Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l thursday l april 03, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION KSDL goES global, to launch ultra-luxury soap for K3,000 The soap, to be sold for K3,000, is crafted from premium natural sandalwood oil and will be sold exclusively at airports and for export on demand 288 232 24th Maharaja of Mysore who commissioned KSDL Sustainable Packaging with Butter Paper 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 ■ 331 More Products to Lure Global Buyers ■ 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 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 AyES Noes n  on-Muslims in Waqf council and boards only for administration work, won’t run religious affairs 2  013 amendment during UPA rule to give 123 properties in Delhi to Waqf in 25 days necessitated change: Shah Waqf Bill sails in Lok Sabha 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 The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the contentious Waqf Bill (Amendment) 2024 with a slender majority of 288 against 232 votes. While the NDA led by BJP secured 288 votes, the Opposition got 232 while one member abstained from voting. The voting was necessitated after the Opposition members sought division of votes in the passage of the bill. In all, 520 members were present in the House during the voting. The debate that began at 12 noon on Wednesday concluded at 12.15 am on Thursday It was followed by voting. . Though the NDA has 293 MPs in the Lok Sabha, it secured only 288 during voting. The BJP was bolstered by a show of support from its key allies like the TDP, JD(U), Shiv Sena and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), while the INDIA bloc put up a united show in opposing the bill. The debate on the bill reflected the sharp divide between the government and the Opposition. While the BJP has 240 MPs, JD(U) has 12 and TDP 16. Both NDA and Opposition parties had issued whips to their members to be present in Parliament for next three days. Concluding the debate, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the Opposi- Minorities in India are safe because the majority in India is fully secular Consider providing flexibility to states to decide composition of Waqf boards - Kiren Rijiju, BJP - K P Tenneti, TDP Efficiency push Tribometer by CET scholars bags patent S O V I V I D YA D HARAN @T’Puram  Researchers at the College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET) have invented a tribometer that could pave the way for enhancing the efficiency and durability of automobile engines and a slew of other machines having reciprocatingsliding motion. Tribometer is a scientific instrument used to measure mainly friction, wear and lubricity between contacting surfaces under controlled conditions.  The invention, ‘Pin-on Reciprocating Plate Tribometer With Provision for C h a n g i n g Stroke Length’, has won the CET researchers a patent from the Union gover nment. It measures friction and wearloss in metallic materials having relative reciprocating motion with larger stroke length. It was developed under the guidance of Prof Rajeev V R of CET’s mechanical engineering department. The team included research scholars Harish T V and Premkumar J along with Unnikrishnan G, lab instructor of CET. “The tribometer is capable of providing stroke lengths ranging from 50 mm to 200 mm for tribotesting,” explained Rajeev, who guided the ● More on P4 project.  tion’s allegations that the bill is unconstitutional and minorities are not safe in the country . While tabling the bill for passage, Rijiju said the government had no intention of interfering in the religious matters of Muslims and was solely driven by the aim of transparent administration of Waqf properties. The bill seeks to improve the administration of Waqf properties, introduce technology-driven management, address complexities and ensure transparency he said. , Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah lashed out at the Op- position and 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 the stated aims, he said. “The government does not want to interfere in the religious activities of Muslim brothers and the trusts associated 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. 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 He 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. The House also saw a major showdown between the Opposition and treasury benches after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi tore a copy of the bill in protest. He accused the government of targeting the country’s largest minority, calling the proposed amendments an attack on their right. “This bill is an attack on Muslims. The Modi government has started a war on my freedom. My mosques, my dargahs, my madrasas are on target. This government is not revealing the truth. This bill violates Article 14 — equal protection. Limitations will be imposed. By doing so, the encroacher will become the owner,” he said. BJP wants the Muslims to feel that their rights are being attacked It is against minority rights, religious freedom and is unconstitutional It’s an attempt to attack the basic structure of the Constitution - A Raja, DMK - Gaurav Gogoi, Cong P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi Union Home Minister Amit Shah makes an intervention in the debate on the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday | PTI - Akhilesh Yadav, SP AI cameras detect, MVD collects `400 cr in fines since June ’23 M a n i s h a V C S @Kochi The Kerala government’s decision to install Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras across highways to crack down on traffic offences, a move that had stirred up a controversy over its huge cost, is paying dividends. Latest figures reveal that 98 lakh offenders were caught and the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) issued fines amounting to `631 crore since the AI cameras were installed in June 2023. Of this, around `400 crore has been collected. In the fiscal that ended March 31, 2025, fines to the tune of `273 crore were imposed through e-challans for traffic violations detected by the camera. Of this, around `150 crore has been collected by the department so far. The remaining amount will be collected over the next few months. Since the cameras’ installation, the MVD has collected over `400 crore in fines for various offences, officials told TNIE. “There is definitely a significant positive impact. Now, people are more conscious about the fact that they are under surveillance and try to follow rules more diligently,” said Transport Commissioner Nagaraju ● More on P4 Chakilam.  S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t 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, In probably the rarest of rare ushering in of an ambassador by a host country, Israel’s foreign 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 A n i l S @Madurai In what could indicate the future course of CPM’s approach towards the INDIA bloc, the leadership has warned against sacrificing its own interests for other parties, including the Congress, in the Opposition group. Presenting the political review report on the opening day of the 24th Party Congress in Madurai on Wednesday polit, buro coordinator Prakash Karat underscored the need to fortify the party’s strength, even while being part of the bloc. Karat indicated the Congress too has a role to play in keeping INDIA bloc alive and running. “Even while being part of the bloc, it should not eat into the CPM’s independent influence. On some occasions, we have made compromises by staying away from contesting, to support others in the Opposition platform. The position taken by bourgeoisie parties, including the Congress, are opposed to our own interests. So, the CPM cannot stand with the INDIA bloc by sacrificing our own interests,” said a source. As TNIE reported on Wednesday Karat underscored , the need to maintain the CPM’s strength in Kerala and for the 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 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. express read Israel screens The Diplomat to welcome Indian envoy 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. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan interacting with politburo coordinator Prakash Karat during the inauguration of the CPM’s 24th Party congress at Tamukkam ground in Madurai on Wednesday. Politburo members M A Baby and Brinda Karat are also seen | K K Sundar Mockery of 10th Schedule, says SC on CM’s defection remark Rare honour J AYANTH J ACO B @ New Delhi CPM warns against sacrificing its own interests for others 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.w ASHA stir: Min to meet trade union reps today T’Puram: In a bid to address the grievances of ASHA workers who are on a strike, Health Minister Veena George has invited representatives of all trade unions for talks on Thursday. The meet will include members of Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association, which is spearheading the protest outside the Secretariat, along with representatives from CITU and INTUC | P4 16 pages, including 4 pages of THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Express No Cong mention Madurai: In a marked difference from previous editions, the CPM began its Party Congress with no open mention about the grand old party. It gave a call for a united fight against the Modi government for its neofascist characteristics. P5 Left government to continue in power for a third term. At the closed-door event, Karat stressed on an urgent need to protect the CPM’s independent strength. However, there’s no proposal for an exit from the Opposition platform. Karat reportedly pointed out that other parties in the INDIA bloc including the Congress, partially owe responsibility for the bloc’s existing weakness and lack of direction. An initial draft of the political review presented before the central committee earlier too had flagged the possible political danger of the INDIA bloc occupying the Left political space. It also called for countering any tendency to subvert the independent role and activities of the party vis-a-vis ● More on P5 the INDIA bloc.  AP cricket body nudges SRH to shift base to Vizag B S N M ALLE S W ARA RAO @ Vijayawada tHe Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has formally extended an invitation to Sunrise r s H yd e r ab a d ( S R H ) t o consider Visakhapatnam as their new home ground. ACA’s offer comes amid the dispute between SRH and the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) over complimentary tickets. SRH has accused the HCA management of harassing them for free tickets, and has threatened to move out of Hyderabad. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has ordered a vigilance probe. Sources said the ACA has offered to host rest of the SRH’s matches in Vizag. It has also proposed to host the team midtournament and give tax incentives. Sources said the ACA reached out to SRH brass led by Kavya Maran, offering support if they decide to leave Hyderabad. The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal is SRH’s current home ground. The ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam serves as the secondary home ground for Delhi Capitals, owned by the GMR Group. This season, Vizag hosted two IPL matches—DC vs LSG and DC vs SRH—which drew sizable crowds.