FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 15 No. 241 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 13, 2026 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports Steve Smith smashes record P.13 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL WORLD PRESS PUNE India to get 114 Rafale jets as govt clears `3.6L cr deal PTI NEW DELHI 6 more P-8i aircraft to come The DAC approval for six P-8i reconnaissance aircraft marks a major milestone for the Indian Navy as this will boost its maritime prowess, enhance maritime surveillance and also serve as a key asset in safeguarding the country’s strategic interests across the Indian Ocean region."The purchase of P8I aircraft will significantly enhance the Navy's long-range anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, and maritime strike capabilities," said a statement by the Ministry of Defence. INDORE NASHIK US lawmakers seek Sergio Gor’s testimony on India IANS WASHINGTON weapons package of the Rafale jets. In April 2019, the Indian Air Force issued an RFI (Request for Information), or initial tender to acquire 114 MultiRole Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) at a cost of around USD 18 billion. It was billed as one of the world's biggest military procurement programmes in recent years. The other contenders for the mega project included Lockheed Martin's F-21, Boeing's F/A-18 and the Eurofighter Typhoon. The move to procure the jets has come at a time when the number of the Indian Air Force's fighter squadrons have gone down to 31 from officially sanctioned strength of 42. Nearly 13 years back, the defence ministry had completed ground work for procurement of a fleet of Medium MultiRole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). However, the project didn't go through. In 2015, the Modi government announced a government-to-government framework to procure 36 Rafale fighters in the face of rapidly declining squadron strength of the Indian Air Force (IAF). 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 AAIB clarifies investigation into AI-171 accident ongoing Revised US factsheet reflects shared understandings on trade deal: MEA NEW DELHI NEW DELHI On the seventh day of the 10-day ‘Shiv-Navratri Festival’ at the Mahakaleshwar Temple, the presiding deity was adorned in 'Manmahesh' form in Ujjain on Thursday FP Photo fp Briefs GWALIOR ‘Suspicious’ cow remains seized A truck carrying large quantity of bones was seized in Gwalior late at night on Wednesday. Furious Gau sevaks blocked the road, raised slogans, and damaged parts of the truck, suspecting it to be cow remains. Notably, the truck was traveling from Seva Nagar to Shivpuri, for inspection. See pg 4 RAIPUR/BIJAPUR Forces raze Maoist memorials Security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Thursday carried out antiMaoist operations during which they detected and destroyed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and demolished memorial structures allegedly built by Maoists to honour their deceased leaders. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) categorically clarified that reports suggesting that the investigation into the Air India Flight AI-171 accident has been finalised are incorrect and speculative. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has stated that the investigation is ongoing and no final conclusions have been reached. The AAIB conducts investigations strictly in accordance with the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025, and India's obligations under ICAO Annexe 13. Aircraft accident investigations are technical, evidence-based processes aimed at determining root causes and enhancing safety. The Preliminary Report released earlier provided factual information available at that stage. The Final Investigation Report, containing conclusions and safety recommendations, will be published upon completion of the investigation in line with established international norms, the ministry said. The AAIB urges media organisations to exercise restraint and avoid premature speculation. Unverified reporting causes unnecessary public anxiety and undermines the integrity of an ongoing professional investigation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday clarified that the recent amendments made in the United States factsheet on the framework for the India-US interim trade agreement reflect the "shared understandings" on the matter between the two countries. Addressing a weekly Media Briefing, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, when asked about changes made in the White House factsheet on the deal, said that the joint statement on the framework for the interim agreement remains the basis of mutual understanding between the two sides. "As you are aware, the India-US Joint Statement on the framework for an Interim Agreement on reciprocal and Trump terms deal ‘historic’ US President Donald Trump has hailed the trade deal with India as "historic" and said America will increase its coal exports dramatically to the country and to others with which it has trade agreements. "And under our leadership, we're becoming a massive energy exporter. In just the past few months, we've made historic trade deals with Japan, Korea, India and others to increase our coal exports dramatically," Trump said Wednesday during an event titled 'Champion of Coal'. "We're now exporting coal all over the world, and the quality of our coal is supposed to be...the finest anywhere in the world," he said. mutually beneficial trade was issued on 7 February 2026. The Joint Statement is the framework and remains the basis of our mutual understanding in the matter. Both sides will now work towards implementing this framework and finalising the Interim Agreement," Jaiswal said. "The amendments in BJP files notice to cancel Rahul’s LS membership MP seeks to bar him from polls Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar Lawmakers pressed the State Department to make the US ambassador to India available for congressional testimony, underscoring the strategic importance of the bilateral relationship and calling for greater oversight. During a House subcommittee hearing on South and Central Asia on Wednesday (Local time), Democratic Ranking Me m b e r Sydney Kaml a ge r-D o ve asked Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur whether he would work with lawmakers to bring Sergio Gor, Ambassador to India, before the committee. "You oversee the ambassadors," Kamlager-Dove said, adding that "it would be important for him, given both of his roles, to come before the committee and answer questions, because as you mentioned, as we've all mentioned, this is an incredibly strategic and important and mighty region." Kapur defended the ambassador's performance. "Mr. Gor is, I think, a very effective ambassador," he said. on the deal is unlikely before end of the year as the defence ministry will now have to carry out negotiations with Dassault Aviation to finalise the cost and the finer details of the weapons package. The Rafale jets are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the Agencies E-paper Cinema John Mayer’s magical Mumbai debut P.14 ment of the Rafale jets came just four days ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to India. The Rafale purchase plan is expected to be taken up soon by the prime minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security. There is a possibility of India and France inking an inter-governmental pact on the project during Macron's trip. However, a formal contract Agencies MUMBAI Edit Case of the missing kids P.6 BANGLADESH VOTES IN CRUCIAL POLL MODERNISATION PUSH | 18 aircraft will be supplied by Dassault Aviation and the rest will be manufactured in India In its largest-ever defence acquisition push, India on Thursday cleared a long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government framework with France, nearly two decades after the plan was originally rolled out to boost the Indian Air Force's combat prowess. In total, capital acquisition of military hardware worth Rs 3.60 lakh crore including procurement of an additional six US-made Boeing P8-I surveillance aircraft for the Indian Navy, was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) project, 18 aircraft will be supplied by Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale, in a fly away condition and the rest will be manufactured in India with over 50 per cent indigenous content that will be to be met in phases, sources said. Though the defence ministry did not provide the cost of the procurement, it is expected to be in the range of Rs 2.90 lakh crore to Rs 3.15 lakh crore. The approval for procure- UJJAIN the US fact sheet reflect the shared understandings contained in the Joint Statement," he added. The clarification comes amid reports highlighting revisions in the US document, which earlier had contrasted with the statement released by the Indian side. NEW DELHI A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi brutally attacked the Centre for “selling” the nation’s interests through the US-India interim trade deal, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday got back at him when its MP Nishikant Dubey filed a “substantive notice” in the Lok Sabha for moving a motion to terminate Gandhi’s membership and barring him from future elections for levelling baseless allegations against the Government. Talking to the media about the notice, Dubey said, "I have submitted a substantive motion wherein I have mentioned how Gandhi allegedly engages with the Soros Foundation, Ford Foundation, USAID and travels to places like Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the US, and how he is linked with anti-India forces. I have demanded that his membership be cancelled and that he be Woman accuses Uttam Swami of rape, demands security An attack on Sanatan Dharma, says Swami IANS The mobile court magistrate and upazila Assistant Commissioner (AC Land), Tarek Aziz, imposed a fine of 3,000 Bangladeshi Taka while confirming the incident. Citing locals, Bangladesh’s leading daily, Prothom Alo, reported that Abedin distributed cash in a neighbourhood of Ranashal village in the morning. Serious allegations of rigging, use of money to influence voters and violent incidents emerged across several parts of Bangladesh on Thursday as the country held its 13th parliamentary elections, local media reported. Amid rising electoral misconduct, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Zainal Abedin, was de- tained and fined for distributing cash during voting in Ranashal village of Gorai Union of Mirzapur Upazila in Tangail District. 4Continued on | P8 offgrid Kin of Indian student killed by US cop get `260 cr settlement PTI NEW YORK The family of an Indian student, killed in January 2023 when she was struck by a police vehicle in Seattle, has reached a USD 29 million settlement with the city, according to a media report. Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, was struck by a police vehicle driven by Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave as she was crossing a street on January 23, 2023. Dave was driving at 74 mph (more than 119 kmh) on the way to a report of a drug overdose call. Kandula was thrown 100 feet when she was struck by the speeding police patrol vehicle. PubliCola web portal reported that the Seattle City Attorney's Office reached a settlement last week with Kandula's family. "Jaahnavi Kandula's death was heartbreaking, and the city hopes this financial settlement brings some sense of closure to the Kandula family," city attorney Erika Evans said in the report. "We also recognise that her loss has left unimaginable pain. Jaahnavi Kandula's life mattered. It mattered to her family, to her friends, and to our community," she added. In September 2024, the family brought a lawsuit against the City of Seattle and Dave for USD 110 million, as well as an additional USD 11,000. The settlement totals about USD 29 million, and the USD 11,000 amount, the report said. The additional figure in the suit was in "reference to callous remarks" made by Seattle Police Department officer Daniel Auderer. In their claim, filed in King County Superior Court, attorneys wrote that Kandula "experienced terror, severe emotional distress, and severe pain and suffering before dying." < 4Continued on | P8 Will not allow anyone to touch Aravalli: SC PTI NEW DELHI The woman further wrote that after Swami had come to know that a complaint would be lodged against him, she began to receive threat calls. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Our Staff Reporter A young woman has made allegations of rape against the religious Guru, Uttam Swami. Reacting to the allegations, Uttam Swami said it was an attack on Sanatan Dharma and a conspiracy to defame him. The woman sent a complaint to the deputy commissioner of police, Delhi, through an e-mail. Uttam Swami has political importance. These days, his religious preaching is underway in Jabalpur. The woman has sought security from the police, saying her life was in danger. She wrote to the police that Uttam Swami had sexually exploited her by taking her to different places. Besides raping the woman, he cheated her, and breached her trust. The woman wrote that she was in the process of lodging a formal complaint against Swami who had many followers. 4Continued on | P8 The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will not allow "anyone to touch the Aravallis", refusing to permit the Haryana government to submit a detailed plan on jungle safari till a definition of "Aravalli range" is clarified by experts. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said that the issue of jungle safari will be dealt with when it considers the main matter on the Aravalli range. Counsel for Haryana said that they have revised the detailed project report (DPR) of the safari project from 10,000 acres to over 3,300 acres. He said all they want is to be allowed to furnish the DPR to the central empowered committee (CEC) for their examination. The bench said, "We are not experts. The experts will decide the definition of Aravalli. Till the definition of the Aravalli range is finalised, we will not allow anyone to touch the Aravallis." BHOPAL Violence, rigging mar Bangladesh polls DHAKA barred from contesting elections for life.” In his notice, Dubey also alleged that Gandhi has been deliberately targeting various institutions to undermine them. He charged that Gandhi has “very cleverly” been using the “most pious dais of Parliament to foment public sentiments, levelling unsubstantiated allegations not only against the Election Commission of India but even our Honourable Supreme Court of India, lowering the dignity of the Government without any substantive evidence and putting various others Institutions in bad light.” Dubey also charged that Gandhi has become a major part of the “Thuggery Gang to destabilise India from within”. He further alleged that his “re- lentless and well-choreographed actions, within and outside Parliament, are inimical to our country, a serious aspect of discussion in the entire nook and corner of the country”. The BJP MP, who is known to shadow and target Gandhi through his statements added that the Congress leader is “misleading the nation with the help of forces like Soros, who want to harm the nation.” He also posted on “X” that he would expose Gandhi’s relationship with George Soros in the Lok Sabha. Though there was a buzz that the ruling party might bring a Privilege Motion notice against Gandhi, Dubey clarified that this was a substantive notice. It is a formal, drafted proposal that initiates a debate and seeks the House’s decision on a specific, independent issue. Once a member gives a notice, the Speaker decides on its admissibility. If admitted, time is allocated for discussion, followed by a vote. Close connections with MP Uttam Swami was born at Amarawati in Maharashtra. He has an Ashram at Banswara in Rajasthan. He has another Ashram in Salkanpur, MP, too. He has close connections with many people in MP, where the religious Guru has been active for 20 years. He is seen with many leaders of the BJP and the RSS. A few days ago, he met some senior leaders of the Congress, too. Pet dog dies in refrigerator fire at Geetanjali Complex Another seen grieving Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL A major fire broke out at Geetanjali Complex near PNT Square on Thursday afternoon, killing a pet dog locked inside a ground-floor flat and leaving another dog tied outside the house visibly crying and writhing in grief.The incident occurred around 2:30 pm in Block No. 10, when a refrigerator allegedly exploded, triggering panic across the residential complex, said fire officials. Residents said the fire was first noticed by a girl, daughter of neighbour Ashish Dhore, who spotted thick smoke billowing from the flat and raised the alarm. Dhore immediately informed the fire control room. The affected block is located next to a private hospital. Hospital staff initially tried to con- trol the blaze using the hospital’s fire system, but the distance made it ineffective. They then resorted to pouring water with buckets to contain the flames. Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) fire tenders reached the spot and brought the fire under control after nearly one and a half hours. Residents on the upper floors were left terrified as dense smoke and flames spread through the building. 4Continued on | P8