24092024-TTC-01.qxd 24-09-2024 00:35 Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 265 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 356 KILLED IN ISRAEL’S DEADLIEST ATTACK ON LEBANON WORLD /thetribunechd HUNT FOR MILITANTS CONTINUES FOR 3RD DAY IN KISHTWAR J&K 93% F&O TRADERS SHARE MODI’S COMMITMENT INCURRED LOSSES IN TO STRENGTHENING TIES: THREE YEARS BUSINESS LANKAN PREZ BACK PAGE tuesday | 24 september 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Mere download of child Humanity’s future doesn’t lie on the porn an offence under battlefield: PMModi at UN summit POCSO and IT laws: SC Ajay Banerjee HOLDS TALKS WITH NEPALESE PM Tribune News Service Says social media platforms can’t claim exemption Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 23 Mere downloading, storage or watching of sexually explicit and abusive material involving children would amount to offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology laws, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday. In a landmark judgment, a Bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala said, “Child sexual exploitation is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable, and the offence of child pornography is equally heinous, if not more, as in the latter the victimisation and exploitation of the child does not end with the initial act of abuse.” Writing the judgment for the Bench, Justice Pardiwala said Section 15 of the POCSO Act penalised the mere storage or possession of any pornographic material involving a child when it’s done with a specific intent prescribed under the provision without requiring any actual transmis- J&K poll campaign for 2nd phase ends SRINAGAR: The campaigning for the second phase of the Assembly elections in J&K concluded on Monday as leaders tried to woo voters of 26 constituencies spread across six districts of the UT. According to an official spokesperson, over 25.78 lakh voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates on Wednesday. The second phase of the elections will cover 26 Assembly segments, including Ganderbal, Srinagar and Budgam in Kashmir division, and Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu division. INSIDE MADRAS HIGH COURT ORDER SET ASIDE SC set aside Madras HC order that had said mere downloading & watching child pornography was not an offence under POCSO Act and IT Act REPLACE TERM ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’: BENCH ■ Parliament must amend POCSO Act to substitute term “child pornography” with “child sexual exploitative and abuse material” to accurately reflect offences ■ Says child sexual exploitative material strips kids of their humanity and violates their fundamental rights STRESSES BENEFITS OF SEX EDUCATION Says promoting a comprehensive understanding of the benefits of sex education is essential for reducing the incidence of sexual crimes in the country sion, dissemination etc. “We are of the considered view, that wherever a person indulges in any activity such as viewing, distributing or displaying, etc., pertaining to any child pornographic material without actually possessing or storing it in any device or in any form or manner, such act would still (be) tantamount to ‘possession’ in terms of Section 15 of the POCSO, if he exercised an invariable degree of control over such material, applying the aforesaid doctrine of constructive possession,” Justice Pardiwala wrote. It directed courts across India not to use the term “child pornography”, saying it failed to capture the full extent of the crime and could lead to a trivialisation of the crime, undermining the victimisation. “We…forbid the courts from using the term ‘child pornography’ and instead the term ‘child sexual exploitative and abuse material’ (CSEAM) should be used in judicial orders and judgments of all courts across the country which involved the actual abuse of a child,” the Bench said. The top court said: “Parliament should seriously consider bringing about an amendment to the POCSO (Act) for continued on page 8 New Delhi, September 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the “success of humanity lies in our collective strength, not on the battlefield”. He was addressing the UN Summit of the Future held against the backdrop of the RussiaUkraine war and the IsraelGaza conflict. Speaking in Hindi, Modi said he was representing 140 crore people or one-sixth of humanity. He stressed the need for having a humancentric approach. “When we are discussing global future, we must accord the highest priority to a human-centric approach. While prioritising sustainable development, we must ensure welfare, food and health security,” he said. He mentioned how India had lifted 25 crore citizens out of poverty, saying that the country had demonstrated that sustainable development could be a success. “We are ready to share this success with the entire Global South community,” said Modi. In August, India had hosted the third Global South summit in the digital format, which was attended by 129 countries. continued on page 9 MUSICAL CHAIRS? Yamunanagar/Sirsa, Sept 23 Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday alleged that the Congress had always followed the policy of appeasement for vote bank and was anti-Dalit. He was addressing Jan Ashirwad rallies at Jagadhri and Tohana in Fatehabad. He alleged that the Congress wanted to release terrorists and stone-pelters from jails, Haryana Congress ex-MLA’s arrest by ED illegal, says HC CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday allowed former MLA and Congress’ Sonepat candidate Surender Panwar’s petition against the ED for declaring his arrest illegal. Panwar’s contention was that his arrest and detention in the matter were driven by political motives, rather than legitimate legal grounds, and that the legal process was not properly followed by the authorities concerned. INSIDE Nations meet in New York, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met Nepalese counterpart KP Sharma Oli ■ “The India-Nepal friendship is very robust… Our talks focused on issues such as energy, technology and trade,” Modi said in a post on X ■ Modi also met Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah. This was the first meeting between the PM and the Crown Prince of Kuwait << Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas in New York. ANI Worried over Gaza crisis, tells Palestine Prez New Delhi, September 23 Amid the ongoing strife in West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the UN Summit of the Future in New York on Sunday. The Ministry of External Affairs posted details of the meeting on its website on Monday morning (Indian time) saying, “The PM expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the deteriorating security situation in the region, and reaffirmed India’s unwavering support to the people of Palestine.” The meeting came days after India abstained in the UN General Assembly on a resolution that demanded that Israel bring an end, “without delay”, to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within 12 months. The 193- member General Assembly adopted the resolution with 124 nations voting in favour, 14 against and 43 abstentions. Modi reiterated India’s time-tested principled position to Abbas on the IsraelPalestine issue and called for a ceasefire, release of hostages and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. Modi said, “Only a two-state solution will deliver enduring continued on page 9 CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Monday sparked a debate by saying that secularism was a European concept that was not needed in India. Addressing an event in Kanyakumari, he said, “Lot of frauds have been committed with the people of this country, and one of them is that they have been given a wrong interpretation of secularism.” He said secularism was a European concept and should remain there as there was no need for it in India. INSIDE Badlapur accused opens fire, shot dead by police MUMBAI: The man accused of sexually assaulting two girls at a school in Badlapur town of Maharashtra died in retaliatory firing by police after he snatched a cop’s gun and opened fire, an official said on Monday. Akshay Shinde, who worked as a sweeper in the school, snatched the revolver of one of the policemen taking him from Taloja jail to Badlapur on Monday, the official said. He was rushed to a hospital in Kalwa where he succumbed to his injuries. BACK PAGE 5 first-time MLAs join Mann Cabinet Three from Malwa region, two Doaba | CM reallocates 3 of his portfolios Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service AAP leader Atishi takes over as the eighth Delhi CM on Monday. She left the chair used by her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal vacant, expressing the hope that he would occupy it soon. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MANAS RANJAN BHUI At Y’nagar rally, Shah attacks Selja slams BJP overtures, Congress, calls it anti-Dalit says Cong is in her blood Shiv Kumar Sharma & Anil Kakkar ■ On the sidelines of a United TNGuv:Secularism European concept, not needed in India but it would never happen. “As long as every person of the BJP is alive, we will not let terrorism flourish in Haryana, Punjab and Kashmir,” he said. Calling Haryana as the land of brave warriors, Shah accused the Congress of rampant corruption during its rule, highlighting the party’s failure to implement the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme, and specifically targeted Rahul, alleging that he continued on page 8 Bhartesh Singh Thakur To start campaign for party soon Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 23 Sirsa MP and former minister Kumari Selja today hit back at BJP leaders asking her to join the saffron party. She said those making these statements were much junior to her in politics. “I have a much longer political career than most BJP leaders issuing such statements. Don’t counsel me. My party and I will decide my path. We will move forward with full strength…They are creating confusion…The Congress is in my blood,” she said. Recently, Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had extended her an offer to join the BJP On reports of her . being miffed with the Congress, she said, “It appears continued on page 8 Chandigarh, September 23 Midway through its five-year tenure, the Bhagwant Mannled AAP government inducted five first-time MLAs into the Cabinet by dropping four sitting ministers here today. Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered the oath of office and secrecy to Hardeep Singh Mundian, Barinder Kumar Goyal, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Dr Ravjot Singh and Mohinder Bhagat in CM Mann’s presence at the Punjab Raj Bhawan. The CM also redistributed three key portfolios held by him — Housing, Jails, and Industry and Commerce — among his ministers. Mann now holds nine portfolios — Personnel, Home Affairs and Justice, General Administration, Vigilance, Cooperation, Legal Affairs, Civil Aviation, Science & Technology and Environment, and Sports and Youth Welfare. The fourth Cabinet reshuffle clearly bears the stamp of AAP’s central leadership. Sources told The Tribune the central leadership led by AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal had sought a list of “honest MLAs” from party MPs, From left: Dr Ravjot Singh, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Barinder Kumar Goyal, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, CM Bhagwant Mann, Hardeep Singh Mundian and Mohinder Bhagat at Punjab Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh. ANI CM SACKS OSD OVERSEEING DHURI SEGMENT AMID COMPLAINTS ■ Mann on Monday sacked ■ Mann his OSD Prof Onkar Singh following multiple plaints, including one by a Delhi MLA who had campaigned in Jalandhar West in July had appointed Onkar, who hails from a village near Lambi, OSD to the Chairman of Punjab Rural Development Board, a charge held by the CM some ministers and key leaders. Sitting ministers Chetan Singh Jouramajra, Anmol Gagan Maan, Brahm Shankar Jimpa and Balkaur Singh had resigned from the Cabinet yesterday. While Mundian has got the Housing department, besides Revenue, Water Supply and Sanitation, Sond has been assigned Industry as also Rural Development, Investment Promotion, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Labour and Hospitality. The Jails ■ Onkar’s term was co-termi- nus with that of CM; considered Mann’s close aide, he oversaw CM’s Dhuri segment; had earlier taught at Punjabi University, Patiala department has been given to sitting minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, who, however, has been divested of the charge of Rural Development. Goyal has been assigned Mines and Geology, Water Resources continued on page 8 Laapataa Ladiesfinds way to Oscars, is official entry for Best Foreign Film Nonika Singh I Filmmaker Kiran Rao in Mumbai after her film Laapataa Ladies was picked as India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars. PTI NDIA’s official entry to Oscars, more often than not, causes heartburn. But with Kiran Rao’s heartwarming Laapataa Ladies becoming India’s bet in the Best Foreign Film Category for Oscars 2025, the naysayers are likely to be on the same page as cine buffs. Since its release in 2024, the film has emerged as the favourite of viewers and critics alike. In competition with big-time grossers like Ani- mal and the much-feted ones like Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, this joyous fare, busting patriarchy, was one of the 29 films in contention. In a unanimous vote, it was selected by the Film Federation of India’s 13-member committee, headed by Assamese director Jahnu Barua. Sceptics, however, will wonder why Kapadia’s Cannes winner was snubbed, and might link the selection to one of Laapataa Ladies producers, Jio Studios — c m y b part of Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited. Yet, one can’t take away the beauty of Rao’s second directorial film, which lies in its simplicity and felicity to drive home a message or two on women empowerment in a light-hearted manner. The film, with no big stars to boast of, earlier, was a limited box office success. But it got more attention and praise when it streamed on Netflix. Its citation, “Indian women are a strange mixture of submission and dominance. Well- defined, powerful characters in one world, Laapataa Ladies (Hindi) captures this diversity perfectly, though in a semi-idyllic world and in a tongue-incheek way,” is on point. Set in 2001, can this socially relevant comedy, entertaining and meaningful at the same time, fetch India the elusive Oscar for the Best Foreign Film? India’s Oscar race, even in the best of times, has been restricted to a few rays of sunshine, like in 2023, when it won two Oscars for Best Song (Naatu Naatu) and Best Documentary Short (The Elephant Whisperers). Best Film honour, even in foreign language, however, is elusive. Much has been written about why a country that produces hundreds of films each year can’t make the Oscar cut, but there are no easy answers. Often, the reasons are convenient: not picking the better film as official entry, or not having sufficient budget to publicise the film among the voting members of the Academy. continued on page 8