24052024-ATR-01.qxd 24-05-2024 00:57 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY FLIP-FLOPS BY PARTY LEADERS MAKE LS POLLS INTERESTING SANDHU RELEASES MANIFESTO, PROMISES CITY’S DEVELOPMENT THIS COY GIRL FROM PUNJAB PROVES HER METTLE ON SCREEN Defections by second rung leaders of political parties have confused their supporters and voters. P2 BJP candidate Taranjit Singh Sandhu has claimed to present a complete model of development. P2 As for Laapataa Ladies, a theatrical film produced by Aamir Khan, Rachna loved playing mother to a six-year-old son.P4 » » » MAX 44°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 43°C | MIN 31°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.26 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.28 AM FRIDAY | 24 MAY 2024 | AMRITSAR SAD garnering good response from all sections, claims Majithia PwD appealed to use Saksham app for facilities Flays Chief Minister Mann for appeasing political bosses on D-day Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, May 23 Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia today claimed that the Shiromani Akali Dal was garnering huge response from all sections of society in the state. He was addressing a political conference at Sran Resorts, Kadd Gill, in Tarn Taran on Thursday. The conference was organised by Iqbal Singh Sandhu, state general secretary of the party, in support of Virsa Singh Valtoha, party candidate from Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency. In his address, Majithia condemned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and said that he was not committed to the interests of the state and only appeased his Delhi-based political bosses. He said that the state exchequer was being misused for political motives and as Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann was often out of the state because of which the law and order situation was Amritsar, May 23 District Election Officer Ghanshyam Thori has appealed to the disabled (Divyang) and physically handicapped to use ‘Saksham app’ during the Lok Sabha elections. He said that disabled voters can register themselves and avail facilities like wheelchair, transport and volunteers for their convenience on the day of polling. The app can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple Store. The District Election Officer said that according to the guidelines of the Election Commission of India, the district administration was making concerted efforts to ensure the maximum participation of disabled voters in the General Election. He instructed all Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) to provide maximum information about the continued on page 2 SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia addresses a public meeting in Tarn Taran on Thursday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI deteriorating and there had been an increase in incidents of drug smuggling, killing, looting and snatching. He said that issues being raised by SAD like the release of Sikh detainees were attracting the people of the state. Majithia appreciated the ‘ Panthic’ activities of party candidate Virsa Singh Valtoha and said that he was jailed for 10 years under the Nation- al Security Act (NSA) by the then Congress government and was also associated with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He appealed to the people to vote for Virsa Singh Valtoha, the SAD candidate from Khadoor Sahib. Valtoha said he would raise the issue pertaining to release of Sikh detainees and for the progress of state in Parliament after his victory in the LS poll. LS election: Independents throw their hat in the ring Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 23 While most of the 30 candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections from here are independents, a majority of them are unknown faces who do not have the resources and manpower to compete with the candidates of traditional political parties. Said Prithvi Pal, a retired Agriculture Sub-Inspector, who is among the 18 independent candidates, “I am trying my luck. You must have heard of Satpal Dang. He used to roam around on a bicycle but still became a minister. If he could become a minister, why not me.” What Prithvi Pal does not know is that Satpal Dang had a life-long commitment towards people and the communist ideology because of which he left Mumbai and came to Chheharta. Also back Independent candidate BK Sharma (right) during his door-todoor campaigning in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR then, money and muscle power were not the basic pre-requisites for winning an election. Prithvi Pal said, “Lottery tan kise di v lag sakdi e” (anyone can win a lottery). However, as he himself admitted, he had bought lottery tickets on many occasions but was never lucky enough to win. Harjinder Pal, a retired government teacher who is also contesting, said, “My major concern is that the government has started New Pension Scheme by stopping the Old Pension Scheme.” He said he is asking government employees to vote for him to let the government know how many of them want the Old Pension Scheme revived. Even though government teachers have powerful unions, Harjinder Pal was not very active in their activities while he was in government service. But somehow, he has decided to contest the elections. “I do not have the money as I cannot even spend Rs 2 lakh on campaigning.” Unlike Prithvi Pal, who is trying his luck, Harjinder Pal is merely trying to make a statement. With a large number of independents in the fray, making election preparations has become challenging. And with many of them being non-serious candidates who are not even trying to reach out to the voters, questions can be raised on the eligibility criteria. “It is a difficult question. If the criterion is tough, it would be against the democratic principles which allow everyone to contest. And if it is so simple, then there are chances that those who want to be in the limelight will always be ready to try their luck,” said a retired teacher of political science, Prempal Singh. SUV owner fined for using flipper on number plate Orders defied: DEO Vote for Khadoor Sahib CPI PM urged to resume noticeto5pvtschools candidate: Punjab Istri Sabha trade through Wagah PK Jaiswar Amritsar, May 23 The District Education Office has served notices to five private schools in the district for not complying with the government’s orders to close for summer vacation due to the intense heatwave. The five private schools were found to be conducting classes despite the state government’s order to shut schools in the state on from May 21 due to the searing heat. DEO (Secondary) Rajesh Sharma said notices were served on private schools to appear before the department for hearing on why they did not comply with the government orders. “We have issued show-cause notices to the principals of these schools, demanding immediate clarification and warning them of severe reper- Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 23 Ranjit Avenue police have challaned a Mahindra Thar owner for installing an automated flipper on the number plate in the vehicle which was a direct violation of Motor Vehicles Act, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (North) Varinder Singh Khosa here today. The owner, identified as Jaspal Singh, was imposed a fine of Rs 6,000 for the violation and would have to appear before the court prior to depositing the fine. ACP Khosa said recently a video went on viral on the social media in which the driver of a Thar with the registration number PB-02-EQ-1301 continued on page 2 cussions for violating the shutdown order. As per the guidelines, we had conducted a checking of the schools that were not complying with the order to immediately shut down from May 21 till June 30. Some schools were forced to shut immediately and others which continued with classes served notices,” he shared. The state government has ordered that all government, semi-government, private, aided, and unaided schools will remain closed from May 21 to June 30 due to extreme heatwave conditions. Sharma underscored the necessity of prioritizing children’s health amid escalating temperatures. He said a health advisory has already been issued and warned that strict action will be taken against the noncompliant schools following their explanations. Tribune News Service Rajinder Pal Kaur during canvassing for the Khadoor Sahib CPI candidate at Gandiwind village in Tarn Taran. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 23 Activists of the CPI led by Rajinder Pal Kaur, state general secretary, Punjab Istri Sabha, sought votes in the border village of Gandiwind Sran on Thursday. The canvassing was done door-todoor for CPI candidate Gurdial Singh who is contesting from the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency. Addressing street corner meetings in the village, Rajinder Pal Kaur said the CPI candidate must talk of social and economic equality in parliament after his victory. She said that Gurdial Singh must stress on issues like free education, employment and health facilities. Issues relating to women, demands of NRE- GA, ASHA and mid-day meal workers too must be addressed, she said. Rajinder Pal Kaur called upon people to vote for Gurdial Singh who is committed to the common cause. She said the micro-finance companies were exploiting the poor and there was need to raise voice against it which only a party like the CPI could do. Amritsar, May 23 Chairman of the World Sikh Chamber of Commerce, Rajinder Singh Marwaha, who is visiting Punjab, has demanded from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop discrimination against traders, industrialists and the people of Punjab and start trade with Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Middle-East countries though the Attari-Wagah border. He said that farmers from Punjab can benefit immensely if trade through Wagah is started. Marwaha said that the truckers are in despair due to the stopping of trade through the AttariWagah border for the last five years. He added that thousands of workers have also lost their livelihood. Marwaha claimed that over 500 truck operators were forced to sell their vehicles. He said that the condition has worsened to the extent that the traders who earlier used to do a business of Rs 100 crore annually are unable to pay their loan installments. “I am saying step-motherly treatment to Punjab because the trade with Pakistan and Afghanistan is continuously going on through Mumbai and Kandla port in Gujarat but has been stopped from Wagah border,” he said. Marwaha has also demanded from the Prime Minister, tax concessions for industries in the border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Pathankot on the lines of hill states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir. Perturbed over contaminated water supply, My journey across 14 countries has been Chheharta residents decide against voting a learning experience, says French cyclist Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 23 Life on the busy Chheharta Bazaar leading to historic Chheharta Sahib Gurdwara and Guru Ki Wadali village that boasts of its connection with the sixth Sikh Master Guru Hargobind goes on as per routine. Nevertheless as one turns to the lanes and bylanes from the bazaar, one can sense an uneasy quietness. On face of it, Kartar Nagar locality on the road looks like a posh area, but as you try to talk to the residents, their anguish against the political leaders, district and civic authorities, is writ large on their faces. The contaminated water supply in Chheharta area falling under Amritsar West assembly constituency has left its inhabitants dejected. For the past couple of years, they had been struggling to get the basic need of safe drinking water supply fulfilled. The residents had held a number of demonstrations Amritsar, May 23 François Hainaut, a 44-yearold French engineer, has been travelling across 14 countries for the last one year, riding a bicycle and arrived recently in Amritsar. Hainaut, who hails from Lyon, a town outside of Paris, works as an engineer with a Mumbai-based firm and came to India six years ago. “That’s when the desire to explore the country arose and I decided to do that once I had the opportunity,” he said. Hainaut reached India through Wagah after travelling through Central Asia, covering Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan and Pakistan. His passion to explore the culture in this part of the world, combined with his affinity for sports, resulted in his yearlong adventure. “I have lots of friends in Chennai and I visited Mumbai six years ago when I was in India. I feel people here are quite warm and unique in their approach towards many things,” he stat- Women show contaminated water; (right) sewer water stagnant on the road; and (inset) a woman who suffers from liver disease in Chheharta in Amritsar. against the district and civic authorities in this connection but their efforts failed to bear fruit. Disappointed over the false assurances by political leaders of different parties, they have decided not to cast their vote during the upcoming parliamentary polls. Ironically, the constituency had witnessed low voter turnout during previous Lok Sabha and assembly polls as compared to other assembly con- stituencies here. “The candidates of various political parties and their workers on the ground are giving a miss to our area as they are aware that we would question them about our problem. They know they would face public ire,” said Manpreet Kaur, a resident of Gali number 5 of Kartar Nagar area. Seeing the media, residents immediately gathered outside and raised their concerns. “Not only are we paying extra for procuring RO water coolers, but also paying to the doctors due to ailments arising from drinking contaminated water supply,” said Parminder Kaur, another resident. When water supply is restored daily in taps in the morning, it smells like sewage water, she added. “We cannot even use it for continued on page 2 c m y b SUNIL KUMAR Neha Saini Tribune News Service PHOTOS: SUNIL KUMAR PK Jaiswar Francois Hainaut (44), a French engineer, has been travelling across 14 countries for the past one year and recently he reached Amritsar. ed. He began his journey from East Europe, and later from Turkey towards Central Asia. While in Amritsar, he interacted with students at the School of French Language, that hosted him and asked to share his experience of travelling on a bicycle through Central Asia. “On an average, I cover 160 km every day throughout my journey to ensure I am able to meet my schedule.” A surprising part of his journey in India was when he he found Indian roads quite safe for bicycles, something most of us would not relate to. “That is because of the heavy traffic, the cars run slow, and the less space on road means a safe biking experience,” he explained. He will now undertake a bicycle journey across India, visiting Chandigarh next and hopefully ending his journey in Chennai. The most memorable part of his visit in Amritsar is, of course, visiting the Golden Temple. “I like visiting it at night as I like the way it is illuminated, it’s surreal,” he said. Add to that surreal experience eating the famous Daal Makhani of Amritsar and Hainaut’s experience might just be complete. However, he added, “One of the truly transformative experience for me during the journey was visiting Iran, a country which is otherwise perceived quiet differently in western world.” Calling Iran culturally rich and diverse in terms of landscape, Francois Hainaut shared how it’s quiet, similar to India. “They have a thriving and diverse community, pride for their culture, which I find in India also. I feel that my journey has been a learning experience,” he said.
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.
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The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).