FREE PRESS - VOL. 12 NO. 101 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 | PAGES 16 WWW.FREEPRESSJOURNAL.IN Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; `3 QUALITY AT VALUE RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 WEATHER 30.80c. 21.70c EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE FOR 24X7 UPDATES EDIT TRANSPARENCY KEY TO LIVE-STREAMING IN SC Sunrise : 06.16 Sunset : 06.23 BIRTHDAY SHENANIGANS Pg-16 RURAL CLEANLINESS SURVERY 2022 ‘RTI applicant can’t inspect AC machines in govt offices’ MP tops in west OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in News Brief PM to attend Abe's funeral Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Japan on September 27 to attend the state funeral of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. Abe, Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister, was assassinated on July 8 after a gunman had opened fire at him from behind when he was delivering an election campaign speech in Nara prefecture. Boat with 24 students capsizes Twenty students swam to safety on Thursday after their boat capsized in Sone river in Anuppur district, an official said. The incident took place at 10:30 am in Chachai area, some eight kilometres from the district headquarters, Anuppur Sub Divisional Magistrate Kamlesh Puri said. All students in the boat jumped off it and managed to swim to safety. The cause of the boat capsize is being investigated. PG-2 IAF awards ceremony IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari on Thursday presented the Yudh Seva Medal and other awards to several air warriors, besides giving the Chief of the Air Staff's citations to six units for exemplary service to the nation and the force. The awards were presented during an Investiture Ceremony held at the Air Force Auditorium, Subroto Park, here. Day for women MLAs in UP Both Houses of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature set aside Thursday for women legislators to speak, an initiative lauded by the ruling and Opposition parties. The women members spoke after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's opening remarks followed by an address by Leader of Opposition Akhilesh Yadav in the state Assembly. Imran apologises for remarks Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday apologised before a top court here for his controversial remarks against a female judge and promised that he will not repeat it in the future. "I am sorry if I have crossed a red line," Khan told a larger bench of the Islamabad High court headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah and comprising Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and Babar Sattar. Under the RTI Act, does a citizen have the right to inspect and even collect samples of air-conditioning machines installed in government offices? State information commissioner Rahul Singh ruled that inspection of a machine did not come under the definition of work, record or document. Hence, such permission cannot be granted. As per the order, an RTI applicant from Rewa sought inspection of AC (air conditioners) installed at a government office. Applicant Neeraj Shukla filed an application under Right to Information (RTI) Act with Singrauli Municipal Corporation seeking inspection of ACs installed at the corporation office and also purchase-related information of the ACs. The deputy commissioner of corporation who happens to be the public information officer (PIO) gave invoice regarding details of purchase of the ACs but did not address the issue of inspection. Aggrieved with the decision of the PIO, Neeraj Shukla filed first appeal before the Singrauli Municipal Commissioner, but could not get the inspection of ACs done. The applicant filed the second appeal with State Information Commission and pleaded that it was his right to inspect ACs at the government office and the inspection be allowed. During hearing of the RTI appeal before state information commissioner Rahul Singh, the PIO informed that due to a mistake, inspection issue was not addressed at the time of disposal of RTI application but now if it was re- quired, inspection may be facilitated. The RTI applicant pleaded during hearing that inspection was required as he assumed that there was massive corruption in the purchase of ACs at the office. The state information commissioner Rahul Singh ruled that section 2 J (i) of Right to Information Act (RTI) reads "Inspection of work, documents, records" does not talk about inspection of other things. Hence, ACs installed at government offices do not come under definition of work, records and documents. 106 PFI ACTIVISTS HELD NIA’S ‘LARGEST-EVER’ CRACKDOWN IN 15 STATES OUTFIT trained youths to carry out terror acts AGENCIES NEW DELHI Multi-agency teams spearheaded by the NIA arrested 106 functionaries of the radical Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) on Thursday in near simultaneous raids at 93 locations in 15 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country, officials said. Officials described the mega crackdown as the "largest-ever investigation process till date" against the PFI. Kerala, where the PFI has some strong pockets, accounted for the maximum number of 22 arrests, officials said, adding that its chairman O M A Salam was among those arrested. The arrests were made by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the police forces of the states concerned. The PFI, formed in 2006, claims to strive for a neo-social movement ostensibly for the empowerment of marginalised sections of India, and is often accused by law enforcement agencies of promoting radical Islam. CONTD. ON P8 Defence ministry inks Rs 1,700-cr deal for BrahMos missile AGENCIES NEW DELHI The Defence Ministry on Thursday signed a Rs 1,700 crore deal for acquisition of additional dual-role capable surface to surface BrahMos missiles. "Providing further impetus to Aatmanirbharta in defence production, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract today with BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL) for acquisition of dual-role additional capable surface to curface BrahMos missiles at an approximate overall cost of Rs 1,700 crore under Buy-Indian Category," the ministry said in a statement. The induction of these dual-role capable missiles is supposed to significantly enhance the operational ca. pability of Indian Navy The BAPL is a joint venture between India and Russia making crucial contribution to augment the new generation surface-tosurface Missiles (SSMs) with enhanced range and dual role capability for land as well as anti-ship attacks. NABS 4 FROM INDORE, UJJAIN OUTFIT’S GEN SECY arrested from Ujjain, three others from Indore OUR STAFF REPORTER Indore/Ujjain Four PFI activists, includ, ing a general secretary were arrested from Indore and Ujjain by the NIA-led . multi-agency on Thursday According to information from an officer, three activists of PFI , including Abdul Kamreem and Abdul Khalid from Sadar Bazar were arrested from Indore and one from Ujjain. In Ujjain PFI general secretary Jameel Shaikh was arrested by NIA from his residence at around 4 am. Sources said that Jameel of Agar Naka, lives in front of Azad Nagar Madarsa. Sources told Free Press that though Jameel resides under Kharakuan police station area, he was picked from Chimanaganj Mandi station area on the basis of his mobile phone's location. Ujjain police said NIA team did not intimate about Jameel's arrest to them. PFI general secretary Jameel Shaikh arrested from Ujjain "NIA is leading this nationwide operation. My ministry is totally aware of it, but as the matter is serious, we should maintain its secrecy," MP home minister Narottam Mishra said. Jameel works as a fabricator owns a house near Pilu ki Masjid on Nai Sadak. He lives with his mother, wife and younger brother Rashid. Jameel's wife Heena and mother Hussaina Bano later submitted a memoran- dum addressed to the President of India to Ujjain dicommissioner visional claiming that eight policemen barged into their house. "The policemen searched the alimrah and took away the Quran and Hadees," the memorandum said claiming that no information was provided about his arrest. Terming the matter as 'serious', Mishra told reporters that the NIA took assistance of the state police in arresting PFI activists. Indore district collector Manish Singh said that after a bangle-seller Taslim Ali (25) was beaten by some persons on August 22 last year, anti-social elements had allegedly tried to incite youths on communal lines. Since then, the local administration and police were keeping an eye on the activities of the PFI. A POSSIBLE BAN STARES THE POPULAR FRONT OF INDIA (PFI) IN THE FACE FOR ITS ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN TERROR ACTIVITIES IN A VEILED MESSAGE TO GEHLOT Rahul Gandhi emphasises one-man, one-post norm AGENCIES Ernakulam Amid indication of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot contesting the Congress presidential polls, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday emphasised the "one person, one post" norm and said he believes the commitment of party's Udaipur declaration would be maintained in the election for the party's topmost post. Describing the post of Congress president as an "ideological post", Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the position "represents a set of ideas and belief system and vision of India". Answering a question during a press conference on the 15th day of the Bharat Jodo Yatra here, Gandhi said: "You are taking on a position. It is a historic position that defines and has defined a particular view of India. It is not just an organisational post. The Congress president is an ideological post, it is a belief system. My advice would be whoev- Rahul Gandhi with a young supporter during 15th day of party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Ernakulam, Kerala on Thursday er becomes the president should remember that he represents a set of ideas and a belief system and a vision of India." "What we had decided in Udaipur. 'One person, one post' is a commitment of Congress and I expect that commitment will be maintained," he added. CONTD. ON P8 India objects to 'Khalistan referendum' in Canada NEW DELHI India on Thursday reacted sharply to the "so-called Khalistan referendum" in Canada, saying it was "deeply objectionable" that such a "politically motivated" activity by extremist elements was allowed to take . place in a friendly country External Affairs Ministry Arindam spokesman Bagchi said India had taken up the matter with Canadian authorities through diplomatic channels and would continue to press Canada in this regard. "You are all aware of the violence in this regard," Bagchi said and described the "so-called Khalistan referendum" a "farcical exercise". Bagchi said the government of Canada has reiterated they respect the sovereignty and integrity of India and that they will not recognise the so-called referendum that has taken . place in that country authorities' Canadian scant efforts to stop the "socalled referendum" seeking Punjab as a separate country had angered India. Bhagwat visits mosque, cleric calls him 'rashtra pita' NEW DELHI Taking forward his outreach to the Muslim com, munity RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday visited a mosque and a madrassa here and held discussions with the chief of the All India Imam Organisation who termed him 'rashtra pita'. The RSS 'sarsangchalak' went to a mosque in central Delhi's Kasturba Gandhi Marg and followed it up with a visit to the Madarsa Tajweedul Quran in Azadpur in north Delhi. This is the first time he has visited a madrassa, an RSS official accompanying him said. During his visit to the madrassa, Bhagwat interacted with children and heard them reciting the Quran. Children raised the slogans of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Hind', a Sangh functionary accompanying him said. He said the RSS chief also spoke to the children about the need to know more about the nation and stressed that while the modes of worship could be different, all religions must be respected. All India Imam Organisation chief Umer Ahmed Ilyasi used the 'rashtra pita' descriptive for Bhagwat while talking to children at the madrassa. CONTD. ON P8 SC junks plea by oustee for enhanced compensation OUR BUREAU / NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea to modify its 2017 order on the compensation of Rs 60 lakh to each family affected by the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river. Once the final settlement package has been deter- SARDAR SAROVAR PROJECT mined, the modification would not hold as it would be a substantive review of the order of this court, observed a 3-judge Bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud. "The directions issued by this court under Article 142 of the Constitution are not susceptible to clarification or modification in this application. We find no merit in this application, accord, ingly the application is dismissed," the bench said. CONTD. ON P8 zone, Chouhan congratulates people Representational pic OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in Madhya Pradesh emerges as the top state in the west zone in rural cleanliness survey 2022, as per officials. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulated people in Madhya Pradesh on this achievement. CM said, “These are moments of great happiness and pride for Madhya Pradesh. Our Madhya Pradesh has become the top state in the West Zone in 2022 in Swachh Survekshan Gramin (Cleanliness Survey Rural). Similarly, Bhopal has got the first and Indore has got the third place among the districts doing excellent Madhya Also, work. Pradesh has got the first prize for the best work in Sujalam Abhiyan-1 and the fourth prize in Sujalam Abhiyan-2. Expressing gratitude to all the citizens, organisations and social institutions, CM said the residents of rural India were contributing enthusiastically in the ‘Mahayagya’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Cleanliness Campaign. . “Cleanliness is beauty With the combined efforts of all of us, a clean, beautiful and pollution free nation will be made. In the rural areas of the state, not only the awareness about cleanliness, but also the spirit of dedication has been strengthened. A new picture of villages has emerged”, added the CM. Madhya Pradesh has been selected for many awards under the mission. These awards will be given to the team of Madhya Pradesh by the President of occasion the on Swachh Bharat Diwas programme to be held at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi on October 2. SC RESERVES VERDICT ON KARNATAKA HIJAB ROW OUR BUREAU / NEW DELHI A 2-judge Bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Hemant Gupta and on Dhulia Sudhanshu Thursday reserved its judgment on a batch of petitions challenging the Karnataka High Court's March 15 ruling against lifting of the ban on Hijab in the educational institutions of the state. The marathon hearing went on for 10 days. Those argued before the Bench included Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Karnataka government, besides stater Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi and Addl Solicitor General KM Nataraj, R advocate senior Venkataramani, Dama Sheshadri and V Moha appeared for the teachers. The petitioners had concluded their arguments on Tues. day CONTD. ON P8 PROTEST INTENSIFIES IN IRAN TEHRAN: There have been running battles between Iranian police and antigovernment protesters in Tehran, reports say, in the worst unrest there for years. One person told BBC Persian that her neighbourhood resembled a battlefield. Protests, now in their seventh day, are also continuing in many other cities. Activists say eight protesters were shot dead overnight, while news outlets said two paramilitary personnel were killed. The unrest was sparked by the death of a woman detained by morality police. State media have reported the deaths of 11 people, including security personnel and protesters, but Kurdish human rights groups have said that 15 protesters have died in western Iran alone, BBC reported. Terrorists, rapists, convicts of other crimes will have to spend entire life in jail ED attaches assets worth Rs 2,747 cr in money laundering probe OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in Terrorists, rapists and those involved in crimes like illicit liquor and drug manufacturing and sale and crimes committed in violation of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act Anti-hijacking (UAPA), Act and Official Secrets Act who have been awarded life imprisonment will have to spend their entire life in jail, as per jail department's order issued on Thursday. detailed A guideline/policy in this regard was issued by the Jail Department that suearlier the perseded guidelines issued on January 10, 2012. The detailed guidelines issued to the prisoners serving life imprisonment elaborate eligibility and ineligibility related to premature release and remission and procedure in this regard. Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment under the acts and sections mentioned in clause (2) of the order have been declared ineligible for premature release and for leave (parihar). Clause 2 of the order includes all the provisions of sections 376 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, manufacture, storage, transportation of spurious liquor (Section 49 MP Excise (Amendment) Act, 2021), possession, manufacture, storage, transport of drugs under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, (1985), guilty of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. CONTD. ON P8 NEW DELHI The ED on Thursday said it has attached dockyards, agricultural lands, commercial properties and bank deposits worth more than Rs 2,747 crore as part of an alleged bank loan fraud linked money launinvestigation dering against ABG Shipyard Ltd, its group companies and linked entities. ABG SHIPYARD The seized properties include shipyards located at Surat and Dahej in Gujarat, agricultural lands and plots, various commercial and residential premises in Gujarat and Maharashtra and bank accounts owned by ABG Shipyard Ltd., its group companies and other related entities, the federal agency said in a statement. The total value of the provisionally attached assets, under the Prevention of Money Laundering (Act), is Rs 2,747.69 crore. PG-13