FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 15 No. 80 | BHOPAL | WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Sports Samson’s six-hitting spree leaves India’s think-tank in a fix P.15 fp Briefs AIZAWL PM likely to visit Manipur Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Mizoram and Manipur on September 13, officials in Aizawl said. PM Modi will first visit Mizoram to inaugurate the new BairabiSairang railway. Multiple officials of the Mizoram government said they have received information that from Aizawl, the PM will fly to Manipur, his first visit since the ethnic violence broke out in the state in May 2023. NEW DELHI India, US firms seal PCP deal The US' Flowserve Corporation and India's CORE Energy Systems Ltd. have signed a deal to bring the primary coolant pump (PCP) technology to India, a person familiar with the matter said. The agreement was formalised in Washington DC in the presence of officials from the US Department of Energy and the Indian Embassy. MUMBAI Jarange ends fast after GR Activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday ended his fiveday-old hunger strike after the Maharashtra government accepted most of his demands, including granting eligible Marathas Kunbi caste certificates which will make them eligible for reservation benefits available to OBCs. Pg7 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL WORLD LANDSLIDE BURIES DARFUR VILLAGE, OVER 1000 DEAD UJJAIN PUNE INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Smiles, conflicts, omissions P.6 Cinema Political heat on The Bengal Files P.14 `2,813 cr boost for tap water to 7L rural familes State govt to bear increased cost of 8,358 revised Jal Jeevan Mission schemes INDORE-UJJAIN GREENFIELD ROAD PROJECT Our Staff Reporter he Cabinet approved construction of a 48.10 km four-lane Indore-Ujjain Greenfield road with service roads on both sides. The project will be developed under Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) with administrative approval of Rs 2,935 crore, including land acquisition cost.The project includes 34 underpasses, 2 flyovers, one railway overbridge, 7 mid-size bridges, and 2 major junctions. Previous administrative approval given to PWD was cancelled to develop the road under HAM. T BHOPAL The state Cabinet on Tuesday decided to bear the increased cost of 8,358 revised schemes of Jal Jeevan Mission being implemented by Public Health Engineering department. Due to revision, the proposed cost of these schemes increased by Rs 2,813.21 crore, which is 13.55 percent of total project cost. Out of 27,990 sanctioned schemes to provide tap water connections in villages, 15,947 have been completed, while work on 12,043 schemes is on at various stages. Revising 8,358 schemes was necessary to avoid depriving about 7 lakh rural families of domestic tap water. The original cost of these re- vised schemes was Rs 6,213.76 crore. After revision, the sanctioned cost rose to Rs 9,026.97 crore. Government decided to bear the increased cost as central share will not be available. SEMICON | In a veiled rebuttal to dead economy jibe, PM says 7.8% growth in Q1 amid economic self-interest a major achievement NEXT GEN REFORMS COMING SOON: MODI NEW DELHI In a veiled rebuttal to the 'dead economy' jibe, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the Indian economy grew 7.8 per cent in the first quarter, surpassing all expectations despite global uncertainties and challenges driven by economic self-interest. Modi said the government will unleash a new phase of next generation reforms soon. "In the coming times, we are going to begin a new phase of next-generation reforms," he said. Speaking at the Semicon India 2025 conference here, he said GDP growth in April-June was better than 'every expectation, hope and estimate'. Indian economic performance came amidst global uncertainties and "aarthik swarth se paida hue chunautiya hai" (challenges stemming from economic self-interest), he said. "Once again, India has outperformed every expectation, every estimate, and every forecast," Modi said. While economies around the world are facing concerns and challenges driven by PM Narendra Modi and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during the inauguration of Semicon India 2025 Agencies MOSCOW 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 $18 bn chip projects underway The ‘Semicon India 2025’ saw 12 MoUs being signed to develop indigenous technologies, the government said on Tuesday. To further strengthen innovation, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the formation of the Deep Tech Alliance, with close to a $1 billion already committed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said 10 semiconductor projects worth over USD 18 billion are underway and the country is advancing towards the next phase of the India Semiconductor Mission and revamping the design-linked incentive scheme to tap the USD 1 trillion global chip market. "The day is not far when the smallest chip made in India will drive the biggest change in the world," he said. "The day is not far when the world will say -- Designed in India, Made in India, Trusted by the World." tors -- manufacturing, services, agriculture, and construction -- with enthusiasm evident everywhere, and added that India's rapid Russia further slashes oil prices for India; discount widens to USD 4 amid US tariffs growth is infusing new energy across industries and among every citizen. In a significant feat for the country, Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday presented the first madein-India processor, along with test chips from four approved projects, to PM Narendra Modi. The first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, called 'Vikram,' has been developed by ISRO’s Semi-conductor Laboratory 12 MoUs signed economic self-interest, India has achieved a growth rate of 7.8 per cent. Modi emphasized that this growth is visible across all sec- dministrative approval of Rs 371.11 crore has been granted for construction of a four-lane road on Hari Phatak railway crossing in Ujjain and a new 980-meter railway overbridge at Hari Phatak Chauraha, under the Simhastha head. Cabinet also approved Rs 972.16 crore for construction of a 72.18 km two-lane road with paved shoulder on Narmada Timarni road, to be developed under HAM model. A Russian crude oil has become even cheaper for India as Moscow has offered additional discounts of as much as $3–$4 per barrel. This came days after the United States announced a whopping 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. The price of Urals crude has dipped to a discount of $3 to $4 a barrel to Brent on a delivered basis, according to people who received offers for the Russian grade, asking not to be identified discussing sensitive information. The price is for cargoes that will load in late September and October, they added. Indian refiners have continued to take Russian oil, despite a brief pause in early August, and cheaper Urals are likely to attract strong buying interest. Last week, the grade was being offered at a discount of around $2.50 a barrel, wider than $1 in July, the people said. That compares with US crude recently bought by some refiners, which was priced at around a $3 premium, they added. India’s first fully indigenous chip PTI INFRA BOOST FOR SIMHASTHA MLA Pathak tried to call judge, HC flags concern Justice Mishra recuses himself from EOW-linked mining case Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Justice Vishal Mishra of Madhya Pradesh High Court, principal bench Jabalpur, has recused himself from hearing a case after disclosing that BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak attempted to contact him for a discussion regarding the matter. In his order, Justice Mishra stated that Pathak tried to reach out to him personally. Following this, the judge declined to hear the case and directed that it be placed before the Chief Justice. The case involves a complaint filed by Ashutosh Dixit against the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). While Pathak is not a party in the original case, he submitted an intervention petition in the High Court to clarify his position. The petition relates to a financial embezzlement complaint concerning companies linked to him. Dixit had alleged that these companies carried out excess mining operations and failed to deposit Rs 1,000 crore in government revenue. The EOW forwarded the complaint to the mining depart- Patwari seeks action State Congress president Jitu Patwari, in his tweet to chief minister Mohan Yadav, has demanded action against BJP party MLA Sanjay Pathak. Patwari said HC Judge's comment regarding Sanjay Pathak reflected the truth. ment, which formed an inquiry committee. The mining department has already imposed a fine of over Rs 443 crore and recommended recovery of GST from Pathak s companies. These include Anand Mining Corporation in Sehora tehsil of Jabalpur district, Nirmala Minerals, and Pacific Export. According to a reply in the Vidhan Sabha, these firms mined beyond authorised limits. 4Continued on | P8 I-T raids top medical supplier US media blames Trump India hopeful of concluding trade for SCO ‘show of unity’ linked to health dept pact with US by Nov or so: Goyal Over 30 locations of Science House under scanner over tax ‘evasion’ Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The Income Tax department on Tuesday conducted raids on Science House Medical Company, a prominent supplier of medical equipment to government and private hospitals. More than 30 premises were searched across Bhopal, Indore, Mumbai and other cities in a jesh Gupta, were also probe that could expose searched. A large tax evasion running number of incrimiinto crores of rupees. nating documents Science House is were seized, pointheaded by Jitendra Ti- Rajesh Gupta ing to alleged masswari. I-T officials began their ive tax evasion. These included operation early morning at the records of cash transactions, company’s office in Gautam tender-related papers and Nagar, Bhopal. Residences of names of beneficiaries. Bank Tiwari, his brother Shailendra accounts of company’s owners and associates, including Raand associates are currently under investigation. The raids are expected to continue over the coming days as officials analyse the recovered material. LEADING MEDICAL SUPPLIER: Science House Medical Company, established in 1994, operates in distribution of medical equipment and diagnostic services. 4Continued on | P8 IANS WASHINGTON Photos and videos from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's camaraderie with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, have gone viral worldwide, including in the United States. The US media framed the display as a deliberate show of unity against American dominance, driven largely by US President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policies. Prime Minister Modi and President Putin walked to Chinese President Xi and the three leaders shook hands and shared a conversation marked by smiles and laughter. Troublesome: Navarro President Donald Trump's top trade adviser Peter Navarro has described as "troublesome" the show of unity between the leaders of India, Russia and China, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to be with Washington, Europe and Ukraine, not with Russia. Navarro's remarks came after the public display of bonhomie by the three leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin Major outlets like 'The New York Times' called it a "smiling manifestation of a troika" projecting an alternative to US 4Continued on | P8 offgrid Floods a blessing, store water in tubs: Pak def min Agencies ISLAMABAD Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has a bizarre solution to tackle Pakistan's flood situation. He wants Pakistanis living in low-lying areas to "store" the flood waters in containers, rather than letting it go to drains. He also asked people to see the flooding as a "blessing". Over 2.4 million people have been affected, and over a thousand villages have been submerged as recordbreaking monsoon rains unleash devastating floods across Pakistan's Punjab province. Speaking at an interview with Pakistan's Dunya News, Asif said, "People who are protesting against the floodlike situation should take the flood waters home." "People should store this water at their homes, in tubs, and containers. We should look at this water in the form of a blessing and hence should store it," he added. Asif also suggested Pakis- tan should build small dams that can be completed quickly, rather than waiting 10-15 years for mega projects. "We are letting water go down the drain. We must store it," he said. Over 2 million people have been impacted by recordbreaking flooding in Pakistan's Punjab province, according to Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari. Per Pakistan's Na- tional Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) data, from June 26 to August 31, as many as 854 Pakistanis have died due to floods, while over 1,100 have been injured. The United Nations has warned that the flooding of farmland and the destruction of ready-to-reap crops across Pakistan have triggered concerns of a food crisis and inflation in the country. PTI NEW DELHI Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday expressed hope that India will conclude the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the US by the fall or November this year. He said that "a little bit" of geopolitical issues overtook the trade matters in the negotiations for the pact between the two countries. "I do hope that things will get back on track soon and we India, US will get this solved: Bessent Amid tensions between India and the US, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at the end of the day, the "two great countries will get this solved", adding that Delhi's values are much closer to "ours and to China's than to Russia's." Bessent, in an interview with Fox News, also termed the SCO as being "largely performative." will conclude a bilateral trade agreement by the fall, November or so, as was discussed by our two leaders in February," Goyal said at the Annual Global Investor Conference 2025 in Mumbai. In his virtual address, he said there is an excitement across the world to expand trading and business relations with India. 4Continued on | P8 From crease to chair – Scindia innings never ends PM, RSS cartoons: Cartoonist gets anticipatory bail Our Sports Reporter PTI INDORE NEW DELHI In a script straight out of cricket’s dynastic playbook, Mahanaryaman Scindia, 29, was today elected unopposed as the new President of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA), becoming the youngest ever to helm the body since its inception in 1957. The son of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who himself steered MPCA for over nine years, and grandson of the late Madhavrao Scindia, Mahanaryaman now extends a family legacy that has dominated MP cricket for nearly seven decades. “All executive posts, includ- The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave anticipatory bail to cartoonist Hemant Malviya who is accused of sharing allegedly objectionable cartoons of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS workers on social media. Noting that he has apologised on his Facebook and Instagram accounts, a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria gave the police liberty to seek cancellation of his bail in case the cartoonist did not cooperate in the probe. FLASH STATS YOUNGEST MPCA PRESIDENT: 29 years UNOPPOSED ELECTIONS: All executive posts filled SCINDIA LEGACY: Third generation at the helm ing president, were filled unopposed. The team will assume charge after the AGM,” said Rohit Pandit, MPCA’s chief administrative officer. 4Detail on Sports Page 4Continued on | P8