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| Sunday, January 23, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
Tohra, Ravi Inder come closer? Volte-face by Sikh institute Directive to Punjab on copying
scandal Management head alleges harassment AISSF to contest Nawanshahr
byelection Badal wins over Kainth |
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Council case: plaintiff seeks
adjournment Sant Samaj wants panel disbanded Bajrang Dal to focus on cow
slaughter Badal ‘attacking’
democratic norms
Widow demands ex-gratia payment Passing out parade of jawans held Take ‘quick decision’ on
Karmapa’s asylum Plea for CBI probe into irrigation
scam PSEB to set up its own police
stations Philanthropist dead Work on WB-aided project begins Govt move to tackle proxy war
hailed
Babbar Khalsa contact held Scribe’s murder case solved 2 held with weapons
Rs 56 lakh collected as fine Applicants’ plea to PUDA on
plots
|
Tohra,
Ravi Inder come closer? CHANDIGARH Jan 22 — The bonhomie between the two Akali leaders from the rival camps said it all at the founder’s day celebrations at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College here today. One could see the warmth when the former SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra and a former Speaker, Mr Ravi Inder Singh, met on the lawns of the college. Presence of Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, a Tohra supporter, was significant. Both threw light to suggest that they could come together to challenge the present state leadership. In his remarks, Mr Ravi Inder Singh said the social scenario, particularly political, had witnessed parabolic changes. Times had changed and a corresponding change in curricula to address the youth on issues such as religion also needed a corresponding change. Even if the political scene was avoided, one could see the changes in society and society had to remain integrated for preservation of culture, he said. There were indications in the past of the two being together but both had denied it. Mr Ravi Inder Singh, an MLA from Morinda, has been suspended by the Badal government, one of the accusations being he was “hobnobbing with rivals”. Mr Ravi Inder Singh said a perusal of the last 100 years of Sikh history would highlight the concerns. This was important to devise methods and plans for its security. The coming change in societal behaviour “did not look linear” due to the changed world order. Important names on the list of those honoured included: Mr Ravi Inder Singh, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna (president of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee), Sant Baba Sucha Singh (a religious leader), Prof Harinder Singh Mehboob (a poet), Mr Karnail Singh (an educationist), Prof Jagir Singh (a ‘raagi’); Mr Jaswant Singh and Hardeep Singh (an artist). Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, Bibi Daljit Kaur, Bibi Kuldeep Kaur, Mr Deepak Manmohan (Dean College Development, Panjab University) and Mr Bharpur Singh were among others honoured on the occasion. Prof P.S. Sangha, Principal, presented a report on the college functioning. Prof Mehboob referring to his indepth work on Guru Nanak said he would be taking up lives and works of the Guru’s successors. Baba Sucha Singh stressed on planning on the educational front. Mr Tohra, president of the Sikh Education Society, laid the foundation stone of the arts block building. He said it was very difficult to manage private colleges these days because of paucity of funds. No additional posts had been created despite the fact that there had been an increase in the number of students over the past few years. Also politics and religion had come closer. This was not against the principal of religion but the process needed to be questioned for improvement .The tenet of “sharing” had taken a back seat against the principal of religion and mankind, he said. After a bhog ceremony in
the morning ,”raagi” and “dhadi
jathas” also presented their compositions. |
Volte-face
by Sikh institute CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — Unanimity eluded the organisers of the seminar on gurdwara legislation held here today. Contrary to the expectations of the Institute of Sikh Studies, which had organised the seminar at Gurdwara Kanthala, the resolution on scrapping the proposed All-India Sikh Gurdwara Act could not be adopted unanimously as a section of the participants disagreed with the resolution. The resolution was moved by the institute president, Dr Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon, who also expressed his views strongly, opposing the gurdwara legislation and dubbed it a "retrogressive step". The irony of the occasion being that the same institute had been instrumental in favouring and framing of the gurdwara legislation, which was forwarded to New Delhi as well as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee by the Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, Justice Harbans Singh, recently. The same institute which
had held an academic discussion on the legislation in
October, 1998, and had articulated the position of the
Panth with active participation of the SGPC, the
government, the Sikh intellectuals, etc, and had played a
key role then did a complete volte-face on the issue
today, displaying once again that the Sikhs, as a
community and claiming to represent the Panth, were as
inconsistent as ever in their stand on key issues. |
Directive
to Punjab on copying scandal CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday directed the Punjab Government to produce the relevant original record pertaining to the alleged copying scandal in Punjab and the transfer of Mr Karnail Singh, a teacher and block president of the Democratic Teachers Front, to a distance of 250 km from his native place. The Chief Justice, Mr Arun B. Saharya, and Mr Justice V.K. Bali, who handed down this order on a petition preferred by Mr Karnail Singh, also issued notice to the District Education Officer, Mrs Surinder Kataria, and the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda, Mr Ajaib Singh Bhatti, for February 8. In his petition Mr Karnail Singh, headmaster, Government Middle School, Phools Mandi in Bathinda district, alleged that he had unearthed the copying scandal in the state. Therefore, the government decided to punishing him by transferring him to a far-flung place in Amritsar district in the mid-academic session and contrary to the instructions issued by the Education Secretary not to transfer any teacher till the completion of the current academic-session. The petitioner alleged that the Additional Deputy Commissioner had got four roll numbers issued for his son and daughter for the matriculation examination held in March 1999. He alleged that he brought all these facts to the notice of the Punjab Chief Secretary and the Education Minister on April 8, 1999, and June 8, 1999, respectively. He further alleged that
he also exposed the copying done by the nephew of the
Education Officer, Mrs Surinder Kataria. |
Management
head alleges harassment PATIALA, Jan 22 — Innocuous explanations demanded from Punjabi University School of Management head, Dr K.C. Singhal, have blown up into a controversy with Dr Singhal alleging today that they were a fallout of his questioning the style of university functioning at a syndicate meeting as well as his opposition to migration of management students from the Talwandi Sabo regional centre to the university campus. University Vice-Chancellor Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia has charged Dr Singhal with indiscipline for not replying to certain clarifications sought by the university Registrar from him. The Vice-Chancellor had said he would take disciplinary action against Dr Singhal if he did not submit his reply on alleged procedural lapses committed by him in organising Alumni-99 by January 21. Talking to TNS, Dr Singhal said he had filed a reply in which he had given details of the accounts and funds collected for holding the alumni function of the Business Management Department. He said the entire expenditure had been accounted for and the amount which had not been spent had been deposited in an account running since 1980. He, however, said he had requested for more time to give full details as some bills relating to the function were still being received by him. The Business Management head also alleged his explanations had been called not because of procedural lapses, as they weren't any, but the manner in which he spoke about university functioning at a syndicate meeting held recently and his objection to migrations from the Talwandi Sabo regional centre to the university campus. Dr Singhal said he had expressed the concern about the faculty over inaccessibility of the Vice-Chancellor and pointed out that he himself had not been able to get an appointment despite repeated requests. The university authorities had also probably not liked his note saying the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court were being violated when an order to admit three students of the Management Department of Talwandi Sabo to the School of Management in the university campus was given. He said he had pleaded that a proper procedure should be followed if any migrations were to be allowed and that the school of management did not have the requisite infrastructure to accommodate more transfers from Talwandi Sabo. Dr Singhal alleged he was being mentally harassed, saying the second missive from the university authorities was delivered to him on the night of January 19 and he was given two days time to give his reply. He said he felt the explanation was a warning to the entire faculty that dissension in the university would not be tolerated. Speaking about the alumni function held by the School of Management in October last year , Dr Singhal said everything had been done according to past convention. He said since the inception of the university audit was done only on grants received by the university and there was no audit on money collected through sponsorship and advertisements in the souvenir of the function. The entire money collected for the function was deposited in a bank account running since 1980. He also added that this was the second alumni meet hosted by the School of Management and that the first meet was also not audited as no funds had been forthcoming from the university. Dr Singhal alleged if all university functions were to be audited, there should be a new policy and guidelines should be framed. These guidelines should be applicable to all departments and there should not be any pick-and-choose in calling explanations. Dr Singhal also alleged
that money had been collected through souvenirs and
sponsorships while holding of seminars during the tenure
of the present Vice-Chancellor, and he was surprised that
objection had been taken to collection of funds while
hosting Alumni-99. He said it was not possible to hold
seminars from funds received from the UGC and if there
was any harassment on this account, it would not be
possible to hold seminars in the university. |
AISSF to contest
Nawanshahr byelection NAWANSHAHR, Jan 22 — The AISSF has fielded Mr Kirpal Singh Mallabedian as its candidate for the Nawanshahr Assembly byelection, Mr Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, President of the AISSF said here yesterday. The AISSF would release its election manifesto soon. The talks were underway with Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the SAD (Amritsar), for seeking support for the AISSF nominee. The BKU (Lakhowal) and the BKU (Mann) had already extended their support to the AISSF candidate. The AISSF President accused the SAD-BJP Government of ignoring the youth. Meanwhile, Mr Darshan Singh Khatkar, provincial secretary, CPI (ML) has announced that the party will boycott the byelection. Earlier the party had boycotted the Lok Sabha poll. Mr Khatkar said that since there had not been any fundamental change in the political scenario, the party had decided to boycott the election. To make the boycott call effective, the CPI (ML) would organise rallies, conferences and seminars etc in the first week of February. The details of the programme would be chalked out at a meeting held on January 29. The CPI (ML) was of the
opinion that the political, economic, cultural and social
crisis of the country had become too grave to be solved
by any political party. Rather, the politics based on
caste, religion, regionalism and communalism being
practised by political parties were responsible for the
present mess. The party had been demanding that the
Constitution of the country, which had miserably failed
to live up to the expectations of the people, should be
scrapped and replaced with a new statute. The party would
launch a campaign to awaken and mobilise the people
against the policies of successive governments at the
Centre. |
Badal wins
over Kainth BANGA, (Nawanshahr) Jan 22 — The Punjab Chief Minister and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, succeeded in wooing back Mr Satnam Singh Kainth, former MP and president of the Bahujan Samaj Morcha (BSM), breakaway faction of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), to his fold today as the latter announced his unconditional support to the SAD candidate from the Nawanshahr Assembly constituency, Mr Jatinder Singh Kariha. Initiative to persuade Mr Kainth, who is convalescing these days at his house following an operation of one of his legs, to support the official SAD candidate was taken by Mr Badal in the wake of considerable following of the former in his politically sensitive constituency. Mr Kainth and his supporters, who had been annoyed with the SAD leadership for not according "due recognition" to the morcha even though it had wholeheartedly supported the SAD after severing ties with the BSP, it was learnt had already made up their mind to back Mr Kariha even before Mr Badal’s visit to Mr Kainth’s house today. An indication to this was the presence of a large number of the BSM workers who had lined up at Mr Kainth’s residence with flowers and garlands in their hands since morning to greet the SAD supremo even as the latter’s cavalcade reached the place at 10.45 a.m. Mr Badal, who had a closed door meeting with Mr Kainth in his room for over 15 minutes, said there were no differences between the SAD and the BSM. He said factors responsible for causing resentment among the BSM cadre were discussed during the meeting and efforts were being made to remove their grudges. Mr Badal and Mr Kainth, however, did not specify as to what were the factors which had created fissures between the two parties. Mr Badal said, “You know that the election code of conduct is in force, so, I cannot comment much.” Mr Kainth said all issues concerning weaker and other sections of society had been taken up with the Chief Minister and his party would extend all-out support to Mr Kariha as Mr Badal had promised to solve problems of these sections. “We will win the seat with a thumping majority. I am grateful to Mr Kainth that his party is with us and this will certainly strengthen the hands of Mr Kariha,” said Mr Badal. When asked whether he would seek Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra’s supporter, he said: “How can one believe Mr Tohra. One day he says something, the next day he backtracks from it in his typical style. Mr Badal said “politics has become dirty game these days. People like Mr Tohra, who supported the Congress during the Lok Sabha poll are alleging that I am hobnobbing with the Congress”. Referring to alleged resentment among certain BJP ministers owing allegiance to Mr Madan Mohan Mittal over distribution of portfolios, Mr Badal clarified that he had never interfered into the affairs of his alliance partners and had inducted all those whose names were cleared by the BJP high command. Mr Badal also clarified that Mr Resham Singh Thiara, senior Akali leader and an aspirant for the party ticket from Nawanshahr, who had resigned from the party over allotment of the ticket to Mr Kariha, had not taken back his resignation so far. Mr Badal, however, added that Mr Thiara was his “own man”. Regarding his
party’s poll strategy in Haryana, Mr Badal said the
objective of the SAD was to defeat the Congress and for
that the party was holding parleys with like-minded
parties like the INLD headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala
and the BJP. He said SAD General Secretary Balwinder
Singh Bhunder had been deputed to hold talks with these
parties as far as the poll strategy and sharing of seats
was concerned. When asked whether his party would seek
some seats in other states where it had helped the BJP in
the Lok Sabha poll, he said, “let us set our own
house in order first”. |
Council
case: plaintiff seeks adjournment CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — Claiming that the President of the World Sikh Council Justice Kuldip Singh had "submitted before Akal Takht jathedar", the plaintiff in the case advocate Baldev Singh Brar, today sought a "long adjournment" to enable the jathedar to "give his decision". Arguing before UT District and Sessions Judge Mr. B.S. Bedi on the appeal against the dismissal of an application for restraining Justice Kuldip Singh from acting as the council president, the advocate stated that even he was summoned by the Takht jathedar. Referring to clause 17 of the council's revised constitution, the plaintiff added that all disputes were to be referred to the patron and his decision "shall be deemed to be the decision of the parties to the dispute or the differences and shall be final...". Opposing the plea for a long adjournment, counsel for Justice Kuldip Singh and other defendants said the appellant should move an application for adjournment as the submissions being made before the court were not on record. He also asked for time to file an appropriate reply to the application. After hearing the arguments, the Sessions Judge directed the plaintiff to file a suitable application on January 27. Earlier dismissing the application, UT Civil Judge (Senior Division), Mr. B.C. Gupta, had observed: "I hold that the plaintiff has failed to make out a prima facie case for the grant of an injunction, nor the balance of convenience lies in the favour of the plaintiff and it is Justice Kuldip Singh who will suffer irreparable loss if the injunction is granted". Challenging the
dismissal of the application, the appellant had asked for
setting aside the order, besides the acceptance of the
appeal and also for restraining Justice Kuldip Singh from
"claiming and acting as the council president". |
Sant Samaj
wants panel disbanded AMRITSAR, Jan 22 — Even as SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur and Dr Kharak Singh, convenor of the 11-member committee, have reiterated that the report on the controversial Nanakshahi calendar would be submitted to five Sikh High Priests by March 15. Representatives of the Sant Samaj, including Baba Kashmira Singh and Baba Mangal Singh, President and acting President, Gurbani Gurmat Parcharak Sant Samaj, respectively, met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh today. Though details of the closed-door meeting held at the official residence of the Akal Takht Jathedar were not available yet, sources pointed out that the Sant Samaj had demanded disbanding of the sub-committee headed by Dr Kharak Singh. The Sant Samaj is sore over the deletion of the name of Baba Mangal Singh, Acting President of the Sant Samaj, from the panel. It may be mentioned here that the Baba was nominated by Giani Puran Singh on the panel in plea of Mr Dalip Singh Bhupal who had resigned from the sub-committee on certain grounds. Dr Kharak Singh, however has claimed that no member had resigned from the sub-committee. Reliable sources insisted that at least two members had tendered their resignation. The Sant Samaj has
reportedly lodged a protest over the induction of four
subject experts on the panel headed by Dr Kharak Singh
without being taken into confidence. |
Bajrang
Dal to focus on cow slaughter AMRITSAR, Jan 22 — The national vice-president of the Bajrang Dal, Mr Harish Bhai Bhatt, said here today that the Dal would take some effective steps to prevent cow slaughter in the country besides pressurising the BJP government at the Centre for enactment of a more effective law in this regard. Mr Bhatt, who was talking to newsmen here on the last leg of the seven-day tour of Punjab for eliciting support for the delegates session of the Dal to be held in Bhopal from February 18 to 20, added that the strategy in this respect would be evolved at this session so as not to allow the cows to be sent to the slaughter houses. The measures under consideration included the setting up of checkposts, patrolling of the highways and survey of the places from where cows were brought for the purpose of slaughter. He regretted that in past 50 years the number of slaughter houses had gone up from 350 to 36,000. Mr Bhatt stated that the delegate session would also spell out strategy on its seven-point programme which included construction of the Ram Mandir, Kashi, Mathura and Vishvanath Temples and common code for the Indian society. He said as many as 46 young women were rescued recently from the clutches of some anti-social elements in Gujarat after their parents sought the help of the Bajrang Dal. Mr Bhatt firmly declared that construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya had not been abandoned and it would never be abandoned under pressure. The construction work was in full swing at the site and plinth work had already been completed. Erecting of 254 pillars on which the mandir would be built was in progress at Ayodhya, Ahmedabad and Rajasthan, he informed. Mr Bhatt added the Dal
was also working on programme to persuade the government
to withdraw tax on visits by pilgrimage to Amarnath and
other sacred Hindu places in the country. |
Badal
‘attacking’ democratic norms BATHINDA, Jan 22 — Mr Hardev Arshi, the CPI group leader in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, today alleged that the SAD-BJP Government led by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had started attacking democratic norms in Punjab. In a press note issued here today, he pointed out that recent example of attack on democratic norms by the Punjab government was that it had issued an ordinance to fill 70 per cent seats of panchayat samitis by sarpanches. He added that the previous Congress Government had reserved 60 per cent seats to be filled directly by sarpanches. The CPI had opposed it tooth and nail. He added that Mr Badal had crossed the limit set by the previous Congress Government. He pointed out that the Punjab Government was also violating the constitutional provisions by not holding elections of zila parishads and panchayat samitis within the prescribed time of five years. He added that zila parishad and panchayat elections in Punjab were due in October 1999. He disclosed that if the
Punjab Government did not withdraw its undemocratic
ordinance, the CPI along with other parties might launch
on agitation in the coming days. |
Widow demands ex-gratia
payment CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — Mrs Alka Aggarwal, who lost her husband in a train accident near Khanna on November 25, 1998, has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to get her ex-gratia amount paid. In a representation to Mr Badal, Mrs Aggarwal has stated that the Punjab Government had announced soon after the accident that the dependants of the deceased would be given Rs 50,000 as ex-gratia. But so far no payment had been made by the government, Mrs Aggarwal has stated. Mr Sham Sunder Aggarwal, husband of Mrs Alka Aggarwal, had died on the spot in the mishap. Mrs Aggarwal has
requested the Chief Minister to direct the authorities
concerned to pay the ex-gratia to her. |
Passing
out parade of jawans held HOSHIARPUR, Jan 22 — Mr D.R. Bhatti, Inspector-General of Police Training, Jalandhar, took salute from 148 trainees of capsule course no. 9 and batch no. 219, who participated in a very impressive passing out parade at Police Recruits Training Centre, Jahan Khelan, today. While addressing on the occasion, Mr D.R. Bhatti urged the jawans to perform their duties with honesty and dedication. Mr Kamal Kumar, Commandant of the centre, said the recruits had specially been trained in law subjects PPW, SAMJ, unarmed combat, handling of latest weapons and field craft and tactics along with physical fitness. A special reorientation
course of one week duration is being conducted at the
centre for head-constables and constables. In addition to
this, basic training, elementary traffic course, W&T
course, capsule course, field craft & field
engineering course, C-II course are also being run at the
centre. |
Take
‘quick decision’ on Karmapa’s asylum AMRITSAR, Jan 22 — The sudden arrival of Tibetan Lama Karmapa into India had snowballed into major controversy, claimed Former Minister of State for External Affairs Raghunandan Lal Bhatia here today. In a press note, he said the Karmapa’s arrival was a serious and sensitive matter for India and China. He said the Indian Government’s delaying tactics on taking a firm decision on the issue of granting political asylum to the Karmapa could affect Sino-Indian ties. He cautioned the government that the Karmapa’s continued stay in India was fraught with serious consequences. He expected the External Affairs Ministry to take a firm and immediate decision to sort out this ticklish diplomatic issue. Lashing out at the
government for showing weak handling of the hijacking of
an Indian Airlines plane, he said the government had
succumbed to the dictates of the hijackers who got three
hardcore terrorists released while country faced a
week-long nightmare. |
Plea for
CBI probe into irrigation scam BATHINDA, Jan 22 — Mr Bhan Singh Bhora, member Parliament, has urged the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to order a CBI probe into the Rs 2.5 crore-irrigation scam unearthed by the Bathinda district administration in the recent past. In a four-page letter, which was circulated to media persons here today, Mr Bhora pointed out that crores of rupees, which were given to the Punjab government by NABARD and the World Bank for the augmentation of irrigation facilities in Punjab, had been eaten up by the officials in connivance with the ruling politicians. He alleged that the transfer of Deputy Commissioner, Mr SR Ladhar, and Mr Harnek Singh Sran, SSP, Bathinda, was a move to hush up the scam involving political bigwigs. He added that these officials were transferred even though they had passed a resolution against the then state minister that the minister pressurised them to hush up the irrigation scam. He pointed out that instead of questioning the then state irrigation minister for his alleged involvement in the scam, he had been made a cabinet minister. He alleged that the Punjab Government had not taken action on a intelligence report which had alleged that two irrigation officials in connivance with the state minister had eaten up crores of rupees meant for specific projects. He alleged that more than Rs 100 crore had been swindled by the irrigation and drainage wing officials engaged in tackling the waterlogging problem in the Muktsar district. He alleged that
bunglings in the construction of Thein Dam had also come
to light. |
PSEB to
set up its own police stations BATHINDA, Jan 22 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has decided to set up its own police stations to check the theft of electricity. A decision to this effect has already been taken. The Punjab Cabinet has agreed to the PSEB proposal moved in this regard a few years ago. The PSEB has divided the state in five zones. Official sources said an increase in the number of attacks by electricity consumers on PSEB raiding teams had speeded up the decision. Official sources said the proposal of setting up its own police station was considered actively by the PSEB authorities when a raiding team led by the Executive Engineer of Bathinda, Mr K.S. Brar, was attacked by an owner of a local hotel and its employees a few months back in the city. Mr R.S. Dhillon, Chief Engineer (distribution), PSEB, said the police stations would be set up in every district of Punjab. He added that the police stations would function under the overall supervision of Inspector General of Police, PSEB. The security to teams
checking for power thefts will be provided by these
police stations. Cases regarding theft of electricity
would also be registered at these police stations. |
Philanthropist
dead AMRITSAR, Jan 22 — A leading philanthropist and social worker, Mr Bhupinder Singh (70), passed away last night after a prolonged illness. He was a member of the Khalsa College Managing Committee, Sant Singh Sukha Singh Group of Schools, Rotary Club, besides president of the Punjab Bakeries Association. Wreaths were placed on
his body by the Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev
University, Dr HS Soch, and representatives of various
social, educational and trading associations. His funeral
was largely attended. |
Work on
WB-aided project begins GURDASPUR, Jan 22 — The World Bank-aided Integrated Watershed Development Project (Hills)-II, Punjab, has been launched in the kandi area of the district to boost development in the area. The estimated cost is Rs 224 crore. According to official sources, four sub-watersheds out of a total of 17 would be taken up in Bhawar Khad, Bagraphungotri, Hara Majah, and Dugli Nadi areas covering 83 villages. The Departments of Forest Soil Conservation, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Horticulture would work together to execute project works. The local populace would be involved in planning and execution of project works. Village development committees would be formed in all 83 villages for the purpose. A 70-km stretch would be undertaken for upgradation, strengthening and improvement of link roads. Water “harvesting” for domestic use had been given due recognition under the project. Two teams had been constituted to execute the project under the leadership of Mr J.S. Walia, Divisional Forest Officer, and Mr J.S. Kumar, Divisional Soil Conservation Officer. An officer each from the Department of Forest, Soil Conservation, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Horticulture had been associated with the teams. Mr Walia said the
execution of the project would lead to reduced run off
and soil erosion and increased availability to water for
domestic use. |
Govt move
to tackle proxy war hailed PATIALA, Jan 22 — The Rashtriya Ekta Manch (REMA) has hailed the proactive approach of the BJP-led coalition government to tackle Pakistan’s proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir. The national president of REMA, Dr B.S. Mann, said yesterday that unified command for countering terrorism would produce the desired results. Dr Mann said the national executive committee of the manch met here and resolved to join the government in combating psychological warfare unleashed by the enemy from across the border. The other resolution
adopted by the manch commended the Keshubhai Patel
Government in Gujarat for allowing government staff to
participate in the activities of the RSS. |
Students
sway to Mann numbers PATIALA, Jan 22 — Punjabi University students today swayed to lilting numbers by Manpreet Akhtar and music-packed pop hits by Babu Mann and Harbhajan Mann at the annual Phulkari festival, organised by the Punjabi University Students Association. The Guru Tegh Bahadur hall, where the function was held, was filled to capacity with students also sitting on the ground in front of the stage. However, many were denied entry as the auditorium could not hold the rush. Girls outnumbered boys in the audience and cheered the pop stars during the songs "Neendra nahi aandiya" and "Pind pehra lagda". Babu Mann gave a lively presentation, packed with powerful music . Harbahajan Mann also had the audience clapping rhythmically to his number "Galan gorian te vich toye". There were other quality presentations by Manpreet Akhtar who regaled the audience with her "Tujhe yaad na meri aayi" number. She was also a hit singing traditional Punjabi bolis . In the beginning of the programme, noted ghazal singer performed Shameem Iqbal set the tone by his beautiful renditions. The other stars who performed included Gurpreet Ghuggu and Sarabjit Cheema. There was also a gidha presentation by university girls. The Phulkari festival
was inaugurated by university Vice-Chancellor Dr Jasbir
Singh Ahluwalia and Sports Minister Nusrat Ali Khan gave
away mementoes to the performers at the end of the
function. |
Post-colonial
theory ‘discriminatory’ PATIALA, Jan 22 — A noted scholar, Prof M. L. Raina yesterday said that the post-colonial theory was inadequate and discriminatory in defining the terms exile and immigration. Delivering the Prof B. R. Rao memorial lecture on “sorrows that cannot be said — maverick musings on exile, immigration and writing” at a national level English seminar in Punjabi University here, Prof Raina said the post-colonial theory was inadequate and discriminatory while creative writing appeared more useful and helpful for the Third World. Prof Raina said the difference between exile and immigration was a longing for life, love and anticipation of desire which accounted for the power of exilic literature. He, said exile was an experience made up from one’s acute mental or cerebral knowledges. Prof Raina differentiated between metropolitan hybridity and post-colonial hybridity towards the end of his lecture arguing that metro distinguished the discourse of post-coloniality dissolved into multiple identities while maintaining the hybridity as nation specific. Prof Aijaz Ahmed in his presidential remarks pointed out that all cultures were dynamic and changed through interaction of people. Citing the example of loss of influence of the Urdu language in India, he detailed the partition crisis and the successive census detail about people speaking different languages. He said immigration and exile were not a voluntary choice and the shift from one language to another was conditioned by a variety of factors. Others who presented
their papers included Prof Makarand Paranjape, Dr Sudhir
Kumar, Dr Sarjarao B. Sagare, Dr Manmohan Singh, Dr
Krishan Malhotra and Dr Sharan Pal Singh. |
GURDASPUR, Jan 22 (UNI) — The Punjab police today claimed to have achieved a major breakthrough in foiling terrorist designs with the arrest of a key organiser. Senior Superintendent of Police Varinder Kumar said Saroop Singh’s arrest near Sarna on January 20 led to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition concealed in his vehicle which was intercepted. The cache comprised 6.2 Kg RDX, a loaded pistol, two grenades, four detonators, a timer and a battery. Interrogation of the accused, who had been evading arrest for over a decade, revealed that he was Babbar Khalsa’s top contact operating in tandem with the organisation’s Germany-based chief Wadhawa Singh. The consignment found from Saroop was delivered to him by Pakistani smuggler Nanju somewhere near Samba on the Pathankot-Jammu highway. Working at the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation at Sarhali in Chamba district for eight years from 1975, Saroop came into contact with terrorists when he began medical treatment at his grocery in his Mehmoodpura village of Majitha police district. When his activities made police suspicious, Saroop, who had by then acquired the pseudonym of doctor, shifted his ‘practice’ to Fatual village. Thereafter, he shifted
his residence to Bal village and restarted his practice.
It was at Bal that three dreaded terrorists, Harnek
Singh, Dilbagh Singh and Ranjodh Singh came to Saroop in
1991. |
Scribe’s
murder case solved MALERKOTLA, Jan 22 — With the arrest of four persons, the police claims to have solved the murder case of Gian Chand Sharma, a local journalist. According to the district police chief, Sangrur, Mr Arpit Shukla, those arrested are Kamikar Singh, Karamjit Singh, Balpreet Singh, alias Challi and Bharpur Singh, alias Bhoora. He said they were arrested during a naka at the local Jarg Chowk. They were produced before mediapersons today at the office of the local DSP. The car used in the crime bearing registration No. DAC-2919 has been impounded. The weapon used in the crime, a new line 12 bore double-barrel gun with bullets, has been recovered from them. During interrogation, the suspects told the police that the motive behind the murder was the sale of a disputed property at Bajakhana Road, Barnala. They said they were
denied their share by the victim, which prompted them to
commit the heinous crime by hiring criminals. |
2 held
with weapons JALANDHAR, Jan 22 — The district police has arrested two persons and recovered a country-made pistol, a knife and some ammunition from their possession. While Baldev Singh, a
resident of Khojkipur village under the Adampur police
station, was arrested for possessing a knife, Malkit
Singh of the same village was arrested for illegally
possessing a country-made 3.03 pistol and some
cartridges. A case has been registered. |
Rs 56 lakh collected as
fine CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — The State Transport department has collected a fine of Rs 56 lakh from the unauthorised operators in the special campaign launched for challaning and impounding of buses plying without valid route permits. Disclosing this today, a spokesman of the Punjab Government said during the special campaign, launched on October 13 and which lasted till January 19, nearly 3,150 buses were impounded and 1,305 compounded for plying without permits. On the tax collection,
he said there was an increase of Rs 3 lakh approximately
per day each in the route receipts of Punjab Roadways and
the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation due to stoppage of
unauthorised bus operations in the state. |
Applicants’
plea to PUDA on plots KAPURTHALA, Jan 22 — Confusion prevails among the applicants who have submitted applications for the allotment of plots in Urban Estate being set up on the Kapurthala Jalandhar road by PUDA. Following an advertisement published in leading newspapers for allotment of residential plots in Urban Estate, a large number of persons have submitted applications along with Rs 37000 as initial money the last date of receiving applications is January 25. Six advocates, who have submitted applications for the allotment of plots in the scheme, have sent representation to the Punjab Government seeking directions to the PUDA authorities to make public number of plots to be allotted following the receipt of applications The lawyers said the authorities had displayed only the blocks of plots from which residential plots would be allotted but had not given the number of plots to be allotted. They demanded that the
date for inviting application should be extended. |
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