10012025-TTC-01.qxd 1/10/2025 12:47 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 9 NO. 10 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 MUSK DISCUSSED WAYS TO OUST STARMER BEFORE NEXT POLL: REPORT WORLD /thetribunechd GOVT’S CALL TO BAR CREAMY LAYER FROM QUOTA: SC NATION TCS 3RD QUARTER NET FUTURE DOESN’T LIE IN PROFIT JUMPS 12% TO WAR: PM AT PRAVASI ~12,380 CR BUSINESS DIVAS BACK PAGE friday | 10 january 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com No clarity, wind up INDIA, says Omar; vital for nation’s unity, differs Farooq Deepkamal Kaur Arjun Sharma Raging wildfires in Los Angeles on Thursday spread to the Hollywood Hills, consuming homes of movie stars and celebrities. Over 2,000 houses have been gutted and 1.3 lakh people evacuated. AP/PTI INSIDE Sex ratio down from 902 to 864 in a year, Pathankot worst in Punjab Have to work with Delhi to remove problems of J&K people: NC president FIRE-OCIOUS Jalandhar, January 9 The latest sex ratio figures available through the civil registration system in Punjab have pointed to an alarming trend in the border belts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur. From 902 in 2023, the sex ratio in Pathankot declined by 38 points to 864 in 2024. In simple terms, 864 girls were born in the district against 1,000 boys last year. CAN DECIDE AFTER DELHI POLL Jammu, January 9 Hours after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the INDIA bloc should be wound up if it was formed only for the parliamentary poll, his father and National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah said the alliance was meant to strengthen the country and was not limited to the elections. Answering a query from mediapersons in Jammu, Omar said it was unfortunate that no meeting of INDIA bloc had taken place. There was no Amid SKM call for unity among farm unions, Shambhu protester ends life Panel to lead 101 farmers to twin protest sites at Haryana border today Balwant Garg and Mohit Khanna Tribune News Service Moga/Patiala, January 9 The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, which led the 2020-21 farmers’ protest on the borders of Delhi, today passed the “Ekta Resolution”, emphasising the need for broad unity among various unions to press for their long-standing demands. Septuagenarian leader of the SKM (Non-political) Jagjit Singh Dallewal, fasting for 45 days now, has asked all political parties of Punjab to clarify their stand on whether they will come out in support of the farmers, who are demanding a legal guarantee for the MSP among other things. While this bid for unity Tarn Taran farmer Resham Singh being taken to a hospital after he consumed a poisonous substance. among farmer unions marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing agitation, calling for collective action to counter the Central Government’s alleged “anti-farmer” policies, an unfortunate incident at the Shambhu barrier cut short the celebratory mood of the possibility of a joint agitation. A 50-year-old farmer from Tarn Taran, Resham Singh, died by suicide by consuming an insecticide at the Shambhu border. Later, a press note reportedly found on his person stated, “I, Resham Singh, son of Jagtar Singh, Pahuwind village, am a member of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. As per my understanding, sacrificing lives is important in order to wake up the Modi government and the Punjab Government. So, first and foremost, I am trying to sacrifice my life. Dallewal saab, taking inspiration from your sacrifice, I am sacrificing my life before you,” reads the content of the purported suicide note. Kisan Mazdoor Manch leader Sarwan Singh Pandher claimed the farmer ended his life to register his protest over the Centre’s reluctance to resolve the issues of farmers. The postmortem and last rites of Resham Singh would not be performed until the government compensated the family with Rs 25 lakh, offered a government job to next of kin of the deceased and waived the pending loan of the farmer. The body of the continued on page 8 no clarity INDIA will ❝ There’sDelhi polls,on whethercan meet. Ifexist. Maybe after all parties it was only for parliamentary poll, it should be wound up. Otherwise, we have to work together. Omar Abdullah, J&K CM ❝ ALLIANCE IS PERMANENT The alliance is not just about contesting elections, it is also about strengthening India and eliminating hatred. The alliance is permanent — it is for every day and every moment. Farooq Abdullah, NATIONAL CONFERENCE CHIEF clarity on the agenda and leadership of the bloc, he said. “There is no clarity on whether the alliance will exist. Maybe after the Delhi elections, all member parties of the alliance are called for a meeting. If it was only for the parliamentary poll, it should be wound up. However, if it is meant even for the Assembly continued on page 8 ‘No error’: SC bins petitions seeking review of same-sex marriage verdict Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 9 The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed petitions seeking review of its October 17, 2023, verdict refusing to recognise same-sex marriages in India, saying no interference was warranted as there was no error apparent on the face of the record. “We have carefully gone Another ‘blast’ outside police post in Amritsar Amritsar, January9 An explosion took place outside the Gumtala police chowki here on Thursday evening, triggering panic. The police, however, denied any blast due to explosive material. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said it was apparently an explosion in the radiator of a policeman’s car. “People took it for a bomb blast, which is not the case,” he said. ACP (West) Shiv Darshan Singh, in a video message, said the chowki incharge, ASI Harjinder Singh, was present when the incident occurred around 8 pm. During examination, the radiator was found damaged. The front windshield was damaged too. The ACP said there was no need to panic and people shouldn’t spread rumours. This is the ninth such incident at a police establishment in Punjab in the past month and a half. — TNS 4Nijjarcaseaccused given bail in Canada BATHINDA: A Canadian court has granted bail to four Indian nationals accused of killing pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The individuals — Karan Brar (22), Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh (22) and Karanpreet Singh (28) — were charged with first-degree murder and a conspiracy to commit crime in connection with Nijjar’s death in 2024. INSIDE c m y b through the judgments delivered by Hon’ble Mr S Ravindra Bhat (ex-Judge) speaking for himself and for Hon’ble Ms Justice Hima Kohli (former Judge) as well as the concurring opinion expressed by one of us (Hon’ble Mr Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha), constituting majority view. “We do not find any error apparent on the face of the record. We further find that the view expressed in both the judgments is in accordance with law and as such, no interference is warranted,” a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Justice BR Gavai said, dismissing over a dozen review petitions. The other four judges on the Bench were Justice Justice Suryakant, Justice BV Nagarathna, Justice PS Narasimha continued on page 8 Tribune News Service State’s average 918 in 2024| Civil Surgeon points to foeticide Gurdaspur stood close at 888, although three notches better than in 2023. The overall sex ratio in Punjab was 918 in 2024, an improvement of just two points. At 987, Kapurthala topped the state once again even as the ratio declined by 5 points from 992 in 2023. The Muslimdominated district of Malerkotla fared well in maintaining the second position with a gender ratio of 961 and improving significantly by 39 points. Experts in the border belts agree that the sex ratio in the 0-1 age group is dismally low. Civil Surgeon Bharat continued on page 8