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 ■ ■ visakhapatnam l tuesday l august 05, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Enough! India holds up a mirror to Trump’s hypocrisy J AYA N T H J AC O B & D IPA K M O N D A L @ New Delhi IN a strong rebuttal to renewed US criticism on India’s trade with Russia, New Delhi on Monday accused Washington and its allies of “unjustified and unreasonable” targeting, reminding them that it was the United States itself that once encouraged those very purchases to stabilise global markets. Ruling out any rethink on its energy trade with Russia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated: “Like any major economy India will take , all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security .” The sharp message came minutes after US President Donald Trump threatened to ‘substantially’ raise tariffs to punish India for its purchase and resale of Russian oil. Trump’s statement posted on Truth Social on Monday said: , “India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil... they are selling it for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Ma- chine... I will be substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the USA.” In its blistering response, India made it clear that such rhetoric smacks of geopolitical hypocrisy “India has . been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “But in fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe. The US at that time actively encouraged such imports to strengthen global energy market stability .” Jaiswal’s message was loud and clear that India will not be lectured. “India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market realities... However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves US continues to import uranium hexafluoride, palladium, fertilizers and chemicals from Russia. The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil... they are selling it for big profits... They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA —Ministry of External Affairs indulging in trade with Russia... Such trade is not even a vital national compulsion.” India listed hard numbers to underscore the double standards. The EU in 2024 had — Donald Trump a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia. It had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently European imports of . LNG in 2024 reached a record 16.5 million tonnes, surpassing the previous record of 15.21 million tonnes in 2022. Trump’s snooty remarks evoked a sharp reaction from Russia as well. “Washington is unable to accept the erosion of its dominance in an emerging multipolar international order... No tariff wars or sanctions can halt the natural course of history said Maria ,” Vladimirovna Zakharova, spokesperson of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. sirajmatazzheld high india Oval and out with head TNIE in England Firoz Mirza @london T India celebrate England’s Jamie Overtone wicket in the fifth and final Test on Monday. Captain Shubman Gill (right) with the Player of the Series medal. Mohammed Siraj was adjudged Player of the Match | AP review meet Raise per capita income to `5.42 lakh by 2029: Naidu E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada In a strategic review meeting held at the State Secretariat on Monday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu emphasised a governance model prioritising people, vision, nature and technology to achieve superior outcomes, and elevate living standards in the State. The meeting, attended by senior officials from the Planning Department and various sectors, focused on boosting the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Naidu outlined a goal to increase per capita income to `3,47,871 by 2025-26, with a longterm target of `5.42 lakh by 2029. He stressed the importance of meticulous planning and execution across short, medium, and long-term objectives to align with global trends and capitalise on emerging opportunities. All the departments were directed to design programmes with families at the core, ensuring basic needs are met while promoting sustainable practices. He advocated for policies that protect natural resources, and promote environmental sustainability . The Chief Minister proposed adopting a circular economy model, where waste from one industry serves as raw material for another, ensuring efficient P4 resource use.  he Oval match was the story of the series. It reflected the ferocity with which it was fought. First Test, England win comfortably India re. turn the favour with same magnanimity Third Test, . England win but with quite an effort. India draw despite trailing by 311 runs in the fourth. It would have been a travesty for cricket had the last not gone to the wire. India won by the barest of margins — six runs. Series 2-2. The celebration in the middle was wild. It’s poetic that after carrying the burden of bowling in the series, Mohammed Siraj took the final wicket and finished with a fifer (four in first innings and 23 overall). There he stood celebrating like his football idol Cristiano Ronaldo. He admitted how he changed the wallpaper on his phone on Monday morning to inspire him on the field. The conditions early on favoured pacers and Siraj was right on the money With only . 35 runs to get, margin of error was thin. The crowd, like in all days thronged the stadium to witness one of cricket’s most enthralling finishes. India did not disappoint, either. Siraj in beginning of the series was in the shadow of Jasprit Bumrah. As a batter, he was the last to fall in the third Test at Lord’s. On Monday he was the archi, tect of a historic win. A lot was at stake for the two incredibly talented sides. No series has seen so many ups and downs or twists and turns as this one. If Harry Brook and Joe Root were regaling the audience with their artistry, Siraj enthralled with 25 deliveries he bowled out of 53. He had taken three out of four wickets that fell. And, of course, the adage of frontline bowler for India will be his to keep. As for now, it’s P11 Oval and out.  SC’s ‘true Indian’ barb at Rahul ‘Emphasis on public New bar policy from sept 1 S u c h i t r a K a lya n Mo h a nty @ New Delhi The Supreme Court on Monday castigated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his comments on China capturing Indian territory in the wake of the Galwan attack in 2020, adding if he was an “true Indian”, he wouldn’t have said it. “How do you (Rahul) get to know when 2000 sq km was acquired by China? What is the credible material? A true Indian will not say this. When there is a conflict across border, can you say all this? Why can’t you ask the question in Parliament?” asked a bench comprising justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih. The court, however, stayed further proceedings against him in a defamation case in Lucknow and fixed Singhvi: It was about suppression on info Singhvi said that Rahul was only on the point of proper disclosure and raising concerns about the suppression of information the matter for further hearing after three weeks. During the hearing, Justice Datta said, “just because you have 19(1)(a) you cannot say anything.” Senior advicate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahul, said: “If he can’t say these things which are published in the Press, he can’t be a leader of opposition... It is also possible that a true Indian will say that our 20 Indian soldiers were beaten up and killed and that it is a matter of concern.” The defama- tion complaint filed by Uday Shankar Srivastava, the former Border Roads Organisation (BRO) director, was pending in a Lucknow court. His petition said Rahul made the ‘derogatory’ remarks was on December 16, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. In May, the Allahabad High Court had rejected Rahul’s plea challenging the issuance of summons by an MP/ MLA court in Lucknow. The court said that freedom of speech and expression does not include the freedom to make statements defamatory to the Indian Army . In its pushback later in the day the Congress said every pa, triotic Indian has sought answers on China since the 2020 Galwan incident, adding the Centre has chosen to obfuscate and hide the truth with its policy of “DDLJ—deny, distract, lie, and justify .” express read MP Sudha injured after man snatches her chain Quota for PG medical courses revised More skeletal remains found at Dharmasthala New Delhi: Mayiladuthurai MP R Sudha was injured on Monday when her chain was allegedly snatched by a scooter-borne man near Polish Embassy as she went on a morning walk Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has revised its reservation policy for postgraduate (PG) medical course admissions for the academic year 2025-26 | P3 Bengaluru: The SIT probing the alleged mass burial case in Dharmasthala on Monday recovered multiple skeletal remains from a new site, police sources said health, not revenue’ E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced the new bar policy of Andhra Pradesh, effective from September 1, emphasising public health over revenue generation. The policy based on the recommendations of , the Cabinet sub-committee, aims to promote responsible alcohol consumption, and protect the well-being of citizens, particularly the economically disadvantaged. During a review meeting at the State Secretariat with Ministers Kollu Ravindra (Excise) and Kondapalli Srinivas (MSME), and Excise officials on Monday, Naidu stressed that the new policy prioritises public health. “The liquor policy is not just about revenue. We must focus on safeguarding people’s health, and ensuring that poor households are not devastated by alcohol,” he asserted. Naidu highlighted that low-alcohol content beverages could reduce health risks for consumers, and mitigate the harm caused by substandard liquor, which affected lakhs of families during the previous regime. Now, the State has 840 bars, and bar licences will be allotted through a lottery system under the new policy Licence fee is set based on . population. The fee is `35 lakh for areas with a population below 50,000, `55 lakh for up to 5 lakh, and `75 lakh above 5 lakh. The policy is expected to generate `700 crore revenue through applications, and licence fee, with a mandatory requirement of at least four P4 applications per bar.  lottery system for bar licences Bar licences will be allotted through a lottery system. Now, the State has 840 bars. Licence fee is fixed based on population. The policy is expected to generate `700 crore revenue ‘Op Kumki’ successful, jumbo herd driven away E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Tirupati/Vijayawada In a significant breakthrough in wildlife management, Chittoor forest officials have successfully executed ‘Operation Kumki’, relocating a herd of 14 wild elephants from farmlands in Palamaner Range back to t h e Ko u n d i n y a Wi l d l i f e Sanctuary . The operation, conducted in Mogili of Bangarupalyam mandal has brought the much-needed relief to farmers, whose mango orchards and crops were being ravaged by the straying jumbo herds. District Forest Officer Bharani emphasised the dual objective of ensuring the safety of both villagers and elephants while protecting agricultural livelihoods. “This operation is a testament to the expertise of our field teams, and the pivotal role of our trained Kumki elephants,” she said. Deputy Chief Minister (Forest and Environment) Pawan Kalyan lauded the forest officials, mahouts, and support staff for their efforts, expressing gratitude to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre for providing the Kumki elephants to AP . He highlighted that under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, the coalition government is dedicated to protecting crops and lives through initiatives like ‘Operation Kumki’. Preparations are now underway for the next phase in Punganur forest area, with officials focused on sustaining this momentum. The strategic intervention, which took place from Saturday night to Sunday morning, marked the first deployment of Kumki elephants in Chittoor since their arrival three months P4 ago.  Jan 11, 1944-aug 4, 2025 Shibu Soren and the soil-soaked struggle for self-rule V V P S h a r m a @ New Delhi S hibu Soren was an avatar to the Santhals of the Chhotanagpur plateau of the undivided Bihar. They called him Dishom Guru — the god of all 10 directions. In his younger days, his black locks, flowing beard and chiselled features mesmerised the tribals as much as they frustrated the Bihar Police, as he led a movement for tribal rights that saw a separate tribal state of Jharkhand carved from Bihar in his lifetime. At 81, Soren breathed his last in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital from kidney complications on Monday . Called Guruji by now, he became chief minister thrice, never able to complete a full term as politics or police cases disrupted his reign. He even went to Delhi as minister at the Centre, but as the years dragged on, and the health taking its toll, he hung up his boots and, succumbing to dynasty politics, handed over control of the party he cofounded, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), to his son, He- mant. The younger Soren is the current chief minister of a coalition with the Congress. Shibu Soren’s legacy is inseparable from the struggle for tribal rights in undivided Bihar. A Santhal, he grew up in an oppressive environment where politicians, landlords and usurers milked tribals of their dignity and displaced them from their hereditary forest dwellings, reducing them to literal slavery . Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays respects to Shibu Soren in New Delhi on Monday | PTI The angry young man decided to rebel and become the prophet of tribal identity. His target was the “diku”, an outsider in the tribal language. That could mean any of the many oppressors. His demand was for ‘jal, jungle, zameen’, water, forest, land, which the tribals considered their godgiven resources. The movement he birthed thus arose from generations of exploitation, dispossession and deprivation of tribals — he preferred ‘adivasis’ — till in the early 1970s it turned into a political struggle under the ban- ner of the JMM. It was headquartered in the hundreds of tribal villages, the tribal councils deciding agitational agendas, the Santhali folk songs arousing political passions. Soren nurtured the movement across the land. He would move from village to village on foot. He had nothing he could call his own except the clothes and chappals he wore. The villagers fed him, listened to him, and obeyed him blindly. He would explain to them facts of life they felt but could not express.  Continued on P8