DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA US away, India says: Worked with China to preserve G20 Jaishankar and Wang discuss way forward on LAC, flights, Mansarovar REG.NO. MCS/067/2018 - 20 RNI REGN. NO. 1543/57 JOURNALISM OF COURAGE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2025, MUMBAI, LATE CITY, 20 PAGES MEETING IN JOHANNESBURG ● `5.00 ● WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 INAUGURATES THREE-DAY AKHIL BHARATIYA MARATHI SAHITYA SAMMELAN RSS like a grand banyan tree... inspired lakhs like me to live for country: Modi NIKHIL GHANEKAR NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 21 LIKENING IT to a “vat vriksh (grand banyan tree)”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday praised the RSS and said it has been conducting “a sacred cultural ritual to take India’s great tradition and culture to the new generation”.Theorganisation,he said,hadinspired“lakhslikeme” to “live for our country”. Modi was addressing the inauguralfunctionof thethree-day 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, which returned to Delhi after a gap of 71 years and is being held months aftertheCentreaccordedtheclassical language status to Marathi. Sharing the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi with NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar at the inauguration of 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, in New Delhi on Friday. PTI Maharashtra chief Minister DevendraFadnavisandNationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar,Modisaiditwasduetothe RSS he had the “good fortune of getting affiliated with Marathi culture and language”. Recounting the milestones associated with historic figures from Maharashtra, such as ShivajiMaharaj,AhilyabaiHolkar and Dr B R Ambedkar, Modi also referred to the RSS founder, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, although without naming him. “This conference is happening at a time when the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has completed 350 years, when it is Punya Shlok Ahilyabai Holkar’s 300th birth anniversary, and a while back, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Need leaders who understand global mindset, with Indian mind, says PM RAVI DUTTA MISHRA NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 21 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Johannesburg. PTI NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 21 EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Minister S JaishankarandhisChinesecounterpart Wang Yi met Friday and discussed “management of peace and tranquillity in border areas”,resumptionof theKailash MansarovarYatra,flightconnectivity and trans border rivers. Meeting on the sidelines of the meeting of G20 Foreign Ministers in Johannesburg — this was their second meeting since the completion of the disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh last November — Jaishankar and Wang held talks amid diplomatic efforts between the two countries to address bilateral issues and regional challenges. “The G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Johannesburg pro- E E X P L A I NE D SHUBHAJIT ROY Moves to ● repair ties THE MEETING comes at a time when India and China are trying to repair bilateral ties which dived in the wake of Chinese incursions along the LAC in May 2020 and led to a military standoff. The disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh signalled moves to look at the road ahead. vided an opportunity to meet CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi of China this morning on its sidelines,” Jaishankar said in a post on X, sharing photographs of the meeting. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi said Friday that the country needs leadership across different fields with a global outlook and local upbringing that reflects a national vision. Inaugurating the School of UltimateLeadership(SOUL)conclave 2025at Bharat Mandapam 67 95 115 64 MAHARASHTRA ‘DON’T TAKE ME LIGHTLY’: SHINDE AFTER CM ORDERS PROBE INTO JALNA PROJECT IN JALNA QUESTION PAPER LEAK ALLEGATIONS IN 2 DISTRICTS AS SSC EXAMBEGINS PAGES 4, 5 PAGE 1 ANCHOR “The development of exceptional leaders in every field is crucial and a necessity of the times. That is why the establishment of the School of Ultimate Leadership is a significant and major step in India’s journey towards a developed future. The very name ‘SOUL’ is not a coincidence — this institution will become the soul of India’s social life,” he said. Leadership is needed in Crackdown to transport convoys: A new security plan for Manipur DEEPTIMAN TIWARY NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 21 WITHPRESIDENT’Sruleinplace, Manipur, roiled by ethnic violence since May 2023, is headed for a paradigm shift in its approach to security. The Indian Express has learned that several measures are being initiated to restore law and order — crackdown on militias, recovery of arms, removal of illegal checkposts, ferrying of people and goods. Some of these steps are already being taken. In fact, there RS 122-CRORE SCAM 22/02/2025 in the presence of Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay who called him “elder brother” and “mentor”, Modi said, “For nation-building, the development of better citizens is essential. To achieve any great heights or attain vastness, the foundation must be laid from the very beginning... We need people who move forward, understanding the international mindset with an Indian mind.” Arms and ammunition seized during a search in Imphal East and Tengnoupal districts of Manipur. PTI were protests in many parts of the state’s valley after 26 membersof ArambaiTenggol,aMeitei militia, were rounded up Friday along with some village volunteers. They were released later. Sources said militants on both sides of the ethnic divide will be arrested, illegal checkposts of Kuki groups on roads in the hills are already being removed, and an amnesty scheme has been rolled out for those who have looted weapons from police armouries. Specific actions have been planned in the hills, including better regulation of movement of goods and people in Moreh and speedy construction of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 RESPONSE TO US-RUSSIA DIRECT TALKS Mumbai Police EOW ‘Two parties’ to ‘parties arrests former CEO of concerned’: Delhi shift on New India Coop Bank Ukraine peace process SAGAR RAJPUT MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 21 THE ECONOMIC Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police arrested Abhimanyu Bhoan, former CEO of New India Cooperative Bank, late Thursdayinconnectionwith embezzlement of Rs 122 crore from the bank’s safe. Last week, policehadarrestedHiteshMehta, the former general manager and his accomplice Dharmesh Paun, a developer, who helped him route the money. Accordingtopolice,thethree accused were produced before the court on Friday and were remanded in police custody until February 28. Investigators said Bhoan was arrested after being questioned in detail for two days. “We have learned that he is activelyinvolvedinthecrime.He servedasCEObetween2019and 2024, during which the misappropriation of funds occurred. It hasalsocometolightthatBhoan allegedly received nearly Rs 1 crore from the misappropriated Rs 122 crore, making him a beneficiary of the scam,” an investigating officer said. While Mehta, who also headed the accounts department at the city-based New India Cooperative Bank, worked under Bhoan’s supervision, the former CEO also handled all CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 SHUBHAJIT ROY NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 21 FACED WITH the new geo-politicalrealityofUS-Russiadirecttalks onUkraineandtherapidlychanging contours of the US-Europe trans-Atlantic alliance, India has nuanced its position on the war: moving from “two parties to the conflict” to “parties concerned”. The US and Russian delegations, led by their Foreign Ministers, met in Riyadh this week to discuss the path to end the war, Ukraine wasn’t at that table. This has rattled Europe as it upends US policy under the Biden administration that had saidthatnothingonUkrainewill be done without Ukraine being part of the negotiations. In the light of the changed circumstances, India’s position was articulated by External Affairs minister S Jaishankar late Thursday hours after his meeting with Russian Foreign ministerSergeyLavrov.“Regardingthe Ukraine conflict, we have long advocated dialogue and diplomacy. Today, the world expects that partiesconcerneddealwith each other to end the war.” He was speaking at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Johannesburg in South Africa on the global geo-political situation. ThisisashiftfromwhatPavan Kapoor,theIndianrepresentative CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 every field to find solutions to global complexities and needs while projecting the country’s interests on the world stage, he said, adding that India is emerging as a global powerhouse and requires world-class leaders to accelerate this momentum. Hehighlightedtheroleof human resources in ensuring success across different fields, adding that the country should CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY Forex case: ED slaps Rs 3.4-cr penalty on BBC India, fines 3 directors too MAHENDER SINGH MANRAL NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 21 TWO YEARS after registering a caseagainstBritishBroadcasting Company (BBC) India under the Foreign Exchange Management Act(FEMA)forallegedforeignexchange violations, the Enforcement Directorate Friday issued an adjudication order, levying a penalty of Rs 3.44 crore on the broadcaster.Theagencyalsoimposed a fine of Rs 1.14 crore each on three BBC directors. The ED lodged the case followingIncome-TaxDepartment surveys at the BBC premises in New Delhi and Mumbai in February 2023 for alleged “noncompliance” with transfer pricingrulesanddiversionof profits. A BBC spokesperson said, “The BBC is committed to $21 MILLION FOR ‘VOTER TURNOUT’ USAID: MEA says ‘deeply disturbing’, being looked at by ministries, agencies EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 21 TERMING US President Donald Trump’sclaimof “$21millionallocation to India for voter turnout” as “very deeply troubling”, the Ministry of External AffairsFridaysaid,“thishasledto concerns about foreign interference in India’s internal affairs”. Responding to a question about The Indian Express report Friday that the $21 million was sanctioned for Bangladesh and not India, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “There are manydepartmentsandagencies in India that work with USAID. Alltheseministriesandagencies are looking at this now. We will share with you as and when we get an update.” Earlier, to a question on the information shared on social GOVT & POLITICS V-PWEIGHS IN: STUNNED ATTRUMP REVELATIONONBID TO MANIPULATE ELECTIONSIN INDIA PAGE 9 mediabytheTrumpadministration’s Department of Government Efficiency, the MEA spokesperson said, “We have seen information that has been putoutbytheUSadministration CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ED raids Mohali home of suspect in Canada’s biggest gold heist The Indian Express report published on February 15 VARINDER BHATIA CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 21 THE ENFORCEMENT Directorate Friday raided the Mohali residence of 32-year-old Simran Preet Panesar, one of the nine suspects allegedly involved in Canada’s biggest gold heist worth $22.5 million. The ED action comes days after The Indian Express tracked down Panesar following a month-long investigation in collaboration with CBC News: The Fifth Estate, Canada. The ED teams conducted parallel raids at Panesar’s rented residence in Sector 79 of Mohali in Punjab and his father-in-law’s establishments in Hoshiarpur. The raids began around 7 am and lasted nearly nine hours, after which Panesar and his wife were questioned at the ED’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 THE WORLD G7 STATEMENT ON UKRAINE: US OBJECTS TO CALLING RUSSIA ‘AGGRESSOR’ PAGE 14 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Rebound off helmet and history: Kerala enter first Ranji final LALITH KALIDAS AHMEDABAD, FEBRUARY 21 SEIZING A two-run lead at the halfway stage of the final day’s play and surviving a few tense moments in the second innings as the light faded, Sachin Baby’s Class of 2025 became the first Kerala cricket team in 74 years to make it to the Ranji Trophy final. While home team Gujarat stretched the contest into the finalsessiononFriday,themoment of the game unfolded at 11 am when the last Gujarat wicket fell. Chasing 457 to make it to the title clash, Gujarat were 455/9. Even levelling the score was enough for Gujarat as they had beenbetterplacedontheleague table. Spinner Aditya Sarvate who, with his two wickets, had spreadpanicafterGujaratstarted the day at 429/7, had the ball in hand.Justastrokeawayfromthe target, Gujarat No.10 Arzan Nagwaswalla swung his bat but couldn’t clear gritty silly-point fielder Salman Nizar. The forceful slog-sweep rebounded off Thalassery brickwall Nizar thala to captain Baby’s palms at slip. Nizar’s epoch-making helmet will be framed for posterity when the team returns home, the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) declared. For now, a ticket to Nagpur awaits, 74 years since the maidans of Thalassery and Tripunithura forged the cricketing dreams of India’s southwest coast, even before the ‘Kerala’ concept was conceived in 1956. Ashisteammatescelebrated, Nizar was stretchered out to a hospital after copping a blow on the KCA emblem. Against JammuandKashmirinthequarter-final at Pune last week, he partnered M D Nidheesh to secure that crucial one-run lead. Of late, Nizarand Keralahave got used to witnessing miracles. At the Narendra Modi Stadium, they never thought they were This screengrab shows the ball hitting the helmet of Salman Nizar at silly point. The ball then flew straight to the first slip out of the game. Kerala coach Amay Khurasiya,aformerIndiainternational from Madhya Pradesh, had a chat with his two professional spin giants, Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarvate. They were chartingacoursetodefendthe28-run lead by plotting three moments. Fitness trainer Vysakh Krishna said he struggled to endure the closing moments, but was reminded of the ‘Khurasiya’ effect that blanketed the boys on the field under mind-crunching pressure throughout the season. “He had curiously written downthenumber‘2’onhiswrist last evening and kept repeating today that we would either take the lead by six or two runs. Even before the final delivery, he was calm,” said Krishna. And Saxena (4/149) and Sarvate’s (4/111) did propeltheir adopted state into the history books. Trainer Vysakh would, however, point to the cohesive mentality shift under Khurasiya’s guard, an eye-opener for him in hisfiveyearswiththeteam.“We were a team that used to hold parties and celebrate reaching the quarters in white-ball tournaments.” Despite blunting Kerala’s spinadvancesThursdayevening with an admirable combination of defence andrunningbetween the wickets, Gujarat batsmen Jaymeet Patel and Siddharth Desai were ready to play the waiting game. Baby would re- veal he’d thought the final was “gone” when he dropped Patel on the final morning. But moments later, Patel lunged a touch forward, only to leave a track for wicketkeeper Mohammed Azharuddeen to pursue. With nimble collection, he affected a stumping with the batsman’sbackfootonthelineof the crease. An animated Kerala dugout soon emerged on the sidelineswith hope reposedand astrugglingSarvateregaininghis lost composure. He would also account for Desai. Battling a finger fracture, Gujarat No.11 Priyajitsinh Jadeja CONTINUED ON PAGE 2