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 ■ ■ SAMBALPUR l saturday l november 08, 2025 l `9.00 l PaGes 14 l CIty edItIon sheIkh hasIna keen on fIGhtInG InClusIve Polls Gautam Lahiri Independent journalist A FTER 15 months of her stay in an undisclosed location in india, exiled former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has finally spoken her mind in an exclusive e-mail interview. For the first time, she accepts “leadership responsibility” for the killing of citizens during the mass protest against her government from July 15 to August 5, 2024. Here’s the full text of the interview: The Bangladeshi authorities have banned the Awami League from contesting the general elections early next year. Are your party members considering running as independents? The decision to ban the Awami League is deeply undemocratic and a clear violation of Bangladesh’s constitution and of the fundamental rights of the electorate. it short-changes millions of people. Historically, when parties have not participated in previous elections, Bangladeshi voters have simply not voted, rather than transfer their vote press clusive to other parties. So our priority is to continue fighting for the rights of our voters. If the Awami League and its members refuse to contest elections in any form, what do you think the impact will be for Bangladesh? We are not refusing to contest elections. on the contrary we , ardently wish to participate. But we have been banned from doing so by an administration that is itself unelected and which clearly has no respect for democracy . We have to break this cycle of parties either boycotting elections or being banned, because it undermines the legitimacy of the gover nment. Bangladesh badly needs to hold a free, fair and inclusive election, so that the country can begin to heal and move towards reconciliation. You cannot achieve this by banning the Awami League. We are woven into the country’s modern history and independence, and tens of millions support us. A report by the Human Rights Watch estimates that When parties don’t participate in polls, Bangladeshi voters have simply not voted, rather than transfer their vote to others around 1,400 people were killed and thousands were injured during the anti-government protests between July 15 and August 5 over a year ago. The report says the vast majority were shot by Bangladesh’s security forces. As the Prime Minister at the time, do you take responsibility for the state-inflicted violence that led to your ouster? i mourn each and every life lost in the tragic violence of last summer’s uprising. As the country’s leader, i ultimately take leadership responsibility but the implication that i ordered or directed the actions of the security forces on the ground is fundamentally incorrect. All actions were taken in good faith and with the sole intention of minimising the loss of life or the further breakdown in law and order. top court fiat to clear public spaces nationwide of stray dogs and cattle Send them to designated shelters after sterilisation, vaccination, says three-judge bench s u c H i t r a K a lya n m o H a n t y @ New Delhi PM Narendra Modi releasing a commemorative coin, stamp of Vande Mataram | pti Vande Mataram’s cuts sowed seeds of Partition: Modi pa r v e z s u lta n @ New Delhi in a veiled criticism of the Congress, Prime Minister narendra Modi on Friday said significant stanzas of the ‘Vande Mataram’ were axed in 1937, which sowed the seeds of Partition. He further asserted that ‘divisive philosophy’ is still a challenge before the country . “The spirit of Vande Mataram illuminated the entire nation during the freedom struggle. But unfortunately, in 1937, the key verses of Vande Mataram, a part of its soul, were separated. This division of Vande Mataram also sowed the seeds of the nation’s division. Why was this great mantra of nation-building treated with such injustice? This is important for today’s generation to understand because that divisive thinking remains a challenge for the country even today Modi said. ,” He was speaking at the inauguration of the year-long commemoration of 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ in new Delhi. He also released a commemorative stamp and coin on the occasion. The PM remarked that those who consider the nation a geopolitical entity, may find the idea of treating the nation as a mother puzzling. “But india is different. in india, the mother is the giver of birth, the nur- Authored by Bankim on November 7, 1875 Vande Mataram was written by Bankimchandra Chatterji on Akshaya Navami, which was on November 7, 1875. The song first appeared in the literary journal Bangadarshan as part of his novel Anandamath in a sweeping directive on Friday, the Supreme Court ordered the removal of stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, railway stations, bus stands and other public places, directing that they be relocated to shelters following sterilisation. The court made it clear that stray dogs cannot be released back into the areas from which they are picked up. A special three-judge bench comprising justices Vikram nath, Sandeep Mehta, and n V Anjaria issued the order while hearing a long-pending case on stray dogs. “Every stray dog shall be forthwith removed from such premises and relocated to a shelter after sterilisation. They shall not be released in the same area,” the bench said. The bench held that the recurrence of dog bite incidents within institutional areas, including sports complexes, re- turer, and when her children are in danger, she is also the destroyer of evil. in the past, the world has seen the rise of this form of india,” he said. noting that Vande Mataram is relevant in every era, in an apparent reference to operation Sindoor, he said, “When the enemy dared to attack india’s security and honour through terrorism, the whole world saw that if the new india is the embodiment of Kamala and Vimala (forms of Goddess Durga) for the service of humanity, then it also knows to become Durga — the wielder of 10 weapons — for the destruction of terror,” Modi added. The PM said Vande Mataram is not merely a word; it is a mantra, energy a dream, and a , solemn resolve. “This one word fills our present with self-confidence, and gives new courage to our future. There is no such goal that we indians cannot achieve,” said Modi. HigHligHts of tHe sc order sc has made it the responsibility of the municipal body to remove stray dogs 1 School, colleges to conduct awareness sessions on first-aid in dog bite cases, reporting protocols 2 Dedicated highway patrol teams to to report in case of a cattle blocking highway flected not only administrative apathy but also a “systemic failure” to secure these premises from preventable hazards. The court expressed concern that india continues to report one of the world’s highest stat ist ic s of rab ies - re l at e d mortality . The bench then directed authorities to ensure the removal of all cattle and other stray animals from state highways, chAos At Delhi Airport People wait outside the arrivals gate at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The Delhi airport, the country’s busiest, plunged into chaos on Friday as 800 flights were delayed due to tech glitches in the air traffic control system | pti Muthoot Finance: 208 tonnes KSFE: 67.22 tonnes Manappuram Finance: 56.4 tonnes Indel Money: 6 tonnes (Source: Annual reports) reserves of Spain (282 tonnes) and UK (310 tonnes). That is gold worth `4.6 lakh crore, based on current prices. Kerala’s nBFCs have built up this vast reserve over decades. in a state where gold is a savings instrument, a status symbol, and a financial lifeline, the business of gold loans has be- SC says all highways to prominently display helpline numbers at regular intervals national highways and expressways, stating that “it is a matter of grave and continuing public concern... that accidents caused by cattle on publ i c r o a d s h ave b e c o m e alarmingly frequent.” The bench categorised its order in three parts. The first dealt with compliance, and mandated all states and Union Territories to submit comprehensive affidavits within eight express news service @ Bhubaneswar THREE servitors of the Shree Jagannath temple at Puri were on Friday suspended for two months over charges of indiscipline and flouting the norms of the shrine. Temple chief administrator Arabinda Padhee initiated the disciplinary action against Suar Badu servitor narayan Panda, Khuntia servitor Rajaram Khuntia and Mahasuar servitor Bena Mahasuar in accordance with section 21 (A) of Shree Jagannath Temple Act 1955. Last month, narayan and Rajaram were alle g edly found collecting money illegally from devotees for facilitating ‘darshan’ and clashed with each other near Bahara Katha over sharing the earnings. The two were suspended for violating temple guidelines and affecting its security and dignity, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) stated in a release. CONTINUED ON P5 @ Bhubaneswar SPARKLING NUMBERS Muthoot FinCorp: 43.69 tonnes 4 3 srimandir servitors suspended by temple admin Hemant Kumar rout Kerala gold lenders outshine European nations iF Kerala’s non-banking financiers were a country they would , rank 16th in the world for gold reserves — right after Portugal and ahead of the United Kingdom, Spain, and Austria. Together, Kerala-based non-banking financial companies (nBFCs) now hold 381 tonnes of gold, a stash that surpasses the official reserves of several European nations and testifies to the state’s enduring obsession with the yellow metal. The combined holdings of Muthoot Finance, Manappuram Finance, Muthoot FinCorp, Kerala State Financial Enterprises Ltd (KSFE), and indel Money outweigh the gold All govt and private hospitals to maintain a stock of antirabies vaccines CONTINUED ON: P11 GadkarI announCes `1,000 Cr from Crf for odIsha, urGes enGIneers to be sensItIve hiGh stakes r a J e s H a B r a H a m @ Kochi 3 weeks, detailing steps taken to address lapses identified in the amicus curiae’s report. Chief Secretaries will be held accountable for lapses, it said. The second part reaffirmed an earlier Rajasthan High Court directions on stray cattle, instructing all states to conduct joint drives to remove stray animals from highways. The third part requires all states and UTs to identify government institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, railway stations, and bus terminals within two weeks and secure them with fencing to prevent stray animal ingress. Local bodies and panchayats must inspect all listed premises once every three months. Any failure will attract strict action against responsible officials. The Supreme Court was hearing a suo motu case, initiated on July 28 over a media report on stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital. The next hearing is on January 13. As for the Un’s fatality estimate, we dispute that figure. it is significantly higher than the Ministry of Health’s own calculations and is based on undocumented and closely controlled evidence supplied to the Un Human Rights Commissioner by the interim government. it also appears to contain many members of the security forces and Awami League officials killed in the riots, but that hasn’t been made clear. The government has had over 15 months to arrive at an accurate death count, yet has still not published a definitive list of the dead. Total 381 tonnes come culturally rooted and economically powerful. “in tier-3, tier-4, and tier-5 cities, gold loans are the first preference for any immediate requirement,” says Umesh Mohanan, CEo, indel Money . With RBi tightening unsecured lending rules, nBFCs find themselves in a sweet spot. Borrowers prefer gold-backed credit, where funds are instant, secured, and flexible. However, this boom has also spurred the unorganised sector. Mohanan says 63% of gold loans are in the unregulated space — pawnshops, small financiers, and local lenders. Meanwhile, a leading player, Muthoot FinCorp, attributes the growth to disciplined borrowers and stable demand. “We aren’t seeing customers rush back to borrow more just because prices are up,” says Muthoot FinCorp CEo Shaji Varghese. “Though the loan tenure is 12 months, most customers redeem their gold in 5-6 months. They close the loan when their purpose is met and move on.” Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways nitin Gadkari on Friday asked road engineers to focus on quality and future-ready detailed project reports (DPRs) instead of bothering about price quotes of tenders. “When people need heart surgeries, do they float a tender and go to the cheapest doctor?” he said while inaugurating the 84th indian Roads Congress (iRC) here. He announced `1,000 crore from the Central Road and infrastructure Fund (CRiF) for the state on the occasion and informed that hydrogen-powered vehicles will soon be introduced on a pilot basis in some states, including odisha. Gadkari said, usually, the DPRs are prepared by those who quoted the lowest and there is no technical examination of such reports before tenders are floated. “We need to change such practices and procedures that are creating hurdles in the progress. Perfect DPRs will also help curb road fatalities,” he said. Expressing concern over Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan releasing the souvenir of IRC-2025 in Bhubaneswar on Friday | express rising road fatalities, the union minister asked road engineers to be more sensitive towards road safety. “Road accidents are claiming 1.8 lakh lives every year. new initiative, ownership and correct road engineering can save lives. The focus must be on identifying the black spots and rectifying them. Those who design roads should first make them friendly for the users. The road geometry has to be improved,” he said Acknowledging iRC’s 90 years of experience in preparing guidelines, setting standards and design practices, the minister urged the apex body of engineers to make it a fullfledged professional organisa- tion with global benchmark. “The government will support in this endeavour. A fast-track decision-making process is the need of the hour if we want to make our country an economic powerhouse,” he said. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said there has been rapid improvement in road infrastructure since Prime Minister narendra Modi took charge in 2014. The state government has continued its efforts towards the development of ports, roads, railways and air transport sectors. A target has been set to build 75,000 km of roads in five years, he CONTINUED ON P5 said. express read Bihar doesn’t want ‘jungle raj’: Modi Vande Mataram symbol of sacrifice: CM Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a strong attack on the Opposition, warning that the people of Bihar did not want a return of “katta sarkar” or “jungle raj”. Addressing an election rally in Aurangabad, Modi said incidents of crime and extortion would rise if those responsible for lawlessness in the past came back to power | P10 Bhubaneswar: Vande Mataram is not just a song, it is a symbol of patriotism, sacrifice and valour, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday. Attending the nationwide programme commemorating the 150th anniversary of the iconic song, the chief minister also participated in the mass singing at a special function organised at the Lok Seva Bhawan here | P3