21082025-TTC-03.qxd 8/21/2025 12:41 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 9 NO. 230 | 18 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 ISRAEL CALLS UP 60,000 RESERVISTS AHEAD OF FRESH GAZA OP WORLD /thetribunechd HEAVY RAIN TRIGGERS LANDSLIDES, DISRUPTS RELIEF EFFORTS J&K AVIATION GROWTH UTTARAKHAND PASSES OUTPACES SAFETY NET, MINORITY EDU WARNS PANEL NATION BILL BACK PAGE thursday | 21 august 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Ruckus over Bills on jailed PM, CMs; Oppn hurls papers at Shah Radhakrishnan files nomination Referred to 31-member joint panel | Cong calls them ‘draconian’ Animesh Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 20 Amid uproarious scenes and protests by members of the Opposition, the government on Wednesday introduced three contentious Bills in the Lok Sabha entailing the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and ministers arrested on serious charges for 30 days. The Lower House plunged into chaos as opposition members tore copies of the draft legislations soon after these were tabled by Home Minister Amit Shah. Shah tabled the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill; Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill; and the J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. The three Bills, termed draconian by the Opposition, were immediately referred to a joint committee of Parliament by Shah, who moved a motion in this regard. The 31-member committee will submit its report on the draft legislations on the last day of the first week of the winter session. A videograb shows a torn paper being thrown at Home Minister Amit Shah amid protests by the Opposition in Parliament. PTI LS PASSES BILL TO BAN ONLINE MONEY GAMES ■ The LS on Wednesday passed a Bill to ban the operating, facili- tating and advertising of online games played with money ■ The move aims at checking rising instances of addiction, money laundering and financial fraud INSIDE When the Lok Sabha, which had already been adjourned twice during the day, reconvened at 2 pm, it witnessed stormy scenes as opposition members trooped into the well of the House, raising slogans like “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod (vote thief, leave the throne)”, while protesting against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. With TMC members led by Kalyan Banerjee taking the lead in the protests along with Congress, SP Left and other , opposition lawmakers, they could be seen banging Speaker Om Birla’s table as Shah got up to introduce the Bills. The already chaotic situation further deteriorated into a full-blown drama when Congress MP KC Venugopal’s turn came to speak on the three Bills after his party colleague Manish Tewari, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi and RSP MP NK Premachandran had lodged their opposition to the draft legislations. They said the proposed laws were against the Constitution and the spirit of federalism. While Owaisi said the Constitution was being amended to “destabilise governments”, Congress MP Manish Tewari said, “This is against the jurisprudence of criminal justice and distorts parliamentary democracy. The Bills open the door for political misuse and throw all constitutional safeguards to the wind.” Opposing the “draconian” Bills, Venugopal questioned the BJP’s claim that these had been brought to ensure morality in politics and sought to know where was the morality when Shah had been arrested when he was the Gujarat Home Minister. Reacting sharply, the Home Minister said he had been framed in false cases, but had resigned on moral continued on page 8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi hands over the nomination papers of NDA’s vice-presidential candidate and Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan to the returning officer in New Delhi on Wednesday. Ministers Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari and Kiren Rijiju are among others seen. PTI BACK PAGE Says hopeful India won’t stop crude trade under pressure from US tariffs Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 20 Russia on Wednesday hinted at offering 5 per cent additional discount to India on oil purchase and expressed hope its “strategic partner” would continue the crude oil trade despite the US punitive measures. Addressing the media here, Russian Chargé d’Affaires in India Roman Babushkin said Moscow had a “special mechanism” to counter the US tariffs. “We hope India will not stop buying our oil. We have a true strategic partnership and are committed to tackle all challenges. There is a possibility of 5 per cent swing in rates, which is subject to negotiations,” he said. Russia’s Deputy Trade Rep- resentative Evgeniy Griva, who accompanied Babushkin, said “despite the changing political situation, the crude oil exports to India would remain the same”. Asked how Russia would deal with the tariffs, Griva said “there were special mechanisms”. Babushkin questioned the US tariffs against India, saying, “Friends don’t behave Deepender Deswal Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 20 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was allegedly attacked by a 41-year-old man on Wednesday during a public hearing at her camp office in the Civil Lines area. The accused, identified as Sakriya Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai of Rajkot, Gujarat, was arrested at the scene and is being jointly interrogated by the Intelligence Bureau and the Delhi Police Special Cell. The incident took place around 8.15 am while the Chief Minister was participating in a public outreach programme. Police sources said the assailant entered the office posing as a complainant, seeking the “release of one of his relatives who was in jail”. As CM Gupta approached him, he handed her some papers before shouting, attempting to slap her and then pushing her. He subsequently grabbed her by the hair before security personnel intervened to subdue him. “A case under Section 109(1) (attempt to murder), Section 132 (assaulting or using criminal force against a public servant) and Section 221 (obstructing a public servant while on duty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered against him at the Civil Lines police station,” an official said. While the exact motive is under investigation, the accused’s mother claimed her son was mentally ill and an animal lover. He was upset over a recent Supreme Court order concerning stray dogs. The sources, however, stated that the man had no relative in jail and carried no genuine application. The accused had five previous Rajeshbhai, accused of attacking CM Rekha Gupta, in custody. PTI COWARDLY ACT The attack was a cowardly attempt on our resolve to serve Delhi and work for public welfare… Such incidents can never break my spirit or my commitment to serve the people. ❝ Rekha Gupta, CM BJP SEES AAP HAND Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Rahul Gahlawat Hisar, August 20 The post-mortem of a schoolteacher, Manisha (19), who was found dead near a canal at Singhani village in Bhiwani district on August 13, was conducted for a third time at AIIMS, New Delhi, today. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has announced that the case will be handed over to the CBI on the family’s request. He said complete justice would be ensured in the matter. Manisha’s last rites will be performed at 8 am tomorrow. The victim’s grandfather, Ram Kishan, said the family was satisfied with the action taken so far and their demands had been met. Farmer leaders Gurnam Singh Charuni and Suresh Koth, who joined the dharna in Manisha’s native village — Dhani Laxman — said the villagers had ended their protest following the decision. Earlier, after the completion of the forensic procedure and formalities at AIIMS, the body was brought back to Bhiwani Beneficiaries at a ration depot in Hoshiarpur district. FILE TAXPAYERS, FIRM DIRECTORS AMONG THEM ■ These beneficiaries are either income tax payees, directors in companies, own more than five acres of land or a four-wheeler ■ There are 1.53 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act in Punjab. Each beneficiary is entitled to 5 kg of wheat per month at Rs 2 per kg country. The Centre has reportedly found eight crore suspicious beneficiaries across the country, of whom 11 lakh are in Punjab. There are 1.53 crore beneficiaries under the NFSA in Punjab. Each beneficiary is entitled to 5 kg of wheat per month at Rs 2 a kg. In Punjab, the government distributes ration for three months, with 32,500 metric tonnes being distributed for each month. Sources in the government told The Tribune that the number of these suspicious continued on page 8 Third autopsy done at AIIMS | Last rites today by the police along with three family members. The body has been kept at the Bhiwani Civil Hospital and will be taken to the village tomorrow morning for the funeral. Meanwhile, heavy police deployment remains in place around the village to maintain law and order. The Internet services in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts have been suspended until 11 am tomorrow. Manisha had gone missing from the school on August 11. Her body was found near a canal two days later reportedly with a cut mark on her throat. The police initially registered a case of murder and started an investigation. Later, the state government transferred Bhiwani SP Manbir Singh and placed five cops under suspension for alleged negligence in the case. The case saw another twist when the police started the probe continued on page 8 A war of words erupted between the BJP and AAP. The BJP shared a purported photo of the attacker with AAP’s Gujarat leader Gopal Italia, which AAP termed as “AI-generated”. “The suspicion proved real,” BJP MLA Harish Khurana said. NHAI can’t collect toll if road in pathetic condition: SC cases registered against him in Rajkot, though he was acquitted in all of them, the sources added. Responding to the attack, CM Gupta, in a post on X, said it was a “cowardly attempt” to shake her resolve to serve Delhi, but such incidents would not break her spirit. Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed the attack was premeditated. He said the accused had conducted surveillance at the Chief Minister’s residence 24 hours prior to the attack. New Delhi, August 20 The Supreme Court has ruled that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) cannot force commuters to pay toll if a highway is kept in a terrible condition. The public paying toll has the right to demand “unhindered, safe and regulated access” to the road, said a Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai. The Bench dismissed the NHAI’s appeal against the Kerala High Court’s order, suspending toll collection at Paliyekkara in Thrissur dis- Satya Prakash Tribune News Service Says people paying charges have right to ‘unhindered, safe access’ SHOWS INEFFICIENCY Let the citizens be free to move on roads, for the use of which they have already paid taxes, without further payment to navigate gutters and potholes — symbols of inefficiency. Bench ❝ <