rao @ Vijayawada Women’s World Cup inaugural in Vizag The Andhra Cricket AssociaIndia is set to host the tion (ACA) has formally exWomen’s Cricket World Cup tended an invitation to Sunris2025, with Visakhapatnam ers Hyderabad (SRH) to potentially hosting the consider Visakhapatnam as inaugural match. The State their new home ground, should Government and ACA are in they relocate from talks with the BCCI and the Hyderabad. ICC to bring this event to AP According to sources, the ACA has offered to host the remainder of SRH’s matches in dy has ordered a vigilance Visakhapatnam. Additionally, probe into the matter. Against the ACA has proposed hosting this backdrop, the ACA swiftly the team mid-tournament, and reached out to the SRH manproviding tax incentives to the agement, led by Kavya Maran, IPL franchise. offering support if they decide The ACA’s offer comes amid to leave Hyderabad. The Rajiv an ongoing dispute between Gandhi International Cricket the Hyderabad Stadium in UpCricket Associapal has been press tion (HCA) and SRH’s home clusive ground. SRH regarding complimentary M e a n wh i l e, tickets. the ACA-VDCA SRH has alleged that the International Cricket Stadium HCA management has been in Visakhapatnam serves as harassing the team for free the secondary home ground tickets, prompting the team to for Delhi Capitals, owned by threaten relocation from their the GMR Group. cur rent home g round in This season, Visakhapatnam Hyderabad. hosted two IPL matches - DC vs In response, Telangana LSG and DC vs SRH - which P4 Chief Minister A Revanth Red- drew sizable crowds.  We will go to court. We will not rest until this law is withdrawn - Md Adeeb, AIMPLB - A Raja, DMK FILE PHOTO Revamped 104 units to offer 47 tests at doorstep Mockery of 10th Schedule, says E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Vijayawada The State government is set to launch a first-of-its-kind initiative to provide 47 confirmatory diagnostic tests at people’s doorstep through the revamped Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) services, popularly known as 104 services. The initiative aims to enhance healthcare accessibility across the State. The new service provider has agreed to conduct 20 common tests at `195, with other tests available at reasonable rates. Each MMU vehicle is expected to screen approximately 35 individuals per day . The introduction of these diagnostic tests will facilitate the creation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), enabling a comprehensive health profile of the population. This will help the government assess the SCAM ED fileS petition before SPL Court Urges rejection of the Lokayukta police’s closure report on CM Siddaramaiah and family in MUDA scam, citing seven objections. ED’s PMLA probe found illegalities in site allotments and undue influence by CM’s associate health status of the population and implement targeted health interventions. Currently, 104 ambulances conduct only two rapid-kit tests for diabetes and hypertension. Under the scheme, all beneficiaries will receive 20 common tests, including Blood Glucose, Complete Blood Picture, Renal Function and Liver Function Tests, Lipid Profile, Urine Analysis, and Arterial Blood Gas tests. Additionally, 27 diseasespecific tests will be conducted based on medical requirements. Initially, the confirmatory diagnostic tests will be introduced on a pilot basis to assess data reliability before expanding Statewide. As part of this initiative, the new service provider will equip all 904 MMUs with semi-automatic biochemistry analyzers, CBC machines, microscopes, and incubators. Each vehicle will be staffed with a lab technician. The government has awarded the contract for 108 and 104 services to a consortium led by Bhavya Health Services Private Limited, in partnership with SRIT India Private Limited, following the withdrawal of the ex- Focus on emergency services To enhance emergency services, two new norms have been introduced. Ambulances should shift patients to hospitals within the ‘Golden Hour’, and all emergency calls should be attended, addressing concern over 200 unattended calls daily Mom dies & daughter hurt in attack, accused arrested E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Visakhapatnam A woman was killed, and her daughter sustained serious injuries when a man attacked them at their residence in Swayamkrushi Nagar of Kommadi under PM Palem police station limits in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday . The accused is identified as Naveen (26), a native of Veerag h at t a m v i l l a g e i n Pa r- isting service provider. The monthly cost of operating the 108 and 104 services, along with the Emergency Response Centre, has increased from `28 crore to `31 crore, a marginal rise of less than 11%. The increase accounts for the procurement of 190 new 108 ambulances to replace outdated vehicles, rising fuel costs, and higher staff wages. The government noted that when the previous tender was finalised in 2020, diesel was priced at `70 per litre, compared to the current rate of `97.47. Additionally drivers of , 108 ambulances will receive a `2,000 salary hike per month. vathipuram Manyam district. According to the police, the accused assaulted Nakka Deepika (20), and her mother Lakshmi (46) with a knife when Deepika refused to marry him. Lakshmi died on the spot in the attack, while Deepika, despite being severely injured, managed to come out of the house, and collapsed on the road. She was rushed to a private hospital, where she is receiving P4 treatment.  SC on CM’s defection remark S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a nt y @ New Delhi T h e S u p re m e C o u r t o n Wednesday slammed Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for stating that no byelections would be held if BRS MLAs switch to the Congress. A two-judge bench led by justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih criticised Reddy for “making mockery of the 10th Schedule” — which deals with provisions on disqualification due to defection — with his statement on the floor of the state assembly . The court’s reaction came during a hearing on a plea filed by BRS leaders K T Rama Rao and Padi Kaushik Reddy seek, ing timely action by the Speak- A Revanth Reddy er on disqualification proceedings against 10 MLAs who defected to the Congress. Reddy had made the statement on March 27, sparking controversy. The court observed that statements made by politicians in the Assembly have sanctity and can be used to interpret laws. It noted that something said in a public gathering, like the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, would be different from statements made on the floor of the legislative assembly which car, ry more weight. The court reminded Reddy of his previous statement on granting bail to BRS leader K Kavitha and Manish Sisodia was out of line. Appearing for the Speaker, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said the assembly proceedings were not in question in the matter pending before the SC. The bench told Rohatgi to convey to the CM that there should be no “repeat action” and that the court is “not powerless” in issuing contempt notices. When Rohatgi said he was not appearing for the CM, the bench said he had appeared for him once in that case. Rare honour Israel screens The Diplomat to welcome Indian envoy J AYA N T H J ACO B @ New Delhi In probably the rarest of rare ushering in of an ambassador by the host country Israel’s for, eign ministry hosted the world premiere of the movie The Diplomat on Tuesday to welcome India’s new envoy J P Singh. , The movie, starring John Abraham, is based on a real-life crisis involving Singh. Before the screening, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met Singh and wished him success in his new stint. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in his message, highlighted how the film serves as a reminder that diplomacy requires thinking beyond standard procedures, with each day presenting new challenges. Singh, a 2002 batch IFS officer, was posted in Pakistan when an Indian woman named Uzma Ahmad sought refuge at the Indian High Commission, saying she was abducted and forced to marry a Pakistani man. The film portrays how Singh faces a complex web of diplomacy, Pa k i s t a n i law, and pressures to secure Uzma’s return to India. Speaking at the film’s gala reception, Singh shared two key lessons from his experience: the importance of teamwork and the support of political leadership. Sushma Swaraj was the foreign minister then. Singh also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clear directions during crisis meetings to ensure the safety of every Indian citizen.