The Tribune – Moga-Delhi Shatabdi chugs off

Tribune News Service

Moga, December 8. Amid high political drama, Congress MLA Joginder Pal Jain and SAD MP Bibi Paramjit Kaur Gulshan flagged off the Moga-Delhi Shatabdi train today.

The train arrived here at 14.05 hours and left for New Delhi at 15.00 hours.

Jain along with Naresh Chand Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager, Ferozepur, travelled on Shatabdi from Ludhiana to Moga. On his arrival, he was greeted by his supporters here. Congress workers distributed sweets among passengers at the railway station.

On the other hand, the SAD organised a public gathering at the railway station to mark the occasion. Those present included former DGP Paramdip Singh Gill, former MC president Barjinder Singh Brar, Baghapurana MLA Maheshinder Singh and SAD district president Tirath Singh Mahla.

Factionalism within the SAD party came to the fore as senior leader Mahla and Brar were not allowed to address the gathering while senior SAD leader Jathedar Tota Singh did not turn up.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121209/punjab.htm#4

The Tribune – Evolve a workable agri-diversification plan: PM tells state

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 8. The issue of agricultural diversification was raised prominently by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during the Golden Jubilee Convocation at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today.

“Punjab’s agricultural strategy must evolve a workable diversification plan which causes least economic hardships to farmers and provides them with alternative crops that can yield a high income,” said the Prime Minister.

He said investment in marketing linkages would be greatly facilitated by supporting changes in the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act which would allow private markets to develop. Badal said the state was ready with a diversification plan, but it needed remunerative minimum support price and an assured marketing system for alternative crops.

Urging the Prime Minister to set up a technology mission for diversification of agriculture, Badal said an allocation of Rs 5,000 crore be made for “Diversification Mission for Green Revolution States” in Northern India on the lines of the already-sanctioned programme of “Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India”.

Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister for sanctioning Borlaug Institute and the Directorate of Maize Research for Punjab, the Chief Minister demanded centres of excellence for research in soyabean and fisheries be set up in the state.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121209/punjab.htm#5

The Hindu – Murdered ASI’s family still fears for safety

Special Correspondent

Chandigarh, 9 December 2012. Despite protection from the Punjab police, the family of Ravinderpal Singh has serious concerns about their safety, fearing retaliation from the other associates of the former Akali leader, Ranjit Singh Rana, who has been arrested, along with three others, for killing Singh, a police officer, at Chheharta in Amritsar on December 5 after he protested the harassment of his daughter.

The accused have been remanded in police custody till December 10.

Ravinderpal Singh’s son Navpreet Singh, who flew back from Australia for the cremation of his father on Friday, expressed concerns at the security of his sister, who was continuously harassed by Rana and his associates. The lives of both his sister and mother would be imperilled as they fought a legal battle. He sought a speedy trial. At the same time, he was happy that the State government had offered his sister a job of sub-inspector.

In an interview to a television channel at a hospital, where he was admitted with injuries, Rana regretted the incident. He said one of his associates, Gurbir Singh alias Bira, a son of a head constable, wanted to talk to the girl.

When she spurned him, Bira became abusive and was engaged in a heated argument with her.

Rana said he intervened and resolved the matter after which Ravinderpal Singh reached the spot. The officer fired at them first, and he retaliated. When he ran out of bullets, he left the spot and returned with a rifle with which he shot at Ravinderpal.

Talking to the same channel, Ashwani Kumar, who was dismissed as SHO of the Chheharta station for not responding to phone calls for help, denied that Ravinderpal Singh called him up. He sought an analysis of his call record. He also denied having received any written complaint from the girl on December 1, though he admitted that she had verbally complained to him, and he sent a wireless message about the vehicle used by the accused.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s estranged nephew, Manpreet Singh Badal, who heads the People’s Party of Punjab, visited the family of the murdered police officer at their Rampura village. He said the incident had once again established that the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal was a safe haven for criminals and anti-social elements, who were stifling every honest voice in the party.

Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal termed the dismissal of the SHO an eyewash. His party would submit a memorandum to the Governor, seeking a judicial probe into the incident.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/murdered-asis-family-still-fears-for-safety/article4179121.ece

17 till 27 August 2012 – Visit to London UK

25 August 2012 – Havelock Road Singh Sabha Gurdwara

25 August 2012 – Marry in a ‘posh’ Gurdwara – Come in a ‘posh’ car
Spending loads of money on your child’s marriage might impress the neighbours, but does not guarantee happiness !

Dutch Afghan sister & brother Diljit Kaur & Jatinder Singh
We made a short programme with them in the Sangat IV studio

Jatinder Singh, Diljit Kaur, Amarpreet Singh, Pritpal Singh
Question : What was it like when you first came to the Netherlands ?
Jatinder Singh : it was great, it was safe to go out !

Harjinder Singh & Amarpreet Singh

To see the video we made click on the link below :

Nederlandse Sikhs uit Afghanistan met Pritpal Singh en Harjinder Singh

To see more Southall, UK, Middlesex pictures :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157624060488388/

More UK pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – DSGMC poll: SAD to file defamation suit against Delhi Government; To check antecedents of new entrants

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 8. The Shiromani Akali Dal has decided to file a defamation suit against the Delhi Government for allegedly defying the orders of the Supreme Court on holding elections to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee before December 31.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s core committee here today, which was presided over by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal were also present.

The committee also condemned the killing of ASI Ravinderpal Singh in Amritsar and decided to look into the profile of its rank and file, particularly those who joined the party recently.

SAD spokesman and adviser to Chief Minister on National Affairs Harcharan Bains said the party had authorised SAD secretary and legislator Daljit Singh Cheema to initiate proceedings for filing the defamation suit against the Delhi Government.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121209/punjab.htm#12

BBC News – Burma apologises for police attack on protesting monks

Saturday, 8 December 2012. The government in Burma has apologised to Buddhist monks for the injuries sustained during a police operation outside a copper mine nine days ago.

More than 50 people, including 20 monks, were injured when police tried to clear protesters who said local farmers had been forced off the land.

Injuries included severe burns blamed on incendiary devices thrown by police.

The raid last month was the toughest action since a more reformist government came to power last year.

The BBC’s South East Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, says the apology reflects the government’s nervousness over the role of monks, who command high public respect.

They often take up political and social causes, bringing them into conflict with the authorities.

Joint venture

Religious Affairs Minister Myint Maung told a delegation of senior monks that the police regretted the injuries, which he blamed on the “incompetency” of the authorities.

He said the government would do its utmost to prevent such incidents happening again.

It has established a commission of inquiry, headed by opposition leader Aung Sung Suu Kyi.

She visited the area last Friday and demanded an apology for the monks.

Eight people have been charged in connection with the protests. They are being held in Insein prison in Rangoon.

The Monywa copper mine in northern Burma is a joint venture between a Chinese company and Myanmar Economic Holdings, owned by the Burmese military.

Hundreds of people are alleged to have been forced from their land to make way for a $1 bn (£620m) expansion of the mine.

More than 7,800 acres (3,200 hectares) of land is being appropriated. Considerable damage to the environment is also reported.

Activists are calling for work at the project to be suspended to allow impact studies to be carried out, but China insists that the contentious points have already been resolved.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20650576