22052023-TTC-01.qxd 22-05-2023 00:25 Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 7 NO. 140 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 KOHLI’S TON IN VAIN AS BANGALORE BOWS OUT OF IPL SPORT /thetribunechd COORDINATED PUSH KARNATAKA OVER, BJP BEGINS NEEDED TO SPUR MAIZE NEXT ROUND OF POLL FARMING INFOCUS PREPARATIONS BACK PAGE NIA ARRESTS JeM OPERATIVE IN TERROR CONSPIRACY CASE J&K monday | 22 may 2023 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com UN will remain a ‘talk shop’ without reforms, cautions PM Modi at Hiroshima G7 session Asks members to raise their voice together against unilateral attempts to change status quo Sandeep Dikshit Peace Memorial Museum, India, UK review becoming the first Indian ❝ New Delhi, May 21 leader to do so since India TIME FOR CHANGE, FTA progress Prime Minister Narendra tested a nuclear bomb in AGREES UN SECY GEN Tribune News Service Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal with Nitish Kumar in New Delhi. ANI Nitish meets Kejriwal amid ordinance row Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 21 The ordinance issued by the Centre for control of bureaucracy in Delhi has brought the Opposition closer with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday calling on his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal and pledging all possible support in the fight. Kejriwal, who called for unity of the Opposition to defeat the ordinance once a Bill replacing it is introduced in Parliament, said he would soon meet West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to seek support in his fight with the Centre. Kejriwal said the defeat of the ordinance in Parliament WILL UNITE OPPN AGAINST GOVT MOVE Constitution ❝ Thesays the state clearly can’t be bossed around by Centre. What the BJP is doing is shameful. I will unite all Opposition parties against it. Nitish Kumar, BIHAR CM DELHI CM TO APPROACH MAMATA, PAWAR, UDDHAV would be like the semifinal for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Importantly, National Conference vice-president and former J&K CM Omar Abdullah, while reacting to Kejriwal’s appeal for Opposition continued on page 9 edit: delhi’s power tussle Modi on Sunday warned that the United Nations and the UN Security Council will remain just a “talk shop” if they do not reflect the realities of the present world. Strongly pitching for reforms at the UN and UNSC during a G7 session in Hiroshima, the PM also said he viewed the current situation in Ukraine as an issue of humanity and human values and not of politics or economy. The PM had made similar observations on Ukraine in his meeting on Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday. In the address, PM Modi also called for unitedly speaking against unilateral attempts to change the status quo, asserting that any tension and dispute should be resolved peacefully through dialogue. “It is necessary that all countries respect the UN Charter, international law and sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. Raise your New Delhi, May 21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Sunday reviewed the progress of the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and agreed that their trade teams would continue to work towards an “ambitious” deal, said Sunak’s spokesperson in a statement. The two leaders reviewed their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including taking stock of the progress in India-UK FTA negotiations. They agreed to deepen cooperation across a wide range of areas such as trade and investment, science and technology, higher education continued on page 9 The Security Council reflects the 1945 power relations. Many things have changed since then. There is a growing conscience that not enough is being done to reform outdated institutions.... Antonio Guterres It is necessary that all countries respect the UN Charter, international law and sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. PM Modi >> Papua New Guinea PM James Marape welcomes PM Modi on his arrival in the country. PTI voice together against unilateral attempts to change the status quo,” he said. The PM invoked Buddha and said there was no such problem in the modern age whose solution could not be found in his teachings. “We have said from the beginning that dialogue and diplomacy is the only way. And to solve this situation, we will try as much as possible, whatever can be done from India,” he observed. The PM said the current global situation had the most profound effects on food, fuel and fertiliser supply to developing countries. “In today’s interconnected world, tension in any one region affects all countries. And, developing countries, which have limited resources, are affect- ed the most,” he said. Wearing a jacket made of recycled material, he also held bilateral talks with Brazilian President Lula da Silva and UK PM Rishi Sunak. The PM along with other G7 guests visited the 1974, according to Kyodo News Agency. On Saturday, PM Modi had met the US, French and Indonesian Presidents besides the German Chancellor and Zelenskyy. AUTOGRAPH, PLEASE: BIDEN TO PM MODI BACK PAGE The Group of Seven (G7), comprising the US, France, the UK, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan, represent the world’s richest democracies. Under its G7 presidency, Japan invited eight other countries, including India, Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam, for the summit. Later on Sunday, PM Modi received a warm welcome as he arrived in Papua New Guinea on his maiden visit during which he will host a key summit on Monday between India and 14 Pacific island countries. He was received at the airport by PM James Marape, who touched his feet as a mark of respect. Women’s panchayat at new Parl on May 28: Khaps SBI: No slip or ID proof Ravinder Saini Tribune News Service President, not PM, should open new Parl building: Rahul New Delhi, May 21 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders have opposed the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The President should inaugurate the new Parliament House and not the Prime Minister,” Rahul Gandhi today tweeted. AIMIM chief continued on page 9 Rohtak, May 21 The ‘sarv khap mahapanchayat’, a joint meeting of all khaps, here on Sunday decided to hold a women panchayat outside the newly constructed Parliament building in Delhi on May 28, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils it, to protest apathetic attitude of the government towards wrestlers’ demand for the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh. The mahapanchayat, which lasted over five hours at Meham town here, claimed women from across the nation would participate Mahapanchayat backs wrestlers’ demand for WFI chief’s arrest WON’T INTERRUPT UNVEILING BY PM Stir is associated with dignity of women. We have no intention to disrupt inaugural event. Panchayat will be held after unveiling by PM. ❝ Meham Chaubisi panchayat secretary Ramphal Rathi at the ‘sarv khap mahapanchayat’ in Rohtak’s Meham on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO in the Delhi panchayat. Representatives from around 200 khaps from Haryana, Delhi, UP Rajasthan and Punjab, , besides farmers’ unions, also lent support to a candle march by the protesting wrestlers from Jantar Mantar to India Gate in Delhi on May 23. The mahapanchayat, presided over by Mehar Singh Numberdar, chief of Facing flak, AAPreplaces Zira plant dumped toxic SIThead in Majithia case chemicals into the ground Our Correspondent Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 21 Drawing flak for little headway in the investigation into a drug case against former Akali minister Bikram Singh Majithia, the Punjab Police today replaced the head of the special investigation team (SIT). IGP (Patiala range) MS Chhina will now head the SIT in place of DIG-cum-Vigilance Bureau Director Rahul S. The orders in this regard were issued by the Director of the Bureau of Investigation of the Punjab Police. The other members of the SIT will, however, remain the same. They include AIGrank officer Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Raghbir Singh (DSP , STF , Rupnagar) and Amarpreet Singh (DSP , Kharar-2). IG Gursharan Singh Sandhu will continue to supervise the progress made by the probe team. This is the second time the SIT probing Majithia’s alleged role in helping drug smugglers has been reconstituted. DIG Rahul S makes way for IG Chhina POLLUTION BOARD BLAMES REVERSE BORING Surender Singh Solanki, CHIEF, PALAM 360 KHAP, DELHI Meham Chaubisi Khap, demanded WFI chief’s immediate arrest and conduct of narco test on him. Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik along with her hus- band and international wrestler Satyawart Kadian, family members of wrestler Vinesh Phogat, farm leader Rakesh Tikait and women activists also attended the mahapanchayat. Earlier, the mahapanchayat formed an 11-member committee to decide the next course of action. Ramphal Rathi, secretary, Meham Chaubisi Khap, said leaders of khaps and farm unions would assist women who would decide the future course of action on that day. “Since the agitation is associated with the dignity of women, we have decided to hold a women panchayat at continued on page 9 IN BRIEF Section 144 in Guwahati ahead of Shah’s visit GUWAHATI: Prohibitory orders under Section 144, CrPC, were imposed in Guwahati on Sunday, ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the city. Some groups may obstruct traffic. PTI to exchange ~2K notes Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 21 The State Bank of India (SBI) on Sunday said the facility of exchange of Rs 2,000 denomination notes up to a limit of Rs 20,000 at a time would be allowed without obtaining any requisition slip or producing any identity proof. Other banks are expected to follow suit when the process starts on Tuesday. The customers will only be allowed to exchange a maximum of 10 currency notes of Rs 2,000 at a time, according to a communication shared by the SBI with all its circles. However, there is confusion whether the same person can repeatedly approach the special Rs 2,000 note deposit counter the same day to deposit lots of 10 notes of this denomination. The SBI, in its communication with all the circles, has said a requisition slip having dedicated columns for details of customer’s identity proof now stands withdrawn with immediate effect. “Please arrange accordingly and extend all cooperation to members of the public so that the exercise is conducted in a smooth and seamless ■ This is the 2nd time the SIT Ferozepur, May 21 The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has stated in its report alleged use of reverse boring technique at the Zira ethanol plant to dispose of harmful chemicals led to the contamination of groundwater, making it unfit for drinking. Ironically, the plant management had has been recast to ensure that a challan is filed ■ 1st SIT led by AIG Balraj Singh; was replaced by DIG Rahul S after AAP came to power G20 tourism meet kicks off in Srinagar today, security tightened WAR ON DRUGS TARDY INVESTIGATION TIMELINE DEC 20, 2021 Majithia booked under NDPS Act; SIT formed FEB 24, 2022 SAD leader surrenders, sent to Patiala jail MARCH 20 AAP govt appoints DIG Rahul S as SIT head AUGUST 10 Majithia gets bail APRIL 10, 2023 Alleges AAP not presenting challan to delay case Majithia was booked during the Congress regime in December 2021. The first continued on page 9 claimed it was a ‘zero liquid discharge unit’. The method was used to dispose of toxic chemicals into the ground at the plant. The plant management reportedly drilled 25 borewells to dump toxic waste, which polluted groundwater within a 15 km radius. INSIDE Top Naxal commander from Jharkhand arrested NEW DELHI: The NIA has arrested Dinesh Gope, the self-styled supre- mo of the proscribed People’s Liberation Front of India, a splinter group of Maoists, an agency spokesperson said on Sunday. TNS Delhi records maximum temperature at 46°3C NEW DELHI: The maximum temperature breached the 45-degrees- Celsius mark in parts of Delhi on Sunday with Najafgarh recording the highest at 46.3 degrees Celsius, the Met Department said. TNS ‘HISTORIC’ CHANCE TO SHOWCASE HERITAGE ■ Hosting a G20 meet in Sri- Our Correspondent Jammu, May 21 Union Ministers Jitendra Singh and G Kishan Reddy along with Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha will officially inaugurate the third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting, scheduled to be held in Srinagar over three days, amid a thick blan- ■ During third G20 Tourism nagar indicated UT was now in same mainstream line of activity as any other place in country, said Union Minister Jitendra Singh ■ It was a ‘historic opportunity’ for people of the UT to showcase their culture, heritage, tourism and warm hospitality, said Lt Governor Manoj Sinha Security personnel at Dal Lake. ANI Working Group meet, sessions on ‘Film Tourism for Economic Growth and Cultural Preservation’ and ‘Eco tourism’ will be held ■ Soft events such as one dedicated to films and another highlighting facets of Kashmir will be held from May 22 to 24 ket of security on Monday. Following the inaugural ceremony, there will be two important working sessions — one on “Film Tourism for Economic Growth and Cul- tural Preservation” focussing on strategies to promote film tourism and another on “Eco c m y b tourism”. Time has also been allocated for bilateral meetings among delegates. Additionally, during the stay of delegates in Kashmir, soft events have been planned for them. “For example, one of the side events is dedicated to films. Some of the popular stars from the industry may also attend it. Similarly, there is another event dedicated to highlight various facets and beauty of Kashmir. A cultural programme has also been continued on page 9 Other banks may follow suit MAX 10 NOTES CAN BE SWAPPED ■ Depositors will be allowed to exchange a maximum of 10 currency notes of ~2,000 at a time ■ But it isn’t clear whether the same person can repeatedly approach the counter the same day to deposit lots of 10 notes manner without any inconvenience to the public,” said the SBI note. The RBI on Friday decided to withdraw the Rs 2,000 denomination currency notes from circulation but added it would continue to remain legal tender. Banks were also told to stop issuing Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes with immediate effect. These can be deposited into bank accounts or exchanged for notes of other denominations till September 30. 249 NDPS cases in Shimla in 5 months Sameer Singh Tribune News Service Shimla, May 21 Aimed at curbing drug menace in Shimla, the district police launched a major crackdown on peddlers. As a result, 249 cases were registered under the NDPS Act till May this year as against 229 FIRs filed last year. In 2022, 110 cases were registered till May-end. Official sources said the outcome of the crackdown was visible continued on page 9