Talks a positive event, says Pak Foreign Secy
Attari, February 26
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir today termed the beheading of two Sikhs by the Taliban as a very unfortunate incident and added that his government was committed to ensuring the safety and security of all religious minorities as they were as much part of the country as the majority community.

Patiala, February 26
In what could be termed as a shocker for the investigating agencies, Kamaljit Singh, the complainant in the murder case of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur today said he is having threat to his life from some senior leaders of the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

During the cross-examination by the CBI counsel, Kamaljit submitted before the trial court in Patiala that some Congress and Akali leaders are exerting pressure on him to give statement in the court against Bibi Jagir Kaur. Notably, Kamaljit had turned hostile in the court yesterday.

As the trial in the case resumed today afternoon, CBI counsel SN Saxena stated questioning of Kamaljit. Replying to the CBI counsel’s question that whether he is having threat from anyone, Kamaljit said he is indeed facing threat, but he would not name anyone. When the judge intervened, Kamaljit said, “I need police protection because some Congress and Akali leaders want me to speak against Bibi Jagir in the court.” He also said after Harpreet’s death in April 2000, he got extremely disturbed, while adding, “Taking advantage of the situation, some persons got my signatures on certain documents pertaining to Harpreet’s death.”

Apart from backtracking from many of his previous statements, Kamaljit also said the investigating agency had so far questioned him regarding his love affair with Harpreet. “There has been no questioning regarding Harpreet’s death. I don’t know anything about the murder case,” he told the court. Interestingly, Kamaljit has also said it was he himself who refused to marry Harpreet because he was not comfortable with some pre-conditions of Harpreet’s family.

Bibi Jagir Kaur was also present during today’s court proceedings. The next date of hearing in the case has been fixed for March 12 and 13.

Jalandhar/Chandigarh, February 26
While presenting the Budget, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has dealt another blow to the Punjab farmers. The hike announced in diesel price will put a burden of about Rs 200 crore on the farmers in the state. About 10 lakh kilolitre diesel is consumed annually in the agriculture sector in the state.

The Director, Agriculture, Balwinder Singh Sidhu said “it was obvious that the increase in the diesel price will put a financial burden on the farmers in the state”. Earlier, because of the new fertiliser policy, an additional burden of Rs 170 crore was put on the Punjab farmers due to an increase in the prices of urea and other fertilisers. The burden of Rs 170 crore was in addition to the one which farmers will have to bear owing to almost 50 per cent cut in the subsidy on non-urea fertilisers, freed from government control.

“In a way it is a second blow to the Punjab farmers in a week,” said Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, who termed the Budget as most depressing and a “mischievous” document as far as the Punjab farmers were concerned. “There is nothing for Punjab farmers in the Budget,” he added.

Though the allocation under the Rahstriya Krishi Vikas Yojna has been enhanced from Rs 3,707 crore to Rs 6,722 crore, there will not be much benefit to the state.

However, there will be some relief to the Punjab farmers from interest subsidy that has been increased from 1 to 2 per cent in case of farmers returning their crop loan on a regular basis.

There is nothing in the Budget for the farmers of Punjab and Haryana. The second push to agriculture and Green Revolution will focus only on the eastern states. Farmers in Punjab and Haryana are feeling let down by the fact that nothing has been given to them, even though they produced record paddy last year, while braving a drought. Upset at this “let-down’, farmers in the region are now talking of taking to the streets and launching agitations in Delhi next week.

However, with an increase in credit flow of Rs 50,000 crore in the agriculture sector, the farmers, economists and farm leaders are hoping that food production will increase and the threat to food security will be eliminated. The budget proposals announced by the Finance Minister today include a four-pronged strategy to spur growth in the agriculture sector through increase in production, reduction in wastage of agricultural produce, credit support to farmers and thrust to the food processing sector.

Vijender Singh, a farmer in Khana Khedi village, near Hisar, said, “Though on the face of it, this Budget looks to be pro-farmer, there is nothing to cheer about for us. We will now be staging a protest rally in Delhi on March 5, urging the government to take a positive stand for us,” he said.

Chandigarh, February 26
Describing the Union Budget as inflationary and anti-people, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the Congress-led UPA government had “stabbed the common man in the back”.

Sharing similar views with his father, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the budget would dampen growth and cut deep into the pockets of the working classes, the employees, small and medium traders and farmers. Describing it as an extremely bad budget for the states agrarian class, the father-son duo said this would unleash a fresh bout of inflation with the rise in fuel prices and other “anti-people” announcements.

For the Punjabis, Badal said there was a lot of disappointment in the budget, as they had hoped for major investments to help the farming classes and bail out the state’s industry that is healing under the continuing package of concessions to the neighbouring states.

Criticising the hike in the excise duty of petrol and diesel, Badal said it would be counter productive both for the farm sector and the common man. He pointed out that the budget should have made a special provision of financial assistance to compensate Punjab for the upgradation of canal system being undertaken in the state at a cost of Rs 3,500 crores from its own resources. Badal also flayed the Union Budget, as it had completely ignored the scheduled castes and tribes, which constituted a sizeable chunk of Indian population in general and 28.85 per cent of Punjab’s population, the highest in the country in particular. Summing up Badal said it was another onslaught on Punjab after the recent Railway Budget.

Meanwhile, reacting to the presentation of the Union Budget today. Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal said, “In the entire two-hour budget speech, the Union Finance Minister did not even utter the word Punjab.” He also termed the budget “visionless” and came down heavily on the Finance Commission report. “I was expecting the Centre to share some part of the Pay Commission burden, at least the arrears, but we would have to now fend for ourselves,” said Manpreet, talking to The Tribune.

“On the positive side, we welcome the two per cent rebate on the loans for farmers, who pay back their loans. This is a much better option than debt waiver. We are also hoping that the state’s farmers can benefit from the Rs 200 crore set aside for climactic resilient agriculture,” said Manpreet.

Ludhiana, February 26
The agri budget presented in today's Budget session has evoked a mixed response from agriculture economists at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and progressive farmers in the region.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr SS Johl, while summing up the Budget said, "The announcement to give subsidy on fertilisers directly to the farmers and 2 per cent decrease in the rate of interest on loans will provide a definite relief to the farmers in Punjab and the country at large."

At the same time, Prof AS Bhullar from the Department of Economics at the PAU termed the budgetary allocations as "recession reversal oriented" which, he said, also opposed food deficit. "But most importantly the proposal to bring the food security Bill in order to ensure food for all is the most important announcement,” Prof Bhullar said.

Senior farm economist at the Department of Economics at the PAU, Dr DK Grover, pointed towards the need to formulate an "agricultural policy" which, he said, was being drafted since 2001 but was yet to be completed.

Stated Surinder Singh Grewal, a progressive farmer, "Meagre allocation of Rs 200 crore for conservation of soil and water in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will not redress the problem as it has become the biggest challenge for the farming community."

Terming the Union Budget as “anti-people”, Bhati Kisan Union, Punjab, stated that the hike in petrol and diesel prices would add to the problems of the farmers. BKU state president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal and secretary-general Puran Singh Shahkot said the activists of the union would gherao Parliament on March 9 for immediate rollback of diesel and petrol prices.

Attari, February 26
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir today termed the beheading of two Sikhs by the Taliban as a very unfortunate incident and added that his government was committed to ensuring the safety and security of all religious minorities as they were as much part of the country as the majority community.

Talking to mediapersons before crossing over to Pakistan from the Attari-Wagah joint checkpost, Bashir said his government was committed to eradicating terrorism from its territory. “Hence, we are assisting the international community against the Taliban. Pakistan is itself a victim of terrorism”, he remarked.

Even as the Indian Government has rejected Pakistan’s proposal for the resumption of the composite dialogue process (CDP), the visiting Foreign Secretary termed the talks held in New Delhi as a positive event since it resumed the derailed talks between the two nations which had come to an abrupt halt following the brutal terrorist attack in Mumbai.

Laying stress on a continuous dialogue, Bashir said all differences, including those relating to Jammu and Kashmir, could be resolved through positive talks.

Questioned about the landing of rockets in the Attari sector from the Pakistan side last year, Bashir avoided a direct response and said the matter was under consideration by the frontier forces of the two countries.

Answering a question on reports of the smuggling of drugs and fake Indian currency from Pakistan, he claimed that it was a smear campaign against his country and demanded an end to the propaganda.

Charik (Moga), February 26
The mortal remains of Lakhvir Singh, the Army jawan who died in a gun battle between militants and security forces in the Chinkipura area of Sopore district of Jammu and Kashmir a couple of days ago, were today consigned to flames with state and military honours at his native Charik village in Moga district.

His body was brought at about 9 am at his village by Army men.

Lakhvir Singh died on the third day of an encounter with the militants. A Captain and two other jawans had also died in the gun battle during the three-day encounter.

The aged parents and grandparents could not believe their eyes when the coffin carrying the body of their son reached the village this morning. His younger brother. Lakhwinder and sister Jyoti tried to console the parents and other elder members of their family.

Col Darshan Singh and Col Yudhvir Singh from the Army and SDM Harcharan Singh Sandhu from the civil administration laid a wreath on the body of the deceased jawan. Congress MLA Darshan Singh Brar was also present.

Police and Army jawans fired several rounds in the air and reversed their arms as a mark of respect to the departed soul before his body was consigned to the flames.

The village people said that Lakhvir used to donate money for social causes and was a religious person. Recently, he donated Rs 5,000 for the village gym asking the youth to take care of their bodies and develop sportsmanship.

Patiala, February 26
After remaining at loggerheads for nearly three years, the two factions of the Nihang sect Baba Budha Dal today reached a compromise.

One of the factions led by Baba Joginder Singh extended its unconditional support to the other group headed by Baba Balbir Singh, the legal heir of the Baba Budha Dal. A formal announcement in this regard was made after a meeting of both the factions at Patiala Budha Dal Bagichi here. The decision to call truce by the two warring factions has given the district police a sigh of relief.

Notably, in April 2007, Baba Santa Singh formally announced Balbir as his legal heir of 96 Crori Shiromani Panth Akali Baba Budha Dal, headed by Baba Santa Singh. Subsequently, four relatives of Balbir were allegedly gunned down by the rival group led by Udey Singh and Surjit Singh. The main reason behind the fight was that Udey and Surjit were perturbed with Balbir’s installation as the heir of Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal (Panjwan Takht) by Baba Santa Singh. After the clash, Uday went underground. Thereafter, Joginder Singh, who was backing Uday, had allegedly tried to eliminate Balbir on more than one occasion but failed.

In today’s meeting, Joginder said he is extremely disturbed as one of the Budha Dal follower Lakhbir Singh was murdered mercilessly by the followers of Uday, earlier this month in New Delhi. “Because of the said incident, I myself called up Balbir to offer my support and end all the differences,” he told The Tribune.

After the meeting, Balbir said he welcomed all the Nihangs, who want to apologise for their misconduct. He further said on coming March 1, they would celebrate Hola Mohalla in Anandpur Sahib, while giving a call that anyone interested in joining their Dal can approach them during the Hola Mohalla celebrations.

Zirakpur, February 26
To ensure that the dream of the late Capt Kanwaljit Singh to develop the Banur constituency was fulfilled, the SAD government gave a grant of Rs 5 crore, said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, while speaking at the death anniversary of the former Akali stalwart at Gurdwara Nabha Sahib on the Zirakpur-Patiala road here today.

Jasjit Singh Bunny, son of the former Cabinet minister, is the sitting MLA from Banur constituency. The CM, the Deputy CM, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and other senior Akali leaders showered praises on the son of the late Akali leader for carrying forward the political legacy of his father.

Akali leaders tried to play down the previous reports of Capt Kanwaljit Singh’s family being denied their due. The CM asserted that Jasjit Bunny was doing a good job being the MLA and the party was with him. He said the constituency, considered as a Congress stronghold, had been converted into an Akali Dal stronghold. When reminded about the reports of the case about the death of the Akali stalwart, the CM said the report had been submitted and it would be published soon. “It was an accidental death,” he added.

Mirzapur (Mohali), February 26
Unable to eke out a decent living for themselves and on the verge of starvation, over 500 residents of Mirzapur village want to move out of their 700-year-old village and “resettle” elsewhere in Punjab.

The village, barely an hour’s drive from Chandigarh, is mainly forestland, brimming with wild animals, but making it almost impossible for villagers to save their crops from them.

The village is the lone settlement upstream of the Mirzapur check dam, the last in the series of check dams that conserve rainwater of the Shivalik foothills in Chandigarh’s periphery. Majority of the area in the village, though privately owned, is a protected forest and there is only about 100 acre cultivable land left.

“Over 200 acre of fertile cultivable land was acquired for the building of the dam. We are left with little land, which we can cultivate. The rest is a forest and we cannot touch even a blade of grass there without permission of the Forest Department,” said Shankar, a resident of the village.

However, what is making it impossible for the residents to live here is the wildlife. “The place is infested with blue bulls, wild boars and deer. They live near the village as they flock to the dam for water. Our fields are raided almost every night and whatever we have grown so far is finished in a matter of hours. There are seasons when we are unable to even get back the seed that we had sown,” Shankar added.

The villagers thus keep a watch over their meager fields day and night. Male members spend the night in small makeshift sheds perched in the fields and beat drums through the night to save their crops. No one is however armed to kill animals.

The villagers have requested the State Forest Department to acquire their land and shift them to another village giving them the same size of land in return.

A resident Dila Ram said the government had not even given the enhanced compensation for the land acquired for the dam. “The land for the dam was acquired in 1995. There are some people still waiting for the compensation,” he said.

“The statutory permission under the Punjab Land Preservation Act that allows us to cut the trees on our part of the forest is given periodically. But even for that we have to run around a lot. I have deposited over Rs 15 lakh as security and yet the approval has not been given,” Shankar said.

Ludhiana, February 26
After the ETT teachers, it is now the turn of unemployed vocational masters of the state to take to the warpath to defend their rights.

Thousands of vocational masters and art and craft teachers of Punjab are up in arms against the state government and the Education Department for "unnecessary delay" in issuance of their merit list. The Punjab School Education Board had, on September 23, 2009, advertised for 2,106 vacancies of vocational masters.

The teachers, along with the non-teaching staff, have demanded that the state government should issue their provisional merit list immediately, failing which, they will be forced to lodge a strong protest.

Talking to The Tribune, president of the Unemployed Vocational Maters' Union Jasvir Singh alleged that the merit list of teachers was not being issued despite passage of a considerable period of time.

He added that numerous attempts to approach the state Education Department had failed to bear fruit as officials did not have any information regarding the merit list.

"We have approached senior politicians as well as the officials concerned time and again, but to no avail. Thousands of unemployed teachers have been pinning their hopes on this list, which will give them employment," said Jasvir Singh.

He added, "The government should keep the welfare of the unemployed in mind and release the merit list on a priority basis, else we will take to the streets."

He stated that a meeting in this regard was also held in the city recently wherein the members of the Unemployed Vocational Maters' Union of Punjab decided to hold a state-level rally on February 28 in Ludhiana to press for their demands.

Jalandhar, February 26
Taking serious note of caged falcons without seeking mandatory permission from the competent authorities, the conservator of forest (parks and protected areas), Patiala, has issued a show-cause notice to the Chhat Bir Zoo director.

Conservator of forest SS Bhatti in a communication to zoo director TK Behra has asked him to explain why he did not bring the matter to his notice. In the notice, Bhatti has also asked Behra to explain his position on the issue. Talking to The Tribune, Bhatti said he came to know about the illegal captivity of the falcons at the zoo from the print media.

As per the Wildlife Protection Act, Section 11, Schedule 1, animals and birds should not be caged before obtaining written permission from the state chief wildlife warden.

Interestingly, in this case zoo officials managed to procure the endangered falcons on December 23, 2009, and after allegedly keeping them in illegal captivity for nearly month, the director sent an e-mail to experts in the Wildlife Institute of Indian (WII), Dehradun, on January 19 seeking their help in identifying the bird.

The officer hardly bothered to inform his superiors regarding the species of this bird that was identified as peregrine falcons by an expert from the Department of Wildlife Management and Conservation Education, WII, Dhananjai Mohan.

Chandigarh, February 26
The conspiracy to eliminate Punjab’s former Chief Minister Beant Singh was hatched in Pakistan; and proclaimed offender in the case Wadhawa Singh provided explosive from across the border, the Punjab and Haryana High Court heard today. Wadhawa Singh is among 20 terrorists whose extradition from Pakistan has been demanded by India.

CBI’s counsel SK Saxena informed the Bench headed by Justice Mehtab Singh Gill that convict Balwant Singh’s statement made it clear that the conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan. In his confessional statement, Balwant had admitted that Wadhawa Singh and another accused Mahal Singh were involved in the Beant assassination case, Saxena said.

He added a fax message sent by Wadhawa Singh from Pakistan on the day of the blast that was proved by the prosecution. Balwant Singh was arrested on January 14, 1996, and produced before the Ambala Chief Judicial Magistrate, Saxena said, adding another convict Shamsher Singh was produced before the court on December 16, 1995, and his statement was recorded the same day.

It was evident from his statement that he was assigned the task of procuring RDX from a village in Ajnala subdivision that was sent by Wadhawa Singh from Pakistan. This was done at the instance of Jagtar Singh Hawara.

The former CM was killed in a blast outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat on August 31, 1995. While human bomb Dilawar Singh was killed in the explosion, the other accused went ahead and faced the trial.

Hawara and Balwant Singh were handed down death sentence by Special CBI Judge, while other accused, including Lakhwinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Shamsher Singh, were sentenced to life imprisonment. One of the accused Navjot Singh was acquitted. The high court is currently hearing appeals against the death sentence and conviction.

The case will now come up on March 11.

Amritsar, February 26
Taking a lenient view, a Juvenile court today set free a Pakistan teenager, who reached India on board the Samjhauta Express without valid documents, and asked the concerned officials to arrange for his repatriation.

Mohammad Atiq (13) ran away from his home in Pakistan's Punjab province after his father stopped him from flying kites. He took shelter and fell asleep in a railway bogie in Lahore station, which was attached to the Samjhauta Express the next morning.

When he reached Attari railway station on January 11, Indian immigration officials detained him after they found that he did not possess any travel documents.

He was sent to a juvenile home after being booked under the Indian Passport Act and the Foreigners Act.

Principal Magistrate of Juvenile Board Ajaib Singh ordered for his release and directed concerned officials to take necessary arrangements for his repatriation back to Pakistan, lawyer DP Sharma, who was pursuing the case, told reporters. — PTI

Chandigarh, February 26
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held the Punjab Police at fault for blatant misuse of power in terminating the services of an official.

Virtually rapping the senior functionaries of the Punjab Police on its knuckles for their role in the premature retirement of an inspector, Justice Ranjit Singh also dismissed appeals by the state with Rs 20,000 cost, “to be recovered from the officer, who passed the impugned order”.

Taking up the appeal against Arjan Lal, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “This case apparently is an example of blatant misuse of power. An inspector of the police was sent packing by directing his premature retirement by flouting all norms. His record at the time of passing the order was good/very good and there was no adverse entry.

“Still he was prematurely retired by the DIG in arbitrary exercise of powers that would only reflect his bias, motive and spite. The facts would clearly reveal that senior police officer, in charge of police range, had been unfair in dealing with the respondent. It is rather unpalatable to notice that even the IG, failed to correct the misuse of power and thereby became partner in allowing the illegality to perpetuate”

Going into the background, Justice Ranjit Singh observed: “On February 15, 1984, all of a sudden Arjan Lal was served an order prematurely retiring him. The monarchical command was issued by R Syrangal, DIG, Ferozepur Range. The respondent was hardly left with any option but to assail the order. Since he failed in his appeal before the IG police, he also challenged his order dated June 14, 1984.

“The suit filed was decreed by Sub Judge, Gurdaspur, declaring the impugned orders were illegal and not binding upon the respondent… The first appellate court came to the rescue of the respondent and allowed his appeal but dismissed the appeal filed by the state, which came up in the current regular second appeal….

“An officer would misuse his powers and pass an arbitrary order. His superior would not check him and rather would go with him. The state would blindly support the officer and file appeal after appeal…. Despite best efforts, state counsel could not disclose any reason nor could he show any material that would provide any semblance of justification to pass this order of premature retirement….

“The order can only be termed as whimsical and cannot be sustained. It was passed by flouting all cannons of law and in utter disregard to fair play. Plea that the order was not passed in bona fide exercise of powers and was not in public interest is well made out.”

Chandigarh, February 26
Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is in the dock for reportedly directing the deputy commissioners to keep 40 Akali leaders and workers “in good humour”.

Just over a fortnight after he reportedly issued the instructions, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday issued notice of motion to him and other respondents.

Acting on a petition filed in the public interest by a Bar-at-Law for an independent probe into the action, the Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Jasbir Singh also fixed March 15 as the next date of hearing.

In the petition against Badal, the State of Punjab and the police chief, barrister Himmat Singh Shergill asserted that the direction to the deputy commissioners was “prima facie in violation of the oath of office and secrecy taken by him,” and was “prima facie a fascist cadre building” exercise.

Referring to a media report of February 7, Shergill asserted the news item, if true, prima facie established that Sukhbir Badal violated the oath of office and secrecy taken by him. Shergill further said Sukhbir Badal “is not discharging faithfully and conscientiously discharging his duties as a minister for the State of Punjab”.

The petitioner added Badal was inflicting fear upon the deputy commissioners of districts and was ordering them to favour handpicked Akali leaders and workers. “These are fascist ways of cadre building which are unacceptable and illegal in democracy…. It is law which rules and no politician or officer can act in a whimsical, arbitrary manner.”

Before concluding, he has asked for “direction for investigation by an independent police force or agency like the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is not under control of the Punjab Government….”

Hoshiarpur, February 26
A migrant labourer Mangal Singh, son of Gopal Singh, who hails from West Bengal, has been ordered to be hanged till death by a local court for raping and murdering 5-year-old Rekha, daughter of a migrant labourer Pitamber of Uttar Pradesh presently residing at Adda Saran.

The culprit Mangal Singh had also been working in village Adda Saran. The parents of victim celebrated the judgement and said not even a single day had passed when they had not prayed for the severest punishment for Mangal. "We have got justice,” said Pitamber and Mithlesh Kumari, father and mother of the victim, respectively.

According to the Pitamber's counsellor Naveen Jerth, Mangal lured Rekha by offering her some biscuits on evening of last Holi festival on March 11, 2009, and took her to a secluded place, where after raping he killed her.

The Tanda police has registered a case under Sections 302 and 376 of the IPC against Mangal. Additional Session judge Surinder Singh Sahni today has sentenced death penalty to Mangal Singh under Section 302 of the IPC and life imprisonment under Section 376 of the IPC.