HYDERABAD l sunday l august 23, 2026 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l late cITY EDITION Hockey World Cup: Men’s team walk the tightrope after loss Harmanpreet & Co. lose crucial encounter 1-3 against the Netherlands, face a must-win clash against Argentina on Monday to have a chance pointless India given lifeline by argentina The men’s team would have been ousted from the competition had England avoided defeat on Saturday evening but Argentina won that match. India, the only team with zero points in Pool E, are last and have a sub-optimal goal difference but they have a chance. That’s all they could have asked for and now the onus is on them to give themselves a chance ■ SIX searching for 1st WC medal since 1975 ■ India are still searching for their first medal at the World Cup since the 1975 edition. On Monday, apart from that must-win clash, they also have to hope that Netherlands beat England On Sunday, the women’s team needs a win against Australia to have a chance of advancing to the semifinals | P11 no of goals harmanpreet Singh has scored at the world cup 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 Internal Congress flare-up may hasten Cabinet reshuffle I r e d d y S r i n i v a s Re d d y @ Hyderabad Day after, Raj govt says 611 schools lack own building R a jes h As n a n i @ Jaipur As many as 611 state-run schools in Rajasthan do not have own buildings, 2,047 schools lack toilets for students, and 1,049 do not have drinking water facilities, government data showed, amid a row over the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) inspection of schools in the state. The data was released a day after CJP workers were assaulted during a visit to a school in Jaipur. It came in response to an unstarred question by Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Julie. Of the 611 schools without buildings, 10 are girls’ schools. Jaipur has 38 such schools. Block-wise, Aklera in Jhalawar has the highest number of such schools at 23, followed Dipke by Khanpur booked with 16, and Jhalrapatan Police have and Phalodi registered a w i t h case against 11 each. Cockroach The data Janta Party is based on convenor Abhijeet Dipke 2025-26 UDISE figand others for ures under allegedly the Samaentering a gra Shiksha state-run framework. school in The governMaharashtra’s ment said Latur district arrangewithout ments were permission. being made for drinking water and alternative toilet facilities at schools lacking them. It has earmarked `550 crore for the repair and renovation of schools and another `450 crore for constructing buildings for schools without premises and those operating from dilapidated structures. The government also cited a Finance Department meeting held on March 13 and 14, where a roadmap was prepared to mobilise `2,500 crore annually for the construction, repair and maintenance of school buildings with a total outlay of over `12,500 crore over five years. WITH THIS ISSUE The Fearless Generation PLUS 12 P AGES Rahul Gandhi at his rally in Pune on Saturday | PTI Modi’s pep Break the talk to new cage, Rahul core team tells women RA J E S H K U M AR T HA K UR @ New Delhi S u d h i r S u r ya w a n s h i @ Mumbai Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the newly appointed office-bearers of the BJP’s central team to remain committed to the party’s ideology and the spirit of Nation First, with Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, which is at the core of good governance. In his first interaction with the new team, he shared insights and perspectives on strengthening organisational work and emphasised the importance of maintaining a deep connect with the people, particularly the youth, over the government’s policies and achievements. Modi reportedly advised the team not to be bothered or worried by the ‘surround sound’ outside, but to remain focused on the party’s ideological commitment. Prime Minister Later, in a post on ‘X’, Modi Narendra Modi said: “Organisational meet- shared insights and ings are all about new ideas perspectives to and perspectives aimed at further strengthen the party’s strengthening the party and organisation and deepening connect with the people. Great interaction deepen its connect with people with fellow party colleagues BJP statement and the new team!” Earlier in the day, a meeting of the party’s new core team adopted a resolution condemning the Congress decision to sing just two stanzas of Vande Mataram. Asserting that there would be no compromise on the honour and legacy of the National Song, the party resolved to oppose any attempt by the Congress to subject it to “communal pressure, political appeasement or vote-bank politics”. The BJP is also learnt to have constituted a dedicated team to spearhead its upcoming Gen Z outreach. It is expected to be rolled out shortly . Besides, the party will launch a month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan from September 17 to mark the completion of Modi’s 25 years in public life as the head of government and his dedication to service at every moment.  P7 WOMEN are India’s “biggest strength,” but a stereotypical society rooted in the Manusmriti, , has systematically ensured they are never allowed to be independent, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said here on Saturday . Addressing his party’s youth outreach programme ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ here, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said he would not deliver a political speech but would instead listen to young women’s concerns and ideas. “There is a deliberate plan to ensure women are never independent. No man has any right over women. Even after remarkable success in every field, they are still boxed into a category Rahul ,” said, urging women to “break the cage.” There is a Calling the Manusmriti deliberate plan to ensure that women “the RSS’s draconian book,” he said it worked against should never be women’s independence and independent. You are not bound to progress. “A woman belongs anyone except to herself first, and that is yourself her first identity; then other Rahul Gandhi, roles like sister, daughter, Congress leader wife, and mother come into play he said. ,” Citing data, Rahul said 4.5 lakh female foeticides occur every year, 80 per cent of women face harassment in some form, 29 per cent face physical violence, and at least six per cent are rape victims. He added that half of India’s women reject work opportunities over safety concerns, 60 per cent cannot step out alone, and girls’ education drops 45 per cent due to early marriage and domestic work. Only eight per cent of women own property, he said. The data presented by the Congress leader could not be independently verified by this paper. Rahul later interacted with students and working women, who spoke about education, career choices and workplace conduct. Seven-storey building on 50 sq yd plot collapses, two workers dead C h i t h a l u r i Re v a n t h @ Hyderabad A seven-storey building under construction in Anjaiahnagar, Gachibowli, collapsed on Saturday, killing two workers and damaging an adjoining apartment building. The deceased were identified as Umesh Kare, 34, and Mopath, 42. The unauthorised G+6 structure was being built on a 50-square-yard plot adjacent to a nala. The two workers are suspected to have been at the site when the structure collapsed around 1 pm, sending debris onto the neighbouring building and trapping people underneath. Fire and rescue personnel rushed to the spot with advanced equipment, including a Victim Location Camera, to search the debris. The bodies of the two workers were located and recovered. Cyberabad Municipal Commissioner G Srijana said the authorities had received a complaint against the building nearly six months ago, following which construction was stopped and the structure seized. Work remained halted for four months before resuming, without clearance from the Nizamabad: TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Saturday hinted at possible disciplinary action against Minister Konda Surekha over her daughter Konda Sushmitha Patel’s remarks. Speaking to media, Mahesh said the AICC was examining the matter and that the party could not ignore remarks that crossed political and organisational boundaries. “I am waiting for information from the AICC headquarters. Within 24 hours, I will share my views with the media,” he said. This time, however, the matter appears to have travelled beyond Hyderabad. Congress sources said the high command has taken note of the developments and sought details from Telangana AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan. A meeting between Revanth, TPCC president B Mahesh Goud and other senior leaders is expected after the chief minister returns to Hyderabad on Sunday . As they say in politics, one controversy rarely travels alone. The question is whether Surekha will remain in the Cabinet. If she is dropped, the discussion has already moved to the next question: who replaces her and how the social equation is maintained? A BC representative, particularly from the Munnuru Kapu community, is among the possibil- E x p r ess Ne w s S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad Alleging that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s house was placed on the Section 22-A prohibited list to deflect criticism, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Saturday sought a sitting judge-led inquiry into the issue. Addressing the media, Kishan said the real estate sector was taking a hit. “Four lakh acres in Medchal and Rangareddy districts alone are under Section 22-A, showing the gravity of the situation. Why are legally constructed, taxpaid properties on the prohibited list? The CM, revenue minister and officials are blaming each other, while the aim appears to be creating litigation and extracting a cut to resolve them,” he said. Kishan then turned to public property, alleging that the state government is helping private parties gain ownership by withholding documents from the courts. He cited the Telangana High Court’s observation on whether the Army had to be deployed to protect lands in Hyderabad as a sign of how serious the situation had become. Frequent transfers, he added, had left district collectors helpless. The Union minister also raised questions over how new projects are cleared, alleging that NOCs and permissions require political approval and that HYDRAA acts only against Congress opponents. He asked whether future governments would have enough land for public purposes if the government continued selling land like the BRS. Questioning the decision to print the chief minister and Civil Supplies minister’s photographs on ration cards, Kishan argued that the Centre’s logo should also feature, as the Union government bears a larger share of the cost of rice supplied through the PDS. Turning to Revanth’s proposed US visit, Kishan questioned the priority given to it amid unresolved education issues. “Why is the state government not paying fee reimbursement dues to students? Many engineeri n g c o l l e g e s a re shutting down. What happened to the `5 lakh Vidya Bharosa card which was promised?” he asked. Kishan also raised concerns over Hyderabad’s falling voter count, attributing the decline to Revanth’s remarks about retaining votes in native villages. He said there was no link between ration cards and the location of a person’s property . “My own constituency has lost 9.38 lakh votes,” he said. The Union minister also weighed in on the family register certificate, saying the Election Commission had rightly rejected it. The government, he added, could still use it for its own schemes. e x p ress re a d Rescue workers at the illegal under construction seven-storey building that collapsed in Anjaiahnagar, Gachibowli, in Hyderabad on Saturday | Vinay Madapu CMC, three to four days before the collapse. “Before we could know, this incident happened,” Srijana told the media. Locals, however, alleged that they too had complained about the construction but no action was taken. The collapse also damaged three bedrooms in the adjoining Jaya Darshini Apartments. Several residents were injured, including retired Army person- nel Ramana Reddy, who was taken to a nearby hospital. Resident Uma Mahesh said a pregnant domestic worker was inside the building when it collapsed. “Immediately I took her , out of the building,” he said. Another resident said the initial impact of the collapse was so sudden that people thought there had been an earthquake. “We saw a thick cloud of dust and realised what had happened.”  Continued on p3 ities being discussed. There is also a case for another woman in the Cabinet. Apart from Surekha and Dansari Anasuya (Seethakka), Congress has women legislators such as N Padmavathi Uttam Reddy Ch Parnika Reddy , , M Yashaswini Reddy and Matta Ragamayee. Sources said Ragamai could emerge as a possibility particularly if the , party decides to balance caste and gender representation. Another option being discussed is the induction of a Munnuru Kapu MLA such as Aadi Srinivas alongside her. But even if Surekha is retained, the party will have to decide what action to take and what signal to send to its cadre. Her response to the TPCC committee, in which she did not condemn her daughter’s remarks, has added to the discussion. Continued on p4 Kishan: Let sitting judge probe Section 22-A mess PIC: SRI LOGANATHAN VELMURUGAN PM Modi being greeted by BJP president Nitin Nabin | PTI The recent remarks by Endowments Minister Konda Surekha’s daughter Konda Sushmita Patel and Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy may have hastened the long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle, with the Congress leadership now weighing not just who could be inducted but also what political message any changes would send. The two episodes have brought Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s handling of dissent back into focus. Several legislators have rallied behind the chief minister, openly objecting to the remarks and seeking action against Surekha and her daughter. For the party’s state leadership, the latest controversy comes after a series of episodes involving the minister’s family including allega, tions surrounding her former OSD N Sumanth and a cement factory owner. That controversy had gradually faded, but the latest remarks have reopened an issue the party had hoped was behind it. TPCC president hints at action against Surekha Two killed in Yadadri pharma unit blast Nalgonda: A chemical reactor explosion at Hazelo Pharma in Dothigudem, Bhoodan Pochampally mandal of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, triggered a massive fire on Friday, killing two workers and injuring nine others. The deceased have been identified as Ch Nagi Reddy and N Naresh Kumar | p3 Judge blocks Trump’s 75-country visa ban New York: A US federal judge has struck down the Trump administration’s visa ban on nationals from 75 countries, ruling it exceeded executive authority and violated immigration law. Judge Jeannette Vargas said visas could not be denied solely based on an applicant’s nationality | p9 SC overturns NGT order against Art of Living s u c h i t r a k a lya n m o h a n t y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Saturday set aside a 2017 order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) holding Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation responsible for the damage caused to the Yamuna floodplain following its World Culture Festival held here in 2016. The court then directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to refund the `5 crore environmental compensation deposited by the foundation. A bench of justices Satish Chandra Shar ma and N K Singh passed the order on an appeal filed by Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (VVKI), the Indian organisation associated with AoL Foundation, founded by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. It is to be noted that the foundation is the broader international organisation, while VVKI is a separate Indian entity linked to it. The NGT had ruled on Dec 7, 2017 that the `5 crore interim compensation paid by the foundation would be used by DDA for restoration and excess cost, if any would be recovered from , it. It had also held DDA guilty of contributory negligence. The top court said NGT’s finding was based on an expert committee report prepared in “violation of natural justice” without giving AoL a chance to submit evidence. The Shashi Shekhar committee’s estimate — `42.02 crore first, then `13.29 crore — was arbitrary with no conclusive proof that floodplain was “completely destroyed”, the bench said. The court further said that the event was held after necessary and due permission from all authorities.