UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore addresses a state-level function organised to celebrate the 477th birth anniversary of legendary Rajput warrior and ruler Maharana Pratap. A Tribune photo

Our Correspondent

Mohali, June 3

A chair in the name of Maharana Pratap will be set up by the Punjab Government at Punjabi University, Patiala.This was stated by Governor VP Singh Badnore while addressing a state-level function organised to celebrate the 477th birth anniversary of the legendary Rajput warrior and ruler, Maharana Pratap.The Governor said that higher level of academic work and research could be executed and encouraged on the philosophy and values of Maharana Pratap. With the setting up of the Maharana Pratap chair, there would be a healthy exchange of thoughts among academicians, especially historians from Punjab and Rajasthan, he added.Terming Maharana Pratap as a true patriot who initiated the first war of Independence, the Governor said that even today he lived in our hearts because he had showed us the way to protect the motherland. Maharana Pratap had gained respect and honour as an epitome of valour, heroism, pride, patriotism and the spirit of independence, said Badnore. He said Rajasthan and Punjab shared a close proximity besides a rich cultural and social ethos.Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Rana KP Singh said Maharana Pratap not only gave a tough fight to the Mughals but also guarded the religious faith, especially during that struggle. He emerged as an inspirational force for future generations.Among those who addressed the gathering were the president, All-India Pratap Sewa Sangh, Rao Manohar Singh Krishnavat, social activist Ashok Singh, Rana Harinder Singh, President, All-India Kashtriya Maha Sabha, and MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu.

ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ’ਵਰਸਿਟੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ ਮਹਾਰਾਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਚੇਅਰ ਸਥਾਪਤ

ਪੱਤਰ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਕ
ਐਸ.ਏ.ਐਸ. ਨਗਰ (ਮੁਹਾਲੀ), 3 ਜੂਨ    

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਰਾਜਪੂਤ ਯੋਧਾ ਅਤੇ ਕੁਸ਼ਲ ਰਣਨੀਤੀਕਾਰ ਮਹਾਰਾਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਦੇ 477ਵੇਂ ਜਨਮ ਦਿਵਸ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਅੱਜ ਲਾਂਡਰਾਂ ਨੇੜੇ ਮੁਹਾਲੀ ਦੇ ਕਾਂਗਰਸੀ ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਬਲਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਦੇ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਪੈਲੇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਾਜ ਪੱਧਰੀ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਰਾਜਪਾਲ ਵੀ.ਪੀ. ਸਿੰਘ ਬਦਨੌਰ ਮੁੱਖ ਮਹਿਮਾਨ ਵਜੋਂ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੋਏ ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨਗੀ ਕਰਨੀ ਸੀ, ਗੈਰਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਰਹੇ। ਇਸ ਕਾਰਨ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨਗੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਦੇ ਸਪੀਕਰ ਰਾਣਾ ਕੇ.ਪੀ. ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਕੀਤੀ।
ਰਾਜਪਾਲ ਵੀ.ਪੀ. ਸਿੰਘ ਬਦਨੌਰ ਨੇ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ, ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਹਾਰਾਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਦੇ ਨਾਂ ’ਤੇ ਚੇਅਰ ਸਥਾਪਤ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਇਸ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਹਰੀ ਝੰਡੀ ਦੇ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਫ਼ੈਸਲੇ ਨਾਲ ਮਹਾਰਾਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਦੇ ਜੀਵਨ ਫ਼ਲਸਫ਼ੇ ’ਤੇ ਆਧਾਰਿਤ ਖੋਜਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੜ੍ਹਾਵਾ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ। ਮਹਾਰਾਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਚੇਅਰ ਸਥਾਪਤ ਹੋਣ ਨਾਲ ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਖੋਜ ਕੰਮਾਂ ਲਈ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰੋਫੈਸਰ ਰਾਜਸਥਾਨ ਜਾ ਸਕਣਗੇ ਅਤੇ ਰਾਜਸਥਾਨ ਤੋਂ ਪ੍ਰੋਫੈਸਰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਆ ਸਕਣਗੇ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਦੇ ਸਪੀਕਰ ਰਾਣਾ ਕੇ.ਪੀ. ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਮਹਾਰਾਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਨੇ ਸਾਮਰਾਜੀ ਤਾਕਤਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਟੱਕਰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਆਜ਼ਾਦੀ ਦਾ ਮੁੱਢ ਬੰਨ੍ਹਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਚੱਲਿਤ ਗੁਲਾਮ ਬਣਾਏ ਜਾਣ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਥਾ ਨੂੰ ਠੱਲ੍ਹ ਪਾ ਕੇ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਰਾਖੀ ਕੀਤੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਜੀਵਨ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਪੀੜ੍ਹੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਨਾ ਸਰੋਤ ਹੈ।
ਸਮਾਗਮ ਨੂੰ ਮੁਹਾਲੀ ਦੇ ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਬਲਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ, ਰਾਜਸਥਾਨ ਦੇ ਸਮਾਜ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਸ਼ੋਕ ਸਿੰਘ, ਆਲ ਇੰਡੀਆ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਸੇਵਾ ਸੰਘ ਰਾਜਸਥਾਨ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਰਾਓ ਮਨੋਹਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨਾਵੱਤ ਅਤੇ ਆਲ ਇੰਡੀਆ ਕਸ਼ੱਤਰੀਆ ਮਹਾਂਸਭਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਰਾਣਾ ਹਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਕਾਲਜ ਡੇਰਾਬਸੀ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰੋਫੈਸਰ ਸੁਮਿਤਾ ਕਟੌਚ ਅਤੇ ਗੌਰਮਿੰਟ ਕਾਲਜ ਮੁਹਾਲੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰੋਫੈਸਰ ਕੁਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਨੇ ਮਹਾਰਾਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਦੇ ਜੀਵਨ ਬਾਰੇ ਚਾਨਣਾ ਪਾਇਆ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਲੋਕ ਗਾਇਕ ਮੁਹੰਮਦ ਸਦੀਕ ਅਤੇ ਬੀਬਾ ਸੁਖਜੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਨੇ ਸਭਿਆਚਾਰਕ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ।

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 1

In a major victory for a defence family in Dehradun, Uttarakhand Urban Sector Development Investment Programme (UUSDIP) has asked the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) authorities to provide all ownership details of land at Kargi Grant allotted to it so that the original owner’s plea for giving him a way to his remaining land after acquisition can be considered.Resident of Doon, Inderjeet Sharma, whose son is serving in the Army, owns the land at Kargi Grant on the Shimla bypass. Inderjeet is seeking a way to his land part of which was earlier acquired by the MC authorities for an ADB project. Inderjeet had approached the authorities for a relief and sought a way to his land through the acquired land.After much correspondence with the authorities, Uttarkhand Urban Sector Development Investment Programme (UUSDIP) Additional Programme Director Jharna Kampthan in her letter (May) had asked the DMC to provide ownership details of land in question to them. She had directed the MC to provide UUSDIP details about land in question and ownership status of Inderjeet Sharma on this land. “After the ownership gets cleared, Inderjeet Sharma’s plea for way to his land can be considered,” Jharna Kampthan held.Earlier, then Dehradun District Magistrate Ravinath Raman in his letter (March 10) informed Secretary, Urban Development, DS Garbyal that the land in question at Kargi Grant was acquired by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation and was subsequently given to Uttarkhand Urban Sector Development Investment Programme and the latter has also started construction work. Further, it is the Dehradun Municipal Corporation that has to decide on providing compensation or land elsewhere against the land in question to the original allottee or providing way to his now left-out land after acquisition.Earlier, DS Garbyal, Secretary, Urban Development, had in his letter dated Feb 27, 2017 directed the then Dehradun District Magistrate Ravinath Raman to take up the matter.

ਜਲੰਧਰ: ਪੰਜਾਬ ਐਵੀਨਿਊ ਲੱਦੇਵਾਲੀ ”ਚ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡੀਅਰ ”ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ, ਹਾਲਤ ਗੰਭੀਰ

ਜਲੰਧਰ(ਮਹੇਸ਼)— ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਦੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਐਵੀਨਿਊ ਲੱਦੇਵਾਲੀ ”ਚ ਮੰਗਲਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡੀਅਰ ਜਸਵਾਲ ”ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਦੱਸਿਆ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਕਿਸੇ ਨਾਲ ਜ਼ਮੀਨੀ ਵਿਵਾਦ ਚੱਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ। ਜ਼ਮੀਨ ”ਤੇ ਕਬਜ਼ੇ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ”ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡੀਅਰ ਨੂੰ ਫੌਜੀ ਹਸਪਤਾਲ ”ਚ ਦਾਖਲ ਕਰਵਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਜਿਥੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਹਾਲਤ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਬਣੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ।

Brig J  S jaswal vrc, sm has been hit by six seven guys today morning. He is in quite bad shape.

Admitted him at Mh Jalandhar

GEN: ‘DIRTY WAR’ IN J&K, ‘INNOVATIVE’ WAYS WORK

ARMY’S FIRE ASSAULT AT LOC: THE POLITICAL MESSAGE IS THAT INDIA WILL NOT HOLD BACK RETRIBUTION IF HIT BY LT GEN ATA HUSNAIN

PTI photo

President Pranab Mukherjee deserves a salute for reminding the journalists as also other democratic stake-holders of the role and responsibilities of the media in furthering our republican virtues and values. In his Ramnath Goenka Memorial Lecture, Pranab Mukherjee thoughtfully alluded to the cacophony, chaos and confusion that have come to define the media scene in this age of internet and social media, and, how this unfiltered and unregulated overflow of information, data and opinion has complicated the Fourth Estate’s task. That the media itself has been falling victim to temptations of partisanship is a rather old story; what is new is that unprecedented barrage of news sources is providing the people “the choice to read only what they want to, and more importantly, only what they agree with.” The cumulative outcome is a shrunken space for disagreement and increased intolerance. This itch for intolerance is at variance with the need in a democracy to “doubt, disagree and dispute intellectually.” At the same time, the President needs to be commended for reminding the media of its own deficiencies and creeping delinquencies like “paid news,” which is a threat to the very credibility of the entire profession. The corporate ownership of the media, the inclination to promote dumbing down of news, and the suborning of professional ethics have all combined to play havoc with the media’s credibility. Like the political class, the media leaders, too, find themselves tempted to pander to the masses’ prejudices rather than performing their professional dharma of upholding reason and logic.   The President’s reflections also caution us against the use of new technology by powerful groups and individuals to put in place “one-way communications from the powerful to the less privileged.” This in recent times has, according to Pranab Mukherjee, diluted our civilizational plurality and its cultural, social, linguistic  and racial diversity. “The need to ask questions of those in power is fundamental for the preservation of our nation and of a truly democratic society.” As the President sees it, the media must remain conscious and true to its role as a vigilant custodian of public interest. The President’s invocation of the media’s duties is most timely. 

THE brutal killing of the young Lt Ummer Fayaz in Kashmir has deeply touched each one of us. The loss to his family and the Army is immense. Over the years, I have accompanied my husband, and sometimes gone on my own, to visit families devastated by the loss of a family member in firing across the border, Kargil war (Operation Vijay), in counter-insurgency actions, and natural disasters like avalanches. It was our endeavour to visit as many families as possible. If not immediately, whenever we were able to visit the station from where the young soldier hailed — Lucknow, Shillong, Palampur, Chennai, Gurgaon, Noida, Secunderabad and Meerut, to name some. Without a doubt, these visits left a searing hole in my heart as the laments and cries of anguish of the family reverberated in my ears. The sight of their tears could not be forgotten. Some young widows would come to me in the Army Wives Welfare Association office. We were able to offer some advice on financial matters and personal family issues. I motivated some of them to join the Army as commissioned officers. We have tried to keep in touch with many families over the years.There was one particular visit which continues to haunt me. The other day, with some difficulty, I was able to get hold of the telephone number of Master Warrant Officer (later Flight Lieutenant) JP Sharma and his wife, Sudesh Sharma. I recalled our visit to their home, a rather small flat in Noida in 1998. Their son, Capt Shashi Kant Sharma, was from 15 Armoured Regiment and had volunteered for a posting at Siachen, on attachment with 12 J& K Light Infantry. When his mother pleaded with him not to volunteer for such a hazardous assignment, he told her, ‘Nobody from the Armoured Corps goes to Siachen. Won’t you be happy when I proudly wear a Siachen Medal which no other unit officer would have?’ The poor, simple mother had no answer.When we met her, she kept relating to me all that her son had been telling her to assuage her fears. ‘Ma, I have given some money to the juice vendor at the corner of our lane. He will give you a glass of fruit juice at 11 am every day. You are weak for the surgery you have to undergo. I know you will not spend on yourself. I want you to feel stronger.’ She reprimanded  him, ‘Pagle, aisay koi paise deta hai? Woh kuch dino mein gayab ho jayega.’ Shashi Kant responded, ‘Ma, fauji ke paise lekar koi nahin bhagega.’ During our visit, Mrs Sharma went to a room and returned with a pile of audio cassettes which she wanted me to hear. Her son had got these for her, saying, ‘Ma, yeh deshbhakti ke gaane hain. Inhe sunte rehna aur tab tak main wapis aa jaounga.’The young Captain was martyred in a shelling incident at Bana Listening post in the Siachen sector. The other day I rang them up. They were overwhelmed when I recalled every word the lady had told me. Memories of their gallant young son are all they have. Their younger son is a dentist at a dental college in Ghaziabad.

The Navy on Saturday had sent the INS Kirch and the Dornier aircraft for search and rescue operation for the missing vessel. File photo

Male/New Delhi, May 21

The Indian Navy has traced a Maldivian landing craft with six crew members, three days after it went missing while travelling between two islands in the Maldives.

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

A Dronier aircraft of the Navy first located the landing craft — Maria 3 — 120 nautical miles east of Male on Saturday evening following which INS Kirch reached out to the ship and provided required assistance.

The Navy on Saturday had sent the INS Kirch and the Dornier aircraft for search and rescue operation for the missing vessel.

“The ship’s forward ramp had collapsed due to which she was unable to propel. The INS Kirch has confirmed that all crew members are safe,” Navy Spokesperson Capt DK Sharma said in New Delhi.

The landing craft was travelling from K Thulusdhoo, an island in the Maldives, to L Gan, another island, on Thursday when it went missing.

India’s Ambassador to Maldives Akhilesh Mishra applauded the crew of the Indian Navy and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) for their coordination and cooperation in locating the missing ship.

“I feel very proud of the professionalism, unflinching courage and commitment to duty displayed by the Indian Naval officers in undertaking the search and rescue operation in an extremely challenging weather,” he said.

The Indian Navy personnel also called on the Indian envoy.

The MNDF is the security organisation of Maldives responsible for defending the security and sovereignty of the island nation. — PTI

Presiding judge Ronny Abraham of France reads the World Court’s verdict in The Hague, Netherlands. AP/PTI

Simran Sodhi
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 18

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) today stayed the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav until it rules on the merits of the case.

The stay passed unanimously by the court is a diplomatic victory for India as it upheld its argument that Pakistan has violated the Vienna Convention. For Pakistan, it comes as a setback since the court did not accept its arguments that the 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access takes precedence over the Vienna Convention.

While India welcomed the decision and said it was a matter of relief for everyone, Pakistan was quick to say that the United Nations’ highest court has no jurisdiction in national security matters.

Edit: Reprieve for Jadhav

Full text: What the Court said  

Read:  ICJ order on Jadhav binding on Pakistan: India 

   Pak does not accept ICJ’s jurisdiction in national security matters: FO     

 India heaves a sigh of relief as ICJ stays Jadhav’s execution

The Ministry of External Affairs said the ICJ order was “unanimous, favourable, clear and unambiguous”. MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the “provisional relief provided by the ICJ is the first step towards ensuring justice”. A statement by the office of Pakistan’s attorney general was in line with the position taken by their foreign office that the order of the ICJ did not change the status of Jadhav in any manner. “We are determined to pursue this case to its logical end,” said the statement.

Pakistan foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said India had been “trying to hide its real face” by taking the case of Jadhav to the ICJ.

The ICJ, in its stay today, upheld India’s argument on the “urgency” of the issue. “Without prejudging the result, the ICJ considers that the risk or irreparable prejudice, the mere fact that Jadhav is under such a sentence and might be executed, is sufficient to demonstrate such a risk. There is considerable uncertainty as to when the decision on any appeal is rendered or when Jadhav will be executed,” said ICJ President Judge Ronny Abraham.

What might make matters tough for Pakistan are the court’s observations that its orders are legally binding.

Pakistan claims to have arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan in March last year for “espionage”. While India has accepted that Jadhav is a former naval officer, it has rubbished claims of his being a spy.”Satisfied at ICJ order staying the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav. Satisfied at the efforts of Harish Salve for presenting Indian case  effectively.  —Narendra Modi, PM“The ICJ order has come as a great relief… We are grateful to Harish Salve for presenting India’s case so effectively before ICJ. I assure that under the leadership of PM Modi, we will leave no stone unturned to save (him). —Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister“As a lawyer for 40 years, you get a feel of how judges are reacting. I felt a positive energy when I was arguing the case. I felt judges were connecting. I felt gratified. I did not feel that connection when the other side was arguing. —Harish Salve, Counsel for India

Kulbhushan Jadhav

New Delhi, May 17

Three days after hearing arguments from both India and Pakistan over the death sentence handed to Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will announce its verdict in The Hague tomorrow.  The verdict is likely at 3.30 pm.For both India and Pakistan, the verdict will go a long way in determining the future course of action as far as bilateral ties are concerned. India argued that Pakistan had violated the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by refusing access to Jadhav, despite 16 such requests.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Pakistan, meanwhile, maintained that consular access could not be granted as the person in question was a “spy” and “terrorist”. Pakistan suffered a minor setback when the court refused it permission to play out the “confessional” video of Jadhav.India approached the ICJ on May 8 claiming that the life of an Indian national was at stake. Pakistan, in its arguments, questioned the “urgency” on the Indian side arguing that Jadhav has been given 150 days of clemency even after the sentence was announced. — TNS