Chandigarh, August 20
The minimum support price (MSP) for paddy has not found favour with Punjab government, farmer organisations and farm experts. They term the announcement of MSP a “fraud” on people of the state who they said were overspending to keep crop alive in drought year.

Punjab Farmers Commission consultant Dr P S Rangi said even though the Union government was claiming having increased the MSP by Rs 100 compared to last year, this was not the case. “Last year the government gave Rs 50 bonus on the MSP making effective procurement price Rs 900 per quintal for common variety and Rs 930 per quintal for fine varieties. Dr Rangi said the new MSP of Rs 950 and Rs 980 for common and fine varieties translated into effective increase of Rs 50 per quintal only.

The Farmers Commission consultant said this price did not even cover cost of diesel the farmers had to bear due to deficient monsoon as well as increased labour cost. “Farmers need bonus of at least Rs 100 per quintal to compensate for higher cost of production”, he added.

Farm expert Dr Devinder Sharma also called for more increase in the MSP or Rs 100 per quintal bonus. He said cost of production had gone up in all rice- growing areas and recommendations of the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) did not take into account the fact the nation was facing drought.

Punjab Young Farmers Association general secretary Bhagwan Das Gupta said the Centre had even failed to consider the fact Punjab farmers ,spending to keep crop in good order, would be contributing substantially to the central pool.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal termed the MSP “big fraud”. He said it was ironical the CACP had recommended MSP which was lower than Rs 1050 recommended by it last year. “Even the Union government agrees the increase in costs has gone up by Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per acre this year”. Rajewal said as per the recommendations of the Dr Swaminathan Commission the MSP should be at least Rs 1650 per quintal . BKU (Ekta) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan also rejected the MSP.

The state government was also “shocked” by the MSP today with Agriculture Minister Suchha Singh Langah seeking MSP of Rs 1,800 per quintal. The minister will express resentment against the MSP to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar tomorrow.

Jalandhar, August 20
Rejecting the minimum support price of paddy announced today by the Union Cabinet, the Bharti Kisan Union( Rajewal) convened a meeting tomorrow to draw up stir on the issue.

The Centre today announced Rs 980 MSP for paddy, an increase of Rs 50 a quintal ove last MSP plus Rs 50 paid to farmers last year. “ The Centre should not tell that MSP had been increased by Rs 100 per quintal”, said Balbir Singh Rajewal president of the union.

“Last year farmers were paid Rs 930 and it included Rs 880 MSP and Rs 50 bonus on it”, said Rajewal. The Centre had gone by the recommendation of the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices which had recommended Rs 980 MSP of paddy three months ago. However due to difference among Union ministers on this issue, the the Centre kept sitting on the recommendation of the commission.

“ The BKU would resort to mass agitation, like rail roko, chakka jam and other modes of agitation besides holding rallies and dharnas in front of the offices of the central government”, said Rajewal.

Farmers of Punjab should not be punished for maintaining food security of the country. During paddy season, Rs 600 crore additional would be spent on diesel in Punjab to tend paddy, 
said Rajewal.

The Punjab government had wanted Rs 1400 MSP for paddy.

Longowal, August 20
Paying tributes to Sant Harchand Singh Longowal at a state-level function at New Grain Market here today, CM Parkash Singh Badal said Congress failure to implement the Rajiv-Longowal Accord led to the martyrdom of Sant Longowal. He said Sant Longowal trusted the Congress leadership but was betrayed.

Badal flayed the Congress for trying to weaken the SAD and the SGPC. Badal sought Rs 2,000 per acre relief from the Centre for drought-hit areas of Punjab. He warned the Centre against move on a separate SGPC for Haryana.

Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal said the government would give Rs 1 lakh to every village to buy sports material in two years to create interest of the youth in sports. President, SGPC, Avtar Singh announced the setting up of memorials at the village in memory of martyrs Bhai Mani Singh, Bhai Diala Ji, Bhai Sati Dass, Bhai Mati Dass of the Sikh Panth.

Ministers Mohan Lal and Parminder Singh Dhindsa, chief parliamentary secretary Raj Khurana, secretary-general of the SAD, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Dhuri MLA ,Iqbal Singh Jhundan, state president, BJP, Rajinder Bhandari, SAD general secretary, Prem Singh Chandumajra, district BJP president Jatinder Kalra, district SAD president Raghbir Singh Jakhepal, Gobind Singh Longowal, Gobind Singh Kanjhla and Balwinder Singh Bhundar paid tributes.

Longowal, August 20
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) was revived today at a function held by the family of Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala and its supporters to mark the 24th death anniversary of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal here.

Bibi Surjit Kaur Barnala, wife of the Governor , was made president of the new SAD (L ) while supporter of the Barnala family, Baldev Singh Mann, was made secretary-general.

Former MLA Gaganjit Singh Barnala, son of the Governor, former minister Baldev Singh Mann, president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Paramjit Singh Sarna, former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana and president, Haryana Akali Dal, Kartar Singh Thakkar were present on the occasion.

Sarna urged Surjit Singh Barnala to come to Punjab and assume control of the SAD (L). He claimed only Barnala could remove the SAD (Badal) from political scene of the state. He said the DSGMC would contest SGPC elections in Punjab in alliance with the SAD (L) and others. Baldev Singh Mann said the party’s main aim was to get the Rajiv-Longowal Accord implemented.

The speakers held the SAD leadership responsible for the downfall of the SAD as there was no respect for workers in the SAD.

Chandigarh, August 20
Even as most states launch drive against traders hoarding essential commonalities with a view to bringing down prices of these, Punjab is yet to make any move in this direction, presumably out of hesitation to upset its alliance partner, the BJP, which has is base among the trading community.

Following an appeal of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to states to take strict action against hoarders, most states including neighbouring Haryana and Delhi and union territory of Chandigarh have launched raids on hoarders and seized sugar, edible oils, salt and other essential commonalities, bringing down prices of sugar by as much as Rs 200 per quintal.

Prices of most essential commodities have witnessed up to 40 per cent rise in a few months. Anti-hoarding raids in different parts of the country have had a marginal impact on inflation. But, in the absence of any such measures in Punjab, the prices continue to be much higher compared to prices in neighbouring states.

In Bihar, over 3,000 quintals of sugar have been siezed from mills while Madhya Pradesh has made a seizure of 2,000 tonnes of sugar.

The problem of hoarding is as acute in Punjab as it is elsewhere. Even in Chandigarh, officials of the Department of Food and Supply seized 12 tonnes of edible oil worth Rs 550,000.

Punjab has been crying hoarse over inflation and its impact on common man and has even demanded reduction in petroleum prices. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has asked the government of India to reduce the price of petroleum products, including diesel, saying “petroleum price hike coming against the backdrop of inflation, was not only cruel joke on the people but also against larger national interest”. But, at the same time no action plan has been taken as yet to bring down inflation by checking hoarding by traders.

The prices of essential commodities and most food grains have risen manifold, solely due hoarding. Sugar for example that retailed for Rs 27 per kg in July is being sold for Rs 35, prices of pulses like moong have gone up from Rs 64 to Rs 70 per kg, urad from Rs 48 to 56 and tuhar from Rs 68 to Rs 88. Similarly, flour, rice and edible oils, too, have hit the common man’s budget.

Sources in the state government said there was no immediate plan at any level to launch a drive against hoarders in the state. The SAD and BJP relations are currently undergoing a strain and the SAD does not want to precipitate issues further as any move against traders is likely to be viewed as an anti-BJP cadre move.

Chandigarh, August 20
Pages of rare manuscripts, books, magazines , newspapers and photographs on the Sikhs and Punjab will be available at www.PanjabDigiLib. org on the Internet at Panjab Digital Library launched by the Nanakshahi Trust and the Research Institue ( SikhRi) today.

Since 2003 PDL has been selecting , collecting, preserving digitising texts regardless of script , language, religion , nationality etc.

“ Preservation of heritage, research and education have been victim of apathy in Punjabi. PDL is humble offering to people’ said Harinder singh , executive director SikhRI. Information in rare manuscripts and literature of the region can be accessed with the click of mouse.

A document on being digitised will be accessible long after the original ceases to exis . PDL developed Central digital archive in six years which allows electronic access to browsing data in seconds.

The digital library do away with barriers of conventional library.

PDL has been preserving over 25 lakh folios from 3,400 manuscripts, 2,200 book , 1,990 issues of periodicals ,3153 photographs 248,000 legal documents ‘ , said Gurvinder Asingh PDL’s US coordinator ,

Information on institutions like the SGPC, the DSGMC, Government Museum and Art Gallery , Chandigarh , Chief Khalsa Diwan Punjab Languages Department, Kurukshetra University , critical works of Prof Pritam Singh , Dr Man Singh Nirankari, Dr Kirpal Singh , Dr madanjit Kaur, and Prof Gurtej Singh are accessible at PDL.

It is non- profit , non- governmental set- up, devoted to preserving Punjab archives, said Gurnihal Singh Pirzada a director.

At least 50,000 pages were being added every week to the websit , said Davinder Pal Singh co- founder.

Gurdaspur, August 20
Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO), Batala, Harpreet Singh was suspended on August 3, a day after he detected sale tax evasion of Rs 50 crore in Batala. Financial Commissioner (Tax) SS Brar, who ordered suspension of Harpreet, refused to talk to district or subdivision-based correspondents, saying he talked to only Chandigarh-based correspondent.

However, senior officials of the Excise and Taxation Department said the suspension of Harpreet had demoralised field staff and hit tax collection.

Neither Excise and Taxation Commissioner (ETC) A Venu Prasad nor Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (AETC), Gurdaspur, SC Dass could give reasons of Harpreet’s suspension.

Harpreet had imposed Rs 2 crore penalty on the tax evaders of Batala in six months and recovered Rs 1 crore from defaulters.

Harpreet was suspended despite a criminal case was registered against Maa Sharda Transport Company and Golden Goods Carrier, found involved in tax evasion by him. The case was registered on August 2.

The owners of two companies have not been arrested despite requests of the department to the police.

Naresh Arora, SSP, Batala, said probe into the case was on and the suspects would be arrested in due course. The police was not under any pressure for delaying the arrest, he added.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Excise and Taxation Officers Union is contemplating taking up the matter with the authorities.

Gurdaspur, August 20
Panic gripped Pul Tibri village and nearby canal colony, about 10 km from here, when water from the main branch of Uppar Bari Doab Canal entered their dwellings early this morning. The canal overflowed for about an hour.

The Irrigation Department authorities have decided to transfer four regulator beldars to faraway places apart from calling their explanations.

Executive Engineer SR Khatkar said the beldars, Kartar Masih, Himmat Kumar, Sukhwinder and Avtar Singh, forgot to open the gates of the Kasur Branch Uppar (KBU) canal originating from the Tibri head. He added an explanation from Gurdial Singh, junior engineer, who was manning the Tibri head, had also been sought.

Residents, who were fast asleep, ran for safety after an alert was sounded on the public address system of the village gurdwara by preacher Surjit Singh. He noticed water entering the houses while on the way to the gurdwara.

Many residents suffered losses with their electronic gadgets and other household goods getting damaged in water.

Superintendent engineer DS Gill said action would be taken against erring officials.

Meanwhile, villagers demanded compensation for their losses. They said erring officials be placed under suspension immediately.

Amritsar, August 20
Concerned at the number of cancer cases reported from south west Punjab the Guru Nanak Dev University will monitor natural uranium in water proving detrimental to health of people.

Reports from Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur, and Mansa districts said a large number of people had cancer due to polluted underground water. Preliminary probe by certain NGOs pointed out high content of uranium in water in the area. Environmentalists were concerned at toxic effluents being discharged into the Sutlej flowing through this area.

To analyse conventional and radioactive constituents in environment Physics Department of Guru Nanak Dev University has signed a memorandum with the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The department will also undertake research in the field of environmental sampling.

Vice-Chancellor Prof A S Brar said under the agreement the university would collect water samples from the these areas in collaboration with students and teachers of the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai. Samples would be analysed at the BARC by scientists of both institutes, he added.

Mohali, August 20
Members of the Mohali circle of the Technical Services Union of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) said here today that they would not accept the privatisation of the power board at any cost and were ready to make sacrifices to save it from being given into private hands.

Members of the union held a meeting here yesterday, which was presided over by circle president Lakha Singh. It was pointed out that the Punjab government had made all preparations to hand over the board to private parties by September 15 and as such workers had also chalked out their strategies for saving the power board from being privatised.

Lakha said the state committee had presented a charter of demands to the management of the PSEB and demanded that employees should be given revised pay scales and allowances at the earliest after settling the matter across the table.

It was also demanded that the decision to unbundle the power board should be cancelled and after passing a resolution in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha the Central government should be asked to cancel the Power Bill, 2003, and improve the present structure of the board after filling the vacant posts.

Amritsar, August 20
Sabir Bakshi of Islami Gate, Malerkotla, was arrested while he was boarding the Samjhauta Express at Attari station here today. He is suspected of working for the Pakistan’s ISI. Certain incriminating documents were recovered from his possession.

The arrested person is said to be a contractor and supplier of embroidery badges and flags of different units due to which he had access to units, officers and information wanted by his operators, identified as Nasir and Iqbal Choudhry, in Pakistan. He was reportedly in contact with them on the phone.

A case under Sections 3/4/5/9 of the Official Secrets Act and 120-B of the IPC, has been registered.