Monday, March 9, 2026 | Vol. 69 No. 130 | 27 Pages THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation l E-paper edition is not a replica of the print edition GAMES NATION CJI Surya Kant calls on HC collegiums to consider female lawyers of SC for judgeship Cinema Mumbai to witness first Fringe Festival from Mar 10–15 Lakshya Sen’s brave run ends as Lin Chun-yi wins All England crown Edit Great power games and their unintended consequences NEIGHBOURS POUNDED | A day after apologising to the Gulf countries, Iran clears ‘misconceptions’ and continues attacks ALL WE DO IS WIN Strikes after sorry India thrash New Zealand by 96 runs to retain T20 World Cup Agencies DUBAI Iran launched missile and drone attacks on several Gulf states on Sunday, a day after President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries for earlier strikes and said Tehran would avoid targeting them unless their territory was used for attacks against Iran. "The enemy has had misconceptions about my words," Pezeshkian said in a video statement on Sunday. "When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond. The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be. Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression - and it never has," he added. Explosions and air-defence interceptions were reported across Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, underscoring the widening regional fallout from the war involving Iran, the US and Israel. In Bahrain, Iranian drones struck infrastructure including a desalination facility, according to local authorities. The is- land kingdom, which hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, said its air-defence systems were activated in response. Bahrain’s interior ministry said in a statement that “relevant authorities are responding to the situation and necessary measures have been taken to protect critical facilities,” adding that the attack represented “a serious violation of Bahrain’s sovereignty.” Kuwait also reported missile and drone activity, with air-defence systems intercepting several incoming projectiles. Kuwaiti officials said security personnel were among those killed during the attacks. The country’s defence ministry condemned the strike as “an unacceptable act of aggression that threatens regional stability.” 4Contd on | nation 4See also | world Trump links Iran to school hit Agencies WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump said he believes Tehran was responsible for the February 28 deadly strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran, while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon is investigating the incident. Trump said the bombing on Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab that killed over 180 was likely carried out by Tehran’s own forces, arguing that Iranian weapons were often inaccurate. “We think it was done by Iran,” Trump said, adding that the country’s munitions “have no accuracy whatsoever.” 4Contd on | nation ‘Won’t stop till they cry uncle’ FPJ News Service TRUMP’S SMOKING GUN MUMBAI US President Donald Trump said Iran must effectively “cry uncle” and accept unconditional surrender to end the ongoing war, while declining to rule out the possibility of deploying American ground troops in the country, according to remarks made aboard Air Force One. Speaking to reporters while returning from Dover Air Force Base after attending a Bank fraud: Fresh CBI FIR against Anil Ambani Somendra Sharma MUMBAI The CBI has registered yet another FIR against industrialist Anil Ambani, Reliance Communications Ltd, and others on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal misconduct for allegedly defrauding PNB of Rs 1,085 crore. This is the third CBI case involving RCom. On February 24, CBI had registered a second case against the company, Anil Ambani, and others for allegedly cheating Bank of Baroda to the tune of Rs 2,220 crore and after registration of the second case, CBI had conducted searches at Anil Ambani's residence and the registered offices of Reliance Communication Ltd and had recovered various documents connected with loan transactions. According to the FIR registered by CBI on March 5, the complaint was lodged by Santoshkrishna Annavarpu, chief manager of the bank’s stressed assets management branch in Mumbai. The FIR accuses Ambani and Reliance Communications Ltd of cheating PNB and UBI (now merged) and causing an alleged loss of about Rs 1,085 crore between 2013 and 2017. The alleged loss includes Rs 621.39 crore to PNB and Rs 463.80 crore to UBI, the FIR stated. 4Contd on | nation She always tries to help. She is an excellent leader We don't need people that join wars after we’ve already won! (On Italian PM (On UK PM Giorgia Meloni) Keir Starmer) ceremony honouring US troops killed in the conflict, Trump said the war would end only when Iran either formally surrenders or loses the ability to continue fighting. “I said unconditional, not conditional,” Trump said when asked what he meant by his earlier demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender. “It’s where they cry uncle, or when they can’t fight any longer and there’s nobody around to cry uncle.” The president suggested that sustained US and Israeli strikes had severely degraded Iran’s military capacity. According to Trump, the objective of the campaign was to ensure that Iran can no longer wage war. 4Contd on | nation Haridev Pushparaj BLUE REIGN AHMEDABAD Team India buried the ghosts of the 2023 ODI World Cup final with a performance that was nothing but stuff of dreams at the world’s biggest cricketing arena, Narendra Modi Stadium, to stun a shell-shocked New Zealand by 96 runs to retain their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in incredible fashion on a blockbuster Sunday. After posting a monumental 255/5 in 20 overs riding on the brilliant form of irrepressible Sanju Samson (89), Ishan Kishan’s eye-catching 54, Abhishek Sharma’s timely 52 and Shivam Dube’s final flourish of 26, the Indian bowlers rose to the occasion in emphatic style as pacers and spinners worked in tandem to skittle out New Zealand for 159 in 19 overs to hand India their third T20 World Cup crown after 2007 and 2024. Jasprit Bumrah’s 4/15 and Axar Patel’s Current holders of... CHAMPIONS TROPHY India beat New Zealand by 4 wickets WOMEN'S WORLD CUP India beat South Africa by 52 runs UNDER-19 WORLD CUP India beat England by 100 runs 3/27 complimented the batters’ excellent show as India put up an all-round performance. Tim Seifert’s valiant 52 was the only consolation for New Zealand on a day where everything went wrong for them except for a couple of overs of the Indian innings and Seifert’s knock. When Mark Chapman departed after Hardik Pandya castled him, the match was as good as over with just the formalities remaining as India reduced a much anticipated World Cup final to a onesided contest. Earlier, Abhishek and Samson put on a show for the ages in the T20 World Cup final as they powered India to 92/0 in the powerplay, the highest in this edition of the World Cup and the jointhighest in all editions. The Indian batters were simply unstoppable in the first six overs of the game as Abhishek and Samson went berserk with the former especially severe as he smashed his fifty in just 18 balls as he covered up for his lacklustre performances in the previous matches with critics questioning his place in the playing XI. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | games MODI: GRAVE INSULT... ...it’s BJP’s culture: Didi FPJ News Service PREZ PROTOCOL The dirty politics and arrogance of power of TMC, which insulted the dignity of a tribal President, will soon be shattered FPJ News Service NEW DELHI PM Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal over the treatment meted out to President Droupadi Murmu, accusing the ruling party of “insulting” the country’s highest constitutional authority as well as a woman tribal leader. Speaking after inaugurating two new Delhi Metro corridors and other infrastructure projects, Modi said the incident had deeply hurt the dignity of the office of the President and the sentiments of the tribal community. “Today, as the nation celebrates International Women’s Day, it is deeply concerning that just yesterday, the TMC government in West Bengal demonstrated a grave insult towards the honourable President of India, Droupadi Murmu,” he said. The PM said the controversy arose when Murmu visited Centre seeks Bengal report KOLKATA Narendra Modi, PM West Bengal to attend a major event honouring the traditions of the Santal tribal community. “President Murmu ji visited Bengal to attend a significant celebration honouring the Santal tribal tradition. However, the TMC chose to boycott this sacred and important event, which holds great meaning for both the President and the tribal community,” Modi said. He alleged that the absence of senior leaders from the state government during Murmu’s visit amounted to disrespect not only towards her but also towards the Constitution. “The TMC government’s ac- tions not only resulted in the mismanagement of the tribal community event but also constituted an affront to the President, the Constitution and the noble tradition of democracy in the country,” he said. Modi also sought to frame the issue in social and political terms, highlighting Murmu’s identity as a tribal woman and suggesting that the episode had offended wider sections of society. “The enlightened people of West Bengal will never forgive TMC for insulting a woman, for insulting a tribal, and for insulting the honourable President of the country.” 4Contd on | nation A day after President Droupadi Murmu alleged a breach of protocol, the political confrontation escalated on Sunday, with West Bnegal CM Mamata Banerjee accusing PM Narendra Modi of “insulting” the country’s highest constitutional office while rebutting his attack on the TMC government over the same issue. Speaking from the platform of an ongoing anti-SIR dharna in central Kolkata, Banerjee rejected Modi’s allegations that the TMC government had disrespected the President during her visit to West Bengal. She also displayed an enlarged photograph to support her counterattack. Holding up the image, Banerjee claimed it showed Modi seated while the President was standing during a March 2024 event where veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was conferred the Bharat Ratna at his New Delhi residence. “The picture shows that the PM is seated when the Presi- EAM to brief on W Asia today as Parliament session begins Aritra Singha dent is standing. We never do that. It is the BJP which carries the culture of insulting the President, not us,” Banerjee said. Her remarks came hours after Modi sharply criticised the TMC government, saying the “enlightened people” of West Bengal would never forgive the party for “insulting” a woman tribal leader and the President of the country. The controversy stems from Murmu’s visit to north Bengal on Saturday to attend a conference of the Santal tribal community near Siliguri. 4Contd on | nation FPJ News Service KOLKATA NEW DELHI The Centre on Sunday sought a report from West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty over alleged lapses during President Droupadi Murmu’s recent programme in the state. According to sources, the Union Home Secretary has asked the state government to respond to a set of questions regarding protocol arrangements during the President’s visit. The Centre has reportedly sought an explanation on why CM Mamata Banerjee did not receive or see off the President during her visit. Officials have also asked why basic facilities, including water, were allegedly unavailable in the washroom arranged for the President at the venue. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will make a statement in the Lok Sabha on Monday on the evolving situation in West Asia, as the second half of the Budget session of Parliament resumes. According to the revised list of business circulated on Sunday evening, Jaishankar is scheduled to brief the House on the developments in the region amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The announcement came hours after opposition parties demanded a detailed discussion in Parliament on the crisis and its implications for India, particularly the safety of Indian nationals in the region. Until Saturday, the only item listed for Monday’s agenda had been an opposition-backed resolution seeking the removal of Om Birla as Speaker. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation Party time: Bihar sees a beta launch AC prices to rise Dheeraj Kumar PATNA Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar on Sunday formally joined the JD(U) and vowed to carry forward his father’s legacy, amid speculation about a leadership transition in the state’s ruling alliance. Nishant, an engineering graduate in his 40s, was inducted into the party at its headquarters in Patna in the presence of senior JD(U) leaders including Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and the party’s national working president Sanjay Jha, along with several Bihar ministers. Nitish Kumar, who recently filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha after serving as CM for nearly two decades, was conspicuous by his absence at the ceremony. Addressing party workers after his induction, Nishant said he would work as an active member and strengthen the organisation. “My father has decided to go to the Rajya Sabha and I respect his decision. I will try to live up to the faith that the people and the party have posed in me. I will try to take forward what my father has done in 20 years. Everyone remembers what my father has done for the state,” he said. Clad in a simple kurta-pyjama and flip-flops, Nishant thanked party workers for their support. “I will work for the party as an active member… I will work under my father’s guidance. I will try to make a place in people’s hearts,” he said. Nishant claimed that the people of Bihar would not forget Nitish Kumar’s contribution to the state’s development. “The country, our state and I are proud of what my father has done in the last 20 years. I will take the development work done by the CM to the masses,” he added. 4Contd on | nation as mercury soars FPJ News Servcie MUMBAI As temperatures begin to soar in Maharashtra and other parts of the country, leading room air conditioner manufacturers are raising prices by 5–15% to offset higher raw material costs and supply chain expenses. The increase comes at a time when Mumbai and several parts of the state have been experiencing rising temperatures and heatwave-like conditions over the past few days. On Sunday, the mercury in Mumbai hovered around 34°C, after touching around 39°C on Friday and Saturday, prompting many households to switch on cooling appliances earlier than usual this summer. The price hikes, being rolled out between February and April, come just ahead of the peak summer season when demand typically surges. 4Contd on | nation