-kUeE-U20678266148J5E-250x250%40HT-Web.jpg "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
New jail ready in Amritsar, inmates to be shifted in 2 weeks
The shifting of prisoners from old jail to the New Central Jail will start soon. Spread over 67 acres, the new jail at Fatehpur village is almost complete and is being given finishing touches. The government spent Rs 130 crore on the facility that has a capacity to accommodate over 2,000 inmates.
Updated on Apr 19, 2016 08:09 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Sixty acres of land earmarked, not a brick laid for IIM Amritsar
Two years after the Centre announced setting up of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Amritsar, not a brick has been laid to construct the institute’s own building. The classes continue to run from premises from the Punjab Institute of Technology building on the Government Polytechnic College premises in the city.
Updated on Apr 10, 2016 07:22 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Husband will come if I’m troubled again: CPS Sidhu after Facebook drama
Railing against BJP’s ruling partner Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Dr Sidhu now says that if she’s “troubled again” by the state government “and especially the SAD”, her husband, former MP Navjot Singh Sidhu “will be here to fight for me”. She reiterated that she won’t contest if the SAD-BJP alliance continued for the assembly polls, but denied that her husband and she were going to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): “I have never said I am going to AAP”
Updated on Apr 04, 2016 09:52 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
After ‘resignation’ from BJP, Dr Sidhu is back, again via Facebook
She ‘resigned’ from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) two days ago on Facebook, and now she has announced her comeback too via the social media site — thus continues the sulk-fest of Amritsar-East MLA and chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu.
Updated on Apr 03, 2016 07:51 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Committed to completing all projects by September: Amritsar DC
The Amritsar district administration is busying itself with development projects for the holy city’s uplift. The projects were started a long time ago, but the authorities skipped a flurry of deadlines. That seems to have changed recently after deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal reviewed the projects and asked the district administration to gear up. In an interview with HT’s Aseem Bassi, deputy commissioner Varun Roojam talks about what the government is trying to change in the city. Here are the excerpts:
Updated on Apr 03, 2016 01:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Having resigned on Facebook, CPS Sidhu remains quiet, skips BJP meet
A day after posting her resignation from the BJP on Facebook, chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) and Amritsar East MLA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Saturday continued to be incommunicado while BJP state chief Kamal Sharma said he had not received any resignation letter from her.
Updated on Apr 02, 2016 10:54 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Whom is she fooling? Dr Navjot Sidhu ‘resigns’ from BJP on Facebook
Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, the sulking-for-long Amritsar-East MLA, posted on her Facebook page around 9am on Friday: “Finally, I have resigned from (the) BJP. The burden is over.” As Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders started dialling phones and journalists even got to her residence, her staff went from claiming that her FB profile had been hacked, to saying that she had played a prank. She remained incommunicado as the staff said she was out “for some work”.
Updated on Apr 01, 2016 09:21 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Pakistan probe team retraces terror route to Pathankot air base
A Pakistani probe team got a sneak peek of the Pathankot air base on Tuesday as it retraced the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists’ trail during the audacious attack on one of India’s frontline defence installations in January.
Updated on Mar 30, 2016 09:09 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi and Vinay Dhingra, Pathankot
Probe team leaves Pathankot, first time Pak made effort, says Amit Shah
A Pakistani team investigating the Pathankot attack inspected select parts of the sensitive air base on Tuesday amid violent protests by Congress and Aam Aadmi Party workers in the north Punjab town.
Updated on Mar 29, 2016 01:49 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Pathankot
AAP, Congress protest at Pathankot as Pak team enters air base
Chanting slogans against the Centre and holding placards saying “Pak JIT go back”, the protestors waved black flags and reached the gates of the Air Base, where defence personnel were seen trying to restrain them and stop them from entering the restricted area.
Updated on Mar 29, 2016 01:06 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Pathankot
Pak probe team in Amritsar, to reach Pathankot in bullet-proof SUVs
Pakistan’s joint investigation team (JIT) on Tuesday landed in Amritsar in a special aircraft and headed to the Pathankot airbase by road almost three months after the terrorist attack on India’s frontline airbase to visit the scene of the 80-hour gunfight.
Updated on Mar 29, 2016 10:47 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Cong V-P Rahul Gandhi at Radha Soami dera in Beas for night stay
Rahul’s visit was so secretive that even the district administration and top police officials had no information. It is significant since the dera has followers not just in Punjab but several parts of the country. With Punjab going to polls in less than a year’s time, a lot of politicians from different parties are making visits to deras.
Updated on Mar 18, 2016 11:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
‘Fight drug nexus after you form govt’: Rahul foresees Amarinder as CM
Flays Modi and Badal; says he was ridiculed for flagging it and drug problem was ignored; releases documentary
Updated on Mar 18, 2016 09:39 PM IST
Golden Temple serves organic langar, other gurdwaras motivated
The 1-lakh-plus pilgrims partaking of langar in the Golden Temple community kitchen round the clock every day now have organic vegetables on their plate.
Updated on Mar 15, 2016 08:25 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Navjot Singh Sidhu stumped, BJP picks former Amritsar mayor for RS
Amid all the speculations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might rehabilitate its three-time former local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu by nominating him to the Rajya Sabha, it yet again kept him away from Parliament by selecting former Amritsar mayor Shwait Malik instead.
Updated on Mar 10, 2016 11:30 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi
Work on new spectator gallery at Attari border in full swing
Keeping in mind the huge rush of visitors and the fact that they have to jostle for space for watching the popular Retreat Ceremony at the Attari border in the evening, work on the project to construct a new spectator gallery is in full swing and may take a year to complete.
Updated on Mar 10, 2016 09:56 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Attari
Pakistan releases 87 Indian prisoners after 28-hour delay
After 28 hours of confusion at the border, Pakistan sent back 87 Indian prisoners around 2.30pm on Tuesday through the joint check post in Attari .
Updated on Mar 09, 2016 10:21 AM IST
hindustan times | Aseem Bassi, Attari (amritsar)
Gateway to Amritsar to be tallest structure on NH-1
The tallest gateway on National Highway-1 — a 100-foot-high and as much long and wide dome — will welcome visitors to the city of the Golden Temple, one of the country’s most visited shrines.
Updated on Mar 04, 2016 09:35 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Harkirat Singh and Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Sukhbir rules out change in alliance seat-sharing
Even as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have decided to jointly contest the 2017 assembly polls, SAD president and Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal here on Thursday ruled out any change in the seat-sharing arrangement between the two parties.
Updated on Feb 11, 2016 11:36 PM IST
Hindustantimes | Aseem Bassi
AAP ahead? Dr Sidhu drops enough hints
With BJP bosses making it clear that the party will stay with its alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab and contest the 2017 assembly polls together, BJP leader and chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Wednesday dropped hints that she along with her cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu may be heading towards the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Updated on Feb 11, 2016 08:11 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
HT Q&A: Will Sidhus join AAP? Wife throws broad hints
In an interview to Hindustan Times, Dr Sidhu terms the SAD-BJP alliance “not good” for Punjab and its people. The CPS also dropps hints that she might be on her way out and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could be her next destination.
Updated on Feb 11, 2016 11:17 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Move to set up Khalsa University stirs up political trouble
The Khalsa College governing council’s (KCGC’s) move to set up Khalsa University in Amritsar has kicked up a political row a year ahead of the Punjab assembly polls, uniting the main opposition parties -- the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Updated on Feb 02, 2016 11:37 AM IST
HindustanTimes | Aseem Bassi and Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
SGPC honours Ontario premier, without ‘siropa’
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) honoured Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne at the Golden Temple on Sunday morning, but claimed not to have given her the ceremonial ‘siropa’ (robe of honour). However, Wynne’s office said in the evening that she was presented a ‘siropa’ at the shrine, while releasing a photo to buttress its claim.
Updated on Jan 31, 2016 08:37 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Ontario premier at Golden Temple today amid gay row
Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne arrived in Amritsar amid tight security on Saturday after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) said it would not welcome her with a ‘siropa’ (robe of honour) during her visit to the Golden Temple as she is a supporter of same-sex marriages.
Updated on Jan 31, 2016 03:03 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi and Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Pro-gay Canadian leader runs into an ethical wall in Punjab
Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne’s scheduled visit to Amritsar as part of her 10-day business trip to India has landed in controversy even before her arrival.
Updated on Jan 30, 2016 08:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vivek Gupta and Aseem Bassi, Amritsar/patiala
Khadoor Sahib bypoll: Nomination papers of Bhai Baldeep Singh rejected
Nomination papers of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dissident Bhai Baldeep Singh, who had filed his candidature as an independent for the Khadoor Sahib bypoll, were rejected by the returning officer (RO) and sub-divisional officer Ravinder Singh on Thursday. The RO said Bhai Baldeep was not registered in Punjab as a voter — a mandatory requirement under election commission rules.
Updated on Jan 28, 2016 08:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi and Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Sikki’s refusal to leave shrine for filing papers may put Cong in bind
With Congress’ probable candidate for the Khadoor Sahib by-elections, former MLA Ramanjit Sikki, expressing his inability to leave the Golden Temple premises till culmination of his annual sewa on January 31, his decision may put both the party and the state election commission in a bind.
Updated on Jan 25, 2016 09:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
Gunshot fired at Golden Temple; miraculous escape of sewadar
A sewadar (caretaker) at the Golden Temple had a narrow escape when a stray bullet pierced through his turban and jacket before scraping past his chest on Thursday.
Updated on Jan 15, 2016 09:36 AM IST
Aseem Bassi, Amritsar
PM Modi ‘satisfied’ after visiting Pathankot airbase
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Pathankot on Saturday morning to take stock of the situation in the aftermath of the terror attack at the air base last Saturday.
Updated on Jan 09, 2016 06:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aseem Bassi and Vinay Dhingra, Pathankot
Confusion persists over no. of militants involved in Pathankot attack
A week after a deadly terror attack hit Punjab’s Pathankot airbase, confusion persists over the number of militants involved, sources said on Friday.
Updated on Jan 09, 2016 01:36 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Ahuja and Aseem Bassi, New Delhi/gurdaspur