22082024-TTC-01.qxd 8/22/2024 12:37 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 8 NO. 232 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 SECURITY FORCES FOCUS ON DODA, KISHTWAR J&K ISRAELI STRIKES KILL 50 IN GAZA AFTER BLINKEN’S VISIT WORLD /thetribunechd FM ASKS OFFICIALS UP BYPOLLS: RSS, BJP LEADERS MEET AT YOGI’S TO SIMPLIFY TAX HOUSE BACK PAGE NOTICES BUSINESS thursday | 22 august 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com PM Modi to share perspectives on ending Ukraine war during Kyiv visit EC restricts Haryana from recruiting 5,600 constables Arrives in Poland on first leg of two-nation trip | Pays homage at three memorials Tribune News Service Ajay Banerjee New Delhi, August 21 The Election Commission has directed the Haryana Government not to declare the results of recruitment for 5,600 posts of police constable till the completion of Assembly elections in the state to ensure a level playing field for all parties. The issue was raised by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh with the poll body, following which the EC issued the order on Wednesday. The elections in Haryana are to be held on October 1 and the results will be declared on October 4. Ramesh, in a representation to the EC, had alleged that on the day the schedule for the Assembly elections was announced (August 16), the state government advertised the recruitment in violation of the model code of conduct. The EC said the matter had been examined in light of its existing instructions relating to the election code and the reports received from the state government. It was found that the process was initiated before the imposition of the code. However, to maintain a level playing field New Delhi, August 21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday departed on a three-day visit to Poland and Ukraine, hoping for an early return of peace and stability in the region. Ukraine and Russia are locked in a war for over two years. Modi, who is visiting Ukraine capital Kyiv on August 23 on the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said, “I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on a peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict”. “As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region,” he said. Modi will be the first Indian PM to visit Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established in 1992 after the country declared independence and separated from the erstwhile USSR. The visit follows Modi’s travel to Moscow on July 8 and 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tributes at the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday. PTI which led to the US and its allies asking India to use the relationship with Russia to bring about peace. Today, Modi arrived in Poland and posted on X, “Looking for- ward to the various programmes here. This visit will add momentum to the IndiaPoland friendship and benefit the people of our nations.” “He was accorded a cere- monial welcome at the airport,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X. The Prime Minister paid homage at the memorial to Jam Saheb of Nawanagar and at the Battle of Monte Cassino and Kolhapur memorials. Nagma Mohamed Mallick, Indian Ambassador to continued on page 8 Rahul, Madhav in J&K to explore poll tie-ups Adil Akhzer IAF jet accidentally drops ammo near Pokhran, probe on New Delhi, August 21 An Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jet “inadvertently” dropped its on-board ammunition near the Pokhran firing range area in Rajasthan on Wednesday. It was “inert ammunition”, IAF sources said. It happened “due to technical malfunction”, the IAF said. The jet had taken off from an IAF base in Rajasthan. AIR FORCE SAYS HAPPENED DUE TO TECHNICAL MALFUNCTION An inquiry by the IAF has been ordered into the incident. No damage to life or property has been reported, the IAF said. The Pokhran firing ranges are in western Rajasthan and are barely 100 km from the border with Pakistan. These ranges are used for air exercises by the IAF when its pilots test out new equipment or newly inducted arsenal. — TNS Srinagar, August 21 As alliance talks for the Assembly elections gain momentum in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress and the BJP have started exploring options for possible poll pacts in the UT. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday. Rahul and other Congress leaders visited Srinagar’s famous Ahdoos restaurant in the evening. The BJP too rushed its top leader Ram Madhav to Srinagar on Wednesday, a day after the party made him the Jammu and Kashmir incharge. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir said Rahul and Kharge were scheduled to interact with party leaders and workers in Kashmir on Thursday morning and take a feedback on the elections. Thereafter, they would travel to Jammu. Sources said the two leaders might even meet the top National Conference leadership to discuss the possibility of a poll alliance. The sources said senior Congress and National Conference leaders of Jammu and Kashmir had already held discussions on a tie-up. The Congress has demanded seats in Kashmir also if an alliance is to be formed. Jammu and KashmirCongress president Tariq Hameed Karra said this week that the National Conference had “already approached the party’s central leadership for an alliance”. The BJP on the other hand, , has also started its ground work to explore its poll options in Kashmir. Ram Madhav kept his Valley visit away from media glare, with the local BJP leadership too maintaining a silence about it. BJP sources said that the central leader arrived in the Valley in connection with the elections and to explore the options of take on board “likeminded” people ahead of the elections. Madhav was ousted as BJP general secretary in continued on page 8 FILE Tribune News Service No code violation, but wants to ensure level playing field STARTED BEFORE POLL ANNOUNCEMENT ■ The EC, in an order issued ■ Cong MP Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday, said the matter had been examined ■ It said the process was initiated before the imposition of the code for Assembly poll had approached the EC against the recruitments ■ Ramesh had maintained the posts were advertised the day poll schedule came and prevent undue advantage to any party, the state government had been told to withhold the declaration of the results, it said. “It is amply clear the selection process was initiated and necessary communications were sent by the state government to statutory authorities concerned much before the announcement of the elections. The statutory authorities started the process before the enforcement of the code... Therefore, there is no violation of the commission’s instructions on the poll code… However, to maintain a level playing field… the commission has directed the Haryana Government not to declare the results till the completion of the elections,” the EC said in the order. On August 18, Ramesh, in his representation to the EC, had alleged that on the date of the announcement of Haryana elections, the state government first announced and subsequently issued the advertisement for recruitment against 5,600 vacancies for the post of constable in the Haryana Police. Docs move SC, want advisory role in NTF Aksheev Thakur Tribune News Service A worker injured in the reactor explosion at a pharmaceutical unit in Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh. PTI 13 killed, 33 injured in reactor blast at Andhra pharma unit Anakapalli, August21 Thirteen persons were killed and 33 injured in a reactor explosion at a pharmaceutical unit in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli on Wednesday, officials said. The damage could have been worse but for the lunch break that saw fewer workers in the plant when the blaze erupted. Harrowing scenes unfolded at the special economic zone where the fire ripped through the pharma company. Injured workers with torn clothes and bleeding injuries were seen being shifted to hospitals in ambulances. District Collector Vijaya Krishnan said the fire broke out at 2.15 pm at Escientia Advanced Science, which manufactures intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. It started production in April 2019 with an investment of Rs 200 crore. “The factory operates with 381 employees in two shifts. The blast occurred in lunch time. Therefore, the staff presence was less,” he said. There was panic among workers, who ran out for safety. The injured were shifted to different hospitals in Anakapalli and Atchutapuram. Such was the impact of the blast that the slab of the first floor of the building collapsed. — PTI/IANS New Delhi, August 21 The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court stating that more resident doctors should be consulted by the National Task Force (NTF) since they experience real-time problems on a routine basis and may be in a position to offer real-time solutions. In its plea, FAIMA has sought interim protection for doctors till the recommendations of the NTF are implemented. “It is of utmost importance that there is adequate repre- CISF PERSONNEL DEPLOYED AT KOLKATA HOSPITAL INSIDE sentation from resident doctors since they experience real-time problems on a routine basis and may be in a position to offer a real-time solution. The involvement of the resident doctors will ensure that comprehensive guidelines are formed after holistic discussion with all stakeholders,” said the plea calling for the implementation of the Central Protection Act. The Supreme Court had set up the NTF to formulate the protocol for hospitals across continued on page 8 Doctors protest outside Swasthya Bhawan in Kolkata. PTI Ravidassias protest, Valmikis exult: Quota order divides Punjab Dalits Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service BSP workers protest at Ravidass Chowk in Jalandhar; and (right) Valmikis celebrate with sweets. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: MALKIAT SINGH Jalandhar, August 21 Almost three weeks after the Supreme Court’s verdict on the implementation of quota within quota, the order has started creating a rift between the two main Dalit groups in Punjab — the more dominant Ravidassia (Aadharmi) community and the Valmikis/Majhbi Sikh. As the Ravidassia community held protests across the Dalit-dominated Jalandhar district expressing dissent over the SC orders, the Valmiki community distrib- uted sweets to welcome the decision regarding bifurcation of 25 per cent reservation between the two groups. The leaders of all political parties chose not to side with any of the two communities. They completely avoided getting into any controversy, fearing losing vote bank. Today’s issue is of 16 pages, including four-page Jalandhar Tribune. c m y b The only party to support the Bharat Bandh today was the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and that too following directions from its supremo Mayawati. In the city, protests were held at Pathankot Chowk, Rama Mandi, Buta Mandi and Wadala Chowk where BSP leader Balwinder Kumar too was present along with his supporters. The Valmiki leaders went from market to market telling people not to support the bandh call. Jalandhar-based Dalit scholar Dr GC Kaul said, “The sub-categorisation of the Dalit community has led to the creation of a huge division between the Ravidassia and Valmiki ‘samaj’, as was seen today. It was not a good indication. It seems to be a government ploy to divide the two communities over reservation and make them weak. As an Ambedkarite, I am totally for the uplift of the castes that have still not been able to rise in society. For this, the government must go in for a caste census and accordingly formulate policies.” None of the Ravidassia leaders of any party, including Jalandhar Congress MP Charanjit Channi or Aam Aadmi Party leader Pawan Tinu, who have otherwise always been vocal on caste matters, spoke on the issue of sub-categorisation of castes. “Whatever happened today was unfortunate. All Dalit communities need to stick together for their larger issues” is all what Channi stated. He is currently abroad. Tinu too tried to deflect the issue, blaming the BJP for non-implementation of reservation policies in the appointments of IAS, Class III and IV employees. continued on page 8