Thursday, August 7, 2025 | Vol. 68 No. 262 | 30 Pages NATIONAL HANDLOOM DAY Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation GAMES NATION Uttarkashi floods: Rescuers retrieve 2 bodies; search on for 15 people Cinema National Handloom Day: B’wood embraces sustainability Sachin Tendulkar feels India winning two Tests without Bumrah was a mere ‘coincidence’ Edit Not quite a 1991 crisis yet, but reforms are necessary now TRUMP STRIKES | US President penalises India with an additional 25% Salman Ansari duty over Russian oil imports. ‘Unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,’ says India, and pledges to take all actions necessary to protect national interest FIFTY PER CENT! By FPJ News Service ‘DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT’ MUMBAI U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on all goods imported from India. This comes on top of an earlier 25% levy, effectively doubling the total tariff burden to 50% — the highest rate applied to any U.S. trading partner. Both India and Brazil, another BRICS nation have been slapped the same amount. The White House cited India’s ongoing purchase — both direct and indirect — of Russian oil as the reason for the action. According to the executive order, India’s continued energy trade with Moscow “contributes to an extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.” “I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” Trump stated. Agencies WASHINGTON Canada 35% India Brazil 50% 50% Switzerland 39% 4Contd on | Nation US President Trump on Tuesday claimed he was unaware of the US’ ongoing imports from Russia, including uranium, fertilisers, and chemicals. Responding to a reporter's question referencing India’s comments about US-Russia trade, Trump said, “I don't know anything about it. I'd have to check, but we'll get back to you on that. On Monday, Ministry of External Affairs released a statement denouncing what it called “unjustified and unreasonable” targeting of New Delhi. India pointed out the China WORST HIT Trump claims to be unaware of US imports from Russia 30% Iraq 35% US officials revealed that despite technical agreements on most issues, a combination of political misjudgment, missed signals, and growing bitterness torpedoed negotiations between the world's largest and fifth-largest economies, whose bilateral trade exceeds $190 billion. “double standards” of its critics, noting that both the US and EU continue their trade with Russia. “Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” the MEA said, referring to India’s energy needs. The statement highlighted that Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy but also fertilisers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel, and machinery and transport equipment. 4Contd on | Nation 4Contd on | Nation HOW THE TALKS COLLAPSED Agencies NEW DELHI After five rounds of intensive negotiations, India's confidence in securing a favorable trade deal with the United States has crumbled, leaving New Delhi facing surprise 25% tariffs and penalties over Russian oil imports. Indian officials were so op- timistic about the deal's prospects that they privately indicated to media that tariffs could be capped at 15%. They expected President Donald Trump to personally announce the agreement before the August 1 deadline. That announcement never materialized. According to Reuters, interviews with four Indian government officials and two ‘India does more for global economy than US’ Palazhi Ashok Kumar MUMBAI In a pointed rejoinder to US President Donald Trump that India is a “dead economy”, the RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday declared that the nation contributes nearly 18% to the global economic growth annually, which is more than the 11% of the US share. PM to visit Japan, China this month PTI NEW DELHI PM Narendra Modi is expected to embark on a two-nation tour to Japan and China later this month, according to people familiar with the matter. As per the tentative schedule, Modi will begin his trip around August 29, starting with a visit to Japan, where he is likely to hold the annual summit with his Japanese counterpart. Following his Japan visit, the Prime Minister is expected to travel to Tianjin city of China, to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), scheduled for August 31 to September 1. If the trip to China takes place, it would mark Modi’s first visit to the country since the border standoff in eastern Ladakh that began in May 2020. The clashes at Galwan Valley in June that year had severely strained ties between the two nations. There is no official confirmation yet regarding the Prime Minister's travel plans. 4Contd on | Nation Malhotra said, “We are doing well, and we’re contributing 18% to the global growth, which is more than what the US economy is believed to be contributing.” In October 2023, IMF had projected that India’s contribution to the global growth would touch 18% by 2028. 4Contd on | Nation RBI maintains repo rate unchanged at We are doing well, and we’re contributing 18% to the global growth, which is more than what the US economy is believed to be contributing. – Sanjay Malhotra, RBI Governor 5.5% Retains FY26 GDP growth at 6.5% Forecasts lower inflation of 3.1% Udaipur Files cleared for release ANI NEW DELHI The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has dismissed all revision petitions challenging the certification of the controversial film 'Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder', thereby clearing the path for its public release. This decision follows weeks of legal disputes, multiple appeals, and widespread public attention stemming from the film's alleged communal undertones and its depiction of matters still under judicial consideration. In its final ruling issued on August 6, 2025, the Ministry affirmed several key findings. The Revisional Authority determined that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had followed due process and committed no procedural errors in granting certification. It noted that the filmmakers had complied with the 55 cuts required by the CBFC and had also carried out additional voluntary edits. 4Contd on | Nation reclaiming kabutarkhana Holding a protest, members of the Jain community forcibly remove the tarpaulin cover placed over the Kabutarkhana at Dadar by the municipal authorities, in Mumbai on Wednesday. REPORT, MUMBAI SIR sub judice, says Rijuju Agencies NEW DELHI Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar could not take place in the Lok Sabha, as the matter is sub judice. Citing rules of the House, Rijiju stated that issues pending before the court cannot be discussed in Parliament and also reminded members that autonomous bodies like the Election Commission cannot be deliberated upon. As the House reconvened at 2 p.m., Opposition MPs continued their protest demanding a debate on the SIR issue. Rijiju referred to a ruling by former Speaker Balram Jakhar, warning the Opposition against violating constitutional rules. 4Contd on | Nation 4See also | Nation MUMBAI In a classic case of bureaucratic confusion, the coveted post of General Manager (GM) of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) Undertaking became the centre of a tug-of-war between two Maharashtra government departments, resulting in administrative chaos and political barbs. On Tuesday, two separate departments — the General Administration Department (GAD) under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Urban Development Department (UDD) helmed by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde — issued conflicting orders appointing two different IAS officers to the same post. The GAD named Ashish Sharma, currently heading the state GST department, while the UDD moved to appoint Ashwini Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner in the BMC. The contradiction sent shockwaves through the bureauAshwini Joshi cracy. By Wednesday evening, neither officer had taken charge, deepening the confusion. It was only late in the evening that the BEST Undertaking issued Ashish Sharma a press release con- FPJ News Service NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to respond by Saturday to allegations raised over the deletion of nearly 65 lakh names from Bihar’s draft electoral roll, published on August 1 under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The direction came after a plea was filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), represented by Advocate Prashant Bhushan, seeking transparency from the ECI on the mass deletions. The matter was heard by a Bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and NK Singh, as reported by Live Law and Bar and Bench During the hearing, Bhushan told the Court that while the draft roll stated 65 lakh voters DELETION OF 65 LAKH NAMES had been omitted, the ECI had not disclosed who these voters were or the reasons for their deletion. "They have said people are dead, have migrated. They should disclose who are the 65 lakhs are, who are dead, who have migrated," Bhushan submitted. He also pointed out that while Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are expected to give recommendations, the same has not been ‘TN can use Stalin pic in welfare campaign’ FPJ News Service SC sets aside Madras High Court order prohibiting state government from using name and photographs of Chief Minister and other political figures in welfare schemes NEW DELHI In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside the Madras HC’s interim order that had barred the Tamil Nadu government from using the name and photographs of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and other political figures in its welfare schemes. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, along with Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria, dismissed the public interest litigation filed by AIADMK MP C. Ve. Shanmugam imposed a ₹10 lakh fine on him for filing a "misconceived" petition. The amount must be deposited with the state government within a week, the court directed, as reported by Live Law and Bar and Bench The case stemmed from the Tamil Nadu government's out- When BEST-laid plans go awry Ravikiran Deshmukh SC seeks EC reply on Bihar electoral roll firming that Ashish Sharma had assumed charge. The GM's post had fallen vacant after SVR Shrinivas, who held the role as additional charge while serving as CEO of the Dharavi Redevelopment Authority, retired on July 31. The delay in naming his successor triggered a hurried scramble for a replacement. An official at Mantralaya insisted that Joshi’s appointment was never officially issued. 4Contd on | Nation reach initiative titled Ungaludan Stalin (With You, Stalin), launched on June 19 with a proposed budget of Rs549.50 million. The programme aimed to bring government benefits to the doorstep of citizens through nearly 10,000 camps across the state. Shanmugam had filed a representation with the Election Commission on July 18, seeking action against the scheme. However, just three days later, made public across constituencies. The Court noted that, according to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), representatives of political parties must be given this information. The ECI’s counsel stated that the draft list had indeed been shared with political party representatives before publication, as required. However, Justice Kant instructed the ECI to file a written reply confirming this, along with a list of the political parties to whom the draft roll was shared. "If you have supplied, please give a list of political parties to whom you have supplied, so that Mr Bhushan's client can collect information from those authorised representatives," Justice Kant said. 4Contd on | Nation Now, Sunburn moves from Goa to Mumbai ANI MUMBAI he moved to the Madras HC, alleging that the programme used public funds for personal glorification by including the CM’s name and photos. On July 31, the HC had passed an interim order stating that welfare schemes should not carry the name or photographs of living persons, former CMs, ideological leaders, or any symbols related to the DMK party. The popular electronic dance music festival, Sunburn, is set to take place in Mumbai for the first time. Traditionally held in Goa, the three-day music event will now be held in Maharashtra's capital on December 19, 20, and 21, 2025, according to an official press note. Sunburn, launched in 2007, has become one of India’s most well-known EDM festivals. Originally hosted in Vagator, Goa, the festival later shifted to Pune between 2016 and 2018 before returning to Goa. In recent years, however, the event has faced public backlash and bureaucratic hurdles in the coastal state. 4Contd on | Nation 4Contd on | Nation Vance, Rubio heirs to MAGA torch? Agencies WASHINGTON US President Trump on Tuesday strongly indicated that Vice President JD Vance could be the frontrunner to inherit his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement, although he maintained that it was too soon to make a final decision. Speaking at a White House event, Trump was asked about Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent remarks on Fox News where Rubio described Vance as a “great nominee” for the future. In response, Trump said, “I JD Vance Marco Rubio think most likely, in all fairness, he’s the Vice President.” He continued, “I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form.” Despite showing a clear preference, Trump refrained from issuing a formal endorsement, stating, “It’s too early, ob- viously, to talk about it, but certainly he’s doing a great job, and he would be probably favoured at this point.” Earlier in the day, Trump also addressed speculation about a potential third term in an interview with CNBC. When asked about the possibility, Trump said he would “probably not” seek a third term, despite ongoing hints from allies and some public comments exploring the idea - something currently prohibited under the US Constitution. 4Contd on | Nation