26022024-TTC-01.qxd 26-02-2024 00:30 Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 8 NO. 56 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 TRUMP DEFEATS HALEY IN HER HOME STATE PRIMARY WORLD /thetribunechd SON IN RUSSIAN ARMY, KASHMIRI FAMILY SEEKS CENTRE’S HELP J&K TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS MULTI-NATION NAVAL DRILL TO RESTORE GLITTER OF FOCUSES ON TACKLING ‘WHITE GOLD’ INFOCUS DRONES BACK PAGE monday | 26 february 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com AIIMS for Bathinda, Sudarshan Setu forDwarka:Modi unveilskey projects Says Congress used its power to make only one family prosperous Aksheev Thakur BRIDGE FACTS Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 25 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated multiple developmental projects, including an All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Bathinda and a 300-bed satellite centre of Post Graduate Institute of Medical and Educational Research (PGIMER) in Sangrur, Punjab. He announced the same during his two-day visit to Dwarka, Gujarat. Built at a cost of Rs 980 crore, the PM also dedicated to the nation Sudarshan Setu, the longest cablestayed bridge in the country at a length of 2.32 kilometres, which now connected Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka. The PM laid the foundation stone for a 100-bed satellite centre at PGIMER, Ferozepur, and inaugurated the Central Research Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy in Jhajjar, Haryana. It will have apex level yoga and naturopathy research facilities. continued on page 11 COST ~980 CR 2.32 KM LENGTH ■ Connects Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka in Gujarat ■ Longest cable-stayed bridge in the country ❝ I have taken the to Government of India every corner of the country. Narendra Modi, PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi after inaugurating the Sudarshan Setu in Dwarka on Sunday. PTI ‘DIVINE’: PM ON DWARKA DARSHAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday went scuba diving off the Panchkui beach coast in Gujarat and performed prayers as he witnessed the ancient Dwarka city of Lord Krishna, which is submerged in the water. BACK PAGE << PM Modi peforms underwater puja at the site of the ancient submerged city of Dwarka. ANI Asksfirst-timevoters to turn out in record numbers in LS polls On the run for 22 years, SIMI operative held Samad Hoque Tribune News Service The vehicle in which the two-time MLA was travelling. SUMIT THARAN Neeraj Mohan Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 25 In his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to first-time voters to exercise their franchise in record numbers in the upcoming elections. ‘MANN KI BAAT’ BROADCAST PAUSED FOR 3 MONTHS PM Modi said his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast would not be aired for the next three months in line with political ethics in view of the General Election. With the polls expected in April-May, he said there was a possibility that the model code of conduct would be enforced in March like it was done in 2019, a reference to the expected announcement of the election schedule next month. In the 110th episode of the programme, he urged firsttime voters to poll in record numbers in the elections and continued on page 11 INLD’s Haryana chief shot dead Rathi’s aide also killed, 2 gunmen hurt Ravinder Saini Tribune News Service Jhajjar, February 25 Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) Haryana president and two-time MLA Nafe Singh Rathi (66) and his associate, identified as Jai Kishan of Mandhothi village, were gunned down in broad daylight by unidentified carborne assailants near Barahi level crossing in Bahadurgarh town here this evening. Rathi’s two gunmen were injured in the attack. The injured have been admitted to a private hospital. The reason behind the killings is yet to be ascertained. The continued on page 10 Nafe Singh Rathi NO SECURITY DESPITE THREAT TO LIFE The two-time MLA was not provided security by state govt. Representations were made to senior cops and state home minister about threats to his life. ❝ Abhay Chautala, INLD LEADER New Delhi, February 25 In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police on Sunday apprehended one of the most elusive members of the banned organisation Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Mohammed Hanif, also known as Hanif Sheikh, alias Haneef Hudai. Hanif had been on the run for 22 years in connection with a case of sedition and unlawful activities, registered at the Police Station, New Friends Colony, Delhi, in 2001. Hanif, aged 47, had been declared a proclaimed offender by a Delhi court in 2002. Deputy Commissioner Special Cell Alok Kumar said, “After gathering crucial information from various parts of the country, especially Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the team deployed informers and sources to track down Hanif Sheikh. Their painstaking efforts led them to Bhusawal, Maharashtra, where Hanif had assumed a new identity and was working as a teacher in an Urdu School.” On February 22, a raiding continued on page 10 Net restored, barriers Fearing foul play, farmers keep watchful eye go in parts of Haryana on Punjab cops guarding Shubhkaran’s body Chandigarh, February 25 Normalcy is returning to Haryana after about two weeks with the state government today restoring mobile Internet services besides opening several highways connecting major towns of the state. Mobile Internet services were restored in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts on Sunday. These were suspended on February 11, ahead of farmers’ ‘Dilli Chalo’ march. The police also restored free movement in Rohtak, Jind, Fatehabad, Sirsa, and Hisar districts by removing barricades.The barriers set up at the Punjab border in Fatehabad, Jind and Sirsa districts, however, remain intact Barricades near Punjab border still in place with police deployment. The Rohtak-Jind highway opened after concrete barricades and spikes were removed. For the past 12 days, the highway had been blocked near Lakhan Majra village, located on the border of both the districts. The police had diverted the vehicular traffic on alternative routes following the blockade. The barricades on the Hisar-Fatehabad road near Agroha were pulled down by the administration. In Fatehabad district, the barricade on the Tohana-Fatehabad road was removed. — TNS Aman Sood TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE PATIALA, FEBRUARY 25 After a fierce standoff with Haryana cops, hundreds of farmers have been guarding the corpse of 22-year-old Shubhkaran Singh at Patiala’s Government Rajindra Hospital’s mortuary. Farmers feared that the Punjab Police could hand over the body to their Haryana counterparts or get a postmortem done. On the other hand, as many as 100 cops have been placed on a 24x7 vigil to guard the mortuary, as authorities feared the farmers could take away the body and stage a dharna at any of the borders near Haryana. For the past three days, farm- A police vehicle outside the Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. RAJESH SACHAR ers have been keeping a hawk’s eye on all the gates of the hospital. “The police can do anything and we cannot take chances, hence our volunteers are here at the hospital to keep an eye on proceed- ings,” said a farm union leader. One of the cops on duty informed, “We have been asked not to allow farmers inside the premises. Though things are peaceful, we have strict directions to immedi- IN BRIEF Scare as driverless freight train travels 70 km, probe on ED summons promoters of Hiranandani Group MUMBAI: The ED has sum- moned Niranjan Hiranandani and Darshan, promoters of the Hiranandani Group, for questioning in a FEMA case on February 26, sources said. INSIDE 3 Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh encounter KANKER: Three Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Sunday morning, a senior police official said. PTI Our Correspondents Srinagar/Hoshiarpur, Feb 25 A major tragedy was averted after a driverless freight train with 53 wagons travelled nearly 70 km from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir before coming to a halt at Unchi Bassi, near Dasuya, in Hoshiarpur district this morning. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident. The chip stone-laden train, with its diesel locomotive running, was stationed at the Kathua railway station when it started rolling down the REACHES DASUYA FROM KATHUA ■ Around 7.20 am, train sta- A video grab of the train. slope on the Jammu-Jalandhar section without the loco pilot or assistant loco pilot aboard around 7.20 am. According to sources, the train, which was on its way tioned at Kathua railway station rolls down slope without crew; cruises at 100 kmph due to downward gradient; alert is sounded ■ Line is cleared & train put on track with gradient against gravity; bid to stop it from Jammu to Punjab, gained speed (cruising at up to 100 km per hour) due to downward gradient. The Kathua Station Superintendent’s office sounded the alert. near Pathankot fails, another attempt near Mukerian also proves futile ■ Train finally slows down due to steep gradient near Unchi Bassi around 9 am; the Railway Board orders an inquiry, team to visit Kathua on Monday The train broke the signal at Kathua, prompting the control room to flash orders to keep the line clear. All level crossings on the route continued on page 10 c m y b ately apprise seniors in case of any untoward incident near the mortuary where Shubhkaran’s body has been preserved.” Sources said due to the talks with farmer unions ending in a stalemate, there was nothing much the Punjab Government or the police department could do. “We are clear on our stand. No FIR, no cremation; even if we have to wait for a month or more, we are ready. Our protest at the Shambhu and Khanauri barriers will continue peacefully. It is the Haryana Government that has turned the barriers into borders and not allowed peaceful protesters to reach continued on page 10 Yellow alert in HP; rain, snow likely Shimla, February 25 The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert from tomorrow onwards till March 2 in Himachal Pradesh. According to the department, a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the Himalayan region from February 26 and trigger another spell of rain or snow over the next four-five days. As per the forecast, there will be rain at isolated places in plains and low hills on Monday. INSIDE Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. PTI Boost to INDIAbloc, SP chief joins Rahul’s yatra Neeraj Mohan TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 25 Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav’s participation in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Agra has injected fresh vigour into the INDIA bloc, which had been grappling with desertions and challenges in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. With both the SP and the Congress recently announcing seat-sharing arrangements for Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh’s support for the yatra has become a significant rallying point for the INDIA bloc partners, especially in Jat and Muslim-dominated western Uttar Pradesh, after the recent desertion of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary. Akhilesh emphasised the need for unity and love in the country, contrasting it with the politics of hatred. “I welcome all workers of both parties and Congress leaders to GOVT IS SCARED OF FARMERS Today farmers are standing against the government and the government is scared of their power. The INDIA coalition government will give respect to farmers. Akhilesh Yadav, SP CHIEF ❝ the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,” he said. He accused the BJP of neglecting the concerns of farmers and youth. “BJP hatao, desh bachao (remove BJP save the country). Today, , farmers are standing against the government and the government is scared of their power. Once the BJP is removed, the INDIA coalition government will give respect to farmers,” he added. Accompanied by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi’s yatra received a warm continued on page 10