FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 14 No. 329 | BHOPAL | TUESDAY | MAY 13, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN MONEY Sports WHITES OFF, CROWN INTACT P.12 fp ESTD-1983 PUNE INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Cong banking on Kerala revamp P.6 FMCG sector set for recovery in H1FY26 Cinema Grasshopper brain cell gen: Kangana P.14 PM’S SHARP MESSAGE | Op Sindoor is new normal. Will not tolerate N-blackmail. Talks only on PoK, terrorism Briefs SENSEX, NIFTY SOAR he markets witnessed an unprecedented rally on Monday, with benchmark indices recording their biggest single-day gains in nearly four years, driven by a series of positive geopolitical developments and global trade optimism. The Sensex surged 2,975.43 points (3.74 per cent) to close at 82,429.90, while the Nifty 50 jumped 916.70 points (3.82per cent) to end at 24,924.70. The market’s explosive rally was primarily triggered by a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, coupled with renewed optimism surrounding the US-China trade negotiations. T WASHINGTON Trump’s 30-day deadline President Donald Trump said he will set a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to lower the cost of prescription drugs in a sweeping executive order that he will sign on Monday. The order calls on the health department, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to broker new price tags for drugs. ‘NO TALKS AMID TERROR, NO WATER AMID BLOOD’ I ‘Pak Army responsible for their ‘losses’ IANS PM’S TOP QUOTES NEW DELHI In a firm declaration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made it clear to the world that terror and diplomacy -- or terror and trade - cannot co-exist. He further emphasised that “blood and water cannot flow together”, reinforcing India's stance that a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan can only proceed once terrorism and its promotion are eradicated completely from the soil of the neighbouring country. Trade, cooperation, and diplomacy must be built on trust, not on terror, the Prime Minister asserted. In his speech, the message was clear that India has taken an uncompromising stance against cross-border terrorism, placing the “Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance” as a firm response to Pakistan's persistent aggression. The recent targeting of nine terror camps within Pakistan has established a “new strategic paradigm”—one where India’s retaliation will be “fiercer, larger, and more decisive” should such threats persist, the Prime Minister Modi said. PM Modi made it clear that tan on its chest) n The Country's potential and resilience were seen. First, I want to salute the forces, paramilitary, and intelligence agencies. I salute the soldiers on behalf of every Indian. n Operation Sindoor is not just a name, it is a reflection of the sentiments of our people. Ye nyay ki akhand pratigya hai (It is an unbroken promise of justice) “Operation Sindoor” is far from over. He asserted that India remains unwilling to engage in diplomatic talks with Pakistan, stating that there is currently “nothing to discuss” until terrorism comes to an end. His message was stronger: “A new normal has emerged— if you strike us, we will strike back with greater force.” On the Indian military response against terrorism, he clarified that the precision airstrikes systematically dismantled “terrorist strongholds”, long identified as breeding grounds for extremism with ties to attacks in India, the UK, and other nations. 4Continued on | P8 n We have only postponed our military action, our action will depend on Pakistan's next step n In the 21st century warfare, the world is watching how Made-InIndia weapons performed. It's important for us to unite against terrorism n Pakistan ki tyaari seema par war ki thi, Bharat ne Pak ke seene pe var kar diya ( Pakistan had prepared for war on the border, India attacked Pakis- Suspected drones observed along IB in Samba ecurity forces are engaging suspected drones observed along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu region on Monday, an Army said. The Army, however, said there is no need to be alarmed. "A small number of suspected drones have been observed near Samba in J&K. They are being engaged," it said. In the backdrop of the situation, several areas witnessed blackouts in Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Jammu. S n World has seen the ugly face of Pak n On April 22, civilians were brutally killed. They asked them about their religion and killed them in front of children. Personally, it affected me a lot. After this attack, the entire nation wanted strong action against terrorism DGMOs OF PAKISTAN, INDIA HOLD FIRST ROUND OF TALKS he Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan held crucial talks on Monday at 5:00 PM. The discussion focused on upholding the commitment to cease hostilities, refraining from firing or initiating aggressive actions against each other. Both sides agreed to explore immediate measures to reduce troop presence along the borders and forward areas. Both sides agreed to consider reducing troop presence along the borders and T forward areas to ease tensions. Talks between DGMOs (of India and Pakistan) were held at 5:00 PM, 12 May 2025. Issues related to continuing the commitment that both sides must not fire a single shot or initiate any aggressive and inimical action against each other were discussed. It was also agreed that both sides consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas: Indian Army, according to Indian Army. AIR MARSHAL BHARTI MENTIONS COUPLET FROM RAMCHARITMANAS n a powerful and detailed briefing, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, provided a comprehensive assessment of India’s robust air defence and offensive capabilities during ‘Operation Sindoor’. In a significant moment of the briefing, Bharti invoked a I UK immigration crackdown to impact Indian students QUICK READ line from the Ramcharitmanas to emphasise the philosophical grounding of India's response: “Vinay na maanat jaladhi jad, gaye teen din beet. Bole Ram sakop tab, bhay binu hoye na preet. (When humility does not work with the obstinate, and days pass without resolution, then one must School bus brake failure kills doc, injures 6 in crash Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL PTI act with firmness. Fear becomes necessary to foster respect and peace.)” The verse, quoting Lord Ram’s decision to act against the intransigence of the ocean god, was cited to reinforce India's doctrine of calibrated, restrained force in response to continued terror provocation. US, China sign deal to roll back tariffs for 90 days ndian armed forces reiterated on Monday that Operation Sindoor only targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), and that Islamabad was responsible for any loss that they incurred. "Our fight was with terrorists and their infrastructure, and not Pakis- A Kohli mention in Op Sindoor briefing irector General of Military Operations Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai on Monday drew upon a cricket analogy to describe how India’s air defence system acted like Australian fast bowling duo of Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee while noting how cricketer Virat Kohli, who announced his retirement from Test cricket, remained one of his “favourites”. D ‘Man who led terrorists’ funeral Family man’ he Pakistani armed forces have claimed that Hafiz Abdur Rauf, a US-designated global terrorist, who led the funeral of the terrorists killed in Indian airstrikes during Operation Sindoor is an ordinary citizen. Lieutenant General Ahmed T Sharif Chaudhry, Pakistan's Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), categorically denied that the man seen in the image was a terrorist. Instead, he was described as a religious leader and "a common family man." India did not cross LoC or IB: Army All 32 airports resume services irector General of Military Operations of India on Monday said India had not crossed the International Border or the Line of Control during Operation Sindoor and it carried out all the strikes against the terror infrastructure in Pakistan from within its territory. Speaking during a briefing, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai spoke about how India used a multi-layered air defence grid effectively to counter the drone attack that was launched by Pakistan on May 9 and 10 after India went after terrorist infrastructure in its territory. D MP RECORDS THIRD HIGHEST POPULATION GROWTH IN INDIA IANS LONDON There was a mixed reaction as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday set out tighter new rules to clamp down on soaring immigration figures, which is set to impact Indians as one of the largest groups of student and skilled worker visa applicants to the UK. The new rules, framed in a new Immigration White Paper, doubles the standard qualifying period for settlement status in Britain to 10 years and imposes stricter English requirements, with assessments of improvements in language skills embedded within the visa rules for applicants and their dependents. Overseas student visas, a category dominated by China and India, will witness a tightening of the post-study Graduate Route visa offer from the current two years to 18 months. 4See also | World A 24-year-old woman doctor was killed on the spot and six were injured when a school bus without children rammed vehicles at Banganga Square on Monday morning after its brake failed. Victim, Ayesha Khan, was a BAMS intern at JP Hospital. The school bus, travelling from Roshanpura Square to Polytechnic, lost control and ploughed into vehicles at signal. Due to Buddha Purnima, no children were on board. Police station incharge Sudhir Arajaria said the bus struck at least eight vehicles. CCTV footage revealed the driver was heard shouting “move apart” moments before the crash. Ayesha was flung several feet away and dragged under the wheels, leading to her instant death. Two injured victims remain critical, while others are being treated at nearby hospitals. Meanwhile, Divisional commissioner has suspended RTO and FIR has been registered against the bus owner and driver. (see pg 5) 4Continued on | P8 tan's military. That's why we struck only terror camps on May 7. It is a pity that Pakistan's military chose to side with terrorists and made it their own fight. That's why our retaliation was necessary. They are themselves responsible for their losses," Air Marshal AK Bharti said. GAURAV VIVEK BHATNAGAR / NEW DELHI The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday announced the immediate opening of 32 airports across north and west India where civil aircraft operations had earlier been suspended till May 15 morning in view of the tension along the India-Pakistan border. The ministry said these airports would now be available for civil aircraft operations with immediate effect and advised travellers to check flight status directly with the airlines and monitor their websites for regular updates. Pak-allied hackers launched 15L cyber attacks on Indian websites PTI MUMBAI GENEVA School bus hits bikers, commuters at Banganga Square Helmet missing yewitnesses reported that around 10 to 12 vehicles were waiting at the red light when the speeding bus struck. Of the eight vehicles hit, six were twowheelers. Ayesha and another rider behind her were not wearing helmets, which may have worsened the outcome. CCTV footage confirmed sequence of events, capturing moment the driver rammed stationary vehicles. E Ayesha Khan WEDDING WEEKS AWAY yesha, of Mulla Colony, was on way home from hospital when the accident occurred. Her father is a bank manager in Jabalpur, and family was in the midst of preparation for her wedding scheduled for June 14. Her mother received the news of Ayesha’s death while distributing wedding invitations to relatives and friends. A 4Continued on | P8 US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced here on Monday that an agreement has been reached with China, at the trade talks held here, for a bilateral reduction in tariffs with effect from May 14 for a 90-day period. The US will reduce tariffs on Chinese goods from 145 per cent to 30 per cent for 90 days, while China said it will cut tariffs on US goods from 125 per cent to 10 per cent for 90 days. “We have reached an agreement on a 90-day pause and to substantially move down the tariff levels. Both sides on the reciprocal tariffs will move their tariffs down 115 per cent,” Bessent said at a press conference. “We had a very robust and productive discussion on steps forward on fentanyl. We are in agreement that neither side wants to decouple,” he added. 4Continued on | P8 Our Staff Reporter in India, with 23.8 live births per 1,000 people per year, higher than the national average of 19.3. Maharashtra Cyber has identified seven Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups responsible for launching over 15 lakh cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure websites across India following the Pahalgam terror strike. Of these, only 150 attacks were successful, officials said on Monday. Even after India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop military hostilities, Indian government websites are facing a barrage of cyber attacks from the neighbouring country as well as from Bangladesh and the Middle Eastern region, they said. Addressing reporters, a senior official of Maharashtra Cyber debunked claims of hackers stealing data from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, hacking aviation and municipal systems, and targeting the Election Commission website. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 State in SRS ‘25 n Natural Growth Rate: 15.7 (3rd highest in India) BHOPAL Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the third fastest-growing state in the country in terms of population growth, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) 2025 report released by the Registrar General of India earlier this month. MP’s natural population growth rate — difference between birth and death rates — is 15.7, ranking it behind only Bihar (19.0) and Uttar Pradesh (17.8). The national average stands at 11.8. A closer look reveals a rural growth rate of 17.3 and an urban rate of 11.2 for Madhya Pradesh, highlighting a sharper increase in the countryside. The report, based on data from 2019–21, also shows MP has the third highest birth rate n Birth Rate: 23.8 (Rural: 25.7 | Urban: 18.5) n Death Rate: 8.1 (Rural: 8.4 | Urban: 7.3) n National Growth Rate: 11.8 n National Birth Rate: 19.3 n National Death Rate: 7.5 n Rankings: 3rd in population growth, 3rd in birth rate & 8th in death rate Whites of War, Heart of a Warrior END OF TEST FOR KING KOHLI ANI NEW DELHI As Virat Kohli signs off from Test cricket, the cricketing world is left reminiscing about an era sculpted by fire, finesse, and fierce determination. His 123-Test journey yielded 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties—but beyond numbers, it was his character at the crease that carved him into a red-ball legend. From taming the South African pace barrage at the Wanderers in 2013 to that unforgettable 149 at Edgbaston in 2018 that buried the ghosts of 2014, Kohli’s willpower became synonymous with India’s rise as a Test superpower. In Adelaide (2014), he nearly pulled off the impossible with twin tons as stand-in captain, and in Wankhede (2016), he crafted a monumental 235 that broke England’s back on a turning track. His 153 at Centurion in 2018—amidst crumbling support—spoke volumes of a man who embraced the grind. And in Pune, 2019, a career-best unbeaten 254 stood as a monument of technical perfection and mental composure. Kohli wasn’t just a batter; he was a movement—redefining aggression, fitness, and pride in whites. His innings were epics, his presence electric, and his leadership transformative. Now, as cap number 269 is placed on the shelf of history, the legend of Virat Kohli in Test cricket isn't just complete—it's immortal. (Detail on Sports Page) SACHIN'S RECORD NOW SAFE! With Virat Kohli announcing his retirement from Test cricket, the long-standing record of 100 international centuries held by Sachin Tendulkar now appears untouchable. Touted as the only real contender to surpass the Master Blaster, Kohli ends his Test journey with 30 centuries, needing 19 more to match Tendulkar’s iconic tally. With just one format left (ODIs) and fewer matches scheduled ahead—including only 27 ODIs before the 2027 World Cup—time and opportunity are clearly not on Kohli’s side. Tendulkar amassed 51 Test and 49 ODI hundreds, while Kohli currently holds 82 international tons (30 Tests, 51 ODIs, 1 T20I).