Chandigah, March 5
The Punjab Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today met in Vidhan Sabha but chose to boycott its proceedings. It claimed the CM and his son had “imposed undeclared emergency in Punjab”.

The CLP meeting as chaired by Avtar Singh Brar as Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was in Delhi,. Henry said they would not attend the Assembly session till Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon intervened to resolve the deadlock.

Earlier the Congress had announced boycott of the session after Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal declined to assure that unsavoury scenes witnessed in the Assembly during a walkout following a reference made to Sukhpal Singh Khaira by him would not be repeated. The Speaker has given an assurance to this effect but it was not accepted.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal made it clear to journalists in the Assembly that there was no question of making any overture to the Congress members as they had left on their own accord despite assurances by the Speaker.

The CLP meanwhile resolved claiming reign of terror was being let loose on Congress leaders and workers and that the police had been politicied to victimise Congress workers. It claimed senior police officers, including outgoing DGP NPS Aulakh and many SSPs had preferred to go on deputation or give up field postings rather than carry out unfair dictates of the Badals.

The CLP said crores were being wasted on advertising in newspapers of works which would never take shape while giving the example of metro rail project for Ludhiana an year ago and six- laning of the Pathankot - Ajmer highway. It said 40 per cent of the state was without safe drinking water and the state had witnessed the darkest winter this year with power cuts ranging from eight to 10 hours. It also alleged the ruling family had hijacked the transport, mining and cable network in the state.

Congress legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who has been in the eye of the storm, with the Chief Minister saying some thing unpalatable about him, today said he had been targeted for raking up issues like the quarrying business, which had resulted in the formation of sand mafia. Khaira demanded vigilance inquiry into the auction of quarry sites in the state. 

Chandigarh, March 5
Apathetic attitude of the Pakistani government towards its nationals has resulted 32 Pakistanis languishing in Punjab jails, much beyond their prison term. Lack of documents has caused a delay in their repatriation, Punjab Jail Minister Hira Singh Gabria told the Vidhan Sabha today.

Denying that any Indian national was kept in jail beyond his or her jail term, Gabria, however, added that there were 32 Pakistani prisoners, who cannot be set free in the absence of passports and other travel documents that are to be issued by the Pakistan government.

The minister was responding to a question raised by Sohan Singh Thandal of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

The minister disclosed that apart from these 32 prisoners, who had completed their jail term, Punjab jails had another 36 Pakistani undertrials in various jails. These include 22 in the Amritsar central jail, eight at Ferozepur, three at Nabha and one each at Gurdaspur, Bathinda and Sangrur.

The minister said the 32 Pakistani prisoners, who had completed their jail term, had been moved from their barracks and were being detained in a transit camp established at the Amritsar jail.

The Punjab government had written to the Centre to take up the matter of their release with the Pakistan High Commission. Apart from the prisoners mentioned above, Punjab also has 17 Pakistani nationals serving sentence in various prisons.

Gabria said: “No such Indian prisoners are still in jails that have not been released despite completion of their terms of imprisonment”. He pointed out that the government starts the process of release of a prisoner four or six months in advance from the release date.

Owing to the absence of the Opposition Congress from the House on account of the boycott, Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon was seen playing the role of the Opposition. He took Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah to task when he assured Iqbal Singh Jhundan (Independent) that the platform in the purchase centre of the Momnabad grain market would be renovated by interjecting, “Don’t make hollow promises, when you make an assurance in the House make sure that you fulfil it”.

Moga, March 5
The Anandpur Sahib Resolution has no significance for Punjab. The Shiromani Akali Dal had been raking it up near Lok Sabha elections to divert attention of people to cover up failures of the state government. Jagmeet Singh Brar member of the Central Working Committee of the Congress said here today.

He said Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal was raking up this issue for political gains in elections.

He said there was no question of discrimination against Punjab or the Sikh community by the Congress-led Union government.

He said, “A Sikh from this state is heading the nation as Prime Minister and the Congress party has unanimously decided to project him again as candidate for this top post in Lok Sabha elections, which shows party’s respect for the community”.

He claimed the Union government had released adequate funds for the development of Punjab in five years but the state government could not utilise these properly. “In some cases the funds have also been diverted to other heads”, he alleged.

Jagmeet Brar said Manmohan Singh was able administrator and visionary who had strengthened the nation’s economy without much impact of prevailing worldwide recession on the masses. “The ideas of NREGA, the RTI Act and nuclear pact have been given by Manmohan Singh which has started changing the face of the country in the right direction”, he added. 

Amritsar, March 5
Insurgency in the Swat Valley, Peshawar, and certain areas near Afghanistan border has forced 35 Pakistani Hindus, including women and children, to bid adieu to their motherland forever. They have decided to settle in Amritsar. However, school-going children of these Pakistani Hindus are facing problem to get admission here since they do not understand Punjabi and Hindi.

Though Pathans had protected their Hindu and Sikh brethren during Partition, the situation now is differen due to the domination of Jehadis in the valleys.

A resident of Peshawar, Jagdish Lal Sharma, who has come here along with six members of his family for 30 days, said they woouldn’t go back to Pakistan even though they were not sure of their future here. He said Taliban-supported militants had started persecuting the minorities. However, president, All India Shiv Sena, Surinder Billa said his organisation had been supporting these families by providing them with ration or money.

Similarly, Pt Bihari Lal has come here to settle along with his 13 family members. The families of Avtari Lal and Gulzari Lal have also decided to settle in Amritsar. Though they were given visas for New Delhi for 30 days, yet they succeeded in getting permission to visit Amritsar. Some of them have opened shops of ayurvedic medicines here. They said they were still receiving telephone calls from their patients in Pakistan who were wanting them to return. However, due to volatile situation in Pakistan they had to abandon their motherland.

Peshawari Hindus and Sikhs had come to India in more than one decade to settle here permanently because of persecution of the members of minority community.

In Amritsar, about 500 Peshawari families live in a locality on the Amritsar-Wagah road. 

Chandigarh, March 5
The process of seeking nominations from the Amritsar and Fatehgarh Sahib (reserved) constituencies by a party observer during the past seven days has seen the emergence of OP Soni and Sukh Sarkaria as top contenders from Amritsar following a survey among party workers.

In the case of the Fatehgarh Sahib constituency, the party observer and Himachal Congress leader Kuldeep Singh Rathore told newsmen here today that party workers had recommended the names of former bureaucrat Rai Singh, legislator Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, former Punjab Pradesh Congress President Shamsher Singh Dullo and rebel SAD leader and present Ropar MP Sukhdev Singh Libra for the seat.

Rathore also disclosed that even though he had met party workers who had recommended the names of particular leaders for the party candidature from Amritsar, the District Congress Committee had submitted a memorandum to him urging that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh be fielded from Amritsar.

Sources disclosed that the candidature of former cop Kiran Bedi is also being considered from Amritsar by the high command to take on BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu. Sources said in case of Fatehgarh Sahib, the candidature of Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) member Satwant Singh Mohi was also being discussed.

Meanwhile, in a separate press note, PPCC general secretary Raj Pal Singh clarified that no political leader or worker was authorised to reinstate any suspended or expelled worker. He said this could be done with the prior written approval of PPCC President Mohinder Singh Kaypee.

This is a second time the PPCC is coming out with this clarification. Earlier, it did so when former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reinducted some leaders into the party while this time it is after a similar act by Malerkotla legislator Razia Sultana.

Amritsar, March 5
Sikh clergy today deferred decision to initiate action against BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had participated in a function of Divya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan held at the residence of Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla in violation of the Hukmnama (edict), to the next meeting of Akal Takht.

A complaint in this regard was filed by Bhai Mohkam Singh, convener, Khalsa Action Committee. However, the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh, said Sidhu’s participation in the function was unfortunate.

While dealing with another petition filed by Daljit Singh Bittu against Gurmit Ram Raheem Singh, chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, the Sikh high priests said there was no need to issue fresh directive in this regard since Akal Takht had already pronounced the edict, asking the Sikh sangat to snap all ties with him.

Dissatisfied with the reply, Bittu called a meeting of Sikh organisations at Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo on March 8. Members of the Khalsa Action Committee, which was formed to spearhead a movement against Dera Sacha Sauda, did not attend the meeting.

However, when contacted, Bhai Mohkam Singh claimed that all Sikh organisations were united against Dera Sacha Sauda. He said it was an individual call given by the SAD (Panch Pardhani) to meet the Sikh high priests.

Talking to The Tribune from Sirsa, Aditya Insan, a spokesman for the dera, said they were open to a dialogue for finding an amicable solution to the conflict.

“Let us resolve the matter and representatives of the Sikh community and the dera should come on a negotiating table,” he said, adding that the dera always holds the Sikh high priests and the Sikh community in high esteem.

Meanwhile, the meeting took a strong exception to the decision of the Haryana government to impose Section 144 to prevent Sikh sangat from assembling at a gurdwara in the state.

When asked about the demand for creating a separate gurdwara parbandhak committee for Haryana, Giani Gurbachan Singh said such demands could not be accepted.

Mansa, March 5
There has been nearly 18 per cent decrease in cotton arrivals in markets of the state compared to last year. According to cotton officials, this year 6,920,488 quintal of cotton was brought to the markets till the end of February while this figure in the corresponding period last year was 8,540,108 quintal.

Official sources cited two main reasons behind the poor cotton arrivals as this year. One is that 10 or 12 per cent less area was covered under the cotton crop and while the other being the late entry of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in the markets, forcing many farmers to sell their crop in Haryana.

According to the estimates, nearly 10 lakh quintal of cotton had been taken to purchase centres of Haryana. Private traders of the state exploited cotton growers by procuring their crop at the rates ranging from Rs 2,400 to 2500 per quintal against the MSP of Rs 2,800 per quintal.

Farmers Ram Singh and Mahinder Singh said farmers sold their produce in Haryana to avoid exploitation at the hands of private traders.

According to an official report prepared by the cotton head office, Bathinda, a total of 6,920,488 quintal of cotton arrived in the state markets till the end of February. As much as 5,064,773 quintal was procured by the CCI while private traders purchased 1,854,111 quintal of cotton. Cotton arrivals decreased in Bathinda district by 7.46 per cent, in Faridkot by 46.83 per cent, Ferozepur by 16.56 per cent, Ludhiana by 64.18 per cent, Mansa by 25.75 per cent, Moga by 43.28 per cent, Muktsar by 6.73 per cent, Sangrur by 58.13 per cent and Barnala by 8.37 per cent.

Cotton officials hoped that nearly one lakh quintal of more cotton could arrive in state markets till March 31.

Ramoowala (Moga), March 5
Political leaders, journalists, writers and singers along with the family members attended the cremation and antim ardas of Karnail Singh Paras,freedom fighter, poet and singer in Ramoowala village in Moga district, today. He died at the age of 93 on February 28.

The body was cremated was in the morning while antim ardas was held in the afternoon today . Joginder Singh Vedanti former Jathedar of Akal Takht performed the antim ardas of Paras.

Jagmeet Brar read the message of UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi while Jathedar Tota Singh read the message of Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal who conveyed condolence to the family members.

Balwant Singh Ramoowalia a former union minister who is a son of Paras announced to form a trust in his father’s name to propagate father’s ideology and culture of the state. Karnail Paras had written more than 18 anthologies of poetry in Punjabi dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh, Banda Bahadur, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Sewa Singh Thikriwala and many others.

Patiala, March 5
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Punjab unit , has urged Punjab government to exempt doctors on official duty from payment of toll. Chairman of the IMA, Punjab, Dr DS Bhullar said here on Sunday doctors in the state were required to attend courts as medical witnesses for evidence in medico-legal injury and post-mortem cases and for giving treatment.

The government doctors are entitled to travel by own car for attending courts and later get TA and DA from the government.

However, those on duty doctors are required to pay toll in the state, whereas a government officer on official duty is not required to pay toll.Dr Bhullar appealed to government doctors to stop paying toll .

Government officers travelling in government vehicles are not charged, but the government doctors travelling in own vehicles on government duty and attending courts are forced to pay toll.

Chandigarh, March 5
The Punjab Agro Industries Corporation (PFIC) has approved to grow olive on 400 acres. Punjab Agro earlier invited tender in the Economist to assess demand of olive cultivation to which six companies evinced interest. The corporation has selected Israeli company Indolive, which has set up olive orchards in six places in Rajasthan and wants to experiment it in the state.

PFIC Managing Director SK Sandhu said Indolive would be asked to give financial guarantee relating to yield it expected from the third year onwards. “We are expecting the company to give us guarantee stating what it would pay us so that we do not lose out in case the trees do not bear fruit,” he added.

Punjab Agro team earlier had toured parts of Rajasthan where Indolive has set up olive orchards. The company has imported the plant and material from Israel and the orchards are managed by Indolive and a private company. Indolive will buy back the fruit produced on prevailing international price.

Sandhu said Punjab Agro had also identified land at Laddowal (Ludhiana) for this purpose. “We might take panchayat land on lease in other climatic zones of the state also,” he said adding orchard was proposed on minimum 30 acres to ensure it to be viable. Punjab Agro is likely to spend Rs 10 crore on the project apart from money on leasing out land for the orchards.

The corporation is collecting data like soil characteristics in parts of the state and data on climatic zones. The Punjab State Farmers Commission is sceptic of the idea. Its consultant Dr PS Rangi says Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, had taken up propagation of olive and the study was not successful.

The Punjab Agro MD, however, says it will approach PAU with the data and reports of how the experiment is faring in Rajasthan where use of computerised fertigation and weather monitoring systems have brought desired results. “Following this we will decide on the issue,” he said. 

Jalandhar, March 5
In an alleged violation of the model code of conduct, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) reportedly shifted its eight employees on Monday when the code came into force with the announcement of the poll schedule.

Chief Engineer (operations, north zone) TS Thind issued orders on March 2 of shifting of six Additional Assistant Engineers (AAEs), a revenue accountant and a head draughtsman (HDM).

While Punjab chief electoral officer (CEO) Kusumjit Sidhu could not be contacted as she was reportedly busy in a meeting, Thind denied any violation of the code of conduct.

Thind said the transfer of the PSEB men did not amount to defiance of code of conduct as these men were posted to new places after their promotion.

At the same time, he claimed he did not remember case to case but these PSEB men might have been transferred before the code came into force on March 2.

Zonal president of Council of Junior Engineers Raj Kumar Chaudhury alleged the Chief Engineer shifted these employees violating the set norm of transfer without taking any permission or consent from the higher authorities, which, in his case, will be either PSEB Chariman HS Brar or member distribution KD Chaudhury.

Thind claimed he was competent to shift PSEB men in the zone on his own according to the set guidelines.

Chandigarh, March 5
The solution to the problem of water logging in Bhatinda, Muktsar and Ferozepur districts of Punjab lies in the mixing of ground water with canal water. This was stated by Dr BM Jha, Chairman, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), here today.

Dr Jha, who was here to attend the Regional Ground Water Summit at CII Complex, jointly organized by the CGWB and Confederation of Indian Industry, said the board had already submitted its suggestion to the state government. While the depletion of ground-water level in the maximum parts of the state is alarming, these districts on the other hand were facing the problem of water logging as the ground water in these district was not being withdrawn and the canals passing through the area were adding to the woes of residents, said Dr Jha.

In fact, the ground water in many parts of these districts is not fit for irrigation purpose due to its brackish nature. However, after mixing with canal water in acceptable proportion it would be useful for irrigation purpose, he said.

As soon as ground water is mixed with canal water, it would lead to recharging of rain water in the ground and after four or five years the region would be able to get rid of not only water logging, the problem of salinity would also be wiped out to some extent, he claimed.

To achieve the target, however, the government had to curtail the supply of water to canal and create infrastructure in the affected areas to mix the water at local level, said Dr Jha.

Expressing his concern over the state of affairs in other parts of the state, Dr Jha said while the withdrawal of ground water in the state was 45 per cent more than what was being recharged every year, out of 137 blocks in the state a total of 103 were over exploited.

And the state government was still avoiding to implement the Model Bill which was aimed at to regulate the withdrawal of ground water. While 19 states have already started the process to implement the Bill, Punjab had already rejected it.

Dr D K Chadha, former Chairman of the CGWB, while speaking on the occasion, emphasised on the need of introducing hydro-geological courses in colleges and universities with focus on research to produce manpower for managing water resources in the country. Earlier inaugurating the summit, Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh , General SF Rodrigues (retd), stressed that the issue of ground water depletion is under debate all over the country and its ill-affects on our social and economic development are a matter of serious concern. It is, therefore, imperative that we changed our attitudes and developed innovative ground water conservation strategies to make a positive contribution for a safe and secure future. 

Chandigarh, March 4
The Punjab and Haryana High Court believes the connivance of a Punjab Vigilance Bureau’s DSP with an accused “is writ large”. Virtually passing strictures on the officer, the high court has made it clear that “lackluster approach” will not be tolerated.

The bureau is primarily entrusted with the task of unearthing and investigating corruption cases against public servants. In the current case, the manager of a nationalised bank in Muktsar is facing allegations of corruption.

Taking cognisance of the officer’s attempts to help out the accused, Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia of the high court has asked the Vigilance Bureau’s Director-General to file an affidavit.

“This is a case where the collusion on the part of Talwinderjit Singh, DSP, Vigilance Bureau, Cantonment Office, Muktsar, with the accused is writ large,” Justice Ahluwalia has asserted. “He is present in the court. No case file is with him”.]

In his detailed order, Justice Ahluwalia has also observed: “He is unable to disclose as to which authority has been approached for the grant of sanction against the accused.

“The lackluster approach of the investigating officer to assist the court is evident. Except a mute spectator present in the court, he is of no assistance to the counsel for the state.

“Anter Singh Brar, Deputy Advocate-General, Punjab, has very fairly stated that he cannot assist this court, as no document is coming forward, nor any instructions are being given by the investigating officer.

“Let the Director-General, Vigilance Bureau, file an affidavit as to how and why the accused, who was arrested at the spot, was released by the investigating officer; and as to why the investigating officer is still colluding with the accused; and why he is not present with any paper or file of the case in this court”.

Before parting with the order, Justice Ahluwalia directed: “The Director-General shall explore the possibility to withdraw all investigations of this case from Talwinderjit Singh”.

The case will now come up for further hearing on March 31.