13032025-TTC-01.qxd 3/13/2025 GOVT PROVIDING FREE RATION TO 80 CRORE: JOSHI NATION /thetribunechd 12:39 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 9 NO. 71 | 20 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 RUSSIA AWAITS DETAILS OF TRUCE PLAN WORLD thursday | 13 march 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com India, Mauritius upgrade Saffron splash in Haryana, BJP wins 9 of 10 MCs ties, ink 8 priority pacts Cong loses Hooda bastion too | ‘Triple engine govt’ to accelerate development, says Saini Pradeep Sharma VICTORY HUES Tribune News Service Bat for ‘safe, free’ Indian Ocean | Modi gets top award Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 12 India and Mauritius on Wednesday upgraded their ties to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, reaffirming their shared commitment to a “free, safe, secure and open Indian Ocean”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam announced the decision following delegation-level talks, a move seen as bolstering New Delhi’s influence in the Indian Ocean Region to counter China’s expanding presence. The two nations exchanged eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering areas such as a local currency settlement system, a credit facility agreement, training programmes for diplomats, white shipping information sharing, MSME cooperation and crime investigations. They also pledged to collaborate on artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure for public good. During his two-day state visit, Prime Minister Modi participated in Mauritius’ 57th Independence Day celebrations as the chief guest, received the country’s highest civilian award and inaugurated 20 India-aided community development projects. He also immersed Chandigarh, March 12 It was yet another saffron surge in Haryana as the BJP secured landslide victory over its traditional rival Congress in nine of the 10 municipal corporations where the counting of votes took place on Wednesday. The BJP won in Ambala, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Hisar, Rohtak, Faridabad, Gurugram and Yamunanagar. Its only setback came in Manesar where party rebel Inderjeet Yadav defeated BJP nominee Sunder Lal. Inderjeet is said to be close to Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh. In the outgoing municipal corporations, the BJP had mayors in six civic bodies while the Congress held two. The Haryana Janchetna Party was in power in Ambala. Manesar mayoral polls were ■ Majority of municipal council, committee seats too go to BJP ■ BJP rebel wins Manesar where mayoral poll held for first time ■ BJP held six of the 9 outgoing MCs, Congress 2 and Haryana Janchetna Party 1 3.16L VOTES BJP workers celebrate victory in Panipat on Wednesday. SUKHJINDER SAROHA held for the first time as it was earlier part of the Gurugram MC. The sweeping victory comes just five months after the BJP secured a hattrick in the Assembly poll on October 5, 2024. BJP or party-backed candidates also won a majority of the president posts in the four municipal councils and 21 municipal committees, though it did not contest everywhere on party symbol. In a major setback for former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on his home turf Rohtak, BJP’s Ramavtar Balmiki defeated Suraj Mal Kiloi of the Con- Victory margin of BJP mayoral candidate Praveen Joshi over Congress’ Lata Rani in Faridabad gress in the mayoral poll. In Faridabad, BJP’s Praveen Joshi trounced Lata Rani of the Congress by a record 3.16 lakh votes. In Gurugram, BJP’s Raj Rani Malhotra defeated Congress’ Seema Pahuja. Praveen Popli of the BJP won in Hisar. He was pitted against Krishan Vance, wife likely to visit India later this month Tribune News Service Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives Mauritius’ highest award from President Dharambeer Gokhool in Port Louis. PTI holy waters from the Mahakumbh Sangam in the Ganga Talao lake. In his remarks, the Prime Minister emphasised that the rela- tions between India and Mauritius extended beyond the Indian Ocean, rooted in shared cultural heritage and continued on page 8 New Delhi, March 12 US Vice-President JD Vance will travel to India later in March and will be accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance, a US media report said on Wednesday. This will be Vance’s second trip abroad after he visited France and Germany last month. Usha, whose parents went to the US from India, will be visiting India for the first time after Vance’s inauguration as Vice-President. Ahead of his US visit in February, PM Narendra Modi had held talks with Vance in Paris on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit. Vance, who was accompanied by Usha and his sons, described Modi as “gracious and kind” and termed their conversation “wonderful”. “PM Modi was gracious and kind and our kids really enjoyed the gifts,” Vance posted on X after the meeting. Today’s issue is of 20 pages, including four-page Jalandhar Tribune. c m y b Vice-President JD Vance with his wife Usha in Washington. FILE Singla of the Congress. Komal Saini (BJP) defeated Savita Garg (Congress) in Panipat and Suman Bahamani (BJP) won against Kirna Devi (Congress) in Yamunanagar. In the two mayoral bypoll, Rajiv Jain (BJP) defeated Kamal Dewan (Congress) in Sonepat while Shailja Sachdeva (BJP) won against Amisha Chawla (Congress) in Ambala. An elated Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini claimed the people of Haryana had put their stamp of approval on the works and policies of the BJP government. “The triple engine government will work at a faster pace to achieve its goal of a developed Haryana and developed India,” said Saini. There were early Holi festivities across Haryana as BJP workers applied ‘gulal’ continued on page 8 VP discharged from AIIMS-Delhi NEW DELHI: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar was discharged from AIIMS here on Wednesday days after being admitted for cardiac-related ailments. A medical bulletin from AIIMS said the VP was admitted to the institute on March 9 with heart issues. “He received necessary care at the hospital and has now made full recovery,” it said. The statement said the VP had been advised rest for next few days. — TNS