FREE PRESS The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms VOL. XXXX NO. 320 | INDORE | FRIDAY | APRIL 26, 2024 | PAGES 14 `3 - r Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE EDIT KULDEEP YADAV IS AT HIS PEAK: DEEP DASGUPTA SPORTS BRITISH RAJ TO BILLIONAIRE RAJ WEATHER FP 34.10c. 22.00c Sunrise : 05.59 Sunset : 06.51 QUALITY AT VALUE r RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in DOWRY DRAMA’S ABRUPT END INDORE’S SOLAR CITY DREAM TAKES A BEATING TARGET 25,000 solar system but only 1k installed in 3 months ATUL GAUTAM Indore In a major setback to aspiration of turning into a solar-powered city by end of 2024, Indore has failed to even meet the initial target. The city's endeavour to install rooftop solar systems on 25,000 buildings has seen a dismal start, with fewer than 1,000 systems installed in the past three months. The initiative, spearheaded by Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav in a high-level meeting on January 16, aimed to transition Indore into a solar city through phased implementation. Key figures such as the then principal secretary (energy) Sanjay Dubey, the then divisional commissioner Mal Singh, West Discom managing director Amit Tomar, collector Asheesh Singh, the then municipal commissioner Harshika Singh and Indore Smart City CEO Divyank Singh were present in the meeting. “We will ensure that about 25,000 to 30,000 rooftop solar systems are installed in next three months in the city Thereafter, we . PLAN FALLS FLAT The Mayor had said that the IMC was working to install solar systems in all houses of 22 colonies in 22 zones in the first phase. West Discom MD Amit Tomar said that a comprehensive campaign would be conducted to connect the 25,000 electricity consumers with the rooftop solar net meter scheme in next three months. He said that panels are to be installed on 1,400 government buildings in the city. Announcements of both the Mayor and the MD fell flat as not a single colony is completely solar powered. Besides, all government buildings in the city are yet to be fitted with solar panels. BLAME ON POLLS Smart City CEO Divyank Singh blamed Lok Sabha polls for missing out on solar panel installation target. “PM Surya Ghar Yojana was launched in February. Under this scheme, consumers get higher subsidy on installation of solar power systems. As this scheme was in the offing, we waited for its introduction. But when it was launched polls announcement followed. The same teams which were pushing for the solar project got involved in polls so the project had to be kept on backburner. We will start installation of solar systems at war footing after polls are over,” he said. CINEMA FP VIEW As Indore grapples with the reality of its sluggish progress, stakeholders may need to reassess their strategies and ramp up efforts to accelerate the deployment of solar infrastructure. The success of the solar city project hinges on decisive action and effective coordination among all stakeholders involved. will make sure that the solar city targets are met in the following months. Our target is to make Indore solar city in the next 11 months,” Dubey had told reporters after the meeting. CONTD. ON P7 RAJIV AXED TAX TO KEEP India trashes US MPMSU FLIP FLOP Revokes re-exam order, INDIRA’S WEALTH: MODI report on human rights abuse GOOF UP IN SURGERY PRACTICAL MARKS @MGM OUR STAFF REPORTER Bhopal/Morena accepts revised result MGM students along with ABVP protest MPMSU re-exam diktat in Jabalpur on Thursday OUR STAFF REPORTER Indore In a sudden turn of events, the Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University (MPMSU), Jabalpur has withdrawn its decision of re-conducting surgery practical exam of 94 MBBS final year students of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, in less than 24 hours. Moreover, the university has accepted the revised result sent by the medical college along with the affidavit duly signed by all the examiners involved. Action has been taken against the four examiners of the medical college involved in the practical exam and they have been debarred University debars all the examiners for two years, all students to be declared pass with new result released in two days from conducting examinations for two years. With this, all the students will be declared pass with the new result released by the university in two days. MBBS final year students of MGM Medical College had staged demonstration at the university in Jabalpur, on Thursday against the de, cision of re-exam. "We had already passed the exam but were marked fail due to examiner's error. CONTD. ON P7 HORLICKS drops ‘health’ tag rebrands as ‘nurtitional’ drink The name of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi entered the election arena amid allegations and counter allegations on Thursday. At a public meeting in Morena, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that the Congress itself had abolished the Inheritance Act that the party was talking about. During the rule of Indira Gandhi, the Inheritance Act had been in vogue, but when Ravji Gandhi felt the government would take a portion of his property, he abolished it. Rajiv Gandhi did that to save his own properties, Modi said, adding that after acquiring a huge property, the Congress wants to impose tax on the public, and Modi is standing as a wall. “Modi is standing with his 56-inch chest. So, the Congress will never be able to translate its plan into reality The congress . is keeping an eye on the property of people after their death,” he said. The Congress enjoys insulting Modi, because they are CM WELCOMES EXODUS FROM CONG Former Congress MLA from Pansemal, Chandrabhaga Kirade joined BJP in presence of CM Yadav in the city on Thursday. Scores of leaders and workers from the grand old party crossed over to the saffron party during a programme at Indore-1 seat. P3 PM Narendra Modi exchanges greetings with BJP candidate Shivmangal Singh Tomar during a public meeting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls, in Morena on Thursday MODI SPOUTING LIES: CONG The Congress on Thursday termed as ‘lies’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that former PM Rajiv Gandhi had abolished inheritance tax after his mother Indira Gandhi's death to save her wealth from going to the government, as it cited then finance minister's budget speech on abolition of the estate duty. Hitting back at the prime minister, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on X, "Yesterday the PM claimed that @INCIndia wanted to impose an Inheritance Tax. Once it became clear that it was actually the BJP that has been propagating an Inheritance Tax, he switched lanes." Namdaar but he is Kaamdaar, the Prime Minister Plaints against PM, Rahul; but notices to BJP & Cong NEW DELHI Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), the owner of popular brands 'Horlicks' and 'Boost' has dropped health from its label and has repositioned its brands as "Functional and Nutritional drinks". The decision by the HUL comes after the Ministry of Commerce and Industry directed e-commerce websites to remove all drinks and beverages from the 'health' category on their websites. The Centre said the sugar content in these drinks is much above the acceptable limits. In a regulatory filing by the HUL, it reported a 1.53 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,561 crore for the fourth quarter of FY24. The company in its filing said, "Functional nutritional drinks (Horlicks & Boost) delivered high single-digit growth, driven by Plus range. CONTD. ON P7 ‘Cong tied Army’s hands’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Congress had tied the hands of the soldiers of the Indian Army. After the BJP came to power, the government has given the army full power to tackle the enemy, Modi said. “I have told the soldiers if the enemy fires a single shot, answer them with ten cannon shells,” the Prime Minister said. NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented move, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued notices to political parties, seeking responses to alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by their star campaigners. On Thursday , the poll panel wrote to BJP President J P Nadda regarding complaints about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge concerning complaints related both to him and party leader Rahul Gandhi. This marks a departure from the past, where notices of alleged MCC violations were served directly to the candidate or star campaigner concerned. Even during the ongoing campaign for the Lok Sabha ECI says while star campaigners continue to remain responsible for their speeches, national parties are expected to set high standards election 2024, all MCC notices served by the ECI have been issued directly to party leaders, including Dilip Ghosh of the BJP Congress , leaders Randeep Surjewala and Supriya Shrinate, and AAP leader Atishi. Putting the party presidents on notice, the ECI has sought 'comments' from Nadda and Kharge by 11 am on April 29. Although the Commission's letter doesn't name the Prime Minister, its letter to Nadda contains complaints filed by the Congress, the Communist Party of India, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). CONTD. ON P7 said. It does not matter much Blast in scrap storage, two missing OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in Two workers went missing after a blast in scrap godown in Adhartal of Jabalpur on Thursday. Part of a worker’s body was later found metres away from the site. Though blast was attributed to ammunition scrap from ordinance factory, no confirmation was available till filing of this report. Fire tenders were rushed to spot. Collector, SP and Jabalpur Municipal Corporation reached the spot and launched rescue work. ASP Sonali Dubey told Free Press, “A blast occurred in Adhartal at around 3.30 pm. The explosion damaged tin shades in the area. Two persons working in the storage were missing and police have found some body parts.” The fire tenders doused the blaze and entire area was sealed, she said. Wanted posters for missing Cong leader surface in Surat SURAT: Wanted posters for Congress leader Nilesh Kumbhani have been put up across Surat, labeling him a ‘murderer of democracy’ and a ‘traitor.’ Amid rumours of Kumbhani's potential defection to the BJP, Congress supporters have staged protests outside his now-vacant residence, denouncing him as a ‘betrayer of the people.’ The posters, prominently displayed on the Hirabaug Bridge, were installed by former Corporator Dinesh Kachadiya. They urge the public to confront Kumbhani over his actions. This public display of dissent follows the controversial disqualification of Kumbhani's Lok Sabha candidacy by Surat Collector and Returning Officer, Sourabh Pardhi, amid claims of inconsistencies in his nomination documents. Kumbhani has since become unreachable, sparking concern among his party colleagues and supporters. "He is neither at his home nor available on calls. He hasn’t contacted party mem- bers since the election of Mukesh Dalal," reported a Congress party worker. The situation escalated after Mukesh Dalal from the BJP was declared the winner unopposed in Surat, a result that came into place after all rival candidates, including those from major parties like the BSP , mysteriously withdrew their nominations. CONTD. ON P7 if Naamdaars insult Kaamdaars, he further said, adding that the Congress is conspiring to do away with the reservation for SC/ST. In 2011, the Congress-led government issued an order, reducing the reservation meant the OBC, he said. The order stated that reservation would be given in the name of religion, but the Anddhra Pradesh High Court cancelled it, Modi said. The Congress even went to the Supreme Court against the HC order, but the people threw the party – which wanted to give reservation in the name of religion – out of power in 2014, the Prime Minister said. CONTD. ON P7 NEW DELHI: India on Thursday termed the US State Department's annual human rights report on India "deeply biased" and stated that it shows a "poor understanding" of the country. It also mentioned the alleged attacked on minorities, journalists and dissenting voices across the country. Speaking to the media, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "This report is deeply biased and reflects a poor understanding of India. We attach no value to it and urge you to do the same." The report said the local human rights organisations, affected communities and minority political parties censured Central government for the delay in action to stop violence and provide humanitarian assistance in the north eastern Manipur embroiled in ethnic clashes. The report also spoke about the income tax department raids at the office of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It said that although the tax Polling in 6 LS seats of state today VOTER STATS 2,865 vulnerable polling stations OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in In second phase of Lok Sabha elections, 1.11 crore voters are going to cast their votes in six parliamentary constituencies of the state on Friday, said chief electoral officer Anupam Rajan, talking to media persons here on Thursday . The second phase of polling will be going to n There are 1,108 voters who are above 100 years n 64,703 voters have crossed 85 years n 3.26 lakh are the first time voters n 27.8 lakh voters are at in the 20 to 29 years age group take place in Tikamgarh, Damoh, Khajuraho, Satna, Rewa and Hosangabad. The CEO informed that 58.32 lakh male voters, 53.29 lakh female voters and 155 are the third gender voters who will be going to practice their votes. CONTD. ON P7 The annual human rights assessment report by the State Department highlighted "significant" abuses in Manipur where an ethnic conflict broke out last year authorities described the searches as motivated by irregularities in the media house's tax payments and ownership structure, the officials also seized equipment from journalists not involved in the organisation's financial processes. Referring to a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots."The government invoked emergency powers to ban screening of the documentary, forced media companies to remove links to the video, and detained student protesters who organised viewing parties," the State Department. The screening of the documentary was banned in India. Shrestha Ist girl JEE topper of Indore INDORE: For the first time in history, a girl has bagged the title of Indore city topper in Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main. The inspirational girl is Shrestha Goyal with AIR 167 with 99.99%. Shrestha, though not officially announced by NTA, has also scored highest marks among girls in JEE Main 2024 and hence is girls topper in state. FULL REPORT, P2 Conviction of Movie mogul, who ignited #MeToo, overturned FP NEWS SERVICE / NEW YORK The rape and sexual assault conviction of Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood producer whose case ignited the #MeToo movement, has been overturned. The New York Court of Appeals has ruled that he did not receive a fair trial when he was convicted in 2020. In a 4-3 decision, the court found that the trial judge who presided over Weinstein s case had allowed prosecutors to call as witnesses women who said Weinstein had assaulted them but whose accusations were not part of the charges against him. A new trial has been ordered which could see accusers take to the stand once again. Now it will be up to the Manhattan district attorney already caught up in the trial against former President Donald J. Trump to decide whether to seek a retrial of Weinstein, once one of the most Some of the accusers: Gwyneth Paltrow, Mira Sorvino, Ashley Judd, and Rose McGowan. (Right) Harvey Weinstein on a walker powerful men in Hollywood. Weinstein had been serving 23 years jail term for two sexual attacks against an aspiring actress and a production assistant. But it is unclear if he will be a free man, as he still has a separate Los Angeles conviction pending.