MADURAI l wednesday l march 18, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION Ladakh Release from detention A win-win, Centre open to talks: Wangchuk In his first remarks after release from jail, activist Sonam Wangchuk said he is looking forward to a ‘meaningful dialogue’ with Centre on Ladakh ‘Ladakh protests only to seek dialogue’ Wangchuk, who was arrested last year following violent protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and inclusion under Sixth Schedule of Constitution, said the protests were only to seek dialogue. He noted that any negotiation means both sides will have to make some adjustments. “We were sure of a victory in court, but a win was not enough. I wanted a win-win,” he said ■ Sep 26, 2025 ‘Won’t resume agitation if talks happen’ ■ ■ Wangchuk described govt’s move to release him as an “extending of hand to build trust and to facilitate meaningful, constructive dialogue” “They have offered a constructive, meaningful dialogue. This is what we have wanted, and we had to struggle so much, sit on fast” He said he would not return to agitation if “meaningful talks” happen When Wangchuk, 59, was detained under the stringent NSA 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 De facto Iran leader dead: Israel Israel claims it eliminated Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani; Tehran yet to confirm or deny A g e n c i e s @ Jersusalem/Tehran/Dubai Former AIADMK Minister C Ve Shanmugan during the protest in Villupuram | Express AIADMK MP’s sexist jab at women’s safety rally sparks row Express news service @ Villupuram Former AIADMK minister C Ve Shanmugam triggered a controversy on Tuesday by making a distasteful reference to an actress while attacking Chief Minister M K Stalin’s initiative of “tell us your dream”. Ironically, the AIADMK Rajya Sabha member made the objectionable remark at a demonstration organised by the party in Villupuram to highlight the alleged lack of safety for women under the DMK rule in Tamil Nadu. While addressing the gathering, Shanmugam said, “APJ Abdul Kalam asked people to dream. Chief Minister MK Stalin has gone a step further and says ‘tell us your dreams and we will fulfil them’. Yes. I want her (he mentioned the name of an actress). Will the CM fulfil that? He (pointing to a person nearby) may ask for a particular actress to be arranged for his marriage. Will Stalin fulfil that?” After the remarks drew sharp criticism from political parties and women across various walks of life, Shanmugam expressed regret. In a phone conversation later with media persons, he said, “While speaking at the protest in Villupuram and criticising the ‘tell your dreams’ scheme of Stalin, I inadvertently mentioned the name of an actress. I regret it. I did not mention the name with any ulterior motive. I express my heartfelt regret for the mistake.” No official statement or open apology, however, was issued by him till Tuesday evening.  P5 ISRAEL said on Tuesday that it has killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s powerful national security chief and de facto leader overseeing the country’s decision making. Israel also claimed it has killed Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, in a strike in Tehran. Iran did not immediately confirm or reject Israel’s claims. Larijani, 68, was last seen in public on Friday at a Quds Day march in Tehran. “This morning we eliminated Ali Larijani, the boss of the Revolutionary Guards, which is the gang of gangsters that actually runs Iran,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised statement. According to an IDF statement, Larijani led the politicalsecurity coordination of the Iranian regime and “directed its international activity”. 1 2 E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @New Delhi Observing that adoption is part of the right to reproductive autonomy, the Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a law which said a woman would be eligible for maternity leave only if she legally adopts a child below the age of three months, saying it is discriminatory . The court also urged the Centre to come up with a law recognising paternity leave as a social security benefit, noting that parenthood is not a solitary function, adding while the mother is central to a child’s development, it would be unjust to overlook the role of the father. Ruling that age-based classification under Section 60(4) of the Code on Social Security 2020 was violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, a bench comprising justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan held that an adoptive mother should be entitled to maternity leave of 12 weeks, irrespective of the age of the adopted child. “The distinction drawn by sub-section (4) of Section 60 does not have a rational nexus with the object of the 2020 Code. The object of maternity benefit is not associated with the process of childbirth but with the process of motherhood...The purpose of maternity protection does not vary with the manner in which the child is brought into the life of the beneficiary mother... Women who adopt a child aged three months or above are similarly situated to women who adopt a child below the age of three months.” D M K i n t imi d a t i o n c h a r g e ‘Jailor’ takes no prisoners, calls out TVK leader Arjuna’s slander E XPR E SS N E WS S E RVIC E @ Chennai An attempt to airbrush actorturned-politician Vijay’s image as gutsy in poll-bound Tamil Nadu by juxtaposing it with Raj i n i k a n t h , s p e c t a c u l a rl y bombed, as the superstar called out the slander, adding “time waits and responds.” In 2020, Rajini had toyed with the idea of taking the political plunge in the state, but in the end chose not to bite the bullet citing health issues. Commenting on the decision at a recent rally Aadhav Arju, na, senior leader of Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), attributed it to the DMK’s intimidation and not illhealth. In contrast, Vijay had the courage to withstand pres- Rajinikanth Aadhav Arjuna sure, he claimed. The allegation drew a volley of protests from fans and politicians alike, curiously putting traditional Dravidian rivals, the BJP and the PMK on the same page. From AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami to Tamil Nadu minister S Regupathy (DMK), VCK president Thol Tirumavalavan, BJP leaders Nainar Nagenthran, L Murugan, K Annamalai and Arjunamurthy and PMK presi, 3 His death, if confirmed, would be a blow to Iran, which is facing the brunt of a war launched by the US and Israel seeking a regime day change in Tehran. Larijani was considered a key pillar in the ruling system, close to the late supreme leader Ali Khameini and central to the government’s nuclear policy and strategic diplomacy over decades. 18 dent Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, all panned Arjuna. In a signed statement, Rajini thanked all who condemned the “defamatory remark”. DMK’s S Regupathy said, “Rajinikanth yields only to affection, not to intimidation.” The NDA going after Arjuna could signal the end of its attempts to woo the TVK into its fold. Assembly elections 52 women in Trinamool list for Bengal I P9 Blow to NDA in Assam as UPPL exits I P9 Model code ties down T.N. cattle trade I P8 Oil tanker Jag Laadki with about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude from UAE, set to arrive He was involved in directing the regime’s international activity after Khamenie’s death Iranian Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani Maternity leave criteria nixed Paternity leave Paternity leave helps dismantle gendered roles, encourages father’s active role in child care, fosters a balanced understanding of parenting, and promotes gender equality, the Supreme Court said in its verdict 22 other Indian-flagged vessels carrying 611 seafarers remain in the western Gulf Second LPG tanker arrives from the Strait of Hormuz Larijani led the political-security coordination of the regime, says Israel military Adoption verdict The impugned classification overlooks the emotional, psychological, and practical adjustments required of the adoptive parents and the adopted child - SC verdict Hormuz: Modi, UAE prez discuss safe navigation IDF claims Larijani was de facto leader of after supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed Modi, UAE President stress secure Strait of Hormuz After the war broke out, Larijani became more powerful. While the new supreme leader, Ali Khameini’s son Mojtaba, has not been seen in public since his appointment, Larijani was spotted among crowds at a progovernment rally last week. The US-Israeli war on Iran is now in its third week, killing at least 2,000 people and setting off global repercussions. The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil ⁠and liquefied natural gas flows, remains closed for all ships except those that have Iran’s permission. Meanwhile, Iran launched a fresh wave of attacks on Tuesday, targeting US forces at Kuwait’s Ali al-Salem Air Base, UAE’s Fujairah, and in Iraq’s Erbil. Drone attacks sparked a fire at an oil tank farm in Fujairah. E x p r e s s Re a d ECI deploys 327 elections observers in TN Chennai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed 327 observers, including 136 general, 40 police and 151 expenditure observers, for the TN elections. They will assume charge on Wednesday. A screening committee headed by the chief secretary has been constituted by the state government to vet urgent works proposals during the Model Code of Conduct period, to ensure compliance with ECI norms. ENS 40% of young graduates can’t find work: Report PA DMINI DHRUV A R A J @ Bengaluru NEARLY 40% of young graduates in India are unemployed, a figure that has remained largely unchanged for four decades, according to the State of Working India 2026 report by Azim Premji University . The report—which defines youth as those between 15 and 29 years—shows that unemployment among young graduates remains persistently high, with 40% of those between 1525 years and 20% of 25-29 years unable to find work. This is not a new trend. The Youth leaving studies to support family The report also flags the financial pressures affecting education patterns. The share of young men in education has declined from 38% in 2017 to 34% in late 2024, and a growing number of youngsters are leaving studies to support their families. The report highlights that this reason increased from 58% in 2017 to 72% in 2023 among young men aged 15-24 years report, which draws from nationally representative labour force surveys, administrative databases, and primary surveys, states that graduate unemployment has “remained more or less unchanged be- tween 35% and 40%” from 1983 to 2023, even as the number of graduates has increased significantly over time. Even when work is found, stable employment is uncommon. Tracking young graduate men over a year, the report finds about half can find some form of work, but few secure permanent salaried employment. “Among graduates, only about 7% find permanent salaried employment within a year,” the report states. This gap between education and employment comes at a critical time as India’s demographic advantage, driven by its large young population, is nearing its peak. The report estimates that the share of working-age population in the country will begin to decline after 2030. Family of 4 found charred to death in car in Tirunelveli E x p r e s s n e w s Se r v i c e @ Tirunelveli Charred bodies of four individuals, believed to be members of the same family, were found inside a car near Thisayanvilai in Tirunelveli on Tuesday morning. Police sources identified the deceased as Mohammed Rabi, his wife Nasrin Fatima, and their two children, all from Chennai. The family was allegedly facing severe financial distress and had been living mostly out of their car after selling their house in the city a few months ago. According to sources, the family had visited Cops probing Athankarai Pallivasal suicide angle hours before the incident and donated their bePolice said they longings, including were examining clothes and bags. whether a short Police said an inquiry circuit caused the is under way examining , fire or if it is a case of suicide. Officials both accidental and suicide angles, while ruling said the family out murder. “The car apmembers have pears to have been propbeen living out of erly driven and parked the car, after about 50 metres off the selling their house, road. The deaths could be for the past three due to an accident while months to escape resting or a case of suifrom lenders cide. We are investigating (Contact TN’s both angles. Three bodies suicide helpline were found on the rear number 104 for seat and one in the drivassistance) er’s seat. The car key was still inserted,” sources said. A police personnel told TNIE that preliminary evidence did not suggest the vehicle had been deliberately set on fire using petrol. “We are examining whether a short circuit may have caused the fire. Rabi worked as a driver for a private company manager and had been struggling to repay debts. For the past three months, the family had been living in their car and occasionally in lodges, travelling across the state fearing moneylenders,” the official added.  P5 water and fire Evening drizzle accompanied by lightning brought relief to Madurai after a day of intense heat | kk sundar Vandalur zoo mourns the death of three tiger cubs, ‘celebrity’ chimp Inexperience led to death? The cubs were healthy, but the mother was a firsttime parent and did not know how to care for them. Zoo director said such incidents are common in wild and in captivity SV KRISHN A CH A ITA N YA @ Chennai Three tiger cubs in Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), born after a gap of five years, died just days after birth due to suspected inexperience of their mom. The zoo is also mourning the loss of one of its most beloved residents, Gowri, a 35-year-old chimpanzee regard- Chimp Gowri had diabetes Veterinarian Sridhar said managing Gowri’s condition had been challenging after she was diagnosed with diabetes about two years ago Chimpanzee Gowri along with her child at the Vandalur Zoo in 2021 | Express ed as a “celebrity” among visitors. While some sources alleged negligence, Zoo Director T Ritto Cyriac dismissed the charge and described the tiger cub deaths as part of the natural challenge of zoo management. “The cubs were healthy but the , mother was a first-time parent and did not know how to care for them. Such incidents are common both in the wild and in captivity where survivabili, ty is inherently low,” he said. The director noted that breeding had recently been reintroduced after a gap to strengthen the zoo’s animal exchange programme. “We allowed breeding to increase numbers and facilitate exchanges with other zoos,” he said.