BKU to launch ‘cotton morcha’ 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 16
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) has decided to join the ongoing agitation by cotton farmers in Muktsar and Ferozepore district under the banner of “cotton morcha”, which would commence on November 20 and continue till the government responded to ensure justice to the cotton growers.

This was stated by Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, president and Mr Manjit Singh Kadian, secretary-general, of the BKU, after a meeting of the state executive here today. Taking strong exception to the heavy crop losses suffered by farmers in the cotton belt, the BKU called for stringent action against those responsible for sale and distribution of spurious and substandard pesticides and farm chemicals.

The BKU noted that even though the weather conditions remained favourable for the cotton crop, the farmers were made to suffer due to callousness of officials in the Department of Agriculture who colluded with the unscrupulous elements and caused immense crop losses to the farmers. Mr Lakhowal demanded a compensation package for the cotton farmers for man-made calamity.

According to Mr Bhupinder Singh Mahesari, general secretary (press), by other resolutions, the BKU urged the government to declare the Jat community in Punjab as other backward class (OBC), grant a bonus of Rs 30 per quintal on paddy, remit all agricultural and diversified profession loans of farmers and rural artisans. It further asked the government to slash the rates of interest on crop loans to a maximum of 4 per cent per annum so that the farmers were in a position to return the loans.

The meeting expressed its concern over delay in announcement of the MSP for sugarcane and demanded a price of Rs 143 per quintal on the basis of wholesale price index. The BKU activists criticised the practice by the sugar mills in rejecting even the second crop of certified seed provided by the mills themselves. “The government should impress upon the mills that crop of such rejected varieties should be accepted for at least two successive years to save the farmers from avoidable losses. The BKU meeting also discussed several common problems of sugarcane farmers and exhorted the state government to come to their rescue and put the exploitation of farmers by the sugar mills to an end.

Bigwigs to be given awards on November 23
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 16
Noted film producers Rama Nand Sagar and B.R. Chopra, prominent industrialists Om Parkash Munjal, Flying Sikh Milkha Singh, wrestler Kartar Singh, the former Vice- Chancellor of Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences, Dr Livtar Singh Chawla, and acclaimed Punjabi singer Surjit Bindrakhia are some of the personalities to be presented with the ‘Great Men of 20th Century’ award by the Shaheed Memorial Sewa Society in a function to be held at Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, here on November 23.

According to Mr Vajinder Singh, secretary general of the society, some other prominent personalities to be honoured with the award were Mr Joginder Singh, former Director of CBI; Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Punjab Chief Minister; Dr G.S. Preet, Director, Health Services, Punjab; Mr Amresh Jain, Deputy Commissioner; Customs, Giani Bhagat Singh, Chairman, G.S. International; Mr Mohinder Singh Bhogal; Mr K.B.S. Sidhu and Mr N.S. Maini. The award would also be conferred on two local institutions — Punjab Agricultural University and Christian Medical College and Hospital, which had carried out noteworthy work in their respective fields.

A meeting of the society was held here last evening to give final touches to the arrangements for the function. Mr Vajinder Singh told those present in the meeting that Ms Harmeet Kaur, Principal, Ramgarhia Girls College; Ms K. Virdi, Principal, Guru Nanak Public School; and Ms Manjit Rana, Principal, Sargodha School; had assured full cooperation on behalf of their respective institutions.

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa will give away the awards and Punjab Minister for Technical Education Jagdish Singh Garcha will preside over the function. Other dignitaries expected to be present on the occasion were Lala Lajpat Rai, MP; Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, MP; Mr Hira Singh Gabria MLA; and Mr Rakesh Pandey MLA.

Arrangements like cultural items to be presented during the function, seating arrangement and awards ceremony, were discussed in detail and specific duties were assigned to functionaries of the society.

Among others Mr Radha Krishan, Mr Dharminder Arora, Mr Subhash Jain, Mr A.S. Sachdeva, Mr M.S. Fani, Ms Amarjit Kochar, Ms Manjit Rana, Mr Sanjeev Kumar, Mr Manjit Singh Birdi, Mr Jaswinder Singh, Ms Satwinder Kaur, Mr Manav Jain, Mr G.S. Gill and Mr K.K. Sharma attended the meeting.