08092025-TTC-01.qxd 9/8/2025 12:45 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 248 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 JAPANESE PM ISHIBA RESIGNS AFTER POLL LOSSES WORLD /thetribunechd RLYS OFFERS KASHMIRI MEALS ON KATRA TO SRINAGAR ROUTE J&K ARCHERS BAG HISTORIC DESPITE MODI-XI BONHOMIE, MEN’S COMPOUND NO CHANGE IN DEPLOYMENT TEAM GOLD SPORT IN LADAKH BACK PAGE monday | 8 september 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com An Appeal to our Readers The devastating floods that have ravaged J&K, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in the past weeks have caused unprecedented destruction, sweeping away homes, crippling infrastructure, taking away lives, displacing families and leaving countless people in need for urgent relief and rehabilitation. In the past years, during such calamities, be it the floods in Kerala, the landslides in Uttarakhand, the floods in Jammu and Kashmir, the cloudburst in Ladakh, the Orissa Cyclone, the Kargil War or the Gujarat earthquake, Tribune readers have always come forward to make their valuable donations. The Tribune Trust appeals to its readers to do so once again. Their contributions will provide invaluable support for reducing the anguish of the families of those who have lost lives and their homes. The names of all those who donate ~500 and above will be published in the paper. These donations shall also qualify for deduction under the Income Tax Act, in accordance with the applicable provisions. Donations should be in the form of crossed cheques or demand drafts in favour of the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and sent to The Tribune Trust, Sector 29-C, Chandigarh160030, or to The Tribune offices in various cities. All donations received by us will be duly sent to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. — President and Trustees of The Tribune Trust, Chandigarh Modi to visit Punjab tomorrow, will survey flood-ravaged areas Fact-checked on X, Navarro renews India tirade over Russian oil To hold review meet in Gurdaspur |Kangra visit on the cards too THE TRIBUNE RELIEF FUND FOR J&K, PUNJAB & HP Tribune News Service Aditi Tandon New Delhi, September 7 White House adviser Peter Navarro faced fact-checks on X for his criticism of India’s Russian oil imports, with users clarifying that New Delhi’s decisions are driven by energy security concerns, not just cheap prices. In a fresh post on X, Navarro said, “India buys Russia oil solely to profiteer. It didn’t buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. Indian government spin machine moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukrainians. Stop taking American jobs.” His post came in response to a community note on X that challenged his earlier claim that India’s oil purchases fuel Russia’s “war machine”. The note described Navarro’s accusations as “hypocritical”, pointing out that India’s legal oil purchases prioritise energy security and comply with international law. It also noted that the US continued to import Russian goods, such as uranium, highlighting a perceived double standard. X’s community notes feature allows users to collaboratively add context to potentially misleading posts. Notes are displayed publicly if they are deemed helpful by a diverse range of contributors. India has dismissed Navar- Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 7 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit flood-affected areas of Punjab on September 9, as confirmed by both the state BJP unit and official sources. The visit schedule was finalised on Sunday morning and shared with the Punjab Government. After casting his vote in the vice-presidential election on Tuesday, the Prime Minister will travel to the state to assess the flood situation. The Tribune reported on the PM’s scheduled visit to Punjab on September 9 in its Sunday edition. Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar confirmed the schedule via a social media post, saying, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is deeply concerned about the flood situation in Punjab and is closely monitoring it. He is visiting Punjab on September 9 to personally assess local conditions and understand the ground realities to provide maximum assistance to the people of Punjab.” Jakhar added that Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had already been sent to assess the situation. He also noted that two central teams, which had toured the state to evaluate Soldiers help locals and district administration shore up Sutlej embankment at Daudpur village in Ropar. PUNJAB SCHOOLS TO REOPEN All government schools in Punjab will reopen on September 9 after being closed due to floods. Education Minister Harjot Bains said teachers would assess and get the premises cleaned on Monday. Private and aided schools, colleges and universities were permitted to open as usual. INSIDE the flood damage, were all set to submit their reports to the Centre. He assured that the “government stands firmly with the people of Punjab”. PM Modi is expected to arrive in Pathankot to conduct an aerial survey of flood- HIMACHAL PEGS LOSS AT ~4K CR Himachal Pradesh officials have estimated monsoon losses at approximately ~4,080 crore. From June 24 to September 7, heavy rain triggered disasters that claimed 366 lives and damaged over 6,247 houses, along with hundreds of shops and factories across the state, they said. INSIDE affected areas in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. From there, he will travel by air to assess the damage in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, before covering affected regions of Punjab and landing in Gurdaspur. The sources said the PM was likely to hold a review meeting with Punjab state officials in Gurdaspur. The areas to be reviewed include Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Ferozepur, continued on page 8 INDIA-HIRED LOBBYIST MEETS TRUMP US-based political lobbyist Jason Miller, whose lobbying firm was hired by India, met US President Donald Trump and a few officials of his administration. BACK PAGE US WARNS MOSCOW US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday said the Russian economy would ‘collapse’ if Washington and the European Union imposed more secondary sanctions on countries that buy crude oil from Moscow. ro’s criticisms as “inaccurate and misleading”. Last week, he referred to India as an “oil money laundromat for the Kremlin” and criticised its “strategic freeloading” for purchasing Russian weapons while seeking US defence technology and manufacturing investments. India-US relations have been strained since President Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent additional duty linked to India’s Russian oil purchases. India called the move “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”. According to government data, India imported approximately 1.8 million barrels per day of Russian crude oil in 2024. edit: trump’s overtures Jind youth shot by US national after altercation HISAR: A 26-year-old youth, Kapil Sharma, from Barah Kalan village in Jind district was allegedly shot by a US national after he stopped him from urinating outside the premises where he was working as a guard in California. He had gone to the US about three years ago via the ‘donkey route’, paying Rs 45 lakh. INSIDE Apex court to hear pleas against EC’s SIR in Bihar today NEW DELHI: The SC will take up petitions challenging the Election Commission’s June 24 notification for conducting Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar on Monday. A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will consider the response of the RJD, AIMIM and other petitioners. INSIDE Mann’s condition improving, vitals normal: Hospital CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali on Friday after he complained of exhaustion and low heart rate, is progressing well, the hospital authorities said. “His vitals are normal and he has been mobilised,” they said in a statement on Sunday. — PTI Hydel plants cleaner: Himachal counters SC ecology concerns 4-1 India Asian champs ■ Dilpreet Singh scored a brace as India defeated defending champs South Korea 4-1 to win the men’s Asia Cup hockey tournament after eight years at Rajgir, Bihar, on Sunday. ■ With this, India have qualified for next year’s FIH World Cup. India are the second-most successful team in the Asia Cup with four titles, behind five-time champions Korea. INSIDE Satya Prakash Tribune News Service Seated on the last row, PM Modi with BJP MPs at Sansad Karyashala. ANI Ahead ofV-P vote, BJP holds drill for its MPs; Congmockpoll today Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 7 With the vice-presidential election just days away, the BJP kicked off a two-day workshop on Sunday for all its MPs from both Houses of Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the workshop and was seated among other lawmakers in the last row. The workshop, which started on Sunday, is aimed at sensitising lawmakers about the voting procedure and other key aspects they need to follow while casting their votes, particularly for the first-time MPs in the party’s fold. The election will take place on September 9 at Parliament House. MPs from both Houses, currently totalling 732, form the electoral college for the election, which will be conducted via ballot paper. The Congress will also conduct a mock poll drill for its MPs in the national capital on September 8. During the event, BJP MPs felicitated PM Modi for the GST reforms, said sources. Modi joins workshop | Resolution passed on GST reforms The first day of the workshop focused on two main themes: “Towards a Developed India by 2027” and the “effective use of social media by MPs”. The MPs were divided into different committees to discuss a range of topics, including agriculture, defence, energy, education, railways and transport. The workshop also covered preparations for the upcoming parliamentary session, parliamentary procedures, subordinate legislation and time management in the House. The second day of the workshop will focus on training MPs specifically for the September 9 election. The election features a direct contest between the NDA candidate, Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan and the INDIA bloc’s nominee, retired Supreme Court judge B Sudarshan Reddy. Both candidates are continued on page 8 New Delhi, September 7 Faced with the Supreme Court’s warning that the entire state may vanish in thin air, if unregulated development continues unabated, the Himachal Pradesh Government has defended construction of hydropower projects in the state, terming them a cleaner alternative to fossil fuel-based thermal power projects. In an affidavit filed in the top court in response to a suo motu PIL on ecological imbalance and the court’s concern regarding alleged destruction caused by hydropower projects, the HP Government sought to emphasise that its economy depended majorly on hydropower projects and tourism. The Supreme Court had on July 28 said, “We want to impress upon the state government and the Centre Police detain over 30 as Hazratbal row snowballs HC FORMS DISASTER RELIEF FUND The HP High Court has established a dedicated “Chief Justice Disaster Relief Fund 2025” and appealed for voluntary contributions — not just from institutions, but from individuals across the judicial and legal fraternity — to help those “struggling to rebuild their lives”. INSIDE that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of environment and ecology. If things continue the way they are, the day is not far when the entire state of Himachal Pradesh may disappear from the country’s map.” However, while acknowledging that various studies have attributed cloudbursts and subsequent flash floods to global warming, the HP Government said: “The continued on page 8 PTI Windfall as automakers slash prices post-GST cut Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 7 Leading automakers Hyundai Motor India, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra have passed on the benefits of goods and services tax (GST) rate cuts to consumers by sig- Brand Hyundai M&M Tata Motors Price drop Up to ~2.4L Up to ~1.56L Up to ~1.55L nificantly reducing prices across their vehicle lineup. This follows the recent GST Council announcement to reduce with effect from September 22 taxes on small cars — up to 1,200 cc for petrol and 1,500 cc for diesel, under 4 metres in length — from 28 per cent to 18 per cent and bring larger vehicles and SUVs under a 40 per cent tax slab, down from effective 50 per cent. Hyundai has slashed prices by up to Rs 2.4 lakh across its passenger vehicle models, effective September 22. Hyundai Tucson will now be cheaper by Rs 2,40,303, continued on page 8 Army turns messiah, flies10 of family for kin’s last rites Ruchika M Khanna & Vijay Mohan JAMMU: Over 30 persons have reportedly been detained in connection with the vandalisation of the national emblem at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar. The police are, however, tightlipped over the issue and have not confirmed any detention yet. NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has demanded their release. Reports suggest that they were detained for questioning in the case following the registration of an FIR by the police on Saturday. INSIDE MAXIMUM DISCOUNT Tribune News Service Kin of an accident victim reach Dinanagar for the last rites. c m y b Chandigarh, September 7 The Army has turned out to be a messiah for flood-ravaged families in the region, rescuing scores from the jaws of death and providing succour to many who had lost all hope. In one such tragic but heartwarming incident, the Army joined marooned villagers and the civil administration of Gurdaspur to help 10 members of a family bid the final COMES TO RESCUE OF WOMAN IN LABOUR A nine-month pregnant woman in labour, who was stranded at Ramkot village in the Jammu region, completely cut off by road, was airlifted to a hospital for urgent care. Through rain and darkness, Army troops marched 18 km at night to coordinate the evacuation by a Dhruv helicopter in inclement weather, and the woman was safely evacuated to a military hospital in Samba. She delivered a baby girl the next day. goodbye to one of their own. The incident happened in flood-ravaged Gurdaspur this past week. With the Ravi waters still above the danger mark, having already swallowed huge tracts of land along its floodplains, the local administration got a strange, but sad SOS from Amrik Singh, sarpanch of Bharial village, that falls in the enclave across the river near the International Border. “A young man, Balwinder, had continued on page 8