19022024-TTC-01.qxd 19-02-2024 01:56 Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 49 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 PML-N, PPP FAIL TO REACH CONSENSUS ON POWER SHARING WORLD /thetribunechd BOOSTING THE SUGARCANE YIELD INFOCUS HEAVY SNOWFALL BLOCKS ROADS IN VALLEY J&K JAISWAL’S 214 STEERS INDIA TO BIGGEST TEST WIN SPORTS monday | 19 february 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Seeking another term for nation, not self: PM Modi Centre offers to buy 5 crops Says even other countries confident of BJP win on MSP, says must diversify Proposes procurement of cotton, maize, arhar, tur, urad by agencies Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 18 Bharat Mandapam in the national Capital resonated with thunderous applause as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday told an 11,000-strong saffron gathering that every country was convinced of BJP’s return to power in the General Election this summer. “Elections are yet to take place, but I have invitations for July, August, September. What does this mean? This means that nations across the world are convinced of BJP’s return to power… Every country, every power of the world knows aayega toh Modi hi (Modi will return to power),” the PM said in his valedictory remarks, marking the conclusion of the BJP’s twoday National Council meeting, which passed three resolutions — Viksit Bharat, Modi’s Guarantee; Ram Mandir; and BJP: Nation’s hope, Opposition’s despair. continued on page 11 Ruchika M Khanna PM Narendra Modi addresses BJP delegates on the second day of party’s national convention at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. ANI MORE POWERS TO PARTY’S PARL BOARD The BJP’s national convention on Sunday amended the party’s constitution, allowing its apex organisational body — the parliamentary board — to take a decision related to its president, including the term and its extension, in ‘emergency’ situations. BJP RESOLUTION: RAM MANDIR HERALDS ‘RAM RAJYA’ INSIDE Modi’s Sikh outreach amid farm stir New Delhi: Amid farmers’ protests, PM Modi made an outreach to the Sikh community, saying: “We feel proud when lakhs of Sikh devotees realise their spiritual urges by taking the Kartarpur Corridor to Pakistan. It was after seven decades of IN BRIEF Deliver bags in 30 minutes of landing, airlines told NEW DELHI: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has asked Air India, Indi- go, Akasa, SpiceJet, Vistara, AIX Connect and Air India Express to ensure passengers get baggage within 30 minutes of landing at airports. TNS Chinook makes precautionary landing in Sangrur SANGRUR: A Chinook helicopter of the IAF made a precautionary landing following a ‘technical snag’ at Dhadrian village in Sangrur on Sunday, the police said, adding both crew members were safe. OC Jharkhand CM gives go-ahead to caste survey RANCHI: Jharkhand CM Champai Soren has given the go-ahead for a caste-based survey in the state on the lines of Bihar, a senior official said, adding the exercise would begin after the LS poll. PTI Jain seer embraces death through ‘sallekhna’ RAIPUR: Jain seer Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj passed away on Sunday at Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh after undertaking ‘sallekhna’, a voluntary fast unto death for ‘spiritual purification’. INSIDE 6 months on, police slap UAPA on 20 riots accused Sumedha Sharma Tribune News Service Gurugram, February 18 Almost six months after the Nuh riots, which claimed six lives, the police have slapped the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act-1967 (UAPA) on around 20 individuals involved in the murder of two home guards and a Bajrang Dal activist, and an attack on a cyber police station. Though not included in the initial FIR, the Act, which provides for the effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations, and for dealing with terrorist activities or similar matters, was added to the challan presented in the court to oppose the bail petition of the accused. Nearly 30 per cent of the accused in the riots cases have been granted bail. While the Nuh police con- NAFED, NCCF, CCI TO SIGN 5-YEAR PACTS; BALL IN FARMERS’ COURT Tribune News Service NUH FLARE-UP 30 PER CENT HAVE GOT BAIL SO FAR ■ Though not included in FIR, Act added to challan presented in court to oppose accused’s bail plea ■ Nearly 30 per cent of the accused in the riots cases have been granted bail tinue to be tight-lipped, documents accessed by The Tribune revealed that the Act was added to FIR numbers 253, 257 and 401. FIR 257 pertains to the murder of two home guards, who were on duty to control the situation during stone throwing. continued on page 12 waiting that we opened up the Corridor to enable Sikh worshippers who hitherto used binoculars to see Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.” In his concluding remarks at the BJP meeting, he further said the BJP-led NDA continued on page 11 Chandigarh, February 18 To end the deadlock with protesting farmers, the Centre tonight offered to give guarantees on buying five crops from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP). This was the fourth round of talks between farmer leaders and the Centre. The crops which the Centre has proposed to buy on assured MSP include three pulses — arhar, tur and urad — besides cotton and maize. It is proposed that central agencies such as the NCCF NAFED , and the Cotton Corporation of India will sign a contract for five years to buy the crops from the farmers. The farmer leaders have been asked by the three-member Central team comprising Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Home NCCF, NAFED to enter Cotton Corporation of India Farmer leaders to inform Government says will 5-year deal with farmers to also sign 5-year pact to by Monday about their draw concrete plan once to buy pulses at MSP buy cotton crop at MSP decision on the proposals farmers give their consent FOURTH ROUND OF TALKS Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai address the media in Chandigarh on Sunday. VICKY NET SERVICES SUSPENDED IN PARTS OF PUNJAB TILL FEB 24 The Centre has ordered suspension of Internet services in most parts of Patiala, Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib till February 24. The AAP Govt has slammed the move. SC HEARING TODAY UT Mayor quits, 3 AAP councillors in saffron fold Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 18 Ahead of hearing on the Chandigarh mayoral poll in the Supreme Court on Monday, city Mayor Manoj Sonkar, who was elected amid allegations of rigging by presiding officer Anil Masih on January 30, resigned on Sunday, paving the way for fresh election. Also, in a boost to the BJP , three AAP councillors have joined the ruling party. Sonkar, accompanied by party leaders, submitted his resignation to MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra around 10:30 pm at her residence. With the three AAP councillors defecting to the BJP the , ruling party now has a majority in the MC House. A party leader said after Sonkar's resignation, re-election would be held and he would win again. The SC will hear AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar's petition seeking quashing of the poll results. Masih is expected to appear before the court and explain his conduct as visible in a video clip. Nityanand Rai to discuss their proposal and give their nod, before a concrete plan is discussed and implemented. The meeting began at 8.10 pm, two hours after the scheduled time, and talks were held for over four hours. Union minister Piyush Goyal said the meeting with the farmer leaders was held in a continued on page 11 Jaishankar discusses Gaza with Palestinian counterpart al-Maliki Judge accused of sexually abusing rape survivor Nath guarded, Cong says won’t quit party for BJP Tribune News Service Agartala, February 18 A rape survivor has alleged she was sexually abused by a magistrate inside his chamber in a court in Tripura. A three-member panel headed by Dhalai District and Sessions Judge Gautam Sarkar has initiated a probe into the allegation. Tribune News Service Also meets Armenia’s Mirzoyan to strengthen ties New Delhi, February 18 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Armenian and Palestinian counterparts on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Sunday. “Very pleased to meet Ararat Mirzoyan,” Jaishankar posted on X. The meeting comes at a time when Armenia has said it fears a full-scale war from Azerbaijan and is looking to diversify its defence ties with focus on India where it recently appointed a defence attaché. “Look forward to taking our partnership further. Nice to see Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki. Exchanged views on the current situation in Gaza,” posted Jaishankar on X of his meeting with the Palestinian Foreign Minister. He also met German Foreign and Security Policy Adviser Jens Plotner. Armenia has already purchased rocket launchers, phased array radars and ammu- THREE-MEMBER PANEL FORMED TO PROBE CHARGE EAM S Jaishankar with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. PTI ARMENIA FEARS WAR WITH AZERBAIJAN ■ The meeting with Mirzoyan comes at a time when Armenia has said it fears a full-scale war from Azerbaijan ■ It is looking to diversify its defence ties with focus on India where it recently appointed a defence attaché nition from India and there is talk of a defence agreement to streamline the security relationship. India and Armenia had inked a $250 million Pinaka deal and a $40 million contract for four Swathi weapon-locating radars. In an indication where its sympathy lay, India had condemned Azerbaijan’s “aggression” towards Armenia. continued on page 12 The woman alleged the incident took place on February 16 when she went to the chamber of the first class judicial magistrate, Kamalpur, to get her statement recorded in connection with her rape. In her complaint, the woman alleged, “When I was about to give my statement, the judge groped me. I rushed out of his chamber and informed the lawyers and my husband about the incident.” The woman’s husband also lodged a complaint with the Kamalpur Bar Association. Sarkar along with Chief Judicial Magistrate continued on page 12 New Delhi, February 18 Mystery continues to shroud veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath’s future move with no clear picture emerging with regard to the purported joining of the BJP by the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister. Nath, during a brief interaction with the media today, did not categorically deny the possibility of his switch to the saffron party. Congress leader and former MP minister Sajjan Singh Verma, who met Nath at his residence in Delhi today, said Nath had not made any decision yet on leaving the party. Verma said on meeting Nath, he found him studying the caste equations in the Lok Sabha constituencies of MP to ensure good performance by the Congress in all 29 seats of the state in the upcoming General Election. KAMAL NATH LOYALISTS IN DELHI At least six Madhya Pradesh MLAs loyal to Kamal Nath reached Delhi from Bhopal on Sunday, further fuelling speculation of him and his MP son Nakul Nath joining the BJP. “I talked to Nath. Reports about him leaving the Congress have been created by the media. So he refused to deny anything,” Verma said. Asked whether the party veteran would stay in the Congress, Verma said Nath had not said anything about leaving the party. “Nath has not only political but also family relations with the Gandhis,” he said. MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari continued on page 12 HP power corp paid ~15 lakh for fake houses, 7 booked AbhinavVashisht Three former engineers among accused Kullu, February 18 The Vigilance Department has registered an FIR against seven persons, including three retired engineers of the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), for allegedly providing fake compensation during land acquisition for the construction of 100 MW Sainj Hydro Power Project in 2007-08. Three owners of acquired FILE PHOTO land and a private engineer have also been booked. Sources said landowners Radhey Shyam and his sons Gaurav Kapoor and Gunjan Kapoor allegedly pocketed c m y b extra compensation of Rs 15 lakh for showing two houses on their land which never existed. They had hired engineer BD Gupta, who had prepared the estimate. Three engineers, including a manager and a deputy manager of the HPPCL, all now retired, allegedly assisted the owners. An FIR in the case, which was being investigated by the Vigilance for long, has been registered at Vigilance police station in Kullu. Kullu DSP Vigilance Ajay Kumar said a thorough inquiry was conducted during which ample evidence was collected. The FIR had been registered after getting the relevant approval, he said, adding further investigations were underway. The sources said when landowners came to know about acquisition, some of them built temporary shacks to seek compensation for the continued on page 12 Snowfall on the Atal Tunnel road in Manali on Sunday. ANI RED ALERT IN HIMACHAL TODAY A red alert has been issued for heavy to very heavy snow in Chamba, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul, Mandi & Shimla districts on Monday INSIDE