01082022-ATR-01.qxd 7/31/2022 11:32 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE MARKSHEETS CAN’T DECIDE CHILDREN’S INTELLIGENCE PAGE 2 Residents say focus must shift from scoring marks to grooming inherent qualities and talents of young minds. FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY SKY A MILESTONE: KAJOL COMPLETES 30 YEARS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY PAGE 3 BIGG BOSS WINNER SHILPA SHINDE TO TAKE PART IN JHALAK DIKHHLA JAA Kajol, who made her debut in 1992 with Bekhudi, recently completed 30 years in the film industry. MAX 32°C | MIN 25°C | YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET MONDAY 7:27 PM PAGE 4 Popular television actor Shilpa Shinde confirms her participation in the upcoming season of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:46 AM MONDAY | 1 AUGUST 2022 | AMRITSAR Cops get transit remand of Bhagwanpuria Tribune News Service Farmers squat on railway tracks during a protest at Vallah in Amritsar; and (right) protesters stage a dharna in Tarn Taran on Sunday. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR, GURBAXPURI Farmers’ ‘rail roko’ throws services off track, passengers a harried lot Threaten another agitation if Central Government fails to fulfil promises Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 31 On a call given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), farmer unions on Sunday staged a protest for four hours at the railway station resulting in disruption of train services. Leaders of the farmers said following the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19, 2021, on the occasion of Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev, the SKM had ended their agitation at Delhi borders, but the promises had not been fulfilled as yet. During the protest, the farmers paid tributes to Shaheed Udham Singh on his martyrdom day today. Farmer leaders Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala, Rattan Singh Randhawa, Balwinder Singh Dudala, Jatinder Singh Chhina and others said three major promises — constitution of a committee in association with farmers for enacting and implementing the law on the MSP punishment , for perpetrators of the crime at Lakhimpur Kheri in which gullible farmers were crushed under vehicles, jobs for kin of the farmers who died during the protest at Delhi borders — remained unfulfilled so far. The leaders threatened that if the Central Government failed to fulfil its promises, another agitation would be launched in the near future. They said the massive participation of farmers in the ‘rail INBRIEF RANSOM SOUGHT FROM DOCTOR Amritsar: The police have booked an unidentified person for demanding Rs 5 lakh from a local doctor. In the police complaint, Dr Mannan Anand said an unidentified person from Canada threatened him on the phone and demanded Rs 5 lakh. The accused also gave a bank account number to deposit the cash. A case under Sections 387 and 506 of the IPC has been registered in this regard. TNS ONE BOOKED FOR ABDUCTING TEEN Tarn Taran: The city police finally registered a case against an unidentified person for abducting a teenage girl from Malhia Kalan village near Tarn Taran on Saturday. The victim’s mother told the police that her daughter was abducted on July 10 when members of the family had gone to the fields to plant paddy. She alleged that the girl had been abducted by being lured into marriage. OC Amritsar, July 31 The city police took the transit remand of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria from Gurdaspur here today. A senior police official claimed that they wanted to question him regarding the murder of gangster Rana Kandowalia. Bhagwanpuria was in police custody of Gurdaspur police as he was also wanted in a case related to a clash between the BSF personnel and Pakistan-based smugglers at the International Border on January 29. The police official said Bhagwanpuria was booked in the murder case of Kandowalia. After GMC Principal, Med Supdt, Vice-Principal Kullar too resigns Manmeet Singh Gill CITES PERSONAL REASONS I have served as VicePrincipal for two years and it is time that someone else gets the chance to run the institution. As I have to look after my elderly parents, I felt difficult to continue. Tribune News Service TRAIN MOVEMENT DISRUPTED ■ The movement of several trains was disrupted at Amritsar railway station ■ Five trains were cancelled, eight rescheduled and two short-terminated in Ferozepur division. With no train service being allowed to ply, passengers and their relatives had to wait for hours at the station ■ Passenger amenities seemed insufficient as compared to a large number of people at the station. So, a majority of them were seen sitting on the platforms roko’ programme had made it clear that farmers felt cheated and were in no mood to forgive the government. The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), which is not part of the SKM, also organised a separate protest near Vallah village. KMSC leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the government was selling the interests of the agriculture sector to big corporate houses. He said resentment was brewing among the farming community. In Tarn Taran, braving heavy rain, farmers, including women, squatted on railway tracks in a large number. Owing to the protest, the train which left for Khemkaran in the morning was halted there. As a result, passengers had to face a lot of difficulty in reaching their destinations. Besides Tarn Taran, dharnas were also staged on rail tracks in Patti, Harike and Khadoor Sahib. While addressing the protesters in Tarn Taran, Satnam Singh Pannu, state president of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, said the farmers had been seeking to extend the MSP to 23 crops and prices for the farmers’ products according to the recommendations of the report of the Swaminathan Committee. Trains cancelled Train passengers and their relatives were greatly inconvenienced with farmers squatting in a large number on railway tracks in the district Passengers wait for their trains at the Amritsar railway station during the farmers’ protest on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR on Sunday. The movement of several trains was disrupted at the Amritsar railway station. Five trains were cancelled, eight rescheduled and two short-terminated in Ferozepur division. With no train service being allowed to ply, passengers and their relatives had to wait for hours at the station. Passenger amenities seemed insufficient as compared to a large number of people at the station. So, a majority of them were seen sitting on the platforms. Baljit Singh, a passenger, said his family members were to travel to Ambala, but sudden disruption of rail traffic also sent their schedule haywire. Altaf said he was to go to Qadian, but due to the cancellation of the train, he was forced to go to the bus stand to reach his destination. The trains cancelled were: 06933 Amritsar-Pathankot, 06947/48 Amritsar-Qadian, 06983/84 Ludhiana-Lohian Khas, 06936/35 PathankotVerka and 01611/12 Ferozepur-Bathinda. Eight rescheduled trains were: (04652) Amritsar-Jaynagar, (14674) Amritsar-Jaynagar, (12380) Amritsar-Sealdah, (22440) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi, (12498) Amritsar-New Delhi, (12030) Amritsar-New Delhi, (19614) Amritsar-Ajmer, and (14505) Amritsar-Nangaldam. The two trains short-terminated were 04551 Bathinda-Fazilka and 04552 Fazilka-Bathinda. (With inputs from Tarn Taran) ‘The Siddhus of Upper Juhu’ delights city folks Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 31 The Phulkari Women of Amritsar (WOA) brought a critically acclaimed professional theatre production “The Siddhus of Upper Juhu” by Rage Productions at Punjab Naatshala, Amritsar. Its well-honed performances were received with great appreciation by a packed theatre. The play made some hard-hitting comments on the toll taken by the rat race that seems to consume us, but was wrapped up in the sweet pill of a rollicking laugh-riot. The audience appreciated the opportunity to experience the craft of well-known Bollywood and theatre stars Rajit Kapur and Shernaz Patel under the direction of the maestro Rahul da Cunha. Rajit Kapur is the recipient of National Film Award for Best Actor and is well known for his roles in several movies and TV shows, including Byomkesh Bakshi, Rajit Kapur and Shernaz Patel enact play The Siddhus of Upper Juhu at Punjab Naatshala in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR The Making of the Mahatma, Agnisakshi and several other blockbusters like Zubeidaa, Kick, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Raazi and the recently released Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. Shernaz Patel is well-known for her roles in Black, Guzaarish, Rockstar and other productions. Rahul da Cunha is the iconic ad man of the Amul ads fame and a well-known photographer and theatre personality Talking about his experience of bringing his production to Amritsar, Rajit Kapur c m y b said, “We are bringing this play to Amritsar for sentimental reasons. This is my hometown. I was born here. It is overwhelming to come to the naatshala that has always been associated with Punjabi theatre. I have watched plays here. And now today I shall perform here. That is my good fortune.” Tina Aggarwal, president, Phulkari WOA, said, “At Phulkari WOA, it is our constant endeavour to provide an impetus to the performing art and their appreciation in our city. By bringing a performance by one of the leading theatre production companies of Mumbai, we have tried to enrich our members and citizens with a memorable cultural experience.” The event was impeccably managed by Phulkari vicepresidents Aarti Khanna and Kanika Mehra, secretary Sheetal Sohal, treasurer Payal Mehra and executive members Aparna Kapur and Lavanya Behl. Amritsar, July 31 A day after Government Medical College (GMC) Principal Dr Rajiv Devgan and Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH) Medical Superintendent Dr Kanwardeep Singh tendered their resignations, Vice-Principal Dr Jagdev Singh Kullar too resigned from the post. In his letter, Dr Kullar has cited personal reasons for his resignation from the post. Dr Kullar said, “I have served as Vice-Principal for two years and it is time that someone else gets a chance to run the institution.” He said as he has to look after his elderly parents, he felt difficult to continue. He added that he would continue to serve the college and the patients in his capacity as a professor. Like Dr Kullar, Dr Devgan and Dr Kanwardeep Singh too ❝ Dr Jagdev Singh Kullar had expressed their wish to continue serving their parent departments. The three seniormost officials of the college had tendered their resignations following the alleged rude behaviour of Punjab Health Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra with Dr Raj Bahadur of Baba Farid University of Health and Medical Sciences. Dr Raj Bahadur too had resigned from his position following the incident in which he was made to lie on an untidy mattress in front of cameras. The resignations by the three officials of the GMC are being seen as an expression of solidarity with Dr Bahadur. The move has also come as a surprise as the top three positions at the GMC are much sought after by the faculty members. Insiders stated that with the general faculty mood also against the government on the issue, it would not be easy to find replacement for the three posts. Accusing Agri Dept of bias, technocrats to return degrees Walkathon participants in Amritsar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Walkathon organised to promote healthy eating Amritsar, July 31 The Health Department in association with district administration organised a walkathon and a food mela on Sunday as part of its “Eat Right Amritsar” initiative to create awareness about healthy food and exercise. The walkathon was flagged off by Local Bodies Minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar from SSSS Chowk in which a large number of people, including school students, participated. Dr Nijjar said exercise should be made a part of daily routine. Lauding the administration for taking the initiative, Dr Nijjar said in the present-day lifestyle, one should avoid fast food and prefer home-cooked healthy and nutritious food. The department later in the evening organised a food present-day ❝In theone should avoid lifestyle, fast food and prefer homecooked healthy and nutritious food. ❞ Inderbir Singh Nijjar, LOCAL BODIES MINISTER mela at PITEX ground, Ranjit Avenue, during which different stalls of healthy food were set up by various self-help groups of the farmers and government cooperatives. Civil Surgeon Dr Charanjit Singh said one could easily choose healthy food over nonhealthy food. He added that a balanced nutritious diet was a must for a healthy body. He further stated that daily exercise not only helps the body, but also keeps the mind relaxed and stress-free. — TNS Amritsar, July 31 Technocrats of the Agriculture Department will return their degrees to the government to protest its alleged discrimination with their cadre. Officials of the Agriculture Department had been demonstrating against the state government for the last one week. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, president, Plant Doctor Services’ Association, said, “Despite repeated requests, the transfers of non-regular lower cadre to upper cadre in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare have not been cancelled yet. Agricultural Development Officers (ADOs) have been replaced by lower cadre agricultural extension officers. “These transfers were made by violating the Punjab Agriculture (Group A) Services Rules, 2013. ADOs are highly qualified officers recruited through the Punjab Public Service Commission, whereas the qualification of Agricultural Extension Officers is only Diploma in Agriculture.” In protest against the “discriminatory” attitude and neglect of the agricultural technocrats by the Punjab Government, all agricultural technocrats of the state, including Agriculture/Horticulture Development Officer, Block Agriculture Officer, Deputy Directors and Joint Directors, will observe a collective holiday on August 1. — TNS