Bathinda, August 30
On the one hand, the Punjab Congress will observe the martyrdom of Congress chief minister Beant Singh on Monday. On the other, the foundation stone of the college of veterinary sciences, the stone for which he had laid at Rampura Phul in the district, now stands lone, forgotten amid the bushes, perhaps a reminder of how much his wishes have got translated into reality.

According to information gathered from sources, the then CM Beant Singh had decided to open a college of veterinary sciences to overcome the shortfall of veterinary graduates in the state.

To turn the plan turn into reality, Beant Singh had laid the foundation stone on July 30, 1995, a month before his assassination on August 31, 1995. The stone, surrounded amid bushes, bears the name of Harbans Singh Sidhu, the then state minister for animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy development, as the host of the event.

As per the initial plan, the building of the college was to be constructed on forest land and sensing the gravity of situation, it was decided that till its completion, the classes had to run in the building of the Polyclinic at Bathinda.

Highly placed source in the then state government disclosed that there was a provision of Rs one crore made in the budget estimates of 1994-95, which comprised charges to meet the cost of compensatory afforestation for removal of forest cover for the building to come up, purchase of laboratory equipment and further, a sum of Rs 24 lakh was arranged in the next fiscal for the salary of the staff.

It has been informed that in the early stage, lakhs of rupees were spent on laying of the foundation stone and to pay the cost of compensatory afforestation but despite availability of more funds, no further action could be taken.

Speaking over the issue, director of the regional station of the PAU at Bathinda, GS Buttar expressed his ignorance about the project. However, he maintained that after the GADVASU came in existence, now the PAU does not offer the courses in veterinary sciences.

When asked, Congress MLA from Rampura Phul, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, parried the query saying he had to get details confirmed before making a statement.

Bathinda, August 30
Pitching in for the rescue of train passengers of Malwa, hitherto marginalised largely by the Indian Railways in terms of fast and better connectivity, Member of Parliament from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal has written letters to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for making residents’ train travel a convenient and pleasant experience besides drawing her attention towards the plight of passengers.

Giving voice to the long pending demand of the commuters, the MP sought introduction of a Shatabdi/Janshatabdi train between Ferozepur and Delhi via Bathinda, Mansa, Jakhal, Rohtak.

Drawing Railway Minister’s attention towards plight of passengers, Harsimrat wrote that over the years, railways had not paid sufficient attention in developing this route. Resultantly, there are very few trains connecting Delhi as compared to other routes.

Bathinda and Ferozepur are very important destinations. Apart from having one of the biggest Air Force Station and Cantonment, Bathinda is a major city and has large number of commuters, but in absence of trains, most of them are forced to commute on private vehicles, she stated and added that introduction of a Up/Down Shatabdi/Janshatabdi train had been the long standing demand of Bathinda.

It may be mentioned that there is no superfast train between Bathinda and India’s national capital – New Delhi— during the day time.

The Bathinda MP has also drawn the attention of Railway Minister towards another demand of the passengers i.e. additional AC chair car in the Sriganganagar-Delhi Inter City (2482/2481).

She writes that presently there is one AC chair car coach that falls largely insufficient to accommodate passengers and one finds heavy waitlist. She also demanded allocation of VIP quota for Bathinda AC chair car and HQ quota on the train.

It may be recalled that passengers of the area and their associations, including the Rail Passengers Association, Northern Zone, have been demanding one more AC chair car in the train. The Railways have withdrawn one of the two AC coaches from the Inter City Express citing economic non-viability and lack of passengers as the reasons.

However, the passengers have been terming the reason as unfounded saying that long waitlist for AC chair car certainly suggests that there was a demand for AC coaches in the train.

Besides, Harsimrat has also urged the Railway Minister for restoration of service of the 2BD/3BD train between Bathinda and Dhuri.

Harsimrat writes that on the demands of local passengers of Bathinda, the train was introduced and it was the most convenient train but it was abruptly cancelled in November 2008. Local passengers have been demanding for restoring the train and were agitated, she stated.

Even railway officials are of view that the area needs a train between Bathinda and Dhuri. “A Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) between Bathinda-Dhuri is the need of the hour,” a senior railway official said. 

Abohar, August 30
The Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal sanctioned Rs 5,00000 as special grant for the extension of the Bar room and library here during a reception, organised by the Bar Association, headed by the senior advocate Sukhpal Singh Sidhu on Sunday evening.

The association made a strong plea for upgrading the status of Abohar sub-division to district headquarter informing that one has to cover to and fro distance of 320 km for visiting Ferozepur for petty official work even.

The litigants have to incur huge amount besides day-long journey. If it is not possible at the moment to upgrade the sub-division, courts of additional deputy commissioner for appeals and additional district and sessions judge should be provided. One SP and Deputy Registrar Cooperative Societies be stationed at Abohar. The Consumer Forum should also have camp here.

Bar president Sidhu also urged junior Badal that chambers for members of the Abohar Bar Association be constructed with the cost of the government. Sukhbir assured that he would discuss all the demands with the Chief Minister.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, August 30
The Bofors gun, with a range of over 35 kilometres in the high-altitude terrain, which helped India win artillery duels with Pakistani Army on the LoC till the 2003 ceasefire between the two countries, will be on display during a spectacular event ‘India’s Army-your Army’ being organised by the Amogh Division at Maharaja Ganga Singh Stadium in Sriganganagar on September 4-5.

Major General AK Bakshi GOC said during a briefing tank, missiles, combat vehicles, tactical bridges, infantry weapons and nuclear biological and chemical suits will also be displayed. Elaborate arrangements to ferry students from the government schools of the border region are being made to acquaint them with the event. Educational institutions of Abohar area will also be welcomed, if they bring the students to Sriganganagar.

Quoting the inscription on the War Memorial at Kohima that read "When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we give our today", General Bakshi said the Indian Army has stood as an edifice of the national glory over the years. It has endeared itself to the masses that had rallied behind it unconditionally in times of crisis.

This is especially true about the border states like Rajasthan. The mega event is aimed at engaging the youth and masses towards the nation.

Elaborating, the General Officer Commanding said the event would also include display of the military band, daredevils motorcycle show, attack of an infantry section on an enemy and bunker, adventure activities like skydiving, hot air ballooning and para-motors.

To make the event more friendly with the local populace painting competition, run for fun for different age groups and tug of war will also be held.

Army officials will guide the youth who are aspiring to join the Army at a separate stall. Station commander Brigadier PS Sangwal was also present during the briefing.

Bathinda, August 30
Around 800 teachers attended an ETT teachers’ convention at Teachers’ Home here today. Later, they organised a protest rally and blocked a road near the local bus stand demanding that government schools be brought under the purview of the Education Department.

The teachers were protesting against a notification sent by the Badal government stating that government schools would remain under zila parishads and municipal committees and that teachers working under zila parishads would be made permanent. However, the schools would not be taken under the Education Department.

Members of the ETT Action Committee Jagseer Sahota, Jaswinder Jehangir, Ramesh Kumar, Rajesh Babbi, Heera Singh, Lakshman Singh and Harpal Singh said the ETT Teachers’ Union split up recently as one group in the union had compromised with the government and had agreed to the notification issued by the government.

The teachers said that by keeping schools under zila parishads, panchayats would be made responsible for the functioning of the school and it would not be up to the mark as panchayats do not have enough funds to run the schools. Moreover, teachers would have to depend on panchayats for their salaries, which would be delayed.

The teachers said they would organise dharnas at all district headquarters on September 9 to support their demands.

Bathinda, August 30
Three persons assaulted a girl, just a day before her marriage, at her house in Kothe Sucha Singh Wale village here today. The reason behind the assault is yet to be known.

Paramjeet Kaur Sidhu, president of the women wing of the Ek Noor Welfare Society, has alleged that one Harbans Singh along with two accomplices assaulted Binder Kaur when she returned home from a parlour. She claimed that the police had arrested the main accused while others were on the run.

The girl was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda.

However, Gurdev Singh Bhalla, SHO, Thermal Police station, denied the development saying the girl’s family has urged the police to take action after the wedding. — TNS

Abohar, August 30
Some car-borne miscreants allegedly looted Rs 32,000 at gun point from a truck driver on Sadulshehar-Abohar road recently, sources said.

As per the information, driver Goverdhan from village Mandia (Nokha) said he had loaded cement bags from Medta city to deliver the consignment at Abohar.

A blue coloured car bearing Delhi registration number overtook the truck near village Takhat Hazara and forced it to stop. Three persons alighted from the car and pointed a pistol at him and took away his money. A case has been registered at Sadulshehar police station, sources said. — OC

Bathinda, August 30
The National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) here, under its corporate social responsibilities (CSR) on Sunday organised a social forestry programme at Shergarh, a village adopted by it in the district, by planting 400 plants of teak, toona, sukchan, chakracia and eucalyptus. 

Rajbir Taya, in-charge, area office, explained to the villagers about the company's social welfare activities like plantation, sports meet, women and child health camp, animal health care camp and vocational training programme for women and youth. 

Villagers, including Mahant Mohinder Das, Dera Baba Jeeta Singh, Sukhminder Singh and Gurmail Singh, panchyat representatives, were also present. The village panchayat and Dera Mahant assured of taking care of planted trees. — TNS

Fazilka, August 30
An NGO, Social Welfare Society, organised an anaemia and dental check-up camp in new Gurukul Vidya Mandir here on Sunday. Giving details, president of the society Raj Kishore Kalra said that 250 children were examined in the camp by dental surgeons Dr RP Singh, Dr Vani, Dr Laghu Priya Loona and Dr Kunal Kirti Malik.

The students were provided free medicines. The doctors advised the students to get their haemoglobin and teeth examined regularly. They further gave important tips to the youngsters like avoiding fast food and making green vegetables and fruits a part of their meal. — OC 

At the age of seven years, Shraddha has passed her first exam in Bharat Natyam. Interestingly, this well-versed and confident girl child had started learning dance when she was just three years old, says mother Savitri. Father Girish, a builder in Ambarnath town of Maharashtra, too wondered at her interest in Indian classical dance and boosted her morale despite his busy business schedule.

Shraddha had performed in more than 100 functions in different states so far. During her recent visit to Rajasthan, she won thunderous applause from delegates from different states, who had traversed to attend a seminar organised by the religious wing of Brahmakumaris organisation in Academy for a Better World at Mount Abu. 

Dadi Janaki, the 93-year-old head of the globally spread organisation, not only blessed Shraddha by hugging and kissing her on the forehead and offering bouquet as she danced to the tune of ‘jiski rachna itni sunder voh kitna sunder hoga.’

Speaking to this correspondent on the sidelines of the function, Shraddha revealed that she gets up early in the morning, involves herself in Rajyoga meditation and prays to the Almighty to help her in becoming a good girl.

While studying in class II at the PMM Inner Wheel School founded by the Inner Wheel Club at Ambarnath, Shraddha has also developed interest in poem recitation and essay writing besides playing hockey. She participates in marathon races too.

There had been a male dance teacher in the school also but she practised more at the local Rajyoga centre of the Brahmakumaris and honed her talent. She remembers having received a beautiful doll from Dadi Parkashmani, the then head of the organisation when she spoke on the teachings of Dada Lekhraj (Brahma Baba) founder of the BK organisation, during a national conference.

Sharing her future plans, Shraddha said, “I am determined to become a good doctor to serve the society. There could be no other way to provide relief to the ailing humanity. My grandfather aspires so and has promised to give me a well-equipped 
hospital as a gift.” — Raj Sadosh