Moga, June 5
Efforts of the Congress to put up a united show in the state today got a setback when Jagmeet Singh Brar, a member of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the party, staged a walkout at the state-level party rally along with his supporters for having not given time to address the gathering here.

Though the gathering at the rally was impressive, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, many MLAs and a few senior leaders did not attend it.

General secretary of the Congress and in charge of party affairs of the state Margaret Alva gave a call to the party workers to get united in the fight against the SAD-BJP government and go out in the public at the grass-roots level. She appreciated the efforts of Leader of the Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in taking up the issue of atrocities on Congress’ workers to the public.

She warned the official machinery against indulging in unprofessional conduct under the influence of their political bosses.

At the same time, she said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was an old and matured politician who should stand by the principles of democracy and protect the rights of the people.

“Our UPA government is with the people of Punjab and will do everything to uplift all sections of society in the state,” she said.

While admitting that certain people in the party had tried to sabotage the rally, she revealed that a few party men had spoken to her on the phone not to attend the rally.

Bhattal, while lashing out at Badal, said he was responsible for all bloodshed that had happened during the elections. “We can’t forget the atrocities committed on our workers and vow to take the fight to the court of the people,” she said. All parental organisations of the party would hold rallies and nukkar sabhas in continuation of their fight against the Akali government.

As she was addressing the gathering, supporters of Jagmeet Brar stood up from their seats and started raising slogans against Bhattal levelling allegations against her that she was hand in glove with Badal. They demanded that appropriate time be given to Brar to address the gathering.

Brar had a word with Alva and walked out of the rally. Hundreds of his supporters, including former MLA Sathi Vijay Kumar, followed him.

Later, talking to The Tribune, Brar said he was the only member of the CWC from Punjab and had represented this Lok Sabha seat twice. Therefore, it was unfortunate that he was not given time to address the public on his home turf.

Bhattal said the party had decided to give Brar time to present a vote of thanks but he walked out before she could finish her speech.

On the other hand, Col Babu Singh (retired) also lodged a protest for not giving him the time to present a vote of thanks to the people as he was the host of the rally. 

Moga, June 5
While Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was addressing the gathering, supporters of Jagmeet Brar stood up from their seats and started raising slogans against Bhattal, levelling allegations that she was hand in glove with Badal. They demanded that appropriate time must be given to Brar to address the gathering. At this point of time, Brar had a word with Alva and straight away walked out.

Perturbed over the attitude of the organisers of the rally, hundreds of his supporters including former MLA Sathi Vijay Kumar went out along with him.

Talking to TNS, Brar said he was the only member of the CWC from Punjab and had represented this Lok Sabha seat twice, therefore, it was unfortunate that he was not given time to address the public on his home turf. “It is an insult to me that has forced me to walk out from the rally,” he said.

“I have also taken the issue of misconduct by the Akali government to the High Court and am committed to the cause of the party and its workers,” he said.

Later, Alva while taking to The Tribune said Jagmeet was like her son and she would soon call him and resolve all misunderstandings. If he had not worn a turban, she would have caught him by his ears and asked him to sit quietly, she said in a lighter vein.

Bhattal while commenting on this issue said the party had decided to give him time to present the vote of thanks but he walked out before she could finish her speech. On the other hand, Colonel Babu Singh (retd) also lodged a protest for not giving him time to present the vote of thanks. He claimed that he was the host of the rally.

Mohali, June 5
The Akali- BJP led government in the Punjab believes in talking one thing and doing another. In a “categorical” statement issued by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal last evening, he said there would be no change in the existing clauses on the election of sarpanches from reserved seats.

“No one would be allowed to alter the provisions in this regard and wherever reservation has been made, only those from reserved categories will head panchayats and other panchayati raj Institutions, said Badal in a “strongly worded” statement.

Strong words indeed! But the letter issued by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats to all deputy commissioners in the state on May 27 states exactly the opposite.

The five-point letter signed by the secretary of the department states that in case the post of a sarpanch is reserved for an SC woman and an SC woman panch refuses to contest elections, the post can be given to another SC candidate or another woman candidate.

In case, continues the letter, if the post of the sarpanch is reserved for an SC sarpanch and an SC panch refuses to contest elections, then the post can be declared open for all candidates. The third point in the letter states that in case the post of the sarpanch is reserved for a woman panch and a woman panch refuses to contest elections, the post can declared open for all other panch candidates.

Clarifying another possibility, the letter states that in case an SC panch has been elected in the general category, he can still contest for the post of sarpanch which is reserved for an SC panch. In the end the latter states that the deputy commissioners have to ensure that the candidates who are refusing to contest for the post of the sarpanch should do so independently and not under any duress or pressure.

“How the DC is supposed to ensure this, no one knows and to believe that a candidate has gone through the entire election process and become a panch only to refuse to become a sarpanch does not go down very well,” added a source.

Probably realising that these orders were bordering on being both unconstitutional and illegal, the government issued another letter to all deputy commissioners on June 3. This fresh letter does not revoke the earlier orders of the government. It only states that all such cases where a panch refuses to contest an election to the post of a sarpanch which is reserved, the DCs should take the approval of the government before allowing a change.

Whatever the Chief Minister might say about the state’s commitment “to safeguard the rights of the socially and economically backward classes” and “not allow any compromise on their democratic rights” the fact is that the detailed instructions issued on May 27, which allow reserved category sarpanch seats to go to panch candidates of other categories remain unchanged.

Chandigarh, June 5
The Punjab government has written to union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar urging him not to ban export of skimmed milk powder (SMP). Captain Kanwaljit Singh, cooperation minister Punjab has in a letter highlighted plight of Punjab’s dairy farmers, emphasising the need to avoid move to ban the export of milk and milk products since it will have crippling impact on Punjab dairy farmers.

Captain Kanwaljit Singh has said, “the proposed move is totally unreasonable and anti-farmer, if implemented it will give a below to the dairy sector and the farming community”. He has argued there is no need for implementing an ban on export since there is adequate availability of milk today and price rise in milk has been minimal and due to external factor such as increase in feed price, transportation expenses, petroleum price increase effect on packaging price etc.

He has pointed out most milk cooperatives were procuring substantially high quantity of milk for distribution in urban area. “Our Milk Federation is procuring 30 per cent more milk than we used to do last year, whereas the demand in the cities has grown only by 10 per cent. Similarly, I am told Gujarat Federation is procuring 20 per cent more milk that its previous year procurement. In such situation any ban on export of milk powder is going to hit milk market in the country, which can give such a blow to the dairy sector that can result in milk shortages and import of milk products in the country which can be quite humiliating for country like India”, he has written.

Captain Kanwaljit Singh has said Milkfed Punjab is a milk producer’s cooperative federation, which procures milk from over three lakh producer-members and markets its products in the state, outside all over India and in international markets also.

It is a matter of pride “Verka” brand has been able to establish as major brand in the category of desi ghee in the consumer market in West Asia, including Dubai (UAE), Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia etc. In addition to these countries our brand is popular in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore among ethnic Indian living there. This brand equity has been built by long-term investment by the cooperative with the support of state and central governments.

Amritsar, June 5
Major- General J.S.Jamwal , then GOC, 15 Infantry Division, who was instrumental in rescuing Sant Harchand Singh Longowal and Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra , then presidents of the Shiromani Akali Dal and the SGPC, respectively, on their “personal request” amidst Operation Bluestar has alleged the Army operation was not only “ill-advised” but “ill-conceived” by the powers that be.

Giving an account of the Army operation ; opposition by some saner Army officers ,who had perceived better alternative by avoiding collateral damage to Akal Takht and its ramifications, Gen Jamwal today claimed here the former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi had bypassed the then army chief and called the Western Army Commander Gen Sundarji to direct him to take immediate steps to clear the holy shrine of the militants hiding there.

Gen Jamwal said Akali leaders late Jathedar Tohra and late Sant Longowal were taken to cantonment here through heavy security cordon inspite of firing from militants. They were given proper accommodation in the cantonment before they were shifted to jail.

Gen Jamwal said he was the Garrison Commander at Amritsar at that time but his views were also not sought and added there were other better alternatives, including cutting of water, power and food supply to flush out Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his firebrand followers who had taken refuge in the building of Akal Takht. Such visionary step could have saved many precious lives besides saving the sanctity of the holy shrine. He said Army commanders supervising the operations got panicky due to initial heavy casualties of commandos in the Golden Temple complex.

He said the entire tactical planning was fraught with dangerous repercussions which were aimed at dividing the countrymen. The nation paid a very heavy price and has yet to recover from trauma.

Making a revelation the General said Pakistan was queering the pitch during the fateful operation and was trying to make noises on radio sets and television about “fake movement of troops” in a bid to frighten the Indian Army which was waging a war against the holed up militants. He said he was in charge of the security of the borders and said they were prepared to meet any eventuality (attack) from across the border.

The General said he played a key role in restoring the glory of Harmandar Sahib and revealed two senior Army officers paid a heavy price for stealing some precious items from the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple. He said he ordered all those items taken away by the troops of a particular battalion as souvenirs were returned to the SGPC management and at least two senior officers were chargesheeted for such misdeeds.

(To be concluded)

Chandigarh, June 5
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is set to take his fight against Pradesh Congress president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal to the next level by using his date in a court at Ludhiana in the alleged City Centre scam case tomorrow as show of strength even as he claimed the PPCC chief had let down the party by inviting party ‘s state in charge Margaret Alva to a thinly attended rally.

Amarinder claimed the rally, which could only attract a little more than half of the party legislators with Pratap Singh Bajwa’s group also boycotting it, indicated Bhattal’s support base in the state was shrinking.

He said since this was the first visit of Ms Alva to Punjab as she had only visited the PPCC office in Chandigarh earlier, Bhattal should have hosted appropriate function to welcome her to the state. “I used to hold rallies attended by 40,000 to 50,000 people when Congress general secretaries visited the state during my tenure as PPCC chief”, he added.

On senior leader Jagmeet Brar’s walk -out from the rally after he was not allowed to speak and his subsequent outburst, he said Brar had taken the same stand against Bhattal about people being mixed up with the Akalis as he had been voicing all along. He said it was surprising a permanent invitee to the party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) was not allowed to speak.

The former CM also reacted to Alva’s comment the fight against the Akalis could not be fought by sitting in air- conditioned rooms, saying “everybody is willing to work for the party. Only thing is we do not have confidence in Bhattal”. He also ridiculed the dharnas being organised by the PPCC chief, saying the protests could not change the attitude of the Akalis by even one per cent due to their “friendly nature”.

Amarinder also stepped up the remove- Bhattal campaign launched since some time by reminding the party he was still waiting for a recast in the PPCC leadership. Amarinder had earlier claimed party president Sonia Gandhi had promised to do this by May 31. “I am waiting. It may happen in a week or even a little later. The party’s as well as Mrs Gandhi’s interest lies in winning the parliamentary elections”, he added.

Meanwhile even as Amarinder waits for the high command’s decision on the PPCC president’s issue, he is getting active again. Five days back he hosted around 20 legislators as well as 10 to f 15 other leaders at his Moti Bagh residence in Patiala. According to party sources, this meeting was held to coordinate the movement of Amarinder loyalists, none of whom attended the rally today, as well as galvanise party legislators and leaders for show of strength when the former Chief Minister goes to Ludhiana tomorrow. 

Bathinda, June 5
The Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) today urged the government to allow it to hike bus fare or give one-time Rs 30 crore grant to meet liabilities in view of rise in fuel prices.

The authorities have also demanded the formula to fix the fare should be linked with the price of diesel and a regulatory commission on the pattern of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission be set up to work out the structure of fare.

Director, Transport Department, Mandeep Singh, said here today, the PRTC had incurred loss of Rs 10 crore last year due to hike in prices of diesel. The management proposed a hike of 8 paise per km in the fare but the government favoured a hike of 4 paise.

He said though there were financial constraints, the PRTC, which had added 200 buses to its fleet of 1,000 buses, would buy 250 buses this year to provide better travel to commuters.

The director pointed out by making travel on the PRTC buses more attractive, we had been able to earn Rs 20 crore more revenue in last year. All operations were being computerised in phases. All bus stands being managed by the PRTC were being upgraded. Bathinda and Patiala bus stands would be developed on the lines of modern bus stands.

Nabha, June 5
Claims of the Forest Department to increase forest cover do not seem to match facts of field staff.

Attitude of the Forest staff has been resulting in loss of lakhs in town on the Bir Dosanjh road which passes through the Nabha cantonment and extends to the Cattle Research centre, Bir Dosanjh. According to revenue record, the road (khasra number 465) is (19 karma)96 feet wide. But at places the land on one side of it is encroached on. As the road crosses a bridge across a drain, its right side, belonging to the Forest Department is encroached on by influential persons.

Kirpal Singh, a retired gram sewak, says if measurement is taken from the middle of the road, both sides should be 48 feet on both sides.

Kala Singh, a panch of the area , said on the left side of the road measurement was right as all constructions start after 48 feet. He added on the right side of the road, a drain was constructed at distance of 35 feet from the middle of the road thus giving huge chunk of Forest land to influential persons. He added starting from the bridge and 300 metres along the roadside, the drain runs at distance of 35 feet from the middle of the road and beyond 300 metres the drain was 48 feet from the middle of the road. He alleged in this way 9,000 square feet of Forest land was ‘gifted’ to an influential person and 3,000 square feet land was encroached on by the influential persons by constructing shops on the encroached road. This was happening under the nose of the Forest Department officials, he alleged. Sometime back construction was stopped by the Forest officials but the work again resumed after those officials retired.Only a Kendriya Vidyala situated on the road had followed the norms and it had constructed its gate 48 feet from the middle of the road. He said being a panch of the area he would get a case registered in 
this regard.

Sikander Singh forest guard feigned ignorance about the matter. However, he said he would visit the patwari for the revenue record of the Forest land and the drain and shops would be demolished if found on Forest land.

Chandigarh, June 5
He was a student in Canada; she was living in a nearby house. They fell in love, but the parents were unwilling to accept the match. The two came to Jalandhar and tied the knot; but the fear of the unforeseen did not leave them.

It may sound like an excerpt from a pulp fiction; but non-resident Indian Simran Jit Malhi and her husband Harpreet Singh Hothi only recently moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for protection. The couple was apprehending danger to life and liberty as they had married against the consent of the girl’s parents.

In a petition filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the two had sought issuance of directions to the State of Punjab and other respondents to provide them with security cover; and also to ensure Hothi’s parents were not implicated in false criminal cases.

Going into the background of the matter, petitioners’ counsel R.S. Bajaj had contended that Malhi was a resident of Canada, while Hothi was a student, living near her house. Both fell in love and decided to marry.

As the parents were not willing, she took a flight from Canada and came to Hothi’s house in Jalandhar. She, subsequently on May 13, appeared before an Executive Magistrate and submitted an affidavit stating she had come to Jalandhar on her own free will to marry Hothi; and there was no pressure from any body.

They ultimately married on May 17 at Jalandhar as per the Sikh religious rites. Hothi’s parents and family friends participated in the marriage, Bajaj added.

After they came to know about it, the girl’s parents started issuing threats to the petitioners and Hothi’s family. As they were apprehending danger to their lives, they submitted complaints to authorities concerned, it was contended.

The petitioners added that Malhi’s parents had been threatening them openly; saying they had brought disgrace to the family by marrying against their wishes. As such, they would not shy away from “honour killing”. The two later appeared in the court and appended a copy of marriage certificate issued by Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Ajit Nagar, Nakodar Chowk, Jalandhar. SSP Arpit Shukla says the matter is being looked into.

Amritsar, June 5
The Pepsico International has decided to withdraw controversial advertisement of its product Mirinda being telecast in the country from June 8.

Surinder Kumar Billa, president, All- India Hindu Shiv Sena, said here today a communiqué in this regard from the company had been received by him after he had lcomplained to top management of the company. He said initially the management was not ready to withdraw the advertisement but when he warned them of mass protests the company agreed to the withdrawal.

Billa claimed a spokesman of the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) had also approached him in this regard and had sought his views about the advertisement. He said Mirinda advertisement had depicted Goddess Sita in an indecent way which had hurt sentiments of millions of Hindus living across the country and abroad. He said they had also lent support in opposing the company for its blasphemous act.

The AIHSS president said before releasing such advertisement the top management should see the sentiments of not only of Hindu community but all different communities living in the country were not hurt. 

EDUCATION

Guru Nanak varsity to remain open on June 7
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 5
The office of the Deparment of Chemistry of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) would remain open on June 7 for the convenience of candidates who want to submit their application form for the entrance test to be conducted for admission to B.Sc (Hons School) in chemistry and BPharmacy.

Dr M.S. Hundal, coordinator of the entrance test stated this in a release to the media today. He said only one form needed to be filled by the candidates for appearing in the entrance test for admission to both the courses.

Bathinda, June 5
Following the instruction of the Agriculture Department, farmers, who had sown paddy prior to the stipulated date of June 10, destroyed the crop in several villages of the district today.

According to a recently issued ordinance, farmers found guilty of sowing paddy prior to the due date will invite a penalty to the tune of Rs 10,000. Officials of the department and the deputy commissioners have been authorised to destroyed the paddy sown before the stipulated period.

A team of agricultural officers, comprising block agricultural officer Malkit Singh Bhullar, agriculture development officers Jaskarn Singh and Gurmail Singh, today visited a number of villages, including Sivviyan, Amargarh and Kothe Natheaana.

According to sources, the team convinced the farmers to destroy the sown paddy. The police was deployed to avoid any untoward situation.

At Siviyan village, farmers Bhola Singh, Shavinder Singh, Kashmir Singh and Raj Pal Singh destroyed paddy on two acres, one acre, three-and-a-half acres and three acres, respectively.

At Amargarh village, Gursewak Singh destroyed paddy on four acres while Gurmail Singh of Kothe Natheana village destroyed the crop on one-and-a-half acres.

ADO Jaskaran Singh said: “No fine was imposed on farmers during the drive”.

Meanwhile, reports from the Kotda Kaura and Bhunder villages said the team could not succeed in its attempt amid resistance by farmers.

Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) experts had recommended that sowing of paddy should begin from June 15, but the government advanced the date to June 10.

The director of the PAU regional station, Bathinda, G.S. Buttar said: “The university had recommended that sowing should take place after mid-June because at that time the level of moisture and humidity in the air is adequate. It reduces the evaporation of water thus saving water for irrigation”.

Patiala, June 5
Gurcharan Singh (56), a newly elected Congress-backed panch of Kishengarh village, near here, was shot dead allegedly by one of his rivals in the morning. Five people, including three kin of Gurcharan Singh, were also injured in the firing. Two of them, Balkar Singh and Chamkaur Singh, are still in a serious condition and have been admitted to 
the government Rajindra Hospital.

During panchayat elections held on May 26, there was just one election-related murder in the entire state. This incident comes as an aftermath of the panchayat elections. According to an eye- witness and panch Nahar Singh, Gurcharan Singh was allegedly shot dead by one Jagtar Singh, the husband of Karamjit Kaur, a woman panch of the same village.

According to sources, with the election of sarpanches nearing, tempers were running high in the village where a keen contest was witnessed, with three panches backed by the Congress and two by the Akalis winning the elections. The sarpanch was to be elected from within these panches. According to sources, in an attempt to make Karamjit Kaur the sarpanch of the village, Gurcharan Singh was allegedly eliminated due to the political rivalry between the panches. Sources disclosed that 
Jagtar Singh allegedly wanted Gurcharan Singh to switch loyalties.

The main eye-witness Nahar Singh, considered to be close to Gurcharan Singh, disclosed that around 40-odd people, including the Patwari of the area, allegedly barged into Gurcharan’s house and claimed that the property in which he was residing was allegedly disputed. Gurcharan Singh vehemently protested and claimed that this house had been his for the past 40 years and the panchayat had allotted him the land.

Tempers ran high, following which Jagtar Singh brandished a pistol and allegedly shot at Gurcharan Singh, who was later brought to the government Rajindra hospital alongwith the other injured. Gurcharan Singh breathed his last at the hospital while two others-Balkar Singh and Chamkaur Singh-were struggling for their lives at the hospital.

An FIR has been lodged at Bhadson under Section 302 against Jagtar Singh and others and the case is being handled by sub-inspector Hardeep Singh.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 5
Congress MLA Jasbir Singh Khangura was arrested by the Dehlon police from Majestic Park Plaza hotel, Ludhiana late last evening. He was later freed on bail.

SSP Ludhiana (Rural),Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said legislator

Khangura , along with 20 Congress activists was wanted in connection with a case registered against them under Sections 294, 353, 323, 341, 186, 148 and 149 of the IPC for allegedly assaulting Faqir Singh SDO, Public Health Department and obstructing him from performing duties as presiding officer during recent Zila Parishad and Block Samiti Elections on May 12.

Varinder Pal Singh, SHO Dehlon, raided Majestic Park Plaza Ludhiana late last evening and arrested Jasbir Singh Khangura from there. However Khangura was released on bail, when he assured the investigation team of cooperation in investigation of the case.

Faqir Singh had alleged Khangura and his associates had attacked him when former was about to deposit ballot boxes for polling booths at Butahri village in Dehlon block. As the boxes were brought in a private car, Congress activists suspected the presiding of tampering with the ballots. The official received at least six injuries, all suspected to be caused with blunt weapons.

Though Khangura had been attending social and political functions after the registration of the case the police did not arrest him.