The Tribune – Captain vows to wean away youth from drugs; Promises to create more jobs and come heavily on drug mafia

Kulwinder Sandhu, Tribune News Service

Moga, November 14. Punjab needs to make a new beginning to usher in an era of development by taking a firm stand against corruption, president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Captain Amarinder Singh said at a public rally at Baghapurana today.

Attracting investment in the industrial sector, improving the socio-economic status of the poor and marginal farmers and creating job avenues was a must.

Scoffing at CM Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal, the Congress leader said they had no development agenda. “Facing an uncertain future, lakhs of youths have taken to drugs, which is an alarming signal for the state”, he said.

Accusing the ruling coalition of doing little to check the drug mafia, he said: “After coming to power, I will take stern action against drug traffickers.”

Captain Amarinder said the Akalis had “sold police stations and revenue offices to local jathedars who were forcing the police and revenue authorities to make money.”

Local MLAs Darshan Singh Brar, Ajit Singh Shant, Joginder Singh Panjgraian, president of Punjab Mahila Congress Dr Malti Thapar, senior party leaders Surinder Singla, Arvind Khanna, district president Jagdarshan Kaur, former MLA Vijay Sathi, youth leaders Dr Harjot Kamal and Gursharanveer Singh Paggy were present at the rally.

Senior party leader Jagmeet Singh Brar, CLP Leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and local MLA Joginder Pal Jain were not at the rally. Brar was said to be in Goa and Bhattal was in Delhi on some personal work while Jain was at Mehraj (Bathinda) to monitor preparations for the party rally.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111115/punjab.htm#1

The Hindu – More trouble for Advani’s yatra in Punjab

Radical Sikh outfits allege Advani of having supported ‘Operation Blue Star’

Sarabjit Pandher

Chandigarh, 14 November 2011. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani continued to face protests on the second day of his Jan Chetna Yatra in Punjab.

Activists of the pro-hardline fringe Akali factions and radical Sikh organisations disrupted his public rally at Amritsar late Monday evening by raising pro-Khalistan slogans.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann was detained as he attempted to lead a group of activists to disrupt the campaign. Mr. Mann had earlier announced that his party would oppose Mr. Advani’s yatra as he had openly supported Operation Blue Star in 1984.

Slogan-shouting men disrupted Mr. Advani’s first public meeting in the holy city. While the BJP workers clashed with the protesters, the security forces had a tough time in restoring order, after which Mr. Advani resumed his speech.

Three persons were reportedly taken into custody.

Black flags waved

There were reports that some protesters threw eggs at Mr. Advani’s rath enroute Ludhiana on Sunday evening.

Activists of some radical organisations waved black flags when the yatra passed by Barnala town.

In his address at various places, Mr. Advani continued to target the UPA and reiterated that the BJP along with its allies would force the Congress and its ruling alliance partners into disclosing the names of the political leaders and others, whose black money had been stashed away in Swiss banks.

He was confident that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents would succeed in exposing the involvement of the Congress leaders in rampant corruption at various places.

While urging UPA chairperson and Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, to break her silence on the 2G scam, Mr. Advani said that the issues of corruption, black money and inflation would be discussed thoroughly in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament.

He said that with the “massive support” from the people and “right thinking” Congress leaders, the NDA would force the UPA to concede the demand of initiating the process of bringing back black money.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2627473.ece

Sint-Truiden, Limburg, Belgium – Levensloop 1 and 2 October 2011

Levensloop is a walk/run raising money to help cancer patients. Each team had to keep a walker or runner on the course from 4 pm on Saturday till 4 pm on Sunday. The Sikh community took part with a team of nearly sixty walkers/runners. The pictures were all taken on Sunday 2 October.

The CHIRO girls

The CHIRO girls

Man in front, woman behind …

Sikh participants, the last lap

To see more Sint-Truiden pictures go to :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622046344528/
 

More Belgian pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
 Man in Blue

The Tribune – Punjabi University to conduct research on wetlands

Gagan K. Teja, Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 14.  The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, has sanctioned a research project to Dr Onkar Singh Brraich, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala, entitled ‘Ecological Studies on the Ranjit Sagar Wetland with special reference to fish community structure’ and provided with a research grant of Rs 22.40 lakh to conduct research on Ranjit Sagar Wetland (National Wetland) for three years.

Punjab is bestowed with three internationally important wetlands i.e. Harike, Ropar and Kanjli wetlands and two national wetlands i.e. Ranjit Sagar and Nangal wetland. Wetlands are very important ecosystems that consist of valuable plants and animals, helps in ground water recharging, protects from floods during rainy season, sediment retention, water purification and provide habitat for a diverse number of threatened plants and animals, attract lakhs of migratory birds every year during the winter season.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Onkar said: “Wetlands now a days are losing its vigour due to pollution from various industries and agricultural fields, loss of habitat, reclamation of wetland areas for agricultural as well as developmental purposes, deforestation, illegal poaching of threatened animals, introduction of exotic species and diversion of wetland water for irrigation purposes. Many natural wetlands in Punjab are completely reclaimed for agricultural purposes. There is a lack of awareness among the general masses about the important functions of wetlands. There is a dire need to initiate conservation activities for wetlands. This research project is step in this direction,” he added.

He further said Ranjit Sagar wetland was new to any research. “No research data is available on this wetland right from its inception. So it is a privilege for the Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, to take up research activities on this wetland. The efforts of generation of data during the course of study would be very helpful to designate this wetland as Ramsar Site,” added Dr Onkar.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111115/punjab.htm#13

BBC News – Pakistan drone attack kills six in North Waziristan

15 November 2011

A US drone attack has killed at least six suspected militants in north-west Pakistan, intelligence officials say.

The men were in a compound near Miran Shah town in North Waziristan when the drone fired two missiles.

Drone attacks have focused on North and South Waziristan, where US officials believe many al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters find shelter.

The US says the region is home to several militant groups involved in attacks on Nato forces in Afghanistan.

Drone attacks frequently target Pakistan’s restive tribal areas, where many insurgents have taken refuge.

The frequency of the attacks has increased since President Barack Obama took office in 2008. More than 100 raids were reported in the area in 2010, and more than 60 have taken place this year.

The US does not routinely confirm drone operations, but analysts say only American forces have the capacity to deploy such aircraft in the region.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15732204

To the UK, 14 November 2011

On Monday 14 November I went to Southall and Hayes. I took the NMBS IC train from Sint-Truiden to Brussel Zuid (Midi) and from there the Eurostar to London St Pancras, the Hammersmith and City line to Paddington and First Great Western to Southall.

In the Park Avenue Singh Sabha Gurdwara I listened to very nice kirtan by Bhai Lehna Singh and jatha, met with Jaswinder Kaur and her daughter-in-law Jaspreet Kaur and was joined by my good friend Harmander Singh (in suit and shirt and tie !).

We talked about various issues. One was the definition of ‘turban’. If anybody has any ideas on how to describe a turban in a way that would stand up in a legal situation, please let us know !

From Southall I took the train to Hayes & Harlington station and from there bus U4.

I talked to Jaswinder Kaur, Jaspreet Kaur and Amrik Singh till about 10 pm and then retired to bed !