Faridkot, December 18
Former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who appeared to be in high spirits over the response he was getting in the public rallies during his tour in the Malwa belt, has adopted an aggressive tone warning the Badal family to tame themselves, saying that he would not sit quietly and tolerate all the misdoings, they were doing in the state.

He was addressing a jam-packed public rally in the Grain Market at Faridkot, in the heartland of the Malwa belt, on Friday evening.

Announcing that being a Sikh, he would openly come out to support those political forces, who would take on the ruling SAD in the forthcoming SGPC elections and if voted to power in the next assembly elections, he would take legal action against all ‘goonda’ elements of the ruling SAD party and the policemen, who had become tools in their hands committing atrocities on the innocent people.

“I want to make it clear to the people of this state that my government would withdraw all cases of political vendetta registered against the innocent people,” he assured.

“Though the Congress has never taken part in the SGPC elections but that does not prevent me being a Sikh to appeal the Sikh masses not to vote for the SAD candidates,” he said in reply to a question.

Captain Amarinder Singh was of the view that all the panthic forces should come together on a common platform to teach a lesson to the Badal family, who was misusing religious sentiments of the people to grab power and mint money out of it. Perturbed over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, the former chief minister said that he had never witnessed such a worse position in the state in his life, even during the black days of terrorism.

“The Badals have been responsible for terrorism in the state and now they are again trying to bring back the same situation to consolidate the Sikh vote bank on communal lines to grab power in the next assembly elections by playing the Sikh card because the BJP is losing its mass base in the country,” he said.

He did not miss to issue a warning to former minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia and his ‘goons’ asking them to behave properly or else he would tame them after coming to power. Slamming CM Parkash Singh Badal for not having the vision for the development of the state, he said that the setting up of thermal plants in Punjab was a wrong policy, which was a wastage of public money.

“We do not have coal stock of even a single day to run these plants, how would Punjab get coal for the upcoming thermal plants at a stage when we also do not have adequate goods trains to transport the coal,” he added.

He said that better idea would be to set up these plants in Jharkhand and Bihar to save the costs of transportation.

Similarly, nuclear power plants could be established in Rajasthan and the generated power could be brought through the national grids, he said.

Ferozepur, December 18
The factionalism in the Congressmen of this district has come to the fore over the proposed visit of former CM Amarinder Singh to this town on December 19 to address a workers rally.

While Gurnaib Singh Brar, president, District Congress Committee (DCC), Ferozepur, claimed that it was not a party function and hence he would not like to participate in the same, Ravinder Singh, former MLA, said that Captain Amarinder Singh was working for the party and hence all former and present MLAs would actively participate in the rally.

Brar said he was neither invited to attend the rally by the organisers nor was he interested in attending the same. He claimed that it was not a rally being held with the approval of state or district Congress unit and hence this rally would not hold any meaning. However, Ravinder Singh said that Brar was not invited to the rally because of the fact that Brar worked against him (Ravinder Singh) in the last assembly elections. The Congress leaders wanting to give stiff resistance to those ruling politicians, who had been committing the atrocities on Congressmen, had been working hard to make the rally a big success, he claimed.

Jagmeet Brar, a special invitee of the CWC, while refusing on comment on Amarinder’s rally, said unity in the party was needed to get rid of misrule of SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab.

Meanwhile, Bhattal alleged that activities of Amrinder including holding rallies and functions without the approval of state Congress unit and support to Paramjit Singh Sarna, a leader of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee in the coming SGPC elections, were against the party's principles. She added that Sarna was associated with radical organisations and support to him by the Captain could cause damage to the image of Congress among the people of Punjab.

Bathinda, December 18
Eighty five-year-old Master Karta Ram Sewak, a noted freedom fighter from Jaitu, who had gone to jail during the Nabha satyagraha movement, is now desperate at the red-tape culture that has become a hallmark of independent India.

Having reached the fag end of life, the freedom fighter is running from pillar to post to save the married life of his grand-daughter but has failed to bring his woes to the notice of the officials concerned.

Irked, he has now decided to go on fast-unto-death on January 26, Republic Day, if he does not get justice by that time.

Announcing this here today, Karta Ram said he would sit on fast outside the residence of the Chief Minister to show him the real picture of 'seva' he is doing for the state.

Addressing media persons at the Teachers' Home, Karta Ram alleged that his grand-daughter was married in one Batra family of Bathinda in 2008, with much fanfare. He added that the family had given the best possible “dowry” at the time of wedding.

“Despite this, we could not satisfy the greed of her in-laws, who started harassing her, within a fortnight. We kept fulfilling the demands of the family, with the hope of seeing our girl happy. Sometimes, we had to borrow lakhs but the demand kept increasing,” alleged Karta Ram.

Speaking in a choked voice, the freedom fighter alleged, “One day, they sent our girl back home, saying that they will come and take her back after some days. We were waiting for them to come. Meanwhile, the family of the boy filed a divorce petition in the court. Shocked, we approached various civil and police officials to get the matter settled but it was all futile due to the political connections of that family.”

Naming SHO Kotwali Gurjeet Singh Romana, the freedom fighter alleged that he was informed of the matter and he assured of settling the matter but after a BJP leader from Dabwali came in support of the boy's family, the SHO too backtracked.

“Having made rounds of various offices, now I have given up hope from the administration and have decided to observe fast unto-death outside the CM's residence on Republic Day. I will sacrifice my life to show the chief minister what a common man gets in his rule,” lamented Karta Ram.

When contacted, SHO Gurjeet Singh Romana refuted the allegation of being pressurised by any political leader. “I did not get the application in writing. Despite this, I took initiatives to settle the matter. The case actually lies in the jurisdiction of Faridkot police, where the investigation is reportedly going on,” he said.

Bathinda, December 18
Considering the achievements of Bathinda district in implementing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), the state government has recommended its name to the Central government for the Award of Excellence, 2008-09.

If all goes well, the district should get the prestigious award on February 2, 2010, during the National NREGA Day celebrations.

It may be mentioned that after winning the award last time, Amritsar is again in the fray.

Putting the district's claim forward for the award, Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Rahul Tewari, who is the District Project Coordinator (DPC) for NREGA, along with the ADC (Development), C. Sibin has presented a detailed report to the jury at New Delhi.

Bathinda is a phase-III NREGA district, where the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) was physically implemented in April 2008. Giving the details about employment generated in the year 2008-09, officials stated that a total of 23,532 job cards were issued and 26,710 accounts were opened.

Further, the details of expenditure state that the district administration spent a total of Rs 465.25 lakh, which included Rs 42.97 lakh on water conservation and water harvesting projects, Rs 33.25 lakh on drought proofing (plantation and afforestation), Rs 3.08 crore on rural connectivity and Rs 372.9 lakh on renovation of traditional water bodies.

Highlighting the performance of the district, the officials claimed having carried out extensive information, education and communication (IEC) activities by adopting various means, like painting, pamphlets, hoardings, brochures, releasing audio cassettes and showing telefilms in villages.

Claiming the district to be a pioneer in preparing a reference book, the authorities said that it contained the annual action plan for 2008-2013, ensuring a minimum of five works per village every year.

During the presentation, the officials claimed that the district was innovative in identifying new works to be undertaken under NREGA, like cleaning of water works was undertaken first by Bathinda district in Punjab with NREGS labour.

Among others, convergence of NREGS with other departmental schemes like renovation of old ponds created new income for panchayats. Work on pisciculture, berms of roadsides, active involvement of gram sabha, and social audit exercise were the main highlights.

Hopeful of getting the award, DC Rahul Tewari narrated his experience saying, “While highlighting the achievements, we also informed about the weaknesses of the scheme like low wages offered under NREGA, less scope of labour intensive jobs, absence of able bodied males to do requisite quantum of work, agricultural state and meagre demand for work. Taking into consideration such adverse circumstances and the targets we achieved, the jury members appreciated the progress.”

Abohar, December 18
Even when the SAD-BJP alliance government in Punjab continued to cry hoarse against the Congress-led UPA government fuming discrimination, information secured under the RTI Act reveals that it had been able to provide only 5.25 per cent work to the NREGA job cardholders this year, said local legislator Sunil Jakhar.

The job cardholders are otherwise guaranteed 100 days work under the NREGS.

While sharing the facts with the media on Friday afternoon here, the MLA said that the Central government had sanctioned Rs 10011 lakhs under the NREGA.

However, the officers of the state government preferred to utilise 2170 lakh that is more than 31 per cent of the total grants on purchasing material and Rs 3052 lakhs still remains unused.

Only Rs 181 lakh was disbursed to the skilled workers while 4285 lakhs had been reportedly used for payments to unskilled workers.

He suspected that the emphasis of the administration had been on siphoning off the funds in connivance with their political masters.

Jakhar further said 40 per cent of the families in Lambi, the constituency represented by the CM Parkash Singh Badal had been issued Blue Cards under the Atta-Daal scheme.

The government was going to increase the tax burden on common man by levying surcharge on VAT and restructuring house tax to meet the loses incurred on cheap populist measures, he said.

Bathinda, December 18
A garbage dump just next to the filtration plant near the Model Town here has become a source of contaminating the drinking water supply to the taps in households.

Filth from the dump flows into the reservoirs and also the canal that carries water to the filtration plant.

The warning of the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) not to dump garbage in the area is being observed in defiance even by the civic body. The PUDA has simply put up signboards banning throwing of garbage in the area and there is no one to implement these orders.

Truckloads of garbage is thrown there everyday in full view of the authorities but no action is taken against the defaulters.

The sprawling piece of land between the filtration plant and the cantonment is littered with garbage where pigs rummage. Residents of the locality have from time to time complained of carcass of cattle flowing in the reservoir of the filtration plant.

Residents of the town are already scared of the poor quality of drinking water that flows into their taps. Water samples in several areas of the town have failed the purity test. The contaminated canal water being consumed by people is a source of cancer and other disease in the Malwa belt.

Bathinda, December 18
The Left parties, including the CPI and the CPM, are raising the issues of the common masses in the state while the Congress leaders are “evading” such issues, including rising prices, deteriorating law and order situation, industrial and agrarian crisis, and the poor development of the state.

Talking to this reporter today, a member of national executive of the CPI, Dr Joginder Dayal, further said in view of the prevailing situation in the state all political parties should unite at a platform to raise the pro-people issues as these were the real issues which should certainly be raised by all for the welfare of common people.

Dr Dayal said that the CPI and the CPM were going to organise sub-divisional rallies from January 15 to January 22 to raise the pro-people issues. After that, they would commence "Rasta roko" programme from February 15 while in the end of March district and state level "Satayagrah" would be oragnised, he added.

Regarding holding of rallies in various parts of the state by former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Dr Dayal said it was a general impression among the Congresspersons that only Capt Amarinder Singh could take a strong stand against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the crowds at his rallies were also reflecting this impression.

Dr Dayal, however, said that Capt Amarinder Singh was not speaking against rising prices and new economic policies that were hitting the people adversely. He also said that the CPI was not agreed to the vindictiveness approach of Capt Amarinder Singh and the Badals as both sides wanted to use the official machinery in their own interests instead of the common masses.

Jalalabad, December 18
The members of the local Bar Association on Friday asked Justice Nirmal Yadav, judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, that the court of additional district judge (ADJ) be set up in this sub-divisional town. Justice Yadav was here today to inspect the courts of Gurdarshan Kaur, sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) and Jaapinder Singh, judicial magistrate first class (JMIC).

She was accompanied by Jaspal Singh, district and sessions judge, Ferozepur. Ramesh Bawa, president, Bar Association and GK Jindal, former president of the Bar Association, who accorded a warm welcome to Justice Yadav in the Bar room here, and also raised the demand for setting up a court of the ADJ here. They added that as the judicial complex with five court rooms was likely to be completed, so this town was the fittest place where the court of the ADJ could be set up.

They said that Justice Yadav had asked them to send a memorandum in connection with their demand to the HC through the district and sessions judge, which would be done by them accordingly.

Rajiv Prashar, SDM, Jalalabad, was also present on the occasion.

Ferozepur, December 18
Punjab government has today sanctioned the project connected with construction of the district administrative complex (DAC) in the cantonment area for housing all the offices of the state government including the police into the same.

Official sources said that the DAC project would be constructed in a piece of land measuring 8.72 acres.

The DAC would be built at the cost of Rs 56.91 crores. The DAC would be given traditional and modern architectural look with arches on the top, projected porches and round shaped mumties.

“The project would be completed within 18 months. The Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) would provide the funds under the OUVGL scheme,” said a senior functionary of the state government while adding that it would have different look from the existing DACs in other districts of Punjab.

He added that it was for the first time that a basement would be constructed in the DAC for parking the vehicles. Apart from basement, the DAC would have three floors including ground floor, first floor and second floor.

The height of the DAC would not cross 59 feet due to restriction on the same as if would be located into the cantonment area.

The tenders for inviting bids for the construction of the DAC, which would be rectangular in shape, would be floated within a day or so. There would be four blocks of A,B,C and D category in the DAC for housing state government offices.

The police wing would have a separate block. The A block would be housing the office of commissioner and deputy commissioner.

Information gathered by TNS revealed that for constructing the DAC, some of the buildings belonging to pre-partition era including residence of commissioner and some offices of Public Works Department (PWD) would be demolished.

The vacant space within the block would be used for landscaping. The side approach road of the proposed DAC would be made four lanes. The portion of the DAC running parallel to main road would also be beautified.

The DAC would be equipped with bathrooms, lifts, bank and canteen. The ramp for handicapped persons would also be constructed.

The Suvidha Centre would also be set up. The orientation of the building would be in such a manner that sunlight and air would reach its nook and corner.

Ferozepur, December 18
The Deputy Commissioner and SSP of the respective district concerned would take stern action and personally visit the site, in case of any atrocity against the SC families and take all necessary steps to prevent bonded labour in their jurisdiction, stated Dilip Singh Pandhi, member, Scheduled Caste Commission, Punjab, while addressing a function organised by an NGO, “Volunteer for social justice and action” here on Friday.

In the function, TR Sarangal, principal secretary (Welfare), Kamal Kishore Yadav, DC Ferozepur, Kumar Rahul, DC, Mansa, Indu Mishra, director, Social Welfare, besides hosts of other dignitaries, intellectuals and officials from Moga, Muktsar, Mansa, Faridkot and Bathinda were also present.

“In order to prevent bonded labour, vigilance committees have been constituted at the tehsil and district levels, which include two members from NGO, two gram sewaks and one representative of lead bank,” he added.

He further said that brick kiln labourers should be paid remuneration through cheques and the brick kiln owners should get their insurance done at their own expense.

Abohar, December 18
Rt. Rev Dr Anil Jose Thomas Couto, the bishop of Jalandhar diocese, inaugurated the Christmas celebrations at St. Alphonsa Convent School here this week.

Rev Fr KJ Thomas, director of Roshani Society-North, East and West India, was the guest of honour on the occasion.

A child Yashwardhan Singh played the role of Santa Claus. Dr Couto lighted the lamp. A cake cutting ceremony was also held. Hardik Batra of LKG delivered the welcome address while Parry delivered vote of thanks.

Principal Jijoe Augustian expressed gratitude to the veteran guests.

Bathinda, December 18
A breast cancer awareness rally will be organised here tomorrow by an NGO- ROKO Cancer.

About 800 students from several schools and 200 womenfolk from surrounding villages are expected to participate in the rally that would be flagged off from the Government Senior Secondary School on the Mall Road and conclude at the Dunes Club in civil lines.

Satwant Kaur, a breast cancer survivor and retired district education officer, would inaugurate the rally.

A fully equipped mobile breast cancer detection van would be brought on the occasion for free check up of more than 200 women.