AGRICULTURE

BKU: reject proposal for freezing farm prices
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 11
The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) has called upon the Union Government to reject the proposal of Agricultural Costs and Prices Commission for freezing the procurement price of farm produce and to immediately announce the minimum support prices for the forthcoming crops on the basis of the price index. The state executive of the BKU, which met here today with Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal in the chair, demanded an MSP of Rs 759 per quintal for paddy, Rs 2860 per quintal for pulses and oil seeds and Rs 3250 per quintal for cotton.

Giving details of the deliberations, Mr Bhupinder Singh Mahesari, general secretary (Press) said the meeting reiterated its demand for total remission of all agricultural loans, outstanding against farmers and farm workers. Moreover, further crop loans should be provided at cheaper rate of interest not exceeding 4 per cent so that the borrowers were in a position to repay the loans. It called for rationalisation of the rate of interest on agricultural loans which carried an interest at the rate of 14 per cent whereas the cooperative banks were providing cheaper loans for housing and purchase of vehicles.

The BKU decried the ban imposed by certain states over the purchase of property by Punjabis in those states whereas in the state of Punjab, any Indian citizen was free to purchase and develop property. “This is a clear case of discrimination with the enterprising people of Punjab and need to be scrapped immediately with the intervention of the Union Government.”

Expressing its serious concern over the increasing menace of drug addiction in Punjab, the union alleged that the massive racket of inter-state drug trafficking was continuing under political and bureaucratic patronage. Truck loads of opium, poppy husk and other intoxicants were arriving in the state every day from other states while the government had failed to come to terms with the alarming situation. The BKU called for a concerted campaign to check the drug traffic as well as create awareness among the people, especially youth against the use of drugs. It also wanted the widening of the ambit of anti-corruption drive launched by the Congress government to include the bureaucrats as well, who had amassed unimaginable wealth through gross misuse of power during last few years.

The state executive set up a three member sub committee, comprising Mr Bhupinder Singh, Mr Amrik Singh Mawi and Mr Shamsher Singh Panjkuan to oversee preparations for the forthcoming delegate session of the BKU at Anandpur Sahib on July 24 and July 25.

EDUCATION

Ludhiana, July 11
Protesting against vigilance raids in schools, the Punjab State-Aided School Teachers’ Union has decided to keep the schools closed on July 14. In a press conference at SDP Senior Secondary School here today, Mr Kirpal Singh, secretary of the union, said a massive rally would be held on that day and all members of the union would present a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner seeking respite from such raids. The members said that by holding such inquiries in aided schools now and then, the school principals, managements and teachers were feeling insulted.

The members of the union said that some ‘‘anti-social elements’’ were trying to defame the schools for their vested interests. They said that when some schools refused to entertain them for some admissions, they threatened them and wrote false complaints against them. Meanwhile, members of Ludhiana Seva Sangh, in a press note alleged that it has held a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. Mr Suresh Gupta, president, said not only the members but also some parents of students studying in aided schools met the DC and told him that the manner in which the raids were conducted was not fair.

PAU entrance test results
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 11
Results of its three entrance tests conducted by Punjab Agricultural University for admission to postgraduate courses in the College of Basic Sciences were declared here today.

The results were put up on the bulletin board outside Thapar Hall this afternoon. These were also made available on the official website of the university, www.pau.edu. The tests were conducted on July 8. Counselling would be held on July 25 in Pal Auditorium, said Dr S.S. Chahal, Controller of Examination. He said selection of students would be based on the merit in the entrance tests.

He said all students scoring more than 15 per cent marks in the tests would be eligible for selection. There were 10 seats each for biochemistry and genetics, seven each for botany and chemistry, six for zoology, five for microbiology and four for physics. Dr Chahal said 15 per cent seats, other than these, were reserved for NRI candidates.

COURTS

Coloniser told to refund registration amount
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 11
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Premier Complexes Limited, to refund the amount deposited by a consumer, along with 18 per cent interest per annum, as they had failed to allot a plot despite making the promise. The forum also directed than to pay Rs 700 as costs to the complainant for causing harassment.

The complainant, Rajan Matta of Shahpur road submitted before the forum that the opposite party gave an advertisement claiming themselves to be the approved government promoters. In the advertisement they showed that they were developing colony at Chandigarh the road near the octroi post, in which free hold plots of 70 sq. yds. and 100 sq. yds. were available on installments of Rs 500 per month.

He approached the opposite party and the opposite party agreed to allot plot of 100 sq yds. An amount of Rs 1000 was paid as registration-cum-booking amount on October 14,2000. He awaited for six months but the plot number was not allotted. He visited the office of Premier Complexes several times but all in vain, added the complainant.

Refuting the allegations levelled by the complainant the opposite party submitted that there was no deficiency on their part. The objection was taken that the complainant was not even a consumer. It was pleaded that the amount was deposited by the complainant against demand survey advertised by the opposite party. They denied of making any promise of allotting the plot.

But after appreciating the documents produced by the parties the forum observed that it was clearly mentioned that the amount was received by the opposite party as registration amount. The forum noted that the promise was made to allot the plot within 4-5 months.

''Admittedly, no plot has been allotted to the complainant so far. The opposite party got deposited the amount and did not make the allotment as promised. As such, there is clear deficiency in service . Therefore, to compensate the complainant for deficiency on the part of the opposite party, interest has to be allowed'', further observed the forum.

CULTURE

‘Sur milao...’ on July 14
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 11
“Sur milao kuch kar dikhao”, a talent hunt programme for budding singers, will be organised by Gilbey’s Green Label in association with the ETC channel at Red Cross Bhavan, Mall Road, on July 14. Mr G.A.P. Singh, organiser of the show, said an audition would be held in which participants would be given an opportunity to showcase their talent. The recording of the event would then be shown by the ETC on PUDA grounds, Urban Estate, on July 16, he said. The organiser said the programme would act as a forum for talented young people across 18 cities of the country.

He said the best singer would participate in regional finals coupled with an evening of entertainment, including dance, music and mimicry items by a group. For the northern region, contests would be held in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Jaipur and Gurgaon and final regional contest would be held in Gurgaon.

The organiser said five finalists across the country would vie for the all-India contest. He said TV viewers would adjudge the winners by sending in their votes.