Bathinda, October 30
To broad base its protest against “government inaction” in bringing to book the perpetrators of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) has started approaching all religious and political outfits in the state for support in observing a complete bandh in Punjab on November 3.

“We are firm not only on bringing all activities to a standstill but also to rouse the centre out of its slumber. For this, we have been humbly seeking support from all,” said KAC convener Bhai Mohkam Singh, here today. Terming it as a black day in history, the KAC activists said they were urging people to observe the day by putting up black flags atop their houses.

Replying to a query, the convener said the KAC had sent a letter to the ruling SAD (B) leaders to extend support to the bandh call to which a positive response was expected. Taking the state and union governments to task, Mohkam Singh alleged that even after 25 years had passed, the respective governments had failed to bring the culprits to book and added, “The incident amounted to the killing of the constitution of India.”

The KAC leaders and Dal Khalsa said they had decided to lodge a symbolic protest outside the Mini-secretariat in Bathinda on November 11, against the arrest of Sikh leaders who had been arrested in the Dera-Sikh clash that took place on October 4 at Mehraj village in Bathinda. “The case was falsely registered against our leaders when they opposed the naam charcha of Dera Sacha Sauda. It is just votebank politics which has been making Sikhs a target of police atrocities just to please the Dera followers,” the activists alleged.

Delivering a copy of the memorandum submitted to civil and police administration, the activists of KAC and Dal Khalsa said they had demanded the release of all arrested 'innocent' Sikhs, stopping of raids at their houses and an end to the harassment of their kin.

“If the administration fails to accept our demand, we will intensify our stir on November 11 and the administration would be responsible for the consequences,” they said. Targeting the Punjab police, the activists of the Sikh outfits said that the police officials had been manipulating things in their own way and taking action based upon their feedback¸ CM Parkash Singh Badal had been taking anti-Sikh steps that was condemnable.

Moga, October 30
The All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) and Sikhs for Justice, a US-based human rights group, have decided to raise a memorial at Delhi in the memory of those Sikhs, who were massacred in the November 1984 riots in the aftermath of the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Revealing this to The Tribune, Karnail Singh Peer Mohammed, president of the AISSF and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun chairman of Sikhs for Justice said site for the memorial would be selected within a fortnight and in this respect a five-member-committee had been constituted to purchase the land.

This memorial would have completed data of all the Sikhs massacred in riots with details of their families. “We will hold ardas in the memory of victims on November 3 at the Bangla Sahib gurdwara in Delhi.

“After the 'ardas' a protest march and a rally outside parliament would be held. On November 2, a memorandum would be presented to the Prime Minister and members of the Parliament seeking justice for the victims' families," he said.

The radical Sikh groups had already called for a bandh in Punjab on November 3 to protest against the failure of the government to punish the culprits responsible for the riots.

The association of victims' families had also announced to block rail traffic in the state on November 6 to raise their protest against Congress-led union government. 

Fazilka, October 30
A girl eloped with her paramour along with cash and jewellery allegedly after administering sedatives to her family members on Thursday night.

As per the report lodged with Sadar police, Fazilka, by her maternal uncle Jawahar Singh his niece Chhindo Bai (21) (name changed), a resident of village Nukeria of this sub-division allegedly had an affair with a boy of the same village. Father of the girl, a head constable of Punjab Police, Harbans Singh, had died about two decades back.

The couple belonged to different castes. The girl's family objected to their relationship and settled her marriage somewhere else.

The marriage had been fixed for November 7. However, the couple reportedly conspired to run away. Interestingly, marriage of the girl's younger sister had also been fixed on November 9.

On the other hand, family members of Chhindo Bai, who had gathered at their residence to attend her wedding, were unaware of her trick. She cleverly added some sedative in the tea, served to her mother and other relatives on Thursday night.

Following this, her mother Pritam Kaur and other relatives became unconscious after consuming the tea. Meanwhile, Chhindo reportedly collected about 100 grams of golden jewellery and a cash of Rs 40,000 lying in her house and some important documents and eloped with her boyfriend.

Jawahar Singh, his wife Maya Bai, who were living adjacent to the house of Chhindo Bai, Boota Singh and Gurmej Singh were admitted to the civil hospital, Fazilka.

As per the Emergency Medical Officer Dr Ajay Narang, Gurmej Singh, Boota Singh were discharged after giving first aid to them while Jawahar Singh and his wife Maya Devi were admitted following the complaint of vomiting.

Both of them were discharged on Friday. Police is investigating into the matter. 

Abohar, October 30
Resenting that the exploitation of paddy growers remains unchecked even after Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board, had grilled the state government agencies during his maiden visit to the grain market here early this week, local legislator Sunil Jakhar on Friday demanded that the whole episode be inquired through the federal investigation agency CBI.

Recalling that neither the principal secretary to the CM nor Lakhowal had been able to set purchase of paddy in order here, Jakhar blamed the state government for not pleading with the Central government over MSP of Basmati 1121 besides betraying the growers over the 201 variety of paddy.

The commission agents have now threatened to launch an agitation over delay in purchase of produce and payments thereof.

This situation had never emerged when the Congress was in power, he claimed. 

Moga, October 30
The president of Bhartiya Kisan Union and chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board Ajmer Singh Lakhowal has rejected Rs 50 per quintal bonus on paddy and said this small amount was not acceptable to the farmers of the state, who had to bear high input costs to save their paddy crop from the drought.

Speaking to The Tribune, he said the government should have announced a bonus of at least Rs 200 per quintal.

Lakhowal also expressed his concern over non-procurement of the PAU-201 variety of paddy following reports that the millers were not willing to buy it because the breakage percentage is above the prescribed limit of five per cent after milling it.

Another problem the millers had pointed out was brownish colour of the rice grain instead of white, which requires extra labour to polish it.

Badiala (Bathinda), October 30
MP from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal today extended invitation to every political party to associate itself with the “Nanhi Chhaan” (a drive against social evils like female foeticide, drug abuse and dowry) to make it a mass movement. She said if the political parties did so then it would be a great social service.

Paying rich tributes today to the founder of Punjabi Suba movement Sant Baba Fateh Singh on his 37th death anniversary at his native Badiala village, about 50 km from Bathinda, Harsimrat also called upon the people to disown the social evil of dowry to curb the tendency towards female foeticide as many people kill unborn girls in the wombs due to the prevailing dowry system.

She also expressed worry over the axing of trees saying, “We are spoiling the environment by cutting trees in large numbers and it is leading to many natural calamities like earthquake and floods.”

Harsimrat urged the youth to follow the path of sacrifices as shown by Sant Baba Fateh Singh to take Punjab towards prosperity, progress and development.

The MP also said the Centre had played a cruel joke on Punjab farmers by announcing a meagre Rs 50 per quintal bonus on paddy. She also opposed import of rice or sugar by the Centre and said she would raise voice against it in the Lok Sabha.

When activists of the BKU (Ugrahan) submitted her memorandum opposing privatisation of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), she assured them that CM Badal would not initiate any step against the interests of the state’s farmers.

She also inaugurated a dirty water disposal system in the village. On the occasion, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Jagdip Singh Nakai, SAD MLA from Bhadaur Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas and former chairman of Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board Tejinder Pal Singh Sandhu also paid tributes to Sant Baba Fateh Singh. They remembered the sacrifices made by him for the achievement of Punjabi Suba and the Shiromani Akali Dal as president of the Dal. 

Bathinda, October 30
Harsimrat distributed development grants worth Rs 3 crore during her four-day tour to 30 villages of her constituency. Her tour concluded this evening.

Talking to The Tribune today, Bathinda deputy commissioner Rahul Tewari said that out of the Rs 3 crore grants, about Rs 2.75 crore had been distributed from the rural development funds (RDF) while remaining amount had been distributed by the MP from her MPLAD funds for various development works in the villages.

On the last day of her tour, Harsimrat visited Jethuke, Chotian, Jeond, Gharreli, Badiala, Gharrela and Mandi Kalan villages and distributed grants worth Rs 50 lakh. She distributed grants for schools, streets, drains, boundary walls of ponds and cremation grounds, disposal of dirty water etc. — TNS

Bathinda, October 30
There is no senior citizen residing in Bathinda who has done something worth appreciating while Talwandi Sabo has only one.

At least this is what the administration thinks, otherwise, it would have found someone to receive the Vayoshrestha Samman award conferred by the Centre.

Unconfirmed reports state that the deputy director, pensions, Punjab, in August this year, had directed deputy commissioners of all the districts to identify senior citizens in their districts who have done work that deserved some kind of recognition.

The deputy commissioners then directed the SDMs to submit the names of such deserving senior citizens.

Sadly, it has been over two months now and the administration very conveniently forgot about it. The only exception was Rampura Phul that gave just one name. Bathinda stated that the data must be with the tehsildar and Talwandi Sabo stated that in their view, no senior citizen in their area deserves any kind of award.

Rahul Tewari, deputy commissioner, Bathinda, stated that he was aware of this and if the SDMs have forgotten, then he would issue them a reminder. But a reminder would only help if the SDMs feel that their areas have senior citizens who have spent their erstwhile years doing something worthwhile.

The categories under these awards were to be given away include those for best panchayat, for creative art, lifetime achievement award, award for courage and bravery, best mother award, award for knowledge, institution award for service, centenarian award, award for being a sports person and award for economic leadership.

Seeing the above categories, sports is surely one field where Punjab would have the highest number of entries but the authorities feel that no one in their area ever played any sport. And no woman was worth being called the best mother even after spending their lives upbringing children.

Anil Garg, SDM, Talwandi Sabo, doubting the potential of the old generation, stated that for achieving an award, a person has to do something worthwhile. “There has to be an achievement that can be highlighted for getting an award and we could not find any senior citizen who has done anything worth getting an award,” Garg said.

The Bathinda SDM washed his hands off the matter by saying that the tehsildar concerned must be aware of the report.

Uma Shanker, SDM, Rampura Phul, without trying to identify anyone else in his area, said, “Principal Hazari Lal Bansal whose name has been sent by us is the only person I know who deserves an award and we know this, so we did not bother to carry out any identification exercise.”

Bathinda, October 30
To keep city neat and tidy and also to help residents in their household works, like depositing telephone or power bills, the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) is now going to launch a special drive.

Roping in two NGOs, the BMC will adopt the Urban Estate phase-I as a part of pilot project, which would later be implemented throughout the city.

As per the plan, the NGOs will engage nearly two dozen youth, who, dressed up in uniform and equipped with all required tools, will not only sweep the city but will also provide value added services, for example depositing telephone, electricity and water bills, to the residents. Furthermore, the NGOs will provide services like delivering ration from market at the door step, etc.

To keep a tab over the activities of the youth engaged by the NGOs, a group of about 11 persons including senior citizens would also be formed, which will be named as Resident Welfare Association (RWA).

The volunteers of the RWA will also include students but only of classes of eighth and ninth.

The prime focus of the NGOs workers would be to keep the city clean, for which they will charge a certain amount from the households. According to initial structure, the volunteers will collect garbage from door to door.

Initially the policy seems very promising as the sweepers appointed by the NGOs will have to respond the call of any household within a short fixed span of time.

The drive is a brain child of commissioner BMC, Ravi Bhagat, who is firm to launch it in the first week of next month.

Disclosing the objectives of the drive, Ravi Bhagat said, “The scheme is being introduced with a hope to facilitate the society as well as to make the city clean and beautiful. Whether we get success or failure, it is step in the service of society. For one thing we are sure that once the scheme is launched, no one will be allowed to litter in that area.”

About the reason to engage NGOs, he said, “The scheme is an alternate way as we do not have direct power to appoint any safai karamchari and as of this scheme, we need no approval.”

Bathinda, October 30
The raining ash of the thermal power station and smoke created due to burning of paddy stubble by farmers these days have resulted in a high level of air pollution in the city and its vicinity. These are causing problems not only to those suffering from respiratory diseases, but to others also.

The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), which had earlier announced to initiate modernisation of the two leftover units of the thermal station in September so as to prevent air pollution in the town, has not started the work yet. The Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) was assigned the job in 2006.

However, the blend of ash and stubble smoke has been creating smog, particularly in the evening when visibility on the highway also gets reduced. Farmers are burning stubble caring two hoots about the orders of respective district magistrates against such activity.

A senior functionary of the thermal station said the BHEL has now given an assurance to undertake the modernisation work from December 1 when the unit IV would be shut down and work on the unit III would be started after its stabilisation.

The BHEL has been delaying the work, but the recent letter shot by Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Member of Parliament, to the union minister for heavy industries Vilasrao Deshmukh pointing out the delay by the BHEL in handling the fly ash problem seems to have somewhat moved the things. The chairman of the PSEB and other senior functionaries held a meeting with BHEL authorities at Hyderabad on October 10 to finalise the modalities.

Local residents, who had been facing the fly ash problem for the past several years, are taking the announcement of the PSEB with a pinch of salt. They point out that the PSEB has in the past fixed many deadlines but the chimneys of the thermal station continue to puff out fly ash that was polluting the environment.

In her letter to Deshmukh, Harsimrat said “we have to brave scenes of public outrage” because of an inordinate delay in rectifying the menace of fly ash. She said the BHEL has not even finalised the contract for civil works.

Electro-static precipitators were a few years ago installed in two of the four units of the thermal station and this did not solve the problem of air pollution. It was expected to take at least nine months each to modernise the two leftover units.

Suspended Particulars Matter (SPM) level of the air in the town was on the higher side because of the thermal station. 

Bathinda, October 30
The Punjab government today appointed new deputy commissioners (DCs) for the districts of Faridkot and Muktsar.

Vijay N Zade, additional excise and taxation commissioner, has been appointed the DC of Faridkot in place of VK Meena, who goes as special secretary, PWD (R&B). Varun Roojam, additional DC (Development), Muktsar, has been promoted as deputy commissioner of the district. He will replace Rajat Aggarwal, who goes as the Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board. — TNS

Badiala (Bathinda), October 30
More than 430 persons were examined at a breast cancer-cum-general medical check-up camp organised by the district health authorities on the premises of village gurdwara here today.

They were examined for gynae, ENT, dental, eyes and general diseases etc.

Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu, senior medical officer, Ballianwali village, said about 102 persons had also been examined by the Roko Cancer team. He added that after check-up, mammography had been conducted on about 25 women for detecting breast cancer.

Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal met the doctors and patients at the camp. She also spoke to the members of the Roko Cancer team.