Bathinda, January 16
The move to induct Sukhbir Singh Badal as deputy CM in the SAD-BJP coalition government has generated enthusiasm not only among the SAD activists, but also the general masses particularly in the Malwa belt. Although the SAD suffered a severe setback during the last assembly elections, but Sukhbir Badal in his capacity as pary president has been taking lot of interest in launching development projects here. The political development has generated hope among local residents who believe he would be in a position to implement his promises once he found berth in the ministry. He has been visiting here frequently and was almost in one or the other town of Malwa as the Lok Sabha elections have drawn nearer.

SAD activists distributed "ladoos' in the court complex here this morning to celebrate the recommendation of the core committee of the party. Rajan Garg, a lawyer and municipal councillor, offered sweets to the Mayor and practicing lawyers. Senior SAD functionaries including, Sikendar Singh Maluka, Chiranji Lal Garg, Sarup Chand Singla, Baljeet Singh Bir Behman, BMC Mayor, and Om Prakash Sharma, media secretary, have welcomed the move.

These leaders pointed out that the SAD won many assembly seats due to the tireless campaigning by Sukhbir. Garg said induction of Sukhbir Singh as deputy CM should not be further delayed. Singla described Sukhbir Singh as "development oriented" and said his induction would result in all-round progress of Punjab. Meanwhile, the Congress suffered a severe jolt here today when its three general secretaries of the district joined the SAD in the presence of Sukhbir Singh. Those who joined the SAD were Shivaji Ram, Rajinder Singh and Bibi Paramjeet Kaur.

Bathinda, January 16
Member of the Parliament and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief, Sukhbir Singh Badal, today said that 2000 players would be trained this year to promote sports at grassroot level. Addressing players during 16th Kabbadi Cup at village Chauke, Badal said that at present 3000 players were getting training, whereas 2400 players got training in 170 sports wings of different schools and colleges during 2007-08.

He said 169 new sports coaches were appointed in this financial year to meet the requirement.

He said that an international Kabbadi tournament would be organised from this year in which players from US, Canada, England, Norway, and Pakistan will participate. He announced that the first prize would be Rs 1 crore, runners-up Rs 55 lakh and second runner-up Rs 25 lakh.

Discussing initiatives taken by government to encourage hockey in the state, he said that sports department had started Punjab State Hockey league for men and women this year. To provide better infrastructure and facilities, astroturf would be established at Sansarpur (Jalandhar) and Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda) and a world class hockey stadium and coaching centre would be set up at Mohali. Sukhbir Singh said that special initiatives have been taken to encourage women players in the state. National sports festival for women was organised last year at Jalandhar in which Punjab got fifth place after an interval of five years. In addition, all India women air weapon competition was conducted at village Badal of Mukatsar district. 200 shooters participated in the competition from across the country. World class shooting range was constructed in the village at the cost of Rs 1 crore. Enumerating the initiatives taken at rural level to promote sports, he said the government conducted tournaments at village, block, district, zone and state levels. Sports equipment worth Rs 1.25 crore had been distributed to 1400 players of different districts of the state.

Bathinda, January 16
The rival groups of Baba Budha Dal are again pitted against each other after the recent firing incident in which Nihang chief Baba Balbir Singh had a providential escape.

In a fresh development, hundreds of Nihangs belonging to Baba Joginder Singh's faction of the Budha Dal, today lodged a protest against the Baba Balbir Singh group, the present chief of Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal, accusing him of falsely implicating a number of Nihangs in the firing incident.

Boarding a number of vehicles, Nihangs belonging to various organisations, gathered outside the mini-secretariat here this morning. Lashing out at Baba Balbir Singh, they accused him of playing mischief to get name, fame and special protection cover (Z-plus security), for which he had even filed a writ petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Raising slogans, they termed that firing at Baba Balbir Singh, which took place on January 13, as a mere 'drama'. Further, they alleged that the people, named in the FIR registered at Talwandi Sabo, was done at the behest of Baba Balbir Singh. A number of Nihangs said that Baba Joginder Singh had been falsely implicated in the case as he was present at Gurudwara Damdama Sahib located at Rakba near Mullanpur Dakha in Ludhiana, where a police party visited to ascertain the facts.

They also named some Nihangs, who were reportedly, out of Punjab on the day of the incident.

The agitating Nihangs alleged that Baba Balbir Singh had "cordial" relations with the ruling SAD (B) leaders. They accused him of having their support in all matters and further said that he himself had got the firing incident staged and escaped safely in a pre-planed manner.

In a write-up, they added that Baba Balbir Singh had never been appointed the chief of Nihangs but a number of organisations had accepted Joginder Singh as their chief. This is the cause of the rivalry as Baba Balbir Singh is still not ready to accept the fact and wanted to dominate all.

During their speeches, all Nihangs kept addressing Baba Balbir Singh as "Baazigar" and also levelled allegations upon his character. Later, they submitted memorandum to the sub-divisional magistrate KPS Mahi. On the other hand, while talking to the TNS, Baba Balbir Singh had confirmed the names saying that the deadly assault had taken place in broad daylight so his followers had recognised the accused involved in the firing incident.

When contacted, SP (D) Ajay Maluja, who has been investigating the case, said, "As of now, we can only say that the firing had actually taken place but for the confirmation of the names of the accused, investigation is going on."

"We have assured the agitating Nihangs that only after proper investigation would the challan be filed against the accused. Till then, none of them would be arrested," he added.

Bathinda, January 16
The region, which has been experiencing the mood swings of mercury for the last four days, today witnessed another facet of the vagaries of weather.

The activated western disturbances approaching Punjab and adjoining areas, not only caused overcast conditions throughout the day, but also brought considerable precipitation in the evening.

The mercury in the zone on Friday departing from yesterdays, recorded 3.4 degree Celsius at 7 am and did not climb too much to settle at 17.8 degree at 2.30 pm, as per the Agro-MeT advisory services, PAU Regional Station, Bathinda. It may be mentioned that for the last few days, the mercury was changing its mood in a short span of just eights hours as after retreating up very low in the morning, it shot up considerably in just after noon. For example, on Thursday, the region recorded 3.0 degree Celsius in the morning and 22 degree in the evening.

As far as the weather condition during the last three days is concerned, the minimum ranged between 1.5 degree Celsius and 3.0 degree while the maximum hovered around 22.0 degree.

According to the weather forecast made by the IMD, Chandigarh, for Bathinda region on Friday and received by the Agro-MeT advisory services, PAU Regional Station, Bathinda, the prevailing partial overcast to overcast condition is likely to continue on Saturday. The condition accompanied with thunderclaps and rain may prevail in next two days, the sources in the regional station said, adding that there may be let-up in condition on Sunday and the weather is likely to clear from Monday onwards.

The night temperature in the next two days may increase due to overcast condition and may decline after that, the sources added.

The rain, however, brought relief for the farmers who had some anxious moments in last few days due to increasing temperature. The Director of PAU, Regional Station, Bathinda, Dr Gurmeet Singh Buttar, talking to The Tribune on Friday evening also said that the rain would be beneficial for the Rabi crops.

Abohar, January 16
The state government has issued a notification to prepare the master plan for the city, official sources confirmed today.

Notably, the plan was originally planned in 1997 by a five-member committee headed by the then deputy commissioner Sarvesh Kaushal but the file moved at a snail's pace after his transfer.

The notification issued under section 56 of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act with signature of Arun Goel, secretary, Department of Housing and Urban development says: to meet the challenge of rapid growth of Abohar city and its surrounding areas and to provide for a workable framework for comprehensive planned and regulated development, preparation of statutory Master Plan is very essential. The total area proposed for local planning area is 80,424 hectare which included Abohar city and adjoining 49 rural revenue estates. Many villages of Abohar and Khuyiansarwar development blocks have been earmarked in the plan.

Former MLA Ram Kumar Goyal while welcoming the move today faxed a letter to the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for expediting the long awaited plan and hoped this would give right dimension to the development of the sub-division. 

Bathinda, January 16
In view of thousands of quacks thriving in the mega city, as also practitioners of other systems prescribing allopathic medicines in an unlawful manner, the Health Department has decided to come down heavily upon those playing with the lives of unsuspecting people.

The officials of the health department headed by Sarabjit Singh, medical officer and Vinay Jindal, drugs inspector, recently conducted raids on three chemist shops in Sheikhpura, Jandawala and Poohla villages of the district here on the basis of specific complaints that some chemists were running shops without holding valid licence and practicing allopathic system, for which they was not legally entitled.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Neelam Bajaj, Civil Surgeon, informed that the drug enforcement staff had seized a number of allopathic medicines from the chemist shops, which were being prescribed and dispensed to the patients in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, as well as the Punjab Medical Council Act.

The department had also lodged a complaint with the police against the said chemists for further necessary action under the relevant laws, she added. Dr Bajaj made it clear that the department was determined to curb the menace of quackery firmly and the unqualified or unregistered practitioners would not be allowed to carry on practice of medicine.

She further informed that the supervisory medical and health staff had been given explicit directions to prepare lists of quacks in their respective areas and submit the same to their seniors for further action. 

Moga, January 16
The president of All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad has today welcomed the decision of the Orissa government to set up a special committee to compensate the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the state.

At the same time, he has raised apprehensions that the CBI was trying to protect Jagdish Tytler, the senior Congress leader, allegedly involved in the riots in Delhi.

While talking to The Tribune over the telephone, he said that the decision of the Orissa government to help the victims of riots was an eye-opener for the Union government and the state governments who were dilly- dallying in punishing the culprits responsible for the riots in as many 14 states across the country.

It may be mentioned that the special committee set up by the Orissa government would verify the FIRs filed during and after the 1984 riots, besides, sanctioning more compensation according to the new scheme declared by the Union government in the year 2006. The Orissa government had sanctioned Rs 44 lakh for this purpose, early this month.

He said that his organisation apart from carrying on with the Khalsa Insaaf March would also hold a protest outside the CBI court of Sanjiv Jain at New Delhi on January 22 .

Mansa, January 16
To implement girl education component plan, the Government Middle School, Fatehpur (Mansa) arranged an exposure visit for girl students on Thursday under Sarv Siksha Abhiyan.

The Block Primary Education Officer, Sardoolgarh gave Rs 5,000 to provide expenses free visit to the girls of the rural area. Students from class VI to VIII participated in the programme. The school would arrange a visit of 49 girl students to Talwandi Sabo.

Punjabi teacher of school, Ranjodh Singh, said that they took the girls to historical gurudwara related to founder of Skh religion Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Hind di Chadar Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, saheed Baba Deep Singh Ji and Saint Attar Singh Ji.

School head Lakha Singh and PTI teacher Deepinder Kaur assisted the students during the one-day tour. — OC

Muktsar, January 16
Activists of Art of Living (AoL) from Chandigarh with black bands and placards today stood outside the district court here in support Pyare Lal, who has been cheated of his house and entire property by fraudulent means by an operative of the local the land mafia.

Ramnik Bansal, who is son of the victim Pyare Lal Bansal, is an international Art of Living teacher and these youngsters whom Ramnik has taught, sought justice for his family.

The entire property that has been cheated away was worth more than Rs. 2.5 crores. In the process, the cheats have allegedly not even spared the ancestral house in which Ramnik's old parents live. The transaction was allegedly done on the basis of forged general power of attorney.

An FIR has been lodged and a case is registered with the Human Rights Commission. 

Mansa, January 16
“Communist Party of India (CPI) will form a third Left democratic front which had become the need of the hour due to the wrong policies of UPA and NDA fronts,” said Dr Joginder Dyal, national executive member of the CPI while addressing the district executive meeting of the party here on Thursday. He said in the front, Left parties as well as some secular parties would be included.

Criticising the policies of NDA and UPA, he said that due to the pro-imperialist policies, the country had been facing economic melt down in different fields.

Corruption, poverty and illiteracy had been badly affecting the progress of the country, so people should support the Left parties in the coming Lok Sabha elections, he said. National council member of party, Hardev Singh Arsi and district secretary Butta Singh also addressed the meeting and criticised the policies of UPA and SAD-BJP governments.