10062025-LT-01.qxd 6/10/2025 12:42 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune EIGHT ARRESTED WITH ILLICIT LIQUOR, HEROIN The police have arrested eight persons for allegedly smuggling drugs and narcotics. P2 » ‘WINGS OF CARE’ LAUNCHED TO QUENCH THIRST OF BIRDS THOKO TAALI IS BACK AND SO IS NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU! NSS volunteers has launched a compassionate campaign— ‘Wings of Care: Birds Hydration Initiative’. P3 The original laughter king returns to his rightful place — on the throne, right next to laughter queen Archana. P4 » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 44°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 43°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.24 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:21 AM » TUESDAY | 10 JUNE 2025 | LUDHIANA Farmers visit rly station to woo workers as paddy sowing begins Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 9 Paddy sowing period begins in Ludhiana from Monday onwards as per the zone-wise schedule of the state government. For optimising groundwater usage and supporting sustainable farming, the state was divided into three zones for specific sowing dates. Today was the first day and the sowing is expected to pick up pace in coming days and farmers from nearby villages have started visiting the city railway station to woo workers for paddy sowing. With children of farmers opting for careers outside agriculture and local labourers not interested in doing farm work, farmers have to largely depend upon migrant workers. A large number of migrant workers left the state during the recent Operation Sindoor, which has led to a shortage of agricultural labour and it, in turn, can impact the paddy sowing. When the workers return home, they generally come back after spending 1-1.5 months with their family. They are now returning slowly. According to farmers, arriving late is also one of the tactics adopted by the labourers to increase the price of their labour. Farmers are in a hurry to sow the crop and are ready to give any price. Paramjeet Singh from a village near Samrala said last year A farmer talks to labourers at the railway station in Ludhiana on Monday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN MIGRANTS LEFT STATE DURING OP SINDOOR A large number of migrant workers left the state during the recent Operation Sindoor, which has led to a shortage of agricultural labour and it, in turn, can impact the paddy sowing. the labour charge was between Rs 3,200-Rs 3,500 per acre but this time, the workers were asking for Rs 4,000-Rs 4,200 per acre. Most of the workers have returned home after Pahalgham attack and were now making way back slowly, he said. Davinder Singh from Sanhewal reached the railway station early morning and managed to struck a deal of Rs 4,000 per acre, food and place to stay with labourers. “I have a fixed group of workers every year, who call me before coming but this year they are not coming due to some reason. I thought the best option to hire some labourers is from the railway station itself and I was lucky enough to meet a group of them. As the days will pass, wages will increase,” he said. Gurbir Singh, a farmer from Lalton Khurd village, said earlier the entire family used to work together in the sowing process but the decline in the joint family system had impacted the farming community, leading to greater reliance on hired labour. “Children are adopting career other than agriculture and in case a family decides to sow the paddy by themselves, it will take them a month to do so. As a result, the dependence on hired labour is increasing,” he said. But, why local/village workers are also drifting away from doing agriculture jobs is another story. “Village people have minimum needs, workers in villages are getting free flour, dal under the scheme and now electricity is also free. They do not feel the need to do strenuous work such as sowing in extreme heat conditions and instead do meagre jobs to make their living. In traditional farming communities, farmers used to provide a small share of their produce to workers as a compensation of their services, which ensured food security for workers’ families and also fostered a sense of support and trust between them. Now, the farmers are entirely dependent upon the migrant workers for their agricultural work, from sowing to harvesting. Shot in the arm for AAP as several join party Ludhiana, June 9 On Monday, several individuals joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during a press conference held by Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and AAP Punjab working president Amansher Singh Shery Kalsi. Those who have joined include members of Cong, BJP, NSUI PO facing 5 cases nabbed in Jalandhar Ludhiana, June 9 The PO staff of the Ludhiana police nabbed a proclaimed offender (PO) who has been facing five criminal cases and absconding for the past few years. In charge, PO staff, ASI Ajay Kumar, in a statement issued stated that acting on a tip-off, he, along with a police team, on Monday arrested a fugitive, who was declared a PO in five cases of theft and snatching. The suspect had shifted to Jalandhar to evade police arrest where he was driving an e-rickshaw in the Jalandhar rural area. He was identified as Prince Sahni, a resident of Chandar Nagar, Haibowal. The ASI said in 2019, the suspect was arrested by the Police Division 2 in a snatching case and in November 2022, he was declared a PO by the court. Besides, four other cases of theft against Prince are registered in different police stations under the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate and he was also declared a PO in the cases. The first theft case was registered against the suspect in 2018 and in 2024, he was declared a PO. Another theft case was registered against him in July 2020 at the Salem Tabri police station. In January 2024, he was declared a PO by court. Even in 2022, he was booked by the Kotwali police station in a theft case and he was declared a PO in 2023. Another theft case was registered against him in 2021, in which also he was declared a PO in 2024. — TNS Sukhmeet Bhasin Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 9 Former Gujarat Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Rupani was in Ludhiana West for the past three days to campaign for the party candidate ahead of the crucial bypoll. Addressing a series of meetings and interactions with local residents, traders and BJP workers, Rupani made a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing it of ‘failing Punjab miserably’ in terms of governance, law and order and urban development. Speaking at a public meeting in Haibowal, he said: “Punjab is suffering due to political experiments. The AAP government has only delivered publicity, not progress. People are frustrated with corruption, drugs, and mismanagement. The BJP will bring stability and development, just like in Gujarat under Narendra Modi’s model.” Rupani drew comparison between Gujarat’s industrial growth and Punjab’s declining investment climate. “Ludhiana was once the Manchester of India, where is the support for the industry now? The BJP can revive business and restore law and order,” he said, appealing to voters to give the BJP a chance to represent Ludhiana West. He was accompanied by Draws comparison between Gujarat’s industrial growth, Punjab’s declining investment climate BJP leader Vijay Rupani addresses a public meeting in Ludhiana. senior state BJP leaders, including Avinash Rai Khanna, Manoranjan Kalia, Tikshan Sood and Ashwani Sharma, who are already spearheading the party’s door-to-door and ward-level campaign in the constituency. The BJP is positioning itself as a strong alternative to both AAP and the Congress, banking on urban dissatisfaction, economic concerns and Central Government schemes. Rupani also held a closeddoor meeting with the Vyapar Mandal and industrialists, promising redressal of GST-related grievances and better coordination with Central ministries if the BJP wins the seat. With the election date draw- Ludhiana, June 9 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government for selling government bonds to finance the needless acquisition of 24,000 acres of fertile farm land adjoining the city to fill its own coffers. Terming the entire move as a multi-hundred crore scam, the SAD president while talking to the media here said: “While the tax payer will pay the price for the Rs 1,000 crore being borrowed by the goverb- ment to fund the land acquisition, AAP will use the acquisition process to make money. It is promising change of land use in back dates to property dealers and land sharks in exchange for bribes.” Asserting that it was the reason why the Chief Minister had turned a blind eye to the plight of thousands of farmers whose fertile lands would be snatched, Sukhbir said: “The SAD is committed to saving this farm land. That is why we have announced that we will not let even one inch of the land to be acquired. received a shot in the arm with former cabinet minister Anil Joshi making a comeback into the party as well as joining the SAD’s election campaign in the Ludhiana West byelection. Welcoming Joshi back into the party, the SAD president said the senior leader was like his younger brother. “We have a bond spanning two decades. It gives me immense happiness that Joshi has decided to rejoin the SAD in the interest of Punjab and Punjabiyat. We all feel there is a need to bring back the era of peace and communal harmony and will strive for These new members having left traditional parties pledged their support to AAP in the Ludhiana West byelection. This development marks a significant boost for AAP strengthen, ing its position for a decisive victory in the byelection. Notably, prominent Congress leader Jagmohan Kang’s nephew Jaideep Singh Mander, along with Daljit Singh Basant, have joined AAP Several mem. bers of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), including Rajat Chauhan, Monu Rana, Shamsher Jet India, Aman, Ravi Arora, Rohit Pohl, Arun, Jaspreet Singh, Anmol, Two women test +ve for Covid SAD fights for survival as Sukhbir camps in city to lure voters Tribune News Service Nikhil Bhardwaj Sunny, Ravdeep Saran, Mani, Sandy Gujjar, and Ajay Malhotra, have also pledged their support to AAP . Other prominent members of the BJP in Ludhiana, including District IT cell coordinator Harkirat Singh Arora, executive member Mandeep Kumar, IT cell mandal incharge Akhilesh Kumar, Shakti Kendra in-charge Ranjit Singh, IT cell executive member Rohit Kumar Mishra, Shakti Kendra incharge Neha Rani and Sajan Sandhu have officially left the BJP to join AAP — TNS . Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 9 Two more persons have tested positive for Covid, which include one 44-year old woman and a 50-yearold woman. The first patient belongs to an urban area and the other to a rural area. Now, the total positive cases from Ludhiana district have reached 23. At present, there are 12 active cases and two deaths have been reported from the district so far. Civil Surgeon Ramandeep Kaur have advised the people in the city to use masks in crowded places and get themselves tested if they observe any flu-like symptoms. Ludhiana, June 9 The bypoll in the Ludhiana West constituency will test the strength of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which struggles to survive and reclaim its lost significance in the state politics. Senior Akali leaders acknowledge that the SAD faces a crucial moment. A victory or big number of votes in its kitty in the bypoll would serve as a stepping stone for the party and indicate its prospects in the upcoming election. The party has faced rebellion, besides religious punishment served on its top leaders in the past one year. Since the SAD announced advocate Parupkar Singh Sukhbir Singh Badal meets industrialist Onkar Singh Pahwa during campaigning in Ludhiana on Monday. Ghuman as its candidate for the bypoll, party president Sukhbir Singh Badal has been camping in the city. He has been holding extensive indoor meetings, directly engaging with grassroots workers and party cadre to mobilise support. The party also aims to consolidate Sikh votes in its favour. The SAD chief is meeting c m y b ing closer, Rupani’s visit marks BJP’s push to energise its urban base and present a national vision rooted in ‘double engine sarkar’ – the party at both Centre and in constituencies such as Ludhiana West. The BJP leader targeteted AAP’S ‘hollow governance’ and calls the bypoll a ‘vote for change’ and part of the party’s wider strategy to conolisdate urban gains in Punjab post-Lok Sabha elections. This coordinated effort is being seen as BJP’s “Mission Urban Punjab”- with Ludhiana West as the pilot project. If successful, the BJP hopes to use this victory as a a launch pad for expanding its urban footprint across the state in coming months. SAD chief flays AAP govt for selling govt bonds to finance land acquisition Tribune News Service New members being inducted into the party fold by AAP leaders in Ludhiana on Monday. Rupani lambasts AAP, accuses it of ‘failing Punjab miserably’ industry representatives and other influential organisations to garner support. On Monday, prominent industrialist Onkar Singh Pahwa met him. Anil Joshi rejoins SAD The SAD on Monday The SAD never contested alone in the West constituency before 2022, when it severed ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Previously, it secured victory in alliance with the BJP in 1997 and 2007. After 2012, Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu won the seat twice. In 2022, after breaking ties with the BJP , the Akali Dal fielded Maheshinder Grewal but he finished fourth and even lost his security deposit. Party insiders revealed that round-the-clock booth-level meetings were underway, with leaders from other constituencies assisting in the Ludhiana West campaign. SAD leaders were rigorously conducting door-to-door canvassing while Ghuman was personally engaging with voters through separate outreach efforts. A senior SAD leader believes Sukhbir’s consistent presence in the constituency has boosted the morale of party workers, giving SAD an edge in the bypoll. Sukhbir personally oversees the campaign and guides the workers at every step. Meanwhile, candidates from the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress have plastered the constituency with political hoardings, featuring catchy slogans to attract voters. In contrast, the SAD has taken a subtler approach, opting for direct one-on-one interactions with the electorate under the leadership of Sukhbir. the same,” he said. Speaking on the occasion, Joshi said: “It is the need of the hour to strengthen the regional party which alone understands and makes its programmes and policies as per aspirations of Punjabis.” He said the SAD had always safeguarded the interests of Punjabis and he was confident that it would continue to reflect the aspirations of each and every segment of society. Later, Badal also inducted former jathedar Harbhajan Singh Dang’s brother Gurdeep Singh Rana Dang into the party. Rana Dang had contested the last municipal elections as an Independent. Man ends life, names two in suicide note Ludhiana, June 9 A man committed suicide by hanging himself in his house here on Monday. A suicide note was recovered from his pocket, which led to his identification as 50-year-old Rajinder Singh. The incident occurred in Sherpur Kalan village. Rajinder was staying alone in his house. His wife and son are staying abroad. The police sent the body to a government hospital for autopsy. His brother-inlaw, Baljinder Singh, said Rajinder had messaged him before taking the extreme step. The names of two persons were written in the suicide note. The family refused to perform the last rites till a case was registered and the suspect was arrested. — TNS