THE SUNDAY Friendship Day Vol. 36 No. 45 | Sunday, August 3, 2025 29 Pages | `5 & for State `6 | Reg. No. MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 46955/1988 M.p.c.s. office Mumbai-400001 FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation GOOD LIFE Weekend How changing family structures are redefining siblinghood Play&Pause Ghosting in friendship Are friendships changing or are we letting them fade away? Sunday Read Rajiv Rai on his comeback, friends, & more SWADESHI PUSH | Prime Minister counters US President Donald Trump’s ‘dead economy’ charge, urges Indians to be ‘vocal for local’ ‘India set to be 3rd largest economy’ Modi slams critics of Op Sindoor Biswajeet Banerjee VARANASI Biswajeet Banerjee VARANASI In a sharp retort to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remark labelling India a “dead economy,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday declared that India was on course to becoming the world’s third-largest economy. Addressing a public rally in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi on Saturday, Modi urged Indians to adopt the spirit of "swadeshi" and boost the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign amid growing global instability. “In these uncertain global times, every country is looking out for itself. India must remain equally vigilant,” Modi said, referencing the tariff hikes by the U.S. that now impose a 25% duty on Indian exports. “We must stand by our own. Every item in your homes must be made in India.” The Prime Minister’s push for indigenous goods comes against the backdrop of new American sanctions and rising economic protectionism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the gathering during the foundation laying and inauguration of development projects worth `2,200 crore in Varanasi on Saturday. – ANI “Despite the global turbulence, India is rising. The world’s third-largest economy—that’s our destination, and we are not far,” Modi asserted, calling for national unity and consumer consciousness. Reaffirming his government’s development goals, Modi cited the Jan Dhan Yojana as a game-changer, noting that over 55 crore Indians had gained access to the banking system over the past decade. “This is the new India—empowered and inclusive,” he said. 4Contd on | Nation On a charged and symbolic visit to his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress for questioning Operation Sindoor, India’s recent cross-border antiterror offensive. Against the spiritual backdrop of Banaras, Modi invoked Lord Shiva’s fierce form — the Rudra roop — to liken the country’s swift military retaliation to divine justice. Addressing a mammoth rally in Banouli village, Modi declared, “Those who strike at India will not be spared — even if they hide in Pataal Lok.” His statement referred to India’s precision air and drone strikes that destroyed terrorist bases inside Pakistan — a retaliatory mission launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 Indian pilgrims. “My heart bled for the Those who strike at India will not be spared — even if they hide in Pataal Lok. My heart bled for the martyrs of Pahalgam. But as I had vowed to avenge the sindoor of our daughters, the blessings of Mahadev helped fulfil that promise – Prime Minister Narendra Modi martyrs of Pahalgam. But as I had vowed to avenge the sindoor of our daughters, the blessings of Mahadev helped fulfil that promise,” he thundered, dedicating the mission’s success to Lord Shiva. “This unity of 140 crore Indians became the strength behind Operation Sindoor.” Modi expressed anguish at the domestic political criticism of the strike, saying, “While the nation Vinay Madhava Gowda was exploited by a powerful man who paid her a meagre salary of Rs10,000. He said Prajwal had recorded videos of the sexual assault and used them to emotionally blackmail the victim. He added that when the videos were leaked online, the victim attempted suicide and has since been unable to step out of her home. The prosecutor urged the court to impose the maximum punishment and a heavy fine, pointing out that the Supreme Court in the past had awarded up to Rs 25 lakh as compensation in similar cases. When the judge asked Prajwal if he had anything to say, the former MP broke down in court. 4Contd on | Nation Haridev Pushparaj MUMBAI A flamboyant Yashasvi Jaiswal slammed his sixth Test hundred in emphatic fashion as a resurgent India grind down an England bowling attack lacking the bite on day three of the crucial fifth Test at The Oval in London, on Saturday. The 23-year-old Mumbaikar, who honed his early cricketing skills in the hallowed maidans of the ‘Maximum City’, was at his belligerent best to steer India to a position of strength with his fourth hundred against England that came off 126 balls with 11 fours and two sixes. The Mumbai southpaw has taken a particular liking to the English bowlers as he finishes the series with a ton just as he began with a hundred in the first Test in Leeds. With India having their backs to the wall trailing 1-2 in the five-match AndersonTendulkar Trophy Test series and coming off a hard-fought and well-earned draw at Old Trafford in the fourth Test, ATS forced witnesses to name Yogi Adityanath: NIA Court Urvi Mahajani MUMBAI In the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, apart from Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit—who alleged they were tortured by the AntiTerrorism Squad (ATS)—certain prosecution witnesses (PWs) also claimed they were coerced into naming prominent rightwing leaders, including Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath. The special NIA court, in a detailed 1,036-page judgment released on Friday, cast serious doubts over the credibility of several witness statements recorded by the ATS. The court observed that some of these They [ATS officers] were telling me to take the names of Yogi, Aseemanand, Indresh Kumar, Devdhar, Pragya, and Kakaji in his statement – Milind Joshirao, Key witness statements were extracted through coercion, rendering them inadmissible. Special NIA Judge A.K. Lahoti, while acquitting all seven accused on Thursday, held that the prosecution failed to produce cogent and reliable evidence to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. One key wit- ness, Milind Joshirao, told the court that the ATS had treated him like an accused while questioning him in October 2008. He said he was interrogated about Abhinav Bharat, the right-wing organization allegedly linked to the blast, and a meeting at Raigad Fort where the accused had supposedly taken an oath to form a "Hindu Rashtra." According to the judgment, Joshirao testified: “They [ATS officers] were telling him to take the names of Yogi Adityanath, Aseemanand, Indresh Kumar, Devdhar, Pragya, and Kakaji in his statement.” 4Contd on | Nation 4See also | Nation FPJ News Service MUMBAI US President Donald Trump may have jumped the gun on India’s energy policy. On Friday, he claimed India had stopped buying oil from Russia, hailing it as a “good step”— but Indian officials and industry sources have firmly contradicted the assertion. “I understand India no longer is going to be buying oil from Russia. That’s what I heard. I don’t know if that’s right or not, but that’s a good step,” Trump told reporters However, well-placed and unnamed Indian government sources have clarified to ANI that no such decision has been taken. Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) continue to import Russian crude, guided not by geopolitics but by pricing, grade suitability, shipping logistics, and commercial viability. “There’s been no directive to halt Russian oil purchases. Refineries choose suppliers based on economic rationale,” said a senior official. This comes amid heightened pressure from Washington. Trump’s administration has already slapped a 25 per cent tariff on exports from India and around 70 other countries, part of a broader move to rebalance American trade deficits. He has also threatened “penalties” Ashwin Ahmad NEW DELHI President Donald Trump belief that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia comes as comes as reports stated Russian tankers were reportedly denied wherewithal to offload oil in India. According to shipping data used by Reuters at least four Russian tankers were believed to have anchored near Jamnagar, as Indian oil refiners have refused to accept the oil. Sources say they are awaiting a government directive as to whether to accept the oil. The US administration has given India a deadline of August 7 to end its purchases of Russian oil. 25% tariffs on Indian exports to the US will be levied should this not be done.” 4Contd on | Nation I understand India no longer is going to be buying oil from Russia. That’s what I heard. I don’t know if that’s right or not, but that’s a good step. Donald Trump 4Contd on | Nation Rahul’s Jaitley remark backfires Gandhi claims threat over farm laws; BJP and Jaitley’s son call it a lie the batters rose to the occasion in the second innings. Resuming at their overnight score of 75/2, Jaiswal and nightwatchman Akash Deep added 102 runs on the day with the third-wicket partnership of 107 consolidating the visitors’ fortunes in the game as India racked up a lead of 373 runs after getting bowled out for 396. However, it was Washington Sundar’s swashbuckling knock of 53 off 46 balls comprising four fours and as many sixes that powered India late in the day to a lead of 373. E a r l i e r, Deep was the surprise element as he thwarted the England bowlers Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton to bring up his maiden Test fifty that Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stirred a fresh political row on Saturday by alleging that former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had once threatened him for opposing the controversial farm laws — a claim promptly rubbished by both the BJP and Jaitley’s son, Rohan, who reminded Gandhi that Jaitley had passed away in 2019, a year before the laws were even introduced. Speaking at the Congress Annual Legal Conclave at Vigyan Bhawan, Gandhi said, “I remember when I was fighting against the farm laws, Arun Jaitley ji was sent to threaten me. He told me, ‘If you continue opposing the government, we will have to act against you.’” Gandhi added that he retorted, “I don’t think you know who you are talking to.” However, the claim was quickly met with incredulity and outrage. Rohan Jaitley, president of the Delhi and Dis- trict Cricket Association, lashed out at Gandhi, calling the statement “a blatant lie.” He stated, “My father passed away in August 2019. The farm laws were introduced in 2020. It is beyond comprehension how such a conversation could have even taken place.” He defended his late father’s character, calling him a “staunch democrat” who believed in dialogue and consensus, not intimidation. 4Contd on | Nation No SC relief for Tardeo high-rise Urvi Mahajani MUMBAI The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with what it called a “very well considered, bold and lucid judgment” of the Bombay High Court, which directed occupants of the 17th to 34th floors of the 34-storey Wellingdon Heights building in Tardeo to vacate their flats 4Contd on | Nation 4See also | Games within two weeks. The High Court, on July 15, had ordered the evacuation of the upper floors, noting that these were illegally occupied since 2011 without an Occupation Certificate (OC) or Fire NOC. This order was subsequently challenged by the housing society in the Supreme Court. A bench of Justices J.B. Par- diwala and R. Mahadevan, after hearing both the society and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and reviewing the records, held that it “should not interfere with a very well considered, bold and lucid judgment” delivered by the High Court. 4Contd on | Nation Bail for two Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh Agencies PTI Prajwal Revanna, former MP from Hassan and grandson of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, has been sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 10 lakh in one of the four rape cases filed against him. The Special Court for Elected Representatives in Bengaluru, presided over by Judge Santhosh Gajanana Bhat, delivered the judgment on Saturday, imposing a fine of Rs 5 lakh each for two counts of rape under Section 376(2)(k) and Section 376(2)(n) of the IPC. The court directed that Rs 7 lakh from the total fine be paid to the 47-year-old victim, who had worked as a domestic help in Prajwal's household. Before pronouncing the sentence, the court heard arguments from both the prosecution and the defence. Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Naik said the victim was completely helpless and The former MP has also been fined `10 lakh in one of the four rape cases filed against him New Delhi in the eye of an oil storm Govt yet to issue official denial 4Contd on | Nation Life sentence for JAISWAL TON Prajwal Revanna FIRES UP INDIA BENGALURU Trump says India is halting Russian oil BILASPUR Thiruvananthapuram-Two nuns from Kerala, Sister Preethy Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, were granted bail on Saturday by a special NIA court in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district. The duo had been arrested on July 25 at Durg Railway Station on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion, triggering widespread political protests and public outrage. The nuns, who belong to the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, were escorting three women from Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district to Agra for employment when Bajrang Dal members inter- Two nuns from Kerala, who were arrested on the charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion, being welcomed after they were released from Durg Jail cepted them and filed a complaint. Along with a third person, Sukaman Mandavi, the nuns were arrested by the Government Railway Police. According to defence lawyer Amrito Das, the court granted conditional bail after hearing arguments on Friday. The conditions include a bail bond of Rs50,000 each with two sureties, sur- rendering of passports, and a restriction on leaving the country. The nuns must also cooperate with the ongoing investigation. The case was registered under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 3 of the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967. The defence argued that the charges did not apply to the situation, and there was no evidence of coercion or trafficking. The prosecution did not request police custody for interrogation, and the three alleged victims were sent back home. The arrests sparked strong reactions from political parties in Kerala. 4Contd on | Nation