CPM's Bigul for Peoples Mahanbharat

Northern Jatha Flagged Off from Jallianwala Bagh

The third of the CPI(M)'s Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha – the Northern Jatha – began its journey from historic city Amritsar today. Earlier, Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M) paid tributes to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh before embarking on the Jatha.

The Jatha team was received at Jallianwala Bagh with warmth from hundreds of people assembled there from across the state. Led by Vijay Mishra, the coordinator for the Jatha in Punjab and member of the State secretariat of the CPI (M) Punjab, Brinda Karat laid a wreath at the Jallianwala Bagh memorial.
Davinder Singh Josh, son of Sohan Singh Josh, one of the founders of communist movement in Punjab, handed over the Jatha flag to Brinda Karat.
Addressing the media afterwards, Ms Karat said that the people of India are in search of a better alternative, which is completely different from the Congress and BJP who are representing corporate interests rather those of people. She said that the message of these Jathas is to invite the public to consider the alternatives that are being presented by CPI(M).
Replying to a question on “with whom the CPI(M) will fight the next elections”, she said that the party will be representing the people’s interests and will fight the elections for safeguarding their interests. She dismissed Modi’s claim that BJP is the only alternative to Congress. She termed both the Congress and BJP as two different sides of the same coin and when they are power in Delhi, they will toe the neo-liberal policies in the interest of foreign and national monopoly capitalist.
She expressed anguish about the condition of people living in border districts. She said that their sources of livelihood and opportunities are continuously under threat from the border disputes. She reminded the gathering about the history of Amritsar which was a centre for cross border trade till the border disputes set in and ousted lakhs of people.
Brinda Karat called up on the public to participate in the party’s Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha in big numbers and make success the March 19th public meeting that is going to be held in Delhi marking the culmination of the four nationwide Jathas.
Members of the Central Committee of the party, Hannan Mollah, Inderjeet Singh, Charan Singh Vridhi and Rajender Sharma, participated in this flag handing over ceremony. Memoona Mollah, Vijay Mishra and other leaders too were present.

We stand by the journalist community-Chhina

Chhina condemns attack,demand police action
Gajinder Singh King, 
Amritsar18 December, 2011: 

Khalsa College Governing Council, Honorary Secretary, S. Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina today strongly condemned the life threatening attack on Dainik Jagran reporter Mohinder Pal Singh. He said the act of violence in which Mohinder Pal was shot at an injured badly while he was returning home from his office duty was highly condemnable. He demanded immediate police action against those goonda elements who were behind the assault. He said the Khalsa College educational institutions respect the journalist and the right to speech and they stand by the journalist community of Amritsar who are fighting the right cause to protect the journalist. Khalsa College Governing Council, President, Satyajit Singh Majithia, Vice-President, S. Charanjit Singh Chadha, Joint Secretary (Finance), S. Gunbir Singh, Joint Secretary (Legal and Property), S. Ajmer Singh etc. also condemned the attack on the journalist.
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Pb Govt gives major relief to grain markets labour

Charges of power and diesel consumed for cleaning the crops to be shared by Mandi Board and Aartiyas
           Amritsar//December 13, 2011//Gajinder Singh King

In a major reprieve to the labour class working in the grain markets across the state the Punjab Government today decided that the charges of power and diesel used for cleaning process of the grains during procurement season, which were earlier deducted from wages of labourers , would be now collectively borne by the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board and the Aartiyaas.  
           A decision to this effect was taken by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting with the delegation of Anaaj Mandi Mazdoor Sangh Punjab led by its President Dharampal Daabla here today at the local circuit house.
Meanwhile, the  President of Punjab Aarthiya association and Vice Chairman of Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board Ravinder Singh Cheema, apprised the Chief Minister that the charges deducted from the wages of labour increased their hardships manifold rendering them unable to meet their day-to-day requirements. The delegation also impressed upon the Chief Minister for permanent resolution of this issue so that their miseries could be reduced to some extent.
Responding to the demand of the delegation, Mr. Badal decided that in future 33% of these charges would be borne by Punjab State Agricultural Board whereas 67% of it would be contributed by the aartiyaas of the respective grain markets. Likewise, the Chief Minster also conceded another demand of delegation to construct retiring rooms for these labourers at the Principal yards across the state, to enable them to relax and take rest after menial labour.   Mr Badal directed the Secretary of Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board Dr Karamjeet Singh Sra to take necessary steps for the implementation of this decision expeditiously.
           Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included; Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Kahan Singh Pannu and Chairman PEDA Bhai Manjeet Singh.

Personal Rapid Transit system worth Rs. 300 Crore

Sukhbir lays the foundation stone 
ON THE LINES OF HEATHROW AIRPORT 
PODS TO SOON GO AROUND AMRITSAR
  Amritsar// December 12, 2011//Gajinder Singh King

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today said that
within next two years zero-poluting pods would be made functional in Amritsar to ease the traffic congestion as well as to facilitate those visiting the Golden Temple.

Talking to media after laying foundation stone of Personal Rapid Transit system worth Rs. 300 Crore here today, Mr. Badal said that this new technology transport system not only facilitate the pilgrims coming to Golden Temple but also proved to be beneficial for the local business, as it would attract more tourists to the city. He said that as the main station of this PRT system would be in Hall Gate bazaar of the city, thus, it would multiply the business opportunities for local vendors. “Moreover, the POD would run at height more than the nearby shops, the system would provide traffic and hindrance free access to these shops”, he added.

Highlighting the project details, Mr. Badal said that the holy city of Golden Temple, would be the first Indian city to get a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system, which is based on 4-6 seat battery powered driverless vehicle that uses rubber wheels running on an elevated guideway. “PRT is in fact a personal taxi, which is demand-responsive to any user. 

It transports users anywhere within the track network directly and without any stops. Stations are off-line allowing the PRT ‘pods' to by- pass all stations en-route to the destination. At present, the PRT is running only at the London Heathrow Terminal”, says Mr. Badal. He said that project to be taken up on a public-private partnership.