B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

SAD woos rural voters with welfare schemes
Fazilka June 16
Administering oath to the newly elected sarpanches and panches appears to be the strategy of the SAD-BJP alliance to prepare for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. It was evident from the visit of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to Fazilka district as he hastily announced welfare programmes for the rural areas in the presence of large gathering of the rural populace today.

Cong leaders to join SAD today
Muktsar, August 8
The Congress may suffer a major jolt in Muktsar assembly constituency as a number of ex-sarpanches along with other leaders, including the Youth Congress president of its Muktsar constituency, Gurveer Singh ‘Kaku’ Seerwali, are all set to join the SAD in the presence of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal tomorrow.

Cyclist hit by Sukhbir’s security convoy
Fazilka August 8
A cyclist, Kashmir Singh (45), a resident of village Shorewala, was hit by a pilot vehicle of the security convoy of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on the Fazilka-Ferozepur highway, some 12 km from here. The convoy was coming from Ferozepur to Fazilka where Sukhbir Badal landed in a chopper.

Farmers submit lists of demands to deputy commissioners
Moga, August 8
Various deputations of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union on Thursday submitted memorandums to the state government through the deputy commissioners at all the district headquarters demanding proper implementation of land reforms, compensation of Rs 2 lakh and a government job each to close relatives of the farmers who committed suicide, framing of special laws to check the exploitation of farmers at the hands of private money lenders, waiver of domestic bills of electricity of the poor landless farmers, special housing scheme for the poor and an end to the acquisition of agricultural land for setting up industries.

Two labourers killed in road mishap
Fazilka, August 8
Two labourers were killed in a road accident near Mandi Lakhuka in Fazilka district as the motorcycle which they were riding collided head on with a tractor-trolley. As per the available information, Balwinder Singh (27), a resident of village Behak Khas and Labh Singh (30), a resident of village Ghurka, were returning to their village on a bike at 8 pm on Wednesday.

SAD woos rural voters with welfare schemes
Oath administered to newly elected sarpanches & panches
Our Correspondent

Fazilka June 16
Administering oath to the newly elected sarpanches and panches appears to be the strategy of the SAD-BJP alliance to prepare for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. It was evident from the visit of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to Fazilka district as he hastily announced welfare programmes for the rural areas in the presence of large gathering of the rural populace today.

Sukhbir announced that 15 lakh more families of the state would be issued blue cards, more bicycles would be given to schoolgirls, Rs 1,700 crore would be earmarked for link roads, insurance cover would be provided to blue card holders for treatment in private hospitals, scholarship for poor students securing above 80 per cent marks, free higher education for 1.25 lakh families and RO systems for villages in Punjab.

But when mediapersons asked about the little progress made in development works for which foundation stones were laid by the present government, the Deputy Chief Minister defended the delay saying that it takes time for the projects to commence.

A piquant situation arose when local MLA and Cabinet Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani launched a scathing attack on the bureaucracy in Fazilka district. He alleged that the bureaucracy had become rusty and the Deputy Chief Minister needed to remove the rust.

When mediapersons persistently asked Sukhbir about the observation of Jyani, he told them to put the query to Jyani himself.

Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, instead of highlighting the development projects, heaped praises on Sukhbir and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Sukhbir also said he was not aware of the exorbitant fee hike in fee in medical colleges of the state.

BJP state president Kamal Sharma, Member of Parliament from Ferozepur Sher Singh Ghubaya, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mantar Singh Brar and Gurtej Singh Ghuriana also addressed the gathering. 

Cong leaders to join SAD today

Muktsar, August 8
The Congress may suffer a major jolt in Muktsar assembly constituency as a number of ex-sarpanches along with other leaders, including the Youth Congress president of its Muktsar constituency, Gurveer Singh ‘Kaku’ Seerwali, are all set to join the SAD in the presence of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal tomorrow.

SAD’s Muktsar constituency in-charge Kanwarjeet Singh Rozy Barkandi’ said, “As many as 13 Congress leaders, who always contested against the SAD candidates, are joining the party during the visit of the Deputy CM.” He said apart from Seerwali, ex-chairman, Block Samiti, Muktsar, Amritpal Singh, ex-sarpanch, Seerwali, Kulwamt Singh; general secretary, PPCC Kisan Cell, Gurdarshan Singh Jandoke, ex-sarpanch, Sakkanwali, Harmanjeet Singh, ex-sarpanch, Sakkanwali, Hardaljeet Singh, numberdar Seerwali, Dharam Singh, ex-sarpanch Jhabelwali, Ram Narayan Joshi, Congress in-charge Jhabelwali Dr Narinder Sharma, ex-sarpanch Randhawa, Shinderpal Singh, ex-sarpanch Budhimal, Mukhtiar Singh, ex-general secretary of the Youth Congress, Muktsar, Kulbir Singh Babbu besides Congress leader Shamsher Singh Udekaran are believed to be joining the SAD tomorrow. — TNS

Cyclist hit by Sukhbir’s security convoy

Fazilka August 8
A cyclist, Kashmir Singh (45), a resident of village Shorewala, was hit by a pilot vehicle of the security convoy of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on the Fazilka-Ferozepur highway, some 12 km from here. The convoy was coming from Ferozepur to Fazilka where Sukhbir Badal landed in a chopper.

As the convoy reached near Fazilka, the pilot vehicle hit Kashmir Singh. He was seriously injured and brought to Fazilka Civil Hospital. He suffered multiple fractures and was referred to the medical college at Faridkot for specialised treatment.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Charandev Singh Maan said a CT scan was conducted on the injured Kashmir Singh in Faridkot. "His condition is stable," claimed Maan. The Punjab Government would bear the entire expenses incurred on the treatment, added Maan. — OC

Farmers submit lists of demands to deputy commissioners
Tribune News Service

Moga, August 8
Various deputations of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union on Thursday submitted memorandums to the state government through the deputy commissioners at all the district headquarters demanding proper implementation of land reforms, compensation of Rs 2 lakh and a government job each to close relatives of the farmers who committed suicide, framing of special laws to check the exploitation of farmers at the hands of private money lenders, waiver of domestic bills of electricity of the poor landless farmers, special housing scheme for the poor and an end to the acquisition of agricultural land for setting up industries.

Sukhdev Singh Kokri, general secretary of the BKU, said the financial condition of the farmers, particularly the small and marginal farmers, was declining due to the high cost of inputs in the farm sector and the 'insensitive' attitude of the union and state governments.

Adding that the district units of the BKU had also given lists of farmers and landless labourers who had committed suicide in the past few years along with the charter of demands, Kokri said the government should immediately release monetary help to their families.

The BKU leader said the government should also immediately stop arresting the farmers who default in repaying the loans and also put a halt on auction of their land to recover the loans. 

Two labourers killed in road mishap
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, August 8
Two labourers were killed in a road accident near Mandi Lakhuka in Fazilka district as the motorcycle which they were riding collided head on with a tractor-trolley. As per the available information, Balwinder Singh (27), a resident of village Behak Khas and Labh Singh (30), a resident of village Ghurka, were returning to their village on a bike at 8 pm on Wednesday.

As they reached near the JJ Rice Sheller Industry on Noor Samand link road near Ladhuka Mandi, their bike collided head on with a tractor-trolley coming from the opposite direction. Both Balwinder Singh and Labh Singh fell in the fields and sustained fatal injuries on the head.

They were shifted to the local Civil Hospital where Labh Singh died after some time. Keeping in view the critical condition of Balwinder Singh, doctors referred him to the medical college at Faridkot but he succumbed to his injuries on the way to Faridkot.

The post-mortem examination of the deceased was conducted at the local Civil Hospital today in the afternoon.

The Fazilka police has booked the unidentified driver of the tractor-trolley under Section 304-A and 427 of the IPC.