08042024-TTC-01.qxd 08-04-2024 00:30 Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 8 NO. 97 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 ISRAELI MILITARY REDUCES TROOPS IN SOUTH GAZA WORLD /thetribunechd CONG DISCONTINUED DOGRA CERTIFICATE SCHEME: JITENDRA J&K E-COMM CAN ENABLE MARKET- FARMER DIRECT LINK INFOCUS US, UK, OZ TO EXPAND AUKUS SECURITY PACT TO DETER CHINA BACK PAGE monday | 8 april 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com TMC staged attacks on investigating agencies to protect corrupt: Modi in WB AAP holds nationwide ‘mass fast’ to protest Kejriwal’s arrest Anshita Mehra Tribune News Service Says ‘Syndicate Raj’ active in state | Central funds for poor ‘diverted’ ‘Kharge’s 370 barb shows tukde-tukde Aksheev Thakur mentality of Cong’ New Delhi, April 7 Tribune News Service Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday alleged the TMC desires a “free licence to terrorise” in West Bengal, which is why central agencies investigating such cases face attacks by the party in the state. Aksheev Thakur Tribune News Service ATTACK DURING RAID ‘UNPROVOKED’: NIA Addressing a rally in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri, Modi said the TMC did not believe in the constitutional ethos of the country. “They orchestrated the attacks on central investigative agencies when they came here. You can see what happened in Sandeshkhali. Such an unfortunate incident with mothers and daughters happened there. Entire nation saw this. TMC’s ‘Syndicate Raj’ prevails in West Bengal, and the party is only interested in protecting its corrupt leaders.” His comments come a day after a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team was attacked by a mob during an attempt by the agency to PM Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in conversation during a public meeting in Nawada on Sunday. ANI CASE LODGED ON NIA PLAINT; COUNTER-FIR FILED ■ A day after an NIA team was attacked by a mob at Bhupatinagar in Purba Medinipur district while trying to arrest two key accused in the 2022 blast case, the East Medinipore police lodged an FIR on NIA’s complaint & promised a probe. arrest two main suspects in the 2022 blast case in West Bengal’s East Medinipore district. The NIA has refuted Must make Mandi contest toughforKangana:Priyanka ■ A counter-FIR has been filed against NIA team and CRPF officials on the complaint of a woman, who accused NIA officials of molestation by breaking doors of her house. The FIR has been lodged at the Bhupatinagar police station. the allegation of mala fide intent while carrying out raids and arrests in the state, where its team came under attack by BJP PLANNING ‘RIOTS’ WB CM Mamata Banerjee claimed BJP will trigger ‘riots’ 2 days before LS poll. “They will create trouble on April 17…. &get NIA in the state,” she said. a mob. “The NIA categorically refutes allegations of mala fide in its Bhupatinagar blast continued on page 8 New Delhi, April 7 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for objecting to the mention of abrogation of Article 370 during election campaigns in states like Rajasthan. Addressing a rally in Bihar’s Nawada, Modi said Kharge’s remarks reflected the “mindset of those wanting to divide the country”. “The Congress president thinks Article 370 has nothing to do with Rajasthan. Is Jammu and Kashmir not an integral part of the country? This is the mentality of the ‘tukdetukde gang’,” he said. The PM said that the Congress must understand that to protect Kashmir, the youth of Bihar and Rajasthan had laid down their lives. This was Modi’s second rally after the one in Jamui on Thursday. “The Congress, RJD and other constituents of INDIA bloc like continued on page 8 New Delhi, April 7 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a nationwide daylong ‘Samuhik Upwas’, or mass fast, on Sunday to protest the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The main event took place at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar while similar protests were organised across the capital cities of 25 states. AAP leaders said the Indian diaspora too joined in at various foreign locations, including Harvard Square in Boston, Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, outside the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, at New York Times Square and in Toronto, London and Melbourne. Senior AAP leaders, including Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, Deputy Speaker Rakhi Bila, and ministers Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot and Imran Hussain participated in the protest at Jantar Mantar from 11 am onwards. Addressing the protesters, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who was released recently on bail after being arrested in October 2023 in the Delhi liquor policy case, said, “Arvind Kejriwal was, is and continued on back page ‘Book Sukhu for slander’, ex-Cong MLA files plaint Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 7 Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has told Himachal Congress leaders to make the Lok Sabha contest in Mandi a tough one and not give the BJP a walkover at any cost. The BJP has fielded actor Kangana Ranaut from the seat. The Tribune has learnt that Priyanka, at a meeting with Himachal Congress leaders late on Saturday, said Kangana must be defeated and the party must mount a spirited campaign across all seats, especially Mandi. The Congress has finalised TO TAKE ACTIVE PART IN CAMPAIGN ■ Meets senior Himachal leaders, assures them of full support for LS campaign ■ Priyanka will be stationed at her Shimla residence during the last two weeks of elections the candidature of sitting MLA and minister Vikramaditya Singh against Kangana from Mandi. Vikramaditya was present at the meeting that took at the residence of Congress in-charge for Himachal Rajiv Shukla. Sources privy to discussions told The Tribune that Priyanka was clear about continued on page 8 Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 7 “The democracy that Shaheed Bhagat Singh fought for is in danger today,” Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said while addressing party leaders during a daylong hunger strike at Khatkar Kalan to oppose the arrest of AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Huge posters showing Kejriwal behind bars were put up on the stage. Launching an attack on the Centre, the CM com- Lashes out at Centre, terms it ‘kale Angrez’ pared AAP’s current struggle with that of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. He compared the Centre with the British, referring to it as “kale Angrez”. Mann said, “Citizens are gripped by fear of what will happen to the country and the Constitution. Shaheed Bhagat Singh fought to ensure freedom for the country and for the cause of a continued on back page NEW DELHI: Vistara on Sunday said it was reducing capacity by 10% or around 25-30 flights daily as the carrier strives to stabilise operations amid pilot woes. The airline hopes to have stable operations in April. BACK PAGE Dharamsala, April 7 Sudhir Sharma, a former Congress MLA who is now contesting the Dharamsala Assembly bypoll as the BJP candidate, has filed a police complaint against Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. In a complaint sent to the SP , Kangra, and the state DGP Sud, hir has stated, “I am writing to bring to your notice a serious case of criminal defamation and misleading people, associated with Sukhu.” “I am a former minister and four-time MLA and am contesting the byelection from Dharamsala on the BJP ticket. Recently, a video and media reports have emerged from my constituency, falling under your jurisdiction, regarding a misleading speech made by Sukhu in the Kutlehar area of Una district on April 4,” Sudhir said in his complaint to the police. He alleged that in a public address, Sukhu “spread false information among the public for his personal gain”. continued on back page Aparna Banerji Amid pilot woes, Vistara reduces flights by 10% Tribune News Service Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh meet party leader Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. PTI Democracy Bhagat Singh fought for in danger: Mann IN BRIEF Lalit Mohan Another rebel Rana also sends notice to CM Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on a protest fast at Khatkar Kalan. Stalin promises statehood to Puducherry NEW DELHI: DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday said the INDIA bloc, if voted to power after Lok Sabha elections, would provide statehood to Puducherry. INSIDE 7 foreigners told to vacate hostel after namaz row PDP president Mehbooba Mufi addresses a press conference in Srinagar. PTI Mehbooba to take on Azad as PDP announces3candidatesinKashmir Naseer A Ganai JOLT TO INDIA BLOC Srinagar, April 7 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today announced candidates for the three constituencies in Kashmir with party president Mehbooba Mufti taking on DPAP chief Ghulam Nabi Azad in South Kashmir’s Anantnag-Rajouri seat. The National Conference has fielded influential Gujjar leader Mian Altaf Ahmad from Anantnag-Rajouri and the Apni Party has named Zaffar Iqbal Manhas. The BJP has not announced its candidate so far. PDP parliamentary board chief Sartaj Madni announced the party candi- ■ PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti will contest Anantnag-Rajouri seat in South Kashmir ■ Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra will fight from Srinagar and Fayaz Ahmad Mir from North Kashmir ■ PDP to support Congress in Jammu and Udhampur ■ NC has already announced candidates for the 3 Kashmir seats dates for the three seats in Kashmir. While party’s youth wing president Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra has been fielded from Srinagar, former Rajya Sabha MP Fayaz Ahmad Mir will contest from North Kashmir. The PDP will be supporting Congress candidates in the two Jammu region seats of Udhampur and Jammu. Speaking to mediapersons at the party headquarters here, Mehbooba said the National Conference’s (NC) announcement of candidate for the South Kashmir seat had forced them to contest all the three segments in Kashmir. “We are extending our support to the Congress in Jammu,” she said. Asked if the Congress will reciprocate in Kashmir, the PDP president said she was not extending support to the national party on quid pro quo basis. continued on page 8 AHMEDABAD: Seven foreign students have been asked to vacate Gujarat varsity's hostel for overstaying, an official has said. Earlier, some foreign students were attacked for offering namaz on the premises. BACK PAGE 4 hurt after stage collapses during PM’s roadshow JABALPUR: At least four persons, including a policeman, were injured after a stage collapsed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow in Jabalpur area of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. ANI In 20 days, EC portal gets over 73,000 rally requests New Delhi, April 7 Within 20 days of the announcement of elections, the Election Commission’s Suvidha platform has received 73,379 permission requests from political parties and candidates, of which 44,626 requests (60 per cent) have been approved. Nearly 11,200 requests have been rejected, which is 15 per cent of the total requests received, and 10,819 applications cancelled as invalid or duplicate. Maximum requests were received from Tamil Nadu (23,239), followed by West Bengal (11,976) and MP (10,636). Minimum requests were received from Chandigarh (17), Lakshadweep (18) and Manipur (20). The portal had streamlined the process of obtaining permissions for rallies, pamphlet distribution and canvassing. — TNS Retd IAF officer’s wife killed in Bir paragliding mishap 4 years on, CDS-led tri-services’ meet to brainstorm integration of forces Palampur, April 7 Ritu Chopra (54), wife of Wing Commander Ashutosh Chandera (retd), was killed when her paraglider crashed after encountering strong turbulence near the golf course at Bir on Sunday evening. After the crash, Ritu was taken to the Civil Hospital in Baijnath where she was pronounced dead by doctors. Sources said Ritu was a regular flier and experienced pilot. INSIDE New Delhi, April 7 More than four years since the government created the post of Chief of Defence Staff to have a single-point military adviser to the Defence Minister, CDS Gen Anil Chauhan will chair the first-ever triservices’ conference on “brainstorming for change”. The day-long conference, scheduled for tomorrow, will recommend measures for achieving the desired “joint Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service and integrated” structure of the three armed forces. It will be attended by heads of three armed services among other senior officials. A joint and integrated structure of the forces envisages all three forces working in tandem under a common military commander assigned to a designated geographical area. To strengthen the defence mechanism to tackle future wars, if any, the CDS is tasked with promoting “jointness and integration” and modification of STEP TOWARDS JOINT STRUCTURE ■ CDS to chair first-ever confer- ence on ‘brainstorming for change’ on Monday ■ Meeting to recommend measures for achieving “integrated” structure of forces ■ An integrated structure envisages all three forces working in tandem under a CDS GEN ANIL CHAUHAN common commander assigned to a designated area the structures of the three services to enable joint operations. In September last year, the Ministry of Defence had gone back to the drawing board for the creation of the proposed theatre commands – or joint commands — for the armed Today’s issue is of 16 pages, including four-page Jalandhar Tribune. c m y b forces. A set of fresh combinations and permutations has been studied by the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), which is also headed by General Chauhan. This exercise included the task of giving a fresh geographical and operational definition to the limits of the proposed theatre commands; arrive at a consensus on the ranks of theatre commanders; pick a formula to integrate the existing logistics, maintenance, training and supply lines of the three armed forces. The DMA had earlier considered having three theatre commands — one each for the northern and western front and third for the maritime domain. The DMA had sought feedback from the government on the structure that would be acceptable, as this could be the single-biggest change to the form and shape of the country’s combat forces. Once the structure acceptable to the government and the services is finalised, the theatre commands will be allocated resources, assets and manpower. A theatre commander is expected to control all war assets of a geographical area. At present, the Army, Indian Air Force and the Navy have their separate war-fighting assets and war-waging strategies. The CDS was to give his report to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh last August. The minister is now expected to initiate the decision-making process at the political level.