07052024-TT-01.qxd 5/6/2024 11:16 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 126 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 HIMACHAL PRADESH AFTER RAFAH INVASION THREAT, HAMAS ACCEPTS TRUCE OFFER WORLD /thetribunechd BLOW TO NC, KARGIL LEADERS QUIT TO SUPPORT IND J&K BSNL TO LAUNCH 4G SERVICES IN AUGUST BUSINESS BJD GOVT TO EXPIRE ON JUNE 4: PM TARGETS PATNAIK INDIA VOTES tuesday | 7 may 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Delhi L-G for NIA probe against Kejri over ‘Khalistani political funding’ In letter to MHA, flags complaint alleging AAP got $16 mn for ‘aiding Bhullar’s release’ Samad Hoque Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 6 Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has recommended an NIA probe against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the allegations that the Aam Aadmi Party received political funding from Sikhs for Justice, a pro-Khalistan terror outfit banned in India. In a letter to Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Principal Secretary to the LG said Saxena had received a complaint alleging AAP had received $16 million from extremist Khalistani groups for “aiding the release of 1993 Delhi bomb blast convict Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar and espousing pro-Khalistani sentiments”. The complaint was sent by World Hindu Federation (India) national general secretary Ashoo Mongia. ICSE, ISC results declared, girls outshine boys New Delhi, May 6 Girls outshone boys in the ICSE Class X and ISC Class XII board exams conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), while the pass percentage for both the classes recorded an increase. PASS PERCENTAGE RISES; MERIT LIST DISCONTINUED The results were announced on Monday morning. The pass percentage for Class X is 99.47, while it is 98.19 for Class XII. Last year, the respective pass percentage was 98.94 continued on page 8 IN BRIEF K Kavitha denied bail in Delhi excise policy case COMPLAINT TAGS PANNUN VIDEO CONSPIRACY AT BJP’S BEHEST: AAP ■ The LG office quoted a com- plaint by World Hindu Federation (India) national general secretary Ashoo Mongia which refers to a video released by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, wherein he alleges that AAP received $16 million from Khalistani groups between 2014 and 2022 ■ Lt Governor VK Saxena’s VK Saxena Arvind Kejriwal EXCISE CASE: SC CALL ON INTERIM BAIL FOR CM TODAY recommendation of an NIA probe against Arvind Kejriwal is yet another conspiracy against the Delhi CM at the behest of the BJP, alleged AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday and called the L-G “an agent” of the saffron party. ROW OVER 1993 DELHI BLAST CASE CONVICT BHULLAR’S RELEASE ■ A professor at Guru Nanak Engineering Col- ■ A row erupted after Delhi Sentence lege, Ludhiana, Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar was booked under TADA in September 1993 in Delhi bomb blasts case, and awarded death penalty on August 25, 2001 ■ SC commuted his death sentence to life on March 31, 2014. Bhullar was shifted from Tihar Jail to Central Jail, Amritsar, in 2015 Review Board, which has Delhi jail minister as a member, rejected Bhullar’s plea for premature release for the seventh time and for the first time after AAP formed govt in Punjab in 2022 ■ AAP govt in Delhi defended itself, saying 6 of the 7 board members were from BJP “The LG has recommended that since the complaint has been made against a sit- ting Chief Minister and relates to political funding by a banned terrorist organisa- tion, electronic evidences adduced by the complainant require investigation, includ- ing forensic examination,” the LG letter to the Union Home Secretary said. The LG has also referred to the Union Home Ministry a letter written by Kejriwal to one Iqbal Singh in January 2014, mentioning that “the AAP government has already recommended to the President the release of Prof Bhullar and would be working on other issues, including formation of SIT, etc, sympathetically and in a time-bound manner”. Iqbal Singh was on a fast at Jantar Mantar, demanding a written assurance for the release of Bhullar and ended his fast after receiving the letter from Kejriwal. The complaint by Mongia refers to a video released by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, wherein he alleges that AAP received continued on page 8 Officials carry poll material on the eve of the third phase of the LS elections in Bhopal on Monday. ANI High stakes for BJP as voting in 25 Gujarat LS seats today Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 6 The stage is set for the third phase of polling on May 7 for the Lok Sabha elections on 93 seats across 12 states, with all 25 seats of Gujarat to vote along with the remaining 14 in Karnataka. As many as 1,351 candidates are in the fray. The polling in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag-Rajouri seat has been rescheduled to THIRD PHASE 93 seats in 12 states 17.24 cr voters 1,351 candidates 1.85 lakh polling stations VOTING TIME: 7 am to 6 pm the sixth phase. Also, there will be no polling in Gujarat’s Surat as the BJP candidate there was elected unopposed, so votes will be cast in 25 of the 26 seats in the state. The BJP had won all 26 Gujarat seats in 2019. Betul constituency of Madhya Pradesh will go to the polls in this phase after the voting was rescheduled from the second phase (April 26) owing to the demise of the BSP candidate. Some of the key candidates whose fate will be sealed in continued on page 8 Canada again, floats target Indian ED seizes ~30 cr from help of minister’s PA leadership at pro-Khalistan rally JHARKHAND RAIDS Search ops conducted across Ranchi in PMLA case Tribune News Service Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 6 Pro-Khalistan elements in Canada again targeted the India leadership and gave inflammatory speeches at a rally in Toronto this Sunday. A gathering the previous Sunday had seen pro-Khalistan chants in the presence of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. This time it was a 6-km parade where the route and floats had separatist slogans targeting India, including one that showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi behind bars. Another float displayed a map of Khalistan and called for greater participation in an upcoming so-called referendum on the issue. Reports said inflammatory speeches were delivered by Paramjit Mand of the Dal INFLAMMATORY SPEECHES BY SEPARATISTS ■ 6-km Nagar Kirtan Parade organised by Ontario Gurdwara Committee carried separatist slogans and floats, including one showing PM Modi behind bars ■ Inflammatory speeches were made by Dal Khalsa’s Paramjit Mand and Avtar Khalsa and Avtar Singh Pannu, declared a terrorist by Indians security agencies. However, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who would feature in such events, was not seen. Pannun has refrained from attending any such event ever since Kahlistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in Canada in June last year which was followed by US claims of an aborted attempt on his life as well. Singh Pannu, declared a terrorist by Indians security agencies ■ This comes a week after pro-Khalistan slogans were raised in PM Justin Trudeau’s presence, prompting MEA to summon Deputy High Commissioner Reacting to the raising of Khalistan slogans at an event in Toronto last Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had summoned Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner over the issue. The event had demonstrated that “political space that has been given in Canada to separatism, extremism and violence”, the MEA had said. The march was the annual continued on page 8 CURRENCY COUNTING MACHINES DEPLOYED New Delhi, May 6 In a dramatic development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday morning conducted a series of raids across multiple locations in Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi, leading to seizure of around Rs 30 crore unaccounted cash. Incidentally, the cash was recovered during searches on the premises of a domestic help allegedly linked to a secretary of Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam, official sources said. The development evoked sharp reactions from the BJP including Prime Minis, ter Narendra Modi, who at a rally in Odisha’s Nabrangpur, said, “Mountains of cash are being found in Jharkhand... Modi is taking action against corruption.” ■ Currency counting machines were deployed after many wads of cash seized from the house ‘belonging’ to domestic aide of Sanjiv Lal, PA of Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam. MOUNTAINS OF CASH Mountains of cash are being found in Jharkhand.... Modi is taking action against corruption. Narendra Modi, PM ❝ The ED recovers unaccounted cash from the premises of a domestic help “linked” to the secretary of Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam in Ranchi. PTI The raids targeted several locations linked to Virendra Ram, former Chief Engineer, Jharkhand Rural Development Department, and his associates. Ram was arrested by the ED in February 2023 in connection with a money laundering case. Many bundles of cash were recovered at a location, reportedly belonging to the domestic aide of Sanjiv Lal, the personal secretary of Alamgir Alam. ED sources said cash counting machines had been deployed to ascertain the exact amount. Khattar, CM Saini file nominations Under fire over ‘Poonch poll stunt’ remark, Channi now cites Pulwama attack The cash is largely in the denomination of Rs 500. Some jewellery had also been recovered, they added. Alam is a Congress leader and represents the Pakur seat in the Jharkhand Assembly. “Virendra Ram had generated continued on page 8 NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Monday refused bail to BRS leader K Kavitha in corruption and money laundering cases in connection with the nowscrapped Delhi liquor policy. TNS TOEFL scores now valid for all Oz visa purposes NEW DELHI: Scores for English language test TOEFL will now be considered valid for all Australian visa purposes, the Educational Testing Service announced on Monday. INSIDE SAD candidate from Chandigarh quits party CHANDIGARH: In a setback to the SAD, which was going to fight the LS poll in Chandigarh for the first time, its candidate Hardeep Singh Saini has quit the party & may join the BJP. TNS NTA refutes reports of NEET-UG paper leak Soren moves SC against rejection ofbail petition New Delhi, May 6 Former Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday moved the Supreme Court against the Jharkhand High Court’s order dismissing his bail plea in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. Senior counsel Kapil Sibal mentioned Soren’s petition before a Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud for urgent listing. The Bench assured Sibal that he would look into the request. Lodged at Birsa Munda Central Jail, Ranchi, Soren has challenged the Jharkhand continued on page 8 ■ Former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday filed his nomination papers as the BJP candidate from the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency in Haryana. Tribune News Service ■ Khattar was accompanied by incumbent Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who also filed his nomination papers for the Karnal Assembly bypoll ■ JJP’s Narwana MLA Ramniwas Former CM Manohar Lal Khattar drives a tractor before filing his nomination in Karnal. VARUN GULATI Surjakhera met Khattar, triggering speculations about backing the BJP, akin to his JJP colleague, MLA Jogi Ram Sihag, who recently declared his support for BJP’s Hisar nominee Ranjit Singh Chautala. INSIDE NEW DELHI: Reports claiming question paper leak in the NEET-UG are “completely baseless and without any ground”, the National Testing Agency (NTA) clarified on Monday. TNS Summer pangs: Villages around Kasauli without water for days FIR against BJP chief over social media post Solan, May 6 Even as the summer is yet to fully set in, several villages around the popular tourist town Kasauli in Himachal’s Solan have already started facing a potable water crisis. The authorities have been blaming the sparse winter BENGALURU: An FIR has been registered against BJP chief JP Nadda & others over a social media post allegedly intimidating SC, ST members not to vote for a particular candidate. PTI Ambika Sharma Tribune News Service Aparna Banerji 25,000 TO BE AFFECTED AS 15 SCHEMES DRYING UP ■ Tap supply being received after four days instead of the routine alternate day arrangement rain, which has resulted in an alarming decline in the discharge from natural sources. As the Jal Shakti Department has been forced to take ■ Nearly 15 schemes have start- ed drying up and 25,000 residents have been hit up water rationing, about 25,000 residents have been hit. The tap water supply is now being released after three to four days instead of ■ The affected areas include Kasauli, Parwanoo, Dharampur, Jabli, Koti, Garkhal and Taksal the earlier arrangement of alternate day. Jal Shakti Department Sub-Divisional Officer (Dharampur) Bhanu said the c m y b local supply schemes had been affected as hardly any rain was received over the past six-seven months. “Nearly 15 schemes have started drying up. The water discharge has fallen by 50 to 60 per cent in areas around Kasauli and Parwanoo, including Dharampur, Jabli, continued on page 8 Jalandhar, May 6 Under fire for calling the Poonch terror attack a “prepoll stunt of the BJP”, Jalandhar Congress candidate Charanjit Singh Channi today said he was proud of the country’s soldiers but targeted the Centre over “intelligence failures that were leading to terror strikes and the death of security personnel”. The former Punjab Chief Minister cited the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel had died saying the Centre was yet to ascertain who was behind it. Countering Channi, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar alleged that the Congress leader was speaking the same language as Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. Jakhar taunted Channi for behaving like “sixth eye”, a parallel he drew to Canada’s ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence alliance that Trudeau had claimed informed his government on Ex-CM behaving like Trudeau’s man: Jakhar POONCH ATTACKERS’ SKETCHES RELEASED ■ Security forces on Monday released sketches of two terrorists behind the attack on IAF convoy in Poonch ■ The J&K Police have also detained around 20 persons for questioning ■ Two or three ultras are believed to have carried out the attack INSIDE alleged Indian role in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In a social media post, Channi said, “We are proud of our soldiers…. But ahead of the 2019 parliamentary poll, 40 jawans were killed. The government couldn’t ascertain who carried out the terror attack. Again elections have come and again our jawans have been attacked. I continued on page 8
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