DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2024, AHMEDABAD, LATE CITY, 14 PAGES BY UNNY MAHARASHTRA CABINET EXPANSION: SHINDE SAYS PERFORM OR PERISH BJP gets largest share of19 berths, Sena 11, NCP 9 ALOK DESHPANDE NAGPUR, DECEMBER 15 GUJARAT PARENTS, COMPANIES NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF LIBERAL ARTS: AU V-C PAGE 3 Kerala fitness course under fire as CPM, BJP tie it to ‘Islamic nation’ plot SHAJU PHILIP THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DECEMBER 15 A PHYSICAL fitness programme that has become popular in northKeralahasrunintocontroversy after a CPI(M) leader alleged that the Jamaat-e-Islami and the SDPI, the political wing of the banned Popular Front of India,wereusingtheplatformto further their political agenda. Even as the BJP latched on to the comments to target the Pinarayi Vijayan government, a Congress MP and a Left ally defended the fitness initiative and the CPI(M) leader who triggered the row, P Mohanan, softened CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 SRI LANKA PRESIDENT’S VISIT Fadnavis Govt inducts 39 ministers, Dissanayake reaches Delhi, his first foreign mid-term review to decide their tenure trip after coming to THE MUCH-AWAITED Cabinet expansionof theBJP-ledgovernment in Maharashtra took place Sunday with Governor C P Radhakrishnan administering the oath of office to 39 ministers at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur. But the ministers were inducted with a rider: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavissaidtheirtenurewillbe for two-and-a-half years, and their continuance will depend on a review of their in- Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur on Sunday. PTI dividual performances. Many in the ruling alliance feelthiswillnotonlyfixaccountability and put pressure on the ministers to perform consider- ing the huge mandate for the Mahayuti in the Assembly polls, a mid-term change also gives hope to others who could not make the cut this time around. “We in the BJP are going to have a performance audit of everyminister.Whereitisfound that the minister is not working asperexpectations,therewillbe change,” Fadnavis said at a press conference, flanked by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, after the oathtaking ceremony. “We three have told the ministers that every minister will face the performance audit,” he said, adding that portfolios will be allotted in next two days. Shindesaid,“Manypeopleare capable of becoming ministers. Weasapartyhavedecidedtogive ministerial posts for two-and-ahalf years.Manymorewillgetan opportunity because of this. This is like perform or perish.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 E EXPLAINED BUSINESS AS USUAL `5.00 ● WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 Mid-term test, hope ● for others WITH PRESSURE to deliver on people’s expectations after a huge mandate, the ruling Mahayuti leaders have devised a novel idea of appointing ministers for two-and-ahalf years. While this is expected to put pressure on the ministers to stand up to the task, it will also give hope to those who missed out this time around. The Mahayuti won 230 of the 288 seats in the recent elections. ‘Can’t tax upper middle Tsar-era facility with Lenin past has class more if very top an India plan: Vande Bharat coaches not taxed at higher rate’ DHEERAJ MISHRA MOSCOW, ST PETERSBURG, DECEMBER 15 P VAIDYANATHAN IYER NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 15 DESCRIBING INDIA’S decision to impose a wealth tax way back in 1957astrying“todotoomuchtoo fast”, French economist Thomas Piketty,regardedmostforhispassionate advocacy of taxing the wealth of billionaires to reduce inequalities, says there’s no way the government can increase tax on the upper middle class and middleIndianentrepreneursun- THE EXPRESS INTERVIEW THOMAS PIKETTY FRENCH ECONOMIST lessitdemonstratespeopleatthe top pay a higher tax rate. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 INTHEheartof StPetersburg,the cultural capital of Russia, lies a locomotive manufacturing factory with a nearly 200-year history. The plant, which had its genesis in the rule of the Tsars and was later named after the October Revolution, is now the base for expansion of Russia’s largestrollingstockmanufacturingcompany,Transmashholding (TMH), with ambitious plans to produce India’s ultramodern Dheeraj Mishra At Oktyabrsky Electric Car Repair Plant in St Petersburg. Vande Bharat sleeper trains, meant for long-distance overnight journeys. Spread over 42 hectares, the Oktyabrsky Electric Car Repair CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 power, pacts readied Will hold talks with Prime Minister Modi today to deepen bilateral ties SHUBHAJIT ROY NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 15 INDIA AND Sri Lanka are expected to sign four pacts, including one on cybersecurity, after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. Dissanayake, who arrived in NewDelhionSundayevening,is on a State visit to India from December 15 to 17. It’s his first overseas visit after being elected President in September. “This will be the first visit of President Dissanayake to India after the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka,” Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said. During the visit, President DissanayakewillmeetPresident Droupadi Murmu and hold discussions with Prime Minister Modi on “bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday. PTI interest”, Jaiswal said. Dissanayake will be participating in a business event in New Delhi and will also visit Bodh Gaya. “The visit of President Dissanayake to India shall furtherstrengthenthemultifaceted CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ‘Nitish got everyone together... but there was no movement, the kind envisioned by him, in INDIA alliance’ SANJAY JHA, MP & NATIONAL WORKING PRESIDENT OF JD(U) PAGE 10 Years 1984 - 2024 IIHMR Legacy in Health Management Research JAIPUR Pioneering in Future-Ready Education Admission Open 2025 IIHMR University, Jaipur, is the destination for learning and demonstrating the impact of critical skills that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the most significant and fast-growing sectors – Health and Development – through an innovative learning ecosystem. Our collaborations with universities and organizations empower us to keep pace with our substantial growth. 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