Patiala, December 3
The World Punjabi Conference came to an end with even CPI (M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet saying that the “movement of the people” would give a new direction to politics in both country. While Pak Punjab Chief Minister Parvaiz Elahi promised cooperation between both provinces in future, Capt Amarinder Singh announced a tax waiver on Punjabi films, besides starting of an annual Punjabi Film Festival.

The Guru Tegh Bahadur hall in Punjabi University, where the conference was being held, witnessed a feeling of goodwill and bonhomie between delegates from both sides of the border. Most parted saying that “we will meet again”.

Mr Surjeet set the tone for the concluding function by saying that the people had forgotten their language after Partition and even given a cold shoulder to their culture.

“This is changing and the movement you have started now will take an even bigger shape when it reaches all homes”. Mr Surjeet said this was destined to give a new direction to politics in both countries and make the impossible possible. However, it depends on how much more ahead you can take this movement, he added.

Mr Elahi said both he and Capt Amarinder Singh were trying to find ways to take steps which could lead to joint progress. He said his government would work together with Punjabi University for development of a software which allowed transliteration of Gurmukhi to Shahmukhi. He said his government was ready to help Punjab to develop its irrigation system while it would welcome help in farm research.

Capt Amarinder Singh got up to thank everyone. However, he also made some announcements, which were welcomed.

These included waiving tax on Punjabi films, a demand which had been enunciated by Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal earlier. Capt Amarinder also announced Rs 3 crore for the building of the World Punjabi Centre in Punjabi University, the foundation stone of which he laid along with Mr Elahi on the campus earlier. He said this money would be in addition to the Rs 2 crore already announced for the university.

The function also saw the awarding of Punjabi Shiromani Awards to prominent writers, poets and journalists. It was also attended by Pakistan High Commissioner in India Aziz Ahmed Khan, Pakistan Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Rasool.

Chandigarh, December 3
“Muqabala mohabbat ka hai (it is a competition of love)”! This is how the Chief Minister of West Punjab, Mr Pervaiz Elahi, views his exchange of gifts with his counterpart, Capt Amarinder Singh.

Mr Elahi was presented an 80-horse power tractor by Capt Amarinder Singh at the Sector 17 Agro-Tech, 2004 Expo here this afternoon in return for a horse he had presented to the latter during his visit to Pakistan in February this year. Incidentally, only yesterday the Union Government gave clearance for importing the horse gifted 10 months ago.

“It is not the gifts. It is the love and affection that people of this Punjab have been showering upon us which is more important,” said Mr Elahi. “All members of my entourage have been moved by the ‘mohabbat’ people of Amritsar displayed for us yesterday. They came out on their own and lined the entire route from Rajasansi to Darbar Sahib. I could see in their eyes love and affection.”

In a brief chat with The Tribune, Mr Elahi said: “This visit is the beginning of a new era of friendship and peace between the people of the two Punjabs.

“We have arrived at a number of decisions, including joint research and development programme for agriculture and joint trade and industry fair. Besides, we want to make East-West Punjab Games an annual feature and also the World Punjabi Conference.

“After the first sports meet between the two Punjabs in Patiala starting on December 5, we will host the next meet in Lahore next year.

This series of exchange programmes will continue to usher in an era of eternal peace, friendship and goodwill,” said Mr Elahi, hoping that political dialogue to find solutions to core problems would continue.

“We also hope that all barriers between the two countries would gradually disappear after we settle the core issues. It is important that the present people-to-people exchange programme and atmosphere of goodwill and trust must continue,” he said.

Fiftynine-year-old Elahi said that he was “delighted to be in Chandigarh and Punjab and was bowled over by the hospitality here. A couple of years earlier, no one would have imagined such a cordial atmosphere to prevail.”

“We also have many problems for which we try to find solutions within our means. Some of our problems are common with you,” he said before the Punjab Chief Minister chipped in to say that “transfer of patwaris and tehsildars is as vexed in West Punjab as it is here.”

Mr Rakesh Bharti, Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Northern Region, added that the CII would coordinate holding of joint trade and industry shows in both Punjabs.

“Capt Amarinder Singh would lead a delegation of trade and industry to Pakistan in January next year to work out modalities for the first such trade show in Pakistan,” said Mr Mittal.

After addressing a session on business opportunities in East and West Punjab, Mr Elahi took out some time to visit the Sector 20 Jama Masjid for his Friday namaz.

Accompanying members of his entourage, including the Chief Secretary and Chairman of Planning Board of West Punjab, told The Tribune that Mr Elahi had taken a number of revolutionary decisions, including sanctioning a gigantic Rs 10 billion project for providing houses to all government employees besides making school education free. Not only that, girls studying beyond fifth standard get a stipend of Rs 200 a month as an incentive.

Patiala, December 3
The fact that the World Punjabi Conference being held here has more than served its objective of promoting a spirit of camaraderie among Punjabis from both sides of the border was demonstrated aptly today when poets attending the conference decided to hold a kavi darbar on the university lawn instead of sitting through a technical session.

Choosing to do what they are best suited for, poets from both Indian and Pakistan Punjab gave expression to sentiments through their verses. It started with the delegates getting acquainted with each other. On the lawn on Punjabi language and literature and went on to blossom into a full-fledged kavi darbar as more and more people gathered to listen to the poets while basking in the sun.

What delighted the old-timers the most were the different dialects of Punjabi at display, including Siraiki (spoken in Bhawalpur area of Pakistan), Sindhi (belonging to the Sind), Multani (from Multan), Puthwari (spoken around the Puthwar region) and even Lehnda (spoken around the frontier province). Each dialect with its quaint nuances evoked much nostalgia among the older generation.

The Majhi dialect (spoken around Gujranwala and Sheikhupura areas) proved to be the most popular.

Accompanied by informal comments, the darbar elicited praise from a most unlikely quarter, the policemen on duty around the lawns, who at times requested for a second recitation of the same poem. Hogging the most limelight was Baba Khushi Muhommad Nisar from Saiwal, Pakistan, who was called upon the most by the audience. His crisp yet subtle verse proved to be a major hit, especially his composition “chuski”.

Pakistan parliamentarian Bushra Rehman’s poem “Ishq Na kariye Pendoo Naal” (Never fall in love with a rural youth) evoked much laughter as few of her fellow poets reminded her that they too were from a rural background. Puthwari poetry from poetess Kana Singh of Mohali was also appreciated. Dr Raunaki Ram, who teaches Political Science in Panjab University, was another crowd puller.

Pak poet Nisar, perhaps summed up all in his line, ‘Sare Masle Hal Ho Jassan Dil Di Kundi Khol’ (all issues can be settled amicably, open up your hearts first). 

Patiala, December 3
Pakistan Punjab could well be its Indian counterpart’s answer for coming out of the present agricultural water crisis. With tubewells no longer a solution due to the decreasing water table, the engineering and designing expertise achieved by Pakistan Punjab to create water linkages after it was left without the Ravi and Sutlej rivers after Partition could well be emulated by Indian Punjab.

“The water crisis you are facing now was faced by us after the signing of the Indus Water Treaty”, said Mr Sulaiman Ghani, chairman of the Planning and Development Board of Pakistan Punjab. Mr Ghani, who is a former civil servant and served as Irrigation Secretary for three years, was one of the participants at the technical session on economy, trade, industry and technology at the World Punjabi Conference at the Punjabi University campus.

Mr Ghani said Pakistan dealt with the problem by going in for water linkages. “Water from the Chenab and Jhelum rivers was brought to the dry bed of the Ravi at great cost”. Following this, a canal was dug up to feed this water into the Sutlej to feed the Bahawalpur canals. He said this was done at a cost of £ 20 crore after the Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1958 and Upper Bari Doab waters was stopped from flowing into Pakistan in 1962.

We were forced to redesign our canals when this happened”, said Mr Ghani and added that an elaborate network of canals was created to feed the dryland areas in Punjab province. This, however, was not achieved through plans only. Mr Ghani said the rural community was also roped in to manage the irrigation systems in their areas. He said like in Indian Punjab, the water table was decreasing in Pakistan also and there was need to enter into joint research to tackle this issue. He called for water resources management, crop planning as a response to water scarcity, and research to create new viable crops which needed little water.

Pakistan Punjab has not only achieved a fair degree of success in designing canals, it also aims to make the entire canal system self sustainable so that there is no additional pressure on the government to maintain it. It is for this purpose that land revenue has been introduced again in Pakistan Punjab so that the water management cost can be recovered from the farmers.

Noted economist and a participant at the session on economic cooperation, Dr Suchha Singh Gill said Indian Punjab had paid a heavy price for over dependence on tubewells. “There are presently nine lakh tubewells in the state which have pushed the water table so down that now only submersible pumps are effective in many parts of the state,” he said. Dr Gill said canals were the answer for long-time agricultural stability. 

Patiala, December 3
For a man who said he always wanted to return to his “Sialkot” after Partition, there was another, albiet a woman, from the other side of the border who claimed that she was a third-generation Pakistan Punjabi to be denied easy entry to her homeland.

For eminent journalists attending a panel discussion on media cooperation in both provinces, the second day of the World Punjabi Conference being held at Punjabi University was a walk down memory lane.

Even as they became emotional about “their Punjab”, media personalities from both sides of the border called for effective steps to ensure cooperation between themselves, be it creating stoppages in Indian Punjab for both the Samjhauta Express and the bus service to allowing free broadcasting, allowing liberal work visas and even establishment of the Indo-Pak Textbook Board to review history lessons in both countries.

Mr Kuldip Nayar, was speaking of a cause dear to his heart while talking about his wish to return to his “Sialkot”. “I was 20 when I left my home in Pakistan during Partition but I had no doubt in my mind that I would be returning soon. But no one did.” He said it was then that he decided that he would try to reconnect with what was his own and ensure the boundary between the two countries became a mere line.

“Fifteen of us collected at Wagah 15 years ago with candles to work towards this end,” Mr Nayar said, adding that this sentiment had now become a mass movement. “There were four lakh people there last year and this year we are planning to call Pakistani artistes and people to the event.” Even as he expressed happiness at the turn of events, which had made people closer to each other, he said governments on both sides of the border could adopt their old postures. “It is then that we must stand up and fight,” he added. Mr Nayar called for the establishment of the South Asian News Service to bring the people of this region closer to each other. “I have already thought of SANS as an appropriate name for this,” he added.

If Mr Nayyar was emotional about the past, noted Pakistani Punjab columnist Afzal Tauseef wanted real changes in the present. “Three generations of Punjabis in Pakistan have suffered due to Partition and the subsequent wars, and also closing of borders.” We have been able to go to Delhi and Punjab but have not been able to visit Punjab.

“Ten years ago I was part of a delegation which was to go to Kolkata following the thaw in relations during the prime ministership of Mr I.K. Gujaral in India. I was excited that I would see Indian Punjab but they started the train at night, kept it running non-stop till Delhi and even switched off the lights of various stations as we were passing by,” Tauseef said.

Hindustan Times Resident Editor Kanwar Sandhu said there was a need for reviewing television and newspaper columns, allowing free access to journalists and allowing printing of Indian papers in Pakistan and vice versa. World Punjabi Conference Chairman Fakhar Zaman called for establishment of an Indo-Pak commission of textbooks. He said this was necessary to stop distortions and to ensure study of history in its proper perspective.

He also urged the Indian Government not to pass films which were against the ideology of Pakistan or were against the Indo-Pak peace initiative. Nawan Zamana Editor Jagjit Singh Anand, former Punjabi Tribune Editor Gulzar Sandhu and Pakistan Punjab columnist Asar Chauhan also spoke on the occasion.

Amritsar, December 3
The inter-state dental congress and the 44th Punjab state dental conference organised by the local chapter of Indian Dental Association was inaugurated here today.

Justice Umesh C Banerjee, former Supreme Court judge and president, SAARC (law), was the chief guest and Dr Anil Kohli, Dr R.K. Bali president and former president of Dental Council of India, respectively, Dr C.P. Govila, Vice-Chancellor, KG Dental University, Lucknow, Lt-Gen R.C. Dhir Director-General, Dental Services (Army Dental Corps) were the guests of honour.

About a thousand delegates from different states, including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan and Delhi participated.

The three-day conference was joined by several dental surgeons from Pakistan also. Prominent among those included Mr Mohammed Yusuf, Principal, Lahore Dental College and Dr Sufi, a former Principal of same college.

Patiala, December 3
What next ? This question has started assuming importance as the excessive dose of Punjabi conferences and cultural melas between East Punjab and West Punjab has begun to appear a repetitive exercise.

In fact this question has started bothering writers, scholars and intellectuals of both the Punjabs. Worried over this phenomenon, they have started thinking on new lines to sustain the interest of the people in the promotion of peace and friendship between India and Pakistan.

In fact this question came for serious discussions informally at the three-day world Punjabi Conference, which concluded at Punjabi University, Patiala, today. Obviously, from these cultural meets and festivals, scholars and writers would have to enter into the next phase of doing some constructive work in the field of research, education, agriculture and trade to give a further push to the peace process between the two countries.

So far extreme emotionalism has remained the hallmark of these conferences. Because of this emotionalism, speakers at these conferences sometime cross all limits of reasoning and logic and start talking about removing of borders between the two countries. Pakistani delegates say such speeches made at the conferences in East Punjab have started creating problems for them in West Punjab. Fundamentalists in Pakistan are against the dismantling of borders between the two countries.

Mr Ahmad Saleem, one of the most respected writers in Pakistan and also in India, says: “We should remain close to reality. Both countries should maintain their identities. There should be talk to promote peace between the two countries by people to people contacts as the process is going on now. But scholars and writers should avoid from going overboard while talking about friendship and cooperation between the people of the two Punjabs”.

Mr Afzal Ahsan Randhawa, one of the tallest Punjabi writers in Pakistan, says that the path of peace between India and Pakistan goes through East and West Punjab. “Both Punjabs hold the key to peace between the two countries. People-to-people contact would pave the way for friendship between the two countries”, he adds.

Unfortunately, even the basic issue of visa has not been resolved between the two countries. In fact the issue of visa dominated at the conference. All Pakistani writers and scholars at the conference have been pressing the point that the visa system between the two countries should come to an end and some other alternative should be found at the official level for frequent visits of people to the other country. Mr Fakhar Zaman, a former Cultural Minister of Pakistan and president of the World Punjabi Conference also raised this demand. He was supported with equal enthusiasm by the Punjab Animal Husbandry Minister, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang.

All Pakistani delegates have been bowled over by the beauty of the imposing campus of Punjabi University and the hospitality extended to them by the organisers.

Bushra Ejaz, one of the most beautiful faces at the conference and leading Punjabi writer from Pakistan, says that “there are no words to explain all this”. Mohammad Nisar, a bard, one of the most sought after men the conference, says that his dream to see this part of Punjab had been fulfilled.

In fact Nisar has become a hit with students and policemen. They continue to follow him right from the morning to evening to listen to his creations full of conventional folk wisdom.

Gurdaspur, December 3
The SAD president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at a rally held near the Deputy Commissioner’s office here today alleged that the Congress government had let the police terror loose against farmers and SAD workers. The workers of the SAD who were gathering here from all parts of the district to protest peacefully against the government policies were stopped and terrorised by the police against attending the party rally, he claimed.

Mr Badal was here to address an anti-repression rally organised by the SAD workers. The farmers are protesting all over the state against the non-availability of fertilisers and the inadequate minimum support price. However, instead of redressing their grievances, the state government was using the police to repress them. It was an irony that Capt Amarinder Singh, who used to stage dharna as Chief Minister in front of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s residence for the demands of the farmers was putting them in jail for genuine demands. The SAD would stand by farmers in their agitation, he said.

Earlier the police raised barricades on almost all roads leading to the town to prevent SAD workers from attending the rally. The SAD workers gathered in large numbers at the barricade. There were heated exchanges between the police and SAD workers. After the news of Mr Badal reaching the town, the SAD workers broke the barricade on the Kanuwan road and entered the town. A clash between the police and SAD workers also took place near the main Post Office of Gurdaspur.

Thereafter a large number of SAD workers entered the Deputy Commissioner’s office complex despite Section 144 of the CrPC being imposed there by the District Magistrate.

Mr Badal, while addressing rally alleged that there was no government in Punjab. All sections of the society were unhappy with the present government. In the forth-coming winter session of the Assembly, the SAD would raise the issue of police repression against the farmers and SAD workers.

Mr Sucha Singh Langah, former minister and district president of the SAD, warned the officials who allegedly harassed the SAD workers. He alleged that false and fabricated cases were being registered against SAD workers in the district at the behest of Congress ministers and leaders.

Patiala, December 3
While Akali leaders like Mr Parkash Singh Badal stayed away from the World Punjabi Conference, Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet, the CPM supremo, was in the limelight at Punjabi University here.

On the concluding day of the conference today, the organisers, especially the Vice-Chancellor, Mr S.S. Boparai, and the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, took special care of Mr Surjeet, who was extended all courtesies meant for a VIP. Even Mr Surjeet, appearing feeble spoke for few minutes at the valedictory function.

Mr Surjeet, who arrived in the university early in the morning, released a book “G.W. Leitner” authored by Mr Nazar Singh. After that, he left for Patiala city to call on Mr Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, who was hospitalised a few days ago following chest pain. He returned to the university campus in the evening to attend the concluding function. He was accompanied by Prof Balwant Singh, secretary of the state unit of the CPM and others. At the book release function, Dr J.S. Puar, former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University was also present

No Akali leader except, Mr Tejinder Singh Sidhu, who was chairman of the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board during the Badal regime, was seen at the conference.

Mr Boparai said Mr Manpreet Badal, nephew of Mr Parkash Singh Badal had personally collected invitation letters of all Akali and BJP MLAs for the conference. Mr Manpreet even confirmed the receiving of all invitations to the university authorities concerned. But now Mr Parkash Singh Badal was saying that he did not get an invitation. “It would be better if, Mr Manpeet Badal, tells the senior Badal that he had got the invitations. People must know what is the truth,” he added.

A number of BKU leaders were also seen at the conference. Among them were, Mr Satnam Singh Behru, president of the kisan wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar).

Faridkot, December 3
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is likely to present a charge sheet to the Punjab Governor in the first week of January against the state Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, for exposing his alleged misdeeds committed during the past three years of Congress rule in the state.

A high-powered committee of the SAD is already scrutinising all related documents in this regard and will complete the entire process before the end of this month. This was stated by Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Member of Parliament and general secretary of the party, while talking to mediapersons at the residence of Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, former Agriculture Minister, here yesterday.

Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was on a one-day tour of Panjgrain Assembly constituency, falling under Faridkot parliamentary constituency, to listen the problems of the area people while describing Capt Amarinder Singh as the king of scandals also accused him of encouraging nepotism and corruption. He alleged that the inhabitants of the state were feeling insecure.

Mr Badal made it clear that after coming to power in the state, his party would constitute a high-powered commission to probe into the alleged corrupt practices of Congress ministers. He also criticised the state government for failing to invite Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Leader of the Opposition to the World Punjabi Conference being held at Patiala.

In a reply to a question, he disclosed that party supremo Mr Parkash Singh Badal was already in touch with Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana, to make alliance with the BJP to give crushing defeat to the Congress in the next assembly elections in Haryana.

Bathinda, December 3
In a significant statement, former Local Bodies Minister and a senior leader of the BJP, Mr Balram Ji Dass Tandon, said extending of various sorts of concessions, including income tax and central excise exemptions to the new units to be set up in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir by the then Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was a wrong decision as it led to migration of industries from Punjab to these states.

Mr Tandon, who was here today to attend a social function, while addressing mediapersons said after Mr Vajpayee extended these concessions to Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir to initiate industrialisation in these states, but it started affecting the industrialisation process of Punjab, which had already suffered a lot due to various reasons.

He said at that time the SAD-BJP combine government and the BJP itself had lodged a protest against it to Mr Vajpayee and he had agreed to reconcile the things. But when the reconciliation was in process, the new UPA government came at the Centre. He said that it was very unfortunate that the present state government led by Capt Amarinder Singh was doing nothing for the development of state.

He said the priorities of Capt Amarinder Singh’s government was to make unprecedented hike in the salaries and perks of the MLAs and ministers and to withdraw facilities, which were extended to all sections of society, including farmers, Scheduled Castes, industrialists, employees, panchayats and educational institutions during the previous SAD-BJP government.

Not only this, Capt Amarinder Singh’s government had tried its best to scuttle the Punjab oil refinery project, which was given as a gift to Punjab to boost its economy by Mr Vajpayee. He added that Congress government had wasted three years in deciding whether to set up HPCL refinery or not.

When asked about his reaction that Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, was not invited to attend the World Punjabi Conference at Patiala, Mr Tandon said that a bad trend had been emerging in the present political scene. He said Mr Parvaiz Elahi, Chief Minister, Punjab (Pakistan), who had come to attend the conference might have got the impression that he was welcomed only by Punjab government and not by the Punjabis.

He disclosed that the BJP would launch an agitation against the anti-people policies of Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and the Congress government in Punjab.

Madhopur (Gurdaspur), December 3
The Eradi tribunal members today visited the Madhopur head and Ranjit Sagar dam to take stock of the case presented by Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan for sharing Ravi and Beas waters.

The two members of the commission, Justice P.C. Balakrishan Menon and Justice M.Y. Eqbal, besides visiting the said spot today and listened to the lawyers from the states concerned who were there to present their case. The Chairman of the commission Justice V. Balakrishna Eradi, however, did not come.

Besides the lawyers, Principal Secretary Irrigation, K.R. Lakhanpal and Special Secretary Irrigation, Jaspal Singh were also present. The Advocate-General, Punjab, Mr Harbhagwan Singh, presented the case of the state before the tribunal members.

Later, while talking to The Tribune Mr Harbhagwan Singh stated that they were here to show the factual position to the commission regarding the availability of water in the Ravi and Beas basins.

When asked about the status of the Eradi tribunal award after Punjab annulled the water sharing agreement, Mr Harbhagwan Singh said matter was under the preview of the Supreme Court.

The six-member team from Haryana and three-member team from Rajasthan including the advocates and officials of the Irrigation Departments, also met the members of the tribunal.

Justice P.C. Balakrishan Menon told The Tribune that they would visit the Harike Pattan barrage to take stock of the situation. They would also be holding meeting with officials and advocates from the respective states and ask them to substantiate their claims in the case by providing documents.

The sources said the present visit of the commission might support the case of Punjab that has been claiming that the inflows have reduced over a period of time.

The Eradi tribunal was set by the Rajiv Gandhi government to settle the water dispute between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan as per the Rajiv-Longowal 
accord.

Justice Menon when asked said before announcing its decision the tribunal would also consider the Bill passed by the Punjab Assembly, annulling the water sharing agreement with neighbouring states.

Batala, December 3
A meeting of Youth Congress workers was held here yesterday under the presidentship of Mr Nitin Sharma, secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Youth Congress.

Those present in the meeting criticised the French Government for imposing a ban on wearing turban in schools.

They said it was an injustice with the Sikhs as wearing turban symbolised their bravery, enthusiasm and self-respect.

All members supported the cause of Sikhs in France.

Letters have been sent to Ms Sonia Gandhi, President of the AICC, Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, and Mr Natwar Singh, External Affairs Minister, to intervene into the matter.

Mr Manjit Hanspal, president of the Batala (city) Youth Congress, Mr Gurwinder Singh Sabi, president of the (rural) Youth Congress, Mr Jatinder Pal Singh vice-chairman of the Punjab Pradesh Youth Congress (Kisan cell), Mr Navjit Singh Randhawa, Mr Lakhwinder Singh, Mr Bikramjit Singh, Mr Gautam Dharowalia, Mr Rajiv Saini, Mr Gagandeep, Mr Manish Seth, Mr Pradeep Pandey, Mr Raj Kumar, Mr Mukhwinder Singh, Mr Arwinder Singh and a number of Youth Congress workers were present in the meeting.

Mansa, December 3
A section of civil works contractors have alleged that a large-scale bunglings has been made in the tenders floated in connection with the rising of Kotla branch by officials of the Irrigation Branch (IB), Mansa Division, Jawaharke.

In the complaints lodged with the Director-General, Vigilance, the Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, the Principal Secretary, Punjab Irrigation Department, and the Chief Engineer, Irrigation, the contractors alleged that the tender inviting notice was prepared by violating rules and indicated that the same was done to promote nepotism and corruption. The conditions incorporated in the tender notice were non-viable, besides being arbitrary. The purpose of inserting such terms and conditions was to patronise some particular contractors.

The contractors, including Mr Arvind Kumar Garg, Mr Faqir Chand Garg, Mr Vijay Kumar, Mr Avinash Kumar and Mr Jagdev Singh, alleged that by making bunglings in the tender process, there was no competitive pricing and hence it caused a loss to the tune of Rs 50 lakh to the state exchequer.

They claimed that they were ready to execute the same work at 20 per cent less that lowest bid and the department would save about Rs 1 crore.

Mr Sohan Lal Sidhu, Executive Engineer, Irrigation, Mansa, when contacted, while denying all the allegations levelled by a section of contractors, claimed that the tenders had been floated and the process was in accordance with the procedure of law.

Moga, December 3
The Kirti Kisan Union has threatened to hold massive protest in the city on December 9 if the farmers arrested from Khosa Pando village were not released unconditionally.

This was announced in a meeting held under the chairmanship of the state union chief, Mr Hardev Singh Sandhu, here yesterday. It may be mentioned here that the police had arrested nine farmers, who were also the union activists from Khosa Pando, on November 30, reportedly for resisting the electricity board staff’s bid to snap their power connections owing to non-payment of bills.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Sandhu said that the farmers’ agitation had left the Amarinder government baffled and by arresting the farmers from Khosa Pando it had proved its “anti-farmer” credentials. He said the Chief Minister, who was once staging dharnas for farmers’ rights in New Delhi, was now suppressing the voice of the farmers.

He said the CM was forcing the farmers’ bodies to intensify their agitation by taking “unnecessary action” against the farmers. Mr Sandhu said Capt Amarinder Singh should turn the pages of history to find out how former Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon had to pay a heavy price for adopting “anti-farmer” policies.

The state union secretary, Mr Nirbhay Singh Dhudike, said breaking promises had become a “hobby” of the Amarinder government. He said during the meeting with the farmer leaders at the time of indefinite dharna in Chandigarh in March, 2003, it was promised that the agriculture sector would be provided free power and water, prices of crops would be raised, false cases against farmer leaders would be withdrawn, and no farmer would be arrested in a debt case. But, now the farmers’ land was being auctioned and farmer leaders were being arrested, he added.

Sarpanch assaulted
Our Correspondent

Abohar, December 3
Some persons inside the subdivisional complex here assaulted Mr Fateh Singh, sarpanch of Kalatibba village, today.

According to information, the sarpanch was entering the complex in connection with the hearing of a case. Some persons arrived in a Qualis vehicle near the sub-post and allegedly indulged in beating Fateh Singh. Some persons rushed to rescuing him as he shouted for help. The miscreants left the premises.

Mr Fateh Singh said that the miscreants were annoyed over passing of a resolution by the village panchayat against their interests.

The police could make no arrest in this connection.

Mohali, December 3
The Sarv Sikhiyaa Abhiyaan Authority (SSAA), Punjab will not get its textbooks printed by the Punjab School Education Board. This decision of the SSAA will not just intensify the ongoing tussle between the Education Department and the board but is also likely to lead to duplication of work and subsequent wasteful expenditure.

While the SSAA issued an advertisement yesterday inviting tenders from private parties for the printing of over 27 lakh school textbooks, the board had less than a week ago tendered out the printing of 1.10 crore textbooks. Sources state that while the number of books to be printed by the board does not include the SSAA component, the board was expecting to increase the final order and sell these textbooks in the SSAA.

The board had been for the past 6 months fighting with the Education Department for retaining its monopoly over printing of textbooks as laid down in the board's governing act. On the other hand, the Education Department has been insisting that the board should get out of commercial activities and focus on academic and examination-related work.

A strongly-worded notification to this effect was issued by the Education Department to the board on April 30, 2004. It was also pointed out in the notification that the books printed by the board were of sub-standard quality.

"After the first year since the implementation of the SSA in Punjab, we never bought books printed by the board. This is the second year we would be printing our own books,"said a source in the SSAA.

Sources alleged that the board was using low quality paper bought locally from a paper mill.

However, the board authorities pointed out that the quality of paper chosen for getting the books printed was laid down by the Director-General of Supplies and Disposal (DGSD), New Delhi. "The DGSD is a government of India body and is responsible for the quality of paper supplied to the board. They simply tell us the mill from where the paper has to be procured. And we do so accordingly," said a source in the board.

The textbooks printed by the board are sold to the Welfare Department, Punjab, and the SSAA other than selling these to the students directly. The Welfare Department distributes these books free of cost to the SC/ST students and has asked the board to print books for them this year too. However, now both the board and the SSAA would be printing exactly the same books for school children. While the SSAA would be providing these books to all general category girl students from Class I to Class VIII in the schools affiliated to the board, the board would be selling these books to all students of all classes in such schools.

Youth festival of Khalsa colleges to start today
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 3
The first religious youth festival of Khalsa colleges being run by the SGPC will commence at the local Mata Gujri College tomorrow. The two-day festival is dedicated to the ter-centenary of the supreme sacrifice of the Sahibzadas.

It will be inaugurated by Bibi Jagir Kaur, President of the SGPC, while Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President of the SAD, will preside over the first session, Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia, Principal of the college, told mediapersons here today.

He said in the morning session competitions in group shabad, solo shabad, on the spot painting, poster-making would be held.

In the second session competitions in war gayan, kavishari and vocal music would be held. In the second session Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta would be the chief guest.

On the second day Capt Kanwaljit Singh would inaugurate the morning session.

In the second session competitions in shashtri sangeet, religious poems, vocal instruments and declamation would be organised. Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa would preside over the function.