Abohar, November 12
Manpreet Badal today urged the people of the state to draw clear-cut lines with the rulers to fight a decisive battle to make Punjab an economically prosperous state.Addressing a rally organised by his supporters here this evening, Manpreet urged the people to ‘shed all kinds of fears and withstand the state government pressure’ and join him at Amritsar on November 14 so that a beginning could be made for changing the fate of Punjab, which had been trapped in the vicious cycle of debt.

“I have decided to fight a decisive battle in Punjab and hence, I need your support,” said Manpreet, adding that he has great hopes from Indian voters that they would give an ‘intelligent verdict’ in the next assembly elections, which was due after 13 months or so.

Alleging that he was thrown out from the cabinet and party for his effort to bring Punjab out of debt and because he did not act as ‘yes man’, he said, “My supporters are being framed in criminal cases but I would set things right shortly. Punjabis are always opposed to repression and hence, would give suitable reply to it.”

Those attending the rally belonged to various parts of the region including Muktsar, Gidderbaha, Malout and neighbouring Rajasthan. Interestingly, Rajinder Singh (Raju Jakhar), a senior Congress leader of the area, also addressed the rally. Gurdas Badal, who was sitting on the dais, did not speak. Local prominent SAD (B) leaders were conspicuous by their absence.

“As of today, my agenda is to rid Punjab of debt, drug addiction, unemployment, corruption and communalism,” he disclosed. Later, addressing the media, he said people had started extending support to him for the cause.

On being asked to comment about those who were once close to his father Gurdas Badal and reportedly amassed wealth, committed atrocities on innocents and had now left him, he said he did not know such people.

When asked whether he would throw the Badals out of power in the next assembly elections, he refused to comment directly and said he would divulge his strategy only at Amritsar where he expected an assembly of people in large numbers. Surinder Saluja, general secretary, district SAD (B), organised the rally. 

Badal (Muktsar), November 12
Holding a public meeting a few meters away from the residence of his cousin Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal today tried to drive home the point that he too has a say in the Badals’ native village. Though it was not a massive crowd at the meeting, still, Manpreet said it was beyond his expectation as they all had assembled at just a short notice.

“As all know that the ruling Akalis are threatening people to stay away from Manpreet, this assembly in the village is more than a surprise for us. We apprehend that the persons attending this meeting too may receive threatening calls. Despite being aware of the facts, still they came out to listen to Manpreet. That shows what they think about him and his vision,” said a close confidant of Manpreet, who had organised the meeting. To make his Amritsar programme (slated for November 14) a success, Manpreet has addressed 83 public meetings across the state so far and almost everywhere he has raised the debt waiver issue. However, holding a meeting outside the Panchayat Ghar at Badal village, this morning, while asking the people of state to extend full support to him in ‘changing the destiny of Punjab and Punjabis,’ Manpreet played his emotional card well.

Claiming himself to be their puttar (child), he urged all of them including some odd women, that if they felt that he had taken the right decision for the betterment of the state, they should bless him.

“At present, the state is in the hands of leaders, who are short of agenda and are more interested in the projection of their personality than in the state. Do stand beside me to bring the state back on the right track. I will do my best to tread the prickly path to pull Punjab out of fiscal mess,” he claimed.

Speaking to the correspondent, some elderly people of the village said, “It was unfortunate that a split took place in the Badal family. We do not know what is going to happen in the future but we have hopes from Manpreet.”

Bathinda, November 12
Mystery shrouds the death of a 55-year-old woman whose semi-nude body was found at her house in the Shakti Nagar locality here this evening.Sushma Dhamija, the deceased, used to live alone after her husband expired about a decade ago and her two sons were staying away — one at Delhi and the other at Chandigarh.

It is learnt that there was no light on in the house even the evening but a door of an outer room inside the main gate was found open. Finding it unusual, some neighbours went into the house and noticed foul smell emanating. They found that the television was on but the lady was lying in a pool of blood. The house was ransacked and almost every almirah and suitcase was lying either open or broken.

On receiving the information, a number of police officials including SP (Detective) and DSP (City) rushed to the spot and found that the lady had been repeatedly stabbed with a sharp-edged weapon. Immediately, they summoned forensic science experts to collect evidence. After preliminary probe the police suspected it to be a case of murder for dacoity.

About the possibility of the woman being raped, the police officials refused to comment saying it was yet to be investigated. When asked about the quantum of loss, they said it would be estimated only when her sons arrive and give statement to the police. Till the filing of the report, a case was yet to be registered.

Bathinda, November 12
For textile engineer Sunil Kumar Mishra, a native of Balia in Uttar Pradesh, celebrating the most sacred festival of his area — chath in Bathinda was indeed a novel and different experience but this difference was not apparent at least while making purchase of essential items related with the occasion. “Everything was available in the market here, particularly in Gandhi Market,” said Mishra, who came to Bathinda just three months ago.

Like Sunil, several others who thronged the banks of Sirhind canal near Bathinda-Goniana Road here, celebrating the festival was different experience. They miss their home town in terms of decorations at ghats, (arghya offering place), crowd and related ambience but as far as buying experience is concerned, it is more like being in their native place.

Not only an engineer, for migrants from all walks of life, markets in Bathinda, particularly Kikar Bazaar and Gandhi Market, have all items for celebrating chath in full traditional fervour and gaiety.

Ramratna, a native of Bihar, who earns his livelihood by pedalling rickshaw, said that traders here were aware about the festival. “They even know local lingo for items, like ‘soop,’ ‘daura,’ etc,” he added.

“Our years-long association with Bathinda has made this possible,” Pramod Kumar, a daily wage earner said, adding that traders were now aware about their requirements. “Moreover, several persons from our areas work in shops here,” Pramod said.

Pramod has been living in Bathinda for the last five years. Every year on the occasion of chath, he along with his near and dear ones reaches the banks of Sirhand canal to offer prayers to the sun god.’ “I get support and help from locals,” he said. He added that locals come forward with help and aid every year. “So at the time of chath, I just forget that I am not in my native place in Bihar,” he said.

Meanwhile, faith, tradition, cultural diversity and plurality of India once again reigned supreme on the banks of Sirhind canal and other minors in and around Bathinda on Friday evening when thousands of migrants, mostly belonging to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh offering ‘arghya’ to sun god’ virtually creating a mini-Bihar or mini-UP here.

The area near the canal wore a festive look in the afternoon when devotees along with their family members started reaching.

Wearing traditional attire, the devotees with hymns on their lips, carrying ‘daura,’ fruits and sweets reached the canal banks. As the sun reached the horizon, all offered arghya with milk and water to the setting sun.

Kids burst crackers while vendors did brisk business.

Sohnewala (Muktsar), November 12
Realizing the gravity of ecological disturbances in the state, some private enterprises, NGOs and the state besides Centrally sponsored agencies have joined hands to save the environment.,

The Jwala Bai Nathu Ram (JBNR) educational and charitable trust of Fazilka, the NABARD, the district administration of Muktsar and a private agriculture service provider-the Zamindara Farmsolutions have now adopted Muktsar district.

Holding two camps at village Sadarwala and Sohnewala in this district, the experts gave practical training to farmers regarding straw management, using the new machine Turbo Happy Seeder. Practical trials were carried out in the fields of Teg Singh and Sharan Deep Singh Sarpanch in village Sohnewala.

Impressed with the technique, about half a dozen farmers of village Sadarwala even took a pledge to refrain from burning the straw in future. Among others, a representative of the NABARD, Manmohan Suri, assistant commissioner (UT), Varinder Sharma, ADO Pakhar Singh and Vikram Ahuja of JBNR Trust, were present there.

Speaking to The Tribune, Vikram Ahuja said they were carrying the NABARD supported activity for the last seven months. “Now, our target for this season is to involve 250 to 300 farmers of Muktsar district this year,” Ahuja added.