English tribune 24 01 2018 by Mahesh Yadav

13 established in 1881

wednesday, january 24, 2018

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NIA can’t investigate marital status, says SC

White spell

Can probe if any criminality involved in conversion Satya Prakash Tribune News Service

Shimla wears a white mantle as it received this year’s first snowfall on Tuesday, bringing down the mercury in the region. AMIT KANWAR PAGE 10

Rintu Amritsar’s first Sikh Mayor Amritsar: The Congress on Tuesday named Karamjit Singh Rintu as Mayor. Rintu is the first Sikh Mayor of the city. Raman Bakshi was named Senior Deputy Mayor, while Younis was declared Deputy Mayor. The announcement was made by minister Tript Bajwa, even as Navjot Singh Sidhu and his supporters stayed away. PAGE 2

Shiv Sena to go it alone in 2019 polls Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service

Faceoff: CEC lying, says AAP New Delhi, January 23 Its 20 MLAs disqualified, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today accused newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Om Prakash Rawat of having “lied” in an interview that the AAP MLAs were given two opportunities and sent notices (on September 28 and November 2 last year) for a hearing. “In doing so, the CEC has tacitly admitted to not hearing the AAP MLAs,” claimed AAP leader Raghav Chadha. The disqualified MLAs have filed petitions in the Delhi High Court. In his interview, Rawat had indicated that the MLAs had failed to come up with anything substantial to support their case — a claim countered by AAP leaders. Rawat was reported to have said that if the AAP MLAs wanted to give oral evidences, they should have said so. — TNS

New Delhi: Amid concern over leak of biometric details, the Centre on Tuesday told the SC that Justice BN Srikrishna Committee report on data protection was likely to be ready by March. Based on the recommendations, a law will be put in place, the Attorney General told a five-judge Constitution Bench hearing plea against Aadhaar Act validity. PAGE 7

Mumbai, January 23 The Shiv Sena today decided not to ally with the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, passing a resolution in this regard. Party president Uddhav Thackeray indicated that the party would stick to its hardline Hindutva position to take on the BJP electorally. “We contest on the plank of genuine Hindutva as against the bogus Hindutva of the BJP… We won’t compromise on terrorism. Terrorism is terrorism. Cow killing is cow killing,” Thackeray said. He hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "soft-pedalling" on the Kashmir issue. “We would have been proud of our Prime Minister had he

Fake call centres busted in G’gram

Jadhav case: ICJ sets time limit

Gurugram: The Gurugram police on Tuesday busted 10 illegal call centres and arrested 33 employees for duping people on the pretext of providing "tempting opportunities." The cyber cell carried out raids after a tipoff that fraudulent call centres in various sectors were cheating gullible customers, both in India and abroad. TNS

The Hague, January 23 The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has fixed April 17 and July 17 as time limits for India and Pakistan, respectively, for filing of written pleadings by them in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espi-

Panel report on data protection ‘by March’

Will contest on the ❝ plank of genuine Hindutva. Uddhav Thackeray taken (Israeli PM) Benjamin Netanyahu to Srinagar to hoist the National Flag instead of doing it in Ahmedabad,” Thackeray said. The Shiv Sena chief, who was re-elected president of the party today, asked party workers to begin preparing continued on page 7

onage and terrorism in April last year, following which India moved the Haguebased ICJ in May. On May 18, a 10-member bench of the ICJ restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case. The ICJ authorised the submission of a reply by India and of a rejoinder by

Pakistan in the Jadhav case. Pakistan claims its security forces arrested Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. India maintains Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran. — PTI

Railways demands record ~1.46lakhcr But may not be able to spend all of previous fiscal’s allocation

Budget RUN-UP Mukesh Ranjan

PLAN OUTLAY BUDGETED OUTLAY (2017-18)

ACTUAL EXPENDITURE (EXPECTED)

PROPOSED OUTLAY (2018-19)

~1,31,000cr ~1,00,000cr ~1,46,000 cr

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 23 The Railways, which has demanded a record Rs 1,46,000 crore budget to overhaul its image and infrastructure in 2018-19, may face the Finance Ministry’s axe because a large portion of its current financial year’s outlay is likely to remain unused. The Railways may not be able to spend more than Rs 1,00,000 crore by March 31 against an allocated outlay of Rs 1,31,000 crore in 2017-18, ministry officials say. According to them, about a quarter of the allocated budget would remain unused because of tardy progress in laying new tracks and renewal of old ones. Even as the Railways

Infrastructure* Electrification New tracks Track renewal

Plan 3,000 km 3,500 km 3,600 km

Expected to achieve 4,000 km 2,000 km 2,000 km *2017-18

pledged and the Budget made financial provisions, the capacity to execute infrastructure and safety-related projects continues to be an issue which senior officials at Rail Bhawan are grappling to overcome. The Finance Ministry is likely to cut around Rs

10,000 crore in the revised estimate from the gross budgetary support (GBS) of Rs 55,000 crore for this year. Officials say the Railways’ proposed plan for the next fiscal includes Rs 60,000 crore as GBS — the amount which the Finance Ministry

gives as governmental support to the Railways. Officials said the national transport monolith would also not be able to lift the entire loan amount of Rs 30,000 crore from Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India. The Ministry of Railways and the LIC had signed an agreement last year for a long-term loan of Rs 1,50,000 crore for the next five years to support the national transporter’s infrastructure projects. Incidentally, this year Rail Bhawan saw a change of guard at the top after a series of train accidents, with Piyush Goyal replacing Suresh Prabhu. And since then, the ministry has witnessed a shift in priorities. Prabhu focused more on generating revenue and spending on new tracks. Goyal has been laying stress on safety and electrification. The overemphasis on safety has its continued on page 7

Today’s issue is of 34 pages, including four-page Jobs and Careers, eight-page Chandigarh Tribune and six-page Life+Style.

New Delhi, January 23 Maintaining that an adult woman was free to marry a man of her choice, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said the NIA couldn’t probe the marital status of Akhila alias Hadiya, who has been at the centre of a storm over alleged ‘love jihad’ in Kerala. “How can we say the marriage is not valid when she says she married someone on her own. She can choose independently. She is 24 years old,” said a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. “Marriage has to be separate from criminal activity, otherwise we will be creating a bad precedent in law,” said the Bench, which also included Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud. However, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) could continue with its probe into the ‘love jihad’ case to find out if there was any criminality involved in religious conversion, as alleged by Hadia’s father Asokan. Whether the person she married was a good human being or a bad one cannot be probed. “NIA can investigate into all other aspects except marriage,” the Bench, which had in August last year

LOVE JIHAD She (Hadiya) is an adult. She appeared before us and said she is married. What can the court do? We can't get into the legitimacy of the marriage… marriage has to be separate from criminal activity, otherwise we will be creating a bad precedent in law. SC Bench

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ordered the NIA to probe the matter, clarified. On behalf of Akhila's father, advocate Madhavi Divan said her marriage couldn’t be seen in isolation. “Please note that she was not married at the time of filing of petition (by her father) in the high court. The marriage was only a device to legitimise her illegal confinement.” Akhila had converted to Islam, became Hadiya and married Shafin Jahan. However, their marriage was annulled by the Kerala High Court on May 25, 2017. A Division Bench of the High Court had termed Akhila's marriage with Jahan a “sham”

and placed her in the protective custody of her parents. Jahan had challenged the HC verdict in the top court. The Bench, which had on November 27 sent her back to her Homeopathic Medical College in Tamil Nadu from her parents’ custody, made Hadiya a party to the case filed by her husband after senior counsel Kapil Sibal submitted on behalf of Jahan that she should be heard in the matter. “She may have been brainwashed. But what can we do? Whether she made an independent choice or not only she can tell. If she comes to court and says she has married someone by her choice, that's the end of it,” said the CJI. Giving Hadiya a week from the date of receipt of notice to file her response, the Bench fixed February 22 for further hearing. The Bench said she was not under illegal detention. On behalf of the NIA, Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh said, “Your Lordships must not give an impression that the NIA is working under pressure.” The Supreme Court on November 27 sent Akhila alias Hadiya to Shivraj Homoeopathic Medical College in Salem, Tamil Nadu, to resume internship/house surgeonship. Edit: Hadiya’s agency upheld

‘Padmaavat’: SC order stays, releaseonJan25 Satya Prakash Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 23 The Supreme Court today refused to modify its earlier order which had paved the way for nationwide release of “Padmaavat” on January 25, saying its order had to be complied with. A three-judge Bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra dismissed the petitions filed by the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Governments that cited possible violence by groups opposed to the Deepika Padukone-starrer controversial film as a ground for modification of its earlier order.

Rajasthan, MP govt plea to modify order dismissed “People must understand that the Supreme Court has passed an order. They must abide by it. It is the obligation of the states to maintain law and order,” it said, refusing to modify its January 18 order, staying orders issued by various states banning the film’s screening. Asking states to implement its January 18 order, the court said it would examine pleas against the film’s screening on a case-to-case basis, if the situation so warranted. Noting that maintenance of law and order was the duty of states, the Bench asked states to provide the security needed for its peaceful screening. More on page 7

THE TRIBUNE

PUNJAB

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

Amritsar gets first Sikh Mayor

Preneet loyalist Bittu bags top post in Patiala ‘Upset’ Sidhu goes Gagan K Teja

incommunicado Rajmeet Singh Tribune News Service

Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu (centre) with Cabinet Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa (right) and MP Gurjit Singh Aujla at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR

Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 23 The Congress today named Karamjit Singh Rintu as the city Mayor. The announcement was made after an oath-taking ceremony of elected councillors held in the presence of Cabinet Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa here. Rintu will be the first Sikh Mayor of the city. Raman Bakshi was named Senior Deputy Mayor, while Younis Deputy Mayor. Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and his

supporters were conspicuous by their absence. As many as 15 supporters of Sidhu did not attend the meeting. They held a separate press conference and alleged that the government was ignoring Sidhu. Sidhu had yesterday announced that he would not be attending the oathtaking ceremony since he was not invited. Insiders claim that the state leadership had not consulted Sidhu over mayoral posts. Tript Rajinder Bajwa said he had gone to meet Sidhu at

his office to extend an invitation. “He might be busy in some other task. The party leadership has decided the names. I just delivered the message. Sidhu too had said that he had left the matter to the leadership,” he said. Rintu said: “I know him (Sidhu) very well. I will visit his home to meet him.” Other aspirants for the Mayor’s post were Mamta Dutta, a close relative of MLA Sunil Dutti, and former leader of opposition in MC Rajkanwal Preetpal Singh Lucky.

Chandigarh, January 23 Fissures in the Congress came to the fore with Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu staying away from the event to announce the name of Amritsar Mayor. After the removal of Rana Gurjit Singh as Cabinet Minister and Suresh Kumar as Chief Principal Secretary to CM, the party is facing another trouble over Sidhu getting upset with the leadership. Till Tuesday evening, efforts to persuade him failed to yield any result as he remained inaccessible. A senior party leader said: “Even as the matter of mayoral posts was decided at a meeting in Delhi, Sidhu could have been involved by giving him the charge of Amritsar elections.” People close to Sidhu said he was likely to abstain from the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to register his protest. He had done this earlier too after his recommendation regarding funds and choice of officers went unheeded. Party insiders say Sidhu felt ignored right from the start of the process of shortlisting candidates for mayoral posts. Though publicly accepting the authority of the CM, Sidhu is upset over

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Of the 18 wards in Amritsar East Assembly constituency, the Congress won 15, thanks to Navjot Singh Sidhu. However, the government and the party high command have ignored him. Is he being meted out this treatment due to his honesty? Damandeep Singh, CONG COUNCILLOR being sidelined on the matter of picking mayoral candidates, mainly in Amritsar. PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar said: “It is unfortunate and could have been avoided. Cabinet Minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa had gone to Sidhu’s house to invite him. But he could be contacted. The PPCC has sought a report on the councillors who did not attend the event organised to announce the Amritsar Mayor.” The sources say Sidhu rising popularity has not gone down well with those close to the centre of power. While some of the MLAs from Majha are inclined to support Sidhu in the fresh turmoil, they are wary of airing their mind, lest they lose the chance of making it to the Cabinet.

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 23 Sanjeev Sharma Bittu, a loyalist of former Union Minister Preneet Kaur, was today elected Mayor of the Patiala Municipal Corporation. Yoginder Singh Yogi is the Senior Deputy Mayor, while Vinti Sangar has been named Deputy Mayor. While Bittu is a Hindu face of the Congress, Yogi represents urban Sikhs and Sangar represents both women and Dalits. Bittu was the Leader of Opposition during the previous term of the SAD-BJP. He had been actively pursuing the issues of the Congress despite the fact that the party remained out of power for a decade. Bittu also shares good rapport with party’s senior minister Brahm Mohindra and is among senior most Congress leaders of the city. He started his political career as a Youth Congress activist and went on to become its president in 1996. He is incumbent chairman of the PPCC’s urban development cell. A garment shop owner, Yogi is a first-time councillor. He has been associated with Preneet Kaur for almost two decades. He is chairman of the progressive Punjab cell. Vinti, a housewife, is also a first-time councillor. She is the wife of Sonu Sangar,

Mayor Sanjeev Sharma Bittu after taking charge at the Municipal Corporation office in Patiala on Tuesday. PHOTO: RAJESH SACHAR

YOGI IS SR DY MAYOR, SANGAR DY MAYOR ■ Yoginder

Singh Yogi has been named Senior Deputy Mayor, while Vinti Sangar is Deputy Mayor.

■ Bittu is a Hindu face of the Congress, Yogi represents urban

Sikhs and Sangar represents both women and Dalits. who has remained the president of the state Youth Congress and SC cell chairman. Eariler, Mohindra arrived at the MC office with an envelope. He proposed Bittu’s name, which was supported by all councillors. Preneet Kaur, Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Congress Rajpura MLA Hardyal Kamboj, Ghanaur MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur and Pepsu Road Transport Corporation chairman KK Sharma were present on the occasion.

Unlike the Akali Dal, who had picked the sons of senior leaders for the top MC post during their two terms, the Congress gave all top posts to commoners who have worked for the party for years. There are a total of 60 wards in the city. While 32 fall under the Patiala Urban Assembly segment, which is represented by Capt Amarinder Singh, 26 come under the Patiala Rural segment being led by Mohindra and two under the Sanour segment.

‘Disrespect’ to Speaker: Panel Dr Ajay Sharma is PTU Vice-Chancellor summons Sukhbir, Simarjit Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 23 The Privileges Committee of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today summoned SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) MLA Simarjit Singh Bains for showing disrespect to the Speaker during the last year’s budget session. In a meeting, chaired by Sukhjinder Randhawa today, the decision was taken to summon the leaders to

applied for the post of PTU Dean in 2010 during the tenure of previous V-C Dr Rajneesh Arora, but he was not selected. His appointment comes at a time when the Additional Director of Technical Education has given a choice to colleges that moved under Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Bathinda, to stay affiliated with it or revert to PTU. Dr Sharma said, “I need to follow a procedure with the MHRD for getting relieved from the NIT, which may take sometime.”

Witness to Hindu leader’s Blue ration cards murder commits suicide to go by March 31

Old-age pension to be cleared soon: CM

MOGA DC SHOULD ‘LEARN’ PUBLIC DEALING In the case of Moga Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dilraj Singh showing disrespect to Bagahpurana MLA Darshan Brar, the Privileges Committee has sent its recommendations to the Vidhan Sabha Speaker. The committee is learnt to have recommended that the officer should not be put on a public dealing post for three years and he should undergo fresh training to learn public dealing. appear before the committee on February 6. The move comes six months after the privilege motion was moved by Congress MLAs Kulbir Zira and Pargat Singh against

MP museum in Guru’s memory Bhopal, January 23 The Madhya Pradesh Government will set up a museum and hold a series of programmes in Burhanpur town to mark the 350th birth anniversary (Parkash Parv) of Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru had stayed in Burhanpur’s Badi Sangat Gurdwara for six months before heading towards Nanded (Maharashtra), said state Women and Child Development Minister Archana Chitnis. “Burhanpur is a significant place connected with the life of Guru Gobind Singh. A museum would be set up here,” Chitnis told reporters at a press conference here. Besides, several programmes would be organised to mark the Guru's 350th birth anniversary celebrations, Chitnis said. She said Rs 17.39 crore

would be spent on the programmes. “Of this, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 15.39 crore, while the remaining expenses would be incurred by the state government. These programmes are being organised in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to celebrate the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh,” the minister said. The state government has already allotted 2-acre land for the construction of the museum, she said. A series of programmes, including kirtan, shabad and folk dances from Punjab, would be organised from January 25 to 28. “Similar programmes will be organised in February,” Chitnis added. Burhanpur, located about 325 km from the state capital, shares its border with Maharashtra. — PTI

Sukhbir and the LIP MLA. During the last year’s budget session, the Congress MLAs had objected to the utterances by the SAD president against the Speaker.

Jalandhar, January 23 The state government today appointed Dr Ajay Kumar Sharma as the Vice-Chancellor of IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, filling up the post after three years. Dr Sharma is presently serving as the Director of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), New Delhi, on lien. He also holds the officiating charge of the Director, NIT, Hamirpur. He has been serving at Dr BR Ambedkar NIT in Jalandhar since 1996,

Gurminder Singh Grewal Khanna, January 23 A prime eyewitness to the killing of Shiv Sena leader Durga Prasad Gupta reportedly committed suicide by jumping into Sirhind canal in Fatehgarh Sahib today. The deceased was identified as Rampal (55) of Khanna. His family alleged that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was harassing him to become a witness in the case. Gupta was shot dead by unidentified persons here on April 23, 2016. In November last year, sharpshooter Hardeep Singh Shera and others were arrested in connection with targeted killings in the state. NIA officers picked up Rampal for investigation as they came to know that he owned a small shop near the crime spot and it was he

Rampal (55) who had brought Gupta to the Civil Hospital, Khanna, after the shooting. Munish, the son of the deceased, told the media his father was upset as the investigating agency called him whenever they wanted. As a result, he said, the business suffered as his father was the sole breadwinner for the family. “My father left home around 7 am today. Later, he called from an unknown number and told me that he

RTS Act being violated, claims AAP Tribune News Service Sangrur, January 23 Deputy convener of AAP and local MLA Aman Arora has written to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Secretary and Right to Service (RTS) Commission, alleging gross viola-

tions in the implementation of the RTS Act in the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department in the district. In his letter, Arora has alleged that the officers of the department in the district are violating the norms of the RTS Act by delaying dispos-

which still happens to be his parent institute. Hailing from Rajpura, he received his BE in electronics and electrical communication engineering from Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana, in 1986, MS in electronics and control from the Birla Institute of Technology (BITS), Pilani, in 1994 and PhD in electronics communication and computer engineering in 1999. He had joined the NIT as an assistant professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engi-

neering. From November 2001, he has worked as a professor in the ECE Department and thereafter as a professor in computer science and engineering from 2007 to 2013 in the same institute. His major areas of interest are broadband optical wireless communication systems and networks, wireless sensor networks and computer communication. He has published 272 research papers in the international and national journals and conferences and 12 books. Dr Sharma had reportedly

Tribune News Service

ing of the applications of old, widow, disabled and dependent poor and needy pensioners without any reason. “As per the RTS Act, applications related to pensions are to be cleared by the department within seven days of applying, but the department is delaying them

for months,” said Arora. Quoting the case of Ubhawal village in Sunam, Arora said 31 persons had applied for pension online in the first week of June last year. But even today, three applications were awaiting approval, whereas the remaining had been arbitrarily rejected.

was going to commit suicide by jumping into Sirhind canal as the investigating agency was harassing him,” Munish said. Rampal’s wife Kamlesh said her husband often told her the NIA would ruin him. “He feared that the NIA would detain him and take him to Delhi for investigation. He told me that the NIA mounted pressure on him to become a witness to Gupta’s murder.” Ranbir Singh Tayagi, DSP, NIA, refused to link Rampal’s suicide with Gupta’s murder case. “Maybe, he committed suicide for some other reason,” he said. NS Mahal, Khanna SSP, said the body was handed over to the family after the postmortem. Inspector Pardeep Bajwa, SHO Sirhind police station, said the cops conducted proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC.

Dr Ajay Sharma, who hails from Rajpura, is presently serving as the Director of the National Institute of Technology, New Delhi. He also holds the officiating charge of Director, NIT, Hamirpur.

Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 23 Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today announced to cover the entire state with the Electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) system by March 31, thus eliminating the widespread corruption linked to the controversial blue ration cards. The decision, aimed at bringing transparency and accountability in the Public Distribution System (PDS), was announced after a review meeting of the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, chaired by the Chief Minister. “The move will help weed out all bogus beneficiaries who were issued ration cards, thus ensuring fair distribution of ration to the eligible and genuine beneficiaries through the fair

prices shops in the state,” the Chief Minister said. Capt Amarinder hoped that besides elimination of bogus/ineligible card holders, the consumer-friendly new system would also help curb pilferage of foodgrains. “By ending the era of paper ration cards, it will also facilitate social audit of pro-poor schemes, thereby ensuring that the needy and eligible beneficiaries get their allocated quantity of ration in a fair and transparent manner,” he added. Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, KAP Sinha said 1,600 inspectors would be deputed to ensure seamless functioning of end-to-end computerisation and e-PoS. Each inspector would use every machine at approximately 10 fair price shops (FPS) on rotation basis.

Chandigarh: Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has ordered immediate release of pending old-age pension, with instructions to the authorities concerned to regularise payment to the beneficiaries. The Chief Minister issued directives during a meeting to review various schemes of the Department of Social Security and Women & Child Development here on Tuesday. Expressing concern over the non-payment of old-age pension in many places since April last year, Capt Amarinder Singh expressed the hope that the process of payment would be regularised by March, with directions to make December payment by January 31. Pointing out that the state government was burdened by a ~110-crore liability per month on account of pension arrears, the Chief Minister directed the department to start releasing the payment of arrears in a staggered manner. TNS

Set up LCV unit in state, CM tells Centre Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 23 Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has written to the Ministry of Defence to set up a light combat vehicle (LCV)-manufacturing unit in the state, with the assurance that his

government would extend all support, including land allocation, for such a project. In a letter to Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Capt Amarinder said an LCV unit would not only go a long way in promoting the establishment of ancillary units but also help provide

jobs to the unemployed youth in the state. Further, the proposed project would help make LCVs readily available to the forces on the border, he said. The Chief Minister drew Sitharaman’s attention to the Industrial and Business Development Policy-

2017, recently launched by the Punjab government, with many incentives for the industry. The policy, he said, was a holistic framework for the industrial growth of the state and a part of the vision to put the state back on high trajectory of growth and prosperity.

THE TRIBUNE

Akal Takht imposes 2-year curbs on CKD ex-president Asks Chief Khalsa Diwan to accept Chadha’s resignation GS Paul Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 23 About a month after a sleaze video went viral, Akal Takht today imposed two-year restrictions on Charanjit Singh Chadha, former president of the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD), a 116-year-old Sikh educational institution. Chadha (82), who was summoned at Akal Takht, appeared before the five high priests today to submit a clarification about the controversy. The religious punishment was pronounced in Chadha’s absence, even though it is traditionally done from the Takht podium. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said Chadha had been barred from addressing the gathering at any religious, social, political or educational function for two years. However, he can attend any public event as a commoner. Giani Gurbachan Singh didn’t reveal whether Chadha had accepted his mistake or what clarification he had given. “On the recommendation of the SGPC executive, the AISSF and some CKD members, exemplary pun-

I am bound to ❝ abide by Akal Takht’s decision. However, those who conspired to bring this crisis on my family — which claimed the life of my dearest son Inderpreet — should face action. ❞

<< Former CKD president Charanjit Chadha (centre) and his family members come out of Akal Takht Secretariat in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR ishment was awarded to Chadha by the high priests,” he said. The Akal Takht Jathedar said Chadha’s resignation from the CKD president’s post was received last evening. It will be sent to the CKD’s honorary secretary for acceptance and his subsequent dismissal from the primary membership of the Chief Khalsa Diwan. Chadha’s conduct will be under scanner for two years, after which he will be eligible to send a review application. “The CKD honorary secretary will report to the Akal Takht Secretariat about the compliance of the

basis of a complaint by the woman, Chadha and his son, Inderpreet Singh, were booked. Inderpreet, who was the CKD vicepresident, had committed suicide on January 4. The special investigation team (SIT), which is probing charges of sexual harassment against Chadha and the subsequent suicide by Inderpreet, has already summoned 13 persons to Chandigarh. They include the principal, who is accused of abetment to suicide. Meanwhile, the CKD has called a general house meeting on February 6 to take a call on Chadha.

Sacrilege panel seeks info from Sukhbir, Sampla

Curb casteism in gurdwaras, BJP asks Takht

Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service

‘Vital for inquiry’

Chandigarh, January 23 The Justice Ranjit Singh Commission has sought a response from former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union Minister Vijay Sampla following their statements in a memorandum submitted to the Governor on the incidents of sacrilege. Justice Ranjit Singh had recently written to the Chief Secretary for providing the memorandum’s copy submitted by “some political party leaders”. The note had mentioned a deep-rooted conspiracy, having national ramifications, behind the incidents. The commission had stated that evidence to this effect had not surfaced before it so far. The commission, it its communication to Sukhbir and Sampla, is believed to have written that information on the incidents mentioned in the memorandum submitted under their signatures was vital for the ongoing inquiry. They have been asked to urgently share the information through a duly sworn affidavit either by appearing in person or through post. Set up to probe the incidents in the state in 2015, the commission has also recommended the transferring of

The Justice Ranjit Singh Commission, it its communication to Sukhbir and Sampla, is believed to have written that information on the incidents mentioned in the memorandum submitted to the Governor under their signatures was vital for the ongoing inquiry. They have been asked to urgently share the information through a duly sworn affidavit either by appearing in person or through post.

Ropar, January 23 The district police have arrested a Nigerian identified as Nopu Kingsley Chicario with 100 gm of intoxicant powder. The police said Chicario used to stay in Delhi and supply drugs in the district. Ropar SSP Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu said Vishal and Karamjit, residents of Hiabowal village near Garhshankar in Hoshirapur district, were nabbed with drugs at a police naka in Nurpur Bedi on January 20. On questioning, they said they used to buy the drugs from Chicario. — TNS

Former gurdwara chief gets ‘tankhah’ Awarded punishment for ‘immoral activities’ in Qadian shrine Amritsar, January 23 Master Johar Singh, former president of the Chhota Ghallughara Gurdwara Trust at Qadian (Gurdaspur), appeared before Akal Takht today, seeking atonement. He was awarded “tankhah” (religious punishment) from the podium of Akal Takht by Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh following a meeting of five high priests. After holding him liable for “immoral activities” carried on the gurdwara prem-

Master Johar Singh ises under his charge on August 11, 2017, Master Johar Singh was directed to perform one-week ‘sewa’

Charanjit Chadha, FORMER CKD HEAD

directions,” Giani Gurbachan Singh said. Giani Gurbachan Singh warned that immoral activities in CKD institutes would not be tolerated. “Since the CKD is a religious educational body run under the aegis of Akal Takht, any member who misuses his position to victimise any staffer or student would lose his membership instantly. The victim would be free to approach Akal Takht,” he added. On December 26, 2017, a video purportedly showing Chadha making sexual advances to a woman principal of a CKD-run school had gone viral. On the

Nigerian held with drugs

PUNJAB

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

two FIRs on firing in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan village to an independent body, such as the special investigating team, headed by DIG RS Khatra. The recommendation came after the panel took note of the unacceptable nature of probe, apparently to protect policemen, in the FIRs registered in October 2015, after the death of two persons. Justice Ranjit Singh has written to the Punjab DGP that a meaningful, fair and proper investigation was not possible by the Faridkot district police. They had purposely and, perhaps, intentionally not carried out investigation, which could be to help the police officers involved in the cases. Nearly three months after the commission wrote to the

Punjab government on “bullet tampering”, the commission has also shot off another communication to the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory to express its opinion whether the “jacket to bullet” was fired from self-loading rifles (SLR) or assault rifle AK-47. The communique assumes significance as the policemen deployed at Behbal Kalan village in Faridkot in October 2015 were carrying both SLR and AK-47. The identification of weapon type used in the firing would help the commission zero in on the policemen involved. Available information suggests the commission has also asked the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory Director to express his opinion whether the jacket to bullet had some matching features with AK-47, which could be sent for an examination. The commission had earlier asserted that it was intriguing to notice that the Punjab FSL did not find tampering with grooves of a bullet extracted from a victim’s body after Behbal Kalan firing, though Chandigarh-based CFSL found it to have been extensively tampered with. The panel had also asked for issuance of necessary directions to the state DGP for detailing an officer for looking into the matter.

Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 23 Union Minister and state BJP chief Vijay Sampla today asked Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to initiate steps to curb casteism, particularly against Dalit Sikhs in village gurdwaras. In a letter to the Jathedar, Sampla said: “Discrimination with Dalits in Punjab continues unabated, with upper caste or powerful people ostracising them from society. Dalits are forced to have separate gurdwaras and even separate cremation grounds. They are refrained from entering gurdwaras at certain places. Recently, a Dalit man of Maanwala village in Dhuri was stopped from performing the last rites of his mother in the village gurdwara. A similar incident was reported from Barsalpur village near Chamkaur Sahib.” In the letter, Sampla said, “Guru Nanak opposed caste discrimination. He talked about equality and love. Certain powerful sections of society in Punjab’s villages are hell-bent on dividing the Sikh fraternity and hurting religious sentiments.”

SGPC constitutes panel to look into Golden Temple replica Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 23 The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has taken cognisance of the Golden Temple replica at Mastuana Sahib in Sangrur and constituted a probe committee. In 2009, Akal Takht had directed the SGPC to alter the design of the controversial structure of a Golden Temple lookalike, situated on the premises of Gurdwara Sachkhand Angitha Sahib. Akal Takht had

directed the SGPC to fill the “sarovar” with sand, remove the bridge and change the rooftop design. Jathedar Parshotam Phaguwala, state general secretary of the United Akali Dal, sat on an indefinite fast outside Gurdwara Patshahi Nauvin Sahib at Bhawanigarh, demanding the implementation of Akal Takht’s directions. Gobind Singh Longowal, SGPC chief, said a fourmember committee, comprising SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjouli,

executive member Harinder Singh Rogla, Bhupinder Singh Bhalwan, and Malkit Singh Changal, had been constituted. The Gurdwara Nankiana Sahib, Sangrur, manager will coordinate with the committee. Appealing to Jathedar Phaguwala to call off his protest, Longowal said: “No other gurdwara can be designed on the pattern of the Golden Temple. The committee will visit the spot and submit a report. Action will be taken accordingly.”

Channi finds board Secretary absent Chandigarh: Cabinet Minister Charanjit Singh Channi conducted surprise checking at the Technical Education and Industrial Training Directorate and the board office here on Tuesday. He found 27 officials and employees absent, including Chander Gaind, Secretary, Technical Education and Industrial Training Board, a government press release said. Gaind reached the office past 10 am after being informed by his staff about the checking. Channi said he had asked the CM to take action against the absentees. The minister also cancelled the leave requests sent on the phone by absentee employees. TNS

at the Golden Temple. Each day for an hour, he would clean shoes, wash dishes and perform “sewa” in the langar hall. After that, he would offer “karah parshad” worth Rs 501 and contribute an equal amount to the “golak” during “ardas”. Master Johar Singh had earlier refused to acknowledge the summons issued by the Akal Takht Jathedar. But he appeared before the “parallel” Jathedars on October 12, 2017, and underwent the

“tankhah” awarded to him for the same offence. When questioned, he refused to comment on his change of mind. “Akal Takht is supreme. I will soon perform ‘sewa’ as directed,” he said. The five high priests, meanwhile, warned the management of a Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara against the lapse on its part while performing “akhand path” during the “shaheedi purb” of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons in December. — TNS

PUNJAB

Standoff persists, thermal plant employees, govt fail to break ice

Five booked for attack on gaushala staff

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Abohar, January 23 Five persons have been booked following a complaint by Jeev Raksha Bishnoi Sabha activist Sanjay Bishnoi over an alleged attack on gaushala employees in the open wildlife sanctuary on Sunday. A case has been registered against Gurmail Singh, Sarwan Singh, Satnam Singh and Pradeep Singh of Kuttianwali (alias Sheranwali) village of Lambi constituency (Muktsar) and an unidentified man under Sections 452 and 295-A of the IPC and Sections 9, 27, 39, 50 and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The complainant alleged that five persons barged into the gaushala at Sukhchain village at 7 pm on Sunday. They asked the staff why some stray bulls had not been accommodated in the complex. They also tried to take away blackbucks that were under treatment. It is alleged that they threatened to kill protected species if the stray bulls were not kept in the gaushala. Bishnois had yesterday staged a dharna at Seetogunno village, seeking action against the accused. No arrest has been made so far.

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 23 Braving the inclement weather, contractual employees of the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant today blocked the Bathinda-Goniana road for several hours in protest against the state government’s proposed move to shut down the plant. The blockade was laid after a meeting between senior government functionaries and a deputation of the employees, held in Patiala, remained inconclusive. As soon as the meeting got over, deputation members Rajinder Singh Dhillon, Ashwini Kumar and Gurwinder Singh intimated the union members. The latter blocked one side of the road outside the District Administrative Complex, where they have been staging a dharna since January 1. The protesters were accompanied by their family members, including children. Dhillon said the government officials said the thermal plant’s contractual employees would be accommodated in private

Contractual employees of the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant during a protest amid showers in Bathinda on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PAWAN SHARMA companies in Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar. The employees stuck to their demand that the plant should resume functioning or the staff shifted to other thermal plants or in the Power Department, as promised earlier. Meanwhile, Deputy Com-

Stop insulting us, say farm unions Tribune News Service Moga, January 23 The protest by the BKU (Ekta) and its allied farm unions at district headquarters in the state entered the second day today. They are demanding complete waiver of debts of small and marginal farmers. Amid intermittent rain, the women whose husbands or sons had committed suicide also participated in the protests. Most of the women who were protesting here said they had not got monetary help or a job for their kin from the state government. The general secretary of BKU (Ekta), Sukhdev Singh Kokri, demanded that the state government should stop government agencies (banks and cooperative societies) and private money lenders, including arhtiyas, from acquiring and auctioning land of poor farmers. “The farmers are still being socially humiliated and harassed on the pretext of recovery of loans, which is the basic reason for suicides, despite the government’s tall claims regard-

THE TRIBUNE

missioner Diprava Lakra called a few union members for a meeting and urged them to lift the blockade. As the DC failed to promise that their meeting with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh would be fixed soon, the protesters blocked the other side

of the road too. The protesters stayed put even when the drizzle turned into a downpour. They lifted the blockade later, but threatened to stage a protest during the Republic Day function to be held at the Multipurpose Sports Stadium.

Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

Battling govt indifference, say freedom fighters, kin Vent ire at politicians at state-level function Tribune News Service Sangrur, January 23 The working of the state government today came under sharp criticism during a state-level function here. Freedom fighters and their kin accused politicians and bureaucrats of harassing them even as local Congress MLA Vijay Inder Singla assured them to take up their demands with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. “I have four sons, but not a single member of my family has got a government job. Besides, I face harassment in government offices whenever I go there to enquire about lacking health and other facilities. No one understands our sacrifice,” alleged Gurdev Singh, a freedom fighter from Sangrur. The function was organised by the Punjab State Freedom Fighters Descendants’ Association (PSFFDA) to celebrate the 121st birth anniversary of freedom struggle hero Subhas Chandra Bose. “Officers are unwilling to listen to our genuine

Petro dealers begin relay fast

ing waiver of up to Rs 2lakh farm loans,” he said. Rejecting the Contract Farming Act rolled out by the Union Government, Kokri cautioned the state government not to implement it. “Rather, the government must bring out a legislation to protect the land of small and marginal farmers from the land mafia and industrial houses,” he added. Raising slogans against Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the protesting farmers alleged that the government was not serious about resolving the farm crisis.

Tribune News Service Patiala, January 23 The local DAV Public School kicked up a controversy today when it described Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as a “great militant” in a press release. The school’s statement said: “Today, DAV Patiala observed the 121st birth anniversary of great militant, freedom fighter and patriot popularly known as ‘Netaji’ Subhas Chandra Bose.” Mohkam Singh, district president of the Punjab State Freedom Fighters’

grievances despite making us wait for hours. All freedom fighters and their kin face humiliation at the hands of officers,” alleged Shaminder Kaur, daughter of Bhagwan Singh, a freedom fighter from Longowal area of the district. Congress Amargarh MLA Surjit Dhiman, Sangrur SSP Mandeep Sidhu, and Singla were among

Association, said, “The use of this word is unjustified. Freedom fighters and soldiers have laid their lives for the nation.” Harinder Singh Khalsa, state president of the association, said, “This is blatant disrespect to the freedom fighters.” When contacted, Principal SR Prabhakar said, “Bose was a soldier who formed the Azad Hind Fauj. The word ‘militant’ was used in the context of the military.” He later added, “I will direct the teacher concerned to be careful about the use of this word.” those present. Harinderpal Singh Khalsa, state president, PSFFDA, said: “Toll plazas are harassing our members despite notification that freedom fighters are exempted. We are also struggling for our longpending demands. We will call a state-level meeting to announce our future course of action.”

Govt schoolteachers demand clarity on holiday entitlement ❝

Rain cheers wheat growers Ropar: Widespread rain has brought relief to wheat growers as it has reduced chances of a yellow rust attack. An increase in yield is also expected, said Dr Kesar Singh Banga, Chief Agriculture Officer, Ropar. Yellow rust is a fungal disease that hits leaves of the wheat crop. Banga said the disease was recently detected at Kangar village near Nurpur Bedi and Janduri village in Himachal Pradesh, bordering Nangal. TNS

School terms Bose a ‘militant’

Tribune News Service

Members of the Petrol Pump Dealers Association of Punjab protest against the state government in Mohali on Tuesday. They said due to higher VAT on the petroleum products in Punjab, they have already suffered a loss of ~40,000 crore. The rates of petrol and diesel are higher in Punjab in comparison to Chandigarh and Haryana. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI

One arrested with Chinese string Sangrur: The local Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) on Tuesday arrested a person and seized 78 rolls of banned Chinese string from his possession. “On a tip-off, our team arrested Raj Kumar Nagpal. A case was registered under Sections 308, 188 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code,” said Mandeep Sidhu, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). TNS

Boy’s murder: Cops clueless, kin refuse to perform last rites Tribune News Service Muktsar, January 23 A day after a 12-year-old boy was found murdered at Kuraiwala village in the Gidderbaha Assembly constituency, his family today refused to cremate him till the accused is arrested. Two minor boys had gone

missing from the village in the past fortnight. Though the body of one of the missing boys, both Surinder Singh, was found from along the village pond, the other boy is still untraced. Gidderbaha DSP Rajpal Singh said, “We are examining the CCTV footage of cameras installed by some villagers and

the video of a wedding where the boy had gone before he went missing. We haven’t got any clue so far. Three teams are investigating it.” He added, “We are so far unaware whether the boy was sodomised or not, but we have asked the doctors to investigate on this angle as well. Some persons have been rounded up.”

Faridkot, January 23 Government schoolteachers are confused about their holiday entitlement after the state government reduced the gazetted holidays from 37 to 20 for calendar year 2018. Besides 20 holidays, each employee has been permitted to avail any five holidays from the list of 34 restricted holidays. These restricted holidays have been increased from two in 2007 to five in 2008. This increase in restricted holidays has led to confusion among the teachers. So far, all government employees were availing two restricted holidays a year and the schools availed two local holidays in lieu of these restricted holidays. Now when the restricted holidays have been increased to five, the Education Department has not announced any increase in the local holidays vis-à-vis restricted holidays. In the absence of any formal announcement by the department about the restricted and

To end this confusion between restricted and local holidays, the department will write to the higher authorities and the personnel department

Inderjit Singh, DIRECTOR, PUBLIC INSTRUCTION local holidays, the district education officers (DEOs) at various places are interpreting things differently. While the teachers are demanding three restricted holidays and two local holidays to compensate the loss of reduction in the gazetted holidays on the pattern of all government employees in the state, the DEOs in some districts have directed the school heads to adjust any restricted holiday availed by a teacher against his/her casual or earned leave. Inderjit Singh, Director, Public Instruction (elementary), said to end this confusion between restricted and local holidays, the department would write to the higher authorities and the personnel department.

Villagers oppose metered Caught between two rivers and govt apathy INTERNATIONAL BORDER: LIVING ON THE EDGE water supply, to start stir Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service

Archit Watts Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 23 Irked over the water supply and sanitation department’s move to supply metered potable water in villages, residents said they would lodge a stir. The department had last week installed meters outside some houses at Gurusar village in Gidderbaha. The farmers said, “Water is a basic necessity and the government will now charge money as per its consumption. If the department doesn’t rollback its decision, we will lodge a stir. The meters have even reduced the water supply speed.” Harnek Singh, a farmer leader, said, “Water should be provided without any cost, but the government wants us to pay for every litre consumed for daily chores.” The previous SAD-BJP government in 2012 had decided to provide metered individual

A water meter installed on a tap at a village in Muktsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO household water connections in every village. Though meters were installed in some parts, a majority of villages are still uncovered. “In villages, the waterworks are run by panchayats and the villagers usually don’t pay water bills. When they don’t even pay the flat rate, how can we even think that they will pay for every litre used?” said an officer in the department. RK Gupta, Executive Engineer, Water Supply Department, Muktsar, said, “Meters

are being installed in those villages where panchayats have shown willingness. It is a myth that the water charges will increase through metered supply. In fact, it will reduce the monthly bill. Even the perlitre charge will be decided by a village-level committee headed by the sarpanch.” The department charges Rs 75 to Rs 100 on an average per household. However, most of the waterworks have been declared defaulters of the PSPCL.

Gurdaspur, January 23 Hemmed in by the Ravi and Ujh rivers on two sides and wire fencing on the third, 3,500 inhabitants of an ‘island’, 20 km from here and a stone’s throw from the International Border, live in appalling conditions. Unlike many of their prosperous ilk who moved to the mainland after floods in 1988, these villagers live in penury. The measure of their poverty can be gauged from the fact that they send their children to schools, not to study, but to ensure they do not sleep on an empty stomach. The midday meal scheme in schools — two primary and one middle — provides the much-needed succor. These villagers live in a cluster of nine hamlets. All exist in official records, but no government help seems to be coming. A major part of

The pontoon bridge that connects the island with the mainland. TRIBUNE PHOTO the island falls in the Dinanagar Assembly seat represented by Education Minister Aruna Chaudhury, while the rest is part of the Bhoa segment — one of the most backward constituencies in the state. Internet connectivity is a far-fetched idea on the island and teachers do not attend schools for weeks. In a primary school at Lassian vil-

lage, “temporary” teacher Shavana yesterday substituted for a regular mistress. Shavana is paid “salary” by the regular teacher to cover up for the latter’s absence. Teachers claim this is a common practice. A teacher said, “We have to travel between 40 km and 70 km to and fro from our schools. To make matters worse, when a 150-m pon-

toon bridge — the only link that connects the island with mainland —is dismantled from July to October when the two rivers in spate, our presence in schools depends on the boat that the Public Works Department presses into service to cross the Ravi. In any case, the boat ride is a treacherous one in the choppy waters, he said.” She further said, “Girls

study till Class VIII and then drop out as parents are unwilling to send them to nearby towns. A high school is need of the hour but our voice is seldom heard.” Locals want a permanent bridge to be constructed, but Army officials rule out such a venture citing “security concerns”. The only health sub-centre, located in Toor village, remains locked for a major part of the year. It is, however, mandatory for an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and an ASHA worker to be present every day. “A nurse comes only when a vaccination drive is launched. Otherwise, the sub-centre remains locked,” said Anuradha, who lives near Toor village. “Let Health Minister Brahm Mohindra come here and see things for himself,” she said angrily. Civil Surgeon Dr Kishan Chand said he would look into the functioning of the health centre.

THE TRIBUNE

Surjewala seeks ‘white paper’ on investments Chandigarh, January 23 Communication in-charge of the Congress Randeep Singh Surjewala has criticised the shifting of the Maruti Swift manufacturing unit from Haryana to Gujarat. He has demanded an explanation from Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and a white paper from the state government on real investments and shifting of existing industries from the state during the BJP regime. Surjewala said that Japanese companies always considered Haryana a preferred state for investments and almost 80 per cent of the total Japanese investment in India had landed in the state alone. But due to poor governance and misplaced priorities of the state government, no notable investment had taken place during the last three years, he added. Surjewala said the Maruti car manufacturing plant was set up in Gurgaon during the Congress regime, thereby opening new avenues of development in entire south Haryana. Later many industries were established in Gurgaon, Manesar, Dharuhera, Rewari and lakhs of youths got jobs in the state. — TNS

Pay up by month-end, Cong tells MLAs, MPs Wants them to deposit 1-month salary or pension in party fund Pradeep Sharma Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 23 The state Congress seems to be getting tough with party MLAs, ex-MLAs, MPs and exMPs not contributing onemonth salary or pension towards the party fund. The party has shot off letters to a number of leaders, including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Congress Legislature Party leader Kiran Choudhry, AICC communication in charge and Kaithal MLA Randeep Surjewala and Rajya Sabha member Kumari Selja, to deposit onemonth salary in the party fund by January 31. The letter, sent by HPCC treasurer Tarun Bhandari, reminded them about the recommendations of a committee headed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which mandated MLAs and MPs to contribute one-month salary to the party fund. The committee also recommended that former MLAs and former MPs

Dearness relief rates increased Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 23 The state government has revised the dearness relief (DR) rates on the un-revised pension and family pension with effect from July 1, 2016. A notification issued by the Finance Department states, “The state government has decided that the rate of dearness allowance admissible to employees,

who continue to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay band/grade has been enhanced from the existing rate of 125 per cent to 132 per cent of the pension with effect from July 1, 2016. It has been raised from 132 per cent to 136 per cent with effect from January 1, 2017 and from 136 per cent to 139 per cent of pension and family pension with effect from July 1, 2017”.

A letter asking party ❝ MLAs to pay one-month salary for the party fund has been issued. All claimants to the party ticket in the parliamentary and Assembly elections will have to seek NOC from the party before applying for the ticket.❞

Tarun Bhandari, HPCC TREASURER

should contribute one-month pension to the party fund. Confirming that a letter asking legislators to pay onemonth salary for the party fund had been issued, Bhandari asserted that all claimants to the party ticket in the forthcoming parliamentary and Assembly elections would have to seek noobjection certificate from the party before applying for the ticket. “A copy of the letter has been sent to party president Rahul Gandhi and AICC treasurer Motilal Vora for necessary action,” he stated. For the past over three years, party legislators had

been fighting shy of paying their contribution for the party fund, leaving the state unit in a financial crunch. While MLAs and former MLAs are expected to pay their contribution to state units, MPs and former MPs are expected to pay their contribution to the AICC. A major reason for party legislators and former legislators not paying their contribution is rampant factionalism in the state unit. While the state unit is dominated by the faction led by HPCC chief Ashok Tanwar, a majority of MLAs owe allegiance to Hooda. With this letter to legislators, faction-fighting in the Haryana Congress is to set to stage a comeback between Hooda and Tanwar factions, which had been at loggerheads over Tanwar’s continuation as state unit chief. Meanwhile, so far, only Savitri Jindal, Subhash Batra, Bijendra Kadian and Ranbir Mahendra, all former MLAs, and Dharampal Malik, former MP, have contributions to the party fund.

Our Correspondent Sonepat, January 23 After intensive search operation, the administration succeeded in recovering the bodies of three youths who had drowned in the Delhi branch of the West Yamuna canal late Saturday night. The victims have been identified as Hitesh (23),

Rohit (22) and Saurabh (22), all residents of Punjabi Colony in Sampla town of Rohtak district. Deputy Commissioner KM Pandurang said that a National Disaster Relief Force team and around 100 divers were deployed in the search operation and the water flow in the canal was also reduced. Five youths, namely Hitesh,

PRDH/60391

REGISTRAR

Panipat, January 23 The death toll in a blast in the swing unit of the naphtha cracker plant of the IOCL Refinery here has risen to two after deputy manager Bhanoji Sipana succumbed to his injuries in a Delhi hospital last night. Mohan Lal, a contractual employee and resident of Bal Jatan village in the district, died on the spot yesterday. Bhanoji Sipana, Ajay Kumar Tiwari, Gyan Ranjan Dutta and Sanjeev Kumar sustained injuries in the blast. Enraged over the death of Mohan Lal, villagers started a dharna at the gate of the refinery yesterday.

Bhanoji Sipana SDM Vivek Chaudhary along with DSPs Rajesh Lohan and Sandeep Malik today reached the dharna site to pacify the villages. SK Gogoi, Senior GM, HR, and Anil Kumar, GM, HR, held a meeting with officials of the district administrative and a dele-

gation of the villagers. The SDM said that the authorities had agreed to give Rs 10 lakh compensation out of which Rs 5 lakh would be given by the IOCL and Rs 5 lakh by M/S Prakash Construction Company. Mohan Lal was working for the company, he said. Besides, pension would be given to the family as per the norms of the EPFO and the refinery also agreed to to provide a job to the deceased’s wife on contractual basis, he added. After the villagers agreed to the compensation amount, they lifted their dharna. DC Verma, GM, communication, said a committee of senior officials would inquire into the accident.

Rohit, Saurabh, Chirag and Laxdeep, all residents of Punjabi Colony, were going in a car to have dinner at a Murthal dhaba. However, their call fell into the canal and only Chirag survived. After an hour of the incident, Laxdeep’s body was fished out, but the bodies of the other youths could not be recovered for around 60 hours.

REGIONAL STATION, SIRSA — 125055 (HARYANA) (Opposite Main Gate of Choudhary Devi Lal University on Mini Bypass, OR Near Yog Divya Mandir on road connecting to Mini Bypass.) Phone No. 01666-220428, FAX NO. 01666-230271

Ref. No. Stores/Advt/2017-18/Corrigendum Dated: 22.01.2018

Head of Station

Bays No. 67-70, Sector-2, Panchkula – 134151 (www.hssc.gov.in)

Online applications are invited from eligible & interested candidates for the various teaching posts in the University. Applications must be submitted online from 25.1.2018 to 15.2.2018 through the link available on the university Website i.e. www.mdurohtak.ac.in. The detailed information/instructions/eligibility criteria are available on the university website. The Hard Copy of online submitted application form along with photocopies of required certificates and documents uploaded on the Website should reach “The Deputy Registrar (Establishment Teaching), M.D. University, Rohtak” within 7 days of last date i.e. up to 22.2.2018 ( 5:00 p.m.) (for overseas applicants within14 days of last date i.e. up to 1.3.2018) as per instructions. The candidates are also requested to visit University website regularly for updates/ corrigendum/amendment, if any with respect to above advertisement. (BEFORE APPLYING FOR THE POST, THE CANDIDATES SHOULD GO THROUGH THE INSTRUCTIONS/CONDITIONS CAREFULLY) NOTE:- The Candidates who had applied against Advt. No. PR-70 of 2016 and interview for the same was not conducted, are also required to apply afresh. However, they may claim for refund of fee to the Deputy Registrar (Estt. Teaching) with a valid proof on or before, 15.2.2018 (up to 5:00 p.m.).

Jhajjar: A man in an inebriated condition allegedly strangulated his wife Jyoti with a piece of rope at their house in Majri village here on Monday. The police have registered a case of murder against Narender, who fled after perpetrating the crime, and started investigation. A domestic feud is stated to be the reason behind the crime. TNS

Tribune News Service

REGIONAL STATION, SIRSA — 125055 (HARYANA)

HARYANA STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION

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Drunk man kills wife in Jhajjar

Lata Devi, wife of deceased Mohan Lal, along with other women at a gate of the IOCL Refinery in Panipat on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO

ICAR-CENTRAL INSTITUTE FOR COTTON RESEARCH

TRC-35634

'A' Grade University Accredited by NAAC

Rewari: Annu (22), a resident of Shakti Nagar, died after he was attacked by a group of persons with wooden sticks here on Tuesday. The assailants, who were travelling in a car, fled after perpetrating the crime. Later, they also assaulted two other youths in Sector 4 here. They have been admitted to the Trauma Centre and their condition is stated to be critical. Enmity is believed to be the reason behind Annu's killing. The police have registered a case and started investigation. Annu was standing in a street at Shakti Nagar when the assailants, who came in a car, attacked him. He reportedly died on the spot. TNS

One more dies in refinery blast

CENTRAL INSTITUTE FOR COTTON RESEARCH

Kindly refer to tender notice Ref. No. Stores/Advt/2017-18/dated 08.01.2018 of this office in respect of procurement of 10 KV online UPS. The revised technical specifications required are as under: 1 Online UPS 10KV- single phase 2. Power backup- 20 to 30 minutes 3. UPS warranty- minimum one year, Battery warranty-minimum two years The above information is also available at our website www.cicr.org.in as well as on www.eprocure.gov.in.

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Youth battered to death in Rewari

Bodies of 3 missing youths found

CORRIGENDUM

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HARYANA

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

Notice for Scrutiny of Documents for the posts of Operation Theatre Assistant of Health Services, Haryana against Advt. No. 1/2015 Cat No. 10, Sanitary Inspector Advt. No. 6/2016 Cat No. 11, Assistant Sanitary Inspector and Sanitary Inspector Advt. No. 7/2017 Cat No. 18 & 19 respectively of Haryana Urban Local Bodies Department, Haryana. In continuation of Notice dated 03.01.2018 & 06.01.2018, the Commission has decided to give last opportunity to the absentee candidates for Scrutiny of Documents on 29.01.2018 for the posts of Operation Theatre Assistant of Health Services, Haryana against Advt. No. 1/2015 Cat No.10, Sanitary Inspector Advt. No. 6/2016 Cat No. 11, Assistant Sanitary Inspector and Sanitary Inspector Advt. No. 7/2017 Cat No. 18 & 19 respectively of Haryana Urban Local Bodies Department, Haryana. 2. The absentee candidates are also directed to bring all original documents, downloaded application form, along with one set of self-attested copies of all documents mentioned in their application form and One ID proof. The candidates are advised to report at 09.00 a.m. on 29.01.2018 in the Field Hostel, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), (Adjoining Laxmi Narayana Mandir), Sector 6, Panchkula. 3. The announcement is available on Commission's Website i.e. www.hssc.gov.in and published in newspapers only. Note:- Other terms and conditions are same as mentioned in earlier Notices.

Sd/- Secretary, Haryana Staff Selection Commission, Panchkula, Dated: 21st January, 2018 Panchkula.

HARYANA STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION Bays No. 67-70, Sector-2, Panchkula – 134151 (www.hssc.gov.in) Notice for Scrutiny of Documents before Interview/ Viva-Voce for the post of Grid Sub-Station Operator, against Advt. No. 3/2016 Cat No. 5 of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited. In continuation of Notice dated 08.02.2017, 09.03.2017, 07.09.2017 & 07.10.2017 the Commission has decided to give one last opportunity to the absentee candidates for Scrutiny of Document before Interview/Viva-Voce on 29.01.2018 for the post of Grid SubStation Operator against Advt. No. 3/2016 Cat No. 5. 3. The Candidates are also directed to bring all original documents, downloaded application form, along with one set of self-attested copies of all documents mentioned in their application form and One ID proof. The candidates are advised to report at 09.00 a.m. on 29.01.2018 in the Field Hostel, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), (Adjoining Laxmi Narayana Mandir), Sector 6, Panchkula. 4. The announcement is available on Commission's Website i.e. www.hssc.gov.in and published in newspapers only. Note:- Other terms and conditions are same as mentioned in earlier Notices.

Sd/- Secretary, Haryana Staff Selection Commission, Panchkula, Dated: 21st January, 2018 Panchkula. PRDH/60394

F.No. Rectt./2017-18/ Y.P.-2

Date 22.01.2018

WALK-IN INTERVIEW The eligible candidates are invited to appear for a Walk-in interview for the temporary post of (contractual) Young Professional (Y.P.-2) - 1 No. (Rs. 25,000/- per month consolidated) as per detail given in our website www.cicr.org.in TRC-35500

Sd/- Head of the Station

KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA NADAUN NEAR SBI NADAUN, HIMACHAL PRADESH-177033

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06 CLASSIFIEDS SITUATION VACANT

ADMISSION GUIDANCE

ITI in Diesel or Electrical with 2-3 years of experience in maintenance of diesel Generating sets including automation in the telecom industry. Posting in district headquarter Chandigarh or various locations in Punjab. Send biodata with expected salary within 10 days at: catchtech301217@gmail.com C7-82870 Account Executive reqd. for M/S RCPL near Landran, Mohali, B.Com., knowing Basic Computer, Tally & with minimum 1 year experience. Send CV to ramjee.concrete@gmail.com A7-73612 Holy Angels School, Rajpura (Punjab). (Affiliated to I.C.S.E., New Delhi) Requires Teachers in History, Physics. Salary no bar for deserving candidates. Transport facility available from Patiala. Mail your resume at holyangelsschool@gmail.com or Call @ A7-73725 85580-00064, 95698-00064. Jalandhar International Public School, Jalandhar requires experienced and well qualified Lady Principal, teachers for all subjects and Pre-primary wing. Interested candidates can send their resume at jipskhambra@gmail.com Contact us: C7-83219 9914859746, 8569000479. Urgently require Recruiters for HR Consultancy in Mohali. Graduate & above, good communication skills, MS Office. Prefer candidates with experience in recruitment firm, call center. Call: C7-83217 99000-63592. Required Civil Forman having knowledge of all Civil trades. Candidate must be holding experience of GULF. Candidate with munimum 5 years of experience will be considered. NA7-69382 Khalsa College for Women Sidhwan Khurd (Ludhiana) Walk-in interview on 24.1.2018 at 9.30 a.m. for the post of Assistant Professor in Chemistry on NA7-69395 contract basis. Principal. Geeta Adarsh Vidyalaya near Thodo Ground, Solan Vacancies - TGT: Maths, Science, Physical Eduction (Female), Music Teacher, Gardener. Email: A7-73640 gav6352@yahoo.com Requires experienced Teacher for PrePrimary, PRT and TGT Maths, Science, Social Science, English, Music and Dance at Vasant Valley Public School, Dhuri Road, Malerkotla, fluency in English is must, transport available from Dhuri. Email at info@vasantvalley.in or WhatsApp on: 98183-34022. NA7-69398 Jasmer Singh Jaijee College, Gurney Kalan, Teh. Lehragaga, Distt. Sangrur (Affiliated to Punjabi Uni. Patiala). Requires Assistant Professors (unaided self financed), Commerce (2) Preferably Ph.D., Defence studies (1), B.Sc., Agriculture: Agronomy (1), BioChemistry (1), English 92), Punjabi (2), Math (1) qualification as per Punjabi University Patiala and UGC norms. Apply with testimonials within 15 days. Send a copy to the Dean Colleges Development Council Punjabi University Patiala. Salary negotiable Email ID: jasmersingjaijeecollege@gmail.com C7-83075B (Contact 98765-75201). Navyug College of Education Bandahari Mundhal Hisar requires Principal, Assistant Professor, in Hindi, S.St. Maths, Physical Science, Life Science, Commerce, Education, Music, Fine Arts, Health Education, Computer. Pay and qualification as per NCTE/GJU/Haryana Govt. norms. Apply within 15 days. Copies of testimonials be sent to Dean of B.Ed. Colleges GJU Hisar and to Principal of the college. Email: nce720@gmail.com Mobile: 94165C7-83139 57766, 86840-44295.

10th, 12th, BA, B.Com., all Graduate/ Post-Graduate/Diploma/B.Ed. courses from recognised Universities. Aggarwal College: A7-73616 93160-00066, 93572-99000.

LOAN Credit Suisse Corporate immediate finance available private funding property project takeover bad cibil deal agent welcome, good income. 099883A7-68522 13955. Private Finance for Project Loan, working Capital, Business Development, Funding 10 Cr. & above. Call: 74004A7-73589 46803.

VEHICLE FOR SALE Geeta Adarsh Vidyalaya near Thodo Ground, Solan Tata School Bus 42 seater and Tata Winger (good condition) for sale. Contact: 98161-50828, 94180A7-73642 68665.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Chandigarh: Vacant showroom 34’x75’ prestigious location for multipurpose use. For details call: 96468NA7-69336 09090. 12 marla newly built floors with lift Sector 15-A, Chandigarh, excellent construction design. Contact Delhi Punjab Real Estates A7-73652 Pvt. Ltd. 95011-21600.

PLOT FOR SALE Society plots 250/300 sqyd, Sector 22, New Chandigarh, 5 kms from Sector 39 West. Capital Infra: 95011-20034. A7-73608

LOST & FOUND It is notified for information that my original qualifying certificates of Main Secondary and Sr. Secondary Examination of year 2013 & 2016 and Roll No, 2207569 & 2691758 issued by CBSE have actually been lost. Prinka Rani, #41, Model Town, Beas. 97805C7-83215 70719. I, Dilbag Singh S/o Surjit Singh R/o H.No. 513, Janta Enclave, Dhandra Road, Ludhiana hereby inform that a Sale Deed Wasika No. 19679 dated 09.01.2004, has been lost and FIR is lodged Unique ID 1651026 dated 20.01.2018 in Sadar Ludhiana. If anybody found please Contact on 95015-22221, if misused, will be self responsible. NA7-69408B

TENDER NOTICE Yadavindra Public School, SAS Nagar, Sector 51, Mohali-160062 invites quotations from reputed stationers for various stationery items. Proforma for quotations are available at the school gate between 9.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. on all days. Last date of the receipt of the quotations is 29 January 2018. Director, Yadavindra Public School, SAS Nagar reserves the right to accept or reject any quotation A7-73735 without assigning reasons. Gen. Gurnam Singh Public School, Sangrur. 1. Quotations are invited for Printing of Stationery approx Rs. 5.5 lacs from reputed regd. firms. 2. Rates quoted should be inclusive of all taxes, FOR School. 3. Samples are available at the Head Middle Wing Office. 4. Last date for submission of quotations is 31 January, 2018 by 12.00 p.m. Director. NA7-69416

T h e Tr i b u n e Tr u s t Important Notice Attention Readers, Advertising Agencies and Advertisers There will be no issue of The Tribune Publications on January 27, 2018 on account of Republic Day holiday on the preceding day. The classified advertisements meant for the publication on Saturday in the issue of The Tribune shall appear on Sunday, January 28, 2018. The advertisers/advertising agencies are requested to book their advertisements accordingly. Advertisement Manager Required Noor Multi Hospital Morinda MBBS, MS Ortho, ANM, GNM. NA7-69396 Contact: 95921-79277. Bhagwan Mahaveer Public Sr. Sec. School Banga (BMPS), Distt. SBS Nagar, Punjab, affiliated to CBSE announces following vacanices. Apply at bmpsbanga@gmail.com/ www.bmpsbanga.com you can send your resume directly to the school campus also. Fresher can also apply. Walk-in interview. Vacancies PGT (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, Maths). TGT (Maths, Computer, Hindi, Social Studies, Punjabi), Primary Teacher, Music Teacher, Spoken English, Librarian, command over subject. Technosavvy, fluency in English & confidence is essential immediate joining. Contact @ 98760-85246. NA7-69331 Conexus Settlement Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (Regd.), SCF 19, GTB Market, Khanna. Email: conexuskhannaoffice@gmail.com , Contact 01628500048, 85669-05913. Required following staff having good interpersonal and communication skills with minimum 2 years of experience in the concerned field. Nanny Trainer: B.Sc./M.Sc. Nursing with min 6 Bands in IELTS. IELTS Trainer: 10+2/Graduation with min 7 Bands in IELTS. Visa Counsellor: Graduation & must have full knowledge of Visas/Immigration. Eligible candidates are requested to attend interview on January 26, 2018 between 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. NA7-69340 Guru Nanak College Ferozepur. Required Assistant Professors English, Physics, Maths, History, Punjabi, Hindi, Physical Education, Pol Science, Librarian (one each) Computer Science-2 (Initially on contract basis for three years under New Grant in Aid Scheme) as Pb. Govt. Notification dated 20.06.2014 and notification dated 16.10.2014 issued by Govt. Punjab DPI Colleges, Punjab Memo No. 11/15-2013 Gr-1(4)25/427 dated 17.10.2017 as UGC/Pb. Govt./PU rules. Apply within 21 days with copy to Dean College Panjab University, Reservation for SC/ST/Disabled as per rules.73920-00001. Chairman. NA7-69362 SD College Hoshiarpur, Walk-in interview on Monday 29.1.18 at 11 a.m. for the post of Clerk on purely contractual NA7-69375 basis. President/Secretary. Akal College of Pharmacy & Technical Education Mastuana Sahib (Sangrur) requires Associate Professor-5, Professor5. Qualification strictly as per MRS, PTU, Bathinda/AICTE norms. Apply within 7 days by Regd. post and by Email to Secretary Managing Committee. Email: mastuanasaab@gmail.com Sd/- President/ NA7-69402B Secretary:- 98150-87217. Baba Ganda Singh Public Sen. Sec. School, Langrian, Amargarh (affiliated to CBSE) an English medium, fully AC school requires - NTT, PRTs, TGTs, PGTs (all subjects). Fluency in English is a must, attractive salary, free transport from Nabha. Walk-in interview on Jan 28, 2018 (Sunday) at 10:00 a.m. onwards. Contact Nos.: 99146-11759, 92569-11684. NA7-69414B

EDUCATIONAL MD, MS in abroad IOM Kathmandu, Nepal, MBBS in Ukraine, Bangladesh, 25 lac pkg. January session cont. G. Advisor. A7-73437 9999440560, 99991-23227.

PUBLIC NOTICES I, Anand Sanan S/o Mohan Lal Sanan B-Block 5-6 Beco Complex, Batala, have changed my name to Anand Kishore NA7-69324 Sanan. I, Meera W/o Vishal Sanan B-Block 56 Beco Complex, Batala, have changed NA7-69325 my name to Meera Sanan. I, Manjit Kumar S/o Sulakhan Singh, Village Ganja, Distt. Gurdaspur, have changed my name as Manjit Singh. NA7-69330 Concerned note. I, Baljit Kaur w/o Kashmir Singh r/o Village Nangal, P.O. Dalam, Tehsil Batala, changed my name to Baljeet NA7-69335 Kaur. Concerned note. I, Jagar Singh s/o Jagir Singh r/o 962B, Housing Board Colony, Sector-13, Kusukshetra (Haryana), have changed my name to Jagar Singh Pabla. C7-83133B I, Rajinder s/o Om Parkash r/o 2204, Sector 13, UE Karnal, inform that Conveyance Deed Number 10748 and Form C No. 11510/15937 of Plot No. 802, Sector 16, UE, Karnal, have been lost. If anyone finds contact at above C7-83149B address. I, Manju Sayal d/o Chatter Singh r/o H.No. 13-C, Naina Floor, Ajit Singh Nagar, Kharar, Distt Mohali have changed my name to Manisha Kumari. C7-83157B I, Gurpreet Singh s/o Manjeet Singh, r/o H.No. # 15-G, Gobind Nagar, Model Town, Patiala, have changed my name to C7-83173B Gurpreet Singh Bajwa. I, Gursharan Singh s/o Charanjit Singh, # 86, Ward No. 05, Subash Nagar, Giddarbaha, District Mukatsar, have changed my name to Gursharan Singh C7-83197B Jassar. I, Prabhjot Gill W/o Raghbir Singh Gill R/o 215, Atwal Colony, Cantt. Road, Jalandhar declare that Jyoti W/o RS Gill and Prabhjot Gill W/o Raghbir Singh Gill are one and same person. Please note. NA7-69372

I, Harjinder Kaur w/o Massa Singh r/o Village Pachranda, PO Jhaj, Teh. Anandpur Sahib, Distt. Ropar (Pb.), declare that I have changed my name Harjinder Kaur to Paramjit Kaur. Please note. NA7-69419B I, Ajay Pal Singh Dhillon s/o Sucha Singh r/o Ward No.1, Harnam Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib (Punjab), have changed my name to Ajay Pal Singh. C7-83177B I, Suresh Chander Kaushik s/o R.G. Kaushik r/o 15, G/F, Swastik Vihar, Phase 3, MDC, Sector 5, Panchkula have changed C7-83201 my name to Suresh Kaushik. I, Ajay Kumar s/o Pala Ram Chopra r/o H.No. 224-A, Gali No. 3, Rajiv Puram Colony, Karnal, have changed my name NA7-69388B to Ajay Chopra. I, Aseem S/o Lok Bandhu R/o # 20844 A1, Street No. 21/1, Ajit Road, Bathinda, Punjab, have changed my name to Aseem NA7-69401B Vashisht. I, Sep. Amreek Singh Service No. 2500270K r/o Moh. Gurunanakpura, Tehsil - Narnaul, Distt. Mohindergarh (Haryana) declare that the name of my wife has been mentioned as Kamaldeep Kaur in my Army record by mistake. But her correct name is Komaldeep Kaur according to her documents. NA7-69411

COURT NOTICES In the Court of Shri Amit Kumar Garg, Addl. Civil Judge Senior Division-1, Fazilka. Publication Notice in Petition Under the Indian Succession Act 1925 Dheeraj Kumar V/s General Public Next Date, Purpose of case, Orders and Judgements as well as other case information is available on http://ecourts.gov.in CNR No. PBFZC1-000930-2017, 17.07.2017 Peshi: 03.04.2018 Publication Issued to: General Public Whereas, the above named petitioner Dheeraj Kumar has filed petition for the grant of Succession Certificate regarding the assets left by the deceased Nanak Chand, who died on 10.10.2016, in this Court. Notice is issued in the name of General Public that in case anybody has any objection for the grant of Succession Certificate, he can file objections to the same on or before 03.04.2018 failing which the petition shall be decided in accordance with law. Given under my hand and the seal of the Court, this 17.01.2018. Sd/- Addl. Civil Judge Senior Division-1, A7-73703 Fazilka. In the Court of Sh. Gurnam Singh Dhillon, Addl. District and Sessions Judge-XI, Jalandhar. Next Date, Purpose of case, Orders and Judgements as well as other case information is available on http://ecourts.gov.in Publication Notice Under Order 5 Rule 20 CPC Ramandeep Kaur Versus Manpreet Singh CNR No. PBJL01-012484-2017 Publication Issued to:Manpreet Singh (R) s/o Kulwinder Singh, Address: House No. 595, Ward No. 13, Shakti Nagar, Laroi Road, Bhogpur, Jalandhar, presently residing at 1107, West Wallnut Street Apartment 46901, Kokoma, Indiana, USA working at 2020, South Washington Code No. 46902, Kokoma, Indiana, USA. 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 08.02.2018 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 according to law. Given under my hand and the seal of the court this 15.01.2018. Sd/- Gurnam Singh Dhillon, Addl. District and Sessions Judge-XI, CN7-3149 Jalandhar. District and Sessions Courts, Ludhiana. In the Court of Ms. Sanjeeta, Addl. Distt. & Sessions Judge, Ludhiana. CNR No. PBLD01-017168-2016 Publication Notice Under Order 5 Rule 20 CPC Bhupinderjit Singh V/s Harmeet Kaur HMA/1873/2016 29.09.2016 Petition U/S 11 of HMA 1955 for Nullation of Marriage Peshi: 19.02.2018 Publication Issued to: Harmeet Kaur w/o Bhupinderjit Singh, Address: Tomalipara, Madar Gate, Ghante Wali Gali, Aligarh, U.P. 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 19.02.2018 at 09.30 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 22.12.2017. Sd/- Ms. Sanjeeta, Addl. Distt. & Sessions Judge, CN7-3153 Ludhiana.

DISCLAIMER “The Tribune Trust does not take responsibility for the contents of the advertisements (Display/ Classified) carried in this newspaper. The paper does not endorse the same. Readers are requested to verify the contents on their own before acting there upon.”

THE TRIBUNE

HARYANA

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

Four of marriage party killed as car rams into trailer

SAD to fight Assembly poll in Haryana alone To field candidates against alliance partner BJP Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service

The car which met with an accident near Bhapdoda village in Jhajjar. TRIBUNE PHOTO

Tribune News Service Jhajjar, January 23 Four persons of a wedding party were killed when their car collided head-on with a trailer on the Jhajjar-Sampla road, near Bhapdoda village, last night. Three of the deceased were the family members of bridegroom. The mishap took place when the four were returning to Maangavaas village after attending wedding function at Bhapdoda village. Car driver Deepak and

three others, identified as Sanjeev, Vishal and Arun of Maangavaas village reportedly died on the spot. The police on getting information rushed to the spot and sent the bodies to civil hospital for postmortem. Rajesh Kumar, investigation officer, said a case had been registered against the trailer driver who fled the spot after the accident. The bodies were today handed over to their kin after postmortem examination, he added.

Chandigarh, January 23 The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is set to fight the Assembly elections in Haryana without any alliance. The Akalis, which had snapped ties with its decades-old alliance partner, INLD, last year, have decided to go it alone, and put up candidates even against its other alliance partner, BJP. The move to contest elections against BJP candidates is expected to have political repercussions on the alliance in Punjab and even at the Centre, where SAD is a partner in the NDA government. During the 2015 Assembly elections in Haryana, SAD had contested the poll in alliance with the INLD, raising the heckles of the BJP. The most vociferous critic of the Akalis, Navjot Singh Sidhu, was then used to campaign against them. SAD today appointed its observers in Haryana and asked its leaders to mobilise its cadres for the poll scheduled in 2019, besides appointing senior Akali leader and MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder as party in charge for Haryana. SAD reappointed

fringe player in Haryana politics. It had an alliance with the INLD and contested two seats (Amabla and Kalianwali), winning one. But this alliance was snapped last year after the SAD-BJP (when they were in power) denotified the Sutlej-Yamnua Link (SYL) canal land in 2016 and handed it back to its original owners, that the INLD objected to. The political pot of the SYL canal kept boiling all through last year, and ultimately led to the two alliance partners parting ways. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who held a meeting with Akali leaders from Haryana, told The Tribune that they were striving to become a major player in Haryana. “Since the Akali Dal is a party of Punjabis, we are looking at providing a political leadership to the Punjabis settled in Haryana. The political leadership there is largely for Jats and Punjabis want an own political platform,” he said. Sukhbir Badal said that besides Haryana, the party had also decided to contest all seats in Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar districts in the next Rajasthan Assembly elections.

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In sync with R-Day zeal

“Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us everyday” Our respected Brig Gurmit Singh Bahia (EME) S/o Late Hony Lt Sohan Singh left for his heavenly abode on 18.01.2018. Kirtan & Antim Ardas will be held at Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Sector-7, Panchkula on 25.01.2018 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. followed by Langar. Grief-Stricken:-

Nitish Sharma Tribune News Service

Ambala, January 23 Four ‘divyang’ children rehearsing for Republic Day celebrations along with other children have become a source of inspiration for all. They will perform before Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki at the Police Lines ground here. Radha is dealing with kyphosis, Babita with scoliosis and congenital limb deformity, Pooja with congenital deformity in right hand and Rahul with amputation. Participating voluntarily, the children have been matching other children every single step. Pooja studies in Class IX and Radha in Class XI of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Model Town. Babita studies in Class VII of Sohan Lal DAV Girls School and Rahul in Class VIII of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. The three girls are part of the PT team and Rahul a part of the dumbbell team. Rahul stands first in his row. He catches the beat perfectly and is in sync with other children. He lost his right hand while bursting a cracker on Diwali years ago. Similarly, Babita, Radha and Pooja have been motivating children on the ground.

Sharanjit Singh Sahota head of the party’s Haryana unit. Lok Sabha member Prem Singh Chandumajra was made observer for Ambala and Yamunanagar, Manjit Singh GK and Avtar Singh Hit for Faridabad, Palwal, Panipat, Rohtak, Sonepat and Gurugram, Sikander Singh Maluka for Fatehabad and Sirsa, Surjit Singh Rakhra for Jind and Kaithal, Bibi Jagir Kaur for Karnal and Kurukshetra, Parminder Dhindsa for Hisar and NK Sharma for Panchkula. With this, they have made their intentions to contest against the BJP in Haryana clear. Though some senior Akali leaders hint that there could be a post-poll truck between the Akalis and the BJP, many believe that the “second move to oppose the BJP on the battleground Haryana will not be taken kindly by the saffron party”. The party will be contesting around 55 of the 90 Assembly seats in Haryana. As many as 35 Assembly seats in Haryana have a sizeable presence of Sikh voters. This is the first time that SAD will be contesting the elections as a major player. Till the last Assembly poll, the party remained a

Mrs. Paramjit Kaur Bahia (Wife) 10.03.1936 – 18.1.2018 Gurinder & Col Ravinder S. Johal; Navleen & Amritpal S. Cheema; Divjyot & Amritpal S. Randhawa (Daughters & Sons-in-Law) Jaireet, Tanya, Sarbreet, Gurleen, Prabhpreet (Grand Children)

Lt Gen Amrik S. Bahia; Col Kuldip Singh; Mrs. Trilochan Singh; Mrs. Gurmit Sarai; Mrs. Harbir Singh; Col Harjit S. Chahal; Mrs. Manjit Powar Brig & Mrs Darshan Singh (Brother & Sisters) (Brothers-in-Law/Sisters-in-Law) Bahia, Sarai, Powar, Sihota & Chahal families Mobile: 97807-36857; 97792-98608. TRC-35457

(From right) Pooja, Radha and Babita with officials; and (below) Rahul rehearses. TRIBUNE PHOTOS Babita said, “Participating with other children makes me happy.” Asked about her career plans, she said, “I have not thought about it and have left everything to destiny.” Rahul said he wanted to become a footballer while Radha and Pooja wanted to become a bank officer and doctor, respectively. Sudhir Kalra, Block Educa- something for them. tion Officer, who is incharge District Education Officer of the cultural programme for Uma Sharma said, “Inclusive Republic Day, said, “We were education in schools has been surprised to see these chil- playing a major in motivating dren matching steps with such students to come forother children. They have ward. The first thing we did been motivating children and was asking them whether officials. They have been they were participating volrehearsing since January 17 untarily or were asked by and never sought special teachers. After getting their treatment.” reply, we have ensured that They were appreciated by they do not face any inconDeputy Commissioner Sha- venience. The department randeep Kaur, who said the will ensure that they keep administration would do motivating other children.”

With profound grief we announce the passing of our beloved Sardarni Manjit Kaur Sandhu W/o Late Col. Nishan Singh D/o Sardar Bahadur S. Dayal Singh Sekhon please join the family for Antim Ardas and Kirtan on Thursday 25th January, 2018 at Gurudwara Guru Teg. Bahadur, 23 No. Phatak, Model Town, Patiala from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Followed by Guru Ka Langar Fondly Remembered By: Dr. Balwant Singh Sekhon (Brother) Cmdr. KDS Sandhu (Son) Jyoti Dhillon (Daughter) Grand-Children and Great-Grandchildren 26-27, Bachittar Nagar, Model Town, Patiala 8427923227 TRC-35589

5.7.29 to 20.1.18

Married woman alleges rape Hisar, January 23 A married woman has accused a man of sexually exploiting her and holding her hostage after calling her to stay with him on the pretext of providing employment in a village in the district. The police registered a case and started investigation. The police said the woman, a mother of three

from Sirsa district, said she was married for 11 years, but had separated after differences with her husband. She stated in the complaint that she came in contact with Satyawan, a resident of Bheria village in Adampur, who assured to provide her a job, after which she started living

2 minor sisters raped; 3 held Panipat, January23 Two minor sisters in a village in Samalkha were reportedly kidnapped and gangraped in the fields of Khalila Prahaladpur village by three youths on Sunday night. The police today arrested three youths of Diwana village for kidnapping and raping the minors. Naresh Ahlawat, DSP, Samalkha,

said the accused were identified as Sonu, Ravi, alias Bunty, and Sonu, residents of Diwana village. The victims’ father reported that the three youths kidnapped his daughters, aged 15 and 17 years. He reported that they took them to the fields in Khalila Prahaladpur village and gangraped them. The DSP said a case was registered. — TNS

with her. She alleged that she got pregnant due to sexual exploitation by the accused. She said she was thrashed and thrown out of his house, after which she went to the police station to lodge a complaint. Women police station incharge Saroj Bala said they were investigating the case. — TNS

REMEMBRANCE AND BARSI

Request to join for Bhog Akhand Path, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, in remembrance of late Dr. Gurdev Singh Gosal (Ex Dean, Panjab University, Chandigarh), and at Barsi of Sardarni Balwant Kaur Gosal W/O Dr. Gurdev Singh Gosal, and Dr. (Mrs.) Surinderjit Kaur Chahal W/O Dr. Sarbjit Singh Chahal (Ex Vice Chancellor) on Sunday, 28th January, 2018 at Gurdwara Sahib, Sector 11, Chandigarh. Bhog Akhand Path and Kirtan: 11.30 AM - 1 PM, Followed by Guru Ka Langar Dr. Sarbjit Singh Chahal and Family # 150, Sector 11-A, Chandigarh (M) 9855978629

Mrs. Paramjit Kaur Sandhu (W/O Dr. B.S. Sandhu) and Family # 28-B, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar (M) 9815369666

Mrs. Anitpal Kaur Gosal (W/O Late Dr. R.P.S Gosal) and Family # 145, Sector 11-A, Chandigarh (M) 9780531677

THE TRIBUNE

NATION

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

Data protection panel report Distance learning: Apex court relief for graduates by March, Centre tells SC Tribune News Service

Tribune News Service

Newly appointed Governor of Madhya Pradesh Anandiben Patel with Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan in Bhopal. PTI

Anandiben sworn in as MP Governor Bhopal: Senior BJP leader Anandiben Patel was sworn in as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Hemant Gupta administered the oath of office to her at a ceremony held at Raj Bhawan here. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, his Cabinet colleagues and other leaders were among those present at the ceremony. Earlier, Chief Secretary Basant Pratap Singh read out the warrant of appointment issued by President Ram Nath Kovind, appointing Anandiben as the MP Governor. She is now the full-time MP Governor. Gujarat Governor Om Prakash Kohli was holding the additional charge till now. PTI

New Delhi, January 23 Amid serious concern over leak of biometric details, the Union Government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that Justice BN Srikrishna Committee report on data protection and cyber security was likely to be ready by March. Based on the recommendations of Justice Srikrishna panel, a proper law will be put in place, Attorney General KK Venugopal told a five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, which is hearing petitions challenging the validity of the Aadhaar Act and 139 related notifications issued by the government. The Attorney General’s submission came after senior advocate Shyam Divan con-

Attorney General KK Venugopal says law covering all aspects of cyber security to be put in place tended on behalf of petitioners that there were serious concerns about biometric details of individuals collected by UIDAI getting into the hands of private parties. “That’s why we persuaded the Attorney General to put it to the government to come up with a law and they responded,” said Justice Chandrachud, prompting Venugopal to say that the report will be out in March. The Bench — also comprising Justices AK Sikri, AM

Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan – asked Divan to clarify the relationship between security fears and constitutional validity of the law. The Bench sought to know whether the Aadhaar number of a person made any difference in a networked world where the data was already available with private entities. “Our personal data is anyway with the private entities. So does interpolation of Aadhaar number make any difference,”

the Bench asked Divan. Divan said the entire architecture of Aadhaar was unconstitutional and it was not fit for a democratic society. “In a welfare state, there are huge points of interaction between an individual and state... You have a complete surveillance state if this is allowed to stand,” he said, adding individuals must have choices. Divan — who is representing petitioners such as former Karnataka HC judge Justice KS Puttaswamy, several activists Aruna Roy, Shantha Sinha and veteran CPM leader VS Achuthanandan — had earlier submitted the state cannot compel citizens to part with personal information, that too to a private company, as it violated their fundamental rights, including right to privacy.

New Delhi, January 23 Modifying its November 3, 2017, order suspending the engineering degrees granted between 2001 and 2005 to all graduates through distance learning, the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted ‘OneTime Relaxation’ to such candidates, many of whom were employed in various government departments. A Bench of Justices AK Goel and UU Lalit directed them to appear in a test to be conducted by AICTE in MayJune 2018. “All such candidates, who wish to appear at the forthcoming test to be conducted by AICTE in May-June 2018 and who exercise option to appear at the test in terms of the judgment, can retain the degrees in question and all

‘Padmaavat’ protests simmer

■ All graduates who

received engineering degrees between 2001 and 2005 through distance learning have been directed to appear in a test that will be conducted by AICTE in May-June ■

The SC rejected petitions seeking a general relief for those who had diplomas and later completed BTech through distance learning

■ It clarified that ‘no more

such chances or exceptions would be given or made’ the advantages flowing therefrom till one month after the declaration of the result of such test or till July 31, 2018, whichever is earlier,” the Bench ordered. The Bench, however, reject-

Demonstrators raise slogans outside a multiplex during a protest against the release of the upcoming Bollywood movie “Padmaavat” in Ahmedabad. REUTERS

Gujarat theatre owners against screening

Maha sets up Special Task Force

Jharkhand women write to Prez

Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel on Tuesday said most theatre owners had decided not to screen controversial Bollywood film ‘Padmaavat’ as he stressed that the government was trying its best to maintain law and order. Meanwhile, the Surat Police Commissioner said though they had assured protection to cinema owners, they had informed us that none of them would screen the film on January 25. PTI

The Mumbai Police have set up a Special Task Force comprising armed police personnel to protect theatres screening ‘Padmaavat’, sources said. Film producers had approached the Maharashtra Government for protection after the Karni Sena refused to relent in its opposition to the film release. TNS

The Antarashtriya Kshtriya Veeraangna Foundation (AKVF) on Tuesday sought President Ram Nath Kovind’s intervention in connection with “Padmaavat” release. Women members of the Rajput community sent a letter to the President through local BJP MP Bidyut Baran Mahato. PTI

New Delhi, January 23 Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar today said he had asked his Minister of State Satyapal Singh to refrain from making comments on issues such as Darwin’s evolution theory. Singh had said in Aurangabad last week that Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was “scientifically wrong” and needed to be changed in school and college curricula, sparking a row with over 2,000 scientists condemning the remarks. Intervening in the row over the remarks, Javadekar said there were no plans for a national seminar to prove Darwin wrong. “I have discussed the matter with my MoS and I have asked him to refrain from making such comments. We should not dilute science. This is the advice I have given him,” Javadekar said. “We are not going to fund any event or don’t have any

State polls: Centre turns NMC Bill: Fate of MBBS exit exam hangs in balance Parliamentary panel on health to hear IMA today; most members oppose to it focus on farm sector Ravi S Singh Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 23 With Assembly elections lined up in eight states this year, the Centre showed urgency to smoothen the farming sector that has been the main source of pinpricks for the government, especially on account of farmers’ suicide and low profits. The Water Resources Ministry in the last week released central assistance (CA) of ~247 crore for nine prioritised projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for accelerated irrigation benefits programme works and ~488 crore for command area development (CAD) works of 17 projects. The ministry further said that during the current

financial year so far, more than ~1,152 crore CA has been released for 26 priority projects. Also, ~3,319 crore has been released as state share from NABARD for 24 priority projects. For CAD works, ~525 crore CA for 22 priority projects and more than ~71 crore as state share has been released through NABARD. Thus, total funds of ~6,047 crore have been leveraged under Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) through NABARD during 2017-18 so far. Further, ~436 crore have been released under PMKSY-Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) for surface minor irrigation and repair, renovation and restoration schemes for various states.

Aditi Tandon

LIKELY RECOMMENDATION

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 23 The fate of MBBS exit exam proposed in the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill hangs in balance with strong views emerging against it. Come tomorrow and representatives of the Indian Medical Association, the most vocal critic of the National Licensiate Exam, will appear before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health currently hearing opinions on the NMC Bill. The committee, in its first meeting on January 12, engaged officials of the Health Ministry who argued for three important elements of the Bill — exit exam for MBBS pass outs; bridge course to enable Ayush practitioners to dispense with a select set of allopathic medi-

■ The

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health is likely to recommend that the government consider testing the MBBS students while they are studying medicine rather than after they have graduated

■

“A view is emerging that there can be one standard test for all MBBS students in the final year but this test should be held before the students complete their course,” an MP said

cines part regulation of fees in private medical colleges. In its second meeting tomorrow, the committee will hear all non-Health Ministry stakeholders in the NMC Bill, including representatives of the IMA, civil society and Ayush practitioners and officials from Ayush Ministry. The Tribune has, meanwhile, learnt that majority of the committee members are against the concept of an MBBS exit exam and feel it would unnecessarily burden students once they have

graduated. The NMC Bill, 2017, is primarily based on the 92nd report of the Parliamentary Committee on Health which had suggested a national licensiate exam to test the quality of the graduating MBBS students. However, that proposal was made at a time when the government had not introduced the common medical entrance exam for all colleges – the NEET (national eligibility cum entrance exam). Members of the committee say now that NEET has been

Uttar Pradesh could have been ‘Aryavarta’ Shahira Naim tribune news service

lucknow, January23 The Yogi Adityanath government has decided to observe January 24 as UP Diwas as the state came into being on that day in 1950. CM Yogi Adityanath responded to Governor Ram Naik’s suggestion on celebrating the day on the lines of Maharashtra Day so that the people know the history and culture of their state. In 1950, the then GovernorGeneral of India passed the United Provinces (alteration of

name) Order 1950, renaming the then United Provinces as Uttar Pradesh. It was published in the Uttar Pradesh Gazette dated 24 January 1950. However, very few know the history of how the name Uttar Pradesh was decided upon. An interesting account of this appears in Gyanesh Kudaisya authored Region, Nation, Heartland: Uttar Pradesh in India’s Body Politic. The comprehensive account illustrates how seriously the post-Independence leadership in UP considered itself the heartland of the newly

As suggested by Governor, Yogi govt to celebrate UP Diwas independent country. Since 1902, the province had been known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh; which in 1937 was shortened to United Province or UP. Within days of Independence, the UP legislature began debating a “suitable name”. Some 20 names emerged but consensus eluded for long. In October 1949, the matter could not be postponed fur-

ther as drafting of the new Constitution was nearing completion and had to include the names of the provinces. The matter was placed before the Provincial Congress Committee that met at Banaras in November 1949. An overwhelming majority of 106 members supported a motion in favour or ‘Aryavarta’ while ‘Hind’ received 22 votes. Prominent Congress leader GB Pant conveyed the decision to the Constituent Assembly that shot it down. CP-Berar member RK Sidhwa feared that United

ed petitions seeking a general relief for those who had diplomas and later completed BTech through distance learning, saying: “We cannot make any such exception. The infirmity in their degrees is basic and fundamental and cannot be wished away. At the same time, we find some force in their submission that if the suspension of their degrees and all advantages were to apply as indicated in the judgment, the candidates concerned may lose their jobs and even if they were to successfully pass the test, restoration of their jobs and present position would pose some difficulty.” The top court said, “This facility is given as one-time exception so that those who have the ability and can pass the test in the first attempt should not be put to inconvenience.”

Javadekar ‘disciplines’ MoS over Darwin row

182 Gujarat MLAs take oath of office Gandhinagar: Gujarat Pro-tem Speaker Nimaben Acharya on Tuesday administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 182 newly elected members of the 14th Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Since the Assembly building is undergoing renovation, the ceremony was conducted at Sabarmati Hall in the state secretariat. The Congresss members and three Independents, including Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, gathered at the office of Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani and marched towards the building. Bhupendra Khant also took oath though his status as a tribal was rejected by a committee appointed by the Tribal Welfare Commission. OC

ONE-TIME RELAXATION

Provinces was anxious to monopolise the name of India. He bluntly charged UP of looking upon itself as the “supermost province of India”. Finally, Law Minister Dr BR Ambedkar moved a Bill empowering the GovernorGeneral to alter the names of provinces to the Union. Pant promised to refrain from suggesting pompous names like ‘Aryavarta’. Congress members from UP in the Constituent Assembly were asked to work out a compromise on “Uttar Pradesh”, and the rest, as they say, is history.

introduced, the exit exam won’t serve any purpose. “The NMC Bill only recommends what the parliamentary panel suggested by way of an exit exam but that proposal was made to ensure good quality MBBS graduates at a time when there was no national-level common entrance test and the quality of private medical education was suspect. Today, all colleges are required to take students from the NEET pool and so only meritorious students are entering the system. Now, there is no need to test MBBS students once they have completed the course,” says a committee member. The panel is likely to recommend that the government instead consider testing the MBBS students while they are studying medicine rather than after they have graduated. “A

view is emerging that there can be one standard test for all MBBS students in the final year but this test should be held before the students complete their course,” an MP said. On cross discipline, there is a mixed response in the committee with majority MPs in favour of allowing Ayush practitioners to take a bridge course to dispense some pre-decided set of medicines to cure common ailments. In Maharashtra, this is already being done. On fee regulation — the NMC Bill proposes to regulate 40 per cent seats in all private colleges — most committee members are in agreement with the government, with some proposing a higher regulation to ensure that low income group meritorious students entering private colleges through NEET can also afford their education.

plan for a national seminar to prove Darwin wrong. It is the domain of scientists and we should let them free to continue their efforts for progress of the country,” he added. Singh, an IPS officerturned-politician, had made the comments at the ‘All India Vaidik Sammelan’ in Aurangabad. “Nobody, including our ancestors, in written or oral, have said they saw an ape turning into a man... Humans appeared on Earth as humans from the very beginning,” he had said. The minister reiterated his comments in Guwahati yesterday, calling for an international debate on the issue. Over 2,000 scientists from three top institutions—The Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, The Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru, and the National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad— issued a joint statement yesterday condemning the minister’s remarks. — PTI

Rlys demands ~1.46 lakh cr from page 1 fallout, as senior officials say to minimise accident risk, the average punctuality of trains has dipped from 83 per cent last year to 73 per cent this calendar year. But regarding electrification of tracks, they say, the Railways could well exceed the target (3,000 km), covering 6,000 km by the end of this financial year. “We have a target of 100 per cent electrification in the next three years — a target of 6,000 km next year and 10,000 km for the successive two years,” said a senior Railway Board official. Rail Bhawan officials say the budget will have a provision of Rs 3,400 crore for installing 3,000 escalators and 1,000 lifts at all major urban and suburban stations across the country for passenger comfort and safety. But the track record of the Railways has been dismal with respect to maintenance.

Shiv Sena to go it alone from page 1 for the elections without any loss of time. “There are rumours that elections to the Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra Assembly will be held on December 2018. I am asking our party workers to get ready," he said, directing party leaders elevated at the executive meeting today to fan out across Maharashtra. “We have made the new appointments so that the Shiv Sena’s bhagwa (saffron standard) is unfurled in Maharashtra.”

Thackeray claimed the BJP had won the Gujarat Assembly elections only because there was no third alternative. “The people of Gujarat would have voted for a third party if there was one in Gujarat,” the Shiv Sena chief said. “I am sure the Shiv Sena will win at least 25 Lok Sabha and 125 Assembly seats on its own,” Raut later told mediapersons. There are 48 Lok Sabha seats and 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra.

The Congress and the NCP ridiculed the resolution. “No one takes the Shiv Sena seriously any more. They keep threatening to pull out of the BJPled government but have not done so,” Sachin Sawant, spokesman of the Congress said. “The Shiv Sena does not have the guts to pull out of the Devendra Fadnavis government as it is afraid of its MLAs defecting to the BJP,” NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said.

THE TRIBUNE

OPINION

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Europe’s leadership crisis

established in 1881

Merkel’s weakened authority a blow to EU ambitions Hasan Suroor

The rich get richer Distributive justice is constitutional obligation

NDIA is on a dangerous growth path as the rich are getting richer and the poor are becoming poorer. It is not a cliche, anymore. The World Economic Forum’s latest “Inclusive Development Index” has found India at the 62nd position — 15 notches below Pakistan. It means that the benefit of economic prosperity is cornered by a miniscule minority, leaving the majority high and dry. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening not only in income distribution, but also in getting access to modern education, quality healthcare, better living conditions and rewarding employment opportunities. This report also coincides with an Oxfam study claiming that India’s richest 1 per cent had cornered almost three-fourth wealth created last year. The two independent reports paint a sorry picture of India’s policy of distributive justice. Growing inequality is also a global menace. Apparently, 42 people hold the same wealth as almost half of the world’s population. But, an egalitarian republic like India cannot afford to be in this league. The Indian Government has its constitutional obligation. It is bound to secure “economic” justice for its people and ensure them equality of “status” and “opportunity”. It is easy for the incumbent to blame its predecessors for allowing the inequality to grow in the last seven decades, but it cannot plead innocence after crippling the informal sector with its two misadventures — demonetisation and the hasty implementation of GST. The government is doing its bit to revive the economy. After a gap of two decades, an Indian PM has joined global honchos at the WEF to hard sell “Make in India”. The reality, however, remians painful. Foreign investors still see India as one of the promising markets. The developed world refrains from investing in a place with challenging social equilibrium and enormous economic disparity. The government must look inward and review its socio-economic policies. It must harness local entrepreneurship and support micro, mini and medium enterprises to build a solid economic foundation to fulfil aspirations of millions of marginalised Indians. Immediately, it can reduce the burden of indirect taxes on the poor and compensate for the same from the rich to have social balance.

Hadiya’s agency upheld SC hears voice of an ordinary woman

Y pronouncing that the NIA cannot investigate about Hadiya’s marital status, the Supreme Court Bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, has reaffirmed the constitutional right of autonomy and agency of the adult woman. It upholds 24-year-old Hadiya’s freedom to independently choose her life partner, good or bad. It is satisfying that the court, in a long due decision, has stood by the young medical student who has time and again remained unwavered in her decision to have converted and married Shafin Jahan, the man of her choice, on her own. Her conviction in her choice has stood many tests: of time, of parents’ opposition to the marriage, of the annulment of the marriage by the Kerala High Court, of incarceration in her parents’ home and probes by state agencies. In these times of polarisation and strengthening of regressive thinking, this decision restores faith in the judiciary’s capacity to provide sane course correction. By hearing the voice of a lone ordinary woman, who finds herself embroiled in an extraordinary case of alleged forced conversion from Hinduism to Islam and allegations of religious indoctrination and alienation by her family, the SC has come across as a champion of liberty and open-mindedness. The underlying message that there be minimal state intervention in the lives of citizens as long as they do not flout any law sets a good precedent. Earlier, in November, the SC had given Hadiya the first reprieve by freeing her from her parents’ custody where she had been confined under a troubling order of the high court. It had asked her to go to the homoeopathy college in Tamil Nadu to complete her course, stopping short of allowing her to live with her husband. Due credit also goes to the husband who appealed against the Kerala High Court annulling their marriage. But it is not yet “and-they-lived-happily-ever-after” for the young couple. They still face the law in the other cases. The Hadiya case has turned out, also, to be a test of the higher judiciary and its institutional ability to interpret the law irrespective of the ruling passions and prejudices in the society and the political arenas. Mobs cannot be allowed to write judicial verdicts.

Thought for the Day Leadership is a choice you make, not a place you sit. — Robert F Tucker

HIS was to be the year when Germany, under a reinvigorated Angela Merkel, was meant to assume the leadership of Europe, and possibly the larger First World left floundering by an eccentric American presidency. This was also billed as a big year for European unity when it was to have sorted out its internal divisions and emerge as a more cohesive power on world stage. Instead, what’s unfolding is nothing short of a horror story for both Germany and Europe. It’s still early days, but the writing on the wall is clear. So, what went wrong? Simple. That optimistic scenario was based on a wrong reading of the public mood leading to an assumption, ahead of last September’s German elections, that Merkel was headed for a big win which would boost her credentials as a strong leader. In the event, German voters — upset over her decision to let in more than a million Muslim refugees into the country in 2015 in defiance of public opinion — used the elections to vent their fury, and gave her a severe drubbing. Her centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and its Bavarian affiliate, the Christian Socialist Union (CSU), suffered heavy losses — losing 65 seats mostly to the anti-immigrant far right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Since then, Germany has been in a political limbo after she failed to form a coalition with two smaller parties. Four months later, the country continues to be ruled by Merkel’s defeated “grand coalition” with the Social Democrats (SDP) which fared even worse than CDU. But with no other party willing to support her, she has been forced to revive her party’s alliance with an equally reluctant SPD to avoid fresh elections. Political uncertainty, however, is likely to continue for some time as the two parties thrash out details of a mutually acceptable programme. A new government is not likely to be formed until late March. Meanwhile, she is under mounting pressure to call it a day after 12 years in power, with one recent poll showing that half of Germans want her to quit and make room for a new generation of leaders. A “Merkel fatigue” is said to have set in, and the arrival of an ener-

TIME UP: The Merkel magic is waning and much of the EU is in the grip of right-wing. getic youthful leader in France has “suddenly made her look ponderous and managerial”, The Times noted. And that’s the irony. While Germany is distracted by a debilitating political crisis, the usually struggling France is luxuriating in the glow of its glamorous new President Emmanuel Macron, a breath of fresh air after Francois Hollande’s four sclerotic years. Barely months into office, he has already shaken up the country’s comatose economy with a series of hard-nosed

has proposed an ambitious plan for deeper European integration. Macron is often accused of being vain and imperious but even hardened critics acknowledge that he’s delivering. His popularity ratings remain high at 78 per cent. He’s good news not only for his own country in a long time (France today is a lot more optimistic and confident than it has ever been in the past decade), but also for Europe which desperately needs a visionary leadership at a time when the Merkel magic is wan-

The EU survived the 2009 crisis largely because of Merkel’s political and moral authority. Today, she’s a shadow of her former self; and Macron, for all his brilliance, is still a work in progress. All of which makes the current crisis more serious. .

reforms and re-energised foreign policy with a flurry of high-profile foreign visits and initiatives, notably his intervention in the Saudi-Lebanon row over Saad al-Hariri’s resignation as Prime Minister. And he is to become the first Western leader to visit Iran since the 1979 revolutionas part of his doctrine of “honest engagement” which saw him roll out the red carpet for Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, despite serious differences with them on a range of issues. He is also pushing for a more proactive French role in European politics and

ing and much of the continent is in the grip of right-wing nationalists. France itself narrowly escaped getting one of its own (Marine Le Pen of National Front) but was saved by some smart last-minute tactical voting. All eyes are now on Italy where a coalition of rightwing parties, including Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, is leading in the polls ahead of the elections in March. But Macron has his work cut out as he seeks to step into Merkel’s rather big shoes amid a simmering civil war among EU countries — not to mention the Brexit mess. Particularly, the east-

ern and Central European countries — Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic — are out of control and need a strong hand to rein them in. Once upon a time when the Soviet Union still existed, they were hailed in the West as beacons of democratic spirit ruthlessly suppressed by dictators in Moscow. Ah! if only they could free themselves from its clutches they would be transformed into havens of democracy and free speech, it was said. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, they were assiduously courted and inducted into the EU, even though they didn’t meet many of its stringent membership criteria. The aim was two-fold: to wean them away from Moscow’s influence on the one hand, and extend Western reach right into Russia’s backyard. A decision that has come to haunt the EU as these supposed beacons of democracy have turned out to be a democrat’s nightmare. Governed by right-wing authoritarian regimes, they have shown scant regard for what Europe likes to describe as its core values of free speech, judicial independence, rule of law and individual rights. Brussels has taken a serious view of attempts to erode press freedom and judicial independence, especially in Poland and Hungary, and is threatening to strip Poland of its EU voting rights if it doesn’t withdraw a series of proposed measures that would give ministers power over the appointment of judges and members of the country’s supreme court. Along with the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary are also at loggerheads with the EU over the issue of Muslim refugees and are refusing to accept their share of asylum-seekers under a Europe-wide quota system. The EU has never been more divided since the 2009 eurozone crisis than it is today, with an entire bloc of members in a defiant mood. It survived the 2009 crisis largely because of Merkel’s undisputed political and moral authority which she ruthlessly exercised. Today, she’s a shadow of her former self; and Macron, for all his brilliance, is still a work in progress. All of which makes the current crisis more serious and a critical test of Europe’s resilience in the months ahead. The writer is a London-based commentator

Cross-border friendship in Rome I Vijay Sabharwal

T’S been seven decades since the Partition, but the relations between India and Pakistan are still complex, verging on hostility. Most people don’t know what goes on across the border, except what their media tells them. But there are many who refuse to harbour animosity against the other. And therefore, whenever they come across each other, they rarely see an enemy. In fact, owing to the similarity in food, culture and language, they tend to become friends with greater ease. I observed this during an exchange programme initiated during the tenure of the Vajpayee government. It is heartening to see those visitors maintaining ties with their counterparts to date. In my own experience, too, I have noticed during

my foreign visits that whenever people from these two nations meet, especially in a third country, they go out of their way to help each other. My recent visit to Rome further strengthened my perception about the other side and the desire for amity. I went to enquire about the city tour bus for Vatican City and found that it would cost 22 euros for a ticket and 40 for two. On my way back to the hotel, I was approached by a man offering me two tickets of another bus company for just 36 euros. Apparently, my familiar appearance in a foreign country prompted him to ask if I was an Indian. His face gleamed with joy when I nodded. ‘I am from Pakistan.’ I told him that I was born in Eminabad (now in Pakistan), to which he zealously responded that he was from Lahore.

We began talking. I told him that though I didn’t know much about Pakistan, as I was a child when we moved to India, I had fond memories of my father’s friend, Sheikh Mohammad Ali, who had retired as Principal of Dayal Singh College, Lahore. ‘I used to call him Chachaji and he often visited our place even after the Partition.’ A look of astonishment crossed his face and he exultantly took my hand in his own, saying he was a graduate from Dayal Singh College, and coincidentally, his father had studied under Sheikh saheb in the same college! ‘See how close we are, but it is the politicians who have separated people of the two nations,’ he sighed. Introducing himself as Hanif, he further reduced the ticket price to 32

euros. Meanwhile, my wife joined us. He greeted her and started explaining the itinerary for the tour. When she told him that except for Vatican City we had already visited the rest of the places, he asked us not to waste money on the bus tour, and rather take the Metro. He took us to the nearby station and helped us buy return tickets for only 3 euros each. While we were lauding Hanif on our way back, we happened to meet another Pakistani who got us delicious biryani at reduced rate as a gesture of goodwill. While cherishing Rome’s memories, Hanif’s words often make me ponder whether it is the lack of political will or positive vision that is not allowing these two nations to embrace each other. Whatever it is, the people don’t desire perpetuation of this separation.

inculcate in their children the habit of cleanliness at a tender age and contribute to this flagship programme.

without his knowledge. Parents today are so busy that they hardly get time to inculcate social and moral values in their children and solely depend on schools for their improvement. The result is in front of us. Today’s youth has no patience and no courage to admit their faults and failures. Are they the strong pillars of our Bharat?

letters to the editor Who’s for the poor? PM Modi is representing India with the largest contingent of participants in the Davos meet. Over 3,000 global leaders from business, politics, art, academia and civil society would brainstorm on solutions to address major issues. There is not even one participant who is living a life of poverty. With no representation from people of that strata, what will they discuss? What possible solutions can they propose to the challenges being faced by the farming community, labourers, daily wage earners? With their participation, they would have presented their problems and requirements which would have made a strong and positive impact on the decisions of the forum.

of the wealth last year. The obsession of our ruling party with GDP and other parameters of development stands exposed. A slight surge in GDP makes it pat itself and a decline provides the Opposition an opportunity to target the government. The development of only 1 per cent of our population must not be projected as development of the country. The rising economic inequalities, where even the meagre income of 67 crore Indians is reported to be stagnant; where unemployment is rising; where those in small trade, small industry and agriculture are becoming distressed day by day, do not appear to concern our leaders. They remain busy fighting elections with the money donated to them by this 1 per cent of the country.

VARUN SODHI, FAZILKA

HL SHARMA, AMRITSAR

Lopsided growth

Budget & farmers

Refer to ‘Inclusive growth: India slips to 62nd spot’ (January 23); the WEF’s index ranks India at the 62nd place. Even Pakistan, an economic dwarf compared to India, is ranked 47. An Oxfam survey released hours before the meet at Davos showed that India’s richest 1 per cent cornered 73 per cent

Refer to ‘Budget and the growing pains’ (January 23); the farmers’ crisis is a long-term problem. A solution-oriented thought process is needed. In every Budget, ‘farmer friendly’ is often used to give the impression that the government cares. But except for increasing allocation for farm loans,

nothing much is accomplished. Nothing concrete is being done at the ground level. The PM had set the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. All this sounds good, but on the earning front, the MSP for some crops is being availed only by 6 per cent farmers while the rest are still not covered. The Swaminathan report is just a propaganda tool, used in rotation by all parties. The figure of 16 per cent income for 50 per cent of the population is scary, no surprise then, that we rank 62nd on the WEF’s Inclusive Growth Index. Agriculture should be tackled segment and region wise. AMANVIR SINGH TIWANA, PATIALA

Another ignorant minister! Refer to the editorial ‘Unscientific humbug’ (January 23); minister Satyapal Singh has been exposed by his illogical utterings on Darwin’s doctrine. How ignorant our ministers are! If he thinks he has a new theory of evolution, he can get it published in a reputed journal and get recognition. Overstepping in the regime of scientific field by a minister is not welcome and should be discouraged by the general public and scientific community. VK ANAND, PATIALA

New evolution theory Union minister Satyapal Singh made an outrageous remark on Darwin’s theory of evolution without any basis. He claims that apes never turned into humans and our forefathers did not mention it anywhere. There is similarity between the genetic makeup of apes and humans. The minister should not make such remarks unless there is evidence, otherwise the whole world will be laughing at us. ANIL KUMAR JASWAL, UNA

Little Jannat shows the way The picture of little Jannat cleaning the Dal Lake to restore its pristine glory is very impressive (‘5-year-old on swachh Dal mission, draws Modi praise’, January 23). In the absence of adequate remedial measures by the authorities concerned, people are mindlessly littering roads and public places in cities, towns and rural areas, adding to the existing pitiable sanitary conditions. The effort of this child will inspire others, particularly the younger generation, to keep their surroundings clean. Making her the child ambassador of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan will give it a further boost. Parents should emulate Jannat’s father and

DS KANG, HOSHIARPUR

Hot-headed youth It is alarming that parents don’t have time for their kids and moral values are neither being taught at home nor school. The mindset of students is rigid and worsening. As nuclear families are in trend, the warmth among children is also shrinking. The sense of congeniality for other humans is missing. What kind of upbringing is it? In which direction our we headed? It should be a serious concern for us all. AMISHA CHAUHAN, PATIALA

Pillars of Bharat? The report ‘Yamunanagar school principal shot by 12th class student’ (January 21) is shocking. The reason behind the murder was just that she scolded him for coming late and not doing his homework, which made him so angry that he fired four shots at her. What is happening to our youth? To some extent, the family of the accused is also responsible because he took his father’s revolver

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@tribuneindia.com

ARTI SHARMA, PATHANKOT

Menstrual hygiene Apropos ‘Patiala’s padwoman out to bust myths’ (January 22), menstruation is a natural process but millions of girls and women are subjected to restrictions in their daily lives simply because they are menstruating. Besides health problems due to poor hygiene during menstruation, the unaffordability of facilities and appropriate sanitary products may push girls temporarily, or sometimes permanently, out of school. The solution lies in menstrual hygiene management. It can further social and economic empowerment and growth, besides contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals such as quality education, gender equality, and clean water and sanitation. SUMIT ALEWA, JIND

THE TRIBUNE

OPED

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

Time for Prez to defend the Constitution Taking note of recent open and brazen attacks on the Constitution, President Ram Nath Kovind must defend the Constitution, like President KR Narayanan chose to do. D Shyam Babu

A good precedent President KR Narayanan's vigilance foiled the earlier attempt to change the Constitution. Echoing Dr BR Ambedkar, he said on January 27, 2000: "Today, when there is so much talk about revising the Constitution or even writing a new Constitution, we have to consider whether it is the Constitution that has failed us or whether it is we who have failed the Constitution." His timely intervention forced the Atal Behari Vajpayee government to appoint a commission to review the working of the Constitution, instead of reviewing the Constitution itself — its original intent. When, a month later, the government set up the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, it was a body dead on arrival. Some people saw in Mr Narayanan an 'activist' President, though he was dutybound to defend the Constitution. Not acting in the manner at the time he did would have made his position untenable.

Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi

N January 25, President Ram Nath Kovind will be giving his address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day. Though the tradition has become an annual ritual which receives people's distracted nod, this time it assumes significance. This is also the only occasion in a year when the grand patriarch of the Republic reveals his hopes, his fears, and also what makes him tick - crucially, without the "aid and advice" of his council of ministers. Moreover, in tune with a policy decision taken last March, Mr Kovind is likely to give his address in Hindi only. Since he assumed office in July 2017, there have been increasing attacks on the Constitution and the core values of the nation. It is the constitutional obligation of the President to protect the Constitution. It is to be seen whether Mr Kovind will treat these attacks serious enough to warrant his reaction. When it comes to defending the Constitution, one of his more illustrious predecessors left a good precedent to emulate.

Constitutional apostasy The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are critical of the Constitution for being less Indian and their preference for a more desi concoction is no secret, either. In the past, the RSS openly demanded that the Constitution be replaced with the Manusmriti, but it is no longer so specific. It is not clear whether the change is a tactical silence or a change of heart. The current spate of attacks on the Con-

President Ram Nath Kovind

The oath, our hope

stitution started in September last when RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat highlighted the foreign sources of our Constitution and several laws and suggested that we must address the issue. He said, "A discussion and debate should be held on this. After a comprehensive national debate, we will have to arrive at a consensus and such system should be made available to people." As a citizen, Mr Bhagwat is perfectly within his right to demand even abrogation of the Constitution and, what's more, he has articulated his views in a scholarly fashion. What about two of his followers — one is a union minister and other an MLA — who swore to "bear true faith and alle-

The Constitution places an onerous burden on the shoulders of the President, a titular head, by making him swear to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution" (Article 60). The only other place having this expression is Article 159 which prescribes the oath of office for governors. However, being the President's agents, the governors are part of the former in discharging this responsibility. The nation has been fortunate to not have to unpack what the founding fathers had in mind when they expected the President as a legal person to defend the cornerstone of the nation. Interestingly, all other functionaries mentioned in the Constitution — from the Prime Minister to MLAs — are merely enjoined to "bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of

giance to the Constitution of India" and did the opposite? Union Minister of State for Employment and Skill Development Anantkumar Hegde declared in December: "We are here to change the Constitution." The outrage his utterance caused forced him to retract the statement. When good faith is in short supply, the denial of an intent reinforces the intent. Mr Surendra Singh, a BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh, was more brazen and definitive: he announced that India would be a 'Hindu Rashtra' by 2024. Mr Singh wants it as the icing on the cake for RSS's centenary celebrations in 2025. And the government's silence is, in any case, more revealing.

India." They are not even accorded the prestige of defending the law of the land; it is suffice for their station to remain faithful to the Constitution. Therefore, the President of India is uniquely placed as the defender of our secular faith, as enshrined in the Constitution and as illuminated in the Kesavananda Bharati Judgment (1973). The President's address on the eve of our national festival, the Republic Day, is a remembrance in gratitude how our founding fathers not only brought us independence but also created a political system that is in harmony with values like equality, freedom, rule of law, etc, that transcend country and creed. It is also a pat on our backs that, no matter how stormy the nation's sailing at the moment may be, the ship of the Republic is sturdy enough to stay its course. The nation now stands at one of those junctures where those who are called to work the Constitution are questioning its very legitimacy with impunity. What is expected of the President to do now, like most of his predecessors did, is to instill people's confidence in the Constitution.

Last word We can ignore at our own peril GK Chesterton's wise take on eternal vigilance: "The wisest thing in the world is to cry out before you are hurt. It is no good to cry out after you are hurt; especially after you are mortally hurt. People talk about the impatience of the populace; but sound historians know that most tyrannies have been possible because men moved too late. It is often essential to resist a tyranny before it exists. It is no answer to say, with a distant optimism, that the scheme is only in the air. A blow from a hatchet can only be parried while it is in the air." (Views are personal)

‘Profits’ of democratic indecision Harcharan Bains Political commentator

I Four decades of being a splendid failure in politics have taught me that when it comes to being honest in public life, it is always better "not to be".

have been aching with democratic confusion, indecision and unseasonal bouts of conscientious immorality over the raging "office of AAProfit" controversy. Yes, one might say, democracy is nothing but dignified confusion with constitutional sanction. But that only adds to my princely and luxurious indecision: "to be or not to be" in favour of "profits of office". Four decades of being a splendid failure in politics have taught me that when it comes to being honest in public life, it is always better "not to be", especially when I know that "to be" means having to be five different persons at the same time: conscientious, correct, clean, committed and competent. Put together, this is five persons too many for one person to want to be. But the magic of my country lies in that you can always choose "Not To Be" and yet find your name on the voters' list. And to those — like some across the border — who snigger at democracy calling it "glamourised chaos", one must always point out that the meaningful confusion of democracy is far more profitable than the tyranny of militarised clarity — even when this confusion means only a conflict between profit and office.

on this day... 100 years ago

That reminds me why I started this piece at all. If you look at our media, you will find that the debate over the presidential intervention in the "office of profit" issue is merely the latest excuse for strengthening democracy. Now "the nation wants to know" why the Prez acted the way he did and could he not have deferred the matter by rolling it to the Supreme Court for advice on another advice he had received from the EC. But why, you might ask, should the President have deferred the matter at all, instead of doing the "obvious" — accepting the first advice? To know the answer, you would need to understand the political rather than the constitutional processes. But first, what is an "office of profit"? Simply put, it means that you have the office and your opponent has the profit. In the present case, the AAP has the office and the BJP has the (political) profit. But what about the role and decorum of the office of the President? You must not read too much into that, especially if you know the pride Shri Ram Nath Kovind takes in the political imprint on his DNA. Obsessive fetish for decorum might demand that the Prez should erase that imprint. But you don't need to be a political biologist to know that it is easier to erase a person than his DNA imprint.

Keeping that in mind, I expected the Prez to withhold his assent to the EC advice in order to deny the halo of martyrdom to the 'Mother of all Martyrs' — Arvind Kejriwal. With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, why would anyone want to take the byelection gambol on the 20 Delhi seats which would be vacated and would have to be filled much before the scheduled Lok Sabha poll? If my surname was Shah or Modi, then I would not want to force these byelections on the nation and distract its attention from the "unprecedented and hectic pace of development which the country is making under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi." I dare not even presume myself "to be" either one in these two. But if I had been merely the resident of India and nothing more, then I would have referred the matter to my conscience and refused to hear its call as long as I thought the country could not afford a confrontation between Delhi and New Delhi. I would have known that the same party must rule the two places. I would have made it clear that to me as President, 'the same party' would not necessarily mean the BJP. Who stops the SAD (Mann) or SAD (1920), the Asam Gana Parishad, the Hurriyat, the Panther Party or the AIADMK etc from winning

quick crossword

su do ku YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION Across 1 Unfamiliar, 6 Blow, 10 Drill, 11 Work of art, 12 Downpour, 13 Queer, 15 Utopian, 17 Whisper, 19 Cascade, 21 Riotous, 22 Squat, 24 Audacity, 27 Introduce, 28 Wrath, 29 Earn, 30 Sea serpent.

Lahore,Thursday, January 24, 1918

The Question of an Electorate. IN the course of the article, to which we have referred at some length in our leading article, the Englishman writes:-“A further difficulty in the way of the Congress proposals is that not only does the Congress demand that its proposals shall be accepted and made effective forthwith, but there is no electorate in existence that can be regarded as representative of the people, which is a necessity before a Government can be described as 'responsible,' and consequently the Congress proposals, if carried out at once, would not result in responsible government, but would merely hand over the control of executives to a legislature irresponsible to either His Majesty's Government or to the people.” This is a somewhat clumsy way of saying that responsible government presupposes the existence as a suitable electorate, and that there is no electorate in existence at present. The first part of this statement we entirely accept; the second we entirely reject.

Down 1 Urdu, 2 Frivolous, 3 Milan, 4 Lowdown, 5 Aircrew, 7 Leave, 8 Watercress, 9 Mosquito, 14 Successive, 16 Inaction, 18 Prostrate, 20 Erasure, 21 Redress, 23 Utter, 25 Cower, 26 Shot.

The Indo-British Association’s Appeal. ACCORDING to a Reuter telegram “the newly formed Indo-British Association has circularised commercial firms interested in India appealing for funds to enable it to undertake a comprehensive scheme of parliamentary and public propaganda against irresponsible agitation for home rule in India.” We hope this will open the eyes of the All-India Congress Committee and the Council of the MuslimLeague to the true nature of the situation. One of the most important objects of the proposed deputation to England was to counterpart the campaign of misrepresentation, mendacity and calumny which European and Anglo-Indian extremists were sure to start in England the moment it became clear that the people of India were in earnest. This campaign has been in full swing now for some time.

ACROSS 1 African river (5) 8 Exclamation of agreement (4,4) 9 Find fault pettily (5) 10Rabble (8) 11 Blacksmith's workshop (5) 12 Proverb (3) 16 Loose dressing gown (6) 17 Armed robbery (4-2) 18 Travel regularly (3) 23A grudge (5)

24To upset (8) 25Poisonous (5) 26Shabby (3-5) 27Bear bravely (5) DOWN 2 Large-scale choral work (8) 3 Events (6-2) 4 Part of the eye (6) 5 Surly in manner (5)

both Delhi and New Delhi. (I don't even know why they call a centuries-old city as 'New' Delhi). I still see no reason why Mr President had to be so recklessly quick in a country where spiritual dynamism should always be preferred to biological activity. Introspect, meditate — do anything, but don't act! Nor do I understand why the Prez must be "impartial". If it is only to meet the irritating constitutional requirement of impartiality, then the Prez can always act "as if" — rather than as — impartial. After all, he does act "as if" he were the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The "as if" clause is meant just for situations wherein the Constitution comes in the way of the country's larger profits — err interests. Also, to be fair to Kejriwal, I as President would have given him a hearing, especially when I would have known that the AAP does not believe in making profit worth only a few lakhs through the office of a parliamentary secretary when it can easily rake in over Rs 100 crore through just three seats in the Rajya Sabha. Whatever else you may hold against AK, you cannot accuse him of not knowing the difference between the meagre proceeds from an "office of profit" and the vast "profits of an office". (With tongue firmly in cheek)

6 A coniferous tree (5) 7 Underlying meaning (5) 12 Conciliatory gesture (3) 13For what reason (3) 14 Suppress by censorship (5,3) 15Custodian (8) 19Pantry (6) 20Temperamental (5) 21To fuse (5) 22Dried stalks of grain (5)

forecast

V. HARD

7 9 8 4 3 5 3 1

7 4 5 1

2 3 7 1 4 7

4 8 5 7 9 1 2 6 3

3 1 9 2 5 6 7 8 4

2 7 6 3 8 4 9 5 1

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9 4 1 6 2 5 8 3 7

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3 4 6

calendar

Yesterday’s solution 8 5 3 4 1 9 6 7 2

7 9 4 5 6 2 3 1 8

January 24, 2018, Wednesday

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

WEDNESDAY 17:52 HRS THURSDAY 07:18 HRS

Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy

Rainy

CITY MAX Chandigarh 19 New Delhi 20

MIN 08 06

Foggy

PUNJAB

2 6 9

SUNSET: SUNRISE:

Vikrami Samvat 2074 Shaka Samvat 1939 Magh Shaka 4 Magh Parvishte 11 Hijari 1439 Shukla Paksha Tithi 7 up to 4.17 pm Sidh Yog up to 8.38 am Sadhya Yog up to 6.46 am Revti Nakshatra up to 8.34 am Moon enters Aries sign at 8.34 am Panchak ends 8.34 am

Amritsar Bathinda Jalandhar Ludhiana Patiala

21 21 19 20 19

05 05 08 05 08

19 20 20 19 21

08 08 08 07 07

HARYANA

Ambala Bhiwani Hisar Karnal Sirsa

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Dharamsala Manali Nahan Shimla Solan

17 10 19 14 18

07 -01 08 02 03

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Jammu Leh Srinagar

16 02 08

08 -11 -04

21 15 17

08 04 04

UTTARAKHAND

Dehradun Mussoorie Nainital TEMPERATURE IN OC

THE TRIBUNE

J&K/HP

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

A TRIBUNE PHOTO

Oppn walks out over border casualties BJP’s demand for resolution against Pak finds no support from PDP, other parties Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service

Vaishno Devi shrine gets season’s first snowfall, yatra on ■ The

Mata Vaishno Devi shrine witnessed the season’s first snowfall on Tuesday afternoon, worsening the cold wave conditions in the region.

■ The

pilgrimage, however, proceeded smoothly with more than 15,000 yatris offering prayers at the cave shrine.

■ Jammu’s famous hill resort Patnitop

and the Jawahar tunnel area also witnessed fresh snowfall. Due to slipperiness on the highway, vehicular movement was suspended at both places in the afternoon. OC

Sharma meets former militants, other groups Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 23 On the second consecutive day, Centre’s special representative for Jammu and Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma met 12 delegations and individuals representing various sections of society. The delegations apprised him of their problems. Those who met him today included a few organisations of former militants who put forth their grievances before him. According to sources, while interacting with Sharma, the delegations sought redress of their grievances.

Sharma’s three-day visit to the winter capital will conclude tomorrow. This is Sharma’s fourth visit to the state. He was appointed by the Centre as a special representative for Jammu and Kashmir on October 23 last year. During his visits to the state, Sharma has been interacting with representatives of all sections of society, political leaders, legislators and top officials. He has also held a number of meetings with Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on his earlier visits. Sharma also met a fivemember delegation of an NGO, RTI Movement.

Airing grievances Interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma on Tuesday met a few organisations of former militants who put forth their grievances before him. Sharma’s three-day visit to the winter capital will conclude on Wednesday.

Crime branch to handle girl’s murder case Tribune News Service Jammu, January 23 Minister for Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri today told the Legislative Assembly that the case of the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Hiranagar had been handed over to the Crime Branch of the J&K Police. He said the government had accorded sanction to the transfer of the case under Sections 363 and 302 of the RPC at the Hiranagar police station (Kathua district) to the Crime Branch for further investigation. National Conference legislator Mian Altaf sought to know whether the magisterial inquiry would go simultaneously with the Crime Branch inquiry. Veeri said the magisterial inquiry in the case would continue.

Finally, snow in Shimla, Sirmaur ends dry spell Bhanu P Lohumi Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 23 Shimla and its surrounding areas and the higher hills in Sirmaur received the first snow of the year today while the lower hills had widespread scattered rain. The rain and snow broke the seven-week-long dry spell, bringing cheers to farmers and apple growers. The day temperature dropped by six to seven degrees in the state. The state capital and the areas in its vicinity had been experiencing moderate snow since this afternoon and the upper parts received 10 cm of snow till this evening. The snow disrupted the vehicular traffic on the Hindustan-Tibet National Highway near Narkanda and Kharapatthar. An ambulance carrying a patient skidded near The Ridge here and fell near the Tibetan market. However, the woman patient, being taken to the IGMC hospital, was rescued and taken to the hospital in another vehicle. Roads at vulnerable locations, including the IGMC

FARMERS RELIEVED Farmers felt relieved as the dry spell had threatened the rabi crop in the rainfed areas. The farmers had sown the crop and if dry weather continues, their seed would have gone waste.

Manali turns white HOTELIERS HAPPY The upper areas in Manali experienced fresh snowfall, while the lower parts of the region were lashed by rain on Tuesday evening. The Rohtang Pass, gateway to LahaulSpiti, Pir Panjal Ranges, Marhi, Gulaba, Bhrighu slopes, Beaskund and Hamta ski slopes received fresh snow. and High Court, have been cleared and no reports of power disruption have poured in yet,” said Shimla Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap who was at the control room, monitoring the activities. He advised people to avoid driving at night and during the snowfall and said all arrangements were in place to meet any exigency.

Relief for farmers The rain and snow has broken a prolonged dry spell and brought cheers to farm-

Shimla hoteliers, who were facing a lean season with occupancy dipping to 20 per cent, are ecstatic after the snowfall as it attracts tourists to the town. They are making frantic calls to hotels, after the videos of snowfall went viral, and enquiring about bookings. “We expect heavy tourist rush till the weekend,” said a hotelier. ers while apple growers heaved a sigh of relief. Snow during this period is considered white manure for the apple crop as it provides much-needed cooling hours and moisture. However, farmers in several areas are worried as rain was not widespread and some areas did not receive any rain or snow. The MeT has predicted dry weather for six days from tomorrow and rain or snow in higher hills on January 24.

Jammu, January 23 Opposition parties National Conference and Congress on Tuesday created uproarious scenes in the J&K Assembly over the alleged failure of the government to protect the lives of border dwellers from the heavy shelling by Pakistan along the International Border and the Line of Control. While criticising the ruling PDP-BJP government for taking “no action” in the cross-border shelling, opposition legislators chanted antigovernment slogans and sought immediate government help for the affected people. They also staged a walkout from the House to register their protest. As soon as the House began its proceedings for routine business, NC and Congress members were on their feet and rushed to the front row to draw attention of Speaker Kavinder Gupta towards human loss and damage to civilian property in forward areas.

We visited the border ❝ areas on Monday where the situation is quite serious. So far, 12 persons have been killed, domestic animals have perished and agricultural fields have been destroyed. The government is doing nothing. We strongly oppose this kind of government approach.❞

Nawang Rigzin Jora,

The Opposition slams government over border safety. TRIBUNE PHOTO “We visited the border areas yesterday where the situation is quite serious. So far, 12 persons have been killed, domestic animals have perished and agricultural fields have been destroyed. The government is doing nothing. We strongly oppose this kind of government approach,” said Congress legislator Nawang Rigzin Jora. He was supported by his party colleague Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, who termed the situation due to

cross-border shelling as “warlike” and alleged that the poor were the worst affected. NC legislator Mian Altaf suggested that the government should form a team of MLAs who could visit the border areas and take stock of the situation. “This government has failed to protect the lives of people,” shouted Congress MLA from Banihal Vikar Rasool while alleging that there was no seriousness towards border people.

CONGRESS LEGISLATOR

Another NC MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar expressed surprise over “conflicting” statements coming from the PDP and BJP over the border flare-up. “Your Member of Parliament (MP) Jugal Kishore claimed that they had got Rs 450 crore for construction of bunkers while the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has been opposing bunkers and appealing for peace along the border and close relations

Pak guns fall silent, but fear deafening Amir Karim Tantray Tribune News Service

RS Pura, January 23 The guns have fallen silent on the International Border and a fragile calm exists but the fear remains. Border residents living in relief camps are scared of going home as they do not want to risk their lives in case Pakistan again rains mortar shells on them. They have decided to stay put in camps till the Republic-Day celebrations are over. “Though we have been provided the best possible facilities in the relief camp established at the ITI Insti-

One held with khair tree logs Our Correspondent Nurpur, January 23 The Forest Department’s field staff nabbed a person with 41 logs of nine felled khair trees from Rajgeer beat of forest range, Rey, last night. The accused has been identified as Gurpreet Singh, Dehriwal village in Dasuya, Punjab. Officials Viney, Neeraj, Devinder and Ravinder were on night patrolling when around 3 am they noticed the logs. The accused tried to attack a forest guard, but he was overpowered by the staff. During search, 41 logs of khair trees were recovered. Four days ago,the forest staff had nabbed four persons hailing from Punjab in Dini beat of Jawali forest range and recovered logs. Dinesh Sharma, Divisional Forest Officer, Nurpur said the department had intensified night patrolling to check illicit felling of trees and stepped up vigil in the border areas. He added that locals were helping them nab those involved in the illegal felling of trees. A case under Sections 32, 33 of the Indian Forest Act and Sections 379 and 34 of the IPC has been registered.

Sukhanya Devi mourns the death of her husband Gahar Singh, a victim of shelling, at a relief camp in RS Pura. INDERJEET SINGH tute here, nothing can match the facilities at home. The circumstances have

forced us to live in relief camps,” said Sohan Lal, a resident of Abdal village.

The relief camp houses several families from Abdal, Bera, Abdullian and Gopar Basti villages of the RS Pura sector. Around 1,250 people of the RS Pura and Suchetgarh areas are living in migrant camps, while over 41,000 people have migrated to safer places since January 17 when Pakistani shelling started. Only a few have, however, returned home to take care of their property and livestock. The rain brought back the chill today and children and elders were confined to the rooms allotted to them by the district administration.

Keen to work with Russia to promote tourism: Thakur

CM Jai Ram Thakur listens to locals’ grievances at Oakover in Shimla on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO

Tribune News Service Shimla, January 23 The government is looking forward to work with the Russian government in the field of tourism development and water conservation, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, adding that the state would also seek cooperation in other sectors like investment, technology, road infrastructure and cultural ties with Russia. Presiding over a meeting with BRICS International Alliance delegation from Russia here today, he said providing adequate irriga-

tion facility to farmers was the top priority of the government for which rainwater harvesting was a must and it would also go a long way in checking soil erosion. Himachal Pradesh had a vast scope of expanding tourism activities and allout efforts would be made to tap this potential. He said as the Government of India had 69 road projects for the state, it would not be an issue in two-three years. Thakur expressed hope that with the help of the expertise of Russia in both sectors, the state would

benefit immensely. Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur also stressed rainwater harvesting through check dams so that the demand of water for irrigation purposes could be met. BRICS International Alliance (Russia) President Larisa Zeneteslova earlier apprised the Chief Minister that the Russian government was willing to work with Himachal Pradesh in various sectors, especially developing the tourism sector, road connectivity, ropeways and cultural ties.

between two countries,” Sagar said while questioning the stand of the “ruling parties”. The opposition members were countered by the BJP leaders with ‘anti-Pakistan’ slogans who demanded that a resolution condemning Pakistan for killing “innocent civilians” on borders should be passed unanimously. In the midst of the commotion, opposition members walked out of the House. BJP state chief Sat Sharma, supported by other MLAs, sought a unanimous resolution from the House to condemn Pakistan for killing innocent people on the border. His move, however, did not find any support from PDP legislators and ministers besides Congress and National Conference legislators. At least 12 persons, including five BSF and Army jawans, have been killed and over 50 injured in Pakistani shelling since January 17. Over 40,000 border people have migrated to safer places while 200 animals have perished.

Hemant is new Jamm u Div Commissioner Tribune News Service Jammu, January 23 The Jammu and Kashmir Government today appointed Hemant Kumar Sharma as the new Divisional Commissioner of Jammu in place of MK Bhandari, who has proceeded on Central deputation. Sharma is a 2002 batch IAS officer of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre and has been appointed at a time when the border areas are witnessing heavy shelling from Pakistan.

CM: Drug, mining mafia a challenge Shimla, January 23 The drug menace is a serious challenge before the police and a concrete plan was required to check mining mafia, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur who issued directions to check the twin menace in the state. Thakur, who was speaking at the review meeting of State Home Department here today, sought reasons for less conviction rate under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. He said the police needed to restore and rebuild its image in view of the cases of rape and murder in the state during the previous government regime. The way the cases were handled has earned police a bad name. “Now with the change of the regime, the people had expectations from the new government and the police. There was need to restore the faith of the people”, the Chief Minister said. Expressing concern over the increased deaths due to road accidents in the state, the Chief Minister said a plan was needed to be formulated and traffic rules implemented strictly. — TNS

Minor raped in Kullu World Bank to fund ~975-cr water schemes for Doon, 6 other districts Our Correspondent

Tribune News Service

Kullu, January23 A 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her cousin at a village in Bhuntar subdivision yesterday. Kullu ASP Nishchint Singh Negi said the parents of the victim had approached the police stating that the victim’s cousin had raped their daughter in a for-

Dehradun, January 23 To end water woes being experienced in several areas of Uttarakhand, the World Bank has agreed to finance water schemes worth Rs 975 crore in 35 semi-urban areas of Dehradun and six other districts. An agreement was signed among the Centre,

est. The ASP said a case under Section 376 of IPC and Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act had been registered.

state government and the World Bank. A population of over five lakh is expected to benefit once the water schemes are commissioned. Minister for Water Resources Prakash Pant, who was in Delhi for signing the agreement, said the programme would commence in 2018 and end in 2023. “The proposal was formally

A population of over 5 lakh is expected to benefit once the water schemes are commissioned. Minister for Water Resources Prakash Pant said the programme would commence in 2018 and end in 2023. presented by the Uttarakhand Government last year

and the World Bank agreed to fund us in November 2017.

The World Bank will provide us assistance to the tune of Rs 780 crore, while the state will contribute Rs 195 crore as it’s share,” said Pant. He said around 35 semiurban areas, which fall in Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Almora, would be part of the programme. These areas were

selected based on the 2011 Census and their current position in April 2016. “A population comprising approximately 5.16 lakh will be able to receive between 100 litre/ person to 135 litre/person in a day. Earlier, it was between 50 litre-75 litre per person per day and around 1,03,244 metered connections will be created,” he said.

THE TRIBUNE

NATION

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

Tax Dept: Don’t donate over ~2k in cash to parties New Delhi, January 23 The Income Tax Department today cautioned people against indulging in illegal cash transactions, including donating more than Rs 2,000 to political parties. In a bid to clean up election funding, the government early this year notified “electoral bonds” that can be bought from specified branches of the SBI and used to donate money to political parties. According to the scheme, no person should make a cash donation of over Rs 2,000 to a political party. The tax department, in advertisements issued in leading dailies today, said a person should not “donate in excess of Rs 2,000 in cash to a registered trust/political party”. This is the first public advisory that the department or its policy-making body — the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) — has issued vis-a-vis political donations. It is understood that the clause has been added to the I-T public advisory in the backdrop of the government notifying the electoral bonds scheme. The department also stipulated some more don’ts for the public like: “Do not accept cash of Rs 2 lakh or more in aggregate from a sin-

OTHER DIRECTIONS ■ Don’t accept cash of ~2 lakh

or more in aggregate from a single person in a day or for one or more transactions relating to one event ■ One should not pay “more

than ~10,000 in cash relating to expenditure of business or profession” gle person in a day or for one or more transactions relating to one event or occasion… Do not receive or repay Rs 20,000 or more in cash for transfer of immovable property.” The I-T Department also added that one should not pay “more than Rs 10,000 in cash relating to expenditure of business or profession”. The taxman asked public to say “no to cash transactions” of all these kinds. It added that contravention of these threshold cash limits” might result in levy of tax/penalty”. “Go cashless. Go clean,” the advertisement underlined. The department also urged the public to inform it about such violations or any instance of black money or benami assets transaction to it over email “mailto:blackmoneyinfo@incometax.gov.i n”\/nblackmoneyinfo@incom etax.gov.-in or to the jurisdictional Principal Commissioner of the department. — PTI

SC: Set up tribunal to resolve Mahanadi row New Delhi, January 23 The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to set up a tribunal within a month to resolve the long-standing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the sharing of water from the Mahanadi. A Bench of Justices SA Bobde and L Nageswara Rao asked the Centre to constitute the tribunal and said that all pending issues could be raised before it. The SC, however, refused to grant any stay as sought by the Odisha Government on the seven pick-up weirs (small dams) across the Mahanadi, which flows through Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha before pouring into the Bay of Bengal. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the Odisha Government, said there cannot be any negotiation on the issue and the only way the dispute can be resolved is through the constitution of a tribunal. He said the court should stay the dams being built by Chhattisgarh Government to extract more water from the river. Advocate Atul Jha, appearing for Chhattisgarh, said the Chief Ministers of the two states could sit together and resolve their long-standing disputes. The apex court had on December 11 last year told the Centre that there was “no valid purpose” in resisting the setting up of a tribunal to

Corrigendum No. 01 against E-Tender enquiry No. 25/CWD2/Vol-VIII/2017-18 dated:- 21.12.2017.

Meghalaya recognises third gender

HARYANA VIDYUT PARSARAN NIGAM LTD Last date of online bid submission is extended up to 06.02.2018 (13:00 Hrs.). Draft NIT and Tender document is available at website https://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in, https://www.hvpn.gov.in

Guwahati, January 23 The Meghalaya Cabinet has amended the Meghalaya Registration of Birth and Death Rules, 1999, in order to pave the way for the recognition of transgenders in the state. The Cabinet decision came in response to a circular from the Ministry of Home Affairs that was issued in tune with the Supreme Court order for the creation the “third gender” status. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said from now three options — male, female and transgender — would be given to individuals for indicating their gender. The state does not have a database on transgender population so far. It will be created after the new exercise is being carried out, sources say. The order from the Supreme Court came in 2014, asking the Centre to treat transgenders as socially and economically backward. — TNS

PRDH/60376

Sd/- Executive Engineer, Civil Works, Division HVPNL, Hisar.

HARYANA ROADWAYS ENGINEERING CORPORATION LIMITED (A GOVERNMENT OF HARYANA UNDERTAKING) REGD. OFFICE & FACTORY: 6TH MILE STONE, JAIPUR HIGHWAY BEHRAMPUR ROAD, KHANDSA, GURUGRAM (HARYANA) TEL. 0124-2215660, TEL. FAX. 0124-2215389, EMAIL.ID: gm.hrec27@gmail.com

CORRIGENDUM It is in reference to advertisement of EPDM Rubber Profile which was published in Dainik Jagran (Hindi) dated 31.12.17 and other Hindi Newspapers. Sources of Purchases may be read as under and event No. is 68270 in e-tender portal. Sources of purchase Manufacturers firm having facility of Ultra High Frequency Microwave Curing System and who are OE supplier to major chassis manufacturers of six wheelers/four wheelers i.e. M/s Maruti Suzuki Ltd., M/s Hyundai, M/s Tata Motors Ltd., M/s Ashok Leyland, M/s Mercedes Benz Ltd., M/s SML Isuzu and have supplied 5 metric ton (Minimum) annually to OEMs OR The firms who are manufacturing EPDM Rubber Profile should have facility of Ultra High Frequency Microwave Curing System and turnover of Rs. 02.00 Crore (Minimum) per year in last three financial years. The last date of submission of online E-tender has been extended to 30.01.18 up to 17:00 Hours.

PRDH/60380

Sd/- General Manager, Haryana Roadways Engg. Corp., Gurugram.

÷Ê⁄UÃËÿ ‚¢‚Œ PARLIAMENT OF INDIA

⁄UÊíÿ ‚÷Ê ‚ÁøﬂÊ‹ÿ RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT DEPARTMENT-REL ATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 as introduced in the Lok Sabha on 29th December, 2017 and pending therein, has been referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare headed by Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, M.P., Rajya Sabha on 4th January, 2018 for examination and report by the last day of the first week of the Budget Session, 2018. 2. The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 inter alia seeks to provide for a medical education system that ensures availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals; that encourages medical professionals to adopt latest medical research in their work and to contribute to research; that has an objective periodic assessment of medical institutions and facilitates maintenance of a medical register for India and enforces high ethical standards in all aspects of medical services; that is flexible to adapt to changing needs and has an effective grievance redressal mechanism and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. 3. Considering the wider implications of the proposed legislation on the regulatory oversight of the medical education in the country and for an in-depth study of the Bill, the Committee has decided to invite suggestions/ comments from individuals/organisations on the Bill. Those desirous of submitting memoranda may send the same to Shri Dinesh Singh, Additional Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Room No. 411, Fourth Floor, Parliament House Annexe Extension Building, New Delhi — 110001 [Tel: 011-23035581 (0)], E-mail: rs-chfw@sansad.nic.in within 10 days of publication of the advertisement. Those who are also willing to appear before the Committee for oral evidence may indicate so in their memorandum. However, the Committee's decision in this regard shall be final. The memoranda submitted to the Committee will form part of the records of the Committee and would be treated as strictly confidential and may not be made public, as such an act would constitute breach of privilege of the Committee. For more details and for downloading a copy of the Bill, please visit the website of the Rajya Sabha (http://rajyasabha.nic.in) under the link ‘Bills with the Committees’. davp 31202/11/0008/1718

deal with the dispute. The court had said it was “disappointed” that the Centre had not yet issued a notification on the constitution of a tribunal to deal with the ongoing issue despite having submitted before the top court in October that a decision would be taken in that regard by November 19. Odisha has been opposing Chhattisgarh’s plans to build 13 barrages and seven small dams across the Mahanadi, in a plan to extract more water. Odisha said this would adversely affect the interests of its farmers. The Centre had earlier referred to a 1983 agreement between Madhya Pradesh and Odisha and said there was a mechanism to deal with the issue. When the Centre told the court that Odisha was not coming forward for negotiation, the Bench had observed, “failure of negotiation has nothing to do with it. Odisha is saying they do not want to negotiate. If they are not coming forward, it is failure of negotiation”. Odisha had told the apex court that no negotiation could be done in the matter and a tribunal should be constituted at the earliest. — PTI

11 HARYANA VIDYUT PRASARAN NIGAM LIMITED Shakti Bhawan Panchkula CIN: U40101HR1997SGC033683 Corrigendum No. 2 to E-tender Enquiry No. 926 Dated: 27.11.2017 (QDP-1106) for procurement Digital Timer for Measurement of Breaker Timing. The last date of online bid submission is extended up to 01.02.2018 up to 17:00 hrs. Detail NIT and tender document is available at website https://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in, https://www.hvpn.gov.in

PRDH/60377

Sd/- Superintending Engineer/MM-II, For CE/MM, HVPNL, Panchkula.

��

�� Advertisement for the post of Clerk, Driver, Peon/Ward Servant & Mali was given in the newspaper The Tribune on dated 12-01-2018 and Hari Bhumi on dated 13-01-2018, for the vacant posts to be filled through outsourcing policy on contract basis under jurisdiction of this office for six months. These posts will be filled for a period of one year instead of six months, as per policy for engaging/outsourcing of services/activities. PRDH-60379

Sd/- Civil Surgeon, ESI Health Care, Bhiwani.

�� UTTAR HARYANA BIJLI VITRAN NIGAM LIMITED Regd & Corp. Office: C-16, Vidyut Sadan, Sector 6, Panchkula, Haryana Phone No. 09356063248, Fax:- 0172-2566839, Website: www.uhbvn.org.in, CIN No. U40109HR1999SGC034166, E-Mail: xenciviluhbvnpanchkula@gmail.com

CORRIGENDUM Tender Notice No. 10/2017-18 dated 03.7.2017 with schedule date of Receipt/Opening of Tender on dated 18.01.2018, is hereby extended. Sr. No. Particulars Date & time 1 Due date of submission of tenders Up to 1.00 p.m. dated 29.01.2018 2 Date of opening of tenders At 3.00 p.m. dated 29.01.2018

For any clarification regarding bid preparation and bid submission, please contact: M/s Nextenders (India) Pvt. Ltd. O/o. DS&D Haryana, SCO - 09, Ilnd Floor, Sector 16, Panchkula — 134108 E-mail: Chandigarh@nextenders.com Help Desk: 1800-180-2097 (Toll Free Number) For details, please visit www.uhbvn.org.in The other terms and conditions will remain unchanged.

PRDH60373

Sd/- Xen Civil Const. Divn, 3rd Floor, Shakti Bhawan, Sec-6, UHBVN, Panchkula.

BAYS NO. 67-70, SECTOR-2, PANCHKULA—134151 (www.hssc.gov.in)

CORRIGENDUM FOR THE POST OF INDUSTRIAL EXTENSION OFFICER OF INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE DEPARTMENT, HARYANA, ADVT. NO. 06/2016 CAT NO. 02. It is for the information of concerned candidates that in the final result dated 19.01.2018 for the post of Industrial Extension Officer of Industries and Commerce Department, Haryana against advt. No. 06/2016 Cat No.02 published in various newspapers/uploaded on website of HSSC, the following correction may be made: Result of Roll No. 6602001906, Date of Birth 15.05.1992 is withheld being younger in age, subject to the final outcome of CWP No. 27013 of 2017 instead of Roll No. 6602000183, Date of Birth 28.10.1991 being older in age. Dated Panchkula 23rd January 2018 PRDH/60387

Sd/- Secretary, Haryana Staff Selection Commission, Panchkula.

12| USD

BUSINESS

EURO

POUND

~63.77 ~78.14 ~88.96

JPY

YUAN

CAD

AUD

SGD

~0.58

~9.95

~51.12 ~50.83 ~48.34 ~8.16

BSE

NSE

CRUDE

GOLD

SILVER

341.97

117.5

0.10

~29,804

~38,474

36,139.98

11,083.7

Mumbai

69.15

HKD

Mumbai

THE TRIBUNE CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

Dalal Street on historic high Exporters seek decisive fiscal

■

yesterday. The gauge had risen 1,026.96 points in the previous four sessions. The Sensex took just five trading sessions (January 1723) to reach the historic 36,000level from 35,000, while the NSE Nifty advanced to 11,000mark from 10,000 in six months (July 26, 2017 to January 23, 2018). The Nifty touched a new high (intraday) of 11,092.90 today. It closed the session with a hefty rise of 117.50 points at a fresh life high of 11,083.70, bettering its previous record

BRIEFLY NEW DELHI

Microsoft unveils Xbox One X at ~44,990 Microsoft on Tuesday launched the Xbox One X, aimed at hard-core Indian gamers at Rs 44,990 and will be available for purchase online in India on the Microsoft India store, Amazon India and Flipkart. Users can also buy the Xbox One X from Landmark and Croma retail stores. TNS NEW DELHI

Nissan rolls out Datsun redi-GO AMT Nissan Motor India on Tuesday launched automated manual transmission (AMT) version of its redi-GO entry level model from Datsun stable, priced at an introductory price of Rs 3.8 lakh. Deliveries will begin from Tuesday across the country, the company said. PTI CHANDIGARH

LG launches ‘KarSalaam’ initiative LG Electronics India on Tuesday launched ‘KarSalaam’ initiative dedicated to the Indian soldiers. The campaign invites the nation to come forward and send their wishes to the Armed Forces. Through this initiative, LG will salute the soldiers’ spirit of selfless contribution and service towards the nation. TNS

close of 10,966.20 reached in yesterday’s trade. Religare Broking President Jayant Manglik said: “Propelled by a combination of liquidity and optimism, Nifty rose to an all-time-high crossing 11,000. This bull run, lasting for more than a year now, has seen markets ignore higher crude prices and global geopolitical issues while latching on to domestic positives...Such buoyancy in markets was last seen in 2000.” Meanwhile, foreign portfolio

The major trigger behind the boost in investors optimism was the IMF’s forecast about India’s GDP growth The Sensex took just five trading sessions to reach the historic 36,000-level from 35,000, while the Nifty rose to 11,000-mark from 10,000 in 6 months

investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1,567.51 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold equities worth Rs 461.87 crore yesterday as per provisional data. Sensex components which supported the key indices to hit fresh highs were SBI (3.84%), Tata Steel (3.72%), ONGC (3.60%), ICICI Bank (3.06%), Coal India (3.04%), IndusInd Bank (2.37%), Infosys (2.16%), Dr Reddy’s (1.24%), M&M (1.14%), RIL (1.08%), ITC (1.08%), Yes Bank (1.01%) and Maruti Suzuki (0.97%). — PTI

Vijay C Roy Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 23 The engineering exporters from the northern region hope that the Union Budget will entail decisive fiscal steps to boost the exports that have been hit after the demonetisation and GST. The engineering exports from the region are dominated by the SMEs. Across the country, 40% of engineering exports come from the MSME sector. The engineering industry comprises hand tools, agriculture equipment, auto parts, casting and forgings, cycle parts and textile equipment etc. The total turnover of engineering exports from the region is around Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 crore. The industry, which is already grappling with high steel prices, has the following demands:

Faster GST refund “The exporters need special attention, especially after the implementation of GST. A significant portion of the exporters’ working capital is waiting for refund from the Centre. This is one of the fac-

Budget EXPECTATIONS ENGG EXPORTS tors which are affecting the competitive edge of exports. So, the government should evolve a mechanism so that the exporters’ refunds can be expedited,” said SC Ralhan, a hand tool exporter from Ludhiana.

Freight subsidy The exporters have to spend a significant amount on transportation of goods — first to import the raw material and then to export the finished goods. Being a landlocked state, they have to bear huge transportation charges which are being absorbed in the export pric-

Petro prices: OilMin wants GST on fitness services: reduction in excise duty MP to take up issue

Jio hikes per day data limit by 500 MB

New Delhi: Petrol prices on Tuesday hit the highest level since the BJP government came to power in 2014, and diesel touched a record high of Rs 63.20 a litre, prompting the oil ministry to seek a cut in excise duty. Petrol price rose to Rs 72.38 per litre in Delhi, highest since March 2014, according to daily fuel price list of state-owned oil firms. Rates have risen by Rs 3.31 per litre since mid-December. In Mumbai, prices have crossed Rs 80mark - costliest in the country. Diesel is being sold at Rs 67.30 in Mumbai, where the local sales tax or VAT rates are higher. Since mid-December, diesel rates have jumped Rs 4.86 a litre, according to oil companies. The spurt in rates, caused by the rally in international oil prices, has led to the oil ministry asking the finance ministry for a cut in excise duty in the Union Budget 2018-19, to be presented in Parliament next week. PTI

New Delhi: Stepping up the tariff war, Reliance Jio has decided to offer 500 MB extra data to its subscribers using 1GB and 1.5GB per day data packs with effect from January 26. Besides, as part of its ‘Republic Day offer’, it will double the validity of Rs 98 pack to 28 days from the current 14 days from January 26 onwards, they said. “Jio will always offer more value to its customers, and offer Rs 50 lower price than competition and 50% more data on its plans. As part of Republic Day offer, all existing 1 GB per day packs enhanced to 1.5 GB per day, 1.5 GB per day packs enhanced to 2 GB per day,” the sources said. Bharti Airtel had recently introduced Rs 399 plan offering unlimited calls and 1GB 4G data daily with 84 days validity. With this new offer, Jio’s flagship Rs 399 plan will provide free voice, unlimited 4G data with 1.5 GB daily, unlimited SMS and premium subscription to Jio Apps for 84 days. PTI

Jalandhar: Jalandhar MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh has assured the fitness-freak fraternity that he will raise the issue of imposition of 18% GST on gym-related services in the next session of Parliament. “Of late awareness about good health is growing among people of India and they are using gym as a medium to keep themselves fit. But, instead of encouraging the industry with incentives, the Central government has imposed 18% GST on all gym-related services. The Centre should bring gyms out of the GST purview for the sake of improvement of public health,” said US-based Managing Director of Gold Gym Amolak Singh Gakhal and his promoter brother Natha Singh Gakhal. He was speaking at the launch of ‘The Gold fit’ — a series of unconventional ways to improve health by the gym management. TNS

ing, leading to losing out business as compared to their competitors. “The Centre should consider providing transport/freight subsidy and enable the exporters from the hinterland to compete with their counterparts in the coastal states and other countries,” said Ashwani Kohli, senior vice-president, Punjab Chamber of Small Exporters.

Curb rising steel prices Upkar Singh Ahuja, president, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertaking, said the daily increase in the prices of steel is hitting the MSME units manufacturing auto parts, bicycles and its parts, sewing machines, electrical machinery, textile machinery, fasteners, hand tools and other products. Industries are cutting down their production due to uncertainty in steel prices. He said the steel prices have seen an increase of 35% during the past one year. The chamber is planning to take a delegation to meet Union Finance Minister, Steel Minister and Secretary, Steels, for intervention into

Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 23 Country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) will launch all-new Swift at the Auto Expo on February 8. The company has already opened the bookings for it. Pioneering the compact car segment in India, Swift has evolved in the new avatar and the company hopes to further strengthen its hold in the segment with the India premiere at the Auto Expo. The iconic Swift, which continues to feature among

DRAFT OF OUTDOOR ADVERTISEMENT POLICY AND BYELAWS: COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS INVITED

Corrigendum No. 1 to e-tender enquiry No. REC-226

Office of Civil Surgeon, SBS Nagar (Phone No. 01823-503247)

PUBLIC NOTICE

Walk-in Interview

This is to inform that the Department of Local Government Punjab has formulated Outdoor Advertisement Policy and Byelaws for regulating Outdoor Media Devices within the jurisdiction of Urban Local Bodies of Punjab. The Draft Policy and Byelaws is available on the website of Department Local Government lgpunjab.gov.in. To enrich the process of formulation of the Policy and Byelaws, comments/suggestions are solicited from general public by e-mail advpolicypblocalgovt@gmail.com on before 31.01.2018 up to 5.00 p.m. Sd/- Director, Department of Local Government, Punjab. Directorate, Local Government, Punjab, Municipal Bhawan, Plot No. 3, Sector 35-A, Chandigarh. DPR/Pb/D340

Shakti Bhawan, Panchkula CIN No. U4010HR1997SGC033683

Rs. 18000/per month

01.02-2018 11:00 a.m.

Place of Posting Urban PHC Nawanshahr

Note:- For further term & conditions contact personally on any working day from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at Civil Surgeon Office Distt. SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr).

Sd/- Civil Surgeon, SBS Nagar.

DPR/Pb/D346

Detail NIT and tender document is available at website https://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in, httpns://www.hvpn.gov.in PRDH/60375

e-TENDER NOTICE Tenders on Percentage Rate basis through electronic tendering process are invited on behalf of President of India from the enlisted/eligible contractor of Engineering Department, U.T. Chandigarh, and those of appropriate list of CPWD, State PWDs of Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh who fulfil the criteria as per tender notice which shall be uploaded and received on http://etenders.chd.nic.in/nicgep Name of Work and location

Irrigation & PH Department

(A State Govt. Undertaking) HPPTCL Zone, Chamba, Distt. Chamba (H.P.)—176318. Tel./Fax No. 01899-220831 E-mail:- dgmchamba.hpptcl@gmail.com Head office: Himfed Bhawan, Panjari, Shimla-5, www.hpptcl.gov.in

Auction Notice

NOTICE INVITING TENDER (N. I. T.) Sealed Bids are hereby invited on behalf of Managing Director, HPPTCL ,Shimla by the Dy. General Manager (Projects), HPPTCL, Chamba Zone, Karian at Chamba from the Experienced/Reputed surveying companies for the below mentioned JOB/WORK of survey:TENDER DOC. No:

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Preliminary/Detailed Survey for the HPPTCL/ Lilloing of 132 KV D/C Transmission DGM (P) Line Kurtha - Bathri at Proposed Survey 33/132/220 KV GIS Substation Mazra /Mazra/ at Pukhari in Distt. Chamba under 2017-18 HPPTCL PIU Karian Chamba using Modern survey Techniques along with Preparation of Forest Clearance Case complete in all respect

DATE OF LAST DATE AMOUNT OF ESTIMATED COST OF BID OF RECEIPT OPENING EARNEST DOCUMENT COST MONEY (IN Rs.) OF TENDER OF TENDER (IN Rs.) (Rs. IN LAKH)

07.00 Lakh

2000.00

17500.00

8.02.2018 up to 1.00 pm

08.02.2018 at 3.30 pm

The following vehicle will be put on sale by Public Auction in the premises of following place under the control of the Assistant Engineer, IPH Sub Divn. No. 1, Una on 08.02.2018 at 2.30 p.m. All the interested parties are invited to attend the auction proceeding as per terms and conditions detailed below. The vehicle put to auction can be seen on any working day with in office hours in the premises as mentioned below:Sr. Description Model Location of Reserve Security Qty. vehicle Value of amount No. of Vehicle vehicle 5000/500/1 1. Maruti Gypsy 1994 Parked at IPH No. HP-03-1503 Colony Bangarh under IPH Sub Divn. No. 1, Una 5000/500/1 1978 Parked at IPH 2. Jeep HPS No. Distt. Lab., 6748/HP-07AUna 2333

Annual repair of non-residential building Block L, N parking and porch in front of Block A. Emergency Block M, Sarai Building, Radiotherapy & link passage between Block A & C in GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh for the year 2017-18. Annual repair of non-residential building Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh for the year 2017-18 (Block-A).

06.02.2018 06.02.2018 up to up to 3:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m.

The tender document can only be downloaded by the contractor/bidders from the website http://etenders.chd.nic.in/nicgep.

Sd/- Executive Engineer, C.P. Division No. 5, Chandigarh.

DPR/UT/555-57

Term and Conditions:1.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: 1. The detailed Scope of Work is given in the Bidding Document. 2. A Set of Bid Document containing Technical Specifications, Commercial Terms and Conditions can be seen and obtained from the office of Sr. Manager (Projects), HPPTCL PIU Chamba, Village Karian, Tehsil & Distt. Chamba (H.P.) from 24.01.2018 to 07.02.2018 on payment of Cost by Demand Draft, in favour of Sr. Manager (Projects) HPPTCL, Chamba payable at Punjab National Bank at Chamba (H.P.), on any working day from 24.01.2018 to 07.02.2018 (between 10.00 a.m. to 04.00 p.m.). Bids of the Firms, who do not purchase the Bid Documents in advance, shall not be opened. 3. The Bidders shall deposit Earnest Money as mentioned above along with Bid, which shall be placed in a Separate Sealed Envelope. The earnest money in the shape of Bank Draft payable at Punjab National Bank Chamba in favour of Sr. Manager (Projects) HPPTCL PIU Chamba or FDR is only accepted. Bids not accompanied with requisite Earnest Money in a Separate Envelope as stated above shall not be opened. 4. Bids in duplicate superscribed with Bid Document Number and Date of Opening, complete in all respects will be received in double sealed cover up to 01.00 pm on the Last Date of Receipt of Bids as mentioned above. Bids will be opened in the office of Dy. General Manager, HPPTCL, Chamba, Village Karian, Chamba (H.P.) on the same date at 3.30 pm. 5. The Bids will remain valid for a period of 60 days from the Date of Opening. 6. The HP Power Transmission Corporation Limited reserves the right to reject any/or all the Bids and to alter the Scope of Work without assigning any reason. 7. In case Bid Opening Date happens to be a holiday, the next working day shall be the Date of Opening. 8. Qualification Requirements for Bidder are given in the Bid Document. 9. NOTE: Bidders are requested to visit the site before submission of Bids to ascertain the site conditions. 10. The Bidding Documents are not transferable and Cost of Bidding Documents shall not be refunded under any circumstances.

DPR/HP/737

Sr. No.

Himachal Pradesh

HIMACHAL PRADESH POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION

Sd/- Superindending Engineer/MM-I, For CE/MM, HVPNL, Panchkula.

Estimated cost put to tender Earnest money Time of completion

Medical Officer (Part Time) MBBS from a Evening Timing recognized University Summer 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. Age: Up to 64 years Winter 3.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.

Consolidated Date/Venue/ Number Salary Time of Posts

the top five best selling cars in India for over a decade now, has a brand new design and is engineered with the best of Suzuki’s design capabilities and built on the innovative fifth generation “HEARTECT” platform. The platform gets more strength and rigidity and helps to improve the power to weight ratio, leading to better acceleration performance. The all-new Swift is wider, compact and with longer wheel base it allows more cabin space, headroom and luggage space.

The last date of online bid submission is extended up to 29.01.2018 with date of opening on 30.01.2018.

Rs. Rs. 25,84,835/- 25,64,440/-

Eligibility Qualification

According to the Federation of Indian Exporters, the government should give impetus to marketing through tax deductions. Many countries have become extremely aggressive to push their exports. “Unfortunately, we have very meagre allocation for Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme which supports export marketing,” said a senior official in the FIEO. The FIEO has proposed the creation of an Export Development Fund to the tune of at least 0.5% of total exports to support export marketing. Alternatively, the government may provide 100% tax deduction on the expenditure incurred by the exporters for overseas marketing. Such a move will help showcasing the Indian products overseas.

HARYANA VIDYUT PRASARAN NIGAM LTD

NIT No.

Name of the Position

Impetus to marketing

Maruti to roll out new Swift on Feb 8

NATIONAL HEALTH MISSION DEPARTMENT OF THE HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

National Health Mission, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar invites eligible candidates for Walk in interview for the post of Medical Officer (Part time) under Urban Health Mission (National Health Mission) on purely contract basis. The interested candidates who fulfil the eligibility conditions & other criteria may attend the walk in interview on the following date, time & venue:-

the matter. The industry demands that since the export of prime steel doesn’t add additional value, it should be discouraged and banned. The chamber apprehends that this will keep the prices in control.

Time & date of opening of tender

benchmark indices were driven by strong gains mainly in metal, banking, IT and infra shares amid earnings optimism

Last date and time for submission of bid

■ Both

05 Months

EUPHORIC RUN

05 Months

Mumbai, January 23 Domestic equities continued euphoric run for the fifth straight day riding a wave of optimism, with the BSE Sensex surging past the 36,000-level and the NSE Nifty breaching the 11,000mark for the first time ever following IMF’s GDP forecasts for India coupled with positive global cues. Both benchmark indices were driven by strong gains mainly in metal, banking, IT and infra shares amid earnings optimism. The major trigger behind the boost in investors optimism was the IMF’s forecast that India’s GDP growth will hit 7.4% in 2018-19 and the country will regain the status of the world’s fastest growing major economy. Continuing its record-setting run for the fifth straight session, the BSE benchmark Sensex hit a new high of 36,170.83 (intra-day) on the back of widespread gains in metal, PSU, oil and gas and financial counters. Finally, the 30-share index settled at 36,139.98, up 341.97 points, breaching its previous record of 35,798.01 reached

steps to give fillip to exports

Rs 51,697/- Rs 51,290/-

Sensex breaches 36,000-mark, Nifty closes above 11,000

Sd/- DGM (Projects), HPPTCL, Chamba Zone, Distt. Chamba (H.P.)

Each bidder participating in the auction shall deposit an amount of security in the shape of FDR of any National bank duly pledged in the name of concerned Assistant Engineer, IPH Sub Divn. No. 1, Una.

The successful bidder shall have to deposit the full and final amount on the fall of hummer and other bidder shall be refunded the security after the auction is over.

The above vehicle is offered for auction on as is and where is basis. The packing and transportation charges will be the responsibility of bidder in whose name the vehicle is released.

The successful bidder shall be liable to lift the vehicle from the premises as mentioned as above on the same day after acceptance of the bid making full and final payment. In case successful bidder fails to lift the vehicle released in his name the undersigned reserves the right to forfeit the amount deposit by him.

In case of any dispute relating to the sale of vehicle the decision of undersigned or representative of undersigned at the spot will be final.

The undersigned reserves the right to accept/reject any bid without assigning any reason thereon.

The auction will be made on the schedule date &time by the concerned Assistant Engineer IPH Sub Divn. No. 1, Una where the vehicle is parked.

Sd/- Assistant Engineer, IPH Sub Div. No. 1, Una. HIM SUCHNA AVAM JAN SAMPARK

DPR/HP/738

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THE TRIBUNE

WORLD

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

Trump signs funding bill to end 69-hour govt shutdown Claims ‘big win’ for Republicans, says Democrats caved in Washington, January 23 Claiming victory, President Donald Trump has signed a short-term government funding bill ending the 69-hour shutdown as Democrats voted to reopen the government after a deal with ruling Republicans to hold a debate on the future of young undocumented immigrants. The stop-gap funding, which expires on February 8, passed both the Senate and House by large margins last night after opposition Democrats received a commitment from Republicans toward securing the fate of hundreds of thousands of socalled “Dreamers” illegally brought to America as children. The spending bill passed the Senate by 81-18 and the House of Representatives by 266-150. The measure funds the government till February 8, before which the Democrats and Republicans need to agree to a long-term solution to the government funding and on issues related to illegal immigration. Claiming victory in his standoff with Democrats, Trump signed the measure into law and government operations would return to normal today. Thousands of federal employees who had been placed on temporary, unpaid leave since Saturday breathed a sigh of relief. “Big win for Republicans as Democrats cave on Shutdown,” Trump tweeted. “I am pleased that Democrats in Congress have come to their

‘DREAMERS’ SHATTERED ■ Young “Dreamers” brought to

the US illegally as kids were angry and disappointed after the US Congress approved a temporary spending bill to end shutdown without a deal to shore up their shaky legal status ■ US Senate Democrats accepted

the bill in exchange for a promise by Republicans to hold a debate on the status of young immigrants ■ President Trump ordered an end

DACA recipients and supporters protest for a clean Dream Act outside Disneyland in Anaheim, California. REUTERS

by March to protections provided to the estimated 700,000 Dreamers under the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme (DACA), an executive order put in place by Barack Obama

I am pleased that Democrats in ❝ Congress have come to their senses

We’ve been very clear about what ❝ we want to see in any legislation, and I

and are now willing to fund our great military, border patrol, first responders, and insurance for vulnerable children. Once the government is funded, my administration will work toward solving the problem of very unfair illegal immigration.❞ Donald Trump,

don’t think that there’s a whole lot of daylight between where we are and where the Democrats are. We certainly want to negotiate and get to a place, and we’re hopeful that we can do that over the next couple weeks.❞

Sarah Sanders,

US PRESIDENT

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY

senses and are now willing to fund our great military, border patrol, first responders, and insurance for vulnerable children,” Trump said in a statement. He said he will make a longterm deal on immigration only if it is good for the country and will work towards solving the problem, once the government is funded. “As I have always said, once the government is funded,

my administration will work toward solving the problem of very unfair illegal immigration. We will make a longterm deal on immigration if, and only if, it is good for our country,” he said. “We will vote today to reopen the government,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said earlier on the Senate floor, saying he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had

reached an “arrangement.” McConnell reiterated the same on the Senate floor, adding the shutdown was distracting senators from focusing on passing legislation. Following Democrats vote in the Senate to end the government shutdown, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the Democrats realise the position that they had taken, frankly, was indefensible. — PTI

US asks Pak to expel Taliban leaders after Kabul attack Washington, January 23 The US has asked Pakistan to immediately arrest or expel Taliban leaders who are carrying out terror attacks across the border in Afghanistan, days after the militant group attacked a landmark hotel in Kabul that left 22 people dead. The terse White House statement came after the Taliban claimed responsibility for a major terror attack at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul on Saturday that killed at least 22 persons, including 14 foreigners and eight Afghans. “We call on Pakistan to immediately arrest or expel the Taliban’s leaders and prevent the group from using Pakistani territory to support its operations,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters. “In Afghanistan, where terrorists attacked a hotel in

AMERICAN FATALITIES IN HOTEL TERROR Americans were among the dead and wounded in the weekend attack by Taliban gunmen on a Kabul luxury hotel, a State Department official said on Tuesday. “We can confirm that there were US citizen fatalities and injuries,” the official said, without specifying how many Americans were involved. “We offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who were killed and wish for the speedy recovery of those wounded.” Kabul, such attacks on civilians only strengthen our resolve to support our Afghan partners,” Sanders said. “We commend the swift and effective response of the Afghan security forces. Afghan forces, with our support, will continue to relentlessly pursue the enemies of Afghanistan, who also seek to export terror around the world,” she said. Pakistan is facing mounting pressure from the US to take action against terror groups and dismantle their safe havens.

Required Executive Secretary

Suspect held for minor girl’s rape, murder Lahore, January 23 A 23-year-old neighbour has been arrested in the brutal rape and murder case of a minor girl and his DNA sample matched with the sample found from the victim's body, days after the heinous crime in Kasur city in Pakistan’s Punjab province sparked a national outrage. The police sources confirmed suspect Imran Ali, a neighbour of the sevenyear-old victim, had confessed to his crime before an investigation team. Forensic specialists confirmed that the DNA sample from accused Ali matches with the sample found from the girl’s body, Geo News reported, citing its sources. The accused’s DNA also matches the samples taken from seven other minor girls who were abused and mur-

Members of Civil Society light candles to flay the rape and murder of 7-year-old girl during a candlelight vigil in Islamabad. REUTERS FILE dered earlier in the area, it said. Ali was known to the girl’s family and would also frequent her house, sources said. They said Ali had been taken into cus-

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GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB

OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONERCUM-CHAIRMAN SHIVRATRI MELA COMMITTEE, MANDI HIMACHAL PRADESH Ph. No. : 01905-225201, e-mail : dc-man-hp@nic.in

DPR/Pb/D-344

XEN, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Patiala, Branch NOTICE INVITING TENDER Dated: 23.01.2018

No. Shivratri/ 2018-922

PUNJAB STATE POWER CORPORATION LTD Regd Office: PSEB Head Office, The Mall, Patiala – 147001 Corporate Identification Number (CIN): U40109PB2010SGC033813 Phone No. 0175-2213047, Fax No. 0175-2225024 Mob: 096461-22955, 096461-11033 e-mail: po-poles@pspcl.in e-tendering page: https://pspcl.abcprocure.com

TENDER NOTICE Short Description

For detailed terms and conditions of the notice inviting bid refer to punjab.gov.in and www.eproc.punjab.gov.in. Corrigendum, if any will be issued on website only.

XEN (PRD) Patiala.

BADDI BAROTIWALA NALAGARH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BBNDA, EPIP Phase I, Jharmajri, Baddi District - Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India Phone No. 01795-271121, 23 Fax: 01795-271122 www.hptender.gov.in ; https://admis.hp.nic.in/himachal/hpidb

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) NOTICE SELECTION OF AGENCY FOR SETTING UP OF AN INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT FOR COLLECTION, TRANSPORTATION, PROCESSING AND DISPOSAL IN BADDI CLUSTER IN THE STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH THROUGH PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) BASIS. The CEO, BBNDA invites proposals for selection of an agency for setting up of integrated solid waste management project in Baddi Cluster (BBNDA, Municipal Council of Baddi, Parwanoo and Nalagarh together forming the ‘Baddi Cluster’) for a period of 25 years in the State of Himachal Pradesh through PPP frame work on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) basis. The Request for Proposal (RFP) document can be downloaded from the Website: www.hptender.gov.in ; https://admis.hp.nic.in/himachal/hpidb from 22nd January, 2018: 11:30 A.M. onwards. Last date for submission of the proposal is 27th March, 2018 by 16:00 hrs. Pre-Bid meeting shall be held on 23rd February, 2018, 11:30 A.M. at Himachal Bhawan, New Delhi. BBNDA reserves the right to accept or reject any or all tenders without assigning any reason whatsoever. Chief Executive Officer, BBNDA.

DPR/H.P./734

Date: 20.01.2018 Adv. No. ________ Place: Baddi, Distt. Solan (H.P.)

tody over two weeks ago but was let go on the victim family’s plea that ‘he could not be a culprit’. On January 5, the girl had gone missing while going to a religious tuition centre near her house in Kasur city, some 50-km from Lahore. Her parents had been in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and she had been living with her maternal aunt. After her abduction, a CCTV footage showed her walking with a stranger near Peerowala Road. On January 9, her body was recovered from a heap of trash near the Shahbaz Khan Road. Autopsy report had confirmed rape. The Supreme Court on last Sunday gave a 72-hour deadline to Inspector General of Police to arrest the culprit. — PTI

ÎÂ«‘◊Û∑ √≈«‘Ï

Walk-in interview for the post of Executive Secretary, Red Cross along with original documents of qualification and experience on 29.01.2018 at 11 a.m. at Red Cross Bhawan, Tarn Taran. The post is purely on contractual basis and on consolidated salary. The candidates should be graduate and having atleast 8 years administrative experience. Preference will be given to a retired Gazetted Officer below the age of 62 years. Honorary Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, District Branch, Tarn Taran. DPR/Pb/D351

Tender Notice No. 2

Benton, january 23 A 15-year-old boy opened fire with a handgun in his high school in Kentucky on Tuesday, killing two classmates and wounding over a dozen others before being arrested. The shooting began shortly before 8 am CST at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, a town about 130 miles from Nashville, Tennessee, according to Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin. Nineteen students were struck by gunfire, and two of them were fatally wounded. A boy and a girl, both 15, were pronounced dead at a hospital trauma centre, Bevin said. The police said the violence erupted when the suspect walked into the school armed with a handgun and started shooting. The governor said the youth was apprehended at the scene “in a nonviolent way”. No further details of the circumstances of the shooting were immediately divulged by authorities. — Reuters

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TARN TARAN RED CROSS BRANCH

Dept. inviting Work:XEN (PR) Patiala Brief of Work:1. SUPPLY OF BREAKFAST AND DINNER FOR 400 PEOPLE AND LUNCH FOR 200 PEOPLE FROM 20.02.2018 TO 04.03.2018 AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AT PATIALA. 2. PROVIDING DIFFERENT MODERN TECHNIQUE AMUSEMENT SWINGS FOR ENTERTAINMENT IN APPROX. 215X100 SFT. AREA FOR SARAS MELA AT SHEESH MAHAL PATIALA FROM 20.02.18 TO 04.03.18. Cost of work/ 1. TO BE QUOTED BY SUPPLIE/ Earnest Money:RS. 50,000/- FOR WORK No. 1. 2. Rs. 15,00,000/-, RS. 1,00,000/- FOR WORK No. 2. Area at Work:SHEESH MAHAL, PATIALA. Date of opening of bid:01.02.2018

President Donald Trump has said that Pakistan has given nothing to the US but “lies and deceit” and suspended about $2 billion in security aid to the country. A spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry said yesterday that after the deadly siege ended on Sunday, security forces also defused a vehicle full of explosives near the site of the attack. Afghan security forces said they had killed the last of six Taliban militants who stormed the hilltop hotel. — PTI

2dead,17hurt inUS shooting

Design, Manufacture, Testing before dispatch & Delivery of 19,000 Nos. 11KV, 400 Amp Air Break (AB) switches against PSPCL Tender Enquiry QQ-2289/PO-P. 19.02.2018 (up to 11:30 a.m.)

Last date for downloading of Specification/tender documents from https://pspcl.abcprocure.com Last date for Bid Submission 20.02.2018 (up to 11:00 a.m.) Bid Opening date 20.02.2018 (11:30 a.m.) For detailed NIT & Tender specification please refer to https://pspcl.abcprocure.com Note:- It is informed that in case tender process is not completed due to any reason, no corrigendum will be published in newspaper. Details regarding corrigendum may be seen on official PSPCL website www.pspcl.in C-33/18 DPR/Pb/C443

Sd/- Chief Purchase Officer/MM For CE/MM, PSPCL, Patiala.

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited Regd Office:- PSEB Head Office , The Mall , Patiala—147001 Corporate Identity Number (CIN):- U40109PB2010SGC033813 WEBSITE:- www.pspcl.in

e-Tender Enquiry No. 127/P-1/PCM-1/EMP-W/11335 dated 18.01.18 & ID: 34251 Scope of Work: Routine cleaning of tech & non-tech buildings (stage-II & III) including toilets & cleaning of sewerage line at GGSSTP, Rupnagar Time period: For one year. EMD: @2% of quoted rates Date & time up to which tender shall be received 05/02/2018 & 11:00 am Date & time of opening of tender 05/02/2018 & 11:30 am Tender specification can only be downloaded from PSPCL website https://pspcl.abcprocure.com/ & no hard copy of the same will be issued by this office. NOTE: 1. In case any difficulty regarding uploading of the tender the prospective bidders are requested to get clarification from this office and or M/s e-procurement Technologies Ltd. Contact No. +91-(79)-40016866/ 40/38/18/21. It is also requested to get their digital signature well in time so as to submit tenders through e-tendering only. 2. The prospective bidders are requested to visit the PSPCL website periodically even after downloading the specifications to check for corrigendum issued, if any. No corrigendum shall be published in newspaper. RTP 3/18 DPR/Pb/C445

Sd/- Dy. C.E./Monitoring, GGSSTP, Roopnagar.

√‘Δ/-«‚Í‡Δ ’«ÓÙÈ-’Ó-‚Δ.ÍΔ.√Δ. (Ó◊È∂◊≈), ÎÂ«‘◊Û∑ √≈«‘ÏÕ

Mandi, the 19th Jan 2018

Short term notice inviting tenders/ rates for cultural nights during Shivratri Mela- 2018 for Star Artists, live play back singers, Punjabi, Hindi and Laughter. This is to inform all concerned that the International Shivratri Mela - 2018 will be held in Mandi Town w.e.f. 14/02/2018 to 21/02/2018. During this Mela Cultural Programme will be held in the evening w.e.f. 15/02/2018 to 20/02/2018 in which various artists like playback singers, Commedians, Punjabi Singers, Qawali/ Sufi singer, Group performances and other stage performance etc are proposed to be held. The expression of interest/ proposal are hereby invited from all the interested parties/ Event Managers so as to reach the office of the undersigned on or before 01/02/2018 till 1.00PM. The same shall be opened in the presence of interested parties on the same day at 3.30PM. The terms and conditions can be seen in the official website www.hpmandi.gov.in and in case of any query contact Addl. Deputy Commissioner on telephone No. 01905-225203. Secretary (A.C), Shivratri Mela Committee District Mandi H.P.

ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL UNCHI BASSI PO LAMIN, TEHSIL, DASUYA, DISTRICT HOSHIARPUR, (PUNJAB) MAIL ID: armyschoolub@gmail.com, Tele: 01883-253200 Application are invited for selection/panel for the following posts in the category of regular/contractual staff by 07 Feb, 2018:Post Subject Eligibility PGT Biology, Geography, CSB qualified, Post graduation & B.Ed with min Political Science 50% in each PGT Physical Education Master degree in Physical Education with min 50% and CSB qualified TGT Biology, Maths, Hindi, CSB & TET/CTET qualified, Post graduation/ English, Fine Arts graduation with relevant subject & B.Ed with min 50% in each TGT Counsellor Post graduate in psychology/BA with psychology or graduate with a certificate of Diploma in counseling with min experience of three years as counsellor PRT General All subjects, CSB & TET/CTET qualified, Post graduation/graduation with relevant subject & B.Ed with min 50% in each The interview for PGTs (CSB card holder & those who have qualified CSB test held on 15 Jan, 2018) likely to be held during Feb, 2018. Candidates who have already cleared CSB previously can also apply. Candidates may submit applications at APS Unchi Bassi by hand or by registered post along with DD of Rs. 100/- in favour of Army Public School Unchi Bassi by 07 Feb, 2018. Application forms can be downloaded from school website: www.armyschoolunchibassi.org. Interview for selection of PRTs will be held separately. One candidate my apply for more than one post separately. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for interview. All Candidates will be tested for computer proficiency. Written test for language teachers will be held before interview No TA/DA will be admissible. TRC-35602

Sd/- Offg Principal.

H.P. Khadi & Village Industries Board, Cleave Land, Shimla — 171004. TENDER NOTICE Sealed tenders are invited for sale of products at the Sala Emporium 13-The Mall, Shimla for three counters on “Minimum Sale Guarantee” (MSG) basis for a period of three year as follows: 1) Himachal Shawl-Counter No.-2 2) All sorts of Village Industries products- Counter No. 4 3) Precious and Semi-precious stone Jewellery- Counter No. 5 The tender document containing details can be obtained from the Incharge, Sale Emporium, 13-The Mall Shimla or the headquarters of the Board situated at Cleave Land (Near H.P, Vidhan Sabha), Shimla — 171004 on payment of Rs. 1000/- w.e.f 29.01.2018 onwards. The counter can be seen in the above sale emporium on any working day between 11.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. Sealed tenders under two cover system (Technical Bid & Financial bid) should reach headquarters of the Board on or before 19.02.2018 up to 2.00 p.m. which will be opened on the same day at 3.00 PM in the presence of the tenderers/bidders or their representatives. For any query may contact on Tel. No. 0177-2653229, 2807794, 9418081127. DPR/HP/736

Sd/- Chief Executive Officer.

SPORT

14 KARACHI

Yousuf advises struggling Sarfraz to consult Dhoni Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has advised national team captain and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to consult MS Dhoni to get over his fitness and form issues. “I think Sarfraz needs to work on his fitness and skills a lot more,” Yousuf said. “Dhoni led India admirably in all three formats for a long time and performed not only as captain but also as a batsman and wicketkeeper. Sarfraz can learn a lot from him.” NEW DELHI

Saina wants to skip Asia Team C’ship, BAI not keen Saina Nehwal wants to skip next month’s Asia Team Championship to prepare for the All England Championship but the Badminton Association of India (BAI) is trying to convince the Indian ace to play the event, which also serves as a qualifier for the prestigious Uber Cup. BAI is trying to convince Saina to modify her training program and accommodate the tournament in her schedule.

A gripping

PWL: Haryana beat UP, to face same team in semis

affair

Sun Yanan and Roublejit Rangi won the last two bouts as Haryana Hammers beat UP Dangal in the last league encounter of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) here today. The victory sealed the second spot for the Hammers and set up a semifinal clash against the same opponents. Veer Marathas will take on Punjab Royals in the other semifinal. — Agencies

Looking for a consolation win, India mull all-seam attack for the final Test; hosts aim for a clean sweep

TODAY ON TV 3RD TEST INDIA VS SOUTH AFRICA SONY SIX, 1:30PM

TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN SONY SIX, 5:30AM (Federer vs Berdych: 2PM)

Virat Kohli checks his bat during a training session in Johannesburg on Tuesday. AFP

be in the same positions we were in the first two Tests and Virat Kohli close the game ❞

SERIES SO FAR First Test, Cape Town: South Africa won by 72 runs Second Test, Centurion: South Africa won by 135

CAN INDIA REMAIN UNBEATEN IN JOHANNESBURG? India have never lost a Test in Johannesburg, having won 1 and drawn 3 out of four Tests played there since 1992: Year

1992 1997 2006 2013

SA 292 & 252, India 227 & 141/4 India 410 & 266/8d, SA 321 & 228/8 India 249 & 236, SA 84 & 278 India 280 & 421, SA 244 & 450/7

❝

We need to wait a couple of hours. Tomorrow I am going to do a test, an MRI here, then we will know. I start to feel the muscle little bit tired in the third, but playing normal, no limits, no limitation. Then in the fourth at one movement, one drop shot I think, I felt something. At that moment I thought something happened, but I didn’t realise how bad. Somebody who is running the tour should think a little bit about what’s going on. I don’t know if they have to think a little bit about the health of the players. Not for now that we are playing, but there is life after tennis. I don’t know if we keep playing in these very, very hard surfaces what’s going to happen in the future with our lives. Rafa Nadal It was an unbelievable performance from the both of us and it is really unfortunate for Rafa, he’s an unbelievable competitor, always gives his best and it’s very unfortunate to finish this way for him. Marin Cilic

Of the seven Grand Slam quarterfinal defeats of his career, five have now come at the Australian Open

Bops-Babos in quarters Rohan Bopanna and Hungary’s Timea Babos entered the mixed doubles quarterfinals after beating USA’s Vania King and Croatia’s Franko Skugor 6-4 6-4. — PTI the blue hardcourts at Melbourne Park. The 16-time Grand Slam champion said he felt the strain in the third set but was not affected until the fourth when it twinged during a scramble for a drop-shot. He signed off his news conference on a sour note, complaining that too many players were getting injuries. “Somebody who is running the tour should think a little bit about what’s going on,” said the Spaniard.

Majestic performance It overshadowed a majestic performance from sixth seed Cilic who reached his second Australian Open semifinal eight years after losing to Murray at the 2010 tournament. Bashing forehands as if felling trees with an axe, the 2014 US Open champion struck a mindboggling 83 winners to set up a clash with 49th-ranked Briton Kyle Edmund. Unseeded Edmund bludgeoned his way to a shock 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over third seed Grigor Dimitrov. The South Africa-born 23-yearold, playing in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, showed no nerves as he blazed away with his fearsome forehand to subdue a jaded-looking Dimitrov. There were nerves as Edmund served for victory but he held firm to become only the sixth British player to make a Major semifinal in the Open era. — Reuters

It was my hip. I started to feel it actually after the final in Brisbane. It’s been there all the time. I had pain all the time. But with painkillers, it was fine. Elina Svitolina It’s hard to hide the disappointment. It’s how I feel. It hurts and so it should. I need to give myself a couple of days just to relax and reassess. I need to be smart the way I’m practising now, not to overdo it again, but in the same time make sure I find my rhythm again. Grigor Dimitrov I am loving it right now, just the way I’m playing. I’m 23 years old, my first Grand Slam semifinal. First time I played on one of the biggest courts in the world. To beat a quality of player like Grigor. They’re great feelings. Kyle Edmund

Result

Scores

Spaniard suffers injury, retires hurt early in fifth set; Cilic to meet Edmund in semis

Rafa Nadal grimaces as he receives medical assistance during his match against Marin Cilic. REUTERS

A day after India coach Ravi Shastri said that an extra 10 days of practice might have made a difference, Kohli said he was happy with the preparations and it was their own mistakes that cost them the series. “I don’t feel that we didn’t feel prepared, I won’t sit here and point that out after losing the series,” said Kohli. — Agencies

We are going to treat this Test as an individual Test match ❝ that we need to come out and play our best cricket and try to

Quarterfinal curse fells Nadal again

MELBOURNE, January 23 Rafa Nadal’s Australian Open quarterfinal curse struck again on Tuesday, an injury forcing the top seed to retire in the fifth set against Croatia’s Marin Cilic. A wincing Nadal struggled with a muscle strain in his upper right thigh from late in the fourth set before abandoning the match at 3-6 6-3 67(5) 6-2 2-0, leaving a packed Rod Laver Arena crushed with disappointment. It was only the second time the world No. 1 has retired in over 250 Grand Slam matches, his last, coincidentally, during the 2010 quarterfinals against Andy Murray. “It’s not the first time here,” an ashen-faced Nadal said. “I am a positive person... but today is an opportunity lost to be in a semifinals of a Grand Slam.” Of the seven Grand Slam quarterfinal defeats of his career, five have now come on

takes. “I said before the series that whichever side bats better will win the series, and that’s been the case. The batsmen are looking to rectify their mistakes,” he said. Kohli said he doesn’t see defeats as a burden and wants to take the losses in his stride and move forward. “Responsibility can become less or more according to phases, it’s all about hanging in there and accepting all the phases that are coming your way. I have to take it in my stride and go forward.” South Africa, on the other hand, are eyeing to inflict a historic series sweep on India. “It doesn’t happen a lot that you get the chance to beat a team 3-0 and I would favour dominating India and being ruthless,” said SA skipper Faf du Plessis. “We have an amazing opportunity as a team to win 3-0, and that makes us even more hungry to go where no team has gone before.”

‘Happy with preparations’

NEW DELHI

STAR SPORTS, 3AM

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

JOHANNESBURG, January 23 India skipper Virat Kohli today said performance of the pacers has been a big boost for the team and hinted at employing an all-seam attack against South Africa on a typical green Wanderers track in the third cricket Test beginning tomorrow. “Chances of anything happening are very bright. As I said, there is a lot of grass on the pitch. We would definitely look at that option. I am sure both the teams would be thinking about those options,” Kohli said when asked if India might go with an all-pace attack. “Not many times on overseas tours we have picked 40 wickets in two Test matches. So, I think that’s a big boost for us... We are going to have a discussion on that and the other combinations.” The Indian batsmen have come a cropper in the Test series and Kohli hoped they would learn from their mis-

BRIEFLY

ICC U-19 WORLD CUP PAKISTAN VS SOUTH AFRICA

THE TRIBUNE

But I was in the zone today. If you believe in yourself, then anything can happen. But of course semis is Wow. Elise Mertens

MERTENS’ MESSAGE TO IDOL CLIJSTERS World No. 37 Elise Mertens became the first Belgian woman since Kim Clijsters in 2012 to reach the last four at Melbourne Park. “Hello Kim, thanks for watching. I know you sent me a message before the match. Don’t be too stressy! She said she had so much stress in my last match. I am trying to be in your footsteps this week,” Mertens said after beating fourth-seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-0. She will next face second seed Caroline Wozniacki, who powered past Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0 6-7(3) 6-2.

Draw Draw India won Draw

MATCH STATS 1-NADAL 6-CILIC ACES 20 3 DOUBLE FAULTS 8 2 2/10 BREAK POINTS WON 5/19 11/20 NET POINTS WON 35/47 WINNERS 83 39 UNFORCED ERRORS 62 32 MATCH DURATION: 3hr, 47min

Smith questions Kohli’s leadership

Says Kohli’s aggression could affect his teammates negatively Johannesburg, January 23 South Africa’s most successful Test captain Graeme Smith is not sure if Virat Kohli can be a long-term leader for India. He also feels that the star batsman’s leadership skills are not challenged enough by the team management. “I don’t know, when I look at him, if he is a long-term captaincy option for India,” said Smith. “At the end of this year, he’d have been away from home for a while, the pressure he’ll face, the scrutiny from the press... If you’re away from home and you’re struggling for form as a team, I don’t know if I’d want to burden Virat with that... Or if India have a better leader in that environment,” said the former opening batsman. Kohli has copped some criticism for India’s selection choices in the first two Tests. Smith feels Kohli needs a person around him who can challenge his decisions in a constructive way. “When I look at Virat, I think he needs someone in the support staff who can constructively challenge him and help him grow,” said Smith, a veteran of 117 Tests and 197 ODIs.

“He has all the abilities tactically, he knows his own game, he sets the standard in the field for everyone else. I think if he had a really constructive person in his environment, who could talk to him, make him think, maybe even challenge him with some different ideas, it would have helped.” Kohli, Smith said, is aggressive and expressive on the field and that can affect his teammates both ways. “We all know he’s an outstanding player, his intensity really benefits his personal game, he loves that confrontation, that brings the best out of him,” Smith said. “But sometimes as a leader you’ve got to consider how you impact others in the environment, that’s an area of his leadership that he needs to develop. He’s often at his players. But often his reaction to situations... I think that can sometimes impact on your team negatively. “Maybe (he needs) to find a level where he can connect with all his players, to get to a level where he can get the team to be as successful as he is, that’s something that he grappling with,” added Smith. — PTI

Sehwag seconds Smith, says no one to check skipper the same from rest of the squad,” the former swashbuckling opener said. “However, other players in the squad haven’t reached the stature where Kohli already is. This is affecting his captaincy.” According to Sehwag, all Kohli wants is to see other Indian batsmen score fearlessly like him. “Kohli is just asking them to make runs like he does. And there’s nothing wrong with it. I remember when Sachin Tendulkar was the captain, he used to ask other batsmen to score runs. He was like, ‘If I can score, then why can’t you’?” Sehwag strongly believes that Kohli must be getting advice from the coach but is not implementing it on the field. “It’s important to sit together, talk and make a strategy for the upcoming Test. No single player can lead you to victory, teamwork is important. Every player has to contribute,” said Sehwag. — PTI

BIG CLASHES

New Delhi, January 23 Virender Sehwag has once again trained his guns on Virat Kohli, saying currently there is no one in the team who can stand up to the India skipper and point out his mistakes on the field. Sehwag had earlier attacked the India captain for his selection policy. “I think Virat needs some players who can point out his mistakes on the field,” Sehwag told a news channel. “Every team has fourfive players who advise the skipper and help him avoid mistakes on the field. I don’t see that in the current Indian squad. There’s no one in the squad who can challenge Kohli’s selection decisions in the dressing room. No player is up to his standard.” Sehwag said Kohli’s captaincy is being affected by his own expectations from other players. “Virat Kohli has reached a level where he can play well in adverse situations and he expects

HALEP 26 1 5

Punjab taste first loss

EDMUND 3-DIMITROV ACES 7 13 DOUBLE FAULTS 7 4 5/15 BREAK POINTS WON 3/9 20/25 NET POINTS WON 17/21 WINNERS 32 46 UNFORCED ERRORS 36 48 MATCH DURATION: 2hr, 49min MERTENS 4-SVITOLINA ACES 3 2 DOUBLE FAULTS 0 2 5/9 BREAK POINTS WON 1/2 15/20 NET POINTS WON 5/12 WINNERS 14 26 UNFORCED ERRORS 19 16 MATCH DURATION: 1hr, 13min 2-WOZNIACKI NAVARRO ACES 1 10 DOUBLE FAULTS 0 1 6/7 BREAK POINTS WON 1/4 10/13 NET POINTS WON 14/16 WINNERS 31 34 UNFORCED ERRORS 39 21 MATCH DURATION: 2hr, 11min

PLISKOVA AGE 25 WTA RANKING 6 HEAD-TO-HEAD 1

LAST 2 MEETINGS

June 2017 (French Open, clay) Halep won 6-4 3-6 6-3 July 2016 (Montreal, hard) Halep won 6-3 6-3 FEDERER BERDYCH AGE 32 36 ATP RANKING 20 2 HEAD-TO-HEAD 6 19 LAST 2 MEETINGS

July 2017 (Wimbledon, grass) Federer won 7-6(4) 7-6(4) 6-4 March 2017 (Miami, hard) Federer won 6-2 3-6 7-6(6)

Kolkata, January 23 Punjab lost to Jharkhand by four wickets in the Super League stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 cricket tournament here today. It was Punjab's first loss in the tournament. Batting first, Punjab posted a fighting total of 149/7, thanks to Mandeep Singh's 48 and Abhishek Gupta's 31*. In reply, wicketkeeperbatsman Ishan Kishan (54 off 29) gave Jharkhand a good start but wickets kept falling around him.

Saurabh Tiwary (24 off 22), however, used his experience to keep the scoreboard moving, and eventually saw his team home. In Group A, Rajasthan are on top of the table with eight points from two matches, followed by Punjab. In their second match today, Rajasthan stunned Karnataka. — IANS Brief scores: Punjab 149/7 (Mandeep Singh 48; Kaushal Singh 3/26); Jharkhand 150/6 (Ishan Kishan 54; Barinder Sran 2/19).

THE TRIBUNE

SPORT

CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

Shakib, Tamim star in B’desh win Dhaka, January 23 Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan smashed a half-century and claimed three wickets as Bangladesh thrashed Zimbabwe by 91 runs in their second clash of the tri-nation ODI tournament today. Chasing 217 for victory, Zimbabwe were bundled out for 125 off 36.3 overs after Shakib took 3/34 with his left-arm spin. Shakib and opener Tamim Iqbal, who top-scored with 76, set up the win as they shared 106 runs for the second wicket after Bangladesh elected to bat first. Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Cremer claimed 4/32 to restrict Bangladesh to 216/9 despite the strong start provided by Iqbal. The left-handed Iqbal registered his third half-century in as many matches, becoming the first Bangladeshi to amass 6,000 ODI runs in the process. He was also named Man of the Match. Bangladesh collapsed from 147/2 to 170/8 with paceman Kyle Jarvis grabbing three wickets for 42 runs. “It was a difficult wicket to bat on. Seamers were also getting support from the wicket. We thought that scoring above 200 would give us chance to win the match,” said Iqbal. “Today No. 9, 10 and 11 provided nearly 50 runs for us and that made the difference,” he added. Zimbabwe were dealt early blows as Shakib and Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza tore through their top-order. They were unable to overcome the damage despite middle-order batsman Sikandar Raza’s gritty 39 off 59 balls — the highest of the innings. Mustafizur Rahman (2/16) ended the resistance of Raza. The hosts are through to the final, while Sri Lanka can qualify for it if they beat Bangladesh in the last league match on Thursday. — AFP Brief scores: B’desh: 216/9 (Iqbal 76, Shakib 51; Cremer 4/32, Jarvis 3/42); Zim 125 (Raza 39; Shakib 3/32, Mustafizur 2/16, Sunzamul 2/28)

Pope performs a miracle Leg-spinner picks 8/35, spins Australia into semis ICC U-19 WORLD CUP Queenstown, January23 Leg-spinner Lloyd Pope returned remarkable figures of 8/35 as Australia registered a dramatic 31-run victory over England to march into the Super League semifinals of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup here today. Pope’s bewildering spell of 9.4-2-35-8 turned the game on its head as England were spun out for 96 in 23.4 overs after being 47 for no loss in the eighth over while chasing just 128 for victory. The astonishing effort ensured Australia captain Jason Sangha’s fighting 58 did not go waste for the threetime champions, who now await the winner of Thursday’s quarterfinal between New Zealand and Afghanistan to know who they play in the first semifinal on January 29 in Christchurch. Pope’s spell was the best-ever in the ICC U-19 World Cup to date, bettering his teammate Jason Ralston’s 7/15 against Papua New Guinea in a league match four days ago. Pope, however, was not the only one to shatter records on the 11th day of the tournament. In one of the two Plate quarterfinals, Sri Lanka opener Hasitha Boyagoda slammed a stroke-filled 191 against Kenya, the highest individual score in the U-19 World Cup. Thanks to his knock, Sri Lanka won by a whopping 311 runs. In the other quarterfinal, half-cen-

The Australian players congratulate Lloyd Pope after he picked up 8/35 to bundle out England for just 96 runs on Tuesday. ICC

Sangha put me on pretty early. I like putting myself in ❝ pressure scenarios, I feel like I bowl better under pressure. Sangha throwing me the ball gives me a bit of confidence that my captain is trying to advance the game and for me to land the ball in there straight away and take wickets, I love those scenarios in the game.❞

Lloyd Pope, AUSTRALIA LEG-SPINNER

turies by Nyeem Young, Bhaskar Yadram and Emmanuel Stewart helped West indies overpower Ireland by four wickets. In the Australia-England quarters, Australia were bowled out for 127 in 33.3 overs with skipper Sangha waging a valiant battle. He struck seven fours in his 91ball 58 and was the ninth man out. Australia were tottering at 86/7 when the skipper put on 36 runs for the eighth wicket,

the highest partnership of the innings, with Zak Evans (12). Opener Max Bryant (16) and Nathan McSweeney (10) were the other Australia batsmen to reach double figures. Defending a modest score, Sangha got Pope into the attack in the sixth over of England’s innings and the leg-spinner obliged his captain by drawing first blood in his second over when he had opener Liam Banks stumped. The dis-

missal of Banks, who was a sleeping partner in a 47-run first-wicket stand with Tom Banton, opened the floodgates as Pope turned almost unplayable. After Pope sent back Banks (3), Harry Brook (0) and Will Jacks (1) to leave England in a spot of bother at 51/3, Banton and Wood (8) did some repair job and took the total to 71/3. But once Banton fell for an aggressive 59, England lost their last seven wickets, five to Pope, for just 25 runs in nearly 11 overs, and were bowled out for 96 in 23.4 overs. — PTI Brief scores: Australia 127 (Sangha 58; Jacks 3/21, Pennington 3/27, Bamber 3/31); England 96 (Banton 58; Pope 8/35)

Swansea end Liverpool run

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Swansea, January 23 Liverpool’s progress towards securing a Champions League spot was halted by the Premier League’s bottom club and a single goal by Alfie Mawson as Liverpool’s defensive frailties returned. Jurgen Klopp’s side, with centre-back Virgil van Dijk making his away debut, were seeking to extend their unbeaten run to 19 matches and draw level on points with third-placed Chelsea. But fresh from dramatically ending Manchester City’s unbeaten run, the Reds ran into a determined Swansea side desperate to close the gap on the strugglers above them. Despite laying siege to the Swansea goal, Klopp’s side were unable to find the net and Roberto Firmino struck the post with a header in the dying seconds. The defeat snapped Liverpool’s unbeaten 14-match run in the Premier League dating back to October and old, familiar defensive failings were laid bare despite Van Dijk’s arrival. — AFP

Corrigendum Ref. to the advertisement published on 08.12.2017 (Page No. 13) for supply & installation of CCTV Security Systems in CSD Depot (Old & New Complexes) at Jalandhar Cantt. at Sr. No. 8, “42 Port POE Switch (DLink/Tenda)” should be read as “24 Port POE Switch (D-Link/Tenda)”. Rest remains the same. TRC-29929

�� Ministry of Communications Department of Telecommunications �� Telecom Enforcement, Resources & Monitoring Cell, T.E. Bldg. Boundary Estate Chotta Shimla, (H.P.) – 171002 No. 2003/HP LSA/Deputation-Group “B”/5

dated: 23.01.2018

� � � � � � � �� It is proposed to fill up the posts of Assistant Directors/Junior Telecom Officers in the Office of Sr. DDG, TERM HP LSA, Shimla on deputation basis from the staff working in Central/State Government office/PSUs. The detail of posts, grade pay etc. is given below: Name of the Post

Scale of Pay (as per Grade No. of Posts 6th Pay Commission Pay Likely to be filled

Assistant PB-2 Rs. 9300-34800 Rs. Director 4800/Junior Telecom PB-2 Rs. 9300-34800 Rs. Officer 4600/-

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Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications O/o Sr. Dy. Director General Himachal Pradesh 2nd Floor, TE Building, Boundary Estate, Shimla (H.P.) – 171002

(For Attention of Mobile Phone Subscribers) As per Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Govt. of India instructions, it is mandatory to re-verify your Mobile No. using Aadhar (UID) based e-kyc authentication. After re-verification, your records will be updated as per the details available in Aadhar database. To continue the uninterrupted services please get reverified your Mobile No. at your nearest retailer/Point of Sale/ Distributor before 31st Mar 2018.

Sr. Dy. Director General, Department of Telecomm. H.P.

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�� Sealed item rate tenders on the prescribed tender form of Deptt. of Tourism & Civil Aviation (GoHP) are hereby invited through short term tender notice on behalf of Governor of H.P. from the eligible contractors enlisted in HPPWD/CPWD for the work mentioned below so as to reach in this office on or before 09.02.2018 up to 11.00 A.M. and will be opened on same day at 11:30 A.M. in the presence of intending contractors or their authorised representatives, who may like to be present. The application should reach in this office up to on or before 07.02.2018. The tender form can be had from the office of Executive Engineer, HPTDB, U.S. Club, Shimla – 1 against cash payment (Non-Refundable) from 10.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M. up to 07.02.2018 after giving proof of goods sale tax, Income tax clearance certificate & work done certificate of similar work (building work) duly authenticated by the respective competent auttfority. The earnest money in the shape of Demand Draft of the nationalised bank In HP duly pledged in the name of Executive Engineer, HPTDB, U.S. Club, Shimla must be accompanied with application. The offer of the tenders shall be kept open for 120 days. The Executive Engineer, HPTDB, U.S. Club, Shimla reserves the right to reject any or all tender without assigning any reason. In case of holiday on 09.02.2018, the same will be opened on the next working day. Sr. No.

Name of Work

Estimated Earnest Cost Money

06 (Six) 07 (Seven)

The application for the above mentioned posts should reach latest by 5th March, 2018 to the Office of Sr. DDG, TERM HP LSA, 2nd Floor, Telephone Exchange Building, Boundary Estate, Chotta Shimla – 171002 (H.P.). For any clarification/query in this regard applicant may contact to this office at Phone Nos. 0177-2625048 & 0177-2620626. For details visit our Website-http//www.dot.gov.in ADG (Admin), HP LSA Shimla. TRC-35597

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TRC-35601

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Time

Cost of Tender Form 500/-

1. Name of Work:- Renovation Rs. Rs. Two of Govt. Residential Block 1,02,084.00 2,050/- Months No. 16 Flat No. 264 & 267 at New Shimla, Sec-4, Shimla Terms & Conditions:1. The specifications & drawings can be seen in the office of the Executive Engineer, HPTDB, U. S. Club, Shimla – 1 on any working day. 2. Conditional tender and tender without earnest money will not be accepted. 3. Rates should be quoted both in figures and words. 4. All type of taxes imposed by the local Authority/State/Centre Govt. from time to time will be borne by the contractor. The contractor should be registered under (RE & CS) Act 1996 and cess Act,1996 and collection of cess charges with Labour Officer-cum-Assessing Officer. 5. The contractor should have requisite experience and expertise in the similar class of works (Building work). The detail of work done clearly mentioned the complete detail and dully verified by the Engineer of the respective Division of HPPWD/CPWD may be attached with the application for tender form. Sd/- Executive Engineer, HPTDB, U.S. Club, Shimla. TRC-35593

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THE TRIBUNE CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 24 JANUARY 2018

Terror, climate change global threats: PM In Davos, Modi flags protectionism in trade policies as grave challenge, interacts with global CEOs Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged climate change, terrorism and protectionism in trade policies as grave challenges before the world at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Modi started his address at the plenary session by saying that when an Indian Prime Minister, HD Deve Gowda, came here in 1997, India’s GDP was a little more than $400 billion, but now it has increased more than six times. In his speech, the PM said work was in progress to achieve a target of $5 trillion for the Indian economy by 2025 although he did not spell out any specifics. The current size of the Indian economy is around $2.3 trillion. In what appeared to be a speech probably more suited to a UN forum platform than a marquee event for global CEOs, the address seemed short on economic issues although it did cover a range

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. REUTERS of international issues. Referring to WEF’s theme of “Creating a shared future in a fractured world”, he said the Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) has become more relevant in today’s time to

address fissures and distances in the world. Speaking in Hindi, Modi identified protectionism as a major threat that he said was the reverse of globalisation which he said was losing its sheen. He said that various types and tariff and non-tariff

barriers were being imposed while cross-border trade, multilateral trade agreements and global supply chain were at a standstill. The remarks come immediately after US President Donald Trump issued an order imposing import tar-

iffs on imported solar panels and washing machines which caused a flutter across global markets. Flagging terrorism as a grave concern before the world, Modi said though terrorism was dangerous, what was equally dangerous was the “artificial distinction” made between ‘good terrorist’ and ‘bad terrorist’. He also emphasised that a predictable, stable, transparent and progressive India would continue to be good news in an otherwise uncertain global environment. Outlining some solutions for shared prosperity, Modi sought to position India in a leadership role globally and urged leaders to come together to help the world get rid of its fractures. He said the global powers must come together for a larger vision to face challenges. “It is imperative to follow rule-based international conventions as the rapid changes will themselves lead to greater uncertainty,” he added. Meanwhile, the Prime Min-

ister interacted with top global CEOs at an International Business Council event, narrating the India growth story and the opportunities presented by the country for international players. Besides a series of meetings with the world leaders and business chiefs after addressing the opening plenary, Modi also interacted with the international business community of the Geneva-based organisation that hosts this summit every year here in Davos. After the interaction the Prime Minister had with the global CEOs, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson tweeted, “The world applauds 1.3 bn people of India at the WEF in Davos appreciating the remarkable transformation in improving the business climate.” He also tweeted a picture of the prime minister with the council members with the hashtag ‘IndiaMeansBusiness’, the official campaign of India here at Davos. Modi separately also held a meeting with Indian CEOs. (With PTI inputs)

WHY 1% INDIANS HAVE 73% WEALTH: RAHUL

‘WHEN BIRDS TWEETED, AMAZON WAS FOREST’

MODI’S SPEECH REASON OF PRIDE, SAYS SHAH

Congress president Rahul Gandhi asked Modi to tell people in Davos why 1% of India’s population had 73% of its wealth. “Dear PM, Welcome to Switzerland! Please tell DAVOS why 1% of India’s population gets 73% of its wealth? I’m attaching a report for your ready reference (sic),” he tweeted quoting a survey. BJP’s GVL Narsimha Rao hit back: “Dear @OfficeofRG This inequality is disastrous consequence of your family’s patented Nehru Congress’s “Poverty Perpetuation” Model of Governance by which only Congress became rich.”

To stress upon the changes the world has seen in the past 20 years, PM Narendra Modi said very few people in 1997 had heard of Osama bin Laden and even Harry Potter was an unheard name. “Also, chess players did not have any big fear of the computer while Google was not there in cyber space and Amazon of that time was about dense forests. Tweeting was done by birds, not humans,” he said, adding that the Indian economy had changed significantly since 1997 when HD Deve Gowda had attended the forum. “The world is changing fast today and there are new and serious challenges related to peace and security and various other matters.”

BJP chief Amit Shah termed Modi’s speech a ‘reason of pride’ for all Indians. “He has perfectly articulated India’s strengths and aspirations… India offers unique opportunities to the entire world. It offers wealth with wellness, health with wholeness of life, prosperity with peace... India welcomes one & all… The PM has superbly invoked how Indian culture has always believed in uniting, not dividing. Our scriptures, written thousands of years ago, speak about ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. We are all united by our shared destinies.”

MODI, TRUDEAU DISCUSS MUTUAL INTEREST Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed issues of mutual interest with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau in Davos. Tweeting about the meeting held on the sidelines of the WEF summit, a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said, “A strategic partnership underpinned by shared values of democracy and pluralism!”

By the way...

ROCKING SHOW: An ice sculpture of the Beatles made by a group of artists at Sukhbaatar square in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, on Tuesday. AFP

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‘Good morning’ messages clogging phones Washington: With millions of “good morning” texts, spiced with colourful images and even videos sent and received every morning across India, one in three smartphone user runs out of space daily, as compared to one in 10 in the US, a report said. Google says there has been a 10-fold rise in searches for “Good Morning images” over the past five years. Currently, there are nearly 400 million Internet users in India, along with over 300 million smartphone users and about 650 million mobile phone users. IANS

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IGI airport to get 1k immigration officials New Delhi: The home ministry will hire 1,000 officials who will be deployed at immigration counters at Indira Gandhi International airport here in a bid to end serpentine queues and ease travel woes, officials said. The competent authority has given approval to the Bureau of Immigration for appointing 1,000 immigration assistants on a contractual basis. The airport has seen a 30 per cent increase in international passengers in last two years. PTI

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FB realises Internet can harm democracy San Francisco: Facebook, which is striving hard to make its platform sanitised from fake news and echo chambers, has realised that it can’t guarantee that social media is not harmful to democracy. In a blog post, Product Manager Samidh Chakrabarti said he is not blind to the damage that the Internet can do to even a well-functioning democracy. “I wish I could guarantee that the positives are destined to outweigh the negatives, but I can’t,” Chakrabarti said. IANS

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Registering marriage via video-conference Kochi: The Kerala High Court has permitted an Indian couple living in the US to appear before the registrar at Kollam through video-conferencing to get their marriage registered to seek permanent American resident status. Pradeep K Cletus and Beryl Pradeep had cited certain difficulties in returning to the US if they came to India now for the marriage registration, which was required to apply for permanent resident status. PTI

Editor-in-Chief, Publisher & Printer: Harish Khare * Printed and published by Harish Khare 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 for purpose of PRB Act, 1867

No mediation on Kashmir till India, Pak agree: UN chief United Nations, January 23 UN chief Antonio Guterres has ruled out any mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue unless all parties agree to it and asked India and Pakistan to address their outstanding issues through talks amidst heightened tensions along the border. The UN Secretary-General’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said that in principle good offices of the UN chief are always available for mediation, but everyone needs to agree on involving the world body. On escalating tensions between India and Pakistan due to ongoing skirmishes and firing along the border, Dujarric said, “We’re obviously aware. We’re following this… what’s been going on, really for the last 10 days.” Asked why the Secretary-General is not so keen to involve himself in this

Daughter for DNA test of Netaji’s remains New Delhi, January 23 A DNA test of the remains of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose would put to rest the doubts of people over his death, says his daughter Anita BosePfaff. This would be possible if DNA can be extracted from the bones remaining after his cremation, she adds. Bose-Pfaff makes this observation in a new book titled “Laid to Rest: The Controversy over Subhas Chandra Bose’s Death” by Ashis Ray. Bose’s remains are believed to be preserved at Tokyo’s Renkoji temple since September, 1945.

Netaji, whom the country is remembering on his 121st birth anniversary today, is believed to have died in an air crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945. “For most of those people who continue to doubt Netaji’s death in Taihoku in August 1945, one possible option for proof would be a DNA test of the remains of Netaji — provided DNA can be extracted from the bones remaining after his cremation,” Bose-Pfaff writes in the book’s foreword. “However, the governments of India and Japan would have

Anita Bose-Pfaff makes this observation in a new book by Ashis Ray releasing on Feb 12

to agree to such an attempt,” she says. According to Bose-Pfaff, if the state of general information available in the later 1940s is considered, it is understandable that at the time an uncertainty prevailed regarding what had happened to Netaji. “After all, some documents had not been made public at that time. When Sarat Chandra Bose died in 1950 he could still cling to the hope that his beloved brother had not died. And his belief also upheld Emilie’s hope that her husband had survived,” she says.

“However, as evidence became available from the mid-1950s, the only consistent story about Netaji’s demise remains his death in a plane crash on 18 August 1945,” she writes in the book published by Roli. “For me personally, this fact was brought home most strikingly when I had the opportunity to be present during the interview of one of the survivors of the plane crash by Professor Leonard Gordon in Tokyo in 1979,” Bose-Pfaff adds. The book is scheduled for release on February 12. — PTI

Create jobs, don’t 5 yrs on, IAF’s special aircraft stifle tax payers: VP shelters yet to get Cabinet nod Hyderabad, January 23 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today said the expanding middle class would be key driver of economic growth, and the need of the hour was to take full advantage of our demography by creating jobs. He also said while India must improve its tax-to-GDP ratio and curb tax evasion, there should be no needless harassment of tax payers. “The expanding middle class will be the key driver of India’s economic growth in the coming years. With the large population of India, about 65 per cent under 35 years, the need of the hour of is to take full advantage of this demographic number by creating adequate job opportunities for the young population,” Naidu said. He was speaking at the inaugural session on a seminar on “Contemporary issues and challenges in Finance, Marketing and Taxation”, organised by the Keshav Memorial Institute of Commerce and Science here. “Merely turning out lakhs of students with degrees is

Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service

VITAL TIPS? M Venkaiah Naidu not enough,” he said. “They must be taught life skills.” While the first and second rounds of major economic reforms were initiated by the governments led by PV Narasimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the third round of reforms by the present government is transforming the economy, he said. One of the major objectives of both demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax was to increase tax compliance, he said. “While tax evasion has to be dealt with sternly, it should be ensured that there is no unnecessary harassment of tax payers by overzealous officials,” he said. The GST has changed the face of indirect tax regime as it brings one tax instead of multiplicity, he said. — PTI

Chandigarh, January23 Over five years after the Air Force projected the requirement of specialised shelters for protection of combat aircraft at strategic airfields, the idea is yet to get past the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The IAF had taken up a case for construction of 108 new generation hardened aircraft shelters (NGHAS) in 2012, the cost of which was then pegged at ~5,400 crore. Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the same was accorded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation in December 2012. The NGHAS is a specialised structure designed to protect combat aircraft from a direct hit by a 2000-pound bomb. All IAF airbases have aircraft shelters spread over a large area where aircraft are parked. Also called “blast pens”, these are tunnelshaped concrete structures covered with a layer or earth and protective walls near

108 new generation hardened aircraft shelters are to be built their openings, which are supposed to protect aircraft from the effects of blasts in case of an attack. Most of these have specifications which may not be able to mitigate damage by attacks from the present or future generation of guided missiles or precision munitions that have high penetration capability. The case for NGHAS is under process for obtaining sanction of the CCS, a recent report by Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence observed, while underlining that with the IAF already being short of combat strength, protection of the

existing fleet becomes even more crucial. A proposal to rework the project in three phases by categorising airfields within a distance of 100 km, 200 km and beyond 200 km from the border, respectively, with a gap of two years in each phase, is under consideration. The first phase would involve construction of 36 NGHAS requiring a cash outflow of ~270 crore. Pathankot, Srinagar, Udhampur, Bagdogra, Naliya, Hasimara, Jaisalmer and Uttarlai are some of the bases that are located within 100 km of the border.

crisis, Dujarric said, “In principle good offices of Guterres are always available for mediation, but everyone needs to agree on involving the UN. “As in any issue...if there are multiple parties, everyone needs to agree on involving the UN. That is true of any mediation effort. “The Secretary-General would encourage both sides to address any outstanding issues through dialogue,” he said. The relations between India and Pakistan are strained following series of attacks by Pakistanbased terror groups and incidents of ceasefire violations, causing casualties on both sides. India is opposed to any third-party intervention in resolving the Kashmir issue while Pakistan has continuously sought mediation to sort out the differences. — PTI

CBI to oppose PIL over Shah’s discharge in fake encounter case Mumbai, January 23 The CBI today said it will oppose the PIL filed in the Bombay High Court against the agency’s decision not to challenge a lower court order discharging BJP president Amit Shah in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh alleged fake encounter case. The public interest litigation, filed by the Bombay Lawyers Association last week, termed as “illegal, arbitrary and malafide” the CBI’s action of not challenging the December 30, 2014, order of a special CBI court here discharging Shah. “We are opposing the petition. We also have an issue on the maintainability of the petition. The discharge order is of December 2014...there is an issue of limitations,” CBI counsel Anil Singh said in the high court. A Division Bench of Justices SC Dharmadhikari and Bharti Dangre today posted the petition for arguments on February 13 after the CBI counsel sought time. Senior counsel Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioner, pointed to the Bench that the PIL has also sought records from the high court administrative committee on why the CBI judge, who was initially assigned to conduct trial in the case, was transferred. The Supreme Court had earlier shifted the trial in the case from Gujarat to Mumbai, and said it should be conducted and concluded expeditiously, Dave told the high court. “The Supreme Court had said that the administrative committee of the high court would assign the case to a court where the trial may be concluded judiciously, in accordance with the law, and without any delay,” said the petition. — PTI