02052025-TT-01.qxd 5/1/2025 11:32 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 120 | 14 PAGES | ~6.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH TRUMP NSA WALTZ OUT FOLLOWING SIGNAL CHAT BLUNDER WORLD /thetribunechd NIA CHIEF VISITS ATTACK SITE, PROBE INTENSIFIED J&K FY25 EXPORTS HIT ALL-TIME HIGH OF $825 BN BUSINESS MUST GUARD YOUTH FROM ANTI-HUMAN IDEOLOGIES, SAYS PM BACK PAGE friday | 2 may 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com US dialsRajnath,EAM; affirms Centre calls meeting of BBMBpartner states as Punjab refuses water to Hry India’s right to defend itself Mann govt convenes all-party meet today, special House session on Monday Also calls up Pak PM, wants both nations to de-escalate tensions PAHALGAM WILL HUNT DOWN TERRORISTS: SHAH Whoever has carried out the dastardly attack in Pahalgam, we will not spare anyone. We’ll hunt down each & every perpetrator... Everyone of you will be made answerable. MASSACRE ❝ Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH: The Centre has deferred the meeting with farm unions scheduled for May 4, saying it would be inappropriate to hold a meeting without the representatives of the Punjab Government. Earlier, two unions had written to the Centre, asking it not to make the state a part of their meeting. INSIDE NIAgrillsTahawwur tostudyLeTworking VISAKHAPATNAM: Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai attack and currently in NIA custody, is being interrogated to unearth operational details of Lashkar-e-Toiba, sources said. Meanwhile, the NIA has got court approval to collect Rana’s voice and handwriting samples to form a strong case against him. BACK PAGE GSTcollectionrises to all-time high of ~2.37Lcr,up12.6% New Delhi, May 1 Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection rose 12.6 per cent year-on-year to an alltime high of about Rs 2.37 lakh crore in April, reflecting strong economic activity and March-end reconciliation of books by businesses. STEP IN TO ENSURE PEACE, PAK URGES TRUMP Pakistan’s ambassador to the US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has urged President Donald Trump to help ease tensions with India, Newsweek reported. Sheikh said for a president “who is standing for peace in the world as a pronounced objective during his administration, there is no higher or flashier flash point than Kashmir”. tary expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack and reaffirmed the US’ commitment to cooperate with India against terrorism. “He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia,” Bruce said. In another statement, Bruce mentioned that Rubio spoke with Pakistani PM. The Secretary emphasised the need to condemn the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to holding terrorists accountable for their heinous acts of violence. “The Secretary urged Pakistani officials’ cooperation in investigating this unconscionable attack. He also encouraged Pakistan to work with India to de-escalate tensions, re-establish Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May1 As the Punjab Government on Thursday refused to release additional water to Haryana from the Bhakra dam , Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan convened an emergency meeting of the Chief Secretaries of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) partner states in Delhi at 11 am tomorrow. Amid fast-paced developments in the escalating watersharing dispute, the Bhagwant Mann government also called an all-party meeting on Friday and a special session of the Vidhan Sabha on Monday. Top officials said the government was also exploring legal options. At the Delhi meeting, which has been called by the Union Ministry of Power, Punjab will be represented by Home Secretary Alok Shekhar and Principal Secretary (Water Resources) Krishan Kumar. The Secretary of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the BBMB Chairman will also be present. Amid emotive overtones all day through, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party leaders led protests across Punjab. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann with minister Harjot Singh Bains at the Nangal dam in Rupnagar district. NOTHING BUT DIRTY POLITICS: SAINI Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini accused Punjab of playing “dirty politics” over water-sharing as he appealed for unity. “Polls are around and people of Punjab are beginning to see through AAP’s brand of politics — it’s nothing but dirty politics,” he said. The crisis was triggered by a decision by the BBMB late last night to allocate an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. This even as the Punjab Government claimed the neighbouring WHY WATER NOT RELEASED Though the BBMB had replaced the Punjabcadre Director of Water Regulation with a Haryana-cadre officer, water could not be released to Haryana because of a technical glitch in teh joining of the Haryana officer. state had “already drawn its share of 2.987 MAF from the Bhakra dam for the September 21-May 20 period”. The Haryana Government, on the other hand, maintained that for the past several years, Don’t demoralise troops: SC bins PIL for judicial probe into Pahalgam Dhruv choppers with Army, IAF good to fly Satya Prakash Tribune News Service Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 1 The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a PIL seeking an SIT probe headed by a former judge into the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 25 tourists and a local were killed. “Be responsible before filing such a PIL. You have some duty towards the country also. This is the way you are trying to demoralise the forces in this hour of crisis and juncture? You are asking a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate. Since when retired high court and Supreme Court judges have become experts in investigation? We only decide disputes. Don’t ask us to pass an order,” a Bench of Justice Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh said. “This is not the time. This is the crucial hour when each and every citizen of this country has joined hands to fight this terrorism... Don’t Entire fleet was grounded after Jan 5 crash Ajay Banerjee 6 OF FAMILY MOVE SC AGAINST DEPORTATION ■ Six members of a family have moved the Supreme Court challenging their deportation to Pakistan. They have contended they had valid Indian passports & Aadhaar ■ Listed before a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant, the matter could not be heard at the first call. Later, when it was mentioned before the Bench, Justice Kant agreed to take up the matter on Friday make any prayer which can demoralise our forces... it is not acceptable to us. Look at the sensitivity of the issue,” Justice Kant told the lawyer who mentioned the matter for urgent hearing. The Bench pulled up the lawyer for filing the petition seeking a probe into the Pahalgam massacre. As the Bench was not inclined to entertain the PIL, the petitioners chose to withdraw the petition. The National Investigation Agency continued on page 10 BSF personnel stand guard near the Attari joint checkpost in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Gates closed, scores show up at Attari in hope of crossing over Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 1 After days of emotional reunions and goodbyes involving those whose visas were suspended in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Attari-Wagah Integrated Check-Post remained completely shut on Thursday. Not a single Pakistani citizen was allowed to cross over, nor did any Indian national enter from the other side. The Ministry of Home Affairs had ordered to halt the movement of passengers and goods through Attari by April 30. Still, nearly 40 persons arrived at Attari from various parts of the country for deportation to Pakistan. Among them were sisters Saida Zameer Fatima and Saida Saheer Fatima, who were accompanied by their cousin Murawat Hussain Shah and the police from Rajouri. As the elderly sisters clutched his hands, Murawat said they had arrived in India in 1983 on valid visas after the death of their father and brother, their sole caretakers in Pakistan. “They have no one left in Pakistan. Whatever they have is here in India. continued on page 10 New Delhi, May 1 The government has cleared the fleet of nearly 330 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) with the Army and Indian Air Force for flying, ending nearly four months of embargo on their operations. The move comes in the backdrop of rising tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack. The ALH Dhruv has been in service since 2002 and the Army uses around 200 helicopters, while the IAF has 75. The ALH versions used by the Navy and Coast Guard are yet to get the green signal for flying. The helicopter is engaged in logistics, transport, search and rescue, medical evacuation, reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare operations. A version of the helicopter is also armed for combat support for ground troops. The manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited The GST mop-up was Rs 2.10 lakh crore in April 2024, the second highest collection ever since GST was rolled out on July 1, 2017. In March 2025, the collection was Rs 1.96 lakh crore. As per the latest government data released on Thursday, GST revenue from domestic transactions rose 10.7 per cent to about Rs 1.9 lakh crore, while revenue from imported goods was up 20.8 per cent to Rs 46,913 continued on page 10 (HAL), in a statement said “the ALH Dhruv Army and Air Force versions are cleared for operations based on the Defect Investigation (DI) Committee recommendations”. A time-bound plan for the resumption of operations has been worked out with the users, it added. The entire ALH fleet of the armed forces was grounded for a comprehensive check after a Coast Guard helicopter crashed on January 5, killing three personnel on board. A report of the ‘defect investigation team’ set up by the HAL evaluated whether the crash took place due to a continued on page 10 Remove jihad video in We don’t target Muslims: Pahalgam widow’s solemn appeal 24 hrs, HC tells Ramdev Lt Narwal’s kin hold Parveen Arora Tribune News Service POINTS TO INDIA’S STRENGTH AMID TURMOIL, SAY EXPERTS the state was getting water over and above its allocated share. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said they needed water for drinking purpose as continued on page 10 edit: water row FILE CentredefersMay4 meet with farmers Amit Shah, HOME MINISTER ANI New Delhi, May 1 In a day of intense diplomatic messaging, India has conveyed to the US that the perpetrators, backers, and planners of the Pahalgam terror attack must be brought to justice. The US has asked India and Pakistan to “work with each other” to de-escalate tensions while making it clear that it supports India’s right to defend itself. In an X post about a conversation he had with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with the US (Rubio). Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice.” Rubio made separate phone calls to Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that Rubio spoke with Jaishankar on Wednesday. The Secre- direct communications and maintain peace and security in South Asia,” Bruce added. Hours after Rubio and Jaishankar’s call, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth spoke with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. A statement from the Ministry of Defence said, “The US Secretary of Defence reiterated the full support of the US government in India’s fight against terrorism.” The statement quoted Hegseth as saying, “The US stands in solidarity with India and supports India’s right to defend itself.” Hegseth expressed his condolences for the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives in the attack. Rajnath Singh told the US Secretary of Defence that Pakistan had a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations. He said, “Pakistan has been exposed as a rogue state, fuelling global terrorism and destabilising the region. The world can no longer turn a blind eye to terrorism.” Singh emphasised the importance of the global community explicitly condemning such heinous acts of terrorism. Ruchika M Khanna Says yoga guru not in control of anyone New Delhi, May 1 The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered yoga guru Ramdev to remove within 24 hours an offensive video targeting Hamdard, manufacturers of Rooh Afza, from social media platforms after he was accused of contempt in a row over his controversial “sharbat jihad” remarks against the drink. The court had previously ordered him not to issue any statement or share videos in future similar to those before it and relating to products of competitors, including Hamdard. On Thursday, however, Hamdard’s counsel informed the court that Ramdev again published a video containing offensive content. Ramdev, as a result, was ordered to take down the offending portion of the video which referred to Hamdard and its products “within 24 hours from all social media platforms and other media”. “In view of the last order, this continued on page 10 Lt Vinay Narwal’s widow Himanshi during a blood donation camp on his birthday in Karnal. The officer was shot by terrorists in Pahalgam. c m y b Karnal, May 1 Heartbroken but determined, Himanshi stood before the crowd, barely days after her husband’s death. Navy officer Lt Vinay Narwal was among 26 killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. On his 27th birthday on Thursday, Himanshi overcame her pain and made an emotional appeal for peace and unity at a blood donation camp organised in his memory. “We do not target Muslims and Kashmiris. We want peace,” she told the gathering, while demanding justice blood donation camp in Karnal on 27th birthday for her husband. “Those involved in this attack must be given exemplary punishment.” Vowing to continue his legacy, she added, “I will follow the path of serving the nation that he showed me.” At least 218 persons donated blood at the camp, while nearly 100 others had to return due to time constraints. Organised by Lt Narwal’s family in collaboration with the National Inte- grated Forum of Artists and Activists (NIFAA) and other groups, the event drew donors from Hisar, Bengaluru, Delhi, Kurukshetra, Panipat and Ludhiana. Lt Narwal’s sister Srishti expressed gratitude to participants, calling the initiative a way to “save lives and honour his memory”. She affirmed her faith in the government, stating, “They are doing their job and we trust the system.” The family, including Lt Narwal’s parents Rajesh and Asha Narwal, maternal uncle Pawan Dahiya and wife continued on page 10