Kapurthala, February 8
Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) volunteer Kiranjeet Kaur (20) of Faridkot, who had set herself afire yesterday, succumbed to her burn injuries at the DMC hospital in Ludhiana in the wee hours today, whereas DSP Bahadur Singh’s role in handling the situation has come under scanner.

Former Congress MP Rana Gurjit Singh has demanded state Education Minister Upinderjeet Kaur’s resignation on moral grounds, as she could not even turn up to the spot to listen to agitated volunteers’ grievances despite her presence in Kapurthala district. DCC president and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has sought judicial inquiry into the incident.

However, the administration has entrusted magisterial inquiry to an IAS rank officer, Mohammad Tayyab, posted as the SDM, Dasuya. Earlier, the Kapurthala SDM was asked to look into the matter. Tayyab has been asked to submit his report within three weeks.

While Kapurthala SSP Ram Singh was camping at Phagwara for the past two days to monitor the situation after the announcement of the separate Ravidassia religion, the DSP was present at the Civil Hospital for handling the situation at the time of the self-immolation bid.

A day after the incident, several EGS volunteers accused DSP Bahadur Singh of provoking them to take the extreme step by making indiscreet comments.

EGS volunteers - Karan Singh, Gurjant Singh and Bahara Singh of Mansa- alleged that the DSP provoked them by commenting that “the agitators are enacting a drama only, they will not self-immolate”.

They further said they had requested the DSP to let them go on the water tank to persuade the volunteers to descend before the self-immolation bid, but he did not allow them to do so. “The incident could have been averted, if they were allowed to go there,” they maintained.

The EGS volunteers and Congress leader Rana Gurjit Singh demanded registration of a criminal case against the DSP for provoking the volunteer to self-immolate after his suspension.

While Bahadur Singh could not be contacted, DC Raj Kamal Chaudhary said Tayyab would inquire into the matter, including the role of police officials present there in handling the situation. He had already brought to the notice of senior police officials about the agitators’ demand of suspending the DSP, he added.

Meanwhile, Kiranjeet’s body was taken to her house in Faridkot. Accepting agitators’ demand, Faridkot DC Vijay N. Zade said her family would be provided Rs 10 lakh as monetary help and job to one of her family members. While Rs 5 lakh would be given from the CM’s relief fund, as much amount would be provided to her family from the police relief fund, as her father is a retired police personnel.

The four EGS volunteers descended from the water tank at 4 am after regular persuasion by the district administration. Agitated volunteers also took out a protest march in the city today.

Chandigarh, February 8
The Punjab Government today asked for a record 10th extension for the unbundling of the PSEB even as it has finally cleared the way for the unbundling of the state electricity utility which may be done shortly.

The current extension to put off the unbundling of the board by the Union Ministry of Power will expire on February 15. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has accordingly in a letter to Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde requested that this deadline be extended till June 15 this year.

The Chief Minister in his letter claimed that the state had already initiated the process of consultation with stakeholders to evolve a consensus on the restructuring of the PSEB and to prepare a road map for the same. Badal said the government needed more time to complete this process and appealed that the PSEB should be allowed to continue as a state transmission utility and a licensee till June 15.

The letter comes close on the heels of a strike call given by various unions of the PSEB and is being seen as a move to placate them as well as involve them in talks. The unions were also sent a fax copy of the extension request today.

Even as the government is trying for a consensus on the issue, sources said the next extension may be for a very short period only as the state is finally serious about the unbundling of the board as keeping it afloat in its present form has become unviable. The sources said the government was seriously considering trifurcating the board into separate units consisting of generation, distribution and transmission firms. An expert group has suggested this.

The sources said talks were held with the PSEB Engineers Association a few days ago also which had been assured that the new units so created after the unbundling of the board would be headed by professionals and not be allowed to become easy sinecures for retired IAS officers.

However, this decision is still to be given the final nod by the Chief Minister with some quarters calling for following the bare minimum requirement of the Electricity Act, 2003, and making a separate transmission unit only. The government will have to take into account the fact that this may not help the PSEB out of the red as investor confidence in the utility is at an all-time low.According to sources the cumulative losses of the PSEB are likely to cross Rs 10,000 crore by March this year. 

Chandigarh, February 8
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called on Union Defence Minister AK Antony at his residence in New Delhi this morning and sought his personal intervention to immediately grant approval for setting up of the National Defence University in Mohali.

Taking part in the deliberations, the CM informed Antony that the state government had already offered to provide land for establishing the defence university in Mohali. Pursuant to it, a high-level delegation from the Army Headquarter had visited and selected the site comprising 125 acres of land in Sector 92. However, thereafter, there has been no further development.

He also raised another demand to sanction the setting up of Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) Squadron and Naval Wing of the NCC in Punjab to encourage and attract students in the state to join the NCC. He mentioned that the students in the state were very enthusiastic to join NCC and this endeavour would go a long way in attracting more students in this direction which would further infuse the feeling of patriotism amongst them. He urged the Union Defence Minister to get the reconnaissance conducted for setting up of a naval wing of the NCC on the Ranjit Sagar Dam or the Bhakra Dam. He assured Antony the requisite land and other infrastructure would be provided by the government for both the projects.

Summing up the discussions, Antony assured the CM of a positive response, adding he said he would soon convene a meeting of the senior officers of the Ministry of Defence and Army Headquarters to examine all the issues meticulously to address them on the priority for timely implementation of the projects in Punjab.

Chandigarh, February 8
For Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the root cause of all ills facing the state these days are the Badals, saying they should stop blaming the UPA government at the Centre and gracefully accept their “total failure on all fronts”.

Talking to The Tribune here this afternoon, Bhattal said the Congress Legislature Party was looking forward to the Budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha where the ruling SAD-BJP alliance would be made accountable for heaping misery on the people of Punjab.

“The blame for the tragic death of ETT teacher Kiranjeet Kaur in Kapurthala yesterday lies with the state government for its failure to notify the agreement it had reached with the agitating teachers.

“Now by postponing the elections to the NRI Sabha, the SAD-BJP government has given yet another evidence of its shrinking popularity base. Sensing its rejection, the SAD would now ask for deferring the SGPC elections,”she said.

To cover up its failures, the father-son team of the Badals has started raising fingers at the UPA government at the Centre, blaming it for interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs as well as for discriminating against the state in allotment of funds and new schemes.

The SAD-BJP government has started raising the bogey of terrorism and Naxalism in the state, holding the UPA government responsible for it. “Instead, the Badals would do well to acknowledge their failure in controlling the law and order situation in the state. There was a witch-hunt of the Congress workers and leaders.

Further, she said, the state government instead of checking hoarding to contain the price line had decided to raise VAT from four to five per cent besides introducing entry tax and levying 10 per cent surcharge on VAT.

While the Centre has taken sufficient steps to bring down the prices, the Punjab government had failed to do its part. The power supply position was at its worst now. The SAD has also gone back on its commitments made in its election manifesto on promising free supply of power and water to farmers. “We will raise all these issues on the floor of the House,” said Bhattal, holding that the incumbent government had no right to stay in office because of its complete failure on all fronts.

Chandigarh, February 8
An unfortunate incident in full public view that led to the death of Kiranjeet Kaur, an ETT teacher in Kapurthala, the hometown of state Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur, has raised a question mark over the conduct of law enforcement agencies in dealing with emotionally charged demonstrators.

Though Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs 5 lakh as an immediate relief to the next of kin of the hapless teacher, the larger issue remains unresolved.

In the past few months’, similar incidents in Ludhiana and Chandigarh besides a few other places, though all for different reasons, had left behind a trail of human fatalities. Though peaceful demonstrations cannot be wished away in any democracy, either the use of brutal force by the state machinery or threats like self-immolation or suicides by demonstrators not only become condemnable but also make the issues irrelevant and turn them into a serious law and order problem.

“I have been deeply pained and shocked by the tragic incident. This is all more painful as the whole sequence of events is the result of a tragic misunderstanding. All demands for which the teachers were agitating yesterday had already been met and the decision put on record after a Cabinet meeting. I convey my heart felt condolences and sympathies to members of the bereaved family. The decision was also in public domain, hence misunderstanding is all more saddening,” is what the CM said today.

But a state like Punjab that has a long history of peaceful struggles, agitations and demonstrations, it still does not have a rapid action force that can with its tactical handling prevent demonstrations and protests turning into bloody battles before taking a heavy toll on human life and immovable property.

Anguished at the tragic death of Kiranjeet Kaur, Congress leader and former MP, Rana Gurjeet Singh said the tragic episode could be squarely attributed to the utter “apathetic and inhuman attitude of the police”.He said instead of pacifying the aggrieved teachers, the police not only was a silent spectator, but also scorned at the sad situation. This tantamounts to abetment to suicide.

Rana also held responsible the state government that after giving in principle approval to demands of agitating teachers took so long to issue a notification that cost the life of an innocent youth fighting for her right. He said the government should understand that justice delayed was justice denied. They do not need a reform commission to tell them to issue a notification when the decision had already been taken. 

Patiala, February 8
Apprehending threat to her life, Praveen Kaur alias Meena, one of the accused in the alleged assault on Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s convoy in Manak Majra village near Nilokheri on February 2, 2008, has once again demanded the state government to provide her security. Reiterating that she fears that premis (followers of Dera Sacha Sauda) would try to “eliminate” her, she cautioned the government saying, “In case anything happens to me, the sole responsibility would be on the present SAD-BJP government.”

After meeting Director Education, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia at Khalsa College, here today, Praveen told The Tribune, “Not only the premis, my family members, including my mother, brother and some other close relatives, can also kill me.” She asserted that in wake of the fact that she has to travel to Karnal for court hearings, her security is must. “I would like to request the state government to deal with my case on priority basis and provide me security to ensure that no one tries to harm me,” she demanded.

Notably, in an explosion in Manak Majra village, near Nilokheri, on February 2, 2008, nine members of Dera Sacha Sauda chief’s cavalcade got injured. Dera head had however escaped unhurt. Subsequently, on charges of being involved in the said attack, Parveen, a resident of Mansa, was arrested by the police on March 13, 2008 from Patiala. After being granted bail by Punjab and Haryana High Court, she was released from jail on May 11, 2009.

Meanwhile, Praveen has also appealed to the SGPC to help her in pursuing higher education. “Today I met Director Education, SGPC Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia and requested him that she should be given admission in the Khalsa College, Patiala in BA-Ist year without charging the fee, as she was not having any financial source to pay the same.” She further said she was hopeful that authorities would concede her request on compassionate grounds. 

Patiala, February 8
Inmates of the Patiala Central Jail have requested Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil to confer a “special award” to retired government schoolteacher Jagdish Chander for his efforts to make jail inmates literate.

In a communiqué, the jail inmates have highlighted that Jagdish has been organising three-month-long adult education camp in the jail annually from the past three decades and in recognition of his selfless services, he must be bestowed with some special award.

With a view to educate the inmates of the Patiala Central Jail, Jagdish, a state awardee and a retired teacher started adult education programme at the Patiala Central Jail in late 70’s. With the active support of Rotary Club Patiala Mid-Town president OP Gupta and Rotary Club Toronto, Humber, Canada, he is dedicatedly pursuing his objective to make the jail inmates able to read and write on their own.

A copy of the letter sent by the jail inmates to the Punjab Governor through Patiala Jail Superintendent Jiwan Garg reads, “We feel that Jagdish is doing a noble and highly commendable work by teaching basics of all three main languages- English, Hindi and Punjabi- to the illiterate jail inmates.”

“As a mark of recognition of his tireless efforts to teach and inculcate good values in inmates, he should be conferred with some special award at state level.”

One of jail inmate Balbir Singh, who is serving sentence of 20 years in a murder case, said, “I am a driver and have learnt Punjabi and Hindi because of the adult education camp being organised by Jagdish. Now, after my release, I would not face any difficulty in reading the sign boards while driving. Many  other inmates have also learnt the language and would be changed personalities, once they  come out of the jail.”

Another jail inmate Gurpal Singh said Jagdish is doing great service for jail inmates and his acknowledgement would further motivate other retired teachers  to devote them for such a  noble cause.

However, speaking to The Tribune, Jagdish said for him making the jail inmates capable enough to read and write is the biggest award. 

Amritsar, February 8
Amid drizzle, farmers of the region, under the tutelage of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee (KSC), held a protest in front of the Canal Office here today.

They were protesting against the government for imposing irrigation fee and its inability in providing irrigation water from canals to their cultivable land in the region.

Addressing farmers, President, KSC, Satnam Singh Pannu alleged that a corrupt bureaucracy contributed to the decay of the canal system and the result was apparent as water from canals no longer reached their land.

He rued that post-1990, only 10 lakh hectares of land were being irrigated from canals in the state. Earlier, he claimed, 26 lakh hectares had been irrigated from canals from the British period till 1990.

The agitating farmers raised slogans against the SAD-BJP government and the Canal Department.

They demanded roll back in Rs 150 per hectare fee for drawing water from canal water, fixing of wheat procurement price at Rs 1,650, rise in ration distributed through Blue Cards and hike in wages of labourers under NREGA. 

Chandigarh, February 8
The 90-year-old literary giant of Punjabi literature, Santokh Singh Dhir, passed away today after battling for his life against failed kidneys and liver cancer at the PGI here.

An established writer in different literary genres, Dhir was a Shiromani award winner of the Punjab government. He is also a recipient of an award from the Haryana government besides several other national-level honours. His works are largely known for his Marxist leanings.

The family has decided to donate the body to the PGI for research activity. His eyes have already been donated.

The prominent works of the famous writer include “Guddian Patole” (Dolls and Toys, 1944), “Patt Jhare Purane” (The Leaves of Autumn, 1955; “Singhawali” (The Herd of Lions, 1983); “Aun Wala Suraj” (The Sun of Tomorrow); and “Jhakhar Jhullan” (Thunderstorm, 2005); “Do Phul” (Two Flowers) (1963); “Oh Din” (Those were the Days) (1973); “Yadgaar” (The Memorial) (1979); “Mainu Ik Sufna Aya” (I had a Dream) (1991); and “Khima” (Apology) (2005).

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed profound shock over the death of the noted Punjabi writer. In a condolence message, the Deputy Chief Minister said that “in his death Punjab has lost a prolific Punjabi- language writer who created a specific niche in the literary world. He said that Punjab would always remain indebted to him for his unstinted campaign for the promotion of Punjabi language”. 

Jalandhar, February 8
Most of the industries especially those located at Gadaipur and Focal Point areas were hit hard today as migrant labourers did not turn up for work in protest against an attack by robbers last night. Several migrant labourers were wounded as two robbers attacked them with swords in the Gadaipur area. While police officials claimed that seven migrants were wounded, the latter’s leaders said between 12 and 16 were injured.

In what may be termed as a recurrence of the Dhandari Kalan incident in Ludhiana two months ago, hundreds of migrant labourers gathered in protest against the incident at Gadaipur today. They were led by state president of the Purvanchal Vikas Mahasabha (PVM) Sachidanand and its chairman Deen Bandu Dinanath blocked traffic at the Gadaipur pulli and asked migrant labourers to boycott their work.

Udyog Nagar Manufacturing Association chief Tejinder Singh Bhasin said nearly 1,000 hand tool, pipe fitting, gun metal and motor part units had to bear Rs 100 crore loss due to the boycott.

Thereafter, the agitators proceeded towards the Gadaipur market where they forced shopkeepers to close their establishments. Raising slogans against the government, they went towards the Focal Point to reach the highway to block traffic.

Police officials led by DC Ajit Singh Pannu and SSP RK Jaiswal reached the area after getting information. They persuaded the protesters to disperse with the promise of nabbing the culprits within seven days. However, the PVM representatives gave an ultimatum of 48 hours for the arrest of the culprits failing which they threatened to start a state-level agitation. While the police claimed two motor cycle-borne robbers had attacked the migrants, eyewitness Rakesh Kumar of the Gadaipur Market, said there were three. Rakesh said two pillion riders attacked whoever came in their way from the Bulandpur road to Randhawa village via Gadaipur. PVM Gadaipur president Umesh Prasad said the robbers first snatched Rs 300 from two migrants near Janak Karyana Store in Gadaipur on the Bulandpur road. The robbers attacked them with swords while fleeing.