Thursday, November 5, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Thursday, November 5, 1998 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
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PM's
visit may be delayed again
'Raids
on stockists' godowns needed'
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Jeers
and cheers for cleanliness drive Downgrading
of railway stations resented
Mahurat
of "The Khalsa" performed |
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| Sikh pilgrims to visit Pak |  |
Sikhs asked not to vote for Cong, BJP |
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CEC’s plea to debar the
charge-sheeted LUDHIANA, Nov 4 — In a bid to check criminalisation of politics the Election Commission of India has recommended to the government that even those who have been charge-sheeted and against whom a prima facie criminal case has been established in a judicial court should be debarred from contesting elections. This was disclosed here today by the Chief Election Commissioner, Dr Manohar Singh Gill during the course of a talk with TNS as also at a meeting of the Ludhiana Management Association. Dr Gill said the earlier view of the Election Commission that those who had been convicted in a criminal case should be debarred from contesting elections was not adequate. ‘‘One can appeal against his conviction in a court and the progress of appeals in India is unending. Therefore, we feel that if anyone has been accused of a crime which may lead to a certain level of punishment... and the judge says that there is prima case... that should be good enough to debar him from the elections,’’ he declared. There was no doubt that every citizen had the right to vote and contest an election. But at the same time, the state also had a right to exist. Therefore, those who trying to undermine the system would have to be kept out of it. Dr Gill, however, refused to be drawn into a discussion on the case of Romesh Sharma who had been dominating the headlines of newspapers for sometime past. Not much was known about his background as such but he had managed to float his own political party and develop contacts with some of the top politicians of the country. The Chief Election Commissioner said that he had no doubt in his mind that if the government debarred people facing criminal proceedings in courts from contesting elections, it would be upheld in the court. ‘‘There is a doctrine of reasonable doubt... which will help the courts in arriving at the correct decision,’’ he said. The Election Commission's earlier suggestion that those with a criminal past should be denied tickets by political parties had served to highlight the problem and put the political parties on the defensive. It had made them conscious of the problem. But ultimately it was the public pressure which would force them to deny tickets to such people. The Chief Election Commissioner identified poll expenses as one of the gravest problems of the Indian democracy. "The minimum cost of an election is way beyond the limits set by the Election Commission. The commission is aware of all the all facts...even in the recent elections to the SGPC and panchayat poll in Punjab large sums of money were spent." The restrictions put by the Election Commission on poll expenses had helped curb wild expenditure which was taking place on elections earlier. Dr Gill said the government should withdraw and hand over the administration to the Governor shortly before the holding of elections in the state. "This will ensure free, fair and impartial elections. The Governor cannot be partial to any political party in such a situation. At least, we in the Election Commission have received full cooperation from a Governor in such a situation." Luckily, in the forthcoming elections to be held next month, two of the states were ruled by the BJP and two by the Congress Party." Therefore, nobody can say that the suggestion to hand over the administration to the Governor will favour one party or the other." It was time high
functionaries of the government, including the Governors,
were appointed by a composite authority consisting of the
Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief
Justice of India and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or some
other personalities. This will have to be done sooner
rather than later if we want to strengthen the roots of
democracy in India," he said. |
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Badal building gym at residence, '
wasting' public money CHANDIGARH, Nov 4 — Addressing a press conference here today, the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee said that while the state was facing a serious financial crisis and the farming community was reeling under the burden of debt, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was "wasting" money on building a gymnasium at his official residence. Distributing an official letter among mediapersons with regard to the setting up of the gymnasium, the Congress leader said that about Rs 14 lakh would be spent on this project. He said the Department of General Administration of the State Government had put certain queries to the State Drainage Department authorities with regard to the gymnasium. The General Administration Department has asked the Drainage Department whether it had sought the permission of the Chandigarh Administration for building a gymnasium and a committee room at the Chief Minister's residence. The General Administration Department has also asked who issued orders for constructing the gymnasium and the committee room. A detailed reply has been sought from the Drainage Department in this connection. The PPCC President said that a CBI probe should be held in the alleged sale of spurious pesticides in the cotton belt. He said that American bollworm, which damaged the cotton crop to a large extent, could not be eliminated due to the spurious pesticides. He alleged that a close relation of Mr Badal owned a pesticide factory and he was selling pesticides in bulk in the cotton belt. He said that although Mr Badal had met the Prime Minister to seek central assistance for farmers who suffered loss in recent weeks due to damage caused to their crops, the Central Government had given nothing to Punjab. Andhra Pradesh got Rs 300 crore immediately after the visit of the Prime Minister to that state, he added. Talking about the arrest of a Congress leader, Mr Gurbir Singh Bakku, the Congress president said that Mr Maheshinder Singh Grewal, an Akali Minister from Ludhiana, was behind this arrest. He said that Mr Gurbir Singh was pursuing some cases filed in the court against Mr Grewal. He said that when the Congress party came to power in Punjab it would also retaliate against Ministers like Mr Grewal, who were using the police to harass Congress leaders. He said that Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra was creating trouble again by raising issues like Sikh personal law etc. Mr Badal had rejected the demand for such a law about 10 years ago, he added. He appealed to the BSP to
withdraw its candidate from the Anandpur constituency and
support the Congress candidate. He also sought the
support of the CPI and CPM. |
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PM's visit may be delayed again BATHINDA, Nov 4 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee is likely to visit Raman town of the district for laying the foundation stone of an oil refinery on November 12 instead of November 11. Earlier, Mr Vajpayee was to visit the town on October 31, but the visit was postponed. Reliable sources say Mr Vajpayee will be at Delhi on November 11 addressing a directors-general of police conference. The sources say the Punjab police authorities have so far not received any communication from the SPG (Special Protection Group) attached with the PM regarding his visit to Raman on November 11. Mr PC Dogra, DGP, Punjab, while admitting that no communication had been received so far from the SPG for PM's visit for November11, said that the Ministry of Petroleum had sent the confirmation of participation of union petroleum minister in the foundation stone laying ceremony on November 11. He said elaborate security arrangements were being made for the PM's visit and added that he himself had visited the site of the function. Meanwhile, the district administration is going ahead with arrangements for Mr Vajpayee's visit on November 11. Mr DS Baind, a senior officer of the Punjab Government, today visited the site to see the arrangements while the Joint Secretary of the union Industry Ministry would inspect the site on November 6. The State Food and Supply Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, said Akali workers were being asked to make arrangements for the public function on the foundation laying ceremony. He said about two lakh people would reach Raman to attend the ceremony and Akali workers would make arrangements for their food, drinking water, medical aid and transportation. He said a big welcome would be given to Mr Vajpayee on his first visit to this district. He said efforts were being made to arrange a meeting of different social, business and industrial delegations with the PM. He said he had been
meeting party workers so that people could be made aware
of PM's visit well in time. |
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Varsity
Regional Centre to run new courses DAMDAMA SAHIB (Bathinda), Nov 4 — The Regional Centre of Punjabi University here will run new courses soon. Set up in September 1988, the management course run here has already made a name for itself. A post-graduate course in information technology is being planned from the next academic session. A new teaching block will come up at the cost of Rs 1.42 crore. Besides this Dr Joginder Singh Puar, Vice-Chancellor Punjabi University, who took a press party around the centre, said a project was also being finalised to build six flats each for teachers and non-teaching employees. He said construction of a three-storey administrative block would start by December. Dr Puar said the regional centre, known Guru Kashi Campus, ran courses on applied science and technology, social science, management and information technology. He said none of its students of the last batch found managed to get jobs while studying. He said this was far higher than the number of placements of the Management Department on the university campus. The Vice-Chancellor said the regional centre offered courses in masters of business administration in marketing, management, finance and control, international business and human resource development. He said it also had facilities for master of commerce, master of computer application and post-graduate diploma in computer application. He said it also offered doctorate programmes in business administration besides off-campus distance learning and collaborative programmes in master of business administration. Dr Prem Kumar, head of the centre, disclosed that the Centre was also engaged in conducting entrepreneur development programmes, which helped students to interact with successful entrepreneurs. He said besides a computer centre and an audio visual laboratory, the centre had a library with 8,000 books. Manvinder Singh, an MBA (Marketing) student said the centre offered more close interaction with teachers and good facilities. The centre has the area of
110 square acre. |
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‘‘Surplus’’
teachers to be shifted AMRITSAR, Nov 4 — Large-scale transfer of the ‘‘surplus’’ teachers who had ‘‘manipulated’’ their postings in urban areas would be transferred back to rural areas where the studies had suffered due to the absence of teachers. Talking to The Tribune here today, Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister Punjab, said that more than 1300 teachers had succeeded in securing transfer from rural areas to the areas of their choice in the past. He said that about 300 such teachers were in Amritsar district. He said that the Education Department had sought a detailed list of such teachers from district education officer of the state. Mr Tota Singh, to a question, admitted that there were some reports about the ‘‘recruitment of sub-teachers’’ on meagre honorarium. Mr Tota Singh said that the Education Department had already taken stern action against such ‘‘fake recruitment’’ in the border areas. He said the state government was very serious about education, especially in the border areas. Drop-out rate which was 42 per cent at the primary level had been brought down to the 29 per cent after the formation of the SAD-BJP government. He said that the drop-out rate in primary would be further reduced to 20 per cent by the end of current year. He said that the drop-out rate in Kerala was the lowest i.e. only six per cent. Mr Tota Singh said that decision of teaching English in government schools from first standard would be implemented in toto. He said the Education Department had prepared a detailed list of those intellectuals. Leaders who had criticised the state government for introducing English from first standard but their own wards were studying in convent and other public schools. To yet another question,
Mr Tota Singh said that with the enhancement of scales,
about 99 per cent budget of the Education Department was
being spent on the salaries of the staff. However, the
state government would certainly enhance the budget
provisions for education. He said that school buildings
which were in dilapidated conditions, especially in rural
areas would be repaired on priority.
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CHANDIGARH, Nov 4 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the BJP could not have asked for more than what has been provided to them by Mr SS Ahluwalia, a senior Congress leader, by raising the issue of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.The Congress high command, shocked by his criticism, is contemplating action against him. In fact, the SAD and BJP leadership was virtually facing dearth of political ammunition to attack the Congress Party in the ensuing Assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pardesh. But Mr Ahluwalia's letter to the party high command has made all the difference and it has come at the most appropriate time for the SAD and the BJP. Delhi, Rajasthan and MP have a dominating presence of Sikhs in certain pockets which could play a significant role in deciding the fate of major political parties in the assembly elections scheduled to be held on November 25. The Akali leaders from Punjab will campaign in these states for candidates of their own party as well as for candidates of its ally, the BJP. Even Mr Ahluwalia's stance on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots issue will affect the Congress Party in the Adampur byelection in Punjab. The Akali leaders will go all out to make it an election issue and charge the voters, especially Sikhs, against the Congress Party. Lambasting the Congress high command in his six-page letter sent to Mrs Sonia Gandhi and all members of the CWC, the former Congress Minister, Mr Ahluwalia, has stated that the party "has surrendered to mighty mafia and sacrificed its ethical and moral responsibilities." Livid at the appointment of Mr HKL Bhagat as convener of the election campaign committee in Delhi and Mr Sajjan Kumar, Mr Jagdish Tytler and Mr Dharam Dass Shastri and others as members of the election committee, Mr Ahluwalia has made no secret of his feelings. Mr Ahluwalia has taken serious objection to the political rehabilitation of Mr Bhagat, Mr Shastri, Mr Sajjan Kumar and Mr Tytler. What kind of signal such a decision of the party would send among the people, especially Sikhs, only time will tell, asserted Mr Ahluwalia. Arguing that the party had held these leaders "guilty of anti-Sikh riots and had denied them party tickets in the last election, it was painful to see that these leaders allegedly involved in the carnage were getting protection and patronage from the Congress", he stated having a dig at the party high command. Commenting on what has been said by Mr Ahluwalia, the Secretary of the SAD, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, said that the other Congress leaders should also exhibit the courage shown by Mr Ahluwalia. He said that Mr Ahluwalia had exposed the Congress Party's double standard towards Sikhs. A senior Akali Minister said that instead of taking corrective measures with regard to issues raised by Mr Ahluwalia, the Congress Party high command was issuing statements that Mr Ahluwalia would be shown the door immediately after the party high command was free from election engagements. Even in private conversation Sikh Congress leaders admit that certain things had gone amiss with the Congress Party's policy towards Sikhs. Capt Amarinder Singh,
President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, while
talking to TNS said that he did not agree the way Mr
Ahluwalia had raised the issue. If Mr Ahluwalia had any
objection, he should have taken up the issue at the party
platform. |
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'Raids
on stockists' godowns needed' LUDHIANA: With prices of essential commodities, particularly vegetables, sky-rocketing, residents of the city are flaying the BJP-led government for its failure to control prices. The city residents maintain that the steep hike in prices of essential commodities is because of the nexus between politicians and traders, who have not been able to check hoarding of these commodities. They believe that an offensive against these hoarders by the government would solve the problem to a great extent. The residents also feel that the union government's steps to curb the rising prices are too little and too late. Among those whose views were sought, Sushila Kumari, who works as a part-time maid, says: "It's almost been two months since we have had onions. The price of potatoes, too, has risen and these sell at Rs 20 per kg. The prices of pulses, rice, wheat flour, edible oils, etc. have shot up. For people like us, all these essential commodities are becoming elusive and our weekly budget has been adversely affected". Kunwar Singh, a gardener living in Civil Lines, opines: "This hike in prices is the handiwork of stockists, hoarders and middlemen. When the price of onions went up, we stopped consuming onions: now everything is going beyond our reach. What all things can one stop consuming because of spiralling prices? Even with a weekly budget of Rs 250, I am unable to have a wholesome meal". Chaman Lal, a vegetable vendor in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, laments that business prospects are bleak as most people have stopped consuming onions. "The sharp rise in prices certainly cannot be because of scarcity of these vegetables. The godowns of all commission agents in Sabzi Mandi are stocked with vegetables and these agents are minting a lot of money", he states. However, commission agents and stockists deny these charges. Mr Amarpreet Singh, a commission agent in the main Sabzi Mandi says: "Untimely rains are to be blamed for the shortage of vegetables and the subsequent hike in prices. In fact, during this season we did not stock any vegetable as there was scarcity. We have also had to suffer as the sale of these vegetables has gone down drastically". However, a round of the Sabzi Mandi reveals that almost all godowns are full of vegetables. Mrs Charanjit Kaur, a housewife residing in the Field Ganj area, says that earlier she used to purchase her weekly supply of essential commodities for Rs 300, but now even Rs 500, she found it difficult to make both ends meet. Mrs Alka Sood, an English teacher, says: "For the salaried classes, this hike in prices makes a lot of difference. She asked why raids were not being conducted on the godowns of stockists. "Even after paying
such astronomical sums for these items of daily
consumption, one is not sure if these are free of
adulteration", she adds.
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Punjab to spend 1,000 crore for
SC welfare ROPAR, Nov 4 — SAD-BJP Government in Punjab will spend Rs 1,000 crore on the welfare of Scheduled Castes during its five-year tenure. It has spent Rs 227 crore for this purpose in the past 20 months. This was announced by Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Minister for Medical Education, Science and Technology and Environment, Punjab, while addressing a concluding function of a free-eye-operation camp at Oind village near Morinda, about 25 km from here yesterday. The minister said the government had so far spent Rs 21 crore on Shagun Scheme, Rs 42 crore on houses for houseless Scheduled Castes and remaining on other welfare schemes. He also informed the gathering that the state government had got sanctioned a loan of Rs 675 crore from HUDCO for the construction, widening and strengthening of roads in the state. The government has received Rs 50 crore from HUDCO as the first instalment of the loan. The minister said new renovation of primary schools would be done during the current financial year. He further said middle and senior secondary schools would be renovated in the coming financial year. The minister also disclosed that vacant posts of doctors would be filled soon. A letter for advertising the posts had already been sent to the Punjab Public Service Commission, which would soon initiate action in this regard. He said that SAD-BJP government was fully committed to punishing corrupt Congressmen as per law, who had been indicted by the Lok Pal, after getting approval from Governor. The minister also announced a grant of Rs 1.50 lakh for the development of the village. The free-eye operation camp was jointly organised by the Village Youth Club and village Panchayat, in which 25 operations were performed and 150 patients were examined. Mrs Satwant Kaur Sandhu,
MLA, Chamkaur Sahib, appealed to the people to get the
old age pensions sanctioned for only genuine cases. |
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Commission agents seek dues from
millers GURDASPUR, Nov 4 — Foodgrain commission agents in this district are facing financial hardship due to nonpayment by the rice millers against paddy supplies. According to Mr Om Parkash, president, the Local Arhatia Association, the association had supplied paddy worth Rs 12 crore to rice millers against which they have been paid only Rs 1.5 crore. The paddy supplies have been made between October 1 and October 31. Mr Om Parkash said that the association would resort to traffic jam on October 6 in front of grain market here if no provision for payments was made. The association is already on strike and sitting on dharna in front of the office of the district municipal committee here since November 1. Mr Om Parkash said that the farmers whom they owe huge amount against paddy supply will also join them in jamming traffic. He said that delay in payment to the farmers can lead to delay in the sowing of rabi. Mr Baljinder Singh, president Gurdaspur Rice Millers Association admitted that the rice millers owe huge amount to arhatias. He said that the rice millers had so far lifted paddy worth more than Rs 200 crore from the grain market in this district. They have made huge payments to the arhatias and so much so that they have exhausted their personal finances as well as bank limits. Mr Singh said that the acute financial crisis faced by the rice millers, arhatias and farmers were due to the nonlifting of rice lying with them. Rice worth more than Rs 100 crore has piled up with the rice millers and the FCI has not even lifted even a single wagon of rice. According to official sources the FCI is not coming up to purchase rice from the market in view of absence of directions in this regard from higher authorities. So much so the specifications according to which the FCI should lift rice has not been made clear to the FCI in view of continuous efforts being made by the rice millers to get relaxation in earlier specifications. Mr Singh feared that if
FCI does not start lifting rice, the rice millers which
are more than 100 in the district may face closure and
render more than 8000 employees jobless. |
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DAP
shortage to end soon: DC GURDASPUR, Nov 4 — Farmers of this district are caught in a piquant situation in view of acute shortage of DAP fertilisers for sowing rabi crops and non-payment of dues against paddy supplies. Capt Balcharan Singh, a farmer of Kahnuwan, said the cultivation of rabi crops was likely to be delayed because farmers were not in a position to buy DAP fertilisers from the black market. Mr Balcharan said DAP fertilisers where being sold at Rs 450 per bag against a control price of Rs 415 per bag despite strict action announced by the Deputy Commissioner and the Chief Agriculture Officer against the defaulters. He said traders sell DAP fertilisers on control price to those who also buy one bag of urea and two boxes of weedicide. Mr Keshav Behl of Hayat Nagar, a farmer who produces seed of various crops and vegetables, said the proposal of the official to use super fertilisers is uneconomical. One acre of land for the cultivation of wheat requires three bags of Super which costs Rs 450 and one bag of urea that costs Rs 180 against one bag of DAP fertiliser plus half a bag of urea used in normal circumstances which costs only Rs 505 per bag. Mr SK Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, said 31,000 bags of DAP fertilisers were used last year for cultivation of wheat. The IFFCO agency and other private traders have so far sold more than 21000 bags of DAP fertilisers. He said around 6000 bags of DAP fertilisers will be reaching the district during this week. FAZILKA: Sowing of popular early variety of wheat known as 343 is likely to be affected in scores of villages in Fazilka block due to non-availability of DAP fertiliser. In all government regulated agencies namely Punjab Agro Industries Corporation, IFFCO, Markfed, Co-op. Agricultural Society, Fazilka, there is no stock of DAP fertiliser. According to official
sources the sowing of wheat is likely to be affected in
25,000 to 30,000 acre out of total about 1,12,000 acre
under wheat cultivation in Fazilka block. As the sowing
season is running out smooth supply of DAP fertiliser is
essential to save the farmers from further exploitation,
maintains Mr Satish Kumar Dhingra, wheat producer of
Mohammad Pira village and President, Pesticides Dealers
Association, Fazilka. Certain fertiliser dealers are
compelling the farmers to purchase urea fertilisers along
with DAP. |
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UP
experts run gur market in Punjab CHANDIGARH, Nov 4 — Several teams of ‘‘experts’’ from sugarcane belt of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli in Uttar Pradesh have virtually taken over ‘‘gur manufacturing and marketing in Punjab’’. These ‘‘experts’’ now run all ‘‘indigenous gur manufacturing factories’’, which have come up in various sugarcane belts along state and national highways in Punjab. Interestingly, the Punjab farmers have virtually given up ‘‘gur manufacturing tradition’’ as nowhere, one finds any Punjabi farmer running a ‘‘kulharri’’. Between Banga and Phagwara, there are eight such ‘‘gur manufacturing units’’ which have been operational since Dasehra days. Their operations would continue until Holi in March. Besides manufacturing ‘‘gur’’ and ‘‘shakar’’ (gur powder), these ‘‘experts’’ from UP also market their products. For example, a kilogram of fresh ‘‘gur’’ can be had from any of these units for Rs 15 while ‘‘shakar’’ is quoted between Rs 15 and Rs 20 a kilogram. These ‘‘experts’’ bring in their own machinery from Uttar Pradesh. ‘‘We come here in October every year and continue until March end,’’ says Mr Kiran Pal from Shamli, who runs one of these ‘‘roadside gur factories’’ near Behram in Nawanshahr district. ‘‘This is our family avocation. We crush about 40 quintals of sugarcane every day and sell two to three quintals of gur and shakar daily. We are 11 members of a family and end up with a daily earning of about Rs 100 each,’’ adds Kiran Pal. Against the government fixed procurement price of Rs 95 a quintal, most of these units buy sugarcane directly from farmers at a price varying between Rs 80 and Rs 95 depending upon the sugar content. Some of the small and marginal farmers prefer to sell their produce to them for instant payment. The composition of such ‘‘indigenous’’ units are identical. Besides using diesel-based crushing machines, they collect the juice in a big container. The juice is then shifted to another big container and some purifying agent, mostly soda, is added to it before it is boiled. After evaporation and cooling, the concentrate or the gur slurry is shifted to a big platter where small cakes of ‘‘gur’’ are made. ‘‘The entire process takes about four to five hours,’’ says Raju, another contractor, who runs a similar unit near Behram towards Phagwara. At some of these units, the labourers employed are on contract wages. For an eight-hour assignment — from crushing of sugarcane to making of ‘‘gur’’ cakes or selling the products — a labourer gets Rs 50. And those working 16 hours a day get Rs 100 to Rs 120 a day. Though the
‘‘gur’’ and
‘‘shakar’’ sold by them are at almost
the retail prices in the market, they maintain that their
quality is good and products are fresh. |
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Gaiety marks Gurpurb celebrations AMRITSAR, Nov 4 — Birth anniversary of Guru Nanak was celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervour here today Devotees thronged the Golden Temple to pay obeisance and had holy dip during the whole day. Special programme of ‘Shabad Kirtan’ from the Golden Temple was relayed by the Jalandhar station of All-India Radio. Doordarshan also telecast live ‘Shabad Kirtan’ from 7.15 am to 8.15 am. Historic 'Jalau' (jewellery) was displayed at Akal Takht, Golden temple and Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai in the forenoon. The Golden temple, Akal Takht and all other buildings in the complex were illuminated. Fire works were also set off. The BBC production launched the shooting of its three-documentary films on trecentenary of the ordaining of Khalsa in the Golden Temple complex. UNI: There were also a rush of devotees paying obeisance at the historic gurdwaras of Tarn Taran, Goindwal Sahib, Khadoor Sahib, Baba Bakala and Bir Baba Buddha Sahib in the district. 'Langars' were organised by devotees through-out the district. ROPAR: The Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev was today celebrated with religious fervour in the local gurudwaras which were decorated tastefully. Devotees paid obeisance in the gurudwara. Guru Singh Sabha and Gurdwara Bhatha Sahib here. Hindus and Sikhs greeted each other to mark (50) birth anniversary of founder of Sikh religion. Welcome gates were also put up in the town to extend best wishes to the general public on the occasion. Reports of gurpurb
celebrations, marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nank
Dev Ji, founder of the Sikh religion, were also received
from Hoshiarpur, Moga, Phagwara, Kapurthala, Sultanpur
Lodhi, Begowal, Nadala, Bholath, Dilwan, Kala Sanghian,
Garhshankar, Phillaur, Faridkot, Kotkapura, Muktsar in
Punjab, Gurgaon, Kaithal, Sonepat, in Haryana, and Kulu,
Nahan in Himachal Pradesh, were also received. |
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Downgrading of railway stations
resented NAWANSHAHR, Nov 4 — Resentment prevails among residents of Gharshankar subdivision of this district over the downgrading of the railway stations at Gharshankar, Saila Khurd and Jaijon Doaba on the Nawanshahr-Jaijon Doaba section from B-class to just flag-stations by the Ferozepore division of the Northern Railways two months ago, for generating lesser revenue. Residents of the Kandi and Bet areas, who have been denied rail services with the decision have under the aegis of the Gharshankar Vikas Manch launched an agitation for the restoration of B-class status of these stations, which were established in 1914 to meet needs of people of the Kandi and Bet areas. The Gharshankar Vikas Manch, which includes members of all sections of society and all political parties, on Monday organised a ‘Protest March’ in Gharshankar and gheraoed the railway station for two hours and submitted a memorandum to the SDM, Gharshankar. The manch press secretary said that a drive had also been launched to get resolutions passed from the gram panchayats, municipal councils and other social and political organisations to press restoration of B-class status of the stations. So far, more than 150 panchayats had passed such resolutions, besides resolutions from Beopar Mandal, Bar Council and Municipal Councils of the area, he added. The downgrading of stations would result in the removal of all staff members (about 30 per station) except a ticket clerk and the withdrawal of loading and unloading facility of the goods-trains and parcel traffic facility would also not be available. The passengers may also face difficulty in getting information about the arrival of trains, while the timely closure of gates at the main railway crossings in these towns at the time of arrival of trains would also be hampered, which could lead to accidents, he added. With the withdrawal of facilities at these stations, poor sections of the society would be hit and employment generated by these stations would get reduced, he added. Railway's, plea that these stations had become financially unviable due to reduction in goods traffic does have any logic he added. Revenue collections at these stations was likely to increase manifold while the FCI had already deposited Rs 5,000/- as wagon registration fee with Garhshankar Railway Station authorities. HSB fertilisers Shahpur has also demanding full rakes. ABC Paper Mill, Saila Khurd has also reportedly demanded goods train facility directly from its mill premises. He alleged that the loss of revenue to the Railways was not due to the reduction in goods traffic but due to wrong policies of railway authorities. Beggar grass, stones, live stock etc. are found in plenty in this area but as these stations are no more loading stations, these items are being sent by road, causing loss of revenue to the Railways and inconvenience to public, maintains the press secretary, the residents of the area also sore that instead of increasing frequency of trains in view of the fact that buses from Hoshiarpur to various places including Chandigarh, Una, Nawanshahr, Jalandhar etc. are always overcrowded, the railways chose to downgrade the stations and withdraw facilities available to them since 1914. The residents maintain that if the railways had accepted their demand of linking Jaijon to Una and Saila Khurd to Hoshiarpur by laying a track measuring only 60 km., income of railways could have increased manifold and if Rahon was linked with Ludhiana by rail, it would have helped Railways earn more revenue. The linkage would reportedly be viable from the defence point of view also. The decision of the
Railways is not in consonance with the various World Bank
funded development projects, now underway in the Kandi
area, said the manch office bearer adding that it was
learnt that the Hoshiarpur district administration had
brought the matter in the notice of the CM, Mr Parkash
Singh Badal, who, in turn, has taken up the issue with
the Centre. The Railways is also planning to start a
‘train bus’ service on this section, he added. |
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Sikh
pilgrims to visit Pak AMRITSAR, Nov 4 — The SGPC will sponsor a jatha of Sikh pilgrims to observe Baisakhi at Gurdwara Punja Sahib, Hassan Abdal, in Pakistan in April, 1999. The jatha will also visit
Nankana Sahib and Dehra Sahib at Lahore before returning
to India. The SGPC has asked those desirous of going with
the jatha to apply along with their passports through
respective SGPC members by December 5. |
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Sikhs
asked not to vote for Congress, BJP AMRITSAR, Nov 4 — The Shiromani Youth Akali Dal (Kahlon) has appealed to Sikh voters not to vote for BJP and Congress candidates during elections, in Delhi, Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram as both parties had done 'nothing' for the community. In a press release, Mr
Kuldip Singh Kahlon, president of the Youth Akali Dal,
said while the BJP had not fulfilled its promise to book
those who engineered anti-Sikh riots in 1984, the
Congress was directly responsible for the genocide of the
Sikhs. |
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Symposium
on veterinary immunology LUDHIANA, Nov 4 — Punjab Agricultural University will hold an international symposium on veterinary immunology from November 8 to 13. The presidential address will be delivered by Dr Barnard Charley from France, former Chairman, Veterinary Immunology Committee of International Union of Immunological Societies. During the five-day
deliberations, more than 500 eminent veterinarians,
including 250 from other countries of the world, will
share the latest developments in the mechanism of animal
resistance against infectious agents like virus bacteria,
protozoa etc. The other important themes will be the
techniques for diagnosis of animal diseases, new
generation of vaccines. Vaccination strategies for
control of animal diseases etc.
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Jeers and cheers for cleanliness
drive JALANDHAR, Nov 4 — The cleanliness fortnight has turned into a farce, as some councillors alleged that the Municipal Corporation was not utilising Rs 3 lakh budget properly here. A survey revealed that garbage dumped on streets was not being cleaned though the corporation has reportedly hired 200 daily wagers, some councillors alleged that the corporation ignored the Municipal Councillors on this drive. Municipal Councillor, Mrs Arvinder Kaur Oberoi from ward no 25 criticised the campaign, she has alleged that Municipal Councillors were not consulted or taken into confidence before launching the drive. Another Congress councillor, Rajinder Beri has termed it a gimmick. He has also alleged that streets dumped with garbage were not being cleaned. However a majority of BJP
councillors appreciated this drive and lent support to it.
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Gramin
Bank staff conference on Nov 7 SANGRUR, Nov 4 — The fourth biennial conference of the All-India Gramin Bank Employees Association will be held at Sangrur on November 7 and 8 in support of bank employees' demands, according to Mr Pali Ram Bansal, assistant general secretary of the association. The conference, being held for the first time in Punjab, will be inaugurated by Mr Tarakeshwari Chakrovarty, general secretary of the All-India Bank Employees Association and presided over by Mr Gurdas Dass Gupta, MP. According to Mr Pali there are 196 Regional Rural Banks having more than 14,500 branches in the country and the delegates and observers from all 196 such banks in the country will participate in the two-day conference. Main demands of the
association include merger of these regional rural banks
with their sponsor banks and the parity of pay scales
with their sponsor/commercial banks. |
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SGPC threatens action against filmmakers AMRITSAR, Nov 4 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee today asked the producer-director of Hindi film "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" to delete certain scenes of the feature film which reportedly used derogatory language against the Sikhs. The SGPC secretary, Mr Surjit Singh, has threatened legal action against the producer if such scenes were not cut. He, however, appreciated certain owners of cinema houses who had already dropped these scenes. On the other hand, the
SGPC has also raised objection on some parts of film
"Pardesi Babu" in which a Sikh character has
been depicted not to the liking of the committee. The
committee warned that a suitable action would be taken if
such scenes were not cut immediately. Similarly, the SGPC
has expressed concern over a text book of the Haryana
Education Board which did not depict the Sikh history
well. |
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Mahurat of "The Khalsa"
performed AMRITSAR, Nov 4 — The Mahurat function of "The Khalsa," a documentary film on the Sikh religion, was performed here today at Akal Takht. The film will have Punjabi, Hindi and English versions. The film is being produced by Mangal Dhillon, well known TV and film actor. Addressing a press conference at Akal Takht, Mr Dhillon said the film was being financed by the state government. He said the government had already released Rs 24 lakh out of Rs 32 lakh allocated for the film. However, the film would require more money for its completion, he said. Akal Takht chief Bhai Ranjit Singh appealed to the SGPC and the state government to help Mr Dhillon's project. "The Khalsa" will cover in brief ideas of the first nine gurus, its main emphasis would on the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh. The 10th guru's creation of Khalsa, battles of the Khalsa under Guru's command, sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh ji and other Sikh warriors, including martyrdom of the four Sahibzadas. Around 150 paintings on the Sikh history will be used to illustrate this period. All prominent historical gurdwaras, battle fields and important spots related to Guru Sahibaan and the Sikh history will be picturised. On Baisakhi of 1999, film
would be screened at Anandpur Sahib and gurdwaras world
over and through satellite and cable networks, if
possible, Mr Dhillon said. |
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Minimum
wages increased CHANDIGARH, Nov 4 — The Punjab Government has ordered a hike in the minimum wages of skilled and unskilled workers with effect from September 1. The order will be applicable both for getting wages on monthly and daily basis, according to an official press release. The Punjab Government said that the minimum rates of wages which were revised/fixed by it for different categories of skilled and unskilled workers w.e.f. July 1, this year were linked with the consumer price index. As a result of this
linkage, the minimum rates of wages payable have gone up
by Rs 56.40 per month and Rs 2.16 per day thus raising
the monthly rate of minimum wages for an unskilled worker
to Rs 1641.40 and for daily wage worker to Rs 63.11. |
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