Chak Attar Singh Wala (Bathinda), March 7
Although Harsimrat Kaur Badal has already launched election campaign for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, but the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is expected to officially announce its candidate only after the opposition Congress opens its cards. Significantly, except for Bathinda, the SAD has announced its candidates for all other seats that have come to its quota.

Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said here that the SAD would officially announce its candidate within the next few days. He reiterated that some one from the Badal family would be the party's candidate. 

He challenged former chief minister Amrinder Singh to come and contest the election for the Bathinda seat as the Congress candidate and taste defeat with a margin of at least two lakh votes. The winning margin of SAD would be the highest in Bathinda among the 13 Lok Sabha seats of Punjab, he said.

Sukhbir Badal claimed that the people, particularly of the Malwa belt, were not in favour of Amarinder Singh but they were convinced with the development undertaken by the SAD-BJP coalition government. All round development undertaken by the Badal government has generated hope among the people, he claimed.

He said that the people have realised that development would be further accelerated by the Badal government in case the NDA returns to power at the Centre.

He accused the Congress of being indecisive in even announcing its candidates for the Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. Sukhbir Badal said that in his capacity as home minister of the state he would ensure free and fair elections.

Meanwhile, the Congress suffered a setback as Krishen Singh, a former general secretary of the district Congress committee along with his supporters joined the SAD in a rally in the village. He is also a director of the Cooperative Bank, Bathinda. About 70 other Congress activists also joined the SAD.

Bathinda, March 7
Harsimrat Kaur Badal was in the city today to celebrate the International Women's Day at the Baba Farid Institute of Higher and Foreign Studies in Bathinda. The college organised a function based on women where prominent personalities and women who have carved a niche in society arrived.

Apart from Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Dr Dalip Kaur Tiwana, a well-known Punjabi novelist, Gurwinder Kaur Mangat, deputy mayor, Avneet Kaur Sidhu, a shooter of international repute, Sukhwinder Kaur Sukhi, first woman from Punjab to step on Mount Everest, were present.

The function started after Baba Farid's principal Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal welcomed the guests and gave an opening speech.

While talking to The Tribune, Harsimrat clearly denied being in fray for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. She said she was more interested in social work than in politics. "The reason for being here is social. Politics has never been on my agenda. I never thought of joining politics. 

But I have always taken everything that comes my way. If god has plans for me which include politics, then I won't step back. I am working against female foeticide and environmental pollution in the state. It is a problem which can not be wiped out in a day. It needs consistent effort for success. The government would soon announce a scheme for the girlchild under which a fixed deposit of Rs 5,000 would be deposited for every girl child born. 

Another Rs 5,000 would be added once she reaches Class V and Rs 5,000 would be further added when she reaches Class X. If she does not marry till the age of 21, then another Rs 5,000 would be added. By the time she completes her education, she would have Rs one lakh. This would give a boost to her education," Harsimrat said.

About her project 'Nanhi Chhann', she said the project has created a lot of awareness and the response has been tremendous. "It has been beyond expectation. I have started honouring those who are not a part of perpetuating social evils like female foeticide, dowry, domestic violence etc.," She added.

She also stressed upon the need for imparting vocational education and said she would do something to make every girl get vocational education because it would make her self-sufficient.

About Harbhajan Mann denying, as reported in the media, that he had joined SAD-B, she said, "He just stated that he would support SAD-B. He never said he would join it actively like Hans Raj Hans has done. In his capacity, as an artiste, he promised his support to the party. The statement has been unnecessarily altered."

Other women achievers like Avneet Kaur Sidhu said, "I am proud of being a woman and these days India is accepting and encouraging women empowerment. Women should stand up for their rights and I wish all a very happy Woman's Day."

Bathinda, March 7
The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Baljinder Singh, Bathinda, has sent Dilraj Kaur and Daljit Singh of Selbarah village in Bathinda to judicial custody in a case under the PNDT Act. While the court also has declared Dr Amarjit Singh, senior medical officer (SMO), primary health centre, Bhagta Bhaika, a proclaimed offender (PO) in the same case, Dr J Sidhu had already obtained bail in the said case.

In a press release issued here today, Sadhu Ram Kusla, project officer, PNDT Cell, Bathinda, and Bansi Lal Sachdeva and Ranbir Brar, conveners, Beti Bachao Manch, had filed a complaint against them in the court of CJM, Bathinda, under various sections of the IPC in 2003. 

Earlier, J.S. Kular, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bathinda, had rejected the bail plea of Dilraj Kaur and Daljit Singh in the same case. The property details of absconding Dr Amarjit Singh, SMO, PHC, Bhagta Bhaika, were being worked out so that court could pass orders for its confiscation, the release added.

Bathinda, March 7
"How to practice scientific homoeopathy," a method of diagnosing patients, was discussed at a two-day seminar on scientific homoeopathy which began at Sangam Hotel here today. The seminar is being organised by the Association for Scientific Research in Homoeopathy, Patiala.

Eminent homoeopaths from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana are participating in the two-day event. Dr Yogesh Sehgal, Dr Sanjay Sehgal, Dr AS Mann, Dr Bhupinder Singh, Dr Neelam Avtar, Dr Prem Sharma and Dr Ashok Mohanti would highlight the benefits of the homoeopathic system of medicine during the seminar.

Dr Yogesh Sehgal said it was necessary to study the mental health, behaviour and the body language of the patient before prescribing a medicine. Prescribing the medicine afterwards would give fantastic results, he added. He said that Dr Samuel Hahnemann, father of homoeopathy, also taught that one should treat the patient, not the disease. One should not go alone by what the patient says, he added.

Dr Sanjay Sehgal said," Homoeopathy is a scientific principle hammered out of hard facts. It is backed up by indisputable logic. These days even doctors practising different systems are showing active interest in homoeopathy. With every passing day, homoeopathy is gaining wider acceptance among the people."

Earlier, Dr Bhupinder Singh, former chairman, Punjab Homoeopathic Medical Council, Chandigarh, explained the basic concepts of homoeopathy in daily life and dwelt on the cure of stress management through homoeopathy. He also discussed the relevance of homoeopathy in the present hi-tech age.