19092024-TT-01.qxd 9/18/2024 11:26 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 260 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH CONG FILES PLAINT OVER NDA LEADERS’ REMARKS ON RAHUL NATION /thetribunechd TERROR ATTACKS FAIL TO DETER VOTERS IN KISHTWAR J&K NIRMALA LAUNCHES PENSION PLAN FOR CHILDREN BUSINESS BANGLADESH GOVT GIVES MAGISTRACY POWERS TO ARMY WORLD thursday | 19 september 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Cabinet clears plan for parallel LS, state polls; yet to fix timeline Accepts Kovind panel proposals |Rollout after consensus: Centre Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service Women queue up to cast their vote at a polling station in south Kashmir’s Kokernag on Wednesday. REUTERS 60% voters show up in peaceful Ph-1 J&K poll to ‘make their voices heard’ Adil Akhzer 79.39% Highest voting in Kishtwar 46.65% lowest in Pulwama “The polling percentage in the four districts of south Kashmir — Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam — used to be low. However, in the recent Lok Sabha elections, it went up…,” said Pole, adding that this time, Shopian and Pulwama districts saw the highest voter turnout in seven elections. These four districts, which continued on page 11 New Delhi, Sept 18 The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the ambitious one nation, one election plan that will enable simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state legislative Assemblies, municipalities and panchayats. The Cabinet also cleared the idea of common electoral rolls for elections to all tiers of the government and a single election identity card. The approval came a day after Home Minister Amit Shah announced that one nation, one election agenda would be implemented in “this very term of the Modi government”. The Cabinet, however, while accepting simultaneous poll recommendations of the high-level committee, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, did not fix any timeline for the transition. Asked if the proposal would be in place by 2029 national elections, Information and Broadcasting Minister continued on page 11 ARGUMENTS OFFERED BY PANEL ■ Will transform electoral process and overall governance ■ Optimise resources; encourage voter participation ■ End disruptions due to Model Code of Conduct ■ 65 meetings held by panel between Sept 23, 2023, and March 10, 2024 ■ 80% of 21,558 respondents favoured it 32 PARTIES FOR IT INDIA BLOC AGAINST IT ■ Of 47 parties that responded, ■ Among parties that resisted 15 opposed and 32 favoured the system. Those who opposed raised apprehensions that it could violate the Constitution, be anti-federal the plan before the committee are Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, CPM, AIUDF, Trinamool Congress, AIMIM, CPI and DMK TO BOOST DEMOCRACY: PM ❝ I compliment Kovindji for spearheading this effort... step towards making our democracy even more vibrant. Narendra Modi, PM IMPRACTICAL, SAYS OPPN It is not practical, it will ❝work. During elections, not they (BJP) do not have any issue to raise, they divert attention from real issues. Mallikarjun Kharge, CONGRESS CHIEF Simultaneous elections will need 18 amendments to Constitution poll in the UT after the abrogation of Article 370. The voting was held in 16 Assembly segments in south Kashmir and eight in the Jammu region. According to the poll officials, the highest voting of 79.39 per cent took place in Wednesday — has recommended 18 amendments to various provisions of the Constitution and different laws. The panel recommended certain “necessary amendments” to the Constitution and other relevant laws to make it possible to hold threetier simultaneous polls across India. It suggested adding a new provision — Article 82A — to the Constitution which would override Article 83 (Duration of Houses of Parliament) and Article 172 (Duration of State Legislatures) in order to synchronise elections. What’s important is that “For this Amendment, ratification by the States is not required,” the report stated. It has also suggested adding Article continued on page 11 MSPlaw,~6Kold-agepension: Centre pushes to check boost MSP Cong guarantees for Haryana distress sale,of PM-AASHA Expands purview Pulwama, Shopian, Sept 18 Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday voted for the first time in the Assembly elections after a gap of 10 years with the UT recording a turnout of 60.21 per cent in the first phase. Election officials said the polling passed off peacefully. This was the first Assembly Atishi swearing-in likely on Sept 21 Kishtwar district while Pulwama district in south Kashmir recorded the lowest polling of 46.65 per cent. J&K Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole said no untoward incident was reported from any Assembly segment. Kharge says legislators to choose CM after elections Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 18 Noting that “the government must develop a legally tenable mechanism in order to restore the cycle of simultaneous elections,” the report of the high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind — approved by the Cabinet on Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Soldiers outside a shop where a walkie-talkie exploded in Sidon. AP/PTI After pagers, gadgets explode in Lebanon; 9 killed, over 300 injured Beirut, September 18 Explosions went off in Beirut and multiple parts of Lebanon in an apparent second wave of detonations of electronic devices, Hezbollah officials and state media said on Wednesday. Walkie-talkies and even solar equipment were targeted a day after hundreds of pagers blew up, they said. At least nine persons were killed and 300 were wounded, the Health Ministry said. Several blasts were heard at a funeral in Beirut for three Hezbollah members and a child killed by exploding pagers the day before. An eyewitness in the southern coastal city of Sidon saw a car and a mobile phone shop damaged after devices exploded inside of them. A Hezbollah official said walkie-talkies used by the group exploded. Lebanon’s official news agency reported that solar energy systems exploded in houses in several areas of Beirut and in southern Lebanon, wounding at least one girl. The new blasts continued on page 11 edit: exploding pagers New Delhi, September 18 Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said MLAs would choose who would become the Chief Minister, should the Congress secure a majority in the October 5 Assembly elections in Haryana. Kharge was talking to reporters here after unveiling seven guarantees promised by the Congress to the voters of Haryana. The guarantees include enacting a law to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP); caste census so that resources could be channelised to benefit deserving groups; increase in the creamy layer threshold from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh; LPG cylinders at Rs 500 and a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 for women aged 18 to 60 years; a monthly pension of Rs 6,000 for seniors, the disabled, and widows; restoration of the Old Pension Scheme; 300 units of free electricity; and free medical treatment up to Rs 25 lakh. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Bhupinder Hooda release party’s manifesto for Haryana poll in New Delhi. IN RED, STATE CAN’T SUPPORT FREEBIES ■ Congress’ guarantees will ■ State already under debt, put a strain on Haryana’s poor financial health, if the party is voted to power which is expected to reach ~3.18 lakh crore in 2024-25, as per budget estimates Among the other promises are filling up two lakh government posts and allocation of 100-yard plots for economically disadvantaged families. The party’s manifesto — a 53 page document — will be released later in Chandigarh. Kharge disclosed that the manifesto would feature promise about building a monument in the state in memory of farmers who died during the agitation against the three farm laws. The children of the martyred farmers would be given appointments, continued on page 11 New Delhi, September 18 In a step aimed at strengthening the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism for pulses and oilseed-growing farmers, the government on Wednesday approved the expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA). The decision, taken at a meeting of the Cabinet, comes as farmers continue to protest, seeking a legal guarantee for the MSP . Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that the decision to expand the scope of PM-AASHA had been taken to protect the income of farmers and to procure excess quantity in case there was a fall in the price due to overproduction. An amount of Rs 35,000 crore had been earmarked for this programme, he said. “The decision has been taken to encourage pulses and oilseed farmers. There is a price stabilisation mechanism TO PAY FARMERS, COVER SHORTFALL ■ The move is aimed at encourag- ing pulses and oilseed farmers; the scheme has a price stabilisation mechanism ■ If there is a gap between MSP and market price, difference will be met by the govt ■ If the price falls due to overproduction, the govt will procure a huge quantity of it NOD TO CHANDRAYAAN-4 The Cabinet has approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission to bring back moon rocks to earth, Venus mission to send a spacecraft there and expansion of the Gaganyaan project to build an Indian space station in this scheme. If there is a gap between the MSP and the market price, the difference continued on page 10 Amid criticism, India-Bangladesh Test series on course To begin in Chennai today | Hindu Mahasabha announces protests in Kanpur, Gwalior Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 18 The cricket Test series between India and Bangladesh that starts in Chennai from Thursday will test the changed relations between the neighbouring nations. Ever since the Awami League government was overthrown by students last month, the two countries have sparred over a host of issues, including ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s continued stay in India. The attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus, during the protest and post Hasina’s ouster sparked largescale outrage within India. Amid this backdrop, the Hindu Mahasabha has already announced its plan to protest against the visiting team in Kanpur, venue for the second Test that starts from September 27. They have also announced plans to protest in Gwalior, venue for the first T20 international on October 6. Aaditya Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, has also criticised the government for sanctioning the tour. “The Bangladesh cricket team is on a tour of India and the BCCI is rolling out the red carpet for them. I want to know from the Ministry of External Affairs whether the news circulating on social media and some media outlets about atrocities committed on Hindus is true. And if these reports are accurate, then who is pressuring the central government to allow their tour?” he wrote on X. “If Hindus are being subjected to brutality in Bangladesh, then why is the BJP-led government allowing the Bangladesh cricket team to tour India?” he asked. In 1991, the Shiv Sena led by Balasaheb Thackeray had dug up the Wankhede pitch to disrupt Pakistan’s tour. In 1999, too, its supporters dug up the Feroze Shah Kotla pitch. Government sources clarified that the series had to be cleared as it was part of the ICC’s cricket calendar. He said trade was also continuing with Bangladesh, so there was no reason to stop cricketing ties. “India-Bangladesh Test series is a pre-scheduled event. It was not scheduled as per change of Government in Dhaka. BCCI, the host, has commercial commitments and also ICC calendar, these have to be met. Cricket generates revenue that is shared with the cricket board of the visiting team also,” a source said. c m y b Bangladesh players during a training session in Chennai. PTI New Delhi, September 18 Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena on Wednesday proposed September 21 for the swearing-in of CM-designate Atishi following the resignation of Arvind Kejriwal from the post. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said Kejriwal would also give up security and move out of the CM's residence in 15 days to live like a "commoner". The oath ceremony of the new CM is likely to be held at Raj Niwas and expected to be a "low-key affair". Sources said Saxena, in a communication to President Droupadi Murmu, proposed September 21 as the date for the swearing-in. Kejriwal's resignation letter had also been moved to Murmu. The sources said Gopal Rai, Kailash Gehlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Imran Hussain would be retained and two party MLAs would also be inducted in the new Cabinet. — TNS edit: delhi’s new cm Soldier shoots 2 colleagues dead in Chhattisgarh Balrampur, September 18 Two personnel of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) were killed and as many injured after their colleague opened fire at them in Chhattisgarh’s Balrampur district on Wednesday. The incident took place around 11 am in the camp of the 'B' company of CAF's 11th battalion in Bhutahi Mod area, IGP Ankit Garg said. Constable Ajay Sidar fired at his colleagues with his service weapon, an Insas rifle. While a constable, Rupesh Patel, died on the spot, another constable, Sandip Pandey, succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital. Two injured personnel — Ambuj Shukla and Rahul Baghel — were admitted to a health centre in Kusmi. — PTI