06062025-LT-01.qxd 6/6/2025 12:50 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune DESPITE CRORES SPENT, CITY’S REFUSE STILL UNSEGREGATED KUBBRA OPENS UP ON TURNING HER PAIN INTO POWER QISA BRINGS AUTHENTIC SOUTH INDIAN FLAVOURS TO TRICITY The MC, Ludhiana, is still using the informal sector for door-to-door garbage collection. P2 This isn’t just the story of a successful actress. It’s the story of a survivor, who turned pain into purpose. P4 Chef Manav Suri, a familiar face in the Chandigarh’s food scene, has unveiled his latest restaurant — Qisa. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 38°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.22 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5:21 AM FRIDAY | 6 JUNE 2025 | LUDHIANA THE TRIBUNEINTERVIEW: PARUPKAR GHUMAN, SAD CANDIDATE CM Mann formally inducts workers into party fold in presence of candidate Arora ly emphasised that the military should remain apolitical. Mann questioned: “Have you ever seen any former PM donning a military uniform? The present PM is exploiting the uniform for political gains.” LUDHIANA (W) BYPOLL Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 5 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) got another major boost before the Ludhiana West Assembly byelection, as on Thursday, about 31 Congress workers and an Independent candidate, Chandan Chhanaliya, joined AAP . Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann formally inducted all workers and families into the party in the presence of Ludhiana West AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora and party MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal and extended them a warm welcome. Among those who joined the party from the Congress were educationist Simmi Chopra Pashan, Vinayak Pashan, Chanderjit Karan, Ranbir Singh, a retired police officer and former international volleyball player, advocate Jeevanjot, advocate Mamta Arora and Manish Aggarwal. From the Congress, other prominent individuals who joined included Pawandeep Singh (Ward 57), Varun Sharma (Ward 60), Priyanka Sharma (Ward 60), Saurav Arora (Ward 57), Raja Singh (Ward 73), Rajesh ‘Gangsters flourished during SAD regime’ Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann addresses mediapersons after inducting new members into the Aam Aadmi Party in Ludhiana on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Bindra (Ward 73), Ashwani Bhardwaj (Ward 73), Vicky Gaurav (Ward 73), Ashu Sharma (Ward 73), Yashpal Sharma (Ward 73), Ravi Bali, Rajinder Kaur, Pitu Gill, Kamal Dhir, Rupinder Singh, Neena Bhattal, Kukku Grewal, Mamta Mehta, Anu Kalia, Maninder Bagga, Jasleen Kaur, Samar Bajaj, Ritu Kapoor and Madhu Thapar. While addressing the media, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the inclusion of these individuals of joining AAP has further strengthened the party’s position in the Ludhiana West byelection. He said the people of Punjab were happy with the free electricity, education and healthcare services provided by the AAP government. People from all sections of society are extending their support to the government and joining the party in large numbers. The CM, impressed by the significant number of women joining the party, praised their active participation in politics and assured that all individuals would be given due respect in both party organisation and government. Highlighting improvements in the education system, he said this year, 44 students from state’s government schools cleared the JEE (Advanced) exam and are now set to secure admissions in IITs. He said these students did not have to pay any coaching fees, as all coaching and facilities were provided free of cost in their schools. Mann takes a dig at Congress, BJP Taking a dig at the Congress, Mann said their internal infighting never seems to end. Meanwhile, the BJP has fled the battlefield, even going so far as to say: “If you don’t want to vote for us, then don’t, but don’t vote for AAP .” He remarked that the people defeated arrogance last time and would do so again this time. Commenting on the BJP’s act of distributing sindoor, Mann criticised such political tactics, stating that they had no place in governance. He expressed his deep respect for the armed forces and saluted their dedication but firm- While targeting the SAD, Mann questioned their claims of controlling gangsters. He asked whether they had some secret password to control crime. He said it was the SAD that introduced gangsters in Punjab. The gangsters that were infamous today came into existence during their tenure. Drugs were also brought by them. He reminded everyone of the Nabha jailbreak that happened during their regime and how a police officer was brutally killed while protecting his daughter’s honour. It was under their governance that criminals shot him dead. Now, they claim they could control crime. “These people have ruined the state. They neither built any schools nor colleges. They handed over roads to private companies, promoted sand and land mafias and disrespected religion. They seized control of Sikh institutions and ignored orders of the Akal Takht. How can these people save Punjab? In fact, Punjab needs to be saved from them,” Mann concluded. ARUPKAR SINGH GHUMAN, SAD candidate for the Ludhiana West byelection, says voters have shown a sense of belongingness, which comes naturally. Principal Correspondent Shivani Bhakoo talks to him about his campaign, strengths in the coming bypoll, etc. ■ What kind of response are you getting from voters? A very positive response, people have been treating us like family, and we truly feel the same about them. Honestly, the response from people has been nothing short of heartwarming. Wherever we go, whether it’s visiting homes, attending local gatherings or walking through streets, there’s a sense of belonging that’s hard to put into words. They not only see us as candidates but also treat like we are part of their families. And that feeling is mutual. It’s not just about votes, it’s about trust, emotions and a deep connection that politics alone can’t create. ■ What are your strengths which make you different from others? Whom do you consider as your competitor and why? We honestly don’t see anybody as competitor. What we have is a clear vision and the passion to serve, and that’s what truly matters to people.This election is not HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Major blow to Congress as 31 We have clear vision, passion to serve people, these truly matter party workers join ruling AAP P ❝ Our confidence doesn’t come from arrogance, it comes from the genuine connection we’ve built with the people of the constituency. about who has more advertisements or which political heavyweight is visiting the area. It’s about genuine connection, intent and consistent presence. While others rely on publicity stunts and outside leaders to make a mark, we’ve been walking shoulder to shoulder with the people listening, learning and working with them every single day. The truth is the people of the constituency knew who has been there for them not only during the elections but also all year round. They don’t want outsiders parachuting in for campaigns. Though some of our opponents have been in politics for a while, they still need endorsements from national or external figures to create an impact. On the other hand, our party president himself, a proud Punjabi, is involved on the ground here, leading by example and proving that real leadership begins with being present. ■ Why voters should vote for you and what challenges do you find? We’re honest and grounded. We bring not just intention but the knowledge and legal understanding to actually get works done. The biggest reason voters should support us is faith. I have grown up in the Ludhiana West segment. This is not just my constituency, it’s my home and its people are my extended family. What sets us apart is a simple but rare combinati Thandal from BJP rejoins Akali Dal 14 candidates in poll fray, says CEO found valid and with the withdrawal of one candidate, 14 candidates now remain in the electoral fray. It is noteworthy that voting will take place on June 19 from 7 am to 6 pm and the result will be announced after the counting of votes on June 23. Expenditure observer for the Ludhiana West byelection Indana Ashok Kumar will cross-check shadow registers with registers maintained by 14 contesting candidates, at the Bachat Bhawan, District Adminis- trative Complex, from 10 am to 5 pm on June 9, 13 and 17. District Election Officer (DEO) Himanshu Jain stated that the expenditure registers of the Aam Aadmi Party candidate Sanjeev Arora, Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu, BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta, SAD candidate Parupkar Singh Ghuman, candidate Jatinder Kumar Sharma of the National Lok Seva Party and Shiromani Akal Dal (Amritsar) candidate Navneet Kumar would be compared from 10 am to 1 pm. The expenditure registers of Independents Albert Dua, Gurdeep Singh Kahlon, Neetu, Paramjit Singh Bharaj, Pawandeep Singh, Er Baldev Singh Katna, Rajesh Sharma and Renu would be compared from 2 pm to 5 pm. The DEO added that all contesting candidates must bring their expenditure registers and other records such as cash book, bank vouchers and statements and all account-related records. Candidates from diverse fields in fray, from newcomers to seasoned politicians Lawyer booked for impersonating as judicial officer Tribune News Service Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 5 Senior leader Sohan Singh Thandal, who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after leaving the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), on Thursday joined back the Akali Dal in the presence of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Thandal said the SAD was his mother party and he was happy to be a part of it again. On the occasion, Sukhbir Singh Badal said he would be taking a legal opinion from lawyers on the violation of the ‘secrecy of oath’. Works that were supposed to be done by the state Chief Minister and his Cabinet ministers are being taken care of by AAP leaders sitting in Delhi. He said all files of Punjab were moved on the directions of Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain, which was an utter violation of the norms. The SAD chief said the law and order situation in the state was out of control as on Thursday itself, a murder occurred in Jandiala. Murders, extortion, gang wars and snatching incidents had become the order of the day and the government had failed to provide a sense of security to the people of Punjab. Supporting SAD candidate, Parupkar Singh Ghuman, Sukhbir said voters should take the decision on a merit basis after comparing all candidates. He said AAP was taking decisions against farmers by acquiring their land and it would not be allowed if the SAD candidate was chosen from the Ludhiana West constituency. He also cautioned bureaucrats not to play puppet in the hands of AAP leaders as they would also face the music for doing wrong things. Hira Singh Gabria, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Kamal Chatly, SR Kler, Daljit Cheema were among others present. Ludhiana, June 5 A total of 14 candidates will contest the byelection to the Ludhiana West seat of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C stated this here today, on the last day for withdrawal of nominations. One Independent candidate, Kamal Pawar, withdrew his nomination. The CEO said after the scrutiny of nomination papers, 15 nominations were Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 5 Candidates from major political parties contesting for the upcoming Ludhiana West bypoll have varied backgrounds. From businessmen to advocate and staunch politicians, voters have diverse options to choose from. It will be a maiden attempt of BJP and SAD candidates while AAP candidate is Rajya Sabha MP But the latter will be . fighting directly from the field for the first time while the Congress candidate is a seasoned politician. Indian National Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu is the working president of the Punjab Congress and has represented the Ludhiana (West) seat earlier twice. Ashu had won from Ludhiana West in 2012 and 2017 consecutively and remained food and civil supplies minister during the previous Congress government’s tenure. He has done BA from Arya College, Ludhiana, and has From left: BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta, AAP’s Sanjeev Arora, SAD leader Parupkar Singh Ghuman and Bharat Bhushan Ashu from Congress in Ludhiana. FILE been three times municipal councillor in 1997 from Ward 48, in 2002 from Ward 54 and in 2007 from Ward 54. He was elected MLA from the Ludhiana West Vidhan Sabha constituency by defeating Rajinder Bhandari of BJP in 2012, then in 2017 from the Ludhiana West Vidhan Sabha constituency by defeating Ahbaab Grewal of AAP and became Cabinet Minister of Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Punjab, in 2017. He lost election to AAP’s Gurpreet Gogi in the 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections in 2022. After AAP came to power in 2022, Ashu was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in the alleged multicrore foodgrain transportation scam. He remained in jail for nearly seven months before getting bail from the High Court in March 2023. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in August 2024 for alleged money laundering related to the same case. He bailed out in December 2024. In the same month, the HC also quashed the FIRs registered against him by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau calling it a “pure vendetta.” Aam Aadmi Party candidate Sanjeev Arora is a Ludhiana-based industrialist and politician and made his first innings in politics as Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) in 2022. He is the richest candidate in fray with assets worth Rs 320 crore. He runs the Krishna Pran Breast Cancer Charitable Trust in Punjab and his primary business c m y b is in the export industry, real estate and clothing. He has done Bachelor of Commerce from SCD Government College in Ludhiana. As MP (Rajya Sabha), he has raised issues pertaining to infrastructure, healthcare and industry. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal recently during a road show said: “Ludhiana runs in his veins and he keeps coming to us every other day with his new plans for the development of the city”. His “three-year report card,” showcases major devel- opment projects initiated and pursued under his leadership. These include the Halwara Airport, the elevated road project, the upgrade of ESI and Civil Hospitals, and the construction of four new bridges on the Sidhwan Canal and creation of parking lots along the elevated road, the development of a cycle track, and beautification efforts beneath the elevated road. Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Jiwan Gupta, a core group member of the BJP and former state general sec- retary, will be contesting his maiden Assembly elections. A seasoned party worker, he hails from Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib district before his family shifted to Ludhiana. He started his political journey with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and has been associated with the BJP for over two decades. He has done higher secondary from Ashoka Higher Secondary School, Sirhind, and rose through the ranks to become state general secretary when Ashwani Sharma was the Punjab BJP president. Shiromani Akali Dal candidate, Parupkar Singh Ghuman is a newcomer in politics but is an experienced lawyer and former president of the Ludhiana Bar Association. He also served as member of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana. He has done LLB from Punjabi University, Patiala. One of the landmark cases that Ghuman fought was the abduction and murder of a 2.5-year-old girl, for which the accused was sentenced to death. Ludhiana, June 5 Introducing herself to be a public servant (judicial officer) for seeking appointment with a Judicial Magistrate may cost dear to an advocate aspiring to be a judge, as the Ludhiana police have initiated a probe into a case registered against her under Section 204 of the BNS. Daljit Kaur of Chet Garh in Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district has been served a notice by the Division Number 5 police station for allegedly impersonating a public servant before Navneet Kaur, JMIC, Ludhiana, on Wednesday. Investigating officer Subhash Chand Kataria said Daljit Kaur had been booked on the orders of Navneet Kaur, JMIC, passed on June 4, according to which the suspect had impersonated as a judicial officer while seeking appointment with the judge on the fateful day. Preliminary probe revealed that she was a lawyer registered at Bar Association, Jalandhar, and was at present preparing for a competitive exam for selection as judicial officers. — OC