FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 14 No. 292 | BHOPAL | SUNDAY | APRIL 6, 2025 | Pages 18 ` 4 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in EDITIONS: BHOPAL PRESS ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE UJJAIN PUNE INDORE WORLD Sports CAPITAL PUNISHMENT P.16 NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION Nation ‘No govt ever worked for Muslims... P.7 Trump tariffs feel like a gut punch: Farmers Weekend beats of legacy P.12 Hang tough, it won't be easy: Trump to Americans Agencies WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump on Saturday doubled down on the sweeping tariffs he unleashed on countries around the world, warning Americans of pain ahead, but promising historic investment and prosperity. The comments came as Trump's widest-ranging tariffs took effect in a move that could trigger retaliation and escalating trade tensions that could upset the global economy. "We have been the dumb and helpless 'whipping post,' but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "This is an economic revolution, and we will win," he added. "Hang tough, it won't be easy, but the end result will be historic." A 10 per cent "baseline" tariff came into place just after midnight, hitting most US imports except goods from Mexico and Canada as Trump invoked Olive branch to China After expressing anger over China's retaliation of his 34 per cent tariffs on US exports, US President Donald Trump appeared to offer an olive branch to Beijing linking the sale of Chinese social media App TikTok to relief on high levies on Chinese exports to America. Trump said China is panicking and at the same time offered a quid pro quo deal to lower tariffs if TikTok is allowed to sell its US stakes to an American buyer emergency economic powers to address perceived problems with the country's trade deficits. The trade gaps, said the White House, were driven by an "absence of reciprocity" in relationships NAME CHANGE | State plans to rename villages with Muslim names, revenue dept put on job Semlichacha to be called Semlidham Proposal sent to Centre, work on other proposals underway Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Amidst ongoing national level debate over the mausoleum (in Maharashtra) of Muslim ruler Aurangzeb, the Mohan Yadav government is planning to change names of several villages and other places bearing Muslim names has reached advance stage. These villages will be named in association with Hindu culture. Even a proposal to change the name of Semlichacha village (Shajapur district) to Semlidham has been sent to Government of India and necessary per- fp Briefs NEW DELHI AAP MLA moves SC over Waqf Bill Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan approached the Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday, challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Bill passed in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha now awaits President Droupadi Murmu's assent to become an Act. After two days of heated debate in both houses of Parliament, the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 was passed. MANDALAY 442 MT food aid to Myanmar India on Saturday delivered 442 metric tonnes of food aid to quake-hit Myanmar at Thilawa Port in the southern coastal area to the Yangon region's chief minister as part of its ongoing Operation Brahma. A massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28 and left over 3,100 dead. Today in IPL MATCH NO. 19 SRH Vs GT HYDERABAD; 3.30 PM (DETAIL ON SPORTS PAGE) to each economy. Already, Trump's sharp 34-per cent tariff on Chinese goods, set to kick in next week, triggered Beijing's announcement of its own 34-per cent tariff on US products from April 10. Surrender, embrace peaceful development, Shah appeals to Naxals Avdhesh Mallick RAIPUR/BASTAR BJP MLA cites villagers demand over name change hanshyam Chandravansi, the BJP MLA from Kalapipal assembly constituency said that as far as changing names of 11 villages of his constituency is concerned, villagers were demanding for a long time that villages bearing Muslim names should be changed. Out of eleven villages, only one village has Muslims and the rest do not. G mission has been sought. In some cases, the state government has sought desired information from collectors of respective districts so that work to change the name of villages could be expedited. It was the previous Shivraj government which had for the first time changed names of few places. It had renamed Nasrullanganj (Sehore district) as Bherunda. Likewise, name of Islam Nagar village (Bhopal) was changed to Jagdishpur. If the proposal of Mohan Yadav and other policies like "exorbitant value-added taxes." Come April 9, around 60 trading partners—including the European Union, Japan and China—are set to face even higher rates tailored government gets the go ahead from the Centre then it will be for the first time in history that names of so many villages will be changed. The revenue department is working on many proposals to change names of villages and other places. The revenue department is working on a proposal to change names of eleven villages of Kalapipal assembly constituency. 4Continued on | P8 Union Home Minister retrietated his commitment over making Bastar Naxal free by coming Chaitra Navratra in a public speech on Sunday. Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, while speaking at the closing ceremony of Bastar Pandum in Bastar, made a heartfelt appeal to Naxalites and members of their associated organizations to lay down their arms and become part of the mainstream. He emphasized that they could actively contribute to the ongoing development efforts in Bastar, which hold the promise of a better and peaceful future for all. He also reached out to the local villagers, encouraging them to support this movement toward peace. He announced that any Beijing also said it would sue the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and restrict the export of rare earth elements used in high-end medical and electronics technology. "China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close," Trump said in his post. "They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly." But other major trading partners held back as they digested the unfolding international standoff amid fears of a recession. India, Sri Lanka ink major defence pact India, UAE to develop energy hub in island nation PTI COLOMBO Chhattisgarh BJP chief Kiran Singh Deo welcomes Home Minister Amit Shah village declared 'Naxal-free' would be awarded Rs 1 crore for development projects. Shah firmly stated that violence and bloodshed bring no joy and only hinder progress. The path of surrender, he noted, opens doors to support from both the Central and State governments, offering a chance to reintegrate and move forward. 4Continued on | P8 Signalling an upswing in their strategic ties nearly four decades after the IPKF episode, India and Sri Lanka on Saturday inked a defence pact to institutionalise military cooperation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that security of both the nations is interlinked and dependent on each other. Following talks between PM Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the two sides firmed up a total of seven pacts, including one on developing Trincomalee as an energy hub under a trilateral framework, also involving the UAE and another agreement on power grid connectivity. While Modi reaffirmed that New Delhi will always stand with MATTER OF PRIDE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives the Mithra Vibhushana award from Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in Colombo the people of the island nation, Dissanayake said Sri Lanka will not allow its territory to be used in any manner inimical to security interests of India as well as the region. In the meeting, the PM pitched for resolving the vexed PTI OTTAWA An Indian national was stabbed to death near Canada's Ottawa city and police have taken one suspect in custody, the Indian mission in the country said. The High Commission of India in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, said the incident happened in Rockland. It did not identify the victim. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of an Indian national in Rockland near Ottawa due to a stabbing. Police have stated a suspect has been taken into custody," The High Commission posted on X on Friday. "We are in close contact through a local community association to provide all possible assistance to the bereaved kin," it said. According to CTV News, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said a shooting incident happened near Lalonde Street in Rockland just before 3 pm on Friday. The site is roughly 40 kilometres east of downtown Ottawa. (Women Safety) issues orders Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL In a significant directive aimed at protecting rights of sex workers, the state police will no longer register FIRs or make arrests against women involved in sex work during raids at brothels, hotels or spas. Instead, such women will be treated as rescued victims, according to an order issued by Special Director General of Police (Women Safety) Pragya Richa Srivastava. The order, dated April 3, has been circulated to all police units across the state, instructing them to strictly adhere to the guidelines under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. It states that women in- Order states that women involved in such activities are often victims of exploitation and should not be treated as offenders volved in such activities are often victims of exploitation and should not be treated as offenders. Fake doc performs heart surgery in missionary hospital, kills seven Agencies DAMOH The district officials are investigating allegations of a fake doctor performing heart surgery on patients, who allegedly killed atleast 7, in a private missionary hospital in Damoh city of the state. As reports of 7 deaths within a month in the hospital raised alarms in the area, it has been alleged that a person, N John Kem, took up the Accused took up job in the hospital, impersonating a famous British doc job in the Christian missionary hospital, impersonating a famous British doctor by the same name, claiming to be a cardiologist. He then subsequently performed heart surgeries on patients. The patients who underwent surgery died later on, officials said. Upon further investigation, the accused's real name was revealed to be Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav. Earlier, Deepak Tiwari, an advocate and district president of the Child Welfare Committee, claimed that while the official death toll is 7, the actual count is much higher. The advocate had filed a complaint with the Damoh District Magistrate earlier. 4Continued on | P8 According to AIG Kiranlata Kerketta, the women found in these raids must be considered rescued persons and not subjected to any penal action. The order refers to a Supreme Court judgment that clearly states sex workers cannot be arrested, harassed or punished for voluntarily engaging in sex work, as running a brothel is prohibited, but voluntary sexual activity is not illegal. This directive comes in the While Modi reaffirmed that New Delhi will always stand with the people of the island nation, Dissanayake said Sri Lanka will not allow its territory to be used in any manner inimical to security interests of India as well as the region. JAMMU: A Pakistani infiltrator was shot dead by BSF troops along the International Border here, officials said on Saturday, as authorities ensured his proper Islamic burial after the Pakistan Rangers refused to accept his body at a flag meeting. The unidentified Pakistani man, aged around 35 years, was killed when the BSF personnel opened fire after noticing suspicious movements near a border outpost in the Abdullian area in the R S Pura sector on Friday night, officials said. Celebrating history by ‘making another’ Our Staff Reporter INDORE In the first-of-its-kind initiative, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) Vice-Chancellor Dr Rakesh Singhai pedalled from Indore to Maheshwar, aiming backdrop of a recent crackdown by Bhopal police on sex rackets allegedly being operated under the guise of spa centres. During the drive, over four dozen people, including many women, were arrested. Advocate Yawar Khan welcomed the order and said both the Supreme Court and various High Courts have consistently held that sex workers should be considered victims and not criminals. commemorate Lokmata Punyashloka Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar's 300th birth anniversary. Themed "Educated Girls, Developed India," the rally began at the statue of Ahilya Bai at the university’s UTD campus and culminated at her revered statue in Mahesh- Justice Varma sworn in as judge of Allahabad HC Justice Yashwant Varma was sworn in as a judge of the Allahabad High Court on Saturday. Justice Varma took his oath in a private event, a decision that has drawn significant attention. This development comes amidst an ongoing investigation into allegations of semi-burnt sacks of cash being recovered from his residence just weeks ago. Ayodhya gears up for Ram Navami Ram Lalla to appear as Royal Prince in golden crown Biswajeet Banerjee to encourage girls to pursue higher education. Accompanied by 14 cyclists including teachers, officers and students, Dr Singhai covered the 90-kilometre distance in roughly six hours. The group took only one break for lunch at Jam Gate. "We started at 6:15 am from Indore and reached Maheshwar around 4:30 pm," said the Vice-Chancellor. The cycle rally was organised on Saturday to PRAYAGRAJ Pak intruder shot dead pedals of pride DAVV VC leads cycle rally to celebrate 300 years of Ahilya Bai Holkar 4Continued on | P8 Won’t allow territory to be used against India: Dissanayake Now, sex workers to be treated as rescued victims Indian national stabbed to death in Canada Special DGP fishermen issue between the two countries with a "humane approach" and hoped that Colombo will fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil people and conduct provincial council elections. war—a route rich in cultural and historical significance. This historic event saw participation from 15 members of the DAVV community, including faculty members, officials and students, all united under a shared vision of promoting women’s education and celebrating the legacy of one of India’s most progressive rulers. 4Continued on | P8 AYODHYA In what promises to be a historic and spiritually grand celebration, Ayodhya is preparing for its first Ram Navami since the consecration of the Ram Mandir earlier this year. The holy town is bathed in festive hues, with the entire stretch of Rampath leading to the temple beautifully decorated, and security tightened across Uttar Pradesh to ensure smooth and peaceful celebrations. This year, Ram Lalla — the child form of Lord Ram — will be worshipped with extraordinary devotion and grandeur. On April 6, the day of Ram Navami, Ram Lalla will be adorned like a royal prince. He will wear a golden crown and a specially designed yellow garment embedded with gold and silver, crafted by noted fashion designer Manish Tripathi, who is personally bringing the outfit to Ayodhya on Saturday. As a symbol of divinity and majesty, Ram Lalla will also be decked with jewellery studded with diamonds, pearls, and gemstones. 4Continued on | P8