Tuesday, July 8, 2025 | 29 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. 236 | 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 Peace time is an illusion, says Rajnath Singh asking defence sector to remain ever ready Ben Stokes is all praise for Indian pacer Akash Deep’s match-winning performance at Edgbaston Cinema Adah Sharma on the Sushant Singh Rajput flat controversy Edit Young vs old debate refuses to die within the Congress JULY 10 | Top court will hear a batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission’s move to undertake the controversial Special Intensive Revision Trump wields tariff threat on Brics allies Agencies SC lens on Bihar electoral rolls PTI Briefs NEW DELHI 25% US tariff on Japan, S Korea President Trump cranked up the pressure on two of America’s key trading partners, Japan and South Korea, firing off letters on Monday, saying they will face a 25% tariff from August 1. In posts on Truth Social, Trump displayed the letters, potentially giving the countries more time to negotiate deals. In the two nearly identical letters, Trump said he takes particular issue with the trade deficits the US runs with both countries. He also said the tariffs would be set in response to other policies that he deems are impeding American goods from being sold abroad. “Please understand that the 25% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with your Country,” Trump says in both letters. He encouraged both countries to manufacture goods in the US to avoid tariffs. Trump also threatened to raise tariffs higher than 25% if South Korea or Japan retaliated against the US with tariffs of their own. Maha farmer suicides up Eight districts of Maharashtra's Marathwada region registered 520 farmer suicides between January and June (up to June 26) 2025, up 20 per cent from 430 such cases reported in the same period last year, according to a state revenue department report. Beed district, where 126 farmers committed suicide in the first half of the current calendar year, topped the list in the central Maharashtra region. During the January-June 2024 period also, Beed topped with 101 farmer suicide cases. The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on July 10 a batch of petitions challenging the decision of the Election Commission to undertake special intensive revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. A partial working day (PWD) bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions of a battery of senior lawyers led by Kapil Sibal on behalf of several petitioners and agreed to hear the pleas on Thursday. Sibal, who appeared for RJD MP Manoj Jha, urged the bench to issue notices to the poll panel on the petitions, saying it is an impossible task to be done within the timeline (as elections are likely to be held in November). Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for another petitioner, submitted that there are around eight crore voters in the state of which around four crore voters will have to submit their documents under the exercise. "The timeline is so strict, and if by July 25 you don't submit the documents, you will be out," Singhvi added. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for another petitioner, submitted that poll panel authorities are not accepting Aadhaar card and voter cards as documents for the exercise. Justice Dhulia said the matter will be listed on Thursday and added that the timeline at present does not have sanctity as elections have not been notified as yet. 4Contd on | nation MOTILAL NAGAR/ GOREGAON MHADA signs revamp deal with Adani Realty Sweety Bhagwat MUMBAI In a major step towards transforming Motilal Nagar I, II, and III, in Goregaon the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and Adani Realty signed the Construction and Development Agency (C&DA) agreement on Monday, July 7th for the redevelopment projects. As per MHADA’s records and as provisioned in the tender document, eligible Eligible residential beneficiaries set to get 1,600 sq ft of houses. Commercial unit holders will get 987 sq ft space and eligible slum dwellers will get 300 sq ft homes. families are set to receive the largest homes ever offered in any housing redevelopment initiative in the city. Eligible residential beneficiaries will receive 1600 sq ft of built-up space, commercial unit holders will get 987 sq ft space and eligible slum dwellers will RIO DE JANEIRO / WASHINGTON FPJ News Service MUMBAI Addressing the annual Brics Summit, PM Narendra Modi called on member nations to work collectively to secure supply chains for critical minerals and technology, cautioning against the use of these resources for “selfish gain” or as “weapons” against others. Speaking during a session PTI BEIJING China said on Monday it protested to India over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's greetings to the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday and the attendance of Indian officials at the celebrations, stressing New Delhi should fully appreciate Beijing's sensitivities on Tibetrelated issues. FPJ News Service A 35-year-old man, possibly mentally unstable, tried to desecrate Mahatma Gandhi's statue at Pune railway station. He was caught after the incident late on Sunday night and handed to the police, who arrested him. Congress workers on Monday staged a protest demanding stringent action against the man. Identified as Suraj Shukla, from Varanasi, UP, Deputy Commissioner of Police Milind Mohite said the man had a billhook in his hand and was attempting to desecrate the statue using the sharp tool. SEE CITY Kalpesh Mhamunkar Kalpesh Mhamunkar MUMBAI MUMBAI Irrepressible BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has sparked fresh controversy by sharply criticising the Thackeray cousins, Raj and Uddhav, over recent attacks on Hindi-speaking residents in Mumbai. “You say people must speak Marathi. But whose bread are you eating? Tata, Birla, and Reliance are not exclusive to Maharashtra — Tata established its first factory here in Bihar. You are thriving on our resources. What significant industries do you actually have?” Dubey remarked in an interview with ANI. He further challenged the Thackerays, saying, “If you have the courage to assault those who speak Hindi, then why not those who speak Urdu, Tamil, or Telugu? If you consider yourselves such big ‘bosses,’ come out of Maharashtra and visit Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, or Tamil Nadu — there, you’ll be dealt with swiftly.” The controversy escalated after a joint rally where Raj Thackeray told his MNS workers, “Whether Gujarati or anyone else, they must know Marathi. But there is no need to beat people for not speaking Marathi. However, if someone creates unnecessary drama, you must ‘hit below their eardrums.’” The Maharashtra government has turned the spotlight on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray over the contentious Hindi-Marathi language row, by reviving the Mashelkar Committee report that was constituted during Thackeray’s tenure as Chief Minister. Marathi Language Minister Uday Samant, speaking in the state assembly during a debate on supplementary demands of the Marathi language department, announced that the government will table the Mashelkar Committee report in the ongoing legislative session. The announcement is seen as an attempt by the ruling Mahayuti alliance to place Thackeray on the defensive after his aggressive stance on the issue of Marathi identity. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation A privilege motion committee of the state legislature has issued a notice against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and UBT Shiv Sena leader Sushma Andhare for their derogatory remarks against Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a few months ago. The notice has escalated the issues for both Kamra and Andhare, and it appears the state government is unwilling to forgive them. Prasad Lad, Chairman of the Privilege Committee, confirmed that the notice was issued to Kamra and Andhare on Friday. The committee will now send them a questionnaire via the Deputy Commissioner of Police, requesting written responses within 15 days. If they fail to respond, two additional notices will be sent. If their answers are found to be unsatisfactory, the committee thorny issue Fake flowers a real threat, MLAs seek ban Ravikiran Deshmukh MUMBAI Plastic may never wilt, and it's killing Maharashtra’s blooming floriculture industry — prompting MLAs across party lines to demand a ban on artificial flowers. The legislators on Monday cited the harmful impact of synthetic flowers on health, the environment, and the livelihoods of farmers engaged in floriculture. Raising the issue during a debate on a calling atten- tion motion in the Assembly, Shiv Sena MLA Mahesh Shinde warned that artificial flowers contain toxic substances such as titanium dioxide, which poses serious health risks. “Some European countries have already banned plastic flowers. It’s time we do the same,” he said. Shinde highlighted the crisis in his home district of Satara, where the nce-thriving floriculture industry has collapsed. “There were around 1,300 greenhouses The Indian artificial flower market — including Maharashtra — is projected to reach $330.2 mn by 2030, according to Grand View Research. dedicated to flower cultivation. Today, fewer than 50 remain,” he said. In the village of Verne alone, once home to 375 greenhouses and a flourishing flower trade, floriculture is now on the brink of extinction, he added. Aurangabad, Mumbai, 4Contd on | nation The position of the Chinese government on Tibet-related issues is consistent and clear, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here. Mao was replying to a question on Prime Minister Modi's greeting the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday and the attendance of Indian officials, including Parliamentary Affairs Min- Privilege motion notice to Kamra, Sushma Andhare MUMBAI Gandhi statue vandalised on multilateralism, financial issues, and artificial intelligence (AI) on Sunday, Modi emphasised the need for global standards in the use of AI to ensure transparency and prevent misuse. He noted that while AI holds immense potential to improve daily life, it also brings with it serious concerns related to ethics, bias, and risk. To further the global PM b’day greetings to Dalai Lama rile China 4Contd on | city MASHELKAR REPORT TO BE TABLED 4Contd on | nation PM: Critical minerals not for ‘selfish gain’ receive 300 sq ft homes, as per SRA norms. British townplanner Bureau Happold is the infrastructure designer firm and Dutch firm Mecanoo is the master planner for the Motilal Nagar project. BJP MP Dubey adds fuel to language fire conversation, he announced that India will host an “AI Impact Summit” next year. Modi’s remarks on critical minerals come amid growing concerns over China’s export restrictions and opaque policies in the sector. He stressed that ensuring resilient and secure mineral supply chains is essential for global stability. BRICS bloc of developing nations on Sunday condemned the increase of tariffs and attacks on Iran, but refrained from naming US President Donald Trump. In response Trump, in a post on his social media platform late Sunday, said any country that aligns itself with what he termed “the AntiAmerican policies of BRICS” would be levied an added 10% tariff. "There will be no exceptions to this policy," Trump said. He did not clarify or expand on the "AntiAmerican policies" reference in his post. In an indirect swipe at the US, the group’s declaration raised “serious concerns” about the rise of tariffs which it said were “inconsistent with WTO (World Trade Organization) rules.” The BRICS added that those restrictions “threaten to reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains, and introduce uncertainty.” and Pune have become major hubs for plastic flower wholesale, threatening the viability of the natural flower trade. Maharashtra, which pioneered a floriculture and horticulture policy in the 1990s, remains one of India’s largest flower-producing states. However, the influx of cheap, toxic plastic flowers has severely impacted farmers and local economies. 4Contd on | nation The House panel will now send them a questionnaire seeking responses in 15 days. If they fail to respond, two additional notices will be sent. will take further action as per the legislative procedure, Lad added. Kunal Kamra, during his comedy show Naya Bharat, made ironic remarks targeting Eknath Shinde in a song. The song poked fun at Shinde's beard, glasses, and his sudden shift in political alliances to become Chief Minister. The video of the performance gained significant traction on social media. This led to an angry reaction from Shiv Sena workers, who ransacked Kamra’s studio in Mumbai. An FIR was filed against Kamra, and the UBT Shiv Sena party extensively shared the video. Sushma Andhare, a UBT Shiv Sena leader, also sang the same ironic song and shared it on social media. In the meantime, Kamra was granted protection from arrest by the Bombay High Court. The issue was raised in the last state assembly session when MLC Pravin Darekar proposed the privilege motion against the duo on the final day of the budgetary assembly session in March. Ruling alliance parties called for strict action against Kamra and Andhare. PTI The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed Turkish company Celebi’s pleas challenging the government’s decision to revoke its security clearance, citing “compelling national security considerations”. Justice Sachin Datta delivered the verdict, which had been reserved on May 23. The ruling comes after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) cancelled the clearance on May 15. 4Contd on | nation ‘RIDICULOUS’: PREZ TAKES SWIPE AT MUSK PARTY Agencies WASHINGTON The decision followed diplomatic tensions between India and Turkey, after Turkey backed Pakistan and condemned India’s air strikes on terrorist camps across the border. Celebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd. and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India Pvt. Ltd., which handle ground and cargo services at multiple Indian airports, argued that the move violated principles of natural justice. US President Donald Trump on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Elon Musk after the Tesla CEO announced the formation of a new political party called the American Party. Trump, speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, dismissed the move as “ridiculous” and accused Musk of creating chaos in an already divided political climate. “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party,” Trump said. “It’s always been a twoparty system, and I think starting a third party just adds to the confusion.” On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump took the criticism further, writing, “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks.” He claimed third parties only cause “Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS,” and added that the U.S. already has enough of that with the “Radical Left Democrats.” Musk announced the launch of the American Party on Saturday through a post on X, the platform he owns. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation Security nod: Delhi HC turns down Celebi plea NEW DELHI ister Kiren Rijiju, at his birthday celebrations. "As is widely known, the 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long engaged in anti-China separatist activities and seeks to separate Xizang from China under the cloak of religion," she said. China refers to Tibet as Xizang.