All quiet in Amritsar ‘holy city’ as implementation plan stalls

Amritsar: Nearly two months after the Punjab govt issued a notification declaring the walled city of Amritsar a holy city and prohibited the sale and use of meat, tobacco, and alcohol within its limits, a concerte implementation plan is yet to materialise.Despite the Dec 15, 2025, announcement, the authorities have not framed any guidelines for providing compensation and rehabilitating shopkeepers to be hit by the move. Rajinder Kumar, a fourth-generation fish trader operating inside Hall Gate fish market, is one of them. "There is silence from the Amritsar municipal corporation side, so we are waiting too," he said, adding, "They are yet to provide us with an alternate place." "If they do not do so, we will go to court. The wholesalers will move if given an alternate place but what about the small-time meat sellers across the city?" he asked. A few streets away, Manmohan Singh, a restaurant owner, echoed the sentiment while wiping down empty tables. "The administration has not provided us with any alternative, so nothing has been done so far," he said. Joint commissioner Jai Inder Singh maintained that officials are holding continuous meetings with stakeholders to ensure no one suffered losses while the holy city guidelines were implemented. At the same time, political pressure is mounting. Dr Jagmohan Singh Raju of BJP recently wrote a strongly worded letter to the chief minister demanding immediate formulation and implementation of a comprehensive rehabilitation policy for shopkeepers, vendors, and workers affected by the prohibition. He urged identification and survey of affected persons, structured rehabilitation, alternative business zones outside the prohibited area, and financial assistance during transition. Sanctity, he insisted, must not cost livelihoods since the rehabilitation was the responsibility of the govt. Sources said the govt, barely a year ahead of elections, was cautious, aware that the decision could anger thousands. The notification was issued. The guidelines were not. And in the narrow lanes of the walled city, uncertainty now echoes louder than devotion. MSID:: 128255965 413 |