Jalandhar, November 19
After Uttar Pradesh farmers protested against sugarcane prices, Punjab farmers are now threatening to march to Delhi if the Union Government bans export of cotton.

Punjab is the leading producer of medium staple cotton in the north followed by Haryana and Rajasthan. The government has assessed a combined production of 35 lakh bales from the states, half of it from Punjab. Already 13.5 lakh bales have already arrived in these states. At present, cotton prices range from Rs 3,000-Rs 3,200 a quintal. In the international market, cotton is placed at about 68-69 cent per pound against last year’s price of 42 cent per pound. Cotton seed is also selling at Rs 1,550 per quintal against Rs 1,200 last year.

For the past several days, textile mill owners have been lobbying in Delhi to impress upon the Union Government to ban export of cotton to bring down its price in the domestic market. The Union textile and commerce and industry ministers have also supported the textile lobby.

However, Punjab farmers have said that banning export of cotton would hit them hard. “If export of cotton is banned, we will take on the government in a big way,” warned Bhartiya Kisan Union president Balbir Singh Rajewal. The price of cotton is expected to come down by Rs 300-400 a quintal the day its export is banned.

“To ban export, the textile lobby is presenting a misleading picture before the media and government about production of cotton in the country,” Rajewal said. “Earlier, the Union Government had played in the hands of sugar millers. They effected an amendment to replace the statutory minimum price (SMP) provision with fair and remunerative price (FRP) to deny proper price to sugarcane growers,” he added.

The Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) of India had projected production of 305 lakh bales in August. It was revised to 295 lakh bales in September after reports that some crop had been damaged due to rain in August-September in some parts of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. There was also a carry over of 72 lakh bales from last year. The textile industry, however, estimated production to hover around 260 lakh bales this year.

Even going by their assessment, around 332 lakh bales -- including the carry over stock -- would be available in the domestic market whereas the industry needs only 240 lakh bales to meet its requirement. After meeting the requirement of industry, there will be surplus 92 lakh bales available in the domestic market. After exporting 40 lakh bales, 52 lakh would still be available in the domestic market to use as carry over stock in the following year.

“Why is the industry lobbying to ban export when a huge surplus stock is projected to be available?” Rajewal questioned. He said that last year the Cotton Advisory Board had fixed a target to export 50 lakh bales but only exported 33 lakh. So far this year, traders have got orders to export 18 lakh bales.

Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder has strongly opposed the move to ban export of cotton.

Ludhiana, November 19
Sugar never tasted this bitter. While farmers are angry at the “low” fair and remunerative price (FRP), the common man is frowning at high sugar prices and millers are complaining of large losses.

Sugarcane farmers protesting in Delhi have been demanding FRP of Rs 260 a quintal against the uniform Rs 129.85. Millers have already started sending out SOS that they would be ruined if they had to pay this much.

Sugarfed chairperson Pritam Singh is firm that FRP should not be enhanced. “Only 9.5 kg sugar is extracted from one quintal sugarcane in Punjab and even lesser in Haryana. Last year, the mills had to bear a loss of about Rs 300 for every quintal of sugar, as production cost is higher in a state like Punjab that produces less sugarcane than others. If we have to pay farmers more, our mills would close down,” said.

Singh said farmers were not the only sufferers. “We have not been able to make much profit this year although one kilo sugar costs almost Rs 40 a kg. Last season, production cost us Rs 2,233 a quintal (almost Rs 22.50 a kg) while we sold sugar for Rs 20 a kg. The margin is going into the pockets of retailers and middlemen. We have not made anything,” said the Sugarfed chief. “Moreover, there will not be a sugarcane shortage every year,” he said.

Farmers say that the FRP fixed by the Centre would only push them to suicide. ‘‘We are already in debt. Input cost has gone up. We have to apply a lot of pesticides and fertilisers. How do they expect us to be happy with peanuts?” asked farmer leader Sharanjit Singh Mehlon.

Bharti Kisan Union president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said the government claim that FRP covers cost of production and offers profit is incorrect. ‘‘In fact, the FRP does not even cover the minimum cost of production,” said the farmer leader, adding that they had also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister.

Chandigarh, November 19
When eminent Sikh scholars, academicians, doctors, retired defence officers, bureaucrats, lawyers and businessmen owing allegiance to the International Sikh Confederation assemble here next Sunday, important issues facing the Sikh community are expected to come up for discussion.

The confederation’s general house meeting would review all major activities besides deliberating upon important and sensitive issues like ban on turban and carrying kirpan besides incidents of racial discrimination against Sikhs. Set up in 2005, the International Sikh Confederation has enlarged its area of activities to rural healthcare and education and youth empowerment besides continuing to delve on major issues, including turban and kirpan besides racial discrimination.

Confederation chief executive officer Lt-Gen (retired) Kartar Singh says that under its scheme to set up coaching centres for rural youth to prepare them for competitions and employment, a centre is already running at Mukandpur, Nawanshahr.

The confederation has adopted Sarkpara village in Fatehgarh Sahib as a model project to improve rural healthcare. It gives scholarships to deserving rural and needy students. Guru Nanak Education Fund, an initiative of Queen’s Council member Justice Mota Singh, has been one of its most commendable initiatives to educate rural and needy youth. It would also discuss implementation of the PM’s 15-point programme by allotting scholarships to rural students from minorities The growing problem of unemployment would also come up.

Eminent farm scientists including Sardara Singh Johl, Gurcharan Singh Kalkat besides Justice Mota Singh, Gurdev Singh Brar, Dr Gurbux Singh, Dr Sukhmandar Singh, Manjit Singh Calcutta, Dr Kulwant Kaur, Gurpreet Singh, Lt-Col Jagtar Singh Multani and Bibi Baljit Kaur represent the confederation.

Jalandhar, November 19
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) champion Khali, who recently returned to India, has been placed under suspension for being absent from duty since December last.

Dalip Singh Rana, alias Khali, is an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) with the 7th Battalion of Punjab Armed Police (PAP). Taking disciplinary action against Rana, the Commandant of the 7th Battalion, Arunpal Singh, suspended the wrestler on Wednesday.

Sources revealed that Inspector-General of Police G.S. Sahota had sent Rana’s file to the Commandant for necessary action after Khali applied for five-year leave last month. Arunpal Singh claimed Rana was on ex-India leave. He had already used his medical and privilege leave and was missing from duty since December last. Khali had applied for ‘extraordinary leave’ to which he was not entitled. The department had already asked him to join duty or face disciplinary action. The action was taken against him as he not only failed to join duty but also sought further leave that was not permissible.

Hailing from Dhirana village in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh, Khali is looked upon as an icon by many youngsters and has even bagged roles in Hollywood movies like the Adam Sandler-starrer ‘The Longest Yard’ and a forthcoming flick, ‘Get Smart with Bill Murray’.

Chandigarh, November 19
Poultry traders in Punjab are allegedly responsible for holding the prices of most poultry products, even as the wholesale prices of eggs and broilers have come down.

As a result, consumers have to pay unreasonably high prices for eggs (between Rs 45-Rs 50 per dozen) and broiler (Rs 120-Rs 130 per kg) in different cities of the state. This, even as the wholesale prices of eggs have come down from Rs 330 per 100 eggs to Rs 290 per 100 eggs and that of broiler from Rs 70 to Rs 50. While poultry farmers say there is no reason for the high prices in the market, the consumers are being forced to shell out more.

G. S. Bedi, president of the Amritsar Poultry Industries Association, said the wholesale prices had crashed not just in Punjab but also in the wholesale market in Delhi. “Generally, the prices of chicken and eggs rise at this time of year, backed by a rising consumer demand. But never ever have the prices gone so high. When the prices reached their peak at the beginning of this month, the demand had fallen sharply. That is when most poultry farmers decided to absorb the hike in input costs and lower the wholesale prices. The retail prices now continue to be high because the traders and retailers are making a profit,” he said.

Poultry farmers say this year the price of eggs is high because a number of layers had died due to heat stress earlier this year. The drought-like situation through the summer months led to a poor supply of eggs, leading to a price hike. Also, the high prices of poultry feed like maize (Rs 1150 per quintal now as compared to Rs 850 per quintal last November) and of soya (Rs 2000 per quintal now as compared to Rs 1400 per quintal last year) have increased the cost of production for the poultry farmers.

Surjit Singh Sagri, chairman of the North Zone Broiler Breeders Association, too, said that though the wholesale prices had come down now, the retailers and traders continued to hold on to the high prices. “The wholesale price of eggs is now Rs 290 per 100 eggs, while that of broiler is around Rs 46-50. So, the retail prices should have come down accordingly,” he said.

Amritsar, November 19
In what has come has come as a blow to the SGPC management, the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission (SGJC) has slapped a contempt notice on SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar and secretary Dalmegh Singh for allegedly violating the commission directions in respect of commissioning of a private firm for the audit of the SGPC.

The full bench of the commission has fixed December 1 as the next date of hearing in the case. The SGJC has issued the directions on a petition filed by Baldev Singh Sarsa, a leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) who had sought the revocation of a contract between the SGPC and a Chandigarh-based chartered accountants’ firm, Ms S.S. Kohli and Associates. The SGJC had directed the SGPC authorities on October 20 not to hire the firm at exorbitant monthly charges of Rs 3.5 lakh. Sarsa had pleaded that the contract had violated the norms and SGPC chief Avtar Singh had allegedly indulged in favouritism and nepotism.

The three-member commission bench, headed by Manmohan Singh Brar and comprising Amrik Singh Randhawa and Ajwant Singh Mann, today observed that in spite of the restrictions, the SGPC advertised in the papers to hire a firm and it was nothing but a violation of the directions, sources said.

The SGPC, it is learnt, had passed a resolution in the executive in January giving the contract to the firm and the same was challenged by Sarsa through a petition filed with the commission. The SGPC had publicised the application for tenders on November 11. “This is a clear-cut violation of the commission’s orders,”alleged Sarsa.

Amritsar November 19
The Dal Khalsa has taken exception to the manner in which the Sikh high priests pronounced tankhayia against Haryana SGPC members and summoned former Akal Takht jathedar Prof Darshan Singh.

Dal Khalsa general secretary Kanwarpal Singh said there was a growing sense that the Akal Takht Jathedar had drifted from his role and responsibility. “The neutrality of the Akal Takht has seemingly eroded with the biased approach of Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh. The concept of hukamnama has become a bit hazy over the years because of the manner in which edicts have been handed over in recent years,” alleged Kanwarpal Singh.

The Sikh high priests had also sought an explanation from Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Paramjit Singh Sarna for allegedly disallowing Danga Pirat Society president Kuldip Singh Bhogal from offering akhand path in a gurdwara and sidelining the Khalsa Action Committee’s demand to convene an all-party meet on Sirsa dera issue.

He urged the five takht jathedars to explain why they were always “lenient” towards the top SAD leadership and their followers despite complaints. “Why has the jathedar been silent when persons have been hobnobbing with the Sirsa Dera head during the Lok Sabha elections despite Akal Takht banning any relations with him?” Kanwarpal Singh questioned.

He also said that the complaint against Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu for violating the Sikh code of conduct was also gathering dust in the Akal Takht secretariat.

Bathinda, November 19
Members of the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC), Sant Samaj and other Sikh organisations, led by KAC convener Bhai Mohkam Singh, today held a dharna outside the mini secretariat here, seeking release of Baba Hardip Singh, Ranjit Singh, Ghudar Singh Mehraj and withdrawal of the case registered against them.

Their other demands included the imposition of ban on “naam charcha” of the Dera in the state, and presentation of challan against the Dera head in a court.

Among others who were present at the dharna included former Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Jasbir Singh Khalsa, leader of Sant Samaj Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal Wale and spokesman of KAC Gurdeep Singh.

They gave a deadline to the government for the release of the leaders, arrested in connection with the Sikh-Dera Sacha Sauda conflict that allegedly took place on October 4 at Mehraj village of this district, by December 6.

If the government fails to do so, they have threatened to take out an “insaaf (justice)” march on December 7 from here to the native village of Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal.

Mohkam Singh said the protest march would be held in a peaceful manner by raising of slogans and “jaikaras”. The activists would also gherao the “kothi” of the CM, at his native Badal village, about 35 km from here.

He called upon the Sikhs to start preparations for mobilising people to participate in the march in order to send out a message to the CM that he should not confront with the Sikh Panth by extending support to the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Hinting at the Dera head, he said Badal had become friendly with the “enemies” of the Sikh Panth.

A deputation of the KAC, Sant Samaj, and other Sikh organisations will also meet the CM before December 6 for the release of the arrested Sikh leaders. They will also demand the release of president of the SAD (Panch Pardhanai) Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu.

Chandigarh, November 19
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today visited the Agriculture Research Centre (ARC) of Egypt, the largest such facility in the Middle East.

He also held a meeting with the directors of RAC and agricultural experts. In a statement issued here today, an official spokesman said the Chief Minister apprised the experts of the problem of saline groundwater in the state and sought their technical support to use less water for crops like cotton and paddy, apart from know-how on enhancing the productivity of cotton in the state.

Badal sought technical assistance from the ARC to make use of efficient and cost-effective treatment of water for agriculture purposes. The Chief Minister urged for exchange of technical know-how between their agri-experts and our experts at the Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana.

He also suggested training of our experts at the ARC, subscription of ARC journals and sought their guidance in wheat & cotton research.

The directors of the ARC told Badal that they had developed certain varieties of crops that have short cycles in order to conserve water. For example, they have developed a wheat variety that has a 120-day cycle instead of the usual 160-day cycle.

Nangal, November 19
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of the incident of death of thousands of fish in the Sutlej waters at Nangal. The commission has sought report in this regard from the state government, through the Chairman, Punjab State Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Patiala, and the Principal Secretary, Irrigation Department, Punjab, Chandigarh, by December 31.

Thousands of dead fish were found floating in the Sutlej waters yesterday morning. The death of the fish was reportedly due to high level of toxicity in the water.

A team of the Punjab State Pollution Control Board, headed by SDO Ramji Dass, has collected samples of water from various points in the river and also from the effluent discharge points of industrial units in the area.

Meanwhile, more dead fish were found floating in the Sutlej waters near Bela Dhyani village today. Stench was emanating from the dead fish. Many small dead fish were seen floating on the surface of water, while people continued to collect them for selling in the market.

Assistant director of the Fishery Department Sukhjinder Singh visited the spot and collected samples. He said the samples would be sent for testing to a laboratory at Chandigarh.