Chandigarh, April 6
Former Akali stalwart Capt Kanwaljit Singh’s son Jasjit Singh Bunny may have bid adieu to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), but the party is still keeping its doors open for him in a bid to limit the damage he is likely to inflict in the Patiala and Anandpur Sahib parliamentary constituencies in the forthcoming elections.

The SAD has simultaneously also decided to also lay claim to the legacy of Capt Kanwaljit so that Bunny does not benefit from any sympathy on account of the late leader’s tragic demise. The party has decided to play up Kanwaljit’s legacy in the coming days as well as point out that it was “pained” that the late leader’s family was allowing “enemies” (read Congress) to exploit the legacy.

The party’s inbuilt mechanism of distancing itself from leaders who oppose the party line has already started with senior leaders in the party, who were otherwise on good terms with the family, keeping away from Bunny. The SAD is also no longer making efforts to persuade Bunny to change his mind. However, for the record, it is saying it would like Bunny back. The Chief Minister’s media advisor Harcharan Bains put it like this: “He is our child even though we don’t agree with his decision. Our doors are open for him and he can walk in any time he changes his mind”.

Meanwhile, sources in Bunny’s family said resentment in the family against the Badals had been brewing for quite some time due to the alleged steady marginalisation of Capt Kanwaljit in the party. They said this, along with the ill-timed remark of Deputy CM on Bunny’s future, was responsible for his actions.

Besides this, the sources said Bunny’s family did not have much faith in the promises made by the Chief Minister. Those closest to him wanted the CM to make an announcement on inducting him into the ministry or even doing so immediately which did not happen. Even “fire-fighter” Dr Daljit Singh Cheema who was sent by the CM to talk to Bunny was treated as a lightweight and Bunny refused to even parley with him.

Bunny’s friends and advisers are, however, telling him not to contest the Patiala parliamentary elections. He is being told that the sympathy card should not be played twice and that he should contest the Banur bypoll to get elected to the assembly. Bunny is still to disclose his strategy, but did hold an informal meeting with a few close aides today.

The SAD on its part is likely to play up Kanwaljit’s role in the SAD in its election campaign in both Patiala and Anandpur Sahib and urge workers to strengthen the party rather than helping the Congress by turning to Bunny due to sympathy reasons alone. 

Amritsar, April 6
The Sessions Court here today framed charges against 19 Dal Khalsa leaders, including president Harcharanjit Singh Dhami and Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, who had spent 14 years in a jail in Pakistan for hijacking Indian Airlines plane under for various offences, including sedition, hoisting "Sarkar-e-Khalsa Flag” to mark the 55th Republic Day, 50 months ago, here.

They were accused of unfurling “saffron flag”, similar to the one hoisted by Maharaja Ranjit Singh at the Lahore Fort, overlooking the Tricolour on the country’s 55th Republic Day. The activists had also fired into the air and saluted the “saffron flag” with naked swords on the Republic Day.

The case No. 10 at Islamabad police station was registered against 35 persons for the incident. Kanwarpal Singh said while 10 top leaders were named, the FIR mentioned 25 "unidentified" persons. The name of “Khalistani” ideologue Jagjit Singh Chauhan was also mentioned in the case, but he died on April 4, 2007.

The Additional District Sessions Judge today framed charges against 19 activists under Sections 153-B, 124-A, and 336, IPC, and 27, 54 and 59, Arms Act. All accused were present in the court when framing of charges was announced. All accused are on bail in the case. Sarbjit Singh Ghuman, in detention in another case, was also brought for hearing from Nabha jail. The next date of hearing in the case has been fixed for July 27.

After the framingof sedition charges, the Dal Khalsa held an emergency meeting and decided to challenge the decision of the Sessions Court in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Charges have been framed against HS Dhami, Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, Kanwarpal Singh, Sarabjit Singh Ghuman, Balraj Singh Bhalaipur, Dr Manjinder Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Arpal Singh, Baldev Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Arjan Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Giani Amrik Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Sarwan Singh and Avtar Singh.

Bathinda, April 6
Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Badal parried queries on the announcement of Jasjit Singh Bunny, son of late minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh, to contest from Patiala as an Independent, saying “no comment”. “The issue is so sensitive that if I say anything, I fear being misquoted.”

He diverted the talk to development front, saying, “Despite all, we are still sure of winning the Patiala seat with a margin of at least one lakh votes.”

When asked whether the SAD would again try to get Bunny back, he said: “Now, the chapter is closed.”

Accusing the Congress of misleading Bunny, Sukhbir said: “The Congress and its agents had scripted such a shameful politics with the sentiments of the son of our departed leader, who just a few hours prior to his death had stated that the person who leaves the party just ends himself. Congress leaders are now trying to create disturbances in the SAD, but a befitting reply will be given to them soon”.

Replying to another query on Bunny’s revolt, Sukhbir said: “What do you want, should I start crying on the stage?”

In an attempt to avoid the question, he raised the topic of Inderjit Singh Zira and other loyalists of the Tohra group, who had switched loyalties to the Congress.

He asserted: “All those leaving the party will never be taken back.”

“It is just the ‘B’ team of the Congress, whom we had never accepted, who are now creating the drama of joining the Congress.”

Earlier, urging the gathering to cast votes in favour of his wife Harsimrat Kaur, Sukhbir diplomatically said: “We have worked for the development of the area and I hope you will never want to stop the progress by voting in favour of the Opposition.”

Jalandhar, April 6
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has conveyed to party MLAs in Punjab that their names for the next Assembly elections will be considered only if their performance remains to his satisfaction during the on-going Lok Sabha (LS) elections in the state.

Party sources said in case the Congress LS candidate failed to gain lead in any Vidhan Sabha segment currently represented by the party MLA, his or her name would not be considered for the next assembly elections. In the Vidhan Sabha segments where party has no MLA, work done by other activists for the party’s LS candidates would be given adequate weightage at the time of selecting nominees for the next assembly elections. The party has put a system in place to keep a track of the work being done by various upcoming and other leaders for party candidates.

A senior Congress party leader said Rahul was keeping a close watch. His private secretaries contact party candidates on daily basis to gather reports regarding campaigning and problems, if any, faced by them in this regard. Rahul has told senior party leaders that they should not play any mischief in the constituencies where young Congress candidates such as Ravneet Singh Bittu, Sukhwinder Singh Danny and Vijey Inder Singla had been put up.

Rahul was taking so much interest that first Ambika Soni held a meeting with all senior Congress leaders of the Anandpur Sahib LS constituency asking them to work wholeheartedly for Bittu. Then Capt Amarinder Singh, Chairman, Campaign Committee, convened a meeting of all senior leaders of the party from that constituency. Similar meetings were also held with senior leaders of the constituencies from where Danny and Singla were contesting. Rahul himself held a meeting with them to tell them that Bittu and other young Congress nominees are his personal choice.

Rahul told senior leaders that party cadre had shrunk at the grassroot level because senior leaders had stopped meeting people and were confining to drawingroom politics. As they were certain of re-nomination in every election, they were making no effort to strengthen the party at the ground level.

Ludhiana, April 6
Vote for only those candidates and parties that champion environmental issues and have a policy on how to save water and your surroundings. This was stated by Baba Seechewal, who was in Ludhiana today as part of his “Vatvaran Chetna March”.

Talking to The Tribune, Baba Seechewal said: “Natural resources like water are deteriorating with every passing day and no politician has ever highlighted the issue. We had sent a memorandum on environmental issues to all parties, urging them to take environment as their poll plank”. However, he rued, the candidates were not picking up real issues which had an impact on people at the grass-roots level. 

Baba said his dera was neutral and would not support or join any political party. He outrightly rejected the proposal of fighting elections with environment as poll plank. The march was started on April 1 and its first phase would conclude tomorrow.

Chandigarh, April 6
Farmers in the state have suffered a double blow at the beginning of the procurement season with firstly the weather gods playing truant and now the Election Commission (EC) restricting the Punjab Food and Supply Minister from going to the mandis.

Sources said the EC has issued specific instructions restraining Adesh Partap Singh from make any official trip to sites of procurement.

The Punjab government had told the EC that Kairon’s visit to mandis was essential to ensure a smooth procurement. But, the EC has said the work can be overseen by other officials of the department. Bad weather has delayed wheat arrivals and there has been practically very little arrivals since the procurement started on April 1.

According to figures available with the government, the first day of procurement saw only 42 tonne of wheat procured by PUNSUP. On the second day, the figures went up to 741 tonne with Agro Industries being the main procurement agency having procured 148 tonne of wheat. PUNSUP (Civil Supplies Corporation) was the next with the procurement of 124 tonne of wheat, while private traders procured 303 tonnes of grain. The situation on the subsequent days has been no different.

Punjab government officials say the state can order a special girdawrai and even offer compensation for loss of crop as the damage to wheat has been caused by rain, wind and hail (natural calamity). But, the compensation has to be based on previous rates. It would still have to take permission from the EC, which is not that easy to get.

Earlier, the EC had even asked the government to stop agricultural subsidies and distribution of educational material under the EDUSAT programme.

Chandigarh, April 6
In the backdrop of two important upcoming research projects about migration from Punjab, a workshop on “Transnationalisation, Migration and Transformations: Migrations from Punjab to UK”, was organised by the Trivandrum-based Centre for Development Studies (CDS) in collaboration with Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) here today.

The research projects include “Transnationalisation, Migration and Transformation: Multi-Level Analysis of Migrant Transnationalism” (TRANS-NET), funded by the European Commission and conducted by the CDS. It specifically looks at migration and the resultant transnational space created between Punjab and the UK.

The project will investigate how migrants’ activities across national borders emerge, function and change, and how are they related to the processes of governance in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It will closely investigate the structural factors related to transnational migrations and their implications on the everyday life of the people in Punjab.

The second project is aimed at conducting a migration survey in Punjab by CRRID. It will cover 10,000 households in the state and estimate the quantum of migration from the state, patterns and trends of migration, quantum of remittances coming into the state and its multiple implication on economic and social life of the state.

Director, Population Research Centre, CRRID, Prof Aswini Kumar Nanda, made a presentation on the dynamics of migration from Punjab and the proposed Punjab Migration Survey. He presented an overview of the contemporary migration issues pertaining to Punjab and detailed the manner in which the forthcoming Punjab migration survey, which would have three modules related to households, return migrants and gender issues.

Prof S Irudaya Rajan, Chair Professor, Research Unit on International Migration, CDS, spoke on the TRANS-NET project. He said the major objective of the study was to understand the different forms of transnational exchanges between Punjab and the UK through migrants and transnational citizens. 

Patiala, April 6
The Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR), Punjab, has held that there were serious lapses on part of authorities of the Rajindra Hospital and the head of the pediatric department in the fire incident which broke out in the nursery of the hospital on the intervening night of January 30 and 31. Six newly born infants had become victims of the tragedy. Five children had died on the spot and another one died in the PGI, Chandigarh.

The report of the five-member fact-finding committee of the association said though a doctor, nurse and attendant were on duty, no one was present in the nursery at the time of the fire and on seeing smoke in the nursery, the attendant raised an alarm. Parents present there were able to bring out five children alive out of 10.

The fact-finding committee report has found that the immediate reason of fire was excessive load on the electric wiring and the leads connecting the phototherapy unit with the main plug. 

Ferozepur, April 6
The state government today suspended Sohan Lal Kashyap, District Education Officer (Elementary), Mansa, who was earlier posted at Ferozepur, for alleged dereliction in election duty and irregularities in mid-day meal.

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

The DM said he could not give details of the case until a charge sheet was formally prepared against the officer after receiving the written orders of his suspension from the government.

Meanwhile, Kashyap denied all allegations. He 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 in election duty, the DEO said he was called on election duty by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Fazilka at Jalalabad in the morning on March 16 at a time when he was on duty with the flying squad inspecting school examinations.

After the examination duty, he reported to the SDM at Jalalabad on the same day at 3.30 pm and discharged election duties on March 17 and 19.

As far as irregularities in the mid-day meal were concerned, he clarified that an action was taken against the NGO engaged for preparing the meal and fines of Rs 69,000 and Rs 71,000 were imposed on it soon after the irregularities were detected in the mid-day meal.

Earlier, rat excreta was found in the mid-day meal ‘dalia’ during a checking by the DM in the elementary school at Varha Bhai Ka village on January 3. A woman organisation ‘Istri Shakti’ was engaged to cook the meal for students.

On the same day, in a school kitchen at Ghal Khurd village, ‘dalia’ and rice was stored under unhygienic condition. Insects and pests were found in the wheat stocks lying at the government primary school Bhairaon Basti on March 1.

Chhat (Banur), April 6
Ex-servicemen, serving Armymen and colleagues of late Capt Kanwaljit Singh attended his bhog yesterday. Remembering the late minister as a charismatic and brave Captain of Sikh Regiment, every defence personnel had a story to narrate about the Captain. Major-Gen CS Panag (retd), former colleague of Capt Kanwaljit Singh, said in 1966 Panag and Capt Kanwaljit Singh were deployed in Nagaland.

“We were captured by the Nagas. I immediately sent a wireless message to Captain seeking help. In less than an hour, Capt Kanwaljit Singh was there with his contingent. All of us in the team owe our lives to him,” he said. The entire group was saved due to Captain’s quick planning and action.

Other Armymen remembered Capt Kanwaljit Singh as a man who left the force, but did not shed his respect for the uniform. Any defence personnel visiting the Captain’s place, after he had become a minister in Punjab, was received with respect and command.

Amritsar, April 6
Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh will lead a dharna in front of Sonia Gandhi, President, Indian National Congress, tomorrow in protest against the allotment of Lok Sabha tickets to Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar.

The members of the “Mini Parliament of the Sikhs” will also protest against giving a clean chit to these Congress leaders by the CBI, absolving them of the charges regarding their involvement in the anti-Sikh riots in November 1984. This is for the first time that SGPC president will himself stage a dharna in front of the residence of any political leader.

Talking to The Tribune from New Delhi, SGPC president said he had invited all members of the SGPC, including the opposition, to stage the dharna. “Our demand is to hang Tytler and Sajjan Kumar due to their involvement in anti-Sikh riots,” he said.

The SGPC president said the SGPC would also submit letters to the Chief Justice of India, president, National Human Rights Commission, President and Prime Minister of India for demanding justice to the victims of Delhi riots. He said if Tytler and Sajjan were not involved, it was the duty of the government of India to inform the Sikh community who had engineered massacre.

Meanwhile, the SGPC president met Deepti Vilas, Joint Secretary, Government of India, to ensure safety to Sikh pilgrims who are proposed to visit Pakistan’s Sikh shrines to celebrate Baisakhi. He said he had also met senior officials of Pakistan High Commission who assured him that the government of Pakistan would provide adequate security umbrella to the Sikh pilgrims. 

Ludhiana, April 6
Wheat worth thousands of crores that go waste every year could be put to productive use by a simple value addition. However, for the past three decades, the successive state governments have failed to act on proposals and recommendations of scientists and farmers to set up special plants where in various products could be extracted from wheat to be sold for handsome prices in the market.

Dr APS Maan, former dean of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), told The Tribune that such plants, where wheat grain (damaged or partially rotten) could be recycled, were operational in the US. “Fungus-affected wheat grain may not be fit for human consumption but we can get animal feed out of that. Alcohol production was another viable option. Besides, bio-fuel and bio-alcohol could be get through the recycling of wheat grains at integrated projects. These practices are common in countries like the US,” said Dr Maan.

President of the Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal) Balbir Singh Rajewal said instead of dumping wheat into godowns, the government must make best-possible use of it. Through sophisticated machines, vitamin E could be extracted from surplus wheat. Not only industrial alcohol or bio-fuel, the outer portion of the grain could be used for producing dry distilled grain (DDG), used in cancer prevention. He said about three decades ago, farmers and scientists had submitted a proposal to the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) about these measures.

“But, the corporation did not even acknowledge the receipt of the proposal what to speak of acting on it,” rued Rajewal, adding that the PSIDC did not find the project viable as it thought it would incur huge expenses to the tune of Rs 800 crore at that time.

Scientists have warned that the wheat production will decrease in the coming years due to low prices of the produce. The storage of wheat in a proper manner is a must, they stressed.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 6
The Punjab government has directed the police to provide extra security to Varun Gandhi during his visit to the state.

Cops have started contacting BJP leaders to know Varun’s visits to make arrangements accordingly.

Sources said the ADGP (Intelligence) had directed all SSPs in the state to provide extra security to the BJP candidate for Pilibhit Varun Gandhi during his visits to areas under their jurisdiction.

Referring to inputs about terrorist threat to Varun, the authorities felt he might be attacked when visiting the border state.

Now detained in a jail in UP under the National Security Act, cops in the area have started enquiring about Varun’s visits from BJP leaders of their areas.

The sources added that the police in this part of Muslim- dominated Malwa had been directed to be extra vigilant. Certain radical Sikh leaders are from nearby villages in Ludhiana and Sangrur districts. The area had remained in the news for protests against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh also.

Chandigarh, 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 highway 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 like PWD, pollution board, education, health, medical education and research, police and various engineering wings. 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.