06032024-TT-01.qxd 05-03-2024 23:04 Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 65 | 18 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH BIDEN, TRUMP SET TO MOVE CLOSER TO NOV CLASH WORLD /thetribunechd LS POLLS: NC TO GO SOLO IN ALL 3 SEATS OF KASHMIR J&K YELLOW METAL EAM: ERA WHEN A HITS RECORD HIGH FEW POWERS WIELDED OF ~65K BUSINESS INFLUENCE OVER BACK PAGE wednesday | 6 march 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Indian killed in Huge debt, AAP offers no sops Israel; move ~2,04,917.67 ~1,03,936.19 to safety: MEA No new taxes; thrust on Canal project announced 100 primary schools to be PILES education, health, infra for Malwa over 1.7L acres ‘Schools of Happiness’ TREATMENT Italian Techniques RANA HOSPITAL SAME DAY DISCHARGE 98141-28667 BUDGET SIZE Market loans Revenue expenditure ~38,331.48 cr ~1,27,134.33 cr Outstanding debt Sandeep Dikshit PROJECTS, SCHEMES IN THE OFFING Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 5 Fiscal prudence gained priority over wooing the electorate in Aam Aadmi Party’s preelection budget, presented by Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema in the Vidhan Sabha today. Notably, no new taxes have been imposed for 2024-25 in this third budget of the AAP Government. With emphasis on education, healthcare and public infrastructure, the budget of Rs 2,04,918 crore affords no bonanza for any section of society. The much-expected Rs 1,000 financial assistance for women over 18 years of age, as promised by the ruling party before the 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections, remains elusive, though his counterpart in AAP-ruled Delhi declared the same yesterday. The neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh too announced an assistance of Rs 1,500 for continued on page 7 edit: Punjab Budget Revenue deficit ~23,198.14 cr ~3,74,091.31 cr Tribune News Service Ruchika M Khanna New Delhi, March 5 In one of the worst outages for Meta in years, its entire family of apps -- Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads -- went down for millions across the globe, including in India, as users were thrown out from their accounts. There was no official announcement from the company as to what caused this massive outage. While Facebook logged users out of their accounts, people were unable to refresh their feeds on Instagram and stories and comments were not loading. X rival Threads also went down, displaying an error message. WhatsApp, also owned by Meta, still appeared to be working. Website Downdetector showed more than 1 lakh reports of FB being down. — IANS CR CR BDO Office Road, Sirhind (PUNJAB) FB, Instagram down in mega global outage REVENUE RECEIPTS ■ New schemes for skill develop- ment of schoolchildren, Mission Samarth and Punjab Hunar Vikas Yojana announced ■ To implement drug deaddiction initiatives, ~70 cr has been allocated ■ ~5,925 crore set aside for provid- ing social security pensions ■ 1,000 sports nurseries to come up in all districts of the state ■ An eco-tourism project to be completed in 3 years ■ Free bus travel for women to continue; ~450 crore reserved for it AID TO WOMEN AMONG PROMISES NOT KEPT ■ ~1,000 financial assistance for women over 18 years not given ■ Promised hike in old-age pension finds no mention ■ No fiscal support for farmers to buy crops under diversification ❝ Although the Centre has held back ~8,000 cr funds, we have managed to increase tax revenue by 21.68% in the current fiscal. Harpal Cheema, FM PHOTO: VICKY German/American At 6.8%, growth below national average Vijay C Roy Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 5 According to advance estimates, Punjab’s economy is expected to grow at 6.8 per cent at constant prices in 2023-24 and likely to touch Rs 4.93 lakh crore. While the state economy grew at 6.4 per cent in 2022-23 (quick estimates), growth rate of Punjab and at the national level have shown some signs of recovery in 2023-24. According to Economic Survey 2023-24, despite moderation in growth rates over the past few years, Punjab’s economy is expected to grow on par with the national average in 2023-24. Since 2013-14, growth rate in Punjab has been slower than the national average. However, estimates for 2020-21 indicated a shift in continued on page 7 New Delhi, March 5 The blowback from the Israel conflict hit India on Monday with the death of a 31-yearold from Kerala and injuries to two others in a suspected rocket and mortar attack by Lebanon’s Hezbollah group around an orchard on Israel’s northern borders. All three youngsters from Kerala are understood to have arrived in Israel to work at orchards near the restive borders with Lebanon where work permits of Palestinians were suspended after the Hamas attack on October 7 last year. An anti-tank missile hit a plantation in the Margaliot collective agricultural farm in the Galilee region in north Israel around 11 am on Monday, instantly killing Patnibin Maxwell (30) from Kollam, who had arrived in January. Bush Joseph George (31) and Paul Melvin (28), both from Idukki, who were also working on the farm, were injured and hospitalised, said reports and posts from the Israel embassy here. AIR INDIA RESTARTS FLIGHTS TO TEL AVIV ■ First reported death of an Indian near Israel’s border with Lebanon in several years ■ Air India restarts flights from Delhi to Tel Aviv after five months on a tri-weekly basis This is the first reported death of an Indian near Israel’s border with Lebanon in several years. Maxwell is survived by his pregnant wife and a five-year-old daughter. This was reportedly the seventh civilian death in the Israeli controlled part of the region where 10 Israel Defence Force (IDF) personnel have also been killed in attacks by the Lebanonbased Hezbollah group. India gave mixed signals about the desirability of its nationals being in Israel. It indicated that while most of the country was safe, the border areas were dangerous. An advisory by the Indian Embassy in Israel urged nationals to move away from continued on page 7 No Indian troops, not even in civvies: Muizzu HC transfers Sandeshkhali probe Maldives Prez steps up anti-India rhetoric hours after military aid pact with China to CBI, Mamata govt moves SC Sandeep Dikshit Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 5 On a day when the Maldives reportedly signed an agreement with China to receive free military aid, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu made an about turn on the issue of Indians manning emergency evacuation and surveillance platforms by stating that no Indian troops, including those in civilian clothing, would be allowed to enter the country after May 10. South Block had earlier presumed that the stand taken by the new Maldives government on clearing the Mohamed Muizzu country of all foreign military personnel meant there would be no objection to replacing the 80-odd Indian Army men posted there with civilians. But just as the first lot of Indian civilians arrived to replace the military men, IN BRIEF Maha challenges HC order acquitting Saibaba Muizzu has thrown a spanner by stating that, “These people (Indian military) are not departing, and they are returning after changing their uniforms into civilian clothing. We must not indulge such thoughts that instil doubts in our hearts and spread lies.” “There will be no Indian troops in the country come May 10. Not in uniform and not in civilian clothing. The Indian military will not be residing in this country in any form of clothing. I state this with confidence,” Maldives media reported Muizzu as saying. Aman Sood Tribune News Service bay HC acquitted former DU professor GN Saibaba in an alleged Maoist links case, Maharashtra on Tuesday moved SC challenging his acquittal. BACK PAGE Patiala, March 5 Twenty two-year-old farmer Shubhkaran Singh died from a “firearm injury” with multiple “metallic” pellets being recovered from the head, a team of five doctors has observed in its postmortem report. The farmer, declared a martyr, was killed during the ongoing agitation near Khanauri on the HaryanaPunjab border on February 21. It is alleged the fatal HP court sets aside water cess on hydel generation Tribune News Service Shimla, March 5 The Himachal Pradesh High Court today set aside the imposition of water cess on hydropower generation, terming the legislation unconstitutional and beyond the legislative competence of the state government. A Division Bench of the High Court headed by Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyen Vaidya wrote a 100-page judgment in the case. “The provisions of the Terms legislation unconstitutional Himachal Pradesh Water Cess on Hydropower Electricity Generation Act, 2023, are declared to be beyond the legislative competence of the state government in terms of Articles 246 and 265 of the Constitution of India and, thus, rendered ultra vires,” reads the judgment. The court has quashed and set continued on page 7 Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 5 The West Bengal Government on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging an order of the Calcutta High Court to transfer the probe into an attack on Enforcement Directorate officials at Sandeshkhali on January 5 to the CBI. The SC bench, however, refused an urgent listing of the plea and asked senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, continued on page 7 ‘FIREARM INJURY’ LED TO 22-YEAR-OLD’S DEATH ■ Death caused by head injury as a result of firearm & victim died within a few minutes, says autopsy report ■ 2 injuries found on skull; multiple metallic ‘balls’ found in cerebral hemispheres, which proved fatal, say docs ■ Second injury involves swelling above the left eyebrow with underlying fracture on the frontal bone Shubhkaran Singh. FILE PHOTO >> round was fired by Haryana cops, who had resorted to use of rubber bullets, tear gas shells and smoke bombs to prevent the farmers from marching towards Delhi. The report, in possession of The Tribune, states the death New York, March 5 Twitter's former leadership team, including ex-CEO Parag Agrawal and Chief Legal Officer Vijaya Gadde, has sued the platform's owner Elon Musk, saying the billionaire fired them without reason and owes them severance payments worth $128 million. The lawsuit against the Tesla and SpaceX chief and X Corp was filed in the US District Court, Northern District of California by Agrawal, Gadde, Twitter's former Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal and General Counsel Sean Edgett. — PTI Google row over apps blows over for time being New Delhi, March 5 Google has for now agreed to fully restore the 10 e-commerce apps it had delisted from its Play Store. The move follows a meeting between representatives of Internet giant Google and the Indian Government. HAD DELISTED 10 PLATFORMS OVER FEE PAYMENT Cops detain ABVP activists protesting over Sandeshkhali, in New Delhi. ANI POLL VIOLENCE WON’T BE TOLERATED: ECI The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday said no pollrelated violence or incidents of intimidation would be tolerated in West Bengal during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. HIGH-LEVEL PROBE SOUGHT We have been saying all along that actual weapons and rounds were fired at protesters. A highlevel probe is needed. Farm union leader ❝ was caused by a “head injury as a result of firearm” and that the victim died “within a few minutes”. The report is now part of the official records and attached with the ‘zero’ FIR, lodged by the Patiala police into Shubhkaran’s death. According to sources at the Government Rajindra Hospital, the doctors were asked by the police to hand over the report in a sealed envelope with “strict orders” not to discuss it with anyone. The report states two injuries were found on the victim’s skull, one of which proved fatal. “Multiple round continued on page 7 Union Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw today said “both Google and start-ups have met us. We have had very constructive discussions and finally, Google has agreed to list all apps and restore the status that existed on Friday morning (March 1)”. “Google has been supporting our technology development journey and we believe that in the coming months, continued on page 7 Drug case probe flawed, HC raps Punjab, Haryana CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asserted that investigation into drug cases in Punjab and Haryana was extremely flawed. Describing it as far superior in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, a Division Bench called for bridging the gap by directing the police chiefs of the two states to depute batches of investigating officers for proper mentoring at Dharamshala police training centre. INSIDE Army’s new anti-drone weapon — high-flying kites armed with camera COURTESY: ARMY NEW DELHI: Six Congress MLAs, who were disqualified after they cross-voted in the recent Rajya Sabha poll in Himachal Pradesh, moved the SC on Tuesday against their disqualification. They have filed a plea against the February 29 decision of the Speaker. INSIDE ED attaches Shahjahan Sheikh’s assets worth ~13 crore ‘Metal’ pellets found in Shubhkaran’s head: Autopsy NEW DELHI: Hours after the Nagpur Bench of the Bom- 6 disqualified Himachal MLAs move top court Late on Monday, Maldives Defence Ministry said in a X post that it had signed an “agreement on China’s provision of military assistance” but gave no further details. The Chinese Foreign Office deflected the query to “competent Chinese authorities”. “More broadly, China is committed to working with the Maldives to build a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Normal cooperation between China and the Maldives does not target any third party and will not be disrupted by any third party,” said its spokesperson, Mao Ning. No severance, Twitter ex-CEO Parag sues Musk A kite trained to intercept drones. Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 5 As a joint India-Japan Army team mimicked a raid during the “Dharma Guardian” exercise underway in Rajasthan, the Indian Army used a kite, a bird from the eagle family, trained for anti-drone and surveillance missions. The kite flew overhead, providing real-time imagery and situational awareness to ground troops, who are part of the “Dharma Guardian” exercise being held in Rajasthan, officials said. “Arjun” and “Deep” have been trained to intercept drones and provide live feed with a head-mounted camera system connected via secure communication to ground stations. The small, lightweight camera system attached to the heads of the birds for aerial c m y b Eagle family birds to intercept drones, provide live feed surveillance represents a remarkable fusion of nature and technology. It is difficult to combat dangerous combat drones that can launch airborne assaults in border and conflict zones. Birds possess the ability to navigate complex terrains, making them ideal for surveying remote or challenging areas. Additionally, their unobtrusive presence reduces the risk of detection by enemies. Conventional drones or aircraft are detectable by enemy radars. The Army also used specially trained dogs during the “Dharma Guardian” exercise. The canines have been trained to assault, immobilise and even kill on handler’s command. Assault dogs undergo rigorous training in varied scenarios and conditions to develop skillsets which make them invaluable assets for the military personnel in apprehension, jungle search, vehicle assault and other such scenarios. The Army also has explosive detection and mine detection dogs.