FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLI No. 352 | INDORE | FRIDAY | MAY 30, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Nation Pok Will Voluntarily Return To India: Rajnath P.9 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN MONEY PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit A clean chit, but questions exist P.6 Sebi tightens equity derivatives norms Cinema ‘A tale of grit, grandeur and glory’ P.16 FAULTS REVEALED | Principal secretary of environment gives approval for projects worth crores of rupees without any authority Environ clearance scam: 450 nods sans SEIAA meeting Nitendra Sharma BHOPAL Scam in giving environmental permission for setting up industries is among a plethora of irregularities in the state. The nod for projects worth crores of rupees was given, setting aside the green laws. The principal secretary of the environment department approved the recommendations of the environment clearance without any authority. According to sources, nearly 450 cases were treated as deemed permission without holding a single meeting fp Briefs NEW DELHI 28-90 nm chip to roll out soon IT and Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced that the first Made in India semiconductor chip of 28-90 nm will be rolled out this year. Addressing the CII's Annual Business Summit here, the minister said: "We targeted a particular segment, which has 60 per cent of market volume, using a targeted approach." "Today we have six units under construction. The first made-in-India chip of 28-90 nm will roll out this year. We started manufacturing in 2022," the minister observed. PANNA Tigress found dead in Panna A tigress was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Umarjhala beat of Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, a senior forest official said on Thursday. The cause of death of the tigress, which was around 10 years old, is not clear as yet, said Garvit Gangwar, DFO North Forest Division. GENEVA India growth driver: WEF The global economic outlook has worsened since the start of the year, as rising economic nationalism and tariff volatility fuel uncertainty, but South Asia, led by India, is seen as a growth driver, according to the latest World Economic Forum (WEF) report. SEIAA independent body, out of government control The SEIAA is an independent unit. The environment department of the Central Government issues notifications for its formation. The environment department of the state government facilitates the office-bearers of SEIAA. The government has no control over it. Thus, it gives environmental permission without screening the cases. with the officials of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority. The member secretary of SEIAA, Uma Maheshwari, and Shriman Shukla, in charge of the organisation, issued the permissions. The principal secretary of environment, Navneet Kothari, approved these recommendations. But the principal secretary of SEIAA does not have the authority to give environmental permission. The SEIAA was formed on January 7 this year. The Environment Department of the Central Government issued a notification appointing SN Singh Chauhan as its chairman and Sunanda Raghuwanshi as its member. According to a provision, if SEIAA fails to hold any meeting to discuss a case within 45 days of its submission, deemed permissions are given. Taking advantage of the rule, permissions were given for setting up industries. The SEIAA chairman has been regularly telling the officials to hold meetings to dis- PROVISIONS FOR PUNISHMENT According to section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, those who violate the green laws will be sent to jail for five years and asked to pay a sum of Rs 1,00,000 as a fine. US court blocks Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs AP ‘Tariff didn’t come up in discussions’ WASHINGTON A federal court on Wednesday blocked US President Donald Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs on imports under an emergency-powers law, swiftly throwing into doubt Trump's signature set of economic policies that have rattled global financial markets, frustrated trade partners and raised broader fears about inflation intensifying and the economy slumping. The ruling from a threejudge panel at the New Yorkbased US Court of International Trade came after several lawsuits arguing Trump has exceeded his authority and left the country's trade policy dependent on his whims. Trump has repeatedly said the tariffs would force manufacturers to bring back factory jobs to the US and generate enough revenue to reduce federal budget deficits. Elon Musk announces exit Agencies He used the tariffs as a negotiating cudgel in hopes of forcing other nations to negotiate agreements that favoured the US, suggesting he would simply set the rates himself if the terms were unsatisfactory. White House spokesperson Kush Desai said that trade deficits amount to a national emergency "that has decimated American communities, left our workers behind, and weakened our defense industrial base - facts that the court did not dispute". The administration, he said, remains "committed to using every lever of executive power to address this crisis and restore American greatness". 4Continued on | P8 India on Thursday said the issue of trade did not come up at all in talks between Indian and American leaders during its military clashes with Pakistan, virtually rejecting Washington's repeated claims that its offer of trade stopped the confrontation. India has been consistently maintaining that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The issue of trade or tariff did not come up in any of those discussions." 4Continued on | P8 IAF Chief flags delays in def projects PTI NEW DELHI Chief of Air Staff Air C h i e f Marshal A P Singh on Thursday flagged serious concerns over inordinate delays in implementation of various defence acquisition projects and pitched for addressing the issue even as he hailed Operation Sindoor as a "national victory". In his first public comments following the four-day military clashes between India and Pakistan, the Air Chief Marshal said that "not a single project" has been completed on time. In his remarks at the CII Business Summit, he, however, did not provide specific details of the projects or made a reference of the period since when delays have been impacting the Indian Air Force. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya seeks PoK as ‘guru dakshina’  WASHINGTON Elon Musk on Wednesday announced he is leaving his government role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump after spearheading efforts to reduce and overhaul the federal bureaucracy. His departure ends a chapter that included thousands of layoffs, the removal of government agencies and litigation. Despite the upheaval, the billionaire entrepreneur struggled in the unfamiliar environment of Washington, and he accomplished far less than he hoped. He dramatically reduced his target for cutting spending — from $2 trillion to $1 trillion to $150 billion — and increasingly expressed frustration about resistance to his goals. Sometimes he clashed with other top members of Trump’s administration, pose of the cases. He also wrote to the member secretary, Uma Maheshwari, umpteen times for holding meetings which were not held to take advantage of the rule. The purpose of avoiding meetings was to give benefits to miners, builders and contractors. According to environmentalist Ajay Dubey, it is a criminal offence. He said the meetings were not held to give deemed permission. Dubey said he would complain to the environment department of the Central Government and lodge criminal cases against those officials who gave such permissions. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi with Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya during an event, in Chitrakoot Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Padma Vibhushan Jagadguru Rambhadracharya on Thursday sought the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as ‘guru dakshina’ from the Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, who was on a visit to Chitrakoot along with his wife. The couple visited the Tulsi Peeth situated in Chitrakoot in the Satna district, where General Dwivedi addressed differently-abled students of the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Divyang (JRD) State University. Ramanandacharya said, “I am feeling proud of honouring our victorious Army Chief. He tookfrom me dik- sha (initiation) of that very mantra which Sitaji gave to Hanumanji for Lanka’sconquest. After initiating him with the all-conquering mantra, I sought the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) from him as guru dakshina (offering to the teacher). He has promised me thedakshina with certainty.” “Kutte ki poonchkabhiseedhihotihaikya (Some things never change), this best describes Pakistan. I’m sure that the next time Pakistan does any misadventure with us, it would be wipedoff the map,” he said. The Army Chief has his roots in the Vindhya region of Madhya Pradesh. He hails from the Mauganj district of the Vindhya region.He is also an alumnus of the Sainik School in Rewa, which neighbours Chitrakoot, a Hindu religious hotspotlocated in both UttarPradesh and Madhya Pradesh. offgrid Indore makes its mark on global film map Uttera Singh’s Pinch heads to Tribeca Tina Khatri INDORE Indore is basking in pride as one of its own, director and actress Uttera Singh, takes a giant leap onto the international stage. Her debut feature film, Pinch, has been officially selected for the 2025 Tribeca Festival’s International Narrative Competition, placing Indore firmly on the global cinema map. While the film’s trailer was recently unveiled at the Bharat Pavilion in Cannes, it’s the world premiere at Tribeca in New York City this June that marks a true milestone — not just for Singh, but for the entire creative community of Indore. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Indian rural life, Director Uttera Singh on set during filming of her debut feature, Pinch Pinch follows Maitri, a young travel blogger whose spontaneous act of resis- tance to harassment sends ripples through her tightknit village. The film tackles trauma, accountability, and the fight for dignity, blending humour and emotional depth through a distinctly Indian lens. “It’s a surreal feeling,” Singh shared. “The film is deeply personal and rooted in my upbringing. To take this story from the streets and villages of Indore to one of the world’s top ten film festivals feels like a full-circle moment.” A particularly defining moment during production occurred while shooting a challenging overhead scene involving a large crowd and limited access to professional equipment. Amid the heat and chaos, Singh was grounded by a quiet gesture from a local woman: “She held my hand and said, ‘We’re here. Don’t worry. 4Continued on | P8 RAPE AND BLACKMAILING CASE Op Sindoor far from over, says Modi FP News Service KOLKATA Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday declared that Operation Sindoor was “not over yet,” warning that India would continue to exact a heavy price from those who sponsor terrorism. Addressing his first rally in West Bengal since the launch of the operation earlier this month, Modi said Pakistan had already been hit “three times inside its home.” The Prime Minister drew upon the region’s cultural significance of ‘sindoor’ — the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women — to strengthen his message. Speaking in the heartland of Durga Puja celebrations, he invoked the ritual of Sindoor Khela, saying it symbolised the nation’s resolve against terrorism. 4Continued on | P8 Four students accuse college director of misconduct, file plaint Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Four female students from a city-based college, which had earlier come under scrutiny in a rape and blackmailing case, have now filed complaints against the institution’s director, accusing him of inappropriate behaviour. The students alleged that when they visited the director to discuss issues related to their short attendance, he misbehaved with them. They claimed he made inappropriate physical contact and engaged in obscene, double-meaning conversations during one-onone meetings in his cabin. The complainants—residents of Bhopal and other districts—submitted separate written complaints to the Piplani police station a few days ago. According to students, their class’s biometric attendance system had not been working properly. As examinations approached, they were told their attendance was insufficient and they would not be allowed to appear in the exams. Despite raising the Students say when they visited director to discuss issues he misbehaved with them issue with senior college officials, they were advised to meet director directly. It was during these individual meetings that the alleged misconduct occurred. The students said that after trying to raise the matter within the college system and receiving no resolution, they approached the police. Santosh Raghuvanshi, incharge of the Anand Nagar police outpost, is currently investigating the matter. He said that statements of director and other staff members will be recorded soon. The same college had previously been in spotlight due to a rape and blackmailing case involving students. The National Commission for Women (NCW) had also visited the campus and issued recommendations to improve women’s safety following that incident. MP gets 4 rail projects worth Rs 24,208 cr under Gatishakti Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Four major railway infrastructure projects have been sanctioned for Madhya Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti Master Plan. With a total length of 565 kilometres and an estimated cost of Rs 24,208 crore, the projects aim to significantly enhance rail connectivity and boost freight and passenger capacity across key corridors in the state. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the announcement on Thursday via video conferencing. Among the most significant of the new undertakings is the Manmad–Indore new rail line, stretching 309 km and costing Rs 18,036 crore. This corridor will establish a vital link between Indore, Dhar, Khargone and Barwani districts in Madhya Pradesh and Nashik and Dhule districts in Maharashtra, promoting regional development and mobility. To bolster freight transportation, the Bhusaval– Khandwa section will be upgraded with third and fourth rail lines over a 131 km stretch at a cost of Rs 3,514 crore. This expansion is expected to reduce congestion and streamline goods movement. 4Continued on | P8