Ferozepur, March 19
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will preside over the state-level function to be organised at the national martyrs’ memorial at Hussainiwala in connection with the 80th martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on March 23.

Official sources said Badal had agreed to preside over the state-level function despite the fact that both his party SAD (B) and other principal party of Punjab, Congress, had been leaving no stone unturned to gather people for their rallies to be organised at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, that day.

The confirmation that Badal will preside over the state-level function on March 23 was received by the district administration late on Thursday.

Sources said a rally would also be organised at Hussainiwala which would be addressed by Badal and other ministers. Badal is likely to be accompanied by a section of leaders of the SAD and BJP, belonging to the Ferozepur district.

Ferozepur DC KK Yadav said all arrangements were being made for the function. He said every year, people come to the memorial to pay their tributes. Hence, adequate arrangements for their convenience were also made. He said the committees under different officials had been made to deal with the arrangements. A meeting of these officials was held and the next meeting would be held on March 22 to review the arrangements.

Hussainiwala, March 19
To make Hussainiwala village a major tourism destination, both the Centre and Punjab government have taken up a number of projects.

While the Punjab Tourism and Heritage Development Corporation hasbeen carrying out the preservation of the local rest-house and railway station, set up during the Raj, the Union Home Ministry has decided to set up a big viewers’ gallery with an artistic look at a cost of Rs 14 crores. Earlier, the cost of viewers' gallery with the capacity of 3000 persons was to be built at a cost of Rs. 6.22 crores. The foundation stone for this gallery was laid by Home Minister P. Chidambaram in October last year. "Now, the cost of viewers' gallery will be around Rs 14 crores as Home Ministry wants it to be big and of international standard. The CPWD, which was supposed to construct it, has prepared fresh designs,” disclosed DC KK Yadav.

He said that Punjab Tourism and Heritage Development Corporation had been carrying out the renovation of rest house and railway station here at the cost of lacs of ruppes, which had been sanctioned by Punjab government already. Parminder Singh, secretary, PPCC claimed that on the insistence of the Congress leadership, Centre had given its nod to another project to make Hussainiwala JCP and national martyrs' memorial accessible to tourists easily. He said the Centre has given its nod for four-laning of a 40-km road from Talwandi Bhai to Hussainiwala, which was already connected with a four-lane road with Kasur district in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Karan Singh Dhaliwal, secretary, Border Area Sangarash Committee, Punjab, demanded that the BSF must allow farmers, whose lands were across the barbed wire fencing, more time to till for agriculture purpose. He said that though Chidambaram had ordered BSF to do the needful in October 2010, nothing had been done. — TNS

Abohar, March 19
The ruling SAD and loyalists of its former minister Manpreet Singh Badal have geared up to mobilise people for another show of political strength at Khatkar Kalan on March 23.

Interestingly, none of them seems to be interested this time in arranging a huge crowd at Hussainiwala, the place where Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh along with Rajguru and Sukhdev was cremated by the British rulers.

Balluana MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana addressed a meeting of the SAD workers at his residence here on Saturday evening. Punjab Mandi Board director Sanjeev Godara and Circle President (SAD) Kaur Singh were also present. The workers were told that 100 vehicles, including 50 buses, have been arranged to ferry them after dinner on March 22 to Khatkar Kalan.

BJP former president Rajnath Singh and former Law Minister Arun Jaitely will also address the Shaheedi conference there, the MLA said. Meanwhile, Surinder Saluja, Former District Secretary (SAD) revealed to the media this evening that Gurdas Singh Badal, father of Manpreet Singh Badal, will address the joint meeting of the 'Jago Punjab Yatra' activists and supporters here on March 22 before noon. Saluja lambasted the ruling SAD leadership for talking about the loyalty of former MP Zora Singh Mann with reference to the Wikileaks revelations.

Saluja, known for being close to the three-time Lok Sabha MP, said the SAD had 'acknowledged' Mann's loyalty by denying him ticket for the Lok Sabha elections. None of the senior leaders had even bothered to visit the ailing Mann, who struggled for life for over 18 months.

He appealed to all the workers to reach Khatkar Kalan to take part in the 'Jago Punjab Yatra' rally.

Jalalabad, March 19
A criminal case was registered against the local Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) and the watchman of his office for their alleged involvement in the molestation of a section of women employees, working as Anganwari workers here.

The case under section 354 of the IPC was registered against Amrish Jain, CDPO and Bohar Singh, watchman of his office on the basis of complaints lodged against them by four Anganwari workers including Saroj Chhapdiwal, president, All Indian Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union to the Ferozepur district police chief Kaustab Sharma a few days ago.

The Anganwari workers in their complaint alleged that Bohar Singh had been using derogatory remarks against the women employees besides showing them vulgar gestures for the past many months. They also alleged that Amrish had been supporting Bohar.

However, the registration of a criminal case against Jain has triggered a controversy in the district besides enraging a sizeable section of the officials of the state government-run departments.

They have alleged that Amrish Jain had been implicated in a false case as Jain had placed five Anganwari workers under suspension on February 15, after they were found absent from duty.

DC KK Yadav, after receiving a verbal request from Amrish that he had been implicated in the case on flimsy grounds, has asked the district police authorities to send him a copy of the FIR along with the copies of complaints.

“I will look into the matter and if Amrish is found guilty no help will be extended to him. If allegations against him were found untrue, he will be given all help to come out of the case,” said Yadav.

Jasvir Singh, SHO, city police station, where the case was registered, said the case was registered on the orders of the district police chief. He said investigation in the case would be made and action against Amrish would be taken only if he was found guilty.

Reshma, general secretary of Ferozepur district unit of Anganwari Mulazam Union, Punjab, who came out to support Amrish alleged that Amrish was being victimised by a section of employees to settle personal scores with him.

She pointed out that this was not acceptable to their union and they would give a befitting reply.

Meanwhile, Chhapdiwal said both Amrish and Bohar were equally involved in the case. She added that even the state-level authorities of department were informed about the activities of these two accused on March 3.

Bathinda, March 19
To pay tributes to the three martyrs, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on their martyrdom day, the district unit (Urban) of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to organise a run in the city on March 23.

District president of the BJP (Urban) Sham Lal Bansal said today that the run would start at 6.30 am on March 23 from the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk (Arya Samaj Chowk) here and would pass through various markets of the city, disseminating the message and ideology of the martyrs. He said the run would culminate at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk where the participants would pay tributes to the martyr.

Bansal said that in this race, besides the BJP workers, members of the NGOs had also been invited to take part as it was a patriotic programme and any one who wanted to join it could participate in it.

Bansal informed that the decision had been taken at a meeting of the district unit held here last night.

Ferozepur, March 19
Punjab, which ranked first in the world in per capita consumption of liquor and where businessmen would scramble to run liquor vends, has been witnessing a different scene as far as sale of liquor vends on the basis of annual licence fee for the next financial year (2011-2012) is concerned.

What has changed the scenario of liquor business is the fact that in most of its pockets, the Excise and Taxation Department authorities could not find a single applicant for selling liquor vends by organising a draw of applications, which were supposed to be made by the individual businessmen and group of individuals by March 18.

Last year, it was entirely different as the department received more applications than the number of licensing units in most places. The excise policy for the year 2010-11 received application money around Rs 150.20 crore as compared to Rs 120 crore, which was received as application money in 2009-10.

Even Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal patted the Excise Department authorities for it. However, this year, though the deadline for making applications expired on March 18, the authorities concerned could not receive adequate number of applications in different parts of Moga, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Barnala districts to sell liquor vends.

The liquor vends in other districts of Punjab stand sold as per the number of applications received. In these districts, the authorities have received more applications than the number of liquor vend units.

However, the revenue collected in these districts has shown a fall as this year, the number of applications made is less than last year.

The situation has triggered fear among officials who have failed to sell all the licensed liquor vend units in their areas. These officials have started finding new entrepreneurs to join liquor business so that they could be asked to make applications for buying the left out liquor vends as per the Excise policy of Punjab.

The Excise and Sales Tax Department authorities have fixed March 24 as the next deadline for receiving the fresh applications from prospective buyers for the left out liquor vends. The draw will be held on March 25.

"We have been motivating the existing liquor vend contractors to move applications for taking the left out liquor vends. We are trying to contact those businessmen, who have left the trade to join it again," disclosed a senior functionary of the Excise Department pleading anonymity.

He added that it was being done so that the state could achieve its revenue target from liquor business for the next financial year, which was over Rs 3000 crores.

The excise officials pointed out that a sizeable section of contractors had opted out for the next financial year as they feared they might suffer losses as the quota of liquor to be sold by the vendor and licence fee for the liquor vend units had been increased for the next financial year as compared to the current financial year.

Bathinda, March 19
The Regional Polytechnic College, Behman Diwana, organized its third annual function on Saturday. Gurlabh Singh Sidhu, Chairman, was the chief guest. Principal S. Iqbal Singh Romana presented the annual report of the college.

Students participated in various cultural events and performed colourful dance items, songs besides other performances.

Later, the chairman informed about the achievements of the college in various events of PTIS Inter Polytechnic youth festival. Jatinder S. Banipal, SP (D), who was the chief guest in the evening section, gave away prizes to the winners.

Sukhwinder Singh, vice-chairman, managing committee and Sukhraj Singh Sidhu, general secretary, were also present.

The chairman of the college, Gurlabh Singh Sidhu, lauded the students and the teachers of the college for their commendable efforts.

Fazilka, March 19
A progressive farmer, the former Sarpanch of border village Chananwala, Davinder Singh Sawansukha, president, Bhaichara Kisan Union, has bagged the first prize in production of quality Indian Ber in a state-level horticulture competition held at the PUA campus on March 17.

Ber, considered rich in nutrition, produced by Sawansukha, was adjusted the best. Despite being in the border belt, Sawansukha, a pioneer in horticulture, has been leading this area in horticulture by cultivating Ber, kinnow, guava, grapes, falsa, amla, malta and dates, for the last two decades.

The marginal farmers should switch over to diversification besides the traditional crops, he said. — OC

Barnala, March 19“
If people, as responsible citizens, are to ensure the accountability of instruments of governance that are answerable to them, they should have the information necessary to effectuate the accountability. This is where the right to information comes into focus," said Jaspal Kaur, State Information Commissioner, Punjab, while presiding over a national seminar on the Right to Information (RTI) — problems and prospects, organised by SD College, 
Barnala today.

Jaspal Kaur said that by asking more questions, which were persistent, strident and penetrating, more approximate answers could be obtained.

Dr Manjit Singh, Registrar, Punjabi University, Patiala emphasized that searching questions would get more information and the knowledge bank of the people would grow gradually and the democracy, which was structurally ensured, would be an operational reality.

Speakers Hamir Singh, Rajinder Singla and Sukhminder Singh said people should gain control over public servants. College president Anish Parkash and general secretary Jatinder Nath Sharma also spoke on the occasion. — TNS

Abohar, March 19
The wildlife department authorities have started constructing seven waterholes in the sanctuary area to make drinking water available to blackbucks and blue bulls in abundance for summers.

In the past two years, a large numbers of blackbucks and blue bulls have died in road accidents. Sanjeev Tiwari, District Forest Officer (Wildlife), Ferozepur, said ten signboards would be erected on the important roads in the sanctuary area for cautioning the drivers to slow down the speed of their vehicles to avoid accident.

Two daily wager earners in addition to six others had been deployed to extend extra care to the protected animals in case of emergency. Notably, the census carried out recently revealed that the population of blackbucks, blue bulls and other wild animals had increased in the sanctuary area as compared to their population in 1998.

Tiwari said a big gate would be erected on one of the entrance of the sanctuary area on the Seeto Guno-Abohar road. Sign boards would be erected alongside the gate to warn people against the killing of any protected animal.