The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Sukhbir unveils new ‘game plan’ Plans to hold Chief Minister’s Kabaddi Cup between civil & police officials Archit Watts Tribune News Service Doda (Muktsar), December 5 Elated over the success of World Cup Kabaddi for three years in a row, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds the sports portfolio, today announced that the state government would organize a Chief Minister's Kabaddi Cup between the teams of civil and police officials to promote this traditional sport further. Addressing a huge gathering in the jampacked stadium at Doda village in Gidderbaha assembly constituency, Sukhbir Badal said that to promote the traditional sport and educate the young generation about this traditional game of Punjab, the state government has decided to organize another kabaddi tournament before March 2013. He said matches in the Chief Minister's Kabaddi Cup would be played at the zonal level and officials in the rank of Inspector General (IG) would lead the police team while Divisional Commissioners would be the captains of the civil administration team. At the state level, the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Chief Secretary, Punjab, would lead their teams. Asked about the prize money, Sukhbir said the officials of the department were asked to chalk out the plan. "At the moment, I can only say that the Chief Minister's Kabaddi Cup will be appreciated by everyone, as it would motivate the officials to remain physically fit, especially the cops," said Sukhbir. He further hoped that the state government would make sincere efforts to take the sport to a new height and get it included in the Olympics. Talking about his plan to promote other traditional games besides kabaddi, Sukhbir said international tournaments of other games would also be organized in the near future as the state government was also contemplating the organizing of international events in tug-of-war and hockey in the next two years. "Under this unique programme, the state government has decided to organize a 'traditional wrestling tournament' between India, Pakistan and Iran," said Sukhbir, adding that the traditional wrestling in mud was still being played in Pakistan and Iran. "Pakistan Punjab's Chief Minister has already given his approval for this international event," claimed Sukhbir. Meanwhile, Kabaddi India is envisaging constituting an International Kabaddi Committee on the lines of other international acclaimed sports keeping in view the success of the third edition of the World Cup Kabaddi, stated Sikander Singh Maluka, senior vice-chairman of the World Cup and the president of Punjab Kabaddi Association. In a statement issued to the media, Maluka said India has sought suggestions from other kabaddi playing nations for the formation of this international committee. "The technical aspects like rules and regulations, code of ethics, gradation of coaches and umpires are being worked out by a technical sub-group," he said, adding that to match the international standard of other games, umpires from other nation have also been invited for umpiring in this World Cup Kabaddi. "Iran has responded to India's invitation and has sent two umpires. These two Iranian umpires are taking part in the ongoing tournament," said Maluka.
	Moga residents pay more for liquor at marriage palaces Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, December 5 To earn more profits through unfair trade practices in the ongoing marriage season, the liquor contractors, apparently in connivance with officials of the excise and taxation department in Moga district, are allegedly fleecing the consumers by charging 25 per cent extra on the liquor and beer being served in marriage palaces. The local officials of excise and taxation department, while issuing the permits to serve liquor in marriage palaces, ask the consumers to purchase liquor from particular vends located close to the venue of the marriage ceremony, which gives the liquor contractors an undue advantage. Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (AETC) Hardip Bhamra, while admitting that the liquor contractors were charging extra money for consumption in marriage palaces, said as per the excise policy, there was no binding on them with regard to the rates. "They are at liberty to charge any amount more than the minimum rates fixed under the excise policy," she said. At the same time, the AETC said since the marriage season is at its peak, she would call a meeting of the local contractors to persuade them not to charge more money for the consumption of liquor in marriage palaces. It may be mentioned that during the current year, the contractors had already made a steep hike of about 20 to 30 per cent in the rates of liquor as compared to the previous financial year. The 25 per cent hike in the price of liquor in marriage palaces is another burden on the consumers. All the groups that have been allotted licences for liquor vends in Moga were politically influential and are controlling the liquor business for the last many years. The locals allege that since the political and business stakes are high, the excise department seems to have no control on liquor vendors, which is evident from the higher rates for all the popular brands being charged by them for consumption in marriage palaces. Meanwhile, this correspondent visited various places in Moga city and other places in the district and found that a bottle of beer is being sold for Rs 90 to Rs 120 for both the light and strong brands even as the excise department has fixed the rates at Rs 70 and 75 for both the varieties. Investigations revealed that the contractors have pooled together at the district headquarters, which has resulted in a steep rise in prices. An insider in the excise department revealed that the officials normally allow them to pool so that the contractors do not suffer losses and revenue collections go on smoothly even as it is an illegal practice. The liquor vends in Moga district had been auctioned for Rs 89 crore for the year 2012-13 as compared to Rs 79.86 crore for the previous year with an estimated increase of 12 per cent.
	Police under attack at Sangat Darshan by Faridkot MLA Tribune News Service Faridkot, December 5 Taking a leaf out of the Punjab Chief Minister's book, Faridkot MLA Deep Malhotra has also jumped on to the Sangat Darshan bandwagon for on-the-spot redressal of public grievances. Earlier, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal have also held Sangat Darshan programmes. Since Sangat Darshan in Punjab is identified with Parkash Singh Badal, therefore in the belief that the CM himself was presiding over the public hearing, an elderly woman from Taamkot village of Muktsar also rushed to Faridkot to submit an application, demanding justice in a land dispute case. At the Sangat Darshan programme, organized at Darbar Ganj rest-house in Faridkot today, MLA Deep Malhotra, accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police, received many complaints in which the police was the main target for its alleged high-handedness and negligence. A teenaged girl made a complaint to the MLA of being harassed by a group of youths on way to her school daily. "My family made many complaints but nothing happened," alleged the girl. Some residents of Guru Nanak Colony submitted a complaint to the MLA about the increased incidents of snatching and loot in their locality. "There have been 17 incidents of snatching and loot in our locality but the police could not crack even a single case. Inaction on the part of the police has failed to bring about a deterrent effect," alleged the residents. Reacting to these charges, Faridkot SSP GS Toor said many of these cases had already been solved. The police is working on the other cases, he said. The other complaints at the Sangat Darshan related to drinking water, sewerage, garbage, poor condition of roads and irrigation facilities. Hoping for justice, even a delegation of teachers of an Adarsh Senior Secondary School in Faridkot submitted a complaint to the MLA, alleging harassment by the school management. "We are getting 70 per cent of our salary but we are forced to give receipt for the full salary," alleged the teachers. Deep Malhotra, MLA, said over 150 applications were received and 40 of them were disposed of on the spot while the others have been marked to the departments concerned.
	Traffic bottlenecks plague Fazilka Our Correspondent Fazilka, December 5 After the construction of a road overbridge (ROB) on Malout Chowk two years back, vehicular traffic has been diverted to the court road railway crossing in the heart of the town. The court road railway crossing has become a traffic bottleneck as about two dozen trains pass through it in a day. This causes great inconvenience to the commuters as they have to wait for a long time at the crossing. Long queues can be witnessed. The offices of the District Education Officer, Development and Panchayat Officer, two senior secondary schools and three residential colonies are situated across the railway crossing. Hence, hundreds have to cross daily. On the left side of the crossing, a huge plot belonging to the railway has been lying unused and it has been turned into a garbage dumping ground. The vehicle owners and residents have demanded that the unused space should be thrown open for the commuters and vehicle owners by removing the railing installed around the plot so that they could wait there when the trains cross. This would ease the traffic problem. Moreover, the railway could get rid of the heaps of garbage dumped there. Station Superintendent, Fazilka, Ashok Setia said he has already written to the higher authorities seeking permission. As soon as clearance is received, the railing would be removed, added Setia.
	Excise officials conduct raid Our Correspondent Abohar, December 5 A team of the excise and taxation department led by inspector Amit Charaya raided the railway station complex here after the arrival of Udyan Abha Tooofan Express train and seized 51 cartons of footwear that were purchased from New Delhi without paying taxes, sources said. Notably, the government had withdrawn the enhancement in VAT on footwear but the officials suspected that the evasion remained unchecked.