06122022-TTB-01.qxd 12/5/2022 11:55 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 142 NO. 336 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HARYANA GOVT INSENSITIVE TOWARDS OUR SAFETY: PANDITS J&K RULING ALLIANCE WINS 90 SEATS, SET TO FORM GOVT IN NEPAL WORLD /thetribunechd AIR INDIA TO LEASE SIX BOEING B777 AIRCRAFT BUSINESS ‘FREEDOM AT MIDNIGHT’ AUTHOR LAPIERRE DIES AT 91 BACK PAGE tuesday | 6 december 2022 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Exit polls predict big BJP victory in Guj, give it edge in HP Likely to better its record 2002 tally in PM’s home state | AAP’s show dismal, but clear winner in MCD Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 5 An average of exit polls on Monday handed over Gujarat to the BJP and predicted the party had an edge in Himachal Pradesh, in what could prove to be historic and record wins should the projections hold good on December 8, the day of counting. Barring Aaj Tak-Axis My India, all others projected a BJP win in Himachal, though by a slender edge. No incumbent government has retained power in Himachal since 1985. The poll of nine polls—Aaj Tak-Axis My India; ABP News-C Voter; India TVMatrize; News 24-Today’s Chanakya; News X-Jan Ki Baat; Republic TV-P Marq; Times Now-ETG; TV 9 Gujarati; Zee News-BARC— projected an average of 35 seats for the BJP just enough , to touch the majority mark in continued on page 9 GUJARAT TOTAL SEATS 182 | MAGIC MARK 92 BJP AAP OTHERS 129-151 128-148 117-140 128-140 150 132 Aaj Tak-Axis My India ■ Republic TV-P Marq ■ News X-Jan Ki Baat ■ ABP News-C Voter ■ News 24-Chanakya POLL OF POLLS ■ CONG 16-30 30-42 34-51 31-43 19 38 9-21 2-10 6-13 3-11 11 8 2-6 0-3 1-2 2-6 2 4 BJP Aaj Tak-Axis My India ■ Republic TV-P Marq ■ News X-Jan Ki Baat ■ Times Now-ETG ■ India TV POLL OF POLLS ■ GUJARAT 2017 RESULTS BJP CONG OTHERS 99 77 6 TOTAL SEATS 182 No talks till Pak keeps supporting terror: EAM NEW DELHI: India can’t have talks with Pakistan till it continues sup- porting cross-border terrorism, EAM S Jaishankar said on Monday in presence of his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock. BACK PAGE SC pulls up Punjab over sale of illicit liquor NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Punjab Government over the issue of sale of illicit liquor in the state, saying “Punjab is a border state and this is a very serious matter”. INSIDE Farooq re-elected National Conference chief SRINAGAR: Farooq Abdullah was on Monday re-elected the president of the National Conference, barely a fortnight after the 85year-old leader announced he would not run for another term. TNS Haryana may drop cases over farm, Jat quota stirs Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service VIJ CALLS MEETING Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has called a meeting of senior officers of Home and Police departments on Tuesday. He is learnt to have sought a status report on pending cases. OTHERS 24-34 34-39 32-40 34-42 35-40 35 30-40 28-33 27-34 24-32 26-31 30 0 0-1 0 0 0 0 4-8 1-4 1-2 1-3 0-3 3 59.19%: STEEP DIP IN GUJARAT PH-2 VOTING 70% VOTING IN 2017 POLLS URBAN AREAS AGAIN WITNESS LOWER TURNOUT PM MODI, MOTHER HEERABEN AMONG VOTERS CONG OTHERS 44 21 3 1ST REPEAT SINCE 1985 If exit polls hold good, the BJP , powered by a personalised campaign by PM Modi, would become the first government since 1985 to retain power in Himachal TOTAL SEATS 68 DELHI MCD WARDS 250 | MAGIC MARK 126 BJP Aaj Tak-Axis My India News X-Jan Ki Baat Times Now-ETG CONG AAP OTHERS 69-91 70-92 84-94 3-7 4-7 6-10 149-171 159-175 146-156 5-9 1 0-4 Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 5 The stage is set for the trial of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra and 13 others charged in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case in which eight persons, including four farmers, died on October 3, 2021. A local court in Kheri today dismissed the discharge plea filed by Ashish, paving the way for the framing of charges against him. Ashish, who was in a Mahindra Thar, one of the three SUVs that mowed down four farmers and a journalist, faces charges, including those of murder, attempt to murder, pre-planned conspiracy, rioting and possession of arms. UP VIOLENCE CHARGES TO BE FRAMED TODAY Charges against Ashish to be framed on Tuesday. These include IPC offences under Sections 147 (rioting), 307 (attempt to murder), 302 (murder) & 120 B (criminal conspiracy). District and Sessions Judge Lakshmi Kant Shukla said there was no merit in the discharge application of the accused. The court said charges would be framed tomorrow. Speaking to The Tribune from Kheri, Mohammad Amaan, the advocate representing the families of the deceased farmers, said, “The long wait for the trial of the accused is finally over.” In November this year, Ashish moved the Supreme Court against the denial of bail to him by the Allahabad High Court. But the UP Government urged the court not to grant bail in the wake of the gravity of the offence and the fact that the case was nearing trial stages. The vehicle in which Ashish was sitting allegedly rammed into farmers protesting nowrepealed farm laws. In all, eight persons were killed. On today’s development, the families of deceased farmers said it was a step forward, but not the end of the journey. New Delhi, December 5 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired an all-party meeting on India’s assumption of the G-20 presidency and sought the cooperation of all political parties to make the opportunity a success. The Prime Minister, who spoke at the close of the meeting which Union Home Minister Amit Shah opened with an introduction, said the G-20 presidency of India was an “occasion for everyone to feel proud of.” The larger Opposition assured support to the government and stressed that the occasion was not a party’s agenda but of the nation. Before the meeting, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said the government could have chosen any logo apart from Purpose of charity shouldn’t be religious conversion: Top court Satya Prakash New Delhi, December 5 Noting that the purpose of charity should not be conversion, the Supreme Court on Monday said forced religious conversion was a “serious issue” as it went against the Constitution. “The purpose of charity should not be conversion. Every charity or good work is welcome, but what is required to be considered is the intention,” a Bench led by Justice MR Shah said. INTENTION VITAL ❝ Every charity or good work is welcome, but what is required to be considered is the intention. SC Bench While hearing a PIL by Delhi BJP leader, advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, seek- ing a direction to take measures to control fraudulent religious conversion by threat and inducements, the Bench said those in India have to act as per its culture and Constitution. Stating that the Centre was collecting information from states on religious conversion, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought a week from the Bench to furnish detailed information on the issue. The Bench — which had on November 14 described continued on page 9 Croatia’s goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who saved three penalties, celebrates with team mates. Croatia reach quarterfinals after 3-1 shootout win over Japan. ENGLAND BEAT SENEGAL 3-0 HC takes note of Baddi fake drugs racket, issues notice to CS Bathinda: A 21-year-old Sikh woman was shot dead outside a gas station at Brampton in Ontario. The victim, identified as Pawanpreet Kaur, was fatally shot by an unidentified assailant on Saturday night, the Peels Regional Police said. Calling it a targeted incident, the police have launched a homicide investigation. INSIDE DRUGS Air surcharge: Leh and beyond Rs 2.00 Legal Correspondent Shimla, December 5 Taking note of the spurious drugs racket operating in Baddi area, the HP High Court today issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries Health and Home, State Drug Controller Tribune News Service Shimla, December 5 A majority of the exit polls have predicted a close contest in Himachal Pradesh, with most giving an edge to the ruling BJP in the Assembly elections held on November 12. For the 68 segments of the hill state, most exit polls predicted 34 to 40 seats for the BJP while limiting the Con, gress between 26 and 32 seats. On the tally of Independents, most exit polls placed their number between two and four. Interestingly, most surveys predicted that AAP would not be able to open its account in Himachal. The only exception was Aaj Tak-Axis My India, which placed the Congress ahead of the BJP It predicted 30-40 . seats for the Congress and With 15 seats, Kangra district to watch out for CONFIDENT OF VICTORY: CONG ❝ Exit polls are not exact. Congress will form the government with complete majority. Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN VOTE FOR DEVELOPMENT: BJP ❝ We will form the next govt with a comfortable majority on the basis of development undertaken by us. Trilok Jamwal, STATE BJP GENERAL SECRETARY 24-34 for the BJP while keeping the number of others between four and eight. At least 35 seats will be required by any political party to be able to form the government. continued on page 9 and the Deputy Commissioner and SP of Solan district. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice AA Sayed and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua has taken cognisance on the news reports published in a section of the print media, including The Tribune on November 23 under the heading “Fake drugs seized in Baddi”. While treating this news item a PIL, the court further directed the state authorities STATE TOLD TO FILE REPLY IN 3 WEEKS ■ A Division Bench takes cognisance on news reports published in print media, including The Tribune, over seizure of fake drugs ■ Treating the news as PIL, the court has directed state authorities to file their response in three weeks to file their responses on this issue within three weeks. It was reported in the news item that three car occupants were detained by the Drugs Control Administration from Barotiwala road. They have been arrested in connection with spurious medicines manufactured under leading brands of key companies such as Ipca Laboratories, USV Pvt Ltd, Cipla, Cadila, Macleods Pharmaceuticals, Signova Pharma among others. It was further reported that drugs for common ailments having high sales are usually targeted and dispatched for G-20 SHERPAS: Delegates of various countries attend a meeting under the G-20 India presidency, in Udaipur on Monday. ANI BJP election symbol, the lotus, for the occasion. At the meeting, Banerjee is learnt to have said, “G-20 presidency is not about one party’s agenda but of the entire country.” TRS chief and Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao skipped the meeting. After Shah introduced the subject, MEA made a presentation followed by 10-minute remarks by Finance Minister Nirmala continued on page 9 Goldy Brar in audio clip: ‘Not in custody’ In targeted killing, Sikh woman shot near gas station in Canada SPURIOUS Pratibha Chauhan UPcourt junks discharge plea, PM chairs all-party meet on MoS’ son Ashish set to face trial G-20, calls for Oppn support Tribune News Service and the commitment given to them by the government on withdrawal,” he said. AIJASS national convener Yashpal Malik said 489 cases were registered during the February 2016 agitation. “Several of those named in FIRs were acquitted,” he said. Malik said an assurance on dropping the cases was given by CM Manohar Lal Khattar too in February 2020, “but the issue was put on the back burner after Covid outbreak”. AAP BJP Another Assembly poll victory in Gujarat would mean a record seventh consecutive term for the PM Narendra Modi after casting his vote BJP, which has been ruling the at a polling booth in Ahmedabad. PTI state for 27 years since 1995 High-stakes Mainpuri LS byelection witnessed 53.31% voting | SP’s Dimple Yadav pitted against BJP’s Raghuraj Singh Shakya ASSEMBLY BYPOLLS | Rampur Sadar 31% | Khatauli 56.46% | Padampur 76% | Sardarshahar 70% | Bhanupratappur 64.86% | Kurhani 58% CONG HIMACHAL 2017 RESULTS RECORD 7TH TERM 53% POLLING IN MAINPURI IN BRIEF Chandigarh, December 5 Haryana is likely to withdraw all pending cases registered against protesters during the 2016 Jat reservation agitation as well as the year-long protest against the Centre’s farm laws that ended last December. Sources said Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij had called a related meeting of senior officers of Home and Police departments tomorrow. The minister is learnt to have sought a status report on the cases and a call on withdrawing these could be taken, said sources. In case the government decides to drop the cases, it will have to furnish an affidavit in the court concerned. Confirming that he had summoned a meeting, Vij said farmer and All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) leaders had met him recently. “They took up the issue of pending cases HIMACHAL PRADESH TOTAL SEATS 68 | MAGIC MARK 35 Team Jai Ram may break 37-year jinx sale in different places. During investigation, it was found that the spurious drugs were made in Baddi-Barotiwala area. Those were being smuggled to Uttar Pradesh and also sold at several places, including a pharmacy at Agra owned by one of the arrested persons. The Drugs Control Administration has registered a case under Section 18 A1, read with Section 17, of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1970 against the aforesaid persons. Chandigarh, December 5 Three days after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed reports about the detention of Sidhu Moosewala killing mastermind gangster Goldy Brar in the US, an audio clip surfaced on social media in which Brar was purportedly heard claiming he was not in custody. Brar in “an interview” with a journalist in Canada was heard saying, “I am a free bird. Who says I have been detained?” He challenged the Indian police to arrest him. The Tribune, however, could not verify the authenticity of the voice in the clip. The Punjab CM or the Punjab Police have so far not reacted to the “counterclaims” made by Goldy Brar. The weekly press conference of IG Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill was also cancelled today. DGP Gaurav Yadav did not respond to phone calls made by The Tribune to verify Brar’s claims. Brar said the claim about his detention was wrong and that he was not even in the US. CM Mann while campaigning for AAP in Gujarat had said Brar had MOOSEWALA KILLING NO CONFIRMATION ■ CM Mann while campaigning in Gujarat said Goldy Brar had been detained in the US ■ CM’s media team had told media to stay tuned for a press meet by Mann on Brar’s detention ■ No central security agency confirmed the gangster’s detention so far been detained in the US. His media team, including IAS officers in Punjab, had also told reporters to stay tuned for an important press conference by the CM on how Brar was detained. On Saturday, state Tourism Minister Anmol Gagan Maan had asserted that Brar would soon be brought back to India. SAD leader Bikram Majithia on Monday alleged that the CM had lied that Brar had been detained. Brar was the alleged mastermind along with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi of the Moosewala’s murder. — TNS