chennai l Thursday l February 26, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 20 l late city EDITION slew of demands messes up BSNL director’s visit to Prayagraj BSNL director Vivek Banzal is in the line of fire for making ‘absurd’ demands linked to his proposed Prayagraj trip. He now faces a show-cause notice Wanted snan kits for a dip at the sangam Banzal sought six male and two female snan kits for a dip at the Sangam, including towels, undergarments, slippers, combs, mirrors, soap, shampoo, oil along with a bed sheet for general use at the ghat. Hotel and Circuit House arrangements included toiletries, shaving kits, dry fruits, fruit bowls, towels. He also wanted a boat ride and visits to a few temples ■ 50 unacceptable in new India, says Scindia ■ The visit scheduled for February 25-26 was cancelled pending a full inquiry. Banzal (pic) is due to superannuate by September-end | P10 Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said an order like this is ‘unacceptable’ in new India, adding it flouts all rules and traditions and is ‘beyond absurd’. Banzal became BSNL director in October 2018 Personnel had to be assigned to fully manage Banzal’s trip 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 Terror anywhere threatens peace everywhere, Modi tells Knesset J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi express read BJP may ban meat sale in TN, says CM Kanniyakumari: Speaking at an event in Nagercoil on Wednesday, CM MK Stalin referred to a remark by Bihar’s Deputy CM, and said that the BJP might enforce a ban on meat sale near schools and religious places if voted to power in TN. “They want to create a similar situation in TN. Who are they to decide what one should eat,” he asked | P4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reiterated India’s strategic partnership with Israel in an address to the Knesset and said “India’s connection to Israel is written in blood and sacrifice” and “nothing can justify terrorism.” Becoming the first Indian PM to address the Israeli parliament, Modi framed India-Israel ties through the lens of shared security challenges and historical bonds. Recalling that more than 4,000 Indian soldiers laid down their lives in the region during World War I, he said the relationship was rooted in “blood and sacrifice”, not merely diplomacy . In a direct reference to the October 7 Hamas assault and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, as Speaker Amir Ohana looks on, in Jerusalem on Wednesday | Shlomi Amsalem drew parallels between the two nations’ experiences. “We feel your pain. We share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly , with full conviction, in this moment and beyond,” he said. “No cause can justify the mur- der of civilians. Nothing can justify terrorism,” Modi asserted, underlining India’s “consistent and uncompromising policy of zero tolerance for terrorism, with no double standards.” He warned that terrorism red salute Communist stalwart Nallakannu no more seeks “to destabilise societies, block development and erode trust,” adding that “countering terrorism requires sustained and coordinated global action, because terror anywhere threatens peace everywhere.” Even as he struck a hard line on terror, Modi balanced his remarks with a call for diplomacy . “The road to peace is not always easy but India joins you and the , world for dialogue, peace and stability in this region,” he said, expressing support for efforts that could lead to a durable peace, including in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the visit as historic, calling the partnership “an enormous multiplier of our individual powers”. Terming Modi as “a great friend to Israel,” he said their deep personal rapport reflected the strength of bilateral ties. membered for his grassroots connect and his efforts to Veteran leader of the give voice to the underpriviCommunist Party of India leged, workers, and farmers. (CPI), R Nallakannu, widely Radhakrishnan, who defeatregarded as an embodiment ed Nallakannu in the 1999 of integrity and selfless pub- Lok Sabha election from lic service for nearly eight Coimbatore, said the Left decades, passed away at the leader had devoted his enRajiv Gandhi Government tire life to workers’ rights, General Hospital on Wednes- social justice, and advanceday due to prolonged age-re- ment of the oppressed. lated ailments. He was 101. Expressing deep sorrow After the demise on X over the deof N Sankaraiah mise of Nallakanin 2023, Nallakannu, Stalin said,“Let nu — affectionateus bid adieu to the ly known as ‘Comcomrade with full rade’ or ‘Thozhar’ state honours and RNK among party a red salute.” members — was N a l l a k a n n u ’s the last surviving wife, Ranjitham, centenarian compredeceased him R Nallakannu 26 dec 1924 - 25 feb 2026 munist leader in in 2016. He is surTamil Nadu who vived by his daughhad worked for the party and ters, Kasibharathi and Dr welfare of the people since Andal. His mortal remains the pre-Independence era. were taken to Balan Illam, Leaders across party lines, the CPI state headquarters from Prime Minister Naren- in Chennai, on Wednesday dra Modi and Vice-President evening for people to pay C P Radhakrishnan to Con- their last respects. gress leader Rahul Gandhi As per his wish, his body and CM M K Stalin, paid trib- will be donated of the Mautes to the departed leader. dras Medical College on In a post on ‘X’, Modi said Thursday evening. Nallakannu would be re MORE REPORTS ON: P2 S K um a res a n @ Chennai NCERT to rewrite chapter after SC rebuke S U CH I T R A K A LYAN M OHANTY & S L A L I THA @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognizance of the chapter on ‘judicial cor ruption’ in NCERT’s Class 8 social science book and expressed its displeasure, forcing the body to issue an apology and offering to rewrite the contentious text. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi listed the matter for Thursday after senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Solar cells to face 126% anti-subsidy duty in US P U S H P I TA D E Y @ New Delhi THE US has imposed a countervailing duty of 126% on imports of solar cells and modules from India, alleging that Indian manufacturers benefit from significant government subsidies. Similar duties have been levied on Indonesia and Laos. Countervailing duties, also known as anti-subsidy duties, are tariffs imposed to offset the harmful effects of foreign government subsidies on imported goods. The decision follows an investigation by the US International Trade Commission, which found that subsidised imports were hurting domestic producers. In parallel, the US Department of Commerce is conducting anti-dumping duty investigations into solar cell imports. As part of the investigation, the department selected two Adani Group entities—Mundra Solar Energy and Mundra Solar PV— as mandatory respondents. “This level of countervailing duty will effectively shut the US market for Indian solar panel exports. That is typically the outcome when the US imposes anti-dumping or countervailing duties—exports of the affected product from the targeted country become commercially unviable,” said Abhijit Das, former head of the Centre for WTO Studies at IIFT. Abhishek Singhvi mentioned the matter for consideration. “This seems to be a very calculated and deep-rooted measure,” the CJI said. Justice Bagchi observed the book seems to go against the basic structure of the Constitution. Following the SC’s strong remarks, the NCERT held a high-level meeting on Wednesday evening. After the marathon meeting, it issued a statement late in the night, apologising for the “inappropriate textual material” and its “error of judgement”. “It has been observed certain inappropriate textual material and error of judgement have inadvertently crept into Chapter No 4, entitled The Role of Judiciary in our Society The ... error is purely unintentional and NCERT regrets the inclusion of inappropriate material,” it said, adding there was no intent to diminish the authority of any constitutional body . It clarified that the chapter would be rewritten “with consultation from the appropriate authority” and the revised book would be made available. The book was removed from sales from Tuesday by the Publications Division of NCERT, after the controversy erupted. 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