22092024-TTC-01.qxd 9/22/2024 1:32 AM Page 1 123 PAK FEARS MODI, WON’T OPEN FIRE: SHAH J&K /thetribunechd CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 263 | 22 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 sunday | 22 september 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Ties closer, more dynamic than ever: Biden, Modi hold bilateral On PM’s visit eve, White House officials meet Sikh activists over safety Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 21 US President Joe Biden on Saturday described the India-US relations as “stronger” and “closer” than any time in history. He made the statement after holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived on a three-day US visit for the Quad summit. On the eve of the visit, topranking White House and intelligence officials met a group of American Sikh activists to discuss “issues pertaining to their safety”. A US federal court in New York had recently summoned the Indian Government and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval among others acting on a civil lawsuit filed by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had dismissed the summons as “unwarranted and unsubstantiated”. The US has accused Indian nationals of trying to assassi- PM Narendra Modi being received by US President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday. PTI ❝ The Indian community has distinguished itself in the US… Let’s celebrate the bonds that connect our nations! — Narendra Modi, PM nate Pannun, who heads the banned Sikhs for Justice. The 75-minute Modi-Biden meeting at Wilmington (Delaware), the hometown of US President, ended in the wee hours of Sunday (IST). The US President later post- AT HELM ed on X: “The US partnership with India is stronger, closer and more dynamic than any time in history.” “PM Modi, each time we sit down, I'm struck by our ability to find new areas of cooperation. Today was no Tribune News Service Atishi seeks AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal’s blessings after taking oath as Delhi Chief Minister. L-G VK Saxena is also seen. ANI INSIDE Justice Shakdher new Himachal CJ New Delhi, September 21 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked the Sikhs whether there was anything wrong about his recent remarks in the US which essentially pertained to religious freedom of minorities in India. He said, “The BJP has been spreading lies about my remarks in America. I want to ask every Sikh brother and sister in India and abroad — is there anything wrong in what I have said? Shouldn’t India be a country where every Sikh — and every Indian — can freely practise his/her reli- FIR against Cong leader in Karnataka gion without fear?” In a post on X, he said, “As usual, the BJP is resorting to lies. They are desperate to silence me because they cannot stand the truth. But I will always speak up for the values that define India: our unity in diversity, equality and love.” Rahul also posted a video of the comments he had made in the US. While taking part in an event in Washington DC, Rahul had accused the BJP of pushing ahead with its continued on page 6 Air Marshal AP Singh next IAF Chief Tribune News Service NEW DELHI: Over two months after the SC Collegium recommended names for the appointment of CJs to the high courts of Delhi, HP J&K , and Ladakh, Kerala, MP , Madras and Meghalaya, the Centre on Saturday notified the appointments. Justice Rajiv Shakdher of the Delhi HC will be the new CJ of the HP HC while Justice Manmohan has been appointed the CJ of the Delhi HC. INSIDE different,” he said. The two leaders discussed the bilateral ties with a focus on semi-conductors, space and defence technology. They reviewed the comprehensive global strategic partnership continued on page 6 Shouldn’t Sikhs practise religion freely?Rahul defends his US remarks Shubhadeep Choudhury New Delhi, September 21 Air Marshal AP Singh has been appointed as the next Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He is a fighter pilot and is currently serving as the Vice Chief. He is slated to take over on September 30, when Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari superannuates. Air Marshal Singh has been test-flying the indige- Air Marshal AP Singh nous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas — the latest sortie being 10 days ago when he flew the fighter jet over Jodhpur during the multi-nation exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’. Announcing the appointment, the Ministry of Defence said “he was the Project Director (Flight Test) at the National Flight Test Centre and was tasked with flight-testing the LCA Tejas”. Air Marshal Singh is the fourth officer — after Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh, Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh continued on page 6 Oppn, RWAs gun for Saini govt over ‘S+4’ move Geetanjali Gayatri and Sumedha Sharma Term decision totally wrong, ask EC to step in Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 21 The Haryana Government has opened a second front in the thick of the Assembly elections, with several Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) as well as Opposition leaders threatening to approach the Election Commission against the caretaker Nayab Singh Saini government goes ahead with its decision to open up construction in residential areas to reach four floors. From Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda to JJP leader Dushyant Chautala to several RWAs, especially in Gurugram, a storm of protest is gathering to oppose the BJP’s decision to side-step the court case and go ahead with stilt-plus-four construction. Both opposition politicians and civil society activists say they are deeply distressed with the BJP’s decision, without a proper study of the attendant issues involved, like parking, water, electricity and sewerage. Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda said the move smacked of government’s “vested interest”. Stating that the BJP was flip-flopping on the decision, Hooda said, “This is a confused government. This cannot be done. It is completely wrong, especially since this is a care- Today’s issue is of 22 pages, including six-page Spectrum. WB DOCS RESUME DUTIES PARTIALLY BACK PAGE taker government.” Maintaining that the BJP , worried about the building momentum against ‘S+4’ put the construction on hold in August, Yashvir Malik, chairman of the confederation of 287 RWAs, said allowing construction now, showed that the BJP was playing into the hands of the builder lobby. “My information is that the BJP wants to fulfil its commitment to the builders by getting such projects cleared continued on page 6