Vol. 68 No. 141 | Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 29 Pages | `5 & for Pune `6 only Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL Leader in E-paper circulation l www.freepressjournal.in ● EDITIONS: ● MUMBAI ● INDORE ● PUNE ● BHOPAL ● NASHIK ● KONKAN ● E-paper ● Member: Audit Bureau of Circulation (Jan to June 2024) GAMES NATION Oppn criticises PM Modi for skipping mention of Maha Kumbh stampede victims HC relief for Kokate in 1995 fraud case Urvi Mahajani MUMBAI In a relief for state minister Manikrao Kokate, the Bombay High Court has refused to interfere in the decision of a Nashik sessions court staying his conviction in a 1995 cheating and forgery case. Kokate, who belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) headed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, represents the Sinnar assembly constituency in Nashik district. The High Court was on Tuesday hearing an appeal by Anjali Rathod, daughter of former minister late Tukaram Dighole, who had originally filed the complaints against Kokate and his brother Sunil Kokate. Rathod had challenged the March 5 order of the Nashik sessions court staying the conviction. Justice RN Laddha said at this stage he was not going to interfere with the sessions court order and scheduled the appeal for hearing on April 21. The judge also issued notices to the respondents – state government and the Kokate brothers. 4Contd on | nation Briefs `177.3 bn for oil reserve fund The finance ministry, which is set to use the entire Oil Industry Development Fund to finance part of fertiliser subsidy and Liquified Petroleum Gas subsidy in 2025-26 (Apr-Mar), will transfer Rs 177.30 billion into the reserve fund out of net additional Rs 514.63 billion sought in the second batch of the supplementary demand for grants for FY25. The government has projected a draw-out of Rs 126 billion from the Oil Industry Development Fund in FY26. This is for the first time the government will be transfering funds into the Consolidated Fund of India from the Oil Industry Development Fund in the Public Account of India. SEE P17 SC delegation for Manipur A six-judge Supreme Court delegation, led by Justice BR Gavai, will visit relief camps in violence-hit Manipur on March 22 to bolster legal and humanitarian aid. The delegation includes Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, MM Sundresh, KV Viswanathan, and N Kotishwar. Cinema Sadia: Do you want me to walk out of this interview? AB De Villiers wants Virat Kohli to play smart cricket for RCB this season NAGPUR VIOLENCE | Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says the film on Shivaji Maharaj ignited emotions and that anger towards Aurangzeb was coming to the fore Fadnavis blames it on Chhaava NAGPUR RETURNING TO NORMAL FPJ News Service Edit Can any political party really benefit from polarisation? Limited energy, infrastructure ceasefire Agencies WASHINGTON Us President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded a call in which White House pushed its 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine aimed at ending the grinding war. The call lasted over two hours. The Guardian, quoting the White House reported that Russia had agreed to a limited energy and infrastructure ceasefire in Ukraine. It quoted a statement in which White House said both sides had agreed to hold TRUMP-PUTIN CALL ON UKRAINE “technical negotiations” on a maritime ceasefire, and, further, full ceasefire and permanent peace. “These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East" the White House said. Trump and Putin also “agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the US and Russia has huge upside,” with “enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability.” Readout of President Don- ald J. Trump’s Call with President Vladimir Putin: "Today, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia.The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people. 4Contd on | nation MUMBAI Prajakta Pol MUMBAI Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seemed to explain the violence that engulfed Nagpur as relating to the Vicky Kaushal starrer Chhaava. “I am not blaming any film, but Chhaava has presented the true history of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. After that, people’s emotions have been ignited, and the anger towards Aurangzeb is coming to the forefront” the Chief Minister told the state legislature on Tuesday. (“Mi Kuthlyahi Cinema la dosh det nahi, Pan Chhava Cinema mule lokanchya bhavana prajvalit zalya. Lokancha Aurangzeb baddal cha raag baher yetoy”) Giving a detailed sequence of events, he said that the violence broke out in Nagpur, which happens to be home constituency of the Chief Minister, following a protest on March 17 demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. What started as a demonstration soon escalated as religious rumours spread, leading to arson, attacks on homes, and clashes with the police, leaving several officers and civilians injured. Addressing the Legislative Assembly, CM Devendra Fadnavis gave a detailed statement Fadnavis said that at 11:30 AM, workers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal staged a protest in Nagpur’s Mahal area, Tensions in Nagpur remained high on Tuesday even as authorities confirmed large parts of the city were returning to normal under a heavy security presence. Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal stated that over 50 individuals had been taken into custody for their involvement in the violence. He added that authorities were actively reviewing CCTV footage and social media posts to identify additional suspects. “The situation is peaceful now. We have imposed a curfew in the jurisdiction of 11 police stations, and the situation is under control,” Singal told ANI. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation Gaza Strip attack ‘AMERICA leaves 404 dead FIRST NOT AMERICA ALONE’ PTI NEW DELHI AP DEIR AL-BALAH, GAZA STRIP Israel struck across the Gaza Strip early on Tuesday, killing at least 404 Palestinians, including women and children, according to hospital officials. The surprise bombardment shattered a ceasefire in place since January and threatened to fully reignite the 17-monthold war. Over 500 have been injured. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement. Officials said the operation was open-ended and was expected to expand. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel’s actions. The Israeli military ordered people to evacuate eastern Gaza, including much of the northern town of Beit Hanoun and other communities further south, and head toward the center of the territory, indicating that Israel could soon launch renewed ground operations. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Netanyahu’s office said. The attack during Ramadan could resume a war that has already killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. US President Donald Trump's policy of "America First" should not be misunderstood as "America alone" as it is similar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to "India first", US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard pointed out on Tuesday. Addressing the Raisina Dialogue, Gabbard said President Trump's commitment to "America first" and putting the security and freedom of Americans at the forefront of his policies shouldn't be misunderstood as "America alone." This approach is similar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to "India first" or New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's policy of "New Zealand first", she stressed. "This is the expectation of any leader's commitment to their people to serve them and to put their interests at the forefront of their decisions." 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation The White House was consulted and a green signal was given for Israel to go ahead with the attack. Renewed ground operations are expected. offgrid PM invites Sunita Williams to India FPJ News Service MUMBAI As NASA astronaut Sunita Williams begins her descent to Earth following a historic nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), India radiates with pride. According to NASA, Williams and her crewmate, Barry Wilmore, undocked from the ISS at 10:35 AM IST, embarking on a 17-hour journey back to Earth. Their spacecraft, SpaceX’s Dragon, led by Elon Musk’s company, is set to splash down off the coast of Florida at approximately 3:27 AM IST on Wednesday. While the splashdown marks the technical end of her mission, for millions in India, this moment transcends geography—it is a celebration of heritage, resilience, and the unbreakable ties that bind a nation to its diaspora. In Jhulasan, the quiet Gujarat village where Williams’ father, Deepak Pandya, once lived before emigrating to the U.S. in 1957, anticipation crackles like static. Streets shimmer with marigold garlands and twinkling lights, temples hum with devotional hymns, and fireworks stand ready to ignite the night. For its 5,000 residents, her return is a cosmic Diwali. “The energy here is palpable. We’ve kept an Akhand Jyot (eternal flame) burning for her safety. She may live oceans away, but her soul remains rooted here,” says her cousin, Navin Pandya. 4Contd on | nation Water Metro to change city transport Kalpesh Mhamunkar MUMBAI The Maharashtra government’s Port Department is set to launch the Mumbai Water Metro, a faster and more comfortable commuting option for Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Inspired by the successful Kochi Water Metro, this ambitious project aims to decongest road traffic and offer a sustainable transport alternative. Nitesh Rane, Minister of the Port Department, confirmed the development in an interview with FPJ on Tuesday, stating that the project is in its early stages and is expected to be operational within two years. "To ease congestion, we are launching the Mumbai Water Metro, modeled after the Kochi Water Metro in Kerala," Rane said. The same company that designed and executed the Kochi Water Metro has been invited to collaborate on Mumbai’s project. Initial meetings with Kochi Metro officials have already taken place, and Rane has directed them to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR). 4Contd on | nation WATERWORLD: The Mumbai Water Metro will connect key locations across the city and its suburbs, enhancing travel efficiency. The department is considering 8 to 9 stations, including: Nariman Point, Worli, Dadar, Bandra, Versova, Marve and Gorai.