FIVE CHINESE NATIONALS KILLED IN SUICIDE ATTACK IN NORTHWEST PAK WEDNESDAY 27 A vehicle loaded with explosives rammed into a bus carrying the Chinese nationals in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. It’s driver too died MARCH, 2024 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard C E A S E F I R E TA L K S ISRAEL & HAMAS DIG IN HEELS Hamas has rejected the latest proposal for ceasefire and Israel has blasted a UNSC resolution PAGE 9 NO OUTFIT CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ATTACK A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS NEW DELHI J8.00 The vehicle carrying the Chinese engineers fell into a gorge after the bast and caught fire. Rescue workers reached the spot and put out the fire. The bodies of the Chinese nationals — four men and a woman — were being taken to Islamabad. The foreigners were working on the Dasu hydropower project. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack till now | P11 PAGES 14 AT LEAST 6 MISSING AFTER SHIP SMASHES KEY U.S. BRIDGE 1 2 3 4 A large ship hit the Francis Scott Key bridge in the port of Baltimore at 1:27 am on Tuesday, causing it to collapse, sending cars and people plunging into the Patapsco River 8 workers fixing potholes on the 2.57-km long bridge and several cars fell into the frigid river below, at 80C. Two were pulled out; one seriously hurt. Search on for the rest The 948-ft ‘Dali’ container ship’s crew issued a ‘Mayday’ call before the accident, helping officials to slow traffic flow and prevent more vehicles from falling into the cold river All 22 Indian crew members of the Maersk-operated ship are safe. The ship’s owner is Singaporebased Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, founded by Capt Rajesh Unni | P11 Talks with SAD After Germany, now US urges a fair legal process for Kejriwal fail, BJP to go it alone in Punjab Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi Demand for assurance on farmers and Sikh political prisoners were the sticking points H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh EFFORTS to stitch up an alliance between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections broke down on Tuesday with the saffron party announcing its decision to go it alone. There was a similar collapse of talks in Odisha between the BJP and the ruling BJD a few days ago. The breakdown in Punjab was not about the seat-sharing ratio. The BJP wanted six of the 13 Lok Sabha seats while the SAD was willing to part with five. But an agreement was around the corner. The sticking points instead were the SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal’s insistence that the BJP offer some assurance to the protesting farmers so as to help his Akali party sell the alliance to its rural voter base. The SAD had snapped its alliance with the BJP in September 2020 after three farm laws were rammed through in Parliament, which triggered a massive nationwide agitation. The other demand was for some commitment on the release of Sikh political prisoners (Bandi Singhs). But the BJP refused to yield on both the hot button issues. Announcing his party’s decision, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar said, “The decision has been taken in the interest of a safe and secure border state. I am sure people will support the BJP in the June 1 election.’’ Badal hit back, saying the “Shiromani Akali Dal is not just a political party driven by number games, unlike some national parties. We are a 103-yearold movement with a clear vision and we have always stood by and for principles. That will continue to be our goal.” When the alliance talks were on, both Jakhar and former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh who is a national executive committee member of the BJP, had said building a SAD-BJP bond was the emotion of the people of Punjab. This will be the first LS polls since 1998 that both the BJP and SAD will contest separately. In the previous LS poll coalitions with the SAD, the BJP had contested from three constituencies. As for the 2022 assembly polls, they went it alone and got humiliating single digit scores of two (BJP) and three (SAD) in the 117-member House. BJP FIELDS TURNCOATS IN HIMACHAL, GUJ BYPOLL The BJP on Tuesday named six disqualified Congress MLAs as its candidates for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly bypolls, triggering a rebellion by party leaders who expected the tickets. Former Himachal Pradesh minister and BJP leader from Lahaul and Spiti assembly constituency, Ram Lal Markanda, quit the party to protest the fielding of Congress rebel Ravi Thakur who had defeated him in the constituency in the last assembly elections. In Gujarat, four Congress turncoat MLAs, including former leader of opposition Arjun Modhwadia, were fielded by the BJP in the assembly bypolls. FULL COVERAGE ON P 6,7 &10 THE US on Tuesday became the second country after Germany to “encourage a fair legal process” following the arrest of CM Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21. While the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had described the German foreign office spokesperson Sebastian Fischer as an interference in India’s internal affairs, it is yet react to the US comment. “We encourage a fair, trans- parent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal,” said a US State Department spokesperson on Monday to an email query by Reuters. The US Embassy in Delhi, too, has not reacted to the remark. A few days ago, a German foreign ministry official said Kejriwal is entitled to a fair and an impartial trial and can make use of all the existing legal remedies without restric- Address shortage of drugs: Kejriwal’s 2nd order to minister from ED custody A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has issued directions from Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody to address the shortage of medicines and diagnostic tests at mohalla clinics and hospitals in the national capital, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Tuesday . This is the second direction issued by the CM from ED custody A couple of days ago, the . CM had issued his first government order from jail, directing Atishi to ensure the redress of water and sewerage grievances in Delhi. At a meeting of AAP legislators, councillors and office-bearers held on Sunday it was , resolved that Kejriwal will continue to run the government from jail. The health minister said healthcare in the national capital has always been Kejriwal’s priority “Even though he is in . custody he is worried about the , health of the people of Delhi. He has received information Govt from jail At a meeting of AAP legislators, councillors and office-bearers on Sunday, it was decided that Kejriwal will continue to run the government from jail. “He (CM) has issued directions to me. His order is God’s order to us,” said Saurabh Bharadwaj. that medicines and free diagnostic tests are not available at many mohalla clinics and hospitals,” said Bharadwaj. The minister said lakhs of people are fully dependent on free medicines in government hospitals as they cannot afford to buy them. “Some people need life-long medicines such as those suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure. Some kidney patients need dialysis,” Bharadwaj said. “He (Kejriwal) has issued directions to me. His order is God’s order to us,” said Bharadwaj, adding that the CM advised him to inspect any hospital and find out the correct position. P3 tion. The response of MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was caustic. “We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary he said. ,” Biased assumptions made on this account are most unwarranted, Jaiswal added. “Like every accused, Mr. Kejriwal is entitled to a fair, impartial trial. This includes that he can make use of all existing legal remedies without restriction,’’ the German official said. Jolt to Kavitha, sent to judicial custody till Apr 9 E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi A city court sent BRS leader K Kavitha to judicial custody till April 9. The court noted that the investigation into her role in the Delhi excise policy scam case pending and that the purported offence being economic in nature was more complex than an ordinary crime. The court also allowed the Enforcement Directorate to reply to Kavitha’s interim bail plea by April 1. The 46-year-old BRS leader was arrested by the central agency from Hyderabad on March 15. The court directed that Kavitha be produced before it on April 9 at 11 am. The BRS leader was produced before the court after the expiry of her ED custody She told . the media outside the courtroom that it was not a money laundering case, but a “political laundering case.” During the proceedings, Kavitha’s advocate Nitesh Rana sought interim bail on the grounds of her minor son’s exam. Countering it, the ED sought time to file its reply to the bail plea. No funds, Kerala Cong plans crowdfunding to manage poll campaign C Y N T H I A C H A N D R A N @ T’Puram ITS national unit strapped for cash after the Income Tax department froze the party’s bank accounts over non-payment of dues, the Congress leadership in Kerala is mulling alternatives, including crowdfunding, to raise money for managing its campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls in the state. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday they have been forced to go for crowdfunding in view of the dearth of election funds. The move comes after the AICC expressed its inability to make available funds for campaigning and asked state units to find alternative ways to raise money . In fact, some youth leaders in the fray, like Shafi Parambil, have already kick-started crowdfunding to manage poll expenses, without waiting for an official word from the state unit. Veteran candidates are expected to follow suit to sustain electioneering for the general elections spread across 42 days. Shafi, the UDF candidate in Vadakara, took a break from campaigning and flew to Dubai and Doha to meet Keralites. The Palakkad MLA was accorded a grand reception by the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre TWO KIDS AMONG 22 VICTIMS OF MOSCOW ATTACK IN CRITICAL STATE ASSANGE EXTRADITION DELAYED POST BRITAIN’S RIDERS Two British judges said they would grant WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a new appeal unless US authorities give further assurances about what will happen to him if extradited. The ruling means the legal saga will continue | P11 THE Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday informed the Madras High Court that the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission has issued temporary travel documents to the three released convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case — Murugan @ Sriharan, B Robert Payas and M Jeyakumar — and they would be deported to their home country as soon as the Government of India clears them for travel. Additional Public Prosecutor R Muniapparaj made the submission before a division bench of Justices R Suresh Kumar and K Kumaresh Babu when a petition filed by Muru- Santhan had died waiting for clearance Santhan, one of the released convicts, recently died of liver-related complications even as necessary clearance was being processed for his travel back to Sri Lanka as he had requested. His body was flown to the island country. gan came up for hearing. He had sought a direction to the Tamil Nadu Rehabilitation Director to issue him a duly authorised photo identity card to apply for travel documents. Muniapparaj produced a letter written to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) on the matter by the Public department. According to the letter, the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission issued temporary travel documents valid till September 22, 2024 to the three Sri Lankan nationals. The Additional PP stated that as soon as the FRRO issues the necessary orders, the three men will be deported to Sri Lanka. Since the travel documents were issued, the question of issuing photo identity card did not arise, he told the bench. The bench disposed of the petition since no further order was required on the matter since the travel documents had been issued. At present, the three convicts have been held at the high security foreigners detention centre in Tiruchy . The party is facing severe cash crunch after the Income Tax department froze its bank accounts over nonpayment of dues. The Kerala Cong move comes after the AICC expressed its inability to make available funds for campaigning and asked state units to find alternative ways to raise money. under the aegis of IUML and Indian Cultural and Arts Society a cultural movement of the , Congress in the UAE, in Sharjah on Tuesday . This is neither Shafi’s first crowdfunding drive — he had sought the support of Non-Resident Keralites in the 2021 assembly elections too — nor is he the lone UDF candidate to do so. Remya Haridas, the UDF pick for Alathur, has also sought people’s support to raise money . The 2021 polls saw many Congress candidates initiate crowdfunding. Aritha Babu, the Youth Congress state vice-president who contested unsuccessfully from Kayamkulam, said her poll management team collected close to `2 lakh towards the fag end of her campaigning. Twenty-two victims, two among them children, of Russia concert hall attack remain in serious condition in the hospital, health minister Mikhail Murashko said on Tuesday | P11 KHAKI CORRUPTION Amid political slugfest, phone tapping case goes to T’gana ACB S W E T H A V I M A L A M @ Hyderabad AMID the political slugfest over Telangana’s phone tapping case, the state’s Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is looking into the corruption charges against accused officials, sources said. The ACB’s move comes after revelations that apart from tapping phones, the accused extorted hundreds of crores from jewellers, realtors and hawala operators during the previous BRS rule. The accused allegedly used the extorted money to purchase villas and other real estate properties on the outskirts of Hyderabad. So far, three police officials have been arrested in the case. A local court on Tuesday adjourned the case to Wednesday on the petition filed by the police seeking five-day custody of TN tells HC: Travel papers ready for 3 Rajiv case convicts to go to Sri Lanka E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai AICC asks state units to make arrangement the trio — former Special Intelligence Bureau DSP D Praneeth Rao and ASPs Bhujanga Rao and Tirupatanna. The accused officials allegedly tapped the phone conversations of the businessmen and used the audio clips to demanded money from them. The Congress and the BJP accused the former K Chandrasekhar Rao government of tapping phones of not only Opposition parties but also the then finance minister T Harish Rao’s wife and MLC K Kavitha’s husband. Alleging that the “unconstitutional act” was not confined to leaders and businessmen of Hyderabad, Congress leader from Mahabubnagar Srinivas Reddy requested the DGP to set up complaint cells at all district headquarters on phone tapping. EXPRESS READ Modi to start UP poll campaign from Meerut Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to kickstart the BJP’s Lok Sabha poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh from Meerut, igniting the political arena with a mega rally on March 30 in support of BJP candidate Arun Govil, renowned for his portrayal of Lord Ram’s character in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan during the 80s. P10 Ramakrishna Mission president passes away 21-DAY FAST Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on fast for the Ladakh statehood and the protection of the Himalayan ecology, breaks his hunger strike, in Leh, on Tuesday | PTI Ramakrishna Mission president Swami Smaranananda died on Tuesday night due to age-related ailments, doctors treating him said. Swami Smaranananda, 94, was the 16th president of the organization founded by Swami Vivekananda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee paid rich tributes to the veteran.
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