Security up, cops ‘denied’ leave till I-Day

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 31

After the Dinanagar terrorist attack, the state police are leaving no stone unturned to ensure foolproof security for the Independence Day functions. The police have not just sounded an alert in the state but also stopped issuing casual leave to its personnel.

Some policemen told The Tribune that they were not allowed to go on leave. “The orders of not sanctioning leave had come on Wednesday, which would be in effect till August 15,” said a policeman.

A head constable said, “I had availed leave for a week till Monday but was called on duty today itself. The department has cancelled our leaves.”

A senior police official said security at police stations and public places, including railway stations and bus stands, had been beefed up. “Though there is nothing to panic about, preventive measures are being taken in view of the Independence Day. The night patrolling parties have also been told to strengthen their vigil. Besides, some nakas are being laid on inter-district boundaries,” he said.

However, about the suspension of leave, he said, “There is no such order issued by the higher-ups. Personnel are allowed to take leave in case of any urgency.”

Muktsar Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Chahal, said, “After the terrorist attack, an alert has been issued in the state. We have increased the vigil and sought public alertness and assistance in case they find anything suspicious.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Muktsar MC Prez insulted me, alleges SAD councillor; Announces to lodge protest

Muktsar MC Prez insulted me, alleges SAD councillor

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 31

All is not well within the SAD in Muktsar as Akali councillor Parminder Singh ‘Pasha’ has accused Muktsar Municipal Council President Harpal Singh Bedi of insulting him in the council’s house meeting yesterday. 

Angry over the “ill-treatment”, Pasha has decided to burn the effigy of Bedi on August 3 at the MC office. Pasha is also the district president of SAD’s SC wing and son of former MLA Malout Baldev Singh Ballamgarh. A SAD woman sarpanch had slapped him on December 15 last year in a party meeting.

Pasha alleged, “I am being targetted time and again. Earlier, I was slapped for no fault of mine. Now, the MC President has insulted me in front of MC employees... I am an elected representative of people.”

He alleged, “When I raised some issues pertaining to my ward No. 15 in the meeting yesterday, Bedi told me to shut up. He further insulted me saying the works would be done as per his wish not as per the demand of any councillor.” Pasha alleged he was ill-treated as he belonged to the Scheduled Caste community.

Refuting the allegation, Bedi, said: “I did not insult anyone in the meeting. Pasha is unnecessarily creating an issue. All members of the municipal council and senior employees were present in the meeting and nothing objectionable happened there.” This issue is in the notice of senior SAD leadership as well.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Badal govt sanctions Rs 150 crore for works in Lambi segment

Deputy CM laid foundation stones in 35 villages last week

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi, July 30

With about one-and-a-half-year left for the assembly elections in the state, the Parkash Singh Badal-led state government has started diverting huge funds for the development of his Lambi assembly constituency.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal last week laid 37 foundation stones for various development works in 35 villages in the Lambi segment. The estimated cost of these works is about Rs 150 crore.

The state government has even given the administrative approval to carry out these works, which mainly consist of the construction of concrete streets, drains (sewage lines) and minors.

The Panchayati Raj Department has been told to lay concrete streets in 15 villages of the Lambi segment at a cost of Rs 41.5 crore. Similarly, the Punjab Mandi Board has been told to carry out development works worth Rs 53 crore in this constituency. The Irrigation Department has been told to renovate six minor canals and construct a new minor canal in the Lambi segment at the total cost of about Rs 52 crore.

Parveen Gandhi, Executive Engineer, Panchayati Raj Department, said, “Our department has to carry out development works in 15 villages of Lambi with about Rs 41.5 crore. The state government has given the administrative approval to the DC to carry out the works. The tendering procedure will begin soon.”

Notably, in the past too, whenever the Chief Minister has held Sangat Darshans in his Lambi assembly segment, he sanctioned grants of Rs 50-80 lakh on an average for each village. Sources close to the Chief Minister said he held Sangat Darshans in all villages once a year.

Further, the CM has adopted three villages – Rattakhera Vadda, Rattakhera Chhota and Kangankhera – in his constituency to develop them into model villages. Besides, his daughter-in-law Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has adopted Mann village, also in this constituency, under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) to develop it as a model village. Though she has just sanctioned about Rs 5 lakh for the sports infrastructure, the state government has sanctioned about Rs 8.36 crore for this village since November 15 last year, when Harsimrat had adopted this village.

Courtesy: The Tribune

State funding for village adopted by Harsimrat

Projects announced

• Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal on Monday laid the foundation stone for the construction of concrete streets and drains for nearly Rs 7.5 crore
• Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, during his Sangat Darshan on January 2, announced Rs 80 lakh for development works

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lambi, July 27

Mann village in the Lambi Assembly segment is being developed into a model village largely with state government funding even though Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has adopted it under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on July 21 laid the foundation stone for the construction of concrete streets and drains for nearly Rs7.5 crore. This work has to be executed by the Punjab Mandi Board.

Sham Behari Kansal, Executive Engineer, Punjab Mandi Board, Muktsar, said: “Nearly 10-km-long concrete streets and drains will be built in the village for which the Deputy Chief Minister has laid the foundation stone.”

Similarly, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, during his Sangat Darshan on January 2, had announced Rs80 lakh for development works.

In contrast, Harsimrat — during her recent visit last month – did not announce any funds for the village. She just directed the administration to buy a fogging machine to control mosquitoes.

Then, she just appealed the residents to develop their thinking to become residents of a model village, saying, “A village is not called developed until its residents take part in positive activities. The village must set an example of communal harmony and respect for women. All residents must make self-help groups to solve their problems at their end.” Harsimrat had adopted the village on November 15 last year. This village falls in the CM’s home turf Lambi.

Harsimrat has initiated the construction of a community hall in the village. Teja Singh, sarpanch, said: “The Union Minister has sanctioned a grant of Rs62 lakh for the construction of the village community hall. The Mandi Board officials have been assigned this task and the work is under way.”

After witnessing the state’s overexcitement to meet Harsimrat’s desires by going the extra mile, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann had raised objection with reference to the village adopted by him.

Quick to react to Mann’s grouse, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had replied: “The village has been adopted by Bhagwant Mann. Let him spend from his allocated funds to develop it as a model village. It is not the responsibility of the state exchequer to spend money and develop his adopted village.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Security men with VIPs carry ‘useless’ carbines in Punjab

Security men with VIPs carry ‘useless’ carbines

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 28

How safe are bureaucrats, politicians and other important persons in Punjab? The answer to the question lies in the 9mm carbines provided to security personnel which have turned “useless”. In many cases, security personnel have to use rubber band to keep the magazine intact with the carbine.

Recently, a PCS officer of the rank of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) showed a service rifle (9mm carbine) of his gunman to this correspondent. It had a rubber band fitted on the magazine’s release catch to keep it from falling out on its own.

“The weapon has turned old and magazine gets loose, so to keep it in place we have to use rubber band or adjust its catch with a tape. While travelling, we have to remove the magazine to avoid losing it on the way. Although a majority of officials prefer to carry the weapon because of its small size, it carries a lot of risk as well,” said the gunman of the officer.

Similarly, another security man said, “Besides the release catch problem, the magazine can’t be fully loaded. We load just 15 cartridges in the magazine against the total capacity of 30 rounds.”

In such a situation, most of the protectees have asked their security personnel to change the weapon from their department. A senior police officer too admitted the fact that the policemen had to adjust the magazine using some improvised method. “Normally, the 9mm carbine is allotted to the head constables. They may be attached with any officer, politician or doing duty in police stations,” he added.

He, however, further said the obsolete weapons could be repaired or replaced from the department. A recent report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) too had exposed that the state policemen were equipped with obsolete weapons.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Mortuaries at govt hospitals in poor state

Cry for attention

• a number of mortuaries in the state are in a dilapidated condition and require immediate renovation, while some of them even lack freezers to keep the bodies
• Two of the four freezers at Sub-Divisional Hospital, Samrala, are not working. There is no freezer available at the mortuary in Sub-Divisional Hospital, Gidderbaha. The building too needs renovation

Archiot Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 24

As per the official records recently uploaded on the Health Department’s official website, a number of mortuaries in the state are in a dilapidated condition and require immediate renovation, while some of them even lack freezers to keep the bodies.

Perusal of the records revealed that the mortuary at the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, needed renovation of building. The Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDH), Talwandi Sabo, requires two freezers to store bodies. The District Hospital, Faridkot, also required freezers. Freezers at the Community Health Centre (CHC), Bassi Pathana, were not working and it required a genset. The mortuary of SDH, Nakodar, and SDH, Phillaur, too needed renovation. Two of the four freezers at SDH, Samrala, too were not working. There was no freezer available at the mortuary in SDH, Gidderbaha. The building too needed renovation and electrical fittings.

The mortuary of SDH, Malout, also required renovation. The mortuary of SDH, Nabha, required a double body freezer, a genset and an air-conditioner. There was not even a single freezer available at the mortuary of SDH, Sunam, and SDH, Dhuri. The condition of mortuary building at SDH, Patti, was also poor.

The mortuary building at CHC, Lambi, has not yet been handed over to the Health Department and the work is stalled midway. Dr Sukhpal Singh, Deputy Medical Commissioner, Muktsar, said, “We are yet to take over the building from the PWD (B&R) officials as some work is lying pending.”

Dr Gurpal Singh, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Faridkot, said, “We don’t keep the bodies in Civil Hospital, Faridkot, and send all to the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital.”

Dr RL Bassan, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Jalandhar, said, “We have sent the report about requirements of hospitals to the higher-ups. As soon as we will get funds, the work will be started.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Cops told to tighten Badals’ security

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 24

In view of Surat Singh Khalsa’s protest, the district police chiefs in the state have been told to tighten security arrangements for the ruling Badal family members – Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

A senior officer said there were inputs that radical Sikhs might try to disrupt functions of the Badals. “We have been told not to let large groups meet the Badals. Only acquaintances of the Badals or persons checked by the police will be allowed to meet them,” he said. The officer further said they had been told not to allow any radical Sikh meet the Badals. However, Varinder Kumar, IGP, Intelligence, denied the issuance of such an alert.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Relining of canals: State govt giving relaxations to interested firms

Delay in starting project

• The state government had first floated the tenders for this project in 2012 and then in 2014, but no private company showed interest both times. The tenders were again floated this year and the Irrigation Department brought about some changes in conditions during pre-bid meetings

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 16

As there has been a lot of delay in starting the relining of Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind Feeder canals, the process for which started in 2011, the state government is giving some relaxations to contractors who have finally shown interest in the Rs 1,800-crore project. The work is meant to be completed in four years in four phases.

The state government has agreed to charge taxes, duties, levies, VAT, labour, cess, royalty, toll, etc, only at the time of submission of the bid. If there is any variation in taxes in the next four years, the increased amount of taxes collected would be reimbursed.

Notably, seepage from the twin canals is a major cause of waterlogging in this region.

The state government had first floated the tenders for this project in 2012 and then in 2014, but no private company had shown interest both times. The tenders were again floated this year and the Irrigation Department brought some changes in the conditions during the first and second pre-bid meetings.

Now, the third and final pre-bid meeting is scheduled on July 20, where some more relaxations are likely to be given to those parties who have shown interest in the project.

Sources in the Irrigation Department said the parties which had applied for the tenders included Hindustan Construction Company, Sadbhavana Construction Company, NCC Construction and Duncan Construction.

They said the state’s Chief Secretary was personally looking after the project. The Chief Secretary himself has formed some committees to look into this project and change the specifications, they said.

When contacted, SS Grewal, Chief Engineer (Canals), Irrigation department, said, “The tendering process is on and we are hopeful that it will be allotted this time.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

TRIBUNE IMPACT: Report sought on Muktsar vacancies

TRIBUNE IMPACT: Report sought on Muktsar vacancies

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 23

The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of The Tribune report “46% posts of doctor lying vacant in CM’s home district” that appeared today.

The commission asked Principal Secretary, Health and Director, State Health and Family Welfare Department, to file a report in this regard by October 8.

It was mentioned in the story that of the total 124 posts of doctors sanctioned, 57 were lying vacant in Muktsar, the home district of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. It also said the situation was grim in rural areas, where of the total 56 posts of doctors sanctioned, just 22 were filled.

Courtesy: The Tribune

46% posts of doctor lying vacant in CM’s home district 

Healthcare hit

• Not even a single doctor is deputed in several primary health centres
• Pharmacists are performing the role of a doctor at these centres

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 15

Healthcare services are hit even in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home district Muktsar with 57 of the 124 sanctioned posts of doctors lying vacant. The situation is grim in rural areas where against the sanctioned strength of 56 doctors, 22 are posted and the remaining 34 posts vacant.

Not even a single doctor is deputed in primary health centres (PHCs) in Harike Kalan, Kanianwali, Gulabewala, Panniwala, Virk Khera, Singhewala, Roranwali, Kandukhera, Bhai Ka Kera, Kot Bhai and Badian villages. Pharmacists are performing the role of doctor at these centres.

In such a situation, the common man has no other option, but to visit private hospitals that offer costly treatment. Some people even end up going to quacks.

The lack of specialists in Civil Hospitals is also a major cause of concern. In Muktsar Civil Hospital, 16 of 29 posts of doctor are lying vacant. In Malout Civil Hospital, four of 13 posts are lying vacant. In Gidderbaha Civil Hospital, four of 13 posts are lying vacant. In Badal Civil Hospital, four of 13 posts are vacant.

Community Health Centres (CHCs) also face shortage of doctors. Six of seven sanctioned posts of doctor at Bariwala CHC are lying vacant and three of six posts at Chak Sherewala CHC are vacant.

Sources said in the last one-and-a-half months, nearly 20 doctors were transferred out of the district, but only three were replaced. “In May, 84 medical officers (doctors) were posted in the district. Now, there are only 67,” a source said.

Sources further said several medical officers refused to be posted in the district as it was less developed. For instance, a doctor was transferred to Kanianwali village PHC in the recent past, but he did not join.

Nearly half of the posts of senior medical officer (SMO) in the district are lying vacant. The vital post of district health officer (DHO), one of the two posts of Food Safety Officer and one of the two posts of drugs inspector is lying vacant.

Balraj Singh, Sarpanch, Gulabewala village, said, “I have come to Chandigarh to request top officers of the Health Department to depute a doctor at our village PHC, where not even a pharmacist is deputed.”

Dr Jagjivan Lal, Civil Surgeon, Muktsar, said, “We have taken up the matter with the higher authorities. We are trying our best to manage with the resources available.”

Moreover, though the district has the state’s highest average of 136 cancer patients per 1 lakh people, no cancer specialist is deputed in any government hospital.

Courtesy: The Tribune

SAD plans foray into UP Assembly poll; Will send leaders from Punjab, says Sukhbir

SAD plans foray into UP Assembly poll

Will send leaders from Punjab, says Sukhbir

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal being honoured by villagers in Muktsar district on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Kolianwali (Lambi), July 22

The Akali Dal has started its action plan to take part in the 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. SAD president Sukhbir Badal today said the party would contest coming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and the process to shortlist in charges was under way.

“The SAD will soon appoint five in charges in Uttar Pradesh. They will be belonging to Punjab and set up party unit there. Though the number of seats and from where elections will be contested is not decided as of now, the party will contest from everywhere having possibility to win on its own symbol,” said Sukhbir, while talking to The Tribune.

He took on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), saying, “The real anti-poor face of the AAP is exposed from the fact that Arvind Kejriwal has set aside more than Rs 500 crore for publicity on the state’s exchequer against the meagre Rs 10 crore publicity budget of the Punjab government. This fund could have been diverted to construct streets, roads and develop other infrastructure rather than spending on publicity.”

He along with party’s district president Dyal Singh Kolianwali released the list of party’s district unit at Kolianwali village.

To introduce health card for poor

Sukhbir while addressing the public at Kattianwali village said the state government would launch health card for the poor on August 15, which would enable them free treatment up to Rs 30,000 in government hospitals.

‘Solar Summit will boost economy’

Sukhbir today hoped that the Solar Summit being held on Thursday in Chandigarh would boost the economy of the state as it had emerged as the most preferred destination for investment in non- conventional energy sector.

He urged farmers to come forward and be a part under the incentive-oriented net metering policy as it was especially designed keeping in view farmers’ interests. “The PEDA has recently got expressions of interest for 1,200 MW against the initial estimates of 500 MW solar power generations,” said Sukhbir.

VAT uniformity on diesel, patrol

On the issue of uniform VAT on diesel in the northern states, he said it was aimed at eliminating smuggling of oil from one state to other and this decision was taken unanimously by the northern states. He said VAT on petrol would be brought to the same level in the coming days as dialogue in this regard was going on.

Courtesy: The Tribune

36 more municipal areas levy cow cess

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 7

At least 32 municipal committees and four municipal corporations have passed resolutions to levy cow cess in their areas.

The cess has already been levied by three municipal corporations of Bathinda, SAS Nagar and Phagwara.

Kimti Bhagat, Chairman, Punjab State Gau Sewa Commission, said: “We have written to all municipal committees and corporations in the state to levy cow cess, which is mandatory as per the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act. Of 156 municipal committees, 32 have already passed resolutions on the matter. Similarly, four of 10 municipal corporations have passed the resolution.”

He said: “We have asked the officials concerned to take the Congress into confidence where the civic bodies are under their rule. In some areas, the Congress has even supported the levy.”

Bhagat said the municipal authorities were solely responsible to deal with the menace of stray cattle. “The matter can’t be taken lightly,” he warned officials while chairing a meeting here.

He reviewed the functioning of all cow shelters in the district and said the cow shelters of 25-acre each would be made in all districts. In Muktsar district, one such cow shelter is being established at Ratta Tibba village.

Bhagat said in 472 cow shelters in the state, 2.69 lakh cows had been given shelter. “Another 1.06 lakh cows are still straying across the state,” he said.

The state government had already announced free water and electricity to all cow shelters. Similarly, the items purchased by cow shelters were not covered under VAT, he added.

The rising tax burden

Rs100 every round of oil tanker in city limits

2 paisa per unit of power consumption

Rs1,000 booking of AC marriage palace

Rs500 booking of non-AC marriage palace

Rs1,000 registration of four-wheeler

Rs200 registration of two-wheeler

Rs1 per bag of cement
Rs120 per case of Indian made foreign liquor
Rs60 per case of country made liquor

Estimated collection

We are estimating per annum collection of nearly Rs60 crore from cow cess across the state. It will be spent on cow shelters by the cow protection committees formed in all districts: Kimti Bhagat, Chairman, Punjab State Gau Sewa Commission.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Just 11 of 483 village ponds cleaned in Muktsar dist this year

A village pond that is filled to the brim at Udekaran village in Muktsar district. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 8

The authorities have neither cleaned nor dewatered the village ponds even though the district is hit by waterlogging and suffers huge losses during monsoon. This year just 11 of the total 483 village ponds have been cleaned in the district. Last year, nearly 120 village ponds were cleaned.

Recently, the residents of Udekaran village complained to the Deputy Commissioner that the authorities failed to drain the pond. They said with just one spell of showers, the pond has been filled to the brim. The village was hit by waterlogging for about a month in 2013.

Gurlabh Singh, sarpanch, Udekaran village, said, “If there is one more spell of rain in the next two-three days, the water from the pond will overflow and inundate the houses nearby.” He further alleged the project to lay drainage pipeline from village pond to Bura Gujjar drain had not taken off. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal sanctioned the project in 2013.

A senior official in the district administration admitted not just in Udekaran village, but several ponds in the district had filled to their capacity. “Usually, the village ponds are cleaned by the panchayats. But where the panchayats don’t have enough funds, the ponds are not cleaned,” he added. Repeated attempts to contact Naval Kumar, District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO), proved futile.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Govt scraps Mata Kaushalaya scheme

Claims doing enough for expectant mothers; no money for pending cases

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 8

The cash-strapped state government has scrapped its Mata Kaushalaya Kalyan Yojana, which was started in 2011 to promote institutional deliveries in government hospitals.

Under the scheme, the government provided Rs1,000 to women after delivery for nutritious and balanced diet. The scheme was lying suspended as no beneficiary was given the promised amount for almost a year.

In Muktsar district, funds were released up to June last year and thereafter not even a single woman was given the monetary benefit.

Dr Bhag Mal, Director, Health and Family Welfare Department, said: “This scheme was lying suspended for a year since we did not get any funds for this period."

Surjit Jyani, Health Minister, said: “The Mata Kaushalaya Kalyan Yojana has been scrapped. No woman will now be given the monetary benefit even in pending cases.”

Jyani said: “The government is providing adequate facilities to expectant mothers, including free transportation to hospitals and return to their houses. Further, medicines and institutional deliveries are free of cost. ASHA workers have too been deployed to facilitate pregnant women.”

Satpal Gosain, then health minister in the SAD-BJP government, had started this scheme in 2011. It was launched to promote institutional deliveries in public hospitals to curb maternal and infant mortality rate.

As per the state government’s mother and child health action plan, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is 172 per one lakh births. The aim is to bring MMR down to 78 by 2017. Similarly, the infant mortality rate (IMR) is 28 per 1,000 live births, which is aimed to reduce to 16 by 2017.

Data collected from the Health Management Information System (HMIS) showed that there were 1,25,510 non-institutional deliveries in the state in 2010-11; 92,993 in 2011-12; 71,047 in 2012-13 and 17,055 in 2013-14 (up to July).

Courtesy: The Tribune

Against rules, YAD holds drive in school; Campaign held in two classrooms, students forced to sit outside

Against rules, YAD holds drive in school

Campaign held in two classrooms, students forced to sit outside

YAD workers at a government school in Fatanwala village on Thursday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 2

Violating the rules, the Youth Akali Dal (YAD) is holding its membership drive in government schools. One such membership camp was held in two classrooms of the Government Primary School at Fattanwala village, near here, today. The students were forced to sit outside. The membership camp that started around 10 am lasted till late in the evening.

Binder Goneana, political secretary to Kanwarjeet Singh ‘Rozy Barkandi’, YAD president, Malwa Zone 1, said, “We held the camp in a room of the Government Primary School. The students had no problem as they were adjusted in other classrooms.”

Davinder Rajoria, District Education Officer, Muktsar, said, “I am not aware about the YAD membership drive being held in any government school. If YAD activists have done so, they have violated the norms. No political programme can be held in any government school.”

Aam Aadmi Party leader Jagdeep Sandhu, who is also a native of Fattanwala village, said, “The district administration is choosing to be a mute spectator in the matter. It should take action against YAD for holding the camp on school premises.”

The membership drive of YAD was launched by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal in Bathinda on May 13.

Courtesy: The Tribune