Photo for representational purpose only. Thinkstock

New Delhi, July 9

One does not have a fundamental right to keep a weapon and its possession nowadays is more for “showing off” as a “status symbol” than for self-defence, the Delhi High Court has said.

The observation by Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva came while rejecting a private company official’s plea for an arms licence, a request which was denied to him by the licensing authority of the police as well as the Lieutenant Governor (LG).

Upholding the decisions of the licensing authority and the LG, the court said, “We are not living in a lawless society where individuals have to acquire or hold arms to protect themselves.”

It said that the object of the Arms Act was to ensure that weapons are available to citizens for self defence, but it “does not mean that every individual should be given a licence” to possess a weapon.

“The object of the Act is self-defence. The grant of Arms license is a privilege conferred by the Act. There is no fundamental right of an individual to hold an arm (weapon).

“Possession of arms today has become a status symbol.

Individuals seek to possess arms mostly for the purposes of showing off that they are influential people. Arms are even being used indiscriminately for celebratory firing at marriages etc.,” the court said.

The petitioner had sought an arms licence on the ground that he daily deals with cash ranging between Rs 2-3 lakh and needs a weapon for his safety and to secure the money.

The court rejected the contention, saying that the cash belonged to the company and if there was any need to protect the money, the company would have taken the requisite measures.

“The amount of cash mentioned by the petitioner is only about Rs 2-3 lakh a day. Merely because an individual deals with cash of Rs 2-3 lakh a day and that also of a third party does not by itself show that there is any threat to that individual,” the court said.

The same view was expressed by the LG while rejecting the man’s plea for an arms licence.

The court said the petitioner has not shown any circumstance that could create a perception that there is a threat to his life.

“License to hold an arm is to be granted where there is a necessity for the same and not merely at the asking of an individual at his whims and fancies,” the court said. PTI

Snow being cleared at the Rohtang Pass on Tuesday.

Tribune News Service

Mandi, November 12

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has restored the 13,050-foot-high Rohtang Pass, the gateway to Lahaul on the Manali-Leh highway, to traffic on Monday night. The road was blocked on Saturday after a heavy snowfall.

The BRO had engaged its workforce and machinery for the snow clearance work. BRO Commander Colonel Uma Shankar told The Tribune, “Despite tough geographical conditions, the BRO workforce had worked round the clock in the below zero temperature to restore traffic on the pass. There was over 4 feet snow on the road near Rohtang.”

Sub Divisional Magistrate, Manali, Raman Gharsangi said around 30 vehicles were crossed from the Lahaul side to Manali, which stranded near Rohtang. A rescue team of the local administration was sent to the spot to move the stranded vehicles out of the area.

He said the movement of vehicles from Manali to Lahaul on Wednesday will depend on weather conditions in the region.

Cong leader Navjot Sidhu offers prayers at Gurdwara Nanaksar in the East constituency of Amritsar on Tuesday. Photo: Sunil Kumar

Amritsar, November 12

Skipping the state government’s grand celebrations at Sultanpur Lodhi, former Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu preferred to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak today with the residents of the East constituency, represented by him as a lawmaker.

After attending the Kartarpur gurdwara function from Pakistan side, this was Sidhu’s first public appearance with his supporters here.

As his cavalcade reached his constituency, his supporters welcomed him declaring him to be the real “hero owing to his contribution in opening the corridor”.

A huge garland weighing around 1.5 quintal was specially arranged to welcome Sidhu, who paid obeisance at Gurdwara Nanaksar located in the Verka area.

Earlier, his supporters had erected huge billboards in the holy city, giving credit to him whose association with his old-time cricket pal and Pakistan PM Imran Khan had helped in pushing the much-sought-after project. —TNS

Amid chanting of ‘Dhan Guru Nanak’ and hymns like Kal taaran Guru Nanak aaya, religious processions were taken out across the state, including Sultanpur Lodhi and Amritsar, on the 550th Gurpurb eve on Monday.

On the 550th Gurpurb eve, thousands of devotees take part in religious processions in Amritsar and Sultanpur Lodhi on Monday. Tribune photo/PTI

In Sultanpur Lodhi, the nagar kirtan started with traditional fervour from Gurdwara Sant Ghat in the morning and culminated at Gurdwara Ber Sahib in the evening.

Several gatka teams showed their skills. A gatka team of the UK-based Sikh girls’ jatha stole the limelight.

Huge trumpets and traditional instruments were played. Jathas sat on tractor-trailers to recite shabads from Gurbani. Flowers were showered upon the sangat at various historical gurdwaras. TNS

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Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, November 10

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is heard saying “Hamaara Sidhu kidhar hai” while enquiring about the coming of former cricketer and Punjab MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu at the Kartarpur Corridor opening on Saturday.

Imran Khan, who arrived in a shuttle bus for the corridor opening, is heard asking other officials in the video “Accha hamaara woh Sidhu kidhar hai, me keh raha hu hamaara Sidhu”.

The Pakistan prime minister is also heard asking “Manmohan aa gya”, referring to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

A woman official is heard in the video saying if Sidhu isn’t allowed to come it would send a negative message for them and Khan says “usko aur hero banayege” and the woman says “woh saare channels ki headline hogi”.

Sidhu had on Saturday thanked the prime ministers of India and Pakistan for the historic move.

During his address at the inauguration ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor, Sidhu said no one can deny “my friend” Imran Khan’s contribution in making the opening of the corridor possible.

“Imran Khan has made history,” he said.

Calling Khan the king of hearts, Sidhu said, “Sikandar (Alexander) had won the world with fear and you won the heart all over the world.”

Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician thanked the former Pakistani cricket captain for taking the bold step to build the Kartarpur corridor “without looking at gains or losses”.

Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the first delegation of Sikh pilgrims as they entered Pakistan through the Kartarpur corridor. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was also part of the ‘jatha’ while Sidhu was the chief guest at the opening ceremony in Pakistan as he was invited by Imran Khan.

The 9 km corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, Guru Nanak Dev’s birth place and the final resting place, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district.

Charanjeet Singh Minhas

A few months ago, my wife and I decided to do the unthinkable: visit Pakistan.

Before boarding the Philadelphia-Lahore flight last month, I wrote an op-ed for Pakistan’s The Daily Times, but never anticipated the reaction on social media. Some of my fellow Indians — not only Modi devotees — were offended by my positive mentions of Pakistan and Muslims. The Patel community was most upset.

With this uncertain start, how could we believe that our maiden Pakistan visit would be such a joyous experience? From the moment we arrived we were treated like celebrities. Shopkeepers and restaurants would first refuse to accept money.

It is important to mention here that I was in a country and among people I had done my best all these years to avoid.

This side of Punjab has a lot of camels. I also observed rampant pigeon grooming for gambling. In Faisalabad (old Lyallpur), I was awestruck to see its sky blanketed by colourful kites. The city’s Gobind Pura, Nanak Pura and Harcharan Pura show its inseparable Sikh connection.

When we arrived at Lyallpur Khalsa College (now Municipal Degree College) on a late Friday afternoon, the college appeared to be closed. The security guard pointed us towards the principal who was just opening his car door.  One of our local companions hurriedly approached the principal. I will never forget the principal’s words: ‘It is their college, their property. They built it. Who am I to give them permission to tour it?’

Pakistani Punjabi has always been endearing to me, even though my friends and I often made it a butt of our jokes. That its speakers found my Punjabi interesting and original was a pleasant surprise.

Outside Lahore’s Defence Raya Golf and Country Club, I was introduced to Lt Gen Zahid Ali Akbar (retd). Although 88 years of age, he seemed fit enough to finish a marathon. ‘What a joy to speak real Punjabi with you. What they speak here isn’t Punjabi. Teach them some before you leave!’ he said, pointing to my hosts.

At the Punjab Club, Lahore’s colonial hangover is unmistakable. Its dress code and no-photo policy are non-negotiable. Thanks to an invitation from Riaz Ahmad Khan, retired chief justice of the Pakistan Supreme Court, and his wife, we were allowed to visit and eat there.

It was a remarkable journey. I have lived in England as a student and visited many European and Central American countries for business and leisure. I have seen more expansive physical beauty and natural diversity, awe-inspiring infrastructure and impeccable systems. However, never before have I seen such hearty hospitality or experienced an abundance of love that so contrasted with a country’s image abroad. No wonder that we frequently asked each other, ‘Are we in Pakistan?

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 4

At a time when Pakistan and its proxies are making every effort to revive terrorism in Kashmir Valley, the Indian Army’s ‘Operation Maa’ has saved lives of about 50 Kashmiri youths who were radicalised and pushed towards militancy.

Senior Army officials, engaged in counter-insurgency operations, revealed that although the Rashtriya Riffles, police and para-military forces had launched sustained anti-insurgency operations, the ‘Operation Maa’, planned by Kashmir-based 15 Army Corps, had saved several lives, which was being appreciated by families of youths, mainly stone-throwers.

The operation, launched by the Army, on the directions of General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 15 Corps Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, undertook an exercise in the hunt for missing youths and approached their families.

“A Number of boys have rejoined their families. Some encounters have ended up with a hug between a mother and a son as part of the efforts to save lives of young Kashmiris,” said an Army officer.

“Operations have also been undertaken in situations where a local Kashmiri youth is accompanying foreign terrorists in the dead of the night. Many of my men have even risked their lives in separating a willing-to-surrender Kashmiri local terrorist from a foreigner so that he can be brought back to his family,” the Army commander said.

“The data compiled by the Army showed that 83 per cent of the youths joining various militant groups had a record of stone pelting. Seven per cent of the youths who join terrorism are killed within first 10 days of picking up arms, 9 per cent within one month, 17 per cent in three months, 36 per cent in six months and 64 per cent in the first one year itself,” the Army officer said.