Amritsar, March 1
“Politicians and businessmen should never be relied upon, as their approach is self-centred. Be independent and realise your thoughts and firm beliefs within yourself,” advocated Dr Richard R. Ernst, a Nobel Laureate in chemistry (1991) from Zurich, Switzerland, during the 37th annual convocation of Guru Nanak Dev University here today.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof AS Brar, presided over the function. He, along with Prof Surinder Singh, Dean (Academic Affairs), and Dr Inderjit Singh, Registrar, awarded degrees and medals to students. Dr Ernst, who was conferred upon the degree of Doctor of Science (honoris causa) during the occasion, said it was his first visit to the holy city and he was impressed with compassionate spirituality it radiated.“Five years ago, I watched the border from the other side. Amritsar is situated in one of the world’s most sensitive areas, where global political and spiritual forces have always been in an uneasy equilibrium. I was not aware that great Sikh Gurus had built solid spiritual bridges between cultures during the past 500 years,” he said.

Citing scientific innovations to be a valuable and important ingredient in life, Dr Ernst emphasised that its long-term societal impact should never be ignored. “The preservation of precious resources, indispensable for future generations, is our primary responsibility,” he added. Dr Ernst, who is known for his contribution in developing the basis for the high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to perform the non-invasive diagnosis of a human body, advised students to develop an inquisitive mind. “Research is the most excellent educational tool for everybody. Learning by doing and by trial and error justify much of our research activities,” he said.

Prof Alexander Pines, senior scientist in the Material Sciences Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA, was decorated with Doctor of Science (honoris causa) degree and Prof Dalip Kaur Tiwana, a leading Punjabi novelist and creative writer in Punjabi, was also honoured with Degree of Philosophy (honoris causa).

Ludhiana, March 1
Though it is believed that Indian soil is being degraded due to an intensive use of insecticides or pesticides, the soil problem in India is familiar with that of the US. Power and energy of soil cannot be easily exhausted. There is a need for the proper management of soil.

These views were shared by Dwayne G Westfall, Professor, Soil Sciences, the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University. He is in the city to take part in a four-day Indo-US workshop on “Precision agricultural techniques and technologies (PATT) 2011”. It was organised by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in collaboration with Colorado State University, Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and India Science and Technology Partnership (INSTP). The event was inaugurated by Holly Higgins, Minister Counselor, Agricultural Affairs, US embassy, New Delhi, last evening.

Westfall added that in Colorado farmers were growing maize for the past 50 years but there was no soil degradation as they had adopted proper soil management techniques, including proper focus on adequate ratio of pesticides and fertilizers. “There can be very good agricultural growth in India, the scientists and agriculturists need to maintain the soil quality through proper management,” he stressed.

Another soil scientist, Dr Raj Khosla, Professor, Colorado State University (CSU), the US, said there was a vast opportunity for India to increase its grain production due to increasing population. “Indian soil was at par with our soil in the US. The use of precision techniques can be very useful in maintaining quality of soil. More funds are needed to be spent on soil research and we can get excellent crop production. The use of computers in our fields is also helpful in maintaining the soil quality,” he said.

Besides, speakers from American Society of Agronomy, North Dakota State University, CSU, University of Minnesota, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Indian Agricultural Research Institute and the PAU took part, wherein they shared precision agricultural practices in North America, precision nutrient and water management techniques and technologies for enhancing food production.

Patiala, March 1
SAD general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra today came down heavily on the Centre for not giving any special package to Punjab in the Union Budget.

Addressing a press conference at his residence here, Chandumajra stated that it was a matter of dismay that the Congress-led UPA government had completely ignored Punjab in the Budget.

“Because of the wrong policies of the Centre, agriculture is no more remunerative occupation in Punjab. The input cost of the farmers has gone up drastically, whereas the minimum support price (MSP) is still very less. How will the farmers survive?” asked Chandumajra.

He further said in the wake of the fact that Punjab economy had suffered a major jolt because of the militancy, it was the responsibility of the Centre to ensure the proper growth of the state.

Terming the Budget detrimental for the farming community, Chandumajra accused the UPA government of meting out step-motherly treatment to Punjab. “The debt, which Punjab has to pay to the Centre, is one of the major hurdles in strengthening the economy of this state,” he said. 

Chandigarh, March 1
The Gurdwara Election Commission has asked the Union Home Ministry to hold the general election to the SGPC on May 8. Even though the date of the elections is decided by the ministry, it generally accepts the recommended date.

The Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Election Commission, Justice HS Brar (retd), told TNS that the commission had made a recommendation to the Centre after voter lists had been prepared and all bottlenecks removed.

Since only ‘keshdhari’ Sikhs have been included in the voter lists, all Deputy Commissioners concerned have been asked by the commission to file affidavits certifying that only ‘keshdharis’ have been included in the voter lists.

Justice Brar said: “Only men and women who strictly adhere to the tenets of Sikhism will be allowed to vote. The 2011 elections will be the first SGPC poll where only keshdhari Sikhs have been registered as voters, after they gave an undertaking on Form A stating that they are Sikhs in the true sense of the word.”

The poll has been due since 2009, but has been delayed for one reason or the other. At the completion of all formalities, the total number of eligible voters is 56,77,129. Out of these, Punjab has the maximum number of 52,68,664 voters.

The commission does not have any discretion of its own and conducts the poll as per the provisions of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925. It has started the process of meeting various religious groups who are desirous of contesting the poll and symbols will be allotted to them in due course. Though various Akali factions actively participate in the poll, other political parties like the Congress, Left parties, BJP etc stay away. In some cases, they lend support from outside.

The SGPC poll result is often an indicator of other forthcoming elections in the state. The SAD, which has a majority in the current SGPC, will try to retain its hold to send a positive signal among the people ahead of the state’s general election due in 2012.

Justice Brar’s term as the Commissioner had also been extended by the Union Home Ministry for one year towards the end of 2010, so as to enable him to get the elections conducted smoothly. The term of the commission, which has also expired, has been further extended for one year by an order received last week.

The Commissioner said there were seven seats in Punjab where objections in the voter lists and over some other issues had been raised, which had been removed now. Justice Brar said once the SGPC elections were held, the commission would also hold elections to 200 gurdwara committees in the region.

Amritsar, March 1
Now, if you are seeking solace in the serene environs of Sri Harmandar Sahib, no ring tone of a mobile will disrupt you.

A couple of years after it was first proposed, the SGPC is all set to install cellphone jammers at the Golden Temple Complex to prevent cellphone users from disturbing the tranquillity of the shrine. The move would also boost the security at the temple which often witnesses VVIP visits.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said the jammers would soon be installed in the Golden Temple Complex. SGPC secretary Joginder Singh Adliwal said they would hold consultations with the experts and soon kick off the process for installation of jammers. A jammer would cost between Rs 2 and 2.5 lakh and its effective jamming area would be 50 metres.

The SGPC plans to install two jammers. After the installation of the jammers, cellphones would not work once the devotees step into Darshani Deodhi on way to the sanctum sanctorum.

At present, the SGPC has put up signboards in and around the sanctum sanctorum, urging devotees to switch off their cellphones, but a majority of the pilgrims do not heed to the request. Not only the 'parikrama', the devotees are also seen chatting on their cellphones inside the sanctum sanctorum. Even the SGPC staff on duty carries cellphones. The increasing use of cellphones is not only disrupting the ‘raagis’ reciting Gurbani but also the devotees doing ‘path’ inside Sri Harmandar Sahib. Besides, causing disturbance in 'path' or 'gurbani' is against the shrine’s ‘maryada’.

The jammers would also boost security inside the shrine. In the past, the holy city has received threats from various terror outfits, in view of which the jammers would be a valuable addition in temple's security system. It would also help the security agencies to extend foolproof security to the VVIPs visiting the shrine.

The SGPC has already installed over 120 CCTV cameras at a cost of more than Rs 2 crore in the Golden Temple Complex. While these were installed last year, the recruitment of the control room staff has been done recently. The facility will be fully operational in the near future.

Attari, March 1
The Indian authorities today released five Pakistani prisoners and 15 fishermen, languishing in various Indian jails after completion of their jail term through Attari-Wagah Joint checkpost today. They were held guilty for crossing the border with ulterior motives.

The offenders were handed over to Pakistan Rangers’ superintendent Aseem by assistant commander of the Border Security Force (BSF) Jaswant Singh.

According to information, the three had been lodged in Amritsar Central jail, one each in Allahabad and Tihar Jail. The fishermen were lodged in Jaam Nagar jail, Gujarat.

Nevertheless, the two among them had suspicious motives of crossing the border line. It has been revealed that Mohammad Rafiq, alias Ishaad-Ul-Kadri, crossed the prohibited line in an unauthorised manner but was arrested in 1994 from Kashmir. He was awarded imprisonment of 17 years and was lodged in Allahabad jail.

Similarly, Sarfaraj Ali, was caught in the BSF net with hand grenades when he was attempting to penetrate in Jammu and Kashmir area, through RS Pura sector in 1999.

Another prisoner Abdul Hassan told that he originally hailed from Bahawalnagar located in Punjab on the other side. His offence was that he stayed in India after expiry of his visa tenure. “I came here to visit some of my relatives at New Delhi through Samjhauta Express train four years ago. My mistake was that I could not get my visa term extended and was caught in Ludhiana, but I did not had any bad intentions”, he said. 

Chandigarh, March 1
The Majha Ex-Servicemen Human Rights Front today appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to order a high-level inquiry and punish the police officers allegedly responsible for the “wrongful” confinement of Bihar resident Vasil Khan for nine years on charges of being a Pakistani spy.

Vasil Khan was arrested in June 2002 and accused of being involved in terrorist activities. He was released in September last year after which he was acquitted in all cases registered against him.

Addressing a press conference here chairman of the Front Col GS Sandhu (retd) said no information was being given in the case as the State Information Commission not responding to queries under the RTI Act. He claimed that Punjab State Human Rights Commission had also failed to intervene and ensure justice to Vasil Khan.

Col Sandhu said Vasil was arrested from a village in Gurdaspur district where he was working as a farm labourer. He claimed Vasil was forced to confess under duress that he was a Pakistani spy and that he had carried out various terrorist activities. He was even accused of being a Pakistani citizen that he kept denying but to no avail.

He said after being in jail for nine years and having been acquitted in all cases he was freed following the intervention of the HC when he protested against being lodged with Pakistani prisoners during a visit of a Pakistan councillor.

Bathinda, March 1
With an aim to create awareness about road safety among students from primary to senior secondary levels, the state government has taken an initiative to include a chapter on road safety in the syllabus books of primary, high and senior secondary classes, besides introducing road safety programme in the colleges on the pattern of the NCC and the NSS.

State Transport Commissioner Husan Lal, IAS, said the work on this initiative had already begun as the DPI (colleges) and the DPI (schools) had been asked to do the needful in this direction, including seeking of permission, from the authorities concerned.

He said it had been decided to secure the services of all those NGOs and organisations that were working in the field of road safety. 

Ludhiana, March 1
Girls of various government schools here are miffed over being allegedly “denied” the opportunity of watching Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar perform live at the opening ceremony of the Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Punjab Games at the Guru Nanak Stadium last evening.

A days after around 3,500 students of various government schools — all boys — witnessed a scintillating performance by Akshay Kumar, teachers of these schools have been flooded with complaints by girl students over being “left out”.

The girls are now demanding that the school authorities take them to Jalandhar where the closing ceremony of the games would be held on March 6. Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol are scheduled to perform at the closing ceremony.

The trouble began when boys, who had watched Akshay Kumar perform live, reached their schools and shared their experiences with their female schoolmates. “Miffed girl went straight to the Principal’s office complaining over being ignored by the school authorities,” said a teacher of a senior secondary government school here.

“We have missed our heartthrob Akshay Kumar, please take us to Jalandhar on March 6, so that we can watch Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol perform at the closing ceremony of the games,” said girls to the Principal.

Deputy District Education Officer Paramjit Kaur said: “Yes, we know that the girls are disappointed over not being taken to attend the opening ceremony of the games. But, we did it because most parents don’t like girls going out late in the night.” 

Ludhiana, March 1
Nearly 5000 players belonging to 20 districts of the state are chasing one dream: To take the biggest pie out from a life-changing amount of

Rs 2.31 crore. All the top districts were seen battling it out during the first day of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Punjab Games, which got off to a colourful start, following a scintillating performance by Bollywood super star, Akshay Kumar at Guru Nanak Stadium, here last evening.

The ‘Singh-is-King’ spirit of the star dominated the proceeding even today and acted as a catalyst for the real action of sport. As the clock struck 9 am, Punjab scripted a new chapter in the history of sports by organising the highest-ever prize money inter-district tournament, a move to wean away youth from intoxicants and encourage them to adopt sports as a career. As Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal declared the biggest ever sports extravaganza open, the Ludhiana sky lit up with sparkling fireworks. The glitter of the show became blinding as Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, the ambassador of the Punjab Games, mesmerised the jam-packed Guru Nanak Stadium with his athletic dancing.

As participants from 20 districts converged on the ground, holding proudly the flag of their respective district in an impressive marchpast, the venue came alive to the reverberations of beats of Punjabi music and a show of lights.

The opening ceremony was choreographed by Prof. Bansi Kaul who had choreographed the ceremony of CWG. Sportspersons who have brought laurels for the state and the nation during different sports events took part in the torch relay that included boxer Amandeep Singh, wrestler Navjot Kaur, athletes Harwant Kaur, Mandeep Kaur and Manjeet Kaur. Also present were hockey stars Rajpal Singh and Gurbaj Singh.

Over 20 sports persons of eminence, including Padmashree and Arjuna awardees were introduced to the gathering that cheered them lustily.

Ludhiana, March 1
Bt cotton may have saved cotton growers in Punjab. Not just that, due to use of Bt cotton and hybrid seeds, the production of cotton also increased in the country, but there was now danger to the enhanced output due to shortage of Bt cotton seeds.

Farmers in Punjab believe that in the next cotton planting season (May-October 2011-12), there was going to be a shortfall of Bt cotton seeds. At the same time, cotton growers rued, since the state government was "not keen" on growing the seeds, a large number of farmers had to go to Gujarat and Nagpur to get the seeds.

The president of the Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal), Balbir Singh Rajewal said that Bt Cotton had saved the farmers in testing times when they were keen to switch over to growing paddy. Cotton production gave them good returns. With the result, many others tried their luck in cotton. But now, shortage of Bt cotton seeds was going to hit the farmers.

"Punjab produces about 16 per cent of the country's total cotton production. Research is being done on seed production in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnatka. But the state government has not taken any initiative towards seed production. About three years back, a leading farmer, who has done a lot of research on the subject, had extended help to the state by providing training and free seeds (2 quintals) to the farmers. But the government did not give attention to the proposal and today, Punjab farmers go to Gujarat and Maharashtra for their seed requirement," said Rajewal.

Hoshiarpur, March 1
Twenty peacocks were found dead in fields of Kotla Naudh Singh village near here this morning. The fields are owned by Hardeep Singh and his brother Manjit Singh.  Sources in the Wildlife Department said the matter was first noticed by Mohinder Singh, a farmer. He took up the matter with villagers and subsequently wildlife officials and the police were informed.

After getting information, the wildlife officials reached the spot and recovered carcasses (15 female and 5 male) from the fields. They also recovered wheat grains (possibly poison-laced) from the spot.

It is learnt that the farmers had scattered the poison-laced grains to protect their crops from birds, mice and other creatures. 

DV Rattna Kumar, Conservator of Forest (wildlife) Shivalik Hills Circle, said Satnam Singh, Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Hoshiarpur, had recovered the carcasses and their post-mortem examination would be conducted tomorrow. The exact cause of the deaths could be ascertained after the post-mortem examination report, he added.

Kumar further claimed that the department would chalk out plans to launch a campaign to educate general public and farmers not to spread poisoned-laced grains to guard their crops from wild animals but to opt other means so that the wild lives could be conserved.

Peacocks had been felling prey to poachers in this part of the region especially Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur, Nawanshahar and Ropar districts. The killings had once again raised doubts on the Punjab Wildlife Department’s functioning that failed to conserve peacocks in this part of  the state.

Chandigarh, March 1
Acting on a public interest litigation seeking directions to Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh that criminal trials in the subordinate courts are conducted through videoconferencing, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today set a three-month deadline to have the facility of videoconferencing system in place.

In a petition placed before the Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Augustine George Masih, national president of Anti-Terrorist Front India Viresh Shandilya asserted that videoconferencing would avoid wastage of money and manpower required for travel and security of criminals for their personal appearance before the court.

He said he had come to know from news reports that on November 8 last, alleged militant Paramjit Singh Bheora was brought under heavy security from Tihar jail in New Delhi to a Chandigarh court for a personal appearance. The court complex was converted into a fortress with armed commandos, he said.

Appearing on the petitioner’s behalf, advocate Ajay Jain specifically sought court directions to make use of the videoconferencing in hearings of the case, as Bheora is allegedly a dreaded terrorist.

The petitioner said the police department was already suffering due to a shortage of manpower.

Patiala, March 1
The police have seized a US-made pistol, some porn clips as well as some love letters written by some victims to the accused as part of investigations in a sex scandal.

The police is also looking for porn clips of more victims from Bathinda.

The accused in the case include dismissed DSP Gurjit Singh, PO in a murder case; his two sons Vajinder, Maninder and wife Jaspal Kaur. Gurjit was dismissed some years back after the registration of a murder case. The accused ran a sex racket from a beauty parlour in Bathinda where the parlour caretaker Sarbjeet Kaur allegedly lured girls to befriend the main accused Maninder and Vajinder.

According to the police, the duo gave them drug-laced drinks before making porn clips of the victims to blackmail them into joining the flesh trade. On Monday, the police seized a .32-bore pistol from the house of the accused in Urban Estate, Patiala.

“The recovery of a pistol proves beyond doubt that the accused were forcing and threatening some of the victims,” the police added.

Sources said the police are awaiting medical report of one of the victims belonging to Ludhiana who had alleged that she was forced into the flesh trade and was also physically tortured by the accused.

SHO Passiana Aman Pal Singh confirmed the recovery of a weapon and said more raids could follow on Tuesday.