3 booked for removing labourer’s kidney
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 6
While the dust over the kidney sale racket in Amritsar, Jalandhar and the UK, besides Ludhiana, is yet to settle, another case of removing a man’s kidney has come to light in the city.

The district police has booked three persons, including a city resident, a Jalandhar based doctor and his suspected agent for allegedly cheating a migrant labourer and taking out his kidney. The labourer claimed he was drugged and operated upon.

The case may come as a shot into the arm for the Jalandhar and Amritsar police, which is facing the music from doctors in these cities for dragging their names in the kidney racket.

The labourer Ashok Kumar, has lodged a complaint with the Shimla Puri police station that Pankaj Kumar of Haibowal, Ludhiana, along with Mehar Singh and an unidentified doctor of Jalandhar lured him to that city on the promise of a job but drugged him and removed his kidney last month. The kidney was transplanted to a needy person, he said.

The three persons have been booked under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, and Sections 420, 326 and 34 of the IPC. No arrests have been made so far. The name of the doctor has not been ascertained so far as the alleged victim did not know his identity.

This case has come close on the heels of busting of an allegedly flourishing kidney racket in Amritsar and Jalandhar. While the police produced the alleged victims and arrested some touts involved in the racket, doctors in Jalandhar and Amritsar denied their involvement and even stopped kidney transplant operations is protest against the police claims of the involvement in the racket.

Ludhiana was also in the centre of a controversy over a kidney racket. Some arrests were made but the key accused, Amritpal Singh, who operated from a prestigious hospital in the city, is yet to be nabbed.

Police sources disclosed here that Ashok Kumar approached the police after a month after he regained health to complain about the matter. The FIR states that Ashok Kumar was poverty-stricken and was in desperate need of a good job. He was the only earning member in his family. Pankaj Kumar of Haibowal met him and said he knew Mehar Singh of Jalandhar, who could arrange a good job for him.

Ashok Kumar said he went to meet Mehar Singh with Pankaj and was told to come after a few days. He was then made to undergo some tests on the plea that his medical fitness for the job was being tested. He said one day he was given a sleep-inducing drug and when he regained consciousness, he came to know about the kidney operation. He said he was shocked and somehow managed to come home. He said he was offered some money but he refused.

Such cases suggesting a kidney racket have been reported from this region regularly.

Kewal Badal placed under ‘house arrest’
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 6
Mr Kewal Singh Badal, a son of Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, a former Agriculture Minister and close confidant of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was allegedly placed under ‘house arrest’ by the police at Jagraon. Yesterday he was detained for over seven hours by the Raikot police.

The Jagraon SSP, Mr Mukhwinder Singh Chinna, however, denied his ‘house arrest’. He said he was only given police security. When asked if Mr Kewal Singh had demanded security, the SSP said the police had received information that there was threat to his life because of the volatile situation over the SGPC elections.

“You are not allowed to venture outside”, is the one-line direction of cops posted on guard duty at his residence. The Jagraon police has not registered any case against him nor briefed him about the cause of ‘house arrest’. Mr Kewal Singh, a junior vice-president of the SGPC, was escorted home by nearly 12 cops late last night after his release from Raikot police station. Since then he has been under ‘house arrest’. There was, however, no restriction on the visitors.

Mr Chinna claimed that there was no restriction on the movement of Mr Kewal Singh and he visited his farmhouse at Sidhwan Bet today.

Confirming his ‘house arrest’ while talking on his mobile phone, Mr Kewal Singh said he was being harassed for continuing to be a trusted worker of Mr Badal. He said he had contacted Mr Badal on the phone and apprised him of his condition. He said while lower rank police officers were saying these were the orders from the top, senior police officers were not responding to his calls.

He was allegedly detained by the Raikot police yesterday while he was on the way to meet Mr Badal.

Husband gets 10-yr RI for abetting suicide
Rajneesh Lakhanpal

Ludhiana, November 6
A city court has sentenced Bhagminder Singh (25), alias Vicky, of Chak-Kalan village, Dakha, to 10-year rigorous imprisonment on the charge of abetting his wife Ramandeep Kaur to commit suicide a year after their marriage. He was earlier being tried for murder, but the judge held him guilty of abetting suicide. A fine of Rs 5000 has also been imposed on him. In case of default in the payment of fine, he will have to further undergo imprisonment for two years.

A maternal grandmother of Bhagminder Singh, namely Gurdial Kaur (75), and Harnek Singh, maternal uncle, have also been sentenced to undergo imprisonment of five years and seven years, respectively.

Delivering the 41-page judgment, Mr S.M.S. Mahal, Additional Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, remarked, “The daughters are married by the parents so that they live a peaceful life. But in this case, Ramandeep Kaur was unfortunate. The scar in the mind of the parents of deceased will never vanish and their agony can be very well understood.” Therefore, he declined the plea of leniency raised by the accused.

However, the court acquitted Rajinder Kaur, maternal aunt, and Parminder Kaur, sister of the prime accused, by giving them the benefit of the doubt.

An FIR was registered against the accused on February 5, 1999, at the Dakha police station on the statement of Ramandeep Kaur, which also became her dying declaration, as she succumbed to her burn injuries on the very next day.

According to prosecution, on the fateful day Gurdial Kaur asked Ramandeep to prepare tea. When she went to kitchen, she heard Rajinder Kaur saying that it was a good opportunity for finishing her. Gurdial Kaur brought a can full of kerosene and poured kerosene when the other accused were also present there. Parvinder Kaur handed over a match box to the prime accused, who lit the match stick and threw on the clothes of the complainant. While she caught fire, the accused kept on laughing. In the meantime, two relatives of the complainant happened to reach the spot.

It was also alleged that after a month of their marriage, the accused started beating the complainant and demanded a car. Later, she was turned out. The prosecution examined 11 witnesses to prove their case.

On the other hand, the husband of the complainant alleged false implication in the case. He contended that when her wife was cooking the meals, the stove burst and she got burn injuries. He had taken her to the hospital for treatment. In defence, nine witnesses were examined to prove innocence.

After hearing the rival contentions of both parties and appreciating the evidence on record, the court observed, “Dying declaration cannot be held trustworthy or having been voluntarily made by declarant (deceased).”

The complainant had stated that she was 1-1/4 months pregnant but medical reports proved that she was not pregnant at the time of the incident.

The statement (dying declarations) appears to be the work of the Investigating Officer, having been drafted not at the alleged time but created later with due deliberation and consultation, observed the judge.

The court acquitted all accused from the charges under Sections 302 and 304-B of the IPC. He held that the accused harassed the complainant and as such abetted suicide by her, and convicted them under Section 306 of the IPC.

After the pronouncement of the judgment, the accused Gurdial Kaur and Harnek Singh were immediately taken into custody, as they were on bail.

SGPC POLL
SSF moves HC for stalling elections
Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 6
The Sehajdhari Sikh Federation — a registered political party — has fired the salvo in the run-up to the SGPC polls by filing a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High court for stalling the elections, terming the entire process as “illegal and undemocratic.” Elections are to be held on November 12 while the matter is listed for hearing on November 11.

Dr Paramjeet Singh Ranu, national president of the federation, said “ our grievance is that the present committee has outlived its term of five years, which expired on October, 2001. Instead of holding the general elections, the president and its office bearers are being elected which are violative of the provisions of Section 51 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925. The present committee is illegally continuing in office and has no legal right to elect the president or other office-bearers who have outlived their term.”

He said the federation has prayed that the respondents should be restrained from holding the election for the post of president and office-bearers of SGPC, besides appointing an administrator to look after the functioning of the committee till the time elections are not held.

The federation chief disclosed that the points raised in the writ petition are: whether the board - which has a fixed term of only five years under section 51 of the Act, can enjoy an unlimited extended term? Whether the SGPC which has already outlived its statutory terms, has any legal right to elect a new President and office bearers ? Whether the state government has failed to perform the statutory duty cast upon it by Section 47 of the Act by not fixing the date for holding of fresh elections of the committee? Whether in the absence of a new board/ SGPC, the provisions of Section 62 and 63 of the Act can be resorted to ? Whether the state government and the present committee are abusing the provisions of Section 51 of the Act by indefinitely stretching the terms of the present board ?

He said the writ has been filed in a representative capacity as the issue concerned the Sikhs and the election for constitution of the SGPC were held in 1996, and as per the provisions of Section 47 of the Act, the date of fresh elections to the board has to be fixed by the state government. In terms of the Section 51, the SGPC has a maximum term of five years. Thus, the present committee, which is managing the Sikh shrines, ought to have demitted office in October, 2001.

Putting the onus for this “ intentional lapse” equally on the Akalis and the Congress, Dr Ranu alleged that the Akali government did not initiate prompt measures since it was hopeful of winning the assembly elections but the Congress too chose to sit over the issue.

He said the “provisions of the Act are being abused by the present SGPC and the state government and the recourse to provisions of Sections 62 and 63 of the Act is totally illegal. Since, the Act has been abused in the past too, the time has come now to set this anomaly right,” he asserted.

Expressing fears of bloodshed and large-scale rioting, Dr Ranu said the measures taken by splinter groups, SAD and the Congress have left no doubt in the mind of the people and the voters that the parties will go to any extent to wrest control of the SGPC and continue on extended terms which is against the interest of religion and the Act.

He said they had served a legal notice on October 24 on the Ministry of Home Affairs, Punjab government, Chief Gurdwara Election Commissioner and president of the SGPC to restrain from electing the new president and office-bearers on Nov 12, and further fix the date and hold general elections for constitution of a new board.

Since no action was taken by the respondents, the federation was forced to approach the high court where the writ has been listed for November 11 before the division bench of Mr Justice V.K. Bali and Mr Justice Virender Singh.

Industry ‘sore’ with government
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 6
Notwithstanding the assurances of the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh about reviving the industry in the state, some local industrial associations appear to be sore with some steps taken by the government terming these anti-industry which would hamper the industrial growth in the state. On the other hand the Industry Minister, Mr Avtar Henry said, the government had an open mind and would once again listen to industrialists’ problems.

Recently the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh during his Ludhiana visit assured the industrialists that the government would create and industry friendly atmosphere in the state.

He also held a meeting with some top industrialists and announced that he would regularly hold monthly meetings with them to have an idea about their problems and discuss the scope for further growth and development.

Mr Henry told The Tribune today that the Chief Minister, had once again told the Secretary Industries, Mr Mukul Joshi, to talk to various industrialists to know about their problems. He said, whatever the problems they would be facing would be removed and assured that the industrialists would not have any grievances.

However, the Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by Mr P.D. Sharma does not appear to be impressed. According Mr Sharma, a this Government has not been able to establish a rapport with the industry. Reacting to the statement of the Industry Minister, Mr Avtar Henry, about the government’s dealing with the industry, Mr Sharma alleged that the state government had so far remained indifferent towards industry problems.

The Apex Chamber leader listed several issues, which, according to him, were going against the industry.

He said, the introduction of the Exim form was nothing but simply handing the fate of the industry in the state in the hands of the Sales Tax Department. He pointed out, no goods from Punjab could go outside without the exim form and similarly no goods could enter the state from outside Punjab.

The Apex Chamber also questioned the rationale behind the entry tax, which he observed was not at all justified. The Chamber leader pointed out, the entry tax would be charged on the raw material and once the finished product goes out of the state it would again be taxed. “Is it not a case of multiple taxation?”, he asked.

The chamber also listed other issues like levying sales tax, multiple taxation, which it observed encouraged monopolies. Even the draft for the introduction of the value added tax (VAT) prepared by the Punjab government clearly indicated that the industry was being left not only at the mercy of the Sales Tax Department but also the police, which would have a number of excuses to prosecute the industry on different provisions of the VAT.

Harassment charge against SHO
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, November 6
Vicky Anand and Baljit Singh, who have filed a complaint against the local city SHO and other police officials with the Punjab State Human Rights Commission have alleged that they were humiliated by the local police for filing a complaint against them.

According to Vicky Anand a lottery ticketseller, the tickets being sold by him and Baljit Singh were of lotteries recognised by the Punjab Government under the Lotteries (reg.) Ordnance, 1997, but the SHO of the Police Station City had demanded bribe and was harassing the complainants. They also alleged that the police had registered a false case in August this year under Section 13-A of the Gambling Act in violation of the human rights. According to the complainants their complaint was referred to the SSP who referred it to the local DSP for inquiry. In a sworn affidavit handed over to this correspondent Vicky Anand was returning home on his motor cycle no. PB-10A-20-8216 along with his wife and children after watching a movie when the city SHO followed them in a car and stopped him and impounded his motor cycle. He said he showed the registration certificate, driving licence and other papers to the policeman but in spite of this he issued a challan As per the complainant the said SHO was compelling him to withdraw the complaint filed before the rights panel.

When this correspondent contacted the SHO for clarification about the complaint he claimed that the complainant had no documents at that time.

Divali leaves city gasping for breath
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 6
The joy of Divali festival was limited to a few hours only but the after-effects shall take quite some time to subside. Even two days after the festival of lights, the city is engulfed with smog, thanks to the pollution caused by the firecrackers and partly cloudy sky that has formed a thick layer of smog.

For the past two days the sun has been eluding the city and a hazy blanket is covering the entire city. Consequently residents are reporting in hospitals with nasal, respiratory and eye infections.

Environmentalists are of the opinion that due to fall in temperature and partly cloudy sky the smog is getting collected near the surface of the earth as the smoke being generated is getting mixed with the fog.

Scientists at Punjab Agricultural University attribute the formation of smog to the pollution caused due to bursting of firecrackers as well as the clouds hovering over the sky. They forecasts that the weather and smog are going to persist for two three days.

According to Dr Paramjit Singh Sehra, Associate Professor, Department of Agrometerology, clouds had formed in the northern region due to low pressure that had formed in the area. So there would be no sun and the smog would continue for atleast three days. Dr Sehra said it was not a new phenomenon for the city as every year after Divali the pollution levels rose to an alarming high due to the fireworks. And the lowering of temperature in the season resulted in smog.

Dr Sehra further said there was a possibility of light showers in the next two days that would help clear environment. He said rain would do good to city residents who were complaining of various smog-related health problems.

A few days ago too the city had witnessed such a phenomenon when the farmers had resorted to burning of paddy stubble despite ban by the district administration. The situation had been improving for the past some days but the evenings were still hazy.

The highways connecting the city were seen under the cover of haze today as a result of the pollution due to firecrackers as well as burning of paddy stubble. Vehicles were seen moving with head lights on as the visibility was poor.

A city-based doctor has advised residents to stay indoors especially during evening. He said the scenario was going to continue for a few days more as the smog would take some time to settle down.

The doctor advised parents to take special care of children and infants as they had smaller respiratory passages and were prone to suffer difficulty in breathing. He said this smoke which had resulted in the formation of smog after getting mixed with mist was dangerous for the asthma patients.

He advised residents to cover their noses with a clean cloth before going out smog. He also advised the residents to wear glasses to protect their eyes from smoke which was causing irritation and reddening of eyes.

Vishwakarma Day celebrations end
Our Correspondent

Amloh, November 6
Two-day celebrations of Lord Vishwakarma Day concluded in Vishwakarma Mandir at Bhadson village, near here, on Wednesday. After the bhog of the “Vishwakarma Purann” at 8 am on Tuesday, a shobha yatra was inaugurated by Mr Hari Singh Hasanpurwale.

Pandit Roshan Lal from Patiala, Giani Mahinder Singh Mast (Akal Garh ) and Ram Chand recited the katha kirtan. The programme was organised by the Vishwakarma Ramgarhia Educational Welfare and Development Society Bhadson with the assistance of the Vishwakarma Ramgarhia Council of India.

Mr Randeep Singh, MLA, Nabha, inaugurated the function, which was presided over by Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, MLA, Ludhiana (Rural ). Mr Amarjit Singh, president Mandir Committee of Kartar Combines, welcomed the guests.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Randeep Singh said Bhadson is known for its combine industry all over India as 85 per cent of the combines are manufactured in this village. He said the government had made arrangements to get the combine harvesters’ quality-control certificates at Bhadson and Nabha.

Mr Gurinder Paul Singh Rehal, vice-chairman, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (Backward Classes Cell), said that during the Freedom Struggle, 70 per cent sacrifices were made by the Punjabis, out of which 35 per cent were made by the Ramgarhia community alone. He advocated allotment of party tickets to this community in the coming municipal civic elections.

Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, MLA, Ludhiana, said that the Punjab Pardesh Congress chief, Mr H.S. Hans Paul, could not attend this function as he was called at Delhi to finalise the executive committee of the Pardesh Congress.

Mr Surjit Singh, MLA, Dirba, appreciated the efforts of the society to organise a successful programme. The function was attended by representatives of various Ramgarhia sabhas from different districts of the state.

Mr Gurdev Singh Amloh vice-president, DCC Fatehgarh Sahib, Mr Prem Kumar Gagat joint secretary PPCC, Mr D.R. Sood former general secretary DCC, Mr Balvinder Singh, Jaimal Singh and Mr Amar Singh Lotey, secretary, senior vice-president and patron, respectively, of the society were also present on the occasion.

‘Maintain harmony with nature for perfect health’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 6
“Taking tea in the morning is like inviting diseases. Instead of consuming tea, one should take two to three glasses of water and should go for a short walk”, these views were expressed by Swami Ram Dev, a renowned spiritualist and yoga expert from Divya Yoga Mandir, Hardwar, who is conducting a three-day yoga and meditation camp on ‘Art of Pranic Healing’, organised by the Hero DMC Heart Institute here today. The camp which will conclude on November 8, has been organised keeping in view the increasing incidence of diseases triggered by stress and sedentary lifestyle.

The camp was inaugurated by Mr S. K. Munjal, Director Hero Group, who was also the chief guest on the occasion.

Acharya Shri Karamvir ji, disciple of Swami Ram Dev taught the techniques of concentration to those attending the camp and told about the importance of these in day-to-day life. Dr B. P. Mishra from the Department of Psychiatry delivered a lecture on ‘Psychotherapy and Yoga’. In various extensive sessions, Swamiji taught the pranic healing, yoga and meditation techniques. He also delivered a lecture on Veda and Modern life and on the teachings of Gita.

Swamiji said consuming two to three glasses of water in the morning will definitely cure a number of stomach diseases like constipation, acidity etc. He said the cause of a majority of diseases was the failure of man to maintain harmony with nature. “In reality, we do not know how to eat, how to sleep and how to drink on the right time, due to which imbalance of all the five elements of body — fire, wind, earth, water and sky occurs. One should eat satvik food by chewing it properly and liquid should be taken slowly in small sips. By balancing the three energies of body — vak, pitt and kaf, one can control all the disease”, said Swamiji.

While telling about the significance of various techniques of “pranayam”, he said miraculous results can be achieved through this within days and even deadly diseases like Hepatitis B, diabetes and peptic ulcers can be cured. He said in order to be happy and healthy, one should let difference give way to confidence, let despair give way to hope. One should have an optimistic attitude and things will also become positive in life. Instead of blaming others, one should introspect on one’s own weaknesses and should try to overcome these. One should not run away from fear, face it courageously and it will disappear.

There should be a harmony between the amount of food one eats and the physical work done. Routine should be properly planned and there should be some time for physical exercises.

One should learn to break the conditioning of mind with the negative external influences and should develop one’s own positive outlook”. He stressed that one should never feel jealous of others and should preserve a stability in emotions under all circumstances.

Swamiji concluded his lecture by quoting a shloka from Gita — ‘Samatvam yog uchyate’ (The one who remains unperturbed under all kinds of circumstances, whether happiness or unhappiness is called a ‘yogi’). Amongst others present on the occasion were Mr Balraj Kumar, Dr Sandeep Puri, Dr Daljit Singh and Dr G. S. Wander.

Union poll: factions elect presidents
Our Correspondent

Ahmedgarh, November 6
The local Truck Operators Union election saw two presidents being elected by their respective factions. Mr Sukhdev Singh Walia, a former president of the union, was declared elected by his faction, while Mr Rajneesh Sharma Guddoo, a former OSD to the Chief Minister, was declared elected by the group led by Mr Bhupinder Singh Pandher, president of the All-Punjab Transporters Association.

Truck operators belonging to both factions gathered at the union office at Ahmedgarh Pohir early in the morning. Mr Pandher said the DSP, Mulanpur, told them that the election had been postponed. When Mr Rajneesh Sharma, along with his supporters, came out of the union office, the police surrounded it and did not let them enter again. In the meantime, plainclothes policemen reportedly garlanded Mr Walia and declared him the president.

Not bowing to police threats, the operators gathered in front of the union office and declared Mr Guddoo the President by signing in a register. Mr Rajneesh Sharma claimed that more than 900 operators out of 1,125 had signed in his favour. Mr Walia, on the other hand, maintained that he had been elected unanimously by those who were present at the election venue.

Mr Mukhwinder Singh Chheena, SSP, Jagraon, denied the charges of police coercion.

READERS WRITE
‘Just condemning straw burning will not help’

A lot is being written in the Press about burning of straw by farmers. But simply condemning it will not help. I, myself being a farmer, can vouch that the farmers are very much aware of the pollution caused by burning of straw. Apart from polluting the air, the practise wastes a huge quantity of natural resources, including much needed nutrients. Another aspect of the problem, not been highlighted so far, is that the heat generated affects the micro-flora in the soil and in the long run could also lead to ecological imbalance. But for solving the problem once and for all, we must analyse the reasons behind this practice. Take for example the case of paddy. Its harvesting starts on October 1 and the sowing of wheat begins from October 25. So there is a gap of only 25 days during which the farmers are supposed to harvest the crop and prepare the land. And in case they have to sow some other crops like fodder, sarson or toria, the time at their disposal will be even less as the sowing time for these is earlier. In such a situation, in my opinion, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to prepare the land with the given technology. We must try to evolve a suitable technology, demonstrate it to the farmers and try to popularise it. Only then this problem can be tackled in the long run. For the time being, it is the ‘zero till’ practice which can provide some relief from this situation. We must popularise this practice on a large scale for sowing of wheat after the harvest of paddy. At the same time its long time implications must be studied as this is a new practice and contrary to the age old belief of preparing the seed bed in the best possible manner.

Rajinderpal Singh

Burning candle, at both ends

It is costly to produce electricity and still more expensive to maintain lines of supply. Yet this rare ‘candle’ is being burnt at both ends ruthlessly and shamelessly by politicians and bureaucrats.

The politicians are allowing the use of kundi system for the sake of preserving their vote banks, thus forcing the PSEB to suffer losses of crores, and the bureaucrats are wasting precious electricity by burning streetlights in the town right up to the midday. There is nobody to put off the streetlights at dawn and no action is taken against those responsible for huge losses to the public exchequer.

Will the municipal corporation authorities wake up and take remedial measures to save the already meagre state finances.

Major S.S. Khosla

Thank you

I just want to say thanks through the columns of your esteemed newspaper for the coverage given to the youth festival at Partap College of Education, Ludhiana, from October 27 to 29. On the behalf of the Principal, Dr Balwant Singh, and the management of the college, I thank your reporters, photographers and the team of The Tribune for valuable space given to the function, not only in ‘Ludhiana Tribune’ but also the main paper. Your consideration has boosted our morale.

Harjit Kaur

Save city parks

Roads in the interior of the city are in bad shape, the worst example being Brown Road from old Civil Hospital to the local bus stand near the railway station. The jail road is also full of potholes.

The worst hit are city parks, including the Rose Garden. Earlier, the maintenance of the parks was with the local park, management committees of residents. Such committees were paid maintenance grants at the rate of Re 1 per sq mt. But now the committees are offered Rs 1000 per park per month, regardless of the size of the park. The park management committees have refused to accept the new proposal and abandoned the task. The agreements with the committees was up to June 30, 2002, but the payment of grants was stopped after December 31, 2001, although the committees continued with their work up till the last date of the agreement.

The corporation had declared a few days back that the arrears would be cleared within a couple of days. But nothing has happened so far. The management committees have served the corporation with legal notices seeking payment of their grants.

The parks are turning into jungles with elephant grass, garbage and pollution. Streetlights, water supply and sanitation services have been neglected.

G.S. Kang, Income-tax Practitioner (regd) and a senior citizen.

Power of positive thinking

It is important for our health, happiness and welfare to keep the mind in perfect harmony-poised, serene and undisturbed — to avoid excitement and explosive passions which tear our nervous system to tatters. If we wish to remain well, we must learn to cast out fear before these feed and fatten upon us. We ourselves lend this monster the power, which it uses to overwhelm us.

Our thoughts are either healthy thoughts or diseased thoughts. All normal thinking tends to promote health and all abnormal thinking tends to promote disease. This underlines the importance of keeping our mental and physical standards high. Our physical power of resistance depends largely upon our mental power and both these work hard to keep us in good health and cheer.

Instead of being filled with the fear of disease, every person should be trained and his life so regulated that he becomes a mighty bulwark of resistance against mental and physical enemies alike. He should learn that he is made to be healthy and happy. He should be taught that all weakness and diseases are abnormalities and that he has within him the natural antidotes for life’s poisons and troubles.

Rajindra Singh Bindra, Ludhiana

Anti-encroachment campaign

There is an urgent need to extend the anti-encroachments campaign started by the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, to the surrounding areas of Jiwan Nagar Chowk. Birms of the road leading to Sherpur from Aarti Steels side need to be brought to the level of the road to avoid stagnation of water on the road. Besides, rehris and hawkers operating along this road should also be removed.

To the disappointment of entrepreneurs of aforesaid area, it is learnt that the MC has shifted the onus of removing above encroachments on the PUDA authorities and the PUDA authorities have done the vice-versa.

Resultantly, the request for removing encroachment has neither been considered by the MC authorities nor by the PUDA authorities. The situation remains unchanged resulting in problems to industrialists.

The Local Body Minister should intervene immediately to direct the authorities concerned to remove these encroachments.

Avtar Singh