Jalandhar, April 16
Come elections and the season turns ripe for the ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Rams’, the turncoat politicians, who think it wise to switch over to the side which would help them most in reaping the dividends of their brilliantly disloyal conducts. Jalandhar is no exception to this phenomenon for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

A number of local leaders, including four sitting councilors, have already changed sides in the recent past, whereas several others are reportedly ready to do so in the next few days.

The question, as to why are elections the most perfect times for them to switch loyalties, hangs in the minds of the tired janta. Is opportunism and not loyalty or principles, the only driving force for these guys? Anyhow, while SAD councillor from ward number 55, Arun Arora along with her husband Manoj Arora, independent councillor from ward number one Paramjit Kaur Jassal and her husband Des Raj Jassal, independent councillor from ward number eight Nirmal Singh Nimma joined Congress during the past few weeks, independent councillor from ward number 35 Joginder Singh Tony hopped into the BJP on April 13.

Interestingly, the five councilors - including SAD councillors Aruna and her husband Manoj Arora and independent councilors Nirmal Singh Nimma, Paramjit Kaur and her husband Des Raj Jassal, were already in the Congress till the previous municipal corporation (MC) elections.

They preferred to leave the Congress either to join its opponent party SAD or contest independently as rebel candidates against its candidates in the MC elections in 2007 as they had been denied tickets.

Manoj Arora joined the SAD and succeeded in getting a ticket for his wife Aruna from ward 55, whereas Nimma and Des Raj Jassal’s wife Paramjit Kaur contested as independent candidates from ward number one and eight, respectively, after revolting against their parties, reportedly at the behest of their political leaders.

However, all of them changed their loyalties within one-and-a-half-year and rejoined their parent party.

Similarly, three times independent councillor Tony started his political career with the Congress. He was nominated as Jalandhar district general secretary of the Youth Congress in 1983.

After his first election as councillor in 1992, he also unsuccessfully contested the assembly elections from the Jalandhar central seat on union minister Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 1997.

Tony supported independent candidate from the Jalandhar central seat, Sheetal Vij, during the previous assembly election in 1997 but has now joined the BJP.

While he won the MC elections by defeating his nearest rival, then district BJP president Subash Sood (by nearly 500 votes), Congress candidate and chairman of St Soldier Education Institutes Anil Chopra (332 votes) with a margin of 3,200 votes in 1997. Both his rivals - Sood and Anil Chopra - could not even save their deposits.

Similarly, he emerged victorious in the 2002 MC elections with a margin of 1,600 votes by defeating his opponents Krishan Lal Ghai (BJP) and Joginder Pal Bawa (Congress).

Interestingly, Tony won the previous MC elections in 2007 with a margin of 775 by defeating BJP candidate Gurbax Mintoo, reportedly close to Kalia, and Congress candidate (now late) Sumir Kumar Billa.

Similarly, SAD leader and MD Jalandhar central co-operative bank Anil Dutta and a former SAD minister late Bapu Sarup Singh’s son and a former state SAD working committee member Pritpal Singh Pali joined the Congress in the recent past. Dutta was in Congress but left it during the previous assembly elections in 1997 as he had been denied a ticket. Meanwhile, a former BJP councillor Manmohan Singh also joined the Congress recently.

Interestingly, all of them claimed that they were feeling suffocated in their previous parties, that was why they were joining new parties as the ideology of the new party was much better than that of their previous party.

Jalandhar, April 16
To further streamline the counting process, the administration will set up three more counting centers so that the counting of all the assembly segments is held in the city itself.

Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Ajit Singh Pannu today revealed that there would be nine counting centers as three more would be added to the existing six centers.

The new centers will be for the voters of the Phillaur, Nakodar and Lohian sub-divisions. This is being done on the instructions of the State Election Commission.

The new centers would be set up at a primary school at Ladowali Road, Hans Raj Badminton Stadium and office of director, land records. He revealed that the central election observers would arrive in the constituency on April 24 and would remain in the constituency till the completion of the whole counting process.

A media center has been set up at the administrative complex to facilitate the media for the coverage of the whole election process. All communication facilities would be provided to scribes, he added.

It is time to revamp our thinking regarding the Lok Sabha elections. India being the biggest democratic country of the world enjoys the honour of having the greatest numbers of voters who have the power to enthrone and dethrone the leaders with the use of their votes. That is the reason the political leaders allure and bamboozle the people with fair or foul means. It is really disgusting that even after ushering in the 21st century our leaders do not hesitate in begging votes in the name of caste, religion and language. National interest is always sidelined and trivial policies of individual or regional interest are promoted to gratify a selected few.

Political leaders seem to have forgotten all sense of decorum and decency while delivering a speech. Narinder Modi’s controversial statement of labelling Congress first as “budhia” and then as “gudiya” may have brought him in the limelight, but it mars the grace of a senior political leader who is supposed to use his tongue in a reasonable and restrained manner. Varun Gandhi, too, ignited the spark by speaking against a particular community and suffered the wrath of the Mayawati government which declared him a “threat” to law and order in Uttar Pradesh, thereby applying the NSA against him. However, this plea has not satisfied the Supreme Court and it has shown its resentment for this unwarranted action. The leaders criticising Varun Gandhi cannot deny the fact that there are candidates who are having a criminal background and in spite of their ill-record they manage to win the elections and become our “esteemed leaders”.

Every political party is busy in making alliances with those who have muscle power instead of moral power in their constituencies. Number game has become important. Now corruption is no longer a disqualification but an embellishment. It is high time to awake, arise and shoo out all that is negative and filthy. The remedy lies in the hands of the enlightened voter who can outrightly reject the candidates having a criminal record. Educated voters must exercise their right to vote with a feeling of responsibility. The fear of rejection by voters might dampen the spirits of those who take their political legacies for granted. Therefore, think before you choose.

Jalandhar, April 16
Leaders of various political parties that came to power in the Centre thought more of retaining the “chair” than the welfare of common man who elected them.

Moreover, their main objective was to earn huge money than spend it on different development works in their respective constituencies in the past over 61 years, said Surjit Singh, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat.

Giving reference of black money of different politician and bureaucrats in Swish banks, Surjit Singh claimed that if brought back to country, each village of the country could get Rs 12.5 crore. This money could not only change the economical standard of the each village but also generate job avenues (directly of indirectly) for the unemployed youth, he claimed.

Lambasting the parties that formed governments in New Delhi from time to time have given added to poverty and unemployment, besides deteriorating the law and order situation in the country.

He claimed that the BSP, if came to power in the Center under the leadership of Mayawati, would expose the leaders and bureaucrat having huge money in their Swish bank accounts besides bringing back the money.

Rattan Chaddha, a leading contractor and Congress supporter from Nurmehal, along with his over a dozen men joined the BSP. Besides party leaders and workers, Harmesh Singh Bhar Singh Puri, general secretary of the BSP, Punjab, were present on the occasion.

Jalandhar, April 16
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Mohinder Singh Kaypee attended a function organised by the District Bar Association (DBA) at its office here yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, Kaypee, Congress candidates from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, said he felt proud to be a member of the DBA and the lawyers also supported him.

A former Improvement Trust chairman, Tejinder Singh Bittu, Punjab and Haryana Bar Council member Navtej Singh Toor, DBA president Balwinderjeet Singh Lucky, its former chief G.K. Agnihotri, Chaudhary Manjinder Singh, Darbara Singh Dhillon, Harkuldeep Singh Bhatia, Ranjit Singh Bhogal and Narinder Singh also spoke.

Jalandhar, April 16
The MBA students from Lovely Professional University were today apprised of the various challenges during recession periods that they would be expected to handle as future HR managers.

The students were face-to-face with the top HR managers from the corporate world during a seminar organised by LPU and the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The CEO of Shreyans Paper Mills Ltd, Ludhiana, Anil Kumar, explained the qualities of a good team leader as he drew similarity between the five fingers of hand and a team during his keynote address.

“Imagine the thumb to be a leader and the fingers to be his team members. The thumb is more flexible than the fingers, a quality that the team leader is also bound to have. The thumb can communicate with all the fingers just as a leader is supposed to do with its team members,” he explained.

“Just as fingers can do various jobs, a good team leader should have the ability to engage its members in multi-tasking so that at the time of crisis or meltdown, the same set of people are trained enough do different jobs. There could be some team members who would always be pointing out shortcomings in others just as the pointer finger does but the thumb has to put it under control,” he made everyone laugh.

He concluded saying, “The thumb alone cannot shine without its team. But if it has a team along with it surely can raise the ‘Thumbs Up sign’ to others.”

The chairperson of the Punjab chapter of the National Institute of Personnel Management, S.R. Saini, delivered a talk on ‘Organisational redesign as an outcome of recession’.

He said one of the most convenient ways to cut down on costs was downsizing. “The only criteria to be chosen for the purpose should be the individual’s performance”, he stressed.

He emphasised that during such periods, the HR manager must play a pro-active role to retain its performers. “High levels of anxiety and tension is common even with the performers during such times. They need to be counselled, told about the health of the company and offered small rewards while their spirit of belongingness is evoked,” he suggested.

Vinay Kumar Nijhawan, Director, Training and Operations, Purple Leap, Bangalore, discussed issues related to ‘Effect of recession on recruitment and training’. He said during such periods ‘de-globalisation’ takes over globalisation. “Each company would prefer to retain staff only from within the country laying off all those from other nations”, he explained.

Even in recruitment, the Just in Time (JIT) strategy is followed. Explaining he said, “During regular period, the companies are seen flocking at college campuses offering recruitments even to third year students. Over-hiring is common and expectation levels are lower. But during recession days, the JIT strategy is followed in which the students are taken only in the fag end of their last year. Just the right fit students are taken who can be deployed without spending anything on training. No consultancy agencies are hired. Instead recruitment is taken on the basis of referral network or through social networking sites keeping hiring costs to the minimum.”

Jalandhar, April 16
The ongoing wheat-harvesting season is the one of the major reasons why political parties have not planned any major events or rallies in the state in the coming days.

Candidates admit that the farmers are busy and the harvesting season would have started earlier but for the inclement weather. As it is, a major percentage of the farming community began harvesting on the occasion of Baisakhi that was celebrated with traditional gaiety in Punjab the day before yesterday.

Farmers in the Doaba belt whose crops were lodged by torrential rain and winds last week, have heaved a sigh of relief as the weather has cleared up and harvesting has begun in earnest.

Those on the campaign trail admit that they have to stagger their timings and reach the villages early so that they meet the voters. The farmers get free late at night when it is not possible to meet them. “We are now concentrating on the women voters and canvassing in the cities and other semi-urban areas during the day,” they pointed out. On the other hand, farmers like Kulbir Singh of Saidpur are of the view that their livelihood came first and elections later. “In view of the weather, we are presently concentrating on taking our crop to the mandis. Campaigning and politics can wait for the time being,” he averred.

Similar views were echoed by Surinder Singh and Kanwaljit Singh who were overseeing the harvesting operations near Kala Bakra.

“We are nervous on account of the weather and will only participate in the campaigning after the produce is sold in the mandis. After all, a lot is at stake for us,” they pointed out.

The poll scene is likely to hot up by the next 10 days when a bulk of the wheat would have been harvested. Till then, it is door-to-door campaign for the candidates.

Jalandhar, April 16
The proud recipient of the most coveted Padma Shree award Olympian Balbir Singh Kullar is all thanks to almighty for bestowing him with success in life as an ace hockey player of the country. “The award came as a big surprise for me,” he said.

An outstanding hockey player, he represented India and won laurels in the Olympics, the Asian Games and in other international hockey events. The star forward has been synonymous to excellent hockey skills during his stint as an active player of the Indian hockey team. He received the Arjuna award in 2000.

“My career as a hockey player brought momentous moments for me. It feels great having been part of the glorious success saga of the Indian hockey team. Especially the historic victory of the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 and the Asian Games at Bangkok in 1968 made India a brand name in the international sphere,” maintained Kullar.

The hockey star was all praise for the euphoric victory of the Indian hockey team at the recently concluded Sultan Azlan Shah hockey at Ipoh, Malaysia. He maintained that the boys displayed good hockey during the Azlan Shah Cup but they need to concentrate on the other upcoming championships, including the Asia Cup.

Kullar emphasised on the fact that the Asian style of hockey is the best to excel in the game. “The style of dodging the ball is excellent in the Indian hockey and the boys should stick to it for better results. Moreover, I am always here to help the hockey players in learning fine hockey moves. It will be virtually an honour to share hockey skills coupled with experience with the upcoming players,” added Kullar.

At present Kullar is Vice-President of the Sansarpur Sports club, Jalandhar, where he is teaching hockey skills to the budding players.

He was the member of the gold medal winning Indian hockey team in Olympics in 1964 at Tokyo and also bronze medal winning Indian hockey team in Olympics (1968) at Mexico. He was the proud member of gold winning team in the Asian Games in 1966 at Bangkok. Besides, he represented the Indian hockey team in many international tournaments like International Leons at Paris and secured a gold medal.

His tour to Europe and Kenya in 1963, New Zealand and Malaysia in 1964, Hamburg International also brought him a gold. Even his tour to Japan and Hongkong in 1966, Madrid (Spain) International in 1967 and Kenya, Uganda and Europe tour in 1968 showered him unbound success.

Born on February 27, 1941, he joined the Punjab Armed Police in 1962 and retired as Deputy Inspector General of Police in February 2001. At Kullar also played the Senior National games in which he was the member of the Punjab Hockey team and secured gold medals in 1962 at Bhopal. 

Jalandhar, April 16
The sudden increase in the sugar prices has burnt a hole in the pocket of the consumers. Within a short span of 10 days the sugar prices have soared to Rs 30 per kg as compared to its previous retail price of Rs 26 per kg.

Traders maintained that the sugar prices would escalate further in the coming days. The increase in the sugar prices has taken place within a short span. Sham Lal a retail owner said, “Even earlier too the sugar prices witnessed a sudden hike leading to a dwindling budget for the common man”.

The increase in the prices is not limited to sugar as desi ghee, including the time-tested brands like Verka and Everyday, has also witnessed an increase of Rs 10 in its price. Earlier, both brands were available at Rs 200 per kg. However, now the prices have soared to Rs 210 per kg.

Similarly, mustard oil is available at Rs 65 per kg as compared to its previous price of Rs 60. Gurwinder Kaur, a housewife said, “Increase in the prices of sugar, desi ghee and edible oils has a direct impact on the monthly budget of the consumer as these are essential commodities used in every home”.

On the other hand, the prices of vegetables did not witnessed much change. However, potato saw an increase of Rs 2 in its price and is now available at Rs 12 per kg.

Jalndhar, April 16
Sara sara din tere bin

hun nai guzarda yaara

saari saari raat panva baat

kandhan bharan hungara...

tu te sannu tur gaya laa ke

umran da laara...

He’s the little wonder that swept Punjab off with his talent as a little kid, the child prodigy who created waves at the tender age of 10.

Taking the challenge of being the son of the legendary Puran Shahkoti well, he has gone on to create his own niche not only in the Punjabi music industry but is creating ripples in Bollywood too. Teenage heartthrob, Sufi genius and now a Bollywood sensation - maa da ladla - Master Salim, at a very young age, has reached unparalleled heights in music.

Born in 1980 at Abaadpura in Jalandhar, Master Salim was brought up in a musical environment, with the likes of Hans Raj Hans and Sabar Koti learning the finer nuances of Sufi music from his father as he played around in the house.

His first stage performance was during the opening ceremony of the Doordarshan Kendra at Bathinda on the insistence of DD Jalandhar’s deputy director Santosh Mishra.

Dressed in a blue suit that his mother sewed overnight, he stole away the hearts of the audience next day, singing charkhe di ghook.

He started featuring in programmes like Jhilmil Taare and other shows.

An accident in 1990 injured Puran Shahkoti seriously. "Many responsibilities fell to me, since father had been advised rest. He used to propose my name for recording offers, but no one listened."

"Then we saw hope in father's friend Majnider Singh Goli who created his own company Sur Taal under which my first tape 'Charkhe Di Ghook' was released. It became a big hit and things started changing."

"I worked for many tapes and live shows. Then I took a break at a growing age because my voice was changing. Many people thought I had disappeared to never come back. But by god's grace I received a warmer response after my return."

Primarily loved for sufi and religous songs, his song Dhol Jagiro Da became a huge hit and gave him wide popularity.

He made his comeback to the industry in 2000 with the song 'aj hona deedar mahi da' which he sung at a New Year's programme at DD.

"My mother, a devout follower of the Mahamai (Goddess Durga) used to tell me that I should always sing for Mata along with my other projects if I want to be a successful singer. So I kept on releasing religious tapes from time to time like Mela Maiya Da (2004) which was followed by Aj Hai Jagrata, Meri Maiya and Darshan Kar Lao."

Then began his journey into films. Music director Shankar Mahadevan (of the Shanakar, Ehsaan, Loy trio), while listening to one of his performances at the Devi Talaab Mandir, being aired at a religious channel on TV, knew he had found the voice for one of his songs in the film Hey Baby.

Dil Da Mamla, his first song for Bollywood became a huge hit and he went on to sing songs for Tashan, Money Hai To Honey Hai and the superit Maa da Ladla from Dostana.

What's the reason behind the Punjabi industry lagging behind despite so much talent?

People here do not have the habit of listening to other artists. Embracing culture is important but you should be receptive to other kinds of music. Listening to western music helps in growing as a musician.

The best compliment you received?

I met John and Abhishek during the recording of Dostana. I expressed a desire to meet Amitabh Bacchan to Abhishek. He took me to Jalsa. Amitabh ji came down the stairs dressed in a black salwar suit with a shawl wrapped around him. He came to me and said, "Jeete raho, bahut accha gaate ho." That was one of the most amazing moments of my life.

Three things about Salim that no one knows.

I love Banana shakes. I love watching old films (especially Dharamendra's Naukar Biwi Ka). Whenever in a mood to rest, I go and sleep at my office.

Upcoming projects.

I have work lined up in 25-30 films. I am singing for films Housefull (music by Pritam), Right Or Wrong (Monty Sharma), Toonpur Ka Superhero (Anu Malik), Click, Ruslaam and many more. A punjabi project Jind Mahi and I will also be the male lead in opposite Ayesha Takia in Satish Kaushik production called Tere Sang.

Jalandhar, April 16
Baldness can no longer be a curse with the introduction of the latest Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) clinical system.

Being introduced in India for the first time by Canada-based Medicom Lasers International Inc, the system is considered an effective, non-invasive and non-chemical hair loss treatment therapy that will give quantum leap to the prevalent hair restoration treatment options available presently in India. John Carullo and Swaran Sandhu, directors of the company, said the system was an option that was a painless and woundless approach that used low intensity lasers which were delivered by a devise containing panels of lasers which shine on the scalp. Without any burning or heat sensation, a scalp tingling sensation is all that patients may feel during the photo therapy which is administered even as patients read out magazines while undergoing treatment, they said.

Soon to be available in Indian hospitals and clinical facilities, LLLT involves penetration of laser into scalp tissue layers up to 4 mm depth where follicles reside. The therapeutic light energy is well absorbed by the cells and process of cell repair begins, they added.

LLLT works through stimulation of energy at the cellular level, improvement of cellular metabolism, protein synthesis and micro circulation which has been clinically and scientifically proven to have stopped hair loss in 85 per cent cases and stimulating new hair growth in 55 per cent cases, added John Carullo.

Jalandhar, April 16
Under the ongoing NASA CLOUDSAT project, a team of three scientists from NASA, Nandini Macclurg, Mathew Rogers, West Vane and two other delegates, including Anand Sharma, from the State Institute for Science Education and Ravleen Singh from the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology visited Police DAV Public School. The delegates interacted with the team comprising 16 students and their guides. The delegates were here at the school in connection with the ongoing project of NASA in which the students make their contribution by sending the data regarding the passing of satellite over Jalandhar.

Meanwhile, the delegates visited MGN Public School and interacted with the CLOUDSAT team. Students focused on cloud reading, climate change and many other queries.

Special get-together

The Kamla Nehru College for Women, Phagwara, conducted a special assembly for the new entrants of class XI and acquainted them with various departments, activities and achievements of the college.

Research work

Dr Gopi Sharma from the Department of Physics from Kanya Maha Vidyalaya completed her research work on “Semi conducting nanopractics” with Italian sceintist Dr Stephania Bokaro of the Italian Institute of Technology, Italy.

She was working on the project since 2006. The lecturer received a UGC grant of Rs 11 lakh for her major research project on “Nanotechnology”. Principal Dr Atima Sharma felicitated the lecturer for her achievement.

Baisakhi celebrations

DIPS celebrated Baisakhi here. Students and teachers of the pre-wing took part in the event. Tiny tots were seen attired in Punjabi wear. Principal Bela Kapoor highlighted the importance of the festival