28082026-ATR-01.qxd 8/27/2026 11:48 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY CONG PROTESTS CENTRE’S ‘WRONG POLICIES’ MINNOWS GURDASPUR STUN CRICKET OBSERVERS CELEBS OPEN UP ABOUT SPECIAL BONDS ON RAKSHA BANDHAN The party stages a protest in Tarn Taran against the rising prices of oil and essential kitchen items. P2 Finish runners-up in the Punjab inter-district cricket meet for the prestigious Katoch Shield. P3 Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of memories and unconditional support that define sibling relationships. P4 » » MAX 35°C | MIN 29°C YESTERDAY MAX 35.9°C | MIN 28.4°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.50 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5:58 AM » FRIDAY | 28 AUGUST 2026 | AMRITSAR STATEWIDE ‘MAHA HARTAL’ DISRUPTS PUBLIC SERVICES, GOVERNMENT OFFICES WEAR DESERTED LOOK Govt employees strike work over long-pending demands Staff, pensioners hold major protest at District Administrative Complex Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Members of a teachers’ union hold a protest in Amritsar on Thursday. Teachers’ union joins protest Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 27 The local unit of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU), DAV College Amritsar, observed a one-hour strikecum-dharna today in solidarity with the Sanjha Mulazim Morcha, supporting the legitimate demands of employees. Addressing a gathering, union president Dr Vikas Bhardwaj and secretary Prof Ashu Vij highlighted the demand for enhanced dearness allowance (DA). They added that in view of the rising inflation, enhanced DA is the legitimate right of the employees and the government should ensure its release without further delay. Dr Nihita Sharma expressed concern over the government’s alleged lack of sensitivity towards the difficulties being faced by the employees in general and teachers in particular. She said teachers continue to perform their responsibilities sincerely despite increasing economic and professional challenges. Prof Vikram Sharma emphasised the need for a united voice to air the genuine demands of the employees and teachers. Dr BB Yadav called upon employees to remain united and be prepared for further democratic struggle if their legitimate demands remained ignored. The PCCTU local unit urged the Punjab Government to release the enhanced DA and address all other pending and legitimate demands of employees at the earliest. The speakers reiterated that the employees’ struggle is peaceful, democratic and aimed at securing their legitimate rights. Teachers of meritorious, Adarsh schools hold protest The ‘maha hartal’ observed by the Joint Coordination Committee today received support from teachers from government as well as private educational institutions. Staging a massive protest in front of the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner’s office, computer teachers raised their long-pending demands, including the release of an 18 per cent dearness allowance (DA). Teachers of meritorious and Adarsh schools also joined the dharna-cum-protest. Ashwani Awasthi, head, Democratic Teachers Front, said besides DA, they were demanding full salary during the probation period to teachers, the merger of computer teachers with teachers of NSQF, meritorious and Adarsh schools with the Education Department, and regularisation of associate teachers. He added that all vacant posts in various departments, especially government schools, should be filled through regular recruitment. “All types of allowances, including rural allowance, should be restored. ASHA, mid-day meal, anganwadi and sanitation workers, besides chowkidars and sewadars working on honorarium should be made permanent. We have been raising these demands for the last four years,” he said. Amritsar, August 27 Observing a ‘maha hartal’ to impress upon the AAP government to accept their longpending demands, employees struck work today. Government offices, barring emergency services, remained closed today. Holding banners and raising slogans against the Bhagwant Mann government, protesting employees and pensioners held the main protest at the District Administrative Complex here. The employees also staged protests at respective offices. The protesters threatened to intensify their agitation if their demands are not met. People did not turn up at government offices, including the District Administrative Complex, district revenue and other government offices, due to the strike. At Suvidha centres, employees were in full attendance, but public footfall was lower than usual. With majority of the employees being on contractual service, they were not part of the strike. Similarly, the public was also missing at the District Revenue Office where Tehsildar and other higher officials were present, but clerks did not attend the office in protest. Rajbedi Anand, a protesting employee at government hospital, alleged that the government never enquired about their condition and its ministers only paid lip service. Gurinder Singh, president of the Elementary Teachers Union, said all government elementary schools were closed. Ashwani Awasthi, a Doctors and other staff protest outside the OPD of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital; and (below) the District Tehsil Complex wears a deserted look during the ‘maha hartal’ in Amritsar on Thursday. VISHAL KUMAR leader of Democratic Teachers Front, recalled that Cabinet Minister Harpal Cheema used to request them to vote for the AAP but now the rul, ing party was ignoring the employees. He said if the employees can bring the AAP to power, they can also play spoilsport in the next Assembly election. “With around 7.50 lakh employees and pensioners participating in the strike across the state, the protest also has the potential to influence nearly 38 lakh voters when their families are taken into account,” said Awasthi, a teacher. The protesting employees asked the AAP government to clear their long-pending demands, including dearness allowance (DA) dues and resumption of old pension schemes. Aussie woman undergoes hysterectomy at local hospital Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 27 An Australian woman underwent a robotic-assisted hysterectomy at Amandeep Hospital, after travelling to India for advanced minimally invasive treatment. The patient, who was diagnosed with a condition requiring a hysterectomy, consulted Dr Sheshank Mahajan, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology, and his team, who conducted a detailed clinical evaluation, reviewed her medical history and explained the available treatment options. Considering her condition and the need for a quicker recovery as an international patient, the medical team recommended robotic-assisted surgery. The patient was counselled about the procedure and its potential benefits, including smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, less post-operative pain and faster recovery. She underwent hysterectomy the following day. According to the hospital, the surgery was uneventful and her postoperative recovery was smooth. The patient said she had researched extensively before choosing Dr Mahajan and was satisfied with the care provided by the medical team. Though travelling from Australia to India was a major decision, the treatment experience was better than expected, she said. Dr Mahajan said roboticassisted surgery had transformed gynaecological procedures by offering greater precision and enhanced patient comfort. Dr Amandeep Kaur, director of the hospital, said the case reflected the hospital’s commitment to making advanced robotic surgery accessible to domestic as well as international patients. ~10-crore community hall falls into neglect Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 27 A community hall constructed by the Amritsar Improvement Trust in the posh Ranjit Avenue area at a cost of nearly Rs 10 crore has failed to serve its purpose, with the facility now lying in a poor state due to a lack of proper maintenance. The hall, constructed in 2016 at a cost of Rs 9.94 crore, was developed on more than 2,000 square yards. Instead of being available for community activities, the premises are being used occasionally to accommodate labourers and employees associated with various government works. Social activist Pawan Sharma said, “The facility has effectively turned into a night shelter rather than a community hall.” He said government employees also hold classes and yoga training sessions on the premises, but even those attending the classes, including children, were not provided basic facilities. The sorry state of affairs is evident from the lack of drinking water arrangements, blocked sewers and wild growth across the complex. Bathrooms are reportedly filled with dirt and have reached a condition where Damaged ceiling, wild growth reflect sorry state of affairs at Ranjit Avenue facility Clockwise from above: A poorly maintained bathroom area; a damaged false ceiling and garbage dumped on the community hall premises at Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar. they are difficult to use. Parts of the false ceiling are also damaged, while water enters the building during rain. The hall also lacks furniture. The library, which was part of the original plan, has neither been properly devel- oped nor stocked with books, raising questions over the utilisation of the space. The building was designed c m y b to be used as a multi-purpose facility. The ground floor has a 90 ft by 100 ft hall with a capacity to accommodate 300-400 people. It also has a kitchen, four common bathrooms each for men and women, three rooms with attached bathrooms and a manager’s room. The first floor has a conference hall, library hall and a hall earmarked for a gym. It also has three rooms with attached bathrooms, four common bathrooms each for men and women and four additional rooms. Despite elaborate infrastructure, the facility has not been put to effective community use. Air-conditioning facilities are also incomplete, further limiting the usability of the large halls. Sharma said the authorities had already spent a substantial amount on the construction and subsequent repair of the facility, but the Improvement Trust had still failed to establish a proper system to operate and maintain it. A yoga aspirant attending classes at the community hall complained about the filthy conditions. The complaint highlighted the stark mismatch between the intended purpose of the building and its present condition. Children buy rakhis ahead of the Raksha Bandhan festival in Amritsar on Thursday. VISHAL KUMAR ‘Maha hartal’ fails to dampen Raksha Bandhan festivities Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 27 Even as Punjab Government employees observed a ‘maha hartal’ today, markets remained open and packed with festive buzz on Raksha Bandhan. Women thronged markets to buy rakhis and gifts for their brothers, while families purchased sweets and new clothes for the occasion. Shopkeepers are hopeful of a good business as the festival brings increased customer activity. “The bandh had no direct impact on our business, though the shops opened a bit later than usual as we had anticipated large-scale closure of services. The market sales on Rakhi remained as usual,” said Som Prakash, a shop owner in Pultighar. Bassi celebrates festival with former teachers Senior Congress leader from Amritsar, Dinesh Bassi, spent an emotional Raksha Bandhan at Jagat Jyoti School today with his former teachers. An alumnus of the school, the former Improvement Trust Chairman said he had the privilege of receiving rakhi from the teachers, who had once taught him. “I feel truly blessed that the teachers who taught me and showed me the right direction in life are blessing me today. Along with my parents, my teachers have played a very important role in shaping my life,” he said. Bassi said he passed Class 10 in 1992. Reminiscing about Harjinder ‘madam’, a senior teacher, he said she often scolded and disciplined him.