HYDERABAD l thursday l april 10, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late cITY EDITION Modi-led cabinet approves `64,000 cr marine Rafale deal short-term replacement for its MiG-29K The deal includes 26 Rafale M aircraft, comprising 22 single-seaters and four twin-seater trainer versions. The Navy is acquiring Rafale M as a short-term replacement for its ageing MiG-29Kd until India develops its own twin-engine deck-based fighter. Their delivery will begin around five years after signing the contract under an inter-governmental framework The Cabinet Committee on Security cleared buying of 26 Rafale Marine jets from France to boost air combat capabilities ■ 3 jets to operate from ins vikrant ■ Rafale M jets are designed for aircraft carriers, equipped with a reinforced undercarriage for carrier landings and a “Short Take-Off but Arrested Recovery” (STOBAR) system The jets will operate from INS Vikrant, with 80% commonality with IAF’s Rafales, reducing training and maintenance costs Scorpene-class submarines are also proposed to be bought 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 changes policy stance to accommodative While the British never physically attacked Gandhiji during the decadeslong freedom struggle, he was killed barely six months after Independence Central bank cuts rate again to fuel growth A Revanth Reddy, chief minister Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy addresses the AICC session on the banks of the Sabarmati River, in Ahmedabad on Wednesday B e n K o c hu v e e d a n @ Mumbai @ Hyderabad Describing the BJP as “more dangerous than the colonial British rulers”, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday vowed to never let the BJP “set foot” into Telangana and to stop it at all costs. Addressing the AICC session — attended by senior Congress leaders including CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi — held on the banks of the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Revanth appealed to Congress workers and Gandhi followers to take responsibility for defeating the BJP across the nation. Gujarat is a BJP stronghold and the party’s top leaders hail from the state. “With a strong resolve from here, we are going to defeat the BJP in Telangana. I appeal to every Congress worker and Gandhi follower to take the responsibility of defeating the BJP in the coming days,” he stated. He declared BJP leaders to be “more dangerous than the British” and called for their removal from Indian politics, in the same manner that colonial rulers were driven out. Bird flu 70K chickens being culled in Siddipet Express News Service @ Siddipet Animal Husbandry department officials have started culling 70,000 chickens in a poultry farm at Kangal village in Thoguta mandal after several birds died of bird flu. By Wednesday evening, over 20,000 birds had been culled. People are not being allowed near the poultry farm. According to sources, the owner of the poultry farm had approached the Animal Husbandry department. Samples collected from the farm were sent to a lab in Madhya Pradesh, which confirmed bird flu. The birds in farms within a radius of a kilometre are also being culled as a precaution, sources told TNIE. A control room has been established in the district and people have been asked to call Ph No. 85004 04016 in case they have any doubt regarding bird flu. Meanwhile, those working in poultry farms are being checked for health complaints. The confirmation of bird flu comes at a time the poultry market was picking up after witnessing a sharp drop in prices. Traders say that they fear that the prices may drop again. M a n da Rav i n d e r R e d dy @ Hyderabad Home, auto loan rates set to dip The Reserve Bank’s rate-setHome, auto loans to cost less as RBI cuts repurchase or repo rate by 25 bps to 6% ting body on Wednesday shifted Hours later, Bank Growth estimate cut to RBI changes its gears to support growth, havof India, UCO 6.5% for FY26 from policy stance to ing nearly achieved its objecBank trimmed 6.7% earlier amid accommodative tive of ensuring price stability . their lending rates global tariff war from neutral, Acknowledging that the fastindicating changing global environment Borrowing cost at Inflation projection possibility of following the raging tariff wars lowest level since lowered to more rate cuts would drag FY26 growth down November 2022 4% from 4.2% in future from 6.7% to 6.5%, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI voted for growth. Apart from slashing the GDP Accordingly the six-member growth forecast to 6.5%, down , panel unanimously reduced 20 bps from the previous forethe repurchase or repo rate by cast, the rate-setting panel also 25 basis points (bps) to 6% with pared the retail inflation target immediate effect and changed by 20 bps to 4% this fiscal. the policy stance to accommoThe rate cut and the change dative from neutral, indicating in policy stance come in the that the days of easy wake of fears that money are back again. higher tariff rates J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi “An accommodative may lead to increase policy stance means in trade tensions and Hours after sweeping US rethere are two options a lower growth in the ciprocal tariffs kicked in, roilbefore us — to cut rate world economy and ing markets, causing trade disagain or retain status also hit the domestic ruptions and raising concerns quo,” RBI Gover nor economy . about a global economic downSanjay Malhotra told “I am more worried turn, President Donald Trump reporters. about the impact of announced a 90-day pause for US President Donald Trump and his With the second sucthe tariff wars on our all nations except China. On Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping cessive cut, the RBI has growth than inflation China, he slapped a whopping lowered the repo rate by now. Global economic 125% tariff after it announced know. What is our strategy? I Impact of US 50 bps since February. tariff hike is much outlook is fast chang- 84% retaliatory levy . think that’s pretty clear,” JaisIn the previous easing less on India than ing. FY26 has started Back home, the impact of hankar said. cycle, it had delivered a others; we have on an anxious note Trump’s tariffs is still unclear, “We decided that we will encomparative cumulative 250 bps cut, and some global trade but New Delhi’s strategy is to gage the Trump administraadvantage taking the rate down to frictions are coming secure a bilateral trade agree- tion early on this set of issues a historic low of 4%. true,” Malhotra said ment with Washington by this and we were very open with Sanjay Malhotra, In the February polias the rationale for the fall, External Affairs Minister them, very constructive with RBI Governor cy review, the MPC, for rate cut and policy S Jaishankar said on Wednes- them as they were with us, and the first time in nearly stance change. day Jaishankar who spoke with what we agreed to do was to try . five years, reduced the repo Another reason is “the deci- his US counterpart Marco Ru- to negotiate a bilateral trade rate by 25 bps. sive improvement in absolute bio on Monday on the early agreement by fall of this year... The second successive rate inflation numbers and also in conclusion of the Bilateral And I should add that in an inaction will leave banks with no inflation expectations. Even if T r a d e A g re e m e n t ( B TA ) teresting way, this has long choice but to lower rates for ex- the trade wars lead to imported stressed that India is likely the been our objective,” he said. isting customers who are on inflation, and this affects the only country to have reached Jaishankar also said that the the floating rate regime based rupee too badly, the declining an understanding with Wash- present situation may have creon the external benchmark commodity prices, especially ington to negotiate a trade pact ated the right conditions for selinked loans such as home, per- that of crude oil will cushion after Trump assumed presiden- rious trade talks. sonal, and vehicle loans in the that. So the priority is to sup- cy for a second term. “The Biden administration coming days. This will also re- port growth now,” he said. India has taken a cautious was very averse to a bilateral sult in lower fixed deposit rates. January-February inflation approach, engaging with the agreement, but for India, workHours after the RBI decision, is tracking an average of 3.9%, Trump administration on the ing out something bilaterally Bank of India and UCO Bank below the quarterly projection. BTA. “I don’t think it’s possible with the US is not negative. It’s became the first banks to cut The RBI had projected inflation to speak about what would be actually something we’ve long their lending rates. at 4.8% for the March quarter. the impact, because we don’t aimed for,” he said. Will stop BJP at all costs, vows Revanth at AICC session Express News Service TG may be hit, but can bounce back, say experts cuts growth forecast to 6.5% As one of the top exporters of IT services and pharmaceutical products, Telangana is likely to be impacted by the tariffs announced by the US government. Industry bodies and the state government expect a negative effect, particularly on IT exports. While the government had projected IT exports to cross `3 lakh crore, the new tariffs present a challenge. Speaking to TNIE on Wednesday before the US paused some tariffs for 90 days, IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu said: “There will certainly be some impact on Telangana’s IT exports. We are in discussions with industry bodies to assess the extent of the impact from the US tariffs.” He also stated that the government was considering using the situation as an opportunity to review existing policies and plan future steps. MK Dhanuka, Chairman of Dhanuka Agritech Limited, one of India’s leading crop protection companies, said: “The impact of US tariffs on India’s agricultural sector will be mixed. While production costs could rise due to costlier imported inputs and machinery we have to , remember that new export markets have emerged. Sectors like rice and cashews will face some strain, but India’s relatively lower tariffs compared to other Asian countries will help us retain market share.” He said exporters have also started diversifying into Southeast Asia and West Asia, easing the impact. “The current situation highlights the importance of trade diversification and strengthening the domestic agri-value chain. For Dhanuka, we foresee no major impact,” he stated.  continued on P4 90-day pause on tariff war, but China faces 125% The chief minister compared BJP leaders to British colonial rulers, claiming that while the British never physically attacked Mahatma Gandhi during the decades-long freedom struggle that he led, Gandhi was killed barely six months after India’s Independence. Lacing his speech with rhetoric, historical comparisons and emotionally charged appeals, Revanth positioned the Congress, led by the Gandhi family and Rahul Gandhi, as the true inheritors of Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy, urging all citizens to rise in opposition to what he ter med the “Godse ideology .” Alleging that the saffron party was a political force driven by Nathuram Godse’s ideology, the chief minister accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of spreading this ideology across the country. Among his criticisms of the BJP-led Union government was its handling of the farmers’ protests. The chief minister accused the Modi government of enacting antifarmer laws and showing authoritarian disregard for public dissent by refusing to engage in dialogue with the protesting far mers, who fought persistently for over a year.  continued on P4 Tahawwur Rana being extradited, to reach India today 26/11 M U K ES H RAN J AN a n d Sh e kh a r S i n g h @ New Delhi co-conspirator Tahawwur rana Face of terror Tahawwur Rana, 64, was born in Pakistan’s Punjab province and went on to join the Pakistan Army Medical Corps Migrated to Canada after leaving Pak Army in 1990s, got Canada citizenship Sentenced to 14 years in US prison for role in plan to attack Danish newspaper Tapgate: Passport of A-1 revoked E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has revoked the passport of retired IPS officer T Prabhakar Rao, the main accused in the alleged phone-tapping case, who has been in the US ever since the FIR was registered by the Panjagutta police last year. A source within the police department said that the revocation of the passport will make it easier for the police to get Prabhakar Rao deported to India as he will now be considered to be illegally staying in the US. Revocation of the passport will also effectively stop the retired IPS officer from moving to any other country the , source said. It may be mentioned here that a few days ago, Interpol had issued a Red Corner notice against him. “We have communicated to the US government regarding the revocation of Prabhakar Rao’s passport,” a senior police officer said. Tahawwur Rana, the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, is being extradited to India on a special Indian Air Force plane that is expected to arrive by Thursday noon, sources said. His extradition follows the exhaustion of all legal options in the United States. A multi-agency team is in place to complete the necessary formalities, sources added. The IAF aircraft carrying Rana will make a stopover in Europe for refueling before reaching Delhi. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed Rana’s ex- NIA says Rana reviewed 26/11 attack logistics NIA investigations revealed that Rana traveled to Mumbai via Dubai between November 11 and 21, 2008, and stayed at Hotel Renaissance, Powai, where he reviewed logistical preparations for the attacks tradition is underway after the US Supreme Court rejected his plea. The court dismissed concerns over his Pakistani origin and potential torture. Discussions on the extradition of another 26/11 accused David Coleman Headley (alias Dawood Gilani) are still on. Rana’s last legal defence, citing humanitarian grounds, failed to convince express read 2nd adulterated toddy case in days, 15 fall ill the US judiciary . Authorities have made highsecurity arrangements at two jails in Delhi and Mumbai, where he is expected to be lodged initially He will spend a . few days in the national capital before possibly being moved to Mumbai for joint interrogation by the National Investigation Agency and Mumbai Police. Upon arrival, Rana will be arrested by the NIA, which will seek his custody from a special court for initial interrogation, sources said. The extradition process is being closely monitored by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, along with senior officials from the NIA and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Kamareddy: At least 15 persons from Gouraram village, Gandhari mandal, were hospitalised on Tuesday night with neurological symptoms after consuming toddy. Earlier this week, over 90 people were hospitalised in Narasullabad after consuming toddy | P2 metro Rail MD gets extension for one more year State govt decides to avail services of HMRL MD NVS Reddy at least till April 1, 2026 | P3 HSRP mandatory for all vehicles from October e n s @ Hyderabad The state government has set September 30, 2025, as the deadline for affixing High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) on all vehicles, including those registered before April 1, 2019. According to orders issued by the Transport Department on Wednesday, vehicle owners must ensure HSRP fitment before October. Non-compliance will attract action under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. How to nVehicle owners must book HSRP and make a payment via the authorised portal: www.siam.in nThe portal will redirect users to their respective vehicle manufacturer nFitment must include HSRP and a hologram-based colour sticker Securing the roads If not, what then? n Insurance companies ordered to not issue/renew policies for vehicles without HSRP n Pollution testing centres ordered to not issue/ renew PUC certificates without HSRP n Vehicles without HSRP not to be allowed on roads after October 1, 2025 n Transport and Police (including Traffic Police) to enforce compliance and book cases n and registering authorities must halt all DTOs transactions involving vehicles without HSRP Average HSRP cost Class of Vehicle 2-Wheelers 2-Wheelers (imported) 4-Wheelers 4-Wheelers (imported) 3-Wheelers Commercial Vehicles Avg Price (`) `320–`380 `400–`500 `590–`700 `700–`860 `350–`450 `600–`800