FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 15 No. 244 | BHOPAL | MONDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2026 | Pages 12 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Nation RJD asks Nitish govt to issue white paper P.7 State Budget session from today Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The state assembly’s budget session will start on Monday, with the address of Governor Mangubhai Patel. The budget of more than Rs 4 lakh crore will be tabled on February 18. The Congress is armed with multiple big issues to corner the government, the biggest being the death of several people due to the use of contaminated drinking water in Indore. However, the government is prepared to repel the Opposition attack on the floor of the House and has asked ministers to remain present during the debate. In the meantime, Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar visited the assembly on Sunday and took stock of the arrangements. The session will conclude on March 6. fp Briefs NEW DELHI AI Impact Expo from today Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India AI Impact Expo 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam here on Monday, according to a PMO statement. The Expo will be held from February 16 to 20, alongside the India AI Impact Summit, at the same venue. Spread across 10 arenas covering more than 70,000 square metres, it will bring together global technology firms, startups, academia and research institutions, Union Ministries, state governments, and international partners. LUCKNOW ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL WORLD PUNE INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit B’desh turns a page, carefully P.6 Brand Sutra Where Dreams Begin P.12 GLOBAL PUSH | Trade talks could never conclude under UPA rule due to its economic mismanagement, says Modi India negotiated trade pacts from position of strength: PM PTI ‘Not ‘now or never’ moment but ‘we are ready’ moment’ NEW DELHI In a sharp take down of trade negotiations during the UPA government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said its "economic mismanagement" left India unable to negotiate from a position of confidence and could never conclude any talks. In an exclusive interview with PTI, Modi said India's deals signed with Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the EU, and the US have opened access for MSMEs, particularly in labour-intensive sectors, to export to these regions with near-zero tariffs or tariffs much lower than those of other exporting countries. "These trade agreements may have happened recently, but they are the outcome of a more competitive domestic industry, a confident approach and an open outlook. These are rare qualities in today's world. Before we speak of India's successful trade agreements in recent years, it is important to recall where we stood just over This year's Budget was not a 'now or never moment' born out of compulsion but a 'we are ready' moment born out of preparation and inspiration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, asserting that it reflects India's "yearning" to become a developed nation. In an exclusive interview with PTI, Modi asserted that none of his government's budgets have been made with an attitude of creating a run-of-the-mill 'bahi khata' documents as "that is not our approach". Recalling that a few years ago, he had declared from the ramparts of the Red Fort, that 'Yahi Samay Hai, Sahi Samay Hai", Modi said a "now is the time" sense of purpose has always been there within his government. ‘Decade of defence reforms bore fruit during Op Sindoor’ The benefits of a decade of defence reforms were evident during Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, asserting that India has to be prepared at all times to deal with security challenges. As a country that is playing an increasingly important role in the world, India has a duty to modernise its defence sector in line with current realities, Modi said a decade ago," the prime minister said. Asked about MSMEs having featured prominently in the recent trade agreements, Modi said, "We are entering into these historic trade deals from a position of strength. The vision of Made in India has filled our MSMEs with new confidence and vigour." During the years of the UPA government, they tried to secure some trade deals, and yet the journey was marked by "uncertainty and inconsistency", Modi said. "Largely because their economic mismanagement left India unable to negotiate from a position of confidence. They did not lay the environment to bring negotiations to a conclusion. Talks would begin and then break down. In the end, despite prolonged negotiations, very little of real substance was achieved," he said, hitting out at the Manmohan Singh dispensation. "But once we came in, we led an economic resurgence through our policy-driven governance, strengthened our economic fundamentals and created a rules-based system. When we ensured political stability, policy predictability and a reform-oriented approach, the world wanted to invest in India," he asserted. Modi said his government's reforms helped both India's manufacturing and service sectors and encouraged productivity and competitiveness among MSMEs. As a confident, competitive and fast-growing economy, many nations saw the benefits of pursuing trade agreements with India, he said. "To understand the difference between the earlier approach and ours, consider the EU trade agreement. It was discussed and negotiated even under the previous government. But it was our government which eventually sealed a win-win deal for our economies," the prime minister said in a written interview. 4Continued on | P8 India wedded to strategic autonomy: EAM on Russian oil IANS MUNICH Amid repeated assertions from the United States regarding New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, India, reaffirming its "strategic autonomy", has conveyed a clear message on the global stage that its energy decisions will be determined by availability, cost, and risk considerations. The remarks come against the backdrop of fresh US sanctions targeting Russia's oil sector and claims by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that India has agreed to halt additional imports of Russian crude. Addressing the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (local time), External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar rejected suggestions that a recent India-US trade understanding would undermine India's long-standing commitment to strategic autonomy. His comments followed Rubio's statement that Washington had received assurances from New Delhi that it would refrain from purchas- India very successful emerging economy: UN chief India annihilate Pak by 61 runs PTI UNITED NATIONS India is a "very successful" emerging economy with a bigger influence in global affairs, and is the "right place" to host the AI summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said. In an exclusive interview with PTI at the UN Headquarters ahead of the India?"AI Impact Summit 2026, Guterres underscored that Artificial Intelligence should benefit the entire world and not just be a privi- It is absolutely essential that AI becomes a universal instrument for the benefit of humankind Antonio Guterres UN Secretary-General lege reserved for developed nations or two superpowers. "I strongly congratulate India for organising this Summit. It's absolutely essential that AI develops itself to the benefit of everybody, everywhere and that countries in the Global South are part of the benefits of AI," he said. The high-powered event being held from February 16 to 20 will be the first-ever AI summit hosted in the Global South and is anchored in the three guiding principles of 'People, Planet and Progress'. Guterres, who will be travelling to India to attend the Summit, asserted "it would be totally unacceptable that AI would be just a privilege of the most developed countries or a division only between two superpowers", an apparent reference to the US and China. "It is absolutely essential that AI becomes a universal instrument for the benefit of humankind," Guterres said. Debate, vote on motion to remove Birla on March 9 Inspired by Uttar Pradesh government's cultural vision and the spiritual renaissance in Ayodhya, a grand Ramlila will be held in the Russian capital Moscow on February 20. This Ramlila, being organised in a divine and grand form, has drawn inspiration from the recent Deepotsav held in Ayodhya. The Ramlila, being organised with the support of the Embassy of India in Russia and the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC), will feature Russian artists in major roles. PTI TAWANG NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR Security agencies have busted an ever-growing ecosystem of "mule accounts" in Jammu and Kashmir that serves as the financial backbone of global scam networks, with officials fearing that the funds routed through these accounts could be used for separatist and anti-national activities. The officials said more than 8,000 mule accounts operating in the region have been identified and frozen over a period of three years. PRESS Open to compromises: Iran on N-deal with US Ramlila in Moscow Mule account network busted UJJAIN Har Har Mahadev On the last day of the 10-day 'Shiv-Navratri Festival' at Mahakaleshwar Temple, the presiding deity was anointed with panchamrit during bhasmaarti in the wee hours of Saturday. About 5 lakh devotees had darshan of Baba Mahakal till evening in Ujjain FP Photos offgrid The debate and subsequent vote on the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will be taken up on March 9, when the House reassembles after the recess, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said here on Sunday. Rijiju stated that the second part of the Budget Session, scheduled from March 9 to April 2, will be "interesting" as several "important" legislations and a "critical" bill will be presented in Parliament for debate and passage. He warned that if opposition parties continue their protests as they did during the first part of the session, it would ultimately be detrimental to them. BATTED, BOWLED, BROKEN | Men in Blue turn the rivalry into a rout Remarks come against backdrop of fresh US sanctions targeting Russia's oil sector and claims by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that India has agreed to halt additional imports of Russian crude ing more Russian oil after the latest round of US sanctions on Moscow's energy exports. "The United States has imposed additional sanctions on Russia's oil. In our conversations with India, we've gotten their commitment to stop buying additional Russian oil. Europe has taken its set of steps moving forward," Rubio was quoted as saying during the conference, by Russian news agency TASS. Earlier this month, President Trump had made a stronger assertion 4Continued on | P8 LS Speaker to represent India at Rahman’s oath ceremony PTI NEW DELHI Agencies COLOMBO In a performance that was part cricket, part demolition derby, India demolished archrivals Pakistan by a staggering 61 runs at the R Premadasa Stadium, sending a chilling warning to every other team in the T20 World Cup. If Ishan Kishan’s early fireworks with the bat lit the fuse, the Indian bowling attack arrived with a sledgehammer to complete the carnage. Pakistan, chasing a target of 176, were never in the hunt, bundled out for a pathetic 114 in just 18 overs. The Men in Blue didn't just win; they made a statement that will echo across the cricketing world for years. The Carnage: A Batting Collapse for the Ages- From Axar Patel celebrates with wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Babar Azam PTI the moment the chase began, it was a route. Pakistan were left reeling at a catastrophic 13/3 inside the first two overs, their batting lineup looking utterly clueless against the pace and movement on display. (First Innings Detail Report on Sports Page) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh's next prime minister, Tarique Rahman, on February 17. It is learnt that Bangladesh had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the ceremony to be held in Dhaka. Om Birla, the Lok Sabha Speaker, will represent the Government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government of Bangladesh led by Tarique Rahman, the external affairs ministry said on Sunday. Rahman led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to a spectacular victory in Bangladesh's parliamentary polls. 4Continued on | P8 Indian student found dead days after going missing in California PTI NEW YORK A 22-year-old Indian postgraduate student who went missing in the US less than a week ago has been found dead, the Indian mission here has said. Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a student at the University of California, Berkeley, hailing from Karnataka, had been missing since Monday. In an X post on Saturday (local time), the Indian Con- sulate in San Francisco confirmed the recovery of his body. "The Consulate deeply regrets to inform that local police have confirmed the recovery of the body of the missing Indian student, Saketh Sreenivasaiah," it said. Extending condolences to his loved ones, the Consulate said it "stands ready to provide all necessary assistance to the family, including coordination with local authorities and arrangements for the repatriation of mortal remains to India at the earliest." "Our consular officers are in direct contact with the family and will support them with all required formalities and services," it added. Sreenivasaiah was enrolled in the Master of Science programme at the University of California, Berkeley. Show ID: Munir nearly stopped at Munich event Docs formed terror group ‘Ansar Interim’ 4Continued on | P8 IANS MUNICH An awkward moment played out for Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Germany when a security officer at the Munich Security Conference briefly stopped him over the positioning of his identity card. Field Marshal Munir was in the German city along with his delegation to attend the conference.A video clip circulating widely on social media shows the security official asking the Pakistani Army Chief to ensure that his identification card was clearly visible from the front.The incident reportedly occurred just a few steps before the entry point to the conference venue. In the footage, the security officer is seen tapping his own name badge and gesturing towards the ID card hanging from Munir's neck, saying, "Can you turn that around?"The brief exchange between Munir and the security personnel at the Munich Security Conference has since attracted significant attention online.The visuals of the interaction have triggered a wave of reactions on social media platforms, with several critics mocking the episode and claiming that it reflects on his public standing. 4Continued on | P8 PTI NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR The 'white-collar' terror module recently busted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police indicates that the doctors arrested in the case had been radicalised since 2016 and formed a new terror organisation named "Ansar Interim" to carry out subversive activities in the Union Territory as well as in the hinterland, officials said on Sunday. The case, which is now being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), 'WHITE-COLLAR' TERROR PROBE also brings to light that Dr Umer-un Nabi -- the man behind the wheel of the explosive-laden car that exploded outside the Red Fort on November 10, killing over a dozen people -- had unsuccessfully attempted to join terror groups in 2016 and 2018, they said. Piecing together evidence gathered so far, officials said the accused doctors -- Muzamil Gannie, Umer-un Nabi (now dead), and Adeel Rather, along with his brother Muzzafar Rather (absconding), as well as Maulvi Irfan, Qari Aamir, and Tufail Gazi met at Eidgah in downtown Srinagar in April 2022. During the meeting, they decided to form a terror organisation "Ansar Interim," 4Continued on | P8 with Adeel named as the 'Ameer' (chief) of the group, Maulvi Irfan as 'Deputy Ameer,' and Gannie as treasurer, officials said, adding that among militant groups, "Ansar" is commonly associated with the globally banned terror outfit Al-Qaeda. The arrested doctors and preachers told the interrogators that the need to form a new group emerged because all their contacts with active terrorists had been severed, officials said. 4Continued on | P8