Amritsar, November 29
With the help of experts of various fields, the state unit of the Youth Congress (YC) would prepare a future plan for the overall development of Punjab that has slipped to 17th position from the top state in the country.

Stating this, member of Parliament from Anandpur Sahib and state Youth Congress president Ravneet Singh Bittu said the panel of experts would study the complaints and suggestions received from the people during the current Nav Inquilab Yatra to prepare the blueprint for the plan, besides devising methodology for implementing the same.

He said the plan would be submitted to the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee to be incorporated in the election manifesto of the party.

Ravneet was heading the yatra that reached the city here today.

He was given a rousing welcome by district Youth Congress leaders, including Jasbir Singh Dimpa, Navdeep Singh Goldy and two district Youth Congress presidents Shailenderjit Singh Shelly (Rural) and Dinesh Bassi (Urban).

While taking a dig at former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, he termed him as an opportunist leader. “Why he did not raise the question of huge debt on state during Cabinet meetings?” he questioned.

Interacting with mediapersons, Ravneet Singh Bittu said the sole purpose of the yatra was to highlight the real problems being faced by people of the state, besides rampant drug addiction and hardships of the farmers.

The condition of the state was much worse than that of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He said about 70 per cent of the people in Punjab were drug addicts.

“During my 29 days campaign, I felt the need for setting up and bringing in industrial units by formulating new policies,” he said.

He urged that Union Agriculture Minister for announcing additional Rs 100 bonus on the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy for the farmers of Punjab who were affected by the inclement weather and rising input costs. He assured to personally take up the issue with All-India Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi in this regard.

Jalandhar, November 29
The Army Service Corps (ASC) is going to celebrate its 250 years of raising on December 8. ASC is one of the oldest and largest administrative service in the Indian Army.

The celebrations mark the uninterrupted logistic support by ASC whether it is mechanical transport, animal transport, supplies or the air delivery, including fuel oil and lubricants (FOL) during Operations Meghdoot, Pawan, Parakaram and Vijay in Kargil.

While grand celebrations are under way at ASC Centre North, Gaya, and Centre South, Bangalore, the Jalandhar cantonment-based 5011 ASC battalion (MT) started celebrations on November 28.

The battalion would receive a team of microlight (light aircraft) from ASC Centre (North), Gaya, for an aerial show tomorrow. The team of six microlight aircraft, led by Lieut-Col B.M. Talwar, would spread the message of the Army as a career among the masses. The aero show would conclude at ASC Centre South, Bangalore, on December 8.

Talking to The Tribune, Commanding Officer of the battalion Col Anil Verma said the corps had planned a series of events to celebrate the 250 years of its raising. “Vajra Wheelers would be organising a barakhana, cultural events and games.

While all veterans and retired ASC officers would join the celebrations on December 8,” he added.

Col Verma said the microlight aircraft would spread awareness amongst the local masses about the Army. “The microlight aircraft is part of the Army adventure wing of the Army,” he added.

Col Verma said the ASC began its journey in 1760 in the three presidencies of Bengal, Madras and Bombay as a commissariat.

“In 1987 the three presidencies were amalgamated and the organisation was renamed as Supply and Transport Corps in 1901,” he added.

“It was on December 8, 1950, that the President of India accorded sanction to the corps to use the national emblem in the ASC badge and wear red lanyard as a recognition of its service. Since that day it is celebrated as Corps Day,” the CO added.

Col Verma said that it was on July 2, 1970, that 1011 ASC BN (MT) was raised at Jalandhar cantonment, which was subsequently renamed as 5011 ASC Bn (MT) on February 10, 1982. The ASC is the major service provider in the Army to the troops across the country.

Jalandhar, November 29
The board of governors of Punjab Technical University that met at Chandigarh today has decided to marginally raise the settlement offer with Lord Swraj Paul for the Caparo School of Manufacturing and Material Technology to Rs 4.7 crore from the earlier amount of Rs 4.5 crore.

After holding a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, Punjab, Vice-Chancellor Dr Rajneesh Arora said the offer had been raised since there had been a demand for sharing of losses. “We have increased the offer of Rs 20 lakh from our side. We will send our proposal to him,” he said.

But when asked that the Caparo group had been demanding Rs 12.65 crore calculating the interest on his investment, he said, “The interest issue should no longer persist after we have agreed to name the institute after his daughter Ambika Paul.”

Interestingly, the students, who were taken in the first batch in 2007, are already in their final year. After the first year of studies at Caparo school, they had been shifted to the DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology. The students, all top rankers, too, have had their grouse that they had left some very good seats to take admission at Lord Swraj Paul’s institute which was to offer them specialised training with the latest techniques.

The issue assumes seriousness as PTU had proposed to take over the school itself and start specialised M.Tech courses in mechanical, electronics and communication and computer science engineering from the coming session. The officials today also discussed plans for intake of new staff required and other infrastructural needs for the proposed school.

But the moot point remains unanswered. Will Lord Paul accept the new offer and get ready to withdraw?

Jalandhar, November 29
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and Padam Shri Baba Sewa Singh Kar Sewa Wale, Khadur Sahib, flagged off a massive rally of students of different colleges and schools of Punjab to spread awareness among public against HIV-AIDS in Khadur Sahib on Monday.

Thousands of students walked through the streets of Khadur Sahib raising slogans and carrying placards against HIV-AIDS on World AIDS Day.

Giani Gurbachan Singh asked the youth to adhere to the religious values of life to build up a strong nation. Padam Shri Baba Sewa Singh thanked the congregation for making the event a success. He motivated students to work hard and avoid drugs and adultery.

A researcher on AIDS from Canada, Dr Raghbir Singh Bains, during a multimedia show and seminar said AIDS was a high-risk global threat and a grave epidemic that needed to be tackled seriously by socio-religious role models, teachers, preachers and politicians.

Mianwind SMO Dr Tarsem Rattu spoke on the dangers of HIV-AIDS.

Earlier, Principal of Sri Guru Angad Dev College, Khadur Sahib, Dr Daljit Singh welcomed the participating staff and students of different colleges. Principal Gurdial Singh Gill and Principal Suruchi Rishi were also present.

The rally and seminar was attended by SGAD College, BGSUS Senior Secondary School, SGAD Institute of Careers and Courses, Khadur Sahib, Shaheed Darshan Singh Pheruman College for Women, Rayya, MGN College of Education, Jalandhar, Majha Sath and various other organisations.

Amritsar, November 29
Tension prevailed at the Attari check post when a truck driver was allegedly beaten up by personnel of the Border Security Force here today. The agitated drivers later staged a protest in front of the Kahangarh post of the force.

The incident took place when the movement of trucks at the Attari check post was jammed as the truck driven by Gurdeep Singh got stuck due to some technical snag just before the zero line. This resulted in disturbance in the smooth movement of trucks moving across the border for unloading the material.

Gurdeep Singh alleged that he was beaten up and manhandled by the BSF jawans. Agitated over this the truck drivers went to the police station but, they alleged, nobody paid a heed to their complaint. When they failed to evince any response, they protested outside the Kahangarh post of the BSF for about half an hour.

This forced the BSF authorities to use mild force to disburse the agitating drivers.

Assistant Commandant Sanjay Kumar, however, refuted the charges of Gurdeep Singh and added that Gurdeep stopped his truck in the middle of the international border. He was just asked to remove his truck, he said. Senior officials, however, feigned ignorance about the incident.

Phillaur, November 29
A baby boy was found abandoned in bushes near the Sutlej here tonight. Some persons, who noticed the crying newborn, immediately informed the police which got the baby admitted in a hospital at Phillaur.

DSP Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh, while confirming the incident, said here late tonight that the police had registered a case under section 317, IPC, against unidentified mother.

The DSP said probably an unmarried girl delivered a child and threw him in the bushes and ran away. He said the police is investigating the matter and searching for the accused mother. He said that nursing homes and midwives were being checked and would be questioned in this connection. On the other hand, several issueless couples thronged the hospital and were approaching the police to adopt the baby, said Khakh. — OC