Tarn Taran, September 15
A farmers’ protest against the move to unbundle the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), the power tariff hike and anti-farmer government policies turned violent when the police resorted to a cane charge resulting in injuries to more than 30 farmers and labourers.

Six cops , including, SP Paramdeep Singh Teja, and a reporter of a vernacular daily were also injured in the clash between farmers and policemen near the the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

While two leaders of farmers, Baldev Singh Pandori and Manjit Singh Sakkianwali, were beaten up by police officials led by SP Teja, the reporter of a news channel was also allegedly manhandled by the police officials who, even grabbed his camera and allegedly prevented other photographers from taking photographs of the incident which, took place around noon.

The farmers were protesting under the aegis of the Joint Platform of Mass Organisations comprising farmers and other organisations , the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha, the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujwan Sabha, the Punjab Students Federation and the Janwadi Istri Sabha. They were demanding roll back of power tariff hike , revocation of the Electricity Regulatory Act 2003, roll back of stamp duty hike , and compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to kin of all three farmers killed in recent lathi charge on protesting farmers by the Chandigarh Police.

The police officials resorted to lathi charge when appeals to farmers to leave the place as their act violated Section 144 of the CrPC was not heeded and farmers began raising slogans against the state government and the administration. As policemen started cane charge , protesting farmers started hurling stones at police officials, making the situation tense. Panes of the Punjab and Sindh Bank building and of two vehicles of a taxi stand also got smashed in the incident. The police has booked those who had allegedly attacked the SP and other police officials under Section 307 of the IPC. Farmers alleged nearly 200 of them were detained by the police which, also beat them up without provocation.

Six policemen and over 30 police officials received injuries in the clash in which, Ajit’s reporter Jatinderjit Singh was also injured. Both, SP Teja and Jatinderjit Singh were hospitalised.

SSP Sukhdev Singh Brar said the police officials who, cane -charged media persons would be identified and suspended.

On the call of 17 ‘Mass Organisations’ and the Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, farmers gheraoed the the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner’s office and highlighted demands. The two separate rallies were addressed by leaders of different organisations Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala, Rattan Singh Randhawa, Balwinder Singh Aulakh, Satnam Singh Pannu and Balraj Singh Bhail.

The farmer leaders alleged the state and the central government had turned out to be puppets in the hands of capitalist forces and were following their dictation by privatising public sector bodies like the PSEB. They demanded the Punjab government should revoke the Electricity Act, 2003, in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and roll back the power tariff hike .The farmers also asked the government to implement the Swaminathan Committee report.

Chandigarh, September 15
The core committee of the SAD that met here tonight has hailed the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in resolving the issue of the forcible takeover of a historic gurdwara in Kurukshetra, but at the same time demanded the arrest of all those guilty in the outrage. The meeting was presided over by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and attended among others by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Further the core committee passed a resolution asking the Centre not to take any decision on the contentious issue of Chandigarh without consulting Punjab. Giving details of the meeting, the media adviser to the Chief Minister said, “It was stated at the meeting that Chandigarh belonged to Punjab and the Centre had been warned not to take any administrative decision with regard to the city without seeking approval from Punjab”.

The SAD has decided to observe the 300th anniversary of Sikh soldier Banda Bhadur, who fought the Battle of Sirhind on May 12, 1710, to oust Mughal Newab Wazir Khan and establish Sikh rule in Punjab.

The core committee also announced that President Pratibha Patil had agreed to visit Punjab in November and participate in two functions to promote “Nani Chaan”. One function will be held at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and the second was likely to be held at Panjab University, Chandigarh. 

Ferozpur, September 15
An old man’s ordeal for getting the Shagun Scheme cheque for his daughter’s wedding ended today when he died outside the Social Welfare Office following alleged ill-treatment by the office staff. According to Manjit Singh, son of the deceased Bakar Singh, his father had been visiting the Social Welfare Office for the past several months to get the Shagun Scheme amount for his sister’s wedding which had been solemnised on February 22 this year.

Manjit said his father had put an application for the scheme amount in March this year. Since that time, he had been making futile attempts to get the cheque as he had taken loan for the wedding, however, the staff had been insulting him time and again, whenever he visited the office, he alleged.

“My father must have visited the office more than a dozen times,” rued Manjit, adding that finally when Bakar went today to ask about the progress, the officials deputed there allegedly snubbed him and passed uncouth words, which he took to his heart and collapsed outside the office.

Bakar’s relatives further alleged that the welfare office has become a den of corruption. Last month only, sleuths of the Vigilance Department had nabbed the superintendent of this office while allegedly accepting bribe in lieu of issuing Shagun Scheme cheques. The Vigilance Bureau had also seized hundreds of cheques meant to be distributed to needy persons from the custody of the office staff, but it seems nothing has changed.

Darshan Lal, tehsil welfare officer, denied regarding any of the office staff members misbehaving with the deceased. He said the department has received the cheques against all applications submitted before January 2009, and since Bakar had applied in March, the amount against his application has not been received by the office yet, hence the delay.

Sangrur , September 15
After the Centre put off unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) till December 15 following protests by farmer organisations, a ‘victory rally’ was organised today by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) at Lehragaga, 40 km from here in which farmers and farm workers took part.

President of the Lehragaga unit of the BKU (Ugrahan) Balbir Singh Jhaloor urged Punjab government to have the move on unbundling of the PSEB, scrapped in the Assembly. He criticised the government for imposing ‘unannounced ban’ on the BKU (Ugrahan). He added the state government was defaming the BKU (Ugrahan) by linking it with the Naxalite movement. He said the BKU (Ugrahan) was an organisation of farmersonly.

The rally demanded compensation of Rs 10 lakh and government job each for the families of three farmers killed on September 8. It also demanded compensation for the injured farmers.

The rally also demanded release of the arrested farmers without condition. It also asked the government to cancel the ‘false’ FIRs, registered against farmers, and demanded registration of cases against the policemen, responsible for the death of farmers.

The rally was addressed by BKU (U) leaders including Balbir Singh Jhaloor, Jasvir Singh Maidewas, Amrik Singh Dhindsa, Jaswant Singh Tolawal, Dilbagh Singh Harigarh. Farmers hold rally, want end to PSEB privatisation row.

Bathinda: A joint forum of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) Ugrahan, the Kirti Kisan Sabha, the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, the Inqulabi Mazdoor Sabha and the Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, held a rally outside the mini- secretariat, here today. Terming it victory rally, farmers said it was symbolic protest, after the state government’s move to unbundle the PSEB got another extension.

The leaders spoke against the government and its agencies, referring to the September 8 incident in which many farmers were injured and some vehicles damaged, they claimed success in having the unbundling move put off by three months. They alleged the police had been raiding and finding them absent using foul language with women. They claimed in September 8 protest, three farmers died one at Chandigarh and two while returning to villages.

They urged all to assemble for the Bhog ceremonies of Bogh Singh of Ramanvaas village and Ajaib Singh of Behman Jassa Singh village on September 17 and then for Jagsir Singh of Chanarthal at his village on September 18.

Farmers wanted the PSEB privatisation controversy ended and compensation for deceased and injured in Chandigarh rally, release of all arrested leaders, compensation for damaged vehicles and stopping arrests. They also wanted compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each suicide victim farmer’s family. They demanded MSP of cotton fixed as Rs 5500 per quintal and for paddy Rs 1700, besides, land ownership and 10 marla plots for landless peasants.

Chandigarh, September 15
The Punjab BJP’s demand for rolling back the hike in power tariff, ordered by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission, will now be taken up at the SAD-BJP alliance coordination committee meeting that is likely to be held tomorrow.

BJP general secretary and state in charge for Punjab Balbir Punj is likely to attend the meeting of the coordination committee, according to Industries and Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia.

In another development, following stiff opposition from the BJP, the state Cabinet, which was expected to ratify the new tariff order at its meeting scheduled for tomorrow, will not take up the issue for the present.

Meanwhile, the BJP claims that it has got tired of explaining the importance of putting the economy on the right track to its alliance partner, which is not ready to even think of charging even a minimum amount for power supply to the agricultural sector. “If they are ready to take a loan for subsidies, why not more of the same?” a senior leader said, adding that the present loan amount on account of subsidies was Rs 7,650 crore.

The BJP is now demanding that the entire Rs 1,296 crore power hike burden be borne by the government, saying if freebies were okay for one sector, why not for all?

According to sources, BJP legislators are miffed that the core constituency of the BJP, urban domestic consumers, commercial consumers and industrialists, are suffering even as the SAD has agreed to increase the agriculture subsidy to protect its core constituency. The legislators, who met last Friday under the chairmanship of Kalia, have also raised the question of collective responsibility, saying the coalition government could not have differing stands on a single issue.

Meanwhile, a dossier prepared by the party for discussion with its alliance partner states that if agricultural production in Punjab has reached saturation, so has industry. It states that industries in the state are already suffering due to the subsidies given to Himachal as well as other neighbouring states. It also claims that increasing power cuts and a reduction in the industrial load have further affected the profitability of the industrial sector besides causing further losses to the PSEB, which is diverting expensive power earmarked for the industry to the agricultural sector. 

Bathinda, September 15
In the aftermath of the lawyer-transporter clash that took place here yesterday, the District Bar Association (DBA), Bathinda, today gave a statewide call for strike in all courts tomorrow.

The lawyers again blocked the main gate of the bus stand for an hour from 11am today. But the protest passed off peacefully.

Though the dharna was slated to lodge protest against the recently made amendments in the Punjab Court Fee Act to hike the judicial stamp fee charge, the lawyers blamed the state government and the police for not paying heed to their complaint regarding the clash.

Jasvir Singh, chief, DBA, Bathinda, said: “During a meeting with the SSP, we named all accused, who assaulted our advocates in writing. Despite this, the cops did not book any of them.” “Chiefs of the associations have assured of going on a one-day strike,” he added.

The agitating lawyers alleged police officers appointed here were men of the Badals and they were not serving the state. Some of the accused they had named were attached with transporters with proximity to the Badals, they added.

They said, “The transporters abducted two of our lawyers when we were about to stage a dharna. They threatened to kill us by running their buses over us. Only after this that they retaliated and damaged two buses.” They demanded that a case against the accused under Sections 364, 307, 342, 323, 148, 149 and 120-B of the IPC.

SP (D) Ajay Maluja said, “We have been waiting for a medical report but in the meantime, a case according to the situation has been registered and a probe has been marked to the DSP (City).”

On the other hand, Sardeep Singh, the owner of New Deep Transport, who led the transporters and their staff yesterday, said: “I condemn the incident. If advocates have personally approached us, we would have cooperated with them.

SANGRUR: In protest against the hike in court fee, DBA members abstained from work on the second day of their two-day agitation today. They blocked traffic near the main bus stand. DBA chief Gurtej Singh Grewal said they would continue protests till the government withdrew the notification.

Ludhiana, September 15
Choosing to travel by the economy class of the Swaran Shatabdi express, the AICC general secretary, Rahul Gandhi, seemed to have taken austerity too far as the common man suffered the VIP menace not only at the railway station but on board the train also.

A number of passengers were stranded at the Ludhiana railway station and several of them were not allowed to enter the premises due to the heavy security cover for Rahul's visit.

Platform number 1, where the train carrying Rahul had to halt, wore a deserted look as common people were not allowed inside. Only a small cordoned-off area was abuzz with senior Congress leaders.

As Shatabadi halts at Ludhiana for a few minutes only, it was a difficult exercise for the passengers to board and alight from the train to Amritsar.

Passengers on board the train said Coaches number 2, 3 and 4 were virtually taken over by Special Protection Group commandos. Rahul travelled in Coach number 3.

‘‘The SPG men were in their civvies. As they were wearing a stern look, we could know they were SPG commandos. They were frisking the passengers thoroughly. What was the fun of this travel? It was better that he went by a chopper. At least the inconvenience would have been avoided,’’ said Puja Sharma, a passenger in Coach number 2.

Narinder Singh, another Amritsar-bound passenger, said it was a tense journey due to a VVIP travelling along.

While he travelled in economy class, the railways went a little overboard when the waiters from the executive class were asked to serve Rahul. Dressed like a groom, a waiter Ram Swadesh said he was specially asked to serve the VVIP guest. ‘‘He had a vegetarian breakfast,’’ said Swadesh.

Station Superintendent RK Sharma, too, had to post 15 probationary ticket checkers at the station today to help passengers who might miss the train. But not a single person missed it.

Rahul was received warmly by senior Congress leaders, including PPCC chief Mahinder Singh Kaypee, leader of opposition in the legislative assembly Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, PYC president Ravneet Singh Bittu, former PYC president and MP Vijay Inder Singla and Rajya Sabha Member Dharam Pal Sabharwal and former PPCC president HS Hanspal and former minister Lal Singh. 

Sangrur, September 15
Following a 150-foot-wide breach in the Ghaggar river near Makror Sahib village (near Moonak) on Sunday night, Punjab Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon today ordered a special girdawari in five villages in the Moonak area to asses the losses suffered by farmers.

After this breach, water entered standing crops on about 3,000 acres in Moonak, Phuld, Surjan Bhaini, Salemgarh and Makror Sahib villages.

The special girdawari was ordered by the Minister when he visited the breach site at Makror Sahib to take stock of the situation.

The Irrigation Minister said a project would be prepared to make the footpath pucca on one side of the 22-km-long embankments of the Ghaggar.

Moonak SDM R.P.S. Walia said the Makror Sahib breach would be plugged completely by tonight. He said the river was still flowing below the danger mark (752 ft). It was touching the gauge at the 748.2 foot mark at RD-460 at Khanauri this evening.

The SDM said the water had entered standing crops on about 2,900 acres in five villages of the Moonak area.Crops had been submerged at some places. The SDM further said he had sent a report to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. According to his report, the water entered standing crops on about 1,900 acres in Moonak, 500 acres in Phuld, 300 acres in Surjan Bhaini, 65 acres in Salemgarh and 102 acres in Makror Sahib.

Chandigarh, September 15
The Punjab Industrial Policy 2009, which was to be implemented on January 1, 2009, is yet to see the light of the day.

The policy is reportedly ready, sealed and bound but is awaiting a nod from the Cabinet for the past several months. Sources say there is no mention of the policy in the agenda listed out for the Cabinet meeting, scheduled to take place tomorrow, either.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has called for a meeting to discuss the policy once again on September 18, the sources add. The industrialists who have been waiting for over two years for the policy to be implemented are, however, not very hopeful that the “sluggish” state government would move any further than holding endless meetings on the issue.

The SAD had stated in its manifesto that the policy would be in place within six months of their coming to power, but there is still no policy in sight.

The one-time settlement scheme that was part of the policy was announced hours before the code of conduct was enforced in the state following the announcement of the general election. This was followed by the announcement of the agro-industrial policy. Then the state came up with the special economic zone (SEZ) policy. Yesterday, Kalia announced that the information technology policy, a part of the industrial policy, would also be announced soon..