Talwandi Sabo, March 27
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, said that she did not believe in blame game politics as she formally launched her election campaign alongwith her husband and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal after paying obeisance at the Takht Damdama Sahib here this morning. A large number of SAD activists greeted them en-route and accompanied them here.

Sukhbir Singh Badal announced before media persons that the "war has begun".

Harsimrat Kaur did not speak any harsh words against her rival Congress candidate Raninder Singh, whereas Sukhbir Badal lashed out at Captain Amrinder Singh and accused the Congress of never fulfilling its election promises.

He said "we" belong to this area and are concerned about the problems of the common people, whereas the Congress leaders would not be seen after the elections were over.

Accompanied by her mother-in law Surinder Kaur Badal and Sukhbir Badal, Harsimrat Kaur did a nearly 70 kms long road show between here and their native Badal village during which they were received on the roadside villages by party activists bubbling with enthusiasm. The SAD men burst crackers and danced to the beat of drums as she reached the grain market at Bathinda from where a motorcade of party activists joined them. The Badals stopped to pay obeisance at almost every Gurdwara en route and later visited the temple of the goddess at Maiserkhana.

Sukhbir Badal parried questions about the ongoing dispute between Sikhs and followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda. But in the same breath, he said it was the duty of every Sikh to obey the "hukumnama" of the Akal Takht.

He said development was the poll plank of SAD and people would see massive development in Bathinda that had so far remained the "tail-end" of Punjab and most backward area in every respect. Whatever development has been done was during the SAD regime while no minister visited there during the Congress rule. "The election manifesto of the Congress promises subsidised ration to the BPL families that have a population of only about one lakh in Punjab, whereas we are issuing cheap ration to more than 16 lakh families," he said.

Harsimrat Kaur said, "I never mix politics with my social relations". She said that her drive against female feoticide has received an overwhelming response and her next campaign would be against drug addiction that was alarmingly rampant among the youth of Punjab. However, empowerment of women would remain her main agenda.

Bathinda, March 27
Taking suo moto notice of a news item published in this newspaper along with a photograph on March 25, the District Electoral Officer, after a detailed inquiry, today, charged Narender Kashyap, general secretary, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of violating model code of conduct.

In the news and photograph published in The Tribune, it was alleged that Kashyap, who was here on March 24, to attend a public rally of the party, had violated the model code of conduct by using a red beacon atop his vehicle and also renting sirens in the air.

Just on the day of the publication of the news, the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, who is also the District Electoral Officer, marked the inquiry to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who is also the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO). In his reply, the district president of the BSP refuted the allegations and termed the incident as a fallout of political rivalry.

On being called, the staff photographer of The Tribune, showed all photographs to the ARO, today, but refused be a party to the matter.

In his report, ARO Dalwinderjit Singh, said, "Even though the authenticity of the photo could not be determined but he was shown standing before the vehicle with red beacon.”

DC-cum-DEO, Bathinda, Rahul Tewari, in his report sent to the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, mentioned, "The case is being considered as one of a violation of model code of conduct.”

Ferozepur, March 27
President of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has lashed out at the Congress-led UPA government for slashing the monthly ration quota of wheat/rice for the Above Poverty Line (APL) families under the Public Distribution System (PDS) to 12 kg per month before announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.

He was addressing political rallies during a tour in the Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituency at Ferozepur city and cantonment and Guruharsahai. He alleged that the Congress government had reduced the quota from 35 kg to 12 kg per month and now had promised to provide 25 kg rice and wheat to BPL families at Rs 3 per kg, which exposed their seriousness to the basic needs of poor common masses.

He said the Congress had promised subsidised wheat and rice to only BPL families, which was not likely to benefit a large section of the society in Punjab because, as per the Union government norms, there were hardly any BPL families in the state.

Taking a dig at the Congress, he said it had tried to unsuccessfully emulate the atta-daal scheme of the SAD-BJP government in its manifesto. He claimed that successful implementation of this scheme in the state during the past two years had benefited over 12.95 lakh families. He said the PM should explain to the people that after terming the atta-daal scheme in the state as unviable, populist and unrealistic, how he had now included a similar scheme in his party manifesto.

Mansa, March 27
The SAD candidate from Bathinda constituency, Harsimrat Kaur Badal today launched her poll campaign in Mansa. The party workers accorded her a warm welcome at Bhikhi.

Talking to the media while addressing public meetings, Harsimrat said if elected to parliament, her top priority would be to raise women related issues. She said that the Central schemes and funds for the welfare of women and other weaker sections of society would be made broad-based in the state. She assured that sincere efforts would be made in Parliament for the development of the state and Bathinda constituency.

All the basic facilities such as safe drinking water, education and medical facility would be made available to the people, she assured.

Bathinda, March 27
Aiming to kill two birds with one stone, the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) has adopted the "go green" policy under which hundreds of trees of various varieties are being planted throughout the city.

Though the scheme is quite beneficial for the city, raised on sand dunes and surrounded by fly ash emitting thermal plants, it has also fuelled speculation.

Observers have termed the scheme as advantageous for the ruling party in two ways - one to check pollution and the other to boost the Nanhi Chhaan programme of the SAD candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who lays stress on growing trees.

As per the information received, the target was fixed for planting 1800 plants along with shielding them with iron-made tree guards at a cost of Rs 26 lakh. Under the scheme, three estimates were prepared and tenders were allotted to different bidders. All main roads were to be necessarily covered, while for internal roads of residential colonies, whereever the width allowed, trees were to be planted.

According to information available, five kinds of trees, around 10 feet in height, have been purchased from Dehradun and Agra at prices ranging from Rs 45 to 130 per plant. These varieties are Chakresia, Tun, Silver Oak, Ficus and Alestonia.

To fulfill the target, authorities concerned are doing the job at a hurried pace. Tractors with a drill on the rear side, to dig proper space for the plantation of trees, can be seen in various colonies these days. Plantation and construction of tree guards is being done the same day.

Residents of Vishal Nagar, where the scheme was being implemented, said it would help check pollution caused by the thermal power plant.

However, others differed. "It is the first public welfare work being done by the administration. But the pace of the work hints at ruling leaders trying to gain political benefit in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls," said Gopal Nath, a businessman.

Fearing any controversy due to the election code of conduct, a BMC officials, seeking anonymity, said, "As many as 1200 trees have been planted by now. After completing the whole process, we aim at planting 2000 more plants in various parts of the city."

BMC Commissioner Manish Kumar said, "The scheme was implemented even before I joined but plantation of trees is beneficial for all." 

Bathinda, March 27
A Gram Sewak of Bhunder village has been arrested for illegally making alterations in the cards issued under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Interestingly, a kin of the accused, claiming him to be a personal assistant of a SAD (B) leader, hailing from Chak Fateh Singh Wala, misbehaved with the Rampura police inside the police station. He too was put behind the bars. Both of them are now in Central Jail, Bathinda, and have been sent to 14-day judicial custody.

According to police sources, Baljeet Singh, Gram Sewak, posted at Bhunder village in the district, was making alterations in some cards issued under the NREGA without being given the authority to do so. Receiving the information, Rampura police raided the spot and arrested him red-handed along with a number of cards.

Sensing some wrong motive behind the act, police booked him under sections 419 and 420 of the IPC. One Kalu Singh, who was sitting beside him, was also booked in the same case. After his arrest, Ajaib Singh, a kin of the accused, went to police station terming himself as the personal assistant of a SAD (B) leader, hailing from Chak Fateh Singh Wala, the native village of Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of the chief minister, and tried to build pressure for his release.

When he misbehaved with a police officer Major Singh, he was booked under sections 353, 186 and 506 of the IPC.

Meanwhile, it has ben learnt that that someone from the village had filed a complaint with the Election Commission regarding the illegal alteration in the cards, which the deputy commissioner was yet to receive in black and white. When contacted, SHO, Rampura police station, Buta Singh, said, "We swiftly acted after receiving the complaint as the act was illegal." 

Bathinda, March 27
More than 40 years after the sewerage system was laid in Bathinda, the entire city is yet to be equipped with this basic civic amenity.

Even at places where the sewerage system was laid, it is not functioning properly, posing health hazards to the people. The poor condition of the drains is further expected to worsen during the rainy season if not repaired immediately.

Residents of various colonies including those near the Bathinda-Goniana road in the city are blaming the authorities for the situation.

Due to the clogged sewerage channels, the muck overflows on to the roads, to beautify which crores are being spent.

The road has turned like a pool of sewage, inviting the outbreak of diseases like malaria, cholera etc. But the repeated representations by the people, facing the problem, to the municipal authorities has fallen on deaf ears.

Apart from the main road, the areas across the railway line in the city and slum areas like Dhobiana Basti are among the worst affected.

During a recent visit to Dhobiana Basti, the Tribune lensman witnessed women getting drinking water from a tap, fixed in the middle of accumulated sewage. Mosquitoes, flies and other insects, breeding at the spot, were quite visible but finding no other option, women queue up for their supply of drinking water from there.

When contacted, the Mayor of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation, Baljeet Singh Birbehman, said, "We are aware of the problem and efforts are on to solve it. A couple of days back, the Deputy Commissioner had held a meeting in this regard where all officials concerned were issued a strict warning to check the system and ensure the free flow of all channels."

Moga, March 27
The employee activists of the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation, on a call given by the Punjab and UT Employees Action Committee, carried out a protest march against the SAD-BJP government holding black flags through the main streets of the town. they also burnt the effigy of the Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, here today.

They were demanding revision of pay-scales by finalising the 5th Pay Commission report, implementation of pay commission report on contractual, part-time, daily wagers and work-charge employees, doing away with contributory pension scheme and restructuring it as per the old policy and releasing dress allowance and bonus of class-IV employees, staff nurses, drivers of the transport department, conductors, workshop workers and poor employees of other departments.

The employees also demanded a wage formulation committee for revising the wages of the employees of the state electricity board, raising the salary structure of Anganwari workers and helpers in accordance with the pay- scales of regular employees and till then, giving at least Rs 4,500 per month for Anganwari workers and Rs 3,200 per month for other workers.

The leaders of employees federation announced that they would carry out protests on April 2 at Chandigarh, on April 6 at Amritsar, on April 8 at Bathinda, and on April 9 at Patiala. They also threatened to sit on fast-unto-death.

The agitated workers alleged that the SAD-BJP government was anti-employee in its attitude and was not looking into the genuine demands of the employees.

The organising secretary of the employees federation, Gurmail Singh, zonal secretary Bhajan Singh Toor, district president Bachitter Singh, general secretary Jaskaran Singh, senior vice-president Fakir Chand, leader of the joint action committee Amrik Singh, teachers union leader Bhupinder Singh, class IV employees leader Resham Singh and others participated in the protest rally. 

Moga, March 27
The employees and teachers of the government aided schools carried out a separate protest rally against the SAD-BJP state government demanding to give pension benefits to the retirees here, today.

The employees alleged that the state government had stopped the pension of the employees, who retired after June 2003, which was an act of injustice against the employees.

They said that the state government was all against the employees of aided schools to suppress their financial benefits, which could be judged from the fact that it refused to implement the orders of the High Court that came in their favour and instead filed an appeal against the orders of the High Court in the apex court.

They also demanded to re-open the process of recruiting regular employees that had been stopped for the many years, give interim relief of five per cent, increased medical allowance and give pay commission benefits along with the government employees.

State vice-president of employees union, Chet Ram Sharma and the district secretary, Vikram Singh Rana alleged that the SAD in its election manifesto had promised to fulfill their demands but so far was not even willing to hold a dialogue.

The employees carried out a protest march in of the town and raised slogans against the state government. 

Fazilka, March 27
A meeting of the representatives of different blocks of the district Ferozepur of Co-ordination Committee Para Medical and Health Employees, Punjab, was held at the local Civil Hospital to discuss the long-standing demands of para-medics. The meeting was presided over by the multipurpose Health Workers Union, district Ferozepur unit president, Danu Ram. The meeting was also attended by the Co-ordination Committee State Chairman, Ravinder Luthra and the press secretary, Shashi Kant.

Addressing the meeting, Ravinder Luthra alleged that the Punjab government has adopted an indifferent and callous attitude towards the genuine demands of the para-medics in Punjab. Resultantly, there is strong resentment amongst thousands of para-medical employees of the health department. He alleged that the government is heading towards privatisation of health system, ignoring its basic responsibility of providing free and quality health services to the people.

The state press secretary, Shashi Kant flayed the Punjab government for not releasing the report of the pay commission by adopting dilly-delaying tactics.

He also enlisted that long-standing demands of para-medics, which include shifting of control of 1193 rural dispensaries from Zila Parishad to health department, registration of pharmacists after 10 years of service as medical practitioners, regularisation of services of the employees working on contract basis and regular disbursement of salaries to different categories of the employees.

Sachveer Singh, Ashok Sachdeva, Vijay Gupta, Vinod Nagpal, Paramjit Singh, Gurpreet Babber, Naresh Narang, Ravinder Singh Sidhu, Major Singh, Sarvan Kumar, Jagdish Sirova, Ram Kumar, Sukhjinder Singh representatives of Khui Khera, Dabwala Kalan, Jandwala Bhimeshah, Sito Guno, Jalalabad and Abohar blocks were present in the meeting. 

Abohar, March 27 
The police had to intervene after tension flared up in Abohar sub-division with farmers blocking the sewerage water channel at Killianwali road here to save their fields after incessant rain on Friday. 

Official sources said the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) had launched a de-silting campaign to clear the main sewer lines before the rainy season. 

As the blockade forced by the farmers last month was endangering some localities besides the Abohar-Hindumalkot rail track, the Board decided to release surplus sewerage water from the disposal works in the three-kilometre long channel as no other alternative was available. On the other hand, farmers lamented that the excess water was damaging their mustard and wheat crop, which are now in the ripening stage. 

The PWSSB representatives asserted that the farmers who had been getting free of cost supply of the sewerage water had given an undertaking in black and white that they would be accepting water from the channel. How the life and property of people in these localities situated on the outskirts of the disposal works can be risked, they asked? The authorities finally got the blockade removed in the evening, sources added.

Tehsildar Avtar Singh, PWSSB SDO Sita Ram Bajaj, municipal officials besides police officials rushed to the site after tension mounted due to resistance by the farmers following protest over the discharge of waste water. 

Meanwhile, another peculiar situation has emerged in the area due to ongoing resistance by the residents of Ram Nagar and adjoining areas over the dumping of carcasses. BJP councillor Ravi Makkar had pulled up the contractors yesterday as irate protesters resisted dumping and took the vehicle loaded with carcass to the municipal council office. 

The contractors were told to dump the carcasses in the open land earmarked outside the town. But today, they refused to remove the dead animals from the thickly populated areas in the old walled city.