Bathinda, April 6
“We are not concentrating on three seats alone but the SAD-BJP combine will win all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab,” stated Rajinder Bhandari, president of the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while addressing party workers on the occasion of the 30th foundation day of the party at Bhucho Mandi here today.

Bhandari said the BJP was a disciplined force and it could rise to any occasion for the welfare of the party and its alliance partner.

The SAD-BJP combine would contest the ensuing polls on the development card and the SAD would play a vital role in propagating the achievements of the government at the grassroots level, he said.

While briefing media, Bhandari lamented that the CBI had lost its credibility by giving a clean chit to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, the main accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. He said it was unfortunate that the CBI acquitted the main accused when the Prime Minister of the country was himself a Sikh.

He alleged that Tytler had participated in the Sikh massacre in 1984. People, who were waiting for justice for the last 24 years were disappointed with the CBI’s judgement, he added. Bhandari said if voted to power, “we will reopen the case”.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD president and deputy chief minister, who also attended the foundation day function, said, “We are a family and our enemy is the Congress.”

He further said the combine would leave no stone unturned to wipe out the Congress from the state.

“We are committed to develop the state,” he added.

When asked, some senior SAD leaders, like Rajbeer Singh Padiala and Inderjit Singh Zeera, joining the Congress, he said they had already been rejected by the SAD.

Among others, Kamal Sharma, general secretary of the Punjab unit of the BJP, Manjit Singh Rai, vice-president of the BJP (Punjab), Narender Mittal, president of the Bathinda BJP (urban), Dayal Sodhi, district president (rural), Sikander Singh Maluka, chief of the SAD’s district unit, and Mohit Gupta, state executive member, were also present on the occasion.

Ferozepur, April 6
The state government today suspended Sohan Lal Kashyap, a District Education Officer (Elementary) formerly posted at Ferozepur for alleged dereliction of election duty and irregularities in the mid-day meal scheme.

While talking to The Tribune, the District Magistrate of Ferozepur, Megh Raj, confirmed that the DEO has been placed under suspension but the official orders were still awaited from the Directorate of Education, he said.

When asked to give the details of the allegations, the DM said that he could not give details until the charge-sheet was formally prepared after receiving the written orders of his suspension from the government.

However, Sohan Lal Kashyap has denied all the allegations and alleged that the district administration was biased against him. “I was removed from Ferozepur on March 17 and transferred to Mansa on the recommendation of the district administration,” he said.

Regarding dereliction of election duties, the DEO said that he was called for election duty by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Fazilka at Jalalabad in the morning on March 16 at a time when he was busy with school examinations as part of the flying squad.

He said that after the examination duty, he reported to the SDM at Jalalabad the same day at 3.30 pm and performed election duties on March 17 and March 19 also.

But the administration was not convinced with his view that examination duty that was equally important.

As far as irregularities in the mid-day meal scheme are concerned, he clarified that action was taken against the NGO engaged to prepare the meal and a fine of Rs 69,000 and Rs 71,000 was imposed twice on it soon after the irregularities were detected in the mid-day meal.

It may be mentioned that rat excreta was found in the mid-day meal of ‘dalia (porridge) during a sudden checking by the DM in the elementary school at Varha Bhai Ka village on January 3, this year.

A women’s organisation ‘Istri Shakti’ was engaged to cook the meal for the students.

On the same day, in a school kitchen at Ghal Khurd village, 'dalia' and rice was stored under unhygienic condition and some of the sacks had poor quality wheat infested with dust and other foreign particles. Insects and pests in bulk were found from wheat stocks lying at the government primary school in Bhairaon Basti on March 1 this year, which exposed the students to health hazards.

The number of insects was so high that they continued to creep into the classrooms and constantly attacked small children and teachers. As a result of insect bites, as many as 50 children and three teachers had developed itching. SDM Charandev Singh Mann probed the matter and reported to the DM. The report was also sent to the government for action.

(With inputs from Anirudh Gupta in Ferozepur and Praful Chander Nagpal in Fazilka) 

Abohar, April 6
Nearly 5000 voters, who reportedly enjoyed the ‘privilege’ of exercising their franchise during Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections in Sriganganagar (Rajasthan) as well as in Ferozepur district of Punjab for the past many years may not poll vote twice, as the schedule for both the regions will be the same this time.

Votes in Ferozepur and Sriganganagar constituencies are to be polled on May 7.

As per information available, names of hundreds of residents of Abohar, Balluana and Fazilka segments also figure in the electoral rolls of Sriganganagar, 
Raisinghnagar, Sadulshehar, Anoopgarh and Srikaranpur constituencies.

Most of the dual voters or their relatives own agriculture land on both sides of the inter-state border. Legally, they are supposed to have photo I-cards and ration cards to prove their credentials in both the states.

The district authorities had reportedly verified such duplicity in Kheowali Dhaab, Khippanwali, Choohriwala Dhanna, Bazidpur, Rampura Narainpura and Seetogunno villages during the elections held in 2004 but no action was taken apparently due to political pressures.

It is widely known that the political parties had been ferrying workers to enlarge the size of election rallies on either side but this too may have to be dispensed with this time, some senior activists feel.

However, the district administration in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh has discussed measures to seal inter-state border effectively to check flow of unwanted elements and vehicles.

Meanwhile, the district authorities have started organising training camps for the election staff in Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts.

Show-cause notices were issued today to seven presiding officers by Deputy Commissioner Naveen Jain at Hanumangarh for allegedly abstaining from the first training camp.

A district official confirmed that notices have been issued to RP Singh, lecturer of Swami Keshwa Nand College Sangria, Kuldeep Singh, headmaster of Malarampur, Kailash Chander of the Government Senior Secondary School Bhadra, Mohinder Kumar junior engineer in Panchayat Samiti, revenue department employee Jagdish Singh posted at Khara, Madan Lal of Tibbi and Mange Ram of Bhadi.

Proceedings under section 134 of the People’s Representatives Act 1951 will follow if they fail to submit satisfactory reply. Initial checking of EVMs today indicated that 20 ballot and 136 control units were defective. The equipment is being rushed to Jodhpur for repairs.

On the day one of the training, eight employees were found absent in Sriganganagar and Raisinghnagar, DC Rajiv Singh Thakur said. They will face disciplinary action, he added. The employees were imparted training today in the batches of 50 each. 

Ferozepur, April 6
With the Lok Sabha polls at hand, the practice of swapping political parties by leaders of various hues and stature is continuing unabated. These leaders switch loyalties overnight ostensibly due to their own vested interests leaving their parties high and dry.

For some leaders like Gurbir Singh Sandhu, ex-chairman Market Committee, Jalalabad, who was a staunch Congressman, but switched over to SAD before last assembly polls, it has been a home coming.

Sandhu re-joined Congress in the presence of Captain Amarinder Singh during a function at Village Khurunj recently.

Similarly, more than 12 sarpanch, 4 ex-sarpanch, 31 Panch, 7 Nambardars besides some others also switched over to Congress to support Jagmeet Brar, party candidate from Ferozepur parliamentary constituency.

Apparently upset over the policies of SAD-BJP regime, these leaders were enrolled into the folds of the party during a function organised at the residence of Gurbhej Singh, sarpanch at village Bahadurwala, where Brar offered them siropas, as gratitude for joining the party.

The sarpanch, who switched over their allegiance to Congress reportedly belonged to villages Bahardurwala, Padri, Khushalsinh Wala, Rakhri, Rachiwala, Kunde, Chandiwala, Habibke, Tandiwala, Asal, Khan KeAhal, Nizamwala, Hazara, Nava Barike, Khunder Gatti, Sidhwan, Gulam Hussainwala, Bhanwala, Attari, Kutbewala, Basti Nizmdin besides other villages.

Parminder Singh Pinki, general secretary, PPCC, Vijay Sathi ex-MLA, Chander Mohan Handa, ex-MC, besides other Congress leaders were also present.

Brar claimed he was getting overwhelming response by the electorate of this border area. Parminder Singh Pinki, who played a pivotal role in getting these leaders into the Congress fold, said that Brar would win from this seat hands down.

When asked about the reason as to why these people have joined Congress, Brar said that for the last six decades, Ferozepur has been accorded step-motherly treatment due to which it has lagged behind in terms of literacy, industrialisation and infrastructural development.

The Congress candidate added that if elected to parliament from this seat, he would make concerted efforts to remove the taboo of backwardness, illiteracy and underdevelopment from this border town. 

Bathinda, April 6
“Now the chapter is closed,” said deputy chief minister and president of the SAD (B) Sukhbir Singh Badal when he was prodded whether the SAD (B) would try again to bring Jasjit Singh Bunny, son of Captain Kanwaljit Singh, back to the party. Before, he had refused to comment to talk about the issue. “We are still sure of winning the Patiala seat with a margin of at least one lakh votes,” he added.

Bunny has announced that he would contest the Lok Sabha elections from Patiala as an Independent.

Sukhbir accused the Congress leaders of misleading Bunny, adding that a befitting reply would be given to them soon.

On a question related to Raninder Singh, the Congress candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, whose campaign has reportedly stepped up with several SAD workers joining the Congress, he said, “The Congress has been inducting lower level functionaries but we have felled their renowned pillars in this constituency.” — TNS

Bathinda, April 6
Rains accompanied by high velocity winds that lashed many parts of the state this morning destroyed the standing wheat crop at many places. The rain also dashed the hopes of farmers, who after fighting the menace of sap-sucking aphid and yellow rust, were preparing to harvest their wheat crops.

While the fields in the vicinity of habitations were saved from loss, the showers caused a massive damage to the ripened crop in the fields along highways and link roads.

Farmers of Maur Chart Singh, Maur Khurd, Maur Kalan, Kuttiwal, Ghuman Khurd and Ghuman Kalan villages, who had brought their produce for selling in the mandis, were the worst affected. Reports of damage to standing wheat crop had also been received from Jeeda, Goniana, Nathana and Bhucho.

“The rain has proved unfortunate to us as our wheat crop was ripe for the past few days. Besides losing yield in quintals per acre, the crop will also lose its shine and farmers would not be able to fetch a good price for their crop,” said Jasbir Singh, a farmer from Kuttiwal.

Apprehending that the recurrence of rain had caused an extensive damage to mature crops of wheat and mustard, Gurbachan Singh, another farmer of Ghuman Khurd village, regretted that the government would not come to the rescue of affected farmers for fear of the Election Commission (EC).

“The government should understand that the damage has been caused due to a natural calamity and conducting ‘girdawari’ is a normal process to assess the loss. We will also appeal the EC to enable farmers to receive compensation for losses they have actually suffered,” said Shingara Singh Mann, district president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU-Ugrahan).

The agriculture department officials, however, did not reveal any details about the damage.

“I have visited some villages where 8 mm rainfall was witnessed today. Accurate figures would come out in a day or two,” said chief agriculture officer Paramjit Singh Sandhu. He added, “The situation is under control and we are in touch with the farmers.”

Bathinda, April 6
Six persons, including the driver and conductor of the bus, sustained injuries in a head-on collision between an air-conditioned deluxe bus of the state transport and an oil tanker on the Dabwali-Bathinda road near Sangat Mandi this morning.

According to information available, the bus (PB11AL 1402) belonging to the Patiala depot of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) was en route from Dabwali to Bathinda when at around 5.30 am, an oil tanker (GJ12W 7759) rammed into it.

The impact was so powerful that the front side of both the vehicles got damaged and the legs and arms of the bus driver, Sarabjeet Singh of Samana, were fractured. Conductor Gurdeep Singh, who was sitting beside him, sustained injuries along with the passengers.

Sources said the accident occurred due to poor visibility as an uprooted tree was lying in the middle of the road.

Passengers said the bus was running at high speed and when it reached the tree, the driver manoeuvered a sharp turn which the truck driver could not judge and hit the bus.

Just after the accident, the truck driver managed to flee.

On receiving information, volunteers of the Sahara Jan Seva rushed to the spot and took all the injured to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda.

When contacted, the SHO, Sangat police station, said, “We have registered a case against the oil tanker’s driver under sections 279, 337, 338 and 427 of the IPC. The accused is still at large.”

Bathinda, April 6
While on the one hand, people complain about contaminated underground water in this region terming it a major cause of cancer and on the other, they do not bother about the pollution of canals and their distributaries.

Instead of checking the menace, the officials concerned are blaming each other and citing political pressure as an excuse while taking action against those who are at fault.

Earlier, The Tribune had published news items regarding pollution of Sirhind canal branch, flowing through the city, but no action has been initiated till date to solve the problem.

During a recent visit to Talwandi Sabo, the TNS team noticed people washing their trucks and trolleys in Kotla branch canal distributary at Bhagi Wandar village. Besides, cattle were also being bathed in the distributary. It is pertinent to mention here that such water is not only being used for agricultural purposes but also supplied for drinking purposes in many villages.

“It is not only us who do this. Everybody residing in the surrounding areas, regularly come here and do this. Nobody has ever stopped us from doing so,” said Kartar Singh, while washing a canter there even as some villagers, standing nearby, expressed their resentment over it.

Jaskaran Singh, panchayat member of village Bhagi Wandar said, “We have got tired as nobody pays attention to us. Moreover, if we ask people to refrain from such acts, they retaliate aggressively.”

“Not only cattle and vehicles but clothes and utensils are also washed on the banks of this distributary. The administration should intervene as nobody is bothered despite our repeated requests,” said Gupiar Singh, another villager.

When contacted, executive engineer of the pollution department, G.S. Majithia said, “Canals and distributaries are the property of the irrigation department. It is their duty to check the menace and then lodge a complaint with us. Then only can we chalk out further course of action.”

On his part, executive engineer, Irrigation Department, Bathinda, Harlabh Singh Chahal, said, “Whenever we go out to check the menace, people start pressurising us citing the name of political bigwigs. Due to all this, we have to return empty-handed.”

Bathinda, April 6
The Army authorities today alleged that the local civil administration was dilly-dallying in the process of registration of voters.

Sources in the Army stated that the voter I-cards of the Army personnel were of the place they hailed from. They used to send their votes before the actual polling day and they were counted along with other votes. This was called the postal ballot.

“The postal ballot package used to get misplaced and it did not matter much to anyone. To avoid this, we decided to get ourselves registered at the place where we are posted. This would enable us to cast our vote on the polling day itself just like any civilian voter. Till now, we have sent two lots of registration forms. One lot had 5,875 forms, out of which, hearing of 3,176 persons have been done by the election returning officers, rest are still waiting as the EROs had asked for additional forms to be deposited only after April 6 and April 7 is a holiday. Around 6,200 more applicants are waiting,” a senior Army officer said.

“The elections are on May 7 and the nomination process starts from April 11. The forms have to be deposited and hearing of those in service has to be done before April 11. The EROs say that they cannot conduct hearing of more than 500 people a day. Then how will the pending forms get registered?” a serving officer asked.

The Army sources said the process of registration was kept pending because the administration said registration would be done only if parties were allowed to do canvassing in the cantonment. Permission was sought from Army authorities concerned and a certificate to allow canvassing was submitted by the Army on March 12.

Thereafter, the process was delayed as the administration said they need to ask the electoral office in Delhi for the registration process. This has taken more than 20 days now, the sources added.

ADC (D) C. Sibin, when contacted, said, “Till now I have received 4,800 forms from the Army. I am doing verification daily and it will be over by today. I have scrutinised all the forms. I cannot conduct hearing of more than 500 people per day. Out of 4,800, only 3,000 people have come personally before me and I cannot register those who have not come.”

Meanwhile, the Army said all those who were sent for leave, temporary duty and exercise have been called. “No eligible service personnel should be denied his right to exercise franchise,” an Army officer said.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, April 6
Major General A.K. Bakshi, GOC of Amogh Division, dedicated the recently renovated war memorial near BoP Naggi in Srikaranpur sector to the nation amidst intermittent showers today.

Speaking on the occasion, he said remembering war heroes is a solemn exercise and the youth of the region have been inspired by this and have sacrificed their lives for the nation from time to time.

For the people of Naggi and surrounding areas in this border belt, the memorial will emerge as a place of worship too, since they had taken a lot of pain to develop it. The Army will celebrate Vijay Diwas here every year, he announced. General Bakshi expressed gratitude to the former district collector Bhawani Singh Detha, who had contributed Rs 12 lakh for renovation of the war memorial. He paid tributes to 19 brave soldiers who had laid down their lives during the 1971 war.

Former commandant, Satish Kumar Sharma, who had led the regiment in 1971 war recalled that the Pakistan Army had captured Naggi fraudulently after cease-fire during the intervening night of December 24-25.

The Indian Army then deployed 9 Parafield and 18 Tank Regiment to free it. “We lost 19 jawans in the battle but succeeded in killing one enemy besides arresting two and recovered incriminating document from them,” he informed.

Senior officers including Brigadier D.S. Chahal and BSF commandant C.R. Chauhan were joined by members of the AWWA in offering floral tributes to the war heroes at the memorial amidst display of tunes by the band.

Eyewitnesses, while narrating the sequence of events said that people of this area had taken up the responsibility of supplying fresh food to the jawans inside the bunkers during the 1971 war.

Commandant S.K. Bansal said initially they were told that 10 enemies had occupied the Naggi post but patrolling revealed that they were 15. The post is located just 300 metres away from the international border. “Pakistan armymen kept visiting the captured area. We acquired help from 4 Paraforce and 19 jawans of the Parafield had to sacrifice their lives to get our land back,” he informed.

The villagers raised the memorial on the temple land and helped in getting it renovated. A metalled road has also been constructed to link Naggi with the war memorial. 

Chhat (Banur), April 6
Despite five years in the making, Punjab is yet to establish the Road Safety Council. There is no road safety fund at the disposal of field officers. There are no trained pharmacists to man ambulances as well as highway patrol vehicles.

There is practically no technical investigation of road accidents because it is difficult to train men and officers who do not want to be saddled in the traffic wing. Moreover, offences do not get compounded, ensuring around 20,000 people visit courts everyday to attend challan-related hearings.

Unfortunately, road safety continues to remain a low priority sector with bureaucratic inertia as well as lack of political will ensuring nothing really gets done in this regard.

Take for example the concept of high-way patrol vehicles, 64 of which are functioning in the state. Though these vehicles can be called to accident sites through the Airtel free line (11111), retrieving the injured from vehicles and providing them prompt medical aid becomes difficult in the absence of trained pharmacists.

Though a proposal to provide pharmacists for all patrol vehicles and 80 ambulances running in the state was moved around four years back, they are still be put in place despite assurances. The Health Department recently "assured" that it will recruit the needed pharmacists.

Similarly, there is complete lack of cooperation between different departments. Though even the then Chief Minister agreed to be Chairman of the Council in December 2005, it has still not taken off. Official sources say a high-level committee is in place to finalise this.

There is also no road safety fund at the disposal of district-level officers, while other states have earmarked money for the same. Former IG, Traffic, and now IG, SK Sharma, says in Tamil Nadu there is a levy on petrol which ensures a collection of around Rs 40 crore, while in Andhra Pradesh each district gets around Rs 1 crore annually for this purpose.

Responsibility for accidents is rarely fixed and there is no audit. For instance, in case engineers give a faulty design happened in the case of the Phagwara bypass, there is no system to haul them up. The PWD is yet to identify traffic bottlenecks and devise ways and means to regulate traffic on such spots.