Gurdaspur, February 14
The Punjab Government has extended the Shagun scheme to daughters of Kashyap, Rajput and Mehra communities. Earlier this scheme, which has come under a scanner in recent weeks, was intended only for daughters of SC and Christian families.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced the extension of the scheme during a state-level function held in memory of Baba Moti Ram Mehra, who provided food and water to the Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh in the process flouting the instructions of the Nawab of Sirhind. Later Baba Moti Ram Mehra and his family were tortured and killed by the Nawab.

The function, which was attended by Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Cabinet ministers Sewa Singh Sekhwan, S.S Langah and Hira Singh Gabria among others, was organised by the Kashyap-Rajput sabha at the sports stadium of the government college.

The police had made elaborate arrangements since morning in an attempt to pre-empt any untoward incident. The local cops also did well to keep at bay protesting ETT teachers who were stopped from proceeding to the venue at Behrampur Chowk. Similarly, members of the protesting PWD Field and Workshop Workcharge Union were also kept at a safe distance from the venue.

Terming Baba Moti Ram Mehra as “Shaheedan Da Sartaj”, the Chief Minister said Moti Ram was a true follower of Guru Gobind Singh and had made the “ultimate sacrifice” by risking his life to feed the two Sahibzadas of the Guru. The CM said a suitable memorial will be constructed after consultations with top architects. He added that he would soon be forming a committee which would also have Cabinet ministers Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Hira Singh Gabria as its members to oversee work at the memorial.

Local MLA Gurcharan Singh Babbehali played to his own constituency and during his speech he started highlighting the problems being faced by the residents of Gurdaspur. He also handed a memorandum of his demands to the Chief Minister but not before he called press photographers near the stage to have a brief photo session.

Prominent among others who were present were Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal, MLAs Balbir Singh Bath, Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal and Sita Ram Kashyap.
For a change, traffic was streamlined by the district police and residents did not have a tough time when the cavalcades of the Chief Minister and other VIPs passed through the city roads. Yet another feature which marked the CM’s visit was the fact that residents had a ‘powerful’ day with no power cuts being enforced by the Punjab State Electricity Board.

Jalandhar February 14
Following directions of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Principal Secretary to CM Darbara Singh Guru today started a five-day tour for reviewing and monitoring the arrangements of wheat procurement for the rabi season.

During his visit, he will discuss all the necessary arrangements required for smooth procurement of wheat with all the Deputy Commissioners and district heads of procurement agencies so that the farmers of the state face no hardship or inconvenience in the mandis.

Guru today held a meeting with the DCs of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, District Transport Officers and district heads of procurement agencies.

He inquired about the status of the wheat production in their districts, area under wheat cultivation, expected production, availability of space and bardana, transportation and storage arrangements, electricity and water and mechanical process for cleaning of wheat etc.

No laxity will be tolerated at any level and the DCs would be held personally responsible for any lapse in their area of jurisdiction, he warned.

The DCs and heads of the agencies informed that all arrangements are being made on war footing for wheat procurement and there is no problem on any front in speedy procurement of wheat in their respective districts. He was informed that 35 lakh hectares has been brought under wheat cultivation in the state and 155 lakh metric tonnes were likely to be procured. As many as 110 lakh MT were likely to be procured but the state was making arrangements for the procurement of 115 lakh MTs. 

Jalandhar, February 14
The School Principal Promotion Front, Punjab, in association with the School Principal (Schedule Caste) Promotion Front, have decided to go on fast unto death from February 16 at Kapurthala.

As many as 50 senior lecturers would sit on fast unto death as a protest against the state government.

A decision in this regard was taken today, following the failure of the state government in not issuing orders pertaining to the promotion of senior lecturers as Principals in the state.

The agitated members said they had given time tomorrow for the state government to decide on the issue.

“In case the government fails to pass orders of our due promotions, we would sit on fast unto death,” said a senior lecturer.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the state government on January 28, 2010, to promote 729 senior lecturers in the state as Principals for better educational facilities in government schools.

A suo moto notice was taken by the High Court after news pertaining to the vacant posts of Principals in government schools was published in The Tribune on January 6, 2010.

President of the front, Sarbjit Singh Toor, said despite the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and necessary modalities by the Department Promotional Committee, the state government is not taking action.

“Despite a formal approval from the State Welfare, Personnel and the Finance Department, the state government is not making the final move in the interest of the senior lecturers and the government education sector,” he added.

The State Education Department had held a meeting of the Department Progress Committee on January 13, 2010. It was decided at that time that as per the seniority of lecturers, Principals should be recruited in the state.

President of the Schedule Caste Teacher’s front, Shalinder Singh said, “We fail to understand the motive of the state government behind this delay. The government should wake up and take the necessary action soon as the senior lecturers have been suffering for the past 20 years.”

The members demanded justice from the state government and said they have been waiting for their promotions for the past 20 years. “It is high time and the government should announce its formal directions soon”, he maintained. 

Phagwara, February 14
The Congress leaders 
used the venue of rural games to do some drug awareness talk and finally coming hard on the SAD-BJP government holding it responsible for every existing problem in the state.

Former minister Santokh Singh Chaudhary, who was there with Punjab Youth Congress President and MP, Ravneet Singh Bittu, and DYC Jalandhar (R) chief Vikramjit Singh

Chaudhary, inaugurated the annual rural games organised by Azad Kabaddi Club at Satguru Ram Singh Stadium in nearby Muthada village and urged the people to join hands to fight against growing problem of drug abuse.

The leaders alleged that quackery and open sale of intoxicants by several chemists was being encouraged by the ruling alliance due to selfish and corrupt policies. 

Hoshiarpur, February 14
A melancholy descended on Bhuna village when the news of murder of a village youth Balwinder Singh (26) by one of his roommates at Paris, was received last evening.

Balwinder, alias Bunty, belonging to a poor family, had gone to France seven years back to make a better living. He had been working there and residing with eight other Indians belonging to the nearby villages of Bhuna.

Yesterday, one of the Balwinder’s roommates called up from Paris and informed the family about the murder committed by Rinku of Miani village. According to the caller, there was some dispute between Balwinder Singh and his roommate, which led to a heated argument and scuffle. In the process, Rinku assaulted Balwinder with sharp-edged weapon causing his death.

The French police has arrested Rinku.

Balwinder was the youngest among his two sisters and a brother. His father Harvail Singh had already expired. Balwinder’s mother Sheel Kaur brought up her children by doing domestic work. Somehow, she managed to send her sons Sukhwinder Singh and Balwinder Singh to France by taking a loan hoping that they would bring prosperity in the family. About 6 months back, Sukhwinder had returned home.

Sources said efforts have been initiated to bring the body to the village to perform his last rites.

Tarn Taran, February 14
Two persons of a family died while five others were injured in a road accident at Harike, 32 km from here today.

Yesterday five persons died and six other were injured in a road accident.

The deceased in today’s accident were identified as Dimple (23) and her father-in-law Mohinder Singh (60) of Sangrur whereas the injured were Dimple’s husband Harish Kumar, mother-in-law Swran Kaur , son Abhay, sister-in-law Parminder Kaur besides Pooran D Singh the driver of the Tavera (PB-13Q-8297). They were going back to their home Sangrur after paying obeisance at Golden Temple.

The vehicle was hit by a truck (HR-58, 9819) coming from the opposite side at Harike. Dimple died on the spot when Mohinder Singh died on way to the hospital.

Phagwara: A migrant from Uttar Pradesh, identified as Varinder Singh, was killed in a road mishap. He was first admitted to local civil hospital and then was shifted to a Ludhiana hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 

Jalandhar, February 14
NRIs have protested against the move of the government to postpone the election of NRI Sabha. They demanded from the state government that either election should be held with in period of 10 days or cancelled until next term.

While addressing the mediapersons in the city, a group of NRIs claimed that Commissioner of Jalandhar region postponed the election on the orders of the state government. They refuted the reason cited by the government to postpone the elections by asserting that law and order conditions were not that much bad that forced the government to take this step.

They lamented on the government while saying that all government offices are running smoothly in the state and there is no sign of simmering of tension. “We fail to understand why the government postponed elections on the pretext of deteriorated law and order situation,” they added.