B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Manak always stood by us, say his native villagers
Jalal (Bathinda), Dec 1
As the villagers of Jalal mourn the death of their most celebrated hero Kuldeep Manak, they make preparations to ensure that everyone visiting village tomorrow get last glimpse of their hero.

Manak's relatives with his photograph at his ancestral village Jalal. Photo by writer

Manta likely to return to SAD fold
Muktsar, December 1
In yet another attempt to give jolt to the Peoples' Party of Punjab (PPP), the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is reportedly going to welcome the return of Satinderjit Singh ‘Manta’ to the party fold, most likely on Saturday.

Bandh evokes mixed response in region
Abohar, December 1
Though the response to the nationwide call for bandh was partial in the morning, it emerged nearly total at least in the old walled city later as sloganeering protesters marched through the main roads. District BJP president Arun Narang and Arhtia Association president Pramil Kalani led the procession.

Channel breach wreaks havoc
Abohar, December 1
About 500-acres of agricultural land was inundated due to a breach in the main sewerage disposal water channel located near the Defence road (Abohar-Hindumalkot road) on the city bypass today.

Manak always stood by us, say his native villagers
Thousands expected to attend the legendary
folk singer’s burial today
Megha Mann and Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Jalal (Bathinda), Dec 1
As the villagers of Jalal mourn the death of their most celebrated hero Kuldeep Manak, they make preparations to ensure that everyone visiting village tomorrow get last glimpse of their hero.

A ground, situated on the outskirts of village, has been cleaned and prepared. Manak's body would be brought tomorrow at around 10 am and kept in this ground for people. “We are making all possible arrangements. The ground on the outskirts of the village has been cleared and so has been the burial ground. Either Maulvi from village Masjid or from Ludhiana would be conducting the last rites,” said Rupinder Singh, one of the volunteers spearheading arrangements. Special arrangements have been made to hold langar (community kitchen) for around 3,000 people including people from all walks of life, who are expected to throng the village tomorrow.

Second of the three sons of village's Marasi family, Manak was gifted with the voice that struck right chord with masses. He studied at the village's Government Senior Secondary School, hich was just middle school when Manak studied. He studied till class-VIII before taking up singing as a career.

He started singing from the school assembly and graduated to becoming “Kaliyan Da Badshah,” said the village sarpanch Jagdish Singh.

Manak a.k.a Latif Mohammad alias Ladha was well known as the young slim lad who moved around the village singing in his own masti. While the old building of his school stands intact, his name does not find any mention on the school's premises. “This is because we have no tradition of mentioning names of the old students in school. But everyone knows that Manak belonged to us,” said Harvinder Singh, whose family donated land to build this government school.

Manak shifted from village to Ludhiana around four decades ago where he married a girl from village Rajgarh. “But he was never really gone from the village. He frequently used to visit all of us. Gradually, over the last seven years, the visits grew less in number and finally after the demise of his elder brother Sadiq Mohammad,” said his cousin Chhotu Ram.

The Khan family has been living here since ages and is a part of the 6,500 population of the village. There are around 400 members of Muslim families living in this village known for its communal harmony. Most of the family members, like Chhotu Khan, make both the ends meet doing odd chores in village.

Villager Pirthipal Jalal, a transporter, added that Manak always made it a point to visit maximum number of his friends. “Be it be a happy occasion or a tragedy. We always found support in Manak,” he said.

Manta likely to return to SAD fold
Archit Watts/TNS

Muktsar, December 1
In yet another attempt to give jolt to the Peoples' Party of Punjab (PPP), the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is reportedly going to welcome the return of Satinderjit Singh ‘Manta’ to the party fold, most likely on Saturday.

Manta is presently the P.A. of Gurdas Singh Badal, father of PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal. After the Manpreet separated from the SAD and launched his own political outfit PPP, Manta had opted to go along him.

Due to his close proximity with Gurdas Badal, Manta used to enjoy his strong hold in Gidderbaha and Lambi constituencies. However, just after few months (in May) Manta was booked in a case of fraud, which the PPP leaders including Manpreet and his father Gurdas had claimed to be a clear case of vendetta politics.

However, as per the talks going on in the political circle here, Manta is expected to rejoin the SAD (B) on Saturday afternoon, when the chief minister would be visiting Muktsar district under his ‘Sangat Darshan’ programme.

“The Chief Minister would visit Manta’s house in Roranwali village between 12:45 to 2:30 pm on Saturday, where a formal announcement would be made in this regard,” said a senior official working with the Chief Minister.

Talking over the phone, Manta neither accepted this development nor denied it. “Nothing will be kept secret. I will personally invite you when I'll rejoin SAD,” said Manta.

On asking as to whether the CM is visiting his house on Saturday, he replied, “I will confirm it later. So far, I can't comment beyond it.”

It may be mentioned here that earlier Charanjit Singh Brar, OSD to Manpreet Singh Badal, and PPP's zone-in charge (looking after a cluster of villages) Jagdeep Singh Kala too have returned the SAD (B) during the events presided over by the SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Bandh evokes mixed response in region
Tribune Reporters

Abohar, December 1
Though the response to the nationwide call for bandh was partial in the morning, it emerged nearly total at least in the old walled city later as sloganeering protesters marched through the main roads. District BJP president Arun Narang and Arhtia Association president Pramil Kalani led the procession.

Muktsar: In Muktsar, the impact of the nationwide strike called was clearly visible today despite of the fact that the Punjab Government has supported the Central Government's decision of allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail sector. Though no protest march was carried out by the traders in this regard, most of the shopkeepers kept their shops shut in response to the 'bandh'.

Ferozepur: In Ferozepur, the 'Bharat Bandh' call by various organisations in protest against the Central Government's move to allow the FDI in retails segment evoked a mixed response. While most of the shops and commercial establishments in the city remained closed, the markets in the cantonment remained by and large open.

Fazilka: A complete bandh was observed on the call given by the Beopar Mandal. The bazaars wore a deserted look. A large number of traders led by the Beopar Mandal president Ashok Gulbadhar staged a protest dharna at the Clock Tower crossing and raised slogans against the Central Government. While addressing the gathering, Gulbadhar warned that the traders would not allow any foreign investment in the retail sector at any cost.

Channel breach wreaks havoc

Abohar, December 1
About 500-acres of agricultural land was inundated due to a breach in the main sewerage disposal water channel located near the Defence road (Abohar-Hindumalkot road) on the city bypass today.

Affected farmers including Karamjit, Pritam, Kashmir Singh and Surinderpal told the visiting media team that repeated breaches during the past two years had virtually ruined them. They were unable to repay the loans that had been arranged from cooperative and private sector institutions as standing crops were perished.

They resented that none of the government officials bothered to visit the site for more than four hours even when they were contacted over the landline as well as cell phones. It visibly appeared that the officials hoped tampers would cool down gradually since they had faced wrath of the affected family few months back over the similar problem.

SDM Jasdeep Singh Aulakh who visited the area in the afternoon said the goverment would be requested to take adequate measures to safeguard the interests of the farmers. — OC