FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 14 No. 287 | BHOPAL | TUESDAY | APRIL 1, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: Sports fp Briefs KOTA JEE aspirant kills self An 18-year-old engineering aspirant, who was to appear for the JEE-Main on April 2, allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a moving train in Kota, police said on Monday. This is the tenth case of suspected suicide by a coaching student in Kota since January. Kanpur native Ujjawal Mishra was supposed to leave for Lucknow where he was allotted a centre to sit for the engineering entrance exam, Deputy Superintendent of Police (GRPKota) Shankar Lal. MUMBAI Raut: RSS will decide Modi's successor Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) or Shiv (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday claimed that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) would decide the successor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added that PM Modi's successor would be from Maharashtra. Raut said that PM Modi visited RSS headquarters in Nagpur to discuss retirement plans. "Modi's successor will be from Maharashtra, and RSS will decide on that," Raut told reporters. MUMBAI Film director booked for rape An FIR has been registered against director Sanoj Mishra for the alleged rape, and assault of a woman. Sanoj is the same director, who offered his next movie to the viral girl from Kumbh Mela, Monalisa. Sanoj Mishra, 45, was caught from Ghaziabad, and was taken into custody after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court. The complaint is registered by a 28-year-old woman, who alleges that she met Mishra through social media platforms TikTok and Instagram in 2020 while living in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. In her complaint, she stated that the accused allegedly coerced her into meeting him by threatening suicide. ISLAMABAD Imran Khan nominated for Nobel Peace Prize Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts towards "human rights and democracy in Pakistan", an advocacy group said. The announcement was made by Pakistan World Alliance (PWA), the advocacy group founded last December and affiliated with the Norwegian political party Partiet Sentrum. Today in IPL MATCH NO. 13 LSG Vs PBKS LUCKNOW; 7.30 PM (Detail on sports Page) WORLD Ashwani’s dream debut P.14 BHOPAL Trump’s tariffs target all, India to feel pinch UJJAIN PUNE INDORE NASHIK Cinema April Fool’s Day... P.12 APRIL SHOCK: PRICEY PROPERTY, POWER antak. Moreover, liquor sale will be banned in Salkanpur, Kundalpur, Bandakpur, Barmankalan, Barmankhurd and Linga gram panchayats. Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Several key changes are set to take effect from April 1, impacting property buyers, electricity consumers and liquor sales in religious towns. Property registration rates will rise by 11% in Bhopal and 20% across the state, making homeownership even more challenging. Moreover, electricity bills will increase by 3.46%, adding to the financial burden of common people. The government has also ordered the closure of liquor shops in 19 religious cities and several gram panchayats as part of its new policy. The Bhopal district administration has approved an 11% increase in property registration rates, which will come into effect from April 1. This rise will directly impact middle-class and lower-income families, making Water tax hike likely Rush at registry office ISBT on last day of financial year as collector’s new guideline will go into effect from April 1. home purchases even more difficult. On a state level, registration rates will see an average hike of 20%, further pushing up property costs. Power costly The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission has proposed a 3.46% increase in electricity tariff, effective from April 1. This will add to the woes of consumers already struggling with inflation, as higher power bills will stretch household budgets further. Liquor ban The state government has ordered a complete shutdown of liquor shops and bars in 19 religious towns and several gram panchayats from April 1. The decision, taken during a cabinet meeting in Maheshwar, will impact cities like Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Mandleshwar, Orchha, Maihar, Chitrakoot and Amark- Palestine poster at Eidgah sparks uproar amid Waqf Bill row Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Many Muslims in Bhopal, Morena and other parts of Madhya Pradesh offered Eid prayers on Monday wearing black armbands in protest against the proposed amendment to the Waqf Bill. However, a major controversy erupted when some youths displayed posters in support of Palestine outside Bhopal’s Eidgah. The incident sparked outrage, with Mayor Alok Sharma and Minister Vishwas Sarang strongly condemning it. While the Waqf Bill protest remained peaceful, Muslim clerics voiced their opposition, arguing that the amendment undermines Muslim rights and seeks to seize Waqf properties. Despite the Palestine poster controversy, the police claimed to be unaware of the incident. ACP Anil Bajpayee, who was present at the Eidgah, said that he had not seen anyone displaying such banners. India committed to sustainable energy: Modi Places of Worship Act plea’s SC hearing today New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reiterated India’s commitment to sustainable energy through nuclear power. He said this while sharing an article by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, where he discusses how the country is set to substantially increase nuclear energy production. “Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh elaborates on how nuclear power has emerged as a crucial pillar in India’s quest for a sustainable and self-reliant energy future,” the PMO said in a post shared on social media platform X. (See Nation) E-paper Edit Modi’s overtures to the Sangh P.6 HIKE IN RATES | Property registration rates will rise by 11% in Bhopal and 20% in other regions of the state Booze ban in religious cities MUMBAI Apart from these changes, Bhopal Municipal Corporation is considering a water tax and property tax hike, which may add further financial pressure on residents. An official decision on this is expected soon. Medicine price to see 1.7% rise Prices of many essential drugs are set to rise from today, with the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), the country s regulatory agency, announcing a hike of up to 1.7% on medications. Prices of these controlled-category medicines, including those of cancer, malaria, Tuberculosis, diabetes, heart-related concerns, antibiotics, stents(for heart patients), and pain-killers will rise. Naxal carrying Rs 45L reward gunned down Dantewada: A senior woman Naxalite carrying a collective reward of Rs 45 lakh in two states was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region on Monday, police officials said. Gummadiveli Renuka, the deceased cadre, was a law graduate and was active in the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) since 1996 and carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh in Chhattisgarh and Rs 20 lakh in neighbouring Telangana, he said. India refutes NYT report on sensitive tech transfer to Russia FP Online The Indian government on Monday refuted an article published in an American newspaper claiming that the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) may have “re-routed British sensitive equipment” to Russia’s Rosoboronexport, which is sanctioned by the United Kingdom and the European Union. Responding to the article, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) source told news agency ANI that the report is factually incorrect, misleading, and it attempts FP News Service DHAR A 43-year-old woman, who works as house help alleged that she was gang raped by two persons while she was returning home from work. Police assured fair probe and booked two persons under rape charges, said a police official. After media attention on the issue, police registered a case against Monu Thakur and Radhiya for rape and assault charges. As per kin, family launched a search operation when victim got missing on March 24. They found her severely injured on the next day. They threw the victim from an 8 to 10 feet high wall in naked condition which resulted in spinal injury. She was found in this condition by her family members while they were searching for her. Based on the victim’s statement, they went to the police station to file a com- India is expected to experience hotter-than-usual temperatures from April to June, with more heatwave days in central and eastern India and the northwestern plains, the IMD said on Monday. Most parts of the country will see higher-than-normal maximum temperatures, except for some areas in western and eastern India where the temperatures are ex- Accused threw the woman from an 8 to 10 feet high wall in naked condition which resulted in spinal injury IFS officer Nidhi Tewari appointed pvt secy to PM FP Online NEW DELHI plaint but cops turned the family away and refused to file a complaint. She was later admitted to a private hospital in Dhar, where she revealed that she had been raped by two individuals. Her daughter claims that there is significant pressure being exerted on them. Dr Saurabh Sisodia said that she suffered broken spine and was undergoing treatment. SDOP Dhamnod, Monika Singh assured fair investigation in this matter. After media attention on the issue, police have registered a case against Monu Thakur and Radhiya for rape and assault charges. 2014 Batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Nidhi Tewari has been appointed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Private Secretary. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved this appointment, which was officially announced by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT). Nidhi Tewari has been serving as Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) since November 2022. Before that, she worked as Under Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs' Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division. According to the DoPT memorandum issued on March 29, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Tewari's appointment with immediate effect. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Trump says US will tariff entire world Online Report PTI NEW DELHI The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Tuesday a plea challenging the validity of a provision of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which mandates maintaining the religious character of a place as it existed on August 15, 1947. As per the cause list of April 1, the plea is slated to come up for hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar. The law prohibits conversion of any place of worship and provides for the mainten- MP Alok Sharma, however, demanded immediate action, calling for the arrest of those involved. 4Continued on | P8 ance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947. However, the dispute relating to the Ram JanmabhoomiBabri Masjid at Ayodhya was kept out of its purview. The plea has sought the apex court's direction allowing courts to pass appropriate orders to ascertain the original religious character of a place of worship. It has challenged section 4(2) of the Act that barred proceedings to change the religious character, besides prohibiting filing of fresh cases for the same. 4Continued on | P8 WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump has declared that he will tariff the entire world, as the United States gears up for what he has called ‘Liberation Day’ on April 2. His announcement came aboard the Air Force One. In the coming days, we would impose tariffs on "all countries", he said. Till now, the talk in WashYANGON Quake death toll at 2,056 The death toll from 7.7magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 2,056, with approximately 3,900 people injured and nearly 270 reported missing, according to the country's State Administration Council Information Team on Monday. International and domestic rescuers have been racing against time to save more lives in affected areas. ington was about reciprocal tariffs on nations that levy an import duty on US goods and services and those with which the US has trade imbalances. But that is not the case, as Donald Trump has said. "We would start with all countries, so let's see what happens," President Trump told reporters onboard the presidential aircraft. With just 48 hours to 'Liberation Day', last-minute hopes that Presi- pected to be normal. Minimum temperatures will also be above normal in most regions, India Meteorological Department (IMD) chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said in an online press conference. "From April to June, most parts of north and east India, central India, and the plains of northwest India are expected to experience two to four more heatwave days than normal," he said. Usually, India records four to seven heatwave days from April to June. States likely to see abovenormal heatwave days include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the northern parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Some states, including eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, are expected to have 10 to 11 heatwave days during this period, Mohapatra said. In April, most parts of India will likely witness higher-than-usual maximum temperatures. However, some areas in the extreme southern and the northwestern regions may experience dent Trump might scale back some of those threatened tariffs.Clarifying that it is not just about a handful of nations which would be affected, President Trump rejected rumours of reciprocal tariffs only on 10 or 15 countries. "I haven't heard any rumour about 15 countries, 10 or 15," he said, adding that "We've been talking about all countries - no cutoffs". There was speculation that these reciprocal tariffs would impact just over a dozen countries that the Trump administration feels is persistent with "unfair" trade practices. 4Continued on | P8 Rahul writes to PM Modi seeking offshore mining tender cancellation PTI NEW DELHI Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking cancellation of tenders permitting offshore mining along the coast of Kerala, Gujarat, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Flagging the threat to mar- April-June to be hotter than normal: IMD PTI to frame issues and distort facts to fit a political narrative. Two booked for gang-rape of woman offgrid NEW DELHI The Indian entity mentioned in report has scrupulously followed all its international obligations regarding strategic trade controls "The Indian entity (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited - HAL) mentioned in the report has scrupulously followed all its international obligations regarding strategic trade controls and enduser commitments. India’s robust legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade continues to guide overseas commercial ventures by its companies. We expect reputed media outlets to undertake basic due diligence before publishing such reports, which was obviously overlooked in this case," ANI quoted an MEA source as saying. normal temperatures. Minimum temperatures will be higher than usual across most of the country, except for a few places in the northwest and the northeast where temperatures may be normal or slightly below normal, the IMD chief said. Last week, the central government asked states to check if their hospitals were ready to handle heatstroke and heat-related illnesses amid a rise in temperatures. 4Continued on | P8 ine life, the Congress leader said opening up offshore mining blocks to private players without any rigorous assessment of its impact was concerning. "I write to you to strongly condemn the central government's decision to permit offshore mining along the coast of Kerala, Gujarat, and Andaman & Nicobar," he said in his letter to the prime minister. Gandhi said coastal communities have been protesting against the manner in which tenders for offshore mining have been floated without evaluating its environmental impact. Millions of fisherfolk have expressed grave concerns about its impact on their livelihood and way of life, he said. (See Nation) Now, Tharoor lauds Modi govt's 'vaccine diplomacy' IANS NEW DELHI Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday heaped praise on Centre's 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative, launched during Covid19 and termed it one of India's most "significant accomplishments." "India's vaccine diplomacy during Covid pandemic stands out from amid the horrors of that time, as a powerful example of international leadership rooted in responsibility and solidarity," he wrote in an article in The Week. Tharoor, who had served as MoS External Affairs in the Congress-led UPA, acknowledged and appreciated India's vaccine diplomacy during Covid pandemic in 2020-2021, saying it "embodied and contributed to the very spirit of its soft power." Vaccine Maitri (Vaccine Friendship) was a humanitarian initiative undertaken by the Narendra Modi-led government to provide vaccines to more than 100 countries around the world during the pandemic.