26092024-ATR-01.qxd 9/25/2024 11:15 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY FARMERS PROTEST, DEMAND FIXING OF MSP FOR BASMATI JASLEEN ROYAL MOVES COURT AGAINST ANOTHER SINGER AARYA BABBAR RETURNS TO THE SMALL SCREEN The Kirti Kisan Union has urged the government to fix the MSP of basmati and guarantee procurement. P3 Singer Jasleen Royal has moved court against Guru Randhawa and others for ‘stealing’ her composition. P4 MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 27°C Actor Aarya Babbar is back on television after eight years with ZEE TV’s show Jagriti – Ek Nayi Subah. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 6.21 PM » SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.21 AM THURSDAY | 26 SEPTEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR Kisan union protests, seeks higher MSP for basmati yield KMSC relents after meeting with DC, drops plan to block rail route Tribune News Service New Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar back in city as Police Commissioner Amritsar, September 25 Just over three months after he was transferred, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar has again been posted as Police Commissioner, Amritsar city. He would replace Ranjit Singh Dhillon who has been shifted as DIG, Ferozepur Range. Interestingly, Dhillon was posted as Amritsar Police Commissioner when Gurpreet Singh Bhullar was shifted out in an abrupt manner three months ago. This is the sixth transfer of Police Commissioner in the past two and a half years. Before, Dhillon, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Naunihal Singh (ADGP), Arunpal Singh and Jaskaran Singh remained Police Commissioners, albeit for shorter durations. Bhullar is likely to join tomorrow. — TNS Amritsar, September 25 The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) withdrew its plan to block rail traffic at Devi Dass Pura here over the issue of compensation and jobs to the kin of farmers who died during the Delhi Morcha and compensation for those injured after the Deputy Commissioner presented cheques to the farmers on Wednesday. The union had given an ultimatum till 12 pm today to the administration regarding its demands after which it had threatened to initiate rail route blockade. The union had also started setting up a tent near the railway tracks today in the morning. However, the leaders decided not to go ahead with its plan after Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney and other officials reached the place and held a meeting with them. The Deputy Commissioner later presented cheques to those injured in a bus accident near here as they were returning from Delhi during the agitation three years ago. The DC also announced Rs 5 lakh compensation and job for the kin for each of the families whose members had Says traders offering low prices, wants rate of ~6,000 per quintal Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 25 Demanding a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 6,000 for basmati, the farmers associated with Kirti Kisan Union (KKU) staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Wednesday. The farmer leaders also demanded that the state government intervene in the procurement of basmati and ensure that traders do not offer abysmally low prices to basmati cultivators. KKU vice-president Jatinder Singh Chhinna said, “The government has the responsibility to ensure better prices for basmati as it had encouraged farmers to increase the area under basmati cultivation to help conserve water.” Chhinna said that now when the traders are offering less than a justified price, the government has a moral responsibility to act. The fine quality basmati is being priced at nearly Rs 3,000 per quintal this year. However, the farmers had got a much better price last year when they were able to get Members of the KMSC during a protest at Devi Dass Pura village near Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR died during the agitation. The union leaders stated that the administration has initiated the process to provide jobs. KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said that the administration has also fixed a meeting of the farmer leaders with Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister on October 5 to discuss the remaining demands. Highlighting an incident near Rajpura where some farmers were deboarded from a train by the railway officials, Pandher said that all this is being done to harass farmers going to participate in the ongoing protest at Haryana borders. He warned that if the incident occurred again, the KMSC would take stern notice and give a befitting reply. He said that farmers would organise events across the country on October 3 to pay homage to farmers who were killed in violence at Lakhimpur Kheri. The union also highlighted the issue of fair compensation for lands being acquired for highways under Bharat Mala project, shortage of DAP a feasible solution to the , problem of crop residue, MSP for various crops and other agriculture related issues. Kirti Kisan Union members hold a protest outside the DC office in Amritsar on Wednesday. SUNIL KUMAR over Rs 4,000 per quintal. The farmer leaders demanded that the MSP of Rs 6,000 per quintal for basmati 1121 variety and of Rs 5,000 per quintal for 1509 and 1692 varieties of basmati should be ensured. District president of the Kirti Kisan Union Satnam Singh Jhander said, “The basmati from Punjab is being exported to Arab countries via ports run by Adani group in Gujarat. It can easily be sent to Arab countries through Attari and Hussaniwala borders in Punjab.” He said that this could give employment to workers in Punjab and also reduce transportation cost for traders. The KKU leaders alleged that farmers are being exploited because of the nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and traders and they are given low prices for the world’s best quality rice. Hardeep Kaur Kotla of KKU said that in the financial year 2023-24, 5.8 billion dollars was earned for the country through export of basmati. “It is shocking that the government is neglecting the interests of farmers at the cost of big exporters,” she said. The protesters also demanded an increase in the prices of sugarcane to Rs 450 per quintal. They also demanded from the government to ensure availability of DAP and other fertilisers to farmers for sowing vegetables and wheat crop. 40-yr-old woman ends life over Gulpreet Singh Aulakh Govt urged to shift 33 tribes of harassment, case filed against 2 joins as Tarn Taran DC Punjab from SC to ST category Our Correspondent Amritsar, September 25 A 40-year-old married woman died by suicide at Teda Rajputa village in Ajnala here on Tuesday. She was perturbed over her alleged harassment by a youth, identified as Major Singh, of Chak Dogra village. The police handed over the victim’s body to her family members after an autopsy by a medical board on Wednesday. Besides prime suspect Major Singh, the police have also booked Jagga Singh of Dalla Rajputa village on charges of abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation. Bhagwan Singh, father of the victim, told the police that his daughter Bawi Kaur was married to Kuldeep Singh of Teda Rajputa village in 2010. He said they had three children from the marriage. He said after marriage her husband had gone to Dubai for work for five years. He had returned but again went to Dubai two and a half months ago. He alleged that Major Singh was harassing her even though she opposed his advances. He said she had told him about her harassment a number of times. He said he had also asked him to resist from harassing Bawi Kaur. He said yesterday when he Youth dies of ‘drug overdose’ 3 booked , Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 25 After a youth allegedly lost his life because of drug overdose at Sultanwind village here, the police have booked his three friends on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. They were identified as Monu, his brother Happy and Sajan, all residents of Pandora village. The police have not made any arrest in the case. The body of the victim, identified as Suraj Yadav, was found at the residence of Monu and Happy, who were also drug addicts. Kishan Yadav, father of the victim, said that he has four children and Suraj was the youngest. He said from Sultandwind village, he along with Suraj had shifted to Bua Nangli village around four months ago. He said his son Suraj had got into bad com- pany and started consuming drugs. He said three days ago, he along with his son Suraj had come to Sultanwind village to attend a fair. He said when they reached the village, Suraj got a call from Sajan who was waiting for him near the bus stop. Suraj along with Sajan, who were riding a bike, left for the fair venue. As he did not return home till late evening, he went to Sajan’s house but they were not there. After waiting for some time, he returned to Bua Nangali village. He said the next day, he got a call from Ajay Dodhi of Sultanwind village informing that Suraj had died. He said he along with his current employer Baljit Singh and daughter Sheetal rushed to the spot. He said he found the halfnaked body of Suraj at the continued on page 2 went to see her, he saw Major Singh coming out of the house. He said he pushed him and tried to flee on his bike but Bagga Singh of the village stopped his motorcycle. However, he left the bike and fled the scene. He said when he went inside and saw Bawi Kaur hanging from the ceiling. He said by the time they brought her down, she had died. The three children had gone to their school. SI Lakhbir Singh, investigating officer, said the victim’s body was handed over to the family after an autopsy at Government Medical College here today. He said the accused is absconding. Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, September 25 Gulpreet Singh Aulakh took charge as the Deputy Commissioner here on Wednesday succeeding Sandeep Kumar who has been transferred in a major administrative reshuffle by the state government. Aulakh is a 2015 batch IAS officer and has previously served as the Municipal Commissioner. He was given guard of honour by a Punjab Police contingent on reaching the District Administrative Complex. He bowed at the Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran, and pledged to serve the residents of the holy city. The holding of panchayat elections would prove to be a litmus test for him Gulpreet Singh Aulakh takes charge as the Tarn Taran DC on Wednesday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI besides tackling the supporters of Amritpal Singh who was elected an MP as an Independent candidate. Aulakh held a review meeting with officials upon taking charge. Amritsar, September 25 The Punjab chapter of AllIndia Vimukat Jatis (Denotified Tribes) Sewak Sangh (AIVJSS) has urged the government to shift 33 tribes of Punjab from the Scheduled Castes (SC) category to Scheduled Tribes (ST). They reasoned that before independence, the British had placed them under the Tribal Act. The All-India Vimukat Jatis (Denotified Tribes) Sewak Sangh (AIVJSS) stated that there are 193 tribes in the country which includes 33 sub-castes in Punjab. Dharmbir Singh Mahiya, former Chairman, Vimukat Jati Welfare Board, said dec- laration of Vimukat Jatis (DNT) into STs would be a step in the right direction as these 33 sub-castes were once classified under the Criminal Tribes Act 1871 by the British. In 2021, he wrote to then Tribal Minister Arjun Munda who forwarded their demand to the Punjab government. Now, he said, a memorandum in this regard has been dispatched to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do the needful on their demand. He said they have been corresponding over the matter with the government since 1995. He asserted that Punjabi University, Patiala, also conducted an ethnographic study on Vimukat Jatis findings which were sent to the government in 2010. He said 193 tribes falling under Vimukat Jatis got freedom on August 31, 1952, exactly five years and 16 days after India gained independence. He added that due to this, they were deprived of all their socio-political, economic and constitutional rights. No solid strategic plan has been drawn up by the government to raise the standard of living of Vimukat Jatis. As a result, even today, the people of Vimukat Jatis are living below the poverty line, he said. Citing the findings of the Ananthan Somaiya Committee (1949-50), he demanded that the Vimukat Jatis should be included in the list of STs. Cows, calves die under mysterious circumstances Ministers Mundian, Bhagat pay Panel to keep watch obeisance at Golden Temple on DAP distribution Tribune News Service Tribune News Service ‘DISPLAY STOCK INFO’ Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 25 Before assuming office, newly inducted ministers in Punjab Cabinet, Hardeep Singh Mundian and Mahendra Bhagat, today paid obeisance at the Golden Temple, separately. Mundian was given the portfolio of Rehabilitation and Disaster Management, Water Supply and Sanitation, Housing and Urban Development, whereas Bhagat will handle Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters, Horticulture. SGPC officials presented them with a set of religious books each. Mundian, accompanied by his Cabinet colleague Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, said that he prayed for the welfare of all and sought blessings and strength from the Almighty so that he could do justice to the new respon- Amritsar, September 25 Taking notice of the reports of shortage of DAP required for sowing of vegetable and wheat crops this season, the district administration has constituted a three-member committee to oversee fair distribution of the fertiliser among farmers. The administration has made it mandatory for the fertilizer sellers to display information regarding their stocks of various fertilisers outside their shops. Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said the committee members include District Agriculture Officer, head of the Cooperative Department and District Manager of Markfed. She said the committee would act as a liaison between companies supplying DAP cooperative soci, The district administration has made it mandatory for the fertilizer sellers to display information regarding their stocks of various fertilisers outside their shops. Amritsar, September 25 Three cows and two calves died under mysterious circumstances at a dairy located on the Jhabal road here on Tuesday. They were allegedly poisoned by some unknown persons and the police have registered a daily diary report in this connection. Abhishek Malhotra of Nava Kot area said he had taken a shed on rent from where he was running a dairy and had kept several cows and buffaloes there. He said as per routine, he locked his dairy at around 12 noon and returned to the shed at 4 pm. He said he was shocked to see two cows and two calves writhing in pain and died. Dr Rohan Mehra, animal continued on page 2 c m y b VISHAL KUMAR Tribune News Service Newly appointed Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian (2nd from right) pays obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday. sibility entrusted upon him by the government. Bhagat also visited the Jallianwala Bagh and offered tributes to the martyrs. He also visited Durgiana Temple and Sri Valmiki Tirath Sthal, while accompanied by government officials. “I will work diligently to make Rangla Punjab,” he said. Both were given guard of honour by the district administration on their arrival in Amritsar. Present on the occasion were Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, SDM Ravinder Singh Arora, tehsildars Jagshir Singh and Rajwinder Kaurother. eties providing these to farmers and the farmers who are end users. She said instructions have been issued to make the fertilizer available to vegetable growers as the season has already started and they need it immediately. She said the hoarding of the fertilizer would be taken seriously and the administration would ensure that no black marketing takes place. She said it would be ensured that all farmers, irrespective of their status, get the fertilizer as per their requirement.