chennai l Thursday l April 09, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l vellore EDITION Union Cabinet approves schemes, projects worth `1.74 lakh crore The decisions include increasing the allocation for the Nutrient Based Subsidy scheme on fertilisers for the 2026 Kharif season to `41,533.81 crore `13,000 crore for Jaipur metro 2nd phase Fertiliser subsidy increase in view of war The Union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also cleared upward cost revision from `43,129 crore to `79,459 crore for the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery project at Pachpadra in Balotra district, two hydroelectric projects in Arunachal Pradesh worth `40,000 crore, and the second phase of Jaipur Metro (42 km) with an outlay of `13,000 crore ■ ■ Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the `4,317 cr rise in fertiliser subsidy is in view of higher global prices Vaishnaw noted that the ongoing situation in West Asia has had a direct bearing on fertiliser supply chains, particularly with key inputs such as potash and sulphur-based fertilisers sourced from the region 12% Increase in phosphate, potash subsidy compared to the year-ago period 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 Tenuous truce Both sides fire missiles despite ceasefire; U.S. claims it will work with Iran to ‘dig up’ enriched uranium a g e n c i e s @ New Delhi IRAN, the United States and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire in an 11th-hour deal brokered by Pakistan that headed off US President Donald Trump’s threat to unleash a bombing campaign to destroy Iranian civilization. But hours after the announcement, Iran and Gulf Arab countries re por ted new attacks Wednesday . It was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal, which US Vice President J D Vance called “fragile”. Even before the new attacks, much about the truce agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms. Iran said the deal would allow it to formalise its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial transit lane for oil. It also was unclear whether any other country agreed to this condition. Pakistan, which helped to mediate the day deal, and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion against the Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel said it would not, and strikes hit Beirut on Wednesday . The fate of Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes, elimination of which were end goals for US and Israel in going to war, also remained unclear. Trump said the US would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran didn’t confirm it. Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran. Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif urged restraint after reports of ceasefire violations. This came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised “ceasefire violations” by Israel with Pakistani mediators on Wednesday China, Russia, the UK, India and . all EU nations including France and Germany lauded the peace initiative. 40 Iran’s reported charter of demands 1 Non-aggression from the US 2 Acceptance of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program 3 Lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions and resolutions against Iran 4 End of all resolutions against Iran at the IAEA 5 End of all resolutions against Iran by the UN Security Council 6 Full Iranian control over Strait of Hormuz via its armed forces 7 Withdrawal of US forces from all bases in the region 8 Hormuz toll to raise funds for compensation for damage suffered during the war 9 Release of all Iranian assets frozen abroad 10 UNSC resolution making any deal binding Smoke and mirrors A US official said the 10-point ceasefire plan published by Iran is not the same set of conditions agreed to by the White House for pausing the war. “The document reported by media outlets is not the working framework,” the official said. Trump had said in his declaration of a two-week truce for further negotiations that “we received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.” India urges lasting peace J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi India on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, expressing hope that the pause in hostilities would pave the way for lasting peace in West Asia and potentially reinvigorate diplomatic efforts to find peace in Ukraine conflict. The External Affairs Ministry said: “We welcome the ceasefire reached and hope that it will lead to a lasting peace in West Asia. As we have continuously advocated earlier, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to the ongoing conflict.” Highlighting the broader consequences of the conflict, the statement added: “The conflict has already caused immense suffering to people and disrupted global energy supply and trade networks. We expect that unimpeded freedom of navigation and global flow of commerce would prevail through the Strait of Hormuz.” India, which has long-standing economic and strategic stakes in the region, remains particularly concerned about disruptions to maritime trade routes. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil shipments, has been at the centre of escalating tensions, raising alarm in New Delhi over energy security and the safety of millions of Indian nationals living across West Asia. RBi holds repo rate, governor hints at long time pause | p12 Delhi, Dhaka dialogue signals measured thaw J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Manipur on edge Police personnel in Wangkhei area of Imphal, Manipur, on Wednesday after a protest broke out against the killing of two children in a bomb attack in Bishnupur | pti express read HC bench stays Justice G R Swaminathan’s orders in Thiruparankundram deepathoon case Madurai: The Madurai Bench of the Madras HC on Wednesday stayed several orders passed by Justice G R Swaminathan in contempt petitions filed in the Thiruparankundram deepathoon issue, including the March 4 suggestion of the judge to the authorities to permit five persons to be named by the court to offer symbolic prayers at the deepathoon near the dargah atop the hill for 15 minutes. The court orally observed that judicial forums should not be used as political platforms and advised all stakeholders not to escalate the issue, even as some counsels sought early listing ahead of elections | P2 In a bid to reset ties after months of strain, India and Bangladesh on Wednesday signalled a measured thaw, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Bangladeshi counterpart Khalilur Rahman agreeing to explore new proposals to deepen bilateral cooperation through existing institutional mechanisms, even as the Bangladesh side reiterated its request to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, both sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal. “Pleased to host FM Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh and his delegation this afternoon. We discussed strengthening our bilateral relationship in its various facets. Also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Agreed to remain in close touch,” Jaishankar said in a post after the meeting. An External Affairs Ministry statement highlighted India’s intent to rebuild engagement, and said “External Affairs Minister reiterated India’s desire to engage constructively with the new Government and further strengthen bilateral ties. The two sides agreed to explore proposals for deepening the partnership through the relevant bilateral mechanisms. Follow-on official meetings are expected to take place at an early date.” Court can decide what is superstition: SC S U CHIT R A K A LYAN M OHANTY @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Wednesday said it has the powers to strike down religious practices or superstitions if they violate public order. A nine-judge Constitutional bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, hearing a batch of review pleas challenging the 2018 Sabarimala judgment, rejected the Centre’s submission that secular courts can’t decide on religioius matters. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said even if a practice is superstitious, it is not for the court to determine that. “It is for the legislature to step in and enact a refor m law,” he said, stressing that ‘constitutional morality’ cannot be a ground for judicial review to decide essential religious practices and beliefs. Mehta said the SC verdicts on decriminalisation of con- sensual gay sex and adultery based on constitutional morality were “not a good law”. The bench said courts can’t shy away from testing practices against constitutional principles. It also asked how non-devotees could challenge temple customs. The SC had in 2018 struck down the restriction on entry of young women to Sabarimala, based on a PIL filed by Indian Young Lawyers Association. Questions on locus SC asked how persons who are not Ayyappa devotees could challenge a temple custom. “Why should this court concern with a non-devotee?” asked Justice B V Nagarathna BATTLE ROYALE IN THREE STATES Assembly elections April 9, 2026 Counting date: May 4, 2026 assam 2.71 cr Candidates 30,495 140 seats: Polling Single phase Total voters stations 2021 result (total seats: 140) LDF: 99 seats UDF: 41 seats 126 seats: Single phase 2.49 cr 1,100 883 Kerala 2021 turnout 77.9% 9.44 lakh Puducherry 30 seats: Single phase Total voters 2021 result (total seats: 30) Total voters  NDA - 16 seats Candidates 2021 voter turnout UPA - 8 seats Independents - 6 seats 83.4% WB-style rejig ousts chief secy, DVAC chief any election-related posts. The ECI also directed that its orders be implemented The Election Commission of India (ECI) with immediate effect and that a comon Wednesday ordered a top-level admin- pliance report be submitted by 6pm istrative reshuffle in Tamil Wednesday. This is the first Nadu, appointing senior IAS oftime the chief secretary of the ficer M Sai Kumar as chief secstate is being transferred by retary in the place of N Muruthe ECI during a poll season, ganandam. The commission according to sources. also replaced S Davidson DevaWithin 24 hours of announcsirvatham with Sandeep Mittal ing the poll schedule for four as DGP (Armed Police, Vigistates and the Union Territory M Sai Kumar lance and Anti-Corruption). of Puducherry on March 15, In the order issued just two the poll panel had transferred weeks ahead of the Assembly poll, the the chief secretary, home secretary, commission asked the state not to give DGP and the commissioner of police of Muruganandam and Devasirvatham Kolkata in West Bengal.  P5 T M uru g a n a n d h a m @ Chennai Stalin: ‘Saffronised’ ECI attempting to help EPS Chennai: Strongly condemning the ECI’s order, CM Stalin on Wednesday described the move as a “one-sided and arbitrary political action.” He stated that the selective transfer of chief secretaries and DGPs only in opposition-ruled states exposed the partisan influence of the BJPled centre and “saffronisation” of the commission. Stalin also alleged that the transfers were intended to benefit AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami | P4