Sangrur, September 3
The BKU (Ugrahan) announced today that it was desperate to protest against the non-implementation of an agreement reached between the Trident Group and farmers’ unions with regard to giving 70 per cent above acquisition price to the farmers of Dhaula, Sangherra and Fatehgarh Chhanna villages (near Barnala), whose 376 acre had been acquired by the state government for the Trident Group.

Talking to The Tribune today BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, said the modalities for taking such a step would be chalked out at a meeting to be held in the second week of this month for taking the agitation to its logical conclusion. The state government will be compelled to implement the agreement, he added.

Kokri Kalan said they had decided to take action in the second week of October, as Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary would be organised by a committee under the leadership of playwright Gursharan Singh on September 28 at Barnala. The BKU (Ugrahan) was also a part of the committee, he added.

Regarding the response of the Badal government towards the implementation of the agreement, Kokri Kalan said it seemed to be a mixed one.

However, he said it was clear that the state government wanted to linger the issue. Why government wanted to do so, he could not explain?

He said the state government had also failed to implement other clauses of the agreement in letter and spirit. The government had given compensation to only 34 injured farmers while 36 others, who had lost his life in the jail, were yet to get it. He said the state government had also not withdrawn cases registered against farmers during the agitations.

He also disclosed that the state home secretary had issued a circular on August 27, which stated that the state government would withdraw the cases registered against farmers.

He said earlier the home secretary in two circulars, issued on July 31 and August 20, had mentioned that cases registered against all farmers would be withdrawn.

He flayed the August 27 circular, demanding withdrawal of cases registered against all farmers.

Amritsar, September 3
“We should strengthen the bonds of communal harmony and universal brotherhood and defeat the nefarious designs of those forces who were out to disturb the communal harmony in the state,” said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a shobha yatra organised by Sri Gopal Krishan Sewa Society on the eve of Janmashtami here today.

Extending his greetings to the people, Badal said Lord Krishana had advocated the philosophy of “Karma”. He further exhorted the people to opt for “karmayog” as an ultimate path that leads to the Almighty. He appealed to the people to celebrate this sacred day by rising above petty considerations of caste, creed and religion.

Health and family welfare minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla said that the scriptures had not recorded any life more full, intense, sublime and grand than the life of Lord Krishna.

On the occasion the Chief Minister was honoured by Chawla and members of the Society by presenting a portrait of Lord Krishna. Navjot Singh Sidhu, MP, Anil Joshi, Manjinder Singh Kang, both MLAs, Baldev Raj Chawla, former minister, Punjab, were among those present.

Amritsar, September 3
Nawanshahr would be named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh to mark his birth centenary. The district has produced many patriots and includes Khatkal Kalan village which has a national museum in the name of the martyr.

This was stated by Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, while interacting with mediapersons here today. Appreciating the decision of the government of Pakistan to celebrate the birth centenary of the martyr, Badal said that he would definitely visit Pakistan if invited.

The Chief Minister has also convened a meeting of all deputy commissioners next week to finalise the modalities for the functions to be held on September 27 and 28. He said that his government would bring the sacred soil from the birthplace of Shaheed Bhagat Singh in Lyallpur district in Pakistan, where on September 27 a huge function was being organised.

Answering a question, Badal said that he had already asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to name a central or defence university to be allotted to the state after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. He also gave a call to all political parties, eminent citizens, intellectuals, educationists, students to observe the martyr’s centenary as a mass movement to reawaken the spirit of nationalism.

According to a decision taken at the committee meeting, marches would begin from the places associated with national martyrs in the state and converge at Jallianwala Bagh on September 27. A contingent would also start from Wagah carrying a torch towards Jallianwala Bagh.

When asked about the non-inclusion of the name of local BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu in the Amritsar Development Authority, he claimed that there were some technical problems to include his name.

Bathinda, Sepember 3
Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) president Vijay Inder Singla said today by hiking collector rates of landed property across the state, the SAD-BJP government had dealt a fatal blow to the poor sections of society.

Singla, who was here in connection with membership drive of the organisation, told mediapersons in the evening that unprecedented hike in collector rates of landed property, would deprive the poor of opportunity of purchasing plots for houses.

Singla was accompanied by Kultaj Singh, returning officer for the membership drive.

He pointed out that this ‘unjustified’ action of the government would also hit collection of revenue on account of sale/purchase of landed property as most of those, who had been dealing in real estate would avoid registration of transfer of land by paying huge amount in the shape of registration fee. Instead the real estate businessmen would carry out dealings only on the basis of power of attorney and agreement to sell.

He said the membership drive had been launched in Barnala, Mansa and Bathinda districts today. Four districts, including Muktsar, Faridkot, Ferozepur and Moga, would be covered tomorrow. 

Chandigarh, September 3
The Shiromani Akali Dal has played a fraud on the Election Commission of India by submitting to it a doctored constitution of the party to project itself as a secular party, said Balwant Singh Khera, member of the national executive of the Janata Dal (Secular).

Addressing a press conference here today, Khera, who has filed a petition against the SAD on this issue before the election commission, said the SAD had submitted a different constitution to the Gurdwara Election Commission. “ We detected the fraud played by the party by getting a copy of the SAD’s constitution, which is the original one, from the gurdwara commission under the right to information act”, said Khera.

“We plan to complain to the police with regard to the fraud”, he said. 

Chandigarh, September 3
The next two weeks will possibly set a fresh agenda on the long- standing water disputes between Punjab and its neighbouring states of Haryana and Rajasthan. Three politically important cases, including the presidential reference on the Punjab termination of agreements act, 2004, will come for hearing in the Supreme Court during this period.

The political stakes being high, each word spoken in the court will be heard with great interest across north India. Punjab has already challenged sections 78 and 79 of the reorganisation of states act, 1966. The origin of water-sharing agreements involving Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan lies in this act.

A constitution bench of the apex court will hear the matter on the PTAA, 2004, on September 18. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha had passed the act in July, 2004. It had created a furore with Punjab claiming that the act was not aimed at overcoming the apex court ruling on the SYL canal. Punjab had scrapped all water accords with neighbouring states from 1981 onwards. Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had made a four-point reference to the Supreme Court about the validity of the act. The outcome of the case will have a huge impact. Even the central government knows how the issue of sharing river waters provided a catalyst to militancy in the state in the 1980s. Punjab, in March this year, had agreed that it will not move to scrap section 5 of the PTAA. This section provides that the existing flow and quantum of water to Haryana or Rajasthan will not be disturbed.

Another other important case is coming up on September 5.The Supreme Court will again hear the matter of allowing Haryana to puncture the Bhakra main line (BML) canal. Last month, the apex court had granted an interim stay on the puncturing of the canal till further hearing on September 5. Punjab had petitioned for an interim order.

Rajasthan has also joined Punjab in challenging the Haryana government’s action to dig the 20 km-long feeder canal. Both states have alleged that Haryana is doing it in violation of the Bhakra-Nangal agreement, 1959. Haryana and the central government are to submit their replies.

The third important case (September 17) is the claim of Rajasthan that three water regulatory headworks of the Bhakra and Beas projects be taken out of Punjab’s control and handed over to the Bhakra Beas management board (BBMB) .The Supreme Court, in 2005, had stayed the order of the Rajasthan high court directing Punjab to hand over the management of the Ropar, Harike and Ferozepore headworks to the BBMB.

Faridkot, September 3
The observation home here for juvenile undertrials from six districts, which is also used for lodging international offenders, is woefully short of basic amenities, ideal environment and opportunities to help them to start a meaningful life.

At least 36 inmates, whose number sometimes goes up to 50, are cramped in a three-room and a hall. Throughout the day they have nothing substantial to do. But they are taken out of the cells in small groups to play in the ground. Interestingly, there is just one cook to feed so many mouths.

There are numerous instances when juvenile offenders managed to slip away from the home right under the nose of the cops. The main reason behind this is a fact that the home, meant for child offenders between six and 18, are housed in a residential building in violation of safety norms.

Successive governments have failed to address the issue despite the fact that the home was shifted here from Amritsar in 1992. Citizens are of the view that governments have been ignoring these victims of circumstances. They are sore over the government attitude for not trying to help them turn into responsible citizens.

Though Rs 1.67 crore was passed, the government was yet to accord its approval. This could be gauged from the fact that in contradiction to the rules the home does not even have a full-time superintendent.

Interestingly, the district social security officer (DSSO), Faridkot, who also holds the same charge at Muktsar, has been given additional charge of this home. It receives juvenile undertrials from Muktsar, Moga, Mansa, Bathinda and Ferozepur, besides from this district. It is also used to accommodate Pakistani children.

Each inmate has a unique reason and circumstance to land up here. Ajit, 10, is the youngest of the inmates and is undergoing trial for stealing wires along with his four accomplices. Currently, nine of the inmates are undergoing trial for rape and seven for murder.

Although a teacher regularly comes to take classes, weekly counselling sessions and yoga are organised but are not adequate to channelise energies of the inmates. Besides, there is no provision to teach them like in regular schools. Education is merely imparted to keep them busy.

For guards deployed at the home the main task is to stop infighting among inmates. Juvenile criminals in their teens beat up juniors for fun and pranks. However, due to the space shortage they could not be segregated and it remains a nuisance for guards and children.

Besides, bullies among the inmates organize their groups and direct others to follow their diktats sometime resulting in infighting.

Khartoum (Sudan), September 2
In the southern town of Malakal, dormant animosity between north and south Sudan can erupt into bloody violence any time. And when it does, it’s the Indian peacekeeping troops that douse the fire and ensure that the oil-rich region does not plunge into chaos.

Lieut-Gen Jasbir Singh Lidder, force commander of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and a tall, handsome Indian Sikh officer at that, does not like to give a nationalistic flavour to the multinational peacekeeping mission he is heading in a country that has been embroiled in a civil war between the Arab-dominated north and black-dominated south over the last four decades.

In fact, Lidder makes it a point to emphasise that he is force commander of the entire UNMIS, which has over 10,000 troops in Africa’s largest country, and not just of India.

But the 58-year-old Lidder, who earlier served as additional director-general, military operations, at the Army Headquarters in New Delhi, can’t help showering praise on the good work Indian troops have been doing in a critical and rugged sector in Sudan.

“In November, 2006, full-fledged conflict broke out in Malakal town, with artillery, tanks and heavy weapons being used. In this flare-up, Indian commanders and troops played a proactive role in defusing the crisis, which was commended by the UN and the international community,” Lidder told a visiting IANS correspondent at the UNMIS headquarters here.

“Located in Upper Nile, this is the region which borders Line 1/1/56 in the north and has maximum oilfields and other armed groups. We have been experiencing maximum violence and clashes in this sector,” he explained.

“Besides the Upper Nile Sector, the IAF Helicopter Contingent, the Force Reserve Battalion, the Transport Company and the Force Signal Company have been performing admirably,” he added.

India, with its 2,597 troops, is the largest contributing nation to the peacekeeping mission that has been operating for the last two years to maintain the fragile peace that came about after the Sudanese government signed an agreement with the Sudan Liberation People’s Army (SPLA), former rebels who have been pressing for an independent state, in January 2005.

Being the force commander, Lidder has an insight into what makes Indian troops effective in conflict situations, especially in Africa.

“The bulk of our troops hail from a similar rural culture and, therefore, can sustain the rigours of peace keeping, with pride and smile,” Lidder said.

“Besides, traditionally, India has a history of close ties with Africa. Indian troops are well experienced in low intensity conflict and are appreciated for their sheer professionalism, humane and down-to-earth approach.”

Indian troops have also carved a special place for themselves in the minds and hearts of Africans for their enthusiastic involvement in community-related projects. “The Indian peacekeepers have been especially active in providing medical and veterinary support, besides engaging in other community development schemes,” Lidder said.

“When the violent clashes took place in Malakal in November, 2006, Indian troops came out in a big way to assist in humanitarian related activities, especially treating the wounded,” he added.

Besides, Indian troops, like the other contingents, are engaged in Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC) programmes and the implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QUIPS), to support the local population, Lidder said.

Is he optimistic about peace and stability returning to Sudan after decades of north-south civil war? “The DDR process, that is demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration, is well behind schedule,” admitted Lidder, a winner of many gallantry awards.

But Lidder is not new to peacekeeping - he served as chief of staff of the UN mission in Mozambique over a decade ago - and prefers to be an eternal optimist. — IANS

Chandigarh, September 3
The Chief Minister today decided to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh along with Rajguru and Sukhdev by organising marches that commence from various places associated with martyrs of the state and converge at Jallianwala Bagh on September 27.

The places from the marches would start are Dhudike - associated with Lala Lajpat Rai; Khatkar Kalan- Bhagat Singh; Ludhiana- Sukhdev; Sunam - Udham Singh and Sarabha - Kartar Singh Sarabha. A member of every marching contingent would carry a torch to be consecrated at Jallianwala Bagh martyr’s flame.

Mullanpur, September 3
Tension over the proposed religious congregation at Sant Bhurriwala dera on September 5 grew further today when the local police arrested five leaders, including Daljit Singh Bittu, under preventive custody, accusing them of planning to disturb the religious function.

Bittu along with Jarnail Singh Khalsa of Tatt Khalsa, Kirtinder Pal Singh Singhpura and Dal Khalsa leaders Surjit Singh and Devinder Singh were arrested near Mullanpur Dakha when they were on way to Talwandi Khurd.

Chandigarh, September 3
The Punjab government has referred the model of the controversial project with regard to the construction of a kutcha bundh on either side of the Ghaggar river from Khanuri to Karail village, about 30 km, in Sangrur district to the Amritsar-based irrigation research institute.

Sources said the model had been referred to find out whether the implementation of the project was tenable and would be useful to the people 
of the area concerned in the long run.

Several questions have been raised with regard to the project worth Rs 90 crore. A section of the engineers in the irrigation department, Punjab, had raised questions regarding the usefulness of the project. Money for the project is to be advanced by NABARD on interest to the state government.

A few days ago The Tribune had reported regarding the questions raised by certain quarters over the usefulness of this project. They had stated that the implementation of the project would be a waste of money. They had argued that the building of a dam on the Ghaggar near Panchkula would be the proper solution to the problem of the flooding of downstream areas by the river. Raising the bundh at a far-away place downstream would provide no solution, they added.

“ If the experts find any fault with the model, the project will be scrapped”, said a senior officer of the irrigation department.

Meanwhile, officials of the panchayat department at the lower level have also questioned the government’s new policy to give panchayat land to people whose land would be acquired to raise the kutcha bundh and related works included in the project.

The government has decided that 50 per cent of the total land owned by a panchayat in the village concerned could be given to the farmers in lieu of their land acquired for the Ghaggar project.

The officials of the panchayat department say the government had come out with a policy which would create a lot of trouble in the villages concerned. Panchayat land belonged to the entire village and could not be given to a small section of the farmers whose land would be acquired for raising the bundh. Obviously, such a decision would fuel factionalism in the villages, leading to litigation.

Amritsar, September 3
Doctors of a heart institute here today claimed saving the life of a heart patient by surgery, which they termed as ‘Amritsar operation’.The surgery was done a year ago, but the hospital waited to monitor the progress of the patient.

The successful operation of 61-year-old Hardeep Singh, a famer, has “surprised” the medical fraternity in India and abroad, said Dr H.S. Pannu, chief cardiac surgeon, and Dr Puneet Verma, chief cardiologist at the institute, who headed the surgeons team.

At a press conference, the two specialists said the patient had massive heart attack, which damaged the left and right heart chambers. This was aggravated by rupture of “septum” (main partition of the major chamber of heart) causing mixing of impure and pure blood, a life-threatening condition.

The patient also suffered from multiple organ failure, including liver, lungs and both kidneys, due to which chances of survival were nil, said the doctors.

“The case has been invited for presentation in the national and international scientific forums, including the Cardiology Survey of India in Hyderabad and the International Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgeons in Boston. 

Nasib Singh admitted that no orders to this effect had been given by the administration.

Block development officer Roop Singh says there has been no permission to the village panchayat to pull down the toilets.The department has sought a report from the sarpanch, who only recently had been told to complete the construction of these toilets.

Patiala, September 3
A police party headed by ASI Lakhwant Singh of Kotwali police station arrested Lakhwinder Singh and seized 25 bottles of Indian made foreign liquor from his Accent car today.

According to police sources, the party intercepted a car carrying the consignment meant for sale in Chandigarh and was being smuggled into Punjab.

The police also impounded the car and arrested Lakhwinder Singh, a resident of Old Subzi Mandi, Patiala.

A case has been registered.

Patiala, September 3
The excise and taxation department has impounded a truck laden with copper wire and nickel plates worth Rs 45 lakh from near Kharar here today.

The truck was coming from New Delhi and was bound for Ludhiana. It was moving through village link roads after allegedly taking the consignment from New Delhi and had taken the route through Haryana reportedly to evade the excise duty.

The driver was found to be possessing fake documents pertaining to the purchase of both copper and nickel. An excise and taxation department source disclosed that the department was likely to impose a penalty of Rs 24 lakh in the case.

The entire operation was planned by ETO R.K. Malhotra with Chaman Lal Singla, Inspector, posted in the mobile wing of the department at Bathinda.

Chandigarh, September 3
The scrapping of 157 posts of college lecturer by the Parkash Singh Badal government and its failure to streamline college education and remove the mess in the education system have made the Punjab government college teachers’ association raise the banner of protest against the state government.

The association has decided to observe teachers day as a “black day” by wearing black badges.

The association says the government has also allowed the conversion of 111 posts from one subject to another.

For instance, where the post of Hindi lecturer is not needed, it has been converted into the post of political science lecturer, if that is required.

For several months, the state government has been sitting on the file with regard to a proposal moved by the higher education department to fill 265 vacant posts of lecturer.

Most of the colleges are being run with guest faculty or ad hoc lecturers. However, the government has decided to give appointments to 88 lecturers who were selected by the Punjab public service commission.

As many as 28 lecturers, whose names have been cleared for appointment, were selected during the tenure Ravi Sidhu, it is learnt.

While scrapping the posts of college cadre lecturer under the garb of rationalisation of such posts, the government has violated the norms laid down by the UGC and the universities concerned, said Jaipal Singh, president of the association.

Talking to The Tribune, Jaipal Singh said higher education was facing problems because of the violation of the norms laid down by the UGC with regard to college education and the student-teacher ratio by the state government. Taking the plea that plus two classes had been shifted to schools from colleges, the government had abolished 157 posts of college lecturer.

As of now, there were 1,873 posts of college lecture in all government colleges.

Against these posts, 1,100 lecturers were working on a regular basis. Besides, 338 lecturers were working on an ad hoc basis.

Jaipal Singh said the state government had also denied 5 per cent interim relief to college lecturers on the plea that such a benefit was to be given by the UGC and the central government.

However, on the other hand, the state government had denied benefits approved by the UGC for college lecturers.

The UGC had enhanced the age of superannuation in the case of lecturers to 62 years.

However, the same had been denied to the college lecturers taking the plea that “we are state government employees”, said Jaipal Singh.

The UGC had notified the creation of posts of reader and professor in colleges, but this benefit had also been denied in Punjab. So far, the benefit of the senior scale had been given to only one teacher.

Bathinda, September 3
Two lecturers of government polytechnic here have invited applications for admission to the three- year diploma course in electrical engineering from the polytechnic premises though no such course has been started by the authorities concerned.

The lecturers, who circulated pamphlets in various newspapers in connection with the admission in electrical engineering, also assured that diploma holders in electrical engineering trade, would get jobs in thermal plants of Bathinda district and one new thermal plant proposed to be set up near Talwandi Sabo and oil refinery.

Taking a serious view of the action of the lecturers of electrical trade, principal of the college Balkar Singh Sandhu has decided to take up the matter with higher authorities concerned for action against them.

The lecturers were identified as Mangat Ram and Jasbir Singh Gill. They said they had inserted the pamphlets to make the people aware of the fact that a diploma course in electrical engineering was going to start in the polytechnic.

Gill, however, urged this correspondent not to publish any news item in connection with the insertion of pamphlets in the newspapers.