21012026-CT-01.qxd 1/21/2026 12:05 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune MC TAKES STEPS TO CURB DOG BITE CASES IN CITY UT COPS WEIGH MEASURES TO ENSURE ROAD SAFETY COSTUME DESIGNER SMRITI CHAUHANHAS DESIGNS ON DILJIT The MC has started taking measures towards implementation of standard operating procedures. P3 Traffic Police organise a road safety dialogue-cum-workshop at the UT Guest House. P3 Smriti, who is upbeat about Dhurandhar’s success, would like to style Diljit Dosanjh, whom she rates as the most stylish.P4 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 182 PANCHKULA 140 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD Says authorities turned a blind eye, allowed animals to suffer Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH BLOOD DONATION: 23rd blood donation camp by Security Department; Zakir Hall, near Bhargava Auditorium, PGI; 9 am EXHIBITION: Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi organises Tricity School Art Teachers Exhibition & Awards; Government Museum & Art Gallery, Sector 10-C; on till January 23; 11 am to 7 pm APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 15, 40, 46 Panchkula: Sector 25 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Chandigarh, January 20 Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has admonished UT authorities for their casual and negligent approach that led to the deaths of around 50 cattle at the gaushala near Raipur Kalan. The court noted that regulatory authorities turned a blind eye, allowed animals to suffer and unchecked violations of laws. The admonition came as Justice Sanjay Vashisth directed the matter to be treated as a public interest litigation, before issuing notice to the Centre, Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation. “Chandigarh is a well-known city, known to be inhabited by a maximum number of intellectuals of two States – Punjab and Haryana. Despite that, it appears that the law enforcing agencies/officers, who are responsible to execute the orders against the defaulters, have turned their eyes blind, taking no action to create the atmosphere of discipline,” Justice Vashisth asserted. People protest outside the gaushala near Raipur Kalan after the death of cattle. FILE PHOTO The Bench also quoted a news report as saying that the postmortem examination of nine cow carcasses revealed polythene bags and plastic waste in the stomach of at least seven. Preliminary reports indicated this to be the cause of death. “There is a ban of use of polythene bags in Chandigarh. But despite that, because of casual approach of the concerned regulatory authorities, who are duty bound to take severe In sync action against the violators, polythene bags are being used openly everywhere. The socalled literate people throw vegetable waste and other eatable articles by putting them in the polythene bags, which are consumed by stray animals,” Justice Vashisth asserted He observed the incident came to public attention following widespread media coverage, reporting that several cow carcasses were found at an incineration plant. Bid to take away SUV at gunpoint NCC girls participate in a Republic Day parade rehearsal at Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PARDEEP TEWARI Mohali, January 20 Three youths attempted to take away an SUV at gunpoint in Dera Bassi on Monday. While the SUV driver was getting the tank filled at a petrol pump, the three youths, with faces covered, arrived there on a scooty. As the SUV driver was about to get into the vehicle, one of the youths pointed a pistol at the driver while another snatched the keys from the driver and tried to enter the SUV. Meanwhile, the filling station employees rushed towards the youths with rods and sticks. However, they managed to escape. The petrol pump staff informed the police about the incident. — TNS Cong launches ‘Ideas Bank’ platform to strengthen citizens’ role in governance Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 20 The Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee today launched “Ideas Bank”, an initiative aimed at giving UT residents a direct and meaningful role in shaping the city’s development. At www.chdnext.com, the platform has been designed as an open and accessible online platform through which citizens can submit their ideas, suggestions and solutions on issues impacting everyday life in the city, including infrastructure, civic amenities, environment, public spaces and local governance. Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari, while launching the initiative, said, “Chandigarh is a city with an aware, engaged and deeply invested citizenry. Over the years, people have consistently expressed a desire to be heard on matters that directly affect their lives Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari and Congress president HS Lucky address a press conference in Sector 35 on Tuesday. PHOTO: VICKY and neighbourhoods. “The ‘Ideas Bank’ creates an institutional mechanism through which people can directly articulate their visions for the city’s future. By collating and studying these perspectives, it will become possible to identify the most urgent and widely felt issues facing the city at any given point, allowing us, their public representatives, to respond with greater focus and accountability. It reflects the Congress’s belief that effective governance must be rooted in real experiences and concerns from the ground.” Chandigarh Congress president Harmohinder Singh Lucky explained that the initiative would function through an action-oriented process. “Citizens will be encouraged to submit their ideas through the Ideas Bank website. Based on these submissions, key focus areas will be identified on a regular basis, allowing the Congress to concentrate its efforts on the most pressing issues facing the city at a given time,” he said. He further added that the objective of the platform is to foster a sense of ownership among residents. Meanwhile, Tewari questioned the MC for not taking any action against the contractor of the animal carcass incineration plant located in Raipur Kalan. He was responding to the questions on the death of over 50 cows in Chandigarh. The MP said if the plant stopped working, then why no action was taken against the contractor so far. He said that the inquiry which was set up by the administration must not be a mere eyewash and it must fix the responsibility for the incident. c m y b “In the shocking incident, on Wednesday, January 14, around 50 cattle were found dead under mysterious circumstances at the gaushala in Raipur Kalan, which is stated to be run under the control of the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh. In one of the news reports it is reported that ‘...several carcasses were found mutilated, with eyes, hooves and horns missing’, raising serious suspicion about Continued on page 2 MAX 22°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 25.1°C | MIN 6°C SUNRISE THURSDAY 7.18 AM /THETRIBUNECHD High Court rap for UT over cattle deaths at gaushala PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.50 PM » WEDNESDAY | 21 JANUARY 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Mayoral poll: Parties keep cards close to their chest Two days left for the filing of nomination papers Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 20 Two days are left for the filing of nominations for the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, but suspense continues over the candidates and a possible alliance between the Congress and AAP . The BJP as well as the Opposition are keeping their cards close to their chest. Their leaders are not revealing the names of the candidates, fearing the backlash of councillors. Both the ruling BJP and the Opposition (Congress and AAP) have equal numbers in 35-member MC House. The Chandigarh MP also has voting right in the mayoral elections. Jatinder Pal Malhotra, Chandigarh BJP president, said the party would announce the candidates on January 22, the last day for the filing of nominations. He was in New Delhi on the occasion of the election of the BJP national president. Sources said he held a meeting with the top party leadership over the election issue. Though AAP and the Congress leaders are all set to BJP APPOINTS TAWDE AS OBSERVER Bharatiya Janata Party national president Nitin Nabin, who assumed charge on Tuesday, has appointed Vinod Tawde, BJP national general secretary, as election observer for the Chandigarh Mayor’s poll. Arun Singh, who is another national general secretary of the party, has issued a letter in this regard and sent it to the in-charge and state president of the Chandigarh BJP. fight the election with some understanding, they also have not officially announced any candidate so far. City Congress president HS Lucky said the party was ready to help any party to defeat the BJP He clari. fied there was no official talk with the AAP leadership yet on the mayoral elections. “We will be holding a meeting with our councillors soon. After that we will have discussions with the central leadership. The names of the candidates or any decision will be announced on January 22,” he said. Lucky said the Congress had decided to have some understanding with AAP in the 2024 mayoral elections to stop the BJP from winning the mayor’s post. Dr Sunny Singh Ahluwalia, co-in-charge of the Chandigarh AAP said , no decision had been taken regarding any alliance with the Congress so far. Any decision regarding the candidates or the understanding with the Congress will be announced on January 22, he added. The mayoral elections are scheduled for January 29. It is a close contest as both BJP and the Opposition have equal number after two AAP councillors, Suman Sharma and Poonam, joined the BJP recently. To win the election of Mayor, 19 votes are required. The BJP has 18 councillors in the House, the Congress six and AAP 11. The Chandigarh MP also has voting right. The decision to hold the Mayor’s election by a show of hands this time has made all parties to change their strategies. Cross-voting played a major role in close contests during the elections by secret ballot.