Sunday, December 13, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Sunday, December 13, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Foundation
calls for reforms Demand
for imposing fiscal emergency Liquor
banned during Jor Mela Punjabi
daily on Net |
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Report:
city fathers behind land grab |
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BKU for
review of curbs on cow export 9
held for cruelty to animals Advocate-General
visits district courts AIR,
DD engineering staff go on strike 'Underweight'
gas cylinders sold |
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| Exam for panchayat secretaries | |
500 schools to be upgraded |
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Management of gurdwaras CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — A special meeting of the Executive Committee of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, presided over by the Chairman, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, observed that reformed gurdwaras management was a "must" for making the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations truly meaningful, with lasting impact on the destiny of the Sikh community as well as its future role in the 21st century. The meeting regretted that little attention was being paid to this matter by the SGPC leadership, which seems inclined more to undertake populist programmes in the name of Khalsa tercentenary celebrations than to making them really a turning point in the affairs of the community. Mr Joginder Singh Sawhney stressed that the SGPC should give top priority to the long overdue reformation in gurdwaras administration. Dr Ahluwalia observed that, he along with Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta (Cabinet Minister) had drafted the policy programme in consultation with and approval of Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra for the elections to the general house of the SGPC that took place in October, 1996. This manifesto envisaged a number of structural changes in the management of the Sikh shrines and other reformatory measures. But unfortunately not a single measure, pledged in the policy programme, has been taken by the SGPC leadership during the past two years. The policy programme, in particular, had pledged to set up under the auspices of the SGPC, the following five commissions: Sikh Educational Commission; Gurdwaras Services Commission; Planning and Finance Commission; the Gurdwaras Architectural and Archival Commission; and a Commission for the Dalits. The Punjab Re-organisation Act confers power on the Central Government to amend or add to the provisions of the 1925 Sikh Gurdwaras Act. Now that the Shiromani Akali Dal was a partner of the BJP, both in the State and at the Centre, there should be no difficulty in effecting the desired structural changes, particularly the setting up of the above mentioned commissions under the relevant provisions of the Punjab Re-organisation Act in consultation with the SGPC. The Shiromani Gurdwara
Parbandhak Committee on its part should also convene a
special session of its general house to deliberate upon
the much needed reforms in the gurdwaras management under
its control, from the angle that the second gurdwaras
reform movement would be a true commemoration of the
Khalsa tercentenary and a true homage to the mission of
Guru Gobind Singh in creating the Khalsa. |
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Demand
for imposing fiscal emergency JALANDHAR, Dec 12 — Punjab Opposition leader in the Vidhan Sabha Chaudhary Jagjit Singh and Congress leader J.S. Multani today demanded imposition of "financial emergency" in the state. Addressing a press conference here, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh demanded the resignation of the Parkash Singh Badal government and said if the latter failed to do so, the Governor should recommend its dismissal and impose financial emergency in the state under Article 360 of the Constitution. He alleged that Punjab had been rendered bankrupt because of wrong policies and wasteful expenditure by the government. "Punjab is a fit case for financial emergency. Financial emergency has also become imperative because of constitutional breakdown under article 352 (2) due to the failure of the Badal government on economic and other fronts," he said. He claimed that it was the first time in the history of independent India that a state government had become "bankrupt." Chaudhary Jagjit Singh said a government which could not not sustain itself due to" self-created financial bankruptcy has no legal or moral right to continue in power." He claimed that the Reserve Bank of India had stopped overdrafts because of the "grave economic crisis" which had gripped the state. The government had no funds to cope with day-to-day expenses. He accused the government of "unwise and unplanned spending". "Funds have been drained out towards unplanned, unscheduled and wasteful projects resulting in the current financial crisis," he argued. The opposition leader charged the Chief Minister and Finance Minister with misleading the people on the financial state of affairs. The government had "misled" the people on the loan waiver issue. It had still to pay a huge principal and interest on term loans secured by it, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh pointed out. He wondered if the Punjab Government would be able to pay its employees in the coming months. He said Punjab did not face such a situation even during the period of terrorism when crores of rupees had to be spent in combating terrorism. But now because of its "wrong policies and wasteful unplanned expenditure", the state had been plunged into a grave economic crisis. A lawyer, when contacted
said the imposition of financial emergency did not
necessarily entail dismissal of the government. However,
the president could keep the state assembly in suspended
animation for two months under Article 360.
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Liquor
banned during Jor Mela period FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 12 — The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the annual Shaheedi Jor Mela, which is scheduled to be held from December 25 to 27 in memory of the two younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, who were bricked alive here. Mr T.R. Sarangal, Deputy Commissioner, and Mr Paramraj Singh Dhaliwal, SSP, while addressing a Press conference here yesterday said the sale, consumption and storage of liquor in Fatehgarh Sahib, Bassi Pathana and Sirhind had been banned during the mela. The leaves of employees have been cancelled and they have been asked to remain on duty during mela, they added. The Deputy Commissioner said an exhibition by various departments highlighting the achievements of the government, a light and sound programme, 'Sirhind Di Dastan', and a kavi darbar would also be organised during the mela. The SSP said the 15 observation posts had been created and about 5,000 police officers put on duty. The traffic during mela would be converted via rural roads. Only the tractor trailers carrying langar items would be allowed to enter the mela. Meanwhile, the political parties have geared up for their respective conferences to be held on the second day of the mela. Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr G.S. Tohra will address the Akali conference. Capt Amarinder Singh, President of the PPCC, is taking a keen interest for the Congress conference. More than 10 lakh devotees
are expected to pay their obeisance to the sahibzadas.
About 200 langars would be organised by various village
panchayats. |
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Paddy
worth crores damaged FATEHGARH SAHIB: Owing to stringent specifications paddy worth Rs 700 crore lying in various godowns in the state has been damaged and if the same policies continued the stock purchased this year may also meet the same fate, Mr Bahadur Singh, president of the District Rice Millers Association, said. He said rice mills were facing a crisis these days due to the tough specifications fixed by the government. Almost all rice mills in this district had been lying closed with paddy worth Rs 90 crore stocked there. Levy rice worth crores of rupees had been lying in these mills awaiting acceptance by the FCI. According to the latest specifications, it is impossible for the rice mills to prepare rice for custom- milling and levy. All pleas by the rice millers to relax the norms because of the unseasonal rain have fallen on deaf ears. Even the Punjab Government has failed to convince the Centre to concede the genuine demands of the rice millers. Mr Bahadur Singh alleged the Centre had relaxed specifications for rice on paddy purchased after October 27 whereas the rice millers had purchased 95 per cent of their paddy before that date. He demanded that the central government should advance the date of relaxation to September 15 so as to save the rice milling industry. If no prompt action was taken, paddy worth crores lying in their premises and government godowns might rot, causing huge losses. Owing to the non-lifting of levy rice, rice millers were unable to pay arhtiyas, who, in turn, had withheld the payments due to farmers. Thus the farmer was bearing the brunt of this tug of war. Thousands of migrant labourers were on the verge of starvation following the closure of the mills. He further alleged it had also led to the fleecing of rice millers by exporters. The exporters were willing to pay only Rs 750 per quintal for rice as compared to Rs 850 earlier. He urged the government should immediately direct the FCI to accept levy rice to prevent their exploitation. Mr Inderjit Singh Sandhu, General Secretary of the Association, alleged the rice millers were being pressured by officials into doing the custom-milling of damaged paddy lying in their godowns since last year. He said the rice so prepared would be unfit for human consumption. He also demanded that rice should be accepted at 62 per cent instead of 67 per cent for custom-milling. Due to the closure of rice
mills, the ancillary units like solvent plants,
cattlefeed plants, poultry feed units, fatty acid plants,
refining units, soap and detergent plants, pulp and paper
board units had also been affected as they got raw
material as well as used rice husk as fuel. Now ricebran
is also used for edible oil. As much as 100 lakh tonnes
of paddy is produced. If the rice mills function properly
we can't get one lakh tonnes of edible oil from rice
bran, thus saving foreign currency to the tune of Rs 400
crore, according to a study report. The millers demanded
that the Punjab Government should make sincere efforts to
save the rice industry from collapse. |
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BKU
for review of curbs on cow export BARNALA, Dec 12 — The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) today demanded the setting up of four slaughter houses in Punjab to solve the problem of stray cattle which he said, had a detrimental effect on the state's agricultural economy. Addressing a two-day agriculture conference on the crisis in Indian agriculture with special reference to Punjab, BKU (Lakhowal) president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said the absence of slaughter houses in the state and curbs on export of cows outside it was depriving farmers of a supplement to their livelihood at a time when they were already passing through a crisis. Mr Lakhowal said the state could earn scarce revenue if cows were allowed to be transported out of the state in trains, which was not being done at present. He said the problem was acute in the state with non-lactating cows becoming a millstone around the neck of the farming community. He said it was strange that such a policy was being pursued when other state governments had allowed setting up of slaughter houses. Speaking on suicide deaths in the state, he said though suicide deaths were still taking place they were now getting less attention in the media. He said the farming sector would have to become more educated besides acquiring technical skills to deal with the present situation. Delving into the reasons
behind the suicide deaths and the crisis in Indian
agriculture, Mr Lakhowal said the primary reason was that
farmers did not get the right rate for their farm
produce. He said since 1966 — when the agricultural
price and cost commission fixed rates for the first time
— the agriculture price index went up by 1200 per
cent while farm produce rates went up by 700 per cent. In
contrast to this the income of agriculture industry had
gone up by 5,500 to one lakh per cent. |
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Report:
city fathers behind land grab AMRITSAR, Dec 12 — A fact-finding committee of the CPI has indicted the Senior Deputy Mayor of the SAD, the Mayor (BJP) and an MLA of the BJP for instigating residents of two colonies to "grab" public properties for constructing religious structures in gross violation of rules. The report jointly released by Mr Amarjit Singh, secretary, city CPI, and veteran CPI leader Satya Pal Dang has alleged that the senior Deputy Mayor "encouraged" the residents to construct a religious place at a public park. Attempts in this direction were thwarted by the administration with the help of the police. However, a religious symbol was again installed at the site after a compromise to appease a section of society. In the second case, the Mayor and a BJP MLA "helped install" an idol on a disputed piece of land. The land allegedly belonged to the municipal corporation. The report, has been sent
to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and Local
Bodies Minister Balramji Dass for appropriate action. |
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Punjabi daily on Net from today JALANDHAR, Dec 12 (PTI) — The country’s first Punjabi daily newspaper on Internet would be launched on Sunday, which would strive to cater to the demand of over 10 million strong diaspora of the people of Punjab origin of keeping in touch with the affairs back home. "The Internet newspaper, Punjab News, would be available at http://punjab news.webjump.com from Monday and a new edition would be available for browsing at 4 p.m. everyday," Mr Kamlesh Duggal, Director of the new daily said. The website newspaper would be inaugurated by Dr Sewa Singh Legha, academic consultant to Christian Medical College and Hospital at Ludhiana, Mr Duggal said. Dr Balwinder Singh, a
Canada-based communications expert who had earlier served
at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, is one of
the honorary directors. |
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Exam
for panchayat secretaries CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 —
Mr V.K. Janjua, Director, Rural Development and
Panchayats, Punjab, disclosed here today that the
Department of Rural Development and Panchayats, would
conduct written examination for the recruitment of
panchayat secretaries on December 20. |
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Blood
donation camp SAS NAGAR, Dec 12 —
The Sahibzada Social Welfare Society will organise
tomorrow a blood donation camp in memory of those who
died and got injured in the recent Khanna rail accident.
Mr Preet Inder Singh, president of the society, said the
camp would be held at Government Senior Secondary School,
Phase 3B1. |
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Students
hold rally PATIALA, Dec 12 — Striking students of local colleges today held a large rally in the Polo Ground to demand a roll back in the fee hike by Punjabi University. Student leaders while condemning yesterday’s lathicharge also demanded immediate release of student leader Raminder Popi, who is the only one of the 14 students rounded up yesterday who is yet to be released. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in a separate release alleged that their Modi College unit president S.S. Rana was mercilessly beaten up by the police after being handed over to it by Principal S.R. Sahani. However, both SP (City)
Gurpreet Singh and the Principal have denied this charge.
Mr Sahni said that Rana was spotted by the Duty
Magistrate as he among those throwing stones at the
police. The Magistrate had requested that he be handed
over to the police. He however, intervened in the matter
and called Rana’s father after which the boy
submitted a written apology for arguing with teachers
today. |
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9
held for cruelty to animals KHARAR, Dec 12 — The CIA arrested nine persons following the recovery of three trucks loaded with animals from their possession after registering a case under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, here on Thursday. According to report lodged with the Kharar police, the nine accused were caught with 61 animals on the Kharar-Kurali road. According to the police, they were loaded illegally and in excess of capacity, with their mouths and legs tied with ropes. Kalwant Singh, Rajinder
Singh, Sahijad, Aaftab, Anil, Meharban, Vijay Pal, Basim
and Bhupinder were produced in the court of the Judicial
Magistrate, Kharar, Ms Seema Dhillon, who remanded them
in judicial custody till December 12. |
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Advocate-General
visits district courts LUDHIANA, Dec 12 — All the records kept in the record room of the district courts will be transferred to new sessions court from December 15 so that the general public does not have to face any harassment. This information was given by the Advocate-General, Mr H.S. Mattewal, after seeing the dilapidated condition of the record room in the old sessions court. Mr Mattewal said that he
had directed the district administration to give Rs 1
lakh for the construction of the bar room library. |
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Winter
hours for schools LUDHIANA, Dec 12 —
All schools in the district will open at 9 a.m. from
December 14 to January 31. The order to his effect was
issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Goel. |
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AIR,
DD engineering staff go on strike JALANDHAR, Dec 12 — The engineering staff of the All India Radio and Doordarshan kendra here went on a 48-hour strike from today. The call for the strike was given by the Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti — association of the radio and TV engineering employees. The strike is in protest against the non-implementation of pay scales recommended by the Prasar Bharati Board. The normal functioning of the AIR and Doordarshan stations was affected badly due to the strike. No indoor and outdoor recording could take place in the stations and the senior officers conducted transmission. The engineering employees, including the helper cadre and Assistant Engineers of both AIR and Doordarshan staged a dharna in front of the AIR and Doordarshan complex. Mr Gurdev Singh Thind,
Assistant Unit Secretary of the association, said it had
been decided that the engineering staff would go on a
72-hour strike from January 6, 1999 followed by an
indefinite strike if the demands were not met. |
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Dense
fog reduces visibility MOGA, Dec 12 — Normal life in this town today was disrupted due to the dense fog which reduced visibility to only a few yards. Although it benefited the recently sown rabi crop in region, the fog affected transport and also business. According to report, three
persons were seriously injured on the Moga-Ludhiana road
when two vehicles collided head on due to reduced
visibility. |
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'Underweight'
gas cylinders sold MOGA, Dec 12 — A large number of consumers here today complained that cooking gas cylinders supplied by the local agencies were underweight by 2 kg each. A deputation of local residents said that although they have repeatedly asked the agencies to redress their grievances, nothing has been done so far. They further levelled
allegations of corruption against certain agencies who
they alleged sell these cylinders at Rs 300 each against
its actual rate of Rs 150. |
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500
schools to be upgraded BATHINDA, Dec 12 — The Punjab Government will earmark necessary funds to upgrade 500 schools and recruit 3000 teachers in the next budget. Stating this here yesterday, Mr Tota Singh, State Education Minister, said all government schools would have full strength of teaching staff by March 31. He said the Punjab Government had decided not to upgrade any government school in future unless arrangements for adequate teaching staff were made. To improve the functioning of government schools, the suggestions of MLAs and MPs were being considered, the minister said. He disclosed that Bathinda
district had achieved the distinction of providing 100
per cent teaching staff in all government schools with
the help of parent teachers associations and panchayats. |
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