Vol. 67 No. 171 | THURSDAY | APRIL 18, 2024 | 27 Pages | `5 & for Pune `6 only Quality at Value www.freepressjournal.in MEMBER: AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATION JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2023 EDITIONS: MUMBAI*, Pune, Nashik, Konkan, Indore, Bhopal, E-paper VIDYA BALAN’S NEXT THE FP BULLETIN SHOMA SEN WALKS OUT OF PRISON Actress shares her experience of working on Do Aur Do Pyaar MIGRANT SHOT DEAD IN VALLEY A labourer from Bihar was shot dead by terrorists in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, the third such incident in the Valley so far this year, officials said. The terrorists fired upon Raja Shah from point-blank range at Jablipora in the Bijbehara area, resulting in critical injuries, they said. He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to injuries. Anantnag goes to polls in the third phase on May 7. This is the third such attack on non-locals in the valley so far this year. SPACE FDI NORMS AHEAD OF MUSK T he government has notified amendments to the foreign direct investment policy in the space sector to attract offshore investors in satellite manufacturing and satellite launch vehicles segments. The notification dated April 16, 2024, prescribes liberalized entry route and provides clarity for FDI in satellites, launch vehicles and associated systems or subsystems, creation of spaceports for launching and receiving Spacecraft and manufacturing of space-related components and systems. The notification comes days ahead of the scheduled visit of Tesla CEO Elon Musk who is expected to meet with various Indian space companies during his visit from April 21 to 22. As per the notification, up to 74 per cent FDI for satellite manufacturing & operation, satellite data products and ground segment & user segment are allowed under automatic route. Beyond 74 per cent these activities are under government route. AZAD PULLS OUT OF J&K CONTEST G hulam Nabi Azad, chief of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) and former Congress leader, will not contest the Lok Sabha elections, his party has said. Azad was expected to contest from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat in Jammu and Kashmir. The contest in Anantnag was expected to be his first test of popularity in Jammu and Kashmir since he quit the Congress in 2022. Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference senior leader Mian Altaf will now face each other in the contest. National Conference chief Omar Abdullah has accused Azad of following a BJP script. Azad has "got instructions from the BJP he ," told reporters last week, when the former Congress leader indicated that he might not contest in the upcoming polls. SMALL-CAP MFS’ ASSETS SOAR 83% TO `2.43L CR IN FY24 ELIMINATING THE SCOURGE OF MAOISTS Lost Glory v/s Modi’s Word ■ Canvassing ends for five east Vidarbha seats which vote on April 19 ■ For BJP, it is about consolidation; for Cong, it is a gambit to regain lost glory ■ Shiv Sena (UBT) & NCP (SP) face a huge challenge, to stay politically relevant E lgar Parishad-Maoist links case accused and former Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen was released from a prison in Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon. The 66year-old professor of English literature, who had been arrested in the case on June 6, 2018, had obtained bail from the Supreme Court on April 5. Sen walked out of the Byculla jail in central Mumbai after the completion of all formalities. “She is finally out, Shoma Sen with her daughter outside Byculla jail,” her lawyer Indira Jaising tweeted about her release on X. EDIT FPJ POLITICAL BUREAU / MUMBAI The high-octane campaign in Ramtek, Nagpur, BhandaraGondiya, Gadchiroli-Chimur and Chandrapur seats concluded on Wednesday for the first phase polling on April 19. The traditional rivals, the BJP and the Congress, are again pitted against each other in these constituencies, although the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and Bahujan Samaj Party are also in the fray . In all, 97 candidates are trying their luck at the hustings. For BJP the contest is all , about consolidating its strength in Vidarbha, while for the grand old party it is a desperate gambit to regain lost glory The BJP is riding . on Modi's guarantee and firing on all cylinders to realise its ambitious ‘ ab ki baar 400 A paar’ mission at the national level and ‘45 plus’ in Maharashtra. The BJP has strongly pitched its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and its roadmap for the transformation of these five constituencies. Union Minister and BJP nominee Nitin Gadkari, who had won the 2014 and 2019 elections, is seeking a third term from Nagpur. He is seen with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a Ram Navami function in Nagpur. On the other hand, the Congress party though it , messed up its campaigning initially due to internal rivalries, subsequently put its act Silent period begins as nominations close EC advises Bengal Governor not to visit Cooch Behar which votes in first round OUR BUREAU KOLKATA/NEW DELHI The Election Commission of India on Wednesday advised West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to desist from going to Cooch Behar, saying it would violate the Model Code of Conduct, as it was going to polls in the first phase on April 19. According to Raj Bhavan sources, the Governor had planned to visit Cooch Behar on April 18 and 19 during the `silence period,' when no campaigning is permitted. The silence period in Cooch Behar started on April 17 evening. Nominations closed on Wednesday in 102 of the 534 Lok Sabha seats in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 19. The major states going to polls in the first phase are Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. The states where elections will be over in the first phase itself are Tamil Nadu (39 seats), Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Manipur (2), Meghalaya (2), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1) and Sikkim (1). The polling will also be over in the first phase in Lakshadweep, Puducherry , and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. CONTD. ON NATION together to face the BJP juggernaut. It has largely harped on the BJP worn-out rhetoric exposing its jumla politics. Both the BJP and the Con- TMC, BJP on song over Jai Shri Ram! ARITRA SINGHA / KOLKATA Both BJP and TMC chanted “Jai Shri Ram” as Ram Navami was celebrated across West Bengal. Taking to X, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “Greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami. I appeal to maintain peace, prosperity and development for all.” TMC Ghatal MP and candidate Deepak Adhikari (Dev) also chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’. “BJP will not tell me which God’s name I will take or how I will worship. Lord Ram was not born with BJP’s flag,” said the actorturned-politician. TMC Birbhum candidate Satabdi Roy also took out a procession on Ram Navami and chanted Ram’s name. TMC’s Arup Ray with candidate Prasun Banerjee took out a procession in Howrah district. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said that the TMC leaders are not chanting Ram’s name out of ‘devotion’ but out of ‘fear’. Adhikari visited Ram temple at New Town in the morning. Several BJP leaders were seen participating in the Ram Navami festival. CONTD. ON NATION Population to double in 77 years PTI/ NEW DELHI The United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) State of World Population — 2024 report — predicts that the population of India, now estimated at 144.17 crores, will likely double in 77 years. India's population was recorded at 121 crore during the last census, conducted in 2011. India leads globally with an estimated population of 144.17 crore, followed by China at 142.5 crore, according to the report. The report -State of World Population - 2024 report -- "Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope: Ending Inequalities in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights" said an estimated 24 per cent of India's population is aged 0-14 while 17 per cent is within the 10-19 age range. The segment aged 10-24 is estimated to constitute 26 per cent, with the 15-64 age group making up 68 per cent. Additionally 7 per cent , of India's population is aged 65 years and above, with men having a life expectancy of 71 years and women 74 years. According to the report, the child marriage percentage in India was at 23 between 2006-2023. CONTD. ON NATION gress are expected to step up their outreach after the Lok Sabha elections, as the state assembly elections are slated for September-October. Incidentally , Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the NCP (SP) combine led by Sharad Pawar have a little presence in east Vidarbha and their leaders have kept aside their egos to help the Congress party However, . Shiv Sena UBT and NCP-SP need to fan out in the Vidarbha region to stay relevant in the coming assembly elections. Union Minister and BJP nominee Nitin Gadkari, who had won the 2014 and 2019 elections, is seeking a third term from Nagpur, primarily riding on Modi’s guarantees and a slew of development works carried out by him in the constituency . Gadkari faces a fight from Congress nominee Vikas Thakre who has sought votes on the strength of his work as a mayor and a legislator. CONTD. ON NATION Retail investors' interest in mutual funds growing, says ICRA 0 0 34 c. 23 c. Sunrise : 06:39 am Sunset : 06:04 pm Surya Tilak for ‘Suryavanshi’ BISWAJEET BANERJEE AYODHYA In an epochal event, a ray of sun illuminated the forehead of Ram Lalla at precisely 12 noon, marking the commencement of the revered Surya abhishek ritual on the occasion of Ram Navami. The divine moment lasted for approximately four minutes starting at noon and unfolded in the backdrop of jubilant celebrations captured on large LED screens placed at nearly 100 vantage points across the sacred town. The significance of the event deeply resonated with the residents of Ayodhya, who have awaited the construction of the temple at Lord Ram's birthplace for over five centuries. "To witness the sunlight adorning Ram Lalla's forehead is nothing short of a miracle," remarked Anjali Verma, a resident of Ayodhya. "It reaffirms our faith and strengthens our connection to Lord Ram." All this was made possible by a dedicated team of ten scientists stationed at the Ram Mandir. Employing cutting-edge technology by , using a combination of mirrors and lenses, a 5.8-centimeter beam graced the deity's forehead for about three to three-and-a-half minutes, with two minutes of full illumination. According to a senior scientist from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Roorkee, a specialized instrument was meticulously designed for the purpose. CONTD. ON NATION Widow of martyred major wins four-year battle for benefits URVI MAHAJANI/ MUMBAI The four-year-old battle waged by Aakriti Singh Sood, widow of Major Anuj Sood who was martyred while rescuing civilians held hostage by terrorists in Kashmir in May 2020, came to an end on Wednesday . She had been running from pillar to post, seeking benefits from the Maharashtra government. However, the babus had refused to grant her request on the grounds that Major Sood was not domiciled in Maharashtra for 15 years continuously and was also not born in the state. Aakriti had pointed out that her husband had a decial media platforms like Infence background, which enstagram and X, which retailed frequent transfers. But ceived a huge response. Severhe had a permanent address al political leaders followed in Pune and this was reflected the FPJ campaign and took up in his Aadhaar and PAN the matter with the governcards. ment. Finally the , She finally moved government inBombay High formed the HC on IMPACT Court, which gave Wednesday that it her a patient hearhad decided to grant ing and asked the state govher financial benefits. ernment to grant her prayers She was keen to get the fias a special case. However, the nancial award before May 2, government did not respond 2024, the fourth death anniverpositively on the last date of sary of her husband, who was hearing. posthumously awarded the The FPJ had then started a Shaurya Chakra. During the campaign through its print hearing on Wednesday Advo, and online editions and its socate-General Birendra Saraf THE FPJ Mystery over city cops’ ‘dismissal’ of 2 nabbed by BCCI anti-graft unit S BALAKRISHNAN / MUMBAI The anti-corruption unit of the BCCI, which is actively working against betting on cricket, had handed over four suspected bookies to police, each in two Jaipur and Mumbai, on March 28 and April 1, respectively But . while the Jaipur police registered an FIR against the two suspects, in Mumbai the police questioned the duo, checked their mobile phones and let them off. A source in the BCCI told the FPJ on Wednesday that he was not aware why police had not acted against the suspects. The ACU had spotted the pair in the president’s box in Wankhede on April 1 during the Mumbai Indians vs. Rajasthan Royals match. On finding their actions suspicious, the ACU handed them over to Marine Lines Police, in whose jurisdiction Wankhede stadium is located. However, they were let off by police after questioning The ACU happens to be a professional body which has dossiers on bookies and others involved in manipulating matches. Hence, it must have handed over the two people after due diligence and that is why it is surprising how the Marine Lines police let go of the duo who had accessed the prime president’s box at Wankhede. The FPJ contacted Senior Inspector Nilesh Bagul of the Marine Lines police station and he confirmed that the BCCI did hand over two suspects to his police station. The suspicion was that they were involved in online betting. CONTD. ON NATION told a bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Firdosh Pooniwalla that the government had decided to grant financial benefits to Aakriti Sood and Chandrakant Sood, Anuj’s father. A GR has also been issued to put the government decision into effect. According to the GR, the state has considered the case of the Aakriti Sood as a special case and in the “light of the observations made by the high court” (on earlier occasions), it has decided to grant financial benefits to her and her father-in-law, Chandrakant Sood. CONTD. ON P16 3 assaulted for chanting ‘Shri Ram’ BENGALURU Three men travelling in a car were heckled and assaulted for allegedly raising Jai Shri Ram slogans in Bengaluru on Wednesday The police have . registered a case after a video of the said incident went viral on social media. The incident took place in the Chikkabettahalli area when the three men were travelling in a car holding a flag and chanting Jai Shri Ram slogans on the occasion of Ram Navami. They were intercepted by two bike-borne men who objected to the sloganeering. In the video, the bikers are seen warning the men against raising "Jai Sri Ram" slogans and instead asking them to chant "Allah Hu Akbar." The verbal dispute soon escalated into a physical altercation, with the bikers and some locals assaulting the occupants of the car. TAILPIECE LAST WORD Dubai is still wondering what hit it Jewish cemetery to turn Holocaust memorial FPJ NEWS SERVICE / DUBAI The United Arab Emirates was on Wednesday rinsing itself dry after the most torrential rain ever recorded in the desert nation. At the same time, its scientists were trying hard to dispel the impression that the chaotic flooding may have been self-inflicted. The speculation in the western media was largely influenced by flighttracking data analysed by the Associated Press, which showed one aircraft affiliated with the UAE's cloud-seeding efforts flying around the country on Sunday In its searing heat condi. tions, UAE heavily relies on cloud- seeding - a technique which sees aircraft fire salt flares into clouds to speed up condensation and induce rainfall. However, the National Centre of Meteorology scientists told Khaleej Times that during "extreme weather conditions, no cloud-seeding is done". Rubbishing widespread claims on the Internet, the weather expert added: “No pilots were dispatched for seeding operations in this period.” Shocking videos shared on social media showed how cars filled with gushing water, forcing motorists to abandon their vehicles and swim to safety Some vehicles were completely . submerged, with the top of their roofs barely visible above the water. Rainwater also spilled into homes, pushing people out of their houses and into the streets to seek shelter in higher structures, media reports said. The floods drowned the airport and many of the surrounding roads, forcing dozens of flights to be cancelled as travellers hustled into the concourse to take shelter. Standing water lapped the aircraft as they came in to land, forcing operators to completely close the airport for almost an hour. Another video shared on social media showed how the thunderstorms rolled in and the sky became black before the city was enveloped in rain. The UAE experienced record-breaking rainfall on Tuesday -- an unprecedented 254mm (10 inches) in less than CONTD. ON NATION 24 hours. MANOJ RAMAKRISHNAN The Chinchpokli Jewish cemetery which has the only , memorial in India to European Jews who fled Nazi persecution, will be restored in a joint project between the Israeli and German consulates in the city . The cemetery which has , over a thousand graves, is also the resting place of about 17 German, Polish, Austrian, and Czechoslovakians who were among the 2500 Jews who sought shelter There is no information if those buried in the Chinchpokli cemetery have descendants in India or abroad. The Israeli embassy has contacted the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, which maintains a database on victims and survivors of the massacre. in British India during World War II. A majority of the refugees left for the United Kingdom after India's independence, but a handful stayed back and died here. The marble tablets embedded in the walls of the cemetery's small hall, inscribed with the names of the refugees, make the site the only Holocaust memorial in India. The cemetery's restoration plans will include the installation of a plaque to commemorate the survivors, restored tombs, landscaping, and ornamental gates, among other things. CONTD. ON NATION