25092026-ATR-01.qxd 24-09-2026 22:06 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C ~100-CR ELECTRICITY BILLS OF 518 GAUSHALAS WAIVED GURDASPUR U-14 JUDOKAS STRIKE GOLD IN SCHOOL GAMES VIR DAS EARNS THIRD EMMY NOMINATION FOR FOOL VOLUME The state government has waived electricity bills worth over ~100 crore of 518 gaushalas across the state. P2 The Gurdaspur U-14 judo team has secured the top spot in the 70th Punjab State School Games. P3 Vir Das picked up his third career nomination for his special Fool Volume, competing against Division Palermo: Season 2. P4 » » » SUNSET FRIDAY 6.20 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:17 AM FRIDAY | 25 SEPTEMBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Politicians are all talk and no action, say locals on rallies against drug menace BJP’s Tarun Chugh joins party leaders on 2nd day of Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra Neha Saini YATRA NOT A POLITICAL STUNT, SAYS CHUGH Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 24 On the second day of the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, those residing in Amritsar Central, East and South constituencies put forth their concerns before BJP national secretary and Rajya Sabha member Tarun Chugh, Shwait Malik and district president Salil Kapoor. Clamouring for a unified approach by all political parties to combat the drug menace, Bhushan Mahajan, a small business owner from the Hall Bazaar area, said: “Instead of blaming each other, if all political leaders, MLAs and sarpanches come together and take as resolve, the issue can be tackled. For now, we only hear promises.” He is among those who have seen drug related deaths in extended family and neighbourhood. “Young children aged 16 and 18 are falling prey to the menace. There are areas where such substances are easily available, still no one acts,” he said. Ranjit Singh, who along with his cousins Navjot and Youth stabs stepmom to death, held ■ After listening to the residents, BJP leader Tarun Chugh meets families of those affected by drug abuse in Maqboolpura. VISHAL KUMAR Harpreet, came to be a part of the rally, shared how their friends and peers had been forced into addiction through peddling rackets. “We hope these political rallies go beyond slogans and offer a solution. To save the youth from the drug trap, employment generation is the need of the hour,” said Ranjit, a resident of the 100 foot road, who works as a car- penter. After listening to the residents, Chugh said not only drugs, but gangsterism, violence and petty crime too were plaguing Punjab and the Mann government had failed to deal with these challenges. “The yatra is not just a political event, but an effort to convey the voice of the victims to the government and unite society against drugs. Over the course of these yatras, BJP senior leaders have interacted with families, who have expressed helplessness and lost faith in the ruling government in dealing with the menace,” Chugh added. Taking questions on the role of previous governments, the BJP national secretary asked as to why Congress leaders, including Sukhjinder Singh Rand- SAD for central probe into illegal mining Community radio launched for jail inmates Tribune News Service Gurbaxpuri Amritsar, September 24 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today called for a central probe into the alleged illegal sand mining in Punjab, asserting money from the illegality was being funneled directly to Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal. Speaking at a “Punjab Bachao” rally in Ajnala, the SAD president said halqa incharge Jodh Singh Samra would be the party’s face from Ajnala in the 2027 Vidhan Sabha poll. He asserted that the enthusiasm and zeal of the party cadre had made it clear that a storm had started in Punjab which would uproot all other parties. Attacking the AAP government, Badal said: “We are witnessing how action is being taken by the Enforcement Directorate in cases of Tarn Taran, September 24 Jails Minister Dr Ravjot Singh today inaugurated an in-house community radio initiative — Radio Ujala — at the central jail in Sri Goindwal Sahib. The minister also reviewed amenities and essentials being provided to prisoners. After the inauguration, he took up the prisoners’ grievances and instructed officials to solve those. He also inspected the food preparation area and enquired about the health of those not in the pink of health in the jail’s hospital. Superintendent Manjit Singh Tiwana, Additional Superintendent Gurjant Singh, Deputy Superintendent (Security) Gurmej Singh and other officials were there during the inspection. Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, September 24 The police arrested a youth for killing his stepmother at Gali Walia Wali. The accused, Lovepreet Singh, was produced in a local court, which sent him to a oneday police remand. The daughter of the deceased, identified as Gur- Argument led to killing preet Kaur (45), told the police that the latter was stabbed to death by Lovepreet Singh. She added that the accused had an argument with her mother, following which she stepped out of the house. The accused followed her and stabbed her to death. SHO Paramjit Singh said the accused had been arrested. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal change of land use, acquisition of land in Mohali and New Chandigarh. We seek a similar independent probe into illegal mining in the state as well.” The SAD president also took on the Waris Punjab De, saying the outfit had been propped up by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann with the sole purpose of dividing the panthic vote bank. “The CM is using a senior Mandi Board official to finance the outfit every month,” he alleged. Direct flight from city to Kolkata from Oct 1 Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service September 24 Direct air connectivity between Punjab and West Bengal is set to resume from October 1, with IndiGo offering the service thrice a week from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar. The airline will also provide one-stop through connectivity between Amritsar and Guwahati via Kolkata. As per the current schedule, the Kolkata—Amritsar flight (6E201) will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It will depart from Kolkata at 9.45 am and arrive in Amritsar at 12.25 pm. The return flight (6E6344) will depart at 1.05 pm and reach Kolkata at 3.35 pm, providing a nonstop journey of IndiGo to operate three flights a week around two-and-a-half hours between the two cities. The flight (6E201) will originate from Guwahati at 7.50 am, arriving in Kolkata at 9.05 am before leaving for Amritsar at 9.45 am. On return, the flight (6E6344) will reach Kolkata from Amritsar at 3.35 pm and continue to Guwahati at 4.15 pm, arriving at 5.30 pm. This provides passengers between Punjab and Assam with a convenient one-stop through service via Kolkata under the same flight number, instead of requiring longer connections through other hubs. Welcoming the restoration of the route, local activists and flyers said the move would greatly benefit passengers travelling between Punjab, West Bengal and the Northeast. Sameep Singh Gumtala, global convener of FlyAmritsar Initiative, said the service would be particularly useful for the Punjabi and Sikh communities in West Bengal and Assam, including devotees travelling to pay obeisance at Sri Darbar Sahib, as well as tourists, families, students and businessmen. Kolkata is one of India’s largest commercial and cultural centres, while Guwahati is an important gateway to Assam and the wider Northeast. Also, the flights will provide an easy continued on page 2 c m y b BJP national secretary and Rajya Sabha member Tarun Chugh said not only drugs, but gangsterism, violence and petty crime too were plaguing Punjab. ■ “The yatra is not just a political event, but an effort to convey the voice of the victims to the government and unite society against drugs,” he said. ■ “Over the course of these yatras, BJP senior leaders have interacted with families, who have expressed helplessness and lost faith in the ruling government in dealing with the menace,” Chugh added. ■ The BJP leader also sought a clear stand against the Mann government on the issue of drugs. hawa, Partap Singh Bajwa and Raja Warring, were not adopting a clear and consistent stand against the Mann government on the issue of drugs and law and order. “The people of Punjab now want results, not statements,” he said. He also flayed the AAP government over grenade attacks on police and security apparatus in Punjab. NGO moves court over BRTS dismantling; work put on pause Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 24 After an NGO moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court opposing the dismantling of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor, the contractor concerned was directed to stop the work. Notices too were issued by the civic body in this regard. Superintending Engineer, MC Civil Department, Sandeep Singh stated that the matter regarding the removal of the BRTS grills and station platforms would now come up for hearing on September 28. He said the court’s order did not amount to a formal stay, but the contractor concerned had been directed to stop the work until the next hearing. The development comes at a time when the civic body has begun preparations to remove portions of the BRTS infrastructure. The proposed dismantling had also triggered a political debate over the future of the project. Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia had recently levelled allegations of corruption involving crores of rupees in the tender floated for the project’s dismantling. The BRTS project, constructed during the SAD-BJP The Bus Rapid Transit System corridor in Amritsar. VISHAL KUMAR HOW AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT HIT DEAD END The BRTS project, constructed during the SAD-BJP government in 2016 at an estimated cost of around Rs 600 crore, was introduced to provide dedicated and regular bus service on the city’s busy routes. However, the service was discontinued in July 2023 after the fleet and infrastructure remained largely unused. The service would have benefited thousands of students, employees and workers, locals say. government in 2016 at an estimated cost of around Rs 600 crore, was introduced to provide dedicated and regular bus service on the city’s busy routes. However, the service was discontinued in July 2023 after the fleet and infrastructure remained largely unused. Amritsar Vikas Manch patron-in-chief Kulwant Singh said the BRTS was introduced to address the city’s traffic problems by providing a dedicated public transport corridor. He added that the service would have benefited thousands of students, employees, women, workers and pilgrims. It was discontinued due to official neglect, he stated, while asking if the system’s shortcomings could have been addressed instead of dismantling its infrastructure. Kulwant Singh also questioned whether the existing station platforms and other infrastructure could be put to better use.