Tuesday, November 3, 1998
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Tuesday, November 3, 1998 |
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Congress
leaders former Akali, says Badal PPCC
chief asks for central forces
Man kills wife, 3 children BATHINDA, Nov 2 — Reeta and her three children, Ritu , Honey and Ghosha were allegedly killed by her husband Ramesh, his brother Ved Parkash and mother Shanti Devi late last evening at Goniana Mandi, 15 km from here. |
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 Mittal's assurance on damaged paddy ROPAR, Nov 2 — The Punjab Government will take steps to encourage competition among the rice millers in the state for lifting 20 to 25 per cent damaged paddy, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supplies Minister, Punjab said.
'Health
corpn wasting funds' |
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Top
terrorist arrested Dharna
held to seek shifting of factory Free
dental care fortnight opened Central
plan to curb prices hailed Congress,
SAD men hold demonstrations Shifting
of market put off till November 20 Stone
laid for inter-state bridge SGPC
to organise Khalsa marches AISSF
to detect graft practices of ministers Punjab
Government action criticised |
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Congress leaders former Akalis:
Badal GURDASPUR, Nov 2 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab and President, the Shiromani Akali Dal at a political conference at Joura Chhatran, 11 km from here today said top leadership of the Congress in Punjab was opportunistic. He said that PPCC Chief Amarinder Singh, defected to the Congress when he was denied Akali ticket during last Assembly elections. He said that PPCC Vice-President Jagmeet Singh Brar and Mr Birdevinder Singh, General Secretary of the PPCC are also former Akalis and had joined the Congress because the Shiromani Akali Dal could not serve their interests. Mr Badal accused the Congress of ignoring the interests of Punjab for a long span of 45 years. So much so Chandigarh which was built by late Partap Singh Kairon as Chief Minister to house Punjab capital has not been handed over to Punjab, so far. He said that river waters of Ravi-Beas and Sutlej which is riparian right of Punjab has been denied to Punjab. Rajasthan Canal was built to divert river waters of Punjab to Rajasthan. SYL which was the creation of the Punjab Congress aimed at depriving Punjab of river waters. Mr Badal said that the Congress throughout had been anti-Punjabi. Veteran Akali Leader Master Tara Singh was sent to jail when he challenged Jawahar Lal Nehru to fulfil the promises made to Punjabis at the time of partition. He added that during the re-organisation of Punjab in 1966 Punjabi speaking areas were kept out of Punjab under a political scheming hatched by the Congress, accused the Chief Minister. Mr Badal accused the central government of discriminating against Punjab. He said that earlier Punjab had a share of 32 per cent in recruitment in Army. But the Congress with one stroke of pen reduced the recruitment of Punjabis in Army to 2.5 per cent on the basis of population of Punjab in the country, added Mr Badal. Mr Badal said that it was Mr IK Gujral who, as Prime Minister waived Rs 8400 crore loan standing against Punjab. In addition, he sanctioned International Air Port at Amritsar, a refinery at Bathinda, Power Projects and liberal funds for completing Ranjit Sagar Dam and Lehra Mohabbat Power Project. Mr Badal said that he was
in touch with the Union Textile Minister, to modernise
New Egerton Woollen Mills, Dhariwal. |
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Adampur byelection JALANDHAR, Nov 2 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPC) chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, has demanded central forces and observers to monitor the Assembly byelection for the Adampur seat as the party feared sabotage and intimidation by certain Punjab police officers. Briefing the media here today, after filing the nomination papers of the party candidate, Mr Kanwaljit Singh Lally, the PPCC chief said some senior police officers of the state were campaigning for the SAD-BJP government and therefore the Congress party would fax to the Chief Election Commissioner tomorrow demanding that central forces should monitor the elections. Speaking on the issue of support of the CPI and CPM to the Congress, he said: "I expect them to support us since already at the national level they are inclined to a secular party like us". He also made an appeal to the BSP for giving support to the Congress in defeating the anti-secular party in the elections. Coming down hard on the SAD-BJP combine for failing the farming community in the state, he alleged that spurious pesticides manufactured by a factory in Sangrur owned by the son-in-law of Chief Minister, was responsible for much of the cotton crop damage as a large bulk of the pesticides were being supplied by this factory. He said the Congress had demanded a special girdawari and assessment of the damage incurred by the farmers for the paddy crop. According to rough estimates the farmers had lost 25 to 33 per cent of their crop if not more. Dubbing the pro-farmer image of the SAD-BJP as a farce the PPCC chief said not only was the farmer loosing productivity of sugarcane but no payments were being made to him. On the other hand the Doaba belt — Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr — the potato belt, was suffering as no fertilisers like potash and pap were available to the farmers. He also accused the SAD-BJP government of going back on its manifesto promise of doing away of octroi. The Congress had also condemned the arrest of Mr Gurbir Singh on the behest of Mr Mahesh Indersingh, a minister in the state government. The Congress chief as divided the Adampur constituency into 15 zones to be manned by senior Congress leaders. Former MLAs and PPCC members would be designated to supervise the 144 polling stations in the constituency. The main Congress office would be Bhogpur and the PPCC chief would be stationed in the constituency for the entire period of the polling. He said that the party was unified and there was no dissidence in the state Congress leadership. "We are going to win this election" proclaimed the PPCC chief. The other state Congress
leaders present were Mr Santokh Singh Randhawa, former
PPCC chief, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Chaudhary Darshan
Singh, Mr Balbir Singh, former MP Mr Amarjit Singh Samra,
and Mr Avtar Henry (both sitting MLAs), Mrs Santosh
Chaudhary, former MP, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, Mr Partap
Bajwa, general secretaries, and Mr Jasbir Singh Dimpa,
President, Punjab Youth Congress. |
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Mittal's assurance on damaged paddy ROPAR, Nov 2 — The Punjab Government will take steps to encourage competition among the rice millers in the state for lifting 20 to 25 per cent damaged, discoloured and below specifications paddy, still lying with the farmers and damaged due to two spells of unprecedented and untimely rains. Talking to reporters Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supplies Minister, Punjab added that the government had decided to make arrangements for the sale of entire damaged paddy in the open market by persuading rice millers. He said, efforts would be made for providing remunerative prices to the farmers of the state for their damaged unsold paddy. Mr Mittal, dismissing the charges regarding the non-lifting of paddy by state procurement agencies, said that it was the same damaged paddy which could not be milled. He also said that no employee of the Food and Supplies Department in the state had been suspended on account of irregularities in paddy procurement. However, he admitted that four or five employees of the FCI or Markfed had been suspended. He further added that explanations had been sought from the Food and Supplies officials or employees with regard to paddy procurement. Mr Mittal said that Food front was a national cause. He said, he had given the deadline of November 4 to the state agencies and the FCI for procuring the entire paddy, lying in state's grain markets. The minister also disclosed that directions had been given to hand over the details of paddy which was procured till October 31 last by the FCI and state agencies. He said, the agencies would mention in their detailed reports that how much paddy they procured above the support price, at support price and below support price. The minister also reiterated the demand of state government that central government should release the compensation of Rs 300 crore for state farmers whose paddy had been damaged. The FCI should also start the purchase of levy rice. Besides this, relaxations in rice milling should immediately be granted by the central government as demanded by the state government 4.5 per cent in the case of damaged paddy, 13 per cent for discoloured paddy and 30 per cent for breakage. Mr Mittal also claimed that with the relaxation for procuring up to 8 per cent damaged paddy, the state farmers had got profits of Rs 20 to 30 per quintal which also helped the farmers to sell their produce at minimum support price. The minister said that 20 lakh tonnes of paddy was yet to be procured in the state against the fresh targets of procurement after the untimely and unprecedented rains in the mid-October. He said, the FCI and state government agencies had so far procured nearly 50 lakh tonnes while traders had procured nearly 31 lakh tonnes of paddy. Mr Mittal warned the traders and depot holders that stern action would be taken if anybody was found guilty of irregularities or blackmarketing in selling essential commodities. On the other hand he also appealed to them to display the rate lists at their shops for the knowledge of customers. NAWANSHAHR: The Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal has exhorted the procurement agencies to ensure proper implementation of the relaxations in specifications while purchasing paddy so that the interests of farmers, who had suffered a great loss due to the inclement weather could be safeguarded. He directed them to ensure that paddy with up to 15% moisture must be purchased at a minimum rate of Rs 450 and payments made to the farmers well in time. The minister said he was satisfied with procurement arrangements in Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Muktsar, Bathinda, Fridkot, Ferozepore, Moga, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Gurdaspur. As many as 76,65,402 metric tonnes of paddy had been purchased up to October 30. The minister urged the rice millers not to exploit farmers.
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Writer awaits award money CHANDIGARH: Has the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development (HRD) frozen its scheme of giving financial assistance to persons distinguished in their fields? A celebrated Punjabi writer Santokh Singh Dhir has been waiting in vain for the past three years for the financial assistance which was bestowed on him jointly by the Centre and the state governments. The veteran writer who turns 78 in December next, was granted this assistance (Rs.350/- per month) for the first time in 1989 by the HRD Ministry. Under the scheme, the state government contributes from its own sources an amount equal to 50 per cent of the amount granted by the Centre as its share for disbursement to deserving persons. The sanction is annually conveyed to the state governments as well as the persons concerned. But no sanction has been granted from the financial year 1996-97 onwards. Mr Dhir’s letters to the Secretary and the Minister, Human Resource Development, on May 29, 1997, and June 17, 1997, and the Prime Minister on November 12, 1997, reveal that he remained in constant touch with the higher authorities to know about the fate of his financial assistance but surprisingly none of his letters was even acknowledged what to speak of action having been taken thereon. Of the four awardees listed in the Centre’s letter No. F-P-19/95-CH-2 dated January 9, 1996, whose financial assistance was disbursed through the Language Department, Punjab, by Punjab government with its share, two — Puran Singh Hunar of Amritsar and Akhtar Bhangalwi of Bhangala (Hoshiarpur) — have already expired. As the financial assistance in question has not been sanctioned or conveyed by the HRD Ministry, the writer is deprived of the 50 per cent share of the state government also which can be added only if the Central sanction is there. Even if there is no further increase, the financial assistance, as in 1996-97, given both by the Centre and the state governments amounts to Rs 1500/- pm. Accordingly, an amount of about Rs 50,000 is due to be paid to this celebrated writer. But this would be possible only if the sanction is cleared by the Ministry of HRD. While the grounds on which the financial assistance was started to Mr Santokh Singh Dhir exist even today, why officials in the Ministry of HRD (Department of Culture) are sitting over the file, is not known. Needless to say, the awardees falling under this scheme all over India must be meeting the same fate. "Is this the kind of reverence we pay to our senior citizens who have brought laurels to our nation through the best of their abilities and distinguished themselves in letter, arts etc? Is it feasible for them to physically run after the files, and that too in Delhi? Should their correspondence go unresponded or unacknowledged as is revealed in this case?, laments Mr Dhir. It may be recalled that
Santokh Singh Dhir has not only enriched Punjabi
literature through the strength of his pen but has also
been fighting for the downtrodden and the depressed
without lowering theirs as well as his dignity.
That’s why he has been crowned with a pretty number
of awards, including the prestigious Sahit Academy Award. |
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Selling drugs on mobile phones AMRITSAR, Nov 2 — The sale of psychotropic drugs, including heroin, smack and opium on mobile phones and pagers, especially in the educational institutions in this holy city has baffled the police. Deals of drugs worth lakhs are done everyday on the mobile phones. As the mobile phone companies were allegedly not divulging details of the subscribers to the police. The Amritsar police has arrested seven members of the drug mafia, including a science teacher. Mr Gurdev Singh Sahota, district police chief, said. The police has arrested Amarjit Singh, a science teacher posted at Baba Budha Sahib School, Gurtej Singh, Lal Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Ms Kanta Baba and Rajinder Singh. Earlier, the police busted
a big gang of drug peddlers with the arrest of its
members, including some women. During interrogation a
woman suspect had admitted to having sold drugs in
educational institutions, including Guru Nanak Dev
University employees. |
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Man kills wife, 2 daughters, son BATHINDA, Nov 2 — Reeta (30) and her three children, Ritu (8), Honey (4) (daughters) and son Ghosha (one and a half-year old) were killed by her husband Ramesh, his brother Ved Parkash and mother Shanti Devi late last evening at Goniana Mandi, 15 km from here. Mr Sukhdev Chand, father of deceased Reeta in his complaint made to the police alleged that Reeta and her three children were set on fire after pouring kerosene and petrol on them by her husband and two others. He alleged that Ramesh and his brother Ved Parkash and mother Shanti Devi killed the four due to their lust for dowry. He said that Reeta married Ramesh in 1988 and Rs 2.5 lakh was spent on her marriage. After marriage, Ramesh started harassing Reeta for bringing more dowry which demand was always met by them. He alleged that Ramesh Kumar had started harassing Reeta more in the recent past as his business was not doing well and he was in economic crisis. He said that he had given Rs 40,000 to Ramesh Kumar few days ago and Rs 20,000 on October 29 for repairing the house. He said that he along with his wife went to Goniana yesterday after his daughter Reeta called them on phone due to her physical harassment. He added that they could not meet Ramesh and returned to Bathinda at 4.30 p.m. At about 6.30 p.m. he received the message that Reeta and her three children had been burnt to death by Ramesh and his brother, and mother, he added. Mr Ram Kumar, a utensil seller, who has a shop in the neighbourhood of Ramesh Kumar talking to The Tribune said that he saw smoke coming out of Ramesh's house and when he along with other persons opened the shutter of Ramesh's house, Reeta and her three children were in flames. They were immediately removed to the hospital, he added. All business establishments in Goniana Mandi and on the Court Road here where the parents of the deceased live remained closed to express sympathy with the bereaved families. Harnek Singh, SSP, who along with SP(D) and DSP (R) visited the civil hospital here where the bodies are lying said that a case against Ramesh Kumar, his brother Ved Parkash and mother Shanti Devi had been registered under Sections 302, 307, 498-A and 34 of the IPC by the Nahianwala police station. He said that all accused would be arrested by this evening. Meanwhile scene in the civil hospital here was pathetic as relatives of the deceased were wailing. Mr Sukhdev Chand, father of the deceased Reeta said, "I have been meeting each and every demand of Ramesh Kumar and even I was giving help for changing the roofs of the house of Ramesh Kumar. But he has ruined me by killing my daughter and three grandchildren." With tears in his eyes, he said that stringent punishment should be given to the killers of his daughter and three grandchildren. Mr Kewal Kumar Aggarwal, general secretary, DCC demanded that the Punjab Government should take steps to check the crime against the women which was on rise for the past two years. Civil hospital sources said that post-mortem of the bodies would be conducted today after formalities were completed by the police. Meanwhile, tension
prevailed in the civil hospital here where relatives of
Ramesh Kumar and deceased Reeta were present in large
number and were indulging in quarrels. |
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PCMSA: health corporation
wasting funds HOSHIARPUR, Nov 2 — The Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association has criticised the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) authorities for making 'unnecessary' renovations in the civil hospital buildings in the state instead of providing basic medicines to patients. In a press note issued here today, Dr Ajay Bagga, press secretary of the PCMS Association, alleged that pucca concrete floors in good conditions were being replaced in these hospital in the name of renovations, resulting in a waste of money. While money was being spent on these 'renovations' basic medicine like antibiotic syrup and antiallergic chlorphe-niramine malcate (CPM) were not availabe to patients in these hospitals, he claimed. Rural dispensaries lacked even basic facilities such as toilets, electricity, safe drinking water and proper approach roads. The buildings of these rural dispensaries were in a dilapidated conditions and these were the ones that required immediate repairs, he said. Referring to the new
scheme of having duplicate prescription slips to check
the pilferage of medicines in these institutions. Dr
Bagga said this was a joke with poor patients as most of
the stores in these institutions did not have medicine
stock so there was no question of pilferage. |
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Top terrorist arrested SANGRUR, Nov 2 — Gurmukh Singh, a self-styled assistant commander of the Black Panther Commando Force, has been arrested, according to Mr Arpit Shukla, district police chief. Gurmukh Singh, son of Mr Devinder Singh, was a resident of Jhal village under Amargarh police station near Malerkotla in this district. He had been absconding for over five years. After hiding for nearly three to four years in Calcutta, Gurmukh Singh returned to Punjab about four months back, stated Mr Shukla. He attempted to revive the Black Panther Commando Force to spread terrorism in the area. Gurmukh Singh was involved in over 12 incidents of looting at gunpoint mostly in the Malerkotla area. According to Mr Shukla, this terrorist looted at gunpoint Rs 40,000 each from two petrol pumps in Malerkotla. He also looted Rs 30,000 from a flour mill at Malerkotla. He attacked a factory at Malerkotla with his accomplices in 1992 and seriously injured an SPO guarding the premises. There were five members of
the Black Panther Commando Force. Two of these were
killed in police encounters and two others arrested. |
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Dharna held to seek shifting of
factory SANGRUR, Nov 2 — On a call given by the Anti-Pollution Committee, a large number of residents of this town and surrounding villages today staged a massive dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today. They were demanding that the National Agro Chemicals Limited, which manufactures insecticides, should be shifted away from the populated areas of the town. The factory is at present situated 1300 metres from the city kotwali. About two dozen panchayats of nearby areas have passed resolutions demanding the shifting of the factory for the safety of the residents of the area. The Sangrur Municipal Committee and the Sangrur Bar Association have also passed resolutions in this regard. Representatives of various social and political organisations joined the dharna and criticised the Punjab Government for delaying the shifting of the factory, which is reportedly owned by relatives of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. The protesters threatened
to intensify the agitation if their demands were not
accepted. |
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Free dental care fortnight
opened JALANDHAR, Nov 2 — A free dental healthcare fortnight from November 2 to November 16 was inaugurated today at the Civil Hospital here today. Dr AK Sharma, in charge of the Dental Department said that poor and needy senior citizens of the state would be provided dental care and dentures free of cost. The dental health care fortnight is being sponsored by State Bank of Patiala, Citizen Urban Co-Operative Bank and other social organisations. BATHINDA: Dental fortnight was inaugurated at civil hospital here, Rampuraphul and Primary Health Centre, Talwandi Sabo today by Dr Bawa Ram, Civil Surgeon. In a press note here, Dr B.P. Bansal, Chief Medical Officer dental said that most of the patients reporting in the hospital were suffering with dental caries and gum diseases. He said that in the fortnight, dentures free of cost would be given to poor senior citizens. A dental exhibition was also being organised in the dental fortnight which would conclude on November 16, he added. FEROZEPORE, (FOC): The Deputy Commissioner here Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu today inaugurated a 15-day free dental care camp at the Civil Hospital here. Speaking on the occasion, the Ferozepore Civil Surgeon, Dr V.K. Bassi said that the camp had been organised under the dental care fortnight during which dental patients would be examined and treated throughout the district. The fortnight has been organised Hospitals at Zira, Fazilka, Jalalabad and Abohar, he added and said, during the fortnight, more than 100 dentures would be provided to needy and poor patients, free of cost. Dr Bassi said that each denture would cost Rs 1,000 to the Department of Health. Later, he told that an
additional 60-bed complex would be set up near the
100-bed civil hospital here, by the Punjab Health systems
corporation. |
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Central plan to curb prices hailed PHILLAUR, Nov 2 — The Punjab BJP President Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, has welcomed the six-point plan to bring down prices of essential commodities. Mr Sodhi welcomed the decision to allow duty free import of pulses and abolition of special duty on ingredients of vanaspati. The BJP President urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to take effective steps against hoarding of essential commodities. He said ESMA should be invoked. Commenting upon the PPCC Chief, Captain Amarinder Singh’s statement about ’84, riots Mr Sodhi said the Congress government continued to allot berths in cabinets to those found responsible for the riots by inquiry commissions. Mr Sodhi asked Captain Amarinder Singh to explain why he joined the Akali Dal and then the Congress. Mr Sodhi said the Badal Government had inducted certain persons in market committees while the Punjab BJP had not recommended their names. Mr Sodhi said he would meet Mr Badal in this regard. Appointments of chairpersons of Improvement Trusts would be made soon after Adampur elections. Prime Minister, Mr Atal
Behari Vajpayee, will visit Punjab on November 11, Mr
Sodhi said. Workers training camps were being organised
in November throughout Punjab. |
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Congress, SAD men hold
demonstrations LUDHIANA, Nov 2 — Tension ran high when a large number of Punjab Congress men and SAD workers today staged a demonstration and counter demonstration in front of a court when a Congress leader, Mr Gurbir Singh, was presented before a magistrate for further remand. Mr Gurbir Singh, who was arrested in a case of fraud and cheating two days ago, was remanded in police custody till tomorrow. The Congress men alleged that Mr Gurbir Singh, a son of the former Chief Minister, Mr Gurnam Singh, had been implicated in a false case by the police at the 'behest' of the Punjab Minister, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, and his brother, Dr Gurinder Singh Grewal. They demanded that the case should be withdrawn immediately. A large number of SAD, workers, who also gathered in front of the court, shouted counter slogans. As tension prevailed, a police contingent arrived on the spot and pacified the agitating workers. The demonstrators included the Congress leaders — Mr Harnam Dass Johar, Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, Mr Surinder Dawar, Mr Gurcharan Singh Dadahoor, Mr Gurmit Singh and Mr K.K. Bawa. Dr Gurinder Singh Grewal,
in a talk with newsmen, alleged that Congress men were
trying to politicise the issue concerning the alleged
misuse of funds of the Guru Nanak Education Trust, of
which Mr Gurbir Singh was a trustee. |
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DASUYA, (Hoshiarpur), Nov 2 (UNI) — The police today registered a case of rape on the statement of minor Dalit victim who has been battling for life in the local civil hospital since October 25 when she was allegedly raped by a youth in Kularan village. The 14-year-old victim set herself ablaze shortly after she was allegedly raped by her next-door neighbour Balwinder Singh alias Pappu and his father Mangal Singh allegedly threatened to liquidate her family if they reported the alleged crime to the police. Panic-stricken victim in her first statement did not level the rape charge against Pappu but when her parents submitted an affidavit to Dasuya subdivision magistrate on October 29 narrating the sequence of the crime, the girl's statement was again recorded by tehsildar Mohan Lal. It was then the girl alleged the she had been raped in the bushes behind the village primary school on October 25 when she went there to ease herself. The Hoshiarpur SSP, after obtaining the opinion of district attorney (legal), today directed the registration of the rape case. Meanwhile, civil hospital senior medical officer H.S. Sandhu said the girl, who suffered 70 to 80 per cent burns, was still in danger. The girl's father Lashkar
Singh today demanded the arrest of the accused and his
father. |
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Shifting of market put off till
November 20 AMRITSAR, Nov 2 — With the intervention of the Minister for Agriculture, Punjab Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, show-down between commission agents and officers of the Punjab Mandi Board over the shifting of vegetable and fruit market from within the city to the outskirts at Vallah village had been averted. A delegation of the Fruit and Vegetable Merchants Association had met the minister and sought his help to resolve the matter as the people and some "anti-social" elements had looted fruits and vegetables from temporary godowns at Golden Avenue after the district administration had stopped all trucks and trolleys trailers carrying the produce outside the city and all entries were stopped. The general secretary of the association, Mr Harish Teneja in a press note here today said that the present mandi in the heart of the city had been catering to the needs of the city for so many years and government's plan to shift it to Vallah 10 km on the Mehta road had been hanging fire during this period as commission agents had alleged that the new mandi lacked basic facilities like power, water, roads and security. The Agriculture Minister assured the shopkeepers and agents that they could continue to operate from the old site till November 20. The association had, in
the meanwhile demanded strict action against the
'looters' who had taken away vegetables forcibly. |
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Stone laid for inter-state
bridge ROPAR, Nov 2 — The foundation stone of an inter-state bridge to be built at a cost of Rs 2.35 crore on the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border was today laid by Mr Harmail Singh Tohra, PWD Minister, on the Bharatgarh-Nalagarh road, about 22 km from here. The bridge will be completed in a record five months by March 31 next, so that pilgrims from Himachal could easily visit Anandpur Sahib for the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth in April, 1999. The bridge will have 15 spans with a total length of 450 ft. The bridge is being jointly constructed by the Government of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Punjab will spend Rs 1.77 crore, while Himachal will contribute Rs 58 lakh for the project. Both states will have approach roads to the bridge in their respective areas. Mr Tohra said the 16-km-long stretch of the bridge falling in Punjab, would also be widened and strengthened on a priority basis for connecting Chandigarh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The Himachal PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, said that the Hoshiarpur-Una-Nangal road would be strengthened soon for the celebrations. Mr Hari Narain Singh Bedi,
Himachal Urban Planning State Minister, said a welcome
gate would be erected near the Punjab-Himachal border for
the sangat taking part in the tercentenary celebrations. |
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SGPC to organise Khalsa marches AMRITSAR, Nov 2 — Five Khalsa march processions will be organised from the native places of Punj Pyaras (five beloved ones) of Guru Gobind Singh including one from Lahore in Pakistan. The birth place of Bhai Daya Singh to Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of tercentenary celebrations of the ordaining of Khalsa on April 14 next. This was stated by SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra at a joint meeting of the "parcharaks" (preachers) and managers of all gurdwaras under Section 85 and 87 at Teja Singh Samundari Hall here today. The other four marches would commence from Bidar in south India, Dwarka, Hastinpur and Jagannath Puri (Orissa). Routes of the marches would be decorated tastefully. The 'kesri' (saffron) flags and banners would be decorated tastefully. The 'kesri' (saffron) flags and banners would be put up at important places. On Khalsa 'march' from Lahore, he said that the NRI Sikhs would converge at Lahore from where they would march in procession in buses up to Wagah border where the SGPC would arrange buses for them up to Anandpur Sahib. Mr Tohra said that the SGPC would publish 300 books including some important books on Sikh religion which are out of print on this occasion. Libraries in 300 gurdwaras would also be established. The SGPC will play host
while the entire 'Khalsa' would be our guests. |
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AISSF to detect graft practices
of ministers AMRITSAR, Nov 2 — The All India Sikh Students Federation led by Dr Manjit Singh Bhoma has decided to constitute an anti-corruption cell to detect corrupt practices indulged in by ministers and high-level officials. Addressing a press conference here today, Dr Bhoma said that the reports on corruption would be submitted periodically to the Chief Minister for necessary action. Dr Bhoma alleged that the
youth was not being given due representation in various
boards and corporations. He said that he would continue
highlighting the discrimination against the youth by the
Shiromani Akali Dal. He said if youths continued to be
ignored it might lead to the revival of terrorism. |
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Plan
to launch ‘karza mukti andolan’ NAWANSHAHR, Nov 2 — The Punjab Kisan Sabha will launch a "karza mukti andolan" in the state to press the state government to waive the loans of farmers in view of the present disaster, general secretary of the sabha Lahmber Singh Taggar said. He criticised the Badal government for its utter failure to properly manage the procurement of paddy in mandis and provide relief to the farmers who had been suffering a heavy loss and committing suicides. The delegate conference demanded a compensation of Rs 7,500 per acre, an end to waterlogging in the Banga area, adequate fertilisers and early release of tubewell connections etc. Mr Gurmej Singh Mandali
and Mr Balbir Singh Jadla were elected president and
general secretary, respectively, of the district
committee of the sabha |
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Hakims still on job FEROZEPORE, Nov, 2 — Following a news on hakims and dawakhanas in Ferozepore, which appeared in The Tribune on October 13, authorities moved into action. On the direction of the local Civil Surgeon, Dr VK Bassi, the Ferozepore Drug Inspector, and an other officer visited some of the so-called "dawakhanas" (clinics) and submitted a report on October 15. Mr Singla informed Dr Bassi that the so-called physicians were found keeping some types of ayurvedic medicines in the form of pills and dried parts of plants. On enquiries, they (hakims) could not show any valid registration certificate for practising ayurvedic medicines at the time of inspection, said Mr Singla in his report. He said, "In my opinion, the District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer (DAUO) can check these practitioners for further taking action." On the basis of these findings, Dr Bassi took up the matter with the District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer who submitted his detailed report to him on October 29. The DAUO informed the Civil Surgeon that he had checked six dawakhanas on October 23 and found that no one was practising there. Women and children were sitting in the tents. They (women and children) told the DAUO that physicians had gone outside. "Perhaps due to checking done by the Department of Health, these persons (hakims) are not working temporarily and have gone here or there", said the DAUO in his report. The DAUO further informed the Civil Surgeon that during checking it came to his notice that they (hakims) were not registered medical practitioners of any state. They were keeping certificates of a so-called associations pasting their photographs on them which gave an "illusion" of certificates. "In my opinion, action on the matter is needed to be taken by the district administration because the tents have been put up on prime land of the municipality within Municipal limits since past many months and these seem to be illegal", said the DAUO. He added that the administration must take steps to remove these 'dawakhanas'. Women and children of
these persons (hakims) have assured the DAUO that they
would take away the tents as and when male members come.
At the end, the DAUO suggested to the Civil Surgeon that
before taking stern action, it would be better to give
them (hakims) a chance. |
||
Punjab Government action
criticised CHANDIGARH, Nov 2 — Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Mr Avtar Singh Brar and Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, all former Congress Ministers have strongly criticised the Punjab Government for getting a Congress leader, Mr Gurbir Singh Bakku arrested. They said that a false
case had been registered against Mr Gurbir Singh, son of
a former Punjab Chief Minister, the late Justice Gurnam
Singh. He was arrested on October 31 by the Ludhiana
police. |
||
Tacoria
elected Bar Council vice-chairman CHANDIGARH, Nov 2 — Mr Rajdeep Singh Tacoria, a Punjab and Haryana High Court advocate, has been elected Vice-Chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana. The election to the post was held yesterday. Belonging to the Rathore group, Mr Tacoria defeated Mrs Kiran Bala Jain, an Ambala-based advocate. She belongs to the Mattewal group. The elections of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Bar Council were declared following the resignations rendered by the incumbent Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Mr Hardev Singh Mattewal, Punjab Advocate-General, and Mr Hari Narain Mehsempuri, Vice-Chairman of the Bar Council, had filed their nominations for the post of Chairman on October 31. The nomination papers of Mr Mattewal were contested on the ground that since the Advocate-General had only voting right, he could not become candidate for contesting the election. The Returning Officer, Mr
Roshan Lal Batta, had referred the matter to the High
Court for a clarification. |
||
Chahal appointed Director CHANDIGARH, Nov 2 — Dr G.S. Chahal today assumed charge of Director, Animal Husbandry, Punjab. Earlier he was working as Joint Director. The post had become vacant following the retirement of Dr Amar Singh on October 31. Dr Chahal is a widely
travelled person and known as a poultry expert. |
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