Jalandhar, February 14
Punjab BJP president Prof Rajendra Bhandari has said the BJP and SAD will hold a protest rally in New Delhi on February 26 against the “step-motherly” treatment of the Centre towards the state.

Addressing mediapersons here this evening, he said the Centre had always shortchanged Punjab in providing packages and relief to farmers and industries. Now, both parties would exert pressure on the UPA government to provide relief, packages and privileges to Punjab on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.

This would not only give a fillip to industrial growth but also prevent the flight of industries to other states. An attractive industrial policy would also attract new entrepreneurs from other states, he added.

He said Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal had on many occasions called on central ministers and demanded relief packages for the debt-ridden farmers of Punjab on the pattern of Vidharbha and other states. The Centre was not ready to acknowledge that farmers here too needed succour and relief, he pointed out.

In the run up to the Lok Sabha elections, he said nearly 60 per cent booth-level committees have been constituted in the state and the remaining would be completed soon. For the coming municipal council and panchayat elections, the party would contest only the former on its symbol, he added.

Condemning the violence and hooliganism unleashed by activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), headed by Raj Thackeray, in Maharashtra, he blamed the Congress government in power for being a mute spectator. Going by the developments, including the arrest and release of Raj under a light offence, “it seems the Congress is not only a party to it but has also given its tacit support,” he said.

On the question how he takes Sukhbir Badal becoming the Chief Minister of Punjab, he said, “As the SAD is the larger alliance partner, the CM has to from among the Akalis.” 

Amritsar, February 14
Postgraduate students of the biochemistry department of Government Medical College here have alleged that their head of the department is not allowing them to attend classes even though they regularly come to the department.

Blaming the head for continuous “harassment”, Dr Meenakshi Puri and Dr Rachna Mehndiratta, second-year junior researchers, said they were not being allowed to mark their attendance.

In a written complaint to the college principal, MD and MSc students alleged that they had also not been paid stipend for January, 2008.

“The students have been threatened by the head that she will get their admission cancelled and stipend discontinued if they do not write against their supervisor,” says the letter.

Two other postgraduate students alleged that the head refused to sign their surety bonds for attending the postgraduate classes by another teacher.

When contacted, principal Dr Jagdish Gargi said there was no substance in the allegations of harassment against the head.

“She had only asked the students to mark their attendance before going to the laboratories. I have personally gone through the allegations and there is no problem. The college authorities are only trying to maintain discipline on the campus,” he said.

Dr Mridula Mahajan, head, department of biochemistry, said the students were making baseless allegations even though her office had proof that the students were not coming to the department to mark their attendance despite the fact that the provision for a “moving register” had been made.“I have been telling the students, who are making these allegations, to refrain from spoiling the atmosphere of the department and focus on their studies instead,” she said. 

Amritsar, February 14
The large sewer flowing through the medical enclave, Gurunanak Avenue, Avtar Avenue, Akash Avenue, ESI Hospital, GND Hospital and other residential colonies has become a mammoth breeding ground for diseases, afflicting every one in the vicinity.

According to Dr Ranbir Singh Pannu, a resident of the Medical Enclave, about 45 thousand residents of Amritsar are under a constant threat from various diseases. The studies conducted by PGI SPM department, Chandigarh, have detected deadly diseases, including Cancer and DNA mutation, being caused to the residents of the localities in question by the big sewer.

In the absence of safe drinking water, the residents are forced to drink water contaminated by industrial pollutants, sewage waste, pesticides and insecticides, which have become a health hazard. Consumption of water containing heavy metals has already left hundreds of residents suffering from chronic diseases.

Earlier, a study, conducted by the Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) found that the residents of Mahal village - an urban fringe of the holy city near a sewage disposal drain - are getting polluted water. And the study had also shown DNA damage among residents. The study was aimed at assessing the geno-toxic effect and exposure to polluted groundwater. At least one member of each family of the affected areas was found to be suffering from one or the other health problem.

As the Tung Dhab drain, which passes from near the Guru Nanak Dev University, carries foul smelling, murky, polluted water with effluents from various industries, it is probable that some pollutants may have seeped into the village. The consumption of contaminated water is reported to induce DNA damage, the study reveals.

Other diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, malaria, gastroenteritis, brain cyst and jaundice have been detected and latest studies show that mother’s milk is infected due to harmful metals in large numbers, which indirectly affects the infants. All this is due to vegetables and animal fodder grown on the sewer water in the above talked about localities.

Dr Pannu asked why the municipal corporation is constantly sleeping over the problem and what else does it need as a proof to come into action. Many water samples have been found to be unfit for drinking and the foul smell they emit, add to the misery.

Dr Dua, professor of zoology at the GNDU, gave elaborate account and evidence of the water which is unfit for drinking, through video demonstrations, in a meeting of intellectuals at the Pannu Eye Hospital Medical enclave, in the presence of many dignitaries including doctors, two municipal commissioners of the area, consumer forum chairman, environmental and heritage chairman and mediapersons.

Pathankot, February 14
Filth and heaps of garbage all around and tipplers using abusive language welcome residents and visitors to the Officers’ Colony, which is home to top officials of the local administration here. To add to the problems a liquor vend and an 'ahata' at the entrance of the colony mar this so called posh area which is also the hometown of Punjab transport minister Master Mohan Lal Sharma.

The local administration, including the civic body and the excise department, has turned a blind eye to the inconvenience of the residents. Top officials of the subdivision, including three judges, SP, some executive engineers, a tehsildar, two DSPs and certain other officials have been putting up with the unsanitary conditions for a long time.

Representations to the SDM and the civic authorities have proved futile. Liquor vends and a drinking place or an ‘ahata’ at the entrance of the colony are a major source of nuisance here. Solid waste of the ‘ahata’ and the liquor vend is also an eye sore at the site.

The tipplers often make lewd comments making it impossible for women to venture out after sunset. Residents have taken up the issue with the deputy commissioner, the excise commissioner and the local SDM but to no avail. The ‘ahata’ owner has constructed a urinal illegally on the government land right at the entry point of the colony, allege residents.

Ironically, the Pathankot Improvement Trust, the local civic body and the PWD authorities are still groping in the dark about their jurisdiction regarding the alleged encroachment. When contacted, MC president Sravan Kumar said the area was under the jurisdiction of the Pathankot Improvement Trust. The EO of the Trust Jatinder Singh was not available for comments. 

Nawanshahr, February 14
Penning down two books in English. “A Wake-Up Call To Save Environment” and “Life Skills - The Art Of Living”, Narinder Kumar Bhangu, a young and energetic school teacher of the district, is already a name to reckon with in the intellectual circles.

In his maiden and didactic venture as an author, Bhangu has not only covered the fundamentals of ecology and human activities responsible for playing havoc with the environment but also underlined the need for adopting some simple but practical activities in our daily routine as part of our bid to save our planet.

While “A Wake-Up Call To Save Environment” is aimed at furthering the drive launched jointly by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) and the State Education Department to mobilise students for generating awareness among masses regarding hazards of environment pollution, in his latest book “Life Skills - The Art Of Living”, Bhangu has endeavoured to equip adolescents with an ability to develop a coherence between traditional values and techno-driven skills and lifestyles needed to cope with the present era of globalisation. — OC

Hoshiarpur, February 14
Activists of the Rashtriya Vikas Party and the Youth Welfare Association burnt the effigy of “western culture” at Clock Tower here today to oppose the celebrations of Valentine’s Day. They were led by their presidents Bharat Bhushan Verma and Sandeep Saini.

Addressing the gathering, speakers said the Valentine’s Day celebrations in the country were vitiating decency at public places and should be strongly opposed. Appealing to the youth to adopt the Indian culture, the leaders said the occasion was just an excuse to encourage western culture and misguide the youth. The protesters were rounded up by the police and later released after issuing 
a warning.

Similarly, Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) activists under their state unit vice-president Ranjit Rana took out a procession from Town Hall to oppose Valentine’s Day. Ranjit Rana, along with district president Chaman Lal, general secretary Harish Bhalla and Rajinder Rana, were also rounded up by the police as a precautionary measure and were released around 2 pm.

Jalandhar, February 14
Former MP and Punjab minister Balbir Singh died here last night. The cremation was held at Model Town today, which was attended by sports and youth services minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, Congress MLA Amarjit Singh Samra, Akali leader Bibi Jagir Kaur and other local politicians.

Balbir Singh, who had been the president of the governing council of Lyallpur Khalsa College for the past three decades, was recently appointed patron of the NRI Sabha. He was also recently appointed president of the Indian Kabaddi 
Federation.

His death was mourned by NRI Sabha vice-chairman Resham Singh Hayre, Congress leader Umrao Singh. They praised his contributions to the field of sports
in Punjab.

Amritsar: Dr Jai Rup Singh, vice-chancellor, Dr Raghbir Singh, dean, academic affairs, and Dr R.S. Bawa, registrar, of Guru Nanak Dev University, have mourned the death of former syndic and senator of the university Balbir Singh of Jalandhar.

In the condolence message released to the press here today, they said Balbir Singh had commendably contributed to the development of the university. They also expressed their sympathy with the bereaved family.

Hoshiarpur, February 14
The Hariana police booked Devinder Singh of Chotala under section 376 of the IPC on Wednesday for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl of his village. 

According to police sources, Devinder Singh entered the house of the girl on Wednesday evening while she was alone in her house. He forcibly took the girl to the fields behind her house and raped her.

He also threatened the girl with dire consequences if she told anyone about the incident. On the complaint of the victim’s parents, a case has been registered. — OC