FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLI No. 248 | INDORE | FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 14, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: Sports ‘Budget’s goal is to boost pvt investments, propel growth’ COUNTDOWN | Tariffs likely to hit developing world hard, especially India, Brazil, Vietnam and Southeast Asia Trump brandishes tariff threat on eve of PM visit AP WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump’s cryptic social media post about reciprocal tariffs just hours before his scheduled meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has caused a flutter. The post went thus: "THREE GREAT WEEKS, PERHAPS THE BEST EVER, BUT TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" Though Trump has implied in his post that he proposes to increase US tariffs to match the rates other countries charge on imports, he gave no details 6-year-old boy kidnapped from Gwalior, found in Morena Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL In a dramatic turn of events, 6year-old Shivay, who was kidnapped while going to school in Gwalior on Thursday morning, was recovered by police from Mata Basaiya area of Morena on Thursday night. The bike-riding miscreants had left Shivay near a brick kiln in Banshipura village and fled. about his latest tariff plan, which could take aim at every country that charges duties on US imports. He is expected to share these details ahead of his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday, CNN reports. Leavitt echoed Trump’s message on Wednesday, saying, “This is something he believes strongly in, and it’s very simple logic as to why the president wants to impose reciprocal tariffs.” Other nations have been “ripping off” the US, she said, “and that’s why the president believes this will be a great policy that will benefit American workers and improve our national security.” The tariffs are likely to hit developing countries hardest, especially India, Brazil, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian and African countries, given that they have some of the widest differences in tariff rates charged on US goods brought into their countries compared to what the US charges for them. 4Continued on | P8 BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI HAPPY E-paper Cinema Amole Gupte talks about the struggles of children’s cinema P.16 President's Rule in Manipur PTI IMPHAL Unloading of UCC waste begins at Ramky plant FP News Service PITHAMPUR (MHOW) President's Rule was imposed in Manipur late on Thursday under Article 356 of the Constitution five days after the state Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned from the post following the directions from the central BJP leaders. A notification issued from the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Thursday that President Droupadi Murmu has received a report from the Governor of Manipur and after considering the report and other information received by the President, she was satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of that state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. The process of unloading 337 tonnes of hazardous waste, transported from Bhopal-based defunct Union Carbide factory in 12 container trucks, began at an incineration unit in Pithampur on Thursday, in the presence of senior officials including the collector and SP. The waste had been brought from Bhopal on night of January 1. Collector Priyank Mishra said that the government and administration are working with full transparency and locals have been taken into confidence. However, members of Pithampur Bachao Samiti, Pithampur Raksha Manch, Labour Organization, and Rural Social and Human Rights Council of the area continued to protest against the waste. They expressed their opposition and did not participate in unloading the containers from the trolleys. The unloading began at around 3 pm at Ramky plant. Only the containers packed with chemical waste are being unloaded, and no burning process is being carried out as of now, the official maintained, the collector added. Pithampur SDM Pramod Singh Gujar said, "We have brought local representatives to the Ramky plant, where containers are parked. The waste is being unloaded from the trucks following all safety regulations." "The claims about the start of burning process are incorrect. No misinformation or false rumours should be spread. The waste is being unloaded from the trucks in the presence of all representatives, and no further activity is taking place at the unit," Gujar said. On Wednesday, a group of people performed 'shavasana' (corpse pose) to protest against the disposal of waste in Dhar district. FP News Service Indore lad Patidar to captain RCB MUMBAI At 10:30 p.m. IST on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Tesla CEO Elon Musk, accompanied by three of his children, at Blair House in Washington, D.C. The meeting, which concluded around 11:30 p.m. IST, showcased a blend of informality and protocol -- Musk, casually dressed and without an entourage, engaged in discussions with Modi, who was accompanied by senior officials and an interpreter. Television visuals showed Musk's children seated attentively as their father and Modi discussed topics including technology and artificial intelligence. Notably, Musk's children—X Æ A-Xii (nicknamed "X"), Exa Dark Sideræl (nicknamed "Y"), and FP News Service MUMBAI US President Donald Trump plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin thrice, the first time in Saudi Arabia. He did not indicate when the meeting would take place. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office after his 90 minute call with Putin that, “We ultimately expect to meet. In fact, we expect that he’ll come here, and I’ll go there, and we are going to meet also, probably in Saudi Arabia. This will be the first time we’ll meet in Saudi Arabia”. The IANS BENGALURU Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives at Blair House in Washington, DC, for a bilateral meeting with PM Modi Techno Mechanicus (nicknamed "Tau")—maintained a calm demeanor throughout the meeting. Sources indicate that the conversation encompassed technology collaboration, renewable energy, and manufacturing prospects. Their meeting coincided with a significant announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump, who indicated that reciprocal tariffs are forthcoming, possibly before his meeting with Prime Minister Modi. This proclamation underscores the administration's intent to impose tariffs equal to those levied by other countries on American goods, a move that could have profound implications for global trade. 4Continued on | P8 I-T Bill tabled in LS, sent to JPC Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar talks will be hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman but a date has not been set. But The Hill reported Trump as saying that it would "not in the too distant future." Trump cited both his and Putin’s relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, as a reason for choosing the Gulf nation for their first meeting. “We know the crown prince, and I think it’d be a very good place to be,” Trump said. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday introduced in the Lok Sabha the new Income Tax Bill 2025 which seeks to simplify the language and structure of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Introducing the Bill amid protests from some Opposition MPs, Sitharaman said it has brought about “substantial changes” to the 84-year-old law. “The number of words have come down by half .. and many sections and chapters have been cut,” she elaborated. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 ADANI BACKS OUT OF LANKA PROJECT ANI NEW DELHI Adani Green Energy announced on Thursday that it is withdrawing from the renewable energy (RE) wind power project and two transmission projects in Sri Lanka. The company conveyed its Board's decision to step back from further engagement in these projects but reiterated its commitment to Sri Lanka. Adani Green stated that it remains open to future collaboration if the Sri Lankan government desires. In an official statement, the Adani Group said "Adani Green Energy has conveyed its Board's decision to respect- fully withdraw from further engagement in the RE wind energy project and two transmission projects in Sri Lanka. However, we remain committed to Sri Lanka and are open to future collaboration if the Government of Sri Lanka so desires". 4Continued on | P8 offgrid Leopard gatecrashes wedding Biswajeet Banrejee LUCKNOW A wedding celebration in Uttar Pradesh’s capital took a terrifying turn when a leopard strayed into the venue late Wednesday night, sending guests fleeing in panic. The incident occurred at MM Lawn in Lucknow during the wedding of Akshay Srivastava and Jyoti Kumari. The festivities, filled with PUNE Musk Parivar meets Modi NEW DELHI 4Continued on | P8 PRESS 4Continued on | P8 Saudi first venue for Trump, Putin meet An e-rickshaw driver who was passing by spotted Shivay who was crying. When the driver looked at him closely, he recognised him as the child who had been kidnapped from Gwalior. He immediately handed over Shivay to the sarpanch of Kajibasai village who then informed the police, who rushed to the spot and took Shivay in their custody. After being recovered, Shivay talked with his parents on a video call and appeared safe and unharmed. His family members have left for Banshipura village to pick up the child. UJJAIN MONEY Golden girl Suruchi strikes again P.14 INDORE music and joy, turned into chaos around 11 PM when the wild animal suddenly appeared. Eyewitnesses de- scribed a scene of utter panic as guests screamed and ran for their lives. One guest, in a desperate bid to escape, leaped from the first floor and suffered injuries. “The moment we saw the leopard, there was complete mayhem. Everyone was running, and some even fell trying to escape,” said Ramesh Tiwari, a guest at the wedding. What followed was pure chaos. Guests abandoned their plates and fled in all di- rections. Some made a beeline for the gate, while one particularly panicked guest decided that jumping off the first floor was a better idea— unfortunately, he ended up with injuries. “I could not believe my eyes. One moment we were enjoying the wedding, and the next, we were running for our lives," said Rajesh Verma, a family friend of the groom.˘ 4Continued on | P8 The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have announced Rajat Patidar as their captain for the IPL 2025 season, which begins on March 21. The announcement was made at a Bengaluru event attended by Patidar, Director of Cricket Mo Bobat, and Head Coach Andy Flower. Patidar succeeds Faf du Plessis, who led the team from 2022-2024. Patidar was one of three players retained by RCB, alongside Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal. This marks Patidar's first IPL captaincy, though he has led his state team, Madhya Pradesh, in domestic competitions. Patidar, who joined RCB in 2021, has become a key player, scoring 799 runs in 28 IPL matches at a strike rate of 158.85. Kohli expressed his support, saying, "Rajat, you have really made a place in the hearts of all the RCB fans…This is very well deserved…I and the other team members will be right behind you." Patidar's recent domestic form has been impressive. He was the second-highest runscorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with 428 runs in nine innings at an average of 61.14 and a strike rate of 186.08. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he scored 226 runs at an average of 56.50 and a strike rate of 107.10. 4Continued on | P8