Bathinda, November 13
Deployment of heavy police following visits of Punjab Chief Minister in Faridkot and Union Minister Harsimrat’s visit in Bathinda crippled the functioning of government offices and district courts today.

While government employees refused to entertain queries by the public, the policemen failed to carry out their routine duties.

The staff at the office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) refused to give any detail regarding the preparations for the meeting with Union Minister Harsimrat Badal.

“I tried to enquire about the birth and death record maintained by the authorities but the staff refused to entertain my request on the pretext of the minister’s visit. Officials told the visitors to return in view of the important meeting with Harsimrat Badal,” said advocate Gurwinder Mann who had sought record from the authorities in connection with a court case.

Advocate Jasdeep Singh Walia said he had gone to the Faridkot court for hearing in a double murder case but the court put off the case for next hearing in view of the policemen’s deployment in the security of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and other VIPs. As the cops remained busy, they failed to bring prisoners to different courts for hearing. “I kept waiting for over two hours at the court complex but the police failed to turn up with the accused. The cops sent a message that they could not bring the accused to the court as they were deployed in the security of the Chief Minister,” Walia said. He said the authorities never informed the litigants and lawyers prior to such VIP visits. He said this prevailed every time VIPs visit the area, especially during the visit of any of the members of the Badal family.

The lawyers said apart from the huge money spent on VIP visits, the precious time of the court was also wasted as the policemen failed to bring the accused for hearing. “Though the courts summon jail superintendents during such eventualities, they too express their helplessness,” Walia added.

Senior policemen deployed at various police stations and in the district headquarters said they had no other option but to leave their important tasks during VIP duties. Heavy police force was deployed in the city and nakas were laid at all entry and exit points of the city.

Bathinda, November 13
Holding on to edge of her seat during declaration of the recent Lok Sabha results, Union Cabinet Minister of Food Processing, Harsimrat Badal, this time, will not miss on meeting people, more, in her constituency to avoid a tight rope walking situation when she won the election by a margin of only little more than 19,300 votes. The changed MP profile is evident from a massive renovation in the existing premises of her office in the District Administrative Complex.

Although, certain rooms were allotted to her staff in her constituency, however, the Member of Parliament never sat here. Reliable sources said the MP had shown her interest in having a seat, with the office back-up, when she heard to people from her constituency for maintaining a record of receipt and disposal of complaints. A senior official said: “The office will provide for a systematic receipt of complaints and redressal of each individual complaint on basis of a Suwidha Kendra.”

The most important aspect at this office will be that public will have an access to the MP directly. It is also worth mentioning that under a Central government scheme in 2012-2013, an amount of Rs five lakh had been earmarked for making a fully functional nodal office of the Member of Parliament, however, the work was never carried out.” The Member of Parliament was carrying out even her pet project ‘Nanhi Chhan’ from a private office on the 100-Feet Road which was being monitored by a retired XEN.

Another officer said: “We expect the district secretariat to be a more happening place in the state politics now with Cabinet Minister meeting people here. People from the entire state will be expected to come with their issues about food processing industry which she has said offered new options and government support. Even now, most of the renovation work, including painting the nameplates was carried out very fast because the Member of Parliament arrives on a five-day tour tomorrow onwards.”

Harsimrat Badal is expected to tour Bathinda and neighbouring areas for at least five days tomorrow onwards. On the first day, the MP is expected to visit Bathinda district areas, Mansa on Friday, Maur on Saturday and Bathinda again on Sunday, reliable sources said. Besides the expected speeches on thanksgiving, the Minister of Food Processing is learnt to be talking about the possible ventures.

Poor communication

Showing extra efforts of the administration in welcoming the MP were evident from a flurry of red carpets on all the possible ways, the MP was expected to take in the evening. The Deputy Commissioner office, however, did not bother to coordinate the media briefing of the Cabinet Minister at the venue. There was no formal communication from the Public Relation Department about any interaction with the press which decided to walk off after more than two hour wait.

Bathinda, November 13
A large number of police force was deployed outside the Children’s Park today which foiled the plan of close to 400 Aanganwari workers and helpers to take out a protest march against the government. In view of the presence of Union Minister for Food Processing in the city, the police personnel succeeded in keeping the protestors away from the District Administrative Complex (DAC) by closing the gates of the park.

Meanwhile, the protestors announced that they would hold a state-level rally in Bathinda on December 1 before leaving for Delhi to participate in the plan to gherao the Parliament House on December 8.

Raising slogans against the state government and voicing their demands, the Aanganwari workers and helpers demanded that the Integrated child Development Scheme (ICDS) under which the Aanganwari centres are being run, be turned into a government department. They also added that the workers and helpers be counted as grade III and grade IV employees, respectively, and be paid salaries according to the government pay grade.

Elaborating on their demands, they stated that currently while a worker was being paid a monthly salary of Rs 5,000, helpers were being paid Rs 2,500. They demanded that till the time their demand for government pay grade is fulfilled their salaries should be increased to Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively.

Giving example of nation-wide campaigns such as the Pulse Polio and Population Census survey for which they are paid to work, they demanded that they should also be paid for works assigned to them by the state government such as the BLO duties and other non-aanganwari works.

Workers and helpers belonging to the Bathinda block of the Bathinda district stated that Aanganwari centres in the block should be shifted from under the Child Welfare Council to the ICDS to that the problem of delay in their salaries be minimised.

They further added that the condition for promotion of a helper to a worker is currently 10 years experience and demanded that the same should be reduced to three years the way it is for promotion from worker to supervisor.

Raising her voice to punish the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots accused, she said being daughter of Punjab, she would continue her efforts. Answering a query about the National Food Policy she added that the draft was for policy was being prepared and that crop and food of every state is being considered for this policy.

Bathinda, November 13
Forcibly ousted from his own house in Gurudwara Sahib Jandalisar, Kot Shamir, Sikh preacher Baljit Singh Daduwal was today offered the house by a villager to stay in Kot Shamir village of Bathinda to restart his preaching from the village.

Accepting the proposal today, Daduwal on Thrusday, took over the house for stay from villager Paramjit Singh Pamma, son of former sarpanch, Jarnail Singh, in the presence of some villagers and village panchayat members. On behest of villagers Daduwal has planned to hold his Dewan (religious congregation) in Kot Shamir village in the first week of December this year.

The historical gurdwara reportedly was handed over to Sikh preacher and member of the ad-hoc HSGMC Baljit Singh Daduwal in 1998 after around 11 village panchayats went and invited Daduwal to take over the –care-charge of gurdwara. The land owners who donated the land to gurdwara Jandalisar claimed to have invited daduwal in 1998.

Its’ noteworthy that the police have been deployed at Gurdwara Jandalisar Sahib in Kot Shamir village since the arrest of Daduwal from August 22 this year while a number of villagers and his followers have been protesting against the move. The land owners who donated the land to gurdwara were continuously appealing the Bathinda Deputy Commissioner along with the letters signed by the 11 village panchayats who had handed over the gurdwara to Daduwal many years ago.

Daduwal was arrested just after the Talwandi Sabo by poll ended on August 22. Both the Faridkot and Mansa police had filed a fresh case each in their districts against Daduwal under the Arms Act while police of both the districts reopened the years old cases against the Daduwal and rejuvenated Sections of attempt to murder against him. The same Sections were cancelled by the police of both the district some year back. However, Daduwal’s followers alleged Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and SAD (B) patron of taking political vendetta against Daduwal who had supported the Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee in Haryana and had taken possession over the historical Gulha Cheeka Gurdwara in Haryana.

Villagers and panchayat members now have been alleging that the SGPC members on instructions of government were forcibly taking over the possession over Gurdwara Sahib Jandalisar.

Daduwal said, “At the behest of villagers, I had accepted the offer to stay in this village and continue my preaching from this village.”

Details of cases and bails granted to sikh preacher and member of the ad-hoc HSGMC Baljit Daduwal.

CASE: On January 2, 2011, the Bhikhi police arrested Daduwal and 60 others identified and 700 unidentified people following a clash between the police and Sikhs who protested against the police attempt to stop Daduwal’s congregation. A case against Daduwal and others was registered under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 353 (Assaulting public servant to discharge from duty) of the Indian Penal Code. However, later on January 3, 2011 Daduwal was released.

The Mansa police on August 22, 2014, again reopened the case and arrested daduwal.

Bail: The court of Additional Sessions Judge Mansa Raj Kumar Garg had granted him bail on September 29 in a case registered by the Bhikhi police on January2, 2011.

CASE: On March 16, 2009, a case was registered against him under Sections 307 (Attempt to murder) 353, 324, 323, 186, 148, 149, of IPC and 25, 27, 54, 59 of the Arms Act at the Jaitu police station on complaint of SI Gurlabh Singh, ASI Rashpal Singh and others after a clashed between the police and Sikhs over Daduwal’s Diwan (religious congregation) that was being to objected by followers of Sirsa bases Dera Sacha Sauda. the police again reopened the case after the Talwandi Sabo by poll held on August 22 this year.

Bail: The Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail on October 9 this year.

Interestingly, again on the same day, October 9, the Faridkot police again detained Daduwal under Sections of Preventive Detention (Section 107/151) from inside the Faridkot Central Jail only a few minutes after his release orders were placed by the High Court. Daduwal’s supporters then cried foul alleging that SAD (B) patron and Punjab Chief Minister is scared of Daduwal probable campaign in Haryana. On the evening of October 14, Daduwal, just after the Haryana poll campaign came to end, was released following the release orders of the Faridkot SDM.

Bathinda- November 13
Four different unions of the PRTC today staged protest demanding not to sell the PRTC property and not to break the PRTC depot besides other demands.

The PRTC unions, including the AITEC, the INTEC, SC-BC and the CTU Unions staged protest and started observing a hunger strike demanding their collective demands, including pensions to pensioners be given timely and pension to employees of retired since 1992, to recruit the staff and stop the contract system besides regularising all the employees.

The protestors demanded that buses running under the kilometer scheme should be stopped as the owners of these buses in connivance with others are causing losses to the PRTC of around Rs 7 crore every month.

They alleged that the drivers of these buses running under the kilometer scheme are pilfering daily 20 litres of diesel and causing loss to the PRTC in connivance with the PRTC management. Workers are demanding that contract system should be abolished and they should be regularised.

They demanded that they should be paid overtime, suspended employees should be reinstated, pay grade of workshop employees, the deserving categorically promotions, and in-time pay and pensions should be given are some more demands that should be fulfilled immediately.

Bathinda, November 13
Members of the Aam Admi Party and workers in Bathinda were today not allowed by the district administration to take out their road show in the city ahead of the Municipal Council elections. The party workers had plans to take out their road show on Wednesday but, however, the administration refused them to come out of the Teachers Home in Bathinda where the AAP workers held a meeting before taking off for their road show.

The administration reportedly refused to let off the AAP road show as they did not have any permission whereas the AAP workers claimed that they had intimated the Deputy Commissioner and the SDM besides the SSP on Wednesday about their plan to take off road show.

“Our election observer, Bathinda, Boota Singh, was about to reach and under his guidance we had planned about the road show for which we intimated in writing to Bathinda DC and SDM besides SSP, Bathinda, but they did not object then, however, today, they did not allow us to 
come out of the Teachers Home,” said local leader of the AAP, Amrit Aggarwal.

Bathinda, November 13
The District Child Protection Society (DCPS), constituted to tackle issues like child labour, crime and injustice against children, has chalked out lists of plans to extend financial benefit to the children who need it the most.

As per its charter, students belonging to families with annual income less than Rs 12,000, will be convered under the sponsorship scheme and will be given Rs 500 per month. Under the foster care scheme, children who, for some reason are not staying with their parents but are residing with some relatives, will be given a monthly monetary help of Rs 750.

Those falling in the age-group of 18 to 21 years and staying at some social welfare institutions under the After-Care Scheme are to be given Rs 2,000 per month to help them pursue higher education.

The society, still taking baby steps, plans to work in tandem with various organisations and NGOs working to ensure a better future for the children.

The society aims to work and implement the schemes and follow the rules and regulations laid down in the National Plan of Action for Children 2005. The society will also make sure that every child in the district who needs security, personal care, sponsorship, foster-care, adoption and after care will be provided to the needy children regularly.

The action plan of the society also mentions that the society will collect information regarding such children and will collaborate with special adoption agencies, NGOs and other organisations to either rehabilitate the child or ensure his/her security and welfare.

Aiming to implement the clauses of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000, the DCPS is working towards forming organisational and infrastructural setup to either formulate new ones or strengthen the existing the Juvenile Justice Board, the Child Welfare Board, the Special Juvenile Police Unit and a special home for needy children.

The DCPS is also aiming to set up societies at the district, block and village levels which would make sure that the programmes of the society are also implemented at all the levels in the district.

Tackling the rampant problem to missing children or lost children, the DCPS aims to first try and get the children back to their families and in cases wherein the families can’t be traced the society will work towards extending long-term sponsorship, in-country adoption, foster care, inter-country adoption or stay at societies meant for the welfare of such children the data of which will be collected to segregate them for institutional and non-institutional care.

The society will ensure that the laws pertaining to children, such as the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act 1956, Guardians and Wards Act 1890, Child Labour (Prohibited Regulation) Act 1986, Child Marriage and Restraint Act 1997, Immoral Traffic Prevention Act 1986, Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act 1994. While the chairperson of the society is the chairman of the Zila Parishad, the Deputy Commissioner of the district is the vice-chairperson of the society. The Senior Superintendent of police, PWD Executive Engineer, Civil Surgeon, Assistant Labour Commissioner, District Education Officer (elementary), District Welfare Officer, District Programme Officer, District Sports Officer, representative of child helpline, secretary of the Red Cross Society, principal of the technical and vocational training centre and district social security officer are the members of the District Child Protection Society.

Bathinda, November 13
A 40-year-old man was given life imprisonment for brutally murdering his wife following a dispute over his illicit relationships today. While the wife had continuously been nagging her husband for having illicit relationships, he got furious over it and killed her.

Advocate Jasjit Singh Walia, who pleaded the case for the complainant, said Harwinder Singh, a resident of Poohli village, was married to Baljeet Kaur Neena for 18 years and the couple had a 15-year-old son.

The family shifted to the paternal house of the woman in Guru Ki Nagri after the death of the woman’s father. Walia stated that Harwinder also used to chase women in the city.

Whe her wife came to know about it, she protested and brought the matter to the notice of her sister and brother-in-law. Later, Harwinder admitted his mistake and agreed to shun the habit but on April 4 at around 4 am following a brief argument over the issue with his wife, he hit her repeatedly on head with an air pistol’s butt. The accused badly crushed the head and face of her wife with the pistol, resulting in her death.

The sister and brother-in-law of the deceased, who were sleeping in another room at the time of the incident, brought the matter to notice of the police and a case was registered.

The police produced the blood-stained clothes of the accused and the weapon used for the killing his wife during the hearing of the case.

Bathinda, November 13
Members of the SSA/RMSA Non-Teaching Employees’ Union, Punjab, claimed that the state government had failed to fulfill its promises and threatened that they would wear black badges in protest from November 17.

In a press statement issued here today, district president of the union Deepak Bansal stated that during a meeting with Education Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema and Director General of School Education GK Singh, officials had agreed to their demands but nothing had been done in this regard for the past two months. He further added that due to the attitude of the government towards their demands, the non-teaching staff was feeling cheated and was restless. We are left with no other option but to protest once again, he added.

Bansal stated that as a mark of protest against the state government, they would wear black badges during working hours and if the government failed to take note of their protest, they would intensify their agitation. — TNS