Patiala, April 26
Anti-Sikh riot victims’ lawyer TPS Phoolka today claimed that a new evidence had come to light which showed that the central government was shielding both Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, who allegedly led the rioters in 1984 in Delhi after the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

Phoolka claimed that he had enough evidence to prove that the DIG of the CBI, who was in charge of the case, had recommended that since there was a strong case against both Tytler and Sajjan, a charge sheet should be filed against 
both accused.

Phoolka added that even Joint Director of the CBI Arun Kumar, after going through the facts of the case and also the recommendations of the DIG, had urged his superiors to file a charge sheet in the court.

However, Director of the CBI Ashawni Kumar and the CBI chief of prosecution overruled the recommendations of the DIG and the Joint Director.

Phoolka added that the government had pressurised the top brass of the CBI to give a clean chit to Tytler.

Phoolka said two charge sheets were ready against Sajjan but the CBI was not filing them in the court in order to delay the arrest of Sajjan.

The charge sheet against Sajjan pertained to murder cases registered against him at Delhi Cantonment and Sultanpuri police stations.

Phoolka said on April 28, when the case comes up in the court of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi, he would ask for the report of both the DIG and the Joint Director.

Jajjal (Bathinda), April 26
Steps being taken by the government to install a reverse osmosis (RO) water purification unit here on the eve of the high-profile Lok Sabha election in the Bathinda constituency have generated a hope among residents of the area that has over the passage of time come to be identified as the cancer belt of Punjab.

At least six villages surrounding Talwandi Sabo have witnessed several deaths due to cancer during the past few years. The villages do not have the basic facility of potable drinking water supply and residents are consuming the highly contaminated canal water.

Elderly residents of the village are satisfied that the equipment of the RO system has finally reached the village and is expected to be installed within the next five to six days to provide pure water to the younger generation. They also appreciate the government move to establish a cancer hospital at Bathinda that will provide treatment to patients virtually at their doorstep instead of going to Delhi and Bikaner.

Ninetyfour-year-old Surmukh Singh, who took part in the battle on the Burma front in 1943, said the presence of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, daughter-in-law of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, in the election ring has made the government, which was sleeping over the matter, realise the immediate need of installing the RO system to prevent the further spread of cancer.

Harbans Singh, former Sarpanch, said the area had become synonymous with cancer and people refused to marry their daughters here. There was hardly any household that did not undergo the agony of having a cancer patient.

According to study of cancer cases in the Talwandi Sabo, there were 107 confirmed cancer patients, out of which 27 were male and 80 were females.

Eightyfive-year-old Babu Singh said the village saw four to five deaths every year due to cancer and the government had so far not come forward to their help.

Another elder, Sukhdev Singh said members of the Badal family had now made a door-to-door visit during their election campaign in the village and assured that steps would be taken to check further spread of cancer.

He said the water in the pond was so filthy that the cattle fall sick after consuming it.

Traces of DDT and Benzene Hexachloride were found in the canal-based drinking water supply some time ago when the Pollution Control Board conducted a test of water samples.

The worst-affected villages are Giana, Jajjal, Malkana and Laleana.

Jalandhar, April 26
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has said the SAD-BJP government would stop river waters going to neighbouring states and for that Section 5 of the Punjab Termination of River Waters Agreements Act would be scrapped.

He was here to address rallies in support of party candidate Hans Raj Hans from Jalandhar. He addressed rallies at Adampur, Bhogpur, Rama Mandi, Buta Mandi and some other places in the city.

“Though there has been no mention of this in our manifesto, we are committed to saving the river waters in the larger interests of the state”, he said.

“The chairman of the SAD manifesto committee is responsible for the lapse. This has taken place inadvertently”, he emphasised.

Commenting on the recent outbursts of Capt Amarinder Singh, he said it seemed that the former Chief Minister suffered from Sukhbir phobia.

Reacting to another query on the clean chit to Tytler, he said in case the NDA came to power they would get the matter reinvestigated and put the perpetrators behind bars.

Sukhbir also denied that he would be contesting from the Nurmahal constituency byelection to which have been announced for May 28. The decision will be taken by the core committee of the party, he added.

Bathinda, April 26
Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today warned the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) against threatening and intimidating Congress activists. He also asked the police not to follow dictates of the Badals blindly to harass Congress supporters.

Addressing a largely attended election rally at Nathana in the Bathinda parliamentary constituency, Amarinder asked his supporters to “note down the name and detail of every person who threatens you and I will handle such people when we return to power”.

He pointed out that the entire Badal family was camping in Bathinda because Harsimrat Kaur Badal was facing an “uphill task” due to the presence of Raninder Singh (Congress) in the election arena. He said the Badals were so desperate that not only they themselves, but also a large number of SAD supporters from across the state had reached here in a bid to save their “sinking boat”.

He said the SAD-BJP coalition would have to face action for the death of 42 Congress activists during the recent panchayat elections. Law would take its course and action would be taken against the guilty.

Amarinder alleged that the Badals had pushed the state to bankruptcy. The state government did not have funds to pay salary to its employees.

Amarinder pointed out when he was Chief Minister revenue collections from stamp duty alone was to the tune of Rs 2,400 crore and now it had fallen to Rs 600 crore. Land prices had nose-dived and industry had fled from the state because of wrong policies of the SAD-BJP government.

Congress MLAs Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Gurpreet Singh Kangar and Sukhpal Singh Khaira also addressed the rally.

Q: How will your being MP make a difference to the constituency?

SAD has always worked for development of this area. Our government has already drafted and passed the proposal for repealing Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), which has rendered farmers helpless.

With repealing of sections 4 and 5 of this act, farmers can own the land which they have been tilling for past more than 60 years. Providing water for drinking and irrigation is another main issue. Already chief minister has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for providing water to areas of Changar.

Q: How do you identify your strengths and weaknesses?

I have been close to masses for past many years. SAD declared its candidates and started campaigning months before Congress. We definitely have an upper hand with our mass contact programmes percolating down. People at times term me noble politician, who is not in habit of using foul language even for opponent.

Q: Why should people vote for you?

I left the profession of doctor and dedicated myself for public service. I am from amongst masses and was not served politics on platter. Unlike others, I have learnt my way up the politics.

As advisor to the chief minister Punjab I have worked for cause of people. Our government has given prestigious Mohali international airport to the state. We are amongst those who have paid highest compensation to farmers for their land acquired.

Q: What good features do you find in Bittu?

I am yet to see him performing and not even consider him an opponent. He is a driving licence holder. If he wants to be an expert driver, he should first learn driving from some experienced person. Out of study and politics education should be preference.

He should go back to school and complete his education. How can a so-called representative of younger generation not even be a graduate?

Patiala, April 26
The election campaign of Preneet Kaur, Congress nominee from the Patiala parliamentary constituency, has got a fillip with her family members joining the campaign.

Former Chief Minister and chairman of the Punjab Congress Campaign Committee Capt Amarinder Singh had accompanied Preneet Kaur, his wife, to the Mini Secretariat when she filed her nomination papers.

Preneet was accompanied by her daughter Jayinder Kaur, daughter-in-law Reshma Kaur, and brother-in-law Raja Malwinder Singh. Raja Malwinder Singh’s wife Harpriya has not joined the campaigning in favour of Preneet Kaur since she is indisposed.

Preneet’s son Raninder Singh is locked in a grim electoral battle with Harsimrat Kaur, wife of Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, in Bathinda. His wife, Reshma Kaur, has already joined his campaign in Bathinda but she has been making trips to Patiala to campaign for her mother-in-law.

Preneet at appealed to the people of Patiala to vote for her and elect her to Parliament for the third time.

Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal, is locked in the electoral battle with Preneet Kaur in Patiala.

Preneet has been harping on the clean image of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and has been announcing at her election meetings that every vote for her would strengthen the chances Singh becoming the Prime Minister.

Chandumajra has been telling the voters that if they vote for him they can enjoy the fruits of office since the Akali-BJP government has another three years to be in office.

Senior leaders of the Akali Dal including Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister and president of the Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal are scheduled to address election meetings for Chandumjara in the coming week. 

Bathinda, April 26
The absence of local BJP leaders from the election campaign is causing anxiety to the coalition partner Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) that is facing a tough challenge from the Congress in the Bathinda Lok Sabha (LS) constituency where Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, is contesting against Raninder Singh, son of the Congress campaign manager Amarinder Singh.

Except district (urban) BJP chief Narendra Mittal, other leaders of the party were missing from the election rallies being addressed here by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in support of his daughter-in-law.

Hardly any BJP leader participated in the rallies addressed by Sukhbir at various places in 
the constituency.

The BJP rank and file here is divided and accuses Mittal of not taking them into confidence as he has business interests with a SAD leader.

They accuse Sukhbir of trying to break the BJP as he recently admitted into the SAD with fanfare their five members who had lost the Bathinda Municipal Corporation election.

The local BJP cadre is maintaining a distance from the SAD ever since the elections for panchayats were held and their senior leaders, including one enjoying the status of a minister, were thrashed by the latter's supporters during electioneering.

A local BJP leader said today that he, along with other party activists, had been daily visiting the SAD's election office, but the tour programmes of the Badals were being kept secret from them. Neither was a copy of the schedule being sent to the BJP office.

He pointed out that the BJP rank and file was feeling alienated as no senior leader of the party was taken into confidence about a meeting recently held here between Parkash Singh Badal, Balramji Dass Tandon, BJP campaign manager, Kamal Sharma, state BJP general secretary, and Mittal at the residence of a lawyer to finalise the election strategy.

A BJP activist said senior Deputy Mayor Tarsem Goyal, this morning with a handful party activists, campaigned in his ward for the SAD.

On the other hand, Congress activists were focusing on their local MLA Harminder Singh Jassi, who is a loyalist of CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. Many Congress leaders were also annoyed over the manner in which Jeet Mohinder Sidhu, MLA, has been dominating the election rallies of Amarinder and Raninder. Sidhu is considered a confidant of Amarinder.

Jalandhar, April 26
One of the most grim aspects in the cases of suicide in the farm sector is that the families of the victims not only had to sell land, but also other assets such as farm machinery, gold, etc, to repay debts.

A government-sponsored study conducted by Punjab Agricultural University in Bathinda and Sangrur districts has counted 2,990 suicides in farm sector from 2000 to 2008. Of these 1,757 were farmers and the remaining farm labourers. Of these, 1,288 farmers and 671 labourers ended their lives because of debts.

As many as 227 families in Bathinda district sold land worth Rs 7.36 crore to repay their debts, but that was not enough to save the lives of their breadwinners. The average value of land sold was Rs 3.24 lakh. In all 550 farmers committed suicide in Bathinda district because of debt. A majority of them (87 per cent) were small and marginal farmers owning land up to five acres. Only 13 per cent cases of suicide have medium and large farmers owning land more than 10 acres. The volume of debt ranged from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 8.20 lakh in case of farmers who committed suicide. The average debt volume was Rs 3 lakh.

In the case of Sangrur, 738 farmers committed suicide owing to indebtedness. Of these, the families of 353 farmers sold land worth Rs 19.05 crore to off-load their debt burden. The average debt burden on them was Rs 5.39 lakh. Besides, 58 families of such farmers sold even machinery and other assets. As large as 57 per cent farmers were from marginal category and 29 per cent were small farmers. The remaining 14 per cent were medium and large farmers. The volume of debt against them ranged from Rs 2.8 lakh to Rs 7.87 lakh.

Average debt against labourers who committed suicide was Rs 70,036 in Sangrur district. Their average income was Rs 19,419. The average debt against labourers who committed suicide in Bathinda was Rs 47,347. Their average income was Rs 21,710.

In Bathinda district the most affected villages include Chauke where 18 farmers ended their lives, in Mandi Kalan 17 farmers and in Pitho 13 farmers killed themselves. In Pakka Kalan (9), Kankwal (10), Jai Singh Wala (9), Kokhar (8), Harkishanpura (9), Jethuke (8), Dhapali Khurad (12), Ballianwali (12), Raiya (11), Baloh (12), Nathana (8), Maisar Khana (9), Jodhpur Pakhar (11), Virkalan (12) Ganga (10) and Behman Diwana 9 farmers committed suicide.

In Sangrur district at Andana village (18), Bhattiwala Kalan (11), Nagara (10), Bhutal Khurad and Bhutal Kalan (20), Balaran (7), Dhindsa (9), Ghorenab (9), Gurne Kalan and Gurne Khurd (10), Gobindpura Jawarwala (9), Nangla (9), Lehal Kalan (11), Sadhihari (12), Dhalr Kalan (9), Kanganwal (7), Guara (10), Ubhawal (7), Kheri Kalan and Kheri Khurad (10), Chajali (10), Khanal Kalan and Khanal Khurad (17), Rangla (10) and in Seron 14 farmers killed themselves.

Nabha, April 26
A health official team was today embarrassed to find that the house they had come to raid belonged to one of the employees of the Health Department. However, the complaint on which the raid was carried out proved incorrect.

According to sources, the team, comprising Dr ID Goel, Assistant Civil Surgeon, Patiala; Dr SB Pandhi, District Family Planning Officer, Patiala; and two gynaecologists, was formed to stop an illegal Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP). It was directed by higher health officials from Chandigarh to raid the house in the local Ripuduman Pura locality where an illegal MTP was reportedly to be done by a renowned private practitioner.

The team reached the house and questioned alleged accused Surjit Kaur (name changed), her mother-in-law (76) and two daughters aged 14 and 12 years.

Later, the health authorities raided the clinic of the private practitioner and checked all record. However, they reportedly failed to gather any evidence supporting the claims of illegal practices of MTP at the clinic.

Surjit said her name was dragged into the matter by the complainant with a mala fide intention.

Dr Pandhi said he had done whatever his seniors told him to do. He admitted that the complaint arose from the ministerial level but was found incorrect on verification.

Amritsar, April 26
The International Bhai Mardana Yadgari Kirtan Darbar Society has requested the Pakistan government to hand over sites in Lahore, where the fifth Sikh master Guru Arjan Dev and Bhai Mani Singh attained martyrdom, to the Sikh community of Pakistan.

President of the society Sohan Singh said he made the request during his meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani, Shahbaj Bhatti, minister for minorities, and Syed Hashmi, chairman, AUKAF Board. Sohan recently went to Pakistan on a pilgrimage to Sikh religious places there.

He said the place where Bhai Mani Singh, a contemporary of Sikh Gurus, attained martyrdom was in the possession of a junk dealer. He said the place must be vacated and a gurdwara be raised in the memory of the great martyr.

Lahore’s Lal Haveli, also known as Chandu Di Haveli, was the place associated with the martyrdom of the fifth Guru. He said there was a need to raise a memorial in the name of the Guru there.

He also apprised the Pakistani leaders of the difficulties being faced by Sikh pilgrims during their stay in Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore. He demanded another serai in the adjoining vacant space of the gurdwara.

Sikh pilgrims from India would travel to Pakistan to participate in the Shaheedi Jod Mela of Guru Arjan Dev through a special train from the Attari international railway station on June 8. The martyrdom day would be observed on June 16.

Hoshiarpur, April 26
Wild animals, especially wild boar and blue bull, have been damaging crops in the Kandi belt, giving sleepless nights to farmers. “Respite from wild animals” has become the main election plank in the Kandi belt in the Lok Sabha (LS) elections.

Though villagers of the Kandi area have been without amenities like water, roads, power, education and health, damage to crops by wild animals, including wild boar and blue bull, sambar, monkey and porcupine, besides stray animals, have harmed farmers.

Farmers in this belt have small holdings and a majority of them suffer huge loss as many times animals destroy entire crops. These villagers are doubly hit as state governments have not framed any policy to compensate the affected farmers for the damage by wild animals.

For scores of farmers in Kandi villages starting from Dhar block in Gurdaspur district up to Nurpur Bedi in Ropar and then adjoining areas in Himachal and Haryana, it is either the animals or their crops.

In the Kandi area scores of animals, including Schedule 1, II, III and IV animals and birds of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, lose lives every year. The animals descend from the lower Shivalik Hills in the crop season and damage fields at night destroying crops.

The animals have been doing so for many years, destroying standing crop of maize, wheat and sugarcane as well as seasonal cash crops. Moreover, many animals are hunted by the villagers for meat. Poachers too kill animals for horns, skin, bones and meat.

Sources in the Punjab Wildlife Department said the Punjab government had empowered SDM-level officers to grant licence to kill wild boar under certain conditions (under Sections 11 clause 1(b) of the Wildlife Protection Act), in the Congress regime, but officers of the Wildlife Department raised objections to the conditions and framed its rules which are contrary to the Act.

Wildlife experts said the government should plant more fruit-bearing trees inside the forest area, besides sowing green fodder and constructing water pots for wild animals in the jungle areas to prevent them from straying out of habitat.

Kandi belt farmers demanded compensation for crops damaged by wild animals.