27092025-TTC-01.qxd 9/27/2025 12:35 AM Page 1 13 GOVT FINDS NATURAL GAS OFF ANDAMANS BUSINESS /thetribunechd RAUF, SKY FINED; FARHAN WARNED BY ICC SPORT CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 267 | 26 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 saturday | 27 september 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Wangchuk arrested under NSA, shifted to Jodhpur jail FAREWELL, WARHORSE! RAVI KUMAR Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service Wife, oppn parties slam govt over ‘witch-hunt’ Adil Akhzer & Arjun Sharma Leh/Jammu, September 26 Climate activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on Friday under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), two days after protests in Leh demanding statehood and the Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four persons dead and nearly 100 injured. Wangchuk was taken into custody by a team led by Ladakh Police chief SD Singh Jamwal at 2.30 pm. The police shifted Wangchuk to a jail in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur, while the UT administration Sonam Wangchuk snapped mobile Internet within the jurisdiction of Leh district as a precautionary measure, said officials. Sources said the activist was supposed to join a virtual press briefing from his village when he was arrested. The Ministry of Home Affairs, which had blamed the activist for allegedly inciting violence through provocative statements, on Thursday cancelled the foreign funding licence of the activist’s NGO, Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, over “violations” in receiving grants. “We have also heard about the arrest, which is very unfortunate,” Chering Dorjey Lakrook, co-convener of Leh Apex Body (LAB), told The Tribune. Chering said the visit of Ladakh leaders to Delhi for “preparatory meeting” had been postponed because of continued on page 9 MiG-21 aircraft, the backbone of the IAF’s combat fleet for six decades, flew into the sunset at a decommissioning ceremony attended by the Defence Minister, CDS and triservice chiefs in Chandigarh on Friday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed it a ‘testimony to India-Russia ties’ as he recalled its role in the 1971 war, Kargil conflict & Balakot air strikes. The ceremony featured aerial displays and release of a stamp. Punjab House resolution Trump slaps 100% tariff on branded PM offers ~10K each to slams Centre’s ‘poor’ relief drugs, experts see little India impact 75 lakh women in Bihar Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 26 The Aam Aadmi Party government today moved a resolution in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha condemning the Centre for its “lack of response” and “failure” to sanction a special package of Rs 20,000 crore for the flood-ravaged state. The resolution condemned the Prime Minister’s Office for “not responding to repeated requests” by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for a meeting with PM Narendra Kuldeep Singh Targets NDA govt over ‘failure’ to give ~20K cr Modi to brief him about the “full scale of floods and the token relief of Rs 1,600 crore”. The resolution, moved by Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal during a special Assembly session that started today, stated that Punjab had been ravaged by the worst floods since 1988. “The current disaster has surpassed previous major floods that continued on page 9 Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 26 US President Donald Trump on Friday announced a 100 per cent tariff on all imported branded or patented pharmaceuticals starting October 1, unless the exporting companies are actively building manufacturing plants in the US. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Starting October 1, we will be imposing a 100 per cent tariff on any branded or patented pharmaceutical product, unless a company ‘IS MEA refutes NATO claimonModicalling Putin over war plan Say $10-bn pharma exports to US mostly generics TRADE TALKS ON: GOVT India and the US have decided to continue negotiations for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement, the Commerce Ministry said in a statement issued after the return of the Indian delegation from New York. BUILDING’ its manufacturing unit in America. ‘IS BUILDING’ will be defined as breaking ground and/or under con- struction. There will, therefore, be no tariff (on such company) if construction has started.” He also announced a 50 per cent tariff on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, a 30 per cent tariff on upholstered furniture and a 25 per cent tariff on all heavy trucks to protect US manufacturers. Following the announcement, shares of major Indian pharmaceutical companies fell by up to 2.5 per cent. Zydus was the worst affected, down 4.34 per cent, while Sun continued on page 9 edit: pharma tariffs c m y b Take it, but vote according to your will: Priyanka lakh beneficiaries. The yojana was launched by Modi via videoPatna, September 26 conferencing in the presence of It was Prime Minister Narendra Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Modi versus Congress leader “Two brothers — Narendra Priyanka Gandhi on Friand Nitish — are happy day as the PM transfor their sisters,” Modi ferred Rs 7,500 crore into said, asking women in the bank accounts of 75 the state not to let the lakh women in pollRJD-led alliance form bound Bihar under a the government. “Bihar new scheme. JUNCTION under Nitish has proThe Bihar Mukhyagressed and women mantri Mahila Rozgar feel safer,” Modi said, stressing Yojana provides for a direct that under the RJD rule, continued on page 9 transfer of Rs 10,000 to 75 New Delhi, September 26 Amid pressure from the US, India on Friday defended its energy imports from Russia and separately denied claims made by senior leadership of NATO that PM Narendra Modi had called up Russian President Vladimir Putin to ask about his Ukraine war plan. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal refuted the claim by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, saying, “The statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless. At no point has PM Modi spoken to President Putin in the manner suggested.” “India will continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” he said. Stoltenberg had claimed that tariffs imposed by the US had led to India asking Russia to explain its Ukraine war strategy. He claimed PM Modi had spoken directly to Putin on the matter. Dipak Mishra BIHAR SC clears JSW plan to acquireBhushanSteel NEW DELHI:The Supreme Court on Friday upheld JSW Steel’s ~19,700-crore resolution plan for debt-ridden Bhushan Power and Steel Limited (BPSL). “We do not find any merit in the appeals. The appeals are, therefore, dismissed,” a CJI BR Gavai-led Bench said, rejecting the objections raised by former promoters and BPSL creditors. INSIDE