Chandigarh, December 11
At the instance of the Punjab Government, the UT Administration today ordered the release of 764 protesting teachers and other employees of aided schools in Punjab lodged in Burail, Patiala and Nabha jails.

Terming the decision of the government as a “moral defeat”, the union leaders said they would continue with the Jail Bharo Andolan and hold rallies in various parts of the state to express resentment over the “indifferent attitude” of the state government.

The Chandigarh Police had arrested these protesters under Sections 107 and 151 of the CrPC. However, agitating teachers from Moga, arrested under Section 188 of the IPC on December 4 for violating prohibitory orders, have yet to be released.

Meanwhile, 170 teachers and other employees, including 40 women, from Nawanshahr, Ropar, Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib courted arrest in Sector 17 here this afternoon. They held a protest rally outside the office of the Director, Public Information (DPI), Punjab, and marched towards the Sector 16 road, but were arrested by the Chandigarh Police.

They were led by Mr Rajinder Sharma from Nawanshahr district and Mr Ujjagar Singh from Ropar district. Mr Sajjan Singh, president of the Punjab and UT Employees Federation, addressed the gathering and expressed support of the federation to the stir.

Mr Manohar Lal Chopra and Mr K.K. Joshi, acting president and adviser of the state union, alleged that the government had tried to ‘puncture’ the agitation. They announced that the indefinite strike by the union would not be called off until the demands were met.

Announcing the further course of action, Mr Joshi said that a rally would be held at Kahnuan in Gurdaspur on December 15, the constituency of Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, Education Minister. “Save education yatras” across the state are also being planned, according to sources.

Chandigarh, December 11
The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh's political secretary, Mr Harchand Singh Barsat, is back into action. He had resigned due to differences with the officials on certain matters, including non-acceptance of demands of various sections of employees and teachers of aided private schools.

Today he was seen accompanying the Punjab Vikas Yatra led by Capt Amarinder Singh in Hoshiarpur district. His resignation was rejected by the Chief Minister a few days ago. " Without giving details, he said that all issues had been “resolved"

Meanwhile, the sub-committee of ministers headed by Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, has called representatives of the Punjab Government Recognised Aided School Teachers and Other Employees Union for talks tomorrow to resolve various issues.

Mr Manohar Lal Chopra ,adviser of the union, said the Director, Public Instructions(DPI), Schools, had told him about the invitation on the phone. "We have accepted the invitation to attend the meeting that would be held in the afternoon. Senior leaders like Mr K.K. Joshi, acting president of the union, would attend the meeting", said Mr Chopra.

The president of the union, Mr Gurcharan Singh Chahal, has good ties with Mr Barasat. In fact, at the February 11 rally of employees organised by Mr Barsat at Patiala, where the Chief Minister had promised to accept all important demands of aided school teachers, Mr Chahal was the main organiser and stage compere.

However, Mr Chahal is now in Burail jail in connection with the agitation launched by the union.

Teachers of aided schools block traffic

Amritsar, December 11
Teachers and staff of the aided schools continued to hold protest for the 8th consecutive day today by organising a rally at Shri Guru Ram Dass Senior Secondary School, here.

Mr Yash Pal Sharma, press secretary, Punjab State Recognised Government Aided School Teachers Union, criticised the attitude of the state government towards these schools. He said even Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, President, PPCC, had justified the demands of the employees of these schools.

The union had been demanding restoration of suspension scheme on the old pattern, lifting of ban on the sanctioned posts, releasing of medical allowance and interim relief, and in service benefit of four, nine and 14 years. — TNS

Patiala, December 11
In yet another case of brutality, a large number of policemen used lathi charge to disperse members of the Unemployed Linemen Union, Punjab State Electricity Board, near the Polo ground here. About four persons who suffered serious injuries were battling for their lives in the emergency ward of the local Rajindra Hospital.

Out of four members of the union, who were battling for their lives in the hospital, Bhola Singh and Kuldeep Kumar suffered head injuries, Darshan Singh sustained internal injuries and was unconscious and Pardeep Puri got one of his arm and a leg fractured. Apart from them, about 16 linemen also suffered injuries and were being treated in different hospitals.

Mr Pirmal Singh, treasurer, Unemployed Linemen Union, said the condition of four members was serious and doctors attending on them had not been able to tell any thing about their condition. He added that the union would continue its agitation despite the fact that Capt Amarinder Singh was trying to crush their voice by using police force.

The police resorted to lathi charge when a few members of the union crossed the barricades put up on the Polo ground road leading to the New Moti Bagh Palace, the private residence of the Chief Minister. Water canons were also used to disperse the protesters.

A few injured members of the union alleged that they were holding a peaceful demonstration. They urged the policemen on duty to let them cross the barricade for submitting their memorandum to any official working in Moti Bagh Palace. However, the police refused to budge.

When they insisted the policemen resorted to lathi charge. A few protesters, who ran for safety in the Polo ground, were chased and given a good thrashing. Mr Charanjeev Joshi, photographer of a leading Punjabi daily of Jalandhar, was not spared by the policemen.

They pointed out that they were protesting against the non-recruitment of lineman by the PSEB management since 1997 despite the fact that a number of such posts were lying vacant. The state government had in 2003 promised to fill the posts of linemen after the members of union went hunger strike.

Sources said that a case had been registered against the 12 members of the union.

Mansa, December 11
Farmers and labourers of state would oppose the political parties not coming clean on problems faced by them, unemployed, salaried class and small traders in their manifestos in the forthcoming Assembly poll. This was announced at the Majdoor-Kisan Mahapanchayat held at the local grain market today.

Braving chilly weather, a large number of farmers and labourers converged on the market for the mahapanchayat for which nine panches were elected unanimously. The general secretary of the Majdoor Mukti Morcha, Mr Bhagwant Singh Samao, said the labourers and poor Dalits in rural as well as urban areas were “living in pathetic condition”. He said while the state government was blowing the trumpet of development, “labour class and poor didn’t have wheat flour for two square meals a day”. He alleged that big traders had hoarded wheat stock that had resulted in skyrocketing of its prices.

He warned that if the government failed to control the situation they would organise people to wage a war under which they would break locks of godowns and disburse foodgrains among the poor. He demanded that “shamlat land in excess to ceiling” in possession of “rich in rural areas” be vacated and handed over to landless farmers and labourers.

The state convener of the Punjab Kisan Union, Mr Ruldu Singh, said instead of changing regimes the farmers should learn to identify their friends and foes. Warning moneylenders and private financers to reduce their rate of interest to 12 per cent per annum, he said they would not allow any auction or arrest of a debt-ridden farmer. He announced that if the government didn't bring in ceiling norms on urban properties the union would ask landless farmers and poor to cultivate vacant land occupied by property dealers, leaders and officials. He said in the wake of increasing unemployment “one-person-one-occupation” scheme should be stared.

The All India Kisan Sangharsh Committee convener, Mr Raja Ram Singh, alleged that the state government and the Left government in West Bengal were following “ anti-farmer policies” merely to please big business houses.

Talaq, talaq, talaq
Sushil Goyal
Tribune News Service

Sangrur, December 11
After withdrawal of a matrimonial dispute case from a Malerkotla court by the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) to his own court here on November 23 last, Mr Harsh Mehta, the CJM, within a period of just 15 days, succeeded in persuading both parties, belonging to the Muslim community, to settle their matrimonial dispute amicably.

With the reported efforts of the CJM, the husband, Mr Tanveer Hussein, and wife, Ms Nausheen, both homoeopathic doctors from Malerkotla, agreed to take divorce, which was formalised in the court of the CJM here on December 8 last with the utterance of the word "talaq" thrice by the husband.

Mr Tanveer Hussein and Ms Nausheen were married in 2001.

After a boy’s birth in 2003, Ms Nausheen stayed with her parents.

Differences between the parties increased, which led to the registration of a case under Sections 406 and 498-A of the IPC in February 2006 at Malerkotla against Mr Tanveer Hussein and his parents, brother and sister.

Mr Tanveer Hussein moved an application in the court of the CJM here at the end of October this year to transfer his case from Malerkotla to some other place. Thus this case came to the court of the CJM, Mr Mehta.

When Ms Nausheen appeared in the court, the CJM intervened to get the matter resolved, so that the litigation could end amicably.

Later, the parties decided to end the marriage under the Muslim law.

The deed of divorce was executed on December 8, 2006 by paying Rs 6.23 lakh to the wife by the husband.

The amount of Rs 6.23 lakh included dowry, ‘mehar’ and maintenance towards Ms Nausheen and her minor child, and amount for ‘Idat’ period.

The divorce took place with the utterance of word "talaq" thrice by the husband at the time of execution of divorce deed in the court in the presence of witnesses and persons from the Muslim community.

The divorce also solved all other matrimonial disputes pending against other members of the husband's family and the maintenance petition pending at Malerkotla. Earlier, on November 30 last, the CJM had settled a matrimonial dispute, in which a man and his wife decided to live together again after a period of more than 10 years.

Sangrur, December 11
The SAD(B) will finalise the modalities of its manifesto for the ensuing state Assembly elections within 10 days, for which a meeting under the presidentship of Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, chairman of the manifesto committee, would be organised at Chandigarh.

Talking to The Tribune today, Mr Dhindsa, who is also secretary-general of the SAD, attributed the delay in the finalisation of the manifesto to the December 8 rally at Moga as the entire leadership was busy in its preparation.

Mr Dhindsa said the committee would soon submit the draft of the manifesto to the SAD(B) President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who would decide the date for releasing the manifesto. He also said it was sure that the party’s manifesto would certainly be “pro-poor” and “pro-people” as the rising prices had made the life of the people and the poor difficult.

With regard to the seat sharing with the BJP, Mr Dhindsa said it would soon be finalised by the top leadership of the SAD and the BJP. He said Mr Badal, Mr Rajnath Singh, BJP President, and Mr Arun Jaitley, in charge, Punjab BJP affairs, and some other leaders of both parties would soon settle the issue of seat sharing at a meeting.

No decision had been taken as yet on the number of seats to be given to the BJP in the ensuing Assembly elections. He said that it was true that the BJP demanded some seats in Malwa but the SAD would consider its claim only on those seats on which its candidates could win as this would be the main criteria at the time of seat sharing between both parties.

Regarding the Sangrur Assembly seat, Mr Dhindsa said there was no doubt that Mr Parkash Chand Garg, SAD National Vice-President, and Mr Ranjit Singh Ballian, former Punjab Minister, were staking claim on this seat. Mr Ballian claimed that he would get more votes while Mr Garg staked claim on the seat as a Hindu candidate, but the final decision about the SAD candidate for this seat would be taken by Mr Badal, he added.

Ludhiana, December 11
With the announcement of the election schedule for the general house election of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), the campaigning for the same has started picking up.

Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, president, SGPC, has been asked by the Shiromani Akali Dal president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to look after the campaign of the SAD in Delhi.

Mr Makkar has been asked to remain in Delhi till the polling is held there.

Meanwhile, the Sarna brothers, namely Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, president, Shiromani Akali Dal, Delhi, and Mr Harvinder Singh Sarna, president, DSGMC, who have the control of Delhi gurdwaras at present have also started the campaign in right earnest. They are confident of retaining hold over the Delhi gurdwaras.

Mr Manjit Singh, son of the late Jathedar Santokh Singh who has floated the Akali Dal (Panthic) is also in the fray and is likely to have some sort of adjustments with the Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

Mr Makkar confirmed that SAD might have some understanding with the Panthic Akali Dal. But he ruled out any alliance with Bhai Ranjit Singh, former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, who also wields some influence in Delhi.

The Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar which has been launched by the splinter Akali groups has decided to extend support to the Sarna brothers in the general elections to the DSGMC.

The Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar which has published White Paper regarding the functioning of the SGPC and the role of the Jathedar of Akal Takht has decided to distribute the White Paper in thousands in Delhi and during the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections in Punjab.

Prof Jagmohan Singh, general secretary, Akali Dal (Amritsar) who is also spokesperson of the Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar, said they had already started the distribution of the White Paper and thousands of copies of the same were being printed for further distribution.

Prof Jagmohan Singh said the SGPC and the Akali leadership had not cared to answer the issues raised in the White Paper. For the first time in the history of Sikhs, the Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar had proposed to set up a committee of experts on all issues relating to the Sikhs and impeachment of the Jathedar of Akal Takht and other Singh Sahiban.

The White Paper has alleged malpractices in the functioning of the SGPC where corruption is rampant. The White Paper has given specific instances of malpractices alleging that funds of the SGPC were being used to advance the political interests of Akali Dal president, Parkash Singh Badal. The White Paper also has alleged that the Jathedar of Akal Takht had refused to take any action against Mr Parkash Singh Badal on the basis of a number of complaints made to the Takht by the Sikhs.

The White Paper has also alleged that offerings at Harmander Sahib had gone down and funds of the SGPC were being diverted for political purposes. Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, president of the SGPC described the allegations against the SGPC as a bundle of lies and claimed that income of Harmandar Sahib and other historic gurdwaras had increased manifold. Mr Makkar claimed that no wrong had been committed ever since he took over as president of the SGPC and there was complete transparency. He said that the SGPC had also published a White Paper giving details of the works done by the SGPC.

The SGPC chief also denied that any langar was supplied by the SGPC for the Moga rally.

Chandigarh, December 11
The Punjab Government is hopeful that the much-awaited project of an international airport at Halwara will get the nod from the Union Cabinet when it meets on December 18. Two days ago, the Union Cabinet at a meeting had decided to put off approval to the airport.

The Union Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Anthony, reportedly rejected the proposal for funding the airport. Punjab officials said the project had not been rejected. Rather, it was expected to be taken up again in a week’s time. High-ranking officials said the Defence Minister was probably not briefed on the project.

The Airports Authority of India had mooted a public-private partnership for the airport. This was objected to by the Ministry of Defence. The ministry wanted the AAI to execute the project on its own and not invite private players.

Punjab has argued that defence airfields are used elsewhere too for civilian flights. At Dabolim international airport at Goa the airstrip of a major Navy airbase is used for domestic as well as international flights.

Officials maintain that having the AAI to build the project on its own should not be a problem. The matter can be sorted out as the objection is only to the participation of private players in building infrastructure and no objection has been raised to the setting up of the airport itself.

The Prime Minister’s Office is keen to see the project cleared before the Assembly elections in the state. More than 25 per cent of all passengers boarding flights from Indira Gandhi International Airport are from Punjab.

Preneet inaugurates power grid
Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 11
The Patiala MP Ms Preneet Kaur, today claimed that Punjab was the first state in the country that had all of its 13125 villages getting round the clock power supply.

She said this after inaugurating a 66 KV power grid station at Loh Simbli village here today. She said the PSEB was supplying power supply for eight hours to the agricultural sector free of cost.

The PSEB had also decided to provide free power up to 200 units to families below the poverty line.

Mr Jasjit Singh Randhawa, Revenue Minister, said the panchayat of Loh Simbli village had donated 3 acres for the construction of the power grid. With this grid, residents of 16 neighbouring villages would get power directly from this sub-station.

Govt has nothing to do with Sidhu case: CM

Chandigarh, December 11
The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today said he was unmoved by the “disinformation” being spread by the BJP leader, Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu. He said his government had nothing to do with his case.

It was the previous Badal government that had filed an appeal in the higher court against the judgement of a trial court. “Instead of posing questions to the former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in this regard, Mr Sidhu is targeting the Congress for political reasons,” he said.

He said he was surprised to hear leaders like Mr Badal claim that Mr Sidhu’s conviction had only enhanced his popularity. "It is difficult to comprehend how conviction in a criminal case can enhance anyone's popularity,” Mr Amarinder Singh added. TNS

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 11
The district-level Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan sports stadium is in a pitiable condition. It is proving to be a white elephant and not being used for promoting sports in the district.

As it is a joint venture of the Punjab State Sports Council and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, run by the SGPC, both of them are now blaming each other for its present condition.

Both parties had entered into an agreement on April 23, 1998, to construct a district-level stadium on the college campus. As per agreement, the college had to provide 16 acres of land for the construction of the stadium for the promotion of sports, whereas the Punjab Government had to spent the entire amount for the construction.

In another clause of the agreement, the project had to be kept open and free of cost for the public use and purely for the promotion of sports.

Mr Kirpal Singh Libra, member-secretary of the college trust, said the government at that time had assured to construct a swimming pool, gymnasium and a stadium but it constructed only the gymnasium at the cost of Rs 1 crore, whereas the college provided 16 acres as per agreement.

He said the government also defeated the basic purpose of constructing the stadium to promote sports, as it opened the Sports Officer’s office in the gymnasium building, which was never mentioned in the agreement.

The office was opened only from 9 am to 5 pm, whereas the sports time was either in evening or early morning. So there was no sports activity at all.

He said the condition of the gymnasium was bad as hardly anyone came in the daytime. Even the college students who were free from studies in the morning or evening could not avail the facility as it was locked even on holidays.

He offered the state government the amount spent by it on the construction, if it handed over the gymnasium to the college, so that they might maintain it and provide facilities to the sportspersons of the district.

Sangrur, December 11
Dr Mandeep Singh, Extension Specialist (FM), Farm Advisory Service Centre of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Sangrur, has suggested the marginal and small farmers to become part time farmers and full- time workers in the non-agriculture sector to improve standard of living.

Dr Mandeep Singh, a doctorate on “An economic analysis of small and marginal farmers in Punjab”, from PAU, also stressed the need of tenancy reforms to make marginal and small farmers full-time workers in the non-agriculture sector. He said tenancy reforms would encourage marginal and small farmers to lease their lands on long-term basis without losing security of ownership. He also suggested to the government to pass a legislation, regarding tenancy reforms.

He stressed on the expansion of dairy business to raise economic status of marginal and small farmers. The expansion of dairy business will raise their income, besides providing them more job opportunities. He said to meet domestic expenditure, more off-farm income opportunities should be explored for marginal and small farmers.