Tuesday, October 13, 1998
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Tuesday, October 13, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Adampur
bypoll: CPI for common nominee Woman
helps in killers' arrest DGP
orders screening
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 Bid to defraud post ‘Forced’
Divali gifts banned BBMB,
NHPC start consultancy services |
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'Hakims'
proliferate at Ferozepore Quake
detection centre at Amritsar BKU
holds rally, blocks traffic SAD
candidate decision on October 14 5-day
week in schools from 1999 Insurance
men's conference ends Congress
responsible for all ills : Kainth |
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Adampur bypoll: CPI for common
nominee to defeat SAD-BJP combine FEROZEPORE, Oct 12 — The Punjab unit of the CPI felt that if the opposition wanted to defeat the SAD-BJP combine they should agree to the fielding of common candidate on common symbol for the coming byelection to Adampur Assembly seat. At a press conference here, the party’s secretary, Dr Joginder Dayal, added that the voters of the Adampur segment would express sentiments of people of entire state while exercising franchise. He said, the people of Punjab were fed up with the working of the SAD-BJP combine government. The defeat of the SAD-BJP combine nominee was necessary in Adampur for removing the misconception that Akali leadership was invincible. Dr Dayal added that talks for consensus on a common candidate were going on among opposition parties including, the Congress, the BSP and the CPI. The common candidate, would be of secular thinking and honest, he added. Reacting to increasing cases of suicide by farmers in Punjab, Dr Dayal said, it seemed that farmers had lost faith in all political parties and farmers' organisations which had been struggling for their betterment in the past. He said, the government should take immediate steps to improve conditions of peasantry. As a preliminary measure, the government should declare farming sector as an industry and provide all kinds of facilities and benefits available to industrial sector in the country. Dr Dayal alleged that due to the connivance of government procuring agencies and rice millers and traders, farmers of the state had suffered heavy losses. They had sold paddy at throwaway prices. He demanded compensation for the paddy damaged during rains and bonus for the paddy procured by procuring agencies. He regretted that the state government had not ordered "girdawri" for assessing damage to paddy crop during recent rains so far. Regarding specifications fixed for paddy, the CPI leader said, these should be revised after every year. Besides, specifications should be different for different states because climate of every state differed he said and added, the present specifications were 20 years old. On the Udham Singh Nagar District issue, Dr Dayal said that crisis on this issue had been created by Akali leadership which wanted to divert attention of people from real issues of Punjab including canal waters. He accused the Badal government of befooling the people. This government had done nothing for the progress and prosperity of the state. He said and alleged, rather, nexus of "corrupt" politicians and bureaucrats was "looting" the people. Dr Dayal alleged, the Chief Minister and the SAD president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal had not fulfilled promises made to people at the time of elections. Instead, the economy of people had been severely hit by enhancing bus fare and power tariff. He said, in view of the present circumstances, the Badal government had no right to continue on moral grounds, therefore, he should step down immediately. Sharply, reacting to the rising prices, Dr Dayal said, the Centre was fully responsible for this problem. The price of onions were shooting up due to wrong foreign policy of the Centre, he alleged. AMRITSAR: On the call of the CPI party workers held a massive protest rally here today. Party workers were protesting against the unprecedented rise in the prices of commodities. Among those who addressed the rally included Mr Amarjit Singh Asal, senior CPI leader. LUDHIANA: The CPI held a rally at Cheema Chowk today to protest against rising prices and the deteriorating law and order situation. The rally was addressed by Mr Kartar Singh Bowani, district secretary, Mr O.P. Mehta, Dr Arun Mitra, Mr Kewal Krishan and Mr Jagat Ram. HOSHIARPUR: On the call of the National Council of the CPI India, today Hoshiarpur CPI council observed protest day against the hike in price of commodities specially in vegetables, seed oil in & onions & garlic etc. A rally was held under the presidentship of Mr Kabal SIngh Kaloa, Master Sadhu Singh & Principal Joginder Singh & Mr Achhar Singh Saroya members state Council CPI (Punjab). A memorandum was submitted to the President of India through the Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur. These leaders demanded
control on profiteers and provision of essential goods
through public distribution system. Mr Kaloa & Mr
A.S. Saroya stressed the need to end the control of the
IMF and World Bank on enterprises of bio technology and
food security under which commodities were controlled. |
Woman helps police arrest
killers PATIALA, Oct 12 — Baljit Kaur, the woman who walked with a bullet in her chest to tell the tale of the alleged murder of her three children by her husband and his three cronies two days back also brought them to book by giving tips which led to their arrest. Baljit heard the talk of the alleged assailants after they had shot her and killed her three children by strangling the two young boys and stabbing her elder girl. This account of the plan of the assailants was narrated by Baljit to Rajpura DSP H.S. Bhullar who immediately swung into action and nabbed three of the four culprits at Rajgarh on the Rajpura-Shambu road yesterday morning. While Baljit's husband Kulbir Singh and his friends Bharatinder Singh alias Bunty and Khushwant Rai alias Goldy were arrested when the Mahindra Armada they were driving was intercepted at Rajgarh. One assailant Rakesh Kumar managed to escape, district police chief Param Pal Singh Sidhu disclosed here today. The district police chief praised Baljit Kaur, saying it was incredible of her to reach the police so fast after the incident despite being grievously injured. Baljit on her part told The Tribune "I had heard them say that they would wash the vehicle to get rid of the blood stains besides which route they would take which I related to the police". Mr Sidhu said the vehicle which the accused had been driving with number HR-49-3554 was owned by Khushwant Rai alias Goldy a resident of Surajpur under the Pinjore police station. He said the other nabbed assailant Bharatinder Singh alias Bunty — was a resident of Panchkula and a car mechanic by profession. He said Rakesh Kumar, who was absconding, was a bus driver in the Haryana Roadways and was a resident of Bhiwani. He said police parties had been dispatched to nab Rakesh. Ms Baljit was also responsible for quicker recovery of the bodies of her children. While both young boys Vicky (five years) and Happy (one and a half years) were found abandoned on the Banur-Rajpura road, the body of her daughter Daljit was found in a 'khai' near Chamaru village. The district police chief informed that the accused had admitted their guilt and said they had told Ms Baljit to get ready to go to Rampur Bushair under a conspiracy and had no intention of going to the hill station. Mr Sidhu said the accused had claimed that they only wanted to murder Baljit but they had to kill the children also when Baljit insisted on taking them along. When questioned as to why the accused had resorted to such a crime, the district police chief said the matter was still being investigated. He, however, said the accused had acted as a team as they were involved in drug- smuggling together earlier. Mr Sidhu said the bodies of the children had been sent for a postmortem examination. The accused were produced
in a court at Rajpura today and remanded in the police
custody till October 16. Their detailed interrogation
will be done by SP (Detective) Kewal Kumar. Mr Kumar
disclosed that the past history of the main accused
Kulbir Singh and the reason why he started favouring his
first wife nine years after he had split with her was
being investigated. |
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Bid to
defraud post office of 44 lakh LUDHIANA, Oct 12 — Negligence on the part of senior officials at the post office at Bharat Nagar has allegedly resulted in the embezzlement of Rs 44 lakh by a postal assistant. It has been reliably learnt that a postal assistant in-charge of corporate money orders has duped the office of this huge sum. Around four months back, a corporate money order of around Rs 1 lakh had arrived through satellite in the name of a private firm. The accused deferred this money order and after a month, by manipulations on the computer, he got the cheque issued in the name of one Balwinder Singh. He also changed the original amount to a sum of Rs 44 lakh. This cheque was soon cleared by various officials at the post office and the accused was now in possession of this money. He then went to the Ludhiana Central Cooperative Bank and opened an account in the name of Balwinder Singh. After a month, he deposited the cheque in this account. However, bank officials got suspicious and made enquiries about account holder's standard of living. "This enquiry was conducted because the amount involved was huge." We found out that there was none by this name on the given address. Enquiries were then made from the State Bank of India and it was found that the cheque had come from the Bharat Nagar post office. We then informed the post office which conceded that they had been defrauded," disclosed a senior bank official. In the meantime, the accused got another account opened in his name and also got a cheque-book issued. On the other side, a top-level enquiry into this fraud had begun and the scales turned against the accused as he was exposed before he could use the money. When contacted, the SSPO, Mr M.K. Khan declined to comment and said that the accused was already in police custody and investigations were underway. However, no FIR has been lodged with the police. Evidently there is an
attempt to hush up the matter as post office officials
are pleading with the Central Cooperative Bank to release
the money." Although we know that the money belongs
to the post offices, we cannot release this," said
an official at the bank. Meanwhile, the accused has been
suspended from service. |
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‘Forced’ Divali gifts banned BATHINDA, Oct 12 — Punjab Food and Supply Minister, Chiranji Lal Garg today banned the acceptance of ‘forced’ gifts by the government officials from the traders during the Divali festival. Talking to the Tribune Mr Garg said a decision to this effect was taken this evening at the meeting of district officers and traders presided over by him. He said that the Deputy Commissioner, the SSP and other senior officers would make a round at the city during festival days to check "forced" getting of valuable items and goods by government officials from traders under the garb of Divali gifts. He said that orders had also been issued that no government official would collect funds from traders during this festival season. The minister said that anybody found collecting valuable items on the festive occasion 'forcibly' would be dealt as per the law. He said that any trader facing harassment from government officials could make a complaint to the DC or the SSP and his complaint would be redressed in no time. Mr Garg said that Municipal Council authorities had also been instructed not to collect 'the bazari' tax from the squatters during the Divali days. On the procurement of paddy, he said that Union Food Minister Surjit Singh Barnala had been approached for getting relaxation in the specification of paddy procurement by government agencies. He said that the Punjab government had demanded that the percentage of discolouring and damage should be increased to 13 and 4.5 from the present 3 and 3 respectively. AMRITSAR: The Punjab Anti Corruption Forum has urged the Punjab Chief Minister to direct all officers of the state not to accept gifts from their subordinates or public on the occasion of Divali. In a communication, Mr
Hari Singh Thakur, chairman of the forum, alleged that it
was usual that under the pretext of Divali the officers
accepted valuable gifts which should be treated part of
corruption. Mr Thakur also requested the state government
to direct authorities concerned to fix rates of sweets as
the confectioners were charging high rates in view of the
Divali festival. |
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DGP orders screening of
‘militants’ AMRITSAR, Oct 12 — Director-General of Police, Punjab, P.C. Dogra has ordered state-wide screening of all suspected terrorists who either had surrendered or got released from jails in the past. Talking to The Tribune today Mr Dogra said that he already had directed all district police chiefs to screen the suspects as the Pakistan's ISI had intensified its designs to revive terrorism in the state. He said that revival efforts of ISI-backed terrorist organisations had already suffered severe set-back recently at the hands of the Punjab Police. Mr Dogra said that the state-wide screening of the surrendered and released terrorists was necessitated due to the startling facts revealed the suspects, arrested recently. Mr Dogra said that the Punjab Police was taking all preventive measures to check infiltration of terrorists into the state. He, however, denied that Paramjit Singh Panjwar, self-styled chief of the Khalistan Commando Force had entered Punjab recently as reported in a section of the press. The list of suspects was being revised by the police in view of the arrest of top militant Gurnam Singh Bandala alias 'Neela tara' by the Batala police who earlier was declared killed in an encounter by the Ropar police about four years ago. Many more terrorists who had committed heinous crimes during heyday of terrorism and were declared "dead" or "killed" by the police but might be living under assumed names. This suspicion was the result of the arrest of Bandala. The DGP said that after the success of operation "khoj" (research) which led to recovery of old dumps of highly lethal and sophisticated weapons and huge quantities of ammunition from border districts of Amritsar, Majitha and Batala etc, the operation "pehchan" (identification) would also help the police screen suspects and revival efforts in a big way. To a question, Mr Dogra said that the Punjab Police was keeping constant vigil on hamlets of Gujjars in Gurdaspur district bordering Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir. To another question, Mr Dogra admitted that increase in the population of Gujjars alongside Jammu and Kashmir was a cause of worry for the police as it has been proved beyond doubt that terrorists had established links with the Gujjars who helped in the engineering of mass killings of Chamba (Himachal Pradesh) in August. The Gurdaspur police had arrested Wali Mohammad alias Billu Gujjar who had alleged links with terrorists who had carried out mass killings of residents of Chamba. Billu had reportedly confessed to his links with terrorists during interrogation. ABOHAR (FOC): Mr Dogra said here today that policing had, unfortunately been the most neglected subject in our administrative set-up for the past so many decades. People compared working of the Punjab Police with the police of the European countries but never realised what was the difference in the emoluments paid to an ordinary constable abroad and that of the Punjab Police constable. There was vital difference in the resources and environment also. Mr Dogra was speaking to a select gathering after inaugurating new building of the city police station at Sadar Thana complex here, today. He said people condemn and criticise the police here in Punjab but the role played by the police in weeding out terrorism from this state should not be forgotten extremist leaders camping in other countries were still trying hard for the revival of militancy in this state, the Punjab Police was trying its best to foil all such attempts with available limited resources. He however agreed there was much scope for improving the working of the police at grass root level and assured sincere efforts were in the pipeline in this direction. The DGP said the police will have to be provided with good environment, in living and working as it was to play a vital role in assuring safety and security to the people. The number of Deputy Superintendent of Police had increased but where were residential and office accommodation for them, he asked. The matter was discussed with the Chief Minister at high-level meetings. A five-year plan involving an expendit ure of Rs 125 crore was prepared, HUDCO sanctioned a loan of Rs 75 crore. This will certainly improve the environment. Mr P. Lal Managing Director of the Punjab Police Housing Corporation said the corporation founded in 1989 had so far, provided houses for 4000 police men in the urban areas. The scheme was restricted to urban centres so that the policemen could arrange good education of their children. More 2816 houses would be made available during next one year. The corporation planned to get new buildings constructed for 24 police stations. The sadar police station at Abohar, city police station Ferozepore and police station at Dharamkot in this district were on the list, the Ferozepore district will have residential accommodation for 104 more policemen. Mr Hardip Singh, Dhillon DIG and Mr G.S. Pherurai, SSP also spoke. Some members of the Municipal Council led by president Mr Babu Ram Arya requested the DGP to return the old city police station building to the council so that a parking place could be developed. Some other citizens criticised the traffic police and demanded one-way traffic rule be strictly enforced at Gaushala road and old tehsil road. Earlier former Minister and district president of the Congress Mr Sajjan Kumar Jakhar expressed resentment over the increasing number of road accidents in this area allegedly due to the negligence of the traffic police. FEROZEPORE: Matter of the arrest of Gurnam Singh Bandala a close associate of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who was shown "killed" by the Ropar police about four years ago, was being verified. Stating this the Director-General Police, Punjab, Mr P.C. Dogra refused to announce any specific date for completing the verification. However, he said, "give me some time. Everything will be alright". Mr Dogra who was talking to reporters here today said, "I do not know about any other militant who might have been killed in the past on mistaken identity for claiming cash rewards". To a question, he said,
"operation pehchan" (identification) had been
launched to identify missing youths and to see what were
they doing.
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BBMB, NHPC start consultancy services
ROPAR, Oct 12 — The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) in association with the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has launched consultancy services for bringing about innovative technological changes in the vital hydroelectric sector of the country. This was stated by the BBMB Chairman, Maj-Gen R.R. Oberoi, at Nangal today while inaugurating a three-day national seminar on "Hydraulic gates and their control in water resources projects" being organised by the BBMB and the Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP). More than 125 delegates from 18 states and union territories are taking part in the seminar. General Oberoi said this was a major milestone for the BBMB and the coming years should see the joint ventures prospering. He also added the country had considerable expertise in the construction, operation and maintenance of large hydroelectric project as well as their modernisation and renovation. He also emphasised on the need to update knowledge as per the current state of technology. The Chairman also said spillways, barrages, intake and outlet structures and canal regulators were important components of water resource projects. The gates installed in these structures played a major role in water management by storing water in reservoirs, regulating the flow of water for irrigation, power generation, drinking water supply and industrial use and discharging water during floods. General Oberoi said the BBMB had modernised, renovated and updated power plants of Bhakra Dam project. These were the first hydro stations in the country to achieve an overall uprating of 14 per cent at extremely nominal cost in the first phase. In the second phase, three of the five units of Bhakra right power plant had already been uprated from 132 MW to 157 MW each, resulting in a rating of 19 per cent, which was a very big achievement. Mr R.N. Aggarwal, Member,
Irrigation, BBMB, and Mr K.K. Khosla, Chief Engineer,
Bhakra Dam, also spoke on the occasion. Mr S.P. Kaushish,
Chief Engineer, CBIP, Mr H.S. Grewal, former Chief
Engineer of Bhakra Dam and Mr K.K. Jhulka former
Director, Designs, BBMB, were also present. |
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'Hakims'
proliferate at Ferozepore FEROZEPORE: A number of "hakims" (physicians) with their "dawakhanas" ( clinics) in tents have sprouted at different places here over the past several months. The authorities concerned have done nothing to check their spread. Most of the "dawakhanas" are located opposite the offices of the Public Works Department , the Post and Telegraph Department, and the Divisional Commissioner, the Municipal Council, Punsup, the all-women's police station, the Central Jail and Wazir Ali Building. One such "clinic" is next to the residence of the Divisional Commissioner along the G.T. Road. When this correspondent went to one such "clinic" introducing himself as a patient, he found that the "hakim" was handing over a small packet of medicine to a PSEB employee. The person, Ramesh Kumar (not actual name), stated that this was for the first time that he had come there to get medicine for his wife who suffered from acidity. He had got his wife treated by reputed doctors and even at a hospital. But his wife did not get relief. "Now, I have come here in the hope that this "dawa" might bring her relief", he said in a frustrated manner. He paid Rs 240 for 10 days' medicine to the "hakim" who recommended that he buy medicine for another 10 days after completion of the first batch of medicines. On persistent questioning , the "hakim" said he was illiterate. However, he could write and read his name. He never went to school. He says he is doing his "family" job. He learnt the art of treating patients from his grandfather , who was sitting near him. He possesses a certificate of having done a course of herbs conducted by a Saharanpur-based pharmaceutical company. At another "dawakhana", the "hakim" adopted many tactics to impress this correspondent, who posed as a patient. He showed a diary in which police officials of Mansa, Barnala and Ferozepore had made laudable remarks under their official seal and signature for services rendered by him. He also showed an album
containing his photographs with certain police officials
in uniform. He observed that these days the number of
patients coming to him had fallen as the rural people
were busy in marketing paddy. The unique physicians said they came from Himachal Pradesh and lived at present in Ropar district. Dr V.K. Bassi, Civil Surgeon, Ferozepore, on being told about these self-styled hakims, said he would ask the Drug Inspector to warn these quacks to leave the town or face legal action. An interesting thing about
them is that they get free electricity with the help of a
kundi. But the PSEB authorities are doing nothing to
check this theft. |
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Quake detection centre at Amritsar AMRITSAR, Oct 12 — India's nuclear resources can be utilised for energy generation. Thus natural thorium can provide tremendous nuclear energy according to Prof Reinhard Brandt from Phillips University, Marburg (Germany). He was delivering the keynote address at the eleventh national symposium on solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDS) organised by the Physics Department of Guru Nanak Dev University here today at the Guru Nanak Bhawan auditorium. This three-day symposium is being held in collaboration with UGC, CSIR, DST, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, AICTE and Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences. Prof Brandt elaborated on the innovative idea as a new source of nuclear energy and as an energy amplifier as suggested by Prof C. Rubbin, of Geneva. He elucidated the basis of energy amplification feeding of sub-critical reactions. Dr Satinder Singh, Dean of Academic Affairs of the university presided over the inaugural session of the symposium. In his presidential remarks, he disclosed that there were numerous inventions being made all over the world to overcome the ill-affects of radiation and to prevent earthquakes. Dr H.S. Virk, a senior
physicist of the Guru Nanak Dev University and the newly
elected president of Nuclear Track Society of India,
while welcoming the delegates said that generation of
seismographic data was essential for earthquake
prediction. Dr Virk informed the delegates that Amritsar
had been selected as centre for carrying out
seismographic investigations by the Government of India
and nearly 20 scientists would be selected to train them
in the field of earthquake prediction.
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BKU holds rally, blocks traffic FATEHGARH SAHIB, Oct 12 — Farmers led by BKU leaders today held a rally and blocked traffic at Khamanon town in the district to protest against farmers' exploitation in grain markets by private purchasers and high-handedness of government procurement agencies. Addressing the rally Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, President of the BKU alleged that for the harassment of farmers Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Union Minister for Food was responsible as he had ordered the import of rice. He warned that the farmers had to face the similar situation during wheat season as he also had signed the order to import wheat inspite of the fact that officers of the ministry opposed his decision. He said none of the Akali MLAs had raised the demands of the farmers in Vidhan Sabha. He criticised the statements of Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Minister for Food and Civil Supply, Punjab on smooth purchase of paddy and blamed that the Minister was hand in glove with rice shellers and had instructed the government procurement agencies recently to purchase paddy at a slow speed so that farmers were forced to sell it to private purchasers. Mr Bhupinder Singh Ranwan BKU activist and Mr Harbans Mangat also addressed the rally. Resentment prevails among farmers over the failure of the government to protect their interests. The farmers told The Tribune that they were being fleeced by private purchasers. The paddy was being purchased by the Millers at a rate between Rs 350 and Rs 450. The attitude of government procurement agencies to purchase the paddy with moisture contents below 18 per cent has caused more problems for them and they were being forced to sell the paddy at the lowest rate. The arrival of paddy has picked up in the district and heaps of paddy are lying in Mandis. Arrangements for the purchase of paddy in Sirhind, Bassi Pathana Amloh, Khamanon, Peer Jain, Samashpur and Nabipur are very poor. At several rural purchase centres the government agencies had not yet started the purchase. The farmers at Khamanon Mandi gheraoed purchase officials because the moisture meter they were using was faulty. Farmers told that they had decided to take the paddy to neighbouring State of Haryana and Chandigarh as there was no problem in the sale of paddy and it is sold for a good price. Meanwhile, Mr Sadhu Singh, a former Minister addressing the farmers at Amloh Mandi declared to start an indefinite fast if the government did not relax the specifications for the purchase of paddy and the procurement agencies continued harassment of the farmers. He blamed Mr Madan Mohan Mittal minister for Civil Supply for the distress sale of paddy. Mr Dalip Singh Pandhi, former Akali Minister in a press release issued here today demanded that the government should make arrangements to lift the stored paddy to make a place for the new arrivals. He also demanded that gradation of purchase be made according to standard of paddy to avoid exploitation. Mr Surjit Singh Sahi, President, District Arhatia Association said that if the government did not relaxed the specification, paddy worth crore of rupees would be transported to neighbouring State, it will cause loss to the commission agents as well as to the government also. He apprehended that their advances to farmers would not be cleared and the government would lose the revenue. When contacted Mr H.S.
Mokha, DFSC, said government agencies were purchasing
only according to specifications. He said the agencies
had purchased 18849 metric tonne of paddy and private
traders purchased 21568 metric tonnes. He said strike of
rice millers had aggravated the situation. He said 22
purchase centres out of 32 had started working. He said
there were problem of discolouring due to rain. The
private rice millers were not allowing the agencies to
store the purchased paddy in their premises. If their
strike was withdrawn and they allowed to store paddy, the
agencies will step up the purchase. |
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SAD candidate decision on October 14 PHILLAUR, Oct 12 — The Shiromani Akali Dal will decide its candidate at its high- level meeting of its Political Affairs Committee which would be held on October 14, at Chandigarh. This was stated by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while talking to The Tribune before attending a religious function at Bhullar village in this subdivision today. When asked to comment on the change in CLP leadership by the Punjab Congress and appointment of former Minister Jagjit Singh as CLP leader in place of Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in her absence Mr Badal described this change as old wine in new bottle and said that the Congress had worked to create problems and damaged state economy only for its vested interests. Replying to a question the Chief Minister said that there was no move to expand Punjab ministry in near future. He said that the SAD-BJP government was working in coordination. Expressing satisfaction at the arrival purchase of paddy in mandis, the Chief Minister said about one third of the crop had arrived in mandis of the state. Mr Badal said the Union Planning Commission at a special meeting had agreed to set up a core committee of experts, he demanded crop insurance scheme for farmers. Mr Badal disclosed that the Union government had agreed to give compensation of Rs 3000/- per acre to farmers whose fields were near wire fencing in the border area of the state. When asked the SAD's stand on Article 356 of the Constitution, Mr Badal said, we had clear stand against the Article 356 and would continue to oppose this article. Mr Badal expressed the hope that the three member committee headed by Union Defence Minister George Fernandes set up by the Prime Minister, would be able to solve the Udham Singh Nagar issue. Mr Badal sought special
concessions for Punjab's contribution to development and
wheat production was remarkable. The CM said that the
government would organise training camps for farmers at
village-level in the state to educate farmers on crop
diversification. Farm experts will attend these camps. |
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5-day week in schools from 1999 PATIALA, Oct 12 — The Punjab Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, has said the state government plans to introduce a five-day week in state schools from the next academic session. Stating this at a state level teachers conference-cum-rally here yesterday at new Singh Sabha gurdwara, Mr Tota Singh said the five-day week was expected to lessen the burden of both students and teachers. The school results would be closely monitored by the government from now onwards. The government would take action against teachers if the result in any subject decreased by 30 per cent. Mr Tota Singh said he had decided to fill all vacancies in government schools. The government was seriously considering various demands of teachers but said indiscipline would not be tolerated. Others who spoke on the
occasion were Lok Sabha members Prem Singh Chandumajra
and minister Harmel Singh Tohra, Surjit Singh Kohli and
Gobind Singh Kanjla. |
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Insurance men's conference ends PATIALA, Oct 12 — Speakers at the concluding session of the 27th conference of the Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association here today called upon the employees to unite against any move of the government to privatise its departments. According to a statement issued by Mr Narinder Walia, president of the organising committee, more than 50 delegates and as many observers from all the branches of Chandigarh division participated in the conference. Mr NK Gaur, general secretary, All-India Bank Employees Association, asserted that only the united and concerted effects of all the employees of the financial sector could force the government to see reason. Mr SS Kooner, secretary,
NZIEA, dealt with the demands of insurance employees who
helped the LIC achieve prosperity. On an initial
investment of Rs 5 crore at the time of nationalisation
in 1956 the LIC had paid a dividend of Rs 200 crore in
the year 1998. The wage revision of the employees which
was due from August 1, 1997, and the All-India Insurance
Employees Association had already submitted a charter of
demands. |
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Case against Mann adjourned to Oct 26 CHANDIGARH, Oct 12 — The Sub Judge, Mr Jagnahar Singh, today adjourned to October 26 the suit filed by a former Superintending Engineer, Mr V.K. Jain, claiming damages from the Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Mann, to the tune of Rs 11 lakh. In his suit Mr Jain alleged that he was subjected to mental torture and harassment by Mr Mann. He added that his respect was lowered in the eyes of the public. He had also to suffer monetary loss due to unnecessary litigation. Mr Jain added that Mr Mann had in an illegal, arbitrary and vindictive manner ordered his pre-mature retirement in September, 1989. The plaintiff stated that
Mr Mann had passed the orders of his premature retirement
in spite of the decision of the apex body constituted by
the government that Mr Jain could not be retired
prematurely. |
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Postal
week celebrated JALANDHAR, Oct 12 — A speed post meet was organised by the Post Department of Posts here today to celebrate the national postal week. The customers meet was chaired by Mrs Manjula Prashar, Postmaster-General, Punjab Region, Chandigarh. Representatives of the leading firms, banks, LIC, government and semi-government offices and corporate houses participated in the meet. Addressing the customers, Mrs Prashar outlined usefulness and reliability of the Speed Post Service. The customers could avail free pick-up facility in case three or more speed post articles were booked daily, she added. She said that under book-now-pay-later, scheme, the customers need not affix postage or tender money in lieu thereof daily. The customers could make payment on monthly basis. The department also offers contractual speed post service under which the speed post articles are sent to stations even where speed post net-work was not available. She also said that the booking facility presently available in six post offices in Jalandhar will be extended to 10 post offices soon. These post offices are Basti Bawa Khel, Sessions Courts, Suranussi and Adarsh Nagar. She added that a speed
post gift scheme was introduced from Jalandhar city head
office to three stations namely Delhi, Bombay and
Bangalore today, Jalandhar is the first city in Punjab
and Union Territory of Chandigarh where this scheme had
been introduced. Flowers, bouquet, cakes etc could be
serviced through the scheme at the date&time desired
by the sender. The scheme will be extended to Chandigarh,
Ludhiana, Amritsar and other important cities in the
country, she said. |
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Congress responsible for all ills :
Kainth FATEHGARH SAHIB, Oct 12 — The Congress is responsible for unemployment, poverty, rise in prices and rise in crimes against the Dalits, alleged Mr Satnam Singh Kainth, MP, while addressing the first chetna rally at Sirhind today being organised by the Bahujan Samaj Morcha. He said politics was played by two factions — one led by the Congress and the other by the BJP. The third front had failed miserably. He criticised the Leftist parties, which were earlier opposed to the Congress ideology and were not offering unconditional support to them. Supporting the demands of the Punjab Government employees, he sought remission of the electricity bills of Dalits, free electricity connection for farmers having 10 acres of land compulsory free education up to BA and an end to the "highhandedness" of the Dairy Development Board. Mr Avtar Singh Lattour,
district president of the BSM, Mr Ray Singh Kheri, former
MLA, Mr Jaspal Singh Gaddu, vice-president, also
addressed the rally. |
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Parents'
search for daughter SAS NAGAR, Oct 12 — Mystery surrounds the disappearance of a 10-year-old girl who used to help her mother working as a domestic help in a few homes in Phase IIIB2 here. The poor parents — Ram Kumar, who plies a cycle rehri, and his wife Ram Sevi — have been searching frantically for their daughter since the evening of October 10. Ram Sevi said today that her daughter Mitlesh left home to do work in a house where her elder sister was employed but failed to reach there. A complaint has been
lodged with the police. |
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Seminar
inaugurated NANGAL, Oct 12 — A national seminar on hydraulic gates and their control in water resources project was inaugurated by the Chairman of the BBMB, Maj-Gen R.R. Oberoi. The seminar being
organised under the aegis of BBMB, will continue till
October 14. About 150 delegates, which include
technocrats, specialists and scientists from different
states, namely Punjab, Himachal, Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra
Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Assam,
Sikkim, Bhutan, Mizoram and Nagaland, are participating. |
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