FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLII No. 39 | INDORE | THURSDAY | JULY 17, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports Indian striker wins Poligras Magic Skill Award P.12 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE MONEY UJJAIN PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit TDP raises SIR red flag P.6 RBI’s commitment to keep sufficient liquidity will facilitate rate cut Cinema Enter The Chameleon P.14 CM rolls out red carpet for La Liga in MP Proposes PPP model for football hub MoU signed to boost film co-production Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL On the first day of his visit to Spain, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav met officials and technical experts at the LaLiga headquarters in Madrid on Wednesday. During the meeting, he proposed establishing a Centre of Football Excellence in Madhya Pradesh through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. fp Briefs NEW DELHI NEET-UG retest plea reaches SC The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a plea against an order refusing to direct a retest in NEET-UG 2025 for candidates aggrieved by power outage at some centres in Madhya Pradesh. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi would hear the plea next week after the counsel sought an urgent listing on the ground that counselling was scheduled to start from July 21. NEW DELHI Akash Prime trial in Ladakh India achieved a significant milestone in strengthening its air defence capabilities with the successful trial of the indigenous ‘Akash Prime’ air defence system on Wednesday. The Indian Army conducted the test at an altitude of around 15,000 feet in the Ladakh sector. The Akash Prime system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was tested in the presence of senior officials from the Army’s Air Defence wing and DRDO. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at LaLiga headquarters in Madrid, Spain on Wednesday On the first day of his Spain visit, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav met Juan-Manuel Guimeráns, President of the Spanish Film Commission, and other officials. An MoU was signed to promote Indo-Spanish film co-productions, creatively and commercially benefiting both nations. Dr. Yadav invited Spanish filmmakers to shoot in Madhya Pradesh, showcasing its scenic diversity, film-friendly policies, and infrastructure. Spain, in turn, highlighted its subsidies and support for foreign productions. The CM encouraged location scouting in MP, aiming to strengthen cultural and cinematic ties through mutual collaboration in film-making. MUMBAI The family of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national allegedly C ground-level co-branding campaign, especially targeting spectators in Spain and across Europe. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 DHAN-DHAANYA KRISHI YOJANA | Scheme to be implemented from Oct will benefit 1.7 cr farmers Indonesia-type trade deal awaits India NATO chief wants India to back off from Russian oil ing-based youth training programmes. He said that LaLiga’s football expertise should benefit the youth of Madhya Pradesh. Rs 24,000 cr agri boost for 100 dists PTI NEW DELHI The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved 'Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana' with an annual outlay of Rs 24,000 crore for six years to boost crop yields in 100 districts, benefiting about 1.7 crore farmers. The scheme, approved in the cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will kick start from October, during the rabi (winter) season. The plan is in pursuance of the Budget announcement for 2025-26 to develop 100 districts to enhance agricultural productivity, increase adoption of crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices. The scheme will be implemented through the convergence of 36 existing schemes 8 new bills during Monsoon Session A bill that seeks to preserve and protect geoheritage sites and geo-relics is among the eight new draft legislation the government plans to introduce in the Monsoon session of Parliament beginning Monday. The Monsoon session of Parliament is scheduled to commence from July 21 across 11 departments, other state schemes and local partnerships with the private sector, I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while briefing reporters about the cabinet decisions. He said the scheme will benefit about 1.7 crore farmers. "Preparations for the implementation of the scheme have already begun. ...Training and awareness campaign will start in August," Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told reporters on the sidelines of an event. "We will implement the scheme from October, when rabi sowing begins," he said. Chouhan said there are yield gaps between states and districts despite a sharp increase in the production of foodgrains, horticulture and milk in the last 11 years. Apart from enhancing the crop yields, the scheme will also focus on the adoption of crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices, 4Continued on | P8 FP News Service MUMBAI US President D o n a l d Trump has said that a proposed trade agreement with India is being modeled on the recently finalised US-Indonesia pact. That deal offers the US full access to Indonesia’s market, while Indonesian goods face a 19% import duty in America. Indonesia also committed to purchase $15 billion in US energy, $4.5 billion in agricultural products, and 50 Boeing jets. Under the deal, which was finalised after Trump spoke with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, goods that have been transshipped to avoid higher duties will face steeper levies. “They are going to pay 19% and we are going to pay nothing … we will have full access into Indonesia, and we have a couple of those deals that are going to be announced,” Trump said outside the Oval Office earlier. Our Staff Reporter INDORE very hard.” Rutte’s warning comes in the wake of recent pressure by President Trump on Russia to end the Ukraine war. Speaking to the press at the White House, Trump expressed his disappointment with President Putin and stated that 100% secondary tariffs would kick in if a deal on Ukraine was not worked out soon. “I’m disappointed in President Putin because I thought we would have had a deal 2 months ago, but it doesn't seem to have got there. So based on that we’re going to be doing secondary tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days. It will be at a 100%.” The Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed police officers and doctors across the State to photograph injuries of victims in criminal cases to ensure transparency and prevent the misuse of minor legal provisions. The order was issued by Justice Subodh Abhyankar on July 14, during a hearing in the Seetu and Others vs The State of Madhya Pradesh case, where the Court observed that despite grievous injuries suffered by victims, police had registered the case under petty sections of law to facilitate early bail for the accused. Justice Abhyankar noted a growing trend where police deliberately invoke minor sections such as 294, 321, 503, and 324 of the IPC or equivalent provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with issuing notices under Section 41A of CrPC. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Ashwin Ahmad NEW DELHI Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a blunt warning to India over its continued oil imports from Russia. In a press conference held with US Senators in Washington, Rutte said that Brazil, China and India could face 100% secondary sanctions from the West if they continued to do so. “If you are the President of China, the PM of India, or the President of Brazil, and you continue to trade with Russia and buy their oil and gas, then you know: if the man in Moscow doesn’t take the peace negotiations seriously, I will impose 100% secondary sanctions.” Rutte said. “My encouragement to these three countries, particularly, is: if you live now in Beijing, or in Delhi, or you are the president of Brazil, you might want to take a look into this because this might hit you HC directs cops, docs to click pics of injuries in criminal cases SWACHH SURVEKSHAN AWARDS HC stays govt order on CM seeks report over lathi-charge recognition, admission on students of hostel in Harda 8 cities of state to be of paramedical colleges Former CM Digvijaya Singh, Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Order, order! » HC stays govt order on retrospective recognition for paramedical sessions 2023-24 and 2024-25. » MP Paramedical Council accused of illegal admissions and recognising colleges in unsuitable buildings. » Council revived in 2024 after abolition in 2021; delays cited for late recognition. » HC calls retrospective recognition ridiculous and absurd, continues stay till next hearing. court stayed the state government s order allowing retrospective recognition for these academic sessions. The court clarified that recognition and admission processes for paramedical colleges across the state will remain stayed until the next hearing. It questioned how recognition can be granted in 2025 for sessions 2023-24 and 2024-25, calling it ridiculous and absurd. 4Continued on | P8 Digvijaya Singh raised the issue Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has sought a report from the district administration over the police lathicharge on the students of Rajput hostel in Harda during an agitation by the Karni Sena. Yadav gave the information through a social media post on Wednesday. In the post, Yadav said a report over the incident had during his stay in Harda, visited the hostel and spoke to the victims of the lathi-charge been sought from the district administration. For the government, giving justice to all and maintaining social harmony are top priorities. Nobody will be allowed to disturb social harmony, he said. The police lathi charge on the hostel residents has caused resentment among the Rajpur Nimisha with husband Tomy Thomas Murdered: Talal Mahdi killed by Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in 2017, has firmly declined any offer of pardon or blood money (diyat), demanding her execution in line with Qisas — a form of retributive justice permitted under Islamic law. In an interview with BBC community. Former chief minister, Digvijaya Singh, during his stay in Harda, visited the hostel and spoke to the victims of the lathi charge. The government does not want the incident to cause heartburn between the two communities. This is the reason that Yadav sought a report over the incident. According to sources, after receiving the report, the government may remove some policemen involved in the incident. But the government, which has so far tried to save its officers, is keeping mum after a video of the incident went viral. felicitated in Delhi today Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Eight cities of Madhya Pradesh will be felicitated at the award distribution function of Swachh Survekshan 2024 to be held at the Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on Thursday.  President Droupadi Murmu will give awards to Indore, Bhopal, Ujjain, Dewas, Budhni, and Shahganj under various categories. Indore, Ujjain, and Budhni will get felicitated in the Super League category. This category was introduced this year itself. Bhopal, Dewas Municipal Corporation, and Shahganj Municipal Council will get the President’s Award. Jabalpur will get an award in the special category, while a state-level award will be given to Gwalior. Bhopal is expected to get the second position in the cleanliness survey.  Moreover, the star rating of garbage-free cities, ODF++, and Water + rating will also be issued on the same day. This year, the theme of the survey was ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’.  Ex-LNIPE V-C fined Rs 35L CDS wants stress on in sexual harassment case drones, self-reliance FP News Service GWALIOR The Madhya Pradesh High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 35 lakh on the former Vice Chancellor of Gwalior-based Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) after holding him guilty of sex- ually harassing a yoga instructor. The Gwalior bench of the high court, in its verdict given on July 15, also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the Madhya Pradesh government and Rs 1 lakh on the institute. 4Continued on | P8 Victim’s brother wants Nimisha to be executed FP News Service hief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday assured global investors that Madhya Pradesh will not fall behind in delivering strong capital returns. Speaking at the MP Business Forum meet in Madrid on the first day of his Spain tour, Yadav said world-class facilities will be extended to Spanish investors. Yadav also proposed that during LaLiga matches, Madhya Pradesh’s cultural richness, wildlife, heritage and tourism could be promoted through a digital and He suggested collaboration in three key areas — football excellence centres, sports infrastructure development and Spanish-coach- After the nursing scam rocked Madhya Pradesh, the Divisional Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Jabalpur, has now passed a stay order regarding irregularities in recognition and admissions of paramedical colleges. During the hearing of the PIL filed by Law Students Association in the nursing case, the petitioner submitted that similar irregularities are happening in paramedical colleges. The MP Paramedical Council is granting recognition for academic sessions 2023-24 and 2024-25 retrospectively without affiliation from Madhya Pradesh Medical University. Both government and private paramedical colleges are admitting students illegally. Moreover, the Council is issuing recognition to colleges operating in buildings declared unsuitable by the CBI during the nursing scam probe. Taking cognizance, the High Court directed Chairman and Registrar of the MP Paramedical Council to be made parties to the case. On Wednesday, the Talal Mahdi’s relatives refuse pardon, insist on retributive justice under Islamic law MP will not lag in capital return to investors: CM Arabic on July 14, Talal’s brother, portraying a convicted murAbdelfattah Mahdi, dismissed derer as a victim and misrepreall prospects of reconciliation. senting the facts. He stressed that no finanAccording to Abcial compensation could delfattah, the relationequate to the loss of his ship between his brother, calling the act brother and Priya “deliberate and savage.” began professionally, Abdelfattah also developed into a busipushed back against reness partnership, and Brother: ports in Indian media eventually led to a Abdelfattah suggesting that his brief marriage lasting Mahdi brother had abused about four years. Priya or withheld her passport. 4Continued on | P8 He accused Indian outlets of PTI NEW DELHI Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday said recent conflicts globally have demonstrated how drones can "shift tactical balance disproportionately", and asserted that self-reliance in UAVs and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) is a "strategic imperative" for India. Addressing an event held at Manekshaw Centre here, Gen Chauhan also said Operation Sindoor has shown why indigenously developed Unmanned Aerial Systems and Dependence on foreign technologies weakens preparedness, limits ability to scale up production, results in a shortfall of critical spares for sustenance and roundthe-clock availability. Gen Anil Chauhan C-UAS "built for our terrain and our needs are crucial". 4Continued on | P8 ‘No drone damage’ The CDS said during Operation Sindoor Pakistan used unarmed drones and loiter munitions on May 10. But "none of them could actually inflict any damage to Indian military or civilian infrastructure." "Most of them were neutralised through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means. Some of them could be recovered in almost intact conditions," Gen Chauhan said. Mahatma Gandhi oil portrait fetches millions LONDON A rare oil portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, believed to be the only one he sat for the artist to paint, has fetched triple its estimate at 152,800 pounds in a Bonhams auction in London. The painting, which had never before been offered at auction, had been on offer for an online auction with a guide price range between 50,000 and 70,000 pounds and was the top lot of the Travel and Exploration sale, which concluded on Tuesday. See world