05042025-TTC-01.qxd 4/5/2025 12:27 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 93 | 24 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 SOUTH KOREA UPHOLDS PRESIDENT YOON’S IMPEACHMENT WORLD /thetribunechd INDIA OUTPACES MOST IN FRONTIER TECH, SAYS UN BUSINESS DARK SHADES OF PUNJABI MUSIC INDUSTRY REVIEW STALIN SLAMS CENTRE OVER DENIAL OF NOD TO ANTI-NEET BILL NATION saturday | 5 april 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com PM flags minority safety in first meet with Yunus post-Hasina exit 34rescuedfrom ‘illegal’pvtrehab centreinPunjab Bangladesh raises extradition of ex-PM, Teesta water-sharing pact Jalandhar, April 4 As part of the Punjab Government’s ongoing Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign, the Jalandhar administration conducted a raid on an “illegally run” private de-addiction centre today. During the raid, conducted following a complaint, a joint inspection team comprising civil, health and police officials rescued 34 persons, most of them youths, from the centre and sealed the premises. As many as 15 youths were found positive in dope tests. All 34 rescued were admitted to the drug de-addiction centre at the Civil Hospital. Later, 26 were discharged after their families came to take them. The remaining eight are still admitted. Those tested positive had only traces of tramadol. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal said during the raid conducted at Jamsher, it was found that a centre was being run illegally under the name of Sahibzada Fateh Singh Gurmat Vidyalaya. He said all 34 persons kept there illegally were rescued and sent to the government-run de-addiction centre at the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, for proper treatment. continued on page 7 Ubeer Naqushbandi Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday raised India’s concerns over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh during his first meeting with interim government head Muhammad Yunus. The meeting was held amid New Delhi’s strained ties with Dhaka following the ouster of long-time Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year. The talks, held on the sidelines of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) summit in Bangkok, also saw Modi urging Dhaka to avoid “rhetoric that vitiates the environment”. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry stated that Yunus raised key issues, including the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, the Teesta water-sharing agreement and the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty. Discussions also touched on alleged extremism and minority persecution in Bangladesh. The meeting comes against the backdrop of Yunus’ recent PM Narendra Modi with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the 6th Bimstec Summit in Bangkok, Thailand. REUTERS remarks on India’s northeast region and Bangladesh’s outreach to China for investments, which have raised concerns in New Delhi over the security of the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor, also known as the “Chicken’s Neck”. His comments had earlier drawn sharp reactions from Indian leaders. The high-profile engagement is expected to ease tensions between the two neighbours, marking their second toplevel meeting this year. In February, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain in Muscat during the Indian Ocean Conference. Posting on social media, Modi wrote, “India remains committed to a constructive and people-centric relationship with Bangladesh. I reiterated India’s support for peace, stability, inclusivity and democracy in Bangladesh. We discussed measures to prevent illegal border crossings and expressed serious concern over the safety of Hindus and other minorities.” Relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated since the regime change in Dhaka, with New Delhi pressing for minority protections. Tensions have also flared over the asylum sought by former PM Hasina in India after her government’s collapse, as well as Dhaka’s objections to India’s border fencing project. Both nations have summoned each other’s envoys to voice disagreements. Modi stressed the need for strict continued on page 7 Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service SPIRITUAL PURSUIT Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and his wife Gurpreet Kaur at Shri Naina Devi shrine in Bilaspur on Friday. Mann said Punjab and HP shared cordial ties despite all challenges. ANI INSIDE Congress MP, Owaisi move SC over ‘arbitrary’ Waqf Bill clauses Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 4 Hours after Parliament passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Congress MP Mohammad Jawed and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday separately moved the Supreme Court challenging its validity on the ground that it violated constitutional provisions. The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, a day c m y b DMK, other oppn parties likely to follow suit after the Lok Sabha cleared it with 288:232 votes. The Bill now awaits President Droupadi Murmu’s assent to become law. The amended legislation mandates that only selfowned resources can be declared as Waqf (Islamic endowments), ensuring the inheritance rights of women and children. It also requires district collectors (DCs) to verify ownership before accepting any land donation by a Muslim. Jawed, a Lok Sabha MP from Kishanganj in Bihar and member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Bill, alleged it imposed “arbitrary restrictions” on Waqf properties, undermining the religious autonomy of the Muslim community. He argued the continued on page 7