29052026-TTC-01.qxd 29-05-2026 00:45 Page 1 c m y b 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 147 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 BENGAL GOVT HANDS OVER 142.79 ACRES TO BSF FOR BORDER FENCING NATION /thetribunechd SIT VISITS SGPC OFFICE IN CHD AMID MISSING ‘SAROOPS’ ROW PUNJAB WANGCHUK COUNTERS L-G SAXENA’S CLAIM ON MEETING J&K IRAN CONFLICT TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT EAM’S EU MEETINGS BACK PAGE friday | 29 may 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com K’taka power tussle ends as CM Sidda quits, makes way for DKS Declines party offer of Rajya Sabha berth, says will stick to state politics Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 28 Congress veteran Siddaramaiah on Thursday resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, capping months of power tussle over the top post with his deputy DK Shivakumar. The socialist stalwart, who surpassed Devraj Urs to become Karnataka’s longestserving CM in January this year, said he was exiting with a clear conscience and resigning as per instructions of the Congress high command. “The Congress high command directed me two days ago to step down, and accordingly, I have submitted my resignation today. I had the chance to serve the people of Karnataka twice as CM, for which I thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge,” Siddaramaiah said after handing over the resignation to a senior official at the Governor’s house in Bengaluru today. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was not in Bengaluru and so the resignation was submitted to his Special Secretary. Gehlot is yet to accept it. CBIarrestsformer judge Giribala in Twishadeathcase Rahul Gahlawat Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 28 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested former judge Giribala Singh, mother-in-law of late actor-model Twisha Sharma, a day after the Madhya Pradesh High court quashed the anticipatory bail granted to her by the trial court. Giribala was arrested by the probe agency after hours of questioning at her Bhopal residence. The CBI on Monday took over the probe into the death of Twisha, who was allegedly found hanging at her marital home here on May 12. The HC order set aside the anticipatory bail order passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Bhopal, on May 15. continued on page 9 Hry ex-Chief Secy diesinDelhihouse blaze, son injured New Delhi, May 28 Former Chief Secretary of Haryana and ex-World Bank executive director Dhanendra Kumar Garg died after a fire broke out at his residence in the Hauz Khas area here, the police said on Thursday. His son was injured in the incident and is undergoing treatment. According to officials, a call regarding the fire was received at the Hauz Khas police station at 11.18 pm on Wednesday. Police teams and fire personnel rushed to the spot and two fire tenders were deployed to douse the blaze. Eighty-year-old Garg, a 1967-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre, and his son were shifted to a hospital. Garg died while undergoing treatment at the AIIMS trauma centre. The police said continued on page 9 BJP QUESTIONS RAHUL “Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly discussed caste issues. He is a hypocrite. Where are his OBC leaders? In Kerala, the CM is VD Satheesan; in HP Sukhvinder , Sukhu; in Telangana, Revanth Reddy and in Karnataka, Rahul has removed Siddaramaiah. So where is OBC representation,” BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla asked. PUNJAB RERUN IN KARNATAKA The Congress has in the recent past replaced only one sitting CM — Capt Amarinder Singh in Punjab in September of 2021 on the eve of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections when Charanjit Singh Channi was installed in his place. The party lost the polls badly and AAP swept the elections. Today’s developments pave the way for the installation of Shivakumar (64) as the Karnataka CM, days after the Congress leadership reminded Siddaramaiah of the promise of rotational chief minister-ship after half the term of the state government. That period ended in November 2025 with continued on page 9 edit: karnataka transition Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar touches the feet of CM Siddaramaiah at a breakfast meeting in Bengaluru on Thursday. ANI Eye on poll, BJP picks Dhillon asfirst JatSikhPunjabunitchief Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 28 Leaving aside its Hindubased party image, the BJP on Thursday, for the first time, appointed a Jat Sikh leader — Kewal Singh Dhillon — as the Punjab party president with an eye on the 2027 Assembly elections. Dhillon, a former Barnala MLA, is an industrialist-cumpolitician widely credited with bringing Pepsi to Punjab during the militancy years. He also played a key role in making Barnala a district. Punjab remains the last major citadel for the party where Sikhs are in a majority and where the BJP has long struggled to gain power. Dhillon replaces Sunil Jakhar, who has not been assigned a new role yet. However, party sources said Jakhar had an important role to play in the 2027 elections and was likely to remain a significant force in the party’s Punjab campaign. Ravneet Singh Bittu, who was another strong contender for the post, is likely to be re-elected to the Rajya Sabha and retain his position as the Minister of State for Railways in the Union Cabinet, said the sources. After his appointment, Kewal Singh Dhillon HARYANA UNIT GETS ITS SECOND WOMAN CHIEF The BJPhas appointed Haryana general secretary Archana Gupta as its state unit chief, the second woman to occupy the post in four decades. Archana, who takes over from Mohan Lal Badoli, thanked the leadership and said she would strive to ensure maximum participation of women in both economic and social spheres. Dhillon told The Tribune his priority was Punjab’s progress, especially farmers’. “The BJP will ensure that the state farmers get the MSP on all crops listed by the Centre. If Haryana can give the MSP on 21 crops, why not Punjab,” he said. “Punjab will have a ‘kamal ka phool’ in 2027. After West Bengal, it is time for transformation in Punjab. We will have a BJP government,” he said. On the unusual change of making a Sikh face the presi- dent of the state BJP he said, , “Punjabis do not differentiate between religions. They have always lived as one.” Party insiders say Dhillon’s appointment is a calculated political signal. He hails from Sangrur district, the home turf of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. By picking a Jat Sikh leader with deep roots in Malwa and one who had a long political career in the Congress, the BJP is attempting to present a broader social face in a state where it has struggled to shed the perception of being confined to urban Hindu voters. After the collapse of its alliance with the SAD, the party has struggled for an independent political identity in Punjab. Born in Tallewal village in Barnala district, Dhillon entered politics through the Congress and won the Barnala Assembly seat in 2007, retaining it in 2012. He remained close to former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for years, though Capt Amarinder on Thursday distanced himself from the appointment. “I did not recommend him to anyone,” Capt Amarinder told The Tribune. “He has not met me ever since I resigned as Chief Minister in September 2021. He has been on his own.” continued on page 9 HCtohearCockroach JantaPartypleatoday NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court will on Friday hear a petition by the founder of Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke, against the blocking of the satirical digital outfit’s social media account on X. The original X handle of the CJP was withheld on May 21, following which the group resurfaced with a new handle, ‘Cockroach is Back’. — PTI 80%votinginPh2of HP panchayat poll SHIMLA: The second phase of the Panchayati Raj Institution elections in Himachal Pradesh witnessed around 80 per cent polling across 1,276 gram panchayats on Thursday. The voter turnout was higher than the 78.9 per cent registered during the first phase of the elections. INSIDE CUET-UG to be held onMay31,June6&7 NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency has released revised examination dates and admit cards for the Common University Entrance Test 2026 for admissions to undergraduate programmes. According to the National Testing Agency, the examinations will now be conducted on May 31, June 6 and June 7. — PTI Iran, US trade strikes IAF likely to transport NEET papers to check leaks PRADHAN OWNS UP TO OSM FLAWS, ENGAGES IN VERBAL DUEL WITH RAHUL after Trump rejects Hormuz deal report Aksheev Thakur Tribune News Service Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 28 Iran and the US attacked each other’s military facilities in West Asia on Thursday, heightening fears of a fresh phase of conflict and its possible impact on the global economy, which is already under pressure from rising crude oil prices. The attacks came as President Donald Trump rejected a reported compromise deal with Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz. The oil prices rose 2.17 per cent to trade at $96.34 following fresh US strikes on Iranian military targets. Later, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had struck a base used by US forces in Kuwait in response to attacks on an Iranian target near the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command, tasked to West Asia, said, “Iran launched a ballistic missile towards Kuwait that was successfully intercepted by Kuwaiti forces.” The IRGC launched five attack drones, which were successfully intercepted. “The launch of the sixth drone from an Iranian ground 60-DAY MoU ON TRUCE AWAITS PREZ NOD US and Iranian negotiators have reportedly reached a tentative 60-day memorandum of understanding aimed at extending a fragile ceasefire and paving the way for formal talks regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. According to a report, the agreement is now awaiting final approval from President Donald Trump, as well as Iran. INSIDE control site in Bandar Abbas was also prevented,” the US Central Command said. Earlier on Thursday, the IRGC blamed the US for the aggression and said it only retaliated. “Following this morning’s aggression by the US military against a location on the outskirts of the Bandar Abbas airport, the American airbase that served as the source of the attack was targeted,” it said. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran would “take all necessary measures to defend its national sovereignty” and condemned what he called “the threatening rhetoric of American officials continued on page 9 New Delhi, May 28 To ensure foolproof conduct of the NEET-UG again on June 21, the government is mulling to seek logistical support from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to transport examination material. The deliberations to involve the IAF were held during a high-level meeting among Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Communication Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday. National Testing Agency Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday accepted responsibility for shortcomings in the CBSE’s on-screen marking (OSM) system. “I take full responsibility for the issues and assure students of taking corrective measures. All grievances (NTA) DG Abhishek Singh and officials from the Department of Posts were also present in the meeting. “This was a preliminary discussion. Over 23 lakh students will take up NEET on June 21. The discussions centered around enhanced security so there is no scope of paper leaks. Support from will be heard,” Pradhan said. He accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of politicising the issue and being frustrated. The Congress leader hit back at Pradhan, asserting that attacking him would not absolve the Union Minister of his “crimes”. INSIDE the defence and paramilitary forces and the Department of Posts will be crucial,” a source said. Discussions, as per sources, focused on tightening security measures and monitoring every stage of the examination process including paper setting, transportation and final distribution. The National Eligibilitycum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG was conducted on May 3 across 551 Indian cities and at 14 overseas centres. Nearly 23 lakh candidates had registered for the test, which was conducted by the NTA. The test was cancelled on May 12 after reports of paper leak. TIMELESS FESTIVITY WFI challenges HC order allowing Vinesh in trials Satya Prakash Tribune News Service Muslims offer prayers on Eid al-Adha at the Taj Mahal. The President and PM hoped the festival would deepen the spirit of brotherhood. ANI Urdu poetry loses its master, but verses live on India, China stress peace SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE Prof Krishan Kumar Rattu W ITH the passing of renowned poet Bashir Badr at the age of 91, an era of romantic Urdu poetry has come to a poignant end. Widely regarded as the master of the modern Urdu ghazal, he ruled the hearts of millions worldwide through his silken verses. The magic of his words, On May 15, the NTA announced that the NEETUG would be conducted again on June 21. On May 27, Pradhan held a meeting with former ISRO Chairman Dr Radha Krishnan who headed the committee that was constituted to reform the NTA. Pradhan also said in view of NEET, surveillance should be increased and examination security should be given top priority. The re-examination will be held on June 21 at 5,400 examination centres in 550 cities across the country. This is the first time that NEET-UG is being reheld. delivered with a captivating literature at the AMU and stage presence, transformed Meerut College. his couplets into Beginning his poeteveryday idioms, ic journey at just sevmaking him the en, Badr was a prodiundeniable pride of gy who redefined the global mushairas. Urdu ghazal with simBorn on February plicity and spontane15, 1935, in Ayodhya, ity. By skilfully weavas Syed Muhammad ing everyday Bashir, he completed vocabulary into his Bashir Badr died his PhD from Aligarh verses, he broke away at the age of 91 Muslim University from rigid traditional (AMU) and dedicated his aca- norms, making poetry deeply demic life to teaching Urdu accessible. His prolific literary c m y b career yielded celebrated collections like ‘Imkaan’, ‘Aahatein’ and ‘Ujale Apni Yaadon Ke’, alongside significant critical works, earning him widespread acclaim. His poetry was deeply imbued with human values. He represented a generation that witnessed the Partition and the subsequent cycles of friendship and enmity between India and Pakistan, articulating these complex experiences continued on page 9 at LAC for normalising ties Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 28 India and China held “constructive” discussions on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and expressed satisfaction over continued peace and tranquility in border areas, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. Both sides also agreed to Express satisfaction over tranquillity in border areas maintain regular diplomatic and military-level engagement to further improve bilateral relations, the ministry added. The discussions between the two sides took place during the 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for continued on page 9 New Delhi, May 28 Days after the Delhi High Court allowed Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has challenged the order before the Supreme Court. The WFI’s petition is listed for hearing before a Bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe on Friday. The top court’s decision will have significant implications for selection norms and participation of athletes returning to the game after a break in high-performance sporting events. A Division Bench of the high court had on May 22 allowed Vinesh to take part in the upcoming trials for the Asian Games, saying the WFI’s selection policy was exclusionary for the lack of discretion to consider a player like her, who was returning from a maternity break. Describing Vinesh as an “iconic athlete”, the high court had said she should be given a fair opportunity to continued on page 9