FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS VOL. XXXX NO. 325 | INDORE | WEDNESDAY | MAY 1, 2024 | PAGES 14 r Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; `3 r RNI No. 38281/83 QUALITY AT VALUE www.freepressjournal.in - EDIT WE WON’T HIDE BEHIND ANY EXCUSES: HOPES SPORTS INDO-CANADIAN TIES IN TAILSPIN WEATHER EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE 38.20c. 25.20c Sunrise : 05.55 Sunset : 06.53 OVERCOMING THE PERSONAL CHALLENGES CINEMA Covishield jab can cause blood clot in very rare cases: AstraZeneca LONDON UK-headquartered pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZ) has admitted that in "very rare cases" its COVID vaccine can cause a blood clot related side effect but the causal link is unknown, according to court papers being quoted in the UK media. 'The Daily Telegraph' re- ports that in a legal document submitted to the High Court in London in February for a group action being brought by 51 claimants, AZ admitted that the vaccine developed with the University of Oxford to protect against COVID-19 may cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) in "very rare cases". The AZ Vaxzevria vaccine, also manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), was known in India as Covishield. "It is admitted that the AZ vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause TTS. The causal mechanism is not known. Further, TTS can also occur in the absence of the AZ vaccine (or any vaccine). Causation in any individual case will be a matter for expert evidence," the newspaper quotes the legal document as stating. Lawyers acting on behalf of the claimants say they or , their loved ones, who received the AZ vaccine suffered TTS - a rare syndrome characterised by the concurrence of thrombosis or blood clotting and thrombocytopenia or insufficiency of platelets. The consequences of TTS are potentially life-threatening including strokes, brain damage, heart attacks, pul- IMC FAKE BILL SCAM Kingpin Rathore suspended; two others terminated OUR STAFF REPORTER Indore NEWS BRIEF Man dies near Ranjit Hanuman INDORE: One person reportedly died of heart attack soon after consuming food at the bhandara organised at the Ranjit Hanuman temple. However, the authorities did not confirm the man’s death. According to additional DCP Anand Yadav the incident took place around midnight. Vijay Prajapat (48) had just come out of the temple premises after eating at the bhandara when he started feeling uneasy and then collapsed. He was taken to the District Hospital where according to sources, he succumbed. Pant, Samson in, Rahul out NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced India's 15member squad for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, which will be hosted in the West Indies and USA, starting on June 1. Rohit Sharma will lead India in the showpiece tournament, while Hardik Pandya will be his deputy. India have added two wicket-keepers, including Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson, to their squad. Sisodia's bail pleas rejected NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on T uesday dismissed the bail pleas of former deputy chief minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the corruption and money laundering cases lodged by the CBI and the ED in relation to the alleged excise scam. Sri Sarada Math head passes away KOLKATA: Pravrajika Anandaprana Mataji, president of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, died here on Monday. Mataji, who was 98, had been suffering from old age-related ailments and was discharged from RKM-run Ramakrishna Seva Pratisthan hospital some days back. Municipal commissioner Shivam Verma on Monday suspended fake bill scam kingpin assistant engineer Abhay Rathore and terminated services of two others. The development comes a day after Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav met Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and demanded strict action into the matter. “Prima facie, Abhay Rathore, Uday Bhadouria and Chetan Bhadouria have been found involved in the scam so action has been taken against them,” Verma told Free Press. Rathore, being a permanent employee, was suspended as per service rules whereas Uday and Chetan, who were on contract, were sacked. Verma signaled that SC questions timing of Kejriwal’s arrest DELHI Raising Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's allegations about the "timing" of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the excise policy case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a reply from the agency, The court referred to the question of the timing of Kejriwal's arrest, which was shortly before the Lok Sabha elections. Hearing a plea by the CM challenging his arrest, the Supreme Court said, "Liberty is very exceedingly important, you can't deny that. The last question is with regard to the timing of the arrest, which they have pointed out, the timing of the arrest, soon before the general elections". The top court has asked the probe agency to respond on Friday. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him interim protection from coercive action by the agency. more heads would roll in days to come. The CM had come to Indore on Monday evening. The Mayor informed him about the scam in person and sought strict action against those involved. “The Chief Minister and urban development and housing minister Kailash Vijayvargiya assured me of forming a high-level committee to probe into the scam. The CM also told me that heads would roll. I thank the CM for prompt action into the matter,” Bhargav said. The fake bill scam that stumbled out of the drainage department of Indore Municipal Corporation, stunned one and all. Civic body officials in connivance with contractors produced fake bills and even got approval on some occasions. CONTD. ON P7 Another IMC staff held, shift blame on Rathore Seven, including three IMC employees in police dragnet, search on for two more accused OUR STAFF REPORTER city.indore@fpj.co.in Another IMC employee was arrested in connection with fake bill scam on Tuesday. He was arrested on information provided by arrested accused. Two more accused, including assistant engineer Abhay Rathore, were on the run. MG Road police station incharge Vijay Singh Sisodiya, said that during interrogation, IMC muster sub-engineer Constitution will be thrown away if BJP comes to power: RaGa ‘Tribal president was not called for Ram temple inauguration’ OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi warned that if the BJP returns to power at the Centre, it will "tear apart" and "throw away" the Constitution which granted rights to the poor, Dalits, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. The leader was addressing an election rally in Bhind district on Tuesday, Rahul, while holding a copy of the Constitution, said the ongoing Lok Sabha poll is not a normal political event, but a fight between two ideologies. He said "Tribal president (Droupadi Murmu) was not invited when new Parliament House and Ram Mandir were inaugurated to ensure that only PM Modi was visible at these high-profile events". He noted that only rich people and celebrities, and not poor labourers or farmers, were present during the January 22 idol consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He said that his party and its INDIA bloc allies are fighting to save the Constitution. Before Independence and drafting of the Constitution, the poor, Dalits, tribals, backwards and farmers did not have any rights and they were bestowed on them when the statute book came into force in 1950, he pointed out."Now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and their MPs have made up their mind that if they get elected, they will tear apart and throw this (Constitution) book. CONTD. ON P7 Uday Bhadouria and data entry operator Chetan Bhadouria named Rajkumar Salve as accomplice. Sisodiya said that Salve was currently working in other department of the IMC. He was later called to police station and arrested. Earlier, during interrogation Uday, Chetan and Salve allegedly told the cops that they filled format in the computer on instructions of Rathore. Police investigation revealed that both Uday and Chetan were relatives of Rathore. On Tuesday, police teams raided many places in search of Rathore but in vain. Contractor Siddique too was on the run. Tit for tat exchange after former RAW chief is named FP NEWS SERVICE / Mumbai In a tit for tat exchange over the American accusation that Indian government officials were involved in the attempted assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the White House and the Ministry of External Affairs have each stuck to their guns. The White House has said that it takes the Pannun matter seriously and will continue to bring the matter up while the Ministry of External affairs pooh poohed the Washington Post report say- SIKH TERRORIST PANNUN ASSASSINATION CHARGE ing it “makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter.” The Washington Post on Monday named the Indian official who was working for the RAW at the time of the events as Vikram Yadav, and named the RAW chief at that time, Samanth Goel. According to the Post, “In reports that have been closely held within the American government, U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that the operation targeting Pannun was approved by the RAW chief at the time, Samant Goel. monary embolism and amputation. Of the 51 claimants in the group action being represented by the law firm Leigh Day for damages under Section 2 of the UK's Consumer Protection Act 1987 against AstraZeneca UK Ltd in respect of injuries sustained as a result of the vaccine, 12 are acting on behalf of a loved one who died.CONTD. ON P7 2 injured in fight between Maldivians & Indians in Male MALE Two persons sustained injuries during an altercation between a group of Maldivians and Indians, after which a Maldivian was detained, according to a media report on Tuesday. The fight between the two groups took place near Central Park in Hulhumale, about 7 km northeast of Male, at around 9:00 pm on Monday, news portal Adhadhu.com reported. The detained suspect is a Maldivian, the news portal quoted the police as saying but it did not mention who the injured were. The two people who sustained serious injuries were taken to Hulhumale Hospital. They were later released after treatment. Police said the clashes broke out between a group of Maldivians and Indians inside the park and that further investigations were underway. ANOTHER JOLT TO CONGRESS Now, six-time Vijaypur MLA Rawat joins BJP MORENA MAYOR also switches over to the ruling party OUR STAFF REPORTER bhopal@fpj.co.in As was anticipated, six times Congress MLA from Vijaypur seat of Sheopur, Ramniwas Rawat switched over to BJP on Tuesday . To the surprise of many, Mayor of Morena Municipal Corporation Sharda Solanki also took membership of the ruling party . Both of them took membership of saffron party at the programme held in Vijaypur. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, BJP state president VD Sharma, coordinator of 'Joining Toli' Narottam Mishra among others were present on this occasion. Addressing the programme, Rawat said that he worked hard in Congress but could not get the desired respect. Congress talks about social justice but they don't deliver the same. On the other hand, BJP works on the social justice line and biggest example is that it 219 SELECTED FOR ADPO POST MPPSC declares selection list after EC's go ahead OUR STAFF REPORTER Indore After obtaining permission from the Election Commission, Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission on Tuesday declared the selection list containing names of 219 candidates who took the assistant district public prosecution officer exam-2021. The MPPSC had issued notification in 2021 inviting applications for 256 ADPO posts. The exam was conducted in December 18, 2022 and the results were declared in January 4, 2023. The interviews were held from March 3 to April 4 this year. Dividing the posts in two parts using the 87-13 per cent formula, the MPPSC declared the results of main part (87 per cent) and withheld the provisional part (13). Total 223 posts were in the main part, but three to four posts which were reserved for Persons with Disability could not be filled as candidates were not found eligible for the post. Last exam for ADPO posts was held in 2015. For past many years, ADPO exam could not be held. Though ADPO exam notification was issued in 2021, it took almost three years for MPPSC to complete the selection process. As model code of conduct is in force due to LokSabha elections, the MPPSC took permission from the EC for release the selection list. Was miffed with Cong for long time Political pundits say that Ramniwas Rawat had not taken the decision in haste. His anger was simmering against Congress from a long time. He was not considered for the Leader of Opposition post and same was awarded to Umang Singar. Sharda Solanki was apparently angry with Congress as she was denied Lok Sabha ticket from Morena. She was also eager to fight the Assembly Election from Morena. made tribal person CM in Chhattisgarh followed by OBC CM in Madhya Pradesh and Brahmin CM in Rajasthan. He said he was highly influenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Blaming Congress leaders for his defeat in assembly election of 1998 and 2018, he said that CM and other BJP leaders have assured him that funds won't come in the way of the development of Sheopur, hence he decided to join the ruling party . 10 Naxals killed in CG encounter NARAYANPUR/ RAIPUR Ten Naxalites including three women were killed in an encounter with security forces on the border of Narayanpur and Kanker districts of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday morning, police said. This was a second major blow to the Naxalites within 15 days. The site of Tuesday's encounter was 30 km south of Kalper village in Kanker where 29 Naxalites were killed in a gunfight with security forces on April 16, said a senior police official. Deputy Chief Minister and home minister Vijay Sharma termed the latest operation as a major success while also appealing the Naxalites to come forward for talks and give up the path of violence. The encounter took place around 6 am in the forest between Tekmeta and Kakur villages in Abhujmad area, a Naxalite stronghold, when a joint team of the police's District Reserve Guard and Special Task Force was out on an anti-Naxal operation, a senior police official said. WORLD VIEW ABOUT INDIA HAS TAKEN 180-DEGREE TURN: SCINDIA ‘THE COUNTRY has changed in the last 10 years’ NITENDRA SHARMA Union Minister and ruling party's candidate from the Guna-Shivpuri Lok Sabha constituency Jyotiraditya Scindia is really hard at it - drumming up support for himself - almost round the clock. He is holding meetings and interacting with the public. Scindia feels the election is taking place to see India progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a tete-a-tete with the Free Press, he spoke on different issues. Excerpts: FP: You're contesting an election for the sixth time. How is this poll different? This election sees an India that is changing with each passing day The . country has, in fact, changed in the past ten years. It is developing by leaps and bounds. So, this election is to take that prosperity to new heights. What kind of progress are you talking about? How is it impacting the election? The world's view about India has changed by 180 degrees. And it has been possible because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who enhanced the country's prestige in the world. All nations across the world are looking up to India to solve their problems. This is the achievement that the country has made for the first time after freedom. There are so many achievements. But why are the controversial issues being raised? The BJP has not done this. A party wants to do poli- tics only by appeasing others. They say if they come to power, they will snatch 55% of properties from those who have re- ceived these chattels through inheritance. They will x-ray each home and snatch the properties. The Congress is saying such things. What is the difference between the BJP regime and the Congress rule? More development work has been done in the past ten years than it was done in more than six decades. Whether it is the construction of roads or that of airports - everything has been done. Eighty crore people are being given rations. What can be a better achievement than this? During the RussiaUkraine war you yourself went to the spot to bring the Indian students from there. What is its impact on the election? This impossible thing could be made possible under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bringing 25,000 students from a war-ravaged land was possible only because of the Prime Minister. The ruling party is contesting the election with the slogan - Aab ki bar 400 paar. Is it possible to achieve this target, despite low turnout of voters? We are fighting the election with the pledge that the NDA will win 400 seats. We are sure that it will be possible under the Prime Minister's leadership. As far as low turnout of voters is concerned, it happened because of weddings, but the BJP's vote share has not declined. The lowest percentage of voting that an area in our country registered was higher than the highest percentage of voting recorded in any other country in the world. You're already a member of the Rajya Sabha? What prompted you to fight the Lok Sabha election? I'm a man on the road. A down-to-earth person. So, I look up to the Lok Sabha. What are the local issues in Guna? The people of Guna have trust in me for the development work I did for this constituency. Roads, schools, hospitals and colleges have been built. The area has everything that it needs. Development has always been my buzzword. And I have thrown my hat into the ring with this agenda.