FREE PRESS FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms - VOL. 12 NO. 170 | BHOPAL | THURSDAY | DECEMBER 1, 2022 | PAGES 16 EDIT Gujarat ATS seizes mephedrone worth Rs 478 cr, five held AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) team has raided an agricultural farm where a drugs manufacturing unit was operating in Sindhrot village of Vadodara district and seized Mephedrone and raw material worth Rs 478 crore, an official said on Wednesday. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has confirmed the purity of drugs and raw material. Excise Scam: Arora sent to ED custody NEW DELHI: A Delhi Court on Wednesday sent Amit Arora, Director of Buddy Retail, to seven days Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand in connection with the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam. The Enforcement Directorate sought 14 days of custody, however, the court gave a week's time. Arora was arrested by the probe agency from Gurugram this morning. Last week, the economic intelligence agency filed its first charge sheet in the matter. Impersonation case: TG minister, MP summoned HYDERABAD: The CBI has summoned Telangana Minister Gangula Kamalakar and TRS MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra in connection with a case pertaining to the arrest of fake CBI officer Kovvi Srinivas Rao.The CBI officers on Wednesday served notices to the two leaders asking them to appear before the central agency in Delhi on Thursday. Srinivas Rao was arrested from the Tamil Nadu Bhawan in Delhi two days ago. Bilkis moves SC for review of release of her rapists NEW DELHI : Bilkis Bano last Friday moved the Supreme Court, challenging the premature release of 11 convicts, who had gang-raped her and killed seven of her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots. She has also filed a review petition against the May order of the SC allowing the Gujarat govt to apply the 1992 Remission Policy Her lawyer . mentioned the matter before the CJI for listing. The CJI said he will examine whether both pleas can be heard together and if the hearing by the same Bench. Eleven convicts serving life imprisonment in the gangrape case were freed from Godhra sub-jail on August 15 after a Gujarat government panel approved their application for remission of sentence. Sensex hits 63k mark for first time; Nifty ends at fresh lifetime high Benchmark BSE Sensex settled above the 63,000level for the first time on Wednesday, extending its winning momentum to seventh day amid a largely positive trend in global markets and continuous foreign fund inflows. The 30share barometer rallied 417.81 points or 0.67 per cent to settle at 63,099.65, its fresh record closing high. The broader NSE Nifty advanced 140.30 points or 0.75 per cent to end at 18,758.35, its fresh record closing high. Wheat, flour prices soar, expected to remain high till new crop arrives In the past one month, prices of wheat and flour have soared by 5% and 4%, respectively, and commodity watchers expect them to remain high till the new crop arrives, which is bad news for the consumers of the two essential commodities. In the past one year, wheat prices have gone up by 15%, while flour prices have increased by 23%, and with the new crop expected only in April 2023, the prices are expected to remain high, watchers said. lakh crore in Q2 2021-22, showing a growth of 16.2 per cent as compared to 19 per cent in Q2 2021-22," accord- ing to the statement released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation. CONTD. ON P6 The Indian economy is on track to achieve a 6.8-7 per cent GDP growth in the current fiscal and would be able to navigate the headwinds in 2023 'much easily', CEA V Anantha Nageswaran said on Wednesday. He said the economic recovery momentum is continuing and the GDP is averaging the 2019-20 level. "Overall, the real GDP growth in 2022-23 is on track to be in the range of between 6.8-7 per cent," he said, adding that festival sales, PMI, bank credit growth and auto sales data show that the economy has maintained momentum despite strong global headwinds, especially higher input cost and monetary tightening. (SEE MONEY) GUJARAT ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS High-octane campaigning for phase-1 ends, voting today GANDHINAGAR From power-packed rallies and roadshows by top leaders of the ruling BJP and other political parties to freebies promises and allegations and counter-allegations on each other, the high-octane campaigning for the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections ended on Tuesday . Voting for 89 seats spread across 19 districts of Kutch, Saurashtra and South Gujarat will be held on Thursday. The campaigning ended at 5 pm on Tuesday ahead of the first phase of polling. "Campaigning for first phase Gujarat assembly elections has ended. All arrangements have been made for election and training has been provided to polling staff," Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P Bharathi told ANI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah held rallies and roadshows in the state as the BJP seeks a record seventh term in office. BJP chief JP Nadda, CMs of UP, Himachal, Assam, Goa, Union Ministers Smriti Irani, Mansukh Mandaviya, Parshottam Rupala, Ravishankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal, Nitin Gadkari also campaigned during the first phase of elections. BJP Yuva Morcha president Tejasvi Surya and WA bans 23.24 lakh accounts in India NEW DELHI: Instant messaging platform WhatsApp on Wednesday said it banned 23.24 lakh accounts in India in October, including 8.11 lakh accounts which were barred proactively before being flagged by users.The number of accounts blocked in October was about 13 per cent less than the 26.85 lakh accounts the messaging platform banned in September. leaders Manoj Tiwari and Ravi Kishan also held rallies to garner support for the party candidates. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were among the prominent campaigners of the party. Party leader Rahul Gandhi addressed two rallies in the state. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann campaigned extensively in the state while making various promises. A total of 788 candidates are in the fray on 89 firstphase seats which include 718 male candidates and 70 female candidates. CONTD. ON P6 President Droupadi Murmu and Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur with awardees during the Sports and Adventure Awards-2022 ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, on Wednesday Indian-origin doc slams 'racist joke' at British Curry Awards LONDON: British Indian TV presenter Dr Ranj Singh slammed a 'racist joke' by a 'white guest presenter' at the recent 2022 British Curry Awards, even as Indians went on to become the largest non-white ethnic group in the United Kingdom. The 43 year-old NHS doctor posted the offending clip on his Twitter on Wednesday, where a male presenter is seen on stage saying: "Why has India never won the World Cup? Because every time they get a corner, they build a shop on it." He also called out to the award organisers for having an "all-white judging panel", with a "white host" (comedian Hugh Dennis) and "90% white performers". "I cannot stay silent... Dear @BritCurryAwardsa please, let's talk about this. I'm not berating you as I know you have good intentions and are doing your best. And you have . raised so much for charity But we are better than this," Singh posted on his Twitter handle. In an open letter, Singh said that he was not the only person who felt "un- comfortable" at the awards ceremony."I was honoured and privileged to be invited as a guest for the British Curry Awards tonight. Firstly, thank you to this brilliant organisation for doing their best to celebrate our Asian community, the BAFTA award-winning presenter said. "However, when the host is white, the judging panel is entirely white, the performers onstage are over 90 per cent white, are we really representing our community fairly?" Singh asked. CONTD. ON P6 Fresh row as Maha minister compares Shinde with Shivaji SATARA: A fresh row erupted in Maharashtra politics after a Bharatiya Janata Party minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha compared Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's escape from Agra Fort in 1666 from Mughal clutches with the 2022 political rebellion against the party (Shiv Sena) by Eknath Shinde who later became the Chief Minister. At a commemoration function atop the historic Pratapgad Fort on Wednesday afternoon, Lodha - a prominent realtor, made the comparison which drew strong reactions from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi allies. "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj went out of Agra, so is Shinde. As Aurangzeb had barred the Maharaj, someone also had stopped Shinde. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj came out for 'Swarajya', Shinde did it for Maharashtra," claimed Lodha. The BJP minister's comments left CM Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis aghast and the large audience virtually speechless, while the Opposition slammed him, with one of the allies launching demonstrations. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar at- tacked Lodha, demanding 'control' over people who make such statements even in the presence of the CM. "These people who keep making such statements must be controlled. After one stumbles, the other becomes cautious. But, it seems there is competition among them. Can Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ever be compared like this," fumed Pawar. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader As Bains gets extension, suspense over Chief Secy ends 29.00c. 12.50c Sunrise : 06.49 Sunset : 05.41 and ex-Minister Aditya Thackeray condemned the comparison of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with those whom Maharashtra considers as 'gaddaar' (traitors). "The people of the state consider them a 'khokha' government, this is not accidental but planned by the current regime and the BJP to show Maharashtra in a bad light," said Thackeray . CONTD. ON P6 Cops gun down 2 Maoists carrying Rs 40L reward Fierce gunfight continued throughout the night on Tuesday; they were found dead in the morning; an injured woman Maoist ran away ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE 6.8-7% GDP THIS FISCAL: CEA Former Chinese Prez Jiang Zemin dies BEIJING: Former president Jiang Zemin, who led China out of isolation after the army crushed the Tiananmen Square prodemocracy protests in 1989 and supported economic reforms that led to a decade of explosive growth, died Wednesday. He was 96. Jiang died of leukemia and multiple organ failure in Shanghai WEATHER A LOT OF POSITIVES CAME FROM THIS ONE-DAY SERIES: SHASTRI Pg-15 MIDDLE PATH NEEDED FOR JUDICIAL APPTS FOR 24X7 UPDATES NEW DELHI: India's gross domestic product (GDP) slowed to 6.3 per cent during the July-September (Q2) period of the current financial year 2022-23 as compared with 8.4 per cent during the second quarter (Q2) of 2021-22, according to a government statement released on Wednesday . According to the provisional estimates released by National Statistical Office (NSO) on Wednesday the , GDP for the preceding AprilJune quarter (Q1) of 2022-23 saw a 13.5 per cent growth. According to the government data available, the gross value added (GVA) at basic price at constant terms during the September quarter rose 5.6 per cent. The GVA at Basic Price at current prices rose 16.2 per cent in Q2 2022-23. "Nominal GDP or GDP at current prices in Q2 2022-23 is estimated at Rs 65.31 lakh crore, as against Rs 56.20 `3 QUALITY AT VALUE RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE Economy slows to 6.3% in July-Sept quarter WWW.FREEPRESSJOURNAL.IN News Brief Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; FP NEWS SERVICE Balaghat/Bhopal OUR STAFF REPORTER Bhopal The suspense over chief secretary's appointment ended on the day of the present incumbent Iqbal Singh Bains's retirement . on Wednesday Bains has been given six months' extension till May 31 next year. The proposal for extension was sent to the Central Government on November 9, and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan himself took the initiative for it. A 1985-batch IAS officer, Bains is considered to be very close to Chouhan. He is the fourth chief secretary in the state who has been given extension. Before Bains, RP Kapoor, R Parshuram and BP Singh had been given six months' extension. There were speculations that the 1989-batch IAS officers Anurag Jain and Mohd Suleman would get that most-sought-after post in the state bureaucracy . Nevertheless, the Chief Minister has given extension to Bains. The Central Government did not want relieve Jain. (More on page 3) Two Maoists were shot dead after a fierce gunfight with the cops of the Special Operation Group, Hawk Force, in the forests of Motinala in the Supkhar area on Wednesday morning, official sources said. Another Maoist was shot at and injured but she was able to run away. The area where the gunfight took place lies on the borders of Mandla district in Madhya Pradesh and is adjacent to Chhattisgarh. The Maoists, who were shot dead, were identified as Ganesh Marawi and Rajesh. Both of them were commanders of Bhoramdev Area Committee PL 2. An AK 47 rifle and a self-loading rifle were seized from their possession. According to official sources, 19-year-old Rajesh aka Banjam was a resident of Sukma in Bastar under Pal Gundam police station. There was a reward of Rs 3 lakh on the head of Rajesh in Madhya Pradesh, Rs 12 lakh in Maharashtra, and Rs 5 lakh in Chhattisgarh. Another Maoist, 27-yearold Ganesh, was a resident of Sakin in the Narguda area of Maharashtra's Gadhchirauli district. He was China doesn't want India to closely partner with US, says Pentagon WASHINGTON: China has warned the United States not to interfere in its relationship with neighbouring India, a Pentagon report said on Tuesday while adding that Beijing doesn't want both democracies to closely partner together. In its latest report, the US Department of Defence (DOD) states that Chinese officials sought to downplay the severity of the Galwan clash in 2020, emphasizing Beijing's intent to preserve border stability and prevent the standoff from harming other areas of its bilateral relationship with India. On China Military Report, which details Chinese strate, gy aims, and capabilities, Pentagon said this congres- Karna High Court upholds ban on PFI BENGALURU: The Karnataka high court Wednesday dismissed a petition challenging the Centre's notification banning the Popular Front of India (PFI) for five years. HC seeks NIA stand on Abubacker New Delhi: The Delhi HC on Wednesday sought the NIA's stand on a plea for medical treatment of former PFI chairman E Abubacker, who was arrested by the agency. A Bench headed by Justice Siddharth Mridul asked the NIA to file a status report and also state the opinion of a specialist authorised by AIIMS. Justice Nagaprasanna pronounced the order on the petition filed by Nasir Pasha through his wife. Pasha is . currently in judicial custody Pasha’s plea had stated that in 2007-08, the PFI was registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act and it was working for the empowerment of downtrod. den of the society "The organisation followed and benefited by several persons, declaring the unlawful association with immediate effect that to without specifying any reason is arbitrary and illegal," the plea said. sionally mandated report serves as an authoritative assessment of challenges DOD is facing and the current course of the country's mili. tary "The PRC seeks to prevent border tensions from causing India to partner more closely with the US. PRC officials have warned U.S. officials to not interfere with the PRC's relationship with India," Pentagon said in a report titled "Military and Security Developments Involving China." Since April 2020, India and China have had several rounds of diplomatic and military level meetings on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), in the India-China border areas. CONTD. ON P6 the commander of zone coordination committee, official sources said. There was a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his in Madhya Pradesh, Rs 4 lakh in Maharashtra and Rs 5 lakh in Chhattisgarh. In this way, a sum of Rs 12 lakh was announced as reward on his head. As the Maoists were planning to celebrate PLA day from December 2 to 8, their activities intensified in the area. On getting information about it, a team of Hawk Force began to rifle through the forests of the Supkhar area at night. Just as the team neared an outpost of the forest department, the Maoists lying in wait began to rain fire on the police team. The cops welcomed them with a barrage of bullets. The gunfight continued throughout the night and the bodies of two Maoists were found in the morning. The police were searching for the injured Maoist, said Farid Shapoo, director general of police, anti-Naxal campaign. 15 killed as blast hits Afghan seminary KABUL : A blast occurred in Jahdia seminary during on prayers afternoon Wednesday in Aybak city in Samangan, local media reported. A provincial hospital doctor said that at least 15 people were killed in the blast which also wounded 27 persons who have been admitted to the hospital, Tolo News reported.Local officials said the blast happened during the afternoon prayers.No one has claimed responsibility for the blast yet. An official statement from security officials about the blast is also awaited. The blast is said to have occurred as people were leaving congregational prayers, and a doctor at the local hospital said most of the victims were students at the school, BBC reported. (See World page) Govt, pharma council can't play with life of people: SC on fake pharmacists in Bihar NEW DELHI The Supreme Court has said that the state government and its pharmacy council cannot be allowed to play with the health and life of the citizens, while examining allegations fake pharmacists were running medical and hospitals stores in Bihar. A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and M.M. Sundresh said: "The State Government and the Bihar State Pharmacy Council cannot be permitted to play with the health and life of the citizen." It further added, "Running the hospitals/dispensaries in absence of any registered pharmacist and/or running such hospitals by fake pharmacist and even running the medical stores by fake pharmacist and without even any pharmacist will ultimately affect the health of the citizen." The bench said under the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 as well as the Pharmacy Practice Regulations, 2015, it is the duty cast upon the Pharmacy Council and the state government to see that the hospitals/medical stores, etc., are not run by the fake pharmacist and are run by the registered pharmacist . only The top court made these observations while restoring a PIL in Patna High Court, alleging fake pharmacists running medical stores and hospitals in Bihar. The bench said the manner in which the high court has disposed of the public interest litigation - writ petition ventilating the very serious grievances touching the health and life of the citizen is disapproved. "The High Court has failed to exercise the powers vested in it under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. The impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court disposing of the writ petition is unsustainable," it added. The bench observed that there were serious allegations against the Bihar State Pharmacy Council and the state government for not taking any action in the matter. CONTD. ON P6