Wednesday, April 2, 2025 | 28 Pages | `5 & for State (+4 pages) `6 only Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL Vol. 68 No. 153 | Leader in E-paper circulation l www.freepressjournal.in ● EDITIONS: ● MUMBAI ● INDORE ● PUNE ● BHOPAL ● NASHIK ● KONKAN ● E-paper ● Member: Audit Bureau of Circulation (July to December 2024) NATION Agencies resumed a seekand-destroy operation in Kathua’s forested area to locate terrorists Briefs Gold prices surge to `94k Gold prices soared by ₹2,000 on Tuesday, marking the steepest rise in nearly two months and reaching an all-time high of ₹94,150 per 10 grams in the national capital. This surge, fuelled by persistent buying from stockists and jewellers, follows Friday’s closing price of ₹92,150, according to the All India Sarafa Association. Analysts attribute the rally to stronger global demand for gold as a safehaven asset amidst declining equity markets. Gold of 99.5% purity also reached a record ₹93,700 per 10 grams, up ₹2,000 from its previous close of ₹91,700. The previous largest single-day gain occurred on February 10, when gold surged ₹2,400 per 10 grams. NHAI hikes toll by 4-5% Motorists will face higher costs for highway travel, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has increased toll charges by 4-5% across the country. The revised rates, effective from Tuesday, apply to all national highways and expressways, confirmed a senior highways ministry official. The hike is part of NHAI’s annual revision, linked to inflation and rising road maintenance costs. Russia considers US proposal Russia is seriously considering US President Donald Trump’s proposal but has rejected it in its current form. Moscow has issued new demands, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stating that while US models are taken seriously, they fail to address the root causes of the conflict. "This must be overcome," he emphasized in an interview with International Affairs. WhatsApp bans 9.7mn A/c WhatsApp banned 9.7 million accounts in India in February 2025 for violating its Terms of Service. Over 1.4 million of these accounts were proactively removed before any complaints. The company, which has 500 million users in India, relies on AI moderation and reporting tools to curb abuse. Common violations include spamming, unauthorized messaging, and the spread of misinformation. WhatsApp urges users to act responsibly and respect privacy. It also provides an appeal process for wrongful bans through in-app requests. These actions align with India’s IT Rules 2021, ensuring a safer platform. Shin Bet appt cancelled Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has rolled back his decision to appoint ViceAdmiral Eli Sharvit as the new head of Shin Bet, Israel’s security agency, following opposition from political allies and the involvement of two of his aides in the “Qatargate” scandal. The decision was rescinded after the arrest of two of Netanyahu’s close aides, Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, for their alleged involvement in the scandal. GAMES Cinema How actress Anjali Anand dodged casting couch Arshdeep Singh feels his success is due to his ability to do constructive self criticism Edit A New Year that began with questions rather than answers COUNTDOWN | India works on tariff imbroglio as Trump claims once again that India has cut tariffs Sensex plunges across the spectrum. ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs kick in today, threatening world trade equilibrium 1,390 pts over India to slash tariffs significantly: Trump INDIA’S CHESSBOARD MOVES ON TARIFFS FPJ News Service MUMBAI FPJ News Service MUMBAI US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that India would substantially reduce tariffs on American goods, a move he suggested should have happened long ago. "I think I heard just a little while ago that India is going to be dropping its tariffs very substantially, and I said, why didn't somebody do this a long time ago?" Trump remarked. His comments came in response to a question about whether the impending US tariffs—set to take effect on Wednesday—might push other nations to align more closely with China. Trump dismissed such concerns, in- sisting that his tariff policy would, in fact, benefit affected countries. "No, I'm not worried about it. I think they have a chance of doing better, actually, with the tariffs. It can help them in a certain way, and I believe many of them will drop their tariffs because they've been unfairly imposing tariffs on the United Waqf Bill showdown in Lok Sabha today Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI Sparks are set to fly in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill is tabled for an eight-hour debate. Even before the debate begins, the entire INDIA bloc has tentatively decided to vote against the bill, though they will actively participate and fight it “tooth and nail.” The bill, which seeks to revise Waqf property management, has drawn fierce opposition, with critics branding it unconstitutional and an attack on Muslim rights. While the BJP insists the amendments will enhance transparency, opposition parties allege a hidden agenda to undermine minority rights. Following the meeting, chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker INDIA bloc decides to vote against the bill. BJP, TDP, JD(U), opposition parties have issued a whip to their MPs to remain present in the House Om Birla, Rijiju, also the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said he had proposed to the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) that the Centre would bring the Waqf Amendment Bill on April 2, for which eight hours of discussion time would be allocated. He noted that the time could be extended based on the House's consensus. 4Contd on | nation States for years," he said. Citing an example, Trump pointed to the European Union's recent tariff reduction on US-manufactured cars. "If you look at the European Union, they've already dropped their tariff on US cars down to 2.5%. 4Contd on | nation As the clock ticks toward the imposition of worldwide tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump, India is not sitting idle. The commerce ministry is actively assessing different scenarios to gauge the impact of the reciprocal tariffs the US plans to announce on April 2, sources said. Emkay Research suggests that although India might be one of the most affected countries due to broad reciprocal differentials, key vulnerable sectors such as auto, pharma, and electronics are better positioned than initially expected. On the other hand, apparel and gems/jewellery remain the most exposed. Urvi Mahajani The Bombay High Court has ruled that 24x7 convenience stores cannot be forced to shut at 11 PM, stating there is no legal embargo on their operations. The court restrained Pune police from coercing a Hadapsar-based store, The New Shop, into closing early. A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Advait Sethna emphasized that round-theclock stores enhance consumer convenience, especially for those with nonstandard working hours, while also boosting the economy. “Such stores facilitate ease and flexibility for consumers and generate employment—crucial in a country like ours where unemployment remains a challenge,” the court observed. While the Maharashtra government has imposed specific timings for certain businesses, the court clarified that under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, convenience stores face no such restrictions. “Only establishments like hookah bars, permit rooms, and dance bars have time limitations. Even cinema theatres were allowed to operate 24 hours in 2020,” the bench noted. The ruling came in response to a plea by Accelerate Productx Ventures Pvt. Ltd., which runs The New Shop in Hadapsar. 4Contd on | nation ties. Concerns are mounting among Indian exporters and industry leaders over the potential impact of these tariffs, which could make Indian goods uncompetitive in global markets. The US remains India’s largest trading partner, and sources suggest that the repercussions will vary across sectors. The commerce ministry is preparing multiple scenarios to help domestic companies navigate the uncertainty surrounding the scope and scale of US tariffs. The US Trade Representative’s (USTR) National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report 2025 has pointed out that India maintains "high" import duties on various Indian stock markets took a sharp nosedive on Tuesday, driven by fears that President Trump's much-anticipated reciprocal tariff ‘tsunami’ could spark an escalating trade war, hurting the global economy. The BSE Sensex saw its steepest drop to start the new financial year, plunging 1,390 points to close at 76,024.51, while the NSE Nifty slid by 353.65 points, ending at 23,165.70. Banking and IT stocks were among the hardest hit, suffering heavy sell-offs. Reflecting the downtrend, investors’ wealth eroded by Rs 3.44 lakh crore, and the market capitalisation of BSElisted firms witnessed a sharp decline. “Global markets are now laser-focused on the details of these tariffs. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation FPJ News Service NEW DELHI “This shocks our conscience. There is something called the right to shelter, something called due process.” The Supreme Court has condemned the Prayagraj Development Authority for illegally demolishing six homes, calling the action “inhumane and illegal,” and has directed compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each affected individual. The bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, ruled that the demolitions violated due process and the fundamental right to shelter under Article 21 of the Constitution. “The authorities must remember that the right to shelter is an integral part of Article 21. Considering this gross violation, we direct the Prayagraj Development Authority to pay Rs 10 lakh each to the appellants,” the Court stated. The Court expressed shock at the highhanded manner in which these demolitions were carried out. “This shocks our conscience. There is something called the right to shelter, something called due process,” Justice Oka remarked. The authorities had merely affixed demolition notices instead of serving them in person or via registered post, depriving the residents of a fair opportunity to challenge the action. The show-cause notice under Section 27 of the U.P. Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, was issued on December 18, 2020, and affixed the same day with a remark that two attempts had been made to serve it in person. 4Contd on | nation FPJ News Service NEW DELHI A massive explosion at an illegal firecracker factory on Dhunwa Road in Deesa, Gujarat, killed 21 workers on Monday, leaving several others injured. The blast caused the building to collapse, scattering debris and human remains up to 200 meters away. Among the dead are four to In a plot twist worthy of any Bollywood script, Babloo from Uttar Pradesh has outdone even the most melodramatic soap operas. The man who, just days ago, legally arranged for his wife Radhika to marry her lover Vikas, is now scrambling to bring her back. Talk about a dramatic flip-flop. The saga began on March 25 when Babloo, fearing for his life after reading too many crime stories about husbands getting a raw deal at the hands of their wives, took an unconventional approach. Instead of confronting Radhika about her affair with Vikas, Babloo took a bold leap and played the role of the understanding husband. He went to court, had the marriage paperwork notarized, and even witnessed Radhika's marriage to Vikas in a temple ceremony. A peaceful divorce without a single fight—he called it the ‘new-age’ solution. But as it often happens in the world of love triangles, things didn’t go as smoothly as 4Contd on | nation Drones to aid PWD in road, bridge projects NEW DELHI MUMBAI FPJ News Service ‘April Fools’ surprise Imagine rain in Mumbai just as April begins. On April 1, parts of the city saw unexpected drizzles, hinting at an unpredictable weather shift. With rising humidity and the possibility of unseasonal showers ahead, meteorologists predict thunderstorms could develop from Wednesday onwards. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has brushed aside speculation about his political future, asserting that he remains a monk at heart, even as a section of people see him as a future prime minister. In an interview with PTI, Adityanath dismissed reports of differences between him and BJP's central leadership, emphasizing that he holds the chief minister's post because of the party. "Can I remain in this position if I have differences with the party's central leaders?" he asked, adding that while he cannot stop speculation, he remains committed to the BJP’s mandate. When questioned about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) support for him, Adityanath stated that the Hindutva organization backs anyone "committed to Bharat" and inspires those who are not to find the right path. His primary role, he reiterated, is to serve the people of Uttar Pradesh, as entrusted to him by the BJP. "I am the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, and the party has placed me here to serve the people of the state," he said. On being asked about growing public support for him as a future prime ministerial candidate, Adityanath responded, 4Contd on | nation Love, divorce, regret: Babloo’s bizarre U-Turn FPJ News Service five teenagers. The factory owner, Khubchand Sindhi, has absconded, triggering a manhunt. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced Rs 4 lakh for the deceased’s families and Rs 50,000 for the injured. However, grieving families rejected the compensation, demanding their sons be brought back instead. YOGI BINS PM SPECULATION offgrid MUMBAI Palazhi Ashok Kumar MUMBAI SC slams UP demolition, Deesa firecracker orders `60 lakh payout blast kills 21 workers ‘No curfew for 24x7 convenience stores’ MUMBAI Trump has declared April 2 as "Liberation Day," aiming to impose tariffs or import duties to reduce America’s trade deficit and boost domestic manufacturing. In parallel, India and the US are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement to strengthen commerce and investment tariff fears Babloo had imagined. Just three days after the wedding, the man who once arranged his wife’s marriage to another man, showed up at Vikas’s house pleading for Radhika’s return. His reason? He couldn’t handle their two children, ages seven and two, all by himself. Apparently, managing toddlers is harder than orchestrating a wedding. “I realized I made a mistake,” Babloo confessed in his most regretful tone, as if being a father was a role he had underestimated. “I need Rad- hika back to help with the kids. And honestly, I can’t live without her,” he added, invoking the kind of sorrow that only someone who has missed out on an easy escape can truly feel. Radhika, it seems, was less than thrilled with the speed of this turn of events. Her mother-in-law, Gayatri, had initially opposed the whole idea, but when Babloo brought the children into the mix, it was a deal-breaker. 4Contd on | nation From (L to R): Babloo (Husband), Vikas (Lover) and Radhika (Wife) Ravikiran Deshmukh The state Public Works Department (PWD) has decided to integrate drone technology into its operations for surveying, monitoring, and inspecting roads, bridges, and buildings. In a circular issued on Tuesday, the PWD directed its regional and divisional offices to adopt drone technology, outlining comprehensive guidelines for its usage. PWD engineers can now deploy drones to inspect bridges that are typically inaccessible during monsoons, survey high-rise buildings over 18 meters tall, and assess land acquisition sites to streamline compensation payments. Drones will also assist in topographical surveys of land parcels exceeding 10 acres and in mapping governmentowned vacant plots for creating a land bank. The technology will be instrumental in surveying hazardous structures, assessing damage from landslides and floods, and monitoring infrastructure submerged in water. For large-scale projects exceeding ₹100 crore, drones will be used to track progress and draft reports. Regional PWD offices will oversee drone usage, maintain a central database, and contribute to formulating a second-phase drone policy, the circular states.