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Increase in municipal limits to benefit land mafia: Cong
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Jassi flays delay in councillor’s oath-taking
on a different pitch
Star-struck at the mall
Ex-MLA sweeps party men off their feet, dons a new look
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Increase in municipal limits to benefit land mafia: Cong
Bathinda, July 10 While the MC projects house tax as a source of income, the Punjab government has currently exempted this tax in the state. The corporation also claims to collect house tax from Silver Oaks School and Sanawar School, which would now fall under the MC limits. However, the house tax committee of the corporation has been unable to collect taxes from some of the prominent schools in the city. Two big schools in the city have house tax of more than `40 lakhs outstanding. “When the corporation has not been able to collect tax from these big-wigs, how will it collect taxes from the other two schools?” pointed out Congress councillor, Jagrup Singh Gill, who was a member of the sub-committee constituted to discuss delimitation of the city. As per the resolution passed, the city limits have been extended beyond Bibiwala Chowk, covering Silver Oaks Colony, Silver Oaks School and Jugraj Marriage Palace. The area starting from Gillpatti to Sivian along the proposed Ring Road, till the Ferozepur railway line, to the old MC limit, on to Behman distributary, along the distributary to kacha road, from kacha road to Ring Road, Ring Road to Sirhind Canal, Sirhind Canal to the boundary of Bir Talab, Bir Talab boundary to Bir Road, Bir Road to Ring Road, Ring Road to Badal Road and from Badal Road to the old MC limit, have also been included. On Malout Road, besides the Sanawar School, a petrol pump and Kingfisher Marriage Palace too would now be within the MC limits. Similarly, on Multania road, a petrol pump, Virat Greens, Skyland Marriage Palace and small industrial units near the Bir Talab medicines and shops would also come under the MC limits. It has also been decided that a 300-feet area on either side of the Malout road would be included in the MC limit. “On the scheduled road, out of MC limits, a 100-feet area is to be left on either side of the road. This figure shrinks to 16.5 feet within MC limits. Fixing the limit at 300 feet would make people sell their properties at throwaway prices and land grabbers will rule the roost,” added another Congress man.
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Today is World
population day
Bathinda, July 10 This has come to the fore on the eve of the World Population Day, the theme for which this year is ‘Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services’. While the government is increasing access to reproductive health services and providing free contraceptive methods, there are few or no takers for it. Dr Dheera Gupta, a gynaecologist at the Government Women and Child Hospital, Bathinda, says she has been getting cases wherein women refuse to use contraceptive devices but pour in for abortions after regular intervals. “Women have simply got no right to decide what kind of contraceptive would be good for their health. At the time of caesarean sections, we ask women if the intrauterine device (IUD) should be slipped in as they are under the influence of anaesthesia. Ninety-nine per cent of the women refuse and then come to us in the third month seeking abortion of unwanted pregnancy,” Dr Dheera added. Last month, the Civil Hospital registered the birth of the third, fifth, sixth and seventh child in families. Dr Dheera said most of the women were victims of strong belief systems and indecisiveness that made them go for repeated abortions but prohibited the use of contraceptives. It has been observed that educated newly-wed couples plan to start their families late, but do not have enough awareness and knowledge of the methods of contraception. “I don’t conceive in the first year of my marriage and hence, I have started using contraceptives, but on the sly. When I spoke to my husband, he could not understand much of what I was saying. He directed me to my mother-in-law who warned me against using any contraceptive. At last, I decided to go my own way and bought contraceptive pills,” confided a newly-married woman, on the condition of anonymity.
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Jassi flays delay in councillor’s oath-taking
Bathinda, July 10 The MLA, accompanied by municipal councillors and local Congress leaders, interacted with the media and highlighted the “sorry state of affairs” of the Municipal Corporation. District Congress president Ashok Kumar, delegate PPCC KK Aggarwal, senior Congress leader and municipal councillor Jagrup Singh Gill, block president Mohan Lal, Suresh Bansal, councillors Rajan Garg, Iqbal Dhillon and general secretary Rupinder Bindra were among those present during the interaction. The Congress leaders refuted the tall claims of the corporation by saying hardly any work had been done to provide basic amenities to the local residents. Jassi added that the leaders of the SAD-BJP alliance failed to adopt any proactive approach to develop the city and had, instead, been looting the city residents with both hands to fill their own pockets. “The corporation tried to put burden on the poor workers by forcing them to undergo the licensing process before starting any commercial activity. This included the barbers, washerman, cobblers and others. The agenda was not passed in the House meeting after councillors Jagrup Singh Gill and Rajan Garg raised a hue and cry over it,” Jassi said. Jassi warned the ruling party that the Congress would oppose such an agenda in future as well. He also accused the Punjab government of delaying the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected councillor Iqbal Singh Dhillon. “The delay has cost him his right to being a councillor,” he said. Jassi also alleged that this was for the first time that two persons — Mayor Baljeet Singh Beerbehman and Bathinda MLA Sarup Chand Singla — presided over the House. Jassi also accused the corporation of selling land worth nearly `132 crore to benefit certain businessmen. The Congress leaders also accused the corporation of removing the hutments of the poor from Prajapat Colony at the behest of certain sections in the city. Out of 85 parks in the city, encroachments from 38 to 40 parks are yet to be removed by the corporation, Jassi alleged. Newly-elected councillor, Iqbal Singh Dhillon, threatened to move the High Court over the delay in his oath-taking ceremony despite being elected by the people in the by-election.
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Cancer has made Yuvraj the man I always wanted him to be, says Yograj
Nikhila Pant Dhawan Tribune News Service
Bathinda, july 10 Talking about Yuvraj’s miraculous recovery from cancer, he said, “When a person goes wayward, God has his own ways of pulling him up and putting him back on the right track. This has happened with Yuvraj. Cancer has made him the man I always wanted him to be. I wanted him to value what he has got and to be thankfull to the Almighty. He is all that much more now.” “He values life and all that he has achieved more than earlier as he has had a near death experience. He says that he went a little too close to God and then came back. I wanted him to be humble and he has developed that quality now,” he added. Unfazed by being asked questions about Yuvraj wherever he goes, he said, “Mera kuchh nahi lagta vo. He belongs first to the country, then the world and then to his family, to me. I have three more children, Zorawar Singh, Victor Yograj Singh and my daughter, but Yuvraj is spoken about all the time because he is the eldest and also a star cricketer and now, a cancer survivor as well.” “I don’t have a problem with being asked questions about my personal life or my son. My life has been like an open book. I may have done or said wrong things, but then I believe in confessing that I was wrong. I openly talk about my mistakes and want others to learn from my experience and change their way of living.” “People like to point at my personal life and my broken family. I don’t mind it at all since I may have been at mistake too. But then, show me a person who has never done any wrong and I will worship him,” he added. When asked about his family, he insisted that he still laid down the rules and the family lived by them. "The females of my home don’t go to kitty parties, they don’t dance with strangers. You may say that I have an orthodox way of thinking but I stand by it.” “At the same time, I would like to clarify that I give equal importance to my daughter and would make sure that she has a standing of her own when she gets married so that she doesn’t have to be dependent on her husband. My daughter is growing up to be a strong woman,” he added. Talking about acting in Punjabi films after a gap of nine long years, he said, “For me, my pride comes first. Others may not complain, but I have a problem with the way actors are treated in this industry. I am not the kind of person who would dig in his heels and would struggle at the cost of his self-respect. I prefer to work with those who respect me.” Yograj will be seen in Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra’s Bollywood film, “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”, in which he coaches Milkha Singh, being played by Farhan Akhtar. Talking about the difference between the Hindi and Punjabi film industries, he said, “The difference between the two industries is the same as the difference between a horse and a donkey. But now, things are changing. With increasing budget, the Punjabi films are changing and ushering in a new era.”
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Star-struck at the mall
Bathinda, July 10 As the DJ started churning out the songs from the film, the crowd got a whiff of what was going to happen. Soon, the lead cast of the film arrived and the crowd gathered at all the three floors of the mall. As actor Yograj Singh blew a loud whistle, there was almost pindrop silence in the mall. Introducing the actors, Yograj said, "Bathinda has given us immense love and respect and that's why we are here today." Actor Rajwinder Sumal said, "It is because of the love of the audience that the Punjabi film industry has achieved a high standard. Earlier, Punjabi film producers had to wait for a low phase in Bollywood to release their films to avoid competition. But now, we release our films alongside the big Bollywood films and we still do very well. That speaks volumes about the popularity of Punjabi films." Debutant Rishita Monga had the crowd's heart beating as she danced to the title track of the film. She said that since this was her first film, she wanted everyone to see her work and appreciate it. Speaking to Bathinda Tribune, she said, "I am a Delhi girl and I had auditioned for the film and landed the role. I am a Punjabi and am proud to have begun my career with a Punjabi film." Talking about the high expectations of the audience from the film, since its first part, starring Jimmy Shergill and Juhi Babbar, was a mega hit, Rajwinder said, "We have tried to give our best to the film. But no two films or actors are the same and we are hoping that people will look at this from a fresh perspective." When Yograj was asked to give his wishes to the ailing Dara Singh, he said, "We have a wrong perception that people die. They actually go and become one with God. Dara Singhji has lived a happy and contented life. Professionally too, he has achieved a lot. One should live his life in "chardi kalan" and leave the world when the time nears."
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Ex-MLA sweeps party men off their feet, dons a new look
Bathinda, July 10 Some present on the spot wondered whether it was the summer heat or the heat generated in the wake of some crucial dcisions taken by the Municipal Corporation Bathinda, which his party, the Congress had not liked, that forced Jassi to take recourse to the protective headgear. It may also be mentioned that the former MLA has been spending too much time of late sitting on dharnas under the hot sun. And probably decided that he needed the cooling effect provided by the turban. The option was the coolest one for him, in this case. However, the sight of the turban made the party workers and the scribes present cast a bemused look at the ex-MLA. Its colour, light saffron, closer to his political rivals, may have added to the mystery. People sitting in the hotel, the venue of the press conference, took a while to recognise the former MLA as he entered. The scribes and some Congress workers were taken aback when they saw Jassi with the headgear on. Denying that there was more to it than meets the eye, Jassi replied in jest that it was because of the receding hairline, due to old age, that he had started wearing the turban. He said he would continue to wear the turban in future as well and make it a regular feature of his sartorial sense. When asked how he felt after wearing the turban, he said there were a few teething troubles and jocularly added that he was now not able to talk on mobile phones or hear noises clearly. "But I will catch up with it soon," he said with a smile. He added that he takes away the turban only in the evening and tries to wear it the entire day.
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The city’s municipal limits, it seems, have been increased to benefit the ruling party’s leaders and property dealers.
Women in the city, educated or otherwise, have no right and control over their fertility. It is the husbands and mothers-in-law that decide whether the woman in the house should conceive or not.
Bathinda, july 10
