18042025-TT-01.qxd 4/17/2025 11:02 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 106 | 16 PAGES | ~6.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH MAMATA URGES GUV TO DEFER VISIT TO RIOT-HIT MURSHIDABAD NATION /thetribunechd PAK, B’DESH RESUME FOREIGN SECY TALKS AFTER 15 YRS WORLD MARKET RALLIES FOR FOURTH DAY AMID FII INFLOW BUSINESS SHAH HAILS ROLE OF CRPF, OTHER CAPFs IN CURBING NAXALISM BACK PAGE friday | 18 april 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com SC gives govt week to reply after it vows not to denotify Waqf assets Centre also says won’t appoint non-Muslims to boards Can Muslims opt for Satya Prakash Tribune News Service AT GURU’S ABODE An Army man offers prayers at Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara after a team conducted a recce on the trek route from Govindghat to the shrine dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh for the snow-clearing operations ahead of the annual yatra in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Thursday. PTI Tejashwi to be INDIA bloc’s Bihar CM face NEW DELHI: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav will be the INDIA bloc’s CM face for the upcoming Assembly elections. Sources said the alliance partners, including the Congress, RJD, Left and the VIP unanimously chose , Tejashwi as the head of the poll coordination committee during a meeting organised in Patna on Thursday. INSIDE CBI books Durgesh in AAP funding case NEW DELHI: The CBI on Thurs- day conducted searches at the premises of former AAP MLA and Gujarat poll co-incharge Durgesh Pathak after lodging anFIR against him for allegedly receiving foreign donations for his party in contravention of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, (FCRA) norms, officials said. INSIDE Vadra grilled by ED for third day in row NEW DELHI: Robert Vadra, the businessman brother-in-law of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate for the third consecutive day on Thursday for questioning in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in a 2008 Haryana land deal case. — TNS New Delhi, April 17 The Centre on Thursday categorically told the Supreme Court that it will not appoint any non-Muslims to Waqf councils and boards as per the provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act-2025 or denotify existing Waqf properties, including Waqf-by-user or Waqf-by-deed already declared by notification or gazetted. Following a statement made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, a three-judge Bench led by CJI Sanjiv Khanna deferred passing any interim orders and issued notice to the Centre asking it to respond to the petitions challenging the amendment within a week. Giving five days to the petitioners to file their rejoinders to the Centre’s reply, the Bench, GOVT ANSWERABLE TO PEOPLE ❝ The SC shouldn’t take the harsh measure of staying a law passed by Parliament with due deliberations… The government and Parliament are answerable to the people…. Villages and villages are taken as Waqf Tushar Mehta, SOLICITOR GENERAL which also included Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Viswanathan, posted the matter for further hearing on May 5 when it will consider preliminary objections before passing an interim order. Thursday’s order came after Mehta submitted at the very outset of the hearing that the top court should not take the harsh measure of staying a law passed by Parliament “with due deliberations” without hearing the government properly. “Your lordship is taking a harsh step... allow me to place within a week my preliminary reply with documents to show how this (law) came into picture,” Mehta said, adding that staying the Waqf Act on prima facie reading of some provisions may not be appropriate and that the court will have to consider the history of the legislation. “We, as the government and Parliament, are answerable to the people…. continued on page 6 Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 17 The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine the issue whether a person born as a Muslim can be governed by the Indian Succession Act, a secular law, instead of Shariat even if he/she has not renounced Islam. Acting on a petition filed by Naushad KK, a resident of Thrissur district in Kerala, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna issued notices to the Centre and the Kerala Government and ordered that the petition be clubbed with similar cases on the issue pending before the top court. Naushad submitted that he wanted to be governed by the succession law continued on page 6 We are different from SC acting as super Parl, says VP on timeline for Prez Hindus: Pak army chief Questions no FIR in Justice Varma case invokes 2-nation theory Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 17 Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir has once again referred to Kashmir as their “jugular vein” and invoked the two-nation theory to assert the “differences between Hindus and Muslims” formed the basis of the Partition in 1947. General Munir, addressing Pakistani diaspora in Islamabad on Wednesday, also alluded to “1.3 million-strong Indian Army” to suggest that the Pakistan army couldn’t be subdued by a handful of rebels in Balochistan. The army chief termed the diasopora country’s ambassadors and said they belonged to a “superior ideology and culture”. “You must tell Pakistan’s story to your children. Our forefathers believed that we are different from the Hindus in every aspect of life. Our religions, our customs, traditions, thoughts and ambitions are different. That was the foundation of the two-nation theory that was laid,” General Munir said. In his address, General Munir said there was fear that Pakistan won’t get investment due to the “terrorist activity” in Balochistan. “Do Asim Munir VACATE J&K TERRITORY: MEA The MEA on Thursday slammed General Asim Munir’s “jugular vein” remark on Kashmir, saying the only relationship that Pakistan has with Kashmir is to “vacate” the territories of J&K it has illegally occupied. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This (J&K) is our UT. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by it.” you think terrorists can take away the destiny of the country? If the 1.3 million-strong Indian Army, with all its wherewithal, cannot intimidate us, do you think these terrorists can subdue the armed forces of Pakistan?” he said. On Kashmir, General Munir said: “Our stance is absolutely clear, it was continued on page 6 New Delhi, April 17 Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar today raised concerns over a recent Supreme Court ruling that mandated the President to decide on state Bills reserved by Governors within three months. “We never bargained for a democracy where the President is bound by timelines… where judges legislate, perform executive functions, act as super Parliament and have absolutely no accountability because the law does not apply to them,” Dhankhar said while addressing the sixth batch of Rajya Sabha interns at the Vice-President’s Enclave. A staunch advocate for the separation of powers, Dhankhar also questioned the absence of an FIR in the case involving the alleged recovery of cash from the residence of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma, who has since been transferred. If there are skeletons in the cupboard, they must tumble out, he said. He further questioned the constitutionality of the threemember committee formed by the SC to probe the matter, pointing out that while the Vice-President, PM and VP Jagdeep Dhankhar addresses RS interns’ batch in New Delhi. PTI MPs are accountable under the law, judges are not. Expressing dismay over the SC’s ruling imposing timelines on the President, Dhankhar said, “I never thought I would see such a day. Only the President takes an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. All others — the PM, VicePresident, ministers, MPs and judges — take an oath to abide by it. Yet, a recent judgment directs the President?” He noted while all MPs and MLAs were mandated to declare their assets, judges were exempt. “We cannot have a situation where you Sumedha Sharma AVOIDING ROW IN NUH Tribune News Service ■ Nearly 2 lakh people are expect- ed to visit Nuh during the Tablighi Jamaat Jalsa from April 19 ■ Stall owners told to stick to chicken biryani and avoid beef dishes ■ Organisers want to avoid confrontation with cow vigilantes which is the biggest for the Meo community,” said Akhtar Alvi, the spokesperson of the Jalsa committee. “Biryani is the most popular dish here and there will be hundreds of stalls. We have instructed all vendors to stick to chicken, which is easily identifiable. No other meat will be allowed. The aim is to eliminate any chance of misunderstanding or mischief by vigilantes.” To ensure compliance, a special team from the committee will inspect stalls during the event and the directive has been widely circulated on social media. However, the decision has left many attendees disappointed. “Mutton biryani is famous here and the most sought after during the Jalsa,” said a Jamaat member from Delhi. “Just because some (the SC) issue directives to the President and on what basis?” he asked. Dhankhar said Article 142 that grants the SC discretionary powers to ensure complete justice had become a “nuclear missile against democratic forces, available to the judiciary 24x7”. He said the only right available to the SC was to interpret the Constitution under Article 145(3). “For this, there have to be five judges or more but when Article 145(3) came into force, the number of judges in the SC was eight and five made the majority. Today the SC has 30 judges... this provision needs to be amended.” Gurdaspur prisoner pulls Pak drone strings Mansarovaryatra settoresumeafter Minor kingpin’s arrest unravels cross-border drug racket run from jail pandemicpause Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, April 17 In a development that has surprised even senior security officers, the Punjab Police have identified an inmate lodged in the Gurdaspur Central Jail who was allegedly found controlling the activities of drones bringing drugs and weapons from Pakistan. Gurdaspur SSP Aditya said, “A jail inmate has been found to be involved in a recent drone activity in Dorangla near the border. We have informed the jail authorities and will be taking him on remand tomorrow.” He said the matter was being kept confidential due to its sensitive nature. The SSP said that three persons, Balwinder Singh, Kuldeep Singh and a minor, had already been arrested. The minor is believed to be the kingpin and used social media platforms to facilitate heroin smuggling. A month ago, the Gurdaspur police recovered 2 kg of heroin, two pistols, four magazines and 66 rounds of ammunition from a location in Dorangla. “We yesterday apprehended Balwinder, Kuldeep and the minor in connection with that case. During the operation, 255 gm of heroin was also seized. After sustained questioning, they revealed the inmate’s involvement. All three regularly met him in jail where plans were coordinated. Recent drone sorties from Pakistan were controlled by all four of them,” the SSP said. Dorangla has become a hotspot for drone activity, whether involving heroin or arms and ammunition. Sources indicate that just across the border, barely a few kms away, Pakistani state and non-state actors have established a base from which drones are flown over the fence into Dorangla. The accused usually have prior knowledge of consignment details, including drop timing and locations. No beef, Tablighijalsatoserveonlychicken Himachal Chief Secy hosts Holi Gurugram, April 17 As Nuh prepares to host nearly two lakh people during the upcoming Tablighi Jamaat Jalsa from April 19, the organisers have made a significant decision to serve only chicken biryani at the event, ruling out mutton or beef dishes that could create confusion and trigger a controversy. The move is aimed at avoiding any potential confrontation with cow vigilante groups active in the Mewat region. The Jalsa committee has issued instructions to all food stall vendors to use only chicken in their biryanis. “We don’t want any controversy in this congregation, secular succession law? SC to examine people want to create a ruckus and communally target us, we are being forced to abstain from mutton. Tomorrow, we might have to give up meat entirely. The community has taken this step for peace, but how long will this continue? The government should control troublemakers — be it vigilantes or cow smugglers — so that there’s no fear.” Sources said that cow vigilante groups across Mewat, Faridabad and Gurugram had been alerted to monitor for suspected cow smuggling or beef sale during the event. The Tablighi Jamaat, founded in 1926 in Mewat by Deobandi scholar Muhammad Ilyas alKandhlawi, is a global Islamic revivalist organisation. party, asks govt to foot ~1.2L bill Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, April 17 A controversy has erupted after a lunch party was thrown by HP Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena on Holi for officers at Hotel Holiday Home and the General Administration Department (GAD) was asked to foot its Rs 1.22-lakh bill. The news of the department being asked to pay for the party hosted by Saxena, barely a fortnight before his retirement on March 31, has gone viral on social media. The issue has snowballed into a political controversy with the opposition BJP accusing officers of having fun at the c m y b BJP slams ‘splurge’ in cash-strapped state Hotel Holiday Home event saw 75 guests, including bureaucrats. NOT A PRIVATE EVENT, SAYS BUREAUCRAT such events. ❝ The CS isforauthorised to hostfor officers. Moreover, it was not a private party my relatives but Prabodh Saxena, HP CHIEF SECY expense of the cash-strapped HP Government. Saxena hosted the party at the gov- ernment-owned Hotel Holiday Home here on March 14 continued on page 6 Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 17 India and China are set to resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, after a pause since 2020. Though a final route has not been officially announced, India is considering conducting the yatra through the Delhi-Pithoragarh-Lipulekh route that goes through Kumaon in Uttarakhand, sources said. The Lipulekh pass route would be quicker and more cost-effective for pilgrims. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday confirmed that preparations were underway and a public notice would be issued soon. The Yatra was expected to run from June to September. “There is a possibility of its resumption soon,” Jaiswal said, offering hope to thousands of devotees awaiting the resumption of the pilgrimage. The yatra has remained suspended since the Covid pandemic and the subsequent military stand-off in eastern Ladakh from April 2020 onwards. Both countries have agreed in principle to resume direct air services, with technical teams discussing the modalities. Jaiswal stated that during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Beijing in January, both nations discussed resuming direct flights.