Chandigarh, October 6
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal has received support from at least one quarter — economists — so far as tackling state’s financial debt is concerned. Almost unanimous in their opinion, these experts feel that though the Finance Minister means well, he has hardly taken any steps in his last three budgets to move in the direction often pointed out by him.

Reacting specifically to the conditional offer made by the Centre to reduce Punjab’s debt burden, the majority view among experts is that agriculture subsidy should be need based and cover farmers with small land holdings only. There is complete consensus on enforcing house tax.

Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) Director-General Professor Suchha Singh Gill says Punjab can refuse to accept the conditions being laid down by the Centre but then it must come up with Rs 17 crore every year for debt servicing and partial debt retirement. “For this again, it will have to create additional resources”.

Gill while terming the central offer as “unusual” with all states under debt, said the state must consider it seriously and not make the conditional ties an issue. He lamented that the state political leadership was not giving a “wise” response to Manpreet.

Former Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr SS Johl also claims that the Finance Minister is right and even calls for an end to subsidies when under debt.

However, this is an extreme view, with most economists calling for need-based subsidies. Professor Gill and Punjabi University economist Dr Ranjit Singh Ghuman say subsidy should be given to small farmers only. Dr Ghuman also maintains that subsidies could have led to accumulation of debt but it is not the only problem.

Dr Ghuman claims tax evasion is one of the biggest problems being faced by the state. He claimed that Manpreet had not only failed in this task but had also not listed any framework to mobilise resources in his budget speeches. “He has also not taken any stand on crucial issues which sometimes gives the impression that he is resorting to gimmickry,” the economist added.

Meanwhile, Indian Development Centre head Dr Pramod Kumar is not in agreement with Manpreet’s views on subsidies. Dr Kumar maintains that fiscal mismanagement is responsible for the present-day state finances and that people should not be made to pay for accumulated debt. Speaking out in favour of the state’s rights to give subsidies, he said the Centre had subsidised a Rs 70,000-crore loan bailout for farmers but wanted to impose conditions on the state.

All economists are, however, overwhelmingly in favour of imposition of house tax, saying this will help raise much-needed resources. Dr SS Gill even advocated reintroduction of octroi. The central condition to discourage employee withdrawals from the General Provident Fund (GPF) was, however, termed as illogical by most experts.

Chandigarh, October 6
Nearly 12 years after she was allegedly raped in front of her minor son, a Ferozepur district resident is still fighting for justice.

Coming to her rescue, Justice Surya Kant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has not only asked the trial court to fast track the case, but also directed the police to ensure her safety. Directions have also been issued to protect her against alleged pressure from the accused.

The victim had moved the High Court, along with her husband and two sons. Her case, pending before a trial court in Ferozepur, has again brought under the High Court scanner the functioning of the police.

Available information suggests the challan in her case was filed after a decade; and she is still being allegedly threatened to depose in favour of the accused. It is also apparent that the police in this part of the region has learnt little lessons from the Ruchika Girhotra and Sarita cases. Both had ended their lives after the police allegedly failed to take timely action.

Taking up her case, Justice Surya Kant asserted a rape victim, along with her husband and sons, moved the High Court for protection “from being pressurised by the accused to depose in their favour”.

Referring to the assertions made by her counsel, Justice Surya Kant asserted the victim had deposed and had supported her original version in the criminal case. But her son, stated to be an eyewitness, was yet to depose.

“The FIR was registered on May 3, 1998, and the charges have been framed after 10 long years in 2008. In these circumstances, instead of waiting for a reply from the respondents, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with a direction to Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police, Zira DSP and SHO of police station Mallanwallan to ensure no harm whatsoever is caused to the life and liberty of the petitioner, nor anyone is able to put any type of pressure on them for a favoured deposition in the pending trial.

“Keeping in view the fact that the occurrence allegedly took place more than 12 years back, the trial court at Ferozepur is directed to expedite the ongoing proceedings and to conclude the trial as early as possible and preferably within six months”. In all, four persons are accused in the case-- - Pritam Singh, Baldev Singh, Gurdev Singh and Kashmiri Singh.

Amritsar, October 6
As many as 51 unemployed ETT teachers were detained by the police when they tried to enter Khalsa College premises where President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil was addressing a gathering.

Holding black flags, they were agitating against the indifferent attitude of the state government towards their demands.

Jagtar Singh Jhabbar, president of the union, stated that on the eve of the President’s visit, about 10 of their workers from all over the state were arrested by the police authorities.

In a release to the press, the union said they would burn effigies and carry out protest march in the constituencies of former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur.

However, the detained teachers were released late in the evening.

Meanwhile, more that 24 Youth Congress workers led by its president Dr Shailenderjit Singh Shelly were today detained by the city police when they were gathering at the Congress Rural Office on Albert road for holding a protest.

They were to protest against Harsimrat Kaur Badal, SAD MP and wife of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. They were released in the evening.

“Nanhi Chhaan project, launched by Badal, had practically done nothing at grass roots level as female foeticide has increased in Malwa region, from where Harsimrat was elected as MP,” claimed Shelly and alleged that the forum was politically used by Badal’s family to promote her.

He said as per the records collected by them, the grants released by the Centre under the National Rural Health Mission for the cause (female foeticide) lapsed as the state government failed to utilise the funds over the past three years.

“What is more disturbing is that cases were registered against several ultrasound centres for conducting sex determination tests in Bathinda, but these cases were later cancelled owing to political pressure,” he added.

Malerkotla, October 6
The district administration, Sangrur, has recommended a local Muslim industrialist for the National Integration Award after he got the local church, damaged by some of his angry community members during the anti-Christian violence, repaired.

On September 12, angry mobs set fire to the furniture of the church in the town, after a rumour surfaced about a copy of the Koran being desecrated in Michigan, US. Angered Muslims, numbering around 200, rushed towards the local Saint Thomas Church and set it on fire.

However, setting an example worth emulating, a local industrialist, Amjad Ali Khan, of Sohrab group of industries approached the civil administration and Christian religious leaders, expressing willingness to help in the reconstruction of the damaged church.

“I was really pained to see that the church was damaged by an angry crowd. I stand for national integration. There is a Hadith, “If anyone is weak near you, it is your responsibility to take care of his life,

property and dignity”. I believe in this Hadith,” says Khan. “I approached the district administration and Christian authorities to allow me to repair the damaged infrastructure of the church. On Sunday, the church was damaged and we got it fully repaired and handed it over to the priest of the church, Ambrose Rogers, in the presence of the district administration authorities on Friday.”

Rogers, priest of the church, said by repairing the damaged infrastructure in the church, Khan had set high standards of national integration and had served humanity in a great way.

Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, Harkesh Singh Sidhu, confirmed to The Tribune

that the district administration was recommending Khan for the National Integration Award.

Jalandhar, October 6
There is a big demand for cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu for campaigning in the elections in Bihar and Gujarat.

In fact, Sidhu left this afternoon for Ahmedabad from Amritsar in a special plane sent to him by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. He would campaign for the BJP in municipal corporation elections in Gujarat where political stakes are high for Modi.

“During the next two days, I will address election meetings at Ahmedabad, Rajkot and four other cities where elections to elect the corporation bodies will be held next week,” said Sidhu before flying to Gujarat.

He said earlier in Assembly elections, he had addressed highest number of election meetings in that state.

“It is, perhaps, because of my old record of addressing highest number elections meetings in Assembly elections that Modi has again called me to campaign for the BJP in his state,” said Sidhu.

Immediately after Gujarat, he would go to Bihar to campaign for the BJP in Assembly elections. “ I have been asked to campaign at least for 18 days, for three days in each phase, but I have some other important engagements in between,” he said.

“Some of the senior BJP leaders have individually contacted me to campaign in their Assembly constituencies, but I would go by the party’s high command’s programme given to me in this regard,” he said.

Bathinda, October 6
Though cotton growers of Malwa are getting a comparatively much higher price for their crop this season, the smile is still missing on their faces.

According to a survey of the main cotton yard at Bathinda by The Tribune, it was observed that the price of cotton was varying between Rs 3,500-4,100 per quintal, which was much higher than the previous seasons. Still, the farmers were in a pensive mood.

“Everybody is saying that due to shortage of cotton this season, prices have shot up and farmers have earned hefty amounts on their crop. But it is a misnomer,” said Major Singh, an elderly farmer of Bhagu village.

He said, “In fact, the cotton shortage came to light only after growers sustained major setback in the fields. It was the adverse weather and attack of pests this season that made us incur major loss in terms of quantity of the produce”.

Supporting his viewpoint, another farmer Balwinder Singh of Naruana village said, “During the previous season, I got about 14 quintal yield of cotton per acre, but this season, witnessing the condition of plants during the first two pickings, I am presuming that it will remain between eight to nine quintal per acre. So in this situation, if I get an extra Rs 1,000 per quintal, it will mean a major loss to me, if compared with the previous year”.

“By publicising that the cotton farmer is getting benefit of cotton shortage, the media, too, is giving a picture that does not reflect the reality. Earlier, at the time of sowing, heavy rains washed out all our efforts. Further, the attack of pests meant heavy loss and then again, when the crop was ready to pick, rains spoilt the plants,” rued Jagjit Singh of Phus Mandi village.

“Now the pickers are asking for a much high wages along with various other extra perks like flour, tea and accommodation. Even after bearing all this, when one weighs the per acre yield of the crop, one is still in loss amounting to half the previous one,” he said.

“Last year, I had covered 15 acres under cotton and spent about Rs 20,000 on spraying of pesticides. But this time, the spray cost me dear as it failed to check pests and the expenditure on pesticide spray touched Rs 58,000 this season. Despite this, I am speculating that the total yield will be weighed just a little over than half of the previous year,” said Parkash Singh of Birbehman village.

However, on the other hand, an official of the Mandi Board said, “No doubt the farmers will get less yield this time, but it seems that the loss will be recouped as the total purchase is in the private sector and entrepreneurs are even purchasing the moist crop that means the moisture content too is being sold at the rate of cotton”.

Jalandhar, October 6
The Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal) yesterday said its workers would hold a protest seeking withdrawal of the Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Bill, 2010, and the Punjab Special Security Group Bill, 2010.

Declaring that the main objective of both Bills was to crush democratic voices seeking justice from the state government and its anti-people policies, BKU president Balbir Singh Rajewal said immediately after the harvesting of paddy crop, farmers would be mobilised to fight against both Bills.

Rajewal said his organisation would also knock at the door of courts to challenge both Bills. “We would go to the public and also take legal recourse,” he added.

Rajewal said with the passing of the Bills, the democratically elected government had become a dictator and it had given absolute powers to the police force to crush agitations and other modes of protest.

He said the Bill would mostly affect farmer organisations, religious organisations, trade unions and private sector workers.

Talking about the Special Security Group Bill, Rajewal said it was also another piece of legislation that had provided immense powers to crush civil liberties.

In the Bill, the “anti-national force” has been described as “any person, organisation or association of persons, which for its object, does any unlawful activity or which encouraged as aids persons to undertake any unlawful activity”. However, the definition of unlawful activity had not been specified in it and such open-ended mentions of an unlawful activity word in the Bill had conferred absolute powers on the police.”

Rajpura, October 6
Around 85 passengers, including women and children, bore brunt of two private buses impounded last night by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA).

The RTA stopped two buses for checking, bound to New Delhi from Ludhiana. During the inspection, it was found that none of the buses had paid the road tax since long and were being plying illegally. Also their route permits had expired in 2007. Both buses were fined Rs 10,000 each and buses were impounded in the police station.

The first bus has around 40 passengers and other one had 45 passengers and all of them were bound for Delhi. All passengers had paid Rs 250 for the ticket to Delhi.

The bus drivers were directed to park their respective vehicles at new bus stand police post, Rajpura. Passengers were forced to stand outside with their luggage locked inside the boot of bus. Around 40 passengers rued that their luggage was in the bus, which was impounded by the police and its driver and conductor slipped away along with the keys. “While the RTA conducted its duty and buses paid fine but no one cared about 85 odd passengers left in lurch ”, said a resident of Rajpura who offered help to passengers and served snacks and water to the stranded people. Passengers were left to fend for themselves. Most of the passengers were left stranded from 1 am to 7 am and got their luggage after much persuasion with the police who broke open the lock to get passengers’ luggage.

The nearby hotel and restaurant owners too understood the situation of passengers and charged them exorbitantly for food and lodging. Passengers Javed and Yunus said they had bought tickets for eight passengers for Rs 2,000. They were going from Ludhiana to Delhi. “We paid for the misdeed of bus operators. When we questioned the driver, he cursed the bus operator and slipped away without even being noticed,” they added.

Harmail Singh, secretary, RTA, Patiala region, said these buses were plying without permits. “It was my duty to stop it. If passengers face problem, they should go to the consumer court or complain to the police about it,” he said.

Punjab Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal when apprised about the incident termed it as unfortunate and said: “Private bus operators are like that. I regret and feel sorry for it. It is an unfortunate incident,” he said.

Patiala, October 6
City lad Jatin Verma, a student of Gian Sagar College of Physiotherapy, achieved a rare distinction when he presented his paper during the 14th Commonwealth International Sports Science Congress (CISSC), organised by Manav Rachna International University, Faridabad, recently in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games 2010, Delhi. He spoke about the latest concept of physiotherapy in sports injuries.

About 87 renowned scientists from England, America, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and other parts of the world participated in the Congress. Jatin was the youngest participant among the other scientists who attended the 
conference.

Talking to The Tribune, Jatin said: “Sports medicine is an area of health and special services that apply medical and scientific knowledge to prevent, recognise, manage, and rehabilitate injuries related to sport, exercise or recreational activity. It is a vast subject in which extensive researches have already been conducted and some are still in progress.”

“Kinisio-Taping is the latest concept to give rehabilitation to muscles which get injured during sports training or competitions. This method was introduced by American physiotherapists during their latest research in the last Olympics Games, but it has now become popular among sports practitioners,” he said.

He further said it was a very important field and one needs to know the symptoms before treating this clearly.

“Symptoms reported by sufferers include pain and aching to the neck and back, referred pain to the shoulders, sensory disturbance (such as pins and needles) to the arms and legs and headaches.

These symptoms can appear directly after the injury but often are not felt until days afterwards,” he added. Giving details of the treatment process, Jatin said it was very important to first get the orthopaedic tests done to diagnose the condition and rule out other causes of pain. A proper examination also assesses the biomechanics of the knee, leg and foot so that a customised treatment can target any of the tight, weak, or imbalanced structures and mal-alignments.

Many therapies have been described in the scientific literature, including braces, taping, manual therapy and rehabilitation exercises which help in healing of these injuries and therefore one needs to zero in on what needs to be used for a particular injury, he said.

Describing his experience, Jatin said it felt great to sit amongst highly experienced scientists and to get more information about the latest trends in this field.

Chittevani (Jalandhar), October 6
Entire staff of a government middle school here pledged to donate eyes after death. All staff members in the school, located in the Chittevani village, near Jalandhar, registered themselves with the Punarjot Eye Bank, a Ludhiana-based charitable organisation promoting the cause of eye donation.

Jasbir Singh Sandhu, principal of the school, said besides the staff, teachers had also vowed to persuade more than 50 students, along with their parents, to become members of the eye bank before November 14.

Amritsar, October 6
Pul Kanjri is an example of the state’s indifference towards preserving its heritage.This village in Amritsar is historically significant and was virtually decimated in an attack by Kabaili rioters in 1947. Pul Kanjri was a major trading centre before Partition and was frequented by people from both Lahore and Amritsar.

Most of the villagers who had survived the bloodbath, a few days after Partition, migrated to safer places, particularly Amritsar. The village was captured by the Pakistani army during the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, and was recaptured by the Indian Army later.

The government is looking out for an agency to take up its maintenance work.

The village has various heritage structures and the Union Ministry of Tourism had released Rs 43 lakh a couple of years back for the restoration of a heritage water body located at the centre of the village. The baoli (water body) is surrounded by a promenade and a dome on one side. The dome has frescoes of Hindu deities and Guru Nanak Dev with Bala and Mardana laced with floral frames. The executing agency, Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board, restored the entire structure with the help of a New Delhi-based firm in October last year. However, the frescoes inside the have been defaced by those visiting the place. The Tourism Department’s indifferent attitude seems to pushing the heritage structure back into oblivion. The Deputy Commissioner Amritsar, KS Pannu said they were on the lookout for an agency which could maintain the dome. He said the authorities had approached the BSF which has a presence in the area since it is a border belt. The latter expressed its inability to take up the responsibility of maintaining the heritage site. He said they had also approached the panchayats of neighbouring villages but were yet to receive a positive response.

District Tourism Officer Balraj Singh said the matter of maintenance of the site is already under consideration of the head office. He also claimed that the restoration work didn’t end a year back, as mentioned on the board put up on the site. “In fact, the work is not yet over as we want to make the site’s surroundings green, apart from putting benches for the visitors.”

The heritage structure can be a big draw for tourists visiting the Wagah Border for witnessing the Beating of the Retreat ceremony, as it falls on the Amritsar-Wagah road. The authorities have failed to maintain the site, develop an access road to the village and throw it open to the visitors.Incidentally, the village also has a Baradari, built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Rajpura, October 6
Five persons, including a couple and expectant woman, lost heir lives in separate incidents in Rajpura today.

The deceased couple from Ludhiana committed suicide by jumping before a train in the morning. The deceased have been identified as Ajaib Singh and his wife Bhajasn Kaur, who came to meet their relatives in Chamaru village in Rajpura from Ludhiana.

They left for Ludhiana at 10 am from the village and jumped before a train near Chamaru village. The police brought the bodies for autopsy to Rajpura civil hospital
and action has been initiated under Section 174 of the CrPC.

An expectant woman, identified as Bharti Devi (35) of Dholan Wala Mohalla committed suicide by burning herself allegedly after an altercation with uncle of her husband. Bharti was married around 11 years ago to Murari Lal, a scrap dealer in Rajpura.

In his complaint to the police, father of the deceased woman, Balkar Singh, accused the uncle of his son-in-law, Sunil Kumar, of instigating his daughter to commit suicide over a trivial issue. The police has booked the uncle, in this connection. The police said Sunil had beaten up Bharti over some issue after which she burnt herself. Though Sunil tried to douse the flames and himself received 40 per cent burns.

In another incident, Satish Kumar of Rajpura died in an accident near Madanpur Chalheri village. Satish was going towards Ambala on a two-wheeler and his friend Kuldip Singh received serious injuries and is being treated at Rajpura civil hospital.

Meanwhile, Naseeb Singh of Harpalpur killed today after he fell off from the roof of his house. The police has initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 
of the CrPC.