Chandigarh, April 8
The Punjab government is awaiting the guidelines on the implementation of the loan waiver scheme announced by the Union Budget in February. The scheme is meant for small and marginal farmers, unable to repay overdue bank loan till the end of last year.

In the absence of guidelines, the authorities in the state are not in a position to make assessment on the waiving of the loan.

“We have held meetings in this regard and are waiting for the guidelines to find out that how many farmers in the state will benefit by the loan waiver,” said chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh.

Sources said even at the Centre, high officials were not very clear on the implementation of the loan waiver package.

Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of the BKU, and other leaders a few days ago, a senior officer of the Union government had revealed the loan waiver scheme, which was well received by farmers at the time of the announcement, could boomerang on the UPA because it would fall short of expectation of farmers.

Farmers, who are in debt, have the impression their entire amount would be waived. However, it would not be so. Only overdue loan amount would be waived.

In Punjab and Haryana, its implementation would create several problems. Farmers claiming the loan waiver will have to give proof they own two hectares or less but in revenue records, there is no division of land in case of most farmer families.

At a meeting with union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had urged him to waive the condition of two hectares and raise it to five hectares. Pawar had promised to look into this aspect and had put the matter before the Union government.

Official sources say as per the existing estimate, the benefit of loan waiver scheme to Punjab farmers will be insignificant compared to other farmers.

In Punjab, farmers have been regularly returning the loan amount by making arrangements from other sources such as commission agents. However, their being regular in repaying loans will go against them.

Chandigarh, April 8
The federation of various heads of Punjab government employees’ associations today called on finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal and urged him to raise retirement age for government employees from 58 to 60 years to remove disparity between central and employees of other states.

The delegation, led by Federation president Balkaur Singh Gill and general secretary O. P. Verma, claimed the move would help the government in deferring expenditure of Rs 1,600 crore involved in the payment of pension benefits.

The Federation leaders said even though an average of 14,000 employees retired every year no recruitment had been made for many years. They said this besides paralysing government functioning in various offices, had also resulted in a slow- down in the pace of development works.

The employee leaders said the Fourth Punjab Pay Commission had also recommended raising of age. They said the Sixth Central Pay Commission had also accepted most of the demands of central government employees and the Punjab government should also do likewise. They also met SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and BJP president Rajinder Bhandari in this regard.

Amritsar, April 8
Farmers’ unions today gheraoed the office of the deputy commissioner today in protest against the central and the state governments’ announcement of low prices for lands for integrated check post at Attari.

Addressing the farmers, Rattan Singh Randhawa, a leader of the Jamhoori Kisan Union, demanded bonus of Rs 100 for the wheat to be procured by government and other agencies.

He said the government must provide them compensation of Rs 5,000 per acre besides allowing them to work in the fields for 10 hours across the fence without interruption, class A compensation and allow them to plough vacant land around the fence.

Lashing out at the central and the state governments, the kisan leader regretted the governments had not provided budgetary provisions for the land in the border area.

He added the government had even failed to compensate the farmers for the mines laid during the 1965, ‘71 and Kargil wars.

He said they were not against the proposed project but would not allow an inch of their 120 acres to be acquired by the government if adequate compensation was not declared on the pattern of Mohali and Barnala.

He said the government should announce uniform rate based on market rates for land to be acquired.

Patiala, April 8
Amarinder Singh-Rajinder Kaur Bhattal row seems to have intensified with Amarinder Singh saying he neither had any “patch-up” or compromise with Bhattal and nor could he believe the PPCC chief anymore.

At the same time, Amarinder Singh said Guru Gobind Singh’s real armour plate and an array of other armour was lying preserved with his family in Moti Bagh Palace residence. He said the armour plate said to be of Guru Gobind Singh, which, has been withdrawn from auction list by the London- based auction house, Sotheby’s, could be a fake one.

“Somebody might have imitated it from the real armour plate of the Guru with our family and which, we occasionally display at ‘Gurpurbs’. Still it is good the auction of the plate has been put off by the UK- based auction house,” said Amarinder Singh.

Coming to his relations and reported “patch-up” with PPCC chief Bhattal, the former Chief Minister said,” I just cannot believe Bhattal. Though, she has said she considered me as her elder brother, but, this should not be taken as any political understanding between us.Differences over certain important matters are there. How can I have compromise with her under the prevailing circumstances? Moreover, she has been dissuading MLAs to meet or greet me. For instance, she was said to have snubbed those Congress MLAs who, had come with me to see me off as I was leaving the Vidhan Sabha after attending the recent session. I still maintain Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Bhattal are friends. Friendly matches are being played. Bhattal talks to Badal almost daily,” Amarinder Singh told The Tribune.

Gunning for Bhattal, Amarinder Singh alleged Bhattal had been, “trying to misguide” the party high command” on him. “My objection has been that on one hand, she has got herself absolved of her alleged graft case and on the other why she has not made any effort to do the same in respect of those 6000 party workers framed in “false” cases by the SAD-BJP government. My understanding is with my party only, and particularly, with those grassroot level workers who, had sacrificed for the party and not with Bhattal. Can Bhattal explain what she had done to mitigate sufferings of these 6000 men and women who, have suffered for working for the Congress. Why is she silent about these people?” questioned Amarinder posing a query to Bhattal and adding, “ There is no compromise with Bhattal.”

Referring to the armour of Guru Gobind Singh Amarinder Singh said,” Our family is blessed to have more than 22 arms of the Guru and the body armour is part of this treasure. We have Guru’s ‘Sri Sahib’ (sword), ‘Khanjar’ (dagger), ‘Nishan Sahib’. These relics, which, were given to my ancestors by the Guru, are lying with us at our Moti Bagh palace,” said Amarinder Singh.

Amritsar , April 8
The Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe cell of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee led by Gurinder Singh (Sabhi), state general secretary, today decided to boycott state Congress president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal’s rally to be held in New Amritsar on April 10.

Sabhi gave a call to boycott the rally at a meeting which was attended by senior Congress leaders, including former ministers Malkeet Singh Dakha, Lakhbir Singh Randhawa and Sardool Singh Bundala.

Sabhi alleged at the meeting, councillors of a particular group were called to which the SC/ST cell raised objections. Taking a dig at former home minister L.K. Advani for calling Sikh Gurus ‘Sants’ in his book “My Country, My Life”, Sabhi said the statement was dangerous for the Sikhs.

Moga, April 8
Members of gram panchayat of Cheeda village of Moga district, including the woman sarpanch ,today resigned their posts.

Handing over the resignation letters to the district magistrate, they alleged the panchayat was being politically targeted by the SAD-BJP government by registering false case against them for not supporting candidates of the ruling parties in the last Assembly elections.

The panchayat’s loyalty to the Congress started when a group of people sold a piece of privately-owned land on which a government school was running to a local resident Nachattar Singh, a few years back. The school was shifted in a new building the land of which was provided by the panchayat.

However, another group of people associated with the ruling party complained to the authorities of the district administration on the basis of which the Panchayat Department, the Education Department and the Revenue authorities held separate inquiries into the complaint.

All reports of these inquiries had given clean chit to the panchayat. The district education officer had stated the old building of the school was dilapidated and land of which was sold in auction by fulfilling required norms. The naib tehsildar had stated in its report that the complaint was politically motivated while the district development and panchayat officer had written in its report that the disputed land did not belong to the panchayat and it was sold by the people themselves.

Manjit Kaur sarpanch of the village had alleged even after the inquiries had come in their favour two cases of fake complaints had been lodged against her and her colleagues of the panchayat including two other women. The district administration was also planning to suspend the panchayat under political pressure, she further alleged.

The woman sarpanch said her village was the first to achieve the target in the district to provide latrines to all villagers, besides, getting constructed houses for the landless people of the reserve categories.

Her panchayat spent more than Rs. 80 lakh on development works in five years, she said the village now had a new building of the school the land of which was provided by the panchayat.

Chandigarh, April 8
The elections to civic bodies in Punjab would now be held on June 23, 26 and 28. Appearing before a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, state advocate-general Hardev Singh Mattewal today said the first-ever election to the 50-member Bathinda Municipal Corporation would now be held on June 23.

Mattewal's statement, before the special Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Mahesh Grover, came during the resumed hearing on a writ petition of Mathura Dass Setia, former member of Bathinda Municipal Council and another petitioner.

After taking note of Mattewal's statement, the Bench allowed the state's application for further extension in time for holding the elections to Bathinda Municipal Corporation as the same was not feasible due to school and college examination, besides the harvesting season. The state authorities had previously given an undertaking to conduct elections by April 30.

It may be recalled that the general elections to Bathinda Municipal Corporation, established after the dissolution of existing municipal council in 2003 by the previous Congress regime of Captain Amarinder Singh were postponed on one or the other plea.

New Delhi, April 8
The Punjab Congress today supported protest of Sikhs against former deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani’s book “My Country, My Life”, demanding an apology from him regarding remarks in his book.

Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today said Advani should apologise for his remarks in the book and also for the reported remarks, in which he had referred to the Sikh Gurus as “Sants”, aired on television in an interview. She asked, who was Advani to call the Sikh Gurus “Sants”?

Bhattal said she had requested an intellectual to read the book and point out more errors, especially, pertaining to references to Sikhism and militancy.

Bhattal demanded 
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal should also tell if he and the SAD had accepted what Advani wrote about the role played by the BJP in the days preceding Operation Bluestar.

Bhattal said it was Advani’s self-admission on the demands made by the BJP to seek action against Bhindranwale and his men, who were inside the Golden Temple. Yesterday, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee apportioned blame for Operation Bluestar on the BJP saying it played the role of an instigator.

Bathinda, April 8
The government has decided to set up 57 trauma centres along national highways spending Rs 23.89 crore.

Ten national highways pass through the state. According to sources, seven persons die and nine are hurt in road accidents on state highways every day. The worst-affected areas are Bathinda, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Patiala. In 2003, hospitals handled 36,850 roadside trauma cases, which fell to 36,214 in 2004.

T.R. Sarangal, managing director, Punjab Health Systems Corporation, said, "Increased traffic on the highways and negligent driving has resulted in increased number of fatal accidents. The lack of first -aid facilities and poor communications and transport facilities along the highways remain the most significant causes of mortality."

"Therefore, we want to upgrade all hospitals along the highways and have sent the proposal to the government of India for nod," he added.

The National Health Policy-2002 foresees trauma as significant public health problem and it specifies "rising vehicle density in large urban agglomeration has led to increased number of serious accidents requiring treatment in well-equipped trauma centres".

He added all secondary-level health institutions in the state had been upgraded to modern health care centres. For further strengthening trauma care in hospitals, only additional staff, equipment and supplies were required, he said.

Bathinda and Hoshiarpur will get CT scan machines while Patiala and Jalandhar both CT scanners and MRI machines. Around 182 emergency medical officers and equal number of nurses would be posted at these centres.

Ludhiana , April 8
While people often invent ways to hoodwink the system for grabbing land, Omkesh, a retired soldier, wants the government to take back the land in his possession saying it is not marked for him in revenue records. The Punjab State Information Commission in its order on the “most unusual case” has directed the district revenue authorities to “spend time with the complainant to trace original transactions of the transfer of land”.

Disposing the matter, the Information Commission has said, “In the most unusual case, Omkesh wants to see the original record on the basis of which the land was allotted to his family. He wants to return this land to the government.”

Omkesh served in the 32 Field Regiment of Artillery and retired in June 1984. He went back to his Manakpur village in Ropar district. “I have dealt with the land demarcation rules during my service in the Army. I found that the demarcation of my land (25 kanals and 4 marlas) does to conform to the land allotment rules. The area does not connect with a road anywhere which is peculiar according to the land reorganisation rules. I approached different authorities seeking information for land mutation records over the past several years, before approaching the commission”, he told The Tribune.

The commission in its order has pointed out the respondent public information officer of the district “was unable to trace the original order whereby the transfer of property would have been effected. The officer indicates the information in question is not available. We would like the district revenue officer and the senior most revenue authority in the district, next to the deputy commissioner, to spend time with the complainant to trace original transactions of the transfer of land. We would like the deputy commissioner, Ropar, himself should intervene in the matter, if necessary”.

Omkesh said, “I am yet to receive a copy of the order before I approach the deputy commissioner. I can plan action after clearance by the district authorities.” He added, “I am willing to even vacate my house, if it is not my land.”

Giving reasons for questioning the system for his land, he said, “Certain family members tampered with papers of the family land . I was also made a signatory. I was also dragged to the court.”

Patiala April 8
Price rise may be just a matter of debate for national leaders, but fruits, too are going essential commodities way and fast going out of the reach of common man in Punjab. Hardly any common man or housewife can now dare touch most of the fruits.

It is ironical there is wide gap between wholesale and retail prices of fruit indicating retailers, in some cases, were earning profit between 100 and 200 per cent daily. Whatever the profit quotient common man is left with two choices’either to stay away from most of fruits or buy small quantities at prohibitive prices.

Hike in prices of fruits has just been mind- boggling in one month even as the retailers try to keep objections of buyers at bay by passing the buck to ‘bad weather’ though, rain l in Punjab and elsewhere was for three days. What has virtually been tormenting for common people was the ‘non-intervention’ of the authorities over the issue, particularly, the one pertaining to wide and irrational looking gap between wholesale and retail prices of fruits. ‘Leaders just indulge in pep talk on price hike. There is nobody to inquire why consumers are being fleeced by retailers?’ questioned Naresh Bansal who, had come to purchase apples from local vegetable market. He said he wondered why there was no mechanism to control prices of fruits .

Enquiries revealed 1 kg of apples (Chinese, Kashmiri special etc.) were available in most of retail markets of Punjab between Rs 80 and Rs 120, depending on quality and size. Wholesale price of the same was said to be between Rs 40 and Rs 50. In the retail market it was was available between Rs 35 and Rs 50 a kg a month back. The hike was attributed to short supply with the end of the season.

Grapes were available between Rs 50 a kg (green) and Rs 80 a kg (black) compared to their wholesale price ranging between Rs 25 and Rs 30 a kg. On the other hand, grapes could be had for Rs 30- Rs 35 a kg a month ago. ‘Bad weather has contributed to price hike. Grapes supplies have been hit for quite some time. Black grapes are out of season hence the hike in their prices’, said Babli, a local Arya Samaj chowk- based fruit retailer.

The common man, particularly, elderly people are most hit as their favourite fruits ‘banana and papaya’ have witnessed steepest hike in one month.’ If banana was available between Rs 18 and Rs 25 a dozen last month, their price has gone up to Rs 40-Rs45 a dozen and papaya prices have jumped from Rs 12-15 a kg to Rs 20-22 this time. One kg of papaya was still available in wholesale market for Rs 8-10 whereas, one dozen of banana could be had from wholesale market for Rs 16.

Similarly, if one kg of oranges could be had for Rs 25 and Rs 30 a kg last month, it could be savoured for Rs 40 and Rs 50 a kg. As mango has just arrived, the king of fruits was available in retail for between Rs 50 and Rs 60 a kg against Rs 20-25 a kg in wholesale market. Jalandhar- based wholesale fruit dealer Puniatam said,’I don’t know what was the reason behind the wide gap between wholesale and retail prices of fruit’.

Patiala, April 8
Special CBI court of H.S Madan today allowed SP P.S Sandhu, an accused in the Moga sex scandal case, to take his third and fourth semester law examinations to be held at Chandigarh on April 9, April 24, May 8 and May 9.

The court on March 31 rejected his and SSP Davinder Singh Garcha's bail plea. Only Garcha has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the decision of rejecting his bail application.

The Moga sex scandal case hit the headlines in November last year when two women arrested by the police for flesh trading exposed the racket involving extortion by some police officials from influential people.