Bathinda, March 6
With the introduction of the None Of The Above (NOTA) option in the coming Lok Sabha elections, the city residents, especially the young voters, have hailed the introduction of the new feature added by the Election Commission.

While some people appreciate the move which has empowered the electorate, others differ saying this time, they have more options in terms of different parties as compared to the previous Lok Sabha elections, especially in the Bathinda parliamentary constituency. Such people agree that the right to vote should be used judiciously to help in forming the next government, instead of using the NOTA button.

Despite a low turnout of people using this option during the recently conducted assembly elections in five states, the city residents term the introduction of NOTA as an effective measure taken to bring quality’ candidates in fray.

The option, they said, would go a long way in building an opinion among the masses regarding not voting for any of the candidates. “With the awareness spreading about NOTA, it will force the political parties to give party ticket to a candidate who has the ability to bring about a change in the present corrupt system,” said Barinder Singh, a city-based transporter.

He said if used properly, the new system may affect the present political scenario by providing for the rejection of all the candidates in the poll fray.

While there is another section of people that expresses little faith in NOTA and says that those who do not wish to vote for anyone should never visit the polling booths. “The need of the hour is to sensitise such people about the importance of NOTA. Though this time, expecting a triangular contest, people do have more options as compared to last Lok Sabha elections, especially in Bathinda,” said Varinder Kaur, a lecturer.

She added that people should not think that if they use NOTA, then their vote will not be counted. “It will surely send a strong signal to force the people in the system to think about the existing political system and to register the electorate’s resentment for mending the ways of the political parties,” she said.

Pardeep Goyal, an RTI activist: Introduction of NOTA in the coming Lok Sabha elections is the need of the hour, as those who refuse to accept any of the candidates as fit to be elected also have the choice to reject. Earlier, people did not have the option to cast their vote in favor of someone or the choice of not voting at all.

Ashwini Kumar, share broker: With the introduction of the NOTA button, people now have got the powers of democracy wherein a voter has all the rights, including rejection of the candidates contesting a particular election. The rise in the number of people using the NOTA will make the voice against corruption heard. A majority of such people would show resentment against the system.

Pallavi Harry, MBA student: This is indeed an option worth trying for the electorate. Though there is still a lot to be done to make the people aware about the importance of NOTA, it surely has the capability to shake the present political system. The only point is its proper use. If people come forward to use this option in large numbers, then a consensus could be built against the corrupt.

Hitwaan Singh, a mobile phone shop owner: People would surely use this option, provided for the first time by the Election Commission. It is surely going to affect the present political system. Unlike earlier, when people thought of wasting their vote by not casting it, the option has given voters a choice of expressing their dislike for all the candidates. 

Amritsar, March 6
While emphasising on the need for crop diversification, various agriculture experts today opined that the farmers should use modern techniques in order to increase their farm produce and profits rather than unnecessary use of chemical fertilisers.

The experts were speaking during the Regional Kisan Mela held at Naagkalan-Jahanjir village, near Majitha. The mela was organised by Krishi Vidyan Kendra in association with Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana.

The main topics discussed at the Kisan Mela were to reduce expenditure on unnecessary chemicals, increase profits and save the environment.

Dr Amarjit Singh Khehra, former Vice-Chancellor of the PAU, was the chief guest on the occasion. While addressing farmers, he said they should be a part of the diversification by sowing pulses and vegetables. This would also help in conserving the land and environment, besides enhancing their income. He also encouraged them to increase the land under horticulture in order to double their profits.

Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor of the PAU, said the farming community should adopt new farm techniques. He said the right knowledge and use of new scientific techniques could help them in increasing their profits. He also advocated the adoption of other agriculture-based associated business.

During a technical session organised during the programme, various agricultural experts said only 1.5 per cent area in Punjab under horticulture was very less. They said the farmers should use chemical fertilizers and pesticides only when it was required. They also opined that the farmers should get their land examined from time to time in order to make judicious use of fertilisers.

An agro-industrial exhibition was also organised by different departments and private agro-chemical organisations. Good quality seed of kharif crops, besides farm literature was also sold in the mela.

Bathinda, March 6
While the state government reportedly plans to introduce yellow or orange beacons to ‘accommodate’ loyal officials and political leaders, local officials have simply not obeyed the guidelines.

Be it the senior most administrative officials in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, the SSPs/IGs, judicial officers or the political leaders, they are all going on with their business as usual.

The beacons with flashers, in vogue in the city, could be seen fitted atop the official vehicles of the Deputy Commissioner, the SSP, District and Sessions Judge and many other officers.

This despite the fresh notification by the Punjab Government, which prunes the list of the people authorised to use the red beacon to 20.

As per the instructions, issued by the State Transport Secretary, State Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, former chief ministers, State Assembly Speaker, leader of the opposition and vice-chairman of the State Planning Board are allowed to use red beacons with flasher. State Election Commissioner, Accountant Generals, Deputy Speaker and the Director General of Police are in the list of those who could use red beacons without a flasher.

While almost all the officials of Patiala, including the SSP, the DC and the Divisional Commissioner having removed the red beacons from their official vehicles three days ago, it is yet to be replicated in Bathinda.

As per a government official in Patiala, red beacons are now fitted only on the pilot Gypsies of a few of these officials and others have followed the recent guidelines in this regard.

Despite instructions to impound all those vehicles which are not authorised to use the red or blue beacons, these could be seen roaming on the city roads and on the outskirts with sirens.

“It is embarrassing to see the senior most officials and leaders who are still stumbling in the false pride of using the beacons to alienate themselves from the Aam Admi (common man),” said a local lawyer, Rahul Jhumba.

People of such stature should not indulge in false pride or show and should have set an example for the others too. “If the senior most officials do not remove the beacon from their vehicles, then how a sense of honesty would be instilled in the others,” Jhumba said.

He pointed out that when the officials of the other districts can remove the beacons from their vehicles then what is the point to carry on the unauthorised act in Bathinda.

City traffic in-charge Paramjit Singh, when contacted, said he has not yet ‘received’ a copy of fresh notification as of now. “I will receive the copy by Monday and take up the matter with the senior officials in this regard,” Paramjit Singh said.

Bathinda, March 6
Members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), including the government doctors, today expressed their solidarity with the doctors at Kanpur who were manhandled by politicians.

The doctors gathered around at the local Civil Hospital. They raised slogans against the Kanpur SSP and the MLA demanding immediate suspension of the SSP and strict action against him.

The doctors marched to the office of the Deputy Commissioner and submitted a memorandum.

The IMA doctors said the Kanpur police have wrongfully booked students and even professors of GVSM Medical College, Kanpur. They said instead of filing cases of criminal intimidation, criminal assault, rioting, attempt to murder, trespass, destruction of property and damage to hospital property under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code and Hospital Protection Act, the Kanpur police have filed false cases against over two dozen medical students.

Several branches of the IMA have sent letters of their concern over the Kanpur incident to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. The letters have also been posted for judicial intervention into the matter to seek justice. Earlier, the doctors decided to hold a strike by closing the OPD. However, the move was cancelled on the directions of the national unit of the IMA.

Bathinda, March 6
The Medical Practitioners’ Association today decided to propagate against the SAD candidate and incumbent Member of Parliament from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing mediapersons here today, the president of the association Ramesh Bali said the association will burn effigies of the state government at all district headquarters.

The members of the association are irate over the government for not yielding to their demands and resorting to use of force for dispelling the agitating association members.

They claimed that the association members provide medical healthcare even in remote areas where the government doctors are either unwilling to go or do not work if posted in the interior pockets of the state.

They added that the government had made certain promises and none of it was fulfilled. The association is demanding that those registered medical practitioners be allowed to work in Punjab who have more than 20 years of experience.

They also demand that medical practitioners from other states should be allowed to migrate and work as is the case in Bihar. They demanded that the RMPs be given some refresher course or bridge course to make them more capable of treating people. 

Bathinda, March 6
Students of Guru Kashi University (GKU) won various prizes at the two-day technical fest. The fest was held at Swami Vivekananda Institute of Engineering and Technology (SVIET). Students from various colleges of the north zone participated in the tech-fest. Students from the GGSCET, a constituent college of the GKU, participated in technically strongest robot war, business idea presentation— innovations, face painting, treasure hunt and technical advertisement show.

In robot war, the team of Ankit Anand Jha, Yuvraj Singh and Danish Anwar bagged the second position. In business idea presentation-innovation, Ankit Jha and Danish Anwar secured the third position. In face painting, Maninder Singh and Sandeep Singh won the second position and in technical advertisement show, Mandeep Singh, Sandeep Singh and Sunny secured the second position. — TNS

Bathinda, March 6
11-year-old Krishna Goyal, a student of class V at St Joseph's Convent School, secured 100 marks in the General Knowledge Olympiad test, which was held by an NGO, the Silverzone Foundation.

Goyal is among the few students who have secured 100 marks out of 100, winning the gold medal. He has earlier scored a bronze and a gold while in class IV and V, respectively.

The son of a businessman, Prem Bhushan and Nisha, Krishna is fond of reading books and newspapers and spends his time making notes of the current affairs, when free from studies. “I love to know about things around me,” says Krishna who keeps asking questions and finds answers by reading or watching TV. Unlike children of his age, Krishna watches news instead of cartoon channels. 

Bathinda, March 6
Manpreet Kaur and Arshdeep Singh Gill were adjudged the best female and male athletes, respectively, during the two-day annual athletics meet, held at Baba Farid College of Engineering and Technology (BFCET).

The ECE branch bagged the overall trophy. Principal, BFCET, Manish Goyal, welcomed the chief guest, chairman of the BFGI, Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal, at the inaugural session. The event began with the unfurling of the college flag followed by a march past by teams of all departments. 

During the meet, students of various departments of engineering participated in the track and field events such as races, shotput, discus throw, long jump, javelin throw etc. Tug of war was also organised for the boys. The faculty of the BFCET also participated in 100m race and tug of war competition.