16072024-TTC-01.qxd 7/16/2024 12:16 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 8 NO. 196 | 18 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 PAKISTAN TO BAN IMRAN KHAN’S PARTY WORLD /thetribunechd TERRORISTS PLANNED TO DISRUPT YATRA, SAYS ARMY J&K MERCHANDISE TRADE DEFICIT WIDENS TO $20.98 BN BUSINESS TIHAR JAIL JUNKS AAP CHARGE OVER KEJRI’S WEIGHT BACK PAGE tuesday | 16 july 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com ASI: Bhojshala Complex made from parts of ancient temple HAVING A FIELD DAY Ganesh, Brahma, Narasimha images found at disputed site, MP HC told Satya Prakash Tribune News Service Children take a ride on a tank during the Army’s weapons and equipment display in Kargil. ANI SC may set up Bench to hear pleas on passage of laws as Money Bills Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 15 The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider setting up a Constitution Bench to hear petitions challenging the validity of passage of laws such as the Aadhaar Act as money Bills, allegedly to bypass the Rajya Sabha. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal malities regarding filing of documents were complete and the petitions needed to be listed for hearing. “I will take the call when I form the Constitution Benches,” the CJI told Sibal. Earlier, the top court had said it would constitute a sevenjudge Constitution Bench to consider the issue of validity of continued on page 8 POLITICAL ROW ■ Petitioners have challenged the passage of the Aadhaar Act of 2016 as Money Bill ■ Say this was apparently done to circumventthe RS when the NDA did not have majority there told a Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud that the procedural for- New Delhi, July 15 The existing structure of a mosque in the Bhojshala Complex at Dhar in Madhya Pradesh was made from parts of an earlier temple that can be dated to the Paramara period, almost 1,000 years ago, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) told the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday. “Based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations conducted, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures and inscriptions, art and sculptures, it can be said that the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples,” the ASI said in its 10-volume report that alluded to predominantly Hindu character of the structure. Hindus have been demanding full ownership of the disputed site, claiming it was a temple of Goddess Saraswati and the mosque came up later. Hindus are allowed to offer prayers on Tuesdays and Muslims on Fridays at the ASI-protected monument. ‘Aping disabled’, dancelandsBhajji, Yuvraj in trouble GS Paul SC AGREES TO CONSIDER PLEA AGAINST SURVEY The Supreme Court has agreed to consider listing a plea against the “scientific survey” of Bhojshala Complex, the medieval-era ASI-protected monument in MP’s Dhar where Hindus offer prayers on Tuesdays and Muslims on Fridays After the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Ayodhya dispute, the Hindus have made demands for similar ASI surveys at Gyanvapi Mosque, Varanasi; Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah mosque complex, Mathura; and Bhojshala Complex at Dhar. Acting on a petition filed by the ‘Hindu Front for Justice’, the high court had on March 11 ordered the ASI to conduct a scientific survey of Takht summons Sukhbir days after SAD rebels’ apology over sacrilege Tribune News Service The Bhojshala Complex in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. ANI ASKS AKALI DAL CHIEF TO APPEAR WITHIN 15 DAYS Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 15 A viral Insta video showing Harbhajan Singh (Bhajji), Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Gurkeerat Mann allegedly mimicking persons with disabilities while gyrating to a hit film song has led to a police complaint in the national capital. NO INTENTION TO INSULT, SAYS HARBHAJAN The former cricketers shared the video on Instagram after India Champions beat Pakistan Champions by five wickets in the World Championship of Legends final. Executive Director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People Arman Ali has filed a complaint with the Amar Colony police station here against the former India international cricketers demanding that they be booked under the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016. The police have registered the complaint. Speaking to The Tribune, Ali continued on page 8 ■ On July 1, Akali ‘rebels’ asked Akal Takht for Amritsar, July 15 Faced with senior “rebel” Akali leaders’ allegations of compromising on Panth sentiments for “political gains”, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal was today summoned by the five Sikh high priests, led by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, to clarify his stance. Akal Takht directed the SAD chief — the Jathedar refrained from mentioning Badal’s name — to appear in person and submit his reply penance for ‘mistakes’ during SAD regime ■ ‘Mistakes’ included pardon to dera chief and failure to punish perpetrators of sacrilege acts ■ Akal Takht has directed SAD chief to appear in person and submit reply in writing within 15 days in writing within 15 days. The decision came during a meeting by the Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht Secretariat. The role of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has also come under the lens for “wasting” “gola”’ money amounting to Sukhbir Badal Rs 91 lakh on advertisements to justify the controversial pardon granted by Takht to Sirsa dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. On July 1, a group of Akali dissidents comprising Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra, continued on page 8 MoD set to transfer rights of some cantonment areas to HP for free Ambika Sharma WHAT WILL CHANGE Tribune News Service ■ State to earn extra revenue Solan, July 15 In a major relief to the Himachal Pradesh Government, the Ministry of Defence has agreed to transfer free of cost to the state the proprietary rights over all assets meant for providing civic amenities to the civilian from newly merged areas ■ Owners of buildings can easi- ly carry out need-based modifications in their properties population in cantonments. As all civil areas, after their excision from cantonments, will be handed over to the state and merged with local municipalities in accordance with the latest guidelines, the residents have heaved a sigh of relief. Once the exercise is completed, the civilian population will be able to enjoy the benefits of various state government schemes continued on page 8 Maths not a problem, crossing highway hard to handle for Rajpura school-goers Mohit Khanna RAJESH SACHAR Tribune News Service Students cross the busy highway in front of their school near Rajpura. Rajpura, July 15 For students of Government High School, Kheri Gandhain, in Rajpura tehsil, Patiala, the real challenge isn’t mathematics or English. It’s the perilous few steps they must take across the busy four-lane PatialaRajpura highway (NH-64) that scare them, imperilling their lives and education. This is happening even NO COMPLAINT No complaint was made to us. Since you have brought the matter to our notice, we will look into it. ❝ Sanjiv Kumar, DEO (SECONDARY) when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state is claiming transformation of government schools, especially in the villages. Every day, continued on page 8 Today’s issue is of 18 pages, including four-page Jalandhar Tribune. c m y b the Bhojshala Complex. “The ASI report has been submitted after conducting a detailed scientific study. It proves our case to the hilt that the entire premises was a Hindu temple and it was illegally used as a mosque,” advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who represented petitioner Hindu Front for Justice, told The Tribune. “A total of 94 sculptures, sculptural fragments and architectural members with sculptural depictions were noticed during the investigation. They are made of basalt, marble, schist, soft stone, sandstone and limestone,” the ASI said. “Sculptures of four-armed deities were carved on windows, pillars and beams used in the existing structure. Images carved on these included Ganesh, Brahma with his consorts, Narasimha, Bhairava, Gods and Goddesses, human and animal figures. Images of animals in different mediums include lion, elephant, horse, dog, monkey, snake, tortoise, swan and bird. Mythical and composite figures include a variety of kirtimukhas — human face, lion face, composite face; Vyala of different shapes, etc,” it stated. “Based on the existing inscriptions in the complex, it can be said that these inscriptions contained literary works composed by some of the Paramara kings or works composed or copied during the Paramara rule,” it stated. On April 1, the Supreme Court had refused to stay the continued on page 8 Soaring veggie prices push WPI inflation to3.36% NEW DELHI: Wholesale inflation in the country surged to a 16-month high of 3.36 per cent in June on account of a rise in the prices of food articles, especially vegetables and manufactured items. This was the fourth consecutive month when the inflation witnessed an upward journey. The wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation was 2.61 per cent in May. It was (-) 4.18 per cent in June 2023. The wholesale inflation had touched a high of 3.85 per cent in February 2023. Inflation in food articles rose 10.87 per cent in June. INSIDE Misri takes over as India balances ties with Russia NEW DELHI: Vikram Misri, a 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, today took over as India’s 35th Foreign Secretary, at a time when New Delhi is treading a razor’s edge to balance ties between the US and Russia — even as the four-year-long stalemate on the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh between Indian and Chinese troops shows no signs of imminent resolution. BACK PAGE