Briefly Region: Retired teachers to be employed on contract: Bhukkal

The Haryana government has recommended to the Centre that Rs 1,600 per quintal be fixed as the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat and ensure a minimum income of Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 per month to depot holders after implementation of the food security scheme. Stating this in Faridabad,Food and Supplies Minister Mahender Partap Singh said,“As many as 1.26 crore people will be covered under the dal-roti scheme in Haryana.”

75,971 metric tonnes of paddy in mandis

Paddy started arriving in Haryana’s grain markets from Wednesday. On the first day,75,971 metric tonnes of paddy arrived in various mandis. Last year,19,835 metric tonnes had arrived on the first day of procurement. A spokesman of the food and supplies department said,“Out of the total paddy arrival today,74,014 metric tonnes has been purchased by government agencies and the remaining by millers.”

BSF constable held in heroin seizure case

Another BSF constable,Vikramjit Singh — a resident of Muglani near Khadoor Sahib — has been arrested in relation to the 19 kg of heroin that was recovered on Tuesday by Tarn Taran police. BSF constable Gurpreet Singh was among the three arrested on Tuesday with the consignment,worth Rs 95 crore in the international market.

BJP hails decision to withdraw ordinance

Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma on Wednesday welcomed the Union cabinet’s decision to withdraw the ordinance on convicted lawmakers. “BJP’s pressure and the opinion of the people of this country has won. This is not Rahul Gandhi’s decision (to withdraw the ordinance)… this has not happened due to the initiative of Rahul Gandhi,” Sharma said. \Meanwhile,in Jalandhar,Sharma said seat swapping with SAD for the upcoming Lok sabha election cannot be ruled out. Since 1997,SAD and BJP has never swapped their seats in Punjab.

2 brothers attacked in Jalandhar,one dead

At least six armed men attacked two brothers,one of whom was out on bail,at their residence in Lohian on Tuesday night. One brother Amarjit Singh,who had a criminal past,succumbed to injuries on his way to hospital. His injured brother is Mohinder Singh. Among the assailants,one is a proclaimed offender. Lohian police station SHO Barjinder Singh said the attack could be the result of a personal enmity.