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Farmers face fuel scarcity ahead of sowing season
SGPC, DSGMC differ with Akal Takht on ‘complete marriage Act’
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Excess water flow in canal alarms Muktsar farmers
Pakistan denies visa to 320 Sikh pilgrims
Young Congress MLAs abandon enmity with Akalis
Govt hiding facts on thermal plant: Amarinder
Gujral: Child adoption policy
discriminatory against NRIs
Inordinate delay in sowing cotton worries growers
Swaminathan not in favour of sale barriers for farmers
water woes
Pranab hints at fiscal bailout
Punjab promotes three as IGPs
Efforts to bring Nili-Ravi breed from Pak: Minister
University teachers hold protest rally
Drugs in jails
HC comes down heavily on
lawyers over pending cases
Decide on eco syllabus in six weeks: Court
DTO office clerk held with stolen vehicles
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Farmers face fuel scarcity ahead of sowing season
Muktsar/Ferozepur, May 16 In the past one week, supplies to fuel stations have either been restricted or temporarily cut-off. “When we make queries from officials at the HP regional office in Bathinda, they simply say that fuel supply will be made in a day or two,” complained a fuel station owner at Malout. Another fuel station owner near Rupana village said: “I started this business after taking a huge loan... Though I have deposited the required sum with the company, I have not got fuel supplies since the past one week.” PK Uppal, Regional Manager, HP, when contacted, said: “I am not authorised to speak to the media.” He neither accepted nor denied fuel shortage. Alarmed at the diesel shortage, rich farmers in Ferozepur have started storing fuel ahead of the sowing season. Rajesh Malhotra, who owns Kaysons Fuel Service on the Malwal road, said diesel shortage was particularly acute. “If this situation persists, we will lose our valued customers to other outlets”, he said, looking alarmed. Jalandhar: Most Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) pumps have gone dry with its Jalandhar depot going out of stock. Nearly one-third of the oil stations in Doaba and Majha regions have no fuel as almost 48 per cent of these are run by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), 31 per cent by HPCL and 21 per cent by Bharat Petroleum (BP). The secretary of the Jalandhar HPCL Petrol Pumps Association, Paramjit Singh Doaba, said: “Most of the 60 HPCL petrol stations in Jalandhar and 28 in Kapurthala district went dry this evening.” The HPCL officials blamed the shortage on Indian Oil Corporation. (With inputs by Dharmendra Joshi in Jalandhar)
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SGPC, DSGMC differ with Akal Takht on ‘complete marriage Act’
Amritsar, May 16 SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said: "We ourselves have passed a resolution demanding it in the SGPC general house. Now, how can we say that we don't want it?" He said first these amendments should be allowed to be passed while the rest of the issues may be addressed later. Makkar is likely to hold a meeting with the Jathedar soon to discuss the issue. DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna also said the amendments should be allowed to be passed. “We have fought a long battle for it and after reaching this stage we cannot let it go,” he said. Sarna said if the community faced any problem later, the SGPC and the DSGMC can jointly form a committee of experts to pursue further amendments. Former Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh, who played a key role in pushing these amendments, said, "It will be a major achievement and nobody should try to scuttle it at this stage. Those advocating a complete Act should have raised their voice earlier." Sikh intellectual Balkar Singh said the Jathedar had created confusion among the community by "speaking on the issue without giving it a thought". He said only the political class stands to benefit if the amendments in the Anand Marriage Act 1909 were stopped. He said the amendments will pave the way for the recognition of Sikhs as a separate community and the issue of a complete marriage Act can be negotiated at a later stage. Noted Sikh scholar Bhai Ashok Singh Bagrian said the community should let these amendments take place as it was achieving the purpose of establishment of separate identity of Sikhs. He said the Sikhs have long been demanding these amendments and nobody talked about divorce during this period. He also dubbed the Jathedar's move as a "step in haste". Supreme Court lawyer HS Phoolka said the entire Sikh community had been demanding these amendments for the last seven to eight years. He said the "somersault made by the Akal Takht Jathedar will make a mockery of Sikhs in Parliament". "Everyone wants registration of Sikh marriages under a separate Act and these amendments are serving the purpose. Putting these amendments in jeopardy for a complete Act is not a wise decision," he said.
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Excess water flow in canal alarms Muktsar farmers
Muktsar, May 16 The situation is alarming. The water is touching the bridge, which was built years ago. Farmers with land along the canal said they had met irrigation officials a number of times, but none was ready to listen to them. “The officials always give the same reply — that they have to supply water to villages situated at the tail-end of the canal,” said a farmer, Jagir Singh. Another farmer Gurtej Singh said: “If the water flow suddenly increases, our fields will be inundated. The administration should take precautionary measures lest the farmers face losses.” RK Gupta, XEN, Irrigation, said: “We have sent a detailed project report on overhauling this channel and the bridges built over it and are awaiting a formal approval. Once we get the green signal, work will be started at once.”
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Pakistan denies visa to 320 Sikh pilgrims
Amritsar, May 16 A Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee spokesperson said the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev was being observed on May 25 as per the amended Nanankshahi calendar and the SGPC had decided to send a jatha to Pakistan to participate in the event. The SGPC had forwarded a list of 320 pilgrims to the Centre, seeking visa for them. He said the Union Government had sent the list to the Pakistan High Commission after giving the necessary clearance. However, when the SGPC approached the High Commission for visas, the Sikh body was told that they could not be granted the same as the event was not being observed in Pakistan during this period (May 17-26). As per reports, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is observing the event as per the original Nanakshahi Calendar on June 16. Last year too the Pakistan embassy had denied visa to a 340-member Sikh jatha due to the same reason.
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Young Congress MLAs abandon enmity with Akalis
Chandigarh, May 16 Young Congress leaders fear that they may find it difficult to get re-elected if they are unable to perform. Hence, they need Akali help. On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is keen on development and wants to enlist Congress help to avail of additional central funds. Also, he wants to ensure the state is run smoothly without any disruption from the Opposition. Batala MLA Ashwani Sekhri is clearly a trendsetter, managing Rs 11 crore each for his as well as Sukhbir Badal’s constituency, Jalalabad. This was done after a 160-member state government team surveyed slum areas in Batala and Jalalabad days before the central funds were set to lapse. While Punjab pushed the survey, Sekhri persuaded Union Minister Selja to release funds. Sekhri says several other Congress legislators have followed suit. He is quite unabashed about cosying up to the Akalis, saying: “I have to serve the people of Batala”. This “cooperation” has encouraged Sekhri to move a proposal for a border district development board. Other legislators- Parminder Pinky, Navtej Cheema, Bharat Bhushan and Gurkirat Singh Kotli- have also met the Deputy CM and promised him cooperation in his development efforts. Pinky maintained that there was nothing wrong in Congress MLAs also showing eagerness in the state’s development. “Moreover, the state needs central funds and those against this are not acting in Punjab’s interests.” Guruharsahai legislator Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi said it was necessary for Congress leaders to be part of the development process so that they could monitor spending and ensure the money was not diverted for political purposes. However, senior Congress leaders are not happy with this development. The Pradesh Congress president, Capt Amarinder Singh, expressed his skepticism, saying: “The young leaders should realise the Akalis will not do anything positive for them... Collusion with the Akalis is not needed.” Though the legislators claim they are not colluding with the Akalis, it is certain that Sukhbir Badal had created a wedge in the Congress leadership. Those who are focused on development in their constituencies are unlikely to protest against the Akalis. The Akali camp says the cooperation will ensure there is no flight of capital, as had been the case when the Congress took over in 2002. Moreover, both Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal want to do something for Punjab during their last terms in office. The Akalis claim that Sukhbir has seized this opportunity to step up development with the help of Congress legislators wherever needed. The Volte-face
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Govt hiding facts on thermal plant: Amarinder
Patiala, May 16 “Sukhbir is trying to befool the people of Punjab, claiming that the plant will be commissioned on schedule i.e. November 30, 2012, with an eye on the coming civic poll. It is on record that the project developer has submitted in writing to the power corporation that the new deadline for commissioning the plant is August 8, 2013. I wonder on what grounds is the state government claiming that it will be operational in November.” Attempts to contact Talwandi Sabo Plant Limited chairman SK Roongta proved futile, But the Secretary, Power, Anirudh Tiwari, reiterated that senior project officials had stated that they would meet November 30 deadline. Sources said that during the high-level meeting yesterday, Sterlite Energy Limited had insisted that the deadline be revised till February next year. The proposal was shot down by Sukhbir Badal. A senior officer of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited said: “The actual situation is that a lot of work is left and the commissioning of the project is bound to be delayed.”
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Gujral: Child adoption policy
discriminatory against NRIs
Chandigarh, May 16 These new CARA guidelines coupled with endless bureaucratic delays, lengthy and completely centralised procedure have virtually put a stop to all inter-country adoptions, which have decreased from 770 in 2007 to 593 in 2010 and continue to decrease year on year, rues Naresh
Gujral.
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Inordinate delay in sowing cotton worries growers
Faridkot/Muktsar, May 16 Cotton seed had been sown on around 37 per cent of the area under the crop till mid-May last year. But, this year only 14-15 per cent area had been covered so far. Though the prolonged cold weather proved beneficial for the wheat crop, it had a negative impact on cotton as its sowing has already been delayed by over 20 days. The loss of crucial time in sowing cotton has forced growers to weigh options to sow alternative crops. The farmers are also disappointed by the problems they have been facing in cotton trade, including low remuneration. “As cotton prices remained low last season, a number of growers are still holding their produce hoping for a better rise. But with 13.70 million tonnes of global cotton stock, their chances of fetching a good price seem to be bleak,” said Rajesh Singla, vice-president of SEL, a Ludhiana-based yarn export company. Under the current scenario, many growers are looking to switch over to other crops like guar seed. There are also apprehensions of about 20 per cent cut in the area under cotton this season. This might put pressure on cotton ginning and textile industry, say experts. The Northern India Cotton Association (NICA), a group of a textile millers and owners of ginning factories, says cotton sowing is already lagging behind by over 83,000 hectares in Punjab. Though sowing will pick up in the coming days, non-remunerative prices of the crop last season are likely to have an adverse impact on area under cotton cultivation, said NICA general secretary Raghubir Chand. In Muktsar district, only 25 per cent of the estimated area has seen sowing of cotton seed from April 1 to May 15, which is considered as the optimum sowing season. A large chunk of land was still occupied by wheat stubble, as most of the farmers were busy selling their produce in mandis. “Last year, cotton was sown after a short delay. But, rain damaged the crop during its initial days twice. The sowing has been delayed again this year. Now, the crop will totally depend on weather conditions,” said Jagjit Singh, a farmer at Rupana village. Muktsar Chief Agriculture Officer Paramjit Singh Dhatt said, “As per our reports, nearly 25 per cent of the total expected area has come under cotton cultivation so far. This time there is no shortage of water or seed, but little delay in ripening of wheat crop has delayed cotton sowing.” Weighing options
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Swaminathan not in favour of sale barriers for farmers
Samrala, May 16 He was talking to mediapersons at the Market Committee office here today. Dr Swaminathan, answering a query, said a national commission for farmers was a must to know the problems of farmers and recommend a solution to the problems. He said the minimum support price (MSP) should be announced well before the sowing season so that the farmers could sow crops after considering the rates and the demand. Dr Swaminathan said that he had learnt from various sources that farmers in Punjab were in debt and were being forced to quit agriculture. He said 40% of the farmers had given their land to tenants. To another question, he said the Swaminathan Commission recommendations were yet to be implemented fully. He said it took time to implement all suggestions. He said the right to food security should be made a legal right. He stressed on soil improvement, water, energy, technology, irrigation and crop insurance. He said the latter was particularly important to safeguard farmers against crop failure. Dr Swaminathan was accompanied by Dr Manjit Singh Kang, former VC of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, who said that farmers should abandon the wheat, paddy cycle. Later, Dr Swaminathan visited the Market Committee, Khamano, and interacted with farmers.
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water woes
Chandigarh, May 16 After visiting affected areas in Punjab, the team will recommend to the Planning Commission the extent of special financial package required to rid the state farms off the rising sub-soil water. The team has been formed following recommendations by Union Rural Development, Sanitation and Drinking Water Minister Jairam Ramesh, who recently visited Punjab. During the Union Minister’s visit to the state, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal highlighted the issue. Ramesh took up the issue with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia ahead of the finalisation of the annual plan outlay for Punjab. Ahluwalia promised Ramesh and Badal the constitution of an expert team that would shortly visit Punjab and tour waterlogged areas in southern Punjab districts of Mansa, Bathinda, Fazilka, Muktsar and Ferozepur. Similarly, pockets in Gurdaspur district have also been affected by waterlogging. Appreciative of Ramesh’s efforts, Badal said, “The matter has been raised several times. But, it has never been flagged the way Ramesh did before the Planning Commission.” Badal has even written a letter of thanks to Ramesh. The Secretary (Planning), Punjab Government, has, in a letter to the Planning Commission, sought to know the dates when the experts would be visiting the state.
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Pranab hints at fiscal bailout
New Delhi, May 16 Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Rajya Sabha, while replying to a discussion on the Finance Bill, that he could not offer concessions to one state and would look at a package for three debt-afflicted states - Punjab, Kerala and West Bengal. "I come from West Bengal and I have an obligation towards the state. But I have an equal responsibility towards 28 states and cannot do anything that goes against the federal system," the Finance Minister said. He pointed out that a group of officers had been constituted to look at ways to help states that are reeling under heavy debt and that his ministry would "work out an acceptable solution". The minister informed the House that the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Kerala had raised the issue with the Centre and the government was exploring all possibilities. Mamata has has put the Congress-led UPA government on notice, saying that she will be forced to ‘initiate steps’ if the Centre did not provide relief to West Bengal through a moratorium on loans. Trinamool Congress’ support could be crucial for the Congress to push its candidate for Presidentship. Pranab is one of the contenders for the post. He pointed out that West Bengal had been slow in enacting a fiscal responsibility and budget management Act and, therefore, had lost out on assistance suggested by the Finance Commission.
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Punjab promotes three as IGPs
Chandigarh, May 16 An official release here said 1994-batch IPS officers on the Central deputation, including Parveen Kumar Sinha, B Chandra Shekhar, Amardeep Singh Rai, Nirja Varuvaru and Anita Punj had been granted performa in the rank of Inspector General of Police with effect from January 1, 2012. Besides this, Jatinder Jain has been posted as Inspector General (Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence), Bathinda. In a separate order, S Bhupati, Nilambri Jagadale Vijay, Bikrampal Singh Bhatti and Rahul S (all IPS officers) have also been promoted in the senior timescale pay band-3 by the state government. Meanwhile, the state government promoted 728 more teachers of various subjects as lecturers
with immediate effect, taking the total lecturers promoted in the last two days to 1,833. Disclosing this here today, Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said 500 teachers of political science, 140 of economics, 32 of Hindi, 41 of geography and 15 of music had been promoted as
lecturers. The Education Minister said he was committed to clear all promotions in the department to boost the morale of teachers and postings of new teachers would be in a total transparent manner.
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India, Pak may ease visa norms
Amritsar, May 16 Laskhar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed is on the top of India’s list of most wanted criminals who are hiding in Pakistan. During the meeting that is to be held in Pakistan, both the countries are likely to sign a new visa policy with an aim increase people-to-people contact and strengthen trade ties. The Home Secretary was here to supervise functioning of the newly constructed Integrated Check Post at Attari-Wagah border after about a month of its inauguration. Singh said the forthcoming meeting could be historic if the easy visa regime policy was signed. On Naxal problem plaguing several parts of the country, he claimed the Naxalites were challenging India’s democratic system, “which was not acceptable”. He also held a meeting with the officials of the Land Port Authority
(LPA) of India, Customs, Immigration and the Border Security Force, all of whom have been managing the check post. About the current standoff between
LPA, Central Warehousing Corporation and traders over “excess” handling charges, he said he would look into the matter. On trade ties with Pakistan, he said: “The growing trade through the ICP will further strengthen relations with the neighbouring nation.” On drugs, fake currency and arms smuggling, he said the recent seizures proved that our security forces were on high alert. Security up at ICP Following threats from Pakistani fundamentalist groups to blow up the Pakistan’s side of the Integrated Check Post, the police has augmented security on the Indian side, said district police chief Preetpaul Virk.
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Efforts to bring Nili-Ravi breed from Pak: Minister
Patiala, May 16 Punjab Minister for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development and SC/BC Welfare Gulzar Singh Ranike said while inaugurating a state-level workshop on disease control amongst animals at Kalyan village in the district. Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra and former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar were also present on the occasion. In order to improve the breed of buffaloes, a special team has been formed to get semen from Lahore in Pakistan and also sent the team to Pakistan for other related experiments, he says, adding that their target was to improve the breed of 2.5 lakh animals, of which they had already touched 50,000 marks. The remaining two lakh would also be covered soon after importing semen from abroad. He said a new training centre would be set up in Patiala with an investment of Rs 3 crore which would impart training in the latest dairy development techniques. “Unemployed youth will be provided training so that they can get into this business and earn their living,” he added. He said Punjab had been included in the list of 14 states for the implementation of the National Dairy Plan, which will run with the help of the World Bank. Punjab has been selected in the first phase, which means that it will get around Meanwhile, Rakhra said the state government had decided to fill vacant posts in all departments and thus, there would be annual appointments solely on the basis of merit.
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University teachers hold protest rally
Patiala, May 16 The protest march, which started from university’s Coffee House and after passing through all the academic blocks, culminated into a big rally in front of the Vice Chancellor’s office. Speakers urged the VC to prevail upon the state government to get the arrears of the teachers released on priority basis. Members expressed deep concern about overlooking of the interests of university teachers by the state government and the UGC. “It is sad that the government has been paying no heed to a crucial sector like university and higher education even in the era of knowledge society,” they said.
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Drugs in jails
Chandigarh, May 16 “I deem it appropriate to take suo motu notice of this widespread menace. Before any further orders are passed, directions are issued to the sessions judge of each district/sessions division of both the states to conduct surprise checks of all the jails under their jurisdiction and hold an enquiry thereafter in this regard and submit their reports,” Justice Ranjit Singh of the High Court ruled. The directions came on a petition filed by Harjinder Singh, serving as a warder in Faridkot’s Modern Central Jail. He had approached the High Court for regular bail in an FIR registered against him after 600 intoxicating tablets and six grams of smack kept in polythene were recovered from him during a search on February 20. Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “The petitioner was to perform duty to keep a watch on the activities of inmates detained in the jail. He is to act as protector of crime. Any illegal activities are required to be checked by him.” “Instead of discharging his duties, he has rather become a facilitator for supply of intoxicants as dangerous as smack. No wonder that intoxicants are easily available in jail and this is being talked about in extenso.” Referring to newspaper reports, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “This problem of supply of intoxicants in jails apparently is very widespread. Even two prominent newspapers have very widely covered an affidavit submitted by Superintendent Jail, Kapurthala, in this court that 80 per cent of the prisoners are drug addicts.” “It is also reported that drugs are sold in connivance with prison officials and copies of these reports are called and kept on record,” the court observed. “How and from where they are getting this drug would always be a question agitating in the mind of general public and the society at large. Persons, like the petitioner, are the one's who are responsible for this supply of drugs inside the jail.” “Because of them, person confined in jail to undergo the rigors of punishment are able to get intoxicants so easily without any fear of being caught even. From where this supply is coming would be another poser. This needs to be checked and curbed. It is intolerable,” said the justice. Before parting with the order, Justice Ranjit Singh also referred to the issue of drug supply in Punjab jails raised by DGP (Prisons) Shashi Kant. Dismissing the bail petition, Justice Ranjit Singh kept the matter pending for monitoring purposes.
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HC comes down heavily on
lawyers over pending cases
Chandigarh, May 16 Showing the mirror to the advocates, Justice K Kannan has minced no words to say the lawyers show zeal for obtaining interim orders, but display a lackadaisical attitude towards old cases. “In these times when there is large pendency of cases and the public ire against the courts' inability to dispose of cases is mounting, it is an unsavory spectacle in every court that there is either a reluctance of lawyers to carry on with cases or give excuses why they cannot be ready.” “While all anxiety and vigour is shown for securing interim orders, there is a complete lackadaisical approach to their own briefs when the cases that have been filed more than two decades back are taken up for disposal. It is a recurrent theme in our courts where presiding officers see empty halls when the final hearing cases are being taken up”. The scathing observations came after the petitioner counsel sought adjournment in a two-decade old petition filed by Dr Daler Singh against the State of Punjab. Making it clear that the plea for postponement was not case specific, Justice Kannan asserted: “This case is one of the 20 cases posted today for final hearing, half of which pertain to the year 1992 and in none of the cases, any counsel is ready”. Turning down the plea for adjournment on the ground that some papers were missing and were required to be searched, Justice Kannan said: “I am afraid, I cannot accommodate a plea for whatever justification that the petitioner has to give”. Justice Kannan added: “The list of cases that are ripe for final hearing are serialised and communicated to the bar association, every time when a new roster is announced. This roster was circulated in January 2012.” “The case that is specifically listed has been onboard since January 2. The case was called in the afternoon session and even if the personal case papers are missing, nothing prevented, the counsel to seek for permission from the court to inspect the file in the morning session itself.” “I will, therefore, observe that being not ready is an irresponsible and a dereliction. I decline his plea for an adjournment and proceed to dispose of the case on the basis of records available before me”. Justice Kannan also dismissed the petition seeking payment of rural health allowance.
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Decide on eco syllabus in six weeks: Court
Chandigarh, May 16 The deadline came on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Prabhdayat Singh Randhawa. An RTI activist of Amritsar, he is seeking directions to the Board to introduce the compulsory subject of environment education in all the courses conducted by it. As the case came up for resumed hearing before the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Alok Singh, Board counsel said it has constituted a committee for finalising the curriculum for compulsory environment education in all
the courses. He added the Board of Technical Education requires six weeks time to finalise the curriculum. Granting six weeks to the Board, the Bench fixed July 2 as the next date of hearing and asked the petitioner's counsel HC Arora to elaborate whether all other boards and universities in Punjab and Haryana have included the compulsory subject of environment education in their courses. If not, implead all such boards and varsities as respondents.
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Bloody clash over land in Kapurthala; 7 injured
Kapurthala, May 16 A group led by Jai Jagat Joshi reportedly attacked Ajit Singh’s son, Sukhwinder Singh, after he began ploughing in a three canal plot, even as Joshi forbade him from doing so. Sukhwinder Singh, Balwinder Singh and Fateh Singh were admitted to a hospital in Bholath. The doctors there referred them to the Kapurthala Civil hospital. Their condition is said to be critical. Four of Joshi’s supporters, identified as Iqbal Chand, Jaswinder Singh, Tejinder Singh and a farmhand, were also hospitalised. Sukhpal Khaira, former MLA, alleged that Akali workers had attacked Congress workers. But Begowal SHO Hargurdev Singh said prima facie, it seemed the groups had clashed over a land dispute. He said appropriate legal action would be taken against the culprits after the victims’ statements were recorded.
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DTO office clerk held with stolen vehicles
Jagraon/Ferozepur, May 16 Clerk Ravinder Singh and his accomplice Jagjit Singh were arrested during a routine checking near Baddowal by the Mullanpur Dakha police. Police claimed that both the accused failed to produce the documents of the vehicle they were driving following which the vehicle was confiscated and they were taken to a police station. Sources said during investigation, the police came to know that the vehicle, in which the duo was
travelling, was stolen from Mumbai seven month ago. During investigation, the police recovered four vehicles, including a Mahindra Scorpio, two Toyota Innovas and a Maruti Esteem car, which were stolen from various parts of the county. "After stealing cars, these were sold to different persons on the basis of forged documents prepared by DTO office clerk Ravinder Singh," said Prem Singh, SHO Dakha police station, while giving details of the incident. "We have received crucial information about the involvement of several other members of this gang in different parts of the state. However, they have gone underground following the arrest of Ravinder Singh and Jagjit Singh," said SHO Prem Singh. Meanwhile, it was reportedly learnt that the said clerk of the DTO office was in touch with many agents operating in
Ferozepur, Fazilka, Moga, Amritsar and Ludhiana districts. These agents used to bring stolen vehicles to him for preparing the forged documents, which enabled them to sell the vehicles.
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Muktsar/Ferozepur, May 16
Excessive water flow in the Arniwala canal is giving sleepless nights to farmers. With its banks damaged near Rupana village on the Muktsar-Malout road, farmers fear that a breach may occur. The canal was breached because of heavy water flow a few years ago too, causing widespread damage. But the authorities seem to be paying little heed to the issue.
Faridkot/Muktsar, May 16
The Chairman of the National Commission on Agriculture, Dr MS Swaminathan, says that farmers should be allowed to sell their produce anywhere in the country without hindrance for better returns.
He was talking to mediapersons at the Market Committee office here today. Dr
Swaminathan, answering a query, said a national commission for farmers was a must to know the problems of farmers and recommend a solution to the problems.
Patiala, May 16
Pumps run dry
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh's move to support a complete Sikh marriage Act has sparked a major controversy with the SGPC, DSGMC and Sikh intellectuals taking a conflicting stand. They said amendments being made in the Anand Marriage Act 1909 should be allowed to be passed while a complete Act could follow later. However, the Jathedar has also found support from a section of the Sikh community.
With former foes turning friends, politics in Punjab is in a churn. Newly elected Congress leaders have given up their animosity towards the SAD and in some cases are working in tandem with the Akalis to ensure development of their constituencies.
The Planning Commission has decided to send a team of experts to Punjab to assess the extent of waterlogging and damage caused by it.