10022025-ATR-01.qxd 2/9/2025 11:17 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY SEWER LEAK, DAMAGED ROAD CAUSE INCONVENIENCE CYCLE RALLY TO HONOUR SHAM SINGH ATTARIWALA TODAY JACQUELINE FERNANDEZ WALKS THE RAMP WITH ELAN Residents claim request to administration in this regard has fallen on deaf ears. P2 Bollywood actress Gul Panag is set to lead the cycle rally from India Gate to Attari. P2 It was an evening in Chandigarh where she got to showcase not only her style but also her evolution. P4 » » » MAX 24°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 9°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.12 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:15 AM MONDAY | 10 FEBRUARY 2025 | AMRITSAR Ensure MSP, promote agro-based industries, say farmers’ leaders Pressure on AAP to fulfil promises amid growing public discontent Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Farmers assemble to join the morcha at the Shambhu border in Amritsar on Sunday. Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 9 Kisan leaders have called on the government to address illegal immigration from Punjab by ensuring fair prices for crops, aiming to change the perception that agriculture is no longer a profitable career for youth. Sarwan Singh Pandher, the state leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Punjab and coordinator of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, stressed the importance of promoting agro-based industries, dairy, horticulture and other allied businesses as alternatives to illegal migration. Pandher and other Kisan leaders have urged the government to make agriculture a profitable venture by ensuring a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops. They also highlighted the need to support farmers and labourers through the promotion of various agrobased industries. Under the leadership of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), farmer union activists have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, demanding the implementation of MSP. Pandher noted the struggle for farmers’ and labourers’ rights would mark its one-year anniversary on February 13. He said to commemorate the occasion, representatives from farmer and labour organisations across the country would gather at the Shambhu Border for a meeting. Pandher also announced hundreds of farmers and labourers from Amritsar district would join the protest at Shambhu Border on Monday. He said their demands included a legal guarantee for MSP based on the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, 200 days of work per year under MGNREGA with a daily wage of Rs 700, debt relief for farmers and labourers and the restoration of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. Additionally, they are calling for the withdrawal of cases filed during the Delhi agitation, justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre, a comprehensive crop insurance scheme, pensions for farmers and labourers and the full implementation of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution to protect tribal rights. Pandher said the protest would continue until all their demands are met. Amritsar, February 9 The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) recent electoral defeat in Delhi has served as a wake-up call for its local leaders, including two Cabinet ministers, to step up their efforts in delivering good governance. The party is under pressure to maintain its popularity and avoid losing key positions. In the 2022 elections, AAP secured 9 out of the 11 assembly seats in Amritsar. Ahead of their resounding victory, the party made several promises to voters, pledging to bring about political change. One such promise was made by AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal during a visit to Amritsar on September 9, 2016. He vowed, if elected, the party would declare Amritsar and Anandpur Sahib as ‘holy cities’. However, three years into governance, there has been little progress, with the streets inside the walled city still suffering from sanitation problems. Similarly, during a roadshow in Amritsar on March 13, 2022, following AAP’s landslide victory in Punjab, then CM-designate Bhagwant Mann, accompanied by AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, promised government In the 2022 elections, AAP secured 9 out of 11 assembly seats in Amritsar A view of the garbage dump on Majitha Road in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR offices would display only pictures of legendary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh and Dr BR Ambedkar. Yet, across the city, the only image visible is that of Mann himself. Local resident Balbir Singh said while Mann’s image is omnipresent, he is rarely seen in person. Residents and tourists alike continue to face prob- lems, including poor waste management, encroachment, frequent mugging, limited job opportunities and drug addiction. The solid waste management company hired by the Municipal Corporation (MC) has also been criticised for its inefficiency. Despite repeated assurances, no significant improvements have been made in its operations. Jatinder Singh Moti Bhatia, the newly appointed Mayor of Amritsar, has instructed officials to provide him with details about the 25-year contract signed by the previous Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government with the waste management company. He plans to hold a meeting soon to review garbage collection and processing. With the AAP set to complete three years in power in the state in March, many of its key promises remain unfulfilled. Despite winning 92 out of 117 seats in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, the party now faces growing pressure to meet public expectations. MC cracks down on encroachments around Golden Temple BSF, ANTF arrest 3 with 1 kg heroin Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 9 In an effort to manage the weekend rush and maintain cleanliness, the Estate Wing of the Municipal Corporation (MC) launched a drive to remove illegal encroachments from Heritage Street and other roads surrounding the Golden Temple and busy markets. The operation was carried out under the guidance of Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia and MC Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh. Officials from the MC’s Estate and Health wings worked together to clear encroachments and ensure thorough cleaning of the area. Separate teams, led by MC Health Officer Dr Kiran Kumar, Chief Sanitary Inspector Vijay Gill and Estate Officer Dharminder The Estate Wing of the Municipal Corporation removes encroachments from Heritage Street and surrounding roads near the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday. Jeet Singh, focused on the city centre, where illegal encroachments were prevalent. The teams also conduct- ed garbage lifting operations to improve the sanitation condition. Dr Kiran Kumar urged hotel owners and shop- keepers to avoid dumping garbage on footpaths and roads, stressing the need for collective responsibility in maintaining the area’s hygiene. During the drive, the MC Estate Wing removed illegal possessions outside hotels and shops, confiscating goods that were obstructing public spaces. Shopkeepers were found storing large quantities of goods in sacks on pavements and roads, which were seized by the authorities. The operation extended to Heritage Street, where encroachments were dismantled and goods were confiscated to restore order. In a separate action, the team demolished illegal walls being constructed to occupy municipal land. Acting on the orders of Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh, the Estate Department demolished these unauthorised structures, reclaiming the land for public use. Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 9 In a coordinated operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Amritsar have successfully arrested three Indian nationals found in possession of suspected narcotics in the border area of Gurdaspur district. On February 7, acting on specific intelligence from ANTF Amritsar about the suspicious movement of two to three individuals, the information was shared and corroborated by the BSF intelligence wing. A joint operation was launched, resulting in the arrest of the three smugglers and the seizure of two packets (total gross weight: 1.069 kg) of suspected heroin. The drugs The seized heroin packets by the BSF and ANTF team. were found in an area near Barwan village in Gurdaspur. The narcotics were wrapped in yellow adhesive tape and are believed to have been dropped by a drone. A nylon string was attached to the packets. All three sus- pects are from the village of Purana Taragarh in Pathankot district. Officials said investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the narcotics and identify the intended recipients. Drug smuggling accused to Farmers struggle with seed, DAPfertiliser shortage be presented in court today Gurbaxpuri Military intelligence interrogates 2 jawans held by rural police Amritsar, February 9 Military intelligence and other agencies interrogated two army jawaans, who were apprehended by the Punjab Police on charges of espionage and cross-border drug smuggling. Amritpal Singh, a resident of Chamba Kalan village in Chohla Sahib, Tarn Taran, along with two drug peddlers, Mandeep Singh alias Maddy and Madhav Sharma from Rajasthan, were arrested on Thursday. Sandeep Singh, a resident of Sardool- garh, was arrested in Patiala on Saturday. However, their accomplice Rajbir Singh, posted at the Nasik camp, managed to evade. A senior police official involved in the investigation said Rajbir had links with Pakistan-based smugglers and ISI agents and was responsible for introducing Amritpal and Sandeep to them. The officer said both were involved in cross-border smuggling and further investigation uncovered they had also passed on sensitive military information, including unit locations, armoury details and personnel postings. Amritpal was recruited at Khasa, while Sandeep joined through Sangrur. The police are also investigating their connections with drug traffickers along the border area. Currently in police remand, the two suspects are set to be presented in court on Monday. Authorities have seized 500 gm of heroin, Rs 10 lakh in drug money, a cash counting machine and a .30 bore pistol from their possession. — TNS Tarn Taran, February 9 Farmers in the district are facing difficulties due to a shortage of maize seeds and DAP fertiliser, essential for sowing the maize crop. The current period is optimal for planting; however, the farmers are struggling to prepare their fields due to these shortages. Kulbir Singh, a farmer from Kasel village, said while the conditions are ideal for sowing, there is a lack of necessary resources. The Kisan Kirti Union district president, Nachhatar Singh Pannu and the general secretary, Satpal Singh Nathoke, said approximately 2,500 farmers in the district cultivate maize across c m y b Satpal Singh, Nathoke village farmer, waits for maize seeds as his field is ready for sowing. GURBAXPURI 4,000 acres of land. They noted maize is vital not only as a food crop but also as an important source of fodder for livestock. The farmers are particularly concerned about the escalating cost of maize seeds. The price of a four-kilogram packet, which was once available for Rs 2,000, is now being sold for Rs 3,000. This increase has added an addi- tional Rs 2,000 burden per acre, as two packets are required to plant one acre of maize. Agriculture Development Officer Malkiat Singh acknowledged the shortage of maize seed and DAP fertiliser, stating he was raising the problem with the relevant authorities. Farmer leaders Pannu and Nathoke said Pioneer-1899, a variety of maize known for its high yield, is the preferred choice of local farmers. However, the seed is produced by a private company that has deliberately created a shortage, leaving farmers in a tough spot. Despite the ongoing crisis, they believe the state government is reluctant to take action against the company responsible for the shortage. The leaders called for an immediate resolution to the seed shortage, stressing many farmers are already dealing with financial difficulties.