04022024-TTC-01.qxd 2/4/2024 12:23 AM Page 1 123 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 34 | 22 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 US HITS IRAN-BACKED GROUPS IN IRAQ, SYRIA; 40 KILLED WORLD /thetribunechd MASSIVE PROTEST IN LEH FOR LADAKH’S STATEHOOD J&K STAGE SET FOR ‘RURAL INS SANDHAYAK, SURVEY OLYMPICS’, WITH NEW VESSEL COMMISSIONED ATTRACTIONS SPECTRUM INTO NAVY BACK PAGE sunday | 4 february 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Bharat Ratna for Advani, BJP founder Amid strained ties, Canada intel & architect of Ram Mandir movement report claims India‘foreignthreat’ Honour not only for me, but also for ideals and principles served, says 96-year-old veteran Aditi Tandon LONGEST-SERVING PARTY PRESIDENT Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 3 President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday conferred India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, on LK Advani, BJP founder and Ram Janmabhoomi movement’s architect. Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke the news this morning when he said, “I am very happy to share that LK Advani ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him. One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental.” Modi lauded Advani’s rise ■ Advani and other Bharatiya BJP leader LK Advani with his daughter Pratibha in New Delhi. ANI ❝ CHALLENGED DYNASTIC POLITICS Advani challenged dynastic politics, fought for Indian democracy. Narendra Modi, PM from a grassroots worker to India’s Deputy Prime Minister, saying, “Advani ji has distinguished himself as our Jana Sangh leaders formed Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980 ■ Headed BJP when it first adopted a resolution in 1989 seeking Ram Mandir at contested Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya ■ The longest-serving BJP chief led Ram Rath Yatra in 1990s ■ Rose to become Deputy PM in Vajyapee Cabinet (1999-2004) ■ Tried to take a more moderate and secular avtar following party’s loss in 2004 polls Home Minister and I&B Minister. His parliamentary interventions have been exemplary... He challenged dynastic politics and fought for Indian democracy.” The decision to confer the Bharat Ratna on Advani, 96, Citing personal reasons, Purohit quits as Punjab Governor, UT Administrator on the eve of 18th Lok Sabha elections and soon after the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is significant. It signals high recognition for the veteran leader’s role in national life, in resisting the 1975 Emergency and, principally, in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement that catapulted the BJP from the margins to a principal player in Indian politics. When the BJP first adopted a resolution at its Palampur national executive in June 1989 seeking Ram Mandir at the contested Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya, Advani was the national party president. He prevailed over the party moderates to steer the resolution continued on page 12 US Senator gets Biden assurance on Pannun case probe Sandeep Dikshit Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 3 In a pincer move, Canada has named India as a “foreign interference threat” while a prominent Senator in the US has extracted a promise from the Biden administration to persuade India to thoroughly investigate allegations of the Indian Government’s involvement in an attempt to murder pro-Khalistan activist and “designated terrorist” Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. In the US, Senator Ben Cardin lifted his hold on the sale of MQ-9 drones to India only after the Biden administration assured him that it will take steps to address allegations of the Indian ‘INTERFERENCE’ TO INFLUENCE NARRATIVE ■ Canadian Security Intelli- ■ Report dates back to Oct gence Service report has named India a ‘foreign’ interference threat amid tensions over Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Nijjar killing 2022 and examines socalled foreign interference by India, Russia and China by secrecy and deception to influence public narratives HOLD ON DRONE DEAL LIFTED US Senator Ben Cardin says he lifted hold on MQ-9 drone sale to India only after Biden administration assured him of steps to address concerns over plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu Government’s involvement in the attempt to murder Pannun in New York, a few days after pro-Khalistan activist and terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in Canada. Amid tensions with New Delhi over an alleged Indian hand in Nijjar’s murder in British Columbia, a Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) report has named India as a “foreign interference threat”. “We must do more to protect Canada’s robust democratic institutions continued on page 12 ~100 cr Haryana scam: Fund used to buy land, flats Ruchika M Khanna CHIEF COMMISSIONER FOR CHANDIGARH? Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 3 Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit has tendered his resignation to the President of India citing “personal reasons and certain other commitments” as the reason. He has been holding the post since August 2021. Official sources in the Punjab Raj Bhawan told The Tribune the Governor had met President Droupadi Murmu yesterday and expressed his desire to resign from the post of Punjab Governor and UT Banwarilal Purohit Administrator. Following this, the resignation was sent today. The resignation comes close on the heels of the Chandigarh IN BRIEF BJP MLA held for shooting Sena leader in Thane THANE: A BJP MLA has been arrested for allegedly shooting and injuring a leader of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena over a land dispute in Thane district, officials said on Saturday. BACK PAGE Court allows Soren to take part in trust vote RANCHI: A special court on Saturday allowed former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, who has been arrested in a money laundering case, to participate in the trust vote in the Assembly on February 5. PTI ED files plaint against Kejri for ignoring summons NEW DELHI: The ED on Saturday filed a complaint against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in a court for not appearing before it in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. TNS Speculation is rife in political circles that the Government of India may appoint a Chief Commissioner for Chandigarh, replacing the role of Punjab Governor as the Chief Administrator of Chandigarh. Earlier this week, the Centre appointed AGMUT-cadre officer Rajeev Verma as Adviser, Chandigarh Administration. mayoral polls, held on Tuesday. The BJP won the election, after eight of the 36 votes were continued on page 12 Chandigarh, February 3 An Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation has revealed that fund allocated under the Integrated Cooperative Development Project (ICDP) in Rewari was allegedly used by accused for buying land parcels in Sirsa and Kurukshetra, and flats in Zirakpur. At the centre of the Rs 100 crore scam is Anu Kaushish, Assistant Registrar Cooperative Societies, who was then posted as General Manager ICDP Rewari. So far, 10 FIRs — , four in Gurugram, and three each in Ambala and Karnal — have been registered in connection with the case. INSIDE 4 bodies found at fire-hit Baddi perfume factory; 4 still missing Ambika Sharma Tribune News Service Solan, February 3 Four bodies were today recovered from the gutted remains of a perfume-manufacturing unit, NR Aroma, at Jharmajri in Barotiwala industrial zone of Himachal’s Baddi where a massive fire broke out on Friday. The death toll has climbed to five as a woman Unit manager arrested, hunt on for firm owner had succumbed to her injuries yesterday while being rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh. The Baddi police today arrested the company’s plant head, Chander Shekhar, after registering a case under IPC continued on page 12 1 teacher for 1 student in this Bathinda school Sukhmeet Bhasin Tribune News Service Lone student attends class at govt school in Kothe Budh Singhwala. Bathinda, February 3 One teacher for one student — though hard to believe, the rare 1:1 teacher-pupil ratio does exist in a government primary smart school in remote Kothe Budh Singhwala village of Punjab’s Bathinda district. Here, the solitary teacher, Sarabjit Kaur, has been catering to her lone student, Bhinder Singh, enrolled in ❝ VILLAGERS PREFER PRIVATE EDUCATION I have been regularly moving door to door in the village, trying to convince parents for admissions. But they seem to have more faith in private sector education. Sarabjit Kaur, TEACHER Class V. Despite having only one pupil, Sarabjit spares no effort in extending to him all the facilities mandated in smart schools — access to a projector, library and daily mid-day meals. Equipped with modern Today’s issue is of 22 pages, including six-page Spectrum. facilities, the school has a provision to enrol students from LKG to Class V, but the villagers have been preferring to admit their wards to private institutes. The village has a population of about 400. continued on page 12 Follow us on