17062025-LT-01.qxd 6/17/2025 12:47 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune KIN PROTEST OVER CUSTODIAL DEATH OF BATHINDA MAN DILJIT RELEASES TEASER OF UPCOMING FILM SARDAAR JI 3 Various unions staged a protest in support of the victim in Ludhiana ahead of the byelection. P2 The movie also stars Neeru Bajwa, Manav Vij, Gulshan Grover and Jasmin Bajwa in prominent roles. P4 » » GET PHYSICAL: OF SIMPLE JOGS AND COMPLEX CARBS FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.26 PM “It’s not just about looking a certain way, it’s about showing up as best version of myself,” says Malik. P4 SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:21 AM » TUESDAY | 17 JUNE 2025 | LUDHIANA up united front, Farmers from over 35 villages Congstries to putraises eyebrows Ashu’ absence protest govt’s land pooling policy Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 16 Farmers from over 35 villages held a protest outside the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) office here on Monday to protest against the land pooling policy of the state government. The farmers alleged that the policy was being pushed by the government in collusion with corporate entities and land mafias. However, state president of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, while terming the allegation as false and baseless, said these protests were politically motivated. “This is a land pooling scheme not a compulsory Land Acquisition Act. Not even a single inch of land will be acquired without the consent of the land owner. In fact, the farmers will get an opportunity to get developed sites against their undeveloped land, in case they agree to give their land,” Arora claimed. Tarsem Jodhan, one of the farmer leaders, alleged that the land pooling scheme was Farmers hold a protest outside the GLADA office in Ludhiana on Monday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN driven by political and bureaucratic corruption, which aims to dispossess state farmers of their land, leave the youth unemployed and push them towards drugs and alter Punjab’s demography by settling outsiders. “Most of the land of farmers is fertile, where they sow crops to fill the stomach of the nation. The land is the bread and butter of farmer, how can he give it to the government,” he argued while adding that families of over 40 villages will be badly affected under the new policy. Manjeet Singh, a farmer from Jodha, said thousands of acres acquired by the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) and GLADA for colonies and other projects in various cities in the past still lie unused with the acquired fertile lands turning full of weeds and wild growth. General secretary of the BKU (Lakhowal) Harwinder Lakhowal said: “Thousands of colonies have been developed in the state, half of which remain unoccupied and lack basic amenities. The government claims there are 14,000 unauthorised colonies — why are these being ignored?” he asked, adding that in case the government forcibly tried to take hold of the land, they would face strong retaliation. The farmers, who gathered under the banner of ‘ Kamm Bachao, Khet Bachao, Pind Bachao’ Action Committee, said the government had promised to provide 300 sq-yd plots in lieu of one acre of land, when would it start giving any benefit to the farmer is uncertain and till that time, what would he do? Baldev Singh, another leader who came in support of the farmers’ cause from Rampura Phul, said: Before coming up with the scheme, the farmers would have been consulted by the government. “We have many queries regarding the completion of the project, like what if after the 2027 elections, other governments sabotage the project. Farmers’ are dependent on their huge chunk of land. The government cannot just announce pooling like this,” he said. ASHWANI DHIMAN AAP state chief says their allegation baseless, protests politically motivated AICC general secretary in-charge for Punjab Bhupesh Baghel addresses the media in Ludhiana. Ludhiana, June 16 Ahead of the Ludhiana West bypoll, the Congress made a strong attempt to showcase unity while addressing mediapersons here on Monday. However, the absence of Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the party’s candidate, overshadowed the efforts, raising questions about internal cohesion. While senior leaders, including Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, stood together to rally support, Ashu’s non-attendance fuelled speculation about party dynamics. All-India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge for Punjab Bhupesh Baghel held a press conference at Ashu’s election office. Punjab Congress co incharge Ravinder Dalvi, MP Kishori Lal, MP Amar Singh, Himachal Deputy Chief Min- ister Mukesh Agnihotri, former MLAs Rakesh Pandey and Surinder Dabur, District Congress president Sanjay Talwar, former MLA Balwinder Bains Brothers, State Mahila Congress president Gursharan Kaur Randhawa, former MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaid, former minister Malkit Singh Dakha, former MLA Dalwinder Goldy, Vidhan Sabha West coordinator Ramesh Joshi and Congress leader KK Bawa unitedly sought votes in favour of the Congress candidate. A senior Congress leader clarified that Ashu was absent from recent press conferences due to his busy campaign schedule. While speculation arose regarding his absence, party members said he had been actively engaging in doorto-door outreach to connect with voters ahead of the bypoll. However, the absence of former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Rana Gurjeet and Pargat Singh, who had been camping in the city since the announcement of the byelection, has also raised eyebrows. Meanwhile, Ashu accompanied by Pargat, Rana and Channi, attended a function on Monday where doctors under the leadership of Dr Navjot Dahiya extended support to the Congress candidate. Factionalism in the Congress had come to fore with Ashu and Warring not sharing the stage at several occasions in the past. They both had previously appeared together only once — on the day of Ashu filing the nomination papers. Their separate press conferences, following Ashu’s summons in a vigilance case, had fuelled speculation about internal differences. Warring and Bajwa said the West byelection would determine the path of the 2027 Assembly elections. — TNS Properties of two notorious Undeterred by rain, Sukhbir leads road show drug smugglers demolished Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 16 Adopting a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and ill-gotten wealth amid the ongoing anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, launched by the Punjab Police, properties of two notorious drug smugglers have been demolished here on Sunday. The operations were carried out by the MC, Ludhiana, with the support of the Commissionerate Police. Special Director General of Police, Law and Order, Arpit Shukla, said these operations were part of the state government’s intensified crackdown on narcotics networks, ensuring that criminals not only face arrest but also lose their unlawfully acquired assets. With the demolition of the two properties, as many as 126 properties, constructed by smugglers using ill-gotten money, have demolished since March 1 this year in the state. In the first operation, a bulldozer was used to raze the house of a notorious drug smuggler, identified as Gurpal, located at street 2 of Amarpura in Ludhiana. The operation was carried out under heavy police deployment, led by the CP Ludhiana, , Swapan Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Investigation, Harpal Singh, ADCP Zone-1 Sameer Verma and Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Zone-B Kuljeet Singh Mangat. CP Swapan Sharma said Gurpal, whose house was demolished, had a criminal background with as many as nine criminal cases under the NDPS Act had been regis- tered against him at police stations in the city. The suspect, who is notorious in the area for drug sale, had been involved in drug smuggling since 2014, he said, adding that the suspect had managed to flee to HP following the , drive against drugs waged by the Punjab Police. In the second operation, the house of a woman drug smuggler, Rajinder Kaur, alias Rozy, located at Hero Suman Nagar in Lohara village here, was demolished using a bulldozer. CP Swapan Sharma said Rajinder Kaur, who was shifted to the locality a few years ago and gradually constructed a house had been facing two drug cases. At present, the woman was lodged in a jail. Both operations were held smoothly with support from residents of both areas. Ludhiana, June 16 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal led an impressive roadshow, undeterred by rain, showcasing his unwavering commitment to the people. The event demonstrated his strong support base and determination to connect with voters despite unfavourable weather conditions. Senior party leaders Daljit Cheema, Sikandar Singh Maluka, Sharanjit Dhillon, Kamal Chatly, SAD candidate Parupkar Singh Ghuman, along with Sukhbir Badal, stood in an open jeep during the road show. Hundreds of party workers, including women and youths, took part in the road show. People also waved at Badal while standing on the rooftop of their houses and outside their shops. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, along with party candidate Parupkar Singh Ghuman and others, takes part in a road show in Ludhiana on Monday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN The rally started from Jawahar Nagar camp and after crossing the Bharat Nagar chowk, Fountain Chowk, Maharani Jhansi road and Ghumar Mandi it culminated at Aarti Chowk. Workers carrying flags of the party raised slogans, ‘Sukhbir teri soch te pehra dewange thok ke’, ‘Akali Dal di balle balle baki sarey thale thale’. Addressing the people, BJP making all-out efforts to establish its urban foothold in state Sukhmeet Bhasin Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 16 With only a few days to go for the crucial Ludhiana West Assembly byelection, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leaving no stone unturned High-profile leaders, development agenda define campaign push to establish its urban foothold in the state. The party has unleashed an aggressive and high-voltage campaign marked by the presence of toptier national leaders, sharp anti-incumbency messaging and a strategic pitch for “double-engine governance” — the Centre-state synergy, which the BJP claims is the key to rapid development. BJP leaders honour Haryana CM Nayab Saini in Ludhiana. FILE From Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to ministers and senior state BJP stalwarts, a parade of party leaders has visited Ludhiana West to rally support for BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta. Their mission is clear: make the bypoll not only a contest for a single seat but also a symbolic referendum on governance models — one led by Narendra Modi at the Centre and the other, AAP’s Kejriwal-led experiment in Delhi and Punjab. The BJP’s messaging hinges on a simple yet potent contrast. On the one hand, it is projecting the development dividends of a “doubleengine sarkar”, where both the Centre and the state work in tandem to deliver results. On the other, it paints the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) running a “Delhi-driven model” in Punjab — where real power lies not with the elected state leadership but with Delhi-based bosses. Senior BJP leader Tikshan Sud have accused AAP of importing its Delhi leadership, including tainted ministers, to Punjab. “Punjab has been handed over to outsiders who are here only to execute Kejriwal’s remote-controlled politics,” he alleged in his campaign speech. He said: “The BJP was setting the tone for the upcoming 2027 poll as we have delivered with our schemes in other BJP-ruled states. Hence, we want people should give us one chance in Punjab also.” On alliance with the SAD, Sud said it was yet in a premature stage with only workers at low- c m y b er level talking about the same. On Ludhiana West, he said a momentum had been built and the campaign was going well. Many leaders from across the state have joined the campaign leading to a boost to the cadre as a traditional old party worker has been given the ticket in the Assembly segment. “We are focusing on Central schemes and how a BJP-led state government could better deliver these benefits, if aligned with the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. “Wherever there is a double-engine governance — be it in Gujarat, UP or MP — people are seeing faster highways, better health systems and more jobs. Punjab can have that too,” Sud said. The Ludhiana West constituency, known for its industrial and business-centric voter base, is emerging as the test case for BJP’s broader strategy in the state — to gain ground in urban seats where traditional party loyalties are less rigid and performance politics can sway opinions. The Ludhiana West bypoll is more than just an electoral contest — it’s a political litmus test. If BJP’s strategy works, it could reshape the state’s urban political dynamics ahead of 2027. A win here would not only boost the morale of the state BJP cadre but also serve as a validation of the party’s “Modi and local” formula. As June 19 draws near, all eyes are on Ludhiana West. Will BJP’s campaign deliver the breakthrough it seeks or will state voters stick with the status quo? The outcome may well signal the opening moves of a political realignment in urban Punjab. the SAD chief said despite rain, a large number of people became part of the roadshow and this was a signal that the people want comeback of state’s only regional party, SAD in Punjab. The Aam Aadmi Party has done nothing in the past three-and-a-half years and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had been acting as a puppet in the hands of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal. Party workers while walking in the rain said: ‘Dekho Badal Saab de aan nal Badal (clouds) bhi aa gye, te lokan nu garmi to rahat mil gyi, ida hi Akali Dal di sarkar banegi 2027 ch, te loka nu rahat milegi (See with the arrival of Badal Saab, rain has also come and people got a respite from scorching heat, like the same way the Akali Dal will form the government in 2027 and people will get a relief). “The impressive road show has proved that people love the SAD and they want it to be in power again in the state in 2027,” a shopkeeper said while walking in the roadshow. Poll officer writes to CEO on Kejriwal‘s alleged threat Shivani Bhakoo Tribune new Service Ludhiana, June 16 The returning officer for the upcoming Ludhiana West bypoll, Rupinder Singh, in his reply to the Chief Election Officer (CEO) on the complaint made by an RTI activist here has submitted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has clarified its stand on the issue. The AAP representative has replied that the statement of Arvind Kejriwal made during canvassing has been wrongly portrayed to get political mileage. Nowhere in his statement, Kejriwal has threatened voters of the constituency. Following a notice issued by the CEO on the complaint filed by an RTI activist, Kimti Rawal, the returning Says AAP has replied that party supremo’s statement wrongly portrayed to get mileage officer has submitted a reply. In his complaint, the RTI activist had complained that during his address to the voters while campaigning for his candidate Sanjeev Arora , Kejriwal, the AAP supremo, had threatened that if the voters did not vote for Arora, the development works in the constituency would be halted. In his complaint to the CEO, Rawal had written that voting was the right of voters in democracy. And nobody could threat them like Arvind Kejriwal did. Legal action should be taken against those threatening the voters.