thrissur l monday l july 28, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Israel to halt fighting in Gaza as food crisis looms flour, sugar and canned food airdropped Israel said it would begin a ‘tactical pause’ in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, three areas with a large populace, to ‘increase the scale of humanitarian aid’ entering the territory. The military also said Sunday that it carried out aid airdrops into Gaza, which included packages of aid with flour, sugar and canned food Israeli military’s pause is for 10 hours a day and meant to open secure routes for aid delivery to desperate Palestinians Global criticism of israel behind move ■ ■ Experts have warned for months of the risk of a famine in Gaza, where Israel has restricted aid because it says Hamas siphons off goods to help bolster its rule, a claim that Hamas has denied Images from Gaza in recent days of emaciated children have fanned global criticism of Israel, including by close allies | P9 5 lakh people in gaza are experiencing famine like conditions: U.N. 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 Parliament set TCS to lay off over 12,000 employees amid AI shift 6,13,069 for fiery debate 2%, or 12,260 on Op Sindoor UMA K A N N A N @ Bengaluru Congress issues whip to its members to be present in Lok Sabha for the next three days Tuesday, party sources said. The Congress has been allotted WITH the Lok Sabha set to be- three hours to speak. gin a three-day debate on the Sources said Home Minister Pahalgam attack and Opera- Amit Shah and External Aftion Sindoor on Monday, the fairs Minister S Jaishankar ruling alliance and the Opposi- will speak, while Prime Ministion parties have lined up top ter Narendra Modi may interspeakers to put across their vene to explain his governpoints of view. ment’s track record on national The Cong ress on security . Sunday issued a whip The whip issued by to its MPs to be present Congress Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha. Kodikunnil Suresh After a week-long said” “Be present posistandoff between the tively in Lok Sabha Opposition and the from 11:00 AM onwards Treasury benches, the till adjournment of the Tharoor Monday session is exHouse on Monday, to speak? pected to be stormy as Tuesday & Wednesday While there is some Opposition parand support the Party no clarity if ties are expected to Stand. This may be Congress will raise the ongoing spetreated as three-line ask Shashi cial intensive revision whip”. Tharoor to (SIR) in Bihar as well. With 65 minutes alHowever, Union minis- speak, sources lotted for the Samajwater Kiran Rijiju has said Lok Sabha di Party, Akhilesh YaSpeaker can said that every issue dav and Rajeev Rai will invite him to cannot be taken up for speak on the issue. discussion in Parlia- speak since he Besides its battery led an ment at once. of leaders like Anurag important While Defence MinThakur, Sudhanshu delegation ister Rajnath Singh is Trivedi and Nishikant likely to open the disDubey the NDA is like, cussion from the ruling camp, ly to field members from the the Congress will field deputy multi-party delegations that leader of Lok Sabha Gaurav travelled to over 30 world capiGogoi to open the debate. The tals to present India’s case after Congress line-up includes gen- Operation Sindoor. They ineral secretaries Priyanka Gan- clude Shrikant Shinde of the dhi and K C Venugopal, who Shiv Sena, Sanjay Jha of JD(U), will speak on the opening day and Harish Balayogi of TDP . . Leader of Opposition Rahul The Rajya Sabha will take up Gandhi is likely to speak on the issue on Tuesday . P r eet h a N a i r @ New Delhi PAIN POINTS THE AI storm is finally here, and as feared it is taking away jobs. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services firm, plans to lay off 2% of its global workforce in line with the company’s broader strategy to become ‘future-ready’. In absolute terms, 12,260 employees in the middle and the senior grades will lose jobs this year. TCS’s workforce, as on June 30, stood at 6,13,069. In a statement, TCS said it is TCS’s workforce as on June 30 , will be laid off this year Middle and senior-level employees to face axe on a journey to become a futureready organisation, and this includes strategic initiatives including investing in new-tech Six dead, 35 injured in stampede at Haridwar’s Mansa Devi temple N a r en d r a s et h i @ Dehradun AN avoidable stampede on the path leading to the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, claimed the lives of six devotees on Sunday while more , than 35 were injured, some with critical injuries. Rumours of a broken electric wire near the stairs to the temple triggered panic among people, leading to the stampede, Haridwar SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal said. The deceased were identified as Arush (12), Shakal Dev (18), Vicky (18), Vipin (18), Vakil and Shanti. What began as a routine spiritual journey for hundreds quickly turned into a nightmare. Devotees were making their way to offer prayers or returning after ‘darshan’ when the rumour caused panic, leading to the tragedy . “It was sheer chaos. People started screaming about electrocution, and everyone just pushed forward,” recounted Pankaj Chaurasia, a devotee who managed to escape. “Those Congress workers in Kolkata protest against Bihar’s revision of electoral rolls on Sunday | PTI INDIA bloc asks ECI to discontinue SIR With over 65 lakh voters at the risk of exclusion after the first phase of Bihar’s SIR exercise, INDIA bloc parties on Sunday asked the Election Commission of India to stop the process immediately, alleging that the data is ‘flawed’. At a joint conference held by the bloc, leaders said SIR is based on ‘opacity’ and termed it ‘institutional arrogance’ | P7 A day before the Supreme Court is set to hear a batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s decision to carry out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the poll panel on Sunday said it has successfully completed the first phase of the exercise to collect enumeration forms. The enumeration, which took place from June 24 to July 25, 2025, saw participation from over 7.24 crore electors of a total of 7.89 crore. In an official statement, the ECI said 65 lakh voters will be excluded from the upcoming draft electoral rolls to be published on August 1. These exclusions include 22 lakh deceased voters, 36 lakh who have either permanently relocated or were not traceable, and 7 lakh who were registered at multiple places. The revision drive aimed to ensure that no elector is left behind, with targeted outreach to firsttime voters, urban residents, migrants, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, the panel said. “The initiative also witnessed a strong political response, with all 12 major parties participating. Notably, the number of booth level agents (BLAs) surged by over 16 percent, with CPM and Congress registering more than a 100 percent increase in BLA nominations. CPM reported a dramatic 1083 rise, while the BJP led in absolute numbers with over 53,000 BLAs, followed by RJD and JD(U),” it said. An injured person being taken for treatment after a stampede broke out at Mansa Devi temple, in Haridwar, on Sunday | PTI who fell on the narrow, crowded stairwell had no chance. People were trampled as the crowd surged forward.” The incident took place around 9 am. Being a Sunday a , large crowd of devotees had gathered at the temple atop the Shivalik hills at a height of more than 500 feet. Videos from the spot showed a massive rush of people, including children and women, near the temple. Uttarakhand Chief Minister seats: Vellappally E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kochi Asserting that the Congress-led UDF will not be able to win the 2026 assembly elections, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan on Sunday challenged Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, saying he will resign from his post if the UDF secures 100 seats. “Satheesan is merely boasting by saying that the UDF will win 100 seats. If it manages to win that many seats, then I will resign from the Yogam general secretary post. (Otherwise) Is he ready to go into political exile? The LDF will enjoy a third term in power... their (Congress’) Thiruvananthapuram district president itself said so,” Vellappally said. His continued tirade against Satheesan came at separate meetings of SNDP Yogam union leaders in North ● More on P4 Paravoor and Kochi.  Hundred reasons to smile for dramatic comeback Firoz Mirza @manchester Relief, joy and exuberance. Those were the emotions running through the Indian dressing room on Sunday evening. Not too long ago, nay hours one may say, they were staring down the barrel, staring at inevitability with awe. England were toying with their bowlers and captain Shubman Gill seemed to have no answer. A lead of 311 runs and India were pushed to the wall. Any chance of batting out three sessions on Sunday started looking even more grim when England captain Ben Stokes took the ball from the other end and sent back wellset overnight batter KL Rahul. Gill, however, completed his century before a lapse of concentration minutes before lunch cost his wicket. The job, however, was not over. Ravindra Jadeja picked from from Lord’s, and in the company of Washington Sundar, enacted one of India’s greatest comebacks. Draws in Test cricket do have dramas and ample was in store as the evening winded towards dull draw. With both the batters closing in on their hundreds England captain wanted to shake hands but India wanted to continue. Though England players livid everything was within the laws. Part-timer Harry Brook was pressed into action and he bowled some donkey drops as both batters got to their respective centuries. Now, India go into the last Test with head held high and chin up. They will try and give everything at The Oval P11 and draw the series 2-2. Pushkar Singh Dhami, while announcing a financial assistance of `2 lakh to next of kin of the deceased and `50,000 to the injured, ordered a probe. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among those who expressed grief over the loss of lives in the stampede. Modi, in a post on X, said: “Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.” EXPRESS READ Three electrocuted in separate incidents T’Puram/Kozhikode: Three persons, including an 18-year-old boy who was bathing in a stream at Vettuthodu in Vengara, were electrocuted in three separate incidents in the state. P5 support as they transition to new opportunities,” it said. Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD and CEO of CIEL HR, said AI has emerged as a major disruptor in the IT services industry . “As processes have become standardised, AI tools are handling them with speed and accuracy This is also redefining . the role of people managers, whose traditional responsibilities such as delegating, monitoring, and supporting teams are now being augmented or replaced by AI,” he said. Modi: Statues of Chola kings will be installed in TN @ Gangaikonda Cholapuram (Ariyalur) india in england TNIE in England about AI displacing employees, in a recent post-earnings conference, company officials said they are focusing more on upskilling employees and making them AI-ready . TCS said it will extend all support to the affected employees. “We understand that this is a challenging time for our colleagues likely to be affected. We thank them for their service and we will be making all efforts to provide benefits, outplacement, counselling, and P T h i r u s e lv a m Will quit post if EC: 1st phase of Bihar voters’ list revision over UDF wins 100 MU K E SH RA N J A N @ New Delhi areas, entering new markets, deploying AI at scale for clients and for the company, creating next-gen infra, and realigning workforce model. “Towards this, a number of reskilling and redeployment initiatives have been underway We will also ... be releasing associates from the organization whose deployment may not be feasible,” it added. HR experts link such layoffs to AI as it automates tasks. Though TCS has not spoken Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that statues of emperors Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola I will be installed in Tamil Nadu. Speaking at an event at Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur commemorating 1,000 years of Rajendra Chola I’s maritime expedition to Southeast Asia and marking the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at the temple, Modi said, “While taking pride in the tradition of our Bharat, I take a pledge today that we will install grand statues of King Raja Raja Chola and his son Rajendra Chola I in Tamil Nadu. These statues will become modern pillars of our historical consciousness.” In a 45-minute speech in Hindi, translated into Tamil, Modi spoke at length about the contributions of the Chola emperors and the Shaivite tradition to the country. Referring to the Chola era as one of the golden ages of India, he said, “The Chola kings bound India with the thread of cultural unity. Today, our government is carrying forward the same ideas of the Cholas. We are strengthening these centuries-old threads of unity through events like the Kashi Tamil Sangamam a n d S a u r a s h t r a Ta m i l Sangamam.” On the Shaivite tradition, Modi said, “Our Shaivite tradition has played a huge role in the cultural formation of India. The Chola emperors were important architects of this heritage. That is why even today, Tamil Nadu is one of the living centres of the Shaivite tradition.” Referring to the Chola rulers’ extensive diplomatic and trade relations with Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia, Modi noted the coincidence of his return from the Maldives the previous day . Pointing out that while historians speak of Britain’s Magna Carta in the context of democracy Modi said the , Chola Empire had implemented democratic electoral practices centuries earlier through the Kudavolai Amaippu system. The PM said the legacy of Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola I is synonymous with India’s identity and pride. N Sakthan given charge of T’Puram DCC T’Puram: Senior Congress leader N Sakthan has been given temporary charge of Thiruvananthapuram DCC, a day after Palode Ravi resigned from the post following the controversy over the leaked telephone conversation. P4 PM Narendra Modi, TN Governor R N Ravi and other leaders at the Aadi Thiruvathirai event in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Ariyalur | Express ‘Baseless charges’: Church condemns Malayali nuns’ arrest in Chhattisgarh E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @Kochi The arrest of two Malayali nuns in Chhattisgarh on Friday has triggered outrage, with Christian organisations demanding immediate and decisive action to curb religious fanaticism. Preetha Mary and Vandana Francis from the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate under the Syro-Malabar Church in Cherthala, who were accompanying three girls, were arrested by the Chhattisgarh police at Durg railway station and charged with forced religious conversion and human trafficking. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) said the nuns were arrested despite possessing written consent letters from the parents of the girls, who are over 18 years of age. The CBCI urged the two state Pinarayi writes to PM T’Puram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in connection with the arrest of nuns. The CM in the letter said the relatives of the nuns approached him saying that they could not be contacted after being taken into police custody. The CM urged the PM to ensure that justice is done. governments to ensure the safety and protection of all women, especially those in religious service, and sought the urgent intervention of the Union government to prevent such incidents. The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council’s (KCBC) Social Harmony and Vigilance Commission, in an official statement on Sunday said the police’s action , was reportedly prompted by false and baseless allegations of religious conversion and human trafficking made by members of the Bajrang Dal. “This distressing incident is part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern of increasing hostility towards Christians and missionary personnel across various Indian states. The weaponisation of anti-conversion laws by extremist groups is not only unjust but also poses a serious threat to the constitutional rights of religious minorities in the country. We affirm that Catholic missionaries do not engage in forced conversions,” the commission said. The CBCI said the Catholic Church will raise the issue on all appropriate platforms and “strongly oppose any attempt to malign the dignity of religious nuns and priests or to curtail religious freedom.”  ● More on P4