Surjit Singh

Tobacco products easily available near Golden Temple, 8 challaned

Even after strict instructions to the administration to impose a strict ban on sale of tobacco products inside the walled city which hosts many Sikh shrines including the Golden Temple to uphold its sanctity, the illicit practice continues smoothly a few yards away from the shrine.

No state reception for Harjit Sajjan in native Punjab as he lands at Amritsar airport

At the airport, only a deputy commissioner of police led the welcome party, while some radical Sikh organisation — standing in solidarity with Sajjan who has been dubbed a “Khalistani sympathiser” by Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh — also raised slogans upon his arrival. The radicals were not allowed to meet him, though.

Rs 44-crore ‘Saragarhi Sarai’ opens near Golden Temple

The much-awaited ‘Saragarhi Sarai’, a luxurious inn for pilgrims, was inaugurated along the Heritage Street near Golden Temple on Tuesday. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had laid the foundation stone of the Rs 44-crore project in December 2011 to provide better facilities to devotees.

Row over objectionable ad on LED screen near Golden Temple

Commercial advertisements on LED screens installed along the newly-constructed Heritage Street leading to the Golden Temple have not gone down well with the ‘sangat’.

Ghuggi, Bains absent, Khaira leads AAP volunteers’ meet in Amritsar

As state convener Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi and youth wing state convener Harjot Singh Bains remain absent, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief whip in assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira again took a tough stand against party’s Delhi leadership and held it responsible for party’s defeat in the assembly elections in zonal-level party volunteers’ meeting held here on Monday.

Jailed Pak sisters step closer to freedom as NGO pays Rs 4-lakh fine

A Batala-based non-government organisation, Sarbat Da Bhala Humanity Club, on Thursday paid ₹4 lakh against the fine imposed on two Pakistani sisters, who have completed their 10-year jail term at Amritsar jail in a drug case. This is a step closer to release of the sisters, Fatima Bibi and Mumtaj, who, besides the jail term, had been fined Rs 2 lakh each in 2006.

Pak sisters to return after 10yrs in Amritsar jail, NGO offers to pay Rs 4L fine

Two Pakistani sisters, who were lodged in the Amritsar jail even after completing 10-year imprisonment in a drug case, will be finally able to return home.

Worked hard to get red beacon, won’t remove it: Congress MLA Sukhpal Bhullar

Congress MLA says he along with other party legislators will meet CM Amarinder Singh, urge him to review the decision.

Amritsar: Way to Golden Temple all spruced up, but hassles for devotees aplenty

Even as the former Akali government spent Rs 160 crore on the ambitious heritage street leading to the Golden Temple, it failed to spare a single penny to construct public toilets on the way.

Youth, uncle beaten to death for ‘harassing’ girl at post-wedding bash

A man in his early twenties and his uncle were beaten to death over their alleged unsolicited physical advances to a girl at a post-marriage dance party at Bhuse village near Chabhal, 25 km from here, late Thursday evening.

Congress retains Amritsar LS seat as Modi makes no impact

The Modi wave, which swept Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, failed to touch Amritsar Lok Sabha bypolls where the Congress candidate defeated the BJP nominee by a margin of around 2 lakh votes.

Global warming: Winged guests’ number down at Harike Pattan this time

The famous bird sanctuary of Harike Pattan on the confluence of Sutlej and Beas rivers, has seen lesser winged visitors this year and the ones reached the wetland didn’t stay till the time they usually do due to comparatively above-normal temperature in February. 

Two multi-storey sarai, parking to come up near Golden Temple

Akali market to be replaced with the modern complex with multi-storey building for sarai, parking, market and residential flats. Second building proposed on Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib road.

Only beauty, no convenience: No loos on way to Golden Temple

The SAD-BJP government has spent crores of rupees to beautify the surrounding of the Golden Temple, especially by constructing the Heritage Street.

Finally, Tarn Taran admn officially opens up on drug trade in Punjab

‘Agg lagge Nashean de vapar nu, Jihne dob ditta Ankhi Punjab nu’ (May the drug trade burn in hell, as it has ruined self-respectful Punjab) was the slogan that appeared on the banners displayed at the district-level high profile drug awareness function organised by the district administration at Indoor Stadium here on Tuesday.

Sukhbir’s pet project, Harike’s much-touted amphibious bus replaced

Around 12 hours after another amphibious bus arrived at the Harike lake, the first one that was flagged off by Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was sent back to Goa, from where it was brought. 

2 months since its launch at Harike Pattan, amphibious bus remains a ‘priced possession’

Around two months have passed since deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal launched the amphibious bus project amid much fanfare.

Cops on toes after violence in Tarn Taran despite heavy security

The firing and violent incidents during the February 4 polls in the state are giving sleepless nights to the police as even after they claimed to have made unprecedented security arrangements to ensure peace in the sensitive border district during elections, it failed to prevent the three major violent incidents in Tarn Taran.

‘Hukamnama’ against Sirsa dera chief intact: Akal Takht jathedar

Giani Gurbachan Singh says he will seek a report from the SGPC on the Akali leaders who went to a Dera Sacha Sauda meeting; reiterates there is no chance of revival of dera satsangs in Punjab .

Ex-jathedar Vedanti upset over SAD-dera bond; Giani Gurbachan, SGPC chief mum

In Patti, Kairon faces tough challenge from Congress, AAP

Punjab food and civil supplies minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon, who holds the legacy of his grandfather former chief minister of united Punjab Partap Singh Kairon and is son-in-law of CM Parkash Singh Badal, just managed to win by 59 votes in the 2012 assembly polls from the Patti segment. With SAD-BJP facing anti-incumbency, Kairon faces bigger a challenge this time.

Don’t let your vote split, Kejriwal advises electors in Amritsar

Conscious of the repercussions of split voting, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday urged the voters to vote en bloc in his party’s favour.

Set back to SAD: Amritsar senior deputy mayor, Avtar Singh Truckanwala, joins Congress

In a setback to ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the city, senior deputy mayor and three-time councillor Avtar Singh Truckanwala on Thursday evening joined Congress along with few other local BJP leaders in the presence of party’s star campaigner Navjot Singh Sidhu.

UK NRIs arrive in Amritsar with ‘Flame of Hope’ to campaign for AAP

With a group of NRIs from Canada already campaigning for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the run-up to the Punjab assembly elections, another group of non-resident Indians from the United Kingdom arrived here amid fanfare on Tuesday morning with the ‘Flame of Hope’.

Baba Bakala seat: 3­ time MLA Chhajjalwaddi revolts against Congress candidate

In a major setback to the Congress party in Baba Bakala segment, three-time legislator and senior party leader Ranjit Singh Chajjalwaddi on Friday revolted against the party ticket to Santokh Singh Bhalaipur.

Parallel ‘jathedars’ reject Akal Takht’s action against Maluka

A day after the Akal Takht declared Akali minister Sikander Singh Maluka ‘tankhaya’ (guilty of religious misconduct), parallel ‘jathedars’ designated at radicals ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ rejected the decision on Monday and asked the minister to appear before them at Akal Takht on January 24.

Tarn Taran youth detained in double murder case dies in police custody, 3 cops suspended

Detained in connection with a case of double murder witnessed at Lalpura village, a 24-year-old youth died in Sadar police station here on Saturday in mysterious circumstances. His death triggered protest outside the police station.

Family feud: Khemkaran Congress candidate cancels road show

Congress’ Khemkaran nominee Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, son of former state minister Gurchet Singh Bhullar, has failed to formally launch his campaign even a week after the announcement of his candidature amid stiff opposition by his father and elder brother Anoop Singh, who were both contenders for the party ticket.

‘Turban-tossing’ at Congress meet in Kapurthala: Akal Takht marks probe to SGPC

The complaint of Kulwinder Singh Babbal whose turban was allegedly tossed and hair pulled during a scuffle among Congress workers during a meeting in Bholath recently reached the Akal Takht on Thursday. In his complaint, Babbal said on Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh’s directions, his aides manhandled him, tossed his turban and pulled his hair.  

Pre-poll rush: Badal’s daughter, Praneet Kaur Kairon, inaugurates unfinished bridge in Tarn Taran

Amid the possibility of announcement of assembly polls anytime now and election code of conduct coming into force in its wake, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal’s daughter Praneet Kaur Kairon, wife of cabinet minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, has inaugurated an incomplete bridge in the district.