02022026-LT-01.qxd 2/2/2026 12:36 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune OVER 12 KG OPIUM SEIZED FROM 7 COURIERS Officials say contraband, concealed in seven parcels, was seized at a local courier office after getting a tip-off. P2 » TAMANNAAH BHATIA LAUNCHES HER JEWELLERY BRAND PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 21°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 20°C | MIN 8°C RAM CHARAN & UPASANA KAMINENI’S TWIN JOY Brand Tamannaah Fine Jewellery was launched unveiling contemporary gold and diamond collections. P4 FORECAST Global star Ram Charan and wife Upasana Kamineni Konidela have been blessed with twins. P4 » SUNSET MONDAY 6:00 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:12 AM » MONDAY | 2 FEBRUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA Mixed reactions from residents Many term Budget ‘directionless’, others hail it as a blueprint aimed at infra growth due to out-of-pocket medical expenses,” he said. Political voices: ‘Betrayal vs visionary’ Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 1 The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday has evoked sharp and contrasting reactions across the city, with industry leaders, trade associations, healthcare professionals and political voices weighing in. While many termed it ‘empty’ and ‘directionless’, citing lack of relief for exporters, middle-class taxpayers and small enterprises, others hailed it as a forwardlooking blueprint aimed at infrastructure growth, youth empowerment and long-term national resilience. Industry calls it ‘empty box’ The Budget has left Ludhiana’s industry and common man disappointed. Stakeholders termed it ‘directionless’ and ‘empty’, citing lack of relief for exporters and no changes in income tax slabs for the middle class. Former director of Ludhiana Smart City Limited and ex-chairman of the IIA Pun- Residents watch the live Budget Session on TV screens in Ludhiana on Sunday. ASHWANI DHIMAN jab chapter Sanjay Goel said the Budget offered little for urban development and smart cities. “Only seven high-speed rail corridors have been announced. We hope Ludhiana will be included to boost trade,” he remarked. He said while a mega textile park might come up, there was no significant allocation for fast-paced urban growth. MSME forum seeks FM’s resignation The World MSME Forum went a step further, demanding the resignation of the Finance Minister. Its president Badish Jindal accused the govern- ment of ruining the economy, citing falling exports, rising imports and the rupee’s poor performance. “India witnessed a massive trade loss of $287 billion last year,” he said. Disappointing, say manufacturers Narinder Bhamra, president of the Fasteners Manufacturer Association of India, said the Budget ignored critical needs of micro and small enterprises. “Steps such as formation of a steel regulator, reduction in import duties on machinery and social security provisions for taxpayers could have boosted manufacturing,” he noted. He criticised disparity in tax slabs, pointing out that corporates enjoy a 22 per cent tax rate while MSEs face 30 per cent plus surcharge. Healthcare allocation ‘grossly inadequate’ Dr Arun Mitra, national president of the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD), called the healthcare allocation a mockery. Of the ?53.5 lakh-crore budget, only 1.96 per cent has been earmarked for healthcare. “The marginal increase does not even cover inflation. With negligible government spending, 6 per cent of the population is pushed into poverty annually Former district Congress committee president Pawan Dewan described the Budget as regressive, disastrous and demoralising. He said the Ludhiana industry was betrayed and backstabbed by the Centre, with no revival package or roadmap for state’s industrial core. In contrast, BJP spokesperson Dr Kamaljeet Soi hailed it as “visionary,” designed to build a self-reliant India under Viksit Bharat 2047. He emphasised its focus on youth empowerment, employment generation and entrepreneurship. Pankaj Sharma, president of the Association of Trade and Industrial Undertaking (ATIU), welcomed the increased focus on infrastructure and capital expenditure. He said textiles and hosiery would benefit from new policies and parks, though Punjab missed out on freight corridors and skill development upgrades. Chartered Accountant MK Gupta highlighted positives such as MAT relief, reduction in TDS, scrapping of TAN requirement for NRIs and measures for agriculture and education. Experts applaud emphasis on Ayurveda, yoga, mental health Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 1 The Union Budget has placed healthcare and wellness at the heart of country’s development agenda, giving a decisive push to traditional systems such as Ayurveda and yoga while addressing modern challenges such as mental health and medical tourism. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced the establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to expand education, research and clinical services, alongside 10 new allied health disciplines that will train one lakh professionals. In addition, 1.5 lakh caregivers will be trained in yoga and Ayurveda-based services, Ayush pharmacies and drug testing labs will be upgraded for better quality control, and exports of Ayurveda products will be promoted to meet rising global demand. Mental health has been prioritised with the creation of a new National Mental Health Institute. Five regional medical tourism hubs will be set up to attract international patients, improve infrastructure and The Union Budget has given a decisive push to traditional systems such as Ayurveda and yoga while addressing modern challenges. generate employment. “Opening up three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda is a laudable step. In this era, Ayurveda is gradually meeting requirements of an evidence-based medical system. Moreover, the Budget has allocated large funds to improve its pharma sector too. Producing quality medicines for the domestic market is the need of the hour,” said city based Dr R Vatsyayan, senior Ayurveda practitioner and guru at Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth. Meeting the international standards of prepared medicines and producing and exporting quality herbs would give a boost to the Ayurveda pharma sector. Training a large number of yoga trainers would also enhance the acceptability of authentic yoga in the country and abroad. The Budget had truly recognised Ayurveda as a soft power of the country, Dr Vatsyayan said. The holistic vision of the Budget had drawn mixed but largely positive reactions. Wellness practitioners welcomed the emphasis on Ayurveda and yoga. “It is a landmark moment. Training caregivers in yoga and Ayurveda will not only preserve our traditions but also make wellness accessible to millions,” said Ritu Sharma, a yoga instructor. Mental health experts too applauded the move. “Recognising mental health in the Budget is a breakthrough. It shows continued on page 2 81-yr-old NRI woman found murdered Truck catches fire, driver dies of electrocution Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 1 An 81-year-old NRI woman was found murdered in the Nai Abadi area of Khanna city in the district. Her body was found lying in the washroom of her house. The police registered a murder case against unidentified persons and all angles are being probed. The deceased has been identified as Jagpal Kaur, wife of Surjit Singh. She was a retired teacher. After retirement, she had stayed in Canada for a long time. According to sources, Jagpal Kaur came to India from Canada in October 2025 and was preparing to return to that country in April. She was staying alone at her home in Khanna. The incident came to the fore on Sunday morning when neighbours alerted the police after noticing a strong odour coming from the house. Cops during a probe outside the house of the victim (inset) in Khanna. When the police reached the place and opened the door, they found the woman’s body lying in the bathroom. According to police investigation, the victim’s hands and mouth were tied. As the news of the NRI’s murder spread, residents of the area gathered in a large number outside the house. The police had summoned a forensic team to the scene to gather evidence. Footage from nearby CCTV cameras is also being examined. The police are also investigating whether any valuables or cash are missing from the house. Police officials said the case was serious and every aspect was being investigated. The suspects would be arrested soon. A murder case had been registered against unidentified miscreants. A relative of the deceased stated that Jag- pal Kaur was staying alone in the house. A few days ago, tenants had vacated the upstairs portion of the house, leaving her alone. The police were also investigating this aspect. Station House Officer, Khanna City-1, inspector Sandeep Kumar, said the police investigation was being conducted from various angles and CCTV cameras were being scanned to get any clue about the suspects. Motive behind crime not known, probe on Police sources said the exact motive behind the brutal murder of the elderly woman was yet to be ascertained. Whether one person or more than one committed the murder is also a mystery. Call details of the woman was also being checked by the police. The police suspected that the woman could have been murdered in late hours. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 1 A truck driver died in a horrific accident on Saturday night near a private hospital at Gill village here. As per information, the truck reportedly came in contact with high-tension power lines and caught fire. The driver, who tried to escape, was electrocuted. He died on the spot. The accident occurred when the truck hit a power transformer and came in contact with the high tension wires. The deceased has been identified as Harvinder Singh, a resident of Hoshiarpur. A fire brigade official said around 8 pm, the control room received information about a vehicle on fire near Gill Road. When fire personnel reached the place, the 16-wheeled truck was engulfed in flames. According to eyewitnesses, the truck came into contact with a roadside transformer and consequently with the overhead wires. The vehicle caught fire within seconds. At the time of the incident, the driver tried to save his life by exiting the cabin. As he stepped out of the truck to get off, he got electrical shock. The current was so strong that Harvinder did not get a chance to recover and he breath his last. The fire officials said after receiving information, a fire tender was rushed to the scene. The blaze had engulfed only lower portion of the truck. “After reaching the place, the fire was doused within minutes. The driver was not inside the truck as villagers had already rushed him to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead. They reportedly took help of PSPCL officials, after which the victim was taken out of the truck,” a fire official said. The deceased had been working as a driver for the past 25 years and was currently employed at Today Logistics. His family includes his elderly parents, wife and three children (two daughters and a son). He was the sole breadwinner of his family. The police also reached the spot and assessed the situation. A police officer said the body had been taken into custody and placed in the mortuary at Pro Life Hospital. Past incidents when trucks caught fire On January 25, panic gripped Ghati Mohalla in the Sunder Nagar area as a compressed natural gas (CNG) truck caught fire. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident and there was no damage to anything other than the vehicle. Truck driver managed to escape before the fire got intense. On November 21, a fatal accident claimed the life of a truck driver after his CNG-powered vehicle caught fire. The truck, which had started from Transport Nagar carrying goods for delivery on Ferozepur Road, was plying along the elevated road. The driver lost control over the vehicle, which then rammed into the divider. The impact is believed to have triggered an explosion in the CNG cylinder, causing the vehicle to burst into flames. FIR registered against live-in AAP, BJP leaders exchange pleasantries, get nostalgic partner in lawyer’s death case At Halwara international airport, event organised before virtual inauguration by PM Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 1 The Police Division 7 registered a case against Jagdish Singh, a resident of Aklia village in Mansa district, in connection with the death of a lawyer who was staying with him in a live-in relationship. The deceased, Diljot Sharma, was a native of Ralla village in Mansa. The body of the woman was found under suspicious circumstances on January 5 on Tajpur Road here. A suicide note was also recovered on her body, in which the names of Jagdish and another woman were mentioned. Investigating officer ASI Krishan Lal said the FIR was registered against Jagdish under Section 108 of the BNS on the basis of a complaint filed by the victim’s mother, Veerpal Kaur. He said the suspect would be arrested soon. When family members received information about Diljot’s death on January 5, they rushed from Mansa to Ludhiana. Her mother said her 25-year-old daughter had moved from Mansa to Ludhiana about one-and-a-half years ago. She was actively involved in fighting legal cases related to labour rights. During this period, Diljot came in contact with Jagdish, the president of a labour union. As per her family, they were in a live-in relationship. Veerpal Kaur alleged that her daughter did not die due to sudden illness but was murdered. The family also expressed serious doubts over the content of the suicide note. The victim’s mother further alleged that Jagdish had started staying with another woman, which had led to frequent disputes between him and her daughter. She accused him of being responsible for her death. On the other hand, a close friend of the deceased had earlier told the police that Diljot was under mental stress and she might have taken the extreme step on her own. After conducting a probe for 25 days, the police have registered a case against him under sections related to abetment of suicide. Investigating officer Krishan Lal said further probe in the matter was underway. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 1 Inauguration of the muchawaited Halwara international airport was done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually from Adampur. At the same time, at the airport, an event was organised before the inauguration which was attended by political bigwigs. Though on majority of occasions leaders belonging to different political parties are seen levelling allegations against each other, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, BJP ministers, including Ravneet Singh Bittu and Central Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, were seen exchanging pleasantries c m y b MoS Ravneet Singh Bittu and CM Bhagwant Mann share some light moments at the Halwara airport in Ludhiana on Sunday. CONGRESS, SAD LEADERS MISSING FROM EVENT There was no senior leader from the Congress and SAD on the occasion while leaders and supporters from the BJP and AAP had gathered at the venue in good numbers. among each other. CM Mann and Bittu in their speech shared how they all knew each other and were there since 2014 during Parliamentary ses- sions. While the programme was on, the Central ministers and the Chief Minister were seen talking to each other in a cordial manner. Both Bittu and Mann looked keen on naming the Halwara airport after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha and they mentioned about the same in their speech. There was no senior leader from the Congress and SAD on the occasion while leaders and supporters from the BJP and AAP had gathered at the venue in good numbers. Recalling the earlier initiative, Mann noted that on March 22, 2023, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had unanimously passed a res- olution requesting the Central Government to name the airport at the Indian Air Force Station, Halwara, as Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha International Airport. The Chief Minister further pointed out that the Mohali international airport had already been named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh due to the sustained efforts of the state government. “Naming airports, universities and other institutions after our iconic martyrs is an integral part of our government’s vision to preserve their legacy and inspire the youth to dedicate themselves to selfless service of the nation,” he said.