26052025-TTC-01.qxd 5/26/2025 12:29 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 144 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 YUNUS ‘MILITANT LEADER’, HAS SOLD COUNTRY TO US, SAYS HASINA WORLD /thetribunechd 2 BRIGADES DEPLOYED TO HUNT TERRORISTS IN KATHUA J&K BHAGWAT BATS FOR SELF-RELIANCE IN DEFENCE NATION THERE’LL BE PRICE TO PAY: THAROOR’S MESSAGE TO PAKISTAN BACK PAGE monday | 26 may 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Op Sindoor not just military mission, India sees China, not Pakistan, as but reflection of changing India: PM prime adversary In first ‘Mann ki Baat’ after strikes, Modi hails success of indigenous weapons Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 25 In his first monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ since Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded the valour of the armed forces in destroying terror hideouts and emphasised that the operation was not a one-off military action, but a “reflection of a changing and resolute India”. PM Modi showed the pictures of the terror sites destroyed by the armed forces in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as he praised engineers and technicians for devising indigenous weapons. “The precision and accuracy with which our forces destroyed the terrorist hideouts across the border is amazing. Operation Sindoor has lent a new confidence and enthusiasm to the fight against terrorism across the world. Operation Sindoor is not just a military mission; it is a picture of our resolve, courage and a transforming India and this picture has CDS CONDUCTS STRATEGIC REVIEW Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service JAMMU: Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Sunday carried out a strategic review of the Indian Army’s combat readiness at the force’s northern and western theatres following the Operation Sindoor. He emphasised the importance of continued vigilance, jointness and synergy across the services to address “evolving threats”. INSIDE infused the whole country with a sense of patriotism and painted it in the hues of the Tricolour,” he said. The impact of the operation was such that children born during that period had been named “Sindoor” in Katihar in Bihar and Kushinagar in UP he pointed out. , Modi said post Operation Sindoor, there was a renewed energy for “Vocal for Local” and cited the example of a parent who said that he would buy toys made in India. The Prime Minister said several families had taken a pledge to spend vacation in India, choose an Indian wedding destination over continued on page 8 Islamabad upgrading nukes: US report PM Narendra Modi with BJP president JP Nadda, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and other leaders in New Delhi. PTI NDA meet resolves against N-blackmail Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 25 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Operation Sindoor and the Indian military’s precision strikes on Pakistan-based terror hubs demonstrated the success of national defence capacities and the effectiveness of indigenous technologies in fighting terrorism. He was chairing a meeting of 20 CMs and 18 deputy CMs of NDA-ruled states, the first such assembly after India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The meeting was a show of the ruling dispensation’s unity ahead of NDA 3.0’s first anniversary on June 9. It passed two resolutions. The first on Operation Sindoor congratulated the PM for his decisive leadership, saluted the bravery of the armed forces and resolved never to be deterred by nuclear blackmail. The resolution, proposed by Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma and seconded by Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, said India had proved that whoever challenged it would be reduced to dust and added that the operation had given ordinary citizens a new sense of self-esteem. The second resolution, on caste enumeration, moved by Haryana CM continued on page 8 New Delhi, May 25 Despite an intense armed conflict between India and Pakistan earlier this month, New Delhi views China as its “primary adversary” and Islamabad as an “ancillary” security problem. This has been revealed in the latest ‘worldwide threat assessment’ report of the US Defense Intelligence Agency released today. The report, which takes into account all global developments till May 11, says Pakistan considers India as an “existential threat” and will continue development of battlefield nuclear weapons to offset New Delhi’s conventional military advantage. Pakistan’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programmes are likely acquired primarily from suppliers in China, and sometimes transshipped through Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey and the UAE, it highlights. On the India-China relations, the US report says, INDIA, PAK NSAs LIKELY AT RUSSIA MEET MOSCOW: National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is expected to attend a major security meeting organised by the Russia’s Security Council on May 27-29. Pakistan NSA Lt Gen Asim Malik may also attend the 13th international meeting of high representatives for security issues. There is speculation that Russia may facilitate a face-to-face meeting between the two. PTI “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s priorities will probably focus on demonstrating global leadership, countering China, and enhancing New Delhi’s military power... India views China as its primary adversary and Pakistan more an ancillary security problem.” It goes on to warn that “ongoing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are capable of escalating quickly”. In late October 2024, India and China reached an agreement to move forces away from the two remaining contested continued on page 8 Akali Dal councillor shot dead in Amritsar AMRITSAR: Jandiala Guru Municipal Councillor Harjinder Singh, alias Baman, who was from the Shiromani Akali Dal, was shot dead by bike-borne armed assailants in the Chheharta area here on Sunday. The victim along with his family had come to Chheharta to attend a relative’s function. INSIDE Shukla in quarantine ahead of space travel NEW DELHI: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three other crewmates, part of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station, are headed into quarantine, the US-based private space firm announced on Sunday. The Axiom-4 mission is scheduled for lift-off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 8. — PTI Sale deeds within 48 hours in Punjab CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government is all set to effect a major reform in the way property sale is registered in the state. The move aims at eliminating the scope of corruption in tehsil offices. Registration of sale deeds will now be processed within 48 hours of the submission of documents. INSIDE India $4 tn economy, BJP scrambles as MP’s widow slur flares Lalu expels elder son claims Japan’s 4th slot Remarks distorted to fuel row, says Jangra | Cong wants him expelled Tej from RJD for 6 yrs Pradeep Sharma New Delhi, May 25 India has become the fourth largest economy in the world, overtaking Japan, NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam has said. “We are the fourth largest economy as I speak. We are a $4 trillion economy, and this is not my data. This is data of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). India today is larger than Japan,” said Subrahmanyam on Saturday while briefing reporters about the outcome of the 10th NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting. He further said India was likely to soon surpass Germany and become the third largest economy in the world. “It’s only the United States, China and Germany which are larger. If we stick to what is being planned, what is being thought through, it’s a matter of another two to three years; we will become the third largest economy,” Subrahmanyam added. The April edition of the World Eco- INDEED A MISTAKE The remarks about widowed women were inappropriate. It was indeed a mistake and he (Jangra) has expressed regret… the issue should be closed now. Tribune News Service Tribune News Service NITI CITES IMF DATA We are a $4 trillion economy, and this is not my data. This is data of the IMF. India today is larger than Japan. ❝ BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI AAYOG nomic Outlook report by the IMF mentioned that India’s nominal GDP for the fiscal year 2026 is estimated to touch nearly $4,187.017 billion, slightly more than the GDP of Japan, projected at $4,186.431 billion. Till 2024, India was the fifth largest economy across the globe. The IMF also expects that India will be the fastestgrowing major economy in the next two years. The Indian economy is expected to grow by 6.2 per cent in 2025 and 6.3 per cent in 2026, higher than global and regional counterparts, according to the World Economic Outlook report. Edit: Economic milestone Chandigarh, May 25 The BJP has distanced itself from its Rajya Sabha MP Ram Chander Jangra after his controversial remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack victims sparked nationwide outrage. The party dismissed his comments as “personal views,” even as Jangra claimed his statement had been “distort- ❝ Ram Chander Jangra Manohar Lal Khattar, UNION MINISTER ed” to fuel a political row. Facing severe backlash, the 75-year-old MP later said he “doesn’t mind apologising” if his remarks had hurt anyone. Former Haryana CM and Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar led the party’s damage-control efforts. He said Jangra’s comments were his “personal opinion” and did not reflect the BJP’s stance. Khattar acknowledged that the remarks about widowed women were inappropriate. “It was indeed a mistake and continued on page 8 edit: words that wound Ludhiana West bypoll on Suspend Shimla SP for June 19, counting June 23 misconduct, says DGP Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 25 The bypoll to the Ludhiana West Assembly seat in Punjab will take place on June 19, the Election Commission announced on Sunday. The byelection to four other Assembly constituencies — two in Gujarat and one each in Kerala and West Bengal — would also be held on June 19, said the EC, adding that the votes would be Navneet Rathore BYELECTION TO 4 OTHER SEATS ALSO ANNOUNCED counted on June 23. Besides the Ludhiana West Assembly constituency, other vacant seats include Kadi (SC) and Visavadar in Gujarat, Nilambur in Kerala and Kaliganj in West Bengal. These vacancies have arisen due to the death or resignation of the sitting MLAs. The Ludhiana West seat had continued on page 8 Tribune News Service Shimla, May 25 Himachal Pradesh DGP Atul Verma on Sunday recommended immediate suspension of Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi for “gross misconduct, insubordination and dereliction of duty”. This comes a day after SP Gandhi held a press conference and accused DGP Verma’s staff of having links with drug peddlers. Cartoons as workers, a picture-perfect scam in Pb TERMS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM ‘BASELESS’ In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) as well as to the Chief Secretary and Private Secretary to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the DGP also said the Shimla SP should be directed to report to the police headquarters pending the outcome of a detailed departmental inquiry and continued on page 8 Snaps ties, says conduct ‘irresponsible’ Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 25 RJD patron Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday expelled his elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from the family and the party for six years on the grounds of “ignoring moral values” in personal life. Tej Pratap had on Saturday announced on social media that he was “in a relationship for 12 years” with a woman, despite being married and his divorce petition still pending before a family court. He later deleted the post and claimed on X that his Facebook page was “hacked”. Though the RJD patron made no mention of the Saturday’s happenings while announcing his decision, he said his elder son’s behaviour did not align with the family’s values. “Ignoring moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice. The activities, public conduct and irresponsible behaviour of the elder son are Tej Pratap Yadav not in accordance with our family values and traditions. Therefore, due to the above circumstances, I remove him from the party and family. From now on, he will not have any role of any kind in the party and family. He is expelled from the party for six years,” Lalu said in a post on X. Tej Pratap married former Bihar minister Chandrika Rai’s daughter Aishwarya in 2018. However, both separated a few months later. Tej Pratap’s admission that “he continued on page 8 Kerala on oil leak alert Gurdaspur village panchayat uses caricatures to siphon off MGNREGA funds; probe ordered Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Caricatures painted on the main gate of the Gazikot school in Gurdaspur. Gurdaspur, May 25 A Gurdaspur village panchayat devised a novel way to fraudulently claim payments under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by projecting cartoons as individuals. Senior officials expressed shock at the audacity of the panchayat members in attempting such deception. The issue was raised by Ashok Chaudhary, husband of former Cabinet minister Aruna Chaudhary, during a District Development Coordination and Monitoring (DISHA) meeting chaired by Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. The revelation left the meeting hall stunned into silence. Randhawa, recognising the gravity of the situation, immediately directed Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh to conduct a thorough inquiry. Simultaneously, the SDMs of Kalanaur and Dinanagar were also instructed to investigate the matter in their respective areas. The fraudulent activity involved “earth filling and levelling” work at Gazikot government school, located 10 km from Gurdaspur, carried out between January 29 and February 12 under MGNREGA. To fake attendance, beneficiaries stood in front of a caricature painted on the school’s main gate and took photographs, presenting the cartoons as individuals. continued on page 8 c m y b ■ A Liberian cargo ship carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo, sank off Kerala, leading to a major oil leak on Sunday. ■ All 24 crew members were rescued as the Ker- ala Government sounded a statewide alert. The Coast Guard is working to contain the spill.