FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLII No. 75 | INDORE | TUESDAY | AUGUST 26, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in Nation Shah backs ‘Veep’ over Oppn’s ‘beep’ P.7 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE WORLD UJJAIN PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI HAPPY TEEJ HARTALIKA E-paper Cinema Parineeti Chopra, Raghav Chadha announce pregnancy P.14 Trump threatens to send military into Baltimore to ‘clean up’ crime IIT-I study shows climate-driven shift in Ganga flow Biswajeet Banerjee DEHRADUN A new scientific study has revealed that climate change is altering the water composition flowing from the Gangotri Glacier System (GGS), the source of the River Ganga in the central Himalaya. Over the last four decades, researchers say, snowmelt contribution has declined, while rainfall-runoff and baseflow are gradually increasing — a trend that could reshape the river’s seasonal flows and impact millions dependent on its fp Briefs NEW DELHI SC relief for psephologist The Supreme Court on Monday granted protection from arrest to psephologist Sanjay Kumar in connection with two FIRs lodged by the Election Commission of India accusing him of spreading misinformation over Maharashtra's electoral rolls through posts on social media. NEW DELHI India, Fiji to boost ties India and Fiji on Monday firmed up a broad action plan to ramp up defence ties and vowed to work jointly for a peaceful IndoPacific following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka. SRINAGAR Infiltration bid foiled Alert soldiers foiled an infiltration bid by terrorists on the line of control (LoC) in the Uri sector of J&K's Baramulla sector on Monday, the Army said. "Troops detected suspicious movement and opened fire," an army official said, adding search operations were being undertaken in the area subsequently. waters. The study was carried out by the Glaci-Hydro-Climate Lab at IIT Indore and modelled streamflow from 1980 to 2020. Using the high-resolution Spatial Processes in Hydrology (SPHY) model, calibrated with field discharge records, geodetic satellite-based glacier mass balance data and snow cover maps, the researchers offered the most detailed breakdown yet of the glacier-fed river system. According to the findings, snowmelt continues to dominate the Gangotri catchment, contributing 64 per cent of annual discharge, followed by glacier melt at 21 50% US TARIFF DEADLINE | Modi asserts can’t compromise on interests of farmers, cattle-rearers, small-scale industries Pressure might increase, but we will bear it all: PM FP News Service Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday declared that India will resist pressure of US tariffs, asserting that he will not compromise on the interests of farmers, cattle rearers, and small-scale industries. Speaking just two days before Washington’s decision to impose 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods comes into force, the Prime Minister underlined that “pressure might increase, but we will bear it all.” Addressing a large gathering in Ahmedabad after inaugurating a series of development projects, Modi took sharp aim at the Congress, accusing the party of compromising India’s economic independence during its six-decade-long rule. “For 60 to 65 years, Congress governments made the nation Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the gathering during his roadshow in Ahmedabad on Friday dependent on other countries so they could indulge in import scams. Today, India is charting its own independent path,” he declared to thunder- Global bully mounting pressure for pact in farm sector: Shivraj ous applause. On the looming tariff challenge, Modi made it clear that his government’s priorities remain unchanged. “For Modi, On humanitarian grounds: India alerts Pak about potential flood PTI ISLAMABAD Earlier research on Himalayan glaciers often relied on shorter time series, coarse climate data or limited calibration. This 41-year study, scientists argue, provides the clearest picture yet of how climate change is reshaping the Gangotri system. Dr Mohd. Farooq Azam, who supervised the research, said accurate modelling backed by long-term field data is critical. “Predicting future water availability in the Himalaya depends on sustained monitoring. 4Continued on | P8 NO MOCKING THE DISABLED FP News Service NEW DELHI the interests of farmers, cattle rearers, and small industries are paramount. The Supreme Court on Monday directed comedians S a m a y Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar alias Sonali Aditya Desai and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar to publish unconditional apologies on YouTube and other social media platforms for making insensitive remarks against persons with disabilities. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a petition filed by Cure SMA India Foundation, which accused the comedians of ridiculing people with disabilities, including those suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The Court was informed that all five comedians had submitted their apologies in court, though Justice Kant remarked that Raina initially tried to portray himself as innocent before apologising. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Big PMO meet today MUMBAI The Prime Minister’s Office has convened a high-level meeting on Tuesday to weigh the implications and possible responses on the imminent 50% tariff imposition by the US. The additional tariffs are expected to hit labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, automobiles, and capital goods. To soften the blow, the Centre is working on strategies to help exporters tap new markets and boost domestic consumption world was mounting pressure on India to ink a pact in the agriculture sector. “He has told us to open our market, but if we open our agriculture market, what will happen to our farmers?” Chouhan said. Their farmers have thousands of hectares, and they use GM seeds, he said, adding that they offer different subsidies. “Our farmers cannot compete with theirs,” Chouhan said. According to Chouhan, they thought India would be scared of their bullying tactics. But it is New India which keeps national interests above everything, he said. India alerted Pakistan about a potential flood, the Foreign Office said on Monday, but stressed that the warning was communicated through diplomatic channels rather than the Indus Waters Commission. It is the first known official contact between India and Pakistan since a four-day conflict between the two sides in May. "On August 24, 2025, India communicated flood warnings through diplomatic channels, rather than through the Indus Waters Commission as required under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)," Foreign Office Spokesperson Shahfqat Ali Khan said. He reaffirmed that India is obligated to fully comply with all provisions of the Treaty. In New Delhi, sources said that India shared the flood alert in the Tawi River with Pakistan on "humanitarian grounds". 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Jyoti’s custody extended Union Agriculture Min targets Trump without mentioning his name Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh took the US to task without mentioning its name for imposing 25% more tariffs on India by its President Donald Trump. Chouhan made the statement at the convocation of the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER) on Monday. Chouhan said a bully of the MoUs signed for 4 medical colleges in PPP model PTI BIKANER The Indian Air Force's MiG21 fighter jets, the backbone of its combat fleet for over six decades, made their last operational flights at the Nal Air Force Station in Bikaner, Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL In a significant development in the 27% OBC reservation case, Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, strongly opposing any relief to candidates whose selection is on hold under the interim 13% quota freeze. The Commission argued that petitioners are not entitled to any relief, interim or otherwise, as their plea is based on misinterpretation of law and incorrect application of judicial precedents. The Supreme Court has already scheduled the next hearing in the matter for September 23. According to the affidavit, Agencies JABALPUR FP News Service Minister, four memorandum of understanding (MOUs) were signed to open medical colleges in public private partnership (PPP) model in Betul, Katni, Dhar and Panna.  These colleges will have 100 seats each. The state is once again embracing the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in healthcare — this time with a renewed focus on medical education. In 2015, Madhya Pradesh became one of the earliest states to experiment with the PPP model in healthcare, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated two new medical  colleges in Singrauli and Sheopur in a function held here. Both are tribal dominated districts. In presence of the Union 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 only 87% of advertised posts have been filled using the reservation formula of 16% SC, 20% ST and 14% OBC. For the remaining 13% posts under dispute, MPPSC proposed two separate lists, one exclusively for OBC candidates under the full 27% reservation, and the other comprising unreserved candidates. “MPPSC is merely a recruiting agency that selects candidates as per conditions laid down by the State of Madhya Pradesh. It should remain neutral instead of opposing the petitioners,” said senior advocate Rameshwar Thakur, criticising the Commission’s stance. The petitions before the Supreme Court seek full implementation of 27% reservation for OBCs in state recruitment exams conducted by MPPSC. The 13% hold represents the additional quota pending judicial clearance. CDS Gen Chauhan in Mhow today FP News Service MHOW Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan will inaugurate the Ran Samvad 2025 in Mhow on Tuesday. This is the first-ever Tri-Service Seminar on the “Impact of Technology on Warfare.” The seminar will deliberate on two central themes — “Emerging Technologies & Impact on Future Warfare” and “Reforms in Institutionalised Training to Catalyse Technological Enablement.” Detail report on pg2 Trump meltdown over ‘negative’ stories Agencies WASHINGTON US President Trump attacked NBC and ABC News, accusing the networks of “biased” coverage and saying he would support the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revoking their licences. He said on Sunday that the outlets had given him negative coverage in “97%” of stories, though it was unclear where he sourced the figure. A study by the conservative watchdog Media Research Center earlier found coverage of Trump’s first 100 days in office was “92% negative.” “IF THAT IS THE CASE,” Trump wrote in his signature all-caps style, “THEY ARE SIMPLY AN ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND SHOULD, ACCORDING TO MANY HAVE THEIR LICENSES REVOKED.” IAF workhorse MiG-21 makes final sorties a month ahead of the formal retirement ceremony to be held in Chandigarh on September 26. As part of the symbolic farewell, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flew solo sorties of the MiG-21 from Nal on August 18-?19, marking an emotional moment for the force and for generations of pilots trained on the Russian-origin fighter jet that served the force for 62 years. Commission says plea based on wrong interpretation of law 2nd foray in PPP for healthcare offgrid Farewell in Chandigarh on Sept 26 No relief for 13% candidates on hold: MPPSC tells SC Nadda, CM inaugurate 2 med colleges JABALPUR CHANDIGARH A court in Haryana, on Monday, extended the judicial custody of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested in May on suspicion of espionage, till September 3. She appeared before the Judicial Magistrate Sunil Kumar in Hisar, who remanded her to judicial custody. per cent, rainfall-runoff at 11 per cent, and baseflow at 4 per cent. But the balance has shifted over time. Snowmelt has been steadily declining, while rainfall-runoff and baseflow have inched upward. Lead author Parul Vinze, a PhD scholar at IIT Indore, said the discharge peak shifted from August to July after 1990. “This shift is linked to reduced winter precipitation and earlier summer melting,” she explained. The change in peak timing, scientists warn, could upset irrigation cycles and energy production schedules that depend on a predictable water flow. "The MiG-21 has been the workhorse of the IAF since its induction in the 1960s and we are still continuing with it. It is one of the most massproduced supersonic fighter jets in history, with over 11,000 aircraft operated by more than 60 countries," Air Chief Marshal Singh told PTI after his sortie. "My first experience with MiG-21 was in 1985, when I flew the Type-77 variant at Tezpur. It was a revelation -agile, highly maneuverable, and simple in design, though it required some initial training. It's an amazing aircraft to fly. It will be missed by all who flew it." Noting the jet's impressive performance as an interceptor, the IAF chief said, "At maximum reheat, it could climb more than 250 metres per second. 4Continued on | P8 Rs 48.5L in cash, Rs 1cr brown sugar seized from woman’s hut Our Staff Reporter INDORE Around 516 grams brown sugar worth Rs 1 crore and Rs 48.50 lakh in cash was seized from hut of a 32-year-old woman in Dwarkapuri on Sunday evening. An electronic weighing scale, used for measuring drugs and preparing tokens, too was seized. Ravi alias Kala Raghuvanshi, arrested on July 29 with 11.78gm brown sugar, had allegedly named the woman, Seema Nath of Akhirkhedi, as drug supplier. DCP Rajesh Kumar Tripathi said that Seema Nath, wife of Mahesh Topi, used to frequently change her hideouts to avoid cops. Following a tipoff, three teams of crime branch, accompanied by women constables, raided her hut. Though family members resisted the raid, cops called additional force to control the situation and arrested Seema Nath. Cash in trunks, utensils: Total of 18,100 notes in bundles of Rs 500, Rs 200 and Rs 100 denominations were recovered from iron trunks and utensils hidden among clothes. Cops had to requisition a machine to count the cash. Notorious historysheeter: Seema has a dozen cases registered against her, including NDPS Act, Excise Act and others Tripathi said, “The evidence indicates that she profiteered by selling drugs.” 4Continued on | P8