17122024-ATR-01.qxd 12/16/2024 11:12 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST COLD WAVE ONE HELD WITH BANNED PLASTIC KITE FLYING THREAD THREE ARRESTED FOR SNATCHING, EXTORTION LEGENDARY TABLA PLAYER ZAKIR HUSSAIN HAS PASSED ON The police arrested one person from the Jahajgarj Pataka market area and seized 40 rolls of the banned thread from him.P2 The police arrested three youth on charges of snatching and extortion and recovered a snatched scooter from them.P2 Zakir Hussain, the tabla maestro, was initiated into music the moment he was brought home from the nursing. P4 » » » MAX 21°C | MIN 4°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 4°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.29 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:24 AM TUESDAY | 17 DECEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR City all set to witness three-cornered fight in municipal corporation elections (From left) BJP leader Shwait Malik and others release guarantee pamphlet; BJP candidate Meenakshi Bhagat (Centre) campaigns door-to-door; and SAD aspirant Kiran Verma (Centre) canvasses for votes in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR/SUNIL KUMAR Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 16 As the campaigning for the municipal corporation (MC) elections is on its peak, the city is all set to witness a three-corner fight. The BJP has strong cadre in urban constituencies, while the Congress has prominent faces and leaders and AAP’s government is in power in the state. Except Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), all major parties have their own strengths and claim that their candidates would win in the civic body polls. However, the SAD once had a stronghold in the South Assembly constituency in past, but due to ongoing political crisis the party’s vote share declined in the previous elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had secured top spot in Amritsar North, Central and East Assembly constituencies in the recent elections. The party stood second in the West consistency. BJP district president Harivnder Singh Sandhu claimed that his party had largest cadre in the city. “Activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are the backbone of the BJP and actively campaigning for the party,” he said. During past few years, the BJP tried to set aside its tag of trader’s party and extended its network among labour- ers and the working classes. The BJP adopted liberal policy while giving tickets to Sikh faces in the city. Meanwhile, the Congress has several prominent faces which include four time councillors, former MLAs, ministers, former mayors and deputy mayors. While allotting tickets, the senior party leadership tried to satisfy all leaders. A number of tickets were allotted to family members of senior Congress leaders. The party also had a strong cadre base in the city. In the previous General House of the MC, the Congress had 65 councillors out of 85. Although, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) failed to estab- lish its strong ground network even after gaining huge majority in the state Assembly elections, it would benefit as its government was in power in the state. A large section of voters cast vote in favour of those candidates, whose party has government in the state, so they can avail several benefits. Even the opponents of the AAP alleged that the party was using state machinery to win polls, but political experts claimed that it was trend that the party holding the state government’s reins always managed to win the MC elections. Meanwhile, all candidates contesting the polls have pasted their posters, banners c m y b and hoardings on electricity polls, trees and walls all over the holy city. Candidates from all parties and even Independents are leaving no stone unturned during campaigning to influence residents to vote in their favour while distributing and pasting their posters. This development is violation of the model code of conduct that came into force after declaration for the civic body elections. So far, the administration and advertisement wing of the MC have failed to take appropriate action against violators of the code. Residents are miffed over rampant defacement of public spaces in the holy city. Continued on page 2 Delhi-based PG owner summoned for probe intoseizureofdrug,arms PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 16 The seizure of contraband and weapons from a paying guest (PG) accommodation near Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has raised many eyebrows as cross-border smugglers have made it (PG room) a storage and further transportation point. With the arrest of eight persons, the Amritsar (Rural) police yesterday busted trans-border drug trafficking module and seized 4.5kg heroin, six sophisticated weapons and Rs 1.5 lakh drug money from their possession. Among those arrested included Jagroop Singh, aka Jupa, of Chananke village, Karandeep Singh of Jalal Usma village, Gursewak Singh, alias Sandhu Majhail, of Mehsampur Khurd village, Nishan Singh of Dhianpur, Baba Bakala, Varinder Singh of Wadala Khurd, Lovepreet Singh of Masid Wali Gali, Attari, Lovepreet Singh of Ram Bani Mandir Darzi Wali Gali, Attari, and Jugraj Singh of Mehsampurkhurd. Jagroop, Karandeep and Gursewak were arrested from the PG room located in the Kabir Park locality in front of the GNDU. Alarming revelations have come to light during the preliminary probe in the case. According to highly placed sources, the PG accommodation was meant for girls only. Out of four rooms in the PG, girls were staying in three rooms while one room was rented by the accused. “As per initial investigations, no verification was done while giving room on rent to the accused,” said police officials wishing not to be named. The PG was owned by Kulwant Singh, a resident of Delhi. The police have served a notice to him for joining investigations, but till now there has been no response from his side. If Kulwant failed to join investigations, he may also be nominated in the FIR as coaccused, sources said. All the eight accused were sent to four-day police remand by the local court for further interrogation. The police authorities said accused Gursewak Singh was wanted by the police in a firing incident in Mehta. Meanwhile, a day after the arrest of drug peddlers from the PG room, the city police issued orders under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) while asking owners of the PGs to get their Continued on page 2 No vote in civic body polls till parity in DA, pensioners tell govt Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 16 Ahead of the civic body polls, pensioners and senior citizens released the agenda for the municipal corporation (MC) elections, declaring “No vote for the ruling party candidates till no parity in DA”. Pensioners Madan Gopal and Madan Lal Manan, while expressing their resentment over non-fulfilment of their demands, recalled that Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema was following in the footprints of his predecessor which was the main reason for the fall of the previous Congress government. The Punjab State Pensioners and Senior Citizens Welfare Association was determined to implement the agenda of “No vote to the ruling party candidates till no parity in DA” during the MC polls, they said. The agenda was passed at the state-level convention held a few days back. Gursharanjit Singh, Satnam Singh Pakharpura, Kartar Singh and other leaders of the association said pensioners and employees of the Punjab Government were perturbed over the inequality as compared to their counterparts in the neighbouring states. Lakhbir Singh Dhot along Continued on page 2