18122024-JTR-01.qxd 12/17/2024 10:34 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune CITY FAMILY SEEKS CLARITY AFTER DAUGHTER’S DEATH AKSHAY KUMAR PITCHES IN FOR THE SIMIAN FRIENDS! JONITA MAKING WAVES WITH HER REMIX SONG NOORIE On December 7, Ritika Rajput tragically died when a tree fell on her during a bonfire near James Lake. P2 Under Akshay Kumar-funded initiative, over 1,250 monkeys fed in Ayodhya. P4 Says crooning the number in three different languages was a challenge she relished. P4 » » FORECAST CLEAR MAX 21°C | MIN 4°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 4°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.27 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 7:21 AM » WEDNESDAY | 18 DECEMBER 2024 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF Will AAP claim MC crown or Cong stage a comeback? Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service BHAGAT SINGH'S NIECE DIES Hoshiarpur: Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh's niece and younger brother Rajinder Singh's daughter Bhupinder Kaur Sangha passed away. She lived with her family in Hoshiarpur's Civil Lines area. Her last rites were performed with full honours today at Shivpuri in Choa Paar. People from political, social and religious organisations of the city as well as the lawyer fraternity, who had come in large numbers, shared their grief with the Sangha family. OC WOMAN HELD WITH HOOCH Phagwara: The police have arrested a woman on the charge of selling illicit countrymade liquor. The accused has been identified as Sarabjit Kaur, resident of Burj Hassan. Nine bottles of hooch and Rs 785 drug money were recovered from her possession. A case under Sections 61/1/14 of the Punjab Excise Act has been registered against her. OC WRONG MEDICINE KILLS MIGRANT Phagwara: A Bihar native living at Nihaluwal village died after consuming the wrong medicine. The deceased has been identified as Rajesh Kumar, who was working as a labourer with Bhajan Singh. Akhlesh Sadar, a native of Bihar and working with Bhajan Singh, told the police that the deceased consumed the wrong medicine by mistake and died. OC NURMAHAL GIRL WINS GOLD Phagwara: A Nurmahal girl Armaan Setia and Class X student of Cambridge Innovative School, Jalandhar, who represented the state in the 62nd National RollerSkating Championship, has won a gold medal, a silver medal and a bronze medal in an event and secured a position in trials to represent India in the World Staking Championship. The National Roller-Skating Championship took place on December December 5 in Mysore, Bangalore and Coimbatore. OC BJP expels nine leaders Phagwara, December 17 The BJP has expelled nine leaders from its Kapurthala district unit, citing anti-party activities. In a press statement issued today, Khojewal confirmed that senior BJP leaders Amreek Singh Tibbi and Ram Chander Singh from Ward 35 in Phagwara are among those expelled. Others sacked include Ramanjeet Saini, Goldy Pahwa, Satinder Rai (Ward 31), Anita (wife of Jatinder Kumar), Varinder Bahri, and Sunita Rani. Additionally, youth leader Mitul Sudhir from Ward 3 has been expelled for six years for antiparty activities. Tibbi and Ram Chander were veteran leaders in Phagwara. — OC Jalandhar, December 17 The stage is set for a highstake showdown as the elections to the Municipal Corporation (MC), Jalandhar, along with three municipal councils and three nagar panchayats in the district, will be held on December 21. With voter sentiment shifting and civic issues dominating the narrative, the upcoming polls are a litmus test for all political players, particularly AAP and the Congress. After its lackluster performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections — where it managed to win just three of Punjab’s 13 seats — the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is under pressure to prove its mettle. Despite its historic Assembly elections triumph in 2022, when it clinched 92 out of 117 seats, AAP now faces the challenge of delivering on promises made about civic reforms, waste management and infrastructure upgrades. Its performance in the MC elections will signal whether its popularity remains intact or has waned over time. The Congress, on the other hand, which faced a humiliating defeat in the 2022 Assembly elections with just 18 seats, staged a partial comeback during the parliamentary polls by securing seven out of the 13 seats. A look back at the 2018 MC elections paints a very different picture — the Congress swept the House, securing 65 out of 80 Poll fever grips city streets as flags and banners dot every corner in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH seats, while the SAD-BJP alliance was reduced to 13 after ruling for 10 years. AAP , meanwhile, failed to win even a single seat, its candidates lagging far behind. Six and a half years later (with MC polls delayed for about one and a half year), the city faces widespread civic neglect and voter frustration is palpable. “Our roads are crumbling, garbage disposal is inefficient and sewers are either clogged or bursting. We trusted AAP for change, but nothing has improved,” said Jaswant Kaur, a retired schoolteacher. “The Congress failed us for years too. Whoev- er wins must focus on ground realities this time”, she said. Shopkeeper Deepak Mehta echoed similar sentiments, lamenting the deteriorating state of infrastructure. “All parties are promising solutions now, but where were they for the last six years? The situation in the city hasn’t changed.” While political experts believe the fight is primarily between AAP and the Congress, the BJP continues to steadily improve its vote share in Punjab. Emerging as a credible third alternative, the BJP’s strategy may further disrupt the dynamics of the contest. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal, still reeling from its dismal performances in the 2018 MC elections and subsequent Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, faces an uphill battle. Traditionally, the MC elections have aligned with the ruling party in the state, but this time, the unpredictable voter sentiment, compounded by growing public anger over unresolved civic issues, makes the contest wide open. The party that sweeps the elections will not only gain control of the civic body, but will also set the tone for the 2027 Assembly elections — making this poll equally crucial for all stakeholders. CM Mann to hold roadshow in city today Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 17 The ruling Aam Aadmi Party is set to step up its campaign for the December 21 Municipal Corporation election as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP chief Aman Arora and working president Amansher S Sharry Kalsi are set to hold a roadshow tomorrow. The venue for the roadshow is the trijunction outside Company Bagh, which is the heart of the city and falls right outside the Municipal Corporation office. It was at Company Bagh that former BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia too had held his press conference today. The AAP leaders will call in all its councillors to the venue and hold a combined show tomorrow afternoon. Jalandhar will be the second stopover for the leaders after Amritsar. Their third venue tomorrow will be Hargobind Nagar at Phagwara. Today, Local Bodies Minister Dr Ravjot Singh also attended nukkad meetings with candidates and appealed to voters in the bazaars of the town. He visited the wards of Jalandhar North and Jalandhar Central Assembly segments. In Ward no. 71, he toured along with halqa in-charge Dinesh Dhall and candidate Palak Walia. In Ward no. 72, he canvassed for Hitesh Grewal, son of AAP leader and chairperson of Punjab Safai Commission Chandan Grewal. He also went to Ward nos. 12, 20 and 22 to boost the campaign of Balbir Tut, Manmohan Raju and Love Robin. BJP’s Manoranjan Kalia holds a press conference in Jalandhar. All development took place in BJP tenure, says Kalia Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 17 Terming the 10-year period of the Municipal Corporation from 2008-2018 led by the BJP as the golden era of development, former Local Bodies Minister and BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia urged the voters of Jalandhar to again bring in the saffron party to power. Kalia chose to hold the presser at Company Bagh which was re-developed by the BJP during the same tenure. Flanked by then BJP Mayor Rakesh Rathour, “It was during my tenure as the minister and Rathour’s tenure as Mayor that all beautiful plantation and landscaping that you see around was done. I can proudly say that we undertook so many development works around that time, including the construction of the Lyallpur Khalsa College flyover and BMC Chowk flyover. We also completed the pending Domoria underbridge work that we had started in 1997.” Kalia also reminded everyone of the works undertaken during the tenure of next BJP Mayor Sunil Jyoti (now no more) and said, “That 10-year period was the golden era of Jalandhar and never after that so much development took place in the city. I challenge the successive Congress leaders to list out the works they did from 2018-23. They too can come out at the same venue tomorrow and list out works they undertook. People can then weigh both and vote accordingly.” Coming along with party candidates, Kalia also challenged AAP “They too can , tell what good they have done to Jalandhar in their nearly three-year tenure. They are giving new five guarantees to the people here. Before that, they need to tell people about the status of the guarantees that they had announced before coming to power in 2022.” Parties making tall Final-year law student Palak goes door-to-door for votes promises, ground Youngest in fray for MC elections realities different Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 17 The MC elections are here and so are the promises! Recently, AAP released its manifesto for the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation in which the party talked about reforming and restoring the sports infrastructure of the city, besides various other promises. This brings the attention towards the sports hub project under the Smart City programme. Ironically, the project worth Rs 77.70 crore that was announced five years ago has not even started. Under the project, the Burlton Park was supposed to be converted into a huge sports hub. Recently, DC Himanshu Aggarwal had directed the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation, PWD and Horticulture Department to complete the construction of pavilion, locker rooms, changing rooms and washrooms at cricket stadium by January 2025. During a site visit a month ago, accompanied by Municipal Commissioner Gautam Jain, Dr Aggarwal had instructed the contractor to meet the deadline, stressing that any delay would be unacceptable. He said he would closely monitor the project’s progress on a daily basis. He underscored the need for giving this biggest sports complex feel and vibe of being a sports hub of the city. Despite all this, no headway has been made in the project. Apart from this, the supply SPORTS HUB PROJECT A NON-STARTER The sports hub project worth ~77.70 crore that was announced five years ago under the Smart City programme has not even started. of clean drinking water 24X7 for all residents is also the key promises made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the manifesto. One of the major projects under the Smart City is surface water project which is worth Rs 400 crore. Commenced in 2020, the project is still far away from completion, though the deadline is March 2025. The project aims to change the drinking water supply source from groundwater to surface water so as to conserve groundwater resources as much as possible and provide 24×7 canal-based clean and treated water supply. As per information, until now, Rs 300 crore has been utilised. A water treatment plant with the 275 MLD capacity is being set up at Jaganpur village in Adampur. Five water reservoirs will be set up in Surya Enclave, Dhilwa, Model Town, Burlton Park and Focal Point. Mild steel underground pipes are also being laid. In the city, 97 km of pipes have to be laid, of which 49 km has been covered and the pipeline has been laid from Adampur village to Dhogri road. According to officials, if may take another year for the project to get completed. Jalandhar, December 17 A black velvet suit, a matching designer Punjabi jutti and a scarf of Aam Aadmi Party around her neck. That’s how we catch up with Jalandhar’s youngest candidate in the fray for the Municipal Corporation elections Palak Walia from Ward no 71. The 28-year-old is BBA from Apeejay College of Fine Arts. She passed her MBA from Apeejay Institute of Management. She is still a final-year student of the LLB from Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus at Ladhewali. Before starting off with a career in management or law, the two professional courses she has pursued, she has chosen politics as the first step. She narrates how it happened, “I was not politically aligned anywhere. I had not planned a AAP candidate Palak Walia holds a door-to-door campaign in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH career in politics. It just came to me straightaway. I always aspired to bring in a change. A few days back, my dad asked me if I wanted to try for councillor elections. My answer was yes and it just started like that.” Palak’s father Surjeet Rai Bitta is the general secretary of the Punjab Cricket Association. He has been closely asso- ciated with cricketer and AAP MP Harbhajan Singh. It is learnt that Bhajji helped Palak secure the ticket for he has now also released a video in her support. Bhajji’s picture is boldly displayed in all hoardings and posters of Palak. Palak says that it was so sudden that she hardly had any time to rethink, “In the evening when my name appeared in the AAP list, I had my last examination of fifth semester the next day. There were people coming to congratulate me when I was still rushing through my notes. The next day was the day for filing nominations and I had my examination from 1 pm to 4 pm. I told my dad that I have to finish up everything before this time so that I am able to reach my college in time. He managed everything for me and was up for exam right time. All my revision was done while I was on the move - from home to the office of Returning Officer and from there to the college”. Asked how she would manage her final semester in college and politics, she replied, “I think it should not be a problem. I can handle both. In fact, I have on my plan to appear for PCS judicial examination also next year. So, everything will go together. There should not be an issue at all.” On her agenda for Qila Mohalla, Chandan Nahar and other localities falling in her area are the same issues, “Garbage lifting, dog menace, sewage overflow, streetlights and similar issues are being flagged by the residents wherever I am going for canvassing. I promise to them that I will make their lives better by resolving all these issues”. DGP holds meeting AAP worker shot at in his house with police officers Jalandhar, December 17 DGP Gaurav Yadav visited Jalandhar on Tuesday to hold a high-level meeting with senior officers and review the law and order situation in the region. During the meeting, the DGP interacted with key officials, including Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, Swapan Sharma, DIG Naveen Singla, SSP Harkamal Preet c m y b Singh Khakh, SSP , Hoshiarpur, Surendra Lamba, SSP Kapurthala, Gaurav , Toora and other gazetted officers and SHOs. He also participated in a brainstorming session with officers at the cutting-edge level, where various crimesolving techniques and experiences from different police stations were shared. — TNS Jalandhar, December 17 An AAP worker being shot inside his house has come to light from the city’s Sadar area. The victim, identified as 32-year-old Vivek Mattoo, a resident of Patti Sahan village, sustained a bullet injury in his leg. The attack occurred on Monday evening. According to information, assailants barged into Mattoo’s house and fired two shots, one of which struck him in the leg. His family rushed him to the Civil Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment and is reported to be out of danger. The SHO of Sadar police station and Jandiala Chowki in-charge are leading the investigation. The preliminary investigation suggests the attack stemmed from a rivalry involving two local youths, identified as Mani Bawa and Billa. The trio had reportedly been involved in a recent altercation, which escalated into yesterday’s violent attack. SHO Sadar Suresh Kumar said police teams have recovered bullet shells from the scene and have booked Sukhjeevan Singh and an accomplice. “The teams have been conducting raids to apprehend the accused while further investigation is underway”, he said, adding that both accused and victim chequered past. — TNS