25082024-TT-01.qxd 24-08-2024 23:01 Page 1 123 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 235 | 20 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH RUSSIA, UKRAINE SWAP POWs IN UAE-BROKERED EXCHANGE WORLD /thetribunechd MUFTI: WILL SUPPORT NC-CONGRESS IF PDP AGENDA ACCEPTED J&K DHAULADHAR DHVANI: US APPROVES SALE OF CAPTURING TRIBAL LIFE, EQUIPMENT USED TO TRACK DREAMS SPECTRUM SUBMARINE BACK PAGE sunday | 25 august 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Centre clears assured Balancing ties won’t do, must firmly pension for govt staff, stand by Ukraine: Zelenskyy to India families; 23L to benefit Says Delhi can influence Moscow as crude oil fuelling Russia’s war economy Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service Will be 50% of basic pay drawn before retirement Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 24 In a major pre-election move, the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday approved a new scheme to grant assured pension to 23 lakh Central Government employees and their families who are currently covered under the National Pension Scheme (NPS). The NPS, which replaced the old pension scheme (OPS) in 2004, does not assure employees of pension. It says that upon retirement, subscribers can withdraw up to 60 per cent of the corpus as a lump sum and use the remaining 40 per cent to buy an annuity, which provides a regular pensionable income. Though withdrawals under the NPS are tax-free, annuity is taxable. Government employees had long been demanding NPS review and return to the OPS architecture, something the Cabinet did today. The Congress had earlier thrown its weight behind employees continued on page 6 Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefs the media on Cabinet decisions. PTI ABOUT THE UNIFIED PENSION SCHEME ■ Employees to get assured pen- sion of 50% of average basic pay drawn in last 12 months before superannuation ■ If service is below required 25 years but more than 10 years, a proportional pension will be given ■ Provision of assured family pension — 60% of the amount drawn by employee before demise ■ Assured minimum pension of ~10,000 after 10-year job ■ Pensioners will also get the benefits of dearness relief ■ Lumpsum payment at superannuation in addition to gratuity ■ No throw-forward of obligation of UPS to future generations ■ Under UPS, the Centre’s share to rise from 14% to 18.5% ■ All NPS employees will have the option to switch to the UPS ■ All state governments can opt for their employees too ■ UPS will apply to those having already retired under NPS from 2004 onwards; will get arrears ■ Arrears to cost govt ~800 cr ■ Additional annual cost by way of raised central contribution to UPS and zero throw-forward of liabilities will be ~6,250 cr CBI files graft case against RG Kar’s former principal Haryana minister gets notice over Rakhi ‘freebies’ Tribune News Service Ambala, August 24 The Returning Officer today issued a show-cause notice to Haryana Minister of State for Transport and Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel for allegedly violating the model code of conduct. According to the notice, a complaint was received from the Election Commission that the minister had distributed bags, suits and wall clocks carrying Goel’s photos without the approval of the poll authorities. Videos continued on page 6 New Delhi, August 24 The CBI on Saturday registered an FIR against Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital where a doctor was found dead in a bloodied state on August 9. The agency took over the investigation from the SIT constituted by the West Bengal Government on the directions of Calcutta High Court. The agency collected all documents related to the case from the police. Meanwhile, a team of experts from Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Delhi, reached Kolkata to conduct a polygraph test on Ghosh and six others. The Calcutta High Court earlier granted permission to the CBI to conduct the test on all suspects related to the incident. KOLKATA HORROR Begins polygraph test on key accused, 6 others 3 WB SCHOOLS PUT ON NOTICE OVER PROTEST The West Bengal Government issued show-cause notices to three schools in Howrah for making students participate in a protest rally over the doctor’s rape and murder during school hours. The schools have been told to reply within 24 hours. Sources said the test was being conducted on Ghosh, Sanjay Roy, the main accused, four doctors and one civic volunteer. The court has granted the CBI three weeks to submit a progress report on the investigation, which is to be presented on September 17. — PTI New Delhi, August 24 Suggesting a diplomatic course-alteration for India, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said New Delhi should be literally seen on his side rather than merely “balancing” its ties between Kyiv and Moscow. Speaking to the media hours after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Ukraine capital last evening, Zelenskyy, answering questions from an Indian journalist, said, “We need your country on our side and it should not just be balancing between us and Russia. It’s not about the ‘historical choice’ you should make.” The details of the media interaction have been put out by news agencies. In Kyiv, PM Modi had yesterday said India was not a “neutral or indifferent” bystander in the UkraineRussia conflict, but was always on the side of peace. Zelenskyy referred to Moscow’s strike on a children’s hospital that coincided with Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Russia last month to claim that President Vladimir Putin “did not Illegally mined soil used in HP rail project: NGT Solan, August 24 Illegally mined material like soil is being used in the key Chandigarh-Baddi railway project, revealed a report of a joint committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to probe the construction work of the track in the Baddi industrial area. In its August 16 order, the NGT impleaded two railway officials among 41 individuals in the case. The NGT noted, “Information pertaining to the source of material used has not been disclosed by the authorities to the committee during the inquiry.” Violations have been found on the part of 41 individuals to whom notices were issued by the SDM after proposing an environment compensation of Rs 1.1 crore. A divisional manager and a divisional engineer are among those impleaded. INSIDE Ops Bruce Lee, Bonnie and Clyde, Pink City — how crack team hunted down Punjab gangsters Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 24 The name of martial arts legend Bruce Lee often cropped up in hushed tones during police meetings after the 2016 Nabha jailbreak masterminded by Hong Kongbased gangster Ramanjit Singh Romi. Six notorious criminals, including terrorists and gangsters, had escaped in the incident. ‘Operation Bruce Lee’ was the secret code given to the police plan to nab the fugitives, especially Romi. The kingpin was based in Kowloon, the hometown of the famous martial arts expert. The police had earlier also launched special operations, having secret codes, to arrest Additional Inspector General GS Chauhan, Additional Inspector General Harvinder Virk and Deputy Superintendent Bikramjit Singh Brar. NEED TO QUIZ GOLDY, ANMOL IN MOOSEWALA CASE Sidhu Moosewala’s murder remained the most challenging case for the police. Though many suspects had been arrested, unless Goldy Brar and Anmol Bishnoi, believed to be Canada and the US, were questioned, the probe would not be complete, said cops. or eliminate gangsters, officials revealed. ‘Operation Bonnie and Clyde’, named after American bandits, was launched to hunt down shooters Mannu Kusa and Today’s issue is of 20 pages, including six-page Spectrum. Jagroop Roopa, involved in singer Sidhu Moosewala’s killing. Gangster Tejinder Teja was tracked under ‘Operation Fast Track’, named after ‘tej’ (Punjabi word for ‘fast’). Another gangster, Ankit Bhadu, was neutralised in Zirakpur as part of ‘Operation Pink City’ — Ankit belonged to Jaipur, the Pink City. The Nabha incident, which is in the news again after Romi’s extradition to India two days ago, had baffled the police since Khalistan Liberation Force chief Harminder Singh Mintoo and gangster Gurpreet Sekhon were among those who had escaped from the jail. Three police officers then took it continued on page 6 Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his one-day visit to Kyiv on Friday. PTI respect India or its leader”. “If you attack children in a hospital during the official visit of the Prime Minister… it means he doesn’t respect the Indian PM,” he said. The Ukrainian leader suggested that Indian crude oil purchases were running Moscow’s economy. Asked if India could use its influence on Russia to stop the conflict, Zelenskyy said he had suggested PM Modi that India had a “global influence and a very big influence on the Russian economy”. “A lot of export possibilities for Russia closed (after the war started), but India is open (to business). This is generating billions of dollars that help fund Russia’s military…. officially, it’s war economy. Putin has nothing to sell but oil,” he said. Zelenskyy said he had discussed Ukraine’s ongoing peace summit mechanism with Modi and made it clear that his nation would not make compromises like losing one-third of its territory. Asked if military equipment was discussed with Modi and what his country’s stance was, Zelenskyy said, “We are ready to co-produce for both markets. Of course, after the war, it can be ten times more. We want to come to India. We are open to a big deal, if India is ready.” The Ukrainian President said he was unhappy on “not getting India’s support” on the UN resolution condemning Russia. “But we hope we will have stronger relations with New Delhi,” he said. 35 B’desh Muslims held for infiltration bid, says Assam CM SILCHAR: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday claimed Muslims from Bangladesh were attempting to cross over to seek employment in India’s textile sector. “At least 35 Muslim infiltrators have been arrested in the past one month... wanted to go to Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore for work in textile units,” the CM claimed. He also said Hindus had not tried to enter India from the neighbouring country. They were staying and fighting in Bangladesh, he said. — PTI Terrorist gunned down, soldier hurt in Sopore encounter SRINAGAR: A militant was killed and a soldier injured in an encounter with security forces in North Kashmir’s Sopore on Saturday. Srinagar-based 15 Corps said, “A joint team of the Army and J&K Police was fired upon by terrorists in the Watergam area of Sopore. Vigilant troops swiftly responded and a firefight ensued. The operation is in progress.” “One terrorist eliminated and war-like stores recovered. Operation is continuing,” the Army stated in a post on X. — OC