Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 35 Pages | `5 & for State (+6 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. 192 | 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 Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti spar over Tulbul navigation project IPL action resumes on Saturday after unexpected 10-day break as RCB host KKR Cinema Jacqueline Fernandez shines at Cannes Film Festival Edit Outside war stalled, now it’s time to tackle the war within TOUGH STANCE | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says what was shown during Operation Sindoor was only a trailer, and the full picture will be unveiled at the right time ‘Rethink IMF loan to Pakistan’ FPJ News Service BHUJ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reconsider its $1-billion assistance to Pakistan, suggesting that Islamabad could use it for terror funding. Addressing military personnel in Gujarat’s Bhuj, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India does not want that the funding it gives to the IMF should be used directly or indi- rectly to create terror infrastructure in Pakistan or any other country. "I believe that in today's time, any kind of financial assistance to Pakistan is nothing less than terror funding. "India would like the IMF to reconsider its assistance of one billion dollars to Pakistan and refrain from giving any kind of assistance in future," he said. Singh, who arrived at the Bhuj Air Force station in the morning to review the overall security situation, lauded the Indian Air Force for spear- I believe that in today's time, any kind of financial assistance to Pakistan is nothing less than terror funding. India would like the IMF to reconsider its assistance of one billion dollars to Pakistan and refrain from giving any kind – Rajnath Singh of assistance in future. heading the campaign against terrorism effectively. He said during Operation Sindoor, India's armed forces Full HC bench to hear RUSHDIE ATTACKER Maratha quota pleas SENTENCED Urvi Mahajani MUMBAI Agencies NEW YORK Hadi Matar, 27, a New Jersey man who stabbed and partially blinded novelist Salman Rushdie on a New York lecture stage in August 2022 was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Friday. The attack left Rushdie blind in one eye, damage to his liver and a paralysed hand caused by nerve damage to his arm. Matar, who was also found guilty of assault for wounding the person who was interviewing Rushdie, Henry Reese, was sentenced to seven years plus three years post-release for that assault. The sentences must run concurrently because both victims were injured in the same event, Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said on Friday. Before being sentenced, Matar stood and made a statement about freedom of speech in which he called Rushdie a hypocrite, according to the Associated Press. "Salman Rushdie wants to disrespect other people," said Matar, wearing handcuffs. "He wants to be a bully, he wants to bully other people. I don't agree with that." Salman Rushdie was not in the court for the sentencing but submitted a victim impact statement. A day after the Supreme Court’s directive, the Bombay High Court on Friday constituted a special three-judge bench to hear pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Maharashtra law granting reservation to the Maratha community. The High Court, in its notice, stated that a full bench comprising Justices Ravindra Ghuge, N J Jamadar, and Sandeep Marne has been formed to hear public interest litiga- tions and petitions related to the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2024. However, the notice did not specify when the hearing will begin. The 2024 Act, enacted by the Mahayuti government, provides 10 per cent reservation in education and government jobs to the Maratha community, which constitutes nearly one-third of Maharashtra’s population. 4Contd on | Nation Dhairya Gajara MUMBAI CELEBI @ DELHI HC While multiple companies are calling off their business ties with Turkish companies and particularly Turkish Airlines, IndiGo continues their codeshare partnership with Turkey's flag carrier. In a detailed reply to The Free Press Journal, the Indian airline defended its partnership calling it beneficial for Indians. Pressure has been built on IndiGo, India’s largest airline according to market share, to end its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines, which is the flag carrier of Turkey. On May 8, the Shiv Sena also Turkish firm Celebi Aviation has moved the Delhi High Court after India revoked its security clearance citing national security concerns.. Its shares plunged nearly 20% in two days, with the firm warning of job losses and investor flight. Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar PTI NEW DELHI the alliance were totally intact,” but conceded, “It shows at the seams that it is frayed.” While acknowledging there was “still time” to salvage the bloc, he cautioned, “The future is not so bright as Mr Mrityun- Madhya Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda on Friday said the country, its army and soldiers have 'bowed down at the feet' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Devda, who is the finance minister of BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, was speaking at a function of Civil Defence volunteers in Jabalpur. "We want to thank the prime minister. The entire country, its army and sol- CAIT adds voice to boycott IANS NEW DELHI urged IndiGo to end its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines. 4Contd on | Nation 4Contd on | Nation 4Contd on | Nation GAYA IS NOW ‘GAYA JEE’ What's in a name, the Bard had pondered. Possibly taking a cue from him, the Bihar govt on Friday okayed a proposal to rename Gaya as 'Gaya Jee'. Neeraj’s record, but not top spot Neeraj Chopra registered a 90.23m throw in third try in Doha Diamond League final. However, it was not enough as Julian Weber of Germany claimed the top spot with a 91.06m throw. Covid fears again in Asia Agencies HONG KONG Asia is once again in the grip of a Covid-19 resurgence, with densely populated financial hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore experiencing sharp rises in infections. Health authorities across the region are issuing fresh alerts as hospitals report increased admissions, sewage samples show rising viral loads, and booster campaigns are urged for vulner- able populations. In Hong Kong, the situation has escalated rapidly. According to Albert Au, head of the Communicable Disease Branch at the Centre for Health Protection, the percentage of respiratory samples testing positive for Covid has reached 11.4% — the highest in a year and a dramatic jump from 1.7% in 4Contd on | Nation Congress criticises MP Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda after he stirs controversy JABALPUR/INDORE More than 125 top trade leaders from across the country on Friday resolved to boycott all forms of trade and commercial engagement with Turkey and Azerbaijan, including travel and tourism. The trade leaders also appealed to the Indian film Industry not to undertake shooting of any film in Turkey or Azerbaijan and if jay Singh Yadav says. He seems to feel that the INDIA alliance is still intact. I am not sure. Maybe Salman (Khurshid) can answer because he was part of the negotiating team of the INDIA alliance.” The remarks, made during the release of a book co-authored by Salman Khurshid and Mritunjay Singh Yadav, set off a political storm. among the military infrastructure that Pakistan targeted during the four-day confrontation between the two militaries. In his address, he said that the $1 billion IMF assistance to Pakistan would be ‘Country, Army bow down at PM’s feet’ Indigo sticking to pact with Turkish Airlines PC sparks storm in INDIA bloc A candid admission by senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram has triggered tremors within the opposition’s INDIA bloc, laying bare simmering tensions and internal doubts about its viability. Speaking at a book launch in Delhi on Friday, Chidambaram said, “I would be very happy if not only dominated the enemy but also succeeded in decimating them. "Our Air Force has touched new and greater heights with its valour, courage and glory," he declared. The Air Force base here was used to fund terror infrastructure, and wondered if that would not be considered "indirect funding" by an international organisation. Singh said Pakistan has again started rebuilding the destroyed terror infrastructure, and its government has collected taxes from the common Pakistani citizens to give it to Masood Azhar, the head of Jaish-e-Mohammed and a UNdesignated terrorist. mid-March. Authorities have responded by issuing a public health alert, as the city recorded 31 severe cases in the week ending May 3 — its highest tally in over 12 months reported Bloomberg. Local clinics and hospitals are seeing a steady rise in patients reporting Covid-related symptoms, putting additional strain on an already stretched healthcare system. 4Contd on | Nation diers are 'natmastak' (with their heads bowed) at his feet. The entire country has bowed at his feet," he said (“...poora desh, desh ki woh sena, woh sainik, inke charnon mein natmastak hai.”) “Words are not enough to praise the reply given to Pakistan through Operation Sindoor, the BJP leader said, adding, "Let's give a big round of applause to him (Modi)." 4Contd on | Nation OPERATION SINDOOR Multi-party teams to rally world opinion Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI Despite its misgivings over the Centre’s handling of key domestic issues, the Congress on Friday confirmed its participation in all-party delegations being sent abroad to present India’s stance on Operation Sindoor. The initiative, coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs with assistance from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats, aims to counter Pakistan’s narrative on terrorism following the recent Pahalgam attack. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has personally reached out to senior Opposition leaders, emphasising that these visits serve the national interest. Each delegation is expected to comprise five to six articulate and well-informed MPs, with initial visits planned to Europe and Gulf countries. The move echoes past instances when Opposition leaders were deputed to represent India internationally. In the 1990s, Prime Minister Narasimha Rao had sent BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the UN to challenge Pakistan’s claims on Jammu and Kashmir. This time, the delegations will highlight Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and explain India’s rationale behind launch- Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju reached out to senior Opposition leaders, emphasising that these visits serve the national interest. ing Operation Sindoor. They are also expected to project national unity on the matter. Leaders approached for the delegations include Congress’s Salman Khurshid and Shashi Tharoor, TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay, NCP’s Supriya Sule, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, and DMK’s Kanimozhi, along with several BJP MPs. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh confirmed that Kiren Rijiju had spoken to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and the party would participate. However, he criticised Prime Minister Modi for failing to convene an all-party meeting or a special Parliament session on Operation Sindoor. “The PM and his party defame the Congress even as we call for unity,” Ramesh posted on X. “But the Congress never politicises national security and will stand for national interest.”