09042026-TT-01.qxd 4/8/2026 11:21 PM Page 1 c m y b 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 97 | 12 PAGES | ~6.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH PAK-AF DIALOGUE ENDS IN CHINA WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT WORLD /thetribunechd TRAFFIC REMAINS SUSPENDED ON NH ON DAY 2 J&K RBI KEEPS REPO RATE UNCHANGED AT 5.25% BUSINESS TMC ACCUSES CEC OF ‘RUDE’ CONDUCT, PANEL DENIES IT BACK PAGE thursday | 9 april 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com ‘Too-weak’ ceasefire Strikes continue even as US, Iran agree to 2-week truce Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 8 After nearly 40 days of intense hostilities that pushed the Gulf region to the brink of a wider war, the US and Iran on Wednesday agreed to a fragile two-week ceasefire, offering a narrow diplomatic window for deescalation even as sporadic violence continued across multiple theatres. The breakthrough— described by US President Donald Trump as a “doublesided ceasefire”—is conditional upon Iran ensuring the “complete, immediate and safe opening” of the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of the world’s oil supply flows. “Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for two weeks,” Trump said, asserting that Washington had already “met and exceeded all military objectives”. The announcement signals the first significant pause since tensions spiralled into open confrontation, disrupting global energy markets and drawing multiple regional actors into the conflict. However, even as the ceasefire came into effect, reports of drone strikes and military continued on page 8 edit: Fragile ceasefire Tribune News Service Iranians raise slogans as they gather after the announcement of the two-week ceasefire, in Tehran on Wednesday. REUTERS CURBS ON HORMUZ Amid escalating Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Iran has signalled restrictions on maritime movement, indicating that oil tankers may not be permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The move raises fresh concerns over global oil supplies. Security officials quoted by Iranian agencies suggested that Tehran was already identifying targets for a potential retaliatory response. IRAN’S 10 CONDITIONS FOR TRUCE 1 2 3 4 5 Assurance from the US on no future military action against it Recognition of Iran’s continued authority over Strait of Hormuz Acknowledgment of Iran’s right to pursue uranium enrichment under agreed parameters Removal of direct US economic restrictions on Iran Ending penalties on countries, entities engaging with Iran NEW DELHI: HCrejectspetitionof Michelforreleasein AgustaWestlandcase NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea by Christian Michel, an accused in the AgustaWestland scam, seeking release from custody and challenging provisions of the India-UAE extradition treaty. The HC rejected the petition, which questioned the legal validity of treaty provisions permitting prosecution for offences “connected” to those forming the basis of extradition. — TNS Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers get bail in forgery case PANAJI: A Goa court has granted bail to Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, owners of nightclub, in a forgery case, paving the way for their release from jail. The brothers had earlier secured bail in a case related to the devastating blaze that left 25 dead. The case pertains to allegations that the brothers used forged documents to obtain permissions and an excise licence for operating their nightclub at Arpora village in Goa. — PTI 6 7 8 9 10 Revocation of measures imposed by the UNSC Termination of resolutions by the IAEA Board of Governors Compensation for damages due to sanctions, military actions Pullback of United States’ forces from the region End to military ops across theatres, including conflicts involving Hezbollah US THREATENS 50% DUTY ON NATIONS ARMING IRAN US President Donald Trump has warned that any country supplying weapons to Tehran would face immediate 50% tariff on all goods exported to the US. The announcement came alongside a series of striking claims by Trump, who suggested that Washington would simultaneously pursue cooperation with Tehran after truce. New Delhi, April 8 India on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran, expressing hope for a broader de-escalation in West Asia, while simultaneously urging its citizens to “expeditiously exit Iran” amid continuing uncertainties on the ground. In a fresh advisory, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asked Indian nationals still in Iran to leave the country at the earliest in coordination with the Embassy of India in Tehran and strictly follow designated evacuation routes. “In continuation of the advisory of April 7, and in light of recent developments, Indian nationals still in Iran are strongly advised to expeditiously exit Iran, in coordination with the Embassy and using the routes suggested,” the advisory said. It also issued an emergency contact numbers and consular support details. Officials indicated that around 7,500 Indian nationals remained in Iran, even as evacuation efforts gather pace. As of Tuesday, the Embassy has facilitated the exit of 1,864 Indians through land borders with Armenia and Azerbaijan, including 935 students and 472 fishermen. New Delhi’s twin-track response — welcoming the ceasefire while accelerating 1.8K evacuated, 7.5K still in war zone CONG’S DIG AT PM OVER PAK ROLE Taking a swipe at the BJPled Centre, the Congress on Wednesday said the role played by Pakistan in bringing about the ceasefire between the US-Israel and Iran was a “severe setback” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “highly personalised diplomacy”. evacuation — reflects lingering concerns about the fragility of the truce despite diplomatic progress. In an official statement, the MEA reiterated India’s longtanding position that “deescalation, dialogue and diplomacy” are essential to resolving the conflict. “We welcome the ceasefire reached and hope that it will lead to a lasting peace in West Asia. As we have continuously advocated earlier, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to the ongoing conflict,” the statement said. The ceasefire, announced after weeks of escalating hostilities between Washington and Tehran, has offered a temporary pause in a conflict that disrupted global energy supplies and trade routes, and raised fears of a wider regional war. Truce sparks rally, Sensex up 2,900 points, Nifty 873 Aditya Rangroo Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 8 The benchmark equity indices witnessed a sharp rally on Wednesday, tracking firm global cues and a steep decline in crude oil prices following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran. At close, Sensex surged 2,946.32 points or 3.95 per cent to settle at 77,562.90, while Nifty rallied 873.70 points or 3.78 per cent to close at 23,997.35, the highest single-day rally in 11 months. The RBI decision to keep the policy repo rate unchanged, heavy buying across all sectors and a strengthening rupee against the US dollar also improved investor sentiment. Cooling crude, stronger rupee too lift sentiment All sectoral indices ended higher. Realty index jumped 6.76 per cent, auto 6.55 per cent, BSE PSU bank 5.79 per cent, Bankex 5.72 per cent, private banks index 5.62 per cent, financial services 5.48 per cent, consumer discretionary 5.11 per cent and industrials 4.87 per cent. The BSE MidCap Select index jumped 4.93 per cent, and the SmallCap Select index rallied 4.01 per cent. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, tumbled 13.89 per cent to $94.09 per barrel. The rupee appreciated 47 paise to close at 92.59 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday. Cabinet clears changes to laws to enable 33% women quota by ’29 Veteran Cong leader Mohsina Kidwai passes away at 94 Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Mohsina Kidwai, who held key ministerial portfolios under former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 94. Kidwai, who was suffering from age-related ailments, breathed her last at Noida’s Metro Hospital early in the morning, her son-in-law Razi Ur Rehman Kidwai said. — PTI India hails move, urges citizens to exit Iran at earliest Bills to be passed when Parl session resumes on April 16 Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service Farmers assess the damage to their wheat crop after heavy rain at Bhangali Gilla village in Amritsar on Wednesday. VISHAL KUMAR Rain damages wheat on1.3L acres in Punjab; farmers stare at losses Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 8 With untimely rain damaging standing wheat crop on 1.3 lakh acres in Punjab and increasing the grain’s moisture content above the procurement limit, harvesting in the state is expected to be delayed till after Baisakhi. Though commission agents in the state on Wednesday “postponed” their protest and agreed to start procurement operations from Thursday, wheat is only trickling into the mandis. Till this evening, 11,984.99 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat had arrived in mandis, of which 7,693.80 MT has been procured. Normally, by this time, mandis begin to flood with grain. However, rain across Malwa, Majha and Doaba just before harvesting has led to harvesting delays and possible yield loss of 4-5 quintals per acre. Talking to The Tribune, Peg yield loss at 4-5 quintals/acre; moisture in grain hits procurement GOVT WRITES TO CENTRE Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has written to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, seeking compensation for state farmers ARHTIYAS CALL OFF STIR Members of the Federation of Arhtiya Associations of Punjab on Wednesday met Khudian and decided to call off their protest after the CM agreed to take up restoration of 2.5 per cent MSP commission with the Centre arhtiyas, traders and government officials said the wheat arriving in mandis had a moisture content of 14-16 per cent and could not be procured until it dried to the specified limit of 12 per cent. Raj Sood, a commission agent in Khanna, said even continued on page 8 New Delhi, April 8 The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is learnt to have cleared key amendments to current laws in order to enable a rollout of the muchdelayed 33 per cent women’s reservation by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Two Bills are learnt to have been cleared. The first Bill will amend Section 334-A of the women’s quota law, also called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (brought about by the Constitution 128th Amendment Act), 2023. Section 334-A in the 2023 law passed by Parliament said the reservation of one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state BJP PLANS MAJOR OUTREACH The BJP is planning a major national outreach on women’s reservation issue. PM Modi will meet women leaders of the party on April 13 to discuss the milestone. BJP president Nitin Nabin has held a virtual meeting with Chief Ministers of all BJP-ruled states to mount a major nationwide outreach. assemblies and the Assembly of Delhi would come into effect only after delimitation was done for the purpose following the publication of data of the first Census taken after the commencement of the 2023 women’s quota law. It also said such reservation would be applicable for 15 years and would require further reaffirmation thereafter. The second Bill the Cabinet is learnt to have cleared will amend the Constitution 84th Amendment Act, 2001. This Act froze the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha (at the current 545) and state legislative assemblies, based on the 1971 Census, until 2026. Now, to conduct an early delimitation and raise the strength of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies based on Census 2011 — as the government is proposing — it will need to end the freeze. Once that is done, the government can raise the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by 50 per cent each and provide reservation for women on the enhanced strength of the legislative chambers. Sources say the strength of Lok Sabha could continued on page 8 Poll officials check election material after collecting it from a distribution centre in Guwahati on Wednesday. PTI Kerala, Puducherry & Assam go to polls today Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 8 Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry are all set to vote on Thursday for a total of 299 seats, with the BJP which rules at the Cen, tre, trying to gain a foothold in the southern state and pull off a hat-trick of wins in the north-eastern state. The Congress, which leads the United Democratic Front (UDF), will hope to break the 10-year stranglehold of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala by winning the upcoming Assembly poll. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF is continued on page 8 Punjab shelves Anandpur Sahib Heritage Street project Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service Ropar, April 8 The Punjab tourism department has decided to shelve the Heritage Street project in Anandpur Sahib after Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) officials are learnt to have demanded major changes to its original concept. SGPC officials opposed the proposed gate at the Heritage Street, arguing that it would obstruct the view of Takht Sri c m y b Kesgarh Sahib from the main road, sources told The Tribune. They also objected to the laying of white marble on the road leading to the Takht, insisting that the route remain fully motorable. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had announced the project in November last year during an event to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. An amount of Rs 25 crore was sanctioned for it. SGPC wanted 90% of design altered: Minister Tourism department officials said the changes suggested by the SGPC would have required altering about 90 per cent of the original design. Since such changes would have completely compromised the project, the department decided to shelve it, they said. Minister Harjot Singh Bains, when contacted, said the department was now considering an alternative location in Anandpur Sahib, possibly on the road connecting Kesgarh Sahib and Sisganj Sahib gurdwaras, with the land being governmentowned. “It was not feasible to accept the SGPC’s suggestions as 90 per cent of the original design would have had to be altered,” he said. The Heritage Street was pitched as a first-of-its kind project, with an all-white mar- ble design intended to enhance the spiritual ambience of Anandpur Sahib and provide a seamless experience to pilgrims. “The project had the potential to transform the city’s tourism landscape, much like the Heritage Street in Amritsar. Tourism in Amritsar saw a major boost after the Heritage Street came up. Anandpur Sahib could have benefited similarly,” said officials. The SGPC, however, maintained the project would continued on page 8