vijayawada l tuesday l april 16, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION FBI opens criminal probe into U.S. bridge collapse that killed 6 The criminal probe will target the crew of the container ship Dali that crashed into a major road bridge in Baltimore on March 26 FBI suspects crew knew of ship’s faults Baltimore to launch legal action FBI officials are presently conducting a court-authorised “law enforcement activity” aboard the ship which remains pinned beneath the wreckage. The agency will probe whether the crew knew the ship had serious systems problems and failed to report it. The ship lost power and rammed against a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the bridge to collapse ■ ■ Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott announced a partnership with two law firms to launch legal action to hold “the wrongdoers responsible” and mitigate harm to city residents, his office said Eight construction workers were carrying out maintenance works on the bridge when the vessel struck. Six of them died 30,000 Vehicles used to ply over the Bridge each day CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI No interim relief; AK can sign two types of papers SC issues notice to ED; Tihar DG says CM can sign only legal or property documents S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t y a n d U J WAL J ALALI @ New Delhi Incarcerated Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday got no interim relief from the Supreme Court on his plea challenging his arrest in the Delhi excise policy scam. A twojudge bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna merely issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate to file its reply on the CM’s plea by April 24. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, told the court that the ED hadn’t named the CM in its chargesheet, adding the objective was disable him from campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections. But the bench refused to yield. Later, a city court extended Kejriwal’s judicial custody in Tihar jail till April 23. At Tihar, Director General (Prisons) Sanjay Baniwal said Kejriwal can only sign two types of documents while in judicial custody, and they can’t be political in nature. “He or any inmate in judicial custody can only sign two types of documents, which can’t be political in nature,” Baniwal told this newspaper over phone. The two types of documents can be either a legal paper or some property related document, he added. His remarks came after AAP leaders reiterated that CM will continue to run the government from jail, and from next week he will call two ministers to Tihar every week and review their work. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused Tihar officials of giving Kejriwal a terrorist-like treatment. “Kejriwal is given terrorist-like treatment in jail... There was a glass wall between me and him when we met today Mann said. But Tihar officials rebutted it, ,” saying “There is no distinction between a hardcore or a normal criminal.” Can write to family, friends As per the jail manual, undertrial and civil prisoners shall be granted all reasonable facilities to interview or write letters only to their family members, friends and legal advisers. “Prisoners should also be allowed to correspond with the counsel handling their cases.” If it is found that the prisoner is corresponding with undesirable persons, such letters, both incoming and outgoing, shall be withheld,” the jail manual says Police raised concerns over campaign route? Even as the probe continues into the attack on Jagan, several questions remain unanswered as to why the Chief Minister spent over five hours on the route in Vijayawada which made him a sitting duck for the attack. Officials told TNIE that Vijayawada police had initially raised concerns over Jagan’s safety when the route map was made | P4 E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e Jagan’s security cover enhanced Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday said the attack on him on Saturday has only increased his resolve to serve the people. “Such attacks would not shake me. On the contrary, they only strengthen my commitment to you,’’ he asserted. Unidentified youths attacked Jagan while he was on his State-wide Memanta Siddham bus yatra, by throwing a stone at him in Vijayawada. He suffered an injury on his forehead and took rest on Sunday on the advice of doctors. He resumed his yatra from Kesarapalle on the outskirts of the city after meeting a host of party leaders at the campsite. Responding to the attack on him for the first time at a public meeting in Gudivada, he said: “(Opposition leader) Chandrababu Naidu, his foster son (referring to Pawan Kalyan), the BJP and the Congress are attacking me despite the fact that I have done my best for the welfare of the people. Shooting one arrow at Arjuna After the attack, CM Jagan’s security cover was enhanced on Monday. Senior officials said security cover was increased by 30% in the routes which Jagan will take during his campaign. A DSP rank official was appointed to monitor security arrangements & route clearance drills. YSRC leaders are required to stick to the route map. Now, DSPs will be engaged in route clearance and area domination, instead of CIs @ Vijayawada does not mean that the Kauravas have won. Throwing a single stone at me will not stop me or shake my resolve to serve you,” Jagan declared. He said it was unfortunate that the Opposition alliance had stooped to the level of targeting him personally. “This shows that we are close to victory. We are winning,” he asserted. Jagan said the wound on his forehead will recover in 10 days, but the wound inflicted by Naidu on the poor will fester forever. “I am standing here with courage after delivering on the promises made to the people of Andhra Pradesh. On the other side, there are conspirators who have their foundations in falsehood and deception,” Jagan added. Highlighting the failed promises of Naidu and how he made Thankfully, the stone didn’t hit my eye. This means God has a better script for me. He wants me to continue doing the good work. My wound will heal in 10 days, but the wound that Naidu has inflicted on the poor won’t heal in this lifetime — YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, CM mockery of welfare schemes when he was in power, the Chief Minister said: “Naidu ridiculed the free power supply to farmers, English medium education in gover nment schools, and even went to court seeking a stay on construction of free houses for the poor.” Jagan added that while his government had brought revolutionary changes, Naidu looted villages in the name of Janmabhoomi Committees. “We have give assistance to the farmers through RBKs, free electricity for nine hours, and provided permanent land rights for 35 lakh acres,” he said. “In the last 58 months, we have brought changes which are visible in every household. We are the only State in the country that gives `3,000 as pension. Ten fishing harbours are coming up in the State and Bhogapuram Airport work is in full swing. We are consistently topping the Ease of Doing Business ranking,” Jagan asserted. “Trusting Naidu is like handing over your keys to the thief. It’s like placing your head in the tiger’s mouth,” he quipped. IMD predicts above normal rains this year due to favourable La Nina conditions J i tendra C h oube y @ New Delhi Narendra Modi Modi says people’s anger against DMK to help BJP in Lok Sabha polls in TN A day after unveiling the BJP’s Lok Sabha election manifesto, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took aim at the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in an interview on Monday, saying Tamil voters’ resentment against the DMK will help the saffron camp in the upcoming elections. “Five generations of our party have been working in south India and the works are continuing. When the people of the state were disappointed with the Congress, they turned to regional parties. And now, the people are disappointed with these parties,” he told ANI in the interview. Amid this disappointment, Modi said the people of the state Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena directed Police Commissioner Kanthi Rana Tata and IG Ravi Prakash to expedite investigation into the case related to the attack on Jagan. The police officers elaborated on the incident and the security measures that were in place. The CEO also emphasized the need to beef up the Chief Minister’s security we’re winning, attack won’t shake my resolve, asserts jagan When the people (of Tamil Nadu) were disappointed with the Congress, they moved to regional parties, now they are disappointed with these parties RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi CEO directs CP & IG to expedite investigation took note of the BJP model of government at the Centre and in the BJP-ruled states. “The Tamils who live across India went to their home and said this is happening in the state where we live. Naturally, people started comparing,” Modi said. He said the DMK used “to make fun of us calling Panipuri-wallah”. “But when the people of Tamil Nadu came and saw Kashi, they said this is not what they used to hear. There is a lot of progress. And because of that, anger against the DMK has increased,” he said. Attacking the Congress, Modi said, “there are parties that have the mission: of the family, by the family and for the family”. Had party state president Annamalai gone to the DMK, he would have become a big name, Modi said. “But he did not go there and instead joined the BJP. The people there think if Annamalai has joined the BJP, it is because he believes in the party’s ideology. So it has become a source of attraction. Our party gives opportunity to every small and big worker who is capable,” Modi said. He said the Congress must also be questioned about its ally’s stance against Sanatana Dharma. “The Congress where Indira Gandhi used to wear a Rudraksha mala around her neck. The question should be asked to the Congress. What is your helplessness? Why are you sitting with the people who have so much hatred against Sanatana?,” he asked adding that the DMK must have been born out of hatred of Sanatana. express read SUV drags body for 18 km in Anantapur Severe heatwave likely in 63 mandals today Opener leads SRH onslaught vs RCB Anantapur: In a shocking incident, a car owner reportedly hit a man and carried the body on the car’s roof for at least 18km in Anantapur district late Sunday night. The driver drove the vehicle with the body till passersby raised an alarm | P3 Visakhapatnam: The prevailing hot weather conditions are likely to persist with heatwave expected to be recorded for the next three days. As many as 63 mandals in eight districts are likely to record severe heatwave conditions on Tuesday | P3 Travis Head scored a 39-ball century to take Sunrisers Hyderabad to the highest total in IPL (287/3) on Monday. They bettered their earlier best of 277. There were 22 sixes and 19 fours for SRH against Royal Challengers Bangalore | P13 There is a high probability that India will get above-normal rains this southwest monsoon season, the Indian Meteorological Department said on Monday . It said seasonal rainfall will be on the higher side of abovenormal, with over 106% precipitation in the long-period average (LPA) of 87 cm. The weather office said favourable La Nina conditions, neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)—which occurs due to differential warming of the west- ern and eastern sides of the equatorial Indian Ocean—and lesser snow coverage over the northern hemisphere have brightened chances of a bountiful monsoon. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, IMD director general said La Nina conditions are likely to develop in the second half of the monsoon season. “El Nino conditions are prevailing at present. ENSOneutral conditions are expected in the first half of the monsoon season. Thereafter, models suggest, La Lina conditions may set in by August-September,” Mohapatra said in a press conference here. Parts of the northwest, east and northeast India are expected to receive below-normal rainfall, he added. The normal monsoon range is between 96-104% of LPA. The range 104-110% of LPA is considered above normal and above 110% is excess rainfall. Similarly, ranging between 90-96% is considered below normal and less than 90% is deficient rainfall. `2L reward for info on stone pelter, says V’wada CP E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada NTR District Commissioner of Police Kanthi Rana Tata has announced a cash reward of `2 lakh to those who provide information or recordings or photographs that could lead to the identification and arrest of the person who hurled a stone at Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at Sri Vivekananda School on Daba Kottu road during his Memantha Siddham Bus Yatra on Saturday night. In the incident, the Chief Minister suffered an injury on his forehead while former minister and Vijayawada Central YSRCP candidate Velampalli Srinivasa Rao injured his left eye. Addressing mediapersons on Monday, the CP exuded confidence that police will catch the culprit soon and revealed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) with eight officers of various ranks has been constituted with the officials who earlier worked in the city in crime and Task force wings to arrest the accused attacker. “A `2 lakh reward will be given to those who provide information and video footage, CCTV footage, or photos, leading to the arrest of the accused. Informant’s details will be kept confidential. They could approach K Srinivasa Rao, DCP, NRT police commissioner, or R Sriharibabu ADCP Task Force to give information directly,” P4 said Kanthi Rana Tata. Sharmila struggling in cousin vs cousin joust S N a g a r a j a R a o @ Kadapa Kadapa is witnessing a legacy joust between two cousins of a politically influential family — one of whom is a first-timer — and a triangular contest in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Incumbent Y S Avinash Reddy belongs to the Y S Rajashekara Reddy family tree. He is the cousin of YSR’s son and Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who floated his own YSR Congress. The Congress pitted Jagan’s sister Y S Sharmila Reddy against Avinash. Ever since 1989, when Rajasekhara Reddy won the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, the contest here has only been about the YS family’s victory margin. This is the first time two members of the YS family are vying for the top honours. One of the backward districts in the Rayalaseema region, Kadapa witnessed a spurt in development after Rajasekhara Reddy became CM as he ensured a steady flow of funds for the family pocket borough. The only time the TDP won the seat was in 1984 when D Narayana Reddy wrested it at the height of the N T Ramarao wave. Like Sharmila, TDP’s candidate Chadipiralla Bhupesh Subbarami Reddy too, is a , first-timer. However, he hasn’t been suddenly parachuted into Kadapa like her. Subbarami Reddy has silently been preparing the ground for the past several months. The downside for Avinash Reddy is that he is an accused in the murder case of his uncle and former minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy But he has the solid . backing of Jagan. Avinash has stayed put in the constituency since the past several months to ensure there is no dent in his influence. His victory margin last time was over three lakh votes. Speaking to TNIE, Avinash Illustration: Mandar Pardikar said spent his MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) allocation and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) funds generated from various corporates for the development in all assembly segments falling under his constituency. “I also took the initiative to get funds from the state government for implementing various projects in all segments,” he said. As for Sharmila, she does not have any base here, as she has been living in Hyderabad all along. Hoping to wrest the YSR legacy, she claims her father was a tall Congress leader, but Jagan left it and floated his own regional party . However, the argument doesn’t seem to be cutting ice with the people. Continued on P5
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