Predict BJP to be single largest party in UP | Uttarakhand may go BJP way, Goa not certain

New Delhi, March 9

The exit polls today predicted   a close fight in Punjab between the Congress, which is seeking to return to power after a hiatus of 10 years, and Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, making its debut in the state’s Assembly elections.In the Hindi heartland of Uttar Pradesh, psephologists foresee the BJP emerging as the single largest party, winning between 155 and 185 of the 403 seats. One exit poll, however, has predicted 285.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Most poll surveys see a victory for the BJP in Uttarakhand. But the saffron party, which is likely to lead the table in Goa, is projected to fall short of a majority in the tiny coastal state.Released ahead of the March 11 counting, the exit polls predict that the SAD-BJP alliance, that has ruled Punjab for 10 years, could be struggling to get double-digit in the 117-member House.The alliance, however, is confident of defying the pollsters “like in 2012”, when it proved the surveys wrong. Eightynine-year-old CM Parkash Singh Badal claimed the alliance would win 72 seats. As for the Congress, Capt Amarinder Singh claimed it would win 65 seats. AAP exuded confidence, claiming it would bag close to 100.The state, which went to the polls on February 4, saw a turnout of 78.60 per cent. In 2012 , the polling percentage stood at 78.57. Since the reorganisation of Punjab in 1966, the Congress and the SAD have been ruling the state alternately. But the SAD-BJP alliance, which formed government in 2007, won again in 2012. — Agencies

Opening cermoney pictures of Indo Oman joint excercise that begins at army cantonment at Bakloh in Himachal. Ravinder Sood

Ravinder Sood

Palampur March 6

A 14-day joint training exercise of the Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman, codenamed Al-Nagah-II 2017, commenced today at Bakloh. This is the second edition of the series of joint exercises between the two countries. Exercise Al-Nagah was first held at Muscat in 2015. The Indian Army is fielding a contingent from the Gorkha Rifles for the exercise.The aim of the exercise is to acquaint both forces with each other’s operating procedures at the tactical level in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment and to enhance the existing military relationship between the two armies. The exercise also focused on enhancing the interoperability between the two armies while conducting joint operations.Senior military observers from both countries will be witnessing the validation phase of the exercise. Commander, 33 Mountain Brigade, welcomed the participating soldiers and said that the exercise was another step towards strengthening the ties between the two countries. “Over the next couple of weeks, we shall be going over various counter insurgency and counter terrorism drills. You shall be subjected to various conditions and tests with respect to the changing military environment,” he told the troops.He requested all the officers and troops to share knowledge with each other in terms of the implementation of tactics are the two armies use in their respective countries. Stating that the exercise should be a knowledgeable experience for all and by the time it concludes, he said that the participants should be fully satisfied by the efforts that have been put in, thereby, making this exercise a stepping stone for all the future exercises.

DHARAMSHALA: A contingent of Royal Army of Oman arrived on Sunday at Bakloh in Chamba district for a joint military exercises, which is starting on Monday.

HT PHOTOMembers of Royal Army of Oman during the initial briefing for the joint exercise at Bakloh in Chamba district.

The armies of India and Oman will be conducting joint exercise ‘Al Nagah-11 2017’, which is the second such exercise between the two countries, who have a history of extensive cooperation in the defence arena, said defence spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta.

The first joint exercise between the two countries was held in Oman in January 2015.

The contingent of Royal Army of Oman was received at Adampur Air Force Station by the officers of Indian Army from where they travelled to Bakloh.

Initial orientation and security briefing was also carried out, which included the training aspects and area familiarisation.

The aim of the exercise, to be conducted between March 6 to 19 in Dhauladhar range, is to build and promote bilateral army-to-army relations and enhance interoperability while exchanging skills and experiences between the two armies.

The participating troops for this exercise have been drawn from one Infantry Battalion each from the Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman.

Conduct of the joint exercise will set the stage for greater defence cooperation between the two nations, he added.

“Approximately 60 troops from both the countries will participate in the exercise, which will help in enhancing knowledge of each other’s military procedures and increasing the scope for interoperability and better responsiveness to a common threat,” Lt Col Mehta added.

The spokesperson said the 14-day exercise with the Royal Army of Oman is scheduled to be conducted in multiple modules

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Regardless of Gurmehar Kaur’s appeal to all to “leave her alone”, there is no end to the war of words among the known and the less known over her tweet on her father’s martyrdom.The latest to comment on the 20-year -old DU student is Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Vij on Wednesday said that Kaur was indulging in politics over her father’s martyrdom.peaking with the media in Ambala, Vij said:  “I don’t even want to take Gurmehar Kaur’s name. She has been doing politics on the martyrdom of her father and has given a clean chit to Pakistan, which has been fighting with India directly and indirectly from a long time. And the people who are supporting her are pro-Pakistani. They should be thrown out of this country.

Bollywood celebrities react on Gurmehar Kaur row

Gurmehar Kaur.

Mumbai, March 1

Bollywood celebrities Anurag Kashyap, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Vidya Balan have come out in support of Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur, saying she has the right to express her opinion and should not be trolled for it.Kashyap, who in the past has spoken about the increasing attack on creative freedom, said social media is being used to create polarisation.“Isn’t it so obvious… picking on a silent video from two years ago, the ‘Padmavati’ incident, the Ramjas incident, Tarek Fateh incident, all else that’s going wild on Twitter and Facebook is being used to create polarisation, so that the elections have a desired result by those in control,” he wrote on Facebook.The filmmaker said by reacting, “We are all participating in it and perpetuating it. That’s why I have been away for sometime and have come back to put this thought out there so one thinks about it… They are also using our reactions and provoking us because it helps their cause.. and we are giving it to them.”Lady Sri Ram College student Gurmehar, daughter of army martyr Captain Mandeep Singh, had launched a viral social media campaign against Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) following violence between members of unions AISA and ABVP workers in Delhi University’s Ramjas College.Dhulia said the fact that an innocent student is being targeted makes him sad.“She is an innocent girl, she said something and it’s sad all the prominent people are commenting on that. They have made her life difficult. I feel very bad, helpless. If the majority thinks like this I don’t think the nation is moving on the right path,” he said. Urging people to respect other’s freedom of expression, Vidya said, “I don’t want to say much about this. I think what we really need to do is respect people’s freedom of expression.‘He said something she said something’, all are right in their place. But I don’t want to add anything more, everyone has the right to express what they feel.”   Gurmehar yesterday withdrew from her social media campaign, after allegedly receiving threats from the members of the RSS-backed outfit and getting trolled online.Commenting on the controversy, music composer Vishal Dadlani said, “I’m a nationalist but goons of ABVP & BJP will NOT define my nationalism. I am answerable to my country, not to any goondas. Jai Hind.”He also posted a photo that read, “Those who love peace must learn to organise as effectively as those who love war.”      Filmmaker Shirish Kunder slammed the incident on Twitter saying, “A student silently protests against violence. The entire Establishment gangs up against her. Shows the power of two S’s: Silence & Students.”  — PTI

Pak man supports ‘sister’ Gurmehar

Photo courtesy: Youtube grab

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 1

Fayaz Khan, a Pakistan man, on Tuesday extended his support to Gurmehar Kaur saying that he “wished for a worldwide unique relationship where brother is a Muslim and sister is Sikh”.

This was in response to a video Gurmehar Kaur had posed last year in May where she had said that “Pakistan did not killed my father, war killed him”.

Kaur in the video had stated: “It took me a while to know but today I do. I have let go my hate. It was not easy but not difficult. If I can do it, so can you.

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Supporting Kaur, Khan, in the same style, conveyed his message to Kaur.

Through a series of placards in a video, he wrote: “Hi, Gurmehar Kaur. I am Fayaz from Pakistan. When I first came to Australia, I looked at Indians the way I was told in school. Soon we shared food and classroom chairs with each other like close friend.”

“We all feel sorry for you and your family for the loss of your dad in Kargil War. I have seen war and death very closely in my hometown Swat and luckily didn’t lose any family members but I am surrounded by thousand of Gurmehar Kaurs,” Khan said.

He said: “I want to visit India without visa restrictions.”

“Let us fight for peace and to save thousands of others across the border from suffering like Gurmehar Kaur. I cannot give you the love of a dad but you surely got a brother from ‘dushman dash’. Let it be a worldwide unique relationship where brother is a Muslim and sister is Sikh,” said Fayaz Khan.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 29

The Haryana Home Department has said that all arms licences will become invalid if not generated with the Unique Identification Number (UIN) after March 31 and directed that all licenses after March 31, 2016, be fed into the new Arms Licence Issuance System (ALIS) and generated with the UIN.Stating this here today, a spokesman of the department said in a written communication, all District Magistrates, Joint Commissioner of Police, Faridabad and Gurugram; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Panchkula; and the State Project Coordinator, National Informatics Centre (NIC), Chandigarh, had been directed to ensure that all licences fed in the old National Database of Arms Licenses (NDAL) System up to April 1, 2016, be generated with the UIN number. They had also been asked to inform within 15 days about the progress made so far in this regard to the office of Additional Chief Secretary, Home, he said.The spokesman said directions had been issued to upload the details of every arms licence on the NDAL or NDAL-ALIS software and UIN of every arms licensee generated on or before March 31, 2017, in NDAL. Also, it had been directed that the officials of the Licensing Authority would coordinate with the officials of Immigration, Visa and Foreigner’s Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) of NIC or District Informatics Officers and get the login ID and password generated.

BUDGAM ENCOUNTER: MILITANT GUNNED DOWN, 3 CIVILIANS KILLED IN CLASHES

THERMAL IMAGERS WITH POOR BATTERY LIFE HAMPER ARMY OPS

TREATMENT METTED OUT TO ARMY VECHILES IN KASMIR

GUNFIGHT VIDEOS BESIEGE SOCIAL MEDIA

KAPURTHALA SAINIK SCHOOL IN TATTERS

AK-47, MIG FIGHTER MAKER EYES INDIA, INDONESIA TO JOIN DEFENCE ELITE

CLASHES NEAR ENCOUNTER; 3 DIE

BAJWA WANTS QUOTA IN SECURITY FORCES FOR BORDER YOUTH

TAX GHOST FOR AAM ADMI

FUSION BANDS AT DOGRA REUNION

PUNJAB NEWS 29 MARCH 2017

• Guv addresses Assembly, showcases financial bankruptcy of Punjab
• Capt Amarinder Singh takes on Parkash Singh Badal on CPS issue
• No change in red beacon policy, says Punjab CM
• White Paper on state’s fiscal mess: Guv
• Bill on CPS post in Budget session, says Amarinder
• Bir Devinder, Arshi ask govt not to give vehicles to MLAs
• Liquor vend draw today
• Lal Singh is Mandi Board Chairman
• Govt to observe Tohra’s death anniv
• Farmers get auction notices, want debt waiver expedited
• Delay in services defy purpose of Sewa Kendras
• No Badal-bashing by guv, but focus on ‘inheritance of loss’
• Time ticking on poll promise, govt says 485 drug dealers nabbed in 10 days
• U­TURN GOVT PUTS PROCESS ON HOLD TILL FURTHER ORDERS, MANY CONG LEADERS AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE OBJECTED TO THE REVIEW ORDER
• Faux pas by transport dept leaves Cong govt red-faced

The Union Finance has got away with changes to 40 laws without MPs, barring a few, noticing them or raising their voice against such unilateralism. Passing or changing laws without debate weakens the parliamentary institution and democracy, and fuels autocratic tendencies. The Speaker allowing the unethical clubbing of non-money law amendments with the Finance Bill 2017 was bad enough; doing it at the eleventh hour was clever but ugly. Jaitley would not have been that easily successful had India’s parliamentarians been half as awake, alert and assertive as their counterparts in the US who have forced an all-powerful President to withdraw a healthcare Bill meant to replace Obamacare.Apart from flouting the Supreme Court order on Aadhaar and putting to risk of theft or misuse the personal data of citizens, the government has introduced a last-minute amendment that empowers tax officials to search and seize anyone’s property if they have “reason to believe”, or are satisfied, “that for the purpose of protecting the interest of revenue, it is necessary to do so.” They need not disclose or explain to anyone — even the appellate tribunal – the reason for the raid. Worse, the law applies retrospectively—1962 onwards. In post-1975 cases property can be confiscated. Another amendment seeks to remove the limits imposed on companies donating to political parties. It will delete the provision requiring them to disclose donations. In one stroke corporate funding of politicians has been made anonymous by a government that insists on citizens’ transparency in financial transactions.Yet another objectionable amendment attempts to wind up, merge or overhaul tribunals which take up for adjudication subjects previously handled by the Supreme Court. Set up by various Acts of Parliament, these tribunals will come under the Centre, which will fix terms for the appointment and removal of their chairpersons and members. Post Emergency tools meant to whittle down the judiciary’s independence, tribunals will now be under Central control. Being made part of the Finance Bill means these amendments with far-reaching consequences will get passed without scrutiny either by Parliament or its standing committees.

The government has already withdrawn security from former Akali leaders and some sitting MPs. Tribune file photo

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26

At least 585 policemen on security duty with politicians and their aides are now available for general policing following the pruning of security. The number is expected to swell further.The development is part of the Congress government’s move to curtail the VIP culture where security guards had become a means to show off one’s status and harass the public.The details of the withdrawn security are stated in an interim report of a committee headed by DGP (Law and Order) HS Dhillon to review security to constitutional and public functionaries.The report submitted to DGP Suresh Arora lists details of the political leaders, including former elected members, their staff and advisers who were given security seven to eight times more than allowed as per rules.Arora said the report would be submitted to the government soon after the pruning of security. “The first phase involved leaders of all political parties. The committee is analysing security given to certain other individuals now.”The government has already withdrawn security from former Akali leaders and some sitting MPs. Prominent among them are Akali leaders Sikander Singh Maluka, who had 31 guards, Gulzar Singh Ranike and Surjit Singh Rakhra, who had 18 and 17 guards, respectively.Those spared are top Akali leaders, including former CM Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia as they are availing Z-plus security.

Badals spared

• The details of the withdrawn security are stated in a report of a committee headed by HS Dhillon
• Those spared are former CM Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia

Post-riots, slew of rewards, reforms in Gurdaspur jail

Cellphones seized from the jail. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26

The Gurdaspur prison authorities have announced several rewards for inmates who showed “exemplary behaviour” during the rioting in the jail on Friday night.According to an official spokesperson, the jail authorities presented four barracks with TV sets, while giving the go-ahead for the establishment of a bakery unit for prisoners desirous of doing factory work.More than 25 prisoners who had requested their transfer to other prisons for personal reasons have been shifted to the jails of their choice/hometown.About four dozen cases of leave, pending with the DC’s office, have been cleared, the spokesperson added.The barrack in which trouble started will be converted into an activity centre, with computer, English, yoga and music classes set to commence next week.A special IGNOU enrolment drive has started in the prison, with 31 inmates responding to the prison officials’ initiative to join various courses (BA, LLB etc).

10 mobile phones seized from Hoshiarpur prisonHoshiarpur: Ten mobile phones, two chargers and two headphones were recovered from various barracks of the Hoshiarpur jail during a search that started last night and continued till the wee hours of on Sunday. Jail Superintendent Vikramjeet Singh Panthey stated that the search was conducted by the prison staff led by Deputy Superintendent Harbhajan Singh, Assistant Superintendent Asha Nand and Naginder Singh — on the directions of ADGP (Jails) Rohit Chowdhury. One mobile phone each was recovered from barrack numbers 14, 18, 19 and 22 and two each from barrack numbers 15, 17 and 12. None of these phones had a SIM card. The city police station has been asked to investigate the matter and take action against the accused. OC

Ministers take houses meant for Speaker, Leader of Oppn

AAP says govt should follow the set practice

Congress minister Charanjit Singh Channi

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26

Even as the Congress government opened its inning by taking steps to shun the VIP culture, some of his ministers have taken fancy to particular government accommodation.Two Cabinet ministers have preferred houses at Sector 2 here which are designated for the constitutional posts of the Speaker and the Leader of Opposition. The move has invited strong criticism from AAP.In the house allotment cleared by the Chief Secretary, Cabinet Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has retained House No. 46 otherwise designated for the Leader of Opposition. Prior to Channi becoming the CLP leader in the last Assembly, the house remained with Sunil Jakhar and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in their capacity as the Leader of Opposition.Channi claimed that it was wrong to say it was designated house of the CLP leader. “The house has been in possession of Bhattal when she was Deputy CM and a minister. Since I am already occupying this house, it was allotted to me. Moreover, the house allotment is the prerogative of the CM,” he said.Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka said he had not raised any demand, but the government should respect the democratic practice in the matter.Similarly, the house designated for the Speaker (House No. 42) has been allotted to Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. Earlier, the house was in possession of previous Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal. The new Speaker has been allotted House No. 10, which was earlier allotted to Madan Mohan Mittal, BJP minister in the previous government.“The matter may not be raised since the Speaker is from the ruling party. But it is against the democratic practice,” said an official.KP set to be SpeakerWhile Rana KP Singh is set to be elected as the Speaker on Monday, Ajiab Singh Bhatti, Tarsem Singh DC and Vijay Inder Singla are frontrunners for the post of Deputy Speaker.Seats to be finalisedIt is learnt that after AAP objected to seat allocation to its MLAs and those of its allies in the Assembly, a revised seating arrangements as per the party position and defined norms has been given to AAP and the SAD. The seat allocation will be changed after consulting both parties.

Matters of house

• Cabinet Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has retained House No 46 in Sector 2, Chandigarh, otherwise designated for the Leader of Opposition
• The house designated for the Speaker (House No 42) has been allotted to Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Cong MLA asks depts about ‘favours’ sought by Akali leader

Barinder Singh Pahra

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, March 26

Barinder Singh Pahra, Congress MLA from Gurdaspur, has asked government departments to prepare a list of works done by former SAD legislator from GS Babbehali without following a procedure. Babbehali was the Gurdaspur MLA from 2007 to 2017 before Pahra unseated him in the recent Assembly elections.Pahra yesterday convened a meeting of Health, Rural Development and Panchayats and Transport departments, and the Municipal Committee (MC), asking officials to submit details of “favours” sought by the former MLA before March 29. He said based on these inputs, he would present a ‘white paper’ to the state government.The trigger for such a move was snapping of power supply to streetlights. The MC has run up an electricity bill of nearly Rs 13 crore over 10 years. Pahra questioned the civic body as to why the bill was pending for so long.Sources said the MC failed to pay the dues as funds were diverted to other works against the rules. MC chief Narinder Shampy is a Babbehali loyalist. For the past several years, SAD councilors are in majority in the House.

CM for crackdown on traffic violators

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26

Taking a serious note of the death of eight persons in two major road accidents in less than 24 hours, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has directed the state Transport Department to expedite the process of review of bus permits and take all illegally plying buses off the roads at the earliest.The Chief Minister has warned the officials concerned that no laxity on these issues will be tolerated.The review process, which covers former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s Orbit buses that have been in the news for their violation of road safety rules, has already started, an official spokesperson said.He said Saturday’s accident in Barnala, in which four persons were killed, involved a speeding Orbit bus.He has also directed the traffic enforcement authorities to crack down on speeding and violation of traffic rules by vehicles, especially buses, and asked the department to examine the feasibility of installing speed governors in public transport.The Chief Minister has ordered the Transport Department and the traffic police to launch a statewide drive to prevent such mishaps.Capt Amarinder has also asked the department to check the possibility of installation of speed governors in public transport, especially buses and trucks, which are found to be the main reason in a majority of the road accidents in the state. InDecember last year, 12 teachers had died in a fog-related road mishap in Fazilka district.

All SHOs transferred in Muktsar

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 26

All 10 Station House Officers (SHOs) in the district were transferred today.Inspector Bikramjit Singh had been shifted as the SHO, Lambi; Inspector Narinder Singh as the SHO (City), Muktsar; and Inspector Baljit Singh as the SHO (Sadar), Muktsar.Inspectors Balkar Singh and Boota Singh have been shifted as SHO (City), Malout, and SHO (Sadar), Malout, police stations.The other SHOs and their new postings are: Sub-Inspector (SI) Periwinkle Grewal, Gidderbaha; SI Jaswant Singh, Kabarwala; SI Gurwinder Singh, Bariwala; Inspector Puran Chand, Lakhewali; and SI Paramjit Singh, Kotbhai.A police spokesperson termed the transfers as “routine”, ruling out political interference.Attempts to contact Baljot Singh Rathore, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), proved futile. Jaspal Singh, Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Muktsar, said he was out of station.Muktsar is the home district of SAD patron and former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

HC asks CS to intervene in marriage palaces’ row

The Bench was told that incorrect information about sealing of marriage palaces had been provided. file photo

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Punjab Chief Secretary to intervene after the Bench was told about the supply of incorrect information about sealing of marriage palaces. He has been asked to depute a “responsible officer not below joint secretary’s rank for being present in the court on the next date of hearing for rendering assistance.Taking a serious view of the matter, Justice Rajan Gupta also made it clear that the prayer for appointing a local commissioner to conduct a survey would also be considered on the next date of hearing.

As the petition filed by Kulwinder Singh against IAS officer Vishwajit Khanna and other respondents came up for resumed hearing, amicus curiae or the friend of the court Ravi Kamal Gupta referred to the affidavit dated February 28 filed on the state’s behalf. He told the court that the affidavit contained incorrect information. “Some marriage palaces stated to have been sealed are still functioning. Besides, there is nothing to show that any action has been taken against the marriage palaces which have encroached upon the forestland,” he added.The amicus also told the court that “certain such structures” functioning as marriage palaces were near a cantonment area. They were functioning without sanction to operate as marriage palaces. He also sought the appointment of a local commissioner “in the light of affidavit filed by the state”.The state counsel sought additional time to seek instructions and apprise the court. The contempt petition has its genesis in an order passed by the High Court on January 21, 2012.A Division Bench had set a three-month deadline for the state to consider the cases of “shutdown” of marriage palaces after the court was told that the government had framed policy guidelines for regularisation of existing and new marriage palaces.

Govt doles out slew of sops for inmates in Gurdaspur jail

JAILBREAK BID Day after, prison authorities announced several rewards for inmates who showed good behaviour during the rioting

From page 01 CHANDIGARH/GURDASPUR: The Gurdaspur Central Jail authorities announced several rewards and sops for inmates as normalcy returned to the prison on Sunday.

HT PHOTONormalcy returned to the Gurdaspur Central Jail on Sunday.

The authorities got cracking on the task of introducing sweeping reforms in the prison, on the directions of Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday. The authorities arranged for a team of doctors to check on inmates in all the barracks. The team did not come across any incident of even minor injury.

In a sign of gratitude for protecting and saving the lives of four staff members during the rioting by about 150 inmates, the jail authorities have presented four barracks with TV sets, while giving a go-ahead for the establishment of a bakery unit for prisoners desirous of doing work.

In another gesture, more than 25 prisoners who had requested their transfer to other prisons for personal reasons have been shifted to the jails of their choice.

Further, nearly four dozen cases of leave, pending with the DC office, have been given the sanction as a reward to inmates who did not join the rioting mob of miscreants, said the spokesperson.

A helpline is being launched in the DC office for expediting parole requests, while arrangements are being made to provide the prisoners with special facilities to meet their relatives for the whole of next week.

The barrack in which the trouble started will be converted into an activity centre, with computer, English, yoga and music classes set to commence next week, the spokesperson said.

Further, a special IGNOU enrolment drive has started in the prison, with 31 inmates responding to the prison officials’ encouragement to join various courses (Matric, 10+2, BA, Basic, LLB).

Talking to HT, jail superintendent Dilbgah Singh Gill said, “Normalcy has returned to the jail and we are in talks with the inmates. A few gangsters and hardcore criminals had created the ruckus. We have formed a peace committee comprising officials and prisoners to look into the issues.”

On the reasons behind the violence, Gill said some inmates claim that warders were rude to them. “But the basic reason is that we intensified checking and surveillance to check flow of drugs and use of mobile phones. Some hardcore criminals felt suffocated and resorted to violence out of frustration,” Gill said.

Inmates had gone on rampage on Friday and the violence escalated through the night, during which warders were beaten up, furniture was burnt and a hole was carved out in the boundary wall of the jail by the prisoners in a bid to flee. The situation was brought under control by SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) commandos and other cops numbering around 3,000. Tear gas shells and gunshots were fired to thwart the jailbreak attempt.

Sidhu in full flow as he adds colour to his thanksgiving event in Amritsar East

SIDHU IS VISITING EACH OF THE 153 WARDS OF HIS CONSTITUENCY TO THANK THE VOTERS FOR HIS VICTORY IN THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

AMRITSAR:From riding an Enfield motorcycle to doing bhangra to the beats of ‘dhol’, taking blessings from elders to helping the handicapped — it was super Sunday for cabinet minister Navjot Sidhu who paid a visit to his Amritsar (East) constituency to thank people for his victory in the elections.

SAMEER SEHGAL/HTPunjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu performing bhangra with party workers at Mudhal village in Amritsar on Sunday.

As part of his thanksgiving initiative, Sidhu is visiting each of the 153 wards of his constituency.

Dressed in black, Sidhu reached Mudhal village of his constituency to kick off his day. A cricketer turned politician who is also a favourite face in television was a star among residents. As many rushed for photographs and selfies, he obliged them all.

Apart from a flurry of public addresses where he promised development of the segment, he also urged the party workers and leaders to stay united.

He met the residents, touched feet of the elders and took their blessings. Spotting a physically challenged on a tricycle, he was quickly took ₹1000 out of his pocket and gave it to him.

As youngsters went crazy for a ‘selfie’ with the star, Sidhu not only obliged them all, but also shook a leg or two to the beats of ‘dhol’ when requested by this fans.

Winding up the visit, he assured the people of his constituency that he would pay back the love and support shown to him through development and better governance.

The three-time Amritsar MP, who left the Bharatiya Janata Party and later joined the Congress in January just days ahead of the February 4 assembly elections in Punjab, won the Amritsar East assembly seat, earlier held by his wife Navjot Kaur, with a margin of over 42,000 votes.

A file photo of a US F-16. —PTI

Washington, March 25

Two top Senators have urged the Trump administration to push for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to India to build its capability to counter security threats and balance China’s growing military power in the Pacific.

Senators Mark Warner from Virginia and John Cornyn from Texa in a joint letter to US Defence Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said, the Trump administration must make the fighter jet acquisition a priority during initial bilateral discussions with India.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

India has launched an effort to expand its combat aircraft fleet and the competition has reportedly narrowed down to Lockheed’s F-16 and Saab’s Gripen.

Noting that the last F-16 for the US Air Force rolled off the production line in Fort Worth in 1999, the two Senators said India remains the only major F-16 prospect customer.

“A primary factor in India’s decision will be compliance with Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, which will require establishing some level of local production capacity,” Warner and Cornyn wrote.

“Given the strategic significance of India selecting a US aircraft as the mainstay for its future Air Force and the potential for a decision this year, we ask that the administration make the fighter acquisition a priority during initial bilateral discussions,” they said.

Warner, who is a Democrat and Cornyn from the Republican Party are the co-chairs of the influential Senate India caucus, the only country specific caucus in the US Senate.

“We urge you to weigh in forcefully with the White House on the strategic significance of this deal, both to America’s defence industrial base and to our growing security partnership with India,” said the letter dated March 23.

Making a strong case for the sale of F-16s to India, the two Senators said this would represent a historic win for America that will deepen the US-India strategic defence relationship and cement cooperation between our two countries for decades to come.

“It would increase interoperability with a key partner and dominant power in South Asia, build India’s capability to counter threat from the north, and balance China’s growing military capability in the Pacific,” they said.

India, they said, increasingly serves as an integral partner in the United States’ security architecture in the volatile South Asia region, helping to protect our joint interests and deter common threats, and has emerged as a critical trading partner, they noted.

As such “it is in our national interest to work with India to progress democratic principles through regional security partnership and burden sharing,” they said.

“To this end, we support the co-production of our legacy F-16 aircraft in India to help sustain the United States’ current fleet of aircraft and aid a critical Indian security need with a proven American product,” Cornyn and Warner wrote.

The competition for the fighter jets, they wrote, presents an opportunity to solidify and strengthen the significant gains made in the bilateral US-India defence relationship over the two previous administrations, they said. —PTI

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh felicitates Tanushree Pareek at the Border Security Force Academy, Tekanpur, Gwalior, on Saturday. Photo: Twitter handle @BSF_India

The Border Security Force on Saturday inducted its first woman field officer after a convocation ceremony at the BSF academy at Tekanpur in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior district.Tanushree Pareek, a resident of Rajasthan, led the passing-out parade as the first woman field officer. She started training last year in a 52-week Assistant Commandant training programme with the 40th batch of the BSF academy. The force had begun induction of woman officers in 2013. She will now be posted to command a unit along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “I am happy that BSF has got its first woman field officer and hope that many more women will join her in securing our borders.”

Fire at Jabalpur ordnance unit

Bhopal: A fire broke out at ordnance factory at Khamaria in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, setting off a series of explosions. District Collector Mahesh Choudhary said 25 fire tenders were pressed into service, and the blaze was put out by 9.30 pm. The fire started around 6.20 pm, when the factory workers had left, hence there were no casualties. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, Choudhary said. PTI