Bathinda, August 18
Former Chief Minister of Punjab, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, today termed the SAD-BJP government a total failure on all the fronts. The Congress leader added that not only the people of the state, but also their own party members were confused with the contradictory orders being given by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

She added that the state was being ruled by the Badal family and the family had ruined the state with its anti-people policies. She also questioned the ‘achhe din’ claim by the Badal family and asked how the state had been benefitted after the BJP came to power at the Centre.

Taking a dig at the SAD-BJP alliance, the leader said the SAD had been ignoring the suggestions of the BJP leaders in the state and hence, the BJP government at the Centre was now ignoring Punjab. She joked that the ‘achhe din’ will begin in Punjab when the Badal family will be ousted from power.

She, however, condemned the shoe-hurling incident and said that it was understood that the people of the state were fed up with the SAD-BJP government, but hurling a shoe was not the right way of expressing one’s anger and disappointment as it went against the culture and tradition of the state.

She, however, raised the question if the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) would now felicitate the person who hurled a shoe at the CM the way it had felicitated Jarnail Singh, who had hurled a shoe at P Chidambaram.

Bhattal also accused the BJP of being a non-secular party and argued that the fact that a BJP MP was being named in the Saharanpur riots proved that the party had ulterior motives and was dividing the nation along religious lines.

She also conjectured that the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab was heading for a split as the viewpoints of both the parties were clashing and unrest among the BJP leaders in Punjab was palpable.

Bathinda, August 18
The Punjab and UT Employees Sangharsh Committee held a protest march against the state government and demanding the acceptance of their long-pending demands at the grain market in Talwandi Sabo.

Members of six employees’ federations, 17 independent organisations and thousands of the employees from 12 districts of the state participated in the rally.

While addressing the rally, Punjab and UT Employees Sangharsh Committee conveners Sajan Singh, Ranbir Dhillon, Ved Parkash, Sukhdev Saini, Bhupinder Singh and Sukhdev Singh condemned the state government and said it had been ignoring their long-pending demands.

A large number of employees from across the state reached Talwandi Sabo. They said their main demands included regularisation of the services of the contractual  workers.

They said the process of privatisation should be stopped and the differences between the pay of the employees should be removed. They demanded the payment of the installments of the inflation allowance from Janaury 2014 as per the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission.

They alsio demanded that instead of the contributory scheme, the old pension scheme should be started and vacant posts should be filled.

They threatened that if their demands were not accepted during a meeting with the Chief Minister on September 2, they would intensify their stir.

Before reaching Talwandi Sabo, a large number of employees gathered in various groups at Mansa and Kotkapura from where they started formed a cacarried out a flag march flag march through various village.

Jagdish Singh Chahal, Satish Rana, Germanjit Singh, Sheetal Singh, Kewal Singh, Mangat Khan, Swaranjit, Darshan Maur ,Paramjit Kaur were also present on the occasion. 

Bathinda, August 18
If there a thread that binds Preneet Kaur, Partap Singh Bajwa, HS Adaltiwala, Manpreet Singh Badal, Baljinder Kaur and Balkar Sidhu in the run-up to the bypolls in Patiala and Talwandi Sabo, it is the use of social media to amass public vote and support. Social networking and media-sharing sites are come in handy when it comes to not only campaign for themselves or their party's candidates, but also for mud-slinging.

From uploading photographs of meetings and rallies being held by the leader and her husband Captain Amrinder Singh, to inviting suggestions, questions and even complaints, the team managing Preneet Kaur's Facebook page is doing everything to engage the voters of Patiala and turn the tide in her favour.

While her opponent, SAD-BJP candidate Bhagwan Das Juneja is yet to make his presence felt on the site, Aam Admi Party (AAP) candidate from the segment, HS Adaltiwala's page is dedicated to sharing his party's agenda for the polls and photographs of rallies conducted by senior party leaders in his favour.

Among the candidates for the Talwandi Sabo bypolls, Aam Admi Party (AAP) candidate Baljinder Kaur has come up trump in using the social media as part of her campaign. Apart from sharing photographs of her rallies, she has also been regularly sharing videos of senior Aam Admi Party (AAP) leaders' rallies in Punjab.

Manpreet Singh Badal not only played a vital role in the selection of Harminder Singh Jassi as the Congress candidate from Talwandi Sabo, he has also been actively using his profile to generate support for Jassi who joined Facebook only in the first week of August. Manpreet also uses his profile to take a dig at the government for the rising inflation.

The team of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, president, Partap Singh Bajwa, who is campaigning in Talwandi Sabo, shows unprecedented alacrity in uploading video footage of his addresses on YouTube. Bajwa's Facebook page, however, is full of newspaper clippings.

Independent candidate, Balkar Sidhu largely uses his profile to share clippings of various newspapers and also to take a dig at his opponents. He has not only shared documents related to the alleged dual votes of Baljinder Kaur but has also uploaded a old photograph showing Harminder Singh Jassi, Jeetmohinder Singh Sidhu and Raninder Singh in a group hug.

With no updates and uploads pertaining to the bypolls on his profile on the social media site, SAD-BJP candidate Jeetmohinder Singh Sidhu lags behind in the race of exploiting the social media. Interestingly, on his Facebook profile, he is still a member of the Indian National Congress group. 

Bathinda, August 18
Various social organisations today held a convention on the Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Act, 2014, that was passed by the Punjab Government in July.

Democratic Rights Sabha state general secretary Jagmohan Singh alleged that the government, instead of providing basic amenities to the people, was working for the benefit of corporate houses. “The condition of civic amenities in the state is deplorable and we have been left with no other option but to protest,” he said.

“Due to its anti-public policies, the government is incapable of solving the problems of the public and is trying to suppress the right to protest through such laws,” he added.

State committee member NK Jeet said the Act was harsh than the laws introduced by the British. He said with the Act, the government had tried to suppress the right to protest of the people.

Lok Morcha secretary Master Jagmail Singh, Inqalab Kender’s area convener Jagjit Lehra, Scientists Chetna Manch speaker Ritesh Kumar, Technical Circle Union secretary Gurnam Singh, Central Lekhak Sabha vice-president Master Atarjit Singh said the government was trying to suppress protests being staged against it.

Democratic Rights Sabha state secretary said on the demand of corporate houses, the government was also planning to bring anti-labour laws. Sabha president Bagga Singh said they would try to include more organisations in the Sanjha Morcha in fight against the black Act.

Talwandi Sabo, August 18
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today announced support to Balkar Sidhu for the Talwandi Sabo byelection. Sidhu is contesting the elections as an independent.

The announcement in this regard was made by Punjab general secretary of the party Kuldeep Singh.

“Our party is not contesting the byelections in any part of the country but is extending support to the independent candidates and not the national or regional parties,” said Kuldeep. He said the BSP had decided not to support the SAD or the Congress in the state.

“During the previous elections, the BSP candidate got 5,000 votes in Talwandi Sabo while in 1997, he got 12,000 votes.” said Kuldeep. Kuldeep said the door- to-door campaigning in favour of Balkar Sidhu had been initiated.

Bathinda, August 18
Passengers at the city railway station are facing several problems and it seems the railway officials are least bothered about them.

The Railways had constructed an overbridge at the station sometime ago, which is widely used by the passengers to go from one platform to another.

However, the condition of the overbridge is deplorable as the stairs require repair.

Amandeep Singh, a resident of Mansa, said the authorities always claim to provide better facilities to the passengers, but in reality, no facility had been provided to the passengers.

Some passengers said they had fallen a number of times from the stairs as the space between the steps was less. They demanded that the fault in its design should be rectified as soon as possible so that the passengers did not face any problem.

Passengers also face problems while passing through the overbridge as a large number of mendicants sleep there and passengers usually sit on the overbridge due to the inadequate seating arrangements on the platforms.

The area manager of the railway station said he was not aware about the issue as nobody had brought it to his notice so far. 

Bathinda, August 18
An inmate of the Central Jail had a narrow escape when his clothes caught fire today inside the jail premises. The inmate’s clothes caught fire. When the news spread inside the jail, there was chaos all around.

The inmate was immediately taken to the Civil Hospital in a serious condition by the jail authorities. Doctors at the Civil Hospital said some part of his neck had sustained burn injuries. After the initial treatment, he was sent back to jail.

As per the information available, Balwinder Singh of Poohla village was in jail in connection with a case. On Monday morning, he tried to set himself on fire. At first, he lit a piece of cloth and then put it on his body following which his clothes caught fire.

However, jail authorities said this was not a case of suicide and was an one-off incident. Jail superintendent Rajmohinder Singh Dhaliwal said he himself was not present inside the jail, but had come to know that the inmate’s clothes had caught fire because of which he sustained burn injuries. He was taken to the Civil Hospital and then taken back to the Central Jail after being given the initial treatment.

Bathinda, August 18
To meet the expenses on petrol and diesel of the police, a special election fund of Rs 35 lakh has been sanctioned by the state government.

The daily consumption of petrol by police vehicles has touched 100 litres and that of diesel is 400 litres. Petrol pump owners said the police vehicles and the district administration had spent Rs 2 lakh on fuel in the past few days. The police department’s fuel station at the Police Lines has failed to get diesel supply for the past over a year but is getting intermittent supply of petrol.

“We depend on the private petrol pumps to purchase diesel. Since the CM, along with his coterie of ministers, is visiting Bathinda for the past 15 days, the fuel expenses have shot up," said a policeman. Out of 123 petrol pumps in Bathinda district, around 35 have entered into an ‘agreement’ with the police and the district administration to provide diesel for the government vehicles.

“We are paid quarterly for fuel. Till six months ago, the payment was not regular. But ever since the appointment of SSP Gurpreet Bhullar, payment is being made on quarterly basis," said Subhash Kumar, president of the District Petrol Pump Dealers' Association. He said the police still owed around Rs 45 lakh to petrol pumps.

The cops said they had received Rs 28 lakh a week ago and purchased 12,000 litres of petrol for the PCR motorcycles. One PCR bike consumes two litres of petrol in a day and usually 150 litres of petrol is used to run all the police bikes in the district. Senior police officers get five litres of diesel for 24 hours and the SSP gets 465 litres of fuel for a month. 

Bathinda, August 18
“Kaum De Heere will set a milestone in the Punjabi film industry as it is the first film based on the true events of 1984. The film will change the perspective with which the audience watches Punjabi films,” said Satish Katyal, producer of the film, during a promotional event in the city today.

He added that the film, which will be releasing soon, was based on the biographical accounts of Satwant Singh and Beant Singh and aimed at highlighting the pain of the 1984 riots.

“The film is based on the findings of the Justice Thakkar Commission. Through the film, we are not trying to stir up any controversy but to present the actual chain of events. We can’t change history but we can learn from it,” said Katyal.

Punjabi singer-turned-actor Raj Kakra, who is playing the role of Beant Singh in the movie, model-turned actor Sukhdeep Sukh, who plays the role of Satwant Singh, Sardar Sohi and Isha Sharma were also present on the occasion.

The actors said the movie was an outcome of a thorough research of legal records, published books and other material available in the public domain and there was nothing fictitious in the film.

The actors insisted that it was high time that the Punjabi film industry focussed on the movies presenting true events, history and the culture and tradition of the state. While Ravinder Ravi is responsible for the direction, story, screenplay and dialogues of the film, Raj Kakra has written the lyrics for the film. 

Bathinda, August 18
On the eve of World Photography Day, a three-day photography exhibition was organised at RBDAV Senior Secondary School. Educationist and social worker Sudesh Gandhar and Rani Josan inaugurated the exhibition today.

Nirlep Singh, Dr Sanjeev Arora, Kusum Khungar, GC Sharma, Sudhir Thakur and Parmod Khursija were the guests at the photo exhibition.

Appreciating the photographs during the exhibition, Sudesh Gandhar congratulated the students for clicking the photographs that showcased their talent. She added that the taste for photography was picking up among the youth.

Rani Josan said the students were full of creative energy and the exhibition was a good platform for them to showcase their creative genius. School principal Dr Satwant Kaur Bhullar said the Arya Art Club of the school always provided a chance to the student to exhibit their creativity.

Bathinda, August 18
A team of the Indian Army team from the Chetak Corps participated in International Tank Biathlon in Russia. The tank biathlon is an international tank crew sport invented by the Russian military. The tank biathlon is a competition, showcasing international cooperation and military prowess. It is similar to a regular biathlon.

The competing teams need to overcome several obstacles during the competition. The International Tank Biathlon kicked off at Albino Firing Range in the Moscow (53 km from the capital). Russia, India, China, Angola, Armenia, Belarus, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Mongolia and Serbia took part in this unique event. A team from the Chetak Corps of the Sapta Shakti Command participated in the competition. The team was selected after a series of trials. Later, the team underwent a rigorous training.— TNS 

Bathinda, August 18
A Bhucho Mandi-based gas agency today paid Rs 91,704 as compensation to Tara Chand, a resident of Kachi Bhucho.

Goods amounting to Rs 3 lakh were burnt in a fire that broke out at the house of Tara Chand in May.

Bhushan Garg, owner of the gas agency, said the amount was handed over to Tara Chand by the Deputy Manager (Sales) Pardeep Khaliya.

“Since the gas pipe and other gadgets used by the consumer were approved by the company, we paid compensation,” said Garg.

He said the agency provided insurance cover to its consumers. It was for the first time that a consumer had been given the compensation.

“The consumer has also been provided a new set of gas pipe, cylinder and a regulator,” added Garg.

Bathinda, August 18
Two courier companies that failed to deliver a parcel containing important immigration documents supposed to reach the Canadian Embassy in Colombo (Sri Lanka) have been directed to pay Rs 31,120.

A direction in this regard was issued by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum. The two courier companies, including Trackon Courier Private Limited and DTDC Couriers & Cargo Limited, were directed to pay Rs 5,000 as cost, Rs 25,000 as compensation and a refund of Rs 1,120 charged from the complainant.

In his complaint to the forum, Gurminder Singh, a resident of Rampura Phul resident, said he had handed over the parcel, containing documents, to the Trackon Courier Private Limited in Rampura.

The complainant’s lawyer, Naresh Kumar Garg, said the courier owner charged Rs 1,120 from the complainant with an assurance that the courier containing diploma, degree, experience certificates, joining letter from current employer, bank statements and various other documents, will reach Colombo on March 3, 2014.

The advocate further stated that instead of sending the courier to Colombo, the Rampura-based courier company further handed over the parcel to DTDC. “After giving a receipt, the owner of Track on courier revealed that he could not send the couriers to Colombo and hence, further handed over the same to the DTDC,” the lawyer said. He added that the courier owner gave two separate receipts of his company and also of the DTDC. The courier failed to reach the embassy within the stipulated time period.