Amritsar, April 14
Teachers, accompanied by their family members, today took out a protest from Hall Gate to the historic Jallianwala Bagh under the banner of PCCTU to protest against the move to upgrade Khalsa College to a university.

The GNDU Teachers’ Association and the Punjab Technical Teachers’ Association expressed solidarity with protesters. Two days back, the DC had mediated between college principal Daljit Singh and the teachers and held a meeting where it was decided to maintain peace on the campus and start the registration process for graduate and undergraduate classes on the old pattern. But serious differences erupted thereafter.

“The management tried to influence the teachers to desist from protesting against the proposal of converting the college into a private university. It adopted a threatening tone.This forced us to walk out of the meeting midway”, a teachers said.

The teachers said that despite the assurances by the CM and the DC, the management had slapped another notice, evicting four of their colleagues from their quarters.The teachers have now decided to boycott all the meetings with the management on the proposal to change the status of the college.

“We appeal to the government to withdraw the letter of intent issued to the management in this regard and help maintain a peaceful atmosphere on the campus”, said the teachers.

Talwandi Sabo, April 14
PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh today announced that the notification issued by the SAD-BJP coalition government for acquiring 1.36 lakh acres of fertile land in 41 villages here for setting up ancillary units of the Bathinda refinery would be withdrawn once the Congress returned to power.

Addressing a rally here on the occasion of Baisakhi celebrations at the Takht Damdama Sahib, the PPCC chief announced that the Congress, at the first instance, would not allow the acquisition to take place. The issue was raised by local Congress MLA Jeetmohinder Singh Sidhu.

Besides, said he, the Congress would rescind the transfer of the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences to a private party and annul the government decision in case Khalsa College (Amritsar) was converted into a private university -- “to be owned by the Majithias”.

Optimistic about his party’s victory in the Assembly election next year, Amarinder Singh claimed that the ruling coalition had lost the confidence of the people. “Except for victimising their political opponents and robbing the state of its assets, the Akalis have nothing to their credit,” he said.

Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for announcing Rs 50 as bonus for wheat, Amarinder Singh said the Parkash Singh Badal-led state government should also have announced an equal amount (of bonus).

Reacting to Badal’s statement that law and order problem may erupt in case wheat was not procured properly, Amarinder Singh said the Chief Minister was “trying to run away from his responsibility”.

Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, too, didn’t spare the SAD-BJP government, saying “their days in power were numbered as the people were fed up with their misrule”. She accused the state government of having failed to implement the Centre’s loan waiver scheme for small farmers.

Jagmeet Singh Brar, permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee, reiterated Amarinder Singh’s announcement that the Congress would win the 2012 Assembly poll with two-third majority.

On the occasion, the Congress leaders gave a clarion call to the party rank and file to overthrow the “corrupt” Akali regime to ensure “proper development” of all areas in the state.

Among the party leaders present at the rally were Raninder Singh, Lal Singh, Avtar Brar, Darshan Brar, Joginderpal Jain, Arvind Khanna, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Makhan Singh, Naresh Kataria and Mangat Rai Bansal.

Talwandi Sabo, April 14
The ruling SAD (Badal) is in favour of legislations by the Centre to ensure exemplary punishment for corrupt public servants and to carry out reforms for preventing the use of black money in elections at all levels.

Thousands of workers passed this resolution by raising their hands at the party’s conference held on Baisakhi in the local grain market under its president Sukhbir Badal.

The conference, which was attended by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, secretary general, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, irrigation minister, PS Chandumajra, BS Bhunder, Harsimrat Badal, Paramjit Kaur Gulshan and other senior leaders of the party, also passed a resolution demanding Chandigarh, left-out Punjabi-speaking areas and distribution of river water as per riparian principles for Punjab.

SAD (B) alleged that Central government had been creating problems for the Punjab government in the procurement of wheat crop by not creating enough space for its storage and by not shifting the already stored foodgrain in Punjab to other states.

With the Assembly elections in Punjab just nine months away, the SAD (Badal) leadership used the conference to sound the poll bugle. Party workers rent the air with slogans when Sukhbir declared, “A war is on and people have to choose between the SAD-BJP, who are their protectors, and the Congress who are their destroyers.”

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who along with other party leaders Gurdev Badal and Sikander Singh Malooka, made direct and indirect attacks on ousted finance minister Manpreet Badal, urged his party men to stay away from leaders who had ditched the ‘mother’ party.

Sukhbir claimed that the SAD-BJP alliance would sacrifice its government instead of withdrawing subsidies extended to different sections of society as advocated by Manpreet Badal.

He said that for the first time, Punjab was witnessing all-round development under the SAD-BJP government despite the fact that the Congress-led Central government had been discriminating against Punjab in most matters.

The other resolutions passed included the flaying of the demolition of the gurdwaras in Delhi during the anti-Sikh riots. The party also condemned president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Paramjit Singh Sarna and his associates for not restoring the sanctity of such gurdwaras even after 26 years.

The party also demanded that foodgrain prices be worked out by the Centre as per the wholesale price index and by using formulae suggested by various agricultural experts.

In its sixth resolution, which was passed on the suggestion of Harsimrat Badal, the conference appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene for stopping the disrespect to Sikh symbols in Italy, France and other countries.

The conference, which was held under tight security, was also attended by leaders of the Youth Akali Dal.

Talwandi Sabo, April 14
Hundreds of workers of SAD (Amritsar) led by its president Simranjit Singh Mann distributed copies of the ‘original’ Nanakshahi calendar at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib amidst sloganeering. A section of SGPC functionaries tried to stop Mann from doing so, but in vain.

Mann, who was denied space by the SGPC for holding his party conference here, addressed a congregation demanding that a resolution be passed in Parliament for an apology on Operation Bluestar and the “killing of thousands of Sikhs in the anti-Sikh riots.”

Mann said it was time to evict the SGPC from Sikh shrines. He attacked CM Parkash Singh Badal and Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh for “damaging” the interests of the Sikhs.

One resolution demanded Anand Marriage Act in the assembly.

Talwandi Sabo, April 14
The BSP, the LJP and the SAD (Panch Pardhani) used the occasion of Baisakhi to propagate their idealogies.

The BSP emphasised on a “change of regime in 2012.”

Its Bathinda district president Major Singh and Mansa district in charge Jarnail Singh Pharwahi claimed the BSP would emerge as a third alternative in the ensuing elections.

The LJP president, Kiranjit Singh Gehri, said the main agenda of the LJP in the ensuing elections was mobilisation of the Dalits and a Dalit Chief Minister in the state. He said the BSP would hold a rally on June 1 in Delhi, demanding higher wages for Punjab’s NREGA workers.

The SAD (Panch Pardhani), in a resolution, demanded release of its president Daljit Singh Bittu from jail. President of the “Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj”, Bhai Baljinder Singh Khalsa, released the Nanakshahi Calendar-Samvat 543 (2011-2012) on the occasion.

Chief spokesman of Damdami Taksal Bhai Mohkam Singh emphasised on protecting Sikh principles.

Fatehgarh Sahib, April 14
Farmers in Fatehgarh Sahib and adjoining areas already facing paucity of irrigation water because of power cuts now have another problem-pest attack on the standing sunflower crop.

At least 5,000 acres are under sunflower cultivation in the Amloh block of Fatehgarh Sahib. The pest has damaged the leaves of sunflower plants, most of which are at the budding stage. Agriculture officials said the crop had been attacked by-Heliothis or helicoverpa (a kind of a caterpillar).The crop was sown in January - February.

The crop needs a lot of water, especially during the flowering stage.The officials said a single spray of insecticides would have no effect as the eggs laid by the caterpillar would multiply in large numbers and spread all over. “Farmers should continuously spray insecticides at an interval of seven to 10 days,” Agriculture Development Officer at Amloh said. He said since the attack was at the early stage, it could be tackled with intermittent spray of pesticide.

Green fodder and vegetables grown in adjoining fields of sunflower were also in danger of being attacked by the pest, he said.Manjit Singh Gill, a farmer in Haripur village in Amloh block, who has grown sunflower over more than 30 acres, said after affecting his farm, the pest was slowing spreading to other farms.

The farmers, however, say that with the rise in temperature, the crop has started drying and power cuts may further complicate matters for the already debt-ridden farming community, who had to spend money on diesel engines to water the crop during the power cuts.

Jalandhar, April 14
Kulwinder Singh is a most dejected unemployed youth from Bhagthana Tulian village near Dera Baba Nanak. Reason: the non-implementation of the order passed in his favour by the Punjab Lokpal and endorsed by the state Governor, who is a competent authority to do so as per the Lokpal Act. In fact, Kulwinder Singh is not alone to suffer such a fate. There are about 12 others like him. The Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board advertised the posts of the Multipurpose Health Worker in May 1998. Out of the 484 candidates, who appeared for the interview, 248 were selected.

Kulwinder Singh and several others, who were not selected, complained to the Lokpal that they were given less marks in the interview, which was of 25 marks, by the board members concerned. Owing to this reason, they failed to make to the selection list though their marks on the basis of qualification, etc were more than some of the candidates, who were selected.

After an inquiry into the complaint, the Lokpal came to the conclusion that Kulwinder Singh and 16 others had a better standing meritwise than the lowest 32 candidates in the selection list. The Lokpal observed that initial merit of 32 candidates was lower than that of the complainants. However, the 32 candidates were given the highest marks whereas the complainants were given the lowest marks in the interview. Owing to this, they failed to make to the selection list. “I am of the opinion that these 32 persons were made extraordinaire by the selection committee so that they emerged out as winners, on consideration other than merit”, the Lokpal had observed in its order.

The Lokpal, DS Dhaliwal, recommended in December 2008 that Kulwinder Singh and other petitioners should be appointed as Multipurpose Health Workers against the existing vacancies and in case no vacancy existed, they be appointed against the next available vacancies.

The order passed by the Lokpal was endorsed by the Governor, who asked the state government to take a necessary action in this regard. However, Kulwinder Singh and some others told The Tribune yesterday that the Health Department officials flatly refused to implement the Lokpal’s reasoned and well argued recommendation. “The Health Department officials told us that the Lokpal was nobody to send them any recommendation,” said Kulwinder Singh. He said in fact, he and some others were being discriminated against by the Health Department.

Munak (Sangrur), April 14
Hundreds of farmers of Munak and Lehra Gaga have been waiting for the government to procure their produce.

Mast Singh, a farmer of Rajlhari village in Munak, claimed that he had been waiting for the past five days for the agencies to begin procurement. He alleged the government was procuring small quantities from selected farmers leaving a majority of farmers in the lurch.

“Since no government agency has come forward to procure my produce, I wonder how I will be able to support my family,” said Mast Singh. “I have been waiting here for the past many days. The government must expedite procurement so that the farmers don’t suffer”. He said at least 400 farmers were waiting for their grain to be lifted at the Munak market.

Another farmer Amreek Singh of Khandebaad village in Lehra Gaga, said the government was refusing to procure the grain on the excuse that it had moisture content more than the permissible limit.

“It is shocking. The government shouldn’t make such excuses and make the farmers suffer,” he said.

District Food Supplies Controller (DFSC) Narinder Singh said the arrival of wheat in the grain markets was late which was why only a small quantity had been procured so far.

Also, in most cases the moisture content was more than the prescribed limit of 12 per cent. “Till date we have procured 380 tonnes of wheat in Sangrur district and a major chunk has been from Munak and Lehra Gaga area.

“In other areas of Sangrur, including Sangrur, Dhuri and Malerkotla procurement is yet to start on a large scale. In Bhiwanigarh, the procurement began only today”, he added.

Moga, April 14
Aimed at minimising the dependence of farmers on central, state and private seed distributors, the Punjab Agriculture Department has launched an initiative to educate the farmers on preparing quality seed on their own.

And to begin with, the scientists have chosen a few villages in the district. Here, the farmers are being taught on their doorstep how to develop seed for the next cropping season by selecting quality grains from their produce. Besides, they are being trained in harvesting, thrashing and scientific storage of the seed.

Speaking to The Tribune, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Ravi Kumar Sabbarwal said the scientists visited several villages in the district during the past couple of weeks.

Of all the factors, said Sabbarwal, harvesting was the most important. “The crop should be harvested at optimum maturity. While early harvesting leaves the seedlings premature, a late process increases the chances of fungi attack,” he said.

After choosing the best quality of crop from their plots, said he, the farmers should first remove all the off-type and disease-affected plants and then go in for harvesting. “Manual harvesting and thrashing are the best options for preparing own seed.”

Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, Agriculture Officer who conducted several education programmes for the farmers, said the harvested seed (grains) should be cleaned properly and then dried in sunlight to bring down the moisture content to 12 per cent for safe storage.

Post-harvesting, he said, storage was the key for good germination during the next cropping season. But before storage, seed shelling should be done by the elimination of broken and damaged seed. Subsequently, the seed should be treated with an insecticide and stored in airtight containers or new gunny bags. “In case old gunny bags are to be used, they should be dipped in 0.1 per cent fenvelrate solution or 0.2 per cent malathion solution for 10 minutes and then dried in shade before being brought to use,” he added.

Patiala, April 14
With efficient management and improved work culture, the Patiala Municipal Corporation (MC), has registered a considerable increase in its income. While in the fiscal year 2009-10, it generated a revenue of Rs 4830.83 lakh, in 2010-11 it rose to Rs 5689.20 lakh- an increase of Rs 858.37 lakh. What is noteworthy is that the municipal authorities have managed to curtail expenditure by Rs 940.68 lakh.

The income from water supply and sewerage has gone up drastically. Likewise, the income from additional excise duty has registered an increase of Rs 300.12 lakh.

Similarly, the earnings from octroi/VAT, advertisement tax, building fee and property sale have gone up considerably.The only area that has registered a dip in revenue is house tax- from Rs 1079.83 lakh in 2010-11 to Rs 119.07 lakh this fiscal. An elated Municipal Commissioner, Manjit Singh Narang, said: “The entire civic staff worked hard in order to ensure that revenue collection went up. Against the income target of Rs 6470.28 lakh for the 2010-11 budget, the Patiala MC has generated a revenue of Rs 5689.20 lakh.” On the reasons behind the failure of the civic body to achieve the budgetary target on the sale of property, Narang said this was because the mandatory nod for selling various properties owned by MC was not given by the government.

Sangrur, April 14
The Longowal police today arrested a youth for allegedly raping a 20-year-old girl and making her obscene MMS in Bhadrukhan village here.

Longowal SHO Baljinder Singh Pannu said the incident occurred at the house of the victim's friend Sandeep Kaur in November last.

When the victim arrived, Sandeep moved out of the house on some pretext leaving her alone with her brother Mandeep Singh. The police said Mandeep Singh allegedly raped the victim and also made an obscene MMS. The victim, then, preferred to stay quite fearing the incident would bring bad name to her family.

However, the victim's family reported the matter to the police yesterday when they got to know that the accused had circulated the MMS among his friends. — TNS

Ropar, April 14
Three people were killed in two road accidents at Ropar and Kiratpur Sahib today.

Nineteen-year-old Amrit Singh, a resident of Maloya, Chandigarh, was burnt to death in his Alto car near Rangilpur village after it met with an accident.

Amrit, his father Balvir Singh and mother Rajinder Kaur were on their way to Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib in Ropar when a truck coming from the opposite side hit their car at around 4 am.

The highway patrol managed to rescue Balvir and Rajinder Kaur, but Amrit had got stuck in the vehicle. During the rescue, the car caught fire and Amrit was burnt to death inside the vehicle. The police has registered a case against the driver. In another incident, 26-year-old Ravi Kumar and his eight-year-old nephew Vansh Kumar, both residents of Nurpur Bedi, lost their lives in an accident at Kiratpur Sahib.

The duo, along with Ravi’s sister-in-law Harpal Kaur from Ghanauli, were on a motorcycle. Harpal legs got fractured. They were returning from Gurdwara Gurditta Singh after paying obeisance there on the occasion of Baisakhi. When they reached Bilaspur road, a truck moving in the wrong direction hit the motorcycle. Ravi and Vansh died on the spot.

Harpal was taken to Kiratpur Sahib hospital and later referred to Anandpur Sahib civil hospital. The driver of truck fled from the spot.