The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

AGRICULTURE

BJP to ‘stand by’ farmers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 25
The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha has maintained that the BJP stood by the farming community in its hour of crisis and the party was making every effort for early announcement of the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy and other seasonal crops.

The state president of the BJYM, Mr Sukhminder Pal Singh Grewal, said in a statement here today that Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, state chief of the BJP, had led a delegation of party functionaries to Delhi to press upon the Union Government for starting procurement without further delay and to announce a support price of Rs 750 per quintal for paddy in view of an increase in the cost of farm inputs. Mr Rinwa, he added, had met the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani, the Union Agriculture Minister Mr Ajit Singh, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Hukam Dev Narayan Singh and the Union Food Minister, Mr Sharad Yadav in this connection.

Mr Grewal observed that the farmers were put in a crisis-like situation for non-commencement of procurement and delay in the announcement of MSP of paddy. Reiterating the demand for an MSP of Rs 750 per quintal for paddy, he asked the government not to burden the farmers with the proposed 7.5 per cent purchase tax on MSP. He claimed that the members of Union Cabinet had assured the party delegation that all possible measures were being taken to mitigate the problems of the farmers.

Terming the BKU decision to gherao the BJP president Mr Venkaiah Naidu, as “most unfortunate”, the BJYM president asked the BKU functionaries to review the decision. “Showing due respect to guests is among glorious traditions and heritage of rich Punjabi culture and according a different treatment to the national president of a party on his visit to the state be in bad taste.” According to Mr Grewal, the BKU leaders, perhaps were unaware that Mr Naidu himself came from a farmers’ family and he was already mounting pressure on the government to come to the rescue of the farmers.

He charged the Congress government in Punjab with being responsible for the problems of farmers exploiting the sentiments of the farming community and inciting it against the BJP-led government at the Centre for political motives. “In fact, the Punjab Government and the Chief Minister Cap Amarinder Singh, are the main culprits for the delay in the announcement of the procurement price of paddy.

No senior government functionary from the state had taken up the issue even once with the Union government while the former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the BJP president, Mr Rinwa, had been making hectic efforts in this direction at various levels.

EDUCATION

General knowledge contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 25
A general knowledge contest was held at Everest Pb. Sr. Sec. School, Moti Nagar, Ludhiana today. Students of various classes took part in the contest. There were four groups. Newton House got the first position and the second position was bagged by Bhawa House where as the third position was captured by Tagore House. Questions concerning various topics of general interest in every sphere were asked.

Principal Rajinder Sharma advised the students to be well aware of the happenings in the world as general knowledge was given special importance in every competitive examination.

Shivani wins rangoli contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 25
Rangoli and pictionary contests were organised on the third day of Koshish — 2002 at PCTE, Ludhiana.

Pictionary is an event in which a team of two students take part. One is given a slip with a name of any common object. He then has to describe it to his teammate using geometric figures only. The teammate draw the geometric figures on the blackboard and tries to guess its name. During this the teammates are not allowed to look at each other. This event is specially designed to improve the communication and logical reasoning skills of the students. Twelve teams participated and eight teams qualified for the finals. BCA final year students bagged the first and second positions and BCA second year students won the third position.

In rangoli, twelve teams comprising two students participate. Shivani Bector of MBA final year won the first position, Seema Galhotra of MBA final year bagged the second position and Monica of BCA first year got the third position.

Talent hunt-2002
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 25
Talent hunt-2002 is being organised by Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Ludhiana, at its auditorium on September 26 and 27.

On September 26, Mrs S. Verma, Principal, SDP College for Women, Ludhiana will inaugurate the function and Mr Malwinder Singh Jaggi, Public Grievances Officer, Ludhiana, will give away the prizes. On September 27, Mr Jaswant Singh Gill, Principal, GTB National College, Doraha, will inaugurate the function.

GGSC welcomes freshers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 25
The Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle has organised a function at Akal Degree College, Mastuana, to welcome the freshers. Prof Ram Singh, Principal, Dr Kamal Singh, Director, Youth Study Circle, and Mr Satnam Singh, Director, Training, were present, among others.

Mr Surinder Pal Singh Siddqi, zonal president, welcomed the freshers and shared his views with them. Dr Charan Kamal Singh motivated the students to follow the right path. He gave them tips on character formation and personality grooming.