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Farmers rue wheat import tenders
Ludhiana, February 11 The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) president, Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, observed that the decision to import the wheat appeared to have been taken for some other considerations — that to control the rising wheat prices in the country, particularly in the southern parts. He pointed out that huge stocks of wheat were still pending in godowns and the government should have released these stocks before pressing the panic buttons. It is for the first time since 1999 that the Central government has decided to import the wheat. Otherwise, the country has always had huge surplus stocks of wheat. Mr Rajewal wondered as what made the Central government and the food ministry to panic when both had been assured of abundant stocks by several states, including Punjab and Haryana. He said the decision (of importing the wheat) will ruin the country's agriculture. Moreover, the local farmers would feel discriminated against as they are paid an MSP of Rs 630 per quintal while the imported wheat would cost Rs 850 per quintal at the ports. Mr Rajewal also demanded that all the loans of farmers should be adjusted according to the Supreme Court of India directions which has clearly spelt out that the farmers must not be made to repay their debts more than the double of the principal amount. He said certain cooperative banks, commission agents and some financial institutions were even claiming 10 times more than the principal loan amount from the farmers. The BKU leader said the organisation will stage a protest demonstration on February 17 at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh and on March 31 outside the Parliament House in Delhi.
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Land fraudulently sold to migrant couple
Ludhiana, February 11 Though the Basti Jodhewal police had already booked the two accused on the basis of an inquiry conducted by the ADGP, Internal Vigilance, in the case, justice still eludes the couple as they wait for taking possession of the piece of land. The aggrieved couple, Ms Sumitra Devi and Mr Raj Nath, rue that their hopes of providing a good place to live to their five children have been dashed to the ground, “Instead, our life is being spent in making rounds to the offices of different police officials or the courts for seeking justice.” The Basti Jodhewal SHO, Mr Jaswinder Singh Mangat, said there was no doubt that the labourers had been fleeced, “But we cannot allow them to take the possession of the land as the plot sold to them belongs to some other person.” He said the only glimmer of hope was that the accused would compensate the couple after they were arrested. He said raids were being conducted. Police sources revealed to Ludhiana Tribune that a BJP leader was allegedly helping the accused. Narrating their tale of woes, the couple stated that they had put all their savings to buy the plot. But now they have literally come on the road. They said they had bought the plot from Mr Arun Kumar. They had verified the 15-year-old revenue record of the plot. They had got the registration of the land done in their name and had also got a water supply connection. However, the police was not allowing them to start construction at the plot, the alleged. Mr Mangat said the police was not taking any sides in the case. The inquiry by the ADGP, Internal Vigilance, found that the accused had cited different khasra numbers in the plot location map while there were different in the registration of the land. Mr Arun Kumar had in turn blamed one Bhupinder Singh for the fraud. He had claimed that Mr Bhupinder Singh had fleeced him. He said he was unaware of the fraud when he had sold the plot to Ms Sumitra Devi. The plot, however, stood in the name of one Mr Joga Singh of the village, who was not allowing the construction on the land. Mr Mangat said both had been booked for cheating and would be arrested soon. He also revealed that the Revenue Department had tried to demarcate the land for ending the controversy. However, due to congested construction in the area, the demarcation could not be done. Mr Mangat said the police was trying to help the aggrieved couple.
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Protesting school teachers return disappointed
Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 11 Terming today's meeting as a drama, they rued the government had played a cruel joke with members of a class that had since been considered as a nation builder. Mr Amrit Pal and Mr Subhash Chand Sharma, presidents of district and block units respectively, maintained that the teachers and other employees working in private aided schools had returned disappointed from the state-level meeting that was convened on the initiative of Mr Harchand Singh Barsat, Political Secretary of the Chief Minister. "Instead of accepting the genuine demands, the leaders sprinkled salt on our wounds by merging 50 per cent DA. This is not even a fraction of what the employees had been urging the government to give," said the leaders. Future action would be decided by senior leaders,Mr Amrit Pal said. A large number of activists of the union had marched from this area towards Patiala, where a state-level meeting was scheduled to take place. MG M N Senior Secondary School, Jain Muni Shri Kundan Kanya Maha Vidyalya, Guru Nanak Kanya Maha Vidyalya, Guru Har Gobind Khalsa Senior Secondary School of local town and Jain Senior Secondary School Kup and some other aided schools from Malerkotla and Dhuri made their presence felt at the meeting addressed by Rajinder Kaur Bhattal Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Singla Finance Minister and Lal Singh Cabinet Minister. The meeting had been arranged with the intervention of Mr Harchand Singh Barsat.
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No headway in embezzlement case
Ludhiana, February 11 As the Rural Development and Panchayat Department grapples to reach a logical conclusion in the case, the villagers are losing all hope for the laying of a drain this year also. They apprehend their crop will be lost this year also during monsoon. The department had started an inquiry against the village sarpanch, who had allegedly embezzled funds, but thanks to political interference no charges could be framed against him. While villagers live under the shadow of floods, the officials of the department had asked the complainant to give a statement accusing the sarpanch of committing embezzlement. This is happening despite the fact that the officials of the panchayat department had expressed their helplessness to do much about the case claiming that their work was suffering due to interference by a local MLA into the case. A panchayat officer had gone on record saying that there was no account of around Rs 2 lakh released to the panchayat and no development had taken place in the village. Yet the inquiry officers concerned are asking the complainant to give a statement that the sarpanch had embezzled the funds. “We cannot do anything in his case. Whenever we go to ask him for details, he avoids us and goes running to that MLA. What can we do if he would not reply to a chargesheet. We cannot suspend him as there is a lot of political pressure,” said an official not willing to be quoted for obvious reasons. The villagers have been moving from pillar to post for the past many years for a solution to their problem. A former Member of Parliament, Mr Gurcharan Ghalib, had released Rs 1 lakh from his quota some years ago, but there was allegedly no account of money. Some farmers of the village had been loosing their crops for the past five years as flood water entered and damaged their fields in the absence of a proper drainage system. Some of them are reeling under debt worth lakhs of rupees as their crop were being damaged every year. They had been fighting to get the drain dug connecting the pond with Buddha Nala passing near the village. The revelation has come as a shock for the villagers pinning their hopes on the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, who had referred their case to the BDPO of Sidhwan Bet. “Our crops wilt one after the other. But nobody cares,” said Mr Sant Singh, a Lambardar of the village.
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Mutual funds a threat to small savings
Ludhiana, February 11 “People are increasingly investing in mutual funds which are offering high returns and tax benefits too,” said Mr Harinder Pal Sood, general secretary, Punjab state Small Savings Agents Association. Risk factor in mutual funds is deterring only a few, resulting in savings being diverted from other options, including small savings. Easy liquidity and no entry-exit load (no charges if one opted to discontinue a scheme) are other factors that are increasing their popularity. However, if agents gear up, they can still attain the target, Mr Sood asserted. He said as a very high number of people bought small savings instruments in the month of March, a large amount could still be mobilised. The state currently has over 22,000 small savings agents and the department is also motivating rural women to become agents so as to generate employment. According to the agents, besides awareness, there is a need to keep agents motivated. In a memorandum to the state government, the agents pointed out that mutual fund companies gave a commission ranging from 3 per cent to 5 per cent whereas it was barely 1 per cent in the case of small savings. “Small savings are suffering badly and it appears that the targets would be difficult to attain. Agents are suffering on account of several issues including service tax,” the agents pointed out. They also said that incentive had reduced drastically over the years from Rs 750- per one lakh to Rs 150 per lakh. 
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Dharna over boy’s death
Ludhiana, February 11 Irked over the death of the boy, Vishal Trivedi, his father Pujari Prasad Trivedi along with other area residents staged a massive demonstration at the Sherpur chowk and blocked traffic seeking registration of a case against the accused doctor. The dharna was lifted when the Sherpur police assured the demonstrators that due
action would be taken. Police sources said the post-mortem examination of the deceased would be conducted at the civil hospital.
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Swami Dayanand’s anniversary
celebrated
Ludhiana, February 11 On display were charts, collages, writings and pictures based on Swami’s life, as well as on Vedic culture and education. The programme started with a speech by Gurkirat of VF, who talked of life and teachings of Swami Dayanand. A moralistic skit portraying the role of Swami as a social reformer, who protested against untouchability, child marriage and other social evils, was staged. Kanika Kamboj (class IV-G) recited a poem conveying the message of peace. A devotional song was also presented by students of the primary section. Ms Paramjit Kaur apprised the students and teachers about the life history, teachings, social works and sacrifices of Swami Dayanand, who laid down his life for the sake of humanity. She coaxed the students to inculcate good moral values to be a perfect human being and reminded the students of their duties towards society.
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Shoba yatra on Guru Ravi Dass Jayanti eve
Ludhiana, February 11 Devotees of all ages participated in the yatra. They sang hymns carrying banners, placards and posters to mark the occasion. The yatra included hundreds of vehicles and hundreds others on foot.
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Sanchar Nigam executives’ meet
Ludhiana, February 11 Stating this in the general body meeting of the association, Mr Inderjit Singh, senior vice-president (SNEA-India) and Mr Jasbir Singh, local district secretary, said with the effort of the association the employees had started drawing the revised allowances from January this year. The meeting was held at Bhashat Bhawan where the problems faced by several employees were heard and solutions were discussed.
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Doctor booked for forgery
Jagraon, February 11 The doctor has not paid its telephone bill of Rs 4,696 and electricity bill amounting to Rs 28,850 and fabricated the agreement . A case was registered after SP (HQ) Jagraon investigated the matter on the complaint of Hardev Singh. — OC
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Contractor killed
Jagraon, February 11
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City to have Rs 100 cr shopping mall
Ludhiana, February 11 While PVR has planned top of the line six-screen multiplex for the development, Pantaloons will be the key store in the mall. “It would be spread over an area of 3 lakh square feet and would have six floors, the multiplex on the fifth and sixth floors and the remaining to have food court and retail outlets.” He disclosed that over 75 per cent of the space had already been leased out to brands like Nike, Pizza Hut, Costa Coffee, Woodland and Archies. While the company plans to encash on the locational advantage, it would also focus on the right tenant mix and good mall management. On a large number of malls coming up in the city and people’s doubts regarding the success of malls, Mr Nayar said: “There might be a large number of players, but only four—five would emerge as successful. ”
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