Unrest in state hits sale of crackers, fancy lights

The wholesale market of crackers at Burlton Park wears a deserted look in Jalandhar on Sunday. Tribune Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 8

Due to the prevailing unrest in the state, firecracker sellers and traders of fancy lights are suffering huge losses ahead of Diwali.

Further, due to the appeal by Jathedars of Takht Hazoor Sahib and Takht Patna Sahib to Sikhs to not light up their houses and abstain from bursting crackers on Diwali as a mark of resentment over sacrilege incidents, there is comparatively very less activity in markets this year.

Those who had bought crackers months in advance are now clearing their stock in loss. A firecracker dealer said the crackers were selling cheaper here in the Malwa region in comparison to prices in Delhi.

Satish Kumar, a local firecracker dealer, said, “Every year I used to earn good money from the sale of crackers before Diwali, but this time the sale is almost nil. Now, I am clearing the stock in losses in neighbouring towns because it is a risky job to store crackers for a long period. The law and order situation has hit our business badly.”

He said the sale of crackers during Dasehra was also very less.

There are hardly any buyers for decorative lights in markets. “Diwali is around the corner, but the sale of fancy lights is yet to begin,” said Gurmeet Singh, who deals in decorative lights.

Various Sikh organisations have already announced to observe a ‘black Diwali’ this year due to the desecration incidents of Guru Granth Sahib and the killing of two Sikh protesters in police firing.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Sukhbir ‘retracts’ from his comment on Haryana govt

Says he meant no governance for 10 years, not 11

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 2

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal today retracted from his statement yesterday where he said there was no government control in Haryana for the past 11 years.

He said he actually wanted to say 10 years. “I was speaking against the successive Congress government in Haryana at an INLD rally yesterday. It was just a slip of tongue that I referred to 11 years rather than 10 years. No other meaning should be derived out of this statement.”

On criticism over playing cards at Badal village recently, Sukhbir said: “I am least bothered about such statements. One must always think positive.”

Rs 2.5 cr for Muktsar village

Sukhbir today visited Sakkanwali village in Muktsar Assembly segment where the panchayat developed a village pond into a beautiful lake. He also launched the boating facility in the lake.

Impressed with the development works carried out by the panchayat, Sukhbir sanctioned Rs2.5 crore for the village. He said: “I will ask MLAs to visit this village and carry out similar development works in their areas. Even the sarpanch of my native village Badal will be sent here to study the project.”

Avoids talking on controversial matters

Sukhbir preferred to keep mum over controversial issues such as proposed “Sarbat Khalsa” by Sikh groups, desertion of Akali Dal by Balwant Singh Ramoowalia and ordering of CBI probe into the Bargari village sacrilege incident.

Calls Manpreet ‘younger brother’

Sukhbir showed love for his estranged cousin Manpreet Badal, terming him his “younger brother”. His comment even surprised those accompanying him. Sukhbir has never termed Manpreet as his brother since their relations turned sour in 2010. On Monday, when asked to comment on a memorandum handed over by Manpreet to the Governor, the Deputy CM said: “He (Manpreet) is my younger brother and I can’t comment further.” Sukhbir has earlier criticised the PPP chief on several occasions.

Tight security in place

Amid incidents of Akali Dal leaders facing public ire, tight security arrangements were made for the Deputy CM’s visit. Policemen in civvies were deployed in adjoining villages as well. —Sukhbir Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, at a village in Muktsar

Courtesy: The Tribune

All’s well in Badal: Sukhbir plays cards with villagers

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal plays cards with the elderly at Badal village in Muktsar on Friday.

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Badal (Muktsar), October 30

Trying to show that the state government has brought under control the situation that erupted after sacrilege incidents across the state, SAD chief-cum-Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was seen playing cards with the elderly at “sath” (village common land) at his native village today. He looked confident and relaxed.

Though he did not understand the basics of the game and lost the bout, he offered Rs 1 lakh as gift from his side to the elderly, sources said. Those playing cards with him, however, refused his offer and demanded some liquor instead. This surprised everyone present there.

Sukhbir also visited two sweetmeat shops in the village and had some snacks there.

Later, he uploaded some photographs on his Facebook page, with comments: “Pind wich Dogra Sweets de pakore te naal hi babeyan di taash. Lokaan wich baih ke unhandi zindagi da swaad pta laggda hai. Pind wich wassda dil saada.” (Enjoyed pakoras at Dogra Sweets and played cards with the elderly. Life looks beautiful in people’s company. Our hearts beat for our villages).

Courtesy: The Tribune

Malout to give Dasehra revelry a miss this year

Scenario elsewhere: Workers make preparations for Dasehra at Daresi in Ludhiana. Tribune Photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 20

Amid the unrest in the state, the police have a daunting task ahead of ensuring peaceful Dasehra celebrations even as the festival will be a low-key affair this year in most parts of the state.

For instance, the Dasehra committee in Malout has cancelled the celebrations this year. Notably, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has always been the chief guest during the festival here in the past. Dinesh Garg ‘Tony’, president of the Dasehra committee, Malout, told The Tribune that due to the prevailing tension, the festival would not be celebrated this year in the town.

Meanwhile, with just two days left for Dasehra, the police are on their toes to bring back normalcy. They have been reportedly directed to deal with any kind of situation very diligently and to try not to use force. “Protesters have gone berserk and any untoward incident could further disturb the situation. So we have been told to use restraint, maintain law and order,” said a senior police officer.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Weddings, trade hit amid tension

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 18

The prevailing tension in the state has put those planning marriage functions during the ongoing Navratras in a quandary. Many such people are either thinking of postponing the function or taking very few people in “baraat”.

Karan Kumar, a local resident, had invited about 250 guests for the wedding of his brother at Kotkapura on October 15. However, due to the road blockade and tension, they solemnised the wedding with just 30 persons.

Further, the hopes of the traders, who was expecting a good business during the festival, too have been dashed with markets wearing a deserted look. “Earlier, due to the damage to crop, our business was hit and now, the prevailing unrest has increased the losses,” said a local businessman.

The situation could affect the investors’ summit on October 28 and 29 in Mohali, said some local industrialists, citing road blockades and protests. A local industrialist said that the state government should postpone the event or the summit would be a “flop show”. “What will we showcase to industrialists when people are so angry that they are sitting on roads? How will the state government claim that it is safe for industrialists to invest in Punjab?

“In such a situation, no serious investor will come to participate in the event. Only those industrialists will come who have taken some obligation from the state government,” said an industrialist. Sources said the protests might continue for a few more days.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Despite stir, farmers continue to face humiliation; get paltry relief--Govt hands out Rs 11, Rs 28 & Rs 44 as compensation to cotton growers

Despite stir, farmers continue to face humiliation; get paltry relief

Govt hands out Rs 11, Rs 28 & Rs 44 as compensation to cotton growers

Archit Wattts

Tribune News Service

Gidderbaha, October 12

While the protesting farmers’ unions have been demanding Rs 40,000 per acre compensation for their losses caused due to whitefly attack on cotton crop, the state government has handed out compensation as low as Rs 11 to Rs 44 to them in Muktsar district.

The district administration today disbursed compensation among farmers at Kauni village in Gidderbaha subdivision, which led to resentment among farmers.

The revenue officer (patwari) handed over cash amount of Rs 11, Rs 28 and Rs 44 to some of farmers. On the other hand, some politicians got cheque of big amount.

As a result, some farmers even refused to accept the meagre compensation saying that the state government had rubbed salt on their wounds.

Sadhu Singh, a farmer, said, “I had sown cotton crop on three kanals. However, the administration handed over me just Rs 28 as compensation. I am even unable to think of what to do with this amount.”

Further, as per the list, the administration decided to give just Rs 11 to one Mahinder Kaur, who did not come to take this so little compensation.

Charan Dass, patwari of Kauni village, said, “The assessment of losses has been done after the physical verification of fields and revenue records. Those getting little amount as compensation have more than one owner as per the revenue records. The compensation amount has been divided among them, so it looks less.”

The state government is giving compensation to the farmers on the basis of Rs 8,000 per acre.

However, this is not the first time when the farmers got so little compensation. Earlier, they had received meagre amount in compensation for damage due to rain.

Courtesy: The Tribune

18% students ill in Muktsar district

Health authorities checked 8,750 students of 86 schools and 68 anganwadi centres in the district and 1,541 were found to be ailing

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 4

About 18 per cent of students in government schools, anganwadi centres checked under the School Health Programme by the health authorities have been found to be affected with one or more diseases in Muktsar district.

 Data of August states that the health authorities checked as many as 8,750 (4,603 girls, 4,103 boys) students of 86 schools and 68 anganwadi centres in the district and 1,541 were found to be ailing.

 As man as 657 such students belong to the Lambi block, followed by 288 from Alamwala block, 279 from Chak Sherewala block, 205 from Muktsar block and 112 from Doda block.

Of these, 1,111 were referred to Civil Hospitals and the rest were treated at the Community Health Centres (CHCs).

 The district administration, however, claimed that none of them had any major disease. Notably, officials of the health department conducted tests for anaemia, eyes, ears, respiratory problems, among others.

Jaspal Monga, Deputy District Education Officer, Muktsar, claimed, “Basic health tests of students are conducted in routine by health officials. Those detected with some disease are referred to a hospital and their parents are informed. There is no major health problem to any student.”

Courtesy: The Tribune