Chennai l wednesday l july 23, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l late city EDITION Boeing delivers three Apache helicopters to Indian Army American aerospace major Boeing on Tuesday delivered the attack choppers to the Army as part of a contract to supply six helicopters big push to strengthen defence might ah-64E can survive combat damage Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called it a significant step towards strengthening India’s defence capabilities. “The arrival of the first batch of Apache helicopters is a significant step towards strengthening India’s defence capabilities. These helicopters will enhance the Army Aviation wing’s operational effectiveness in challenging terrains,” Singh said on X ■ ■ In 2020, Boeing had completed delivery of 22 E-model Apache helicopters to the Indian Air Force and had signed a contract to supply six AH-64Es for the Indian Army, a statement said The AH-64Es can survice combat damage, carries a 30 mm M230 chain gun, and has nose-mounted sensors that provide night vision `4,168cr is what the deal with boeing for 6 apache helicopters is worth 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 Oppn stalls Parliament on SIR; double standards, says govt Prez poser: All states get SC’s notice on bill assent timeline P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav, RJD MP Misa Bharti, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and others during a protest | pti Parliament logjam continued for the second day on Tuesday amid protests by the Opposition demanding a discussion on the poll roll revision in Bihar. However, the government accused the opposition of employing ‘double standards’ by asking for a debate but still disrupting the House. The Lok Sabha witnessed chaotic scenes as Opposition members refused to budge from their demand of discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead Karpoori Thakur son leads new V-P race NDA plans to play the BC card on Dhankhar’s successor doesn’t seem to be happening,” a senior party leader said. With the NDA commanding A day after Vice President Jag- 422 MPs across both Houses, it deep Dhankhar suddenly re- has a comfortable cushion over signed citing health reasons, the 394 votes required to elect the NDA weighed options to the next V-P Government sourc. field a candidate from the back- es indicated a preference for a ward or extremely backward consensus candidate, with a declasses as his successor. cision expected after July 26. Several NDA MPs, speaking Dhankhar’s abrupt resignaon condition of anonymity, tion came hours after he admitconfirmed that the ruling alli- ted an Opposition-backed moance is leaning toward a nomi- tion seeking the removal of nee from the backward commu- Justice Yashwant Varma, curnities. Among the names doing rently under scrutiny followthe rounds, Ram Nath ing a major cash seizure Thakur — currently at his residence. Minister of State for Some believe his deciAgriculture and son of sion to admit the motion for mer Bihar chief may have conflicted with minister and Bharat the government’s own Ratna awardee Karstrategy, which was repoori Thakur — is beportedly focused on a ing seen as a frontrunseparate course of acner. Belonging to the Outgoing V-P Jagdeep tion. The Rajya Sabha Dhankhar Nai (barber) communinotice, signed by 63 Opty which falls under the , position MPs and admitati-pichhara category Thakur’s ted by Dhankhar, instructed the , candidacy is seen as a nod to Secretary General to initiate caste dynamics ahead of up- procedural steps — a move seen coming elections. by some as independent and posAlso reportedly in the mix is sibly at odds with the ruling BJP president J P Nadda. Sen- party’s preference of joint moior party leaders suggest that a tion as it was in the Lok Sabha. cabinet reshuffle may precede Adding fuel to the fire was any formal announcement, the absence of ministers Nadda should Nadda emerge as the and Kiren Rijiju from the Busichosen one. Other contenders ness Advisory Committee meetinclude former Rajasthan CM ing chaired by Dhankhar on Vasundhara Raje, Bihar Gover- Monday. “The V-P was visibly nor Md. Arif Khan, former Un- upset,” said a senior Opposition ion minister Mukhtar Abbas figure, also pointing to a tense Naqvi and Rajya Sabha Deputy moment during a debate when Chairman Harivansh. Nadda reportedly remarked, While speculation briefly “Only what I say will go on hovered over Bihar CM Nitish record” — a statement seen by Kumar, JD(U) insiders were some as undermining the Chair. quick to dismiss it. “This Nadda later refuted any rift. Rajesh Kumar Thakur @ New Delhi 4th test Shubman Gill hits out at england Full term for new V-P His successor shall serve a full term in office. Article 67 says, “The Vice-President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office.” Poll asap: Article 68 According to Article 68, an election to the post of V-P because of his death, resignation, removal or otherwise shall be held as soon as possible after the occurrence of the vacancy 32-day process The process starts after the EC notifies the vacancy and ends in 32 days. Its electoral college comprises Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha MPs India captain Shubman Gill accused England of not upholding the spirit of the game as the fallout of the time-wasting drama of the third Test continued. India are yet to finalise their XI for the Test | P13 of assembly polls later this year. As Congress, TMC and DMK MPs stood up raising placards, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till noon. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said it was agreed on Monday that Pahalgam would be discussed. “Only the rule under which discussion will take place to be decided,” he added. Earlier, INDIA bloc members led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi protested at the Makar Dwar of Parliament. The Upper House also saw two adjournments during the shut cracker units that don’t allow inspection: NGT SV KRISHNA CHAITANYA @ Chennai 200 fireworks units had downed shutters to avoid the mandatory inspection The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday directed immediate closure of unauthorised and non-compliant firecracker manufacturing units in Virudhunagar district, including those units that prevent authorities from carrying out inspections ordered by it by deliberately keeping themselves shut. The tribunal has sought an action taken report by July 29. direction to Goi Form SOP to deal with cyberattacks on women: HC Express News Service @ Chennai The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Government of India to evolve a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with cyberattacks against women, including the uploading and sharing of intimate videos and images recorded without their consent on digital platfor ms and social media. Justice N Anand Venkatesh granted two weeks to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to submit the SOP in the court and said appropriate orders on the matter would be passed after perusing the SOP . The union gover nment’s counsel, A Kumaraguru, informed the court that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Women and Child Development are already working on finalising an SOP . The direction was issued by the judge while hearing a petition filed by a woman advocate seeking a direction to the centre to take immediate action to remove from digital platforms her intimate videos and images shot and uploaded without her consent by her ex-partner.  P7 top seat Infy techie now Newcastle technical director E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai SUDARSHAN Gopaladesikan, a one-time research assistant at Infosys in Bengaluru, has been appointed as technical director of English Premier League side Newcastle United. Newcastle, one of the richest clubs in world football thanks to their direct links with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced the news on their social media handle late on Monday . “... Sudarshan will lead the club’s football data operations, working closely with Eddie Howe (head coach of the men’s first team) and his coaching staff and the club’s performance, medical, analysis, methodolo g y and recruitment teams,” a club press release read. “His role will be dedicated to implementing data-informed practices across all sporting departments throughout men’s, women’s and Academy teams.” Gopaladesikan started off as a techie before joining Portuguese giants Benfica where he oversaw the data science pro- pre-lunch period, before it was finally adjourned within minutes of meeting at 2 pm. Soon after the House met for the day, Opposition members were on their feet demanding discussions on Operation Sindoor in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides on the Bihar SIR issue. Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was chairing the proceedings, informed the House regarding a notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs conveying resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar with immediate effect. gramme. At Atalanta in 2024, he saw the Italian Serie A oufit lift the UEFA Europa League. The Indian men’s national team may not have many takers but several Indians as well as Indian origin people involved in football either work or have worked across top-tier clubs in Europe. Former Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham holds a top management role at Tottenham. Krishnan A Seshadrinathan, currently a member at Rajasthan Royals, previously used to number crunch at Arsenal. Sudarshan will lead the club’s football data operations, working closely with Eddie Howe (head coach)... According to sources, after the tribunal on July 8 ordered mandatory inspection of all fireworks units for compliance with licence conditions, over 200 cracker units downed their shutters to prevent the inspection. The tribunal, comprising judicial member Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati, on Tuesday said units that prevent inspections should be considered noncompliant and must be shut down as well.  P7 s u c h i t r a k a lya n m o h a n t y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine a Presidential reference that seeks the court’s opinion on questions concerning the roles, powers, and timelines for governors and the President in according assent to bills passed by state legislatures. A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai and comprising Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, PS Narasimha and AS Chandurkar, issued notice to the Centre and all states and sought their responses by July 29 on the question whether timelines could be imposed for dealing with bills passed by assemblies. The court fixed the matter for further hearing to August 29. During the hearing, when senior advocate P Wilson, for Tamil Nadu, submitted that the matter would directly affect his client, who objected to the maintainability of the reference, the CJI said, “The issue concerns not only TN but the entire country Senior lawyer .” K K Venugopal, representing Kerala, raised objections re- Murmu’s reference The reference sought, among others, answers on options before a Governor when a Bill is presented under Article 200; and if they are bound by aid and advice of the council of ministers garding its maintainability too. On April 8, a two-judge bench comprising justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, while hearing TN’s case against its governor, ruled that a governor does not possess any discretion under Article 200 in respect to any bill presented to them and must mandatorily abide by the advice tendered by the council of ministers. President Murmu moved the court on May 13, with 14 questions challenging the SC’s April 8 verdict that fixed timelines for governors and President to act on bills passed by state assemblies.