28112024-TT-01.qxd 11/27/2024 11:19 PM 13 LEBANESE HEAD BACK HOME AFTER TRUCE WORLD /thetribunechd Page 1 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 329 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH thursday | 28 november 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Parl stalled on 2nd day too, Oppn insists on Adani debate TMC differs with other INDIA parties, says matter doesn’t concern public Animesh Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 27 Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were washed out for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as the Opposition pressed for a discussion on allegations of bribery against businessman Gautam Adani and the violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal. While the Lok Sabha barely functioned for 16 minutes, the Rajya Sabha ran for half an hour before being adjourned for the day amid protests by Opposition members. Fissures, however, appeared in the INDIA bloc over protests on the Adani issue as the Trinamool Congress (TMC), a major constituent of the group, conveyed to the Congress leadership that it only wanted to raise “pro-people” matters, including inflation and the Manipur violence. The Adani issue, it claimed, didn’t resonate much with people. The Congress, Samajwadi INDIA bloc leaders attend a meeting at the Parliament complex in New Delhi on Wednesday. PTI Party, DMK, NCP(SP) and Left members protested in the Lok Sabha over the Adani and Sambhal issues, but Trinamool MPs didn’t show much enthusiasm. In the Rajya Sabha too, TMC’s Sushmita Dev raised Manipur violence even as Congress MPs went ballistic over the Adani controversy. A senior TMC leader went to the extent of saying that they did not have an electoral alliance with any constituent of the INDIA bloc. The leader cited the recent Assembly bypolls to the six seats in It is PM’s call, saysShinde as suspense over CM lingers Shah to meet top state leaders on govt formation today Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 27 The BJP on Wednesday scored big in the ongoing game of thrones over the election of the Maharashtra Chief Minister with top contender and caretaker CM Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena playing ball. Ahead of a crucial meeting of BJP-led NDA leaders (Shinde, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis and NCP’s Ajit Pawar) with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Capital on Thursday to discuss government formation, Shinde said he would “abide by the decision of the top BJP leadership on the CM issue”. “I spoke to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah and told them that there would be no speed breakers from our side. We will go by what they decide,” Shinde told the media at his residence in Thane. He, however, said “detailed deliberations on the issue (CM/government WON’T BE A HURDLE I spoke to PM Modi and Amit Shah, and told them there would be no speed breakers to government formation from my side. Eknath Shinde, ❝ CARETAKER CM formation) would be held with Shah tomorrow and a final call taken”. While BJP sources continued to maintain that party leader Fadnavis was the frontrunner for the CM’s post, the caretaker CM, while thanking PM Modi for supporting his government for two and a half years, presented his own credentials for the top job. “I was a common man for the people of Maharashtra, not the CM. I worked for the people,” said Shinde, hours after his party leaders publicly said the deal with the BJP was that Shinde would stay the CM in the event of the ruling alliance’s win. The coalition won a fourfifths majority in the 288member Maharashtra Assembly under Shinde as the CM but the BJP came out on the top bagging 132 seats on its own. The House majority is 145 — a fact the BJP is citing to claim the CM’s post. Asked if he was upset over anything, Shinde said, “No one is upset. We do not cry, we fight.” The Shiv Sena chief went on to list the achievements of the Mahayuti government during his term as the CM saying, “Pro-people schemes like Ladki Behna and Ladki Bhai helped the Mahayuti win the elections.” “We tried to bring a positive change to the lives of common people. I am the son of a farmer and I continued on page 10 West Bengal, which were swept by the TMC, with the Congress and the CPM fielding their own candidates. Soon after the Lok Sabha met, Opposition members were on their feet. As a few MPs from the Congress and continued on page 10 Govt for stricter laws to monitor content on OTT DELHI: The government’s efforts to combat “vulgar content” on social media and OTT platforms require strengthening of the laws, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Parliament on Wednesday. Vaishnaw was responding to a question by BJP MP Arun Govil about laws to check “abusive” content, including that on social media and OTT platforms. BACK PAGE NEW Waqf panel gets extension till Budget session NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday agreed to two demands of the Opposition -extending the deadline for presenting the report on the Waqf Bill by the Joint Parliamentary Committee till the Budget session next year and holding a discussion on the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha. Earlier in the day, Opposition members staged a walkout from the Waqf panel meet soon after it began around 3 pm. BACK PAGE Public services set to Sambhal rioters to pay cost more in Punjab for property damage Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 27 The cash-strapped Punjab Government is all set to increase the fees it charges for various services it provides to people in a bid to rev up its income. These user charges could go up from 10 to 50 per cent. These charges, which form part of non-tax revenue of the state, will be increased after the urban civic body elections, expected in December. The state finance department has already started asking the revenue, local government, health, police and transport departments to review the charges of services provided by them that have not been revised for the past many years. It is proposed that the STATE WEIGHED DOWN BY POWER SUBSIDY ~20,477cr is the total power subsidy bill of the state for this year Fees for driving licence, birth, death & marriage certificates, arms licence, etc. likely to go up services for which the charges have not been revised for the past ten years will see the maximum increase, while the charges for services which were revised recently will see a minimal increase. The move to increase the fees follows the suggestions given by top economists who are being consulted by the state government to set its house in order. The issue was also continued on page 10 Govt to put up their pics in public places Lucknow, November 27 The Uttar Pradesh Government will make protesters involved in the Sambhal violence pay for damage to public property while posters of “stone-pelters” will be displayed at public places, an official said on Wednesday. The Sambal police have released several pictures of those involved in violence. In these photographs, nine persons were identified and help has been sought from people to identify those with masks on their faces. Four persons were killed and several others, including police personnel, were injured in Sambhal on Sunday after a confrontation erupted over a court-ordered survey of the city’s Shahi GUKESH LOGS 1ST WIN IN WORLD CHESS SPORT COURT RULED AGAINST DISPLAY OF POSTERS ■ In 2020, the UP Government had put up posters of persons linked with vandalism during the anti-CAA protests ■ Were displayed across several locations, including UP capital Lucknow ■ But had to be removed following a court order Jama Masjid in Kot Garvi area, following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site. “The Uttar Pradesh Government is adopting a firm stance against the individuals involved in the Sambhal violence. Posters of the stone-pelters and miscreants continued on page 10 c m y b