tirupati l wednesday l april 30, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l anantapur EDITION India put on ‘priority watch list’ for IP rights violations The US, after the move, said New Delhi remains a major economy for protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights ‘many long-standing concerns remain’ The US Trade Representative’s (USTR) 2025 Special 301 report, an annual review of the global state of IPR protection and enforcement, said that over the past year, India has remained inconsistent in its progress on intellectual property protection and enforcement. It said there is a lack of progress on many long-standing IP concerns ■ 25 u.s. keen to engage with india on ipr ■ The report comes in the backdrop of India-US negotiating a bilateral trade agreement to boost two-way commerce to $500 billion by 2030, and said patents are of particular concern The report said US intends to continue to engage with India on IP matters, including through intellectual property working groups countries including china, russia on the list apart from india 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 Bhagwat makes rare visit to the PM’s residence RA J E SH K U M AR THA K U R @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi with NSA Ajit Doval, defence minister Rajnath Singh and chiefs of the armed forces, at a high-level meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday | PTI Kharge, Rahul seek special Parl session New Delhi: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, requesting him to convene a special session of the Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and demonstrate a collective resolve to take on the conspirators | P7 Zipline operator picked up by NIA Srinagar: Zipline operator Muzamil Ahmed Kumhar, who was heard chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ as terrorists fired on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam meadow on April 22, has been picked up for questioning by the NIA. His father said Muzamil had visited his home in Anantnag yesterday and was picked up by policemen in the evening | P7 India brands Pak a rogue state at UN New Delhi: India has branded Pakistan a rogue state at the UN, citing Pakistani Defence Minister Khwaja Asif’s “open confession” to funding and supporting terror groups. “This open confession exposes Pakistan as a rogue state fuelling global terrorism and destabilising the region,” said Yojna Patel, Deputy Permanent Representative to UN | P7 Pawan to Pak supporters: ‘Go and live there’ E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan said, “If you want to speak in support of Pakistan after such a massacre, then you should go live there.” Pawan declared firmly, questioning the morality of those defending religiously motivated killings. He strongly condemned the brutal Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, including that of Jana Sena activist Somisetty Madhusudhan Rao. Addressing a solemn tribute meeting held at the CK Convention Centre in Mangalagiri on Tuesday Pawan Kalyan lashed , out at those attempting to justify such heinous acts on religious grounds, calling it “unacceptable and anti-national.” He reminded the audience that Kashmir is an inseparable part of India and asserted that it should not be exploited for votes and seats. The Deputy Chief Minister announced `50 lakh in financial assistance to the family of S Madhusudhan Rao from Kavali, and reiterated that the attack had shaken the nation’s conscience. “Madhu went to Kashmir because he believed it was ours. Is this how we repay innocent citizens?” he asked, visibly emotional. They observed a two-minute silence for the victims. Pawan said that the killers came like hunters—demanding ID cards, singling out Hindus, and murdering them in cold blood.  P4 Full freedom to forces Modi says they have operational freedom to decide the mode, targets and timing of their decisive action against terror outfits and their ecosystem RA J E SH K U M AR THA K U R @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gave the security forces full operational freedom to to decide the mode, targets and timing of their decisive action against the terror outfits responsible for the Pahalgam brutality against tourists and also smash their ecosystem. The directive came at a marathon meeting at his residence with defence minister Rajnath Singh, the chiefs of the armed forces and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Modi expressed complete confidence in the professional abilities of the armed forces. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan was part of the meeting. Sources said the PM, after listening to inputs from the top officers, underscored the national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism. Parallelly Union home secre, tary Govind Mohan held a highlevel meeting with chiefs of Central Armed Police Forces and two other central security BSF lodges protest The BSF has lodged a protest with Pakistan Rangers over the custody of a jawan who inadvertently crossed the international border in Punjab last week. Pakistan has remained non-committal about his whereabouts agencies. Among those who attended the meeting were the Directors General of Border Security Force Daljit Singh Chaudhary, National Security Guard Brighu Srinivasan and Assam Rifles Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, sources said, adding that Additional Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal Anupama Nilekar Chandra was present. Later, the Union home secretary held a video conference with the chief secretaries of all the states and Union Territories and asked them to ensure that all Pakistani nationals whose visas were revoked leave Naidu urges bankers to support Swarnandhra S V i s w a n at h @ Vijayawada The 231st State-Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the State Secretariat on Tuesday unveiled an annual credit plan to the tune of `6.60 lakh crore for 2025-26. This amounts to an increase of 22 percent, compared to the 202425 fiscal target. A target of `4.58 lakh crore has been fixed for the priority sector, including `3.06 lakh crore for agriculture sector and `1.28 lakh crore for MSME sector. Additionally , ` 2.02 lakh crore has been earmarked for the non-priority sector. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister stated that Andhra Pradesh is undertaking massive initiatives over the next four years with a focus on development, wealth creation, and poverty eradication. As part of the Swarnandhra Vision-2047, the government is prioritising projects and goals to be completed by 2029, he said and urged banks to extend full support and exceed the targets set under the 2025-26 credit plan. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister stated that Andhra Pradesh is undertaking massive initiatives over the next four years, focusing on development, wealth creation, and poverty eradication. As part of the Swarnandhra Vision-2047, the government is prioritizing projects and goals to be achieved by 2029. He urged banks to extend full support and exceed the targets set under the 2025–26 credit P4 plan.  the country within the stipulated deadline. After the meeting with the defence leadership, Modi also met with Union home minister Amit Shah, amid growing indications of a major crackdown on terrorism. By earlier announcing that the security forces would go the ends of the earth to bring the perpetrators of the Pahalgam massacre to justice, adding that the terrorists would be subjected to punishment beyond their imagination, the PM set the bar very high for kinetic action. Sources suggest that the final contours of the government’s response may be decided during the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, scheduled for Wednesday following a meeting of the Union Cabinet. The buzz is the government is preparing for a multi-pronged offensive against terror — diplomatically and, if required, militarily — including possible strikes on terror camps in the days ahead. After a day of marathon meetings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rare guest at home — RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Bhagwat had been to his official’s residence on very few occasions ever since Modi took over as prime minister in 2014. Coming as the meeting did after Modi chaired two high-level meetings on the country’s response to the Pahalgam carnage, it sparked speculation about the RSS’s stance on the possible kinetic action against Pakistam. Union home minister Amit Shah is also said to have participated in the meeting with Bhagwat. According to a senior BJP source, the RSS chief may also have addressed other ongoing issues between the organisation and the government. A BJP leader noted that the Pahalgam attack had disrupted the party’s organisational momentum, including the process of electing a new BJP president. Recently, during a book launch, Bhagwat had emphasised the king’s duty to protect the people and take all necessary measures to ensure their safety. He also remarked that while India adheres to the principle of non-violence, confronting perpetrators of violence is an inherent part of that principle. Without naming Pakistan, he stated that India does not provoke or harm its neighbours but seeks to guide even the violent towards a path of non-violence. Reacting to the Pahalgam attack, the RSS had said, “All political parties and associations should rise above their differences and condemn this terror act. Government should ensure all relief and assistance to the affected families and ensure appropriate punishment for the people responsible for the attack.” Justice Gavai appointed next CJI Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was on Tuesday appointed the next Chief Justice of India. He takes charge on May 14 Justice Gavai, the 52nd CJI, was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court in 2019. He will have a tenure of over six months He was part of a five-judge Constitution bench which in December 2023 upheld the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 in J&K Another bench he was part of annulled electoral bonds scheme He was also part of a fivejudge bench which approved the Centre’s 2016 decision to demonetise `1,000 and `500 denomination notes Justice Gavai was part of a Constitution bench, which by a 6:1 majority held that states are empowered to make subclassifications within the Scheduled Castes Modi congratulates Carney, seeks reset in ties with Canada Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney speaks to his supporters after winning the Canadian Federal Election Tuesday | AFP J AYA N TH J AC O B @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Canadian PM Mark Carney on his Liberal Party’s stunning victory in the federal elections, expressing hope for a reset in India-Canada relations after years of strain under former PM Justin Trudeau’s leadership. Notably, Khalistan sympathiser Jagmeet Singh failed to retain his seat and resigned as leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) after the party’s disastrous showing with seat count plummeting from 24 to 7. Trudeau had depended on NDP for support to stay in power for four years. However, last September, the NDP parted ways with Singh accusing Trudeau of yielding to corporate interests. Congratulating Carney and the Liberal Party, Modi said: “I look forward to working with you to strengthen our partnership and unlock greater opportunities for our people. India and Canada are bound by shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and vibrant people-to-people ties.” Modi’s message indicates a hopeful turn in India-Canada relations, which have faced multiple diplomatic flashpoints under ex-PM Trudeau’s watch. Bilateral relations touched a low point after Trudeau’s public remarks following the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023 and his open platforming of pro-Khalistani elements, which India described as interference in its internal affairs. Carney’s victory may provide an opportunity to recalibrate the relationship and India hopes that the new government will take care of its security concerns. A former central banker, Carney has emphasised diplomacy, multilateralism, and unity—qualities New Delhi hopes will extend to dealing with sensitive diaspora poliP9 tics and looking at ties with India.  Pa r t y p o s i t i o n s express read US plans to cut tariffs on foreign auto components Nod for Pak natl, son to stay in Vizag on med grounds New Delhi: In what could turn out to be a positive development for India’s auto component companies, the US government is planning to reduce the impact of its tariffs on American carmakers by easing some duties on foreign vehicle parts. Visakhapatnam: Indian government has granted temporary permission to a Pakistani national, and his son to stay in Visakhapatnam on medical grounds. The man and his elder son are Pak citizens, while his wife and younger son hold Indian citizenship. Green Party 1 NDP 7 Bloc Quebecois 23 Majority mark 172 Liberal 168 Conservative 144  Canada has a “first-pastthe-post” electoral system  Results are preliminary and include seats where parties are leading, but not confirmed to have won  The Liberals are on course to win the most seats in key provinces of Ontario and Quebec faux pas Double trouble: NCERT textbook’s rhino blunder sparks outrage What the book said The Indian rhinoceros is found in Northeast India. Floods and medicinal value of their horns have led to a reduction in their population. In the early 1900s, their population was driven to near extinction. But with recent conservation measures, there are now around 4,000 of them P r a s a n ta M a z um d a r @Guwahati THE National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has come under fire for incorrectly depicting the Indian rhinoceros with two horns in a Class 4 math textbook. The illustration, featured in the “did you know” section, has sparked outrage among conser- vationists and the public. The statement accompanying the illustration contains several errors, including the claim that the Indian rhinoceros has two horns and that its horn has medicinal value. Conservationist Bibhav Kumar Talukdar expressed concern that this misinformation could trigger more rhino poaching. “Greater one-horned rhino itself reflects it is a one-horned rhino ... Further, the rhino is also found in flood plain ecosystem of Brahmaputra valley in Assam, besides the foothills of Eastern Himalayas,” Talukdar, secretary general and CEO of Assam’s leading wildlife NGO Aaranyak, said. He also said the statement that rhino horn has medicinal value could lead to more poaching of the endangered species. Environmentalists and animal lovers have also spoken out against the mistake. “The world knows the Assam rhinos have one horn. It is unfortunate that children are being misinformed,” said Apurba Ballav Goswami.