Bathinda, August 21
The first thing that Amarinder Singh has decided to do after his rehabilitation in the Congress is to flex his muscles at his main political opponent, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, by organising a rally in the latter's Lambi assembly constituency in Muktsar district on September 1.

The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief, Sukhbir Singh Badal, has also made up his mind to not let down his father and show his strength by organising a massive public meeting at Talwandi Sabo the very next day on September 2. However, the SAD show will be in connection with foundation stone laying of the Rs 10,000 crore thermal power station at Talwandi Sabo that is represented in the assembly by Amarinder's right hand man, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu.

While Amarinder's men are putting in lot of efforts to make the rally a grand show in Badal's bastion, Sukhbir Badal is coming here on Saturday to mobilise SAD activists for the next day's rally. He has been on a whirlwind tour of the Malwa region for the past few days and visited Faridkot today.

Effort of the Congress was to retain its supremacy during the coming Lok Sabha elections in the Malwa belt of Punjab where the SAD received a drubbing in the last assembly elections.

The prestige of Amarinder Singh, who has been appointed chairman of the campaign committee of the Congress in Punjab, would be at stake particularly in the Malwa region as there were reports of Sukhbir Badal contesting the Lok Sabha election for the Bathinda constituency in case he finds the political atmosphere conducive here.

It would be an uphill task for both sides, as even after winning a large number of assembly seats in Malwa, the Congress leadership has remained inactive here during a long stretch when Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was the PCC chief. The Dera Sacha Sauda followers, who backed the Congress, were a harried lot because of attacks by SAD activists.

A sitting MLA of Congress, who did not want to be identified, said that the rally at Lambi was being organised basically to boost the morale of the Congress supporters who were demoralised after losing to the SAD. Moreover, it was alleged that the SAD won the recent elections for local bodies by capturing booths.

The SAD and Amarinder supporters are for the past few days engaged in a war of words and indulging in mudslinging at each other.

The SAD has announced many development works in the Malwa belt apparently to win over the electorate who generally voted for the Congress as a result of which the SAD was forced to secure the help of the BJP in forming the government. The foundation stone of another thermal power station costing Rs13,000 crores would be laid at Gidderbaha on October 15. Although all this was being done by the SAD-led coalition government, but it was proving to be counter-productive as people in the Malwa heartland in Bathinda were getting annoyed, as the development activity here was moving at a snail's pace because of indifference of the officialdom.

The current floods have come in handy for the Congress to grill the Badals for having failed to properly handle the situation. While Parkash Singh Badal said here yesterday that the government has taken every measure to provide succour to the flood-hit persons, Amarinder Singh has lashed out at the SAD-BJP coalition for its "failure" to provide timely relief to the flood victims. He expressed shock that when hundreds and thousands of people were marooned in the floodwaters, the chief minister found time to watch a movie in a Jalandhar theatre.

Amarinder Singh observed that this was the lack of foresight on the part of the state government that it did not take preventive measures. A government that could not rise to the occasion during the adverse circumstances can never be expected to do any good to the state, he added.

Bathinda, August 21
In the wake of two suspected dengue cases from the city who were admitted to DMCH in Ludhiana on Wednesday, the Bathinda civil surgeon Dr Neelam Bajaj, visited Ludhiana today. She instructed the Bathinda health department to ensure proper sewage disposal in the city.

Dr Bajaj, along with a team of doctors, had a round of North Estate locality of the city, where a suspected case of dengue was reported. As per the report, Ravjot Singh, a resident of the locality, was first admitted to the NFL hospital here with suspected dengue where doctors later referred him to DMCH, Ludhiana.

In yet another suspected case of dengue, Amarjit Singh, a resident of Ghumman Kalan village of Talwandi Sabo, was also admitted to the DMCH, Ludhiana.

However, DMCH authorities said: "So far, only two patients have tested positive for dengue." One of the patients was diagnosed on Tuesday.

The Bathinda health department reiterated that only two cases of the disease had been confirmed so far. "There is no need to panic as the situation is under control," said an official.

The civil surgeon advised the residents to keep their surroundings free from stagnant water that is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

She said the health department in the city had done fumigation and would carry out focal spray in the vulnerable areas and the areas where cases of dengue were reported last year. She also advised the residents to wear full sleeve shirts and use mosquito net while sleeping.

Dr Neelam Bajaj cautioned the residents that if symptoms like high fever and bleeding from the nose occurred, they should immediately contact a medical expert.

Bathinda, August 21
Hundreds of activists of BJP, Bajrang Dal and VHP, including a number of women, under the banner of Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, Bathinda, today participated in 'jail bharo andolan' as part of the strike called by the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) for restoration of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

The activists marched towards the Mini-Secretariat after taking out a march from near Gol Diggi, Hospital road, Court road, chanting 'Bum Bum Bhole', Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Singh, convener of the SAYSS, said that the agitators in Jammu are essentially nationalists, who are waging a struggle for justice against separatists. On the other hand, the separatists were agitating holding Pakistani flags, resisting transfer of land, he charged. The UPA government had "surrendered to the separatists" for short-term interests, playing "vote bank politics", he alleged.

Tarsem Goyal, a BJP activist and senior deputy mayor, BMC, said that the Central government does not want to involve itself in the Amarnath controversy and it is shameful that the Centre has not even reacted to the disrespect shown to the national flag by the secessionists in the valley.

He said this indicated that the J&K administration, on the Centre's directions, was supporting these activities to divert the attention of the national and international community from the demand of the people of Jammu.

The speakers at the protest meeting said that the Jammu and Kashmir as well as the Central government was ignoring and hurting the sentiments of the majority. The issue is not just land but the fight against the anti-nationals and separatists and the Central as well as state government has failed to tackle the situation, they added. Later, about 300 people, including women, courted arrest and were released in the evening. 

Bathinda, August 21
The lawyers-police controversy, simmering since December last year, was finally laid to rest today when the sub-inspector in question, Bhagwant Singh, tendered a verbal apology to the Bar, Bathinda.

As per the details available, the meeting was arranged for today on the orders of a double bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In the order, Justice Ashutosh Mohante and Justice Rajan Gupta had directed the two parties to reconcile and amicably resolve the matter.

Following the direction, a meeting between Bhagwant Singh and the advocates was arranged for today at the Bar room, where he verbally expressed regret over the incident and the matter was deemed amicable resolved.

It may be recalled that the clash had taken place on the Bathinda-Goniana road, in the late hours on December 5, 2007. The incident flared up started when some advocates were reportedly watching a road accident, that had taken place there a few minutes back, were hit by some vehicle. What followed was a melee. Bhagwant Singh, who was then the Civil Lines SHO, reached the spot and tried to bring the situation under control. The next day, the advocates staged a dharna suspended work in the court and demanded the arrest of the sub-inspector. They also demanded the transfer of the then SSP. A delegation of the advocates also met chief minister Parkash Singh Badal during his Bathinda visit on December 8, for his birthday celebrations.

They also filed a writ petition on February 2, following which the High Court issued a notice of motion against various senior officials including the sub-inspector in question.

Confirming the facts, Bhagwant Singh, now SHO Dhuri, said, "I have followed the directions of the court."

President of the Bar Association, Bathinda, Raj Bhupinder Singh said, "It was amicably resolved and we reached a compromise."

Barnala, August 21
Agitated as the activists of Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti, Barnala, were not being arrested, the samiti members turned violent and ransacked the deputy commissioner's (DC’s) office and also damaged the vehicle of an SHO.

It was only after the district administration came forward and directed the city SHO Harmek Singh to arrest the activists of the Sangarsh Samiti that it ebbed. Around 130 people courted arrest in protest against the cancellation of the allotment of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board.

Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti, Barnala, convener Ram Niwas Sharma said that they wanted the whole process to be peaceful but some of the youth got agitated over their non-arrest when they approached the deputy commissioner's office for the same. He said the Samiti had publically announced its Jail Bharo agitation. District BJP president Dheeraj Kumar Dadahoor and RSS district president R.K. Vyas was also present.

DC R.L. Mehta was reportedly not present in the office at that time. In his absence, the ADC also did not pay much heed.

It was only after some youths broke the window panes of the DC office and damaged the Gypsy of the SHO that ADC Harjeet Singh came out of his office and held a dialogue with the Samiti. Later, acting on his directions, SHO Harmeek Singh arrested about 130 persons.

The police also registered a case against 10 unidentified youths under section 427, 148, 149 and 34 of the IPC for ransacking public property.

Earlier, the activists of the Samiti held a protest march in the city. They also shouted slogans against the J&K government and the Union government's appeasement policy. The samiti leaders reiterated their stand to struggle till their demands were met.

Meanwhile, DC Mehta, when contacted, said he was busy with the visit of Tamil Nadu Governor Surjeet Singh Barnala. So, he had deputed ADC Harjeet Singh to take stock of the situation. He said as the BJP was a part of the state government, so any violence was undesirable.

Faridkot, August 21
While driving between Faridkot and Kotkapura, one cannot lose sight of a long row of guava sellers along the highway outside the Sandhwan township.

The township to which former President Giana Zail Singh belonged has now emerged as a good quality guava-growing belt of the Malwa region. Many cotton-growers of the area have started diversifying to guava and citrus cultivation as the mealy bug damaged the successive cotton crops.

Horticulturists say that the sandy soil of the area was conducive for cultivation of guava that did not require much irrigation.

Malkiat Singh, one of the guava sellers, said he had taken on contract a 7-acre guava orchard for Rs 1.30 lakh in the nearby Tinewali village. From there he daily comes to the roadside that has become a small guava market to sell the produce that fetches him around Rs 600. Motorists generally stop there to purchase the good size fruit.

Another hawker, Gurmeet, said each tree in the orchard bears about 2 quintals of guava and as such the business was lucrative.

Enquiries from the horticulture department revealed that cotton growers were gradually diversifying to cultivation of grapes, kinnow, orange and guava in the Bathinda, Muktsar and Faridkot districts.

Lajwinder Singh Brar, district horticulture officer, said more than 400 hectares of area in the Faridkot block had come under cultivation of guava while citrus covers 600 hectares. Grapes were being grown in an area of 35 hectares.

He said the funds for promotion of fruits were also being received from the National Horticulture Mission. However, marketing of the produce was still an uphill task for the fruit growers.

Jagjit Singh Brar, assistant director of horticulture, said that in Bathinda, Muktsar and areas around, kinnow orchards had come up in Talwandi Sabo, Mour and Rama Mandi.

Some of the growers have adopted modern techniques of waxing and grading their produce that fetches good price in the Delhi fruit market.

Abohar, August 21
The cattle pond in the Azimgarh locality here, which was renovated by the municipal council a few years back at the cost of Rs 7.50 lakh, lies in a state of neglect. It is fully covered with wild growth called “keli” in regional parlance. The pond has virtually become a haven for the pigs in the area.

A small village earlier, Azimgarh was merged into the council some two decades back. Since then, over Rs 110 lakh have been spent on providing basic amenities to the residents, most of them being farmers and daily-wagers. But still, a lot needs to be done.

The cattle pond touches the boundary wall of the Government Elementary School. Overflowing water and wild growth pose threat to the school building in the neighborhood with part of the boundary wall already been damaged.

Sewage discharged from the houses located on the other side of the road continues to accumulate in the pond besides damaging the road. Though the locality has maximum number of milch cattle in the town, still their owners cannot even think of taking them into the pond for bathing.

Stink has polluted the environment around and the residents complain of skin and respiratory diseases.

Faridkot, August 21
While addressing an Akali gathering here today, SAD-chief Sukhbir Badal flayed the union government for its wrong policies that had led to rising prices and are proving detrimental for the poor.

Showing his generosity for Faridkot district, his own parliamentary constituency, he said the process for acquiring land for flying academy had already been started. He added that Baba Farid University of Health Science and Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital would soon be started, for which funds had already been allocated.

Earlier, he spoke at length about the ongoing development projects. He said that on September 2, the foundation stone of Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant would be laid. Furthermore, on October 15, the foundation stones of a thermal plant at Rajpura and the 13000-crore worth 2600-MW thermal power project at Gidderbaha would be laid.

Ferozepur, August 21
Agitated over the inadvertent delay in the re-opening of the Hussainiwala-Kasur border, the local residents have decided to launch Hussainiwala Border Kholo Sangharsh Samiti in order to press for their long-pending demand.

The border was closed in the aftermath of 1971 India-Pakistan war, when Pakistani forces had launched an aggression in this front.

When contacted DIG BSF M.L. Wassan said the BSF had no hassles if the border was reopened for trade and transit. However, the requisite infrastructure should be in place first, he added.

The present Sutlej bridge along the Hussainiwala barrage was not strong enough to withstand the huge vehicular traffic. Another bridge was required, the DIG said.— OC

Bathinda, August 21
A team of health department officials, led by Vijay Kumar, drug inspector, Bathinda, conducted a raid on chemist shops at Maur Mandi.

According to Dr Neelam Bajaj, Civil Surgeon, Bathinda, the seizures from Duni Chand Medicos, Maur Mandi, included, nitrozepam, alprax, proxivon, carisoma, diazepam and other intoxicating materials. The health officials seized medicines worth Rs 1 lakh.

The owner of the shop failed to show the record and purchase documents which were under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act1940 and Rules 1945. She asked the state drug control authorities to cancel the licence of this medical shop. The stock of seized medicines would be produced in court for taking an action against the defaulting chemist. Similar raids had been conducted some time back too by health department officials.

Bathinda, August 21
Kendriya Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Bathinda, in its meeting held here today took serious note of Punjab government's move for not issuing an ordinance for using Punjabi in its day-to-day working in the state.

In a press release issued here today, Jagdish Singh Ghai, convener of the sabha, said that it along with other literary organisations would hold a huge dharna on September 4 — the first day of Punjab Assembly session — in Chandigarh.

The Sabha also demanded that Punjabi be made a compulsory subject up to class XII in the state.

Bathinda, August 21
The United Welfare Society organised a blood donation camp in village Behman Diwaana, in Bathinda district on Wednesday, to mark the first birth anniversary of Prabhjot Kaur.

About 16 units of blood were donated at the camp by volunteers assembled there.