FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 15 No. 19 | BHOPAL | THURSDAY | JULY 3, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports Pant’s twin tons power him to career-high rating P.12 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN MONEY PRESS PUNE INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Custodial death bedevils DMK P.6 ‘Economy to grow 6.8-7% in Q2’ Cinema Lone warrior P.14 MAJOR DIPLOMATIC WIN | Group condemned the April 22 attack in the strongest terms and strongly pitched for action against cross-border terrorism Quad calls for action against Pahalgam attack perpetrators Govt lacks clear provision to probe plaints against mins May set guidelines in the coming days Nitendra Sharma BHOPAL Agencies The Quad foreign ministers also expressed serious concern over Beijing's military muscle-flexing in East China Sea and South China Sea WASHINGTON The Quad grouping has called for bringing the perpetrators, organisers and financiers of the Pahalgam terror attack to justice without any delay and urged UN member nations to extend cooperation for it. The foreign ministers of the four-nation grouping met in the US capital on Tuesday to firm up a broad agenda for the bloc's annual summit in India later this year. The Quad condemned the April 22 attack in the strongest terms and strongly pitched for action against cross-border terrorism. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers, however, did not mention Pakistan or the fp Briefs DUBAI Iran halts IAEA cooperation Iran's president on Wednesday ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency after American and Israeli airstrikes hit its most-important nuclear facilities, likely further limiting inspectors' ability to track Tehran's programme that had been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels. The order by President Masoud Pezeshkian included no timetables or details about what that suspension would entail. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signalled in a CBS News interview that Tehran still would be willing to continue negotiations with the US. See worlds Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, from left, EAM S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington four-day military conflict between the Indian and Pakistani militaries in May. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya. "We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery to all those injured," they said. "We call for the perpetrators, organisers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay and urge all UN Member State Bank of India (SBI) has decided to classify the loan account of beleaguered telecom firm Reliance Communications as "fraud" and report the name of its erstwhile director Anil Ambani to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The move is expected to be followed by other lenders who have given loans to Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom). Reliance Communications, in a regulatory filing, said it has received a letter dated June 23, 2025, from State Bank of India (SBI) to this effect. JAMMU Encounter underway An encounter is underway between security forces and terrorists at Chatroo area of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, an army official said on Wednesday. He said that based on a specific intelligence report, a joint search operation was launched in Kanzal Mandu, Kishtwar.“Contact has been established with the terrorists, and the operation is in progress,” he said. The government lacks any clear provision to probe complaints against the ministers. The personnel department probes complaints against the IAS officers, the home department deals with inquiry against the IPS officers, and the forest department investigates plaints against the IFS officers. But the government is in short of clarity about who will probe the complaints against the ministers. The case has led to a debate after former legislator Kishor Samrite complained about the minister of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Sampatiya Uikey. There was an order for an inquiry against the minister after the complaint. The plaint was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office. The PMO sent the complaint to the office of the Chief Secretary, which forwarded it to the principal secretary (PS) of the PHED.  On the basis of the letter, PS forwarded the complaint to the Engineer-in-Chief (E-in-C), who directed two officers to probe the case. The E-in-C does not have any authority to inquire into the complaint.   But the government is unable to say anything about what action should be taken in such cases. According to sources, the government may set guidelines to deal with such cases in the coming days. The ministers also come under the definition of a public servant. Complaints against them may be sent to Lokayukta and EOW. But before sending the complaints to any probe agency, one has to take permission from the government under Section 17A.  Nevertheless, there are clear provisions that the probe agencies do not have to take permission from anyone in case the minister is involved in corruption in their personal capacity. On the other hand, the government does not have any authority to set up an inquiry against a minister. According to a senior officer, the government is not clear about what kind of inquiry should be set up against the minister to sift through the complaint. But if there is any complaint against a minister, it can be sent to the chief minister, who can take a decision over the issue. Heavy rains lash Bhopal, isolated regions Anyone differing from party Rainfall in the last 24 hrs line will be in trouble: Hemant Warning of very heavy rains I’m a simple party worker, says Khandelwal as he takes charge of state BJP Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The newly elected BJP state president, Hemant Khandelwal, hit the ground running on Wednesday and spelt out his priorities. Calling his elevation a responsibility, he said every party worker will get their due, and, at the same time, anyone differing from the party line will be in trouble. Khandelwal was making his first address as state unit chief at the event where he was declared the new president, succeeding V.D. Sharma.  He challenged the Congress to manage a ward-level elec- Former state BJP chief VD Sharma welcomes Hemant as he assumes charge as the new state party president CM on Congress Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, CM Mohan Yadav said that those who killed the Constitution choose to walk around with a copy of it, assuming they are above the law. tion in the same manner as the BJP held the poll for its state unit chief. Speaking about his strategy to lead the party, Khandelwal said that every worker would be assigned responsibilities according to their capabilities. He pointed out that earlier, Dalai Lama reveals succession plan; China says our approval must there was the belief that the BJP could not complete a fiveyear term, but Shivraj Singh Chouhan dispelled it by doing so much for the public that the party now wins successive elections.  4Continued on | P8 Hasina sentenced to six months in contempt case PTI DHAKA plan, insisting that any future heir must receive its seal of approval, adding a new chapter to Tibetan Buddhism's decades-long struggle with the Chinese ruling Communist Party. The statement made by the 14th Dalai Lama, who is also called Lhama Thondup, on May 21, 2025, was released by his office on Wednesday, four days ahead of his birthday on Sunday. A 5.57-minute video of his speech in Tibetan was also released. B angladesh's deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina was on Wednesday sentenced to six months in prison in a contempt of court case by the International Crimes Tribunal, while it now tries her on a major charge of committing crimes against humanity in absentia. A three-member panel of the tribunal-1 (ICT), led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, simultaneously sentenced to two months a fugitive leader of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, Shakil Akanda Bulbul, in the same case. It marks the first time that 77-year-old Hasina has been sentenced in any case since she left office in August last year. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 PTI DHARAMSHALA/BEIJING Ahead of his 90th birthday, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Wednesday affirmed that the sacred institution of the Dalai Lama will continue and only the Gaden Phodrang Trust will have the authority to recognise his future "reincarnation", declaring no one else can "interfere" in his succession plan. The statement by the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso that ended speculation on whether he will have a successor or not after his death is set to escalate tensions with China. The Gaden Phodrang Trust, a nonprofit organisation, was founded by the Office of Dalai Lama in 2015. China rejected the Nobel Peace laureate's succession In the last 24 hours, Rajgarh received 155.2 mm of rain, Guna 125 mm, Biora 107.2 mm, Khilchipur 94.6 mm, Piparia 89.2 mm, Bhopal 77 mm, Vijaypur 75 mm, Baihar 71 mm, Karahal 69 mm, Amarwada 52.2 mm, Paraswada 63.5 mm, Tendukheda- Damoh 59.4 mm, Sohagpur 58 mm, Ambah 46 mm. Amarwada 52.2 mm, and Betul 50 mm. issued for various districts NEW DELHI SBI to tag RCom account as fraud States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard," they added. The Quad foreign ministers also expressed serious concern over Beijing's military muscle-flexing in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. "We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion," they said without directly mentioning China. The Quad meeting also announced the grouping's plan to launch a Quad Ports of the Future partnership in Mumbai this year. Government is not clear about what kind of inquiry should be set up against the minister to sift through the complaint A spell of heavy rains lashed Bhopal, resulting in overflowing drains and waterlogging in low-lying areas on Wednesday morning. Throughout the day, light showers continued in the city. Isolated regions of the state also received spells of heavy to moderate rains. More than two Tax relief on asset sales NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has increased the cost inflation index (CII) used for calculating inflation-adjusted asset prices, allowing taxpayers to claim greater relief on longterm capital gains. As per the latest notification, the CII has been revised to 376 for the financial year 2025-26 (FY26), up from 363 in the previous year.The cost inflation index helps adjust the purchase price of an asset to account for inflation. dozen districts experienced rain. The rivers are in spate.  Meanwhile, the weather department has issued a warning of very heavy rains in some places in Mandsaur, Neemuch, Sidhi, Satna, Shahdol, Maihar, and Singhrauli. Heavy rains along with thunder activities and high velocity winds are likely to occur in sundry parts of Sehore, Rajgarh, Alirajpur, Our Staff Reporter INDORE The high-profile Raja Raghuvanshi murder case has taken a new turn. While the main accused in the murder are behind bars in Meghalaya, Assam Police have now registered a case against Raja’s sister Shrasti Raghuwanshi, over a viral social media post, alleging that it hurt religious sentiments. A notice has also been served summoning her to Guwahati NEW DELHI The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday told a court here that the Congress party wanted to usurp around Rs 2,000 crore assets of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, representing the ED, submitted before the Rouse Avenue Court that a conspiracy was hatched to form Young Indian Ltd -- in which Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi are majority stakeholders -- to acquire control over the newspaper's vast assets aimed at benefiting the party leadership personally. New suspicions against Sonam Meanwhile, Raja’s brother Vipin Raghuvanshi, has raised new suspicions against accused Sonam. He claims that two mangalsutras (sacred marriage necklaces) were recovered from Sonam, even though the family had given only one during the wedding. Vipin suspects that after Raja’s murder, Sonam returned to Indore and married her lover Raj Kushwah. for questioning. Shrasti is a social media influencer. Following Raja’s murder, she shared several posts and videos. In one of these videos, she claimed that her brother had been given as a ‘human sacrifice’ and that the matter was linked to ‘some religious background in Assam.’ Her statement went viral but also led Assam Police to file serious charges against her. Police have described her video as content capable of provoking religious and regional sentiments. 4Continued on | P8 offgrid Deportation calls for US first lady gain traction Petition questions Trump’s naturalied citizen policy Agencies WASHINGTON Amid mounting backlash over US President Donald Trump's reported plans to deport naturalized citizens, a viral petition on MoveOn, a progressive advocacy platform, called for the deportation of First Lady Melania Trump, her parents, and son Barron Trump--arguing that Trump's own family should not be exempted from the policies he championed. The petition stated, "Since Trump wants to deport naturalized citizens, I believe it is only fair that Melania and her parents are on the first boat out. In addition, Melania's anchor baby, Baron, should be forced to leave as well because we know that his mother's mother was born in a different country. That is part of the criteria that Trump is putting into place. Your mother's mother has to have been born in the United States and we know Melania's mother was born elsewhere. If it's good for one, it's good for all! There should be no exceptions! On the first boat or flight out!" The petition further argued that the move would prevent perceptions of favoritism, adding, "If 4Continued on | P8 Cong wanted to usurp Rs 2,000 cr National Herald assets: ED tells court Assam police book Raja’s sister over social media post RAJA MURDER CASE Jhabua, Dhar, Indore, Ratlam, Ujjain, Agar, Guna, Ashok Nagar, Shivpuri, and Sheopurkalan. this is truly about national security, then Melania needs to go!" The remarks reflected growing public frustration over what many viewed as double standards in Trump's deportation agenda. According to Fox News, the petition surfaced just days after Democratic California Rep. Maxine Waters, during an anti-DOGE protest in Los Angeles on March 25, suggested that Trump should investigate and potentially deport Melania Trump. "When he [Trump] talks about birthright, and he's going to undo the fact that the Constitution allows those who are born here, even if the parents are undocumented, they have a right to stay in America. 4Continued on | P8 ASG Raju added that several senior Congress leaders were involved in "fake transactions” made to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the original publisher of the National Herald. According to the ED, individuals were making fraudulent advance rent payments over several years at the direction of senior Congress functionaries with fabricated rent receipts. 4Continued on | P8 First batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims flagged off JAMMU Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday flagged off the first batch of Amarnath pilgrims numbering over 5,880 amid multi-tier security cover, marking the beginning of this year's pilgrimage from here. The 38-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre high shrine will commence on July 3 from the Valley via the twin tracks - the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district. A batch of 5,892 pilgrims, including 1,115 women, 31 children and 16 transgenders left the base camp in the first batch at 4.30 am to join the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, officials said. The yatra will conclude on August 9. More than 3.31 lakh devotees have registered so far for this year's Amarnath Yatra, officials said. The L-G performed pooja soon after his arrival at the high-security Bhagwati Nagar base camp and later flagged off the yatra for the twin base camps in Kashmir, officials said.