FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLI No. 267 | INDORE | WEDNESDAY | MARCH 5, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in Sports Babar, Rizwan axed from T20s, Rizwan stays ODI captain P.13 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN MONEY PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Conscience or convenience? P.6 Dollar falls to 3-month low as tariffs, growth fears hit markets World Doctors’ team examines Imran in jail P.10 TARIFF WAR KICKS OFF | Tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China now in effect IT IS US V/S REST OF THE WORLD FP News Service WASHINGTON Free Press Pride of Bhopal Award Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla (seated third from right in front row) poses with the winners of Free Press Pride of Bhopal Award at a function organised by Free Press in Bhopal on Tuesday. Shukla feted 24 people from the city for their contribution in the development of Bhopal. Minister of State Skill Development (Independent charge) Gotam Tetwal and MLA Bhagwan Das Sabnani were special guests. Also present at the function was executive editor of Free Press Bhopal, Nitendra Sharma. Full report on pg14 Baseless: India slams UN Rights chief's Kashmir, Manipur remarks Agencies GENEVA India has slammed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk's "unfounded and baseless" remarks in the 58th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council regarding the situations in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur. Addressing the session on Monday, India's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi criticized the comments made in the High Commissioner's global update for the use of "loose terminology" and the apparent "cherry-picking" of situations. Further, Bagchi emphasized that India, the world's largest democracy, remains a vibrant, pluralistic society. He noted that the concerns raised in the UN update were disconnected from the realities on the ground in India. "The people of India have repeatedly proven wrong such misplaced concerns about us," Bagchi said, urging for a better understanding of India's diversity and openness. 4Continued on | P8 LoP’s wife moves SC US TURNS MILITARY AID TAP, against HC order to ZELENSKYY FALLS IN LINE quash FIR on Singhar FP News Service HC had quashed FIR in suicide case Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Pratima Mudgal, the wife of leader of opposition (LoP) Umang Singhar, has filed a special leave petition in Supreme Court against the High Court order given on January 5, 2022 in which an FIR was quashed against Singhar, in a suicide case, sources said on Tuesday. The wife raised serious allegations on Singhar and raised the issue of suicide victim Sonia Bhardwaj. In the petition it is stated that on May 17, 2021 Sonia was found hanging in Singhar’s house. Shahpura police station had registered a case in the matter. It is stated that Singhar with the help of his brother-in-law who is an IPS officer had tried to cover the case as suicide. It is stated that the son of the deceased had also written a letter to Bhopal police covering LONDON Marriage saga l Singhar first got married with Ashawari in 1997. Later she took divorce. l In 2013, he came in contact with Vineeta Grover l In 2020, Singhar came in contact with Sonia Bhardwaj and after Roka ceremony, they started live-in l In April 2022, Pratima came in contact Singhar in the incident, which is unusual at the time of grief. She also stated that if Singhar had not committed murder of Sonia, then why he was absconding for six months. In the petition, she alleged that the High Court had failed to observe several points and have made errors in examining the case. She claimed that he had married her without taking divorce from her two more wives and also alleged that Singhar had caused rift between her husband and marry her on April 16, 2022. 4Continued on | P8 Lost 50 acres in Indore, DAVV to get 100 acres in Jhabua Atul Gautam INDORE The Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), which lost 50 acres of land in Indore earmarked for its long pending medical college project, is now set to receive 100 acres in Jhabua district. According to vice chancellor Prof Rakesh Singhai, the university has identified suitable land and the state government has given in principle approval for its allotment. “We are hopeful that the land will be transferred to the university soon,” he said. Last week, the VC had visited Jhabua district where MEDICAL COLLEGE PROJECT an agreement on the land was reached with the district administration officials. The medical college project, envisioned 24 years ago, had remained a non-starter due to fund crunch. The state government had allotted 50 acres to DAVV at Bada Bangarda in Indore in  2001 for the proposed medical college but took back possession of half of the land in 2013 as the university did not do any construction in 12 years. In 2021, the government informed the university that it had taken back the remaining 25 acres also as DAVV medical college remained just on paper. However, about four months ago, the government itself sought DPR from the university for setting up the college in Jhabua district, proposing to allocate funds too. The government’s move has given a new lease of life to the DAVV’s most ambitious project. BADLAPUR! Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is ready to work under Trump's 'strong leadership.' He added that he is also ready to sign a minerals and security agreement with the United States. Regarding his meeting with Trump in Washington, at the White House on Friday, Zelenskyy said it did not go the way it was supposed to be. ‘‘It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like fu- Disputed shrine tag for Sambhal Jama Masjid FP News Service MUMBAI The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday ruled that the Sambhal Jama Masjid must be referred to as a “disputed structure” while hearing a petition from the mosque management committee seeking permission to whitewash the centuries-old building. The directive, issued after demands from the Hindu side, injects fresh legal weight into an already fraught battle over the mosque’s origins and ownership. The dispute hinges on claims that the 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid was built over the ruins of a Hindu temple—Harihar Mandir—allegedly razed on the orders of Mughal emperor Babur. Tensions erupted last November when a court-mandated survey of the site triggered largescale unrest in Sambhal, with demonstrators opposing what they saw as an encroachment on religious heritage. At the heart of Tuesday’s hearing was a petition filed by the mosque committee challenging an ASI report, which stated that whitewashing the structure was unnecessary at this stage. 4Continued on | P8 India avenge 2023 defeat, storm into CT final PTI Haridev Pushparaj MUMBAI Under the dazzling Dubai lights, Team India took a collective deep breath, stepped onto the field, and rewrote history. With that, the ghosts of 2023 have been exorcised? The lingering pain of that fateful night against Australia has been avenged. In a game that had all the makings of a classic, India overpowered their old nemesis by four wickets, sealing their place in the ICC Champions Trophy final in the most emphatic fashion. Virat Kohli excelled in the middle but Rohit Sharma is the first skipper in the world to reach the final of all four ICC events When India set out to chase Australia’s tricky 265-run target, all eyes were on one man—Virat Kohli. He has spent years crafting master- pieces in chases, and tonight was no different. The maestro played an innings of patience, precision, and pure grit, crafting a crucial 84 off 98 balls. He ran like a man possessed, turning ones into twos, and twos into “are-you-kiddingme” threes, pushing the Aussie fielders to their limits. Yet, just when it seemed like Kohli would guide India home with another signature century, he attempted an uncharacteristic hook over midwicket, only to find the safe hands of Marnus Labuschagne. Momentary silence enveloped the Indian dressing room, but KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya knew what needed to be done. 4Continued on | P8 ture cooperation and communication to be constructive,’’ he added. The discernible U-turn came a few hours after President Trump directed a "pause" in US military assistance to Ukraine. The decision to pause military aid means that it is now the responsibility of Europe to do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine is able to hold the frontline against Russia, France’s foreign minister said on Tuesday. France also said that US president’s decision to suspend weapons’ de- liveries in the middle of a war signalled that the US was abandoning Kyiv and letting Russia win. Ukraine’s allies were not told in advance of Trump’s  decision to pause military aid, Poland’s foreign ministry has said. A White House official on Monday said Trump is focused on reaching a peace deal to end the more than three-year war sparked by Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, and wants Zelenskyy "committed" to that goal. 4Continued on | P8 Stock markets felt the jitters as they opened on Tuesday, responding to mounting anxieties about the global economy, after President Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, and Beijing and Ottawa announced swift retaliation. The escalating trade war added to global uncertainty that was reinforced by the Trump administration’s decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine. Trump's new 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada took effect on Tuesday, along with a doubling of duties on Chinese goods to 20%, launching new trade conflicts with the top three US trading partners. The tariff actions could upend nearly $2.2 trillion in two-way annual U.S. trade. ‘‘No room left for Mexico or for Canada," Trump said at the White House on Monday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded: "Canada will Sensex sinks Falling for the third straight day, benchmark BSE Sensex declined by 96 points to close below the 73,000 mark on Tuesday amid global equity rout on tariff war worries and persistent foreign fund outflows. The 30share BSE barometer closed at 72,989.93, down by 96.01 points or 0.13 per cent, as 18 of its components declined and 12 settled with gains not let this unjustified decision go unanswered." Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told reporters that Ottawa planned to impose retaliatory tariffs agains 4Continued on | P8 China slaps extra tariffs on US imports China announced Tuesday it will impose additional tariffs of up to 15% on imports of key US farm products, including chicken, pork, soy and beef. The tariffs announced by the Commerce Ministry are due to take effect from March 10. They follow US President Donald Trump's order to raise tariffs on imports of Chinese products to 20% across the board. Those took effect on Tuesday