Chandigarh, March 14
The much touted atta-dal scheme of the SAD-BJP government today led to exchange of heated arguments between cooperation minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh and leader of the Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in the Punjab Assembly.

Bhattal said for coming to its help with regard to the atta-dal scheme, the SAD-BJP should extend thanks to the UPA government that had increased the quota of wheat for Punjab from the central pool. She said the SAD-BJP government was boasting about the scheme, but it was the UPA government that had come to the state government’s rescue. That led to arguments and counter-arguments.

The question regarding the atta-dal scheme was asked by Sukhpal Singh Khaira. He had asked how much loan had been raised by Markfed for the atta-dal scheme. Replying to the question, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said a loan of Rs 250 crore was raised at the rate of interest of 11.25 per cent (floating) in form of cash credit limit against hypothecation of wheat stock. He said Rs 71.73 crore had been returned to the bank concerned and the balance amount to paid to the bank was Rs 198.10 crore.

Replying to the question asked by Virsa Singh Valtoha, Parkash Singh Badal said he would soon meet union home minister to ask him to give compensation to farmers for the land being used for defense purpose by the BSF on the border. He said he had told the financial commissioner to prepare a report in this regard for taking up the issue with the union government. Valtoha had stated that no compensation had been give to farmers for using their land for defense purpose.

Not satisfied with the reply of the revenue minister Ajit Singh Kohar with regard to another question, Valtoha urged him that farmers, whose land had been used to raise temporary defences, should be given compensation. On the question raised by Sarabjit Singh Makkar, irrigation minister, Janmeja Singh told him that the entire Bist Doab Canal System would be remodelled at a cost of Rs 141 crore.

Kohar told Balbir Singh Bath that there was a different policy for those who acquire land for constructing houses in urban areas as far as land sealing was concerned. The companies, who buy land for construction purpose, had to file a declaration in a stipulated period of the land acquired by them for the stated purpose. Otherwise, the land sealing act is applicable in agriculture sector in Punjab and one can own only up to 7 hectares of land that has assured irrigation and capable for growing two crops.

Amritsar, March 14
The SGPC has finally decided to engage experts for the restoration work of ancient Ramgarhia Bungas and Gurdwara Baba Atal, keeping in view the wanton destruction of heritage buildings through “kar sewa” in the past.

Talking to The Tribune today, SGPC chief Avtar Singh said a meeting with heritage experts, including scholars from Guru Nanak Dev University, would be held within a fortnight so that conservation work could be carried out at the earliest. The committee passed a resolution on February 18 to start the renovation work, expressing concern over the deterioration of the frescoes and artwork at Gurdwara Baba Atal. It decided in principle to entrust the restoration work to Heritage Conservation and Management Services, New Delhi.

Earlier, the kar seva, carried out to repair the age-old murals at the gurdwara and historical bungas, had earned flak from the heritage lovers. During the previous kar seva carried out in 1992, bathroom tiles had replaced the frescoes on the walls of the ground floor of the gurdwara.

The SGPC chief said Baba Harbans Singh of Delhi had been asked to vacate the building of Ramgarhia Bungas so that conservation work could be started at the earliest. Kar seva wale babas, have made the bungas as their abode. Their stay there has resulted in damage to certain portions of the building. They had built walls under the arches on the ground floor and fixed doors to convert verandahs into rooms. Nanakshahi bricks were plastered and painted at many places. Owing to hindered ventilation, there is seepage in the basement of the bungas.

Director, cultural resource conservation initiative, Gurmit Rai, however, expressed her satisfaction over the decision of the SGPC to carry out conservation work through experts. The causeway and the marble parapet above the decorative flooring of the parikarma too need conservation, she added.

Patiala, March 14
The Haryana police, after prolonged investigations into the assassination attempt on Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, head of the Dera Sacha Sauda near Karnal, picked up a woman suspect from Patiala.

The cops arrested Parveen Meena (21), a Mohindra College BA-I student, from Kaler Bhaini village, on the Patiala-Dakala road.

She was an inmate of the Mata Gujri Sahara Trust.

The trust was created to help children of slain terrorists. It is being run by Sohanjit Kaur, whose husband was killed in a police encounter during the peak of terrorism in Punjab. A few weeks earlier the cops had raided the residence of the prime suspect in the case Bakshish Singh.

According to sources, Parveen, who is said to be a niece of dreaded terrorist Bashir Mohammad, had direct links with the assassination of the dera chief and was preparing Parveen to act as a human bomb to kill the Dera chief. However, the sources added that later Parveen refused to act as human bomb.

It has also been learnt that the prime suspect Bakshish had links with the Mata Gujri trust, but later due to an altercation with Sohanjit, fell out of favour with the trust.

Sources also revealed that Parveen at one time used to live with the family of Bakshish.

Chandigarh, March 14
Nearly months after the Punjab and Haryana High Court observed the Moga sex scam apparently was “nothing less than the Jammu sex scandal”, the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) today stated it had sufficient evidence to show the involvement of Barjinder Singh, son of senior Akali leader and former minister Tota Singh.

With this, the Punjab government’s effort to take the case from the CBI’s hands has received another setback. The state had moved an application for recalling, amending or modifying the orders directing the CBI probe. A special leave petition was also filed by it before the Supreme Court.

The CBI has already arrested then Moga’s senior superintendent of police Davinder Singh Garcha, along with then superintendent of police (headquarters) Paramdeep Singh Sandhu, for alleged involvement in the scam.

In a reply handed over to the Punjab and Haryana High Court during the resumed hearing on Barjinder Singh’s bail plea this afternoon, the CBI said: There is sufficient evidence against the petitioner, showing his involvement in criminal conspiracy to falsely implicate innocent persons in a rape case.

Elaborating, the CBI added: Investigation has revealed that the petitioner got innocent persons falsely implicated in a rape case for political and other considerations. The CBI added the statement of certain important witnesses have already been recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC. Alleging non-cooperation in the investigations, the CBI added though he appeared on March 8, he preferred to keep mum. The premier investigating agency also asserted the petition filed by Barjinder Singh under Section 438 of the CrPC was not maintainable as he had already availed the remedy once. His earlier petition had been relegated the CBI court’s special judge at Patiala and had been dealt with on merit.

As the matter came up for hearing, counsel for Barjinder Singh said the state had filed a special leave petition. Acting on it, the Supreme Court had stayed the filing of status report. The same amounted to stay on investigations.

CBI’s counsel Rajan Gupta, on the other hand, contended just the filing of the status report had been stayed and the investigations were on. He added the CBI would arrest Barjinder Singh, if they get a chance. After hearing both the sides, Justice Mahesh Grover fixed the case for March 17 and asked both counsel to come prepared with complete arguments. 

Sangrur, March 14
Though it was the talk of the town that president of the Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) Balwant Singh Ramoowalia will announce his candidature from the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency for the ensuing Parliamentary elections at his party’s “Punjab Di Kaya Kalap” rally here today, he asked the gathering of thousands of people to give him time to think over on the issue.

This reply came from Ramoowalia amid chants from the gathering “Ramoowalia, contest election from Sangrur, we are with you” and “Ramoowalia go ahead, we are with you”. Earlier, leaders in their speeches asked Ramoowalia (directly or indirectly) to contest the Lok Sabha election from Sangrur. Given the frequent visits of Ramoowalia to Sangrur, many people, including politicians and journalists, are of the view that Ramoowalia is likely to contest from the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency. If he contests from Sangrur, then he will certainly create problems for the candidates of other political parties, including the sitting MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.

Ramoowalia said: “Give me power in the state and I will make a system for the solution of every problem of the people”. He asked the gathering to give up on the Congress and the SAD.

As part of his party’s “Punjab Di Kaya Kalap” rally, Ramoowalia also promised to the people that he would work for the implementation of use of Punjabi language at all levels, no confrontation between the farmers and arhtiyas, control over illegal activities of travel agents, complete ban on use of drugs as intoxicants to save youths, release of Indian and Pakistani prisoners, acquisition of land on market price, decision of case in 180 days if husband leaves country by abandoning his wife in India, relief to sick farming, loans to farmers at a rate of 3 per cent interest and declaration of followers of Jain religion as a national minority community.

At the rally, Ramoowalia displayed the photographs of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar to depict the ideology of his party.

Chandigarh, March 14
The game of cricket, which created bad blood not only between Indian and Australian teams but also among large section of people of both countries, has proved otherwise in the case of the Congress and the SAD-BJP combine in Punjab for a while.

The game has repaired the fractured relations among the leaders of these political parties at the moment in Punjab. It has created such a bonhomie, whether it will last or not, among these political rivals that resolution was passed in the Punjab Assembly today to congratulate leaders and MLAs, who had taken initiative to organise a cricket match yesterday between the teams of MLAs of the Congress and the SAD-BJP combine at Mohali.

When Leader of the House Parkash Singh Badal proposed that to celebrate the feeling of goodwill created by the match, the today’s sitting of the House should be curtailed and a holiday for the House Members should be declared, it was accepted by members immediately.

Top leaders of the SAD and the Congress were behaving like sworn enemies only a few months ago. But the way Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Parkash Singh Badal, Leader of Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and BJP leader Manoranjan Kailia and other members of the House from both camps today congratulated each other for organising the match, it appeared that “era of bitterness” that marked the Punjab politics for about six years is over.

At the beginning of zero hour, the Speaker praised Badal and Bhattal for taking such an initiative that can set an example for other state assemblies. He said he would host a dinner for both teams and other members concerned.

However, Capt Amarinder Singh, who, as Chief Minister, had adopted a tough line against the Badals and other Akali ministers, was not present in the House.

Badal said the match would be made annual feature and trophy and medals would be prepared for winning team. Sukhpal Singh Nannu, the BJP member who played a crucial role in the win of the SAD-BJP team, proposed that both teams should jointly form a team to play matches with MLAs from Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and other states.

Nabha, March 14
Minister for cooperatives Kanwaljit Singh found himself in a piquant situation at a function today when a large number of Dalits and poor villagers gheraoed him, demanding immediate allocation of plots free of cost under the five marla scheme. They alleged that the organiser of the function, organised at Mandaur village, about 10 km from here, to honour him, had told them that they would get land papers at the function.

The minister was forced to hold a closed-door meeting with the villagers to pacify them. He reportedly assured them of plot allotments after the panchayat, block samiti and zila parishad elections. BDPO Narpinder Singh Grewal said because of code of conduct nobody could make such announcements. However, he admitted that the poor villagers were told by the organisers that free plots for them would be announced at the function.

Meanwhile, addressing the villagers, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said a proposal of Rs 862 crore had been sent to the Centre to bail out sick sugar mills.

Ludhiana , March 14
While the Punjab government announced a family allowance of Rs 10,000 per month for the family of Kashmir Singh, who languished in Pakistan jails for 35 years, the government has turned its back on many who spent the prime of their youth in enemy jails, largely on account of spying.

This was said by Kishorilal Sharma, alias Amarik Singh, alias Saleem, a trained automobile engineer, who spent eight years in Pakistani jails on charges of espionage during the ’70s, while talking to The Tribune here.

He said Kashmir Singh had openly accepted before the media on March 6 that he was an Indian spy. There has, however, been a subsequent refusal “because of political reasons”.

“There are at least three dozen cases in Punjab alone of people working as daily labourers and doing other menial jobs, who spent the prime of their youth in the enemy prisons. I even know a rickshaw-puller in Gurdaspur,” he said.

Kishorilal was arrested in 1966 and released in 1974. “I was assigned the job of finding the salient features and weaknesses in the tank machinery supplied to Pakistan by China,” he said. “We kept silent for so many years because we are not formally recruited by the country and don’t ‘exist on any paper’. When the government is reacting so magnanimously to welcoming Kashmir Singh, why should we all be left out?” he argued.

He said the state reaction in welcoming Kashmir Singh is a “politically unwise decision, completely not in the interest of large number of arrested spies, still languishing in enemy prisons. I firmly believe that the state reaction in welcoming Kashmir is the biggest reason why Sarabjit’s mercy plea has been turned down by President Musharraf”.

The former spy works in a local tyre factory and said he had not been paid a single penny by the government in compensation and he approached the Information Commission of the state whose order read that “the application of the complainant has been duly forwarded for financial help from the discretionary grant to the office of the Chief Minister”.

“The release of Kashmir Singh is very welcome. However, the special treatment he received from the state vis-a-vis our pathetic condition in our own country after release has inflicted fresh wounds on our hurt hearts,” Kishorilal rued.

Kishorilal has authored, “Untold Story of a Spy,” where he speaks in detail about his repeated visits to the enemy territory and how “Military Intelligence officials made false promises to him that they would help him and his family as and when they needed”. “They never took care of my family,” he regretted.

Chandigarh, March 14
The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today passed the supplementary demands, totalling Rs 1274.49 crore for the current financial year ending March 31. These demands, pertaining to various departments, were passed by voice vote.

Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, speaking after moving the Appropriation Bill in the House, said this year budget estimates were of about Rs 30,000 crore, while the supplementary demands exceeded this amount. He said the demands included a subsidy of Rs 840 crore to the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), while the remaining amount pertaining to different departments were negligible.

The demands cover 19 grants and involve gross additional expenditure of 1274.50 crore, which comprise Rs 1195.

After taking into account the related receipts and recoveries, these demands will involve a net additional outgo of Rs 1157.22 crore from the Consolidated Fund of the state, the minister said. The demands were then passed without any discussion and thereafter the House adjourned for the day. The finance minister will present the annual Budget on March 17.

However, later Congress MLA Jassi Khangura questioned the rationale of the finance minister on the supplementary demands through a statement, asking him if he was expecting a higher tariff ruling from the regulator or did this increased subsidy demand result from the state's delay in implementing the regulator's tariff. This he said “is unacceptable as the government in last year's budget should have anticipated the time bound actions of the regulator and provided for a realistic sum”.

Ludhiana, March 14
When quite a number of farmers across the country are faced with distress and depression, some even committing suicide, Mohinder Singh Dosanjh and Mohinder Kaur Dosanjh, a farmer couple from Jagatopur village, Nawanshahr district, have set an example for others. The septuagenarian couple bagged nine awards at the annual Kisan Mela here for their outstanding performance in farming.

The couple does not just share a common name, but they also share the same month and even the year of birth. Like proverbial “made for each other”. They have set an example of success within limited means and resources.

During five decades of their companionship, they have stood besides each other living, working and farming together. The woman does not stay home like an archetypal woman. She stands by her husband participating shoulder to shoulder in everything he does. Success obviously was a forgone conclusion.

Amid announcements of awards today, the couple, with typical countryside traits of simplicity, straightforwardness and humility, kept on smiling. They have succeeded despite the limited land they had got in their share. The couple possesses not more than eight acres, which they cultivated, needless to say, with their sweat and blood.

Mohinder Singh said they got involved with Punjab Agricultural University way back in 1965. Since then, they had been exhibiting new varieties of flowers and vegetables at every Kisan Mela. “When scientists, researchers and the common man recognised our efforts and appreciated the varieties, we decided to start with competitions in 1995. Every year, we get a bundle of prizes and certificates”, he added.

The couple has got first prize in categories of best turmeric, green chilli, radish and maize and second prize each in gladiola, jarbra (an European flower), sugarcane, potato and jaggery.

Motivating the farmers of Punjab, Mohinder Singh said farmers needed to create a niche for themselves by maintaining quality standards. “In 2025, the country will need 36 million tonnes of wheat. Do you think farmers still need to leave farming or commit suicides?” he asks.

Ludhiana, March 14
The Punjab government is gearing up for wheat procurement starting from April.

The Agriculture Department expects 146 lakh tonnes wheat produce this year and it is estimated nearly 90 lakh tonnes of it will arrive in mandis. This year,wheat crop is in good condition. Farm experts say the next 10 days are very crucial for wheat crop. If present weather continues, there will be better maturity of grains.

The union government is keen on procuring maximum wheat from Punjab and Haryana to cut imports.

The Centre had to import 35 lakh tonnes of wheat to meet domestic demand. However, quality of imported wheat (mostly red) is not good and is rather very inferior compared to the price paid for it.

Punjab and Haryana contribute 60 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively, to central pool of wheat . If the target of procuring wheat from Punjab (90 lakh tonnes) and Haryana (45 lakh tonnes) is met this year, there may not be much need to import the foodgrains.

International prices of wheat are quite high. The prices rise as soon as India decides to place import orders, say officials of the Food Supplies Department.

The Agriculture Department hopes the marketable surplus of wheat would be 90 lakh tonnes. Last year too the department had fixed the target at 90 lakh tonnes, but the actual official procurement was 69 lakh tonnes. Traders had purchased 11 lakh tonnes. Thus, the total marketable surplus was 80 lakh tonnes. 

Amritsar, March 14
The Lopoke police today booked SHO Rachhpal Singh and nine supporters of a former Akali MLA for allegedly assaulting and injuring a woman Congress leader Balwinder Kaur , a Block Samiti member and a resident of Chak Mishri Khan village.

Both legs of the victim got fractured in the assault. The action was initiated following raising of the matter in the Punjab Assembly by Congress MLA , Sukh Sarkaria.

The Congress MLA had alleged that the Congress workers and leaders were being made target by armed Akali workers.

Talking to The Tribune, district police chief (rural) Iqbal Singh said the SHO had been transferred and sent to the police lines. He, however, said that challan would be filed against the SHO if indicted in the inquiry.

The victim, who was rushed to government hospital here a couple of days ago, had alleged that she along with her husband were assaulted by the Akali workers with a view to settling political scores.

Among those who were booked by the Lopoke police included Jagir Singh, Karaj Singh, Sucha Singh, Major Singh, Sokhi and Bhilla.

The victim, in her complaint, had alleged that the SHO instead of registering a case against the alleged accused, had threatened to book her in a fraud case.

She had also alleged that her house was also demolished by the accused.

However, the former Akali MLA has denied that his supporters were behind the assault on the woman Congress leader.