08052022-TT-01.qxd 5/7/2022 11:11 PM Page 1 123 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 142 NO. 126 | 20 PAGES | ~6.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH DEAFLYMPICS: ABHINAV WINS GOLD IN 10M AIR PISTOL EVENT SPORT /thetribunechd SIA RAIDS 19 SITES OVER MISUSE OF SIMS FOR TERROR J&K IT’S BEEN CHALLENGING JOURNEYFOR‘VACCINE WOMEN’ SPECTRUM MUST DEVELOP HYBRID SYSTEM OF EDUCATION: PM BACK PAGE sunday | 8 may 2022 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Arrest warrant against Bagga by Mohali court More trouble for BJP leader | NCM notice to Punjab on turban row Tribune News Service Xiaomi alleges e-coercion, ED junks charge Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 7 The Enforcement Directorate today dubbed as "baseless and an afterthought" the allegations levelled by Xiaomi India that the statements of its officials recorded under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) were taken "under coercion". Xiaomi India is a trader and distributor of mobile phones in the country under the brand name of MI. The ED was responding to news reports quoting the wholly owned Chinese mobile manufacturing subsidiary's submission before the Karnataka High Court that its top executives were "threatened with physical violence and coercion" during their questioning by the agency officials in Bengaluru. BACK PAGE chandigarh/newdelhi, May7 A day after he was arrested by the Punjab Police and released within hours in a high-voltage drama involving the police of three states, BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga was in for more trouble on Saturday as a Mohali court issued a fresh arrest warrant against him in a case registered last month. The warrant was issued on the basis of an application moved by the Punjab Police’s local cyber cell against Bagga, who is Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) national secretary, for allegedly making provocative statements, promoting enmity and criminal intimidation. Judicial Magistrate Ravtesh Inderjit Singh, in an order to the Mohali police, said, “Whereas Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, a resident of Janakpuri in New Delhi, stands charged with an offence punishable under Section 153-A, 505, 505 (2) and 506 of the IPC, you are hereby directed to arrest and produce him before me.” The next date of hearing in the BJP MP Tejasvi Surya with Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (R) and his father at their New Delhi house. TRIBUNE PHOTO PRESERVE FOOTAGE OF CCTVS: PUNJAB IN HC With BJP leader Tajinder Bagga expressing fear about his safety, the Delhi Police on Saturday said they would make necessary security arrangements for him. “Bagga expressed apprehension over his safety. We will do necessary security arrangements,” an official said. Delhi Deputy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia has accused the BJP and its governments of protecting a “goon” who allegedly incited riots in Punjab. “Never even by mistake, these people talk about education, health, inflation and unemployment,” he alleged. Amidst claims and counterclaims on informing the Delhi Police about Bagga’s arrest, the State of Punjab on Saturday moved the Punjab and Haryana HC seeking the preservation of CTV footage of the police stations in Delhi and Kurukshetra district. case is May 23. The police are also learnt to have presented in the court a copy of the FIR lodged against Bagga on April 1 and the videography done outside his Delhi house when he was arrested yesterday. Mohali DSP Sukhraj Singh said the arrest warrant was issued after the police presented before continued on page 7 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 7 The CBI today conducted raids on three premises linked to Amargarh AAP MLA Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra in Sangrur in a case of alleged Rs 40 crore bank loan fraud. Agency spokesperson RC Joshi said Rs 16.57 lakh, 88 foreign currency notes, some property and bank papers and incriminating documents were seized. Sources said the CBI also seized 94 blank cheques carrying signatures of different POLITICAL VENDETTA The BJP is misusing agencies to target us. I’ve done nothing wrong andhavenorolein my family’s business which is headed by my brother. ❝ Jaswant S Gajjan Majra, AMARGARH MLA persons along with copies of Aadhaar cards. The case was registered against the MLA, Tara Corporation Ltd (renamed as Malaudh Agro Ltd) based at Gaunspura, Malerkotla, and others on the complaint of Bank of India, Ludhiana branch. Joshi said Majra was one of the directors of the company. His brothers Balwant Singh and Kulwant Singh and nephew Tejinder Singh, all directors and guarantors, were also booked, the official said, adding another firm Tara Health Foods Ltd was also named in the FIR. continued on page 7 IN BRIEF NEET PG not put off, will be held on May 21: Govt NEW DELHI: The Health Ministry has said the NEET PG exam will be held on May 21, as scheduled. It termed as "fake" a notice that said the exam has been rescheduled to July 9. PTI MHA launches portal for retired CAPF personnel NEW DELHI: The government has launched “CAPF Punarvaas” portal to help personnel belonging to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) seeking re-employment after retirement. PTI Taliban order Afghan women to wear burqa LPG PRICE UP AGAIN Afghan women to wear head-to-toe burqa in public. PTI ~50 Two tourists washed away in Parbati river in Kullu ~190 per cylinder rise in price since April this year NEW DELHI: Two tourists, including a girl, were washed away in the Parbati river near the Choj bridge at Kasol in Kullu. INSIDE 14.2-kg cylinder now costs ~999.50 in Delhi & Mumbai NEW DELHI: Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers on Saturday ordered all per cylinder hike in cooking gas price No SIM, tablets to Haryana pupils of no use Parveen Arora FACILITY SOON: DEPT Tribune News Service Karnal, May 7 The Haryana Education Department distributed tablets among students of Class X and XII two days ago, but failed to provide SIM cards for accessing the Internet. Besides, students were not given any training on operating the gadget. Rajpal, District Education ■ No training given to Class X and XII students, most of them can’t operate tablets ■ Officials say documents sent to company to issue SIM cards ■ Students will get training to access educational software Officer, said they had so far distributed around 1,800 tablets in six schools of Kar- NEW APPOINTMENTS New Delhi, May 7 The government today notified the appointment of Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Gujarat High Court judge Justice JB Pardiwala as judges of the Supreme Court. With these appointments, the working strength of the Supreme Court will reach 34, which is its sanctioned strength. The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, had recommended their names for elevation to the top court earlier this week. The newly ■ Gauhati HC Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia ■ Gujarat HC judge Justice JB Pardiwala appointed judges are expected to take oath on Monday, sources said. Justice Pardiwala is likely to become the CJI having tenure of almost three years, if the line of succession is not disturbed. Six judges, including CJI NV Ramana and his successor Justice UU Lalit, are due to retire later this year. Born on August 10, 1960, Justice Dhulia joined the Bar at the Allahabad High Court in 1986 and shifted to his home state Uttarakhand on its formation in 2000. He was the first Chief Standing Counsel in the Uttarakhand HC and was later an Additional Advocate General for Uttarakhand. He was designated a Senior Advocate in 2004. He was elevated as a judge of Uttarakhand HC in November 2008 continued on page 7 Resolution: Claims on excess Covid deaths ‘flawed assumption’ Tribune News Service DELHI COPS TO PROVIDE GUARDING ‘GOON’ WHO SECURITY TO BJP LEADER INCITED RIOTS: SISODIA Pratibha Chauhan Shimla, May 7 In a surprise move, the HP Government on Saturday exempted tourism units from the ceiling on land-holding under the Himachal Pradesh Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972. A notification in this regard was issued by the Industries Department. The move, even though being flaunted as one that would bring mega investment in the tourism sector, has raised eyebrows. There have been several instances when land bought for hotels was not used for the stated purpose. In some cases, hotels were converted into real estate projects, but no legal action was initiated by successive governments. The hospitality sector can now purchase land beyond 150 bighas for resorts, spas and even golf courses. “As provided in Clause 7.1 of the HP Tourism Policy 2019, the government is pleased to declare tourism units as ‘industrial undertakings’ for the purpose of exemption in the land ceiling limit...,” the notification read. “Due diligence will be taken at the time of grant of certificate for a tourism unit,” RD Dhiman, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, said. Tribune News Service Health Council rejects WHO data CBI raids Amargarh AAP MLA over ~40 cr loan ‘fraud’; ~16L, papers seized Land ceiling for tourism units in Himachal goes Full strength: SC gets 2 new judges nal, Nilokheri, Indri, Gharaunda, Nissing and Assandh blocks. “I have asked the company concerned to provide SIM cards at the earliest so that the device can be made functional. While teachers have been given training, assistance will be provided to the students soon,” he said. A teacher of Government Senior Secondary School, Nilokheri, said the tablets were distributed on May 5, continued on page 7 New Delhi, May 7 Two days after the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated 47 lakh Covid deaths in India, 10 times higher than officially reported, the country’s top health policy making body on Saturday rejected excess death projections and expressed disappointment at the WHO modelling. The Central Council of Health and Family Welfare DISTRESSING Deeply disappointed and distressed by the WHO’s modelling-based exorbitant estimates of excess Covid mortality. ❝ Council of Health & Family Welfare (CCHFQ), comprising the Union Health Minister as chairperson and state health ministers as members, today passed a resolution saying “the council was deeply dis- appointed and distressed by the WHO’s modelling-based exorbitant estimates of excess mortality during the pandemic”. It said the WHO estimates had been drawn based on “flawed mathematical assumptions and were unacceptable in view of the fact that India counts deaths due to all causes systematically through a transparent and legal process”. The WHO estimates put the global death toll associated continued on page 7