24072024-ATR-01.qxd 7/23/2024 10:39 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY BARRING HOCKEY, OTHER SPORTS FAIL TO MAKE CUT FOR OLYMPICS BJP MP KANGANA RANAUT HAILS THE UNION BUDGET FINANCE MINISTER’S SAREES ON BUDGET DAY DEPICT CULTURAL TALE Except for hockey, no player from any other sports discipline was chosen for the Olympics this time from border district.P2 BJP MP Kangana Ranaut hailed the Union Budget 2024 presented by Finance Minister & called it ‘wholesome’. P4 MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C Bomkai, Kantha, Mangalagiri — Nirmala Sitharaman’s sarees on the Budget day also send across subtle messages. P4 » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.32 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:41 AM » WEDNESDAY | 24 JULY 2024 | AMRITSAR Budget spoils senior citizens, middle, lower income group families’ mood Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 23 Sentiments of middle and lower income group families and senior citizens soured as contents of the Union Budget were announced in the Lower House of the Parliament today. They felt that their voices remained unheard in the financial announcements for the year ahead. A senior citizen Anil Vinayak, a resident of Race Course Road, said senior citizens were highly disappointed with the Budget as there was no announcement for rebate on air and rail travel. Similarly, there was no personal income tax relief for super-senior citizens much to their disappointment, he said. Though the Budget tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday focused on youth and women, locals felt that funds allocated for them were insufficient to cater to their huge population. Gunbir Singh, president, Dilbir Foundation, said the Budget provided some relief People watch live telecast of the Union Budget at a shop in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR ❝ Senior citizens are highly disappointed with the Budget as there is no announcement for rebate on air and rail travel. Similarly, there is no income tax relief for super-senior citizens much to their disappointment. ❞ ❝ One is disappointed at the approach of the government towards employment generation in particular. The fact that one in two educated youths are unemployed is really shocking. Anil Vinayak, A RESIDENT to the middle class through income tax slab reviews. However, innovative ideas were missing from seventh Budget of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Gunbir Singh said, “One is disappointed at the approach of the government towards employment generation in particular. The fact that one in two educated ❞ Gunbir Singh, PRESIDENT, DILBIR FOUNDATION youths are unemployable is shocking. Doles that include one month wages and low interest loans to new graduates will not resolve the unemployment issue. Only creation of jobs and an academic revamp would resolve the problem. This Budget definitely falls short on such concerns which have been ignored earlier too.” Meanwhile, working women appreciated the budgetary announcement that the government would tie up with the industry to set up working women hostels as well as providing crèche facilities. Further, this industry-government partnership is also expected to launch women-specific skill programmes and promote market access to enterprises managed by women-led selfhelp groups (SHG). An allocation of over Rs 3 lakh crore in the Budget for the schemes benefitting women and girls has also been lauded. Welcoming the Budget, former BJP MP Shwait Malik said, “The Budget has covered all sectors.” He said there was proposal to start a Bullet train between Amritsar and New Delhi. He further said senior citizens above 70 years would get Rs 5 lakh health insurance. Allocation to agriculture sector, not meeting MSP demand draws flak ❝Only ~1.52 lakh crore has ❝A Budget of ~47.65 lakh to be spent on agriculture sector that engages 47 per cent of the population which is a negligible amount. Ten million farmers would be given assistance to adopt natural farming, but how to accomplish this task has not been explained. crore is insufficient for 140 crore population. Agriculture with its allied businesses and universities has been allocated three per cent of the entire Budget which is unsatisfactory. The allocated amount should be increased to 10 per cent of the whole Budget. Dr SS Chhina, SR FELLOW, ISS, NEW DELHI Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala, A FARMER ficient for 140 crore population, which includes 90 crore youth. Agriculture with its allied businesses and agriculture universities was allocated three per cent of the entire Budget which was grossly unsatisfactory, he said. He suggested to increase allocated amount to 10 per cent of the whole Budget. Ajnala asserted that this would result in elimination of youth unemployment, help in diversification of crops and replenish the underground water level. Dr Ajnala said the Indian Government was under Rs 132 lakh crore internal loan and over Rs 100 lakh crore external debt. The government was offering respite in tax rebate to the upper layer of the service sector, he said. Senior BJP leader Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina hailed the Union Budget as growthoriented that would induce large-scale development of infrastructure in the country. He said the focus was primarily on agriculture growth, crops diversification and digital mapping of crops, apart from crop insurance. He said all sectors had been taken care of. Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 23 The allocation to agriculture sector and various schemes introduced in the Budget have evoked mixed response from agriculturists. There is resentment among them for not meeting their demand of the MSP for every crop. Dr SS Chhina, senior fellow, Institute of Social Sciences (ISS), New Delhi, said, “Only Rs 1.52 lakh crore has to be spent on the agriculture sector that engages 47 per cent of the population which is negligible amount. As many as 10 million farmers would be given assistance to adopt natural farming, but how to accomplish this task has not been explained. Similar is the proposal to introduce 109 varieties of 32 crops, but how to enhance their output also remains inexplicable.” He said, “To provide internships to 100 top companies instead of small units is paradoxical for employment generation. To generate only four crore jobs during five years in a country where millions of youth are unemployed is also not satisfactory.” Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala, a farmer, said the entire Budget of Rs 47.65 lakh crore was insuf- ❞ Trading, manufacturing sectors Punjab seeks incentives from Finance not happy with announcements Commission for industrial development Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 23 Trading and manufacturing sectors are not happy with the Union Budget announcements. People related with the two sectors say, “The Budget is optimistic without being in touch with ground reality. Despite reducing allocation in the health and education sectors, fiscal deficit has been pegged at 4.9 per cent of the GDP An attempt has been . made through this Budget to generate employment in private sector, but it’s necessary to empower MSMEs to provide more job opportunities.” Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal president Piara Lal Seth said, “Punjab has been sidelined in the Budget as its focus is mainly on Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. The demand for a special package for the border districts of Punjab has been ignored. On the lines of the corporate income tax rate of 22 per cent, relief has not been given in the income tax slab of the partnership, LLP and proprietor companies.” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tried to focus the Budget on agricultural pro- ❝ Punjab has been sidelined in the Budget as its focus is mainly on Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. The demand for a special package for the border districts of Punjab has been ignored. On the lines of the corporate income tax rate of 22 per cent, relief has not been given in the income tax slab of the partnership, LLP and proprietor companies. ❞ Piara Lal Seth, PRESIDENT, PUNJAB PRADESH BEOPAR MANDAL duction, employment, inclusive human resource development, manufacturing and services, urban development, energy security, infrastructure, innovation, research and development, next generation reforms, he said, while adding that this was not possible in a single financial Budget. Krishan Kumar Sharma, an industrialist, said the announcement for the development of an industrial node at Gaya, part of the AmritsarKolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC), was the only new plan devised for the holy city. He said, “Credit guarantee scheme, new assessment model for loans and loan assistance to MSMEs during the crisis period are commendable steps, but the clarity on increasing the demand for production is missing in the Budget. No indication in the Budget to abolish Section 43BH of the income tax is also disappointing.” He said, “To build new industrial parks in 100 cities in partnership with private and state sectors is commendable, but along with this a subsidy scheme is necessary for supplying machinery to textile industry and other industrial sectors.” He said, “The main demand of entrepreneurs is to increase the income tax exemption limit to Rs 10 lakh to improve the standard of living of the middle class, besides curbing rising inflation. Both demands remain unmet. The hospitality sector is unhappy as Amritsar, despite being a tourism hub, has been overlooked in terms of investment projects.” Parity with J-K required to check flight of capital from state, says official Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 23 Punjab has sought a special package of incentives for rapid industrial development in its border districts, equivalent to those offered to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in order to control the flight of capital from the state. In a presentation before the 16th Finance Commission, led by its Chairman Dr Arvind Panagariya, who were in the holy city on Tuesday, they were apprised that the industry-friendly ecosystem of Punjab required the necessary support to ensure development at an accelerated pace. Among other features of the presentation, one-time compensation was sought for mitigating the economic losses incurred due to the trade embargo at AttariWagah border, along with annual compensation until its reopening. A dedicated Special Economic Export Zone to enhance the export of agri-products and Basmati rice was also sought. To salvage the industrial sector, freight subsidy was Three arrested with two pistols, five cartridges Amritsar, July 23 The police have arrested three persons in Lakar Mandi and recovered weapons from their possession. The arrested suspects have been identified as Ajay Kumar, Gursewak Singh and Diljaanpreet Singh, all residents of Verka. Officials at the Division D police station said all the arrested suspects were in their twenties. The police got a tip-off about the presence of the suspects in the city. Based on the secret information the police raided the house on the intervening night of July 20 and 21 and nabbed three The three suspects in custody of the police in Amritsar. suspects from a house. Talking about the source of the weapons, the police said a jail inmate identified as Harpreet Singh from Rayya was arrested by the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) in a case of the Arms Act. The SSOC recovered six pistols from Harpreet during his arrest. During investigation, Harpreet disclosed that he left other pistols with his three gang members. He named Ajay Kumar, Gursewak Singh and Diljaanpreet during interrogation. The police recovered two .32 bore pistols with magazines and five live cartridges from their possession. A fresh FIR was registered under Section 111 of the BNS and the Arms Act at the Division D police station in this regard. The police said the suspects were already facing three criminal cases under the Arms Act, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and snatching at the Division A and Verka police stations. — TNS c m y b Finance Commission of India Chairman Dr Arvind Panagariya, along with team members, pays obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR ❞ BSF apprehends Pak national Amritsar, July 23 A Pakistani national was apprehended by the BSF from the border today. According to information, during morning hours, the BSF jawans on duty in the border area of the district observed suspicious movement of a person coming from the Pakistan side. He crossed the International Border (IB) and further moved towards the border security fence. In a swift response, the BSF jawans tactically approached the intruder and apprehended him ahead of the border fence at 9:05 am. Upon preliminary questioning, the intruder disclosed that he was a Pakistani national. The intruder was apprehended in the area between the IB and border security fence adjacent to Rajatal village of Amritsar district. During search, a mobile phone, a Pakistani national identity card and currency worth Rs 500 along with other general articles were recovered from his possession. After initial questioning by the BSF and sister agencies, the intruder was handed over to local police for further investigation and to know about his motive for crossing the IB. — TNS sought to offset high logistics cost for industries, particularly in border districts. Similarly, a ProductionLinked Incentive (PLI) scheme was advocated to promote diversification, competitiveness and generate employment opportunities in the agriculture sector. Subsidised interest rates on term loans and working capital to stimulate industrial growth, competitiveness, modernisation and expansion was also sought. Special tax benefits, akin to those provided to hill states, to support the border industry, were sought too. Industrialists conveyed to the Finance Commission the need for giving incentives to boost the MSMEs in the state apart from ensuring a robust infrastructure at ports to avoid delay in shipping consignments to Punjab, good medical infrastruc- 2 girls abducted BJP’s Raju demands special grant for city Tarn Taran, July 23 Two girls have been abducted from two different villages. One Akashdeep of Muse Kalan village abducted a 12year-old girl on July 20 when her family members had gone to work. Inspector Narinder Kaur said Akashdeep was booked under Sections 137 (2) and 87 of the BNS. In the second incident, a 15-year-old girl was abducted from Gohalwar village on July 21 by one Vishal Singh of the same village. The suspect was booked under Sections 96 and 137 (2) of the BNS on Monday. — OC Amritsar, July 23 In a letter written to the Finance Commission, senior BJP leader Jagmohan Singh Raju has demanded a special grant of Rs 1,000 crore to commemorate 550 years of establishment of the holy city of Sri Amritsar. In the letter, Raju stated: “Amritsar is home to the holiest of the holy Gurdwara of the Sikhs, Sri Darbar Sahib and other shrines like Sri Durgiana Mandir and Sri Ram Tirath. Besides being the holy city of Sikhs, Sri Amritsar is also India’s top tourist destination.” ture in the form of hospitals in Majha and Doaba, ESI hospitals in every city and One Nation-One Tariff policy. Director of a Jalandharbased industrial unit Mukil Verma highlighted the need for giving much needed boost to the sports industry. Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Harbhajan Singh ETO and Laljit Singh Bhullar honoured Dr Arvind Panagariya on the occasion. ❝ The city founded in 1574 would soon celebrate 550 years of its establishment. As part of these celebrations, the city’s infrastructure must be upgraded to international standards. ❞ Jagmohan Singh Raju, SENIOR BJP LEADER The BJP leader also suggested that an annual grant of Rs 1,000 crore be given to Punjab to deal with ecological degeneration and other consequences of water shortage caused by sharing of river waters with other states out of national interest. Raju said, “Mitigating external threat is the obligation of the Central Government. Punjab also plays a vital role in managing external threat to the nation. Punjab shares more than 500 km with hostile neighbouring country which is perpetually waging informal war against India. Punjab bears its brunt.” “Besides the policing cost, additional funds ought to be provided to the state to neutralise implications of the informal war and hostility,” he suggested. — TNS
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