12112026-ATR-01.qxd 11/11/2026 10:55 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune PROTESTS ERUPT OVER PCS ROW; CBI PROBE SOUGHT THIS DOC SEEKS TO SERVE SOCIETY THROUGH POLITICS From the hallowed medical profession to becoming a politician, Dr Kamaljit Singh’s journey is full of crests and troughs. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 28°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 27°C | MIN 16°C RAMAYANA FINDS ITS MUSICAL VOICE! The BJP attacks the AAP govt over the PCS Mains controversy, seek a CBI probe into “irregularities”. P2 FORECAST Theatre actor and director Rahul Bhuchar is all set to present RAM — The Musical Saga. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 5.27 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:48 AM » THURSDAY | 12 NOVEMBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Garbage crisis gains political traction; dump near mall becomes flashpoint Show of courage Neha Saini Tribune News Service A Nihang Singh showcases equestrian skills during the Neza Bazi Punjab Amritsar Cup 2026 in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Air breathable, roads visible, say locals as AQI down to 164 Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 11 Getting rid of the haze that hung over the city post-Diwali, locals today woke up to a clear sky and pleasant weather. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city has come down to 164, falling in the “unhealthy” category, which Punjab Pollution Control Board officials say is far better than the one (431) recorded on Diwali. This AQI between 150 to 200 is considered “unhealthy”, which according to health experts may cause harm to sensitive groups or those with some serious illness. The data was sourced from a continuous ambient air quality monitoring equipment installed at the Golden Temple complex, which keeps the Punjab Pollution Control Board up to speed. On the change of AQI, Inderjeet Singh, a local, said the sky was cloudy in the morning, but as the day progressed, the visibility improved considerably. “There were days when post-Diwali, one would think twice before stepping out. I’m glad that the air is breathable and roads visible this time,” he added. The visibility improved in Amritsar on Wednesday. VISHAL KUMAR Diwali celebrations turn tragic, 118 suffer eye injuries in state Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 11 Cracker bursting turned tragic for at least 118 persons across Punjab. Most suffered eye injuries, with 22 in a serious condition. An equal number of patients had to be referred to higher medical centres for specialised treatment, according to a consolidated report of government health facilities. Dr Karamjit Singh, head, Department of ENT, and Medical Superintendent of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital said the report recorded 96 minor and 22 major eye injuries across the state. The referrals included patients sent to specialised institutions such as AIIMS (Mohali), AIIMS (Bathinda), PGIMER (Chandigarh), Rajindra Medical College and Hospital, Patiala, and Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. Among the districts and institutions reporting a significant number of cases, SAS Nagar (Mohali) recorded 13 minor injuries, while Government Medical College (GMC), Patiala, also reported 13 minor cases. Fatehgarh Sahib reported 10 minor and one major injury. AIIMS Mohali separately reported 10 minor cases. Ludhiana reported continued on page 2 Amritsar, November 11 Smoke billowing out of the burning garbage near a cycle track close to VR Ambarsar Mall a day before Diwali became the subject of a social media video by Congress leader Anil Joshi. The 2-km cycle track and Fitness Street around the mall and Taj Swarna was developed during Anil Joshi’s tenure as Punjab’s Local Bodies Minister in the SAD-BJP government. The visuals brought into focus a civic problem that has increasingly become difficult for Amritsar to ignore — garbage heaps, illegal dumping and the open burning of waste. Joshi called it an ‘international embarrassment’, saying, “The AAP claims of working towards improving the health of the people of Punjab fall flat as they are breathing toxic air.” The issue is now finding political traction, with leaders of both the Congress and the BJP taking up sanitation concerns from their respective constituencies and turning the city’s garbage crisis into a fresh point of confrontation with the AAP government ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. In Amritsar East, BJP leader and former IAS officer Jagmohan Singh Raju has been highlighting garbage accumulation through visits to different wards, including Maqboolpura, Mohindra Colony, drawing attention to dumping sites and the problems faced by residents. As A wider civic movement, ‘Chalo Amritsar’, has also been demanding accountability from the ruling party and political representatives on the civic issue. ISSUE RAKED UP MULTIPLE TIMES BY CONG, BJP LEADERS ■ Congress leader Anil Joshi posted a video of smoke billowing out of the burning garbage near a cycle track close to VR Ambarsar Mall. ■ The visuals have brought into focus a civic problem that has increasingly become difficult for Amritsar to ignore — garbage heaps, illegal dumping and the open burning of waste. ■ In Amritsar East, BJP leader and former IAS officer Jagmohan Singh Raju has been highlighting garbage accumulation through visits to different wards, including Maqboolpura. ■ In September 2026, Congress councillors raised several civic issues, including garbage accumulation across the city . he calls the civic mess a “failure of governance”, MLA Jeevanjot Kaur launched a cleanliness drive in her constituency. In February this year, Raju had also approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over alleged illegal Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 11 Joining the chorus against substance abuse, around 1,200 bikers will hit the city streets on November 13. The crusade’s message that goes beyond the thrill of the throttle will be, “Say no to drugs, Yes to a healthier, drug-free Punjab”. With engines roaring and a cause leading the way, the mega biker rally will be organised under the banner of “Punjab Against Drugs” as part of the state government’s “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign. The rally promises to turn ❝ RALLY TO BE FLAGGED OFF ON NOV 13 Awareness meetings will first be held in drug hotspots between 9 am and 11 am on November 13. The bikers will then assemble at Dasehra Ground, Ranjit Avenue, from where the rally will be flagged off in the presence of state Cabinet ministers. ❞ — Pallavi Mishra , ADDITIONAL DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (GENERAL) roads into a moving awareness campaign, bringing together bikers from different parts of the district to take the antidrug message to the public. The idea is to use the passion for biking to connect with the youth and encourage them to become a part of the fight against drug abuse. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Pallavi Mishra said awareness meetings would first be held in identified drug hotspots between 9 am and 11 am. The bikers would then assemble at Dasehra Ground, Ranjit In September 2026, Congress councillors, led by Vikas Soni, protested outside the Municipal Corporation office, raised several civic issues, including garbage accumulation across the city and the functioning of the private waste-management 8-yr-old reunited with Soul-soothing Sufi poetry and family by railway staff a deep longing for divine love Tribune News Service Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 11 Bringing cheer, ticket examiners today helped a family from Mirthal reunite with their eight-year-old. The child’s parents said as they reached the railway station, they realised their son, Lovely, was missing. In the city to offer prayers at the Golden Temple, the boy’s father contacted the Chief Ticket Inspector, who traced the child and brought him safely to the enquiry office. Following which, the child was reunit- The family with the boy. ed with the family in the presence of GRP personnel. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Freight) Paramdeep Singh Saini commended the staff. 1,200 bikers to zoom across city, encourage youngsters to join chorus against drug abuse Neha Saini dumping of garbage and deteriorating sanitation conditions forcing the NGT to issue notices to the Municipal Corporation and the Punjab Government, taking the issue beyond political criticism and into the environmental justice system. contractor and continue to highlight civic lapses. The scale of the problem is reflected in the Municipal Corporation’s own submissions before the NGT. In an affidavit filed in September 2026, the civic body acknowledged that 220-260 metric tonnes of fresh waste was still being sent to landfills daily without processing, against an estimated daily waste generation of 680-720 metric tonnes. While the ruling party MLAs, including Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjer from Amritsar South and Jeevanjot Kaur from Amritsar East, have claimed success in streamlining garbage collection and bio remediation, a wider civic movement, “Chalo Amritsar”, has also been demanding accountability from the ruling party and political representatives on worrying aspects like garbage being set on fire in public spaces and residential neighbourhoods; and legacy waste. For the opposition, garbage has become an easily identifiable symbol of civic governance. BJP and Congress leaders are using these local grievances to question the AAP government’s claims of improved urban amenities and administrative efficiency. The challenge for the government, meanwhile, is to ensure that cleanliness drives and waste-management announcements translate into lasting solutions on the ground. Hardeep Singh Saluja, a resident of the Race Course road, said, “Garbage, basic sanitation and civic issues continued on page 2 Avenue, at noon, from where the rally would be flagged off in the presence of state Cabinet ministers and MLAs. The bikers will tour Trillium Mall, Majitha Road, Sant Singh Sukha Singh Chowk, Novelty Chowk, Crystal Chowk, Bhandari Bridge, Alpha One and Tarawala Pul. After a turning back at Tarawala Pul, the rally will move towards the Bus Stand, Railway Station, Albert Road and Kacheri Chowk before returning to Dussehra Ground. Beyond the spectacle of a large convoy of motorcycles, the rally seeks to make a larger point — that the fight against drugs cannot be left c m y b to the government or enforcement agencies alone. “It needs community participation, particularly from young people, who can influence their peers and help build awareness,” said Mishra as she made an appeal to the youth to participate enthusiastically and become active stakeholders in the campaign, stressing the need for collective efforts to build a drug-free society. For a city that loves its wheels and its road culture, November 13 will be about riding for a reason — with every kilometre carrying a message against drugs. Amritsar, November 11 “Khwabgah vich vaasa mera, aas vasl di rakhdi haan” (I make my home in the realm of dreams, forever yearning for the moment of union with my beloved). These verses by Sarbpreet Singh reflects the longing of a seeker, while introducing him as one, who, through his books, has been opening windows to give glimpses of Punjab’s Sufi traditions and love with the divine. Sufi traditions of Punjab have been surviving in the rhythm of a song, in verses passed down through generations. At Bhai Vir Singh Niwas Asthan here, author, playwright, podcaster and singer Sarbpreet Singh integrated this inheritance of mysticism and love, through a musical presentation of verses from his new book, Khwabgah: The House of Dreams. Singing his own original Sufi poetry, Singh offered the audience an encounter with this literary and spiritual tradition. The choice of venue added another layer of significance to the occasion. The Niwas Asthan, once the residence of Bhai Vir Singh, eminent and revered Punjabi poet, writer, and thinker, is now preserved as a museum and library. It is a space deeply associated with Punjabi literature, spirituality and the search for a higher human purpose. Sarbpreet has been travel- Writer Sarbpreet Singh at Bhai Vir Singh Niwas Asthan in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR A LEGACY PASSED ONTO GENERATIONS ■Sufi traditions of Punjab have been surviving in the rhythm of a song, in verses passed down through generations. ■At Bhai Vir Singh Niwas Asthan here, author, playwright and singer Sarbpreet Singh integrated this inheritance of mysticism and love, through a musical presentation of verses from his new book. ling with his book, a collection of 36 original poetry by the author, reflecting his deep engagement with Punjab’s Sufi greats Baba Farid, Shah Hussain, Sultan Bahu and Bulleh Shah. As he takes on a book tour across Punjab, like a modern mystic, Sarbpreet has been singing to audiences and rekindling an engagement with a spiritual tradition that has travelled through the region for centuries. He recently performed at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival in Kasuali and at the Majha House, an epicentre of literary discourse right in the middle of Amritsar. “The word Khwabgah,” as Sarbpreet defined, “evokes a house of dreams, a place where the imagination and the spirit find refuge.” In Singh’s collection, the metaphor opens into the expansive world of Sufi thought. Khwabgah draws inspiration from the great masters of the Sufi tradition while presenting original compositions by the author. The poems are presented in Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi, accompanied by English translations. “The effort remains to translate the poetry in spirit and my own journey as a trace this subject,” he shared with the audience. Singh’s engagement with Sufi poetry is not new. His earlier book, The Sufi’s Nightingale, was a fictionalised exploration of the life of the sixteenth-century Punjabi continued on page 2