HYDERABAD l tuesday l may 27, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late cITY EDITION Hamas agrees to U.S. proposal on Gaza ceasefire, release of hostages The proposal for a Gaza ceasefire was mooted by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Reuters reported quoting a Palestinian official close to the group Israel rejects truce plan, say reports ‘Partial withdrawal of Israel from gaza’ Under the new proposal, 10 living hostages will be released in two groups and a 70-day ceasefire will be observed. There was no immediate official comment from Israel, but local media reported that Israel has rejected the proposal outright. “The proposal received by Israel cannot be accepted by any responsible government,” Times of Israel reported quoting an official ■ ■ ■ “Hamas is setting impossible conditions and an inability to release the hostages,” the official was quoted as saying by Times of Israel According to reports, the formula proposed by the US includes a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip Israel’s position is that war will end only when Hamas is eradicated 52 People were reportedly killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza Strip on Monday 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 Detour Manipur guv flies 7 km to Raj Bhavan To avoid protesters Waited for 15 days after Pahalgam to see if Pak acts on terror, says PM Says India’s fight is with cross-border terrorism and its support structures, not Pakistani masses P r a s a n ta M a z u m d a r D i l i p S i n g h K s h at r i ya Amid stepped up protests, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla was forced to travel a distance of barely 7 km in a chopper to go to Raj Bhavan from the Imphal airport on Monday. After he landed in Imphal from Delhi where he attended the Rising Northeast Investors Summit, an army chopper took him to the historic Kangla Fort. From there, he covered the remaining 300 metres to the A K Bhalla Raj Bhavan by road amid heightened security . Hundreds of protesters had formed a human chain on the airport road following a call by a Meitei outfit to hold mass protests against the alleged instruction by security personnel to conceal the words ‘Manipur State Transport’ displayed on a state-run bus in which a media team was travelling recently . Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday revealed he waited 15 days after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, hoping Pakistan will go after the assailants. “But it seems it (terrorism) is their bread and butter,” he remarked. Modi said India’s fight is with cross-border terrorism and those who fuel and fund it, and not with the Pakistani masses. He slammed Pakistan’s rulers for turning terrorism into a money spinner, contrasting India’s rise as the world’s fourth-largest economy with Pakistan’s downfall. Calling out the army’s terror links, Modi warned of dark days ahead for Pakistan if its youth don’t break free from this path. His remarks came @ Guwahati @ Ahmedabad Foreign Secy to visit US from May 27-29 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will visit the US from May 27 to 29 for meetings with senior officials of the Trump administration. It is a follow-up to the PM’s trip to the US in February last while launching development projects worth `53,400 crore, highlighting India’s growth amid regional threats. “India’s fight is against terror from across the border, not against the people of Pakistan,” he said while addressing a public rally at Bhuj. “I want to ask the people of Pakistan—what have you gained? Today, India is the world’s fourth-largest economy . Where are you? Who destroyed the future of your children? Who forced you to wander from place to place?” Modi asked. He accused the Pakistani establishment of exploiting terrorism for profit. “The masterminds of terrorism and the people of Pakistan must listen—your government and army are promoting terrorism. For them, terrorism has become a source of income,” the prime minister said. Calling on Pakistan’s citizens to reflect on their nation’s path, he stated, “You must now decide—does this path benefit you? Will the power games your leaders are playing help your children’s future?” Modi also issued a stern warning: “To rid Pakistan of terrorism, its people and youth must rise. Choose a life of peace and prosperity—or else face Modi’s bullet.” inside Kaleshwaram pushkaralu concludes I P2 NDSa report on KLIs has discrepancies, claims L&T I P4 Family members of Col Sofiya Qureshi shower flower petals on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Vadodara roadshow | PTI KCR’s emissaries ask KTR summoned again Kavitha to list issues by ACB in E-Prix case I r e d d y S r i n i v a s Re d d y @ Hyderabad I strongly condemn the Revanth Reddy govt for issuing notices to KTR. It is a conspiracy to cover up their failures and divert attention from public issues K Kavitha, BRS MLC MLC gets emotional Kavitha reportedly became emotional and reiterated her respect for KCR, blaming some close to him for creating a rift E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad After days of silence, BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday sent emissaries to meet his daughter and party MLC K Kavitha. Since her arrival in Hyderabad, Kavitha had remained largely isolated within the party However, on Monday evening, BRS MP D . Damodar Rao and the party’s legal cell incharge Gandra Mohan Rao visited her residence and held talks for around three hours. Sources said they advised her to raise any concerns through internal party channels and avoid airing them publicly They were re. ferring to a letter Kavitha had addressed to KCR, in which she raised several issues. The leak of this letter to the press on Thursday reportedly unsettled the party leadership. Upon her return from the US, Kavitha appeared to intensify tensions by describing KCR as “god” surrounded by “devils”. The emissaries are believed to have asked her to list the problems she was facing within the party . During the meeting, Kavitha is reported to have demanded an investigation into who leaked the letter and action against those responsible. She also called for the removal of certain individuals around KCR whom she again described as “devils”. Sources said Kavitha conveyed that if given her due role in the party, she was prepared to work under KCR’s leadership.  Continued on P4 The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has issued a notice to BRS working president and former Municipal Administration minister KT Rama Rao, directing him to appear for cross-examination on May 28 in connection with the Formula E case. This is the second summons issued to him in the matter. Rama Rao has informed ACB officials in writing that he had scheduled visits to the UK and USA for various events well in advance and that he would appear before the agency upon his return. He previously appeared before the ACB on January 9 and the Enforcement Directorate on January 16. The ACB registered the case on December 19, 2024, over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Formula E race held in February 2023. The allegations include the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) transferring `45 crore to the foreign firm Formula E Operations (FEO) in violation of Reserve Bank of India regulations. The payment was reportedly made without Cabinet approval. Rama Rao is named Accused No. 1 (A-1) in the case. The then Special Chief Secretary for Municipal Administration Arvind Kumar is named A-2, while former HMDA chief engineer BLN Reddy is listed as A-3.  Continued on P4 I should appreciate Revanth Reddy for his thirst for political vendetta and the way he swings in any direction without any scruples to achieve it. 48 hours ago, his name figured in the ED chargesheet in the National Herald case. 24 hours later, he is seen socialising with BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Modi. Not a word from a single BJP leader about his role in the money laundering case. KT Rama Rao, former minister bitter pill 92-year-old doctor falls prey to ‘insurance agent’ C h i t h a l u r i Re v a n t h @ Hyderabad A 92-year-old retired doctor from a distinguished Hyderabad family has filed a complaint with Banjara Hills police, alleging that she was defrauded of nearly `32 lakh by a man claiming to be an insurance agent. The victim, who insisted on anonymity served as the super, intendent of Niloufer Hospital during her medical career and retired several years ago. Her late husband was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army and passed away a few years ago. Her children, a son and daughter, stay in the UK. According to her complaint, a man identifying himself as Veeranna Gugulothu, an agent from Reliance Nippon Life Insurance, visited her residence claiming he was there to assist with policy renewals. He presented what appeared to be legitimate company identification, including an employee and business card. The doctor said that Veeranna requested payment for the renewals and asked for a cancelled cheque, supposedly to deposit maturity amounts. Trusting his credentials, she complied. However, she later discovered that 11 cheques had been issued without her knowledge from two of her savings bank accounts. Her office manager told TNIE that the agent visited the house multiple times and would frequently ask to use her phone, citing reasons such as entering OTPs. Although the cheques did not bear her signature, the agent reportedly managed to withdraw funds in repeated transactions.  Continued on P2 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar briefs a parliamentary panel, in New Delhi on Monday | PTI Jaishankar clears the air, says Islamabad told 30 mins after op J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday firmly denied allegations that India had warned Pakistan ahead of Operation Sindoor, asserting that the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) informed Islamabad only after the air strikes on terrorist camps were completed. In a briefing to a parliamentary panel, Jaishankar clarified the timeline: Pakistan was notified about the strikes on terror camps in the early hours of May 7 — roughly 30 minutes after the operation concluded, he said. The remarks came in response to repeated allegations by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who accused Jaishankar of tipping off Pakistan prior to the strike. The government had earlier dismissed the claim as “misrepresentation of facts”. “The Foreign Secretary was briefed on the 1.30 am operation, which was followed by a Press Information Bureau statement. Thereafter, the DGMO told his counterpart in Pakistan about the operation,” Jaishankar said. Express Read Close shave for Sourav Ganguly’s bro, sister-in-law Bhubaneswar: Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly’s brother Snehashish and his wife Arpita had a narrow escape when their speedboat overturned, throwing the couple into the sea off Puri beach on Saturday evening. CM, Mahesh meet Venugopal but no headway on Cabinet B K a r t h eek @ Hyderabad The proposed expansion of the Telangana Cabinet, constitution of party committees and allocation of nominated posts in the government have been delayed due to the unavailability of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud are now expected to meet Kharge on May 30 to discuss the pending matters. Sources familiar with the developments said the party is keen to ensure broad representation from SCs, STs, BCs, minorities and other marginalised sections. Although their current representation reportedly stands at around 80%, the party leadership has suggested exploring the possibility of increasing it further. On Monday, the senior Congress leaders held a series of meetings in Delhi. Revanth and Mahesh met AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal for the second consecutive day and presented their choices for party and government posts. Following this, Venugopal is understood to have met Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to brief him on the TPCC’s submissions. Later, Mahesh also met Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by members of his family . Despite earlier speculation that decisions on appointments might be announced within a few days, the party had asked the state unit to hold discussions with the AICC president on May 30. Mahesh described his meeting with Rahul Gandhi as a courtesy call, during which he discussed the sociopolitical situation in Telangana. SW monsoon enters Telangana, nearly 2 weeks ahead of schedule E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e monsoon onset: Mumbai on its knees The southwest monsoon entered Telangana on Monday, nearly two weeks ahead of its usual onset. Typically, the monsoon reaches the state around June 8 or 9. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed its arrival and issued a forecast of moderate to heavy rainfall for several districts on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday . The monsoon has currently covered around seven districts in southern Telangana and is expected to spread across the entire state within the next one to two days. C h a n d a n av a l l y a n d Kethireddipalli in Rangareddy district recorded 81.3 and 76 mm respectively on Monday while Salkarpet in Mahbubnagar and Moinabad in Rangareddy received 70 mm each. Mogalamadka in Narayanpet district received almost 65 mm of rain. Other areas that received heavy rain include Makthal and Utkoor in Narayanpet, Kollapur in Nagarkurnool and Qila Ghanpur in Wanaparthy . The forecast for the period from 8.30 am on Tuesday to 8.30 am on Wednesday indicates that light to moderate rainfall is very likely at many Mumbai: The south-west monsoon announced its early arrival in Mumbai on Monday with a bang, throwing normal life out of gear. According to the weather department, this is the earliest onset of monsoon in Mumbai in the past 75 years. Mumbai experienced the heaviest rainfall in the month of May since 1918, with the Colaba observatory recording a rainfall of 295 mm. @ Hyderabad A street vendor drives through the rain with clothes carefully covered on his bike at Begumpet in Hyderabad | Sri Loganathan Velmurugan places across Telangana. A yellow alert has been issued for certain districts. Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated locations in Adilabad, Kumurambheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagtial, Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally Vika, rabad, Sangareddy Medak and , Kamareddy . Light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by gusty winds (30–40 km/h), is also likely at isolated places across all districts of the state. The forecast for the period from 8.30 am on May 28 to 8.30 am on May 29 indicates a continuation of light to moderate rainfall across many parts of the state. The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated locations in Adilabad, Kumurambheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagtial, Rajanna Sircilla, Vikarabad and Sangareddy. Heavy rain is also likely at isolated places in Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Jangaon, Medak and Kamareddy .