18042024-TTC-01.qxd 4/18/2024 12:44 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 8 NO. 107 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 SECURITY FORCES RECOVER THREE IEDS IN POONCH J&K NETANYAHU: WILL DO EVERYTHING NEEDED TO DEFEND ISRAEL WORLD /thetribunechd CRUDE OIL IMPORT BILL DROPS 16% IN FY24 BUSINESS TMC VOWS TO CONTROL FUEL PRICES, REPEAL CAA, NRC BACK PAGE thursday | 18 april 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com 15 Iranian missiles, drones fired atIsrael bore Chinese stamp OF THESE SEATS IN EIGHT NORTHEASTERN STATES Its defence firms supplied key components to Tehran 102 SEATS IN 21 STATES/UTs TO GO TO POLLS ON APRIL 19 10 STATES/UTs TO WITNESS POLLING IN ALL SEATS 50 ASSEMBLY, 2 LS SEATS TO SEE SIMULTANEOUS POLLS IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH << Porters carry EVMs and VVPAT machines as they trek to a remote polling station in Shillong. REUTERS Campaigning wraps up for Phase-I, top leaders go all out on the hustings Roadshows, rallies held across 21 states |8 Union ministers in fray In Udhampur, BJP eyes hat-trick in three-way contest Animesh Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 17 Campaigning for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections came to a close on Wednesday, with polling all set to take place on 102 seats across 21 states and UTs on April 19. The first phase will witness the culmination of voting in seven states, including Tamil Nadu (39 seats). Other states where polling will wrap up are Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Mizoram (1), Sikkim (1) and Nagaland (1). Political campaigns, rallies and roadshows reached a crescendo on Wednesday before the mandatory 48-hour silent phase commenced in the evening. Top leaders of the BJP-led NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc made a lastgasp effort to woo voters. The BJP came out all guns blazing at the INDIA bloc over corruption, dynasty politics and “insulting” the Constitution and Hinduism. The Opposition leaders, in turn, attacked the government over electoral bonds, alleged misuse of agencies, inflation and unemployment among other issues. PM Narendra Modi addressed rallies in Assam’s Nalbari and Agartala in BJP worker killed by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh Cong weighs options for Hamirpur, Kangra seats Narayanpur, April 17 A BJP worker was killed by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, the police said on Wednesday. The incident, which took place at Dandvan village late Tuesday, came after the killing of at least 29 Naxalites in Kanker district of the state. Narayanpur district falls in the Bastar constituency, which will go to the polls on April 19. This was the ninth killing of a local BJP worker by Naxalites since February 2023. — PTI edit: bastar encounter Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 17 Major components used in missiles and drones fired by Iran at Israel on Saturday night were of Chinese origin. Iran’s attack was repelled collectively by Israel, the US and the UK as they shot down 99 per cent of the 300 missiles and drones. The task was relatively eased out as the US and UK have been tracking China for decades and knew the capacities of the ammunition carrying “kamikaze” drones and the expected trajectories of the ballistic missiles used by Iran. The US Department of Defence has been producing annual reports on China’s military prowess. The intelligence agencies track China and threats posed by it. On Saturday, Israel multilayered air defence system kicked in and was aided by interceptor missiles fired by US ground stations in West Asia, fighter jets and even warships stationed in the Mediterranean Sea, west of Israel. Iran’s “Shahed” armed drone that is capable of destroying itself at a target is powered by an engine made Tribune News Service Jammu, April 17 The BJP has gone full-throttle with a high-voltage campaign, while the Congress seems to have adopted a subdued approach as the parties gear up for a three-cornered contest — scheduled on April 19 — in the Udhampur constituency. AZAD BACKS OUT OF ANANTNAG-RAJOURI FIGHT PM Narendra Modi with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma during a public meeting in Nalbari. PTI Cong’s Rahul Gandhi & SP president Akhilesh Yadav in Ghaziabad on Wednesday. MANAS RANJAN BHUI ACHIEVED MORE THAN CONG I came with hope in 2014, trust in 2019 and guarantee in 2024. What could not be achieved in 60 years of Cong rule, Modi achieved it in 10 years. Narendra Modi, PM FIGHT BETWEEN TWO IDEOLOGIES This is fight between two ideologies. The Cong fought for Constitution, gave democracy. BJP wants to end democracy and abolish Constitution. Rahul Gandhi, CONG LEADER ❝ Shimla, April 17 The Congress is still deliberating on the names for picking a candidate for the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat with the party high command keen on fielding a heavyweight against Union Minister Anurag Thakur to ensure he doesn’t get a walkover. Discussions on fielding Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri have been held in Delhi and here during party meetings. Sources said Agnihotri ❝ Tripura. He attacked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for criticising the CPI(M) in Kerala and at the same time entering into an “opportunistic” alliance with the Left party in Tripura. Earlier in the day, in a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Ghaziabad, Rahul said the electoral bonds scheme was the “world’s continued on page 8 In both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the ruling BJP secured the Udhampur seat with Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh emerging triumphant. Meanwhile, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) on Wednesday announced that its chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad would not contest the poll from the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat. Instead, the DPAP has chosen advocate Mohammad Saleem Parray as its candidate from the constituency. INSIDE RED WRITTEN ALL OVER ■ China exported anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, fighter jets, tanks and antitank guns to Iran ■ Played key role is setting up Iran’s missile technology, transferred missile guidance systems ■ Signed an agreement in 1996 by Beijing Micropilot UAV Flight Control Systems. The Chinese company provides the same to Mado Import and Export Company Ltd, Iran. All missiles use sensors, seekers and optical instruments for navigating and hitting targets with precision. Worker from Bihar shot dead by militants in J&K Srinagar, April 17 A worker from Bihar was shot dead by terrorists in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials here said. They said the terrorists fired upon Raja Shah from point-blank range at Jablipora in the Bijbehara area, resulting in critical injuries. He was rushed to a hospital Dubai deluge where he succumbed to injuries, they said. Police parties have reached the spot and the area has been cordoned off and an operation has been launched to apprehend the attackers. The incident has taken place in the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency which is going to the polls in the third phase on May 7. — PTI to sell parts to Iran’s Defence Industries Organisation ■ ‘Shahed’ drone powered by engine made by Beijing Micropilot UAV Flight Control Systems ■ Iran’s largest missile factory near Esfahan built with China’s assistance The missiles fired by Iran carried components that were produced by three Chinese companies — Wuhan IRCEN Technology Co Ltd, Raybeam Optronics Co Ltd and Sunway Tech Co Ltd. These three companies supply parts to continued on page 8 Avoid escalation, US tells India, Pak New Delhi, April 17 Refraining from commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks that India will not hesitate to kill terrorists in their homes, the US State Department spokesperson, Mathew Miller, instead called on India and Pakistan to avoid escalation and find a resolution through dialogue. BACK PAGE IN BRIEF ‘Surya Tilak’ for Ram Lalla idol on Ram Navami AYODHYA: The 'Surya Tilak' of Ram Lalla was done on Wednesday noon on the occasion of Ram Navami using an elaborate mechanism by which sunbeams were directed on the forehead of Ram idol. PTI Keen on fielding bigwig to take on Anurag Thakur had expressed his reluctance in contesting the poll, citing personal reasons following the recent demise of his wife. The name of Agnihotri’s daughter, Astha Agnihotri was also doing the rounds, but she was considered a weak candidate against the four-time Hamirpur MP The . sources said while Agnihotri could give a tough fight to continued on page 8 A missile on display at the National Army Day parade in Tehran. REUTERS Elgar case accused Shoma released on bail MUMBAI: Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case accused and former Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen was released from a prison on Wednesday, an official said. She was granted bail by the SC on April 5. PTI ED arrests JMM leader, 3 others in land scam case NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday arrested Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Antu Tirkey and three others in an alleged land grab-linked money laundering scam case. BACK PAGE Army Chief inaugurates IT lab at Uzbek academy Cars stranded in floodwaters after a heavy rain in Dubai on Wednesday. REUTERS REPORT INSIDE NEW DELHI: Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande has inaugurated a stateof-the-art IT laboratory at the Uzbek Academy of Armed Forces during his ongoing visit to Uzbekistan, sources said. BACK PAGE Dissent brews over ticket to turncoats, Congress India’s population 144 cr, quarter in 0-14 group 7% AGED 65 YEARS AND ABOVE: UNFPA REPORT dithers over remaining seven Punjab LS seats Tribune News Service Rajmeet Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 17 Voices of dissent within the Congress are delaying the announcement of candidates for the remaining seven seats in Punjab. The parliamentary seats for which the candidates are yet to be announced are Faridkot, Ferozepur, Khadoor Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and Gurdaspur. Sources said the names are likely to be released by MOLLIFYING LOCAL LEADERS ■ Senior Congress leaders rushed to Dhuri to mollify for- mer MLA Dalbir Goldy, who has questioned the selection criteria after being denied ticket from Sangrur ■ The party has stepped up efforts to placate Patiala leaders who are strongly opposing the candidature of Dr Dharamvira Gandhi from the seat next week. Amid the protest by unhappy leaders against the candidates already fielded by the party in Patiala and Sangrur, the Punjab Congress is treading a cautious path now and keeping local leaders on board. The party’s Punjab affairs in-charge, Devender Yadav, did not respond to phone calls. Today, PPCC chief Amarinder Raja Warring along with former CM Rajin- der Kaur Bhattal rushed to Dhuri to mollify former MLA Dalbir Goldy, who had yesterday questioned the selection criteria after being denied ticket from Sangrur. The party has fielded Sukhpal Khaira from the seat. The party today also stepped up efforts to placate Patiala leaders who are strongly opposing the candidature of Dr Dharamvira Gandhi. The PPCC chief today met former PPCC chief Lal Singh, his son continued on page 8 New Delhi, April 17 India’s population is estimated to have touched 144 crore, with nearly a quarter of them in the 0-14 age bracket, according to a report by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA). The last census conducted in 2011 had recorded the country’s population at 121 crore. This population is estimated to double in 77 years, said the report which focused on inequalities in sexual and reproductive health. India is followed by China at 142.5 Today’s issue is of 16 pages, including four-page Jalandhar Tribune. c m y b 24% 17% 26% 68% between 0 and 14 years in 10-19 age range in 10-24 age group in 15-64 age group By 2050, senior citizen count to touch 34 crore or 17% of world’s elderly population crore.While 24 per cent of India’s population is between 0 and 14 years of age, 17 per cent is within the 10-19 age group. The segment aged 10-24 is estimated to constitute 26 per cent, with the 15-64 age group making up 68 per cent. Additionally, 7 LIFE EXPECTANCY MEN 71 years WOMEN 74 years per cent of the population is aged 65 years and above. Worryingly, the child marriage percentage in India was 23 between 2006-2023. India, however, has been successful in reducing maternal deaths. “India’s success is often attributed to improved access to affordable, quality maternal health services as well as efforts to address the impact of gender discrimination on health outcomes,” noted the report. However, improvements in healthcare access have primarily benefited wealthier women and those who belong to ethnic groups that already have better access to healthcare. The highest maternal mortality rate is in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district. It found that women with disabilities are up to 10 times more likely to experience continued on page 8
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