Bathinda, January 27
The district administration celebrated the 63rd Republic Day by organising a function at the Sports Stadium here. The chief guest was minister of animal husbandry, fishery and dairy development, Gulzar Singh Ranike, who hoisted the national flag on the occasion.

Three observers were deployed by the Chief Election Commission (CEC) to keep a watch over the speech of the chief guest, who did not utter a single word in the favour of his party.

Eulogising the Indian constitution and the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to see an independent India, Ranike said, “We should acknowledge the sacrifice of martyrs by following the path shown by them.”

The chief guest inspected the guard of honour and took salute from the marching contingents. Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav and Senior Superintendent of Police Sukhchain Singh Gill accompanied him in an open gypsy.

The chief guest said the Indian constitution had given equal rights to all the citizens of the country and “it is our moral duty to respect the constitution.”

Officials of the Punjab Police, including lady police, police band, home guards, NCC scouts and guides, and students of various city schools participated in the celebrations.

A parade was taken out under the command of DSP Jagatpreet Singh. Various important works were also exhibited by various government departments during the function.

School children danced to the tunes of patriotic songs.

The students from Saint Xavier Convent School, Delhi Public School, Government Senior Secondary School (Girls), Silver Oaks School, Bhoj Raj Jain School and Mahant Gurbanta Das Deaf and Dumb participated in the cultural programme.

The school children who excelled in the fields of sports and education were also honoured.

The chief guest also honoured the family members of freedom fighters.

The cultural programme ended with giddha and bhangra performances by school children. 

Bathinda, January 27
Partially suspended from the service, the Udyan Abha Toofan Mail (13007/08) will be back on its normal route from February 1.

The service of the train, which runs between Howrah and Sriganganagar passing through Bathinda and other stations in Malwa, had been partially suspended, from Sriganganagar to Mughalsarai, by the railways owing to the foggy weather conditions.

Considering the safety  of the passengers, the  partial suspension remained effective from December 1 to  January 31.

Though the communiqué in this regard has not reached the authorities  concerned at Bathinda, the railways has started issuing tickets to the passengers for the stations located between Mughalsarai and Sriganganagar with effect from February 1.

The train will start its normal journey from Howrah to Srigangangar on February 1. The train will reach Bathinda on February 3. On its return journey to Howrah, the train would be available for passengers at Bathinda on January 4 at 12.15 am. 

Bathinda, January 27
The complaint centre at the District Election Office is ecstatic these days.

Apart from receiving the usual grumpy messages of political workers complaining against each other or the candidates violating the model code of conduct, the centre has received appreciation letters from the masses.

"People have commended the election office's role in implementing the guidelines of the State Election Commission (EC) in a strict manner," said district revenue officer (DRO) Amandeep Singh Bhatti, who is heading the centre here.

In his letter, one Manu Gupta has complimented the election office stating that the city was much cleaner than it used to be at the time of elections.

"The Election Commission has taken strict measures to check the defacement of public and private property. The move has perhaps struck the right chord with those fed up with the defaced walls during election season," pointed out an officer on duty.

One of the initial e-mails sent to the complaint centre left the staff on duty confused. Not accustomed to the polite words and appreciation, the staff did not know how to handle that letter. One of staff members tagged the letter stating that it was not related to the complaint centre. "Thereafter, it was shown to the DRO who forwarded it to the Deputy Commissioner," added another employee.

Besides discussing the letters reaching the election office, the city residents have been talking about the peaceful election procedure this time.

"Earlier, the loudspeakers were a major source of nuisance. Candidates used to start canvassing using speakers at least a month before the elections. Fortunately, loudspeakers usage has been allowed just a week before the elections this time," said Gurjant Singh, a resident of Model Town.

The EC's strict vigilance on the election-related expenditure being incurred by candidates is also the reason behind uneventful and peaceful elections in the area.

While most of the candidates have opened their frontal offices, none of the offices is equipped with hi-tech communication systems. "This is being done to avoid the EC's ire. We are sending e-mails and other material to the media through personal laptops or terminals installed away from the eagle-eyed EC officials," confessed one of the political party workers.

Till 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the party offices used to be the favourite hang-out place of political workers, who spent time sipping tea and eating snacks.

"This time, it is not happening at election offices," added another.

Bathinda, January 27
Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev extended his support in the Punjab Assembly elections to the SAD, the BJP and the CPI here this evening. He also gave his blessings to the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) supremo Manpreet Singh Badal.

Baba Ramdev said he had extended his support to them as they had agreed to the issues raised by him, including bringing back the black money from the foreign banks and eradication of corruption from the country. However, the people should decide on their own while exercising their right to franchise as he did not want to put pressure on any one in this regard, he added.

Addressing mediapersons here, Baba Ramdev said he held the press conference as the Election Commission did not allow him to hold public meetings in Punjab.

Ramdev also gave a clarion call to the people that they should vote for those who were supporting his issues. However, without taking the name of the Congress party, Baba asked the people to boycott those in the elections who were not supporting his issues. On the issue of Dera Sacha Sauda that it may extend support to a particular party, Baba said, “No comment, ask the Dera people in this regard”.

Baba Ramdev said the present UPA government is a “murderer of democracy”. He said he had not come here to give a clean chit to any one on the issue of corruption, but he wanted that Punjab voters should vote only for those who had taken a stand in favour of eradication of corruption and bringing black money back from abroad. Baba Ramdev asked people to teach a lesson to the supporters of corruption and dishonest persons in the Assembly elections. He also said as the ruling party at the Centre had betrayed the country on the issue of Lokpal, so the people of Punjab should not vote for the candidates of that party. 

Bathinda, January 27
The daughter-in-law of SAD candidate from Rampura Phul assembly segment, Sikandar Singh Maluka has been transferred following the orders of the Election Commission (EC).

The transfer orders of Parampal Kaur Maluka, the District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO), Mansa, with an additional charge of Bathinda district, were issued on January 26.

Vide its order number RDE-3/SPL-1, the EC has directed Parampal Kaur to report at the state headquarters in Mohali till the further orders.

Through its letter issued to Parampal, the District Election Officer, Bathinda, had banned her entry in the Rampura Phul constituency. She was also asked to stay away from political activities.

A resident of Kotha Guru village complained to the election office that Parampal Kaur had been on medical leave from December 12, 2011, to January 6, 2012. Later, she applied for extension of leave, which was still under consideration by the department concerned. In her application, she stated that she was suffering from some illness and was admitted to Dr Balbir Singh's hospital in Bhagta Bhai Ka area. The hospital is owned by a leader of the women section of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

However, on January 25, few Congress workers caught Parampal Kaur canvassing for her father-in-law at Dullewal village. The Congress workers not only caught the activity on camera but also informed the election observer and other EC officials.

Acting on the complaint, the Election Commission ordered an immediate transfer of Parampal Kaur.

Bathinda, January 27
Houses built along the Bathinda-Mansa road near the railway line were dismantled. In their complaint to the police, the owners of these houses alleged this was a land grab bid and demanded that the accused be arrested soon.

In their complaint to the Deputy Commissioner and the SSP, Bathinda, the owners of these houses, including Gurtej Singh Sethi, Col Jagjit Singh Mann (retd), TT Ram, Balvir Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Ashok Kumar stated that the houses built on their land were dismantled. They said that on January 21, a clerk and another employee of the ammunition depot went to Labh Singh, Gurcharan Singh and Ashok Kumar and threatened them saying they could not build any house at the place. These people were threatened with dire consequences and were told to meet the higher officials of the ammunition depot.

Later, the houses were dismantled on the intervening night of January 23 and 24.

They alleged that the accused used two JCB machines and came in a Gypsy. The complainants demanded the immediate arrest of the accused.

Acting on the complaint, the ASP Bikram Pal Bhatti and SHO Cantonment, Jaskaran Pal Sharma visited the spot today and spoke to complainants.

Bathinda, January 27
The Central University of Punjab, Bathinda celebrated the 63rd Republic Day in a ceremony on its campus. All the students, teaching and non-teaching staff of the university, along with the other employees gathered in the City Campus, early in the morning for the celebrations.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof (Dr) Jai Rup Singh, inspected the parade of the security staff, took the salute and hoisted the National Flag. In his speech, he reminded the gathering of the great sacrifices that Indians made to achieve freedom for the nation and for setting up of the largest democracy in the world.

He further asked the students to inculcate the values that inspired India’s leaders and freedom fighters and do their best to make our country one of the best in the world. He stressed the role of education in the successful functioning of a democracy and asked the teachers and students to remain fully committed to the spread of universal and quality education.

A student from Jharkhand sang a melodious patriotic song in his mother tongue adding a vernacular touch and a national character to the celebrations.

Bathinda, January 27
Aiming to make the students of fashion technology understand skilled workers role, responsibilities towards manufacturing good quality garment and to prepare them for modular employable skills for apparel garment industries, Vivekananda Institute of Management & Technology, Bathinda, is commencing Smart Quality Checker Course, starting January 31.

Principal of the institute, Raj Gupta, said Harpreet Singh, principal, AICC, Ludhiana, will impart the training. The course is certified by Apparel Training & Design Centre (ATDC, LDH) which is an education and training institute of AEPC, Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India.

Bathinda, January 27
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) to be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has been postponed in view of the assembly elections in the state. The test was to be held across the country on January 29.

On the directions of the Election Commission of India, the exam has been postponed in the states of Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand owing to the Assembly elections scheduled to be held there.

The exam would now be conducted on May 5 in the three states.

In Punjab, the exam was to be conducted in Bathinda and Jalandhar. The director (academics), CBSE, has advised the candidates to preserve their admit cards for the postponed exam.

Bathinda, January 27
Bittu Singh alias Guru of Basti number 6, Bir Talab area, was found murdered at the new grain market on the morning of January 26. In his statement to the police, the deceased’s father, Nachhattar Singh, stated that his 23-year-old son Bittu was a drug addict and used to remain absent from home frequently. He told the police that Bittu was murdered for drugs. SHO Jagdish Lal said that 40 capsules, used as drugs, were recovered from Bittu’s clothes. He was murdered on the night of January 25 and the body was found the next morning.

In another case, the police confiscated 5 kg of poppy husk and arrested Krishan Singh, a resident of Lehra Mohabbat, on the Santpura road. He has been booked under the NDPS Act.