HYDERABAD l wednesday l april 29, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l LATE CITY EDITION Terror epicentres not immune to ‘justifiable punishment’: Rajnath Targeting Pakistan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor demonstrated statebacked ‘terror epicentres’ are no longer safe havens ‘End double standards in terror fight’ Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Kyrgyz capital Bishkek in the presence of Pak Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Singh called on the influential regional grouping to not lose sight of “state-sponsored” cross-border terrorism, stressing that there is no place for any “double standards” or ambiguity in combating the global menace ■ 2001 Need consistency, not selective response ■ Without naming Pakistan, Singh said “terrorism has no nationality and no theology”, adding that the credibility of regional groupings such as the SCO would depend on consistency, not selective responses He urged the SCO not to hesitate in seeking appropriate action against those who “abet, shelter and provide safe havens” to terrorists | P7 When the grouping was founded. India and Pakistan became members in 2007 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 Aviation industry SOS Decisive poll phase in West Bengal today as jet fuel prices zoom UAE exits oil cartel, Don cold to Iran proposal A r s h a d K h a n @ New Delhi a G E N CI E S @ Dubai/Washington Alarmed by the steep rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet have warned of shutting down operations unless the government intervenes to save the sector already bleeding due to the frequent airspace closures amid the war in West Asia. The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents the three airlines, has written to the civil aviation ministry seeking its urgent intervention day to set the same fuel pricing mechanism uniformly across both domestic and international operations. The letter pointed Crack out that this was done in 2022 band through the establishment of FIA has called the ‘crack band’ mechanism for a pricing (pricing framework linked to framework fair refining margins, or ‘crack based on the spread’, between crude oil and ‘crack band ATF). This was set at $12–22/ mechanism’ barrel in 2022. ($12–22/bbl), As global jet ATF prices more which was than doubled to $180-190/barrel implemented in since the war broke out in West October 2022, Asia on February 28, the Indian claiming this government last month limited leaves room for the hike to `15 per litre for doa reasonable mestic operations. However, for and fair margin international operations, the for oil marketing price rose by `73 per litre. companies ATF prices account for 30-40% of an airline’s overall operating cost. Following the April hike, this percentage band increased to 55-60%. The letter said the ‘irrational increase’ in ATF prices will result in ‘insurmountable losses’ for airlines, grounding of aircraft and cancellation of flights. “In order to survive, sustain and continue operation, we request your urgent intervention for immediate and meaningful financial support to tide over the current situation,” said the letter dated April 26. The airlines are also seeking a temporary suspension of excise duty (currently set at 11%) on ATF and VAT rates in key states. THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday announced its exit from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the wider OPEC+ alliance. A longtime member of OPEC, the UAE’s membership ends on May 1 and will not be renewed. The announcement came on a day oil prices climbed again as the prospects of re-opening the Strait of Hormuz appeared dim with the Trump administration not showing interest in Iran’s latest offer to reopen Hormuz after the US blockade is lifted. The UAE said the decision OPEC and follows careful consideration OPEC+ of its national interest and its OPEC was stature in the global energy formed in 1960 market. “This reflects the by Iran, Iraq, UAE’s long-term strategic and Kuwait, Saudi economic vision and evolving Arabia, and energy profile... and reinforces Venezuela to its commitment to a responsibreak the cartel ble, reliable role in global enled by Western ergy markets,” it stated. oil firms. OPEC+ The move comes amid the is a broader alliance formed Emirates’ frosty relations with neighbour and OPEC heavyin 2016 to weight Saudi Arabia. UAE has include nonmembers to set been trying to leverage its own foreign policy amid pushback oil production from Saudi Arabia under Crown policies Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The UAE is one of the world’s top oil producers and its exit from Vienna-based OPEC could weaken the oil cartel which controls global oil prices through production cuts. However, the withdrawal won’t necessarily have any immediate effects in markets as oil supplies are already constrained by the Iran war. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that Tehran “has just” informed Washington that it is in a “state of collapse”. “They (Iran) want us to “Open the Hormuz Strait,” as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation,” Trump posted on social media. 60 heavy rush continues at petrol pumps across TG | p2 Singham vs Pushpa side show Amid fears of widespread violence, a sideshow played out with the EC’s police observer Ajay Pal Sharma warning potential troublemakers of “appropriate treatment”. The TMC called out the Prayagraj ACP, who earned the moniker Singham for his crackdown on criminals, for voter ‘intimidation’. TMC’s Jahangir Khan retorted, “If he is Singham, I am Pushpa,” alluding to the award-winning Telugu action film by the same name where the protagonist’s most popular dialogue is “Pushpa will not bow, damn it.” SUBH E N DU M AITI @ Kolkata After weeks of rhetoric, roadshows, and a political temperature that rose in tandem with the summer heat, it’s time for the real thing. As West Bengal goes to polls for the second and final phase on Wednesday , appellate tribunals upheld the appeals of just 1,468 of the over 20 lakh voters who were removed from the supplementary list following the controversial special intensive revision of poll rolls. The final phase, covering 142 assembly constituencies, is widely seen as the decisive one. It is here, in the traditional stronghold of the Trinamool Congress in south Bengal, that the party’s decade-long dominance faces its sternest test. At the centre of attention is Bhabanipur, where the contest has Polling officials check election crystallised into the materials for voting in the most closely watched second phase in Kolkata | PTI face-off of the phase: Mamata Banerjee versus Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari— once an insider in her political circle, now her most prominent challenger. Their battle is as much personal as it is political, emblematic of the broader struggle playing out across the state. Around them, an array of senior leaders and emerging figures are in the fray—ministers such as Firhad Hakim, Arup Biswas, Sobhandeb Chatterjee, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Sashi Panja; BJP’s Swapan Dasgupta; Left leaders including Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya; and younger candidates like Meenakshi Mukherjee and Dipsita Dhar. E x p r e s s Re a d Man held for misappropriating T-Wallet data Hyderabad: The Central Crime Station of the Hyderabad Commissionerate has arrested Transaction Analysts company Chief of Projects M Srinivasulu in connection with the alleged misappropriation of public data and funds linked to the T-Wallet platform. The firm is also accused of falsely claiming ownership of T-Wallet and threatening to transfer user data to its own platform. T-Wallet platform caters to more than 16 lakh registered users and handles sensitive personal data | P3 Ex-MLA Rohith Reddy gets bail in drugs case Hyderabad: Justice K Sujana of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday granted conditional bail to former MLA Panjugula ‘Pilot’ Rohith Reddy in the Moinabad drugs case. The case, registered at Moinabad Police Station, pertains to alleged offences under provisions of the NDPS Act, the Arms Act, 1959, the Telangana Excise Act, 1968, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | P4 Let critics wail, Future City work will continue: CM E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad Reiterating that the development of Future City would not stop, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday said he would continue with his plans while his critics wail over them. “A few people are criticising that a ‘futureless leader’ is building Future City I want to . tell them that you continue wailing and I will go ahead with the work. Your tears will be music to me. While watching you wail, I feel as though I CV Anand, known for tech-led police reforms, is DGP Making it clear that direct public engagement would be the best route to political recovery BRS president K Chan, drasekhar Rao reportedly gave a stern message to party MLAs, former MLAs and senior leaders, cautioning them against relying excessively on social media while neglecting grassroots work. According to party sources, KCR also conveyed dissatisfaction with the functioning of several MLAs and advised them to curb arrogance and aloofness, particularly when the party is in opposition. Sources said the former chief minister, who had largely maintained silence on party am watching the movie Shankarabharanam,” he said. Indirectly referring to former chief minister K Chandrasekhar for future generations. My government’s aim is to make it the most modern city in the world. We are taking countries such as South Korea, Japan and Singapore, and cities like New York, as our inspiration,” Revanth stated. He pointed out that Skill University has been established on 60 acres in Future City . “By June 2, the FCDA building will be inaugurated. We have successfully conducted the Telangana Rising Global Summit here to showcase the concept of Future City and to instil confidence among investors,” he said. CONTINUED ON P4 KCR rolls up sleeves for BRS revival C h i t h a l u r i Re v a n t h Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy speaks after laying the foundation for Future City Police Commissionerate building Rao as “Shukracharyudu”, Revanth said: “Shukracharyudu, who is sleeping in the farmhouse, sent Marichudu and Subahudu to hamper the development of the state.” Revanth was addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone for the Future City Police Commissionerate at Mirkhanpet, along with ministers D Sridhar Babu and Jupally Krishna Rao and DGP B Shivadhar Reddy He also virtually . inaugurated the Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate and a few traffic police stations. “Future City would be a city @ Hyderabad As expected, the state government has appointed 1991-batch IPS officer CV Anand as the next Head of Police Force. He will assume charge on May 1, a day after incumbent DGP B Shivadhar Reddy superannuates on April 30. Born on June 5, 1968, Anand hails from Kuntloor village in Hayathnagar mandal of Rangareddy district. He is the son of former Indian Forest Service officer Chama Damodar Reddy and Yashoda Devi. Educated at Vi d y a r a n y a High School and Hyderabad Public School, he later studied at Nizam College and completed a postgraduate degree in Economics from Osmania University A keen sportsman, he rep. resented Hyderabad in age-group cricket before clearing the Civil Services Examination in his first attempt at 22. Anand has served in several key postings across undivided Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including anti-Naxal operations, district policing, Hyderabad City, Cyberabad, Civil Supplies, CISF and the Home department.  CONTINUED ON P4 E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad Harish: Phones of BRS leaders being hacked Claiming that hackers from Bengaluru were brought in to hack the phones of BRS leaders and monitor CCTV cameras outside their homes on a daily basis, former minister T Harish Rao on Tuesday warned ‘guilty’ IPS officers that they would not be spared once the pink party returns to power | P4 organisational matters for the past two-and-a-half years, has now turned his focus to revamping the party structure from the village level to the state level. Party circles said KCR also criticised a few MLAs for maintaining friendly relations with the ruling Congress and the BJP, remarks that were viewed as an indirect warning to those leaders. He is also learnt to have made it clear that Assembly tickets in the next elections would not be granted automatically to sitting MLAs, but would instead depend on merit and feedback from the ground level. Senior leaders said the BRS supremo wanted to replace some candidates in the last elections, but most sitting MLAs were retained to avoid internal rivalries and unnecessary rebellion. The latest message, they said, leaves little doubt that future ticket allocation would depend on performance and organisational strength. CONTINUED ON P4 AI hub in the making Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in conversation with Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during the foundation-stone laying ceremony of the Google Cloud India AI Hub, in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday | PTI | P5 South panchayats outperform North on multiple parameters: Govt data J i t en d r a C h o u b e y @ New Delhi A new study has revealed that the South outperformed northern states in rural local governance across various parameters, including health, education, poverty alleviation, water and sanitation, and developments focused on women and children. West Bengal did not participate in the study . Most of the panchayats in the ‘Achiever’ category are from states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. In the Northeast, Tripura leads the charts. On the flip side, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan are at the lower end of the ranking table. The report, titled the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 for 2023–24, documents rural and social development based on 112 indicators aimed at strengthening grassroots governance. Released by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the report covers a total of 3,313 panchayats that fall under the ‘ chiever’ category for poverty A reduction and livelihood gen- Record participation in the evaluation PAI 2.0 saw record nationwide participation, from 27 states and 6 of 8 UTs. This works out to 97.30%, compared to 80.79% of the 2.67 lakh panchayats in PAI 1.0. All panchayats were told to display their scorecards outside their offices for transparency and accountability eration. Additionally 1,015 pan, chayats are recognised for exemplary achievements in promoting healthy living. The report offers a detailed analysis of more than 250,000 panchayats across the country . Each one is assessed based on over 150 parameters. However, the previous report, PAI (1.0) for 2022-23, was based on a much larger set of 516 parameters, making a direct comparison difficult. “We considered 112 parameters. While data for seven parameters was questioned, and the rest overlapped with other indicators,” said Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary at the ministry. This report is claimed to be the first nationwide framework for measuring rural development progress using verifiable indicators. It has also been presented to the UN as part of efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.