FREE PRESS Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023 INDORE BHOPAL UJJAIN MUMBAI `3 RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 - PUNE VOL. 10 NO. 240 | BHOPAL | SATURDAY | FEBRUARY 13, 2021 | PAGES 12 PARTY WAS UNAWARE IF TRIVEDI HAD ISSUES, HIS RESIGNATION NOT A SETBACK, SAYS TMC Pg-7 Quality at Value WEATHER 30.30c. 14.10c Sunrise : 07.00 Sunset : 06.22 EDIT RAJ KAPOOR AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN ENTERTAINMENT (OTT) 2020 Pg-12 No territory conceded to China, says Centre UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ON COVID ORIGIN Pg- 6 DISENGAGEMENT OF TROOPS IN PANGONG LAKE AREAS News Brief Kharge to be LoP in Rajya Sabha NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge will be the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, succeeding Ghulam Nabi Azad whose tenure comes to an end on Monday. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has written to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu for appointing Kharge to the post as Azad is retiring. Woman prisoner escapes from hospital UJJAIN: A 45-year-old woman inmate of the district jail escaped from a hospital in Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh, an official said on Friday. Sunita alias Sonali was on Thursday admitted to the district hospital after she complained of feeling unwell, jailor Alka Sonkar of the Ujjain district jail said. The woman escaped from the hospital around midnight after dodging security personnel, the official said. TN fireworks unit explosion, 11 killed VIRUDHUNAGAR : At least 11 workers were killed and 36 injured when an explosion ripped through a fireworks factory near Sattur in this southern district in Tamil Nadu on Friday, Police said. The explosion occurred when some chemicals were being mixed to produce fireworks at the unit in Acchankulam village, they said, adding the injured had been hospitalised. Chanda Kochhar gets bail MUMBAI: Former ICICI Bank CEO and MD Chanda Kochhar on Friday appeared before a court here in the alleged ICICI Bank-Videocon money laundering case, and was granted bail. It was the former banker's first appearance in the court. On Jan 30, the special court for PMLA had summoned Kochhar, her husband Deepak, Videocon Group promoter Venugopal Dhoot and other accused after taking cognizance of the charge sheet. Ban Rihanna's cosmetic brand NEW DELHI: Days after international popstar Rihanna came out in support of the protesting farmers, a group of child rights activists from Jharkhand have submitted a memorandum to the NCPCR, demanding it to ban her cosmetic brand for allegedly using mica from mines where child labourers are reportedly hired. AGENCIES New Delhi India on Friday said it has not conceded any territory as a result of the agreement finalised with China for disengagement of troops in Pangong lake areas in eastern Ladakh. Hours after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government has "ceded" Indian territory to the Chinese and raised questions over the agreement, the Ministry of Defence issued a strongly-worded statement, saying the effective safeguarding of country's national interest and territory in the Eastern Ladakh sector has taken place because the government reposed full faith in the capabilities of the armed forces. "Those who doubt the achievements made possible by the sacrifices of our military personnel are actually disrespecting them", the statement said. The ministry also made certain clarifications in the statement, and said, "the assertion that Indian territory is up to Finger 4 is categorically false. The territory of India is as depicted by the map of India and includes more than 43,000 sq km currently under illegal occupation of China since 1962." "Even the Line of Actual Control (LAC), as per the Indian perception, is at Finger 8, not at Finger 4. That is why India has persistently maintained the right to patrol upto Finger 8, including in the current understanding with China," the MoD said. CONTD. ON P8 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY When, inside you, an innocence dawns, it shows on your face then you become beautiful. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar www.freepressjournal.in Rahul rips into Rajnath Singh's statement on disengagement negotiated position of ormer Congress status-quo-ante in April FPresident Rahul Gandhi 2020," he said, rejecting on Friday ripped through Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's statement in Parliament a day earlier on the border dispute with China, claiming it only shows the Prime Minister is a coward who cannot stand up to the Chinese and is instead spitting on the sacrifice of the Indian Army. He said that "while our Army is prepared to stand up against China and so is the Air Force and the Navy, the PM is not prepared" and that is why he has ceded India’s holy land to the Chinese. "This is absolute 100% cowardice. There is no strategic advantage to India in the disengagement and the government has forgotten the the defence minister's claim of gains accruing to India. This was even more so considering that the Chinese forces have not withdrawn from more important strategic area of Depsang Plains as also Gogra and Hot Springs and the tract stretching from Finger 4 to Finger 3. The Indian troops are now going to be stationed at Finger 3, instead of Finger-4, which is Indian Territory and where the Indian post used to be, Rahul pointed out. But why has this happened – the movement from Finger-4 to Finger-3 -- and why has the Prime Minister given up Indian Territory to the Chinese, he demanded. CONTD. ON P8 Entire country out of lockdown, but MP House still fears corona Premium petrol costs Rs 102 in Anuppur OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL Petrol of Premium category costs Rs 102 per liter in Anuppur district and Rs 101.49 per cent in Shahdol district. It reflects that Petrol price has crossed Rs100 in Madhya Pradesh . on Friday However, regular petrol costs ranges from Rs 96 to Rs 97 per liter in the state. Fuel prices were hiked again by oil marketing com. panies on Friday Petrol and diesel prices are revised on a daily basis in line with VAT is 34% on Petrol, Cess Rs 4.5 VAT is 23% on Diesel, cess Rs3.5 international benchmark price and foreign exchange rates. MP Petrol Pump dealers Association president Ajay Singh said, "Premium category petrol has crossed Rs100 in Madhya Pradesh. However, regular petrol costs in the range of Rs96 to Rs97 per liter. CONTD. ON P8 Media, assistants of MLAs won't get entry OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL The MP House is still afraid of corona pandemic though the entire country which was under lockdown for long time because of the pandemic has returned to work. In December, the government put off the House session, saying that some employees of the Vidhan Sabha were tested corona positive. Nevertheless, the government has imposed many restrictions on entry to the House during the Budget session beginning from February 22. The assistants of the MLAs will not be allowed inside the House. A minister can take only one assis- Corona test to be opposed: Govind Singh ormer minister Flegislatorprotestand senior Govind Singh has said he will against corona test for attending the session . According to Singh, the entire state has begun to work. An event meant for the BJP legislators is being held and parties are thrown but the government is postponing the session on the pretext of corona. The session should be held the way it is normally done, he said, adding that the BJP's attempt to gag the voice of opposition will not succeed. tant to the House. Even media will not be allowed inside the House during the session. One journalist from each news agency will be given permission. No other person will be allowed to enter the House during the session. CONTD. ON P8 Arrest warrant issued against IAS officer Lalit Dahima OUR STAFF REPORTER Indore A local court here on Friday issued arrest warrant against Additional Secretary (urban development) Lalit Dahima, an accused in the Rs 8 crore fraud case, for not appearing before the court since 2016 citing one or other reason. Judge Vikas Sharma expressed his annoyance over the IAS officer's reasons for not appearing before the court and directed the EOW Superintendent to arrest Dahima and produce him before the court on February 19. Earlier, his advocate had sought three weeks time for Dahima's appearance before the court but the court rejected his request. The case against Dahima is about 18 years old. It was alleged that he when was secretary of mandi in Indore had allegedly colluded with some agencies and siphoned off Rs 8 crore. On the complaint of the then collector, the case was taken for investigation in 2004. After seven years, an FIR was registered against one LDC and different office bearers of 23 agencies. After two years, some officials of the mandi were chargesheeted but not Dahima. However, three years later he was named in the case. SC panel holds consultations with 12 farmers’ unions from 8 states NEW DELHI The Supreme Court-appointed committee on Friday held consultations with 12 farmer unions and peasants from eight states, including West Bengal, on the controversial farm laws en. acted by the Centre recently This is the seventh meeting held by the panel so far. The three-member committee is holding consultations with stakeholders, both online and in person. In a statement, the committee said it held its interactions through video confarmers, with ference farmer unions and farmer organisations producer (FPOs). Twelve farm unions and Andhra from farmers Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal participated in the detailed deliberations with the committee members, it said. "All the participating farmer unions, FPOs and farmers gave their detailed views and suggestions on the three farm laws," the committee added. On January 12, the apex court had stayed the implementation of the three contentious farm laws for two months and asked the committee to submit a report within two months after consulting the stakehold- Govt hardsells Statue of Unity to revive tourism TRIPTI NATH Kevadia The government which has lost an entire tourism season to Corona, is now banking on domestic travellers to revive tourism from the iconic Statue of Unity, the world tallest, here in Modi’s home turf. The Tourism Ministry and the Gujarat government have put their weight behind the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) for its three day annual convention in Tent City 2 in the vicinity of the iconic Statue of Unity dedicated to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. The theme of the tenth annual convention of the 24 year old tour operators body is ‘ Domestic Tourism- Hope for revivalDekho Apna Desh.’ Inaugurating the meet via video conferencing, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism and Culture, Mr Prahlad Singh Patel said, “ If we work in a well intention way with planning, we can achieve great things and this monument (Statue of Unity) is proof of that. He said that India should reach the top position from the 34th spot in tourism soon.” P-7 ers. Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at Delhi's borders for over two months seeking repeal of the new legislations, introduced by the Centre last year, saying they are pro-corporate and can weaken the mandi system. The 11 rounds of talks between the Centre and 41 protesting farmer unions have so far remained deadlocked, even though the ruling dispensation has offered concessions, including suspension of the legislations for 18 months, which the unions have rejected. TMC MP Dinesh Trivedi resigns from RS AGENCIES New Delhi Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi on Friday resigned from his Rajya Sabha seat just a couple of months before the assembly polls in West Bengal, saying he is feeling suffocated in the party which is "no longer in hands of" its supremo Mamata Banejee. His resignation came two days after he had endorsed Prime Minister Modi's speech in Lok Sabha in which he called for a key role of the private sector. Trivedi, who represented West Bengal in Rajya Sabha for the third time and was a former railway minister, announced his resignation in the house during a debate on the Union Budget, saying he cannot speak about the violence in his state. He handed over his resignation to Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and it has been accepted. He explained to Naidu that he resigned of his own will and there is no pressure on him to do so. Minutes after his resignation, BJP general secretary and party's West Bengal incharge Kailash Vijayvargiya said Trivedi is welcome in . the party CM chouhan, VD sharma and Jyotirditya Scindia are seen at the inauguration of BJP training camp. Sharma, CM inaugurate BJP's 2-day training programme FP NEWS SERVICE Ujjain Bharatiya Janata Party began a two-day . training programme here on Friday Top party leaders-- Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Cabinet ministers, Uniion ministers and party workers reached the venue where senior leaders will administer training to the MLAs and party workers. State BJP president Vishnu Dutt Sharma, Chouhan, state party incharge Pankaja Munde, state organization general secretary Suhas Bhagat, state ogranisation general secretary Hitanand Sharma, Union minister Prahlad Patel, Faggansingh Kulaste and RS MP Jyotiraditya Scindia jointly lit the lamp to inaugurate the training programme. Need to fight against anti-nationals: Sharma: Addressing the inaugural session, Member of Parliament Vishnudutt Sharma said, "We are dedicated to the same cause. We have to think about the present scenario of the country while anti nationals are attacking on the spirit of nationalism and these elements don't want to see the country going ahead, and we have to nix these elements with our positive actions." Shivraj underlines significance of party workers: In his speech, Chouhan said Ujjain is a confluence of knowledge, devotion and love and these three words . are basis of the BJP's ideology He further said that party worker is like a lamp which lights the entire party and administering training to party workers will make them more efficient and committed. He told the leaders members to love party workers. The CM asked the MLAs to study keenly political scenario of the state and always remember the social liabilities. Chouhan also underlined the abrogation of Section 370, CAA and Triple Talaq.Dr Narottm Mishra also delivered speech on this occasion and underlined the importance of social awareness for MLAs. Jyotiradiya Scindia was the chief guest of the programme, while the programme was presided over by Prahalad Patel. ISRO to open its 'space' to private sector BENGALURU The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to open up its ‘space’ to the private sector after being a closed government organisation for over 50 years. The first move came when ISRO allowed two satellites developed by private companies to be tested at the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) here. Satellites from Tamil Nadu-based Space Kidz India and Bengalurubased Syzygy Space Technologies have undergone testing at URSC, the media quoted sources in URSC. “In both cases, we found problems with solar panels and our team is helping them fix them. URSC also tested UNITYsat, which had problems with the separation system which we’re setting right,” Isro chairman K Sivan was quoted in the media. UNITYsat is a combination of three satellites designed and built by Jeppiaar Institute of Technology , Sriperumbudur, GH Raisoni Col- lege of Engineering, Nagpur and Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology , Coimbatore. Apart from this, two private firms will test their engines at Sriharikota spaceport and Thiruvananthapuram rocket centre. Agnikul Cosmos of Chennai will be allowed to test its engine at Thiruvananthapuram and Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace’s en- gine will be tested at Sriharikota. Isro has also decided to give its satellite images to a private firm that offers mapping services. MapmyIndia, which builds digital maps and offers GIS services, has approached Isro for high-resolution images – a move that is in tune with the opening up the space sector to private firms. Among the 26 proposals under review by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre are US-based Amazon Web Services and Bharti Group backed UKbased OneWeb.