14042026-TTB-03.qxd 4/14/2026 12:21 AM Page 1 c m y b 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 102 | 20 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  DELHI 19 STATES, CENTRE HAVE COME TOGETHER TO COUNTER ME: DIDI NATION /thetribunechd SIT TO PROBE ASSAULT ON MAN BY ‘COW VIGILANTES’ J&K INFLATION INCHES UP TO 3.4% AMID W ASIA TURMOIL BUSINESS ORBAN’S 16-YEAR RULE ENDS, MAGYAR WINS HUNGARY POLL WORLD tuesday | 14 april 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Trump blocks traffic to Iranian ports as Punjab Assembly passes Bill allowing life in prison, Tehran threatens to target US’ Gulf allies ~25L penalty for sacrilege Will eliminate any ship coming near blockade: Prez |Oil prices again surge above $100/barrel Ajay Banerjee & Ujwal Jalali TWO IRAN TANKERS EXIT VIA HORMUZ MARKETS PLUNGE 1% AS TALKS FAIL Two oil tankers linked to Iran exited the Gulf on Monday via the Strait of Hormuz ahead of a planned US blockade on Iranian ports. Tanker Auroura is laden with Iranian oil products while the New Future tanker is carrying diesel from Hamriyah port in the UAE. Sensex and Nifty closed nearly 1% lower on Monday amid the failure of USIran talks. Sensex tumbled 702.68 points (0.91%) to settle at 76,847.57. During the day, it dived 1,681.93 points to 75,868.32. Nifty plunged 207.95 points (0.86%) to end at 23,842.65. Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 13 Backed by one of the largest naval deployments at sea in two decades, the US tonight imposed a blockade for maritime traffic entering or exiting ports in Iran in an effort to force Tehran to open the crucial Strait of Hormuz and accept a peace deal. Iran responded with threats on all ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, taking aim at US-allied countries. It said any foreign military presence near the strait would be “met with a harsh and decisive” response, raising fears of direct confrontation in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors. The fresh hostilities follow the collapse of the US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad last weekend. Oil prices again surged above $100 per barrel, while stock markets fell worldwide. As the blockade came into force at 7.30 pm, US President Donald Trump threatened to “eliminate any Iranian ship coming close to the blockade”. “If any of these ships come close to our blockade, they will be immediately eliminated, using continued on page 10 POPE’S PUSHBACK AFTER TRUMP JIBE Pope Leo has said he has ‘no fear’ of the WH after Trump criticised him as ‘weak and terrible’. Trump’s direct attack on the US-born pontiff came after he criticised the war. Trump posted an AI image depicting himself as Jesus, with the US flag and the Statue of Liberty in the background. India reliable partner, no toll levied on its ships transiting Hormuz, says Iran envoy Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 13 Amid heightened tensions in West Asia and continued disruption in maritime traffic through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, Iran on Monday asserted that Indianflagged vessels transiting the chokepoint have not been subjected to any tolls, while lauding New Delhi as a “reliable Mohammad Fathali and compassionate partner” during the ongoing crisis. Addressing a press confer- ence in the national capital, Iran’s Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali expressed gratitude to both the Indian Government and its people for their support during what he described as a “difficult time” for Tehran. “I believe the people of India have demonstrated that they are truly reliable and compassionate partners continued on page 10 15 Indian vessels stuck in Hormuz; working on safe return, says govt Rinku Behera Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 13 The Centre on Monday said at least 15 Indian-flagged vessels were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and efforts were underway to bring them back. Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia here, Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said, “We are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and putting in our efforts to bring back our vessels. Arrangements are being made so that as soon as conditions are suitable, the ships can sail back to Indian ports.” He said the Indian-flagged LPG vessel “Jag Vikram” crossed the Strait of Hormuz on April 11. It was carrying around 20,400 metric tonnes of LPG and had 24 seafarers on board. It was expected to reach Kandla on April 14. The official said the ministry continued on page 10 Amends existing law to avoid need for Presidential assent Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 13 The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today unanimously passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which provides for harsher punishment for those involved in or conspiring to commit acts of sacrilege against Guru Granth Sahib. The Bill was passed during a one-day special Assembly session, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assuring that it would be enacted soon and would not meet the fate of “earlier half-hearted attempts to bring anti-sacrilege laws”. The Bill prescribes punishment of five years for violations, seven to 20 years for desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and 10 years to life imprisonment for disturbing religious harmony. It also provides for fines up to Rs 25 lakh and confiscation of property. The session began with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann addresses the media after the special Vidhan Sabha session on Monday. PHOTO: VICKY ALL-PARTY MEET ON GURBANI TELECAST SOON? CM Mann said he might convene an all-party meeting on ending PTC’s monopoly over Gurbani telecast. “A Bill on the issue has been passed and is awaiting Presidential assent. We may press the Centre to allow Gurbani to be aired on different channels for wider reach,” he said. religious fervour but soon took political overtones, with the Treasury benches, led by Mann, targeting the SAD over sacrilege incidents of 1986 in Nakodar and the 2015 Bargari incident, followed by the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing. Before the session began, Top BBMB posts open to pool beyond Punjab,HryasCentretightenseligibility Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service Monsoon likely to be below normal as El Nino looms New Delhi, April 13 The Centre on Monday notified key amendments to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) Rules, 1974, revising the eligibility criteria for two top positions — Member (Irrigation) and NEW DELHI: The country is likely to receive below normal monsoon rains this year, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday. The expected emergence of El Nino conditions in June — after a gap of three years — could impact the southwest monsoon, the lifeline of India’s farmbased economy. India is likely to receive 80 cm of rainfall during the season — June to September. BACK PAGE Mandi girl’s throat slitinbroaddaylight, accused nabbed MANDI: A 19-year-old college student was murdered in broad daylight in the Gopalpur area of Sarkaghat subdivision of Mandi district on Monday. The victim, a resident of Nain village, was on her way to attend the college when the accused, Vikas Patiyal, slit her throat, killing her on the spot. SP Vinod Kumar said Vikas was arrested and the probe was on to ascertain the motive behind the murder. INSIDE Factory workers pelt the police with stones during a protest over wages in Noida on Monday. Several incidents of arson were reported in the area. ANI Workers’ protest over wage hike turns violent in Noida, vehicles torched; 50 held for rioting Sumedha Sharma HARYANA SALARY HIKE THE TRIGGER Tribune News Service Gurugram, April 13 Chaos reigned across the industrial landscape of Noida on Monday as a massive wave of labour protests brought the city to a standstill. What began as a demand for salary revision quickly escalated into widespread violence, leaving The turmoil in UP is a direct spillover of events in Haryana, where the Manesar industrial belt was paralysed two days ago by strikes, prompting the state to announce up to 35% wage hike. a trail of destruction in major industrial hubs, including Phase 2 and Sector 59 to 63. The agitation, triggered by a regional push for higher mini- mum wages, saw hundreds of workers take to the streets, disrupting traffic on key arterial roads and sparking clashes with law enforcement. The situation turned particularly grim in Noida’s Sector 63, where protesters targeted Vipul Motors, an authorised Maruti Suzuki service centre. Eyewitnesses reported a mob armed with sticks and clubs descending upon the facility, setting four continued on page 10 edit: labour unrest Centre flags acquisition delays in Rajpura rail project 3 SDMs sit on schedules; state gives Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib DCs week’s ultimatum to act THE TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 13 The Centre has taken serious note of “bureaucratic inertia” in Punjab’s land acquisition proceedings that has “stalled” the long-awaited and fully centrally funded 18.11-km Mohali-Rajpura broad-gauge railway project that had ~443-CR PROJECT 50 YEARS: A period for ~443 CR: Cost of the 18.11 KM: Length of project which Mohali-Rajpura broad-gauge link was on paper; the Centre sanctioned it on Sept 23, 2024 fully Centre-funded project; includes land acquisition, usually done by state that’ll for first time directly link Malwa to Chandigarh (currently there’s 66-km detour via Ambala) remained on paper for 50 years. The Northern Railway has written to the Punjab Government that despite repeated follow-ups, signed land acquisition schedules from three sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) for the Rs 443-crore project remained pending for months. Acting swiftly on the railway complaint, Punjab Additional Chief Secretary- cum-Financial Commissioner (Revenue) Anurag Verma on Monday evening wrote to the Deputy Commissioners of Fatehgarh Sahib and Mohali, directing them to personally Today’s issue is of 20 pages, including four-page Delhi Tribune. c m y b intervene and get all pending formalities completed within a week, with an action taken report sent to him. The copies of both official communications are with The Tribune. In a strongly worded memo, Dilip Kumar Mishra, Chief Engineer (Construction/Special), Northern Railway, Delhi— writing from the office of the Chief Administrative Officer continued on page 10 Gurbani was played in the House and Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan recited the “Mool Mantra”. Several religious personalities, including Giani Raghbir Singh and members of the Sant Samaj, were present to witness the proceedings. The symbolism continued on page 10 Punjab earlier opposed 2022 regulation change allowing open hiring Member (Power) — which have historically gone to officers from Haryana and Punjab, respectively. Though the amendments state that preference for recruitment to the two posts will continue to be given to Haryana and Punjab, this is no longer a blanket assurance that the positions will be filled by officials from the two states, as was the practice earlier. The continued on page 10