Omar resigns as J&K CM
PDP tries to link his name with sex scandal
n Governor tells him to continue
Srinagar, July 28
After a dramatic turn of events in the Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here today submitted his resignation to Governor NN Vohra following the PDP’s allegations that his name figured in the list of those in the sex scandal.

Editorial: Avoidable crisis in J & K

National Conference legislators trying to pacify J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the state Assembly ahead of his resignation in Srinagar on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Amin War

CBI, PC give clean chit
New Delhi, July 28
The CBI today conveyed to the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s name did not figure in any of the chargesheets filed in the 2006 sex scandal, an allegation on which he chose to resign.

Finally, Delhi Metro cracks the whip
New Delhi, July 28
Delhi Metro finally took action today against those responsible for the July 12 accident in Zamrudpur in South Delhi. The DMRC blacklisted two private consultants and suspended its own design officials. DMRC chief E. Sreedharan told newsmen that both the contractor and the DMRC were responsible for the accident that killed six persons.

Education Policy — A Tribune Debate The Yashpal Committee on education reforms and the plans announced by the new HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal, have aroused nation-wide interest among parents, educationists, political parties and policy-makers. H K Dua Editor-in-Chief

Five-year jail for Hawara’s ex-wife
Sangrur, July 28
Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court, here Baljnder Siddhu today sentenced Balwinder Kaur (former wife of Jagtar Singh Hawara, Chief of the Babbar Khalsa International in India), Sukhdev Singh, Amarjit Singh and Pargat Singh to five years in a case registered against them by the Dhuri police on June 19, 2005.

Ministers skip office in Chief Minister’s absence Chandigarh, July 28 When the cat’s away, the mice will play. This appeared to be the case of the Punjab council of ministers with none of them present at the state secretariat here during the absence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The latter has not attended office for quite some time as he was occupied by the bypoll in the Jalalabad assembly constituency from where his son, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, is contesting. Byelections are also being held in Banur and Kahnuwan.