02022023-LT-01.qxd 2/2/2023 12:51 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune FOOTBALL ACADEMY TO HOLD TRIALS IN CITY ON FEB 5 10-YEAR LEAP FOR COLORS’ SHOW DURGA AUR CHARU RELEASE DATE FOR NITESH TIWARI’S BAWAAL POSTPONED Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools to conduct selection trials at Guru Nanak Stadium on Feb 5. P2 The show is taking a thrilling turn as it jumps 10 yrs into the future. Rachi Sharma will play Durga. P3 While earlier the film’s release date was fixed as April 7, now it has been postponed indefinitely. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 21°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 9°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.02 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 7.17 AM THURSDAY | 2 FEBRUARY 2023 | LUDHIANA I-T relief, new jobs, capex boost, fiscal prudence bring cheer As common man feels neglected, industrialists, self-employed, employees, lower, medium to high class in state’s business capital hail big boost for taxpayers, railways, job creation, greater emphasis on rural, social-sector schemes, infra creation Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 1 Attractive incentives and rebates in the new income tax regime, steep hike in capital investments, creation of new jobs, biggest outlay in railways, greater emphasis on the rural sector, social-sector schemes, infrastructure creation, and the middle class has brought cheers to taxpayers and the business community in Ludhiana. The industrialists, selfemployed, employees, students and lower, medium to high class in the state’s business and industrial capital have hailed the urban planning reforms and actions to transform cities into ‘sustainable cities of tomorrow’, credit guarantee for MSMEs, new skill India digital platform to will link students with entrepreneurship opportunities and jobs, focus on expanding Capex, and law amendments to protect customers, reduction in basic customs duty rates from 21 to 13, announced by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget for 2023-24 in the Parliament on Wednesday. However, the common man on the street found nothing lucrative or on offer for ones looking for some relief from the rising inflation. A cross-section of the local residents, including agriculturists, to whom The Tribune spoke to elicit the Budget reaction, also welcomed 100 laboratories to be set up to develop 5G solutions, smart classrooms, precision farming, promotion of alternative fertilisers, circular economy and intelligent transport but Residents watch Budget speech on TV screens in Ludhiana on Wednesday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN WHAT THE LEADERS SAY “The Budget has failed farmers, rural, poor and youth, besides failing to do anything to revive agricultural and industrial sectors in Punjab. Farmers were promised that agriculture income would be doubled. Far from doing anything to realise this goal, the Centre has not ensured procurement for all foodgrains on the MSP. The government has failed to fully implement its promise to ensure pucca houses for all by 2022. Youth have also not got 16 crore jobs as promised at the rate of two crore jobs per year.” Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD CHIEF “The Budget has touched every group of society and provided the best possible relief to all. The increase in income tax exemption limit and changes in tax slabs would benefit employees and other taxpayers. The MSME industry, small businessmen, financially backward classes and women have been provided with several facilities and relief to grow. The Budget has again proved that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to provide opportunities to all to grow and develop as he is a common man himself.” Anil Sarin, “The Budget has again proved how far the BJP government was away from the people and their concerns about life, livelihood and the growing inequality between the rich and the poor. The Finance Minister has not even mentioned words unemployment, poverty, inequality or equity anywhere in her speech. However, she has mentioned the word poor twice. The people will take note of who are real well-wishers of the common man and who are not.” Ravneet Singh Bittu, CHIEF SPOKESPERSON, PUNJAB BJP LUDHIANA MP “I am really disappointed with the Union Budget as people were expecting much more. Tax benefits are almost nil if inflation is taken into account. Nothing much has been announced for the industrial sector. Textile industry, one of the biggest employers, which is reeling under huge losses, has been left out of any reprieve, and the same is the case with the housing industry, which failed to get any boost in the shape of incentives. Even markets, after understanding that the Budget has nothing to give, entered into a negative phase today. The only good thing in the Budget is a substantial increase in infrastructure expenses. Health expenditure has been reduced from 2.2 per cent to 1.98 per cent of the GDP. Rather, it should have been at least 3 per cent of the GDP. Punjab has been totally ignored as there is nothing specific about people of the state.” Sanjeev Arora, RAJYA SABHA MP lamented that the Narendra Modi-led Central Government has again ignored the “aam aadmi”, who was finding it difficult to make both ends meet due to skyrocket- ing prices of daily need essentials in the present times. “There is nothing for us to cheer for in the Budget as we are again left to fend for ourselves with no relief offered to the poor and marginalised sections of society, who are on the verge of extinction,” rued Ram Lal, a tea vendor outside the railway station. A leading infrastructure promoter, Anagha Singh, said: “Big boost to the Capex, which has been increased by 33 per cent to Rs 10 lakh crore, has shown that the Union Government’s priorities are building roads, highways and railway lines.” “The middle class has been given some relief in terms of tweaks in the new income tax regime, clearly pointing out that the Centre wants a shift towards the new regime from the older one,” a tax consultant, Sahil Gupta, felt. A skill developer, Ramneet Kaur, said the next phase of the skill development programme with 30 new skill India centres, new skill India digital platform, which would link students with entrepreneurship opportunities and jobs, and new apprenticeship scheme with stipends through the DBT would help create more jobs and boost skill development. “Incentivising states and cities to undertake urban planning reforms and actions by spending more on infrastructure to transform cities into ‘sustainable cities of tomorrow’ is a welcome step,” said a leading realtor, Amit Garg. A financial analyst, Natasha Suri, said: “Changes in personal income tax slabs, small savings scheme for women, national cooperative databases, centres of excellence for artificial intelligence and green credit programme financial information registry will lead to financial prudence.” “Plan to promote research and development in pharmaceuticals will help the sector to compete with global challenges,” drug manufacturer Vibhor Singla said. A progressive agriculturist, Rajwinder Singh, said the agriculture accelerator fund, promotion of alternative fertilisers, 500 compressed biogas plants continued on page 2 SSP Harish Om Parkash Dayama addresses mediapersons in Khanna on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO AAP worker among three held with 6 pistols, cartridges Links with gangster Sukhpreet Buddha being probed Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 1 The Khanna police on Wednesday arrested an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker from Maloud, Deepak Goyal, along with two notorious criminals — Akashdeep Singh of Nathumajra, Ahmedgarh, and Parminder Singh, alias Pindri, of Saharan Majra, Malaud — and recovered six pistols from their possession. The suspects were involved in smuggling of illegal arms and the police also suspect their links with notorious gangster Sukhpreet Buddha. The police recovered six pistols, including a Glock pistol 9mm (made in Austria) with one live cartridge, one country-made .32 bore with two live cartridges, four country-made .315 bore with 19 live cartridges, from the suspects. The police also seized Toyota Fortuner (HR26BX9400), Etios Liva (PB39J3977) from the suspects. Senior Superintendent of Khanna Harish Om Parkash Dayama addressed a press conference regarding the matter on Wednesday. The SSP said on January 26 the police had nabbed Akashdeep along with a 9mm Glock pistol. During the questioning of Akashdeep, he admitted that he has links with Parminder Pindi who possesses illegal weapons and he had also got illegal pistol from the links of Parminder. Accordingly, the police on January 30 nabbed Parminder. Dayama added that later during the questioning of Akashdeep and Parminder, both confessed that their accomplice Deepak Goyal possessed several illegal arms and ammunition. Accordingly, on January 31, Deepak was arrested by the Khanna police and five pistols with cartridges were recovered from him. The SSP claimed that all accused were suspected to be involved in the smuggling of illegal weapons and investigation also found that Deepak had to use weapons to kill someone in Khanna with whom he had old enmity. On being asked about the person on the target of the açcused, the SSP didn’t reveal the names citing the ongoing probe. The SSP also revealed that Parminder and Akashdeep had links with gangster Sukhpreet Buddha as the duo had once gave shelter to some criminal at the behest of Buddha and investigation was on to inquire if Deepak also has association with gangster Buddha or not. The SSP stated that further interrogation of the accused may give more vital leads about the close association of these nabbed accused with gangsters or their any involvement in the crime committed by them at the behest of gangsters. He said 9mm Glock pistol could only be issued to the police or disciplined forces and it was quite shocking that how these suspects got this weapon. A probe is also on to find out if the nabbed suspects had got this sophisticated weapons from their links with cross-border smugglers. Sources confirmed that Goyal had joined the AAP in the presence of the party’s Punjab affairs co-incharge Jarnail Singh and Payal MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura in January 2022. Even his father Sanjeev Goyal had also joined the AAP along with him. Sources even say Goyal owns seed factories and rice shellers in the area. Before switching loyalty, the fatherson duo were active members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). The SSP however, , denied having information about any political affiliation of the nabbed suspects. Among the three suspects, Deepak Goyal has no criminal past while others have criminal background. Parminder is already facing cases of attempt to murder, fight, under Arms Act, etc. registered in Ludhiana and Faridkot, while Akashdeep is facing cases of house trespassing, fight and under the Arms Act registered in Ludhiana, Faridkot and Malerkotla. Buddha, a native of Kussa village in Moga district, had been acting as a self-styled head of the Davinder Bambiha gang after the encounter of the latter in 2016. The gangster has been facing more than 12 cases. He had fled the country in 2018 and was deported from Romania in 2019 Three arrested with 17.5 kg of ganja Pathetic condition of roads continues to inconvenience commuters in city The suspects have been identified as Nitish Kumar and Ajit Kumar. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against the duo. ASI Sukhwinder Singh said during a routine checking on the GT Road, two pedestrians were stopped for checking. When their belongings were checked, ganja was found from them. The suspects were on the way to deliver the contraband to their clients in Khanna. The ASI said now, the police remand of the suspects would be sought from the court to inquire about their past record and catch big suppliers involved in the trade. In the other case, officials at the Khanna City-2 police station nabbed a man and seized 5.8 kg of ganja from his possession. The suspect had been identified as Niranjan Parshad Kushwaha, a resident of Bihar. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against the suspect. 8 mobiles recovered from jail Contractual staff meet MC chief In another surprise checking conducted by officials on January 29, four cell phones and 35 tobacco sachets were recovered from washrooms of the jail. Officials said these phones could have been kept by inmates and during checking, they had dumped the same in washrooms to prevent action against them. A case under the Prisons Act was registered against the unidentified suspects due to the recoveries and further investigation was launched in the matter. — TNS Ludhiana, February 1 Demanding regularisation of jobs of contractual staff, a delegation of the Municipal Employees Sangharsh Committee met MC Commissioner Shena Aggarwal today. They demanded that the MC House meeting should be held at the earliest to meet their demands. The government had earlier started the process to regularise jobs of around 3,500 contractual safai karamcharis and sewermen of the MC. However, the services of these employees who were above 42 years of age were not regularised. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 1 The Khanna police on Tuesday nabbed three persons in two cases and seized 17.5 kg of ganja from their possession. The police arrested two persons and seized 11.7 kg of ganja from their possession. Ludhiana, February 1 A surprise checking in the Ludhiana Central Jail led to the seizure of eight mobile phones. Of these, four mobile phones were recovered from jail inmates while the remaining were found abandoned on the jail premises. Assistant jail superintendent Sarup Chand said on January 29, he conducted a surprise checking in the jail, which led to the seizure of four mobile phones from inmates identified as Sunny Kumar, Sonu Kumar, Jassi, Gulshan Kumar and Rajinder Singh. TOBACCO, 4 PHONES FOUND ON JAN 29 In a surprise check conducted on January 29, four cell phones and 35 tobacco sachets were recovered from washrooms of the jail. He said the inmates had committed a violation by keeping banned items inside the jail and further probe into the recoveries of the mobile phones had been launched. A case under the Prisons Act was registered against the suspects. c m y b Civic body waits for change in weather to repair damaged stretches Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 1 The dilapidated condition of various roads has become a nightmare for commuters as the authorities concerned have failed to get huge potholes repaired on a timely basis despite repeated demands raised by the people in the past. A number of mishaps have also occurred on such roads that are crying for immediate attention. The commuters face a lot of inconvenience due to the potholes on Dugri Road, Gill Road, Dana Mandi to Dugri Chowk Road, Ishmeet Singh Road, Model Town Market road, Sherpur Road, Metro Road, Dhandari flyover road, roads in the Haibowal area and other stretches in the Municipal Corporation limits. Besides, the badly broken Southern Bypass Road of the Southern Bypass Road in a poor state in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN PWD and 200-Feet Road of GLADA are yet to be repaired. After the recent rainfall, the condition of broken roads has become worse. A former member of the Ludhiana West Grievances Redressal Committee, Satish Thaman, said the badly broken roads were an open invitation to more road mishaps. “The safety of commuters is being ignored as the potholed stretches were not repaired timely here. Also, newly recarpeted or reconstructed roads are getting damaged within a short time. It is observed that a number of the roads that were recarpeted without removing old layers in haste got damaged in a short time. The departments concerned must ensure the provision of good quality roads in the city. Whenever any pothole appears, it must be repaired immediately, instead of waiting for the appearance of more potholes,” he said. A resident, Baljeet Singh, said the departments concerned had not even taken any temporary measures to get potholes filled. “Loose gravel on broken roads is also posing a grave threat to the commuters. The two-wheeler riders can lose balance while passing over such stretches,” he said. Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said the contractors concerned would start recarpeting the broken roads, which were under MC limits, once the weather conditions become normal. Then, MC would also run its hot-mix plant to carry out the work to repair the potholed roads. An official of PWD said the department would float tenders to repair Southern Bypass Road.