FREE PRESS The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms VOL. XXXX NO. 87 | INDORE | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 | PAGES 12 `3 - r Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE GODSENT ROW FOR BJP EDIT STAGE ALL SET FOR BYPOLL BATTLE Pg-7 SANATAN REMARKS STRIKE RIGHT INTO HINDU HEARTLAND MANISH GODHA Jaipur The Opposition has granted BJP a controversy on the platter with Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, asserting that Sanatan Dharma is against the notion of social justice and must be "eradicated". Stretching the anal- ogy further, he likened the creed to diseases like dengue and malaria, inviting sharp criticism from BJP leaders. Latching onto the statement, which could be godsend for the BJP just when elections in the Hindi heartland are around the corner, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said it was an attack ‘‘on our heritage" and shows that the Opposition bloc "hates Hinduism." Addressing a public meeting in Beneshwar Dham in Dungarpur on Sunday, Shah asked the crowd if people were ready to accept Udhayanidhi’s remarks on eradicating the Sanatan Dharma. These people have insulted ‘Sanatan Dharma’ and are talking about finishing it off for appeasement and vote bank politics, the BJP leader said. (Shah’s statement resonated in pollbound Madhya Pradesh as well, where party president JP Nadda wanted to know: “Is this the political strategy that the INDIA alliance drew up two days ago in Mumbai?” ) Shah was here to flag off the second Parivartan Yatra of Rajasthan BJP that will cover 52 assembly constituencies of Udaipur and Kota divisions in the next 19 days. CONTD. ON P6 SPECIAL SESSION KEEPS OPPOSITION GUESSING Self-goal by Stalin’s son? N CHITHRA / CHENNAI A political row erupted over the weekend over comments made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin’s son and State Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin calling for eradication of Sanatan Dharma. “Certain things should not be opposed, they need to be eradicated. Like mosquitoes, malaria, dengue and COVID-19, the Sanatan Dharma also needs to be eradicated,” Udhayanidhi Stalin, a film actor-producer turned politician, said on Saturday at a conference hosted by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association in Chennai. QUALITY AT VALUE r RNI No. 38281/83 FORMER PAKISTAN, INDIA CRICKETERS CRITICISE BABAR AZAM’S ‘DEFENSIVE’ CAPTAINCY Pg-10 CONG IN A PILLORY/ SHORT ANALYSIS olitical analysts itself in Pa spot and hard said the Congress party will find the cow pressed to clarify its position on Stalin’s son’s explosive remarks, more so since elections in belt are imminent. The controversy is, however, a blessing in disguise for the BJP which will in the ensuing days dare the Congress and other constituents of INDIA to condemn the statement. This will add to the discomfort of Janata Dal (U), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, among others. Most of them will end up taking ambivalent positions. Asked to comment, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole invoked Dalit icon BR Ambedkar's 'Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava' (all religions are the same) remark, saying, "Our stand is clear. The Congress neither comments nor believes in hurting anyone's religious sentiments. We cannot accept the onus for someone else's statement. But our position has been clearly articulated." However, others like Congress MP Karti Chidambaram were more forthcoming. "Sanathana Dharma is nothing but code for a caste hierarchical society All those batting for it are hanker. ing for the good ole days! Caste is the curse of India." Nadda calls I.N.D.I.A Ghamandia alliance CONTD. ON P6 News Brief Piloo Reporter dies at 84 NEW DELHI: Piloo Reporter, one of the first two neutral umpires in the history of international cricket, passed away on Sunday in Mumbai. The 84-year-old Reporter was suffering from Cerebral Contusion disease and was being taken care of at his home by his wife and two daughters. Assam floods: 1.22L people hit in 7 dists GUWAHATI: Flood situation in Assam improved considerably on Sunday even though over 1.22 lakh people are still reeling under the deluge across seven districts, an official bulletin said. According to the flood report of Assam State Disaster Management Authority, over 1,22,000 people are hit due to the floods in Barpeta, Chirang, Darrang, Golaghat, Kamrup Metropolitan, Morigaon and Nagaon districts. Max wins Italian GP for 10th time MONZA (Italy): Runaway Formula One leader Max Verstappen secured a record 10th straight win with victory at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, with a Red Bull onetwo on Ferrari's home track. Corruption, casteism and communalism will have no place in national life by 2047 and the poor will comprehensively win the battle against poverty, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, outlining his vision for the country for the next two decades. "We have democracy, demography and diversity with us and now a fourth D is getting added to it - development," Prime Minister Modi said in an exclusive interview to PTI. The prime minister said before 2014, the country saw many governments that were unstable and, therefore, unable to get much done. "But in the last few years, the people have given a decisive mandate, which has led to a stable government, predictable policies and clarity in the overall direction," Modi, who is seeking Attack on Union & states, says Rahul on 'One nation, One election' panel AGENCIES/ NEW DELHI Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a scathing attack at the BJP-led Central government over the formation of a panel to examine 'One nation, One election', saying "it is an attack on the Union and all its States". The BJP-led government formed an eight-member committee to examine the 'One Nation, One Election' with former President Ram Nath Kovind as its chairman and Home Minister Amit Shah and others as its members. "INDIA, that is Bharat, is a Union of States. The idea of 'One nation, One election' is an attack on the Union (with emoji of Indian flag) and all its States," the Congress MP from Kerala's Wayanad constituency wrote on X (formerly Twitter) referring to the formation of the committee on 'One nation, One election' by the ruling dispensation. Earlier in the day, Congress leader and MP, Jairam Ramesh while taking a swipe at the government over the same, wrote on X, "The High-level Committee on what is called 'One Nation One Election' is a ritualistic exercise, the timing of which is highly suspect. Its terms of reference have already determined its recommen- FIRST EARTH-BOUND MANOEUVRE OF ADITYA PERFORMED SUCCESSFULLY BENGALURU: ISRO on Sunday said it has successfully performed the first earth-bound manoeuvre of the country's maiden solar "Our economy will be even more inclusive & innovative. Our poor will comprehensively win the battle against poverty. Health, education & social sector outcomes will be among the best in world" a third term as prime minister, said. "By 2047, I am sure that our country will be among the developed countries. "Our economy will be even more inclusive and innovative. Our poor people will comprehensively win the battle against poverty. Health, education and social sector outcomes will be among the best in the world. "Corruption, casteism and communalism will have no place in our national life," he said. He asserted that the quality of life of Indians would be at par with the best countries of the world and "most importantly, we will achieve all of this while caring for both nature and culture". CONTD. ON P6 mission, Aditya L1, from ISTRAC here. The space agency also said the satellite is healthy and operating nominally . The next manoeuvre is scheduled for September 5, 2023, around 03:00 Hrs. IST "Aditya-L1 Mission: The satellite is healthy and operating nominally The first . Earth-bound maneuvre (EBN#1) is performed successfully from ISTRAC, Bengaluru. The new orbit attained is 245km x 22459 km. CONTD. ON P6 'One Nation, One Poll' an attack on Constitution: Digvijaya Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday said the idea of "One nation, One election" is an attack on the Indian Constitution and said the need of the hour is to have the "one nation, one income" plan to reduce the income gap between the poor and rich. A disaster for democracy and federalism, says Owaisi AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday said that the concept of "One nation, One election" will be a disaster for multi-party parliamentary democracy and federalism in the country, and it appears that the formation of a committee to look into it is just a formality. Kejriwal: What will common man get from One nation, One poll Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal rejected the 'One nation, One election' concept, asking what will the common man get from such an arrangement. dations." "The composition of the Committee is also a total give-away and the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury last night very rightly refused to be part of it," the Congress MP said. CONTD. ON P6 32.90c. 22.10c Sunrise : 06.10 Sunset : 06.43 FPJ: www.freepressjournal.in for 24x7 updates Corruption, casteism & communalism will have no place in national life by 2047: PM AGENCIES/ NEW DELHI WEATHER FP FLAYS UDHAYANIDHI for speaking to abolish Sanatan Dharma OUR STAFF REPORTER Bhopal BJP national president JP Nadda dubbed alliance of Opposition parties 'I.N.D.I.A' as 'Ghamandia' alliance. Moreover, he lashed out on I.N.D.I.A by saying that the DMK is a major alliance of Opposition parties and son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin had stated to abolish Sanatan Dharma akin to mosquito, malaria, dengue and Covid. He, while addressing the programme held Unrest in Gilgit ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said on Sunday that the situation in Gilgit-Baltistan was "completely peaceful", amid reports of sectarian tensions in the region that forced authorities to indefinitely suspend mobile int er net services. "The situation in Gilgit-Baltistan is completely peaceful and the news circulating in media regarding the deployment of Pakistan Army are completely baseless," Solangi said. in Chitrakoot to flag off Jan Ashirvad Yatra, on Sunday, wanted to know from I.N.D.I.A alliance whether the controversial statement given by Udhayanidhi Stalin is part of its politics and wellplanned strategy and whether it will go among the masses in election over the said issue. He said that three day ago the opposition parties have met in Mumbai and it was during that time Stalin had given the statement to abolish Sanatan Dharma. He wanted to know from Rahul Gandhi that from where the material of hatred against Hindu religion came in his Mohabbat Ki Dukan (Shop of Love). The entire country is enraged over the issue. CONTD. ON P6 Kharge convenes meeting of Oppn bloc MPs on Sept 5 NEW DELHI Opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc will meet on Sept 5 to discuss their joint strategy for the upcoming special session of Parliament, the agenda for which is still under wraps. Sources said MPs of the opposition alliance in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will meet to chalk out their joint strategy for the session from Sept 18 to 22. The meeting has been convened by Kharge at his Rajaji Marg residence here, they added. Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K C Venugopal said party president Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Strategy group on September 5. "Kharge ji has also called a meeting of MPs of likeminded opposition parties," he told reporters adding that the agenda for the upcoming session would be discussed in the meeting. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi met Kharge at the latter's residence to discuss organisational issues and the current political situation. Three found dead in Niwari OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in In a suspected case of suicide, a couple and their four-year-old son were found dead in their house in village Keshriganj of Niwari district, the police said on Sunday . The bodies were found in the house in Kesriganj area under Prithvipur police station limits, around 35 km from the district headquarters, an official said. Prithvipur police station in-charge Jagatpal Singh said that the deceased were identified as Anand (30), his wife Rakhi (28), who were found hanging from the ceiling while their son was found dead on the floor. Preliminary probe revealed that the couple allegedly killed their son and then committed suicide due to a family dispute, he said. Anand was a farmer and owned about three acres of land, he said. Locals did not see any movement in the house in the morning and doors were not opened. They later informed the police, the official said. The villagers also added that Rakhi had gone to her parental home on Raksha Bandhan and Anand had gone to bring her back. Anand had returned on Friday along with his wife and son on Sunday morning and were found dead in their house. CM convenes meeting on scanty rainfall in state CHOUHAN WILL visit Ujjain temple to pray for rains OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan convened a meeting on Sunday night to discuss how to handle the situation that arose due to scanty rainfall in the state. He said deficient rains have posed a crisis to the crops. At some places, crops of A colourful fountain in backdrop of Bharat Mandapam as part of G-20 preparations at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday soybean, and paddy are in trouble. To save the crops, alternate steps are needed. Owing to less rainfall, at least 40 districts have got affected. "I am not such a CM who sits idle," he stated. He added that he has been meeting farmers for the last three to four days. Entire August went without rain. According to his capacity and strength of government, he will leave no stone unturned to handle the situation in an efficient manner. Entire government is with the farmers in this time of crisis. Wherever there is availability of water in dams, it will be provided to farmers. Moreover, electricity demand has increased substantially across the state. CONTD. ON P6 WazirX among 5 under ED lens ASHISH SINGH / MUMBAI An Enforcement Directorate investigation into a cryptocurrency racket has identified five companies engaged in money laundering from Dubai to India. The money exchange firm Zanmai Labs Pvt Ltd, known as WazirX, is one of the five companies involved and under scrutiny . The FPJ has obtained information from senior ED officers, revealing how these five companies discreetly laundered money. FREEPRESS EXCLUSIVE Initially, cryptocurrency was invested in properties in Dubai and then cleverly transferred to India, there- by leaving no trace of the money laundering during the transactions. To facilitate this operation, these companies collaborated with foreign exchange operators and tour agents to collect data from thousands of passports. These passport details were then utilised for the companies’ operations. According to a senior ED officer, the ED investigation revealed that cryptocurrency had been invested in properties in Dubai. 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