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Politicians should
keep off other
fields: Gadkari
Mumbai, January 13
Union Minister Nitin Gad-
kari on Sunday advised fel-
low politicians not to inter-
fere in “other fields”.
The senior BJP leader was
speaking at the valedictory
function of an annual
Marathi literary meet at
Yavatmal, which has been
embroiled in a controversy
after an invitation to noted
writer Nayantara Sahgal was
withdrawn by the organisers.
Gadkari said, “Politicians
should learn not to interfere in
other fields. The people in uni-
versities, educational institu-
tions, literature and poetry
should be dealing with their
(respective) areas.”
“When I say there should
not be any interference, it
does not mean there should
not be any contact between
the people from the field of lit-
erature and politicians,” he
added. “During Emergency,
the speeches of (Marathi)
writers like Durga Bhagwat
and PL Deshpande drew big-
ger crowds than rallies. Both,
however, returned to litera-
ture after the election.” — PTI
After alliance snub, Cong
to contest all 80 UP seats
Azad: Only grand old party can challenge, defeat BJP
Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service
Lucknow, January 13
Virtually rejecting the BSP-
SP offer of two seats in Uttar
Pradesh, the Congress today
announced its decision to
contest all 80 Lok Sabha
seats in the state, making it a
three-cornered contest.
Senior Congress leader and
incharge of the state, Ghulam
Nabi Azad, told reporters that
this was not an Assembly poll
but a national election in
which only the Congress
could challenge and defeat
the BJP. There was, however,
enough flexibility to accom-
modate any capable person
or secular-minded party on
these 80 seats, he added.
The decision to go it alone
in the politically significant
state of Uttar Pradesh comes
a day after BSP’s Mayawati
and SP’s Akhilesh Yadav
announced their alliance,
deciding not to field candi-
dates from the Congress-held
Punjab lad Shubman gets India call Pak civil society livid over ‘Manto’ ban
Prolific 19-yr-old batsman selected for New Zealand tour that begins on Jan 23
Sunny Kaul
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 13
Sixteen years of dreaming
and working to play for
India seem to have borne
fruit for Shubman Gill —
the 19-year-old has been
selected in the India team
for the ODI and T20I tour of
New Zealand, which begins
on January 23.
The Fazilka boy, who
moved to Mohali to hone
skills, has been in excellent
form in the Ranji Trophy,
with two 100s and five 50s. He
was included in the squad
after KL Rahul and Hardik
Pandya were suspended.
“After the 2019 World Cup,
he can make it to the (Indi-
an) side,” Yuvraj Singh
recently predicted about
Gill, hailing him as a “spe-
cial talent”. Gill’s selection
in the Indian team only
affirmed that belief.
Gill has impressed one
13
chandigarh | gurugram | jalandhar | bathinda | jammu | srinagar | vol.139 no.14 | 26 pages | ~4.50 | regd.no.chd/0006/2018-2020 established in 1881 | monday, january14,2019
BJP SAYS DOORS OPEN
FOR PHOOLKA PAGE 2
Coining glory
His predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh by his side, Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases
a commemorative coin to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in New Delhi
on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO REPORT ON BACK PAGE
‘RESULTS WILL BE SURPRISING’
❝ Congress has its presence from
the north to south and east to west...
results would be surprising. We would
double if not triple the 2009 tally in UP
Ghulam Nabi Azad, CONGRESS INCHARGE, UP
seats of Amethi and Rae
Bareli. As a matter of fact,
Mayawati described Con-
gress and BJP as two sides of
a coin and claimed that there
was no benefit in allying with
the Congress as its votes were
not transferable.
Commenting on the BSP-
SP alliance, Azad said, “We
did not break the alliance.
During the last six months I
gave at least 15 bytes that
any party which wanted to
defeat the BJP was welcome
to join the alliance. What can
we do if some parties do not
want to join?”
He said the Congress would
contest the 80 seats in UP
An ecstatic Shubman Gill with his father Lakhwinder Singh, who
is also his coach, in Mohali on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR
and all with his batting
prowess and a staggering
average of 77.78 since he
made his first-class debut
in November 2017 is a testi-
mony to his talent.
He has put up two very
significant scores in the last
one month: 268 against
Tamil Nadu and 148 against
with full preparation and con-
fidence under the leadership
of Rahul Gandhi. “The
results would be surprising.
We would double if not triple
the 2009 results,” said Azad.
In 2009, the Congress had
won 21 seats in UP and one
more later in a bypoll, taking
the total number of MPs
from UP to 22.
Without naming Mayawati,
Azad said those who blamed
the Congress for not doing
enough for the marginalised
overlook the party’s history
and constant endeavour to
work for the mainstreaming
of the deprived.
case of fait accompli page 7
Hyderabad. The second
knock at Hyderabad helped
Punjab nearly pull off an
improbable chase on the
last day of their Ranji Tro-
phy match in December.
Chasing 338 for victory,
Punjab, powered by Gill,
finished at 324/8.
“After a long time there is
Today’s issue is of 26 pages, including six-page Chandigarh Tribune and four-page Life+Style.
INFOCUS: FOOD SAFETY
HOW WAX WORKS PAGE 12
/thetribunechd /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com
Punjab loan waiver Al-Badr commander, aide
to farmhands likely killed in Kulgam gunfight
Meeting today, beneficiary list in works But for Naikoo and Musa, all top ultras eliminated: Police
Chandigarh, January 13
In an election mode, a crucial
meeting of the Punjab Gov-
ernment on extending its flag-
ship crop loan waiver scheme
to 3.7 lakh farmhands in the
state is to be held tomorrow.
With the Punjab Khet Maz-
door Union claiming that 85
per cent of farm labourers are
under debt, the exercise to
identify potential beneficiar-
ies as per the laid down crite-
ria has already begun.
Officials say loans worth Rs
600 crore of up to Rs 50,000
taken by farm workers from
agricultural societies are
expected to be waived. A pro-
forma, detailing the profile of
the intended beneficiaries, has
been circulated to the depart-
ment concerned.
The Congress had promised
during the Assembly elections
that its loan waiver scheme
would cover landless farm
labourers, SCs and Backward
Classes. So far, the govern-
ment has covered marginal
a young guy whose batting I
like to watch. He is very
exciting,” Yuvi had said
about his state-mate.
Interestingly, in the nine
first-class matches he has
played so far, he has not
aggregated less than 50
even once.
Gill also had a great role in
India’s success at the ICC
U-19 World Cup in New
Zealand early last year. The
dashing top-order batsman
smashed a timely 102 to help
India beat Pakistan in the
semis and was named the
Player of the Tournament.
Rated highly by the likes
of Rahul Dravid and WV
Raman, Gill has the belief
that he can deliver at the
big stage. “When these
guys hold you in good
esteem, you know that you
are moving in the right
direction and just need to
carry on,” said Gill.
MORE on PAGE 14
SC judge opts out of
post-retirement post
Justice Sikri says no amidst row over decision on CBI chief
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 13
Amid the controversy over
his possible nomination to
the London-based Common-
wealth Secretariat Arbitral
Tribunal (CSAT) by the
Narendra Modi government,
Supreme Court Judge AK
Sikri today withdrew his con-
sent for the assignment.
Sources said Justice Sikri
has conveyed to the govern-
ment his decision.
Justice Sikri’s consent for
the CSAT assignment, it is
learnt, was taken in the first
week of December, a month
before a Bench headed by
Chief Justice of India Ranjan
Gogoi reinstated former CBI
Director Alok Verma to the
post, as the latter had chal-
lenged the government’s
decision to send him on
forced leave in October.
On January 10, the high-
powered selection panel of
~600-CRORE RELIEF
■ ~600-crore loans of up to
~50,000 taken by farm
workers from agricultural
societies may be waived
■ Pressure is building to extend
benefit to families of farmers
who committed suicide
farmers who had taken loans
from cooperative and com-
mercial banks.
The process to cover small
farmers is underway. As
many as 2.15 lakh small farm-
ers who had taken loan from
cooperative banks will be cov-
ered in the third phase, while
50,752 small farmers who had
taken loan from commercial
banks will be covered in the
next phase. — TNS
Plan protests in cities of Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Peshawar today
Smita Sharma
Tribune news service
New Delhi, January 13
Amid cross-border shelling
and animosity, a rare India-
Pakistan solidarity is on dis-
play. Pakistan’s civil society
groups, journalists and
artistes have joined hands to
demand that the Imran Khan
government lifts its ban on
Indian film ‘Manto’.
The critically acclaimed
movie by Nandita Das is a
celebration of the legendary
Urdu writer who chose to
move to Pakistan post-Parti-
tion in January 1948 after
having lived in Bombay since
1936. Having faced nearly six
trials for his frank and con-
troversial writings, his legacy
is much respected by the peo-
ple of the sub-continent.
People are coming together
at 4 pm (local time) on Mon-
day to protest in Lahore,
Karachi, Peshawar and Mul-
tan, demanding the screen-
SERENA CHASES HISTORY
AT AUS OPEN PAGE 15
Justice AK Sikri
PM Modi, Congress leader
Mallikarjun Kharge and Jus-
tice Sikri had removed Verma
from the post of CBI Director
by a majority 2:1 verdict, as
Kharge gave a dissent note.
Justice Sikri was nominat-
ed to the panel by CJI Gogoi,
who headed the Bench which
delivered the ruling on Ver-
ma’s reinstatement.
Government sources said
the insinuation linking the
CSAT assignment with Jus-
tice Sikri’s participation in
the panel which decided on
Suhail A Shah &
Majid Jahangir
Anantnag/Srinagar, January13
Wanted Al-Badr commander
Zeenat-ul-Islam (29), a key
recruiter who escaped several
times by breaking the securi-
ty cordon, ran out of luck late
Saturday. He was killed along
with his aide in south Kash-
mir’s Kulgam district.
The operational chief of Al-
Badr was one of the few sur-
viving militants on the list of
the Army’s “22 most wanted”
released in June last year. His
elimination is believed to
have further weakened the
militant ranks in Kashmir.
Since November, more than
six top commanders have
been killed by the forces.
“Except for Riyaz Naikoo and
Zakir Musa, the top militant
leadership has been eliminat-
ed,” said police sources.
The gunfight at Kathpora
Yaripora on Saturday erupted
after dusk when the forces
ing of the movie in Pakistan.
Saeed Ahmed, a playwright,
who was also a key consultant
for the movie, started an
online petition on change.org
and has called for protests in
collaboration with Manto
Memorial Society.
In an open letter to PM
Imran Khan, he wrote,“Saa-
dat Hassan Manto faced per-
secution, torture and years of
court trials during ‘Purana
� late city
Verma’s ouster was wrong.
They said though Justice
Sikri had given his consent
for the London assignment,
he was not aware of the gov-
ernment’s decision, adding
that he had also conveyed
that he was not looking for
any post-retirement job. He
is due to retire from the
Supreme Court on March 6.
Government sources
admitted that a process was
initiated to take the consent
of Justice Sikri for the CSAT
appointment, but remained
tightlipped about the with-
drawal. They said it required
a long drawn process to com-
plete formalities and the
judge was also not immedi-
ately available for the post.
Interestingly, in a Twitter
post, former SC Judge
Markandey Katju countered
the media reports as “fake
news”. He said, “I have spo-
ken with Justice Sikri, and
will publish true facts.”
launched a search operation.
Initially, the police said two
militants had been killed. It
was midnight when the
deceased were identified as
Zeenat and his aide Shakeel
Ahmad Dar.
The police said apart from
being an IED expert, Zeenat
was a key recruiter. “It was
often at funerals of militants,
when emotions run high, that
he would pick recruits,” a
police official said.
10 injured in clashes
at time of funeral
Active since 2006, Zeenat
was arrested in 2009 in north
Kashmir’s Sopore and jailed
for at least four years. In 2015,
he joined the Lashkar-e-Toiba
and then Hizbul Mujahideen.
He was allegedly involved in
an ambush in February 2017
that left three Army jawans
dead and five wounded. He
became Al-Badr commander
❝ CBFC clearance chose not to
Manto is under
the worst attack by the
state machinery and
the censor board has
taken the liberty to
snub and kill sanity in
my country. This is an
attack on common
sense and good sense
of the people.
Saeed Ahmed, PAK PLAYWRIGHT
Pakistan’. Would the same
dreadful fate befall the writ-
ers, particularly Manto, in
‘Naya Pakistan’?”
Speaking from Lahore,
Ahmed said while the film was
cleared by the Sindh branch of
the censor board, objections
were raised by the board in
Lahore, citing obscenity and
opposition to Partition por-
trayed in the movie. “Unfortu-
nately, the distributor and
IN BRIEF
Pope to parents: It’s OK to
fight, just not in front of kids
Vatican City: Pope Francis offered
new parents a bit of advice on
Sunday, telling them it’s perfect-
ly normal to fight, but just not in
front of the children. “You have
no idea of children’s anguish
when they see their parents
fight.” One of his favourite
axioms is that couples should
make a habit of saying “Please,
thank you and sorry”, and
should never go to bed mad. AP
Amending Constitution for
quota ‘harmful’: Pawar
Kolhapur: Experts feel that
amending the Constitution to
increase the reservation limit is
“harmful” to its basic principles,
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on
Sunday, days after Parliament
cleared a Bill to provide 10 per
cent quota to economically
backward sections among the
General Category. PTI
a few months ago. Thousands
of mourners today attended
Zeenat’s funeral in his
native village Sugan in
Shopian. His father Ghulam
Hassan Shah called his
killing a “proud moment”.
Clashes erupted when the
forces restricted the move-
ment of mourners. More
than 10 persons were
injured as the forces fired
bullets and pellets. A
woman suffered injuries
when she was allegedly hit
by a security vehicle.
Former Jammu and Kash-
mir Chief Minister Mehboo-
ba Mufti termed the security
forces’ action unfortunate
and disturbing. “Reports of
aerial firing to stop the crowd
from participating in the
funeral of a local militant are
very unfortunate and dis-
turbing. Such interference in
the religious affairs is unde-
sirable and may backfire,
leading to further anger and
alienation,” she tweeted.
exhibitor who applied for
respond to a notice and argue
their case,” he said.
“Manto is under the worst
attack by the state machinery
and the censor board has tak-
en the liberty to snub and kill
sanity in my country. This is
an attack on common sense
and good sense of the peo-
ple,” remarked a livid Ahmed.
On the support across the
border for her film in which
Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays
the protagonist, Nandita Das
wrote on Facebook, “It is very
moving to see that so many
have taken it upon them-
selves to fight the battle. My
team and I can take zero cred-
it. I hope the distributor will
also join the efforts.”
Last week, the Lahore Arts
Council had reportedly can-
celled the Manto festival
scheduled for January 14-16.
This too had triggered
protests.
02
Cleanliness is next to godliness
A sewadar takes out kites as he cleans the sarovar at the Golden Temple on the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. PTI
Stage set for Maghi Mela: Cong,
AAP won’t hold meet for 2nd yr
Akali Dal makes arrangements for 55,000 people for its conference
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, January 13
As the Congress and AAP
have decided against holding
political conferences on Maghi
(January 14) during the annu-
al Maghi Mela, the annual reli-
gious event is likely to remain
free of political slugfest.
However, the SAD (Badal),
SAD (Amritsar) and Insaaf
Team (a group of some young-
sters) are holding the confer-
ences. All gurdwaras have
been decked up and langars
started at many places for the
occasion. A cattle market has
also been set up near the town.
Nearly 5,500 cops have been
deployed to keep a watch on
every minute development
and manage traffic in and
around the town. The SSPs of
Muktsar, Bathinda and Mansa
are monitoring the situation.
New advt policy fetches Picking Jalandhar candidate Won’t shift seat
~27.54 cr for Ludhiana a daunting task for Akali Dal to Sikar: Jakhar
Chandigarh, January 13
The ambitious Outdoor Adver-
tisement Policy of the Local
Government has started bear-
ing fruit and fetched ~27.54
crore for Ludhiana alone for
the first year in the online auc-
tion that concluded yesterday.
The total revenue from all
the 168 local governments
last financial year was about
~18 crore only. After the new
policy, this year the expect-
ed revenue was likely to be
between ~150 and ~175
crore, said Local Govern-
ment Minister Navjot Singh
Sidhu, while addressing a
press conference here today.
Sidhu said after the new
policy, the annual income of
the Moga Municipal Corpora-
tion had increased from ~30
lakh to ~1 crore. The revenue
CAPT’S APPEAL ‘IGNORED’
■ CM Capt Amarinder Singh had appealed to all parties on
January 4 not to hold any political conference during the
Maghi to maintain the sanctity of the occasion
■ SAD is likely to target Congress on its unfulfilled poll
announcements, farmer suicides, drugs, unemployment
and ‘rise’ of radicals in state
■ SAD (Amritsar) is likely to raise issue of Khalistan and Insaaf
.
Team may raise the demand of poppy cultivation in state
“The patrolling has been
increased, CCTV cameras
installed. The town has been
divided into seven sectors for
better co-ordination of staff.
Besides, the digital map of
the town has been released
for the ease of devotees.
Some traffic diversions too
have been made and sign
boards put up,” said Muktsar
SSP Manjit Singh Dhesi.
The Congress has decided to
send a delegation of ministers,
❝
After the new policy, the
annual income of the Moga MC
has increased from ~30 lakh to
~1 crore and the revenue of the
Pathankot MC has increased
from ~20 lakh to ~67 lakh.
Navjot Singh Sidhu, LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER
of the Pathankot MC had
increased from ~20 lakh to
~67 lakh. The annual income
targets for Amritsar and
Mohali had been set at ~20
crore each. The minimum
base price for Jalandhar had
been fixed at ~18.15 crore.
In case of Ludhiana, the earn-
ings last year were only ~1.75
crore. The total earning, here
during the past 10 years was
only ~31 crore approximately.
The new tender would have
including Rural Development
Minister Tript Rajinder Singh
Bajwa, Revenue Minister
Sukhbinder Sarkaria and
PCC chief Sunil Jakhar.
“Two Cabinet ministers and
PCC chief are likely to come
tomorrow. The ministers will
come from Chandigarh in a
chopper and state party unit
chief will come from Delhi.
They will pay obeisance at the
gurdwara and take part in lan-
gar. Besides, they will digitally
Ludhiana richer by ~289 crore
after nine years, based on cal-
culations at the current price,
which would mean an increase
of 800 per cent revenue. The
tender had gone to Leaf Berry
Advertisement Private Limit-
ed. The average annual
income, in Ludhiana alone,
would be ~32 crore, he said.
He said the department had
decided not to allow any adver-
tisement on building wraps
and also rooftops. — TNS
PUNJAB
inaugurate the construction of
town’s maiden railway over
bridge at the helipad,” said
Harcharan Singh ‘Sotha’,
Muktsar Congress chief.
The SAD has erected a tent
at the SGPC ground on Mal-
out road. Kanwarjit Singh
‘Rozy Barkandi’, SAD’s
Muktsar chief, said: “The sen-
ior leadership of SAD-BJP
will address the public. The
sitting arrangement for nearly
55,000 people has been made.
Besides, the parking lots have
been made in over 25 acres.”
The SAD (Amritsar), led by
Simranjit Singh Mann, will hold
a conference at the Bhai Mas-
taan Singh Road. Lok Insaaf
Party founder MLA Simarjit
Singh Bains and his supporters
today cleaned the road from
Kotkapura road bypass to the
gurdwara. Bains said he had
come as a devotee, not a leader.
LS POLL Party has won seat only twice in 16 polls
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, January 13
The Shiromani Akali Dal will
face a Herculean task to find
a suitable face for the Jaland-
har Lok Sabha seat this time.
The constituency is a Con-
gress stronghold. The SAD,
which has won only twice
from this seat in the last 16
elections, has been experi-
menting by changing its can-
didate from the seat each
time, but losing dismally.
While it fielded former PM’s
son Naresh Kumar Gujral in
2004, it projected Sufi singer
and Valmiki leader Hans Raj
Hans in 2009, when the seat
got reserved. In 2014, the
Akali Dal picked its MLA and
Ravidassia leader Pawan
Tinu. While Gujral had lost to
Congress’ Rana Gurjeet
Singh by 33,464 votes, Hans
got defeated by 36,445 votes
against MS Kaypee. Even in
2019, when the NDA won tri-
umphantly, Tinu got trounced
with 70,989 votes from Chaud-
hary Santokh Singh.
Now when the SAD is lying
politically low in the state, no sit-
ting SC MLA in Doaba is ready
to contest the Lok Sabha polls,
be it Tinu from Adampur,
Khaira’s 1st office in Bathinda
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, January 13
Bholath MLA Sukhpal
Singh Khaira today opened
his Punjabi Ekta Party’s
first office in the city.
Khaira said on the request
of his supporters, he was
contemplating to contest
the Lok Sabha election
from Bathinda. But a final
Listen to
Cong MLAs
on drug issue:
AAP to Capt
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 13
The Aam Aadmi Party on
Sunday slammed Chief
Minister Capt Amarinder
Singh for allegedly turning
a deaf ear to the drug issue
in the state.
Sangrur MP Bhagwant
Mann said: “If Capt
Amarinder doesn’t listen to
the issues raised by the Oppo-
sition, he should at least listen
to those raised by his own par-
ty MLAs.” In a press state-
ment, Mann said the issue of
police and civil officers shield-
ing the liquor mafia raised by
Zira MLA Kulbir Singh Zira
was shocking and needed to
be taken seriously. Mann said
before Zira, Congress MLA
Surjeet Dhiman had raised
the issue of drugs being sold
by influential people.
AAP, meanwhile, demand-
ed the arrest of Akali leader
Virsa Singh Valtoha for his
alleged involvement in a
1983 murder case. Party
MLA Meet Hayer and pres-
ident of youth wing Man-
jinder Singh Sidhu
demanded Valtoha;s imme-
diate arrest.
Cong notice to Zira for public outburst
MLA says will meet DGP with evidence on cops’ connivance with mafia
Our Correspondent
Ferozepur, January 13
The Congress leadership
has issued a show-cause
notice to its Zira MLA Kul-
bir Singh Zira for his out-
burst in public over govern-
ment’s claims on
eradication of drugs and
corruption during an offi-
cial function yesterday.
Confirming the develop-
ment, PPCC chief Sunil
Jakhar said Kulbir had
NO SITTING SC MLA READY TO CONTEST
■ Theconstituency is a Congress stronghold and the SAD
has been experimenting by changing its candidate from
the seat each time, but losing dismally
■ Now when the SAD is lying politically low in the state, no
sitting SC MLA in Doaba is ready to contest the Lok Sab-
ha polls, be it Tinu from Adampur, Baldev Khaira from
Phillaur or Sukhwinder Sukhi from Banga
■ The
Congress is likely to repeat its candidate Chaudhary
Santokh Singh from Jalandhar, although sitting MLA
Sushil Rinku too is said to be a claimant
Baldev Khaira from Phillaur or
Sukhwinder Sukhi from Ban-
ga. As of now, the names of a few
leaders are doing the rounds,
including former Speaker Cha-
ranjit Atwal, his son Inder Iqbal
Atwal and former minister
Sohan Singh Thandal.
Since Atwals are Valmikis and
Jalandhar is dominated by Ravi-
dassias, there can be a problem
for consensus on their name.
The proposed seat swapping
between the SAD and the BJP
for Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur
also seems quite unlikely. For-
mer BJP state president Vijay
Sampla yesterday said: “There
will be no seat swapping. I will be
re-contesting from Hoshiarpur.”
The Congress is likely to
repeat its candidate Chaud-
hary Santokh Singh from
decision would be taken
after discussion within the
party and alliance mem-
bers, he said.
Talking to the media,
Khaira said AAP MP Bhag-
want Mann should publicly
slam party convener Arvind
Kejriwal for seeking apolo-
gy from Akali leader
Bikram Majithia.
Khaira claimed that they
BJP fetes Phoolka, says
itsdoors open for him
Won’t join any party, former AAP leader reiterates
New Delhi, January 13
Former AAP leader HS
Phoolka was felicitated on
Sunday for his legal battle for
anti-Sikh riot victims at an
event hosted by Union Min-
ister Vijay Goel, who said the
doors of the BJP were open
for all “good” people.
Phoolka, though accepted
his “closeness” with several
BJP leaders, ruled out join-
ing any political party.
“The BJP has always sup-
ported us in our fight for
anti-Sikh riots victims. I
met Law Minister Ravi
Shankar Prasad and Home
Minister Rajnath Singh and
they supported my stand on
it,” Phoolka said.
He, however, denied spec-
ulations that he might join
the BJP. “I am not joining
any political party,” he said.
Goel lauded Phoolka as a
“good man” and his friend
who fought to give justice to
the victims of the 1984 anti-
Sikh riots. “He is a good
person who did a good
thing. That is why we are
felicitating him. People ask
❝ We don’t approve such
a conduct by any party
functionary. The matter
should have been raised at
the party level... Further
course of disciplinary action
will be decided after a
written response from
the MLA. Sunil Jakhar, PPCC CHIEF
been asked to give an expla-
nation on the matter. “We do
not approve such a conduct
by any party functionary.
Jalandhar, although sitting
MLA Sushil Rinku too is said to
be a claimant. The party, how-
ever, is delving on choosing
between former MP Santosh
Chaudhary and sitting MP Raj
Kumar Chabbewal from
Hoshiarpur. Sampla had won
the seat with a margin of 13,582
against former Jalandhar MP
MS Kaypee. Having lost elec-
tions thrice, he could face a
denial this time. Party sources,
however, shared that he had
been lobbying hard.
AAP has already declared
its Doaba president Dr
Ravjot Singh as candidate
from Hoshiarpur. BSP is
seeking three seats from the
proposed Punjab Democrat-
ic Alliance, including
Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur.
had formed an alliance
comprising Punjab Manch
of MP Dharamvira Gandhi,
Lok Insaaf Party and Pun-
jabi Ekta Party. He said he
was hopeful that SAD (Tak-
sali) would also join them.
Khaira said he had also
talked to veteran CPI leader
Joginder Dyal over the
phone inviting them to join
the alliance.
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019
Union Ministers Radha Mohan Singh (R) and Vijay Goel (L) honour
HS Phoolka in New Delhi on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MANAS RANJAN BHUI
PARTY SUPPORTIVE, SAYS SENIOR LAWYER
❝ The BJP has always supported us in our
fight for anti-Sikh riots victims. I met Law
Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Home
Minister Rajnath Singh and they supported
my stand on the issue.
me, if he will join my party.
The BJP wants all good peo-
ple should join it,” he said.
Phoolka had resigned ear-
lier this month from the
Aam Aadmi Party without
The matter should have
been raised at the party lev-
el,” said Jakhar, adding that
the further course of discipli-
nary action would be decid-
ed after receiving a written
response from the MLA. “We
will also examine the veraci-
ty of allegations levelled by
him,” Jakhar added.
When contacted, Kulbir
said he was not aware of any
such action being taken by
the party. He said he would
meet the DGP tomorrow
Constituency in Rajasthan is
PPCC chief’s family stronghold
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service
Gurdaspur, January 13
Gurdaspur MP and PPCC
president Sunil Jakhar
today said he would recon-
test the Gurdaspur seat,
putting to rest rumours
that he wanted to shift to
Sikar in Rajasthan — the
seat represented by his
father, the late Balram
Jakhar, from 1984 to 1991.
For the past few weeks,
there had been speculation
that Jakhar, who won the
Gurdaspur seat in the 2017
byelection by a whopping
1.90 lakh votes, may shift to
his family borough Sikar.
“I have no intention to
contest from any other
constituency. I am working
hard for the people of Gur-
daspur who voted for me. I
have sought a revival pack-
age for the 150-year-old
Dhariwal Woollen Mills
and have received a posi-
tive response from the Tex-
tiles Ministry,” the MP told
The Tribune.
To dispel rumours, Jakhar
has visited the constituen-
cy five times in the last one
week. A trip to Gurdaspur
was by followed by one to
Batala, Dinanagar and then
Pathankot. Significantly,
he also attended the oath-
taking by newly elected
sarpanches in Gurdaspur
on Saturday.
Sources claim the MP will
move to a new house in
Pathankot by the month-
end, having finalised a
house deal. “The city has an
airport and it will be easier
for the MP to fly to his con-
stituency from Delhi. This
clearly means he is here to
stay,” observed a minister.
THE TRIBUNE
HS Phoolka, SENIOR ADVOCATE
giving any reason behind
the move. He had met Goel
to greet him on his birthday
on January 4, amid specula-
tions that he might join the
BJP. — PTI
along with the evidence
regarding the registration
of false cases against his
men and letting the liquor
mafia off the hook by the
police after withdrawing
cases against them.
Meanwhile, several lead-
ers opposed to Kulbir have
become vocal against his
move and questioned his
credentials. They alleged
that he too was involved in
sand mining and other such
practices.
❝
I have no intention to
contest from any other
constituency. I am working
hard for the people of
Gurdaspur who voted for
me. I have sought a revival
package for the 150-year-
old Dhariwal Woollen Mills
and have received a
positive response from the
Textiles Ministry.
Sunil Jakhar, GURDASPUR MP
“I have obtained clear-
ance from the Railways for
an overbridge in Dinanagar
and an underbridge on the
Tibri (Gurdaspur) crossing.
The Surface Transport Min-
istry has cleared a sum of
Rs 26-crore for bridges in
Mastpur and Faridnagar
villages in the Bhoa Assem-
bly seat. The crushing
capacity of the Paniyar and
Batala sugar mills is being
raised with the backing of
Co-operation Minister
Sukhjinder Singh Rand-
hawa,” Jakhar said.
Sources say the MP has
shown a keen interest in
finding a solution to
Pathankot’s six rail cross-
ings on the Joginder Nagar
narrow gauge track. “He is
aware it is a vote-spinning
issue. That is why he visits
Railway Minister Piyush
Goyal at least twice a week.
Had Jakhar not been inter-
ested in contesting from
Gurdaspur, he would not
have taken up the matter
with the ministry officials,”
explained a senior leader.
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019 PUNJAB 03
Abohar resident
dies of swine flu
Abohar: A resident of Khub-
Protesting teachers clash with
cops in Patiala, stage dharna
ban village died of swine flu in
a first such case reported
from the sub division this year.
The deceased has been iden-
tified as Buta Singh (34). His
family members said Buta Allege govt not paying salary to them for rejecting regular job offer
had high fever on Monday and Karam Prakash
was taken to the Guru Gobind Tribune News Service

Singh Medical College and Patiala, January 13

Hospital at Faridkot. Buta suc-
cumbed to deadly H1N1 virus
on Saturday. Senior Medical
Officer Dr Ravi Bansal said
there were no reports of any
other patient with symptoms
of influenza. He said the
affected family would be
examined on Monday and a
survey would also be conduct-
ed in the village. OC
One held with 2,000
habit-forming pills
Sangrur: The Cheema police
on Saturday night arrested a
man and confiscated 2,000
habit-forming tablets. The
accused has been identified
as Sukhdev Singh. "We arrest-
ed Sukhdev Singh from
Cheema-Jharon link road. He
was on a motorcycle and
recovered 2,000 habit-form-
ing tablets from his posses-
sion. We have registered a
case and started further
investigations," said Assistant
Sub-Inspector Jagtar Singh.
The police have registered a
case under the NDPS Act. TNS
Drug officials survey
pharma companies
Abohar: A team of drug offi-
cials inspected pharmaceuti-
cal firms, transport compa-
nies and courier services and
checked their records. The
move followed reports sug-
gesting that medicines from
other states were being mar-
keted in Punjab without valid
drug licence and invoices. The
officials told the firms to
ensure that each parcel carry-
ing medicines was supported
by valid documents. TNS
A scuffle broke out between
protesting teachers and cops
near YPS roundabout here
today. The police were trying
to stop teachers from march-
ing towards CM’s residence.
When the protesters tried to
scale the barricades, the cops
managed to stop them for a
while, but a clash broke out.
The police had to use mild
force on the protesters num-
bering around 300.
Hardeep Toderpur, state
co-convener, Sanjha Adhya-
pak Morcha, alleged that
the policemen roughed
them up. “The police misbe-
haved and used force
against us. The response of
the police was uncalled for
since it was a peaceful
protest on the occasion of
Lohri,” he said.
The teachers somehow
managed to break into the
security cover and reached
near the CM’s residence. Dur-
ing their protest, hundreds of
SSA/RMSA teachers, who
have been without salaries for
the last eight months, asked
for Lohri from Chief Minister
Capt Amarinder Singh. In the
presence of a heavy police
force, they lit a bonfire and
staged a dharna near the
CM’s residence.
Female teachers sang tra-
ditional Lohri songs and
raised slogans against Edu-
cation Minister OP Soni for
“victimising the SSA/RMSA
teachers, who didn’t opt for
regularisation at a monthly
salary of Rs 15,300”.
Atinder Pal, a teacher,
said, “Like Dussehra,
Diwali and New year, we
couldn’t celebrate Lohri
since the state government
has stopped paying salaries
Members of the Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha clash with cops in Patiala on Sunday.
to the SSA/RMSA teachers
for not accepting their (gov-
ernment) offer. As per the
tradition of Lohri, we are
asking our salaries in Lohri
from the CM.”
Meeting with CM promised
Late in the evening, the
teachers were assured of a
meeting with Chief Minis-
ter Capt Amarinder Singh.
Balwinder Attri, an official
deputed at the CM’s resi-
dence, said: “By Monday
afternoon, I will inform you
about the meeting sched-
ule. If possible, the CM will
meet you tomorrow.”
In Sangrur, teachers
protested near the residence
of Cabinet Minister Vijay
Inder Singla on Sunday.
Agitating teachers burnt
the effigy of the Punjab
government against its
alleged tactics to pressurise
teachers to accept regular
jobs on basic salary. BKU
Ugrahan leaders also partic-
ipated in the protest.
5,178 to be given regular
jobs with full pay: Soni
Amritsar, January 13
Education Minister OP
Soni on Sunday announced
to regularise 5,178 teachers
with effect from next
month with full pay scale.
Besides, various sikhiya
providers and volunteer
teachers will be given a pay
hike of Rs 1,500.
Soni said: "The govern-
ment has been putting sin-
cere efforts to lift the stan-
dard of education in the
state. Regular jobs to teach-
ers with full pay scale is a
step in this direction. "
"Sikhiya providers and vol-
unteer teachers will get a pay
hike of Rs 1,500 from next
month. Teachers, who faced
suspension during protests,
have been reinstated and
those who were temporarily
sent to distant places have
PHOTO: RAJESH SACHAR
been ordered to join at their
parent station," he added.
Soni also asked teachers to
revise the syllabus with stu-
dents in view of the upcom-
ing board examination.
"I am sure that we are
going to get better results
this year. We have been con-
tinuously working hard.
During examination, prop-
er checks shall be conduct-
ed by the officials to check
copying," he said.
Mangal Singh Tanda, con-
vener, Government Teachers
Union, said: "Regularisation
is a good move, if it is imple-
mented in its true spirit."
Ashwani Awasthi, Amrit-
sar president, Democratic
Teachers Front, said: "We
will have to wait for the
notification. It has to be in
writing." — TNS
Govt staff hold
protest in UT Clear scholarship
Tribune News Service dues, say colleges
Chandigarh, January 13
Punjab and UT employees
under the banner of Sanjha
Chandigarh, January 13
Nearly 1,600 unaided colleges
today sought immediate
to non-submission of audit
reports even as the state gov-
ernment is requesting it to at
Mulazam Manch held a intervention of the Centre least disburse some amount
protest against non-imple- and the state government to from the total outstanding,”
mentation of their demands bail them out the crisis that said Anshu kataria, chair-
and celebrated Lohri with- has arisen out of non-disbur- man of the association.
out lighting the bonfire. sal of post matric scholar- “Both students and unaid-
The employees along with ships amounting to Rs 1,286 ed colleges are facing hard-
their families gathered at crore. Raising concern at a ships. Last year, just Rs 323
Sector 17 to give message meeting of the Punjab crore was released,” he said.
that the government had Unaided Colleges Associa- The Centre is supposed to
failed to give their pending tion (PUCA), the members pay Rs 719 crore for 2016-17
dues, as a result they were said over three lakh stu- and Rs 567 crore for 2017-18
not celebrating Lohri. dents were directly affected. to the state. Besides, anoth-
Morcha leaders “The Centre is not releas- er Rs 500 crore is due for
Sukhchain Singh Khehra, ing the pending amount due 2018-19. — TNS
Gurmail Sidhu and
Sukhwinder Singh said
they doubted the intention
of the state government
about implementing the 6th
Pay Commission by Febru-
ary, as the required informa-
tion to be compiled was volu-
minous. The government
was playing vote politics
with them, they alleged.

ASI beats up sadhu to death WALK-IN TEST

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, January 13
The police have arrested an
ASI for allegedly beating a
sadhu to death in Ajnala on
Saturday. The accused has
been identified as Attar
Singh. He was posted at
Mohkampura police station.
The police rushed the vic-
tim to the Civil Hospital
from where he was referred
to the Guru Nanak Dev
Hospital in Amritsar. Later,
the victim succumbed.
The police have registered
ROAD RAGE CASE
■ The victim, who had come to
pay obeisance at a temple in
Ajnala, reportedly came in
front of the ASI’s car.
■ Sources say the cop, Attar
Singh, was heavily drunk
and badly beat up the sad-
hu, calling him a spy. The
victim later succumbed to
his injuries.
a case under Section 304
(culpable homicide not
amounting to murder) of the
IPC. Amritsar Rural Police
chief Parampal Singh said the
law would take its own course
and nobody was above law.
According to the informa-
tion, sadhus from all over
the country came to pay
obeisance at the temple on
the occasion of Maghi. Pre-
liminary probe indicated
that the victim came in
front of the ASI’s car. The
cop was heavily drunk and
started beating sadhu who
sustained injuries on his
face, head and ribs. Locals
said the ASI was shouting
that the victim was a spy.
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Virasat-e-Khalsa
sees record visitors
Enters Limca Book of Records
Tribune News Service

Ropar, January 13
“Virasat-e-Khalsa,” a muse-
um which highlights the
Sikh history has made it to
Limca Book of Records. Till
now, over 9.7 million visi-
tors, including Canadian
Prime Minister, President
of Mauritius and ambassa-
dors of various nations,
among others, have visited
the museum since its first
phase comprising 14 gal-
leries opened on November
25, 2011. The second phase
of the museum comprising
13 galleries was opened on
November 25, 2016.
Tourism and Cultural
Affairs Minister Navjot Singh
Sidhu said as per validation
by Limca Book of Records,
“Virasat-e-Khalsa” conceived
to commemorate 550 years of
history and culture of Punjab
has become a top ranked
museum in the country.
While the first phase
depicts Sikh history from
Guru Nanak Dev’s era to the
installation of Guru Granth
Sahib, the second phase
Over 9.7 million visitors visited
the museum in seven years.
showcases subsequent
epochs, including times of
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur
and Maharaja Ranjit Singh
through 3-D technology.
The museum has also
boosted the economy of
Anandpur Sahib. Ever since
the first phase was thrown
open to public, the Shiro-
mani Gurdwara Parbandhak
Committee’s (SGPC) rev-
enue from shops has
increased five times and 300
people have been employed
at “Virasat-e -Khalsa.”
Similarly, offerings at
Takht Keshgarh Sahib have
gone up to ~60 crore and
deposits in banks stood at
~712.15 crore on March 31,
2018 against ~377.39 crore
on March 31, 2012.
04 PUNJAB THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019

Full body truck scanner Punjab Diary

at ICP misses 3 deadlines
Rijiju had announced the project at Attari on March 22, 2017
GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, January 13
Call it lack of efficiency or
political will, there has been
no headway in installation of
much sought-after full body
truck scanning system
(FBTSS) at the Integrated
Check-Post (ICP), Attari.
Costing around ~23 crore,
the project of setting up a
full body 22-wheel truck
scanner was announced at
the ICP, Attari, by Union
Minister of State for Home
Affairs Kiran Rijiju on
March 22, 2017. With nuclear
emission technology, these
scanners can easily detect
any material, including nar-
cotics, weapons and gold.
Work on the project com-
menced on March 15, 2018
and was slated to be complet-
ed by September 15, 2018.
The deadline was pushed to
October 31, followed by
December 31. However, offi-
cials concerned were still in
dark about its completion.
At present, trucks at the
STORY SO FAR
■ The work on the project
started on March 15,
2018 and was slated to
be completed by Sep-
tember 15. The deadline
was pushed to October
31, followed by Decem-
ber 31. However, offi-
cials are still in dark
about its completion.
■ Amritsar MP Gurjeet
Singh Aujla says the
Home Ministry must
inquire into the matter
and take action.
ICP are manually inspected
with help of sniffer dogs.
Several incidents related to
smuggling of gold, narcotics
and weapons have been
reported since the trade
between India and Pakistan
began in 2008.
On December 6, 32-kg gold
worth around ~10 crore con-
cealed in an apple consign-
ment from Afghanistan
loaded in a Pakistani truck
was seized.
PROJECT’S EFFICACY
■ At present, trucks at the
ICP are manually inspect-
ed with help of sniffer
dogs. Several incidents
related to smuggling of
gold, narcotics and
weapons have been
reported since the trade
between India and Pak-
istan began in 2008.
■ Once the project is com-
plete, the scanners can
easily detect any material,
including narcotics,
weapons and gold.
Since the foundation stone
of the ICP at Attari was laid
by the former Union Home
Minister P Chidambaram in
2010, there has been a
demand for the installation
of the FBTSS.
LPAI manager Sukhdev
Singh said the civil work of
the project has been complet-
ed but requisite equipment
was yet to arrive. “The ball is
in court of Atomic Energy
Research Board. The work
was allotted to Punj Lyod
Infrastructure Ltd. The onus
of liability lies with it. The
project should have been
completed by now. However,
there is no communication
from their end. Equipment
source has already been
imported from the USA but is
still lying at Gwalior for test-
ing,” he said.
Rajya Sabha member
Shwait Malik, who raised in
the Parliament the issue of
installing the FBTSS, too
was answerless on the
delay, but assured to expe-
dite it on priority.
Demanding an inquiry,
MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla
said he has already brought
it to the notice of the Home
Department.
“It is shameful that Pak-
istan set up the FBTSS from
the very day of setting up a
check post on their side.
What has been compelling us
to compromise on national
security? The Home Ministry
must conduct an inquiry and
initiate action.”
CM in firing line, aides fail to defend
Moga: It would have
been just another func-
Several shades of grey
Muktsar: Shiny black
hair seems to be a
tion where a leader of an
opposition party hit out
passe in Punjab poli-
tics, as several senior
at Chief Minister Capt leaders have made
Amarinder Singh. But grey hair their style
the one in the district’s statement. The notable
Kokri Phoola Singh vil- Capt Amarinder Harsimrat Kaur ones are state Con- Sunil Jakhar Rana KP Singh
lage on Friday caught gress chief Sunil
people’s attention, for Jakhar, Assembly
the opposition leader fired salvos in the presence of ruling Speaker Rana KP Singh, Deputy Speaker Ajaib Singh
Congress leaders who chose to stay mum. Union Minister Bhatti, and former ministers Surjit Kumar Jyani and Rana
Harsimrat Kaur Badal took potshots at the Chief Minister Gurjit Singh. But there are a few who like to look younger
on farmer suicides and “mismanagement” of the state and colour their hair. One of them is Chief Minister Capt
affairs. Among the audience were Congress MLA Kaka Amarinder Singh. Only a few politicians like the salt and
Sukhjit Singh Lohgarh and Zila Parishad member Jagroop pepper look, which include Cabinet Ministers Manpreet
Singh Takhtuwala. To the surprise of everyone present, Singh Badal, Vijay Inder Singla and Brahm Mohindra. All
Kaka Lohgarh, a confidant of Capt Amarinder, presented a one can say is to each his own.
vote of thanks to Harmsimrat at the end of the function.
Celebrating Lohri with lepers
He loses polls, but not motive
Ludhiana: Politicians often make promises before elections.
But in Jagraon, a candidate who lost an election to the post
of a sarpanch set an example by offering a shagun of
~11,000 to newly married women of needy families in his
native village Kothe Rahlan. After the results were declared,
Bikkar Singh, who belongs to an NRI family, organised a
function to thank voters for supporting him and promised to
continue making efforts to raise the living standards of
Kothe Rahlan villagers. Bikkar Singh’s decision to offer aid to
needy families has been hailed by one and all. But it
remains to be seen whether or not he keeps his promise.
Science, politics go hand in hand
Phagwara: At the Indian Science Congress that culminated
on January 7, scientists were an unhappy lot because of the
presence of too many politicians. As per tradition of the sci- Social activists celebrate Lohri at a temple in Abohar. TRIBUNE PHOTO
ence congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurat-
ed the event. On subsequent days, Union Ministers kept Abohar: Social activists invited leprosy-affected families from
pouring in daily but they arrived late because of foggy condi- Kusht Seva Ashram, Malout, and spent the day with them at
tions. This made scientists’ hackles rise as sessions got Geeta Mandir here. They distributed sweets, clothes, blan-
delayed. One infuriated scientist decided to vent his anger. kets, rice and other eatables among lepers. One of the social

Over 100 posts

On the fourth day, he walked out of a session in protest. activists, Sunil Chawla, said leprosy care must be integrated
with other areas of healthcare so that perception about lep-
Khaira gets out of solitude rosy being a dreadful disease that has to be treated separate-
Jalandhar: As an AAP MLA, Sukhpal Khaira used to address ly changes. These social activists have been celebrating Lohri

in 5 pvt medical
his press conferences here all by himself. But at his last
press meet on Thursday, he was accompanied by his sup-
porters. This time, he was addressing the media as the pres-
ident of the newly formed Punjabi Ekta Party. So, he could
with lepers for the past three decades.
DC turns Good Samaritan
Fatehgarh Sahib: On a chilly Friday night, Deputy Commis-

colleges vacant
not afford to come alone. He was required to put up a show sioner Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon stepped out of his house
of strength, giving out the message that he has the numbers with several blankets to find people sleeping in the open.
for making a change in the state politics that he has been He visited the railway station, Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib
claiming. Some of his supporters present at the press meet and public parks, and put blankets over people sleeping
were aligned with AAP, but now decided come his way. Will there without waking them up. The novel gesture by the
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service Poor salaries, the numbers translate into votes? Only time will tell. DC has set an example for others to help the needy.
Jalandhar, January 13
A poor pay package and an
age bar to The staff have asked the authorities to repair the bathrooms or CONTRIBUTED BY KULWINDER SANDHU, JASWANT SHETRA, DEEPKAMAL KAUR, ARCHIT WATTS, RAJ SADOSH AND SURINDER BHARDWAJ
age bar at 70 in Punjab’s five
private medical colleges has
blame; experts at least instal doors, but their demand has fallen on deaf ears.

triggered an exodus of senior

doctors. These colleges —
Punjab Institute of Medical
Sciences (PIMS), Jalandhar,
Adesh Medical College and
Hospital, Bathinda, Sri Guru
Ram Das Medical College,
Amritsar, and Christian Med-
ical College and Dayanand
seek remedy
cine), PIMS, wants the age
Civil Surgeon’s office Special tests for ‘weak’ Class X, XII
limit fixed at 75. “The drift to
private practise could be
halted by removing the pay
in Ropar raises stink students ahead of board exams
disparity. It will also help Arun Sharma the past couple of years.
improve the student-teacher
ratio in these colleges and
Tribune News Service

Medical College in Ludhiana
— are facing an acute short-
age of teaching faculty.
The faculty in private med-
ical colleges is paid far less
than those in government col-
leges. For example, a senior
faculty member in a private
medical college is paid ~1.5
lakh per month whereas
his/her counterpart in govern-
ment colleges on an average
draws a salary of ~2.5 lakh.
The authorities concerned
are well aware of the faculty
crunch but have made little
effort to address the issue.
Some experts suggest rais-
ing the age bar to 72, if not
75. Dr Mandip Singh Sethi,
Associate Professor (Medi-
subsequently raise the stan-
dard of medical education,”
he told The Tribune.
Dr OP Aggrawal of Mullana
College, Ambala, pointed out
that till 2004 there were seven
or eight teachers for a batch
of 150 students. “The
downslide came after that.”
Health Minister Brahm
Mohindra said: “The faculty
in private as well as govern-
ment medical colleges will
be strengthened. The gov-
ernment medical colleges in
Amritsar and Patiala too are
facing a shortage of teach-
ers. More than 50 per cent of
the total 628 faculty posi-
tions in these two colleges
are lying vacant.”
Ropar, January 13
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s Swachh Bharat Mis-
sion seems to have made no
impact on the office of the Civ-
il Surgeon here.
The stench emanating from
choked drains in toilets have
made it difficult for the staff to
work. To make matters worse,
the toilets do not have doors.
The staff have asked the
authorities to repair the bath-
rooms or at least instal doors,
but their demand has fallen
on deaf ears.
The dilapidated toilets are
not the only area of concern.
Employees say the electrical
wiring needs to be replaced,
as there have been several
instances of short-circuit in
Besides, there are cracks in
the double-storey building.
An official said the MC did
not have funds for the repair
work, claiming it was respon-
sible for the upkeep of hospi-
tals and had nothing to do
with the Civil Surgeon’s
office. As for the PWD, it want-
ed funds from the Directorate
of Health Services (DHS),
before taking up the work and
the DHS, on its part, had not
made any provision in the
Budget for it, he said.
Officiating Civil Surgeon Dr
Avtar Singh said: “Since July
2016, several letters have been
written to the authorities,
demanding repair of the build-
ing. But nothing has been done.
I will try to arrange funds for
repairing at least the toilets.”
Separate papers for those who scored above 80% in mid-term too
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 13
The Education Department
is conducting a special exam-
ination for academically
weak students of Classes X
and XII in government
schools to prepare them for
annual examination of the
Punjab School Education
Board (PSEB) in March.
The exams will begin on
January 22 and will also be
conducted in February.
Based on the merit list
prepared on the basis of
mid-term examination
results, there will be a set of
papers for students who
scored less than 40 per cent
and there will be separate
tests for those who scored
above 80 per cent.
Nearly 1.12 lakh students
who failed in mathematics
during their mid-term exams
are on the academically weak
students’ list for Class X,
which also comprises 98,000
POOR SHOW students who flunked in Eng-
The list shows the number of lish, 87,000 in science, 85,000
Class X students who flunked in social studies, 63,000 in
the mid-term examinations. Hindi and 44,000 in Punjabi.
Subject No. of students Special programme coordi-
Mathematics 1.12 lakh nator Jarnail Singh told The
English 98,000 Tribune, “We are conducting
separate classes for students
Science 87,000
who scored more than 80 per
Social studies 85,000 cent in their mid-term exam-
Hindi 63,000 ination to give them a feel of
Punjabi 44,000 competitive entrance tests to
professional courses. They
will be given special papers.”
Singh said: “We have not
prepared any separate mer-
it list for Class XII students
because there are different
combinations. Our district
teams are coordinating the
examination for this class
at their level.”
He said: “A sizable number
of parents are involved in the
exercise of preparing their
wards for the board examina-
tion through WhatsApp
groups handled by district
coordinators. Let us see the
impact of the first set of pre-
board examination. Later, it
can be made a part of a regu-
lar academic calendar.”

‘Dhiyan Di Lohri’ breaks taboo in Jalandhar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pays obeisance at Takht Sri Patna Sahib on the occasion of birth
anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. Addressing a gathering, the CM said preparations were on in Patna
to celebrate the 550th Gurpurb in a befitting manner. PTI
GURU NANAK’S 550TH BIRTH ANNIV CELEBRATIONS IN US
■ Washington:
Year-long
celebrations of Guru
Nanak’s 550th birth
anniversary have kicked
off in the US to spread
his message of brother-
hood and sharing.
■ The
Indian Embassy and
Consulates have
chalked out a calendar
of activities, said India’s
new Ambassador Harsh
V Shringla.
■ He was addressing peo-
ple gathered to cele-
brate the occasion;
artiste Bhai Baldeep
Singh played devotional
music on Saturday.
■ “Guru Nanak was one of
greatest philosophers
and social reformers. His
voice was an empower-
ing call to unshackle the
human mind of centuries
of religious and political
tyranny,” he said. PTI
For 10 years, govt teacher has been visiting newborn girls’ families with gifts
Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, January 13
For years, a girl’s birth has
been considered a curse in
the district’s Nathewal vil-
lage. But, a government
school teacher is trying
hard to change this.
Celebrating “Dhiyan Di
Lohri”, as he calls it, Ajmer
Singh Aulakh plays a Santa
Claus for newborn girls.
He visits the homes of all
villagers where a girl is
born along with his school
students who queue up
behind him, greets them
with mungfalis, gacchak,
rewari, milk bottles and
teethers — gifts the school
staff buy at their own
expense — to celebrate the
birth of the girl child.
“Things were different
when I joined the school 11
years ago. There was time
when families did not even
accept congratulatory mes-
sages when a girl was born.
Boys’ birth was celebrated
but girls brought mourning.
Government teacher Ajmer Singh Aulakh (extreme right, second row) with school students at
his native village Nathewal in Jalandhar district on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO
Girls at the school were also
few. I wanted to change the
villagers’ thinking. So, we
thought of distributing gifts
to girls when they were
born. We started collecting
information about all girls
born in the year and began
visiting them on Lohri. This
way, we have been celebrat-
ing ‘Dhiyan Di Lohri’ for
the past 10 years. This has
brought a major change,
which is visible at the
school,” Aulkah said.
When Aulkah took charge,
the Government Primary
School had 45 students —
STEP FORWARD
■ When Ajmer Singh Aulakh
took charge 11 years ago,
Government Primary
School had 45 students
— 15 girls and 30 boys
■ Today, the school has a total
strength of 50 students with
32 girls and 18 boys
❝ There is a change in
people’s attitude. Now, if
we miss visiting a family
where a girl is born, the
members approach us
themselves, which is a
positive change.
Ajmer Singh Aulakh, GOVT TEACHER
15 girls and 30 boys. Today, iting them now, there’s no
the school has a total escaping. There is a
strength of 50 students with change in people’s atti-
32 girls and 18 boys. tude. Now, if we miss visit-
“We had begun celebrat- ing a family where a girl is
ing ‘Dhiyan Di Lohri’ by born, the members
inviting the entire village. approach us themselves,
But some families would- which is a positive
n’t come. But with us vis- change,” he added.
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019 HARYANA 05
Rewari’s copper vessels find EPF/ ESI PAYMENT
Police stop 15-year-old
market in Allahabad Kumbh Drive to end exploitation Y’nagar girl’s cremation
Over one lakh vessels supplied for the event in three months
Ravinder Saini
of contractual employees Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, January 13
and informing the police.
Chhachhrauli
Rakesh Kumar Rana said
SHO

Tribune News Service
Rewari, January 13
Though brass utensils are
losing their lustre in Rewari
district, which is also known
as the ‘City of Brass’, its
copper vessels are in
demand for ‘Gangapujan’
at Ardh Kumbh scheduled
to commence in Allahabad
on January 15.
More than one lakh copper
vessels have been supplied to
Allahabad from Rewari in the
past three months. Copper
manufacturers are still hope-
ful for more orders in coming
days. As per manufacturers,
over 10 per cent increase in
the supply of copper vessels
has been witnessed this time
as compared to the last fair.
“Past three months have
gone well for all those associ-
ated with copper utensils
business. They worked round
the clock to meet the massive
demand for vessels in Ardh
Kumbh. A huge consignment
weighing 15 tonnes and carry-
ing items worth Rs 80 lakh has
Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 13
Chief Minister Manohar Lal
Khattar has stepped in to end
exploitation of the contractu-
al employees of the Haryana
Government employed
through contractors and out-
sourcing agencies regarding
depositing of their employ-
An artisan shows a copper vessel in Rewari. TRIBUNE PHOTO ees’ provident fund (EPF)
and employees’ state insur-
❝ Past three months have gone well for all those ance (ESI) contribution.
associated with copper utensils business. They On the directions of the
worked round the clock to meet the massive demand Chief Minister, the Labour
for vessels in Ardh Kumbh. A huge consignment Department has cracked
weighing 15 tonnes and carrying items worth Rs 80 the whip on the Drawing
lakh has been supplied to Allahabad in three and Disbursing Officers
months.❞ — Rajender, A COPPER MANUFACTURER (DDOs) making them “per-
sonally responsible” for the
been supplied to Allahabad in much higher, but many deposit of the EPF/ESI in
three months,” said Rajender, artisans have shifted to oth- the accounts of the contrac-
a copper manufacturer. er places, he said. tual employees.
He said there were “Rewari is the only city in “It has been directed by the
around 100 shops of brass, North India where maximum Chief Minister that the DDOs
steel and copper utensils in varieties of copper vessels are concerned should be made
Rewari. These utensils are available. ‘Kumkuma’, personally responsible for
made at over 50 units being ‘shikari’, ‘rajshahi’ and compliance of the orders and
run by artisans. Earlier, the ‘ganga sagar’ varieties are in must ensure that prior to the
number of such units was demand,” said Rajender. release of payments to the
The DDOs concerned
❝
will be personally
responsible for the
deposit of EPF/ESI in the
accounts of the
contractual employees.
In case of negligence, the
DDOs will be held
personally liable and
amount equivalent to the
amount of EPF and ESI
contribution will be
deducted from the salary
of such DDOs.❞
—A government directive
outsourcing agencies they
have deposited the contribu-
tion of EPF and ESI in respect
of every employee engaged
through that agency,” read a
directive from the Principal
Secretary, Labour Depart-
ment, to all heads of the
departments, managing
directors of the public sector
undertakings and DCs.
In fact, after CM’s direc-
tions, a meeting under the
Principal Secretary, Labour
Department, was held here
recently following which the
authorities concerned were
asked to ensure “statutory
compliance” of the orders in
time. “In case of negligence,
the DDOs concerned will be
held personally liable and
amount equivalent to the
amount of EPF and ESI con-
tribution will be deducted
from the salary of such
DDOs,” the directive warned.
Meanwhile, a certificate
regarding strict compliance
of the orders will be obtained
by the authorities concerned
from the field offices and
uploaded on the website of
the Labour Department up to
10th of every month for mon-
itoring by the department.
Sources said the latest
directions were offshoot of a
number of complaints
against the contractors and
outsourcing agencies not
depositing the EPF and ESI
contributions of the contrac-
tual employees allegedly in
connivance with field staff,
including the DDOs.
A 15-year-old girl died in
Malikpur Khadar village
of Yamunanagar district
under mysterious circum-
stances on Saturday night.
Following a tip off, the
police reached the village
on Sunday and took the
body to the civil hospital
in Jagadhri for post-
mortem examination.
According to informa-
tion, the 15-year-old girl,
who matriculated last
year, died on Saturday
night. Members of her
family were making
arrangements for her cre-
mation on Sunday morn-
ing.
Someone informed the
Chhachhrauli police that a
girl committed suicide by
consuming some poisons
substance in Malikpur
Khadar village.
The police were told that
her family members were
making arrangements for
cremation without getting
postmortem conducted
a police team was sent
to Malikpur Khadar vil-
lage. The team stopped
the cremation and took
the body to the civil hospi-
tal in Jagadhri.
He said members of the
deceased’s family told the
police that the girl had
been suffering from some
disease for a long time.
He said the family told
them that when her condi-
tion deteriorated on
Saturday night, they took
her to a private hospital in
the area.
He said the family told
them that a doctor at the
private hospital advised
them to take her to the civ-
il hospital, but she died on
the way.
“No complaint has been
lodged. Statements of the
family members will be
recorded under Section
174 of the CrPC. After
postmortem, the body has
been handed over to the
kin,” he said.

Fake certificate: Ex-teacher booked Police alert in dera case
Tribune News Service
Yamunanagar, January 13
The police have booked a for-
mer teacher of a government-
aided private school at
Saraswati Nagar in the district
for allegedly getting the job of
Punjabi teacher on the basis
of fake educational certificate.
On the complaint of
Devender Singh, president,
managing committee, Janta
High School, Saraswati
Nagar, a case was registered
against Raj Rani under Sec-
tions 420, 467, 468 and 471 of
the IPC at Chhappar police
station on Saturday.
The complainant said that
Raj Rani had joined the
school as Punjabi teacher
on regular post on April 1,
1990. He said that the
Haryana Government had
started the process of tak-
ing over regular staff of the
government-aided private
schools in November 2013.
He said that the school
ordered the regular teach-
ing and non-teaching staff
to submit their original edu-
cational certificates with
the management.
The complainant said that
Raj Rani deposited a photo-
copy of the certificate of
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Punjabi, instead of deposit-
ing the original certificate.
“She was asked to deposit
the original certificate sev-
eral times, but she failed to
do so,” he said. He said that
she applied for voluntary
retirement from the service
on January 1, 2017. “The
photocopy of her certificate
was verified by the office of
the Director General, Sec-
ondary Education, Haryana,
and it was found to be fake,”
said Devender Singh.
Rohtak, January 13
Haryana DGP BS Sandhu
has stated that the state
police was alert regarding
the sentencing of Dera Sacha
Sauda head Gurmeet Ram
Rahim by a Special CBI
Court in the case pertaining
to the murder of journalist
Ram Chander Chhatrapati
slated for January 17.
Talking to reporters after
chairing a meeting of the
local police authorities here
today, the DGP stated that
the quantum of punish-
ment for the dera head
could be announced on the
premises of the Sunaria jail
in Rohtak, where he is cur-
rently lodged.
“Paramilitary forces may
also be called as and when
required,” the DGP said.
The state government was
likely to file an appeal before
the Punjab and Haryana High
Court for holding the court’s
proceedings on January 17 on
the premises of the Sunaria
prison complex, he main-
tained. The DGP reviewed the
security arrangements in and
around the jail and directed
the officials concerned to
ensure the maintenance of
law and order in view of the
sentencing. — TNS
 06 HARYANA THE TRIBUNE
HP HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
NIGAM VIHAR, SHIMLA – 171002
“NOTICE”
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019
In continuation of this office advertisement published on
16.12.2018, 23.12.2018 & 6.1.2019, it is bring to the notice of General
Public that due to some administrative reason the last date for receipt
of application for the allotment of plots/flats in various Housing

From a no-fight to fight: Khap leader’s banner

Colonies of HIMUDA in all over HP earlier fixed on 15.01.2019 is
hereby extended up to 31.01.2019 and the date of draw of lots
for the same will now be held on 07.02.2019 and 08.02.2019. Other
details can be checked at our website www.himuda.hp.gov.in.
CEO-cum-Secretary, of revolt against BJP
Surjewala factor in Jind
DPR/HP/75 HIMUDA, Shimla-2.
Vishal Joshi
Tribune News Service

PARENTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION Jind, January 13

S.U.S. Govt. College, Sunam (Sangrur) Ahead of the crucial Jind
bypoll, the ruling BJP is fac-
Walk-in Interview on 22.01.2019 at 10.00 a.m. in the Aditi Tandon Gandhi clinched the issue. As of today, a section of the ing a voice of dissent from
office of the undersigned for the empanelment of Guest Tribune News Service Current scenario Gandhi’s argument behind Congress is hopeful of Sur- party leaders.
Faculty for two post in English for session 2018-19. New Delhi, January 13 A victory (and even loss) fielding Surjewala was – the jewala pulling off a miracle Tek Ram Kandela, a khap
Qualification, Reservation as per UGC/Punjabi Congress President Rahul of Randeep Singh Surje- Congress must put its best in Jind which has a substan- leader and a BJP member,
University/Punjab Govt. Norms. Honorarium will be Gandhi’s decision to field wala can alter the politi- foot forward. Surjewala tial Dalit and Jat population. disapproved the candida-
paid as per Punjab Government/P.T.A. Funds rules. the party’s sitting Haryana cal landscape of state eventually agreed in defer- Among around 1.70 lakh ture of the party nominee
Only N.E.T./Ph.D. Qualified need to apply. No TA/DA legislator Randeep Singh politics as well as inter- ence to his leader. voters here, around 35,000 Krishan Middha.
will be paid. Surjewala from Jind can nal Congress equations Even so, the 51-year-old are SCs, 45,000 Jats and the Kandela said he joined
Sd/- President (PTA)-cum-Principal, potentially alter the politi- AICC media in charge has rest non-Jats. The calcula- the BJP in November after
S.U.S. Govt. Colleges, Sunam. cal landscape of Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tan- nothing to lose in this game. tion of BJP, which has field- he was assured by the state
TRC-31959
besides recasting state Con- war says Surjewala is If he loses, he would still ed a non Jat, is simple – Jat leadership that he would Tek Ram Kandela
gress equations. beyond caste and will continue to have Kaithal vote will get divided between be a preferred choice for
Surjewala has emerged as appeal to all sections. and Congress President’s Surjewala and the two Chau- the Jind bypoll. BJP president and other sen-
Í≥‹≈Ï Ó≥‚Δ ÏØ‚ the X factor in the Jind “Randeep Singh Surjew- trust by agreeing to enter a talas and non Jat vote will Kandela said that he would ior functionaries behaved.
¡≈ÈÒ≈¬ΔÈ ÏØÒΔ¡ª Ó≥◊‰ Á≈ ÈØ«‡√ bypoll which was easier to ala is a Jat by caste but his tough competition with a consolidate behind BJP. not campaign for the BJP My supporters said they want
‡À∫‚ ÈØ«‡√ Èß.-B (B@AI), «ÓÂΔ AA.@A.B@AI call until January 10 with appeal cuts across sections,” few days left to canvas. “But that may not happen candidate as he had felt an explanation from the par-
’≈‹’≈Δ «¬≥‹ΔÈΔ¡ (√), Í≥‹≈Ï Ó≥‚Δ ÏØ‚, ◊πÁ≈√Íπ ÚºÒ∫Ø ÏÒ≈’ √zΔ the BJP enjoying a clear a veteran Congress leader If he wins, he would because Surjewala will humi-liated and tricked by ty for backtracking on their
‘◊Ø«Ï≥ÁÍπ ¡ËΔÈ ÍÀ∫Á∂ «Í≥‚ Ó≈ÛΔ Í≥ÈÚª, Ó·ØÒ≈ ¡Â∂ ËΔØÚ≈ÒΔ ¡Â∂ ÏÒ≈’ edge. But even the BJP said, arguing that Surjewala emerge as the leader of the appeal to SCs, Jats and even the party leaders. assurance of my candida-
’≈ÁΔ¡ª ¡ËΔÈ ÍÀ∫Á∂ «Í≥‚ Ì≈Ó ¡ËΔÈ ÍÀ∫Á∂ Úº÷-Úº÷ ‚∂«¡ª Á∂ √«Â¡ª ¿πµÍ leaders privy to Haryana could spoil Jind’s electoral Haryana Congress as also non-Jats,” a Congress func- Kandela, national convener ture,” said Kandela.
developments now admit arithmetic with his pan the state, presenting an tionary said. The fact that of the Sarvjatiya Sarv Khap Kandela, a Jat leader,is the
«¬º‡ª Á∂ ÷ÛÚø‹/∂ «¬≥‡Ò≈«’ø◊ ‡≈¬ΔÒ Ò◊≈¿π‰, ÍπÒΔ¡ª ¡≈«Á ÁΔ ¿π√≈Δ
that Surjewala’s arrival on caste appeal which is why alternative to former state state Congress president Panchayat, said he had been head of the Kandela khap
’È (’À‡Ò Î∂¡ Îø‚ª «Úº⁄∫Ø ) Ú≈√Â∂ Í≥‹≈Ï Ó≥‚Δ ÏØ‚ È≈Ò √»⁄Δ«’z Í≈Â,
the scene has changed the Rahul Gandhi agreed to Chief Minister Bhupinder Ashok Tanwar, a Dalit, is approached by the Congress, that have influence in more
ÏØÒΔ’≈ª/’Ø.¡≈Í. ¡ÀÒ. ¡À∫‚ √Δ. √π√≈«¬‡Δ˜ ÂØ∫ Ó≥◊Δ¡ª ‹ªÁΔ¡ª ‘ÈÕ
complexion of the fight. field him when all top Singh Hooda. campaigning aggressively the INLD and the JJP con- than 25 villages in the Jind
Ú∂«Ú¡ª, Ùª Â∂ ÍzÏË ø ª ‹ª ÏØÒΔ √ºÁ≈ √»⁄È≈ Ò¬Δ ÚÀµÏ√≈¬Δ‡ ÂØ∫ ‘Ú≈Ò≈
“It’s no longer a one-sided Haryana Congress leaders The buzz in Congress is for Surjewala, will help. testants for electoral support. Assembly segment.
«Ò¡≈ ‹≈ √’Á≈ ˛:-https//eproc.punjab.gov.in
affair. Surjewala’s presence suggested his candidature. that Surjewala is lucky in At the end of the day, Ran- Today, JJP patron Ajay Chau- In the last Assembly elec-
√ØË ‹∂’ ’Ø¬Δ ‘ØÚ◊
∂ Δ Âª ’∂ÚÒ ÚÀµÏ√≈¬Δ‡ ”Â∂ ‘Δ ‹≈Δ ’ΔÂΔ ‹≈Ú∂◊ΔÕ has converted a no-fight How Surjewala entered politics. In the past when deep Surjewala may actual- tala visited Kandela’s resi- tions, Kandela had contested
√‘Δ/- ’≈‹’≈Δ «¬≥‹ΔÈΔ¡ (√), into a fight,” a BJP insider the Jind contest is an open Haryana Congress leaders ly emerge stronger from the dence seeking support. as an Independent candidate
DPR/Pb/C-3973 Í≥‹≈Ï Ó≥‚Δ ÏØ‚, ◊πÁ≈√ÍπÕ said today. secret in the Congress now. had scuttled the proposals to Jind contest than what his “I have called a meeting of from Jind and he had got
While the BJP is taking Top sources confirmed he appoint him Haryana Youth Haryana Congress adver- my supporters at Kandela vil- 11,223 votes. He finished
heart from the fact that was not willing as he was Congress president, Surjew- saries had imagined. His lage on Wednesday to take sixth in the electoral race and
GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB Jind has never been won already a sitting MLA. But a ala had gone on to head the strongest point in this battle further decision. I have a secured 9.22 per cent of the
TENDER NOTICE REFERENCE NO. 14 by a Jat in the past, state phone call from Rahul Indian Youth Congress. is – he has nothing to lose. strong objection the way the total votes.
The department of Public Works (Building & Roads) invites online bids
for following:-
Sr. Item Quantity

10,500 ‘power thieves’ 28% Jat votes crucial in bypoll

No.
1. Providing & Fixing Rumble Strips, Sign Boards and road 1
marking on various link roads in Market Committee

face arrest in Faridabad

Gurdaspur, Dhariwal and Kalanaur for the year 2018-19
App. Cost Rs. 43.49 Lacs
Earnest Money Rs. 87,000/-
Time Limit:- 4 Months
Tender Fees:- Rs. 5000/- each
Closing date & Time :- 23.01.2019 up to 5.00 p.m.
Owe ~188 crore as penalty
For details logon to :- http://eproc.punjab.gov.in Bijendra Ahlawat
Note:- Any corrigendum(s) to the Tender Notice shall be published on Tribune News Service
the above website only.
Faridabad, January 13
Sd/- (Er. Harjot Singh), As many as 10,500 power con-
Executive Engineer,
Provincial Division, PWD B&R, Br., Gurdaspur.
sumers in the operation circle
eepdgdspwdpb@gmail.com of Faridabad may face arrest
DPR/Pb/D3570 80545-00008 soon, if they fail to pay the
penalty imposed by the
department concerned for
the power theft committed.
The offenders had been
booked under Section 135 of
the Electricity Act, 2003, dur-
ing the past few years.
“The vigilance section of
the Dakshin Haryana Bijli
Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has
chalked out a plan to nab
such culprits for which sever-
al teams have been formed,”
sources in the department
revealed.
While some of the arrests
were possible before January
end, the department has
sought assistance from the
officials of the DHBVN to
seek detailed information of
the accused. A large number
of theft cases have been
booked in zones of NIT, Bal-
labgarh and old Faridabad.
PUNJAB AGRI EXPORT CORPORATION LIMITED Though several cases had
2-A, Sector 28-A, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh — 160002 been pending since 2013, a
Ph: 0172-2656242, 5074210, Fax: 0172-2656270 majority of the FIRs had
Website: www.punjabagro.org.in
CIN: U51909CH1997SGC019321
been booked during the past
two years, it is learnt.
“We have identified a large
number of consumers who
had been booked by the police
under the relevant section of
the Act and who have failed to
respond to the notices served
to them so far,” said Jitesh
Malhotra, DSP, vigilance cell
of the DHBVN, here.
He said such offenders
would be arrested if they
failed to clear the penalty
imposed on them within a
prescribed time. While the
first such offence was com-
poundable, the accused face
serious action in case of sub-
sequent offence, it is added.
The department realised
penalty of Rs 21.07 crore from
7,314 cases of theft booked
between 2013 and 2018.
Claiming that around 10,500
consumers have failed to
deposit the penalty amount
imposed after the case of
theft was registered, a senior
DHBVN official said these
cases were now dealt with by
the Vigilance department for
further action. An amount of
Rs 188 crore was due as
penalty to such consumers.
Non-Jats have won this Assembly segment for the past 42 years
Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Caste matters
Year MLA
Hisar, January 13
The results of the elections 1977 Mange Ram Gupta
1982 Brij Mohan Singla
to the Jind Assembly seat
has been circumventing
1987 Parmanand
caste demography for the 1991 Mange Ram Gupta
last 42 years. Though the
1996 Brij Mohan Singla
constituency comprising
Jind town and 35 villages is 2000 Mange Ram Gupta
considered a Jat strong- 2005 Mange Ram Gupta
hold, non-Jat candidates 2009 Hari Chand Middha
had won the seat consecu- 2014 Hari Chand Middha
tively since 1972.
The high-stake poll battle Total votes (Jind Assembly segment) 169,210
is witnessing a keen con- Jat 47,156
test among mainly the rul- Brahmin 14,986
ing BJP, Congress, INLD,
Punjabi 14,879
Jannayak Janta Party (JJP)
and fledgling Loktantra Saini 14,488
Suraksha Party (LSP) can- Bania 14,143
didates. Of these, the BJP Chamar 13,998
and the LSP have fielded Balmiki 8,897
non-Jat candidates Kris-
han Lal Middha and Vinod Kumhar 6,848
Asri, respectively, while the Dhanak 5,212
candidates of the Congress
(Randeep Surjewala), hary Dal Singh. He won the
INLD (Umed Redhu) and seat in the 1972 Assembly
the JJP (Digvijay Chautala) election as the Congress (S)
are Jat. A total of 35 candi- candidate. A four-time
dates are in the fray. Jats MLA, Dal Singh, won the
comprising around 28 per seat on the Congress ticket
cent voters is a crucial vote in 1952, 1954, and 1962 and
bank in the byelection. as the Congress (S) candi-
The last time a Jat leader date in 1972.
won from Jind was Chaud- However, 1977 onward,
Caste
Political experts say that
the Assembly segment has
about 28 per cent Jat voters,
Bania around 9 per cent Brahman
Bania
and Punjabi each, 8 per
cent Bania, besides Other
Kumhar
Bania Backward Castes and
Scheduled Castes.
Bania
“With the biggest vote
Bania share, Jats apparently are
Bania the deciding factor in Jind.
Punjabi However, the regional Jat
Punjabi leadership could not
emerge after Chaudhary
Dal Singh. In such a sce-
Khati 6,867 nario, Jats opted to go with
Bairagi 2,951 non-Jat leaders election
after election, which is evi-
Lohar 2,781
dent from the poll out-
Nai 2,526 come,” says Pawan Kumar
Sunar 1,637 Bansal, a political expert.
Badi 1,265 “However, this time, the
Khtik 1,178 Congress has fielded a
prominent Jat leader in a
Sainsi 1,167 hope to polarise Jat voters
Jatiya 11,231 in its favour. But Digvijay
Chautala and Umed Redhu
non-Jat candidates won the fighting the byelection has
seat. Significantly, the can- put Jat voters in a dilem-
didates belonging to the ma,” says Bansal, adding
Bania caste have won the that the BJP nominee
seat six times, Punjabi twice stands a chance in the
and Kumhar (Backward byelection in case Jat votes
Caste) once, since 1977. get split in favour three Jat
The Jind seat has around leaders and LSP candidate
169,210 voters in Jind town Asri (a Brahman) fails to
and adjoining rural areas. put up a fight.

Construction Skill Academy SIT to probe bogus billing

Notice Inviting Expression of Interest (EoI)
Punjab Agri Export Corporation Limited (PAGREXCO) invites Expression
10 PC QUOTA
of Interest (EoI) in sealed form on the prescribed proforma from
manufacturer/suppliers of PUF Panels for setting up of fabricated PUF CM compares
panel Cabin Hut/Outlet along with its design and required civil work at
6 districts namely Ropar, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Sangrur &
Amritsar of Punjab.
Modi with inaugurated at Palwal varsity in ~470-crore GST scam
The EoI form along with detailed terms & conditions and required
technical specifications can be obtained from our website Ambedkar Tribune News Service
Mukesh Tandon
Tribune News Service Companies under lens
www.punjabagro.gov.in for which the cost of Rs. 5000/- (Rupees Five
thousand only) non-refundable, should be deposited along with the Hisar, January 13 Panipat, January 13 The firms identified in
offer. The participating parties need to submit design of hut also. The Describing Prime Minister Palwal, January 13 A nine-member special issuance of fake bills are
offer should reach this office on or before 21.01.2019. For any Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister Manohar Lal investigation team (SIT)
clarifications, difficulties regarding EoI process, please contact General
Super Trading Company,
Manager, PAGREXCO over phone No. 0172-5074210, e-mail: Ambedkar of 21st Century, Khattar on Sunday inaugu- under the supervision of a Aman Enterprises,
gm.punjabagriexport@gmail.com. Chief Minister Manohar Lal rated the Construction Skill DSP-level officer will inves- Ashoka Traders, RK
Managing Director, PAGREXCO reserves the right to reject any or all Khattar said that the Prime Academy at Shri Vishwakar- tigate the bogus billing Traders, Abhishek Enter-
proposals/offers without assigning any reason thereof. Minister’s decision to pro- ma Skill University in Dud- GST scam of Rs 470 crore. prises, M/S Hanuman
Corrigendum, if any, will be issued on website only. vide 10 per cent reservation hola village of the district. The Central GST teams Enterprises, VL Enterpris-
DPR/Pb/C3984 Managing Director. to economically weaker sec- This is the first of its kind and state Excise and Taxa- es, Mahadev Enterpris-
tions of society is aimed at academy aimed at impart- tion Department es, Milan Mega Mart Pri-
vate Limited, JR Trading
uplift of poor people. ing specialised training in unearthed Rs 920 crore (Rs
INDO–TIBETAN BORDER POLICE FORCE Company, Kunal Trading
Addressing a function of the field of building con- 450 crore by Central team Company, Shree Sai
NOTICE INVITING E-TENDERS Odh community here on struction in the state. and Rs 470 crore by state Overseas, Shree Balaji
The Commandant, 51st Bn. ITB Police Force invites on behalf Sunday, the CM said that Speaking on the occasion, team) scam in Panipat Overseas, Kumar Enter-
of the President of India online item rate bids on two bid system the Central and the state the CM said that the courses Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurates the eight days ago.
for following works:-
prises, Dev Traders, Sak-
governments had launched run by the university would Construction Skill Academy at Vishwakarma Skill University in The state Excise and Tax- sham Enterprises, Zen-
NIT No. ITBP/51 BN/ENGR/Renovation/2018 – 10
a string of schemes for the usher in a new era in provid- Dudhola village of Palwal district on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO ation Department had sar Enterprises, Dhan
Dtd. 04.01.19
welfare of the Scheduled ing and honing the skills of identified 21 non-existent Lakshmi Trading Compa-
Name of Work:- Renovation of Qtrs. (Type-IV/08 Nos. Type-III/10 ny, Vee-Vee Trading Com-
Castes and other poor sec- unemployed youths. He months. As students would to offer diploma, bachelor and firms in the city, which had
Nos. Type-II/30 Nos. and Type-I/30 Nos. at 51st Bn. ITB Police, pany, Shyam Trading
Patiala (PB). tions of society. “BR said it would also open a be trained in IT sectors also, masters degree in vocational issued fake bills of Rs 470
Ambedkar has worked for plethora of opportunities for the aspirants would be able courses for the first time. crore and evaded Rs 49 Company and Vinayak
Estimated Cost : Rs. 1,08,42,313.00 Industries.
Earnest Money : Rs. 2,16,850.00 the uplift of the poor sec- thousands of youths as to get hand on experience “The programmes are crore as tax.
Period of Completion : 09 Months tions of societies in 20th demand of skilled employ- in the related field. The lab- aimed at providing struc- On the complaint of the
Last Date and time of Submission of bid : 23.01.2019 (1500 Hrs) Century, and now Prime ees would never recede. oratory set up in the acade- tured skill qualifications to department, the Chandni- investigate the GST scam.”
Minister Narendra Modi is Stating that Vishwakarma my would support the con- meet the existing and emerg- bagh police registered 21 The SIT comprised
NIT No. ITBP/51 BN/ENGR/Renovation/2018 – 100-03
Dtd. 05.01.19 doing the same in 21st Cen- Skill University was unique struction workers to get ing job demands of the separate cases against the two inspector-level offi-
tury,” he said. in running job-oriented certified in the field for bet- industry,” said Raj Nehru, owners of these non-exis- cers, two sub-inspectors
Name of Work:- Renovation of SO’s Mess and dormitory at
51st Bn. ITB Police, Patiala (PB). Recognising the contribu- courses, he said starting a ter placement and job Vice-Chancellor of the uni- tent firms on January 6. and four assistant sub-
Estimated Cost : Rs. 19,32,801.00 tion of Odh community in Construction Skill Academy opportunities, he added. versity. “These will be The police also sought inspectors, which would
Earnest Money : Rs. 38,660.00 the construction of buildings (CSA) was a milestone. The university had signed aligned to the National Occu- the support of Excise and work under his supervi-
Period of Completion : 04 Months and highways, the Chief The academy would train MoUs with various industrial pational Standards and Taxation Department offi- sion, he added.
Last Date and time of Submission of bid : 22.01.2019 (1500 Hrs) Minister said that the BJP 250-500 youths annually units for running courses National Skill Qualification cers in the investigation. The SIT started investiga-
Note:- The tender form and other details can be obtained from government had launched and the first batch of work- having a term from 15 days Framework (NSQF) to facili- Satish Gautam, DSP, City, tion into the matter and
the website (www.itbp.gov.in & www.eprocure.gov.in) several schemes for the bet- ers trained in masonry and to three months, said a tate progression of trainees said, “Sumit Kumar, SP sought detailed records of
terment of the construction bar bending course would spokesperson. from certificate to doctoral has constituted a special the 21 firms from the
Sd/- Manmohan Singh Guleria,
workers. — TNS be ready in the next few The varsity has also decided level,” he said. investigation team to department, he further said.
Commandant,
davp 19112/11/0375/1819 51st Bn. ITB Police, Patiala.
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019
BRIEFLY
Wanted Naxalite killed in
encounter in Jharkhand
Dumka: A wanted Naxalite, car-
rying a reward of Rs 10 lakh, was
killed by security forces in an
encounter in Jharkhand's Dum-
ka district on Sunday, police
said. Shahdeo Rai alias Talada
was killed in the jungles of
Shikaripara. He was the prime
accused in the killing of then SP
of Pakur district Amarjeet Balihar
in July 2013, the police said. PTI
2 Nigerians arrested with
cocaine worth ~6.3 crore
Mumbai: The Mumbai police on
Saturday arrested two Nigerians
with 1 kg of high-quality cocaine
worth Rs 6.3 crore in illicit mar-
ket. The police said Daniel
Ezieke (38) and John Fransis
(35) were members of an inter-
national drug syndicate. PTI
BJP strategy: No alternative Going solo a case of fait accompli
to Modi, Congress ‘corrupt’
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 13
As the Bharatiya Janata Par-
ty wrapped up its two-day
national convention yester-
day, three key takeaways are
expected to form the saffron
plank for the 2019 General
Election and be the centre-
piece of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s poll rally
blitzkrieg.
First is playing up the
‘there is no alternative’ or
the TINA factor. In other
words, aggressively building
the perception that there is
no alternative to the “strong,
decisive and corruption-free”
Modi government.
The choice is “between sta-
bility and instability, an hon-
est and courageous leader
and a leaderless opportunis-
tic alliance, a ‘mazboot’ gov-
ernment and a ‘majboor’
government”, the BJP politi-
cal resolution said.
Second, projecting the Con-
gress party as “corrupt”,
along with the other “dis-
parate” groups trying to build
a coalition “with the sole aim
of ousting Modi and giving a
weak, ‘majboor’ govern-
Filmmaker Hirani
draggedin#MeToo,
he denies charge
Mumbai, January 13
Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani
has been accused of sexual
assault by a woman who
worked with him on his film
“Sanju”. Hirani has categori-
cally denied the allegations.
His lawyer Anand Desai
termed the allegations as
“false, mischievous, scan-
dalous, motivated and
defamatory”.
In an article in HuffPost
India, the woman, who calls
herself as “an assistant”,
alleged that Hirani sexually
abused her more than once
between March and Septem-
ber 2018. She detailed her
allegations in an email dated
November 3, 2018, to Hirani’s
long-time collaborator and
“Sanju” co-producer Vidhu
Vinod Chopra.
The woman said on April 9,
2018, the director first passed
a sexually suggestive remark
and later sexually assaulted
her at his home office. “My
mind, body and heart were
grossly violated that night
and for the next 6 months,”
the email read, which was
also marked to Chopra’s
wife, film critic Anupama,
who is a director at Vinod
Chopra Films Pvt Ltd, “San-
ju” scriptwriter Abhijat Joshi
and filmmaker Shelly
Chopra, Vidhu Vinod’s sister.
The complainant later told
HuffPost India that she was
“intimidated by Hirani “and
that said she maintained a
facade of normalcy as she
needed to hold on to her job
as her father was ill. “I had no
choice but to be polite to him.
It was unbearable but the rea-
son I endured it all, until I
couldn’t, was because I did-
n’t want my job to be taken
away from me, and work to
be questioned. Ever.” — PTI
Cong wants CVC out over CBI row
Accuses him of being collaborator with govt in violating Constitution by removing Verma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 13
The Congress today demand-
ed the sacking of the Chief
Vigilance Commissioner
accusing him of being a col-
laborator with the govern-
ment in violating the Consti-
tution by removing former
CBI chief Alok Verma.
“The CVC must go. It’s
clear he is acting as an
ambassador for disgraced
CBI officer Rakesh
Asthana… acting as an agent
for the government... It is
clear that after lobbying for
Asthana, the CVC is writing a
report that is the entire basis
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM CONVENTION
■ Play up TINA factor: there is no alternative to Modi
■ Project Congress, Opposition alliances as corrupt
■ Put the blame on Ram temple delay on the Congress
ONE TROUNCING US NOT BORN YET: UDDHAV
Mumbai: Hitting out at BJP
chief Amit Shah for his
remarks that the saffron par-
ty will thrash former
allies if a pre-poll
alliance did not
materialise ahead
of the Lok Sabha
polls, Shiv Sena
chief Uddhav
Thackeray on Sun-
day said one who
will trounce the
Sena was yet to be born. In a
veiled warning to the Sena,
Shah had recently said that
ment”, that will be “corrupt”.
Third, and perhaps the key
takeaway, is the subtle
attempt to shift the Ram tem-
ple narrative by pushing the
blame on the Congress.
Leader after leader at the
pre-election meeting told the
audience that it was Congress
leader Kapil Sibal, a senior
advocate in the Supreme
Court who represents one of
the petitioners in the Ayod-
General Category EWS quota Interest on NRE account not taxable
has to pass basic structure test
OBITER DICTA
BY SATYA PRAKASH
T
HE Constitution 103rd
Amendment Act, 2019,
providing for up to 10%
reservation to economically
weaker sections (EWS) of
General Category in educa-
tion and public employment
over and above the existing
quota for SCs, STs and OBCs
has triggered a fresh debate
on the divisive issue.
Passed by Parliament in
two just days and assented to
by the President on Saturday,
it takes total reservation to
59%, much beyond the 50%
ceiling fixed by the Supreme
Court in the Indra Shawney
case (1992), popularly known
as Mandal Case. It also
extends reservation to pri-
vate aided and unaided edu-
cational institutions.
Various social groups (not
covered under the existing
quota benefits) in Gujarat,
Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
Haryana and certain other
parts of the country have
been demanding reservation,
often by resorting to violent
agitation. But coming barely
few months before the Lok
Sabha elections, the political
motive behind the move is
bound to be questioned.
The EWS among the Gen-
eral Category have largely
remained excluded from
higher educational institu-
tions and public employment
on account of their financial
NATION
‘BID TO HIDE RAFALE TRUTH’
❝ Till now, we had been told that only the CBI was a
caged parrot. Now, we see the CVC as a vigilant slave of
the government. (He is) the “Collaborator for Violating
the Constitution” (CVC). The question arises why was he
acting so… at whose behest? The answers are evident.
None except the top two people in this country can claim
the power to make the CVC a puppet. And they did this
to hide the truth of Rafale. Abhishek Singhvi, CONG
. officer to be sent on leave by
for the high-powered com- October 6 last year. “The
mittee’s decision to remove purpose was to improve
Verma,” Congress Asthana’s appraisal report.
spokesman Abhishek This is directly recorded.
Singhvi said today. It’s also recorded that the
The Congress questioned existing report of Asthana
as to why the CVC met Ver- was of doubtful integrity
ma for more than an hour on and the CVC simply sug-
NEWS ANALYSIS
KV Prasad
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 13
The decision of the Congress
to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh
is a case of fait accompli for the
Grand Old Party after the two
UP majors, the BSP and SP,
if an alliance happened, the announced an electoral
BJP will ensure victory for its
allies, but if it did not, the alliance, offering concession to
party will thrash its the Congress on just two seats
former allies in the — Amethi and Rae Bareli.
upcoming Lok Sabha It was not a case of the Con-
polls. Thackeray, gress having been caught off
whose party is an ally guard on Saturday. The
of the ruling BJP at denouement to the negotia-
the Centre and in tions was known much earlier
Maharashtra, said, “I and no sooner had BSP chief
have heard words
Mayawati and SP leader
like ‘patak denge’
from someone. One who will Akhilesh Yadav spelt out the
trounce Shiv Sena is yet to contours of the pact, than Con-
be born.” PTI gress president Rahul Gandhi
said he was not disappointed
hya title dispute, who wanted at being overlooked.
the court to hold off hearing “They have taken a decision
the case until after the 2019 in Uttar Pradesh, and we will
elections. have to take our own decision
Given that Ram Mandir is a too. The Congress has lots to
highly emotive issue for its offer to the people of Uttar
core Hindu voters, the BJP is Pradesh… it is on us to strength-
satisfied with letting the en the Congress in Uttar
Sangh and its combatant Pradesh, and we will fight to our
affiliates — primarily the full capacity,” Gandhi said.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad — do Interestingly, way back in
the hard talk while it awaits 1996 when the Congress
the Supreme Court verdict. under then president PV
incapacity to compete with the Constitution as well.
economically more privi- Ultimately, the Supreme
leged sections of society. Also, Court will have to judge
the benefits of existing reser- whether breaching of the 50%
vations under clauses (4) and ceiling on reservations amount-
(5) of Article 15 and clause (4) ed to violation of basic structure
of Article 16 are generally of the Constitution or not.
unavailable to them. Further, imposing reserva-
It’s for this reason that the tions on unaided institutions
Act amends Articles 15 and 16 has also raised questions on
of the Constitution and adds the State passing on its bur-
an additional clause i.e. clause den on the private sector. It’s
6 to each of the two Articles. being seen as an arbitrary
But EWS quota law is likely to move as it goes against
hit legal hurdles for more Supreme Court’s Constitu-
than one reason. An NGO has tion Bench verdicts in TMA
already filed a petition in the Pai Foundation (2002) and PA
Supreme Court challenging Inamdar (2005), which said
the validity of the Constitu- the State’s reservation policy
tion 103rd Amendment Act, cannot be imposed on unaid-
2019, on the grounds that it ed educational institutions.
violates the basic structure of There have been demands
the Constitution. from various quarters,
The new quota law exceeds including some political lead-
the 50% ceiling fixed by the ers, that reservation should
Supreme Court in Indra be extended to private sector
Shawney case. There is spec- as very few jobs are available
ulation regarding placing the in the government sector. It
Constitution 103rd Amend- appears the government is
ment Act in the Ninth Sched- testing waters. If the amend-
ule of the Constitution to ment, which provides for
shield it from possible judicial quota in private aided and
scrutiny. But the top court has unaided educational institu-
already ruled in IR Coelho's tions, is upheld by the
case in 2007 that there is no Supreme Court, the demand
blanket immunity from judi- to extend quota in private
cial review available to a law sector jobs will gain further
placed in the Ninth Schedule. momentum.
Placing of a law in the Ninth Caste-based quota has been
Schedule after the IR Coelho very divisive and runs count-
verdict only changes the lev- er to the objective of achiev-
el of judicial scrutiny as a ing a casteless society as
two-fold test would be envisaged by Dr BR Ambed-
applied to test its validity. kar. For the first time, caste
First, it would be examined will not be a criterion for quo-
whether the law violates a ta in India under this law. The
provision in Part-III of the Supreme Court may or may
Constitution (Fundamental not uphold the new quota law.
Rights) or not. If, yes, then it But the fact is that scope for
would be further examined if merit in the system is getting
the violation also amounts to restricted in India is some-
violation of basic structure of thing to worry about.
gested if this is changed,
everything will be okay. The
CVC met Verma to suggest
that all would remain well if
Verma did what he was
being asked to do. This is
recorded in writing by Ver-
ma, so where is the denial?”
asked Singhvi, accusing the
CVC of acting as an advocate
for Asthana, the other CBI
the government along with
Verma on October 23.
The Congress also men-
tions Verma’s recorded dis-
sent where the former CBI
chief says, “I could see the
CVC was batting entirely for
Asthana as if he was the most
Senior Congress leader and party general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad speaks as UP Congress
chief Raj Babbar looks on at a press conference in Lucknow on Sunday. PTI
Narasimha Rao entered into
an electoral pact with the
BSP, giving away the lion’s
share of 300 seats of then
undivided 425 UP Assembly
and going in as junior part-
ner contesting 125 seats, par-
ty leaders and workers were
aghast at the deal.
Remembering the two-
decade-old pact, Mayawati
reminded that the BSP did
not benefit from it since the
Congress could not transfer
its votes to the BSP just as
the SP experienced when
Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav
Q. A senior citizen is still working
and getting an annual salary of Rs
1,08,000 and is entitled to avail
income tax exemption limit up to Rs
3.5 lakh. Is he eligible to add
income from others sources up to
Rs 2 lakh into his individual salary
income? Will income from other
sources be taxable? If so, how
much income from other sources
he can add to avail the exempt limit
of Rs 3.5 lakh?
2. How much amount one can get
as help/gift from his
relatives/blood-related persons liv-
ing abroad during a year? Is
amount received from relatives liv-
ing aboard taxable or not? If so,
how much tax would be applicable?
3. Is it compulsory that amount
shown in the savings account of an
individual during 2017-18 account-
ing year be the same in the return
while filing income tax return for
2018-19 (assessment year)?
4. If a person living abroad trans-
fers amount in his savings account
or an NRI account, how would he
fill up his income tax return and on
which form? Would that income be
taxable or not if it exceeds the lim-
it of exemption limit?
— Apma
A.Your queries are replied
hereunder:
(a) A senior citizen who is less
than 80 years of age is not
required to pay tax up to an
income of Rs 3,00,000 for
assessment year 2019-20.
Your present income being
Rs 1,08,000 and another sum
of Rs 1,92,000 earned by you
as income from other
sources.
(b) Currently, the provisions
of Gift Tax Act, 1958, are not
applicable. However, Section
56 of the Act provides that
any sum of money received
by an assessee during the
financial year in excess of Rs
50,000 from any person
except relatives and other
specified persons shall be
important person in the gov-
ernment.”
The Congress also recalled
that on October 23, the CVC
abruptly cancelled his visit in
the night to Denmark.
“On the same day from 8
pm to 12.30 am, he sat draft-
ing the order of Verma’s
removal. At 12.30 am or 1 am,
the CVC order was taken to
the government and the con-
spiracy completed. The
Supreme Court set it aside on
grounds that only the com-
mittee can decide not the
CVC, but the same report was
again used by the committee
to sack Verma,” Singhvi said,
alleging collusion.
entered into an agreement
for the 2017 UP Assembly
polls. That was her reason for
keeping the Congress away.
The opinion within the
Congress appears divided.
One view is that the move to
contest all 80 Lok Sabha
seats should provide impetus
to the party’s move to revive
its moribund organisation.
Ever since the 1996 decision,
the downslide continues
with dejected “karyakartas”
either remaining inactive or
crossing over to other parties
in search of greener pastures.
TAX ADVICE
SC VASUDEVA
taxable as “income from oth-
er source”. However, such a
receipt, if received from the
following relatives, is not tax-
able.
“Relative” means:
(i) in case of an individual –
(a) spouse of the individual;
(b) brother or sister of the
individual;
(c) brother or sister of the
spouse of the individual;
(d) brother or sister of either
of the parents of the individ-
ual;
(e) any lineal ascendant or
descendant of the individual;
(f) any lineal ascendant or
descendant of the spouse of
the individual;
(g) spouse of the person
referred to in terms (b) to (f);
and
(ii) In case of a Hindu Undi-
vided Family, any member
thereof.
(c) The provisions as stated
above are equally applicable
to an amount received from
outside India. It is necessary
that the amount shown in
savings account of an indi-
vidual as on 31.3.2018 should
be same while filing the
return for assessment year
2018-19.
(d) NRI has an option to
deposit in NRE account
amounts sent to India in for-
eign exchange. Such an
account can be a savings
account or fixed deposit
account. The interest earned
8-time MLA Kataria
elected R’sthan LoP
Our Correspondent
Jaipur, January 13
The BJP Legislature Party on
Sunday unanimously elected
Gulab Chand Kataria as its
leader in the Rajasthan
Assembly. Kataria, an eight-
time party MLA and Home
Minister in the previous
Vasundhara Raje government,
would be the Leader of Opposi-
tion in the House. RS Rathore
would be the Deputy Leader.
Raje proposed Kataria’s
name and Rathore seconded
it. In the 2018 Assembly elec-
tions, the BJP won 73 seats.
The Congress won 99 seats
and got the support of an MLA
of RLD, Dr Subhash Garg, to
The other view is that the
dynamics and chemistry of a
General Election are differ-
ent. It is certainly an uphill
task given that the last time
the Congress gave a decent
account of itself was in the
2009 Lok Sabha polls, garner-
ing 23 seats, a massive uptick
from the nine it won in 2004.
Certainly, pact with the
Congress in the BSP-SP tent
would have consolidated the
Opposition and the move by
the Congress should be slic-
ing away some votes that
might go the BJP way.
on NRE account is not tax-
able. The income of an NRI,
which is earned in India is
required to be deposited in
Non-Resident Ordinary
account. Such an income
would be taxable in India. The
minimum taxable limit for
NRI is same as applicable to
an assessee who is not an NRI.
Q. I had invested Rs 3,78,908 (sum
assured Rs 3,80,000) in LIC one-
time premium policy in 12/2012
and was paid a maturity amount of
Rs 5,11,400 in 12/2018 and TDS of
1% (Rs 5,116 ) was deducted from
this amount. In form 26AS, the
whole maturity amount has been
shown as amount paid/credited. At
the time of investing, the LIC agent
didn’t tell me that the maturity
amount is taxable. My queries are
as under:
1. Is my LIC maturity amount
taxable?
2. In case taxable, what amount is
to be considered as income from
other sources?
3. Whereas LIC has deducted 1% of
maturity amount as income tax, I,
who fall in the slab of 30% tax
bracket, will have to cough up 29%
more as tax. Will it be on maturity
amount or on maturity amount
minus the amount I invested?
Please clarify.
— OP Kapoor
A. Your queries are replied
hereunder:
(a) According to my opinion,
the entire amount received
by you from LIC should not
be taxable but the amount
received by you in excess of
the sum paid to the LIC
should be taxable.
(b) As stated in (a) above, the
excess amount of Rs 1,32,292
should be taxable.
(c) The amount of Rs
1,32,492 would be taxable as
income from other sources
and shall be includible in
your total income.
07
form the government.
Expressing his gratitude to
the party high command and
Raje, Kataria said he would
leave no stone unturned to
win all 25 seats in the upcom-
ing Lok Sabha elections from
Rajasthan. Besides, the party
would raise public demands
against the ruling Congress
government, “which came to
power with a meagre 0.5 per
cent more votes”, he said.
Earlier, the BJP high com-
mand had shifted Raje to the
party fold as its vice-presi-
dent along with former Chief
Ministers of Madhya
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh,
Shivraj Singh Chauhan and
Raman Singh, respectively.
Ordinance on
triple talaq
re-promulgated
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 13
With President Ramnath
Kovind giving his assent, the
government has re-promul-
gated the “Muslim Women
(Protection of Rights on Mar-
riage) Ordinance, 2019”,
which bans the practice of
instant triple talaq, making it
a penal offence, attracting a
jail term of three years.
A Bill to convert the earli-
er ordinance in this regard,
issued in September 2018,
was cleared by the Lok Sab-
ha in December but was
pending in the Rajya Sab-
ha. Since the Bill could not
get parliamentary
approval, a fresh ordinance
has been issued.
Seeking to allay fears that
the proposed law could be
misused, the government
has included certain safe-
guards, such as bail for the
accused before trial and an
FIR only by the victim (wife)
and her relatives.
The Ordinance is applica-
ble to the whole of India but
is not extended to the state of
Jammu and Kashmir which
enjoys a special status.
Q. My son is an NRI and is doing a
job in Muscat since 2000. He is liv-
ing there with his family.
He does not have Aadhaar
card/PAN so far and has never filed
an income tax return as an NRI. He
purchased an LIC Market Plus poli-
cy for Rs 5 lakh from his NRE
Account on August 3, 2010 for a
term of 21 years. At present, its sur-
render value stands at Rs 9,28,000.
He took another policy from HDFC
Standard Insurance under the
HDFC Children Benefits Plan for Rs
5 lakh on March 10, 2004 for 15
years by paying Rs 33,115 as annu-
al premium.
He is having an NRE account with
SBI and NRE account inclusive of
NRO account with ICICI Bank .
Please advise how his tax liabili-
ties will be assessed. LIC and
HDFC officials have different opin-
ions about the tax deductions.
They seem to be not well conver-
sant with rules in force.
— Yogesh Sehdev
A. Interest earned by your
son on NRE account is not
taxable. However, interest
earned on NRO account
with ICICI Bank would be
taxable if the amount of
such interest exceeds Rs
2,50,000 being the limit up to
which income tax is not
payable by an assessee who
is below the age of 60 years.
The amount received on the
expiry of the maturity peri-
od shall not be taxable in
respect of LIC Master Poli-
cy in case the premium paid
by him does not exceed 20%
of the capital sum assured.
The present surrender val-
ue is not taxable as the poli-
cy is still being continued.
The policy with HDFC
Standard Insurance having
been taken before March
31, 2012 would also
be covered in the same cat-
egory as the master policy
taken from LIC.
08 OPINION
The battle for the skies
THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
US snub to Moscow will hit collaboration in exploring the ‘last frontier’
Potential of UP arithmetic
A toss-up between mazboot sarkar and social justice
A
QUARTER of a century is a long time to stay estranged. And MK BHADRAKUMAR
any rapprochement without a closure, as is the case with the SP FORMER AMBASSADOR
and BSP in UP, speaks of more than a hint of desperation. Till
U
the run-up to the 2017 Assembly polls, Mayawati was in no mood to S space agency NASA has
‘forgive or forget’ the 1993 VIP Guest House incident in Lucknow. abruptly called off a planned
But the BSP has been locked out of the power centre in UP for six visit to the US in February
years and its vote share has steadily declined. The political banish- by the head of the Russian
ment from Lucknow will last another three years. Such a long period state space corporation, Roscosmos
on the bench precludes any division of spoils between Mayawati and Dmitry Rogozin. NASA made the
Akhilesh: a role in Delhi for one and another for Lucknow. announcement on January 4 following
The dumping of the Congress makes for an interesting reading of criticism by the US media and law-
tea leaves. Past experience has shown, according to Mayawati, that makers who demanded cancellation of
the visit. The snub to Moscow presages
the Congress cannot transfer its votes. Nothing can be said if the
sudden death of the historic Russian-
alliance will finally be a big tent that will accommodate the entire sec-
ular line-up or the non-Congress part. But the outline of the bi-party
American collaboration in exploring
the ‘last frontier’ for mankind. It
pact indicates their game plan of preventing the Congress from becomes an inflection point.
becoming the ringmaster by aggregating enough seats from various Rogozin is a close political associate
states to be the largest party. The Congress is welcome to contest all of President Vladimir Putin. He has
seats where it is BJP’s principal opponent, but the SP-BSP alliance been subjected to the Western sanc-
will aim at maximising its pickings from UP to be in a position for bet- tions over Moscow’s annexation of
ter bargaining if secular parties manage to best the BJP in 2019. Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in
The Congress’ exclusion also buries the talk of a nationwide 2014. US Senator Jeanne Shaheen,
maha-gathbandhan. The electoral canvas may now be dotted by who is a leading critic of Russia’s
state-level alliances against the BJP with the leftouts in the secular alleged meddling in the 2016 US pres-
camp providing a rump alternative. On paper, simple arithmetic idential election, threatened that the
Congress will be ‘forced to act’
gives three-fourths of the 80 UP Lok Sabha seats to the SP-BSP. But
unless NASA withdrew the invitation
the postulation sidesteps the likelihood of more cards up the BJP’s
to Rogozin. Shaheen called Rogozin
sleeve: quota within the SC\OBC quota and, of course, the Ram tem- ‘one of the leading architects of the
ple case. What remains to be seen is whether the desperation of the Kremlin’s campaign of aggression
vanquished can match the creativity of the saffron corner. towards its neighbours’ and said the
invitation ‘undercuts our message
and undermines the US’ core nation-
al security objectives’.
Punjab’s pay push The big question is whether the cur-
tain is coming down on the space coop-
eration between the US and Russia. It
Pre-election cheer for govt employees is a poignant moment since the two
C
countries have had a long history of
OMETH the elections, cometh the revised pay scales. With working together in space ever since
barely three months to go for the Lok Sabha polls, the cash- the joint Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975,
strapped Punjab Government has decided to bite the bullet and more so, in the past two decades.
and finally implement the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Com- Within the ambit of cooperation, the
mission. This is a last-ditch attempt to win over lakhs of disgruntled two countries have shared training,
government employees, who have been holding protests in recent communications, operational capabili-
months in support of their demands, primarily a salary hike and ties and expenses in support of the
payment of dearness allowance arrears. International Space Station (ISS). In
The Commission was set up in February 2016 when the Akali-
BJP alliance was in charge, but things moved at a snail’s pace,
Not loose change, it’s about change
apparently because the government, facing strong anti-incumben-
cy, already knew that it was on its way out. The change of guard in
the state further delayed the proceedings. Former Chief Secretary
RS Mann, who had been appointed chairman of the pay panel dur-
ing the SAD rule, quit shortly after the Congress came to power. His Satish Arya
successor, Jai Singh Gill, has had his hands full over the past year
H
and a half, receiving hundreds of representations from employees’ OW much?’ I asked a clerk at
unions. It has been a tightrope walk for him as the government the post office. Rupees 41, he
hardly has any financial elbow room. replied. I gave him Rs 40 and a
Accounting for about half of its total earnings, the state’s annual Rs-5 coin. He looked at the coin and
salary and pension bill is a major drain on the exchequer. Punjab’s frowned, ‘Give me change,’ he said.
government employees, particularly those who have spent several ‘This is change,’ I retorted. ‘You will
years in service, are relatively well paid compared to their counter- have to wait for the change,’ he replied.
parts in other states, but the picture is far from rosy for the fresh It was around 3 pm. I had gone to
speed-post a letter. Though the queue
recruits. The latter find themselves in a ‘take it or leave it’ situation.
was not long, the young clerk was
The ruling party needs to do a lot to make sarkari naukri alluring for
taking an inordinate time in dispos-
these young employees. The protracted unrest among government ing of the customers. It had taken me
teachers, who are seeking regularisation of services at decent over half an hour to reach the book-
salaries, shows that the powers that be have made a mess of things. ing window. And now the wait, for Rs
Punjab also has plenty of catching up to do with neighbour Haryana, 4! I took a stealthy look into the cash-
which had taken the lead last year in implementing recommenda- box and sighted a few glistening
tions of the Seventh Pay Commission. coins. I understood.
‘I will wait,’ I said, and stood my
ground. The clerk asked me to stand
❝ ❞
thought for the day
The Universe is under no obligation to make sense
Better late than never
to you. — Neil deGrasse Tyson The verdict in a 1984 riot case, convict-
ing Sajjan Kumar, is a precedent that
must be followed in other pending
criminal cases for decades. Otherwise,
on this day...100 years ago those cases are likely to be thrown
away on the ground of delays. The lat-
est example is the second conviction
against Dera Sacha Sauda chief
Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his three
aides, who have been pronounced
lahore,tuesday, january 14, 1919
guilty by the special CBI court in the
Chhatrapati murder case. Now a vic-
The Civil Service Opposition. tim may be hopeful that justice may
WE have in our leading article referred to the organised opposition which certain be delivered, even though there may
members of the Indian Civil Service in the Madras Presidency are endeavouring be delay in its delivery.
to offer to the Montagu-Chelmsford scheme of Reforms. In the interests of that SHADI LAL, BY MAIL
Service itself, on the cause of good government in India, and of that mutual
understanding between Englishmen and Indians on which so much depends,
we appeal to the Government to nip this movement in the bud, if it has not Faith in judiciary
outgrown that stage. Anybody can see that it can only do harm. That it cannot Apropos ‘Comeuppance for dera
and ought not to succeed goes without saying. It is intolerable that a body of men, chief’ (Jan 12), the verdict should
who are paid out of Indian revenue for the single purpose of administering the bring respite to the family of the vic-
affairs of India, according to the law and the constitution in vogue for the time tims. The determination with which
being, should claim the right to determine what that law and constitution should they pursued the legal battle has
be, and should make it a grievance when that right was denied to them. borne fruit. The message is clear: no
miscreant can go scot-free, despite
Disapproval of the Scheme. having enormous wealth and strong
THAT the scheme is not approved by some members of the Service is, of course, political connections. The verdict
neither new nor surprising. No one who has exercised ruling authority can like to will go a long way in reinforcing
be told that his true business is not to rule but to serve. Our objection is to the people’s faith in the judicial
members of the Service giving organised expression to their disapproval of the process, despite it being long and
scheme and, indeed, to their expressing any opinion with regard to it at all, unless cumbersome. Hopefully, more peo-
they were officially called upon to do so. This, however, is precisely what the ple will be emboldened to fight
Madras Association does. “We do not intend now,” it says “to criticise the proposals injustice fearlessly and doggedly.
regarded merely as a scheme for administering British India, but as a reference to VIMAL SETHI, KAPURTHALA
the subject in the British Press suggests that the I.C.S. as a whole approves and
welcomes the scheme, we think it desirable to say that it is not so.” 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
MISSION SPACE: Russia can build a lone lunar station, but funds are a challenge.
The waning of NASA-Roscosmos synergy can be to India’s
advantage. New Delhi should seize the opportunity.
particular, following the cancellation of
the US Space Shuttle Program in 2011,
the US began relying on Russia’s
Soyuz capsules for transport to the ISS.
Russia receives an average of $81 mil-
lion per seat on the Soyuz. In a joint
statement in 2017, the two countries
even projected the idea of collaborating
on deep space exploration, including
the construction of the Lunar Orbital
Platform-Gateway, a research-focused
space station orbiting the moon.
(Rogozin’s visit aimed at fleshing out
the tantalising idea.) Both countries
saw clear benefits, given the high price
tag for solo space exploration.
However, times have changed. Rus-
sia and the US are flaunting today
their capability to destroy each other
in a thermonuclear war, something
unheard of even at the height of the
Cold War. Space has become a new
domain of warfare. If the 2018 US
National Defense Strategy charac-
terised ‘space and cyberspace as war-
fighting domains’, Russia’s 2010 mil-
itary doctrine explicitly stated that
ensuring superiority in space would
be a ‘decisive factor’ in achieving its
strategic goals. In this tense security
environment, the need arises to pro-
aside. I did, and waited. Ten minutes
passed. He looked at me furtively.
Perhaps, he wanted me to vanish, but
I was not in a mood to oblige. Anoth-
er five minutes passed. I asked him
for the balance. Again he mumbled,
‘ Let change come. I will give you
your Rs 4. Main kahin bhaga thode ja
raha hoon.’ His tone was weak this
time as I had seen him accept small
coins over 15 minutes. I told him that
though he was not running away, I
was a busy man and had other things
to do. ‘Please wait,’ he insisted.
Another five minutes passed. The
wait was becoming painful. I was
tired and felt weak-kneed. My temper
was rising, but I realised that the
young man behind the counter was
taking me either to be a fool or a weak
man who could be browbeaten simply
letters to the editor
An enlightened being
The article ‘Vivekananda’s practical
Vedanta’ (Jan 12) precisely explains
the great message he conveyed to the
nation and the whole humanity. The
Swami said, ‘There cannot be any
antagonism amongst the religions of
the world. I wish there were as many
religions in the world as people, shed-
ding more light on spirituality.’ When
he talked of being fearless and strong,
he meant only love not hate. Love is
strength. He identified every human
being as an embodiment of divine
presence. I salute him with the same
reverence as he felt for Ramakrishna
Paramhans when he said, ‘Whatever I
have said and written belongs to my
Master and the mistakes that have
occurred in doing so belong to me.’
RUP SINGH, BY MAIL
Task cut out for Chief
The editorial ‘Sorting wheat from
chaff’ (Jan 12) has good advice for the
Army Chief. The matters of interna-
tional relations should be left to politi-
cians and diplomats. Let them chart
the way forward for matters in
Afghanistan. Our jawans are deputed
for peace missions only under the UN
flag. The Chief has huge responsibili-
ty on two fronts and to deal with inter-
nal security. Close coordination must
be forged among the Army, Navy and
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019
tect space assets (satellites, etc.) with
space-based weapons. Suffice to say,
the scope for sharing sensitive tech-
nology or capabilities in space part-
nerships has dramatically shrunk
due to the growing hostility between
the US and Russia.
Secondly, a private sector space
industry has appeared in the US and it
has spawned commercial interests.
The development of advanced tech-
nologies by private companies means
NASA has new options to choose from
and to reduce the dependence on Rus-
sia. In fact, NASA is already in a posi-
tion to use Boeing and SpaceX cap-
sules for human spaceflight beginning
in 2020 and even has the option to
phase out the procurement of Russian
RD-180 rocket engines by 2022. With
President Trump ordering the estab-
lishment of a sixth branch of the mili-
tary (‘Space Force’), the dominant
aerospace companies in the US —
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop
Grumman, Raytheon and BAE Sys-
tems — are eyeing the new frontier.
Russia’s preference has always
been to press on with a space pro-
gramme entwined with the US’s. But
in a scenario where NASA turns its
because he was a government official
— it did not matter how petty he was
in the hierarchy — and the elderly
man outside the counter an aam aad-
mi. I did not like this evaluation of
myself. It was unacceptable to me.
Raising my tone, I said, ‘Char rupay
ke liye kitni wait karni chahiye?’ ‘A
few minutes more, maybe,’ he said. I
told him angrily that he reminded me
of bus conductors of the bad old days
who would never return change to
helpless passengers on one pretext or
the other. ‘Even conductors have
stopped doing this. Check your cash-
box. There is enough change there.’
The clerk had not expected this. He
glared at me. I glared back. The peo-
ple around backed me. They had been
watching the whole drama and knew
who was at fault.
Air Force to achieve integrated com-
mand in sync with modern times. Vio-
lence in Kashmir is declining and his
message to terrorists to join the
national mainstream should have a
positive effect. Kashmiri separatists
should also stop toeing the line of the
ISI and work for the prosperity of the
people of Kashmir.
SUBHASH VAID, NEW DELHI
‘Poor’ taxpayer
Ambedkar had proposed reservation
for only 10 years, for the poor of socie-
ty. After decades, our politicians have
failed to end reservation. Now, the
issue has become a strong tool to
attract voters. The recent quota for
upper caste people was passed by both
Houses. No political party dared to
refuse it, because they know the value
of upper caste vote. People who pay
taxes will get reservation in govern-
ment jobs and educational institu-
tions. But this is not a permanent solu-
tion. As a patriot and an active citizen
of this nation, I want only a single
reservation system implemented.
KARAM SINGH THAKUR, MANDI
Surrogacy Bill
Refer to ‘Surrogates victims of abuse,
exploitation’ (Jan 12); commercialisa-
tion of motherhood and misuse of the
THE TRIBUNE
back on Roscosmos, Russia may have
to turn to China or India for partner-
ship. Recently, Rogozin openly hinted
at this. In his words, ‘China is offer-
ing many initiatives for cooperation,
is asking us to help them develop,
though they have already achieved a
good level of development. They are
suggesting creating a joint station.’
Rogozin even floated the idea of a
‘BRICS station’. Of course, Russia is
technologically capable of building a
lone Russian lunar station. But then,
as the director of the Institute of
Space Policy in Moscow, Ivan M Moi-
seyev, told the New York Times
recently, ‘The technical capability
exists, but the finances don’t.’
Quite obviously, considering that
space efforts are inextricably connect-
ed to military plans, Russia needs to
take a leap of faith to form an alliance
with China. On the one hand, the scien-
tific space-related endeavours have
immense commercial potentials, while
on the other, they signify the ultimate
‘eye in the sky’ through a combination
of satellites and unmanned aerial
reconnaissance vehicles that would
give unmatched insight into positions
of enemies (as well as allies). They will
phenomenally improve military logis-
tics, facilitate ‘orbital strikes’ at enemy
targets as well as open up new lucrative
trade and travel routes.
India is far better placed than China
can ever be to align with Russia’s
space programme, as there are no con-
tradictions in the relations between
the two countries. China is a competi-
tor for Russia — as much as for the US
— in space. Commenting on the
recent landing of a Chinese scientific
probe on the far side of the moon,
Mary Dejevsky at the Guardian news-
paper, a veteran Russia hand, wrote,
‘The response in political and military
quarters in Washington, as in
Moscow… is likely to reflect trepida-
tion.’ It cannot be otherwise in New
Delhi also. All factors taken into con-
sideration, therefore, a tapering off in
the NASA-Roscosmos cooperation,
which is on cards in a near-term sce-
nario, can be to India’s advantage.
Delhi should seize the opportunity.
Then he cowered. He looked at me
tentatively. Finding fire in my eyes,
he made a quick decision to douse it
with exceptional sweetness, dipping
his hand in the cashbox. He fished
out a Rs-5 coin and gave it to me.
Sheepishly, he said, ‘Ok, Sir, you take
it and go.’ I said the situation had not
changed. ‘I don’t have a rupee coin.’
He asked me not to bother.
I came back with my Rs 4 clinking
in my pocket. Besides, I had a rupee
interest too! I had won a small but
righteous battle against an official
who had the potential to misappropri-
ate public money at some stage, when
he would be in a senior position. It
wasn’t about Rs 4; it was about the
dignity of the common man and the
propriety on the part of public ser-
vants while discharging their duties.
process by middlemen, clinics and
doctors, and the use of women as ‘sell-
ers’ of babies is certainly acknowl-
edged by the surrogacy Bill. But a
complete ban is not what is required. It
is not feasible to ban commercial sur-
rogacy altogether, when it is worth $2.3
billion. The ban would lead to more
violations and misuse, and will also
lead to the exploitation of surrogates.
DIVYA SINGLA, PATIALA
Principals on probe panels
Refer to ‘PSEB exam centres outside
schools again, in 3-km radius’ (Jan
12); I am a retired lecturer from the
Punjab education department. It is
said that only seniormost principals
have been included in probe panels. I
contest this claim. In most districts
principals promoted in 2014 and 2016
have been adjusted on the panels
whereas those promoted in 2009 and
2010 have been ignored. This puts a
question mark on the functioning of
the panels. Also, another report says
that there will be no self-exam centre,
but in many parts of the state, stu-
dents of school ‘A’ go for exam to
school ‘B’ and vice versa, and in this
process, they help one another and
flout the bar of 3-km distance. To
curb copying, there should be no
vice-versa centres.
GURBACHAN SINGH, BY MAIL
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019 OPED 09

Protocol and politics of state funerals

LT GEN SR GHOSH (RETD)
FORMER GOC-IN-C, WESTERN COMMAND
ities, including Rajesh Khanna, ex-crick- Fifth Pay Commission recommenda-
eter Ajit Wadekar, journalist Muzaffar tion in 1997, the government had noti-
Hussain, Mother Teresa, Sathya Sai Baba, fied that a public holiday would be
singer Gangubai Hangal, BJP leader declared only in the event of the death
Pramod Mahajan, who held no ministeri- of the incumbent President and Prime
al position when he lost his life, and Dada Minister. It is now recommended that
JP Vaswani. It is strange that Bollywood this practice be abolished in totality.
star Shashi Kapoor was also given a ‘State funerals’ should be reserved for
state funeral, complete with a three-gun former Vice Presidents and Prime Minis-
salute by the police, while legendary ters, sitting Cabinet ministers, Governors,
thespian Raj Kapoor had been accorded Lieutenant Governors, Speaker of the

R
AMAKANT Achrekar, a cricket
coach known for having nur-
tured Sachin Tendulkar and
Vinod Kambli, passed away
recently. However, even before the
embers had cooled, a controversy flared
up about a ‘state funeral’ not being
accorded to him. The Maharashtra Gov-
ernment had to go into overdrive and
apologise for the ‘omission’.
Such controversies have erupted
several times. In 2017, the Karnataka
Government was slammed for accord-
ing a state funeral with a 21-gun salute
to Gauri Lankesh, a journalist known
for her support to Naxals and views on
right-wing Hindu extremism. The
administration claimed that the gun
salute was given as “a mark of respect
for her selfless service and not for ide-
ological reasons”. Another recent case
was that of Sridevi, who was given full
state honours at her funeral under the
Chief Minister’s discretionary powers
for being an “eminent personality who
has done public service”. A third case
is that of Sarabjit Singh, convicted of
spying and subsequently killed in a
Pakistani jail in 2013, for whom the
Punjab Government ordered three-
day mourning and a state funeral.
It is these powers of discretion that give
rise to controversies and hype among the
public. Over the past several years, state
funerals under the discretionary powers
have been given to several other personal-
none of these honours.
However, nothing can be as glaring as
the difference in the treatment meted
out to two giants of the Armed Forces.
In September 2017, Marshal of the
Indian Air Force Arjan Singh was cre-
mated in Delhi with full state honours.
The Tricolour was flown at half mast
and both the President and the Prime
Minister paid tributes at his residence,
where the body lay in state. The funer-
al was attended by top political leaders,
including Manmohan Singh and LK
Advani, the Raksha Mantri (Defence
Minister) and the three Service Chiefs.
A 17-gun salute, a fly-past by three
Sukhoi fighters and helicopters carry-
ing the IAF colours were part of the
honours accorded to the ‘Air Warrior’.
Compare this with the shocking
treatment meted out to India’s most
iconic soldier, Field Marshal SHFJ
Manekshaw, the Chief of the Indian
Army which liberated Bangladesh in
1971 and captured over 90,000 Pak-
istani prisoners of war. Sam passed
away in June 2008 at Wellington, Tamil
Nadu. However, for reasons unknown,
the Indian Government appeared to
deliberately downplay the state hon-
ours that this great soldier so richly
deserved. In any other country, such a
funeral would have been attended by
the highest officials of the nation.
However, here no national mourning
was declared and not one among our
HOMAGE: State funerals with full military honours, including the 17-gun salute, should be accorded to Field Marshals/Marshals
of the Air Force/Admirals of the Seas and all Param Vir Chakra/Ashok Chakra awardees.
Whims and fancies of
people in power, vote-bank
pressures and a loose
‘discretionary’ clause
can imbalance
protocol-based events,
resulting in controversies
and debates. While honours
accorded to well-known
personalities have generally
not been objected
to, what has vexed people
is the draping of Tricolour
over bodies of some of
the departed.
constitutional and central political
leadership, including the Defence
Minister, found time to attend his cre-
mation. Nor did the Governor or Chief
Minister of Tamil Nadu. The sole rep-
resentative of the government was the
Minister of State for Defence. Even the
Air Force and Navy Chiefs did not
attend the funeral and instead chose to
send two-star-ranked officers.
All these cases exemplify how poli-
tics, whims and fancies of people in
power, vote-bank pressures and a
loose ‘discretionary’ clause can
imbalance such protocol-based
events, resulting in avoidable contro-
versies and debates. While honours
accorded to well-known personalities
have generally not been objected to,
the two main issues that have, howev-
er, vexed the people are the draping of
the Tricolour over the bodies of some
of the departed and the rendering of
gun salutes to them.
A ‘state mourning’ was initially
reserved only for the President, Prime
Minister and former Presidents, while
Governors were added to the list for
‘state funerals’. However, this came
with a clause that in the case of other
dignitaries, the Centre could issue spe-
cial instructions or order a state funeral.
Thus, over the years, rules have been
relaxed or overlooked on several occa-
sions to accommodate some personali-
ties. There is, therefore, a need to review
existing instructions and streamline and
standardise these to ensure uniformity
and transparency across the country.
Some recommendations
‘National mourning’ and a ‘national
funeral’ should be authorised only for
the President, Vice President, Prime
Minister and former Presidents.
These dignitaries would be entitled to
most of the existing protocols, includ-
ing a 21-gun salute by the military and
a recommended four-day period of
mourning during which the Tricolour
would fly at half mast. Based on a
Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, Chief Ministers and Bharat Ratna
awardees. The Honour Guard at such
funerals should be drawn from the state
police or the Central Armed Police
Forces, which would fire three volleys by
seven riflemen. Bodies would be draped
in the Tricolour, but there would be no
lowering of the National Flag.
State funerals with full military hon-
ours, including the 17-gun salute,
should be accorded to Field Mar-
shals/Marshals of the Air Force/Admi-
rals of the Seas and all Param Vir
Chakra/Ashok Chakra awardees.
All other prominent citizens of great
stature could be accorded a ‘ceremonial
funeral’ at the discretion of the Central
or state governments. A ceremonial
funeral should also be authorised for for-
mer Union Cabinet ministers or equiva-
lent former government dignitaries.
Such a funeral would basically entail
logistical and security arrangements
by the government, provision of a
are: police escort and attendance by appro-
priate elected/government dignitaries.
Bodies of such departed citizens would
neither be draped in the Tricolour nor
would rifle volleys be fired.
National mourning with flags low-
ered to half mast throughout the
country should be proclaimed if the
nation goes through any major
calamity or natural disaster resulting
in large-scale loss of lives.

World Bank upbeat about India’s economy

SUSHMA RAMACHANDRAN
SENIOR FINANCIAL JOURNALIST
A possible deceleration of
growth in many economies
is on the cards, says the
World Bank report, despite
the fact that the world
economy was literally firing
on all cylinders at the
beginning of 2018. It does
mention exceptions to the
bleak prospects, which
include India. The region of
fast growth now seems to
have shifted to South Asia.
T
HE latest World Bank report on
global economic prospects for
2019 makes ominous predic-
tions for the short- and medi-
um-term future. Speaking of storm
clouds on the horizon, it describes grow-
ing international trade tensions that
could impact investments in both devel-
oped and emerging economies. A possi-
ble deceleration of growth in many
economies is on the cards, says the
report, despite the fact that the world
economy was literally firing on all cylin-
ders at the beginning of 2018. Now, it
predicts a growth of 2.9 per cent for the
entire world in 2019 as against 3 per cent
in the previous year. It does mention
exceptions to the bleak prospects, which
include India. But it warns that
economies relying on commodities may
face a setback and even the current spell
of low inflation could alter in case central
bank independence is eroded in the face
of pressure to finance governments.
The Bank’s report resonates in this
country, rocked as it has been recently
by controversies over the central
bank’s independence and the
achievement of low inflation being
marred by farmers’ distress due to
low agricultural prices. At the same
time, the bank is upbeat as far as India
is concerned. It expects growth to rise
to 7.3 per cent during 2018-19, making
it the fastest growing economy on the
planet. It goes on to add that the pace
will pick up to 7.5 per cent in the fol-
lowing two years. China, on the other
hand, is projected to slow down to 6.3
per cent. The region of fast growth
DRASTIC STEP: The World Bank has pointed out that demonetisation led to slower
growth in 2017, but encouraged a shift from the informal to the formal economy.
now seems to have shifted to South
Asia. Only Pakistan lags with an
expected slowing to 3.7 per cent.
On India, the Bank makes some
interesting observations about
demonetisation and the launch of the
Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.
It notes that both developments led to
slower growth in 2017. It also contends
that these encouraged a shift from the
informal to the formal economy. In
this context, the Bank highlights the
need to reduce the element of the
informal sector in emerging
economies. It maintains that a large
informal sector is often associated
with lower productivity, reduced tax
revenues and greater poverty and
inequality. In other words, while both
demonetisation and GST had led to
lower growth, these also had a positive
impact by way of reducing the infor-
mal economy.
Demonetisation, which caused
extreme hardships to the weaker sec-
tions of society, especially in rural
areas, has also been decried due to the
fact that most of the currency was
returned to the central bank. The
Bank, on the other hand, has only
viewed the measure from the aspect of
helping the shift from the informal to
the formal economy, as it points out
that workers in the latter sector earn 19
per cent more than those in the former.
The introduction of GST is viewed
through the same prism, though this
too has been criticised for being
launched without adequate prepara-
tion, leading to considerable hardship
for small businesses. One must point
out, however, that GST was a reform
whose time had come and no amount
of preparation would have enabled a
smooth rollout. First, states were hold-
ing on jealously to their individual rev-
enue flows without taking a macro-
economic view; second, small traders
and businesses would not have shifted
to much-needed digitisation before it
was actually launched. The initial
glitches are being ironed out.
The Bank has commended the con-
tainment of inflation in emerging
economies to 3.5 per cent, saying that
it is linked to greater output, higher
growth and better development. Its
comments on low inflation are signif-
icant as one of the big achievements
of this government has been curtail-
ing price rise. This is despite harden-
ing of world crude oil prices in the
past two years that led to enhanced
retail prices of petroleum products.
Even so, it was possible to keep infla-
tion within the parameters laid down
by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
One of the reasons for attaining
these goals, however, was the stagna-
tion in agricultural product prices
which occurred paradoxically owing
to successive bountiful harvests. The
presence of huge food surpluses, in
turn, led to agrarian distress in
many states. Hence, containing
inflation needs to be accompanied
by reformative policies in key sec-
tors of the economy.
Similarly, the issue of the central
bank independence, highlighted in
the World Bank’s report, has become
a key issue of discourse in recent
months. The abrupt resignation of
Urjit Patel as RBI Governor follow-
ing disagreements with the Central
Government appeared to show that
all was not well on this front. As far
as independence is concerned, it is
clear this cannot be stretched
beyond a point, though tensions
between the RBI and the govern-
ment have been of a healthy nature
in the past. Even a former RBI Gov-
ernor is now saying the central bank
is accountable to the government
and needs to work within the frame-
work laid down by it.
The World Bank’s latest report is
thus not only timely, but also high-
lights many issues that have come to
the fore here in recent months. The
aspect of higher growth remains
paramount, however, as the Bank
notes that higher consumption and
investment have been the drivers for
acceleration this year. It can only be
hoped that the brighter skies on the
horizon translate into a consistently
high growth path for the economy
over the next few years.

quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

ACROSS JANUARY 14, 2019 MONDAY SUNSET: MONDAY 17:42 HRS
1 A published review (5-2)
5 Deserve (5)
1 4 2 6 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2075 SUNRISE: TUESDAY 07:21 HRS
■ Shaka Samvat 1940
8 Outmoded (13)
9 Very stupid (5) 7 6 5 3 9 ■ Posh Shaka

■ Magh Parvishte
24
1
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy
10 Brilliant red (7)
■ Hijari 1440 Chandigarh 19 06
11 Excessively affectionate (6)
12 Ferocious (6) 3 7 4 ■ Shukla Paksh Tithi 8, up to 12.38 am
New Delhi
PUNJAB
21 08
15 Caller (7) ■ Sidh Yoga up to 6.52 am
Amritsar 17 05
17 Escape grasp of (5)
19 Result in failure (4,2,7) 8 9 6 1 7 2 ■ Revti Nakshatra 12.53 am

■ Moon enters Aries sign 12.53 pm

Bathinda 18 07
Jalandhar 18 05
20 Correspond (5)
■ Panchak end 12.53 pm Ludhiana 19 06
21 Arrogant self-confidence (7) HARYANA

SATURDAY’S SOLUTION Bhiwani 19 07

DOWN Hisar 18 05
1 Injury (5) 6 5 2 7 9 8 � � � � � � � � � Sirsa 19 07
2 Immeasurably small (13) HIMACHAL PRADESH
� � � � � � � � �
3 Oriental (7) Dharamsala 13 02
4 Ordained minister (6) 3 5 1 � � � � � � � � � Manali 08 --05
5 Madness (5) � � � � � � � � � Shimla 11 --01
JAMMU & KASHMIR
6 Stirring up discontent (6-7)
7 Playhouse (7) 7 2 1 8 4 � � � � � � � � � Jammu 19 05
11 Pigeonhouse (7) � � � � � � � � � Leh 04 --15
SATURDAY’S SOLUTION Srinagar 06 --03
Across: 1 Adult, 8 Put on ice, 9 Haunt, 10 Cold feet, 11 Phase, 12 Pen, 16 Pagoda, 17
13 Sluggishness (7)
14 A distant planet (6)
4 3 6 5 �
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
UTTARAKHAND
Eclair, 18 Wit, 23 Swede, 24 Alarmist, 25 Avoid, 26 Restrain, 27 Grief. Dehradun 23 06
Down: 2 Dead heat, 3 Long shot, 4 Furore, 5 Moody, 6 Vixen, 7 Petty, 12 Paw, 13 Net, 16 Of poor quality (5)
� � � � � � � � � Mussoorie 14 01
14 Blow over, 15 Windpipe, 19 Instil, 20 Carry, 21 Balsa, 22 Smart. 18 Keen (5) V EASY TEMPERATURE IN OC
10
Soldier injured
in Pak sniper fire
Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 13
In yet another ceasefire vio-
lation, an Army jawan was
injured in a sniper fire from
Pakistan on Sunday near
the Line of Control (LoC) in
Rajouri district. It was the
36th ceasefire violation by
Pakistan in the last 13 days.
An Army official said Pak-
istani troops violated cease-
fire on Sunday by resorting
to unprovoked firing from
across the LoC, injuring a
soldier deputed at a forward
post. Apparently, he was hit
by a bullet fired by a Pak-
istani sniper in the Keri
sector of Rajouri district.
Indian troops retaliated
effectively, the official said,
adding that the soldier
was taken to a hospital.
The soldier has been iden-
tified as Rifleman Gurpreet
Singh, who reportedly
received serious bullet
injuries on the shoulder.
After providing immedi-
ate medical help, he was air-
lifted to the Army’s Com-
mand Hospital.
Snow spell ends in Kashmir Two ultras held in Shopian
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, January 13
The sun shone over most
parts of the Valley for the
first time in recent weeks on
Sunday as the latest spell of
snowfall, which continued
intermittently for three
days, ended in the region.
The rare sunny day came
as a respite in the region
which has been battling one
of its severe winters in the
past decade with back-to-
back snowfalls causing traf-
fic disruptions and triggering
threats of avalanches in
remote mountainous areas.
Virbhadra blackmails party
before every election: Sukhu
Tribune News Service
Shimla, January 13
There seems to be no let-up
in the acrimony between
Virbhadra Singh and for-
mer state Congress presi-
dent Sukhwinder Singh
Sukhu with the latter hit-
ting out at the former Chief
Minister for always black-
mailing the party in the
run-up to any election.
Sukhu today retaliated by
saying that Virbhadra only
encouraged personality cult
and for the former CM, per-
sonal interest always mat-
tered the most. “He has
insulted party leaders and
MLAs in the HPCC by refer-
ring to them as ‘junk’
which is not acceptable. Are
leaders like Gangu Ram
Musafir, Harsh Mahajan,
Chander Kumar, Ajay
Mahajan and Ravi Thakur,
all former MLAs and minis-
ters junk ?” he retorted.
Virbhadra at a function in
Hamirpur yesterday said
Sukhu had caused damage
to the party and his team
CUHP not to set up medical, engg colleges
VC writes to Centre, says will focus on humanities, other professional courses
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, January 13
Central University
Himachal Pradesh (CUHP)
has dropped the proposal
for setting up medical and
engineering colleges.
The university had pro-
posed to set up these col-
leges in its vision docu-
ment. As per initial
proposal of the CUHP, it was
planned that while human-
ities and basic sciences pro-
State submits report on
36th ceasefire
violation in 13 days
simultaneous polls to EC
Dinesh Manhotra
The Pakistan army violated Tribune News Service
the ceasefire for the 36th Jammu, January 13
time in the last 13 days. On The state election depart-
Sunday, it resorted to unpro- ment has submitted its
voked firing from across the report to the Election Com-
LoC, injuring a soldier deput-
mission of India (ECI)
ed at a forward post. The
regarding preparations for
soldier has been identified
the Lok Sabha and Assem-
as Rifleman Gurpreet Singh,
bly elections in the state.
who reportedly received
serious bullet injuries on The ECI will take the final
the shoulder. decision on holding the
elections in the state.
Since the beginning of “We have submitted our
2019, a Major and two oth- report. Our job is to inform
ers, including a soldier, the commission about our
have been killed in cease- preparations. The final deci-
fire violations by Pakistan. sion on holding the elec-
“It has become a routine tions will be taken by the
affair with the Pakistan army ECI,” Shalinder Kumar,
to provoke the Indian Army chief electoral officer (CEO),
by resorting to truce viola- J&K, told, The Tribune.
tions two or three times a day. He was in New Delhi for a
Though we give them a two-day meeting of all CEOs
befitting reply and inflicting of the country to review
damage, the provocation con- preparations for the forth-
tinues,” said an Army officer. coming Lok Sabha elections.
The deceased include All deputy commissioners
Major Shashi Dharan V Nair of J&K had already submit-
of Pune, Rifleman Jiwan ted details of the returning
Gurung of West Bengal and officers and assistant
Army porter Hem Raj. returning officers to the
Air, road traffic resumes
The surface connectivity as well as air traffic, which was disrupt-
ed by the snowfall in the state, was restored and vehicles strand-
ed along the Jammu-Srinagar highway were allowed to move
The latest snowfall ended Srinagar national highway
by Saturday evening at most were allowed to move.
places in the Valley and was In Kashmir, where the res-
the fifth such spell since the idents are struggling with
snowfall in November’s first freezing climatic conditions,
week, which had marked the temperatures overnight
the early arrival of winter. remained comparatively
The surface connectivity warm. The minimum tem-
as well as air traffic, which perature in Srinagar, the
was disrupted by the snow- state’s summer capital,
fall in the region, was dropped to a low of -0.4°C,
restored and the vehicles making it the warmest
stranded along the Jammu- night of the month.
❝ For the former CM,
personal interest
always matters the
most.Virbhadra has
insulted party leaders and
MLAs in the HPCC by
referring to them as ‘junk’
which is not acceptable.
Are leaders like Gangu
Ram Musafir, Harsh
Mahajan, Chander Kumar,
Ajay Mahajan and Ravi
Thakur, all former MLAs
and ministers junk? ❞
Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, HPCC CHIEF
was nothing less than junk. career, Virbhadra had
The former CM had been always opposed good lead-
seeking Sukhu’s ouster the ers whether it was Sat
day he was given the reins Mahajan, Vidya Stokes,
of the party after the 2012 Kaul Singh or Viplove
Assembly polls. Sukhu vir- Thakur. “Virbhadra thinks
tually put a question mark that he is the Congress and
on Virbhadra’s political the party cannot win with-
clout by stating that the out him. I would like to
Congress had never been remind him that times have
able to repeat the govern- changed and now the party
ment whenever he had has a strong organisational
been the Chief Minister. set-up in every nook and
Sukhu said in his political corner,” he said.
grammes would be started
at the Dharamsala complex,
medical and engineering
❝ Himachal already has
six medical colleges that
colleges would come up at are in various stages of
Dehra. Vice-Chancellor, development. It won’t be
CUHP, Kuldeep Agnihotri wise to start another
said he had written to the medical college at this
Centre in this regard. He said stage. The state has
initially, the university had enough engineering
no intention to start medical colleges in both
and engineering colleges. government and
In the initial “vision docu- private sectors. The
ment”, the university had focus will be on other
proposed to start 130 courses.
The ministry had now asked
courses now. ❞
Kuldeep Agnihotri, VC, CUHP
J&K/HP
People line up to cast their vote in Jammu. TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO
CEO in December on the
directions of the CEO.
In the last week of Decem-
ber, the state government
had constituted panels at
the divisional and district
levels to explore the possi-
bilities of holding the gener-
Our Correspondent
Anantnag, January 13
The Delhi Police on Sunday
claimed to have arrested two
militants, including a juve-
nile, from a ‘naka’ in Shopi-
an district. The ‘naka’
(checkpoint) had been put
up by a joint team of the Del-
hi Police and J&K Police.
In a press release, the Delhi
Police said two militants were
arrested from Narwaw village
of Shopian. However, the
press release did not men-
tion the date of the arrest.
One of the arrested persons
has been identified as Kifay-
The former HPCC presi-
dent said in his over six-
year stint as president, he
had worked hard to ensure
that there was a strong
organisational set-up.
“I tried to ensure that the
party reached up to the
booth level, activated
various cells and frontal
organisations and, above
all, gave opportunities to
the youth by entrusting
with them important
responsibilities,” he said.
Sukhu said Virbhadra had
made people chairmen and
vice-chairmen who contested
elections against the party’s
official nominees. “What is
even more amusing is that
the Congress fared badly in
the home booths of most of
these appointees,” he said.
Virbhadra had never worked
in the party’s interests but
always furthered his own
personal interests.
With Virbhadra being very
critical of Sukhu even after
his removal, it appears that
the verbal duel between the
two will only get worse.
the college authorities to sub-
mit a specified number of
courses that could be started
in the initial phase, he said.
Agnihotri said the state
had enough engineering
colleges in both govern-
ment and private sectors. In
the initial phase, the CUHP
would now only concentrate
on sciences, humanities
and other professional
courses, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor, how-
ever, made it clear that med-
al and Assembly polls simul-
taneously. The election
department has also com-
pleted the process of special
summary revision of the
electoral rolls in the state.
The J&K Assembly was
dissolved on November 21
Joint operation
The militants were arrested
from a ‘naka’ put up by a joint
team of the Delhi Police and
J&K Police at Narwaw village
of Shopian. The arrested mili-
tants were in touch with
Naveed Babu, a policeman-
turned-Hizb commander.
. NCR for procurement of
atullah Bukhari, a resident of
Nowpora in Shopian district.
The second militant has only
been identified as a “juve-
nile in conflict with law”.
“The militants were in
touch with Naveed Babu, a
policeman-turned-Hizb com-
mander,” the statement read.
Fresh snow in Queen of Hills
■ Shimla, Kufri and upper areas
received another spell of snowfall
on Sunday. The HRTC bus service
remained suspended on the
routes leading to Narkanda,
Chopal, Rohru und Jubbal. Mean-
while, the movement of vehicles
ical and engineering col-
leges could be set up by the
CUHP in later stages.
The CUHP was estab-
lished in 2010. On the rec-
ommendations of the then
government, led by PK
Dhumal, a committee was
set up for the selection of
sites for the university in
Kangra. It was on the basis
of the recommendation that
the then Centre decided to
have two complexes — at
Dehra and Dharamsala.
Centre’s take
■ During a debate on the
imposition of President’s
rule in J&K, Union Home
Minister Rajnath Singh
told Parliament on Janu-
ary 3 that the Centre had
no objection if the Assem-
bly and Lok Sabha elec-
tions in J&K were held
simultaneously. He had
said the Centre would pro-
vide all security arrange-
ments required for
holding the elections
■ On January 11, Governor
Satya Pal Malik said the
administration was ready
for the Assembly elec-
tions in the state and a
call in this direction
should be taken by the
ECI and New Delhi
after having been kept in
suspended animation for
nearly five months following
the collapse of the PDP-BJP
on June 19. After six months
of Governor’s rule, Presi-
dent’s rule was imposed in
J&K on December 20.
A case has been registered
at the Shopian police station.
One pistol and 14 live car-
tridges were recovered from
the possession of the duo.
The Delhi Police said there
were specific inputs regard-
ing a Hizbul Mujahideen
module, which visited the
sophisticated small weapons.
“A special team was sent to
Jammu and Kashmir. The
information was shared
with the counterparts in
Shopian following which a
trap was laid and the two
militants were arrested,”
the statement said.
was restored on the Shimla-Kufri-
Fagu-Theog-Narkanda road
in the afternoon.
■ In Kalpa and Keylong, Lahaul-Spiti,
normal life has been out of gear
for the past three days.
2 killed as U’khand-bound
bus collides with truck
PATNA, JANUARY 13
At least two persons were
killed and about three dozen
injured after an Uttarak-
hand-bound tourist bus
collided with a truck on the
NH-77 near the Runnisaid-
pur locality of Sitamarhi dis-
trict of Bihar on Sunday.
The injured were rushed to
Sri Krishna Medical College
and Hospital (SKMCH) in
Muzaffarpur. The condition
of one patient is said to be
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019
Shah Faesal: From
sensation in 2010 to
‘politician’ in 2019
S
HAH Faesal was a
phenomenon in 2010
when every Kashmiri
looked up to him for inspira-
tion. The young man had
propelled the Valley into the
national consciousness as a
place where good things too
happen. That marvel has
crash-landed into the mun-
dane world of politics.
It is a steep decline from the
sublime to ridiculous. This
decline is not because the IAS
topper of 2009, who had
become a household name in
2010 for his stupendous and
inspiring success, has decid-
ed to join politics. It is his per-
sonal decision and there
should be no quarrel with that
but two points are quite mys-
terious, if not outright intrigu-
ing, about his proposal to tra-
verse the political terrain of
Kashmir. It is unclear as to
where does he stand: on the
side of the militants who
killed his father and forced
his family to run from Lolab
in Kupwara to Srinagar
for safety and security.
The militants are also
responsible for many atroci-
ties that have inflicted untold
pain to thousands of people.
Worse, what they have done
is to create a situation where
militancy, conferred with a
dignified term of resistance,
made the country respond
with equally ruthless count-
er-terrorism operations. The
familiarity of the armed
forces to the soil of Kashmir
has brought in many
changes on the landscape,
and today all Kashmiris are
living a split life — their
love for what they believe
is “a pious revolution” and
desperate search for a
peaceful life for themselves
and their children.
The would-be politician in
Faesal has looked at one side of
the problem, thus making it
■ Tourist vehicles going towards Kufri,
which recorded 3 to 4 inches of snow
in the morning, got stuck on the
Dhalli-Chharabra-Kufru-Fagu
stretch. But chaos and chill did not
deter revellers, who celebrated
Lohri on the way to Kufri. — TNS
critical as she was admitted to
the ICU of the hospital.
The bus was on way to
Uttarakhand via Gaya dis-
trict as it was returning from
Janakpur Dham of Nepal
where Uttarakhand tourists
had gone to offer prayers
before they met with a fatal
accident in Sitamarhi’s Run-
nisaidpur police station area.
Since collision of bus and
truck was head-on, both bus
and truck were badly dam-
THE TRIBUNE
ON THE FRONTLINE
ARUN JOSHI
In 2010, Shah Faesal
made youth in Kashmir
compete and excel. But
now, he has created a
doubt in their minds
that if politics is the final
destination, why route it
through the IAS?
clear as to whose side he
stands, when he said he had
decided to quit the IAS job to
protest the “unabated
killings” of Kashmiris and
the failure of the Union Gov-
ernment to reach out to Kash-
miris. It has all the ring of half-
truth because he is silent on
the killing of civilians, police-
men in their homes and the
worst human crimes of slitting
of throats by militants.
This makes his political
plans selective, ignoring the
other side completely.
Second, he made observa-
tions about the instances
that have plagued the coun-
try in recent years, high-
lighting the Muslim victimi-
sation. That is a squinted
view. India has that tolerance
and it gives the freedom of
speech and expression that
he said was being sup-
pressed in the country.
In 2010, Faesal made youth
in Kashmir compete and
excel. But now, he has creat-
ed doubt in their minds that
if politics is the final destina-
tion, why route it through the
IAS and leave your own
people disillusioned.
AMIT KANWAR
aged, killing driver of the
truck at the spot.
Confirming two deaths in
the fatal road accident,
Muzaffarpur district Magis-
trate Mohammad Suhail
said: “The injured were taken
to the SKMCH where they
were getting proper treat-
ment. Except a few, the condi-
tion of other tourists was said
to be out of danger”. One
woman who died was identi-
fied as Rukmini Devi. — TNS
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019
CLASSIFIEDS
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Good salary. Contact 97810-25025.
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Requires Visa Filling Officer for
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Contact Mobile: 89689-37302.
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Required Graphic Designer well
conversant to AI & Photoshop.
Handsome salary. Experienced
preferred. Contact: 99887-42020,
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Urgent requirement of HR
Executive at Chandigarh freshers will
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Wanted Lady BAMS Doctor,
morning duty salary 15000 p.m. and
furhter negotiable, interview before
20.01.2019, Preet Hospital, Badali
(Fatehgarh Sahib). 99152-33393.
NA8-63963
Wanted Lecturer in English,
UGC qualified salary as per UGC
scales. Post is likely to be confirmed.
Apply to Chairman Baba Farid
Law College, Kotkapura
Road, Faridkot (Pb.). Email:
bflcfdk@gmail.com Contact: 01639-
251300. NA8-63999
Walk in interview at British
International School on 18.01.2019
between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Require English, SST, Geography,
DP, all other subjects
also welcome. 82838-16075.
principal@britishinternationalschool.net
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required for Human Terce
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Moga-HQ. Education: Bachelor
with fluency in English, Exp.:
1-2 yrs. Contact: 82840-40361,
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NA8-64048
RRMK Arya Mahila Mahavidyalaya
Pathankot. Applications are invited
for lady Assistant Professor having
Ph.D. qualification one in each
subject Commerce, Political Science
and Punjabi on 2 years contract
basis. Qualifications and grade
as per UGC/Pb. Govt./GNDU
Amritsar. Punjabi up to Matric
must. Reservation exists as per
norms. Apply within 21 days
through registered post. Principal.
NA8-63988B
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Admission Guidance (2019-2020)
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states. Contact: 084374-86283,
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Study Visa, Tourist Visa, IELTS/
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Showroom ground, basement,
first, scond, Sector 26, Chandigarh.
For corporate office/restaurant.
Contact: 98141-06044. NA8-63285
PUBLIC NOTICES
I, Gurpreet Kaur w/o Kuldeep
Kumar resident 196, Tarkhana
Wali Gali, Singh KA Mohalla
BOH, Ambala Cantt, have changed
my name to Gurpreet. Concerned note.
C8-74788B
I, Sohan Lal s/o Krishan Chander
r/o # 265, Sector 19-B,
Street No.-2, Preet Nagar,
Mandi Gobindgarh Distt. Fatehgarh
Sahib, have changed my name
to Sohan Lal Kaushal. All note.
NA8-63958B
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there upon.”
PUBLIC NOTICES
I, Naresh Kumar S/o Dev Raj
R/o Bathinda, have changed
my name to Naresh Kumar
Singla S/o Dev Raj Singla.
NA8-64046B
I, Dazy D/o Sukhdev Kumar
R/o Bathinda, have changed
my name to Daisy Singla
D/o Sukhdev Kumar Mittal
NA8-64047B
I, Jasvinder Kaur Bains
w/o Malwinder Singh r/o VPO
Pur Hiran District Hoshiarpur
Punjab, have changed my
name from Jasvinder Kaur Bains to
Jasvinder Kaur as per Pan Card/
Aadhar Card, Matriculation
Certificate for future reference.
NA8-64026
COURT NOTICES
(U/O 5 Rule 20 CPC)
In the Court of
Ms. Ekta Uppal
Additional Civil Judge
Senior Division,
Faridkot.
1. Sunil Kumar Arora son of Smt.
Saraswati Devi and Sh. Chaman
Lal Arora son of Sh. Amir Chand
Arora, r/o H.No. B-V/254, opp.
Sri Ram Hospital, Old Jail Road,
Faridkot.
2. Sneh @ Kamlesh Rani d/o Smt.
Saraswati Devi and Sh. Chaman
Lal Arora son of Sh. Amir Chand
Arora, r/o H.No. B-V/254, opp.
Sri Ram Hospital, Old Jail Road,
Faridkot now w/o Gulshan Kumar
Bhutani r/o H.No. 102, Dayal
Singh Colony Karnal (Haryana).
Vs.
General Public
CNR No.: PBFD02-001136-2018
Next Date: 11.02.2019
The plaintiff prays for declaration
Publication issued to:
General Public:-
General Public
In above titled case, the
defendant(s)/respondent(s) could
not be served. It is ordered that
defendant(s)/ respondent(s) should
appear in person or through
counsel on 11.02.2019 at 10:00
a.m.
For details logon to:
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?trs
=district_notice&district=faridkot
Dated, this day of 09.01.2019.
Sd/-
Additional Civil Judge
Senior Division,
A8-69730 Faridkot.
In the Court of
Shri Abhishek Phutela,
Civil Judge (Sr. Division),
Chandigarh.
CNR No.
CHCH02-005053-2018
Madhu Walia widow of late
Prabhjit Singh Walia, aged 54
years, resident of H.No. 4,
Notified Area Committee,
Manimajra, Chandigarh.
...Petitioner
Versus
1. General Public,
2. Canara Bank through its
Branch Manager, SCO No. 836,
Manimajra, U.T., Chandigarh.
3. Harminder Pal Singh Walia s/o
late Joginder Singh Walia, r/o
H.No. 4, Notified Area
Committee, Manimajra,
Chandigarh.
4. Harinder Jeet Kaur Walia w/o
Shri Daljit Singh r/o H.No.
1198, First Floor, Sector 34-A,
Chandigarh.
...Respondent
Petition for Succession
Certificate under Section 372 of
Indian Succession Act of the estate
of late Joginder Singh Walia s/o
Bachittar Singh Walia-deceased.
Notice to:-
1. General Public
In above tied petition the
respondent No. 1 could not be
served. It is ordered that the
respondent no. 1 should appear in
person or through counsel on
16.02.2019 at 9.30 a.m.
Sd/- Shri Abhishek Phutela,
Civil Judge (Senior Division),
CN8-3315 Chandigarh.
COURT NOTICES
(U/O 5 Rule 20 CPC)
In the Court of
Ms Priya Sood
Additional District & Sessions Judge,
Hoshiarpur.
Ranjit Singh s/o Dalip Singh r/o
Village Khablan, Tehsil and District
Hoshiarpur and others. ... Appellants
Versus
Swaran Singh (deceased) r/o Village
Khablan, Tehsil and District Hoshiarpur
and others.
... Defendants/Respondents
Application under Section 5 of the
Limitation Act for Condonation of
Delay.
CNR No. PBHO01-002383-2018
Next Date: 01.02.2019
Publication issued to:
1. Swaran Singh deceased through his
LRs C. Jaspal Singh s/o Swaran Singh
r/o Village Khablan, Tehsil and District
Hoshiarpur. 2. Nirmal Singh s/o Bhagat
Singh deceased through his LRs ii.
Neelam (Daughter) iii. Meena
(Daughter). Both r/o Village Khablan,
Tehsil and District Hoshiarpur. 5. Usha
Rani d/o Ram Parkash r/o Village
Khablan, Tehsil and District
Hoshiarpur. 6. Sudesh Rani d/o Ram
Parkash r/o Village Khablan, Tehsil and
District Hoshiarpur.
In above titled Civil Miscellaneous,
the defendant(s)/respondent(s) could
not be served. It is ordered that
defendant(s)/respondent(s) should
appear in person or through counsel on
01.02.2019 at 10.00 a.m.
For details logon to
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?trs=
district_notice&district=hoshiarpur
Dated, this day of 10.01.2019.
Sd/-
Additional District & Sessions Judge,
CN8-3317 Hoshiarpur.
(U/o 5 Rule 20 CPC)
In the Court of
Shri Ankit Airi,
Civil Judge
(Junior Division),
Ludhiana.
M/s Shankar Mill Store
Versus
M/s H S Panesar Industries
CNR No.
PBLD02-007464-2017
Next Date:- 29.01.2019
Publication issued to:
M/s H S Panesar Industries
Add:- 536/45, Sua Road,
Industrial Area-C, Near
Eastman Chowk, Dhandari
Kalan, Ludhiana, Punjab
through its partners S/Sh.
Mukhtiar Singh & Hardev
Singh.
In above titled case, the
defendant(s)/respondent(s)
could not be served. It is
ordered that defendant(s)/
respondent(s) should appear in
person or through counsel on
29.01.2019 at 10:00 a.m.
For details logon to
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?tr
=district_notice&district=
ludhiana.
Dated, this day of 14.12.2018.
Sd/- Civil Judge
(Junior Division),
CN8-3327 Ludhiana.
In the Court of
Sh. Ravinderjit Singh Bajwa
Additional Civil Judge
(Senior Division), Amritsar.
CNR No.:
PBAS020008532018
Next Date: 29.01.2019
Pal Singh s/o Sh. Amarjit
Singhr /o Mohalla Bajigaran,
Ward No. 10, Ajnala,
Distt. Amritsar & Others.
Versus
Mandeep Kaur w/o Pal Singh
d/o Gian Chand r/o Mohalla
Awakha, Near Baba Nau
Gajja, Dina Nagar, Distt.
Gurdaspur & Others
Suit for Declaration
Notice to: General Public
Notice is issued in the name
of General Public that in case
anybody has any objection for
the grant of succession
certificate, he/she can file
objections to the same on or
before 29.01.2019 at 10.00
a.m. failing which the petition
shall be decided in accordance
with law.
For detail logon to
http://highcourtchd.gov.in/?
trs=district_notice&district=
amritsar.
Sd/- Ravinderjit Singh Bajwa
Addl. Civil Judge
Senior Division),
CN8-3331 Amritsar.
(U/o 5 Rule 20 CPC)
In the Court of
Shatin Goyal
Addl. District and
Sessions Judge-XI,
Jalandhar.
Sukhanjit Kaur w/o Ranjit
Singh d/o Mohan Singh r/o 54,
Gobind Nagar, Sodal Road,
Jalandhar.
Versus
Ranjit Singh son of Lakhwant
Singh r/o Sodal Road, Pret Nagar,
Mohalla Gobindgarh, Distt.
Jalandhar at present C Pobla De
Farnals 56 PO24/Spain
CNR No.:
PBJL01-010603-2018
Next Date: 31.01.2019
Purpose: Appearance
Publication issued to: Ranjit
Singh, Father Lakhwant Singh,
Sodal Road, Pret Nagar, Mohalla
Gobindgarh, Distt. Jalandhar at
present C Pobla De Farnals 56
PO24/Spain.
In above titled case, the
defendant(s)/respondent(s) could
not be served. It is ordered that
defendant(s)/respondent(s)
should appear in person or
through counsel on 31.01.2019 at
10.00 a.m.
For details logon to
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?
trs=district_notice&district=
jalandhar
Dated, this day of 10.12.2018.
Sd/-
Additional District &
Sessions Judge-XI,
CN8-3335 Jalandhar.
NATION
COURT NOTICES
In the Court of
Ms Mamta Kakkar,
PCS, Judicial Magistrate
1st Class, Batala
CNR No.
PBGDA1-0011232017
Next Date: 30.01.2019
The Gsp. Central Co-op
Bank Ltd.
Versus
Sunil Kumar
Notice to: Sunil Kumar s/o
Manohar Lal Suri, r/o Hindu
Mohalla, Qadian, Tehsil
Batala, District Gurdaspur.
In above titled case
accused(s) could not be
served. It is ordered that
accused(s) should appear in
person or through counsel
on 30.01.2019 at 10.00 a.m.
For details logon to
www.highcourtchd.gov.in/?
trs=district_notice&district
=gurdaspur
Given under my hand and
the seal of the court this
20.11.2018.
Sd/-
Ms Mamta Kakkar, PCS
Judicial Magistrate,
1st Class,
CN8-3337 Batala.
In the Court of
Sh. Ranjeev Pal Singh Cheema,
PCS, Addl. Civil Judge (S.D.),
Baba Bakala
CNR No.
PBASB0-000281-2016
Next Date:- 02.02.2019
Hardev Kaur D/o Najar Singh W/o
Jatinder Singh Resident of Village
Gadarzada, Tehsil Baba Bakala Sahib,
Distt. Amritsar, Now residing at
Village Udhowali Kalan, Tehsil Dera
Baba Bakala Nanak, Distt. Gurdaspur.
Versus
Harjit Kaur Widow of Ranjit Singh
S/o Najar Singh Resident of Village
Gadarzada, Tehsil Baba Bakala Sahib,
Distt. Amritsar.
Notice to Defendant No. 4
Balbir Kaur@Nirmal Kaur W/o
Paramjit Singh all resident of village
Gadarzada, Tehsil Baba Bakala Sahib,
Distt. Amritsar.
Whereas it has been proved to the
satisfaction of the court that the
defendant above noted cannot be
served in the ordinary way of service.
Hence this publication under Order 5
Rule 20 CPC is hereby issued against
her/them and she/they should appear
personally or through her/their counsel
on 02.02.2019 at 10.00 a.m. failing
which exparte proceedings shall be
taken against her/them.
Given under my hand and the seal of
the court.
For details logon to:
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?trs=
district_notice&district=amritsar
Sd/- Addl. Civil Judge
(Sr. Divn.),
CN8-3341 Baba Bakala Sahib.
(U/o 5 Rule 20 CPC)
In the Court of
Harveen Bhardwaj,
Addl. District and
Sessions Judge-I,
Jalandhar.
Palwinder Singh
Versus
Sapna
CNR No.
PBJL01-007598-2018
Next Date:- 31.01.2019
Purpose: Appearance
Petition U/S 13 of Hindu
Marriage Act for Dissolution of
Marriage by a Decree of
Divorce.
Publication issued to:
Sapna
Spouse:- Palwinder Singh R/o
H.No. 5, Gali No. 4, Guru
Nanak Nagar, Gulab Devi road,
Nagra, Jalandhar.
In above titled case, the
defendant(s)/respondent(s)
could not be served. It is
ordered that defendant(s)/
respondent(s) should appear in
person or through counsel on
31.01.2019 at 10:00 a.m.
For details logon to
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/
?trs=district_notice&district=
jalandhar
Dated, this day of 20.12.2018.
Sd/- Addl. District and
Sessions Judge-I,
CN8-3343 Jalandhar.
(U/O 5 Rule 20 CPC)
In the Court of
Shatin Goyal,
Additional District and
Sessions Judge-XI,
Jalandhar
CNR No.
PBJL01-014118-2018
Next Date: 31.01.2019
Purpose: Appearance
Sandhya w/o Bhajan Singh Toor d/o
Surinder Pal r/o H. No. ES 286, Gali
No. 2, Mohalla Abadpura, Jalandhar at
present r/o 8/36, Champbell, Street,
Wollongong, NSW-2500, Australia
through attorney Surinder Pal s/o
Amar Chand r/o H. No. ES 286, Gali
No. 2, Mohalla Abadpura, Jalandhar.
Versus
Bhajan Singh Toor son of Sher Singh
Toor r/o Patti Sand Ki, VPO Bhinder
Kalan, District Moga at present r/o 11
Greystanes Way, Carnes Hill, NSW,
2171, Australia.
Publication issued to: Bhajan Singh
Toor, father: Sher Singh Toor Patti
Sand Ki, VPO Bhinder Kalan, District
Moga at present r/o 11 Greystanes
Way, Carnes Hill, NSW, 2171,
Australia.
In above titled case the
defendant(s)/respondent(s) could not
be served. It is ordered that
defendant(s)/respondent(s) should
appear in person or through counsel on
31.01.2019 at 10.00 a.m.
For details logon to
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?trs
=district_notice& district=jalandhar
Dated, this day of 10.12.2018.
Sd/-
Addl. District and
Sessions Judge-XI,
CN8-3345 Jalandhar.
COURT NOTICES
(U/O 5 Rule 20 CPC)
In the Court of
Shatin Goyal
Addl. District and
Sessions Judge-XI,
Jalandhar.
Manpreet Singh son of Kundan
Singh r/o VPO Gakhal, Tehsil and
District Jalandhar.
Vs.
Jeevan Rani wife of Manpreet
Singh d/o Birbal Sharma r/o Village
Ghuman (K.C. Sudhar) Distt.
Ludhiana at present r/o 1/101,
Melville Road, Bruns Wick West
(VIC) Melbourne 3055 Australia.
CNR No.: PBJL01-012776-2018
Next Date: 01.02.2019
Purpose: Appearance
Publication issued to:
Jeevan Rani
Spouse: Manpreet Singh d/o Birbal
Sharma, Village Ghuman (K.C
Sudhar) Distt. Ludhiana at present
r/o 1/101, Melville Road, Bruns
Wick West (VIC) Melbourne 3055
Australia.
In above titled case, the
defendant/respondent could not be
served. It is ordered that defendant/
respondent should appear in person
or through counsel on 01.02.2019 at
10:00 a.m.
For details logon to:
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?trs=
district_notice&district=jalandhar
Dated, this day of 24.12.2018.
Sd/- Addl. District and
Sessions Judge-XI,
CN8-3347 Jalandhar.
(U/o 5 Rule 20 CPC)
In the Court of
Ms. Rupinderjit Chahal
District Judge
Family Court,
Moga.
Gurpreet Kaur
Versus
Jaswinder Singh
CNR No.:
PBMO01-006201-2018
Next Date: 07.02.2019
Publication issued to:
Jaswinder Singh s/o Dayal
Singh, Village Manak Rai,
Tehsil Bhogpur, District
Jalandhar.
In above titled case, the
defendant(s)/respondent(s)
could not be served. It is
ordered that defendant(s)/
respondent(s) should appear
in person or through counsel
on 07.02.2019 at 10.00 a.m.
For details logon to
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/
?trs=district_notice&district
=moga
Dated, this day of
03.01.2019.
Sd/- District Judge
Family Court,
CN8-3349 Moga.
(U/O 5 Rule 20 CPC)
(Under Guardian and Ward Act)
In the Court of
Amita Singh
Civil Judge
(Senior Division)-N.R.I. Court,
Jalandhar.
1) Ashok Hans, Address: VPO
Dhogri, PS Adampur, Teh. and Distt.
Jalandhar at present r/o Via Mazzini
No. 1, Cessapalombo (MC) Italy
through special power of attorney
Neetu w/o Raju r/o W.D. 132, Ali
Mohalla, Distt. Jalandhar.
Vs.
1) General Public
Address: General Public
2) Tarsem Lal, Village Dhogri, Tehsil
and Distt. Jalandhar.
3) Piari, Village Dhogri, Tehsil and
Distt. Jalandhar.
4) Panna Lal, Sangra Mohalla,
Balmiki Gate, Jalandhar.
5) Asha Rani, Sangra Mohalla,
Balmiki Gate, Jalandhar.
Acts
CNR No.: PBJL02-005853-2018
Next Date: 31.01.2019
Purpose: Appearance
Notice to: General Public:-
General Public
In above titled case, the
defendant(s)/respondent(s) could not
be served. It is ordered that
defendant(s)/respondent(s) should
appear in person or through counsel
on 31.01.2019 at 10:00 a.m.
For details logon to:
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?trs=
district_notice&district=jalandhar
Dated, this day of 08.01.2019.
Sd/- Civil Judge
(Senior Division)-N.R.I. Court,
CN8-3351 Jalandhar.
District and Sessions Courts,
Ludhiana.
In the Court of
Sh. Gurbir Singh
District & Sessions Judge,
Ludhiana.
Publication Notice
Under Order 5 Rule 20 CPC
CNR No.:
PBLD01-029093-2018
Peshi: 08.02.2019
Gurbir Singh
Versus
General Public
Petition U/S 34 of The Indian Trusts
Act, 1882, for Sanction Opinion, Advice
and Approval of the “Amended Trust
Deed” Annexure P-1 of Guru Nanak
Education Trust Model Town Ludhiana
and Directions if any which this
honorable court may Deem Fit. Original
suit filed by Sh Gurbir Singh s/o Justice
Gurnam Singh Trustee of Guru Nanak
Education Trust, Model Town, Ludhiana.
Publication issued to:
General Public
Whereas it has been proved to the
satisfaction of the court that the
defendant(s)/respondent(s) above named
cannot be served in the ordinary way of
service. Hence, this proclamation under
Order 5 Rule 20 CPC is hereby issued
against him/them and should appear
personally or through their counsel on
08.02.2019 at 10.00 a.m.
Take notice that, in default of his/their
appearance on the day before mentioned,
the above said case will be heard and
determined in his/their absence.
Given under my hand and the seal of
the court, this 05.01.2019.
For details logon to
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?trs=
district_notice&district=ludhiana
Sd/- (Sh. Gurbir Singh)
District & Sessions Judge,
CN8-3355 Ludhiana.
11
COURT NOTICES
(U/o 5 Rule 20 CPC)
‘Honey-trapped’,
jawan shares
In the Court of
Sh. Manav
Additional Civil Judge,
(Senior Division),
Hoshiarpur.
Arjun tank info
CNR No.:
PBHO02-000105-2018
Next Date: 31.01.2019
Dhian Singh son of Hari Singh,
resident of Village Harkhowal,
Yash Goyal
Tehsil and Distt. Hoshiarpur.
...Plaintiff
Versus Jaipur, January13
Amarjit Singh son of Dhian An Army jawan, posted with
Singh, resident of Village
an armoured unit in
Harkhowal, Tehsil and Distt.
Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer dis-
Hoshiarpur and Others.
....Defendants trict, has been arrested for
Suit for declaration that the allegedly sharing sensitive
plaintiff is owner in possession information with a Pakistan
Somveer Singh
Publication issued to: Gurmukh agent after being honey-
Singh son of Dhian Singh, trapped. A special court has
resident of Village Harkhowal,
remanded him in police cus-
Posted with armoured
Tehsil and Distt. Hoshiarpur.
tody for seven days. unit, was lured on FB,
In above titled case, the
The jawan, Somveer Singh,
defendant(s) could not be served.
It is ordered that Defendant(s) hailing from Haryana and
now in police remand
should appear in person or
posted with 75 Armoured
through counsel on 31.01.2019 at
Regiment, was allegedly hon- ascertain the kind of informa-
10.00 a.m.
For details logon to ey-trapped by the agent by tion sent across the border.
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/? posing as “Anika Chopra”, “The accused has confessed
trs=district_notice&district= “Captain” in the Military to having shared crucial infor-
hoshiarpur
Nursing Corps, on the Face- mation with the Pakistan
Dated, this day of 08.01.2019.
Sd/- book. Somveer Singh was agent,” the official said.
Additional Civil Judge, arrested under various sec- Asked about the possibility of
(Senior Division), tions of the Official Secrets other Army personnel being
CN8-3319 Hoshiarpur.
Act, 1923, by the Intelligence honey-trapped by the Pak-
In the Court of
Wing of the Rajasthan Police istan operative on the Face-
Sh. Harpreet Singh,
Civil Judge Junior Division, and produced before the Spe- book, the official said: “The
cial Criminal Court on Satur- matter is being investigated.”
Amritsar.
CNR No. PBAS02-00260-2016 day, said a senior official of the “It is not just a case of hon-
Next Date: 30.1.2019
state police today. eytrap, but that of spying too
State Bank of India a body
Corporate Constituted Under the The accused, who allegedly as this jawan was paid Rs
State Bank Of India Act, 23 of received Rs 5,000 for spying, 5,000 through another
1995 carrying on the business of was currently lodged at the account to avoid suspicion.
Banking and having its branches at
Central Police Station here He transferred the money
Different places including one at
Mohan Nagar, I.A Amritsar and was being interrogated, into his account, probably an
Versus he said. A unit of Military e-wallet,” the official said.
Jaswinder Kaur W/o Sukhdev Intelligence had found the “Eight months ago, the oper-
Singh R/o H.No. 1509, Gali
jawan allegedly sending pic- ative posing as ‘Anika
Pashorian Chownk Baba Sahib
Amritsar & others. tures, locations of exercises Chopra’ befriended him on
Notice to: and sensitive information, the social networking platform
1) Jaswinder Kaur W/o Sukhdev including that on Arjun tank, by sending lewd messages.
Singh R/o H.No. 1509, Gali
to the Pakistan agent. In a During online chats, intimate
Pashorian Chownk Baba Sahib
Amritsar joint surveillance, the Mili- pictures and videos, besides
2) S.Sukhdev Singh S/o S. tary Intelligence and state sensitive information, were
Harbajan Singh R/o H.No. police’s Intelligence Wing shared on the smartphone,” he
1509, Gali Parshorian,
headed by DG-Intelligence said. “The fake account origi-
Chownk Baba Sahib Amritsar.
arrested Somveer. nating in Karachi, Pakistan,
In the above noted petition the
respondent could not be served. It Gadgets, including a smart was closed after the Military
is ordered that the respondent phone, were seized from his Intelligence spotted Somveer
should appear in person or through possession. His call details sharing sensitive informa-
counsel on 30.1.2019 at 10:00 a.m. were being examined to tion,” the official said.
For details logon to
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?trs=di
strict_notice&district= amritsar
India, 5 Central Asian
Given under my hand and the
seal of the Court, this 10.12.2018.
Sd/-
Harpreet Singh,
nations agree on joint
Civil Judge Junior Division,
CN8-3333 Amritsar.
In the Court of
fight against terrorism
Sh. Ranjeev Pal Singh Cheema,
PCS,
Addl. Civil Judge (SD),
Baba Bakala.
CNR No. Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Jan 13
PBASBO-000195-2018 India and five Central Asian
Hearing Date: 18.02.2019
countries along with
Narinder Kaur d/o Dalbir Singh r/o
House No. 217A, Partap Nagar, Afghanistan on Sunday con-
Amritsar at present Brunner St. demned terrorism in all its
17B, 39112, Magdeburg Germany forms and manifestations
through her attorney Sukhwinder
and agreed to cooperate in
Singh s/o Chanchal Singh r/o
Village Bhorsi Rajputan, Tehsil countering the menace that
Baba Bakala Sahib, District poses a threat to people Sushma Swaraj held talks with
Amritsar.
across the world.
...Plaintiff her counterparts in Uzbekistan
This was part of a joint
Versus
1. Santokh Singh s/o Harnam Singh statement issued at the end to cooperate in countering
r/o Village Thothlan, Tehsil Baba of the first-ever meeting of terrorism, which posed a
Bakala Sahib, Distt. Amritsar.
the India-Central Asia Dia- threat to the people and
...Defendants
logue that also saw the partic- economies of the world,” the
Notice to: 3. Sarwan Singh s/o
Kashmir Singh s/o Harnam Singh, ipation of Afghanistan at the statement said.
5. Kanwalpreet Singh s/o Kashmir ministerial level in It referred to the ancient
Singh s/o Harnam Singh both
residents of Village Thothian, Tehsil
Samarkand. External Affairs civilisational, cultural, trade
Minister Sushma Swaraj and people-to-people links
Baba Bakala Sahib, Distt. Amritsar.
In the above titled Civil case the along with the foreign minis- between India and central
defendants could not be served. It is ters of Afghanistan, Kaza- Asia and expressed commit-
ordered that the defendants should
khstan, Kyrgyz Republic, ment to dynamic and fruit-
appear in person or through counsel
on 18.02.2019. Tajikistan, Turkmenistan ful friendly relations and
Given under my hand and the sale and Uzbekistan took part in mutually beneficial cooper-
of the Court.
the meeting. ation between India and the
For details logon to
“All sides condemned ter- central Asian countries at
https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?trs=
district_notice& district=amritsar rorism in all its forms and bilateral and multilateral
Sd/- Addl. Civil Judge manifestations and agreed formats. — PTI
(Senior Division),
CN8-3357 Baba Bakala Sahib.
(U/o 5 Rule 20 CPC)
C’garh residents duped
In the Court of
Sh. Kushal Singla
Civil Judge Jr. Divn.,
under PMAY pretext
Chandigarh.
Amrit Kaur
van Mahant and Chaitan
Versus Raigarh (Chhattisgarh), Jan 13
General Public Four persons were arrested Yadav. On January 5, two of
CNR No.: in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh the accused posed as Janpad
district for allegedly duping Panchayat officials and took
CHCH02-002352-2017
people in the name of Prad- away the complainants’
Next Date: 15.02.2019 han Mantri Awaas Yojana, a Aadhaar numbers, mobile
Publication issued to: flagship Central Govern- numbers and thumb
General Public ment housing scheme, the impression through a digital
In above titled case, the
police said today. device on the pretext of a
defendant(s)/respondent(s) The accused, allegedly pos- PMAY survey, the SP said.
could not be served. It is ing as government officials, Later, the complainants
ordered that defendant(s)/ siphoned off money from the found that money had been
respondent(s) should accounts of the people by col- withdrawn from their bank
lecting their bank and identi- accounts following which
appear in person or
ty details on the pretext of they informed the police.
through counsel on
providing them houses under As many as 15 ATM cards,
15.02.2019 at 10.00 a.m. the scheme, an official said. five mobile phones and a
For details logon to The four were arrested computer set were recovered
https://highcourtchd.gov.in from Lailunga area here on from the accused who report-
/?trs=district_notice& the complaint of Kharsia edly admitted to having
district=chandigarh residents, Raigarh SP duped people in four districts
Dated, this day of Rajesh Agrawal said. He — Janjgir-Champa, Raigarh,
identified them as Lailunga Jashpur and Balrampur — on
20.12.2018.
Sd/- Civil Judge residents Dharmendra the pretext of providing hous-
Mahant, Sanjay Tirky, Shra- es under PMAY. — PTI
Jr. Divn.
NA8-63992 Chandigarh.
12| INF CUS FOOD SAFETY
HOW
WAX
WORKS
A
FTER China, India is the
largest producer of fruits
and vegetables in the world.
The country produced about
300 million metric tonnes of
fruits and vegetables, as per the 2016-17
data of the National Horticulture Board.
However, due to lack of post-harvest
infrastructure and cold chain facilities,
about one-third of the produce goes
waste. Such losses adversely affect Indi-
an economy, even as the intercontinental
trade in fresh fruits and vegetables is
increasing rapidly.
Indian markets are flooded with exot-
ic fruits with wax coatings. Waxing of
fruit is an emerging technology which
can minimise post-harvest losses and
increase opportunities for distant and
export marketing. Other techniques
such as right methods of harvesting,
packaging, storage systems etc. are
equally significant in curtailing losses of
perishable produce.
PERISHABLE PRODUCTS
Fruits and vegetables are a rich source
of dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals
and form an important part of a healthy
diet. However, these commodities are
highly perishable because they contain
80-90 per cent water. Once these are har-
vested, water quickly evaporates, lead-
ing to loss of cosmetic appearance,
nutrients and resulting in poor shelf life
of the produce. Thus, fresh fruits and
vegetables require protective treatment.
Chemical fungicides provide the pri-
mary means for controlling post-harvest
fungal decay. However, continuous use
of fungicides has faced two major obsta-
cles: increasing public concern regard-
ing contamination of these crops with
KS Pannu
Watch out for artificial ripeners
F
RUITS are the best natural
food as these are the richest
source of nutrition. The con-
sumption of fruits has
increased considerably in
recent years due to improved financial
standards, awareness about their bene-
fits and their availability round the
year, thanks to cross-border trading.
The fruit trade involves transportation
to distant places. Highly perishable
ones such as mango, papaya and
banana cannot be stored and transport-
ed to long distances after ripening as
they tend to get spoiled. Therefore,
traders generally harvest raw fruits and
ripen these artificially at the destina-
tion market before sale.
Considering the importance of artifi-
cial ripening in the supply chain of cer-
tain fruits, the Food Safety & Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI) permits the
use of ethylene for the purpose. Due to
the high cost of the gas and the require-
ment of sophisticated infrastructure
(gas chambers), traders often use unsafe
and banned ripeners such as calcium
carbide sachets or gas which can be
harmful to our health.
Artificial ripening of fruits by acety-
lene gas, commonly known as carbide
gas or calcium carbide, is prohibited as
per the provisions in sub-regulation
2.3.5 of the Food Safety and Standards
(Prohibition and Restriction on Sales)
Regulations, 2011. It permits the use
of ethylene at a concentration up to
100 ppm (100 microgram/litre) depend-
ing upon the crop, variety and maturi-
ty for artificial ripening of fruits. Of
late, the FSSAI has approved the use
of ethephone.
PESTICIDE RESIDUE
The FSSAI has prescribed maximum
residual limits (MRL) of pesticides for
different foods under the Food Safety
and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins,
and Residues) Regulations, 2011. The
MRL for insecticides has been pre-
scribed for fruits and vegetables also. For
example, the maximum residual limit
for pesticide chlordane is 0.1 ppm for
REGULATIONS AND PRACTICES
Eco-friendly coating of fruits and vegetables can
prolong their shelf life and help in minimising
post-harvest losses, besides increasing
export opportunities, says BVC Mahajan
fungicidal residue, and proliferation of
resistance in the pathogen populations.
Nowadays, consumers are highly
health-conscious and demand fresh
fruits and vegetables, which has spurred
researchers to develop eco-friendly coat-
ings and packaging that prolong the
shelf life of the products. However, there
are widespread misconceptions about
fruit waxing among consumers. Certain
types of waxes are permitted to be
applied on fruits, in accordance with
Good Manufacturing Practices or within
the specified levels in countries such as
Australia, New Zealand, the US and
those under the European Union.
The Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI), under Regu-
lation 2.3.6 of the Food Safety and Stan-
dards (Prohibition and Restriction on
Sales) Regulations, 2011, has approved
three wax coatings — shellac, carnauba
and beeswax — for application on fruits
and vegetables. Shellac is a resin secret-
ed by the female lac bug on trees. Car-
nauba wax is obtained from the leaves of
the carnauba palm. Beeswax is the natu-
ral wax produced by the honeybee. All
these waxes are processed as dry flakes
and dissolved in organic solvents to
make a liquid form for application on
the horticultural produce.
MOISTURE SHIELD
Fruits and vegetables have a natural
wax coating which develops during
the maturation and ripening process.
However, the natural shield is
destroyed during harvesting and post-
harvest operations such as washing,
grading, packaging, transportation
etc., leading to bruising and decay of
the produce. Waxing acts as a moisture
fruits and 0.2 ppm for vegetables. The
MRL fixed for pesticide dicofol is 5 ppm
for fruits and vegetables.
ACID CONTENT
Acids are added to fruit juice to bring the
pH within the range 3-3.3, which is nec-
essary for product-making (pH is a
measure of acidity, a lower value means
greater acidity). Acidity levels vary in
different types of fruits and also in dif-
ferent samples of the same fruit. Limes
are very acidic and have a pH lower than
3.3. Sodium bicarbonate is added to the
fruit juice to reduce the acidity. The only
acids that are allowed to be added to
jams are citric acid, tartaric acid and mal-
ic acid. In practice, citric acid (found in
lemon juice) is mainly used; it is widely
available with chemists or pharmacies. If
citric acid is not available, lemon juice is
often used as an alternative.
USE OF COLOUR
During boiling, fruit pulps and juices get
darker in colour. In the case of some
fruits, the change of colour is only mar-
ginal and hence these are still acceptable
for product-making. Other fruits get
darkened too much and become unattrac-
tive to consumers. Processors, therefore,
add some artificial colour to these prod-
ucts to improve their appearance. Natur-
al fruit colours can also be used to
improve the shade of products, for exam-
ple, adding dark red fruits or berries can
give a more attractive and natural colour
to jams. Most consumers prefer to eat pre-
serves that are free from artificial colour-
ing. The processors are required to
ensure that they add only those colours
to fruit products which are allowed by
the regulatory body, and that too within
the permitted limit.
TOTAL SOLUBLE SOLIDS
The aim of boiling a fruit product is to
reduce the water content of the mix-
ture and concentrate the fruit
and sugar in as short a time
as possible. As per Food
Product Standards and Food
Additives Regulations, 2011,
the final total soluble solids
(TSS) content of a jam should be
FSSAI’S 10 RULES
1 Keep vending premises/carts
clean and pest-free
2 Use potable water for washing
fruits and vegetables
3
Keep sliced fruits and
vegetables covered and
at a low temperature
4 Wash chopping board, knives
etc. with clean water before
and after use
5 Keep garbage bins covered
to keep pests away
6 Wear clean clothes or uniform
while plying the trade
7 Wash hands before, after
handling items; after using toilet
8 Use water-proof bandage
to cover cuts or burns
9 Do not handle food items
when unwell
10 Use clean and separate
dusters to clean surfaces
and wipe utensils
FSSAI (Food Safety & Standards Authority of India)
is the country’s food safety regulator
EXPORT SCENARIO
~9,411 crore ~4,229 crore
~5,182 crore
Export of fruits and vegetables
from India during 2017-18
■ Mangoes, walnuts, grapes, bananas and pomegranates
1%
India’s share
account for the lion’s share of fruits exported from India.
Onion, okra, bitter gourd, green chilli, mushroom and potato
contribute largely to the vegetable export basket.
in global ■ Major destinations for Indian fruits and vegetables are
market UAE, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Malaysia,
Nepal, UK, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
SOURCE: AGRICULTURAL & PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (APEDA)
NEW PACKAGING NORMS
■ Food businesses need to comply by
July 1 with new packaging regula-
tions that bar use of recycled plas-
tics and newspapers to wrap food
articles, according to Food Safety
& Standards Authority of India.
■ Regulations prohibit material made
of recycled plastic, including carry
bags, for packaging, storing, carry-
ing or dispensing articles of food.
■ Taking cognisance of carcinogenic
effect of inks and dyes, norms also
prohibit use of newspaper and such
other materials for packing or wrap-
ping of food articles and includes
respective Indian standards for print-
ing inks for use on food packages.
■ The new norms will replace all
provisions with respect to pack-
aging requirements prescribed
in the Food Safety and Standards
(Packaging and Labelling)
Regulations, 2011.
shield and provides protection against
pathogens and minor mechanical
damage to fruits and vegetables. The
application of wax coating not only
reduces water loss through transpira-
tion, but also minimises the respira-
tion rate, thus slowing the biological
system of perishable produce which
are dependent on oxygen.
With a slower respiration rate, the
ripening process is delayed and thus,
the fruit remains firm, fresh and nutri-
tious for a longer period with a better
shelf life. The wax coating, when
applied on fruits and vegetables, forms
an odourless, tasteless membrane
which creates a modified atmosphere
around each fruit. Resultantly, the
freshness and quality of the produce is
preserved for a longer period com-
pared to the unwaxed ones.
It can be done in several ways, ranging
from manual rubbing of the product sur-
face gently with a soft cloth or cushioning
material drenched with wax, or submer-
gence in wax, to automated roller brush
application. During the process, only a
tiny amount of wax is required to provide
a microscopic coating around the crop. In
general, each piece of waxed produce has
only a drop or two of wax. Nonetheless,
waxing does not improve the quality of
inferior fruits. Heavy application of wax
may, on the contrary, adversely affect the
quality of fruits by blocking the fruit gas
exchange, leading to the development of
off-flavours. Some of the fruits which can
be coated are apple, kinnow, lemon,
orange, pear and mango.
In Punjab, about six commercial auto-
mated mechanical waxing and grading
lines for kinnow have been established
by the Punjab Agro Industrial Corpora-
Fruits
Vegetables
■ Primary objective of packaging is to
protect food from micro-biological,
chemical, physical and atmospheric
contamination and preserve it.
■ Good packaging ensures there is
no change in sensory properties or
composition of food when packed.
Please send your feedback to infocus@tribunemail.com
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019
tion and about 100 such automatic lines
have been installed by progressive
farmers and traders in the kinnow-
growing areas of Abohar, Fazilka, Muk-
tsar, Bathinda and Hoshiarpur . In Pun-
jab, kinnow growers are commercially
using citrashine wax (shellac) for
improving the shelf life and quality of
kinnow fruits during marketing. The
application of citrashine wax on kinnow
has been recommended by Punjab Agri-
cultural University (PAU), Ludhiana.
The citrashine-treated fruit can main-
tain its quality for up to two weeks
under ambient conditions.
LUBRICANTS UNSAFE
It has been noticed that many fruit
retailers rub fruits and vegetables with a
piece of cloth soaked with oils or lubri-
cants to improve glossiness and appear-
ance. This practice by small vendors or
traders should be strictly checked as
food safety regulations do not permit the
use of non-edible chemical compounds.
The waxing technique is commonly used
in developed countries; in some coun-
tries, it is mandatory as quality assur-
ance treatment for export marketing.
Wax coatings used on fruits must
meet the FSSAI regulations for safety.
Produce shippers, traders and super-
markets are required to label fresh
fruits and vegetables that have been
waxed. Fruits coated with food-grade
waxes approved by the FSSAI are gen-
erally safe to eat. However, if people
don’t want to consume wax, they can
simply wash and rub the fruits under
lukewarm water.
Director, Punjab Horticultural
Post-harvest Technology
Centre, PAU, Ludhiana
65 to 68 per cent. The TSS is a measure
of the amount of material that is solu-
ble in water. The correct sugar content
is critical for proper preservation of
the product. If the final TSS of the jam
is lower than 65-68 per cent, the shelf
life will be reduced.
STICKERS ON FRUITS
The FSSAI has issued an advisory that
stickers should not be pasted on the
fruits as these contain non-edible
glues. As per the advisory, if the stick-
ers are to be pasted, the same should be
done on the wrapper of paper or plastic
around the fruits. Further, the con-
sumers have been advised to properly
clean the spot of the stickers or cut the
portion of the fruits containing the
sticker, so as to avoid eating any
residue of harmful glue. Stickers most-
ly don’t contain valuable information
regarding the fruit quality; these are
pasted only to falsely enhance its value.
Commissioner, Food & Drug
Administration, Punjab
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019 WORLD 13

Ahead of vote, PM May says Trump denies hiding

GLOBE TROT
catastrophic to halt Brexit
Warns MPs against ‘breach of trust’ | House to decide on deal tomorrow
London, January 13
British Prime Minister There-
sa May warned lawmakers on
Sunday that failing to deliver
Brexit would be catastrophic
for democracy, in a plea for
support two days before Par-
liament is expected to reject
her deal with Brussels.
With the clock ticking down
to its March 29 exit from the
European Union and Parlia-
ment deadlocked, Britain
faces a hugely uncertain path
that could lead to a disorderly
exit or even remaining in the
bloc. May, who postponed a
vote in Parliament on her deal
in December after admitting
she was set to lose it, said law-
SOLDIER BEAR: The story of Wojtek, the bear who helped makers must not let down the
Polish soldiers win one of the most brutal battles of the people who backed Brexit in a
Second World War, is now being turned into an animated June 2016 referendum.
film. After the war, the bear lived in Scotland at Hutton in “Doing so would be a cata-
Berwickshire, before ending his days in Edinburgh Zoo. AFP strophic and unforgivable
breach of trust in our democ-
Pak varsity to observe Sisters’ Day on Feb 14 racy,” she wrote in the Sun-
LAHORE: A Pakistani university will celebrate Sisters' Day on day Express. “So my mes-
February 14 to promote “Islamic traditions”, according to sage to Parliament this
the vice chancellor. Girl students can be gifted scarves and weekend is simple: it is time
Abayahs (clothes) as decided by Vice Chancellor Zafar to forget the games and do
Iqbal Randhawa of the University of Agriculture in Faisal- what is right for our country.”
abad and other decision makers, Dawn news reported. The May has so far refused to
VC believes it was “compatible with Pakistan's culture and retreat from her unpopular
Islam”, the report said. February 14 is celebrated as Valen- deal, which envisages close
tine’s Day across the world. On the day, people express trading ties with the EU, but
their love and affection with greetings and gifts. PTI without any say on policy as
British PM Theresa May leaves after attending a church service
near Maidenhead constituency, west of London, on Sunday. AFP
Britain has now. The vexed
Brexit issue represents
Britain's biggest shift in for-
eign and trade policy in more
than 40 years. May's deal has
come under fire from all sides
— with opponents of the EU
seeking a cleaner break and
many pro-Europeans press-
ing for a second referendum.
May is expected to suffer a
big defeat when Parliament
votes on Tuesday.
Brexit minister Stephen
Barclay said persuading
enough lawmakers to sup-
port the deal would be "chal-
lenging" but that even if it
‘DEXIT’ ON CARDS?
Riesa: German far-right party
AfD on Sunday voted to cam-
paign for Berlin's exit from
the EU in the upcoming Euro-
pean Parliament elections if
its demand for reforms within
the bloc is not met. The deci-
sion marks the first time any
party has called for “Dexit” --
a German departure from the
EU in the mould of Brexit. If
the EU is not reshaped in line
with the party's ideas “in an
appropriate timeframe”, Ger-
many must leave the bloc,
according to the draft mani-
festo agreed by delegates.
was rejected, he suspected ners had been sent into sev-
Parliament would ultimately eral government depart-
support something “along ments to help with prepara-
the lines of this deal”. tions for a no deal Brexit.
Opposition Labour Party After a week in which Parlia-
leader Jeremy Corbyn said ment forced the government
leaving the EU without a deal to promise to come back with
would be catastrophic and his a ‘plan B’ within days if
party would do everything it May’s deal is rejected, Bar-
could to prevent that out- clay said the risk of Parlia-
come. However, Corbyn's pri- ment acting in a way that frus-
ority is to force a national trates Brexit had increased.
election and he said he would The report said rebel MPs
propose a vote of confidence were planning to wrest control
in the government "soon" if of the legislative agenda away
May loses on Tuesday. from May next week with a
The Observer newspaper view to suspending or delay-
reported that military plan- ing Brexit. — Reuters
details of Putin talks
Washington, January 13
US President
Trump has denied reports
Donald
that he did not share details
of some his meetings with
his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin, saying that
he would not mind releas-
ing those details.
"Well, I would (release
details of the conversations
with Putin)… I am not keep-
ing anything under wraps,"
Trump told Fox news in an
interview following a report
by The Washington Post that
claimed he has concealed
details of his face-to-face
encounters with Russian
Prsident Putin from senior
officials in administration.
"I don't care. I mean I had a
conversation like every Pres-
ident does, you sit with the
President of various coun-
tries. We had a great conversa-
tion. We were talking about
Israel and securing Israel and
lots of other things and it was
a great conversation. I'm not
keeping anything under
wraps. I couldn't care less," he
said. "Why not release the
conversation that you had
with President Putin in
Helsinki along with some oth-
er stuff?" he was asked by Fox
News following the damaging
report by The Washington
Post. Trump described the
news report as "ridiculous".
“The Washington Post is
DEMOCRATS SET TO
LOOK INTO FBI PROBE
■ A House of Representa-
tives panel will look into a
newspaper report that the
FBI investigated whether
President rump has been
working on behalf of Rus-
sia, against US interests,
the panel’s Democratic
chairman said.
■ The NY Times reported
that the probe began in
the days after Trump fired
James Comey as FBI
director in 2017 and said
the agency’s counterintel-
ligence investigators had
to consider whether
Trump's actions constitut-
ed a possible threat to
national security. Trump
rejected the Times piece.
almost as bad as probably as
bad as The New York Times. I
have a one-on-one meeting
with Putin like I do with
every other leader and I had
many one-on-ones. Nobody
ever says anything about it,”
he said. “I meet with every
leader…individually. I meet
with (PM Narendra) Modi. I
meet with (Shinzo) Abe (of
Japan), I meet with them.
Nobody says anything. But, I
meet with Putin, they make a
big deal. Anybody could
have listened to that meet-
ing. That meeting is open for
grabs,” Trump said. — PTI

Elliott to be 1st woman rapper to enter Hall of Fame

LOS ANGELES: Missy Elliot will script history as she gears up to
become the first woman rapper to be inducted into the
Songwriters Hall of Fame. According to EW, the recording
artiste will be honoured at a
June 13 ceremony at the Mar-
riott Marquis Hotel in New
York City. Elliott has album
such as “Under Construc-
tion”(2002), “This Is Not a Test”
(2003), and “The Cookbook”
(2005) to her credit. “I want to
congratulate all the amazing
songwriters who have been
inducted into the 2019 ‘Song
Writers Hall of Fame’. “Also those who were nominated
because their body of work is amazing I am so humbly
grateful to now be inducted also I (love) you all,” she tweet-
ed of the honour on Saturday. PTI
3 skiers killed
in Austrian
avalanche
Vienna, January13
Three German skiers were
found dead overnight and a
fourth is missing after they
were swept away in an ava-
lanche near the Austrian ski
resort of Lech am Arlberg,
the police said on Sunday.
The group of four had been
using touring skis, which
enable skiers to climb as well
as ski down slopes and
All Hezbollah cross-border
tunnels uncovered: Israel
Jerusalem, January 13
Israel has uncovered all cross-
border attack tunnels dug by
Hezbollah from Lebanon and
now plans to bring its opera-
tion to find and destroy them
to an end, a military
spokesman said on Sunday.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) and Qatar Deputy PM “We have found yet another
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Doha. AFP Hezbollah cross-border
attack tunnel from Lebanon

China rover to record lunar freezing night temperature

BEIJING: China’s Chang'e-4 lunar rover, which is explor-
explore off-piste, the police
in the western province of
Vorarlberg said.
ing the dark side of the moon, will measure the freezing
night temperature, scientists said on Sunday. Chang'e-
The three dead men, from
the Upper Swabia area of
4, named after a Chinese moon goddess and compris- southwestern Germany,
ing a lander and a rover, touched down on the dark side were found around 11 pm
of the moon on January 3, the first-ever soft landing on after one of their wives
the far side of the moon by any country. It was a giant
leap for cosmic exploration and a major boost to the
Communist nation's quest to become a space super-
declared them missing. They
were aged 57, 36 and 32. The
fourth person, who is 28 and
power. Scientists estimate that the highest temperature also from southern Germany,
during the day might reach 127°C, while the lowest at was still missing, a police
night could fall to minus 183°C. PTI statement said.
Heavy snow has hit the
Actor Sizemore arrested for drug possession Austrian Alps in the past
LOS ANGELES: Actor Tom Sizemore was arrested by Bur- week, raising avalanche
bank Police on the charges of drug possession. Accord- warning levels and cutting
ing to January 5 arrest logs of the police department, off local roads. The warning
the 57-year-old actor was pulled over by the police near level in the area above 2,000
the intersection of Riverside Drive and Evergreen m on Saturday was 3 on a
Street. During the consented search of the actor's vehi- scale that goes up to 5.
cle, the police found "various illegal nar- The avalanche deaths bring
cotics”. They arrested Sizemore and to 24 the number of weather-
another passenger for misde- related deaths reported in
meanour possession and both posted parts of Europe this month.
a $1,000 bail before being released lat- On Saturday, authorities used
er that day. A spokesperson for the a break in the weather to clear
actor has not yet commented on heavy loads of snow from
his arrest. PTI roofs and roads. — Agencies
In Doha, Pompeo urges
Gulf nations to heal rift
Doha, January 13
US Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo on Sunday said a rift
between Qatar and its Arab
Gulf neighbours had gone on
for too long.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE,
Bahrain and non-Gulf Coopera-
tion Council (GCC) member
Egypt cut diplomatic, transport
and trade ties with Qatar in
June 2017, accusing it of sup-
porting terrorism and their
regional foe Shi'ite Muslim Iran
— something Doha denies.
The US, an ally of the six-
nation Sunni Muslim GCC,
sees the rift as a threat to efforts
to contain Iran. “When we
have a common challenge,
disputes between countries
with shared objectives are
never helpful,” he said at a
press conference in the Qatari
capital Doha. “They never
IRAN SUMMONS POLISH
DIPLOMAT OVER SUMMIT
Iran's Foreign Ministry sum-
moned a senior Polish
diplomat to protest at
Poland jointly hosting a
summit with the US
focused on the Middle East,
particularly Iran. A ministry
official told Poland’s charge
d’affaires in Tehran that
Iran saw the decision to
host the meeting as a “hos-
tile act against Iran” and
warned that Tehran could
reciprocate, IRNA reported.
permit you to have as robust a
response to common adver-
saries or common challenges
as you might,” he said. “We're
hoping that the unity of GCC
will increase in the days and
weeks and months ahead,"
Pompeo said. — Reuters
to Israel,” Lt Col Jonathan
Conricus told reporters of the
operation that began on
December 4. “According to
our intelligence and our
assessment of the situation,
there are no longer any cross-
border attack tunnels from
Lebanon into Israel.”
The latest tunnel, found on
Saturday, began in the
Lebanese village of Ramyeh,
some 800 metres away from
Israel, the army said. It
reached a few dozen metres
into Israel, and at 55 metres
under the ground was the
deepest as well as “the
longest and most detailed” of
all the tunnels the army
exposed, Conricus said.
The latest tunnel was the
sixth revealed to the public
and the army said its discov-
ery marked the end of the
operation dubbed by the
army “Northern Shield”. The
last tunnel will be destroyed
in the coming days.
He also reiterated that
An Israeli soldier attempts to intercept a tunnel which reportedly
connects Lebanon and Israel near Metula. AFP FILE PHOTO
‘ATTACKED IRANIAN TARGETS IN SYRIA’
❝ Just in the last 36 hours, the air force attacked
Iranian warehouses containing Iranian weapons in
Damascus. The recent attacks show that we're
more determined than ever to act against Iran in
Syria, just as we promised. Benjamin Netanyahu, ISRAELI PM
Israel holds the Lebanese any hostilities. It has said,
government accountable “for however, that they were not
any act of violence or viola- yet operational. A month-
tion of 1701”, the UN resolu- long war in 2006 between
tion that ended the 2006 war Israel and Hezbollah killed
between Israel and Hezbol- more than 1,200 Lebanese,
lah. UNIFIL, the UN peace- mostly civilians, and more
keeping force in Lebanon, than 160 Israelis. The highly
was informed of the latest publicised Israeli operation to
tunnel, Conricus said. expose and destroy the tun-
Israel alleges Hezbollah had nels has gone ahead without
planned to use the tunnels to drawing a military response
kidnap or kill its civilians or from Hezbollah. Israel says all
soldiers, and to seize a slice of operations have taken place
Israeli territory in the event of within its territory. — AFP

21 workers die
in China coal
mine collapse
Beijing, January 13
Twenty-one workers were
killed after a roof collapsed
at a coal mine in northwest-
ern China, state media
reported on Sunday.
Eighty-seven persons were
working underground in the
Lijiagou coal mine in the
Shaanxi Province at the time
of the accident on Saturday
afternoon, state-run Xinhua
news agency reported.
Initial reports said that 19
persons were killed while 66
others airlifted to safety.
Rescuers found two more
bodies of trapped miners on
Sunday, the report said. The
cause of the accident at the
site, run by Baiji Mining, is
under investigation. Though
the number of deaths has
reduced at mines in recent
years, mining accidents are
common in China, the world’s
largest coal producer. — PTI
Amid US shutdown,LOVE Act comes to couples’ rescue
Washington, January 13
There doesn’t seem to be
much love in the air in Wash-
ington these days, as a long
and bitter government shut-
down drags on with no end in
sight. But couples whose mar-
riage plans were thwarted by
the partial shutdown have
gotten a break, thanks to the
action of Mayor Muriel Bows-
er and city council.
The city’s Marriage Bureau,
part of the US capital’s feder-
ally funded court system, had
been deemed “nonessential”
and shuttered as part of the
thorny standoff between
President Donald Trump and
congressional Democrats.
But on Friday, Bowser
signed an emergency meas-
ure authorising city officials
to validate marriages in the
absence of the Marriage
Bureau, which closed when
the budget standoff began on
December 22. “They can shut
down the US government,
who was preparing to wed
fiance Sam Bockenhauer,
said. “So we were going to
have a wonderful party, of
course, but couldn’t be legal-
ly married in DC until we got
our marriage licence.”
Some couples, like Dan Pol-
lock and Danielle Geana-
copoulos, had no time to spare.
They managed to get their
wedding licence on December
27, just two days before their
scheduled wedding. “By the
The DC Council passed fast-track legislation, time we figured out we could-
Let Our Vows Endure Emergency n’t get a licence, we were run-
Amendment Act, or LOVE Act, empowering ning out of time before friends
and family were coming to
the mayor's office to validate marriages Washington to celebrate with
us,” Geanacopoulos said.
but they cannot shut down will spare future brides like “So we focused on the really
love in the District of Colum- Claire O’Rourke from find- important thing — celebrat-
bia,” City Council member ing themselves in ing — and decided to figure
Brandon Todd said when he Kafkaesque situations. out the rest later.” Her
introduced the measure. “Practically, we couldn’t mother, Daphne, said she was
Titled the Let Our Vows sign all legal certificates dur- “delighted”. “We had a really
Endure Emergency Amend- ing the shutdown without great big wedding two weeks
ment Act, or LOVE Act, the having a marriage licence,” ago... (but) it feels wonderful
law is valid for 90 days and O’Rourke, a Washingtonian to have it official.” For Caitlin
Walters, who plans to wed
Kirk Kasa on February 2 on
the campus of Catholic Uni-
versity, the shutdown was
simply “a small speed bump
in the road”. “We knew about
the shutdown, but we didn’t
know that it would directly
affect our ability to get mar-
ried in DC legally,” said Wal-
ters, a New York resident who
was determined to get mar-
ried in the nation’s capital.
But while some have taken
the shutdown in stride, it has
brought “chaos” to those in
the wedding business. “It’s a
lot of chaos, it’s a lot of
uncertainty,” said Rachel
Rice, a wedding planner who
recently had to shift a wed-
ding ceremony from Wash-
ington to nearby Virginia.
Even if the shutdown were to
end next month, Rice said,
“some might say, ‘I can’t
wait to book my venue; I
have to book my catering, my
photographer.’ — AFP
Nobel-winning scientist
stripped ofhonorary titles
Washington, January 13 intelligence. However, in the
Nobel laureate James Wat- new PBS documentary titled
son, co-discoverer of the "American Masters: Decoding
DNA helix and father of the Watson", when asked about
Human Genome Project, has his views on race in the
been stripped of honours by decade since his departure
his laboratory following “rep- from the lab, Watson said he
rehensible” remarks on race stood by his former remarks,
and ethnicity. citing the difference in IQ
The Cold Spring Har- tests results to suggest
bor Laboratory black inferiority. While
(CSHL), the New York he expressed his hope
facility where Watson for everyone to be
worked for nearly four equal, he said: “People
decades and which
James Watson
who have to deal with
has a school named black employees
after him, said it was acting found this is not true.”
in response to his remarks “Watson's statements are
made in a television docu- reprehensible, unsupported
mentary aired this month, by science and in no way rep-
Xinhua reported on Sunday. resent the views of CSHL,”
The 90-year-old geneticist the laboratory said before
resigned under fire from his revoking three titles — chan-
laboratory in 2007 after cellor emeritus, Oliver R
telling a British newspaper Grace Professor Emeritus
that people of African and honorary trustee soon
descent tend to have lower afterwards. — IANS
14
BRIEFLY
HYDERABAD
1956 Olympian footballer
Zulfiqar passes away
Former India footballer
Mohammed Zulfiqaruddin,
who was a part of the fourth-
place finishing team in the
1956 Olympics in Melbourne,
has passed away. He was 83
and survived by three sons
and two daughters. As a 17-
year old, Zulfiqaruddin was a
part of the Indian squad
which had finished fourth in
the 1956 Melbourne
Olympics but he did not play
any match. Zulfiqaruddin
made his international debut
in 1959 at the Merdeka Cup
against Singapore. He repre-
sented India in three interna-
tional matches and scored
one goal. He was also a part
of the Indian team in the
1958 Tokyo Asian Games. He
was the captain of Andhra
Pradesh in various editions of
the Santosh Trophy and won
it thrice — in 1956, 1957 and
1965. He scored 15 goals
overall, including one goal in
the final of the 1965 edition
held in Quilon.
PANAJI
Former Goa Ranji player
collapses during match, dies
Former Goa Ranji player
Rajesh Ghodge (44) died
after collapsing during a
local-level match in Margao
on Sunday afternoon. “He
was at the non-striker end
when he collapsed. He was
immediately shifted to a
hospital,” a senior member
of the Margao Cricket Club
said. The incident took
place at the Rajendra
Prasad Stadium around
2.30 pm. The cricketer was
declared dead upon arrival
at the hospital. Ghodge was
part of the Goa Ranji squad
in 1999-2000. — AGENCIES
TODAY ON TV
I-LEAGUE
CHENNAI VS EAST BENGAL
STAR SPORTS 7:30PM
ASIAN CUP
INDIA VS BAHRAIN (9:30PM)
UAE VS THAILAND (9:30PM)
STAR SPORTS
PWL
PUNJAB VS MUMBAI
SONY SIX 7PM
EPL
MAN CITY VS WOLVES (TUESDAY)
STAR SPORTS 1:30AM
TENNIS
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
SONY SIX 5:30AM
SA 7 wkts away from sweep
Johannesburg, January 13
South Africa need seven
more wickets to win the
third Test at the Wanderers
and sweep the series after
Pakistan were 153/3 at the
close of play on Day 3, still
228 runs short of a daunting
winning target.
Dale Steyn claimed two
wickets and Duane Olivier
the other for his 22nd of the
series as South Africa
removed the top-order after
Pakistan had made a solid
start with a 67-run opening
wicket partnership.
Pakistan had been set a
target of 381 to win after
bowling their hosts out for
303 before tea on the third
day. They will resume on
Day 4 with Asad Shafiq
3
Wickets required by
Duanne Olivier to equal
South Africa’s 117-year-
old record for the most
wickets in a three-Test series
One year after making his First-Class debut, 19-year-old Shubman Gill ready to don India colours
Sunny Kaul
Tribune News Service
chandigarh, january 13
Nothing surprises Shubman
Gill when he is out there in
the middle with a bat in his
hand, smashing the ball and
piling on the runs. But when
the 19-year-old batting star
got the news of his selection
in the Indian team for the
forthcoming tour of New
Zealand well past midnight,
he was definitely taken by
surprise.
Gill had a great 2018, help-
ing India win the ICC U-19
World Cup in New Zealand at
the start of the year, and clos-
ing the year with an impres-
sive show in the Ranji Trophy
in which he scored 728 runs
in nine innings at an average
of 104 for Punjab. In between,
the youngster also bagged a
Rs 1.8 crore IPL contract
from Kolkata Knight Riders.
Gill knew he was on the
verge of achieving something
big, but the latest good news
definitely surprised him. “It
wasn’t like I would have
been shocked, but I was kind
of surprised that it came at
1am in the night,” said Gill
when asked if he was expect-
ing an India call-up.
“I actually got it from a
news portal... I checked one
of the messages and it read
that Vijay (Shankar) and I
will be replacing KL (Rahul)
and Hardik (Pandya). And
soon my inbox was flooded
with congratulatory mes-
sages. My parents were sleep-
ing in the other room and
when I broke the news to
them, they were very happy,”
said Gill.
World Cup in sight
Gill is aware of the responsi-
bility that the opportunity
has brought with it. Howev-
er, he feels it has come at
the right time and might
help him fulfil his dream of
playing for India in the
World Cup and helping the
team win the quadrennial
showpiece. The 12th edition
of the 50-over World Cup
will be played in England
and Wales in May-July.
“It is a great opportunity
for me and it has come at
the right time… If I do well,
I have a great chance of
making it to the World Cup
squad. Everything is in my
favour and I really want to
make this count,” said the
promising cricketer.
THIRD TEST
■ BRIEF SCORES: South
Africa: 262 and 303 (de Kock
129, Amla 71); Pakistan: 185
and 153/3 (Shafiq 48*,
Babar 17*; Steyn 2/37)
unbeaten on 48 and Babar
Azam on 17.
Imam-ul-Haq and Shan
Masood made a positive
start to Pakistan's second
innings, attacking the
South African pace attack
before Steyn made a quick
double breakthrough.
Imam-ul-Haq got a faint
edge as Steyn moved the
ball across the left-hander
and was out for 35 and
Shan soon followed back
to the pavilion after a tele-
vision review,
MAN OF THE MOMENT
Shubman Gill gets throwdowns from his father Lakhwinder Singh at their own training facility in
Mohali on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR
Asked how he would
approach the New Zealand
tour, Gill said: “I will go
there and just express
myself, whether I am bat-
ting or I am in the field. I
want to go out there and
exhibit whatever I have
adjudged to have got a
slight inside edge to
another difficult delivery.
Olivier then claimed the
wicket of the out-of-form
Azhar Ali as wicketkeeper
Quinton de Kock took his
third catch of the innings.
De Kock hit the highest
score of the series on Sun-
day to help South Africa
into pole position for a third
successive Test win.
He scored 129 off 138 balls
for only the second century
of the series, following Faf
du Plessis' 103 in the sec-
ond Test in Cape Town last
week. Hashim Amla added
71 after South Africa had
resumed Day 3 on 135/5
with 21 from Kagiso Raba-
da. — Reuters
Quinton de Kock
celebrates his
century during
the third day of
the third Test. AFP
SPORT
learnt in these years.”
“I have visited New
Zealand twice in the last
one year, so of course that
will be of great help,” he
added. “I know most of the
pitches where India is
scheduled to play. I have
AMBATI RAYUDU
Rayudu
reported for
suspect action
DUBAI, january 13
Ambati Rayudu has been
reported for a suspect bowl-
ing action during the first
ODI against Australia in
Sydney, the International
Cricket Council (ICC) said.
Rayudu must now have
his bowling action tested
within 14 days but can
continue to bowl at the
international level until
the test results are out.
“The match officials'
report, which was handed
over to the Indian team
management, cited con-
cerns about the legality of
the 33-year-old off-spin-
ner's bowling action,” the
ICC said in a statement.
Rayudu bowled two
overs for 13 runs against
Australia at the Sydney
Cricket Ground on Satur-
day as India lost the first
ODI by 34 runs.
The series resumes in Ade-
laide on Tuesday with the
final match in Melbourne on
Friday. —Reuters
played there. The pitches,
the atmosphere… I am
familiar with those condi-
tions, so I believe it will be a
good tour.”
Gill is also excited about
sharing the dressing room
with his idol, India skipper
Mithali banks on new coach Raman
mumbai, January 13
Her differences with ousted
coach Ramesh Powar and
CoA member Diana Edulji
are a thing of past and
Mithali Raj is gearing up to
make a “fresh start” under
new coach WV Raman with
the upcoming tour of New
Zealand.
The women's team was at
the centre of a huge contro-
versy after their semifinal
exit in the T20 World Cup in
the West Indies as Mithali
accused previous coach
Powar of bias and CoA
member Edulji of trying to
finish her career. “I think
it's a fresh start. Coming
into the new year, this is the
first series. Yes, we have
moved on from that contro-
versy,” ODI skipper Mithali
said during the team's pre-
departure press conference.
Mithali is confident that
Raman's experience as a
coach would make a differ-
ence and she will be on the
“same page” with the for-
Lahiri tied-63rd, Kuchar maintains lead
Honolulu, January 13
Anirban Lahiri ended with a
1-over 71 in the third round
that saw him drop to a 3-
under 207 for a tied-63rd spot
at the Sony Open.
The lead stayed with Matt
Kuchar, who kept another
clean card and shot a 4-under
66 to take a two-shot lead into
the final round as he goes for
his second victory this season
on the PGA Tour. Kuchar
ended a three-year drought
DREAM YEAR: THE
KNOCKS THAT GOT
SHUBMAN INTO
THE INDIAN TEAM
After his exploits in the
U-19 World Cup, his
form in the Ranji Trophy
for Punjab has been
simply phenomenal
102*
The crunch game, India vs
Pakistan, in the U-19
World Cup in January, saw
Gill score his first signifi-
cant 100 of the year, a 94-
ball 102 that took his
team to a huge win over
the arch-rivals
86
In the game vs
Bangladesh in the U-19
World Cup, Gill anchored
the Indian innings with a
fine 86 off 94 balls. India
reached 265 and then
bowled out Bangladesh
for 134
148
As Punjab chased 338
for a win in Hyderabad in
December, Gill rose to
the challenge with a
154-ball 148, with 16
fours and four sixers.
The team nearly pulled
off an incredible win
268
Playing in Mohali
against Tamil Nadu in
December, Gill smashed
268 off 328 balls, help-
ing his team to a lead of
264. The next best score
in the Punjab innings
was merely 50!
56, 54
In his first Ranji Trophy
match of the season, Gill
was in fine form in
November, kicking off his
campaign with two 50s.
He has added 3 more
50s, apart from 2 100s, in
the ongoing season
Virat Kohli. “I am a great fan
of Virat. I love the way he
conducts himself on and off
the field. Whether I am
picked in the playing XI or
not, it will be a great learning
curve to see him prepare for
the match and the way he
❝ At this level, every player understands what it takes to
reach at this level and what it takes as a team to play, go on
an overseas tour, aim to win the series and gain those (ICC
ranking) points
mer India opener. “When a
coach comes in the national
side, we as a team are very
vocal and expressive as to
what is required for the
benefit of the team. The
coach and the players will
have to be on the same
ANIRBAN LAHIRI
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019
BATTING AT NO. 5 FOR
INDIA A HAS HELPED
MY GAME: SHANKAR
■ New Delhi: All-rounder Vijay
Shankar, who has so far played
five T20Is for India, is confident
for his second stint with the
Indian team. The 27-year-old
Tamil Nadu captain will be join-
ing the team in Australia and
New Zealand as a replacement
of Hardik Pandya. In February
last year, Shankar's big match
temperament was put to test
against a quality Bangladesh
attack but Shankar has come a
long way since then. “I think I
have become mentally
stronger now and I have full
confidence that I can finish
close matches. The India A tour
of New Zealand has helped me
understand my game much
better,” Shankar said.
does his fitness,” said Gill.
Managing pressure
Gill’s selection comes in
the backdrop of the suspen-
sion of Hardik Pandya and
KL Rahul from the team, so
has the sudden call-up put
any pressure on him?
“Obliviously, there is pres-
sure. If you are playing for
your country the pressure
will always be there, but it is
important to deal with it
and get through it,” Gill
said. “This is the moment
for which you spend hours
and hours in the nets and if
you have the right kind of
preparation it always helps
you overcome the nerves.”
In the recent past, a num-
ber of Punjab players —
including the likes of Man-
deep Singh, Gurkeerat
Mann and Barinder Sran —
made it to the Indian team
but were unable to keep up
to the rigours of internation-
al cricket. Gill doesn’t want
to think about that right now.
“I don’t want to see myself
in that position because it
would put added pressure on
me. I just want to go there
and play my natural game
and utilise whatever cricket-
ing knowledge I have gath-
ered in my short career so
far,” he concluded.
— Mithali Raj, ODI CAPTAIN
page, because that's very
important,” she said.
While this will be her first
stint under Raman, she is
confident that it will be
onwards and upwards from
here on. “I have not trained
under him (Raman) but met
by winning the Mayakoba
Classic in Mexico last fall.
In his third round, Lahiri
found seven of the 14 fair-
ways and 14 of 18 greens in
regulation but left no misses
on putts within 10 feet.
At the par-4 13th, Lahiri's
tee shot went 269 yards to the
right rough, his second shot
went 180 yards to the right
front greenside bunker, and
his sand shot went 29 yards
to the green where he had a
THE TRIBUNE
Gill ready for
international
cricket: Prasad
new delhi, january 13
Rishabh Pant is a “cham-
pion cricketer in the mak-
ing”, who is very much in
the mix for India's 2019
World Cup campaign for
his ability to seamlessly
switch formats, says chair-
man of selectors MSK
Prasad. After being “rest-
ed” for the ODI series
against Australia and New
Zealand, there have been
conjectures about his
place in the England-
bound squad but Prasad
set the record straight
about the selection com-
mittee's plans about tal-
ents such as Pant and
Shubman Gill.
“Rishabh Pant played
three T20Is and four Test
matches in Australia and
it had an impact on his
body. He needed complete
rest for two weeks. We will
take a call on how many
matches he will play
against England Lions.
Let me put it straight, he
is very much in our World
Cup plans,” Prasad said.
The head of the selection
committee is equally
excited about Shubman
Gill as he feels that the
enormously talented Pun-
jab batsman is now ready
for international cricket.
“Shubman is comfortable
with both, opening the
innings as well as playing
in the middle-order. For
New Zealand series, we
are looking at him as the
reserve opener behind
Shikhar Dhawan and
Rohit Sharma. I won' t
comment if he will make it
to the World Cup but he
was phenomenal as an
opener for India A in New
Zealand. We have dis-
cussed with India A caoch
Rahul Dravid and he has
said that Gill is ready for
international cricket. The
best part is the clutch of A
tours which has made all
these players battle-ready
for the biggest challenge,”
Prasad said.
The likes of Hanuma
Vihari, Mayank Agarwal,
Prithvi Shaw, Khaleel
Ahmed have all been
impressive in internation-
al cricket and that makes
Prasad very happy. — PTI
him a couple of times, and if
you see his credentials, he
has played at the highest
level and coached various
teams at various levels. You
only have to stay positive
that the coach will make a
big difference to the team,”
the star batter exuded con-
fidence.
Mithali also acknowledged
that all the coaches have
played a part in shaping up
the team. “I honestly believe
every coach brings a very dif-
ferent perspective to the
table. The team, what it is
today, is because of all those
various coaches. The team
has come so far and his
(Raman) knowledge will only
benefit the team to go fur-
ther,” she added. Mithali also
stressed that as the ODI captain
she will bring the team togeth-
er. “At this level, every player
understands what it takes to
reach at this level and what it
takes as a team to play, go on an
overseas tour, aim to win the
series,” the skipper said. — PTI
two-putt for a bogey. His only
birdie of the day came on the
ninth, when he landed his
third shot for a birdie.
Kuchar has made only one
bogey through 54 holes at
Waialae Country Club, and
his 18-under 192 was the low-
est 54-hole score of his career.
Andrew Putnam was two
shots behind after a 67. Keith
Mitchell had a 63 and was
four shots behind, along with
Chez Reavie (66). — PTI
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019
Bahrain stand in way of India’s knockout dream
Sharjah, January 13
Despite their loss to UAE,
India will still be fired up by
the prospect of reaching the
knockouts for the first time
when they take on Bahrain in
their final Asian Cup group
match here on Monday.
A draw against world No.
113 Bahrain will be enough
for world No. 97 India to qual-
ify for the Round of 16 for the
first time after failed
attempts in 1984 and 2011.
The match, which may
turn out to be the biggest
night for Indian football after
its achievements during the
golden era (1951 to 64), is
also significant as skipper
Sunil Chhetri will equal for-
mer captain Bhaichung
Bhutia’s record of 107
international appearances.
India had finished run-
ners-up in the 1964 edition
in Israel but that tourna-
Federer, Djokovic going for record seventh title | Andy’s last Major?
Melbourne, January 13
Roger Federer and Novak
Djokovic are both gunning
for a record seventh Aus-
tralian Open crown from
Monday, but Andy Murray
will make his last appearance
in Melbourne as the era of the
“Big Four” draws to a close.
World No. 1 Djokovic and
third seed Federer face a
stern challenge from the
likes of youthful force
Alexander Zverev, seeded
four, who is still looking for
a first Major to cement his
place as torch-bearer for
the next generation.
But Murray dropped a
pre-Grand Slam bombshell,
breaking down during a
tear-filled press conference
as he revealed chronic hip
pain means he will retire
after Wimbledon — if he
can carry on that long. And
question marks remain
over the fitness of world No.
2 Rafa Nadal who pulled out
of his Brisbane warm-up
but arrived in Melbourne
professing he was “fully fit”
and promising to unleash a
remodelled serve.
It all means the era of the
“Big Four” is almost over
after a season in which Feder-
er — who opens his title
defence against Denis
Istomin on Monday — rolled
back the years on Rod Laver
Arena to win an emotional
20th Grand Slam. It put him
on a par with other six-time
Australian Open winners
Djokovic and Roy Emerson
— although the Australian
great’s victories all came
before the Open era.
By contrast, the 31-year-old
Djokovic endured a miser-
able early Melbourne exit in
2018, followed by elbow sur-
gery and a string of disap-
pointing results that saw him
drop outside the top-20.
But since winning a fourth
Wimbledon in July, the Serb
rose inexorably back to num-
ber one by losing only three
further matches — one of
which was to Zverev at the
ATP Finals. Djokovic won his
third US Open in September
to put him on 14 Grand
Slams — three behind Nadal
and six behind Federer.
And Djokovic said that he
was delighted to be back in
Melbourne where his rise to
Bengaluru win maiden PBL title
Bengaluru Raptors beat Mumbai Rockets 4-3
to win their maiden Premier Badminton
League title. World No. 18 Anders Antonsen
lost narrowly to Bengaluru skipper Kidambi
Srikanth 15-7 15-10. Hendra Setiawan and
Mohammad Ahsan beat Mumbai’s Lee Yong
Dae and Kim GI Jung 15-13 15-10. World No.
59 Vu Thi Trang had the responsibility of
playing the trump match for Bengaluru against
ment was played in a
round-robin format com-
prising four countries.
Even a defeat on Monday
may still see India through
to the knockouts as one of
the four third-placed teams
if hosts United Arab Emi-
rates beat Thailand in the
other Group A match on the
same day. Along with the
top two countries, four
third-placed sides from the
six groups will also advance
to the knockouts. But
Stephen Constantine’s side
cannot lose to Bahrain by a
big margin as goal differ-
ence will be crucial. India
had lost 5-2 to Bahrain in the
2011 Asian Cup.
But India have shown that
they are no longer an also-ran
side. Constantine has built
India into a compact and
largely defensive unit which
tries to score on the counter.
Roger Federer hits a volley during a practice session on Sunday. AFP
Novak Djokovic serves during a practice
session; (right) Rafa Nadal greets compatriot
Garbine Muguruza. REUTERS, AP/PTI
greatness all began in 2008
with his first Grand Slam
win. “It was my first Major
trophy, that obviously served
as a great springboard for
my career,” Djokovic said as
he prepared to open his
assault on a seventh crown
against American Mitchell
Krueger on Tuesday.
Nadal ‘feels good’
Federer, now 37, remains the
chief threat to the Serb and
he sounded a warning on
Shreyanshi Pardeshi and she lived up to the
expectations, notching up a 15-8 15-9 win.
Earlier, Mumbai trump Pia Zebadiah and Kim
Gi Jung gave a fabulous start to their team by
beating Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith 15-8
15-14. World No. 12 Sameer Verma bounced
back from a poor start to avenge his league
stage defeat to Bengaluru’s Sai Praneeth,
winning 7-15 15-12 15-3. PTI
Under Constantine, India’s defence has improved significantly. AFP
The team largely maintained
its shape and intensity in the
first two matches.
However, the lack of cre-
ativity in the midfield was
evident and a lot will depend
on Chhetri. India may again
In search of
7th heaven
Sunday. “I’m playing good
tennis. I’m confident that I
think it needs a good per-
formance by my opponent
probably to beat me,” said the
Swiss, who warmed for Mel-
bourne with victory in
Perth’s Hopman Cup.
Second-ranked Nadal, 32,
pulled out of Brisbane with a
thigh strain although he
returned for an exhibition in
Sydney and insisted at the
weekend his fitness woes
were behind him. “I feel good.
SPORT
deploy a defensive approach
and hit on the counter
against a physical Bahrain
as they need just a draw
while it is a must-win game
for the West Asian side.
Bahrain lost 1-0 to Thai-
If I am not feeling good, I will
not be here,” he said before
revealing he had remodelled
his serve. “There are always
things to improve,” said the
Spaniard, who faces Aus-
tralian wildcard James
Duckworth on Monday.
Djokovic picked young
guns Zverev of Germany,
Borna Coric of Croatia,
Karen Khachanov of Russia
and Greece’s Stefano Tsit-
sipas as key threats to the
top-three. — AFP
Man United win Juventus ease into Coppa Italia quarterfinals Messi scores
at Tottenham MILAN: Juventus took the first step towards a
record fifth consecutive Coppa Italia triumph
LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s
Premier League title ambi-
tions suffered a major blow
as Marcus Rashford’s goal
gave Manchester United a 1-
0 victory at Wembley on Sun-
day to maintain caretaker
manager Ole Gunnar Solsk-
jaer’s perfect start. Rashford
beat Tottenham keeper Hugo
Lloris from a tight angle in
the 44th minute as rejuve-
nated United claimed a sixth
win from six matches since
former striker Solskjaer
stepped in. United’s Spanish
keeper David De Gea pro-
duced a series of superb
saves to deny Dele Alli, Harry
Kane and Toby Alderweireld
after the break as United
hung on for a first away
league win against Totten-
ham since 2012. REUTERS
15
❝ About India’s record against Bahrain
I don’t believe in records. There are a lot of
factors that come into play. When was the last time
we played them? Was it the same team? What were
the circumstances? Everything’s always changing.
Not do-or-die
If we win, we don’t have to worry about anyone
else. So we’ll focus on ourselves. I’m
not sure whether we can call it do-or-
die. That’s a bit too dramatic.
Will score
They defend very well and are very well North Korean fans watch their team’s match against Qatar. AFP
organised. I’m sure that it will be
difficult. But we have shown that we can QATAR HIT NORTH KOREA FOR SIX
score against good teams. I’m AL-AIN: Qatar’s Almoez Ali scored four goals in a 6-0 Asian Cup
sure we can score tomorrow as rout of North Korea on Sunday in the eery atmosphere of a
well. — Stephen Constantine, INDIA COACH near-empty Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in the United Arab
Emirates. Ali hit two in the first half and two more in the sec-
land, who defended deep in matches. The 2-0 win had
ond to go top of the goalscorers’ charts with five altogether,
as the 2022 World Cup hosts safely reached the Round of
the first half and hit on the come in an international 16. However, there was little excitement at any of Qatar’s
counter. India would take friendly in Bahrain in goals as a long-running Gulf blockade of the resource-rich
confidence from that result. October 1979. Bahrain state prevented any fans from attending the game in Al Ain.
Historically, India have have won on five occasions The tiny attendance of roughly 300 in the 16,000-capacity
won just one match win while one match had venue was dominated by two small groups of North Korean
against Bahrain in seven ended in a draw. — PTI fans who sporadically cheered and waved flags. AFP
YOUNGEST SLAM
While Wimbledon (established in 1877) is
Mom on a mission
Serena seeks 24th Grand Slam singles
the oldest of the four Grand Slams, the Aus-
tralian Open is the youngest. It started in 1905 and was
named the Australasian Championship in the beginning. title to equal Court’s all-time record
HOTTEST SLAM
The tournament is set dur- bines air temperature and
ing peak summer in Aus- humidity, will be replaced
tralia. Temperatures can by a heat stress scale. Air
reach up to 40°C, while temperature, radiant heat,
high humidity adds to the humidity and wind speed
players’ difficulties. The will be taken into account
Extreme Heat Policy was under the new system. A
introduced in 1988, under score of 1 on the 5-point
which the referees stopped scale is regarded as tem-
play if the temperature perate playing conditions.
reached 40°C. But last Players will get a longer
year, the policy was criti- break at 4. Play will be sus-
cised by several players. pended on the outside
Alize Cornet and Simona courts and the roof shut on
Halep needed treatment. the main courts at 5. A 10-
So, the organsiers have minute break between the
made changes to the heat third and fourth sets will be Serena Williams during a practice session. AFP
policy. The Wet Bulb Globe introduced in the men’s
Temperature, which com- singles matches. MELBOURNE, January 13 ❝ I think it’s possible for
Serena Williams was eight Serena to equal me but I
FIFTH-SET TIE-BREAKS weeks pregnant during her don’t think there’s a clear-
The 2019 edition will see final-set tie-breaks for the first 2017 Australian Open tri- cut favourite. I think it’s a
time in the Australian Open history. The US Open was the umph and while she has pretty open tournament
first Grand Slam to introduce final-set tie-breaks. While failed to add to her tally of and I think an outsider
the US Open has a standard first-to-seven-points system, 23 Grand Slam titles, the can win it❞ Margaret Court
at the Australian Open, winner will be decided by a first- American is still regarded as
to-10-points tie-break. Wimbledon also announced a the dominant force in has had a fractured lead-up
switch to final-set tie-breaks from the 2019 edition, but women’s tennis on her to the tournament, with a
the British Major will have a first-to-seven-points tie- return to Melbourne. back injury cutting short
break when the scores reach 12-12 in the final set. The 37-year-old took a year her 2018 season in Septem-
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS off after the birth of her ber. She will be without a
daughter Alexis Olympia in coach for the first few
MEN’S SINGLES
Roger Federer September of that year, months of the season after
before returning to action Darren Cahill left for “fami-
WOMEN’S SINGLES
last season, when she ly reasons” and if that set-
Caroline Wozniacki
reached the finals at Wim- back was not enough, she
MEN’S DOUBLES bledon and the US Open. was outplayed by unseeded
Oliver Marach & Her quest for another Major Australian Ashleigh Barty
Mate Pavic
fell at the final hurdle on in the second round of the
WOMEN’S DOUBLES both occasions, however, Sydney International. The
Timea Babos & with defeats to Germany’s Romanian, who lost the
Kristina Mladenovic
Angelique Kerber in London 2018 Australian Open final
MIXED DOUBLES and rising Japanese star to Caroline Wozniacki, could
Gabriela Dabrowski Naomi Osaka in New York. rue her lack of competitive
& Mate Pavic Caroline Wozniacki practises. AFP
The losses left Williams still matches but remained
MONDAY’S MAIN MATCHES seeking a 24th Grand Slam upbeat, while saying she
singles title to equal Mar- had low expectations for the
WOMEN: 30-Maria Sharapova (Russia) vs Harriet Dart
(Britain); Polona Hercog (Slovenia) vs 2-Angelique Kerber garet Court’s all-time record year’s first Grand Slam.
(Germany); Alison Van Uytvanck (Belgium) vs 3-Caroline and she will have another tilt A second Australian Open
Wozniacki (Denmark); 5-Sloane Stephens (US) vs Taylor at that milestone during the title for Kerber, who denied
Townsend (US); 8-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) vs Mag- January 14-27 event, despite Williams in the 2016 final,
dalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) entering the tournament will be a perfect birthday gift
MEN: James Duckworth (Australia) vs 2-Rafa Nadal (Spain); ranked 16th in the world. for the world No. 2, who
Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) vs 3-Roger Federer (Switzer- While Williams achieved turns 31 during the first
land); 6-Marin Cilic (Croatia) vs Bernard Tomic (Australia); her win over sister Venus in week of the tournament.
22-Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain) vs Andy Murray (Britain) the final two years ago, the She looked sharp at the
challenge this year is expect- Hopman Cup, maintaining a
INDIA NO. 1 IN ACTION ed to come from a vast array 100 percent singles record,
Prajnesh Gunneswaran is the lone Indian in the singles of players. Chris Evert has even though Germany lost
main draw and the 29-year-old will meet American 20-year- described trying to pick a to Switzerland in the final.
old Frances Tiafoe, ranked 39, in his opening round on women’s singles champion Defending champion Woz-
Monday. Gunneswaran, India’s highest-ranked singles play-
in Melbourne as a “crap- niacki has been battling
er at 112, did not have much idea about Tiafoe. “I don’t
know too much about him. I have seen him on TV,” shoot”, with the last eight rheumatoid arthritis but the
Gunneswaran said. “I will have to play well to beat him. I Major titles having been won 28-year-old Dane will remain
will come up with a game plan and give it all I have got.” by different players. a contender, as will 21-year-
World No. 1 Simona Halep old Osaka. — Reuters
comfortable win. The Turin club have won the 400th goal
league and cup double in Italy for the last
BARCELONA: Barcelona for-
with a 2-0 win over Bologna on Saturday that four years and are aiming to become the first
ensured the defending champions will join team from Europe’s top five leagues to win ward Lionel Messi further
AC Milan and Lazio in the quarterfinals. five national cup titles in a row, although etched his name into Span-
Goals from Federico Bernardeschi and Moise Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are chas- ish football history by
Kean either side of the break gave Juve a ing the same objective this season. REUTERS becoming the first player to
score 400 goals in La Liga
when he netted against
Eibar on Sunday. The Argen-
tine, who has been the com-
petition’s all-time top scorer
since 2014, calmly slotted
in a pass from Luis Suarez
from close range to strike
the league leaders’ second
goal against the Basque
side. Messi was making his
435th La Liga appearance
for the club, having made
his league debut in 2004.
Barca won 3-0 to go five
points clear of Atletico
Madrid at the top of the
standings. Earlier, Atletico
Bologna’s goalkeeper Da Costa gets the ball before Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP beat Levante 1-0. REUTERS
16
PM attacks Congress on
Kartarpur Sahib, ’84 riots
Says corridor atonement for mistake committed in 1947
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 13
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi today attacked the pre-
vious Congress government
for its inability to bring Kar-
tarpur Sabib under India
during Partition.
Releasing a commemora-
tive coin as part of the 350th
birth anniversary celebra-
tions of Guru Gobind Singh,
Modi also came down on the
Congress for the 1984 riots.
Referring to the Kartapur
Sahib corridor, he said now
devotees do not have to look
at the shrine in Pakistan
using binoculars and they
could visit the place without
visa using the corridor.
“A mistake took place in
August, 1947. It (the corridor)
is an atonement for the mis-
take. An important place of
our guru was only a few kilo-
meters away. But it could not
CSIO develops pilot display unit for IAF’s Hawk 44 strategic roads to be
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 13
An indigenous pilot display
unit (PDU) has been devel-
oped for the IAF’s indige-
nously upgraded Hawk-i
advanced jet trainer by the
Central Scientific Instru-
ments Organisation (CSIO)
here. The instrument, akin
to a head-up display unit, is
installed above the cockpit’s
instrument panel with its
screen at the pilot’s eye lev-
el and superimposes vital
flight and mission parame-
ters on the pilot’s line of
vision of the outside world.
The Mission Combat Sys-
tems Research and Design
Centre of Hindustan Aero-
nautics Limited (HAL), Ban-
galore, had awarded this
Move to stop composition
dealers from charging GST
New Delhi, January 13
In a consumer-friendly meas-
ure, the Revenue Depart-
ment is planning to make it
mandatory for composition
dealers and service providers
to declare their GST registra-
tion status in invoices to
ensure that they do not
charge any tax from buyers.
The measure, once imple-
mented, would check the
widespread practice of com-
position dealers of charging
GST from purchasers and
not depositing it with the
exchequer, an official said.
The Revenue Department is
also planning to launch a cam-
paign to educate consumers
that the dealers opting for
composition scheme are not
required to charge the goods
and services tax (GST) from
purchasers, the official said.
Under the GST composition
scheme, traders and manufac-
turers are required to pay only
1% GST on goods which other-
wise attract a higher levy of 5,
12 or 18%. Such dealers are
also not permitted to charge
GST from the purchaser.
Of the 1.17 crore businesses
registered under GST, about
20 lakh have opted for compo-
sition scheme. “It has come to
the notice of the government
that a large number of compo-
sition dealers are levying
GST at higher rates and not
depositing it with the govern-
ment,” the official said.
According to the proposal
being considered by the Cen-
Printed and published by Rajesh Ramachandran for The Tribune Trust
Printed at The Tribune Press, Sector 29-C, Chandigarh.
Published at The Tribune, Sector 29-C, Chandigarh.
RNI No. 15/57.
Copyright © The Tribune Trust. All rights reserved.
Telephones: 0172-2655066-72 Fax: 0172-2657149
Circulation: 0172-3050419, Advertisement: 0172-3050256, 257
Editor: Rajesh Ramachandran*
*Editor for purpose of PRB Act, 1867
❝ A mistake took place in August 1947. It (Kartarpur
corridor) is an atonement for the mistake. An important
place of our Guru was only a few kilometres away. But it
could not be made part (of India during Partition)... the
corridor is an effort to reduce the damage. Narendra Modi, PM
be made part (of India during
partition) ... the corridor is an
effort to reduce the damage,”
he said in a veiled attack on
the then Congress govern-
ment. Guru Nanak Dev
passed away in Kartarpur on
September 22, 1539.
Former Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, former
Chief Justice of India JS
Khehar and several Sikh
leaders were present at the
Prime Minister’s residence
to participate in the event.
Modi said be it Guru Nanak
or Guru Gobind Singh, they
have taught us to be on the
side of justice.
Following the path shown
built along China border
project to CSIO and the first
prototype has been fabricat-
ed. It is expected to take to
the skies in a few weeks.
The British Hawk entered
IAF service in 2008, with 24
aircraft received in fly-away
condition and 42 being
assembled by HAL. Another
57 Hawks, with some
going to the Navy,
were to be licence-
produced by HAL
along with upgrade of
the fleet and incorpo-
ration of some Indian
made components
and sub-systems. The
upgraded aircraft have
been christened as Hawk-i.
The PDU provides a com-
prehensive flight-symbology
display along with ambient
vision under all-weather
SUSHIL MODI TO HEAD
GROUP OF MINISTERS
■ Bihar Deputy CM Sushil
Modi will head the seven-
member committee to
look into revenue shortfall
being faced by the states
after the GST rollout, and
suggest steps for aug-
menting collections
■ Several states, including
Punjab, Himachal, Chattis-
garh, Uttarakhand, J&K,
Odisha, Goa, Bihar, Gujarat
and Delhi, are facing rev-
enue shortfall following the
implementation of GST
■ These states are facing
revenue shortfall in the
range of 14-37 pc in the
April-November period
tral Board of Indirect Taxes
and Customs, businesses will
have to mandatorily mention
in the invoice generated by
them that they are composi-
tion dealers and, hence, are
not required to charge GST.
“Simultaneously, we will
educate consumers that they
should not pay GST while
buying goods from composi-
tion scheme dealers,” the
official said. To ease compli-
ance burden for small busi-
nesses, the GST law provides
for composition scheme
under which traders and
manufacturers with an annu-
al turnover of up to Rs 1 crore
can pay 1% GST. This thresh-
old will increase to Rs 1.5
crore from April 1. — PTI
by them, the Central govern-
ment is trying to get justice
for the people who suffered
during the 1984 anti-Sikh
riots, Modi said.
“The Central government
is making efforts to get jus-
tice for the period of injus-
tice which started in 1984.
For decades, mothers, sis-
ters, daughters and sons
have shed tears, the law
will deliver justice, wipe
(their) tears,” he said, refer-
ring to the riots that took
place following the assassi-
nation of then Prime Minis-
ter Indira Gandhi.
The Prime Minister
released a Rs 350 denomina-
IN LINE OF SIGHT
■ The display unit will be
installed above the cock-
pit’s instrument panel with
its screen at the pilot’s eye
level to ensure there’s no
change in line of sight
■ It will reduce reaction time,
enabling pilot to take split-
second decisions
conditions. It displays navi-
gation inputs like altitude,
airspeed, angle of attack and
Family members of Major Shashi Dharan V Nair mourn during his funeral ceremony in Pune. PTI
Emotional adieu to Major Nair
Pune, January 13
Major Shashi Dharan V Nair,
who was killed in an IED
explosion in Rajouri district
of Jammu and Kashmir, was
cremated with full military
honours here in Maharashtra
on Sunday.
The body was brought to
the National War Memorial in
Pune on Saturday evening
where wreaths were laid.
Fewer farmers sow winter crops, food prices to surge
Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, January 13
Food prices are set to surge
later this summer as farmers
reeling under falling prices of
agricultural produce and
poor rainfall have reduced
sowing the winter crop,
according to Agriculture
Department officials.
Available information sug-
gests only around half the
area under the rabi crop has
been sown this year. Sowing
BACK PAGE
tion commemorative silver
coin to mark the 350th birth
anniversary of Guru Gobind
Singh. He described the
founder of the Khalsa sect as
a warrior and a poet who had
immense knowledge of reli-
gious scriptures. Modi said
the government now plans to
celebrate the 550th birth
anniversary of Guru Nanak
across the country.
Modi said while the event
will be held in various states
and Union Territories, Indian
embassies abroad will also
organise programmes as part
of the celebrations.
Modi said, for the past four
years, his government has
been making comprehen-
sive efforts to bring the cul-
tural and knowledge her-
itage of India to the world.
“From Yoga to Ayurveda, the
country has succeeded in re-
establishing its status. This
work continues,” he said.
artificial horizon, take off
and landing data as well as
weapon aiming and delivery
cues. Since the pilot does not
have to change his line of
sight or visual accommoda-
tion by peering repeatedly at
his instrument panel inside
the cockpit, the PDU
reduces his workload and
reaction time, while
enabling him to take split-
second decisions and
enhancing his weapon
aiming capability.
It is smaller and
lighter than earlier
head-up displays
developed by CSIO for
the light combat aircraft,
HAL trainer aircraft and
Jaguar. All modern combat
aircraft as well as some trans-
port aircraft are equipped
The mortal remains were
taken for the last rites on
Sunday morning in a mas-
sive procession from his resi-
dence in Khadakwasla area
on the outskirts of Pune.
Major Nair's well-wishers
raised slogans in his praise
throughout the procession.
The last rites were performed
at the city-based Vaikunth
crematorium where his wife,
RIOTS AS SUGAR FACTORIES DELAY PAYMENT
■ Protests by sugarcane farmers across western Maharash-
tra over delayed payment have turned violent with offices
of at least eight sugar factories in the districts of Kolhapur,
Sangli and Satara attacked by protesting farmers
■ Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana has demanded that sug-
ar factories clear pending dues of farmers by Wednesday
for the winter crop is almost
complete in Maharashtra.
“Unlike last year when 56.9
lakh hectares were brought
under the rabi crop, sowing
has been carried out only on
Kumbh pledge
Security personnel take oath to execute their duties honestly
after offering prayers at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga
and the Yamuna, ahead of the Kumbh festival in Allahabad. PTI
with head-up displays.
“The PDU can be operated
in different modes that can
be selected from a multi-
function up-front control
panel. In the ‘raster’ mode
it displays the real time
infrared camera video to the
pilot for target seeking,
while in the mixed mode,
raster video is combined
with other information for
weapon aiming and target
locking along with other
flight critical information to
the pilot,” Vipan Kumar,
principal scientist oversee-
ing the project, said.
“In the eventuality of mis-
sion computer failure, PDU
has dedicated information
which can be displayed to the
pilot in stand-by-sight
mode,” he said.
mother, sister and other
friends and relatives bid him
a emotional adieu.
Officials from the Southern
Command and police depart-
ment were also present.
District Guardian Minister
Girish Bapat, BJP Lok Sabha
member from Pune Anil Shi-
role and leaders from various
other political parties also
attended the funeral. — PTI
around 30 lakh hectares so
far,” an official said.
Apart from onions, vegeta-
bles and pulses like tuvar are
grown as part of the rabi crop
in Maharashtra.
New Delhi, January13
The government will con-
struct 44 strategic roads along
the border with China and
over 2,100 km of axial and lat-
eral roads in Punjab and
Rajasthan, abutting Pakistan,
a CPWD document shows.
According to an annual
report (2018-19) prepared and
released earlier this month by
the Central Public Works
Department, the agency has
been asked to construct 44
“strategically important” roads
along the India-China border
to ensure quick mobilisation of
troops in case of a conflict.
The nearly 4,000-km-long
Line of Actual Control
between India and China
Allow hijab, kirpan
during tests: Panel
New Delhi, January13
The Delhi Minorities Com-
mission has asked city gov-
ernment departments to
allow candidates to wear
dresses and carry articles as
per their religious beliefs
when appearing in recruit-
ment and academic tests.
Acting on the commis-
sion’s order, the General
Administration Department
(GAD) has issued a circular to
all principal secretaries and
heads of department asking
for “appropriate action” on
the dress code for minority
students and candidates
appearing in examinations.
Minority commission
chairman Zafarul Islam
Khan said the order was
issued in view of complaints
from members of minority
communities that they faced
difficulties when appearing
in such examinations and
were forced to take off their
articles of faith.
The order noted that while
the security precautions are
very much required during
examinations, it should not
Output of onions is expect-
ed to be badly affected as only
around 90,000 hectares of
farm land in the onion belt
around Nashik and Marath-
wada have been brought
under the crop this year. Usu-
ally, 2.55 lakh hectares of
farmland are brought under
the onion crop. In the Nashik
area alone, only around 18,000
hectares, compared to 80,000
hectares, have been brought
under the onion crop.
Onion farmers were the
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 14 JANUARY 2019
Kargil veteran says
intel failure led to war
Bhopal, January 13
The 1999 Kargil intrusion
was the fallout of the failure
of the military intelligence as
well as other intelligence
agencies, Lt Gen (retd)
Mohinder Puri said on Sun-
day while speaking at the
Bhopal Litfest here.
Recalling the intrusion, Lt
Gen Puri said Pakistan’s aim
was to internationalise the
Kashmir issue and change
the alignment of the Line of
Control in the Kargil sector
by opening the conflict
against India. He had headed
the 8 Mountain Division dur-
ing “Operation Vijay”.
“The Kargil War happened
due to the failure of intelli-
gence agencies, including
military intelligence,” the
decorated officer said during
an interaction on the second
day of the Bhopal literature
and art festival at Bharat
Bhavan here.
The 8 Mountain Battalion
headed by him was tasked to
evict the enemy from the
Drass-Mushkoh Sector dur-
ing “Operation Vijay”. “It was
in the first week of May (1999)
NEW 2,100-KM ROADS
ALONG PAKISTAN
Lateral and axial roads
measuring over 2,100 km
will be built at a cost of
around ~5,400 crore in
Rajasthan and Punjab
along the Pakistan border
touches areas from Jammu
and Kashmir to Arunachal
Pradesh. The report comes at
a time when China is giving a
priority to projects along its
India borders. In 2017, Indian
and Chinese troops were
engaged in a face-off at the
Doklam tri-junction after the
neighbouring country had
begun building a road in the
Asks Delhi principal
secretaries and heads
of departments for
‘appropriate action’
on the dress code
for minority students
harm the interests of stu-
dents and candidates.
The commission has direct-
ed all the government
departments and education-
al institutions to “meticu-
lously observe” its dress code
order, saying failure to do so
will invite legal action. Khan
said that compliance reports
on the order have been
received by the commission
from various departments.
The commission had last
month also issued a notice to
the University Grants Com-
mission (UGC), taking up the
case of a Jamia Millia Islamia
student being allegedly not
allowed to appear in the UGC-
NET examination for wearing
a hijab (headscarf). — PTI
worst hit with prices falling to
less than a rupee per kg in the
wholesale markets recently.
“Apart from severe losses,
onion farmers also have to
grapple with lack of water as
the rainfall was poor this
year,” says Annasaheb
Donge, a wholesale dealer of
onions at the Lasalgaon mar-
ket near Nashik.
Traders feel that onion prices
would go through the roof and
stay high till the kharif crop
comes in next year.
THE TRIBUNE
when 3 Infantry Division
received information of an
intrusion in the Batalik sec-
tor. Later on, it was detected
that the intrusion had taken
place over a very wide front,”
the Lt Gen said.
“Pakistan also wanted to
interdict a road from Srina-
gar to Leh, thus isolating
Siachen. It also wanted to
launch a fresh launch pad
for militants from the cap-
tured area to intrude into
Himachal Pradesh,” the Lt
Gen said. He recalled that
he was tasked with restor-
ing the sanctity of the LoC
and clear the national high-
way 1D in the Dras-
Mushkoh Sector.
Lt Gen Puri further said the
main credit of the Kargil vic-
tory went to the young offi-
cers who fought bravely.
“This is the hallmark of the
Indian Army,” he added.
About the regimental cul-
ture of the Army, the Lt Gen
said a regiment is a small
family of around 900 soldiers,
and a soldier’s first commit-
ment is towards the unit and
then for the country. — PTI
area. The standoff ended fol-
lowing a mutual agreement
under which China stopped
the construction of the road
and India withdrew its troops.
The report stated that these
44 roads along the India-China
border will be constructed at a
cost of nearly Rs 21,000 crore.
“The CPWD has been
entrusted with construction
of 44 strategically important
roads along the India-China
border spanning J&K,
Himachal, Uttarakhand,
Sikkim and Arunachal
Pradesh,” the report stated.
It said the process of approval
of detailed project reports by
the Cabinet Committee on
Security is underway. — PTI
EDarrestsMaha
co-op society
ex-manager
for laundering
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January13
The Enforcement Directorate
on Sunday said it had arrest-
ed a former manager of a
Maharashtra-based coopera-
tive society for his alleged
involvement in laundering
money worth several crores
through hawala route.
The ED said Machindra
Khade was arrested under the
Prevention of Money Launder-
ing Act for his involvement in
facilitating illegal cash deposits
in various bank accounts of the
society, which were subse-
quently layered and then
fraudulently remitted to
Hong Kong by submission of
fake import documents in the
guise of import of diamond. It
further said the accused was
former manager of Renuka-
mata Multi-State Cooperative
Urban Credit Society.
The agency had begun
probing the cooperative soci-
ety on the basis of an FIR
filed by the state police.
The ED said its probe found
that Khade “opened and
operated” multiple bank
accounts in the name of per-
sons/company, which were
used for depositing huge
cash in the society's account.
“The beneficiaries’ trans-
actions were successfully
camouflaged as the
RTGS/NEFT transactions
would invariably reflect the
name of the cooperative soci-
ety. Khade was instrumental
in pursuing people in open-
ing bank accounts for mone-
tary consideration,” it
alleged. The agency claimed
Khade obtained the signa-
tures of account holders on
blank RTGS slips that he
kept in his custody.”