FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 15 No. 145 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 7, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Sports PM Modi’s heartfelt banter with World Cup Queens goes viral P.12 fp Briefs HELSINKI India, Finland strengthen ties India and Finland held 13th Foreign Office Consultations in Helsinki on Thursday and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation, while agreeing to further strengthen ties in trade and investment, digitalisation, quantum computing, 5G/6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), sustainability, clean technologies, circular economy, education, research and development, people-to-people ties and mobility. NEW DELHI 4 new Vande Bharat trains PM Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi and flag off four new Vande Bharat Express trains on November 8 in a significant step towards expanding the country’s modern rail infrastructure, an official said on Thursday. The new Vande Bharat Express trains will operate on the Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow–Saharanpur, Firozpur–Delhi, and Ernakulam–Bengaluru routes. ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL MONEY UJJAIN PUNE INDORE NASHIK Cinema What truly keeps Vaani fit P.14 BIHAR POLLS PHASE 1 | 121 constituencies go to polls; state records its highest ever voter turnout PM: RJD, Cong have soft 65% turnout sets stage for corner for infiltrators ‘sushasan’ vs ‘jobs-for-all’ PTI PATNA In the "highest ever" voter turnout in Bihar, nearly 65 per cent of 3.75 crore electorates exercised their franchise on Thursday across 121 constituencies in the first phase of the assembly elections, which marks the beginning of a closely watched high-stakes contest that is seen as a litmus test of the ruling NDA's popularity. In a statement, the Election Commission said the first phase of the assembly elections concluded peacefully "in a festive mood with the highest-ever voter turnout of 64.66 per cent in the history of Bihar". The NDA, which has been in power in the state for 20 years, except for a few brief interruptions, is banking on its image of "sushasan" (good governance) in contrast to the alleged "jungle raj" of the RJD-Congress combine, while the opposition bloc relies on anti-incumbency and the unprecedented "jobs-for-everyhome" promise of its CM candidate, Tejashwi Yadav, to Reiterates he forced peace through trade threats PTI NEW DELHI The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday said it has attached assets worth Rs 11.14 crore of former cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina as part of a money-laundering probe linked to an alleged illegal betting site, involving an amount of more than Rs 1,000 crore. A provisional order has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to attach a commercial land in Delhi of Dhawan (39) worth Rs 4.5 crore and a mutual fund of Raina (38) worth Rs 6.64 crore in the case against online betting site 1xBet, the federal agency said. ED summons to Anil Ambani The ED has issued fresh summons to Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani for questioning next week in an alleged bank fraud linked-money laundering case, sources said. He has been asked to depose on November 14 for questioning in a money laundering case linked to a case against Reliance Communication Ltd E-paper Edit EC must inquire and not evade P.6 ‘India needs world-class banks’ South Africa poll body chief lauds CEC Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday received a surprise call from Mosotho Moepya, Chairperson of South Africa's Electoral Commission, who extended best wishes for the conduct of the Bihar elections, one of the largest democratic exercises in the world, with nearly 75 million eligible voters. Moepya said that South African parliamentarians are planning to visit India soon to study the country's electoral management system, often hailed as one of the most transparent and efficient globally outperform the ruling alliance. The polls for the 243- member assembly are being closely watched not only for their local implications but also as an early indicator of the political mood ahead of 2029, and follow the highly controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll by the EC, which came under attack from opposition parties for alleged "rigging" and "manipulation" of voter lists. The second and the last phase will be held on November 11, and the counting will take place on November 14. 4Continued on | P8 8 planes shot down during India-Pak conflict: Trump Illegal betting: ED attaches Rs 11cr assets of Dhawan, Raina MUMBAI Yoshita Singh NEW YORK US President Donald Trump has once again revised his version of the India-Pakistan conflict, now claiming that eight planes were shot down during the May clashes, up from his earlier figure of seven. Speaking at the America Business Forum in Miami, Trump said, “Seven planes were shot down, and the eighth was really badly wounded… eight planes were shot down essentially.” He repeated his claim that Parliamentary panel angry as DGP reaches meeting venue late Members also get angry as policemen didn’t wear uniforms; CS, DGP called to Delhi separately Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The members of the parliamentary committee, who came to the state to take feedback on the implementation of the SC/ST welfare schemes, got angry at a meeting on Thursday. Just before the meeting, the members were annoyed because of the absence of the chief secretary and DGP. Additional Chief Secretary Ashok Baranwal, who was present at the meeting, said CS Anurag Jain was on leave, and he had informed the chairman of the committee, Faggan Singh Kulaste, about it. Afterwards, a member of the committee, Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan, raised the issue of the absence of DGP Kailash Makwana, who reached the venue late. During the meeting, Azad Members voice concern over rising incidents of crime against SC/ST people in the state said if the DGP did not come, the meeting would be cancelled. All these officers should be called to Delhi, where the meeting will be held, Azad said, adding that it is an insult to the parliamentary committee, which amounts to a breach of privilege. He also expressed anger at the police officers for not wearing uniforms. Azad wanted to know whether MP police get uniforms. According to him, the officers are not serious about the meeting. 4Continued on | P8 PTI BHAGALPUR/ARARIA Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday charged the opposition RJD-Congress combine in Bihar with having a soft corner for infiltrators, but "dislike" for Lord Ram and 'Chhathi Maiya' because of vote bank politics. Addressing back-to-back rallies in Bhagalpur and Araria districts, Modi also alleged that the reluctance of opposition leaders to visit Ayodhya to have 'darshan' of shrines dedicated to Nishad Raj, Mata Shabri and Maharshi Valmiki was indicative of their "hatred" for Dalits and backward classes. "Bihar saw zero development during the 15 years of 'jungle raj'. No highways and bridges were built, nor any centres of higher learning were set up. The NDA under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Bihar saw zero development during the 15 years of 'jungle raj' Narendra Modi Prime Minister has worked very hard to bring the state out of that era," he said. "Today, Bihar has so many expressways, bridges over rivers, as many as four central universities and other centres of higher learning. Only the NDA can ensure that this journey towards growth continues uninterrupted," he added. Modi said the NDA faces a big challenge on this journey of growth, which is the menace of infiltration. "The NDA is committed to driving out each and every infiltrator from the country. But Insta, FB new alcohol: Rahul’s jibe at Modi IANS NEW DELHI The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a massive rally in Bihar’s Purnia on Thursday, accusing him of distracting the nation’s youth by providing them cheap data, (by calling it ‘addiction of the 21st century’), instead of providing employment. Addressing a large crowd, LoP Rahul Gandhi alleged that PM Modi had replaced real opportunities with virtual engagement. “Your Prime Minister came here and told you he has given ond with 238780 votes andDevendra Dadu of Sidhi is in third place with 27566 votes. All three will have to appear for the interview to get theappointment letter. Through the elections, former chief minister Kamal Nathshowed his strength, as the maximum number of leaders supported by him won. Rahul Gandhi's "vote-chori" presser has put the spotlight on a Brazilian woman whose photo the Congress leader claimed appeared multiple times on Haryana's voter list, with the Internet abuzz about her identity and a video reaction of hers expressing shock at the development. Congress leader and the party's social media head, Supriya Shrinate, shared a video of the woman, identified as Larissa Nery, purportedly reacting to her image going viral, after Gandhi showed it at his press conference here on Wednesday and claimed that it was used 22 times at 10 booths in the Rai Assembly constituency of Haryana, with names such as "Seema, Sweety and Saraswati" on the electoral list. Media reports quoted the Brazilian woman as saying in the video that the photo shown at the press conference is an old photo of hers. "Guys, they are using an old photo of mine. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 you the intoxication of the 21st century. What used to happen earlier through alcohol or drugs, now happens through Instagram and Facebook. Youth keep watching reels 24 hours a day,” LoP Rahul Gandhi said. He asked the crowd pointedly, “How much money have you earned from Instagram, Facebook or making reels? solve” conflicts between Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since May 10, when he announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” following US mediation, Trump has repeated his claim over 60 times. Film is fiction: HC rejects plea against release of ‘Haq’ Yash elected MP Youth Cong prez Our Staff Reporter INDORE Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by Siddiqua Begum Khan, daughter of late Shah Bano Begum, seeking to restrain the release and screening of the upcoming film “Haq.” The film, inspired by the landmark 1985 Supreme Court judgment in Mohd Ahmed Khan vs Shah Bano Begum, is scheduled for release on November 7. Justice Pranay Verma ruled that an individual's privacy and reputation end with their life and cannot be claimed by heirs. The petitioner had argued that the movie dramatised and commercialised her mother’s personal and matrimonial life without consent, causing emotional distress to the family. She alleged that the film’s teaser and trailer sensationalised Shah Bano’s experiences and violated her dignity and the family’s reputation. Top 3 contenders’ names sent to AICC for interview Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Yash Ghanghoria, son of Jabalpur MLA Lakhan Ghanghoria, has been electedas the MP Youth Congress president. The election results were announced on Thursday. Ghanghoria got 3.13lakh votes (the maximum number) What madness: Brazilian model after Rahul’s H bomb presser PTI PATNA India and Pakistan “made peace” after he warned both nations that trade deals would be suspended if hostilities continued. India has consistently denied any thirdparty mediation. Trump also boasted that in eight months, he “ended eight wars,” including those in Kosovo, Congo, and Rwanda, and claimed to have “helped 4Continued on | P8 the Congress-RJD offer them protection, take out political yatras in their favour and come up with misleading narratives," alleged the PM in an indirect reference to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' and allegations of "vote theft". "Whenever the RJD-Congress achieve power, they try to give back-door entry to infiltrators. They do so because of vote bank politics. But this takes a toll on the people of this country. The infiltrators claim a share in all that belongs to the citizens," he added. in the elections, said partyleaders. The top three contenders for the post of state Youth Congress president’s post will be sent tothe All India Congress Committee (AICC) and after the interview, (which is the formal procedure) the nameof the president will be announced. YashGhanghoriais in first place with 313730 votes, Abhishek Parmar of Bhopal is sec- 4Continued on | P8 Mentally ill children lock up mom for 2.5 yrs Rescued Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Acting on her neighbour’s complaint, the police rescued a 70-year-old woman from a locked room of her house in Kalpana Nagar in the Piplani area on Thursday. The woman had allegedly been confined to the room by her mentally unstable son and daughter for 2½ years.  When police opened the room, they were shocked to see the woman’s frail condition. She was immediately taken to Hamidia Hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment under medical supervision. According to the police, the woman’s husband had passed away several years ago. Since then, she had been living with her son, Ajay Saini, and daughter, Meenakshi Saini, both reportedly suffering from mental health issues. The siblings survived on food given by neighbours. As the mother’s health deteriorated and she became bedridden, the two al- legedly confined her to a room instead of seeking help. The incident came to light after neighbours noticed a foul smell from the house and realised the elderly woman hadn’t been seen for a long time.Anil Sewani, a resident of the area, informed thepolice. Acting on the complaint, Inspector Anand Singh Parihar reached the spot with his team, broke open the door, and rescued the woman. 4Continued on | P8 offgrid INS Ikshak commissioned with 80% indigenous tech 2 killed, 2 hurt in oil unit fire Navy Chief hails ‘Aatmanirbhar’ maritime power IANS NEW DELHI INS Ikshak, the third of the Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ships, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in a ceremonial event at Naval Base, Kochi on Thursday.   It was presided over by FP News Service Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.The commissioning of INS Ikshak, the third indigenously designed and built Survey Vessel (Large), marks the Navy’s 10th commissioning this year. Calling INS Ikshak a “symbol of India’s maritime confidence and technological self-reliance,” the Navy Chief said the vessel underscores the Navy’s transition from a Buyer’s Navy to a Builder’s Navy. ous content, reflecting the success of India's self-reliance in defence production. Amid growing geopolitical competition at sea, the Navy Chief said, “When the global seas are rough, the world looks for a steady lighthouse — India is poised to play that role with strength and stability.” The ship, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and En- gineers (GRSE), carries nearly 80 per cent indigen- 4Continued on | P8 PITHAMPUR (MHOW) A devastating fire broke out at Shivam Industries Oil Factory in the Pithampur Industrial Area-3 on Wednesday evening, claiming the lives of two workers and leaving two others seriously injured. The remains of the deceased were recovered as skeletal remains on Thursday morning, confirming their deaths. According to initial reports, the fire started when a lubrica- tion oil tanker caught fire during the filling process inside the factory premises. The flames quickly spread, engulfing the entire area. Firefighting teams from Pithampur, Dhar, Indore, and nearby private factories battled the blaze for nearly six hours before bringing it under control.Fire Station Officer Sumer Singh Mehada stated that around 1.5 lakh liters of water and 540 liters of foam were used to extinguish the fire. He added that the oilbased fire caused several explosions during the operation. One firefighter, Constable Dilip Yadav, sustained burn injuries to his hand while trying to control the blaze. 4Continued on | P8