FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLII No. 87 | INDORE | THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Briefs MUMBAI Jarange exults, Bhujbal sulks Maharashtra minister and prominent OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Wednesday skipped a cabinet meeting and later expressed displeasure over a government order on granting Kunbi status to eligible Marathas for quota, indicating he will mount a legal challenge. A day after ending his fast in Mumbai and claiming victory in his fight seeking reservation in jobs and education for Marathas under the other backward class category, Jarange expressed confidence about his community members getting quota benefits. NEW DELHI Rains cripple life across north The downpour across north India showed no signs of easing on Wednesday as a rain-triggered landslide and structural collapse claimed four lives in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, pummelled regions already on edge and forced the suspension of classes, flights, trains and even cremations. iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE MONEY Sports 4Continued on | P8 MUMBAI E-paper Edit Maratha stir may be over, but crisis remains P.6 Cinema Kriti inspires change... P.14 IANS BEIJING North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stood shoulder to shoulder with Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping at centre stage at a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, marking the first such meeting among leaders of Pyongyang, Moscow and Beijing in 66 years. The spectacle of Kim standing with Putin and Xi at the viewing gallery of Tiananmen Square marks a major display of their trilateral solidarity in defiance of the West. Wearing a black suit and a gold-colored tie, Kim slowly walked into Tiananmen Square's red-carpeted main entrance ahead of the event. Xi welcomed him into the square, shaking hands with him alongside other state leaders arriving at the venue, including Putin, before moving toward the rostrum. Xi spent more time greeting Kim and Putin, lightly touching their arms in a show of closeness. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive at a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender in Beijing, China, on September 3, 2025. ‘CHINA’S REJUVENATION UNSTOPPABLE’ TRUMP SAYS INDIA KILLS US WITH TARIFFS resident Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is "unstoppable" as the country's military displayed for the first time some of its brand-new weapons. Xi said, "the Chinese nation is never intimidated by any bullies and always forges ahead," in a veiled dig at Trump's tariff threats. ndia kills the US with tariffs and the country has now offered "no tariffs" to America, President Donald Trump has said, amid New Delhi's escalating tensions with Washington over his administration's policies on trade and tariffs. "They have tariffs against us. China, which kills us with tariffs. India kills us with tariffs. Brazil kills us" with tariffs, Trump said. P The GST Council on Wednesday approved a new two-slab tax structure, featuring rates of 5% and 18% and a special 40% sin tax. Ministers said the decision was taken unanimously at the 56th GST Council meeting, which concluded its first day of deliberations on Wednesday. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Now there are 5% and 18% slabs and a special slab. One slab has been removed. We also pressed for an increase in the compensation cess, but n 5% and 18% rates; special 40% slab for sin goods n No GST on roti, paratha, life-saving drugs, individual life insurance and health policies n 5% Hair oil, soaps, bicycles n 18% Auto parts, cement, TV sets, small cars, motorcycles up to 350 cc n 40% Pan masala, tobacco products, cigarettes; aerated drinks with added sugar the Centre did not agree.” Bihar deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said all states were on board with the rate ration- Conspiracies against me: Kavitha quits BRS PTI Amid significant and farreaching changes on the global strategic landscape, India and Germany will work towards doubling the bilateral trade, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said on Wednesday, adding that together, they would like India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations to move to a decisive conclusion soon. Bilateral trade has grown significantly over the past decade between the two nations, reaching a record high of around $33.4 billion (28 billion euros) in 2024. NASHIK FIRST SUCH GATHERING IN 66 YEARS NEW DELHI NEW DELHI BHOPAL More S-400s soon? Russia, India in talks Agencies Agencies IANS PUNE Xi flexes military might R alongside Kim & Putin I 2-slab GST from Sept 22 EAM Jaishankar meets German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at Hyd House, in New Delhi PRESS SHOW OF STRENGTH | Trump accuses trio of ‘conspiring against US’, asks if China would acknowledge American soldiers who ‘gave their blood’ to help liberate the country during World War II 4Continued on | P8 India, Germany aim to double bilateral trade: Jaishankar UJJAIN GST relief: Footwear, apparels to get cheaper Pak’s Fatima Sana eyes Dhoni-style leadership P.15 fp ESTD-1983 HYDERABAD A day after her suspension from KCR-led BRS, senior leader K Kavitha on Wednesday announced her resignation from the party and trained her guns against cousin and former minister T Harish Rao. Kavitha, daughter of party founder and former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), also announced quitting as Member of the Legislative Council and indicated there was "pressure" on her father to act against her. She accused Harish Rao of "conspiring" against the KCR family. alisation, calling it a consensus-based decision. GST from Sept 22. West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said the total revenue loss due to the move would be Rs 47,700 crore. UP Finance Minister Suresh Khanna added that no decision had yet been taken on the tax incidence on demerit goods, and any levy over and above the existing 40 per cent would be decided later. The marathon 56th meeting of the GST Council lasted 10.5 hours, with the Centre and states hammering out key tax proposals. 4Continued on | P8 Minorities of Afghan, B’desh and Pak can stay in India without passport if... IANS / NEW DELHI Addressing a press conference here, the 47-year-old former MP charged Harish Rao with having a "tacit understanding" with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. "I never aspired for any posts. I am sending a resignation letter to (Legislative Council) chairman... I am also sending the resignation from primary membership of BRS to KCR," she said. A person from minority community including Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian from neighbouring nations including Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of it and entered into India on or before 31st December, 2024 with or without valid documents including passport or other travel documents, will be exempted from any penal action, said a government notification. 4Continued on | P8 WEAPONS ON DISPLAY mong the nuclearcapable missiles unveiled at the parade was the DF-61, a new ICBM capable of being launched from a mobile platform. The air-launched JL-1 and submarine-launched JL-3 missiles completed Beijing’s display of nuclear capabilities across land, air, and sea. Long-range hypersonic anti-ship missiles YJ-15, YJ17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 were also unveiled at the event. A ED raids former district excise officer’s house FP News Service MANDSAUR The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the house of former district excise officer Badri Lal Dangi at 4 AM on Wednesday. The action was taken just nine days after Dangi’s transfer to Datia. As per information, two teams from Indore and Bhopal reached Dangi’s residence in Yash Nagar and conducted a five-hour-long search, wrapping up their operation by 10 AM. At the time of the raid, no one was present in the house and the ED officials refrained from giving any official statement regarding the findings. Badri Lal Dangi had been under scrutiny during his tenure in Mandsaur. He was accused of demanding Rs 10 lakh bribe from a liquor shop in Piplia Mandi. A video related to the incident had also gone viral on social media. Additionally, despite liquor ban in the city, reports of ongoing alcohol sales raised serious concerns about his working style and enforcement efforts during his tenure. Dangi was transferred to Datia on August 22 and officially took charge on Monday. The raid by the ED shortly after his transfer gave rise to speculations regarding financial irregularities and misconduct during his tenure as excise officer in the city. Official details from the ED are awaited. ussia is expected to start delivering more S-400 units, months after the air defence system emerged as an impenetrable shield for India during its war debut against Pakistan. Negotiations are underway to expedite the delivery of the surface-to-air missile system. Sources say that one of the units is expected to be delivered by 2026 and another by 2027. These are the two remaining units from the 2018 order for five units placed by India. The delay in the delivery was raised during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Russia last year, as well as the recently held India-Russia bilateral meeting. Besides these two, India is also planning to purchase more S-400 systems that may help develop its ambitious 'Sudarshan Chakra' project. CM orders probe after 2nd infant dies in MYH NICU 2 DAYS AFTER RAT-BITE INCIDENT Our Staff Reporter INDORE CM Dr Mohan Yadav took strong exception to the death of the second infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at MY Hospital, Indore, two days after the rat bite incident and ordered the formation of a state committee to inquire into the matter. The CM added that his government would not tolerate negligence. The baby girl, daughter of a couple from Kamalapur village in Dewas district, died during treatment on Wednesday. Following CM Yadav’s orders, commissioner of Collector Asheesh Singh & MLA Golu Shukla inspect the MY Hospital’s NICU and Blood Bank (PIC: ANAND SHIVRE) medical education Tarun Rathi constituted a fourmember committee to investigate the deaths. 4Continued on | P8 `12,508cr investment proposals for PM Mitra Park in Dhar Over 18K jobs expected; CM assures full govt support Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL As many as 15 companies have submitted investment proposals worth Rs 12,508 crore during an interactive session on investment opportunities in PM Mitra Park (Dhar), held in Delhi on Wednesday. The proposed investments are expected to generate more than 18,000 jobs, boosting employment prospects for youth in the state. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the PM Mitra Park would give a new direction to Madhya Pradesh and assured investors that the government would take full responsibility to ensure their investments succeed. 4Continued on | P8 Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh attend the Interactive Session in Delhi WHO’S INVESTING, HOW MUCH Company Proposal Company Proposal Trident 4,500cr RSVM 700cr AB Cotspin Industry 1,300cr RR Jain Industry 550cr Sanatan Textile 1,000cr Fabyan Textiles 308cr BSL Members 1,000cr 832cr Vans Tracofab Production Ltd 237cr Best Corporation, Tirupur 800cr Mohini Active Life Production Ltd 141cr Sharmaji Yarn Production Ltd Anika Taxfab 100cr I-T raid on Science House unearths bogus billing, shell firms People's will can't be subject to whims and fancies of Guvs, Prez: WB to SC Investigating officers reportedly seize around Rs 1cr in cash NEW DELHI Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The ongoing Income Tax raids on Science House Medical Private Limited have uncovered large-scale tax evasion, with officials reportedly seizing around Rs 1 crore in cash. The investigation is still in progress, and authorities are sifting through investment-related and other incriminating documents. Sources said that I-T officials stumbled upon a network of shell companies allegedly formed to conceal income and evade taxes. Bank transactions and I-T returns of the company are being closely scrutinised, particularly those involving company owner Jitendra Tiwari and his family. Big contracts, poor service senior officer of National Health Mission told Free Press that Science House was engaged in June 2020 through two tenders for providing diagnostic tests in government hospitals on a five-year contract. One tender was for District and Civil Hospitals, covering 101 types of tests, including lipid profile, diabetic tests, CBC, hormonal tests and more. The second tender was part of the urban spoke model, under which samples collected from remote areas were processed at the company’s centralised testing facility. A PTI The will of people in the form of a bill cannot be subjected to "whims and fancies" of governors and President as the executive is barred from interfering with the legislative process, the West Bengal government argued before the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The TMC-ruled state government informed a fivejudge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai that governors cannot question the will of the sovereign and proceed to examine the legislative competence of a bill passed by the assembly, which falls under judiciary's domain. The bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar, 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 DFO accuses Balaghat MLA of Nehru’s bungalow fetches `1,100 cr demanding Rs 3 lakh from her Forest dept sets historic property deal FP Online NEW DELHI A huge property deal has taken place in Delhi. The property is none other than the first official residence of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. It is located at 17 York Road, now known as Motilal Nehru Marg, in the heart of Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone (LBZ). According to sources, the property has been sold for around Rs 1,100 crore. Earlier, the asking price was Rs 1,400 crore, but the final deal was done at a lower rate. The buyer is said to be a well-known businessman from India’s beverage industry. The name has not been made public yet. A top law firm is currently checking the legal details of the property, and this is the final stage of the deal. 4Continued on | P8 up two-member inquiry team Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Neha Shrivastava has alleged that Congress legislator from Balaghat Anubha Munjare demanded a bribe from her. Shrivastava has sent a com- plaint to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) about the incident. On the basis of Shrivastava’s complaint, the forest department set up a two-member inquiry team and asked it to submit a report within 15 days. In the complaint, Shrivastava said the legislator called her to the forest rest house on August 16. When she reached the rest house, the legislator told her to arrange for Rs 2-3 lakh in the presence of security guards and another woman. Munjare said because her PA did not pay any attention to her message, she came to meet her. In the complaint, Shrivastava said when she refused to give the money, Munjare abused her family members. According to the complaint, Munjare also threatened Shri- Anubha Munjare vastava to transfer her from the district. Munjare also said she would observe a fast outside the forest department headquarters in Bhopal to remove her from the district. 4Continued on | P8