COIMBATORE l friday l july 25, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l LATE CITY EDITION No plan to remove ‘secularism’, ‘socialism’ from Preamble: Govt The Centre told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday it has “no plan or intention” to remove the words ‘socialism’ and ‘secularism’ from the Preamble debates in public circles only: meghwal Dhankhar called them ‘festering wound’ In a written reply, law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said while there may be debates in public or political circles, “no formal decision has been announced by the government” regarding amendments to these terms. Last month, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale called for a national debate on whether the two terms should remain in the Preamble ■ ■ Hosabale’s comments had kicked off a political row. Wading into the controversy created by Hosabale, then Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar had said the added words were a “festering wound” The Supreme Court last year had said “socialism” does not impede private sector growth, while “secularism” is integral to basic structure 42nd consitutional amendment in 1976 introduced socialism, secularism 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 7/11 Mumbai train blasts: SC stays Bombay HC verdict Landmark free trade deal with UK signed in the presence of PMs Modi and Starmer slashes most tariff lines to zilch the POWER OF ZERO 0% Duty on the following, down from 4-20% now Marine products Arms and ammunition Over Base metals Plastic/Rubber Furniture/Sports goods Gems & jewellery Headgear/Glass/Ceramic Instruments/Clocks Leather/Footwear Mechanical machinery Textile/Clothing Big boost for UK job creation as labourintensive sectors get competitive edge Processed food Transport/Auto India and the UK signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Thursday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to London, sealing the most significant trade pact for Britain since Brexit and marking a major breakthrough in India’s global trade strategy . The deal, finalised after three years of stop-start negotiations, cuts tariffs on key goods like textiles, whisky, automobiles, and electronics, and is expected to double the current bilateral trade of 56 billion by 2030. Negotiated amid shifting global trade dynamics and rising protectionism, the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Ag reement (CETA) opens up one of the world’s fastest-growing markets to UK firms while giving Indian exporters critical access to one of the G7’s leading economies. The agreement is set to take effect after a formal ratification process in the UK, likely within a year or less. “This is a new chapter in the Zero duty on major sectors Massive gain for rural India and exporters with zero duty on processed foods as against up to 70% earlier 75,000 Indian workers in UK will benefit from Double Contribution Convention, as it exempts workers from social security contribution for three years Professionals to get better mobility access to the UK. Up to 1,800 Indian chefs, yoga instructors and classical musicians can move temporarily to Britain to provide services Veggies, fruits, spices, cereals & oils J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Sensitive Indian sectors like dairy, vegetables, apples, cooking oils, oats fully protected under the deal Big catch for Indian fishermen as the $5.4 billion British market opens for marine exports with zero duty as against up to 20% now Animal products Wood/Paper Indian farmers to get preferential access to UK’s $37.5 billion agriculture market tariff lines down to zero duty for Electrical machinery India–UK economic partnership,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “CETA reflects our shared commitment to enhancing trade, driving inclusive growth, and creating opportunities for farmers, MSMEs, women, youth, and professionals,” Modi said at Chequers , his British counterpart Keir Starmer’s countryside residence 50 km northwest of London. For India, the deal delivers duty-free access on 99% of its exports, spanning labour-intensive sectors such as apparel, marine products, footwear, and engineering goods. High-growth sectors like electronics, chemicals, and auto components are poised for major export gains. In return, India will slash tariffs on 90% of UK goods. The average tariff on UK exports will drop from 15% to 3%. The UK, facing slower postBrexit trade momentum, has touted the deal as its biggest trade success since leaving the EU. “This is the biggest and most economically significant trade deal the UK has made since Brexit,” British PM Keir HISTORIC All-Indian women’s World Cup final Koneru Humpy takes out top-seed, will face Divya Deshmukh in two-match final Foot broken but not heart, Pant bats again F i r o z M i r z a @ Manchester On Wednesday Rishabh Pant had to be driven off the , field on a yellow ambulance (a makeshift buggy). His right foot, just below the small toe was swollen and blood was dripping from the wound. He was grimacing in pain both body and mind. On Thursay what seemed inevitable trickled in, the , news of Pant; he has broken his right foot and will be out of the England Test series. Later, pictures of him with moonboot on his right foot went viral and everyone thought he would no longer be a part of fourth Test. The entire Old Trafford stadium rose when he wobbled down the stairs of the pavilion to bat. For a man who has endured the most harrowing of life’s pain, a near-fatal car crash end of 2022, this injury seemed bearable. Pant the fighter would not have missed the opportunity to bat and add few more runs. Unbeaten on 37, he faced seven balls adding two more runs to his overnight total and ran three for his partner Washington Sundar. India lost two quick wickets to be reduced to 337/8 after lunch when Pant decided to open his arms. He first smashed Jofra Archer over midwicket and equalled Virender Sehwag’s record of 91 sixes - the most by an Indian in Tests. Pant then drove England captain Ben Stokes’ for a four completing his half-century  . P13 @ New Delhi BIG TAKEAWAYS 99% Chemicals & Minerals s u c h i t r a k a lya n m o h a n t y Starmer said. “Our landmark trade deal with India is a major win for Britain. It will create thousands of British jobs across the UK, unlock new opportunities for businesses and drive growth in every corner of the country, delivering on our Plan for Change,” he said. Scotch whisky tariffs will be halved from 150% to 75%, and will fall further to 40% over 10 years. Auto tariffs will be phased down to 10%, while Indian EVs will gain access to the UK under a quota system. The deal enhances cooperation in services, clean energy, and finance. UK firms will gain locked-in access to insurance and financial sectors, while British clean energy companies will enter India’s public procurement market. While the economic gain for the UK of an estimated 6.51 billion USD boost by 2040 is modest relative to losses from exiting the EU, the deal signals Britain’s pivot toward the IndoPacific. The pact indicates India’s growing leverage in shaping fairer, balanced trade terms with developed economies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his UK counterpart Keir Starmer | PTI Modi, Starmer rap democratic space abuse by Khalistanis J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi India and the United Kingdom on Thursday sent a strong, united message against terrorism, with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Star mer agreeing that there can be no double standards in tackling extremism. Following a bilateral meeting at the Chequers Estate, Modi thanked Starmer for the UK’s strong condemnation of the April terrorist attack in J&K’s Pahalgam that had claimed 26 lives. “We are united in our view that there can be no place for double standards in the fight against terrorism,” Modi said. “We also agree that forces with extremist ideologies must not be allowed to misuse democratic freedoms. Those who misuse democratic freedoms to undermine democracy itself must be held to account.” The statement is also seen as a veiled reference to pro-Khalistani activities abroad, amid growing Indian concern over threats to Indian diplomats and missions in the UK. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri later said that India had raised the issue during the bilateral talks. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to enhancing cooperation between their security agencies, including on extradition of economic offenders, a longstanding demand from India involving several high-profile fugitives residing in the UK. They also discussed regional and global challenges. THE Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Bombay high court verdict of July 21 acquitting all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case, but said they need not return to jail. A two-judge bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh issued notice to all the accused in the case and sought their responses on the appeal filed by Maharashtra challenging the Bombay HC judgment. During a brief hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Maharashtra, requested the court for a stay of the judgment, citing that some observations made by the high court in its verdict of July 21 can impact other pending trials under the MCOCA. Mehta also clarified that he File photo was not seeking an order from the court to direct the accused, who were released from prison following the ruling, to surrender. The bench said it had been informed that all respondents have been released and there was no question of bringing them back to the prison. “Taking note of submissions made by the SG on the question of law, we are inclined to hold that the impugned judgment shall not be treated as a precedent. To that extent, there is a stay of the judgment,” said the court. On July 21, a special bench of the Bombay high court of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak acquitted all the 12 accused, saying the prosecution utterly failed to prove the case and it was “hard to believe the accused committed the crime”. The Maharashtra government on July 22 knocked the doors of the Supreme Court challenging the verdict. More than 180 people were killed when seven blasts ripped through Mumbai local trains at various locations on the western line on July 11, 2006. The Maharashtra government challenged the Bombay high court judgment on several grounds, including that the recovery of RDX from an accused was disbelieved on a “hyper-technical ground” that the seized explosives were not sealed with a lac seal. Stalin undergoes cardiac procedure, may resume routine work in two days Ramadoss asks DGP to stop son’s yatra to variations in heart rate. Based on the opinion of a medical experts committee Chief Minister MK Stalin, led by interventional cardiolwho got admitted to Apollo ogist, Dr G Sengottuvelu, the Hospital on Monday following CM underwent a therapeutic mild giddiness, underwent procedure on Thursday to a therapeutic procedure correct these variations,” the on Thursday morning release said. to correct variations While the statement in his heart rate, a did not elaborate on release by the hospital the nature of the prosaid. cedure he went The CM is healthy through, of ficial and is expected to sources and senior resume his normal cardiologists TNIE CM MK Stalin routine in two days, spoke to said it is likethe release said. ly that the CM got a Dr B G Anil, Director Medi- pacemaker implanted to regucal Services (Cluster-I), Apol- late the heart rate. The diaglo Hospitals, in the statement, nostic angiogram done after said the CM underwent vari- the procedure on Thursday ous investigations for symp- was normal. toms related to giddiness. The CM felt mild giddiness “The investigations revealed during his routine walk on that the symptoms were due Monday morning.  P7 HC bins PMLA case against Nehru’s bro E X PRESS NE W S SERVICE @ Chennai e x p r e ss r e a d Villupuram: PMK founderpresident S Ramadoss has filed a complaint with the DGP seeking a ban on his son Anbumani’s 100-day padayatra, scheduled to begin on Friday, citing possible law and order issues in north Tamil Nadu. Anbumani is only the executive president, he must seek permission from the party president to conduct the yatra, Ramadoss said | P4 Chennai: The Madras HC quashed the ED’s money laundering case filed against N Ravichandran, brother of Minister KN Nehru. A division bench passed the order taking into account that the predicate offence, on the basis of which the PMLA case was booked, was already quashed by a single judge on the grounds of no crime committed in fund diversion | P4