FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLII No. 254 | INDORE | FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 20, 2026 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in Sports Stop hunting for sixes, start building innings P.12 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE MONEY US stocks slip as oil prices rise on worries about US-Iran conflict UJJAIN PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK Cinema Khanzaadi calls Chahat a ‘criminal’ P.14 PM’s MANAV vision for AI Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday outlined his “MANAV” vision for Artificial Intelligence, emphasising that AI must remain ethical, accessible and rooted in human values to serve humanity. Addressing the Leaders’ Plenary Session at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, Modi described AI as a shared global resource whose governance requires a trusted international data framework, transparent “glass box” safety rules and strong ethical commitments. He expressed confidence that the summit would help build a human-centric and sensitive global AI ecosystem. Explaining MANAV, Modi said M stands for moral and ethical systems, A for account- fp Bill Gates skips Summit keynote over Epstein files icrosoft co-founder Bill Gates did not deliver the keynote address he was previously scheduled for at the India AI Impact Summit, his foundation said on Thursday. While the Foundation did not give any reasons, the decision comes after organisers expressed discomfort at giving Gates the stage after his name appeared in documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. M light-hearted yet widely noticed awkward moment unfolded during the group photograph at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei chose raised fists instead of holding hands. A ON THE STAGE termed the framework an important link for ensuring welfare in the AI-driven 21st century. Referring to lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, he said global cooperation can turn dis- SC slams freebies culture Says states should open avenues for employment IMPHAL Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Thursday interacted with people displaced by the ethnic violence and assured them that he would not let their tears go in vain Speaking at a programme of relief distribution among internally displaced persons in Imphal, he said the first step, after the formation of the new government following the President's Rule in the state, was to help IDPs return to their native places with peace and goodwill. PM Narendra Modi, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, other world leaders arrive during AI Impact Summit, in New Delhi AI COLD WAR Briefs ‘Will not let your tears go in vain’ Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL I able governance, N for national sovereignty, A for accessible, and V for valid and legitimate use. He PTI NEW DELHI The persons who can enjoy, have all means available and are affluent and therefore any kind of freebie first comes to their pocket. Is it not high time for the states to revisit these policy frameworks shoulders of taxpayers, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant asked, "But this money which the State says it will pay now. Who will pay for it? This is taxpayers' money." The observations were made during the hearing of a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited which proposed to give free electricity to all irrespective of consumers paying capacity. The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the freebies and subsidies culture ahead of elections and said it was "high time" to revisit such policies that hamper the country's economic development. Observing that the ultimate financial burden of such populist measures falls Top Court returns 27% OBC quota cases to HC with 2-month deadline King Charles’ brother Andrew arrested amid probe into Epstein ties n SC Bench squarely on the 4Continued on | P8 Our Staff Reporter JAMMU Terror associate held A terror associate with direct links to Pakistan-based handlers was arrested along with two foreignmade pistols in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Thursday. Sachin Kumar alias Pamma, a resident of Sair village near the Line of Control, was arrested in a joint operation by police and Rashtriya Rifles from a forward village in Nowshera sector, a police spokesman said. BHOPAL The Supreme Court of India, on Thursday, returned all cases related to 27% OBC reservation to Madhya Pradesh High Court. Two months’ time has been given to HC for disposal of cases. Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj informed the court that State Government was in favour of sending cases back to High Court. This was seen as a significant change in State Government’s stance, as these were originally State transfer petitions. It was Subham Gautam and others vs Madhya Pradesh petition related to implementation of 2019 law providing 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Madhya Pradesh. On Thursday, SC clearly stated that High Court will now have final say on the matter. The law was passed by State Assembly in 2019. It provided for increasing reservation for OBC in government jobs and educational institutions from 14% to 27%. 4Continued on | P8 ‘Adani, aukaat’ kick up storm in House CM tenders apology on Vijayvargiya’s remarks on LoP IIT-I presents transformative technologies IT Indore marked a strong presence at India AI Impact Summit 2026, showcasing pioneering research and technology innovations designed to address realworld challenges through Artificial Intelligence. At the Summit, IIT Indore displayed a wide spectrum of AI-enabled technologies across healthcare, agriculture, climate and sustainability, smart infrastructure, cybersecurity, Manufacturing 4.0, Semiconductors and many more. E-paper Edit AI in law, not that intelligent P.6 AI SUMMIT | Calls for ethical, accessible & human-centric global AI framework Moral & ethical systems Accountable governance National sovereignty Accessible Valid and legitimate use MUMBAI Images show former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling on all fours over a female lying on the ground PTI LONDON Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III, was arrested by the UK police on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office following damaging allegations over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The King issued a statement from Buckingham Palace to express his "deepest concern" as the news of the arrest hit the headlines, stressing that the “law must take its course". "I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in Full, fair and proper process: King Charles III ruption into opportunity. 4Continued on | P8 ‘Will cooperate in probe’: Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani has filed an undertaking in the Supreme Court that he will not leave the country without its prior permission and fully cooperate with agencies' probe into the alleged Rs 40,000 crore banking and corporate fraud involving the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG). he State Assembly was thrown into chaos on Thursday over the Bhagirathpura incident in Indore, as the Opposition demanded resignation of Urban Administration and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya and Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla. The pandemonium T eputy CM Shukla said Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited Indore immediately after the incident, while Minister Vijayvargiya remained on alert in the affected area for days. Officially, 22 people died, and Rs 2 lakh compensation was provided to each family. Opposition, however, claimed the death toll was higher. Umang Singhar said that snakebite victims receive Rs 4 lakh compensation, calling the lower compensation for Bhagirathpura victims an injustice. D Addressing the House on Thursday and participating during the Governor’s vote of thanks motion, CM Mohan Yadav unleashed a scathing attack on the subsequent Congress governments in the state for their wrong policies which, he said had put a brake on the state’s development. He went on to say that the BJP government is now working to boost the industrial sector in the state. He eader of Opposition Umang Singhar attacked the government in the House by raising the power agreement that took place between the state government and Adani group. He alleged, “The state government had inked the agreement with the Adani group in which the government would be paying Rs 1.25 lakh crore to the company each year for buying power and the exaggerated electricity bills would be paid by the common man.” L also highlighted the state government’s achievement specially in the past two years. He said, “The state is again exporting cotton and thread to the tune of Rs 86 crore. The glory of cotton fabric industry is returning back to the state.” He also blamed the Con- Madhya Pradesh High Court directed a PIL petitioner to plant 25 trees and deposit Rs 25000 in the Municipal Council fund after he failed to divulge details of the welfare activities claimed by him, while hearing a plea alleging large-scale encroachment on pond land in Our Staff Reporter NEW DELHI 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 trees within 10 days. Taking note of the voluntary nature of the undertaking, the court proceeded to hear the PTI BHOPAL A Division Bench comprising Justice Anand Pathak and Justice Anil Verma was hearing a PIL filed by Kareem Khan, who sought removal of alleged illegal constructions, roads and encroachments over pond land recorded under Survey Nos 705, 706 and 483 at Sironj in Vidisha district. When the court specifically asked about his antecedents as a public-spirited citizen and sought assurance that the petition was not motivated, counsel for the petitioner claimed that he had undertaken several welfare activities for stray animals. However, no concrete details or material were placed on record to support the assertion. 25,000 in the Municipal Council fund and undertook to plant 25 saplings of neem, peepal and fruit-bearing 4Continued on | P8 ANTI-CAA PLEAS: SC to start hearing petitions on May 5 THE CASE Vidisha district. To demonstrate his bona fides, the petitioner voluntarily offered to deposit Rs gress for sharing misleading information in the House. Man murders parents and brother in Betul, arrested (L-R)Deceased have been identified as Raju alias Hansu Dhurve, his wife Kamalti Dhurve and their son Dilip Dhurve TOPPER FAILED TO GET GOVT JOB, AFFECTING MENTAL HEALTH amily members told the media persons that he was once a bright student who topped his Class 12 examinations but struggled to secure a government job despite multiple attempts. He had also appeared for the CRPF recruitment exam but was not selected. Relatives believed his repeated failures and deteriorating mental health may have deeply affected him. F Plant trees, deposit Rs 25,000: HC to petitioner Atul Gautam 4Continued on | P8 22 dead in Bhagirathpura: Dy CM green undertaking INDORE forced Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar to adjourn the house at least four times. Proceedings only stabilised after he assured the Opposition that discussion on its adjournment motion regarding the Bhagirathpura tragedy would be allowed on Friday. RS 1.25 LAKH CRORE PER ANNUM TO ADANI: SINGHAR Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL public office," the King's statement reads. W 4Continued on | P8 Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Umang Singhar & other Cong MLAs protest over budget on Thursday Cong wrong polices put a brake on devpt: CM A man who was a class 12 topper allegedly killed his parents and younger brother and attempted to murder his fiveyear-old nephew too, in Sanvga village under the Kotwali police station area of Betul district. The accused was found sitting quietly near the bodies after the crime, said the police on Thursday. According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Raju alias Hansu Dhurve (55), his wife Kamalti Dhurve (40) and their son Dilip Dhurve. hat now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation, King's statement reads. Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya’s remarks made against Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, “Tum aukaat me raho (remain in your limits),’’ kicked up a storm in the House on Thursday. Soon after the remark, the Congress members rushed to the Well of the House and this triggered the ruling party members to do the same with both sides raising slogans against each other. The din settled only after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav tendered an apology. Yadav said, “I apologise on behalf of all my people, and my minister.’’ Soon after Yadav’s statement, Singhar said, “I am sorry for what happened. CM has shown a big heart. I respect him deeply.” The incident occurred when Singhar was criticising the state government during the governor’s vote of thanks motion and claimed that government files related to the Singrauli forest were finalised at the office of Adani. First, minister Vishvas Sarang opposed the statement, later Vijayvargiya blamed Singhar for placing false statements in the House. On this, Singhar claimed that he had visual evidences to endorse his claim. BHAGIRATHPURA WATER TRAGEDY ROCKS ASSEMBLY matter at the admission stage, subject to strict compliance. The petitioner had sought directions for restoration of the pond to its original shape and water-holding capacity, demolition of an allegedly illegal road passing through the pond area, a complete halt on further construction or sale of land, and action against private encroachers and officials responsible for permitting illegal occupation. Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the allegations, the court directed the petitioner to submit a detailed representation to the Collector, Vidisha, along with proof of payment and photographs of the plantation. 4Continued on | P8 The Supreme Court on Thursday said that it will commence the final hearing on May 5 over 200 pleas including the lead one of IUML challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA). The CAA seeks to grant citizenship to migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, Jain and Parsi communities who came to the country from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on or before December 31, 2014. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalaya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi issued procedural directions with regard to final hearings on the petitions which are pending since 2019-2020. The bench said it will hear petitioners including the leader the Indian Union of Muslim League (IUML) for one-and-a-half days and the Centre will be granted a day for advancing its arguments. The CJI said the bench would conclude the hearing on the petitions on May 12. The bench asked the parties to file additional documents and submissions within four weeks.