Bathinda, September 14
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ended the speculation that Harsimrat Kaur Badal is being projected as chief of the Istri Akali Dal saying she “neither has the time nor the desire for it.”

When asked about the analysis of the SAD’s Vichar Sammelan held at Shimla, Badal said, “It was a successful meeting and it is wrong to see it just as a platform for Sukhbir to express his views. We received views from all sections to improve the working of the party.”

Speaking about the recent statement of Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal condemning the way the government was functioning, the CM said, “He is very dear to us and we will discuss the matter with him in detail.”

About the MSP for cotton, Badal said, “The authority to fix the MSP lies with the Union government. It is unfortunate that every year we have to struggle for a favourable price for Punjab’s crops.”

Replying to a query related to farmers’ protest against the unbundling of the PSEB, he said, “No decision has been reached so far on the unbundling of the PSEB. Some people due to vested interests have created a hue and cry throughout the state. Let the time come, all points would be discussed at length.”

About the SAD’s policy for Haryana assembly polls, Badal said, “We have not decided on that yet. However, the party would take a unanimous decision soon.”

g Housing project for poor inaugurated. See P4

Bathinda, September 14
Dedicating the occasion to Nobel laureate Dr Norman E Borlaug, father of the green revolution, who passed away on Sunday, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) organized a Kisan Mela at its regional station in Bathinda, today. The fair focused on the theme: Save Environment, Save Punjab.

Though the fair had something for everyone, the main attraction remained the sale counters set up for seeds of different crop varieties including PBW 550, DBW 17, PBW 343, PBW 502, PBW 509 and PBW 373 of wheat.

People were witnessed standing in queues at counters for barley, repressed mustard, desi gram, oats and different seeds of winter vegetable crops.

According to details collected, as many as 18,475 bags of different seeds were made available for sale.

At the fair, a number of sale promotions stalls were installed by various private companies, dealing in eatables, pesticides, tools, vehicles and gadgets. Meanwhile, the agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and fisheries, all departments had their own stalls to spread awareness among farmers, besides, motivating them to adopt the ancillary trades. A special stall was arranged to test the groundwater.

During the fair, an awareness camp was organized, where eminent educationists of the agriculture sector, addressed the gathering of farmers. Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, highlighted the specific constraints of agriculture. He suggested to the farmers to keep pace with the changing times and bring innovation in their field with the suggestion of experts.

Expressing worry over the condition of the farmers, Kahlon said the government should formulate pro-farmer policies and provide the required support to the PAU to carry out need-based programmes. In his remarks, the vice-chancellor PAU, MS Kang exhorted farmers to provide their feedback to PAU to derive the benefit of research and extension programmes.

Among other speakers, district SAD (B) chief Sikander Singh Maluka, director, extension education, Mukhtiar Singh, director of research, PS Minhas, director of the regional station Bathnda, GS Buttar, additional director of communication, Jagtar Singh Dhiman were prominent.

Before concluding the event, 42 award winning entries of crop produce competition were awarded certificates.

Bathinda, September 14
For over a decade now, this 66-year-old man has been languishing in the autumn of his life. Virtually discarded by his family, this retired teacher stays in an old-age home at Daad village near Moga. His two daughters, his only hope, have left him to settle in Canada along with their mother.

His fate remains undecided as the law under which he has applied for maintenance from his daughters does not have the authority to issue summons to someone settled in Canada.

The man, Baldev Singh Gill, is staying at Nishkam Vridhashram, having transferred his house to his elder daughter Satinder Kaur. After his retirement from service, Baldev wanted to go back to his village and stay with his parents. But his wife and daughters did not agree.

After a while, he applied for divorce in 1998. His daughters also filed a case against him wanting monetary assistance following which he transferred his house to his elder daughter.

He got a divorce in 2002 from his wife Joginder Kaur after a long trial. Baldev has now filed for maintenance from his two earning daughters settled in Canada.

His advocate Vinod Khunger states that Baldev has applied for maintenance under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

But under this law, there is no provision enabling issuing of summons to someone settled in Canada. Due to this, Baldev's case remains undecided.

Khunger also stated that according to the normal procedure, summon to be sent outside the country is sent by the diplomatic personnel in Delhi, but under the above law, there is no such provision.

He also said that judge, in his statement, while deciding his divorce case, had said, "The allegation of cruelty and desertion as set up by the petitioner (Baldev) against the respondent stands fully proved on record.

It is also admitted by one of the party that the relations between the parties became strained time and again. From the evidence on record, it is crystal clear that false applications were moved by the respondent against the petitioner and the respondent has tried to get the petitioner arrested after filing frivolous applications."

Baldev's daughters, while emigrating, also gave their list of family members, in which he does not find a mention favourably. So, all his hopes of being called by them to Canada someday is also unlikely to be fulfilled, compounding his agony. 

Fazilka, September 14
Nearly 60 students of the Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Fazilka, belonging to the SC category observed a protest dharna outside the SDM office, Fazilka and also took out a protest march through the town bazaars to support their demand to get full amount of scholarship.

They presented a memorandum to the SDM, in which, it has been alleged that the Directorate Technical Education and Industrial Training Department had announced to offer a scholarship of Rs 1,000 to the students belonging to the SC category.

They alleged that now the management is not giving full amount of scholarship to them.

Hardeep Sharma, principal, ITI said though it was stated in the advertisement published by the Welfare Department that a scholarship of Rs 1,000 would be given to the SC students but it was also clearly stated that the amount would be given to the students after deducting teachers' fee and other necessary expenses. Now, the students are being paid Rs 491 per month as scholarship, he added. — OC

Chandigarh, September 14
There may soon be a Hollywood production on “Female Foeticide: A Curse” written by Dr Harshindar Kaur, a paediatrician from Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala.

According to a press statement by Uzma Xina Kang received here yesterday, the main aim of the project is to create an awareness at the international level about the cultural trauma women face in Asian countries.

Kang, who has worked as the chief assistant director of the film “Provoked”, signed a contract with Harshindar Kaur and claimed the actors would be a mix of Hollywood and Bollywood and part of the film would be shot in Punjab and the rest in Hollywood.

The release claimed the proposed film would be the first of its kind on the topic and that the proceeds from the movie would go towards helping girls affected by the scourge.

Fazilka, September 14
Delhi has won Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak 20-Twenty Championship concluded here on Monday defeating Punjab by 10 wickets. In the final match played in the sports ground of MR Government College, Punjab won the toss and elected to bat. Punjab set the target of 129 runs before the team from Delhi.

The match proved to be one-sided as Delhi achieved the target within 14 overs only without losing any wicket. Mohinder Kaila of Punjab was declared the player of the tournament.

Pankaj Dhamija, general secretary of the Association, said that 32 teams of different states of the country participated in this 11-day tournament.

This mega tournament was organised by the Fazilka 20-Twenty Cricket Association with the cooperation of Punjab 20-Twenty Cricket Association.

“Players from different parts of the country have honoured the people of this border town with their participation in this tournament,” said Fazilka MLA, Surjit Kumar Jyani, while presiding over the concluding function. The games help the players and youths stay away from intoxicants and addiction, added Jyani.

He announced to give Rs 51,000 to the cricket association, that organised the tournament. While lauding the efforts of Fazilka Twenty-20 Cricket Association for organising the national level tournament in the small border town of Fazilka, Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav after witnessing the final match said players of Delhi team deserved to win the match as they played like champions.

He prayed for the bright future of the players. Hundreds of spectators including SDM Fazilka Amit Kumar, Municipal Council president Anil Kumar Sethi, Market Committee chairman Ashok Jairth and others witnessed the  final match.