12122024-TT-01.qxd 12/11/2024 11:32 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 343 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH TALIBAN MINISTER KILLED IN KABUL BLAST WORLD /thetribunechd THANKS: MAMATA ON BLOC LEADERSHIP SUPPORT NATION ADB CUTS FY25 GDP GROWTH FORECAST TO 6.5% BUSINESS B’DESH TO ACT AGAINST THOSE BEHIND VIOLENCE, SAYS MISRI BACK PAGE thursday | 12 december 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Planned move to defame institutions: VP’s first remarksafter no-trustnotice Come 2025, withdraw your provident fund from ATM via spl card Tribune News Service Vijay C Roy Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 11 In his first remarks after the Opposition moved a notice to bring a motion for his removal, Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said a pre-planned attempt was being made to defame institutions of the country. Speaking at an event organised by Sohan Singh Memorial Kaushal Vikas Kendra in Jaipur, Dhankhar said, “Some forces inside and outside India are unable to digest the progress and prosperity of the country. Attempts to divide and disintegrate India and defame institutions of the country are being made in a preplanned manner.” Dhankhar said the common man had a huge role to play in thwarting the conspiracies to weaken the nation. “We must neutralise in togetherness every antinational narrative,” the VP said hours after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge led an offensive against the VP accusing him of acting like a government spokesperson continued on page 8 Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge addresses a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MUKESH AGGARWAL Disrupter Dhankhar acts like headmaster: Kharge Tribune News Service OPPN MOVES TO IMPEACH ALLAHABAD HC JUDGE New Delhi, December 11 Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, accusing the Vice-President of being the “biggest reason for disruption in Parliament”. Addressing a press conference attended by all INDIA The opposition INDIA bloc has initiated efforts to impeach Allahabad High Court judge Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav over his controversial remarks targeting minorities during an event organised by the VHP’s legal cell on December 8. bloc constituents, Kharge criticised Dhankhar for his “partisan behaviour” and claimed that “politics had taken precedence over rules” in the Upper House. The leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha accused the Chairman of targeting opposition leaders while favouring the government, saying, “Since 1952, no ‘Judge laughed as wife said commit suicide’: Kin of techie who ended life resolution has been brought under Article 67 because no Vice-President has indulged in politics like this.” Kharge alleged that Dhankhar’s conduct undermined the dignity of his office, remarking, “He acts like a school headmaster, gives sermons to experienced opposition leaders and stops them from speaking.” continued on page 8 Property agents in G’gramunderlens Allege torture by estranged spouse, her family; FIR lodged Bengaluru/Samastipur/ Jaunpur, December 11 The family of the 34-year-old techie who allegedly died by suicide in Bengaluru has demanded justice for him and strict action against his harassers so that his “soul could rest in peace”. Atul Subhash, whose body was found hanging at his residence, had left a purported 24-page death note, giving extensive details of what he alleged was years long emotional distress and harassment by his wife, relatives and a judge based in Uttar Pradesh, the police said. He also mentioned the multiple cases filed against him in Uttar Pradesh. The couple had married in 2019 and had their son the following year. Following Subhash’s death, a case of abetment to suicide was registered Atul Subhash 80-MIN ‘DEATH VIDEO’ “I feel I should kill myself because the money I earn is making my enemies stronger. The same money will be used to destroy me and this cycle will keep going,” said techie Atul Subhash in an 80-minute video recorded before he ended life. against his wife Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha, father Anurag and uncle Sushil Kumar on Tuesday, a police official said. A police team probing the matter has reached Uttar Pradesh to question the deceased’s wife and her family members. Subhash’s brother Bikas said, “I want my brother to get justice. I want this country to have a legal process through which even men can get justice. I want strict action against those sitting on a legal chair and doing corruption because if this continues, how will people expect justice…. Men may start feeling that if they get married, they will just end up being an ATM for vending money.” A placard reading “Justice is due” was found in the room where Subhash allegedly ended his life. Before taking the step, he recorded an over 80-minute purported video on Rumble, explaining the circumstances behind his decision. continued on page 8 GURUGRAM: The Gurugram and Faridabad authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal colonies. Property agents have come under the scanner for allegedly defrauding poor and migrant populations. Around 100 property agents in Gurugram are under probe for allegedly selling plots in illegal colonies using fraudulent documents. INSIDE Sergeant shoots himself on duty NAGPUR: An IAF Sergeant allegedly took his life by shooting himself while on duty here in the early hours of Wednesday, the police said. Javeer Singh (36), who hailed from Bhiwani in Haryana, shot himself in the head with his service weapon around 2 am. Singh’s colleagues told the police that he appeared to be stressed for the past two days. — PTI Russia gives PR to widow of Punjab man killed in Ukraine, ~20K monthly aid to kids Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 11 The Russian government has initiated the process to grant permanent residency (PR) to five members of the family of Tejpal Singh, who was killed fighting for the Russian army in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on March 12. Confirming the development, Tejpal’s widow Parminder Kaur said she had been granted PR while other members of her family — her children and Tejpal’s parents — would be granted the permanent residency on arrival in Russia. She said the Russian government had started giving a monthly allowance of Rs Parents, children to get PR on arrival The mourning kin of Tejpal Singh (inset) who was killed in the Russia-Ukraine war. FILE 20,000 each to her children — seven-year-old Armandeep Singh and four-year-old Gurnaazdeep Kaur — to meet their education and lodging expenses since March. Returning after her threemonth stay in Moscow this week, Parminder said there was no word from the government on handing over her husband’s mortal remains. She will fly to Moscow in February to complete the remaining paper work. The entire family plans to visit Russia in May when the harsh winter will subside there. Once Tejpal’s parents land in Russia, they will also start getting pension there. About the plans of the family, she said at this juncture, they did not have any desire to settle in Russia permanently but would keep on visiting it. Following the issuance of a tourist visa by the Russian Embassy in New Delhi, Parminder had gone to Russia continued on page 8 c m y b Chandigarh, December 11 Beginning next year, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) subscribers can expect to withdraw their provident fund money directly from ATMs as the Labour Ministry is said to be working on issuing cards similar to debit cards to facilitate the withdrawal. Currently, an EPFO subscriber has to wait for seven to 10 days for the withdrawn amount to be credited to the linked bank account. Labour Secretary Sumita Dawra said on Wednesday that the government was working on modernising IT systems to expedite claim-processing so as to improve the ease of living. “We are working towards settling claims quickly. A claimant, beneficiary or insured person will be able to access claims conveniently through ATMs, with minimal human intervention,” she said. Sources said the permissible withdrawal could be capped at 50 per cent of the total deposited amount. The facility, said sources, was part of the EPFO 3.0 plan, which the Centre was preparing to launch. The plan 50% LIMIT LIKELY ■ The permissible withdrawal amount is likely to be capped at 50% of the total deposit ■ Currently, an EPFO subscriber has to wait for 7 to 10 days to receive money in account ■ Contributing more than current 12% limit & converting PF into pension on cards too has several subscriber-friendly features, including withdrawing provident fund from ATMs, contributing more than the current 12 per cent limit and converting PF savings into pension. “The systems are evolving and every two to three months, you will notice significant improvements. I believe there will be a major enhancement by January 2025,” said the Labour Secretary. Highlighting the ongoing efforts to formalise the country’s labour markets, Dawra said continued on page 8 AAP-Cong truck in Delhi? No way, says Kejriwal Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 11 The now on, now off Aam Aadmi Party and Congress ties were back in focus on Wednesday hours after a meet-up picture featuring Arvind Kejriwal and the grand old party leaders appeared on social media. The image, posted on X by Nationalist Congress PartySharadchandra Pawar’s Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, shows AAP chief Kejriwal, AAP’s Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, Congress veteran and Kejriwal’s lawyer in the Delhi excise scam Abhishek Singhvi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s close aide Gurdeep Sappal sitting together engaged in deep discussions. Also in the frame is NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar and other party leaders, along with Sule. Though Kejriwal and Congress rushed to scotch any alliance talk soon after the image appeared, some sources said nothing was final in politics till it was final. “AAP will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with the Congress,” said Kejriwal with a senior Congress leader also pointing out there was no continued on page 8