Bathinda, October 31
The Congress today sounded the poll bugle for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state with Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Mohinder Singh Kaypee asking partymen to work hard to ensure the party's success in the elections.

Kaypee was here to attend a function held to remember former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He also administered oath to hundreds of people who had gathered at the function organised by the urban unit of the district Congress at a banquet hall.

Terming it as 'Sankalp Diwas', Kaypee asked all those present to follow the path shown by Indira Gandhi and made them promise that they would work under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, the UPA chairperson.

Kaypee lashed out at the Badals family saying the ruling SAD should rename itself as "Sukhbir Akali Dal". He said that the SAD (B) was now a party unlike in the past when workers who had sacrificed a lot for the party found a prominent place in it.

"Now, the SAD (B) is just like a private limited company, being run by Sukhbir Badal, Manpreet Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia," he said. He condemned the SAD saying its leaders had earlier announced that the day would be observed but had later backtracked. "On the one hand, they go to the Congress- led Central government to get funds for the state and on the other, they refuse to observe the day of the former prime minister's sacrifice which is wrong," he alleged.

Alleging the ruling alliance as a "Lathi-Sota" government, he said, "The British, who pursued the same policy, could not survive in the country. These leaders too will have to find ways to save their lives."

Except for Harminder Singh Jassi, no MLA of the district marked his presence at the meeting. Mahinder Rinwa, Avtar Brar, Parkash Singh Bhatti, Joginder Panjgrain, Gurnam Sema, Gursant Brar, Bal Mukand Sharma and Tehal Sandhu were among those who addressed the gathering.

Some Congress workers, who had made sacrifices for the party, were honoured at the event with sewing machines and blankets.

Later, while talking to mediapersons, Kaypee said that 1780 cases in which Congmen were falsely implicated, have come to light. He also termed the post of area in-charge appointed by the SAD as wrong.

When asked about the Congress candidate from the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, he said the party had not decided it so far but winning ability will be the only criteria in candidate selection.

Replying to a query regarding the key role of Dera Sacha Sauda votes in the recent assembly polls, he said, "This time again, we will approach all deras. Moreover, any political party, which is secular, is invited to join us." 

Abohar, October 31
"Had any member of Badal family ever sacrificed for freedom or sovereignty of this country, they would have certainly not opposed observing the martyrdom day of Indira Gandhi as Sankalp Diwas," legislator Sunil Jakhar said while speaking at a meeting that was organised by the City Congress Committee at the new grain market here today.

He earlier was followed by the party workers in offering flower petals on Gandhi's portrait.

Criticising the Akali leadership for joining hands with the saffron party, which he blamed for making bids to harm the sovereign status of the nation. The MLA claimed only the Congress respected people of all faiths and religion ignoring caste and creed.

Flaying Parkash Singh Badal and the other senior SAD (B) leaders for conspicuously observing silence over the utterances and violence spearheaded by the Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena activists in Mumbai, Jakhar feared hundreds of transporters originating from Punjab, who have to take truckloads to Maharashtra, may also be targeted by the frenzied MNS workers if their nefarious designs go unchecked. City Congress president, B.L. Nagpal presided over the meeting.

Bathinda, October 31
Even as the Congress workers observed the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi as Sankalp Diwas, activists of the youth wing of the SAD (A), observed the ‘martyrdom’ of Beant Singh, Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh, involved in her killing.

Addressing a gathering at Gurudwara Hazi Rattan Sahib, Barinder Singh Mann, president of the youth wing, said the three sacrificed their lives just to save the dignity of the Akal Takht Sahib. He also condemned the SGPC for not observing the day in their remembrance.

Party leaders appealed to the youth to observe the day as Martyr’s Day and send the message of sacrifice for Sikhism to the whole world. They also criticised the Congress for observing the day and said it was like rubbing salt into the wounds of Punjab.

Abohar, October 31
The Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) has failed in further developing the Industrial Focal Point (IFP) here for more than a decade but wild greenery has developed in such a crude manner that all roads there have been blocked.

Suspected elements could be seen taking advantage of the such growth even during the daylight, sources said. Cars having female occupants could also be seen after sunset there.

A visit to the complex today indicated that some colonisers, taking advantage of their influence in the corridor of powers, have removed the cement pipes that were laid to supply canal water to the IFP. The authorities have neither initiated action against the culprits nor tried to take the damaged pipes in their possession. Meanwhile, water has started accumulating in the reservoirs those were constructed to store water for the pumping station apparently due to seepage after the floor beds choked.

The focal point was initially planned some thirty years back. The state government acquired land next to the new grain market but failed in raising the basic structure. Later, the land was used for setting up co-operative spinning mills under the aegis of the Spinfed. The mills, however, had fallen prey to alleged corruption, unrealistic policies and malpractices as the employees unions observed.

Again the government led by Beant Singh planned an industrial focal point by acquiring more than 25 acres of prime land located on the National Highway 15 facing the Alamgarh bypass. As per the official version, Rs 2.50 crore was spent on construction of water supply system, roads and streetlights. But none cared to develop the complex further during the last ten years. Trees have grown up to block the roads. Water reservoirs which were earlier used by budding cricket players have started choking.

Streetlights have been switched off due to non-payment of the PSEB bills. A family is occupying the lone quarter in the abandoned water pumping centre and lives without electricity light. They have to fill pitchers for personal use from a hand pump. Unwarranted growth of shrubs has covered even the huge sign board of the PSIDC. 

Bathinda, October 31
Around 350 delegates would assemble in the Malwa heartland to discuss the Punjabi language and education system. Delegates not only from cities like Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi but also from countries like Pakistan, Japan, Canada, the US and Australia would be taking part in the Hind Panjabi Lekhak conference to be held on Novenber 15 and 16.

This was announced at a press meet addressed today by Dr Sarabjeet Singh, general secretary, Kendriya Punjabi Lekhak Sabha.

The main purpose of the conference would be to discuss Punjabi and the prevailing education system. Members of the sabha said they were satisfied with only two points of the Act that was passed regarding Punjabi language which said Punjabi will be compulsory till class X and Punjabi will be the official language in Punjab.

Jagdish Singh Ghai, convener, said, "We would raise matters pertaining to Punjabi being used by every professional in Punjab. Speaking and knowing English is not bad but one should be aware of one's mother tongue."

The conference would be inaugurated by Dr Jaspal Singh, vice-chancellor, Punjabi University. The flag would be hoisted by Prof Gurdial Singh, a Padamshree recipient. Other prominent personalities who would be present at the conference includes Dr Joginder Singh Pawar, former vice-chancellor of Punjabi University, Dr Harkrishan Mehta, Gurbachan Singh Bhullar, Dr T.R. Vinod and Sidhu Damdami from the Punjabi Tribune. A cultural programme based on Punjabi would be organised after the conference. 

Bathinda, October 31
November 1 is Punjab Day and with the passing years, Punjabi language has been adopted not only by people residing in Punjab but the migrants also.

Time is such when locals are sending their kids to convent schools, whereas the migrants are sending their children to local government schools where they are picking up the Punjabi culture fast. Some of these kids have given themselves Punjabi names and some parents have also followed this trend.

Almost 15 per cent children in government schools of the city are migrant kids who are able to read Punjabi fluently. In Dashmesh School, 70 per cent children are from UP and Bihar. Ajit Singh, a migrant kid, has secured a position in the education board's merit list also.

The principals of some of the government schools of the city felt, "Migrants are picking up the language fast. They are at times much better than the locals. There are a lot of migrant kids in Dhobiana Basti and they are coming to government schools to learn the local language. These kids are showing a keen interest in Punjabi as compared to other subjects. Some migrant kids have been able to get scholarships. The number of admissions sought by migrants is increasing every year."

Lal Chand from UP has given Punjabi names to his kids. His youngest son Dilawar Singh is fluent in Punjabi and Raman and Kuldeep are in Class XII and are studying in a local government school. Another migrant Krishan Lal who is a vegetable vendor has sent his daughter Ritu to Shaheed Sandeep Singh Government School.

There are 25 migrant kids in the government primary school at Mall road. A teacher in a government school says that he gives a lecture in Punjabi during the morning prayers at school so that children are able to improve their pronunciation.

Bathinda, October 31
It has been ten days since four private bus operators boycotted bus service to three villages, Mehma Sarja, Mehma Suai and Mehma Sarkari. There has been no initiative to resolve the matter either by the students or the operators and this is causing unnecessary inconvenience to villagers.

There had been a tiff over students not buying tickets before boarding the buses and buses not plying on their route as per the schedule. People are complaining about the apathetic attitude of the bus operators towards them. Commuters are having a hard time due to no bus service to the villages. Villagers say that they have to go the city for everything as all medical facilities, courts and other public utilities are in the city but due to the ongoing quarrel between the students and the bus operators, they are having a hard time. They have gone to the panchayats concerned but the matter remains unresolved.

The four private bus operators, Brar bus service, Golden bus service, Sra bus service and Baba Kala bus service, refuse to accede to the demand of the students and he students in turn are doing the same.

A sarpanch of one of the villages said, "We have tried our best to make both the parties soften their stand but to no avail. Students are adamant that buses should arrive at heir scheduled time or else, we will not buy tickets before traveling."

On the other hand, the students said, "If a commoner is getting affected, then let them because even we are commoners and our demands are not being taken into consideration. We will not agree to any condition until our demand is met with." Villagers said it was high time that the authorities concerned intervened to make things easy for those affected. The students have warned that they would intensify their stir if their requests are not met.

Fazilka, October 31
Revival of pre-partition rail link between Ludhiana and Karachi popularly known as Golden Track could change the fortunes of the border district of Ferozepur in particular and could also give considerably boost to trade activity in Punjab and Northern India.

The Golden Track, which ran between Ludhiana and Karachi via Fazilka, was the most economically viable and shortest route on which trade activity flourished in pre-partition days as Karachi and Ludhiana were the hub of industry and trade in those days too. All the towns en route this rail link also contributed in a major way.

Fazilka was one of the largest wool and cotton markets of the northern region in pre-partition days. Its trade activities extended up to erstwhile Burma (now Mynamar) and Liverpool in England through this route.

According to information collected by The Tribune, this 1000 kilometre long rail track was set up by the East India Company about 110 years ago. The Indian raw material was transported through this rail link to Europe, Middle East, and Gulf countries. It was then considered to the major, most easy, viable and economical trade route and the British and Indian traders earned a lot of money on this route. The areas surrounding Ludhiana, Ferozerpur, Fazilka (now in India) and Amruka, Samarsatta, Minchanabad, Hyderabad to Karachi port (now in Pakistan) which fell along this track flourished. With the partition of the country, the link was snapped. It had a telling effect on the economy of Ferozepur district particularly Fazilka town as the Redcliff line was about 3 kilometres as the crow flies from the then commercial town of Fazilka. The partition of the country also left the Fazilka town undeveloped due to its close proximity to the border and subsequent strained relations between India and Pakistan. No industry came up near the town in private and public sector. The economy remained agro-based.

Now, as the relationship between India and Pakistan is improving the demand for revival of the old Golden Track is being strongly raised by Indo-Pak Sulemanki International Trade Front, Fazilka.

The revival of the Golden Track does not entail much expenses. Rail track has to be laid on a stretch of about 10 kilometres only beginning from Fazilka via border village Chananawala connecting to Amruka railway station in Pakistan. This is significant because Fazilka is connected to Ludhiana through broad gauge and Amruka in Pakistan is connected to Samarsatta through broad gauge.

From Samarsatta to Karachi, there is already a double broad gauge rail track. One of these is already being utilised for transportation of goods. If the 10 km stretch from Fazilka to Amruka is relaid, the export of material from northern India through Ludhiana to Middle-East, Gulf and Europe through Karachi port would become easier.

If this rail track is revived then according to the existing freight traffic of the railways, the traders shall need to spend only a small amount of Rs 592 per tonne for transportation of foodgrains and about Rs 1100 per tonne on other goods. The traders would be able to save a huge amount being spent by them on the export- import of goods through trucks and aeroplanes.

Indo-Pak Sulemanki International Trade Front secretary-general Lila Dhar Sharma disclosed that the Front had taken up the issue of revival of this Golden Track with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as it would bring about revolutionary changes in the trade activities which would flourish manifold.

Sharma claims that significantly, the industrialists and traders’ bodies of Ludhiana too have shown considerable interest in the revival of this track. They have lent their support to the move. 

Fazilka, October 31
Mystery shrouds the death of a young man in Fazilka sub-division. The deceased, Sukhvinder Singh (33), was an agricultural labourer.

As per the FIR lodged by the father of the deceased, Arjun Singh, they were living in the fields of Balwinder Singh in village Abhun, some eight kilometres from here. He had migrated from Khajuwala town of Rajasthan about eight years back.

On Wednesday night, Sukhvinder Singh reportedly went to a nearby village Chuwarianwali. When he did not return till morning, his family members started a search operation. His body was found inside a tubewell room in village on Thursday. The body reportedly had some injury marks on face and neck. Post mortem of the body was conducted at local civil hospital today.

Sadar police, Fazilka, has registered a case under section 302 of the IPC against unidentified persons. 

Bathinda, October 31
The Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Shashi Kant today visited the city and held a meeting with senior police officials of the district.

Giving details of the meeting, a senior police officer said that he was on tour during which he has been visiting all district headquarters.

As per the information, the ADGP was more concerned over the law and order in the district. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Faridkot range, Senior Superintendent of Police and all superintendents of police were present. — TNS 

Bathinda, October 31
At a meeting held at Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabat, Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant Bathinda and west zone, Bathinda, activist of the PSEB Engineers Association condemned the decision of the PSEB to grant extension to two deputy chief engineers, who were to retire on today.

They association said that giving such type of extensions would set a wrong precedent and affect the promotional avenues of the engineers in service.

To chalk out further course of action, a meeting of the central executive committee of the engineers association has been called on November 1 at Patiala. — TNS

Bathinda, October 31
After a five-years proceedings in a corruption case, special judge, Bathinda, J.S. Kular today acquitted an accused while another was awarded two years' imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 2,000. 

Giving information about the case, sleuths from the Vigilance Bureau, Bathinda range, today said that they had nabbed Sukhsagar Singh, welfare officer, Phul and a sevadar Ramesh Kumar red-handed while receiving a bribe of Rs 10,000 and Rs 2,000 respectively, from one Mukhtiar Kaur of Dyalpura Bhai Ka village. They were receiving money from her to issue some certificate to enable her to avail of the benefit of the government's scheme of granting Rs 25,000 as shagun for the inter-caste wedding of her son. The court acquitted Sukhsagar and punished Ramesh Kumar.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, October 31
The drug de-addiction campaign may suffer a major jolt due to yesterday evening’s incident, social activists feel.

As per information available, a dozen persons from Abohar village late last evening allegedly ransacked the Nai Disha Nasha Mukti Kendra, located on the Sadbhawna Nagar road in Sriganganagar. They allegedly attacked the employees with swords and lathis causing injuries to Joginder Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Sanjay and Ajay.

Meanwhile, 90 out of the 95 drug addicts, some of them from Abohar sub-
division, managed to flee through the adjoining locality creating panic among the residents. The staff of the centre chased and overpowered few of them but about 80 patients could not be rounded up. Most of them have not reached their respective homes as well, parents reported.

Suraj Jora, in charge of the centre while lodging a FIR with Sriganganagar police has reportedly identified some of the culprits as Sukhpal Singh Aulakh of village Kallarkhera, located on Abohar-Sriganganagar road, Ginny Brar and Aman of Abohar town. The complainant alleged that drug mafia, who has been spearheading a campaign against the centre, had masterminded the attack.

Sources said Sriganganagar police has sought help from Abohar police to nab the culprits. The incident has sent shock waves among parents who had been trying hard to get their children free from drugs.

Mansa, October 31
Mazdoor Mukti Morcha today held meetings of labourers in many villages for the preparation of its first state-level organizational conference. The conference would be organised at Barnala on November 3.

Bhagwant Singh Sammaon, state secretary of Mazdoor Mukti Morcha addressing to the meeting said that economic inequality prevails because of the wrong policies of our government.

During the meeting various other issues were raised as land sealing act should be amended to decrease the land owning limit from 18 acre to 10 acre.

Surplus land and panchyati land should be divided between landless and poor people, he demanded. The leader of the labour association demanded that the daily wage of workers to be increased to Rs 200. Privatisation of education, health and other basic amenities has been badly affecting the poor people, he said.

Other leaders of the Morcha like Sukhwinder Singh Hirewala and Nikka Singh Bahadarpur demanded that all types of loans of working class should be waived. Meetings were held in dozen villages including Gurnekalan, Tahalian, Mirpur Kalan and Tandian.