03112024-TT-01.qxd 02-11-2024 22:44 Page 1 123 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 304 | 18 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH PURI SLAMS KHARGE FOR TARGETING MODI OVER POLL SOPS NATION /thetribunechd PATROLLING AT DEPSANG YET TO BEGIN DESPITE LAC THAW BACK PAGE WHY SIMPLER APPROACH ECONOMIC POLICIES OF TO LIFE BEING ADOPTED HARRIS DISASTER: AS PHILOSOPHY SPECTRUM TRUMP WORLD sunday | 3 november 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Absurd: India junks reference to Shah, summons Canada’s official Irresponsible actions can have serious repercussions on ties: MEA Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service Security personnel stand guard during an encounter with terrorists at Khanyar in Srinagar on Saturday. ANI 3 ultras killed, four security men hurt in twin Valley encounters Adil Akhzer Srinagar, November 2 Three militants were killed and four security personnel injured in two encounters between militants and the security forces in the Valley, the police said on Saturday. BLOW TO LASHKAR AS COMMANDER AMONG DEAD The first encounter began on Saturday morning after the security forces got an input about the presence of militants in the Khanyar area of Srinagar city. Srinagar had witnessed its last encounter in September 2022. Police sources said a foreign militant, identified as Usman, was killed in the day-long Khanyar operation, which ended in the evening. “He was active for many years and his killing is a huge blow to the Lashkar outfit,” said a security officer. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, VK Birdi said the continued on page 6 Surge in militant attacks to weaken Omar govt: Farooq Srinagar, November 2 Former J&K Chief Minister and NC chief Farooq Abdullah on Saturday demanded an independent inquiry into the recent spurt in terror attacks in the Valley and suggested an attempt to destabilise the Omar Abdullah-led government. The BJP questioned the rationale behind seeking an investigation when it was evident that terrorism was emanating from Pakistan. The former CM while demanding an investigation into Friday’s Budgam terror attack, in which two migrant workers were shot at, further asserted that the terrorists should be caught alive, not killed, to unravel the truth behind the attempt to destabilise the CONDUCT PROBE ❝ There wasn’t a spurt in gunfights before govt formation. There should be an independent probe to find out who is doing it. Farooq Abdullah, NC CHIEF newly elected government. “It should be investigated. How is it that the government has been formed and this is happening? I have a doubt this is being done by the people who want to destabilise the government,” said the NC chief, adding “if they (terrorists) are caught, we will get to know who is doing this. They should not be killed, they should be caught and asked who is behind them....” continued on page 6 In touch with US, sanctioned firms not in violation of Indian laws: MEA Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 2 A day after the US sanctioned 19 Indian entities for supplying dual-use (civilian and military) items to Russia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the transactions between Russia and the companies were not in violation of Indian laws. At a media briefing today, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Our understanding is that the sanctioned transactions and companies are not in violation of Indian laws.” “Nevertheless, in keeping with India’s established non- Says country has robust regulatory framework Randhir Jaiswal proliferation credentials, we are working with all relevant Indian departments and agencies to sensitise Indian companies to the applicable export-control provisions and also to inform them of new measures being implemented that could impact Indian companies in certain circumstances,” he said. “We are in touch with the US authorities to clarify issues,” Jaiswal said. The US sanctioned nearly 400 entities and individuals, including 19 from India, for what it called “enabling Russia’s prosecution of its illegal war”. Jaiswal said, “We have seen reports regarding the US sanctions. India has a robust legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade and non-proliferation controls.” continued on page 6 New Delhi, November 2 Days after a Canadian minister alleged that Home Minister Amit Shah was behind the attacks on Sikh separatists in Canada, India on Saturday termed the allegations “absurd” and “baseless”, and warned that such “irresponsible actions” could have serious repercussions on bilateral ties. India on Friday summoned a representative of the Canadian High Commission and lodged a strong protest over the reference made against Shah by Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison. The reference was made at a hearing of the Canadian Parliament’s standing committee on public safety and national security in Ottawa on October 29. Morrison had alleged that Shah was directing attacks on Canadian Sikhs. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal today said the Canadian High Commission official was served a diplomatic note mentioning “India protests in the strongest terms the absurd and base- Efforts underway to get Anmol Bishnoi from US, says govt Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 2 Over a week after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for the arrest of fugitive gangster Anmol Bishnoi, the government on Saturday indicated that efforts were underway for his extradition from the US. Responding to queries on the gangster’s extradition, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “An investigation is going on and the matter comes under the legal domain. There are established procedures and action will be taken accordingly.” Anmol is the younger brother continued on page 6 SC should apologise to victims of ’84 riots: Phoolka TRIBUNE PHOTO: MUKESH AGGARWAL Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 2 Senior advocate HS Phoolka, who has been fighting to get justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, today demanded an apology from the Supreme Court for allegedly turning a blind eye to the massacre of Sikhs in the national capital. Addressing a press conference on the 40th anniversary of the riots here, Phoolka faulted the SC and its judges for not intervening to stop the massacre of Sikhs. “The events of 1984 marked not only the murder of count- Senior advocate HS Phoolka with 1984 riots survivor Darshan Kaur. ❝ The events of 1984 marked not only the murder of countless citizens but also the death of justice itself. HS Phoolka Today’s issue is of 18 pages, including six-page Spectrum. less citizens but also the death of justice itself. The entire legal system collapsed; the statue of Lady Justice, blindfolded, reflected the blindness of judges, who failed to see the atrocities occurring around them, in the courts and their own neighbourhoods. Judicial activism seemed to vanish when it came to the Sikh genocide,” Phoolka said. “It wasn’t until 2017 (33 years later) that the SC began to take an active interest in punishing the perpetrators of this genocide,” he said, appreciating Justice Dipak Misra continued on page 6 INDIAN CONSULAR STAFF UNDER SURVEILLANCE Some of Indian consular officials in Canada had been put under audio and video surveillance, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. “Their communications have also been intercepted…. We have formally protested... we deem these actions to be a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions.” Amit Shah, Home Minister OTTAWA NAMES DELHI IN CYBERTHREAT LIST Canada has for the first time named India in a list of cyberthreat adversaries, alleging that state-sponsored actors could be spying against it. Amid an ongoing diplomatic row, India is named fifth after China, Russia, Iran and North Korea in the National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 report. less references made to the Home Minister before the committee by Deputy Minister Morrison”. Morrison had also told the committee members that he had confirmed Shah’s name to a US daily, which first reported the allegations. Jaiswal said the revelation that top Canadian government officials deliberately leaked unfounded insinuations to international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirmed the view that India had long held about the current Canadian regime’s political agenda and behavioural pattern. Answering queries on another set of allegations about “India being a threat to Canadian cyber security”, Jaiswal said, “This appears to be another example of a Canadian strategy to attack India. As mentioned earlier by us, their senior officials have openly confessed to seeking to manipulate glob- al opinion against India. As on other occasions, imputations have been made without any evidence.” On reports of Indian officials being put on surveillance by Canada, Jaiswal said, “Some of our consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they have been, and continued to be, under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted…. We have formally protested with the Canadian government as we deem these actions to be a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions.” Jaiswal said the Canadian government could not justify the fact that it was indulging in harassment and intimidation. “Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action aggravates the situation and is incompatible with the established diplomatic norms and practices,” he said. Responding to the reported cancellation of Diwali celebrations in Canada, Jaiswal said, “We have seen some reports continued on page 6 SCtohearRajoana’s petition tomorrow NEW DELHI:The Supreme Court will take up on Monday a petition filed by Balwant Singh Rajoana seeking commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment on the ground of “inordinate delay” in deciding his mercy petition. Convicted of assassinating Beant Singh in 1995, Rajoana has been in jail for 28 years, awaiting his execution. INSIDE Petrolbombhurledat Sena leader’s house LUDHIANA: Three motorcycleborne persons lobbed a petrol bomb at the house of Shiv Sena Hind Sikh Sangat wing president Harkirat Singh Khurana here. The bomb hit the gate and sparked a minor fire. The Sena leader was inside the house when the bomb was thrown. This is the second such incident in the last two weeks. INSIDE Free Pak visas for Sikhs from UK, US ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi has said Sikh pilgrims from the US, UK and Canada will receive free online visas upon arrival in the country to pay respect at their religious sites. Naqvi’s remarks came as he met a 44-member foreign delegation of Sikh pilgrims in Lahore recently. INSIDE