FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 14 No. 244 | BHOPAL | SUNDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 4 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Gulveer shatters National Record P.14 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL WORLD Sports GIS to go green with renewable energy, e-buses ESTD-1983 UJJAIN PRESS PUNE INDORE NASHIK Cinema Yami’s idea of love P.16 JAISHANKAR SCHOOLS WEST | If you do want democracy to prevail, it's important West also embraces successful models What you value at home, you don’t practice abroad MUNICH mitment to a sustainable environment as the key reason behind this decision. In addition to renewable energy, GIS 2025 will also feature green transport. No petrol or diesel vehicles will be used for transporting delegates. Around 60 electric buses have been arranged to ferry delegates from their hotels to the IGRMS parking area, from where 200 golf carts will shuttle them to their event venues. The event will be entirely plastic-free, with water served in glass bottles for dignitaries and paper cups for others. Water dispensers will be placed throughout the venue to encourage sustainability. The event aims to be zero-waste, with a strong focus on eco-friendly practices. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took a dig at the Western countries for treating democracy as a "Western characteristic", accusing them of not practising abroad what they valued at home. Jaishankar made these remarks on Friday at a panel discussion titled "Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience" at the Munich Security Conference. He also said that "if you do want democracy eventually to prevail, it's important the West also embraces successful models (democracy) outside the West." "There was a time - I have to say this in all honesty - when the West treated democracy as a Western characteristic and was busy encouraging non-democratic forces in the Global South. It still does. Everything you value at home, you don't practice abroad." "So, I do think the rest of the Global South will view the successes, shortcomings and the responses of other countries," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during a panel discussion at Munich Security Conference 2025, in Munich, Germany. he said. He also said India, for "all the challenges that we have had, even at a low income, we have stayed true to the democratic model, which is almost if you look at our part of the world. We are pretty much the only country that has done that." "So I think it's something the West should look at, because if you do want democracy eventually to prevail, it's important the CM INAUGURATES 'RUDRA SAGAR SETU' round 200-meterlong bridge has been connected with the 'Shakti path', which is one of the entry gates for Mahakal Lok as part of second phase of Mahakal Lok corridor, will provide another pathway. Constructed at a cost of more than Rs 22 crore the bridge will also give a new look at the site. People visiting Mahakal Lok to offer prayers to Lord Shiva will find a glimpse of the beauty of the site from the bridge A he bridge will provide easy passage for visitors for upcoming Maha Shivratri, during which a large number of devotees of Lord Shiva will arrive from across the country T fp Briefs NEW DELHI CBSE Class 10, 12 exams begin The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams for Classes 10 and 12 began on Saturday, with more than 42 lakh students set to take the tests at over 7,800 centres across the country and abroad. RAIPUR BJP sweeps Chh’garh mayoral polls After its resounding victories in assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh, the BJP on Saturday won elections to a majority of civic bodies in the state, riding high on welfare schemes and fulfilled promises. M performed 'bhumi pujan' for food court complex on Ujjain-Devas Road and two other projects related to irrigation. C adav inaugurated some road projects in the city. The infrastructure of Ujjain is also being developed at a fast pace given the Simhastha Kumbh Mela to be organised in 2028. Y hief Minister has asserted that organising the hosting of Simhastha is the top priority of the state government C West also embraces successful models outside the West," he said at the conference. "Started the #MSC2025 with a panel on 'Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience'. Joined PM @jonasgahrstore, @ElissaSlotkin and @trzaskowski_. Highlighted India as a democracy that delivers. Differed with the prevailing political pessimism. Spoke CBI nabs rly inspector with Rs 75K bribe my mind on foreign interference," he posted on X. Apart from Jaishankar, the panel comprised Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, US Senator Elissa Slotkin and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowsk. Jaishankar also said that India gives nutrition support to 800 million people thus countering US Senator Elissa Slotkin's remark that democracy "doesn't put food on the table". "Senator, you said that democracy doesn't put food on your table. Actually, in my part of the world, it (democracy) does. Today, since we are a democratic society, we give nutrition support, and food to 800 million people. That is a matter of how healthy they are and how full their stomachs are. So, the point I want to make is that different parts of the world are going through different conversations. Please do not assume that this is a kind of universal phenomenon, it is not," he said. 4Continued on | P8 Transport min involved in RTO scam: Singhar Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar has levelled serious corruption allegations against Transport Minister Govind Singh Rajput, accusing him of being involved in a large financial scam tied to former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma. During a press conference on Saturday, Singhar alleged that the government was shielding Sharma and failing to investigate his activities during a 40day period of his disappearance. Singharsaid that Sharma’s call records, which have not been madepublic, could expose numerous officials and politicians. He alleged that approximately Rs 2 crore was being funnelled every month from the Transport Department to a Union Minister. The Leader of Opposition accused Rajput of masterminding a corruption network involving retired officers Dashrath Patel and Aleem Khan, along with businessmen Sanjay Dhande. According to Singhar, this network had generated nearly Rs 1,500 crore over five years, with Rs 150 crore being earned every Our Staff Reporter IANS BHOPAL NEW DELHI The CBI arrested railway chief health inspector posted at Itarsi for accepting a bribe of Rs 75,000 from a contractor on Saturday, officials said. The contractor, Yogesh Sahu, had filed a complaint with the CBI, alleging that inspector Hari Mohan Meena was demanding Rs 1 lakh to clear his pending bill of Rs 9.32 lakh. A trap team was set up to catch the accused. On Saturday morning, the complainant, along with the trap team, went to the agreed location near a temple to hand over the bribe money. In a fresh setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Centre has ordered a probe into alleged irregularities concerning his official residence, popularly known as 'Sheesh Mahal'. The Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) has directed the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to conduct a detailed investigation into allegations that construction norms were violated while renovating and expanding the mansion at 6, Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines. 4Continued on | P8 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The colonial mansion and its lawns now cover an area of 40,000 square yards (8 acres) in the posh Civil Lines area of Delhi. The probe order was issued by the CVC on February 13, following a factual report submitted by the CPWD regarding the controversial renovation and expansion of Kejriwal's official bungalow. Revanth Reddy claims PM not from Backward Class by birth Out of 119 deportees on US plane, 67 hail from Punjab AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH Agencies HYDERABAD Jat’s death isn’t an isolated case of a youngster succumbing to a heart-related ailment. Last week, a 23-year-old woman, Parinita Jain, from Indore died of cardiac arrest while dancing at her cousin’s wedding in Vidisha. 4Continued on | P8 Amid a row over the caste survey in Telangana, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not from a backward class by birth but belongs to a "legally converted backward class". The caste PM Modi belongs to, Reddy claimed, was added to the backward classes by the Gujarat government after the BJP leader became the state's chief minister in 2001. Slamming Reddy, the BJP said the Telangana chief minister wanted to hog headlines by making such comments because he does not do any work. A plane carrying 119 illegal immigrants from the US will land at the Amritsar airport on Saturday, the second such batch of Indians to be deported by the Donald Trump administration as part of its promised crackdown on illegal migration. The plane is expected to land at the airport around 10 pm, official sources said. Among the 119 deportees, 100 are from Punjab and Haryana. While 67 are from Punjab, 33 are from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Goa, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, and one each is from Hima- chal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The second batch of illegal Indian immigrants to deported from the United States has four women and two minors, including a six-year-old girl, the sources said, adding that most of the deportees are in the age group of 18 to 30. A third plane carrying 157 deportees is also expected to land on Sunday, they said. On February 5, a US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants landed at the Amritsar airport. Of the deportees, 33 each were from Haryana and Gujarat, and 30 from Punjab. Don't make Amritsar deport centre: Mann unjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday kept up his attack on the Centre over the landing of US planes carrying illegal Indian immigrants at Amritsar airport and asked it not to make the holy city a "deport centre". The chief minister visited the airport on Saturday and said his government has made arrangements to take the residents of Punjab from among the second batch of deportees to their hometowns. P offgrid Outrage as Russian beer cans feature Mahatma Gandhi FP Online A video showing a Russian beer can featuring Mahatma Gandhi is going viral on Instagram. It captures the can carrying the image and signature of the Indian freedom fighter. Visuals showcase brand Rewort's Hazy IPA cans designed with a Gandhi touch. While it is widely known Gandhi advocated abstinence from alcohol all his life, this drink brand featured him on its cans. As the video of these cans rolled out online, it attracted a wide range of reactions. People believed beer cans depicting Gandhi's image and autograph on its packaging would get banned soon. Notably, in 2018, this IPA- style beer made the headlines during the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals. Football lovers at a bar in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod drew the attention on the internet for month. Singhar questioned the state government's commitment to its ‘zero tolerance’ policy on corruption, accusing it of protecting ministers and officials rather than holding them accountable. He also demanded an explanation as to why individuals named in Sharma’s call records have not been interrogated and criticised the Chief Minister for avoiding accountability. ‘Graft network uncovered’ Singhar provided documents and detailed allegations, claiming that Rajput has amassed disproportionate assets worth Rs 1,250 crore. He accused the Minister of acquiring properties in Delhi’s posh Defence Colony at undervalued rates through associates, including government officials. The market value of these properties is estimated to be Rs 39 crore. 4Continued on | P8 'Sheesh Mahal' to be probed over alleged irregularities Agencies Groom dies of heart attack on horseback A 25-year-old former National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) district president died of a heart attack while still on horseback during his wedding procession (Baaraat) in Sheopur on Friday. Pradeep Jat, also the nephew of PCC secretary Yogesh Jat, was taken to the hospital where attending doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Sheopur City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Rajeev Gupta said, “It was Pradeep Jat’s wedding on Friday night. His neighbours said he was a heart patient and already had a stent inserted.”  E-paper Readers’ corner NIRMAL BUDGET... P.6 3 Israeli hostages set free PTI The upcoming Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2025, scheduled to take place at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) campus from February 24, will be a model of sustainability, relying entirely on renewable energy sources and green transport. The event will utilise solar, hydel, and wind power for all electrical equipment, lighting and cooling systems. In a move to prioritise sustainability, the Madhya Pradesh Industries Development Corporation Ltd. (MPIDC), which is organising the summit, has partnered with local power discoms to ensure the venue is powered solely by renewable energy. During the day, energy will come from hydro and wind power projects in the state, while after dark, solar power from the Rewa Solar Power Plant will be used. Although using green energy will cost more than thermal power, an MPIDC official emphasised the com- MUMBAI sipping a drink named after the Indian freedom fighter. This brewery not only produces cans dedicated to Gandhi but also other prominent leaders. Rewort reportedly comes up with beers named after Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr as well. Beers named on Mahatma Gandhi see action This isn't the first time netizens have come across alcoholic drinks carrying Mahatma Gandhi's identity. A decade ago, a US company apologised for using his image on beer cans and bottles after a petition was filed in a Hyderabad court. Similarly, in 2019, a Czech brewery branded Gandhithemed India pale ale (IPA) after receiving flak. The investigation comes amid growing political pressure from the BJP. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva had earlier written to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, urging him to annul the merger of four government-owned properties with 6, Flagstaff Road. In his letter, Sachdeva alleged that the Chief Minister's residence had been expanded illegally by incorporating adjacent government properties, violating municipal and land use regulations. The BJP has also said that once the party forms the government in Delhi, the newly-elected Chief Minister will not reside in the bungalow. Big concerns addressed, says Tharoor after Modi meets Trump IANS BENGALURU Expressing happiness over the meeting of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, Congress MP and author Shashi Tharoor said on Friday that it looks like big concerns are addressed. “The commitment to sell us F35 stealth aircraft is very valued,” he underlined. Talking to media in Bengaluru, on the sidelines of the Global Investors’ Meet (GIM), Shashi Tharoor stated, “On the defence front, the commitment to sell us F35 stealth aircraft is very valued. That’s the stateof-the-art aircraft and certainly, we already had the Rafael, now with the F35, the Indian Air Force would be in very good shape.” “If you look at the main issues, we have heard about so far, I am very encouraged and I look forward to more details when the Prime Minister and his team are back and expect a briefing from the MEA in the standing committee,” he said. 4Continued on | P8