Goniana (Bathinda), March 18
Bidding adieu to the Congress, an ex-MLA from Nathana, Jasmail Singh, who was earlier a trusted lieutenant of former Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh, with a large number of his supporters today formally joined hands with the ruling SAD(B).

He announced his “home coming” in a public meeting that was presided by the SAD(B) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal at Goniana. Jasmail was reported to be an activist of Shiromani Akali Dal from his initial days, but along with the captain Amrinder Singh, he too moved to Congress.

His anguish with the Captain was reported after the breach of promise in allotment of the ticket for the previous MLA elections. Captain had assured Jasmail that his son Laddi would be allotted ticket from Nathana legislative constituency but the ticket was given to Ajaib Singh Bhatti at the last moment.

Welcoming the new members, Sukhbir assured them their due place in the party. On the occasion various leaders expressed the possibility of a member of Badal family to contest from the Bathinda parliamentary constituency.

While addressing the gathering, Sukhbir Singh Badal again spoke at length about the development plans for the state. But in his entire statement the imposition of the code of conduct due to the forthcoming Panchayat elections was quite prevelant.

Laying stress over the ‘achievement’ of the SAD (B), to get the higher price of wheat sanctioned from the centre government, he criticized the previous government for failing at the time, when they were headed by their own party in the centre.

He said the SAD (B) had received Rs.27 crore for the sewerage system of Bathinda on Monday. The sewerage system would be completed next year and would also cover the localities across the railway lines.

He also said that all election promises would be implemented within the next few months and work on the projects of which foundation stones have been laid will be initiated after the elections for local bodies.

He further said that the three new thermal power stations being set up around Bathinda will strictly conform to the international level standards of pollution control and emission of fly-ash by the thermal station here will be controlled within the next eight months.

Sukhbir said that the domestic terminal to connect Bathinda with air services would be constructed shortly. Reiterating his previous promises including upliftment of the overall irrigation system of the state. He said the construction of Bathinda-Chandigarh four-lane Highway would be started just after the Panchayat elections. He added that the land acquiring process for the purpose had already been initiated.

Bathinda, March 18
From household goods to informative English-speaking classes, from careers to tractors, the Kisan Mela held here today at the Punjab Agricultural University Regional Research Station had it all. Like previous years, this year, too, the theme was ‘Save Environment Save Punjab’.

Seed sale, meanwhile, continues to magnetise farmers. The seeds of new and improved varieties developed and released by the university is the star attraction of the mela year after year. Farmers were spotted carrying seed bags on their heads right at 8 in the morning. Some farmers even came a night before and a few queued up early in the morning to get their stock of seeds.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, president, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) was the chief guest on the occasion. While addressing the farmers, he said, “In recent years, cotton has become major crop in the South Western districts constituting the cotton belt of Punjab and it needs the required technology focus.”

Highlighting the constraints of agriculture explicit to the region, he mentioned that there is a need to promote farmers income through developing subsidiary agricultural ventures. He said that field-worthy technology for use of brackish water was needed highlighting that farmers should apply fertilizers to their fields based on soil tests.

PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang said, “The PAU scientists of inter-disciplines are laying focus of developing technologies for the crops suitable for the region. Besides cotton, oilseeds, fodders, wheat, the prevailing agro-climatic conditions of the South Western region permit growing of fruit crops like grapes, kinnow, guava and vegetables crops. The area is even suitable for onion seed production.”

Dr Nachhatar Singh Malhi, Director of Extension Education, said that Kisan Melas of PAU are occasions for the farmers to interact with experts. He told farmers to get in touch with experts of PAU at the Research Station, Krishi Vigyan Kendras or Farm Advisory Service Scheme and to follow the recommendations of PAU, which are always released after systematic testing.

Dr Milkha Singh Aulakh, Dean College of Agriculture, shared information about the steps that PAU is taking up to promote influx of rural students in various programmes of PAU. He said that seats have been reserved for rural students for admission in B.Sc (Agriculture) and B.Sc(Home Science) programmes that have been recast to be of six years with matriculation as eligibility.

Goniana (Bathinda), March 18
Despite the Z-plus security, it was shocking to see a non-medical student Nirmal Singh jumping over the stage, when Sukhbir Badal, the chief of the SAD (B), was delivering his speech.

Not missing a second the security personals rounded him up and took him to the police station Nehianwala.

The mother of the accused, Shanti Devi said, “Nirmal was frustated, as he wanted me to be confirmed in the school as a peon, where I have been working on ad-hoc basis from the past several years.” Adding to that she said her son was desperate to meet Sukhbir Badal personally and to get the application sanctioned. It has been reported that the panchayat members of the village went to the Nehiana wala police station to get him released.

When contacted, the probationer IPS officer P.K.Yadav, he said, “To extract the actual facts, interrogations have been going on”

“Meanwhile a departmental inquiry would also be initiated to find out the cause for the lapse on the part of security and person found guilty would be punished,” he added.

On being asked about the arrest of the youth, Sukhbir Badal said, “Every thing has a proper channel and one must follow the procedure. 

Bathinda, March 18
The hopes of St. Joseph Convent School to start the Lower KG classes were dashed as Additional District Judge J. S. Klar declined the request of the respondents to vacate the stay on starting of LKG classes and adjourned the hearing for March 20.

Another case pertaining to contempt proceedings against the Principal of the school pending in the court of Additional Civil Judge, Ranjit Singh was also adjourned for tomorrow.

Earlier, A local Court had restrained the St Joshep Schools from making admissions to Lower KG and ordered seizure of relevant record. The interim orders were passed by Nirmal Singh, Judicial Magistrate (I class) on a petition filed by some aggrieved parents.

However, the School authorities were non-cooperative and did not handover the record. The petitioners urged the Court to take suo moto action against the school for non compliance of its orders.

The respondent school pleaded for dropping the contempt proceedings and also vacation of stay on starting the LKG classes. Both the cases would be heard on March 19 ( Wednesday) and 20 (Thursday) respectively.

Mansa, March 18
A debt-ridden farmer allegedly committed suicide here today. According to sources, Sukhpal Singh, son of Harnek Singh, a resident of village Kotdharmu, consumed sulfas to end his life. 

Today morning, he was brought to Civil Hospital, Mansa. Family members of the deceased and some residents of his village said that he was under stress due to debt.

Leader of the Punjab Kissan Union, Balkaran Singh Balli said Sukhpal had been facing economic problems. He is survived by wife, Angrej Kaur and two children. State president of Punjab Kissan Union Ruldu Singh and senior vice-president Gamdoor Singh Kotdharmu has demanded compensation for the family of the farmer. 

Moga, March 18
A local court here today sent three members of a family on a day’s police remand in connection with a case of cheating of their NRI partner.

Following directions of officiating SSP Ashok Baath the case was registered at Mehna police station on the complaint of one Mukand Singh of Kale Ke village. The complainant had stated that before leaving for Canada, the original partner of the firm Swaran Singh had extended power of attorney to him. Ashok Kumar, Raj Kumar and their father Satpal were sent on police remand while another accused Darshan Singh was still at large.

The complainant claimed that in all Rs 64 lakh were to be returned to Swaran Singh. However, after negotiations the amount was reduced to Rs 25 lakh. He alleged that the accused paid only Rs 5 lakh. —TNS

Ferozepur, March 18
In a property dispute case with a retired school teacher, the court of Additional Session’s Judge here has denied bail to Major Harminder Singh and others. He had been OSD to former chief minister Amarinder Singh.

Additional sessions judge Jagjit Singh Chouhan in his judgement stated that there was no gainsaying that initial enquiry conducted by the police had gone against the complainant Swaran Syal, a retired school teacher.

Along with him, those denied bail included his father Sukhdev Singh, Gurdas Rai Puri, Rajesh Kumar Lambardar, Varun Sharma and Tripta Sharma.— OC

Ferozepur, March 18
The state election commission (SEC) today issued a notification that the panchayat elections in Ferozepur would be held along with the rest of the state on April 7, 2008.

While giving the information deputy commissioner Megh Raj said the notification was issued after the election commission of India (ECI) lifted the stay on the publication of summary revised electoral rolls in respect of Ferozepur cantonment (96) and Ferozepur city (95) assembly segments yesterday.

The DC informed that the nomination would be accepted by respective returning officers (ROs) from March 24 to March 27 followed by the scrutiny of forms on March 28. The candidates could withdraw their names by March 29, he added. 

Barnala, March 18
To lodge their protest against the attack on lawyers including senior advocate and former MP Rajdev Singh Khalsa, the Bar Association, Barnala has urged all bar associations across the Punjab, Chandigarh and Haryana to observe one-day strike on Wednesday.

Senior advocate, S. D. K. Sharma, committee member said the association held a meeting today and passed a resolution in this regard. —OC

Mansa, March 18
City police recovered a body of a man who was allegedly killed yesterday after being abducted.

According to police sources, body of Amritpal Singh, son of Sukhdev Singh was found on the premises of Dashmesh Public School, Mansa. A case has been registered against seven persons including two women in this connection. Ajaib Singh, son of Kartar Singh was arrested in this connection.

He reportedly had helped the police in founding the body, police said. — OC