News / Author / Aseem Bassi

Aseem Bassi

A principal correspondent, Aseem Bassi is the bureau chief at Amritsar. He covers politics, Indo-Pak border, gurdwara politics, crime, border trade and civic issues.

Articles by Aseem Bassi

Ardas ‘imitation’ row: Takht declares SAD minister Maluka ‘tankhaiya’, hands out punishment

Punjab cabinet minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sikander Singh Maluka was on Sunday declared ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) by Akal Takht, the Sikh temporal seat, for distortion of a prayer at a function held to inaugurate his election ofice in Rampura Phul segment in Bathinda district.

Punjab cabinet minister Sikander Singh Maluka at Akal Takht on Sunday.(Sameeer Sehgal/HT)

cities

Updated on Jan 08, 2017 07:54 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Amritsar | ByAseem Bassi

Ardasia who denied ‘siropa’ to Punjab CM Badal in Golden Temple says will contest against him

Balbir Singh, the ‘ardasia’ who denied ‘siropa’ to Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple last year, has now decided to challenge him from Lambi assembly segment.

cities

Updated on Jan 08, 2017 11:23 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Navjot Singh Sidhu will join Congress, contest from Amritsar (East): Wife

Congress leader Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu confirmed on Wednesday her husband and former BJP member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu will join the grand old party “very soon” and contest the Punjab assembly elections from Amritsar (East) constituency.

Navjot Singh Sidhu will be contesting from Amritsar (East) on a Congress ticket(HT File Photo)

elections

Updated on Jan 04, 2017 04:03 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Amritsar | ByAseem Bassi

Navjot Singh Sidhu will fight from Amritsar East assembly seat on Cong ticket, confirms wife

Minutes after the election code of conduct came into effect for the Punjab Polls, Congress leader Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu confirmed that her husband and former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu will contest the assembly polls from Amritsar East constituency.

cities

Updated on Jan 05, 2017 11:17 AM IST

ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Don’t ensure Majithia’s victory by voting for Congress: Kejriwal

In an apparent attempt to storm the Akali bastion of Majha that has 25 assembly seats, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is focusing on the Majithia constituency where the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has re-nominated cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia.

Kejriwal, who held a road show in Majithia constituency and covered more than a dozen villages of the segment, said the AAP will write a new chapter by defeating Bikram Singh Majithia.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Dec 30, 2016 09:24 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Punjab polls: Sidhu meets Rahul, to discuss joining with Captain Amarinder this week

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at New Delhi on Tuesday. During the meeting that lasted for half-an-hour, the former BJP MP discussed his plans about joining the party.

Navjot Singh Sidhu and (right) Rahul Gandhi(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Dec 21, 2016 01:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Sidhu, not wife, likely to contest from Amritsar East in Punjab assembly polls

In a major development, it is almost certain now that former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu will open his innings in Congress by contesting the assembly elections 2017 in place of his wife.

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Dec 18, 2016 11:44 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Cash crunch: India-Pakistan trade through Attari border comes to a halt

The cash crunch caused by demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes has brought the India-Pakistan trade through the Attari border here to a standstill. As the contractor has no cash for wages of over 1,000 porters who usually load and unload trucks at the integrated check post (ICP), the bilateral trade has come to a halt.

Integrated Check Post (ICP) on Attari border wears a deserted look, not even a single truck came from across the border on Thursday.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Dec 10, 2016 09:18 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

AAP’s Durgesh Pathak camps in Amritsar to ensure mega rally for ‘big announcement’ in Majitha

As the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is all set to announce its candidate against revenue minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) firebrand Bikram Singh Majithia at its rally in Majitha on December 14, its organisation-building head, Durgesh Pathak, is camping in Amritsar to make the rally a success. Party chief Arvind Kejriwal is to make the announcement at the rally.

Durgesh Pathak (centre), AAP organisation-building head, with party colleagues in Amritsar on Tuesday.(Sameer Sehgal/HT)

cities

Updated on Dec 11, 2016 07:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Silence, inaction embolden terror: Modi calls for action at Heart of Asia

Terrorism took centrestage at the Heart of Asia conference on Sunday as Afghanistan and India jointly delivered a stinging attack on Pakistan and indicated Islamabad was doing little to rein in militancy in the region.

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the sixth ministerial conference of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process in Amritsar on December 4, 2016.(External affairs ministry/Twitter)

india news

Updated on Dec 05, 2016 06:22 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJayanth Jacob and Aseem Bassi

Heart of Asia summit: Over 30 nations to plan fight against terrorism

As many as 40 countries and groupings will participate in the meet aimed at helping war-ravaged Afghanistan in its political and economic transition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani at Golden temple on the eve of the Heart of Asia Conference, in Amritsar on Saturday.(PTI)

india news

Updated on Dec 04, 2016 12:24 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJayanth Jacob, Aseem Bassi, Amritsar

Sartaj Aziz to arrive in Amritsar today, earlier than scheduled

Pakistan’s top diplomat Sartaj Aziz will arrive in Amritsar on Saturday to attend a key meet of Asian leaders, advancing his trip by a day in a surprise move even as New Delhi and Islamabad struggled to improve frosty ties.

Sartaj Aziz was scheduled to reach Amritsar on Sunday for the conference and was supposed to return home the same day.(Reuters)

india news

Updated on Dec 04, 2016 12:22 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJayanth Jacob & Aseem Bassi, Amritsar

Senior official level talks begin at ‘Heart of Asia’ ministerial conference in Amritsar

Amritsar The senior official level talks of the ‘Heart of Asia’ kicked off to discuss Amritsar Declaration ahead of the ministerial talks that will take place on Sunday

Delegates from over 30 countries, including around 15 Asian nations, will be participating in the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference, whose theme this year is ‘Addressing Challenges, Achieving Prosperity’.(Sameer Sehgal /Hindustan Times)

cities

Updated on Dec 03, 2016 12:31 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Amritsar set to host Heart of Asia meet; PM Modi, Afghan president Ghani to attend

The two-day conference, which focuses on regional cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours to improve connectivity and tackle security threats, also assumes significance as Sartaj Aziz, adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, will be leading the Pakistani delegation. Though no bilateral talks between India and Pakistan are scheduled on the sidelines of the conference, the participation of the Aziz-led Pakistani delegation is expected to help diffuse the ongoing tensions between the two countries.

Workers putting up flags of various countries participating in the Heart of Asia ministerial conference, in Amritsar on Friday. The sixth Heart of Asia conference, which will discuss peace, cooperation and economic development in Afghanistan, takes place in the city on December 3 and 4.(Sameer Sehgal /HT)

cities

Updated on Dec 02, 2016 10:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Dr Sidhu to start ‘campaign’ from Amritsar-East today

Back in town after joining the Congress, Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who will start campaigning in Amritsar-East from Friday, said the high command will soon answer party members opposed to her being given a ticket for the assembly polls from the constituency. The Congress has not announced the tickets as yet.

Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu welcomed by her supporters after arrival in Amritsar on Thursday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Dec 02, 2016 01:03 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

SYL won’t become a reality, says Parkash Singh Badal

A day after the Supreme Court ordered status quo on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) issue, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal asserted that the canal will never become a reality.

CM Parkash Singh Badal addressing a gathering during the inauguration of Ram Tirath temple, Amritsar on Thursday.(Sameer Sehgal/HT)

cities

Updated on Dec 02, 2016 12:20 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

New to Cong, but Dr Sidhu already in campaign mode, ‘party will answer’ to ticket aspirants

No announcement of tickets as yet; newly-inducted Congress leader, a CPS in the ruling SAD-BJP regime not so long ago, says the high command will soon answer those questioning ticket being given to her from the constituency.

Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu being welcomed with garlands of currency notes by her supporters after arrival in Amritsar on Thursday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Dec 02, 2016 12:08 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Once a critic, Dr Sidhu now says Cong best option for Punjab, terms AAP hopeless

Once a serious critic of the Congress, especially of its state unit chief Capt Amarinder Singh, former Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who will be formally joining the Congress in New Delhi on November 28, now sees it as the “best option” for the people of Punjab.

Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu interacting with the media at her residence in Amritsar on Friday, November 25.(Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 25, 2016 10:57 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Nikki Haley’s kin in native Punjab cheer as Trump picks her as US envoy to UN

Haley’s parents hail from rural Punjab; they moved to Amritsar before emigrating to North America in the early 1960s. Haley, 44, was born Nimrata Randhawa in Bamberg, South Carolina. She was called “Nikki” as a child and took the family name of husband Michael when they married in Sikh and Methodist ceremonies in 1996.

A family photo of Nikki Haley (right) and her brother, Charanjit Singh Randhawa, in the album of her relatives in Amritsar.

cities

Updated on Nov 24, 2016 10:18 PM IST

ByAseem Bassi, Verka (amritsar)

Note ban effect: Prayer bookings, donations at Golden Temple see drastic decline

The demonetisation of the old banknotes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 is even affecting the capacity for devotional measures, too. At the Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib) in Amritsar, there is a significant dip in bookings for ‘akhand path’ (chain prayers) at the complex. It costs Rs 6,100 and the waiting period can be three years, but new bookings have come down from 50 a day to a maximum of 10, as people do not have enough cash.

The note ban has caused a revenue loss of 20-25% to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC).(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 22, 2016 08:20 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Will not accept court verdict on sharing river water with Haryana: Badal

He said this while sharing the stage with Union finance minister Arun Jaitley and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah at an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Punjabi suba (province) as formed in linguistic basis in 1966. The Supreme Court is seized of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue and is likely to announce its verdict soon.

From left, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, and BJP president Amit Shah, at a rally to mark the 50th anniversary of the Punjabi suba (province) as formed in linguistic basis in 1966, in Amritsar on Tuesday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 01, 2016 09:58 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Punjabi suba: Amritsar set for mega celebration with Jaitley, Shah present

Amritsar is all set to host a mega event on the 50 years of the Punjabi suba (province) on Tuesday. A mega rally will be held at Ranjit Avenue at 11am, which will be attended by Union finance minister Arun Jaitley and national BJP chief Amit Shah. Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, his cabinet colleagues, MLAs and leaders of the SAD-BJP combine will also be present.

Workers give the final touches to the stage for the rally to mark Punjabi suba’s 50th anniversary, at Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, on Monday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 01, 2016 12:07 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Golden Temple fireworks for just 15 minutes this Diwali

SGPC also plans to use less-polluting fireworks to protect the shrine’s sheen

Golden Temple illuminated on Diwali eve, Saturday.(Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 29, 2016 11:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

Open for visitors, war memorial still incomplete

Inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal amid much fanfare, the ambitious Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum is incomplete.

Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum in Amritsar on Thursday.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 28, 2016 02:28 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

MLA report card: Inderbir Bolaria and Gulzar Singh Ranike

Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:

cities

Updated on Oct 26, 2016 01:17 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi and Surjit Singh

MLA report card: OP Soni and Navjot Kaur Sidhu

Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:

cities

Updated on Oct 26, 2016 01:25 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi and Surjit Singh

CM inaugurates heritage street in Amritsar, terms it ‘sewa’ at guru’s abode

The CM, who opened the stretch on Tuesday along with the Golden Temple Plaza, also refrained from political speech. Lauding the effort of Sukhbir and his team, the CM said: “The credit for this project doesn’t go to me, Sukhbir or the government. This is all about sewa at Guru ki nagri.”

Gatka practitioners pose near the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Tuesday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 26, 2016 12:04 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

MLA report card: Anil Joshi and Raj Kumar Verka

Hindustan Times takes a lot at Punjab MLAs and their performance:

cities

Updated on Oct 25, 2016 11:57 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi and Surjit Singh

MLA report card: Bikram Singh Majithia and Baljit Singh Jalalusma

Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:

cities

Updated on Oct 25, 2016 11:57 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi and Surjit Singh

Sukhbir unveils heritage street, plaza to media in Amritsar

As all’s set for the inauguration of the stretch from Town Hall to Golden Temple in its beautified ‘heritage look’ on Tuesday, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal unveiled the spruced-up street and the Plaza to the media here on Monday evening.

Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal addressing mediapersons as he unveiled the first phase of heritage corridor project in Amritsar on Monday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Oct 25, 2016 07:17 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAseem Bassi, Amritsar

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Aseem Bassi

A principal correspondent, Aseem Bassi is the bureau chief at Amritsar. He covers politics, Indo-Pak border, gurdwara politics, crime, border trade and civic issues.

Balbir Singh, the ‘ardasia’ who denied ‘siropa’ to Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple last year, has now decided to challenge him from Lambi assembly segment.

Congress leader Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu confirmed on Wednesday her husband and former BJP member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu will join the grand old party “very soon” and contest the Punjab assembly elections from Amritsar (East) constituency.

Minutes after the election code of conduct came into effect for the Punjab Polls, Congress leader Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu confirmed that her husband and former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu will contest the assembly polls from Amritsar East constituency.

In an apparent attempt to storm the Akali bastion of Majha that has 25 assembly seats, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is focusing on the Majithia constituency where the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has re-nominated cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia.

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at New Delhi on Tuesday. During the meeting that lasted for half-an-hour, the former BJP MP discussed his plans about joining the party.

In a major development, it is almost certain now that former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu will open his innings in Congress by contesting the assembly elections 2017 in place of his wife.

Terrorism took centrestage at the Heart of Asia conference on Sunday as Afghanistan and India jointly delivered a stinging attack on Pakistan and indicated Islamabad was doing little to rein in militancy in the region.

As many as 40 countries and groupings will participate in the meet aimed at helping war-ravaged Afghanistan in its political and economic transition.

Pakistan’s top diplomat Sartaj Aziz will arrive in Amritsar on Saturday to attend a key meet of Asian leaders, advancing his trip by a day in a surprise move even as New Delhi and Islamabad struggled to improve frosty ties.

Amritsar The senior official level talks of the ‘Heart of Asia’ kicked off to discuss Amritsar Declaration ahead of the ministerial talks that will take place on Sunday

A day after the Supreme Court ordered status quo on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) issue, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal asserted that the canal will never become a reality.

No announcement of tickets as yet; newly-inducted Congress leader, a CPS in the ruling SAD-BJP regime not so long ago, says the high command will soon answer those questioning ticket being given to her from the constituency.

Once a serious critic of the Congress, especially of its state unit chief Capt Amarinder Singh, former Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who will be formally joining the Congress in New Delhi on November 28, now sees it as the “best option” for the people of Punjab.

SGPC also plans to use less-polluting fireworks to protect the shrine’s sheen

Inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal amid much fanfare, the ambitious Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum is incomplete.

Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:

Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:

The CM, who opened the stretch on Tuesday along with the Golden Temple Plaza, also refrained from political speech. Lauding the effort of Sukhbir and his team, the CM said: “The credit for this project doesn’t go to me, Sukhbir or the government. This is all about sewa at Guru ki nagri.”

Hindustan Times takes a lot at Punjab MLAs and their performance:

Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:

As all’s set for the inauguration of the stretch from Town Hall to Golden Temple in its beautified ‘heritage look’ on Tuesday, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal unveiled the spruced-up street and the Plaza to the media here on Monday evening.

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