26112020-TTB-01.qxd 11/26/2020 12:11 AM Page 1 13 chandigarh | gurugram | jalandhar | bathinda | vol.140 no.327 | 18 pages | ~5.00 | regd.no.chd/0006/2018-2020 established in 1881 TACKLE DOMESTIC ISSUES FOR GLOBAL ROLE: KAMALA WORLD /thetribunechd CABINET NOD TO LAKSHMI VILAS BANK MERGER WITH DBS BANK BUSINESS KOVIND: HEALTHY DIALOGUE IN PARLIAMENT MUST BACK PAGE /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com thursday, november 26,2020 Pb farmers stopped at Hry borders Sanjeev S Bariana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 25 Thousands of farmers from Majha, Malwa and Doaba have started assembling near Haryana borders for their proposed march to Delhi against the Centre’s recent agriculture laws. While some on Wednesday managed to make their way through the Shambhu barri- APMCs, MSP to stay, Centre tells HC er in Patiala district, many others were stopped by the Haryana Police at Dabwali following which groups affiliated with the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) staged a protest on the Bathinda-Delhi highway. Sources said farmers from Sangrur, Barnala, Mansa, Patiala and Ludhiana districts had gathered in large numbers on the Punjab-Haryana border. Another group was Farmer activists break the barricades installed near Farauli village on national highway in Ambala on Wednesday. PHOTO: PRADEEP MAINI Pak dossier on terror a bundle of lies: UN envoy Soccer legend Maradona dead Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 25 In the battle over competing dossiers on terrorism, India told Pakistan that the dossier submitted by its UN envoy was a “dossier of lies”. “Concocting documents and peddling false narratives is not new to Pakistan, host to the world’s largest number of UN-proscribed terrorists and entities. Remember Abbottabad!” said India’s Permanent Representative to the UN TS Tirumurti. Pakistan’s UN envoy Munir Akram had met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to hand over a dossier alleging that India was promoting terrorism in their country. IN BRIEF reported to be camping near Khanauri in Sangrur district. The third route from the Shambhu border in Patiala district was open throughout the day. It was used by a sizeable number of farmers to enter Haryana. The movement of protesters on the Ambala highway remained continued on page 14 edit: farmers’ march Buenos Aires, November 25 Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, widely regarded as one of the game’s greatest ever players, died of a heart attack on Wednesday, his lawyer said. Maradona, 60, had recently battled health issues and underwent surgery for a subdural haematoma several weeks ago. He suffered a heart attack at his home on the outskirts of Buenos Aires on Wednesday, Argentinian media and acquaintances of the former player said. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez declared three days of national mourning. Retired Brazilian soccer star Pele was among those who mourned the Argentine player. “Certainly, one day we’ll kick a ball together in the sky above,” he said in a Entry points sealed to foil ‘Delhi Chalo’ Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 25 Amid heavy police deployment, Haryana farmers led by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) began their march to Delhi on Wednesday. Initially deciding to camp in END OF AN ERA Argentine soccer great died of a heart attack. Battling health issues, he underwent surgery several weeks ago. GOODBYE DIEGO, GONE TOO SOON MORE INSIDE brief statement provided by a representative. Maradona’s pinnacle of glory came when he captained Argentina to win the World Cup in 1986, before plunging to misery List steps taken to ensure oxygen availability:HC Cong leader Ahmed Patel dies at 71 NEW DELHI: Congress leader Ahmed Patel died here on Wednesday morning. Patel (71) was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. He had contracted Covid and later developed some other complications. BACK PAGE China protests ban on 43 mobile apps Shimla, November 25 Expressing concern over the shortage of oxygen cylinders, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to file an affidavit about the steps taken to ensure cylinder availability in Covid-dedicated hospitals. It also sought information on the mechanism developed for reducing the duration of Covid tests and steps taken to create additional beds and other facilities. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice L Narayana Swamy and Justice Anoop Chitkara passed these orders when he was kicked out the 1994 World Cup for doping. Years of drug use, overeating and alcoholism truncated a stellar career and altered his appearance from a lithe athlete who could slalom effortlessly through teams to a bloated addict who nearly died of cocaine-induced heart failure in 2000. Famed for the “Hand of God” goal in which he punched the ball into England’s net during the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, Maradona captivated fans over a two-decade career with a bewitching style of play that was all his own. The No. 10 he wore on his jersey became synonymous with him, as it also had with Pele, the Brazilian great with whom Maradona was regularly paired as the best of all time. — Agencies used water cannons to disperse them. Changing their strategy, they began their march from Ambala’s Mohra mandi instead of the Shambhu border in view of the heavy police deployment on the Punjab-Haryana border. continued on page 14 SC: Won’t shift sacrilege cases outside Punjab New Delhi, November 25 The Supreme Court today refused to shift the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege case trial to another state, saying “no credible case for its transfer to alternative venues outside Punjab was made out.” A Bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy, however, said the state of Punjab “must ensure safe conduct of the proceedings and provide adequate security to the petitioner.” Accused Jatinderveer Arora and others — members of Dera Sacha Sauda — had sought the transfer of the cases, pending in Bathinda, Moga and Faridkot courts, contending they were facing bias and were unlikely to get a fair trial. — TNS New Delhi, November 25 Amid a spurt in Covid-19 cases in some areas, the Centre on Wednesday said states and union territories could impose local restrictions like night curfew to check the spread of the virus but made it clear that they would have to consult it before imposing any lockdown outside the containment zones. Noting that the main focus was to consolidate the substantial gains that have been achieved against the spread of Covid in the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued guidelines for “surveillance, containment and caution”, which will be effective from December 1 to 31. The MHA said there was a need to “strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy”. The local authorities will be responsible for ensuring that the prescribed containment measures are strictly followed. “States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions to contain the spread of Covid-19,” it said. There shall be no restrictions on inter-state and intrastate movement of people and goods, and for cross landborder trade under treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission will be required for such movements, it added. — TNS Also seeks info from HP Govt on addl beds after taking suo moto cognisance of a report—“IGMC Covid ward packed to capacity after spurt in cases”—published in The Tribune on November 10, 2020. Amicus curiae BC Negi, a senior advocate, maintained that the state had failed to fulfil its constitutional obligation of providing adequate medical services. There was lack of isolation waiting areas for symptomatic persons who visited hospital for testing or follow-up, he contended. Chandigarh, November 25 Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his former Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu held an hour-long meeting over lunch at the former’s farmhouse in Siswan here today. Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi was also reportedly present at the meeting, following which Sidhu left for Amritsar. AICC general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge ■ Gusty winds and rains lash parts of TN ■ Over 1 lakh evacuated, shifted to shelters ■ TN declares public holiday in 13 districts ■ Railways diverts eight trains ■ Wind speed expected at 120-130 kmph Fishermen move their boat to a safer place near Mamallapuram before the landfall of Nivar cyclone. PTI ‘Jallikattu’ is India’s official Oscar entry NEW DELHI: Malayalam feature film “Jallikattu”, directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, has been selected as India’s official entry for the International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy Awards. — PTI Farooq’s sister on second list of Roshni Act ‘beneficiaries’ Srinagar, November 25 The names of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah’s sister and two prominent hoteliers, including a Congress leader, figure on the second list of 130 persons who got land under the now-scrapped Roshni Act. According to the fresh list uploaded on the website of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, most beneficiaries, including a former bureaucrat and his wife, legalised their residential places under the scheme, while there are also names of dozens of businessmen who got the ownership of their commercial buildings. This is the second list of beneficiaries issued by the administration as per October 9 directive of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court that declared the Roshni Act “illegal, unconstitutional and unsustainable” and ordered a CBI probe into the allotment of land under the law. The PDP YOUTH WING PRESIDENT HELD New Delhi: PDP youth wing chief Waheed-ur Rehman Parra was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly conspiring with Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in securing their support during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, officials said here. Parra recently filed nomination for District Development Council poll from Pulwama. INSIDE second list includes names of Congress leader KK Amla and Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya, both prominent businessmen and hoteliers. Farooq Abdullah’s sister Suriya Abdullah reportedly got ownership of an over 3-kanal plot under residential use category. According to the list, the DECEMBER GUIDELINES STRICT SURVEILLANCE ■ In containment zones, only essential activities allowed, house-to-house testing must NOD MUST FOR LOCKDOWN ■ Night curfew can be imposed in MASKS MANDATORY: Not wearing a mask in public space will continue to invite a fine. COVID-19CASES INDIA COUNT 92,22,216 TOTAL RECOVERED DEATHS RECOVERED 86,42,771 FRESH FATALITIES 481 TOTAL DEATHS 1,34,699 containment zones. For lockdown elsewhere, Centre’s nod must for states ■ Staggered office timing where weekly positivity rate above 10% NON-CONTAINMENT ZONES ■ Int’l air travel as permitted ■ 50% capacity in cinema halls WORLD 6,03,15,174 4,17,25,566 14,18,784 ■ Swimming pools allowed only for sportspersons ■ Cap of 200 in closed spaces; states can reduce the ceiling UNATTENDED SYMPTOMS CAUSING COMPLICATIONS PB NIGHT CURFEW FROM DEC 1, MASK FINE UP Doctors are reporting heavy rush of patients who first left their Covid symptoms unattended and later thronged hospitals with complications like high fever, muscle ache, stroke, leg thrombosis, lung fibrosis. TNS Chandigarh: Fearing a second wave, the Punjab CM has issued fresh restrictions, including reimposition of night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am and doubling of fine for not wearing masks or following social distancing norms. INSIDE IN HARYANA, 42 DEATHS IN 24 HRS Chandigarh: Haryana on Wednesday reported 42 deaths, the highest for a 24-hour period. Six deaths each were reported from Faridabad and Panipat. “On November 24, there were 33 casualties, the second highest,” said the Health Services DG, Dr SB Kamboj. Harish Rawat, who had been trying for a rapprochement between the two, called it a positive development. “My job is done. The big brother (Capt) and the younger brother can now strategise a way forward in the interest of Punjab,” said Rawat. “It was a warm and cordial luncheon meeting that saw the Chief Minister and Navjot Singh Sidhu discuss a host of important political matters of Punjab and national interest,” the CM’s media adviser tweeted. The meeting could soon see the re-induction of Sidhu into the state Cabinet. There could also be a reshuffle of departments. — TNS India gets two lethal drones, could be deployed in Ladakh BRACING FOR THE STORM NEW DELHI: Reacting to the ban on 43 mobile apps, a Chinese embassy spokesperson said India should provide an impartial business environment for all market players and rectify the practices violating WTO rules. — TNS No restrictions on inter-state, intra-state movement Post meeting, berth likely for Sidhu ■ Chennai airport authorities suspend ops Vijay Arora Legal Correspondent Kurukshetra’s Pipli for the night, they resumed their march to Karnal later in the evening on tractor-trailers and bikes, and some on foot. Earlier in the day, the farmers broke barricades in Ambala and near Shahbad in Kurukshetra. The police Containment, caution: Govt issues new SOPsamid spurt land had been approved by the authorities, but Suriya Abdullah was yet to pay Rs 1 crore fee. No notice has been issued to her ever since the approval of land in her name. The NC, meanwhile, said it was mulling legal recourse against administration's "unfounded and unwarranted allegations". On November 1, the administration cancelled all land transfers that took place under the Roshni Act. — PTI New Delhi, November 25 The government has taken on lease a pair of one of the deadliest drones in the world from US company General Atomics. The agreement for oneyear lease for the “predator” series drones has been signed directly with the company, official sources said. The Navy has got “Sea Guardians”, a variant used by the US Navy, under “emergency procurement”. The drones have arrived at the Indian Naval Station INS Rajali, near Chennai. The process for getting 30 such drones in two variants — one for use over land and the other over sea — is underway, the sources said. India could deploy the same in Ladakh and over the Indian Ocean. The move came after the Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020 incorporated a new category to enable operation of assets without owning them. An American crew from the General Atomics is accompanying the equipment and will help the Navy operate these. The planning of flights and controls on ground will be with the Indian Navy. The data gathered by the drones Leased from US firm for one year, 30 more on way CAN FLY FOR OVER 30 HRS AT STRETCH ■ The drones carry multi- mode radar for surveillance that allows tracking of multiple targets ■ These can be armed with anti-submarine weapons or launched to examine an area under surveillance ■ The drones, having an endurance of over 30 hours, will relay live images and videos will also be the exclusive property of the Indian Navy. The drones will have significant capabilities for the Navy increasing its domain awareness and ability to maintain a vigil over the areas that stretch from the Gulf in the west to the Malacca Strait in East and vast waters of southern Indian Ocean. — TNS