AGRICULTURE

‘Increase MSP of paddy’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 14
A meeting of the Punjab Lok Morcha held here today called upon the Centre to announce an increased MSP of paddy in proportion to the general price index without further delay.

The meeting, which was held to take stock of the conventions held by the morcha in different districts of the state, expressed satisfaction over the public response to the conventions. Participating leaders expressed concern over the statement of 100 police officers involved in custodial death cases during the militancy period in the state. This, the leaders observed, was a confessional statement by these police officers as to how they had been working at the behest of their high ups and bosses. The statement also exposed the role of police officers, including top bureaucrats and politicians of the ruling class, regarding their tall claims about militancy in the state. The meeting urged the National Human Rights Commission and the state Human Rights Commission to take suo moto notice of the statement and act according to the law of the land.

Among the leaders who attended the meeting were Mr Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri, general secretary, MCPI, Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala, president, SAD (Democratic), Mr Harish Khanna, president, Punjab unit of the Janata Dal (Secular), Prof Teja Singh Tiwana, member, national executive of the Samajwadi Party, Mr Darshan Singh, president, Punjab unit of the Samajwadi Janata Party, Mr Mukhtiar Singh Arshi, president, Punjab unit of the Republican Party of India, Mr Swaran Singh of the National Congress Party and Mr Kuldeep Singh, state secretary of the MCPI.

EDUCATION

Minister keeps college staff waiting
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 14
The students and teachers of Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Civil Lines, were a harassed lot as they had to wait for nearly two hours for a minister to inaugurate a study centre on the college campus.

Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Minister for Technical Education, Punjab, who was the chief guest at the opening function of Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Vocational Studies, a study centre for distance education programme of the Punjab Technical University (PTU), reached the college nearly two hours behind schedule.

Three other guests, Dr H.S. Gurm, Vice-Chancellor, PTU, Dr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University and president of the management of the host college and Mr Aamarjeet Singh, Director, Out Reach, PTU, failed to reach the venue.

Students hold rally
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 14
The Punjab Agricultural University Students Association organised a rally in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner demanding filling of the posts of teachers of agriculture in schools.

The students said while the subject had been introduced from this year, no recruitment had been made. Mr Kanwaljit Singh, president of the association, said the Education Minister was deliberately delaying the process of recruitment. He said that in a meeting held on May 15, the minister had assured that the posts would be filled before June 30, but nothing had been done so far. The members threatened that if the posts were not advertised immediately they would launch an agitation.

Vice-Principal removed
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, August 14
Bowing to the students' pressure, the managing committee of L.R. DAV College here has removed Prof K.C. Aggarwal, Vice-Principal, for allegedly behaving indecently with a girl student of BA-II.

The Professor has proceeded on leave for three months.

Gold medal for PAU scientist
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 14
Dr J.S. Hundal, Professor-cum-Head, Department of Vegetable Crops, has been selected by Punjab Agricultural University for the award of a gold medal for revolving a chilli hybrid variety CH-1, which has revolutionised chilli cultivation in the state.

This was disclosed by the University Registrar, Mr Alok Shekhar. He said that the area under chilli crop has tripled during the past five years and yield almost doubles. At present 80 per cent of the area under chilli cultivation is covered by CH-1. It has also shown excellent performance in Haryana and Rajasthan. About 50 farmers are producing CH-1 hybrid seed on a commercial scale.