Tuesday, October 6, 1998
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Tuesday, October 6, 1998 |
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Report for probe into flood
loss claims CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — A probe into all flood loss claims made by traders of Old Grain Market, Jagraon, has been recommended by Mr Sudarshan Singh Sachar, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Punjab police, working as an investigator for national insurance companies here. Mask of
‘kale kachchewale’ |
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IPS officer's reversion to
Andhra upheld CHANDIGARH, Oct 05 — The local bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has upheld an order by the Union Home Ministry and the Punjab Government reverting an IPS officer on deputation to Punjab to his parent cadre of Andhra Pradesh.
Three
killed, 7 injured in road accident Flying
squads to check octroi evasion Over
1.5 lakh tonnes of paddy purchased Tohra
elected chief of Bir Khalsa Dal Employees
'suspend' agitation |
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| Govt decision condemned | |
5 held for throwing eggs on yatra
Millers threaten to court arrest |
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Report for probe into flood loss
claims CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — A thorough probe into all flood loss claims made by traders of Old Grain Market, Jagraon, during the past few years has been recommended by Mr Sudarshan Singh Sachar, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Punjab police, working as an investigator for national insurance companies here. Mr Sachar in his report submitted to the National Insurance Company said all four cases of flood loss claims investigated by him were found to be "false as they were supported by fabricated documents and were approved in connivance with senior officials of the insurance company and surveyors." Taking exception to the manner in which certificates were issued by the Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Jagraon, to the claimants of loss that "their shops were flooded with rain water. There was no fault of the Municipal Council of Jagraon in this," and has urged the Directorate of Local Government, Punjab, to investigate as to what procedure was followed in issuing such certificates, a few of which were even without any despatch numbers. Mr Sudarshan Singh Sachar said in his report that a majority of claimants of flood loss had been regularly claiming damages from insurance companies for the past few years. "It is a fit case that all such flood loss claims of the past few years be investigated," suggests Mr Sachar The report says 26 claims of flood loss were filed on August 22, 1997, by traders of Old Grain Market of Jagraon. Of the four cases entrusted to him for investigation, Mr Sudarshan Singh said that in all the four cases, claims for damage to stocks worth had been filed by the shopkeepers. The report said all the shopkeepers of the Market had raised their platforms much higher than the road level. Besides, they had constructed a high bandh at the entrance of their respective shops to prevent water from entering their premises. On the morning of August 22, there was incessant rain from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. Though the rain damaged stocks outside the shops, no water entered any of the shops, the report said. The enquiry also pointed out several other flaws in the claim cases. For example, information about previous policies, mention of specific items for which claims were made in the insurance policies, previous history of claims made by insurers, personal interest shown by branch managers of the company at Raikot and Jagraon in quick processing of flood loss claims, contradictions in the reports of surveyors, insurers and company officials and no system in issuing of certificates by officials of Jagraon Municipal Council have been highlighted in the report. No action has been
initiated on the basis of the investigations conducted by
Mr Sudarshan Singh Sachar who had recommended
registration of criminal case against a branch manager
besides entrusting the investigation of the entire case
to the Central Bureau of Investigation. |
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Mask of ‘kale
kachchewale’ FARIDKOT, Oct 5 — Reshma, wife of Amar Singh of Jaitu town in this district, could have gone scot-free after killing her husband on the night of September 13 by misleading the police that the crime had been committed by a "kale kachchewale" gang. But police investigations revealed that Reshma and her paramour, Mangal Baba had killed Amar Singh to pave the way for their marriage. In a similar case, the Muktsar police at first thought that Harbarinder Singh of Mahabhaddar village was killed by a stray bullet fired by a ‘kale kachchewale’ gang on the night of September 12. However, after proper investigations the police found out that Harbarinder Singh was shot dead from close range by some one and it was not a death due to hitting of a stray bullet. These two incidents have put the police on the alert as a number of crimes are being committed in the name of gangs of ‘kale kachchewale’. Police sources said this trend was in vogue in the days of terrorism when people after settling their personal scores used to put the crime into the kitty of terrorists. Mr H.S. Sidhu, SSP, Faridkot, while talking to TNS said after killing her husband Amar Singh, Reshma raised the alarm that her husband had been done to death by ‘kale kachchewale’ gang. But investigations revealed that Amar Singh was poisoned to death by Reshma and her paramour. They killed Amar Singh as the deceased was objecting the frequent visits of Mangal Baba to his house. He said Reshma, who had been arrested had confessed to having committed the crime and she told the police that she had twisted the facts to use the fear psychosis created by the ‘kale kachchewale’ gang among people to her advantage. Mr Parmod Ban, ASP, Muktsar, told TNS that Harbarinder Singh of Mahabhaddar village was murdered and his death was not due to the hitting of a stray bullet. He said there was some confusion in the village regarding the presence of "kale kachchewale" gang on that night. The police had got collected vital clues about the murder of Harbarinder Singh and hoped to solve the case shortly. The sources said a few weeks ago, about seven persons who were planning to commit robbery on the Gidderbaha-Malout road under the garb of "kale kachchewale" gang were rounded up. They were later freed at the intervention of the village panchayat. In the recent past, a
smuggler of the Bathinda area in a bid to divert the
attention of police from his illegal activities,
inflicted some injuries on his person and misled the
police by alleging that he had been attacked by a gang of
"kale kachchewale". However, investigations
revealed that he himself had inflicted injuries on his
person and there was no "kale kachchewale" gang
in the area. |
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Buddha Nullah — II LUDHIANA: Monitoring of Buddha Nullah reveals that pollution load is increasing day by day. It is now an open sewer rather than a stream, so much so that this stream which was once an asset to the city, is now a source of public nuisance and posing a serious health hazard. Its banks are utilised as public latrines and its water for ablution purposes. The same water is used for washing of raw vegetables. The washermen are seen using its water for washing clothes and there are chances that disease-producing organism may travel from the contaminated water to the human beings through clothes and raw vegetables. Stinking smell from raw sewage flowing into Buddha Nullah has made life of nearby inhabitants virtually a hell. Water from the Sutlej, into which flows the Buddha Nullah, is used as a source of raw water for hundreds of water supply schemes for villages and towns downstream of Ludhiana city. The water supply schemes are designed to treat raw water from rivers and are totally inadequate to treat the pollution introduced by the raw sewage discharged into the river through the Buddha Nullah. The Department of Fisheries has been complaining vehemently that the pollution of Buddha Nullah has not only resulted in extinction of aquatic life in Buddha Nullah but the fish yield in the Sutlej has also been drastically reduced. Moreover, the type of fish remaining in the river is of very poor quality. Mr Arun Goel feels a permanent solution will have to be found to the recurrent floods in Buddha Nullah. There is a lower Buddha Nullah near Jagraon which can be developed into a full fledged stream at a cost of about Rs 5 crore for carrying the waste water of Ludhiana. Mr S.S. Sandhu, Municipal Commissioner, Ludhiana, feels a regulator should be installed on the nullah north of Ludhiana which can be used to block excess water. But this will result in flooding of farmers' fields, creating an equally serious problem. There is also a proposal that a wide stretch on both sides of the nullah should be cleared of all houses, hutments and encroachments. But this scheme has so far remained only on paper. While the bureaucrats beg to differ with each other and submit draft proposals for "urgent favourable consideration", residents of the area continue to suffer helplessly. (Concluded) |
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IPS officer's reversion to Andhra upheld CHANDIGARH, Oct 05 (UNI) — The local bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has upheld an order by the Union Home Ministry and the Punjab Government reverting an IPS officer on deputation to Punjab to his parent cadre of Andhra Pradesh. The order upholding sending back Dr Rajwant Singh was handed down by the tribunal’s Vice-Chairman, Justice R.K. Nehru, and Mr S.C. Vaish recently. The central government had placed the services of Dr Rajwant Singh on deputation with the Punjab Government in 1990 for two years. The deputation was regularly extended from 1992 till 1997, when the Central Government refused to sanction a further extension. Aggrieved by the order, the IPS officer approached the tribunal and got a stay. The petition was opposed by the central government, the Punjab Government and several senior IPS officers of the state. Dr Rajwant Singh argued that his deputation to Punjab was at a period when "terrorism was at its peak" and that he took "grave personal risks". "An attempt was even made to kidnap my two children," he claimed in his petition. The state cadre IPS officers, on the other hand, contended that Dr Rajwant Singh had never been posted on any such post where he could have come in direct conflict with terrorists. "Moreover, such deputations marred our chances of promotion,’’ they pointed out. The tribunal turned down
the plea of Dr Rajwant Singh holding that the central
government was the "best judge’’ to decide
whether an IPS officer could be kept on deputation in
another state or not and vacated the stay order granted
earlier. |
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Badal's talks with PM CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The issue of Udham Singh Nagar might take a backseat when Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal meets Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in Delhi on Wednesday. Mr Badal is very keen to have some respectable share of seats to contest in the coming elections to the state assemblies in Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. The Akalis are aiming to contest some 40 odd seats. Mr Vajpayee is keen that Mr Badal should canvass vigorously for the BJP in these states but, as Akali sources here say, the Dal will this time take a share of seats in return for support." We have decided to spread out our wings outside Punjab and concentrate in our support base", Capt Kanwaljit Singh, the Dal General Secretary and Finance Minister, says. The Akalis are keen to have an edge by having real representation so that the kind of treatment they got on the Udham Singh Nagar issue is not repeated, Dal sources reveal Mr Badal is also credited with the view that if Akali candidates are there in Sikh and Punjabi strongholds, it will deter others like Mr Simranjit Singh Mann from fielding his own candidates. Mr Vajpayee and other senior BJP leaders have noted with satisfaction that the Akali Dal will not do anything to help the Congress in any manner. In other words, it will not withdraw support to the BJP Government on the issue of Udham Singh Nagar. This Akali attitude, despite some hawkish statements by the senior Akali leader and SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, is considered by the BJP leaders, including the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, to be a positive development. Now they want to address to the main issue on which the Akalis have taken a strong line. While BJP leaders are saying that the Akali interests or the interests of landowners will not be harmed in any manner in Udham Singh Nagar, the Akali position is that the land is not the issue, but merger with the proposed state of Uttaranchal is. The Akali Dal has, therefore, taken the decision to withdraw its two nominees from the Union Council of Ministers and also oppose the Bill whenever it is introduced in the Parliament. The meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Kalyan Singh, with Mr Vajpayee two days back is considered significant. He too is keen to assure the Akalis and find a way out so that the support at the present level is maintained. The Akalis will also canvass among the allies to support its stand in Parliament. Mr Badal has spoken to Mrs Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress and the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, about this. The Union Food Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, too has spoken to Mr Karunanidhi and proposes to impress upon leaders like the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Chandra Babu Naidu. Some Akali leaders have met the CPM General Secretary, Mr Harkishen Singh Surjeet and are likely to meet CPI leaders too. While the CPM has already taken a stand which is similar to the stand taken by the Akalis, the CPI has not taken any clear stand as yet. But if the comments by the veteran CPI leader from Punjab, Mr Satyapal Dang, are any indication then the CPI is unlikely to support the Akali position. Mr Dang says that the Akalis are only worried about the interests of the Sikh landlords in the Tarai region. They were silent for two years and now have suddenly woken up. Mr Tohra is said to have
met the Samajwadi leader, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, in this
connection and proposes to meet Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav
also. He strongly feels that the Akalis are being ignored
since they had extended unconditional support. "We
wish the BJP Government well. But our support is now
conditional. Let the BJP leaders, including the Prime
Minister, tell us which Punjab demand has been accepted
so far", he has repeatedly said. Mr Tohra is likely
to take a tough stand in the Political Affairs Committee
meeting of the Dal slated for October 6. |
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No need to go to Delhi: Tohra PATIALA, Oct 5 — Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Gurcharan Singh Tohra today said the Akali Dal (Badal) had already conveyed its wishes to the Central BJP leadership and that there was no need to go to Delhi on October 7 to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on the latter's invitation. Talking to newsmen after addressing a religious function here, Mr Tohra said the Akali Dal's demand for exclusion of Udham Singh Nagar from the proposed Uttaranchal state besides other demands of the state had already been conveyed to the BJP Central leadership. "Now the ball is in the Centre's court as it has to make a final decision on the issues". Mr Tohra, who yesterday denied having received any invitation from the Prime Minister for the discussion to take place on October 7, said he had received three telephone calls from the Prime Minister's office today but that these could not mature. The SGPC chief said: "We have asked for a final decision on the status of Udham Singh Nagar. Are you ready to keep it out of Uttaranchal or not. Only when this is answered will we hold talks on the coming elections in various states and understandings to be arrived at with the BJP". When asked point blank
whether he would attend the October 7 meeting or not, he
said "I will see what decision the parliamentary
affairs committee of the party takes at Chandigarh
tomorrow". |
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Three killed, 7 injured in road
accident ROPAR, Oct 5 — Three youths were killed and seven others injured, three of them seriously, in a road accident near Bharatgarh village on Ropar-Anandpur Sahib road, about 20 km from here, at about 10.30 p.m. last night. According to the police, the accident occurred when a Tatamobile going from SAS Nagar to Kiratpur Sahib and a jeep going from Dehra (H.P.) to Dehradun collided, leaving three persons dead on the spot. The dead have been identified as Rajinder Singh (26) of Kiratpur Sahib, Pawan Kumar (25) of SAS Nagar, both occupants of the Tatamobile, and Raj Kumar, alias Raju (25) of Badwana village in Kangra district, an occupant of the jeep. Of the seven injured persons, Parminder Singh of Mampur village (Kharar), Booby of Kurali village and Joginder Singh of Dagial village, in Himachal Pradesh have been referred to the PGI Chandigarh by doctors of the local civil hospital. The remaining four injured, namely Surinder Singh of Padiala village (Ropar), Kashmir Singh, Rita and Neetu, all from Himachal Pradesh, left the hospital this morning disregarding medical advice. The injured persons were brought to the hospital by the police and villagers. The police say that it has
registered a case against the driver of the jeep under
Sections 279, 337, 338, 427 and 304-A of the IPC at Sadar
Police Station. |
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Flying squads to check octroi
evasion PATIALA, Oct 5 — The Patiala Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Mr Harkesh Singh Sidhu, said today that special flying squads had been constituted to check octroi evasion in the city. In a statement here, Mr Sidhu said the squads would be headed by senior officials and would be provided with vehicles and security personnel. The Commissioner said steps has also been taken to set up nakas at railway station, bus stand, Rajpura Road, Sanauri Road, Sirhind Road and Sangrur Road. He said transport companies flouting norms had also been brought to book. Inspectors heading the octroi posts had been allotted fixed targets of Rs 20,000 per month while adding that incentives would be given to those achieving collection targets of more than Rs 25,000 per month. Mr Sidhu, who recently took over as Commissioner, said efforts were also being made to streamline its working. One loader, five trolleys, two lifts, two trucks and two automatic lifts would be put in operation soon to ensure garbage was lifted from all localities everyday. Besides this, a central store had been established under the control of an executive engineer to stop pilfering of corporation property besides computerisation of all corporation bills and property. The Commissioner said it
had also been decided to spend Rs 1.20 crore on repair of
roads, street lanes, street lights and augmentation of
water supply. He also disclosed that the inner city would
be made less congested and more parking space would be
created with the auctioning of the present office of the
corporation. Besides making parking space, a multi-storey
complex would also be constructed at the site and that
the corporation office would be shifted to a new site
away from the main bazaar. |
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Over 1.5 lakh tonnes of paddy
purchased SANGRUR, Oct 5 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anirudh Tewari, with officials concerned has in the past two days visited over two dozens mandis and purchase centres, including Malerkotla, Sunam, Dhuri, Bhawanigarh, Bhasaur, Ahmedgarh, Nadampur, Kala Jhar, Gharachon and Mehlan to supervise the paddy procurement operations in Sangrur district. Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Tewari said that till Sunday 60,791 tonnes of paddy was procured by the procurement agencies and 97,900 tonnes of paddy was purchased by the millers. The entire paddy stock, meeting the specifications set by the government was procured at the support price of Rs 470 per quintal and the paddy stock which failed to meet the government specifications was purchased by the millers at a price a little less than the support price. The Deputy Commissioner said all necessary arrangements required for paddy procurement were complete. There was no shortage of gunny bags and the transportation and labour contracts had been finalised much earlier to avoid the piling up of the procured stocks. Over 6,000 tonnes of paddy
was procured by the agencies yesterday though it was
Sunday and 9,000 tonnes of paddy was purchased by the
millers. |
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Tohra elected chief of Bir
Khalsa Dal LUDHIANA, Oct 5 — The SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, has been unanimously elected the chief of the All-India Bir Khalsa Dal. This decision was taken at a function organised to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the dal here last night. Mr Tohra honoured at least 36 office-bearers of the dal at the function for their contribution to society. He also honoured journalist Karam Singh by presenting him with a cash award and siropa. Mr Tohra reiterated that all SGPC members, SAD MLAs and other prominent Sikh leaders should follow the structures of their religion in letter and spirit. Mr Tohra also paid his tributes to Master Tara Singh and said the latter was a fearless leader of the Panth. Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal,
speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh
Grewal, Medical Education Minister, Mr Surjan Singh
Thekedar and Mr Swaran Singh, general secretary of the
dal, also spoke on the occasion. |
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Punjab postings, transfers CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The Punjab Government today ordered the following reshuffle of senior level IAS officers with immediate effect: Mr G.P.S. Sahi was replaced as Principal Secretary, Home Affairs and Justice, and appointed as such to Higher Education and Languages. Mr Surjit Singh is the new Principal Secretary, Home. His charge of Vigilance will now be looked after by the Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Mann. Mr Dinesh Chandra, Principal Secretary, NRI and Industrial Liaison, presently at Punjab Bhavan New Delhi will now hold office of State Principal Resident Commissioner there vice Mr A. Pande, who gets the charge held by Mr Chandra. Mr Rakesh Singh, in whose place Mr Sahi has been posted is now Managing Director, State Electronic Development and Production Corporation, in place of Mr A. Didar Singh, on leave. Mr S.S. Channy, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, has been given additional charge as Managing Director, Health Systems Corporation. Mr Anurag Aggarwal, Additional Secretary, Personnel, is now Managing Director Punsup, against a vacant post. Mrs Asha Attri is
Principal Secretary General Administration in place of Mr
Surjit Singh. |
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Employees 'suspend' agitation CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The Punjab State Ministerial Services Union today "suspended" its agitation on an appeal by the State Government. This was stated by the State president of the union, Mr Raj Kumar Arora, in a written statement. This decision was taken by the state executive which met here today and decided to do so in view of the "constructive approach" of the government and in the larger interest of the public. The press statement is signed by Mr Arora besides the State General Secretary, Mr K.K. Jindal, State Secretary-General, Mr Kulbhushan Kanwar, the Finance Secretary Mr Sukhdev Singh Gill, and Mr H.S. Mavi, Senior Vice-President. A three-member committee headed by the Chief Secretary will be constituted to settle the demands through negotiations. The union appealed to all members to expeditiously clear the backlog. An official release
quoting Mr R.S. Mann, the Chief Secretary, said that the
"government will ensure there would be no
victimisation of any individual or groups for anything
done during the period of strike... the government will
hold in abeyance the decision to deduct salary for the
strike period. This matter will be decided later." |
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Condemnation greets govt decision PATIALA, Oct 5 — The Punjab Government decision to allow the construction of the judicial complex on "encroached" land belonging to the local Mata Kaushalaya Hospital has been widely condemned by various religious, social, political, trade and women's organisations who have described the decision as unjust and immoral, Mata Kaushalaya Hospital Bachao Committee convener Dr M.S. Randhawa claimed today. He claimed the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray), the Patiala Beopar Mandal, the Mahila Congress, the Shiv Shakti Sewa Dal, Mata Kali Devi Langar Committee, the National Auto Union, Shri Vishav Karma Mandir Committee and Ram Charit Manas Parchar Sabha had joined hands to fight the issue which they maintained was a common socio-religious issue of public interest. They had constituted a joint action committee for the purpose, Dr Randhawa said. He said a group of small
children residing on the hospital campus organised a
token protest on the site where bulldozing work was under
progress right inside the courtyard of the staff
residential quarters of Mata Kaushalaya Hospital. |
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5
held
for throwing eggs on yatra MALERKOTLA, October 5 — The police have arrested five persons in connection with the throwing of eggs on the Shobha Yatra of Maharshi Balmiki here on Saturday. According to the DSP here, the police was investigating the incident. He, however, said that this mischievous act was done by a child. The birthday of Maharshi Balmiki was celebrated here with enthusiasm under tight police security. Mr Major Singh, SP, Sangrur, has been camping here since yesterday. Meanwhile, Mr Nanak Chand Kalra, district BJP president and Mr Balbir Chand Kapila, treasurer of the state BJP today strongly condemned the incident. AMRITSAR: Balmiki Jayanti was celebrated here on Monday with religious fervour and devotion throughout the city. A large procession with tableaux depicting various aspect of the life of Maharshi Balmiki was taken out in the city. Prominent social and political leaders from different parties addressed religious gatherings. MOGA: Balmiki
Jayanti was celebrated here with great enthusiasm.
Leaders of various political parties addressed
congregations. |
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Convention on industrial problems LUDHIANA, Oct 5 — A convention of the Northern India Federation of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings was held here today to discuss the government attitude towards the growing sickness in the industry. The convention was attended by more than 100 delegates from Ludhiana, Amritsar, Ferozepore, Chandigarh, Haryana. This federation was recently constituted with the aim to serve as a joint platform for the industrialists of the northern region to air their grievances and expouse their causes. Discussions were held on
the settlement of disputes relating to loan repayment.
Leaders of the federation pointed out that the banks were
not lowering rates of interest on loans given to
small-scale industries and in case of delay in the
repayment of interest, the case was referred to the Debt
Recovery Tribunal at Jaipur. The tribunal listened to the
banks they alleged, as a result many units had closed
down. |
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Abolition of Punjabi in Central
Schools flayed PATIALA, Oct 5 — All-India Congress Committee member and former Punjab minister Brahm Mohindra today criticised the central government for abolishing teaching of Punjabi in central schools in the state. In a statement here, Mr Mohindra while alleging the Akali Dal-BJP alliance was responsible for this policy claimed teaching of Punjabi in 52 central schools in the state had been stopped. He alleged earlier the Delhi Government had stopped teaching of Punjabi in the Capital's schools and now the same had happened in central schools in Punjab. Mr Mohindra also
criticised the Punjab Government for starting teaching of
English in government schools by adopting the
three-language formula but not taking notice against
central schools which were not adopting the formula. |
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Plea to set up school grants
commission ROPAR, Oct 5 — The North India Federation of School Lecturers has demanded the setting up of a school grants commission (SGC) and shifting of plus one and plus two classes from the colleges to the schools as per the new education policy of 1986. According to Mr Harpritinder Singh, convener of the federation, here today, besides the two demands, the federation also demands that senior secondary directorates should also be set up in all states. Equal grade of 2880-13,500, class II status, three increments for higher qualifications like M.Ed. and M.Phil, five increments for Ph.D. and practical allowance for all who take practical classes should also be allowed. The convener said that federation's another demand was that the Principal's post should only be filled by promotion. A meeting of the federation to approve the five demands of lecturers would be held in Chandigarh on October 11. Mr Harpritinder Singh said
that presidents and secretaries of the School Lecturers
Unions of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Haryana,
Rajasthan and J&K would take part in the meeting to
hold deliberations on the demands. |
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Millers threaten to court arrest PHILLAUR, Oct 5 — Rice millers of the state will stop purchasing paddy from private traders as well as government agencies from October 11 if the government does not increase milling rate from Rs 13.20 to Rs 47 and the ratio of rice from paddy to be fixed at 62 kg per quintal till October 10. Talking to The Tribune here today, Mr H.S. Baggar, president of the Punjab Rice Millers Association, Mr Munna Lal, convener of the joint action committee, Mr Joginder Paul Vijj, state executive member, and Mr Ravi Kalra, chairman of the association, said the state government could not withdraw several cases of 1994-95 despite many repeated assurances by the Chief Minister. Mr Munna Lal threatened to court arrest and hold dharnas in Delhi if the government did not accept their genuine demands. Meanwhile, a deputation of
the association has left for Chandigarh to meet the
Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal,
on his invitation for a dialogue tonight. |
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Lawyers lay claim to Adampur seat JALANDHAR, Oct 5 — More than 200 lawyers have demanded that the Adampur seat should be given to a lawyer. According to them Mr Balbir Singh Sangha, a member of the Shiromani Akali Dal and a senior member of the District Bar Association will be the best choice. Mr Ved Vias, former
president of the Association, said that the members
appealed to the high command of the SAD and its president
and Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to nominate
Mr Sangha as the SAD candidate. |
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PHRO joins issue with minister AMRITSAR, Oct 5 — Mr Kirpal Singh Randhawa, Deputy Chairman, Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO), has said that the 'ban' on the purchase of land in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, should be lifted before giving the right of vote to the floating migratory labour in Punjab. Mr Randhawa in a press
statement issued here today, condemned the statement of
Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Local Bodies Minister, in which
he had said that nobody could deny the right to vote to
the migratory labour. Mr Randhawa said the enlisting of
"floating" migratory labour as voters would
affect the economy of the state government which was
already facing resource crunch. |
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Guidelines on dispensers’ duties
sought JALANDHAR, Oct 5 — The Government Homoeopathic Medical Officers-Association of Punjab alleged here today certain dispensers of the department were not performing their duties properly and disobeying the order of the medical officers. The department authorities were sheltering these dispensers on personal grounds, it said. While reacting to a news item regarding this, Dr Amarjit Singh Rai, president, and Dr Darshan Singh Khurmi, general secretary of the association, respectively said since the posts of class IV employees had been lying vacant since long the dispensers had been called upon to help with the official work, but some dispensers ignored official orders. They alleged this was happening at the instance of high officials of the homoeopathic directorate. The association has demanded the cancellation of "unlawful" appointment of Dr G.S. Preet as head of the Homoeopathic Department and suspension of the Assistant Director. The association demanded
clear instructions from the Punjab Government regarding
the duties of dispensers. |
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Drive against hepatitis-B JALANDHAR, Oct 5 — The Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association at a meeting held here yesterday decided to launch a state-wide awareness drive against hepatitis-B disease. Dr D.C. Sharma, general secretary of the association, told TNS that hepatitis-B viral infection was a major global health problem. There were about 43 million hepatitis-B virus carriers and nearly 10 per cent of them were highly infectious. The World Health
Organisation has already recommended universal
immunisation of all infants. |
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