No exchange of sweets at Attari

Tribune News Service 
Amritsar, August 16 

Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan following abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the customary exchange of sweets between the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers did not take place during the Independence Day celebrations at the Attari-Wagah joint check post here yesterday. 

The Pakistani Rangers had also not offered sweets during their Independence Day on August 14, while sweets were also not exchanged between the two neighbouring countries’ border guarding forces on Eid-ul-Adah three days ago. Though BSF officials here were ready to continue the bonhomie gesture of exchanging sweets during Eid, the Pakistani Rangers had declined to do so. 

A BSF official said no sweets were exchanged during Independence Day. 

After revocation of Article 370 and 35-A in J&K, Pakistan unilaterally downgraded bilateral ties with India by suspending air, train and bus services. 

Meanwhile, on the eve of Independence Day, activists of the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch, South Asia Free Media Association, Folklore Research Academy, India-Pakistan Forum for Peace and Democracy and Punjab Jagriti Manch carried out a candle vigil programme in order to give the message of peace between the two countries. 

Satnam Singh Manak, general secretary, Hind-Pak Dosti Manch, said the activists urged the government of both countries to ease tension and initiate dialogues to solve all bilateral problems. 

Randhawa: Rs 88-crore road widening work on  

Amritsar: Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa unfurled the National Flag at Guru Nanak Dev Stadium on Thursday. Addressing the gathering, he said the main road from Amritsar to Dera Baba Nanak connecting the Kartarpur Sahib corridor would be widened by 33 feet at a cost of Rs 88 crore. He said work for widening the road had already started. The Punjab Government was spending Rs 3,462 crore under different projects to mark the 550th birth anniversary Guru Nanak Dev. TNS