Bathinda, November 2
Giving a clarion call to the people of Punjab to extend full support to him in changing the destiny of Punjab and Punjabis, former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal today promised that he would not leave them midway and would ferry them to a safer place on the economic front.

He said he knew that the path he had chosen was full of thorns but he was sure that with the cooperation of the people of Punjab, he would succeed in achieving the goal fixed by him to bring prosperity back in the state.

Manpreet Badal was here to mobilise public support for his November 14 programme at Amritsar. He addressed a large number of his supporters at a marriage palace here.

His supporters, especially youngsters, were observed to be highly enthusiastic on his visit here as they raised slogans like ‘Punjab Da Waris Zindabad’ and ‘Manpreet Badal Zindabad’.

Manpreet said he knew that he stood alone today but he was with truth. He said if Punjabis wanted to live with honour and respect then it was necessary for the state to be rich.

He also expressed regrets that in comparison to other states, Punjab was becoming economically backward. He said it was a matter of shame for Punjab and Punjabis alike.

The former minister alleged that during the past four years, an atmosphere had been created in the SAD that people should not accept him. He further alleged that the top brass of the SAD had already decided to expel him from the party and his views on subsidies were made an issue to execute their decision.

Manpreet said those people, who were nowadays giving statements against him in media, would start speaking in his favour in just 10 months.

He said he never posed a challenge to Sukhbir Singh Badal and if he ever wanted to do so, he must have raised a faction in the party.

When asked if there was any possibility for his return to the SAD, Manpreet said, “Zero chances from my side. I would never go back to the SAD.”

He said it was now being propagated that if the SAD accepted his proposals, the farmers and poor sections of the society would have to suffer.

Majority of the subsidies, like atta-dal scheme and pensions for poor, would continue while with regard to subsidy for agriculture sector a debate was in progress, Manpreet replied to a query.

Bathinda, November 2
Divali’s usual sparkle, which went off last year from the markets, is still nowhere to be seen despite the fact that the much-awaited festival of lights is just round the 
corner.

Last year, it was recession that robbed the festival of its glitter and this time “Mahangai Dayan” has played the spoilsport.

It is no exaggeration. This is what the popular sentiments among the traders is. The shoppers’ destinations in Bathinda — the Dhobi Bazaar, the Post Office Bazaar and Mall Road — have crowd but they are not just converting into buyers. This is the sentiment echoing in the traders’ fraternity, two days ahead Divali with businessmen saying, “Divali has once again played truant for us.”

These are the markets in Bathinda, which had been humming every year with activity around Divali. Today, even at around 7.30 pm — the peak hour for shoppers — the natural enthusiasm associated with Divali was not visible either among the buyers or the sellers, said a shopkeeper at Dhobi Bazaar.

“People are just wandering on roads and shops are vacant,” he added.

Gurdeep of Tungwali Jewellers opined, “Several factors caused this but price rise tops the list.”

“We are not finding buyers as the prices of gold and silver have skyrocketed,” said Bhupinder, also of the Tungwali Jewellers, and added, “Last year, a silver coin came at around Rs 225. This year, it may cost Rs 375.” Gurdeep considers community exchange of gold and silver as the reason behind price hike of yellow metal.

MP Singh of Sardar Pagri Centre at Dhobi Bazaar also said that fervour is missing from the market.

Jogesh Garg, cashier of Post Office Bazaar Association, echoing similar sentiments, said the price hike has dampened the spirit. Garg, however, has not lost all hope. He said there were still two days left for Divali and Dhanteras may bring reasons for traders to rejoice. His view found some support.

Not only shopkeepers, roadside vendors are also feeling the heat. Sachin, who sells toys for kids, said that people are only buying essential items. No one could buy just for the sake of buying in an era when prices have gone through the roof, he added.

Ferozepur, November 2
The business activities and sales are yet to pick up in this district ever when only two days are left for the festival of lights.

What has reportedly dampened the festive spirit of people is that a large section of them, who belong to middle-class section of society, have been cheated by the Max Forex company, which made them invest a huge amount of money by promising to double their money within a period of 13 months. A large number of people, who have invested the money, have come under heavy debt.

On the other hand, most paddy growers are still waiting for their turn when their produce would be procured by the government agencies concerned at the minimum support price (MSP). Most of these paddy growers have been spending days together at the grain markets and purchase centres to dispose of their produce.

“A majority of shops in the urban areas largely depend upon the customers from rural hinterland. However, the rural customers are not being seen in the market in significant number this season. Hence, the local traders do not find the business as good as it used to be earlier,” pointed out a section of traders of this town.

Beopar Mandal chairman Subash Tuli said another reason was that the farmers had not received the payments against the sale of paddy produce yet.

Moreover, a section of potential customers, who were in the position to make big and bulk purchase on the eve of Divali, had started preferring big cities like Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Delhi for their requirements.

Ashwani Mehta, president, Beopar Mandal, said due to high inflation, prices of all items had soared high and hence, had gone out of reach of the commoners.

This was one of the major reasons why Ferozepur markets were facing a shortage of customers this time. 

Abohar, November 2
The crackers market that has emerged in the Nehru Stadium has badly affected the cricket pitch as well as the basketball court there thanks to the apathy of the Municipal Council as well as the sports department authorities for the past few decades.

The shopkeepers were also found flouting the norms that had been laid down by the district administration while directing the local bodies that the sale of fireworks/crackers should not be permitted in congested markets to ensure safety.

Besides, bicycles and two-wheelers, cars were also found parked close to the stalls as the local media visited the stadium on Tuesday.

Cricket Welfare Society secretary Dr Rajinder Girdhar said the sentiments of sports lovers have been hurt as the local Municipal Council misused the orders of the district administration regarding the sale of crackers in an open space.

Substantial amount has allegedly been collected from eight wholesalers and 103 retailers for erecting stalls inside the stadium. People were crushing the lush green playground by entering with vehicles.

The pavilion-cum-office of the sports associations besides stairs was allowed for stacking fireworks. The district administration had directed that no parking should be permitted near the shops as the same were stacking explosive material. Fire- fighting equipment have not been provided at the stalls. The local fire brigade owned by the council had never been found functioning perfectly even after heavy repair.

The Cricket Welfare Association has planned a national cricket tournament for the next month but the damage caused to the ground may put a question mark, he felt.

Sources in the local council said more than Rs one lakh was expected from the makeshift market so the shopkeepers had to be obliged to some extent. Regarding the poor condition of the fire brigade, the council maintained that the investigation was pending in malpractices committed in repair during the past few years. 

Moga, November 2
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has given his nod for the projects of sewerage, water supply and roads at a cost of Rs 69.97 crore in Moga.

Presiding over a meeting with the senior officials of the departments of local government, water supply and sanitation and public works department in his residence at Chandigarh on Tuesday, Badal directed the officials to complete these works positively by November 30, 2011 and assured them of adequate funds.

Satpal Angrula, MD of Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, apprised the CM of Rs 69.97 crore that had been earmarked for water supply, sewerage and roads in Moga. Giving the breakup, he said Rs 63.62 crore would be spent on sewerage, Rs 4.35 crore on water supply and Rs 2 crore on roads in Moga.

Badal asked the district magistrate Dr VN Zade to regularly monitor progress of the ongoing development projects with the executive officials of the local Municipal Council to ensure quality as well as completion on time.

The Chief Minister also assured the former Minister Tota Singh that the entire funding of these projects has been tied up and the nodal departments of the local government and water supply and sanitation for the implementation of these projects.

Badal asked the authorities concerned to get these works executed under their direct supervision as per the prescribed specifications to achieve the best quality of the construction works.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included principal secretary to CM, DS Guru, additional principal secretary to CM, Gagandip Singh Brar and MD Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board Satpal Angrula besides the executive official of Municipal Council (Moga). 

Ferozepur, November 2
The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum (Ferozepur) has directed Birla Sun Life Insurance Company to deposit the amount of premium, which had been taken by it from one of its policy holder, Baghel Singh, a resident of this district, in consumer legal aid account, instead of making payment of insured sum to the nominee of Baghel Singh after his death.

The forum ordered this while delivering the judgement on nine complaints filed by Daljit Singh, son of Baghel Singh, urging the forum to penalise the company, which had refused to make him any payment of the insurance money as nominee of his deceased father. Sanjay Garg, president and Tirlok Singh, member of the forum, delivered this common judgement for all the nine complaints by rejecting the claims made by both Daljit Singh and Birla Sun Life Insurance Company

As per the details, Daljit Singh (complainant) demanded the claim against different insurance policies of Rs 47 lakh that were purchased by his father as a nominee. Since the policies were still continuing, the insurance company claimed that Daljit Singh, son of Baghel Singh, had purchased these policies by concealing the material facts in connection with his father health and hence, committed a fraud with it.

The Forum said from the evidence produced by both Daljit Singh and insurance company, they could easily reach a conclusion that nine policies worth Rs 47 lakh were purchased by Baghel Singh concealing the material facts about his health as he was suffering from various ailments including liver cirrhosis. Since Baghel Singh died within 10 days of the purchase of the insurance policy which proved that the deceased was on death bed at the time of purchasing the insurance policy, they observed.

The Forum also held that act and conduct of agent and other officials was not up to the mark as due to some connivance with them, the complainant managed to get the policies issued. “They cannot be allowed to usurp the premium paid by the deceased life assured even when the agent and the opposite parties also contributed for the issuance of the policies in the name of deceased life assured, which in fact could not have been issued in his name,” the forum further observed.

The Forum directed the insurance company to deposit the amount of the premium paid by the deceased for issuance of the policy in question in the Consumer Legal Aid Account maintained by this Forum within 30 days of the receipt of copy of this order. 

Bathinda, November 2
The total number of dengue positive cases in Bathinda district today rose to 144 from 119 yesterday.

The district health authorities today received a report about 17 new dengue positive cases of the Bathinda district from the DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, while eight tested positive for dengue today at the sentinel surveillance hospital situated at the Civil Hospital here, according to district malaria officer Dr Malkiat Singh Gill this evening.

Bathinda, November 2
A two-day district-level event in the chain of the Punjab state livestock and milking competition concluded with much fanfare here today.

A total of 368 animals participated in the event and 123 won rewards of Rs 1.75 lakh in different categories, including competition in breed characteristics and milking.

Though it was a district-level competition, people from nearby districts and even Haryana and Rajasthan thronged the venue on the Dabwali road. The visitors were seen not only enjoying the competitions but also asking the details of the animals from their owners.

“The competition is quite useful as it provides an opportunity to have direct communication with the rearers of animals as well as experts, which help us in clearing doubts and queries,” said Baltej Singh of Multania village.

Besides registration and medical assistance stalls, a number of counters provided information related to rearing cattle. Meanwhile, a number of experts delivered lectures to motivate farmers to adopt a subsidiary profession.

Speaking to The Tribune, Surinder Singla, deputy director, Animal Husbandry, said the motive of the fair was to create awareness among the rearers and to motivate them to upgrade the breeds of animals.

Before announcing the winner in any category, judges analysed in detail various characteristics of the animal like breed character, built up, care given to it, health, injury, quality of skin, general appearance, walk etc.

Mayor Baljeet Singh Birbehman was the chief guest at the fair while SAD (B) leaders, namely Gurpreet Singh Maluka and Darshan Singh Kotfatta, were prominent among those who attended the event. The event was organised under the supervision of Amarjeet Singh, joint director, Animal Husbandry, and deputy director Surinder Singla.

Abohar, November 2
Speaking on the second day of the UGC sponsored national seminar on education of special children held by the DAV College of Education here today, experts taking part said that after-school activities are equally important.

Those who addressed the seminar included Dr Tara Singh of Bharati Institute of Teachers Training, Ranjay of Jagdamba Vidyalaya for Special Children, SK Mishra from Tapovan Vidyalaya, PU senator Manish Verma and councillor Suversha Narang and Colonel Dilbagh Singh. Principal Dr Venita Singh thanked the dignitaries. — OC

Ferozepur, November 2
The mother of four-year-old boy Binder Pal Kaur was allegedly forced to take poison by her husband and father-in-law at village Haraj of this district last evening. Police sources said Binder Pal Kaur, ended life after she failed to tolerate perpetual harassment at the hands of her husband Tejinder Singh and father-in-law Kulwant Singh.

The kin of the deceased alleged that Bindar Pal Kaur was murdered by her husband and other kin for dowry. They demanded action against the accused.

They further alleged that her in-laws were planning to cremate the body without informing the parents of the deceased to escape legal action.

A case under sections 306 and 34 of the IPC was registered against Tejinder Singh and Kulwant Singh at Ghal Khurd police station on the statement of Resham Singh, a close kin of the deceased. However, no arrest in the case had been made so far. 

Abohar, November 2
Harjit Singh of village Chak 5G was killed while his son and daughter sustained injuries as the new Indigo car that he was driving reportedly collided head-on with an Innova near village Maujgarh on Sriganganagar-Abohar (NH-15) road, Khuyiansarwar police said.

Barnala, November 2
Barnala police last night arrested a drug peddler from the main town area and recovered a huge quantity of medical drugs used for addiction.

Giving details, SSP Barnala, Gurcharan Singh Toor revealed to the TNS that acting on an information received from sources, Barnala police arrested a youth Muhammad Asif of Akalgarh Basti in Barnala.

He added that the recoveries include six litres and 350 ml of cough syrup Rexcof, 6000 tablets of Carrysoma and a chemical powder (the composition of which would be known after Forensic science laboratory report). The SSP further said that during the month of October, the police had arrested ten drug peddlers.