10052022-TT-01.qxd 5/9/2022 11:06 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 142 NO.128 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH PUTIN HAILS VICTORY DAY, DOESN’T SIGNAL END TO UKRAINE WAR WORLD /thetribunechd PAK DRONE CARRYING 10-KG HEROIN SHOT DOWN PUNJAB LIC IPO SUBSCRIBED NEARLY THREE TIMES BUSINESS SHAH: CENTRE COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING BORDER AREAS BACK PAGE tuesday | 10 may 2022 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Will reconsider sedition law, SC needn’t examine its validity: Affidavit by Centre Tribune News Service Hearing on petitions challenging Section 124A today New Delhi, May 9 Maintaining that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been cognisant of various views expressed on sedition law, the Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that it had decided to “re-examine and re-consider” the provisions of Section 124A of the IPC. “The Government of India, being fully cognisant of various views being expressed on the subject of sedition and also having considered the concerns of civil liberties and human rights, while committed to maintain and protect LAW USED TO CRUSH FREEDOM STRUGGLE ■ The sedition law wasn’t there in original Indian Penal Code that came into force in 1862 ■ Was added to IPC in 1870 and ambit expanded in 1898 to crush freedom movement ■ In July 2021, the CJI asked the AG to clarify if law was needed 75 years after Independence the sovereignty and integrity of this nation, has decided to re-examine and reconsider the provisions of Section UPHELD IN 1962 ■ Five-judge Bench upheld Sec- tion 124A (sedition) in Kedar Nath Singh’s case in 1962 ■ Three-judge CJI Bench examining if plea challenging the law’s validity be referred to seven-judge Bench COLONIAL BAGGAGE The PM believes.... we need to work hard to shed colonial baggage that has passed its utility, which includes outdated colonial laws. ❝ Affidavit in SC 124A, which can only be done before the competent forum,” the Centre said in an affidavit filed in the top court. Filed on the eve of the crucial hearing before a threejudge Bench led by CJI NV Ramana to consider if peti- tions challenging the validity of sedition law should be referred to a seven-judge Bench, the three-page affidavit urged the SC not to invest time in examining the validity of Section 124A— upheld by a five-judge Constitution Bench in Kedar Nath Singh’s case in 1962— once again and await the outcome of its reconsideration by the government. “The PM believes that at a time when our nation is marking ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (75 years of Independence), we need to work even harder to shed colonial continued on page 9 A supporter of Sri Lanka’s ruling party reacts as riot police fire tear gas shells during a clash with antigovernment demonstrators in Colombo on Monday; and (inset) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. REUTERS Lankan PM quits amid violence, curfew imposed, Army deployed Clashes leave 130 injured |Prez Gotabaya battles to stay on Tribune News Service RUPEE AT RECORD LOW 77.44 AGAINST USD ■ Rupee ends at a record closing low of 77.44 to USD ■ Foreign exchange reserves slide below $600-bn mark REASONS: High oil prices I Ukraine conflict I FII outflow I Interest rate hike ■ Foreign currency assets fall by $1.110 bn to $532.82 bn ■ Gold reserves down by $1.164 billion to $41.60 billion SENSEX TANKS 364.91 POINTS DIPS FOR 2ND SESSION IN ROW CLOSES AT 54,470.67 ■ Nifty tumbled 109.40 points to close at 16,301.85 ■ Reliance was the top drag, followed by IndusInd Bank, Nestle India & Tata Steel China keeping border row alive: Army Chief Tribune News Service PRE-APRIL 2020 STATUS QUO MUST New Delhi, May 9 The newly-appointed Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande on Monday said the basic issue with China remained the resolution of the boundary issue, but its intent “has been to keep it alive”. He said the Army’s aim was to restore status quo ante as on April 2020, along the Line of We hope to find a resolution through dialogue…Our aim is to restore status quo ante prior to April 2020. General Manoj Pande ❝ Actual Control (LAC) with China. “We want to restore trust and tranquillity, but it cannot be a one-way affair. Both sides need to do it,” he said. In an interaction with the IN BRIEF Lt Gen Aujla takes over as GoC of Chinar Corps SRINAGAR: Lt General Amardeep Singh Aujla on Monday took over as the new GOC of Chinar Corps that mans the LOC. INSIDE Singapore Govt to ban ‘The Kashmir Files' SINGAPORE: Assessed as “beyond” classification guidelines, Indian film ‘The Kashmir Files’ will be banned in Singapore, say reports. PTI HC denies bail to four Lakhimpur accused LUCKNOW: The Allahabad HC on Monday denied bail to four accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri case, observing they were “actively involved” in the planning and execution of the offence. PTI Unity must, party’s been good to all, time to repay: Sonia at CWC meet Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 9 Ahead of the mid-May Chintan Shivir of the Congress in Udaipur, Sonia Gandhi on Monday sent out a clear message against indiscipline, reminding leaders that the party had been good to all and it was time to repay the debt. Hit by recent election losses and defections, Sonia, addressing the Congress Working Committee today, assured the cadre of a restructured, battleready party for the forthcoming state and 2024 General Election. She said self-criticism was needed, but not at the cost of self-confidence. continued on page 9 Promises ‘battle-ready’ Cong after Udaipur meet media, the Army Chief said, “The basic issue remains resolution of the border. What we see is that China’s intent has been to keep the boundary issue alive.” Himachal to fill 200 posts of ayurvedic medical officer Tribune News Service Shimla, May 9 The Himachal Government on Monday decided to fill 200 posts of ayurvedic medical officer (AMO) and 100 of ayurvedic pharmacist in the Ayush Department. The decision was taken by the Cabinet at its meeting chaired by CM Jai Ram Thakur. Of 200 AMO posts, 100 will be filled through direct recruitment and the remaining on a batch-wise basis. CABINET DECISIONS ■ BDO at Khundian, Kangra ■ Power relief for big industry ■ Aid to cow sanctuaries hiked ■ Govt college at Nauradhar Sonia Gandhi with party leaders at the AICC HQ. MUKESH AGGARWAL CM-SIDHU MEETING LASTS 50 MINUTES Chandigarh: The meeting between CM Bhagwant Mann and former PPCC chief Navjot Sidhu on Monday lasted 50 minutes. There was no word from the CMO on what transpired. Sources in AAP said not much should be read into the meeting. INSIDE Similarly, of 100 ayurvedic pharmacist posts, 52 will be filled through direct recruitment and 48 batch-wise. The Cabinet decided to open a new block development office at Khundian in Kangra district. At least 14 posts in different categories will be created. As many as 20 panchayats will come under this newly formed block. To promote entrepreneurship, the Cabinet decided to give concession on electricity duty to large industrial units. continued on page 9 Cong’s ‘appeasement’ led to Partition: Textbook Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 9 A new Class IX history textbook introduced by the Haryana Board of Secondary Education has blamed the alleged appeasement policy of the Congress for the country’s Partition. Uploaded on the Board’s website, the book cites the Congress leadership’s “weariness and greed for power” among reasons behind the NEW HISTORY LESSONS IN HARYANA Class IX: Gandhi sacrificed trusted lieutenant Patel to nominate Nehru as Cong chief in 1946 RSS founder KB Hedgewar & Abhinav Bharat’s Vinayak Damodar Savarkar find mention Class X: Indus Valley Civilisation has been mentioned as ‘Saraswati Indus Civilisation’ It’s ❝thepoliticisation of education. They should have taught how Congress’ struggle led to Independence. BS Hooda, EX-CM country’s division in 1947. “The Congress wanted to collaborate with the Muslim League against the British government. The Lucknow Pact of 1916, Khilafat Movement of 1919 and the GandhiJinnah talks in 1944 were examples of the appeasement policy. It encouraged communalism. Mohammed Ali Jinnah was wooed again and again and due to the undue importance he got, he started opposing the Congress forever,” reads the book with a special section on the “Congress Appeasement Policy”. The book calls for a debate on appeasement policy in the present political context. “If Partition was necessary to continued on page 9 He said, “We have a robust posture along the LAC to deal with all contingencies. The focus is on upgrading the intelligence surveillance. Building infrastructure to support operations and movement of logistics and induction of new technology in areas along the LAC is an ongoing process.” On the ground position, he continued on page 9 New Delhi, May 9 Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned a few hours after his supporters attacked antigovernment protesters outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office on Monday, leaving at least 130 persons injured and triggering a nationwide curfew and army deployment in Colombo. The doyen of the Rajapaksa clan who has served as the President, Mahinda sent his resignation letter to his brother and Sri Lankan Pres- MP, PSO FOUND DEAD Surrounded by protesters in Nittambuwa, A Athukorala, MP , opened fire. When the mob toppled his car, he took refuge in a building and shot himself. The police said the MP & his PSO were found dead. PTI ident Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Another brother Basil had resigned as Finance Minister after the economic crisis hit Sri Lanka early this year leading to rolling power cuts, shortage of fuel and medicines and high inflation. “Effective immediately, I have tendered my resignation as Prime Minister to the President,” Mahinda tweeted after having resisted demands for him to quit to pave way for the all-party interim government to be formed. Mahinda said he was “ready to make any sacrifice even in the future in order to help the people and the government overcome the present crisis”. continued on page 9