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 ■ ■ hubballi l tuesday l july 22, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l city EDITION Last of the old-school Marxists ANIL S @ T’Puram E nd of 1990s. The E K Nayanar-led Left government was in power in Kerala. It was around the time Pinarayi Vijayan was set for his first tenure as CPM state secretary A . section of leaders were eyeing a new political combine — to get the Indian Union Muslim League into the LDF fold, with an eye on cementing a longterm rule for the Left front in the state. Informal talks were held at varying levels between senior leaders. Several possibilities were discussed. But one question kept bothering them — who would tell VS, the LDF convener and the most powerful leader who called the shots in the front? I U M L l e a d e r Ku t t y Ahammed Kutty who shared a , warm rapport with VS, was handed the task. Kutty conveyed the idea to VS, who heard him through. And, without batting an eyelid, he said something that is now part of state political lore: “Kutty it is , not yet time for the Congress to die in Kerala!” A deeply insightful statement especially relevant in the current political scenario. Ignoring shortterm political gains, the far- sighted leader batted for a line that till date underscores how both the Left and the Congress remain relevant in their fight against the saffron front in Kerala’s political landscape. To VS, it was simple logic. A UDF minus the IUML would naturally weaken the Congress. And in no time, Hindutva forces would rush in to occupy the vacuum. Ve l i k k a k at h S a n k a r a n Achuthanandan, who passed away on Monday, remains an unparallelled Communist, the biggest crowd puller in recent times, last of the old-school Marxists, and one of the greatest mass leaders Kerala has 16-hour discussion in LS on Op Sindoor next week Cong agrees to proposal since PM will be abroad from June 23-26 P r ee t h a N a i r @ New Delhi Even as the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament witnessed ruckus and adjournments, the government agreed to hold a 16-hour discussion on the recent Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha next week. The decision was taken at the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee. Though the Opposition initially objected to the timing of the debate, the Congress said that it will abide by the proposal of the government. While the gover nment’s floor managers pointed out that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be abroad from June 23-26, the Opposition insisted that the discussion should start immediately followed by the PM’s reply . Later in the evening, at a meeting of floor leaders, the Congress decided that it will wait until Modi’s return for the discussions on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor to take place. “We will ask the government to hold the discus- 3-day debate, not under specific rule The special discussion on Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam terror attack will be spread over three days and will not be under any specific rule, said a source who attended the BAC meeting sions as soon as the PM returns from the trip,” said a leader who attended the meeting. The leader told this paper that the party will hold a meeting with the floor leaders of INDIA bloc leaders on Tuesday and will take a final call. At the BAC meeting, Opposition members protested that the government’s agenda for the week did not mention their demand on Operation Sindoor. Some Opposition members also called for a debate on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and the situation in Manipur. Earlier, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day amid noisy protests by the Opposition, which demanded a discussion on Operation Sindoor and other issues. The Lok Sabha saw four adjournments. Defence minister Rajnath Singh assured the opposition MPs that the government is ready to have a long discussion on all issues the Speaker agrees to. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed to the Opposition to place their demand during the BAC meeting. “The government is ready to reply to all the issues that the Speaker agrees to at the BAC meeting. But to raise slogans and not let the House function on the first day of the Monsoon session is unacceptable,” Rijiju said in the House. The Rajya Sabha, too, saw continuous disruptions despite Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s request to the Opposition to allow the House to function. “The government is ready for a discussion. I will meet the leaders and settle for a discussion. And I will ensure full-fledged discussion for as much time as you want,” said Dhankhar. ever seen. The 101-year-old, who was incapacitated following a stroke in 2019, was undergoing treatment at a private hospital following a cardiac arrest on June 23. A founding leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), VS began his political career as a trade unionist and was later seen at the forefront of land struggles. The Communist movement in Kerala, since its inception in 1939, evolved with VS. He was the last among the 32 leaders who walked out of the historic CPI national council meet in 1964 to form the CPI (M). In many ways, the influence S U D HIR S URYAWAN S HI @ Mumbai THE Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 accused in the 2006 train blast case as it set aside the special MCOCA court’s order handing death sentence to five and life term to seven accused, saying it was “hard to believe” they committed the crime. Nineteen years ago, on July 11, 2006, seven bombs ripped through Mumbai’s local trains killing 189 persons and maiming 820 innocent travellers. The bombs were timed to go off during the evening rush to inflict maximum casualties. In the order, a bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak cited several reasons for overturning the 2015 verdict of the MCOCA court. Bumrah to play in manchester India pacer Mohammed Siraj confirmed on Monday that Jasprit Bumrah will play the fourth Test beginning on Wednesday. Focus was on all-rounder Anshul Kamoboj during nets | P13 Shocker from Dhankhar as he quits as Vice Prez In an unexpected development that sparked intense speculation, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar put in his p ap e r s o n M o n d ay evening, citing medical advice. Right through the day , there was no hint of any such development, as Dhankhar continued to perform his parliamentary duties as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Citing health concerns and the necessity to adhere to medical advice, he later submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu. The timing of the resignation — on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament — led to speculation on his successor if the resignation is accepted. Dhankhar, 74, had assumed office in August 2022. Sources revealed that Dhankhar had hinted at his decision to resign during the latter half of the day, reportedly surprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Till the time of filing this reporting, the President had not accepted his resignation. The Bangladesh’s Air Force training jet that crashed into a school in Dhaka | AFP children killed as B’desh Air Force jet crashes into school Plane crashed in front of classrooms for students of classes 3 and 4 NISAR to launch on July 30: ISRO E x p r ess Ne w s S e r v i c e @Bengaluru After the Axiom-4 mission, the next space mission that all space scientists and enthusiasts were waiting for- NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), will launch on July 30. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday announced that the satellite developed in coordination with NASA, is scheduled for launch at 5.40pm from Sriharikota. The ISRO’s GSLV-F16 will launch the NISAR satellite into the 743kms sun- synchronous orbit at an inclination of 98.4 degrees. This is India’s first satellite that will observe the Earth with a dual frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar. Weighing 2,392 kg, the unique satellite will use NASA’s 12m unfurlable mesh reflector antenna. The NISAR will observe the Earth with a swath of 242 km and high spatial resolution, using SweepSAR technology for the first time, ISRO in its release said. The satellite is unique and different as it will scan the Earth and provide all weather, day and night data at 12-day interval and will also enable a wide range of applications. With its two radar instruments — an S-band system provided by ISRO and an L-band system provided by NASA — NISAR will use a technique known as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to scan nearly all the planet’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days. Each system’s signal is sensitive to different sizes of features on Earth’s surface, and each specializes in measuring different attributes, such as moisture content, surface roughness, and motion. P5 Prime Minister Narendra Modi VS Achuthanandan | 20 Oct 1923 - 21 July 2025 wielded by VS in the CPM has its intrinsic roots in the quirkiness of modern-day factionalism in the party His 1996 defeat . in the Marxist bastion of Mararikulam, was a tur ning point. The simmering resentment brought out the vengeful politician in VS, leading to the historic 1998 ‘Vettinirathal’—a total elimination of the CITU lobby in the party Then began . the murkiest and most spiteful episode—VS vs Pinarayi—that lasted for two decades. VS transformed himself into a popular leader by taking up people’s issues and advocating for environmental protection and women safety His de. liberate makeover through careful interventions in social issues shaped up the mass leader he became. P5 A champion of the poor, he upheld the values of principled politics through bold decisions Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader A glorious era of revolutionary will and persistence comes to an end with the passing of our beloved comrade Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Bombay HC acquits all accused in 7/11 blasts medical issue RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi He devoted many years of his life to public service and Kerala’s progress. I recall our interactions At least 20 killed, 17 of them children, 171 injured as a F-7 BGI crashes into Milestone School and College in Dhaka | P11 Pilot too killed; at least 50 critically injured express read SC dismisses K’taka govt plea against HC quashing of Surya ‘fake news’ case New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to consider a plea filed by the Karnataka government challenging the high court order quashing the criminal case lodged against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya in a case related to alleged spreading of fake news. The SC bench, while dismissing the appeal of the Karnataka government, cautioned it not to politicise legal matters before the court | P4 2006 Mumbai train blasts case During the evening rush hour on July 11, 2006, seven bombs ripped through Mumbai’s local trains, killing 189 The bench noted that the evidence was not properly collected and presented. The first arrest was made on July 20, 2006 followed by continuous arrests. However, the test identification parade was not done for four months. Besides, some of the witnesses in the case were also the witnesses in the 2002 Ghatkopar bomb blast case and their testimonies were shattered in cross examinations. The appellants shall be released frpm jail if they are not required to be detained in any other case by giving a bond of `25,000 each, the order added. The MCOCA court had sentenced Kamal Ansari (de- ceased), Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui, Naveed Hussain Khan, and Asif Khan to death. Tanveer Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari, Mohammed Majid Mohammed Shafi, Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam Shaikh, Mohammed Sajid Margub Ansari, Muzammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Suhail Mehmood Shaikh, and Zameer Ahmed Rehman Shaikh were handed life term. Another accused, Wahid Shaikh, was acquitted by the trial court after he spent nine years in jail. Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorist Squad, which investigated the case, said it would challenge the high court’s order in the Supreme Court. muda case Apex court dismisses ED’s appeal against Siddu’s wife S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t y @New Delhi Noting that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was being used as a tool in political battles, the Supreme Court on Monday strongly questioned the probe agency’s conduct in politically sensitive cases, as it upheld the Karnataka High Court’s decision to quash the case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi BM, in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case. “Let political battles be fought before the electorate. Why are you being used? a two-judge bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran asked the central agency . The top court made these scathing observations after hearing an appeal filed by the ED challenging a Karnataka High Court order that quashed proceedings in the MUDA case against Parvathi. While rejecting the appeal of the ED, the top court came down heavily on Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju, senior law officer of the agency, warning him: “Please don’t compel us to open our mouths. Otherwise, we will be forced to make some harsh comments about the ED.” The case in question relates to allegations that Parvathi received plots in an upscale Mysuru locality under a 50:50 land return scheme from MUDA, in exchange for 3.16 acres acquired by the authority . After a brief hearing on Monday, the top court rejected the appeal of ED, and observed: “We do not find any error in the reasoning adopted in the approach of the learned single judge. In the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, we dismiss it.” The ED had moved the SC in March 2025, challenging the Karnataka High Court’s order of quashing the summons issued by it against Parvathi and others. Verdict Slap on Centre’s face: CM Terming the Supreme Court’s order “historic”, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said it’s a “slap on the face” of the Union Government’s “vendetta politics”. the CM said that unable to defeat him politically, the saffron party and its allies have stooped to misusing Constitutional agencies like CBI and ED to fabricate baseless cases against his wife and harass his family. P4 It is time they (Modi and Shah) restore the autonomy of these institutions (Constitutional agencies) and cleanse themselves of the sins of political misuse Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister Summons to advocates: ED crossing all limits, says CJI, mulls guidelines S UCHITRA K ALYAN M OHANTY @ New Delhi The Enforcement Directorate is “crossing all limits”, observed Supreme Court Chief Justice B R Gavai on Monday while hearing a case , on the probe agency summoning advocates who offered legal opinion or represented parties under investigation. “Communication between lawyers and clients is privileged. How can notices be issued against them... they (the ED) are crossing all limits,” he said, and suggested the need for drawing up guidelines. “ Any communication between a lawyer and the clients, even if it is wrong, is privileged communication. How can notices be issued against them?” the CJI asked. The bench, also comprising Justice K Vinod Chandran, had on July 8 taken suo motu cognisance of the ED summoning senior lawyers Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal for offering legal opinions or representing clients who were under investigation. After massive outrage, the ED withdrew its summons. Both Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta agreed that lawyers cannot be summoned for rendering legal opinions. But Mehta said there were attempts to malign institutions based on some interviews and YouTube channels by creating false narratives. The bench said its actions are not influenced by ‘media narratives’. “Have you seen any of judgment authored by us in which the decision is not based on the facts of the case? Name one judgment,” the CJI said.