FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 15 No. 186 | BHOPAL | THURSDAY | DECEMBER 18, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in World US widens travel ban, 5 more nations on list P.10 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL MONEY Global trade getting weaponised through tariffs, says Sitharaman UJJAIN PUNE INDORE NASHIK Cinema ‘Aditya Dhar, I have no words...’ P.12 `2.5-TN ECONOMY BY 2047 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday said Madhya Pradesh aims to become a Rs 2.50 trillion economy by 2047, with a target to raise per capita income to Rs 22.50 lakh per annum, as he presented the Developed Madhya Pradesh Vision–2047 in the Assembly. The discussion on the vision document continued for nearly 12 hours without interruption. The Chief Minister said the roadmap is based on eight key themes and aims to attract Rs 25 lakh crore in private investment by 2047. Highlighting women empowerment, Yadav announced that the government plans to increase financial assistance to women to Rs 5,000 from Rs 3,000, while linking beneficiaries to employment opportunities. Taking a swipe at Congress, Chief Minister said Opposition demands extension of Assembly sessions, but avoids debate once proceedings begin. On internal security, Yadav said December 11 will be remembered as the day Madhya Pradesh became naxal-free, achieving the target well ahead of March 2026 deadline. fp Briefs Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar, minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar wait for Governor Mangubhai Patel before Special Session of the Assembly on Wednesday He said the state has avenged brutal killing of former minister Likhiram Kanwar, murdered by naxals. He claimed the BJP government had earlier eliminated dacoits and has now eradicated naxalism. “A naxal remains a naxal; they cannot be friends of anyone,” he said. On investment, the Chief Minister said proposals worth Rs 6 lakh crore have already materialised. He said that on December 25, the birth anniversary of former Prime Min- ister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will lay foundation stone for projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore. Yadav announced that a zoo and rescue centre will be opened at every divisional headquarters. “Madhya Pradesh is a tiger state, leopard state and cheetah state. Gandhisagar has emerged as the second home of cheetahs and Nauradehi will become the third,” he said, hinting at plans to create the 10th tiger reserve at Omkareshwar. He urged Congress to support implementation of 27% OBC reservation, stating that the matter is pending in court due to complications arising after the previous Congress government implemented it without forming a committee or commission. Praises Cong CMs for their role in MP’s devpt Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Urban Development and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kailash Vijayvargiya’s speech during the day-long special session of the House won the heart of everyone in the House on Wednesday. Vijayvargiya’s speech was positive, and he did not criticise anyone. At the beginning, the minister said he would not utter a single word against anyone. Our Staff Reporter The High Court, principal bench of Jabalpur, on Tuesday ordered state government to take immediate action on nursing admissions. A division bench of Justices VivekRusia and Pradeep Mittal passed a significant order in a petition highlighting irregularities in nursing education and serious anomalies in Madhya Pradesh’s admission process, delivering a major verdict in interest of nursing students. The petition was filed by NSUI State Vice President Ravi Parmar. Advocate Abhishek Pandey, representing petitioner, said that despite Supreme Court extending last NURSING ADMISSIONS date for admissions to nursing courses until December 31, 2025, Post Basic BSc Nursing (PB BSc Nursing) and Master of Science Nursing (MSc Nursing) were excluded from counselling, contrary to Supreme Court’s order. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 The Supreme Court had clearly directed that vacant seats in nursing courses in Madhya Pradesh should be filled only by eligible candidates who participated in state-level entrance examination and fulfilled qualifications prescribed by Indian Nursing Council (INC). Despite this, seats remained vacant due to negligence of State Nursing Council. High Court expressed serious concern over data on vacant seats. 4Continued on | P8 ADDIS ABABA PM Modi gets Ethiopia’s top honour Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday was conferred with Ethiopia's highest award, 'The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia', by his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed Ali for his exceptional contribution towards strengthening IndiaEthiopia partnership. He is the first head of government to receive Ethiopia's highest award. Dhaka visa centre closed amid security concerns B’desh envoy summoned IANS NEW DELHI/DHAKA India on Wednesday shut its Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka amid a deteriorating security situation and inflammatory anti-India statements by radical Bangladeshi leaders. The closure came hours after New Delhi summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner, Muhammad Riaz Hamidullah, to lodge a formal protest over threats to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. “In view of the ongoing security situation, the IVAC will be closed from 2 pm today. Applicants with appoint- ments will be given fresh slots later,” the visa centre said. India operates 16 IVACs across Bangladesh, collectively processing around 22 lakh visa applications annually. The State Bank of India is the sole authorised agency for receiving visa applications. The Ministry of External Affairs said the Dhaka envoy was summoned to flag activities of extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian Mission. India “completely rejects the false narrative” being pushed over recent events in Bangladesh and expressed concern that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough probe nor shared credible evidence. 4Continued on | P8 2 CGST officials held accepting Rs 4L bribe FP News Service JABALPUR The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested two CGST officials for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 4 lakh from a hotel owner during a tax assessment. CGST Superintendent Mukesh Buman and Inspector Sachin Khare were caught taking the bribe from hotelier Vivek Tripathi, sources said. The action followed a complaint by Tripathi, whose hotels had recently undergone a CGST audit. According to the complaint, all documents and transactions were in order, yet the officials raised a tax demand of Rs 1 crore. When Tripathi raised objections, the officers allegedly demanded Rs 4 lakh to drop the claim. offgrid Trump tests Asim Munir’s authority at home US pressures Pak on Gaza Force Agencies ISLAMABAD Pakistan’s powerful army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir faces a major domestic test as the United States presses Islamabad to contribute troops to a pro- posed Gaza stabilization force under President Donald Trump’s peace plan. Munir is expected to travel to Washington soon for his third meeting with Trump in six months, sources told Reuters, with the Gaza force likely to dominate talks. Trump’s 20-point plan envisages an international force overseeing Gaza’s transition, reconstruction and economic recovery after more than two years of war. The push comes amid a Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL His speech manifested his impeccable boldness. He also appreciated the Congress chief ministers, highlighting their contributions for the state’s development. The minister counted the contributions of Arjun Singh and Digvijaya Singh. He was in full praise of the current union minister and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. TAKE SWIFT ACTION: HC to govt BHOPAL ‘India was once golden bird, but in MP gold bricks being explored’ India was once known as a “golden bird”, but in Madhya Pradesh gold bricks are now being “explored”, said Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar in the Assembly on Wednesday, taking a dig at the state government. Singhar said the government is showing dreams of a golden bird in 2047, but the so-called vision document has been prepared by a few officers without taking suggestions from people of the state. He claimed the document has no space for a concrete master plan. He clarified that the Congress is not opposing development plans for Madhya Pradesh, but accused the government of avoiding answers to questions raised by the Opposition. Kailash’s positive, bold speech wins all fragile ceasefire that began on October 10, under which Hamas released hostages and Israel freed detained Palestinians. Israel fears Washington may advance the next phase without the return of the last deceased hostage or a clear plan for Hamas’s disarmament. 4Continued on | P8 E-paper Edit Relief to Gandhis in Herald saga P.6 VIKSIT MP| Chief Minister Mohan Yadav says decisions taken in the last two years will shape MP’s future as a developed, self-reliant state. Highlights achievements including end of Naxalism, major infrastructure push and record tourism growth Women to get Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 3,000 MUMBAI NO FREE RIDE IN BHOPAL METRO Our Staff Reporter Goa Nightclub Fire: Luthra bros in 5-day police custody PTI PANAJI BHOPAL Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (MPMRCL) has decided that Bhopal Metro will begin commercial operations without offering any free rides. Unlike Indore Metro, commuters in the state capital will have to buy tickets from the very first day. Metro officials said the decision follows Indore Metro’s experience, where a week-long free service was followed by a drop of over 90 per cent in ridership once fare collection started. To prevent a similar fall in Bhopal, management opted for paid services from the outset. Approval for this policy has already been granted at management level. Official inauguration of Bhopal Metro is scheduled for December 20, while commercial services for general public will start from December 21. The inaugural ceremony will be held at Minto Hall from 4 pm. Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will jointly dedicate Metro project to the city. At 5.10 pm, dignitaries will flag off Metro train from Subhash Nagar station. A ceremonial ride is scheduled at 5.15 pm from Subhash Nagar to AIIMS station. Covering a distance of around 7.5 km, the Metro will run at speeds of up to 60 km per hour and is expected to reach AIIMS station by 5.30 pm, where a special programme has been planned for local residents. With launch approaching, Metro authorities said preparations across all stations are being completed at full pace. A court in North Goa on Wednesday remanded Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, to five days of police custody in connection with the December 6 fire that killed 25 people. The brothers were brought to Goa from Delhi after being deported from Thailand and produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class Puja Sardesai after undergoing multiple medical examinations at the District Hospital in North Goa. Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing a victim’s family that lost four members, said the accused sought “special consideration” on health grounds, which the court rejected. “The court noted the gravity of the case involving 25 deaths,” he said, adding that demands for facilities such as a better mattress in custody were also denied. 4Continued on | P8 Lok Sabha clears SHANTI Bill Opens sector to pvt players Agencies NEW DELHI The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025, marking a historic overhaul of India’s nuclear energy framework and opening the sector to private participation for the first time. The bill was approved amid a walkout by the INDIA block alliance opposition. Introduced by Minister of State for Science and Technol- ogy Jitendra Singh, the legislation repeals the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, consolidating them into a modern, unified law aligned with India’s energy transition and climate commitments. 4Continued on | P8