Firing on farmers: BKU seeks probe
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 2
The Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) has demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting or retired High Court judge into the police firing on agitating farmers at Manawala in Amritsar district in which one of protesters was killed.

Presiding over a meeting of the state executive of the BKU here yesterday, its president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal asked the government to provide adequate compensation to the next of kin of the deceased farmer and employment to an eligible member of the bereaved family. The meeting paid tributes to the victim of police brutality.

BKU secretary general Manjit Singh Kadian said the union members discussed the political strategy for the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Expressing concern over the unpaid dues of the previous crop to the tune of Rs 380 crore, the union demanded the disbursement of the outstanding payments, along with the promised bonus of Rs 20 per quintal on the purchase of paddy.

The BKU condemned the revival of the Iradi Commission by the Union Government. Calling for the release of pending power connections for tubewells, the union said there should be uninterrupted three-phase supply for a minimum of 12 hours daily for tubewells. It further demanded that the rural feeders should be treated on a par with the urban feeders in domestic power supply.

EDUCATION

Prof M.L. Anand gets Mohan Rakesh Puruskar
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 2
The Languages Department, Punjab, has selected Prof M.L. Anand, a former Principal of Arya College, for Mohan Rakesh Puruskar for 2002 for his book of one-act plays titled “Pashan” . The award was presented to him at Patiala yesterday.

The book carries six one-act plays written for specific occasions, which have been staged many times. These have won prizes at various inter-college functions and youth festivals. Three plays in the book portray the silent protest of the women against injustice. Earlier in 2001, Professor Anand’s play “Kangaal” portraying the life of an estranged son, was awarded the same prize by the Languages Department.

Professor Anand is an educationist, literary figure and champion for the cause of teachers. His leadership is still remembered by colleges teachers all over Punjab. He has been a member of the Panjab University Senate as well as the Syndicate for many years. He has worked on the posts of the Dean Languages, the Dean Colleges, a member of the Board of Studies, a member of the Syndicate and the Academic Council in Gurukul Kangri University, Hardwar. He was also a member of the Punjab State University Text Book Board and various literary and cultural organisations, including Bhartiya Sahitya Parishad.

He has also been honoured by the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan Prayag and the Hindi Sahitya Parishad. Besides, “Pashan” and “Kangaal”, he has written other plays titled “Padmini”, “Daerey” and “Patakhsep”. He is a writer of compassion and revolt. Dialogues of his play are crisp and lively and language is simple. His writings provoke readers to fight against tyranny and injustice.

BA-I paper out of syllabus
Our Correspondent

Doraha, April 2
Students of the BA (part I) English (compulsory) said some questions in the final examination today were out of syllabus. Part (C) of question No I, said students, carrying 5 marks, had been asked from out of the syllabus.

Also , the Punjabi version of the question on translation of No VI was missing. The students also complained that the topics of letters and paragraphs set in the paper were also quite unexpected.

They have demanded from the university authorities that they should be given grace marks for the same. The English teachers also said that the paper-setters should consult the syllabus before setting the paper as the students were disappointed when they found questions were out of the syllabus.

Navdeep tops Class V exam in Amloh Block
Our Correspondent

Amloh, April 2
Navdeep Kaur of Dashmesh Public School Khanian and Manjot Singh of Indian Public School, Mallowal, got first and second positions in the Amloh block, securing 449 and 440 marks, respectively, out of 550 marks, said Ms Raj Kumari, Block Primary Education Officer, here today.

The examination was conducted by the State Council of Education Research and Training. Out of a total 1567 students, 1557 appeared and 1281 students passed. The pass percentage of the block was 82-60.

Among the Scheduled Castes candidates, Nirmal Singh of Indian Public Secondary School secured 392 marks out of 550 and got the first position in the centre and second in the block, said the Principal of the school, Ms Rajinder Kaur. Students would be provided books free of cost besides other concessions.