29032025-TTC-01.qxd 3/29/2025 12:17 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 9 NO. 86 | 24 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 YUNUS MEETS XI, SAYS CHINA RELIABLE PARTNER WORLD /thetribunechd HC CUTS RASHID’S TRAVEL COST FOR PARL ATTENDANCE J&K WHITE LOTUS: SUPER RICH & A WEALTH OF SUPERFICIALITY REVIEW MoD INKS ~62K-CR DEAL WITH HAL TO PURCHASE 156 COPTERS BACK PAGE saturday | 29 march 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Mere poem can’t lead to hatred: SC junks Guj FIR against Cong MP Says court duty-bound to protect freedom of speech Kamra gets interim Satya Prakash Tribune News Service People stand near the site of a collapsed building after a strong earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday. REUTERS Over 150 dead as strong 7.7 quake hits Myanmar, Thailand, shakes India too Bangkok, March 28 A powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand on Friday, destroying buildings, a bridge and a dam. At least 144 persons were killed in Myanmar, where photos and video from two hard-hit cities showed extensive damage. At least eight persons died in the Thai capital where a under-construction high-rise collapsed. The 7.7-magnitude quake, with its epicentre near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second INDIA READY TO OFFER ALL POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE: PM ❝ Concerned bytothe situation in Myanmar and Thailand. India stands ready offer all possible assistance… asked our authorities to be on standby. Also asked the MEA to remain in touch with the govts of Myanmar and Thailand. Narendra Modi, PM largest city, struck at midday and was followed by a strong 6.4-magnitude aftershock. Mild tremors were felt in Kolkata, Imphal and Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district as well. The full extent of death, injury and destruction was not immediately clear, particularly in Myanmar, one of the world’s poorest countries. It is embroiled in a civil war and information is tightly controlled. The head of Myanmar’s military government said in a televised speech on Friday evening that at least 144 persons were killed and 730 others were injured. “The death toll and injuries are expected to rise,” Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing said. Photos from the capital of Naypyidaw showed multiple buildings used to house civil servants destroyed by the quake and rescue crews pulling victims from the rubble. Myanmar’s government said blood was in high demand in the hardest-hit areas. continued on page 8 New Delhi, March 28 Holding that mere recital of poetry can’t lead to animosity amongst different communities, the Supreme Court on Friday emphasised the need to protect free speech as it quashed an FIR registered by the Gujarat Police against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi for allegedly posting a clip of a provocative poem on a social media platform. “Seventyfive years into our Republic, we cannot be seen to be so shaky on our fundamentals that mere recital of a poem or any form of art or entertainment such as stand-up comedy can be alleged to lead to animosity or hatred amongst different communities. Subscribing to such a view would stifle all legitimate expressions of view in the public domain which is so fundamental to a free society,” a Bench led by Justice AS Oka said. “Literature, including poetry, films and stage shows such as stand-up comedy, make the lives of human beings more meaningful. The courts are duty-bound to uphold and enforce fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution,” said the Bench which also included Justice Ujjal Bhuyan. Writing the verdict for the It’s premature: Top court Dallewal has ended fast, taken rejects petition for FIR water, Punjab AG informs SC against Justice Varma Farm union disputes govt’s claim, says fast still on Tribune News Service Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 28 The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking directions to the Delhi Police to register an FIR against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court following allegations of discovery of semiburnt and unaccounted stash of cash at his residence during a fire incident on March 14, terming it “premature”. In another development, the Centre on Friday notified Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court— his parent high court. How- Centre notifies transfer to Allahabad HC, but he won’t be assigned work ever, Justice Varma will not be assigned any judicial work in the Allahabad High Court, the Supreme Court said in a press release. About the PIL seeking an FIR, a Bench led by Justice AS Oka said, “Once the inhouse inquiry is complete, all sorts of recourse is open. If required, the CJI can direct the registration of an FIR. Why should we go into this continued on page 8 Himachal MLAs get 24% hike in salary, allowances Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, March 28 The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha today passed three Bills proposing a 24 per cent increase in the salaries and allowances of the Chief Minister, Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and legislators while linking the revision to price index. The hike, implemented after a gap of nine years, is expected to cost the state exchequer about Rs 24 crore. The pension of former MLAs has been raised too. With the salary revision now being linked to the price index, there will be an automatic hike every five years. An annual expenditure of about Rs 22 crore is expected LAST RAISED IN 2016 POST CM Speaker Dy Speaker Ministers MLAs Ex-MLAs REVISED (~) 1.15 lakh 95,000 92,000 95,000 70,000 50,000 EARLIER 95,000 80,000 75,000 80,000 55,000 36,000 to be incurred on the hiked salary and pension of MLAs and former legislators, Rs 2 crore for Cabinet members and Rs 35 lakh for the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. The three Bills that were passed included Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker’s And Deputy Speaker’s Salaries (Amendment) Bill, 2025; HP Legislative continued on page 8 New Delhi, March 28 Farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has broken his 123day fast and accepted water, Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh told the Supreme Court on Friday. “One more positive fact I want to bring to your notice... With your intervention, Dallewal accepted water today and broke his fast,” the Punjab Advocate General told a Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh. Welcoming the development, Justice Kant said, “Very good… Pray for his good health. We have been saying that he is a genuine farmer leader and he has no political agenda or anything. He (Dallewal) is one person who raises genuine demands (of farmers). There are people who would never like any settlement to take place.” Dallewal had been on fast unto death since November Farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal consumes water in Patiala on Friday. 26, 2024, to press for farmers’ demands, including implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 agitation. In January, Dallewal had agreed to take medical aid without breaking his fast and to hold talks with the Centre on the issues raised by protesting farmers. continued on page 8 Imran Pratapgarhi PROVOCATIVE VIDEO: COPS Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi had uploaded a video recitation of a poem ‘Ae khoon ke pyase baat suno” on X carrying words that were provocative, pitted communities against one another, and were detrimental to national unity, the police alleged. NOT TARGETING UNITY The poem does not refer ❝religion,casteorlanguage.to any We fail to understand how the statements therein are detrimental to national unity and how the statements will affect national unity. SC Bench Bench, Justice Oka said, “Free expression of thoughts and views by individuals or groups of individuals is an integral part of a healthy and civilised society. Without freedom of expression of thoughts and views, it is impossible to lead a dignified life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution. “In a healthy democracy, the views, opinions or thoughts expressed by an individual or group of individuals must be countered by expressing another point of view. Even if a large number of persons dislike the views expressed by another, the right of the person to express the views must be respected and protected,” Justice Oka wrote. The top court said, “Courts, particularly the constitutional courts, must be at the forefront to zealously protect the fundamental rights. Endeavour of the courts should always be to protect and promote the fundamental rights, including the freedom of speech and expression, which is one of the most cherished rights a citizen can have in a liberal constitutional democracy. “The courts must not be seen to regulate or stifle the freedom of speech and expression. As a matter of fact, the courts must remain ever vigilant to thwart any attempt to undermine the Constitution and the constitutional values, including the freedom of speech and expression,” the Bench added. The Bench said, “Sometimes, we, the Judges, may not like spoken or written continued on page 8 bail over jokes on Maha Dy CM Shinde Chennai, March 28 The Madras High Court on Friday granted interim anticipatory bail to comedian Kunal Kamra, who is facing the heat over his jokes on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The high court granted Kamra the relief on the condition that he should execute a bond to the satisfaction of the judicial magistrate at Vanur in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. Justice Sunder Mohan also issued notice to second respondent (R2-Khar Police) and posted the matter to April 7. Kamra had submitted he moved to Tamil Nadu from Mumbai in 2021 and had been "ordinarily a resident of this state since then" and that he feared arrest by the Mumbai police. His counsel submitted that the allegation against the petitioner was that he made certain remarks in a standup comedy on Shinde and that the matter did not warrant custodial interrogation. He was unable to seek anticipatory bail in Maharashtra. He also submitted that a life threat was made against him by ruling party workers and ministers. — PTI Cabinetokays2% DAhikeforCentral staff,pensioners New Delhi, March 28 The Union Cabinet on Friday increased the dearness allowance (DA) by 2 percentage points effective from January 1 this year, benefitting nearly 1.15 crore Central Government employees and pensioners. The Cabinet has approved the release of an additional instalment of DA to the employees and dearness relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from January 1, representing an increase of 2 per cent over the existing rate of 53 per cent of the basic pay/pension, said Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The impact on the exchequer on account of increase in DA/DR would be Rs 6,614.04 crore per annum. The move will benefit about 48.66 lakh Central Government employees and 66.55 lakh pensioners. “The hike is in accordance with the formula based on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission,” an official statement said. — TNS Security personnel at the encounter site in Kathua district. REUTERS Cop missing after Kathua gunfight found dead, toll 4 Arjun Sharma Jammu, March 28 The body of a fourth policeman was found near the encounter site in Kathua district where three security personnel had been killed and an equal number of terrorists neutralised in a fierce gunfight on Thursday. A drone camera spotted the officer’s body near the Ghati Juthana area. Retrieval operations faced significant chal- Drone camera spots body; ops to hunt down ultras on lenges due to intermittent heavy gunfire and explosions, preventing security forces from recovering the body until late Friday evening. The People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a Pakistanbacked terror outfit affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammad continued on page 8 60K cancer cases in 2 years, only 915 beds in Hry govt facilities Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 28 Haryana’s healthcare system is grappling with a critical shortage of cancer treatment infrastructure, with only 915 beds available across government facilities for 59,912 patients reported in two years. This alarming disparity was revealed by Health Minister Arti Singh Rao while responding to a Calling Attention Notice raised by INLD’s Arjun Chautala on the state’s growing cancer burden. She said as many as 29,437 cancer cases were reported in 2023 and 30,475 in 2024. The data has been sourced from district civil hospitals, private institutions, district hospital labs, National Cancer Institute (Jhajjar), Atal Cancer Care Centre (Ambala Cantonment), ESI Medical College (Faridabad), Maharaja Agrasen Medical College (Hisar), Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College (Karnal), PGIMSRohtak, BPS Government Medical College for Women 29,437 cases were reported in 2023; 30,475 in 2024 COUNT AS PER INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH YEAR 2020 2023 2024 HARYANA 29,219 30,015 30,851 2021 31,679 32,513 PUNJAB 38,636 39,521 40,435 41,337 42,288 (Sonepat), SHKM Government Medical College (Nuh), Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital (Sangrur & New Chandigarh). Today’s issue is of 24 pages, including four-page Jalandhar Tribune. c m y b 2022 In 2023 and 2024, the most cases were reported from private institutions (18,988), followed by district civil hospitals (15,601), National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar (7,778), and PGIMS-Rohtak (7,540). As per the medical certification of the cause of death, 5,071 cancer-related deaths were recorded in the state between 2021 and 2023. Regarding the capacity of government health institutions, Rao said cancer care services, including OPD, chemotherapy and surgery, were provided free to needy patients at the district civil hospitals in Faridabad, Panchkula, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar. Cancer treatment is available at the PGIMS-Rohtak, GMC (Sonepat), GMC (Nuh), GMC (Karnal), Maharaja Agrasen Medical College (Hisar) and the National Cancer Institute (Jhajjar). Additionally, a 50bed Atal Cancer Care Centre has been established at the Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantonment. In 2024, 712 patients received radiotherapy, 2,695 underwent chemotherapy and 483 cancer surgeries were performed. These facilities cover only 11 of the 22 districts in the state. “In total, 38 special cancer wards with 915 continued on page 8