FP FREE PRESS The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms VOL. XXXX NO. 340 | INDORE | THURSDAY | MAY 16, 2024 | PAGES 16 `3 - r Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE r RNI No. 38281/83 QUALITY AT VALUE www.freepressjournal.in Shah questions special interim bail to Kejriwal 8 killed in Betma road accident NEWS BRIEF Slovakia PM shot at, wounded SLOVAKIA: Four-time Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico was wounded in a shooting incident on Wednesday (local time) in Handlova and has been hospitalised, reported The Slovak Spectator. The incident took place after a government meeting in Handlova. SC orders release of NewsClick founder NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside the arrest and remand of Prabir Purkayastha, the chief editor of online news portal NewsClick, in connection with a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A Bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta ordered that Purkayastha be released subject to him furnishing surety and bail bond. The court passed the order after noting that a copy of the remand application was not provided to Purkayastha, thereby violating principles of natural justice. OUR STAFF REPORTER city.indore@fpj.co.in At least eight people including a woman were killed and one person was critically injured in a road accident in Betma area late on Wednesday . Additional SP (rural) Rupesh Dwivedi said the accident took place between Ghatabillod and Betma at around 11 pm. The vehicle was coming from Dhar and going towards Indore when the accident took place. The deceased, mostly from Guna, were travelling in a Bolero and it rammed into the rear of a truck filled with sand. "When we reached the spot the Their Bolero rammed into a truck truck was not there as the driver had fled, but we found a large quantity of sand on the road," said ASP Dwivedi, adding that they are trying to trace the errant truck driver. The impact of the accident was so great that the front portion of the Bolero was completely damaged. By the time the police reached the spot all the eight persons had died and the injured person was in a critical condition, and he was rushed to hospital. Police said that the spot where the accident took place is very dark and there were no CCTV cameras near the accident spot. CONTD. ON P7 EDIT CHABAHAR DEAL A WINWIN FOR INDIA, IRAN WEATHER PAKISTAN HAS MENTAL BLOCK WHEN IT COMES TO PLAYING INDIA IN WC: MISBAH SPORTS OUR BUREAU / NEW DELHI Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that he does not see the interim bail given by the apex court to Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal as a routine judgement and stressed that many in the country believe that “special treatment” was given. Kejriwal, who was arrested and lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, was released on May 10 after the Supreme 38.40c. 24.60c Sunrise : 05.46 Sunset : 07.00 MAKE YOUR WAY FOR CHANDU CINEMA Court approved his interim bail plea. Shah also responded to Kejriwal’s statement that he would not need to return to jail if the Opposition INDIA bloc wins majority in Lok Sabha elections on June 4. The Union Home Minister asserted that the AAP chief ’s statement amounts to contempt of court. “I believe this is clear contempt of the Supreme Court. He is trying to suggest that if someone triumphs in a poll, the Supreme Court will not send them to jail even if they are guilty The judges who granted . him bail have to mull over this — how their judgment is being used or misused.” When asked about Kejriwal’s allegations Kharge promises 10 kg free ration Several ministers fail to increase voting percentage OUR STAFF REPORTER / Bhopal Several ministers in the state failed to take voters to the polling booths in their assembly constituencies during the Lok Sabha election the way they were expected to. The BJP organisation told the ministers to work for increasing voting percentage across the state, but they could not even boost polling percentage in their own constituencies. The polling percentage remained below 60% in the assembly constituencies of Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla and eight other ministers. The ministers, in whose constituencies the voter turnout was very low, are Rakesh Singh, Aidal Singh Kansana, Pradhuman Singh Tomar, Dhar- Highest polling in Sailana assembly segment The highest polling in the state was 84.37%, which was recorded in Sailana assembly constituency from where legislator of the Bharat Adiwasi Party Kamlesh Dodiyar was elected. Budhni, the constituency of former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was one of the seats where high voting percentage was recorded. Budhni recorded 81.54% of polling. Amarwada, Junnardev, Sausar, Pandhurna, Ratlam Rural and Chaurai were among other assembly constituencies where voting percentage was very high. mendra Lodhi, Lakhan Patel, Rakesh Shukla, Radha Singh and Dileep Ahirwar. CONTD. ON P7 that the BJP-led central government had installed hidden cameras inside the jail to monitor his movements, Shah said, “Tihar comes under his (Delhi government) administration. They keep lying. Union Home Ministry has nothing to do with the Delhi jail administration.” Asked about the AAP chief ’s claim that PM Modi would retire next year, after he turned 75, and Shah would become the PM, the home minister said, “I have said this many times. CONTD. ON P7 BISWAJEET BANERJEE / Lucknow Scindia’s mother Madhavi Raje no more BHOPAL: The mother of union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and wife of late Madhav Rao Scindia, Madhavi Raje Scindia passed away at 9.30 am on Wednesday She . was not keeping well from last two months and was admitted at AIIMS, Delhi. Politicians cutting across political lines paid tribute to her. On Thursday her last , rites will be performed in Gwalior. CM Mohan Yadav, cabinet ministers, BJP state president VD Sharma, former State Congress President Kamal Nath etc have expressed grief on her death. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asserted on Wednesday that the opposition INDIA bloc is sitting pretty after four phases of polling and that the people are ready to bid farewell to Narendra Modi. From this position of strength, he promised that they will provide 10 kg of free ration per month to the poor, if the INDIA bloc forms the government. The Modi government provides 5 kg ration free to poor. Speaking at a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Kharge underscored the party’s commitment to social welfare and specifically mentioned that the Congress had even enacted a legislation to ensure food for the impoverished. “We stand firm on our promises to you. While discussions have often veered around 5 kg of ration which the BJP has promised, this was made possible by the Food Security Act that we have championed. CONTD. ON P7