FREE PRESS THE GAME IS ON - VOL. XXXIX NO. 16 | INDORE | FRIDAY | JUNE 24, 2022 | PAGES 14 WWW.FREEPRESSJOURNAL.IN News Brief PIL seeks sacking jailed Maha mins The Supreme Court on Thursday told Delhi BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay that his PIL to sack Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik and Delhi minister Satyendra Jain will be listed only after it is cleared by the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Upadhyay has also sought a direction to declare that a minister shall be temporarily barred from holding office after two days of judicial custody. India logs highest Covid cases in June India on Thursday recorded 13,313 coronavirus cases, the highest this month. Out of these, 2,479 cases were reported from Mumbai alone. In 24 hours, the country also recorded 36 deaths. Monkeypox a pandemic: WHN The World Health Network (WHN) on Thursday declared monkeypox a pandemic. The WHN, a global collaboration of scientific and citizen teams cited Monkeypoxmeter, a website which tracks the infection cases in real time, to highlight 3,417 confirmed cases across 58 countries. Rupee’s record low of 78.32 against dollar The rupee on Thursday closed at its all-time low of 78.32 against the US dollar as strong American currency and persistent foreign fund outflows weighed on investor sentiments. Regular NIA chief after a year Former Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta was on Thursday appointed as the new Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), an antiterror probe agency formed after the 26/11 attack in Mumbai.Director General of CRPF Kuldiep Singh was given additional charge of the NIA in May last year after the retirement of Y C Modi. As per the order, Gupta will hold the post of NIA chief till March 31, 2024, the date of his retirement or till further orders, whichever comes earlier. SANJAY JOG Sanjay.jog@fpj.co.in In a major twist to Maharashtra’s political crisis, the newly appointed Shiv Sena legislative party leader Ajay Chaudhari on Thursday submitted a petition to deputy speaker of the state assembly Narahari Zirwal, demanding disqualification of 12 MLAs from Eknath Shinde’s team for the breach of whip issued by party’s chief whip Sunil Prabhu for not attending the meeting convened by Uddhav Thackeray on June 22. Soon after, Shinde, in strongly-worded tweets, questioned the petition, “Who are you trying to scare. We know the law. According to the 10th EDIT NO SOFT OPTIONS, JUST HARD CHOICES Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde interacts with supporting MLAs at a hotel in Guwahati on Thursday READY TO WALK OUT OF MVA, 'IF..': RAUT TO REBELS Making another effort to defuse the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut made a conditional offer to rebels about the party's readiness to "walk out" of the MVA. “We are ready to walk out of the MVA, provided the rebels return to Mumbai within 24 hours and hold discussions with the Shiv Sena," Raut said. SHINDE FLAUNTS MAJORITY All 37 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs who are camping in Guwahati on Thursday sent a letter to Maharashtra Assembly's Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, stating that Eknath Shinde will remain their group leader in legislature. Earlier in the day, Zirwal had said that he had approved the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as the group leader of the Shiv Sena legislature party, replacing senior minister Shinde who has rebelled against the Shiv Sena leadership. Shinde on Thursday evening sent a letter to the deputy speaker, signed by 36 Sena MLAs who are currently staying with him in Guwahati. AGENCIES New Delhi JMM may dump Sinha for Murmu The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), led by its executive president and Chief Minister Hemant Soren, may be among the 17 Opposition parties, which nominated Yashwant Sinha on June 21 as their joint candidate for the July 18 Presidential election, but the tribal party seems all set to review its position and back the ruling BJP-led NDA’s Presidential nominee, Droupadi Murmu. BJD leaders sign Murmu’s nomination papers Two leaders of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have signed the nomination papers of presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu on Thursday. As per the information, the leaders Jagannath Saraka and Tukini Sahu arrived in the national capital on Thursday to sign the papers. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) on Thursday successfully undertook the launch of GSAT-24 in its first "demand-driven" communication satellite mission post space sector reforms, leasing the entire capacity on board to service (DTH) Direct-to-Home . provider Tata Play Built by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for NSIL, GSAT-24 is a 24-Ku band communication satellite weighing 4180 kg with pan-India coverage for meeting DTH application needs. , "Today 23rd June 2022 @ 03.20 Hrs IST, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a CPSE under Department of Space, successfully undertook the launch of GSAT-24 communication satellite onboard Ariane-V (VA257 flight) from Kourou, French Guiana (South America)," NSIL, the commercial arm of Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO, said. Ariane-V (VA257 flight), operated by French company Arianespace, also carried Measat-3d communication satellite from Malaysia as other co-passenger. "Today's successful mission of GSAT-24 is a major step forward for Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat has written a letter to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, claiming that state minister Eknath Shinde took the step of going against the party leadership as Sena MLAs, who faced "humilitation" for the last two-and-a-half years, persuaded him to do so. While the Shiv Sena legislators had no access to the chief minister, the Congress and NCP, which are the "real opponents" of the Sena, were getting all the attention, he claimed in the letter, dated June 22. 6 MAHA MLAS, THACKERAY'S EMISSARY FLY TO GUWAHATI Amid political turmoil in Maharashtra following a revolt by Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde, six MLAs and an MLC from the neighbouring state arrived in Gujarat's Surat city on Thursday and were later flown to Guwahati in Assam, where party rebels are camping, in two chartered flights, sources said. Apart from the six MLAs, Shiv Sena MLC Ravindra Phatak also reached Guwahati in the BJP-ruled Assam from Surat, where dissidents were first camping after arriving from Mumbai on Monday night, to join the rebel camp Shinde says 'national party' has assured all help Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, whose rebellion against the party has pushed the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to the brink of collapse, said a "national party" has termed their revolt as "historic" and assured to provide all help to them. PM plans to create 50 states after 2024 LS polls: K'taka minister SHANKAR RAJ Bengaluru Senior BJP minister in Karnataka Umesh Katti has reignited an old and controversial demand by saying that the state will be divided into two soon after Narendra Modi returns to power after the 2024 elections. He also said that Modi has plans to create 50 new states for better administration. Katti, who is food and civil supplies minister, said: "It is not our party's stand but it should definitely happen this time. Let us all unite and make this happen. After the upcoming 2024 elections, Modi will return to power. Maharashtra will be divided into two, Karnataka will also be divided into two and Uttar Pradesh will be divided into four. There are talks to create 50 states in total. Uttar Kannada should become a separate state," he added. "We all need to create a movement for a separate state of North Karnataka and there should be no doubts that the new state will come into existence. Bengaluru has reached a saturation point with problems like traffic and other problems," Katti said while addressing an event organised by Belagavi Bar Association. CONTD. ON P6 GSAT-24 satellite launched, entire capacity leased to Tata Play BENGALURU WEATHER 33.70c. 23.80c NSIL in commercially meeting the DTH communication needs of the country using indigenously built satellite solutions from ISRO," said Secretary in the Department of Space and ISRO Chairman, Dr S Somanath. As part of "space reforms" announced by the government in June 2020, NSIL, incorporated in March 2019, was mandated to undertake operational satellite missions on a "demand driven" model, wherein it has the responsibility to build, launch, own & operate satellites and provide services to its committed customer. CONTD. ON P6 Sunrise : 05.44 Sunset : 07.15 THE JOY OF ACTING Pg-14 Rebels: Shinde went against leadership to secure 'rights' of Sena MLAs Murmu meets PM, Shah ahead of filing nomination papers NDA's pick for president Droupadi Murmu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Amit Shah on Thursday, a day of hectic activity for the tribal leader who flew in from Bhubaneswar in the morning ahead of filing her nomination papers for the post. The 64-year-old former governor, Jharkhand who has been the cynosure of attention since she was chosen for the post by the BJP-led NDA earlier this week, is expected to file her papers on Friday in top of presence the leaders, including from the BJD. She also met a host of other leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president J P Nadda besides Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. Modi is tipped to be the first proposer. A host of senior BJP leaders, including Union ministers and functionaries from other parties supporting her bid, are also set to be among the proposers. Her nomination papers were being prepared at the home of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. CONTD. ON P6 `3 QUALITY AT VALUE RNI No. 38281/83 EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE FOR 24X7 UPDATES SHIV SENA SEEKS disqualification of 12 MLAs as Shinde retorts and cites 2/3rd mark; BJP plays cards close to chest; NCP, Cong stand by Uddhav; Pawar indicates floor test for govt fate Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; No BJP role in Maha power crisis, says Ajit Pawar Ajit Pawar, when asked if the opposition BJP had a role to play in the ongoing political crisis in the state, said, "So far, no top BJP leader has been seen in the forefront." State NCP chief Jayant Patil said the MVA continues to enjoy majority. Schedule of the Constitution, the whip is for assembly work and not for the meetings. There are numerous Supreme Court decisions in this regard.” He said, “We are not afraid of threats. We demand action against you for creating an illegal group without numbers. You cannot scare us action initiating by against 12 MLAs.” Even as the BJP is playing cards close to its chest, while the NCP and the Cong ress party have pledged suppor t to Thackeray, the Shiv Sena has sent a strong signal to the rebel leaders that it is prepared for le gislative and le g al battle to kee p the org anisapar ty tion’s status as the real Shiv Sena. Incidentally, Zirwal belongs to the NCP. Meanwhile, Pawar on Thursday said the fate of the state government will be decided on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, and the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition will prove its majority in a trust vote. Asked about deputy Ajit minister chief Pawar’s statement that he did not see the BJP’s role in the rebellion, Pawar “Ajit Pawar may have said so because he does not know BJP leaders from outside Maharashtra. I know them.” BRICS Summit Mutual co-op can help post Covid recovery globally: PM SAYS BRICS members have a similar approach to governance of global economy FP BUREAU New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday in his , opening remarks at the virtual 14th BRICS annual summit, said the BRICS member nations have a similar approach to the governance of the global economy and mutual cooperation can make a useful contribution to the post-Covid eco. nomic recovery Attending the PM’s address were Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and top leaders of Brazil and South Africa. The summit is being hosted by China as the Chair for this year. The BRICS (Brazil-RussiaAfrica) India-China-S. brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade. Modi said the structural changes undertaken in the BRICS in the last few years increased the influence of the grouping. It is a matter of happiness that membership of the New Development Bank (NDB) has increased, Modi said, adding that cooperation among the member countries has ben- 5 KILLED, 47 INJURED AS BUS FALLS INTO GORGE FP NEWS SERVICE Mhow As many as five persons were killed and 47 passengers were injured after a passenger bus going from Indore to Burhanpur went off the road at Bherughat area between Simrol and Choral village under Simrol police station limit. The incident took place at around 2.30 pm. As soon as Mhow tehsil administration and police came to know about the incident, a team led by sub-divisional officer Akshat Jain rushed to the spot along with ambulances and began a rescue operation. Some of the passengers who were rescued from the bus wreckage informed that the bus was at high speed and the driver lost control over the vehicle and it went off the road and plunged into a 70-feet deep gorge leaving many passengers dead and injured. BRICS DECLARATION We commit to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity of all States; stress our commitment to peaceful resolution of differences, disputes efitted their citizens. He said further, “By increasing connectivity between BRICS Youth Summits, BRICS Sports, civil society organisations and think-tanks, we’ve strengthened our people-to-people connect.” He said that India supports innovation across every sector, including drones, green energy and space. “By 2025, India’s digital sector value will cross USD 1 trillion valuations,” he said. The Prime Minister noted that this year India is expecting 7.5 per cent growth. “Which makes us the fastest-growing major econTransformative . omy changes are taking place in every sector of emerging New India,” he added. Cong doesn't want Hindu gods, BJP hits back on textbook revision row BENGALURU Accident in Bherughat led to a long traffic jam on Thursday Simrol police station inRamnarayan charge Singh Bhadoria informed that the bus belongs to Mahakal Travels and was heading towards Indore from Burhanpur. Administrative officers, a medical team including additional SP Shashikant Kankane were present at the site of the incident. They sent the injured passengers after first aid while those who are seriously injured were referred to Indore's MY Hospital. After the incident, there was a long jam on both sides of Indore-Khandwa road. MORE REPORTS ON PAGE 2 Adopting a defiant posture, ruling BJP in Karnataka on Thursday hit back at the Congress saying the previous Congress governments changed the syllabus of textbook to "please minorities". Ever since Congress and the JD(S) targeted the BJP over insulting Kuvempu, revered by Kannadigas, in the revised syllabus, the ruling party tried to pay it back in their own coin. Minister for revenue, R prominent a Ashok, Vokkaliga leader, slammed opposition parties over making hue and cry over the issue. Ashok said that Congress does not want Hindu gods, freedom fighters in syllabus. Addressing a press conference, Ashok said, state Congress president Shivakumar tore the draft of revised syllabus having a lesson on Nadaprabu Kempe Gowda, the architect of the Ben. galuru city CONTD. ON P6 National Herald case: ED asks Sonia Gandhi to depose late-July Sinking houseboat’s owner rescues 7 tourists in Dal Lake Accepting a request for postponing questioning in the National Herald moneylaundering case, the ED has asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi to record her statement with the agency . in the last week of July The 75-year-old Congress president, who was supposed to depose before the agency on Thursday, wrote a letter seeking more time on the grounds that the doctors had "strictly advised her to rest at home following her hospitalisation on account of Covid and lung infection". Officials said she would be asked to record her statement in the last week of . July Seven tourists were rescued on Thursday from a sinking houseboat in Jammu and Kashmir's Dal Lake by the owner of the houseboat. A houseboat called 'Kolahoi' started sinking this morning after incessant rains in the Valley during the last four days. Reports said after the owner of the houseboat, Muhammad Yusuf, noticed that the houseboat was sinking, he and his family members quickly evacuated the seven tourists without caring for their own . safety Yusuf told the media that he cared for the safety of his guests more than he NEW DELHI SRINAGAR did for his own family and that was the reason his first priority was evacuation of the tourists from the sinking houseboat. The houseboat owners in Dal and Nigeen Lakes and those stationed on the Jhelum waters have been requesting the government for assistance to repair their properties which had been lying in disuse because of the lack of tourist traffic in the Valley for the past few years.