Tuesday, September 1, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Tuesday, September 1, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Kanjla
promises youth hostel in each district Of
Sikh clergy and Akali politics Intellectuals
condemn Dean's action |
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Gurdwara
on encroached land |
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‘Probe Netaji’s
disappearance’ SPO
held for theft, terrorist links Theatre
activists seek facilities CPM's
Chetna Jatha reaches Patiala Burning
of religious books denied Account
opening powers for CDPOs |
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Kanjla promises youth hostel in
each district LUDHIANA, Aug 31 — For the implementation of various youth welfare and self-employment schemes and giving the latest information on vocational and training programmes, youth hostels will be set up at all district headquarters in the state. The land for these hostels will be provided by the government free of cost. This was announced by Mr Gobind Singh Kanjla, Minister for Youth Services, Pensions, Welfare of Scheduled Caste and backward Class, Punjab, addressing a meeting of the district officers organised here today to accelerate the implementation of the schemes relating to the youth and Scheduled Castes. The minister said a national youth policy which was being finalised. The states had demanded that uniform programmes be launched in the country to channelise the youth for the development of the country. The minister said the Youth Services Department had launched a campaign to impart training to the youth in 23 vocations and to make them adopt self-employment schemes. He said during last one and half years more than 20,000 youths had been given vocational training in the state. The department had also launched a campaign through 2500 youth clubs to eradicate social evils like dowry, intoxication etc. Camps were also being organised to inculcate the qualities of leadership, patriotism and social services among the youth. Mr Kanjla said the state government had also submitted a proposal for Rs 30 crore to the Centre for implementing youth welfare schemes. He said the government was also considering to provide reservation for NSS volunteers in admission to various courses on a par with sports and the NCC and had requested the Centre to enhance financial assistance for the NSS from 75 per cent to 100 per cent. Referring to the government's commitment for the uplift of weaker sections, the minister said during the tenure of the present government, at least one person each from all Scheduled Caste and backward caste families would be provided with gainful employment. During this year alone 40,000 youths belonging to weaker sections would be provided self employment after being given training. Addressing the meeting Mr
Arun Goel Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, said the
district administration had already been geared up to
implement developmental and welfare schemes and to
redress public complaints. |
Of Sikh clergy and Akali
politics AMRITSAR, Aug 31 — Phenomenal rise of the Sikh clergy and their interference in the Sikh affairs is post-Punjabi Suba development. Punjabi Suba came into existence in the wake of the reorganisation of erstwhile Punjab state on linguistic basis on November 1, 1966. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) which waged a prolonged struggle for the achievement of Punjabi Suba, emerged as a major political force in this new state and was voted to power in February 1967, 1969, 1977, 1985 and 1997. Politics and religion of the Akalis are inseparable. During the Punjabi Suba struggle, the Sikh clergy award "tankhah" (religious punishment) to Master Tara Singh and Sant Fateh Singh for alleged violation of "Ardas" (prayer) before going on any indefinite fast for the achievement of the suba or allied demands which were not fulfilled. Once the entire working committee of the Akali Dal was awarded "tankhah" for such religious misconduct. Importance of the Sikh clergy increased manifold with issuance of "hukamnama" directing the Sikhs all over the world to boycott socially the Nirankaris on June 10, 1978. Thereafter, the Sikh high priests, which hitherto were being treated like other employees of the SGPC, were given certain privileges and facilities besides exempting them from the rules and regulations of the SGPC. After Operation Blue Star, when all senior Akali leaders were detained under the NSA and lodged in jails at far off places in Rajasthan, Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu, the Si kh clergy took over reins of the Akali Dal. Giani Zail Singh, the then President of India was declared "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct), the then Union Minister, Mr Buta Singh was excommunicated from the Sikh-Panth for his alleged controversial role in post-Operation Blue Star "developments. It were Sikh clergy, which held negotiations with the government of India and its civil and Army representatives for taking back the control of the Golden Temple complex. Since the institution of "Punj-pyaras" (five beloved ones) is being respected in Sikh religion the institution of the five Sikh high priests is being treated very supreme. The Jathedar of Akal Takht, supreme religious-cum-temporal seat to Sikh s is alone c ompetent authority of issue any "hukamnama". He can consult any Sikh scholar intellectual, or other persons before the issuance of the "Hukamnama". The "hukamnama" against the Nirankaris was issued by the Akal Takht chief, Giani Sadhu Singh Bhaura, without consulting other four high priests. Of course, the text of that "Hukamnama" was drafted by a sub-committee comprising Sikh intelligentsia. It was the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Teja Singh Bhuchar, alone who convened a "Panthic-Ikath" (gathering) at Akal Takht on December 14, 1920 when the Shiromani Akali Dal was launched with his active guidance and blessings. During the Dharam Yudh Morcha. Giani Kirpal Singh, the then Akal Takht chief, directed Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi and Mr Sukhjinder Singh on August 28, 1982 to wind up their separate Akali factions and join the morcha led by Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, which they did . The "boycott" of the Sikh clergy by Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh is not first instance, Mr Talwandi, the then SAD president, and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC president jointly submitted their resignations to the Akal Takht chief, Giani Sadhu Singh Bhaura in September 1979, and demanded the resignation of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the then Chief Minister, the Sikh clergy constituted a seven-member sub-committee to run the Akali Dal affairs. Mr Talwandi refused to
recognise this committee and used some harsh words for
the Akal Takht chief. He was summoned at Akal Takht to
clarify his position. Giani Gurdial Singh Ajnoha, the
then Jathedar of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, who had a
"soft corner" for Mr Talwandi boycotted the
meeting. Senior most granthi of the Golden temple was
taken in his place and subsequently Mr Talwandi was
awarded "tankhah". |
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DRDA scheme for SC members FEROZEPORE: About four months ago, the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) started 18 training-cum-production centres in the district to make people, especially those belonging to the Scheduled Castes, self-dependent. These centres are being run in Ferozepore, Mudki, Arifke and Karma in Ferozepore subdivision; Zira, Kotisekhan and Fatehgarh Panjtoor in Zira subdivision; Jalalabad, Chak Kherewala, Chak Ghubaia, Chak Janisar and Ladhuwala Uttar in Jalalabad subdivision; Fazilka, Kamalwala, Dabwala Kalan and Beganwali in Fazilka subdivision, and Bahawwala and Abohar in Abohar subdivision. According to official sources, the state government had released about Rs 20 lakh to the DRDA for providing machinery and raw material to these centres. About Rs 7.50 lakh of these funds has been used for the purpose so far. But strangely, the government had not released any funds for paying honorarium to the technical staff. In June, it was decided by to pay Rs 2,500 per month as an honorarium to trainers. As many as 35 trainers, including one on deputation, were imparting training to 836 women and 22 men trainees. Mr Sarwan Singh, imparting training in the trade of ‘galicha’ at Ferozepore, told The Tribune that he had so far been paid only Rs 2,000. Similar was the position of other trainers, he claimed. It is learnt the DRDA is arranging funds for paying the honorarium to the trainers out of the funds of the District Red Cross Society and funds allocated under the DWACRA and TRYSEM schemes. An official at the office of the ADC (D) said trainers would be paid a monthly honorarium of Rs 1,800 instead of Rs 2,500 w.e.f August. The state government has also failed to released funds for miscellaneous expanses, including repairs of the machinery. This affects the functioning of the centres that charge no fee from trainees belonging to SC families. Trainees belonging to the general category are charged a monthly fee of Rs 25. At the Ferozepore centre training is being given in the trades of handloom, ‘galicha’ and leather works while at the remaining centres handloom and ‘galicha’ expertise is taught. The duration of training is six months. Production has not started
at any centre as a result of which material is going
waste. It is learnt that production will start after a
month or so. |
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‘Probe Netaji’s
disappearance’ ROPAR, Aug 31 — Supporting the demand of non-resident Indians to disclose the documents relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s disappearance, the Netaji Research Foundation here has urged the Central Government to announce a time-bound programme to inquire into the circumstances leading to the Netaji’s disappearance and place the findings before the nation. Over 200 NRI bodies and individuals including Indo-German associations and Netaji’s relatives have asked the Prime Minister to request the governments of Britain, Russia and Japan to disclose the material contained in confidential files related to Netaji there. Mr V.P. Saini, chairman of the foundation, today urged Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to appoint another commission of Inquiries Act. The commission should be headed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court and should include a senior retired military General and reputed historians, he demanded. Mr Saini, while demanding a time-bound schedule for the commission, said that it would end the 53 year’s old controversy. Mr Saini appealed to Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee to take the credit of unearthing the facts relating to Netaji’s disappearance. Till now all former Prime Ministers had adopted indifferent attitude towards the issue, he said. He said the government should not think that the issue would die with the passage of time. He threatened that if the Central Government, failed to announce a dead line, the Netaji Research Foundation and other organisations would launch a nationwide agitation. Mr Saini also opposed the
move of certain people with "vested interests"
and the government to bring back the alleged ashes of the
Netaji from Tokyo without probing the facts. |
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Intellectuals condemn Dean's action PATIALA, Aug 31 — Various intellectuals, including former deans of the Punjabi university and Senators have condemned the decision of University Dean, Colleges, Dr Balkar Singh and Dean, Academic Affairs, Dr B.S. Bhatia for granting affiliation to colleges being set up by their sons by themselves approving the applications and inspecting the colleges. Dr Amarjit Singh Dhillon, a former Dean of Colleges of Punjabi University, has said the decision of the two deans to allow affiliation to the colleges being set up by their sons had tarnished the image of the university. He said that the action of the two deans had also lowered the prestige of the dean's office. Dr Dhillon said it was a gross violation of the laid down university norms for granting affiliation to new colleges which stipulated that the colleges would have a duly qualified faculty. About five acres of land for playgrounds and other co-curricular activities besides other infrastructural facilities. Dr P.S. Bhatti, president of the Punjab Government College Teachers' Association, demanded immediate withdrawal of the affiliation granted to the two colleges being set up by the sons of two university deans. He demanded a thorough probe into the matter. Prof Harbaksh Singh, a former Dean of Colleges of Punjabi University, also a former DPI colleges and Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board, said that the two deans should not have associated themselves with the inspection of the two colleges which were being set up by their sons. He said affiliation to these colleges should have been made only after these fulfilled all stipulations laid down by the university. Prof Nirdokh Singh Chahal, a former Vice President of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, called upon Punjabi University authorities to immediately remove these two deans and also withdraw the affiliation granted to the two colleges. Prof Chahal demanded that the two deans should themselves quit their posts on moral grounds as their action had brought a bad name to the Punjabi University. Mr Birdevinder Singh, a Senator of Punjabi University, has in a letter to the Punjab Governor, Lt Gen (retired) B.K.N. Chhibber, who is also the Chancellor of Punjabi University, demanded that a high-level probe into the grant of affiliation to the two colleges being set up by sons of two Deans of Punjabi University. Describing the action of
the two Deans to inspect the colleges being set up by
their sons as an act of academic fraud and brazen misuse
of authority, he has said the affiliation granted to
these two colleges be suspended forthwith. |
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Gurdwara on encroached land MALLIAN (Amritsar), Aug 31 — Nihangs have encroached upon a big chunk of the G.T. Road between Jandiala Guru and Rayya, and already constructed a sprawling gurdwara building there. The construction work was undertaken more than a decade ago during the peak of militancy. Presently the marble flooring work is in progress. The CPWD authorities once demolished the gurdwara building in those days, but the Nihangs rebuilt the gurdwara the same night. No effort was reportedly made thereafter to stop the construction work. The construction work is going on under the guidance of the Taruna Dal chief, Baba Kirtan Singh, who is staying at the sub-divisional town of Baba Bakala, the headquarters of the organisation. Named Gurdwara Fallahi Sahib, the persons looking after the place claim that it is a historical gurdwara associated with Guru Hargobind Sahib, the sixth Guru. A signboard installed on the roadside narrates the history of the gurdwara in Punjabi as under: "On his way to Baba Bakala, Guru Hargobind Sahib stayed here at this sacred place under the shade of the fallah tree. The wishes of the devotee would be fulfilled, who would have holy dip in the sarovar attached to this gurdwara." The construction and expansion work of the sarovar attached to the gurdwara was taken up only a few years ago. Nearly half an acre of land along the Jalandhar-Amritsar-Wagah road forms the gurdwara complex. A room has been constructed over the grave of a Muslim saint near the gurdwara. Interestingly, the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs, is being installed during the day right on the grave. When questioned, one of the attendants disclosed that a "takiya" of a Muslim saint, known as Baba Nimana Shah, used to exist here before Partition. The Nihangs had demolished this "takiya" in August 1947. When the gurdwara building was being constructed, this Muslim saint appeared and sought his share on this land. So a big room was constructed on his grave. A few sewadars of the gurdwara board buses passing in front of the gurdwara up to Rayya or Jandiala Guru to seek donations from passengers. Baba Kirtan Singh was not
available for comments on the construction of the
gurdwara on illegal land. |
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SPO held for theft, terrorist
links GURDASPUR, Aug 31 — The police arrested Ranjit Singh, special police officer yesterday for his alleged involvement in stealing government ammunition, vehicles and also his suspected links with terrorists. According to Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, one stolen Hero Honda motor- cycle, 15 rounds of SLR ammunition were recovered from his possession. The ammunition had been stolen from police station Narot Jaimal Singh and motorcycle was stolen from O/ASI branch of district police office here. One fake identity card of Punjab Police CID showing his designation as Lance Constable of CID was also recovered. Mr Yadav said that a case u/s 420, 470/467, 472 of the IPC and 25 Arms Act had been registered in Pathankot police station city. Mr Yadav said that the accused during his preliminary interrogation disclosed that he was recruited as special police officer in 1994 but had soon taken to drugs. Due to consumption of drugs his salary was not sufficient and the accused allegedly started indulging in criminal activity and developed links with criminals and terrorist elements which are being explored. The accused has been dismissed from service. Mr Yadav said that a case
u/s 379, of the IPC has been registered against the
accused in city police station here for stealing
motorcycle of Balbir Singh, Head Constable posted in
O/ASI branch district police office here. Another case
u/s 380 the IPC has been registered in police station
Narot Jaimal Singh against the accused for stealing 15
SLR rounds of Balkar Singh, constable at police station
Narot Jaimal Singh. |
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Theatre activists seek facilities PATIALA, Aug 31 — Art lovers and theatre activists here have urged the government to equip the lecture hall at the local Central State Library with curtains, light and sound system and other allied facilities and declare it a mini theatre hall to allow theatre performances. The Chairman of the International Punjabi Sammelan, Mr Surjit Singh Dhalkiwal, director of NTAS, Mr Pran Sabharwal, and other theatre activists have urged the government to transfer the control of the Central State Library auditorium and lecture hall to the Commissioner of Patiala Division or the Director of the North Zone Cultural Centre or the Director of Languages, Punjab to facilitate performances and theatre promotion. Theatre activists also stressed the need for building an open-air theatre at Bhasha Bhavan of the Department of Languages. They urged the Chief
Minister to constitute an expert committee to look into
their demands and activate district Kala Parishads to
strengthen the theatre movement in the state. |
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CPM's Chetna Jatha reaches
Patiala PATIALA, Aug 31 — The Chetna Jatha headed by Prof Balwant Singh, state secretary of the CPM, reached here yesterday. Prof Balwant Singh told mediapersons that his party had launched this march to create awareness among the masses about the situation prevailing at the national and international levels. The march would cover the state and culminate in Delhi on September 16 with a rally at India Gate. He said the party had also decided to organise a joint campaign with the CPI and the BSP against the "misdeeds'' of the present government which had led to a hike in the prices of essential commodities, power tariff, and tuition fees and also to highlight its failure to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in state assemblies and Parliament. The party organised
rallies at Sanaur and Samana which were addressed by Mr
Mangat Ram Pasla, central committee member, and Mr
Rachpaul Singh, a member of the party's secretariat. |
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Burning of religious books denied BATHINDA, Aug 31 — Mr Harnek Singh, SSP, today denied that any police official or any other person burned the religious books including 'Bir' of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Bhagwat Gita in the premises of Manav Roohani Mission as alleged by former MLA, Mr Harbans Singh Jalal. Talking to newsmen, he said that Mr Jalal was carrying out a false propaganda against the police to cover his (Mr Jalal's) own illegal activities which he was carrying out under the garb of a religious ashram. The SSP said that after investigation it was found that Mr Jalal was a known land-grabber and criminal cases against Mr Jalal had been registered by the police station, Rampura Phul, thermal plant and City Kotwali in the past. Even Punjab and Haryana High Court had passed adverse remarks against him for his illegal activities, he added. He said that by carrying out false propaganda against the police Mr Jalal had tried to disturb the communal harmony of the state and the police was taking legal opinion for taking proper action against Mr Jalal. In another statement,
Union Industry Minister, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal denied
his involvement in any incident of supporting
"goonda" elements as alleged by Mr Harbans
Singh Jalal and published in a section of press. |
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Plea for revised pension LUDHIANA, Aug 31 — The Government Pensioners Association held a meeting here yesterday and criticised the state government for not paying revised pensions, although the report on pensions had been submitted to the government six months ago. Mr K.K. Sharma, general
secretary of the association, criticised the government
for rejecting the Pay Commission's key recommendations,
including old-age allowance, benefits in pension for
service rendered beyond 33 years and dearness allowance
admissible on July 1, 1993, to be treated as dearness pay
for the purpose of gratuity. |
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Seminar on work culture FARIDKOT, Aug 31 — The Punjab State Services Federation will organise a state-level seminar at Fatehgarh Sahib on Sept 19 to promote work culture among government employees at all stages to bring responsiveness to resolve public problems. This was stated by Mr Charanjit Singh Walia, president of the Federation, and former MP while talking to mediapersons here today. He underlined the need for decentralisation of powers at district level to streamline the official work effectively. Expressing concern over the rise in corruption, prices and unemployment, Mr Walia urged the government to take stern measures to check these. He said long and short term policies should be adopted to give promotions and fill vacant posts at all categories to remove stagnation which led to delay in official work. The former MP said the state government should also take steps to reduce the pressure of bureaucrats in order to check demoralisation among the lower categories of employees, to monitor the working system. He lauded the state
government for granting high pay scales to the state
employees despite the financial crisis. Mr Walia, who is
also the Vice President of the SAD regretted the
confrontation among the three Singh Sahibs over different
Sikh Maryada issues for the past two weeks. |
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Remand
extended CHANDIGARH, Aug 31 — Judicial Magistrate A.K. Bishnoi, today extended the judicial remand of all suspects in the Sector 17 shootout case till September 14. There are 16 suspects in
this case, including DSP Jagjit Singh and Manjit Singh
Barkandi, president of the SAD's Muktsar unit. |
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Hearing on
bail pleas adjourned CHANDIGARH, Aug 31 — Additional Sessions Judge G.S. Sandhu today adjourned to September 2 hearing on the bail applications of Baljit Singh and Satnam Singh, two suspects in the Burail jail blow-up conspiracy case, with the directions to the prosecution to procure an original copy of the Explosive Substances Act. Defence counsel brought to
the notice of Mr Sandhu that the bail applications of
these suspects were earlier rejected by the Ilaqa
Magistrate because a copy of the Act placed before him
was misprinted. |
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Tribune reporter retires AMRITSAR, Aug 31 — Mr H.S. Bhanwer, Senior Staff Correspondent of The Tribune, retired from service today. He had been associated with The Tribune as a part-time correspondent since October 1983. He was appointed Staff Correspondent on February 1, 1987. He served at Shimla, Patiala and Amritsar. Mr Bhanwer was given a
farewell at the Tribune sub-office here. |
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One-year
jail term for three CHANDIGARH, Aug 31 — The Judicial Magistrate, Mr Tejwinder Singh, today sentenced Chanchal Singh, Narinder Singh and Surinder Kaur on charges of causing hurt and criminal intimidation. The Magistrate sentenced them to undergo imprisonment for one year each, apart from paying Rs 500 as fine. They were booked under
sections 147, 148, 149, 506 and 327, IPC on a statement
made by Gurnam Singh. He had told the police that the
suspects had tried to break the wall of Mr Sohan Singh's
house. When Mr Sohan Singh resisted, Narinder Singh
threatened him. Mr Surjit Singh, who tried to save him,
was given a blow. Mr Jarnail Singh was also hit on the
head by Chanchal Singh with an axe. |
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IA shifts
booking office AMRITSAR, Aug 31 — The Indian Airlines city booking office will shift to new premises on 39, Court Road here from September 1. These days Indian Airlines
is operating two international flights from Amritsar to
Sharjah and back on every Monday and Friday and thrice a
flight from Amritsar to Delhi on every Monday, Wednesday
and Friday. |
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Dayal
re-elected CPI Secretary CHANDIGARH, Aug 31 — Dr Joginder Dayal has been re-elected Secretary of the Punjab State Council of the CPI, according to a press note issued here today. Election to this effect
was held at the party's 17th conference which concluded
at Ludhiana yesterday. As many as 270 delegates
participated in the conference which has decided to send
25 delegates to the all-India party conference scheduled
to be held in Chennai in the second week of September. A
nine-member control commission was also elected. |
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Account opening powers for CDPOs BATHINDA, Aug 31 — The Punjab Government has decided to give powers to the Child Development and Project Officers (CDPOs) for opening the bank accounts of beneficiaries of various pension schemes of the social security department. Announcing this at a pension camp at Bhucho Kalan village, 12 km from here, the Chief Minister, Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal said that pension beneficiaries were facing many problems for opening bank accounts as such powers now vested only in the District Social Security Officer (DSSO). He said that with the decentralisation of such powers, the pension beneficiaries would face no problem to avail benefits of different pension schemes of state. He said that state government would extend pension facility to every legally deserving person and state government was covering all beneficiaries in a phased manner. He said that in the current year, about five lakh persons would be given old age pension as compared to 1.17 lakh last year. The Chief Minister said that to make the administration more responsive towards public, every Deputy Commissioner had been directed to remain at the district headquarters at least for four days in a week. They also had been directed to visit rural areas to solve problems of people. Union Home Minister,
Sukhbir Singh Badal, addressing the gathering said that
on September 5, the Chief Minister of Punjab would lay
the foundation stone of Rs 300 crore cement plant here.
He said that work on oil refinery would be started soon
here. |
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Lawyers
stage dharna JALANDHAR, Aug 31 — More than 300 lawyers of the District Bar Association staged a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today. The lawyers went on a strike in protest against the alleged misbehaviour of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Som Parkash, when a lawyers deputation met him in his office on August 28 to seek action against the District Development Panchayat Officer, Mr Jaspal Singh, while the District Bar Association alleged that Mr Jaspal Singh was being shielded by the Deputy Commissoner. A call for a state-wide strike has been given for September 2. Lawyers shall stage a
dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner
here on September 2 and demand suspension from service of
Mr Jaspal Singh and transfer of Mr Som Parkash. A
memorandum containing these demands would be given to the
Commissioner, Mr B.K. Srivastva. |
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Protest
rally TARN TARAN, Aug 31 — A rally was organised today at Jagatpur village under Chabal police station, 26 km from here, by the political parties to protest against the death of Karnail Singh (67), a dalit who was killed in Chabal police custody on August 22. The leaders who addressed the rally condemned the police atrocities and violation of human rights and demanded jobs for next to kin of the deceased and financial compensation for his family. The people of the area
formed a committee to face such repressive incidents.
Speakers demanded registration of a case under Section
302, IPC, against the guilty police officials and others. |
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Hawala
money seized: 2 held JALANDHAR, Aug 31 — The local police has arrested Hira Lal of Shastri Nagar, Vijay Kumar of Dina village, and Gurmit and Gurnam Singh of Ashok Nagar here have today and recovered Rs 5 lakh suspected to be hawala money. The two were arrested near
police division number three on a tip-off. Their arrest
led to the recovery of 8000 German marks, US $ 4800 and
Rs 78,000. They were travelling on a scooter. |
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Languages
Department to begin celebrations PATIALA, Aug 31 — The Punjab Languages Department will shortly start a series of programmes which will highlight the tradition and essence of Sikhism acting a front-runner to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the Khalsa being organised at Anandpur Sahib next year. Talking to newsmen here, department Director Madan Lal Hasija said a decision to this effect had been taken following a meeting held by Minister for Higher Education Manjit Singh Calcutta recently. He said a book would also be released in which prominent litterateurs would be invited to give their articles on the event. A sub-committee had been formed for the purpose under the chairmanship of Mr Calcutta. Besides this, the
department would release a series of books on the major
milestones in the past 300 years of Sikh history,
prominent personalities and martyrs, Sikh poetry and all
takhts. |
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