Bathinda/Abohar, March 23
Days after after nabbing a Colonel of the Military Engineering Services (MES), Bathinda, red-handed for accepting bribe, the CBI arrested an Income Tax Officer (ITO), D.K. Gupta, posted at Abohar, red-handed with bribe amounting to Rs 30,000 late on Wednesday night.

According to details available, after receiving a telephonic complaint lodged by Abohar-based cardiologist, Naveen Sethi, the team comprising of a dozen officers, raided the house of the accused ITO at his rented accommodation in New Suraj Nagari, Abohar, and nabbed him red-handed. During the search of his temporary residence at Abohar, cash amounting to Rs 50,000 was recovered by the team.

Later, the CBI sleuths raided his house at the Pukhraj Colony in Bathinda at midnight and recovered Rs 10 lakh in cash, gold worth Rs 11 lakh and various documents related to bank accounts, property and investment policies besides keys of bank lockers.

Later, the CBI team took the accused to Chandigarh from where he was taken to CBI court, Patiala. The action has caused panic in the IT department as Gupta is believed to have taken names of senior officials, it is said.

As per the CBI sources, the cardiologist, Naveen Sethi lodged a telephonic complaint with the CBI officers on April 21.

Bathinda, April 23
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that disintegration of the UPA was a classic case of self-seeking political parties that remained glued together with the sole motive of sharing power.

Badal said the way Lalu Prasad Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan, Karunanidhi, Shibu Soren and “new found friends Mulayam-Amar duo” were publicly exposing and humiliating the Congress party, they seem to have seen the writing on the wall of being dumped by the electorate and they were in a hurry to forgo the tainted label of UPA.

Badal said collapse of the UPA could be solely blamed to “arrogant, fascist and undemocratic” working of the Congress that had no faith in the basic federal values of the Indian Constitution. He said the Congress, despite being decimated from the electoral scene, had not mentally reconciled to the fact that its strength had been reduced to less than a major regional party and it cannot dictate terms to other parties.

He said the vigilant Indian electorate after suffering from back breaking rising prices of essential goods has lost faith in the governance of the UPA and was eagerly waiting for the NDA to give them a much-needed relief.

Referring to the Janata Party and the NDA regimes, Badal said the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai and Atal Behari Vajpayee kept a total control on price line whereas the present government was in “league” with hoarders and multinational companies who were pushing up the prices creating artificial scarcity.

Bathinda, April 23
Raninder Singh, the Congress candidate from Bathinda parliamentary constituency, today said the countdown for the Akali-BJP coalition government has begun and it would collapse under its own contradictions. He said it was not only the masses across the state who are disillusioned, even those with the government like the legislators and ministers, were also feeling suffocated.

Addressing series of election rallies, Raninder said, “It is not only the common people who are angry with the Badal-led coalition, even their own Akalis leaders, legislators and ministers were not comfortable.” He pointed out that the continuous exodus of leaders from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) into the Congress was an indication that all was not well within the SAD.

Comparing the achievements of the current Akali-BJP government with that of the Congress, he pointed out that the only thing they have succeeded in was ensuring that the industry fled from here as the industrialists were harassed and threatened leaving hardly any option for them but to flee.

Bathinda, April 23
The poll fever is fast taking the dusty plains of Malwa in its grip as one of the most stylish election campaigns ever witnessed in the history of electoral battles. From heavy SUVs and MUVs, swanky cars to distinctive buntings, flags, small or big meetings and rallies, the election campaigns are heading towards a level of frenzy, as Malwaites prepare to cast vote on May 7.

While the Congress has fielded Raninder Singh, son of former CM Amarinder Singh, SAD-BJP combine has fielded Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of SAD chief and deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal. Both have been hitting the streets, holding meetings, seeking votes and managing the electoral battle to grab the seat on the issue of development, corruption and even personal vendetta. The political leaders of both parties are spending sleepless nights as they campaign up to 15 hours daily.

The people could be seen rushing to rallies, meetings, boarding and disembarking the vehicles, shaking hands with leaders and explaining the problems of their areas.

If at one point of time voters are silent, keeping the cards close to their chest, on another they shout slogans and are vocals in support to their party candidates. The computers, laptops, mobile phones with Internet connection fitted are being used extensively to manage the meetings and voters. The public address systems are in place before the leaders arrive and till then, their workers keep the crowd, gathered for the meeting, mused by reciting praises in favour of their leaders.

The houses of sarpanches have become meeting places and offices to carry out the campaign for their respective parties. There are struggles, skirmishes but there are also requests, pleas and pleasantries as the election campaign fires up.

Bathinda, April 23
The absence of a basic amenity like potable water supply has started taking a political shape in Bathinda. Here, leaders may be asking for votes but the voters, after the sharp rise in temperature, are pleading for consistent water supply.

The issue is now taking centrestage and is even threatening to push the development plank of the government in the background.

Ruling party leaders have been facing difficulties because whenever they go to a locality for canvassing as people demand water supply. Such incidents have been witnessed at Paras Ram Nagar, Bibi Wala Road and during a programme of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in the city two days back.

Interestingly, some politicians, to lure voters, have started spending from their own pockets to meet the basic requirement by sending water tankers to colonies.

The stoppage of the flow of water in canals also has played a role in the water shortage. Supply in canals was stopped to store water at dams and for other purposes. Because of this, the canals and distributaries became dry.

The city residents have been facing the crucnh the most. As per the information, water supply which was being provided for nine hours on a regular basis is now limited to only two hours.

The low water pressure has also added to the problem. Due to this, a number of localities located at a higher level, now fail to get adequate water supply.

According to sources in the water supply department, the average requirement of the city is about 150 lakh gallons of water per day. In contrast, the total capacity of three water reservoirs in the city, located at Rose Garden, Industrial Growth Centre and ITI, in normal conditions, is only 70 lakh gallons, 15 lakh gallons and five lakh gallons, respectively. As per an assessment, supply needs to be increased by around 50 lakh gallons in future but work on it is yet to start.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Rahul Tewari said, “Considering the sensitivity of the issue, all 11 water tankers we have have been supplying water to the localities. Some more are being called from Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Moreover, the water supply in the canal has resumed due to which the problem will be sorted out within a day or two.”

Ferozepur, April 23
In order to ensure fair, free and peaceful elections, the District Election-cum-Returning officer, Megh Raj today convened a meeting of all the 27 contesting candidates for the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat.

In the meeting, besides the district officials, Rajinder Shankar Shukla, Sameer Singh Chandel, S Nanthak, all the election observers, Dinesh Pratap SSP and assistant ROs of all the nine assembly segments participated.

While addressing the candidates, Megh Raj instructed them to strictly adhere to the model code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of India. He said that no candidates should put hoardings at public places or deface the public or government property. He said that advance information of any political rally or conference should be given to the concerned official and prior sanction should be taken to use loud speakers.

The DC further asked the candidates not to use any religious place for canvassing. He directed the candidates to record all the election related expenditure in the expenditure registers provided to the candidates and any bill amounting to more than Rs 500 should bear revenue stamp. He also asked the candidates to get their expenditure registers duly checked by the accounts committee constituted for the purpose.

On the occasion, ARO Kamal Kishore Yadav explained the functioning of the EVMs to the candidates. Rajinder Shankar Shukla Election Observer encouraged the candidates to extend cooperation in implementing the election code of conduct and ensure that polls were held in peaceful manner. Shukla also told the candidates to inform the observer regarding any complaint or violation of the model code of conduct, regarding which immediate action would be initiated.

SSP Dinesh Pratap said that adequate security arrangements have been made and anybody found violating the law or creating any disturbance during the elections would be severely dealt with.

Mansa, April 23
Even after holding dharnas and rallies to raise their voice against the administration, the poor families of farmers who committed suicide during the last decade have not received any help till now.

During a visit to some families of the deceased farmers of the Mansa district, it was found that their condition was pathetic under the burden of debt.

As per a sample survey conducted by the Bhartiya Kissan Union (Ugrahan) in 50 villages of Mansa, nearly 460 farmers committed suicide in these villages during 1997-2004. Gurmail Kaur, wife of Jugraj Singh, resident of Burhhari village, rued that her husband committed suicide in 2000 leaving small children behind but the government did not provide her with any monetary help till date.

Hakam Singh, son of Mohinder Singh of the same village ended his life sometime back and his mother Dilip Kaur regretted that nobody came forward to help them during this period.

Some residents of Akalian village where according to the BKU survey, nearly 38 farmers ended their lives due to their incapability to pay back the loan said all the families of the deceased farmers are in a pitiable condition for want of government help. Gurdial Singh, whose son Gursewak Singh committed suicide, said no government official except the Kisan Union leaders helped him during the tough time.

District secretary of BKU Mohinder Singh Romana said the high input cost of agriculture and low income from farming had forced the farmers to take the extreme step.

Another farmer leader Ram Singh Bhaini Bagha informed that about 673 farmers of the district had lost their land holdings due to loans and low income from farming. Farmer leaders blamed the wrong policies of government for the poor condition of the farmers. They demanded compensation for the families of the deceased farmers.

Bathinda, April 23
With untimely rains causing widespread damage to wheat crop in north India, Punjab — the major contributor of wheat to the Central pool — has now scaled down its estimates of wheat output by five lakh metric tonne (MT) to 150 lakh MT during this season.

Talking to TNS over phone from Chandigarh, D.S. Grewal, director, department of food and civil supplies, Punjab, said he does not think that the wheat production in the state will even cross 150 lakh MT mark because of heavy damage inflicted by rains and hailstorm.

He said Punjab had earlier estimated wheat production at 155 lakh MT for this rabi marketing season against last year’s output of 157.20 lakh MT.

Besides, the total crop arrival during this rabi marketing season is also expected to be lower at 100 lakh MT against the last year’s arrival of 105 lakh MT, a development that could also affect the Centre’s procurement target from the state, he said.

Unexpected rains during the first week of April have hit the wheat crop badly across several parts of the region. According to the department, the wheat crop sown over an area of 23,400 hectares in the state has been adversely affected due to inclement weather. Wheat crop has been affected in Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Mansa, Amritsar, Sangrur, etc.

As per initial reports, rains have caused damage in the range of 50 to 75 per cent to wheat crop cultivated on 5,400 hectares and 75 to 100 per cent on 2,500 hectares while rest of the total area faced less than 50 per cent damage, the official said.

As per wheat experts, because of the rains playing spoilsport, the arrival of wheat during the current wheat lifting season would also shrink as a result of which, the target of 115 lakh MT of wheat procurement from the state may not be achieved.

“With farmers reporting huge loss of wheat yield per hectare during the ongoing harvesting season, the total arrival of crop will not even touch 100 lakh MT mark,” said a senior official of Punjab agriculture department.

The Centre during the ongoing rabi marketing season was expecting to procure 115 lakh MT of wheat from Punjab.

Bathinda, April 23
The Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) Action Committee, Bathinda, affiliated to the INTUC, today held a meeting at the local bus stand on a call given by various trade unions here to protest against the “anti-employee” policies of the state government.

While addressing the gathering, Ramesh Bhatti, president of the Committee, demanded that the state government should reject the transport policy of 1997. Further, he demanded nullification of the disinvestment commission constituted by the previous government.

The workers have asked the management to release an instalment of 10 per cent DA, the pensionary benefits and other arrears due to the retired workers, stop contractual recruitment of staff and stop the termination of workers under one pretext or another.

Bhatti alleged that the contractual employees were asked to work for nearly 10-12 hours a day against the normal working time of eight hours without any extra monetary benefits. Apart from it, the PRTC had not regularised the employees working in the Corporation for the past 20 years.

The leaders demanded that the PRTC management and the state government should take people-oriented decisions, redress the employees’ problems and set up two-tier committees having representatives of all unions and other sections at depot level to solve the issues.

They said the INTUC would celebrate its foundation day on May 3 and hold a rally against the “anti-employee” policies of the state government.

Moga, April 23
The district administration has today selected 30 villages from across the district in the first phase for sterilisation of stray dogs and also constituted teams of veterinary officials for this job.

In a meeting of the village panchayats, NGOs, officials of the district administration and animal husbandry department held here this evening, the district magistrate of Moga Satwant Singh Johal has expressed concern over the incidents of stray dog attacks on children during the recent past in the district. As part of the Animal Birth Control Programme, the process of sterilisation of stray dogs would begin from the next week.

The first phase would continue till June 10, this year.The DM has requested the panchayats and NGOs to identify the stray dogs and catch them for sterilisation and vaccination. The cost of sterilisation and vaccination would be borne by the panchayats and post-operative care of the dogs would be done by the veterinary officials, said the DM.

Dr PC Mittal deputy director, animal husbandry department said that each village would be given four or fives dates for sterilisation surgeries to cover all the stray dogs.

He said that a total estimated sum of Rs 15 lakh would be required to sterilise the stray dogs in the whole district.

It would cost around Rs 250 per dog, he added. Mittal further said the surgical teams would remove the testes of males after administering anaesthesia and the surgery would be conducted using the basic vet surgeon's tools.

Abohar, April 23
The new team of the Bar Association here, led by president Sukhpal Singh Sidhu took over the charge today in the presence of large number of practicing advocates.

Sidhu was accorded a warm welcome by the outgoing president Devi Lal Bishnoi and other advocates as he entered the Bar room along with newly appointed secretary Raj Kumar Kaundal, joint secretary Pawan Kumar Sharma and cashier Parveen Kumar Dhanju.

Speaking on the occasion, Kaundal informed the fraternity that membership forms for the Punjab Advocate Welfare Fund Act 2002 can be submitted by April 30.

Notably, the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council stayed the election on December 18 last year and later asked the president Devi Lal Bishnoi to form the new team on April 4. Accordingly, the new team was elected on April 9.

Abohar, April 23
As many as 450 visually disabled have so far been blessed with vision as the campaign launched by the Bharat Vikas Parishad, Abohar, prompted families of 225 persons to donate eyes after their death, informed Dr Ranjana Sethi, in-charge of Sriganganagar based Shri Jagdamba Andh Vidyalaya and Eye Hospital.

She arrived here along with Dr Nikhil Dixit to participate in the annual meeting of the NGO last night.