FREE PRESS The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms VOL. XXXX NO. 255 | BHOPAL | TUESDAY | FEBRUARY 27, 2024 | PAGES 18 PANDYA RETURNS TO COMPETITIVE CRICKET AFTER LONG INJURY LAYOFF SPORTS `3 - r Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; EDIT 28.50c. 12.00c PM LAUNCHES 33 rail proj of Rs 77K cr in state SANDESHKHALI TO BE KEPT SIMMERING Sunrise : 07.05 Sunset : 06.28 3RD TERM of our govt will begin in June, declares Modi Govt paying for wrong deeds of transport dept DECISION TO CLOSE check posts pending with state govt NEWS BRIEF PM to unveil Vedic Clock in Ujjain UJJAIN: The world's first Vedic clock- which will display time according to ancient Indian traditional panchang- has been prepared and installed in Ujjain district and will be unveiled on March 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the Vedic clock installed on an 85-foot high tower constructed at Jantar Mantar in the city on March 1. It is located near Government Jiwaji Observatory in the district. The clock will display information about Vedic Hindu Panchang, planetary positions, Muhurat, astrological calculation, predictions, etc and it will also show time the Indian Standard Time (IST) and the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The clock will calculate the time based on from one sunrise to another. Pankaj Udhas passes away at 72 MUMBAI: Renowned ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas, whose velvet smooth voice gave expression to the many colours of love, longing and heartache in songs such as "Chitthi Ayee Hai" and "Aur Ahista Kijiye Baatein", died here on Monday after prolonged illness. He was 72. Udhas, who also made a mark as a playback singer in many Hindi films, including "Dayavan", "Naam", "Saajan" and "Mohra", died around 11 am at the Breach Candy hospital. "With a very heavy heart, we are saddened to inform you of the sad demise of Padmashri Pankaj Udhas on 26th February 2024 due to a prolonged illness," his daughter Nayaab wrote in an Instagram post."This is not only a personal loss, but the whole nation has lost a prolific singer and a great human being," Breach Candy Hospital Trust said in a note. NITENDRA SHARMA / BHOPAL Mohan Yadav expressed his unhappiness with the transport department immediately after taking over as the Chief Minister. But the department is causing embarrassment to the government just within two months of its formation. By removing the transport commissioner, the principal secretary (transport) and several other officers, Yadav hinted at setting the department right. The irregularities taking place in the department have caused discomfort to the government. After the truck operators' strike, the then transport minister Govind Singh Ra- jput, who is now heading the food and civil supplies department, gave it in writing on August 8 last year that all check posts would be removed and checking system would be modernised on the pattern of Gujarat. On the basis of Rajput's assurance, the then transport commissioner Sanjay Jha made a proposal for closing the check posts and sent it to the government. But the proposal is still pending. The government also decided to make all the services faceless and to go online, but the decision was not implemented. According to sources, when the new government took over, the decision to close check posts was reviewed. But afterwards it was swept under the carpet. The Opposition is attacking the government for the alleged loot in the transport department. CONTD. ON P8 HC rejects plea to stop puja in Gyanvapi PRAYAGRAJ Hindu prayers will continue in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, the Allahabad High Court said on Monday while dismissing a plea that had challenged the district court's order to this effect. Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal rejected two appeals filed by the mosque management committee challenging the Varanasi district judge's January 17 order that appointed the district magistrate as the receiver of the ‘Vyas Tehkhana’ or southern cellar of the mosque and January 31 order by which he allowed 'puja' to be performed there. The high court said worship will continue in the ‘Vyas Tehkhana’ of the mosque adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. CONTD. ON P8 RIC to see launch of 57 units worth Rs 10K cr in Ujjain NIRUKT BHARGAVA / Ujjain First-ever Regional Industry Conclave (RIC), to be held in Ujjain on March 1 & 2 will witness investment of Rs 10,088.95 crore in state. It includes bhoomi-poojan and dedication of 57 industrial units across the state. Apart from it, 35 industrial groups and individuals have proposed to invest Rs 74,711.89 crore in the state. Initially, the RIC was to focus on Malwa region in general and Ujjain division in particular. However, as per Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's directives, concerns of all divisions of the state have been taken into account. Accordingly, bhoomi-poojan of 37 units with investment of Rs 8,257 crore and dedication of 20 industrial units with investment of Rs 1,831 crore would be held during the RIC. "Efforts are on to perform one to two bhoomi- SC LASHES AT CENTRE OVER COAST GUARD ISSUE ‘Women can’t be left out. If you do not do it, we will do it’ NEW DELHI: Declaring that women cannot be left out, the Supreme Court on Monday told the Centre to ensure that women are granted permanent commission in the Indian Coast Guard and said the court will do it if the government doesn't. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said this while taking note of submissions by Attorney General R Venkataramani that there were some functional and operational difficulties in granting permanent commissions to Short Service Commission Officers (SSCOs). "All these functionality etc argument does not hold water in the year 2024. Women cannot be left out. If you do not do it, we will do it. So take a look at that," the CJI said. The attorney general also apprised the bench that a board has been set up by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to look into the issues. CONTD. ON P8 poojans and dedication of industrial units in every division of state, including Hoshangabad, Gwalior, Dhar and Rewa. Around 25% of bhoomi-poojans and dedications of 57 units would be in Ujjain," Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC) commissioner Chandra Mauli Shukla told Free Press on Monday . This will generate 16,811 jobs across the state, he added. CONTD. ON P8 Shajahan Sheikh to be arrested in 7 days, says TMC KOLKATA: The TMC on Monday said its strongman Shajahan Sheikh, who has been accused of sexual atrocities and land grabbing in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, will be arrested in seven days, asserting that the party doesn't support culprits. TMC leader's assertion comes immediately after the Calcutta High Court clarified that there is no stay on the arrest of Shajahan. "About the arrest of Shajahan Sheikh, Abhishek Banerjee is correct. CONTD. ON P8 ‘Kuno's economy will be of around Rs 1k cr in 5 yrs’ Shortly, cheetahs will be brought to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in Union minister for forest and climate change Bhupendra Yadav said that in next five years, Kuno will 'WE BROUGHT 20 CHEETAHS TO KUNO, NOW WE HAVE 21' be established as an international tourist destination and its economy will be of around Rs 1000 crores. CONTD. ON P8 Bhupendra Singh Yadav said that 20 cheetahs were brought to Kuno National Park and though some of them died, there are now 21 cheetahs in Kuno. He was addressing the Cheetah Mitra convention cum dedication of development works of Rs 71.89 crore in Sensaipura of Sheopur on Monday. r RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 QUALITY AT VALUE www.freepressjournal.in EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE WEATHER FP n CM Mohan Yadav's Orequest, minister Bhupendra Yadav announced that Madhya Pradesh Elephant project would be started. Under it, local people will be trained how to protect themselves from the elephants. A central team will visit Madhya Pradesh which will study the behavior of elephants and will give report to the state government. NEW DELHI : India now dreams big and works day and night to fulfil its dreams, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he launched more than 2,000 rail infrastructure projects worth about Rs 41,000 crore. The third term of his government will begin from June, but the scale and speed with which it has been working have surprised people, Modi said in his video address, taking note of the recent launch of several development projects. People have seen a new India being built in the last 10 years, he said, underlining the transformation in the railways, including the launch of Vande Bharat trains, an emphasis on cleanliness and electrification of tracks. In a swipe at previous governments, Modi said his dispensation stopped the loot of public money and every penny earned was used in expanding railway services. The Indian Railways used to be a victim of politics but it is now the main basis of the ease of travel, he said, asserting that it has also been a big source of employment. READY TO SHINE CINEMA CM unveils their stone plaques 133 OVERBRIDGES & underpasses to be constructed OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation for the redevelopment of 33 stations in Madhya Pradesh virtually on Monday. They will cost Rs 77,000 crore. He also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated 133 overbridges (ROBs) and underpasses. CM Mohan Yadav unveiled the foundation stone of redevelopment projects of railway stations in the state. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone, inau- BPL-SEHORE TWIN CITIES Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said there will be no shortage of funds for schmes related to women, youths and weaker sections. Bhopal and Sehore will be developed as twin cities. A plan for overall development of means of transport, residential projects and employment opportunities will be implemented by connecting both the cities. Ujjain-Indore, Ujjain-Dewas, Bhopal-Vidisha, Bhopal-Sehore-Raisen districts will be developed as Twin Cities by 2047 gurated 1500 overbridges, underpasses. He launched renovation of 554 railway stations under Amrut Bharat Station Scheme. CONTD. ON P8 Indians freed from Russian Army NEW DELHI: Several Indians who worked as support staff to the Russian army were discharged following India's demand, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday . It said India remains committed, as a matter of "top priority", to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals for an early discharge from the Russian army . According reports, several Indians have been working as security helpers in the Russian military and they were forced to even fight with Russian soldiers in certain areas. CONTD. ON P8 MALEGAON CASE: Pragya told to appear in court MUMBAI A special NIA court asked BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, to appear before it from Tuesday onwards for recording of statements and warned her of "necessary action" if she fails to do so. Special Judge A K Lahoti passed this direction on February 22 while granting Thakur's plea for exemption for the day on medical grounds. Thakur and six others are facing trial in the case under provisions of UAPA and Indian Penal Code (IPC). CONTD. ON P8