Fazilka, January 4
To get district headquarter status for Fazilka, local BJP MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani is scheduled to sit on hunger strike at the local Clock Tower tomorrow in the morning along with the SAD circle rural president Charan Singh. The family members of Jyani have announced to continue the fast-unto-death, in case anything untoward happens to Jyani.

Jyani, accompanied by his wife Nirmala, reiterated his resolve to sit on fast-unto-death at a press conference held here today at the local Sarv Hitkari Senior Secondary School.

He said in case his protest takes a tragic turn, his wife would go on fast-unto-death. Nirmala too responded in the affirmative to the media. She further said that if anything happens to her too, both their sons would also go on hunger strike.

Jyani addressed the press conference immediately after the visit of senior BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia and Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma.

During the conference, the media persons quoted the state BJP president Ashwani Sharma as having said that Jyani had not taken clearance from the party unit for sitting on fast-unto-death. Upon this, Jyani retorted that he has been elected to the Punjab assembly twice by the people of the Fazilka constituency and he considers it his foremost and prime duty to strive for achieving the interests 
of Fazilka.

In a related incident, Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma, while supporting the demand to accord the district headquarter status to Fazilka, appealed to the Sanjha Morcha (Fazilka) spearheading the agitation to give at least ten days time to the party to prevail upon the government to accept their demand, which he described as justified.

On the other hand, office-bearers and members of the Sanjha Morcha maintained that they have not received any such proposal as stated by the state BJP President Ashwani Sharma.

Fazilka, January 4
More than 1100 BJP workers participated in the three-day training camp of the party, which concluded here today at the Sarv Hitkari Senior Secondary School. Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia was the chief guest.

Fazilka MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani, BJP state general secretary Rajesh Bagga, cashier Mohan Lal Sethi, state in-charge of training cell Mohan Lal Garg, District BJP president Arun Narang, former BJP MLA Abohar RK Goel, vice-chairman, Small Traders Board DP Chandan, president, Market Committee, Ashok Jairath and president, MC, Anil Kumar Sethi, Improvement Trust chairman Mohinder P. Dhingra and other BJP leaders also attended the programme. — OC

Abohar/Sriganganagar, January 4
The 12455 Sarai Rohila-Sriganganagar AC superfast train will reach Sriganganagar on Wednesday at 7.40 am, an official message received from the Railway Bhawan (New Delhi) said.

Meanwhile, former MP Virendra Kataria (ex-president of the PPCC) informed that no advance reservation was made available for the inaugural run today. However, reservation for January 5 from Sriganganagar and January 6 on the other side (Sarai Rohila), has been started.

Kataria said he has again requested Vivek Sahai, Chairman of the Railway Board, to allow stoppage of the train at Malout and Abohar. He was assured by Mukesh Nigam, executive director (Coaching) and other officials concerned in the Rail Bhawan that the demand would be accepted soon.

The memorandum in this regard revealed that hundreds of Army officials at the Military Station in Abohar too had to suffer due to suspension of the night train (Udyan Abha). Only those, who could afford to spend a minimum of Rs 555, will be eligible for travelling by this train from Sarai Rohila to Sriganganagar as no ordinary sleeper coach has been attached to it as of now. The train will leave Sarai Rohila by 10.50 pm while its departure from Sriganganagar has been fixed at 10 pm. It will have brief halts at Rohtak, Jind, Jakhal, Sangrur, Dhuri and Bathinda.

During a meeting at Sanatan Dharam Mandir at Abohar last night the 
representatives of two dozen NGOs including Beopar Mandal and Arhtia Association reiterated their demand that the train must have a stoppage at Abohar since the area annually adds Rs 7 crore to the revenue of the railways and has no other train for the national capital at present.

Convener Pramil Kalani said today that the train would be stopped here during its inaugural run. “We will offer flowers to welcome it amidst protest over the failure of the authorities concerned in ensuring its regular stoppage for passengers,” he added.

Meanwhile, after a meeting of the NGOs at Sriganganagar, Gurprasad Behal, president of the Rail Road Sangharsh Samiti and member of the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee said the train would be accorded a warm welcome on Wednesday. The train will also be ceremonially flagged off at night on the return trip. Former MP Virendra Kataria has been requested to attend the events. 

Abohar/Sriganganagar, January 4
The new superfast AC train that has been launched today at Sarai Rohila for Sriganganagar will be tri-weekly train, informed Lalit Bohra, chief PRO of the North Western Railway. The 12456 Sriganganagar-Sarai Rohila (Delhi) train will leave Sriganganagar on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 10 pm while on return, the 12455 Sarai Rohila (Delhi)- Sriganganagar train will leave Sarai Rohila on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 10.50 pm. — OC

Bathinda, January 4
The Bathinda Book Fair, organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) at Government Rajindra College, entered its fourth day today.

Noted dramatist Ajmer Singh Aulakh was present today as the chief guest in ‘Lekhak Milni’ programme. According to the organisational tradition, NBT welcomes the guest to present the book sets.

On the occasion, ‘Ganga Singh Bhundar-Jivan Te Rachna’, published by Punjabi University, was introduced before the readers. Boota Singh Brar briefly described the book. Dr Satnam Singh Jassel introduced Ajmer Singh Aulakh, saying he belongs to a farmer’s family and the social, economic and religious conditions have found an echo in their drama.

At ‘Kahani Darbar,’ Dr Jaswinder Singh played the role of the president. Story writer Bhagwant Resoolpuri, Desh Raj Kali, Bhola Singh Sangerr, Binder Basra, Jaspal Mannkhera, Bhura Singh and Atarjeet read the stories.

On the fourth day of the fair, students and citizens enthusiastically participated. The staff members of the Baba Farid Group of Institutes visited the book fair.

Bathinda, January 4
Taking a leaf out of her husband's book, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal was on a foundation stone laying spree today.

Harsimrat laid 17 foundation stones and inaugurated three recently constructed buildings of the police stations, today. Besides, she held a meeting of the Mansa and Bathinda districts' vigilance and monitoring committee at the Mini-secretariat in Bathinda.

Most of the stones she laid were either for the construction or renovation of the link roads. When she was laying the stones, people recalled the score of her husband, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had laid 23 stones for various projects, including 14 for road reconstruction and two for power grids in Bathinda on February 18, 2008.

Beginning her hectic schedule today, she inaugurated the buildings meant for Nehianwala, Canal Colony and Civil Lines police stations. She also participated in the Path organized at the police stations on the occasion.

Then she held a meeting of the vigilance and monitoring committee with the officials of Bathinda and Mansa districts. During the meeting, she inquired about the availability of funds, pace of development works, status of dispute cases, etc.

Harsimrat particularly asked about the schemes meant to benefit the poor and the Dalit.

The MP strictly directed the officials concerned to ensure the implementation with utmost fairness.

Discussing the matter with the officials concerned, she enlisted a number of works to be taken up with the state government for their early and smooth disposal.

Meanwhile, finding the replies of some of the officials unsatisfactory, she pulled them up and also directed the Deputy Commissioner to call for an explanation from the officials, who were absent in the meeting.

Later, she went on her foundation stone laying spree and promised an early start to all the works..

She informed the media that the state government was going to dedicate year 2011 as the year of transformation. She claimed that it was a part of the SAD-BJP government's agenda to accomplish its development projects and welfare schemes to fulfill the aspirations of the people as well as to ensure the overall growth and socio-economic development in the state.

Moga, January 4
Two persons were killed while two others sustained injuries when the car by which they were travelling hit a tree near Jogewala village, police sources said here today.

The deceased were identified as Gurpyar Singh (19), a resident of Baghelewala village (Moga), who was driving the car and Sukhdeep Singh (20), a resident of Kot Sukhian village of Faridkot district. They died on the spot.

The vehicle went out of control and rammed into a roadside tree on the Moga-Ferozepur national highway. Gagandeep Singh and Charanjit Singh were hurt. They were taken to a private hospital by the police. The police had initiated inquest proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC and gave the bodies to the family members after the postmortem this afternoon. 

Mansa, January 4
The Sabhyachar Chetna Manch, Mansa, would organize the sixth Lohri Fair (Dhian Di Lohri), on January 8 at the Gaushalla Bhawan. The real objective behind holding the fair is to change the mindset of the people regarding the girl child in view of the declining sex ratio.

Data shows that one-third of the 12 million girls born every year in India die in their first year and 25 per cent don't survive beyond 15 years. There are just 927 girls for 1000 boys in the country. In Punjab, the ratio is 798 and in Mansa, the ratio is 755 girls for 1000 boys, which is the lowest in Punjab. Therefore, the Sabhyachar Chetna Manch is seeking to convey a message for bringing about a balance in the sex ratio. On the occasion, a cultural programme would also be conducted by noted Punjabi folk singer Inderjit Nikku , comedion Ranbir Rana and TV anchor Vimpi Sandu.

At this programme, the Manch will honour 21 girls of the district for their distinct performance in various fields like sports, education or social activities etc.

Jagdeep Singh Nakkai, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, will be the chief guest and Sukhwinder Singh Aulkh, ex MLA will inaugurate the Lohri Fair. Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul and SSP Hardyal Singh Mann would preside over the function and Jarnail Singh, Deputy Chief Engineer , PSPCL, would be the guest of honour.