Bathinda, April 21
Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal today accused the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre of pursuing “anti-Punjab” policies and also meting out step-motherly treatment to the other states where the Congress was not in power.

Badal was on a day-long visit here to woo the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) activists in view of the coming elections for the Bathinda Municipal Corporation and other local bodies. 
He visited various development works in the town and fixed a deadline for their completion.

He told media persons that the policies of the central government were oriented towards the rich, while the poor were facing misery. The central budget this time has nothing for betterment of the poor masses for whom “not a penny has been allocated”, Badal said.

He said that the state governments have been pushed into financial crisis as out of the huge amount of taxes collected by the Centre every year, a pittance of 30 per cent was being provided to the states. The states should be given a major share out of the central taxes to pull them out of the financial crisis.

He pointed out that sometime ago, the Centre levied a tax on diesel and petrol for being utilised for development of roads. Although Punjab was foremost in contributing towards the fund, but the Centre suddenly altered the formula to deny allocations out of the particular kitty to the state for improving the road network.

Lashing out at former chief minister and Congress leader, Amrinder Singh, he said that not a single development project was taken up during his regime. The Bathinda oil refinery which Amrinder Singh called a “white elephant” would become a mega project as Lakshmi Nivas Mittal was investing about Rs.18,000 crores in it, the CM said.

He said that the Congress had no right to criticise the SAD-led coalition government in the state as during its own regime, the Congress leadership was embroiled in factionalism and failed to set its own house in order. What could the common people expect from the Congress whose top leadership here was thirsty for each other’s blood, he asked.

Badal denied that he was engaged in witch-hunting against the Congress leaders. “My” government has victimised no MLA or Congress activist, he claimed.

The chief minister announced a series of development works for Bathinda and fixed August 31 as the target for their completion. He said what “we” have done in one year, the Congress failed to do during its 50 years rule in Punjab.

He said a sum of Rs 40 crore was being spent for the beautification of the Bathinda town. Rs 80 crores have been sanctioned for water and sewerage here. He will lay the foundation stone of a hotel management institute here on April 30 and bids will be sought for constructing a 5-star hotel near the lake. The general bus stand here was being developed in keeping with the international standards by investing Rs 250 crores while Rs 100 crores have been earmarked for constructing a ring road to decongest the town.

Because of the increasing incidence of cancer, a super-specialty cancer hospital will be constructed here. A sum of Rs 80 crores was being spent on the development of the Talwandi Sabo town, he added.

Bathinda, April 21
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today visited the Central Jail here and tasted the dal that was cooked for the inmates. He also interacted with women prisoners and under-trials to gain a first-hand knowledge of their problems. Badal went around the barracks and was reportedly not happy with the condition of the jail. He is learnt to have assured the inmates and the jail staff that steps will be taken to improve the condition in the prison.

Restrictions on prisoners were lifted during the Chief Minister’s visit there and they were allowed to narrate their problems before him. The inmates urged Badal to take immediate steps to remove overcrowding in the jail where as many as 1,321 persons, 1,250 men and 71 women, have been lodged against a capacity of 626.

The inmates urged the CM to empower the jail superintendent to grant 14 days parole to any prisoner in case of any emergency including death of their close relative.

They submitted a charter of demands to the Chief Minister seeking restarting of inter-jail sports and other activities to prevent drug abuse within the jail.

They demanded that remission in the term of sentence of those inmates who have crossed the age of 70 should be considered sympathetically and the women who have undergone 8 years of jail sentence should be released. The inmates demanded that the delay in finalisation of cases of remission should be cut.

The jail superintendent submitted a Rs 70 lakh proposal for the renovation of the prison and providing various facilities to the inmates. He also sought a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the library and de-addiction centre. He sought 10 computers for training the inmates and installation of 15 CCTVs.

The jail guards also utilised the opportunity to apprise the chief minister about their problems and demands.

Bathinda, April 21
Some of the farmers from Patti Jhutti area of the city, whose land would be acquired for the construction of the 7.8 kilometre long and 100 feet wide ring road (from Malout Road to Badal Road), junctions and road site amenities, today met the CM and submitted a list of their demands.

This road is being constructed at a cost of Rs 80 crore. A total of around 90 acres of land would be acquired for the project, of which around 80 acres would be acquired from Patti Jhutti area and around 9 acres from village Behman Deewana.

About 45 acres would be used for the construction of the link road and the rest of the land would be used for developing junctions and amenities on all crossings on that road.

A few months back, these farmers had alleged that the government was doing injustice to them by offering them less price for their land.

In a memorandum signed by 30 odd farmers, the CM has been requested not to acquire their land. “We are not against the construction of the road, but the government would also be acquiring our land for developing junctions and amenities on four crossings (Lal Singh Basti Road, Bir Talab Road, Multania Road and Behman Deewana Link Road). On each of the crossings, eight acres of land (two acres each on every corner) would be acquired. The price on each of the crossings is around Rs 1 crore per acre and the government is just offering us Rs 50 lakh per acre,” the farmers said. “Our land is just a couple of kilometres away from the city and is prime land. Now, when the prices of our land were escalating, the government, in its notification number 7/69/07-1 B&R3, issued on February 12 this year, asked us to give our land for the construction of road, junctions and road site amenities,” they added.

However, when DC Rahul Tewari was contacted, he said, “I have informed the CM that this notification cannot be cancelled and the road will be constructed as per the plan. All persons, whose land would be acquired for the project, have agreed. Only a few families are not agreeing. This ring road is for the future development of the city and heavy traffic would pass once it becomes operational. So, we need to have land for the construction of slip roads and bus stands, if required at that time,” the DC said.

Bathinda, April 21
The age profile of those addicted to drugs has changed dramatically in the recent years with children as young as five taking narcotics in Bathinda.

But all is not lost yet. Now, teenagers and college students are initiating measures to help people get rid of the drug habit.

According to NGOs, counsellors and doctors, earlier people between the age group of 30 and 40 used to seek help as the after-effects of the addictions surfaced.

But now, there is a 25 per cent increase in young people between the age group of 16 and 25 visiting various drug de-addiction centres or seeking help from a helpline.

Apart from the rise in awareness about the effects of drug addiction in later life, other factors like the prospects of marriage, job and going abroad drive many youths to head for the city’s various drug de-addiction centres and camps.

A source in a private hospital drug de-addiction and treatment centre said that on an average, 500 new patients undergo treatment every year. “The ratio of youngsters coming on their own for treatment is high. Also, to clear the medical tests required for a visa clearance, many go to de-addiction centres,” he added.

Such is the anguish of those who want to free themselves from the enslavement to drugs that a helpline being run for AIDS patients every year receives calls from people addicted to narcotic substances. The helpline has already received 82 calls till March this year, mainly from teenagers.

“It’s mostly college students who call us seeking help. We assure them the benefit of confidentiality. As there is no interpersonal contact, people don’t hesitate to discuss their problems,” D.K. Gupta, former secretary, Punjab AIDS Control Organisation, said.

Another striking reality is the easy availability of narcotic substances that lead to drug addiction. “All the efforts to reduce the demand get nullified as the supply of such products is in abundance and these are readily available. So how much reduction in the drugs related cases could take place?” Harbans Lal Jindal, president, Punjab AIDS Control Organisation, an NGO running various drugs-related projects in the city, said.

Mukesh Sharma, project secretary at the Drug Awareness and Counselling Centre, said the two key areas where action should be taken were home and school. “Peer pressure, curiosity, media exposure and lack of supervision are the reasons that force people to experiment with drugs. We should teach children about health living along with making them manage emotions,” Sharma added.

Mansa, April 21
Drug addiction is a serious problem in Mansa. People in this area say that unemployment and illiteracy are the main reasons behind drug addiction. Tablets, poppy husk, opium and liquor are the favourites of addicts.

Some youths belonging to Mansa and nearby villages admitted that they have become habituated to drugs due to unemployment.

They claimed that they could easily get drugs from any chemist. District secretary of the CPI, Buta Singh and Kisan Union’s leader Bal Karan Balli said the lack of industrial development was responsible for unemployment. They said the government hadn’t made serious efforts to establish agro-based and other form of industries.

Jagtar Singh, a professor, suggested that the government should start vocational educational institutions. He added that job-oriented education should be within the reach of poor students.

Sanjeev, medical officer at the Drug De-addiction Centre, Mansa, also admitted that unemployment and illiteracy were the major reasons for drug addiction in the area.

He informed that 12 to 13 patients were always admitted to this centre for treatment. Around 20 to 30 patients visit the OPD every month for treatment. He advised drug therapy and counselling of patients and their family members. Around 70 per cent patients belong to the poor families, he added.

Bathinda, April 21
Madan Lal Kapoor, the newly appointed chairman of the Small Traders Board with a cabinet minister rank, today said that all arrangements had been made to make the state-level Beopari Conference a success. The conference is slated to be held on April 25 at Jeet Palace. More than 10,000 traders from across the state are expected to take part in this conference.

Giving details about the conference, Kapoor, said that it would be the biggest traders’ conference in the state. “Sukhbir Singh Badal, president, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), will be the chief guest on the occasion. This rally is being organised to thank the state government on the formation of the Small Traders Board, as promised by them before the Assembly elections. This clearly indicates that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is a man of his words. This board would certainly benefit the small traders all across the state. On the occasion, the chief guest would also release the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal’s annual diary.”

Kapoor, who is not a member of any political party, has been president of the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal for the last 16 years, and also general secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Vyapar Mandal.

“Earlier, the traders had no representation in the state government. That is why, some politicians befooled us during the time of elections by making false promises. Now, that I have been appointed as chairman of the Small Traders Board, the problems of traders will be solved at an initial stage,” Kapoor said.

He also said that in the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections, the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal would fully support the state government. “Very soon, our delegation of traders would be meeting the union finance minister and railway minister to apprise them of our problems. We will also request them to solve our problems on a priority basis,” Kapoor added.

Moga, April 21
At least three persons, including two women were killed while three others sustained injuries in a road accident that occurred on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur national highway near Ajitwal in Moga district today.

As per the details available, a Maruti car bearing registration number PB-10A-H 6027 coming from the Ludhiana side rammed into a private bus number PB-30D-9825 coming from the opposite side. Two persons, including a woman were killed on the spot while four others, including two women were seriously injured.

Those killed on the spot have been identified as Karamjit Kaur and Gurmail Singh, both residents of Mullanpur Dakha area of Ludhiana district.

The exact reasons of the accident were not immediately known. The police was investigating.

The deputy superintendent of police, Bhulla Singh, after taking the bodies into police custody, sent them to the civil hospital at Moga for post-mortem.

The four injured persons, identified as Harjit Kaur, wife of Jagmel Singh, Gurmeet Singh, son of Jagmel Singh, both residents of Mandiana village near Mullanpur Dakha (Ludhiana district), Jagjit Singh, son of Mahinder Singh and resident of Leehan village, and one unidentified woman, were immediately rushed to the civil hospital at Jagraon in Ludhiana district.

The unidentified woman succumbed to the injuries soon after reaching the hospital, while the other three were later referred to the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana.

Till the filing of the report, the Moga police was still trying to identify the deceased woman by contacting the Ludhiana police.

Bathinda, April 21
The proposal for opening fair price shops (FPS) for the sale of medicines and drugs in the Civil Hospital here at a concessional rate has finally come close to seeing the light of the day as the hospital authorities today opened tenders in this regard.

As no official was willing to speak on the issue, sources in the civil hospital said that nine tenders had been received by the authorities and out of them, six was under consideration.

After going through the details procured, it can well be said the Red Cross Medical Store, located at the gate of the hospital, will lose in the fray.

As per the information available, the hospital authorities have categorised three firms in the top three slots. Anil Medicos, Panchkula, has bidden for a discount of 85 per cent in generic goods, 25 per cent in branded pharmaceuticals and 75 per cent in surgical items. Nandi Medicose, Mansa, comes second with a discount of 92, 42, 22 per cent, respectively. The Red Cross, Bathinda, has filed for a discount of 76, 12 and 30 per cent, respectively, which is much less than the above two applicants.

When contacted, acting civil surgeon Kastoori Lal, said, “The discount filed by the applicants has raised our eyebrows. We will place the matter in front of the managing director of the state health corporation on Wednesday.”

Showing his resentment over the policy, president of the Retail Chemists Association, Jasbir Singh Mehraj said, “We are against the allotment as the huge discount filed in the tenders would invite substitutes and medicines of a cheaper quality.”

On the other hand, J.R. Goyal, secretary, Red Cross, Bathinda, said, “We will make efforts to get the allotment in our favour as we are also in the race. We had filed applications earlier also for not getting this new rule implemented. If we are not able to get the allotment, we plan to start inquiring about the pending applications.”

To clarify the issue, it may be mentioned that a condition was given in para number 12 in the FPS application form, which states that the licence shall be given on maximum percentage discount flat on MRP on generic drugs, branded drugs and surgical items. This will be the criteria for evaluation and for deciding the tender. Percentage weightage of 60, 12 and 25 will be given to discount on generic, branded and consumables, respectively. Giving her version, Punjab health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla had earlier said, “The FPS has been introduced in public interest and on the orders of the High Court. The policy has been framed after consultation with senior advocates.”

Mansa, April 21
Residents of Mansa and other adjoining areas have been facing the problem of stray dogs for long. And some recent incidents of dog bite have only added to their fears.

A nine-year-old girl of Kishangarh village near Bareta was killed by stray dogs on Thursday. Following which the villagers killed around 70 dogs in the village.

The SHO of Bareta, Major Singh, informed that following the incident, the residents of Kishangarh got angry and they killed the dogs. He added that he had asked people not to kill the dogs as it was legally prohibited.

The residents of the village demanded that the officials form the animal husbandry and health department should visit their village and see the situation by themselves.

And on Saturday, an old woman Darshna Devi and a child, Balvinder, both residents of Mansa, were bitten by stray dogs.

The residents are of the view that the government had banned the killing of dogs but had not made any arrangement to control the growing stray dog menace.

Leaders of the radical peoples forum, Jaspal Singh Kohkhar and Sukhcharan Singh, said the injections to provide treatment against dog bite were not easily available at civil hospitals. So the victims were bound to approach private clinics, who in turn charge exorbitant fees. Hence, the treatment goes out of reach of the poor, they added.

Dr G.S. Nagi, civil surgeon, Mansa, said the injections to treat dog bite were available to the people living below poverty line only.

“The order against killing dogs was passed but nothing has been done to solve the increasing stray dogs menace,” said Simarjeet Singh, Congress leader.

Barnala, April 21
Expressing serious concern over the opening of a liquor vend in village Danghar, 15 km from here, the panchayat of the village decided to oppose the decision come what may. A delegation comprising the panchayat members, nambardar and a number of women met Deputy Commissioner of Barnala, R.L.Mehta, here today to express their unhappiness and requested him to close the liquor shop at the earliest. They warned of resorting to protest with the support of adjoining village panchayats if it was not done.

Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Executive Committee member Baba Tek Singh Dhnaula said that personally, he felt that it was not good to open a liquor shop here amid protest. He assured the village panchayat of taking up the matter with the state government

Talking to TNS, Mahinder Singh, a resident of the village and nambardar Harinder Singh accused the SAD–BJP government of adopting double standards.

They alleged that on the one hand, the government advised the youth to refrain from drugs and liquor. But at Danghar, where the whole village was dead against this move, the state government had allowed the opening of a liquor shop.

The panchayat members said that Dhanaula was hardly 3 km from Danghar and there were already many liquor vends inside the city. In spite of that, just to earn well through auction, the state government had opened the liquor shop in the village. They feared that now with the opening of this shop, more youth would take to liquor. Meanwhile, the DC said that he had received the memorandum but it was up to the excise department to look into the matter.

Abohar, April 21
By nominating a former female councillor as the first president of the newly formed Abohar south unit for the localities across the local railway station, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today succeeded in mobilising women for participation in the protest against the UPA government on price rise.

Most of the women including the Abohar south BJP mandal president Geeta Chaudhary wore garlands made of vegetables to showcase their concern as housewives over the skyrocketing prices. They were shouting slogans like, “15 rupaye da kilo atta, Congress tainu sharm da ghata” and “Sonia jis ki mummy hai, who sarkar nikammi hai.”

The party workers assembled at Geeta Mandir located near the main bazaar in the old city and marched through the main road expressing resentment over the alleged failure of the Congress-led UPA government in checking inflation.

Mandal president Ravi Setia, vice-president Ashok Chhabra, former president Bhupinder Snehi, veteran worker Hari Singh Goomber, Om Parkash Sharma, Ramesh Bathla, Anil Khetarpal, BJP Mahila Morcha president Mona Jaiswal, Yuva Morcha president Ajit Singh, former councillor Suversha Narang and Payal Chaudhary marched along other party workers to the Sadar Bazaar chowk carrying an effigy of the Prime Minister and finally set the same on fire.

Mansa, April 21
The residents of the city have been facing traffic problems for long now as the railway crossing that bisects the city stands witness to traffic snarls on its either side. Extended queues of vehicles, waiting to pass the crossing, could be seen anytime during the day.

Expressing deep concern over the issue, Kamaljeet Malwa said that for the smooth flow of traffic, another road should be built to provide temporary relief to the commuters till the construction process of the under-bridge and the overbridge gets completed.

That the traffic going to Sardoolgarh and Sirsa had to pass through the railway crossing should not be ignored, they added.

Since the crossing is situated above the level of the approaching roads, the vehicles going down the road pick up speed which has enough potential to cause an accident.

City-based advocates Rekha Sharma and Rajinder Sharma said that although an under-bridge and an overbridge were being constructed to ease the flow of traffic, still, residents were facing problems at present.

They demanded that the administration should make some alternative arrangements so that the rush of traffic at the place could be decreased.