chennai l Monday l January 05, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION ‘Waterman of India’ slams Indore tragedy that killed 6 Water conservationist Rajendra Singh Sunday called the Indore drinking water tragedy a ‘systemcreated disaster’ which was avoidable Corruption has ruined the system: singh The Magsaysay Award winner expressed alarm that such a crisis could unfold in Indore, which has been ranked as India’s cleanest city. “If such a tragedy can occur in the country’s cleanest city, it shows how serious the condition of drinking water supply systems must be elsewhere,” Singh said, alleging that corruption has ruined the entire system 30 AFTER INDORE, GANDHINAGAR SEES OUTBREAK ■ Officially, the death toll in Indore was put at six so far. Locals, however, claim the fatality count could be anywhere between 10 and 14, with another 200 people remain in various hospitals ■ After Indore, over 100 people have fallen sick with typhoid in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar following water contamination Patients still in icu in indore following the diarrhoea outbreak 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 India walks diplomatic tightrope on Venezuela, calls for dialogue MEA terms the developments “a matter of deep concern”, but does not name the US J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi INDIA on Sunday expressed “deep concern” over the unprecedented US action to capture Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a late-night military operation. In its first reaction to the dramatic US military action in Venezuelan capital Caracas early on Saturday the Ministry , of External Affairs (MEA) said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation as the deposed Venezuelan leader has been brought to the US to face drug trafficking charges. Calling for a peaceful resolution of all the issues through dialogue, the MEA said India reaffirms its support for the well-being and safety of the people of the oil-rich South American country. “We call upon all concerned to address issues peacefully through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability of the region.” The statement said the Indian embassy in Caracas is in contact with members of the Indian community and is providing all possible help. On Saturday, the MEA had issued an advisory urging Indian citizen to avoid non-essential travel to Venezuela. In its carefully worded statement issued on Sunday, the MEA did not make any direct Streets empty, shops shut Tense calm prevailed in Venezuela on Sunday with capital Caracas witnessing empty streets with few vehicles moving around. Most convenience stores, gas stations and other businesses were closed, in contrast to the rush usually seen on Sundays Screengrab of Nicolas Maduro (centre) escorted inside the headquarters of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in lower Manhattan, New York | afp reference to alleged violations of sovereignty or name the US, adopting a measured tone amid rapidly unfolding events. The MEA statement came a day after the Donald Trump administration announced that it had captured Maduro and his wife following a military operation that targeted Caracas as well as other areas. The operation was described by the US as part of a crackdown on what it called “narco-terrorism”. Washington launched the military action after putting pressure on Caracas for several months through a series of strikes on Venezuelan vessels accused of smuggling drugs. T h e l at e st deve lop men ts marked a sharp escalation in the long-running political and diplomatic crisis surrounding Venezuela. After he was ‘arrested’ by US forces in the audacious raid early Saturday, Maduro was brought to the US and is currently held in a New York detention centre. The deposed Venezuelan leader is facing drug trafficking charges and is likely to be produced in court on Monday . While Trump said the US would oversee the administration of the country until a transition of power takes place, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a television interview that Washington will use control of Venezuela’s oil industry to force policy changes. He also did not rule out putting US troops in Venezuela.  P9 Rodriguez named interim prez Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez will be the acting president with the Supreme Court ordering her to take charge in Nicolas Maduro’s absence. Terming the US action illegal, Rodriguez said Maduro is the country’s rightful leader and must be freed @ Pudukkottai B ANBUSELVAN @ Chennai Nearly four lakh dairy farmers supplying milk to Aavin in Tamil Nadu have not received incentive payments for the past four months due to delays in the release of government funds. The farmers have urged the state government to release the long-pending dues amounting to over `200 crore. The farmers also pointed out that most village-level cooperative societies are operating at a loss. They demanded that the state government compensate Aavin for the annual loss of nearly `550 crore incurred since May 2021, following a reduction in milk selling price by `3 per litre. Drawing a parallel, they said transport corporations are compensated by the government for operating buses without fare hikes, while Aavin has been left to absorb losses on its own. A few months ago, due to delays in releasing incentive funds, the state government authorised Aavin to clear dues using funds from the milk cooperative federation (Aavin) and profit-making district-level cooperative unions, assuring that these entities will be reimbursed later. Accordingly, incentives for the period from June to August were paid using internal funds.  P5 Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders during closing ceremony of the Tamilagam Thalai Nimira Tamilanin Payanam Yatra on Sunday | m k ashok kumar jobs scam, money laundering to illegal sand mining and coal scams, and asked whether TN could progress under such a regime. He alleged that every government scheme under the DMK regime carried a 20% commission and that the state’s finances were being run solely on borBy crossing constitutional limits, you (DMK-led state government) are committing injustice against the Hindu community Amit Shah, Union Home Minister With only months left to go for the 2026 Assembly elections, the Tamil Nadu government has announced a `3,000 cash gift for the Pongal festival, the highest amount offered under the scheme so far. The cash gift will be given alongside a grocery hamper for 2.23 crore family rice ration cardholders. The state government has sanctioned `6,936.18 crore for the implementation of the Pongal gift scheme this year. The cash assistance will be distributed physically through ration shop employees. The beneficiaries will also receive 1kg each of raw rice and sugar, along with a sugarcane. Further, 1.76 crore ration cardholders will be provided free dhotis and sarees. Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday said the `3,000 cash assistance would be provided to all rice ration cardholders, including families residing in Sri Lankan Tamil re- rowings and liquor revenue. Accusing the state government of a pattern of “insulting” Hindu beliefs in TN, Shah claimed that restrictions were imposed in TN during the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, comparisons of Sanatan Dharma to diseases such as dengue and malaria had been made by senior ruling party leaders (a reference to Deputy CM Udhayanidhi), and alleged — without specific examples — that Hindu religious processions had been stopped, and idol immersions barred.  P5 express news service @ Bengaluru A file photograph of Indian troops on patrol duty along LAC. The middle sector of LAC is in focus due to the unpredictable patrolling of China’s PLA | Express China on mind, army to up the ante along LAC’s middle sector sector, spanning Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand THE Indian Army will con- borders, features unique chalduct a major academic exer- lenges such as difficult tercise on January 7 focussing rain, limited infrastructure, on the Middle Sector of the environmental limits, and Line of Actual Control with grey-zone activities. China, driven by growing “Chinese assertiveness is concerns over Chinese as- no longer limited to tradisertiveness, enhanced infra- tional military manoeuvres. structure development across We have witnessed infrathe border, and unpredictable structure push in sensitive People’s Liberation Army pa- zones, dual-use facilities, introl behaviour. creased PLA troop moveThe seminar, titled ment, aggressive pa“Fortifying Himatrolling patter ns, laya: A Proactive cyber probing, and Military-Civil Furapid militarisation Our aim must be sion Strategy in Midof border villages,” to transform the dle Sector,” will be Middle Sector into reads a synopsis of held in Dehradun, the seminar. an unshakeable Uttarakhand, bringThe Middle Sector logistics and i n g t o g e t h e r re includes four valleys surveillance n ow n e d e x p e r t s, backbone, capable in Uttarakhand— academia, and mili- of supporting fast Harshil, Mana, Niti, response, tary leaders to exand Barahoti, with deterrence, and plore civil-military 22 passes serving as long-term integration redefincrucial mountain acdominance ing India’s defence cess points. Barahoti Seminar synopsis architecture. Va l l e y r e m a i n s Sources said the among eight mutuacademic exercise aims to ally accepted disputed areas promote strategic thinking with overlapping claims beand understanding of civil- tween India and China military fusion, providing a Since May 2020, when Chiplatform for academic ex- na breached agreements, the change on frontier security . sector’s status has remained Historically seen as less unclear, prompting major vulnerable than the Eastern troop reorganisation. and Western sectors, the MidThe seminar comes as trust dle Sector has gained strate- deficit between India and gic importance in the wake China persists despite recent of rising tensions and Chi- disengagement at Depsang nese infrastructure expan- and Demchok in Eastern sion along LAC. The 545-km Ladakh. m aya n k s i n g h @ New Delhi Bangladesh refuse to travel to India for T20 World Cup G o m e s h S @ Cape Town A day after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL squad at the instruction of BCCI, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally written to the ICC to relocate their T20 World Cup matches from India. While the BCCI remains silent on the matter at the moment, if things don’t get sorted amicably, the entire World Cup schedule might have to be changed. Bangladesh, who are sched- uled to play three matches in Kolkata and Mumbai, have now officially refused to travel to India amidst the rising diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Following an emergency board meeting on Saturday night, BCB said as much in a statement. “The Board reviewed the situation in detail, taking into account developments over the last 24 hours and expressed deep concern over the overall circumstances surrounding the participation of the Bangladesh National Team in matches scheduled to be played in India. Mustafizur Rahman Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contin- habilitation camps. As per official sources, the state has nearly 19,000 families living in rehabilitation camps. About 3.8 lakh sugar-only and nocommodity ration cards will not be eligible for the cash component. A senior official from the food department said the government had scrutinised the linkage of ration cards with bank accounts two years ago and found that a significant number was not linked.  P5 Timely delivery of aircraft is key, says IAF chief US lawmakers have raised questions about the operation, done without congressional approval. “Trump is undermining Constitution’s separation of powers,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, while Ro Khanna said Trump has set a dangerous precedent Pearson Lenekar S R Aavin producers demand state to pay `200cr dues E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai U.S. Lawmakers question action DMK most corrupt in India, insults Hindu beliefs: Shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday slammed the ruling DMK government as a symbol of corruption and accused it of routinely insulting the beliefs of Hindus. Charging that Chief Minister M K Stalin’s “dream of making his son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, the next CM” will never come to pass, the senior BJP leader claimed that TN will reject this “onefamily rule” and expressed confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will capture power in the state in the 2026 Assembly elections. Addressing the closing ceremony of state BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran’s Tamilagam Thalai Nimira Tamilanin Payanam Yatra at Karuveppilan Gate in the district, Shah alleged that the DMK is “the most corrupt party in India”, claiming that a DMK minister had continued to hold office for 243 days even after being jailed. He alleged that the party’s leaders had been named in multiple cases ranging from a cash-for- TN govt to give `3K cash with Pongal hamper, highest under scheme so far gent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,” the statement read. BCB went on to say that the step was necessary for the safety and well-being of the players and officials from the country . “In light of this decision, the BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority to , consider relocating all of Bang- ladesh’s matches to a venue outside India. The Bangladesh Cricket Board looks forward to the ICC’s understanding of the situation and an urgent response on this matter,” the statement added. Since the political turmoil in Bangladesh last year, the cricketing relations between two countries have not been smooth. India men’s tour of Bangladesh was postponed last August and as late as December 2025, the Bangladesh women’s tour of India was indefinitely postponed. SPEAKING at the inauguration of ‘Aeronautics 2047’, a two-day national seminar organised by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) at the Centre for Airborne Systems, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Sunday underlined the critical need for timely aircraft delivery to maintain the Air Force’s operational readiness. Congratulating ADA on completing 25 years of flight operations of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Air Chief Marshal Singh emphasised the need to stick to delivery timelines as essential for IAF readiness in a rapidly evolving security environment. Dr Samir V Kamat, secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DRDO chairman, said developing indigenous cutting-edge technology t o re d u c e import dependence is the need of the hour to realise the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. The seminar saw the presence of domain experts, industrial partners, academia, and aviation enthusiasts from across the aerospace community to discuss aeronautics evolution, design innovation, manufacturing advances, and future frontiers. Aeronautics-2047 will cover the future of Indian space technologies and the journey of LCA Tejas from sketch to squadron. ADA has designed and developed LCA Tejas with more than 5,600 successful flight trials. Several niche technologies like carbon composites, light-weight materials, fly-by-wire flight control, digital utility management system, Glass Cockpit, etc. were developed to make LCA a fourth-generation fighter. express read Stalin to launch free laptop scheme today Chennai: CM M K Stalin is set to launch the ‘Ulagam Ungal Kayil’ scheme on Monday, under which 10 lakh laptops will be distributed to students of government colleges in the first phase | P4 3 held for murder of Hindu man in B’desh Dhaka: Three persons were arrested on Sunday for killing Khokon Chandra Das, a Hindu businessman in Shariatpur district of Bangladesh. Das was hacked and set ablaze on Wednesday | P9