01012023-TT-01.qxd 12/31/2022 11:09 PM Page 1 123 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 143 NO. 1 | 26 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH SHAH: BJP TO GO IT ALONE IN K’TAKA ASSEMBLY POLLS NATION /thetribunechd 4 MORE HELD FOR RPG ATTACK ON SARHALI POLICE STATION PUNJAB NEW YEAR SPECIAL BENEDICT XVI, FIRST POPE TO RESIGN IN 600 YEARS, DIES BACK PAGE sunday | 1 january 2023 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Massive undercurrent against BJP govt: Rahul THE TRIBUNE WISHES ITS READERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR Mehbooba writes to CJI on human rights SRINAGAR: RETURN OF THE WELFARE STATE Basic rights in the country have now become ‘luxuries’ and ‘entitlements’ bestowed upon only those who toe the government's line on political, social and religious matters, former Chief Minister of J&K Mehbooba Mufti said in a letter to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. INSIDE New Delhi, December 31 Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the ruling BJP would find it “very hard” to win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections if a united Opposition went to the people with an alternative vision. “The Opposition has to coordinate... go to the people with an alternative vision. There is a massive undercurrent against the BJP government,” Rahul said in response to a question by The Tribune at his year-end press conference here. “If the Opposition stands effectively with a vision, what I am hearing and seeing on the ground during the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, it will be very difficult for the BJP to continued on page 8 Can’t use terror as tool to force us to negotiating table: EAM on Pak offer Tribune News Service OPPN MUST UNITE It’s difficult for BJP to win in 2024 if Opposition unites… only Congress can provide ideological framework. Rahul Gandhi, CONG ❝ SARMA RETORTS: ONLY ONE PM IN 2024 — MODI NITISH SAYS HE IS OKAY WITH RAHUL AS PM FACE BACK PAGE New Delhi, December 31 India wanted good neighbourly ties, but would not let terrorism be used as a tool to force the country to the negotiating table, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in an apparent response to Pakistan on Thursday expressing its desire for good relations but also asking it (India) to show “seriousness” in having a dialogue to resolve outstanding issues, including Kashmir. “We have been very clear that we will not normalise and rationalise terrorism. We want good neighbourly relations with everybody. But good neighbourly relations does not Islamabad had expressed desire to resume dialogue WON’T LOOK AWAY UNGA RESOLUTION ON PALESTINE, INDIA ABSTAINS We will not normalise ❝rationalise terrorism. and India abstained in the UNGA on a resolution asking the International Court of Justice for its opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s ‘prolonged occupation’ and annexation of Palestinian territory. The resolution was adopted with 87 votes in favour, 26 against and 53 abstentions. BACK PAGE Want good neighbourly ties. But that does not mean excusing, looking away or rationalising terrorism. That we are very clear. S Jaishankar, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER mean excusing, looking away or rationalising terrorism. That we are very clear,” he said in Nicosia while interacting with the Indian expatriates. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch had maintained that they “pursued a policy of peaceful neighbourhood, based on mutual respect and sovereign equality, with all countries of South Asia”. Jaishankar’s trip is also being seen as an attempt to build ties with Turkey’s geopolitical rivals, just as Ankara is continued on page 8 Tribune News Service Solan, December 31 Himachal Pradesh witnessed a huge inflow of tourists on the New Year’s Eve with over 13,000 vehicles entering Shimla via Parwanoo. Data with the Sanwara toll barrier showed 9,165 vehicles entered the state till noon and 13,006 by 5 pm. The number of holiday revellers registered Cops on toes | Hoteliers upbeat | Occupancy up to 90% a steep increase after 4 pm, forcing the administration to increase police presence for smooth traffic flow on the Kalka-Shimla highway. The heavy tourist footfall has brought cheer to hoteliers, who are expecting over 90 per cent occupancy. Queues of vehicles were also seen on roads lead- ing to popular tourist destinations like Kasauli and Chail throughout the day. The traffic police faced difficulty in managing vehicular movement at Sanwara, Jabli, Barog and Dharampur, where visitors stop for a break. With little parking space available around eateries, tourists often park their vehicles along the highway, hindering traffic movement. “Shimla is a preferred tourist destination. To avert traffic jams, the highway has been divided into three sectors — ParwanooBarog, Barog-Kandaghat and Kandaghat-Shalaghat. We have deployed separate teams at these stretches to manage traffic,” said Virender Sharma, Solan SP . Today’s issue is of 26 pages, including 12-page additional New Year Special (Spectrum) pullout. Plastic surgery done on cricketer Rishabh Pant DEHRADUN: Cricketer Rishabh Pant underwent a plastic surgery on forehead and there was substantial improvement in his condition, doctors said. INSIDE UP quota panel’s report in 3 months LUCKNOW: The panel on OBC quota in urban local body polls in UP will submit its first report in three months. Its chairman said he hoped to complete the task within six months. PTI 13,000 vehicles enter Shimla on New Year’s Eve Ambika Sharma IN BRIEF Missing Russian found, in GRP custody BHUBANESWAR: The Russian Traffic moves at a snail’s pace owing to huge tourist rush in Shimla. PTI who had “disappeared” after the death of compatriots Pavel Antov and Vladimir Bidenov at a hotel in Odisha has been found and is in custody of the GRP. INSIDE