B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Publicise Centre’s welfare schemes, Mahila Cong chief to party workers
Moga, October 29
In the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls due in May 2014, the president of All India Mahila Congress, Shobha Ojha, has called on the party workers, especially women, to apprise the masses about various welfare schemes launched by the UPA Government.

Protest outside Barnala SSP office
Barnala, October 29
Dhanaula residents and members of the family of Bhupinder Singh, whose both upper and lower limbs were fractured in an attack by some persons more than a month ago, staged a protest in front of the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) here today. The protesters demanded legal action against the accused.

Eve-teasing: Father-son duo held
Muktsar, October 29
The police today arrested a bus conductor and his father for allegedly molesting a girl of Kauni village.

Publicise Centre’s welfare schemes, Mahila Cong chief to party workers
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, October 29
In the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls due in May 2014, the president of All India Mahila Congress, Shobha Ojha, has called on the party workers, especially women, to apprise the masses about various welfare schemes launched by the UPA Government.

She was addressing a state-level workshop organised by the Punjab Mahila Congress at Moga on Tuesday.

She said several schemes for the welfare of women had been launched by the Union Government, which should reach out to the masses at the grassroots level. Keeping the upcoming LS polls in mind, the party activists should brief the people about the benefits of the schemes, she said.

Claiming that women workers of the Congress party could help to improve the party's performance in the polls, Ojha said women would be given adequate representation in the allotment of party tickets as part of the party’s commitment to empower them in the decision making process.

She lashed out at the SAD-BJP Government in Punjab for not implementing the Food Security Act in the state. She said this was the biggest welfare scheme ever launched by the Union Government that would cover over 65 per cent of the country’s poor population.

“Implement the Food Security Act by December 15 or our women workers will hold a state-level protest rally against the state government,” she warned.

Shobha Ojha refuted the allegations made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal that the UPA Government was not giving its due share of funds to Punjab. She said the state government was diverting the funds released by the Union Government for the welfare of the people.

The President Punjab Mahila Congress Dr Malti Thapar said the Punjab Government has miserably failed in properly implementing the central schemes. She announced that the Mahila Congress has decided to launch a signature campaign against the SAD-BJP Government for levying hefty property tax in the state.

The vice-president of the All India Mahila Congress Bindu Krishna claimed that the UPA would remain in power at the Centre for the third consecutive term by adopting a secular approach.

Protest outside Barnala SSP office

Barnala, October 29
Dhanaula residents and members of the family of Bhupinder Singh, whose both upper and lower limbs were fractured in an attack by some persons more than a month ago, staged a protest in front of the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) here today. The protesters demanded legal action against the accused.

The protesters had brought the victim to the protest venue on a cot.

Bhupinder Singh was "assaulted" by some persons in the wee hours of September 19 when he had gone to answer the call of nature. He was in Barnala to attend to his wife who was operated upon at the Civil Hospital.

The protesters also submitted an application to the SSP, Upinderjit Singh Ghuman, who assured them of justice.

When contacted, the SSP said he had handed over the inquiry to Barnala Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Harpal Singh. Requisite legal action would be initiated after the DSP files his report, the SSP added. — TNS

Eve-teasing: Father-son duo held

Muktsar, October 29
The police today arrested a bus conductor and his father for allegedly molesting a girl of Kauni village.

In her complaint, the victim, a ETT student, stated that the bus conductor, Hardeep Singh, who belonged to her village, teased her while she was travelling in a bus. His father Gurjant Singh was also there, she added. Acting upon the complaint, the Kotbahi police has arrested the father-son duo under Sections 354 and 34 of the IPC. — TNS