Ludhiana, March 14
Visitors to the Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University have complained the arrangements at the counters selling seeds were poor. The number of counters was fewer compared to the large number of buyers.

Waiting at the seed stalls since early morning, many farmers accused those manning the counters of bias. They alleged certain buyers with “links” were given preferential treatment at the sale counters.

“The PAU should have set up more counters for selling its products,” said the farmers.

Ludhiana, March 14
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, inaugurated its 16th Pashu Palan Mela here today. Dr GS Kalkat, chairman, Punjab State Farmers Commission, inaugurated the mela.

While inaugurating the mela, Kalkat said livestock professions are emerging as noted career options nowadays. A number of farmers are diverting towards dairy, poultry and fisheries.

Dr BS Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, was the guest of honour on the occasion.

Dr VK Taneja, Vice-Chancellor, GADVASU, said diversification within the livestock professions is also the need of the hour. “Not only dairy farming but fisheries, poultry, piggery and goat farming are the fine diversification options in livestock. Value addition of products may diversify these professions into a different mode. We are exploring new avenues in livestock professions as of now,” said Taneja.

On the occasion, GADVASU showcased all the research, education and extension programmes for the benefit of livestock farmers.

The mela, taking place twice a year in March and September, brings along a wider scope in the agricultural field and positivity among farmers. The two-day event, being held at the Mela ground of GADVASU, provide a platform for farmers, scientists, extension workers, dairy officers, fodder and fisheries officers, various veterinary pharmaceuticals and agri-business firms and banking sectors for showcasing their experience and information about the latest knowledge, technologies and schemes in the livestock sector.

Dr RS Sahota, director of extension education, said a large number of visitors enquired about the training programmes.

Various vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies such as sweet and salted lassi, flavoured milk, yoghurt, sweets, whey drink, paneer, milk cake, dhoda barfi, meat patties and different types of meat pickles, prepared by the College of Dairy Science and Technology and the Department of Livestock Products Technology, were available for sale.

Ludhiana, March 14
It was not less than homecoming for HS Phoolka, Lok Sabha candidate from Aam Aadmi Party, who spent his whole day at the Kisan Mela and interacted with farmers, scientists, students and entrepreneurs during his visit here.

Phoolka, along with his supporters, visited most of the stalls set up by private entrepreneurs, farmers and the PAU.

After having his lunch at a dhaba of Giani Sarlochan Singh on the PAU campus, he visited the stalls of international tractor manufacturers and asked the prices of tractors. The supporters of HS Phoolka distributed pamphlets and stickers among the masses.

While visiting the stalls set up by the PAU faculty, Phoolka remembered his teachers, batch mates and the days which he spent at the university while pursuing BSc, Agricultural. The students associated with the PAU Students Association also accompanied Phoolka during his visit.

Some of the critics of the Aam Aadmi Party asked questions from the supporters of Phoolka regarding the ideology and principals of the AAP.

Earlier, the local unit of the Aam Aadmi Party organised a free medical camp outside Gate No. 2 of the Punjab Agricultural University for farmers visiting the university on the occasion of Kisan Mela. Doctors of the city provided free check-up and consultation services to a large number of farmers who visited the camp. The doctors also apprised the farmers of general benefits of maintaining good hygiene and health.

Phoolka expressed regret on the lack of government provided medical facilities, especially in villages. He urged the doctors to regularly hold such free check-up camps at their own initiative so that medical facilities could reach one and all.

Ludhiana, March 14
A team of the Building Branch of the Municipal Corporation today sealed a commercial building near Prince Hostel in the posh Green Park Colony for violations of the building bylaws.

Assistant Town Planner (Zone D) Rajinder Sharma, who led the operation, said a portion of the residential house had been converted into an ice cream parlour. The alteration had been carried out without getting any building plan approved and the change of land use (from residential to commercial).

Sharma said a show-cause notice had been issued to the owner of the building and some portion of the shop was also demolished. “Since the owner of the building did not desist from carrying out commercial activity and had also failed to demolish the illegal construction on his own, the premises have been sealed,” he said.

A show-cause notice had also been issued to the management of Sacred Heart Convent School in Sarabha Nagar for the violation of building bylaws. Sharma said the Building Branch staff had conducted an inspection of the school building during which deviations from the approved building plan had been detected.

“A show-cause notice has been served on the school authorities and necessary follow-up action will be taken,” he added.

Ludhiana, March 14
Is the Ludhiana unit of the Congress putting up a united front for the coming Lok Sabha elections? Ludhiana West Congress legislator Bharat Bhushan Ashu, whose differences with Congress Member Parliament (MP) Manish Tewari are an open secret, today issued a joint statement praising Tewari.

He, along with other Congress leaders, praised Tewari for the projects and funds he got for the Ludhiana constituency. Ashu and other leaders also claimed that Tewari would double his victory margin in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as compared to the 2009 polls.

Ashu had hitherto avoided issuing joint statements, particularly those related to Tewari. He had also avoided attending the programmes chaired by Tewari. He had even skipped the inauguration of Ludhiana FM last year. While giving a miss to the inaugural function of Ludhiana FM, he blamed Tewari for making no efforts to resolve the internal differences in the party in Ludhiana.

Tewari’s proximity to District Congress Committee Ludhiana (Urban) chief Pawan Dewan has been a contentious issue between the MP and the MLA (Member of Legislative Party). Ashu and Dewan’s competing ambitions have often led Ashu to express his discontent with the party leadership in the district.

However, today Ashu, while talking to The Tribune, said the party would forget all differences to give a united fight to other candidates. “The differences can wait till May 16 (the poll results will be declared on this date). We will try to resolve the differences after May 16,” he said.

Ashu’s statement comes at the time when speculations over his closeness to an MLA, who is also in the fray, are rife in political circles.

Ludhiana, March 14
Ludhiana Congress leaders today had a dig at Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for repeating his claims of changing the face of Ludhiana in another two years, which they said had never come and would never ever come in future as he was habitual of trying to befool the people all the time.

“Sukhbir Badal has been parroting it for the past seven years and must have said it more than 70 times that he will change the face of Ludhiana,” the Congress leaders said in a joint statement.

They said it had now become a public belief that he (Sukhbir) was trying to sell false dreams to the people of Ludhiana without a shade of intention of actually doing anything.

“You can't befool the people all the time,” they cautioned Sukhbir.

Today also while addressing a rally in the favour of Manpreet Singh Ayali, Lok Sabha candidate for SAD-BJP alliance from Ludhiana, on Malhar Road, Sukhbir Badal said he would change the city in the next two years.

In a joint statement, the party leaders, including Rakesh Pandey, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Surinder Dawer (all MLAs), Milkiat Singh Dakha, Isher Singh Meharban, Jassi Khangura (former MLAs), Gurmail Pehalwan and Ashok Pappi Prashar, said here today the step-motherly treatment meted out to Ludhiana by the Akali-BJP Government would massively reflect in the elections and the Akali candidate, Manpreet Ayali, would not even be able to save his security deposit.

The Congress leaders reminded Sukhbir that when his party contested elections in 2007, he had promised to make Ludhiana like Paris. “But what we saw potholed roads, damaged drains, lack of electricity and spurt in crime,” they said, adding that rather the Akali government was robbing Ludhiana of its resources by diverting the money collected from here to Bathinda.

Asking the Deputy Chief Minister to stop day dreaming about winning Ludhiana, they said: “Leave aside winning Ludhiana, just beware whether your candidate can even manage a lead in his home assembly segment of Dakha”.

Having a dig at Sukhbir for praising Ayali for being declared as the best Zila Parishad chief, they said: "Ayali actually turned out to be Dakha Nagar Council chief as he could not look beyond that place”.

They said Ayali robbed other places in Ludhiana to spend money in Dakha, and now the people from these areas were ready to teach him a lesson for this act of fraud and cheating with them.

The leaders said the people of Ludhiana were grateful to Tewari for various Central projects and funds he got for the city.

They said this was the reason that Tewari was going to at least double his victory margin this time over 2009.

Ludhiana, March 14
Irate shopkeepers of the Gian Singh Rarewala Market on Link Road today held a black flag demonstration against what they termed as highhandedness of the municipal corporation. They also announced to boycott the coming Lok Sabha elections in protest against the uncooperative attitude of the leaders of all political parties.

The shopkeepers of more than 60 shops in the market have raised the banner of revolt against the civic body and the political leadership against barricades that have been put up some 80ft wide pavement in front of the market that was being used for the parking of vehicles by the shopkeepers, customers and other visitors to the market.

Amarjit Tikka, Des Raj and Ranjit Singh, functionaries of the Gian Singh Rarewala Market Association, said the Tehbazari Wing of the MC had erected barricades all around the pavement in front of the market to block the entry of vehicles, which was totally unwarranted.

Claiming that the part of the pavement, which stood barricaded now, was shown as parking space for the shopkeepers in the layout plan, they said the lack of parking space for vehicles, both for the shopkeepers and the customers, had adverse impact on the business.

Justifying their decision to boycott the Lok Sabha elections, the shopkeepers said senior leaders of all political parties, including SAD-BJP candidate for the Lok Sabha elections Manpreet Singh Ayali and area councillor Simarjit Singh Bains, visited the market and promised to redress the problem of the shopkeepers. “But none of them bothered to take any follow-up action till now,” Tikka said.

The shopkeepers said the MC action to erect permanent barricades was uncalled for in the wake of the car bazaar operators, who used to park vehicles offered for sale on the pavement, having already shifted elsewhere.

An MC official said the shopkeepers of the market were in the habit encroaching upon the pavement by parking their vehicles and causing inconvenience to pedestrians.

“Since explicit directions and show-cause notices issued to the shopkeepers had failed to get the desired results, the MC was left with no other option but to erect barricades to block the entry and parking of vehicles to the pavement.”

The official, however, said the claim of the shopkeepers that the part of the pavement was shown as the parking area in the layout plan was being verified and corrective action, if required, would be taken accordingly.

Ludhiana, March 14
Following strict instructions by the District Administration, illegal hoardings, banners and posters belonging to various political parties have been removed by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation.

Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said since the model code of conduct had been imposed, no illegal hoardings, banners or posters belonging to the political parties would be tolerated.

A few days ago, the Deputy Commissioner came to know about the illegal political hoardings dotting various parts of the city. Taking a serious note of the same, he directed the municipal corporation to remove the illegal hoardings and posters immediately. As a result, a drive was initiated by the municipal corporation in the four zones of the city and hoardings were removed.

The Deputy Commissioner said even the owners of printing press would follow the instructions given by the Election Commission.

Telling about the instructions, Aggarwal said no political material would be published without the name of the printing press.

He said the owner of the printing press would print the political material only after taking an affidavit from the person concerned, which will be certified by two persons known to him.

Aggarwal said the information of the printed material should also be given to the municipal corporation through an email, www.mcmcludhiana@gmail.com, and the attested copy of the same would be sent to the office of the Deputy Commissioner. 

Ludhiana, March 14
Nearly 2,500 Class IV employees of the Municipal Corporation's (MC) Horticulture Wing have announced to stage a dharna at the MC headquarters at Mata Rani Chowk from March 18 against the non-payment of salaries.

An emergent meeting of the Municipal Workers Union, affiliated to the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, held under the presidentship of Gurbaksh Rai here today, criticised the MC Administration for its persistent failure to pay salaries to the Class IV employees, including gardeners and beldars, on time.

Bhagirath Paliwal, district president of the union, said thousands of poor employees were made to suffer due to delay in the payment of salaries, which had now become a routine practise.

“Class IV employees of the Horticulture Wing get their salaries almost by the end of the month, which causes a lot of hardship to them and their family members,” he said.

Functionaries of the union said uniforms were not provided to the staff for the past one and a half years and several cases of recruitment on compassionate grounds were also hanging fire for a long time.

MC Additional Commissioner Sumit Jarangal, who heads the accounts branch, termed the resentment among the employees as genuine. “Their protest is well intended but the payment of salaries had been delayed because the state government had not so far released the 4th instalment of share from VAT,” he said.

He said steps were being taken to make the payment of salaries by Tuesday.

Sahnewal, March 14
The residents and the passengers travelling from Sahnewal resent less number of trains halting at the station. 15 years ago almost every train used to halt at the Sahnewal station. Now, only three trains stop at the station.

Various organisations and associations of the area have written to the railway authorities a number of times pleading for more trains. Professionals, businessmen, and students working or studying in Ludhiana or surrounding areas, have now chosen this town as their permanent residence.

In a letter written to the general manager, Northern Railways, the residents have requested that there should be at least six halts for trains at Sahnewal. In addition to it, one DMU/EMU service should be introduced between Ludhiana-Chandigarh which should leave Ludhiana in morning and return back in the evening so that residents may be able to get the benefit from this new rail link.

Sanjeev Verma, president, Young Citizens Association, Sahnewal, said “The town is expanding day by day. Population and pollution in Ludhiana is rising at a tremendous pace. People working in Ludhiana or its periphery have permanently shifted to the town which serves as a major link to all the surrounding cities and also serves as a respite from the humdrum of the city. Hence, the demand for train travel has increased”.

A social worker of the area Harbans Singh Bains said “I don’t understand why the railway authorities fail to understand that by increasing the number of trains at Sahnewal, the railway economy can be given a definite boost. The number of passengers, preferring an easy comfortable journey is increasing. Moreover, it is a cheap mode of travel and fit for all weather conditions. So Sahnewal should be given more trains, a demand, which has not been materialise even after repeated requests.”

Sampooran Singh, advisor, Young Citizens Association said “Not more than two to three trains stop and that too with no reliability of time. When the train from Ludhiana to Chandigarh started, we had made a number of requests to the DRM to include Sahnewal among stoppages but nobody gave a heed to our request. The railway station of Sahnewal can cater to the need of travel of surrounding 43 villages combined with towns most of them have to commute most reluctantly by roadways.” 

Ludhiana, March 14
Four-year-old Sukhreet could not go to school, for he had a hole in his heart and one of the walls had shrunk extensively. He used to get tired frequently, preventing him to mix up with the children of his age. His mother is a single parent and could not afford the costs of the operation required to make little Sukhreet come back to life again. But, Thanks to Have a Heart Foundation, that he successfully underwent surgery last month and the cost of the operation, Rs 4 lakh, was taken care of by the foundation itself.

If not for the unconditional support from the foundation, parents of 14 such children from underprivileged section of the society would still be running from pillar to posts to save the one they love. The organisation has helped 14 ill children to get a new lease of life last year.

To spread awareness about the organisation and its activities, members of the organisation, patients and others held a conference at the Sutlej Club.

Dhan from Nepal, who works as watchman in the city, had come to the conference with his 14-year-old son, whose one valve is damaged. Coming to the rescue, the organisation has assured Dhan that the cost of the operation would be borne by them.

Balbir Kumar, president of the organisation, said they want to help more people who cannot afford the cost of open heart surgeries. “Statistically, one in every 1,000 children, has heart ailments, but there are very few centres in the state that deal with the complicated problems of the heart. There is a need for opening more such centres,” said president Balbir Kumar.

Ludhiana, March 14
A documentary titled 'Haneriyan Rataan Da Jugnu' (Firefly of the Dark Nights), based on the life of a social and cultural activist, Jagdev Singh Jassowal, was screened at the Punjab Virasat Bhawan today.

Made by Kulwinder Kalsi and Iqbal Mahal, the documentary captures and revisits various aspects of Jassowal’s life and reminisces about how he worked to revive and preserve the cultural and social activities of Punjab, particularly, during the dark period of militancy.

The documentary was released by Om Gouri Datt Sharma, director general, DD Punjabi.

Mahal, who lives in Canada, said Jassowal has made an immense contribution towards the preservation of Punjabi culture.

The activist, along with others, helped erecting the Punjab Virasat Bhawan without the help of the state government, said Mahal. “There is a need for a heritage building across the state for the preservation of our culture and heritage, said Iqbal Mahal.

Ludhiana, March 14
Though the officials of Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) claimed that the result of Xth and XIIth classes would be declared on time, however the teachers had expressed apprehension that it could be delayed since the staff of government schools will be busy with election duty.

Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal, chairperson, PSEB, claimed that the result of class XIIth examination will be announced by May 10 and the result of class Xth will be announced by May 25. The Lok Sabha elections in state are scheduled to be held on April 30 could become a major hurdle for the preparation of results of board classes.

The board officials had claimed that the results of these examinations will be announced to facilitate the students to be ready for the competitive examinations. It is worth mentioning here that with the delay of results, the students face inconvenience while seeking admission for further studies.

To address the issue, this year, the PSEB has conducted the practical examination before the written examinations. But the PSEB had rescheduled the examinations of Class Xth from March 10 to March 25.

Ramanjeet Singh, a teacher said, “The Government deputes the teachers as Booth Level Officers (BLO) before the elections and majority of the teachers have to attend the election duties. The teachers have to attend the rehearsals also. So, if the government deputes the teachers for election duties then the result of examination will defiantly be delayed.

Sukhdarshan Singh, another teacher said, “Last year, the results were delayed. This year election duties will also affect the result. The PSEB should not depute all the teachers for election duties.”

Ludhiana, March 14
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has started a YouTube channel in order to encourage students to participate in various activities and connect to them in a more efficient manner.

The board has uploaded various activities conducted by the Board and its affiliated schools on the social networking platform.

The director, academic and training, CBSE, has asked the affiliated schools to send videos they’d like to be uploaded on the YouTube Channel. As per the directions, the videos can be short films, role plays, talks, discussions or any other such activities.

The board also issued a list of themes for videos. These include health and wellness, gender sensitivity, community outreach, life skills, values education, heritage, disaster management, social issues, environmental issues and concerns and innovative teaching learning methodologies.

The videos, along with its short description, should be mailed to the CBSE. The board also demanded a copy of content in a pen drive or CD, addressed to the head office. The videos should be in common formats such as MOV, MPEG4, AVI and WMV. The length of the video should not exceed 10 minutes. The board said the content of the video should not be objectionable in any manner, and it should not hurt the emotions and sentiments of any community.

“More than 1,600 subscribers has subscribed to the channel till date. But, the number of viewers is quite less as of now. The CBSE should promote the channel extensively to garner high viewership,” said Sandip, a student at a local school. 

Jagraon, March 14
Sidhwan Educational Institutions including Khalsa College for Women (KCW) and GHG Harparkash College of Education for Women, Sidhwan Khurd, near Jagraon, jointly organised their annual convocation today. Vice-Chancellor of Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib, Dr Gurmohan Singh was the chief guest .

While presiding over the function, he conferred degrees on 613 students of both the colleges. The students who were awarded the degrees during the function included 331 graduates and post-graduate students of KCW and 282 M Ed and B Ed students of GHG Harparkash College of Education for Women.

Manpreet Kaur of KCW was presented college role of honour for securing second position in BA-III History (Honours) in Panjab University, Chandigarh, while Simranjeet Kaur of B Sc III (non-medical) bagged the trophy of best NCC cadet. Similarily, Gurpreet Kaur Hora, who secured sixth position in Panjab University M Ed examination, won college role of honour in GHG Harparkash College of Education for Women while Richa Gupta was also awarded for securing eighth position in the Panjab University B.Ed examination.

Ludhiana, March 14
Students of the Pinnacle Institute of Fashion Technology (PIFT) designed a wall at the institute. The wall was designed on the theme of sunflower and nature.

Students said the wall was redesigned, keeping in view the theme of nature, as the wall faces the lawn. Kulwant Singh, MSc interior design student at the institute, said the design was first sketched, and then rendered in computer software before designing it on the wall. It is a 3D design, he added.

Shifaly, BSc interior design, final year student, said they had used only waste material to design the wall. “We have used green meshed net of garden fence to create an interesting texture. Aluminium sheets were cut to make flowers,” said another student. 

Ludhiana, March 14
Two persons allegedly committed suicide in different parts of the city today.

In the first incident, a 22-year-old man committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at a house located near the Division No 3 area.

The deceased, identified as Sandeep Kaumar, was found hanging in his room this morning. It was learnt he was facing the financial crunch as his roadside eatery was running in losses.

In the second incident, a 30-year-old man, who was suffering from a prolonged illness, ended his life by hanging from a ceiling fan. Shakur Yadav, a resident of Fauji Mohalla, Abdullahpur Basti, had been unwell for the past few months. — TNS

Ludhiana, March 14
The Lovely College of Engineering, Phagwara, squeezed past Khalsa College, Amritsar, (73-71) in the men’s section in the ongoing Reliance-IMG Punjab Inter-College Basketball League at Guru Nanak Stadium here today.

The issue was resolved during extra time as the two sides were locked (57-57) at the end of regular time.

The Lovely College of Engineering went into an early lead and managed to hang on to it till the end of the second quarter (35-23). However, Khalsa College, Amritsar, players bounced back into the match. They not only wiped out the deficit, but also surged ahead (43-39) at the end of the third quarter.

At the end of the stipulated time, the score board read 57-all. Then, extra time was allotted in which Lovely College secured 16 points while the outfit from Amritsar scored 14 points and the former wrapped it up with a marrow margin of just two points.

In another match (men), Public College, Samana, defeated Lyalpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, (87-70).

In the third match, Lovely College of Engineering, Phagwara, outnumbered Mata Gujri College (71-48).

In the women’s section, Government College, Amritsar, beat Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, (44-37). — OC