Dehradun, December 7

Lt Gen SK Saini, Commandant, Indian Military Academy (IMA), today said it was important for an officer to maintain a competitive streak within the parameters of sportsmanship and fair play at all times. He expressed his views at an award ceremony of passing out course of 139 Regular and 122 Technical Graduate Course (TGC) at Khetrapal Auditorium, IMA.“It is always a collective and a team effort that is important in the profession of arms. There are no runners up in wars. Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) should remain updated about modern warfare. The latest communication equipment and arms are excessively used in the modern wars,” he said.Lt Gen Negi bestowed recognition and awards on outstanding GCs who excelled in various fields during their pre-commission training.He said, “GCs are exposed to multifarious activities such as weapon training, service and academic subjects, drill, physical training, sports, outdoor camps and extracurricular activities during their pre-commission training at IMA. These are aimed at making them battle ready and teach them necessary skills to execute various responsibilities and operational tasks with utmost professionalism during their service career.” — TNS

New Delhi, December 3

Former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said the recent Nagrota attack is as “shameful” as the 2008 Mumbai carnage and has “disproved” the belief that surgical strikes can end cross-border terrorism.Speaking at the launch of former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon’s book, titled “Choices: Inside the making of India’s foreign policy”, Chidambaram said there was no “unified command” at the level of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).“What happened at Nagrota is just as shameful as what happened in Mumbai. The cross-border, cross-LoC action will not prevent Pakistan-based terrorist groups from attacking Indian installations and camps,” he said last night. “The strikes restore balance at the border. It sends a signal to Pakistan that if you can do it, we can do it. But to imagine that a surgical strike will put an end to cross-border action, that has been disproved by what has happened in Nagrota,” he said.He claimed that there was “no coherence” at the level of MHA and attributed it to discontinuation of a “good practice”. “I think the practice of having a Home Minister, home secretary, the special secretary, the DIB, the director of RAW and NSA meet every day was a good practice. The practice has stopped. That is why there is no coherence, no coordination, no unified command at the level of home affairs,” he said.About surgical strikes, Chidambaram said the ownership should have been left to the Army. “First, the ownership should have been left to the Army like we have in the past. Second, we should not make statements like ‘Pakistan called us yesterday and begged us to stop’ or make statements like ‘I will gouge their eyes’. These statements make us a laughing stock,” he said. — PTI

‘Engaging Pak the only answer’

• Former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said engaging Pakistan was the ‘only answer’ that India had
• He said the present government started at one extreme and had now swung to another
• “The first extreme was over-enthusiasm and the second is of their own making. Eventually, you have to live with your neighbours. The only answer is to engage Pakistan through trade, cultural exchanges or people-to-people exchanges,” he said

Vijay Mohan

Chandigarh, November 17

A Major General on deputation to the Assam Rifles is facing disciplinary proceedings after a woman Army officer accused him of misbehaving with her. He has been attached with headquarters of the newly raised 17 Corps at Ranchi for the conduct of proceedings against him, which depending on review of charges and evidence could entail a possible trial by general court martial.Sources say the hearing of charge (HoC) was done today by the General Officer Commanding, 17 Corps, who is the accused’s commanding officer. The HoC is a procedure where tentative charges are read out to the accused against whom disciplinary action has been ordered after being held blameworthy for an offence and where he is allowed to give his defence.Sources say the woman officer had submitted a written complaint to her superior officers about the incident that had taken place in Nagaland on October 24. Following this, a court of inquiry was ordered by Headquarters Eastern Command, which was presided over the Maj Gen ST Upasani, Chief of Staff, 17 Corps.The complainant, a captain with the Judge Advocate General’s Department, had alleged the accused called her to his room late evening for some official work and misbehaved with her.The accused, a decorated infantry officer who was nearing the end of his deputation, on his part denied the allegations against him before the court of inquiry.There are four officers of the rank of Major General posted with the Assam Rifles, a 66,400-strong Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs that is responsible for peacetime management of the Indo-Myanmar border and undertaking internal security duties in the North-East.There have been instances in the past where senior officers have been held culpable for such actions and have been proceeded against under provisions of the Army Act. The Army takes such complaints and abrasions seriously and moves swiftly to deal with such cases.

October 24 incident

• A woman officer filed a written complaint to her superior officers about alleged misbehaviour by a Major General on deputation to the Assam Rifles in Nagaland on October 24
• A court of inquiry was ordered by the Headquarters Eastern Command and disciplinary action was ordered. The hearing of charge was done on Thursday by the General Officer Commanding, 17 Corps
• The officer has been attached with headquarters of the newly raised 17 Corps at Ranchi for the conduct of proceedings against him

Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag at the Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur on Tuesday. Tribune Photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 15

A day after Pakistan admitted that seven of its soldiers were killed in firing from across the border, Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh Suhag visited the headquarters of Northern Command at Udhampur today.The General interacted with the formation commanders and reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and asked the troops to be alert to any inimical activity in the wake of the heightened tension on the border.The Army Chief commended the soldiers for boldly responding to ceasefire violations along the LoC. He lauded the synergy and cooperation between the Northern Command, Air Force, paramilitary forces, civil administration and the Central police organisations operating in the region.According to an official handout issued by the PRO (Defence), Udhampur, the Army Chief exhorted the troops to be alert to the enemy’s inimical designs and be aggressive in their approach.

Judiciary above Constitution? Akalis to move motion in LS

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha next week to initiate a debate on whether the judiciary is above the Constitution or not.“We will urge the House to decide once and for all whether the judiciary is above the Constitution and that the legislature is subordinate to it,” SAD spokesman Prem Singh Chandumajra said here today.Speaking to mediapersons, he said the Supreme Court’s judgment invalidating the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004, was unconstitutional, adding that the court could not take away the state’s rights over its riverwaters.“The way the Congress government in Punjab was arm-twisted to sign the water-sharing agreement with Haryana in 1981 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was not only illegal but also a travesty of justice,” the Akali MP said.“By moving the motion, the SAD MPs will urge the Lok Sabha to decide whether the judiciary can undo an Act enacted by the legislature on a subject within its purview,” said Chandumajra.He said a delegation of Akali leaders led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would submit a memorandum to the President — probably next week — to take note of the “constitutional crisis”.The exercise to return to the farmers concerned the land acquired for the SYL canal will start soon, he said. He asked the Congress MLAs not to skip the emergency session of the Assembly scheduled for November 16 to pass a new Bill on the riverwaters.“The Congress MLAs will gain nothing by quitting the Assembly. They are running away from their responsibility to protect Punjab’s interests,” said Chandumajra. He added that the new Act would be a “bold step to safeguard the state’s major interests, including its rights over riverwaters”.Why didn’t Capt quit in 1982, asks SADChandigarh: The SAD on Friday asked PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh why he did not resign as an MP when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the SYL canal in 1982. SAD spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema accused the Congress of adopting double standards. “At the time of the start of the excavation work, Amarinder stood with Indira Gandhi like a rock. Had he resigned at that time, the situation would not have reached this stage,” Cheema added. He alleged that senior Congress leaders such as Amarinder and the then Chief Minister Darbara Singh had betrayed the people of the state for vested interests. TNSNo Punjab water to other states: SukhbirLudhiana: Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal reiterated on Friday that there was no question of giving water of Punjab to any state. “Water is our life and we will not let our life be taken away, no matter what,” he said. He said this during a function organised to launch the Ujjwala Scheme on Friday. On being asked if reports of stoppage of bus service between Punjab and Haryana were true, he said no such step had been taken by the Punjab government. “There is no such thing. Is there any enmity? We all are brothers,” he said. TNS

Grave injustice done: Badal writes to Prez

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11

A day after the Supreme Court verdict, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today drafted a Bill aimed at setting set aside all water-sharing pacts and sought an audience with the President. The party is trying to get an appointment before the special session of the Vidhan Sabha on November 16.Meanwhile, the SAD has decided not to launch a stir right away. A meeting chaired by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal in Ludhiana late in the evening decided not to take the SYL issue to the people as of now.In his letter to the President, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal wrote: “The issue of Punjab’s legitimate and constitutional right over its riverwaters is a question of life and death for each and every Punjabi today and for all times to come. It is neither a political nor a mere issue but one that is deeply human, even though in purely legal terms, the people of Punjab demand nothing that is not constitutionally theirs.”The letter goes on to say though the Punjab Government respected the honorable court, it respected the Constitution even more, “which clearly forbids the Government of India from arrogating to itself the right to adjudicate on distribution of riverwaters among states. Grave injustice has been done to Punjab by the Government of India… “The Akali MPs have been asked to raise the issue in Parliament during the winter session. Party spokesperson PS Chandumajra said the SAD would move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to initiate a debate on whether the judiciary was above the Constitution. He said the move to return farmers their land acquired for the SYL canal would be initiated soon.Even as the Deputy CM accused the Congress of “running away by resigning at this time of crisis”, a senior Akali leader said being in majority, the government did not need the Opposition to either pass a Bill or a resolution during the November 16 House session.With the Congress and AAP raising the pitch and fearing a law and order situation, the government has requested for additional security. “At least 10 companies of central forces were requisitioned till November 12. We have now asked the Centre to extend their stay till November 19,” said an officer.

Gandhi wants all MPs to quit

Rebel AAP MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi (c) leads a protest in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11

Suspended AAP MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi said here today that he was ready to resign as a member of the Lok Sabha on the riverwaters issue. “But before taking this step, I will ask all other MPs from Punjab to do the same,” he said.He added that if the MPs did not agree to quit, he would request them to stall the functioning of Parliament till justice was done to the state.“Punjab has suffered a lot over the past several decades. It is the duty of the elected representatives from the state to save it from more suffering,” he said.Dr Gandhi said Punjab did not have a drop of surplus water, so it was the need of the hour to revisit all old agreements on the riverwaters.Meanwhile, the Dr Gandhi-led Punjab Front and the CPI (Marxist-Leninist Liberation) staged a protest here today against the SYL canal. Leaders of the Democratic Swaraj Party, Akhand Akali Dal and the Bahujan Sangharsh Dal were among those who took part.Manjit Singh and Harbans Singh, president and general secretary of the Democratic Swaraj Party, respectively, Sukhdev Singh Bhaur of the Akhand Akali Dal, Resham Singh of the Bahujan Sangharsh Dal and Sukhdarshan Natt of the CPI (ML Liberation) also addressed the gathering.

Punjab plans watertight bill, Haryana stops bus services

By tendering resignations ahead of the assembly polls, Amarinder Singh and his colleagues are trying to become martyrs by smearing blood on their fingertips. PARKASH SINGH BADAL, Punjab CM

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government is likely to bring a new bill on the inter-state water dispute in a move that could potentially complicate the legal tussle with Haryana over sharing of water from the Beas and Sutlej rivers, official sources said on Friday.

KESHAV SINGH/HTCongress legislature party (CLP) leader Charanjit Singh Channi submitting party MLAs’ resignations to an official of the Punjab assembly in Chandigarh on Friday.

The move comes a day after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Haryana in the water-sharing dispute. With tension rising, Haryana suspended state-run buses to Punjab citing security reasons.

Blaming the Union government for “grave injustice”, the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government indicated that it was legally examining the option to stop current flow of Punjab’s river waters to its neighbours.

“The Constitution clearly forbids the Centre from arrogating to itself the right to adjudicate on distribution of river waters among states. Grave injustice has been done to Punjab by the Centre, violating this Constitutional clause,” CM Badal said in his letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, seeking audience, along with council of ministers.

Upping the ante, all 42 Punjab Congress MLAs tendered their resignations. The MLAs marched to the state assembly after holding a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party and handed over their resignation to the secretary of the House in the absence of Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal to protest against the SC order.

Amarinder Singh’s government had enacted the Punjab’s Termination of Agreements Act2004 to stop work on the 212-kmlong Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. Haryana, which is banking on the canal to water from the rivers to the state’s “dry and arid areas”, had moved the top court opposing the law.

Punjab government sources said the fresh bill is likely to be introduced at a special session of the assembly, convened on November 16 to discuss the verdict.

The Badal government has vowed not to “allow a single drop of water” to be taken from Punjab.

Government sources say at the heart of the move to bill a fresh bill is to go beyond the 2004 act, particularly clause 5 that mandates flow of river waters to Haryana and Rajasthan.

Sources said the government has tasked advocate general Ashok Aggarwal and other top legal eagles to put in place a strategy to hit-back politically and stay ahead of the Congress, which has blamed the ruling alliance of failing to protect Punjab’s interest in court.

Earlier in the day, the Congress announced a statewide agitation from November 13, with a public rally at a village in south west Punjab.

Suspending bus services to Punjab, Haryana additional chief secretary, transport, Sudeep Singh Dhillon said: “It is a precautionary measure in view of the prevailing situation.”

Though the transport department claimed that only long-route operations have been temporarily stopped, some depots have stopped plying buses even on short routes.

Some Haryana leaders and khaps have threatened not to allow vehicles from Punjab to pass through the state if the Badal government does not accept the court verdict.

SUTLEJ-YAMUNA LINK CANAL

Channi flays Badal for ‘volte-face’

Says CM himself vouched for SYL in 1985; Cong to meet President on Nov 16; CLP leader’s yatra concludes

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) chief Charanjit Singh Channi (red turban) and other leaders, along with workers, in the Jawani Sambhal Yatra at Amritsar on Friday. Tribune Photograph

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 11

Flaying Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for misleading the people, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) chief Charanjit Singh Channi reminded him that it was the Shiromani Akali Dal that had made the commitment under the Punjab Accord in 1985 to complete the construction of the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.Reaching the holy city today on the last day of his Jawani Sambhal Yatra, Channi said, “The CM must explain as to why two notifications— No.113/5/SYL and No. 121/5/SYL dated February 20, 1978—- were issued for the acquisition of land for this canal when he himself was the chief minister. Moreover, Section 17 of the Land Acquisition Act was added to waive Section 5(a) on grounds of urgency.”“Badal should also tell the people about the statements made by his family friend and the then Haryana Chief Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal in the Assembly about him having agreed to lay the foundation of the SYL canal. It is on record from which Badal can’t backtrack,” he said.Channi reminded Badal that it was part of his party manifesto to drop Section 5 of the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004, but he only took the people for a ride on the issue. Setting the record straight, he said it was not Punjab that first went to the Supreme Court against the 1976 apportionment by the Centre under the Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966, but that Haryana and Punjab had only followed suit.The Akali Dal came to power first in 1967 and Parkash Singh Badal took over as the chief minister for the first time on March 27, 1970 and continued to rule the state till June 14, 1971. “Did his party or he himself as the chief minister lodge any protest with the Centre at that time against sections 78-80 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, under which the then Prime Minister announced the award on apportionment of river waters between Punjab and Haryana in 1976,” he questioned.The CLP today adopted a resolution to meet the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on November 16 in the context of the Supreme Court verdict on the presidential reference on the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004. The delegation would include all the MPs and MLAs.Through another resolution, the CLP demanded the immediate dismissal of the Badal government for having failed to protect the interests of Punjab in the Supreme Court. The CLP also cited apprehension about the polls being free and fair under the present dispensation in the state.Channi said that in the CLP meeting held today under his leadership, it was unanimously decided that the Congress would seek time from the President of India to convince them on the present water scenario in Punjab. All the senior Congress leaders and legislators would accompany him, Channi added.Meanwhile, Channi entered the city with his Jawani Sambhal Yatra on the fifth day of his campaign where the locals and the entire party rank and file accorded him a warm welcome. The yatra that includes 2,000 cyclists from Sri Chamkaur Sahib travelled more than 350 kms in five days, criss-crossing more than 20 assembly constituencies. The theme of the yatra was the fight against drugs, unemployment and corruption. All these issues are related to the youth of Punjab. Earlier, the yatra was undertaken from Sri Chamkaur Sahib to Sri Talwandi Sabo for seven days.

FACT FILE

• The CLP today adopted a resolution to meet the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on November 16 in the context of the Supreme Court verdict on the presidential reference on the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004. The delegation would include all the MPs and MLAs
• Channi entered the city with his Jawani Sambhal Yatra on the fifth day of his campaign where the locals and the entire party rank and file accorded him a warm welcome
• The yatra that includes 2,000 cyclists from Sri Chamkaur Sahib travelled more than 350 kms in five days, criss-crossing more than 20 assembly constituencies

AAP launches dharna at Kapoori village

 

AAP leader Sanjay Singh addresses a dharna at Kapoori village on Friday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Tribune News Service

Kapoori (patiala), November 11

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today started a dharna in the district’s Kapoori village against the Supreme Court verdict invalidating the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act. The party will start a relay fast tomorrow.Sanjay Singh, incharge, political affairs, Punjab; Jarnail Singh, joint in-charge; Gurpreet Singh Waraich, Punjab convener; and other leaders, including HS Phoolka, Sukhpal Khaira and Kanwar Sandhu, reached the protest site.Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had laid the foundation stone of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal at Kapoori village on April 8, 1982.The AAP leadership targeted both the SAD-BJP combine and the Congress for their hypocrisy. Sanjay Singh said Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh was the biggest traitor of Punjab and his resignation from Lok Sabha was eyewash.“Capt Amarinder had welcomed a proposal for the SYL canal decades ago. He even accompanied Indira Gandhi when she laid the foundation stone. Now, he is raising a hue and cry about saving Punjab waters. If he is serious about Punjab, why didn’t he raise his voice then?” he added.Jarnail Singh hit out at Capt Amarinder for resigning as MP. “He should have fought for Punjab waters in Parliament as the final decision will be taken there,” he said.Gurpreet Waraich said, “If AAP comes to power, it will fight a do-and-die battle for Punjab waters.”

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Jaitley meets Governor in ChandigarhChandigarh: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley paid an unannounced visit to the residence of Punjab Governor VP Badnore here on Friday. A Principal Secretary of the Punjab Government, requesting anonymity, said: “There is speculation that Jaitley was sent by the Centre to sort out the SYL logjam between the neighbouring states.” A senior BJP leader, however, said: “He is here to attend a ceremony preceding the marriage of the grandson of Justice Kuldip Singh (retd).” tnsWork out mutually acceptable pact: CPMNew Delhi: The CPM on Friday asked the Centre to work out a mutually acceptable and beneficial agreement with Punjab and Haryana on the SYL canal. The party politburo said, “The Centre must step in immediately to avoid escalation of tension.” PTIIndependent MLA Babbi quits tooHoshiarpur: Backing PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh’s stand on the SYL issue, Independent MLA from Mukerian Rajneesh Kumar Babbi on Friday handed over his resignation to the Vidhan Sabha Speaker. He said the SC verdict showed that the SAD-BJP government had failed to protect the rights of the people of Punjab. Babbi is the son of former Finance Minister Dr Kewal Krishan. OCPanel to finalise Cong candidates by mid-DecJaipur: The chairman of the Congress screening committee, Ashok Gehlot, said on Friday that the party candidates for the Punjab Assembly poll would most probably be finalised by the middle of next month. “Winnability will be the main criterion while shortlisting the candidates,” Gehlot said. OC

Congress MLA, supporters block Sirhind railway line

Congress MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra (C) and his supporters block the track at the Sirhind railway station on Friday. Tribune Photo

Fatehgarh Sahib, November 11Hundreds of Congress workers led by Fatehgarh Sahib MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra today blocked the Rajpura-Jalandhar railway line passing through Sirhind. They protested against a Supreme Court’s verdict on the SYL canal.Nagra and 41 other Congress MLAs resigned from the Vidhan Sabha yesterday in protest against the order.Nagra and his supporters stopped Jansewa Express (Amritsar-Saharsa, Bihar) train on Sirhind railway track.The train halted for about 30 minutes. Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM), and personnel of Government Railway Police (GRP) and Rapid Action Force (RPF) tried in vain to remove the protesters.The blockade was lifted after SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar intervened. — TNS

SYL verdict divides Cong, BJP in 2 states

Capt Abhimanyu, Punjab BJP co-in charge

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11

The Supreme Court decision on the SYL canal has divided the BJP and the Congress in Haryana and Punjab with respective state units taking diametrically opposite stands on the issue.In fact, different stands of these parties in two neighbouring states portend ill for them in the run-up to the Assembly elections in Punjab where stakes are high for both the Congress and the BJP, the junior partner in the SAD-BJP alliance.While the Haryana Congress wanted Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to uphold the Constitution and implement the SC judgment in ‘letter and spirit’, its Punjab counterpart is up in arms against the apex court decision with PCC chief and Amritsar MP Capt Amarinder Singh and all Congress MLAs resigning from their posts against the decision.The situation in the ruling BJP is no different with the Punjab BJP throwing in its lot with the alliance partner SAD on the issue while the BJP in Haryana had termed it a victory for the state residents.AICC Communications in charge and Kaithal MLA Randeep Surjewala sees no contradiction in the Congress stand on the issue claiming that in a democratic setup individuals were free to take a particular stand keeping in view the interests of their respective state.Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu, who is also co-in charge of the BJP’s Punjab Affairs, also parried question on the SYL canal issue saying that “he would keep visiting Punjab to prepare party for elections.” “I will not speak about SYL canal, but discuss only election-related issues in Punjab,” he quipped.Meanwhile, the INLD and the Congress will hold their meetings in Chandigarh on November 14 to chalk out future course of action on the SYL canal issue.

Govt suspends bus services on several routes to Punjab

Chandigarh, November 11

Fearing possible law and order problems after the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, the Haryana Transport Department today suspended services to several destinations in Punjab as a “precautionary measure”.Services were suspended after the department issued directions to all bus depots in the state to take necessary steps after assessing the situation for safety of their buses.Bus services remained suspended on several routes, including those to Ludhiana and Katra in Jammu and Kashmir, Transport Department officials said.Gautam, a trader at the Ambala bus stand, said: “I have been waiting here for the past nearly an hour, but I didn’t get any Haryana Roadways bus. I need to reach Ludhiana. A couple of private buses have arrived, but they take a lot of extra time due to their extra stoppages and that is why, I prefer the Haryana Roadways bus.”General Manager, Roadways, Kuldheer Singh said the buses that used to go to Punjab were being sent to Kapal Mochan fair in Yamunanagar.Bus services were suspended from Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Kaithal and Ambala depots, officials said.”The decision to suspend bus services on routes to Punjab was taken yesterday,” an official posted at the Ambala Roadways Depot said. However, officials said bus services on some routes to Punjab were restored in the evening. There were no reports of any damage to buses, they said.Meanwhile, PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) at Patiala in Punjab said their bus operations on Haryana routes remained normal. “No bus service (to Haryana) was suspended,” PRTC Managing Director Ravinder Singh said. — PTI & TNS

Manohar Lal Khattar

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Ateli (Mahendragarh), November 11

Giving credit of the Supreme Court judgment in the SYL canal case to his own government, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the verdict would directly benefit people of south Haryana as they would be able to get adequate canal water for agriculture.Khattar was addressing a gathering in Ateli Mandi of the district today. Greeting the people of south Haryana, Khattar said the judgment would turn out to be instrumental in changing the fortune of south Haryana in terms of development.“Political game was being played on the SYL canal issue for decades, but the BJP immediately after coming to power in Haryana not only took up the issue seriously but also presented the state’s view before the court effectively, leading to judgment in favour of Haryana,” said the CM.The Chief Minister maintained that the state government had already initiated the work of upgrading the irrigation system with a cost of Rs 2,000 crore in south Haryana so that the region could immediately get the SYL canal waters.Speaking on a demand raised by Deputy Speaker Santosh Yadav, for a special project to provide canal-based potable water in 60 villages of the region, the Chief Minister said the problem would be resolved on priority by preparing a mechanism in this regard.On demonetisation of Rs 500 and 1,000 notes, Khattar said common man was delighted by this bold step but those who had amassed black money through illegal means were having sleepless night ever since the scrapping of the currency.Earlier, the CM laid foundation stones of ITI building at Sujapur, railway over bridge on the Ateli-Bahrod and community centre at Sehlang village.The CM also announced an auditorium in Government College and Kisan Bhawan in Ateli, multi-skill centre at Fatni village, health centre, Panchayat Bhawan and aangwari centre in Prithipur village and construction of road from Bazad to Ganihar.

Political and legal aspects of water dispute

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: The war over water in Punjab is generally viewed from the Akali-Congress perspective. But the catch is in its legal nuances — and the Aam Aadmi Party’s bid for equity in the emerging emotive space.

HT FILE PHOTOTo identify with the popular rage water-sharing arouses in the agrarian state, the Congress has taken the path of renunciation and the Akalis of defiance.

“As AAP has no baggage from history in the state, it can draw no political advantage from the issue inherited from history,” argued Chandigarh-based political scientist Pramod Kumar. In contrast, the two traditional rivals have enough arrows to draw from history’s quiver; the water-sharing dispute between Punjab and Haryana having festered since the reorganisation of states in 1966.

To identify with the popular rage water-sharing arouses in the agrarian state, the Congress has taken the path of renunciation and the Akalis of defiance. Capt Amarinder Singh resigned from the Amristar seat he had in the Lok Sabha while his party legislators quit the state assembly. The Akalis under chief minister PS Badal refused to accept the view the Supreme Court tendered in response to the 2004 presidential reference.

Amarinder and Badal cancel each other out in terms of political dividend: the law declared unconstitutional was passed when Amarinder was CM; Badal refuses to accept the court’s view on the law bequeathed by his predecessor and political rival

Struggling for stakes in the ongoing tussle, AAP has chosen to replicate the Akali protests of yore at Kapoori in Patiala. The venue is significant. It was there that Indira Gandhi inaugurated the construction of the SYL canal in 1982, triggering the Akalis’ “Kapoori Morcha” against the canal that’s still incomplete.

There’s intense speculation that the Akali defiance of the court may push it to President’s Rule. But a central minister told me the CM’s refusal to accept the court’s advice to the President under Article 143 does not amount to its contempt.

To that, the Congress’s Kapil Sibal averred: Badal might adopt a political stance, but the court’s view holding the Punjab law “unconstitutional” is binding on the Centre. “Wasn’t it the Centre that made the reference to the court?” he asked.

The constitutional position, as explained by senior advocate KN Bhat, is as follows: The court’s reply to a presidential reference isn’t binding the way its judgments are. Theoretically, that’s the position. “In practice, it gets the primacy it deserves as a view expressed by the highest court,” he said.

The remedy available to Haryana in the face of Punjab’s intransigence was to have the dispute — to which states like Rajasthan and Delhi are also a party — referred to a tribunal set up under Article 262 of the Constitution. The said article mandates that inter-state water disputes cannot be settled by courts and have to be referred to tribunals.

There’s scope therefore to further delay the protracted dispute to which there can be no easy resolutions in election time. Like it took the court 12 years to respond to the reference made in 2004 — after Punjab unilaterally blocked SYL construction and scrapped water agreements with other states.

Kejriwal fighting shy of taking pro-Punjab stand

CHANDIGARH: The silence of the otherwise vitriolic national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on the contentious issue of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal is deafening.

While his party leaders in Punjab have jumped into the fray launching an anti-SYL agitation at Kapuri village in Patiala on Friday afternoon, the AAP supremo, who belongs to Haryana, is fighting shy of taking a pro-Punjab stand on the water issue in which Delhi state is also a party.

No wonder Kejriwal, who is caught in a bind, has not expressed his own view on the matter, apart from a series of retweets on the subject on Thursday. Having taken note of it, leaders of rival parties are taking potshots at him. State Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh, who resigned from the Lok Sabha within minutes of the Supreme Court verdict, has asked Kejriwal to make his stand clear on the issue.

SAD leaders mocked at AAP supremo for his “shifting” stand on the issue. He first spoke in favour of Punjab saying that the state has no water to spare for anyone. Then in April, the Delhi government, through its Jal Board, filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court favouring Haryana, opposing Punjab’s claim on the river waters. To avoid a political backlash, Kejriwal later sent the Jal Board counsel packing while assuring Punjabis that his government would file a fresh affidavit in the court. The new affidavit, however, said that the Delhi government had nothing to do with the dispute between Punjab and Haryana, but supported Punjab’s plea that the Supreme Court should refuse to give its opinion on the Presidential reference.

The clamour for Kejriwal to speak up is only sharpening. His party’s former convener in Punjab Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who is now heading the Apna Punjab Party (APP), too wants an answer from Kejriwal.

Bains brothers, Independent MLAs from Ludhiana, who are part of the Navjot Singh Sidhuled Awaaz-e-Punjab, also made it clear on Thursday that there will be no tie-up with Kejriwal till he supports Punjab on the canal issue. Remaining in the background, Kejriwal, however, has asked his Punjab team to make the most of this opportunity in the run-up to the high-stakes polls.

AAP state leaders held a press conference on Thursday vehemently opposing any move to take up construction of the SYL canal.

Supreme Court lawyer HS Phoolka, AAP candidate from Dakha, even went to the extent of saying that the construction of the canal would begin over his dead body.

Punjab, Haryana AGs differ on applicability of SYL canal verdict

It is not binding on the President to accept it. He can accept, reject or seek a fresh opinion from the SC. ASHOK AGGARWAL, Punjab advocate general This argument was even raised during the hearings. It’s binding (on all parties). There is no escape route. BR MAHAJAN, Haryana advocate general

CHANDIGARH: The advocates general of Punjab and Haryana on Friday expressed divergent views on applicability of the Supreme Court verdict on the Sutlej- Yamuna canal issue.

Talking to reporters, Punjab advocate general Ashok Aggarwal said the reference had been answered by the Supreme Court in its advisory capacity.

“It is not binding on the President to accept it. He can accept, reject or seek a fresh opinion from the Supreme Court on presidential reference answered in a matter,” he said.

Aggarwal, however, could not cite any precedent but said, “There have been very few presidential references made since Independence. I can give details after checking it. But do not remember off hand,” he said.

Aggarwal further said that a team had been formed by the Punjab government, which included him as well, to examine the “opinion”.

“We shall start examining it today (Friday) and may be able to tell our view by tomorrow evening. But all I can say now is that we have more than one options before us,” he said. One apparent reference was of review petition, but he did not elaborate on other options.

A few retired judges of the Supreme Court and the Punjab and Haryana high court and former Punjab advocate general Harbhagwan Singh had told the Hindustan Times on Thursday that presidential reference was binding on the President and could not be rejected.

Haryana advocate general BR Mahajan told reporters that the presidential reference answered by the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court was binding on President or governments. “This argument was even raised during the hearings. It’s binding (on all parties).

There is no escape route,” he said, adding that a petition was pending before the two-judge bench of the Supreme Court on the issue, which would now automatically get revived with this development.

All 42 Cong MLAs quit, party to launch protests tomorrow

CHANDIGARH: All 42 Congress MLAs in Punjab resigned from the membership of the Vidhan Sabha on Friday. In absence of speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, they handed over the resignation letters to his office staff.

The party also announced statewide protests starting from Sunday (November 13) with a rally at Suian Sarvar village in Abohar area of southwest Punjab.

The resignations were tendered as a mark of protest over Thursday’s adverse Apex Court ruling on Termination of Agreements Act-2004 that had annulled all inter-state agreements related to water-sharing.

Before handing over the resignations, most of the MLAs attended a meeting addressed by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh, in which the pros and cons of the move were discussed. Some of the MLAs were of the view that Akali-BJP was holding a special session on November 16 and their absence there may go against the party.

“Our stand is clear, we are with Akali-BJP government in case they do anything in the larger interest of Punjab, though I have no hope from them,” said Amarinder, who had quit his Lok Sabha membership on Thursday, immediately after the Apex Court’s verdict.

The PPCC president said the Akalis have backstabbed the people of Punjab as before the Supreme Court verdict, they promised to make all kinds of “sacrifices” to save the rights of Punjab. “Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Akali MP and Union minister) should have resigned if Akalis are really concerned about the state,” he said.

On the choice of Abohar for protest, Amarinder said: “This area will become a desert in case water flows into Haryana through the SYL canal.”

He said the Congress on coming to power will bring in laws to finish the matter once and for all. “I am consulting legal experts to find a way out,” he said. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Charanjeet Singh Channi, Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa and other senior leaders of the party were also present. DELEGATION TO MEET PRESIDENT

Amarinder said that he will lead a party delegation to meet President Pranab Mukherjee on November 16. “I will tell the President that in case water flows into the SYL canal, it will lead to a serious law-andorder problem. I am sure the President understands the issue and will take a stand keeping in view the concerns of Punjab,” he said. DON’T DRAG OUR HIGH COMMAND: AMBIKA

“Don’t drag our high command, it’s the fight of Punjab Congress,” state Congress’ campaign committee chairperson Ambika Soni told mediapersons. She was replying to a query that if the Congress says injustice has been done to Punjab, why the party high command was not supporting the state’s cause.

On the party’s plan at national level, she said PCC president has asked all party MPs from Punjab to voice Punjab’s concerns in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. JAKHAR TAKES A JIBE AT AKALIS

On Akali Dal rally at Moga on December 8, coinciding with the birthday of Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar said, “Should they celebrate CM’s birthday or mourn the Supreme Court decision against Punjab?”

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10

Fourth Battalion of the Rajput Regiment, one of Army’s oldest and most illustrious infantry units, is marking 200 years of its existence from November 11-14 at its location in the Western Sector.Also known as the “Fighting Fourth”, it has the distinction of having taken part in almost every operation or war ever since its raising in 1815. The battalion began its long march from Danapur in Bihar as the 1/30th Regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry in East India Company.A host of regimental and social events are being organsied to commemorate the occasion. On February 10, 1845, as part of the 7th Brigade of the 3rd Division, the battalion charged into enemy entrenchment at Sobraon in Punjab and captured it using only bayonets and in the process received its first Battle Honour ‘Sobraon’.

Tribune News Service
Bhiwani, November 4
Digvijay Chautala, president, INSO, today visited the family of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal, who ended his life over OROP. Digvijay said, “What does Khattar know of a soldier’s pain? He has only worked for the RSS.”
He slammed the government’s decision to not give the status of a martyr to Grewal. Digvijay said the INLD would begin an agitation to ensure the implementation of OROP.
He also attacked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal for politicising Grewal’s death.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 3

The state Congress will organise a statewide protest tomorrow against the “callous attitude” of the Centre in dealing with defence issues, especially OROP, leading to the suicide of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal yesterday. They will also protest “ill-treatment” meted out to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi when he went to meet the victim’s family.The announcement was made by PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh while addressing a press conference here today where SAD and AAP leaders joined the Congress. Prominent among the Congress entrants included AAP convener from Hargobindur Harvinder Pal and former Rajya Sabha member Varinder Singh Bajwa, who had resigned from the political affairs committee of the SAD. Another SAD leader to join the PPCC was SAD general secretary Ram Parkash. Hardev Singh, member of SAD working committee and Zila Parishad, retired IAS officer TR Sarangal and Harjinder Rehal, general secretary, SAD, Hoshiarpur, also joined the Congress.

Rahul, Kejriwal detained after hospital visit, slam govt

NEW DELHI: A 70-year-old army veteran seeking uniform pensions for military personnel died on Wednesday after consuming poison, sparking an ugly political brawl that appeared set to reignite a debate over the government’s controversial retiral policy for soldiers.

But Grewal’s death was soon overshadowed by political theatre, as Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were detained by police for protesting outside the hospital.

Scenes of pandemonium broke out at Mandir Marg police station, forcing police to move Gandhi and Scindia around in a bus, first towards Parliament Street police station and then towards Connaught Place police station before being finally taken to the police station at Tilak Marg.

“A family that sacrificed for the nation, what happened to them is wrong,” Gandhi told reporters. “The government should at least apologise to the family, say what happened to you was wrong.”

Political workers were also seen scuffling with policemen at the two central Delhi police stations and again at the RML hospital. Gandhi was detained twice before being allowed to go late in the evening. Kejriwalw as stopped from entering Lady Hardinge Hospital and was detained at the RK Puram police station late into the night. Doctors at the hospital said the post-mortem analysis was delayed as the family was yet to give their consent. Grewal consumed sulphas tablets at around 1 pm on Tuesday on the lawns of Jawahar Bhawan, a short distance from Sena Bhawan. He was rushed to the RML hospital by his friends, all ex-servicemen who had travelled with him from Haryana. He died on Wednesday.

The death is expected to provide a handle to the opposition to attack the government over the One Rank One Pension (OROP), which came into force about a year ago

Critics say the new policy is discriminatory, especially for those taking premature retirement. At least a third of all military personnel take voluntary retirement.

Activist Anna Hazare also threatened to relaunch his agitation over the OROP issue, saying the Centre’s betrayal of the nation’s ex-servicemen resulted in the suicide of Grewal.

The suicide comes just three days after Prime Minister Modi spent Diwali with soldiers deployed near the India-China border and in the middle of the government’s sustained proArmy campaign following the surgical strikes across the Line of Control in September.

Delhi Police’s special commissioner Mukesh Kumar Meena said Gandhi and other Congress leaders had been held for “disruption of duty”. “The hospital is not a place for demonstration,” he said.

Grewal’s friends said he had been trying to deliver a petition to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in South Block, but had been turned away on two occasions on Monday and Tuesday. A typed application letter addressed to Parrikar, on which a suicide note had been penned, was found on him. “I am sacrificing my life for my country, my motherland and my country’s brave soldier,” it said.

RAVI CHOUDHARY/HTCongress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is taken away by the police after being detained. >>MORE REPORTS 8

Chaotic scenes broke out outside the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital as police stopped top opposition politicians from meeting the family of the deceased Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal, who friends said had unsuccessfully tried to meet defence minister Manohar Parrikar before killing himself.

An audio clip surfaced later in which a man said to be Grewal is heard telling his son he was consuming poison as he felt the treatment meted out to jawans was “unfair”. The Central government’s response was officious and combative. “The reason for his suicide being reported is OROP, don’t know what his mental state was, need investigation,” said Union minister and former army chief VK Singh. Sources in the defence ministry said Grewal had been drawing his pension benefits as per the Sixth Pay Commission report and had also received the first set of his OROP arrears.

They said if there was any problem it was probably at Grewal’s bank. They also said there was no record of any veteran seeking an appointment with Parrikar and questioned why his suicide note was dated October 31 when he committed suicide two days later.

When asked about the Delhi police action against Congress and AAP leaders, home minister Rajnath Singh defended it by saying: “Whatever has to be done for risk reduction, the Delhi Police will do.”

The Prime Minister has been clear that she intends to raise it with Prime Minister Modi during her visit next week,” the spokesperson said. PIB file photo

London, November 2

Prime Minister Theresa May will raise with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi the issue of six former British soldiers lodged in a Tamil Nadu jail during her upcoming visit to India.A UK Foreign Office spokesperson today confirmed to the families of the ex-soldiers sentenced for carrying arms on a commercial ship that the issue will feature in May’s bilateral talks during her three-day visit to New Delhi and Bengaluru starting this Sunday.”We recognise what a difficult time this is for those involved and we have taken significant action on this case.The Prime Minister has been clear that she intends to raise it with Prime Minister Modi during her visit next week,” the spokesperson said.The Foreign Office also highlighted that the Indian-origin Foreign Office minister for Asia, Alok Sharma, had also “pressed for progress” on the issue during his first official visit to India in July, and again last month.Earlier this year, the then-Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire had travelled to India to meet the men personally.The Foreign Office said it continues to provide ongoing support to all six men and their families and is “working to make sure the men’s welfare is protected in prison”.However, Lisa Dunn, the sister of Nick Dunn — one of the jailed men, said May must not “waste” all her time talking about trade deals while in India.”Theresa May has the power to end this now, and that’s what we want her to do. She cannot waste this opportunity face-to-face with Modi, she has six British men at her mercy, and can’t just waste it talking about her trade deals,” Dunn told BBC.”These were six British soldiers who served this country and they need help. It’s an absolute travesty if she fails to raise it. The power is in her hands and we’re begging her for help,” she said.The men were arrested in 2013 among 35 crew members and sentenced by a Tamil Nadu court to five years in prison in January this year for carrying unlicensed firearms.An appeal has been lodged against their sentences, but a judge in Chennai ruled the men cannot be released on bail.They were held while working for an anti-piracy security company protecting commercial ships off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. All six men have consistently maintained their innocence.Joanne Tomlinson, the sister of another jailed ex-soldier — John Armstrong, said that while the men have had consular support from the Foreign Office, “we feel there is so much more they can do”.”They have spent more than 18 months in prison now, and we feel there must be more diplomatic pressure that can be put on (India). Six of our veterans are imprisoned there. They should be speeding the legal process up,” she said.The men –- Dunn, Armstrong, Billy Irving, Ray Tindall, Paul Towers, and Nicholas Simpson — have been backed by more than 20 British MPs, including former British Premier David Cameron. — PTI