Sikh stabbed to death in Vancouver
Vancouver, March 31 The police have identified a young Sikh man who was stabbed to death in a birthday party at Cloverdale on the outskirts of the city on Sunday.

Amritsar ‘Honour’ Killing
Hunt on for girl’s father, uncle

Patti, March 31 The killers of the young couple, Prabhjot Kaur and Pardeep Singh, are still at large as the Tarn Taran police is busy conducting raids at their suspected hideouts. Pardeep Singh had earlier been attacked allegedly by his close relatives who were upset over his second marriage with Prabhjot Kaur despite a huge age gap of 16 years. Prabhjot (19) and Pardeep Singh (35) were shot dead by three armed assailants in broad daylight at around 5.15 pm on Tuesday.

Women mourn Pardeep Singh’s death at his native village near Abohar on Wednesday and (inset) Pardeep. A Tribune photograph

COMMUNITY

In Prabhjot’s village, kin’s plans were known
Ramgarh (Moga), March 31
The killing of Prabhjot Kaur and her husband, Pardeep Singh, has not shocked residents of this village, as they were apparently aware about the “wicked” gameplan of the girl’s family members.

Eerie silence in Pardeep’s village
Abohar, March 31
The brutal killing of Pardeep Singh and his wife Prabhjot Kaur, allegedly by his father-in-law and accomplices in broad daylight yesterday, has failed to significantly affect the atmosphere of Pardeep’s native village Bakainwala, about 30 km from here.

Honour Killing
Parents seek death for son’s killers

Gajjukhera (Banur), March 31 A day after Haryana court announced death sentence to five in honor killing, justice eludes old couple in Banur, whose son and his newly wed wife were killed for intercaste marriage around two years ago. Gurdial Ram and his wife Asha Rani with the photograph of their son and daughter-in-law at their house in Gajjukhera village, Banur. A Tribune photograph

Students miss exam due to ‘confusing’ datesheet

Patiala, March 31 Confusion prevailed over BA-I exam of Religious Studies today as more than hundred private students appearing under Punjabi University, Patiala, missed their exam due to conducting of exams in two shifts. Students protest against confusion in timing of their exam outside the Government College for Girls in Patiala on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Send reps to UAE: Sukhbir
Chandigarh, March 31
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to immediately send one high- level delegation, including External Affairs Minister and MPs/Ministers from Punjab and other states concerned, to UAE to save the lives of 17 Indians facing gallows on false murder charge.

Chandigarh-Naina Devi trip set to get dearer

Ropar, March 31 With a new toll tax barrier coming up near Solakhian village on the Kurali-Kiratpur Sahib stretch (NH 21), the journey for pilgrims heading from Chandigarh to pay obeisance at Naina Devi shrine is all set to get dearer now.
The toll tax barrier near Solkhian is likely to be commissioned by June. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Recruitment ‘scam’
PCMS insists on CBI probe
Chandigarh, March 31
The Punjab Civil Medical Service-I (PCMS-I) Association has reiterated its demand for a CBI probe into the recruitment of 312 PCMS doctors by the Punjab Public Service Commission. Even state Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla has favoured a CBI probe into the alleged scam and has reportedly written to the Chief Minister.

Now, no addl power cuts for industry
Patiala, March 31
In a much-needed breather to the state industry from power cuts, the PSEB has withdrawn additional regulatory measures imposed on it on March 19.

Skip PAU 201, govt tells farmers
Jalandhar, March 31
The Punjab Government today officially conveyed to farmers not to transplant high yielding PAU 201 this year. The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the Cabinet. This decision will be a big setback to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and for lakhs of farmers, who had made a substantial monetary gain by transplanting it last year.

Ludhiana Prof is nation’s pride
Ludhiana, March 31
In another academic distinction for the city, PK Keshap, associate professor of MBA and PGPM at Synetic Business School (SBS), has been chosen by IIFS-Delhi to be conferred with the Rashtriya Gaurav Award for his glorious services to humanity in general and students in particular.

Defunct mill staff urges CM to release salaries
Patiala, March 31 Employees of the Rakhra Sugar Mill, Patiala, which is defunct for the past six years, have urged the state government to immediately issue orders for disbursal of salaries.

Chandigarh, March 31
Farmers in Punjab and Haryana will have little water for irrigation and Rajasthan none at all this summer with water levels at both the Bhakra and Pong dams receding by the day. Hydropower generation has already reduced drastically and may be affected even more severely in the coming months.

According to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) sources, the water level at the Bhakra is 1,518 feet today, down 45 feet from the level of 1,562 feet recorded at the same time last year. The water levels at the Bhakra are going down steadily and inflows on account of snow melt are not matching the outflow. At the Pong dam, the situation is likely to worsen during the next two months. It is because this is a rain-fed dam and inflows trickling in are even less than those received during the dry season. The level of the Pong dam was 1,297 feet today as compared to a level of 1,319 feet recorded during the same period last year.

“Water cannot be created,” say BBMB officials, adding that discharge to both Punjab and Haryana was being reduced from tomorrow with the demand for the wheat crop reducing. Both states have reduced their water requirement, which they want to increase in June during the paddy transplantation season.

Power generation is already down with the Bhakra power plant complex with an installed capacity of 1,480 megawatt generating only 446 MW yesterday. The Dehar power plant with a capacity of 990 MW generated only 238 MW. The Pong dam has a capacity of 396 MW but generated only 22 MW yesterday. Punjab is already feeling the pinch. The state is overdrawing from the national grid.

During March 1 to 7, the state overdrew 267 lakh units at a cost of Rs 6.95 crore. From March 8 to 14, it overdrew 887 Lus at a cost of Rs 45 crore.

The reduced water levels in the dams will have a major bearing on Rajasthan. The state is at present being given water only for drinking purposes. BBMB Member, Irrigation, MK Gupta earlier said the state had drawn excess water in October, November and December for irrigation and had given an undertaking that it would draw only drinking water later.

Meanwhile, the BBMB is putting its hopes on increased ice melt during the summers. Any delay in the arrival of the monsoon could aggravate conditions.

However, a release here, while quoting new BBMB Chairman A B Agrawal who called on the CM here today, said an advanced onset of the summer season would result in increased snow melt.

Ludhiana, March 31
Scanty rainfall followed by fluctuation in temperatures may adversely affect yield of rabi crop.

This was observed by agro-meteorologist at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, Dr KK Gill.

In the first week of March this year, both the maximum and minimum temperatures remained above normal by about 3 degree Celsius without any rainfall occurrence, said the expert. Thereafter, it started increasing during second and third week and the temperatures remained above normal. During the current week, the maximum and minimum temperature were 7 degree Celsius and 5 degree Celsius above normal, respectively.

The month of March was totally dry against the normal rainfall of 26 mm. This month, the maximum temperature was 36.4 degree Celsius, while the minimum temperature reached 18 degree Celsius, which has never happened in the last 40 years in the month of March.

She elaborated that the above normal temperatures starting from the end of February may adversely affect the wheat crop, to some extent this year. Further, the frequency of the western disturbances during the winter period, which bring rain and control the daytime and night-time temperatures has not been satisfactory, particularly in Punjab and its adjoining areas, she said, adding that the western disturbances did not bring sufficient rainfall in the state.

The temperatures were also controlled by the western disturbances, said Gill. The absence of clouds allowed all short wave radiation from the sun to fall on the earth during the daytime, thereby, increasing the temperatures by about 5 degree Celsius above normal.

Expressing the impact of weather on crop productivity, Gill said at this stage, it is difficult to predict the exact yield of rabi crop. In the mean time, farmers are advised to give frequent irrigation to newly planted horticultural crops and vegetable crops. The farmers could apply irrigation to late sown wheat crop according to requirement, she added.

Amritsar, March 31
Keeping its focus on education and creating awareness about Sikhism, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today unanimously passed a Rs 508.7 crore budget for 2010-2011 during the committee’s general session at Teja Singh Samundri Hall here. This year’s allocation is about Rs 60.7 crore more than last year.

Barring objections raised by Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (adhoc) president Jagdish Singh Jhinda and associates, the budget was presented peacefully. Jhinda alleged that he was not allowed to speak when he asked the management to come out with a detailed balancesheet of income and expenditure of SGPC. Members of the SGPC task force and some officials escorted Jhinda out of the hall when he raised objections.

As soon as the budget was presented by SGPC general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, it was endorsed by a majority of the 120 SGPC members amid chanting of “Jo Bole So Nihal…” in the presence of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh, Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarhm, Golden Temple head priest Giani Jaswinder Singh, and SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar.

“The focus this time is on education. New schools are being planned and buildings of old ones renovated. A number of MoUs have also been signed with foreign universities,” said general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said that by promoting education, the committee was trying its best to keep youngsters away from drugs. “The SGPC has opened several new CBSE-affiliated public schools in rural areas. The Sikh Reference Library in the Golden Temple has been air-conditioned for better preservation of books and other reference material,” he said.

The house passed a number of resolutions and cautioned vernacular newspapers against “blasphemous” writings. It also hailed the Haryana Government’s decision to accord second language status to Punjabi and criticised the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for trying to “divide” the community by convening a World Sikh Convention.

Vancouver, March 31
The police have identified a young Sikh man who was stabbed to death in a birthday party at Cloverdale on the outskirts of the city on Sunday.

Buta Singh Sangha (21) was stabbed when a fight broke out between two neighbouring families over the birthday party celebrations. The Punjab-born victim was invited as a guest by the family celebrating the birthday of their baby when the dispute with the neighbours started.

The police said Sangha was stabbed when the dispute turned violent. He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

A 32-year-old man with criminal past has been arrested. The alleged killer, Adrian Skara, was also a guest at the neighbour’s house when he stabbed Sangha.

Many people had called the police when the dispute started. But before cops could come, it turned violent leading to stabbing of the Sikh man.

“This incident remains as an altercation between neighbours and does not have any links to gangs, drugs or organised crime,” the police said.

More than a 100 Punjabi-origin young men have been killed here over the years in rivalry among drug gangs. Most of these cases remain unresolved despite the creation a special homicide unit by the police. — IANS

Patti, March 31
The killers of the young couple, Prabhjot Kaur and Pardeep Singh, are still at large as the Tarn Taran police is busy conducting raids at their suspected hideouts. Pardeep Singh had earlier been attacked allegedly by his close relatives who were upset over his second marriage with Prabhjot Kaur despite a huge age gap of 16 years. Prabhjot (19) and Pardeep Singh (35) were shot dead by three armed assailants in broad daylight at around 5.15 pm on Tuesday.

Patti SHO Hardip Singh said raids had been conducted to arrest Prabhjot’s father, Surjit Singh, and her uncle, Bakshish Singh. “Their homes in Ramgarh were found to be locked. We are conducting raids at all possible hideouts. We have got some personal details regarding the appearance of the accused from the two security guards of the couple,” said Hardip Singh.

The couple’s two security guards provided by the Punjab police after the couple’s court marriage in May last year, had failed to save their lives as one of the three assailants had overpowered one of the guards, Kulwant Singh. The presence of a huge crowd of students and their parents in front of the school gate had made it almost impossible for the couple’s guards and two guards, deputed inside the school on examination duty, to react within time, sources said.

Pardeep Singh hailed from Barkainwala village in Ferozepur district, while Prabhjot belonged to Ramgarh village in Moga district. Both were from well-off Jat Sikh landlord families. Pardeep, family sources said, was also a member of the village panchayat and was a BJP activist. Prabhjot, family sources said, was daughter of Pradeep’s brother-in-law (saddhu) and their intimate relations within a close family were not acceptable to the families on both sides.

“Pardeep had almost been killed by his in-laws and was taken as dead when he was pushed in the canal near Mallanwala village last year along with his car. It was nothing but a miracle that he managed to survive the attack. The relations between him, his first wife and Prabhjot’s family were sour for long particularly after Prabhjot had married him in May last year,” said Jagmit Singh, the 32-year-old younger brother of Pardeep, who along with a number of distant relatives visited the Patti Civil Hospital to claim the body of Pardeep after a postmortem.

Ironically, none of relatives of Prabhjot turned up to claim her body. Similarly, none of the close relatives of Pardeep, except for his younger brother Jagmit, had come to the hospital. The absence of most of the close relatives of the couple was attributed to a general “disliking” for the marriage on both sides. “The family has been passing through a turbulent time since the marriage of the couple. Prabhjot’s family had embroiled Pardeep and even me in a number of false cases, including a kidnapping case registered at Dharamkot police station in Moga district,” rued a sobbing Jagmit.

Ramgarh (Moga), March 31
The killing of Prabhjot Kaur and her husband, Pardeep Singh, has not shocked residents of this village, as they were apparently aware about the “wicked” gameplan of the girl’s family members.

Prabhjot belonged to Ramgarh village in Moga, while Pardeep hailed from Bakainwala village in Ferozepur. Resisting opposition by the two families, the couple had embraced Islam and solemnised a court marriage.

Suspecting the hand of the girl’s parents and other relatives in the killings, the police conducted raids on their houses but found them locked.

Since the day, the couple got married, Prabhjot’s family had broken all relations with her and made their intentions to kill them clear.

Speaking to The Tribune on condition of anonymity, villagers said that Prabhjot was the daughter of Surjeet Singh. Prabhjot was about eight-10 year old when she was sent to live with her maternal grandparents in Abohar.

Pardeep Singh, who was the son-in-law of the old couple, had been visiting them frequently. After a couple of years, he had an affair with Prabhjot Kaur and one day eloped with her to Himachal Pradesh.

The family of the girl traced the eloping duo and after beating up Prabhjot sent her to her paternal aunt’s house at Danuwala village. The girl’s father, uncles and cousins brutally assaulted Pardeep and assuming him to be killed, put him in a car and pushed in a canal.

However, Pardeep survived and lodged a case of attempt to murder against the kin of the girl, including her father, uncle and cousins. Meanwhile, the girl’s family also lodged a rape case against him.

Later, Pardeep and Prabhjot again managed to flee about a year back. Soon the girl attained the age of maturity. They opted for conversion and changed their names as Adil, alias Pardeep, and Luckykhanam, alias Prabhjot. After solemnising their marriage in the court, they managed to take police protection from the Punjab and Haryana High Court and started living away from their families.

As the family was totally against the relationship, they broke all relations with the couple and announced to kill them one day.

Abohar, March 31
The brutal killing of Pardeep Singh and his wife Prabhjot Kaur, allegedly by his father-in-law and accomplices in broad daylight yesterday, has failed to significantly affect the atmosphere of Pardeep’s native village Bakainwala, about 30 km from here.

Though a section of residents descended on the ancestral house of Pardeep after coming to know about his murder, most of them preferred not to discuss the issue with strangers.

Though the atmosphere in Pardeep’s house was affected by his murder, it was business as usual for the villagers. A section of residents close to Pardeep’s family was waiting for the bodies of the couple to be brought here for cremation. Police sources said bodies were expected to arrive late evening today.

Pardeep had married Prabhjot (his first wife’s sister’s daughter) after leaving his first wife about a year ago. After the marriage, both Pardeep and Prabhjot lived under constant threat to their lives from Prabhjot’s family, who were against this alliance.

Prabhjot’s parents got a rape case registered against Pardeep in Abohar police station when he eloped with her about a year ago. Both Pardeep and Prabhjot were caught from Shimla and Pardeep was beaten up mercilessly by kin of Prabhjot Kaur and later they allegedly threw him into a canal near Makhu.

A case pertaining to attempt to murder was registered against kin of Prabhjot Kaur in this connection.

Malwinder Singh, SP (D), Tarn Taran, said the bodies of Pardeep and Prabhjot were handed over to Jagmeet (brother of Pardeep) after a postmortem around 4 pm today.

He added that a case had been registered against Surjeet Singh (father of Prabhjot), his brother, Bakhshish Singh, and five others. The case was registered on the statement of Kulwant Singh, one of the security guards provided to the deceased couple. He added that the police had conducted raids at the houses of these two accused in Ramgarh village of Moga district to arrest them, but they had absconded.

Gajjukhera (Banur), March 31
A day after Haryana court announced death sentence to five in honor killing, justice eludes old couple in Banur, whose son and his newly wed wife were killed for intercaste marriage around two years ago.

Couple Suresh Kumar and Sanvinder Kaur, both from same village, got married against wishes of Sanvinder’s family and were brutally murdered in broad day light by her brother.

Parents of the boy today demanded death sentence for Sanvinder’s brothers and two others, whom the police has not yet booked. They alleged that the Banur police acted under pressure of influential people to let the two accused go scot free.

“They (couple) remained away from village for three months and started living our house. They thought that Sanvinder’s family has reconciled and accepted them,” said father Gurdayal Singh, who runs a tea stall in the village. Sanvinder belonged to Harijan family, while Suresh was a Khatri.

Irate over the marriage, Sanvinder’s brother, Sarabjit brutally murdered the couple while they were sleeping in two room house on June 13, 2008. He repeatedly attacked couple with iron rods. While Suresh died on the spot, Sanvinder breathed his last at PGIMER, Chandigarh, after a couple of hours.

Seventy three-year-old Gurdayal alleged that the police had partnered with accused family. “My only son used to run puncture fixing shop in village and had taken a shop on rent just two days before his death,” said Gurdayal.

Inconsolable mother, Asha Rani said they bowed before Suresh’s decision to marry a Harijan girl. “Sarabjit was a security guard in some nearby college and had come to village just few days before the incidence. Some of his friends instigated him to kill my son and his wife for defying family norms,” she said.

Patiala, March 31
Confusion prevailed over BA-I exam of Religious Studies today as more than hundred private students appearing under Punjabi University, Patiala, missed their exam due to conducting of exams in two shifts.

The situation got tense when these students reached their examination centres around 1 pm and found that their exam was in the morning shift from 9 to 12. These students gathered outside the Government College of Girls, Patiala, and raised slogans against the university authorities demanding cancellation of the paper stating that the datesheet was confusing. One of the candidates, Roshan said it was totally university’s fault. “The column before the religious studies subject was left blank and we presumed that the exam would be at 2 pm as our other papers were in the afternoon shift only. Now that we have missed the paper, it is disappointing because we will be considered absent in the paper,” he added.

Another girl, Davinder Kaur said, “There is a lot of confusion. Other papers are being conducting in afternoon shift and now they say that this paper was in the morning. My whole year will be spoilt because of the university’s fault.” “We will not take further exams and will not even let others appear if our problem is not resolved. We at least need some assurance from the university’s side because it is not just about few students. But the strength is in hundreds,” added another girl.

Examination Controller, Punjabi University, Pawan Kumar Singla, informed that the datesheet clearly had the timings for each paper. “We have specified the papers that will be held in morning and afternoon shift. So, where is the confusion I don’t understand?” This is negligence on part of students, who don’t read their datesheets properly. This happens every year. Around 50-60 students miss exams and this year the number is large. Though it is not university’s fault, but still I have taken the application of these students and would discuss their case with the authorities. Let us see what can be done about it,” he added. It is pertinent to mention here that Punjabi University conducts the papers for those subjects in two shifts in which the strength of candidates is large. They conduct exams for regular candidates in morning shift and private candidates in afternoon shift in such cases.

Ropar, March 31
With a new toll tax barrier coming up near Solakhian village on the Kurali-Kiratpur Sahib stretch (NH 21), the journey for pilgrims heading from Chandigarh to pay obeisance at Naina Devi shrine is all set to get dearer now.

Once the toll barrier is commissioned (likely by June), pilgrims bound for Naina Devi via NH 21 would have to pay entry tax at four spots, including Kurali, Solakhian, Sirsa river bridge and Nakkian (near Anandpur Sahib).

While the toll to be levied at Solakhian is yet to be decided, that charged at Kurali (Rs 17), Nakkian (Rs 65) and Sirsa river bridge (Rs 10) already amounts to Rs 92 for four-wheelers (multiple journeys in 24 hours). The toll from commercial vehicles like buses and trucks is much higher.

Construction on the Solakhian barrier having begun about three years ago, the company concerned would be collecting toll for seven years. Besides, it would also earn from advertisements on billboards and the toll plaza. Via this route, commuters would have to pay for using the 44.7-km stretch, which has been four-laned up to Kiratpur Sahib. At Kurali, commuters have to pay for using the flyover, which too is quite narrow and may not be able to support the growing traffic in the area in future. Similarly, commuters pay at Nakkian toll plaza for using the 35-km stretch that has been four-laned up to Nangal. Commissioned in November 2007, the plaza would continue collecting tax till 2022 (for a period of 15 years).

Meanwhile, Harish Khosla of Garhshankar, who had filed a PIL in 2008 challenging toll imposed on state highway 24 (Balachaur-Garshankar-Hoshiarpur-Dasuya), rued that the common man was being forced to shell out toll tax when he was already paying so many transport-related taxes. “We pay for vehicle registration, goods tax or token tax taken by state, cess on fuel, road tax, added when new vehicle bought and tax on overloading. Imposing toll taxes is yet another way of overburdening the common man.”

Ropar DC Priyank Bharti said the toll plaza near Sirsa river bridge would complete its collection by June. “My office has received a communiqué in this context from the Ministry of Surface Transport and National Highway. However, I am yet to go through its contents.”

Jalandhar, March 31
The Punjab Government today officially conveyed to farmers not to transplant high yielding PAU 201 this year. The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the Cabinet. This decision will be a big setback to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and for lakhs of farmers, who had made a substantial monetary gain by transplanting it last year.

The state Agriculture Department today urged farmers not to transplant PAU 201 till issues related to it such as high percentage of damage to grains and broken rice are resolved with the Centre. The FCI had refused to accept rice prepared from it for the Central pool on a plea that it was not covered under specifications laid down for this purpose.

Farmers had made a net additional gain of Rs 500 crore by transplanting this variety last year. About 4.6 lakh hectares of area was covered under this variety. The average yield from this variety was 7.2 tonnes per hectare, whereas it was only 6.1 tonnes from other varieties.

Paramjit Singh Minhas, Director, Research, PAU, said owing to its high yield, this variety would have provided a additional food security to the country.

He said the PAU had got tested rice prepared from this variety from a lab in Hyderabad. “The lab authorities have told me that the damage percentage was just 2 per cent, which means it is covered under specifications laid down by the Centre.” “I will soon get a written report from the lab,” he added.

However, the Centre had recently got rice prepared from this variety tested at its own level from three labs. One of the labs had found high percentage of damage and broken rice. But two others labs had found 85 per cent samples of rice within the specified limit. “We are trying to further improve this variety by putting the mutation programme on the fast mode”, said Minhas.

PAU has blamed the rice millers lobby for creating controversy with regard to this variety. A dominating opinion in PAU and the Agriculture Department is that farmers should be allowed to transplant this variety. “The state government should get rice prepared from this variety at its own level and market it through Markfed and other government agencies in the open market without involving any agency of the Centre. Efforts should also be made to probe the market for this variety abroad as it has been found fit for human consumption and high percentage of damage to its grains do not involve fungal or any other harmful infection”, said a senior official of PAU.

Ludhiana, March 31
In another academic distinction for the city, PK Keshap, associate professor of MBA and PGPM at Synetic Business School (SBS), has been chosen by IIFS-Delhi to be conferred with the Rashtriya Gaurav Award for his glorious services to humanity in general and students in particular.

The award is given to men and women in the fields of science and technology, education, industry, fine arts, politics and social work in view of extraordinary services rendered with excellence in their fields.

Keshap is the Founder-Director of Mind Power Institute that has counselled, trained, inspired and motivated over 1,000 students settled in India and abroad in the past 12 years. He is also president of the Manav Jagriti Trust that publishes books on social evils. He will be presented the award on April 9 at New Delhi.

Patiala, March 31
Employees of the Rakhra Sugar Mill, Patiala, which is defunct for the past six years, have urged the state government to immediately issue orders for disbursal of salaries.

President and general secretary of the Sugar Mill Workers Union, Rakhra, Surjit Singh Mann and Gurmeet Singh Assemajra, respectively, said the staff had not been given their salaries since April 2008. They said a letter to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had been sent in this regard.

Releasing a copy of the letter to the media, Assemajra said due to the non-disbursal of salaries, 250 regular and 400 seasonal employees of the mill are facing extreme hardship. Despite repeated assurances from government officials, our salaries have not been disbursed,” he added.

Mann also urged the CM that the mill should be made operational. He demanded that employees of the mill should also be given 50 per cent DA.

Chandigarh, March 31
Soon after Haryana granted 3 per cent reservation in promotions to physically challenged employees, a similar plea has now been furnished in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In a petition filed in public interest, directions have also been sought to the state of Punjab to provide three per cent reservation in promotions to the physically challenged employees on the same pattern.