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Front Page

- Delhi heat toll climbs to 4 but rain, winds bring some relief

- CRICKET WC GOES TO AMERICA: T20 FEST BEGINS

- 67 more dead in Odisha in 48 hrs; India count hits 165

- Pune cops arrest juvenile Porsche driver’s mother

- Gupta bros get HC shield for India trip

- Minority families flee K’taka dist

- ANC loses majority of 30 years in SA

- 4 farmers sitting under tree run over

- 4 of family among 7 dead in boat capsize

- Modi Guaranteed, Predict Exit Polls, Give BJP & Allies 353 To 415 Seats

- GST receipts up 10% to `1.7L cr on local demand

- Court order on CM’s interim bail plea on June 5

- Rape accused killed in ‘encounter’ in UP

- MP home of rape accused razed

- Oppn bloc will win 295+ seats, form govt: Kharge

- All done: 62% turnout in Ph-7 against 65.3% in 2019

- India rejected ‘casteist, communal and corrupt’ dynastic parties: PM

Delhi heat toll climbs to 4 but rain, winds bring some relief

Safdarjung Stn Records 44.2°C, Narela 46.2°C

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: The heatwave conditions in Delhi persisted for the eighth consecutive day on Saturday – with some respite due to gusty winds and light rain – even as the toll due to heatstroke rose to four.

Due to rain and cloudiness, most weather stations saw a dip in mercury levels. The city’s base station, Safdarjung, recorded a maximum of 44.2 deg C, four notches above normal and 1.6 degrees lower than Friday’s maximum. Narela was the hottest station with a maximum of 46.2 deg C. However, the prolonged heat spell is taking its toll. The la- test casualty was a 31-year-old man from Bhajanpura, who passed away at Lok Nayak Hospital at 3 am on Saturday. Medical director Dr Suresh Kumar said the patient had been admitted on Friday night and was put on a ventilator but died after a few hours.

‘Follow all precautions’, P 2

Mungeshpur station has sensor error: IMD

IMD clarified Saturday that the mercury mark recorded by the automatic weather station in Mungeshpur at 52.9 deg Con May 29 had been incorrect due to a sensor malfunctioning. The temperatures recorded by the sensor were 3 deg C higher than those on the standard instrument. IMD, however, did not specify the actual temperature on May 29.

P 2

CRICKET WC GOES TO AMERICA: T20 FEST BEGINS

The 9th T20 World Cup is being held for first time in the US, which will host the first stage. Super 8 will be held in the Caribbean. India, which won the inaugural in 2007, will hope to end its 17-year drought

DATES: JUNE 2 TO 29

THE FORMAT

➤ 20 teams divided into 4 groups

GROUP A: India, Pakistan, US, Ireland, Canada

GROUP B: Australia, England, Namibia, Oman, Scotland

GROUP C: Afghanistan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, West Indies

GROUP D: Bangladesh, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Netherlands

➤ Top 2 teams in each group will be placed into 2 groups of 4 teams. This stage will be played as a single round-robin, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the semifinals

KICKSTART: US & Canada face off in Dallas at 6am IST today. West Indies take on PNG in Georgetown, Guyana, at 8pm IST

➤ India starts its campaign, with clash against Ireland June 5

FAVOURITES:

Australia: The Aussies know how to win big-ticket events. They go into WC with stars like Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh etc in superlative form

England: The defending champs have players like Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, who have revolutionised limitedovers batting. With the addition of Jofra Archer, England now also has a formidable bowling attack

India: Reaching knockouts is always a done deal, but the trophy is what Rohit Sharma & Co will aim for. A consistent display can be expected from Rohit, Virat Kohli, SKY and Jasprit Bumrah. The addition of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube and Rishabh Pant can be a game-changer

Dark Horse: West Indies. The 2-time champs’ power-hitters can be a handful on home grounds

FULL COVERAGE ON P 27

67 more dead in Odisha in 48 hrs; India count hits 165

Minati Singha, Steffy Thevar and Rashmi Drolia | TNN

Bhubaneswar/Pune/Raipur: Life-sapping temperatures caused 67 more suspected heatstroke deaths in Odisha in the past 48 hours, with Balangir alone accounting for 20 lives. The toll in the state on Saturday was 96 in 72 hours. As of now, the Odisha govt has confirmed 15 heatstroke deaths while 81 autopsy reports are pending at the district level.

Five people succumbed in Chhattisgarh on Saturday, while the death of a herder grazing his cattle in Maharashtra’s Bhandara district on May 28 was confirmed by a death audit committee on Saturday as a heatstroke fatality, the state’s first. With four more deaths in Delhi, the countrywide toll for Saturday rose to 77, and to 165 for the summer so far. Saturday’s deaths in Odisha included that of a booth-level officer in Binjharpur block.

Poll officer, P 24

43.2°C: Hottest May day in 157 years in Dehradun

At 43.2 degrees on Friday, Dehradun faced the hottest day in the month of May in 157 years. Previously, the hottest day in Dehradun in May was in 2012 at 43.1 degrees. Data of last six years shows that with 40.7 degrees, May 26 was hottest day in May in 2018.

P 24

Pune cops arrest juvenile Porsche driver’s mother

The mother of the Porsche car’s minor driver was arrested late Saturday on the charge of giving her blood sample in place of her son’s following the crash on May 19, after crime branch personnel detained her around 6.30am. City police commissioner Amitesh Kumar told TOI, “She told us that doctors had told her to give her blood as sample instead of her son’s. She feigned ignorance on why the doctors told her so.”

P 15

Abduction: SIT hunts for Prajwal mother, P 24

Gupta bros get HC shield for India trip

Two of the three South Africa fame Gupta brothers who are facing Interpol’s red corner notice and are living in Dubai have got Delhi HC’s nod to “visit India for 8 weeks” to go to Kedarnath & Badrinath with their mother. “We clarify they shall not be arrested on the basis of the look out circular in question,” HC said.

P 17

Minority families flee K’taka dist

Around 200 minority community families have reportedly fled their homes in Channagiri town of Davanagere (Karnataka) and nearby villages after cops asked some of them to help identify those involved in an attack on a police station on May 24 following an alleged custodial death.

P 15

ANC loses majority of 30 years in SA

African National Congress party lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result Saturday that puts South Africa on a new political path for the first time since the end of apartheid system of white minority rule 30 years ago. ANC got over 40% votes in polls.

P 21

4 farmers sitting under tree run over

Four farmers were killed and two critically injured when a speeding pickup van, allegedly driven by a drunk driver, ploughed through the group as they sat under a tree seeking respite from the heat in Paigha Bhikampur village of Budaun district on Saturday afternoon.

TNN

4 of family among 7 dead in boat capsize

At least seven people, including a family of four, drowned after their boat capsized during a summer storm in the Seep river in MP’s Sheopur Saturday. The youngest of the victims is a five-year-old and there are two pairs of minor siblings among the dead.

P 17

Modi Guaranteed, Predict Exit Polls, Give BJP & Allies 353 To 415 Seats

Say Huge Win Powered By East & South

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Exit polls released on Saturday were unanimous in predicting a third term for PM Modi with NDA doing at least as well as it did in 2019 by crossing the 350-mark. Some of the polls suggested that even the ‘400-paar’ target BJP had set before the polls could be achieved.

The polls also agreed that underpinning the hat-trick, which would equal Nehru’s record, was the stunning expansion of BJP’s base in the eastern and southern states. In West Bengal and Odisha, it is projected to comfortably pip the incumbents to pole position. The polls predicted that BJP would win between 19 and 31 of the 42 seats in Bengal, with most pegging it at over 20. In Odisha, the projections for BJP range from a minimum of 9 to a maximum of 20 of the state’s 21 seats, while BJD, which has dominated Odisha for two decades, was seen as winning at best 10 seats.

The saffron party is also seen by the polls as poised to beat or at least equal Congress’s tally in Telangana while its alliance with TDP in Andhra Pradesh was projected by all but one poll to sweep the state. It could also open its tally in Kerala and win seats in Tamil Nadu without an alliance with either of the major Dravidian parties, if the polls prove right.

The forecasts ranged from alow of 353 (projected by CVoter-ABP news and Matrize-Re- public Bharat) to 415 (by Today’s Chanakya-News24). The INDIA alliance is forecast to win at best 182 seats with Today’s Chanakya even hinting at the possibility of it dropping below the three-digit mark.

Exit polls are generally believed to be more accurate than opinion polls conducted in the run-up to elections. Their track record in India has been mixed with several successes interspersed with failures. The actual results will be known on June 4.

If the exit polls are to be believed, the expansion in the east and south, combined with a minimising of losses in larger states where it had won all or nearly all seats in 2019 — like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka — will be more than enough to prevent any decrease in the tally of the BJP-led alliance.

The one state in which the polls agreed the saffron alliance would face major reverses compared to five years back was Maharashtra, with a couple of the polls projecting the state to be a neck and neck race between the BJP- led Mahayuti and the INDIA alliance. NDA had won 41 of the state’s 48 seats in 2019.

In UP, the state with the highest number of Lok Sabha seats, the consensus was that NDA would not only hold on to its 2019 tally of 64 but also add some seats to that, though not too many. In Bihar, while NDA is expected to drop a few seats compared to 2019, the scale of the losses would be a disappointment to the opposition alliance. Of the polls being analysed here, none gave the INDIA alliance more than 10 of the 40 seats in the state.

ARUNACHAL RESULTS TODAY, BJP’S ALREADY WON 10 OF 60 SEATS UNOPPOSED, P18

FLAP OPPOSITE

In U-turn, Cong joins TV debates

Congress on Saturday went back on its decision to stay away from TV debates and attributed its backpedalling to the desire to “expose BJP and its ecosystem on the pre-fixed exit polls”. The decision came after a meeting of INDIA bloc parties. Congress had announced Friday that it would skip debates as it didn’t want to “indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRPs”.

FLAP OPP

GST receipts up 10% to `1.7L cr on local demand

Goods and services tax collections went up 10% to Rs 1,72,739 crore in May as the growth in collection from domestic sources made up for the shortfall in the imports kitty.

Based on collections in May for transactions in April, latest data released by the finance ministry on Saturday estimated collections from domestic sources to be 15.3% higher, while those from imports were 4.5% lower, indicating a slowdown in the value of shipments into the country, which may partly be due to a fall in commodity prices. For the last two years, higher than budgeted GST kitty have helped the Centre shore up its overall collections, and lower fiscal deficit.

P 17

Court order on CM’s interim bail plea on June 5

After spending three weeks on electioneering, CM Kejriwal is set to return to Tihar Jail Sunday — the date set by SC on May 10 while granting him interim bail.

On Saturday, a Delhi court reserved for June 5 its order on the CM’s interim bail plea in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam. Kejriwal has sought interim bail for seven days on medical grounds.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for ED, said the plea was not maintainable as the trial court can’t modify an SC order requiring him to surrender on June 2. Mehta also said his condition was not very unusual as almost 50% of people in India have diabetes.

P 5 & 6

Rape accused killed in ‘encounter’ in UP

A man wanted for the rape of a 65-year-old woman, was killed in a police ‘encounter’ in Mathura Friday. Police said the 29-yr-old “fled their custody” and opened fire when apprehended.

P 19

MP home of rape accused razed

MP’s Ashoknagar district administration razed the house of a man who allegedly raped a woman, and tried to abduct her from her wedding last week.

P 19

Oppn bloc will win 295+ seats, form govt: Kharge

INDIA bloc netas at Congress chief Kharge’s Delhi residence on Saturday

New Delhi: Flanked by netas of the INDIA bloc, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday claimed the opposition alliance would win more than 295 seats and form the next govt at the Centre. He said the figure was arrived at based on people’s feedback to alliance heads.

The opposition has sought a meeting with the EC before AAP chief Kejriwal’s “surren- der” on Sunday to convey their concerns about the counting process and to urge the poll panel to issue instructions as sought to the returning officers. The opposition wants postal ballots to be counted before EVMs, and precedence to Form 17C over EVMs in case of discrepancy in numbers. TNN

Agents to be vigilant, P 26

All done: 62% turnout in Ph-7 against 65.3% in 2019

Bharti.Jain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: The curtains came down on the mammoth general election exercise on Saturday, with the seventh and last phase of polling — covering 57 constituencies across eight states and 42 assembly seats in Odisha — recording nearly 62% turnout (as of 11.50pm) in the face of soaring temperatures in many parts of the polling states.

The turnout, which is lower than the polling in each of the earlier six phases, is provisional and will inch up as more polling parties return and file their reports. All the polling figures constantly updated by EC via its voter turnout app are based on EVM votes; postal ballots are counted only on results day.

The all-India polling per- centage in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll can be known only after Form 17C data is finalised for Phase 7. However, the turnout for the first six phases — covering 485 seats excluding Surat that did not see a contest — works out to 66%. The all-India turnout in 2019 — for all 543 seats and including postal votes — was 67.4%.

EC on Saturday released a statement thanking all stakeholders for braving tough weather and logistical challenges and helping maintain law and order so as to make the election a “grand success”.

Among states that voted on Saturday, West Bengal maintained its high-turnout streak with 73.4%polling. However, the state witnessed disruptions: a local mob looted EVMs from a polling station in Jaynagar (SC) constituency and threw a control unit and two ballot units of EVMs, along with two VVPAT machines, in a pond.

 Moderate turnout, P 26

FULL COVERAGE: P 15

INSIDE FLAP

Details Of States | P 26

India rejected ‘casteist, communal and corrupt’ dynastic parties: PM

Modi thanked women and youth in particular for keeping faith in BJP, praised EC for ensuring fair polls

New Delhi: With the last vote polled and exit polls predicting yet another landslide for him, aconfident PM Modi took a dig at the “opportunistic” INDIA bloc and said the “casteist, communal and corrupt” combine of dynastic parties had been rejected by people, while thanking women and youth in particular for keeping faith in BJP.

The opposition alliance failed to strike a chord with people, the PM wrote on X soon after voting for the last phase got over and exit polls pointed to yet another mega victory for BJP. “This alliance, aimed to protect a handful of dynasties, failed to present a futuristic vision for the nation. Through the campaign, they only enhanced their expertise on one thing — Modi bashing. Such regressive politics has been rejected by the people,” he said.

He praised EC for its “exemplary” efforts at ensuring a smooth and fair elections and expressed gratitude to security forces for their unwavering vigilance during the polls.

TNN

‘Strong yuva and nari shakti’, P 26

Times Nation

- Porsche teen’s mom arrested

- Shinde speaks with victims’ kin, says guilty won’t be spared

- Haven’t made single call to Pune CP, says Ajit, but defends MLA Tingre

- After attack on thana, minority families flee Karnataka town

- Hyderabad no more capital of Andhra Pradesh from today

- BALLOT BOXED

- GST collections rise 10% to `1.7L cr in May

- DKS: Animal sacrifice ritual not performed at temple but nearby

- 5 kids, 2 others drown as boat sinks in MP river during storm

- Interpol-wanted Gupta bros to visit India for pilgrimage

- IIM-B professor accuses director, 7 others of caste discrimination

- Initiate quicker GST recovery in special cases, officers told

- UP lioness gives birth to 4 cubs

- Rape accused shot dead in UP ‘encounter’

- HC reopens Idgah case, to hear Muslim side on June 4

Porsche teen’s mom arrested

Is Accused Of Giving Her Blood Sample To Replace Son’s

The car was allegedly racing at 160kmph at time of the accident

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Pune: The mother of a 17-year-old boy involved in the May 19 Porsche Taycan crash in Pune was arrested Saturday afternoon for allegedly giving her blood sample in place of her son’s for the alcohol test to determine if he was driving under the influence when the luxury electric car fatally hit two software engineers on a bike at 160kmph.

Pune police crime branch initially detained the 49-yearold woman around 6.30am at her Wadgaonsheri bungalow. “We have recorded her statement. She said doctors at the hospital had asked her to give her blood instead of her son’s. She pretended not to know why the doctors told her that,” Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar said, following her arrest later in the day.

The mother was arrested on charges of forgery and destruction of evidence after DNA analysis revealed the sample did not belong to her son. A Maharashtra govt-appointed committee reported that a woman and two elderly people provided blood samples instead of the boy’s after the crash. “We will take her blood samples afresh for DNA fingerprinting tests to confirm if she gave her blood for the test,” a crime branch officer said.

Police were unable to contact the boy’s mother for four days. “The woman had gone to Mumbai. She returned to Pune late Friday night. Our team went to the bungalow after we came to know about her return,” the officer added.

Upon detention, a cop handed her a notice to be present at the observation home to record her son’s statement in her presence. ACP (crime) Shailesh Balkawade said: “We recorded the boy’s statement in the presence of his mother.”

According to a crime branch officer: “The boy knows how he left his bungalow, where he went with friends, and how he took the wheel of the Porsche. We have collected vidence over the past 12 days and wanted to corroborate it with his statement.”

Police have already arrested Dr Ajay Taware, Dr Shrihari Halnor, and mortuary staffer Atul Ghatkamble of Sassoon hospital for allegedly swapping the blood sample.

Shinde speaks with victims’ kin, says guilty won’t be spared

Siddharth Pandey TNN

Jabalpur: Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Saturday spoke with the families of Ashwini Kosta and Anish Awadhia — the two techies killed in the Porsche accident in Pune — and promised that the guilty will not be spared.

The ‘terahwi’ (13th day ritual) of both victims will be performed Sunday. AMaharashtra govt official met Ashwini’s family in Jabalpur and facilitated the talk over the phone with CM Shinde.

“CM Shinde sent his OSD to pay tributes. The officer got us to talk with Shinde ji. He, too, paid homage and assured us that proper and detailed investigations will be carried out and no one who is found guilty will be spared,” Ashwini’s father Suresh Kosta said.

“I am satisfied with the probe and the challan should be filed in court soon. The matter should be heard in a fast-track court. If the guilty are punished swiftly, it will set an example,” Kosta added.

Anish’s father Om Awadhia, who lives in Pali town of Umaria district, said, “Shiv Sena state chief Thaneshwar Mahawar came to visit us and facilitated our talk with the Maharashtra CM. Shinde ji offered his condolences and assured us that the guilty will be given the strictest punishment. He said Maharashtra govt stands with the families and guilty will not be spared.”

Haven’t made single call to Pune CP, says Ajit, but defends MLA Tingre

Anurag.Bende@timesgroup.com

Pune: Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawarrefuted Saturday allegations that he contacted the Pune police commissioner regarding the Porsche Taycan crash involving the 17-year-old son of a prominent builder. Pawar also defended NCP (Ajit) MLA Sunil Tingre, who allegedly visited the police station after receiving a call from the teenage driver’s father.

“When there is a case of a serious nature, any elected representative visits the spot. Being an MLA of that area, Tingre also visited the accident spot. But he did not influence the probe in any manner,” said Pawar at a press meet.

The opposition has accused him of attempting to cover up the case. However, Pawar dismissed these allegations, saying: “I usually keep in touch with the Pune CP. But as far as the accident case is concerned, I have not made a single call to him. Had I called him, I would have told him to take strictest action against those guilty.”

Addressing the issue of MLA Tingre’s recommendation letter for Dr Ajay Taware, who has been arrested for allegedly manipulating the blood alcohol samples of the teenage driver, Pawar explained that elected representatives often have presigned recommendation letters handled by their assistants. “I accept that this practice is wrong. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the senior officials concerned, who should evaluate the merit of the candidate,” he said.

After attack on thana, minority families flee Karnataka town

A dozen policemen were wounded after a mob pelted stones at Channagiri PS on May 24, protesting the alleged custodial death of a 30-yr-old

Davanagere:Around 200 minority community families have reportedly fled homes in Channagiri town of Karnataka’s Davanagere district and nearby villages after cops approached some members to help identify those involved in an attack on the local police station on May 24, reports Basavaraj Maralihalli.

Nearly a dozen cops were wounded and eight vehicles damaged in stone-pelting after a mob attacked Channagiri police station protesting the alleged custodial death of a 30-year-old man, Adil. So far, 30 people have been arrested over the violence.

“At least 100 minority community homes are locked in Honnebagi village.

Another 60 families in Nallur and 40 families in Agarabannihatti have also left their homes. Most commercial establishments in Channagiri town, such as bakeries and garages, have been shut since last week,” a source said.

The Siddaramaiah-led Congress govt has handed the probe to CID. State home minister G Parameshwara earlier visited Channagiri PS and ordered the arrests of those involved in the violence.

Police have identified 108 persons. Of these, details of 55 have been obtained from video footage. Davanagere ASP Vijaykumar Santosh said “members of minority community shared details” of some trouble-makers.

Hyderabad no more capital of Andhra Pradesh from today

Hyderabad: Hyderabad will cease to be the official joint capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from Sunday, reports Koride Mahesh. Section 5(1) of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, said: “On and from the appointed day, i.e June 2, Hyderabad in the existing state of Andhra Pradesh shall be the common capital of the state of Telangana and the state of Andhra for such period not exceeding 10 years.”

Section 5(2) said after expiry of the period, Hyderabad would be the capital of Telangana only and there would be a new capital for Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh has no permanent capital yet with the fight over Amaravati and Visakhapatnam still raging in courts. Incumbent Andhra chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that if he retains power, Visakhapatnam will be the administrative capital while Amravati will be the seat of legislature and Kurnool will be the judicial capital.

For the record, AP had stopped using Hyderabad as capital soon after bifurcation in 2014 and only kept some buildings in the city. The latest separation between the two Telugu states will be symbolic but is an important milestone all the same, a political observer said.

BALLOT BOXED

ALMI

From the serene slopes of Himachal Pradesh to the vibrant streets of Kolkata, the seventh and final phase of India’s general elections showcased democracy in its most diverse form. Netas and monks lined up alongside common citizens, embodying the spirit of unity. With voters in 57 parliamentary constituencies across seven states and the UT of Chandigarh casting their ballots, the phase marked the close of India’s long-drawn general elections, capturing the colourful essence of a nation united in its democratic journey

PALAMPUR

NUSSRAT JAHAN

LAHAUL

KULLU

ANURAG THAKUR & WIFE

AMRITSAR

KOEL MALLICK

HIMACHAL

HIMACHAL

PATNA

MIRZAPUR

ODISHA

GST collections rise 10% to `1.7L cr in May

Domestic Up 15.3%, Imports Drop 4.5%

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Goods and services tax collections went up 10% to Rs 1,72,739 crore in May as the growth in collection from domestic sources made up for the shortfall in the imports kitty.

Based on collections in May for transactions in April, latest data released by the finance ministry on Saturday estimated collections from domestic sources to be 15.3% higher, while those from imports were 4.5% lower, indicating a slowdown in the value of shipments into the country, which may partly be due to a fall in commodity prices.

For the last two years, higher than budgeted GST kitty have helped the Centre shore up its overall collections, and lower fiscal deficit.

“These collections indicate the beginning of a new normal in excess of Rs 1.7 lakh crore in FY25 compared to Rs 1.6 lakh crore during FY24. This is in line with the recent GDP estimates which indicate a robust economy, which does not appear to have been impacted much ei- ther by the election season or the heat wave across the country. The resilience shown by the GST collections, without significant seasonal or event-based variations across recent months, indicates the maturity of the GST system. There will now be renewed confidence in moving ahead with the next stage of reforms in the coming months, without significant concerns on the revenue impact that such reforms could elicit,” said M S Mani, partner at DeloitteIndia.

Within domestic sources, central GST saw a 14.1% higher collection at Rs 32,409 crore, while state GST kitty swelled Rs 40,265 crore.

In May, Manipur SGST collections were 48% higher, which may also be a pointer to a return to normalcy in the state. Next up was Delhi which saw a 46% jump.

Among the laggards were Meghalaya (20% fall), Arunachal Pradesh (18% decline), Nagaland (14% fall) and Himachal (1% rise).

“A rise in GST collections from Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Puducherry and Arunachal Pradesh suggests growing consumption in these developing regions, indicating broader economic progress. Additionally, increased GST in northern states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh etc might be due to election spending and a surge in purchases of fans, coolers and ACs caused by higher temperatures compared to last year,” said Saurabh Agarwal, tax partner at EY India.

DKS: Animal sacrifice ritual not performed at temple but nearby

Bengaluru:Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar clarified Saturday that an animal sacrifice ritual to “destroy his career” was not performed by his rivals at Rajarajeshwara Temple in Kerala’s Kannur but at a “nearby private location”. The statement followed a backlash from temple authorities and ministers in Left-governed Kerala against the Congress functionary , who was earlier quoted as saying that the rituals were held at the temple.

Responding to the Kerala govt’s rebuttal that no animal sacrifice had occurred at the temple and that they would conduct an inquiry if necessary, Shivakumar claimed “some have misunderstood” his earlier statements.

“I have respect for all Kerala temples. It is God’s own country. We respect them. I don’t want to hurt the sentiments of anyone in Kerala or anywhere in the country,” Shivakumar said. On the exact location, Shivakumar said: “I don’t want to disclose.”

TNN

5 kids, 2 others drown as boat sinks in MP river during storm

Bhopal:At least seven people, including five children, drowned after a boat capsized during a storm in Seep River in MP’s Sheopur Saturday.

All seven bodies were found during a rescue operation that stretched into the night, collector Lokesh Jangid told TOI. They were in a group of 11 pilgr- ims who went to a temple in Saroda village on the banks of Seep. After visiting the religious place, the group decided to meet some relatives living on the other bank of the river and got into a rowboat. A brief summer storm struck when they were mid-river and the boat capsized due to strong winds.

TNN

Interpol-wanted Gupta bros to visit India for pilgrimage

Kalyan.Das@timesgroup.com

Dehradun: Two of the three South Africa (SA) fame Gupta brothers, Atul Gupta and Rajesh Gupta, who are facing Interpol’s red corner notice and currently living in Dubai, have got permission to visit Kedarnath and Badrinath along with their 77-year-old mother who lives in Saharanpur.

The Guptas were granted permission by Delhi HC to “visit India for eight weeks — from May 27 to July 8.”

The HC while passing the order, dated May 28, on the petition filed by the two through their counsels, said that the brothers would be “required to share their detailed itinerary with copies of e-tickets well in advance and apprise their contact address while in India for the given duration.” “We clarify that they shall not be arrested on the basis of the look out circular (LOC) in question,” the HC said.

The development has come when Ajay Gupta, the only brother among the three who is not facing any case in SA or an Interpol notice, was arrested along with his brother-in-law Anil Gupta, on charges of “abetment of suicide” of Doon-based builder Satinder Singh Sawhney, on May 24. Both Ajay and Anil are currently lodged in jail while Atul and Rajesh are in Dubai. Atul and Rajesh have been declared “fugitives” by SA after the UAE govt refused to extradite them last year.

Speaking about the 2 Gupta brothers’ plans to come to Uttarakhand, SSP (Dehradun), Ajai Singh, said, “We’re aware of the HC order. However, we haven’t received any information about their itinerary including the probable pilgrimage dates. It won’t affect our probe in the Sawhney suicide case.”

Meanwhile, a source in SA, privy to ongoing probe against the Guptas in that country, told TOI that the SA govt’s National Prosecuting Authority, the country’s premier prosecution agency, was exploring options to seek details of the builder suicide case involving Ajay, from their counterparts in India.

IIM-B professor accuses director, 7 others of caste discrimination

Bengaluru:IIM-Bangalore associate professor Gopal Das has accused the premier business school’s director Rishikesha T Krishnan and seven other colleagues of caste-based discrimination, alleging denial of fair promotion and harassment tied to his scheduled caste status, reportsSruthy Susan Ullas.

Das, who teaches marketing, made these allegations in a letter to Prez Droupadi Murmu, who visited IIM-B on Jan 3. Following his complaint, Prez’s office instructed Karnataka govt to probe, prompting Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) to initiate an inquiry.

Das, who joined IIM-B in 2018, claimed he faced exclusion from institutional activities, was forced to withdraw from elective courses and PhD programmes, denied access to resources, and was humiliated due to his caste. IIM-B authorities denied these allegations, stating the institute maintains a “zero-tolerance” policy for discrimination. “We do not want to comment further… the institution has given its detailed response…to the authorities concerned,” it said in a statement.

In a recent letter to Karnataka social welfare department, Das accused director Krishnan and dean Dinesh Kumar of having a history of discrimiHe alleged regular discrimination against SC/ST students and noted the absence of a dedicated SC/ST cell at IIM-B.

Initiate quicker GST recovery in special cases, officers told

PROTECTING TAXPAYERS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: In a bid to check unnecessary pressure on GST payers against early recovery of dues, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has put in place guidelines mandating senior officers to initiate recovery action quickly only in rare cases and that too after clearly stating the reasons.

The law allows central GST authorities to initiate recovery after three months in case the dues remain unpaid after an order is passed. Only in exceptional circumstances can recovery be initiated earlier. But with “early action” becoming a norm or sorts, leading to pressure on taxpayers, CBIC has now said that if recovery has to be initiated before three months, a principal commissioneror commissioner-rank officer will have to order action and state specific reasons.

“Such reasons could include high risk to revenue involved in waiting till the completion of the three-month period due to apprehension that the concerned taxable person may close the business operations in near future, or due to possibility of default by the taxable person due to his declining financial conditions or impending in- solvency, or likely initiation of proceedings under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Act,” the instructions issued on Thursday said, while stating mechanical issuing of demand should be avoided.

The order must be based on credible evidence and should be issued after considering the financial health, status of business, credibility of the taxpayer, infrastructure and should strike a balance between the interests of tax authorities and ease of doing business, it said.

“Such explicit instructions from govt are quite welcome and will help minimise any unnecessary hassles that businesses have been facing regarding tax recovery. I hope these guidelines are implemented and followed in letter and spirit by jurisdiction officials,” said Abhishek Jain, indirect tax head and partner at KPMG.

UP lioness gives birth to 4 cubs

In a much-needed good news for wildlife lovers, lioness Neerja gave birth to four cubs at the Etawah Safari Park in UPFriday night. At least three of the four cubs are healthy. With this, the number of lions at Etawah Safari Park has increased to 16, reports Faiz Siddiqui.

Rape accused shot dead in UP ‘encounter’

Mohammad.Dilshad@timesgroup.com

Agra: A 29-year-old man, wanted in several criminal cases including the recent rape of a 65-year-old woman, was killed in a police encounter in Mathura Friday night. Police said Manoj Kumar alias Uttam, “fled from their custody” on Friday morning and “when cops tried to apprehend him at night in a rural area of the district, he shot at them”.

Mathura SSP, Shailesh Kumar Pandey, said on Saturday, “Police retaliated in self- defence and the hardened criminal sustained injuries and died. We are checking his criminal records and investigating the matter.”

On May 26, Manoj allegedly raped an elderly woman when she was on her way home. The accused offered her alift on his bike and took her to adeserted place where he violated her. He also took her jewellery. A case was subsequently filed against him under IPC section 376 (rape) and police teams were searching for him.

After a tip-off on Thursday, police arrested him at Jagdishpur underpass on the Yamuna expressway. Seeing the cops, he fired at them and tried to flee. In retaliatory fire, he sustained injuries in his legs and was admitted to district hospital around 3am. Around 11am on Friday, Manojfled from hospital premises while going to the toilet. Police laid a trap to arrest him. Manoj was alone on a bike and seeing the cops, he started firing and got killed in the ensuing “encounter”.

Authorities raze rape-accused’s home in MP

The Ashoknagar district administration in Madhya Pradesh on Friday demolished the house of a rape-accused who had tried to kidnap the survivor from her wedding last Wednesday.

The accused, Salim Khan alias Kalu, had raped the 22-year-old and defamed her with a video of the sexual abuse. When her marriage was fixed elsewhere, he barged into the wedding venue with a bunch of hooligans, brandishing swords and iron rods, and dragged her away. She was later rescued by her family and neighbours.

TNN

HC reopens Idgah case, to hear Muslim side on June 4

Prayagraj: After reserving its verdict in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah title dispute, the Allahabad HCreopened the case after an application was filed by the counsel for Shahi Idgah Masjid management committee, Mehmood Pracha, requesting hearing in the matter. Justice Mayank Kumar Jain fixed the hearing for June 4, through video-conferencing, reports Rajesh Kumar Pandey.

On Friday, appearing on behalf of the mosque management committee, the defendant-respondent in the original suits, Tasneem Ahmadi concluded her arguments. Prior to that, UP Sunni Central Waqf Board counsel Afzal Ahmad had concluded arguments in the suits, where the waqf board is arrayed as defendant. Thereafter, Pracha made his submissions through video-conferencing.

The court had earlier heard the counsels for Hindu side plaintiffs — Hari Shankar Jain, Rina N Singh, Saurabh Tiwari and others — at length.

After the conclusion of arguments, Justice Jain communicated to the counsels for the parties that the order was being reserved. However, the mosque management moved an application with the prayer to “issue appropriate directions to ensure that the right of audience through video-conferencing of Mehmood Pracha, whose affidavit is on record, is not obstructed in any manner”.

Times City

- Hottest In India At 52.9°C? IMD Calls Mungeshpur Sensor Wrong

- Docs urge people to follow all precautions

- Cloud and light rain give city slight relief, same likely today

- Kejriwal To Be Back In Tihar Today

- AAP, BJP exchange barbs over exit polls

- In simmering heat, fight for survival for homeless

- Bandhwari up in flames again

- ‘Turn community centres and baraat ghars into shelters’

- Delhi’s water production below 1K MGD, blame game continues

- ED Says CM Campaigned, Didn’t Do Tests

- It will be a disaster if all shrines are allowed on public land: HC

- After HC order, DDA carries out demolition drive at Vasudev Ghat

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- DME, EPE tolls to go up by 5% from Mon

- SC to hear on June 3 Delhi plea on water share

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- On 161st anniversary, civic body returns to Town Hall with a walk

- Sonipat fire: Another death takes toll to 4

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Hottest In India At 52.9°C? IMD Calls Mungeshpur Sensor Wrong

AWS Reporting Temperatures 3 Degrees Off The Mark, Says Expert Panel

IMD OFFICIAL SAYS Necessary remedial measures are being taken up by IMD to avoid the repetition of such errors in AWS. We are replacing the sensor within a few days

Priyangi.Agarwal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: So Mungeshpur wasn’t after all the hottest spot in India historically on May 29 when the weather station there logged a high of 52.9 degrees Celsius. On Saturday, India Meteorological Department clarified that the mercury mark recorded by the automatic weather station (AWS) had been incorrect due to a sensor malfunctioning.

The temperatures recorded by the sensor were about 3 degrees Celsius higher than those on the standard instrument. IMD, however, did not specify the actual temperature on May 29, saying that can no longer be determined. The sensor is being replaced.

IMD said in a statement on Saturday, “Necessary remedial measures are being taken up by IMD to avoid the repetition of such errors in AWS.” Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of meteorology, IMD, added “We are replacing the sensor within a few days.”

Union earth sciences minister Kiren Rijiju too wrote on X: “On 29th May, Mungeshpur AWS reported a temperature of 52.9°C. IMD team qu- ickly investigated and found a 3°C sensor error.”

The northwest Delhi loca- lity grabbed international headlines when it recorded a maximum of 52.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, over 3 degrees higher than the next highest of 49.1 degrees at Najafgarh. The sensational temperature appeared to be the all-time highest maximum in Delhi of 48.4 degrees at Palam on May 26, 1998.

Due to abnormally high temperature recorded by Mungeshpur, an expert committee had been asked to examine and review the highs there. The panel delved into the authenticity of the temperature reported there and compared it with standard instrument measurement on May 29 and 30 at the site. “There was a positive bias in the reported temperature. The bias varies during the day being maximum around the time of occurrence of maximum temperature,” said the report. It added that no significant discrepancies were found in temperatures reported by other AWS stations in Delhi.

The report stated that the sensor at AWS Mungeshpur was reporting temperatures around 3 degrees Celsius higher than those logged by a standard instrument. Even after May 29, Mungeshpur continued to record high temperatures. The maximum temperature was 49 and 49.6 degrees, respectively, on Thursday and Friday. After the faulty sensor was detected, the Met department did not share the temperature at this station on Saturday.

A similar error in the sensor was found for an AWS in Nagpur which logged a wrong reading of 56 degrees Celsius on May 30. However, the Regional Meteorological Department in Nagpur on Friday pleaded that “electronic sensors can fail at extreme weather conditions”.

The expert committee has recommended routine maintenance of the AWS installed across the country in a planned manner. If possible, a third-party audit should be conducted to authenticate the data quality of AWS, the report suggested.

Docs urge people to follow all precautions

TRYING A HEAT SHIELD

Continued from P1

According to the doctors, the patient was addicted to liquor and was roaming around the city exposed to the harsh sun when he collapsed.

Dr Kumar told TOIthat till now, four such patients have been admitted to the hospital. Of these, one had died and two have recovered. One remains in their care and his condition is stable.

On Friday evening, a 50-year-old man from Bihar’s East Champaran died at Safdarjung Hospital around 3.30 pm due to heatstroke, just a few hours after his admission at 1.46 am the same day. Offi- cials said he had no co-morbidities or illnesses.

Another death had been reported on Tuesday, when a 55-year-old man from Malviya Nagar passed away at the hospital hours after being admitted to the emergency department. Dr. Charu Bamba, officer-in-charge of the new emergency block, told TOI that the patient had very high-grade fever (107°Fahrenheit) and was unconscious, and his vitals were not stable at the time of admission. He was suffering from hypertension. As of now, the hospital has admitted 12 patients with heat-related illnesses and had two fatalities.

Dr Bamba emphasised the hospital's readiness and expertise in managing such cases, stating, "We are fully prepared and trained for handling such cases, and if the patients come on time, we are able to take care of them very well.”

The doctor urged people to follow all the recommended precautions to prevent heatrelated health issues. Timely medical intervention is crucial in ensuring effective treatment and care for those affected by the heat.

The first heat-related death had been reported at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital when a 40-year-old factory worker from Bihar's Darbhanga, who lived at Anand Parbat, was admitted after he suffered a heatstroke during the current heatwave in the capital. The man was admitted to the hospital on May 28 and died the next day.

Cloud and light rain give city slight relief, same likely today

Priyangi.Agarwal@timesgroup.com

HEAT IS ON

New Delhi: Some parts of Delhi continued to record heatwave conditions for the eighth consecutive day on Saturday. However, very light rain accompanied by gusty winds up to 65 kmph brought a brief respite from intense heat on Saturday evening.

Due to rain and cloudiness, most stations saw a dip in mercury levels on Saturday as against Friday. Safdarjung, the city’s base station, recorded a maximum of 44.2 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal. It was 1.6 degrees lower than Friday’s maximum. However, Narela was the hottest station with a maximum of 46.2 degrees Celsius. IMD stated that the heat index or feel-like temperature was 47 degrees Celsius on Saturday.

Safdarjung did not record a heatwave on Saturday, but it was seen in parts of the national capital, including Ridge, Narela and Pusa. The minimum temperature on Saturday was 30.2 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal.

However, parts of the city saw very light rain activity, which was accompanied by gusty winds, on Saturday evening. The maximum wind speed touched 55 kmph at Safdarjung and 65 kmph at Palam. Ayanagar and Gurgaon logged 2.8 mm and 0.5mm rainfall, respectively, till 5.30 pm, while Palam and Lodhi Road saw ‘trace’ rainfall.

“Under the influence of a western disturbance, the city saw very light rain. Thunderstorm with light rain accompanied by gusty winds (25-35 kmph) are expected on Sunday. Heatwave conditions may continue at isolated areas,” said a met official. IMD has placed a ‘yellow’ alert for Sunday.

“In maximum temperatures, up to 3 degrees Celsius fall has been observed over Rajasthan, Haryana-Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh. Heatwa- ve conditions have been observed in some parts over Punjab, Northwest Rajasthan, north Madhya Pradesh and in isolated pockets over south Haryana-Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, west Jharkhand, central Chhattisgarh. No severe heat conditions observed over the country,” said IMD.

The day temperature is likely to hover around 44 degrees Celsius at most stations over the next five days. However, some stations may see the mercury rising by two degrees.

IMD’s data shows that Safdarjung recorded six heatwave days in a row from May 26 to 31, making it the most severe spell in at least 10 years. A similar streak of six consecutive heatwave days in May was witnessed in 2013 also.

However, parts of Delhi reeled under heatwave conditions for a higher number of days up to 12. A streak of heatwaves has been under way in some areas of Delhi since May 25.

Delhi’s air quality, meanwhile, deteriorated to ‘poor’ on Saturday with an AQI of 245 as opposed to 190 in ‘moderate’ category a day earlier.

Kejriwal To Be Back In Tihar Today

Interim Bail Over, AAP Convener Urges Party Functionaries To Stay United

AAP says Kejriwal will stay CM

Abhinav.Rajput@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to return to Tihar Jail on Sunday after spending more than three weeks on electioneering. He is scheduled to leave his residence at approximately 3pm and will be accompanied by his supporters. During his release from jail on interim bail from May 11 to May 30, Kejriwal participated in 67 roadshows, rallies, public gatherings, and gave 30 interviews to various media outlets.

On Saturday morning, the Aam Aadmi Party's political affairs committee held a meeting attended by senior members such as Atishi, Raghav Chadha, Durgesh Pathak and Sanjay Singh. Insiders revealed that CM advised the senior party functionaries to “remain together as BJP will try even more to crush the party”.

Sources indicated AAP has informed its top functionaries that Kejriwal will continue to serve as CM, while Sunita Kejriwal will once again assume the role of intermediary between them and the party national convener. Since Kejriwal's imprisonment, Sunita Kejriwal's involvement in the party has increased as she acts as a bridge between her husband and the party.

A senior party member said, "Kejriwalji will continue to be CM. We are waiting for the poll results. If INDIA wins then, we do not have to worry as investigation agencies will not continue to be misused. But if BJP wins, CM will continue to be Kejriwal because it is people of Delhi who want him there."

AAP’s rivals, functionaries of BJP, countered that af- ter the Lok Sabha election results, they would press for Kejriwal's resignation harder on the ground that the state govt could not function from jail. "There is a water crisis and development projects are not being executed. So, we will press for Kejriwal’s resignation because the people of Delhi are suffering," said a BJP functionary. He added that the party would also reach out to LG on the prospect of imposing President's rule in Delhi.

The Supreme Court had granted Kejriwal a 21-day interim bail on May 10 to enable him to campaign during the Lok Sabha polls. It had directed him to surrender on June 2, a day after the last phase of the seven-phase poll concludes. Kejriwal used his freedom to campaign extensively in Delhi and Punjab.

Sources in AAP said that the party would approach the courts to ensure that Kejriwal was provided with the necessary facilities to run the govt from prison. Kejriwal had earlier expressed uncertainty about the duration of his jail term, asserting that his "spirits are high" as he returned to prison to "save the country from dictatorship".

CM had sought a seven day extension to undergo health tests as necessitated by weight loss and the presence of high levels of ketones in his urine. But with the courts not granting relaxation, he will have to surrender on Sunday. "When I went to jail, my weight was 70kg. Today, it is 64 kg,” he said in a digital address to Delhiites. “Even after being released from jail, I am not putting on weight. Doctors say that this can be a sign of some serious disease in the body. Many tests need to be done," he had said.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said Kejriwal's claim of being ill was false as he has shown no loss of vigour while campaigning non-stop. “If Kejriwal has any respect for the law and public sentiment, then he should stop playing his sickness drama and go back to jail tomorrow after campaigning as ordered by the Supreme Court in its bail order,” said Sachdeva.

AAP, BJP exchange barbs over exit polls

Abhinav.Rajput@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: As most exit polls predict BJP winning between five and seven seats in Delhi, the party said that the “coalition of corrupt” had been rejected while AAP dismissed the projections as “sponsored” by Modi govt.

TV9 Bharatvarsha-Polstrat predicted a clean sweep for BJP in Delhi, while India TVCNX and Axis My India India Today suggested BJP winning six to seven seats, with Congress’s JP Agarwal giving a tough fight to BJP’s Praveen Khandelwal in Chandni Chowk. Republic Bharat-Matrize’s exit poll indicated that the NDA could either win all seven seats for the third consecutive time or lose two seats.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, confident of the numbers holding in the actual results on June 4, stated, “The people of Delhi, especially, have given their decision against the corruption of Kejriwal.”

Sachdeva said that the 2024 election was a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 10-year govt’s achievements, and the nation once again unanimously chose Modi govt. He pointed out that despite AAP and Congress campaigning against each other in Punjab, they were allies in Delhi, which the people of Delhi were well aware of, leading to their rejection.

AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh dismissed the exit polls as “sponsored” and “Modi’s exit poll.” He said that during the INDIA bloc meeting, a state-wise discussion based on feedback from different party functionaries suggested that the alliance would secure 295 seats. Singh said that the INDIA bloc would form govt, arguing that exit polls with a sample size of 25,000 in a country with a population of 144 crore do not make any significant difference.

The AAP candidate from New Delhi constituency, Somnath Bharti, disputed the exit poll projections, stating that he would shave his head if Modi becomes PM for the third time. “Mark my word! All exit polls will be proven wrong on June 4 and Modi ji will not become prime minister for the third time. In Delhi, all seven seats will go to India Alliance,” Bharti said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that the exact count on June 4 will give a 7-0 win to BJP.

In the national capital, BJP’s seven candidates are competing against those of the INDIA bloc. The seat-sharing agreement has the AAP fielding candidates in New Delhi, South Delhi, East Delhi and West Delhi, while Congress is contesting in North East Delhi, North West Delhi and Chandni Chowk.

EXTREME HEAT ONE OF THE KEY CHALLENGES TO THOSE FORCED TO STAY OUTDOORS

In simmering heat, fight for survival for homeless

Homeless people sleeping on the Yamuna Bazaar flyover

Ridhima.Gupta@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: The sun blazed mercilessly over the city, turning streets into shimmering ribbons of heat. For many, summer brought thoughts of trips to beaches and mountains and air-conditioned respites. For the homeless, however, there was only a relentless ordeal for survival.

While no season is easy for the homeless population in the city, the unusual Delhi heat has proved extra challenging. For Bantu, 30, a migrant from Madhya Pradesh, summer heat means sleepless nights. “In summers, the pavements where I sleep is like a bhatti(kiln). My entire night is spent twisting and turning. Sometimes, I use a piece of cardboard as a hand fan, but there’s little relief. It’s only very early in the morning that there is some relief and I get a few hours’ sleep,” he said.

Bantu and his wife live on the footpath in Karol Bagh. The duo are seasonal wage laborers in the city. For his wife, the bigger problem is finding water to drink and to cook with. “I have to get water from petrol pumps or beg for it at the shops. We have to ration whatever water we get.”

Even for those staying in govt-run shelter homes, life isn’t much easier. Single mother Tarannum, 36, says each day is a test of endurance. Tarannum has moved out of the shelter at Urdu Park to a park close by. “The shelter homes have all walls of tin, which heat up in the sun. The heat inside the homes is higher than the outside,” she explained. “It almost feels like someone has put the room on fire. So staying outside is the only option.”

At another shelter near Lok Nayak hospital, Kamlesh has a similar struggle. He says, “The heat turns the tin shelters into furnaces. We don’t have coolers and fans to provide relief.”

Near Turkman Gate, there were many complaints about water at the DUSIB shelters. At a women's home, Kishori said, “Lack of water is a constant problem, but it is a nightmare in summers.” She said everyday people had to go out in search of water and it was harrowing for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Housing and Land Rights Network, a non-profit working for the urban poor issues, recently recommended that Delhi govt identified the high-risk areas where high concentrations of homeless persons lived or worked and who could be prone to heat strokes and other heat-related illnesses. It advised the creation of water distribution points for homeless people either through the installation of new municipal taps or Delhi Jal Board water tankers.

“This is essential to prevent dehydration and deaths during the summer,” said an NGO official. “Cooling stations should be established in high-risk areas to provide water, food, electrolytes, toilets and first-aid to counter the impact of the heat.” It added, “Homeless families living on the streets should be allowed to set up makeshift dwelling units of tarpaulin and sticks on the streets for temporary and immediate respite from the heat.” The NGO said govt should work with the municipal bodies and Delhi Police to ensure these dwelling units weren’t demolished or destroyed.

Bandhwari up in flames again

Vishakha.Chaman@timesgroup.com

Gurgaon: A massive fire erupted on one side of the Bandhwari landfill site due to methane combustion on Saturday afternoon. The fire department said 10 fire tenders were sent from Gurgaon and Faridabad to douse the flames.

When TOI visited the site at 3pm on Saturday, the fire had engulfed the left side of the landfill. Fire fighting operations were still underway.

“A total of 10 fire fighting vehicles — eight from Gurgaon and two from Faridabad —were rushed to the landfill site. The incident happened at 2pm on Saturday and we received a call at 2.30pm. It took two hours for the fire fighters to bring the fire under control. It takes time to completely extinguish the blaze at landfill sites,” Gulshan Kalra, deputy director (technical), Haryana fire services, said.

“The fire at the landfill was caused by combustion of methane due to high temperature. MCG has implemented preventive measures, including monitoring the temperature and stationing a fire tender at the site. However, despite these efforts, the fire still occurred. We are committed to preventing such incidents and are working diligently to address the issue. We are focusing on the root cause of the problem, which is the legacy waste. Once this waste is completely processed, the likelihood of such fire incidents will be significantly reduced,” MCG commissioner Narhari Singh Banger told TOI.

This was the fifth fire of the year at Bandhwari landfill. Previous blazes were witnessed on April 6, 7, 17 and 23.

The fire on April 23 prompted the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to take suo moto cognizance of the incident. The MCG had also devised multiple plans to keep fire incidents at Bandhwari in check. But no measure proved effective.

‘Turn community centres and baraat ghars into shelters’

Priyangi.Agarwal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Rani, a waste picker, is finding it difficult to carry out her work during the intense heat. Since she works outdoor for long hours, she is experiencing headaches and dizziness on most days.

A study conducted by Chintan in 2023 with outdoor occupational groups found that over 80% of security guards, waste pickers and safai karamcharis found extreme heat to be the biggest challenge they faced at work.

The study was done with 300 participants across 15 sites in Delhi. Among the surveyed group, heat was among the top health challenges faced by safai karamcharis (83%), security guards (86%) and waste pickers (86%) while working.

As Delhi is experiencing high temperatures of nearly 50 degrees Celsius, these outdoor workers living in informal settlements, with minimal access to options for adaptation and cooling, are at major risk of heat stress and consequent health impacts.

Poonam, waste picker and member of Safai Sena, a waste picker collective in Delhi NCR, said, “It has become so hot that we are unable to even work. My job is to collect and segregate waste, and I am unable to even do that because the heat is impacting my health. For us, heat means illness and decreased income due to our reduced physical ability to work.”

Renu (36), from Nizamuddin Basti, a waste picker and a community leader, said, "Waste pickers go to work on the landfill and other outdoor spaces to work for 6-7 hours with no shade or relief available. Our capacity to work in the heat goes down and that impacts on our income. For women it means increased incidence of domestic conflicts."

As the city is reeling under intense heatwave conditions, Chintan, a non-profit organisation based out of Delhi, has recommended to convert community centres and baraat ghars into cooling stations with supply of water and cooling options like fans and air coolers, free water and hand and face washing facilities.

“To reduce the impact of heat, outdoor work should be minimised during peak heat. All waste picking and road sweeping work, among others, may be undertaken from 6 am-10 am or after 5pm. Flexibility should be provided such that workers aren’t forced to work in peak heat,” said Chintan, which has been running a campaign to help waste pickers beat the heat while at work through provision of heat relief kits.

Shruti Sinha, manager, policy and research, Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group, said, “We need to act immediately as this can be fatal to those with hardly any options for cooling and adaptation.”

Delhi’s water production below 1K MGD, blame game continues

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Delhi Jal Board, in its latest bulletin on Saturday, stated that the overall water production in the city was 994 million gallons per day. Out of this, 122 MGD was produced by the Wazirabad water treatment plant, which was 8 MGD short of the plant’s total capacity. Less raw water supply from the Yamuna canal is the main reason behind this shortage.

As per an economic survey report, the overall requirement of the city is 1,290 MGD. This demand increases during the summer season. DJB had planned to produce 1,000 MGD of water, but it has not been able to do so since the summer began this year.

For the past several days, people have been struggling due to intense heatwave conditions and a shortage in supply of water in some areas. A blame game between AAP and BJP is on over who is responsible for the current crisis. While Delhi govt has blamed Haryana govt for allegedly reducing the supply from Hathnikund barrage from the upstream of the Yamuna, the latter has accused Delhi govt of poor management.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that the latest figures released by DJB “affirmed that Delhi was receiving more water than its allocated quota from both Harya- na and Uttarakhand”.

“Delhi’s water crisis is due to the state govt’s mismanagement. It is evident that there is neither a shortage of raw water nor of purified drinking water in the city. Ministers of Kejriwal govt are too engrossed in political rhetoric rather than focusing on the water and electricity crises,” he alleged.

In response, Delhi govt stated: “In BJP-led UP, people are dying from extreme heat, yet BJP creates problems for the people of Delhi through its Haryana govt by stopping Delhi’s share of water and by playing dirty politics”. “It is ironic that BJP, ruling in Delhi’s neighbouring states, is talking about power outages.”

ED Says CM Campaigned, Didn’t Do Tests

Kejriwal’s Counsel: Interim Bail Was For Campaigning, Not Doing So Could Have Led To Questions

Vineet.Upadhyay@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday reserved its order on an interim bail plea moved by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam for June 5.

Kejriwal has sought interim bail for seven days on medical grounds. He was arrested by ED on March 21 and had been granted interim bail by Supreme Court till June 1.

Arguing before the court of special judge Kaveri Baweja, solicitor general of India (SGI) Tushar Mehta, appearing for ED, said the plea for interim bail plea was not maintainable as the trial court cannot modify an SC order requiring Kejriwal to surrender on June 2.

The SGI pointed out that the CM had stated at a press conference on Friday that he will surrender on June 2 but did not disclose the fact that he was taking a chance with the court by filing the interim bail application.

Mehta pointed out that instead of getting medical tests done, Kejriwal was travelling across the country.

Additional solicitor general SV Raju, also appearing for ED, submitted that by filing the interim bail application, Kejriwal was asking for extension of the SC order which cannot be allowed.

The ASG said that in order to get interim bail, Kejriwal has to be in custody. He also claimed that Kejriwal had suppressed facts as he did not disclose in his application that he had moved the apex court for similar relief.

When senior advocate N Hariharan, appearing for Kejriwal, interjected saying that he felt his presence in court was pointless, the court asked him to make his submissions.

Hariharan then argued that Kejriwal's medical situation necessitated the application and that he had to do campaigning because that was the purpose of granting him interim bail. "If I had not done that, they would say ‘you did not campaign even for a day’,” he said. He pointed out that AAP was one of the six na- tional parties and Kejriwal was its star campaigner.

The senior advocate said Kejriwal’s diabetes had got aggravated due to stress. "I am not seeking regular bail but interim bail because of my condition. Since 1994, I have been diabetic. I am on a daily dose of insulin," he said further.

Hariharan said the CM's ketone levels had increased to alarming levels which indicated the kidney was not functioning normally. "The ketone level is 15 plus. It has to be in the negative. And that is why we say something drastic is happening in his body which needs examination. It is not as if I don't want to surrender," said the senior advocate.

Hariharan told the court that Kejriwal’s weight was 64kg now, down from 69kg at the time of being taken into custody.

The counsel claimed the tests were sequential and that is why he was asking for seven days. "If I go back to jail without these tests, it will put me at risk. For 20 days, I was denied insulin in jail. We had to move an application and an expert was appointed. I was given insulin only after the expert agreed. Who will take responsibility if something happens to me?" he asked.

ASG Raju, responding to Hariharan's submissions, said the tests can be conducted in an hour or so. He said the CM's medical condition did not develop suddenly and it was there even when SC passed the order and that it could have been raised before SC as well.

"His weight was 64kg when he entered Tihar. Today, he says his weight is 65kg. He has gained 1kg. All these statements are only for sympathy," said the ASG.

"He says there is sugar in urine. Kindly look at the Oxra tablet taken by him. It is a tablet which puts sugar in urine,” he said. He also argued that kidney is not the only reason for ketone levels fluctuating and it can go up if you have a urinary tract in- fection too. "This is all bogus. The urine report is of May 20 and that of doctor consultation of May 24. He did not consult the doctor for four days," pointed out the ASG.

ASG Raju claimed the Delhi CM wanted to cheat the court by delaying the tests. He said if tests were required, the jail was equipped and he could be taken to AIIMS too. "If he requires the Holter test, we will do it,” he asserted.

SGI Tushar Mehta argued that Kejriwal's condition was not very unusual as almost 50% of people in India have diabetes.

"Can the entire system be taken for a joyride like this? This is being used for oblique reasons. It is a make-belief submission that he has experienced a sudden weight loss. Even otherwise, the weight of 64kg is normal for a person of 5 feet 5 inches in height," said the SGI.

In response, Hariharan explained the Holter test was done for three days followed by a PET scan and some other tests, depending on the results of the PET scan.

It will be a disaster if all shrines are allowed on public land: HC

New Delhi: If each sadhu, baba and guru is allowed to build a shrine or samadhi sthal on a public land and use it for personal gains, it would lead to disastrous consequences jeopardising larger public interest, Delhi High Court has said.

Naga sadhus, who are devotees of Lord Shiva, are ordained to live a life of complete detachment from the worldly affairs and seeking property rights in their names does not conform with their beliefs and practices, the court stated.

“In our country, we might find thousands of sadhus, babas, fakirs or gurus in different parts of the landscape and if each one is allowed to build a shrine or samadhi sthal on a public land and thereby, continue to use it for personal gains by the vested interest groups, that would lead to disastrous consequences jeopardising larger public interest,” Justice Dharmesh Sharma said.

The high court’s observations came while dismissing a petition by Mahant Naga Baba Shankar Giri through his successor seeking to di- rect the district magistrate to demarcate the property of shrine of Naga Baba Bhola Giri at Triveni Ghat, Nigambodh Ghat here.

The petitioner clai- med that he has been in possession of the property well before the deadline of 2006, as set by the Delhi Special Laws Act.

The grievance of the petitioner was that in Feb 2023, the officials of the flood control and irrigation department of Delhi govt demolished various jhuggies and other buildings in the vicinity of the property due to which he was under an imminent threat of demolition of the shrine.

The court dismissed the petition, saying it was bereft of any merits and that the petitioner had no right, title or interest to continue to use and occupy the property.

“It is but apparent that he is a rank trespasser and merely for the fact that he has been a cultivator for 30 years or more does not bestow with him any legal right, title or interest to continue to occupy the subject property,” the court said.

“It appears that the petitioner has constructed two rooms with tin shed and other amenities at the side, besides a shrine of the revered baba, who died in 1996. But then, there is nothing on the record to suggest that the place is of any historical significance or dedicated to the public for worship or for offering prayers to the revered deceased baba,” it added.

PTI

After HC order, DDA carries out demolition drive at Vasudev Ghat

Officials said the action would contribute to clearing the Yamuna floodplain of encroachments and ensure development of the ghat

TIMESNEWSNETWORK

New Delhi: Following the Delhi High Court order, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has conducted a demolition drive at Vasudev Ghat on May 28 and 31 with the assistance of Delhi Police.

"The court upheld that the land, allegedly encroached upon for an akhara, belongs to DDA and dismissed the writ petition", said a DDA official.

"In the demolition action near Nigam Bodh Ghat (a part of Vasudev Ghat project), two pucca structures, two semi pucca structures and one religious structure (shrine) were removed," the official said, adding that the action will contribute to clearing the Yamuna floodplains of encroachments and ensure development of the Vasudev Ghat.

The official stated, "The operations were carried out in accordance with approved guidelines. Malba and debris waste of unauthorised structures were removed from the site soon after the action. Based on the directions of the court, DDA is making all efforts to restore the Yamuna floodplains which not only involves ecological restoration but includes re-possession of land from encroachers."

In March, DDA opened its first restored ghat along the river Yamuna — Vasudev Ghat — for the general public. The place was inaugurated by lieutenant governor VK Saxena, who also performed aarti there in the evening.

Spreading over 16 hectares, the main ghat stretches to a length of 145 metres and has 25 steps leading to the holy water of the Yamuna. “The authority had silt removed from the banks for the convenience of visitors coming to this place. Besides the rejuvenation of the ghat, another attraction at this place is the restored floodplain, which includes five hectares of greens developed in the Charbagh style,” added the official.

Cops oppose Brij Bhushan’s plea for travel docus, CDR

TIMESNEWSNETWORK

New Delhi: Opposing the plea of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh seeking summoning of travel documents and call detail records (CDR), Delhi Police on Saturday told a court that the BJP MP wants reinvestigation in the garb of summoning documents which cannot be directed. Singh is an accused in a sexual harassment case filed by female wrestlers.

The court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot after hearing the submissions of the prosecution and the defence counsel adjourned the matter till July 2. The prosecution filed its reply to the Singh’s application.

Advocate Rajiv Mohan, appearing for Singh, submitted before the court that this is an application for summoning CDR and travel documents. The counsel stated that the CDR is with police and travel documents are with Wrestling Federation of India, Union ministry of sports and the immigration bureau. He also submitted that the travel documents are necessary to show when Singh travelled abroad and where he and his teams had stayed.

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Srivastava, opposing the submissions by the defence counsel, told the court that Singh is seeking a reinvestigation in the garb of summoning documents through the investigation officer (IO) of the case which cannot be directed by the court.

The APP also said that further investigation cannot be ordered as the charges have been framed, adding that the CDR cannot be used by the defence unless there is a mandatory certificate under 65B of the Evidence Act.

"IO can't be directed for reinvestigation. Relief not sought cannot be given. Want to unsettle what has been settled by the court by framing," submitted the APP.

Meanwhile, the complainant's counsel also opposed the plea stating that there was no need for travel documents as a passport says everything about the date and country of travel.

Guard mowed down inside Ggn township, driver caught

Ankita.Anand@timesgroup.com

Gurgaon: A 26-year-old man from Delhi’s Dwarka was arrested for allegedly running his car over a guard in a gated township in Sector 108 and killing him on the spot early on Thursday.

Police – who have seized his Swift Dzire – said they were still trying to find out how the accident occurred in one corner of Experion Heartsong, a new township that is still not covered by CCTV cameras. Home to only 30 residents in villas and bungalows, the area where the accident occurred is at some distance from the main entrance. The residents are yet to establish an RWA either.

The accident is believed to have occurred around 1am. But Rajendra Tyagi (48), a resident of Dharampur village in Sector 108, was found lying face down by his colleagues five hours later. He was oozing blood from his wounds and had stopped breathing, they said.

As news of his death spread, some 50-60 villagers arrived from nearby Dharampur and staged a protest outside the main entrance. They did not allow police to take the body for an autopsy, demanding adequate compensation and immediate arrest of the accused.

Shiva Archan Sharma, ACP (west), said they were yet to come across evidence on how the accident occurred. According to him, Tyagi had last spoken to another guard around 1am.

“There was nothing wrong until then. One of his colleagues found him lying heavily wounded outside the post where he was deployed the previous night. They informed the police control room and Tyagi’s family members,” Sharma said.

Tyagi was on night shift from 8pm on Wednesday to 8am the next day. Other guards said he had arrived for duty 20 minutes earlier and went to have tea at a nearby stall before starting work.

The driver who was arrested is Maninder Singh, a private firm employee from Delhi. Police said they were questioning him to find out more about the case.

Although there aren’t any cameras inside the township, those at the main entrance showed a “suspicious” car going past the gate late on Wednesday night. But the image isn’t clear enough to show the number.

Following a complaint by Tyagi’s family members on Thursday, an FIR was registered against the car driver at Rajendra Park police station under sections 279 (rash driving or riding on public way) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC.

Tyagi’s family members and other villagers eventually called off their protest after being assured of a proper compensation.

“We contacted the security agency that had hired Tyagi. After they agreed to pay in keeping with the policies, the villagers left and allowed us to continue with our work,” the ACP said.

One of accused now an approver in Divya murder case: Cops

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Gurgaon: One of the seven accused in the Divya Pahuja murder case has turned an approver, police have told a district court. Megha (20), a friend of hotelier Abhijit Singh who allegedly murdered the former model on Jan 2, had helped him dispose of the murder weapon and Divya’s ID and clothes. Her bail plea was rejected by the court after police said they were yet to record her statement.

Police have arrested seven persons, including Megha, in the case. All of them are in judicial custody. Megha, a delivery executive and housekeeping worker, was arrested on Jan 8. A resident of Najafgarh, Megha helped police recover the gun and other items she helped dispose of from Old Delhi-Gurgaon Road.

Police opposed granting of bail in a bail plea hearing before the Gurgaon court earlier this week on the grounds that Megha had become an approver. In its submission to court, police said such witnesses should be kept in custody till the trial is completed under CrPC Section 306(4).

Major Blaze At Kashmere Gate Metro Police Stn, Files Gutted

80 Firefighters Take 10 Hours To Control Situation, No Casualty

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: A major fire broke out at the Kashmere Gate metro police station around 12:30 am on Saturday. The record room, cupboards and barracks were all destroyed in the fire. Over 80 firefighters were deployed to douse the blaze and it took around 10 hours to control the fire that is suspected to have started with a short circuit.

Police said a minor spark in the gallery of the police station triggered the fire, which spread to the entire premises within a few minutes. The duty officer alerted everyone and they rushed out of the building.

“The fire was spreading fast and it reached all areas of the police station in no time. About 20 fire tenders were pressed into service to control the blaze,” a police officer said.

Due to the fire, several records of the police station and case files turned into ashes. “The conference hall also burnt completely. But in the malkhana, arms, ammunition and registers could be saved due to the efforts of the fire brigade,” the officer added.

Fire department officials claimed that they received inaccurate information, which wasted a few minutes. Initially, they reached the Kashmere Gate police station in north Delhi only to discover the fire was at the metro police station.

At the time of the incident, 10–15 staffers on the night shift were present. They were quickly evacuated. The possible presence of ammunition complicated the firefighting efforts. The firefighters formed three teams—one tackling the blaze from the rear and two from the front.

“Combustible materials like files fuelled the fire’s spread. We connected multiple pipes to reach the fire. While we were dousing the blaze, we were informed that a boy who works at the canteen and sleeps there was missing. We conducted a search and finally found that he had already left the building and was safe,” an official from the fire department said.

Delhi Fire Service director Atul Garg said that around 15 rooms at the police station and 18 rooms at the DCP (metro) office had caught fire. “Waste materials and household items lying in a vacant lot next to the police station were also gutted. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries,” he added.

Videos of the incident show flames erupting from the office building, with firefighters battling to extinguish them. Another video captures thick black smoke billowing out.

The record room, conference hall, cupboards and barracks were destroyed in the incident

Barking pet jolts owners out of sleep after AC catches fire, averts tragedy

Members of the RWA said the blaze was caused by a short circuit in the AC, which had been in use for hours at a stretch

Akanksha.Gupta@timesgroup.com

Gurgaon: A short circuit in the air conditioner caused a fire in a flat in Uniworld Garden-1 in Sector 47 early on Saturday morning.

A major blaze was, however, averted as the family’s pet dog sounded an alarm and woke up the owners with her frantic barks. The flat’s sprinklers and other fire-fighting systems worked well to contain the flames to just one room. The society’s emergency team responded with alacrity too and doused the blaze in merely 10 minutes.

Deepak Kumar, the owner of the 12th -floor flat in Tower 1, was out of town with his wife when the fire broke out around 6.15am. Their sons were in the flat with their friends.

A little after 6am – when everyone was fast asleep – the fami- ly’s pet dog, Tara, started barking loudly as smoke filled the room. Rohan, the younger son who is around 15, woke up first and saw flames leaping out of the AC’s indoor unit.

Rohan called up his elder brother Nihar (22). “By then smoke had filled the entire room. We called for help and rushed out of the flat,” Nihar told TOI.

The society’s emergency team came up with fire extinguishers and brought the flames under control in 10 minutes. The bedroom was almost gutted because of furniture and curtains there.

Although a fire tender reached the condominium after a while, the blaze had been contained by then. There were no injuries.

Gulshan Kalra, deputy director (technical) of Haryana fire services, said, “We received an emergency call at 7.09am and a fire tender was rushed to the spot. But the flames had been doused by the time it reached the society. There were no injuries, but the room and household items were damaged.”

Flat owner Kumar, a director at a consultant firm, said he could ascertain the cause of the blaze only after he was home.

“I don’t know what exactly happened. We are on our way back to the city. But I have spoken to my elder son. Everyone is safe. The fire was doused quickly by the society’s maintenance staff,” he told TOI.

Members of the RWA said the blaze was caused by a short cir- cuit in the AC, which had been in use for hours at a stretch.

“We went to inspect the flat after the fire alarms went off. Our team had already brought the flames under control. A major fire was averted because of the family’s pet,” said Nirlipt Singh, the RWA president of Uniworld Garden-1.

“Primarily, it looks like a short circuit in the AC caused the blaze. We called 112 immediately, but it took some time for the fire brigade to reach the society. By then, everything was under control. We are circulating messages among residents about dos and don’ts regarding use of ACs in such high temperatures,” he added.

Just two days ago, a blast in the AC’s indoor unit had led to a fire in the bedroom of a flat in Lotus Boulevard in Noida Sector 100. The society’s maintenance team had doused the flames before the fire fighters arrived.

People duped with lure of shares, `4.5cr turned into crypto; 4 held

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: With the arrest of four men, including two MBA graduates, a gang of scammers that duped people on the pretext of investing in the share market has been busted. Investigations have revealed that the suspects had converted Rs 4.5 crore in stolen funds to cryptocurrency and moved it to the account of a person living in Kazakhstan over the past two months, police said.

Suspects Rohit (38), Varun (23), Manish Mann (29) and Uday Mittal (37) had allegedly cheated a doctor from a prominent hospital on the pretext of high returns, a senior police officer said. The doctor was given some tasks to complete and initial amount was paid and later he was asked to invest money and duped of Rs 29 lakh, said Rohit Meena, DCP (southwest).

After adding the doctor to a group, he was asked to review a hotel, and an account was created for him on an application, police said, adding, “Then, he was pressured to do prepaid tasks and invest money in different accounts provided by the fraudsters. When he attempted to withdraw his money, he was unable to do so. A case has been registered".

A team was formed under inspector Vikas Kumar Buldak to investigate the matter. "While investigating the money trail, the team found that some part was transferred to a bank account in Dwarka Sector-7 which was registered in the name of Rohit Kumar. The amount was withdrawn through cash using cheque in two transactions one in Noida while other in Ghaziabad," the DCP said.

Upon reviewing the bank's CCTV footage, it was found that two men had withdrawn the cash and one of them was identified as Rohit Chhikara, the DCP said, adding that Rohit and Varun were apprehended during raids conducted in Delhi-NCR.

During questioning, the duo revealed that they were working on commission for a co-conspirator, Manish Mann, who received payments into their accounts and then convert them into cash, the officer said, adding Mann was arrested along with Uday Mittal following Varun's information.

Mann, who was connected to someone residing in Kazakhstan,would provide cash to Uday Mittal, who then converted it into USDT (cryptocurrency) and forwarded it to Kazakhstan-based individual's crypto wallet, the DCP said. An analysis of the portal of NcRP affairs identified 22 complaints linked to this case.

Bizman gets extortion call in name of gangster Goldy

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: A real estate businessman from north Delhi's Civil Lines has been threatened with an extortion demand in the name of gangster Goldy Brar.

The businessman, who runs his office from the Civil Lines, received a WhatsApp call from an international number a week ago, the caller identified himself as Brar and threatened him to pay Rs 5 crore, or else he and his family would be killed, a senior police officer said.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the matter. "So far, no arrest has been made in this regard," the officer added.

Lawrence Bishnoi's closest aide, Brar, is wanted by police in various states. The National Investigation Agency is also pursuing him since Sidhu Moose Wala's murder. Several businessmen, builders and bookies in Delhi have received extortion threats from him. Initially he was in Canada, but has supposedly fled to the US after his rivals strengthened their base there.

This was not the first time such an inci- dent had happened in the city where real estate businessmen have been targeted. On Friday, two members of Kala Jathedi gang had fired multiple rounds at a property dealer's office in Dwarka’s Mohan Garden.

Similarly, multiple rounds were fired in April at a businessman's house in Moti Nagar. The shooters left behind an extortion note demanding Rs 50 lakh.

In the same month, a gangster's henchman fired at the house of a businessman in an extortion attempt of Rs 50 lakh in northwest Delhi's Pitampura.

A real estate businessman from Dwarka has allegedly received an extortion call demanding Rs 2 crore. The caller threatened to shoot the businessman or his father if the demand was not met.

Multiple shots were fired at a real estate businessman’s office in Dwarka. The assailants dropped a letter demanding “protection money” of Rs 1 crore In Dec last year, Portugal-based Himanshu Bhau's henchmen opened indiscriminate fire at a builder's office in Dwarka Mor. The builder had apparently refused to pay protection money of Rs 1 crore.

AI Sorry For 30-Hour Delay, $350 Voucher For Each Flyer

Saturday’s Delhi-Vancouver Nonstop Also Leaves 20-Hr Late

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Shaken by the plight of passengers of a Delhi-San Francisco flight that was delayed by 30 hours, Air India on Saturday “sincerely apologised” to them. AI is giving $350-voucher to the passengers (same across all travel classes) who waited that long to take this flight. Sources say the top Tata leadership at Bombay House is also learnt to have spoken to the management of the airline they took over almost 2.5 years ago and whose turnaround is still awaited by flyers. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran is learnt to be keeping a close watch on the airline. Saturday’s Delhi-Vancou- ver nonstop was delayed by over 20 hours, after two California nonstops by 18-30 hours in the last 10 days. “AI185 scheduled to operate Delhi Vancouver on June 1 (at 5.20 am) was delayed because of technical issues and subsequently due to crew coming under the mandatory flight duty time limitations. Guests were offered hotel accommodation and the options of cancellation with full refunds and complimentary rescheduling to another date. The flight is expected to leave early Sunday (June 2) morning. Regret the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the operational disruption,” AI said about the Vancouver delay.

AI 183 (Delhi-San Francisco) of May 30 was booked by 237 (plus one infant) passengers and only 199 opted to fly when the flight did eventually take off 30 hours after scheduled departure time around 10 pm on May 31. This wait saw some passengers reportedly faint on the hot Boeing 777 while waiting in vain for it to take off on Thursday evening and others p leading to be allowed to alight after the nth failed attempt to get airborne on Friday evening.

AI chief operations officer Klaus Goersch wrote to these passengers on Saturday: “Please allow me to sincerely apologise on behalf of Air India for the extended delay in bringing you to San Francisco, which was caused by several technical delays and other operational const- raints. We have endeavoured to rectify the technical issues, but clearly, the duration of delay was long, and the experience was not what we aspire to offer. However, your safety was the highest priority throughout.”

“As a gesture of apology, we would like to offer you a travel voucher worth $350 for future travel on Air India. Alternatively, we could credit this amount to you through your source of payment or bank details. Although we cannot change the past, I trust that this gesture conveys our sincere regrets for the disruption and inconvenience,” Goersch said, adding, “Once again, we are very sorry for this lapse in our service and the inconvenience caused to you.... I hope you will allow us to serve again, to a better standard, in future.”

The airline has to reply to a DGCA show cause notice where it has been asked to explain why action should not be taken against it over “repeated incidences of passengers being put to discomfort” & “time and again failing to take due care of passengers.”

The DGCA notice issued on Friday stated: “Al179 of 24/5 & Al 183 of 30/5 were inordinately delayed. Passengers were put to discomfort due to insufficient cooling in the cabin. Repeated (instances) of passengers being put to discomfort by Air India in violation of various DGCA provisions have come to notice…. AI has violated provisions of ‘facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights’. AI is time and again failing in taking due care of passengers and compliance of (those rules)”.

AI has been asked to explain within three days “why enforcement action (should) not be initiated against it”. SFO-bound AI 179 from Mumbai last Friday was delayed by 18 hours.

HC order on fire safety pleas:

Delhi High Court on Saturday directed Delhi govt to decide two representations seeking regular fire safety audits and framing of fire safety norms for small hospitals and nursing homes in the wake of a fire tragedy at a private neonatal nursing home that claimed the lives of seven newborns. The court also directed Delhi govt and the Department of DFS to file an action taken report within eight weeks.

PTI

How looks, taste can make millet dishes more popular

Millets: The Superfood of Bharat was organised by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in collaboration with an NGO

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Millets are one of the best sources of protein, fibre, key vitamins, and minerals. The only problem with them is that they do not look that palatable. Imagine idlis or cakes that are not white but are dark brown or even black in appearance. That could kill one’s appetite, particularly if you aren’t a health freak. The key then to promoting the inclusion of millets in daily life is to make food innovative, ensuring it looks good to the eye and tastes good too.

And this is exactly what was discussed at a symposium titled ‘Millets: The Superfood of Bharat’ organised by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in collaboration with NGO Mera Millets Magic on Saturday.

On the occasion, chief guest Meenakshi Lekhi, Union minister of state for culture and external affairs, said that anyone consuming millets needn’t take supplements. Sharing an incident, she said, “Recently, I ordered a ragi paratha at a restaurant because it looked very tempting. The way they served it was awesome. The idea is to present the food in such a way that its appearance makes it palatable and even children can enjoy it because it appears fashionable. It is important to make millet both palatable and fashionable.”

Uma Naduri, joint secretary, ministry of culture, said, “We should put thought into making millets palatable, digestible, and nutritious, considering the requirements of different age groups.” She also noted that regional identities and traditional food practices in the country had vanished.

The special guest at the inaugural session on Saturday was Brahma Kumari’s sister Shivani. In her address, she stated, "We as a society should emphasise building and creating sanskar, sanskriti and sansar." She asserted the need to eat right to think right, highlighting that food influences our mind. In this context, she reiterated the popular saying, "

Jaisa anna, vaisa mann.”

The first session of the programme, ‘Wellness with Millets,’ was chaired by Dr Ishi Khosla, a clinical and public health nutritionist. Emphasised the crucial role of grain science in determining our overall health, Khosla stated, "Grain science is critical to determining whether we are healthy or unhealthy. The microbiome can be boosted with a good lifestyle and the r ight diet, and can be destroyed by the opposite. Grains have a huge role to play.”

She added that we had the ability to influence and control the prevalence of various diseases, particularly those related to lifestyle. She highlighted the profound significance of gut health, noting that scientists and Nobel prize winners have identified leaky gut as the root cause of numerous health conditions. These conditions, although known by different names, encompass a wide range of ailments, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, hypertension, and autoimmune disorders.

Asha Prabhakar, president of the National Progressive Schools’ Conference in India, discussed the incorporation of millets in meals provided to students in schools. She noted that in 2023, 90% of school children knew nothing about millets. She mentioned facing significant resistance when the canteen menu was changed recently to include millets, with the aggression coming from parents. "Some of the millets were not palatable but healthy, so as a school leader, I tried to incorporate millets into the canteen menu. I did try to break dietary monotony, but I was not successful. In the last six months, we started using a very special dish — bajra vada — which has become popular among children. Ragi dosa has also been introduced; however, millet biscuits are not catching up, as they are not very palatable,” Prabhakar said. Sharing the positive effects of millets on his life and to encourage millet consumption among the youth, former Indian cricketer and commentator Murali Kartik said, "At the age of 48, I feel very energetic and have no problems today, unlike a few years ago. This is due to my dietary choices and lifestyle. We are what we eat." He said it was important to be aware of health needs and advocated a vegetarian diet.

In the second session, titled 'Global Expansion of the Superfood of India,' former Indian diplomat and president of the Institute of Global Studies Ashok Sajjanhar led the discussions on policy coherence and international alliances to expand millet markets. Dr Tara Satyavati, director, Indian Institute of Millets, underscored the economic benefits represented by the cultivation of various millet types.

‘I wanted to turn a situationship into a relationship but she didn’t’

To help readers cope with their anxieties in these stressful times, TOI has launched Talk it Out, a series in which expert counsellors answer your mental health queries. This week’s advice is from psychologist Vikram Kirtikar

■ I was in a situationship with an office colleague for almost six months. We had agreed that we don’t want anything serious. But now, I have fallen in love with her. When I told her that, she said she doesn’t want any relationship and still hopes for her ex to return. However, I feel she’s close with another guy in the office. It’s been a month but I can’t forget her. It hurts me whenever I see her with another guy. We see each other in the office daily, so it’s more difficult to move on. Please advise.

— Anonymous

Love that is not reciprocated can seem difficult to deal with. Having to interact with the other person at work daily can make it even more difficult. Seeing them being close with others doesn’t help either. We cannot control or change what others think or decide. Accepting this helps us shift focus to prioritise ourselves. Being patient with yourself to deal with the hurt can be helpful. Talking about your feelings with close friends and family provides a listening ear. Create boundaries, and keep communication limited to professional work. It may cause distress but will be helpful in the long run for you. Disconnecting from social media with the person will be good for your mental health. Seeking professional help from a psychologist can help you deal with the hurt and loss.

■ My seven-year-old granddaughter is stubborn and starts crying if she doesn’t get what she wishes. She is spoiling her health by weeping loudly, though she is intelligent and good in school extracurricular activities. What can I do to keep her behaviour normal?

— Anonymous

It seems your granddaughter has learnt a way of communicating what she wants, when she wants. Your compliance to this behaviour may have reinforced its effectiveness in her mind. In simple words, we call it throwing a tantrum to get one’s way. The key is to comply with wants only when they are asked in a manner desired by you and are reasonable according to you. Being firm and not aggressive while communicating verbally that the demand will not be complied to if the tantrum continues will set the tone for her. She will unlearn the tantrum behaviour and learn a more desirable way of commu- nicating when she wants something. Consistency and repetition in complying only when the desired behaviour is displayed will help reinforce the new behaviour. You can always seek guidance from a psychologist to implement this. Consistency is the key.

■ I’m a depressed 57-year-old man married to a domineering, narcissistic and toxic woman for 19 years. She doesn’t work but tries to control me and my two kids. As I maintain a dignified silence, she conveniently spreads a false narrative about me and projects herself as the victim. She stayed away for eight years, then sent my son to live with me. After three years, she also came with my daughter and became dependent on me. She doesn’t contribute financially, and all my savings are being drained out. She confuses and threatens me with her unclear divorce ideas. I am clueless about her sinister designs. What can I do?

— Anonymous

Having to deal with a person’s difficult behaviour can be a distressing experience. But I also see that you have been dealing with it for several years which shows that you are resilient. It helps in understanding that the other person’s behaviour is not within our control. It never was and it never will be. Having said that, how we respond to the situations that result from the other person’s behaviour is what we have complete control over. Responding to the demands of the different situations, one at a time, may help us feel less burdened. Couple counselling may help in creating a safe and moderated space where the knots in the relationship can be untangled in a structured manner. Individual counselling may help you express yourself and take care of your mental health.

DME, EPE tolls to go up by 5% from Mon

According to NHAI officers, the revised rates were to come into effect from April 1 but were delayed due to the Lok Sabha election

Abhijay.Jha@timesgroup.com

Ghaziabad: Road trips via the DelhiMeerut Expressway and Eastern Peripheral Expressway will become costlier from Monday with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) set to revise its toll tax rates by 5%.

After the revision, four-wheelers or light vehicles will have to pay a toll between Rs 45 and Rs 160, while heavy ones have to shell out anything between Rs 40 and Rs 250, depending on the distance covered. Currently, the NHAI charges a toll of Rs 2.19 per km on the 135 km-long expressway.

According to NHAI officers, the revised rates were to come into effect from April 1 but were delayed due to the Lok Sabha election.

Following the revision, cars, jeeps, vans and other light vehicles will have to pay Rs 160 against Rs 155 for a one-way trip from Sarai kale Khan to Kashipur toll plaza near Meerut, covering a distance of 82 km. Minibuses, light commercial and goods vehicles have to pay Rs 250 for the same distance.

Between Meerut and Indirapuram, the revised rates will be Rs 110 for light vehicles and Rs 175 for heavy vehicles. From Meerut till Dundahera, the new rate for light vehicles is Rs 85 and for heavy ones Rs 140, till Dasna it is Rs 70 and Rs 115 respectively.

From Meerut to Rasulpur, fourwheelers have to pay Rs 55 and vehicles with more axle Rs 85. Till Bhojpur, the new rates will be Rs 45 and Rs 40, respectively.

The NHAI has implemented “closed tolling” on the access-controlled DME, which has seven toll plazas — Sarai Kale Khan, Indirapuram, Dundahera, Dasna, Rasoolpur Sikrod, Bhojpur and Kashi, which necessitates all exits to be equipped with FASTag. Cameras installed at all exits calculate the distance travelled by any vehicle to work in combination with the tag readers.

SC to hear on June 3 Delhi plea on water share

New Delhi: Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a Delhi govt plea seeking a direction to Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the national capital to mitigate its ongoing water crisis. As per the cause list of the apex court, a vacation bench of Justices P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan is likely to hear the matter.

The plea filed by Delhi's wa- ter minister Atishi has made the Centre, the BJP-governed Haryana and the Congress-run Himachal Pradesh parties to the petition, saying that access to water is essential for survival and a basic human right.

“Access to water is one of the basic human rights of an individual. Not only is water essential for sustenance, but access to water also forms an essential component of the gu- a rantee of dignity and a quality of life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution,” the plea said.

“The current water crisis, which may only get worse given peak summers and ongoing water shortage, violates the right to a dignified and quality life of the people of the NCT of Delhi, who are unable to access even adequate clean drinking water,” it added.

PTI

IGI handbag bomb threat a hoax call

A woman called up DIAL security staff to tell them that her husband was carrying a bomb in his bag

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: There was a bomb scare on a VaranasiDelhi flight at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Saturday.

Police received an information at 5.38 pm that a female caller has telephonically informed DIAL security staff that her husband, arriving on a Delhi-bound IndiGo flight, was carrying a bomb in his handbag, a senior police officer said.

Airport sources said flight was shifted to isolation bay and thorough search was conducted.

"Accordingly, following standard security protocols, a thorough inspection was conducted and nothing suspicious was found. Legal action has been initiated in the matter," said Usha Rangnani, DCP (IGIA).

During the questioning, the passenger concerned from Meerut, Vimal Kumar (42), said that his wife is not mentally stable and saw some news regarding a bomb on an aircraft 4-5 days ago, which is why she made the call, the DCP said.

An IndiGo spokesperson said, "IndiGo flight 6E 2232 operating from Varanasi to Delhi had received a bomb threat. Upon landing in Delhi, the aircraft was taken to an isolation bay as per securi- ty agency’s guidelines and the crew followed all standard operating procedures. All passengers have safely disembarked, and the aircraft is currently undergoing inspection. Post completion of all security checks, the aircraft will be positioned back in the terminal area."

This is not the first time that such an incident has happened. A paper reading "bomb blast @5.30" found in an aircraft's lavatory had created chaos at IGI Airport on Tuesday morning, leading to the evacuation of all 176 passengers through emergency exits.

On May 16, a similar tissue paper saying "bomb" was found in the lavatory of Air India flight from Delhi to Vadodara at IGI Airport and all passengers were safely de-boarded. However, nothing suspicious was found after checking.

On Feb 27, a bomb threat was received for a Delhi Kolkata flight, but the threat later turned out to be a hoax. The flight finally departed after a delay of six-and-a-half-hour.

Gzb meat factory owner, 3 managers & wife held for hiring trafficked kids

Avishek.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Ghaziabad: The owner of a meat processing and exporting unit in Dasna, his wife and three managers were arrested on Saturday for allegedly hiring children trafficked from villages of Bengal and Bihar at its abattoir.

A total of 55 workers, including 22 minors, involved in slicing meat or packaging and weighing processes were rescued from International Agro Foods in a joint operation by police, the non-profit Mission Mukti Foundation and officials of the National Commis- sion for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on May 29.

The case came to light after a 17-year-old girl, who was brought from her hometown in West Bengal to NCR on the promise of marriage, was rescued by Mission Mukti Foundation in April. She had told the NGO that more children were working at the factory.

Yaseen Qureshi, the owner of Agro Foods, his wife Tasleen, who is one of the directors of the company, and general managers Aarif, Manjoor Hasan, and Hasan Ali were picked up from the Dasna factory on Saturday. They have been booked under sections of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, and for human trafficking after a complaint was submitted by the district child protection officer Jitendra Kumar at the Masuri police station.

Police are now tracing the labour contractors who brought the minors to the factory promising good pay.

DCP (rural) Vivek Yadav told TOI they recovered 40 Aadhaar cards and other documents from the factory which showed at least 20 of the rescued were minors, the youngest of them just 13 years old.

“Documents of the 15 others rescued were missing so they were sent for medical tests to determine their age. Reports show two of them are below 17 years,” Yadav said.

According to cops, the children were paid anything between Rs 8,000 and Rs 12,000 a month, nearly half of what adult labourers get for jobs in abattoirs.

“The factory mainly hired minors as it was cheap labour. They paid labour contractors between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 per child,” the DCP said.

The children worked in two shifts and were engaged in hazardous jobs, such as skinning animals and slicing meat. Some were also involved in packaging and weighing meat products.

TOI earlier reported that the rescued minors and other youngsters were accommodated at a ‘hostel’ inside the factory’s abattoir.

“Their living conditions were appalling. The hostel had no fans or beds, just 25 mattresses for all of them to sleep on. They were prohibited from leaving the slaughterhouse without permission. If someone wished to go outside the company for shopping or other purposes, they had to seek permission from one of the managers. The maximum allotted time for such outings was limited to 5 hours,” a senior officer said. A security guard, stationed inside the factory, would monitor the minors when they retired after the day’s work, police said.

On 161st anniversary, civic body returns to Town Hall with a walk

The first meeting of MCD, then called Delhi Municipality, was held on June 1, 1863

Siddhanta.Mishra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: On the 161st anniversary of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, a heritage walk was organised at the Town Hall building in old Delhi, where the civic body’s journey began. The building, originally the Delhi Institute, was constructed between 1861 and 1866 after Delhi was transferred from the NorthWestern Provinces to the province of Punja b in 1858.

The first meeting of MCD, then called the Delhi Municipality, was held on June 1, 1863, and was chaired by the body’s inaugural commissioner, WG Hamilton. Before the Delhi Institutew as built, the site was already a significant landmark known as Karwan Sarai, a traveller's rest built by one of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's daughters.

The Town Hall complex, located towards the end of the main road in Chandni Chowk, consists of the municipality hall for official gatherings, a darbar hall for social functions and meetings and the east and north wings that housed various offices.

Sanjiv Kumar Singh, executive engineer in MCD's heritage cell, said, "The original records show that the Delhi Institute building was constructed with provincial funds of Rs 30,000 as subscription from Indian citizens. In 1866, Delhi Municipality, through a special effort, bought the building for Rs 1,35,475. The initial thought was for a higher learning institute, public library, club and a town h all to discuss matters related to the city’s development."

In the first year of the municipal body, a system for registering births and deaths was introduced and several public projects were undertaken, such as repairing unpaved roads, repairing of drains and sewers and the opening of a branch dispensary in Sadar Bazar with an Indian hakim for those who preferred native doctors. A bronze statue of Queen Vic- toria, which was moved to Delhi University's North Campus after Independence, stood at the main entrance of Town Hall. Delhi Municipality’s revenue for 1863, Jan to Dec, was Rs 98,276.

Delhi Municipality was renamed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in 1958, and PR Nayak was appointed as its commissioner. Town Hall has hosted several notable public figures, including Prince Albert Victor of Britain, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussain, former US President Richard Nixon and Tibetan leader Dalai Lama.

However, as time passed, this Victorian architectural gem, rich in history, fell into disrepair following MCD relocating its headquarters to Civic Centre, a modern building on Minto Road. The main entrance has been shuttered due to the fear of encroachment and MCD has installed pike railings to protect the heritage building. Despite several attempts to revamp the building, the iconic structure has continued to deteriorate. Singh said, "The restoration of Town Hall and adjoining buildings and parks have been planned. We will do this in phases."

Sonipat fire: Another death takes toll to 4

Gurgaon: The president of the local manufacturers’ association, who tried to save workers trapped inside a Sonipat rubber factory after a fire broke out on Tuesday, succumbed to his injuries at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital early on Saturday. Rakesh Devgan, who headed the Rai Industrial Area Manufacturing Association, is the fourth person to have died in the factory fire.

A blaze erupted at the factory of Sanwariya Exports around 3.45pm on Tuesday. As workers and officials attempted to bring the flames under control, others rushed to their rescue. The fire, meanwhile, spread to the area where gas cylinders and chemicals were stored, triggering a series of explosions. Fire spread up to a 100ft radius, also injuring passersby and workers in an adjacent factory.

A three-member team, led by Sonipat SDM Amit Kumar, is investigating the incident.

TNN

Man held 3 yrs after jumping parole

POLICE SAY He absconded after the murders but returned to Delhi after 18 months and began driving an autorickshaw for a living

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Three years after jumping parole for murdering his sister’s in-laws, a 43-year-old man was arrested in Yamuna Vihar. Motivated by rage over h is sister’s love marriage, he also critically injured her in the attack. The case dates back to March 27, 2006.

According to the complaint filed by Imran, Dilshad, along with his accomplices, shot his brother and mother. They also inflicted serious injuries on his sister by stabbing her neck with an iron rod. Police believe caste difference and a desire to preserve his reputation were Dilshad’s motives for the crime.

Acting on a tip, officers located Dilshad living in Yamuna Vihar and driving an autorickshaw. A raid on his residence led to his arrest. “He absconded after the murders but returned to Delhi after 18 months and began driving an autorickshaw for a living,” police said.

Dilshad’s own account reveals he was enraged by his sister’s love marriage. He, along with his family and friends, attacked the couple’s home on the aforementioned date. Dilshad was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he was paroled in March 2021 with a mandatory return date of April 6, 2021. He failed to return and became a fugitive. Dilshad did not use mobile phones to avoid getting arrested.

Dance Of Democracy

- Exit polls: India’s vote set to rock INDIA’s boat

- In U-turn, Cong joins TV debates to ‘expose BJP’

- An election at world’s highest polling station

- Violence in Sandeshkhali mars polling in Bengal

- EC asks for action against Uddhav for poll day meet

- PRAYING FOR PROSPERITY FOR ALL

- Stay in WB, Odisha beyond June 4: EC to security forces

- Arunachal assembly results today, BJP starts with 10 seats unopposed

- ‘I feel divine energy’: PM wraps up 45-hr meditation at Kanyakumari

Exit polls: India’s vote set to rock INDIA’s boat

Maha local polls differ from those done at all-India level

A woman poses with a cutout of PM Modi after casting her vote during the last phase of polls in Varanasi on Saturday

Prafulla Marpakwar, Clara Lewis & Chaitanya Marpakwar TNN

Mumbai: Exit polls on Saturday predicted that the BJP-led NDA, despite the split in Shiv Sena and NCP and aligning with Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, will not touch the tally of 41 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra that it won in 2019. However, the exit polls for Maharashtra stand divided on the number of seats the governing Mahayuti will win as against MVA. While exit polls from regional media channels predicted a higher number of seats for MVA, those from the national media predicted that Mahayuti would do better than MVA.

Regional channels predicted Mahayuti would win 22-23 seats compared to MVA bagging 24-26. The prediction for BJP is 13-18, Shinde Sena 4-6, Ajit Pawar’s NCP 0-2, Thackeray Sena 9-14, Congress 3-8, NCP (SP) 4-6, and Independents 1. National polls, meanwhile, predicted Mahayuti would bag 30-35 seats, and MVA 15-18 seats.

BJP Mumbai unit president Ashish Shelar said he “principally does not comment on exit polls” but “for Mumbai I am confident we shall win all six seats and I am sure it could be 4-2 seats.”

Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP rejected the outcome of the exit polls on the grounds it was unrealistic.“We are sure the INDIA bloc will win at least 300 seats at the national level and more than 30 seats in Maharashtra. People of Maharashtra have faith in MVA leaders, and under such circumstances, we expect MVA will cross the 30 mark in Maharashtra,” Congress’ Nana Patole told TOI.

NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said, “It appears the exit polls are unrealistic as we are expecting MVA will win at least 35 seats.”

In U-turn, Cong joins TV debates to ‘expose BJP’

Voters cross the Ganga after exercising their franchise, in Patna on Saturday

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Some leaders in the opposition parties meeting at Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence are learnt to have argued that Congress boycott of exit polls would send a wrong message, which resulted in the party reversing its decision a day after it announced it would not participate in the discussions on exit polls.

Sources said JMM leader Kalpana Soren made the argument, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is said to have agreed with her.

In a volte-face, Congress on Saturday went back on its decision to stay away from TV debates on exit polls and attributed its back pedalling to the desire to “expose BJP and its ecosystem on the pre-fixed exit polls”.

“INDIA parties met and after considering factors for and against participating in the debates, it has been decided by consensus that all INDIA parties will participate in the exit poll debates on television," Con- gress spokesman Pawan Khera said.

After the meeting with INDIA bloc members, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the reason for deciding to participate in exit poll debates was to counter the narrative of BJP and its supporters and present the truth before people so that they did not get confused.

We believe in people’s poll, not exit polls: TMC

Rejecting the exit poll predictions regarding the 42 LS seats in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress Saturday said it believed in people’s mandate. Most of the polls predicted BJP would get more seats than TMC in the state.

“Most of the exit polls predicted a victory for BJP in the 2021 assembly elections. We all know what the actual results were — TMC won a two-thirds majority. TMC will win more than 30 LS seats in the state,” TMC’s Santanu Sen claimed.

PTI

An election at world’s highest polling station

Women celebrate after voting at Tashigang, a tiny village at an altitude of 15,256 feet. The polling station in HP’s Lahaul and Spiti district serves 62 voters from Tashigang and Gete

Tashigang: Prem Lal arrived early at the sub-divisional magistrate’s office last Thursday, the icy cold and crisp morning air hinting at the challenges ahead. As one of the 29 booth-level officers deployed from Kaza to polling stations in LahaulSpiti district of Himachal Pradesh, Lal knew the next few days would be demanding. Wearing sunglasses to shield his eyes from the glaring sun, the teacher joined others in a semi-circle. The SDM, carrying a bunch of papers, called out the names of the pollbooth officers and their assignments.

It was Tashigang for Lal and his team of five others. Tashigang is a tiny village perched high in the icy Himalayas at a staggering altitude of 15,256 feet. The village holds the distinction of hosting the highest polling station in the world.

Located near the India-China border, Spiti Valley is part of the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, one of the four parliamentary constituencies in Himachal Pradesh and second largest in India.

The polling station at Tashigang served 62 voters from Tashigang and Gete. The hour-and-a-half-long jour- ney to Tashigang, located on the other side of a mountain facing the SDM’s office in Kaza, was as formidable as the landscape itself — rugged terrain, narrow winding dirt roads and unpredictable weather.

Yet, for Lal and his team, the assignment carried a sense of purpose. In a place where the harsh environment shapes every aspect of life, facilitating the democratic process was both a “duty and an honour”.

On voting day on Saturday, the polling team and voters donned traditional Chuba attire. A lunch was organised for voters. They took selfies at a selfie point set up against the backdrop of brown hills and a bright blue sky. “My vote, my right,” it said, capturing the spirit of democracy in this remote corner.

PTI

Violence in Sandeshkhali mars polling in Bengal

24, Including 4 Cops, Injured In Clashes In State, 2 Arrested

In Sandeshkhali, violence erupted late afternoon at Boyamari, as BJP accused TMC men of attacking its polling agents

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata/Sandeshkhali: Incidents of violence at several places, including Sandeshkhali, marred polling in nine south Bengal seats that voted in the seventh and final phase on Saturday.

At least 24 people, including four policemen, were injured in clashes and stone-pelting, while two people were arrested and many others detained during the day, chief electoral officer (CEO) Aariz Aftab said.

It was a turbulent start, as an EVM and VVPAT machine was thrown into a pond, even before the voting began, around 6.40 am, by some villagers at Kultali in South 24 Parganas district. An FIR was registered, but the polling was not affected, as the EVM was part of a reserved set, the CEO said.

In Jadavpur constituency, supporters of two rival parties clashed at Bhangar and crude bombs were hurled, prompting EC to seek a report. Sporadic violence and clashes between supporters and cadres of various parties in Jadavpur had started even before the elections, and additional security forces had to be rushed at a few places.

At Ganguly Bagan, a female CPM worker was injured in a scuffle, but the CEO said the allegation of rape was untrue. In Baranagar, CAPF jawans assaulted a journalist covering the elections, causing a head injury. EC has asked for a report.

In Sandeshkhali, which has been in the eye of a storm over the past several months, violence erupted late afternoon at Boyamari, as BJP accused TMC men of attacking its polling agents. They came out on the road to protest, alleging apathy of police and central forces. A clash with cops followed, with both sides allegedly pelting stones at each other, causing injuries to some women.

Police fired tear-gas shells and lathi-charged the protesters and whisked away five BJP workers.

BJP candidate Rekha Patra, who rushed to the spot, alleged that Sheikh Shahjahan’s men were terrorising BJP voters. Accusing police of taking sides, she entered into a heated argument with cops. TMC and BJP supporters also clashed at a booth at Agargati in Sandeshkhali-I.

Rest of Sandeshkhali voted in peace, with women turning up at the booths in large numbers. “All these years we were not allowed to vote. I feel elated to have cast my vote for the first time in about 12 years,” said Dipali Sardar of Karnakhali.

“This is the first time I have seen an EVM. In earlier elections, I used to return without casting my vote as it would be already done on my behalf,” said Nilima Haldar of Sarberia.

BJP candidate’s convoy attacked in Bihar, 2 hurt

BJP candidate from Pataliputra Lok Sabha seat, Ram Kripal Yadav, had a narrow escape when miscreants opened fire on his convoy on Patna-Jehanabad road in a village in Masaurhi in Bihar’s capital on Saturday evening, reports Faryal Rumi. Two of his supporters travelling with him were injured. “Nine people have been booked for pelting stones and firing at the convoy,” Patna SSP Rajiv Mishra said.

EC asks for action against Uddhav for poll day meet

Mumbai: Election Commission has asked Maharashtra’s chief electoral officer to “take appropriate action” on a complaint filed by Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shekar against Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray for holding a press conference on the day of polling in Mumbai in which he alleged that the poll panel was wrongly favouring BJP, reports Priyanka Kakodkar.

In the press meet held on May 20, Thackeray had complained about the slow pace of voting, especially in booths favouring his party, and alleged that EC was acting as “servant of BJP”. He also asked voters to note down names of electoral officials who were causing delays. Both Shelar and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had also complained to EC about the slow pace of voting in the city.

“We had complained to EC too. But Thackeray held a press conference in which he alleged that the electoral officers were influenced by BJP. This amounts to spreading falsehoods. He also threatened poll officials by asking voters to take down their names. These are violations of the code of conduct,”the Mumbai BJP chief said.

“EC has asked us to take appropriate action, so now we will be examining the matter,” an officer from the chief electoral office said.

PRAYING FOR PROSPERITY FOR ALL

Home minister Amit Shah with wife Sonal and son Jay at Somnath temple on Saturday. Shah said he wished for everyone’s prosperity while offering prayers at the jyotirlinga temple

Stay in WB, Odisha beyond June 4: EC to security forces

TIGHT VIGIL

New Delhi: To avert any post-poll violence, Election Commission has asked adequate central para-military forces to remain deployed in West Bengal and Odisha for 15 days after counting gets over on June 4, reports Bharti Jain.

EC has also issued orders to provide security forces to Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh till 48 hours after counting day.

Andhra Pradesh had reported several incidents of violence in Ananthapuramu, Palnadu, Tirupati and other districts after polling there on May 13. EC had summoned the state chief secretary and DGP to New Delhi to explain the failure of the local administration to contain the incidents. It subsequently suspended the dis- trict magistrate of Palnadu and SPs of Ananthapuramu and Palnadu and ordered the transfer of SP, Tirupati.

It was at that time that EC had asked 2,500 central para-military personnel to be retained in Andhra Pradesh after counting day.

West Bengal has witnessed several incidents of mob violence and disruptions over the seven-phase polling in the state, including looting of EVM by a mob and throwing of EVM and VVPAT in a pond in Joynagar on Saturday.

Counting will be held on June 4 for all the parliamentary constituencies as well as for the assembly polls in four states. As per the counting procedures, postal ballots must be counted first. After 30 minutes of the commencement of counting of postal ballots, counting of votes from EVMs should start. Counting of VVPAT slips from five randomly-selected polling stations per assembly segment will be taken up only after completion of counting of votes from the control units of EVMs.

In the rare event of a discrepancy between vote count from the EVM and that of VVPAT slips, the VVPAT count shall prevail.

Arunachal assembly results today, BJP starts with 10 seats unopposed

Prabin.Kalita@timesgroup.com

Guwahati: Anticipation runs high in Arunachal Pradesh as residents await the state election results slated for Sunday. The spotlight is on BJP, the governing party that has already clinched 10 seats unopposed in the 60-member assembly, giving it aheadstart on counting day.

A key factor giving BJP the advantage is the weak opposition, especially Congress, which has been plagued by internal divisions and defections. Many of its functionaries and cadres have switched allegiance to BJP, further weakening the party’s position.

BJP is likely to benefit from turncoats — politicians from other parties who have joined its fold in exchange for party tickets. This strategy has allowed BJP to consolidate its support base and attract influential local politicians, increasing its appeal among voters, according to political observers.

While the numbers seem to favour BJP, several factors could influence the final outcome and have long-term implications. The turnout, particularly among the youth and first-time voters, will be crucial in gauging public sentiment. BJP's performance in addressing local issues like infrastructure development, unemployment, and border security will be under scrutiny too.

“The opposition’s ability to regroup and present a united front in the future will also shape the state’s political landscape,” a political analyst said.

‘I feel divine energy’: PM wraps up 45-hr meditation at Kanyakumari

PM Modi at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari on Saturday

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kanyakumari: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday wrapped up his 45-hour meditation and visit to Vivekananda Rock Memorial by paying floral tributes to the statue of Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar.

After completing his meditation on Saturday afternoon at the Dhyana Mandapam where Swami Vivekananda is believed to have meditated, Modi took a ferry to the 133-foot statue of Thiruvalluvar located near the rock memorial. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman shared a message on ‘X’, written by the PM at Vivekananda Rock Memorial, which read: “Visiting the ‘Vivekananda Rock Memorial’ at Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, I feel a divine energy. It is on this rock that Mother Parvati and Swami Vivekananda had meditated. Later, Eknath Ranade transformed this rock in- to a ‘Shila Smarak’ that brought Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts to life.”

The PM further noted that Swami Vivekananda “has been my ideal, my energy, and the source of my spirituality”. “Years ago, after travelling across the country, when Swami Vivekananda meditated here, it was here that he envisioned a new direction for India’s revival. It is my fortune that today, after so many years, as India embodies the values and ideals of Swami Vivekananda, I too have had the opportunity to meditate at this sacred place,” he observed.

“My meditation at this ‘Shila Smarak’ is one of the unforgettable moments of my life. Sitting at the feet of ‘Ma Bharati’, I once again reaffirm my resolve that every moment of my life and every particle of my body will always be dedicated to the service of the nation. With wishes for the progress of the nation and the welfare of its citizens, I offer my utmost reverence to ‘Ma Bharati’,” added the PM.

At the statue of Thiruvalluvar, the PM, dressed in white, placed a floral garland. Kanyakumari SP E Sundaravathanam said that with heavy security deployed across the district and all important junctions, there were no untoward incidents and the PM’s stay went smoothly.

Times Global

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Israel pounds Gaza hours after Biden outlines ceasefire plan

War To Go On Till Hamas Destroyed: Bibi

34 HELD FOR PROTEST AT BROOKLYN MUSEUM: A pro-Palestinian protester is being detained by cops in front of the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, Friday. New York City police said Saturday that they had 34 people in custody following the protest, which reported damage to some artwork at the museum, and harassment to security staff

Israeli forces hammered Rafah in southern Gaza with tanks and artillery Saturday, hours after US President Joe Biden said Israel was offering a new roadmap towards a full ceasefire. Shortly after Biden’s announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his country would still pursue the war until it had reached all its aims.

He reiterated that position on Saturday, saying that “Israel’s conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel”.

Hamas, meanwhile, said it “views positively” the Israeli plan laid out by Biden.

In his first major address outlining a possible end to the nearly eight-month war, the US president said Israel’s three-stage offer would begin with a six-week phase that would see Israeli forces withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza. It would also see the “release of a number of hostages... in exchange for (the) release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners”.

Israel and the Palestinians would then negotiate for a lasting ceasefire — but the truce would continue so long as talks are ongoing, Biden said. He urged Hamas to accept the Israeli offer. “It’s time for this war to end, for the day after to begin,” he said. US secretary of state Antony Blinken called his counterparts from Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Friday to press the deal.

But Netanyahu took issue with Biden’s presentation of what was on the table, insis- ting on Friday the transition from one stage to the next was “conditional” and crafted to allow Israel to maintain its war aims. “The prime minister authorised the negotiating team to present an outline for achieving (the return of hostages), while insisting that the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved,” Netanyahu’s office said.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said the govt “cannot ignore Biden’s important speech” and should accept the proposed deal, vowing to back Netanyahu if his far-right coalition partners quit over it.

AFP

Critics allege mistreatment in Israel’s hosp for detainees

Jerusalem: Patients lying shackled and blindfolded on more than a dozen beds inside a white tent in the desert. Surgeries performed without adequate painkillers. Doctors who remain anonymous. These are some of the conditions at Israel’s only hospital dedicated to treating Palestinians detained by the military in the Gaza Strip, three people who have worked there said, confirming similar accounts from human rights groups. While Israel says it detains only suspected militants, many patients have turned out to be non-combatants taken during raids, held without trial and eventually returned to war-torn Gaza.

Eight months into the Israel-Hamas war, accusations of inhumane treatment at the Sde Teiman military field hospital are on the rise, and the Israeli government is under growing pressure to shut it down. The military denies the allegations of inhumane treatment and says all detainees needing medical attention receive it. The hospital is in southern Israel.

AP

Asia security priority for America, Pentagon chief tells defence meet

Singapore: US defense secretary Lloyd Austin tried to refocus attention on China’s threat in the Asia Pacific on Saturday, seeking to alleviate concerns that conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have distracted from America’s security commitments in the region. Hours after Austin spoke at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky arrived in Singapore, where he will address delegates at the security forum on Sunday.

Austin met his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the conference on Friday in a bid to cool friction over issues ranging from Taiwan to China’s military activity in the South China Sea. There has been increasing concern that Washington’s focus on helping Ukraine counter Russia and support for Israel’s war in Gaza has taken away attention from the Indo-Pacific. “Despite these historic clashes in Europe and the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific has remained our priority theatre of operations,” Austin said in his speech, which appeared aimed at underlining the administration’s legacy in the region as President Joe Biden’s first term in office nears its end.

“Let me be clear: The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure,” Austin said. “That’s why the US has long maintained our presence in this region.”

REUTERS

US is creating Asian Nato: PLA General

A general from China People’s Liberation Army slammed the US for trying to create “an Asia-Pacific version of Nato” to maintain American-led hegemony. Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng was responding to US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin who spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue about Washington’s actions in the region, including forging partnerships, which are designed to stem Beijing’s military assertiveness. Senior defense officials from around the world are attending the forum.

REUTERS

Italian minister warns against ‘rash’ moves over arms to Ukraine

PRIGOZHIN GETS A STATUE: A woman lays flowers at the grave of Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin marking his birthday at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday. The Wagner mercenary group chief had claimed that corruption was rampant within Russian military establishment, and had made a near-coup bid on Moscow before getting killed in a plane crash

Italy’s foreign minister repeated his opposition Saturday to Ukraine using Italian weapons inside Russia, warning of a “delicate” situation where “rash” moves must be avoided.

Support is growing among Nato allies for allowing Ukraine to use Western-donated weapons to strike inside Russian territory –– but Rome, a founding member of the alliance, remains opposed. “It is a very delicate moment, we must not make false steps” and must avoid “rash steps and declarations”, Antonio Tajani told a meeting in Rapallo, northwest Italy, according to the AGI and ANSA news agencies. He added that “even the US has not authorised the indiscriminate use of its weapons against Russia, but only to strike a base from where the drones depart. They too are very cautious”, AGI reported. But he repeated that “we will not send even one Italian soldier to fight in Ukraine because we are not at war with Russia”, AGI reported.

Germany said on Friday it had given Ukraine permission to fire German-delivered weapons at targets in Russia. The day before, US officials said Washington had partially lifted similar restrictions.

Russia fired a combined 100 missiles and drones at Ukraine overnight, in a barrage that targeted energy sites across the country, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.

AFP

Trump has few ways to overturn his conviction

A man sports a shirt with the faces of Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbàn (left) and Donald Trump as he participates in a peace march against the war in Ukraine, in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday

New York: “This is long from over,” Donald Trump, the former president and current felon, declared Thursday, moments after a Manhattan jury convicted him on 34 counts of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, is banking on the jury not having the final word on the case. He has already outlined a plan to appeal a verdict that Friday he labelled “a scam.”

But even if the former — and possibly future — president could persuade voters to ignore his conviction, the appellate courts might not be so sympathetic. Several legal experts cast doubt on his chances of success and noted that the case could take years to snake through the courts, all but ensuring he will still be a felon when voters head to the polls in Nov. And so, after a five-year investigation and a seven-week trial, Trump’s New York legal odyssey is only beginning.

The former president’s supporters are calling on the US Supreme Court to intervene, though that is highly unlikely. In a more likely appeal to a New York court, Trump would have avenues to attack the conviction, the experts said, but far fewer than he has claimed. The experts noted that the judge, whose rulings helped shape the case, stripped some of the prosecution’s most precarious arguments and evidence from the trial.

The appeal will be a referendum on the judge, Juan M Merchan, who steered the trial through political and legal minefields even as Trump hurled invective at him and his family. Merchan, a no-nonsense former prosecutor, said he was keenly aware “and protective of” Trump’s rights, including his right to “defend himself against political attacks.”

Mark Zauderer, a veteran New York litigator who sits on a committee that screens applicants for the same court that will hear Trump’s appeal, said that Merchan avoided pitfalls that often doom convictions. “This case has none of the usual red flags for reversal on appeal,” Zauderer said. “The judge’s demeanour was flawless.”

Even if Merchan’s rulings provide little fodder, Trump could challenge the foundation of the prosecution’s case. Trump’s lawyers note that Alvin L Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, used a novel theory to charge Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. “I certainly don’t think there has been a prosecution of falsifying business records like this one,” said Barry Kamins, a retired judge and expert on criminal procedure who teaches at Brooklyn Law School. “This is all uncharted territory, as far as an appellate issue.”

Merchan will sentence Trump on July 11, just days before he attends the Republican National Convention to be anointed as the party’s presidential nominee. The judge could sentence him to as long as to four years in prison, or impose only probation.

NYT

Trump team says it raised $52.8m in 24 hrs post verdict

Donald Trump’s campaign says it raised $52.8 million after a Manhattan jury delivered a guilty verdict in his hush-money trial. Donors contributed that sum in the 24 hours after the verdict was announced. Both Trump and President Joe Biden’s campaigns sent out fundraising solicitations after the jury Thursday found the presumptive Republican nominee guilty on all 34 counts of mishandling business records to cover up payments to an adult film actress. The $52.8 million fundraising haul is a massive sum for a single day.

BLOOMBERG

South Africa election ends 30yrs of ANC dominance

Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, at a press meet in Midrand, South Africa, on Saturday

Johannesburg: South Africans angry at joblessness, inequality and power shortages have slashed support for the African National Congress (ANC) to 40% in this week’s election, ending three decades of dominance by the party that freed the country from apartheid.

A dramatically weakened mandate for the legacy party of Nelson Mandela, down from the 57.5% it got in the previous 2019 parliamentary election, means the ANC must share power with a rival in order to keep it — an unprecedented prospect. “We can talk to everybody and anybody,” Gwede Mantashe, the ANC chair and current mines and energy minister, told reporters in comments carried by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), dodging a question about who the party was discussing a possible coalition deal with.

Vote tallying from Wed- nesday’s poll was entering its final stages on Saturday, with results from 99.53% of polling stations giving the ANC 40.21%. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), had 21.80%, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a new party led by former president Jacob Zuma, managed to grab 14.60%, while the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by former ANC youth leader Julius Malema, got 9.48%. “We have achieved our mission: ... to bring the ANC below 50%. We want to humble the ANC,” Malema told journalists at the results centre. “We are going to negotiate with the ANC” for a possible coalition deal, he said, although that would not be quite enough to clinch a majority without including another party on the current count.

The ANC has won every previous national election by a landslide since the historic 1994 vote that ended white minority rule, but over the last decade its support has dwindled as the economy stagnated, unemployment rose and roads and power stations crumbled.

MK’s strong performance, especially in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal, is one of the main reasons the ANC failed to secure a majority. Analysts say one option for the ANC could be a “government of national unity” involving a broad spectrum of many parties.

REUTERS

Largest known genome found inside a fern

Tmesipteris oblanceolata

Carl Zimmer

Last year, Jaume Pellicer led a team of fellow scientists into a forest on Grande Terre, an island east of Australia. They were in search of a fern Tmesipteris oblanceolata. Just a few inches tall, it was not easy to find on the forest floor. “It doesn’t catch the eye,” said Pellicer, who works at the Botanical Institute of Barcelona in Spain. “You would probably step on it and not even realize it.”

They eventually spotted the nondescript fern and studied it in the lab, only to discover that it held an extraordinary secret. Tmesipteris oblanceolata has the largest known genome on Earth. As the researchers described in a study published Friday, the fern’s cells contain more than 50 times as much DNA as ours do.

If you find it strange that such a humble plant has such a gigantic genome, scientists do, too. The enigma emerged in the 1950s, when biologists discovered that the double helix of DNA encodes genes. Each gene consists of a series of genetic letters, and our cells read those letters to make corresponding proteins.

Scientists assumed that humans and other complex species must make a lot of different proteins and therefore have bigger genomes. But when they weighed the DNA in different animals, they discovered they were wildly wrong. Frogs, salamanders and lungfish had far bigger genomes than humans did.

It turns out that genomes are much weirder than scientists had expected. Humans carry about 20,000 protein-coding genes, for example, but they make up only 1.5% of the 3 billion pairs of letters in our genome. Another 9% or so is made up of stretches of DNA that don’t encode proteins but still carry out important jobs. Some of them, for example, act like switches to turn neighboring genes on and off.

The other 90% of the human genome has no known function. Some scientists have an affectionate nickname for this vast quantity of mysterious DNA: junk.

Some species have little junk DNA, whereas others have staggering amounts. The African lungfish, for example, has about the same number of protein-coding genes as we do, but they are scattered in a giant genome that totals 40 billion pairs of DNA letters — 13 times as much DNA as our own genome holds.

Pellicer and his colleagues suspect that a combination of virus-like DNA and duplicated genomes is responsible for the huge amount of genetic material in Tmesipteris oblanceolata. But they don’t know why this humble fern ended up with a record-setting genome while other species — like us — have so much less DNA.

NYT

11 crypto exchanges in HK to get licences soon

Hong Kong’s securities regulator said 11 cryptocurrency exchanges are a step closer to obtaining licences, one year after rolling out a digital-asset rulebook to try and foster a hub for the industry.

Applicants including Crypto.com and Bullish are “deemed to be licensed,” the Securities & Futures Commission’s website showed Saturday. Those venues are among platforms on the list with notable trading volumes globally. Prominent digital-asset outfits such as OKX and Bybit, which regularly command big chunks of activity, withdrew bids for permits.

Binance Holdings, the world’s largest exchange, didn’t apply, nor did the top US platform Coinbase Global or Kraken, another popular venue. Hong Kong set a June 1 deadline for crypto exchanges to be either licensed or deemed to be so. Firms at a minimum must fall in the latter category to operate in the city and market services to local investors, and will receive actual permits once the SFC is satisfied about compliance.

Officials pivoted toward fostering a virtual-asset hub in late 2022, part of an effort to repair Hong Kong’s image as a financial centre after a crackdown on dissent sent a chill through global companies as well as expatriate staff. Hong Kong is vying with the likes of Dubai and Singapore to be a digital-asset center and whether the city will succeed is an open question.

BLOOMBERG

EU elections litmus test for Europe climate action plan

The challenge for the next European Commission will be to find more funding for the Green Deal amid growing pressures

The world’s most ambitious climate plan has become a major political liability. Public support for the European Union’s Green Deal, aimed at eliminating carbon emissions by 2050, is under threat as an energy crisis hits voters’ wallets. A flood of incentives for clean technologies unleashed by the US and China has also stoked concerns that Europe’s sticks-over-carrots approach will make it less competitive.

The extent of the damage will be made clear when citizens vote in parliamentary elections from June 6 to June 9. In their campaigns, leading mainstream candidates have shifted from framing the climate action as a way for Europe to lead globally to focusing on how they’ll protect domestic industries and limit the cost to households. Meanwhile, discontent over everything from boiler bans to sustainable farming directives has helped climate-skeptic rightwing parties gain support.

“Many people feel the democratic parties have failed to find credible solutions to their daily problems and they view the climate transition as a financial burden,” said Dirk Messner, president of Germany’s Environment Agency.

While polls show that a coalition of mainstream parties is forecast to retain a majority in the EU Parliament for its next five-year term, the gravity is shifting to the right. Farright groups are set to increase their number of seats.

The challenge for the next European Commission, which will be formed after the vote, and the 27 member states, will be to find more funding for the Green Deal even as other pressures mount. Many member states want to boost defence spending amid a worsening geopolitical environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It’s a dilemma with no easy solution. Economic growth is sluggish, inflation is sticky and government budgets are strained just as the EU approaches the hardest stretch of its net-zero campaign. The bloc had barely started including the agriculture sector in its green regulations when it was forced to soften the policies after farmers blocked highways and dumped manure in the streets.

In 2027, it’s set to launch a new carbon market to cut pollution from heating and road transport fuels — a move that will impact consumers. By 2035, all new passenger cars will need to be emissions-free, effectively putting an end to the internal combustion engine. “There’s a perfect storm brewing,” said Simone Tagliapietra, senior researcher at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. Those measures will hit consumers just as the EU reduces green grants.

The backlash has oversha- dowed the achievements of the Green Deal. The EU managed to overcome national differences and adopt a massive package of measures to reach a tougher emissions reduction goal of least 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels. Pollution dropped 32.5% from 1990 to 2022, even as the economy grew by 67%. Even so, the bloc will need to accelerate its deployment of renewable energy, climate-friendly infrastructure and clean technologies to meet its targets. By the EU’s own estimates, the continent needs to invest about ¤1.5 trillion per year in its energy and transport systems to reach net zero. BLOOMBERG

AROUND THE WORLD

DRIVERLESS CARS ARE THE NEW MUST-DO IN SFO: A tourist checks out a self-driving car from Waymo in San Francisco. Cable cars are still trundling up the city’s hills, but the robotaxis from Waymo are shaping up as the city’s latest must-do for visitors. Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles, have been driving the streets of San Francisco in some form since 2009 and have been operating commercially since August. Conversations abound on Reddit and the social platform X, with visitors seeking advice on how to secure a ride while in San Francisco, or be well positioned to spot a driverless car on the go. While AV companies such as Cruise and Zoox have proliferated in recent years, Waymo, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, is currently the only company offering rides to the public in San Francisco. NYT

Activist arrested for attacking Monet painting

A climate activist was arrested on Saturday for sticking an adhesive poster on a Monet painting at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris to draw attention to global warming, a police source told AFP. The action by the woman, a member of ‘Riposte Alimentaire’ (Food Response) –– a group of environmental activists and defenders of sustainable food production –– is the latest in a string of protests aimed at drawing attention to global warming by defacing art. In a video on X, the woman –– introducing herself as a “concerned citizen” –– is seen placing a blood-red poster over the ‘Coquelicots’ (Poppy Field) painting by Claude Monet, a French Impressionist artist.

Thames Water faces $51 million fine: UK water supplier Thames Water faces a fine of more than $51 million for breaching rules on dividend payments, Sky reported, citing a source at the firm. Industry regulator Ofwat levied the fine over dividends that were paid despite the company’s poor performance.

Indonesia’s Mount Ibu erupts: A volcano in eastern Indonesian island Halmahera erupted on Saturday spewing a 5km-high ash cloud, the country’s volcanology agency PVMBG said. The disaster agency warned of potential flash floods and cold lava flow.

4 Pak soldiers killed in blast in Khyber region

Peshawar: At least four Pakistan Army soldiers were killed while three others were injured in an IED blast in the country’s restive northwest region, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred late Friday evening when the security forces were on patrolling duty in Sra Bangla and Tarkhanan area of the country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The injured were immediately shifted to hospital and admitted, said police. A search is on to trace the fleeing culprits involved in the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast yet.

PTI

Starliner launch scrubbed 4 mins before liftoff

Ground control teams dramatically called off the first crewed launch of Boeing’s Starliner spaceship Saturday with just under four minutes left on the launch countdown clock, for reasons that are not year clear. It was the latest setback for the troubled program, which has faced years of delays and safety scares. A previous launch attempt was cancelled on May 6. Nasa astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were seen exchanging thumbs-up signs and waves with their families before boarding a van for the journey to the launch pad.

AFP

Musk sued for ‘insider trading’

A Tesla shareholder filed a lawsuit on Thursday accusing CEO Elon Musk of insider trading when he sold over $7.5 billion of shares of the electric car maker in late 2022, saying the billionaire entrepreneur sold the shares before potentially disappointing production and delivery numbers were made public. Shareholder Michael Perry, in the lawsuit filed in Delaware Chancery Court, claimed that Musk “improperly benefited” by $3 billion in insider profits.

REUTERS

Houthis sentence 44 people to death

Cairo: A court run by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saturday sentenced 44 people to death, including a businessman working with aid groups, on spying charges, a defence lawyer said. The 44 were among 49 people who were detained by the Iran-backed rebels and accused of “collaborating with the enemy,” a reference to the Saudi-led coalition that has been at war with Houthis since 2015.

AP

Times Special

- Memories, metaphors and mutton qorma

- And the winner is? From Sangam to satta, how India predicts an election

- Heard of haramzada? Aam-azing efforts to bring rare mangoes back

- Hello and welcome to TOI’s monthly roundup on gender, politics and culture. In a world where men still run most of the gigs and hog the mics, here’s where we say it like we see it

- The Kernel Of Limitless Joy

- Mayday: Doon sizzles at 43.2°C, hottest day of month in 157 yrs

- Poll officer, elderly voter among victims of heatwave in Odisha

- SIT hunts for Prajwal’s mom in survivor-abduction case

Memories, metaphors and mutton qorma

Childhood preferences are often heavily influenced by parental opinions. My daughter rejects vegetables, not because she has evaluated them all, but because the note of anxiety in my voice made her infer that veggies were things kids are not supposed to like

Abhijit Banerjee

TASTING ECONOMICS

Meal times are strange times. In our memories, they are often hallowed, a time of comfort and community. Your mother leaning over you, her face lit with love, dropping a dollop of homemade ghee on the steaming rice. Your father in his usual seat, face slightly closed but eyes sparkling like always when he had a great story to relate. The sweet steam from the hot gobindo bhog rice wraps you all.

That’s how our brains often curate our memories. But when I try just a little bit harder, I can also remember the family dinner at my aunt’s house where her motherin-law didn’t show up. Food was served for her, but she was conspicuously missing from the seat from which she dominated the life of the family. A servant was sent up to investigate. She will not eat, she said. Not in a house where she was not respected.

I never found out who was to blame or what happened; I was too little to be part of the whispers around the table, but the fact that my aunt was the next to leave was probably not unrelated. We Indians fast for many reasons, but, perhaps for that reason, the act of refusing food remains very potent. So much so that in JNU, there was something called relay hunger strike. We would sit around for a few hours at the protest site, not eating, and then would be relieved by someone else, free to fill up again. When I explained that idea to my American radical friends, I remember one of them almost falling off his chair in laughter.

But back to submerged memories. Some of you probably can recall the day when you had prepared the mutton qorma with infinite care, the onions fried with cardamoms till deeply red but not yet crisp, turned into paste to be added to the sauce a few minutes before the dish was done, along with a few drops of kewra. Exactly how your daughter always loved it; but that day, with tears in her eyes but firmness in her voice, she said, “Ma, I am not going to eat meat any more”. Maybe you ate it alone, remembering that other day, some years before, when the same daughter refused to eat any vegetables and insisted on eating plain rice with what looked like a shovel full of salt.

Meal times can be war time. Bengali movies and theater rely heavily on the dramatic potential of meal times. The husband is back late, drunk and smelling of his evening with some lady of the night. The waiting wife immediately understands what has happened, quietly serves him his meal and then sits down with her thali, but does not touch it: the question is, has he noticed? Formal dining scenes are, of course, also heavily used in the films of the great Spanish-Mexican filmmaker Luis Bunuel, who loved their ritualised quality, and as a climax in many happy and sad dramas, like that strange Danish film, ‘Babette’s Feast’.

For economists, on the other hand, meal times are teaching times. These are less about the drama and more a metaphor for the slow and repetitive process through which families shape the preferences of their children, including but not just the preference for food. There is obviously a lot of truth to this. I suspect there is nothing intrinsic about my love of bitter dishes, baingan with neem leaves, crisp fried karela rings dusted with aamchur, the wonderful Bengali vegetable stew shukto, flavoured with panchphoran and that perhaps uniquely Bengali spice called radhuni (a cousin of ajwain?) and a paste made from poppy seeds and mustard seeds. I suspect it was born of the routine of starting every meal with them, combined with occasional talk about how this was uniquely Bengali, plus some learned comments about the virtues of bitter foods in stimulating the liver. I also remember less successful attempts, trying to persuade my daughter that fruits are safe to eat even when they are not pureed and put into a plastic package.

This matters a lot to economists because economic methodology relies heavily on the act of choice. At a philosophical level, we often measure well-being by the things we purchase. At a more practical level, economists are often asked by courts to estimate the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL), which is meant to be the just compensation for lives lost due to negligence, say by large private companies or the government. One common way to do this is to compare the earnings of those who have less and more risky jobs — like garbage men and farmers on one side, and miners and truck-drivers on the other — and calculate how much more, say, the miner gets paid for the extra life risk he bears. This, it is argued, ‘reveals’ the person’s preferences over money and risk, to use the rather biblical vocabulary introduced by my late colleague Paul Samuelson.

The underlying assumption here is that there is something innate and authentic that gets expressed in the choices we observe, somehow deeper than the sudden desire inspired by a billboard featuring a particularly luscious spoonful of ice cream. Hence, the emphasis on the theory that preferences are formed in childhood (or live inside our genes).

However, it is not clear to me that most things we learn at the dinner table (or more generally by being with our parents) are deep in the sense that economists would like it, essential to who we are as individuals. I, for example, grew up avoiding vanilla ice cream. This was because my dad really did not like vanilla, the result of his having worked in a Walls factory in his student days in London where there was a pervasive and permanent miasma of synthetic vanilla. He told that story often and well, and somehow that discouraged me. But on a trip to Italy, I decided to try affogato, a version of cold coffee with ice cream where the coffee is strong espresso and the ice cream was a wonderfully dense vanilla gelato, and totally loved it and have since been a devotee to both the ice cream and the combo. I was also suspicious of chicken, largely because my mother never liked it much. But I now count roast chicken, chicken butter masala and Hainanese chicken rice in the list of my favourite foods.

The point is that childhood preferences are often just that, childhood preferences, heavily influenced by parental opinions, positively or otherwise. My daughter rejects all vegetables not because she has evaluated all of them and decided that she could not possibly need or want any of their attributes, but because she heard that note of anxiety in my voice when they were proposed to her and inferred that vegetables were things kids are not supposed to like. The idea that we should all be respectful of what people want because it comes from those magic mealtimes seems to me a little fanciful (which is also why I continue to try to persuade my daughter). If there is a case for not interfering with people’s choices, even when they make little sense to us (‘why did she buy a TV with her savings and not a sewing machine?’), which I think there is, it should be based on how little we understand about the compulsions others face, rather than a judgment about how deeply thought out the preferences are.

With the Value of Life calculations, there is an additional problem: meal times are meant to be relaxed times (even if they often are not), a brief respite from the tensions of the day. They are naturally times for what is exciting and heroic, funny and stupid. I suspect very few farmers or miners spend their dinner-time on objective comparisons of risk and return associated with their two professions. While meal times may very well have a powerful influence on our lives, I suspect, paradoxically, it is precisely in the direction of propagating powerful myths and great stories, potentially away from economic rationality.

This is part of a monthly column by Nobel-winning economist Abhijit Banerjee illustrated by Cheyenne Olivier.

MUTTON QORMA RECIPE

This is my favourite recipe for Mutton Qorma, inspired by a recipe in Sameen Rushdie’s book (Sameen is Salman’s sister).

Thinly slice 400 gm of onions, and fry them in 4 tbsp oil in a large heavy-bottomed pan till they start turning a deep red. Fish them out of the oil and set the fried onions to dry on paper towels. Fry 4 black cardamom pods and 6 green cardamom pods in the same oil for 1 minute at medium low and remove into a mortar and pestle. Now, add 2 tbsp ghee to the pot, raise heat to medium high and add 750gm lamb or goat cut into small botis, fry till the meat changes colour, add 1.5 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste and fry for a minute. Then add 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp turmeric, ½ tsp chili powder, ½ tsp Kashmiri mirch and 1 tbsp ground turmeric and fry for another minute. Add 250 gm yogurt that has been blended with 12 fresh cashews, reduce heat and cover.

Cook at medium low till the meat is tender. Crush the cardamoms with your pestle and throw out as much of the outer skins as you can. Add them with the fried onions to a food processor and pulse for a minute so that the onions are chopped but not a paste. Stir it into the sauce, and let simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat, dribble some saffron water over it, if you have it, and cover.

And the winner is? From Sangam to satta, how India predicts an election

Like bellwether seats, there are bellwether politicians. Both ‘mausam vigyanik’ Ram Vilas Paswan and PMK’s S Ramadoss had the uncanny knack of picking the winning side

Himanshi Dhawan, Ajay Singh Ugras & Rajiv Mani | TNN

Pilgrims at Allahabad’s Sangam, bellwether states, the uttar-chadhav (highs and lows) of the satta bazaar, onion prices, parrots who predict winners, crowds at a rally…these are just some of the endless ways that we try to read an election for an answer to that tantalising question: Who is winning? The answer will be revealed on June 4, but patience has never been our strong suit.

Bastian Steuwer, assistant professor of political science at Ashoka University, says the obsession with politics, especially the results, drives people to look for signs over science. “The most reliable method would be scientifically done sample surveys, but these are a huge and expensive exercise. Opinion polls are there but these often contradict each other, leading people to grasp at straws.”

The straws are even more unreliable. Asim Ali, researcher at the Centre for Policy Research, says informal mechanisms, such as gauging a seat by how many people turn up for a rally or satta bazaar wagers, have proved to be unreliable. “In India, besides the economy, there are factors like caste, religion which make it hard to call an election,” he says. Mukulika Banerjee, anthropology professor at LSE and author of ‘Why India Votes?’, says elections are like cricket matches in India and people want to bet on the winner. “When you have a long drawn out election, there is impatience to know the results. As exit polls are not allowed in India, decoding every potential sign is what people rely on,” she says.

Political scientist Philip Oldenburg has long held that it is a group of elites that included knowledgeable people and local politicians who would create the ‘chunavi mahaul’ and that would filter down to ordinary people. TOI examines what other factors predict the ‘hawa’:

BELLWETHER SEATS

These are constituencies that have consistently elected MPs whose party has formed the government at the centre.

Clallam County in Washington state has voted for the winning nominee in 11 US elections since 1980. Dartmouth in the UK has been getting it right since 1964, and in India, Gujarat’s Valsad has a similar reputation since Independence.

In 1998, BJP’s Manibhai Chaudhary won in Valsad, a reserved seat, and his party went on to form the government at the centre. When the Vajpayee-led BJP was up for re-election in 1999, Chaudhary repeated the feat, and NDA went on to form the government again. In 2004, Kishan Bhai Patel of Congress won and Congress-led UPA pulled off an unexpected victory. Not surprisingly, Patel won in 2009 as well. In 2014, BJP won the seat, and has held on to it in the subsequent election.

Like bellwether constituencies, there are bellwether politicians and parties as well. Described as the ‘mausam vigyanik’ or weathervane of Indian politics, Ram Vilas Paswan of Lok Janshakti Party had the uncanny knack of picking the winning side. PMK’s S Rama- doss and son Anbumani were equally inspired with their selection of alliances. Since 1998, PMK has won four out of six general elections in Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu. “It also has to do with S Ramadoss’s selection of allies who have a winnable chance to form the government,” says Kolathur Mani, president of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, from Mettur in Dharmapuri. For instance, PMK candidate K Pary Mohan won the seat in the NDA-AIADMK alliance and ‘enabled’ A B Vajpayee to form the government that year. In 2009, Dharmapuri threw its weight behind DMK, and UPA-II followed. In 2014, PMK leader A Ramadoss won the election as part of NDA. The exception was in 2019, when DMK’s S Senthil Kumar won the seat but it was BJP which won at the centre.

BETS ON PHALODI

A sleepy town near Rajasthan’s Jodhpur has been in the news recently, not just for its soaring temperatures but also because predictions made by bookies here are often eerily accurate. Many in Phalodi, with strong connections and experience in the Mumbai stock market, claim their satta business is underpinned by rigorous research. “This research includes insights from experienced analysts who consider caste equations and regional preferences. They understand the market and remain objective,” claims a bookie. Besides analysts, this bazaar also has its own sources of political information, with people placed across major political centers. The bazaar sets rates based on the inputs it receives. Across the country, people keep an eye on Phalodi through WhatsApp channels.

BULLISH BOATMEN

Sangam’s boatmen and pilgrims have been considered prescient about the last eight elections. Former journalist Jawid Liaq says he visited the Sangam at Allahabad (now Prayagraj) for a boat ride and spoke to boatmen about the 1977 election. Reluctant to talk politics at first, they later predicted Indira Gandhi’s defeat attributing it to the “rough Emergency measures.” Liaq, who has visited Sangam eight times, says the pilgrims of all castes and classes who visit the confluence of rivers are a mine of voting opinions. “As they represent a cross-section of the country, their views about election results have turned out to be generally correct,” he adds. This time the consensus has been pro-Modi with boatmen like Jagdish Nishad from Arail village saying, “I am not sure of 400-plus but Modi is coming back.” Somit Dhar, who has travelled with his family of five from Bengal’s Howrah declares, “BJP will perform better than last time in Bengal. We have tested Mamata, and now we want to test Modi.”

ONION INDEX

US political strategist and senior aide to the Bill Clinton election campaign James Carville said one of the keys to winning the 1992 election was “the economy, stupid”. Dozens of elections over several decades have shown that US voters are tempted to react unfavourably to inflation and vote against it. In India, onions have a similar exalted status. This kitchen staple has brought down governments whenever its price soared. Delhi chief minister Sushma Swaraj lost the 1998 assembly poll over this. Yet it is not a foolproof theory, and AAP was insulated from this in the 2020 election. In 2024, Maharashtra’s onion farmers are seething due to export curbs and pose a test for BJP. Let’s see who is left in tears this time.

WILD PREDICTIONS

This anxiety to know has led to some strange situations like the arrest of a fortune teller who kept a kili josiyar (parrot fortune teller) in captivity. It would be useful to mention that the offending pair — human and bird — had predicted a PMK win from Cuddalore constituency in DMK-led Tamil Nadu. We will only know if the parrot is right on June 4, but the belief that animals may know something we don’t goes beyond politics. Like Paul, the ‘octopus oracle’ which had an impressive 87% success rate and correctly predicted all seven of Germany’s matches, including a surprise defeat to Serbia in the group stage in the 2010 football World Cup. Mani the parakeet from Singapore and Achilles the cat had similar successes.

Additional reporting by Julie Mariappan

EIGHT TIMES LUCKY: Sangam’s reputation is built on the 1977 election

Heard of haramzada? Aam-azing efforts to bring rare mangoes back

With India’s mango diversity fast dwindling, some aam aadmis are trying to prevent lesser-known local varieties from disappearing

FRUIT LOOP: Murshidabad’s Sheherwali Jains are popularising local mangoes like the super-delicate Kohitoor and pineapple-flavoured Ananas through festivals

Sneha.Bhura@timesgroup.com

Amir Khusrow called it ‘Fakhr-e-Gulshan’, the pride of the garden. Mirza Ghalib roamed the orchards and sang paeans to the king of fruits. Not just poets, the mango can make even ordinary people wax eloquent over their favourite fruit. But the truth is while fans fight social media wars over which variety is the best, most people end up consuming only the more popular varieties such as Alphonso, Langra, Chausa, Safeda and Kesar, ignoring the pleasures of the lesser-known.

But now some mango lovers are making an effort to save India’s ‘aamazing’ mango’s diversity. Among them are the Sheherwali Jains, a trader community which migrated from Rajasthan to Murshidabad, West Bengal and is known to grow, eat and cook with mangoes.

At the Bari Kothi Heritage Hotel in Murshidabad, the Sheherwali Jains are hosting the ‘Great Mango Festival’ to showcase some famed varieties from the Murshidabad region. There’s Rani Pasand (a favourite of the erstwhile Nawab’s wife) and Bimli (named after a hard-working Hindu maid employed in Mir Jafar’s leisure garden filled with mango trees), Dudhia Ananas and Ananas (a pineapple-flavoured mango), and the delicate Kohitoor. In mango lore, it’s said that the golden yellow Kohitoor was fragile enough to lose its taste if it fell to the ground. It needs to be wrapped in cotton wool to avoid damage from fingerprints and should be sliced with a sharp bamboo wedge, not a knife. Today, it sells at Rs 350 apiece. The festival will hold a special mango cutting masterclass by Pratibha Dudhoria, the ageing matriarch of the palatial residence-turned-luxury hotel.

“There are many challenges to cultivating and preserving rare mango varieties like Kohitoor and Ananas in Murshidabad. Widespread use of artificial ripening agents like carbide has hit quality. But our farmers continue to use traditional methods to sustain their unique flavours for future generations,” says Darshan Dudhoria, co-founder of the hotel.

Mangoes were first found 60 million years ago in Damalgiri, present-day Meghalaya. And India remains the leading producer in the world, yielding 25 million metric tons of mangoes annually. According to the National Horticulture Board, India has over 1,500 varieties.

Sakhil Thaiyyil from Thrissur has been chasing lesser-known mangoes across Kerala ever since his childhood mango tree was axed. He formed a ‘mango hunters’ community on Facebook in 2019 called ‘Naadan Maavukal’ (native mango trees), which is now over 60,000 strong. If a member puts a post about an unidentified mango tree, Thaiyyil gets them to send two samples. “If it’s of good quality, I go there myself and talk to the owners about the origin of the tree. I check the seeds and we produce saplings to distribute across the state for free,” says Thaiyy- il, who has coined names for unknown varieties such as Neelanjalam (blue sapphire). Among the 800 varieties identified so far, about 100 are of superior quality and 50 new ones have been submitted to the College of Agriculture in Vellanikkara for further development. “I find much joy in the pursuit and the fact that people will get to eat these new varieties,” he says.

RATAUL’S RANGE

Uttar Pradesh, the largest mango producing state, is the birthplace of famed varieties like Dasheri, Langra, Chausa and Amarpali. Historian Sohail Hashmi’s annual mango walks in the orchards of Rataul have enlightened many a mango enthusiast about the sheer range here such as the good-looking but bland ‘Haramzada’ to ‘Hakimuddin Gola’ which looks like a ball and is named after the man who made Rataul a major mango hub. Then there’s ‘Zardalu’ which looks like a dried apricot and ‘Tamuriya’, after 15th century conqueror Timur, who is said to have crossed present-day Ratual on his way to sack Delhi.

“Crossbreeding and grafting of mangoes picked up pace during the Mughal era, with many of its mansabdars creating hundreds of varieties.

Usually, they were named after the village or orchard where they grew. But with 20 different mango varieties in one orchard, they began using creative names,” says Hashmi, ruing the disappearance of several interesting varieties from metros, like the Saroli in Delhi. “The really tasty ones are not produced in great quantities. So, marketing rare varieties is not very profitable,” he adds.

MITHILA’S BOUNTY

In 2022, Delhi-based Madan Jha started the Mithila Mango Festival in his native village of Sarisab Pahi, Madhubani district. “We wanted to create awareness and interest, especially among the youth who are not keen on mango cultivation. We get mango farmers, agricultural scientists, cultivators and lovers of the fruit under one umbrella, hoping to make the mango economy more vibrant,” he says. The village orchards are called Budhesh Bagichas (locals say these gardens existed from the time of Lord Buddha, who was a mango lover), and some varieties are named after gods (Hanuman Bhog, Sita Bhog, Durga Bhog). Then there are the off-beat ones like ‘Jarda’, which has a whiff of pan-jarda, and ‘Pahun Padauna’ which means a guest’s fart for its not-so-pleasant smell. Some 175 varieties were displayed at the festival in 2023. The third edition, scheduled to start on June 15, will have more. “We want these mangoes to travel outside Bihar and are working with researchers to see if their shelf life can be increased,” Jha adds.

CELEB TASTE

Some varieties are the work of ‘Mango Man’, as self-taught horticulturalist Kaleem Ullah Khan from UP’s Malihabad is known. The 84-year-old padma Shri has cultivated over 300 kinds from a single mother tree since the 1980s by grafting. Some of his prized creations are named after celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, PM Modi, etc. There’s even one named after him — Kaleem, a hybrid of Dasheri and Sindoori. “I did not give this name, a worker in my orchard did. But I am running out of names for sure. There are more varieties in my garden than names I can come up with,” he says.

NO AAM LIST

➤ DHAKIMUDDIN GOLA:

Looks like a ball, and is named after the man who established the first orchard in UP’s Rataul

➤ HARAMZADA: Also from Rataul, this mango is good-looking but blander than its name suggests

➤ ZARDALU: This aromatic variety from Bhagalpur, Bihar is named after dried apricots

➤ TAMURIYA: Named after 15th century invader Timur, who is said to have crossed present-day Rataul on his way to sack Delhi

➤ JARDA: From Champaran and has a whiff of pan-jarda

➤ PAHUN PADAUNA: The name means a guest’s fart. Clearly, a smelly variety

Hello and welcome to TOI’s monthly roundup on gender, politics and culture. In a world where men still run most of the gigs and hog the mics, here’s where we say it like we see it

TALKING POINT

1 LADIES ARE LAAPATAA NO MORE

Hailed as a celebration of sisterhood, ‘All We Imagine As Light’ won the Grand Prix at Cannes. It depicts the lives of three women, from the insideout: as complex, struggling people navigating society. It tells a story about work and power, love that crosses convention and love snuffed out by it, companionship and courage. But when seen through a woman’s lens, the world does look different. This year, the surprise success of ‘Laapata Ladies’ too broke through the hypermasculine ethos of much recent cinema.

This shouldn’t seem remarkable: after all, every other person is a woman. However, because the culture is owned and operated by men, our storytelling often has fixed roles for women. Women have been cast as love-objects, nurturers, sidekicks or sirens in the central plot, which is the man’s narrative. “The first feminist gesture is to say: Ok, they’re looking at me. But I’m looking at them,” said Agnes Varda, the French New Wave pioneer, about “deciding that the world is not defined by how people see me, but how I see them”.

2 SISTERHOOD ON SCREEN

Female bonds have been a central theme of art and cinema made by women. These are not superficial ‘girl-squad’ depictions of pop-culture, they are sustaining, important relationships. There are movies of intergenerational understanding, like the ‘Joy Luck Club’, or quiet solidarity like ‘Khamosh Paani’. There is demented comedy — like ‘Bridesmaids’. There are movies that flip the usual scripts to affirm women, like the ‘Legally Blonde’ series. When women transgress their role, and the patriarchal attack squad swoops in, other women rescue her: think of ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ or the distinct female gaze of ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’. Even action movies like ‘Black Widow’ now celebrate kinship between women. With more women at the helm and at all levels in the creative industries, depictions of female lives and relationships are being fleshed out more realistically.

3 FLIPPING THE SCRIPT

A lie of a male-identified culture is that women’s relationships with each other are marked by rivalry. And this patriarchal script does play out, occasionally, for all of us: women do tear each other down when they’re competing for men’s affections or the resources that men have monopolised. But the larger truth is that women know where to find wisdom, community, and fun, and it’s in each other. We mother and sister and befriend and look out for each other. Primatologists say that ‘affiliative, long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships between females turn out to be the basic unit of social life’. They are not sideshows to the real world of work and family. Women enlarge each other’s lives. You might learn audacity and independence from an aunt, you could find kindness and comfort in a friend. Women look out for each other, pass on secrets, swap life-hacks that help us live in a male-dominated world. We see our own realities reflected in others, even if they are invisibilised by society.

4 RIVALS TO ALLIES

This sisterhood is not an automatic fact, it is a possibility that must be politically forged. We have to learn to be better allies to each other. “The connections between women are the most feared, the most problematic, but the most potentially transformative force on the planet,” wrote the feminist poet Adrienne Rich. When women relate across context, rather than being kept apart by men’s hierarchies, a radical shift happens. All feminist movements are based on this sudden recognition of oneself and others as part of a collective: There you are. You’re like me and you’re unlike me. We’re bonded. That’s what sisterhood is.

When patriarchy meets pumpkin

What has sambar got to do with gender? What has pumpkin got to do with patriarchy? To know the answers, dunk yourself for 90 minutes into Chennai-based comic Karthik Kumar’s ‘Aansplaining’ on YouTube. In this self-aware sit-down — err, standup— special, sambar, more specifically pumpkin sambar, becomes a trojan horse for Kumar’s break-up-induced epiphanies on patriarchy. Peppered with strategicallydropped local slang and Tamil punchlines, this slow-cooked pumpkin rice plate offers a flavourful taste of modern masculinity. Warning: It may forever change the way you look at ‘medulla oblongata’.

A philosopher revered, and reviled

A TedEd video describes the life and philosophy of Hypatia of Alexandria. She was a mathematician and philosopher in the Eastern Roman Empire. The thinker and teacher was beloved and respected by students who would travel to learn from her, but that didn’t prevent her from being accused of witchcraft. Her secular perspective and role as political advisor led to her murder, causing ripple effects across the empire.

TWO READS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

Your online GF is a collection of low-wage workers

Popular creators on platforms like OnlyFans have droves of fans DMing them, but cannot reply to them all. Enter: chatters. These workers, typically from low income countries, entertain fans through sexuallycharged chats. A Wired reporter went undercover as a professional chatter. From the hard process of landing the gig to knowing how to turn a conversation about a man’s loneliness into one that is explicit and leads to them spending more money on the creator’s content, the piece is a look at an oftignored cog in the online sex work machinery.

Menstruation over generations

A lovely piece in Al Jazeera tracks the lived experience of periods through the eyes of multiple generations of women, whether that’s in Paraguay or Cambodia. From a grandmother, who spoke of being isolated during menstruation and not having access to sanitary products, to granddaughters, who see menstruation as a matter of human rights, it goes to show how much has changed. Even the fact that families are having these conversations in the first place is a sign of progress.

Hetall Dedhhia, Hindi cinema’s first woman gaffer

➤ Clad in a white T-shirt and shorts, Hetall Dedhhia shows Ashraf, a light boy, how to create the effect of a car headlight passing over the windscreen of another car. He listens intently as she effortlessly rotates a 2kg bulky light called Pan Car to make a flamboyant arc on the wall. Then she hands him the light and moves around the room full of men to diffuse, distribute and dismantle power in more ways than one.

➤ “It took a little time for people to adjust to a woman in this role but when they realised I knew my stuff, they soon accepted this new presence on set,” says 39-year-old in a video that shows her dragging crates of equipment across the floor, folding cables, unfolding carpets, and sharing a chai break with her all-male crew. “I like getting my hands dirty,” says Hetall who became Hindi cinema’s first and only woman gaffer nearly two decades ago when few knew what the term meant.

➤ Informal British slang for the head of a work crew, ‘gaffer’ refers to the head lighting designer. “Our job is to make the cinematographer’s artistic vision come true creatively,” she says.

➤ “My father was and is the school for the country,” says Hetall, daughter of renowned gaffer Mulchand Dedhia, who used to work as an electrician at weddings before observing light dadas while laying cables on set. The youngest of four, Hetall was all of nine when she watched in awe as the moon box — a massive light mounted on a 100-foot crane — rose up after an entire day’s rigging to illuminate the sets of Shekhar Kapoor’s ‘Bandit Queen’. It was during the shoot of Mira Nair’s 1996 release ‘Fire’ that she keenly watched her father give instructions to the lightmen. Hetal dropped out of education after tenth grade and spent college life playing snooker at a gaming club — something girls didn’t do then. Then, she decided to do something else that girls didn’t do by following in her father’s footsteps. “Gaffing drew me because no woman was doing it,” she says.

➤ Acutely aware of the grunt work the job entailed, her father wasn’t thrilled by her decision. He tried to convince her that it was a job meant for men. To prove her mettle, she accompanied her father to Kolkata for the two-monthshoot of a German film called ‘Shadows Of Time’. “Actors and crew members were intrigued. They had never seen a woman in that job before,” says Hetall, recalling her first day as a trainee.

➤ While some of the mood depended on the sun, a whole lot of it, as she learnt, depended on the stars. Film stars, that is. “Stars are so overpowering that we, directors or DOPs, do not get a chance to do our respective creative jobs,” she says in ‘Changemakers,’ a book by Gayatri Rangachari Shah and Mallika Kapur in which she was featured as one of 20 women transforming the Hindi film industry behind the scenes. “The norm now is to make people work overtime,” Hetall told TOI. “We work for 18 hours and even 22 hours at times. I don’t get this. Are we working in the army?”

➤ Among the projects she is proud of working on are Mira Nair’s ‘Nafas’, a film on Qatari pearl divers, ‘Un + Une’ a French film by the legendary cinematographer Claude Lelouch apart from ‘Mission Impossible 5’. “I’ll tell you what doesn’t come to the table... ego doesn’t come to the table,” says cinematographer Jason West about Hetall in ‘Changemakers’.

➤ Watching the plight of her fellow crew members has sparked in her an urge to take up the good fight. “Gaffers have absolutely no value in our industry,” says an exasperated Hetall. “People only wake up when a lightman falls to his death. Such accidents can be easily prevented by putting rules and regulations in place. But lightmen have no insurance or safety norms and they never will unless I stand up for them,” believes Hetall, who plans to start a union that would lobby on behalf of invisible, overworked crew members including the spotboys.

Curated by Ketaki Desai and Sharmila Ganesan Ram

‘Laapataa Ladies’: Fun and feminist

Director Payal Kapadia with the cast of ‘All That We Imagine as Light’ at Cannes

Dedhhia has worked with Mira Nair and on ‘Mission Impossible 5’

THE SPEAKING TREE

BLISSTECH

The Kernel Of Limitless Joy

Unlike temporary ecstasy, true bliss is an innate, self-sustaining essence within us; by exploring the layers of our existence through practices of yoga, we can access profound joy, says SADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV

Describing the sacred as brahmanand is our unique contribution to the planet. Yog offers us a ladder to this fount of bliss that is the source of all creation.

What exactly is bliss? For many, it is simply a psychedelic drug! This is because most people confuse blissfulness with pleasure or ecstasy. However, pleasure is essentially unsustainable, and dependent on an external stimulus. Bliss, however, does not depend on anything external. It is independent, self-sustaining, constant. It is your own nature. You do not earn it from outside; you access it from within.

The yogic tradition speaks of various sheaths, or layers, that make up the human being: the physical body, the mental body, the pranic or energy body, the etheric body, and finally, the bliss body or anandamay kosh. This innermost core of our being, the source of all physical creation, is pure bliss. This does not mean there is a bliss bubble inside you; it means that if you touch this dimension, you naturally become joyful.

For instance, you watched a sunrise and felt wonderful for a moment. If that moment of sensory pleasantness could become a part of your life energy, your entire experience of life would be dramatically altered. However, for this to happen, you must be able to hold the experience for at least twenty four minutes. This enables the experience to move from the sensory to the neurological system, and then pervade the deeper, more elaborate energetic system, or pranamay kosh. Once pleasantness sweeps through the energy body, love and bliss become your qualities. You are no longer experiencing bliss; you are bliss.

Twenty four minutes of pleasantness should not be difficult to sustain. However, the mind intervenes and complicates things. This is where yog becomes so vital. If you open your mouth and wait for raindrops to fall on your tongue, it can be a frustrating method to quench your thirst. The tongue is an inadequate receptacle, and the rains are only seasonal. But if you dig your own well, you have water throughout the year. The yogic science is about learning to dig your own well, so you find a bountiful water source right within you.

At one time, we believed that the will of God determined whether a tree in our home bore fruit or not. But then we learnt to take charge. Now we know how to treat the problem of a non-fruit-bearing tree. Similarly, if your inner bliss has not blossomed, it simply means you aren't doing the right things. Once you see that, a spiritual process can begin.

As we engineer the outside, there is also a way to engineer our interiority. There is a way for a piece of creation to transform itself into the creator. Yog encompasses several methods or tantras that bring the first three layers of the human being — the physical, mental and energy bodies — into alignment. This creates a passageway to the innermost core of the self.

Now, bliss becomes our natural state of being.

The time is ripe for Bliss Tantra, a method to access that kernel of limitless joy within each one of us. Let us make it happen. 

Mayday: Doon sizzles at 43.2°C, hottest day of month in 157 yrs

Dehradun: At 43.2 degrees on Friday, Dehradun faced the hottest day in May in the past 157 years, reports Kautilya Singh.

Previously, the hottest day in Dehradun in May was in 2012 at 43.1 degrees. Data of last six years shows that with 40.7 degrees, May 26 was hottest day in May in 2018, May 31 in 2019 with 40.4 degrees, May 27 in 2020 with 40.1 degrees, May 25 in 2021 with 37.5 degrees, May 15 in 2022 with 39.6 degrees and May 22 in 2023 with 39.3 degrees.

Bikram Singh, director, regional MeT centre, said, “The temperature is expected to drop slightly in the first 3 days of June and by a few notches more on June 4 and 5.Rainis likely on June 4 and 5 across state and will bring down the mercury.”

Meanwhile, in a huge relief for residents, Dehradun witnessed rainfall on Saturday.

Poll officer, elderly voter among victims of heatwave in Odisha

 Continued from P 1

Saturday’s deaths in Odisha included that of a booth-level officer in Binjharpur block of Jajpur district who died on election duty, and an elderly voter in Nilagiri block of Balasore district. Fifteen deaths were reported from Sambalpur, the worst hit after Balangir with 20 deaths in the past 48 hours. The remaining 30 deaths were scattered across western Odisha.

An India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast said though heatwave conditions in Odisha are likely to prevail, a “gradual fall in the maximum temperature by 2° to 3°C during the next three days is likely, and no large change thereafter, at many places across the state,” said IMD Bhubaneswar centre director Manorama Mohanty.

On Saturday, Titilagarh recorded the highest day temperature (46°C), followed by Balangir (45.5°C), Bhawanipatna (44.6°C) and Nuapada (44°C). Rain and thundershowers at isolated places in several districts on Saturday evening provided relief from the killing heat.

With reports of deaths pouring in from different districts in Odisha, chief secretary P K Jena and special relief commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu held a review meeting with district collectors on Saturday. The collectors were instructed to ensure implementation of SRC heatwave advisories and precautionary measures.

According to Maharashtra’s health department, 281 heatstroke cases have been reported in the state so far this year, including one death. Of them, the most cases, 29, are from Nashik, followed by 28 from Jalna and 23 from Buldhana. Pune has reported eight heatstroke cases so far and Mumbai recorded three.

In Chhattisgarh, 40 passengers on a bus had a narrow escape on Saturday when a fire, apparently caused by an overheated radiator, engulfed the vehicle near Abhanpur. The bus burnt down to its shell shortly after the passengers evacuated.

The entire state is in the grip of a blistering heatwave. Four of Saturday’s five deaths occurred in JanjgirChampa district, where a farmer, two truck drivers, and a transport vehicle helper succumbed to sunstroke.

They fainted and were taken to the district hospital where they were declared dead. The fifth heat-related death was reported from Kanker when a truck driver from UP collapsed and died due to heatstroke.

SIT hunts for Prajwal’s mom in survivor-abduction case

Team Searches Over A Dozen Houses In Hassan, Mysuru

JD(S) legislator HD Revanna said he knew wife Bhavani (in pic) had a brother named Prakash but claimed to have forgotten her father’s name, as per SIT sources

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: Karnataka police’s SIT probing sexual harassment allegations against JD(S) legislator HD Revanna’s family has started extensive searches for his wife Bhavani in a kidnap case involving an alleged survivor.

Revanna himself was earlier arrested in the case but got bail. He has been questioned in the matter and is said to have “forgotten” the name of his father-in-law.

According to sources, SIT teams looking for Bhavani searched over a dozen houses of contractors known to the Revanna family and their relatives in Hassan and Mysuru on Saturday. One of the teams visited Bhavani’s residence in Hassan’s Holenarasipura but did not find her there.

The abducted woman’s son had alleged she was taken away by one Satish Babanna at the behest of Bhavani and Revanna. Babanna has been arrested.

Officials said Bhavani — a former member of the Hassan zilla panchayat — had switched off her mobile on May 6 after the Siddaramaiahled Congress govt formed the SIT to probe the cases against her son, arrested MP Prajwal, and her husband. She cooperated with police for a while, though her cellphone stayed switched off. Later, she went off the police radar. A local court earlier denied Bhavani anticipatory bail.

Revanna’s alleged inability to recall the name of his father-in-law came to the fore when SIT sleuths were con- necting the dots in the abduction case. Revanna was asked the question as Babanna had claimed during interrogation that Bhavani’s father Shivanne Gowda was his uncle.

Revanna said he knew Bhavani had a brother named Prakash but claimed to have forgotten her father’s name, according to SIT sources. SIT has mentioned this in court papers, claiming it is an attempt to conceal familial ties key to the case.

On Saturday, Prajwal was interrogated by the SIT for seven hours in one of the sexual harassment cases filed against him in Holenarasipura. Sources said Prajwal was not cooperating and kept denying the allegations.

The outgoing Hassan MP was arrested early Friday at Bengaluru airport after flying in from Munich.

All That Matters

- Poll pitch: Why development lost, desperation won

- Need indie film fund like the French one that made Cannes win possible: Kapadia

- Piketty wrong again on soaking the rich. What we need is equality of opportunity

- Pune Porsche case shows the problems of affluenza parenting

- From freebies to safety, five factors that may explain the crucial women’s vote

LIFE LINES

Poll pitch: Why development lost, desperation won

ROHIT SARAN

How many times, since campaigning for Lok Sabha elections began, have you heard that rural families with access to tap water have gone up 17% to 77% in five years? Or that 2.6 crore households got electricity at home for the first time between 2017 and 2023? Or that 12 crore new LPG cylinder connections have been issued since 2016 (many families aren’t refilling them, but that’s a different issue)? Or that there is a sequel to the open defecation free (ODF) scheme that’s attempting to remedy last-mile failure of the first ODF?

Probably never. Either these claims have not been made or have drowned in the din of other claims — about Muslim reservation, about fears of a change in the Constitution, about which party Pakistan wants to win…

It’s not restricted to one political alliance either. Have you been asked to vote for the coalition that brought one of the most potent laws for transparency in governance — Right to Information? Or for the party that started the largest employment scheme of its kind — MNREGA? Or an alliance that seeded the Unique Identification (UID) system that powers Aadhaar, and much of today’s digital public infrastructure?

Again, probably never. How is it that the largest political sales pitch in human history — canvassing for potentially 970 million votes to win the 18th parliamentary elections — has been so low on development issues and so high on desperation? This in a country whose largest export is brain power, a country that is on the verge of eliminating extreme poverty, and one with a 100% gross enrolment ratio at primary level and 80% at secondary level.

Is it that Indians would rather vote out of fear than for a vision? Or is it that politicians find it easier to sell others’ misdeeds — real and hypothetical — than their deeds? A late cabinet minister from Bihar who served under UPA and NDA govts once recounted to TOI an election rally where he was listing several development initiatives to an apathetic crowd. Then, he mentioned the 2019 Indian strike inside Pakistan, and the crowd was on its feet.

That emotions sway people faster than facts isn’t a surprise. Social media shows us every day that people are more ready to believe comforting lies than discomforting truths. India, like many other countries, is moving from a society with ‘normal’ differences of opinion to one with sharp differences. It’s not that deep political differences didn’t exist in the past, but a majority of Indians differed less from each other (statisticians call it one standard deviation) than they do today (see illustration). This year’s election campaign is both cause and effect of transition from ‘normal’ differences to polarised ones. Everything is ‘me good’ versus ‘them evil’, no matter which side it’s coming from.

That’s not all. Since 2019 LS elections, there have been 30 assembly elections in India (including states where polls to Parliament were held simultaneously). That’s an average of one poll every two months. There are more state assemblies today than ever. The ‘always on’ elections means an ‘always on’ campaign for votes. Every speech is an election speech. This perpetual election mode has lowered the quality of parliamentary debates on key legislations, it has state governors behaving like party leaders, and even affected selection of Padma awardees. Governance, at least in an apparent sense, is something that now happens in between elections.

What can make the world’s largest democratic exercise less full of sound and fury and signify something? A combination of things. First off, elections shouldn’t be prolonged to seven phases in torturous heat. Politicians run out of things to say, voters get confused and disengaged, and governance goes into a limbo for months. In 1999, the new LS was elected in two phases. The US elects its president in a day.

If not one nation, one election, let’s move to one nation, two elections. President Kalam had asked politicians to move from a state of doing ‘political politics’ 70% of the time and ‘development politics’ 30% of the time to exactly the opposite. Fewer periods of elections would help move toward that.

Something more fundamental needs to change too. Voters in all 543 constituencies should have a manifesto comprising hyperlocal, city, state and national issues they want addressed. Contestants in each constituency must state where they stand on these issues. This will ensure that election promises and campaigns are grounded in real issues. Have you heard any party putting a deadline to cut air pollution by half by 2029? Bringing wrong-side driving to an end in five years (it killed 5,000 and injured 12,000 in 2023)? Eliminating all pending cases in higher courts in 3 years and lower courts in 5 years? It won’t happen unless voters take matters into their own hands and make parties act on people’s manifestos.

At a 2016 Facebook (now Meta) town hall in California, PM Narendra Modi had said ‘once elections used to happen every five years, now they happen every five minutes.’ He was referring to social media as an opportunity for constant interaction with people. So far that opportunity has served little purpose other than being a training ground for troll armies. It should instead become a platform to shape and track governance-centered politics. ■

FOR THE RECORD

Need indie film fund like the French one that made Cannes win possible: Kapadia

Basking in the afterglow of bagging a historic Cannes Grand Prix, ‘All We Imagine As Light’ director Payal Kapadia speaks to Ardhra Nair about what made it possible, the various influences that have inspired her, and why filmmaking is like stitching a quilt

■ Can you share your experience of making an independent film without the support of big banners?

The reason I was able to make this film is because of the French public funding system, and I would like to take a moment to talk about this system. In France, a small tax is levied on every film ticket sale and a tax is levied on TV channels as well. From this, a fund is created that allows independent producers and directors to apply for funding. Distributors and exhibitors also get funding to distribute these films once they are complete. In our country, charging audiences a tax would be rather unfair. However, a tax on the profits made on blockbuster films can surely help in funding an independent film fund. If such a system was made in our country with an autonomous body to run the fund, it would only encourage more independent filmmaking. For a democracy to thrive, voices need to remain independent from big studios that are run by rich industrialists.

■ Looking back, how do you feel about the FTII protests? Do you stand by what you all stood up for?

The protest at FTII was one of the early student protests that took place. It was followed by many others. I am happy that we could be part of the larger discourse of the relevance of public institutions in India. Being a student of FTII was very important to me. It was a space where we could not only formulate our thoughts about filmmaking, but also about the world we inhabit. Filmmaking does not exist in a vacuum. It is through debates and discussions, questions and self-reflection that we move closer to the films we choose to make. FTII was a place that encouraged independent thought. One reason this was possible was because of affordable public education. Unfortunately, public institutes are becoming more and more expensive nowadays. These spaces can only remain relevant and encourage discourse if they remain accessible to all. If they become elitist spaces like various public universities have over many years, it will be useless to the nation. There are many private institutions that are made only to give opportunities to the elite. A space like FTII is somewhere in between at this point in time. We should strive for it to be even more accessible than the direction in which it is headed.

■ One of your professors, Sandeep Chatterjee, mentioned that you are grounded in poetry, and this is reflected in your filmmaking. Can you tell us more about how poetry influences your work and your approach to filmmaking?

I am influenced by many different forms of art — poetry, painting, music, animation — all find their way into my work. I think of filmmaking like stitching a quilt with many small fragments that come together to give us a whole new feeling.

■ What kind of cinema do you like?

I am a huge cinephile and I love watching all kinds of films. Howev- er, the cinema that excites me the most is one that mixes forms of fiction and nonfiction, and sometimes even fantasy. I like when all these forms merge into one another. For some reason in India, we have a strong urge to compartmentalise each of these types of films. But I love to mix them all up and see where it takes me.

■ You’ve spoken before about the importance of sisterhood in your film. Can you elaborate on how sisterhood shapes the narratives you create and why this theme is so significant to you?

I have been thinking a lot about friendship in this film. It is a very open relationship that is defined only by you and your friend. In our society, women are made to feel as if they are being pitted against one another. That is very unfortunate. I think friendship can lead to greater inclusivity and solidarity. Perhaps my time at FTII has taught me that.

■ What do you think about the current state of the Indian film industry, and where do you see it heading?

We don’t have just one film industry in India! We have so many different industries. Especially remarkable to me is the cinema from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra. In these states, there is a range of films that are really taking on a lot of important questions. Recently, Kerala govt started a fund that supports female filmmakers as well as filmmakers from under-represented castes. I think this is the need of the hour. I hope more states start doing the same.

■ What stories are you looking forward to telling next?

I am interested in seeing how I can incorporate more nonfiction into my films. I am planning on doing some short experiments as a learning exercise. Let’s see where it takes me.

■ How do you think winning at Cannes will impact your career?

I don’t know yet! I am hoping that the next film won’t take five years to fund like the previous one did.

■ If your life were a movie, what genre would it be?

If my life were a movie, it would be a tragic comedy!

SWAMINOMICS

Piketty wrong again on soaking the rich. What we need is equality of opportunity

SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR

Famed economist Thomas Piketty and three colleagues recently produced a paper proposing a 2% tax on net wealth above Rs 10 crore plus a 33% inheritance tax on estates of over Rs 10 crore. These, they claim, can yield a whopping 2.7% of GDP to be used to benefit the poor. Such a tax will affect only the richest 0.04% of adults, leaving 99.96% unaffected. It will rectify inequalities in one of the world’s most unequal societies, says Piketty, which has become especially unequal between 2014 and 2023 — the Modi era — with the top 1% getting 22% of all income and owning 40% of all wealth.

I torpedoed Piketty’s earlier analysis in a Cato Institute paper. His new paper, like his earlier one, is based on income-tax data. This tax is paid by a tiny minority. So, he uses complicated models to estimate the incomes of the majority, claiming there is no data on incomes.

Sorry, there is indeed income data from the surveys of the National Council for Applied Economic Research and People’s Research on India’s Consumer Economy, headed by Rajesh Shukla. On May 24 in The Economic Times, he wrote that while inequality had gone up and down over decades, it had fallen to its lowest levels in the Modi era.

The Gini coefficient, which measures inequality, ranged between 40 and 46 between 1967-68 and 2013-14. It fell to 37 in 2015-16. Covid and other factors meant a sharp rise to 51 in 2020-21. But it fell to 39 in 2022-23. This is still too high, but whether we are getting worse remains unclear.

Economists can contest Shukla’s accuracy. But they can equally contest Piketty’s accuracy. We are left unsure about inequality trends. Piketty cites plausible sources on increasing inequality. But other economists like Surjit Bhalla and Arvind Panagariya say inequality has fallen.

Piketty’s estimated revenue from soaking the super-rich has drawn much criticism. Ex-RBI governor Raghuram Rajan says, “Show me one country which has actually collected serious wealth taxes anywhere, and I would challenge Piketty on that.” India had a wealth tax between 1957 and 2016. It collected so little that the cost of administration exceeded revenue. It had to be abolished in 2016.

Draconian taxes drive business into black money without collecting much revenue. Indira Gandhi imposed income-tax of 97.75% plus a wealth tax of 3.5% in the early 1970s. This sank business without producing a tax bonanza. I asked at a postbudget press conference what was the maximum a rich man could earn after income plus wealth tax. An official responded that it depended on the rate of return on wealth. Assuming it was 7%, the rate of return on National Savings Certificates, he said regardless of how many crores a person earned before tax, he could not earn more than Rs 25,000 a year after taxes. On paper, a socialist paradise had arrived! But it was a paper paradise.

Today every businessman talks of creating shareholder value through rising share prices. But in the 1970s, higher share prices meant more wealth tax payments by promoters. To keep share prices low, promoters shifted profits out of listed companies into private companies and milked these for black money.

Only when finance minister Manmohan Singh exempted wealth tax on shares in 1992 did businesses find it worthwhile to increase shareholder value and shift to white money. The Sensex rose from 1000 in 1991 to over 73,000 today, enriching 100 million shareholders, not just the rich.

Abolishing wealth tax on shares and reducing income tax after 1991 actually increased the tax/ GDP ratio, contrary to predictions by Piketty’s mechanical models. Piketty says the US had an income-tax of 90% in the 1950s, and yet the economy boomed. But this 90% rate was widely evad- ed, leading to revenue of just 18% of GDP. The ratio remained around 18% even when Donald Trump cut the top tax rate to 37%. Trump himself paid no income-tax regardless of rates, a living refutation of Piketty.

Without equality of opportunity, we cannot get equality of outcomes. Equal opportunity means decent quality education, basic health, and infrastructure for the poorest. Globally, social mobility has been created by educating the masses, enabling many to rise to the top. But, in India, the rich go to the best private schools while the poor languish in govt schools with higher teacher absenteeism, and little teaching even if teachers are present.

No political party dares get tough with powerful unions of teachers, health workers, or other services. This problem cannot be solved by spending more. We need reforms in govt services that are politically difficult. Without them, spending more will mostly mean wasting more. ■

THE UNDERAGE OPTIMIST

Pune Porsche case shows the problems of affluenza parenting

CHETAN BHAGAT

It’s easy to give moral lectures on the Pune Porsche incident. An allegedly drunk 17-year-old boy from an affluent family crashed a Porsche at high speed into a bike, killing a young man and woman. There are so many wrongs in the previous sentence. A 17-year-old isn’t supposed to drive. He isn’t supposed to drink (in Maharashtra, where the incident occurred, the drinking age is 25). Nobody at any age is supposed to drink and drive. And yet, Porsche Boy did it all.

He is a juvenile (4 months short of 18). In such cases, his parents are liable. Porsche Boy was eligible for bail, which he obtained almost immediately, along with an assignment to write a 300-word essay on road safety. The optics were terrible. The drunk son of a rich builder, driving a Rs 2-crore car, killing two IT professionals and devastating their families forever. Massive outrage followed. There were calls for stricter, more painful, and immediate punishment for the accused, even if he was a juvenile. Pubs across Pune have been shuttered. All this outrage helps vent out some emotions. None of this, unfortunately, solves the underlying problem.

Solutions won’t come from more draconian juvenile laws alone. The real problem may lie in the way we bring up our kids. India’s per capita GDP, and the sheer number of affluent Indians has grown manifold in the last few decades. While economic prosperity is to be celebrated, it brings with it certain high-class problems — a key one being how to bring up kids in an affluent setting.

Parenting is hard, for anyone at any income level. There is no user manual, standard operating procedure or even a best practices guide. We can end up being too hard on the child, hurting his or her independence and growth. We can also be too lenient, which could translate to the child having no idea about boundaries, acceptable behaviour, and discipline. Imagine this leniency in a setting of affluence, where no material want is declined. When parents think love means providing more money, services, and removing every obstacle from the child’s path, what you end up with is a bratty, entitled child. You end up with excessive consumption, underage drinking, underage driving, and a deeply unhappy child brought up in an environment of zero struggle and constant pleasure seeking. Even if this crash didn’t happen, the Porsche Boy was already an alcoholic (by his own claim, as per reports). He was drinking at 2 am in pubs in the city, spending lakhs on alcohol alone. Over time, there was a pretty high risk of him moving on to harder drugs, as alcohol stopped giving him the same highs.

This thrill-seeking behaviour is probably why the 17-year-old ‘needed’ a Porsche to drive at high speeds. When you have no challenge or purpose in life other than to consume wealth in decadent forms, you are heading to a life of disaster sooner or later.

Affluent parents need to work extra hard to bring up their children with good discipline and values. Throwing material objects at the child is not love, it is callousness. Allowing a child to drink too soon is not being lenient or cool, it is being irresponsible.

Parenting is about striking a balance between two things — empathy and boundaries. We must acknowledge our child’s feelings. ‘Yes beta, I know you must be feeling bored,’ is empathetic. At the same time, one also needs to say, ‘Don’t be on your phone for hours to kill boredom. Play a sport or read a book.’ That’s setting boundaries. ‘No dear, you absolutely cannot have a Porsche even though it’s a cool car to drive. Focus on your studies and other goals,’ is boundaries. ‘You are not to drink,’ is boundaries. ‘You can never drink and drive,’ is also boundaries. No boundary setting was done in case of Porsche Boy. There are lakhs, if not millions, of affluent Indian parents who succumb to their child’s emotions and whims. They give in, in the name of love or to avoid a fight.

However, remember this — setting the right boundaries will never spoil your relationship. In fact, our children want us to set fair boundaries that help them navigate the world.

Whether it’s industrialists, political parties or Bollywood, santaan-moh (child-attachment) is massive in Indians. But good child rearing is not maximum indulgence. It is to offer love and support but also set rules and boundaries. The Pune Porsche case is an example of when this empathy-boundaries imbalance went horribly wrong. Let this be a lesson for the rest of us. We parents need to bring up our children better. And children or grown ups, please never ever drink and drive. ■

STRIKE A BALANCE: Instead of setting boundaries, affluent parents tend to indulge their kids

BIG MOOD

From freebies to safety, five factors that may explain the crucial women’s vote

RAHUL VERMA

There is an emerging consensus that women voters will play a crucial role in deciding the outcome of 2024 general elections, and exit polls too hint at this possibility. It is being suggested that this phenomenon of Indian women making distinct political choices than men is largely an outcome of women-centric welfare policies.

While there is little to quibble about this broad assessment, it lumps women as a monolithic category, devoid of various identities, interests and ideological positions that shape general voting behaviour. It assumes that a middle-aged rural poor woman operates with the same incentives as a college-going one in urban areas, or upper-caste women are driven by the same sentiments as their Muslim counterparts. Despite the emerging consensus, it is important to note that a large number of women still vote with the family, i.e., that their choices are not distinct from other family members. What has definitely changed is that women are participating more actively than in the past to arrive at the collective decision of whom to vote for. In the past two decades, not only has the proportion of women electors increased, but also their turnout. The combined effect of these two developments has been that the electoral weight of women voters is higher than men in many parts of the country. In the past decade, we have seen that women rallied in significant numbers to re-elect many chief ministers such as Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, J Jayalalithaa, Naveen Patnaik, among others. Similarly, BJP, which used to have a gender disadvantage before 2014, managed to close this gap during the 2019 Lok Sabha election, and since then has been reaping benefits in many assembly elections.

To understand voting behaviour among women in recent times, here are five hypotheses that also help us in underlining the complexity behind the emerging consensus.

1. LABHARTHI MINDSET

Apart from welfare schemes run by the Centre, many state govts have their own list to woo women voters. And, this remains an important reason why labarthis have backed different parties in the state assembly in the past five years — for example, TMC in West Bengal, BJP in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Congress in Karnataka, among others. It is worth noting that despite several welfare schemes and promises if re-elected to govt, Congress in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh were not rewarded by women voters. Furthermore, the welfare alone drives women voters to a particular party hypothesis gets more complicated in a LS election, in which a large number of rural poor women must be beneficiaries of both central and state schemes. So, welfare works in driving voting choice in conjunction with other factors, not alone.

2. SAFETY ADVANTAGE

The second hypothesis is the political rhetoric around improvement in the situation on women’s safety and security which is an important consideration. Whether actual crime statistics attest to this or not, the perception of being tough on law and order seems to resonate with women. This was certainly the case in UP, where Yogi Adityanath benefited from this image. This may not be an issue restricted to working women in urban areas, but among women in general. In large parts of India, women’s movement outside the homes is heavily sanctioned and scrutinised, often by older women themselves. To them, constant and harsh police policies are a welcome move as it provides a semblance of security in a precarious world. Will charges of deteriorating women’s safety in West Bengal neutralise TMC’S advantages on welfare policies? An interesting aspect of this phenomenon has played out in Bihar, where Nitish Kumar manages to carry women voters only in alliance with the BJP, and not with RJD. Is it because there is a negative perception towards RJD on law and order?

3. POWER OF RELIGION

Women are considered to be more religious, or at least they practise religion more than men. It seems that everyday economic anxieties such as price rise get mentioned more when reporters have spoken to women voters this election, but it may be naive to discount the emotive power of religious issues, especially among middle aged and older women. Is it possible that religious sentiments can mitigate everyday economic anxiety, at least among fence sitters? Could the inauguration of Ram temple be an issue that doesn’t get vocally expressed, but firmly tilt the vote among a sizeable section of women towards BJP? Similarly, there is no hard evidence to suggest this, but several commentators in recent years have claimed that BJP’s position on triple talaq has led to gravitation of Muslim women towards the party.

4. MAKING A CONNECT

The perception of an improved law and order situation, or efficient welfare, is more likely to be sticky when the intended message is combined with a credible and charismatic face. The emotive connect with leaders is an important determinant in voting behaviour. Many leaders, including PM Modi, have carefully and consciously cultivated this connect over the years by constantly speaking about issues women face. Rahul Gandhi has tried to project this image by patiently listening to grievances and showing affection to women who approached him during his nationwide campaigns.

5. REPRESENTATION

More representative parties are likely to attract more women. Parties have addressed this question by either giving more space to women functionaries in their organisation, or nominating them to contest elections, or both. However, a large variation exist across parties on this question. While the implementation strategy vis-a-vis women’s reservation in LS and assemblies may not be clear, will the passage of the Bill itself enhance BJP’s chances? After all, other parties too are claiming an equal role in this Bill becoming a law.

Ultimately, all five hypotheses depend on a robust party machinery on the ground to claim credit. BJP’s ability to make gains among women is marked by serious efforts by its organisational wings to establish a connection and explain what the party has done for them. It has been able to recruit a large number of women from active Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the country in its campaign wings. Have other parties in states been able to expand their women outreach efforts? June 4 will tell whether any party had a national advantage among women voters, or they chose different parties depending on state-level contexts. ■

Verma is fellow at Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. Views expressed are personal

TEMPLE RUN: It may be naive to discount emotive power of religious issues among women

Times Sport

- GALLERY

- India trounce Germany 3-0

- Ronaldo in tears after King’s Cup loss

- Treesa-Gayatri pair’s run ends

- DK retires from all forms of cricket

- PM: Strong yuva & nari shakti turnouts encouraging

- Oppn wants its counting agents to be vigilant in ‘close seats’

- Rahul writes to prez over ‘discriminatory’ Agnipath scheme, urges her to intervene

- UP and Bihar continue to report moderate turnouts

- 2 arrested in K’taka tribal funds scam in wake of officer’s suicide

- WATCH OUT FOR THE UNDERDOGS!

- BUMRAH: I DON’T TRY TO OVER-TEACH YOUNGSTERS

- Gilchrist expects Nepal, Netherlands to upset big teams

- Pant, Pandya star in big win over B’desh

- Ganguly backs Gambhir for India coach role

- BALAJI-MIGUEL PAIR ENTERS THIRD ROUND OF DOUBLES

- BESTING A FRIEND

- Jabeur wants ‘world to speak more’ on ‘unfair’ Gaza war

- Manu wins gold at Taiwan Open

GALLERY

Delhi bids for chess World Championship

New Delhi: Delhi has joined Chennai and Singapore in the race to host the World Championship match between D. Gukesh and China’s Ding Liren after the All India Chess Federation backed the national capital’s bid while accusing the Tamil Nadu government of acting unilaterally by pushing the southern city’s name.

Tyson fight postponed following health scare: Mike Tyson’s upcoming return to the ring against YouTuber Jake Paul has been postponed after the former heavyweight champion’s recent health scare, organisers said Friday. Tyson, 57, needed medical treatment on board a flight from Miami to Los Angeles on Sunday after complaining of nausea and dizziness.

England bowler Carse to serve three-month ban over betting: England and Durham bowler Brydon Carse will serve a three-month suspension over historical betting on matches following an anticorruption investigation by the Cricket Regulator.

Pranavi Urs moves into joint lead at Dormy Open: Pranavi Urs continued her solid form on the Ladies European Tour, rising to the top of the leaderboard after the second round in the Dormy Open here on Saturday. Pranavi shares the lead with England's Cara Gainer (65-71).

AGENCIES

ACTION TODAY

BADMINTON: Singapore Open, Finals, 9.30 am (Jiocinema, BWF Youtube) chess24);

CRICKET: ICC T20 WC, US vs Canada, 6 am; WI vs PNG, 8 pm (Star Sports)

HOCKEY: FIH Pro League, Men, Britain vs India, 2.30 pm (Jiocinema)

TENNIS: French Open, 2.30 pm (Sony)

FIH PRO LEAGUE

India trounce Germany 3-0

London: India exploited a rusty German defence, punching three goals as the Harmanpreet Singh-led side outclassed the world champions to make a winning start to the London leg of the FIH Pro Hockey League here on Saturday.

Drag-flicker Harmanpreet (16th minute), Sukhjeet Singh (41st) and Gurjant Singh (44th) tormented an out-of-sorts young German side, which started off on a roaring note but could not sustain the momentum for long.

The world No. 5 India, with 24 points from 13 outings are third, while Argentina, whom India defeated twice during the Antwerp leg of the Pro League are second with 26 points from 14 matches.

Netherlands are leading the table with 26 points from 12 games.

Goalkeeping stalwart PR Sreejesh stood rock solid against a relentless Ger- man attack in the first quarter, thwarting two penalty corners before Harmanpreet’s penalty corner conversion in the first minute of the second quarter turned the tables on world No. 3 side.

The India skipper’s low flick aimed to the left of German goalkeeper Alexander Stadler took a deflection off the first rusher Barry Antheus before sounding the board in the 16th minute.

Sukhjeet then doubled the lead in the 41st minute. Picking up the ball on the wing, he gave a through pass to Abhishek and made a dash to the circle. Abhishek relayed the ball back to Sukhjeet, who unleashed an unstoppable shot past the German goalkeeper.

Gurjant then lined up the third goal for India three minutes later.

Sanjay played the ball to Jarmanpreet Singh on the goal-line. The defender then flicked the ball back to Gurjant, who scooped it past Stadler to signal India’s dominance. All along, a jittery German side tried its best to breach the Indian defence but to no avail with Sreejesh showcasing his capability in the cage.

The Germans, returning to competitive hockey after nearly four months, having last played in the Olympic qualifiers in January, were profligate with penalty corners and their coordination left a lot to be desired. They earned a dozen penalty corners but all went waste. Sreejesh too played his role to perfection, thwarting three attempts -two off penalty corners -in the first quarter.

India will take on Germany again on June 8. They will play Great Britain on June 2 and 9.

PTI

Ronaldo in tears after King’s Cup loss

Cristiano Ronaldo after the match

Jeddah: Cristiano Ronaldo was in floods of tears after his Al Nassr side lost the King’s Cup final to Al Hilal on penalties late on Friday, extending his Saudi Arabian trophy drought. The Portuguese superstar, whose arrival last year unleashed a flood of top players to the oil-funded Saudi Pro League, slumped to the ground as Al Hilal celebrated.

Ronaldo, 39, then slowly walked off the pitch and sat in the dug-out with tears streaming down his face. In a tempestuous match that saw three red cards, including one for Al Nassr’s ex-Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina, Ayman Yahya scored in the 88th minute to cancel out Al Hilal’s early strike through Aleksandar Mitrovic.

But Al Hilal triumphed 5-4 in the shoot-out to complete the Saudi treble after also winning the Super Cup and the Saudi Pro League, finishing unbeaten in domestic action.

This season Al Hilal, with star signing Neymar injured since October, put together a record, 34-match winning streak in all competitions.

AGENCIES

Treesa-Gayatri pair’s run ends

Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly on Saturday

Manne.Ratnakar@timesgroup.com

Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida ended the dream run of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand 23-21, 21-11 in the semifinals of the Singapore Open BWF Super-750 tournament on Saturday. The Indian duo, who upset the second and sixth seeds earlier in the tournament, fell to the fourth-seeded Japanese pair in 47 minutes.

The Indians were slow off the blocks in the first game. But they made amends to give a tough time to the rivals towards the end. From 2-8, they closed the gap to 9-10 and saved three game points before losing.

At 18-20, Shida hit the shuttle wide. After a few exchanges, Gayatri saved the second game point with a powerful smash. At 20-21, Treesa helped India save the third game point with a brilliant return. The Japanese made it 22-21 after a poor serve from Treesa and exploited the gap at the back of court to secure the winner.

After losing the first game, the Indians made many mistakes at the net. NamiShida opened a 5-1 lead and raced to 13-2 with eight straight points. While the Japanese got better with every point, the Indians looked clueless. Both Nami and Shida were aggressive, hit the lines consistently and hardly gave room for the Indians.

In the final, the Japanese will face top seeds Cheng Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan of China, who defeated compatriots Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning 21-12, 21-17.

DK retires from all forms of cricket

Chennai: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik on Saturday announced his retirement from all forms of competitive cricket after two decades of playing for the country.

While his retirement was on the cards after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s ouster from the IPL Eliminator, Kart- hik chose his 39th birthday to make his decision official.

“Having given plenty of thought for sometime now, I have decided to move on from playing competitive cricket. I officially announce my retirement and put my playing days behind me as I square up for the new challenges that lie ahead,” Karthik wrote on ‘X’.

PTI

PM: Strong yuva & nari shakti turnouts encouraging

 Continued from P 1

Their dedication and meticulous planning have been crucial in upholding the integrity of our democracy, allowing citizens across the nation to vote with confidence and security. Our electoral process is something every believer in democratic values takes inspiration from,” the PM said, a remark which coincided with deaths of polling personnel due to the intense heat wave and contrasted with the condemnation of the poll body by opposition parties.

The prime minister also expressed gratitude to security forces for their unwavering vigilance during the elections.

“I can say with confidence that the people of India have voted in record numbers to reelect the NDA govt. They have seen our track record and the manner in which our work has brought about a qualitative change in the lives of the poor, the marginalised and the downtrodden,” PM Narendra Modi said in a series of posts on X.

“At the same time, they have seen how reforms have propelled India to being the fifth largest global economy. Every scheme of ours has reached the intended beneficiaries without any bias or leakage,” the prime minister further added.

Extending gratitude to voters, the PM said their active participation was the cornerstone of the country's democracy. Making special mention of women and youth, he said, “I would also like to specially appreciate India’s Nari Shakti and Yuva Shakti. Their strong presence at the polls is a very encouraging sign.”

He also applauded NDA workers, saying that across the length and breadth of India, they often braved intense heat. “I compliment them for meticulously explaining our development agenda to the people and motivating them to come out and vote. Our karyakartas are our greatest strength,” Modi said.

Oppn wants its counting agents to be vigilant in ‘close seats’

Continued from P 1

Calling it “janata ka exit poll”, Kharge said the figure was arrived at based on people’s feedback to the alliance heads. He called it the “real exit poll” as against “govt’s exit poll” which was released “to create hype for BJP”.

“BJP and its allies will discuss the exit polls. We wanted to put across the truth to ensure there was no confusion because of their narrative,” he said. The claim followed a meeting at Kharge’s residence which went on for over two hours and was attended by the leading lights of the INDIA bloc like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar of NCP, Farooq Abdullah (NC), Sitaram Yechury (CPM), Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPIML), Akhilesh Yadav (SP), Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Champai Soren and Kalpana Soren (JMM), T R Baalu (DMK), Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann (AAP), D Raja (CPI), Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal, Ramgopal Yadav, Sanjay Singh, Sanjay Yadav and Raghav Chadha. As earlier announced by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, TMC did not attend the meeting. PDP also stayed away.

Later, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged home minister Amit Shah was calling up district magistrates and collectors and had spoken to 150 of them, in what he claimed was “tantamount to intimidation and showed BJP’s desperation”. “Let it be very clear: the will of the people shall prevail, and on June 4, Modi, Shah and BJP will exit, and INDIA Janbandhan will be victorious,” Ramesh said on X.

Sources said netas from key states exchanged notes and arrived at the figure of 295-plus, with a good tally expected in Maharashtra, Bihar and UP, which was termed as a figure “radically different from 2019”. At the same time, the feedback in the meeting was that BJP would not open its account in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Punjab. Also, it was felt that unlike 2019, the opposition would chip away at BJP numbers in states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Himachal and Uttarakhand. The feedback was that BJP would be “south mein saaf, north mein half”, a tagline coined by the opposition during the elections.

Sources said the discussions were largely focused on “counting-related anomalies” experienced in the past. One key concern raised was counting of postal ballots, which the opposition said should precede the counting of EVMs. Referring to UP and Bihar assembly elections, it was said that postal ballots were counted after the EVM votes at many centres, and it made the difference in a good number of constituencies.

The parties want their counting agents to be vigilant in “close seats” with margins of around 50,000 votes, figuring these as contests “that are vulnerable to counting related anomalies”. The opposition argue that EC should give precedence to Form 17C over EVMs in case of a discrepancy in numbers.

Kharge said, “We discussed many issues, especially the problems that can arise during counting and how they should be resolved. We have to give instructions to our workers. Many alliance members have already cautioned them, but as a precaution we had to convey to all about how to function on counting day.” He said the agents have been told that they should stay in the counting centres till the end, follow all formalities and not leave the hall till they receive the certificates. Kharge will hold a virtual meeting with party candidates on Sunday.

Oppn will get up to 40 seats in UP: SP

In the meeting, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is said to have stated that opposition will win up to 40 seats in UP, while RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav quoted the opposition tally at around 20 in Bihar. Congress and Left said BJP will get around 12 seats in Bengal. In Maharashtra, NCP leader Sharad Pawar is said to have quoted 26 seats for the opposition, while Shiv Sena (UBT) put the figure at 33.

TNN

Rahul writes to prez over ‘discriminatory’ Agnipath scheme, urges her to intervene

TIMESNEWSNETWORK

New Delhi: Congress’ Rahul Gandhi has written to Prez Droupadi Murmu against Agnipath scheme, alleging that there was discrimination in the nature and extent of benefits given to families of slain Agniveers. Rahul urged the prez to intervene as she is the supreme commander of the armed forces and the issue affects national security.

“There can be no clearer il- lustration of the fundamental flaw in Agnipath scheme — the creation of a ‘lesser’ cadre of soldiers who are expected to work on similar tasks with lower pay, benefits and prospects,” Rahul said in the letter.

“Discrimination in the nature and extent of benefits accorded to the families of our slain Agniveers compared to regular soldiers warrants your urgent attention. This ‘anyay’ is why Congress and our INDIA al- lies have strongly opposed Agnipath scheme, and have promised to repeal it if we form govt,” the former Congress chief said.

Rahul requested Murmu to intervene even though he recognised that a prez did not generally interfere in policy matters, which are the domain of the elected govt. “However, I believe an exception is warranted in this case, given both the seriousness of this issue and your unique position. You are the supreme commander of India’s armed forces. You have taken an oath to devote yourself to well being of people of India,” he said.

“I appeal to you to use your distinguished office to do ‘nyay’ to Agniveer soldiers who lay down their lives, by ensuring that they receive the same benefits as any soldier who makes the highest sacrifice for our motherland,” Rahul said.

UP and Bihar continue to report moderate turnouts

Continued from P 1

An FIR was registered and fresh papers and EVM were provided to the sector officer, enabling uninterrupted polling.

Jharkhand and Odisha also fared well on the polling meter, both logging turnout of 70.7%. Himachal witnessed a turnout of 69.8%, followed by Chandigarh with 67.9%. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar continued to report moderate turnouts at 55.6% and 51.6% respectively. Varanasi, from where PM Narendra Modi is seeking re-election, polled 56.3% votes. Ghazipur witnessed a turnout of 55.2% and Gorakhpur 54.7%. Salempur saw the least polling in the state at 51.3%.

Punjab — which is witnessing a three-cornered fight among Congress, AAP and BJP — saw a moderate 59.5% turnout, way less than the 65.9% polling it had seen in 2019. Constituencies like Amritsar, Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur, in particular, witnessed low voter interest.

The total electorate in the current poll was 97.6 crore, of which 57.8 crore had voted until Phase 6. Even if 62% of the electorate in 57 remaining seats have voted in Phase 7, the absolute number of votes polled would have crossed 64 crore, up from 61.4 crore who voted in 2019.

In terms of gender-wise voting, turnout among women exceeded the male polling percentage in two of the last six phases, as it did in 173 of the 486 parliamentary constituencies where polling was completed by Phase 6.

“The collective efforts of voters, political parties, candidates, election personnel and security forces during polling have strengthened Indian democracy, deserving great respect and appreciation. We, the people, have kept the wheels of democracy spinning,” said an EC spokesperson on behalf of chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar and election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.

Notwithstanding the criticism directed at it for being soft towards the party in office, particularly while reviewing MCC complaints against the PM, EC thanked all parties and candidates, calling them a “critical pivot of Indian elections”.

2 arrested in K’taka tribal funds scam in wake of officer’s suicide

SantoshKumar.B@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: The SIT probing the multi-crore tribal fund scam on Saturday arrested J G Padmanabha, suspended managing director (MD) of Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, and accounts officer Parashurama G.

The duo, along with a Union Bank of India chief manager, had come under the scanner after their names were mentioned in a suicide note left behind by the corporation’s accounts officer Chandrashekar (50) — who died by suicide on May 26 at his Shivamogga residence — accusing the trio and a minister of embezzling funds meant for the upliftment of ST community.

The state-run corporation comes under Karnataka scheduled tribes welfare minister B Nagendra. Based on preliminary investigations, state govt suspended Padmanabha and Parashurama and ordered a probe as funds to the tune of Rs 94.7 crore had been siphoned off.

Opposition BJP has been demanding minister Nagendra’s resignation over his role in the scam while the Siddaramaiah govt has cho- sen a wait-and-watch approach till the election results are out on Tuesday.

The SIT produced Padmanabha and Parashurama before the magistrate court Saturday and sought 14-day police custody for investigation. The court granted six days, until June 7. SIT took the duo to CID office for further investigation.

Meanwhile, SIT officials conducted searches at the residences and office premises of the accused persons in Bengaluru and Davangere. Union Bank of India’s MG Road branch chief manager, Suchismita Rawal, is yet to be brought in for questioning.

WATCH OUT FOR THE UNDERDOGS!

This T20 World Cup Is Cricket’s Push Towards Globalization, And That Means Opportunities For The Associate Teams. Those Who Can Punch Above Their Weight Will be Noticed & Admired...

NEW TO THE BIG STAGE: Nicholas Kirton of Canada bowls during a training session in Dallas, Texas.

Dwaipayan.Datta@timesgroup.com

If you are not following what’s happening around the cricket world, you can be pardoned for mistaking it as the basketball World Cup opener. United States vs Canada in Dallas — there’s nothing about this fixture that suggests that a cricket World Cup is about to start.

But then, that’s what it is. Cricket needs its push towards globalization following its entry into the Olympics and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has no option but to make the World Cup of the sport’s most marketable format a bit of a free-pass. Twenty teams is probably a little too much and quite a few matches in the first two weeks — 16 of which are in the USA — will stand a chance to shape up as immensely one-sided affairs.

While Groups C and D have three teams each which can come close to qualification for Super 8, Groups A and B are a little too lop-sided, even if we keep the ‘game of glorious uncertainties’ cliche in mind. Take India’s Group A for example. Yes, there’s a marquee India-Pakistan game at the Nassau County ground which is important for the sport’s popularity in its newfoundland. But India’s other three opponents — Ireland, USA and Canada — over 10 days isn’t exactly the fare that cricket fans are waiting for.

It’s most likely that a few records will be broken, some massive scores will be put up — a famous former cricketer, in fact, joked that India may enforce the follow-on in a game or two! But will it stand India in good stead when they go into Super8s, where they are likely to face New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Australia over a period of seven days?

And before we get to that, there can be a case of consumer fatigue, if there are too many games which don’t capture the imagination of the viewing public. It is a must to keep the fans glued to the action and one-sided cricket matches can truly be a put-off for those who are born and bred on high-intensity adrenaline rush.

But then, the administrators running the sport would argue that the problem of bloat is not necessarily a cricket problem. In its bid to make the sport more “democratic”, football World Cup has been made a 48-team event (from its present 32) from the next edition. And FIFA would flaunt the fact that Morocco’s entry into the semifinals or Japan’s knockout punch on Germany in the group stage of the last World Cup prove that they are on the right track. In fact, the Morocco parallel came up for discussion when minnows Afghanistan were in the middle of a brilliant run in the ODI World Cup in India last October-November.

When Afghanistan beat Pakistan in the league stage in Chennai following a big chase, the Afghan coach Jonathan Trott was asked whether they would like to be called “the Morocco of cricket”. “We want to be the best version of ourselves. But to remain competitive we have to play more against the best teams in the business,” Trott had said as his Afghan warriors briefly threatened to qualify for the semis.

It is a similar story that the ICC is hoping from this World Cup as well. Of course, no one wants the supremely popular India to lose before semifinals, but the emergence of a new nation in cricket is long overdue.

The USA have a team full of Indian and Pakistani-origin players who couldn’t make it big back home. While it will be some story if they can pull off the odd upset, Ireland on their day have the ability to trouble top teams. Nepal is another country where cricket is immensely popular and they have made some giant strides in recent times, but the beautiful story of this World Cup can be Uganda.

The small and poor African nation has made the T20 World Cup and most of its players have grown up in slums of Kampala, nurturing the dream that cricket will be a gate-pass to better lives.

They have an Indian coach in Abhay Sharma, who was the captain of a Ranji Trophy winning Railways side, and he said that he didn’t have an idea before taking up the job that some of these players have gone through such hardships. “These guys have immense respect for coaches. They think we can change their lives,” Sharma said during an interview recently from Trinidad and Tobago, where the team was preparing for the World Cup.

If a team like Uganda pull off an upset or Afghanistan go on to play the semifinals, we should all be happy. Of course, we will have the usual suspects who will flex their muscles as the tournament gets to its business end. India’s fortunes will obviously become the talking point while teams like Australia and South Africa will look to dominate with their no-holds-barred cricket.

West Indies, at home, too should dish out their Calypso flair and in the middle of all these, a beautiful underdog story would become the cherry on top that the sport needs to become a global brand.

TOP CONTENDERS

TOI TAKES A LOOK AT THE FAVOURITES AND THEIR STRENGTHS...

Dwaipayan.Dutta@timesgroup.com

INDIA: There was a prediction by the pundits commentating in the IPL about the semi-finalists for the T20 World Cup and each one of them had India in their list. Rohit Sharma’s boys have the balance — brilliant technicians, quality power-hitters, top spinners and an outstanding Jasprit Bumrah. It is a team that is good for all conditions and it’s only about things falling into place for them to be there at the business end.

AUSTRALIA: A team full of confidence. They have won everything that is there to be won and this team too doesn’t lack variety. Australia are built on their ability to explode with the bat while the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa have the quality to rise with the ball when the occasion demands. The fact that the team has nothing more to prove can make them just a bit more dangerous.

SOUTH AFRICA: Though mired with racism issues all over again, South Africa are quietly building a formidable limitedovers team following the Aussie template of power-hitters and some quality bowlers. The likes of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs are destructive hitters who can simply take the game away from any opposition on their day.

ENGLAND: The team is nurturing the hurt of a disastrous ODI World Cup campaign. Their captain Jos Buttler got their players to return from IPL well before the playoffs, which shows how serious the veteran is to turn things around. England also have a nice mix of youth and experience, some big-hitters and quality white-ball bowlers who know what it is to deliver on a big stage. And if Jofra Archer gets back to his best, England can shape up into one of the top contenders for the title.

DARK HORSE:

West Indies: On paper, they don’t look the best team, but home conditions and an element of unpredictability make them a force to reckon with. And when a team has power hitters like Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell and Shimron Hetmyer, there’s no option but to take them seriously.

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

VIRAT KOHLI (IND)

As predictable as it can get, but Kohli still remains the focus of all the attention. The modern master showed in IPL that he can maintain a strikerate of 155 over a period of 15 games. He has developed the slog sweep, a shot that he didn’t play earlier, and that should stand him in good stead against spinners. If Kohli can keep his IPL form, India can hope for great things.

JASPRIT BUMRAH (IND)

The best bowler in the world across formats is at the top of his game. During a disastrous IPL campaign for Mumbai Indians, he was the stand-out, taking 20 wickets at an economy rate of 6.5. On batting beauties, with no support from the other end, he kept delivering the goods, something that he would love to do for India on a stage as big as the T20 World Cup.

HEINRICH KLAASEN (SA)

Many consider him as the best white-ball hitter in the game. Klaasen has the ability to destroy spinners, something that we don’t always see South African batters do on a regular basis. Klaasen can be equally effective against pace and during Sunrisers Hyderabad’s run to the IPL final, the right-hander showed that he can play at a lower gear as well when required only to pick it up at the right time.

TRAVIS HEAD (AUS)

The man who virtually single-handedly won two finals — World Test Championship and ODI World Cup — for the Aussies. Head’s fearlessness and ability to explode at the top went to a different level in the IPL, where he was batting at a ridiculous strike-rate of 191.5. If Head continues with his ability to take over big games for the country, don’t be surprised if Australia make it a hat-trick of ICC titles.

ANDRE RUSSELL (WI)

As KKR went on to become IPL champions, Russell’s all-round shows went a bit under the radar. The West Indian scored some crucial runs for his team at a strike-rate of 185 and got 19 wickets bowling the difficult overs at the back-end. It’s his current form and his experience of the big stage that make Russell a serious threat on home conditions.

INDIA’S FIXTURES

June 5, 2024: India vs Ireland; Venue: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York; Time: 8 pm IST

June 9, 2024: India vs Pakistan; Venue: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York; Time: 8 pm IST

June 12, 2024: India vs United States of America; Venue: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York; Time: 8 pm IST

June 15, 2024: India vs Canada; Venue: Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida; Time: 8 pm IST

BUMRAH: I DON’T TRY TO OVER-TEACH YOUNGSTERS

New York: Considered a mentor for the new crop of Indian fast bowlers, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah says he never tries to “over-teach” the younger lot and steps in to help only when asked to avoid burdening them with information.

The 30-year-old Bumrah is expected to be a guiding force for India’s pace battery, featuring the relatively younger and less experienced Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh.

“You don’t try to over-teach. That is something that I have learned,” Bumrah told the ICC’s official website for the T20 World Cup. “Because whenever people need help, I let them have their own questions, because you don’t want to give too much information,” he said. “It’s not like they have just been lucky and they land here. So that is what I try to do. I do pass on certain information that I have gained over from my experience,” he said. “But I don’t try to burden them with (over) information. That is a part of the journey as well. You have to find your own solutions.”

The bowler said his focus has been to simply enjoy his game. “Certain things will go my way. Certain things will not. I have just realised that I started playing this sport because I love this sport. And I will focus on that.”

PTI

Gilchrist expects Nepal, Netherlands to upset big teams

ADAM GILCHRIST

Barbados: Legendary Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist believes Nepal and the Netherlands could surprise teams like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup. Nepal and the Netherlands are clubbed with Bangladesh, South Africa and Sri Lanka in Group D. Gilchrist believes that the international exposure gained by the youngsters in the Rohit Paudel-led Nepalese team has made them a formidable unit.

As for the Netherlands, Gilchrist observed that they have been always tough customers in ICC events and would like to make the most of the limited opportunities they get to play against big teams. “I think Nepal would be a team that might be able to fire a shot,” Gilchrist told SEN Radio on Saturday. “They’ve got a couple of young players who have been in all the big leagues for a number of years now,” he said.

Nepal, however, have suffered a big blow ahead of the World Cup as their ace leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been ruled out after his US visa application was rejected for a second time. With the Dutch having upset the Proteas in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, Gilchrist felt they definitely would be a tough proposition.

“The Dutch always seem to ruffle a few feathers, they always seem to get under the skin, and they’re drawn in the same pool as South Africa again. They nailed them in the T20 World Cup last time in Australia in Adelaide. So, it might be the Dutch who upset big teams,” he said.

Citing the example of the USA upsetting Bangladesh 2-1 in a three match T20 series late last month, Gilchrist said lesser-known cricket-playing nations are always looking at opportunities to beat bigger teams.

“That’s in a financial component where they get a little bit of a lick of the ice cream... but also just the experience. With the T20 format, that’s the opportunity for these nations to come in and start trying to ruffle a few feathers but also bed down the cricket programs in their countries.

“Have a look at the results of the USA against Bangladesh in the last few weeks, the US have fired a few shots, they’ve beaten them a few times. It’s about allowing them to get a platform and a chance to shine. Hopefully that firms up the cricket programs in more nations around the world,” said Gilchrist. PTI

WARM-UP GAME

Pant, Pandya star in big win over B’desh

New York: Hardik Pandya’s allround show and Rishabh Pant’s reassurance with the willow ensured a comfortable 60-run victory for India in their only warm-up game against Bangladesh here on Saturday. Opting to bat, India made 182/5 in their 20 overs. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant top scored for India as he got himself retired out after making 53 runs off 32 balls, while Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav scored 40 not out and 31 respectively.

For Bangladesh, Mahedi Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Mahmudullah and Tanvir Islam got a wicket apiece.

In reply, Bangladesh were never in the game, ending their innings at 122/8 in 20 overs with Arshdeep Singh (2/13) getting some deliveries to swing up-front.

Pandya, after a good hand with the bat, also got a wicket. Interestingly, Shivam Dube got a chance to bowl and took a couple of wickets too.

The story of the day was Pant, who reinforced his claim for a berth in the playing XI as first-choice wicket keeper batter. Pant, who was making his India comeback after a horrific car accident back in Dec 2022, retired after making his 32-ball knock (4x4, 4x6) on a slightly slow pitch.

The knock certainly gives him an edge over Sanju Samson in the perceived competition for the slot. Samson too played the match as opener along with skipper Rohit Sharma (23; 19b, 2x4, 1x6) as Virat Kohli, who was expected to open, skipped the game after he arrived here only on Friday.

Pant continued his fine form from the IPL, carting Bangladesh bowlers around. There were those typical Pant shots which are hard to describe, such as a stand-still flick off Soumya Sarkar to fine-leg for a boundary or a one-handed six off off-spinner Mahmudullah Riyaz.

PTI

Ganguly backs Gambhir for India coach role

FROM IPL TO TEAM INDIA? KKR mentor Gambhir (right ) with Rohit Sharma

Ronan. Carvalho

Mumbai: Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly says he will welcome Gautam Gambhir’s selection as the new Indian coach, if indeed he has applied for the post. “If he applies and wants it, he’ll be a very good candidate. I’m in favour of an Indian coach. We have enormous high-skilled players who have done wonders for Indian cricket, and very rightfully they should be a part of the system. You can see his hunger and passion, I think he is a good candidate,” said the Delhi Capitals director of cricket on Saturday.

‘Virat and Rohit should open’

Looking forward to the T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean, Ganguly feels the team should open the batting with two of its most ex- perienced players. “I think Virat and Rohit both should open. Virat’s been in tremendous touch as a player,” Ganguly said. The former He India’s chances to win the tournament are “very good,” but only if they “play with freedom and without fear”.

“Play without fear and just keep hitting. There is enormous talent, (this is) a team which has Kohli, Rohit, Surya, Pant, Dube, Pandya, Jadeja, Axar, Bumrah, Sanju,” he said. “That’s why I say everyone is capable of winning it for India and the only way they will do it is (if they) just play with freedom.

“Play with that extra batsman and hit from the first ball, hit till you have to defend (and) play like the last ball,” he added.

For the game against Pakistan, Ganguly said he’d like to see India play two left handers in the middle order to counter Pakistan’s leg spinner (Shadab Khan) and left-arm spinner (Imad Wasim). He picked Dube as the perfect man for the occasion, “as he hits spin well”.

With the newly opened Nassau County ground ready to stage its first T20I match at the World Cup, the conditions are still an enigma to most of the teams.

However, Ganguly thinks that the drop in pitches brought in from Adelaide will be “very good and batting friendly.” And won’t change much for the duration of the tournament.

He is also a big proponent of the IPL’s Impact Player rule but thinks a few tweaks will make it less lopsided for the bowling teams.

“I like it, I think it should remain, but my only problem is that I want the grounds to be bigger. The other thing you can do is decide the impact player before the toss,” Ganguly said.

SOURAV GANGULY

BALAJI-MIGUEL PAIR ENTERS THIRD ROUND OF DOUBLES

Prajwal.Hegde@timesgroup.com

Paris: Alternates Sriram Balaji and Miguel Reyes-Varelas moved into the third round of the Roland Garros men’s doubles, beating wildcard entrants Theo Arribage and Dan Added in the second round. The Indo-Mexican pairing came through 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Balaji and Reyes-Varelas, who led by a set and a break in the second, had a mid-match let down that saw the all-French pairing win the last four games of the second set to draw level. Just when it looked like Balaji and ReyesVarelas had let an opportunity slip, they piled on the pressure in the sixth game of the decider. They broke again in the eighth game. The alternates closed on the third match point. Balaji, who started the tournament with his individual doubles ranking at 84, is up at No.66, in the Live rankings. Balaji and Reyes-Varelas could play second seeds Rohan Bopanna and Aussie Matt Ebden in the third round.

BESTING A FRIEND

No. 2 Sabalenka Dispatches Close Pal Badosa

RIVALS ON COURT: Aryna Sabalenka serves to 139-ranked Paula Badosa, who was ranked No. 2 two summers ago

TIMES IN PARIS

Prajwal.Hegde@timesgroup.com

Paris: Paula Badosa leaned over the net and reached out to hug the Belarusian powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka after their 77-minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. The duo was locked in a long embrace that was all respect and some relief.

On another wet, miserable day at Roland Garros, their friendship sparked a warm glow. The day’s feelgood story. The Sabalenka-Badosa French Open third-round clash, billed as the ‘Battle of the Besties’, was a contest on many levels. The clay court championship, wearing the look of an inclement weather report, was a booming affair under the roof at Chatrier between two heavy ball strikers.

A physical and mental test with both players giving it their all. The second seed didn’t shy from asking the tough questions and it was no less than Badosa had come prepared for. Sabalenka, who had won their two previous meetings of the year, threw in audacious dropshots, forcing Badosa to use her wheels. Reach and stretch. The 26-year-old Spaniard, who is slowly finding her range again, tried to keep it together, forcing her opponent to go big. Sabalenka obliged.

Badosa, who was ranked No.2 in the world two summers ago, watched Roland Garros from her couch last year, not knowing when and if she would return to these stages again.

Sabalenka, who has had to deal with some tragic reverses in the last few years, including losing her father to meningitis in 2019, and then her former boyfriend Konstantin Koltov dying by suicide in March, is determined to keep the joy alive.

Badosa led 5-3 in the first set, she pumped her fist and looked at her box. The comeback was looking ripe. Sabalenka, who was trying not to look at the player down the other, trying to treat her as just another opponent, won 10 of the next eleven games to seal a strong 7-5, 6-1 win. Their friendship, which started a few years ago when they played an exhibition event, is the coming together of two, strong, independent women.

“About Aryna, what can I say?” Badosa, ranked 139, asked. “She’s such a natural, honest person. I think tennis needs players like her. She brings an amazing game on court, very intense. Off court, she’s a nice person, very genuine. That’s why we have this amazing relationship, because even if she wins 10 more Slams, she’s going to be the same person.”

Sabalenka was in regular touch with Badosa last year as the Spaniard tried to work her way back. “I know how much she struggled. I was trying to help her as much as I could, talking, sharing my experience because some of her injuries were similar to the ones I had,” Sabalenka explained. “At the beginning it was tricky because I didn’t want to be the person who’s jumping on her with my advice. I was giving her time. As soon as I realized that she is actually open for whatever, I started sharing my experience with her.”

Zverev survives Griekspoor marathon

World No. 4 Alexander Zverev survived a marathon match to beat Tallon Griekspoor 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(3) in the French Open third round on Saturday and keep alive his hopes of a first Grand Slam title. The Dutch 27-year-old held a 4-1 advantage in the decider. REUTERS

Jabeur wants ‘world to speak more’ on ‘unfair’ Gaza war

Paris: Ons Jabeur, the most high-profile Arab women’s tennis star, demanded Friday the world “speak more” on the ongoing war in Gaza, calling the impact of the conflict “unfair”.

Jabeur, the only Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final and a former world number two, says she has effectively stopped following the war on social media. “I’m pretty sad to see the news every day, and I honestly try not to be on social media because it’s horrifying video what’s happening in Gaza right now,” said the 29-year-old Tunisian. “I wish the world could speak more.”

In Feb, Jabeur became a goodwill ambassador with the World Food Programme (WFP) “to engage in various initiatives including one focusing on the Gaza emergency”. “I’m trying to send the great energy helping as an ambassador, but definitely it makes me very sad and angry to see that nothing is moving and nothing is really happening,” added Jabeur.

AFP

HEAR ME ROAR! Ons Jabeur is into the last 16

Manu wins gold at Taiwan Open

New Delhi: India’s DP Manu clinched the gold medal in men's javelin throw event at the Taiwan Open 2024 with a throw of 81.58m in Taipei on Saturday. The Asian Athletics Championship silver medallist registered his best throw in his last attempt. Taiwan Open is is a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze-level meet. and awards crucial ranking points.

Manu started with an 78.32m throw, while his second attempt measured 76.80m. But he improved his efforts sending the spear to 80.59m and 81.52m in his third and fifth attempt. He could not register a valid attempt in his fourth throw .

The performance was, however, far from Manu’s personal best of 84.35m. It is also less than his season-best effort of 82.06, which had come last month at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar when he had finished second behind Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra.

Manu is yet to qualify for the Paris Olympics, the qualification mark for which is of 85.50m.

PTI

Delhi Times

- MUKHERJEE NAGAR MERI ZINDAGI KA BADA HISSA BAN CHUKA HAI: VIKRANT

- A HOUSEFUL CINEMA LOVERS’ DAY

- ‘Vidhu Vinod Chopra wanted real students to maintain the authenticity of 12th Fail’

- I’m very sensitive to vibes and this house gives me positive ones: Adah Sharma

- POLL STAR

- In a statement she shared on social media

- I follow my intuition, not other people’s opinions: Adah

- POLL STAR

- DID YOU KNOW?

- REFORM OR REJECT? THE PUNE PORSCHE INCIDENT POSES A TRICKY QUESTION FOR THE JUDICIARY

- The King Charles III to take part in the Trooping the Colour ceremony

- Traditional dishes served with a pinch of modernity at this resto

- For a democracy to thrive, voices need to remain independent: Payal Kapadia

- THESE WOMEN ARE SERVING POST-60 FITSPIRATION GOALS. HERE’S HOW

- Joe Jonas and Stormi Bree part ways after 5 months

- Gigi and Bella Hadid donate $1M to support children in Palestine

- Manjummel Boys makers guilty of ﬁnancial fraud: Police report

- Now, there are ‘dog centric’ airplanes

- Peanut diet in infants cuts allergy risk later: Research

- Cool display of contemporary designs

MUKHERJEE NAGAR MERI ZINDAGI KA BADA HISSA BAN CHUKA HAI: VIKRANT

Vidhu Vinod Chopra & Vikrant Massey were in Delhi recently to celebrate 12th Fail’s success with students and staff members from Mukherjee Nagar coaching institutes, who helped bring the civil service study hub alive on screen

I’ve seen you all (referring to the junior artistes) for 1-1.5 years. I remember who was in the exam result scene, the cafe scene... None of you looked like you were acting. You were so authentic. I’ve come here to express my gratitude and say, kamaal kar diya aap logon ne – Vidhu Vinod Chopra addressing the Mukherjee Nagar team at the event

A still from 12th Fail, which was largely shot in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar, where students from across India gather every year with hopes of cracking the civil services exam

Niharika Lal

Sitting cross-legged and mulling over the uncertainties in their future, while one friend decides to stop attempting UPSC exams, another takes a deep breath before narrating his stories of struggle, hoping to inspire the other to restart. This is a brief outline of how Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail begins to unfold on screen, but it could aptly be used to describe daily scenes at Mukherjee Nagar – the UPSC coaching hub in the capital. From vigorous discussions at tapris to charchas within cramped classrooms, the 2023 film captured the spirit of Mukherjee Nagar. As 12th Fail completed its silver jubilee (25 weeks) recently, the director and Vikrant Massey visited Delhi to celebrate the movie’s success with the Mukherjee Nagar team that worked on the film.

CONTINUED ON FLAP BACK

Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Vikrant Massey at the Delhi event

A HOUSEFUL CINEMA LOVERS’ DAY

Moviegoers were in for a treat as cinemas across the country and the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) brought back Cinema Lovers’ Day on May 31. Many theaters observed long queues of visitors who enjoyed re-releases of beloved films. “We celebrated this day to express our gratitude to moviegoers,” said Kamal Gianchandani, President, MAI

‘Vidhu Vinod Chopra wanted real students to maintain the authenticity of 12th Fail’

Mukherjee Nagar meri zindagi ka bada hissa ban chuka hai. Main kuch din pehle Dilli mein aaya hua tha, toh main aur meri sister-in-law Batra cinema ke paas se egg roll kha kar wapis aaye – Vikrant Massey

When Vinodji called me and said that he had selected Mukherjee Nagar for the actual shoot, Shraddha and I were both so happy because we felt that now our memories of Batra cinema will remain with us forever – IG Manoj Sharma, whose life inspired the movie, and who is currently serving in the Maharashtra Police

CONTINUED FROM FLAP FRONT

‘The junior artistes in the film were so authentic that I felt like an actor trying to act’

The production members of the film said that the acting of the staff members was so authentic in 12th Fail that they have been receiving a lot of questions about the junior artistes, with some in Mumbai wondering if cameras were hidden in real coaching classrooms.

Sharing anecdotes from sets of 12th Fail, Vikrant said, “On the first day, when we were shooting class scenes, I kept going back to the monitor because something felt off. After an hour, I realised that the only thing off in the entire frame was me.” Turning towards the junior artistes from the film gathered at the event, he continued, “You all were so authentic and genuine in those scenes that when I saw myself in the frame, I felt like an actor trying to act in the film.”

How staff members of a coaching institute made their Bollywood debut with 12th Fail

During the event, Vidhu Vinod Chopra shared he often receives compliments for the authentic depiction of Mukherjee Nagar in the film and the casting of the teacher (played by Vikas Divyakriti) and students. In response to that, one of the production house members revealed, “Vidhu Vinod Chopra didn’t want to call junior artists from Mumbai for the shoot because he wanted to maintain the film’s authenticity. For his previous film Shikara, when junior artistes were required for just four days of shooting, he flew in junior artistes from Kashmir. To maintain the authenticity of 12th Fail, he wanted real students.”

Former civil servant and educator Vikas Divyakriti was given the responsibility to find those students. As getting real students to shoot would have been difficult, he tasked his young staff members, some of whom were also preparing for civil service exams, to play those roles. Divyakriti, who played himself (an IAS coaching faculty member) in the film, said, “Vidhu sir ki ek hi chinta thi ki koi actor camera mein dekhe nahi. Pehli baar mein hi bachchon ne kamaal kar diya.”

To that, Vidhu Vinod Chopra warmly replied, “Mujhe kai logon ne aisa kaha hai – jo teacher ki casting thi, kya kamaal ki casting thi. Kya natural actor hai woh.”Lokesh Kashyap Former civil servant and educator

Addressing Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Vikrant said, “Thank you for this incredible gesture (of visiting Delhi to thank the junior artistes). Main Bambai ka rehne wala hoon, 21 saal ho gaye mujhe professional acting karte hue aur pehli baar maine dekha hai kisi insaan ko, aur khaas taur pe jab woh insaan itne bade ohde pe ho, woh kabhi pichhe mud kar kisi ko dhanyavad kare, maine kisi ko nahi dekha hai aisa karte”

Former civil servant and educator

I’m very sensitive to vibes and this house gives me positive ones: Adah Sharma

In an exclusive chat with us, the actress opens up about settling into the Mumbai apartment where Sushant Singh Rajput used to reside

Adah has added her own touch to the apartment and got the entire place painted white. While the lower floor has been converted into a mandir (below), she has transformed the terrace into a garden by bringing all her plants from her previous home

Neha Maheshwri

A part from her movie outings, Adah Sharma has been in the news over the past few months for renting the Mumbai apartment where actor Sushant Singh Rajput resided before his death in June 2020. The lease agreement was signed in October 2023 and the actress moved in with her mother and grandmother earlier this year.

The actress, who had so far remained silent about renting the flat, finally opened up to us. “I moved into the flat (Mont Blanc Apartments, Bandra) four months ago, but I was busy promoting my projects, including Bastar and the OTT release of The Kerala Story. It’s only recently that I got some time off and have finally settled in.”

CONTINUED ON 3

Adah and her mother did not have much furniture in their old house, so this one, too, has minimal furniture, she shared

A file pic of Sushant Singh Rajput who lived in the Bandra flat till his death in June 2020

POLL STAR

Harbhajan Singh

CELEBS CAST THEIR VOTE

Mithun Chakraborty

Vivek Dahiya

Ayushmann Khurrana

Kirron Kher

Aparna Sen

P3

In a statement she shared on social media

In a statement she shared on social media, Payal Kapadia, whose All We Imagine As Light recently won the Grand Prix – the second-highest honour at Cannes – credits her alma mater FTII for her success; she also underscores the need for affordable public education in the country

P8

I follow my intuition, not other people’s opinions: Adah

The house had been locked up for nearly three years and all the furniture had been removed. Adah has now rented it for five years – A source

Adah has converted one room on the top floor into a music room and another a dance studio

CONTINUED FROM 1

She added, “I have lived in the same house at Pali Hill (Bandra) all my life and this is the first time I’ve moved out of there. I’m very sensitive to vibes and this house gives me positive ones. Our homes in Kerala and Mumbai are surrounded by trees and we used to feed birds and squirrels. So, I wanted a home with a view and ample space to feed birds.”

A source, who deals with properties informed us, “Following Sushant’s demise, it had become impossible to find tenants; two clients showed some interest initially, but then decided against renting it. The house had been locked up for nearly three years and all the furniture had been removed. Adah has now rented it for five years.”

When we asked Adah, if she too, like other potential tenants, was unsure about renting this place, she replied, “I always follow my intuition, not other people’s opinions. Many people had tried to scare me away from starting my career with a horror movie, but I did it and scared them instead (smiles). They dissuaded me from being a part of The Kerala Story, too, and the kind of numbers the film made is for all to see.”

POLL STAR

Gul Panag

STARS VOTE FOR DEMOCRACY

Gunjan Utreja

Moon Moon Sen

Raima Sen

Paoli

DID YOU KNOW?

It took Robin Williams over four hours to become Mrs Doubtfire

Robin Williams’ transformation into Mrs Doubtfire required four hours of prosthetic work and makeup. On top of the full-bodysuit and conservative attire that were used for Williams’ transformation, makeup artiste Ve Neill fashioned Mrs Doubtfire’s likeness with a multi-piece latex mask and extensive makeup. The mask was pieced together and painted daily by Neill in a painstaking process.

SHOULD BE DELHI IS TALKING ABOUT

REFORM OR REJECT? THE PUNE PORSCHE INCIDENT POSES A TRICKY QUESTION FOR THE JUDICIARY

“Most people don’t know how legal wisdom works. They want swift & severe justice, exactly as seen on TV”

BAPU DEEDWANIA Lecturer at NLU Jodhpur, senior legal correspondent, now an independent writer

My object all sublime, I shall achieve in time, To let the punishment fit the crime!” Lines from the famous 18th century comic opera Mikado by WS Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan best explains the judiciary’s predicament when it comes to deciding punishment for the minor allegedly involved in the Pune Porsche incident.

Crime is a human vice. It cannot be eradicated. Our justice system tries to curtail ‘crime’ by punishing the wrong doer and uses various theories of punishment in the process. Some of the more barbaric ones have been abolished, while others have gone through many changes. The aim of punishment remains the same: End the ‘happening’ of crime. And judges do this through interpretations and applications of ‘Deterrent’, ‘Retributive’ and ‘Reformative,’ punishment theories.

The first one relies on swift, certain, and severe punishment. As the name suggests, besides deterring repeat offenders, it is also meant to send a message to society about the consequences, using fear as a tool to convey the severity of the crime. Retributive punishment is about ‘Eye for an Eye’. It intends to inflict a similar amount of pain on the offender as is suffered by the aggrieved party.

Reformative theory has its roots in Mahatma Gandhi’s teaching that ‘An eye for an eye will turn the whole world blind.’ It aims to reform the offender by isolating him till he is ready to become a member of the society again. In the eyes of the aggrieved party, this theory has often been criticised for being too lenient.

The judiciary faces a similar predicament – how to punish the minor who’s allegedly accused of multiple crimes? Should deterrent be the answer because a life is lost due to the minor’s action? Should we consider a different matrix altogether? Call for more accountability from the various agencies? In the Pune case, where abject disregard of law is rampant at multiple levels, not only by the minor but allegedly by his guardians and authorities, how does one decide on punishing the teenager? Should the theory of reform be even considered? Or use deterrence and punishment so severe that it strikes fear in the peer groups so that such a crime is not repeated? In the Nirbhaya case, the reformative theory was used for sentencing the minor and was met with massive public outrage. It was urged that the minor should be treated as an adult and eventually the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 to effect this change was passed.

However, trying the minor as an adult may not necessarily be the answer. For there is a life yet to be lived and sometimes the accused may be brazen and negligent, but not necessarily heinous. Sending the minor to a Juvenile Rehabilitation home may appear a bit too lenient to the aggrieved party and public. But would the minor be able to lead a normal life when he comes back to society, or does he face the risk of ostracization?

I recall a meeting with the eminent jurist late Fali S Nariman, in the context of a case where the accused was a minor and which the media was covering minutely. He explained, how the court deals with such cases tells us whether our legal system is equipped to cope with something which is so much in the public domain, that everybody has their own view.

It’s important to understand that most people have no idea of how jurisprudence works. They want justice to be delivered swiftly and severely, because that’s how they’ve seen it on television. But they need to be reminded that the law must, and will take its own course.

One can hope that the merits of the Pune case are taken into account and the judiciary ‘Will achieve in time, a punishment that fits the crime!’

#PunePorsche #judiciary #Gandhi #juvenile #reform

Agree? Disagree? Write to us at: byinvitation@timesgroup.com

The King Charles III to take part in the Trooping the Colour ceremony

The 75-year-old monarch was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, but he’s expected to inspect soldiers from a carriage during the ceremony on June 15

King Charles III

King Charles III will take part in Trooping the Colour amid his cancer treatment. The 75-year-old monarch was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, but he’s expected to inspect soldiers from a carriage during the ceremony on June 15.

King Charles III, who recently returned to public-facing duties, will conduct the review seated in an Ascot landau carriage, rather than on horseback. The monarch has carried out a series of public engagements over recent weeks, even though he is still receiving treatment for cancer. Elsewhere, Catherine, Princess of Wales will miss next month’s Colonel’s Review, as she continues her recovery from cancer. TNN

Traditional dishes served with a pinch of modernity at this resto

Embark on a culinary journey at Bobac hee, where tradition meets innovation. The brand’s management team says, “Our story begins with Amrit Lal Kohli, a pre-partition migrant whose passion for cooking laid the cornerstone of our family’s culinary heritage. This was passed down to his son, Tipu Kohli, who co-established Moti Mahal Delux.”

The menu at this restaurant offers a diverse array of dishes that cater to every palate and preference. Chef Yuvraj Kohli, who helms Bobachee, shares, “For me, cooking is not just about preparing food. It’s about telling a story that intertwines tradition with modernity. At our restaurant, we strive to create dishes that resonate with memories and evoke a sense of discovery. From cherished family recipes to the latest global culinary trends, we ensure there is something for every food enthusiast to savour.”

He adds, “We aim to curate unforgettable dining experiences that blend timehonoured recipes with contemporary flair. You can indulge in a world of flavours, from classic favourites to signature creations, expertly crafted with the finest ingredients. Elevate your evenings with our exquisite cocktails and unique mocktails.”

Address : Third floor, D Block, D-14, South Extension II

Meal for two: ₹2,500 for two people (approx.)

Contact: 7701977588 and 8068974426

Time: 12pm to 12:30am (Monday -Sunday)

Website: www.bobachee.in

Chef Yuvraj Kohli

Interiors of the restaurant

Get to know all about Delhi’s food and restaurants, follow delhitimes.food

For a democracy to thrive, voices need to remain independent: Payal Kapadia

There should be some autonomous system with representation that could give opportunities to filmmakers even if they know no one in the film industry

Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light won the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival. She says, “The last few days have been like a dream!”

Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light recently won the Grand Prix, the second-highest honour at Cannes Film Festival. The filmmaker, who has been showered with congratulatory messages since the win, has released a statement and shared what steps can be taken to make such accolades more common for the Indian film industry.

Addressing how the selection for Cannes made the team both “excited and nervous”, she said, “We were in the middle of completing the postproduction when we found out that it was selected for competition at Cannes. This was beyond what we had expected. It made us both excited and nervous. Just one year ago, before the start of the monsoon, we had started preparation on the film and now exactly one year later we were all together again but in a completely different context and a completely different world. It’s always a pleasure when a unit can be like a family of friends. And this is an extension of what our film is about.”

‘WHY CAN WE NOT SUPPORT MORE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS?’

Reflecting on why it took 30 years for an Indian film to be selected in Cannes’ main competition section, she said, “People at Cannes asked me why it is taking 30 years for a film to be selected. While I did ask the selection committee this question, we should also ask ourselves this as well. Why can we not support more independent filmmakers? One of the reasons I was able to make this film is because of the French Public funding system – a small tax is levied on each and every ticket sale of a film as well as a tax levied on TV channels... In our country, charging audiences a tax would be rather unfair.

However, a tax on the profits made on blockbuster films can surely help in funding an independent film fund. If such a system was made in our country with an autonomous body to run the fund, & would only encourage more and more independent filmmaking. For a democracy to thrive, voices need to remain independent from big studios that are run by rich industrialists.”

Payal also lauded the Kerala government’s initiative of starting “a fund that supports female filmmaker’s as well as filmmaker’s from under-represented castes. I think this is the need of the hour... I’m thankful to people in the Kerala film industry. So many well established actors and producers were very supportive to our team though I’m an outsider to this industry... We live in a country where we are lucky to have so many cinemas. We should accept that many different kinds of films can exist together.”

“As the election results are around the comer, I can only say that whoever comes into power must work towards a more equal society where every individual has the right to our country’s resources and that they are not limited to the hands of a few. The resources are also non material, like cultural capital, like education and access to the arts. As citizens of the country it is our responsibility to hold every government accountable for this. Long live solidarity and inclusivity! Long live Indian Cinema with all its differences.” TNN

‘Public institutes can remain relevant only if they’re accessible to all’

Kapadia, who studied at the FTII and credits the institute for her success, also made a case for the need for affordable public education. She said, “For me, the greatest learning was being at FTII where I was a student for five years. Filmmaking does not exist in a vacuum. It is through debates and discussions, questions and self reflection that we move closer to the films we choose to make. FTII is a place that encourages independent thoughts. My classroom was so diverse! We had students from every corner of the country. We didn’t always agree with each other and it was in these differences that we learnt from one another. Affordable public education has been instrumental in making this possible.”

“Unfortunately, public institutes are becoming more and more expensive nowadays. These spaces can only remain relevant and can encourage discourse if it remains accessible to all. If it becomes an elitist space like various public universities have become over many years, it will be useless to the nation. There are many private institutions that are made only to maintain the status quo and give opportunities to the elite. A space like FTII is somewhere in between at this point in time. We should strive for it to be even more accessible. This does not only apply to higher education but more importantly to public primary education where there is a significant need for raising the quality of education.”

A still from the film

Divya Prabha, Payal Kapadia, Chhaya Kadam and Kani Kusruti after they won the Grand Prix at Cannes

Fitness Fundas

THESE WOMEN ARE SERVING POST-60 FITSPIRATION GOALS. HERE’S HOW

Regular exercise helps in weight management, reduces the risk of chronic ailments and fosters mental well-being by alleviating stress and improving sleep – Dr P Venkata Krishnan, Senior consultant at a Gurgaon-based hospital

In a series of pics shared on her Instagram stories, Zeenat Aman was seen working out on a treadmill and using a massage gun post her workout

Yvonne Jacob

Veteran actress Zeenat Aman (72) recently shared a series of photos of her walking on a treadmill at home, quipping that she had ‘no more excuses’ as she embarked on a new fitness journey. Like the actress, many women on the other side of 60 have been crushing their fitness goals with gym routines, proving that age is just a number when it comes to the determination of staying fit.

Pinkie Roshan

While Hrithik Roshan serves fitness goals with that chiselled body, it seems like he doesn’t have to look far for inspiration. The actor’s mom Pinkie Roshan is a regular at power strength training. The 69-year-old often shares glimpses of her gym workout sessions, with perfect deadlifts, planks, and other exercises, on social media.

Anita Raaj

Actress Anita Raaj is a fit-spiration for many. In an interview, the actress had shared her fitness routine which consists of cardio thrice a week, along with HIIT and a combination of weight and strength training on other days. “I was 25 when I was first introduced to weight training, and today, weight training along with other forms of strength training has become an integral part of my life and fitness routine,” the 61-year-old had said.

A word of caution

“Prioritise safety by consulting a healthcare professional before starting a new regime. It’s important to incorporate strength training to maintain bone density, as well as muscle mass, which is said to reduce by 8-16% from the 40s to 60s. Balance workouts with adequate rest to allow recovery and prevent overuse injuries,” says Vaibhav Daga, head of sports science and rehabilitation at a Mumbai-based hospital.

Ayesha Shroff

Entrepreneur, mother of two and a fitness icon, Ayesha Shroff is all this and more. At 63, she could probably beat you at lifting weights! Ayesha often does weight training to improve mobility. She also shared a video of her doing a 95 kg deadlift perfectly, which garnered praise from her daughter Krishna, and actress Disha Patani.

Sangeeta Bijlani

From yoga to home workouts and gym sessions, Sangeeta Bijlani doesn’t skip a day when it comes to her fitness regime. The actress is seen doing powerful cardio sessions and strength training, in the workout videos she shares on social media, and has become a fitness inspiration for many.

Joe Jonas and Stormi Bree part ways after 5 months

Joe Jonas and Stormi Bree started dating in early 2024

Joe Jonas, 34, and his girlfriend Stormi Bree, 33, have officially called off their romance after five months of dating. The famous Jonas Brothers’ singer and the model broke up after a whirlwind romance following his messy divorce in the public eye from Sophie Turner, with whom he shares his two daughters Willa and Delphine.

The pair’s split was allegedly partly due to the Joe wanting to refocus his energy into his upcoming album. Speaking on the breakup, a source told US Weekly, “Joe has a very busy schedule between his kids and his career, so his romantic life has to take a back seat for now. He is prioritizing his children and his passion for his music for now.”

The source added, “If the right person comes along, he’ll definitely make time for them in his life, but that he is living a very fulfilled life single. He doesn’t feel the need to jump into a relationship with anybody. If it happens, it happens.”

Agencies

Gigi and Bella Hadid donate $1M to support children in Palestine

Palestine on my mind, in my blood and on my heart. Always… I will show you about a beautiful part of our culture. The Keffiyeh... The patterns on the Palestinian keffiyeh symbolize various themes (sic) – Bella Hadid in a post on Insta

The supermodel sisters, Gigi and Bella Hadid, are born to a Palestinian-American father

Gigi and Bella Hadid are collectively donating $1 million, a sum that has been earmarked for equal distribution among four organizations with a focus on children and families amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Both sisters have shared sentiments about the conflict and its impact on Palestinians via their social media channels.

News of the donation comes just days after Bella Hadid made a statement during her recent trip to Cannes, where she wore a Keffiyeh dress and explained its significance in an Instagram post. While Gigi Hadid posted, “I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation. It’s a responsibility I hold daily.” Agencies

During her recent trip to Cannes, Bella wore a Keffiyeh dress and explained its significance in an Instagram post

Manjummel Boys makers guilty of financial fraud: Police report

A still from Manjummel Boys

What happened: Following a complaint by Siraj Valiyaveetil, a businessman, who had alleged that he was cheated by the makers of Manjummel Boys, police had registered a case about a month back, and launched an investigation. On May 29, The house officer of Maradu police station GP Saju Kumar filed the report. 'Siraj was promised 40 per cent profit share as per agreement on his `7 crore investment'

A police source told us that the report makes the point that a formal agreement had been signed with Siraj, according to which he was promised a 40 per cent profit share on his `7 crore investment. “As per the producers, the film’s budget was expected to be `22 crore, but it rose to about `28 crore. And because the `7 crore did not come in a timely manner, they faced losses.

But when we calculated the money in the account, we found the film’s budget was less than `22 crore. Even when the complainant asked for the book of accounts, it was never shown to him.”

Our source also shared that the complainant had found a distributor for the film on “his personal risk” as “no one was willing to take a film which mostly had new faces”.

What the report says: The producers of Manjummel Boys — actor Soubin Shahir, his father, Babu Shahir, and Shawn Antony — are said to have been found guilty of financial fraud, as per a police investigation report that has been submitted to the Kerala High Court.

Meanwhile...

The producers had filed a case seeking a stay on the police investigation, applied for anticipatory bail, and moved for the case to be taken up for arbitration. The pre-arrest bail plea of the petitioners and a case to quash the FIR is pending at the High Court.

We reached out to the producers for comment but did not receive a response till the time of going to press.

TNN

Now, there are ‘dog centric’ airplanes

We try to lower the dog’s anxiety and stress, so they have the most fear-free flying experience – Matt Meeker, CEO of the airline

A public charter service, BARK Air, operated its first paw passenger flight last week from New York to Los Angeles. Each dog ticket came with a pass for one human on the sold-out flight. The luxury airline allows owners to travel with dogs of all kinds and sizes. According to sources, the effort took 10 years to come to fruition.

The company is considering adding flights to Paris, Milan, Chicago, Seattle and seasonal destinations in Florida and Arizona after receiving 15,000 requests for new locations. According to CEO Matt Meeker, the business idea came after he struggled to transport Hugo, his Great Dane.

“I was unable to travel with him long distances and had the idea that there should be an airline that caters to dogs,” Meeker was quoted in a news report.

“We cater everything to the dog, trying to lower their anxiety and their stress, so they have the most comfortable, fear-free experience on an airplane,” the CEO was quoted.

According to a news report, the dog-first experience starts with a waiting lounge filled with treats. They also offer an onboard spa for the pups and a menu featuring doggie champagne and barkaccinos.

● The company aims to sell 10 tickets per flight to make room for 10 dogs

● Tickets for one person and one dog cost $8,000 (₹6.65 lakh) for a one-way international flight and $6,000 (₹5 lakh) for domestic trips

● The company may further add flights to Paris, Milan, Chicago, Seattle, and seasonal destinations in Florida and Arizona

Peanut diet in infants cuts allergy risk later: Research

Researchers say that this dietary intervention could prevent about 100,000 cases of potentially lifethreatening peanut allergies worldwide annually

A ccording to recent research, feeding children peanut products from infancy until the age of five significantly reduces the risk of developing a peanut allergy later in life. The study, published in the journal NEJM Evidence, highlights that children who regularly consumed peanut pastes or puffed peanut snacks from four to six months of age were 71% less likely to have a peanut allergy at age 13 compared to those who avoided peanuts.

The study followed 508 children up to an average age of 13, during which time they were free to eat or avoid peanuts as they chose.

Cool display of contemporary designs

Anjali and Parth Dutta

The second day of Delhi Times Fashion Week (DTFW), presented by KRasa Group and powered by Prius Communications, brought forth some innovative design ideas and trendsetting creations on the ramp. The glamorous event at The Grand, Vasant Kunj, also gave a platform to many budding designers who showcased their collections for the first time on the ramp.

COOL STREETWEAR FOR SUMMER

Prius Brand and Business Partners presents Narendra Kumar

Known for his smart casuals and high street fashion wear, designer Narendra Kumar showcased his signature casual line with stylish slogan tees, cargos and denims and activewear. “I have recently launched a new brand that is versatile, focussed on what Gen Z loves, but everything in the collection is such that would be loved by everyone,” the designer said.

STAYING STYLISH ON THE MOVE

Mitesh Upadhyay

For those who find athleisure most comfortable and stylish, Mitesh Upadhyay designed a collection that was all about sport sets with short, leggings, joggers and tees.

MEN IN BLACK

Shaneer Bassi

Designer Shaneer Bassi started his show with an all black formal collection for men. Formal suits with slight hint of shimmer were designed for prewedding functions and cocktail events. “The collection was inspired by vintage Hollywood. It had tuxedos, structured suits,” shared the designer.

A SHIMMERY AFFAIR

UMB Elegant Monarch presents Eli Bitton

Tailored gowns and sequined embroidery were the highlight of the show by Eli Bitton. “Our collection is perfect for glam evenings,” said the designer. Urmimala Boruah, Founder and CEO, UMB Elegant Monarch, added, “We have always had a great association with DTFW and we love to be here.”

BANARASIS AND BROCADES

Ekta Akhouri

The designer presented a collection that was an ode to crafts and textiles of Banaras. Bright shades of red, pink and gold featured in the collection. Ekta Akhouri said, “Being at DTFW was a fab experience. My collection, named Dhara, celebrated Indian heritage. I showcased simple yet stylish and traditional yet modern designs in silk and tissue fabrics.”

CHIC AND CLASSY

Raj Sharma X Vipin Aggarwal

With sequined cocktail dresses for women and structured, shimmering suits for men, the collection by Raj Sharma was for glam red carpet events. The other part of the show presented a collection by designer Vipin Aggarwal, who worked with cutwork on monochrome dresses. “It is summers so the collection was light and easy to wear,” he said.

RAMP DEBUT WITH INNOVATIVE DESIGNS

IIFT North Delhi campus

The first showcase on the ramp is always special and the students of IIFT North Delhi Campus attempted to make an impressive ramp debut. They worked with different techniques and themes to present something unique.

Ratnadeep Lal, Chairman and CEO, IIFT North Delhi, said, “It was a summerinspired collection by our students that”

FORMALS WITH FRILLS AND FEATHERS

Kingshuk Bhaduri

The designer’s collection with flowing nets, frills, feathers, tulle and crepes was focused on occasion wear. “I have been showcasing at DTFW and this time I showcased my cocktail collection,” shared the designer Kingshuk.

ART OF UPCYCLING

World University of Design, Sonipat

Students from the School of Fashion promoted upcycling by transforming old saris and denims into modern designs. Devender Kharb, Dean, School of Fashion, World University of Design, shared, “A platform like DTFW gives students a lot of confidence. It gives them an idea on how to design better after they see their collection on the ramp.

The collection focussed on sustainability and technology.”

PRINTS AND PASTELS

Tushar Rajput

Digital prints on flowy gowns and lehengas were the highlight of Tushar Rajput’s collection. The designer’s collection was appreciated for being perfect for summers. Talking about his collection, the designer said, “The theme for the prints was elements from the nature. We developed these prints in-house.”

SYMPHONY OF CRAFT AND CULTURE

Amity University

Floral patterns, embroidered motifs and hand painted portraits on monochrome dresses featured in the collection by the students of Amity University. Some students also explored craft techniques and weaves not only from India, but from across the world for their outfits, for example, a group of students merged some craft techniques from Japan with Indian textiles.

Divya Chauhan, Chairperson, Amity School of Fashion Technology, said, “My brief for students was to do something exciting and fun, but keep in mind

sustainability, be more tech savvy.

They did a great job and kept Indian crafts in mind. It was great for us to be back at DTFW.”

BLING AND BRIGHT

Ravi Rajoria

The designer combined prints with sequins and showcased a collection that was perfectly blingy for beach parties. Gowns with thigh-high slits, short dresses and co-ord sets were part of the collection. About the collection Ravi said, “The collection had embroidered patterns on digital prints inspired from nature.”

Presenting Sponsor: KRasa; Powered By Sponsor: Prius Communications; Fitness Partner: Anytime Fitness; Luxury Auto Partner: Scandia Volvo; Healthcare Partner: Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals, Kaushambi; Education Partner: JCC – JIMS; Hair & Makeup Partner: Lakmé Salon; Flavoured Water Partner: Wild Vitamin Drink; Celebration Partner: Medusa; Pouring Partner: Paul John; Hospitality Partner: The Grand, New Delhi; Luxury Printing Partner: Indicolour Prints; Decanting Partner: Ujva; Safety Couture Partner: Enbio; Talent partner: PFF; Catering Partner: Rawat Hospitality Services Pvt Ltd; Camera & Film Partner: God Bless Films; Jewellery Partner: Prem Kumar & Sons Jewellers Pvt Ltd

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BY LAKMÉ SALON Rajvee’s glam look was the perfect match with her fabulous outfit LOOK OF THE DAY

Mohit Aggarwal

Kalpana Shukla, Mrs Universe First runner up 2023

Urmimala Boruah, Founder and CEO, UMB Elegant Monarch

Sahiba

Vivek Kukreja, Director Indicolour Prints

Apala and Ushtu

Aishwarya

(L-R) Vipin Aggarwal, Sanjay Mittal and showstopper Ravinder Singh Manhas

Richa Mehta

Nidhi Bhakhri and Sushil Kumar, Directors, IIFT-North Delhi

Siya

Monika Swami

Ratnadeep Lal, Chairman and CEO, IIFT

Devender Kharb, Dean, School of Fashion, World University of Design

Donna Masih

Sumit Khanna and Jessica Singh

Viren and Divya Dutta

Divya Chauhan, Chairperson, Amity School of Fashion Technology

— Shivika Manchanda and Divya Kaushik

Table of Contents

TOI Print Edition Jun 02, 2024

Front Page

Delhi heat toll climbs to 4 but rain, winds bring some relief

CRICKET WC GOES TO AMERICA: T20 FEST BEGINS

67 more dead in Odisha in 48 hrs; India count hits 165

Pune cops arrest juvenile Porsche driver’s mother

Gupta bros get HC shield for India trip

Minority families flee K’taka dist

ANC loses majority of 30 years in SA

4 farmers sitting under tree run over

4 of family among 7 dead in boat capsize

Modi Guaranteed, Predict Exit Polls, Give BJP & Allies 353 To 415 Seats

GST receipts up 10% to `1.7L cr on local demand

Court order on CM’s interim bail plea on June 5

Rape accused killed in ‘encounter’ in UP

MP home of rape accused razed

Oppn bloc will win 295+ seats, form govt: Kharge

All done: 62% turnout in Ph-7 against 65.3% in 2019

India rejected ‘casteist, communal and corrupt’ dynastic parties: PM

Times Nation

Porsche teen’s mom arrested

Shinde speaks with victims’ kin, says guilty won’t be spared

Haven’t made single call to Pune CP, says Ajit, but defends MLA Tingre

After attack on thana, minority families flee Karnataka town

Hyderabad no more capital of Andhra Pradesh from today

BALLOT BOXED

GST collections rise 10% to `1.7L cr in May

DKS: Animal sacrifice ritual not performed at temple but nearby

5 kids, 2 others drown as boat sinks in MP river during storm

Interpol-wanted Gupta bros to visit India for pilgrimage

IIM-B professor accuses director, 7 others of caste discrimination

Initiate quicker GST recovery in special cases, officers told

UP lioness gives birth to 4 cubs

Rape accused shot dead in UP ‘encounter’

HC reopens Idgah case, to hear Muslim side on June 4

Times City

Hottest In India At 52.9°C? IMD Calls Mungeshpur Sensor Wrong

Docs urge people to follow all precautions

Cloud and light rain give city slight relief, same likely today

Kejriwal To Be Back In Tihar Today

AAP, BJP exchange barbs over exit polls

In simmering heat, fight for survival for homeless

Bandhwari up in flames again

‘Turn community centres and baraat ghars into shelters’

Delhi’s water production below 1K MGD, blame game continues

ED Says CM Campaigned, Didn’t Do Tests

It will be a disaster if all shrines are allowed on public land: HC

After HC order, DDA carries out demolition drive at Vasudev Ghat

Cops oppose Brij Bhushan’s plea for travel docus, CDR

Guard mowed down inside Ggn township, driver caught

One of accused now an approver in Divya murder case: Cops

Major Blaze At Kashmere Gate Metro Police Stn, Files Gutted

Barking pet jolts owners out of sleep after AC catches fire, averts tragedy

People duped with lure of shares, `4.5cr turned into crypto; 4 held

Bizman gets extortion call in name of gangster Goldy

AI Sorry For 30-Hour Delay, $350 Voucher For Each Flyer

HC order on fire safety pleas:

How looks, taste can make millet dishes more popular

‘I wanted to turn a situationship into a relationship but she didn’t’

DME, EPE tolls to go up by 5% from Mon

SC to hear on June 3 Delhi plea on water share

IGI handbag bomb threat a hoax call

Gzb meat factory owner, 3 managers & wife held for hiring trafficked kids

On 161st anniversary, civic body returns to Town Hall with a walk

Sonipat fire: Another death takes toll to 4

Man held 3 yrs after jumping parole

Dance Of Democracy

Exit polls: India’s vote set to rock INDIA’s boat

In U-turn, Cong joins TV debates to ‘expose BJP’

An election at world’s highest polling station

Violence in Sandeshkhali mars polling in Bengal

EC asks for action against Uddhav for poll day meet

PRAYING FOR PROSPERITY FOR ALL

Stay in WB, Odisha beyond June 4: EC to security forces

Arunachal assembly results today, BJP starts with 10 seats unopposed

‘I feel divine energy’: PM wraps up 45-hr meditation at Kanyakumari

Times Global

Israel pounds Gaza hours after Biden outlines ceasefire plan

Asia security priority for America, Pentagon chief tells defence meet

Italian minister warns against ‘rash’ moves over arms to Ukraine

Trump has few ways to overturn his conviction

South Africa election ends 30yrs of ANC dominance

Largest known genome found inside a fern

11 crypto exchanges in HK to get licences soon

EU elections litmus test for Europe climate action plan

AROUND THE WORLD

4 Pak soldiers killed in blast in Khyber region

Starliner launch scrubbed 4 mins before liftoff

Musk sued for ‘insider trading’

Houthis sentence 44 people to death

Times Special

Memories, metaphors and mutton qorma

And the winner is? From Sangam to satta, how India predicts an election

Heard of haramzada? Aam-azing efforts to bring rare mangoes back

Hello and welcome to TOI’s monthly roundup on gender, politics and culture. In a world where men still run most of the gigs and hog the mics, here’s where we say it like we see it

The Kernel Of Limitless Joy

Mayday: Doon sizzles at 43.2°C, hottest day of month in 157 yrs

Poll officer, elderly voter among victims of heatwave in Odisha

SIT hunts for Prajwal’s mom in survivor-abduction case

All That Matters

Poll pitch: Why development lost, desperation won

Need indie film fund like the French one that made Cannes win possible: Kapadia

Piketty wrong again on soaking the rich. What we need is equality of opportunity

Pune Porsche case shows the problems of affluenza parenting

From freebies to safety, five factors that may explain the crucial women’s vote

Times Sport

GALLERY

India trounce Germany 3-0

Ronaldo in tears after King’s Cup loss

Treesa-Gayatri pair’s run ends

DK retires from all forms of cricket

PM: Strong yuva & nari shakti turnouts encouraging

Oppn wants its counting agents to be vigilant in ‘close seats’

Rahul writes to prez over ‘discriminatory’ Agnipath scheme, urges her to intervene

UP and Bihar continue to report moderate turnouts

2 arrested in K’taka tribal funds scam in wake of officer’s suicide

WATCH OUT FOR THE UNDERDOGS!

BUMRAH: I DON’T TRY TO OVER-TEACH YOUNGSTERS

Gilchrist expects Nepal, Netherlands to upset big teams

Pant, Pandya star in big win over B’desh

Ganguly backs Gambhir for India coach role

BALAJI-MIGUEL PAIR ENTERS THIRD ROUND OF DOUBLES

BESTING A FRIEND

Jabeur wants ‘world to speak more’ on ‘unfair’ Gaza war

Manu wins gold at Taiwan Open

Delhi Times

MUKHERJEE NAGAR MERI ZINDAGI KA BADA HISSA BAN CHUKA HAI: VIKRANT

A HOUSEFUL CINEMA LOVERS’ DAY

‘Vidhu Vinod Chopra wanted real students to maintain the authenticity of 12th Fail’

I’m very sensitive to vibes and this house gives me positive ones: Adah Sharma

POLL STAR

In a statement she shared on social media

I follow my intuition, not other people’s opinions: Adah

POLL STAR

DID YOU KNOW?

REFORM OR REJECT? THE PUNE PORSCHE INCIDENT POSES A TRICKY QUESTION FOR THE JUDICIARY

The King Charles III to take part in the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Traditional dishes served with a pinch of modernity at this resto

For a democracy to thrive, voices need to remain independent: Payal Kapadia

THESE WOMEN ARE SERVING POST-60 FITSPIRATION GOALS. HERE’S HOW

Joe Jonas and Stormi Bree part ways after 5 months

Gigi and Bella Hadid donate $1M to support children in Palestine

Manjummel Boys makers guilty of ﬁnancial fraud: Police report

Now, there are ‘dog centric’ airplanes

Peanut diet in infants cuts allergy risk later: Research

Cool display of contemporary designs