01062026-TTC-01.qxd 7/1/2026 12:29 AM Page 1 SHINDE BACKS SENA (UBT) MLC FOR KEY POST NATION /thetribunechd 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 180 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 wednesday | 1 july 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com 23 Oppn parties write toCJIoverEC’sSIR‘bias’ RACE TO SAVE 4-YR-OLD Shekhar Singh Tribune News Service Teams of the NDRF, SDRF, Army and local police try to rescue a four-year-old boy, Nirvair Singh, after he fell into a 350-foot-deep borewell shaft at Dhanaura village in Ambala on Tuesday morning. The boy was initially stuck at a depth of 220 feet, but slipped further down. The DC and SDM are monitoring the operation. ANI Gaurav Yadav set to continue as Pb DGP CHANDIGARH: Gaurav Yadav is set to continue as regular Director General of Punjab Police, with the UPSC shortlisting him along with two other officers for the top post. Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government is most likely to opt for Yadav again. INSIDE ‘On the run’ Haryana IAS officer in CBI net CHANDIGARH: The CBI on Tuesday arrested suspended IAS officer Pardeep Kumar in connection with the ~657crore IDFC First Bank scam. Kumar had been on the run and was not cooperating with the CBI. Two other IAS officers have already been arrested in the case. INSIDE US-India trade agreement down to final 1%, saysGor Aditya Rangroo Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 30 US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Tuesday said the proposed US-India trade agreement was in its “final steps” and that only 1 per cent of the negotiations remained, expressing optimism that the pact would be finalised soon. Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit, Gor said he was determined to reach a consensus, adding that the agreement would benefit both countries after nearly 18 months of negotiations. “Most of this deal is complete. There are a few items that remain on both sides. It’s in the Claims only a few issues unresolved, deal to be finalised soon TIES AT LOWEST IN 30 YRS: RO KHANNA The US-India relations are at their lowest point in the last 30 years due to President Donald Trump’s “destructive policies”, Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has said. last 1 per cent of that deal,” he said. The US envoy expressed optimism about ties between the two nations, citing the close relationship between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. continued on page 8 GEN SETH TAKES OVER AS ARMY CHIEF BACK PAGE New Delhi, June 30 As questions over the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls continue to intensify, 23 Opposition parties and an Independent MP have approached the Supreme Court seeking its intervention against the poll panel’s allegedly biased conduct that could have “far-reaching consequences” for the country’s election process. In a rare show of unity, the Opposition parties sent a joint memorandum to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, raising concerns over the SIR undertaken in states such as Bihar and West Bengal, besides similar exercises underway elsewhere. Among the signatories are the DMK and the Aam Aadmi Party, neither of which CONG SEEKS PRIVILEGE ACTION AGAINST RAJNATH Congress leader KC Venugopal has written to Speaker Om Birla seeking privilege proceedings against Rajnath Singh for allegedly misleading Parliament on death of Indian soldiers during Operation Sindoor. attended the INDIA bloc meeting on June 8 where the decision to approach the judiciary was taken. While AAP is not a constituent of the INDIA bloc, the DMK had skipped the meeting after expressing displeasure with the Congress for supporting the TVK government after the alliance’s poll defeat in Tamil Nadu. The development was made public by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who said 21 political parties and continued on page 8 Day after Akal Takhtdirective, Mannwrong in it; says ensures harshest punishment defends sacrilege law Asks what’s Archit Watts Tribune News Service Barnala, June 30 A day after Akal Takht Acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj directed the Punjab Government to remove “objectionable” provisions from the anti-sacrilege law within a month, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday strongly defended the legislation, asserting that those guilty of sacrilege deserved the harshest punishment. Mann said the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act would deal sternly with those committing sacrilege. The Jathedar had issued directions to the Mann government through Sikh ministers and MLAs who, upon being summoned, appeared Bhagwant Mann in Barnala. before the high priests at the Akal Takht secretariat in Amritsar on Monday. As many as 87 MLAs, including 69 from the ruling AAP 15 , Congress (non-Hindu MLAs Aruna Chaudhary and Naresh Puri were also there), two from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and one Independent, attended the meeting. Addressing a massive gathering during his ‘Lok Milni’ Kharif sowing down 23% amid sluggish monsoon Surya S Pillai Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 30 Kharif sowing has declined by nearly 23 per cent owing to a widening rainfall deficit, the slow progress of the monsoon and lower reservoir levels, according to data released by the Agriculture Ministry. The delayed and sluggish advance of the southwest monsoon has hit the planting of summer crops such as rice and cotton in key agricultural states. According to the latest c m y b figures released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the total area under kharif crops stood at 182.72 lakh hectares as of June 25, compared to 236.46 lakh hectares during the same period last year. This represents a decline of 53.74 lakh hectares, or nearly 22.7 per cent, highlighting the impact of below-normal rainfall during what is typically the peak sowing season. The shortfall was seen across major continued on page 8 5th-driest June, July to also see below-normal rainfall Aksheev Thakur Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 30 India logged its fifth-driest June since records began in 1901 and is likely to receive below-average monsoon rainfall in July as well, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday. It said the weather condi- tions were favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon into the remaining parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal, Ladakh, Uttar Pradesh, Daman & Diu, J&K, most parts of Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab, and parts of Rajasthan during the next two-three days. continued on page 8 programme at Mehal Kalan village in Barnala district, the Chief Minister did not refer to the Akal Takht, but targeted the SAD while defending the law. “Punjab people kept voting for the ‘takkdi’ (scales, the SAD election symbol), believing it represented Baba Nanak. Yet, sacrilege incidents kept occurring. Now, we have made a law and they say they don’t like it. Tell me what’s wrong with it? Have I shielded anyone? I have simply said whoever commits sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib should remain in jail until their last breath. The law provides for life imprisonment, a fine of Rs 50 lakh and even bars continued on page 8 EDIT: takhT vs govt HaryanaChiefSecy gets2ndextension Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 30 The Centre on Tuesday gave a second extension in service to 1990-batch IAS officer and Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi for a period of six months on the recommendation of the state government. Rastogi will continue in office till the end of this year. Rastogi, due to retire in June last year, was given a one-year continued on page 8