12012021-TTB-01.qxd 1/12/2021 12:11 AM Page 1 13 chandigarh | gurugram | jalandhar | bathinda | vol.5 no.12 | 16 pages | ~5.00 | regd.no.chd/0006/2021-2023 established in 1881 DEMOCRATS BEGIN PROCESS TO IMPEACH TRUMP WORLD /thetribunechd SENSEX BREACHES 49K-MARK FOR 1ST TIME; IT, HDFC STOCKS SPARKLE BUSINESS CDS IN LADAKH TO REVIEW SECURITY BACK PAGE /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com tuesday | 12 january 2021 ‘Extremely disappointed’ SC raps govt over impasse , May stay implementation of farm laws I Proposes court-monitored panel I Order today ❝ Responsibility is on all of us. Any stray incident can spark violence. We don’t want anybody’s blood on our hands. SC Bench Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 11 Pulling up the government for the poor handling of the farmers’ agitation against farm laws, the Supreme Court on Monday said it intended to stay the implementation of the contentious laws and set up a committee to find an amicable solution to the problem. “We are extremely disappointed with the way the government is handling the issue. Last four times you said the negotiations were on. What negotiations are you talking about? If you have some sense of responsibility, and if you say you will withhold the implementation of laws, we will form a committee to decide,” a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde told Attorney General KK Venugopal. The court’s comments came after Venugopal said farmers’ organisations had rejected various offers made by the government. “People are committing suicide. People are calling Union Minister Naik injured in mishap; wife, aide dead Panaji, January 11 Union Minister Shripad Naik was injured while his wife and an aide died in a road accident in Karnataka on Monday, an official said. Their vehicle met with an accident near Ankola in Uttar Kannada district. Naik has been shifted to Goa Medical College for further treatment, the official said. The PM spoke to the Goa CM to ensure proper treatment. — PTI Bird flu spreads to 10 states, UTs New Delhi, January 11 Bird flu has spread to 10 states and Union Territories, including Kerala, Rajasthan, HP Gujarat, Haryana, UP , , MP Delhi and Maharashtra. , The Centre today asked the states not to close mandis or restrict sale of poultry products as there was no scientific evidence of bird flu transmission to humans. PM Narendra Modi asked states to step up surveillance around poultry farms and water bodies to gather updates on any potential avian disease. — TNS Tribune News Service CONSULTED LAWYERS CJI ASKS ELDERLY FARMERS TO RETURN The CJI expressed concern over elderly farmers, women and children protesting in the severe cold. “Let me take a risk and say Chief Justice of India wants them (protesting farmers) to go back.” AG OPPOSES STAY SUGGESTION, CHIDED The SC questioned AG Venugopal’s vehement opposition to its suggestion. “We are not experts on economy. You tell us whether you are going to hold these laws or we will,” the CJI said NO EXTRA TIME The SC refused to grant extra time to the Centre, saying it had already granted the govt a ‘long rope’. names. People are suffering in the cold and the pandemic,” noted the Bench, which also included Justice AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. “We don’t see why there should be an insistence that the laws must be implement- Won’t be part of court committee: Unions FARMERS HUDDLE AROUND A BONFIRE AT THE GHAZIPUR-DELHI BORDER ON MONDAY. PTI DHINDSA, 2 CONG MPs WALK OUT OF PANEL MEET Three MPs , Partap Singh Bajwa and Chhaya Verma (both Cong) and Akali rebel SS Dhindsa walked out of a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture on Monday, seeking to discuss farm laws. 4 MORE FARMERS DEAD Nirmal Singh (48) of Dhaula village in Barnala, who had been supplying ration to farmers, took his life on Sunday on his return from Delhi. Three other farmers died due to health issues. Labh Singh, a Ludhiana farmer, consumed poison. He is critical. INSIDE ABHAY’S ‘CONDITIONAL’ RESIGNATION LETTER Senior INLD leader and MLA Abhay Chautala has sent a ‘conditional’ resignation letter to the Speaker, saying it should be considered a resignation if the Centre fails to repeal the three new farm laws by January 26. LEGISLATIONS CAN’T BE STAYED BY SC UNLESS PRIMA FACIE UNCONSTITUTIONAL: EXPERTS ed at any cost…Our intention is clear. We want an amicable solution to the problem. That is why we asked you last time why don’t you keep the laws on hold. But you keep asking for time,” it said. The Bench posted the matter for passing a formal order on Tuesday. During hearing on the petitions challenging the validity of the three farm laws and those seeking removal of agitating farmers from Delhi roads, the top court described the situation as “very delicate”. It said, “We are doing this because you have failed to solve the problem. The Union of India has to take the responsibility. The laws have resulted in a strike and now you have to solve the strike.” “It will not help you to say that this was started by the last government…. We have We met our lawyers and after deliberation, we told them that we are not ready to go before any committee that may be appointed by the SC. given you a very long rope. Don’t lecture us on patience. We will decide when to pass the order,” it told the government. It also commented that the law was brought in without much consultation. Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta vehe- mently opposed the court’s proposal to stay the implementation of the farm laws, saying farmers from other parts of the country supported the laws. Venugopal said, “A law cannot be stayed by continued on page 10 EDIT: Apt dressing-down MUMBAI: Actor-producer Anushka Sharma and cricketer husband Virat Kohli on Monday announced the birth of their first child, a baby girl. Kohli said both the baby and Sharma were healthy. He said, “We are thrilled to share with you that we have been blessed with a baby girl this afternoon.” PTI Darshan Pal, FARM UNION LEADER hearing, but said the SC could not play mediator in a policy matter. “Our lawyers told the SC that they had no instructions to agree for a committee without consulting us. So we met our lawyers and after deliberation on pros and cons of the suggestions about the committee, we told them that we are not ready to go before any committee that may be appointed by the SC,” said union leader Darshan Pal. Sandeep Dikshit Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 11 Bad loans of Indian banks may double by September this year despite a slight improvement in the gross non-performing assets (NPA) during the Covid era, according to an RBI report released on Monday. Four banks may fail to meet the minimum capital level by September if there is no resuscitation by the stakeholders, it warned. Reserves of 4 banks may dip below danger level The warning came on a day the RBI cancelled the licence of Vasantdada Nagari Sahakari Bank. The Maharashtra-headquartered bank will be unable to pay its present depositors, said the RBI. Stress tests by the RBI’s Financial Stability and Development Council showed that the gross NPA ratio of all banks may nearly double from the current 7.5%. 11 mn doses ordered, dispatch begins New Delhi, January 11 The Union Government on Monday placed a purchase order with Serum Institute of India (SII) for 11 million doses of Covishield, each costing Rs 210, including Rs 10 as GST. Sources said transportation of the vaccine began late this evening. The Health Ministry would soon place order for Covaxin, which is indigenously developed by Bharat COVID-19CASES INDIA COUNT 1,04,66,595 TOTAL RECOVERED DEATHS RECOVERED 1,00,92,909 FRESH FATALITIES 161 TOTAL DEATHS 1,51,160 WORLD 9,08,07,588 6,49,25,229 19,45,266 Biotech, they said. Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi today said the Centre VAX TO COST ~200 3 CR TO GET SHOTS IN PH-1 CENTRE TO BEAR EXPENSES FOR ROUND 1 POLITICIANS NOT IN PRIORITY GROUP would bear the cost of inoculating three crore frontline warriors in the first phase. Addressing CMs virtually ahead of the January 16 vaccine rollout, the PM said public representatives were not part of the priority group in the first round of inoculations. “Government and private health workers, personnel of the armed forces, paramilitary, disaster management, civil defence and surveillance teams will be covered in the first phase,” he said. — TNS/PTI Cops guard trucks which will transport the Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India, Pune. PTI 3 days after arrrest, Salary cut despite charging full Farmersaway,mining PLA soldier sent back fee, HP institutes put on notice mafia has field day Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 11 The Indian Army on Monday handed back to China a soldier of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), three days after apprehending him at the southern bank of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, Army authorities said. The soldier was returned to China at the Chushul-Moldo border point in eastern Ladakh at 10.10 am. The Chinese soldier was captured at the southern bank of Pangong lake in the early hours of Friday after he trans- gressed across the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control. Following the capture of the soldier by the Indian Army, China had sought his immediate return on Saturday. It was the second such incident of India capturing and subsequently returning a Chinese soldier in the last three months. Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a tense border standoff in eastern Ladakh for over eight months. The faceoff began in May last year, following a clash between the two sides in the Pangong lake area. Bhanu P Lohumi Tribune News Service Shimla, January 11 Taking note of complaints regarding payment of partial salaries by private educational institutions despite charging full fee from students, the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission (HPPEIRC) has directed them to give details of courses offered, number of students enrolled and fee charged. Sources say courses are being offered without approval and without furnishing com- Regulator seeks details of courses, enrolments & income plete details of students enrolled and fee charged. The commission had, on August 20 last year, written to the institutions to submit complete details for the period 2013-14 to 2019-20, but most of them failed to respond. A teacher at a nursing college alleged that some private institutions were exploiting the faculty members by not paying them their dues citing pandemic even as they are charging full course fee from students. Maj Gen Atul Kaushik (retd), Chairman, HPPEIRC, has sent notices to the erring institutions. “There are complaints that private institutions are charging full fee from students, but have imposed a pay cut and reduced the staff strength,” he said. Vihari, Ashwin pull off memorable draw in Sydney It’s a baby girl for Virushka ❝ New Delhi, January 11 Farm unions today said they would not be part of any panel the Supreme Court might form to attempt resolution of the ongoing deadlock over farm laws. After a meeting with their lawyers, the unions said they were “unanimous in their decision that the laws must be repealed forthwith”. “While all organisations welcome the SC suggestion to stay the implementation of farm laws, they are collectively and individually not willing to participate in any proceedings before the SCappointed committee,” the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha said in a statement. The farm leaders thanked the court for understanding their problem and speaking comforting words during the Banks’ bad loans may double by Sept, warns RBI Sydney, January 11 The injury-ravaged Indian cricket team, battered by topclass Australian bowlers and served abuse by the home team’s fans from the stands, battled for 97 overs on the last day of the third Test to secure a memorable draw. Set an improbable 407 for victory, India’s more realistic task was to bat the whole day to earn a draw. This too seemed unlikely on a wornout final day wicket, against the world’s best fast bowling attack. Yet, India managed to India battle 97 overs on Day 5 of third Test Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin celebrate in Sydney. AP/PTI hold out, ending up with 334/5, losing only three wickets in the day’s play. The series is level at 1-1 with one match to play, beginning in Brisbane on Friday. India had several heroes today: The gritty Cheteshwar Pujara played 205 balls for 77 runs, and Rishabh Pant raised visions of a win by blasting 97 off 118 balls. But the pride of place must go to Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin, who took blows to the body and defied the Australians for over 42 overs dur- Today’s issue is of 16 pages, including four-page Jalandhar Tribune. ing an unbeaten partnership of 62 runs. Vihari, hobbled by a hamstring injury, made 23 off 161 deliveries, and Ashwin, who was struck on the body several times by short balls, made 39 from 128 balls. India batted 131 overs in the innings, the first time since 2002 they lasted over 100 overs in the fourth innings of a Test. Captain Ajinkya Rahane said, “This is as good as winning a Test match. When you come abroad and play a match like this, it is really special.” — TNS/Agencies in Ghanaur villages Aman Sood Tribune News Service Ghanaur, January 11 With majority of farmers from the Ghanaur area camping on Delhi borders in protest against farm laws, illegal mining of sand has become rampant here. The mining mafia, which enjoys political patronage, has dug up private land up to a depth of over 40 feet. “We reported the matter to the district administration and the mining department in November, but to no avail. This is because the mining mafia enjoys political patronage,”a villager alleged. “I have a rice sheller in the village. Around 30-foot-deep pits created due to mining on the adjacent piece of land now pose a threat to my building,” said Vishavjeet Singh, who has also filed a complaint with the Shambhu police here. “They are now threatening me for complaining against reckless mining,” he said. “Despite repeated complaints against illegal mining in the area, the district administration has done nothing in that regard. Our complaints to the police have also fallen on deaf ears,” villagers said. “Two FIRs have been lodged over the past three months. I will verify if the mining mafia has become active again in these villages,” said Ghanaur DSP Jawinder Tiwana. “As one of the FIRs was registered in October, I will seek a clarification in that regard from the SHO concerned,” he said. Shambhu SHO Gurmeet Singh told The Tribune that he was unaware of any illegal mining in the area. When asked if any complaint was pending in that regard, he feigned ignorance. When The Tribune said it had a copy of the complaint, he accepted a complaint was received. Mining goes on unchecked at Ghanaur in Patiala. TRIBUNE PHOTO