FREE PRESS The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms VOL. 13 NO. 265 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | MARCH 8, 2024 | PAGES 18 KARTHIK TO END IPL CAREER AFTER 2024 EDITION SPORTS ‘We’ll ensure you lose in LS polls’ MAMATA'S DARE TO EX-JUDGE KOLKATA: Former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who joined the BJP today, has come under a ballistic attack by West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. Addressing a gathering at the end of a Trinamool march to mark International Women's Day, Mamata described the former judge as a "BJP babu who was sitting on the bench" and said that if contests the upcoming Lok Sabha election, she will ensure he loses. "A BJP babu was sitting on the bench and now he has joined BJP How can you . expect justice from them? The mask is off," she said. Gangopadhyay had made headlines as a judge of Calcutta High Court when he issued several orders to central agencies to investigate allegations of irregularities in the Mamata Banerjee government's recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff. He joined the BJP today, days after resigning as a judge. "Today, I have joined a new field. I am happy to join the BJP and will work as a party soldier. Our objective is to oust the corrupt TMC regime from the state," he said. CONTD. ON P10 Navy rescues 21 crew of ship hit by missile NEWS BRIEF 400 pt DA hike NEW DELHI: Union Cabinet today approved an increase of 400 basis points in DA and DA relief to 50% of basic pay . NEW DELHI: Indian warship INS Kolkata has rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian national, after their Barbadosflagged cargo vessel was hit by a missile in the Gulf of Aden, a Navy spokesperson said on Thursday . The crew members had abandoned bulk carrier MV True Confidence after it caught fire following the attack on Wednesday . INS Kolkata, deployed for maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden, arrived at the scene of action at 4.45 pm CONTD. ON P10 `3 - r Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE WORLD CHINA CALLS FOR PALESTINE TO BE ADMITTED TO THE UN WEATHER FP 30.80c. 17.90c Sunrise : 06.48 Sunset : 06.30 r RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 WILL GIVE BEFITTING REPLY IF ANYONE CASTS EVIL EYE ON INDIA NATION ‘J&K flying high, breathing free’ PM’S FIRST VISIT TO J&K AFTER ABROGATION OF ART 370 Rs 6.4K cr projects SRINAGAR Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is ‘breathing freely’ after the abrogation of Article 370 and pledged accelerated progress over the next five years. "Modi will not leave any stone unturned to repay this debt of affection. This is Modi sanz (Kashmiri word) guarantee," he said addressing a massive rally at Srinagar's Bakshi stadium, the first by a prime minister. Modi said the new Jammu and Kashmir has the spark for the future in its eyes and "140 crore citizens feel at peace when they see the smiling faces of the PM Modi dedicated to the nation multiple devp projects worth more than Rs 6,400 crore at the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir' programme. people of Jammu and Kashmir". He also criticised dynastic politics that ‘plagued the region’, underscoring the transformative impact of the decision to abrogate Article 370 in 2019. "Jammu and Kashmir has been the biggest victim of dynastic politics since independence. Congress misguided the nation about Ar- 'Worn-out rhetoric': NC The National Conference Thursday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Kashmir visit and his speech at a function here as "disappointing", asserting that it failed to meet the expectations of people."It is the same worn-out rhetoric. that J&K has been hearing for the past five years yet there is still a lack of confidence in holding elections" SC registers suo moto case on exclusion of visually impaired in judicial service AGENCIES New Delhi The Supreme Court on Thursday registered a suo moto case on a letter petition objecting to the amendments made in the Madhya Pradesh recruitment rules which exclude visually impaired and novision candidates from appointment to the judicial service in the state. Taking judicial notice of the letter petition, a Bench presided over by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud directed the issuance of notice to the Union government, state government and Registrar General of the MP High Court. The Bench, also comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, ordered turning the letter petition into a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitu- tion. It said: “The Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994 have been amended as a consequence of which Rule 6A completely excludes visually impaired and no-vision candidates from seeking appointment in the judicial service.” Further, it requested senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal to assist the court as amicus curiae in the matter. CONTD. ON P10 QUALITY AT VALUE www.freepressjournal.in ticle 370 but who did it benefit? Did it benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir or a few political families? "Jammu and Kashmir is touching new heights of development after the abrogation of Article 370. Jammu and Kashmir is touching new heights of development today because it is breathing freely the prime ," minister said at the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir' rally . This was Modi's first visit to Kashmir since the Centre abrogated the special status given to the erstwhile state and bifurcated it into two Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh -- on August 5, 2019. CONTD. ON P10 LeT’s Md Qasim declared terrorist NEW DELHI The Narendra Modi government on Thursday declared Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Mohammad Qasim Gujjar, the mastermind of several terror attacks, a designated terrorist. Announcing the government's decision, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said LeT operative Gujjar has caused numerous deaths and injuries with terror attacks and is involved in planning a war against India. CONTD. ON P10 Chitrakoot Devpt Authority to be set up, says Yadav PM VIRTUALLY inaugurates devpt work in Chitrakoot, Gwalior, Datia & Amarkantak OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated nine projects from Srinagar in Jammu Kashmir under Swadesh Darshan and Prasad Yojna of the tourism department on Thursday . Gwalior and Chitrakoot in MP have been included in Swadesh Darshan Yojna 2.0 and Amarkantak and Peetambara Peeth temple in Prasad Yojna. MP has got development projects worth Rs 118.72 crore. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took part in the event from Chitrakoot. Yadav announced setting up of Chitrakoot Develop- ment Authority which will coordinate with the urban bodies of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to work for overall development of Chitrakoot. He said all the places where Lord Ram and Lord Krishna set their footsteps would be developed into pilgrimage centres. Yadav said the Ghats of Chitrakoot would be developed by spending Rs 27 crore. Apart from Chitrakoot, the state government will spend Rs 25 crore to renovate the Peetambara temple in Datia, Yadav further said. The government will provide all facilities to the pilgrims who take bath in the Snan Kunds (bathing tanks), he said. The tourism ministry has approved Rs 49.98 crore for development of Amarkantak from where originates the Narmada, Yadav said.