15012021-TT-01.qxd 1/14/2021 11:14 PM Page 1 13 chandigarh | gurugram | jalandhar | bathinda | vol.141 no.15 | 12 pages | ~5.00 | regd.no.chd/0006/2021-2023 established in 1881  haryana 10 REPUBLICANS SAY YES TO TRUMP IMPEACHMENT WORLD /thetribunechd /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com COVID TRAIL: WHO TEAM IN WUHAN ■ A team of international researchers is in Wuhan to find clues to the origin of Covid ■ Shrouded in secrecy, the mission, aiming to prevent future pandemics, could last years WHY THE SECRECY ■ China has rejected calls for an independent outside probe ■ It stifled independent reports about the outbreak & origin of virus ■ China fears probe could open it up to international criticism and financial demands ~4-cr drug haul in Kullu, 4 held Kullu, January 14 In one of the biggest seizures of narcotics, the police seized over 400 kg of drugs — over 122.5 kg of charas, a form of cannabis, and 295 kg of ganja (marijuana) — from Banjar in Kullu district in the past 24 hours. The seizure is worth over Rs 4 crore in the international market. Four persons have been arrested in three cases. Kullu SP Gaurav Singh said on the basis of intelligence reports that big drug mafia was active in Banjar, a 27-member joint team of the Kullu police, including personnel from the Special Investigation Unit, was deployed in Shrikot panchayat area of Banjar. INSIDE IN BRIEF Budget session from January 29, notified NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha secretariat on Thursday notified the Budget session of Parliament which will start on January 29 and end on April 8 with a recess. The Union Budget will be presented at 11 am on February 1, it said. The President will address both Houses of Parliament on January 29. TNS At ~84.7, petrol price touches new high Petrol and diesel prices on Thursday were hiked by 25 paise per litre each, the second straight day of increase in rates that took the prices to new highs. Petrol now costs ~84.70 per litre in Delhi and diesel is priced at ~74.88. This is the second day of a price increase. PTI Mann recuses hours after Capt’s call Rajmeet Singh RED FORT TO INDIA GATE PARADE ON R-DAY: TIKAIT Tribune News Service TWO TEST POSITIVE Two of the 13 WHO scientists headed to Wuhan tested positive for Covid anti-bodies and halted in Singapore for further tests 93 MILLION CASES WORLDWIDE 1.98 MILLION DEATHS GLOBALLY Rollout: 6.3L-strong team & 2,934 sites New Delhi, January 14 The government is geared up for the January 16 Covid vaccination drive with three lakh beneficiaries to be inoculated on the inaugural day. Health workers already registered on the CoWIN platform today started receiving SMSs regarding the allocation of vaccination sites and time of delivery. Member, Health, NITI Aayog, VK Paul confirmed that the drive would be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government said three lakh health workers would be vaccinated on day one of the launch, across 2,934 sites, with not more than 100 people covered per site. The data of three crore first phase beneficiaries, available in the government system, had been uploaded to CoWIN. “Our preparations are complete. We friday | 15 january 2021 9th round of talks today | Farm unions wary | Tomar hopeful of positive outcome Peter Ben Embarek, team member. NEW DELHI: NEPAL MIN IN DELHI, TO DISCUSS VACCINE, BORDER ROW BACK PAGE PASSENGER VEHICLE SALES AT 10-YEAR LOW BUSINESS COVID-19CASES INDIA COUNT RECOVERED 1,01,46,763 FRESH FATALITIES 198 TOTAL DEATHS 1,51,727 Chandigarh, January 14 Former MP and BKU national president Bhupinder Singh Mann today recused himself from the four-member committee set up by the Supreme Court to address concerns over the new farm laws, hours after Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh persuaded him to do so, said sources. Mann, who is also chairman of the All-India Kisan Coordination Committee, hails from Batala. It is learnt that Capt Amarinder spoke to him on the phone over “watching the interests of Punjab and farmers”. Hours later he recused himself. The CM told his colleagues about the development at the Cabinet meeting. Mann, in his letter to the apex court, wrote: “Because of the apprehensions among BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said farmers would hold a simultaneous parade from Red Fort to India Gate on Republic Day. “The parade has been cut short. It will be a historic event,” the farm leader said. WITH FARMERS ALWAYS Because of apprehensions among the farm unions I am ready to sacrifice any position... will always stand with the farmers and Punjab. ❝ Bhupinder Singh Mann, Farmers at Ghazipur border during their ongoing protest. MANAS RANJAN BHUI the farm unions and the public in general, I am ready to sacrifice any position offered/given to me... I am recusing myself from the committee and will always stand with the farmers and Punjab.” He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1990. Since yesterday, senior BKU NATIONAL PRESIDENT Congress leaders had been trying to reach out to the farm leader through his son Gurpartap Singh Mann, who was chief spokesperson of the party before being nominated as a member of the Punjab Public Service Commission. PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar said Mann was a conscientious person. “I hope other members will take a cue from him and recuse themselves from the committee,” he added. Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa also hailed Mann’s move. BKU (Punjab) president Baldev Singh Mianpur claimed that Mann might have decided to change his stand after he got a whiff of their meeting at Khanna. “We decided to dissociate ourselves from Mann as he did not consult us on being a committee member,” he said. Bharti Kisan Union (EktaUgrahan) also hailed Mann’s decision. Meanwhile, amid the growing social media continued on back page SC Bar Assn chief resigns, cites ‘recent events’ New Delhi, January 14 Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) chief Dushyant Dave has quit his post, saying he had “forfeited his right to continue”. Dave, in his brief letter, stated that the tenure of the executive had already ended and it might not be possible to hold virtual elections as per schedule “due to reservations” held by some lawyers. “Following recent events, I feel that I have forfeited my right to continue as your leader. I hereby tender my resignation with immediate effect. Our term has already come to an end,” Dave wrote to the SCBA members, without elaborating. — TNS 1,05,12,093 TOTAL RECOVERED DEATHS WORLD 9,30,03,364 6,64,89,136 19,92,828 have in place 6.3 lakh team members, including 2,360 master trainers, 61,000 managers, 2 lakh vaccinators and 3.7 lakh other members. Each vaccination team per site will have five trained personnel,” Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said. The government also reiterated that both Serum Institute’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin were safe for use and approved accordingly and there was no cause for concern. — TNS Kashmir debate based on ‘false CBI raids own officers over graft Accused of taking bribe assertions’ India slams UK MPs , in bank fraud cases London, January 14 India has expressed its dismay at some of the parliamentarians who participated in a debate on Kashmir in the Houses of Parliament complex in London, saying they relied on “false assertions” and unsubstantiated allegations propagated by a “third country” — an apparent reference to Pakistan. The debate, organised by backbench British MPs on Wednesday evening, was entitled “Political situation NEED REALITY CHECK References to Jammu and Kashmir despite volumes of authentic information available in the public domain ignored current ground reality. ❝ Indian High Commission in Kashmir” — a terminology the Indian High Commission in London pointed Sarpanch, predecessordie in clash Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Dera Baba Nanak, January 14 The crematorium at Machhrala village in the Dera Baba Nanak Assembly segment turned into a battleground on Thursday with Congress sarpanch Manjit Singh gunning down his predecessor and distant cousin Hardayal Singh, also a Congress man. Minutes later, he was shot dead by the kin of the deceased. The groups clashed over the distribution of grant by Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa to improve Manjit Singh Hardayal Singh Dispute in Gurdaspur village over use of grant for crematorium facilities at the village crematorium. Three persons sustained serious injuries. Police sources claimed Youngest donor gives fresh lease of life to five New Delhi, January 14 A 20-month-old baby from New Delhi has become India’s youngest cadaver donor, saving five lives in her death. Dhanishtha from Rohini died from a balcony fall at her home on January 8. She was brought to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in a critical state, but could not be revived. The infant’s heart, liver, kidneys and both corneas were successfully retrieved by the hospital and used in five patients, all children. Dhanishtha became eligible for cadaveric donation after she was declared brain dead by doctors on January 11. All her organs were in excellent condition when her parents Ashish Kumar and Babita decided to donate them to save lives. Ashish Kumar says, “During our stay at the hospital, we met many patients in dire need of organs. Though we have lost scores of rounds were fired by the warring groups. Even as Randhawa appealed for peace, a senior officer said the situation remained tense. Sources said sarpanch Manjit Singh was overseeing construction work along with his aides when his predecessor reached there with his supporters. An argument ensued following which Manjit Singh, who was carrying his licensed revolver, opened fire. Minutes later, relatives of the deceased shot the sarpanch point-blank. A case has been registered. Nurpur, January 14 The water samples of the Pong wetland have been found free of contamination and is fit for fishing. The testing conducted by the Jal Shakti Department factored in 16 parameters in the wake of the avian flu outbreak in the wetland. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Raul M Rahane said the testing was conducted to rule out contamination in the wetland. “The wetland is free Wildlife officials search for dead birds at Pong Dam. TRIBUNE PHOTO DELHI MARKET OPENS AS SAMPLES TEST -VE of water-borne contamination and pollution,” he asserted. The report brings respite to the over 2,800 fish- -19.6°C -16.8°C PAHALGAM -11.1°C GULMARG -7.0°C -6.7°C Gurugram, January 14 Aiming to deal with the reluctance of women complainants in approaching male cops, the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered setting up of 200 women help desks in state police stations under the Nirbhaya project. In Gurugram, such desks have been set up in 24 police stations in the first phase and these will be made FREEZING COLD: Tourists stand near a frozen waterfall at Tangmarg in Baramulla district of north Kashmir. PTI Dhanishtha with mum. FILE PHOTO HUGE GAP Organ Kidneys Liver Heart Cornea Required* Transplants 2.5 lakh 160 80,000 33 50,000 45 1 lakh 2,188 *ANNUAL AVERAGE our daughter, she will now live on in everyone whose lives her organs have saved.” — TNS ermen who eke a living by fishing in the wetland. On January 3, the district administration had suspend- Cops to HC: Plea for CAA stir videos not valid New Delhi, January 14 The Delhi Police have told the Delhi High Court that a plea moved by JNU student and activist Devangana Kalita, accused in a case related to North-East Delhi riots, seeking copies of videos of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was not ed fishing in the wetland after the outbreak of avian flu. Kangra DC Rakesh Prajapati said the decision to resume fishing in the wetland would be reviewed soon. The avian influenza outbreak in Pong Dam sanctuary has been on the decline for the past two days, Archana Sharma, Chief Wildlife Warden, said. As many as 94 birds were found dead today, taking the toll to 4,836. On January 12, the mortality count was 280 and the next day it had dipped to 105. Women help desks at G’gram police stations -28.3°C LEH ducted at 14 locations linked to the accused,” CBI spokesperson RC Joshi said. Our Correspondent -8.4°C KARGIL RK Rishi and RK Sangwan, Inspector Kapil Dhankad, steno Samir Kumar Singh ■ The searches were conducted at 14 locations, including the CBI’s Ghaziabad academy Water samples free of contamination | Avian flu outbreak on decline AFTER 30 YEARS, DRASS 14 PLACES SEARCHED ■ Those facing probe are DSPs Those facing probe are DSPs RK Rishi and RK Sangwan, Inspector Kapil Dhankad and steno Samir Kumar Singh. Though the CBI didn’t share much details, sources said its own personnel were under scanner for allegedly taking bribe from erring companies being probed by them. The situation became embarrassing for the agency as it had to search premises of Rishi who is posted in the CBI Academy where the probe agency prepares its officers for future role. In addition, cadets from foreign countries are also trained at the Ghaziabad academy. — TNS Pong wetland fit for fishing: Officials SRINAGAR RECORDS KUPWARA 20-month-old’s heart, liver, kidneys & corneas transplanted in 5 children out as problematic in itself. The debate, organised by Labour’s Sarah Owen, included the participation of cross-party British MPs, many of whom have a large Kashmiri diaspora constituency base. They raised concerns of alleged human rights violations and called on the UK Government to seek access to the region for direct reports from Jammu and Kashmir and PoK to be presented in UK Parliament in future. — PTI New Delhi, January 14 The CBI has booked its four personnel, including two deputy superintendents of police, for allegedly receiving bribe to compromise on investigation against companies accused of bank fraud. The probe agency on Thursday started searches at its training academy in Ghaziabad and 13 other locations, including Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Meerut and Kanpur, after registering a case under various sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, said officials. “The searches were con- Court directs police to file affidavit within a week maintainable. The issue regarding maintainability of the plea was raised before Justice Suresh K Kait by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police. “Let the respondent (police) file an affidavit on the maintainability aspect within a week, with advance copy furnished to the other side. Response thereto, if any, be filed within five days thereafter,” the court said, listing the matter for further hear- ing on February 4. Kalita, in her plea has sought copies of videos of protests against the CAA and other electronic data available with the police in the matter that were filed along with the charge-sheet in the case. Kalita is in judicial custody in the case under the stringent anti-terror law. — PTI functional tomorrow. The police commissioners of Faridabad and Panchkula have been asked to follow suit. Commissioner of Police KK Rao said a dedicated team was being deployed at Gurugram police stations. Astha Modi, DCP Head, quarters, said the move would make police stations more women-friendly. — OC Commanders to meet soon: MEA New Delhi, January 14 India and China have agreed to hold the next round of senior commanders’ meeting soon. Both countries continue to maintain communication through various channels to resolve the LAC standoff, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said today. — TNS