21072025-TTC-01.qxd 7/21/2025 12:48 AM 13 ATTACKS NOW SEEN AS ACT OF WAR: OMAR TO PAK J&K /thetribunechd Page 1 OPEN TO PEACE, BUT GOALS MUST BE MET: RUSSIAWORLD CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 200 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 monday | 21 july 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Centre ‘willing’ to discuss all issues as Oppn raises Trump claims, Pahalgam, Bihar rolls FITTING FAREWELL PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Parl session kicks off today, likely to be a stormy affair Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 20 A stormy monsoon session of Parliament is on the cards as the Opposition prepares to corner the Modi government on multiple fronts, ranging from national security and foreign affairs to electoral transparency and the situation in Manipur. The session begins on Monday. After the customary all-party meeting held on Sunday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju signalled that the government was open to discussions on key matters, including Operation Sindoor. “We are open to discussions on all important issues like Operation Sindoor. These are matters of great national signif- PM MUST RESPOND ❝ There are three key issues that require the PM’s intervention — the Pahalgam attack, the US President’s remarks questioning our armed forces, and concerns over voting rights & electoral transparency. Gaurav Gogoi, CONGRESS MP icance. The government is not shying away from debate, but it must happen under the rules and procedures laid down by Parliament,” Rijiju said. However, he refrained from commenting on the recent con- NOT DODGING DEBATE open discussions ❝allWeareissues,toincluding on key Kharar MLA’s U-turn dayafterresignation Operation Sindoor. These are matters of national importance, but debates must happen within the rules and procedures laid down by Parliament CHANDIGARH: Kiren Rijiju, UNION MINISTER troversial remarks made by US President Donald Trump, saying it was not the appropriate forum. “Whether it’s the US President or anyone else, I cannot respond here. When we continued on page 9 Policemen give a gun salute to marathon legend Fauja Singh, who died in a hit-&-run on July 14, as his mortal remains are cremated with full state honours at Beas village on Sunday. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and CM Bhagwant Mann were among those present. INSIDE PM to visit UK, Maldives; BJP-Akali alliance needed to ensure FTA, reset of ties on table communal harmony in state: Jakhar Ubeer Naqushbandi 100 MPs’ signatures taken, Rijiju says move to impeach Justice Varma on CASH AT JUDGE’S HOUSE Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 20 The process to bring an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma is underway and has already garnered the support of over 100 MPs, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday. “I cannot comment on any business in terms of priority because until or unless the matter is passed by the BAC (Business Advisory Committee) with approval by the Chair, it is difficult for me to make an announcement outside… The signature (exercise) is underway and it has crossed 100 already,” said Rijiju, responding to queries ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament. While Rijiju refrained from elaborating on whether the motion continued on page 9 Kharar MLA Anmol Gagan Maan on Sunday “reversed” her decision to quit politics a day after announcing her exit. She met AAP president Aman Arora, who informed her that party chief Arvind Kejriwal had rejected her resignation. The 35-year-old singer-turnedpolitician said she “accepts the party’s decision”. INSIDE Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 20 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a four-day visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 in a high-stakes diplomatic tour focused on improving bilateral ties and signing the landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Britain. The PM’s visit to the Maldives is significant as it comes after the bilateral ties had come under severe strain after President Modi’s four-day tour to begin on July 23 Mohamed Muizzu came to power in November 2023. In the first leg of the trip, the PM will visit the UK from July 23 to July 24, where he will sign the FTA. The agreement is poised to impact 99 per cent of Indian exports to the UK by reducing tariffs, thereby facilitating British exports such as whisky and cars to India. This will be PM continued on page 9 c m y b ‘Must understand Punjab’s soul — dastarmeans sardari, not just turban’ Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 20 Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Sunday said the party's alliance with the estranged partner Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was the need of the hour. He warned that forces inimical to the state’s interests were resurfacing as these had in 1996 when the pact was first formalised to meet the imperatives of communal harmony. Flagging the potential for Sunil Jakhar saffron expansion in the state, Jakhar said the BJP should aim to win hearts rather than votes in Punjab and must connect with its “emotional core”. In an interview with The Tri- bune days after Ashwani Sharma’s appointment as state working president, Jakhar blamed recent irritants on the “deep state and entrenched bureaucratic establishment”. These, he said, were “influencing decision-making in Punjab and need to be checked”. “Punjab is not merely a geographical area. It is a highly self-respecting society where a ‘pagdi’ and ‘dastar’ don’t mean just a turban but are continued on page 9