KOttayam l friday l march 01, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Cabinet approves three mega chip units @ L1.26 lakh cr outlay Construction of the units will begin within the next 100 days and govt will provide financial aid, Telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Tata group to set up 2 units; CG Power one Cabinet approves rooftop solar scheme Tata Electronics and Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp will set up a unit at Dholera, Gujarat, at a cost of J91,000 cr. The Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd will set up a unit in Morigaon, Assam, at J27,000 cr. CG Power, Renesas Electronics Corp, Japan and Stars Microelectronics, Thailand, will set up a unit in Sanand at J7,600 cr ■ ■ The chips to be manufactured in these units can be used in electric vehicles, telecom, defence and consumer electronics. These units will create 20,000 advanced tech jobs, 60,000 indirect jobs, says govt Cabinet approved the rooftop solar scheme of 300 units free power for 1 cr houses with an outlay of J75,021 crore for panel installation A76K cr of financial assistance to be provided by centre for 3 chip units 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 Economy zooms to 8.4% in Q3 Growth in gross value addition, however, was just 6.5% in third quarter, down from 7.7% in Q2 M o n i k a Ya d av @ New Delhi Tunda, after he was acquitted by a TADA court in the 1993 serial bomb blasts case, in Ajmer on Thursday | PTI ‘Mastermind’ of serial blasts in ’93 acquitted R a je s h A s n a n i @ Jaipur Abdul Karim Tunda, the prime accused in the 1993 serial blasts case, was on Thursday acquitted by a TADA court in Ajmer. He is 80. Two other individuals, Irfan (70) and Hamimuddin (44), were convicted in that case. Tunda’s lawyer, Shafiktullah Sultani, said, “The court acquitted him of all charges. The CBI has failed to present any strong evidence against Tunda.” However, defence lawyer Bhavani Singh Rohela said the CBI would file an appeal in the Supreme Court. “The court acquitted Tunda because there was no direct evidence to prove his involvement,” he said. Tunda expressing gratitude to the court for his acquittal. Tunda, Irfan, and Hamimuddin were accused in the serial bomb blasts that targeted trains in Lucknow, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Surat and Mumbai on December 6, 1993. Twenty years ago, on February 28, 2004, the TADA court had sentenced 16 accused to life imprisonment in the case. Tunda was nabbed in 2013 in Banbasa, Uttarakhand, near the India-Nepal border. He was known to have close ties with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and earned the moniker “Doctor Bomb” due to his expertise in bomb-making. THE Indian economy continues to spring surprises with the GDP growing at 8.4% in the third quarter of the current financial year (FY24). The numbers released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on Thursday beat estimates by 140-170 basis points. Buoyed by the latest data, NSO has also revised its full-year GDP growth estimates for FY24 to 7.6%, up from the initial 7.3% projection made in January . “Robust 8.4% GDP growth in Q3 2023-24 shows the strength of Indian economy and its potential. Our efforts will continue to bring fast economic growth which shall help 140 crore Indians lead a better life and create a Viksit Bharat!” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. During a media briefing, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Growth sectors 11.6% 9.5% 9.5% 8.7% 9% Q3FY23 7.5% 5.2% Q3FY24 Average GDP growth of first 3 quarters of FY24 8.2% 1.4% Construction -4.8% Manufacturing sector output Electricity, gas, water supply Mining & quarrying IIP slips -0.8% Laggard Agriculture Key infra sectors grew at a 15-month low of 3.6% in Jan 2024, down from 4.9% in December and 9.7% in January 2023 Nageswaran said the robust GDP growth and India’s consistent outperformance are prompting a reevaluation by international organisations to raise their estimates of India’s growth rate to 7% or higher. He emphasised the economy’s ability to surpass projections, indicating a structural transformation in progress, par- Source: NSO ticularly in infrastructure and inclusion initiatives that enhance purchasing power. The sparkling GDP figures, however, don’t hide the sluggish sequential growth in gross value addition (GVA), which measures the total value of goods and services produced. GVA grew just 6.5% in the third quarter, lower E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @Kalpetta Sidharth J S, the student of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Pookode, Wayanad, was subjected to a mob trial on February 16, two days before he ended his life, the police have said. The police on Thursday arrested Akhil K, a first-year PG student and Sidharth’s fellow hostel inmate, taking the total number of arrests in the case to seven. Akhil was nabbed from Palakkad and his arrest recorded after interrogation. College union president K Arun, who had been on the run since the incident, surrendered before the police late on Thurs- Guv seeks report, Satheesan flays police Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has sought a report from the state police chief on the action taken in the death. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan flayed the police for its negligence and failure in nabbing the real culprits. P4 day Meanwhile, following a di. rective from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to the state police chief, the police have decided to form a special team to probe the death. Sidharth, a native of Nedumangad in Thiruvanan- thapuram, was found hanging in the hostel bathroom on February 18. Details of the mob trial and severe physical assault he suffered came to light after some college students hailing from north India sent a complaint to the UGC on February 21. “The mob trial took place on the hostel premises. The accused are inmates of the hostel. A student, Rahan, had called Sidharth who had left for home on February 15, back to the hostel. At present we cannot say whether there was any lapse by the college management,” said Kalpetta DySP Sajeev T N, who is heading the probe at present. The college has denied knowledge of the mob trial. ● More on P4 E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @T’Puram The Kerala University Laws [Amendment No.2] [Divesting Governor from the position of Chancellor of Universities] Bill, 2022, was passed to keep the governor’s powers under check in state varsities. It enabled the government to appoint academicians or “persons of eminence” in various fields of knowledge as chancellors in various universities. University Law Amendment Bill, 2022 (Expansion of search committee for the appointment of VC) proposed expanding the threemember search committee to a five member panel. Along with nominees of the chancellor and the university, a nominee of the government and the state higher education council were also included. The move aimed at ensuring the government greater leverage in VC selection. A bill dealing with the appellate tribunal and other amendments to Technological University, was the third legislation denied assent. Cremated Punjab farmer Shubhkaran Singh, 21, who died during clashes with security personnel, was cremated on Thursday. There was no clarity on the farmers’ Dilli Chalo march that is now on hold | P8 Sidharth subjected to mob trial, say BJP decides to weed out police; college denies knowledge battle-scarred veterans Day after boost, Prez deals shock to govt, withholds assent to 3 university Bills No nod than 7.7% in the second quarter, and 8.2% in the first quarter of FY24. GVA growth in the third quarter of FY23 stood at 4.8%. The latest GDP growth numbers were also helped by a downward revision (from 4.7% to 4.3%) of the figures in the third quarter of the previous year. Net taxes less subsidies, which jumped by 32% annually, also boosted GDP growth in the quarter. The slowdown in GVA growth was led by manufacturing, construction and agriculture. Manufacturing sector GVA slowed down to 11.6% in Q3 from 14.4% in Q2. Agriculture sector growth declined by 0.8% during the quarter compared with 1.6% growth in the previous quarter. Construction sector saw the growth dropping from 13.5% in Q2 to 9.5% in Q3. Mining activities also slowed down to single digit growth of 7.5%. In a blow to the state government’s efforts to curtail the governor’s powers in university matters, President Droupadi Murmu withheld assent to three Bills, including the one seeking to divest the governor from the post of chancellor of state varsities. For all intents and purposes, the Bills have reached a dead end, said experts. Gover nor Arif Mohammed Khan had sent seven Bills to the President last November after the state government moved the Supreme Court alleging inordinate delay by him in clearing the pieces of legislation. In a press release on Thursday the Raj Bhavan said , the President has “withheld assent” to the Bills divesting governor from the chancellor post; expanding search committee for vice-chancellor appointments and effecting changes within the technological university . While the President has given assent to the Kerala Lokayukta Amendment Bill, 2022, a decisions on other three Bills is awaited, the Raj Bhavan said. P4 E X PRE S S READ Speaker disqualifies all 6 Himachal rebels Chandigarh: The Himachal Congress on Thursday sought to put its house in order with the Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania announcing the disqualification six rebels and the party deciding to set up a panel to coordinate between the party and the government. Two days ago, the party had spectacularly failed to keep its flock together during the Rajya Sabha elections, as six of its lawmakers cross-voted for BJP. It led to a tie and BJP bagged the seat in a draw of lots. The disqualified MLAs said they would challenge the Speaker’s call in a court. no chai pe charcha Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates with Nagpur-based tea vendor Dolly Chaiwala, who is also a social media influencer. Dolly later said he did not know who Gates was when he served him tea. He quoted Gates as saying, ‘Wow, Dolly ki Chai.’ “We did not speak at all, he was standing just beside me and I was busy with my work,” Dolly said | PTI K S SR E E J ITH @T’Puram Eager to give a bright and invigorated look to the party’s candidate list for Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has reportedly decided to axe those leaders who have been per manent feature in its lineups. Prominent among them are former state presidents Kummanam Rajasekharan, P K Krishnadas and C K Padmanabhan, besides senior leader A N Radhakrishnan. However, Union Minister V Muraleedharan and senior leader Shobha Kummanam Surendran seem to have made the cut Rajasekharan despite losing election after election. According to BJP sources, Kummanam, Krishnadas, Padmanabhan and Radhakrishnan have informed the state leadership of their willingness to opt out of the fray after the national leadership made its position clear. M T Ramesh has also expressed his desire to stay away from the battle for the P K Krishnadas ballot. So far, candidates have been finalised for three constituencies -- Attingal (Muraleedharan), Thrissur (Suresh Gopi) and Palakkad (C Krishna Kumar). The BJP parliamentary board, which was meeting in New Delhi when this report was being filed, will decide C K Padmanabhan the fate of more leaders inclined to fight the LS elections. Union Minister Rajiv Chandrasekhar, who reportedly failed to get a nod to contest from Karnataka’s Bengaluru North constituency might be the candidate in Thiru, vananthapuram, sources said. The BJP national leadership has asked the state unit to suggest new and young faces along with experienced A N Radhakrishnan ones. BJP’s Kozhikode corporation parliamentary party leader and Bharatiya Janata Mazdoor Mahasangh state general secretary Navya Haridas is being actively considered for Kozhikode seat. Meanwhile, at a meeting between the BJP and the BDJS, it was decided that the latter would contest from Mavelikkara, Kottayam, Chalakudi and Idukki constituencies. BDJS leader Thushar Vellappally had made it clear to NDA vice chairman Krishnadas on Wednesday about his party’s disinclination to contest from Wayanad and Alathur. Cong proposes sitting MPs in 15 seats, no word on Alappuzha C y n t h i a C h a n d r a n @T’Puram The Congress screening committee on Thursday proposed the names of 15 sitting MPs as candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, while leaving the decision on the Alappuzha seat to the central leadership before the party’s central election committee (CEC) is convened. Meanwhile, there are indications the national leadership may bring in changes in Thrissur, Mavelikkara and Pathanamthitta seats, replacing sitting MPs with fresh faces. The screening committee is likely to meet once more in New Delhi before the CEC takes a final call on candidates on the 16 Lok Sabha seats that the Congress is contesting. High drama prevailed at the screening committee meeting held at Hotel Hyatt Regency when Congress state president K Sudhakaran insisted he would not contest from Kannur, his sitting seat, and expressed desire to continue as the KPCC chief. The announcement caught AICC general secretary in charge of the state Deepa Dasmunshi, screening committee chair man Harish Chaudhary and member Jignesh Mevani by surprise. ● More on P4 On the police radar 100 Malayalis engaged abroad as cyber scammers S h a n A S @ T’Puram If familiarity can breed contempt, similarity can breed crime! State police have initiated an elaborate exercise to identify Malayalis employed abroad as call-centre executives with firms engaged in cyber crime. The cyber investigation wing launched the mission after scammers struck havoc, swindling nearly 23,750 people in the state of around `200 crore last year. In most of the cases, victims were defrauded by call-centre executives hailing from the state. The investigation has so far revealed the involvement of nearly 100 people working for companies operating out of the UAE, Cambodia and Indonesia. Of these, nearly 15 have been identified, said top police sources. Most of the scammers, which includes women, collect leads on potential targets and then place their calls to lure them into investing in fraudulent schemes. Sources said the firms employ people who are fluent in English as well as local languages. The telecallers hailing from Kerala are entrusted with the task of contacting targets in the state. The investigation has revealed that most of the scams emanating from the UAE were carried out by Chinese firms. Malayalis, who mostly arrive on visit visas, are baited by fir ms that offer attractive remuneration. They are also offered other benefits, including a commission on the amount they fleece from victims. These firms also use bank accounts of Keralites to carry out online transactions of the fraudulently obtained cash and a percentage of the amount is paid as commission. “It was by following the digital footprints that we managed to track and unmask the identity of 15 people. We are planning to take legal action against some,” said a source. ● More on P4
Express Network Private Limited publishes thirty three E-paper editions of The New Indian Express newspaper , thirty two E-paper editions of Dinamani, one E-paper edition of The Morning Standard, one E-paper edition of Malayalam Vaarika magazine and one E-paper edition of the Indulge - The Morning Standard, Kolkatta.