FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 14 No. 149 | BHOPAL | TUESDAY | NOVEMBER 12, 2024 | Pages 20 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Nation BJP urges EC to get FIRs filed against Rahul, Kharge P.6 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN PRESS PUNE INDORE MONEY NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Politics of polarisation to the fore again P.8 Rupee falls 1 paisa to hit new all-time low of 84.38 against USD World ‘Biden should resign & make Kamala Prez’ P.9 CAIT STUDY: Around 48L weddings to take place in 18 days SC asks Delhi govt to decide Indians to spend Rs 6L cr on year-round firecracker ban in weddings this season Biswajeet Banerjee LUCKNOW India, known for hosting the highest number of weddings globally, is gearing up for an extravagant wedding season beginning November 12, marked by Dev Uthani Ekadashi. According to a recent study by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), this season is projected to see around 48 lakh weddings nationwide, generating a staggering Rs 6 lakh crore. The auspicious dates for weddings this season fall on November 12, 13, 17, 18, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, and 29, as well as December 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, and 16. The season will then pause for a month, resuming from mid-January to March 2025. CAIT wrote in a post on X: “India’s grand wedding season is here! “This year, the wedding season is set to generate a whopping Rs 6 lakh crore in business across 48 lakh weddings in India,” it said, adding: “The festivities will boost the local economy like never before.” This year's expected figures highlight an increase from last fp Briefs WASHINGTON Trump dials Putin US President-elect Donald Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone and discussed ending the war in Ukraine amongst many other important topics, according to a media report. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied the media report of the phone call between Putin and Trump. RAMANAGARA (KARNATAKA) K’taka min’s ‘Kaalia’ shocker Karnataka Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan has courted a controversy by calling Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy 'Kaaliya', a racist slur for being dark complexioned. The JD(S) on Monday demanded that the Congress government should sack Khan from the Cabinet for his racist slur. Clarifying his remarks, Khan said he never intended to hurt umaraswamy. Pg7 Praveen Khandelwal, CAIT’s Secretary General observed that although the Indian wedding industry remains largely fragmented, it presents substantial growth potential for organised players year, with 18 auspicious dates for weddings compared to 11 in 2023. Out of the projected 48 lakh weddings, approximately 40 lakh will fall under the category of "budget weddings" (costing between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 15 lakh), while nearly 50,000 high-profile weddings will spend over Rs 1 crore each. Additionally, around seven lakh weddings will have a budget of Rs 25 lakh, and 50,000 are expected to cost Rs 50 lakh or more. The study estimates that these weddings will inject Rs 1.5 lakh crore into Delhi’s economy alone, while last year’s 35 lakh weddings created business worth Rs 4.25 lakh crore across the country. Traders note that the wedding season spurs demand in sectors such as clothing, jewelry, automobiles, and consumer durables, with companies aligning their promotions and stock based on wedding dates. For instance, over half of the jewelry industry’s revenue is attributed to bridal purchases, and about 10% of all apparel spending is wedding-related. The report says that the wedding expenses are primarily divided between goods and services. Major expenditure areas in goods include clothing (10%), jewellery (15%), electronics (5%), and food items such as dry fruits and sweets (5%). The services sector sees spending on venues (5%), catering (10%), decorations (10%), transportation (3%), photography (2%), and music (3%). Khandelwal added that the CAIT study reflects a notable shift in consumer behavior, with a rising preference for locally-made products over imported ones, in alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "Vocal for Local" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiatives. Furthermore, besides the main ceremonies, numerous pre-wedding functions such as mehendi, sangeet, and engagements add significant contributions to the overall spending. As the wedding season unfolds, the Indian economy is set to experience a vibrant boost, reinforcing the impact of this cultural phenomenon on multiple sectors. Voters’ list preparation comes in way of shifting collectors Many heads of departments may be changed Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL There has been no administrative surgery in the state since Anurag Jain took over as the Chief Secretary. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Jain are getting ready to carry out the administrative changes. They are planning everything in such a way that there may not be any problem afterwards. The officers have been transferred again and again after the formation of the new government in the state. There are a few officers who have been shifted twice or thrice in just 11 months. This is the reason that the government is transferring the officers with proper planning. According to sources, Yadav has already held discussions with Jain and Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Rajora. Yadav wants to shift the officers keeping in mind the important projects of the government in the coming days. There is no problem in shifting the officers from Man- Justice Sanjiv Khanna takes oath as 51st CJI tralaya, but transferring collectors who are handling voters’ list has become an issue. Because the work on voters’ list is going on, the Election Commission’s permission will be required to shift the collectors. So, the transfer of collectors, unless required, may be put off. According to sources, the transfer of collectors from dozens of districts, including those of Bhopal, Jabalpur, Raisen, Khandwa, Khargon, Dhar, Dewas and Satna figured in a recently held discussion. 4Continued on | P6 11 militants killed in Manipur FP News Service GUWAHATI PTI He succeeded former CJI D Y Chandrachud, who demitted office on November 10. "Attended the oath-taking ceremony of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who has been sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India. My best wishes for his tenure," PM Modi posted on X. Eleven suspected militants and one CRPF jawan were killed in a fierce gunbattle on Monday afternoon in Jakurador, 30 km away from Jiribam located under the Borobekra subdivision of Jiribam district in Manipur. According to police reports, heavily armed militants launched a coordinated attack on multiple fronts. The violence began around 2:30 pm, when militants, armed with sophisticated weapons and wearing camouflage uniforms, emerged from their hideouts. 4Continued on | P6 4Continued on | P6 NEW DELHI Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Monday took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent persons wishing him well. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to him at a brief swearing-in ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The CJI took the oath in English in the name of god. Justice Khanna, who was born on May 14, 1960, would have a tenure of a little over six months and demit office on May 13, 2025, at the age of 65 years. offgrid Move to bring King Cobra back in MP Rajan Raikwar BHOPAL After Chief Minister Mohan Yadav underlined the need to rehabilitate King Cobra into the jungles of state, the officials of forest department sought the opinion from Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and the latter has already given its initial report. Interacting with Free Press, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), Wild Life, VN Ambade said, “As far as King Cobra subject is concerned, we sought WII’s opinion and they have responded. The institute needs to do a survey of the potential areas of the state before reaching any conclusion.” Sources said if the project is executed then forest department intends to bring King Cobra from southern states like Tamil Nadu or Karnataka. However, the point of contention is whether King Cobra ever existed in the jungles of state. Another senior officer of Forest Department said that after receiving the initial report, they have written to WII to do feasibility study regarding King Cobra. 4Continued on | P6 No religion encourages activity that creates pollution: Apex Court PTI NEW DELHI No religion encourages any activity that creates pollution, the Supreme Court on Monday remarked and directed the Delhi government to decide within a fortnight on extending the firecracker ban throughout the year. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said the right to live in a pollution-free atmosphere was a fundamental right of every citizen, protected by Ar- SC relief to ex-CM Shivraj PTI NEW DELHI The SC on Monday stayed the execution of bailable warrant against Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and two other BJP leaders in a defamation case filed by Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti sought Tankha's response on a plea of Chouhan and others challenging the October 25 order of the MPHC refusing to quash the defamation case. ticle 21 of the Constitution. "Prima facie, we are of the view that no religion encourages any activity, which creates pollution. If fire crackers are burnt in this fashion then it also affects fundamental right to health of citizens," it underlined. Noting the submission of the counsel of the Delhi government, which he said would decide on whether to extend the ban throughout the year in consultation with all stakeholders, the top court asked it take a call by November 25. The apex court further asked the neighbouring state governments to respond on banning manufacture, sale, storage and bursting of firecrackers in their areas. During the hearing, the bench came down heavily on the Delhi police for failing to comprehensively implement the firecracker ban in the national capital, calling its actions a mere "eyewash". "We find that implementation of the ban order has not been taken seriously by the Delhi police. There is nothing filed in the affidavit that order imposing ban was communicated to those who have been permitted to manufacture, store and sell fire crackers. The first thing the Delhi police ought to have done was to inform the license holders and others to forthwith stop sale of fire crackers," it noted. 4Continued on | P6 No transfer of land to ‘infiltrators’ who marry tribal women: Shah Agencies RANCHI Addressing a poll rally, Amit Shah assured that the BJP, if voted to power in Jharkhand, will bring a tough law to stop land transfer to infiltrators who marry tribal girls. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday announced that the BJP, if voted to power in Jharkhand, will bring a law to prevent the transfer of land to Amit Shah with former J’khand CM Soren infiltrators who marry tribal girls in the state. The Home Minister also said that his party would reclaim the land already acquired under such circumstances and would return it to the original tribal families. "The tribal population is declining in Jharkhand. Infiltrators are grabbing land by marrying our daughters. We will bring legislation to prevent the transfer of land to infiltrators if they marry tribal women. 4Continued on | P6