19082025-TT-01.qxd 8/18/2025 11:35 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 228 | 14 PAGES | ~6.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH RUBIO FLAGS CHINA REFINING, SELLING RUSSIAN OIL WORLD /thetribunechd STUDY CONFIRMS SNOW LEOPARDS PRESENT YEAR-ROUND IN UT J&K NO PROPOSAL TO LEVY CHOUHAN FOR CRACKDOWN TRANSACTION CHARGES ON SALE OF SPURIOUS FARM ON UPI: GOVT BUSINESS INPUTS BACK PAGE tuesday | 19 august 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com India-China ties rest on ‘3 mutuals’, Wang told EAM pitches for mutual respect, sensitivity & interest Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service US President Donald Trump with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House amid negotiations to end the war with Russia. REUTERS Putin dials Modi, briefs him on Alaska in Alaska. India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supNew Delhi, August 18 Russian President Vladimir ports all efforts in this regard. I Putin on Monday spoke with look forward to our continued Prime Minister Narendra exchanges in the days to come.” Modi and Putin also touched Modi and shared an assessment of his recent meeting upon a number of issues of bilatwith US President Donald eral cooperation with a view to further strengthen the Trump in Alaska. “special and priviPutin and Trump leged strategic parthad met for nearly nership between India three hours on Friand Russia”. day to discuss a posThis is the second sible resolution of time in the last 10 the ongoing Russiadays that the two Ukraine conflict. Vladimir Putin leaders have stressed In his call to Modi, Putin shared details of his the bilateral relations. Earlier meeting with Trump. Posting a on August 8, when Modi and message on X, Modi said, Putin spoke, they had reaf“Thank my friend, President firmed a commitment to deepPutin, for his phone call and for en the strategic partnership sharing insights on his recent between the two countries. meeting with President Trump continued on page 8 Tribune News Service Zelenskyy takes top Europe guns along for Trump meet Washington, August 18 Ukraine’s future could hinge on a hastily assembled meeting on Monday at the White House as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy brings an extraordinary group of European leaders to show US President Donald Trump a united front against Russia. The European leaders were left out of Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin last Friday, and they want to safeguard Ukraine and the continent from any widening aggression from Moscow. Many are coming with the explicit goal of protecting Ukraine’s interests—a rare show of diplomatic force. By coming as a group, they hope to avoid debacles like Zelenskyy’s February meeting in the Oval Office, where Trump chastised him for not showing enough gratitude for US military aid. Trump and Zelenskyy were due to meet in the Oval Office before European leaders join them in the East Room for talks. The meetings are also a test of America’s relationship with its closest allies after the European Union and United Kingdom accepted Trump’s tariff hikes partly because continued on page 8 New Delhi, August 18 India and China need to “take forward” the de-escalation process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at a meeting here this evening. He suggested that the two nations should be guided by three “mutuals” — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest. “Differences must not become disputes nor competition conflict,” Jaishankar said. “The basis for any positive momentum in our ties is the ability to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in border areas. It is also essential that the deescalation process moves forward,” Jaishankar said while making his opening remarks at the meeting with Wang. Wang spoke about consolidating the momentum of the China-India relations. This is the second time in less than five weeks that Jaishankar has stressed the need for de-escalation along the LAC — the disputed border between the two countries. At a meeting in Beijing on July 14, Jaishankar had conveyed to Wang how it “is incumbent upon us to address other aspects related to the border, including de-escalation”. At the meeting today, Jaishankar said, “India and China have been through a difficult period in their relationship”. Mohali court junks Bikram Majithia’s bail plea in DA case MOHALI: A Mohali court on Monday rejected the bail plea of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who was arrested in a disproportionate assets case. The public prosecutor in the case said the court dismissed former minister Majithia’s bail application on two grounds — investigation being underway and the serious nature of the alleged offences. — TNS Delhi HC reserves order on Rashid’s pleaoverexpenses External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (not in pic) in New Delhi on Monday. PTI NEED TO TAKE DE-ESCALATION PROCESS FORWARD The basis for any positive momentum in our ties is the ability to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in border areas. It is also essential that the de-escalation process moves forward. S Jaishankar, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER ❝ WANG TO BE IN PAK ON AUG 21, 22 China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Islamabad this week to attend the Pakistan-China strategic dialogue and hold meetings with the civil and military leadership to discuss bilateral ties as well as key regional and international developments, a media report said. Wang will undertake a two-day visit to the country beginning August 21. He added, “Our two nations now seek to move ahead. This requires a candid and constructive approach on both sides”. The two ministers also discussed economic and state issues, people-to-people contacts, river data sharing, border trade, connectivity and bilateral issues. Wang arrived in India on Monday afternoon for the 24th round of Special Representative (SR)level talks with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, scheduled for Tuesday. This is also the first visit by a Chinese minister since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and continued on page 8 NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC has reserved its order on jailed J&K MP Engineer Rashid’s plea for modification of the order asking him to deposit Rs 4 lakh towards expenses on travel to Parliament while in custody. The court observed that if Rashid wasn’t given interim bail, why should he, and not the jail authorities, bear the costs? INSIDE Agniveer passes awayinlineofdutyin Ladakh’s Siachen SRINAGAR: An Agniveer died on Monday in the line of duty in Siachen area of Ladakh,. “General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps, and all ranks salute Agniveer Arun, who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Siachen on August 18 and offer condolences to the bereaved family,” the Army’s 14 Corps said in a post. — PTI Action plan readied to Oppn mulls impeachment motion against CEC end G’gram infra woes Accuse him of failing to discharge constitutional duty EC releases list of 65L ‘Model of Governance’ deleted names in Bihar may be replicated in Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Gurugram, August 18 The residents of Millennium City may soon get relief from the ongoing infrastructure crisis with Haryana finalising an action plan to address their problems. The proposed action plan, if successful, may be replicated as Gurugram’s “Model of Governance” in other cities of the state. Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rajesh Khullar here today said under the resolution plan, joint efforts would be made to address issues surrounding sanitation, roads, drainage, stray animals, trimming and disposal of trees, and open garbage burning. The action plan has been prepared based on feedback from various citizen groups, resident welfare associa- New Delhi, August 18 The Congress-led INDIA bloc on Monday accused the Election Commission of failing to discharge its constitutional duty of ensuring a free and fair electoral system, and did not rule out moving an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, who, it alleged, was acting like a “BJP spokesperson”. The INDIA bloc indicated that it was keeping all options open regarding the need to act against the CEC. Addressing a press conference held by the alliance, Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said there was a consensus in the Opposition on the need to act against Kumar. InPunjabCabinetrejig, Harbhajan ETO loses Power berth to Arora other Haryana cities tions, social and other institutions, etc. A drainage plan presented by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) authorities suggested linking of major storm water drains with the Najafgarh drain to solve waterlogging. The sewage treatment capacity of 408 MLD would be increased to 950 MLD by 2028 with new and upgraded sewage treatment plants at Bajghera, Dhanwapur, Behrampur, and Sectors 78 and 107. Khullar separately met municipal corporation councillors and Class-I officers continued on page 8 Tribune News Service LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, and TMC MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee protest at Parliament. PTI “Among the options discussed, there was a broad agreement on the need to act against him. An appropriate decision will be taken at the right time,” Gogoi told reporters, responding to a question on whether the Opposition was mulling any move to remove the CEC. RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said the Opposition was not only keeping all constitutional continued on page 8 New Delhi, August 18 The Election Commission (EC) on Monday came out with the names of 65 lakh people who were removed from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar following the special intensive revision (SIR). The Supreme Court, in an order on August 14, had directed the EC to publish an enumerated, booth-wise list of the voters not included in the draft electoral roll published on August 1. More than 65 lakh enumeration forms were “not included” in the draft electoral rolls prepared as part of the SIR, bringing down the total num- Tejashwi takes Masih dig at CEC ber of around 7.9 crore registered voters to 7.24 crore. Patna accounted for the highest number (3.95 lakh) of “not included” enumeration forms. It was followed by Madhubani (3.52 lakh), East Champaran (3.16 lakh), Gopalganj (3.10 lakh), Samastipur (2.83 lakh), Muzaffarpur (2.82 lakh), Purnia (2.739 lakh), Saran (2.732 lakh), Sitamarhi (2.44 lakh), Katihar (1.84 lakh) and Kishanganj (1.45 lakh), according to the EC. The EC claimed that 22,34,501 persons were identified as continued on page 8 Political bickering in LS shadows debate on Shukla’s rare feat Ujwal Jalali CHANDIGARH: Harbhajan Singh Tribune News Service ETO has lost his Power portfolio to the new entrant in the Bhagwant Mann Cabinet, Industry Minister Sanjeev Arora. Harbhajan, however, has retained the PWD ministry. Representing Jandiala Assembly segment in Majha, Harbhajan was caught in a controversy earlier this year when the PSEB Engineers Association wrote to the CM seeking action against politicians seeking party funds. The issue had then rocked the Vidhan Sabha, giving opposition parties an issue to target the government. INSIDE New Delhi, August 18 What was supposed to be a rare, unifying moment of national pride over India’s first astronaut’s visit to the International Space Station (ISS) turned into yet another political theatre in the Lok Sabha on Monday as the Opposition boycotted proceedings and created a ruckus. A special discussion on “India’s space programme and its role in Viksit Bharat2047” was meant to celebrate the journey of Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla, IAF pilot and ISRO mission astronaut, who Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting with astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla at his residence in New Delhi on Monday. PTI Oppn boycotts proceedings| Unfortunate, says Rajnath ASTRONAUT GIVES PM MODI MISSION PATCH PM Narendra Modi met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla in New Delhi on Monday. The Prime Minister’s Office released a video showing Modi hugging Shukla. The astronaut gifted the PM the patch of Axiom-4 mission. The Lucknow-born astronaut also shared pictures he had taken from the ISS with Modi. THAROOR BREAKS RANKS, HAILS ACHIEVEMENT In a dramatic twist, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor broke ranks to shower praise on Shukla, calling his mission “a stepping stone to Gaganyaan” and a “symbol of India’s space ambitions”. recently returned from a historic stint on the ISS. Instead, the opposition benches were seen raising slogans and stalling business, ultimately c m y b forcing the House to be adjourned for the day. The Opposition INDIA bloc has since the beginning of the monsoon session launched a full-scale attack on the ruling party and vociferously demanded a discussion on the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. However, the government has maintained that the SIR matter is sub judice and cannot be discussed in the House. During a brief discussion in the House marred by pandemonium, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said India’s space economy would reach $45 billion in the next 10 years and an Indian astronaut would herald Viksit Bharat by landing on the moon in 2040. continued on page 8 DMK MP Tiruchi Siva Oppn mulls TN v/s TN in V-P poll, will take final call today Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 18 Opposition leaders could well be mulling the prospect of making the September 9 vice-presidential election a contest between two Tamil Nadu personalities. MAY BET ON ISRO EX-SCIENTIST ANNADURAI, DMK MP SIVA After a preliminary meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted at his residence this evening to discuss the V-P nominee, another opposition meeting will be held tomorrow afternoon to take the final call. Sources said the DMK had proposed for the post acclaimed scientist Mylswamy Annadurai, who has worked with the Indian Space Research Organisation. Another source said DMK leader in Rajya Sabha Tiruchi Siva was also in contention, though nothing was final and all names were only in the realm of discussions. Siva, when contacted after the joint opposition press conference against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh continued on page 8