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/thetribunechd /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com wednesday | 26 october 2022

Indian-origin Sunak takes chargeasUK PM

First non-white to hold top British post | Vows to ‘fix mistakes’ of predecessor
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 25
Rishi Sunak made an
impressive comeback to
become the UK’s first Indi-
an-origin Prime Minister,
seven weeks after he had lost
the race for 10 Downing
Street to Liz Truss.
Sunak, one of the wealthi-
est politicians in Westminster
and the first PM of UK of
colour, was on Tuesday asked
Desi politicians hit
❝
Will place economic
PARENTS WERE BORN
IN KENYA, TANZANIA
■ Sunak was born in Southampton
sweet spot abroad
stability and confidence to parents of Indian descent who
Tribune News Service
at the heart and will unite had migrated to UK from East
Africa in the 1960s Nine of them either
the country with actions. New Delhi, October 25
head of state or govt
Google fined
■ His father Yashveer Sunak was
Politicians of Indian origin
I admired her (Truss’) born in Nairobi and his mother
have of late hit a sweet spot
quest to create change, Usha Rani in Tanzania
■ Grandparents were from Gujran- with the addition of Rishi
MAKING IT BIG ~936 cr for unfair
PORTUGAL: PM António Costa
but mistakes were made. wala (then in undivided India Sunak as the UK’s Prime
biz practices
Minister. Currently, at least MAURITIUS: PM Pravind Jugnauth
Will fix these. Rishi Sunak and now in Pakistan)
nine persons of Indian origin MAURITIUS: Prez Prithviraj Roopun New Delhi, October 25

to form the government by
King Charles III after his two
competitors bowed out due to
lack of support from Conser-
vative Party MPs. Penny
Mordaunt failed to get
enough backing and former
PM Boris Johnson withdrew
from the contest.
The 42-year-old investment
banker-turned politician is
the youngest British Prime
Minister in 210 years. Also
the UK’s first Hindu Prime
Minister, Sunak took over
with a promise to put the cri-
sis-hit country’s needs
“above politics” and “fix the
mistakes” made by his pred-
ecessor, a day after he was
elected the leader of the Con-
servative Party in a historic
leadership run. In his first
address at the doorstep of 10
continued on page 10
edit: PM Rishi Sunak
3
IMMEDIATE
CHALLENGES
UK’s slowing economic growth —
it may force PM Sunak to raise
tax rates and make spending cuts
High inflation triggered by the
spiralling energy prices in the
wake of the Russia-Ukraine war
Budget shortfall that has in recent
past eroded the country’s finan-
cial credibility internationally
Maternal grandpa belongs to Ludhiana village
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, October 25
Rishi Sunak is the new PM of
the UK. As soon as the news
broke, there was an unexpect-
ed excitement among Indians
as the parents of Sunak are of
Indian descent.
Ajay Berry, dealing in
King Charles III with Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace in London. PTI
home-furnishing business in
Ludhiana, expressed happi-
ness while sharing that
Ajay’s grandfather and
Rishi’s maternal grandfather
(Nana) Raghubir Sain Berry
were real brothers, who
belonged to Jassowal Sudan
village in Ludhiana district.
The family of five brothers,
■ There’s no official word about his
ancestry, but his grandparents
are said to be Punjabi Khatris
1980 The year Sunak was born
At 42 Youngest UK PM in 200 yrs
IN ‘250 RICH CLUB’
The combined wealth of
Rishi Sunak and his wife
Akshata Murty is said to
be worth over $800 million, put-
ting them among 250 wealthiest
British families.
Uger Sain Berry, Bhim Sain attached to Punjab, too.
Berry, Vikramjeet Sain Berry, Raghubir uncle had shifted to
Gandharv Sain Berry and the UK about 40-45 years
Raghubir Sain Berry, had an back and was in constant
ancestral house too, which touch with his brothers. At
was later sold out. present, he is around 95-year
“I met Raghubir uncle in old, admitted to a nursing
1997-98 when he visited India home in England and being
from the UK. So in a way, taken care of by his children,”
Rishi’s roots are somewhere continued on page 10
are either heads of state or
heads of government.
Politicians of Indian-origin
taking power is not unusual
in a wide swath of developing
countries such as Suriname,
Singapore, Guyana, Trinidad
& Tobago, Malaysia, Fiji, and
Seychelles. But with the
addition of Sunak, politi-
cians of Indian-origin are
now heading governments
simultaneously in developed
countries too such as Portu-
gal, Singapore and now the
UK. In Ireland, there will be a
PM of Indian origin from
December.
Kamala Harris is not a head
of state or government, but is
the first Indian-origin US
Vice-President. Mauritius
has had nine heads of state of
Indian origin and Suriname
has had five Presidents from
the community. Four heads
SINGAPORE: Prez Halimah Yacob
SURINAME: Prez Chan Santokhi
GUYANA: President Irfaan Ali
SEYCHELLES: Prez W Ramkalawan
JAMAICA: PM Andrew Holness
UK: Prime Mininster Rishi Sunak
PM WISHES SUNAK
❝ Special Diwali wishes
to the ‘living bridge’ of the
British-Indians as we
transform our historic
ties into a modern
partnership. Narendra Modi, PM
of state in Guyana and three
in Singapore were of Indian
descent. In addition,
Trinidad & Tobago, Portugal,
Malaysia, Fiji, Ireland, and
Seychelles have chosen an
Indian-origin head of state.
continued on page 10
In its second ruling against
Google in less than a week,
the Competition Commission
of India (CCI) on Tuesday
imposed a penalty of Rs
936.44 crore on the tech major
for abusing its dominant posi-
tion with respect to its Play
Store policies. The regulator
has also directed the compa-
ny to cease and desist from
unfair business practices and
modify its conduct within a
defined timeline.
The CCI found if app devel-
opers do not comply with the
policy of using Google Play’s
Billing System (GPBS), they
are not permitted to list their
apps on the Play Store. This
access policy is “one-sided
and arbitrary and devoid of
any legitimate business
interest,” it said. Based on its
probe, the CCI found that
continued on page 10

WhatsApp faces
global outage for Farm fires, Diwali crackers choke Punjab,
over two hours
Chandigarh/NewDelhi, Oct25
air quality dips from ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’
WhatsApp services were
resumed after the messaging
Aman Sood
Tribune News Service In Haryana, 250
app faced a major outage that Patiala, October 25 stubble-burning
prevented millions of users Punjab cities inhaled poor
in India and several parts of quality air in the past few cases in a day
the world from sending or days as the average Air Qual- Parveen Arora
receiving text and video mes- ity Index (AQI) had moved to Tribune News Service

sages for almost two hours.
Meta, which owns the pop-
ular messaging app did not
share the cause of the outage,
but said it had fixed the
glitch. The extent of the dis-
ruption is not known. How-
ever, the outage appeared
widespread in India. Accord-
ing to Downdetector.com,
the ‘poor’ category from the Karnal, October 25
‘moderate’ category last Haryana has recorded the
week. Meanwhile, cracker highest stubble burning cases
smoke coupled with over in a day on Diwali this season.
CELESTIAL DELIGHT: A partial solar eclipse visible behind the South Block in New Delhi on Tuesday. ANI 1,100 farm fires in the past It witnessed 250 cases in a sin-
two days added to the gle day on Monday, taking the
already polluted air. number of total cases to 1,372.
The average AQI of Punjab However, compared to last
Army to procure 750 hi-tech drones on Diwali this year was 224
(poor) as compared to 268
year, the total number of cas-
es is lesser as last year till

for precision strikes along LoC, LAC

which tracks internet disrup-
tions, the outage in India
started around 12.08 pm and
peaked around 1:08 pm.
Disappointed users from
across the world started flood-
ing social media platforms
like Twitter and Instagram
with posts about being unable
to send messages on the app.
This was WhatsApp’s first
major outage since the Octo-
ber 5 snag that took down
WhatsApp, Instagram and
Facebook together, affecting
millions of users. — TNS
Air surcharge: Leh and
beyond Rs 2.00
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 25
The Indian Army’s special
forces — the ones mandated
to operate behind enemy
lines — are looking for spe-
cialised drones that can pro-
vide 3D imagery of the ter-
rain to launch operations.
The Ministry of Defence on
Tuesday came out with the
request for proposal (RFP)
for such UAVs which will be
processed as per the fast-
NO CHINESE PARTS
■ UAVs needed for round-the-
clock surveillance with abili-
ty to scan target area, pro-
vide processed 3D scanned
image of target
■ MoD wants to keep out Chi-
nese parts and asked ven-
dor to provide NSN for every
item from foreign maker
track procurement proce-
dure under the “emergency
procurement”.
The RFP is part of the ten-
dering process seeking com-
mercial and technical bids
from suppliers. Some 750
such drones are needed.
“The current volatile situa-
tion along the northern bor-
ders warrants expeditious
procurement of operational
equipment,” the RFP docu-
ment said. The Army is look-
ing for UAVs that can provide
round-the-clock surveillance
with ability to scan the target
continued on page 10
(poor) in 2021 and 328 (very
poor) in 2020, claimed the
government.
On Monday, the window
from 8 pm to 10 pm for burst-
ing crackers went for a toss
as people started bursting
those around 6 pm and con-
tinued till the wee hours.
As many as 924 farm fires
on Monday and 181 on Tues-
day made matters worse.
Punjab has witnessed over
5,798 farm fires till date.
On Diwali night, the maxi-
mum AQI was recorded at
Amritsar this year at 262
(poor). Last year, the maxi-
Anti-smog guns deployed to curb pollution in New Delhi. MUKESH AGGARWAL October 25, the state had
reported 1,835 cases.
AT 366, DELHI’S AIR QUALITY ‘VERY POOR’
mum value of AQI 327 (very egory. In 2020, four cities Max cases in day this season
poor) was observed in Jaland- Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhi- HIGH & LOW
har and in 2020, the maxi- ana and Patiala remained in Oct 23 217
mum AQI 386 (very poor) was ‘very poor’ category. “The Oct 24 250
observed in Amritsar. maximum AQI reduction Oct 25 12
On Diwali night, the mini- this year was observed in
mum AQI 188 (moderate) for Jalandhar (31.2 per cent) and The authorities claimed
this year was recorded in minimum was observed in that the efforts to educate
Mandi Gobindgarh against Patiala (7 per cent),” claimed farmers about stubble burn-
last year’s value of 220 (poor) Environment Minister ing are bearing fruit as a
and 262 (poor) in 2020. Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer. large number of farmers are
Last year on Diwali night, “This year’s air quality adopting crop-management
the AQI of two cities (Amrit- showed an improvement as methods. “Over 80 per cent of
sar and Jalandhar) continued on page 10 paddy harvesting has been
remained in ‘very poor’ cat- edit: poor air quality continued on page 10

IN BRIEF BJP CANCELS TICKET,

EX-MP TURNS REBEL
■ The BJP has withdrawn Kul-
Pak govt to probe killing of journalist in Kenya lu Sadar ticket from former
NEW DELHI: Pakistan government has decided to set up a judicial
commission to probe the killing of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif
MP Maheshwar Singh due
to rebellion by his son
in Kenya. Sharif was shot by Kenyan police on Sunday. BACK PAGE Hiteshwar in Banjar
■ Narotam Singh has now
Kharge to take charge as Cong president today been declared the candi-
NEW DELHI: Veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge will take over as Con-
date. Earlier, CM Jai Ram
gress president on Wednesday after he is handed over the certificate
of election and baton by Sonia Gandhi at a function here. BACK PAGE
Thakur had asked Mahesh-
war to pacify his son or face
the consequences
CBI files charges against 12 in Bengal job scam ■ With Hiteshwar refus-
NEW DELHI: The CBI has filed a chargesheet against 12 accused for
ing to relent, the BJP
alleged corruption relating to appointment of teachers in secondary
cancelled ticket to
and higher secondary schools across West Bengal. BACK PAGE
Maheshwar, who
then filed papers as
14.62 lakh members join ESIC scheme in August Independent from
NEW DELHI: Around 14.62 lakh members joined the ESIC scheme Kullu Sadar.
in August, according to official data. The gross new enrolments INSIDE
rose to 1.49 crore in 2021-22, from 1.15 crore in 2020-21. INSIDE
Rebel trouble worries both BJP, Cong as nominations end
HIMACHAL
VOTES
2022
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, October 25
Dissatisfied over ticket dis-
tribution, more than 15 aspi-
rants each in both BJP and
Congress have jumped into
the fray as Independent can-
didates for the Assembly
poll, giving anxious
moments to the parties.
Today was the final day for
filing the nomination papers.
Both parties will now step
up efforts to placate and con-
vince them to withdraw their
candidature. A clear picture
about rebels playing spoil-
sport will emerge only on
October 29, which is the last
date for withdrawal of nomi-
nation papers. The polling
for 68 constituencies will
take place on November 12
and counting of votes on
December 8.
The BJP heaved a sigh of
relief as state Mahila Morcha
general secretary Vandana
Guleria, daughter of Jal
Shakti Minister Mahender
Singh, did not file papers
from Dharampur in Mandi in
protest against her brother
KL Thakur (BJP) Kripal Parmar (BJP)
Nalagarh Fatehpur
RELIEF FOR BJP
■ BJP relieved as Mahila Mor-
cha leader Vandana Gule-
ria, daughter of Jal Shakti
Minister Mahender Singh,
didn’t file papers from
Dharampur in protest against
her brother Rajat Thakur.
Rajat Thakur. However, the
situation for the BJP in Kullu
is worrisome with former MP
GR Musafir (Cong) Kuldip Kumar (Cong)
Pachhad Chintpurni
561 FILE PAPERS
■ A total of 561 nominations
filed, including 376 on last
day on Tuesday, for Novem-
ber 12 polls. Final number of
candidates in fray will be known
on October 29, last date for
withdrawal of nominations.
Maheshwar Singh and his
son Hiteshwar Singh jump-
ing into the fray as BJP
rebels from the Kullu (Sadar)
and the adjoining Banjar
seat. The BJP today changed
Maheshwar’s ticket as he
failed to convince his son to
retire from the contest. Now,
the father too has turned a
rebel and filed papers as an
Independent.
The prominent BJP rebels
include former MP Mahesh-
war Singh (Kullu), his son
Hiteshwar Singh (Banjar), for-
mer Rajya Sabha MP Kripal
Parmar (Fatehpur), former
MLAs Tejwant Negi (Kin-
naur), KL Thakur (Nalagarh),
Abhishek Thakur (Sunderna-
gar), Praveen Sharma (Mandi
continued on page 10
CITY
WEATHER
FORECAST
Mainly clear sky
SUNRISE: 6.28 am
SUNSET: 5.42 pm
TEMPERATURE
DELHI
Max: 32°C Min: 15°C
GURUGRAM
Max: 33°C Min: 16°C
FARIDABAD
Max: 33°C Min: 17°C
HELPLINE
Emergency response: 112
Women Helpline: 1091
Special cell (Northeast): 1093
Missing person: 1094
Vigilance: 1064
Senior citizens: 1291
Cyber complaints: 1930
Traffic issues: 1095
Iraqi couple
duped by fake
policemen
Our Correspondent
Gurugram, October 25
The fake police gang targeted
an Iraqi national couple and
robbed them of $15,000 and
fled away in a car. An FIR has
been registered at the Sadar
police station.
According to the complaint
filed by the Iraqi woman,
Nada Ali Salman, it was on
Sunday around 3.30 pm
when she along with her hus-
band was going to the market
from their hotel.
“We have been staying in a
hotel for some time because
my husband is to be operated
Robbed of $15,000
meant for treatment
upon in Medanta. Just at the
gate of the hotel, a car came
in which two men were sit-
ting,” she said.
“They stopped the car and
one of them came out,
showed his ID card stating
that he is a police official and
that he wants to check us as
we are carrying drugs.
“He checked my bag and
asked my husband to show
his pocket. On insisting, my
husband took out his wallet
from the pocket and
showed it to him. In the wal-
let, there were $15,000,
which was meant for his
treatment. They took it and
smelt it saying these are
drugs. Then, they took the
dollars and fled away in
their car,” said the Iraqi
woman in her complaint.
Following the complaint, an
FIR has been registered
against two unidentified
accused under Sections 379
(theft), 420 (cheating), 34 (com-
mon intention) of the IPC at
the Sadar police station.
This Diwali, fewer respiratory illness cases at hospitals
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 25
This Diwali, Delhi hospitals
saw fewer cases of respiratory
illnesses as National Capital
witnessed relatively cleaner
air during the festival.
Doctors, on the other hand,
cautioned that it is too early
to draw definitive conclu-
sions about the prevalence of
respiratory illness following
Diwali because people tend to
visit hospitals only when
their condition worsens.
Manoj Goel, Director of
Pulmonology at Fortis
Memorial Research Insti-
tute, said, “The air quality
this time is better than the
c m y b
NCR THE TRIBUNE
GURUGRAM | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022
03
AAP, BJP in war of words on 58 cases filed in
four days for
selling crackers
‘drop’ in bursting of crackers
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 25
Cite different figures | AQI ‘very poor’, expected to remain so till Oct 28 As many as 16 cases have
been registered for bursting
Tribune News Service today, it is 425. It was in haz- firecrackers in the city in the
ardous category and is today past four days, the Delhi
New Delhi, October 25 as well. You should accept Police informed on Tuesday.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) that you have failed to stop According to the police, 58
remained ‘very poor’ on the pollution in Delhi, “Harish cases have been registered
day after Diwali. While AAP Khurana claimed in a tweet. for selling firecrackers and
claimed a reduction in air pol- Khurana and other BJP a total of 2,834.13 kg fire-
lution during the festival, the leaders shared videos on crackers have been seized
BJP accused the ruling party their social media showing for storage or sale in the
MANAS RANJAN BHUI
of failing to do so. people defying the cracker past four days.
While the AQI recorded in
the National Capital fell in
ban in Delhi.
On Diwali, the national cap-
They further said 150 cases
have been registered for sell-
the ‘very poor’ category on ital recorded a peak AQI of ing firecrackers and 17,357.13
Diwali and even on the next 326 and a 24-hour average kg firecrackers were seized
day, it was still better com-
pared to the past few years.
On Tuesday, Delhi Envi-
People burst firecrackers in Ghaziabad on Diwali.
AQI of 312 at 4 pm on Mon-
day, the second best for
Diwali day in seven years.
from October 1 to 24.
The police have regis-
tered 23 cases for bursting
Yadav is NDMC chief
ronment Minister Gopal 2018, 368 in 2019 and 435 in lution. BJP spokesperson According to the Central firecrackers and seized 3.6 New Delhi, October 25 Administrative Service offi-
Rai claimed there was a 30 2020,” Rai claimed. Harish Khurana claimed that Pollution Control Board, Del- kg firecrackers during the Senior bureaucrat Amit cer of the AGMUT (Assam,
per cent drop in the burst- The Delhi government the AQI was in the hazardous hi recorded an AQI of 382 on same period. Yadav has been appointed the Goa, Meghalaya, Union Terri-
ing of firecrackers. Delhi had earlier re-imposed a category on the day of the fes- Diwali last year, 414 in 2020, A large number of high- chairman of the New Delhi tory) cadre.
recorded its best air quality ban on the production, sale tival and on Tuesday. 337 in 2019, 319 in 2017 and decibel firecrackers were Municipal Council (NDMC), Yadav succeeds Bhupinder
for the day after Diwali in and use of all types of fire- The party questioned Delhi 431 in 2016. burst throughout Diwali according to an order issued Singh Bhalla, a 1990-batch
five years, he said. crackers till January 1, Government’s decision to On 6.30 pm of Tuesday, night. by the Ministry of Home officer, as the civic body’s
“The AQI stood at 323 on including on Diwali. ban crackers, which it had Delhi’s AQI was 366. Last week, Delhi Environ- Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday. chairman. Bhalla will now be
Tuesday (the day after The BJP, however, coun- earlier criticised as well, According to the Air Quality ment Minister Gopal Rai had Prior to this appointment, the new and renewable ener-
Diwali) as compared to 462 tered AAP’s claim of reduc- labelling the move as ‘anti- Early Warning System for said bursting firecrackers in he was posted as the Addi- gy secretary. He will take over
last year. This means air pol- ing pollution on Diwali stat- Hindu’. “What did you get Delhi: The air quality is the National Capital on tional Secretary, Department as the secretary after incum-
lution declined by over 30 per ing that the Delhi out of cracker ban on Diwali? likely to remain in the lower Diwali would attract a jail of Commerce in the Ministry bent Indu Shekhar
cent. The AQI on the day Government should accept Last year, the AQI was 444 on end of ‘very poor’ category term of up to six months and of Commerce and Industry. Chaturvedi completes his
after Diwali stood at 390 in that it has “failed” to curb pol- the day after Diwali and from October 26 to 28. a fine of Rs 200. Yadav is a 1991-batch Indian term this month-end. — TNS
Fire Dept received 3 labourers run
over by train
Gurugram AQI down 34% Delhi records
900 dengue
201 calls on Diwali New Delhi, October 25
Three labourers died after
Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service
Faridabad, October 25
cases in Oct
New Delhi, October 25
New Delhi, October 25 being run over by a train in As the ban on firecrackers Delhi reported more than 900
As many as 201 fire-related northwest Delhi’s Badli area, went up in smoke, there was cases of dengue in October,
calls were received by the the police said on Tuesday. a conspicuous decline in the taking the total infection tally
Delhi Fire Department on The accident occurred near air quality in the city, the to 1,876 so far this year,
Diwali, which was 32 per cent KM pole no 13/25 between NCR and the state. according to a civic report
higher than last year, officials Badli yard and Holambi on With the air quality index issued on Tuesday. The city
said on Tuesday. Monday, they said, adding (AQI) hitting the ‘very poor’ has also recorded 194 cases of
According to officials, the that the information was category this morning, Farid- malaria and 38 cases of
department received 152 fire- yearly fire-related calls received regarding it around abad ranked among the most chikungunya this year. The
related calls in 2021, 205 in received on Diwali. 5.35 pm. polluted cities in the country. dengue infection tally had
2020, 245 in 2019, 271 in 2018, In one of the incidents on According to the police, the The overall AQI witnessed a stood at 1,572 till October 12.
204 in 2017, 243 in 2016 and Monday, a fire broke out in a deceased, aged between 19 drop of 26.7 per cent in com- According to the report
290 in 2015. garment factory in east Del- and 21 years, were identified parison to the previous year. released by the Municipal
Earlier, the Fire Depart- hi’s Gandhi Nagar area in as Mohammad Hafiz, In Gurugram, the AQI A thick haze in Faridabad on Tuesday evening. TRIBUNE PHOTO Corporation of Delhi, over 300
ment had said it would the evening. Four people Mohammad and Riyazul. recorded this morning was new cases were reported in
deploy fire tenders at 22 spots were rescued from the third They worked at Badli indus- 314, 34.17 per cent less than Board (SPCB) in Faridabad were burnt for about six the week that followed, tak-
on Sunday and on Diwali floor of the factory. A fire- trial area and stayed at Rana last year (477). recorded an AQI of 353 (PM hours (between 6 pm and ing the total number of
from 5 pm till midnight as a man suffered minor injuries park in Siraspur village. Ballabgarh, a sub-divisional 2.5) at 8 am today. Though the midnight), violating the two- dengue cases this year in Del-
precautionary measure. in the operation. The police stated that the town in Faridabad, recorded city recorded an average of hour window that resulted in hi to 1,876 till October 19. Out
An internal committee A fire also broke out in a trio, along with one Moham- an AQI of 323. Dharuhera 311 points, AQI of 353 and 347 acute pollution. However, of the total reported cases, 693
headed by the chief fire offi- restaurant in northwest mad Ehsaan, who also works proved to be another hotspot were recorded at two different according to officials, the were reported in September.
cer was directed to identify Delhi’s Prashant Vihar and stays with them, had in the NCR, recording an AQI spots in the city, which are the AQI this year has been better It is also the highest num-
50 spots in the National Cap- area. Officials said informa- gone to a nearby park. While of 332. Delhi and Noida worst figures in the country. than the previous year, which ber of dengue cases logged
ital where mobile fire ten- tion about the fire was returning, the four men were recorded AQI levels of 325 Claiming that the air quali- was above 400 in the city and during the January 1-Octo-
ders could be deployed. received at 8.50 pm, follow- caught between two trains and 316, respectively, in the ty dipped due to bursting of parts of the NCR. The AQI in ber 19 period since 2017,
These spots were selected ing which fire tenders were coming from opposite direc- morning today. firecrackers, sources in the 2021 and 2020 was recorded when the corresponding fig-
on the basis of an analysis of rushed to the spot. — TNS tions on two lines. — TNS The State Pollution Control SPCB said that crackers at 482 and 358 respectively. ure was 3,272. — TNS
In F’bad,14K major property G’gram man shot
at, two nabbed
tax defaulters issued notice Gurugram, October 25
In an alleged land dispute, a
46-year-old man, identified
Bijendra Ahlawat owed an amount of Rs 30,000 as Vijender, was allegedly
Tribune News Service or more as property/house tax shot at by his nephew in
Faridabad, October 25 to the MCF, which included Lakhuwas village near
With the identification of as around 6,500 defaulters who Sohna. It was revealed that
many as 14,000 major default- had to pay a tax amount of Rs the accused and his associ-
ers, the Municipal Corpora- 50,000 or more. ates burst a pipe filled with
tion Faridabad (MCF) author- It is claimed that as per
ities have announced to sources, almost 60 per cent of Being treated in Delhi’s
launch a sealing drive once the total 2.6 lakh property tax
again. The total defaulting units in the city are in the
Safdarjung hospital
amount is claimed to be While some units in the NIT defaulters’ list and that the
around Rs 200 crore. zone here had been sealed in total tax paying units in the gunpowder in his mouth that
An official said, “A similar the past two weeks, a total of city are expected to go up to got him critically injured. He
drive was launched in March 13,000 notices had been 5.5 lakh after the integration is being treated in Delhi’s
this year to push up tax col- served in the last four weeks of another three lakh units Safdarjung hospital.
lection before the end of the in all nine zones of the civic identified in a survey carried The police have arrested the
last financial period. This is body, he added. Defining the out in last financial year. The two accused, including the
the first drive of the current category of major defaulters, number of defaulters is nephew of the victim. An FIR
financial year (2022-23).” he said they were units that around 1.55 lakh. has been registered. — OC
GTB Hospital’s Medical
Director Dr Subhash Giri
said there were fewer com-
plaints of respiratory illness-
es since the air quality is
slightly better this year prob-
ably due to windy conditions
and a ban on firecrackers.
Some hospitals, however,
saw a significant spike in cas-
es of respiratory illness.
Bhagwan Mantri, a consult-
ant pulmonologist and criti-
Kartavya Path witnesses a smoggy morning in New Delhi on Tuesday. ANI cal care specialist at Moolc-
hand Hospital, said there has
past few years. Although last year.” Goel, while advis- should take all steps to pre- been a 30 to 40 per cent spike
there has been an increase ing people to get vaccinated vent pollution. We should in such cases.
in the number of respirato- against flu and pneumonia, continue preventive thera- Fewer instances of burn
ry cases in the past couple said “It is too early to make py if suffering from chronic injuries were also reported in
of days, the numbers were a definitive conclusion. We lung and heart diseases fol- Delhi hospitals compared to
about 20 per cent less than still need to be careful and lowing the doctor’s advice.” previous years.
04
Garbage piles up in state as
sanitation workers on strike
40K municipal employees off work since Oct 19, observe ‘black Diwali’
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, October 25
Heaps of garbage are piling
up in cities and towns across
Haryana as the sanitation
workers are on strike in the
state since October 19 to
press for the fulfilment of
their demands.
The strike of the municipal
employees, including sanita-
tion staff, was initially
announced for two days -
October 19 and 20. However,
the employees extended
their strike till October 23 and
then till October 26 as their
demands were not met.
Residents of the state are
facing grave inconvenience
as garbage is not being lifted
due to the strike.
“A big heap of garbage lying
in front of our home is getting
bigger with every passing
day as the residents continue
to dump their household
waste, which has not been
lifted for several days,” said
Asha Rani, a resident of old
Rohtak city. Residents com-
plain that the unlifted
garbage not only raises stink,
but also provides the breed-
ing ground for mosquitoes
which may spread diseases.
Meanwhile, the municipal
workers, who have been
protesting against the non-
payment of their salaries for
several months and to get the
Man dupes cop by KURDA RAM NAMBARDAR, INLD
promising info on ‘Compensation for crop loss not given, ‘Congress nowhere in Adampur
drug peddler, booked border villages face water scarcity’ contest, it’s fight between AAP & BJP’
Tribune News Service
Ambala, October 25
The police have booked a
man for allegedly duping the
in-charge of the Ambala anti-
narcotics cell on the pretext
of providing information
about a drug peddler.
The case has been regis-
tered against Pradeep Shar-
ma at the Ambala Cantt
police station under Sections
406 and 420 of the IPC.
Sub-Inspector Virender
Singh, in-charge of the
Ambala anti-narcotics cell,
reportedly received a call
from Ambala Cantonment
DSP Ram Kumar on October
20. The DSP told the SI that
an informer would talk to
him (Virender) and that he
should take an appropriate
action on the information so
received. The SI got a call
from a person who identified
himself as Pradeep Sharma.
Virender Singh, in his com-
plaint, said, “Pradeep told me
that he wanted to give infor-
mation about an apple-laden
vehicle in which 20-22 kg
ganja was being smuggled.
He said he would provide the
vehicle number and the
mobile number of the driver
later. He further said that he
would ply his vehicle in front
of the suspected vehicle.
Around 3 pm, he said he
required some money after
which a sum of Rs 4,500 was
transferred to him. Pradeep
later provided the number of
the suspected vehicle and
said he would share the loca-
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CH-17997
Striking municipal workers stage a demonstration in Rohtak on Tuesday. PHOTO: MANOJ DHAKA
services of contractual employ- all-out efforts being made by
ees regularised, seem to be in the state government to end
no mood to end their strike and the strike. “Instead of fulfilling
return to work until their the genuine demands of the
demands are met. The striking employees, the state govern-
employees observed a ‘black ment is using force and foul
Diwali’ and took out a protest means to sabotage the strike,”
march to press for the fulfil- alleged Shastri. He main-
ment of their demands. They tained that a decision on the
raised slogans against the state further course of action would
government and warned to be taken tomorrow.
extend their strike if their con- Karnal: Congress state
cerns were not addressed. working president Suresh
Naresh Kumar Shastri, presi- Gupta extended support to
dent of the Nagarpalika Karm- the sanitation workers and
chari Sangh, Haryana, said joined their protest on Tues-
nearly 40,000 workers serving day. He accused the state gov-
at 57 municipal committees, 22 ernment of not paying heed
municipal councils and 11 to the demands of the sanita-
municipal corporations of tion workers.
Haryana were on strike despite Gurugram (OC): Roads of
SATINDER SINGH, AAP
T HE INLD has fielded
Congress rebel Kurda
Ram Nambardar, who
has been in the forefront of
the farmers’ agitation on the
issues of compensation for
damaged crops and canal
water in the Balsamand
area, which is part of the
TEAMS FORMED TO Adampur Assembly seg-
ARREST ACCUSED ment. In an interview
to Deepender Deswal, Kur-
❝ A person claimed that
he will get a drug peddler
da Ram talked about the
issues concerning Adampur
and reasons behind his
arrested. He has been changing sides. Excerpts:
booked for cheating and
■ What are the main issues
teams have been formed to concerning Adampur?
arrest him. Naresh Kumar, SHO OF There are so many issues in
THE AMBALA CANTT POLICE STATION Adampur that have been fac-
ing neglect by the govern-
tion, but he didn’t do so.” ments for a long time. Almost
“We kept waiting for his call every segment, be it farmers,
and also tried to talk to him, small traders, government
but he didn’t take our calls. employees or school students,
On October 21, he again rang is facing one or the other issue.
up and said he couldn’t give Farmers are facing peculiar
information due to some rea- conditions, with villages in the
sons, but would do so soon. Balsamand area facing an
On October 23, we asked him acute shortage of water for irri-
to return the money as he was gation and drinking while vil-
not sharing the information lages in Adampur are suffering
and misguiding the team. crop losses due to inundation
Pradeep then transferred Rs 1 during the monsoon season.
twice and said he would soon ■ Why should the voters of
transfer Rs 3,000, but didn’t Adampur elect you?
send the said amount. Later The bypoll has no significance
he started misbehaving and for me individually. But, being
threatening us,” he added. a local resident, I have a first-
SHO of the Ambala Canton- hand experience of the reali-
ment police station Naresh ties and requirements of peo-
Kumar said, “A person
claimed that he will get a
drug peddler arrested. He
has been booked for cheating
and teams have been formed
to arrest him.”
Can believe extrajudicial confession, says High Court
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 25
The Punjab and Haryana
High Court has asserted that
extrajudicial confession, cor-
roborated by other circum-
27.10.2022 stantial evidence, can be
31.10.2022 believed by the trial court.
01.11.2022
02.11.2022
The assertion came as the
HC upheld the conviction of a
04.11.2022 man, who, among other things,
06.11.2022 �� (���� 10 �� 3 ��� ��) confessed to killing his wife
08.11.2022 and two children 14 years ago
09.11.2022 to save them from stigma as he
10.11.2022 �� (���� 10 �� 3 ��� ��)
was suffering from AIDS.
11.11.2022
12.11.2022 (2 �� 4 ��� ��) “From a perusal of the pros-
20.11.2022 (���� 9 �� 3 ��� ��) ecution case, it is apparent
20.11.2022 ����� �� ������ ��� that just to wriggle out of the
charge, the present appellant
tried to mislead and had tak-
en up three false pleas —
������ �� ����, (����� �������)
HARYANA
the millennium city have
turned into garbage dumps
due to the ongoing strike of
the sanitation workers.
The workers extended their
strike till Wednesday, which
made the situation worse.
The municipal claimed that
they would not clean the
roads, public places and sew-
er cleaning during the strike.
The civic body officials tried
to talk to the union heads, but
the latter did not agree with
them and extended their
strike till October 26.
The situation of the city
roads is in a worse condition
and on Monday, garbage was
removed by the Gurugram
police from some main roads.
❝ The bypoll has no
significance for me
individually. But, being a
local resident, I have a
first-hand experience of
the realities and
requirements of people.
ple. It is unfortunate that
schools don’t have teachers
and health centres are devoid
of doctors. Although Kuldeep
Bishnoi has been represent-
ing the segment for 26 years
in the Assembly, he has
failed to do anything for the
people. Residents are fed up
with his antics and want to
get rid of him.
■ You were aspiring for a
Congress ticket, why did
you choose the INLD?
I have been serving the party
for a long time and did not leave
the party when I was denied the
ticket in 2009, 2011 (bypoll) and
AIDS, insanity and alibi,” the
Division Bench of Justice
Sureshwar Thakur and Jus-
tice NS Shekhawat asserted.
The matter was placed
before the Bench after the con-
vict filed an appeal against the
judgment of conviction and
life sentence passed by the
Gurugram Sessions Judge on
January 8, 2010, for murder
under Section 302 of the IPC.
Complainant father-in-law had
deposed that the appellant-
convict was a drunkard and
used to stay at home.
The Bench was told that the
appellant appeared before
the victim wife’s uncle and
“further tried to mislead him
by saying that he was suffer-
ing from AIDS and conse-
CM’s appeal has no
effect, stir continues
Tribune News Service
Karnal, October 25
Chief Minister Manohar Lal
Khattar’s appeal to sanita-
tion workers to resume their
work and maintain cleanli-
ness on Diwali fell on deaf
ears as the strike of the sani-
tation workers continued on
Tuesday also, which was the
sixth day of their strike
across the state.
With the stir, thousands of
tonnes of trash have been lit-
tered on every nook and corner
of the city, waiting to be lifted.
The situation aggravated after
people burst crackers on Diwali
and the trash was not lifted on
Tuesday morning. Heaps of
garbage could be seen all over
the city, “welcoming” the resi-
dents in the morning.
The sanitation workers are
demanding the regularisa-
tion of ad hoc staff, filling of
vacant posts and abolition of
the Haryana Kaushal Roj-
gar Nigam portal.
Residents here rued the
rigid attitude of the sanita-
Garbage littered on a Karnal street. PHOTO: SAYEED AHMED
THE TRIBUNE INTERVIEW
2014. Those who are calling me
a turncoat have changed par-
ties multiple times themselves.
Kuldeep Bishnoi left the Con-
gress, formed his own outfit
(HJC), forged alliances, joined
the Congress and now he is in
the BJP. Similarly, Jai Prakash
became MP from three differ-
ent parties, then left the Con-
gress to get elected as an Inde-
pendent MLA and is in the
Congress now. AAP’s Satinder
Singh was in the Congress,
then he joined the BJP and is
now the AAP candidate.
■ Who is responsible for
the neglect of Adampur?
Obviously, the person rep-
resenting the segment for
26 years is accountable for
the poor state of affairs. His
political moves are deter-
mined by his own vested
interests or that of his fami-
ly, rather than the interests
of the segment he is sup-
posed to serve.
■ Are farmers still strug-
gling for compensation?
Despite long agitations by
farmers, who lost their
kharif crop, they are yet to
get compensation for 2020
and 2021. They have also suf-
fered losses this year. I led an
agitation for canal water as
border villages are not get-
ting adequate drinking
water. However, the issues
remain unresolved.
BID TO MISLEAD
❝ From a perusal of the
prosecution case, it is
apparent that just to
wriggle out of the charge,
the present appellant tried
to mislead and had taken
up three false pleas - AIDS,
insanity and alibi. HC Bench
quently he committed the
murder of his wife and both
children to save them from
tion workers and said as their
responsibility towards socie-
ty, they should have resumed
their work on Diwali. “On
Diwali, we clean our house-
holds, commercial establish-
ments and our surroundings,
but this Diwali, the strike by
the sanitation workers has
made the surroundings
filthy. We request them to
resume their work,” said
Amit Kumar, a local resident.
However, the authorities are
making efforts to maintain
cleanliness by lifting the
garbage in the presence of
police force, but the protesting
employees are encountering
them by stopping their vehicles.
“We have pressed around
100 workers to lift the
garbage. We have lifted a
large quantity of the garbage,
but the hurdles being created
by the employees on agitation
are hampering their work,”
said Ajay Singh Tomar, Com-
missioner, KMC. “We will do
night sweeping and lift
garbage at night with the help
of the police,” he added.
A AP has fielded Satin-
der Singh, who was
the Congress candi-
date in the 2014 Assembly
elections and had later shift-
ed to the BJP. This time, he
got the AAP ticket, exactly a
month after joining the par-
ty. In an interview with The
Tribune, he said the fight
this time was between him
and the BJP candidate only.
Excerpts:
■ What are the main issues
concerning Adampur?
This election is about a change
in Adampur. This is a contest for
replacing the old system, which
is responsible for the ills afflict-
ing this segment. People here
are at the receiving end due to
long absence of the sitting
MLA, who has been winning
from here for around 26 years.
■ Why should people vote
for you?
AAP has a proven record of
performance in Delhi. The
policies and programmes of
the Delhi Government are an
example in front of people
here. The old-age pension
scheme was restored in Pun-
jab. If I get elected from here,
we will make Adampur a
model of development before
going to the polls in 2024.
■ Who is responsible for
Adampur’s neglect in
terms of development?
The successive governments
the stigma”. He tested nega-
tive for AIDS and his stand
was found to be false.
His counsel submitted that
the extrajudicial confession
was unbelievable. It was
highly unlikely that the
appellant would repose faith
on a witness, who was the vic-
tim-wife’s uncle. The Bench
asserted a court was required
to ensure that the extrajudi-
cial confession inspired confi-
dence and was corroborated
by other prosecution evi-
dence whenever the Judge,
upon due appreciation of
entire prosecution, intended
to base the conviction on it.
No doubt, the witness was
related to the victim. But that
was no ground to reject his
GURUGRAM | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022
Manohar Lal Khattar BS Hooda
3 CMs, 2 ex-CMs to
spice up campaign
ADAMPUR
BYPOLL
Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, October 25
The crucial Adampur byelec-
tion is set to witness a build-
up of political heavyweights
in the next few days, with the
visits of three sitting chief
ministers and two former
chief ministers.
While Chief Minister
Manohar Lal Khattar is set to
hit the campaign trail in the
final leg of the electioneering
in favour of the BJP candi-
date Bhavya Bishnoi, the two
chief ministers of the AAP-
ruled states, Arvind Kejriwal
of Delhi and Bhagwant Mann
of Punjab, are also set to join
the canvassing for the AAP
candidate Bhavya Bishnoi.
Former CM and Congress
leader Bhupinder Singh
Hooda has already made
three appearances in Hisar
district and interacted with
people in Adampur Mandi
today, with party candidate
Jai Prakash by his side. For-
mer CM and INLD supremo
Om Prakash Chautala too
❝ AAP has a proven
record of performance
in Delhi... If I get elected
from here, we will make
Adampur a model of
development before
going to the polls in 2024.
as well as the local MLA are
responsible for the lack of
development in Adampur. It
is the responsibility of the
local MLA to raise voice for
the local people, but Kuldeep
Bishnoi has failed to do so.
■ You are said to be the
richest candidate in the
fray. Why AAP, which
claims to be the party of
common people, gave you
the ticket?
AAP never says it will give
the ticket to only those who
are financially weak. It want-
ed to field a candidate having
a clean image. I fit the bill.
testimony as he withstood
the test of cross-examination.
At times, the accused might
feel he was close to some relative
of the victim or might get undue
support from him. There was
nothing unusual on the appel-
lant’s part, as such, in approach-
ing the victim’s relative.
“No doubt, the testimony of
a related witness has to be
scrutinised with care and cir-
cumspection, but it can
always be believed if the
same inspires the confi-
dence…. The prosecution led
overwhelming evidence to
prove the involvement of the
present appellant in the most
heinous crime of the murder
of his wife and two minor
children,” the Bench added.
THE TRIBUNE
OP Chautala
BHAGWANT MANN,
KEJRIWAL TO CANVASS
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann
will carry out a roadshow in
many villages of the
Adampur segment on
Wednesday. AAP Haryana in
charge Anurag Dhanda said
Delhi CM Kejriwal,
deputy CM Man-
ish Sisodia and
Rajya Sabha MP
Sanjay Singh would
also join the cam-
paign in next few
days.
accompanied the party nom-
inee Kurda Ram Nambardar
during his campaign to vari-
ous villages.
The BJP sources said the
government doesn’t not want
to leave anything to chance as
it had lost two byelections in
two years – Baroda bypoll in
2020 and Ellenabad bypoll in
2021. “The party has assigned
leaders representing various
social categories to visit
Adampur for over a week.
Senior leaders, including state
president Om Prakash
Dhankar, Ram Bilas Sharma,
Capt Abhimanyu and Kamal
Gupta etc, have visited
Adampur,” said a source.
■ Rivals target you over
changing political affilia-
tions. What’s your take?
There is nothing wrong in that.
The person who got elected on
the Congress ticket and then
voted against the official nom-
inee in the Rajya Sabha poll
should be called a betrayer.
■ Who is the main contest-
ant for you in Adampur?
The Congress candidate is
nowhere in the contest. My
fight is with the BJP and I am
going to win this election.
■ Do you have any plan for
improving the condition of
schools in the area?
The school education sys-
tem is in tatters here. The
issue has gained signifi-
cance and even students had
to come out to stage protests.
We will fix this issue as edu-
cation and health are the pri-
ority areas for AAP.
■ Will Delhi CM Arvind
Kejriwal and Punjab CM
Bhagwant Mann make any
difference here?
Both leaders are coming to
Adampur for campaigning
and they will put forth the per-
formance record of their
respective governments.
■ AAP hasn’t taken a clear-
cut stand on the SYL issue so
far. How do you justify that?
I cannot comment on this
issue as it is related to the Cen-
tre and the state governments.
Minor raped,
murdered
Sonepat, October 25
The body of a seven-year-
old girl was found in a
semi-nude condition in
Kuldeep Nagar on the
Kabri road here this morn-
ing. The victim, daughter
of a migrant labourer, had
been missing since Diwali.
On the basis of prelimi-
nary investigation and evi-
dence collected from the
crime spot, cops suspected
that the minor was mur-
dered after rape. Superin-
tendent of Police Shashank
Kumar Sawan announced a
reward of Rs 50,000 for infor-
mation about the accused
and constituted five teams
to nab the culprits. — TNS
THE TRIBUNE
GURUGRAM | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022
Devotees take holy dip during
partial solar eclipse in K’shetra
Tribune News service
Kurukshetra, October 25
A large number of pilgrims
from different walks of life
reached Kurukshetra to
participate in the partial
solar eclipse (Surya Gra-
han) fair on Tuesday.
Besides Haryana, devotees
from Chandigarh, Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal
Pradesh, Rajasthan and other
states had also come to take
the holy dip. The partial solar
eclipse was seen here from
4.25 pm to 5.39 pm. The devo-
tees had started reaching the
Brahma Sarovar and the San-
nihit Sarovar early in the
morning and the numbers
grew gradually till late
evening. After taking the holy
dip, the devotees also per-
formed the religious rites on
the banks of the Brahma Sar-
voar and the Sannihit
Sarovar. Besides the Pind
Daan, several groups of
women were seen performing
kirtan in the sadariyas at the
Brahma Sarovar.
Devotees from Nepal had
also reached in good number
to perform the religious rites.
Hariram Paudel and
Sheshkant Paudel from Nepal
said they had come here along
with 14 persons and it was
their first visit to Kuruk-
shetra. “We came to know
about the solar eclipse fair, so
Woman found dead, kin allege murder
Gurugram, October 25
The wife of a CEO of a private
company allegedly died by sui-
cide under suspicious circum-
stances in Nirvan Country
Society, Sector 51. The family
of the deceased alleged that it
was a murder for dowry. An
FIR has been registered at the
Sector 50 police station.
It was on October 22 when
information was received at
the Sector 50 police station
from a private hospital that a
woman was brought dead to
the hospital and she had died
Jhinda urges Akal Takht to direct
SGPC to recognise HSGMC
Requests govt not to include Daduwal, Ratia in new panel
Kurukshetra, October 25
Haryana Sikh Gurdwara
Management Committee
(HSGMC) leader Jagdish
Singh Jhinda has said that the
Akal Takht should direct the
Shiromani Gurdwara Par-
bandhak Committee (SGPC)
to recognise Haryana’s sepa-
rate gurdwara management
panel and hand over to it the
charge of shrines in the state.
The former HSGMC chief
was interacting with media-
persons at Gurdwara Chhevin
Patshahi in Kurukshetra
recently where an event was
organised to honour the com-
munity members who played
a crucial role in the formation
of the Haryana’s separate
committee. Jhinda said, “The
SGPC is the parliament of
Sikhs and it should recognise
the HSGMC. The Akal Takht
should direct the SGPC to
hand over the charge of the
gurdwaras in Haryana to the
HSGMC and recognise the
Haryana body.” Accusing the
outgoing president, Baljit
Singh Daduwal, and member
Swaran Singh Ratia of mis-
guiding the Sikhs of Haryana,
Devotees throng the Brahma Sarovar during the partial solar eclipse in Kurukshetra on Tuesday.
TIGHT SECURITY IN PLACE
There was a heavy deployment of police force at the fair.
Around 5,000 police personnel and home guards were
deployed . As many as 22 nakas were set up in the outer area
and 112 nakas were set up in the internal areas. Ambala
Range ADGP Shrikant Jadhav was present there to monitor
the security arrangements
we came here to take the holy
dip and perform religious
rites. It was a great experience
and we want to come here
again”, Hariram said.
According to the legend,
Lord Krishna came from
Dwarka to Kurukshetra for
the solar eclipse fair in Kuruk-
shetra. It is believed a dip in
the Brahma Sarovar during a
solar eclipse is equivalent to
performing a thousand “Ash-
due to hanging. A police team
reached the hospital where the
deceased woman was identi-
fied as Manisha Chauhan (46).
According to the police,
the deceased was married
on 20 June 2017 to Shailesh
Vikram Singh, a resident of
Nirvana Country Society.
The woman had returned
from her maternal home
with her husband two days
ago. Her husband and
mother-in-law said she died
by suicide, while the broth-
er of the deceased has
Jagdish Singh Jhinda
SUMMON DADUWAL
❝ The Akal Takht should summon Baljit Singh
Daduwal and seek an explanation for the charges,
including the misappropriation of funds, he has been
facing. Jagdish Singh Jhinda, HSGMC LEADER
Jhinda said, “We also request
the state government not to
include Baljit Singh Daduwal
and Swaran Singh Ratia in
the new committee. They are
misguiding the Sikhs of
Haryana. If their names are
included, it will send a wrong
message to Sikhs and may
cause resentment.”“The
Akal Takht should summon
Baljit Singh Daduwal and
seek an explanation for the
charges, he has been facing.
We will request the Sikh san-
gat not to organise any pro-
wamedha yajnas”.
Several social and religious
organisations had arranged
langar and tea for the devotees
on the roads leading to the
Brahma Sarovar. Telescopes
were also put in place for the
devotees. Kurukshetra MP
Nayab Singh Saini, Thanesar
MLA Subhash Sudha, Ambala
MP Rattan Lal Kataria,
Rajasthan’s Cabinet Minister
Ramesh Chand Meena, for-
accused the in-laws of mur-
der for dowry.
“My sister was not happy
as they were demanding Rs
20 lakh and an SUV. Due to
this she had come home.
Her husband took her back
citing Diwali, but killed
her,” said Aakash Chauhan
in his complaint. Following
the complaint, an FIR has
been registered against the
husband and in-laws at the
Sector 50 police station. “We
are verifying the facts,” said
the police. — OC
Baljit Singh Daduwal
gramme of Daduwal till he
gets a clean chit from the
Akal Takht,” he added.
“These proposals will be
sent to the government and
the Akal Takht. In the March-
end or the first week of April,
a Sikh convention will be
organised to chalk out a strat-
egy to unite Sikhs of
Haryana,” the HSGMC
leader said. Daduwal said the
allegations levelled by Jhinda
were baseless and that he was
not an adviser to the state
government. — TNS
IN BRIEF
20 fire incidents reported
on Diwali in Gurugram
Gurugram:On Diwali night, 20 inci-
dents of fire were reported from dif-
ferent parts of the city, due to burst-
ing of firecrackers. There were no
reports of loss of life, but property
worth lakhs of rupees was
destroyed.”We were prepared for
all emergencies. said the Deputy
Director (Technical) of the Fire
Department. OC
HARYANA
GREAT EXPERIENCE,
SAYS NEPAL NATIONAL
❝ It was a great
experience and we want
to come here again.
Hariram Paudel, NEPAL NATIONAL
mer Haryana Deputy CM
Chander Mohan and other
political leaders also took the
holy dip. Madan Mohan
Chhabra, honorary secretary
of the Kurukshetra Develop-
ment Board, said, “Saints
from Haridwar reached here
and performed religious ritu-
als. The next surya grahan fair
will be held on August 2, 2027,
then on June 1, 2030 and on
May 21, 2031.”
Punjab Government
Bhagwant Mann
extends heartiest greetings to
Bhagat Sain Ji
An eminent spiritual preacher of
14-15th Century, who spread the message of love,
peace and brotherhood for welfare of humanity.
Man succumbs
to bullet injuries
Tribune News Service
Karnal, October 25
A 40-year-old man from Jani
village succumbed to bullet
injuries at a private hospital in
Mohali on the intervening
night of Sunday and Monday.
He received bullet injuries on
Saturday after four to five per-
sons shot at him.
The victim has been identi-
fied as Sukhbir, uncle of the
former sarpanch of the vil-
lage, Savita, said Inspector
Manoj Kumar, SHO, Sadar.
“We have registered a case
against Bhupinder and four-
five others under Sections 302
of the Indian Penal Code,”
said the SHO.
He said Bhupinder had an
altercation with Sukhir’s
family member and he took
revenge. Bhupinder was
deported from the USA,
said the SHO, adding that
efforts are being made to
nab the accused.
The incident took place at
around 10.30 am on Saturday
when the victim was return-
ing home. Meanwhile, four to
five persons came in a car
and fired at him, after which
they managed to escape from
the crime scene.
led by
Chief Minister
one and all on the
Department of Information and Public Relations, Punjab
51 gangs of criminals busted
in 10 months, say Y’nagar cops
Tribune News Service
Yamunanagar, October 25
Cracking the whip on crimi-
nals, the police have claimed
to have busted 51 gangs,
including those involved in
vehicle thefts and snatchings,
in Yamunanagar district over
the past around 10 months.
The police also arrested 139
accused associated with these
gangs and seized about Rs
1.50 crore from them.
According to information, as
many as 278 motorcycles have
been recovered from vehicle
theft gangs between January
1 and October 19 this year by
the crime units of various
police stations in the district .
Three cars, four tractors,
three trucks/tippers and one
earthmoving machine have
also been recovered from
them. “As many as 42 gangs
involved in the work of vehi-
cle theft have been busted,
Woman assaults son, husband ; booked
Gurugram, October 25
In a shocking incident, a
woman allegedly beat up
her son for not waking up.
She also allegedly bit her
husband when he objected
to her act. The husband has
filed a complaint and an
FIR has been registered at
the Sector 14 police station.
Arrest 139 accused;
recover about ~1.5 cr
solving 140 cases of vehicle
theft. The police arrested 96
accused in this connection
and recovered Rs 78, 58,000
from them,” said Chamkaur
Singh, spokesman of the dis-
trict police. Similarly, the
police bused four gangs
involved in burglary and
arrested 16 accused, solving
15 cases. The police also recov-
ered Rs 19.62 lakh from the
accused in this connection.
According to information,
the police also busted three
gangs of snatchers arresting
11 accused and solving 13 cas-
es of snatching during this
period. The police also recov-
ered Rs 65,000 from them.
The police also busted a
gang of thieves and a gang of
decoits and arrested 16
According to the com-
plaint filed by a Mianwali
Colony resident, he got
married in 2011 and has a
10-year-old son and a seven-
year-old daughter.
“On Sunday morning
my wife asked my son to
wake up and when he
did not get up, she got
Bhagwant Mann
Chief Minister, Punjab
05
accused of both gangs.
After busting these gangs,
the police solved seven cases
and recovered about Rs
50,21,700 from them.
Chamkaur Singh further said,
“In the past 10 months, the
district police have busted 51
gangs and arrested 139
accused recovering about Rs
1,49,81,000 from them.”
“The district police under
the guidance of SP Mohit
Handa is doing a commend-
able job. The slogan of seva,
suraksha and sahyog has
come true. He wants to bring
crime rate to zero and the dis-
trict police are working with
the same vision,” said
Chamkaur Singh. SP Mohit
Handa said all this was possi-
ble due to the teamwork. “The
police are working tirelessly to
nail the criminals, so that the
confidence of the people
increases in the police and the
people feel safe,” said the SP.
angry and started beat-
ing him. I saved my son
and she attacked me also
and bit me. She also
threatened to kill me
and my son, and finally,
I had to move to the
police as my wife is like
a monster,” said the man
in his complaint. — OC
06 OPINION
Xi tightens grip on power
THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
Third term as party chief is a prelude to his extension as Chinese President
PM Rishi Sunak
His priority will be to safeguard British interests
R
ISHI SUNAK has become the UK’s first Indian-origin Prime Min- MANOJ JOSHI
DISTINGUISHED FELLOW, OBSERVER
ister and also the first person of colour to occupy this chair. The Indi-
RESEARCH FOUNDATION
an diaspora is calling his elevation a watershed in contemporary
British history, even as the Pakistanis are also laying claim to him in view
T
of his Gujranwala roots. The 42-year-old has taken charge after the culmi- HE most significant out-
nation of the short but tumultuous tenure of Liz Truss. Sunak knows very come of the 20th Congress
well that he is wearing a crown of thorns as the UK is facing a ‘profound of the Communist Party of
economic challenge’, as he himself described it. The state of affairs is so China (CPC), which ended
bad that he may not even get the customary honeymoon period. on Sunday, is the re-election of Xi
The euphoria among Indians worldwide must be tempered by will- Jinping for a record third term as the
ingness to ask key questions: Will Sunak’s premiership ensure clos- general secretary of the party. This is
er India-Britain ties? Will the free trade agreement be finalised soon- a prelude to his extension as the
President of the People’s Republic
er than later and provide a level playing field? Will his government be
and the Chairman of the powerful
more accommodating in its treatment of Indian migrants? The
Central Military Commission for yet
answers may not be conclusively in the affirmative, going by how another term, and possibly for life.
Indian-origin Home Secretary Suella Braverman went ballistic over Deng Xiaoping, who led China fol-
the UK’s asylum system and the influx of migrants during her brief lowing the disastrous decades of
term that ended ignominiously last week. Sunak’s priority will be to Maoist excesses, pushed the CPC to
safeguard British interests at all costs. India is not likely to have a cen- adopt the norms of collective lead-
tral place in his scheme of things as he strives to pull Britain out of a ership that led to presidential terms
cost-of-living crisis that has brought the former colonial master to its being limited to two and put in
knees. He may have to take some difficult decisions in terms of spend- place an informal retirement age of
ing and taxation. His policies would have to focus on reaching out to 68. Xi has pushed all these condi-
all needy Britons, not just members of certain communities. tions aside to emerge as an all-pow-
Sunak’s remarkable rise should not blind anybody to the fact that erful figure after the last 19th Party
Congress did away with presiden-
Britain has been slow to embrace diversity in the highest echelons of
tial term limits.
power. India has been way ahead, having had presidents and prime
Xi’s power is evident from the
ministers from minority communities over the decades. The enormity two key political ideas introduced
of the challenge of winning the British public’s trust is underlined by into the CPC constitution last week.
an Ipsos poll: 36 per cent of the people think Sunak would make a good “Two establishes” calls on the par-
PM, while 46 per cent are rooting for Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer. ty to recognise Xi as the “core” and
to accept his ideas as a key tenet of
the party rule. The “two safe-
guards” calls on the CPC to protect
Poor air quality Xi’s status and safeguard the par-
ty’s leading role in China.
Xi’s centralisation of power was
Bracing for a season of discomfort visible on Sunday, when he paraded
China’s apex ruling team, the Com-
T
HE after-effects of a cracker-filled Diwali are known all too munist Party’s Politburo Standing
well. As also the fact that announcements such as giving a two- Committee (PBSC) on the dais at
hour window to burst crackers and allowing only green ones the 20th Party Congress on its clos-
are meaningless concessions. Once you lift the cracker ban, there is ing day. They are all his key allies,
simply no way to check flouting of the time rule, or the quality of signalling that loyalty was the key
crackers. Not that any such regulatory mechanism was put in place criterion for their appointment.
in the region. So, several parts of Punjab and Haryana woke up to No. 2 to Xi in the CPC’s apex body
air quality in the ‘poor’, ‘very poor’ and ‘hazardous’ categories. Cit- is Li Qiang, who is expected to
ing environmental concerns and health hazards, Delhi had banned replace Li Keqiang as Prime Minis-
ter in March 2023 when the Nation-
the sale and bursting of firecrackers. The unpopular decision had
the backing of the Supreme Court. That did not prevent the nation-
al capital’s air quality from turning ‘very poor’ overnight — like in
the neighbouring Gurugram, Noida and Faridabad, where there was
no ban — as firecrackers were set off in several parts.
The data that pollution levels were relatively better than in the pre-
vious years would be of little consolation to Delhi. Its season of breath-
ing discomfort is round the corner. The outcome of a complex mix of
Plant a tree, wherever you go
contributing factors, a fair share of the blame is pinned on the con- Rameshinder Singh Sandhu
tentious practice of stubble burning in the neighbouring states. Since
AAP now holds the reins of power in Punjab along with Delhi, it can
no longer play the victim card on the issue of farm fires. So far, AAP’s
efforts to prevent stubble burning have failed to get the traction it was
hoping for. The project needs sustained support and innovative inputs.
D URING a garden tour
recently, I spotted count-
less trees planted by sever-
al former US Presidents at the
White House in Washington DC.
In Delhi, a month-long campaign is under way to check dust pollu-
One of them, dating back to the
tion at construction sites. Over 580 teams, the government claims, are
19th century, was planted by
monitoring compliance with the norms. It’s a commendable exercise, Andrew Jackson, who served as
provided it is carried out with all the sincerity and seriousness the the seventh President. I was
effort deserves. The switch to electric vehicles, too, is touted as a prag- reminded of my green initiative
matic solution to control vehicular emissions. The push for it is fac- which I had started a year and a
ing a new challenge. The renewed reliance on coal for power genera- half ago back home in India. I had
tion can prove to be counter-productive. planted over 100 saplings of vari-
ous trees. I planted them wherever
I went, right from the homes of rel-
❝ ❞
thought for the day
History reminds us that dictators and despots arise
Learn from 1962 war
during times of severe economic crisis. — Robert Kiyosaki Apropos of ‘Make pre-emptive
moves to ward off China’; our politi-
cal leaders should learn a lesson
from India’s humiliating 1962 deba-
on this day...100 years ago cle. How can the Army leadership be
blamed for this defeat when the gov-
ernment of the day failed to address
various concerns of the Army? Only
a well-armed Army with proper
logistic support can be expected to
lahore,thursday, october 26, 1922
decimate the enemy. The ground
reality then was otherwise as the
Voting Power without Responsibility political leadership was more
COMMENTING on Sardar Jogindra Singh’s proposed resolution in the focused on the Panchsheel Agree-
Council of State asking for an early examination of the powers of the Secretary ment and ‘Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai’
of State in Council and of the Governor-General in Council in respect of rhetoric instead of providing the
financial and administrative questions, an Anglo-Indian contemporary is required infrastructure and weapons
reminded of some remarks made by Sir Sivaswami Iyer in an article in the to the Army to face the PLA.
Nineteenth Century and After. In this article, as our readers are aware, Sir RAVINDER SINGH, JALANDHAR
Sivaswami, after pointing to the difficulties arising from the Government of
India being responsible to Parliament through the Secretary of State and yet Don’t tolerate hate
having to face an Assembly in which it is in a minority of no less than 114, said: Refer to ‘Punish hate-mongers’; it
“The Central Legislature has enormous voting power but no responsibility… it appears that it is either a deliberate
is impossible for the Government to adopt any bold policy in any matter — failure of the executive or some
legislative, administrative or financial — for the reason that they cannot be invisible forces have been prevent-
certain beforehand of the amount of support that they are likely to receive in ing the executive from taking action
the Assembly.” Sir Sivaswami’s own remedy for this unnatural state of things against hate-mongers. Hate-mon-
is the remedy which all Progressives in India have now for two years been gers are active everywhere, includ-
urging with passionate emphasis, “the transfer of control over all but certain ing in the electronic media, social
specified subjects to the popular element in the Central Legislature.” It is media and other forums. They need
interesting to find that the journal to which we have referred, while admitting to be curbed before it is too late. It is
the existence of the difficulties neither accepts Sir Sivaswami’s solution nor unfortunate that some hate-mon-
offers any solution of its own. It writes: “To pull up the constitutional plant by gers are moving freely with no legal
the roots, just to see how they are getting on and perhaps just to straighten action initiated against them. Hate
them here and there, would, as Lord Peel pointed out in a speech that was in any form should not be allowed to
reported in our columns yesterday, not be the best way to promote progress.”
This would appear to many to be no better than a counsel of despair. Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribunemail.com
PRIORITY: There is every expectation that Xi will double down on his policies
relating to the economy and security. AP
He emerged as an all-powerful figure after the previous
Party Congress did away with presidential term limits.
al People’s Congress meets to select
a new government. Li Qiang’s cur-
rent job is as chief of the CPC in
Shanghai. Among the other new
appointees are Cai Qi, party chief of
Beijing, Ding Xuexiang, former
chief of staff of Xi, and Li Xi, party
leader from Guangdong.
Premier Li Keqiang and Vice-Pre-
mier Wang Yang were both dropped
from the PBSC. Both are 67 and
could have been considered for
another term. Another 67-year-old
leader, Wang Huning, an associate
of Xi was re-elected. Vice-Premier
Hu Chunhua, who was once consid-
ered a potential successor, failed to
make it to the PBSC and was actual-
ly dropped from the Politburo itself.
In the lineup of the new leaders,
what is significant is dropping of
leaders like Li Keqiang, who is a
trained economist. Another two
important figures — People’s Bank
of China Governor Yi Gang and
banking regulator Guo Shuqing —
have been dropped from the new
Central Committee. There is specu-
lation that leaders who take a more
liberal approach to economic policy
have been dropped.
atives and friends to temples and
schools. As I finished my US tour, I
thought of leaving a 'green mark'
there too.
I phoned my cousin, also my host
in Washington DC, and shared my
idea. The next evening, we visited
a nursery where a young and
cheerful plant lover recommended
the cherry blossom to us, consider-
ing that it was the fall season.
"Now, you don't have to leave home
to enjoy the cherry blossom festi-
val," he said as we bid him adieu,
holding the plant, along with a
large sack of freshly fertilised soil.
My cousin had already decided
letters to the editor
vitiate our centuries-old culture of
'unity in diversity'.
ROOP SINGH NEGI, SOLAN
Protect secular character
Refer to ‘Punish hate-mongers’; the
SC’s order to states to take suo motu
action against hate-mongers is
praiseworthy. Action against the per-
petrators of hatred should be prompt
and non-selective. India is a secular
country. All those found guilty of
injecting caste or creed-based poison
in society should not be allowed to go
unpunished. All three organs of the
state — the legislature, the executive
and the judiciary — should make all-
out efforts to protect the secular
character of the country as
enshrined in the Constitution.
CS MANN, UNA
Justice with employees
In an appreciable step, the Punjab
Cabinet has undone the wrong
done by the previous government
regarding pension. Now, all
employees will get pension on
superannuation according to the
old pattern. Government employ-
ees covered under the Civil Ser-
vices Rules should not be treated
differently for pensionary bene-
fits. The Bhagwant Mann-led gov-
ernment deserves praise for doing
justice with the employees. But
JALANDHAR | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022
Having done away with the only
significant constitutional limitation
on the personal power of a leader
attempted by Communist China,
the fears are that Xi will also shed
restraints in the exercise of that
power. He has been known for poli-
cies of nationalism, enhancement
of the role of the CPC in the every-
day life of China, a hard line on Tai-
wan and confrontation with the
West and other countries like India.
There is every expectation that
Xi will double down on his policies
relating to the economy and secu-
rity, both of which were important
themes of his work report to the
Party Congress on its very first
day. In the ensuing week, some of
the issues were written into the
CPC’s constitution. The report
provided a policy blueprint for the
coming five years.
In his two-hour speech, Xi spelt
out the CPC’s priorities on econom-
ic policy and security. There were
new sections on science and educa-
tion, signalling the increased
emphasis on their role in China’s
plans for the future. The essence,
according to observers, was on the
on a home for the cherry blossom.
It was the site of his upcoming
home, deep inside the countryside
in Virginia. We headed straight
there; his family members and
other relatives had already gath-
ered. With minutes left for the
sunset, we wasted no time and
began to dig. Soon, the plantation
commenced and everyone came
forward to offer their blessings,
besides being all praise for this
idea. Once the blossom was plant-
ed, we took turns to water it.
An aunt said, "Imagine the joy
you will feel during your next visit
on seeing it having grown." My
what about the retired employees
of aided colleges? These unfortu-
nate people, despite putting in 30-
35 years of regular service and
contributing their bit to nation-
building, are getting neither the
new nor the old-pattern pension.
Without monetary support from
any quarter at the fag end of their
lives, these people are forced to
lead a miserable life.
NK GOSAIN, BATHINDA
Delightful moment
There was a time when a country
ruled many other countries and
looted them. The same country had
ruled India. Today, the UK’s eco-
nomic condition has gone from bad
to worse. Call it the law of karma: we
are celebrating 75 years of Indepen-
dence and Indian-origin Rishi
Sunak has become the PM of the
UK. It is a delightful moment for
India as the UK now seems to have
faith in people with Indian roots. It
is hoped that Sunak is able to sta-
bilise Britain’s economy.
NAVNEET SINGH KUSHWAH, BY MAIL
Back to roots
This time there was a tangible change
in the Diwali celebrations in the coun-
try. People seem to be returning to
their cultural and socio-economic
roots. Traditional sweets, lights and
THE TRIBUNE
“Chinese characteristics” of mod-
ernisation and governance.
Xi’s emphasis on the economic
front was a call to promote the
development of science and tech-
nology and at the same time orient
Chinese economic growth towards
a more equal distribution as indi-
cated by the slogan he gave in 2021,
calling for “common prosperity”.
He has, however, made it clear that
the overall policy of promoting eco-
nomic growth will continue.
There was a significant emphasis
on security and a veiled attack on
the US, which was attempting to
“blackmail, contain, blockade and
exert maximum pressure on China.”
Xi boasted that China would have
a world-class army by 2027 and said
besides “strategic deterrence”
(nuclear), “new domain forces with
new combat capabilities” would be
introduced. From India’s point of
view, there was a reference that the
PLA modernisation would “shape
our security posture, deter and
manage crises and conflicts and win
local wars.” There is little doubt that
this refers to China’s issues with
Taiwan and India. The screening of
clips of the Galwan clash for the
Congress delegates confirmed that
India is very much in the minds of
decision-makers in Beijing.
The notion of term limits for high
offices goes back into history, and
so does the opposition to it by
strong men like Julius Caesar and
Napoleon. Modern experience sug-
gests that in eight to 10 years of
office, leaders get jaded. This is evi-
dent from the record of office of
leaders like Russian President
Vladimir Putin, Turkey President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iran’s
supreme leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei, North Korea’s Kim
Jong-un and numerous African
heads of government.
There was a certain wisdom in
Deng Xiaoping’s effort to promote
collective leadership and check the
power of a single leader. Those
restraints have been removed by Xi
and China may once again have to
confront the consequences of being
ruled by a supremo who has no
check on his authority.
cousin chipped in, "Imagine the
magical experience if we all begin
to plant a tree, be it during a visit to
India or wherever else we travel to."
Growing trees is, no doubt, one of
the best ways to addressing envi-
ronmental concerns such as global
warming and climate change.
Every individual's contribution,
even through one tree alone, can
make a big difference. Why leave a
place with just memories and sou-
venirs, why not leave something
behind? And, what could be better
than a tree? A green mark forever,
bonding us beautifully with myriad
places of this wonderful world.
gifts were more in demand this year
than in the past few years. The visible
return to 'Made in India' products is a
happy and healthy sign for the coun-
try's economy. Reverting to tradition-
al or homemade sweetmeats instead
of candies and chocolates is a pleas-
ant change in the celebratory attitude
of the youth of the day. The Narendra
Modi government's push for 'vocal
for local' has borne fruit.
DV SHARMA, MUKERIAN
Another smoky Diwali
All efforts of the state governments,
social organisations, educational
institutions etc to encourage people
to celebrate a cracker-free Diwali
were futile, as, like every year, this
year too it was a smoky Diwali. I fail
to understand why we people are so
reluctant to change their mentality.
Why are we so casual about the wel-
fare of our environment? At this
time of the year, the atmosphere is
already polluted due to stubble
burning and to make things worse,
people burst crackers during
Diwali. The government had allot-
ted a two-hour window to burst
crackers, but the deafening sound
of the fireworks could be heard
even after midnight. We need to
develop a responsible attitude
towards our environment.
BIR DEVINDER SINGH BEDI, SANGRUR
THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022 OPED 07

Shift towards a resilient food system needed

DEVINDER SHARMA
FOOD & AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST
sixth mass extinction of species is Calling it false solutions, the report
already under way, but such staggering The next food system very clearly shows how, through the
species population loss estimates over- application of new digital technologies,
whelmingly endorse what the US transformation has to be based drones, sensors, satellite imageries and
National Academy of Sciences had ear- AI, coupled with acquisitions and
lier called as ‘a biological annihilation’
on diversity and building on mergers in areas like livestock, fish-
leading to a ‘frightening assault on the food sovereignty. The future eries, commodity trading and food
foundations of human civilisations’. retail, it fast-tracks automation on the
Aimed at providing enough food for global food system has to be farm, thereby gradually pushing farm-
thought, the sober tone of the WWF ers and farm workers out.
report should actually come as a shock
back in the hands of 3.6 billion From a 'dream tractor', fully auto-
for the society at large. But I doubt, peasants, small farmers, mated, to move towards a fully

S
OME years back, a study by
the University of Sussex (UK)
showed a dramatic decline in
insect population within a
nature reserve in Germany. Within a
span of 25 years, almost 75 per cent of
the flying insects inside the sanctu-
ary had disappeared. The authors of
the study had then called it as an
‘Ecological Armageddon’. Shocked
at the findings, some scientists had
then termed it as an exaggeration
and had wanted the report, at best,
needed to be taken as a wake-up call
by policymakers to mitigate the
decline in biodiversity.
Five years later, the latest Living
Planet Report 2022 released by the
Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF)
has literally dropped a bombshell.
Based on a Living Planet Index,
which analysed 32,000 species popu-
lations, the report finds a 69 per cent
decline in wildlife population in
roughly half a century, between 1970
and 2018. While Latin America
shows the highest decline of 94 per
cent, even freshwater species have
fallen by 89 per cent.
Not getting into other worrying
details that the report carries, it was
known for quite some time that the
considering that the mindset of most
educated people has been swayed to
believe that trees are an obstacle to
development. To illustrate, diluting
environment clearances for highways,
mining and industrial projects, clear-
ing vast swathes of forest lands for
palm oil plantations, for instance, and
also finding ways to divert more forest
lands to non-forest users has become
a norm rather than an exception.
Every year, the world is losing 10 mil-
lion hectares of forests; and, in none of
the Conference of Parties (COP) nego-
tiations has there been a resolution
seeking a cap on deforestation.
While the WWF report treats cli-
mate emergency and biodiversity
destruction, both being inextricably
linked, as the two challenges the
world is confronted with, it does
point to a major role played by the
global food systems in exacerbating
the crisis. Despite the warning, and
contrary to what is expected, the
transformation in agriculture is on
the lines being suggested by World
Economic Forum which wants the
Big Ag to play a dominant role.
This has been laid bare in another
report wherein the acclaimed interna-
tional organisation — the Action
Group on Erosion, Technology and
Concentration (ETC) — has on the
basis of a three-year study, 'Food
Barons 2022: Crisis Profiteering, Digi-
talization and Shifting Power',
detailed out how the concentration of
power in a handful of players compris-
ing the Big Food, the Big Tech and the
Big Finance is strengthening control
over the industrial food chain, thereby
threatening to undermine the rights of
farmers, fishermen, poison soil, acer-
bate water mining, contaminate envi-
ronment and diminish biodiversity
and, in the process, multiply its profits.
Already, 62 new 'food billionaires'
were added to the super-rich class dur-
ing the pandemic years. In the same
period, Cargill, the world's biggest
global trading company, increased its
pastoralists and fishermen
where biodiversity protection,
income security and climate
justice go hand in hand.
BOMBSHELL: The WWF report finds a 69% drop
in wildlife population from 1970 to 2018. FILE PHOTO
profit share by 64 per cent. So did generate new business strategies.'
numerous other food companies that A careful perusal of the report brings
passed on higher profits garnered as out how it is happening. Invoking cli-
food inflation to consumers. mate change and biodiversity deple-
However, reading both these tion, these players will then use
reports in tandem — and I suggest sophisticated technological solutions
both should be a part of the agricul- — make high-tech seeds, including
ture university curriculum — what genetically modified, gene-edited
comes as a surprise is that probably seeds; promote digital farming in the
the left hand does not know what the guise of precision technologies; and
right is up to. The strong warning bring in synthetic foods in the name of
that the WWF report sounds is actual- protecting biodiversity resources.
ly negated by the global develop- And if you are wondering whether
ments on the farm front. As the ETC the digital transformation will infuse
report illustrates, citing a lot of exam- efficiency in agriculture, the report
ples, but in essence saying that the tells you how exactly “major food cor-
digital food system channelises the porations are ripping apart and
humongous data collections into 'the remaking how the industrial food
cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) chain works under the banner of digi-
servers of Microsoft and Amazon to tal transformation.”
robotic farm dubbed as ‘Robot high-
ways’, the Big Tech backed by the
Big Finance is taking the world to a
future where farmers would hardly
be required. Food security of the
future is quietly getting into the
hands of a few people sitting in the
food company’s board rooms. Sure-
ly, if 40 per cent of the commercial
seed sale is in the hands of just two
companies, they control the food
chain, deciding as to what to plant,
when to plant and, in collaboration
with other food barons, decide how
to harvest and, eventually, what
should people be made to eat.
It is, therefore, obvious that the
higher the degree of concentration,
more frequent has been the volatility,
leading to a higher vulnerability in the
industrial food systems.
This calls for an immediate change,
a radical shift towards a resilient food
system. The next food system trans-
formation has to be based on diversi-
ty and building on food sovereignty.
The future global food system has to
be back in the hands of 3.6 billion
peasants, small farmers, pastoralists
and fishermen where biodiversity pro-
tection, income security and climate
justice go hand in hand.

With Sunak at helm, economic ties may deepen

SUSHMA RAMACHANDRAN
SENIOR FINANCIAL JOURNALIST
The future of the India-UK
economic relationship now
depends largely on the
direction sought to be
taken by the new Prime
Minister. While he is clearly
keen on deepening the ties,
he is bound to be
constrained by such
elements in his party as
Braverman who consider
easing visa issues to be
tantamount to promoting
immigration. Whether he is
able to emphasise the
economic benefits to the
UK by cutting tariffs and
easing visa curbs will be
seen in the coming months.
T
HE political turmoil in the
UK that has now led to the
advent of Rishi Sunak as
Prime Minister has come at
a time when economic ties with India
had been poised to make a great leap
forward. The most significant of
these was the proposed free trade
agreement (FTA) between the two
countries that has been on the cards
since January this year. This is a pact
that had been looked forward to with
enthusiasm on both sides. Despite
the change of guard at the helm ear-
lier, with Boris Johnson being
replaced last month as Prime Minis-
ter by Liz Truss, the talks on the FTA
had continued without a break.
There were even suggestions of an
announcement of an early harvest
deal by Diwali.
But the UK is now preoccupied with
the economic crisis arising out of the
disastrous financial policies of the
Truss government. Whether Sunak
will have the time to pay attention to
this element of India-UK ties is doubt-
ful, even though he has talked about
the need to make the relationship
between the two countries a more two-
way one. As a consequence, the pro-
posed FTA has probably gone into cold
storage till at least 2023.
But the prospects for concluding it in
a hurry had dimmed even before the
departure of Truss as PM. The climate
for congenial talks became frosty as
soon as former Home Secretary Suella
Braverman expressed her reserva-
tions about the trade deal. This was
specifically so since it could make
immigration easier for Indians, who
were known for overstaying their
STALLED: An FTA between the UK and India had been on the cards and was looked
forward to by both sides till a fiscal crisis arose out of the Truss govt’s policies. PTI
visas. These remarks had vitiated the
atmosphere but there was still a deter-
mination on both sides to move ahead
right till the political scenario changed
dramatically last week in the UK.
The question is: What were the rea-
sons for India and the UK to have
been so keen on finalising this trade
deal and making an announcement as
soon as possible?
On the British side, the need for
entering into a bilateral pact with a
major economy had become an imper-
ative after Brexit meant that it had
burnt its bridges with Europe. At the
time, it was envisaged that the first
country to be a willing trade partner
would be its old and trusted ally, the
US. On the contrary, that country
made it clear that it would not be
interested in negotiating an FTA for
the time being. This was conceded last
month by Truss when she stressed
that the focus would be on joining the
11-member Trans-Pacific Partnership
as well as bilateral trade pacts with
states in the Gulf region and India.
Entering into a trade deal with
India would be advantageous to the
UK for several reasons. One is that it
has now become the world’s fifth
largest economy, matching the UK in
size. It thus gives access to a huge
market for the British industry. Sec-
ond, there have been hopes that the
heavy tariffs on products like whisky
and spirits will be reduced, enhanc-
ing the market for these quintessen-
tially English products.
It was also felt that, in return, some
of the demands for easier visas for
professional skilled workers could be
acceded to as this would not be in the
nature of immigration but more about
business mobility. Till Brexit, the
demand for skilled workers had been
met largely through an influx from
the neighbouring European countries,
where visa curbs were not an issue.
Some of the demand for professional
workers could thus be met from India.
Though, it is precisely in this area that
Braverman's remarks on immigration
issues have created roadblocks.
India has been equally anxious to
conclude the FTA, given the need to
provide support to exporters in terms
of lower tariffs in key markets. It has
stayed away from the large multilat-
eral grouping, the Regional Compre-
hensive Economic Partnership
(RCEP), in a bid to avoid cheap
imports from China entering via third
countries. In the process, it has lost
out on preferential tariffs available to
the member countries. To overcome
this handicap, efforts are being made
to stitch up bilateral trade deals and
the one with the UK has been viewed
as having the most potential.
The disappointment over the
stalled India-UK trade pact is bound
to be palpable given the fact that it
was seen as a prestige deal for both
sides. Besides, there is no getting
away from the fact that the two coun-
tries have a special relationship dat-
ing back to the colonial era. Though
there is resentment over the fact that
the UK left India in a state of abject
poverty at the time of Independence,
the relationship has matured over the
years to one of equals. One of the rea-
sons is the hugely influential role of
the Indian diaspora in that country,
evident in the landmark develop-
ment of an Indian-origin person
becoming Prime Minister.
In addition, the depth of the eco-
nomic relationship between the two
countries is evident from the fact that
India is currently the second largest
foreign investor in the UK. As many as
850 Indian companies operate there
while 600 British companies are locat-
ed here. The UK is the sixth largest
inward investor in India.
The future of the India-UK economic
relationship now depends largely on
the direction sought to be taken by the
new Prime Minister. While he is clear-
ly keen on deepening the ties, he is
bound to be constrained by such ele-
ments in his party as Braverman who
consider easing visa issues to be tanta-
mount to promoting immigration.
Whether he is able to emphasise the
economic benefits to the UK by cut-
ting tariffs and easing visa curbs will
have to be seen in the coming months.
For India, one of the big lessons from
this imbroglio is that it needs to speed
up its efforts to finalise more regional
and bilateral trade deals. But there is no
doubt that this country will pin its hopes
on the new UK Prime Minister giving a
high priority to deepening the bilateral
economic relationship. Whether these
hopes will be fulfilled will depend on
Rishi Sunak’s perception of the extent
to which this could improve the state of
the faltering British economy.

quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

ACROSS
OCTOBER 26, 2022, WEDNESDAY SUNSET: WEDNESDAY 17:41 HRS
1 Suspect some trickery
(5,1,3)
1 2 6 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2079
SUNRISE: THURSDAY 06:32 HRS

■ Shaka Samvat 1944

8 Raise with tackle (5)
9 In a body (2,5)
10 One after another (2,4)
6 2 8 4 ■ Kartik Shaka

■ Kartik Parvishte
4
10
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy

11 To view as (6)
7 2 4
■ Hijari 1444 Chandigarh 31 15
12 Launching of a rocket (8) ■ Shukla Paksha Tithi 1, up to 2:43 pm New Delhi 32 14
15 Noteworthiness (8)
■ Priti Yoga up to 10:08 am Amritsar 31 15
18 To free from obligation (6)
20 Reach destination (6) 8 2 7 ■ Swati Nakshatra up to 1:24 pm

■ Moon Enters Scorpio sign 6:31am

Bathinda 33 15
21 Far-reaching (7) Jalandhar 31 15
22 Inexact (5) ■ Bhai Dooj

8 3
Ludhiana 31 17
23 Self-control (9) Bhiwani 33 16
MONDAY’S SOLUTION
Hisar 33 15
DOWN
2 Below zero (5) 7 9 5 6 1 9 5 3 4 2 8 7 Sirsa 33 16
3 Very rich (6) 5 3 4 2 8 7 6 1 9 Dharamsala 25 11

7 9 5
4 Gather together (8) Manali 20 07
8 7 2 9 1 6 5 4 3
5 Gratitude (6) Shimla 23 12
6 Find by chance (3,4) 3 9 8 6 4 1 7 5 2
Srinagar 22 05
7 Refuse to give ground (5,4)
11 Fair (9) 9 5 2 1 2
7
6
4
5
1
7
3
9
5
8
2
1
9
3
6
4
8
Jammu 31 14
Kargil 14 0
MONDAY’S sOLUTION 13 Nevertheless (5,3)
Across: 1 Weather, 4 Oasis, 7 Idea, 8 One or two, 10 Get in touch, 12 Worthy, 13
As such, 15 Ablebodied, 18 Blow over, 19 Warn, 20 Gross, 21 Shortly.
14 Fame in show business (7)
16 Criticism of a book (6) 4 1 2 1
9
2
8
6
7
8
4
7
6
3
5
4
3
9
2
5
1
Leh
Dehradun
12
30
--03
12 1
Down: 1 Wring, 2 Aperture, 3 Ransom, 4 On occasion, 5 Site, 6 Stomach, 9 On the 17 North American country (6) Mussoorie 20 12
books, 11 Jubilant, 12 Windbag, 14 Recess, 16 Dingy, 17 Solo. 4 5 3 1 2 9 8 7 6
19 Cessation of war (5) MEDIUM TEMPERATURE IN OC
08
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Minister Sarari yet to respond
to AAP notice, action imminent
Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 25
As a defiant Fauja Singh
Sarari, who is the state Horti-
culture and Food Processing
Minister, has so far not
replied to the notice issued to
him by the Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP), action against him is
now imminent.
Highly placed sources in
the party have told The Tri-
bune that Sarari has not
responded to the notice
issued to him nearly a month
ago by Chief Minister Bhag-
want Mann, as the state pres-
ident of AAP. This “defiance”
has reportedly ruffled many
feathers in the party and the
Chief Minister is reportedly
“upset” with him. Action
against him is expected to be
taken soon in the wake of the
elections to Gujarat Vidhan
Sabha, where AAP is trying
to make inroads into the
BJP’s bastion.
Since the AAP is wooing the
Sunak’s appointment as UK’s 1st
Indian-origin PM spreads cheer
Born in Hindu-Punjabi family, grandparents from Gujranwala
GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 25
Rishi Sunak’s ascent as
Britain’s first Indian-origin
Prime Minister has brought
cheer to the Punjabis who
share their roots in the undi-
vided British Punjab.
The 42-year-old Sunak was
born in Southampton to Hin-
du-Punjabi parents, but his
grandparents belonged to the
city of Gujranwala, now in
Punjab province of Pakistan.
Sunak, in an odd way, is
both an Indian and a Pak-
istani by heritage.
Former VC of Guru Nanak
Dev University (GNDU) SP
Singh, whose ancestors too
migrated from Gujranwala,
said it was a proud moment for
Punjabis like him, who have
scripted history by emerging
as UK’s first Asian PM.
Singh is at present the
chairman of the Gujranwala
Khalsa Educational Coun-
cil. He said special ‘ardas’
was performed at educa-
tional institutes when
Sunak was in the race for
the coveted position.
Gunbir Singh, president
of Dilbir Foundation,
which works on conserv-
3-kgheroinseized
Bathinda, October 25
In a major operation against
drug smugglers, the Bathin-
da police seized 3 kg of hero-
in at a special checkpost and
arrested three persons.
SSP J Elanchezhian said,
“A vehicle was searched at a
checkpost and 3-kg heroin
was found in it.” Three per-
sons were arrested. —TNS
Probe against 4 officials pending for two years
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 25
Even as the Director, Techni-
cal Education and Industrial
Training, has ordered the ini-
tiation of the process to cancel
ineligible vocational training
centres imparting “modular
employable skills” to job-
seekers, a regular inquiry
against four departmental
officials has been pending for
the last two years.
After chargesheeting the
four employees, the govern-
ment had appointed a retired
bureaucrat, RC Nayar, as the
inquiry officer in March
2020. The department has
written four reminders to the
inquiry officer to submit the
inquiry report. The Under
Secretary, Technical Educa-
tion, in a latest communica-
tion to the inquiry officer, has
Fauja Singh Sarari
voters there on its anti-corrup-
tion agenda, action against the
minister, just ahead of the
polls, will be taken to rub this
point among voters.
A notice was issued to the
minister last month, after an
audio clip, purportedly of the
minister talking to his aide,
now a foe, went viral. In the
clip, the minister was purport-
edly heard discussing a plan
to trap contractors hired for
transportation of foodgrains,
in order to extract money
CHALLENGES BEFORE
HIM ARE MANIFOLD
❝ The challenges before
him are manifold and
Britain watchers will
keenly observe how he
handles political turmoil
and the economic crisis
post Brexit. Gunbir Singh,
PRESIDENT OF DILBIR FOUNDATION
ing legacy, said as Pun-
jabis and victims of the cri-
sis post marking of the
Radcliffe line, one was
proud that someone as
astute and capable as
Sunak had Indian origins.
“Sunak may have been
born and brought up in the
United Kingdom, but he is
of Punjabi descent. We wish
him the best as the bearer of
the UK’s fortunes. The
challenges before him are
BJP leader booked for ‘dowry harassment’
Faridkot, October 25
BJP leader Gaurav Kakkar
has been booked by the
Faridkot police on charges
of dowry harassment and
beating up his wife. He has
been booked under the IPC.
Gaurav had contested the
February 2022 Vidhan Sab-
ha on a BJP ticket from the
‘IRREGULAR’ PAYMENTS TO CENTRES
■ The case pertains to
“irregular” payments of
~22 crore to vocational
training centres
■ The centres were allegedly
registered without the
mandatory verification of
their infrastructure
requested the early submis-
sion of the report or return
the department record in
case he is not interested in
conducting the probe.
The case pertains to “irreg-
ular” payments of Rs 22 crore
to vocational training cen-
tres. The centres were
allegedly registered without
the mandatory verification of
their infrastructure. Also, the
beneficiary students’ qualifi-
cations were allegedly not
authenticated. The pay-
GURUGRAM | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022
HIS AUDIO CLIP
HAD GONE VIRAL
A notice was issued to state
Horticulture and Food Process-
ing Minister Fauja Singh Sarari
last month after an audio clip,
purportedly of the minister
talking to his aide, now a foe,
went viral. In the clip, the min-
ister was purportedly heard
discussing a plan to trap con-
tractors hired for transporta-
tion of foodgrains in order to
extract money from them.
from them. After the notice
was issued, Mann, in the pres-
ence of Fauja Singh Sarari,
had gone on record saying
that the notice was issued to
him by the party “on the issue
of an audio recording, where-
in a plan to extort money was
being discussed”.
Officially, the party is not
giving any statement on the
issue, saying the matter is
under consideration in the top
echelons. Party sources also
did not confirm the time
manifold and Britain
watchers will be keenly
looking how he handles the
Tory political turmoil and
the economic crisis post
Brexit,” he said.
Punjabi poet Gurbhajan
Gill, who has roots in Sialkot
(Pakistan), said Gujranwala
had produced another leader.
“Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja
Ranjit Singh, who was born
in Gujranwala, was first one
to lead the reins of the Sikh
empire. Now Sunak, who
also has roots in Gujranwala,
has become the UK Prime
Minister. What better gift
could Punjabis have asked
for this Diwali,” he said.
Indian World Forum chief
Puneet Singh Chandok said,
“I believe that he will be
instrumental in establishing
an efficient and progressive
partnership between the UK
and India.”
Former MP Tarlochan
Singh said Sunak’s paternal
grandfather, a Punjabi Kha-
tri Hindu, Ramdas Sunak,
had left Gujranwala for
Nairobi in 1935.
Sunak’s father, Yashveer,
moved to Liverpool in the
1960s and married Usha in
Leicester in 1977.
Faridkot Assembly seat.
His wife Shalu Kakkar
alleged that Gaurav and his
mother tortured her for not
“sufficiently funding” his
election campaign.
She alleged her parents
provided Rs 10 lakh to Gau-
rav during the electioneer-
ing. Lately her in-laws took
■ Also, the beneficiary stu-
dents’ qualifications were
allegedly not authenticated
■ The payments were
made for the training
imparted under short-term
skill courses run between
April 2012 and May 2014
ments were made for the
training imparted under
short-term employable skill
courses run between April
2012 and May 2014.
The anomaly had come to
light following an inquiry
by the Vigilance Bureau,
which sent a report to the
department for action. The
Vigilance Bureau had sug-
gested a thorough verifica-
tion before releasing pend-
ing payments of Rs 18 crore.
Under the Skill Develop-
THE TRIBUNE
frame in which the minister
was to respond to the notice.
Though The Tribune also
tried to contact the minister,
he did not respond to calls or
messages. Last week, during a
visit to Delhi, the minister had
claimed that the audio record-
ing was doctored. “You know
how any conversation can be
doctored these days and peo-
ple fabricate things. It is all a
lie,” he had then claimed.
Responding to the growing
clamour by Opposition par-
ties seeking his dismissal
from the Cabinet and their
dharnas on the issue, Sarari
had said, “They (opposition
leaders) would do what their
‘karam’ are, and I will work
according to my ‘karam’.”
Interestingly, Sarari was
seen trying to get close to the
party supremo, Arvind Kejri-
wal, during the marriage
reception of a party MLA held
recently. However, sources say
the party supremo did not
give him a separate audience.
Will make state
hub of medical
education: CM
Sangrur/Ludhiana, Oct25
Chief Minister Bhagwant
Mann on Tuesday exhorted
people to follow the path
shown by Lord Vishwakar-
ma to make Punjab a front
runner state in the country.
Addressing a gathering in
his Assembly constituency
(Dhuri) to mark Vishwakar-
ma Day, the CM paid trib-
utes to Lord Vishwakarma.
“In line with the ideology
and teachings of Lord Vish-
wakarma, Punjabis across
the globe have proved their
mettle by contributing
tremendously in socio-eco-
nomic growth of various
countries,” said CM Mann.
The CM said: “A total of
16 new medical colleges
will be constructed in
Punjab in the coming five
years thereby enhancing
the tally to 25. This will
transform Punjab into a
hub of medical education.
The students aspiring to
pursue medical education
will no longer have to go
to countries such as
Ukraine,” said the CM.
Mann also announced
giving a facelift to
Dhuri and Sangrur hos-
pitals to provide quality
health services to the
people. — TNS
of her gold ornaments, she
alleged. “When I demanded
my ornaments back, I was
beaten up my husband,”
alleged Shalu.
She also levelled allegations
also against Gaurav’s mother.
Shalu alleged that she was
brutally beaten up on October
23 over the same issue. —TNS
ment Initiative Scheme of
the Union Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepre-
neurship, the state is
entrusted with the verifica-
tion and approval of centres
before clearing payments
from the Centre.
Of the 80,000 admissions
made during the two years, at
least 36,000 enrolments were
done without following due
procedure. The officials
allegedly authenticated 60
batches of more than 20 stu-
dents each in a single day,
which was not be humanly
possible if due procedure was
followed. During the check-
ing of records of 14 centres,
including eight approved by
the suspect officials without
clearance, the VB spotted 47
candidates for whom pay-
ments had been claimed in
multiple courses.
THE TRIBUNE
GURUGRAM | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022
Five-time MLAMankotia BJP drops Maheshwar from Kullu Sadar
switches sides, joins BJP Failure to pacify rebel son Hiteshwar behind ticket withdrawal | Files papers as Independent
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, October 25
Five-time former MLA Major
Vijai Singh Mankotia (retd)
joined the BJP at Bilaspur in
the presence of national party
president JP Nadda today.
Having earned the tag of being
a ‘turncoat’, he switched sides
for the fifth time.
Mankotia’s political career
spans over four decades. He
had fought elections on the
ticket of the Congress, Janata
Dal and the BSP. Mankotia
(82), a firebrand Rajput leader
from Kangra, won his first
election as an Independent
candidate from Shahpur in
Kangra district in 1982.
Mankotia, known for his
impulsiveness and sudden
outbursts, had been spewing
venom at the Congress, hint-
ing that he could switch
sides. He had primarily been
targeting state Congress
president Pratibha Singh.
He have had uneasy rela-
tions with former Chief Min-
ister Virbhadra Singh. How-
ever, he was accommodated
in Virbhadra Singh’s Cabi-
net in 1995.
Mankotia has been politi-
cally inactive for quite some
time and hence may not be
able to garner many votes in
Congress rebel GR Musafir files nomination from Pachhad.
7-time Cong MLA to
fight as Independent
Solan, October 25
Congress rebel GR Musafir
filed his nomination as an
Independent candidate
from the Pachhad seat in
Sirmaur district today,
making the going tough for
the Congress.
The seven-time MLA, who
was denied ticket after his
three successive electoral
losses, had announced last
week his decision to fight as
an Independent candidate
after the Congress gave
ticket to Dyal Pyari, a for-
mer BJP leader.
Musafir will dent the par-
ty’s voter bank in the non-
Hattee belt where Dyal
Pyari is hoping to make the
Denied ticket, two Una Cong
veterans rebel against party
Our Correspondent
Una, October 25
Two Congress veterans from
Una district have rebelled
against the party after being
denied ticket for the forth-
coming Assembly elections.
Former AICC secretary and
three-time MLA Rakesh
Kalia from Gagret joined the
BJP today while former
HPCC president Kuldip
Kumar filed his nomination
papers as an Independent
candidate from the Chint-
purni segment.
Kalia had represented the
Chintpurni constituency in
the Assembly twice and had
also been Gagret MLA once.
The Congress has fielded
Chaitanya Sharma, a Zila
Parishad member, this time.
Kalia joined the BJP in
the presence of party state
in-charge Avinash Rai
Khanna and also attended
an election campaign meet-
ing in favour of party candi-
date Rajesh Thakur. Later
while talking to mediaper-
sons, he alleged a foul play
in the allocation of Con-
gress ticket.
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia joined the BJP in the presence of BJP
national president Jagat Prakash Nadda in Bilaspur.
JOURNEY OVER THE YEARS
Election
1982
Party
Independent
Result
won
1985 Congress won
1990 Janata Dal won
1993 Congress won
1998
2003
Congress
Congress
lost
won
2007 BSP lost
2012 Congress lost
2017 Independent Lost
the favour of the BJP. Howev-
er, he can certainly keep polit-
ical temperatures high with
his vitriolic utterances target-
ed at Pratibha Singh.
Mankotia, the then Minis-
ter for Tourism, again
maximum gains. The devel-
opment has come as a bless-
ing in disguise for BJP can-
didate Reena Kashyap. She
is expected to gain in the
Trans-Giri belt where the
Hattee community has got
the Scheduled Tribe (ST)
status. This development
can improve her electoral
prospects further.
Musafir had lost the 2019
byelection by a narrow mar-
gin of 2,742 votes. He had
polled 19,306 votes while
Dyal Pyari, who had con-
tested as an Independent
candidate, had remained
third. Reena Kashyap had
won the seat in her maiden
attempt. — TNS
BJP state in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna welcomes former Congress
MLA Rakesh Kalia into the party fold at Gagret on Tuesday.
Kuldip Kumar had served
a two-day ultimatum on the
Congress for ignoring his
candidature and allocating
ticket to Sudarshan Bablu.
He filed his nomination as
HIMACHAL PRADESH
turned against Virbhadra
Singh after he was dropped
from Cabinet as part of a
downsizing exercise. He
unsuccessfully contested
the 2007 Assembly elections
on BSP ticket and later
returned to the Congress
fold. He contested the 2012
Assembly elections on Con-
gress ticket and again lost.
He was appointed Vice-
Chairman of the Himachal
Tourism Board.
He contested the 2017
Assembly elections as an
Independent candidate after
the Congress denied him
ticket and fielded Kewal
Singh Pathania. There was
speculation that he may join
the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
but he joined the BJP.
In Kangra, BJP faces revolt in four segments, Cong in one
Two BJP leaders in Dharamsala, former MP in Fatehpur file papers as Independent candidates
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, October 25
In Kangra district, the BJP
is facing dissidence in
Dharamsala, Fatehpur,
Kangra and Dehra con-
stituencies while the Con-
gress is plagued with fac-
tionalism in the Sullah
constituency.
On the last day for filing
nomination papers today,
Vipin Nehria, district pres-
ident of the BJP ST Mor-
cha, filed his nomination
papers from Dharamsala.
Sources said that the Gad-
di community, which was
unhappy over being
denied party ticket to its
leader from Dharamsala,
has fielded Vipin Nehria
against BJP candidate
Rakesh Chaudhary.
Gaddi community leaders
had represented the
Dharamsala seat on BJP
ticket since 1985. Sitting
MLA Vishal Nehria also
belongs to the Gaddi com-
munity but the BJP denied
him ticket this time and
fielded Rakesh Chaudhary.
an Independent candidate
from the Chintpurni seg-
ment. He had represented
Gagret twice and had also
remained MLA from Chint-
purni once.
AbhinavVashisht
KULLU, OCTOBER 25
The BJP today dropped its
Kullu Sadar candidate
Maheshwar Singh for his
failure to bring around his
rebel son Hiteshwar Singh,
who had filed papers as an
Independent candidate
from the Banjar seat. The
party fielded Narotam
Singh Thakur, who filed his
nomination papers.
Chief Minister Jai Ram
Thakur had met Maheshwar
on Saturday and asked him to
pacify his rebel son or face
consequences. However,
Hiteshwar was adamant and
the BJP withdrew Mahesh-
war’s ticket and fielded
Narotam Thakur. The Con-
gress has fielded Sunder
Singh Thakur from the seat.
Maheshwar also filed
nomination as an Indepen-
dent candidate from Kullu
Sadar. The BJP had won
three of total four seats in
the distirct in the 2017
Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, BJP state vice-
president Ram Singh also
filed nomination papers as
an Independent candidate
from Kullu Sadar. Accompa-
nied by a large number of
supporters, Ram Singh held
a rally from Sarwari to
BJP rebel Vipin Nehria files nomination papers at Dharamsala on Tuesday. PHOTO: KAMAL JEET
Vipin Nehria, Kulbash Chaudhary,
Dharamsala Kangra
Besides Vipin Nehria,
Anil Chaudhary, BJP block
president of Dharamsala,
Cong fields former minister
Verma’s son from Hamirpur
Dinesh Kanwar
Hamirpur, October 25
In a last-minute develop-
ment, the Congress today
gave ticket to Dr Pushpin-
der Verma from the Hamir-
pur Assembly constituency.
Pushpinder, son of former
Industry Minister Ranjit
Singh Verma, filed his nom-
ination papers here. Five
leaders, namely former CPS
Anita Verma, former MLA
Kuldeep Singh Pathania,
AICC member Sunil Shar-
ma, advocate Rohit Sharma
and Jagjit Thakur, were in
the race for the ticket.
The candidature of
Asheesh Sharma, son-in-
law of DCC president
Rajender Zar, was also
under the consideration of
the Congress. However,
after rounds of surveys and
discussions, Sukhvinder
Singh Sukhu, Mukesh
Agnihotri and Rajinder
Rana managed to convince
the central party leadership
to give ticket to Pushpinder.
The Verma family is back
in mainstream politics after
1977 when Ranjit Singh Ver-
ma was elected from the
Bamsan constituency.
RAM SINGH (IND)
KULLU SADAR
ASSETS
~5.58 CR
MOVABLE: ~1.11 CR
IMMOVEABLE: ~4.47 CR
Dhalpur. He also addressed
a public meeting at Dhalpur.
Kullu Sadar has become a
hot seat with BJP rebels
Maheshwar and Ram Singh in
the fray, giving the Congress
an edge. Narotam Thakur (55)
had recently left the job of a
teacher and would contest
elections for the first time.
In the 2012 elections,
Maheshwar Singh,
founder and candidate of
the Himachal Lokhit Party,
had won the seat by secur-
ing 18,582 votes. BJP candi-
Hoshiyar Singh,
Dehra
also filed nomination
papers as an Independent
candidate. So, there are two
The construction of a bus
stand and an indoor stadi-
um promised by various
governments in Hamirpur
town are likely to be two
major issues in the forth-
coming Assembly elections.
PK Dhumal, during his
first term as Chief Minister
from 1998 to 2003, had
announced the construction
of an interstate bus stand.
However, the proposal was
put on the back burner and
its files gathered dust dur-
ing the Congress rule from
2007 to 2012. Even during
Dhumal’s second term as
Chief Minister from 2012 to
2017, no work was undertak-
en on it. Only forest clear-
ance was acquired for the
project and as a result, over
700 trees in a protected pine
forest were axed.
In 2012, when the Con-
gress had assumed power in
the state, the then Transport
Minister GS Bali
announced that the bus
stand would be constructed
in the public-private part-
nership (PPP) mode. The
government offered the
project to a company, which
refused to execute it consid-
ering it as unviable.
BJP rebel Ram Singh along with his supporter on the way to file
nomination as an Independent candidate at Kullu on Tuesday.
date Ram Singh had
secured 15,597 votes while
Congress candidate Sunder
Singh Thakur had secured
14,830 votes.
In 2017, Maheshwar
Singh fought elections from
the seat on BJP ticket but
lost to then HPCC general
secretary Sunder Singh
Thakur by a margin of 1,538
as votes. Sunder Thakur had
secured 31,423 votes.
HPCC general secretary
Bhuvneshwar Gaur filed his
nomination from Manali.
Anil Chaudhary, Kirpal Parmar,
Dharamsala Fatehpur
BJP rebels contesting as
Independent candidates
from Dharamsala, giving an
CPM candidate Tikender Panwar along with his supporters on the way to file nomination papers
from the Shimla Urban constituency for the Assembly elections on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO
CPM candidate Panwar files
nomination from Shimla
Tribune News Service
Shimla, October 25
CPM candidate Tikender
Panwar filed his nomina-
tion papers from the Shim-
la constituency today.
“Shimla is no longer the
city it used to be. It has
been turned into a concrete
jungle. People get stuck in
traffic jams for hours in
such a small city. How can
we call it a Smart City?” he
said after filing nomination.
Panwar, a former Deputy
Mayor of the Shimla Munic-
ipal Corporation, accused
He along with a large num-
ber of supporters held a
road show. He was accompa-
nied by former Congress
president Sukhvinder
Singh Sukhu. Former Con-
gress leader Anurag Prarthi
filed nomination on the
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
ticket from Manali. BJP
candidate Govind Singh
Thakur had won the seat
consecutively for the past
three elections due to fac-
tionalism in the Congress.
Meanwhile, BJP Anni MLA
advantage to Congress can-
didate Sudhir Sharma.
BJP workers have been
protesting the allotment of
ticket to Rakesh Chaud-
hary, who had joined the
party in August.
In the Kangra constituen-
cy, Kulbash Chaudhary, a
zila parishad member of the
BJP, has filed nomination
papers as an Independent
candidate. The sources said
that Kulbash Chaudhary
has the support of dissident
BJP leaders, who are
annoyed over the allotment
of ticket to Pawan Kajal,
Congress MLA who had
joined the party two months
ago. Kangra BJP leaders,
including former MLA San-
jay Chaudhary, have not
participated in events
organised by Pawan Kajal.
In the Fatehpur con-
stituency, Kirpal Singh Par-
mar, a former Rajya Sabha
member of the BJP, has
filed nomination papers as
an Independent candidate.
He was seeking ticket from
the seat but the BJP fielded
Forest Minister Rakesh
TIKENDER PANWAR (CPM)
SHIMLA URBAN
ASSETS
~2.22 CR
MOVABLE: ~22.24 LAKH
IMMOVEABLE: ~2 CR
the BJP government in the
state of excluding common
09
MONEY METER
BHUVNESHWAR GAUR (CONG)
MANALI
ASSETS
~23.69 CR
MOVABLE: ~49.12 LAKH
IMMOVEABLE: ~23.20 CR
NAROTAM SINGH (BJP)
KULLU SADAR
ASSETS
~71.33 LAKH
MOVABLE: ~31.33 LAKH
IMMOVEABLE: ~40 LAKH
Kishori Lal and Congress
rebel Paras Ram filed their
nominations as Independent
candidates from Anni. Hitesh-
war’s wife Vibha Singh also
filed her nomination as an
Independent candidate from
Banjar as a covering candi-
date for her husband.
Pathania, who had been
shifted from Nurpur. Par-
mar fighting elections as an
Independent candidate
may mar Pathania’s poll
prospects in Fatehpur.
In the Dehra constituency,
MLA Hoshiyar Sigh has
again filed nomination
papers as an Independent
candidate after the BJP
denied him ticket. He had
joined the BJP in June. He
accuses Union Minister for
Information and Broadcast-
ing and Sports Anurag
Thakur of being instrumen-
tal in the party denying
ticket to him. The contest in
Dehra has become triangu-
lar after Hoshiyar Singh’s
entry into the electoral fray.
The Congress is facing
dissidence in the Sullah
constituency. Former Chief
Parliamentary Secretary
Jagjivan Pal has filed nomi-
nation as an Independent
candidate after the Con-
gress denied him from Sul-
lah. The party has fielded
Jagdish Singh Sapaiya, a
former chairman of Kangra
Central Cooperative Bank.
people from the develop-
ment model and plans of
Shimla city. He said, “Good
cities are built with people’s
participation, but the BJP
government has completely
removed city residents from
the process. We will go to
people to understand what
kind of development model
they want for their city.”
Panwar said, “Also, the
use of drugs among youth is
increasing rampantly. We
need to check this to save
our youth.” He has prom-
ised to reclaim the spirit
and soul of the city.
10
Steep drop in CDS celebrates Diwali with troops at LoC
local militant
count: Officials
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 25
Indicative of the fact that
the terror outfits active in
Jammu and Kashmir are
not getting traction among
locals, security agencies
have claimed that the num-
ber of homegrown terrorists
in the union territory (UT)
has come down drastically.
The current estimate
shows that while 83 foreign
terrorists are active in
Kashmir, there are only 54
homegrown militants oper-
ating in the Valley.
“Till last year, there were
more than 100 active foreign
and local terrorists operat-
ing in the Valley and the
security forces had great dif-
ficulty in stopping local
youths from joining ranks
in Pak-based terror outfits,”
a senior official said.
Now the task of the secu-
rity agencies appears to
have become relatively
“easy”, as foreign terrorists
are being “suitably tack-
led” by strengthening the
border grid.
The security agencies are
foiling infiltration attempts
and undertaking sustained
intelligence-based opera-
tions in the hinterland, offi-
cials said.
They said another possible
reason for reduction in the
Indian-origin Sunak Maternal grandpa
takes charge as UK PM belongs to Ludhiana ...
Downing Street in London
after meeting the King at
Buckingham Palace, the new
Prime Minister said he was
taking over at a time when
the UK was facing a “pro-
found economic crisis” while
dealing with the aftermath of
Covid and the Russia-
Ukraine conflict.
“I admired her (Truss’) rest-
lessness to create change.
But some mistakes were
made… And I have been
elected… to fix these mis-
takes,” Sunak said as he
sought to bring stability to
the UK after months of polit-
ical and economic turmoil.
Earlier in the day, outgoing
PM Truss chaired her final
Cabinet meeting at 10 Down-
ing Street before making her
way to Buckingham Palace
to formally tender her resig-
nation to the 73-year-old
monarch. Sunak then
arrived at the palace for his
meeting with the King, who
then invited him to form a
government as the UK’s
57th PM and the third in just
seven weeks. Sunak
describes himself as a “proud
Hindu”. His victory on
Diwali has resonated among
the Indian diaspora groups
On Diwali, 250 farm
fires in Haryana
completed and Haryana has
recorded around 26 per cent
less cases in comparison to
last year till October 25. It is a
good sign and we are hopeful
that in the coming years,
farmers of the state will com-
pletely shun stubble burn-
ing,” said an official of the
Agriculture Department.
As per the data, as many as
217 cases were reported on
Sunday, a day before Diwali.
On Tuesday, the state wit-
nessed only 12 cases, which is
a respite.
Kaithal continues to
remain at the top position in
the tally as it reported 381
cases till Tuesday evening,
followed by Kurukshetra
(244). Karnal is at the third
spot with 224 cases. Fate-
habad witnessed a spike as it
witnessed 33 cases on Mon-
JAMMU & KASHMIR/LADAKH
54 HOMEGROWN
ULTRAS IN VALLEY
The current estimate
shows that while 83 for-
eign terrorists are active in
Kashmir, there are only 54
homegrown militants oper-
ating in the Valley.
recruitment of local youths
into terror outfits could be
strong monitoring and track-
ing of their online activities
by the government. Terror
outfits often try to glorify
their activities by positing
pictures of arms and ammu-
nition on social media.
FROM PAGE 1
across the UK, who have
hailed it as a “historic
moment” in British social
history.
After revolting against
Johnson and then losing out
to Truss in the leadership
race on September 5, it
seemed he had been shut out
of the political high table in
the UK, for some time at
least. But Truss’ stint as
Prime Minister self-combust-
ed after a series of economi-
cally disastrous decisions
that alienated the Tory sup-
port base.
In a departure from other
British politicians, Sunak has
a different take on ties with
India, a nation with whom his
connection is both “distant”
and “close”. “Distant because
his grandfather had moved to
Africa from the Indian sub-
continent several decades
ago. And close as his wife has
proudly held on to her Indian
citizenship,” said an analyst.
Akshata Murty, his wife, is
the daughter of Infosys co-
founder Narayana Murthy
and is the wealthiest woman
in Britain by virtue of holding
0.93 per cent of shares in
Infosys, an IT giant con-
trolled by her father.
day, taking the total number
to 139, the data said.
With 110 cases of stubble
burning, Jind district is at
fifth position and Ambala is
at sixth place with 94 cases,
the data added.
Yamunanagar is at the sev-
enth position with 80 cases,
followed by Sirsa (27), Hisar
(23), Panipat (21), Palwal (17),
Sonepat (11) and Faridabad
(1), the data revealed.
Deputy Director Agricul-
ture, Kaithal, Karam Chand
said that they were verifying
the locations of active farm
fires shared by the Haryana
Space Applications Centre.
“We have imposed a fine of
Rs 7,07,500 on 280 farmers for
stubble burning. We are mak-
ing efforts to educate farmers
about stubble management,”
said the director.
Our Correspondent
Jammu, October 25
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
Gen Anil Chauhan, who was
on a visit to the Line of Con-
trol (LoC) in Rajouri to cele-
brate Diwali with troops,
emphasised the need for
“operational preparedness
of the highest order”.
Accompanied by White
Knight Corps Commander
Lt Gen Manjinder Singh, the
CDS visited forward posts in
the Rajouri sector and cele-
brated Diwali with soldiers
posted in forward areas.
The CDS also laid a wreath
at Naman Sthal, the war
memorial of the Naushera
sector. Gen Anil Chauhan
was briefed by field com-
manders on the current oper-
ational situation and security
scenario along the LoC. He
also reviewed the develop-
ment of defence infrastruc-
Rebel trouble in BJP, Cong ...
from page 1
Sadar), Subhash Sharma
(Bilaspur Sadar), Vipin
Nehria (Dharamsala),
Manohar Dhiman (Indora),
Indra Kapoor (Chamba),
Sanjeev Sharma (Badsar),
Rajinder Dhirta (Rohru)
and Raj Kumar Koundal
(Jhandutta).
The situation for the
Congress appears equally
worrisome with some sen-
ior leaders, who have
been denied ticket. jump-
ing into the fray as Inde-
pendents.
Prominent among them
said Berry. He said ever since
the family got to know about
Sunak’s becoming the PM,
there is excitement every-
where. “Imagine, the British
had ruled over India for about
200 years and today, they
have a Prime Minister having
Indian roots. Time is so pow-
erful. We have come to know
from other relatives that both
Rishi and his wife visit India
whenever they get time,” said
Ajay Berry, hoping that may
1.1K farm fires, crackers...
compared to last year on
Diwali. While no city remained
in the moderate category of
AQI last year, two cities (Khan-
na and Mandi Gobindgarh)
this year were in the moderate
category,” he said.
An AQI between zero and
50 is considered good, 51 and
100 satisfactory, 101 and 200
moderate, 201 and 300 poor,
301 and 400 very poor, and
401 and 500 severe.
Six cities (Amritsar, Jaland-
har, Ludhiana, Patiala, Mandi
Gobindgarh and Khanna) of
Punjab observed a reduction
in AQI during this year’s
Diwali as compared to 2020
and 2021’s Diwali days, said
the minister, adding the aver-
Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan visits forward posts in the Rajouri sector of J&K on Tuesday. ANI
ture and operational pre-
paredness in the area.
The CDS exhorted the
troops to carry forward the
are former ministers Gan-
gu Ram Musafir (Pach-
had) and Kuldeep Kumar
(Chintpurni) and former
MLAs Jagjivan Pal (Sul-
lah), Subhash Manglet
(Chopal), Tilak Raj
(Bilaspur) and Biru Ram
Kishore (Jhandutta),
Vijay Pal Khachi (Theog),
Paras Ram (Anni), Lal
Singh Kaushal (Nachan),
Satish Kaul (Jaisinghpur),
Sanjeev Bhandari (Jogin-
dernagar), Rajinder
Thakur (Arki), Satish
Kaul (Jaisinghpur) and
Yuvraj Kapoor (Karsog).
be in times to come, they get
a chance to visit Sunak in the
UK.
Meanwhile, Ajay Gupta, a
UK NRI for over a decade,
said Indians in England were
feeling proud today. “Sunak is
the youngest Prime Minister
of the UK in the last 200 years.
Time is powerful. The British,
who had ruled India, had nev-
er thought that their own
country will be run by a per-
son of Indian origin,” said he.
age AQI of Punjab this Diwali
was 224 (poor) as compared to
268 (poor) in 2021 and 328
(very poor) in 2020.
PPCB Member Secretary
Karunesh Garg said “reduc-
tion in crackers and less area
being burnt in the fields has
helped air quality. Further,
the wind speed today helped
disperse the pollutants.”
However, experts pointed
out that the data released by
the PPCB does not show the
particulate matter (PM)
recorded in various cities.
“Usually, the data is released
along with the AQI every
year after Diwali, but this
year, that data is missing,”
they said.
rich tradition, courage and
valour of the Army. “The vis-
it by the CDS on the occasion
of Diwali acted as a great
Desi politicians
hit sweet spot
abroad
from page 1
Portugal and Ireland have
had Indian-origin heads of
government in the past.
In Portugal, Alfredo Nobre
da Costa became head of
government about 40 years
ago, followed by Antonio
Costa, who ran the govern-
ment for a year in 2015.
In Ireland, Leo Varadkar
was the PM till 2020 and is
scheduled to take the post
again in December this
year. British-Indian Rishi
Sunak becoming the
youngest Prime Minister of
the UK may have a great
symbolic value for India,
but that does not imply that
the India-United Kingdom
relations are going to be
“special” from now
onwards.
morale booster for the troops
deployed on the frontlines in
challenging conditions,”
said an Army spokesperson.
Google fined ~936 cr for...
from page 1
mandatory usage of GPBS
constituted the imposition of
an unfair condition on app
developers. Thus, Google is
found to be in violation of the
provisions of Section 4(2)(a)(i)
of the Competition Act.
The CCI also found Google
was not using GPBS for its
own YouTube. This amount-
ed to discriminatory condi-
tions as YouTube is not pay-
ing the service fee imposed
on other apps covered in the
GPBS requirements.
The mandatory imposition
of GPBS disturbed innova-
tion incentives. It also led to
denial of market access. The
practices followed by Google
resulted in leveraging its
dominance in market for
licensable mobile OS and
app stores violated Section
4(2)(e) of the Act and differ-
ent methodologies used by
GURUGRAM | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022
Fest celebrated at
Teetwal hamlet on
LoC for first time
Teetwal (J&K), October 25
Hundreds of earthen lamps
lit Teetwal hamlet in Kup-
wara district on Monday as
Diwali was being celebrat-
ed for the first time at the
Mata Sharda Devi temple
being reconstructed in the
area along the Line of Con-
trol (LoC).
The ancient temple is
being rebuilt with a view to
revive centuries-old pil-
grimage to Sharda Peeth
temple in the Pakistan-
occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Sharada Peeth — “the seat
of Sharada” — is the Kash-
miri name for goddess
Saraswati. Sharada Peeth
was one of the foremost
ancient universities of the
SECOND ANTITRUST
PENALTY IN A WEEK
■ CCI finds if app developers
don’t comply with Google
Play’s Billing System, they
are not permitted to list
apps on Play Store
■ On October 20, CCI imposed
Rs 1,337.76 cr penalty on
tech major for abusing its
dominant position
Google to integrate its own
UPI app vis-à-vis other rival
UPI apps led to violations of
several provisions of the Act.
This is the second major
CCI ruling against Google
in less than a week. On
October 20, the watchdog
imposed a penalty of Rs
1,337.76 crore on the compa-
ny for abusing its dominant
position in multiple mar-
kets in relation to Android
mobile devices. — TNS
THE TRIBUNE
Indian subcontinent.
Teetwal is situated in Kup-
wara and the Sharda Peeth
is situated barely 40 kilome-
tres from the village.
Sharda Peeth is an aban-
doned temple located in
Sharda village along the
Neelum river. It is regarded
as one of the 18 highly
revered temples across
south Asia.
After the first time since
Partition, candles and diyas
marked Diwali celebrations
at the Sharda yatra temple,
being reconstructed in Teet-
wal. A large number of locals
lit earthen lamps, candles
and distributed sweets, Save
Sharda Committee president
Ravinder Pandita said. — PTI
Army to procure
750 hi-tech drones
from page 1
area and provide a
processed 3D scanned
image of the target to exe-
cute special missions.
The MoD wants to keep out
any Chinese parts and has
asked the vendor to provide
NATO stock number (NSN)
for each of the item provided
by a foreign maker.
In case the NSN number is
not available, the vendor will
be needed to obtain the rele-
vant technical data and cata-
logue information and initi-
ate the process of codification
as per Indian benchmarks.
The Army wants the UAV to be
about 2 kg in weight and be
operable by one person. The
UAV needs to have an
endurance of 30 minutes and
be able to operate indoors and
in GPS-denied areas.
THE TRIBUNE
GURUGRAM | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022
BJP, Oppn in war of words over Sunak’s rise
Ruling party gives example of Abdul Kalam, Manmohan to hit back at rivals
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 25
With some Opposition lead-
ers, including the PDP’s
Mehbooba Mufti and of the
Congress, using the eleva-
tion of Rishi Sunak as the
UK’s next PM to take swipe
at the ruling BJP and lament
“majoritarianism and divi-
siveness” in India, the saf-
fron party today cited the
rise of APJ Abdul Kalam and
Manmohan Singh as the
President and Prime Minis-
ter of the country to hit back.
The BJP also rejected any
A girl watches a partial solar eclipse in Mumbai on Tuesday. REUTERS
Partial solar eclipse enthrals stargazers Farm crisis, price rise dominate ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’
NewDelhi, October 25
A partial solar eclipse on Tues-
day evening enthralled
stargazers, who pointed their
telescopes towards the sun to
watch the celestial tango,
while the faithful bathed in
lakes and rivers at pilgrimage
sites to mark the occasion.
Astronomical telescopes at
Hanle in Ladakh, Naintal in
Uttarakhand and several
amateur and professional
astronomers watched the
eclipse that began at 4:17 pm
as the moon started covering
the solar disc.
A solar eclipse occurs on a
new moon day when the
moon comes in between the
earth and the sun and when
all the three objects are
aligned. A partial solar eclipse
will occur when the lunar disk
covers the solar disk partially.
Astronomy clubs set up pub-
lic viewing of the eclipse at sev-
eral locations across the coun-
Publish draft laws
on govt websites:
Petition in SC
New Delhi, October 25
The Supreme Court is sched-
uled to hear on October 31 a
plea seeking directions to the
Centre and states to publish
draft legislations prominent-
ly on government websites
and in the public domain at
least 60 days before they are
introduced in Parliament and
state Assemblies.
According to the cause list
of October 31 uploaded on the
apex court website, the peti-
tion is slated to come up for
hearing before a Bench com-
prising Chief Justice UU Lalit
and Justices SR Bhat and
Bela M Trivedi.
The plea filed by advocate
Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay
has also sought a direction to
the Centre to ensure all draft
and final legislations are put
in the public domain in all
regional languages.
It said any draft legislation,
except those related to national
security, must be published on
government websites at least 60
days before they are introduced
in Parliament or state legisla-
ture. “In today’s democratic
process, with the advent of
advanced media and technolo-
gy, it is no longer appropriate for
governments, both central and
state, to suddenly pass laws
overnight with scarcely any leg-
islative debate and no wider
consultation at all,” said the plea,
filed through advocate Ashwani
Kumar Dubey. — PTI
parallel between its leaders’
opposition to prime minis-
tership for Sonia Gandhi,
who is of Italian origin, after
the Congress won the Lok
Sabha poll in 2004, and the
Britain’s ruling party
choosing Indian-origin
Sunak as its leader, paving
the way for him to become
the country’s next PM.
“Can’t differentiate
between Italy-born Sonia
(who refused to take Indian
citizenship for several
decades after marriage with
Rajiv) and UK-born Rishi
with Indian ancestry,” the
try and even distributed special
eyewear to watch the eclipse.
In Gorakhpur, UP CM Yogi
Adityanath witnessed the
eclipse at the Veer Bahadur
Singh planetarium with a tel-
escope and special glasses.
The partial solar eclipse
was observed in several parts
Deluge in Guwahati
A man pushes his car stuck on a waterlogged road following rainfall in Guwahati on Tuesday. PTI
UAPA invoked in Tamil Nadu
car explosion case, 5 arrested
Coimbatore, October 25
The stringent Unlawful Activ-
ities (Prevention) Act has been
invoked in the case relating to
a car explosion in the city that
killed one person while five
others have been arrested
over the incident and the
police have intensified the
probe covering all aspects
including terror angle.
Those arrested were identi-
fied by the police as Muham-
mad Talka, Muhammed
Azharuddin, Muhammed
Riyaz, Firoze Ismail and
Muhammed Nawaz Ismail,
all in their 20s. With some of
them being enquired by the
National Investigation
BJP’s foreign
department head Vijay
affairs
Chauthaiwale said.
BJP leader Ravi Shankar
Prasad questioned the mufti
if she would “accept a minor-
ity leader” as the Chief Minis-
ter of J&K.
“Some leaders have become
hyperactive against majori-
tarianism after the elevation
of Rishi Sunak as the PM of
the UK. Gently reminding
them of the extraordinary
presidency of APJ Abdul
Kalam and prime minister-
ship of Manmohan Singh for
10 years. A distinguished trib-
of the country with Srinagar
witnessing the maximum
obscuration of the solar disc
at 55 per cent. In Delhi 43 per
cent of the solar disc was cov-
ered by the shadow of the
moon, Jammu (52 per cent),
Bengaluru (9.9 per cent),
Kochi (5.1 per cent). — PTI
Few of them probed
by NIA in 2019
Agency (NIA) in 2019, the
police were also probing their
activities after that, City
Police Commissioner V Bal-
akrishnan said.
Hours after the Tamil Nadu
BJP questioned why the police
had not specified the reasons
for the arrest of the five and the
sections under which they
have been detained, Balakrish-
nan said that besides the
UAPA, other IPC sections like
conspiracy have also been
included in the case.
NATION
al leader Droupadi Murmu is
now our President,” he said.
Prasad said a competent
leader of Indian origin Sunak
becoming the UK’s Prime
Minister needed to be compli-
mented by them. “It is tragic
that some politicians are try-
ing to score a political brown-
ie point on this occasion,” he
said. The BJP’s IT depart-
ment head Amit Malviya not-
ed that India had three Mus-
lim and one Sikh President,
besides a Sikh Prime Minis-
ter for 10 years and minority
persons in top judicial posi-
tions and armed forces.
Kerala demands two more
DGP posts, Centre says no
New Delhi, October 25
The Centre has rejected the
demand made by the Kerala
Government to sanction
two more posts of DGP, say-
ing the state currently has
four such posts. Sources
said the Centre rejected the
demand citing the example
of Punjab, which has 172
IPS officers like Kerala and
has only four DGPs.
Presently in Kerala, the
police and vigilance heads
hold DGP ranks. The jail
Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service
NewDelhi, October 25
Issues related to farmers,
unemployment, closure of
small and medium industries
and rise in the prices of essen-
tial commodities owing to the
introduction of GST are issues
that people are approaching
Rahul Gandhi with while
interacting with him during
the “Bharat Jodo Yatra”
launched by him to cover the
distance between Kanyaku-
mari to Kashmir on foot.
Briefing the media at the
AICC headquarters here,
Rajya Sabha member and
Congress spokesperson
Jairam Ramesh said about 50
organisations, including
youth and women’s outfits,
trade unions and civil society
social organisations met
Rahul Gandhi during the
yatra and presented memo-
randa to him.
Police are also probing if the
man killed in the gas cylinder
explosion in the car on Sun-
day, Jemisha Mubeen, had
any links with Mohammed
Azharuddin, an accused in the
Easter Sunday bomb blasts in
a Sri Lankan Church in 2019,
which killed over 250 persons.
The Kerala visits of the some
of the arrested are also being
investigated.
Further, 75 kg of potassium
nitrate, charcoal and alumini-
um powder have been recov-
ered from Mubeen’s house,
Balakrishnan added. These
chemicals are used in mak-
ing country bombs, police
had said earlier. — PTI
Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives finishing touches to a sand
sculpture of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Puri on Tuesday. PTI
and fire force wings too
have DGPs, but they don’t
belong to the IPS cadre.
The state came out with
the demand to increase the
number of posts in the wake
of the Supreme Court order,
which said once a person is
appointed the state police
head, he shouldn’t be
removed from that post for
the next two years.
Since Anil Kant, who was to
retire in January 2022, was
appointed the state police
Members of 50 more organ-
isations briefly took part in
the yatra, but did not present
any written representation.
Besides Congress workers
and supporters, ordinary
people were also taking part
in the programme to show
solidarity with Rahul,
Ramesh claimed.
Kicked off on September 7
from Kanyakumari, the yatra
Freedom of choice
in marriage essence
of personal liberty: HC
New Delhi, October 25
Observing that freedom of
choice in marriage is an
intrinsic part of the Consti-
tution and questions of
faith have no bearing on
the freedom to choose a life
partner, the Delhi High
Court has said the police is
expected to act expedi-
tiously and with sensitivity
for protection of couples
apprehending hostility
from others, including fam-
ily members.
The court’s observation
came while dealing with
bail pleas arising from a
case involving an alleged
attempt to murder and
physical assault on the
complainant man by the
family of the woman, who
married him against the
wishes of her family.
The family members of
the wife of the com-
plainant abducted them
and brutally beat him up,
amputated his private part
with an axe and also
inflicted stab injuries,
according to the com-
plaint.
The court said it was
“unfortunate” that neces-
sary steps for ensuring the
safety and security of the
couple were not initiated
chief, he can continue till June
2023. This resulted in the delay
in promoting Senior Addition-
al Director General of Police
(ADGP) Anandakrishnan,
who became eligible for the
DGP’s post 10 months back.
He will retire in May next year.
The state, in its communi-
cation to the Centre, had
argued that the IPS officers
who had been in service for
over 30 years were not get-
ting a chance to retire from
the post of DGP. — TNS
CHALLENGES OVERCOME
❝ The state governments
in Andhra Pradesh and
Karnataka tried to create
problems, but the Congress
programme turned out to
be a great success despite
the challenges. Jairam Ramesh,
<< So far, ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ has
traversed four states. FILE PHOTO
has so far covered 1,270 km or
one-third of the distance of its
planned journey, Ramesh said.
He further said Rahul Gand-
hi addressed four big rallies,
35 “nukkad” meetings and
four press conference (one
each in the four states covered
under the programme till
now) during the 48 days since
the programme was
launched. Ramesh said the
COPS FACE FLAK
❝ It is unfortunate
that necessary steps for
ensuring the safety and
security of the couple
were not initiated by the
police when they were
expected to act with
promptitude. Delhi High Court
by the police station con-
cerned on their complaint
when they were expected
to act with promptitude
and any such lapse cannot
be accepted and thus
called for action against
those responsible.
The court also asked the
Delhi Police Commissioner
for taking necessary meas-
ures for sensitising police
officials in dealing with
such complaints.
“The freedom of choice
in marriage in accordance
with law is an intrinsic
part of Article 21 of the
Constitution. Even the
questions of faith have no
bearing on an individual’s
freedom to choose a life
partner and are the
essence of personal liber-
ty,” said Justice Anoop
Kumar Mendiratta. — PTI
TN writes to US-based
entities to retrieve idols
stolen 50 years ago
Chennai, October 25
The Tamil Nadu idol wing
CID on Tuesday said it has
written to a US-based Muse-
um and an auction company
claiming state government’s
ownership over the two
antique idols stolen 50 years
ago from a temple in the state.
The burglary came to light
when three antique metal
idols, which were stolen from
Arulmigu Vishwanatha
Swamy Temple, Alathur,
Mannargudi taluk in Tiru-
varur district, were detected at
the LACMA Museum, Los
Angeles, by Idol wing officials.
Initial investigations
revealed that the three antique
metal idols were replaced with
fake idols at the temple and
the examinations indicated
that Somaskandar idol and
Dancing Sambandar idols of
the temple would have been
burgled in a similar manner,
an official release said.
As there were no official
images of the idols with the tem-
ple authorities, the idol wing
sleuths requested the French
Institute of Pondicherry (FIP) to
share the images of the statues.
The FIP shared the images of
the idols taken and document-
ed by them in respect to this
temple, the release said.
Special teams were formed
to look for the idols in muse-
CONGRESS SPOKESPERSON
gathering at Raichur was the
biggest of the four public ral-
lies held so far.
The yatra traversed through
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnata-
ka and Andhra Pradesh till
now. It has covered 18 districts
in these states.
On October 27, the Telan-
gana leg of the march will
start from Mahabubnagar dis-
trict in the state. The yatra will
A vehicle set on fire at Panigate in Vadodara on Monday. ANI
Clash in Vadodara on
Diwali, 19 detained
Vadodara, October 25
Members of two communi-
ties clashed over the bursting
of firecrackers in a locality in
the city on Diwali, following
which the police detained 19
persons from the two sides,
an official said on Tuesday.
The clash broke out
around 12.45 am in the com-
munally sensitive Panigate
locality. Those detained
included a person who
allegedly hurled a petrol
bomb at policemen from the
third floor of his house in the
locality nearly an hour after
the clash broke out, Deputy
Commissioner of Police
Yashpal Jaganiya said.
No one was injured in the
clash, he said, adding a
motorcycle parked in the area
caught fire after a rocket fire-
cracker fell on it.
“Following an issue over
the bursting of firecrackers
11
Antique metal idols allegedly
stolen from Arulmigu
Vishwanatha Swamy Temple. PTI
ums and art galleries world-
wide, including in auction
houses. After an extensive
search, the department locat-
ed the idols similar to
‘Somaskandar’ on the web-
site of Freer Sackler Museum
in Washington DC and the
‘Dancing Sambandar’ on the
website of Christies.com.
Experts after a study con-
firmed that the images taken
from the website of the US-based
entities were similar and to be the
original idols which were stolen
50 years ago from the temple.
“Based on the findings of the
investigation, the idol wing has
prepared and submitted papers
claiming the Tamil Nadu gov-
ernment’s ownership of the
idols for onward transmission
to the US for repatriation of the
same to Tamil Nadu,” the
release said. — PTI
enter Maharashtra through
Nanded on November 7.
While expressing satisfaction
with the response evoked by
the programme in the areas
touched by the participants till
now, Ramesh said during the
next 50 days, the Rahul-led
contingent would be hitting
“difficult states such as MP
and UP” where the Congress
was weak organisationally.
Ramesh, however, said state
governments in Andhra
Pradesh and Karnataka also
tried to create problems, but
the Congress programme
turned out to be a great suc-
cess in these two states
despite the challenges.
Similarly, in Madhya
Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh,
the yatra would instil a new
spirit in the minds of Con-
gress supporters and they
would turn out for the pro-
gramme in large number,
Ramesh hoped.
FORCES DEPLOYED
■ Thosedetained included
a person who allegedly
hurled a petrol bomb at
policemen
■ No one was injured in
the clash; a motorcycle
caught fire after a rocket
firecracker fell on it
■ Afterthe incident, the
security was deployed in
the communally sensi-
tive Panigate locality
and hurling rocket bombs at
each other, people from two
communities threw stones
at each other,” the official
said. After the incident,
security was deployed in the
area and the situation was
under control, he said. Sus-
pects from both the commu-
nities were being rounded
up, he added. — PTI
12 WORLD GURUGRAM | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022
THE TRIBUNE

Ground-breaking milestone: World leaders on Sunak

Washington, October 25
US President Joe Biden has
said the ascent of Rishi
Sunak as the first Indian-ori-
gin UK Prime Minister is a
"ground-breaking milestone."
"We got the news that Rishi
Sunak is now the PM of the
UK. It is pretty astounding, a
ground-breaking milestone
and it matters," US President
Joe Biden said at a Diwali
reception at the White House.
Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also
lauded Sunak and hoped for
better bilateral relations
amidst a turbulent world.
The Kremlin, on the other
hand, said on Tuesday that
Russia saw no reason to
expect relations with the UK
to improve under Sunak.
Russia does not see any “pre-
conditions, grounds, or hope”
for building more construc-
tive relations with Great
Britain in the foreseeable
AP
Send wishes, extend support | Kremlin says expect no positive shift in ties REACTIONS FROM ACROSS POLITICAL SPECTRUM PM begins Cabinet
reshuffle, retains
❝ We got the news that
❝
We hope we can work
Rishi Sunak is now the PM with the UK on the basis of Hunt as Chancellor
of the UK. It is mutual respect London, October 25
pretty astounding, and win-win co- British Prime Minister Rishi
a ground-breaking operation and Sunak on Tuesday began put-
ting his top team in place with
milestone and it advance China-UK
matters. ties along the right key Cabinet appointments and
decided to keep the new Chan-
Joe Biden, track. Wang Wenbin, CHINESE cellor, Jeremy Hunt, in place
US PRESIDENT FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN for economic stability.
In another move aimed at
❝ I don't think it's insignificant that a country like the
United Kingdom has its first prime minister of colour.
continuity, James Cleverly will
stay in his post as Foreign Sec-
Jim Chalmers, AUSTRALIA'S TREASURER retary despite not being a
Sunak loyalist.
❝ We look forward to working with Sunak on the
important issues we face on these islands and globally.
Another close ally, Dominic
Raab, who served as Deputy
Micheál Martin, IRISH PRIME MINISTER Prime Minister and Justice
Secretary in the Boris John-
❝ I wish you to successfully overcome all
challenges facing British society and the whole
son led Cabinet returns to
the twin posts under Sunak.
world today. I'm ready to continue strengthening Meanwhile, many from the Liz
the Ukraine-UK strategic partnership together. Truss and Boris Johnson fac-
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT tion of the governing Conserv-
ative Party resigned soon after

future, Kremlin Spokesman Sunak took charge at 10

Dmitry Peskov said, com-
menting on the appointment
of Sunak as the UK's new
Prime Minister.
“No, at present, we do not
see any preconditions,
grounds or hopes for some
positive shifts in the foresee-
able future,” the Russian
presidential spokesman was
quoted as saying by the offi-
cial news agency.
SERVE FROM BACK BENCHES
❝ I wish Rishi Sunak every
success. I look forward to
spending more time in my
constituency and serve the
country from the back
benches. Liz Truss, OUTGOING PM
Russia-UK relations have in February. The UK
soured even further since responded with several
Russia's invasion of Ukraine rounds of sanctions, and it is
DAUNTING TASKS AHEAD FOR SUNAK Sunak was blamed by
Downing Street, with Indian-
many in the Conserva-
■ Sunak, Britain's youngest PM in
more than 200 years and its first
and the outlook for the economy
deteriorating, he will now need
2015, must unite his party, aware tive Party when he quit
that voters are increasingly angry as Finance Minister in
origin MP Alok Sharma losing
his Cabinet Office Minister
leader of colour, will replace Liz to review all spendings, includ- over the antics at Westminster as the summer, triggering role to remain only as COP26
Truss who resigned after 44 days ing on health, education, the economy heads for recession a wider rebellion
president to negotiate on
following a "mini budget" that defence, welfare and pensions ■ Historian Anthony Seldon said that brought behalf of the UK at COP27 in
sparked turmoil in financial markets ■ Sunak, a Goldman Sachs analyst Sunak would also be constrained down Boris Egypt next month. — PTI
■ With debt interest costs rising who only entered Parliament in by the mistakes of his predecessor Johnson
one of the main backers of support to Ukraine. the UK" under Sunak, For- saying. Sunak has favoured icised by Truss for pursuing a
Zelenskyy. The UK has also China's leadership has said eign Ministry spokesman closer ties with China than trading relationship when
provided substantial military it wants to "advance ties with Wang Wenbin was quoted as his predecessor and was crit- chancellor. — PTI

German President visits Kyiv as West US school shooting

Political stability to give impetus to
India-Britain FTA talks, say experts
London/NewDelhi, October 25
The India-UK free trade deal,
which has missed the Diwali
deadline, is likely to get the
much-needed impetus with
Rishi Sunak taking over as
Britain's first Indian-origin
Prime Minister as experts see
political stability in the UK giv-
ing momentum to negotiations.
India and Britain launched
negotiations for the free-trade
agreement (FTA) in January
with an aim to conclude talks
by Diwali but the deadline was
missed due to a lack of consen-
sus on issues.
Sunak, in his previous role as
Chancellor of the Exchequer,
had expressed support for the
FTA as he saw enormous
opportunities for both coun-
tries in the fintech and insur-
ance sectors.
According to the experts,
political stability in the UK
now would help fast-track the
negotiations for the pact,
which could potentially double
bilateral trade by 2030.
The total trade between
India and the UK stood at USD
17.5 billion in 2021-22. Sunak,
42, on Monday took over as
Britain's first Prime Minister
of Indian origin.
"It is very positive news for
India. The development will
definitely help in giving much-
needed momentum to the
talks," Federation of Indian
Export Organisations (FIEO)
Vice Chairman Khalid Khan
said. — PTI
mulls rebuilding plan for Ukraine
Kyiv, October 25
The German President arrived
in Kyiv on Tuesday for his first
visit to Ukraine since the start of
Russia's invasion as Western
countries mulled a massive
plan for Ukrainian rebuilding
when the war eventually ends.
President Frank-Walter Stein-
meier said “it was important to
me in this phase of air attacks
with drones, cruise missiles and
rockets to send a signal of soli-
darity to Ukrainians”.
Eight months of pummelling
by the Kremlin's forces has
ruined homes, public buildings
and the power grid. The World
Bank estimates the damage to
Ukraine so far at 350 billion
euros (USD 345 billion).
The German President,
whose position is largely cere-
monial, made it to Ukraine on
his third try. In April, he was
planning to visit the country
with his Polish and Baltic coun-
terparts, but said his presence
“apparently … wasn't wanted in
Kyiv”. Steinmeier has been crit-
icised in Ukraine for allegedly
cosying up to Russia during his
time as Germany's Foreign
Minister. Last week, a planned
trip was put off because of secu-
rity concerns. — AP
leaves three dead
St Louis, October 24
A 19-year-old gunman opened
fire at a high school in St Louis,
Missouri, on Monday, killing
two persons and injuring sev-
en others before officers fatally
shot the suspect, the city's
police commissioner said.
No motive for the gun vio-
lence was immediately appar-
ent, but Police Commissioner
Mike Sack said the assailant
may have suffered from men-
tal illness. — Reuters

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14.62 lakh join ESIC Markets halt seven-day winning Canada’s coffee
scheme in August brand Tim Hortons
Tribune News Service streak; RIL, FMCG stocks weigh
New Delhi, October 25
Around 14.62 lakh new
Mumbai, October 25
Equity benchmarks nursed NESTLE TOP LOSER
forays into India ISTOCK
members joined the ESIC- losses on Tuesday as ■ TheBSE benchmark, Sen- Vijay C Roy
run social security scheme investors booked profits after sex, failed to hold on the Tribune News Service

in August 2022, according to
official data released on
Tuesday.
The latest data is part of a
report — Payroll Reporting
in India: An Employment
Perspective-August 2022 —
released by the National
Statistical Office (NSO).
It showed that the gross
new enrolments with
Employees’ State Insur-
ance Corporation (ESIC)
rose to 1.49 crore in 2021-22,
from 1.15 crore in 2020-21. It
was 1.51 crore in 2019-20
and 1.49 crore in 2018-19.
From September 2017 to
March 2018, around 83.35
lakh new subscribers joined
the ESIC scheme.
The report said gross new
enrolments with ESIC from
September 2017 to August
2022 were 7.22 crore.
The NSO report is based
PAYROLL DATA
■ Gross new enrolments
with ESIC rose to 1.49
crore in 2021-22, from
1.15 crore in 2020-21
■ It
was 1.51 crore in 2019-
20 and 1.49 crore in
2018-19
■ From September 2017 to
March 2018, around 83.35
lakh new subscribers
joined the ESIC scheme
on the payroll data of new
subscribers of various
social security schemes run
by ESIC, the Employees’
Provident Fund Organisa-
tion (EPFO) and the Pen-
sion Fund Regulatory and
Development Authority
(PFRDA).
a seven-session rally amid
weak Asian market cues and
foreign fund outflows.
The BSE Sensex failed to
hold on the early gains and
declined 287.70 points to fin-
ish at 59,543.96. During the
day, it hit a low of 59,489.02
and a high of 60,081.24. On
similar lines, the broader
NSE Nifty fell 74.40 points to
end at 17,656.35.
Nestle India was the top
loser in the Sensex pack,
slipping 2.83%, followed by
Hindustan Unilever, Bajaj
Finserv, Kotak Mahindra
Bank, HDFC, Reliance
Industries, Bajaj Finance
and Asian Paints.
Market heavyweight
Reliance Industries was the
biggest drag on the bench-
mark following lacklustre
Q2 results.
In contrast, Tech Mahin-
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn poses with the bull at the BSE building
during the special ‘Muhurat Trading’ in Mumbai on Monday. PTI
dra, Maruti, Larsen &
Toubro, Dr Reddy’s, SBI,
NTPC and M&M were
among the winners, climb-
ing as much as 3.29%.
“The domestic market
pared its early gains with
FMCG and private banks
pressuring the bench-
mark. Market attention
has shifted to central bank
early gains and declined
287.70 points to finish at
59,543.96 points
■ On similar lines, the broad-
er NSE Nifty fell 74.40
points to end at 17,656.35
■ Nestle
India was the top los-
er in the Sensex pack, slip-
ping 2.83%, followed by Hin-
dustan Unilever, Bajaj
Finserv, Kotak Mahindra
Bank, HDFC, Reliance
Industries, Bajaj Finance
and Asian Paints
policy announcements Research at Geojit Financial
since the European Cen- Services. In the broader mar-
tral Bank is expected to ket, the BSE smallcap gauge
hike interest rates at its dipped 0.35%, while the mid-
upcoming policy meeting. cap index climbed 0.45%.
“The impending US GDP Among BSE sectoral indices,
data will give additional clar- FMCG fell 1.10%, telecommu-
ity to the expectation that the nication dipped 0.91%, finan-
Fed will temper its aggres- cial services went lower by
sion in regard to rate hikes,” 0.62%, realty declined 0.61%
said Vinod Nair, Head of and utilities lost 0.60%. — PTI
Chandigarh, October 25
The competition in the $2-
billion Indian coffee market
is likely to intensify further,
as besides the established
coffee chains expanding
their footprint, the market
is witnessing new entrants.
After Cafe Coffee Day,
Barista, Costa Coffee, Star- TO EXPAND IN PUNJAB
bucks, Blue Tokai and Third
Wave Coffee, the latest to join
the bandwagon is Canada- ❝ We aim to launch 15
outlets in Punjab, including
based Tim Hortons, which
five by the end of this fiscal,
has expanded its presence in
Delhi and Chandigarh. Out as part of our plan to open
of total coffee market, out-of- hundreds of restaurants in
home consumption is India in the next 10 years.
around 20-25% and there is Navin Gurnaney, CEO, TIM HORTONS’ FRANCHISE
an ample opportunity for the
organised players. in 2013, Delhi-based Blue
According to experts, the Tokai Coffee also expanded
coffee chain market in its presence in Chandigarh
India is growing at a com- and other locations.
pounded annual growth According to the coffee
rate (CAGR) of around 9%. makers, the fast-growing
Further, in the next two coffee culture has prompt-
years, the market is likely to ed many players to expand
touch $4.2 billion. their presence. In order to

Jakson to invest ~22,400 cr for green hydrogen project in R’sthan
New Delhi, October 25
Jakson Green has inked a
pact to invest Rs 22,400 crore
to set up a green hydrogen
and green ammonia project,
in phases, in Rajasthan.
The company has signed a
memorandum of under-
standing (MoU) with the gov-
ernment of Rajasthan to this
effect, Jakson Green said.
Jakson Green will set up a
3,65,000 tons per annum
green hydrogen & green
ammonia plant along with
an integrated hybrid renew-
able power complex in a
phased manner, it stated.
The project is expected to
generate over 32,000 direct
and indirect employment
opportunities across vari-
ous phases of the scale-up,
planned between 2023 and
2028, it claimed.
The MoU was signed by
Vish Iyer, Global Chief
Commercial Officer, Jakson
According to major coffee
chains, there has been an
unprecedented increase in
cash in on the growing
demand, Canada-based Tim
Hortons is the latest brand
Jakson Green in obtaining founding promoter, manag- the number of coffee lovers to expand its footprint.
TO GENERATE OVER 32,000 JOBS necessary registrations, ing director & CEO of Jak- with the increase in dispos- “Starting with Chandi-
■ Jakson Green will set up a 3,65,000 tons per annum approvals, clearances, and son Green said. able income. Other factors garh, the hub of the north-
green hydrogen & green ammonia plant along with an provide incentives, among Jakson Green has recently responsible for the growth in ern region, we will soon
integrated hybrid renewable power complex others, it informed. announced its global ambi- the number of coffee lovers open outlets in Punjab. We
■ The project is expected to generate over 32,000 direct “We truly appreciate the tions to be a leading develop- are global exposure, urbani- aim to launch 15 outlets in
and indirect employment opportunities across various government of Rajasthan er and integrator of green sation and lifestyle changes. the state, including five by
phases of the scale-up, planned between 2023 and 2028 for this partnership and for hydrogen and green ammo- Bengaluru-based Third the end of this financial
demonstrating their vision nia assets across select geog- Wave Coffee, founded in year, as part of our plan to
Green, and Bhaskar S son Green is further testimo- in positioning the state as a raphies and is eyeing a play 2016 by three coffee enthusi- open hundreds of restau-
Sawant, Principal Secretary ny to the state’s investor-cen- favoured green hydrogen in the independent hydro- asts, recently expanded in rants in India in the next 10
of Energy to the govern- tric policies,” Sawant said. hub by extending their gen & ammonia production North, including Delhi and years,” said Navin Gur-
ment of Rajasthan. The government of utmost co-operation to our and electrolyser manufac- Chandigarh, besides other naney, CEO, Tim Hortons
“This agreement with Jak- Rajasthan would facilitate project,” Bikesh Ogra, turing space. — PTI locations. Similarly, founded franchise in India.
THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022
BRIEFLY
PARIS
Treesa-Gayatri out of
French Open
Commonwealth Games gold
medallists Satwiksairaj
Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
rallied to beat France’s Christo
Popov and Toma Junior Popov
to enter the men’s doubles pre-
quarterfinals of the French
Open Super 750 badminton
tournament here today. The
Indian duo lost the first game
19-21, but recovered strongly to
win the next two 21-9 21-13.
CWG bronze medallists Treesa
Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand
lost 21-23 20-22 to the sixth-
seeded Thai pair of Jongkol-
phan Kititharakul and Rawinda
Prajongjai in their opening
women’s doubles match. In
mixed doubles, Ishaan Bhatna-
gar and Tanisha Crasto lost 13-
21 16-21 to Japan’s Kyohei
Yamashita and Naru Shinoya.
BENGALURU
Inamdar hands Paltan
victory over Panthers
Puneri Paltan produced an
exemplary performance to
beat Jaipur Pink Panthers 32-
24 in their Pro Kabaddi
League match. Aslam Inam-
dar’s 13 points proved to be
the big difference. Despite the
loss, Jaipur still lead the
points table. In the day’s sec-
ond match, Haryana Steelers
beat Telugu Titans 43-24.
NEW DELHI
Sindhu back in top-5,
Prannoy moves to 12th
PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy
gained a spot each in the
world rankings. Sindhu, who
has not played any tourna-
ment since winning gold in the
Commonwealth Games in
August, climbed to 5th in the
women’s singles rankings.
Prannoy climbed to 12th in the
men’s singles rankings. Lak-
shya Sen and Kidambi
Srikanth are static at 8th and
11th, respectively. Satwiksairaj
Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
too held on to their No. 8 rank-
ing in the men’s doubles.
ST JOHN’S (ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA)
WI coach Simmons to quit
following T20 WC debacle
West Indies head coach Phil
Simmons will step down from
his role at the end of this year,
following the Caribbean side’s
debacle at the ongoing T20
World Cup where they failed to
reach the Super 12 stage.
West Indies, the T20 World
Cup’s most successful team
with triumphs in 2012 and
2016, crashed out of the show-
piece event in the group stage,
after losses to Scotland and
Ireland. This was the first time
West Indies failed to advance
further from the group stage
since the inaugural tourna-
ment in South Africa in 2007.
LONDON
Emery leaves Villarreal to
take charge of Aston Villa
Unai Emery has left his posi-
tion as Villarreal coach to
take charge of Aston Villa,
replacing the fired Steven
Gerrard. It will be Emery’s sec-
ond spell in the Premier
League, having coached Arse-
nal in 2018-19. He had turned
down the opportunity to
become Newcastle manager
in October last year.
BARCELONA
Barcelona out to prove they
are better than Bayern: Xavi
Barcelona will be eager to show
everyone that they are better
than rivals Bayern Munich
when the two teams face off in
the Champions League on
Wednesday, manager Xavi Her-
nandez said. AGENCIES
TODAY ON TV
T20 WORLD CUP
ENGLAND VS IRELAND 9:30AM
AFGHANISTAN VS NEW ZEALAND 1:30PM
STAR SPORTS
FIFA U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP (SEMIS)
COLOMBIA VS NIGERIA 4:30PM
GERMANY VS SPAIN 8PM
SPORTS 18
PKL
GIANTS VS MUMBA 7:30PM
DABANG VS WARRIORS 8:30PM
STAR SPORTS
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
BARCELONA VS BAYERN
AJAX VS LIVERPOOL
STAR SPORTS 00:30AM (THU)
Stoinis propels
Australia to
7-wicket win
over Sri Lanka
PERTH, October 25
Marcus Stoinis bludgeoned
Australia’s fastest T20 half-
century today as his side
crushed Sri Lanka by seven
wickets to secure their first
win at the T20 World Cup.
After being beaten by New
Zealand in the opening
match of the Super 12, Aus-
tralia elected to field and
restricted Sri Lanka to 157/6.
They had to make do
without the services of leg-
spinner Adam Zampa, who
was ruled out at the 11th
hour after testing positive
for Covid-19.
The hosts replied with
158/3 in 16.3 overs, led by
Stoinis who powerfully
struck six sixes in his
unbeaten 59 from 18 balls.
“It was good slogging,”
Player of the Match Stoinis
said. “I was actually quite
nervous to be honest. The
intention was to go and put
an impact on the game and
probably provide a bit of
energy for the boys.”
The Perth Stadium deck
could have been mistaken
for a WACA pitch as Aus-
tralia’s seamers combined
for three wickets with a bar-
rage of pace and bounce
which set Sri Lanka back.
Top-order batsmen
Pathum Nissanka (40) and
Dhananjaya de Silva (26)
found boundary-scoring
difficult but showed
urgency running between
the wickets.
An outstanding flick-
back on the boundary by
David Warner in the 11th
over deprived de Silva of a
six, and five balls later the
batsman departed after
lofting a catch to the same
fielder at long-off.
Mitchell Marsh ran out
Nissanka and triggered a
mini-collapse, only arrested
by a late onslaught from
Have not retired, says Serena Paine accuses SA of ball-tampering
Los Angeles, October 25
Serena Williams on Monday
said she has not retired from
tennis and that the chances
of her returning are “very
high” after she previously
indicated that she would step
away from the sport after last
month’s US Open.
“I am not retired,” Williams
said at a conference in San
Francisco while promoting
her investment company,
Serena Ventures.
“The chances (of a return)
are very high. You can come
to my house, I have a court.”
Williams, 41, said she was
“evolving away from tennis”
in an essay in August and,
while she did not confirm the
US Open as her farewell
Harmanpreet to lead India;
Manpreet named his deputy
India will take on Spain and New Zealand in their opening two ties of the FIH Pro League. HI
Bhubaneswar, October 25
Harmanpreet Singh was
today appointed the cap-
tain of a 22-member Indian
men’s hockey team for its
FIH Pro League matches
against Spain and New
Zealand here. Manpreet
Singh has been named as
his deputy.
India are scheduled to
open their campaign
against New Zealand on
October 28 before taking on
Spain on October 30. The
Back with a bang
Pat Cummins (centre) celebrates with teammates after dismissing Kusal Mendis. AP/PTI
Charith Asalanka (38 not out
off 25 balls) in the final overs.
Fast bowler Lahiru
Kumara made good use of
the surface when Sri Lanka
had their turn in the field,
repeatedly beating Aaron
Serena Williams said the
“chances” of a return are
“very high”. FILE
event, she was given lavish
tributes before each match in
New York and waved an emo-
tional goodbye after losing in
the third round.
hosts will again play New
Zealand on November 4 and
face Spain on November 6.
“We are continuing to
expand the leadership skills
of the group with Harman-
preet Singh being selected
as captain for these first
four games,” chief coach
Graham Reid said.
The team will also see
some fresh faces in Mohd
Raheel Mouseen, who was
part of India’s victorious
outing in the FIH Hockey 5s
SPORT
Finch (31 not out) for pace.
It was off-spinner Maheesh
Theekshana (1/23) who
struck first though, inducing
a false shot from Warner (11).
Innovative strokeplay
from Glenn Maxwell (23)
The 23-time Grand Slam
champion, who took the
tennis world by storm as a
teenager and is considered
by many the greatest of all
time, said not preparing
for a tournament after the
US Open did not feel natu-
ral to her. “I still haven’t
really thought about (retire-
ment),” Williams said.
“But I did wake up the oth-
er day and go on the court
and (considered) for the first
time in my life that I’m not
playing for a competition,
and it felt really weird. It
was like the first day of the
rest of my life and I’m
enjoying it, but I’m still try-
ing to find that balance,”
she added. — Reuters
earlier this year, and S
Karthi, who played his maid-
en tournament for India at
the Asia Cup. Raheel was the
leading goal scorer and the
Player of the Tournament at
the Hockey 5s.
“We have chosen an experi-
enced squad to play the first
two rounds of Pro League
starting this weekend in
Bhubaneswar. Given that, we
also have two new players
playing in the Pro League,”
the coach said. — PTI
It was good slogging. I was actually quite nervous
❝
to be honest. The intention was to go and put an
impact on the game and probably provide a bit of
energy for the boys❞ Marcus Stoinis, PLAYER OF THE MATCH
❝ It was a pretty special innings. To come out with
that intent is the main thing. When you walk out to
bat and you have that presence at the crease, that’s
half the battle in T20 cricket. When you have the
skill and the strength that he’s got, that’s a pretty
good combo❞ Aaron Finch, AUSTRALIA CAPTAIN
17
Deliveries Marcus
Stoinis took to
reach his fifty,
making it Australia’s
fastest T20I half-century
<< Marcus Stoinis scored an unbeaten 59 off just 18 balls,
with four fours and six sixes. ICC
injected impetus into Aus-
tralia’s response, but Stoi-
nis delivered the knockout
blow as spinner Wanindu
Hasaranga, the third-
ranked T20 bowler, conced-
ed 53 runs in three wicket-
MELBOURNE, October 25
Former Australia captain
Tim Paine has accused
South Africa of ball-tamper-
ing in the match that imme-
diately followed the infa-
mous 2018 Newlands Test
which saw the Australian
team engulfed in the ‘Sand-
paper-gate’ scandal.
Paine, who stepped down
from the captaincy late last
year and withdrew from
cricket for nearly a year,
made the comments in his
autobiography, “The Price
Paid,” which was released
on Tuesday.
Australia suspended for-
mer captain Steve Smith,
David Warner and Cameron
Bancroft after Bancroft was
India bounce back to beat Japan
SULTAN OF JOHOR CUP
Johor Bahru (Malaysia), Oct25
The Indian junior men’s
hockey team returned to
winning ways, beating
Japan 5-1 at the Sultan of
Johor Cup here today.
Captain Uttam Singh (3rd
minute), Rohit (12th), John-
son Purty (21st), Boby Singh
Dhami (31st) and Amandeep
Lakra (51st) found the back
of the net for India, while Iku-
mi Saeki (15th) scored the
only goal for Japan.
After a delayed start, India
got out of the blocks quickly,
as Uttam’s attempt beat the
Japanese goalkeeper after a
spell of domination. And
even though Japan threat-
ened with a couple of penalty
corners right after that,
India’s defence wasn’t
allowing them any space.
India absorbed the pres-
sure from Japan, before
Rohit fired home a penalty
corner to give his side a 2-0
lead. Japan pulled one back
through Saeki, who convert-
ed a penalty corner.
In the second quarter, both
328
Stoinis’
strike rate
as he mus-
cled six sixes and four
fours in his 18-ball innings
less overs.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka:
157/6 (Nissanka 40, Asalan-
ka 38; Starc 1/23, Agar
1/25); Australia: 158/3 in
16.3 overs (Stoinis 59*,
Finch* 31). — Reuters
caught on camera with a
piece of sandpaper on the
field during the Cape Town
test of the South Africa tour.
However, Paine said he
then saw South Africa ball-
tampering in the next test
in Johannesburg.
“Think about that. After
everything that had hap-
pened in Cape Town, after
all the headlines and bans
and carry on,” the wicket-
keeper wrote.
“I was standing at the
bowlers’ end in the next test
when a shot came up on the
screen of a South African
player at mid-off having a
huge crack at the ball.”
Paine said the TV director
immediately pulled the shot
India’s players celebrate after the win. HI
teams traded blows in the
first few minutes before
India regained their two-goal
lead as Purty found the back
of the net with a crisp shot
from the top of the circle.
India continued to pile on
the pressure in search of
another goal, but they went
into the half-time break with
the score reading 3-1 in their
favour. India started bright-
ly in the second half, as Dha-
mi added a fourth. Japan
earned a fifth penalty cor-
13
To hell with spirit of
game: Hardik on
non-striker run out
Sydney, October 25
India all-rounder Hardik
Pandya has no problem with
bowlers running non-strik-
ers out if they back up.
“We need to stop making a
fuss about this,” Pandya
said in an ICC Review Pod-
cast, recorded before the
T20 World Cup. “It’s a rule.
To hell with the spirit of the
game,” he added.
Once considered unfair
play, although legal, the ICC
has now termed this dis-
missal as a run out. Since
October 1, it no longer sits in
the ‘unfair play’ section of Hardik Pandya was one of the
its rule book. However, the top performers against Pakistan,
debate continues if such picking up three wickets and
dismissals are against the scoring 40 runs in the win.
‘spirit of game’.
“Personally, I have no prob- during the team’s net ses-
lem with it,” said Pandya. “If sion on Monday while
I am walking out (of the exhausted Hardik Pandya
crease) and someone runs was given a recovery break.
me out, that is my mistake. Pandya was one of the top
He is using the rule to his performers against Pakistan,
advantage, that is fine, that’s picking up three wickets and
not a big deal,” he added. scoring 40 runs in the win.
The issue became a hot top- Since their next match is
ic of discussion when Deepti against Netherlands on
Sharma ran out Charlie Dean Thursday, India can afford to
at the non-striker’s end and rest Pandya and try out Deep-
handed India a historic 3-0 ak Hooda, who can bat at any
sweep in the women’s ODI position and also bowl off-
series in England last month. breaks. The bowling unit,
except R Ashwin, was also
Hardik gets break given complete rest. With no
KL Rahul’s lack of foot- training on the eve of the
work against quality pace game, the fast bowlers are
attack was monitored by likely to return fresh for the
the Indian coaching staff next game. — PTI
Zim coach critical of decision to play on in wet
conditions; Boucher says SA ‘hard done by’
HOBART: Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton criticised the
umpires’ decision to continue their T20 World Cup match
against South Africa despite heavy rain on Monday, with one of
his bowlers left nursing an ankle injury after slipping in the wet
outfield. South Africa were on the verge of victory when the
Super 12 contest was called off due to the weather. South
Africa coach Mark Boucher said they too had to bowl in difficult
conditions. “We were in a very good position. You walk away
from this game thinking we were hard done by,” he said. REUTERS
off the stadium screen. Guardian that it was “self-
“We went to the umpires explanatory” that Aus-
about it, which might tralia’s bowlers had to be
seem a bit poor, but we’d aware of the ball-tampering.
been slaughtered and Australia’s bowlers have
were convinced they’d denied any knowledge of
been up to it since the first the plan.
test,” he wrote. Paine also denied the
“But the footage got lost. scheme was common
As it would.” knowledge in the dressing
Cricket South Africa and room but said the team
the South Africa team should have taken responsi-
were unable to provide bility as a whole rather than
immediate comment to let the blame fall solely on
Reuters on Tuesday. the three players.
Though Cricket Australia “Everyone was a part of it
(CA) sanctioned the three to some degree - would it
players, media have long have worked out better for
speculated as to whether those three players if we
other members of the team had owned it as a team? I
were involved. think it would have,” he
Bancroft last year told The said. — Reuters
ner, but a bad trap allowed flurry of attacks, India
the Indian defence to clear stepped up the ante and
their lines. Japan did step it Lakra converted a penalty
up in the final minutes of corner. India will take on Aus-
the quarter, but India kept tralia in their fourth game
them out, maintaining the tomorrow. Australia beat
three-goal lead and playing defending champions Great
most of the game in their Britain 3-1 to make it three
opposition’s half. wins in three games. They
In need of a quick goal in lead the table with nine
the final phase of play, Japan points. India are second with
went on the attack from the six points, ahead of South
start, but India dug deep and Africa on goal difference.
controlled the situation well. South Africa defeated hosts
Having dealt with the initial Malaysia 3-1 today. — PTI
14
India stands for peace, war last resort: Modi
Says country now becoming exporter in defence equipment, calls armed forces pillars of security
Kargil, October 25
India stands for peace and has
always considered war as not
the first but last resort, but its
armed forces have the
strength and strategies to give
a befitting reply to anyone
who casts an evil eye on the
nation, Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi said on Monday.
Addressing soldiers here on
Diwali, Modi said India was
against war, but also under-
scored the need for strength
to ensure peace and asserted
that its growing power boost-
ed the chances of global
peace and prosperity.
The whole world was look-
ing at India which was a “bal-
ancing force”, he told the sol-
diers at the site of the armed
forces’ heroic feats in the
Kargil War in 1999 as India
beat back Pakistani forces.
Modi invoked the epics of
Ramayana and Mahabhara-
ta to assert that it was in
Indian tradition to avoid war
be it in Lanka or Kuruk-
Army: N-E insurgents’ claim of Drug parcel seized at Mumbai
shooting down copter fake air cargo complex, three nabbed
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 25
Four days after a north-east-
ern insurgent group claimed
that it had shot down an
Army helicopter in
Arunachal Pradesh on Octo-
ber 21, the Indian Army today
described the claim as “fake”.
The weapon system inte-
grated version of an
Advanced Light Helicopter
(ALH) of the Army crashed
near Migging village, 25 km
from the Tuting headquar-
ters in Upper Siang district of
Arunachal Pradesh. All five
on board, including the two
The AgustaWestland chopper deal had kicked up a controversy. FILE
CBI closes bribery
case against ex-Brig
New Delhi, October 25
A retired Brigadier’s ordeal
ended after seven years as the
CBI finally closed an offshoot
of AgustaWestland VVIP chop-
per corruption case against
him following no incriminat-
ing evidence supporting
bribery allegations was found.
For Brigadier VS Saini (retd)
of Army Aviation, the moment
brought some smiles on his
face after facing rigourous
questioning from the agency
for allegedly favouring the
UK-based company during
field trials of Light Utility
Helicopters in 2010.
Saini was accused of
demanding bribes from Chris-
tian Michel James, an alleged
middleman, to favour the com-
pany during field evaluation
trials held in 2010, officials said.
The case pertained to the
requirement of 197 Light
Utility Helicopters by Army
Aviation for reconnaissance
and surveillance operations
to replace decades-old fleet
of Chetak and Cheetah heli-
copters, the officials said.
Army Aviation had floated a
request for proposal (RFP) on
Printed and Published by Rajesh Ramachandran for The Tribune Trust
Printed at The Tribune Press, Plot No. 123, Sector 37, Pace City-1, Gurugram.
Published at The Tribune, Sector 29-C, Chandigarh.
RNI No. CHAENG/2017/72605.
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Editor-in-Chief: Rajesh Ramachandran*
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shetra and the country stood
for world peace.
The Prime Minister high-
lighted numerous measures
taken by his government to
boost economy and develop-
ment, saying a country was
safe only when its borders
Says pilots did send
out ‘May Day’ alert
pilots died, in the crash. A
court of inquiry is on.
On the day of the crash, a
press release circulated on
WhatsApp and several media
houses claimed that it was
issued by the People’s Liber-
ation Army (PLA) and the
Manipur Naga Revolutionary
Front (MNRF) claiming
responsibility for shooting
down the Army helicopter.
Army officials in New Delhi
rubbished the claim, saying
AGUSTAWESTLAND
OFFSHOOT CASE
■ Brigadier VS Saini (retd)
was accused of demand-
ing bribes to favour
AgustaWestland during
field evaluation trials
■ It was alleged that he had
allowed participation of a
different variety of chopper
than what the company
had mentioned earlier
July 24, 2008, to which three
firms — UK’s AgustaWest-
land, France’s Eurocopter
and Russia’s Rosoboronoex-
ports had responded and sub-
mitted technical and com-
mercial proposals.
It was alleged that Brigadier
Saini as officer-in charge of
the trial team had allowed par-
ticipation of a different variety
of AgustaWestland chopper
than what the company had
mentioned in the RFP and he
had also written a letter dated
February 3, 2010, addressed to
the Weapon Equipment Direc-
torate in favour of
AgustaWestland. — TNS
were secure, its economy
robust and society full of self-
confidence.
“The armed forces are
pillars of India’s security,”
he said.
Noting that India has
become the fifth largest
the so-called press release
was “fake”.
The Army has already said
the pilots did send out a ‘May
Day’ call.
Prior to the crash, the Air
Traffic Control (ATC) had
received a ‘May Day call’,
suggesting a technical or
mechanical failure, an Army
officials in Delhi had said.
The weather at Tuting was
good for flying operations. The
pilots had more than 600 com-
bined flying hours on the ALH
and more than 1,800 flying
hours between them. Both
aspects will be looked into dur-
ing the court of inquiry.
CBI files charges
against 12 in WB
recruitment scam
New Delhi, October 25
The CBI today said it had
filed a chargesheet against 12
accused for alleged corrup-
tion relating to appointment
of assistant teachers in sec-
ondary and higher secondary
schools across West Bengal.
The agency said it had
chargesheeted then adviser of
West Bengal Central School Ser-
vice Commission (WBCSSC)
Santi Prasad Sinha, then Chair-
man Subires Bhattacharyya,
then chief of ad hoc panel
Kalyanmoy Gangully, then assis-
tant secretary Ashok Kumar
Saha, programme officers Parna
Bose and Samarjit Acharya and
six private individuals before the
Special Judge, Alipore.
The six private persons
chargesheeted are Prasanna
Kumar Roy alias Rakesh,
Pradip Singh alias Chotu, Jnui
Das, Md Azad Ali Mirza, Imam
Momin and Rohit Kumar Jha, it
said. The CBI had registered the
case in compliance with the
orders of the Calcutta HC in con-
nection with a petition relating
to illegal appointments. — TNS
22 MLAs of Shinde camp to join BJP, claims Uddhav faction
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 25
Are the BJP and Maharash-
tra Deputy Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis prepar-
ing to topple Chief Minister
Eknath Shinde? “Saamana”
— the mouthpiece of the Shiv
Sena faction led by Uddhav
Thackeray — certainly
believes so.
According to the assump-
tion floated by the Sena
publication ahead of the
high-stakes Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation
(BMC) elections — the first
electoral test for the two
warring factions — Shinde
is a “temporary arrange-
ment” and 22 of Sena MLAs
who jumped ship to bring
BACK PAGE
MAKE IN INDIA
❝ ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ is
the most important aspect
of the country’s security as
it needs to have minimal
reliance on foreign
weapons and systems.
Narendra Modi, PRIME MINISTER
TRIBUTES PAID
PM Narendra Modi paid trib-
utes to soldiers and assert-
ed they had been his family
for many years, and Diwali’s
sweetness and brightness
were in their midst.
<<Prime Minister Narendra
Modi in Kargil on Diwali. PTI
world economy from 10th in soldiers with pride.
the last seven to eight years The Tricolour acted as a
ago, Modi also spoke about protective shield for Indians
the emergence of more than in the Ukraine war, he said.
80,000 startups and the In a swipe at previous gov-
ISRO’s record of simultane- ernments, PM Modi said his
ously launching 36 satellites dispensation had worked to
to assert that these feats fill remove the shortcomings of
Tribune News Service plex, Mumbai, on October 20.
The officials said the parcel
New Delhi, October 25 had originated in Paris and
The Directorate of Revenue was destined for an address
Intelligence (DRI) has inter- in Mumbai. A search of the
cepted an international par- parcel resulted in the seizure
cel consisting of narcotic sub- of 1.9 kg of Amphetamine-
stances, which originated type substance in the form of
from Paris, at the Mumbai’s tablets valued at more than
air cargo complex, officials Rs 15 crore in the illicit inter-
said today. national market, they added.
The parcel was intercepted The tablets were packed in
following an intelligence polythene packs concealed
input suggesting that narcot- inside the body of the corru-
ic substances were likely to gated packaging material.
be smuggled into India In a follow-up action, the
through an international DRI sleuths, in a meticulous-
courier, as DRI sleuths seized ly planned operation, uncov-
them at the air cargo com- ered multiple layers of recipi-
Preparations in full swing at AICC headquarters in Delhi. MR BHUI
Kharge to take over
as Cong prez today
New Delhi, October 25 He defeated Thiruvanan-
Veteran leader Mallikarjun thapuram MP Shashi Tha-
Kharge will formally take over roor in a direct contest for the
as Congress president on top post in the grand old par-
Wednesday after he is handed ty after the Gandhis opted
over the certificate of election out of the race.
and the baton by Sonia Gand- Ahead of his taking over,
hi at a function here. Kharge called on former PM
Hectic preparations were Manmohan Singh at his resi-
underway at the Congress dence and spent some time
headquarters for the ceremo- with him. On Wednesday
ny. Kharge will be the first morning, Kharge will pay
non-Gandhi to head the out- homage to Mahatma Gandhi
fit in 24 years. at Rajghat. — TNS
down the Uddhav Thacker-
ay-led MVA government are HIGH-STAKES BMC ELECTIONS
ready to dump Shinde and ■ The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
join the BJP. elections will be the first test of the govern-
“Now everyone has under- ment headed by Chief Minister Eknath
stood that his chief ministeri- Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis
al uniform will be taken off ■ “The BJP will continue to use Shinde for its
anytime. The Shinde fac- benefit,” Saamana stated, quoting a BJP
tion’s claim of success in the leader who claimed “all decisions are
gram panchayat and taken by Fadnavis while Shinde
sarpanch elections is false. At just announces them”
least 22 MLAs of the Shinde
group are upset. The majority it stated, quoting a BJP
of these MLAs will merge leader who claimed “all
themselves with the BJP,” decisions are taken by Fad-
Saamana was quoted as say- navis while Shinde just
ing while accusing Shinde of announces them”.
causing “great damage” to It also cited the BJP’s deci-
himself and Maharashtra “for sion to withdraw its candidate
which the people of the state from Andheri (East) to but-
will never forgive him”. tress the claim that Shinde
“The BJP will continue to can lose his job anytime.
use Shinde for its benefit,” In a rare political move,
the past poor governance
which constricted India’s
capabilities and limited its
development.
In his address, Modi
recalled his visit to this fron-
tier region, which is part of
Ladakh that touches the bor-
der with China as well, dur-
ing the war when the Indian
military had “crushed the
hood of terror”.
“There has not been a single
war with Pakistan when
Kargil has not flown the victo-
ry flag,” he said, adding that
Diwali symbolised the “cele-
bration of the end of terror”.
“I witnessed the Kargil war
closely. It was my duty that
had brought me to Kargil
back then. There are many
memories of that time when
the sounds of victory were
reverberating all around,”
Modi said, continuing with
his custom of spending time
with soldiers in different
parts of the country during
Diwali. — PTI
ents through which the con-
signment changed hands.
They said the original recip-
ient of the parcel was nabbed
while receiving the consign-
ment. His interrogation led to
another person, who was the
next in the chain and the sec-
ond person was also nabbed in
a similar manner, they added.
The second arrested
accused’s interrogation
revealed that the parcel’s end
recipient was a Nigerian
national, who was also nabbed
when he came to receive it,
the officials said, adding that
thus three persons have been
nabbed so far.
USsends5thsuccessivetemporary
in-charge for embassy in India
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 25
With the nomination of Eric
Garcetti as Ambassador to
India languishing in the US
Senate, Washington is send-
ing the fifth career diplo-
mat as Chargé d’Affairs
since the last regular envoy
left 22 months ago.
Ambassador Elizabeth
Jones will be departing for
New Delhi to serve as
Chargé d’Affaires, ad inter-
im, said a US State Depart-
ment statement.
She recently served as the
Coordinator for Afghan
Relocation Efforts. She was
earlier the Assistant Secre-
tary of State for Europe and
Eurasia, acting Assistant
Secretary of State for the
Near East, and Ambassador
to Kazakhstan. Ambassador
Jones carries the highest
Foreign Service rank of
Career Ambassador, said
the statement.
“In India, Jones will join
the BJP recently withdrew
its candidate Murji Patel
from the Andheri (East)
bypoll, paving the way for
Uddhav Thackeray-led
Rutuja Latke (wife of late
Shiv Sena leader Ramesh
Latke) to win unopposed.
While the Maharashtra BJP
attributed the decision to the
state’s political culture
GURUGRAM | WEDNESDAY | 26 OCTOBER 2022
Pakistani embassy officials talk to a police officer in Nairobi. REUTERS
Outspoken Pakistan
scribe killed in Kenya
Nairobi, October 25
A senior Pakistani journalist
living in hiding in Kenya was
shot and killed by the police
after the car he was in sped
up instead of halting at a
roadblock near Nairobi, the
police said on Monday.
The Kenyan police expressed
regret over the incident, saying
it was a case of “mistaken iden-
tity” during a search for a simi-
lar car involved in a case of
child abduction.
Arshad Sharif (49), a former
reporter and TV anchor with
ARY TV, left Pakistan in July
to avoid arrest over criticising
the South Asian country’s
powerful military. He was
also a critic of the govern-
ment of Prime Minister
Shahbaz Sharif, who has
repeatedly said he believed in
freedom of the media.
On Monday, Sharif spoke
with Kenyan President
William Ruto and asked him
to ensure a fair and transpar-
ent investigation into the jour-
nalist’s killing, according to a
government statement.
The Nairobi police said
Arshad Sharif was shot in the
head and killed Sunday night
after the car he was in with
his brother, Khurram
Ahmed, drove through a
roadblock set up on the
Nairobi-Magadi highway to
check vehicles along the key
EXPERIENCED HAND
■ The new Chargé d’Af-
faires, Elizabeth Jones,
recently served as the
Coordinator for Afghan
relocation efforts
■ She was earlier the Assis-
tant Secretary of State for
Europe and Eurasia & act-
ing Assistant Secretary of
State for the Near East
■ There have been four
Chargé d’Affaires in 21
months since Kenneth
Juster, an appointee of for-
mer President Trump, quit
in January 2021
our Embassy and Consulate
interagency teams in
advancing and expanding
the partnership between
our governments and peo-
ple, a partnership that Sec-
retary Blinken has called
one of the most consequen-
tial in the world,” said the
US State Department.
US President Joe Biden
whereby parties refrain from
fielding a candidate if a rela-
tive of an MLA or an MP who
has passed away contests the
bypoll, the Uddhav side
claimed the BJP would have
been be “so badly trounced”
that the candidate would
have “lost the deposit”. Inter-
estingly, Rutuja was able to
file nomination only after a
court’s intervention.
Andheri (East) would cer-
tainly have tested the elec-
toral strength of the two sides
for the first time since the col-
lapse of the Uddhav’s gov-
ernment, an onus which now
shifts to the BMC elections.
According to experts,
recent events such as the tus-
sle over the Shivaji Park ven-
ue for Dasehra rally, BJP’s
THE TRIBUNE
Arshad Sharif
CASE OF MISTAKEN
IDENTITY: POLICE
A senior Kenyan police
officer said: “We had an
incident of shooting
which turned (out) to be
a case of mistaken iden-
tity involving a journal-
ist. We will release more
information later.”
route. They were traveling
from the town of Magadi to
the Kenyan capital.
The two ignored police
orders to stop and sped up.
“They did not stop and pro-
ceeded with the journey,” the
police said. The police opened
fire and laid chase, during
which the car flipped over.
Sharif’s wife Javeria Sid-
dique confirmed that her
husband was killed in Kenya.
His brother’s condition was
not immediately known.
“I lost a friend, husband and
my favourite journalist today. As
per the police, he was shot in
Kenya,” Javeria Siddique tweet-
ed on Monday. — Agencies
had last year announced
the nomination of Eric
Garcetti as the Ambas-
sador to India. He had
served for 12 years as an
intelligence officer in the
US Navy Reserve Compo-
nent, including a stint with
the Defence Intelligence
Agency and the Pacific
Fleet, the US Navy’s
sword-arm in the Quad.
Garcetti was tipped to be
the envoy to India on May
26 when Biden sent a clutch
of ambassadorships to the
Senate for confirmation.
The Mayor of Los Angeles
since 2013, he also served as
a City Council member.
A Rhodes scholar, he stud-
ied at Queen’s College,
Oxford, and the London
School of Economics. He
taught at Occidental Col-
lege’s Department of Diplo-
macy and World Affairs, as
well as at the University of
Southern California’s
School of International
Relations.
Dahi Handi celebrations, the
high drama over the Andheri
(East) candidate, the Saa-
mana’s claim and Shinde
and Fadnavis warming
towards Raj Thackeray-led
Maharashtra Navnirman
Sena (MNS) point towards
the importance of the BMC
polls for all players.
It will be the first test of the
government headed by
Shinde and Fadnavis, who
last week had triggered fresh
speculations about a possible
political realignment when
they participated in a Diwali
event organised by the MNS.
Meanwhile, former Maha-
rashtra minister Sanjay
Deshmukh also rejoined the
Uddhav side along with
another Thane leader.