Thursday, August 14, 2025 | Vol. 68 No. 268 | 32 Pages Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation GAMES NATION ‘Ask Pakistan’: US refuses to answer if Islamabad lost F-16s during Op Sindoor Cinema Rukhsar on two broken marriages, infidelity and more Indian Olympic Assn has approved India’s 2030 Commonwealth Games bid Edit Strained India-US relations and the problem of Munir MORE IS BETTER | Apex court points out that voters have as many as eleven documents to choose from to present to the EC, compared to seven previously SC says SIR ‘voter-friendly’ FPJ News Service MUMBAI The Supreme Court on Wednesday defended the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls, calling the exercise "voter friendly" despite mounting criticism from opposition parties and civil rights groups challenging the controversial process just months before assembly elections. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed that the 11 documents now required for voter registration under SIR, compared to seven in previous summary revisions, demonstrated an "inclusionary" rather than exclusionary approach. The court emphasised that electors need submit only one document from the expanded list, suggesting greater accessibility for potential voters. "The number of documents in summary revision conducted earlier in the state was seven and in SIR it is 11, which shows it is voter friendly," Justice Kant remarked during proceedings on petitions challenging the Election Commission's June 24 decision to conduct the special revision. However, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing BJP PUSH BACK ON VOTE CHORI Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI Under attack from the Opposition over alleged “voter fraud”, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday came out with its own “analysis” of electoral rolls in constituencies represented by their senior leaders – including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi of the Congress; Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav of the Samajwadi Party; Abhishek Banerjee of Trinamool Congress, and M.K. Stalin of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – and demanded their resignations for alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) and rigging of polls. The BJP’s counter-offensive came through MP and former union minister Anurag Thakur who while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters criticised these four major parties, which are also Alleges rolls helped top Congress, SP, TMC and DMK leaders win polls part of the INDIA bloc, on attacking the Election Commission since they wanted to protect their own vote banks, which he charged comprised of “illegal Bangladesh infiltrators” and other “intruders”. Thakur said it was to divert attention from their own misdeeds that these Opposition parties have launched a vicious campaign against the poll panel for organising the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar, which would later be extended to other states. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | nation the petitioners including the People's Union for Civil Liberties and Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, argued that despite the higher number of ac- Fresh airing to old Sonia vote story Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar ceptable documents, their actual coverage among Bihar's population remained dismally low. He cited passport availability as merely one to two per- PIGEON FEEDING 4Contd on | nation MUMBAI Even as the BMC said on Wednesday that it intends to allow controlled feeding of pigeons at Dadar Kabutarkhana (dedicated pigeon feeding spots) for two hours in the morning, the Bombay High Court remarked that it must first issue a public notice inviting objections before taking such a decision. A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Arif Doctor stated that since the BMC had taken the decision to close all kabutarkhanas and prohibit feeding pigeons in the “larger interest of public health,” the “sanctity” of that decision must be maintained. On July 15, the HC had passed an interim order up- Temple in US vandalised Agencies GREENWOOD, INDIANA Our relationship with both India and Pakistan remains good Tammy Bruce State Department spokesperson case. So it’s clear that the diplomats here are committed to both nations.” She called US engagement with both countries positive news for the region and the world. She was responding to a question on the possibility of increased US aid to Islamabad, including arms sales, following Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s meeting with Trump. Two separate incidents have shaken the Indian communities in the United States this month. In Greenwood, Indiana, the signboard of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple was defaced in what the temple administration described as a “hateful act.” This marks the fourth time in less than a year a BAPS temple has been targeted in the US. The Indian Consulate in Chicago condemned the incident as “reprehensible” and urged law enforcement to take prompt action, while calling for unity, solidarity, and vigilance. In Los Angeles, 70-yearold Harpal Singh was brutally assaulted near the Sikh Gurdwara of Los Angeles on August 4, suffering a skull fracture and possible brain trauma. 4Contd on | nation Textiles sector braces for tariffs Ashwin Ahmad NEW DELHI As the US tariffs come into play, the biggest concern in India is for the textile sector. Government statistics show that the Indian textile and apparel market was valued at around $222 billion in 2024, and projections suggest it could reach $350 billion by 2030. The US is the largest market for the textile industry—which employs approximately 45 million people, an employment figure second only to agriculture—making up 33% of India’s total exports. People in the trade warn that mass layoffs should be expected should the US tariffs take hold. “We request immediate government intervention to offset this huge setback. Exporters have their back against the wall and will have to sell below cost to keep their factories running and avoid mass layoffs,” Sudhir Sekhri, Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), said in a statement. 4Contd on | nation ‘INDIA RECALCITRANT’ S Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday described India as “a bit recalcitrant” in ongoing trade negotiations. Speaking to Fox Business Network’s “Kudlow,” Bessent said there were still some “big trade deals” to be concluded, including with Switzerland and India, and expressed hope of finalising tariff negotiations by October. “There are big trade deals that aren’t done and aren’t agreed. Switzerland is still around; India has been a bit recalcitrant. I think we have agreed on substantial terms with all the substantial countries,” he said, adding, “That’s aspirational. I think we’re in a good position.” U holding the BMC’s decision to ban pigeon feeding at kabutarkhanas but restrained the civic body from demolishing the feeding spots. Last week, the BMC covered the Dadar kabutarkhana with plastic sheets to prevent people from feeding pigeons. This move sparked demonstrations from various quarters. Following the BMC’s decision, petitions were filed challenging the ban and seeking STRAY DOGS ISSUE 4Contd on | nation High Court advises BMC to first invite public objections Agencies FPJ ANALYSIS In an unusual intervention, the Supreme Court conducted the first-ever Electronic Voting Machine recount within its own premises, overturning a village election result in Haryana and establishing a landmark precedent for electoral disputes. The extraordinary case centered on the November 2022 sarpanch election in Buana Lakhu village, Panipat district, where Kuldeep Singh had initially been declared the winner. Urvi Mahajani The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday sought to pin the allegations of “voter fraud” back on the Congress by sharing an extract of the electoral rolls of 1980 to claim that its Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi had become a voter in New Delhi when she had not yet even acquired the citizenship of India. The copy of the electoral roll extract was shared by BJP’s national information and technology department in-charge Amit Malviya in a post on “X”. The document showed that Sonia Gandhi figured on the electoral rolls in the New Delhi Parliamentary constituency. WASHINGTON phone calls, the work that we did to stop the attacks and to then bring the parties together so we could have something that was enduring.” Bruce said, “I would say that our relationship with both nations is as it has been, which is good. And that is the benefit of having a President who knows everyone, talks to everyone, and that is how we can bring differences together in this 4Contd on | nation FPJ News Service MUMBAI NEW DELHI US claims credit again on preventing a ‘catastrophe’ The US has said its relationship with both India and Pakistan remains “good,” with diplomats committed to engaging with both nations. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce also said top US leaders were involved in “stopping that potential catastrophe.” Referring to the May conflict, Bruce said on Tuesday, “Obviously, we had an experience with Pakistan and India when there was a conflict, one that could have developed into something quite horrible.” She added, “There was immediate concern and immediate movement with Vice President JD Vance, President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in addressing the nature of what was happening... we described the nature of the cent among Bihar residents, while permanent resident certificates aren't even issued in the state. The constitutional battle intensified as petitioners questioned the Election Commission's fundamental authority to conduct such an intensive revision. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the Association for Democratic Reforms, argued that the Commission lacked power to perform a "Special Intensive Revision," calling it unprecedented in Indian electoral history. SC IN VOTE RECOUNT REVERSAL permission to feed pigeons. The BMC had received two applications seeking permission for feeding at Dadar kabutarkhana. During the hearing on Wednesday, BMC counsel Ram Apte told the court that the civic body intends to permit controlled feeding from 6 to 8 am, subject to certain conditions. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | city 3-judge SC bench to hear matter today FPJ News Service MUMBAI The Supreme Court's suo motu case addressing the stray dog crisis has been transferred to a three-judge bench after a twojudge panel issued controversial directions on August 11 ordering the relocation of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters. The expanded bench, consisting of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice NV Anjaria, is scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday The original relocation order was issued by the bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan on August 11, directing that stray dogs in the DelhiNational Capital Region be moved to designated shelters. The referral to a larger bench typically indicates the complexity or significance of the legal issues involved in the case. Earlier on Wednesday, Chief Justice of India B R Gavai assured that he will “look into” a plea relating to stray dogs after it was mentioned for urgent hearing in the Supreme Court. “I will look into it,” CJI Gavai assured. The matter was mentioned by advocate Nanita Sharma, representing the organisation Conference for Human Rights (India), before a bench of the CJI and Justice K Vinod Chandran. Sharma objected to the apex court’s August 11 order directing the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi streets, Live Law and Bar and Bench reported. CJI Gavai pointed out that another bench has already passed an order about stray dogs. On August 11, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had called the situation arising from dog bites “extremely grim” and ordered permanent relocation of all strays in Delhi-NCR “at the earliest.” 4Contd on | nation 4See also | city