Amritsar, May 9
In a missive to the Chief Election Commission (CEC), the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee has asked for the deployment of paramilitary forces to ensure free and fair Amritsar (South) bypoll, which is scheduled for May 22.

In its complaint, signed by Bir Devinder Singh, chief spokesman of PPCC accused the Punjab Police of favouring the ruling party candidate. “We have lost faith in the police functioning as majority of its officials are succumbing to the alliance pressure,” the complaint further reads.

“In continuation to our communication dated April 23, we once again reiterate our demand for deployment of paramilitary forces in the district for smooth conduct of byelections,” said the PPCC chief spokesman, quoting certain glaring violations of election code of conduct. “In this scenario, our demand is totally justified,” he further added.

The complaint further said the Punjab Police, which was responsible for maintaining law and order, had been reeling under severe staff crunch, especially officers. “According to the reports, as many as six districts of the state are without Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs). Moreover, the SSPs of Barnala and Batala have already proceeded on long leave, as they were unable to bear the undue political pressure. A large number of SHOs have also refused to succumb to the pressure of the jathedars and have desired to be relieved,” claimed Bir Devinder.

Amritsar, May 9
The Chhina-Adlakha group got a shot in the arm when its five office-bearers were elected unopposed after the withdrawal of nominations by opposition led by Tarn Taran SMO Dr Sant Parkash Singh Dhillon.

Among those elected were Subash Arora (vice-president), B.M. Vinayak (honourary secretary), Tejinder Singh Arora (joint secretary) and two executive members.

Interestingly, the withdrawal came just two days before the Service Club poll scheduled for May 11.

Expressing distress, Dr Dhillon said he would contest the elections because it would be coward to withdraw at this stage. He said, “Come what may, I would contest poll because winning or losing is not an issue. I would welcome the result even if I lose”.

According to the information, hotelier and business tycoon Tejinder Singh, alias Gogi, played a vital role in nomination withdrawal.

Those who have withdrawn nominations were Prem Jaitly, Amritpal Singh Sandhu, brother of former Service Club chief, J.S. Wadhwa, P.S. Grover, S.S. Khurana, Gurmukh Singh, Vibhakar Sharma and Satish Bhalla.

Amritsar, May 9
To make peasants aware of harmful effects of burning stubble, the district administration has launched a special door-to-door campaign.

The drive was flagged off by deputy commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu, who urged the farmers to ensure proper health of the soil. During the campaign, a total of eight vans would go from door to door spreading awareness against the unnatural practice.

Addressing the gathering, the DC said every year around 550 lakh tonne of crop residue is produced. Burning it destroys the organic matter, which determines the productivity of the land, present in the soil, he said. “The organic matter in the fertile soil should be 0.04% , whereas here it’s just .025% ,” Pannu further said, adding that burning of stubble also destroys essential nutrients and microorganisms necessary for production of new crops.

The agriculture experts while giving their views said burning of crop was resulting in the deterioration of land health every year. They said it was unfortunate that the practice of burning crop residue existed only this part of the country due to lack of knowledge amongst farmers. It also contributes to pollution, global warming and other environmental ill effects.

Dr Paramjit Singh Sandhu, chief agriculture officer, said the vans would educate the farmers with the help of agriculture technocrats, besides informing them that how the mixing of crop residue with soil helped in health of land.

Amritsar, May 9
The renovation and modernisation of the historic Jallianwala Bagh is going on a war footing as the restoration of bullet marks on the three walls of the bagh, flooring of the “samadhi” and construction of the plaza at the entrance have almost been completed.

Giving the details, ITDC’s site engineer said the green stone on the smadhi had been replaced by a redsat stone, which had helped in giving heritage look to the monument. There were 94 bullet marks on various walls of the bagh, which were being repaired very carefully.

He said they were also repairing the walls around the monument, which had been damaged by the construction activities carried out by residents from time to time. He said the whole work was time consuming and they had to take into account even minor details while carrying out the repair work.

The ambitious project was proposed by Maninderjit Singh Bitta, the then president of the Indian Youth Congress to former Prime Minister P.V. Narsimha Rao. However, the project could see the light of the day only after a high-level meeting of the board of trustees was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The district administration had recently demolished about half a dozen shops located adjacent to the main entrance to provide a separate entrance and exit facility to visitors as the narrow lane, through which the British troops had entered the bagh in 1919, used to get too congested with increase in the number of visitors.

Kahan Singh Pannu said the main aim behind this was to make a separate entry to the hall where the visitors could know about the history of the national monument through media presentation and then they would proceed to other areas. He said the project would be completed before April 13 next, however he hastened to add that the if the work continued at the same pace, they were hopeful of completing the work by December end.The beautification plan costing about Rs 5 crore has been undertaken at the behest of the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) for the beautification, cleanliness and renovation of the memorial site to develop it as a world-class monument. The plan envisaged demolition of all encroachments that had come up around the bagh, such as the construction of windows and other structures by the residents on the periphery of the boundary line.

The project also include the start of a light and sound programme everyday in the evening in order to familiarise the tourists with the various facets of the April 13, 1919 tragedy in which hundreds of people lost their lives. The project also include making of videos and CDs of the proposed light and sound show and distribute it throughout the country as part of an awareness campaign.

One of the paintings in the present museum depicting the Jallianwala Bagh massacre has been also been sent for a redo as the colours on it have faded and is likely to be reinstalled at its original site soon.

Amritsar, May 9
This man with the mission of world peace is doing it for the third time. Bangalore-based B.V. Narayana is once again on a world tour, but this time on a specially modified motorbike.

Tarn Taran, May 9
Students of Sri Guru Harkishan Public School (SGHPS), who stood first in the recently conducted religious competitions, were honoured in a special function organised on the school premises today.

The function was presided over by school principal Swarnjit Singh.

Presenting the school progress report, he said the religious competitions were held at Fatehbad and around 500 students from different schools participated in them. The school team was adjudged first in shabad reciting and third in turban tying competitions.

Amritsar, May 9
Air Marshal PK Barbora, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command (WAC), IAF today visited the Rajasansi Air Force Station to familiarise with the front line operational units. This was his first visit since he took over the reins 
of WAC in January

Group Capt Vishwas Gaur, station commander Rajasansi, briefed the Air Marshal about the operations and tactical warfare. Barbora also scrutinised the combat readiness of the station in handling unforeseen contingencies and visited different war reserves. He also paid a visit to various construction sites, messes and Air warrior accommodation, apart from conducting a windshield tour of the camp.

Meanwhile, Arundhati Barbora, President Air Force Wives Welfare Association visited AFWWA complex. She also inspected the Air Force School and took stock of educational facilities being provided to the children. A cultural programme was also organised on the occasion. — TNS

Amritsar, May 9
On the occasion of World Red Cross Day, social worker Praful Chand Thakur was honoured by the district civil authorities for donating five acres of land worth Rs 15 crore to the Red Cross Society.

He was awarded at a function organised at Khalsa Senior Secondary School by deputy commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu. Another donor Kiran Vij was also honoured for her service to poor.

A blood donation camp was also held on the occasion and 25 units of blood were collected.

In his address, the DC said global warming was a great threat for the humanity and initiatives should be taken to fight it.

Among those present were Mandhir Kaur Pannu, chairperson of hospital welfare section Red Cross Society and Khalsa College senior vice-president Charanjit Singh Chadda.

Amritsar, May 9
An international NGO Round Table, India, working for providing education to the economically weaker children opened its branch at Amritsar. Organisation’s national president Ajay Handa inaugurated the branch during a function held here.

Speaking on the occasion, Handa said many children in rural India were leading a miserable life due to lack of education.

The main aim of the organisation was to open schools in rural belts so that children can be educated. He said the organisation had constructed about 1,000 schools all over the country at the cost of Rs 75 crore. — OC

Amritsar, May 9
Indian aspirants who wish to study in Australia should apply for visa with valid documents rather than submitting fake documents to seek work permit.

This was stated by Auscan managing director Sunil Kumar Jaggi while launching the institute’s operations in Amritsar. He said the institute would provide consultancy services for both immigration and student visa.

Talking about e-visa system, Jaggi said now those who go on student visas would be given work permits along with their visa. Besides, they would be able to travel on grant letter without getting visa evidence stamped on their passports.

He said, “We have a team of experts trained in Australian law who can handle refusal cases for both student and immigrant visas, apart from taking up fresh applications”. The institute would also provide coaching for IELTS which was a primary requisite for Australian visa.