01062023-TT-01.qxd 5/31/2023 11:18 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 143 NO. 150 | 22 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH SHUTTLER SAINA MAKES WINNING START AT THAILAND OPEN SPORT /thetribunechd US ACCUSES CHINA OF AGGRESSIVE MID-AIR INTERCEPT WORLD INTRUSION BID FOILED, 3 ULTRAS HELD WITH IED IN POONCH J&K NEPAL PM PRACHANDA ARRIVES IN DELHI, TO MEET MODI TODAY BACK PAGE thursday | 1 june 2023 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com POCSO, sexual harassment norms violated for WFI chief Cabinet nod to ~1 lakh cr plan to boost grain storage capacity Police say report on ‘sexual harassment’ to be submitted to court New Delhi, May 31 The government today approved a scheme worth Rs 1 lakh crore to increase foodgrain storage capacity in the country by 700 lakh tonnes in the cooperative sector to take it to 2,150 lakh tonnes to reduce damage and prevent distress sale by farmers, besides strengthening the country’s food security. Of the existing capacity of 1,450 lakh tonnes, the maximum 60 per cent is in Punjab and the lowest 21 per cent is in West Bengal, said Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur while briefing the Satya Prakash & Karam Prakash BE PATIENT, ANURAG TELLS WRESTLERS Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 31 More than a month after the Delhi Police lodged an FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on women wrestlers’ complaint of sexual harassment, the grapplers are still agitating to press for his arrest. Slamming the government over the alleged inaction in arresting the WFI president, Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal on Wednesday wondered if the POCSO Act and the immediate arrest under it applied to all accused other than Brij Bhushan because he belonged to the BJP . Legal experts are of the view that in POCSO cases, the norm is that the accused is arrested for questioning. The Delhi Police on Wednesday clarified that the sexual harassment case against Singh was under investigation and a report would be submitted to the court concerned. The clarification came hours after some media out- IN BRIEF West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee participates in a rally in support of the protesting wrestlers, in Kolkata on Wednesday. PTI WHY WASN’T BRIJ BHUSHAN ARRESTED? ■ FIR registered against WFI chief Brij Bhushan on April 28 only after women wrestlers moved the SC ■ Under POCSO Act, generally the FIR and the arrest hap- MINOR’S IDENTITY DISCLOSED, DCW SEEKS ACTION The Delhi Commission for Women issued summons to DCP after a video revealed the identity of the minor complainant. The panel has sought an FIR, saying it’s a criminal offence under POCSO Act lets reported that the Delhi Police hadn’t found anything substantial against the accused WFI chief in the investigation so far. “It is clarified that this news is “wrong” and the investigation into this sensitive case is under progress with all sensitivity,” SANTA CLARA: Rahul Gandhi had a dig at PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday, describing him as a “specimen” who thinks he knows more than God and said the idea of India was under attack. The BJP slammed him as a “fake Gandhi”. BACK PAGE Shah visits camps of Meitei, Kuki groups NEW DELHI: Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the government was committed to restoring peace in Manipur. He went to the camps of Kuki and Meitei communities in Moreh and Imphal on the third day of his visit. BACK PAGE PFI terror module: NIA raids across 3 states NEW DELHI: The NIA said on Wednesday it had conducted raids at about 25 locations in Karnataka, Kerala and Bihar in connection with its investigation into the Popular Front of India (PFI) Phulwarisharif terror module case. BACK PAGE the Delhi Police tweeted, only to delete it within an hour. Later, the Delhi Police spokesperson shared another message in Hindi with reporters. “The cases filed by women wrestlers are still under investigation. Status continued on page 18 India, China agree to hold military talks at LAC soon Tribune News Service Modi thinks he knows more than God: Rahul pen immediately as there is presumption of guilt ■ Accused WFI president not arrested so far even as women wrestlers continue to agitate New Delhi, May 31 The 27th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC) was held on Wednesday in person in New Delhi. Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) led the Indian delegation while the Chinese side was headed by the DG of Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. WMCC MEETING The government on Wednesday reached out to protesting wrestlers with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur urging them to be patient and not take any extreme step till the conclusion of the Delhi Police probe into the allegations of sexual misconduct against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. “I urge them not to take any step that could undermine sports or sportspersons,” he said. WILL HANG MYSELF IF CHARGES PROVED In Barabanki, Brij Bhushan said he would hang himself even if one allegation against him was proved. The BJP MP from UP’s Kaiserganj said all wrestlers were like his children and he wouldn’t blame them because he had heavily invested in their success. Tribune News Service Aim to lift co-op sector, prevent distress sale Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 31 Ending days of suspense over the “bribe for job” racket, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday presented cricketer Jasinder Singh Baidwan before the media and claimed his predecessor Charanjit Singh Channi’s nephew Jashan had allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore for a government job. Without naming Jasinder, Mann had on May 22 dared the Congress leader to make public the information about continued on page 18 LAKH TONNES STORAGE LT TO BE ADDED media on Cabinet decisions. He said the country’s foodgrain production was around 3,100 lakh tonnes, while the storage capacity was only 47 2,150 3,100 LT TARGET STORAGE LT GRAIN PRODUCTION per cent of the output. Under the scheme, Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) would be continued on page 18 Prayagraj, May 31 The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday rejected a plea challenging the maintainability of a suit filed by five Hindu women seeking permission for regular worship of Shringar Gauri and other deities in Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque compound. Justice JJ Munir dismissed the mosque management committee’s revision petition that contended that the suit was barred under the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which prohibits conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of its religious character as it continued on page 18 SHOWS RESILIENCE: PM | DEPICTS INEQUALITY: CONG New Delhi, May 31 India’s economy grew by 6.1 per cent in the JanuaryMarch quarter of 2022-23, which is estimated to push the annual growth rate to 7.2 per cent on account of better performance by agriculture, manufacturing, mining and construction sectors, according to official data released on Wednesday. The growth Period (FY23) April-June July-Sept Oct-Dec Jan-March Growth 13.1% 6.2% 4.5% 6.1% AT 3.5%, GROWTH IN KEY SECTORS SLOWS DOWN THIS APRIL propelled the Indian economy to $3.3 trillion and set the stage for achieving $5 trillion target in the next few years. While the economy grew by 9.1 per cent in 2021-22, economists are of the view that the numbers for 2022-23 are high- er than what was expected earlier. The fiscal deficit for 202223 was 6.4 per cent of the GDP . PM Narendra Modi said the 2022-23 GDP figures showed the resilience of the Indian economy amid global challenges. "The robust performance along with overall optimism and compelling macro-economic indicators, exemplify the promising trajectory of our economy and continued on page 18 Gurugram MC gets HC rap over 17,000 stray dogs Saurabh Malik ■ The 27th meeting of the Tribune News Service Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) was held in Delhi ■ The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC ■ Proposals for disengagement in remaining areas discussed Chandigarh, May 31 Admonishing the authorities in Gurugram for a mere “eyewash” in the stray dog menace case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Municipal Corporation Commissioner to remain present before the Bench. He has been directed to explain the corporation’s “abysmal failure” to ensure stray dog-free streets. Justice continued on page 18 The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in western sector of India-China border areas and discussed proposals for continued on page 18 CONG LEADER SAYS AAP ALL OUT TO FIX HIM, KIN was ❝ The player’s pleaHC… the player his work willtold ❝ Channi’s nephew be rejected twice by the lured with job for speaking done... provided he gives against me. Charanjit Channi, EX-CM ~2 cr. Bhagwant Mann, PUNJAB CM JASINDER BAIDWAN — THE MAN IN LIMELIGHT Jasinder has represented Punjab in Ranji and other tournaments; was part of the IPL Punjab Kings team, but not in playing XI AbhinavVashisht GIVING WING TO TOURISM ■ The Chandigarh heliport to serve as a base for all heliports in Himachal ■ This will enable tourists to fly to their preferred destinations in the hill state ■ Move expected to give a fillip to tourism prospects in Himachal said sources, would serve as a base for all heliports in Himachal. The move is 700 Tribune News Service HP to have heliport in Chandigarh linking all 12 dists Kullu, May 31 With the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) simplifying the process for grant of heliport licence, the Himachal Pradesh Government is planning to set up one in Chandigarh connecting all heliports in the hill state. The Chandigarh heliport, 1,450 HC junks mosque panel’s plea on maintainability GDP up 6.1% in Q4; FY23 growth seen at 7.2% Channi’s nephew demanded ~2 cr from IPL player, claims CM Mann Sanjeev Singh Bariana PUNJAB HOUSES 60% OF GODOWNS GYANVAPI-SHRINGAR GAURI SUIT expected to boost tourism, which is the mainstay of the state’s economy. The gov- ernment would also set up heliports in all 12 districts and upgrade facilities in the districts that already had one, said an official. “Poor aerial connectivity has been one of the major hindrances in tourism promotion in Himachal, which has only three airports at Bhuntar (Kullu), Gaggal continued on page 18 c m y b Auron ke liye sirf business hai, hamare liye duty! n Duty, Always! Hamesha Open!