Abohar, October 12
The Catholics of the sub-division joined the universal church in the canonisation 
ceremony of one of India's daughters Blessed Alphonsa as the real canonisation took place simultaneously in Rome by the hands of Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday.

The celebrations sponsored by the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) community began today morning at St. Joseph’s Church located on the Seetogunno road with a Holy Mass offered by Rev Fr Thomas Anjiliveli, the provincial St Thomas Province CST (and co celebrated by Rev Joy CST. Rev Sr Jyoti FCC enlightened the gathering about the life of Blessed Alphonsa.

Incidentally Sr. Jyoti also belongs to the same religious congregation FCC of which Alphonsa was a member.

She informed that Alphonsa was born in a small village in Kerala on August 19, 1910. She became a nun in FCC on August 12, 1936. She suffered from Haemorrhage throughout the life but bore pain in silence with a smiling face till the last day i.e. July 28, 1946. She wanted to die like her master Jesus Christ who died by crucifixion.

Sr Jyoti said that Alphonsa became popular when many miracles started taking place through her intercession at her tomb in village Bharanaganama in Kottayam district of Kerala. The first-one was curing the clubbed legs of a boy. He is still alive and is in Rome to witness the Pope and the world. Christians all over the world especially in Kerala and India are overjoyed today as the first woman from India was being raised to the status of a Catholic Saint.

The Holy Mass was followed by a colorful procession that started from the Church and reached Assumption Convent School.

The flower-bedecked jeep carried a portrait of Alphonsa. Kuriakose VK principal of the Jhamku Devi Senior Secondary School was joined by others in singing holy song. Crackers were fired on the way.

SHO Balkar Singh of the old city police station personally supervised the security arrangements.

Hundreds of children and women holding colorful umbrellas joined the procession. The celebrations culminated with a community meal shared by all amidst cultural programme that was presented by kids. 

Ferozepur, October 12
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) would purchase at least ten per cent of the total paddy arriving in the grain markets of the state for which instructions had been given to all district managers, stated Darbara Singh Guru, principal secretary to CM, Punjab, during a surprise checking of the local grain markets here today.

Guru was accompanied by the deputy commissioner, Megh Raj, Dinesh Pratap SSP besides officials of various procurement agencies.

Guru said that altogether 13 senior IAS officers had been deputed to oversee the procurement drive in all the 1628 purchase centres in various districts of the state. He said that already 80 per cent of the paddy which had arrived in the markets till date, had been procured and lifted, besides 93 per cent payments had also been cleared by the agencies.

Guru said that the CM has passed strict instructions to all concerned officials regarding smooth conduct of procurement process under which he has stated that the entire paddy stock should be procured fast and payments should be made within 48 hours of the procurement. On the occasion, Guru interacted with the farmers and commission agents and listened to their problems.

Meanwhile, Parminder Singh Pinki General Secretary PPCC said that though the Akali government claims to be the custodian of the interests of the farmers, the ground realities were altogether different and belies their claim.

Pinki said that the Badal government was not serious towards the problems of the farmers who were reeling under abject misery. He blamed that huge lumps of paddy were lying in the various grain markets of the state unattended and officials of the procurement agencies were pocketing an amount of Rs 30 to Rs 50 per quintal. He said that the payments were also not being made in time and lifting was also slow.

Moga, October 12
The vice-chancellor of the Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar, Professor Swatantra Kumar, who is also the national general secretary of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, while expressing his concern over encroachments on the properties of the sabha in various cities of Punjab, has appealed to the chief minister Prakash Singh Badal to extend help in getting back their properties.

He was addressing a meeting of the office bearers of the sabha here on Saturday. The vice-president of the sabha, Mrs. Rajesh Sharma, custodian of the properties Vijay Sathi, senior activist Ajay Gora and many other office-bearers were present at the meeting.

Talking to The Tribune after the meeting, Prof Kumar said that the office-bearers of the sabha should initiate efforts at all levels to get back their properties meant for public cause.

Vijay Sathi and Ajay Gora revealed in the meeting that the district police had forcibly captured a prime property of the sabha in the heart of the town. The city's police station (south) was functioning from land belonging to the Arya Sabha.

This controversial land measuring 43 marlas was purchased by the sabha from the local municipal council in the year 1999-2000, the registry of which done in their favour by the revenue department in the year 2006-2007. The MC had given this land to the sabha for the extension project of the Arya School.

Similarly, another piece of land belonging to the DM College of the sabha was encroached by private builders by manipulating with the then authorities of the MC but recently the possession was taken back by Vijay Sathi and his colleagues.

In reply to a question, Prof Kumar also gave a hint that a major reshuffle would soon be done in the local management of the sabha in order to streamline the functioning of the educational institutes.

Ferozepur, October 12
Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, MLA Guruharsahai and chief whip, Congress Legislative Committee, has been elected as vice-president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Sodhi, while talking to The Tribune after being elected, said that he would take concrete steps for the development of sports in the border areas of Punjab, especially Ferozepur. He said that a sprawling stadium shall be constructed in Guruharsahai soon.

Sodhi, an ace shooter himself, has represented India in shooting at various international tourneys several times. He is also president of Chandigarh Olympic Association. Sodhi is also member of the steering committee constituted to oversee the arrangements for the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi.

Bathinda, October 12
Acting upon the strict directions of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities have started a probe into the alleged irregularities in the controversial Rs 40-crore worth road project.

In a two-day inspection and sample collection drive, the investigating team comprising BMC bureaucrats, councillors, Giani Zail Singh Engineering College staff and representatives of the construction company, collected more than 30 samples of various roads and pavements. Coal tar, pebbles, tiles, cement and other material was picked up as samples for laboratory tests.

Confirming the details, joint commissioner, BMC, Amit Dhaka, said the samples had been collected but due to the time consumed, the packets would be sent to the laboratory of the Giani Zail Singh Engineering College, Bathinda, on Monday.

"To make the investigation a transparent process, we have called the councillors of the wards concerned irrespective of the parties they belong to," Dhaka said.

At some places pavements were found to have been displaced but it was observed that it was more due to the lack of care on the part of users. Repair work for this has been ordered, he added.

When questioned if it was being done on the orders of the CM, he said, "Yes, the CM also ordered us to investigate into the matter. People also had been complaining about discrepancies and irregularities. But we had started the drive three weeks ago even before the CM's order was received and samples from Powerhouse road were collected."

It may be mentioned that the state government had hired some independent quality assurance consultants (IQAC) to check the ongoing projects in the state. According to sources in the BMC, despite their repeated correspondence for engaging the IQAC for the investigation, no response was received from the department concerned.

Replying to a query, Dhaka said, "There may be a hitch in engaging the IQAC as it is supposed to intervene in projects that have started during this financial year only. But the project we have been probing started much earlier. Moreover, as per the terms, the company is supposed to get involved in the project once the estimate level is prepared."

Bathinda, October 12
Despite repeated attempts by BMC officials and some SAD councillors, the BJP councillors are apparently not ready to approve the multilevel parking-cum-commercial facility project, slated to be discussed again in the BMC general house meeting on Monday. On October 8, the issue was deferred as BJP and Congress councillors had raised objection citing financial losses to the BMC. Some SAD councillors had also complained that the request for proposal (RFP) was not disclosed to them before asking for sanction.

Tarsem Goyal, senior deputy mayor, backed by the deputy mayor Gurwinder Pal Kaur Mangat, who raised the issue, had said, "If this project gets the nod for 90 years' lease, our future generation would accuse us of having taken a wrong step. He told TNS on Sunday, "The agenda needs proper discussion and negotiations.” BJP councillors, seeking anonymity, said despite their objection, SAD councillors, who were in a majority, could get the project approved. They said the SAD chief had directed them to get the project approved. When asked about the details, Mayor Baljeet Singh Bir Behman, in the presence of Manoranjan Kalia, minister for local bodies, preferred to duck the query. 

Bathinda, October 12
An evening of bahjans and ghazals was organised at the Bathinda Military Station today by Brig Ashish Ranjan Prasad on the instructions of the Chetak Corps. The great performer, who gave a new definition to bhajans, Anoop Jalota, and his students, Simran Sood and Sanghmitra, mesmerised he fans.

"I have been to Bathinda before also as I have a special attachment with Punjab because I belong to Phagwara where I go often. Brig Prasad had invited me to Leh (Kargil) for a performance and I had given it because I am very close to the soldiers. All of us owe a lot to them. This time when he called me, I said why not?," said Jalota.

Jalota started singing as a kid in Lucknow, where he sang patriotic songs at the Lucknow Cantonment. He feels that his bond with the Army is an old one.

He did not take up singing seriously until he moved to Mumbai to take it up professionally and that is when he started as a chorus singer with the All India Radio (AIR). He sang with the AIR chorus for three years. "I used to perform with a group called 'Royal Companions' before joining AIR. My stint with the AIR taught me a lot. An offer was given to me to do playback singing for 'Shirdi Wale Sai Baba', which was 32 years ago, and there has been no looking back since then," added Jalota. Jalota sings in almost eight languages and has released around 200 albums. My father Purushottam Das Jalota, a Padam Shree recipient, is my guru. I still have a lot to learn from him."

About the reality talent shows, he said, "Singing reality shows are a fake business. The SMS judgment is an erroneous way of identifying real talent. People who SMS don't even know what music is. I refuse to go as a judge to such shows. I had once gone as a judge and had selected Shreya Ghoshal because at that time, SMS judgment was not there and she has made a mark in the industry.”

When asked about the remix trend, he said it was like taking away someone else's baby. It is like a punishable offence.

About his future projects, Jalota said he would be releasing his movie 'Maalik Ek' soon in which Jackie Shroff plays the role of Sai Baba.

Bathinda, October 12
To inculcate patriotism in the younger generation, the Bharat Vikas Parishad organised a national group song competition at SSD Girls College here today. Around 10 teams representing various schools participated in the contest.

The programme commenced with the chanting of 'Vande Mataram'. K.C. Mittal, secretary of the organisation, welcomed the guests and Vipin Bhardwaj, project manager of the Parishad, Bathinda branch, highlighted the activities of the organisation.

The team representing Silver Oak School bagged the trophy. Satluj Public School and Different Convent School were declared second and third, respectively.

Earlier, deputy mayor, Bathinda Municipal Corporation, Gurwinderpal Kaur, inaugurated the competition.

Manoranjan Kalia, Local Bodies Minister, was the chief guest while Vijay Chopra, Chief Editor, Hind Samachar group of publications, presided over the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Kalia expressed his happiness that Bharat Vikas Parishad is doing multifarious social works in general and donated Rs one lakh to the organization from his discretionary fund. He also appealed the public to come forward in helping the needy, especially the widows.

Tarsem Goyal, deputy senior mayor, BMC, Manoj Gupta, president, Bharat Vikas Parishad, R.P Dhawan, chief manager, circle office, Punjab National Bank, Bathinda, Rajinder Kumar,

vice-president, BVP (south), were also present on the occasion.

Mansa, October 12
The women’s wing of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has launched a campaign to mobilise women against social evils like female foeticide, dowry and sexual exploitation of women at place of working.

The national president of the women’s wing of SAD and MP Paramjit Kaur Gulsan said that for mobilising women, meetings were held in all districts of Punjab. "There was a big need for awakening women about their rights and a campaign would be started in this connection," she said.

Gulshan said that a demand would be raised for 33 per cent quota for women in the Parliament and state Assembly. The SAD-BJP government of Punjab had taken steps for the welfare of women like sagun scheme, pension for widows and elderly women. To ensure the participation of women in pollution-free environment campaign, a tree plantation campaign would be launched on October 19 from Takht Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabbo). On this occasion, the SGPC chief and Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, would grace the occasion. 

Mansa, October 12
The sub-divisional officer (SDO) of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), Ajaib Singh, who was suspended a few days ago, alleged in an affidavit that the superintending engineer (SE) of PSEB, Nirmal Singh Dhanoa, had demanded bribe from him. He did not fulfil his wish, therefore, he was suspended, Singh alleged.

In the affidavit, he said that in the suspension order which was issued on October 7, no reason was assigned and no clarification was sought from him.

He further alleged that the SE had demanded Rs 1.5 lakh from him against the 350 tubewell connections which were provided to farmers under the OYT scheme.

However, the SE Nirmal Singh Dhanoa, while terming the allegations as baseless, said that the SDO was suspended on the basis of the report of the XEN, Mansa.

He said that the suspended SDO had not changed the transformer for farmers for nearly 25 days. Later, a complaint was filed against him and he was suspended, he added. 

Bathinda, October 12
One person was killed and three others seriously injured in a head-on collision between a truck and canter on the Bathinda-Goniana road, here today.

Volunteers of the Naujwan Welfare Society, who rushed the victims to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, said the truck was coming from the Goniana side, while the canter belonging to Shanti Tent House, was going from Bathinda to a marriage palace located on the road.

A labourer, Kinnu (30) was killed while Kuldeep Singh of Rampura Phul and Bharpoor Singh of village Chotiyan sustained injuries. The truck driver Kuldeep Singh of Abohar, was also injured. IO Gurcharan Singh said further proceedings are on. — TNS