10122024-TTB-01.qxd 12/10/2024 12:28 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 341 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HARYANA WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN LEGALLY: TRUMP WORLD /thetribunechd KASHMIRI PANDITS FILE PLAINT AGAINST ILTIJA MUFTI J&K PASSENGER VEHICLE SALES DECLINE BY 14% IN NOV BUSINESS INDIA, RUSSIA TO PRIORITISE WORK IN NEW AREAS OF TECH: RAJNATH BACK PAGE tuesday | 10 december 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Holidays in Punjab schoolsfromDec24 to 31 owing to cold CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government has declared winter holidays in all government, aided, private and recognised schools across the state from December 24 to December 31 owing to cold weather conditions in the region. In orders issued on Monday, state Education Secretary KK Yadav said in the wake of the cold weather, the winter break would be from December 24 to December 31. The orders were issued after the approval of the Chief Minister. — TNS Bomb hoax in 40 schools of Delhi, pupils sent home NEW DELHI: Around 40 schools in Delhi received a bomb threat mail on Monday morning with the sender demanding $30,000, a police official said. The threat was sent in a single e-mail marked to the city’s prominent schools. Most schools that received the threat suspended their classes and sent students back home. A Delhi Fire Services official said bomb detection teams, fire officials, the local police and dog squads conducted searches at the schools. Nothing suspicious was found. — TNS Attacks on Hindus regrettable: FS Uproar in Parl as BJP steps up attack on Cong over Soros link calls for positive tieswith Dhaka Targets Sonia over role as ‘co-president’ of anti-India outfit Flags targeting of religious, diplomatic centres of minority community Animesh Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 9 Parliament failed to transact any legislative business on Monday with both Houses adjourning after the BJP accused Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of allegedly having links with US-based billionaire George Soros-funded organisation, which is involved in “anti-India” activities. The ruling party has claimed Sonia Gandhi’s connection with Forum of Democratic Leaders in Asia-Pacific (FDLAP), funded by the George Soros Foundation, which has “backed” the idea of Kashmir as an “independent nation”. continued on page 9 New Delhi, December 9 India on Monday raised concern over attacks on the Hindu community, temples and diplomatic properties in Bangladesh while underscoring the need for having a “positive, constructive and a mutually beneficial relationship” with the neighbour. This was conveyed to Bangladesh during consultations Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had with his counterpart Mohammad Jashimuddin in Dhaka. Misri is the first high-level Indian official to visit Bangladesh after the August 5 ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said “comprehensive discussions (were held) on issues covering political and security matters, border management, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sector, development cooperation, consular, cultural and people-to-people ties”. Misri highlighted India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh, the Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohd Jashimuddin and other delegates in Dhaka. PTI NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN: BANGLADESH MAMATA TAKES ‘LOLLIPOP’ SWIPE After the meet, Bangladesh foreign secretary Mohd Jashim Uddin said they expected Delhi’s cooperation in halting “negative campaign” in India to build trust among the peoples of the two countries. “At the same time, no country is expected to interfere in our internal affairs,” he said. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee termed “absurd” reported remarks by some Bangladeshi leaders that they could occupy Bengal within days, and said “when you will come to occupy our land, don’t think we will have lollipops”. “No one has the guts to take our land,” she added. MEA said. After the meeting, Misri told the media he had conveyed concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of the minorities in the country. “We also discussed some regrettable inci- dents of attacks on cultural, religious and diplomatic properties,” the Foreign Secretary said while referring to frenzied attacks on the Hindu community in the recent past in Bangladesh. India, he said, expected Bangladesh to adopt a constructive approach on these issues. “We look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking and continued on page 9 Reservation can’t be on Need to preserve Syria’s basis of religion: SC on sovereignty, says MEA In first remarks after Assad’s West Bengal OBC list fall, India calls for peaceful, Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 9 “Reservation can’t be on the basis of religion,” the Supreme Court said on Monday while hearing the West Bengal Government’s petition challenging the Calcutta High Court’s order striking down the state government’s decision to classify 77 castes, mostly Muslims, as OBCs. The observation came from a Bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan after senior counsel Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal Government, sought to know if in principle Muslims were not entitled to reservation. The Bench wondered if the high court could have struck down Section 12 of the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 2012, which enabled the state to identify backward classes. It deferred the hearing to January 7, 2025. Sibal asserted that the state government’s decision was based on backwardness and not religion. “Backwardness exists in all communities,” Sibal submitted. He said the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s judgment quashing reservation for Muslim OBC communities was stayed by the SC and the matter was still pending. Asserting that the state government had quantifiable data, Sibal said it affected a large number of people, including students. On behalf of the continued on page 9 New Delhi, December 9 In its first reaction to the developments in Syria where rebel fighters on Sunday overthrew President Bashar al-Assad’s government, India today said it stood for a “peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process that respected the interests and aspirations of all sections of society”. “We are monitoring the situation in Syria. We underline the need for all parties to work towards preserving the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Assad fled the country after rebel group Hayat Tahrir alSham took control of Damascus, marking the end of his family’s 50-year rule. Accused of running the country in an autocratic manner, Assad and his family have taken asylum in Rus- inclusive political process sia. The MEA said the Indian Embassy in Damascus was in touch with the Indian community in Syria for their “safety and security”. On December 6, the embassy had issued an advisory asking Indian nationals to avoid travel to Syria. It had asked those who could leave the country to do so at the earliest. Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement that “after 14 years of brutal civil war and the fall of the dictatorial regime, the Syria people can seize the historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future”. — TNS edit: Assad’s fall Early snow brings cheer to HPorchardists Post monsoon, state received just 2.1 mm rainfall, a deficit of 90% Tribune News Service Shimla, December 9 Rainfall and light but widespread snowfall since Sunday evening ended the two-monthlong dry spell in Himachal, bringing cheer to farmers, apple growers and hoteliers. The maximum 6.7 cm snowfall was recorded in Koksar (Lahaul and Spiti), followed by 5 cm in Khadrala (Shimla), 4 cm each in Chopal (Shimla) and Sangla (Kinnaur) and 2.5 cm in Shimla. In several other parts, light rainfall was recorded. Though there is no forecast for another spell of rain or snow for at least a week, the current spell has brought relief to the farmers and orchardists. Sameer Sharma, Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture, said the rain Children make the most of the season’s first snowfall in Shimla on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: LALIT KUMAR would help the rabi crops. “At some places, farmers were waiting for some rain for sowing wheat. They can go ahead now. The rain will help in the germination process of the crops already sown,” he said. Lokinder Bisht, an apple grower from Shimla, said the snowfall would push the plants into dormancy. “This time, leaf fall has been delayed due to the absence of rain since September. continued on page 9 c m y b Tribune News Service Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and other opposition MPs during a protest over the Adani and Manipur issues in New Delhi. PTI SIMULTANEOUS POLL BILL LIKELY THIS SESSION The ruling BJP is all set to push ahead with its one nation, one election promise with the Central Government likely to table the related Bill in the ongoing winter session of Parliament. BACK PAGE Revenue Secy Malhotra new RBI Guv New Delhi, December 9 The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday appointed Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra as the 26th Reserve Bank of India Governor. Malhotra (56) will hold the position for three years, starting Wednesday. He will replace Shaktikanta Das, Sanjay Malhotra whose tenure at the central bank ends on Tuesday. Malhotra is a 1990-batch Rajasthan-cadre IAS officer and engineering graduate in computer science from the IIT, Kanpur. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University, US. In his life as a career bureaucrat spanning 33 years, Malhotra worked in varied sectors, including power, finance and taxation, IT and mines. — TNS