26122020-ATR-01.qxd 12/25/2020 11:25 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE CITY BOY KUSHAGAR WINS PTC’S VOICE OF PUNJAB SEASON 11 PAGE 2 The budding singer had earlier grabbed the runner-up title of ‘Little Champ 3’ organised by the same channel. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY INBRIEF ONE SUCCUMBS, 31 TEST POSITIVE Amritsar: The district health authorities reported one death in the district due to the Covid19 on Friday. With this, the toll has reached 542. The deceased has been identified as Mangal Singh, 87, a resident of New Pratap Nagar. The health authorities reported 31 new cases with which the total count of infections has increased to 14,352. The new cases include 16 influenza like illness cases and 15 contacts of positive patients. Meanwhile, with recovery of 73 patients, the total recovery count has reached 13,313. At present, the district has a total of 494 active cases. TNS NGO ANNOUNCES WINNERS Amritsar: A local NGO, Just Sewa Society (JSS), organised an event to facilitate winners of online rangoli competition organised by it to motivate people during the days of lockdown. Harsimran Singh of the JSS said, “The competition was organised at a time when people were feeling a little low due to the lockdown. A large number of people had participated in the event and sent us pictures of rangolis they had made at their homes.” He said though they had announced the winners and appreciated their art. TNS A TUNE OF RESISTANCE: BELLA CIAO—FARM LAWS WAPAS JAO PAGE 3 Poojan Sahil’s Punjabi rendition of Italian folk song Bella Ciao—Farm Laws Wapas Jao, has become a big hit. MAX 19°C | MIN 5°C | YESTERDAY MAX 18°C | MIN 3°C SUNSET SATURDAY 5:34 PM NEW COVID STRAINReopening of cultural spaces may be put on hold Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 25 While actors and audiences are eagerly awaiting live theatre experience, reopening of prominent culture spaces in the city might be put on hold in the wake of the new Covid19 threat emerging from the UK (mutated strain). Punjab Natshala, a hub of commercial theatre in the city, was supposed to reopen its stage for plays, but the move has been pushed to January due to the latest Covid-19 threat. Similarly, Virsa Vihar, too, would open its doors for audience around Lohri. “Theatre requires audience intimacy and for that to happen, in this situation, we need to weigh in all our options. We reopened our space for artistes and local theatre groups, who needed a space for rehearsals and script reading sessions post the lockdown. But we will only revive live plays with audience in the New Year,” said Jatinder Brar, playwright and founder requires audience intimacy and ❝Theatrethis situation, we need to weigh infor that to happen, in all our options. Getting 50 per cent audience will not be good economically, but it will help revive the live theatre. ❞ Jatinder Brar, FOUNDER OF PUNJAB NATSHALA been craving for ❝People havefor it. Also, gettingtheatre since Amritsara has an appetite the audience will be morale booster for artistes. Digital theatre experience lacks the audience connection. ❞ Kewal Dhaliwal, CHIEF, VIRSA VIHAR SOCIETY Rahul Dev spotted on the sets of Duniya Gayi Bhaad Me. He will play a role of a Chief Narcotics Officer. SUNRISE SUNDAY 7:29 AM Revival of live theatre takes a back seat in city of Punjab Natshala. Brar called a meeting of local theatre artistes and groups to discuss the way ahead. He said getting 50 per cent audience would not be good economically, but it would help revive the live theatre. Kewal Dhaliwal, chief, Virsa Vihar Society, said getting audience back for live plays would not be a problem. “People have been craving for theatre since Amritsar has an appetite for it. Also, getting the audience will be good morale booster for artistes who had missed out on their livelihood for nine months. Digital theatre experience lacks the audience connection.” He plans to reopen for Lohri celebrations with a cultural event and a short play. Punjab Natshala used to run weekend theatre, with back-to-back performances of its popular productions while it hosted two-three plays during the week. Virsa Vihar used to host around six plays in a month before the lockdown. Two held with country-made weapons Amritsar, December 25 The Amritsar rural police nabbed two persons and confiscated two country-made weapons from their possession here on Friday. They accused have been identified as Karanbir Singh of Mahal village and Rajinder Singh of the Rattan Singh Chowk area. A case under the Arms Act was registered against them and they were produced in court and brought on police remand. According to the police, the accused were going from Mahal village to the Ashok Vihar side when they were intercepted by a police team on the basis of suspicion. During the search, the police found a .315 bore countrymade weapon with a live bullet and a bullet shell from Karanbir while a .12 bore calibre country-made weapon and two live cartridges were seized from Rajinder. Yaadwinder Singh, SHO, Kamboh police station, said both were released on bail recently. They had several criminal cases, including under the NDPS Act, registered against them. He said a preliminary probe revealed that they had procured the weapons from Uttar Pradesh. A case under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered against them. — TNS Mayor deposits fine for Covid norm breach Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 25 Municipal Corporation Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu on Friday set a precedent as he, along with Congress councillors, walked into Civil Lines police station to deposit the stipulated fine for violating Covid norms during hunger strike held to support the farmers’ stir here on Wednesday. Talking to mediapersons here on Friday, Rintu said, “The law is supreme and everyone, including politi- cians, officers and elite people, are equal before it. We are law-abiding citizens and represent over 15 lakh people of Amritsar. We wish to set a good precedent and assure people that no one can manipulate the law. So, I would appeal to everyone to follow the Covid norms as we are fighting the pandemic on a war footing and the municipal corporation will not hesitate from taking a stern action against anyone who violates the procedures laid down by the administration.” “Though everyone sitting ‘CHECK SALE AND STORAGE OF PLASTIC STRING’ Amritsar: Officials of the Municipal Corporation have asked its field staff to keep a check on the sale of plastic string to make the city plastic string free. In a letter to the field staff, Estate Officer Sushant Bhatia stated that on the orders of National Green Tribunal, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) asked to implement the ban on the plastic string. The PPCB writes that manufacturing, sale storage, purchase and use of thread made of nylon, synthetic material or coated with synthetic substance being used for flying kites are prohibited. TNS on hunger strike in support of the farmers was wearing a mask for most of the times but some of us removed masks for some time in the afternoon because of suffocation. A photo-journalist Electricity supply to 30 Jio mobile towers snapped Tarn Taran, December 25 Farmers and residents of different villages on Friday shut the power supply to 30 towers of Jio mobile. The farmers protesting against the three agri laws have now started disconnecting the power supply to mobile towers thus disrupting the telecom services in several parts of the district. The power supply to more than 100 towers has been disconnected till date in the district. Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra, district president of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, said power supply to the cellular company towers in Sabhra, Jaura, Boparai, Maniala Jai Singh and Algo Kala villages was cut today. Other farmer leaders Dhanna Singh Laluguman and Baljit Singh Bhghel Singh Wala said in Chabal area farmers cut the power supply of towers installed in Chabal (three towers), Thatha, Bir Baba Budha Sahib, Baghel Singh Wala, Baghiari, Sohal Thathi, Panjawar, Dhand and Farmers during a protest in Chabal village on Friday. Kasel villages. The power supply to towers in Ratta Gudda, Marimegha, Sandhpura, Padhri Kalan, Rasulpur, Bhura Kona, Maluwal Santa and other villages was disconnected in the last two days. Dhanna Singh said the farmers had been regularly making announcements to the resident through the public address system of the gurdwaras to change your network operator by retaining your TRIBUNE PHOTO existing mobile number. According to information, the company has its 300 towers in the border district. Kashmir Singh, a resident of Kot Dharam Chand Kalan, said before cutting power supply to the tower, farmers and the other residents had organised a rally in the village and condemned the Central government for protecting the interests of big corporate houses at the cost of common man. — OC clicked the image in that brief interval but we believe that there is no excuse for anyone as we are fighting a tough battle to check the spread of the virus. So, everyone must follow the guidelines,” he said. Motla farmers sit on hunger strike in Delhi The Mayor spoke to the journalist on the phone thanking him for bringing the breach of norms to everyone’s notice. Describing the media as the fourth pillar of democracy, the Mayor asserted that the Congress had always respected the freedom of expression. He said the media must standby the oppressed and deprived sections of society and strengthen the voices of those who were fighting for their betterment. The Mayor said he could well understand the farmers’ PAGE 4 RAHUL DEV’S NEXT WEB SERIES —DUNIYA GAYI BHAAD ME agony against the three farm laws as he himself was an agriculturist. “I can understand the pain and agony the farmers are going through after the passage of the farm laws. But the BJP leadership of Amritsar has nothing to do with the farmers. They do not know anything about agriculture but are still pressing the propaganda at the Central leadership’s behest,” said Rintu appealing to the Union Government to call a winter session of Parliament and repeal these draconian laws immediately. SATURDAY | 26 DECEMBER 2020 | AMRITSAR MY COVIDEXPERIENCE ‘Testing positive made me more cautious’ P RECAUTIONARY moves like wearing a mask, carrying a sanitiser and maintaining social distance have become a daily routine for Deepak Arora, 49, after overcoming the coronavirus. He never ventures out without these three essentials. “After fully recovering from the contagious disease Living I decided not to lower guard for the safety of all. People in in a joint family, my my circle tend to ask me not concern was to keep all to be so touchy about this. safe, especially children However, my point is timely and the aged. Luckily, precautions could save me and other people from get- nobody else in the ting infected.” family got infected After He recalled that it was per- fully recovering from sistent temperature and the contagious disease. weakness which prompted his doctor to ask him to I decided not to lower undergo testing. Despite guard for the safety of taking medicines, the tem- all. People in my circle perature and weakness lasttend to ask me not to ed for nearly a week. His medico friend Dr be so touchy about this. Sunil Grover had advised However, my point is him to get tested. So, he timely precautions can approached the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory of save people. Deepak Arora the Sri Guru Ram Das Charitable Hospital which declared him positive a day later. Initially, temperature and weakness were immense. Yet, he was surprised that without moving out much he had tested positive. He took medicine for over a fortnight, inhaled steam and consumed lukewarm water to overcome the virus. Following the advice of medical experts he and his family took special care and precautions. He preferred soup and fruit which cured the prolong weakness. The MC officials disinfected his house and locality thoroughly. Inside the house, his family took special care in spraying disinfectants. He used to receive calls from the quarantine centre at Meritorious School to learn about his health and any help if required, which he politely declined. He remained in isolation for 20 days at home and avoided being admitted at a hospital. However, his major concern was to keep other members of his family safe from the contagion. “Living in a joint family, my concern was to keep all safe, especially children and the aged. Luckily, nobody else in the family got infected.” ❝ ❞ (As told to Neeraj Bagga ) Reduction in fare of Metro bus on the cards ~5 will be charged for covering a distance of 6 km instead of 3 km Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 25 On the call given by Kisan Ekta Morcha, five farmers from Motla village in Ajnala sat on a hunger strike at Singhu border in Delhi. The farmers include village sarpanch Mangal Singh, Inderjit Singh, Sukhraj Singh, Gurmej Singh and Sukhdev Singh, who are protesting there for the past several days. Pipal Singh Randhawa, a farmer activist from the village, said it was a matter of pride for the entire village that farmers from our village got an opportunity to sit on hunger strike. The entire village is supporting the Kisan protests and youngsters in good number are participating in it in New Delhi and other protest sites. Moreover, youngsters from Motla village, who are abroad, are also supporting them for this noble cause. Amritsar, December 25 After taking over the Bus Rapid Transit System from the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) two months ago, the Local Government Department has devised a strategy to make the Metro bus service more efficient. The BRTS authorities would be able to make changes in routes and fare with permission of executive committee members. Inderjeet Singh Chawala, CEO, BRTS, said, “We have made a proposal to revise the bus fare to attract more passengers. The fare slabs will be revised. Now, we are charging ~5 for a distance of 0 to 3 km. After the revision, passengers have to pay ~5 for 0 to 6 km. The bus will become more economical for residents. No other mode of transport will be able to compete with the Metro bus after the revision of fare.” The BRTS authorities would submit the proposal to revise fare to the execu- c m y b The Local Government Department had taken over Bus Rapid Transit System two months ago. tive committee members. After the nod, fares would be implemented. Apart from this, the BRTS has been planning to amend routes of the Metro bus. There is no bus stop, which connects the BRTS lane with the old city and Golden Temple. The authorities observed huge potential in the old city and tourist circuits. The BRTS officials plan to connect the BRTS lane with the Hall Bazaar. The connectivity with tourist circuits would attract more passengers, especially devotees who visit the Golden Temple. However, one of the stations at Ram Bagh has been under construction. The officials claimed that the said station would be made operational soon.