FREE PRESS - VOL. 12 NO. 7 | BHOPAL | TUESDAY | JUNE 21, 2022 | PAGES 14 WWW.FREEPRESSJOURNAL.IN FOR 24X7 UPDATES Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; `3 QUALITY AT VALUE RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 WEATHER 34.30c. 23.50c EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE EDIT A WORD FROM PM CAN CALM TROUBLED YOUTH Sunrise : 05.42 Sunset : 07.12 MAVERICK MELODY MAKERS Pg-14 QUESTION IN MPPSC EXAM Should India decide giving away Kashmir to Pak? ATUL GAUTAM city.indore@fpj.co.in News Brief Air India to expand fleet Air India has announced its plan to expand its fleet in the next couple of years and will buy a mix of narrow and wide-bodied planes from both Airbus and Boeing. Currently, its fleet is a mix of Boeing (777-200LR, 777-300ER and 787-800 Dreamliner) and Airbus (319, 320, 320Neo and 321) aircraft. Konkan Railway now fully electric The 740-km route of Konkan Railway is now fully electrified. It was dedicated to the country by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday via video conference from Bengaluru. He also flagged off electric loco trains from Ratnagiri, Madgaon and Udupi. The total project cost is Rs 1,287 crore. Satyendar Jain hospitalised Arrested Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on Monday was admitted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital after a complaint of reducing oxygen levels. A source said that Jain was taken from the Tihar Jail to the GB Pant Hospital in the morning but later referred to the LNJP Hospital, said the source. He is currently being treated in the hospital and his condition is said to be stable. Sonia discharged from hospital Congress president Sonia Gandhi was discharged from the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here on Monday evening and was advised rest at home, the party said. She was admitted to the hospital on June 12, days after she tested positive for Covid-19 on June 2. Govt staff caught accepting bribe A Madhya Pradesh government employee was caught while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 35,000 in Balaghat district, a police official said on Monday. The accused, Paimendra Harinkhede, who is posted as a reader in the tehsildar office of Lalbarra area, was apprehended on Sunday evening, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Economic Offences Wing, Manjeet Singh said. Pak releases 20 jailed fishermen Pakistan on Monday said it has repatriated 20 Indian fishermen to India after completion of their jail terms. The Pakistan high commission in India said the Indians were repatriated through the Wagah-Attari border transit point. In what may invite ire from one and all, Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) on Sunday asked an 'objectionable' question in state service preliminary exams regarding giving Kashmir to Pakistan. The question carried two arguments followed by four options. The students had to choose one of the options. Students were taken RAISING HECKLES QUESTION: Should India decide giving away Kashmir to Pakistan? ARGUMENT I: Yes, this will save a lot of money for India. ARGUMENT II: No, such a decision will lead to more similar demands. OPTIONS: (A) Argument I is strong; (B) Argument II is strong; (C) Arguments I and II both are strong; (D) Arguments I and II both are not strong. ey for India. Argument II: No, such a decision will lead to more similar demands." The points were (A) Argument I is strong; (B) Argument II is strong; (C) Arguments I and II both are strong; and (D) Arguments I and II both are not strong. "I got so uncomfortable after reading the question that I immediately lodged my objection with the examiner present in the room. He too was surprised to see such a question in the paper. He told us that my objection will be PM DEFENDS SEEMINGLY ‘UNPLEASANT’ DECISIONS SAYS THEY will prove beneficial in times to come aback when they went through the general aptitude paper and saw this question related to Kashmir. AMID 'AGNIPATH' ROW FPJ BUREAU Bengaluru Facing fire from the Agnipath agitation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday indirectly defended the scheme, saying some decisions “may look unfair” at first, but will help in nation-building later. He was launching the Rs 28,000-crore suburban rail and road projects in the . city The Prime Minister’s remark comes just ahead of the notification issued by the Army for induction of soldiers under the Agnipath military recruitment scheme and a few industries stating that they were willing to absorb Agniveers after their four-year stint in the armed forces. With an eye on the Assembly elections in the state that is less than a year away, the Prime Minister said that “Bengaluru is a reflection of the spirit of Ek Bharat – Shreshtha Bharat. The development of Bengaluru is the development of millions of dreams. CONTD. ON P6 The was question "Should India decide giving away Kashmir to Pakistan? Argument I: Yes, this will save a lot of mon- CONSTITUTIONAL VALIDITY OF SCHEME CHALLENGED IN SC A PIL has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the Constitutional validity of the Agnipath scheme. The petition, filed by advocate ML Sharma, has prayed for quashing of the notification dated June 14, 2022. As per the plea, the scheme has been imposed upon the country without the approval of the Parliament and without a gazette notification, the Bar and Bench has reported. SERVICE CHIEFS TO MEET PM TODAY The chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force are scheduled to separately meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today to brief him on the Agnipath recruitment scheme. INDIA INC BACKS CENTRE India Inc, led by Mahindra Group chief Anand Mahindra and Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran, on Monday rallied behind the Centre's Agnipath scheme, saying it has a large potential to provide disciplined and trained workforce to the industry. Responding to Mahindra's tweet, Goenka said, "The RPG group too welcomes the opportunity to employ the Agniveers. Apollo Hospitals Group's Sangita Reddy said in a tweet, "I firmly believe the discipline & skills that #Agniveers will gain will provide market-ready prof sol 4 R industry I sincerely hope r (sic) industry support recruiting such capable young people..." P11 PROTESTERS ARE JIHADIS: BJP MLA BJP MLA Hari Bhushan Thakur on Monday said "Those protesting against the Agnipath scheme are jihadis or they are those with vested interest. Those who want to serve the nation are very happy with the scheme. This is not a job but a service to the nation. People have to sacrifice their lives for it," Thakur said. 612 TRAINS CANCELLED Over 600 trains were cancelled on Monday with operations again disrupted by protests against Agnipath scheme. Of the 612 trains affected, 602 trains were cancelled, including 223 mail and express trains and 379 passenger trains. Four mail and express trains and six passenger trains were partially cancelled. MODI WILL DIE HITLER'S DEATH: CONG LEADER Addressing Congress workers, Subodh Kant Sahai said,”This is a government of looters. Modi is acting like a ringmaster and has adopted the role of a dictator. I feel he has even surpassed Hitler... . Hitler had also created an organisation called 'Khaki' from within the army. If Modi follows Hitler's path, he will die like Hitler, remember this” conveyed to MPPSC authorities," a candidate wishing anonymity said. He stated that when he discussed the question with other candidates after the exam they replied that they too were taken aback by the question. MPPSC media coordinator Ravindra Panchbhai confirmed that the question related to Kashmir had appeared in the state service examination held . on Sunday He stated that MPPSC had taken cognisance of the question. CONTD. ON P6 MAHA SHOCKER: 9 kin of two brothers' families commit suicide SANGLI In a chilling incident, at least nine members of two brothers' families allegedly consumed poison and ended their lives in Mhaisal village near Miraj, police said . here on Monday The deceased included a veterinarian and his brother, a school teacher, their mother, their respective spouses and children, as nine bodies were recovered from their neighbouring homes. The motive behind the drastic step and the kind of toxic substance they consumed are not known immediately, and more details are awaited. The deceased have been identified as Akkatai Yelappa Vanmore, her son veterinarian Manik Y. Vanmore, his wife Rekha, their daughter Pratima and son Aditya, plus members of the other son's family of schoolteacher Popat Y. Vanmore, his wife Rekha and their daughter Sangeeta and son Shubham, according to officials. The news of the alleged mass suicide spread like wildfire with scores of shocked people rushing to the homes in Ambika Nagar area of the village. CONTD. ON P6 3 Naxals gunned down in Balaghat Out of turn promotion, gallantry awards will be given to policemen who killed the Naxalites: CM OUR STAFF REPORTER Bhopal Balaghat police and Hawk force have gunned down three Naxals in the jungle of Lodhagi of Lanji area under Bahela police post on Monday morning, home minister Narottam Mishra told mediapersons here on Monday . Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced out of turn progallantry and motion awards to the personnel involved in the combat. The three Naxals were carrying reward of Rs 57 lakh on their head. Additional director general of police Fareed Sapu told media that the divi- HISTORY July 9, 2019: Two Maoists, including a woman, were gunned down in encounter in jungles of Lanji area in Balaghat district. They carried reward of Rs 14 lakh each. The slain Maoists were identified as Mangesh and Nande. December 12, 2020: Two women Naxals were gunned down under Kiranpur police station area in Balaghat district. As per reports, Vistar Platoon-2 and Vistar Platoon3 of CPI (Maoists) in Kavardha-Balaghat (KB Division) plan to establish left wing extremist corridor from Kavardha to Dindori via Balaghat and Mandla districts. Their wings operate in state. Cable car gets stuck mid-air in BAPU’S GRANDSON TOO DECLINES Himachal, 11 tourists rescued PRESIDENT POLL OUR BUREAU NEW DELHI PARWANOO Eleven people, including two senior citizens, were stranded mid-air in a cable car for around six hours before being rescued at the famed Timber Trail private resort in the state's Solan district. They were rescued by deploying another cable car trolly, Deputy Superintendent of Police Pranav Chauhan told the media. According to police, the cable car was mid-way when the trolley's shaft developed a snag. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur reached the spot to oversee the rescue operation. A video message by the stranded tourists appealed for help saying they had been stuck in the cable car for over two hours, but received no help. Anita Garg, one of the The Opposition is in a fix without a candidate in the Presidential election slated on July 18. A day ahead of the second round of the meeting of the opposition parties to pick up a joint candidate in the upcoming Presidential polls on July 18, Mahatma rescued passengers, said they remained stuck for five to six hours. Of the eleven, 10 belonged to five families. The attraction at the resort on the Shivalik hills is the ride in a cable car to Timber Heights (5,000 ft) on a mountain top. This is the second incident involving cable cars in India in less than three months. CONTD. ON P6 1 teen dead, 3 adults hurt in Washington shooting WASHINGTON: A shooting Gandhi's grandson Gopal KrishGandhi na (77), former diplomat and former West Bengal Governor, on Monday became the third leader refusing to enter the contest after Sharad Pawar (81) and Dr Farooq Abdullah (84). He felt there must be others who are better than him and who can generate WILL YASHWANT SINHA BE OPPN’S NOMINEE? Non-Bharatiya Janata Party parties are mulling former Union minister Yashwant Sinha over as a possible joint candidate for the upcoming presidential election, a senior Trinamool Congress leader said on Monday. The name of the former BJP leader who joined the TMC last year has been proposed as a presidential poll candidate by a few opposition parties and three to four have seconded it, he said. a national consensus. Pawar told a meeting of 17 parties convened here last Wednesday by Trinamul Congress Chief and Just days after saying that the Covid lab leak theory needs “further investigations”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) chief has privately confided to a senior European politician that the pandemic originated from China's infamous Wuhan lab, according to a report. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Ad- MUMBAI: Three prominent Indian banks have been taken for a dramatic ride of a total Rs 150 crore by a couple of Indian companies, which have now become nightmarish Non Perform. ing Assets, here recently They are: IDBI Bank Ltd (Rs 92.69 crore), Bank of Baroda (Rs 49.23 crore) and HDFC Bank Ltd. (Rs 6.27 crore), besides interest, penalties, etc. The loans were sanctioned to M/s. Great Indian Nautanki Company Pvt. Ltd. (GINCPL), with directors/guarantors Anumod Sharma, Dr. Anu Appaiah, Viraf Sarkari . and Sanjay Chaudhary The corporate guarantor named is the Great Indian Tamasha Company Pvt. Ltd. (GITCPL), and other guarantors are Wizcraft In- LONDON Ghehanom the breyesus, most likely explanation was a catastrophic accident at a laboratory in Wuhan, where infections first spread during late 2019, Daily Mail reported. , However, publicly the UN health agency maintains that “all hypotheses remain on the table”. Initially the WHO was criticised for its deferential Sad, ashamed to see saffron flag near liquor shop: Bharti BHOPAL/CHHINDWARA approach to China, but in the absence of any comof evidence pelling "zoonotic" spread -- the process by which a virus leaps from animals to humans -- the global agency is now adopting a more neutral public stance, the report said. "We do not yet have the answers as to where it came from or how it entered the human population. CONTD. ON P6 Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti on Monday said she was sad and ashamed to see a saffron flag outside a liquor shop in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. Bharti, who has been seeking prohibition in the state and has earlier thrown stones and cow dung at liquor vends, tweeted that she saw the "bhagwa" flag enroute after offering prayers at the Hanuman Temple in Jam Sanwali in Chhindwara on Monday morning. She tweeted she saw the flag outside a liquor shop along the road in Pipla Narayanwar. "I am sad and ashamed that a liquor shop has been opened by putting up the saffron flag. I have asked the police and administration to take action," Bharti said in another tweet. The former MP chief minister also recalled that the towards march BJP's regime change in the state, which was finally achieved, started on Hanuman Jayanti in 2003 from Jam Sanwali. CONTD. ON P6 ternational Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., S.G. Investments Pvt. Ltd. Now, the IDBI Bank, HDFC Bank and Bank of Baroda have sought bids through an e-caution for the sale of 107.24 acres of lands owned and mortgaged by GITCPL with these banks in an attempt to recover their outstanding dues. The land parcels going under the hammer are situated in the Peroor village's Ballamvati Mandal Panchayat of Kodagu district in Karnataka. The GITCPL was running the Kingdom of Dream in Gurugram, near Delhi, and the auction bids were called under the SARFAESI Act for the default of the huge loans. CONTD. ON P6 West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee not to count on him since he wants to play more political innings. CONTD. ON P6 Covid virus likely leaked from Wuhan lab: WHO chief incident in Washington, D.C. killed one teenager, while three adults were injured, police said on Monday. The shooting occurred late Sunday night in the area of 14th and U Street, NW, a popular area filled with stores, restaurants and bars, the Metropolitan Police Department as saying. Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee told reporters that a 15-year-old was killed while three adults -- two civilians and one police officer - were wounded but are expected to survive. sional committee member Nagesh carried reward of Rs 29 lakh announced by ChhattisMaharashtra, . garh and MP The two area commanders Manoj and one woman Rame were killed in the gun fight that took place in jungle of Lodhagi under Bahela police post area. Both area commanders carried reward of Rs 14 lakh each on their arrest. This area is located along Maharashtra border. The police have also seized Naxal literature, AK-47, 303, bore guns and cartridges from the encounter site. The other allies of Naxals fled from the spot after the gun battle that lasted for 45 minutes. Muslim girls can marry at 16: Punjab & Haryana HC 3 banks duped of Rs 150 cr by Tamasha & Nautanki firms AGENCIES Pathankot A Muslim couple aged 16 and 21 years were given protection by the Punjab and Haryana High Court after they petitioned the court saying their "life and liberty are in grave danger" because they married against the wishes of their . family The couple got married on June 8 according to Muslim rites and cere- monies and stated in their petition that in Muslim law, puberty and majority are one and the same and that there is a presumption that a person attains majority at the age of 15 years. "The Court cannot shut its eyes to the fact that the apprehension of the petitioners needs to be addressed. Merely because the petitioners have got married against the wishes of their family members, they cannot possibly be deprived of the fundamental rights as envisaged in the Constitution of India," the single-judge bench of Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi said in its order. The petition had also contended that a Muslim boy or Muslim girl who has attained puberty is at liberty to marry any one he or she likes and the guardian has no right to interfere. CONTD. ON P6 The companies have now become nightmarish Non Performing Assets