09032026-ATR-01.qxd 3/8/2026 11:21 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY RESIDENTS OF VEER ENCLAVE PROTEST CIVIC NEGLECT BY MC MEET DIVAS WHO SLAYED SHIMMERY ENSEMBLES CELEBS ATTEND PRE-WEDDING EVENT OF KOMAL NAHTA'S SON Residents of Veer Enclave have expressed resentment against the neglect by the Amritsar MC. P2 From Khushi Kapoor to Alaya F to Kiara Advani, actresses surely know how to get glam quotient high. P4 The pre-wedding event of film trade analyst Komal Nahta’s son turned into a star-studded evening in Mumbai. P4 » » » MAX 30°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 30 °C | MIN 18°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.33 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6.47 AM MONDAY | 9 MARCH 2026 | AMRITSAR Industrial policy welcomed, freebies questioned in Budget reactions Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 8 Kulwant Singh, a retired principal, has said that only two weeks after the Supreme Court raised serious concerns over the growing culture of freebies in the states for political interests, the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government has paid no heed to the warning. He cautioned that freebies could hamper economic development and strain finances that are required to create employment opportunities for the unemployed youth of the state. According to him, unemployed youth often end up indulging in drugs and antisocial activities. At the same time, he pointed out that there has been no move to fill a large number of teaching posts lying vacant in government schools, particularly in rural areas. Similarly, many hospitals in the district are in need of qualified doctors and paramedical staff. Several other government departments, including the PWD, Irrigation Department and Languages Department, are also grappling with staff shortages. On the other hand, thousands of qualified and skilled youth are eagerly waiting for appointments. Members of the NGO, Amritsar Vikas Manch, lamented that out of the total Budget of Rs 2,60,437 crore, Amritsar has People watch the Budget proceedings at a shop in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR not been granted funds to purchase 30 acres of land for the establishment of a Central Horticulture University, the “Post Graduate Institute of Horticulture Research and Education”, along with the construction of a District Sports Complex and an exhibition and convention centre. They added that the infrastructure at Heritage Street leading to the Golden Temple requires urgent overhauling, but not a single penny has been allocated for the purpose, even though Amritsar has been declared a holy city. The members also expressed disappointment that nothing has been announced regarding the resumption of the Metro bus service (BRTS), despite the Liquor vend worker injured in firing at Chatiwind village Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 8 A liquor vend worker was injured after unidentified persons opened fire outside a house near a liquor shop in Chatiwind village. Though the incident occurred on Thursday night, a case was registered on Saturday evening. According to the police, the complainant, Gurnam Singh, a resident of Patti Gudiyan in Chatiwind, stated that he was present at the house of his brother Bhagwan Singh when the incident took place around 10.45 pm. They heard a gunshot hitting the iron gate outside the house and rushed out to see what had happened. They noticed a vehicle approaching from the Chatiwind bus stop side. The vehicle was allegedly being driven by Manpreet Singh, alias Manna, a resident of Khairabad village, along with two to three unidentified accomplices. The accused reportedly stopped the vehicle near the liquor vend located at the house of Pargat Singh and fired four to five rounds towards the shop before fleeing the spot. Three bullets pierced through the glass of the vend and struck the wooden counter. During the firing, Akashdeep Singh, alias ‘ATTACK WAS RESULT OF AN OLD RIVALRY’ ■ During the firing, Akashdeep Singh, alias Prince, a resident of Chatiwind, sustained injuries on his abdomen and left arm due to gunshots and splinters of broken glass. He was rushed to Amandeep Hospital in Amritsar, where he is currently undergoing treatment. The complainant alleged that the attack was the result of an old rivalry. ■ The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act against the accused. Prince, a resident of Chatiwind, sustained injuries on his abdomen and left arm due to gunshots and splinters of broken glass. He was rushed to Amandeep Hospital in Amritsar, where he is currently undergoing treatment. The complainant alleged that the attack was the result of an old rivalry. He claimed that about two years ago, Manpreet Singh had been appointed as a granthi at Gurdwara Guru Nanak Bagh in Chatiwind and was residing there with his family. However, due to his alleged criminal background, he was later arrested by the Delhi Police. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act against the accused. Efforts are underway to arrest the suspects. launched a legal and economic critique of the Punjab Government’s 2026-27 Budget. Presenting a legal argument against the government’s announcement of providing Rs 1,000 per month to women and Rs 1,500 to women belonging to the Scheduled Caste category, Brahmpura said this was a “contract” made with the public in 2022. “The government has violated this contract for four full years. Legally and morally, the government now owes arrears of Rs 48,000 to every woman in Punjab. Implementing it in the final year of its tenure is akin to giving ‘alms’ to the daughters and sisters of Punjab, whereas, in reality, the government has withheld their rightful dues,” he added. Criticising the Budget allocation of Rs 9,300 crore for the ‘Mukhyamantri Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana’ and Rs 900 crore for free ration under the ‘Meri Rasoi’ scheme, the SAD leader questioned the government’s sources of revenue. He said that without increasing income, burdening Punjab with an additional debt of Rs 10,000 crore merely to garner votes would amount to an “economic crime” against future generations. Punjab is already reeling under lakhs of crores of debt, and such announcements could push the state towards financial distress, he cautioned. He concluded by saying that the prudent voters of Punjab understand such political manoeuvres and will give their verdict in the upcoming 2027 elections. Low farm allocation sparks criticism from agri experts Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 8 Farmer leaders and agricultural experts have expressed disappointment over the allocations for the agriculture sector in the Punjab Budget, stating that it fails to address the major concerns of farmers, labourers, women and youth. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema presented a Budget of Rs 2,60,437 crore on Sunday. However, farmer organisations have termed it an election-oriented Budget that does not provide a clear roadmap for strengthening agriculture or improving rural livelihoods. Reacting to the Budget, agricultural expert Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala, state president of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha (Punjab) and promi- nent leader of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, strongly criticised the allocation for the farm sector. He said agriculture continues to play a crucial role in Punjab’s economy, contributing nearly 30 per cent to the state’s overall income and providing direct or indirect employment to around 65 to 70 per cent of the population. Despite this, the Budget has allocated only about six per cent for agriculture, amounting to Rs 15,377 crore. Dr Ajnala said the allocation should have been at least 20 per cent, considering the importance of farming in the state’s economy. Farmer leader Lakhbir Singh pointed out that in the absence of MSP farmers are , currently forced to dump potatoes on roads as they are unable to recover even their production costs. He said that if vegetables such as potatoes, peas, onions, tomatoes and cauliflower had even a minimum MSP of Rs 12 per kilogram, farmers would not have suffered losses and consumers could have received vegetables at affordable prices throughout the year. The farm leader also highlighted the problems faced by basmati growers. He said farmers had expected the government to announce an MSP of Rs 4,500 per quintal for basmati rice, as the crop has been facing losses in recent years. However, no such announcement was made in the Budget. He added that instead of spending money on populist schemes, the government should focus on increasing the purchasing power of citizens by generating employment. fact that more than 50,000 locals benefited from the service prior to July 2023. However, AVM members appreciated the earmarking of Rs 12,597 crore for carrying out road repairs and maintenance for the next five years. Satya Pal Gupta, a Punjab Government pensioner, said the Budget has disappointed lakhs of pensioners in the state. He pointed out that there was no allocation to pay the remaining 16 per cent of dearness allowance to Punjab Government employees and pensioners. Gunbir Singh, former chair of CII Punjab, said the nuanced and industry-specific approach of the Budget was innovative and need-based enough to yield results. He added that lowering the caps on employment and investment opens the doors for MSME investments and marks a sharp shift away from the earlier focus on mega projects. “This is laudable as MSMEs are the backbone of industrious India. An additional 25 per cent incentive for border regions may prove transformative for the stagnating economies along the long Radcliffe Line and addresses a long-standing demand of these regions of Punjab. Overall, it is a thoughtful step towards industrial resurgence,” he said. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) vice-president and party’s Khadoor Sahib constituency incharge, former MLA Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, has Ban on flying drone cameras in vicinity of city airport Tragedy strikes Tarn Taran family as two siblings die Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 8 The district administration has imposed a complete ban on flying drone cameras in areas surrounding Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Raja Sansi, citing security concerns. According to the official order, the airport witnesses frequent movement of both international and domestic flights throughout the day and night. The areas around the airport also have several hotels and marriage palaces where members of the public often use drones to capture aerial footage during social functions. The administration expressed concern that antisocial elements could misuse such drone activity to carry out untoward incidents or pose a threat to aviation safety. To prevent any such possibility and ensure the security of flight operations, the flying of drone cameras has been strictly prohibited in rural areas surrounding the airport. Additional District Magistrate Rupinder Pal Singh issued the order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The order prohibits the operation of drones in the rural jurisdiction around Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport on Ajnala Road in Amritsar district. Tarn Taran, March 8 A wave of shock gripped DSP Wali Gali in Tarn Taran after two minor siblings were found dead under mysterious circumstances on Sunday. The deceased have been identified as Danika (9) and her brother Aarav (6), children of Vishal Kumar and Neha. According to family members, the children had brought fast food from a roadside vendor in the market on Saturday night and consumed it at home. Soon Farmer leaders and agricultural experts have expressed disappointment over the allocations for the agriculture sector in the Punjab Budget. Danika Aarav after eating, both reportedly started vomiting and com- plained of discomfort. Their parents initially gave them medicines at home, assuming it to be a minor food-related illness. However, when the family tried to wake them up on Sunday morning, both children were found unresponsive. They were later declared dead, leaving the family devastated. The bereaved family informed the city police station in Tarn Taran and demanded a thorough probe into the incident. They sus- pect that the fast food consumed by the children might have caused food poisoning. Meanwhile, the roadside vendor from whom the children allegedly purchased the fast food has denied the allegations. He claimed that several other customers had bought food from his stall the same night and none had reported any health issues. Police officials said the bodies have been sent to a hospital for a postmortem. — OC Improvement Trust to restore greenery in parks Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 8 The Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) has decided to restore greenery in city gardens and parks. Under the plan, major parks, including Company Bagh and Amrit Anand Park in Ranjit Avenue, will be renovated, while parks in 16 wards falling under the Amritsar North Assembly constituency will also be upgraded. Officials said the work will be completed in the next four months and around Rs 9 crore will be spent on the rejuvenation of parks. The initiative includes repair and renovation of several parks in the constituency to improve public facilities and maintain green spaces in the city. A major portion of the budget will be spent on the redevelopment of Company Bagh, one of the city’s most prominent parks. The Improvement Trust will c m y b POOR UPKEEP: The stagnant water on a pathway at Anand Park in Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar. spend nearly Rs 5 crore on its redevelopment. The proposal sent to the state government has already received approval and the process of floating tenders will begin soon. Under the project, different sections of Company Bagh will be upgraded with new play stations for chil- dren, installation of an open gym, repair works and measures to enhance greenery. Civic authorities said the park attracts visitors from across the city who come for morning and evening walks as well as recreational activities with their families. Similarly, Amrit Anand Park located in the posh Ranjit Avenue area will also be upgraded at an estimated cost of about Rs 1 crore. These include repair of the boundary walls, installation of proper lighting, replacement of old water pipelines, laying of underground electric wires and construction of better rest room facilities. Upgrade of facilities is expected to provide relief and improved amenities for daily visitors. Company Bagh, meanwhile, remains one of the city’s main recreational spots with a steady flow of visitors from early morning till late in the evening. Amritsar Improvement Trust Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu said the parks are visited by people from across the city for a walk or to play and spend time with their families in a green environment. He said the redevelopment plan includes play stations, an open gym, cleanliness drives, greenery enhancement and repair works. “The proposal sent to the government has already been approved. Work will begin within a few months after the tenders are floated,” he said, adding that several other parks in the area will also be renovated under the project.