CHENNAI l friday l February 06, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 44 l LATE CITY EDITION gujarat to reclaim asaram’s ashram land near ahmedabad The Gujarat High Court allowed the state govt to resume possession of over 45,000 sq m of land from godman Asaram Bapu’s ashram at Motera illegal constructions on govt land allotment rules circumvented, hc told The state government submitted that the land had been allotted several decades ago solely for religious use. These conditions were violated over time, with construction carried out on the land far in excess of what was originally allotted, Gujarat submitted. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation apprised the court of illegal constructions in the premises ■ ■ On a plea by ashram authorities to stop the takeover, the court observed that the allotment conditions were specific and binding, and that record showed construction beyond the permitted limits Self-styled godman Asaram, the owner of the ashram, is serving a life sentence in a rape case and is presently out on bail for six months `500 cr is the value of the land under the possession of the ashram 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 Flights booked, says SKY; govt to take semis decision: Agha F i r o z M i r z a @ Mumbai The biggest talking point started days before the first ball is bowled at the T20 World Cup on February 7 is hard to miss. Ostensibly so, the focus was on India and Pakistan when the captains had a media session here and Colombo on Thursday . India captain Suryakumar Yadav was straightforward when asked about the Feb 15 match Pakistan are forfeiting. “Our mindset is pretty clear. We have not said no (to playing Pakistan). They have. ICC has given the f i x t u re. O u r flight is booked and we are going there (to Colombo). Their (Pakistan’s) decision is not in my control. I wish I could take their decision, but then it is their call,” he said. While speaking on the ICC’s position, he said, “I am sure they might be working out something as well” Miles away, in Colombo, the other captain Salman Ali Agha said playing India in the knockouts would also depend on government’s approval. “The India game is not in our control.” he said.  P19 Cong can’t dig my grave, says Modi in Rajya Sabha Sees hope for global stability after recent big-ticket trade deals RAJESH K U M AR THA K UR Why the PM did not speak in the LS @ New Delhi A day after his scheduled address in the Lok Sabha had to be cancelled amid disruptions by Opposition MPs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lit into the Opposition while replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha. He began his speech by highlighting India’s trade pacts with the European Union and the US. “When we signed the trade deal with the EU, it instilled confidence and hope about bringing global stability . After the deal with US, the world became even more confident that with stability, they can sense speed, too,” he said. Opposition MPs raised slogans but he continued his speech, taking a jibe at Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, saying: “Considering his age, he can sit and raise slogans.” Modi, then, turned his focus squarely on the Opposition and continued his fiery speech despite repeated disruptions. Tearing into the Congress, he Prime Minister Narendra Modi replies to the Motion of Thanks in Rajya Sabha | pti flagged the party’s use of spiteful words such as gaddar (traitor) and kabr (grave). In a sharp jibe at the Gandhi family, he said “habitual thieves” have even stolen the surname of a Gujarati, Mahatma Gandhi. When Opposition MPs staged a walkout, he sarcastically remarked thak gaye, chale gaye (they are tired, so they left). Giving a twist to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘traitor’ jibe against Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday, Modi said the comment was an insult to the entire Sikh In an unprecedented development, the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address without the customary reply by the PM. Speaker Om Birla said he had information that Congress MPs planned “some unexpected act” by reaching the PM’s seat. Following this, he requested the PM not to come to the House | P7 community “How can the coun. try tolerate a citizen being called a traitor? Such people will sink the Congress,” he said, targeting Rahul for his remarks against Bittu, who was earlier with the Congress. Referring to the slogan Modi teri kabr khudegi that was raised against him during a recent Congress rally he said the , Opposition could raise any slogans, but they won’t come true. “Why do you want to dig Modi’s grave? This is not just a slogan. It is a reflection of the hatred within,” he said. At least 18 dead in rat-hole mine blast P r a s a n ta M a z u m d a r @ Guwahati AT least 18 labourers were killed, and several others feared trapped following a dynamite explosion at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills early on Thursday of, ficials said. AIADMK-BJP discord is media chatter: Nainar S u b a s h i n i V i j aya k u m a r @ Chennai Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran told TNIE that actor Vijay’s TVK will not eat into the NDA’s vote-share and expressed confidence about the bloc’s victory in the state. The people of Tamil Nadu feel cheated by the DMK government, he said. Dismissing reports of discord between the AIADMK and the BJP over sharing of power if the NDA wins the polls as media chatter, Nagenthran said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stress on “double-engine” gover nment is an emphasis on the need for a state that can work cordially with the centre. He contrasted this with what he termed the DMK’s confrontational approach with the centre even over schemes that are beneficial to the people. He also downplayed the announcement by former state chief K Annamalai that he wouldn’t be able to take up the responsibility to oversee party’s campaign in six assembly seats due to his father’s ill health. Nagenthran said Annamalai will participate in BJP’s future campaigns. He said the TN people are fully aware of the breakdown in law and order in the state under the DMK government and its failure to fulfil most of its poll promises. Full interview on P4 WITH THIS ISSUE CHENNAI’S BEST WEEKEND GUIDE 44 PAGES, INCLUDING 24 OF INDULGE (TABLOID) East Jaintia Hills SP Vikash Kumar said the mine was most likely illegal.” “We are trying to gather information about the mine owner.After that, we will take necessary actions,” the SP said. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a ban on rat-hole coal mining and other unscientific mining practices in Meghalaya in 2014. Despite the ban, illegal mining continues. There have been several coal mine mishaps in Meghalaya. In 2018, 15 miners were trapped in an illegal coal mine, leading to 13 deaths. `2 lakh ex-gratia PM Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of `2 lakh for the next of the kin of every miner who perished. Kuki-Zo council boycotts 3 MLAs who joined govt P r a s a n ta M a z u m d a r @ Guwahati THE Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), which represents Manipur’s Kuki-Zo tribes, on Thursday announced a social boycott of all three Kuki-Zo legislators who on Wednesday joined the newlyformed government, even as the seventh session of the legislative assembly commenced with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla’s address. “By joining the for mation of a Meitei-dominated government, these MLAs have effectively aligned themselves with our enemy, disregarding the imNemcha Kipgen mense pain and sacrifices endured by the Kuki-Zo community the KZC said ,” in a statement. The organisation viewed the act as a serious betrayal and a deliberate attempt to undermine the unity, sentiments, and collective political stand of the Kuki-Zo people. Amid a demand by the Kuki-Zo leaders for a separate administrative unit, BJP MLA Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday was sworn in as the 13th CM of Manipur. Nemcha Kipgen (pic), a BJP MLA who belongs to the Kuki community took oath as deputy , chief minister. L M Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate, are the other two MLAs facing boycott. Cabinet okays `34K-crore investment plans in TN E x p r e s s n e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai The state cabinet on Thursday approved `34,237.39 crore worth of investments in multiple projects by 15 companies with the potential to create 55,096 jobs. Briefing reporters at the secretariat after the meeting chaired by Chief Minister M K Stalin, Industries Minister T R B Rajaa said the projects would promote balanced and widespread development and would be spread across districts, including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Perambalur, Tiruchy Karur, Tiruppur, , Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi, among others. The minister said a major scheme would be announced on February 13 (Friday).  P7