FREE PRESS Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023 INDORE BHOPAL UJJAIN MUMBAI `4 RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 - PUNE VOL. 10 NO. 275 | BHOPAL | SUNDAY | MARCH 21, 2021 | PAGES 14 WWW.FREEPRESSJOURNAL.IN READER’S CORNER WILL THE VELOCITY OF THE PRICE HIKE COME DOWN? Pg- 6 FOR 24X7 UPDATES ‘FESTIVALS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A CONVERSATION AROUND A FILM’ Pg-12 FREE PRESS AHILYA AWARDS FOR WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE IN INDORE Quality at Value WEATHER 36.00c. 21.20c Sunrise : 06.32 Sunset : 06.37 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Beauty When intelligence and innocence go together, a beauty dawns. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar LOCKDOWN IS BACK TODAY OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL Chief guests member of Parliament Shankar Lalwani and Dr BR Ambedkar University of Social Science, Mhow vice-chancellor Asha Shukla along with guests Regional Business Head of Omaxe Ltd's Vineet Sharma, Vishisht School of Management's Naveen Narang and Anas Iqbal and Indian Biodiesel and Energy's SS Kabir felicitated women of substance with FP Ahilya Awards by Free Press in PIX: PINTU NAMDEV association with Omaxe Limited on Saturday. HM ASKED VAZE TO COLLECT `100CR MONTHLY EX-MUMBAI TOP COP STIRS UP A HORNETS’ NEST, SAYS... IN A LETTER TO CM UDDHAV THACKERAY, Param Bir Singh has levelled allegations of corruption against Anil Deshmukh AGENCIES MUMBAI In a sensational twist to the SUV forcase, mer MumCombai missioner Police of Param Bir Anil Deshmukh Singh on Saturday hit out at state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh by virtually alleging that the minister wanted his team member, arrested cop Sachin Vaze, to ‘collect Rs 100 crore per month from bars and hookah parlours. Taking strong umbrage at Deshmukh's remarks that Singh's transfer as Commandant-General of Maharashtra Home Guards was not for administrative purposes but for "unpar- INFORMED CM, PAWAR ABOUT DESHMUKH'S MISDEEDS: SINGH Another claim that Singh made in his letter is that he had informed Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar about the "misdeeds" of Deshmukh in mid-March. "At one of the briefing sessions in wake of Antilia incident in mid-March 2021, when I was called at Varsha to brief you, I had pointed out several misdeeds by Home Minister. I have similarly briefed Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other senior ministers also about the misdeeds," Singh claimed in his letter. NIA PROBE WILL GIVE HIRAN FAMILY JUSTICE: SOMAIYA The NIA taking over the probe into the death of Hiran will ensure his family gets justice, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said on Saturday. Earlier in the day, Union government officials said the NIA had been handed over the probe into the death of Hiran whose body was found in a creek days after a vehicle laden with explosives was parked near the Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Overseas spectators not to be allowed at Tokyo Olympics, Paralympics T NIA RECEIVES MHA ORDER TO PROBE HIRAN’S MURDER CASE ATS. he NIA on Saturday received orders from MHA to investigate the alleged murder of Mansukh Hiran, which was until now being probed by Maharashtra HIRAN PROBE NO SETBACK TO GOVT: RAUT Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the NIA taking over the probe into death of Hiran was not a setback to the Mumbai police or the government. Raut said, "There was no need for NIA to probe Hiren SUV case. The ATS and Mumbai police were capable of investigating them. However, the Centre is looking for opportunities to see how the MVA government can be put in a spot. You can bring the CIA or KGB...It makes no difference. NIA RECREATES CRIME SCENE WITH VAZE The NIA took Vaze to the spot where the explosives-laden Scorpio was found near Ambani's residence, and recreated the crime scene as part of its probe into the case, an official said Woman Bobbitises man after rape bid FP BUREAU Sidhi News Brief Scindia helps injured cop, video goes viral BHOPAL: Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday helped an injured policeman while on his way to CM's residence. "When his motorcade was on its way, Scindia saw a cop injured after a fall and helped him. The cop has been hospitalised," said party spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi. A video of Scindia putting a handkerchief on the wound went viral on social media. TOKYO Overseas spectators will not be allowed for this year's Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo, confirmed the Organising . Committee on Saturday The decision to not allow overseas spectators was made during a remote meeting involving five parties, including the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). This decision has been taken to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The Japanese organising committee has also said that it will refund overseas spectators who purchased tickets, reported Kyodo News. CONTD. ON P8 A 45-year-old woman bobbitised a man when he allegedly tried to rape her after entering into her house at a village in Madhya Pradesh. Police said that the incident took place at Umariha village in Sidhi district of the state at around 11 pm on . Thursday After chopping off the man’s genitals with a sickle, the woman reached a nearby police aid post to lodge a complaint against the accused. The woman said that her husband had gone out for some work when the incident took place, said Khaddi police in-charge SI Dharmendra Singh Rajput quoting the complaint of the woman. "She was at home with her 13-year-old son when the accused entered their house. However, thinking that a thief had sneaked in, her son ran to safety out of the house," he said. The accused thrashed the woman and tried to sexually assault her. "In a bid to save herself, the woman picked up a sickle lying under her cot and cut off the man's genitals. The woman then reached the outpost and lodged a complaint against ," him at 1.30 am on Friday Rajput said. Police took the accused to a hospital, he added. The accused has been booked under various IPC Sections including molestation. The accused has also filed a complaint against the woman, Rajput said. donable lapses" by his team, the ex-Mumbai top cop shot off an 8-page missive to CM Uddhav Thack, eray making shocking revelations. Hitting back at Singh, Deshmukh tweeted that the ex-Mumbai police chief was leveling false allegations against him to save himself from action in the SUV case and the case related to death of Mansukh Hiran. But even as the issue threatens to shake the foundation of the MVA government, top leaders remained incommunicado. The SUV case refers to the explosives-laden Scorpio that was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai last month. Mansukh Hiran, who was in possession of the Scorpio, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on March 5. Strong quake shakes Japan; no reports of damage TOKYO: A strong earthquake struck Saturday off northern Japan, shaking buildings even in Tokyo and triggering a tsunami advisory for a part of the northern coast. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The US Geological Survey put the strength at magnitude 7.0 and depth at 54 km. The shaking started just before 6:10 p.m. The quake was centered off the coast of Miyagi prefecture, which was heavily damaged during the huge earthquake and tsunami of 2011 that left more than 18,000 people dead. Japan's Met Agency issued an advisory for a tsunami up to 1 metre for Miyagi prefecture immediately after the quake, but lifted it 90 minutes later. Tsunami might have reached parts of Miyagi , coast already Japan's NHK public television said. There is ‘grievous blow’ to free speech in India: Rajan T FP BUREAU & PTI New Delhi economist Eminent Raghuram Rajan has said that free speech suffered a "grievous blow" in India with the resignations of Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Arvind Subramanian from the Ashoka University and that the varsity's founders have bartered away its soul. he reality is that professor Mehta is a thorn in the side of the establishment. He is no ordinary thorn because he skewers those in government and in high offices like the Supreme Court with vivid prose and thought-provoking arguments RAGHURAM RAJAN, ECONOMIST AND FORMER RBI GOVERNOR Over 150 academicians from prestigious universities across the globe like Harvard, Yale, Columbia, London School of Economics and MIT, have written an open letter to trustees of Ashoka University, expressing distress over political commentator Pratap Bhanu Mehta's resignation from the varsity under "po- litical pressure". Earlier this week, the Sonipatbased Ashoka University found itself at the centre of a controversy after political commentator Mehta and economist Subramanian resigned. In a Linkedin post, former RBI governor Rajan said that free speech has suffered a "grievous blow" in India this week as professor Mehta, one of In- dia's finest political scientists, resigned from the . Ashoka University "The reality is that professor Mehta is a thorn in the side of the establishment. He is no ordinary thorn because he skewers those in government and in high offices like the Supreme Court with vivid prose and thought-provoking arguments," he said. CONTD. ON P8 Pak PM Imran Khan tests +ve after vax shot Pakistan ISLAMABAD: Prime minisImran ter Khan on Saturday tested for positive the COVID-19. He is self-isolating at home, his top aide on health Dr Faisal Sultan said, two days after he got the first shot of vaccination. Khan, 67, was vaccinated on Thursday as part of the nationwide antivaccination coronavirus campaign which is underway in its first phase. Special Assistant to the PM on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Sultan took to Twitter to confirm that Khan has contracted the coronavirus. Barring essential services like medical stores and hospitals, all busiestablishments, ness liquor shops and public transport would remain closed during total lockdown in Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur on Sunday. As per state government's guidelines, transportation of essential commodities, raw material for factories and workers would be allowed. Similarly, transportation of patients too would be allowed. All public transport will remain suspended. However, transportation for Airport, Railway station and movement of candidates appearing in competitive examination would be allowed. In Bhopal, business establishment, including grocery shops, Thok Kirana Bazaar of Jumerati, Godha Nakkas and Hanumanganj would be closed. On Saturday, heavy rush was witnessed in Thok Bazaar. too transport Public would come to a standstill. However, Bhopal City Link Limited (BCLL) would operate buses on major routes like from railway station and bus stands. BCLL would operate buses on long routes for candidates of various competitive examinations, including MP Public Service Commission (MPPSC) Examination. VAN VIHAR NATIONAL PARK CLOSED Van Vihar National Park will remain closed on Sunday. Director Van Vihar, Ajay Yadav said that Van Vihar would remain closed every Sunday till further orders. It would also remain close every Friday as usual. On other days, Van Vihar would remain open from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm. Visitors are requested to adhere to rules regarding corona like wearing masks, sanitising and maintaining social distance, said the director. US def secy discusses ‘human rights’ in India FP BUREAU New Delhi After holding wide-ranging talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and others, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday said he had a conversation with ministers about human rights of minorities in India. When media asked him, if he had a discussion with PM Modi about "violations of rights especially against minorities in the N-E", Austin said, "I did not have an opportunity to talk with him about that. I did have a conversation with other ministers on this issue." Llyod added that the US values India’s partnership. “I think partners need to be able to have those kinds of discussions. And certainly we feel comfortable doing that. And you can have those discussions in a very meaningful way and make progress," he added. Describing the talks as fruitful", Singh said they agreed to enhance ties be- DIVISIONAL COMMISSIONER KAVINDRA KIYAWAT: The administration has made transportation arrangements for MPPSC candidates. BCLL buses would ply on major routes especially long routes like from Railway station and bus stands. Candidates of competitive examination like MPPSC may avail transport facilities during lockdown." PETROL PUMP DEALERS ASSN PRESIDENT AJAY SINGH: Petrol pumps will remain closed in all three cities. Business establishments and public transport have been closed down." THOK KIRANA VYAPARI MAHASANGH GENERAL SECRETARY ANUPAM AGRAWAL: Thok bazaar and even retail grocery shops along with other business establishments will remain closed in the state capital during lock down on Sunday as per guidelines of the district administration." ROUTES OF PICNIC HANGOUTS: like Kerwa dam, Upper Lake (Boat Club), Van Vihar National Park would be blocked so that people do not visit there during lockdown. Roads have been barricaded. 'Never considered India, China were 'on verge of war', says Lloyd Austin The US at no point believed that India and China were on the verge of a war, said Austin on Saturday referring to face-off at LAC. "We have never considered India and China were on the verge of a war," Austin said at a press conference. tween Indian military and the US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command, and that both sides are keen to work together to realise the full potential of the IndiaUS comprehensive global strategic partnership. SURESH SONI EXITS AS SARKARYAVAHAK OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL Suresh Soni is no more the Sarkaryavahak of the RSS. He took the decision at a meeting of the RSS. Soni from Shajapur was considered as the most powerful leader in the Sangh. Nevertheless, after the appointment of Mohan Bhagwat as head of the RSS, Soni's position began to weaken. Soni's influence in the organisation wore off after his name figured in Vyapam scam. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, former RS member Prabhat Jha, Higher Education Minister Mohon Yadav, former minister Laxmikant Sharma and many others are close to Soni. At the meeting, Ashok Agarwal has been made Khhetra Karyavah. Hemant Muktibodh has been appointed as Sah Khhetra Karyavah and Ashok PorwKhhetra Sah as al Pracharak. Swapnil Kulkarni has been appointed as Prant Bharat Madhya Pracharak and Vimal Gupta as Madhya Bharat Sah Prant Pracharak. KOHLI, ROHIT AND PANDYA PUT ON MASTERCLASS AS HOSTS POST 224/2 Skipper Virat Kohli reacts after scoring half century during fifth and final T20 cricket match between India and England, at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Skipper Virat Kohli's decision to promote himself as an opener worked wonders as India posted a total of 224/2 in the allotted twenty overs. Kohli played a knock of 80 runs while Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav played knocks of 64 and 32 respectively as the hosts posted a mammoth total on the board