17052022-TTC-01.qxd 17-05-2022 01:03 Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 6 NO.135 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 DOWN TO LAST DAY OF PETROL STOCK, SAYS LANKA PM WORLD /thetribunechd LASHKAR MODULE BUSTED, SEVEN ARRESTED J&K ADANI’S OPEN OFFER FOR STAKE IN TWO CEMENT COs BUSINESS PREZ KOVIND REACHES JAMAICA, TO HOLD TALKS WITH PM BACK PAGE tuesday | 17 may 2022 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Gyanvapi mosque survey ends; petitioners say ‘Shivling’ found Shrine panel refutes claim | Varanasi court orders sealing of area Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service PM Narendra Modi with his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba while laying the foundation of the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage at Lumbini in Nepal on Monday. PTI In Nepal, PM dubs common heritage asset for both nations New Delhi, May 16 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his day-long visit to Nepal on Monday, said India and the Himalayan nation’s ever-strengthening friendship and their closeness would benefit the entire humanity in the emerging global situation. He likened the ties between the two neighbours as “unshakeable like the Himalayas”. Modi visited Nepal at the invitation of PM Sher Bahadur Deuba on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. He SIX PACTS INKED ■ Indian Council of Cultural Relations and Lumbini Buddhist University on Dr Ambedkar Chair; other varsities on ICCR Chair of Indian Studies ■ Kathmandu University and IIT-Madras for joint degree programme at master’s level ■ Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam and Nepal Electricity Authority for developing Arun-4 Project began his day at Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, by visiting Mayadevi Temple along with Deuba and paying his respects at the Marker Stone, which “pinpoints” the exact birth spot of Buddha. Addressing the International Buddhist Conference, PM Modi said, “The common heritage, culture, faith and love are our greatest assets. And, the richer this capital is, the more effectively we can bring the message of Lord Buddha to the world.” He said both countries would work towards solving global problems with Buddha’s ideologies. The PM also touched on the Hindu culture that “binds” India and Nepal. “Our Ram is also continued on page 9 Policemen stand guard during the third and last day of a videographic survey at Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi on Monday. PTI SC TO HEAR PLEA AGAINST SURVEY TODAY ■ The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Tuesday the plea of the management of Gyanvapi mosque against the survey of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex in Varanasi ■ A Bench of Justices DY Chan- drachud and PS Narasimha will be hearing the plea of the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, which manages the affairs of Gyanvapi mosque ROW IN K’TAKA OVER RSS FOUNDER’S SPEECH IN TEXTBOOK P12 order was announced, Muslim groups claimed. UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya expressed satisfaction over the development even as AIM- IM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said Muslims were not prepared to lose “another mosque” after Babri Masjid. The Supreme Court will on DGCA issues show-cause notice to IndiGo airline NEW DELHI: Regulator DGCA has issued a notice to IndiGo after finding that its staff “violated” norms by stopping a specially abled child from boarding a plane at Ranchi airport on May 7. BACK PAGE Pawan Hans sale put on hold over bidding concerns NEW DELHI: The Centre has put on hold sale of Pawan Hans as it is legally examining a National Company Law Tribunal order against Almas Global, which is part of the winning consortium. BACK PAGE Monsoon hits Andaman Islands 6 days in advance NEW DELHI: The southwest monsoon on Monday advanced into most parts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, six days earlier than the normal onset date of May 22. BACK PAGE Haryana colonies to surrender 10% land to govt CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Government has tweaked its licensing policy for residential projects and developers will now have to surrender 10 per cent of the land for affordable housing. INSIDE Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 16 Anti-terrorism experts from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries, including Pakistan, Russia and China, began three-day deliberations with focus on Afghanistan where the security situation has deteriorated recently. The meeting will pick up the threads from the last deputy foreign minister-level meeting of SCO members in Moscow where they high- FOCUS OF DISCUSSIONS... ■ Political situation in Afghanistan ■ Terrorism and radicalisation ■ Drug trafficking from country ■ Need for humanitarian assistance lighted the need for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan as soon as possible. It will especially focus on the political situation in Afghanistan and threats arising from terrorism, radicalisation and drug traffick- ing, besides the need for humanitarian assistance. A major focus of the discussions of SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) will be on the situation in Afghanistan, especially in dealing with the threat from terrorist groups active in the country. India is the current chair of the executive council of SCO’s RATS. The participation of officials from China and Pakistan is noteworthy as these countries had not turned up when India convened a Regional Security Dialogue of NSAs on Afghanistan in November last year. The inter-ministerial delegation from Pakistan crossed over from the Wagah border on Saturday. Afghan envoy Farid Mamundzay thanked continued on page 9 4 Delhi tourists die in Kullu No hydraulic platform, Faridabad fire as SUV rolls down gorge dept ill-equipped to protect high-rises Samaan Lateef Kullu, May 16 Four tourists, including a woman, were killed and three injured as the SUV (DL-1NA2124) they were travelling in rolled down a gorge near Ghiyagi village on the BanjarJalori Pass road here yesterday. All occupants of the vehicle (XUV500) were employees of a private bank in Delhi. They were returning to Banjar from Jalori Pass when the brakes of their vehicle failed and it fell into the gorge. Residents came to know about the accident the next morning after which they The J&K Higher Education Department has asked universities and colleges to provide details about such associations. “Unregistered unions or associations flouting norms cannot be allowed to operate,” read a department letter. Several office-bearers of the Kashmir University Teachers Association have been accused by probe agencies of participating in anti-national activities and “creating ideological narrative for separatism to thrive in Kashmir”. On May 13, the government had dismissed Kashmir University’s chemistry professor Altaf Pandit among three employees while accusing them of being a threat to the security of the state. Bijendra Ahlawat NO LESSON FROM DELHI INCIDENT Tribune News Service An injured woman undergoes treatment at Kullu hospital. PTI informed the police. They also helped the authorities in rescuing the injured and continued on page 9 Faridabad, May 16 Even as the prevalent high temperatures have increased the threat of fire incidents, the local Fire Department is severely ill-equipped to deal with any eventuality. Official sources say while the city boasts of numerous multistorey buildings, going up to 32 floors, the safety of occupants is at stake as the Fire Department is woefully short of the required infrastructure. An employee of the Municipal Corporation says, “The ■ Fire tenders can only reach up to three-four floors (18 m) ■ Department needs hydraulic platforms for high-rises ■ City has four fire stations, but only 10 fire tenders FILE PHOTO KU PROF SACKED ON MAY 13 FOR BEING ‘THREAT TO STATE’ COVID: ALSO SEEKS DETAILS OF BODIES BURIED ON RIVER BANKS Covid till March 31 this year. It directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary (Health), Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, respectively, to submit factual verification reports on the issue. “How many bodies were found floating or buried on the river banks before Covid in 2018 and 2019 and after Covid in 2020, 2021 and till March 31? “In how many cases financial support was extended for cremation, funeral or burial? What steps were taken for creating public awareness and promoting public participation for preventing disposal of bodies in the Ganga or continued on page 9 Pak, China join India, Russia & other nations for talks on security situation ‘Security issues’, J&K bans unregistered teachers’ unions Srinagar, May16 Days after the services of a Kashmir University chemistry professor were terminated over security reasons, the J&K administration has banned all unregistered student and teacher associations in universities and colleges. New Delhi, May 16 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to inform it about the number of human corpses found floating in the Ganga during the Covid pandemic from 2020 till March 2022. An NGT Bench of Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad also sought to know about bodies buried on the river banks in the two states before the onset of SCO meet begins in Delhi, Af on agenda IN BRIEF FILE PHOTO Tribune News Service NewDelhi, May16 The confidential court-mandated Gyanvapi mosque complex survey in Varanasi concluded today with Civil Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar issuing directions on sealing a portion of the complex after Hindu petitioners claimed the discovery of a “Shivling” close to the “wazookhana” (water tank used to perform ritual ablutions before namaz). The Varanasi judge has directed the district magistrate, police commissioner and CRPF commandant to ensure the security of the sealed area. While the lawyer representing a group of Hindu women, who have sought year-long access to pray at the Shringar Gauri shrine in the complex, claimed that “a Shivling was found after water was drained from the tank,” the mosque management committee spokesperson said the object was part of a “fountain” and termed such claims “incorrect”. Lawyers representing the mosque committee were not fully heard before the sealing Tuesday hear a petition seeking to halt the survey and videography of the complex located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The complex has been a bone of contention between Hindus and Muslims over the right to worship at the shrine. Last Friday, the controversy surrounding the survey of the complex reached the apex court, which refused to pass any orders to stop it. The local court is hearing a plea by a group of women seeking permission for daily prayers before the idols on the mosque’s outer walls. The survey was earlier stalled by the mosque management, alleging that the commissioner assigned with the task was biased. The next order of the local court will be known only after the survey report is submitted, most likely on Tuesday. “All parties were satisfied with the work,” Varanasi DM Kaushal Raj Sharma was quoted as saying. “Till the submission, nobody should disclose what has been found. However, if anyone is disclosing it on his own, its authenticity cannot be proved,” he said. NGT asks Bihar, UP for data on bodies found floating in Ganga ■ Staff strength 70, against requirement of at least 140 department doesn’t have a single hydraulic platform, the basic requirement to reach upper floors. The water throwing capacity of a normal fire tender is up to three or four floors (up to 18 m high) only.” The city has four fire stations, but only 10 fire tenders. continued on page 9 Warship ‘Surat’ at Mazagon dock in Mumbai on Monday. PTI Boost to ‘Make in India’ , 2 warships set sail today Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 16 The launch of two warships of separate classes in Mumbai on Tuesday will showcase the indigenous manufacturing capabilities to make ships at a rapid pace to match China. The warships named “Surat”, a destroyer, and “Udaygiri”, a frigate, will be launched concurrently at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be chief guest. Both warships have been designed in-house by the Directorate of Naval Design. Around 75 per cent of the equipment and systems were sourced from indigenous firms, including micro, small and medium enterprises. The country’s major indigenous weapons include Rajnath to unveil Surat, Udaygiri in Mumbai medium range surface-toair missiles by Bharat Electronics Limited, BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles by BrahMos Aerospace, torpedo tube launchers and anti-submarine rocket launchers by Larsen & Toubro and 76 mm super rapid gun mount by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. The ships will be launched into seawaters. The machinery and major systems have been fitted while these are at dry dock. The ships will be put to rigorous sea trials before being commissioned. “Surat” is the fourth ship of its class christened after continued on page 9 CM Mann hears 61 grievances at first Lok Milni Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann addresses a gathering at the first Lok Milni at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Chandigarh, May 16 Harnek Kaur and her granddaughter-in-law Hardeep Kaur came to Chandigarh on Monday with a hope. Having lost the sole adult male member of their family — Hardeep’s husband — to drug abuse, they, along with other women of Bhal Majra village in Fatehgarh Sahib, had com- plained to the office of CM Bhagwant Mann to check the sale of drugs in the village. “Yesterday, we received a call asking us to come and meet the CM,” Harnek Kaur said. Hardeep, along with her son, met the CM at the Punjab Bhawan, where he held his first Lok Milni, an initiative to address the grievances of people. People from across Punjab who had lodged their Hundreds turn up uninvited, many of them go back unheard complaints with the CMO were invited. Officers of all departments were also questioned by the CM on the status of the complaints. In all, 61 complaints were heard in four hours. On com- ing to know about the event, a large number of persons also turned up uninvited to meet the CM, but most of them had to go back dejected. However, keeping in mind the urgency of some cases, a few such complainants were also heard out by the CM. Septuagenarian Baldev Singh of Samana broke down when he realised that he could not meet the CM. Some contractual teachers, who have been demanding regularisation in their services, raised slogans against the government for not hearing them out. AAP officials associated with organising the event said, “The time for the event was limited today… We have asked them (persons who had turned up uninvited) to send their complaints in writing.”