Bathinda, April 30
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that his government was pursuing the policy of long-term planning for overall development of the Malwa region that had so far remained neglected. He accused the previous Congress regime of Capt Amarinder Singh of having derailed the economic development of the state.

Badal was talking to mediapersons after laying the foundation stone of the state institute of hotel management here. The SAD chief, Sukhbir Singh Badal, was also present.

Badal said that the SAD-BJP combine government has given a new direction to development of the state where-under instead of short-term gains, stress was being laid on futuristic planning.

Education, irrigation, industry and roads were on the top of the agenda of the government, but thrust will also be given to tourism that has the potential of becoming a major revenue earner. More towns will be linked with air service and flying training institutes will be opened.

He said that what his government has done during one year for the development of Bathinda in particular and the Malwa region in general was not done by the successive Congress governments in the past.

Badal said that his aim was to introduce job-oriented courses in the educational institutions so as to tackle the problem of unemployment. The Rs 18,000 crore refinery would transform the economy of the Malwa region where a number of ancillary units would be opened.

He said that a super-speciality and a cancer hospital would be opened here as cancer has emerged as a major problem in Punjab. A sum of Rs 79 crores has been earmarked for the development of Talwandi Sabo and Rs 100 crores for Anandpur Sahib. Four thermal power stations were being set up around here to double the power availability in the state. A sum of Rs.27 crores has been sanctioned for improving drinking water supply here.

The chief minister lashed out at the Congress-led UPA government for having “failed” to curb price rise that has broken the back of the common people.

Sukhbir Singh Badal said that Bathinda would become the petro-chemical and electricity hub of the state in the near future. Cement manufacturing units will be opened with all the four thermal power stations.

He said that the thermal power stations would be based on the latest technology to prevent air pollution. As many as 50 villages of Bathinda have been selected for installing safe drinking water projects. The SAD supremo said that the Punjab government would strive for extending the gas pipeline here from Panipat.

Bathinda, April 30
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today laid the foundation stone of the much awaited State Institute of Hotel Management at the Industrial Growth Centre, here today. 

This will be the second such institute in this agrarian state, with the other one at Gurdaspur.

The total cost of the project is expected to be around Rs 13 crore and it will be ready within a period of 18 months. The Union Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned a grant of Rs 10 crore for the institute and Rs 3 crore will be provided by the state government for the construction of the hostel building.

This institute would provide a three-year degrees in Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Hotel Administration and one-year diplomas in Front Office, Accommodation Operations, Food Production and Food and Beverage Service. The annual intake of the students would be 240 and these courses would be recognised all over the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Badal said, “It has been estimated that the hotel industry in Punjab and its neighbouring states will need to adsorb over 15,000 trained personnel by 2010. So there is a need for such institutes here which would reduce the evil of unemployment to some extent. Besides, if the hotel and tourism industry is developed as a whole, it would be a major revenue earner for the state.”

Sukhbir Singh Badal, president, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) said, “The government is also coming up with another such institute at Boothgarh (Mohali) which would be developed under the public-private partnership mode. Its construction is likely to start in June this year. We have also sent a proposal to the Union Ministry of Tourism for setting up a food craft institute at Hoshiarpur at a cost of Rs 4.75 crore.”

Hira Singh Gabria, State Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, said, “The three-year degree course would have 120 seats and the four diploma courses would have 30 seats each.”

Regarding the promotion of tourism in the state, Gabria said, “We have numerous places in the state, which can attract a lot of tourists. It was the last government that sold 10 such projects to the private companies at throwaway prices. But we would develop more sites so that more revenue can be generated from this industry.”

The State Institute of Hotel Management would follow the admission norms prescribed by the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology and admission for the three-year course would be conducted on the basis of a joint entrance examination by the council. 

Rampura Phul (Bathinda), April 30
“Even some BJP leaders have been issuing statements about leaving but I will never let them slip away from the alliance,” remarked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal when asked about the fissures in the alliance due to infighting between the SAD and BJP.

Badal was here to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony of a school run by a trust located on the outskirts of Bathinda.

During the ceremony, Badal refrained from issuing any grants or making any such statements citing the code of conduct imposed due to the forthcoming rural bodies’ elections.

After the ceremony, when Badal was asked at a press conference about the ongoing tussle between the SAD and the BJP candidates in filing nominations for the rural bodies elections without even waiting for the three-member committee’s decision, he said, “It was not in my hand, but the final decision of allocation will be binding. So, some of them will have to withdraw their papers.”

When Badal was reminded about the flouting of assurances made to women employees on not deputing them on election duty, he said, “If some women have any problem, it will be considered.” But he added that women were now shoulder to shoulder with males in all fields.

Badal was perplexed when asked about the boycott of today’s function by the BJP workers. Ducking the query, he said, “I never indulge in boycott and they too should avoid it.”

He further said that SAD and BJP both are opposed to the policies of the Congress. But when he was asked about the allegation levelled against him by Capt Amarinder Singh on registering 6000 fake cases against Congress workers due to political vendetta, he said, “We challenge Amarinder to prove even five such cases.”

Badal said that both Captain Amrinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal have been indulging in mudslinging against each other. He quoted their allegations in which they had accused each other of harbouring ties with Babbars. When Badal was asked about his own name that cropped up in the case, he refuted the allegation.

When he was asked about the teachers complaining against an order that requires them to cook mid-day meal in schools and taste it before serving to children, he parried the querry saying, “I will look into the matter.”

About the acute shortage of power supply and non-stabilisation of the recently inaugurated Lehra Mohabbat thermal power unit III, he said, “Work is going on and gradually it will be all right.”

About the low paced issuance of grants to cancer patient and books to the government schools, he ordered the deputy commissioner to find the facts.

Rampura Phul (Bathinda), April 30
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal laid the foundation stone of Jai Tulsi Anuvrat School run by the Jai Tulsi Anuvrat Trust, located on the outskirts of the city on Mehraj road, here today.

Along with Badal, Raghuveer Chander Jain, president, Haryana State Jain Shvetambar Terapanthi Sabha, ex-minister Sikander Singh Maluka, Raghubir Chand Thanedar, president of the trust, and others addressed the gathering.

The organisers of the event, assured Badal of their support to SAD.

In their speeches, the speakers sought financial help from the CM. They even urged him to grant a 1200 sq yard piece of adjacent land to the school.

Refrained from issuing any grant, Badal cited the imposition of code of conduct due to the forthcoming rural bodies’ elections as the reason for it. In a lighter vein, the CM said, “I have a media phobia because if I announce anything, they will publish it and put me in a difficult situation. If you want to get anything, meet me at Bathinda in the evening.”

Interestingly, when Badal was laying the foundation stone, no one invited Member of Parliament Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan, who was sitting on stage. She was also not called for expressing her views on the dais.

It may be mentioned that the name of SAD (B) supremo Sukhbir Singh Badal was announced from the stage Maluka said that due to a sudden engagement, he could not mark his presence at the function.

On the other hand, due to the scorching heat, women and children were found to be least interested in the speeches but were looking for water and fresh air. On being asked, they said they had been sitting there since early in the morning.

Bathinda, April 30
Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) would abide by the recommendations about seat sharing between the SAD and BJP for the coming elections for the Zila Parishads and other local bodies in Punjab.

Sukhbir Singh said that the dispute on seat sharing would be settled amicably as a committee consisting of leaders of the two parties has been set up for this purpose.

He said that a seat sharing formula would be evolved and both coalition parties would stick to it.

It is worth mentioning that the SAD-BJP coalition in the state was heading towards confrontation on the issue as the former announced its candidates for 15 of the 16 seats of the local zila parishad. While releasing the list of the SAD candidates here yesterday, the party leader, Sikendar Singh Maluka, told media persons that there was no question of leaving a single seat for the BJP as the party did not contest the last elections.

On the other hand, the BJP had announced that it would field its candidates on seven seats here.

However, Sukhbir Singh’s statement indicates that the lists released by Maluka and other SAD leaders in other parts of the state would be reviewed once the committee hammered out a seat sharing formula.

Bathinda, April 30
It was a merry morning for all at the Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, (KV-I) Bathinda Cantonment on Wednesday as after a year-long hard work, it was time to be acknowledged, feel proud and soak in the celebrations, titled Annual Carnival.

Amid fun and frolic, the school felicitated its students as well as teachers, who toiled throughout the year to turn the dreams of students, teachers, parents and of course the school, into a reality and also for bringing laurels to the family of KV-I.

The long prize distribution function was enough to suggest that students of the school had excelled in all arenas, including academics, sports, cultural events, scouts and guides and others.

Upbeat over the school’s success, the chief guest Brigadier Deepak Das, Commander 615 (I) AD Brigade, who is also the chairman of the Vidyalaya Management Committee, said that the KV-I was one of the best schools in the region. “This is exemplified by the fact that students of this school have achieved great heights,” he said, adding that it was a myth that only ‘convent-educated’ students shine in life. Emphasising the mantra of success, he said, “Determination and hard work hold the key to success.” He also urged students to try something different, something extraordinary.

He also said that the school may host inter-school English debate contest in near future.

The school also honoured its former principal H.S. Puri for his exemplary service.

The festivity began with Saraswati Vandana, which was followed by entertainment events, including English skit, Hindi play, Qawwali, action songs, bhangra, dandia and Marathi dance. The programme was both entertaining and meaningful with the message of national integration, world peace, saving environment and opting for a healthy lifestyle.

Earlier, principal T.D. Garg welcomed the guests and presented the annual report of the school. Head Mistress Maninder Kang proposed the vote of thanks and the function ended with the rendition of the national anthem. 

Moga, April 30
The district magistrate of Moga, Satwant Singh Johal, has asked the authorities concerned of the state electricity board to provide a compensation of Rs 5,000 per acre to all those farmers whose standing wheat crop was gutted following the electricity sparks from transformers and transmitting lines.

Talking to TNS here today, the DM said as per the initial reports, till last evening, the standing wheat crop in about 50 acres of land belonging to farming families was damaged in fire due to electrical faults across the district.

He said a joint inspection committee, comprising executive engineers of the electricity board, district revenue officer and sub-divisional magistrates had been constituted to authenticate the initial reports.

He said, “I have asked this joint committee to submit a detailed report to my office by tomorrow evening.” Based on the report, the local superintending engineer of the board had been directed to disburse the compensation within one week, the DM added.

Johal further said due to other fire incidents, standing wheat crop in 37 acres of land, belonging to nearly 15 families across the district, was also damaged till last evening.

“The district administration has prepared a detailed report of this loss that is being 
sent to the state government for the release of adequate funds so as to disburse the compensation among these families,” he said.

He informed that the state government was seriously concerned about the plight of these farmers and serious discussions were going on at the highest level to enhance the amount of compensation.

While talking about wheat procurement, Johal said as much as 5.1 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of wheat had arrived in the grain markets of Moga district till Tuesday evening, which was 50,000 MT more than the total procurement of the last year when the government agencies had procured a total of 4.47 lakh MT of wheat from the district.

Considering the wheat arrival in the markets, it was expected that the total arrival of wheat in the district would cross 6 lakh MT, the highest-ever production in the 
history of the area.

He further informed that an average of 78 per cent of the payments of the farmers had been disbursed by all the six procurement agencies and by the next evening it would cross the 85 per cent mark.

Regarding lifting of wheat, he said the situation had improved a lot in the past two days. No farmer had reportedly faced any difficulty of delay in selling his/her produce or in getting payment, Johal claimed.

Mansa, April 30
Three Dera Sacha Sauda followers were injured in a scuffle between Dera followers and members of the Sikh community at Kulrian village near Bareta today.

According to the information received from the police, Dera followers were organising a satsang in the house of one Pooran Singh. When members of Sikh community got the information about the satsang, they assembled and blocked all the ways leading to Pooran’s house. Soon, the controversy took a violent turn.

Major Singh, station house officer (SHO) Bareta, informed that nearly 700 persons, members of the two sides, started pelting stones at each other and three Dera followers were injured in the incident.

He added that deputy superintendent of police Mukand Singh Malli and other police officials reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

The SHO said that the senior police officer would inquire the incident and action would be taken against those found guilty.

Barnala, April 30
The Shiromani Akali Dal (B) here today announced its candidates for the district’s Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections scheduled to be held on May 12. The announcement was made at the workers’ meeting held at the local Baba Gandha Singh Gurudwara.

Malkeet Singh Keetu, former MLA and Barnala assembly in-charge, announced the names of the candidates. He was accompanied by MLA Balbeer Singh Ghunus, Amar Singh BA, Ajaib Kaur Bhotna, Baldev Singh Chunga, Sant Jasbir Singh (all Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee members). However, senior SAD leader Bhola Singh Virk was conspicuous by his absence.

For Zila Parishad elections, Karnail Singh Thulewal from Thulewal block, Gurtej Singh Bittu from Thikriwal and Mohinder Singh Chunga from Chananwal (reserve block) were the candidates of the SAD (B).

While for Block Samiti elections, out of total 17 Samitis, candidates for 12 Samitis have been announced.

They were Tejinder Singh, Rajwinder Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Hardev Singh, Buta Singh, Jaipal Singh, Kartar Singh, Chinder Kaur, Malwinder Singh, Gurnaib Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Swarn Singh Rana.

Fazilka, April 30
On the first day of filing of the nomination papers for the panchayat samiti elections, block development and panchayat officer (BDPO) Inderjit Singh and three other women employees of the office were allegedly found absent as SDM Rajiv Prashar conducted checking here on Tuesday.

The BDPO and the women officials had marked their presence in the attendance register and no entry was found to be recorded in movement or tour register of the office.

The SDM said he had gone to inspect the room for storage of ballot boxes and the counting hall. “However, the entire office was in a mess. No proper arrangement for accepting the nomination papers had been made.”

According to eye-witnesses, on finding the office room of the BDPO locked, the SDM directed the officials to break the lock open. But soon, a class IV employee brought the key of the room and later the BDPO also turned up. The SDM has seized the office records.

While trying to defend his position, the BDPO said that he had gone to checks booths in a village and that the movement register had been properly maintained.

On the other hand, the SDM has reportedly sought an explanation from the BDPO for his alleged absence. The next course of action shall be initiated after getting the reply from the BDPO, the SDM informed. — OC

Abohar, April 30
Ten candidates filed the nomination papers in Khuyiansarwar block while 13 did the same in Abohar block today for the ensuing Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad elections.

In the Khuyiansarwar block, one nomination was filed in each of the Jandwala Meerasangla and Maujgarh zones while two candidates filed their nominations in each of the Bareka, Alamgarh, Diwankhera and Jandwala Hanuvanta zones.

In the Abohar block, one candidate filed the nomination in each of the Seeto Gunno, Ramsara and Kular zones while in Khubban, Rajpura, Chanankhera, Bhangala and Dharangwala two nominations each were received.

The candidates are Pyara Lal, Charanjit Singh, Vipan Kumar, Des Raj, Kaushalya Devi, Meera Devi, Lubhaya Ram, Lekh Raj, Masit Kumar and Balbir Singh.

Mansa, April 30
Four candidates owing alliance to the Congress today filed nominations for Zila Parisad (ZP) elections while 15 candidates filed nomination for the Panchyat Samiti (PS) elections.

Budhlada member of Legislative Assembly Mangat Rai Bansal said that Banso Kaur would contest from (Boha) reserved seat for Zila Parisad while Karamjeet Kaur had filed nomination paper from Borawal woman general seat for the Zila Parishad.Ranjit Singh Dodla would be the Congress candidate from Budhlada while Jarnail Singh would contest from Kulria reserved SC seat.

The other candidates from Congress would file their nomination papers for Zila Parisad and Panchyat Samiti polls on May 2.

Bansal said that the Congress would highlight the “anti-people” policies of the Akali-BJP government in these elections.

Candidates of Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP would file their nomination papers on May 2.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has decided to contest 30 Panchyat Samiti seats and two Zila Parisad seats.

Former MLA and CPI leader Buta Singh said that 15 candidates for Panchayat Samiti elections had filed their nomination papers and the other candidates would file their paper on May 2.

He added that the communist party would try to create awareness among people about the activities of Akali-BJP government.

Buta said the Akali-BJP government could not fulfil promises, which were made during the last assembly elections. District secretary of CPI (ML) Bhagwant Singh said that they would fight for six Zila Parishad and 30 Panchayat Samiti seats in these elections.

He said the party would highlight issues like rising prices, privatisation policies of government and loan waiver for labourers and housing plots for them in samlat land in the elections.

Bathinda, April 30
A prize distribution ceremony was organised at Delhi Public School, Bathinda, today with great fanfare. The ceremony was held to felicitate students who scored 75 per cent marks in each subject and 80 per cent in aggregate. Students who are good in co-curricular activities were also honoured.

Vikram Angurala, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, was the chief guest at the function. In his speech, Angurala lauded the efforts made by the school in providing quality education to the students.

Ramesh Talwar, pro vice-chairman of the school and Vandana Talwar, member, managing committee, also graced the occasion with their presence.

DPS principal Arun Jee, in his welcome address, praised the efforts of the parents and teachers in helping the students to achieve success, both in academics and co-curricular activities.

Specialprizes were given to the students who had shown improvement in their performances since last session. Medals were also awarded to the students for hundred per cent attendance. A small cultural function was also held for the entertainment of parents.

Moga, April 30
The state government has initiated a move to speed up the construction work of a multi-speciality veterinary polyclinic at Gill village in Baghapurana sub-division of Moga district, which was expected to improve the health condition of the livestock in the district.

This polyclinic once completed would be the only of its kind in the area equipped with the facilities of laboratory tests, X-Ray and scanning of the animals.

District Magistrate of Moga Satwant Singh Johal today released a cheque of Rs 1.58 crore to the authorities concerned of the public works department to carry out the construction work of the polyclinic.

While releasing the cheque the DM asked the PWD engineers to ensure that the building was constructed by the end of this financial year.

It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone of the polyclinic during his previous tenure as CM but due to the lackadaisical approach of the last government and the bureaucracy in providing adequate funds, the project could not be started and completed in time.

The village panchayat had donated two acres of land for the polyclinic. A sum of Rs 12.5 lakh had already been spent on the construction work with the initiative of the panchayat, informed a spokesman of the district administration.

Furthermore, it was learnt that the panchayat had also donated two acres of land to the state government to set up a modern dairy farming training centre, which would help in enhancing the economic condition of the marginal farmers of the area, who were looking for an alternate sources of income.

Fazilka, April 30
The chemist shop on the Dead House road here, which had been sealed last week due to its suspected proximity to an unauthorised Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) centre, was opened by the drug authorities on Tuesday evening.

An unauthorised nursing home adjoining this shop was being run by a woman, posing as a lady doctor, and an undeveloped foetus had also been recovered during the raid last week. Since then, the nursing home and the chemist shop had been sealed.

On the directive of the civil surgeon of Ferozepur, S.S. Walia, district drug inspector Jatinderpal Singh along with medical officer of civil hospital, S.K. Parnami, opened the chemist shop and recovered 3,630 tablets of diazepam and alprazolam.

The purchase record of these tablets could not be produced at the time of raid. It is worth mentioning here that these tablets can be sold only on the prescription of a medical practitioner and maintenance of a proper record of these drugs is mandatory.

The owner of the shop and the unauthorised nursing home, who have been booked under various sections of the IPC, the PNDT and the MTP Act, are still at large.

Bathinda, April 30
In a fit of rage, unidentified youths shot dead a tempo driver, Sonu, at Vishavkarma Tempo Union, here today.

Police sources said that a tempo driver, Kamal, hit a peter rehra while parking his vehicle at the tempo union which led to an altercation. The tempo driver allegedly made Kamal leave the place. After two hours, some unidentified youths came on two motorcycles and a car. They assaulted Sonu who was sitting nearby. One person came out of the car and fired a shot from his .12 bore rifle. Hearing the gunshot, a crowd ran towards them. However, they managed to flee leaving their motorcycle.

People rushed Sonu to a private hospital in Bhucho, where he succumbed to his injury.

Confirming the details, SHO Kotwali Davinder Singh said, “In the preliminary investigation, the accused have been identified as residents of village Teona in the district. To get more facts, an investigation has been going on.”