Phagwara, December 21
On a call given by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), teachers of various colleges, including Guru Nanak College, today began an indefinite protest against the Punjab Government for its delaying tactics on their demand for pension and gratuity.

The protesters squatted on the campus and held a rally, according to Prof Jaswant Singh Gandam, former District President, PCCTU.The protesters also raised slogans against the government.

Addressing the protesters, Prof Gandam alleged that in spite of repeated assurances by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and other ministers, none of their demands had been fulfilled.

Though the Congress government was eulogising about fulfilling 66 promises made by it in its poll manifesto, the promise of pension-cum-gratuity, incorporated in the manifesto too, had not been fulfilled, rued Prof Gandam.

The protesters flayed the Finance Department for creating roadblocks in the way of implementation of pension scheme.

They threatened to burn effigies of the Finance Ministry in case it failed to fall in line.

“All we want is retirement benefit for teachers to ensure social security and life of dignity for teachers during old age,” added Prof Gandam.

Jalandhar, December 21
The Congress government in Punjab has recently released funds to the tune of Rs 75 crore under the Punjab Nirman Yojna, and was set to misuse it to its advantage during the forthcoming Assembly elections.

This was alleged by former minister and senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia while talking to mediapersons here today.

Mr Kalia said according to a letter issued by the government, the funds would be given to registered youth clubs, sports clubs, mahila mandals and SC dharamshalas and the GM district industry cell was authorised to disburse the money.

The former minister alleged that the money would be disbursed to Congressmen after registering clubs, mandals and dharamshalas in their names and the same would be misused during elections.

In support of his allegation, Mr Kalia said it was not mentioned in the government directions whether the funds would be given to old or newly registered societies and for what purpose the funds would be used.

Mr Kalia said the release of Rs 75 crores with new directions just a few weeks before the code of conduct raised several doubts.

He said he had written to the Election Commission of India to freeze the funds from distribution.

Kapurthala, December 21
In yet another blind murder, the body of a migrant labourer was found in fields located in Machhijoya village of Sultanpur Lodhi sub-division in the district yesterday.

Suresh belongs to Nalanda in Bihar.

He was working as labourer in the fields of Gurmukh Singh. His body was found wrapped in a bedsheet.

SSP Rajiv Ahir and other police officials visited the spot.

The police has sent the body to the Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination after taking it in its possession.

An FIR against unknown assailants has been lodged on the statement of Suresh’s wife Sunita.

Hoshiarpur, December 21
Inhabitants of the Kandi area, led by MLA Des Raj Dhugga and Prof Gurdial Singh, staged a dharna-cum-rally in front of the mini-secretariate here today in protest against the non-issuance of permit for felling of khair trees from their lands in the area.

They protested under the banner of the Kandi Sangharsh Morcha.

Addressing the rally, MP and state BJP president Avinash Rai Khanna said the state government was not serious towards the farmers of the area.

The main source of their income was trees but due to the negative attitude of the state government, they were being deprived of their right to earn a livelihood.

The permission to fell trees from their land had not been given even after the elapsing of scheduled 10-year period.

He said he had raised the problems of the area in Parliament in the past and would now meet the Punjab Governor in this regard.

If the state government still failed to issue the permits to the farmers, he would launch an agitation along with the people of the area, he added.

MLAs Des Raj Dugga and Ch Balvir Singh Miani also addressed the rally.

Later, they presented a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard.

Jalandhar, December 21
A group of journalists - mostly belonging to vernacular media - today condemned the Punjab Government for posting Naunihal Singh as the new SSP of the district.

The journalists associated with dailies like Desh Sewak, Nawan Zamana, Punjabi Tribune, The Times of India, and agencies like PTI, also “vowed to continue their fight for justice till the government decided to act against Naunihal Singh for registering a ‘false case’ against a Mohali-based photographer of an English daily,” said a press note issued by them here. In the press note, they also claimed that their “cause was being supported by senior SAD leader Sukhbir Badal and BJP leader Vijay Sampla. “Instead of reprimanding Naunihal Singh, the government has given him a prized posting,” rued members. Interestingly, not all mediapersons of the city were taken into confidence by the group before condemning the government or the police officer concerned. — TNS

Nawanshahr, December 21
A four-day training workshop of nodal teachers and peer educators under the School AIDS Education Programme was inaugurated by District Education Officer Gurmail Singh Sahlon at Government Senior Secondary School here today.

Two teachers and two students each from 50 schools are taking part in the workshop.

The programme has been launched by the Punjab AIDS Control Society and State Council for Education Research & Training (SCERT) for creating awareness on AIDS among adolescents.

In his address, Mr Sahlon exhorted teachers and students to learn latest skills and take active role in activities and projects related to AIDS awareness.