24052023-ATR-01.qxd 5/24/2023 12:04 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 43°C | MIN 27°C EX-MIN FLAGS AAP’S HALQA IN-CHARGE’S INTERFERENCE BEYONCE, JAY-Z BOUGHT $200 MILLION MANSION WITH CASH SUNNY HINDUJA COMPLETES TVF ASPIRANTS 2 SHOOT Ex-minister writes to DC against meddling in govt departments by Dinanagar AAP Halqa in-charge. P2 Star couple Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles purchased their $200 million mansion with cash. P3 Actor Sunny Hinduja has completed shooting for the second season of the TVF Aspirants show. P4 » » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.26 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:28 AM WEDNESDAY | 24 MAY 2023 | AMRITSAR Cops present challan against Amritpal’s aides ‘~2,000 note withdrawal not without its share of problems’ Amritsar, May 23 In a case against pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh, the Khilchian police station has presented a challan against Amritpal’s associates in the Baba Bakala court of District Magistrate Bikramdeep Singh. The next date of appearance for the nominees is May 29. In the case, challans against Amritpal Singh, Harjit Singh and Papalpreet Singh could not be presented as they have been lodged at Dibrugarh Jail in Assam, under the National Security Act (NSA). A challan has been presented against a total of 12 persons in this case. An FIR was registered at the Khilchian Police Station under Sections 279, 506, 636 and 186 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It has been said that when the police attempted to intercept Amritpal’s convoy, instead of cooperating with the police, Amritpal and his associates sped away. — TNS Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 23 Even as the withdrawal of currency notes of ~2,000 denomination did not attract frenzied reaction unlike the time when demonetisation or Notebandi was announced, mainly due to its legal tender lasting up to September 30, different sections of society have reacted in varied ways. The All India Petroleum Dealers Association blamed consumers for using the ~ 2,000 note for making nominal purchases at filling stations. People were annoyed at the branches of private and nationalised banks over their insistence to get the forms filled by people coming in to return the ~ 2,000 currency notes. Vimal Arora, a trader, said this was the treatment being given to customers when RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das had announced that there was no need to fill forms while return- ing the ~2,000 denomination notes. Joginder Pal Dhingra of the All India Petroleum Dealers Association said his association had requested the RBI to give guidelines to banks for providing enough small denomination notes, especially to petrol pumps in exchange of the withdrawn ~ 2,000 notes so that filling station can smoothly serve their customers. He said a majority of the customers were trying to use the Rs 2,000 note even for small purchases of Rs 100 and were expecting change from the petrol pumps. So, he said, filling station were extremely short of change. The digital payments, which used to be about 40 per cent of daily sales, suddenly went down to 10 per cent of daily sales and the cash sale increased dramatically. PL Seth, president of the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, said they were complying with the norm of furnishing PAN for deposits of ~50,000 or more in bank accounts and a similar format was implemented for deposits of the withdrawn ~2,000 notes. Yet bank officials asking them to fill forms during the return of the withdrawn note was a regressive move. He said the withdrawn note continued to be a legal tender even in business transactions among the trading class. Meanwhile, roadside stores were not accepting the withdrawn ~2,000 denomination notes, causing inconvenience to the ordinary customers. Stubble burning hitting flora & fauna alongside dist roads Tree trunks on roads can be seen half burnt or blackened by fire Manmeet Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 23 Though the district has reported lesser number of fire incidents this season as compared to the last year, a huge damage has been caused to flora and fauna as a large number of trees alongside the roads and in other areas have been affected by fires caused by stubble burning. As per the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPSCB), the district has reported 865 fire incidents this rabi season as compared to 1,245 last year. The district reported one more fire incident on Tuesday. A visit to rural areas of the district reveals that the maximum number of wheat fields have already been cleared and Wheat residue being burnt at a field near Amritsar. farmers have started preparing the land for the next crop. While some farmers argue that there is no better alternative to clearing the fields with fire as the wheat stubble floats on water when the fields are waterlogged for paddy trans- plantation, most of them feel that the damage caused to trees could be avoided. Kuljeet Singh, a progressive farmer from Malawali village here, said, “If the area under trees is cleared of stubble using harrow machine, the loss of trees and birds having their nests on them can be avoided.” Tree trunks on most roads can be seen half burnt or blackened by fire. “These trees would not be able to grow properly and sooner or later these would fall or dry. Strict action must be taken against those farmers who have caused damage to trees. Even nests on trees are burnt leading to displacing of birds,” said Jatinder Preet Singh, another resident. Residents say the district administration has failed to check the burning of crop residue in fields. They say the government should at least take action against those who have caused damage to trees so that it can act as a deterrent in the future. Guru Arjan Dev’s 417th martyrdom day observed ‘New roads before monsoon’ Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 23 The 417th martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev was observed by the SGPC and other Sikh organisations here on Tuesday. Despite searing heat, devotees installed chabeels and offered sweetened water to people on roads. The SGPC observed the fifth Sikh guru’s martyrdom day with religious fervor at the historic Gurdwara Ramsar. After the start of the akhand path, a group of ragis led by Hazuri Ragi Bhai Satnam Singh Kuharka performed Gurbani kirtan. In Devotees drink sweetened water at the chhabeel organised on the occasion at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Tuesday. VISHAL KUMAR the event, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, general secretary Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, Shiromani Committee member Harjap Singh and others participated. In his address Dhami said the life of the Guru Sahib was a beacon of inspiration for the entire humanity. He sacrificed his life for the sake of right, truth and freeing humanity from fear to fight oppression. He appealed to the sangat to take inspiration from Guru Sahib’s life. On the occasion, Satnam Singh Mangasarai, manager, Golden Temple, Harpreet Singh, additional manager, Aided school teachers, mid-day meal workers seek hike in wages To meet Finance Minister, protest outside ministers’ houses Mid-Day-Meal workers from different parts of the district attend a meeting in Tarn Taran on Tuesday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 23 A delegation of the Aided Schools Union will be meeting Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema over the nonissuance of grants for salaries and failure to implement wages according to the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations for teaching and nonteaching employees. The union has been demanding the implementation of wages according to the sixth pay panel that was promised before the AAP came to power in Punjab. A year on, no announcement has been made on giving the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission to the teachers of govt-aided schools, at par with other government employees. “In the last four years, the state government has neither implemented the Sixth Pay Commission report nor has increased the dearness allowance (DA). We had met the Education Minister as well to discuss the issue and in its election manifesto, it was announced to give all benefits to government aided school teachers at par with other government employees. It’s been several months now and grants for salaries and other expenses had also not been released on time,” informed Ajay Chohan, continued on page 2 Youth killed in Patti over old enmity Tarn Taran, May 23 A 26-year-old youth was shot dead at Saidpur village falling under the Sadar police station in Patti subdivision of Tarn Taran here on Tuesday evening. The deceased was identified as Jagroop Singh. He was returning home after playing at a sports ground. He was accompanied by his 5-year-old son when he was shot at by Judgebir Singh of the same village over an old enmity. Jagroop Singh (victim). He was rushed to a private hospital where doctors declared him dead. Harbhajan Singh, father of the victim, said Judgebir along with his several unidentified associates fired at him when he was returning home after playing in the ground. He said Judgebir had a flight and he was going out of country today. He urged the police to arrest him before it was too late and he escaped to a foreign country. The police are searching for the accused, said DSP Satnam Singh. — OC c m y b Nishan Singh, associate manager, and a large number of devotees were present. A large number of devotees paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and Gurdwara Sri Ramsar Sahib. The Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) organised Gurbani kirtan at Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib. After the bhog of Sehaj Path, Gurbani kirtan was rendered by kirtani jathas of Central Khalsa Orphanage and students of various CKD schools. Joint secretary Sukhjinder Singh Prince read out the message sent by CKD president and Cabinet Minister Dr Inderbir continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 23 Public Works Department Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO has said that the construction of roads in Punjab is under way. Some roads have been widened. The construction of new roads and surfacing of roads are on. Singh sounded confident as he said that the work would be completed ahead of the rainy season. He was here today to inaugurate the laying of the road at Garden Enclave in Khan Kot area on the GT road today. He said orders have been issued by CM Bhagwant Mann for the widening of connecting roads. Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO (right) inaugurates road construction work at Garden Enclave in Khan Kot area on Tuesday. The department concerned has been carrying out the work in phases. The construction of a main road, which began today, will cost about Rs 45 lakh. The Cabinet Minister said, “Roads are the backbone of the economy. The aim is to make the state Number 1 in education and healthcare.”