18022026-TT-01.qxd 2/17/2026 11:10 PM Page 1 c m y b 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 48 | 14 PAGES | ~6.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH AMID TALKS WITH US, IRAN SHUTS PARTS OF STRAIT WORLD /thetribunechd SKM SEEKS GOYAL’S REMOVAL OVER US TRADE DEAL NATION TINA AMBANI SKIPS KHARGE SLAMS GOVT ED SUMMONS FOR FOR CHAOS AT AI SECOND TIME BUSINESS MEET BACK PAGE wednesday | 18 february 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com India, France forge strategic partnership with focus on global stability & progress Promise to boost cooperation in innovation, trade, tech Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla hands over a letter of PM Narendra Modi to Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman after he took oath in Dhaka. ANI Tarique takes Bangla reins, gets Modi invite Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 17 Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday, marking a major political transition in Dhaka after recent parliamentary elections that ended a prolonged period of political uncertainty. India was represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who met the new PM after the swearing-in ceremony. Birla handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who invited Rahman along with his family to Birla attends oath event, gives PM’s letter visit India at a mutually convenient time. Birla later said he conveyed “warm congratulations on behalf of the people of India” and reaffirmed commitment to strengthening ties between the two neighbours. In his letter, Modi congratulated Rahman on BNP’s electoral victory and said it reflected the “trust and confidence reposed by the people of Bangladesh in your leadership”. He emphasised that continued on page 8 New Delhi, February 17 India and France on Tuesday elevated bilateral relations to a “special global strategic partnership” and announced a range of cooperation measures spanning innovation, technology, trade and cultural exchanges following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. Addressing a joint press statement in Mumbai, Modi said the partnership reflected deep trust and would act as a force for “global stability and global progress” amid growing international uncertainty. The visit also produced an official list of outcomes detailing new institutional collaborations and economic agreements. The two countries launched the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 to strengthen collaboration among start-ups, industries, students and researchers and transform the relationship into what the Prime Minister described as a “partnership of the people”. As part of the initiative, the two sides agreed to establish an Indo- Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron, who is on a three-day visit to India, in Mumbai on Tuesday. PTI French Centre for AI in Health, an Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, and a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics while expanding cooperation in biotechnology, critical minerals and advanced materials. Modi welcomed Macron to India for the AI Impact Summit and said cooperation in emerg- J&K statehood decision soon: Meghwal Adil Akhzer Srinagar, February 17 Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday hinted at an early decision regarding the return of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to mediapersons, Meghwal, who was here to attend a regional event organised by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, described the matter “sensitive”. “You have raised an important topic. This topic is very sensitive. But when our Home Minister has said in the Lok Sabha that you will get that right, you will get it. It is a Home Minister Amit Shah process. And I think that you stating in Parliament that will get to hear a decistatehood would be sion soon,” Meghwal Hope it won’t restored to J&K, no said in response to a decision has been yet be long: CM taken on the issue. question. Political parties in On Tuesday, in the Kashmir have been same function, Chief demanding restoraMinister Omar tion of statehood to Abdullah said that Jammu and Kashthe J&K Governmir. In 2019, after ment continues to be the abrogation of in talks with the cenArticle 370, the erst- Arjun Ram Meghwal tral government while state of Jamregarding the statemu and Kashmir and hood issue. “No one among us Ladakh was divided into two will be satisfied until we get it UT’s – J&K and Ladakh. (statehood restoration). The Despite Prime Minister process is going on. It has takNarendra Modi and Union en a lot of time. We were hop- Bittu to file plaint against Priyanka for ‘putting his life at risk’ during farm stir THE TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Doraha, February 17 Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu today said he will file a formal complaint against Congress general secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to probe reasons that prompted her to send him to meet protesting farmers at the Singhu border, where he was brutally assaulted in 2021. Bittu was with the Congress at the time. Punjab Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring called Bittu’s claim as a “desperate attempt by the minister to please his masters”. In an exclusive interview with The Tribune, Bittu said at the time he had no reason to suspect Priyanka’s intentions in sending him to meet the protesting farmers despite knowing well their hostility towards him. “I will like to get it probed as to what her inten- H125 copters, Hammer missiles to be built locally ing that we would have it by now. We did not get it. But we have not given up hope,” Omar told reporters. “We are continuously talking to the central government on this issue.” “I was standing on the side and listening. The minister said that we might get some good news soon. We have been waiting for that good news for 1.5 years. I hope that we don’t have to wait any longer,” the Chief Minister said. Last year, Omar had said optimism over the restoration of statehood was gradually fading, warning that further delays could erode whatever hope remains among the people. ing technologies and trusted digital systems would be a major pillar of future ties. Officials said the initiatives would also promote academic mobility, joint research and industry partnerships. The two sides signed an agreement to prevent double taxation to facilitate investment and continued on page 8 edit: strategic trust New Delhi, February 17 India and France on Tuesday announced deepening of military ties, including making the Hammer missiles in India under a joint venture. The country’s first helicopter-making unit in the private sector was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. Modi and Macron were in Mumbai for a bilateral meeting after which the two sides also announced a renewal of the 10-year agreement on defence cooperation —reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments. The Hammer (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) was used during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May last year. It is already mated to the existing fleet of Rafale jets of the IAF . It will be produced under a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Limited and Centre sanctions trial of DIG Bhullar in graft case Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 17 The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has accorded sanction for the prosecution of arrested and suspended Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, clearing a critical legal hurdle that now paves the way for his trial in a corruption case before a court of competent jurisdiction, senior officials privy to the development told The Tribune on Tuesday. The MHA order, dated January 23, grants sanction under Section 19(2) of the Prevention CBI files supplementary chargesheet of Corruption Act (PCA), 1988, in the name of the President of India, authorising prosecution of Bhullar, a 2009-batch Punjab-cadre IPS officer, under the provisions of the PCA, 1988 (as amended in 2018), read with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — based on investigation conducted by the CBI’s anti-corruption branch, Chandigarh. continued on page 8 BULL RUN, AFTER 12 YEARS Claims anything could have happened, wants her intention probed tion was and whether she wanted to create some big incident as anything could have happened that day. There was a desperate attempt by Priyanka to create an anti-BJP feeling among farmers,” said Bittu. The minister pointed out that he along with MLA Kulbir Zira was almost lynched by farmers. He claimed he feared there was “some plan and design to get him harmed so that it turned into a big event”. Replying to the “traitor” remark made by Rahul Gandhi against him, Bittu said the Congress MP had “stooped so low to indulge in such loose talk that was unbecoming of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha”. He said there were so many leaders and MPs in the Congress who had joined continued on page 8 Bullock cart races make a comeback after 12 years at the Kila Raipur Games, aka Rural Olympics, in Ludhiana on Tuesday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Gavaskar, Kapil among 14 skippers bat for Imran Write to Pak govt seeking fair treatment for jailed 1992 World Cup-winning captain New Delhi, February 17 Indian great Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev have joined 12 other former captains to express “deep concern” about jailed cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan’s deteriorating health, urging the Pakistan government to provide him adequate medical attention and dignified conditions in line with international standards. There have been reports that the 1992 World Cup-winning skipper Imran has lost approximately 85 per cent of vision in his right eye due to medical neglect while in custody at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. As many as 14 former captains wrote a letter titled “Appeal by former International Cricket Captains” to the Pakistan government c m y b asking for fair treatment for Khan. “We, the undersigned former captains of our national cricket teams, write with deep concern regarding the reported treatment and incarceration conditions of Imran Khan, the distinguished former Captain of Pakistan and a legendary figure in world cricket,” the letter said. “Recent reports concern- ing his health, particularly the alarming deterioration of his vision while in custody, and the conditions of his imprisonment over the past two and a half years have caused us profound concern. “As fellow cricketers who understand the values of fair play, honour, and respect that transcend the boundary continued on page 8 RAFALE DISCUSSED On the procurement of 114 more Rafale jets from French plane maker Dassault, the MEA said “all aspects were discussed”. Sources said Macron raised the issue with Modi. Last week, the Defence Acquisition Council had okayed the procurement of jets. Safran of France. The missiles will be needed for the 114 Rafale jets which the Defence Acquisition Council okayed on February 12. These can also be fitted on the indigenous Tejas jets. Meanwhile, India’s first helicopter “final assembly line” in the private sector was inaugurated at Vemagal, Karnataka. A joint venture between European giant Airbus and India’s Tata Advanced Systems Ltd will build Airbus H125 helicopters. The made in India H125 helicopter can also meet the Indian armed forces’ requirement for a light multi-role helicopter, especially on icy heights of the country’s Himalayan frontiers. continued on page 8 ReservoirofBhakra Damsettobedesilted ROPAR: Decks have been cleared for desilting the Gobind Sagar reservoir of the Bhakra Dam, with the BBMB initiating the process after decades of inaction. The board has floated an expression of interest and is in the process of inviting tenders for the work. The reservoir has not been desilted since the dam’s inception. — TNS 2Pakescapeesfrom juvenilehomeheld JAMMU: A day after two Pakistani nationals and a local inmate escaped from an observation home in Jammu, the two foreign nationals were arrested from Ambala in Haryana on Tuesday. The police said the trio had fired shots inside the premises using an illegally procured weapon before fleeing the facility. INSIDE No extension of bail for Sengar’s brother NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said Jaideep Sengar, brother of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Sengar, should surrender as there were no orders extending an earlier interim bail granted to him on medical grounds in the custodial death case of the Unnao rape survivor's father. — PTI Digi platforms must respect Indian law, culture: Vaishnaw THE TRIBUNE @ Rinku Behera Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 17 Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday asserted that global digital platforms such as Netflix, YouTube and Meta must operate strictly within the constitutional and legal framework of India, while also respecting the country’s cultural context. Addressing a press conference on the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam here, the minister — while expressing concern around digital content and emerging technologies — said that any platform operating in India must adhere to the Constitution and the nation’s laws. “Whether it is Netflix, YouTube or Meta, all platforms must function within the legal framework of the country in which they operate,” he said. The minister emphasised that multinational companies must recognise that cultural sensitivities vary across nations. On the issue of deepfakes, the minister expressed concern over the growing threat posed by manipulated digital content. He called for stronger regulatory measures to address the misuse of artificial intelligence technologies. “Deepfakes are a problem growing day by day. There is a clear need to protect our children and society from the harms those can cause,” he said. Vaishnaw said that the government has already initiated Ashwini Vaishnaw SORRY FOR DAY 1 MESS Vaishnaw on Tuesday apologised to all those who faced inconvenience during the opening day of the India AI Impact Summit, assuring that the government is making every effort to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all those who are participating in the mega event. discussions with industry stakeholders to determine what additional regulations might be required beyond existing measures. He also pointed out that the Parliamentary IT Committee has studied the issue and made observations, which will contribute to shaping future policy. “Certainly, we need much stronger regulations on deepfakes and we will build consensus within Parliament to bring in stronger safeguards,” he added. Regarding age-based content regulation, Vaishnaw said that many countries have recognised the importance of implementing age-based restrictions to ensure that children access appropriate content. He said the government is currently in discussion with social media platforms to determine the most effective mechanisms for implementing age-based controls. The government, he added, remains committed to ensuring that digital platforms operate responsibly.