08072024-JTR-01.qxd 7/8/2024 12:16 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune BANK OFFICER BOOKED FOR ~82.51 LAKH FRAUD ACTRESS TAAPSEE PANNU SHINES IN WHITE KHURRANA’S BAHU PRESENTS SHARMAJEE KI BETI Nakodar Sadar police have booked a Capital Bank branch officer on the charge of embezzling ~82.51 lakh. P2 Taapsee Pannu shared a series of pictures on Instagram where she can be seen posing in a white saree. P4 Tahira Kashyap Khurrana’s debut feature film as director is making waves in the digital domain. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET MONDAY 7:27 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:29 AM » MONDAY | 8 JULY 2024 | JALANDHAR Jalandhar West turns into hotbed of politics, unrest Sees protests by several unions, organisations, leaders reaching protest sites to back agitators Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 7 The Jalandhar West seat has become a hotbed of unrest since the announcement of the bypoll, with daily protests overshadowing campaign activities. Unions and organisations have consistently taken to the streets, voicing their demands and frustrations against the state government. The constituency today also witnessed several protests as various organisations expressed their grievances against the government. Several organisations such as Punjab Pay Scale Restoration Joint Front, Meritorious Teachers’ Union, Punjab, Unemployed Joint Front and Computer Teachers held protests today. The protests saw political figures stepping in to lend their support. Congress MP from Ludhiana Raja Warring visited the protest sites and assured the demonstrators that the Congress would advocate for their demands with the government. BJP leaders also expressed solidarity with the protesters, criticising the AAP regime. The Punjab Pay Scale Restoration Joint Front organised a rally at Jalandhar West, accusing the administration and police of attempting to thwart their protest. According to front leaders, police raids were conducted at the houses of various leaders, with state convener Shashpal Ratul being detained and another leader Jagga Boha being placed under house arrest. Some leaders, who were to arrive in Jalandhar, were also reportedly detained by the Balachaur police. The leaders argued that the government should address the demands of the employees rather than trying to suppress their voices. They warned that failure to restore the Punjab pay scale and resolve other issues would have electoral consequences for the government. The Meritorious Teachers’ Union, Punjab, held a ‘Polkhol’ (expose) rally, distributing pamphlets listing their Voters bask in bypoll glow Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Clockwise from top: Members of the Punjab Pay Scale Bahali Sanjha Front, Meritorious Teachers' Union and Berojgar Sanjha Morcha, Punjab, hold protests; and Amarinder S Raja Warring interacts with protesters in the Jalandhar West constituency on Sunday. PHOTOS: SARABJIT SINGH DEMONSTRATORS HIGHLIGHT DEMANDS ■ The Punjab Pay Scale ■ Five organisations, including TET Restoration Joint Front organised a rally at Jalandhar West, accusing the administration and police of attempting to thwart their protest. ■ The Meritorious Teachers’ Union, Punjab, held a ‘Pol-khol’ (expose) rally, distributing pamphlets listing their demands. and BEd pass teachers under the banner of the Unemployed Joint Front, besieged an AAP office in Jalandhar West. ■ Computer teachers also staged a protest near Narula Palace in Jalandhar West, accusing the Punjab Government of neglecting their demands. unmet demands. They criticised the government for not regularising meritorious teachers in the Education Department despite their qualifications. Coordinators Rakesh Kumar and Dr Ajay Kumar issued a stern warning that if the state government did not meet their demands of regularisation and pay hike, they would escalate their protests. Meanwhile, five organisations, including TET and BEd pass teachers under the banner of the Unemployed Joint Front, besieged an AAP office in Jalandhar West. They demanded employment opportunities in education, power and health departments. The protesters forcefully entered the AAP office, resulting in a minor scuffle with party workers. Following this incident, the administration facilitated a meeting between leaders of the Unemployed Joint Front and CM Bhagwant Mann at his rented residence. During the meeting, CM Mann promised to address the protesters’ demands by convening a panel meeting soon. Poster war peaks, walls defaced Poll-bound constituency witnesses frenzied, colourful campaigning Avneet Kaur EFFORTS TO WOO VOTERS Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 7 With only two remaining for the Jalandhar West Assembly bypoll, political atmosphere is charged with fervent campaigning. Posters and hoardings of political parties can be seen displayed in almost every part of the constituency. Candidates of major parties are pulling out all stops to capture the attention of voters, engaging in door-to-door campaigning, levelling allegations, counter-allegations, showcasing their achievements and making promises through an array of eyecatching posters and slogans. On their social media platforms too, candidates have been posting pictures, videos and reels of their activities and the response they are receiving from the public. Moreover, the candidates also go live on social media platforms to criticise their rivals. Jalandhar West is awash with vibrant banners and ■ Candidates of major parties are pulling out all stops to capture the attention of voters, engaging in door-to-door campaigning, levelling allegations, counter-allegations, showcasing their achievements and making promises through an array of eye-catching posters and slogans. << Posters of various parties pasted on a wall in Jalandhar West. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH flags, predominantly those of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). High-profile leaders, including Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s wife and sister, former Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, both Members of Parliament, have been actively campaigning and taking part in public meetings. Public and private properties have become a canvas for relentless poster campaign. Walls of houses in areas such as Basti Bawa Khel, Basti Nau, Basti Guzan and Mithu Basti are plastered with campaign material as are government buildings like Suvidha centres. Hoardings line the roads, hang from electricity poles and cover shops and roadside kiosks, leaving no space untouched. The Congress has prominently featured former CM Charanjit Singh Channi on banners and posters support- ing its candidate Surinder Kaur, banking on Channi’s popularity and his recent electoral success in Jalandhar. In contrast, the BJP has adorned its candidate Sheetal Angural’s campaign material with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former MP Sushil Rinku, highlighting the Modi government’s achievements. BJP posters also emphasise four guarantees - providing pucca houses for the needy, Continued on page 2 c m y b Computer teachers also staged a protest near Narula Palace in Jalandhar West, accusing the Punjab Government of neglecting their demands. Leaders of the organisation accused the AAP government of following in the footsteps of previous governments by ignoring their issues. The administration later organised a meeting between the protesters and CM Mann. The CM assured them that a panel meeting would be held in the coming days to address their issues. Following the assurance, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains gave his full consent to address their concerns, leading to the postponement of their protest march. Jalandhar, July 7 With two days left for the Jalandhar West assembly bypoll, roadshows, media interactions, meetings and milnis organised by all political parties have increased. Now it is up to the voters to decide, whether to get wooed by gimmicks of the parties or vote on real issues. “It is like an ‘utsav’ here. Suddenly people of Jalandhar West have started feeling important because every leader is approaching them, and the credit goes to the bypoll,” says Vikram, a resident of Basti Guzan. The residents of Jalandhar West say that they have never been in such limelight before. Any sewerage, water or streetlight related problem that sur- faces during the day, gets resolved by evening, which is strange as it never happened before. Notably, Jalandhar West has remained a neglected area. But with elections, everything has changed for them. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is here with his family and it seems like the state machinery has also dedicated itself to resolving people’s problems. Raj Kumar, a property dealer, said: “I met CM Bhagwant Mann and I thanked him first for getting our work done. I then asked him to ensure that it continues even after the elections are over”. Every top leader from AAP, BJP and the Congress has been coming here and holding press conferences to put forth their points. SAD leader Kaypee bereaved Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 7 Suman Kaypee (67), wife of SAD leader Mohinder Singh Kaypee, passed away on Sunday afternoon after a prolonged illness. She was battling cancer for a long time and was admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh. Suman, who was a former banker, had also contested elections from Jalandhar West on the Congress ticket. Her last rites will be conducted at the Model Town cremation ground here at 2 pm on Monday. SAD president Sukhbir Badal offered condolences to Mohinder Singh Kaypee.”
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).