03022025-TTB-01.qxd 2/3/2025 12:12 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 33 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  DELHI ABHISHEK SHARMA HITS SECOND-FASTEST T20 TON FOR INDIA SPORT /thetribunechd AIIMS-DELHI TEAM IN RAJOURI TO PROBE TOXIN SOURCE J&K BUDGET IS BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE: FM NATION NETANYAHU LEAVES FOR WASHINGTON TO RENEW TIES WITH US WORLD monday | 3 february 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com SC to hear today PIL on safety of Maha Kumbh devotees New Delhi, February 2 The Supreme Court will on Monday take up a PIL seeking directions for measures to ensure safety and security of people attending the world’s largest religious gathering Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj where 30 pilgrims died and over 60 got injured in a stampede on January 29. The PIL, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, is listed before a Bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar on February 3. A day after the stampede, Tiwari continued on page 8 Punjab farmers plan large-scale protest in R’sthan on Feb 11 PATIALA: As the agitation at Shambhu and Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border loses momentum, farmer leaders are now focusing their attention on Ratanpura Morcha in Rajasthan where a major protest is scheduled on February 11, the first anniversary of the ongoing stir. To ensure maximum participation from Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, farmer leader Jagjit Dallewal is set to address the event via video-conferencing as his health is not allowing him to travel. — TNS In final poll push, Modi woos Delhi voters with ‘most-friendly’ Budget BJP hopeful massive tax cut will prove game-changer in elections DELHI VOTES 2025 Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 2 Terming the tax cuts in the Union Budget as a “historic” decision to benefit the middle class, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said it was an example how his government delivered on promises. Addressing his last rally before the high-stakes February 5 Delhi Assembly elections, the PM assured the women voters of providing them Rs 2,500 monthly within a month of the “formation of the BJP government”. “The four pillars of Viksit Bharat — gareeb, kisan, naujawan and naari shakti (poor, farmers, youth and women) — are at the centre of this Budget. It is just an example of Modi’s guarantee of fulfilling promises,” the PM said while addressing a large gathering in Delhi’s RK Puram. Expressing confidence in the BJP’s victory, PM Modi declared, “Mark my words, on continued on page 8 PM Modi with Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva and other leaders at a rally in New Delhi. MANAS RANJAN BHUI Kejri demands independent observers Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 2 Days ahead of the Delhi Assembly poll, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday demanded that the Election Commission deploy special observers in his New Delhi constituency, alleging “hooliganism” by the BJP . Says AAP men attacked; poll body denies claim In a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner, Kejriwal cited various instances of attack, threat and intimidation of AAP volunteers and supporters allegedly by the BJP He also alleged that the . Delhi Police too were intimidating AAP workers at the BJP’s behest. “We fear our volunteers may be detained, threatened or even assaulted on poll eve and election day to cripple our election operations,” he charged in his letter. He demanded the CEC deploy continued on page 8 Wanted in Hry, gangster SC hearing on reopening extradited from Manila anti-Sikh riot cases today Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 2 Notorious gangster Joginder Geong, alias Joga Don, wanted by the Haryana and Delhi police, was deported from the Philippines and arrested upon his arrival at the Delhi airport on Sunday. Geong, a convicted criminal involved in over 15 cases, including murder, is a key member of the Kaushal Chaudhary gang. He leads a criminal syndicate operating across Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab, according to police officials. Geong’s deportation from Manila on Saturday marks a significant breakthrough in curbing organised crime in the region. Parmod Kushwaha, Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), Delhi Police, revealed that Geong was a close associate of Kaushal Chaudhary, whose gang had been linked to targeted killings in Pun- Tribune News Service Murder convict linked to Kaushal gang behind targeted killings in Punjab jab. “Geong’s brother, Surinder Geong, was also a prominent aide of Chaudhary until he was killed in an encounter with the Haryana Police in 2017. Following his brother’s death, Joginder fled to the Philippines via Nepal,” Kushwaha said. While Chaudhary remains incarcerated, Geong had been attempting to revive the gang’s network from Manila. “Chaudhary’s association with terror networks was a major concern. He provided logistical support to shooters involved in three high-profile murders in Punjab — Gurlal Brar, Vicky Middukhera and Sandeep Nangal Ambian. These killings were orchestrated by Arsh Dalla and continued on page 8 New Delhi, February 2 The Supreme Court will on Monday take up a fresh status report filed by the Delhi Police on the implementation of recommendations of a special investigation team (SIT) headed by Justice SN Dhingra (retd) on reopening of 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases. The matter is listed before a Bench led by Justice AS Oka which had on January 27 deferred the hearing as the papers were not in order and it needed to peruse the documents filed by the parties. Ahead of the crucial hearing, BJP national spokesperson RP Singh has written to Home Minister Amit Shah highlighting that no trial was held in the case relating to the murder of Joginder Singh, husband of Surjeet Kaur, and an incident of murder of six persons was never investigated. Noting that a “chargesheet Fresh status report by Delhi Police on panel’s suggestions to be taken up was filed with regard to the murder of 56 persons, but the trial court framed charges only for the murder of five persons and no charges were framed regarding the remaining 51 persons,” Singh wrote. He said the peculiar facts of this case were not brought to the notice of the Delhi High Court which dismissed the appeal only on the ground that an earlier appeal of a case from a different police station was dismissed. “I reiterate on behalf of Sikhs and the citizens of India that the Government of India must look into the matter on priority and take appropriate steps against the perpetrators and those who shielded them,” Singh wrote. The Delhi Police have filed a continued on page 8 U-19 women retain T20 World Cup in style Tribune News Service Thrash SA by 9 wkts; Telangana’s Trisha Player of Tournament India women players pose with the trophy after winning the T20 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. ANI New Delhi, February 2 India showcased their cricketing prowess and depth of talent to secure a second successive U19 Women’s T20 World Cup title with a commanding nine-wicket victory over South Africa on Sunday. The triumph, achieved with 52 balls to spare, highlighted the country’s meticulously structured youth development system and cemented India’s status as the first team to win the tournament without losing a single game. The star of the final was allrounder Gongadi Trisha, who delivered a stellar performance with both bat and ball. Her impressive figures of 3/15 with her leg spin were complemented by an unbeaten 33-ball 44, steering India to a continued on page 8 Today’s issue is of 16 pages, including four-page Delhi Tribune. c m y b Trump slaps tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China; trade war erupts Washington, February 2 United States President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an order to impose stiff tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China, drawing swift retaliation and an undeniable sense of betrayal from the country’s North American neighbours as a trade war erupted among the longtime allies. The President posted on social media that the tariffs were necessary “to protect Americans,” pressing the three nations to do more to curb the manufacture and export of illicit fentanyl and for Canada and Mexico to reduce illegal immigration into the US. Trump declared an economic emergency in order to place duties of 10% on all imports from China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada. Energy imported from Canada, including oil, natural gas and electricity, would be taxed at a 10% rate. Trump’s order includes a mechanism to escalate the India working to cut trade barriers Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service Donald Trump, US President North American allies hit back with counter duties rates charged by the US against retaliation by the other countries, raising the spectre of an even more severe economic disruption. “The actions taken today by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a sombre tone as he continued on page 8 New Delhi, February 2 India’s reduction of tariffs on the eve of PM Modi’s likely visit to the US in mid-February seems to have helped persuade the Trump administration to not impose tariffs on New Delhi like it has done with Mexico, Canada and China. There are strategic, economic and political factors at play since the partnership between the two countries covers a wide arc, ranging from military technology to outer space. New Delhi had on Saturday announced a reduction in customs duty on high-end motorcycles, cars and smartphone parts, a move that would give a boost to American companies like Harley-Davidson, Tesla and Apple. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech, stated that continued on page 8 PLAINT AGAINST SONIA OVER MURMU REMARK A complaint was filed against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi before a court in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district for her ‘poor thing’ remark on President Droupadi Murmu. Sudhir Ojha, a local lawyer, filed the complaint seeking registration of an FIR. He named Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as co-accused. BACK PAGE