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Punjab Votes 2014
Capt’s Tytler remark draws backlash
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Amarinder questions Jaitley over Bhopal gas tragedy
73% youth in state hooked to drugs, says Anand Sharma
from the war room
issues that matter
Badal’s remark to industrialists under EC lens
Cong forced state govt to levy property tax, claims Dhillon
SAD backing drug trade: CM’s brother
Cong seeks action against Vinod Khanna
Bajwa failed to serve his area, says Khanna
Rajput guru's blessings for Bajwa
Inter-state ‘fair’ of poppy husk in Sriganganagar
Will order girdawari to assess crop loss: CM
Farmers, procurement staff in war of words
Fake marksheet
INLD worker dies in accident
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Punjab Votes 2014
Congress-PPP-CPI’s joint candidate for Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, Manpreet Badal, wants to develop the Malwa region on the pattern of Gurgaon. He says he would push for the early onset of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline (TAPI), which will cross from near Fazilka and create numerous job avenues. With Bathinda also being developed as an education and health hub, Manpreet aims at creating 7,000 to 10,000 jobs annually.
At an interactive session moderated by The Tribune Principal Correspondent Jupinderjit Singh, Manpreet Badal fields questions of a group of eminent citizens. Q: What accounts for the huge gap in education being provided by the government and private schools? — Prof Paramjit Singh Romana, educationist
The Punjab Government has stopped investing in education. Till about a decade back, students of government schools did extremely well but that's not the case anymore. Not only students lack skills but even teachers are not that trained. Cheating and copying seem to have become a part of the education system, thus affecting its quality. The huge gap between the level of education provided by government and private schools is also because no political party is ready to invest in the sector, which will show results only after 15 years or so. The gap can be bridged only by making education a priority. Q: The foremost problem of Bathinda region is high incidence of cancer. How will you make the difference? — Dr Sulakshan Tiwari, health expert
I was the first to raise concern in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha over the increasing cancer cases in Malwa. As an MLA, it was my initiative to introduce RO (reverse osmosis) water in affected areas to check the spread of cancer. I would aim at providing quality medical facilities largely in government hospitals and that too at affordable rates. Instead of mostly banking on PGI, Chandigarh (set up 40 years ago), we should have added one facility of that level in Punjab every 10 years. Education and health are the two main sectors, which should never be neglected. Q: Bathinda is north India's biggest cotton market but all four ginning units here are lying closed. Isn't that sad? — PS Randhawa, industrialist
We lack an atmosphere that is conducive to industrialisation. Before 1966, the industry was being developed in phases and in a need-based manner. Basic gridlock of development for any society was rule of law. In the early 1990s, the southern states of our country grew by leaps and bounds. I will create a healthy atmosphere that would facilitate even smallest of an investor to be secure and invest in Bathinda without any fear. Q: In view of pollution by the thermal power plant, life has become miserable for the people in Bathinda. What will be your strategy to tackle the issue? — Gurwinder Singh Mann, advocate
States should develop thermal power plants at coal pitheads (in Bihar and Orissa) so that the cost of transportation is minimised and so is pollution. We pay more freight on transportation of coal than its actual price. Transmission of electricity from thermal plants at coal pitheads would be cheaper and pollution can be avoided. Punjab should invest in a nuclear power plant coming up in Fatehabad in Haryana so that we can burn less coal in the state. Whatever technology is available should be used to reduce pollution caused by these thermal plants. Also, we need to take strict measures to put an end to burning of wheat and paddy stubble. The government should strictly ban these practices as merely issuing appeals against these would not serve any purpose. Q: With deficit income and almost nothing to spend on various schemes, many projects stand in a limbo. What sources will you mobilise to collect funds for Bathinda? — Pardeep Goyal, RTI activist
Even economists like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Planning Commission chief Montek Singh Ahluwalia cannot have a solution for the economical mess Punjab is passing through. The state's political leadership lacks the will to improve its fiscal condition. I tried but was targeted and ultimately had to leave the party. The state's economy is in a tailspin. We, as politicians, will first have to exercise restraint on ourselves. I appeal fellow politicians to give up red beacons, drive vehicles on their own, act responsibly, be austere and have a conservative approach towards spending money on our own. I have zero tolerance for corruption and would like all others to follow suit. There should be no place for the corrupt in administration and governance. Q: What will you do to introduce new technologies in the farm sector? How you will motivate people to fight corruption? — Darshan Singh Sidhu, progressive farmer from Bathinda
Punjab has given the nation the best of farmers, the most hardworking industrialists and the bravest of Armymen. It is very unfortunate, humiliating and embarrassing to be at the bottom of the growth index. I want my youth to kick, scream and jostle their way ahead, register their resentments and contribute to positive development. History will not record Manpreet Singh Badal or Parkash Singh Badal. Its annals will only have a state called Punjab that will rise like a phoenix. 'Eh ik anakh di ladai hai (It's a battle of pride). Youth will not have to worry about the corrupt. As Sant Kabir had said ‘Kabira Teri Jhonpri, Gal Katiyan Ke Paas, Jo Karenge, So Bharenge Tu Kyun Bhayo Udas’. Q: If you are elected as an MP, what will be your three top priorities? — Dr Jaspreet Singh Sra, opthalmologist
I would like to have in place a three-pronged strategy to develop the constituency as an education hub, health hub and a hub for transport facilities. Bathinda has the distinction of having the geographical and strategic advantage required for the development of the three facilities and services. It is connected with Haryana and Rajasthan and hence, is one of the most important places of the south-western Punjab. Q: How will you tackle the problem of overpopulation and drug menace? — Dr Sulakshan Tiwari, psychiatrist
India was one of the first countries in the world to introduce population-control measures. But owing to the lack of political patronage, the programme didn't bear the desired results.
However, it is just an assumption that increasing population retards growth. The government can use the growing population to its advantage by equipping it with desired skills, which will then buoy the state's industrial and other sectors. To tackle the drug menace, the PPP manifesto talks of an ideal scenario wherein every year the government of Punjab will close down 10 per cent of total liquor vends. The problem of substance abuse can be tackled by making it unaffordable and restricting the places where these are available. I fail to understand how can the state government allow decorated liquor vends? Q: Why are the state government-run educational institutions producing students who are insecure about their future? — Smiriti Kapoor, student
The truth is that the government has run out of funds. We need huge investment in the education sector. Some of the most prestigious colleges of the state have become useless because of being ignored by the government. Due to lack of funds, the Punjab Agricultural University has stopped recruiting new teachers. As such, certain knowledge and information that is not documented and is passed on through traditional means of word of mouth is getting lost. There is no sense of accountability among the political representatives as their urge to be re-elected surpasses their responsibilities.
(Inputs by Megha Mann, Gurdeep Mann, Nikhila Pant Dhawan and Sukhmeet Bhasin)
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Capt’s Tytler remark draws backlash
Amritsar, April 20 The SAD's Delhi unit will stage another protest outside the Congress headquarters and party president Sonia Gandhi's residence in New Delhi tomorrow. The protesters here were led by All India '84 Riot Victims Relief Committee leader Kuldip Singh Bhogal. Bibi Jagdish Kaur, a key witness in the Sajjan Kumar case, was also present. Addressing a press conference here, DSGMC president Manjeet Singh GK and senior BJP leader RP Singh said Amarinder had rubbed salt on the injuries of the riot victims who were struggling to get justice for the last 30 years. They alleged there was "never any doubt about the involvement of Tytler". "Despite this, the Congress extended him protection by rewarding him with different posts from time to time," they said. Former DSGMC president Avtar Singh Hit alleged that not only the likes of Tytler but the entire Congress rank and file was involved in the riots. On the other hand, the Congress lashed out at the SAD-BJP alliance for trying to polarise people along the communal lines by blowing issues out of context as it has realised that "Jaitley was losing badly in Amritsar". In a joint statement, senior Congress leaders Rana Gurjeet Singh and Bir Devinder Singh accused the ruling alliance leaders of distorting Amarinder's statement on Tytler. They made it clear that Amarinder had not given clean chit to anyone, including Tytler. They said he had simply told the interviewer that when he went around the riot-hit areas nobody mentioned Tytler's name. The Congress leaders asked the SAD-BJP leaders that why the NDA government, which remained in power for six years, could not establish these charges against
Tytler.
Bone of contention
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Amarinder questions Jaitley over Bhopal gas tragedy
Amritsar, April 20 He asked Jaitely whether it was not a fact that he (Jaitley) gave a legal opinion to the company in December 2006. He said it was shocking that Jaitley, instead of using his legal expertise and influence in support of the victims of the tragedy took the side of the company and opposed them. Capt also took a dig at his BJP rival Arun Jaitley for his "ignorance" over the synthetic drug trafficking "taking place under the patronage of Akalis, particularly Bikram Majithia", who happens to be his campaign manager. Responding to Jaitley's suggestion that he should approach the Narcotics Control Bureau, Amarinder said an investigation carried out by the state police along with the NCB and the Enforcement Directorate had "implicated" Majithia. He alleged Majithia's name figured in the challan and Jaitley could check the facts. "I think Jaitley is either ignorant of what is happening around him or he deliberately wants to deflect the attention from his campaign manager as it would be embarrassing for him to admit that his campaign is being managed by the man who stands implicated in drug trafficking," he alleged. Responding to the demands put forward by the Shri Brahman Sabha Punjab, Amarinder supported reservation in jobs and educational institutions for economically weaker sections among the upper castes.
Capt’s aide ‘secret’ fan of Jaitley
Muktsar: Congress candidate from Amritsar Capt Amarinder Singh’s media coordinator Vimal Sumbly is a “secret” fan of BJP candidate Arun Jaitley. Sumbly is in the list of 60,010 of Arun Jaitley’s fans on his official Facebook fan page. He has also liked another of Jaitley’s Facebook page with 7.11 lakh fans. Besides following Jaitley on Twitter, Sumbly is also following the BJP and the RSS. This may be a strategy of Team Amarinder to keep a tab on Jaitley’s activities.
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73% youth in state hooked to drugs, says Anand Sharma
At a press conference, Sharma said around 73 per cent youth in the state were hooked to drugs. Sharma said he got this data from a state government website. “While the de-addiction facilities are inadequate there are no anti-narcotics officials in the districts,” he said. On BJP candidate Arun Jaitley’s question to Congress candidate Captain Amarinder Singh as to why he didn’t approach the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), he wondered who stopped Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal from doing the same. “What is the Punjab Police doing here? Don’t they have a duty to perform?” he asked. Sharma said Jaitley and Badal should tell their Cabinet Minister, whose name is doing the rounds in the drug racket, to stop his activities or clarify his stand, if he is innocent. He said the drugs were ruining an entire generation in the state. “At a time when the Centre is planning to boost the manufacturing sector in the state, it seems we will have to divert our resources to build de-addiction facilities,” he remarked. Sharma said the country was facing the most crucial elections, which were turning into a fight between the secular forces led by the Congress and the “communal, divisive and sectarian forces” led by the BJP. Sharma regretted that the BJP and its leader Narendra Modi had led a disinformation campaign across the country, which suggested that he (Modi) had some magic wand that would cure all the ills the country faced. Referring to BJP manifesto, he accused it of resorting to “political plagiarism” and said they didn’t have any vision of their own. He said despite the fact that the last ten years had been very difficult for the Indian economy on the global front, it had withstood the challenges and maintained a steady growth.
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from the war room
Having a good experience in organising party cadre, Soni has selected senior and influential Congress leader Kewal Singh Dhillon as her campaign in charge. Soni's son Anup Soni assists Dhillion as campaign coordinator. A core team has been organised to look after various aspects of campaigning. Other members of the team include Colonel CD Singh Kamboj (retd), who is responsible for planning and organising Soni's meetings and functions; Rampal Dhaipi, who coordinates booth level organisation, and Arun Sharma, coordinator of the media cell. The team is being assisted by prominent leaders such as Balbir Singh Sidhu, Jagmohan Singh Kang, Charanjeet Singh Channi, Tirlochan Singh, and Guriqbal Kaur, all MLAs from the constituency. Ramesh Dutt Sharma, former minister, Rana KP Singh, former MLA, Lov Kumar Goldy, Kewal Krishan Chauhan and Sukhpal Bhullar are also actively involved in campaigning for the Congress candidate. Soni meets her lieutenants at 7 am everyday before leaving for a hectic day of campaigning. She ends her day again with a meeting with her core team to analyse the work done and planning for the next day. The Congress has asked its MLAs and assembly segment in charges to give a feedback on a daily basis and ensure maximum leads from their constituencies. The strategy is modified as per the requirement based on feedback from the local leaders. Public meetings are strategically organised at villages with comparatively large population and located near main roads. Soni, hoping to cash in on the anti-incumbency factor, raises local issues such as bad roads, power shortage, sand mafia and count upon UPA's achievements while seeking votes. Anup Soni ensures that his mother is always updated with the day's events. To spread reach, he independently conducts door-to-door campaigns and roadshows. Colonel Kamboj, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2012 assembly election on Congress ticket from Shahkot, chalks out Soni's meeting and travel schedule after gathering feedback from all assembly segments. Dhillon said: "We are sticking to the basics. We are fighting this election from the booth level. We have set up a dedicated team in every booth to get regular inputs and strategise campaign."
Soni’s gameplan
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issues that matter
Jalandhar/Kapurthala, April 20 The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) claims that the steps are being taken to ensure that no untreated waste goes in the drains, but the situation at the ground level suggests otherwise. Calling it a “conspiracy of silence” of political parties to remain mum on the issue, the environmentalists say that leaders contesting the Lok Sabha elections in the state must come out with a specific agenda to control pollution, particularly in water.
“The underground water is getting polluted fast, but both the state and the central governments are yet to take action. The Union Government had assured that all treatment plants in Punjab would be operational by November 30, 2011, but nothing of this sort happened,” environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal told The Tribune. He further said that political parties were not paying attention to environment-related issues in their election campaign. Seechewal’s contention find an echo in the views of another environmentalist Baba Sewa Singh of Khadoor Sahib. He says that the political parties and candidates should focus on the environment-related issues. “The non-government organisations (NGOs) are making efforts to cleanse the drains, but it is the duty of the government to save Punjab, which is one of the highly polluted states in the country,” Baba Sewa Singh said. “The foremost requirement of every human is clean drinking water, but over the period of time, the underground water in several districts of the state has become unfit for human consumption. The result is people are being infected with various ailments, particularly cancer,” Seechewal said.
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Badal’s remark to industrialists under EC lens
Ludhiana, April 20 Shukla said this while talking to the media here today. He was in the city to review preparations for the Lok Sabha elections. Congress campaign committee chairperson Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who was also here today, alleged that Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VK Singh was biased against the Congress and supporting the Akalis. She, however, appreciated the Election Commission of India (ECI) for remaining unbiased. On Bhattal’s contention, Shukla said: “There is no difference between the ECI and the Punjab CEO. Both are fair enough. Action can be taken if there is any
specific complaint.” Talking about the key issues in Punjab, the poll official said: “Most of the complaints are related to defacement of public property. The state has framed a defacement law, according to which no posters or election material can be displayed on any government property. The posters can, however, be displayed on private property after owner’s permission.”
Model polling stations
Deputy Election Commissioner of India Alok Shukla said, “This elections, all District Electoral Officers-cum-Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to have maximum model polling stations, where the volunteers (college and school students) will welcome voters with folded hands.” Facilities such as drinking water and shades would be provided to voters, he said. “The emphasis is on voters from vulnerable communities and the down-trodden. Such voters can be escorted to polling booths, if required,” Shukla added.
— TNS
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Govt machinery at work for Modi rally
Hoshiarpur, April 20 After the recent rain, trees around the ground were destroyed and ground inundated. Efforts are on to remove water. Modi is slated to address people at this venue on April 25. Interestingly, even as MC machinery was pressed in service for the arrangements, the Executive Officer
(EO) of the MC denied the use of the civic body’s equipment there. Officials with MC machinery, including tractors and an earth moving machine, were seen leveling the ground. To remove water, a sewage cleaning machine of the MC was being used. Men working on the excision of trees around the ground said they were forest department’s personnel. However, EO Ramesh Kumar said, “The work at Roshan Ground is being conducted by the police, and not the MC, as a programme of the police is to be organised there.” On the sewage cleaning machine, he said, “May be some sewerage line is choked and the machine is removing the blockage. I do not know about it.” When told that the machine was removing water from the ground and that there was no sewerage line under the ground, he said, “The police might have asked to remove the water from the ground due to some security reasons. I do not know about it," while maintaining, "We have no machine deployed there for any kind of work.”
MC denies charge
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Cong, BJP won’t be in power: Karat
Ludhiana, April 20 Without going into numbers, the CPM leader said there was a palpable “anti-Congress” wave in the country. “But the anti-Congress feeling among the electorate will benefit the third front, and not the BJP. Forget that India will have a Congress or BJP government this time,” he maintained. Asked whether the third front would seek support from the Congress for simple majority if it did not have the numbers, Karat quipped it would be for the Congress to decide whether it wished to support the secular forces or let the nation be governed by a BJP-led coalition. Disagreeing with what had been written about the Left parties in the book “An Accidental Prime Minister…..” by Sanjaya Baru, the former media adviser to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the Left leader dubbed the contents as a purely subjective version. He, however, said he had read only that particular portion of the book and would not comment on what had been written about the Prime Minister.
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Cong forced state govt to levy property tax, claims Dhillon
Patiala, April 20 While attending a series of election meetings in the city, Dhillon accused
Preneet Kaur of resorting to blame game instead of accepting her failures as a Member of
Parliament from the constituency.
Akalis blame PM for own failures: Preneet
Patiala: Congress candidate Preneet Kaur accused the Akalis of doublespeak. She said they had always blamed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for their failures. "It is a fact that Manmohan Singh has never been biased with any state and made Sikhs proud around the world," she
added. — TNS
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SAD backing drug trade: CM’s brother
Abohar, April 20 Gurdas, once known as the mastermind behind the functioning of the SAD, attended a meeting organised by PPP district president Makhan Singh at Dharangwala village in Balluana segment near here. He said the Akali Dal had now become a “parcha dal”, since hundreds of false FIRs had been registered against political opponents. “SAD leaders have been condemning the central government to divert the people’s attention away from the state’s failures. But it is difficult to fool the people all the time,” Gurdas said. Predicting the SAD’s fall in the Lok Sabha elections was imminent, he said SAD leaders were determined to turn unemployed youth into drug traffickers. CLP leader Sunil Jakhar alleged that state government had siphoned off crores of rupees from funds received from central government for welfare schemes. The Centre had released Rs 1,350 crore for crop diversification, Rs 1,200 crore for disaster management and Rs 2,200 crore to end waterlogging. But SAD leaders spent these funds at Sangat
Darshans.
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Cong seeks action against Vinod Khanna
Chandigarh, April 20 The message pertained to alleged burning of houses of Hindus in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir recently. It said the state government was suppressing the incident. Congress’ legal committee chairperson Surjit Singh Swaich alleged that Sharma had sent the hate message on ‘Whatsaap’ from cell phone number 98888-19292 with a request to spread it further. Swaich said an act of inciting communal feelings was a grave criminal offence under Sections 153-A, 153-B, 295-A and 505(2) of the IPC. — TNS
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Bajwa failed to serve his area, says Khanna
Gurdaspur, April 20 "The anti-incumbency wave against Bajwa is no fiction. People have not seen him here at all. They are eager to know where their MP was when they were grappling with several problems,” the film-star-turned politician said. Addressing a string of election meetings in Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Batala, Khanna asked his rival where he had utilised his MPLAD funds. “A local area development fund of Rs 5 crore is given to an MP every year. People want to know where the money has disappeared,” the former BJP MP said. Gurdaspur had been “deprived” of growth and development as Bajwa had “failed” to get any central scheme sanctioned for the area, he said. Khanna alleged his rival had failed to bring any industry, including the rail coach factory, to the area. He said nearly 8.2 per cent of the unemployed youths in the state were from Gurdaspur region. Khanna said if elected an MP from Gurdaspur, his key priority would be to ensure growth, development and prosperity in the region. — PTI
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Rajput guru's blessings for Bajwa
Pathankot, April 20 The move assumes significance as there are two lakh Rajput voters in the constituency. They have a considerable presence in the assembly segments of Bhoa, Sujanpur, Pathankot, Dinanagar and Kahnuwan.
— TNS
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Manpreet accused of duping realtor
Chandigarh: A Ludhiana-based real estate dealer on Sunday alleged that the Congress-PPP-CPI candidate from Bathinda Manpreet Badal duped him of Rs 26 lakh. The PPP president allegedly took money for party activity in 2011 and was “not returning it”. Realtor Balwant Singh told the media here, "I had handed over cash to Manpreet in the presence of economist Prof SS Johl and some police officers in 2011." Prof Johl said, “No money exchanged hands in my presence.” Manpreet could not be contacted. Dullo joins Sadhu Singh’s campaign Fatehgarh Sahib: Former state Congress president Shamsher Singh Dullo, who was annoyed for not getting the Lok Sabha ticket, on Sunday extended support to Congress candidate from Fatehgarh Sahib (reserved seat) Sadhu Singh Dharmsot and started campaigning for him. He said all Congressmen, particularly Dalits, would work for the party candidate’s success. Cases registered for defacing govt property Fazilka: The district administration has taken the lead in quick disposal of complaints related to the Lok Sabha elections. At present, no complaint is pending with the District Election Office. Sources said the office had received 33 complaints on the poll code violation from the Assembly segments of Fazilka, Abohar, Jalalabad and Balluana. “Action has been taken in some of the cases,” said District Election Officer S Karuna Raju. 66,000 bottles of illicit liquor seized Hoshiarpur: Flying squads have seized 66,404 bottles of illicit liquor from four illegal godowns in Dasuya on Sunday. DC-cum-District Electoral Officer Tanu Kashyap said large quantities of liquor was stored in the godowns at Usman
Shaheed village.
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Pest attack on maize crop in Moga
Moga, April 20 Agriculture scientists have advised farmers to regularly check their crop and if needed, spray the recommended pesticides judiciously. Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, Agriculture Development Officer of Moga, after a visit to a few villages in the district, said maize borer had affected plants at Jai Singh Wala and its adjoining villages, probably, due to hot and humid conditions. He said the stem boring insect is the most destructive pest of maize. It’s caterpillars damage plants by boring into the leaves, stem and the cob. In young plants, this pest causes a typical “dead heart” symptom as the central shoot dries up, he said. Dr Brar said when the pest feeds on folded leaves, it leaves “shot holes”. The upper part of the stem in older plants dies due to the boring of the caterpillars in the stem pith. Bore holes are visible near the nodal region of the stem. “The infested cobs lead to yield reduction and have low market value,” he added. He said a survey had indicated that the pest had attacked the leaves at the initial stage and so, the problem could be tackled if handled properly. He said if farmers witnessed any signs of attack of maize
borer on their crop, they should spray one of these insecticides — Fenvalerate, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin or Carbaryl. He said, “Farmers should immediately remove and destroy the plants, showing severe borer injury while hoeing the maize crop so as to avoid the further spread of the disease.” “Since, most larvae enter the stalk within 12 to 14 days after hatching; insecticides must usually be applied within a week of detecting larvae of the first generation. Screening tests have shown that only a few liquid or granular foliar insecticides are effective against these insects,” Dr Jaswinder Brar added.
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Inter-state ‘fair’ of poppy husk in Sriganganagar
Abohar, April 20 Sensing trouble, extra police force was rushed to control the mob at Mayapuri market, opposite a bus terminal, and other places. There were separate queues for women and auto rickshaw drivers
had a field day ferrying customers. Some described the scene as “postian da mela (fair of poppy husk consumers)”. Some poppy husk consumers organised a protest on the national highway, bringing the vehicular traffic to a halt. They questioned why all retail outlets were not open. The police had to use force and took one protester in custody under Section 151 of the CrPC. The protesters finally agreed to disperse after officials assured that all the outlets would be opened within an hour. Even as the temperature came down from 38 to 34 degrees Centigrade, poppy husk seekers were feeling the heat due to long ques. Many had to wait for over an hour to purchase poppy husk. Salesmen were avoiding asking for permits to ensure quick disposal, buyers said. On Suratgarh bypass, police led by station
house officers Vishnu Khatri and Dhirender Singh Shekhawat monitored the situation as poppy husk seekers thronged different shops. Some complained that they were being charged extra. Sources in the Excise Department said poppy husk was being sold at some shops above the MRP of Rs 500 per kg since all the new licensees had not opened shops yet. At some outlets, poppy husk went out of stock, sources said.
Consumers hold protest Some poppy husk consumers organised a protest on the national highway, bringing the vehicular traffic to a halt. They questioned why all retail outlets were not open. The police had to use force and took one protester in custody under Section 151 of the CrPC. The protesters finally agreed to disperse after officials assured that all the outlets would be opened within an
hour.
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Will order girdawari to assess crop loss: CM
Dhuri (Sangrur), April 20 Badal said: “I want to give Rs 10,000 per acre compensation for the damaged crops, but the Central Government gives only Rs 3,500 per acre while Rs 1,500 per acre is contributed by the state government”. Badal today addressed a rally in support of SAD candidate from Sangrur Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. Badal said fielding of heavyweight leaders by the Congress would not have any adverse affect on the SAD-BJP candidates. He said the elections were based issues such as unemployment, corruption, poverty and price rise. The Chief Minister said the Aam Aadmi Party had no base in Punjab and people gathered at its rallies just to hear songs or jokes from artistes. He said the country wanted a change at the Centre and the people were seeing hope in BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. He said Punjab would see a revolution on the development front if Modi came to power.
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Farmers, procurement staff in war of words
Faridkot, April 20 On the other hand, the officials of the purchasing agencies protested outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office. They demanded that action be taken against some commission agents and farmers for thrashing them. The officials alleged that they were being pressured into procuring wheat with high moisture content. Deputy Superintendent of Police Surinder Pal Singh said farmers, commission agents and procurement staff had submitted their complaints. The police are probing the allegations, he said. District Food and Supply Controller Jaspreet Singh Kahlon said the problem arose due to the high moisture content in the wheat crop. He said the procurement staff were asking the farmers to wait till the moisture content was within permissible limits.
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Fake marksheet
Abohar, April 20 Rakesh Kanker of Army Signal Core, who is posted at Rajouri in Kashmir, had to run from pillar to post to get the case registered. Kanker said he took admission through the Marwar distance learning centre for pursuing Diploma in Computer Applications (DCA) in 2009. After appearing in the first semester exam, he was given a “pass” marksheet. This entitled him to take admission in B.Sc (IT). He was again declared pass. The learning centre also released provisional certificates. He had paid Rs 85,000 in total but receipts were not issued, Kanker claimed. He thought of getting the marksheet verified from the PTU before applying for promotion in the Army. But the PTU authorities at Jalandhar accused him of obtaining a fake marksheet as the university had issued the roll number to someone else. When he downloaded the marksheet of the roll number given to him, it was of another candidate. He then approached the police.
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INLD worker dies in accident
Sangrur, April 20 Dhindsa expressed grief and shock over Ramphal's untimely death and extended condolences to his family. The police said Ramphal was hit by a motorcycle while crossing a road at Khanauri. A case has been registered against the unknown
motorcyclist. — TNS
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Amritsar, April 20
Ropar, April 20