FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLII No. 170 | INDORE | WEDNESDAY | NOVEMBER 26, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports Bhopal’s judo stars shine in Hong Kong P.15 IAS officer’s remark on Brahmin girls snowballs into major issue Union minister gets angry; Verma apologises ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE MONEY Goyal pushes unified National Strategy to unlock export growth UJJAIN PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI 26/11 TERROR ATTACK E-paper Edit Cong democracy turns into drift P.12 Cinema Kaneez: A musical reborn P.14 DHWAJAROHAN UTSAV | Modi hoists saffron Dharma flag atop the newly built Ram temple with RSS chief Centuries-old wounds healing: PM in Ayodhya Biswajeet Banerjee AYODHYA Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The statement made by IAS officer Santosh Verma on Brahmin girls at a function of the Anusuchit Jati Evam Janjati Karmachari Sangh on Monday snowballed into a major issue on Tuesday. The Brahmins across the country tore into Verma throughout the day. The leaders of the BJP and the Congress were critical of the statement. The members of the Brahmin Samaj staged sit-ins across the state, demanding action against Verma. Meanwhile, Verma tendered an apology, saying his statement was twisted. ` 51k for blackening Verma’s face President of the Sanatani Sena, Bhagwati Shukla, has demanded the Chief Minister act against Verma as soon as possible. Or else, the person who blackens the face of IAS officer Santosh Verma will be given a reward of Rs 51,000. According to him, out of his 27-minute address, only the speech delivered for two seconds was made viral. He said he had no intention to say anything wrong about the girls of any community, and he only spoke about social equality. 4Continued on | P8 Ayodhya witnessed a defining moment on Tuesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the saffron Dharma flag atop the newly completed Ram Temple, declaring that “centuries-old wounds are healing” and that a 500-year civilisational resolve had finally reached fruition. The ceremony, held during the auspicious Abhijit Muhurat and coinciding with Vivah Panchami, marked the formal completion of the temple complex that has shaped India’s political and cultural discourse for decades. Modi, accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, raised the 10x20-ft triangular flag bearing a radiant Sun, the X STRIPS AGENDA MASKS PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated 'Panchjanya', constructed in honour of the sacred conch of Lord Krishna, in Haryana's Kurukshetra. The PM visited the Mahabharata Anubhav Kendra, an immersive experiential centre that features installations depicting significant episodes from the Mahabharata sacred Om and the Kovidar tree. He described it as a symbol of awakening, resolve and the collective perseverance of MUMBAI CM removes Raisen SP Misrod and Teela Jamalpur police stn incharge removed DCP Ashutosh new SP Our Staff Reporter DCP zone 1 Bhopal Ashutosh has been appointed as SP Raisen. The state government issued the orders late on Tuesday evening BHOPAL Expressing strong displeasure over inability to arrest the rape accused involved in outraging the modesty of a minor girl in Raisen district, chief minister Mohan Yadav ordered removal of Raisen SP Pankaj Pandey on Tuesday night. He reached police headquarters at 8.15 pm and reviewed the state’s law and order situation. He expressed displeasure over lackadaisical attitude of police in handling chakka jam staged in Mandideep. On his India and Canada are reportedly close to finalising a USD 2.8 billion agreement for uranium supply over the next ten years, according to The Globe and Mail. The uranium is expected to be supplied by Canada’s Cameco Corp, and China denies harassment of Indian woman PTI/BEIJING orders, SP Pankaj Pandey has been attached to PHQ. He also expressed displeasure over carelessness with which police handled Mandideep road blockade. Misrod police station incharge Sandeep Pawar has been removed. Teela Jamalpura police station incharge Dinesh Pratap Singh has also been removed. China on Tuesday dismissed allegations that an Arunachal Pradesh-born Indian woman was harassed at Shanghai airport, saying immigration checks were conducted lawfully. UK-based Indian citizen Pema Wangjom Thongdok, travelling from London to Japan on November 21, claimed she was detained for 18 hours after officials 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 MISFIT FOR ARMY: SC upholds officer’s termination FP News Service NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the dismissal of Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan, a Christian officer who was removed from the Indian Army for repeatedly refusing to participate in his regiment’s weekly religious parades. A Bench of Chief NEW DELHI India, Af resume cargo flights The MEA on Tuesday announced the initiation of two new air freight corridors connecting Kabul with Delhi and Amritsar to strengthen trade ties between India and Afghanistan. The MEA also said that both countries will appoint Commercial Representatives in their embassies and set up a Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry. generations of devotees and saints. “This is the Dharma flag that proclaims to the world Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL the ideals of Lord Ram — truth, righteousness and compassion,” he said, addressing thousands gathered inside and around the temple premises. 4Continued on | P8 India to sign 10-yr uranium deal with Canada MUMBAI 4Continued on | P8 ‘Panchjanya’ inaugurated FP Online FP News Service Elon Musk’s X has triggered a global storm with its latest transparency tool, a deceptively simple tab called About This Account that reveals where an account is being accessed from, its username history, and its date of verification. What was meant to be a routine update has now snowballed into a sprawling international exposé, uncovering networks of politically charged accounts masquerading as locals in India, the United States, the UK and beyond. The chaos began when tech bloggers flagged the profile “American” — a longstanding account claiming US roots — which the feature revealed as being linked to the Pakistan App Store. The account was promptly suspended. Cabinet okays proposal for direct local body polls Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi dismissed his petition, calling his conduct “gross indiscipline” and saying it had hurt the sentiments of the troops he commanded. The Court was hearing Kamalesan’s challenge to a Delhi High Court judgment from May, which had already affirmed his termination. The Supreme Court noted that the Army functions on strict discipline and secular values, and that an officer’s refusal to enter religious places during man- datory regimental duties undermined unit cohesion, Live Law and Bar & Bench CJI Kant questioned how the officer’s refusal did not amount to offending the religious feelings of his subordinates. “If this is the attitude of an Army officer, then what to say!” he remarked. 4Continued on | P8 SC pulls up Centre, states for non-functional CCTVs in PS MP a model state with every police station linked to central surveillance control room, says Bench IANS NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Centre and several state governments over their continued noncompliance with its directions mandating functional CCTV cameras in all police stations. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, hearing the suo motu case titled 'In Re: Lack of Functional CCTVs in Police Stations', observed that the Centre appeared to be taking the apex court "very lightly". The Justice Nath-led Bench took cognisance of a media report which revealed that 11 people had died in police custody in Rajasthan in the first eight months of 2025, seven of them in the Udaipur division alone. During the hearing, senior advocate Sidharth Dave, assisting the top court as amicus curiae, submitted a detailed chart highlighting the status of compliance received from various states. Dave added that most states had failed to address the Standard Operating Proce- dures (SOPs) required for installation, maintenance and data preservation of CCTV systems. The Justice Nath-led Bench remarked that Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a "model state", with every police station reportedly linked to a central surveillance control room. It took strong exception to the Centre's failure to file any affidavit or compliance report despite repeated directions. "The Union is still lacking in compliance. The Union is taking the court very lightly. Why?" the Justice Nath-led Bench asked. 4Continued on | P8 the deal may pave the way for broader nuclear cooperation, enhancing India’s energy security and fueling its expanding civilian nuclear programme. Officials from both sides have not yet issued formal statements, and Reuters has not independently confirmed the report. The development comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. The meeting has helped reset bilateral ties, which were strained in recent years. Both leaders also agreed to revive stalled talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The state cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposal to table a bill in the upcoming assembly session for conducting direct election to the post of chairperson in Nagar Palika and Nagar Parishad. Notably, from 1999 to 2014, direct elections were held for the post. In 2022, indirect elections were held. Rs 1 cr for martyr cop’s family The cabinet also approved the proposal to provide financial help of Rs 1 crore to the family of Ashish Sharma, inspector of the Hawk Force, Balaghat, who laid down his life while fighting naxals. Sub-inspector’s post will be given to his younger brother Ankit Sharma on compassionate ground. 4Continued on | P8 CM to review all depts Khajuraho to host cab meet The CM will review work of all departments from December 1-5. He will also see the planning for the next two years and the challenges that the departments face. A decision was taken to hold a two-day meeting of government departments in Khajuraho from December 8. The next cabinet meeting will also be held in Khajuraho.