& V I C I N I T Y
Wednesday, August12,1998
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Wednesday, August12,1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Freedom fighters rue
indifference |
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 Police to probe phone fraud CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 — The local Telecom department has handed over the case of fraud in installing phone connections to the police and has requested it to register a case of cheating against the officials involved. |
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5 freedom fighters honoured |
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| Special Prosecutor denies charge Remand of engineers extended 15-hour power supply sought |
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Bail plea rejected Elocution contest  |
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Freedom fighters rue indifference CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 — Even as the golden jubilee celebrations of the India's Independence draw to a close on August 15, freedom fighters in the city remain a disillusioned lot as they feel they are trotted out only on ceremonial occasions. Neglect at the hands of bureaucrats and politicians in the past 50 years, one of the lowest pensions in the country and the present socio-economic situation are the misfortunes that befell on us, a majority of the freedom fighters told The Tribune. "This is not the India of our dreams for whose Independence we fought", said Mr O.P. Vij, president of the Freedom Fighters' Association, Chandigarh. "I think it was a mistake to fight for the freedom (of the country) as leaders of the post-Independence India let us down," rued Mr Vij, who remained in various jails for over six years. He said it was only on ceremonial occasions that government agencies and administration thought of them. What pained him most was that for the whole year various political parties and bureaucrats never bothered even to meet them to know about their day-to-day problems. Various schemes, including the housing schemes announced for them from time to time, he alleged, seemed to have been abandoned midway. Tall promises made on various occasions remained unfulfilled, he added. Mr Harbhajan Singh Cheema, an INA veteran, was more forthright when he said that slavery of the British was better than the present day Independence. The country was going to dogs with corruption ruling the roost and a sense of insecurity all-pervasive. What freedom meant to us when the freedom fighters who fought the liberation of the country were not accorded the honour and respect they deserved, he added. Terming the various functions organised by the political parties and the administration to honour the freedom fighters as "mere propaganda", he said that they had no greed for shawls and other articles they were conferred upon. All we wanted was respect and honour that was due to us. Saying that the freedom fighters hardly got any recognition for the selfless service they did for shaking off the British yoke, Mr Resham Singh, a Tamra Patra awardee, complained that there was no uniformity in respect of state pension in various states. While in many states, the pension was over Rs 2000, in Chandigarh it was a paltry Rs 250 and that too had not been paid for the past many months. He added that though there had been a number of cultural events in the programme announced by the Chandigarh Administration for the conclusion of the golden jubilee celebrations, no presentation of the freedom struggle had been made in the colleges and schools. He alleged that nobody, including bureaucrats and politicians, seemed to be bothered about the plight of the freedom fighters as they had other "important" things to do. "We are sorry for the
current social and political situations and surely we did
not fight for this kind of freedom, he lamented. |
Filtration plant commissioned CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 — The UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber, today inaugurated a water filtration plant in Sector 39 here. General Chhibber said the standard of water supply in the city was much better than in other areas of the country. Whereas the targeted national average was the supply of four litres of water per day, per head, in Chandigarh the availability was already much higher. Still, the Administrator said, there were certain areas where the shortage was being felt, especially in upper storeys where the pressure was considerably low. He announced that the Chandigarh Administration and the municipal corporation, Chandigarh (MCC), would work out a coordinated plan to formulate a scheme for proper water supply to the city residents. The local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, said he was holding talks with the Central Government and Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal for the construction of a dam on the Ghaggar in order to find a permanent solution to the water shortage in the union territory. Mr Jain claimed that the Chandigarh Doordarshan studio would start functioning as a full-fledged studio by the year end. The Mayor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, stated that with the commissioning of the filtration plant, the present water capacity would be raised from 45 million gallons a day (MGD) to 60 MGD. The corporation had
decided to commission 20 tubewells by the end of October
in different villages and labour colonies. As many as six
of them had started functioning and nine more would be
commissioned in the next 15 days, he added. |
Police to probe telephone fraud CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 — The local Telecom department has handed over the case of fraud in installing phone connections to the police and has requested it to register a case of cheating against the officials involved. The fraud was detected last month when several telephones in Panchkula, SAS Nagar and Chandigarh were found to have been installed on fake advice notes. The connivance of various employees was being enquired into and the police has been asked to do the needful, the Principal General Manager Telecom, Mr Prithipal Singh, said today. The police authorities have been informed in Chandigarh and Panchkula that they should carry out their own investigation, he added, while admitting that the police had so far not sought any records. A departmental enquiry was going on, and certain facts were being verified. However, it was yet to be established as to how many people were involved. Meanwhile, sources say that the department is on the job of unearthing the fake connections that were installed by overlooking the claims of others in the waiting list. Daily wagers who were allegedly involved in the racket, have been removed from their jobs, the sources claimed. Nearly 90 telephones are
found to have been installed on fake papers in the
Chandigarh telecom district. The officials involved used
to allegedly forge signatures of the commercial officers
and get the phones shifted or installed. |
5 freedom fighters honoured PANCHKULA, Aug 11 — Freedom fighters in the district were honoured by the Local Government Minister, Dr Kamla Verma, at a function organised by the administration here today. The function was organised as a part of the concluding celebrations of the country's golden jubilee of Independence. The honoured freedom
fighters are Mr Jodh Singh, Mr Surat Singh, Mr Sadhu Ram,
Mr Naurang Singh and Mrs Bhupinder Kaur. Jail blow-up conspiracy case:
police plea on Hawara rejected CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 — The Judicial Magistrate, Mr A.K. Bishnoi, today turned down the application moved by the Chandigarh Police seeking the permission of the court for the interrogation of Jagtar Singh Hawara and Jagtar Singh Tara within the Burail jail premises in connection with the jail blow-up conspiracy case. Both suspects could not be taken out of the jail premises in view of the notification issued by the Administration, forbidding the police from taking these suspects to police station. Mr Bishnoi directed the police to file its application before the court concerned. He also declined the request of the police for issuing "unending" warrants of arrest against a US-based militant Didar Singh, alias Bunti. The police in its application had stated that Bunti had supplied explosives to Balvinder Singh. This explosive was
smuggled into the Burail jail. |
Mrs Jauhar dead CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 —
Mrs Rajinder Jauhar, a noted educationist and social
worker, died here this morning after a brief illness. She
was 82. Mrs Jauhar, who retired as Inspector, Schools,
Ambala district in erstwhile Punjab, had worked as
headmistress at Government School at Lalru and Landhran.
After retirement, she took to social work and was active
in Red Cross Society here. She was also associated with a
number of educational institutions and social welfare
organisations. Her husband, Mr Diljang Singh Jauhar, an
anthropologist, died in April this year. In fact, Jauhars
belonged to the rare club of those who had migrated to
Chandigarh in its initial years. She leaves behind a son,
Tejbans Singh Jauhar, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.
She was cremated in the evening. According to family
sources, the antim ardas and bhog will be held at the
Sector 8 Gurdwara on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Panel solves nine cases of
grievance PANCHKULA, Aug 11 — The Local Government Minister, Dr Kamla Verma, conducted the monthly district grievances redressal committee meeting at the mini Secretariat here today. Of the total 11 complaints received at the meeting, nine were solved on the spot, an Administration spokesman said. During the meeting residents of Ramgarh lamented that HUDA had acquired their land in 1992, but the award money had not been paid so far. This was despite the fact that the land owners concerned had represented to the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) with relevant records. In another complaint,
Krishan Lal, Parkash Chand, and Rangi Ram, all from
Bhawana village in Pinjore, said the forest department
had employed them for two months but did not pay them
salary for the period. |
Beant case: Special Prosecutor
denies charge CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 — Defence counsel in the Beant Singh assassination case today reiterated before the Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, that Mr S.K. Saxena had started appearing on behalf of the CBI even before a notification about his appointment as Special Prosecutor had been issued. He told the court that Mr Saxena appeared for the CBI on September 6, 1995, when the prosecution had sought the police remand of the suspects in the case. This statement of the defence was, however, controverted by Mr Saxena himself who was present in the courtroom. He said he never appeared for the CBI until the notification about his appointment as Special Public Prosecutor was issued. He told the court that Mr J.S. Sidhu, Senior Public Prosecutor of the CBI had appeared in the court during the police remand proceedings. The judge adjourned the
case to August 12 for orders. |
Bail plea rejected CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 – The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Lamba, today declined the bail plea of Manjit Singh Barkandi, president of the Muktsar unit of the SAD. He was arrested by the Chandigarh Police in connection with the firing incident at the district courts in Sector 17. Barkandi in his application had stated that he was suffering from some brain ailment. The stand of the
prosecution, on the other hand, was that he was got
checked up at the PGI where doctors opined that he was
all right now. Remand of two engineers extended CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 – The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Lamba, today extended the judicial remand of Harsh Kumar and Gurpreet Singh, Executive Engineer and Subdivisional Engineer of the Chandigarh Administration, respectively, until August 25. Both were arrested by the vigilance department of the Administration in connection with the kickbacks case registered against certain officials of the engineering department. After their custodial interrogation they were remanded in judicial lock-up. They had applied for
regular bail. Their bail applications will come up for
hearing on August 13. |
Ishita, Kanika win elocution
contest CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 — Ishita from Sacred Heart Convent, Sector 26, and Kanika from St Anne's Convent, Sector 32, won the first positions in the English and Hindi sections of the inter-school elocution contest organised at DAV Public School, Sector 8, here yesterday. The contest, which was organised by the Ministry of Surface Transport and the Central Board of Secondary Education, was on the subject of "Road safety: need of the hour" and 16 schools of the city took part in it. The results are: English: Ishita (Sacred Heart Convent, Sector 26) 1, Ishani (St Anne's Convent, Sector 32) 2, Reha (St Anne's Convent, Sector 32), 3. Hindi: Kanika (St Anne's
Convent, Sector 32) 1, Deepika (DAV Public School, Sector
8) 2, Aviral (DAV Public School) 3. |
15-hour continuous power
supply sought PANCHKULA, Aug 11 — Mr Dhir Pal, chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the Haryana Lok Dal (Rashtriya), led by party workers, today submitted a memorandum of demands to the Deputy Commissioner. Addressing the party workers in front of the DC’s office, Mr Dhir Pal said the law and order situation in Haryana was deteriorating day by day. There was a sharp rise in the crime graph with the police proving to be ineffective. He sought an
uninterrupted 15-hour daily power supply for the paddy
growers to compensate them for the poor monsoon. |
Campus beat CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 — Extraction of money from candidates in the form of donations will render education colleges affiliated to Panjab University liable to disciplinary action. This has been recommended by a committee to revise rules and procedures with regard to B Ed and B Ed (yoga) courses. The recommendations were approved by the Syndicate at a meeting yesterday. Education colleges have been asked not to charge any fee other than those prescribed by the university, the NCTE and the government. A copy of the approved rates will now be displayed ‘prominently’ on the notice boards during admissions. Hostel fee and funds will be charged from those students only "who reside in a hostel". Any other charges will be considered "highly objectionable". Guru Nanak Dev University (for colleges of education in Punjab) and Panjab University (for colleges of education in the city) will prepare separate merit lists. A general category candidate will be required to aggregate 40 per cent marks in the examination to qualify for the interview. A candidate of SC and ST will require 30 per cent marks. A student with not less than 45 per cent marks in a BA, BSc or B.Com course recognised by the university will be eligible for admission. The candidate is also required to have secured the qualifying marks in the entrance test. Students applying for the sports category will be required to have their certificates graded. Sports achievements at the school level will not be accepted. If any student does not attend college within a week of the opening day, as announced by the college, his admission will be cancelled. The submission of documents will be restricted only up to the time of the interview and no additional certificate will be entertained after the interview. Candidate will have to sign the attested certificates attached with the form at the time of submission. Admissions with late fee with the approval of the Vice-Chancellor will also be based on merit. In case the result of a candidate is declared late for any reason, including re-evaluation, and he has cleared the entrance test, admission can be made by modifying the merit list provided there is vacancy. Handicapped children to be admitted should have 40 per cent handicap certificate duly certified by a Chief Medical Officer. A certificate that student will be able to understand normally will also have to be attached. Re-examination: Panjab University has decided to hold a re-examination in three papers following an agitation by members of the National Students Union of India here on Tuesday. The papers for which re-examination will be held are subsidiary for physics (computer application and numerical methods) (BSc II honours); subsidiary for biotechnology (chemistry and zoology) (BSc II honours school); and posivist sociological theory) (MA sociology, second semester). The DUI
offered a glass of juice to Munish Anand, the outgoing
president of the campus council, who was sitting on
strike. |
Crime file CHANDIGARH, Aug 11 — A car owner out to sell his vehicle was tricked, and his vehicle was stolen by a person who said he had checked into the Yatri Niwas in Sector 24. Mr Moti Lal of SAS Nagar, had advertised in newspapers for the sale of his car. Responding to the advertisement, a person who identified himself as Mr Rajendra Parmar rang him up saying that he was staying in Yatri Niwas and wanted to buy the vehicle but did not have any conveyance. He asked Mr Moti Lal to go over to the place in his car. The trickster talked sweetly to Mr Moti Lal, saying he had to show the car to his boss and drove off never to return. The police has registered a case. Cyclist injured: An unidentified cyclist was hit by a car near the railway station traffic lights. The injured has been admitted to the PGI. The car driver ran away. PANCHKULA Hit by car: One person died after being hit by a car, near here, on Monday. The victim, Mr Mastkeen, was a resident of Saha Dhargahi. A case under sections 279
and 304-A of the IPC has been registered against the
driver of the car on the basis of a statement given by a
witness. |
Cultural scene CHANDIGARH: A common man is the one who with his electoral powers can make or mar a politician. When they are seeking votes the leaders promise to give the stars and the moon. Once they are victorious the common man becomes a ‘pest’ as he keeps approaching them for ‘petty’ things like water, electricity, schools, etc. These politicians, with their famed or defamed image (depends upon one’s perception) have now become the subjects for jokes, puns and cartoons on the front page of every newspaper. Satwant Singh is one cartoonist who likes to hit the nail right on the head. He seems to relish aiming caustic remarks on politicians and his creative nib assaults them with flair and poignancy. Those interested can have a look at his cartoons shining with brilliance under the title ‘India, My India’ at Museum of Fine Arts, Panjab University till August 16 as part of the closing ceremony of the 50th year of Independence. The very first piece, out a total of 35, is dedicated to the Father of the Nation. It shows the amount of reverence with which he and his thinkings are held now-a-days. The cartoon says, "Mr Gandhi don’t trespass into our lives, your place is on the currency notes only". To fall under Satwant’s firing range is the ex-ruling Nehru/Gandhi family. Here he twists Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’ to ‘Tryst with Dynasty’. The picture shows a big baby-carriage carrying all the members of this family headed by Panditji. Sonia Gandhi, in his opinion, is hijacking the name Gandhi as she has no resemblance with this great man in any way. ‘The Spoon’ or ‘Chamcha’ is a word in our lexicon which even a child understands. It is the best piece of cutlery one could ever possess and the sacrosanct benediction it showers is, "blessed are sycophants who shall rule the rulers". ‘Apni Mandi’ is a place where day-to-day products are available. Satwant has shown it as a democracy street in India where MPs are for sale. ‘Netas’ are one who deserve awards for acting, for in the eyes of Amitabh Bachchan too, "netas are better abhinetas". Looking at the present situation the national sport should not be hockey (as it is no longer of international standards) but ‘leg-pulling’ as our ‘netas’ seem to be expert at it. There are other topics too which have not escaped Satwant’s observant eye like India going nuclear, bride-burning, gender bias, burden of studies, beauty pageants, police-phobia, booth capturing. All the satire is contained within the frame of Re 1 stamps. Some are in the form of 50P stamps which have gone out of circulation. This also holds an underlying message. — Priti Verma |
Partition as lifestyle The improvised performance was the result of a 10-day workshop conducted by Maya Rao with city artistes. Beginning with theatre exercises — which showed eye contact, the body’s response to the immediate surroundings, give and take relationships that exist in all elements — the actors seemed to unleash their uninhibited selves in front of the audience. The exercises like imagining coconut shells to be houses were like child’s play with imagination run riotously wild! Maya
Rao’s training as a Kathakali dancer, which requires
rigorous training in body movements, was reflected in the
extravagant play of the body language of the actors.
— Sonoo Singh Shanti Sharma, a Delhiite, was the guest this time. A well-known vocalist, she began with Rag Yaman Kalyan, a composition in ‘vilambit’ in ‘Jhoomar Taal’ with the words ‘Kajra Kaise Darun’. The next item
was Rag Megh in ‘Jhaptal’ in sadra bandish. The
words of this were ‘Garjat Ghata Gan’. The
artiste then moved on to the ‘Tarana’ in Ektaal
which had ‘Antara’ in Persian composed by Amir
Khusro. Om Prakash on harmonium, Pawan Kumar on tabla,
and Sumana Sanyal on tanpura were her accompanists.
— P. V. |
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