Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | 28 Pages | `5 & for State (+4 pages) `6 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. 164 | 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) GAMES NATION BJP, Congress attack each other for disrespecting Ambedkar ANNOUNCEMENT S S Dhawan, who spearheaded and shaped the editorial operations of The Free Press Journal since 2004 as Editor, has demitted office on April 14, 2025. The Free Press Joural was redesigned under his stewardship and the circulation has increased vastly in these years, so much so that The Free Press Journal is the only English daily in Mumbai which is certified and audited by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. V Sudarshan, Executive Editor (Operations) since November 2023, succeeds S S Dhawan as Editor with effect from April 14, 2025. Briefs Telangana notification Telangana has become the first state to implement Scheduled Castes (SC) categorisation, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced. A Gazette notification was issued on April 14, coinciding with BR Ambedkar’s birth anniversary. Based on Justice Shameem Akther's commission report, 59 SC communities are grouped into three categories: Group-I gets 1%, Group-II 9%, and Group-III 5% of the total 15% reservation in jobs and education. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy called it a “historic Act of Social Justice.” The government rejected the creamy layer exemption and will adjust quotas post-2026 census. Implementation begins immediately, following Supreme Court endorsement. 4 states back Waqf Law Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on petitions challenging the Waqf Amendment Act 2025, the States of Assam, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra have filed intervention pleas supporting the legislation. They have sought to be impleaded in the case filed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and others. Rajasthan, while acknowledging the petition’s constitutional concerns as "wellintentioned", argued it overlooks practical administrative challenges faced by State authorities. The intervention signals growing State support for the Centre’s move, potentially strengthening the government’s defence of the amended Act before the apex court. Edit Decoding concerns over Waqf reforms and their legality LONG ARM OF THE LAW | Wanted for his involvement in the `13,000 crore PNB scam, his extradition may not be easy BELGIUM ARRESTS MEHUL CHOKSI Ashish Singh & Charul Shah Joshi MUMBAI In a major breakthrough, fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi was arrested in Belgium on Saturday, April 12, following an extradition request by Indian probe agencies for his alleged involvement in the over Rs13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. Following his arrest, his lawyers are now preparing another set of legal battles first for his bail and later to contest the extradition. While India is gearing up for the extradition proceedings, sources reveal that a high-level Indian delegation, including officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, along with legal representatives from CBI and ED, is preparing to travel to Belgium. Their mission is to attend court hearings and push for India's case for Choksi's extradition, hoping to expedite the legal proceedings. This is India’s second attempt to bring him back. Choksi has been arrested after the extradition request sent by the Indian government to the Belgian Ministry of Justice in connection with the PNB bank fraud case. India’s first attempt to extradite Choksi had failed as the request was turned down by the government of Antigua in 2021. Besides, the attempt also backfired as Choksi in its defence had claimed that Indian officials tried to kidnap him from Dominica where he was allegedly honey trapped, the issue Choksi still uses in his defence. While India is preparing for Choksi’s extradition proceedings, his team of lawyers are taking it step by step, focusing to get him out on medical grounds. It is said that Choksi had moved to Belgium to avail treatment for cancer. Besides, the second major ground for defence would be that Choksi is no longer a citizen of India. The sources from the central agency claimed that as soon as Choksi moved out of Antigua to Belgium, Indian agencies revved up their attempt to extradite him six months ago in 2024. Indian law enforcement agencies indicated that he had traveled to Belgium, allegedly for medical treatment and to be with family—particularly his wife, who holds Belgian citizenship. City water tankers are back in action Ravikiran Deshmukh MUMBAI Devashri Bhujbal MUMBAI In a huge relief for the residents of Mumbai, the Mumbai Water Tankers Association (MWTA) withdrew their strike on Monday and started regular tanker water supply from the evening. The announcement was made by MWTA a day after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) invoked the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and took over operations of all private water tankers and borewells in the city. The island city was reeling under severe water crisis as the MWTA went on strike from April 10, suspending all tanker 4Contd on | nation 4See also | city, nation SGNP slum eviction, rehab plan revived after 28 years water supply, as mark of protest against the notices issued to comply with Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) 2020 guidelines. The MWTA withdrew their strike after meeting BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani who promised the association to help the well-owners conveying their demands to the Government of India, help them obtaining the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from CGWA, as well as revocation of notices issued to ring-well and borewells owners to shut the operations if they fail to obtain the NOC. Nearly twenty eight years after the Bombay High Court first rapped the Maharashtra government over unchecked encroachments in the ecologically sensitive Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), the state has finally taken a concrete step. Two sevenmember committees — one for Mumbai, the other for Thane — have now been formed to oversee the twin tasks of evicting illegal encroachers and rehabilitating eligible slum dwellers. The issue was first raised through a writ petition in 1995. Two years later, in 1997, the HC directed the state to identify and rehabilitate those eligible, while evicting the rest. In 2023, after years of inaction, the matter returned to the court in the form of a public interest litigation filed by Samyak Janhit Seva and a contempt petition by the Conservation Action Trust. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation FILE PIC Modi blames Congress Legend Sharath Lodha brothers for distorted Waqf laws Kamal interacts bury hatchet with FPJ team Rajesh Moudgil CHANDIGARH Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party during his public address in Hisar on Monday, accusing it of distorting the Waqf laws for “appeasement politics” to secure its vote bank. He argued that had the Waqf Board functioned as originally intended, Muslims in India would not have been relegated to poverty and menial jobs, such as “fixing punctures”. Modi claimed Congress altered the Waqf laws in 2013 to serve electoral interests, with no regard for constitutional principles. He accused the party of spreading the “vote bank ka T President Droupadi Murmu with PM Narendra Modi, Union Minister JP Nadda, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and party leader Sonia Gandhi at a ceremony to pay tribute to BR Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, in New Delhi, Monday. PIC: PTI virus” over its opposition to the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act. He further alleged that Congress had “crushed the spirit of the Constitution to stay in power” and had treated SC, ST and OBC communities as second-class citizens. “Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted to bring equality, but the Congress spread the virus of vote bank politics across the country. able Tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal visited The Free Press Journal Office on Monday and interacted with the print and online media team . Khel Ratna award winner Kamal, who brought an end to his illustrious 22-year professional career recently, talked in length about his achievements, current scenario of Indian table tennis, and his future plans. The five-time Olympian pointed out Commonwealth Gold (CWG) in 2006 as the defining moment of his career. He went on to win 13 CWG medals which included seven gold medals. 2018 was the biggest moment of his career when he won two Asiad golds in men's team event and mixed doubles, which changed the face of Table Tennis in India. An Olympic medal eluded the star athlete who was the flag bearer of India at the Paris Olympics along with PV Sindhu. He now wants to work behind the scenes to produce an Olympic medallist for India in next 8-12 years. REPORT ON GAMES 4Contd on | nation 4See also | nation Waqf stir violence spreads in Bengal Aritra Singha KOLKATA The violent protests over amended Waqf law continued to rock West Bengal, spreading from communally sensitive border district of Murshidabad to South 24 Parganas as supporters of Indian Secular Front (ISF) clashed with police in Bhangar, a regular trouble spot, on Monday. Five police motorcycles were torched and a prison van was vandalized when policemen Unseasonal showers Unseasonal rains have hit Maharashtra and several other parts of the country, causing severe damage— especially to farmers. Standing crops and orchards have suffered extensive losses. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a fresh warning for heavy rainfall over the next five days. The recent unseasonal showers, particularly accompanied by hailstorms, have devastated orchards across the state. Heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds, is expected in several districts of Maharashtra as well as in eastern and northeastern India. Cinema Nandish Sandhu's tryst with fame's dark side DC batter Karun Nair waited for his chance and showed readiness when it came with 40-ball 89 Trump signals early decision on Iran Agencies ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he expected to make a decision on Iran very quickly, after both countries said they held "positive" and "constructive"talks in Oman on Saturday and agreed to reconvene this week. Trump, who has threatened military action if no deal is reached on halting Iran's nuclear program, told reporters aboard Air Force One that he met with advisers on Iran and expected a quick decision, Reuters reported. Trump gave no further details. "We'll be making a decision on Iran very quickly," he said. Axios cited two sources with knowledge of the issue as saying that a second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran would take place next Saturday in Rome. 4Contd on | nation S Balakrishnan MUMBAI In a significant development, the Lodha siblings — Abhishek Lodha and his younger brother Abhinandan Lodha — and the companies led by them, have amicably resolved all outstanding disputes under the guidance of their parents. They are sons of Mangalprabhat Lodha, a minister in the Devendra Fadnavis ministry in Maharashtra and BJP legislator from Malabar Hill. In a joint statement, the brothers said Macrotech Developers Ltd. (“MDL”), is the owner of, and has the exclusive right to use, the brand names ‘Lodha’ and ‘Lodha Group’. Abhinandan Lodha, is the owner of, and has the exclusive right to use the brand name ‘House of Abhinandan Abhishek Lodha and Abhinandan Lodha (R) Lodha’ (“HoABL”). “Lodha Group and ‘House of Abhinandan Lodha’ have no connection with each other. Both entities will communicate this widely,” the statement added. Abhinandan has no rights or claims in Lodha Group or MDL or other businesses of Abhishek. Abhishek has no rights or claims in HoABL or other businesses of Abhinandan. 4Contd on | nation PARAS QUITS NDA Patna: Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party chief Pashupati Kumar Paras announced his party’s exit from the BJP-led NDA on Monday, citing “injustice” towards Dalits. He said RLJP was ignored at NDA meetings and not mentioned by BJP or JD(U) leaders. At an Ambedkar Jayanti event in Patna, Paras said RLJP would consider aligning with Mahagathbandhan if “proper respect” was offered. He has held several meetings this year with RJD chief Lalu stopped the supporters of ISF's lone MLA Naushad Siddique from proceeding to the Ramlila Maidan in central Kolkata for a rally to be addressed by their leader against the new law on governing Muslim charitable properties. Bhangar has hit the headlines over the years for political violence. Once a TMC fortress, the assembly seat was wrested by ISF in the last state elections and since then, 4Contd on | nation Yadav. Criticising Nitish Kumar’s rule, Paras alleged the Bihar’s education system has collapsed, industries haven’t grown, and welfare schemes are riddled with corruption. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi downplayed the impact, saying the NDA remains unaffected. RLJP was formed in 2021 after a split in the LJP, founded by Ram Vilas Paswan. Paras quit cabinet post in 2024 after nephew Chirag Paswan’s faction was given 5 LS seats. —FPJ News Service Obituary Adios, literary giant Mario Vargas Llosa Peruvian novelist Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa, a pivotal literary persona who ignited a boom in Latin American literature, has died aged 89 on Sunday, his children announced in a statement. Alvaro, Gonzalo and Morgana Vargas Llosa said Llosa “passed away peacefully in Lima … surrounded by his family”, they wrote. Over a career of more than 50 years, Llosa charted power and corruption in a series of novels including The Time of the Hero, Conversation in the Cathedral and The Feast of the Goat. Living a life that was as colourful as his fiction, Vargas Llosa also launched a failed bid for the Peruvian presidency, nursed a long-running feud with Gabriel García Márquez and triumphed as a Nobel laureate in 2010, The Guardian reports.. Born in Arequipa in 1936, Vargas working first as a crime reporter when he was just 15. Four years later, he eloped with his 32-year-old aunt by marriage, Julia Urquidi, a departure his father called a “virile act”. A trip to Paris in 1958 was the begin- ning of 16 years abroad, living in Madrid, Barcelona and London as well as the French capital. But while working as a journalist, broadcaster and teacher, Vargas Llosa began to return to his homeland in fiction. In 1963 his first novel, The Time of the Hero, was published in Spain. But this story of a murder at the Leoncio Prado military academy – where Vargas Llosa spent two years as a teenager – and the subsequent cover-up was deemed so shocking in Peru that it is said that 1,000 copies were burned on the school’s parade ground. Vargas Llosa flowered in Latin American literature alongside writers such as Julio Cortázar, Carlos Fuentes and Garcia Márquez. His 1971 study, Garcia Márquez: Story of a Deicide, brought the literature of the new world into conversation with the old, but his friendship with the novelist didn’t last. 4Contd on | nation