09062026-TT-01.qxd 6/8/2026 11:07 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 158 | 16 PAGES | ~6.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH XI MEETS KIM, EXPRESSES HOPE FOR STRONGER TIES WITH N KOREA WORLD /thetribunechd BREAKTHROUGH FOR ZOJILA TUNNEL TODAY, GADKARI TO ATTEND J&K SENSEX SHEDS 719 PTS, NO TEJAS DELIVERED NIFTY HITS 23K AMID YET, HAL MAY FACE W ASIACRISIS BUSINESS PENALTY BACK PAGE tuesday | 9 june 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Trinamool implodes, 20 Oppn allies corner Rahul for ‘ill-treating’ DMK LS MPs all set to join NDA At INDIA bloc meet, Cong ex-prez ‘accepts criticism with smile’,urges unity without ‘ifs, buts’ SuryaS Pillai & Animesh Singh Tribune News Service Chief whip Kakoli leads rebels | RS member Ray quits Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 8 An embattled Mamata Banerjee stood further cornered on Monday as the Trinamool Congress headed for a split in Parliament after 20 Lok Sabha MPs decided to break away and support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the Lower House. Led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, the TMC’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, the MPs will soon write to Speaker Om Birla expressing a desire to be part of the NDA. This could mean either a merger with the BJP parliamentary party along the lines of Aam Aadmi Party MPs in the Rajya Sabha recently or recognition as a separate faction backing the NDA. The latter is a more probable scenario with the BJP’s Bengal unit not keen on merging with the TMC ranks, whom Dalai Lama gets knee replacement NEW DELHI: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama underwent a successful left knee replacement surgery at Apollo Hospital and is recovering well, his personal physicians said on Monday. “Following the procedure, Dalai Lama returned to his hospital room in a stable condition. His recovery is progressing well, and he is in good spirits,” they said. — TNS Govt:LPGpricehike inevitableamidcrisis NEW DELHI: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the Centre felt “very sorry” over the hike in LPG prices, but described it as “inevitable” given the global situation. “Before criticising the government, everyone should understand the situation in the entire world. The world is reeling under very serious crises,” Joshi said. — TNS Kakoli Ghosh, TMC chief whip YUSUF PATHAN QUITTING TOO? Mahua Moitra fuelled speculation that former cricketer and Behrampore MP Yusuf Pathan may also quit the TMC. “Yusuf Pathan, you are rushing to Delhi because Amit Shah has called you? Have some courage. You played for India. Our district voted you in with a huge margin. Have some shame and some spine,” Moitra said on X. they recently fought and defeated in the state. Once this formalises, the strength of the NDA in the Lok Sabha would rise from 293 MPs to 313. This would have implications for the future of key Bills the government wants to table apart from political stability of the BJP-led dispensation, which is currently dependent on the JD(U) and the TDP for a majority in the House. Speaking to The Tribune today, Kakoli, a four-time MP from Barasat, said, “Nearly 20 TMC MPs, along with me, have decided to write to Speaker Om Birla and formally convey our desire to be part of the NDA.” She said the decision came after extensive discussions among fellow MPs. “As of now, I remain the chief whip of the TMC in the Lok Sabha, and in that capacity I have consulted colleagues before arriving at this decision. My removal (by Mamata Banerjee) was arbitrary and unilateral. The party chairperson continued on page 7 New Delhi, June 8 The opposition INDIA bloc allies met here on Monday after a gap of two years even as a section of the leadership cornered Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the “rough treatment” he meted out to the DMK in Tamil Nadu, besides flagging his party’s “high-handedness”. Sources privy to conversations in the crucial meeting said Rahul took the attacks in his stride and said, “I accept all the criticism with a smile.” Acknowledging the backlash that mainly came from leaders of the Left (John Brittas), RJD (Tejashwi Yadav) and SP (Akhilesh Yadav), Rahul urged the group to stay united, come what may and “hit the streets more often”. He said the Opposition must collectively raise issues of the people, without ifs and buts. Sources said the Left, SP and RJD leaders also raised the continued on page 7 edit: fault lines From left: J&K CM Omar Abdullah, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and other leaders after the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on Monday. MANAS RANJAN BHUI 5 POINTS AGREED UPON 1 Will write to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant over largescale vote deletions during the SIR exercise and ‘vote loot’ in recent Assembly poll Israel, Iran exchange fire, threaten truce Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 8 Israel and Iran launched attacks against each other on Sunday night, marking a serious escalation between the two countries since a ceasefire was announced in April. The Iranian military on Monday announced that it was halting its attacks against Israel. Iran’s statement came after US President Donald Trump said an “immediate” ceasefire between Tehran and Tel Aviv was in progress. Elsewhere, 24 Indian mariners had a narrow escape when their vessel — MT Marivex — was hit by missiles around 1.30 pm on Monday. They were saved by Omani security agencies. “We are thankful to the Omani authorities for their swift response and rescue of all 24 crew members of Indian nationality on board Govt voices concern| Close shave for 24 Indian mariners as vessel attacked INDIANS TOLD TO LEAVE IRAN IN NEW ADVISORY The government on Monday asked Indian nationals to avoid travel to Iran and urged those already there to leave the country. It also advised Indians in Israel to remain vigilant and avoid non-essential movement. HAVE OIL, GAS RESERVE FOR 76-80 DAYS: PURI Settlers stand next to part of a missile protruding from ground following strikes by Iran in Israel-occupied West Bank on Monday. REUTERS The oil situation in the country may become worrisome if the Gulf crisis expands to other theatres, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, adding that New Delhi had oil and gas reserves to last 76-80 days. MT Marivex, and for ensuring their safety,” the Indian Embassy in Oman posted on X. Earlier, the Israeli attacks came hours after Iran fired a Lebanon. Israel launched attacks across Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran, Tabriz, Karaj and Isfahan. continued on page 7 Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service At Damdami Taksal, BJP minister terms ’84 Army op ‘aakraman’sparks row , Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 8 The presence of BJP leader and Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan at the June 6 Operation Bluestar event held at the headquarters of Damdami Taksal in Mehta Chowk has put both the Punjab BJP and the SAD in an uncomfortable position. Mahajan’s visit has attracted attention not merely because he became the first serving minister from any state government to attend the annual gathering at Mehta Chowk, but also because of the remarks he made from the stage. It was the first occasion when a BJP leader publicly referred to those who fought against the Army during Operation Bluestar as “shaheeds” (martyrs). Addressing the gathering, Mahajan described Operation Bluestar as an “aakraman” (military attack) and termed June 6 a “black day” in history. He accused then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of continued on page 13 Demand Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s immediate resignation over the NEET-UG paper leak and CBSE marking row 3 Call for need to safeguard democratic values, address issues such as unemployment, price rise, ‘atrocities’ against oppressed sections wave of missiles towards northern Israel, accusing Tel Aviv of repeatedly violating the ceasefire through its ongoing military operations in New Delhi, June 8 Amid the ongoing political controversy over new infrastructure on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has decided to focus on the upcoming greenfield dual-use airport and not extend the existing naval airfield at INS Baaz. The upcoming airport will be at Chingen, adjoining Galathea Bay on the Great Nicobar Island (GNI), a part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. The INS Baaz is 30 km north of it at Campbell Bay on the same island. The greenfield airport will cost Rs 13,000 crore; it would be shared between the ministries of Civil and Defence. It is expected to be ready in five years. The Tribune had broken the report about the new airport on Great Nicobar Island on December 13, 2025. The extension of INS Baaz had been dropped, top sources in the Ministry of Defence said, adding that the base having a 4,500-foot MoD to focus on greenfield airport on Great Nicobar Island ~13,000-CR PROJECT The greenfield airport at Chingen will cost ~13,000 crore; it would be shared between the ministries of Civil and Defence. It is expected to be ready in five years. runway, which is suitable for smaller planes, would continue to function. The new facility at Galathea Bay will be in addition to INS Baaz. Extending the runway of INS Baaz to allow operations of larger aircraft would have required a significantly higher disturbance to flora and fauna and the coastline than when compared to the greenfield site at Galathea Bay, the sources said. For making the greenfield airport, five sites, including INS Baaz, were evaluated for topography, obstruction to air navigation, impact on tribal populations and flora and fauna before zeroing in on Galathea Bay. The possibility c m y b of developing INS Baaz had limitations, forcing the dropping of the idea, a Defence Ministry official said. The site adjoining INS Baaz is dominated by a 80-metre-high hill. Significant hill cutting and dredging of shallow coastline would have been required to ensure safe aviation for large aircraft. Also, the site has limited scope for future expansion and would not have been able to accommodate infrastructure required for an international airport, the sources said. Further, expansion of the runway of INS Baaz would require extensive land reclamation and potentially pass through existing habitations. The greenfield airport is part of the Centre’s development of the Great Nicobar Island, with three other projects, namely an international container transshipment port, a township and a power plant. The Opposition has been questioning the project, calling it an “environmental disaster”. Defence Ministry sources said calling “GNI development” a commercial continued on page 7 4 Seek an all-party meeting to discuss peoplecentric issues along with the ‘precarious’ economic situation of the country Burnmidnightoil:SCraps CBSE over delayed result Satya Prakash Andaman naval airfield extension plan dropped over green concerns BJP leader Girish Mahajan with SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami and Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhuma at Mehta Chowk, Amritsar. 2 Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 8 The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and its Regional Officer on a petition filed by an Indian student from Saudi Arabia seeking directions to the Board to declare his Class XII improvement examination result. The CBSE’s counsel told a Petition filed by Class XII NRI student from Saudi Bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Vijay Bishnoi that the assessment of the student was supposed to be done by the school, but since he’s a private student, the assessment was not available. The Bench said the student’s past records may be considered continued on page 7 5 Meet after every two months to ensure opposition unity, with the next meeting scheduled to be held in Hyderabad in August NEET retest: Paper setters in lockdown, 5L staff for security NEW DELHI: After facing widespread criticism over the NEET-UG paper leak, the National Testing Agency has implemented extensive security measures to ensure the June 21 re-examination is conducted in a foolproof manner. As part of the plan, question paper setters would be isolated in “insulated rooms” without Internet or mobile access, while over five lakh security personnel would be involved in the operation. BACK PAGE