kottayam l wednesday l march 18, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l city EDITION Ladakh ‘Ladakh protests only to seek dialogue’ In his first remarks after release from jail, activist Sonam Wangchuk said he is looking forward to a ‘meaningful dialogue’ with Centre on Ladakh ‘Won’t resume agitation if talks happen’ Wangchuk, who was arrested last year following violent protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and inclusion under Sixth Schedule of Constitution, said the protests were only to seek dialogue. He noted that any negotiation means both sides will have to make some adjustments. “We were sure of a victory in court, but a win was not enough. I wanted a win-win,” he said Release from detention A win-win, Centre open to talks: Wangchuk ■ ■ ■ Wangchuk described govt’s move to release him as an “extending of hand to build trust and to facilitate meaningful, constructive dialogue” “They have offered a constructive, meaningful dialogue. This is what we have wanted, and we had to struggle so much, sit on fast” He said he would not return to agitation if “meaningful talks” happen Sep 26, 2025 When Wangchuk, 59, was detained under the stringent NSA 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 40% of young graduates can’t find work: Report PA D M I N I D H R U VA R A J @ Bengaluru NEARLY 40% of young graduates in India are unemployed, a figure that has remained largely unchanged for four decades, according to the State of Working India 2026 report by Azim Premji University. The report—which defines youth as those between 15 and 29 years—shows that unemployment among young graduates remains persistently high, with 40% of those between 15-25 years and 20% of 25-29 years unable to find work. This is not a new trend. The report, which draws from nationally representative labour force surveys, administrative databases, and primary surveys, states that graduate unemployment has “remained more or less unchanged between 35% and 40%” from 1983 to 2023, even as the number of graduates has increased significantly over time. Even when work is found, stable employment is uncommon. Tracking young graduate men over a year, the report finds about half can find some form of work, but few secure permanent salaried employment. “ Among graduates, only about 7% find permanent salaried employment within a year,” the report states. This gap between education and employment comes at a critical time as India’s demographic advantage, driven by its large young population, is nearing its peak. E x p r e s s Re a d Antony Raju ineligible to contest elections Kochi: In a major setback to former LDF minister and Thiruvananthapuram MLA Antony Raju, the Kerala High Court on Friday dismissed his plea seeking suspension of his conviction in a 1990 evidencetampering case. With this order, he is not eligible to contest in the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala. P6 Accused found guilty in Vandana murder case Kollam: The Kollam Additional District and Sessions Court on Tuesday found the accused, G Sandeep, guilty in the 2023 murder of Dr Vandana Das, a young house surgeon at the Government Taluk Hospital, Kottarakkara. The court will pronounce the final judgement on Thursday. P6 De facto Iran leader dead: Israel Israel claims it eliminated Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani; Tehran yet to confirm or deny A g en c ies @ Jersusalem/Tehran/Dubai ISRAEL said on Tuesday that it has killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s powerful national security chief and de facto leader overseeing the country’s decision making. Israel also claimed it has killed Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, in a strike in Tehran. Iran did not immediately confirm or reject Israel’s claims. Larijani, 68, was last seen in public on Friday at a Quds Day march in Tehran. “This morning we eliminated Ali Larijani, the boss of the Revolutionary Guards, which is the gang of gangsters that actually runs Iran,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised statement. According to an IDF statement, Larijani led the politicalsecurity coordination of the Iranian regime and “directed its international activity”. 1 Hormuz: Modi, UAE prez discuss safe navigation 2 22 other Indian-flagged vessels carrying 611 seafarers remain in the western Gulf IDF claims Larijani was de facto leader of after supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed Larijani led the political-security coordination of the regime, says Israel military 3 He was involved in directing the regime’s international activity after Khamenei’s death Iranian Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani His death, if confirmed, would be a blow to Iran, which is facing the brunt of a war launched by the US and Israel seeking a regime day change in Tehran. Larijani was considered a key pillar in the ruling system, close to the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei and central to the government’s nuclear policy and strategic diplomacy over decades. 18 After the war broke out, Larijani became more powerful. While the new supreme leader, Ali Khameini’s son Mojtaba, has not been seen in public since his appointment, Larijani was spotted among crowds at a progovernment rally last week. The US-Israeli war on Iran is now in its third week, killing at least 2,000 people and setting off poll position Venugopal camp Women, youth gains upper hand take centre stage in Cong’s first list in IUML lineup K S S R E E J I T H @ T’Puram L a ksh m i Athir a @Malappuram No major surprises. Actor Ramesh PisIn a significant policy shift, the Indian harody in Palakkad. No decision on disUnion Muslim League (IUML) has, for puted constituencies like Perumbavoor, the first time, fielded two women candiKannur or Konni. dates in a Kerala assembly election, sigRunning to catch up after long delay , nalling a calibrated attempt to reshape Congress on Tuesday brought its public image. Party nationout a list of 55 candidates, Joseph’s son in al assistant secretary Jayanthi among them 20 sitting MLAs, Rajan will contest from Thodupuzha for the assembly polls. By Koothuparamba and Youth Announcing his keeping alive speculation League leader Fathima Thaover whether sitting MPs will retirement from nearly hiliya from Perambra. six decade-long contest, Kannur and Konni Announcing 25 candidates, seats have been kept vacant. parliamentary politics, out of the total 27 seats allotMPs K Sudhakaran and Adoor Kerala Congress chief P J ted to the party state president , Joseph declared that Prakash have been lobbying Panakkad Syed Sadiq Ali Shihis son Apu John will for the two seats for long. No hab Thangal confirmed that contest from Thoducandidate was announced for Koduvally MLA M K Muneer puzha this time. politically volatile Nemom. will not be in the fray this Also, Perumbavoor has been Actors feature time. kept vacant, due to indecision In a major reshuffle, IUML in Twenty20 list on fielding sitting MLA Eldnational general secretary P K hose Kunnappillil. No candi- Kochi: Twenty20, which Kunhalikutty will shift to has joined NDA, has date has been named for AmMalappuram, while K M Shaji balapuzha, where former CPM fielded actors Anjali Nair has been fielded in Vengara as leader G Sudhakaran is con- in Tripunithura, Lakshmi his replacement. Shaji’s candiPriya in Perumbavoor testing as an independent. A dature comes after the party and Veena Nair in Suresh, former aide of CPM dropped earlier consideraEttumanoor for the veteran V S Achuthanandan, tions to field him in Kasaraassembly polls. P4 is the Congress candidate in god or Koduvally following Malampuzha. For the politistrong resistance from local cally high-voltage Palakkad seat, the units. party has fielded Ramesh Pisharody . Signalling a tilt towards younger leadThe first list, brought out after inership, the party has given prominence tense deliberations, has underlined the to Youth League figures, with P K Firoz dominance of K C Venugopal faction, fielded in Koduvally and Faizal Babu in serving as a clear indicator of the direcKozhikode South. MSF state president P tion in which the remaining candidate K Navas will take on LDF candidate V ● More on P6 selection is likely to proceed.  ● More on P6 Abdurahiman in Tanur. DMK intimidation charge ‘Jailor’ takes no prisoners, calls out TVK leader Arjuna’s slander zhagam (TVK), attributed it to the DMK’s intimidation and not ill-health. In conAn attempt to airbrush actrast, Vijay had the courage tor-turned-politician Vijay’s to withstand pressure, he image as gutsy in poll-bound claimed. Tamil Nadu by juxtaposing it The allegation drew a volwith Rajinikanth, spectaculey of protests from fans and Rajinikanth larly bombed, as the superpoliticians alike, curiously star called out the slander, putting traditional Dravidiadding “time waits and an rivals, the BJP and the responds.” PMK on the same page. In 2020, Rajini had toyed From AIADMK general with the idea of taking the secretary Edappadi K Palanpolitical plunge in the state, iswami to Tamil Nadu minisbut in the end chose not to ter S Regupathy (DMK), VCK bite the bullet citing health president Thol TirumavalaAadhav Arjuna issues. van, BJP leaders Nainar NaCommenting on the decision at a genthran, L Murugan, K Annamalai recent rally, Aadhav Arjuna, senior and Arjunamurthy, and PMK presileader of Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Ka- dent Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, all E XP R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai panned Arjuna. In a signed statement, Rajini thanked all who condemned the “defamatory remark”. DMK’s S Regupathy said, “Rajinikanth yields only to affection, not to intimidation.” The NDA going after Arjuna could signal the end of its attempts to woo the TVK into its fold. Assembly elections IUML’s choices irk Vanitha league I P4 dissent in NDA over list after ramesh denied ticket I P5 52 women to defend Didi’s fort against BJP onslaught I P7 UCC Second LPG tanker arrives from the Strait of Hormuz Oil tanker Jag Laadki with about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude from UAE, set to arrive Modi, UAE President stress secure Strait of Hormuz global repercussions. The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil ⁠and liquefied natural gas flows, remains closed for all ships except those that have Iran’s permission. Meanwhile, Iran launched a fresh wave of attacks on Tuesday, targeting US forces at Kuwait’s Ali al-Salem Air Base, UAE’s Fujairah, and in Iraq’s Erbil. Drone attacks sparked a fire at an oil tank farm in Fujairah. Guj moves closer to implementing Uniform civl code A high-level committee on Tuesday submitted its final report to Gujarat CM. It proposes a common legal framework across religions on marriage, inheritance, and adoption. P10 Adoption verdict: SC nixes maternity leave criteria E x p ress N e w s S er v i c e @New Delhi Observing that adoption is part of the right to reproductive autonomy the Supreme Court on Tuesday struck , down a law which said a woman would be eligible for maternity leave only if she legally adopts a child below the age of three months, saying it is discriminatory . The court also urged the Centre to come up with a law recognising paternity leave as a social security benefit, noting that parenthood is not a solitary function, adding while the mother is central to a child’s development, it would be unjust to overlook the role of the father. Ruling that age-based classification under Section 60(4) of the Code on Social Security 2020 was violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, the court held that an adoptive mother should be entitled to maternity leave of 12 weeks, irrespective of the age of the adopted child.