THE SUNDAY Vol. 36 No. 2 | Sunday, September 29, 2024 | 33 Pages | `5 & for Pune `6 only | Reg. No. MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 46955/1988 M.p.c.s. office Mumbai-400001 FREE PRESS Leader in E-paper circulation l www.freepressjournal.in Weekend How charkha is turning into a powerful tool of self healing fp Briefs IPL players hit jackpot Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the ICC chairmandesignate, announced a staggering match fee of ₹7.5 lakh per game for the upcoming 2025 season. In addition, players participating in all league matches throughout the season will earn an extra ₹1.05 crore on top of their contracted amount. Each franchise will allocate ₹12.60 crore for match fees for the season. “In a historic move to celebrate consistency and champion outstanding performances in the IPL, we are thrilled to introduce a match fee of ₹7.5 lakh per game for our cricketers! A player participating in all league matches will receive ₹1.05 crore in addition to their contracted salary,” Jay Shah announced on X. The new match fee is almost 20 times higher than that of a First-Class game. Mumbai lakes near capacity Mumbai's lakes are currently 99.44% full of their total capacity. This ample water supply is sufficient to meet the city’s needs until the next monsoon, providing significant relief to Mumbaikars, according to a senior civic official. Due to recent heavy rainfall, the lakes are now brimming with 14.39 lakh million liters, surpassing last year's stock of 14.33 lakh million liters and the 14.27 lakh million liters recorded in 2022. In Jammu and Kashmir, a police head constable was killed, and an assistant sub-inspector was injured during a gunfight with terrorists in Kog-Mandli village, Kathua, on Saturday evening. In Kulgam, two unidentified terrorists were killed, and five security personnel, including an officer, were injured in an early morning operation. INDORE JOURNAL PUNE WEEKEND BHOPAL NASHIK KONKAN E-paper Play & Pause Coffee beyond cup Gen Z weighs in on Gandhi’s legacy and relevance of his principles Sunday Read Fado singer Sonia Shirsat shares insights into the music form Hezbollah chief killed MAHA ELECTIONS AFTER DIWALI Prajakta Pol No more Modi magic in Haryana By MUMBAI invitation as Hezbollah's main headquarters, though it is located in the group's "security quarters," a heavily guarded part of Haret Hreik where it has offices and runs several nearby hospitals. The attack - a quick succession of massively powerful blasts - had left a . crater at least 20 meters deep. It was followed by further airstrikes on Dahiyeh and other parts of Lebanon. Huge explosions lit up the night sky, and as more strikes hit the area in the morning, smoke rose over the city. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday that the Maharashtra Assembly elections will be held before November 26, marking the end of the current Assembly's term. There had been discussions about the possibility of postponing the elections, but the Election Commission has confirmed they will proceed as planned. In a significant move, candidates with criminal backgrounds will be required to publicly disclose their charges in newspapers to inform voters. Political parties must also explain their choices of candidates with criminal records, detailing why no more suitable candidates were available in their constituencies. If better candidates exist, they must clarify this; if not, they need to state that as well. During a press conference in Mumbai, Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar indicated that the elections are expected to occur after Diwali. He acknowledged that political parties had requested the Election Commission to consider major festivals, like Diwali, when scheduling. "Political parties have asked us to be mindful of the festive season. 4Contd on | Nation 4Contd on | Nation FIR against Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman BJP ire over Rahul’s ‘naach gana’ jibe BENGALURU Biswajeet Banerjee India wags annual finger at Pakistan over terror Agencies JERUSALEM/BEIRUT Israel said on Saturday it had killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on Friday in Beirut's southern suburbs. The death could not be immediately confirmed. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has been killed, the Iran-backed group said on Saturday, confirming his death. It vowed to fight on. Nasrallah's death marks a major blow not only to Hezbollah but also to Iran as he helped project Iranian influence across the region. The Israeli military said that Nasrallah was eliminated in a "targeted strike" on the group's underground headquarters beneath a residential building in Dahiyeh - a Hezbollah-controlled southern suburb of Beirut. It said he was killed along with another top Hezbollah leader, Ali Karaki, and other commanders. Nasrallah led the Hezbollah for 32 years. His daughter, Zainab Nasrallah, was also reportedly killed in the attack. Zainab's brother Smoke rises from the rubble of a building levelled in Israeli bombardment –AFP Hadi was killed by Israeli forces in 1997. "The strike was conducted while Hezbollah’s senior chain of command were operating from the headquarters,” Israeli military said. The site hit Friday evening had not been publicly known Rajashekara S LUCKNOW Following a directive from a local court, the Bengaluru Police on Saturday registered a first information report (FIR) against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP national president JP Nadda, Enforcement Directorate relating to the now scrapped Rs 8,000 crore electoral bonds scheme. The 42 Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court Judge on Friday directed Tilak Nagar police to register a case based on a complaint filed by Adarsh R Iyer of Janadhikara Sangharsha Parishat. As per the FIR, Sitharaman is accused number one (A1) while ED is A2, Nadda is A3, previous BJP Karnataka president Nalinkumar Kateel is A4 and his successor BY Vijayendra is A5. Cases have been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including 384 (punishment for extortion), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). A video has surfaced, purportedly showing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi making a controversial comment regarding the consecration ceremony (Pran Pratishtha) of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. In the video, Gandhi referred to the event as "naach-gaana" (song and dance), which has sparked outrage within the BJP, with many accusing him of disrespecting Hindu religious sentiments. Gandhi's comment centred on his criticism of the guest 4Contd on | Nation 4Contd on | Nation Pranali Lotlikar MUMBAI The Mumbai Railway Claims Tribunal has awarded compensation of Rs 8 lakh each to the families of 12 individuals who died due to accidental falls from trains. Out of 32 cases decided between September 2 and Sep- DEATH BY FALL FROM TRAIN tember 20 under the cause listed as 'Untoward Incident' the tribunal accepted the claims of 12 families of train travellers on merit. Each family had argued that the deaths of their loved ones Rashme Sehgal T he old magic is no longer working. Modi’s personal charisma and his powerful oratory - ‘Modi hai to Mumkin hai – is falling flat. The disillusioned public in Haryana are no longer interested in listening to him. His first election rally held in Kurukshetra earlier this month turned out to be a flop. Although it was the first public rally the prime minister was addressing after Lok Sabha elections, only a small crowd collected to listen to him. Worse was to follow: when he started speaking, they began walking out. The message was loud and clear. The BJP is coming to terms with the disastrous performance of former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Both he and his posters were missing from the pulpit from where Modi spoke even were caused solely by the negligence of the Railways. In its defense, the Railways argued that the passengers were at fault for standing on the footboard of moving trains, which is an offense under Section 156 of the Railway Act. India has warned Pakistan that cross-border terrorism against it will "inevitably invite consequences" and has ruled out any agreements while the military-run government continues its support for terrorism. Bhavika Mangalanandan, a First Secretary at India’s UN mission, delivered this stern message on Friday as she exercised India’s right of reply to Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s attacks on New Delhi during his address at the General Assembly’s high-level meeting. "Pakistan should realise that cross-border terrorism against India will inevitably invite consequences," she asserted. It is a "travesty" for "a country run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trade, and transnational crime," to have "the audacity to attack the world’s largest democracy," she added. Sharif claimed that India had rejected his offer of a "mutual Strategic Restraint Regime." First secretaries have last words 4Contd on | Nation 4Contd on | Nation Yojna Patel Sneha Dubey Vidisha Maitra Eenam Gambhir though he is the member of parliament from nearby Karnal. But the public present at the venue also wanted to know in what capacity the present chief minister Naib Singh Saini was standing alongside Modi since there has been no official notification of his having been made chief minister. Rajesh Kumar, who owns a khoka selling chai on the main GT road, and who attended the rally said, ‘There is a wave of anti-incumbency. We want change. We gathered to listen to the prime minister hoping that he would touch on the issues of pehlwan, kisan and jawan. He made no reference to any of the issues that ignite us.’ Kumar was referring to the farmers’ demand for MSP, the removal of the Agniveer scheme, and some explanation as to why the ‘protest of our daughters (women wrestlers) who sweated to bring medals was crushed by the Delhi police. Many wanted the prime minister to make some reference to Vinesh Phogat, contesting from Julana, a mere 100 kilometres away. 4Contd on | Nation BJP insiders say there are three power centres: Modi run PMO, Amit Shah and his advisory group and Khattar who continues to call the shots from behind-the-scenes. All three are working at cross-purposes. PTI NEW DELHI RELIEF FOR 12 FAMILIES O ver the years, India has strategically deployed its First Secretaries at the United Nations to counter the repetitive and unfounded claims of Pakistani Prime Ministers regarding Kashmir and minority oppression. Typically, the title of First Secretary is held by mid-level diplomats who engage in daily operations, prepare reports, and support the ambassador’s broader objectives. However, India’s representatives stand out for their intelligence, sharpness, and incisive rhetoric, cutting through the monotony of Pakistani tirades. These First Secretaries trend long after Pakistan’s speeches fade into obscurity. In 2021, Sneha Dubey soared to the top of Twitter trends following her powerful rebuttal to Imran Khan’s remarks on Kashmir during the UNGA. Likewise, in 2023, Yojna Patel garnered attention for her resolute defence of India’s position on Kashmir and terrorism, denouncing Pakistan’s futile attempts to internationalise the issue. In 2020, Vidisha Maitra also made headlines with her firm response to Khan, reiterating India’s stance. 4Contd on | Nation PASSIVE EUTHANASIA New draft guidelines PTI NEW DELHI The Union Health Ministry has introduced draft guidelines on passive euthanasia, suggesting that doctors should make a "considered decision" regarding the withdrawal of life support for terminally ill patients. This decision should be based on specific conditions, including documented informed refusals by the patient or their relatives. The guidelines outline four key conditions that should be met to ensure a patient's best interests are prioritized when discontinuing life support. These conditions include confirming that the individual has been declared brainstem dead, obtaining a medical prognosis indicating that the patient's condition is advanced and unlikely to benefit from further aggressive treatment, and ensuring documented informed refusal from the patient or their surrogate. Compliance with the Supreme Court-prescribed procedures is also necessary. 4Contd on | Nation employment blues Fewer placements, stagnant salaries at city B-Schools Musab Qazi MUMBAI Constable killed in J&K MUMBAI ESCALATION FEARS | Hezbollah chief Syed Nasrallah was in the groups underground headquarters beneath a residential building when bombs reduced to rubble six apartment towers Son rise in DMK Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, is set to be sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister on Sunday. In a notable shift, V. Senthil Balaji, recently released from prison, is returning to the Cabinet, while three other ministers have been dropped in a Cabinet reshuffle orchestrated by the Chief Minister. The Governor has officially approved Udhayanidhi's designation, entrusting him with the portfolio of Planning and Development alongside his current responsibilities. A first-time legislator and former actor-producer, Udhayanidhi's swift ascent within the DMK marks a stark contrast to the challenges faced by his father in earlier years. By promoting him to the Deputy Chief Minister position, Stalin has signaled a clear direction for the party's future leadership. In addition, Stalin has reassigned prominent figure Ponmudy from the Higher Education portfolio to the relatively less influential Forests portfolio. EDITIONS: The top B-schools in Mumbai, which once prided themselves on eye-popping placement packages, are struggling to find jobs for all their students and maintaining the past salary figures amid the global market slowdown. The 2023-24 placement season was stretched by several weeks at some of the city's most sought-after management colleges, as the usually bankable recruiters hired fewer MBA graduates than in previous years. The situation isn't too different from the placement scenarios at other B-schools around the country, including the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). As the companies seek to course correct following the over-hiring during Covid-19 pandemic period, the colleges are scrambling to find similar opportunities for their students elsewhere, including tapping into their alumni network. The 2023-24 placement season was stretched by several weeks at some of the city's most sought-after management colleges, as the usually bankable recruiters hired fewer MBA graduates than in previous years. The Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) at Churchgate, which usually gets all its final-year students placed during the placement week in December, was left with around two dozen students without a job, though many of them managed to find offers in subsequent months. KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies (KJIMS) at Vidyavihar had to extend the placement sea- son by a month from its regular deadline of April 30. But even then as many as 27 out of 658 (3%) who participated in the campus recruitment drive couldn't find offers - the college had achieved an almost 99% placement last year. The salary growth also came to a standstill at the top institutes. The median salaries remained largely stagnant at most of the institutes, with some students left without an offer at the end of the academic session. After consistently climbing up from Rs 11.8 lakh in 2013 to Rs 28.8 in 2023, the average annual compensation (cost to company; CTC) graph at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay's (IITB) Shailesh J Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM) reversed its course for the first time in over a decade as it dipped to Rs 28.01 lakh in 2024. There was a slight increase, though, in the median salary from last year's Rs 26.64 lakh to Rs 26.73 lakh. NMIMS's School of Business Management and JBIMS also saw their average salaries drop by Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 1.8 lakh, respectively. While the management school of BITS Pilani, BITSOM’s, average package size shrunk marginally by Rs 0.04, its median salary swelled by Rs 1 lakh. At SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), the median salary dropped by Rs 1 lakh, even as the average salary remained static at Rs 33 lakh. 4Detailed report | Mumbai