01032024-TT-01.qxd 29-02-2024 23:01 Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 60 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 HIMACHAL PRADESH OVER 1OO WAITING FOR AID IN GAZA KILLED IN ISRAELI FIRING WORLD /thetribunechd SC: NO AUTOMATIC VACATION OF STAY ORDERS NATION KEY INFRA SECTORS’ GROWTH SLOWS TO 3.6% IN JAN BUSINESS MODI, MAURITIUS PM UNVEIL AIRSTRIP IN AGALEGA BACK PAGE friday | 1 march 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Himachal Cong crisis blows over for now, 6 rebel legislators disqualified State unit vows to work unitedly for LS poll | Defiant MLAs to challenge decision in court Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, February 29 The crisis in the Congress, triggered by the humiliating defeat in the Rajya Sabha election, seems to have blown off at least for the time being with the central party observers managing to bring the faction-ridden state unit together against the backdrop of disqualification of six rebel MLAs from the Assembly. Speaker Kuldeep Pathania, after listening to the lawyers of the six defiant rebel MLAs, announced their unseating from the Assembly, the first ever in the history of Himachal. “The six MLAs have incurred disqualification under Para 2(1)(a) of the10th Schedule of the AntiDefection law, so I declare that all six cease to be Member of Himachal Legislative Assembly with immediate HECTIC PARLEYS WERE HELD TO PLACATE PRATIBHA, SON 4 DISQUALIFIED FROM CM’S HOME TURF HAMIRPUR Congress state chief Pratibha Singh and her minister son Vikramaditya were placated after two days of hectic meetings by central observers DK Shivakumar, Bhupesh Baghel, BS Hooda The disqualified MLAs are Sudhir Sharma (Dharamsala), Rajinder Rana (Sujanpur), Ravi Thakur (Lahaul-Spiti), Chaitanya Sharma (Gagret), Devender Bhutto (Kutlehar) and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal (Badsar) SIX-MEMBER COORDINATION COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED ISSUES RESOLVED, CONG GOVT TO COMPLETE 5 YRS The government will complete five years as all issues have been resolved. The CM has taken responsibility for the party’s defeat in the Rajya Sabha poll. ❝ Vikramaditya refused to take back his resignation till the announcement of a six-member committee for coordination between the government and the party organisation HP Congress chief Pratibha Singh, >> CM Sukhvinder Sukhu and Dy CM Mukesh Agnihotri on way to address the media in Shimla. LALIT KUMAR effect,” he announced after pronouncing a 30-page order. The six MLAs who have been the disqualified include DK Shivakumar, KARNATAKA DEPUTY CM Sudhir Sharma (Dharamsala), Rajinder Rana (Sujanpur), Inder Dutt Lakhanpal (Badsar), Ravi Thakur (Lahaul-Spi- ti), Chaitanya Sharma (Gagret) and Devender Bhutto (Kutlehar). Incidentally, four of them are from Chief Minister Sukhu’s home turf Hamirpur. Terming the disqualification illegal and taken in haste, continued on page 8 Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 29 India’s GDP (gross domestic product) grew at 8.4 per cent in the October-December quarter, stunning economists and the market which had forecast a much lower growth rate. This is the highest growth in the last seven quarters. The government also revised upwards the estimated growth in real GDP during 2023-24 to 7.6 per cent as against the earlier estimate of 7 per cent in 2022-23. The GDP growth in the third quarter was much higher than the 7.6 per cent recorded in the second quarter. Last year, the GDP growth in the third quarter was 4.3 per cent, according to official data released on Thursday. While the agriculture sector suffered a contraction of 0.8 per cent in the third quarter as against 5.2 per cent growth during the same period last fiscal, growth in seven other segments, especially manu- FY24 GROWTH SCALED UP 7.6% FY24 growth as per revised estimate 11.6% manufacturing sector growth in Q3 7.5% mining sector growth 9.5% construction sector contribution 32% rise in net taxes SHOWS OUR STRENGTH Robust growth shows the strength of our economy. Our efforts will continue to bring fast economic growth which shall help 140 cr Indians lead a better life. ❝ Narendra Modi, PRIME MINISTER facturing and mining, remained robust. However, part of the explanation for the high GDP comes from a stag- gering 32 per cent growth in net taxes even though gross value addition – that should ideally power GDP growth – remained at a tepid 6.5 per cent. The rise in net taxes was the highest in six quarters. The estimate for growth in the second quarter has now been revised upwards to 8.1 per cent, while that for the first quarter to 8.2 per cent from 7.8 per cent. It is because of this revision that the government expects the full-year GDP growth at 7.6 per cent to overshoot even the unexpectedly high first advance estimates of 7.3 per cent. Real GDP in 2023-24 is estimated at Rs 172.90 lakh crore, against the first revised estimates of GDP for 2022-23 of Rs 160.71 lakh crore. A favourable base effect is also in play as the upward revision of GDP in the second advance estimate to 7.6 per cent from 7.3 per cent was also due to a 20 basis point cut in the GDP growth figure for 2022-23 to 7 per cent. Big push for chip biz, 3 new units okayed IN BRIEF No wheelchair, Air India to pay ~30 lakh for death Ajay Banerjee NEW DELHI: The DGCA has fined Air India ~30 lakh for the death of an Tribune News Service 80-year-old passenger, who collapsed after walking from the plane to the Mumbai airport terminal as he failed to get a wheelchair. INSIDE New Delhi, February 29 In a bid to boost semiconductor production facilities, the Union Cabinet today okayed three proposals of private investment worth Rs 1,26,000 crore in the sector. The government will provide incentives to manufacturers like was done when Micron, a US company, came to India. “Subsidy for three new units and Micron will now total Rs 59,000 crore,” said Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw while talking to mediapersons. Three new plants — two in 15-day Punjab Budget session to begin today CHANDIGARH: The 15-day Budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sab- ha is all set to begin on Friday. The Budget will be presented on March 5. This will be the sixth session of the 16th Vidhan Sabha. TNS Tunda acquitted in 1993 blasts case; life term for 2 JAIPUR: A court in Ajmer on Thursday acquitted Abdul Karim Tun- da in the 1993 serial train blasts case. Two other accused, Irfan and Hamiduddin, were sentenced to life imprisonment. PTI No parole to Ram Rahim sans nod: HC to Haryana Chandigarh, February 29 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today made it clear that the state of Haryana would not consider Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s case for further parole without its permission. The direction would remain in force till further orders. The direction came after the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji observed that Ram Rahim was released for 91 days each in 2022 and GDP growth surges to 8.4% in Q3, surpasses estimates SURRENDER ON MARCH 10 The respondent may surrender on the date fixed — March 10 — and thereafter, the state shall not consider his case for grant of further parole till further orders without the permission of this court. Bench ❝ 2023. Referring to a chart mentioning the details of parole/furlough granted to him, the Bench observed that it made “interesting continued on page 8 MOHALI SCL PLAN READY The government on Thursday said a ~10,000-crore modernisation plan for the SCL, Mohali, was ready. “We will be selecting a partner,” said Ashwini Vaishnaw, adding that the SCL would be the R&D centre and training centre. The proposal would be sent to the Cabinet in three months, he said. Gujarat and one in Assam — will address multiple layers of the semiconductor market. The construction of the units, which will make chips for sectors including defence, automobiles and telecommunications, is expected to start within 100 days. “We expect production to start in three years,” said Vaishnaw, adding that plant set up by Micron in Gujarat would start deliveries around the year-end. Vaishnaw said Indian electronics manufacturing industry would grow to $300 billion in a few years up from the $105 billion now. The biggest proposal okayed is for the first semiconductor fabrication (fab) facility in the private sector with capacity to produce 50,000 wafers a day and will results in output of 300 crore chips – used in almost all electronics. Tata Electronics Private Limited will set this unit at Dholera, Gujarat, in partnership with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (PSMC), Taiwan. It will entail an investment of Rs 91,000 crore. The PSMC has six semiconductor foundries in Taiwan. continued on page 8 BJP poll panel meets, weaker seats top focus Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 29 The ruling BJP on Thursday set the ball rolling for the Lok Sabha elections with the party’s central election committee, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, holding its first meeting in the national capital ahead of the 18th General Election, to be announced in March. BHUPENDER YADAV FROM BHIWANI-MAHENDRAGARH? ■ Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav’s name in contention from two seats: Bhiwani-Mahendragarh in Haryana and Alwar in Rajasthan ■ In Rajasthan, sitting MLAs such as Diya Kumari and Vasund- hara Raje unlikely to be fielded for the LS elections ■ Most weak seats, where party either didn’t win or won by less margin, in South and East India, likely to be settled first The committee is likely to take up the weaker 161 parliamentary segments — classified as D on a scale of A, B, C and D, depending on the level of difficulty — for discussions in the first round. These are the seats where the party either did not win or won by less than expected margins. Sources said the BJP could declare candidates in tougher segments ahead of others where it was surer of victory, the idea being to give the contestants ample time for outreach and commence campaigns of top leaders in order to target the victory goal of 370 plus segments for the continued on page 10 TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan, accused of sexual violence and land grab in Sandeshkhali, being produced in a court on Thursday. PTI TMC leader arrested; suspended from party Shubhadeep Choudhury Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 29 Absconding TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan was today arrested by the West Bengal Police from a house at Minakhan, around 30 km away from the island of Sandeshkhali, in North 24 Parganas district. Sheikh, facing sexual abuse and land grab charges, was arrested within 24 hours of the Calcutta High Court empowering the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the state police, to arrest him. Later, Sheikh was suspended by the TMC for six years. Over 100 complaints have been registered against Sheikh Hero to homeless, twist of fate stuns rat-hole miner Samad Hoque Tribune News Service Rat-hole miner Wakeel Hasan and his family outside their demolished house at Khajuri Khas in New Delhi on Thursday. MANAS RANJAN BHUI New Delhi, February 29 In a shocking turn of events, Wakeel Hasan, hailed as a hero for his valiant efforts during the Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel rescue operation, now finds himself without a roof over his head. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished his house at Shri Ram Is demolition reward for my service, asks Hasan TURNS DOWN DDA OFFER ■ The DDA offered Hasan temporary accommodation in Vasant Kunj and a house in Govindpuri later on ■ Hasan declined the offer and demanded that his house be constructed on same land or he would go on hunger strike Colony in the Khajuri Khas area on Wednesday. Just months ago, Hasan basked in the adulation of a grateful nation, showered with praises from politicians, media and the public alike. His selfless service in rescu- c m y b ing 41 trapped labourers from the depths of a treacherous tunnel earned him the admiration of all. Today, he sits outside what was once his home, his spirit weighed down by a cruel twist of fate. “There were tears of joy when I returned home after the tunnel rescue. But now, I sit as a homeless person with tears of sorrow,” Hasan laments. His plea for a modest dwelling was met with promises from the authorities, promises that now lie shattered like the walls of his demolished house. “I never imagined such a fate awaited me. It feels like a reward from the government for my service,” he reflects bitterly. Passing through the narrow and busy lane in Khajuri, Hasan’s house was in the continued on page 10 edit: homeless hero Over 100 complaints filed against Sheikh in the past few weeks, which saw violent protests led by women demanding his arrest. Sheikh had been on the run since the ED raided his house on January 5 in a multi-crore rupee ration scam case. During the raid, Sheikh’s supporters had assaulted ED officials and inflicted serious injuries on some of them. The January 5 incident formed the basis of Sheikh’s arrest today. He has been booked continued on page 8 edit: tmc acts at last LEOPARD COUNT UP 7.9% India’s estimated leopard population increased from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022, marking a rise of 7.9%, the Union Environment Ministry said on Thursday. BACK PAGE
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.
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