Bathinda, November 5
Malwa has always been on the forefront of Punjab politics and boasts of giving the maximum number of chief ministers to the state. Now it also seems to be leading the list of average attendance (sittings) of Punjab MPs in the 14th Lok Sabha as well.

A perusal of records on the Lok Sabha website shows that seven of its MPs from Ludhiana, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Sangrur, Patiala and Ropar have an average attendance of 159 sittings as compared to 140 from Majha (Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran) in the 11 sessions of the Lok Sabha from June 2, 2004, to September 9, 2007.

Sukhdev Singh Libra, MP from Ropar, has the maximum number of 233 sittings of the total 259 sittings in the 14th Lok Sabha. Sukhbir Badal, working president, SAD, has the least i.e. 65. He is believed to have missed some of the sessions due to his political engagements in the state as the eighth and ninth sessions of the Lok Sabha coincided with the Punjab Assembly elections.

The young representatives from the state in the Lok Sabha have the least number of sittings as compared to the old timers. Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu has 80 sittings to his credit while Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Ludhiana MP, has 104.

The list of other MPs is as follows: Hoshiarpur MP Avinash Rai Khanna (210 sittings), Gurdaspur MP Vinod Khanna (131 sittings), Ferozepur MP Zora Singh Mann (155 sittings), Tarn Taran MP Rattan Singh Ajnala (208 sittings), Bathinda MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan (187 sittings), Patiala MP Preneet Kaur (198 sittings), Jalandhar MP Rana Gurjit Singh (170 sittings) and Sangrur MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (168 sittings).

Attendance of Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha, Charanjit Singh Atwal could not be collected as the deputy presiding officer of the House, while in the chair, does not sign the attendance register.

Bathinda, November 5
Despite their denial that there was no security threat to the city, the police today staged a flag march to ‘instil confidence among the people.’

The flag march saw a posse of police personnel including all station house officers of the city, and in charge of police posts, taking part.

The march began at around 10 am and lasted for nearly three hours with the cops taking a round of the entire city. A large number of police vehicles including a number of PCR motorcycles participated in the flag march. The flag march was led by the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Harsh Kumar Bansal.

Disclosing the reason for the flag march, ASP Bansal said, “It will make everyone feel secure about any untoward incident in the city.”

A TNS team that went around the city found that people were taking the whole exercise with a pinch of salt. Most people felt that it was all a drama. The officials think that by making a show of strength, residents of the city will feel secure. But it is a common sight to find policemen knocking at the shutters of liquor shops late at night. So, instead of flexing muscles, police must check their own staff deployed at various duty points.”

Cheeku Garg, a cloth merchant in Dhobi Bazaar, said the exercise was futile as nothing much was done by the policemen other than “blowing the hooter.”

It may be mentioned that reports regarding threat perception to the city were doing the rounds especially in the wake of Ludhiana blasts and after a letter that was reportedly received by the DRM at Hoshiarpur, listing Bathinda as one of the terror targets. 

Bathinda, November 5
The shortage of DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertiliser in the Bathinda region as well as in other parts of the state, has come as a bane for the farmers in Punjab. The farmers in the state are already under a debt of Rs 21,000 crore and the main sufferers are the small farmers.

To add to their miseries, the farmers in this area are either forced by co-operative societies to buy urea along with DAP or they are not given any DAP at all.

As per sources at IFFCO’s Bathinda office, DAP fertiliser is not available at their office since October 3. Wheat sowing starts from October 21 and continues till mid December. This is the peak season for wheat sowing and if the trend continued, the wheat yield is expected to decline.

At Patti Sandli of village Mehraj, farmers are forced by co-operative society members to buy urea along with DAP. At patti Karam Chand of the same village, co-operative society members forced one farmer to buy 4 bags of urea along with 9 bags of DAP.

Gurmit Singh Butter, director, Punjab Agricultural University Regional Research Station, Bathinda said that DAP is a vital nutrient for root establishment of rabi crops, especially wheat and hence has to be applied at the time of sowing. “The DAP fertiliser contains 18 per cent nitrogen and 46 per cent phosphorous. It also improves crop quality, facilitates better fruiting and flowering.’’

IFFCO’s Bathinda office has supplied almost 8576 metric tonne of DAP to Bathinda, Mansa, Moga and Faridkot districts. As per sources, Markfed has supplied 9707 metric tonne of DAP against its target of 8675 metric tonne.

Ramsaran Pal, Area Manager, IFFCO said that IFFCO has already supplied DAP fertilizer to 250 co-operative societies of these districts. “We had a target of supplying 25 percent DAP in this area, which has already been met.’’ 

Bathinda, November 5
“After the declaration of jurisdiction of wards, the rules for alteration in voter lists are being flouted,” these are the allegations mentioned in the press note released by Ranjit Singh, state president, Punjab Municipal Workers Union, here today.

Giving the details, he said as per the rules of election commission, no municipal employee could be deputed on any election duty because they had been directly related to the municipal corporation.

The willing contestants generally approach the politicians to put some kind of pressure upon the employees deployed on duty. The employees of the Municipal Corporation receive more pressure than the employees of another departments.

“Around 35 to 40 employees of the municipal corporation have been deployed in the amendment work of the voter lists, whose duties should be shifted soon,” Ranjit further demanded.

When contacted, DP Gupta, municipal corporation commissioner, Bathinda refuted all the allegations and 
said everything is going on as per the rules.

Bathinda, November 5
Gurpreet Singh won the 3000 m race in under-17 boys category at the first day of Inter- School Zonal Games at sports stadium, Bathinda today. In these games, events of 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and long jump will be held.

Gurtej Singh became the fastest runner on-the-track as he won the 100m sprint in the boys U-17 category of the Bathinda zone-I while Avtar stood second in the same event.

Results: Bathinda Zone I: Boys: Under-17:

100m: 1. Gurtej Singh 2 Avtar Singh.

400m: 1 Baljinder Singh 2 Avtar Singh.

1500m: 1 Ajay Saini 2 Charanjit Singh.

3000m: 1 Gurpreet Singh 2 Ajay Saini.

Under-19:

100m: 1 Ramandeep Singh 2 Daljit Singh.

400m: 1 Ramandeep Singh 2 Pawan Kumar.

800m: 1 Davinder Singh 2 Navdeep Singh.

1500m: 1 Davinder Singh 2 Amritpal Singh.

5000m: 1 Gurpreet Singh 2 Toni Kumar.

Girls: Under-19:

100m: 1 Rajvir Kaur 2 Lakhwinder Kaur.

800m: 1 Mandeep Kaur 2 Jassimran Kaur.

Under-17: 100m: 1 Kirandeep Kaur 2 Manpreet Kaur.

Bathinda Zone II: Boys: Under-14:

100m: 1 Romit Singla 2 Javed Kumar.

400m: 1 Amit Kumar 2 Romit Singla.

600m: 1 Gurvinder Singh 2 Sukhwinder Singh.

Long Jump: 1 Bir Inder Singh 2 Karanbir Singh.

Under-17: 100m: 1 Karandeep Singh 2 Harjinder Singh.

400m: 1 Dilpreet Singh 2 Gurparteek Singh.

800m: 1 Dilpreet Singh 2 Hardeep Singh.

1500m: 1 Gurmeet Singh 2 Gurpreet Singh.

3000m: 1 Chandandeep Singh 2 Babbu Singh.

Long Jump: 1 Kirandeep Singh 2 Sukhwinder Singh.

Under-19: 100m: 1 Ranjodh Singh 2 Arshjot Singh.

200m: 1 Arshjot Singh 2 Pawandeep Sekhon.

400m: 1 Gurpreet Singh 2 Satwinder Singh.

800m: 1 Amandeep Singh 2 Malkeet Singh.

1500m: 1 Manminder Singh 2 Amninderjit Singh.

5000m: 1 Gagandeep Singh 2 Swaranjeet Singh.

Long Jump: 1 Ranjodh Singh 2 Malkeet Singh.

Bathinda, November 5
The death anniversary of Seth Ram Nath, a noted freedom fighter, will be observed in the city today.

Born on January 10, 1916, at Jaitu, Seth Ram Nath was among those who did not trade their principles for personal gain. As a child, he was a witness to the famous Jaitu March in 1923. He had his early education at Jaitu, Faridkot and Moga.

A true Gandhian, Nath, was detained for two years in Nabha Central Jail for participating in the Quit India Movement in 1942. He was also the inspiration behind the setting up of a high school for Harijans, the Tilak Library and Gandhi Samark Nidhi, among others. He was the president of Nabha State Parja Mandal for 20 years and chairman of the anti-corruption board of the Pepsu government.

He also raised his voice against Operation Blue Star and 1984 riots. —TNS

Bathinda, November 5
A district level meeting of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta), Sidhupur group, was held under the chairmanship of Hardev Singh Jai Singh Wala, president, BKU’s district wing. Various problems pertaining to farmers, like procurement of cotton by government agencies, privatisation of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), shortage of DAP fertiliser were discussed in the meeting.

In a press note, Hardev Singh Jai Singh Wala said the procurement of cotton by government agencies was started only after they staged a dharna outside the office of Cotton Corporation of India in Bathinda on October 17.

He also said the decision of PSEB to install electricity meters outside people’s homes was wrong.

It was also stated in the press release that the shortage of DAP fertiliser would affect the farmers in a big way as the sowing of wheat is in full swing and if the government didn’t react to it immediately, wheat yield would decrease. 

Ferozepur, November 5
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) N. P. S. Aulakh today denied reports that some senior IPS officers, including SSPs posted in the Malwa belt, wanted to shift from their present place of posting due to political interference in their day to day functioning.

He, however, added that only the SSP Muktsar had verbally requested to be shifted to Chandigarh a couple of weeks back due to personal reasons. No other request, verbal or written, from any official for transfer had been received till date, he averred.

The DGP was here today to take stock of the law and order situation and to visit few police stations in the border district for a first-hand appraisal of problems being faced by the constables and NGOs working in the area. The DGP also addressed a meeting at the police lines here today. He even met the families of police officials and jawans who attained martyrdom during insurgency and other operations.

Aulakh was accompanied by the IG Ferozepur zone, M. K. Tiwari, DIG Ishwar Chander, SSP Dinesh Pratap and other senior officials.

Speaking to media persons, he rebuffed reports regarding political interference in police functioning as had appeared in a section of the media.

The DGP declined to comment about the arrest of former DGP S. S. Virk and his recent statement where he was quoted as saying that he felicitated a meeting of the present DGP and his elder brother M. P. S. Aulakh with the then Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

He remained evasive when asked whether the arrest of the former DGP. Saying that he did not want to be a part of any controversy, Virk said the arrest of Virk had no demoralising effect on the police and the force was working in its usual way. About the revival of insurgency in the state, the DGP said there were no indications as such. Still, he said, the police was vigilant enough to defeat the sinister designs of groups who might be thinking of destabilising the state.

The DGP said the police had a list of wanted terrorists and they would be brought to task soon.

Regarding corruption in the police force, the DGP admitted that black sheep were there in every department, but said he was determined to take stringent action against them.

About the shortage of manpower in police stations, Aulakh attributed the fact to increase in the number of districts and the multiple kinds of duties the force had to perform. He informed that around 1800 constables were recruited last year. After their training, they would be deployed at various police stations. Further demand to fill up vacancies would be taken up with the government, he added.

About the absorption of SPOs in the police force, Aulakh said SPOs who were found fit for recruitment after tests had already been taken force and he would request the state government to increase the salaries of the rest to bring them at par with the home guards.

He admitted that promotions in the police department had slowed due to less number of vacancies but promised to take measures to expedite the process. Aulakh informed that the new Police Act that envisaged fixed tenures for SSPs, DIGs and IGs posted in the field had been approved by the state cabinet, and it was a matter of time before it came into force.

About the Ludhiana bomb blasts, the DGP said the police was working on various leads and the case would be resolved soon. Regarding the increasing number of hypertension and HIV cases in the police force, he said it would be tackled soon.

Fazilka, November 5 
Following the imposition of an emergency in Pakistan surveillance along India-Pakistan border in Punjab has been enhanced. According to DIG, BSF (Intelligence) A S Qadir, forces have been put on high alert along the border.

In view of changing political scenario and apprehensions of disturbance in Pakistan, the jawans had reportedly been directed not to go on leave except in urgency, sources said.

It is also stated that activities along the border on Pakistan side had been enhanced. Therefore, the BSF have also been directed to be more vigilant of any attempt of intrusion from the other side of the border.

Faridkot, November 5
Though they are worlds apart professionally, yet the duo of Lachchman Bhana and Amarjit Sekhon has been performing the age-old art of 'Bhand' together, for the past three decades.

They strive to keep the art alive with their performances during village fairs organised across the state. Their words powered by humour, with deep meaning and comic gestures, elicit guffaws from the public.

Bhana, an employee of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), was attracted to the stage during his school days. His classmate Amarjit also joined in the extra-curricular activity. Soon, they were coming up with their performances in the school.

Amarjit emphatically says that there is hardly any village fair left in Punjab in which they have not featured. It is only through this form of art that one could view the original Punjab and its vibrant culture, he says.

After schooling, they joined the National Club for Drama, Nav Yug Raang Manch, popular in the city over two and a half decades back. Their decision to concentrate only on this form of art was arrived at following their performance in a Punjabi play 'Ajj Da Khoon' in 1986. Their roles of 'Bhand' received a tremendous applause from the audience.

Gradually, their bid to re-enact scenes of 'Bhand' expressing their humorous views on burning problems like shortage of LPG cylinders, rising inflation and population earned them fame.

However, they rue that with the passage of time, the response of people towards this form of art has declined. They prefer to see dance performances in general and of women in particular, they added. They feel that the reason behind this is deterioration of moral values in society.

They are of the view that another possible reason for this is aping of western society without thinking of its application in the Indian context.

They displayed their art in popular programmes like Kala Dorian, Viraasat and Mera Pind Mere Khet, telecast from Jalandhar Doordarshan. Both have featured in tele-films like Giani Zail Singh, which was based on the life of the late President of India. Their other notable performances in movies are Bishno Jatti, Zaildaar, Nadiyon Vichde Neer-— based on the story of the famous Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi and Khoon Sharikaan Da.

Some of their movies in the pipeline are Bhajna Badal Gaya, Ma Da Dharminder and telefilms, Pachtava, Eh Ki Panga La Lya and Thug Family.

The duo are still optimistic and feel that people here are strongly rooted in their culture and it will help in preserving this art.

Barnala, November 5
State president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Avtar Singh Kreempuri, today said that the tussle between SAD and BJP might lead to mid-term assembly elections. He was in the city to preside over a district level meet of BSP workers held at Singh Sabha Gurudwara here.

Speaking to reporters, the BSP leader said that the Badal family has taken up a sizeable chunk of ministerial berths in the cabinet and had ignored the Taksali Akalis who had made a lot of sacrifice for the party.

Earlier, while addressing a meeting of the workers, the BSP state president stressed upon the need to work hard to propagate the party ideology among masse.

He claimed that the BSP will emerge as the Third Front in the state and will offer a common platform for all classes irrespective of caste, creed, colour or religion.

He further said that to propagate the party ideology, a state level rally would be held at Ludhiana on November 17. 

Bathinda, November 5
Depressed over being childless, Gurmeet Singh (30) of village Daan Singh Wala , today allegedly hanged himself to death at his residence, on Sunday. He left no suicide note behind him, but the police believed it to be a case of suicide.

Sources in the village said the deceased had been married five years ago but did not have any child. He had been in a depressed state of mind. He was alone at home when he hanged himself to a ceiling fan hook. He was working with a private company.

The police sources said the grandmother of the deceased came to know about the incident, while his wife was not at home. Hearing her cries, neighbours rushed to the spot. Then, they reported to the police and Nahian Wala SHO Boota Singh, along with his team, reached the spot.

In the meantime, a team of Sahara Jan Seva reached the spot and took the body to the civil hospital for a post mortem.

After conducting the post mortem, the police handed over the body to the family members. The inquest proceedings were initiated after registering the case under section 174 of Cr.P.C.

The sarpanch of the village, Joginder Singh, said that the deceased was a responsible person, but he was under some mental stress.—TNS