Bholath, October 12
Arch rivals former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira are at loggerheads over laying of foundation stone of a water supply scheme at Akbarpur village falling under the legislator’s constituency. Bibi Jagir Kaur laid the stone of the project on Sunday. While Khaira claimed that Kaur re-laid the stone after getting removed the one laid by him two years ago, the ex-SGPC president rubbished his allegations.

Earlier, Khaira and his supporters blocked the road near the venue where Bibi was scheduled to lay the project stone and were arrested on the charge of obstructing public roads and preventing pubic servants from doing their duty.

Confirming the arrests, SSP Rakesh Agarwal told The Tribune that the Bholath ML And his 57 supporters were arrested after getting written permission from Bholath SDM Gurwinder Singh.

An FIR under sections 188 (for defying DM’s order issued under section 144 of CrPC of not using loudspeaker without permission), 186 (preventing pubic servants from doing his duty), 283 (obstructing public roads) of IPC and section 107/151 (preventive arrest to avoid breach of peace) of Criminal Procedure Code has been registered against them, the SSP said, adding that the protest and their arrest have been video-graphed.

Earlier, in a letter written to DC on Saturday, Khaira had asked the district administration to prevent Bibi from `re-laying’ the foundation stone of the water supply scheme. Claiming that he had laid the foundation stone of the scheme two years back, the legislator alleged that the village sarpanch Gurbachan Singh had destroyed the same at Bibi’s behest. When contacted, DC JM Balamurugan said no foundation stone had been officially laid by the department concerned, in this case rural water supply and sanitation, at Akbarpur village before. So the question of removing the stone does not arise, he added.

Bibi Jagir Kaur said the survey for the project had been done in 2001 during the previous Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government and the project was sanctioned in September 2006.

“The work on the project started just two months back and the department had requested me to lay the foundation stone. But I could not spare time at that time, so, the function was held today,” she claimed.

Jalandhar, October 12
To overcome the agrarian crisis, the government should guarantee remunerative prices for agriculture produce and all World Trade Organisation prescriptions harmful to farmers be waived, said Panna Lal Surana, renowned socialist thinker.

Surana was addressing mediapersons on the concluding day of a two-day convention of All-India Conference of Socialist Front in Jalandhar cantonment today.

He said the government should invest in power and irrigation sectors to enable the farmer community in increasing their productivities and ensure food security for the country. Apart from this, farmers should be provided easy loans from nationalised banks. The amount of the loan money should be up to one-half of the total cost of their land holdings.

Moreover, the rate of interests on the loan money be 4 per cent per annum and that too be charged from the date of receiving the cash from the bank, he stressed.

Surinder Mohan, another socialist thinker, stressed on the need for bringing the education imparted to kids in government schools and those of private and convent schools at par for removing a line of separation between the poor and rich.

The speakers from different states expressed their concern over the failure of the Orissa and Karnataka governments in providing adequate security to the minorities.

They also called upon the political parties to exercise restraint regarding happenings of Jammu and Kashmir.

The socialist thinkers also advocated formation of regional boards for Jammu region, Kashmir valley and Ladakh with autonomous powers for their respective developmental activities.

To strengthen its roots in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, the front today also constituted a committee of seven members.

Amritsar, October 12
Late Ishmeet Singh was declared as the best singer, while Labh Janjua of ‘Jee Karda’ (Singh is King) fame was adjudged the best playback singer during the 28th Mohammad Rafi night organised here this evening.

Among others who were conferred awards during the function, organised by the Mahammad Rafi Memorial Society, included famous Bollywood and Punjabi films actress Divya Dutta, Fight director Mohan Baggad. Best Punjabi singer award went to Firoz Khan and Rana Ranvir got the best comedian award. Dr Daljit Singh, senior director, Jalandhar Doordarshan, received Rana Jaspal Singh Award for best promoter of Punjabi culture.

The audience kept a one-minute silence to pay tributes to two departed souls - Mohinder Kapoor and Ishmeet Singh.

Hailing from Khanna, Labh Janjua made his mark in Bollywood with chartbusters ‘O Yaara Dhol Bajake’ (Dhol) and ‘Soni De Nakhre’ (Partner). A fine actress, Divya Dutta was last seen in Welcome to Sajjanpur. She has starred in many movies like Baghbaan and Veer-Zaara for which she got the award for best actress in a supporting role in 2005.