3/8/2024 INDIA AI MISSION GETS CABINET NOD NATION /thetribunechd 12:33 AM Page 1 13 1K TEST RUN MILESTONE FOR JAISWAL SPORT CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 67 | 18 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 friday | 8 march 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com After Art 370, J&K breathing freely, on path of growth: PM Launches agri, tourism projects worth ~6,400 crore in Srinagar Arjun Sharma Jammu, March 7 Promising the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the region will witness continuous development for years to come, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his first visit to Srinagar after the abrogation of Article 370, today said people of the country were giving a befitting reply to those who said he did not have a family. “Those who could not see development of the country and J&K are launching personal attacks on me. They say Modi doesn’t have a family. But the country is giving them a befitting reply and people are saying they are Modi ka parivar (Modi’s family),” he said during a rally at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar. He said he always considered J&K as his family. “Kashmiris also say they are my family,” he said. This was the PM’s second visit to J&K in the recent past as he had visited Jammu on February 20 and addressed a rally. In his nearly 27-minute speech, Modi did not touch upon statehood or the Assembly elections, but like his visit to Jammu, he launched an attack on the Congress and other regional parties, claiming that they misused Article Prime Minister Narendra Modi presents an appointment letter to a relative of a martyr at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar on Thursday. PTI ‘FOR DESTINATION WEDDINGS, PICK UT’ The PM pitched for “Wed in India” and asked people to choose J&K over foreign countries for destination weddings. This, he said, would provide economic stability to locals. INSIDE WORKING HARD TO WIN LOCALS’ HEARTS I am doing all this hard work to win your hearts and I believe I am on the right path. ❝ Narendra Modi, PM RIGHT TO DISSENT VALID: SC RELIEF FOR J&K PROF Holding that the right to dissent in a legitimate manner is an integral part of the right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under the Constitution, the SC on Thursday quashed a criminal case against a professor, Javed Ahmed Hajam, for his WhatsApp status describing abrogation of Article 370 as a ‘Black Day’ for J&K. INSIDE 370 for their own benefit. The PM said, “Modi will not leave any stone unturned to repay the debt of this affection from the people of J&K. I am doing all this hard work to win your hearts and I believe that I am on the right path. I will continue my efforts to win your hearts. This is Modi’s guarantee”. “Today, J&K is touching new heights of development and people are breathing freely but this time has come only after the abrogation of Article 370. The Congress and its allies misguided people of J&K on Article 370, which did not benefit the people of J&K but only some families,” the PM said, adding that after the Article was abrogated, the youth had started getting opportunities. Targeting dynastic politics, the PM said the Anti-Corruption Bureau was still investigating thousands of backdoor appointments by then ruling parties in J&K Bank. Modi also dedicated to the nation the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme worth about Rs 5,000 crore and launched multiple projects related to the tourism sector worth over Rs 1,400 crore under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD scheme, including a project for the integrated development of the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar. He also launched the “Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice Tourist Destination Poll” and the “Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign”, and announced tourist destinations selected under the Challenge-Based Destination Development Scheme, continued on page 11 edit: PM in Kashmir Armed forces ready to tackle any aggression, says Rajnath India targets ~50K crore defence export in 5 years Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 7 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said the armed forces were equipped, capable and ready to give a befitting reply to anyone “who casts an evil eye on India”. He said in the sphere of defence equipment manufacturing, the aim was to export equipment worth Rs 50,000 crore in five years from now. He said the defence personnel had a strong willpower due to a powerful leadership at the Centre. “We are work- ANI 08032024-TTC-01.qxd CHINA FAILED TO OBSERVE PACTS: EAM Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Taking a dig at China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday Beijing had not observed longstanding written agreements with India and blamed it for the bloodshed at the borders in 2020. INSIDE CABINET NOD TO FIFTH GEN STEALTH JET INSIDE ing towards keeping the morale of the soldiers high,” he said. “India’s defence apparatus is today stronger than ever as the government, continued on page 11 IN BRIEF AI deboards Religare chief from UK flight NEW DELHI: Air India deboarded Religare chairperson Rashmi Saluja from a UK flight at Delhi airport for ‘rude behaviour’ with crew on March 5. TNS Cabinet okays 4% hike in dearness allowance NEW DELHI: The Centre has hiked DA by 4% to 50% of basic pay effective January 1 this year, benefitting over 1 crore employees and pensioners. TNS Contempt plea against SBI for ‘defying’ SC order Satya Prakash Tribune News Service CBI busts network sending Indians to Ukraine war zone Panel led by retd judge to probe farmer’s death: HC New Delhi, March 7 Amid reports of several Indians being sent to Russia on the pretext of lucrative jobs, but forced to fight alongside Russian troops against Ukraine, the CBI on Thursday busted a major human trafficking network. The CBI has registered a case against agents and visa consultancy firms which is spread across several states. The agency is conducting simultaneous searches at 13 locations in Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai. The firms found involved in continued on page 11 Saurabh Malik c m y b Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 7 Just about a fortnight after farmer Shubhkaran lost his life on the Punjab-Haryana border during the ongoing protests, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today constituted a committee headed by retired HC judge to supervise the matter after making it clear both Punjab and Haryana had several things to draw a veil over. “Keeping in view the facts and circumstances, this court is of the considered opinion that the investigation regarding the death of Shubhkaran of ❝ Sad statewhoaffairs that children should be studying in schools are being exposed to violence. HC Shubhkaran cannot be entrusted solely either to the Punjab or Haryana for reasons obvious as both the continued on page 11 New Delhi, March 7 The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Thursday moved the Supreme Court with a contempt petition against the State Bank of India (SBI) for failing to disclose by March 6 details of electoral bonds encashed by political parties and instead seeking four months for it. Advocate Prashant Bhushan mentioned the ADR’s plea before a Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud, which agreed to consider it after the petitioner completed the filing formalities. The matter was likely to be taken up on Monday. Citing “certain practical difficulties”, the SBI had on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking time till June 30 to disclose details of each electoral bond issued and continued on page 11