DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA ● REG.NO. MCS/067/2018 - 20 RNI REGN. NO. 1543/57 JOURNALISM OF COURAGE MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025, MUMBAI, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES `5.00 ● WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 REITERATES RESOLVE OF ‘HARSHEST RESPONSE’ TO PAHALGAM TERROR ATTACK Peace,prosperitywerereturningtoKashmir... terrorists,backerswantitdestroyedagain:PM First crack: After Karnataka CM’s HDFC Bank tops list with `945.31 cr, no-war remark, Reliance Industries next at `900 cr BJP says Cong TOP CSR SPENDERS speaks like Pak Rank Company CSR expenditure Market cap Tells nation to show strong willpower, face the challenge EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, APRIL 27 ‘Can feel that the blood of every Indian is on the boil’ 1 HDFC Bank `945.31 cr `10.99 lakh cr 2 Reliance Industries `900 cr `20.10 lakh cr GOVT & POLITICS 3 TCS `827 cr `14.02 lakh cr 4 ONGC `634.57 cr `3.37 lakh cr UK FOREIGN SECY DIALS JAISHANKAR, PAK DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DAR 5 TATA Steel `580.02 cr `1.94 lakh cr 6 Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah; Union Minister Pralhad Joshi PAGE 10 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE showsthedesperationof thepatrons of terrorism; displays their cowardice… at a time when peace was returning to Kashmir, there was a vibrancy in schools and colleges, construction work hadgainedunprecedentedpace, democracywasgettingstronger, BENGALURU,NEW DELHI, APRIL 27 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Horrendous, no room for barbarity in democratic societies: Italy Dy PM Tajani An Indian Navy ship carries out anti-ship firings in the Arabian Sea to demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long-range precision strikes. PTI REPORT,PAGE10 SHUBHAJIT ROY NEW DELHI, APRIL 27 EXPRESSING CONCERN over the “horrendous” terrorist attack against tourists in Pahalgam, ItalianDeputyPrimeMinisterand Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani hasconveyedItaly’scommitment againstterrorismas“unshakable” and willingness to cooperate in the fight against terrorism. On the rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Tajani, in an interview to The Indian Express, said it is “undoubtedly based on a good chemistry, and on a similar approach: the pursuit of the national interest without ideologicalprejudices”.Hereferencedthe hashtag “#melodi” and said he viewed promising complementaritiesattherootof thecloseties between Italy and India. The Italian Deputy PM, who 28/04/2025 88 116 142 60 THE CITY WHEN STONES TELL HISTORY OF A BRIDGE PAGE 3 KARNATAKA’S CONGRESS Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the BJP engaged in a war of words Sunday over the likelihood of war in the wakeof the Pahalgam terror attack, three days after all parties pledged unconditional support to the government in whatever action it takes against the perpetrators of the attack and their handlers. On Sunday, Siddaramaiah, who came under fire from the BJP and JD (S) over his remark Saturdaythat“itisnotnecessary to wage war” on Pakistan, accused the state Opposition parties of twisting his words and underlined that “war should always be a nation’s last resort”. The BJP hit back at the Chief CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ITALIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER visited India on April 11 and 12, alsospokeaboutthedeliverables incooperationacrosssectors,including defence. Edited excerpts: India just witnessed a terrorist attack in J&K’s Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed. What is your comment? Iwasstruckbythehorrendous DEEPTIMAN TIWARY SRINAGAR, PAHALGAM, APRIL 27 BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY SECURITY FORCES located the Pahalgamattackers“atleastfour times”indifferentspotsoverthe past five days, came “very close” to cornering them in the forests of South Kashmir — and, on one such occasion, even exchanged firewiththem,TheIndianExpress has learnt. The terrorists were located through information obtained fromlocalresidents,intelligence inputs and combing operations, sourcessaid.“It’sacatandmouse game.Therehavebeenmoments where they have been visibly located.Butbythetimetheycould be engaged, they had escaped. The forests are very thick and it's not easy to chase someone even after visibly locating them. But we are sure we will get them, it’s only a matter of days,” an officer from the military establishment told this newspaper. TheArmy,alongwithCentral Armed Police forces and J&K Police, has been conducting `518.87 cr `7.67 lakh cr IOC `457.71 cr `2.36 lakh cr 8 INFOSYS Ltd. `455.67 cr `6.21 lakh cr 9 ITC `404.05 cr `5.34 lakh cr 10 Power Grid Corp `330.48 cr `2.57 lakh cr Source: primeinfobase.com GEORGE MATHEW MUMBAI, APRIL 27 AIDED BY a surge in profits, funds spent by listed companies on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rose by 16 per cent to Rs 17,967 crore during the year ended March 2024 as compared to Rs 15,524 crore spent in 2022-23, says a report. HDFC Bank topped the list with CHENNAI, APRIL 27 ‘The horrific attack on tourists, selection of place, planning... this seems a deliberate escalation by Pakistan’ LT GEN D S HOODA (RETD) FORMER NORTHERN ARMY COMMANDER a CSR spend of Rs 945.31 crore, followed by Reliance Industries Rs 900 crore, TCS at Rs 827 crore and ONGC Rs 634.57 crore. Therisewasduetoan18per cent rise in average net profit (in the preceding 3 years) of these companies, two per cent of which needs to be spent on CSR activities as per regulatory requirements, and followed three years of flattish spends, from CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Amid judicial scrutiny, TN ministers Senthil Balaji, Ponmudy quit ARUN JANARDHANAN Forces located Pahalgam attackers THE EXPRESS INTERVIEW ‘four times... exchanged fire once’ ANTONIO TAJANI ICICI Bank 7 IN A reshuffle carried out amid legal scrutiny and political turbulence within the DMK, senior Tamil Nadu government ministers V Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy resigned on Sunday, with Governor R N Ravi accepting their resignations after acting upon the recommendations of Chief Minister M K Stalin. The reshuffle, meant to project the DMK government’s efforts to project stability amid mounting controversies and judicial scrutiny, had been anticipated following a week of speculation. It comes after the Supreme Court directed Balaji to E EXPLAINED PRIMEMINISTERNarendraModi saidSundaythattheterrorattack in Pahalgam on April 22 came at a time when peace and prosperity were returning to Kashmir and that the terrorists and masterminds of terror wanted Kashmir to be destroyed again. Inhismonthly‘MannkiBaat’ radio address, the Prime Minister started by expressing deep anguish over the attack, in which a group of Pakistani and local terrorists gunned down 26 tourists visiting the popular picnic spot in Kashmir. He said those behind the terror attack in Pahalgam would face the harshest response and that the whole world was standingwithIndiainthefightagainst terrorism. “This attack in Pahalgam CSR spend: Listed firms record 16% rise to `17,967 cr in previous fiscal ● Crucial move AS THE Stalin Government navigates legal probes and public controversies, the reshuffle also reflects the ruling DMK’s efforts to retain control of sensitive portfolios at a time when the state-run liquor retailer, TASMAC, is under ED investigation. choose between retaining his Cabinet post and safeguarding his bail in an ongoing money CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 PAGE 9 Major fire at ED office More homes of Valley’s Indians stood united, irrespective building in south wanted blown up, of religion we belong to: Rajnath Mumbai, no injuries leaders urge caution CDS BRIEFS CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 LIZ MATHEW NEW DELHI, APRIL 27 BASHAARAT MASOOD SRINAGAR, APRIL 27 CRACKING DOWN on terror following the Pahalgam attack, security forces have blown up at least nine houses belonging to familiesof thosewantedformilitancy in the Valley. This has led political leaders in the Valley to call on authorities to exercise caution and to avoid “alienating people”. The demolitions started Thursday night with the house Shuaib Masoodi The demolished house of a militant in Bandipora. of Lashkar-e-Taiba member Adil Ahmad Thoker’s family. Police CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 INDIANS CUTTING across religious lines stood united despite the “hurt” the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 25 tourists and a local pony-wallah, had caused, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said. “Joghatnahui,ismesaaradesh aahat mein hai (the entire country is hurt by what happened). Butwestoodunited,irrespective of the religion we belong to,” Singh told The Indian Express. His remarks come at a time EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE ‘Entire country hurt by what happened’ when the opposition parties and religiousandsocialorganisations across the country have declared their support for the Union Governmentinitshuntfortheterrorists.LeaderofOppositionRahul Gandhi has said that a united oppositionwouldsupportanyaction taken by the government. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 MUMBAI, APRIL 27 DEFENCE MINISTER Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the latter’s residence Sunday. It is learnt that the CDS briefed the Defence Minister about the steps being taken to enhance the combat preparedness of the Armed Forces in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. A MAJOR fire broke out inside the office of the Enforcement Directorate(ED)atBallardEstate in south Mumbai early Sunday. No injuries were reported. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) disaster cell, fire broke out around 2.31 am, however, the flames intensified over time. The blaze was broughtundercontrolaround12 pm, after a nearly 10-hour firefightingoperation.Theblazewas initially identified as level 1 (mi- Ganesh Shirsekar Firefightersdouseflamesat theEDofficebuilding. nor). However, one hour later, it was reclassified as level 2. Around 3.30 am, Mumbai Fire Brigade(MFB)officialsupgraded the blaze to level 3. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 AI to reboot UAE’s skyscraping tech ambitions, away from fossil fuels PAGE 1 ANCHOR ANIL SASI DUBAI, APRIL 27 DUBAI,THEgleamingmetropolis on the edge of the Arabian desert knownforitsshinyhigh-rises,fast life and limitless ambitions, epitomises the UAE’s towering tech-fuelled aspirations in more ways than one. It is no secret that the Emiratis want to lead the world in artificial intelligence (AI), as theyseektopivottheireconomy away from fossil fuels. And as part of its intensifying technological ambitions, the Emirates have heralded plans to become the first nation in the world to deployAItohelpwritenewlaws and amend existing ones — a move expected to accelerate its law-making process by up to 70 per cent, but one that has also raised some concerns among technologists. This novel “AI-driven regulation” system, to be overseen by the newly-created Regulatory Intelligence Office, a unit tasked with managing the AI’s integration into its lawmaking process that will change how laws are created, making the process faster and more precise, according to Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE’s Vice President, Prime Minister, and the ruler of Dubai. The AI system, announced just weeks ago, is expected to comb through a comprehensive database of federal laws, court rulings, and government services, and come up proactively with legal updates. AI’s role, said UAE officials attending the third edition of the Machines Can See Summit in Dubai over the weekend — touted as the largest computer vision event and a leading AI The Machines Can See Summit in Dubai was touted as the largest computer vision event in the Gulf region. Anil Sasi gathering in the Gulf region — goes beyond just drafting; the system will track the real-world impact of new laws on the Emirates’ population and economy, allowing the administration to adapt legislation in real time. The plan, though, has raised concerns among researchers and technologists, whohaveflaggedthepropensity of AI models to produce unreliable outputs, hallucinate and its potential shortcomings with legal interpretations. Theserisksnotwithstanding, the UAE has made AI a national priority,pumping in billions into the sector through its new sov- ereign wealth vehicle, MGX. While its fascination with tech is not new, it is the scale of the Emirates’ plan, alongside that of neighbouring Saudi Arabia, that iskey.TheUAE’scentralisedgovernment structure is a facilitator of this kind of rapid technological experimentation, something that could be difficult to achieve in other countries. “Humans usually like to speak, to discuss, to get options and also to negotiate. And this is what the machine is (now) doing. We are going to a more human-centric approach. In Dubai, we are designing a multi AI agent, where a single AI can talk to one or multi AI agent in order either to perform tasks or execute commands or get a notificationinordertofinishaservice. So what we’ll see in the future, andIthinkthisisoneof themost complicated things that we’ll see, we’ll see more AI working with the digital tool. So each one of us will have a digital tool,” Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, DirectorGeneralof DigitalDubai, said at the first day of the Machines Can See summit here on April 23. Mansoori said the provincial administration is gearing for a future where AI agents or virtual CONTINUED ON PAGE 2