29082024-TT-03.qxd 8/28/2024 11:15 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 239 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH COURT RESERVES ORDER ON RASHID’S BAIL PETITION J&K PARALYMPICS BEGIN, INDIA TARGET MEDAL SURGE SPORT /thetribunechd CONG SLAMS MODI JAISHANKAR MEETS CHILE OVER COLLAPSE OF FOREIGN MINISTER IN SHIVAJI STATUE NATION DELHI BACK PAGE thursday | 29 august 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Centre’s bonanza for Punjab, okays ~1,367-cr Rajpura industrial project In fine fettle Has potential for thousands of jobs | 12 sites cleared across country |One in Haryana too Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 28 Reeling under heavy debt and low investment, Punjab on Wednesday received a booster dose from the Centre with a Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approving Rajpura as one of the 12 sites for smart industrial city projects. The projects are to come up as a “grand necklace” on the golden quadrilateral that connects the country’s major industrial, agricultural and cultural hubs. The entire plan under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme will be worth Rs 28,602 crore, with Rajpura industrial city alone approved at a cost of Rs 1,367 crore. The 12 cities have an investment potential of Rs 1,52,757 crore and are expected to generate 9.39 lakh jobs. The investment potential of the Punjab city alone is projected at Rs 7,500 crore, with an estimated potential to raise 64,204 jobs. Speaking to The Tribune about the Rajpura project, Daljit Chaudhary BSF chief, Bhatti made CISF DG NEW DELHI: A 1990-batch IPS officer of the Bihar cadre, Rajwinder Singh Bhatti, has been appointed the CISF DG up to September 30, 2025 (date of his superannuation), or until further orders. Bhatti has been serving as the Bihar DGP since 2022. The Centre also appointed Daljit Singh Chaudhary, a 1990-batch IPS officer of the UP cadre, as the BSF DG. Chaudhary, SSB chief, was holding the additional charge of the BSF since August 3. — TNS MAY PROVE GAMECHANGER FOR BORDER STATE Debt-ridden Punjab’s Rajpura project has potential for mega investment ~ ~7,500cr INVESTMENT POTENTIAL 1,099 FOCUS AREAS Electronics systems CHANDIGARH PUNJAB RAJPURA PATIALA ACRES ACQUIRED 64,204 Fabricated metal, chemicals Textiles and apparels Machinery and equipment JOBS IT MAY RAISE ❝ The land for the Rajpura project has been acquired and fenced; can be completed in 3 years with the state’s support. Piyush Goyal, COMMERCE MINISTER Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said 1,099 acres of land had been acquired and even fenced. “We are ready to start the project. I met Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and he has assured of support. With the state’s cooperation, we can complete the project in three years,” Goyal said, adding that land was free Food and beverages and the project ready to roll. Rajat Kumar Saini, the chairman of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation, which will power the project across the 12 sites, said he had visited Punjab to assess the situation and found everything in place. “We will start work in three months,” Saini told The Tribune at a time when cer- Rubber and plastic materials Pharmaceuticals & health products tain national highway projects in Punjab had been stalled due to multiple challenges, including land acquisition. About investment potential, Saini said the Rajpura industrial city could become a hub of electronics system design and manufacturing. Located at a 35-minute drive from the Chandigarh airport and connected with road and railway No ticket for MPs, says Haryana Congress Selja, Surjewala had expressed desire to contest Assembly elections Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 28 Congress’ Haryana incharge Deepak Babaria today said sitting MPs “will not be permitted” to contest the Assembly elections in the state. He said this after the first screening committee meeting for finalising the party candidates. He, however, said if there was an “urgent need”, they would need permission from Congress president Mallikar- SCREENING PANEL DISCUSSES 25 SEATS ■ Party’s state in-charge Deepak Babaria said the screening com- mittee for finalising candidates discussed about 25 seats ■ The final list would be ready by Saturday and sitting MLAs would be replaced only if there was anti-incumbency against them jun Kharge. Babaria was responding to a specific question in New Delhi about former Union Minister and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja as well as Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala. Selja and Surjewala had earlier expressed the desire to contest the Assembly elections and have been campaigning in the state. Both are seen as part of the antiHooda camp. Asked if she was in the running for the Haryana CM’s post during a recent interview, Mehbooba won’t contest J&K poll AksheevThakur Tribune News Service BJP activists clash with West Bengal Police personnel during their protest in Kolkata on Wednesday. ANI Former J&K CM and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said she would not contest the Assembly elections. She claimed she would not be able to fulfil her party’s agenda even if she were to become the Chief Minister. On the alliance between National Conference and Congress, the PDP president said the two parties had always come together just for sake of power. INSIDE Theatre command blueprint ready, Rajnath to be briefed Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 28 A blueprint on operational framework of the proposed theatre commands for the armed forces is ready, and will be shared with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the first week of September. The minister will address the Joint Commanders’ Conference at Lucknow next week, where the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Anil Chauhan, and the Chiefs of the Army, Navy and IAF would be present, along with all the Commanders. The minister will be given a detailed presentation on contours of the operational aspects of the planned integration. This would include how an integrated command — also referred to as a theatre command — would function in peace and conflict and maintain battle-readiness, sources said. Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister The post of the CDS, created in 2019, is tasked to promote ‘jointness and integration’ and modify the structures of the three services to enable joint operations. This is seen as the single biggest change to the form and shape of the country’s war-fighting structure. It entails having a single commander leading the men and officers from the three armed forces. In September last year, the previous suggestions were asked to be tweaked. The CDS had again sought inputs, NewDelhi, August28 The Centre on Wednesday urged the states to conduct joint security audits of hospitals with District Collectors and DSPs to review the shortfall and enhance night patrol as part of immediate measures to address the security concerns of health workers. Following the first meeting of the National Task Force (NTF) on August 27, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra held a meeting with the Chief Secretaries and DGPs and communicated to them that state laws pertaining to the safety of doctors were already in place in 26 states and UTs. Mohan asked state officials to ensure CCTV cameras were installed at blind spots; extend 112 helpline to healthcare workers; and regulate access to large hospitals. Chandra encouraged the states to come up with innova- tive ideas on the security of health workers and suggested that security checks of all hired security and other services staff should be done often. The Directorate of General Resettlement and State Security Corporation could provide security personnel, he said. The state officials were also asked to conduct routine patrol in all hospitals and medical colleges at night, and that there should be a control room on campuses of health establishments. Jharkhand cops detained for ‘snooping’ on former CM Champai Aditi Tandon SRINAGAR: Selja had said, “Why not?” She said individuals and communities had their ambitions. One of the tallest Dalit leaders in the state, she clarified that the high command would take the final call regarding her candidature for the state elections. On Tuesday, Selja had met the chairman of the screening committee, Ajay Maken, and provided her feedback. On elections, Surjewala had earlier stated, “A person continued on page 9 The Dalai Lama arrives at the Kangra airport after undergoing a knee replacement surgery in the US. PTI which have since been collated and dove-tailed into the new architecture to be presented to Rajnath Singh. Since September last year, a set of fresh combinations and permutations have been studied by the Department of Military Affairs (DMA). The CDS also heads the DMA. The new inputs include a fresh geographical and operational definition to the limits of the proposed theatre commands. A formula to integrate existing logistics, maintenance, training and supply lines of the armed forces is also in the works. The DMA had originally arrived at an understanding on having three such theatre commands — one each for the northern and western front, and the third for maritime domain. The armed forces and the DMA have now suggested more such commands. Once an outline of the structure is continued on page 9 Enhance security, night patrol at hospitals, Centre tells states Bhagwat’s cover raised to top tier, on par with PM NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Home Affairs has upgraded the security for RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, elevating him to the status of an advanced security liaison protectee, a designation equivalent with PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The upgrade was done due to potential security gaps, especially in nonBJP states, sources said amid growing concern about his safety, as flagged by the IB. — TNS networks, the city would also be in a position to woo investors in food and beverages, pharmaceutical, machinery, textile, and rubber and plastic sectors, he said. The Cabinet has assessed these sectors as potential investor sources for the project in Punjab, which is among the top indebted states of the country. Punjab was among 12 states redflagged by the RBI for fiscal mismanagement. It was on top of the ladder with a debt of more than 35 per cent of the gross state domestic product at the end of the last financial year. Punjab has also been struggling to woo investors. In the pre-Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (2005) period, Punjab ran huge deficits due to the significant deviation in the state expenditure and revenues. “The Punjab Government indulged in competitive tax concessions and incentives to attract private investments, which negatively impacted its revenue generation. At the continued on page 8 Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 28 In Bollywood-style action late on Tuesday, the Delhi Police swooped on a highend city hotel, picking up two Jharkhand cops for allegedly snooping on former Chief Minister Champai Soren, who has announced plans to ditch the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for the BJP . The move followed an FIR by tribal stalwart Champai, who CHAMPAI QUITS JMM, ASSEMBLY Champai Soren on Wednesday resigned from the primary membership of the JMM. He also resigned as MLA of the Assembly. In a letter to JMM patriarch Shibu Soren, Champai said that he had been forced to quit as he was aggrieved with the working style and policies of the current leadership. has accused the ruling JMMCongress dispensation in Jharkhand of spying on him. Delhi cops confirmed picking up two Sub-Inspectors of the Jharkhand Police special branch and questioning their motives behind hiring a hotel room on the same floor as Champai. The ex-CM has alleged that he was being tracked for five months. Champai had taken over as Jharkhand CM in January this year, when incumbent Hemant Soren was jailed on corruption charges. The two fell out after Champai was made to resign as CM on July 3 to make way for Hemant when he returned on bail. “This is the rarest of rare cases in the history of Independent India, where a sitting CM is spying on his own Cabinet colleague. Champai Soren is still Jharkhand minister. He is yet to join the BJP . continued on page 8 c m y b Jharkhand ex-CM Champai Soren and his son Babulal in Ranchi. PTI IMA ousts former RG Kar principal Ghosh as member New Delhi, August 28 The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Wednesday suspended the membership of RG Kar Medical College ex-principal Sandeep Ghosh in light of the ongoing investigation against him in the rape and murder of a 31-yearold woman doctor and several financial irregularities during his tenure. The disciplinary committee, duly constituted by IMA national president Dr RV Asokan, took the decision. In a letter to Ghosh, IMA honorary secretary general Dr Anilkumar J Nayak said, “The IMA’s Bengal unit and other associations of doctors have demanded action citing the nature of disrepute brought by you (Sandip Ghosh) to the profession.” Nayak said the victim’s parents had conveyed to the IMA members that Ghosh had dealt with the situation with “insensitivity and lack of empathy”. — TNS