FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 14 No. 27 | BHOPAL | Thursday | July 11, 2024 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.com Sports Gambhir yet to ink salary deal, first big ‘Test’ would be ‘Down Under’ P.12 fp Briefs MANGALURU BJP MLA booked BJP MLA Bharath Shetty has been booked for his alleged comments against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, police said on Wednesday. At a press conference here, Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal said that an FIR has been filed by the police in Kavoor police station over the complaint lodged by K Anil, a Congress corporator of the Mangaluru City Corporation. NEW DELHI ED summons Jacqueline iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN WORLD PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK With 24% underweight kids, MP is 2nd after Dadra and Nagar Haveli Raginee Chaurey INDORE With every fourth child being underweight, it seems that Bharat Nutrition campaign under ‘Khayega India’ initiative is out of sync with ground realities in the state. Union ministry of women 20 die in Israeli strikes in central Gaza Cinema Emraan Hashmi embraces introspection P.14 OFFICIALS ON TOES After Free Press reached out to officials concerned regarding the grim situation, they immediately held a meeting with district WCD officials and directed them to ensure proper data feeding in Poshan Tracker app. They were also asked to pull up their socks to take the state out of the dark spot. and child development’s (WCD) monthly report clearly states that 24% of MP kids have low body mass index. Only Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Daman and Diu) has higher percentage of underweight children at 31% than MP. Ministry’s Poshan Tracker Dashboard of May 2024 shows that Bihar and Lak- shadweep have 23% and Gujarat 21% under-nourished children. The data clearly shows that the nation has to cover several miles before achieving ‘Free from malnutrition’ status. The national level data paints a grim picture with 36% children falling under stunted category and another 17% being underweight. Compounding the worries 6% are under wasting (severe underweight kids who cannot be cured within six months) and 7% overweight. WCD joint director Akshay Srivastava said, “The situation in the state is sensitive. We are taking active steps to curb malnutrition. However, if we look at the broader perspective it is a multifactorial approach and we are streamlining all stakeholders to improve the situation at the earliest.” 4Continued on | P6 ‘Muslim women entitled to alimony post divorce’ While delivering a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that Muslim women are allowed to seek maintenance from their husbands under section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which is applicable to all women irrespective of religion. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 will not prevail over the secular law, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih said while stressing that maintenance is not charity but the right of all married women. "We are hereby dismissing the criminal appeal with the major conclusion that Section 125 would be applicable to all women...," Justice Nagarathna said while pronouncing the verdict. "The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 will not prevail over the secular and religion neutral provision of Section 125 of CrPC," the bench said. 4Continued on | P6 Representative image THE HOMEMAKERS' RIGHTS n Financial support to wives n Must maintain joint bank accounts n ATM Access Online Report he time has come for Indian men to recognise the indispensable role played by homemakers and the sacrifices they make for the family, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday. Underlining the key role of T homemakers in the family, the court said it is necessary for husbands to provide financial support to their wives. Justice Nagarathna observed in her judgment that an Indian married man must become conscious of the fact that he would have to financially empower and provide for his wife, who does not have an independent source of income, by making available financial resources particularly towards her personal needs, “in other words, giving access to his financial resources”. JAMMU A policeman was found murdered near an industrial area in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, police said. The accused was arrested within an hour of the crime while he was trying to flee the district, a police spokesperson said, adding that the motive behind murder was not known immediately and further investigation is on. Zahoor Ahmed (35), a resident of the Mari village who was posted in the Kishtwar district, was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon resulting in his on-thespot death. JAIPUR 4L jobs in 5 yrs: Raj budget Rajasthan's Finance Minister Diya Kumari on Wednesday presented the state's full budget having an outlay of Rs 4.95 lakh crore for FY25 with announcements of 4 lakh recruitments in five years, development of 9 greenfield expressways, and reduction in value added tax on cooking gas and CNG from 14.5 per cent to 10 per cent. E-paper Edit A productive summit in Moscow P.8 SC’S BIG ORDER | The bench stressed that maintenance is not charity but the Right of all married women PTI Cop found murdered MUMBAI EVERY FOURTH KID UNDERWEIGHT IN STATE NEW DELHI The Enforcement Directorate has summoned actor Jacqueline Fernandez for a fresh round of questioning on Wednesday in a money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, official sources said. The 38-yearold Sri Lankan origin Bollywood actor has been questioned by the federal agency in the past in this case pertaining to alleged cheating of high-profile people, including former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh's wife Aditi Singh to the tune of about Rs 200 crore. ESTD-1983 ‘THIS IS NOT TIME FOR WAR' PM Modi says ready to help restore peace in Ukraine PTI VIENNA Kahiye to hum aapka pair chhu lete hain: Nitish to official PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he held "fruitful discussions" with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer during which they discussed in detail the ongoing disputes in the world, including the Ukraine conflict and situation in West Asia, reaffirming that "this is not the time for war". Modi, who arrived here from Moscow after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday night on a two-day visit - the first by an Indian prime minister in over 40 years, also said India and Austria identified new possibilities to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and prepared a blueprint for cooperation for the coming decade. 4Continued on | P6 PATNA Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Austrian President Alexander Van Der Bellen shake hands in Vienna Problems cannot be solved on the battlefield. The loss of innocent lives, anywhere, is unacceptable -PM Narendra Modi A livid Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday asked a representative of a private company to expedite a road project in Patna and even offered to touch his feet to speed it up. The septuagenarian's awkward gesture came at a function where a stretch of "JP Ganga Path", an expressway along the river that promises to ease traffic congestion in the city, was dedicated to the public. A presentation was made at the function, attended by dignitaries like Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha and local MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, on the progress of the project. Underweight Children State Dadra and Nagar Haveli Madhya Pradesh Bihar Lakshadweep Gujarat Total 31,269 66,44,529 85,64,304 4,202 32,65,967 Underweight (%) 31 24 23 23 21 Total 1,75,496 1,66,361 1,70,202 1,70,202 1,51,995 Underweight (%) 20 17 22 23 25 Major MP cities City Indore Bhopal Jabalpur Ujjain Gwalior Data has been taken from Poshan Tracker Dashboard by Ministry of Women & Child Development Department Kejriwal kingpin in excise case: ED PTI NEW DELHI Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal "directly used" part of the alleged Rs 100 crore generated from the "kickbacks" of the Delhi excise policy "scam" by staying in a luxury hotel in Goa, the ED has claimed in its charge sheet filed against the AAP supremo. Regarding Kejriwal's role, the 209-page charge sheet said, "Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi is the kingpin and key conspirator of the Delhi excise scam in collusion with ministers of Delhi govt, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and other persons." 4Continued on | P6 ‘VICTIM OF WITCH-HUNT’ hief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has contended before the Delhi High Court that he is a victim of "witch-hunt" by the ED and that cancellation of his bail granted by a trial court in the excise policylinked money laundering case would tantamount to "grave miscarriage of justice". Opposing the Enforcement Directorate's plea challenging his bail in the case, the embattled chief minister said discretionary orders of bail cannot be set aside merely on "perceptions and fanciful imagination" of the prosecution. C Our Staff Reporter State Cabinet on Wednesday okayed implementation of Centre’s National E-Vidhan Application thus paving way for paperless Assembly. The project would cost Rs 23.87 crore. State’s assembly will be third or fourth in the country to go paperless. Under Centre’s Digital India programme, all assemblies of country are to turn paper less. 4Continued on | P6 he Cabinet cleared purchase of twinengine aircraft from Canada’s Bombardier Company at Rs 233 crore. The company would provide Challenger 3500 to the state government within 20 months. It would be a modern air craft with state-of-art features. Two T BALAGHAT Jugti Bai gave birth at the district hospital Just two days before the World Population Day on Thursday, a 35-year-old woman becomes the mother of the tenth child in 30 years. The woman Jugti Bai belonging to the Baiga tribe gave birth to her tenth child at the district hospital. Jugti Bai’s eldest daughter is 22 years old. She was born when the woman was just 13. When Jugti Bai, wife of Aklu Singh Marawi, resident of Mohgaon, was suffering from labour pain, his family members rushed her to Birsa Hospital from where she was referred to the dis- 4Continued on | P6 companied had participated in the bid for the aircraft. Bombardier Company quoted the lowest price (L 1). The only state plane was damaged while landing at Gwalior airport during the corona period. Since then, the government had been using rented plane. Rs 217.73 cr more for Indore Central Jail n The Cabinet also approved Rs 217.73 crore for completion of Central Jail under construction at Sanver Road in Indore. n Approval of Bokaro Irrigation Project, costing Rs 46 crore. n Releasing of tenders for 7 projects of Narmada Valley Development Department. The cost of these projects is Rs 9,271.96 cr. n Rationalize scholarship rates for students residing in hostels, Ashram, Com- Assam finds real-life Harry Potter snake CM Himanta Sarma shares pics munity Welfare Centres operating under the aegis of Nomadic, Semi Nomadic Welfare Dept. Now, in place of Rs 1,230, Rs 1500 per month would be given to boys & Rs 1,590 instead of Rs 1,270 to girls. 3 killed as truck hits bus in Guna FP News Service GUNA Woman gives birth to 10th baby FP News Service The Supreme Court has rejected a petition that sought lowering of the cutoffs in All India Bar Examination (AIBE) for law graduates, with Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud adding a 'please study' advice for the petitioner. Currently, the cut-off for this exam is 45 per cent of general category of OBC candidates and 40 per cent for applicants from SC/ST categories. "They have put a cut-off of 45 for general, OBC and 40 for SC/ST ...what kind of lawyer will the person be if they cannot score this much?," the Chief Justice said. He then added, "Padho bhai". The All India Bar Examination is conducted by the Bar Council of India, and law graduates must clear it to start their practice. This exam is conducted in over 10 languages twice a year and can be taken at any age. The subjects in the exam are wide-ranging, including Constitutional laws, criminal laws, PILs, environmental laws and industry laws. Taxation and intellectual property laws are also part of the syllabus, along with several other branches. Govt to buy modern aircraft @ Rs 233 crore World Population Day trict hospital, because her condition was deteriorating. Dr Archana Lilhare of the district hospital who operated upon Jugti Bai said when the woman was brought to the hospital, her condition was serious. Nevertheless, the operation has been performed and the woman delivered a healthy child, Dr Lilhare said. Online Report NEW DELHI Cabinet nod to E-Vidhan app: MP Assembly to become paperless 4Continued on | P6 35-year-old Baiga woman’s first child was born when she was just 13 CJI’s ‘padho bhai’ advice over plea to cut-off marks Assam CM shared pictures of snake on his X account Online Report NEW DELHI In a good news for Harry Potter fans in India, a snake named after a character in the famous novel-turned-movie series has been found in Assam. Salazar pit viper, named after Salazar Slytherin, was found in Assam's Kaziranga National Park, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced this week. “Guess what, kids? Kaziranga just found a real-life Harry Potter snake! Meet the super cool Salazar Pit Viper: it’s green like magic and has a funky red-orange stripe on its head. Isn’t nature awesome?” wrote the Assam CM while sharing pictures of a greencoloured snake. 4Continued on | P6 Three persons were killed in Guna district on Wednesday when a speeding truck hit a stationary bus carrying labourers, a police official said. The incident took place near Janjali when support staff was replacing a punctured tyre of the bus which was going to Uttar Pradesh from Surat in Gujarat, Raghogarh police station in-charge Zuber Khan said. “A speeding truck hit the bus from behind,” he said. One person died on the spot, while two others succumbed to injuries in hospital, the official informed. The bus was carrying labourers from Gujarat to UP, he added. SEE DISTRICT PG