FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLI No. 336 | INDORE | WEDNESDAY | MAY 14, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN MONEY Sports BUMRAH DESERVES THE BATON P.14 PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Cinema A hairy story P.16 Telecom ARPU to rise 10-12% this fiscal Edit India redraws line with Pakistan P.6 MODI VISITS ADAMPUR AIR BASE | I came for ‘darshan’ of heroes who defended nation, says PM Missiles, drones & no warnings is India’s new reply to terror IANS ADAMPUR Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the Air Force Station at Adampur on Tuesday, delivered a powerful address to the armed forces, praising their courage and reaffirming India's assertive stance on national security. In the wake of Operation Sindoor, he said that India's response to terrorism has entered a new era -- precise, resolute, and unforgiving. Calling the chant "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" more than just a slogan, the Prime Minister described it as a sacred oath for every soldier and citizen. "When Indian soldiers chant it on the battlefield, it sends shivers down the enemy's spine," he said, adding that the phrase now echoes through every drone strike and missile launch that crushes enemy fortifications. PM Modi hailed Operation Sindoor as a landmark moment -- a "trinity" of policy, intent, and decisive capability. He stressed that it was not a routine military action but a bold demonstration of India's strength, precision, and technological edge. "India is the land of Buddha and Guru Gobind Singh Ji," he said, invoking the legacy of courage and righteousness. "Those who came in secrecy to harm India's daughters were crushed in their own hideouts," the Prime Minister declared. The operation, he confirmed, destroyed nine major terror hubs and eliminated more than 100 terrorists, send- Provoking India now leads only to one consequence -- total destruction PM Narendra Modi Picture speaks a thousand words akistan claimed it destroyed India’s premier airbase in Adampur. It also claimed that its China-made JF17 jets wiped out the Russian-origin S-400 missile defence system stationed there. It claimed it took out fighter jets, radar stations, and killed 60 Indian soldiers. But one image from this morning has silenced all of it. A photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing at Adampur Air Force Station — saluting soldiers with a fully operational S-400 system clearly visible behind him — came as India's most direct rebuttal to Pakistan’s disinformation campaign. P ing a clear signal to the masterminds behind cross-border attacks. He also added that the Pakistani Army, which had long sheltered terror groups, was now left humiliated and exposed. 4Continued on | P8 Min Vijay Shah insults army, calls Col Sofiya terrorist’s sister BJP state chief VD Sharma meets minister Vijay Shah for clarification over his controversial remarks Sofiya’s family objects to comments Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Minister for the Tribal Welfare Department in the state Vijay Shah has made a controversial statement amid conflict between India and Pakistan. Shah made the statement in Raikunda village in Mhow on Monday. A video of his statement went viral on Tuesday. Shah said, “Terrorists killed the husbands of our sisters. Modi has made them bite the dust, sending their sister.” The terrorists killed the Hindus by opening their clothes, he said. “Because Modi cannot take their pants off, he sent the sister of those people who made our sisters widows to unclothe them,” he said. According to Shah, Modi said the Indian Army would enter Pakistan and destroy the terrorists. The terrorists were inside He should be removed: Kharge Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded removal of MP minister for offensive comments on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. He said that terrorists wanted to divide the country on religious grounds but the army launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ and gave a suitable reply to them. The nation stood united, he said. Terming BJP and RSS antiwomen, Kharge said that they made obscene comments on the wife of a martyred naval officer on social media. They did not spare even foreign secretary Vikram Misri and his daughter, he added. MPCC president Jitu Patwari also said Shah’s statement was disgusting and offensive. a three-storeyed building which was bombed, and their family members were destroyed, he said. 4Continued on | P8 Minister made such statements earlier Minister Vijay Shah has past history of making such statements and had been even removed from ministry for same. Shah had to resign from CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Cabinet over remark against his wife Sadhna Singh Chouhan. He was later reinducted in ministry. THAROOR ALL PRAISE FOR MODI S-400 IN BACK: PM DEBUNKS rime Minister Narendra Modi handled the conflict between India and Pakistan "extremely well", Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Tuesday, praising him for Operation Sindoor and for sending a clear message to the neighbouring country through his first public address on the strikes a day earlier. "It is certainly always needed (PM address). It is the duty of our Prime Minister to speak to his people from time to time. He does his monthly broadcast, Mann Ki Baat, which is not urgent and critical stuff. It's more selective in general," he said. P PAK CLAIMS Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing at Adampur Air Force Station — saluting soldiers with a fully operational S-400 system visible behind him Terror lives here: Pak min’s on-air admission Country seeks more S-400, Russia says YES INDIA BRIEFS 70 NATIONS ndia on Tuesday briefed Foreign Service Attaches (FSAs) from 70 countries on the successful execution of Operation Sindoor, underlining how the mission has established “new normals” in India– Pakistan relations. The high-level briefing was led by Lieutenant General DS Rana, director general of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), who showcased India’s military strength, strategic resolve, and modern warfare capabilities. I Pakistan High Commission official declared persona non grata WHAT MEA SAID ‘Vacate illegally occupied Kashmir’ Long-standing national position (on J&K) ... that issues pertaining to the Union Territory have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally". This has not changed. And, as you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied territory by Pakistan TRUMP’S ‘NUCLEAR CONFLICT’ CLAIM JUNKED: The military action was entirely in the conventional domain. There were some reports that Pakistan’s National Command Authority will meet on 10 May. But this was later denied by them. Pakistan's Foreign Minister has himself denied the nuclear angle on record. akistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has shockingly conceded in a television interview that Pakistan is widely perceived as a hub for regional terror. Admitting that the international community holds Pakistan responsible for terrorism in the region, Asif revealed that families of terrorists are residing in Pakistan. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stronglyworded statement, castigating Pakistan as a terror sponsor. ndia has requested additional S-400 missiles from Russia following the success of the air defence missile system in the recent military tension with Pakistan, said sources, adding that Moscow has responded in the "affirmative". Bought in defiance of US pressure, the S-400 missiles successfully neutralised swarm of drones unleashed by Pakistan to compensate for the humiliation inflicted by Operation Sindoor. ‘Judiciary has to earn public trust’ CBSE RESULTS OUT: 82% from MP P Agencies NEW DELHI In message to his colleagues and others in his farewell remarks Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna declared that, “The public trust which the judiciary has, it cannot be commanded. It has to be earned. And we earn it through the members of the bar and the bench. Judiciary is a common term which refers to both the judges and the bar. You (bar) are a built-in check apart from the other checks on the system. . You (bar) are the conscience-keeper." As for his successor, CJI Khanna said that Justice Gavai will be an excellent Chief Justice who "is going to uphold the institution, the fundamental rights, and uphold the basic doctrines of law."He also said he wasn't going to accept any post-retirement official assignments, and that he would continue his innings in law. Justice Khanna, who was elevated to the top court in January 18, 2029, was appointed as the CJI on November 11, 2024 and demitted office on Tuesday. 4Continued on | P8 I he Government of India on Tuesday declared a Pakistani official posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi as persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his diplomatic role. He has been instructed to leave the country within 24 hours. A formal demarche conveying this decision was issued to the Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission. T clear Class 12 exam; 93% pass Class 10 n State’s Class 12 results secondlowest among 17 CBSE regions n Girls outperform boys in MP n No merit list declared Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Students celebrate their success after the CBSE results were announced in Bhopal Nearly 82.46% of the students cleared Class 12 examination while 92.71% passed the Class 10 examinations conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in Madhya Pradesh.    The results of both the examinations were announced by the CBSE on Tuesday.  The girls have outperformed boys in both the examinations in the state. In all, 1.16 lakh students (64,000 boys and 52,000 girls) had registered for the examination from Madhya Pradesh of whom 1.15 lakh appeared and 1.07 lakh passed. The pass percentage of Trivandrum, Vijayawada, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Ajmer, Delhi West, Delhi East, Chandigarh and Panchkula regions was higher than Bhopal region. The CBSE has not released merit lists of the examinees stating that it promoted unhealthy competition. Schools have also been advised not to release merit lists.   In all, 74,502 students had registered for Class 12 exams in Madhya Pradesh. 4Continued on | P8 DIP IN NUMBER OF STUDENTS WITH OVER 90% SCORE NEW DELHI: Girls continued to outshine boys in CBSE board exams for classes 10 and 12, while the number of candidates scoring above 90 per cent in both classes recorded a dip, according to Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj. The pass percentage in both classes witnessed a marginal increase. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board exam results for the two classes were announced on Monday. In class 12, 88.39 per cent of candidates cleared the exam, a marginal rise from last year's 87.98 per cent. The pass percentage in class 10 stood at 93.66, marginally up from last year's 93.60 per cent. 4Continued on | P8 comment Modiji, show this min the door One cannot tender an apology for everything Nitendra Sharma T he Madhya Pradesh unit of the BJP is considered ideal across the country. The party leadership says it with pride. Motor-mouth minister Vijay Shah has let down the government and the party organisation. The comments made by INDUS TREATY TO REMAIN PAUSED: The Indus Waters Treaty was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship as specified in the preamble of the treaty. However, Pakistan has held these principles in abeyance by its promotion of cross-border terrorism for decades. Now, as per the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision of 23 April, India will keep the Treaty in him on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and the Muslims are shameful. In his comments, Shah tried to divide the army into two communities. He made comments on women, too. Shah’s statement may entail communal discord in the society. There are many things for which one cannot seek an apology. Shah’s statement comes under such a category that calls for punishment even after an apology. Shah’s statement has gone viral on social media. It is clear the issue must have reached the doorsteps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s team and senior leaders of the party. The BJP should act against Shah. If a minister makes such remarks, the initial punishment should be to remove him from the cabinet. The Prime Minister and the party organisation should show him the door. Shah’s removal from the ministry will send a message across the country that the government will not tolerate any kind of misconduct – whatsoever he may be. Shah was removed from the ministry for his voluble nature. He made some obscene comments about the wife of then chief minister and present union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He was removed from the ministry for the remark. Shah’s mistake is bigger than the earlier one. Shah is in the habit of saying anything. He thinks nobody can do anything against him. 4Continued on | P8 abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. THE NEW NORMAL: There is now a new normal. The sooner Pakistan gets used to it, the better. FALSE VICTORY: Claiming victory is an old habit. They did the same in 1971, 1975, and during the 1999 Kargil War. ‘Dhol bajane ka Pakistan ka purana ravaiyya hai. Parast ho jaye lekin dhol bajao TRADE DID NOT COME UP: there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation, the issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions n Randhir Jaiswal, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Retail inflation hits 6-yr low FPJ News Service MUMBAI Headline inflation (year-onyear) based on All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of April 2025 eased to 3.16%, hitting its lowest level since July 2019. There is a decline of 18 basis points in headline inflation for the month of April 2025 as compared to March, marking the lowest monthly inflation rate in 69 months, according to official data released by the National Statistics Office on Tuesday. The decline in headline inflation and food inflation during the month of April 2025 is attributed to decline in inflation of vegetables, pulses and products, fruits, meat and fish, personal care and effects and cereals and products. Kerala recorded the highest combined year-on-year inflation rate at 5.94%, and Telangana the lowest at 1.26%. 4Continued on | P8 Jwala’s cub falls sick; another separated from family FP News Service SHEOPUR One of the four cubs of cheetah Jwala fell ill on Tuesday and was moved from the Kuno Sanctuary to a special enclosure where a team of doctors are monitoring its health. According to forest officials, the cub’s health deteriorated due to intense heat. Jwala and her four cubs were released in the open forest on February 21. Initially, all were roaming freely in the forest, but recently, the intense heat weakened one of the cubs. As the cheetahs are being monitored the officials decided to bring in the cub for treatment. Officials said the cub’s health is improving. In a separate incident, one of Jwala's cubs got separated from the rest of the family in Veerpur area. According to eyewitnesses, Jwala was with her three cubs while crossing a highway, but one was left behind on the other side. Forest officials said this is a normal phenomenon in the wild where families often get separated. 4Continued on | P8