Panel of 3 union ministers to hold talks with farmer leaders in Chandigarh this evening

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, February 15

A panel of three Union ministers will hold a meeting with protesting farmer leaders in Chandigarh on Thursday for another round of talks amid the ongoing standoff between the agitators and security personnel at the Punjab-Haryana border.

This will be the third round of talks between the two sides: the previous two rounds of dialogue on February 8 and 12 remained inconclusive.

Farmers from Punjab are camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana seeking to march towards Delhi to press the Centre to accept their demands.

The farmer leaders said they would not make any fresh attempt to move towards the national capital till the meeting is held.https://ee35a9ee977750e30d9d9929dd61fbcc.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html16:30 15 FebFarmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni announces new agitation plans in Haryana

Gurnam Singh Charuni said Haryana toll plazas will be made ‘free’ for 3 hours on February 16.

He also announced a tractor parade in every tehsil of the state on February 17, and a joint meeting of all farmers’ organisations on February 18.16:20 15 FebFarm leaders arrive in Chandigarh for talks with Central team

Chandigarh: Farm leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jarnail Singh arrive for talks with the Central team at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26.

The meeting with three-member team of Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai is to begin at 5 pm.15:49 15 FebSome trains diverted

Some trains on the Delhi-Amritsar route were diverted after farmers squatted on tracks at many places in Punjab over the Haryana Police’s action against protesters.15:37 15 FebBKU (Charuni) extends support to the agitating farmers

Gurnam Singh after holding a meeting of office-bearers of his union announced to extend support to the agitating farmers and hold peaceful protests in Haryana. Kurukshetra: Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) Gurnam Singh after holding a meeting of office-bearers of his union announced to extend support to the agitating farmers and hold peaceful protests in Haryana.13:38 15 FebFarmers allege use of artillery by Haryana police12:50 15 FebShahkot toll plaza in Jalandhar12:41 15 FebLadhowal, Azizpur toll plazas12:33 15 FebToll plazas made free12:23 15 FebBathinda-Amabala railway track blocked10:56 15 Feb30,000 tear gas shells ordered10:31 15 FebCalm and peace on Day 3 of farm protest09:29 15 Feb3rd round of talks09:26 15 Feb‘We should be allowed to protest peacefully’: Pandher08:57 15 FebBorder sealed with barricades08:54 15 FebProtests at toll plazas08:51 15 Feb‘Rail roko’ in Punjab today

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Harjap Singh Aujla

Bikram Singh Grewal, a former chief engineer in the Public Works Department (PWD, buildings and roads branch), Punjab, passed away at the age of 100 on December 31, 2023. He was born in Lalton Kalan village of Ludhiana district on February 15, 1923. Exceptionally good in studies, he passed the matriculation examination conducted by the University of Punjab, Lahore, in the first division.

Grewal got admission in Khalsa College, Amritsar, in the non-medical stream. After getting the FSc (fellow of science) diploma, he applied for admission in MacLagan College of Engineering, Lahore. This was the only engineering college in north-western India at that time. He passed out in 1943 as a graduate in civil engineering. A year later, he was recruited as a subdivisional engineer (SDE) in the PWD. His first posting was at Narowal (which is a district headquarters now) in Sialkot district of Lahore division. As an SDE, he travelled on a bicycle to inspect building and road projects. About six years later, he was promoted as an executive engineer. Two of the oldest wings of Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh — a successor to MacLagan College of Engineering, Lahore — were built under his supervision when he was the executive engineer, Ropar.

During his postings in Amritsar and Patiala, he oversaw the construction of two wings each of the government medical colleges in both cities. While posted in Hisar, he got a wing of the medical college constructed. After the creation of Haryana in November 1966, he was transferred to Punjab.

By the time he became a superintending engineer, he had gained a reputation as a scrupulously honest, no-nonsense officer. On several occasions, the corrupt elements in his department joined hands to wage a persistent propaganda war against him. Undeterred by the activities of his detractors, Grewal stood firm on his lofty principles. Eventually, all conspiracies against him collapsed like a house of cards and he became popular as an officer with impeccable integrity.

In 1971, Grewal was promoted to the rank of chief engineer. He served on this post for a decade before retiring in 1981. A fitness freak, he was a keen golfer who used to play at the Chandigarh Golf Club six days a week. A year ago, the Punjab Engineering College Old Students’ Association honoured him with the lifetime achievement award, which he amply deserved. He was the chief engineer when I was serving as the executive engineer (works) in the PWD in Patiala. It was a privilege to work under him. Grewal lived life to the fullest. We should celebrate his life rather than mourning his loss.

The PLA is continuing with its ‘nibbling’ tactics, evident from the clash with graziers in Chushul.

Maj Gen GG Dwivedi (retd)

Former Defence Attaché to China

MEDIA reports about China moving its nationals into villages along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Ladakhi herders confronting soldiers of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sum up the state of affairs on the frontline. The prolonged standoff in Ladakh remains a security concern, even as it has been reported that Indian and Chinese troops were involved in skirmishes between September 2021 and November 2022.

Last month, Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande described the situation on the LAC as ‘stable but sensitive’. The impasse is entirely of China’s making, consequent to the PLA undertaking incursions in May 2020 in Pangong Tso, Gogra-Hot Springs, Galwan and Depsang areas of Ladakh so as to unilaterally change the status of the LAC. Considering the magnitude of the intrusions, it was obvious that the operation was approved by the Central Military Commission, China’s apex defence body headed by the President. The PLA’s hostile action, violating a series of bilateral border agreements, had taken India’s politico-military leadership by surprise, given that the strategic guidance mechanism put in place by PM Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping had apparently been working well.

The Indian Army’s swift counter-deployment was aimed at restoring the status quo. However, having gained initial advantage, the PLA was in no mood to budge. It was only after India secured the Kailash Range in August 2020 that forced the Chinese to negotiate. Thereon, as a sequel to 20 rounds of military commanders talks alongside politico-diplomatic initiatives, the opposing forces have disengaged in three of the five contested areas; the Chinese have refused to yield ground in Depsang and Demchok.

The process of disengagement has come with new protocols, wherein erstwhile patrolling points (PPs) on the LAC — depicting the extent of patrolling limits — have now been replaced by ‘buffer zones’. Of the 65 PPs astride the LAC in Ladakh, 26 are now inaccessible, an aspect which has been flagged by the local police authorities in Leh during security review meetings. In the absence of de-escalation, the ground situation remains tense, with both sides deploying around 50,000 troops each. Clashes between the Indian Army and the PLA in the eastern sector (Arunachal-Tibet border) came to light when the citations for gallantry awards were read out during the investiture ceremonies held recently.

The PLA is continuing with its ‘nibbling’ tactics, evident from the clash with graziers in Kakjung area of Nyoma in Chushul. The herders were intercepted at the PPs 35-37 in Dungti village by over a dozen PLA personnel, escorted by three armoured vehicles. Chushul councillor Konchok Stanzin, who posted a video of the incident on social media, said the livelihood of locals had been taken away in the name of creating ‘buffer zones’.

The PLA’s grand design can be gauged from the massive military infrastructure development along the LAC in recent years. Major projects include twin bridges over Pangong Tso; a second national highway, G 695, through Aksai Chin; and the Nyingchi-Lhasa-Xigaze railway line (planned to be further extended to Gyirong and Burang, close to the Nepalese border). All airports in Tibet have been upgraded.

Further, the PLA is in the process of transforming Tibet into a formidable defence shield, in keeping with the directions of President Xi. To this end, 628 ‘well-off villages’ (Xiaokang) have been constructed; around a third of these are located in close proximity to the LAC. These dwellings are likely to act as the first line of defence; understood to be ‘dual use infrastructure’ — for both civil and military purposes.

Additionally, the ‘New Defence Law’ was enacted in 2021 to ensure better ‘civil-military fusion’. A year later, the ‘Border Defence Law’ was passed; it entails marking the borders with a view to consolidating control over the occupied areas. Giving Mandarin names to places in Arunachal Pradesh (Zangnan) and the Indian Ocean Region is part of China’s ‘Three Warfare Strategy’ to legitimise its claims.

China has deliberately downplayed the border issue to safeguard its economic interests and international image. As per China’s Charge d’Affaires Ma Jia, trade between the two countries reached a record $136.2 billion in 2023 (it was $135.8 billion in 2022, with a deficit of $73 billion in China’s favour). It is evident that Beijing has succeeded in delinking the border issue from economic ties despite New Delhi’s stance that the bilateral relations cannot be normal unless the boundary dispute is resolved.

Ladakh is faced with a two-front threat — Pakistan on the west and China on the east. Hence, a well-defined border defence strategy is an imperative — it is no longer just an option. The current mechanism of border management, with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police as the lead agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, merits a holistic review. Our Vibrant Villages Programme must be integrated into the overall security plans. As civil-military cooperation is the key to effective defence, the grievances of the Ladakhi people must be addressed on priority. Political instability in this vulnerable border region will seriously impinge on national security.

Given the Dragon’s expansionist push, it is apparent that the situation on the LAC will remain sensitive. As de-escalation is unlikely in the near future, periodic skirmishes are set to be the new normal — a semblance of the ‘armed co-existence’ scenario of the early 1960s. At the strategic level, the situation may be perceived to be stable as the PLA is unlikely to undertake major operations, having already achieved its aim. However, China will continue to upgrade its military capabilities to maintain its operational edge and keep up the pressure on the border to serve its geopolitical interests. 

Critical to draw lessons from Navy veterans’ case

THE release of eight former Indian Navy personnel, who were sentenced to death in Qatar, comes as a huge relief. It’s being viewed as an outcome of intense negotiations led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Credit must also go to all those in the diplomatic community and the security establishment who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Their release marks the end of a harrowing period for the Navy veterans and their families. Yet, as a Congress leader put it succinctly, it is a matter of quiet celebrations for all Indians. The charges against the eight were grave. They were arrested in August 2022 for alleged espionage. In December last year, the death penalty was commuted to imprisonment. Neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi has made the charges public. It is unlikely that the cloak of secrecy would be lifted.

Working for a technology and consultancy firm, the veterans were arrested supposedly on the charges of spying on a submarine programme on behalf of Israel. Insinuations were made linking it to efforts aimed at preventing the development of military technologies in West Asia. The role of Pakistan also came under the scanner for trying to muddy the waters. Only the veterans can answer whether they were caught in a geo-political maelstrom not of their making, or acted irresponsibly and recklessly, or the charges against them were false. The Government of India lent them its full support, but such steadfast commitment cannot be taken for granted.

The Qatar case calls for putting in place protocols for re-employment of defence personnel. It should also serve as a terse reminder of the pitfalls of not reading the fine print while signing up for professional commitments, and the enormous risks that transgressions pose.

Beyond politics, farming should be made profitable

Leaders of farm unions decided to go ahead with the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march after their marathon talks with a team of Union ministers ended on an inconclusive note, even as the Delhi Police invoked Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting the assembly of five or more people in the national capital till March 12. Upping the ante in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, the unions are exerting pressure on the Centre to accept their demands, which include the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops. The protesters are also seeking the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Staging a peaceful protest is a constitutional right of every citizen or group. In a democracy, this is a legitimate way for protesters to bring the government to the negotiating table. The year-long farmers’ agitation of 2020-21 was a watershed in India’s post-Independence history. Showing remarkable resilience and determination, the agitators had forced the Centre to repeal the three contentious farm laws. The ongoing protest, however, appears to be a political attempt to corner the government and browbeat it into acceding to their demands before the elections.

Farm unions should look at the larger picture instead of eyeing short-term gains. The MSP regime has largely remained confined to wheat and paddy, and that too in a few states. Legalising it across the country would only spur farmers to further step up the production of these crops. While this is crucial for food security, it can also have a deleterious effect on the water table, which is already under severe strain due to groundwater overextraction. The future of Indian agriculture is at stake. Various stakeholders need to jointly come up with a long-term action plan to ensure that farming remains viable and sustainable.  

Exercise signifies India’s maritime leadership

NDIA is gearing up to host ‘Milan 2024’, a multilateral naval exercise that signifies international maritime cooperation. Since its inception in 1995, ‘Milan’ has evolved into a premier event showcasing India’s maritime prowess and commitment to global security. Involving over 50 nations, including naval powers like the US, Japan, Australia and France, ‘Milan 2024’ will seek to address current maritime challenges. Attacks by Houthi rebels and Somali pirates in vital waterways like the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea have underscored the need for greater collaboration among nations.

India is playing a key role as a reliable security partner and advocate for maritime stability. The Indian Navy’s engagement in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) demonstrates its emergence as a leading force. In 2022, the Navy joined the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces, a US-led multinational naval partnership that aims to promote stability across international waters in the IOR; recently, India decided to become a full member of the grouping. India has also provided capacity-building assistance, platforms and training to countries in the region, thus helping them enhance their maritime capabilities. Gifting naval assets such as offshore patrol vessels and fast-attack craft to nations like Mauritius, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka underlines India’s contribution to collaborative maritime governance. Notably, the hydrological surveys and joint Exclusive Economic Zone surveillance that India is carrying out in the ocean reflect its environmental stewardship.

‘Milan’ also serves as a platform for fostering trust and enhancing interoperability in naval activities among the participants. By promoting a rules-based maritime order, India is striving to ensure security on the high seas, vital for global stability and prosperity.

Jammu, February 16

Army troops guarding the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday opened fire to bring down Pakistani quadcopters at two different places in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch, officials said.

However, the flying objects returned to the Pakistan side after briefly hovering over the Indian territory in Balnoi-Mendhar and Gulpur sectors, they said.

They said a search operation was launched in both the sectors to ensure there was no dropping of weapons or narcotics by the quadcopters.

Officials said troops noticed two quadcopters entering the Balnoi area of Mendhar around 6.30 am and opened fire but the remotely-controlled machines returned.

Similarly, a couple of quadcopters hovering over Gulpur sector around the same time returned in the face of firing by Indian troops, they said.

In blow to Modi govt, says it violated right to information | Constitution Bench led by CJI orders SBI to halt sale | Asks bank to give details to election panel by March 6

Tribune News Service

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, February 15

Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Supreme Court on Thursday declared “unconstitutional” the electoral bonds scheme that allowed individuals and companies to make unlimited anonymous donations to political parties.

Related News

• At 48%, BJP got lion’s share of donations via electoral bonds

Editorial: Electoral bonds

Noting that voters have right to know, a five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud said the scheme violated Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, which guaranteed right to freedom of speech and expression and included right to information within its ambit.

Instrument for funding parties

• Electoral bond is a financial instrument for donations to parties; issued as a promissory note, it doesn’t bear name of buyer/payee; its holder (party) is presumed to be owner
• Comes in multiples of Rs 1K, Rs 10K, Rs 1L, Rs 10L & Rs 1 cr; citizens or domestic firms can donate these; under bond scheme, RP Act was amended allowing parties to withhold donor IDs in filing before EC

Notified in 2018

• 2017 Electoral Bond Scheme introduced in Finance Act, 2017
• Sept 14 Association for Democratic Reforms moves SC
• Oct 3 SC issues notices to Centre, EC on ADR’s PIL
• Jan 2, 2018 Centre notifies scheme
• Mar 26, 2021 SC refuses to stay sale of bonds ahead of polls
• Oct 16, 2023 SC Bench refers pleas to a five-judge Bench
• Oct 31 Constitution Bench led by CJI begins hearing on petitions
• Feb 15, 2024 SC declares scheme unconstitutional

“We are of the opinion the information about funding to a political party is essential for a voter to exercise their freedom to vote in an effective manner. The electoral bonds Scheme and the impugned provisions to the extent that they infringe upon the right to information of the voter by anonymising contributions through electoral bonds are violative of Article 19(1)(a) (right to freedom of speech and expression),” the Bench said. The Beach, which also included Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said the disclosure of information regarding electoral bonds was necessary to identify corruption and quid pro quo transactions in governance. “Such information is also necessary for exercising an informed vote,” it added.

The top court ordered the State Bank of India to stop issuing electoral bonds immediately and submit all details by March 6 to the Election Commission which shall make all donations public by March 13. All electoral bonds within the 15-day validity period shall be returned by political parties to the purchasers, it added.

Justice Khanna delivered a separate but concurring judgment. Welcoming the verdict, petitioner Association for Democratic Reforms’ counsel Prashant Bhushan said: “This is a salutary judgment which will enhance our democratic process.” The Constitution Bench also declared unconstitutional amendments made to the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951, the Income Tax Act, 1961, and the Companies Act, 2013, through the Finance Act, 2017, to facilitate introduction of the scheme.

Earlier, political parties had to declare all contributions more than Rs 20,000 with no exceptions, and maintain a record of all donations exceeding Rs 20,000 for tax purposes. In a financial year, companies could contribute a maximum of 7.5% of their average net profits from the preceding three years. The amendments did away the restrictions to allow political parties to receive funds through electoral bonds.

Introduced through the Finance Act, 2017, an electoral bond is a bearer instrument like a promissory note which can be purchased by an Indian citizen or an Indian company whose identity would remain secret from everybody except the SBI from whom it has to be purchased. Once purchased, the buyer can give it to a political party, which could encash it using its bank account.