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Gas agency office gutted
Two foreign tourists targeted in snatching incidents
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Why is the holy city tourist unfriendly?
Tarksheel Society holds workshop
speakinG
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Gas agency office gutted
Amritsar, August 22 The entire office of Manjot Gas Agency was gutted. Three computer systems and two air-conditioners were completely damaged in the fire. The incident came to light when agency Manager Alok Sharma reached the office and opened the shutter around 8.50 am. He saw smoke billowing out of it. He said he immediately opened the glass cabin door and rushed to save the computer, which had the office record, but he noticed sparking in the system. He said soon after the computer blew up and he rushed out of the office to save himself. The manager said he immediately informed the fire brigade and officials of the Indian Oil Company about the incident. The first fire tender reached the spot within seven to eight minutes followed by three other fire tenders and they controlled the fire within 20 to 25
minutes.
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Two foreign tourists targeted in snatching incidents
Amritsar, August 22 These two back-to-back incidents are ample evidence of the dismal state of security of foreign nationals and tourists in the holy city besides the apathy of the Police Department towards controlling the snatching incidents which have always remained a cause of concern for the residents of the city. Haider Ali Jones who stated to police that in both the cases the victims lost their passports, cash and other goods. In both the cases, the SHOs said that the culprits could not be nabbed but the police has intensified street patrolling following the incidents. Separate cases have been registered with the respective police stations. Sanjiv Sharma, SHO Civil Lines police station, pointed out that it becomes the liability of hotel managements to guide their guests, specially foreign nationals, on how to avoid unpleasant incidents and take adequate precautions for their security. “It was observed that the foreign nationals prefer to travel by cycle rickshaws most of the times. Keeping this in mind, a drive was initiated to make sure that the canopy of the rickshaw should always be put on before hiring. This drive had not gone down well with the rickshawpullers who complained of difficulties while plying rickshaws with hoods on,” said Sharma. Police Commissioner, R P Mittal, when contacted said following these two incidents, steps have been initiated to crub similar incidents. “We are collecting the information of gangs involved in earlier such cases to get some clues,” said Mittal. These snatchers have become habitual offenders, who after release from the jail restart nefarious activities. The recent trends show that they are involving other vulnerable youth in their illegal activities. Once they rope in others, they start blackmailing them and then there is no way out. “We do nab these culprits and have busted a number of gangs of looters and snatchers.
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Why is the holy city tourist unfriendly?
Amritsar, August 22 While the Tourism Department is not doing enough to promote tourism here, the police has failed to take forward its much-talked-about initiative, Amritsar Tourism Police, launched a few years back amid a lot of fanfare. Though there has been an increase in the number of tourists arriving in Amritsar, the hospitalty industry rues the fact that their stay is restricted to merely a day or two. The reason behind tourists’ short stay in the city is attributed by many to the lack of promotional activities and incentives like tourist packages and publicity of numerous places of religious significance and heritage value which dot the city and its surrounding areas. To start with, the Tourism Department itself lacks the proper infrastructure to match the significance in of a city like Amritsar. Its district headquarters is located at the exit point of the railway station which, incidentally, also doubles up as a tourist assistance centre for the passengers alighting from trains. The office comprises a room, which has a seating facility for four to five people, apart from a small cabin for the District Tourism Officer. The tourists don’t find the location of the tourist office apt as they are able to spot it only when they are leaving the railway station premises in their vehicle. Hans Elsen, a tourist from Belgium, said when he disembarked from train, he searched for guidance for places of tourist interest and arrangements for stay. However, he neither found a board, listing all such information, nor the signboard indicating the location of the tourist assistance centre. Besides, the Department does not have any tourist information counter at the main bus stand. Another drawback is lack of promotional activities. A majority of tourists visiting the city remain restricted to visiting Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple, Jallianwalla Bagh and Attari-Wagah Border. There are various gurdwaras of great significance and historic monuments in and around the city, but not many tourists are aware about them. These include: Gurdwara Ramsar, Gurdwara Santokhsar, Gurdwara Bibeksar and Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Shaheed. Guru Ke Mahal, the birthplace of the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Teg Bahadur, and Guru Ki Wadali, the birthplace of the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind, is also in the city. The city also boasts of many edifices related to Sikh misls and the legendary ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh like Gobindgarh Fort, Rambagh Garden, the Maharaja’s summer palace and Pul Kanjari. Leave alone the existing tourist spots, the government also failed to promote Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama, which came up at a cost of Rs 5 crore, at Rambagh gardens. Ensuring safety and security is the key to making the place tourist-friendly. The state government had launched Amritsar Tourism Police on January 31, 2008, but it failed to
perform its duty with expected professionalism. A 30-member dedicated squad was reserved for the tourism police. Their duties included to protect tourists from harassment by touts and help them in hiring transportation and lodging services. Its officers, rank and file were said to have been carefully picked up keeping orientation and work requirements in mind. These cops were supposed to be present near the railway station, bus stand, Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport and all places of tourist interest like Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Attari-Wagah joint checkpost and others. However, the initiative seems to have gone wrong now. Lene, a tourist from Europe, said she wanted to inquire about transportation and fares to visit the Attari-Wagah Joint checkpost, but the cops deployed outside the Golden Temple could not understand her language and satisfy her queries. Amritsar Hotel and Restaurant Association General Secretary APS Chatha said the government has failed to exploit the geographical location of Amritsar. “The city is advantageously located near Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Besides, it is linked by air with many domestic and international destinations,” he
commented.
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making
waves Amritsar girl Baljeet Johal emerges as best anchor, clinches UK Infra Big Punjabi Rising Star Award GS Paul Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 22 The others in the contest were Rhydam Arora of “Saade Pind Rab Vasda”, Anshu Sawahney of “Preeto Top 10” and Pooja Tandon, who hosts “Voice of Punjab”. While sharing her reaction to her recent accomplishment, Baljeet said, “It feels great when you are recognised on an international platform and it was an honour to represent a happening holy city. Besides Amritsarians, I have received accolades from all over the world. So they too deserve an equal appreciation for their wholehearted support.” Laying an emphasis on the need to safeguard Punjabi heritage and culture, Baljeet, who has acted in various plays, based on the rich cultural heritage through Naatshala, was of the view that the government should initiate special schemes to revamp the basic infrastructure in the villages. “During my shows in villages, I have observed that immense talent in sports, music or acting in the rural areas is being wasted. The reason is that in the absence of better living standards in rural Punjab, the talented youth take to big towns and ultimately end up falling prey to fake travel agents. Ultimately, the failure drags them into substance abuse and they start consuming alcohol or drugs. I feel that the government should do something in this regard,” she said. Nevertheless, it was not an easy journey for Baljeet. Losing her father at a very early age, it was her mother Jagjiwan Kaur who stood beside her through thick and thin. “Whatever I wanted to do in life, my mother helped me to achieve. She was the only person who always stood by my decisions. That’s why I could become member of the national Women under-19 cricket team and represented the North zone in the Rani Jhansi Trophy. Then, I tried my hand at staging shows, which opened the doors for video albums and modeling assignments. I got a chance to host two shows associated with the Commonwealth Games, “Bollywood Nite” and shared the dais with stars like Daler Mehndi and Usha Uthap,” she said.
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Ex-DYC chief Bassi starts hunger strike in jail
Amritsar, August 22 Showing solidarity with them, former Mayor Sunil Datti (Congress) and the District Congress Committees (DCC) of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran have come out openly to condemn the registration of serious cases against their party men and demanded their unconditional release. While pointing fingers towards the misuse of the city development funds, Datti urged Malik not to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of the holy city and vacate all the cases registered against Youth Congress (YC) activists. “It is pity that YC activists, who were holding a peaceful protest against the Mayor at Katra Ahluwalia on August 18, were booked and jailed on unreasonable grounds. Moreover, being the Mayor of the city, he is liable to come out clean over the issues being raised regarding the city development funds and it is every citizen’s democratic right to question him about the public money, which he claims to have spent on the development of the city,” he said. Nevertheless, giving a fillip to the issue, the Congress leaders extended their support to Bhupinder Randhawa-led Sangarsh Committee, which was conceptualised yesterday on the recommendation of the Indian Youth Congress, especially to deal with the situation. In a joint communique, president of the DCC, Gurdaspur, Sukhjinder Randhawa, president of the DCC, Amritsar (Rural), Harpartap Singh Ajnala, president of the DCC, Tarn Taran, Dr Dharmbir Agnhitori, have asked Randhawa to chalk out a protest plan in this direction. Confirming the development, Randhawa said, “Every political party has the right to stage a democratic protest, but it is unfortunate that the SAD-BJP government has started unleashing terror against Congress workers, which is a prime example of their mis-governance,” he said, adding that “the registration of an FIR against Congressmen is a testimony to it”. Harpartap Singh Ajnala, while condemning the incident, said the matter had been brought to the notice of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, Captain Amarinder Singh, and from tomorrow onward, the DCC (Rural) workers would join the protest programme of the Sangharsh Committee. — Sunil Dutti, former mayor — Bhupinder Randhawa, convenor, youth congress sangharsh committee
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Rallying in support of peace and communal harmony
Amritsar, August 22 Led by Bishop Pardip Kumar Samantroy, about 50 participants of the rally went with the motive connect for peace. The participants would have the first halt at Batala, the second at Madhopur and an overnight stay at Jammu. An interfaith dialogue would be held at the Alexander Memorial School Jammu today evening in which religious leaders of various faiths would take part. Moulvi Mohammad Sikandar, Head Granthi Joginder Singh, Shastri Dr AK Bararu and Deputy Commissioner Jammu Sanjeev Sharma would take part. A participant Daniel B Das, also the co-ordinator for the socio-economic development project, said that the next morning (on August 23), the rally would proceed to Anantnag while halting at Samroli, Piraha and Quazigand. After an overnight stay at Anantnag, the motor cycle rally would reach Srinagar on August 24. The next day, the rally would move ahead to Tangmarg-Gulmarg. At School Hut, Gulmarg, the participants of the rally would have interactive sessions with schoolchildren and leaders of the Muslim community. They would also have a meeting with religious leaders at All Saint’s Church, Srinagar. They would start return journey from Srinagar to Jammu on August 27, and the next day from Jammu to Amritsar. Bishop Samantroy said the CNI had repaired the Tyndale Biscoe School at Tangmarg, which was burnt by some unidentified miscreants last year. He said the school, located in a predominantly rural area, imparted education to the children of the Muslim community. He said the need of the hour was to connect people coming from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds for peace. The rally comprised 15 motor cycles and four cars.
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Tarksheel Society holds workshop
Amritsar, August 22 Sumit Singh, head of the administrative wing of the society, said about 100 members drawn from Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts apart from Amritsar gathered at Virsa Vihar. Hem Raj, state committee member of the society, said the scourges of superstition and black magic would not be eliminated from the society until it was free from poverty and illiteracy.
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speakinG
OUT While the Union Government has initiated various steps to boost cross-border trade between India and Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah land route, including setting up of an integrated check post (ICP), Neeraj Bagga talks to leaders of various trade bodies to find out their views on it.
— Amrit Lal Jain, president, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal
— Kamal Dalmia, general secretary, Focal Point Industrialist Association
— BK Bajaj, president, Indo Forum Chamber of Commerce
— Raman Gupta, president, Small Scale Industry Development Board
— PL Seth, general secretary, Shawl Club of India
— Gunbir Singh, former Chairman, CII, Punjab
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Police Commissioner RP Mittal said he has recently taken charge and was strengthening various sections of the Amritsar Police
Commissionerate. He said that since now this matter has been brought to his notice he would see how it will be strengthened. He said all aspects like improvement in communication skills, a separate uniform and other aspects would be reviewed subject to requirements. 
I wanted to inquire about transportation and fares to visit the Attari-Wagah Joint
checkpost, but the cops deployed outside the Golden Temple could not understand my language and give satisfactory answers to my
queries.
When I disembarked from the train, I searched for guidance for places of tourist interest and arrangements for stay. I neither found a board listing all such information nor a signboard indicating the location of the tourist assistance
centre.~
It is a pity that YC activists, who were holding a peaceful protest against the Mayor at Katra Ahluwalia on August 18, were booked and jailed on unreasonable grounds. Moreover, being the Mayor of the city, he is liable to come out clean over the issues being raised regarding the city development funds and it is every citizen’s democratic right to question him about the public money which he claims to have spent on the development of the
city
Every political party has the right to stage a democratic protest. But it is unfortunate that the
SAD-BJP government has started unleashing terror against Congress workers which is a prime example of their
mis-governance. The registration of an FIR against Congressmen is a testimony to
it.
The government has not done enough for cross-border trade except for constructing the ICP at Attari. The state government has failed to put across the point of view of the entrepreneurs before the Union Government. I had met the PM thrice with our demands, especially for the border districts. but nothing positive came out of it. The PM’s dream project of setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the holy city cannot be implemented as the plan had to be dropped. The SEZ linked with dry port at the Attari-Wagah joint check post had the potential to turnaround the economy of the
region.
The governments of India and Pakistan must relax visa norms and grant liberal visas to business communities. It takes a lot of time to get paper work done. Paucity of time does not allow entrepreneurs to visit often across the border to explore markets and establish business ties. As per SAARC norms, a year-long visa is issued to industrialists on submission of Rs 2.5 lakh. It allows them to visit any nation under the conglomeration. I feel that the fee is too high. Moreover, industrialists from the region are more interested in trade with Pakistan due to its locational
advantage.
The Union Government is creating a trade imbalance which is hurting the interests of entrepreneurs of Punjab in general and border districts in particular. On the one hand, the government is investing Rs 150 crore for setting up the ICP at Attari; on the other hand two duty-free routes have been opened in neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir. As a result, the trade is shifting to Jammu and Kashmir. Though the governments of India and Pakistan have allowed exchange of only those commodities from these two duty-free routes which originate from Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, yet, other commodities are also being traded. The very purpose of the ICP will be defeated if the government does not offer a level playing field to the
traders.
The Small Scale Industries (SSI) of Punjab will benefit immensely from the spurt in trade between India and Pakistan from the Attari-Wagah joint check post. The SSI units in the state have got advanced machinery and wherewithal to manufacture and deliver high-quality products. The SSI units are finding it hard to get new markets and Pakistan will be a big step in this direction. Lahore, being located closer to Amritsar, gives advantage to the holy city as it is the second biggest market in Pakistan after Karachi. Besides, similar language and culture offer additional
advantages.
The construction of the ICP suggests that the government intends to promote trade with Pakistan and has also realised that the trade ties with the neighbour is mandatory to provide commodities at reasonable rates to its citizens. The state government must also chip in for the development of trade and industry in the border region. When the government is extending free electricity worth Rs 4,000 crore to farmers, it may also give its 10 per cent as subsidy to
industrialists.
Pakistan needs to do more for encouraging trade between the two neighbouring countries. Pakistan’s reaction to Indian offers and confidence-building measures are slow and calculating. The Indian Government had granted the status of most-favoured nation to Pakistan in 2004, but Pakistan reciprocated in a very calculated manner. In response, Pakistan has now increased the number of items from nearly 85 to about 1,500, which could be exported from India. The Pakistan Government calls it a positive list. Instead, the Pakistan Government can issue a negative list of items which Indian business could not trade with. the rest of the items will be open for trade. It will remove confusion, give thrust to trade and guard economic interests of
Pakistan.