24052024-TTB-01.qxd 5/24/2024 12:39 AM 13 CHINA HOLDS ‘PUNISHMENT DRILLS’ AROUND TAIWAN WORLD /thetribunechd Page 1 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 143 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 HARYANA friday | 24 may 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Modi cites khoon ka rishta with Punjab at Patiala rally Mohit Khanna Tribune News Service Patiala, May 23 Seeking to strike an emotional chord with Punjab voters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today cited khoon ka rishta with the state, invoking Bhai Mohkam Singh, one of Panj Pyaras, who belonged to Dwarka in Gujarat. He was addressing a packed election rally, his first in the state ahead of June 1 voting in the ongoing Lok Sabha poll, at Maharaja Bhalinder Singh Sports Complex (Polo Ground) on his maiden visit to the city as the PM. Speaking in chaste Punjabi, the PM invoked Guru Tegh Bahadur and Kali Mata to say he considered himself fortunate to kick off his Punjab canvassing from the pious land of Patiala. Defying a massive protest by farm unions, which were prevented from proceeding to the venue, the PM said: “Mera Punjab se khoon ka rishta hai (I share a blood relation with Punjab), as one of the Panj Pyaras was from Gujarat. And I do not say so because I seek votes. It is out of respect for Gurus and the sacrifice they made for humanity.” Amid chants of “Modi ji ko jai Shri Ram” by supporters at the venue, PM Modi responded in chaste Punjabi: “Is vaar… 400 paar” and “Phir ik vaar…. Modi Sarkar”. To avert any untoward inci- PM Modi flanked by party candidate Preneet Kaur and state unit chief Sunil Jakhar during a rally in Patiala. PTI PM slams Cong over quota Unwell, Capt stays away PATIALA: Citing health reasons, former CM Capt Amarinder Singh stayed away from the PM’s rally. His picture was displayed on the main party hoarding along with BJP state chief Sunil Jakhar. Preneet Kaur maintained he could not make it due to medical reasons. The former CM has remained away from Preneet’s campaign ever since she was nominated by the BJP to contest from Patiala. INSIDE MAHENDRAGARH: At a rally here, PM Modi alleged the Congress wanted to give quota to the Muslims. “The reservation for SCs/STs and OBCs is their ‘adhikar’ and Modi is the ‘chowkidar’ of this ‘adhikar’,” he said, accusing INDIA bloc of engaging in politics of communalism, casteism and dynasty. He said the Opposition was talking about a formula of having five PMs in five years. INSIDE IN LAST LAP, PM’S BID TO CONNECT WITH PUNJABIS INSIDE dent in the wake of 2022 security scare during his Ferozepur visit, when his convoy was stopped by protesting farmers, the PM took the aerial route this time and landed at the nearby Yadavindra Public School grounds in an Army helicopter. Donning a kesari (saffron) turban, cream kurta and red scarf, he was greeted by state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar; and party’s LS candidates Preneet Kaur (Patiala), Arvind Khanna (Sangrur), Geja Ram Valmiki (Fetehgarh Sahib) and Hans Raj Hans (Faridkot). Recounting the 1971 war when 90,000 Pakistan soldiers were imprisoned by India, PM Modi said: “Those soldiers were let off for free. Had Modi been the PM, I would have taken control of Kartarpur Sahib and then freed the soldiers. continued on page 10 Barred from rally, farmers clash with cops, block roads Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, May 23 Chaos reigned supreme on all roads leading to the city this morning as hundreds of protesting farmers began their march towards the venue of the Prime Minister’s rally — Polo Ground. Security personnel belonging to the Punjab Police, Special Operations Group, reserved battalions and Central forces had a tough time dealing with farmers who clashed with them and sat on a dharna when stopped from proceeding further. BJP’s Faridkot candidate Hans Raj Hans, who was on his way to the rally venue, had to face the farmers’ ire at Passiana. His cavalcade was surrounded by union activists, who refused to give way to it. Senior officers, including Patiala SSP Varun Sharma, reached the spot STRETCHES HIT BY PROTEST Patiala-Sirhind Road Dental College PatialaBhadson road Dharerhi Jattan NH toll plaza Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami and BJP’s Bansuri Swaraj in Delhi. PTI PATIALA Passiana-Samana road ROADS BLOCKED Canvassing ends for 58 seats in eight states Animesh Singh MAP NOT TO SCALE and tried to pacify them. However, the farmers reportedly turned violent and the police had to use mild force to disperse them. Resultantly, a few policemen and a farmer sustained minor injuries. The singer-turnedpolitician finally managed to reach the venue just before PM Modi’s arrival. Farmer leaders said they were not allowed to reach Patiala to continued on page 10 Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 23 Campaigning for the sixth phase of polling in 58 constituencies across eight states and union territories — Delhi, Haryana, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and J&K — ended on Thursday evening. The polling will be held on May 25. Besides all seven seats in Delhi, polling will be held for 14 seats in Uttar Pradesh, all 10 seats of Haryana, eight Polling in Haryana, Delhi tomorrow seats each in Bihar and West Bengal, six seats in Odisha, four seats in Jharkhand and one seat in Jammu and Kashmir. In the previous elections, the NDA (BJP and its allies) had won 44 of these seats and the Congress none. On the final day of campaigning, leaders of both BJP continued on page 10 In Haryana, Priyanka takes up cause of farmers Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 23 Coming down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP senior , Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today hit the campaign trail in Haryana, targeting the BJP government on the issues of farmers and women wrestlers. She said the Congress would get a big margin in the state. “Those who stopped you from entering Delhi, throw them out of Delhi. This is your country. You are the soul of this nation. This country’s soldier is your son. When your sons give their lives for this nation, you send your other children too. I understand this because I am also Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a roadshow in Sirsa. PTI the daughter of a martyr and the granddaughter of a martyr. We shall fight with you and fight for you. The time has come for you to wake up MALIWAL: READY FOR NARCO, POLYGRAPH TESTS NATION and fight for your rights and throw this government out,” the AICC general secretary told a public meeting at Panipat, reaching out to the farm- ing community. Striking an emotional chord with the people at Panipat, Priyanka said “our daughters who brought Olympic medals were made to sit on roads and protest”. “When they won the medals, Modiji invited them to his house and clicked pictures with them. And when they were fighting for justice, they were not heard,” the Congress leader said. Meanwhile, at a rally in Sirsa, Priyanka predicted a wave against the BJP People are . tired of their (Modi-BJP) politics. A change is certain in Haryana and the Congress will win with a huge margin on all seats, she said, adding that the country was facing high unemployment and inflation. c m y b
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.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).