27052024-JTR-01.qxd 5/27/2024 1:14 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune JALANDHAR LAD SAKSHAM JOINS NAVY AS OFFICER ROAD WASHED AWAY IN FLOODS, ADMN YET TO ASSIST RESIDENTS KAPADIA MAKES HISTORY WITH CANNES GRAND PRIX WIN Sub-Lieutenant Saksham, a resident of New Jawahar Nagar, got permanent commission in the Indian Navy.P2 Last year, floods wreaked havoc on villages situated near dhussi bundh and Dhakka Basti was the worst-hit.P3 Payal Kapadia made history at Cannes Film Fest as her drama All We Imagine As Lightclinched Grand Prix Award.P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 45°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 45°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET MONDAY 7:16 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:23 AM » MONDAY | 27 MAY 2024 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF 14 BOOKED ON ASSAULT CHARGE Kejriwal takes a dig at BJP Phagwara: The Nakodar City police have booked 14 persons on the charge of assaulting a villager and his family members. Investigating officer (IO) Rajinder Pal Singh said the suspects had been identified as Mana Pandit, Sunni Pandit, Roda Pandit Jaskaran, alias Mana, and Mangi, all residents of Pandori Khas village; Karan, Deep, and Sokha, all residents of Khurshaid Pur village; and their seven unidentified accomplices. Satnam Singh, a resident of Pandori Khas village, told the police that the suspects barged into his house on the night of May 21 and attacked him and his brother and mother. The suspects ransacked their house and also threatened them. A case under Sections 323, 452, 506, 427, 148 and 149 of the IPC has been registered. OC Holds roadshow for party candidate Chabbewal in Hoshiarpur WEAPONS FOUND IN ABANDONED CAR ‘BJP PEOPLE HAVE BECOME ARROGANT’ Phagwara: The police recovered an unclaimed car bearing registration number PB02BL-6743 near the Civil Hospital, Phagwara, on Saturday night. The police also recovered a pistol, two magazines and five live cartridges from the car. Phagwara SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti said the cops got a tip-off that three miscreants were seen roaming in the car. They had been identified as Onkar, Prince, residents of Pandwa village, and Harpreet of Bhagatpura, Phagwara. A case under the Arms Act has been registered against the suspects. No arrest has been made so far. OC CAR STOLEN FROM OUTSIDE HOUSE Phagwara: A car bearing registration number PB10BX0636 was stolen from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Phagwara. Manish Duggal told the police that he parked the vehicle outside his house on the night of May 25, but found it missing on Sunday morning. The police have registered a case under Section 379 of the IPC. OC MAN HELD WITH 500 GM GANJA Phagwara: The police have arrested a drug peddler and recovered 500 grams of ganja from his possession on Saturday night. The suspect has been identified as Madan Lal, a resident of Masarpur village in Bihar and presently residing in Narangshahpur village. He was nabbed at a checkpoint. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the suspect. OC AAP's national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal waves to crowd during a roadshow in Hoshiarpur on Sunday. INDIA VOTES 2024 Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, May 26 AAP's national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal campaigned for AAP candidate Dr Rajkumar Chabbewal here today. He held a roadshow with the AAP candidate in the heart of the city. ❝ BJP people have become arrogant. Look at the state of their arrogance that their national spokesperson Sambit Patra calls Lord Jagannath a devotee of Modi. They have started thinking that Modi has created the universe. ❞ Arvind Kejriwal, DELHI CHIEF MINISTER The roadshow started from Valmiki Chowk and ended at Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) Chowk. Meanwhile, traffic on several routes was diverted in the city, causing much inconven- ience to the commuters. Kejriwal said this election was to save the country's democracy and constitution. “The BJP is asking for 400+ seats so as to change the Constitution and end Phagwara, May 26 SAD and BJP activists took out tractor marches in support of party candidates Sohan Singh Thandal and Anita Som Parkash, respectively. The tractor rally in favour of Anita Som Prakash, BJP candidate from the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha constituency, was taken out under the leadership of Morcha National Secretary Avtar Singh Mand, Morcha Panchhat president Gagan Soni and Sonu Rawalpindi. The convoy of around 500 tractors started from Rawalpindi village and Our Correspondent Phagwara, May 26 As Kapurthala district is divided into two Lok Sabha constituencies Khadoor Sahib and Hoshiarpur - the police here have made preparations to ensure free, fearless and transparent polling. Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vatasala Gupta said the police and paramilitary forces were on alert and keeping an eye on anti-social elements and miscreants in the area. SSP Gupta said 243 proclaimed offenders (POs) wanted in different criminal cases, including 25 of heinous crime and 24 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, had been arrested in the first five months of year 2024. The SSP said the police were keeping a close eye on the possible law-breakers and they would be dealt with firmly. She said additional police force would be deputed at sensitive booths and sensitive places. Vatasala Gupta said flag marches were being held in the district to boost the morale of people. Official for FIR against absentee election staff Phagwara, May 26 Despite stern instructions of the assistant returning officer, 59 government employees deputed for poll duties did not attend even third rehearsal held here today. The absentees include 22 presiding officers, 15 assistant presiding officers and 22 polling officers. Jashanjit Singh, Phagwara SDM-cum-Assistant Returning Officer, today wrote to 59 govt employees fail to attend even third rehearsal Phagwara SDM Rupinder Kaur Bhatti to ensure their presence in the SDM office at 10 am on Monday. He also wrote to SP Bhatti to register an FIR under Section 134 of the RPA Act - 1951 against those avoiding the poll duty. — OC Defeat saffron party, save PM’s ‘mujra’ remark condemnable, says Sapra Takes on AAP Government in state Constitution, says CPI (ML) Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Nawanshahr, May 26 With an aim to disseminate the message of defeating the BJP among people, workers of the Communist Party of India (MarxistLeninist) New Democracy took out a march here today. A large number of people in vehicles, including motorbikes, cars, jeeps and autos, started the march from the Nawanshahr bus stand. After passing through Kariyam, Hansron, Dharamkot, Rahon Shahr, Chhokaran, Kot Ranjha, Palli Kalan, Palli Khurd, Sehabaj Pur, Soita and Asman Pur villages, the march ended at Shahabpur village. Addressing people during the march, party leaders Kulwinder Singh Waraich, Jasbir Deep, Gurbaksh Kaur Sangha, Kamaljit Sanawa, Avtar Singh Tari, Auto Union District president Puneet Workers take out march in Nawanshahr Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) New Democracy workers take out a march in Nawanshahr on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Bachuri and IFTU District president Gurdayal Rakkar said the Central Government hurt the religious harmony in the country. “Due to the anti-people policies, condition of farmers has worsened and this government has tried to crush even the peaceful movements of the farmers with the act of repression,” the members rued. “The BJP government brought the farmers to the streets. Therefore, it was important to defeat the fascist BJP in these elections to save the country and the Constitution,” they said. Rupani urges farmers to vote for BJP Our Correspondent the reservation given to the Backward and Scheduled Castes. As long as I am alive, no one can end reservation,” he said. Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal took a dig at the BJP and PM Narendra Modi saying, “BJP people have become arrogant. Look at the state of their arrogance that their national spokesperson Sambit Patra calls Lord Jagannath a devotee of Modi. BJP people have started thinking that Modi has created the universe. The people should destroy their arrogance through votes". K’thala police gear up for fair, peaceful polling TRACTOR RALLIES IN SUPPORT OF CANDIDATES ■ The tractor rally in favour of Anita Som Prakash, BJP candidate from the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha constituency, was taken out under the leadership of Morcha National Secretary Avtar Singh Mand, Morcha Panchhat president Gagan Soni and Sonu Rawalpindi. ■ Another tractor march was taken out in support of SAD candidate Sohan Singh Thandal. reached the BJP office in Hargobind Nagar, Phagwara, after passing through Hoshiarpur Road, GT Road. Punjab BJP incharge and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani welcomed the rally at the party office. Addressing the rally, Avtar Singh Mand said today’s rally had proved that like entire country, farmers of Punjab were also with the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an appeal to the farmers’ groups, Vijay Rupani said they should vote for Narendra Modi and elect him as the Prime Minister of the country for the third time. If the BJP Government was formed at the Centre for the third time, effective policies would be made in the interest of farmers across the country. During this, Union Minister Som Prakash Kainth and BJP candidate Anita Som Prakash expressed their gratitude to the farmers for making this rally successful and showing solidarity with the BJP. Meanwhile, another tractor march was taken out in support of SAD candidate Sohan Singh Thandal. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Chief Harjinder Singh Dhami, SAD Phagwara in-charge Ranjit Singh Khurana, Advocate Jarnail Singh Wahid, Avtar Singh Bhungarni and Thekedar Baljinder Singh addressed the rally in support of Thandal. c m y b Jalandhar, May 26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘mujra’ remark is unfortunate and condemnable. This was stated by Congress national spokesperson Charan Sapra while addressing mediapersons here today. Charan Sapra said the Prime Minister remembers ‘mutton’, ‘machli’, ‘Mughal’, ‘mangalsutra’ and ‘mujra’, but not ‘maryada’ (dignity), which is essential for the PM’s post. Speaking to mediapersons, Sapra said: “An unfortunate incident happened in Bihar yesterday when the PM used “mujra” remarks. He couldn’t retain the dignity of his Congress leader Charan Sapra addresses a press conference in Jalandhar on Sunday. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH post. After remaining the Prime Minister for 10 years, it is not dignified for the PM to use such language. He could have rather talked about inflation, unemployment, economy, farmers.” Sapra said: “Voting for the BJP means voting for infla- tion, voting for a weak economy and voting for ending reservation. The PM should present the BJP’s 10-year report card rather than targeting others. He should also tell that if the debts of farmers were not pardoned and guarantees not provid- ed, why the BJP is instead interested in filling the coffers of the corporate. If corporate taxes could be pardoned then why not exempt farmers from the GST.” He said the Congress would constitute a special commission for pardoning debts and would provide farmers with guaranteed MSP and similarly provide jobs and monetary aid to labourers. He said: “The AAP government in the state was making false promises. Neither they gave ~1,000 to women, nor took any action against drug menace. The use of drugs has increased after the AAP came to power. They also failed to provide jobs to the youth. They also did not fulfil the promises made to farmers”. THE TRIBUNEINTERVIEW: BALWINDER KUMAR, BSP CANDIDATE FOR JALANDHAR (RESERVED) SEAT ‘People want concerns addressed, not blame game’ B ALWINDER KUMAR, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate for the Jalandhar (reserved) seat, was a journalist for a national daily and holds a law degree along with two postgraduate degrees — one in English and another in Mass Communication. Despite unsuccessful bids for the Kartarpur Assembly seat in 2017 and 2022, he made a significant impact in the 2019 General Elections, garnering over 2 lakh votes, the highest the BSP has ever received in Jalandhar. In an interview with Tribune Correspondent Avneet Kaur, he stated that people have experienced the performance of other parties and now it’s time to give the BSP a chance to bring about real change. Excerpts: ■ In 2019, the BSP was in an alliance under the PDA when you contested this ❝ I am committed to addressing issues ranging from health and environment to education and employment for the betterment of Jalandhar. seat and secured over 2 lakh votes. Do you think it can repeat that kind of a performance in a solo contest? Certainly, this time I’m committed to delivering even better results. People are seeking an alternative party that addresses their concerns rather than engaging in a blame game. Despite experiencing the governance of Congress, BJP SAD, and , most recently AAP little has , changed. While the public rallied behind AAP in 2022 in the hope of change, the current state of affairs has left them dissatisfied. They’re now searching for a party that prioritises the public agenda over mere politics. ■ Do you think with Cha- ranjit Channi, who is the most prominent Dalit face of Punjab in fray this time from Jalandhar, your prospects could get dented? I don’t view Channi as a prominent Dalit leader; to me, he’s primarily a figure within the Congress. Both the BJP and Congress are perceived as anti-Dalit parties, despite attempts to portray themselves otherwise. For instance, during Charanjit Channi’s tenure as Punjab CM, Dalit students in Jalandhar were deprived of their degrees. What actions did he take to address this issue? Therefore, I don’t believe that his candidacy for the seat would impact my prospects in any way. ■ You’ve levelled allegations against the district administration and police for discriminating against BSP Could you elaborate . on what transpired? Step-motherly treatment is being meted out to me as Lok Sabha poll candidate under the AAP government. While the party emphasises injustice towards CM Arvind Continued on page 3
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