Chandigarh, October 26
Punjab Congressmen today rejoiced at the appointment of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh as the PPCC President by bursting crackers at the party office here as well as in the districts but the senior leadership maintained a stoic silence over the development.

The party office here wore a festive look with Congressmen bursting crackers and distributing ladoos. Amarinder’s aide Karanpal Sekhon said reports of celebrations in the district party offices were also filtering in, particularly from Amarinder’s hometown in Patiala where workers danced on streets. Celebrations were also held at Badda Chowk in Sangrur, Ferozepur and Fazilka.

However, Mohinder Singh Kaypee and Legislature party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal did not react to the development. Nor did the other senior leadership. A large number of legislators and senior leaders while congratulating Amarinder claimed that his appointment would galvanise the party at the grassroot level.

Barnala legislator Kewal Dhillon said the high command had appointed Amarinder at an opportune time when the SAD was in disarray.

Qila Raipur legislator Jassi Khangura said the real future of Punjab had begun now. Khangura and his supporters celebrated the appointment by distributing ladoos in front of his constituency office in Ludhiana.

Amarinder also got the thumbs up from youth leader and Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla who had earlier stood by him against all odds. Singla said the youth would work for the victory of the Congress in the next Assembly elections under Amarinder’s leadership.

Senior leader Jagmohan Singh Kang said the high command had made the best choice. Bholath legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Guru Harsahai legislator Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi said the appointment would prove to be the last nail in the coffin of the SAD-BJP government.

Others congratulating Amarinder included former minister Brahm Mohindra, party spokesman Ashwani Sekhri, former minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, former MLA Sukhjinder Randhawa, Hardyal Kamboj, Nabha legislator Randeep Singh, Ghanaur legislator Madan Lal Jalalpur, former MLA Dr Mohinder Kumar Rinwa, legal cell vice- chairman Sumir Fatta, senior leader Choudhary Gurmail Singh, former Punsup Chairman Brij Lal Goel, former PRTC Chairman Ved Prakash Gupta and party office in charge here Raj Pal Singh.

(With inputs from Chander Prakash, Umesh Dewan and Shariq Majeed).

Chandigarh, October 26
After four years of experimentation, the Congress has again reposed faith in former state CM Capt Amarinder Singh to lead the party in the next Assembly elections.

While this establishes Amarinder’s numero uno status in the state, it is also a challenge for him to take along all factions in the party and set an agenda for the next Assembly elections in 14 months.

Amarinder had fallen out of grace of the high command after the party’s loss in the 2007 Assembly elections. After that, the party had tried to do it without him and experimented with then incumbent Shamsher Singh Dullo, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Mohinder Singh Kaypee.

However, there was a groundswell of opinion that the party was not able to find its feet and would not be able to take on the Akalis without Amarinder at the helm.

Successive Pradesh Congress Presidents did a little to create a grassroot movement against the SAD-BJP government, indirectly helping Amarinder’s cause.

The top spot, however, continued to elude Amarinder because every time there was a move to make him the state President. The entire top leadership of the state invariably trooped to Delhi and raised the “anyone but Amarinder slogan”.

A few days ago, there was another attempt to scuttle Amarinder’s appointment with senior leaders putting up Union minister Ambika Soni’s candidature for the top spot. However, Ambika refused to take the bait.

The last four-year spell has also seen deep divisions in the Punjab Congress with the formation of several groups. Amarinder’s foremost challenge would be to unite the party and take everyone along with him. Amarinder realises this and while talking to TNS said the party was like a family for him and that he would go out of the way to solicit support if needed.

The appointment will also have an impact on the state politics. The Akalis and even the BJP regard Amarinder as their biggest threat as he is among the few Congress leaders who can attract both rural and urban voters.

Amarinder has already proved his mettle by attracting the vote of the Sikh peasantry in the Malwa belt in the last elections and it is here that the fight for power is likely to be played again.

Amarinder on his part had already drawn the battle lines by refusing to thank Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for withdrawing defamation cases registered against him after the latter was acquitted in the disproportionate assets case. Today he said he knew the fight would be tough but that “we will fight it and win”.

It is this fighting ability, which could hold the party in good stead in the forthcoming elections. The party rank and file is expected to back him to the hilt and expect a few disgruntled senior leaders; party workers are already enthused by the appointment, according to reactions reaching here this evening.

The Congress will also have to find a central issue to take on the government. Amarinder says there are no dearth of issues and that reviving the state economy and focusing on bad governancewould be top on his agenda.

Jalandhar, October 26
The SAD (Delhi) has sought the disqualification of former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur from contesting the upcoming committee elections on the charge of being a “patit” (apostate).

In a letter to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, the state unit chief of the party Jaswinder Singh Baliewal has alleged that Bibi Jagir Kaur is not adhering to terms and conditions of the Gurdwara Act to vote or contest the poll.

He said a close perusal of photos from the official website of the SGPC during the first and second term of the committee reveals that while she had facial hair earlier, the same were not visible subsequently. “She is patronising beauty parlour where many such procedures are used to remove such hair. That is why there is a marked change in her facial appearance in the pictures.,” he alleged.

He said plucking or removing hair was a serious violation since it had been clearly mentioned on the voters’ form that anyone not following the Sikh code of ethics and trimming hair/eyebrows would render the offender ineligible to vote or contest the poll, he added. A complaint under Rule 8 of the Gurdwara Act had also been forwarded to the Nagar Panchayat Officer, Begowal, for necessary action.

Baliewal said since the elections were near, it was necessary to identify and summon such leaders before Akal Takht. However, refuting these allegations, Bibi Jagir Kaur said she was a true Sikh and such allegations were a crude attempt by her detractors to run her down besides misleading the voters.

Jalandhar, October 26
A major mishap has been averted as the four coaches of Tata Moori train were derailed near the Jalandhar city railway station today.

Had the speed of the train not been slow at the time of derailment around noon, the major tragedy could have occurred. The train was on its way to Jammu Tawi via Amritsar and Pathankot.

As soon as the train left the Jalandhar railway station, the four coaches, including three AC and one sleeper, derailed instantly.

Though no one was wounded, yet the rail traffic on the Jalandhar-Amritsar track remained disrupted for several hours.

Several Amritsar bound trains were reportedly delayed. However, some important trains were diverted to other track.

Senior railway officials and other employees reached the derailment site within minutes to bring back the coaches on the track.

According to railway sources, it took nearly five hours to bring back the derailed coaches on the track. The train left for Amritsar from the site at around 4.45 pm.

Meanwhile, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Ferozepur, Vishvesh Chaube, has ordered a high-level inquiry to look into the causes which led to the derailment.

A ten-member team was constituted to conduct the inquiry and it would submit its report within 10 days, the sources added.

Jalandhar, October 26
BJP national chief Nitin Gadkari has empowered Ashwani Sharma, president of the Punjab unit of the party, to take all vital decisions with regard to the party MLAs and ministers in consultation with senior leaders in the state.

After holding a lengthy meeting with all-party MLAs, ministers and other senior leaders from the state, including Navjot Singh Sidhu, Avinash Rai Khanna, Madan Mohan Mittal, Balramji Dass Tandon and Brij Lal Rinwa at Delhi, Gadkari has empowered Sharma in this regard. The meeting, which started at 8 pm continued till midnight.

Party insiders said here today that at the meeting the issue of changing the portfolios of certain party ministers was also discussed.

Gadkari has told Sharma that he should consult all former presidents of the state BJP and also other senior leaders, including Manoranjan Kalia, who is a leader of the BJP MLAs in the state Assembly, in this regard.

In case, most of the senior leaders are unhappy with the performance of any minister, appropriate decision with regard to changing his or her portfolio should be taken at his (Sharma) level. If any minister is required to be dropped, then decision in this regard should be taken at the level of state leadership.

Sharma has been also told to decide that who should be made the Chief Parliamentary Secretary to fill the one vacant slot in the BJP quota in the state government. Sharma will also have to consult the state leadership of the RSS, which plays a vital role in decision making of the party, on all these issues.

Earlier, there was a talk about changing the portfolio of Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, Health Minister. There was discussion within the party that Chawla should be made Forest Minister in place of Tikshan Sud, who should be given the Health Ministry. Chawla is a plain-speaking and honest minister and does not tolerate any political interference, even from her party, in her ministry from any quarter. However, some of the party MLAs and leaders are not happy with her non-yielding style of functioning on issues having political expediency such as transfers of doctors.

Gadkari has also told Sharma and the other leaders to seek Rs 1,100 crore from the state government for the development of urban areas, especially the constituencies from where the BJP MLAs were elected in the last Assembly election. With Rs 1,100 crore, all development projects should be taken up by March 31. Necessary tenders should be floated at the earliest. Gadkari has told the party leadership that the main objective before the BJP was the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2014.

Chandigarh, October 26
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave an approval to Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, to set up a state-of-the-art Institute of Textile Technology and Research at Ludhiana and Institute of Food Processing Technology and Research at Barnala at a cost of Rs 300 crore.

Stating this here today, a spokesperson for the Chief Minister’s Office said both these institutes of international repute would aim to boost research and development in textile and food technology for the benefit of the state’s agriculture economy. The Institute of Textile Technology and Research at Ludhiana will be developed over an area of 20 acres and another Institute of Food Processing Technology and Research at Barnala over an area of 22 acres. These institutes would be made operational within a year.

Taking part in deliberations, Badal asked the Vice-Chancellor of the PTU, Dr Rajneesh Arora, to devise a special curriculum in the textile technology as well as food processing technology institutes in consultation with the world-leading institutes so that students after completing formal education and training could be well-placed in multi-national companies. He also emphasised the need to run short-term courses as a part of skill development programme in these institutes for the benefit of less educated as well as uneducated unemployed youth, who could also be gainfully employed in the local industry.

The CM also constituted a steering committee comprising the VC PTU, Principal Secretary (Technical Education and Industrial Training), Principal Secretary (Finance) besides Prof and Head, Department of Textile Technology, IIT, New Delhi, Dr Kushal Sen, Chairman-cum-MD Vardhman Group and President (Textile Consortium) SP Oswal, MD (Trident Group) Rajendra Gupta, Director (Vardhman Group) Proful Anubhai, MD (Nahar Group) Kamal Oswal besides a representative from the local garment industry.

Earlier, the CM also gave nod to the PTU to open four regional industrial development research, consultancy and employment generation (IDRCEG) at Bathinda in petro-chemicals and electrical, Mohali, in information technology, Ludhiana, in hosiery, textile and food and Amritsar in textile dying and embroidery from January 1. — TNS

Chandigarh, October 26
Former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal today questioned the repeated assertions by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on the issue of subsidies.

“Are you lying or are you just plain ignorant?” He asked referring to Sukhbir’s claim that farmers have to pay Rs 30,000 per month in case the loan waiver conditions offered by the Centre are agreed.

Farmers would only have to pay Rs 41 per HP per month as power charges and that too only by rich farmers, Manpreet asserted today.

“Poor farmers will not have to pay even this amount. Further this amount of Rs 41 per HP will eventually be compensated in the MSP since this would be taken into consideration while fixing the MSP. Farmers would get more MSP since the power tariff is considered a factor in the cost of production,” said Manpreet in a press statement issued here today.

“The deal that I was negotiating with the Union Finance Ministry would have relieved the state of Rs 35,000 crore, which is 50 per cent of the total debt burden of Punjab i.e. Rs 70,000 crore. In return, the state would have to cut subsidies only by Rs 400 crore per year. Is the amount of Rs 400 crore too much to ensure that a debt of Rs 35,000 crore is waived off?” Manpreet asked.

The issue of withdrawal of bus passes subsidy for students is another lie being perpetrated against him, Manpreet said.

He said the SAD-BJP combine had already approved of a 10 paise per km hike in bus fares, which would have ensured the Centre’s target of cut in subsidies to the tune of Rs 200 crore that was 
already met.

He said the deliberate attempts by the ruling government in Punjab and the SAD portrays an absolute lack of knowledge about economic and financial issues or it could be deliberate lying?

“This lie that farmers would be forced to pay Rs 30,000 per month is an attempt to scuttle the real issue of loan waiver and ensure that the state remains a debt-ridden state. Such arguments can only benefit enemies of the state and the country, who wish that the green bowl of the country should always remain under debt,” he said.

Manpreet added that he would announce his next plan of action on November 14 at Amritsar. He appealed to every Punjabi who cared about their state to join him on that day so that they could collectively work on the issues concerning the state. 

Amritsar, October 26
Laura Schmid, who had come to Amritsar in search of her biological parents a few days ago, today returned dejected to her home in Switzerland.

Though Laura saw a glimmer of hope after her story was published in these columns on October 19, some of the clues which she got about her biological parents could not yield the desired result.

Talking to The Tribune before leaving the city, her non-biological parents, Rene Schmid and Hilla Schmid, said though they were upset at not achieving a breakthrough, they were content that they made all efforts to help Laura find her biological parents.

Laura, on the other hand, said, “I don’t want to give up so easily.” She hinted that she might come back again to resume her search for her parents, but was not sure when would it be.

Laura said she and her fiancé, Thomas, who too accompanied her to Amritsar, would like to focus on their respective careers at present.

Ropar, October 26
A cycle rally was held today to create awareness on the Red Ribbon Express, a special train being run to educate about HIV/AIDS.

Starting from Bachatt Chowk, rally traversed areas of Water Lily, Nehru Stadium, Railway Station, old bus stand, Ramleela ground, Bela Chowk, Kalyan Cinema and culminated at Government College grounds. The train will reach Ropar on October 28 and will stay at the railway station till October 30. MLA Sant Ajit Singh will inaugurate the exhibition. Visitors can view the train from 9 am till 6 pm.

Around 30, 000 visitors are expected to visit the train. Special buses are being run for the schoolchildren visiting the Red Ribbon Express. Civil surgeon Dr KC Goel said the train aimed at people from 15-49 years age group. He said, “Out of 10 coaches of the train, coach number 1, 2 and 3 have information about HIV/AIDS, coach number 4 has health information under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). The coach number 5 doubles up as auditorium-cum-training centre and coach number 6 has counseling centre wherein people are being educated about methods to prevent AIDS.”

Special arrangements have been made for representatives of various factions of society, drivers, factory workers, labourers and jhuggi dwellers. The Health Department will be sending a special bus to villages that will encourage villagers to visit the train. 

Fatehgarh Sahib, October 26
Patients’ cause has taken a backseat in Fatehgarh Sahib civil hospital as most of the doctors, instead of staying on the hospital premises, commute daily from their residences in Chandigarh and Mohali.

The issue of emergency duties, especially during night hours, has become bone of contention between these doctors who recently fought amongst themselves. As per rules, the medical officer (MO) on emergency duty should contact specialist doctor during emergencies and those who fail to reach in time or do not attend call have to face the music next day.

Health department officials admitted that out of 19 doctors, including the six emergency medical officers (EMO), the senior medical officer (SMO) and the chief medical officer (CMO) only three had been residing in Fatehgarh Sahib.

Though most of the doctors have been allotted houses in hospital but only few of them avail services and others have taken rooms and houses on rent. Sources said nearly 80 per cent doctors came to attend their routine and emergency duties from as far as 40 to 60 km away from the civil hospital.

In recent spate Dr Parminder Singh Bhatti allegedly got furious over request by a section of doctors. The doctors requested him that they should not be called over trivial issues and instead should be called only during emergencies. Dr Bhatti, in a written complaint, has alleged that his colleagues, including Dr Amandeep Sandhu, Dr Satnam Banga, Dr Manvinder Singh and Dr Preetjot Kaur abused and thrashed him.

However, the doctors said Dr Bhatti got furious when they requested him to speak politely while calling during emergencies. They termed allegations of Dr Bhatti as baseless and false. Senior medical officer (SMO) Dr Jaswant Singh admitting quarrels among doctors over emergency and night duties said he had tried to sort out problem by counseling erring doctors but to no avail. 

Patiala, October 26
Two persons were injured while manufacturing crackers when a blast took place at their house in Sanour today. The incident occurred in the morning when Baggar Singh and his wife Jyoti were working in their house when suddenly a blast took place due to which one of the wall of the house collapsed and cracks were developed in other walls.

Two persons who received burn injuries was brought to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, by nearby villagers. Their neighbour informed that the blast was so loud that it could be heard till almost 1 km. On hearing the blast we ran to the house and found both lying injured inside. Then we brought them to the hospital where their condition is said to be stable, he said.

Giving information about the incident, DSP (Rural) HS Sandhu informed that the couple manufactured Diwali lights and crackers illegally. They did not have a license. He further informed that the reason of the blast could not be ascertained. SHO Sanour Gurpreet Singh reached the spot and seized two sacks of crackers from the house. An FIR has been registered at Sadar Police Station. 

Chandigarh, October 26
Sewa Singh Sekhwan today assumed the charge as the new Education Minister of the state in the presence of senior officers of the Education Department and his supporters from the constituency.

Speaking on the occasion, Sekhwan thanked Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Shiromani Akali Dal president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for handing over him the responsibility of the Education Department and said he would try his best to further improve the standards of education in government institutions to restore their credibility besides strengthening the present infrastructure.

He said the transfer policy of the Education Department would be made more rational with focus on adjusting teachers especially females, unmarried and widows near to their residences. He added that he would seek cooperation of all elected bodies of employees' organisations of education staff and try to redress their grievances, if any, within the parameters of rules and procedures. He said he would try to check corruption, if any, in the process of transfers of teachers and supporting staff. He categorically said no laxity would be tolerated in case imparting quality education, as the government institutes were the main source of education for the students having lesser sources.

The Education Minister said the top priority would be accorded to fill the remaining posts of teachers in the state. He said the state government would contemplate the possibility to provide more financial benefits to the teachers working in border and far flung areas.

Expressing concern over the mushrooming of teaching academies, Sekhwan said to check the exploitation of student community the state government would explore the possibility to enact a law in this regard. He exhorted the teaching fraternity to strive hard to shape the destiny of lakhs of students studying in government schools by preparing them to compete with the students of public schools.

Chandigarh, October 26
Inspired by Haryana’s performance in sports, the Punjab Government has decided to set up special sports schools in the state. A first of its kind initiative in the country, sports schools will enroll students talented in sports for dedicated training while the students will continue their normal education at the school.

A brainchild of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, the first of the sports schools are likely to become functional from the next session. “Initially we are looking at converting at least one school in every district into a full fledged sports school. Later, however, dedicated schools will be constructed for sports,” said Sukhbir.

The sport schools will be a residential school where students from across the district will be chosen on the recommendation of coaches following basic trials. “We are looking at kids between 7-12 years of age. The whole idea is to catch them young and train them in a specialised environment where they can hone their skills. We will pay for the entire expense of the child’s stay in the school. The diet they need, the training, everything will be the state’s responsibility,” added Sukhbir.

Setting up of sports schools is part of the sports policy that the state government is in the process of finalising. “We intend to spend more than Rs 150 crore to develop sports in Punjab. This is the largest ever expenditure to be done in the state on sports,” said Sukhbir adding that foreign coaches would be invited to these schools for training the students.

The sports policy also entails ranking of sportspersons in the state. “Ranking would include prize money for the ones on the top in various sports as well as incentive for their coaches. The idea is also to revive the spirit of sports in the state. It is also one way on of trying to get our youth to get out of the grip of drugs,” said Sukhbir.

“Other than the local sports stadiums, which are the breeding ground of young sportspersons we intend to have state-of-the-art modern multi purpose stadiums in Jalandhar, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshairpur, Sangrur and Bathinda. Rs 8-10 crore will be spend on each one of these,” said Sukhbir. Other than the multipurpose stadiums six hockey stadiums each one at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Faridkot, Bathinda and Mohali.

The state will also have three Punjab Institute of Sports located at Bathinda, Jalandhar and Mohali. These would be centres of excellence for sports. Each of these would be designed on the lines of the National Institute of Sports, Patiala.