FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLII No. 196 | INDORE | MONDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports ASHES WIN BOOSTS PATH TO THIRD STRAIGHT WTC FINAL P.15 Briefs NEW DELHI 110 flights cancelled A total of 110 flights were cancelled and over 370 services delayed due to low-visibility conditions amid fog at the Delhi airport on Sunday. An official said 59 arrivals and 51 departures were cancelled at the airport. According to latest information available on flight tracking website Flightradar24.com, more than 370 flights were delayed and the average delay time was around 26 minutes for departures at the airport. Flight operations have been disrupted for the past many days in Delhi and other airports due to dense fog. KOLKATA Singer faces harassment Popular Bengali singer Lagnajita Chakraborty has alleged that she was harassed during a musical programme held at a private school in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, leading to the arrest of one of the event organisers. Purba Medinipur SP Mitun Dey said Mehbub Mallik, a coowner of the school where the event was held, was arrested based on the singer's written complaint. "After rendering several songs, I began singing 'Jago Maa'. At that point, objections were raised by one of the organisers, Mehbub Mallik, who insisted that only 'secular songs' should be performed," she said. NEW DELHI Tracking missiles from space Indian startup Digantara, which specialises in monitoring space debris, has ventured into the domain of tracking missiles using satellites, citing greater interest from governments across the world for such information. Space debris and traffic monitoring has emerged as a key segment of the global space economy as companies launch more satellites in low Earth orbit for high-speed internet and Earth observation applications. "We were tracking fast-moving space objects. So, with that experience and lessons that we learnt there, we will use the same architecture to work on missile tracking and detection from space," Anirudh Sharma, co-founder and CEO of Digantara Industries, told PTI. iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE WORLD US forces seize second oil tanker off Venezuela UJJAIN PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Why Oman is important P.6 Cinema Celebrity weddings that defined the year P.14 FISCAL PICTURE | Capital expenses are used to meet revenue expenses. Fact came to light in Finance dept’s half-yearly review Vajpayee remained ‘Atal’ Borrowed money spent on to principles, values: Veep Our staff reporter Ladli Behna Yojana, salaries Nitendra Sharma REVENUE EXPENSES BHOPAL Finance Minister Jagdish Devda and Additional Chief Secretary Manish Rastogi may have said two days ago that the government spent the borrowed money on the development work, but the statement was opposed to the fact. The statistics provided by the finance department say something else. In the halfyearly review done by the department from April to September, it came to light that the government is spending the capital incomes to meet the revenue expenses. The capital incomes are not being used to meet the capital expenses. Spending of the T he revenue expenses do not create assets. Nor it reduces debts. The revenue expenses are generally meant to pay salaries, rent, subsidies, and grants. CAPITAL EXPENSES capital incomes to meet the revenue expenses indicates that the government is using this amount to pay the beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna Yojana and salaries and allowances. But the capital incomes should be spent on such works as are permanent. The spend- Assets are created through capital expenses. It is used to purchase offices, machinery, and equipment and to pay the debts. ing of capital incomes should be higher in any developing state. The government has received Rs 51,109 crore from the capital income from April to September. A sum of Rs 33,468 G RAM G scheme to cast burden of Rs 2,500 cr on state Recalling the legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday said that his strong leadership, principled politics and commitment to good governance laid the foundations of modern India, anchored firmly in democratic values. Speaking at the stalwart's birth centenary celebrations here, Radhakrishnan said Vajpayee's life reminds the nation that leadership is not merely about authority, but about service, responsibility and commitment to the people. "Atal ji was a towering personality who shaped modern India with integrity, intellect, and an unwavering commitment to democratic values. He was no ordinary individual but a mission in himself, who always remained "Atal" in his AALIRAJPUR Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The provisions included in the G Ram G scheme, a changed version of the MNREGA, will increase the financial burden on the state government. The Central Government used to pay 100% of the wages and shared 75% of the material costs. Under the MNREGA scheme, the state government was paying 25% of the material costs and unemployment allowance if someone was jobless. But now, the Central Government will pay 60% of the expenses, and the state will share 40% of the expenses under the G Ram G scheme. The G Ram G scheme will ensure 125 days of work. The state government will pay unemployment allowance every week if a person does not get a job within 15 days of submitting applications under the new scheme. According to sources, the Bill gets Prez assent FP News Service state government received Rs 6,343 crore under the old scheme. Now, the government has to set aside an additional amount of Rs 2,500 crore in the budget to meet expenses under the new scheme. The state s fiscal health is not in the pink. Thus, the new scheme is set to cast a burden on the state. According to the Panchayat and Rural Development Minister, Prahlad Patel, the state government is ready with a plan to deal with the expenses under the G Ram G scheme. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Modi hits Cong with immigrant jab FP News Service MUMBAI In Guwahati, Modi paid homage to martyrs of the Assam Agitation, a movement against illegal immigrants 4Continued on | P8 A tigress was rescued from Pench Tiger Reserve and translocated to Rajasthan’s RamgarhVishdhari Tiger Reserve on Sunday evening. Indian Air Force’s M17 helicopter was used to airlift the tigress, marking the first inter-state translocation of a big cat from Madhya Pradesh. The tigress is three years old. A senior forest officer of Pench Tiger Reserve said Rajasthan had requested three tigresses from MP and two from Maharashtra due to inbreeding problems among its felines. The translocation is expected to improve gene pool and safeguard tiger population. The Pench team had tracked the tigress for almost a month. At one point, its radio collar had fallen off, leaving forest officers uncer- tain of its location. The tigress was tranquillised and checked by veterinary doc- tors before being airlifted. The M17 helicopter made a brief stop at Raja Bhoj air- 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Kashmir grooves to coldplay MISLEADING PROPAGANDA: MEA India, B’desh spar over Delhi protest Agencies NEW DELHI India on Sunday trashed as "misleading propaganda" media reports in Bangladesh that a demonstration outside Bangladesh's mission in New Delhi against the killing of a Hindu man in that country attempted to create a security situation. The Ministry of External Af- Another Hindu attacked? Days after the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, another incident involving an attack on a Hindu individual has been reported in Bangladesh. According to media reports, rickshaw puller Gobinda Biswas was assaulted by a mob in Jhenaidah after rumours swirled that he was linked to Indian intelligence agencies fairs (MEA) said about 20-25 youths gathered in front of the Bangladesh high commission on Saturday and raised slogans RAIL TICKETS TO COST JUST A TAD MORE: UP TO 2P/KM MUMBAI PM Modi visits Swahid Smarak Kshetra, the memorial to honour martyrs of the Assam agitation in protest against the "horrendous killing" of Dipu Chandra Riding on the momentum of its Assembly election victory, the ruling Mahayuti on Sunday delivered a commanding performance in the municipal council and nagar panchayat elections in Maharashtra, with BJP emerging as the singlelargest party by a wide margin. As counting of votes for elections to 242 municipal councils and 46 nagar panchayats — held in two phases on December 2 and December 20 — began on Sunday, results reflected a decisive mandate in favour of Mahayuti, comprising BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. According to final figures shared by SEC late in the night, the Mahayuti alliance swept the elections to 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats by winning 207 posts of presidents of local bodie, restricting the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi to a collective tally of 44. Tourists enjoy after a fresh spell of snowfall in Gulmarg on Sunday as cold wave gripped Kashmir. In Srinagar, 11 flights were cancelled due to weather conditions, while over 550 air services disrupted in New Delhi on account of fog. See Nation Kamal Mishra GUWAHATI PM Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Congress, accusing it of engaging in "anti-national" activities and helping illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to settle in Assam. Addressing a public rally after unveiling a Rs 10,601-crore fertiliser plant at Namrup in Assam's Dibrugarh district on the last day of his two-day visit to the state, the PM accused the opposition party of objecting to the revision of voter list due to its only aim of grabbing power. 4Continued on | P8 Kalpesh Mhamunkar A wild animal snatched a fouryear-old girl from her mother's arms in Alirajpur and killed her. The body was found after four hours of searching in the forest. The incident occurred in Godwani village of Bichholi area under Aalirajpur district on Saturday evening. Notably, a woman was taking her two daughters home after sunset, holding one daughter's hand while carrying the other, named Raksha in her arms. Suddenly, the animal attacked and grabbed the child from woman's arm, running towards the forest. Forest Department ranger Tarun Aniya said villagers and forest teams began searching around 7:30 pm. They found the child's body around 11:30 pm in bushes on a hill. The upper part of her body was severely damaged and her face was mauled. The ranger said a leopard likely carried out the attack based on the nature of injuries. Earlier reports claimed the girl’s father Dev Singh was holding the girl near their house when the animal pounced. President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday gave assent to the Viksit Bharat--Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB--G RAM G) Bill, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of rural employment policy, as per a release by the President's Secretariat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is steering the nation towards the goal of Viksit Bharat @2047. Atal ji believed deeply in dialogue, inclusive development and strong yet humane governance. Mahayuti steamrolls in local body polls The Railways on Sunday rationalised its passenger fare structure with effect from December 26, while keeping rates for suburban services and short-distance travel unaffected. There will be no increase in fares for suburban trains and monthly season tickets. Ordinary class fares for journeys up to 215km will also remain unchanged. For longer distances, ordinary class fares for journeys beyond 215km will increase by one paise per kilometre. Fares for Mail and Express trains in non-AC classes will rise by two paise per kilometre, while AC class fares will also see an increase of two paise per kilometre. According to Railway officials, the fare rationalisation is expected to generate additional revenue of around Rs 600 crore during the current financial year. For a 500 km journey in non-AC coaches, passengers will have to pay about Rs 10 more. 4Continued on | P8 Air Force’s M17 airlifts tigress from Pench to Raj Our Staff Reporter commitment to principles and values. He is remembered and honoured for his exemplary actions as a statesman, administrator, parliamentarian, poet, and above all, as a great human being," the VP said. "His vision is being carried forward under the leadership MAHA SWEEP offgrid BHOPAL Vice President CP Radhakrishnan confers ‘Atal Alankaran’ on former Union minister Satyanarayan Jatiya in Indore Wild animal snatches 4-YO from lap, body found after 4 hrs Now, Centre to pay 60% of expenses, state will share 40% crore has been the capital expenses during this period. The government has received revenue of Rs 107,159 crore, but the revenue expenses were Rs 125,297 crore, which indicates that a sum of Rs 18,000 crore received by the government through capital incomes was spent on the revenue expenses. In the half-yearly review, it also came to light that the government was facing a problem in maintaining the revenue surplus during 2025-26. There has been revenue surplus in the state in the past few years. As the revenue expenses have increased this year, the government is facing difficulties in maintaining revenue surplus. INDORE Pic: Anand Shivre fp ESTD-1983 port for refuelling under guidance of wildlife experts. High-tech tracking - To track the tigress, 50 cameras were placed in Pench Tiger Reserve, including motionsensor cameras. Rajasthan’s Chief Conservator of Forest, SugnaramJat, coordinated the operation for over a month and spent eight days in Pench monitoring the campaign. 4Continued on | P8 9 killed in South Africa pub shooting Agencies JOHANNESBURG Nine people have died, and at least 10 others were wounded after a group of gunmen carried out a shooting at a South African pub during the early hours of Sunday, authorities said. The incident occurred just before 1am in the township of Bekkersdal, which is located 46 km west of Johannesburg. It is the second mass shooting to happen in South Africa in three weeks. About 12 unknown suspects in a white mini-bus and a silver sedan opened fire at pub patrons at KwaNoxolo tavern, in the Tambo section of Bekkersdal and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene, according to police. “Some victims were randomly shot in the streets by unknown gunmen,” the police said of the incident that left nine people dead and 10 hospitalised. Provincial police commissioner Maj Gen Fred Kekana told SABC television that one of the deceased was a driver from an online car-hailing service who had been outside the pub. A manhunt for the suspects in the multiple gunshot event has been initiated by Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations in collaboration with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit. There have been several mass shootings at bars -- sometimes called shebeens or taverns in South Africa -- in recent years, including a mass shooting carried out by multiple suspects in an unlicensed bar near the South African capital that left at least 12 people dead and 13 injured earlier this month. 4Continued on | P8