B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

EGS teachers burn effigy of education minister
Gidderbaha, December 2
After getting no attention from the state government towards their demand, the agitating EGS Teachers today intensified their struggle by burning the effigy of Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan and blocking the national highway (NH 15) for a few minutes.

'No political pressure in changing decision on FDI’
Mithri Budhgir (Muktsar), December 2
As the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) last evening took a U-turn on the issue of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today outrightly rejected any kind of political pressure behind the step taken by the party.

‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’
Congress rally’s venue changed
Bathinda, December 2
Local Congress MLA Harminder Singh Jassi said today the venue of the Congress rally, to be held on December 5 in Bathinda as part of the ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’' being started by the Punjab Congress, has been changed to an open ground in Model Town Phase-3 from the local Gol Diggi area.

GOC-in-C lauds Golden Arrow Division
Ferozepur, December 2
The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief ( GOC-in-C) Western Command, Lieutenant General S R Ghosh today visited the headquarters of the Golden Arrow Division in the cantonment where he was briefed on the key operational, training and administrative matters by the senior officials of the division.

EGS teachers burn effigy of education minister
Tribune News Service

Gidderbaha, December 2
After getting no attention from the state government towards their demand, the agitating EGS Teachers today intensified their struggle by burning the effigy of Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan and blocking the national highway (NH 15) for a few minutes.

Activists of the EGS Teachers' Association also took out a rally and raised a number of anti-government slogans.

After the culmination of rally, executive president of the union Darshan Singh said that they would gherao Member Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal during her Snagat Darshan programme on December 4 here.

He also threatened that if their demand of permanent jobs was not considered in next three days, they would commit mass suicides in front of the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in Chandigarh.

It may be mentioned here that the EGS teachers have been lodging their protest since November 29 and two of their leaders namely Darshan Singh and Kulvir Singh have already started their fast-unto-death.

Before opting this fierce method of agitation, they had given one-week's ultimatum to the state government to concede their demand. But, nothing took place as of now.

Darshan Singh said that after the closure of EGS Centers in Punjab in 2008 the state government had promised them to appoint as regular teachers with some conditions, but nothing was done. “3,000 of us have completed the ETT course, still we are not getting appointment. Rest 2,000 are also pursuing their course and the fate of all of us is still unclear,” he said.

The agitating teachers further said that they would not budge from their stand, even if the state government plays any cheap tactics to disperse them.

The state government had started education guarantee scheme (EGS) especially for the drop out children, under which these teachers were recruited.

'No political pressure in changing decision on FDI’
Archit Watts/TNS

Mithri Budhgir (Muktsar), December 2
As the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) last evening took a U-turn on the issue of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today outrightly rejected any kind of political pressure behind the step taken by the party.

Talking to the media, during his Sangat Darshan programe at the Mithri Budhgir village in the Lambi constituency this afternoon, the Chief Minister first said that though he was not present in the meeting held in Chandigarh last evening, yet nothing was politically motivated in it.

On asking, as to whether the BJP, partner in the present coalition government in the state had pressurised them to take a U-turn in this issue, the chief minister said, “There is no pressure from the BJP. There are some decisions which can be changed after some discussion.”

Showing his ignorance about the matter, Parkash Singh Badal, a seasoned politician, who is also known for handling media queries very cleverly, said, “Due to poor visibility in the evening, my chopper could not take off last evening. So, I was here in my constituency and busy in Sangat Darshan programme. So, I don't have much detail about this.”

He further said that each and every thing would get clear in a short time. It may be mentioned here that the SAD had welcomed the Union Government's decision in this regard on November 24. However, the BJP was stick to its decision of opposing the UPA-led Centre government's decision.

Talking on other issues, the chief minister said that shortly the SAD would organise rallies at all district headquarters to make the public aware about the developments done by the present government. During his speech at Badal, Gaggad and Mithri Budhgir villages he termed the Congress, as a party of anti-farmers.

He also disbursed the grants of Rs 12.5 crore under various schemes.

‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’
Congress rally’s venue changed
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 2
Local Congress MLA Harminder Singh Jassi said today the venue of the Congress rally, to be held on December 5 in Bathinda as part of the ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’' being started by the Punjab Congress, has been changed to an open ground in Model Town Phase-3 from the local Gol Diggi area.

Jassi said that the venue of the rally had been changed keeping in view the massive support, being extended to the rally by the people of Punjab, as there was a great anger in the minds of the people against the SAD-BJP government's policies.

He said the rally would be addressed among others by Captain Amarinder Singh, Gulchain Singh Charak and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

GOC-in-C lauds Golden Arrow Division

Ferozepur, December 2
The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief ( GOC-in-C) Western Command, Lieutenant General S R Ghosh today visited the headquarters of the Golden Arrow Division in the cantonment where he was briefed on the key operational, training and administrative matters by the senior officials of the division.

During his visit, Lt Gen Ghosh lauded the efforts of the Golden Arrow Division for undertaking several assigned tasks in a befitting and meticulous manner. The GOC-in-C said that he was confident that this division was fully prepared to meet all challenges. — OC