22092024-TT-01.qxd 21-09-2024 23:15 Page 1 123 PAK FEARS MODI, WON’T OPEN FIRE: SHAH J&K /thetribunechd CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 263 | 20 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 HIMACHAL PRADESH sunday | 22 september 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com PM in US; White House holds meet with Sikhs over ‘safety’ Interaction comes in backdrop of NY court summons to Indian Govt Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 21 As Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his three-day visit to the US on Saturday, it has emerged that top-ranking White House and intelligence officials met members of the American Sikh community to discuss “issues pertaining to their safety”. The meeting was held at the White House on Thursday. It took place in the backdrop a US federal court in New York summoning the Indian Government and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval among others acting on a civil lawsuit filed by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Two days ago, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had dismissed the summons as based on “completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations”. The US has accused Indian nationals of trying to assassinate Pannun, who heads the banned Sikhs for Justice. The meeting took place PM Narendra Modi being greeted by members of the Indian community upon his arrival at Philadelphia. PTI ❝ The Indian community has distinguished itself in the US… Let’s celebrate the bonds that connect our nations! — Narendra Modi, PM ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi three-day visit to the US. Soon after arrival, Modi headed to US President Joe Biden’s residence in Wilmington, Delaware, for bilateral talks. A large group of the Indi- AT HELM an diaspora greeted Modi at the Philadelphia International Airport. Pritpal Singh, founder of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, posted on X about the meeting at the White House: “Thankful to Tribune News Service Atishi seeks AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal’s blessings after taking oath as Delhi Chief Minister. L-G VK Saxena is also seen. ANI INSIDE Justice Shakdher new Himachal CJ New Delhi, September 21 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked the Sikhs whether there was anything wrong about his recent remarks in the US which essentially pertained to religious freedom of minorities in India. He said, “The BJP has been spreading lies about my remarks in America. I want to ask every Sikh brother and sister in India and abroad — is there anything wrong in what I have said? Shouldn’t India be a country where every Sikh — and every Indian — can freely practise his/her reli- FIR against Cong leader in Karnataka gion without fear?” In a post on X, he said, “As usual, the BJP is resorting to lies. They are desperate to silence me because they cannot stand the truth. But I will always speak up for the values that define India: our unity in diversity, equality and love.” Rahul also posted a video of the comments he had made in the US. While taking part in an event in Washington DC, Rahul had accused the BJP of pushing ahead with its continued on page 6 Air Marshal AP Singh next IAF Chief Tribune News Service NEW DELHI: Over two months after the SC Collegium recommended names for the appointment of CJs to the high courts of Delhi, HP J&K , and Ladakh, Kerala, MP , Madras and Meghalaya, the Centre on Saturday notified the appointments. Justice Rajiv Shakdher of the Delhi HC will be the new CJ of the HP HC while Justice Manmohan has been appointed the CJ of the Delhi HC. INSIDE US officials for their vigilance in protecting Sikh Americans. We will hold them to their assurances to do more in safeguarding our community. Freedom and justice must prevail.” Pritpal Singh continued on page 6 Shouldn’t Sikhs practise religion freely?Rahul defends his US remarks Shubhadeep Choudhury New Delhi, September 21 Air Marshal AP Singh has been appointed as the next Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He is a fighter pilot and is currently serving as the Vice Chief. He is slated to take over on September 30, when Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari superannuates. Air Marshal Singh has been test-flying the indige- Air Marshal AP Singh nous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas — the latest sortie being 10 days ago when he flew the fighter jet over Jodhpur during the multi-nation exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’. Announcing the appointment, the Ministry of Defence said “he was the Project Director (Flight Test) at the National Flight Test Centre and was tasked with flight-testing the LCA Tejas”. Air Marshal Singh is the fourth officer — after Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh, Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh continued on page 6 Oppn, RWAs gun for Saini govt over ‘S+4’ move Geetanjali Gayatri and Sumedha Sharma Term decision totally wrong, ask EC to step in Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 21 The Haryana Government has opened a second front in the thick of the Assembly elections, with several Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) as well as Opposition leaders threatening to approach the Election Commission against the caretaker Nayab Singh Saini government goes ahead with its decision to open up construction in residential areas to reach four floors. From Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda to JJP leader Dushyant Chautala to several RWAs, especially in Gurugram, a storm of protest is gathering to oppose the BJP’s decision to side-step the court case and go ahead with stilt-plus-four construction. Both opposition politicians and civil society activists say they are deeply distressed with the BJP’s decision, without a proper study of the attendant issues involved, like parking, water, electricity and sewerage. Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda said the move smacked of government’s “vested interest”. Stating that the BJP was flip-flopping on the decision, Hooda said, “This is a confused government. This cannot be done. It is completely wrong, especially since this is a care- Today’s issue is of 20 pages, including six-page Spectrum. WB DOCS RESUME DUTIES PARTIALLY BACK PAGE taker government.” Maintaining that the BJP , worried about the building momentum against ‘S+4’ put the construction on hold in August, Yashvir Malik, chairman of the confederation of 287 RWAs, said allowing construction now, showed that the BJP was playing into the hands of the builder lobby. “My information is that the BJP wants to fulfil its commitment to the builders by getting such projects cleared continued on page 6
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).
