Vol. 35 No. 30 | SUNDAY | APRIL 21, 2024 | 28 Pages | `5 & for Pune `6 only MEMBER: AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATION JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2023 This is a new terminology in modern psychology for reducing attention span and other brain dysfunctions Popcorn Brain THE FP BULLETIN BISHNOIS NAMED AS ACCUSED Mumbai police has declared jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his younger brother Anmol Bishnoi as “wanted accused” in connection with the incident of firing outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence in Mumbai. The police has also added Indian Penal Code sections 506 (2) (criminal intimidation with a threat to cause death or serious injury) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information to shield offender) to the FIR, the official said. Anmol Bishnoi had maintained contact with Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, who were arrested in the case earlier this week, regarding the firing outside the actor’s residence, the official said. CONG SEEKS MANIPUR REPOLL The Congress has demanded repoll in 47 polling stations in Manipur alleging that booths were captured and elections to two Lok Sabha constituencies in the state were rigged. The party has lodged a complaint with the chief electoral officer (CEO) of Manipur demanding repoll in 36 polling stations in the Inner Manipur constituency and 11 in the Outer Manipur constituency, according to Manipur Congress president K Meghachandra. ZOMATO GETS `11.82 CR NOTICE Online food delivery platform Zomato has received a tax demand and penalty order of Rs11.82 crore related to Goods and Services Tax on export services provided to its subsidiaries located outside India from July 2017 to March 2021. “We believe that we have a strong case on merits, and the company will be filing an appeal against the order before the appropriate authority,” Zomato stated in a regulatory filing late on Friday evening. SOUMYA’S MOTHER MOVES TOP COURT The mother of television journalist Soumya Viswanathan has moved the Supreme Court against the bail granted to four convicts who were serving life imprisonment in the 2008 case of her daughter's murder. The Delhi High Court on February 12 suspended the sentence of Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Singh Malik and Ajay Kumar and granted them bail till the pendency of their appeals challenging their conviction and sentence. TASK FORCE ON BRAIN HEALTH The Union Health Ministry has constituted a “National Task Force on Brain Health” to improve accessibility and quality of brain healthcare at primary, secondary and tertiary level. According to an office memorandum issued on Saturday, brain health is an emerging and growing concept that encompasses preventive, promotive and rehabilitative domains to provide and ensure brain health for all as part of universal health coverage and to accomplish SDGs. Quality at Value Reg. No. MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 46955/1988 M.p.c.s. office Mumbai-400001 EDITIONS: MUMBAI*, Pune, Nashik, Konkan, Indore, Bhopal, E-paper Mahavir Janma Kalyanak Is the use of ChatGPT for exams acceptable? Experts weigh in Exam ready www.freepressjournal.in Dress them up Costume designer Sandhya Raman talks about her journey, upcoming exhibition, and more PM MODI DREDGES UP Nirmala faces flak over bonds YAKUB MEMON GHOST FPJ NEWS SERVICE / NEW DELHI Congress leader Kapil Sibal has criticised Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intended to reintroduce electoral bonds. The BJP intended to bring back electoral bonds in some form after consultation with all stakeholders if the party comes back to power in the 2024 general elections, Sitharaman told a newspaper. “What electoral bonds brought in was transparency . What prevailed earlier was PM IN NANDED/ PARBHANI S BALAKRISHNAN / MUMBAI The ghost of Yakub Memon, who was convicted and then hanged in 2015 for his prime role in the March 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts executed by the Dawood Ibrahim gang and masterminded by Pakistan's ISI, was resurrected by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday . Addressing large rallies at Nanded and Parbhani in the backward Marathwada region, Mr Modi accused the MVA government helmed by Uddhav Thackeray of ``decorating the grave" of Yakub Memon at the Bada Kabrastan near Marine Lines station. A major controversy had taken placed then, with the then opposition accusing the MVA government of permitting the refurbishing of Memon's grave. Memon was hung at Pune's Yerawada jail and his body was buried in the grave in south Mumbai amidst heavy police bandobast personally supervised by the then police commissioner Rakesh Maria. By making the Yakub Memon controversy a poll issue, Mr Modi was obviously trying to accuse the MVA of going soft on terrorists. Firing from all guns, the PM once again referred to the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray as a ``fake Sena." The idea was to lend credibility to the Shiv Sena led by chief By citing Memon, hanged in 2015 for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, The Prime Minister is accusing the MVA of going soft on terrorists. minister Eknath Shinde, who had raised the banner of revolt against Uddhav's leadership, and is now an ally of the BJP . He claimed that the INDI alliance has already conceded defeat. Its constituents were fighting each other in 25 % of the seats. He noted that Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had attacked Rahul Gandhi in the most acerbic language ever used against the Congress leader. The PM said since Rahul was contesting from Wayanad in Kerala, his own family members won't be able to vote for him. He said the Congress `sahebzade' aka Rahul lost in Amethi (in 2019) and ran away from there to Wayanad. After his defeat in Wayanad he will flee from there also, Mr Modi predicted. Without referring to Sonia Gandhi by name, he said certain leaders were not confident of winning the LS elections and hence had got themselves elected to the Rajya Sabha. In one of his most agressive attacks on the opposition, Mr Modi alleged that the Congress was like a vine which had no roots or branches, but sucked dry those who supported it. He said while the NDA talked of Vikasit Bharat and Vikasit Maharashtra, the opposition was on a negative track blocking the development of the nation. CONTD. ON NATION just free-for-all. We still have a lot of consultation to do with stakeholders. We have to see what we have to do to make or bring in a framework that will be acceptable to all, primarily retain the level of transparency and remove black money from the equation,” Sitharaman said in an interview with a newspaper. She also said that it has not The BJP intended to bring back electoral bonds in some form after consultation with all stakeholders, if the party comes back to power in the 2024 general elections, Sitharaman said. Resources must to make goals of new laws real: CJI ONLINE REPORT / NEW DELHI Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud called for courts to be provided will adequate material resources in order to realise the goal of speedy trial under the new criminal codes. He was delivering the keynote address during the inaugural session of a conference organised by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, reports the Bar and Bench. He said that the new laws marked a watershed moment in India's history , signifying its transition into a new age of criminal justice administration. "The BNSS (Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Samahita) provides that criminal trials must be completed in three If the court infrastructure and the prosecution lack material resources to harness technology and conduct an efficient and speedy trial, then the guarantees (of the new laws) may run the risk of becoming merely directory and unimplementable. – DY Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India years and that a judgment must be pronounced within 45 days of it being reserved. This stipulation is a breath of fresh air for addressing the issue of case pendency as well as the rights of the victim and the accused in a criminal case," he said. However, he observed that such statutory timelines would not be of much use if they are not supported by material resources for the courts and prosecutors. "If the court infratructure and the prosecution lack material resources to harness technology and conduct an efficient and speedy trial, then the guarantees of the BNSS may run the risk of becoming merely directory and unimplementable," CJI Chandrachud said. CONTD. ON NATION Modi runs school of Sunrisers create history in Delhi corruption: Rahul HARIDEV PUSHPARAJ / MUMBAI AGENCIES / NEW DELHI Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is running a "school of corruption" in the country where he himself is teaching under the subject 'Entire Corruption Science", ANI reports. In a post on X, Rahul said that the BJP has made this course mandatory for its leaders In a post on X, Rahul said that the BJP has made this course mandatory for its leaders. "Narendra Modi is running a 'school of corruption' in the country! Where under the subject 'Entire Corruption Science', he himself is teaching each chapter including 'donation business' in detail," he said. "Like-how are donations collected by conducting raids? How are contracts distributed after taking donations? How does the washing machine that washes away corrupt people work? How does the game of 'bail and jail' play out by making agencies as recovery agents?" Rahul added. Further, he alleged that the BJP which has become a 'den , of corrupt', has made this 'crash course' mandatory for its leaders, the price of which the country is paying. "The INDIA bloc's government will lock this school of corruption and close this course forever," the Congress leader said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also shared the same advertisement on 'X' and said, "Don't choose 'hafta vasuli' government, choose change. Vote for the Congress." In February the Supreme , Court delivered a judgement striking down the electoral bonds scheme. Following a directive from the apex court, the State Bank of India, which was the authorised seller of electoral bonds, shared data on electoral bonds which was then made public. The Congress has alleged that the electoral bonds data has exposed "corrupt tactics" of the BJP such as quid pro quo and grant of "protection" to companies against donations. Spectators at the Arun Jaitley Stadium witnessed T20 history being created as the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) went hammer and tongs against a hapless Delhi Capitals. Travis Head, who had blasted a century in the previous game of the Sunrisers, and the menacing Abhishek Sharma took the Capitals’ bowlers to the cleaners and in the process racked up the highest ever powerplay score in T20 history — 125/0 in six overs — surpassing Nottinghamshire’s 2017 record of 106/0 against Durham. The 125 included 10 fours and as many sixes as a massive carnage ensued at the famed venue with the home side at the receiving end. Head brought up his 50 in just 16 balls as he carted the likes of Khaleel Ahmed, Lalit Yadav and Anrich Nortje all over the park to set the tone for a gargantuan score for the Sunrisers. The brutality and ruthlessness in his hitting had to be seen to believed as the Australian star, who dashed Indian World Cup dreams in Ahmedabad, was entertaining the Delhi crowd to the hilt. Head’s opening partner Sharma played second fiddle in the initial stages but once he got a grip and more of the strike there was no stopping him and he punished the DC bowlers even more. The intensity of his hitting was evident as he bludgeoned the Capitals bowlers for two fours and six maximums to hit 46 off 12 balls, missing the fastest IPL 50 marks set by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who struck a 13-ball 50 for Rajasthan Royals against Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2023 edition. CONTD. ON NATION PTI / NEW DELHI American tech billionaire Elon Musk on Saturday said his proposed visit to India has been postponed due to "very heavy Tesla obligations". The electric carmaker Tesla CEO -- who was expected to be in India on April 21 and 22 to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- wrote on X that he is looking forward to coming to India later this year. "Unfortunately very heavy , Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed, but I do very much look forward to visiting later this year," Musk wrote on X in response to a post, which stated that his India visit planned for April 21-22 has been postponed as the reason could be that he needs to attend Tesla's earnings call on PTI / NEW DELHI Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had stopped taking insulin months before his arrest and is on a basic anti-diabetes oral medicine, officials said on Saturday citing , a report by the Tihar jail administration to Lt Governor VK Saxena. The report, submitted by the Tihar director general on Friday said that the chief min, ister's health was reviewed on April 10 and April 15 by a medicine specialist who advised oral anti-diabetic drugs and it is "incorrect to state that Kejriwal was denied insulin at any ‘AAP chief had stopped taking insulin months before arrest' point of time" during his treatment. It said that there is adequate availability of insulin in the jail dispensary and it can be administered to Kejriwal "as and when required", the officials added. Saxena had on April 18 asked the director general of prisons to submit a factual report on the Aam Aadmi Party's allegations that Kejriwal was not being provided insulin in Tihar jail. AAP leader Atishi claimed that the report has "exposed" the "conspiracy to kill" Kejriwal in jail, while the BJP asked AAP to stop its "false campaign" on the issue. In a statement, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said that Kejriwal under "careful medical supervision" started an 'Insulin Reversal Programme' and the administration of insulin was "discontinued" and replaced by oral medication. CONTD. ON NATION April 23. Earlier this month, he had confirmed his visit to India with a post on X saying, "Looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister @NarendraModi in India". In June last year, Musk met with Modi during the latter's US visit and stated that he planned to visit India in 2024 while expressing confidence that Tesla would enter the Indian market soon. His proposed visit had raised expectations that he would announce plans for electric car maker Tesla to set up shop in the country along , with his satcom venture Starlink. CONTD. ON NATION from IMF again PTI / WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD Pakistan has made a formal request to IMF for seeking the next bailout package in the range of USD 6 to USD 8 billion with the possibility of augmentation through climate financing, a media report said on Saturday . Cash-strapped Pakistan also requested to dispatch the International Monetary Fund (IMF) review mission next month to firm up details of the next bailout package for three years under the Extended Fund Fa- cility (EFF). However, the exact size and timeframe of the new package will only be determined after evolving consensus on the major contours of the next programme in May 2024, Geo News reported from Washington. A high-level Pakistani delegation led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is currently visiting Washington to attend the annual spring meetings of the IMF/World Bank. CONTD. ON NATION TAILPIECE Police take sparkle off Thrissur Pooram fireworks Thrissur city on Saturday ‘exploded’ in protest as the police threw spanners into the rituals and traditions connected with the iconic Pooram festival, the mother of all festivals in Kerala that attracts thousands from all over. As the police blocked the elephant march at the end of the festivities, the temple boards reduced the elephant strength to one and refused to conduct the late night fireworks, one of the most sought-after pyrotechnic shows in Kerala. After multiple negotiations by Revenue Minister K. Rajan and District Collector V R. Kr. ishna Teja, the fireworks were con- Tihar sends Kejriwal health report to LG Musk puts off India trip Pak seeks bailout LAST WORD SHANKAR RAJ / THIRUVANANTHAPURAM yet been decided whether the Union government will seek a review of the Supreme Court verdict scrapping the scheme. Sibal, however, pointed out that the Supreme Court had, while scrapping the scheme, termed it unconstitutional. On February 15, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court scrapped the Centre’s electoral bonds scheme of anonymous political funding, calling it “unconstitutional”, and ordered disclosure by the Election Commission of the donors, the amount donated by them and the recipients. CONTD. ON NATION ducted in daylight, reducing it to a mere show of smoke and sound. As the police flexed their muscles, Thiruvambady devaswom at 1.30 am Saturday suddenly stopped the illuminations and ended the Panchavadyam of the traditional Madathil Varavu when the deity is brought back. It was also alleged that the police stopped some of the rituals being conducted by the chief priest who walked off midway . "The stand taken by the police de- partment has been troubling us and it has reached a stage where organising the pooram has become difficult. Though we had explained our concerns multiple times during meetings, it seems no one cared and hence we had to take such a decision," shared Thiruvambady Devaswom president Sundar Menon. It is the first time in the history of Thrissur pooram, devaswom stop the traditional ceremonies. CONTD. ON NATION After permission was denied to conduct the late night fireworks, one of the most sought after pyrotechnic shows in Kerala, they were conducted in daylight, reducing it to a mere show of smoke and sound DOORDARSHAN’S SAFFRON SHIFT MAKES PEOPLE SEE RED AJEET MAHALE / MUMBAI Doordarshan’s decision to change the logo and colour of its new arm — DD News — to saffron on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections has evoked condemnation from the opposition and the public. “While our values remain the same, we are now available in a new avatar. Get ready for a news journey like never before. Experience the all-new DD News!” Doordarshan said on the official handle of DD News on X, when it unveiled its new look on April 16. “We have the courage to put accuracy over speed, facts over claims, truth over sensationalism…Because if it is on DD News, it is the truth! DD News — Bharosa Sach Ka,” it said. The timing of the change was not lost on anyone. The first phase of the elections were just three days away All . parties, including the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), held large rallies on April 17, which was also Ram Navami. Trinamool Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jawahar Sircar, a former chief executive officer of Prasar Bharati, which runs Doordarshan, said he had watched the saffronisation of the national broadcaster with alarm. “It’s not Prasar Bharati any more. It is Prachar Bharti,” he said in a post on X on April 18. CONTD. ON NATION