FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLI No. 251 | INDORE | MONDAY | FEBRUARY 17, 2025 | Pages 12 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN Sports IPL 2025: KKR vs RCB to ignite season P.10 fp Briefs NEW DELHI Yamuna clean-up Trash skimmers, weed harvesters and dredge utility units were in action as the Yamuna cleaning work, which dominated the headlines in the runup to Delhi polls, began on Sunday. The action follows a meeting between Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and the Chief Secretary of the national capital, where an immediate directive was issued to clean the Yamuna river. According to a statement from the Lieutenant Governor's office, there is a "four-pronged strategy" to tackle the issue of pollution in the Yamuna. "To begin with, the trash, garbage and silt in the Yamuna River stream will be removed. Simultaneously cleaning operations in the Najafgarh Drain, Supplementary Drain, and all other major drains will start," read the statement. LUDHIANA AAP leader’s wife killed The wife of a local AAP leader was killed by robbers near a village here, police said on Sunday. The incident took place on Saturday night near Rurka village, around 40 km from here, they said. AAP leader Anokh Mittal and his wife Lipsy Mittal were returning home after having dinner at a hotel on the Ludhiana-Malerkotla road, said police. The robbers intercepted their car and attacked the couple with sharp-edged weapons. Lipsy Mittal, 33, died on the spot while her husband, who is a local trader, received serious injuries and was admitted to a private hospital, they said. MONEY Ayurveda, a blessing, but ignorance and apathy betrayed Indians, says senior scientist PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK Brand Sutra Simpler Claims P.12 $21 mn for ‘voter turnout in India’ nixed by Musk DOGE in a post on X announced cancelling many programmes costing hundreds of millions of taxpayers' dollars NEW YORK The US Department of Government Efficiency led by billionaire Elon Musk has announced a series of expenditure cuts, including USD 21 million allocated for boosting "voter turnout in India." The announcement has come just days after both Donald Trump and Elon Musk met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the cut did not find a mention in the joint statements put out by the White House or the Trump-Modi joint press conference. BJP’s Amit Malviya immediately reacted to the announcement and described it was external interference in India’s electoral process. ‘‘Who gains from this? Not the ruling party, for sure," he pointed out in a social media post. Incidentally, the US department has also axed a $29 million initiative aimed at strengthening Bangladesh's political landscape. Sanjeev Sanyal, Member, Economic Ad- visory Council to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has also questioned the rationale behind the grants. In a post on X on Sunday,  Sanyal  said, "Would love to find out who received the US$21mn spent to improve "voter turnout in India and the US$29 million for "strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh"; not to mention the US$29mn spent to improve "fiscal federalism" in Nepal. USAID is the biggest scam in human history." BJP MP Nishikant Dubey Trump sees Putin as ally President Donald Trump's special envoy for Russia and Ukraine has indicated that European leaders would be sidelined from negotiations on a peace deal, heightening concerns about the possible appeasement of Putin. This, in turn, has triggered speculation that Trump may abandon Europe and align himself with Putin. Such a shift, analysts say, would give Putin a previously unthinkable victory far more momentous than any objectives in Ukraine, reports New York Times German Prez's X account hacked, changed to Bihar govt handle Online Report NEW DELHI The official X (formally Twitter) account of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been reportedly hacked and modified to look like a handle of the Bihar government's Water Resources Department. There has been no official communication from the German government regarding the incident, but media reports pointed out that earlier hackers made the account look like a verified page of the erstwhile Nazi Party's chief Adolf Hitler. The alleged hack was first flagged by several X users after the account's user name was changed to @adolf_gov. Its description was changed to "Make Germany Great Again", taking a leaf out of US President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign. "Make Germany Great Again. Decentralisation is what will help me to implement my plans," read the description of the account with 57 thousand followers. The verified X account of BRICS News posted that the account belonged to the German president and had been hacked. 4Continued on | P8 has in the Lok Sabha demanded that the government probe organisations funded by USAID in India, alleging that most such outfits worked to create unrest in the country and had links with the opposition Congress.  According to Dubey, the USAID funded organisations carried out protests against the Agniveer initiative of the government, backed caste census, and supported naxalism in the country. He said that Trump has shut down USAID which spent money only to bring down governments all over the world. US President Donald Trump chose Musk to head the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last month. Tasked with improving governance and curbing wasteful expenditures, the DOGE announced the cuts in a post on X on Saturday. The department said, "US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all (of) which have been cancelled..." Stampede at New Delhi Rly Stn: Death toll climbs to 18 A brief exchange of fire took place along the LoC in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, security officials said. They said an Indian Army post came under fire from a forested area across the LoC around 11.30 am in Gulpur sector. They said soldiers retaliated and the exchange of fire lasted for a very brief period. There was no damage on the Indian side, the officials said. They said it was not immediately clear whether the Pakistan army was behind the firing, or it was terrorists hiding in the forests and waiting for an opportunity to sneak in. There were a few crossborder incidents last week, including an IED explosion that killed two army personnel including a captain. IPL to kick-off on March 22 Haridev Pushparaj MUMBAI The much-anticipated schedule of the 18th Indian Premier League was announced by the BCCI on Sunday with the league slated to commence from March 22 until May 25. The World’s richest and most competitive cricket league will be held across 13 venues with the 10 franchises going up against each other in what will be a packed 74match schedule. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will kick off the proceedings against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Eden Gardens on March 22 and the summit clash will be hosted by the same iconic venue. The schedule comprises 12 doubleheaders and all the matches will be played over a span of 65 days across 13 venues with Dharamsala, Guwahati and Visakhapatnam hosting a couple of IPL fixtures each. See Sports THIRD US PLANE WITH 112 INDIAN DEPORTEES LANDS PTI CHANDIGARH A US military aircraft carrying 112 Indians landed at the Amritsar airport late on Sunday night, the third such flight bringing deportees as part of a crackdown by the Donald Trump administration against illegal immigrants. The plane landed at the airport at 10:03 pm, said sources. Of the 112 deportees, 44 are from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 31 from Punjab, two from Uttar Pradesh and one each from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, said sources. Families of some of the deportees have reached the airport. The deportees will be allowed to head to their homes after completion of all formalities including immigration, verification and background checks. Arrangements have been made for the transportation of deportees to their destination. US plane with 112 deportees on board lands at Amritsar airport (Eds: Updates with additional inputs, background) Chandigarh, Feb 16 (PTI) A US military aircraft carrying 112 illegal Indian immigrants landed at the Amritsar airport late on Sunday evening, the third such plane bringing deportees amid a crackdown by the Donald Trump administration against illegal immigrants. The C-17 aircraft landed at the airport at 10:03 pm, sources said. Of the 112 deportees, 44 are from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 31 from Punjab, two from Uttar Pradesh and one each is from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, they added. 4Continued on | P8 DELHI BJP MLAS MEET ON FEB 19 FP News Service NEW DELHI The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Legislature Party meeting, originally set for Monday, has been postponed to February 19, reports ANI, citing sources. The swearing-in ceremony will take place on February 20. All BJP MLAs and Delhi’s seven MPs will attend the meeting on February 19, which will elect the party’s legislative leader. The newly elected leader is expected to meet the Lieutenant Governor the same day to stake claim for forming the government, sources added. Several contenders, including Parvesh Verma, Vijender Gupta, and potential women candidates, are under consideration for the top post. According to sources, 15 MLAs have been shortlisted for key ministerial posts. The new government is unlikely to have a Deputy Chief Minister, sources added. A meeting is also likely to take place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, and other top BJP leaders. Passengers at New Delhi Railway Station PTI NEW DELHI The death toll in the overnight stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station climbed to 18 on Sunday, with a senior railway official saying the incident occurred after some passengers slipped and fell on others while coming down from a footover bridge. More than a dozen people were also injured in the stampede at the railway station which witnessed a surge of passengers waiting to board trains for Prayagraj -- where the Maha Kumbh is underway -- on platform number 14 and 15 of the station. Hospital and police sources said the death toll has climbed to 18. Northern Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Himanshu Upadhyay said that at the time of incident the Patna-bound Magadh Express was standing at platform number 14 and the New Delhi-Jammu Uttar Sampark Kranti Express was stationed at platform number 15. 4See also | P7 PM sets Rs 9L cr target for textile export by 2030 PTI NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he is optimistic that the textile sector will achieve the Rs 9 lakh crore annual exports target ahead of the 2030 deadline. This assumes significance in view of the General Budget 2025 announcement of a fiveyear Cotton Mission to increase cotton productivity especially of extra-long staple varieties. It allocated Rs 500 crore for the National Cotton Technology Mission. Speaking at the Bharat Tex 2025, Modi said, "We are currently ranked as the 6th largest exporter of textiles and apparel in the world, with textile exports valued at approximately Rs 3 lakh crore. Our goal moving forward is to triple this figure and achieve exports worth Rs 9 lakh crore. "This success is attributed to the hard work and consistent policies implemented over the past decade, which have led to a doubling of foreign invest- Our Staff Reporter In a dramatic turn of events, Morena police arrested two men accused of kidnapping a six-year-old child from Gwalior after an encounter on Saturday night. The arrest followed a tense shootout near Kotwal Dam, where the suspects attempted to flee after firing at the police. The kidnapping took place on Thursday morning in Gwalior’s Morar area, when two men on a motorcycle abducted the child, identified as the son of Rahul Gupta, a local sugar merchant. The boy was on his way to school with his mother when the criminals attacked them, throwing chili powder into the mother’s eyes before abducting the child. The child was eventually found 14 hours later in a village near Morena, safely returned after being held captive for the duration. The abduction triggered a swift response from the police, leading to the arrest of the two suspects, Rahul Gurjar (28) and Bunty Gurjar (35), both from Morena. According to Superintendent of Police Sameer Saurabh, the breakthrough came after the police received a tip-off about the two suspects, who were believed to be plotting a robbery near Kotwal Dam on Saturday night. When the police team Jaishankar, Oman minister discuss investment, energy PTI MUSCAT External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held wideranging discussions with his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi on bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and energy security. Jaishankar is in the Omani capital here to attend the 8th Indian Ocean Conference. "Delighted to meet FM @badralbusaidi of Oman this morning. Appreciate his personal efforts in successfully hosting the 8th Indian Ocean Conference," Jaishankar posted on X. "Held wide-ranging discussions on our cooperation in trade, investment and energy The Taj Mahal, eternal symbol of love, bore witness to another unforgettable tale— one not of marble, but of an unbreakable bond between a couple and their beloved dog. It was a story stitched with heartbreak, hope, and an ending that would move even the most stoic heart. Dipayan Ghosh, an Air India officer, and his wife, Kasturi Patra, set out from Gurugram to Agra in November 2024 for their wedding anniversary. Their celebration, however, turned into a nightmare on November 3 when their cherished Himachali Desi Greyhound vanished from Hotel Taj View, where they had entrusted his care to the staff. In an instant, their joy unraveled into agony. Posters were plastered across Agra, rewards announced, frantic calls, and desperate searches became their new reality. The couple combed the streets, questioned rickshaw pullers, and scrutinized CCTV footage. Hope dimmed, but their resolve did not. Their anguish extended beyond Agra. Even after returning to Gurugram, they made weekly trips back, their hearts echoing with the hollow ache of his absence. Friends and family urged them to accept the loss. But how does one give up on family? The breakthrough came on the 104th day. A local tour guide, moved by their relentless search, shared a shaky video from Mehtab Bagh—a ghost of a tried to arrest them, the accused opened fire. In response, the police returned fire, injuring the two men before taking them into custody. They were immediately admitted to the Morena district hospital for treatment. Further investigation revealed that the arrested suspects were part of a larger gang involved in the kidnapping. Rahul Gurjar, one of the suspects, disclosed that two other accomplices were involved in the crime. A manhunt has been launched to apprehend the remaining suspects, and authorities are confident of making their arrests soon. 4Continued on | P8 Woman alleges in-laws injected HIV-infected syringe over dowry demands PTI security," he said. The two leaders jointly released the logo celebrating the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations. They also jointly released a book titled 'Mandvi to Muscat: Indian Community and the Shared History of India and Oman'. 4Continued on | P8 Lost dog’s miraculous return after 104 days Biswajeet Banerjee 4Continued on | P8 SAHARANPUR emotional reunion AGRA ment in the textile sector during this period. He said, "The way work is being done, I think we will achieve this target ahead of the 2030 deadline." This success is attributed to the hard work and consistent policies implemented over the past decade, which have led to doubling of foreign investment in the textile sector during this period, he said. The sector is a major employment generator and contributes 11 per cent to the manufacturing sector. The Union Budget provided for an outlay of Rs 5,272 crore (in Budget Estimates) for the Ministry of Textiles for 2025-26. 2 Gwalior abductors nabbed after shootout in Morena BHOPAL JAMMU Brief exchange of fire at LoC E-paper Edit Stampede semantics P.6 LATEST DOGE MOVE | Grant was part of $486 million to Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening FP News Service MUMBAI dog, thin, wary, but unmistakable. Kasturi's heart skipped. “It’s him,” she whispered, tears already falling. Without a second's hesitation, they raced back to Agra. Volunteers, hotel staff, even those they had once accused of negligence, joined the search. Hours passed. The underbrush swallowed hope. But then — a sound. A rustle. 4Continued on | P8 A woman here has alleged that her in-laws administered an HIV-infected syringe to her after their dowry demands were not met, police said on Sunday. The allegation made by the woman's parents are under investigation, officials said. The woman's father told police that his daughter, Sonal, was married to Abhishek, from Haridwar in Uttarakhand on February 15, 2023, Station House Officer Rojant Tyagi said. He alleged that he had given cash, jewellery, and a car as dowry beyond the means, but her in-laws were dissatisfied and demanded a bigger car and an additional of Rs 25 lakh, the officer said citing the complaint. When the demand was not met, the groom's family allegedly harassed the woman mentally and physically before throwing her out of the house, the SHO added. After her health deteriorated, Sonal's parents admitted her to a hospital, where it was found that she was HIV positive, Tyagi said. Her parents alleged that she was given random medicines and was also administered an HIV-infected injection, which put her life in danger, the officer said.