FREE PRESS The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms VOL. 13 NO. 328 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | MAY 10, 2024 | PAGES 16 `3 - drops N-bomb in defence of Sam Pitroda AGENCIES New Delhi Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's "we have Proto Australoids... Mongoloid... Negrito (in India)" comment - referring to now-outdated racial and anthropological groupings of humankind triggered a fresh row Thursday, a day after Sam Pitroda's "North Indians look like white (people)... South Indians look like Africans" remark spawned a furious pushback from e have Proto Australoids, WMongoloids, (and) Negrito class of people. Hai to hai (It is how it is) ... in the demography of our country, regional features are different. What someone said (referring obliquely to Mr Pitroda's comment) is his opinion... But it is true some people are white...and some are dark n ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY the BJP and accusations of disrespecting Indians based on skin colour. "We have Proto Australoids, Mongoloids, (and) Negrito class of people. Hai to hai (It is how it is) ... in the demography of our country, regional features are different. What someone said (referring obliquely to Pitroda's comment) is his opinion..." Chowdhury said."But it is true some people are white...and some are dark." Chowdhury's statement seen as an attempt to defend Mr Pitroda after his racist remarks - has been slammed by the BJP, with Shehzad Poonawalla also dredging up the row over the Bengal Congress boss' comments about President Droupadi Murmu in July 2022. "It shows the words are MONEY INDIA’S EXPORTS RISE IN 115 NATIONS IN 2023-24 from Sam Pitroda and the soch (way of thinking) is of the Congress. Calling Indians 'Negrito'... Is this justifying comments by Uncle Sam (a jibe at the United States-based Pitroda)? Is this why they did not sack him? Will they sack Adhir... who in the past said 'rashtrapatni' for Droupadi Murmuji?" Poonawala raged. The Congress has not yet responded to Chowdhury's comment. On Wednesday an excerpt from Pitroda's interview with The Statesman was circulated online, in which he described India as a "... diverse country... where people in the East look like Chinese... people in the North look like, maybe, white (people) and people in the South look like Africans". Ex-BJP ally Dushyant seeks floor test, writes to Guv NEWS BRIEF Kedarnath to open today NEW DELHI: The doors of the Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri shrines will open tomorrow, with preparations for the opening of the temples in full swing. Devotees have gathered in large numbers for the first darshan. The gates of Badrinath will open on May 12. The gates will be open at 7 am morning tomorrow. Last year, the doors of the Kedarnath shrine opened on April 25, with thousands of pilgrims braving sub-zero temperatures in the snowcovered town to offer prayers at the temple. 6 naxals with Rs 36L bounty surrender SUKMA: Six Naxalites carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 36 lakh on their heads surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Thursday, an official said. Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan identified the six as Dudhi Pojja and his wife Dudhi Pojje, Ayate Korsa alias Jayakka, Kawasi Muda, Karam Naranna alias Bhuma and Madkam Sukka alias Rainu. 8 injured in blast at scrap shop DEHRADUN: Eight people were injured, two of them severely, in an explosion on Thursday at a scrap dealer's shop in the Raipur area of the city, police said. The explosion apparently took place when someone was sorting the scrap, according to the Raipur police station. CHANDIGARH Former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister and BJP ally Dushyant Chautala has written to the Governor, demanding a floor test in the state assembly. Chautala's move comes amidst a political upheaval sparked by the withdrawal of support from three independent MLAs and mounting tensions within the ruling BJP coalition. In a letter addressed to the Governor of Haryana Bandaru Dattatreya, Chautala said that the recent resignations and withdrawals of support have left the ruling BJP alliance teetering on the brink of a minority status. "I urge you to direct the appropriate authority to 'Most wanted' ultra killed in J&K NEW DELHI: In a significant breakthrough, one of the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) most wanted terrorists and LeT commander was killed during an encounter with security forces on Wednesday night in Kashmir's Kulgam district. Three terrorists have been killed in the gunfight which broke out in the Redwani Payeen area of south Kashmir's Kulgam after security forces launched a search operation late on Monday night. Basit Ahmed Dar, a resident of Redwani Payeen, was also the commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) offshoot group, The Resistant Front (TRF) and was involved in the killings of civilians and security personnel. Apart from Dar, two LeT terrorists identified as Momin Gulzar and Fahim Ahmed Baba were also killed in the operation. CONTD. ON P7 FACES SPLIT IN PARTY Dushyant Chautala, should guard his flock, sources have indicated. As efforts are on to bring a no-confidence motion against the Nayab Singh Saini government after three Independent MLAs pulled support from the BJP, a handful of Chautala's MLAs met the former BJP Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar this afternoon, sources said. The meeting took place at the residence of Minister of State Mahipal Dhanda in Panipat. Four MLAs of the Jannayak Janta Party or JJP were present for the half-hour meeting with Khattar and Dhanda. ‘EVEN BJP MLAs CAN SWITCH SIDES’ NEW DELHI: Dushyant Chautala -- the prime mover behind the bid to pull down the Haryana government led by his former ally -- the BJP, appears to have taken reports about his MLAs' secret meeting with the BJP, with textbook equanimity. Switching parties is normal at election time, he said. Then, with a straight face, he added, "Who knows, even the BJP MLAs can switch sides". immediately call for a floor test to determine majority of government," Chautala's letter to the Governor. The call for a floor test stems from the recent switch of three Independent MLAs from the BJP faction to the Congress faction. On Tuesday, MLAs Sombir Sangwan (representing Dadri), Randhir Singh Gollen (from Pundri), and Dharampal Gonder (of Nilokheri) declared their intention to cut support for the BJP administration during a press conference held in Rohtak. CONTD. ON P7 India’s sharp response to Canada after arrest of 3 Indians in Nijjar killing Political interest at work: MEA NEW DELHI Days after three Indians were arrested in Canada for the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India has said there are "political interests at work" in the matter and reiterated its position that separatists and extremists have been given political space in the country . Responding to a question on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has been informed about the arrests by Canada, but not at a diplomatic level. To a poser on whether consular access had been granted, Jaiswal only said that, in some countries, access is not given until the person or people who have been arrested specifically request for it. Diplomatic ties between India and Canada have remained tense since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed in the country's Parliament in September last year that his government had "credible allegations" linking the killing of Nijjar in June 2023 with the "agents of the Government of India". Asked whether India had been given any evidence of involvement in the killing, Jaiswal reiterated the country's consistent stand. CONTD. ON P7 40.50c. 27.00c Sunrise : 05.49 Sunset : 06.57 India for regulated tourism in Antarctica AGENCIES New Delhi India is working with likeminded countries to promote regulated tourism in Antarctica as a steady increase in the number of tourists threatens to harm the fragile ecology in the White Continent. Discussion on regulating tourism in Antarctica will be on the agenda at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and a meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) scheduled to be held in Kerala's Kochi from May 20 to May 30. "The problem is that tourism in Antarctica is not properly regulated. So this year, there is a discussion on its regulation," M Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, said in an interaction with PTI editors here. The Ministry of Earth Sciences is hosting the 46th meeting of the ATCM, the highest governing body for Antarctica, and the 26th CEP meeting. Ravichandran also hinted at plans to facilitate visits to Indian research stations in Antarctica for the general public. "Very soon, we will take it up," he said when asked if a common man can visit Indian research stations in Antarctica. CONTD. ON P7 Demonstrating remarkable grit and determination in the face of severe trauma, two minor rape victims in Telangana have recently passed the Class 10 examination with flying colours, results of which were recently announced in the state. The journey of younger girl (aged 15) is extremely One victim was raped by her own father and had to give birth as it was in advanced stage. The other victim was raped by her uncle shocking as she was raped by her own father in 2023. This was discovered when her grandmother took her to a hospital when she complained of stomach pain, where doctors found out that she was pregnant. To make matters worse, her pregnancy could not be aborted as it was in an advanced stage. She delivered a baby in the ninth month, M Mahender Reddy, a police officer, who dealt with both cases, told QUALITY AT VALUE www.freepressjournal.in PTI recently . The baby was admitted to an orphanage and the girl continued her education, he added. Despite these tribulations, she passed the class X standard examination THE SHEEN IS BACK CINEMA Campaigning not a fundamental right, says ED OPPOSES BAIL to Arvind Kejriwal in SC NEW DELHI The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday opposed in the Supreme Court the grant of interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money-laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam, saying the right to campaign in elections is neither fundamental nor constitutional. In a fresh affidavit filed in the top court, the ED said no political leader has ever been granted interim bail for campaigning even if he is not contesting polls. "It is relevant to note that the right to campaign for an election is neither a fundamental right nor a constitutional right and not even a legal right," the agency said. It added that to its knowledge, "no political leader has been granted interim bail for campaigning even though he is not the contesting candidate." On Wednesday, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who headed the bench that heard Kejriwal's petition against his arrest in the case, said, "We will pronounce the interim order (on bail) on Friday. The main matter related to the challenge to arrest will also be taken up on the same day The Aam ." ‘Even a contesting candidate is not granted interim bail if he is in custody for his own campaigning’ Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was arrested on March 21 and is currently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody . On May 7, the bench, also comprising Justice Dipankar Datta, had reserved its verdict on Kejriwal's interim bail plea. On Tuesday, a Delhi court extended Kejriwal's judicial custody in the case till May 20. The Delhi High Court had, on April 9, upheld the AAP leader's arrest, saying there was no illegality and the ED was left with "little option" after he skipped repeated summonses and refused to join the investigation. US meddling in India's internal affairs: Russia MOSCOW: The US has not yet provided any reliable evidence of the involvement of Indian citizens in the murder plot of a Khalistani terrorist in that country Rus, sia has said, as it accused Washington of meddling in India's domestic affairs and the ongoing elections. In November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Pannun, wanted in India on terror charges, holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada. He has been designated as a terrorist by the Union Home Ministry under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, when asked to respond to a report by the Washington Post claiming that India is trying to adopt the policies as Russia and Saudi Arabia, said: "According to the information we have, Washington has not yet provided any reliable evidence of the involvement of Indian citizens in the preparation of the murder of a certain GS Pannun. Speculation on this topic in the absence of evidence is unacceptable." Washington lacks understanding of India's national mentality and history and continues to make "unfounded accusations" about religious freedoms in India, she said. FATHER CARRIES 4-yr-old daughter’s lifeless body in motorcycle for 35 km FP NEWS SERVICE / Badnawar In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Dharmendra Rathod, a resident of Badnawar, faced an unimaginable tragedy . While on his way to Ratlam for his four-year-old daughter's treatment, he first tragically lost her. The ordeal did not end there, as he had to make the agonizing journey back home from Dharad village to Badnawar, spanning 35 kilometres, carrying her lifeless body on the MOLESTATION CASE Bengal Guv shows CCTV footage to citizens KOLKATA: In the backdrop of a woman employee of Raj Bhavan levelling molestation charges against him, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Thursday showed CCTV footage of the premises of May 2 to common people. Footage from two CCTV cameras at the main (north) gate from around 5.30 pm of May 2 were shown to a few people at the Central Marble Hall on the ground floor of Raj Bhavan. A contractual woman employee of Raj Bhavan on Friday lodged a written complaint with the Kolkata Police alleging that she was molested by Bose in the governor's house on April 24 and May 2. CONTD. ON P7 Rape victims pass 10th , aspire to become cops TELANGANA r RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE WE HAVE NEGRITO CLASS ... LEADER HAI TO HAI: ADHIR AB CONG ‘CHHOLE-BHATURE’, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, SMILING FACES SPORTS r Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; WEATHER FP with a 5.6 GPA (grade point average). The father was handed out a conviction with life imprisonment by the court which also awarded a compensation of Rs 15 lakh to the girl, Reddy said. The other girl (aged 16) was raped by her uncle, Reddy said. She secured an impressive 9.3 GPA in the class X standard exams. CONTD. ON P7 motorcycle after an ambulance in which they were travelling back to home from Ratlam witnessed technical snag. Sharing his ordeal with teary eyes and lifeless Jianshi's body in his arms, Rathore told that he along with his family members tookJianshiat Sardar Patel Hospital in Pitgara village for operation as she had facture in her hand. Rathore added that the operationwas scheduled after consultation with a doctor at the hospital the previous day . CONTD. ON P7 8 killed in cracker factory blast in TN VIRUDHUNAGAR The toll in a blaze at a fireworks-manufacturing unit in Sivakasi on Thursday rose to eight, with one more worker succumbing to his burns, police said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who expressed condolences over the incident, directed the district authorities to provide appropriate medical care to the injured and save lives. Eight workers, including five women and three men, were killed in the accident at a fireworks-manufacturing unit near Sengamalapatti in Sivakasi in the dis- AI Express strike ends NEW DELHI trict. Seven rooms where the firecrackers were stocked were completely gutted, police said. Police and fire service personnel rushed the injured to the government hospital in Sivakasi. A senior police official said the cause of the fire was being ascertained and added that the unit is a licenced one. CONTD. ON P7 As flight disruptions due to cabin crew shortage continued on Thursday, Air India Express has agreed to withdraw termination letters issued to over 25 members. The protesting crew members, meanwhile, ended their strike as the airline management also agreed to look into their issues, as per sources. The decisions come after a conciliation meeting between the cabin crew representatives and the airline representatives at the Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) in New Delhi earlier in the day . The Tata Group-owned airline has cancelled over 170 flights since Tuesday night amid the crisis, as per PTI. gone to the dam at around 5 pm on Thursday evening, to party with their friends. After partying for some time, all seven men dived into the dam for bathing. During this, three men, identified as Arjun Malviya (20), Nitin Narwade (23) and Sanjay Maihar (22) eventually swum towards the deep waters. Their legs eventually got stuck into a pit located in deep waters, and they drowned at around 6:30 pm. Their four friends alerted the passers-by and called for help, but the trio had drowned by then. CONTD. ON P7 3 drown in Ghoda Pachad dam OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in Three men, who teamed up with four other friends and and gone to Ghoda Pachad dam located in Bilkhiriya area of the city to party, ended up drowning there, the police said on Thursday . SP (Rural Bhopal), Pramod Kumar Sinha told Free Press that the trio had