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| Thursday, February 3, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
CM’s assets: Amarinder
promises probe Badal main enemy of Panth: Tohra Case against protesters kicks off
row Jethuke firing: villagers resent
police action School board okays passage to
temple |
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Dang writes to CM on RSS campaign
Need to make women aware: Dina
Pathak Bus service to Hussainiwala Stray animals to be sterilised Panel to acquire Sikh relics ‘Time in Guru Nanak’s
hymns a reality’ Plea on sale of PAU land 5 pc quota for Vimukt Jatis
Postal employees hold rally Senior officers found absent Discuss demands with me: Mann
ASI arrested for accepting graft
Dharna by Punjab college teachers Dental teachers to strike work
NFL to revamp fertiliser plants
|
CM’s assets: Amarinder
promises probe PHAGWARA (Kapurthala), Feb 2 — Accusing the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and his family of amassing assets worth hundreds of crores in the state and outside, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (I) President, Capt Amarinder Singh, has promised to institute a commission to probe the “irregularities” committed by the SAD chief after attaining of power in the state. The PPCC President has also suggested that the job of going into the details of the “corruption” by the ruling SAD-BJP combine could also be undertaken by some independent NGO, and his party was ready to present facts regarding the allegations before it. Making interesting revelations during an informal interaction with mediapersons here today, Capt Amarinder Singh, said after assuming power, Mr Badal and his family had acquired properties, the market value of which was running into crores of rupees. “So much so erstwhile that Mr Badal, who was owning only 80 acres at the time of his entry into politics 50 years ago, has now purchased the palace of erstwhile Faridkot State Chief Maharaja Harinder Singh in Chanikyapuri locality of New Delhi, a hotel in Chandigarh’s Sector 17 and thousands of acres near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. In addition to this he has got a refund of Rs 300 crore from the Haryana Government headed by Om Prakash Chautala against his land in Gurgaon”, alleged Capt Amarinder Singh. He said his party was collecting evidence and details of the properties acquired by the Badal family. “Can Mr Badal explain to the people of state how and through which sources he had been able to acquire these properties?” questioned PPCC president. He said his party had no faith in the institution of Lok Pal and had opposed it as it was headed by a close family friend of Mr Badal. He, however, added that his party would welcome if someone appointed by the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court headed the institution of Lok Pal. Dubbing corruption, current financial crisis and unemployment as biggest problems faced by the state, Capt Amarinder Singh said, “You can judge the level of corruption from the fact that every Punjab Civil Service (PCS) post is being sold for Rs 42 lakh”. Regarding the financial crisis faced by the state he said instead of finding some permanent solution, the SAD-BJP government was out to sell public properties like rest houses, bus stands etc, and that too to the relatives of ministers and MLAs at throwaway prices. He stressed the need to adopt some stringent measures to bail out the state from the present quagmire. “The only solution is to tighten the belts by taking measures like rationalising the free power scheme, which should be extended to marginal farmers having 4-7 acres of land, those living below the poverty line and the rich should be asked to pay for the facilities as we cannot afford to offer largesse to all”. Capt Amarinder Singh added that the Badal government had burdened the state by enhancing the annual amount of subsidies from Rs 700 to Rs 1100 crore. He said a 15-member committee of the economic cell of the PPCC headed by Mr R.R. Bharadwaj, was preparing a blue print of a long-term solution to the financial problems of the state. Referring to the
religio-political crisis gripping the state after the
issuance of “hukamnama” by the Akal Takht
jathedar, Giani Puran Singh, Capt Amarinder Singh
expressed fear that Pakistan might take advantage of it
and try to disturb peace in the state |
Badal main enemy of Panth:
Tohra DOOMCHHERRI (Ropar) Feb 2 — Dubbing Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab and President of the SAD, as the main enemy of the Panth, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) alleged today that Mr Badal was misleading people, especially Sikhs, regarding matters relating to Akal Takht by using official machinery and political powers. Mr Tohra said, “Our allegation is that Mr Badal and his supporters run Akal Takht as per their wishes. So whatever is acceptable to them is right, what does not fit them is wrong”. Mr Tohra was talking to mediapersons here before attending the “shardhanjli samaroh” organised by the Sarb Hind Shiromani Youth Akali Dal (SHSYAD) to pay tributes to Sher Singh Doomchherri, the founder president of the All-India Shiromani Youth Akali Dal, on the occasion of his eighth death anniversary. Regarding the excommunication of Bibi Jagir Kaur from the Sikh Panth, Mr Tohra said he accepted the “hukamnama” issued by Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht as valid. He said though a “hukamnama” was normally issued from Akal Takht but it could be issued from anywhere. Our elders had done this in the past by issuing ‘hukams’ even from jungles, he added. Mr Tohra said those who had made Giani Puran Singh, the Jathedar of Akal Takht, should honour the “hukamnama”. However, Mr Tohra said that presence of jathedars of four remaining takhts was not necessary for issuing a “hukamnama”. He said the Jathedar of Akal Takht could alone issue a “hukamnama” with other four Singhs. He said the SHSAD would participate in the rally to be organised by Mr Ravi Inder Singh, MLA, Morinda, on February 5, at Morinda. He also favoured parliamentary system in the country instead of presidential form of government. Mr Harbans Singh Kandhola, who spoke on behalf of Mr Ravi Inder Singh, also called upon the people to attend the rally at Morinda. Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary of the SHSAD, said the state was now facing religious crisis along with political and financial crisis. Mr Maheshinder Singh
Grewal, a former minister, Mr Ujjagar Singh Wadali, Ropar
district president of SHSAD, and Principal Joginder Singh
Khant, also addressed the gathering. |
Bhai Ranjit refuses to be
cowed AMRITSAR, Feb 2 — In a volte face, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann and the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, led by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra have virtually accorded “recognition” to Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht. The leaders of both Akali dals, who had earlier described Giani Puran Singh as “sarkari jathedar”, are now tight “lipped after three SGPC executive members belonging to their respective camps presented themselves before Akal Takht following the directive of the Takht. Earlier, both the Akali dals had proclaimed that Bhai Ranjit Singh was the “real jathedar” of Akal Takht. While talking to TNS, Bhai Ranjit Singh, who was sacked by the pro-Badal SGPC executive last year, claimed that he continued to be the jathedar and would occupy his position at an appropriate time with the support of sangat. When asked that the executive members close to Mr Mann and Mr Tohra had given “recognition” to Giani Puran Singh as jathedar by presenting themselves at Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh said they had changed their earlier stand. The three executive members — Mr Harbans Singh Manjpur, Mr Gurbax Singh Purain (Tohra camp) and Mr Jagdhir Singh Katron (Akali Dal Mann) — clarified while talking to mediapersons that they had appeared before Akal Takht on the directions of Giani Puran Singh. When asked about changing their stand, they replied that earlier they were opposing the violation of “Sikh maryada” after “his (Giani Puran Singh) appointed in Circuit House”. “Now Giani Puran Singh has been working from the Takht, it is the duty of all Sikhs to obey his directives”, they said. The executive members of the SHSAD and SAD (Amritsar), however, urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to summon Mr Parkash Singh Badal at Akal Takht for “implementing Nanakshahi jantri” at government-level in spite of the directives of Akal Takht. On the other hand, Mr
Manjit Singh Calcutta, MLA and close confidant of Mr
Tohra, has said his faction still considered Bhai Ranjit
Singh as “real jathedar”. He said Bhai Ranjit
Singh was “unconstitutionally” removed as
jathedar, and his Akali Dal would continue to endeavour
for the installation of Bhai Ranjit Singh. Mr Calcutta
said like in many countries “defacto ruler” was
appointed when “de jure ruler”
(constitutionally elected was ousted. Similarly, Giani
Puran Singh could continue as jathedar till Bhai Ranjit
Singh took over. |
Restraint on SGPC Secy goes AMRITSAR, Feb 2 — The three-member Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission today vacated the ad interim injunction which restrained the newly appointed Secretary of the SGPC, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, from functioning. The commission, consisting of Mr Manmohan Singh Brar, Chairman, and Mr Ajwant Singh Mann and Mr Amrik Singh Randhawa, members, had granted the ad interim injunction on January 13 on an application filed by the District President of the Sarb Hind Youth Akali Dal (Urban), Mr Jaspal Singh Dhillon, pleading that the appointment of Dr Bachan was void ab initio as made in violation of the service rules of the SGPC. Dismissing the application, the court observed that rule 57 (S), of the Managing Scheme of the SGPC, which was enforced on March 1, 1997, had provided ample rights to the SGPC President to make temporary arrangements for filling the posts on a temporary basis. The court directed the SGPC management to regularise the post within 60 days. The commission, however,
fixed February 10 to hear the main petition filed under
Section 142 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act by Mr Dhillon,
against the SGPC President, that the appointment of Dr
Bachan was a clear case of “back-door entry”
and had been made without following the requisite
procedure as laid down in the service rules and as such
the President had committed acts of malfeasance,
misfeasance, breach of trust, neglect of duty, abuse of
power and prayed for her disqualification to be a member
of the SGPC for a period of five years. |
Case against protesters kicks
off row FEROZEPORE, Feb 2 — Registration of a case against the members of Boli Roko Sangharsh Committee, who had staged a demonstration near the house of Punjab Irrigation Minister, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, here has kicked off a controversy. The resentful members of the committee which is opposing the state government’s decision to auction the agricultural land having irrigational facilities along the international border, are accusing the authorities of trying to please the minister. As the site on which they are holding demonstration is being frequently used by various political parties, the members of the committee are questioning the logic behind getting a case registered under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. Besides, a loudspeaker hired by them was also seized by a police party. While the president of the committee, Mr Balbir Singh, has charged the authorities of trying to please the minister, whose residence is near the site of the demonstration, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh, vehemently denied this. Mr Sidhu said the loudspeaker was seized, as the demonstrators did not have the prior approval of the administration. While making it clear that the case was not registered under political pressure, he accused the demonstrators of using derogatory remarks against the minister through the public address system. He, however, said that nobody from Mr Sekhon’s family complained against this and the administration on its own took cognisance of the offence. Denying that the demonstrators used foul language against the minister, Mr Balbir Singh charged that a motivated case has been made out against the committee that is critical of the Irrigation Department and its Minister. Adding that the site is being frequently used by various political parties to stage demonstration, he said, “This is unprecedented. The administration has buckled under political pressure, otherwise why a case has been registered now?” While cautioning to intensify the agitation, if the case was not withdrawn, Mr Balbir Singh further charged the authorities of denying them a permission to use loudspeakers. Earlier, the resentful demonstrators had blocked the road and traffic opposite the minister’s bungalow and raised slogans against Mr Sekhon. The demonstrators are opposing the auction of the irrigation land allotted to them on lease. While, they are apprehensive of eviction after the auction and are seeking to purchase it on easy instalments, the Irrigation Department is forced to sell it to tide over the financial crunch. Significantly, the move
was stalled yesterday after the Punjab and Haryana High
Court stayed the proposed auction. This had virtually
defused the tension, as several demonstrators had earlier
threatened to immolate themselves. The committee members
argue that they have the first right on this land, which
they have been tilling since 50s. |
Jethuke firing: villagers resent
police action JETHUKE (Bathinda), Feb 2 — Resentment and anger prevails among the residents of this village whose two Dalit youths, Desh Pal and Gurmeet Singh, were allegedly killed by the police while dispersing BKU (Ekta) activists who were staging a dharna and jamming the traffic here on Bathinda-Ambala rail section on January 31. The villagers, who were tight-lipped yesterday, today openly criticised the police for its inhuman treatment. They alleged that they were provoked by the police to throw stones at it and due to which they had to face bullets. The villagers also criticised district administration for not sorting out the matter of overcharging of fare by mini bus operators. They alleged that as the transporters were Akalis, the Punjab Government was protecting them for their ‘misdeeds’. Mr Chand Singh, father of Mr Jhanda Singh Jethuke, President, BKU (Ekta), Bathinda district, said that the matter relating of overcharging of fare was brought to the notice of Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal and Cabinet Minister Sikander Singh Malooka long ago but nothing positive came out. They alleged that police was making a false statement that residents of this village opened fire on them. They challenged that all licensed weapons of the villagers should be checked in the laboratory which would make clear the issue. Mr Jagsir Singh, granthi of local gurudwara, alleged that recitation of ‘gurbani’ and ‘kirtan’ in the village was forcibly stopped by the police for the last two days and some items of the gurudwara were also forcibly taken away by it. Bagga Singh, whose brother Gurmeet Singh was killed, alleged that as village was converted into a police cantonment, he could not take his wife, who suffered bullet injury, to the hospital. Boota Singh, whose son Despal was killed in police firing, alleged that he was beaten up brutally and taken to police station. He suffered head injury as the policemen hit his head with the butt of their guns. He said that at about 12.30 a.m. on the night of January 31, he was taken to hospital from the police station to identify the dead body of his son. Piara Singh, gateman at railway station, said that his son Jagdev Singh was taking chairs for the policemen when the firing started and he was hit with a bullet on left knee. Interestingly, the residents of the village, who were injured in the firing and stone-pelting got treatment only today when two doctors reached the village dispensary from Rampura Civil Hospital. Sources said that doctors started treating the patients on the directions of some ruling politicians who descended on this village to pacify the angry villagers. Some women told Mr Malooka that policemen still present in the village were creating nuisance for them. They alleged that policemen abuse them and pass derogatory remarks when they go out to fetch water from the hand pump located in the dharamshala. Mr Sant Ram Singla, who headed a five-member committee constituted by the Congress to deal with situation, Mr Joginder Dyal, state secretary, CPI, Mr Hardev Arshi, CPI, Mr Ishat Pal Singh Khialiwala, General Secretary, AISAD and Mr Darshan Mehraj, district secretary, CPM, today visited the bereaved families. Both, the Congress and the CPI leaders demanded a judicial probe and a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next kin of those killed and a government job to one member of each bereaved family. Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. He has asked Mr Gurtej Singh, SDM, Bathinda, to conduct the probe and submit his report within a month. The residents also alleged that a number of their neighbourers were missing as they had allegedly been taken into custody by police. Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, who made a round of the village alongwith some ruling politicians and then talked to many villagers separately, when contacted, denied the allegations by the villagers. He said the BKU
activists were creating law and order problem for the
last many months. First, they detained the staff members
of the Agriculture Development Bank for many hours at
Rampura town. Few days after, they detained four mini
buses near the local gurudwara and snatched a mike from
the SDM, Rampuraphul, when he tried to persuade them. |
School board okays passage to
temple NABHA, Feb 2 — The board of governors of Punjab Public School here today ratified the decision of the school management to allow a 20 foot passage for devotees wishing to pay obeisance at the Shiv Durga Temple on the school premises. The board meeting, which was presided over by the Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), who is its Chairman, also ratified the school management decision to reconstruct the school boundary wall which was demolished by a mob consisting of members of the sangharsh samiti. The samiti had demanded an independent access to the temple. The committee had alleged that the school management was stopping devotees from paying obeisance at the temple. The situation had become tense with a red alert also being sounded as the ‘sangharsh samiti’ started a ‘langar’ at the temple and started religious discourses. The samiti had demanded a play ground next to the temple which had been rejected. A compromise had been hammered out with the mediation of Cabinet Minister Raja Narinder Singh and a passage given for access to the temple. During the meeting school Head Master M.S. Bedi urged that the school should be handed over the Heera Mahal as well as the building of the Horticulture Department adjacent to it. He said the procedure for handing these properties to the school should be started at the earliest. The school Head Master revealed that during the board meeting a decision had been taken that the financial year of the school would henceforth be from April to March and not from January to December as practised earlier. The meeting was attended
by the Public Health Minister Mr Raja Narinder Singh,
bureaucrats Mr S.K. Sinha , Mr K.N. Singh and Mr S.C.
Aggarwal. |
Dang writes to CM on RSS
campaign AMRITSAR, Feb 2 — The veteran CPI Punjab leader , Mr Satyapal Dang, in a communication to the Punjab Chief Minister alleged that the RSS was trying to draw young Sikh students into its net under the programme of “Khalsa Sirjana Centenary Samaroh Samiti, Punjab” certain schools authorities were violating rules and the education code to make the programme a success. Mr Dang stated that a 10-page RSS pamphlet containing 139 questions has recently been distributed among students of schools. “Students were persuaded to study the pamphlet and take an examination. Those who agreed to take the examination were charged Rs 10 each and were issued roll numbers. No receipt was given to them”. Mr Dang claimed that one such examination was held at a government school in Amritsar on January 29. About 300 students and 50 non-students took the examination. The examination was conducted by the RSS cadre with the help of certain teachers. Most of the questions asked, Mr Dang said were related to the Sikh religion. The questionnaire also included a few general questions about the RSS. Mr Dang said the page six of the pamphlet contained information about the founder of the RSS, K.B. Headgewar and had his photo at the top. The write-up besides praising the RSS founder made claims about the strength of the body. The piece also praised some other members of the Sangh Parivar, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad. The last sentence of the write-up stated “If you want to serve the country and religion by following the RSS path, please contact the following addresses”. “School authorities
have no right to help the RSS in this game,” as they
have no verbal orders from the government to do
that”. Mr Dang has urged the Chief Minister to issue
strict instructions to ensure that neither the principal
nor the teachers violated the service rules. |
Need to make women aware: Dina
Pathak LUDHIANA, Feb 2 — The movement for the liberation of women is still in its initial stages in the country and has a long way to go before the hurdles of illiteracy, economic dependence and lack of empowerment can be overcome, noted film star and woman activist, Mrs Dina Pathak said today while talking to this correspondent during her visit here in connection with the three-day National Convention for Women organised by the National Federation of Indian Women (NIFW) and the Punjab Istri Sabha. Mrs Pathak, who is the President of NFIW, said though more and more women were now aware of their rights and were fighting for equality with men on all fronts yet women activism still did not have a very strong impact on a majority of the women population in the country. The movement has now found takers in various pockets in Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, she said. While clarifying that she was only activating women by making them aware of their rights and helping them to become equal partners, she denied being a feminist: “The NFIW is working towards telling women that they have to claim equal opportunities to men. Men cannot oppress women, cannot humiliate or degrade them and now should treat them as their equals.” “The basic aim of this movement is to tell women work for a better life. For thousands of years, women have been bound by rigid societal norms and still very few women are given opportunities to grow as an individual. Wife-beating, female foeticide and infanticide are still the stark realities, even in the most educated and richest of Indian families”, she explains. The women activist says that till now they have just been able to work on the tip of the iceberg and vast strides needed to be made. “It has to be a constant struggle, preaching women at the grass roots to become achievers and improve their quantum of life. Mrs Pathak said she was happy to note that the efforts of frontal women organisations like the NFIW had now begun to yield results. When asked about the blatant and vulgar exploitation of women in the media, Mrs Pathak expressed her concern that it was being accepted and endorsed by a majority of urban women now. “Women have accepted this exploitation of their bodies. But they have to have their self-respect, the power to say no to this and to fight and protest against this exploitation.” Taking about exposure by film actresses Mrs Pathak said it was unfortunate. “However, I am glad that more and more trained and educated actors and actresses are infiltrating the film industry and doing meaningful roles, by shedding the larger than life canvasses being painted in films. Today we have a Shabana Azmi, my daughters-Supriya and Ratna Pathak, Neena Gupta and others of their ilk making their mark.” Mrs Pathak, who has been
associated with Theatre for over two decades says that
Theatre is her first love. “It is a sacred place for
me and all other creative minds. It is a strong medium to
bring into focus the realities of life, a fact often
ignored in films and television.” She says that
though television has somewhat limited its effect on the
masses, but nothing can ever erode theatre. |
Bus service to Hussainiwala FEROZEPORE: A Punjab Roadways bus has started plying between Ferozepore and Hussainiwala daily in the evening. This service would enable civilians, who wish to go to Hussainiwala. The bus picks up passengers from outside Delhi Gate, Cantonment, general bus stand and Shershahwali roundabout. The fare is charged at Rs 8 and Rs 5 (for one side) from the city and cantonment respectively. The service was started in the first week of January this year by the Punjab Roadways following instructions from the Deputy Commissioner. As the local administration has failed to give widespread publicity to the new venture, a majority of civilians are still unaware about the bus service started for them. As a result, they still use to go to Hussainiwala on private or hired vehicles as per previous practice. The local Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr D.P.S Kharbanda admits that in the beginning the people’s response was poor but now it has picked up. Sources in the Punjab Roadways say that more civilians use the bus on holidays and Sundays as compared to other days. The sources reveal that although the response is not satisfactory yet the Punjab Roadways does not incur losses due to the service. The basic idea is to provide a facility to civilians, especially to poor, who cannot afford to hire vehicles, such, as autorickshaws to go to Hussainiwala. The is perhaps the first time that such a facility has been provided to civilians by the local administration. Certain people suggest that the bus plying on the Ferozepore-Hussainiwala route should be painted in tricolour to give it a special look and make it attractive. The SDM, Mr Kharbanda says that it is not possible without assigning any reason. But he adds that a banner Ferozepore to Hussainiwala — can be displayed on the bus to make it stand out. The Punjab Roadways bus
waiting to pick up passengers at Delhi Gate in Ferozepore
city for Hussainiwala. |
Stray animals to be sterilised PATIALA, Feb 2 — To combat the growing menace of stray dogs and cattle in the district and control the population of monkeys in forests, the District Administration, in collaboration with the local unit of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), has decided to sterilise the animals from mid-February. The project is being launched after a recent increase in reports of dogs and monkey bites, particularly from this city. Figures from the anti-rabies unit of Government Rajindra Hospital here reveal that on an average, about 10 cases of bites of animals, including dogs, monkeys and pigs, are received daily. Doctors say that the animals bite more in the breeding season and most of the victims are passers-by on roads or streets. The animal fears danger to its offspring and, thus, attacks. The Deputy Commissioner, Patiala, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, who is also the President of the SPCA, said the action against the animals had become necessary. Whenever a sangat programme was organised in villages near a forest, people turned up in large numbers, demanding an end to the monkey menace. The simians not only plundered crops but also entered houses, said Mr Bir. Dr Manjit Singh, Joint Secretary, SPCA, and in charge of a veterinary hospital, said the decision to sterilise animals was taken at a recent meeting of the District Administration, forest officials, wildlife officers and members of the SPCA. He said in the first
phase, stray dogs in Nabha township would be sterilised
and monkeys in the nine protected forests in the district
given hormonal pills so that they did not breed further. |
Panel to acquire Sikh relics CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — Mr G.S. Cheema, Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs, Punjab, said here today that the state government had decided to constitute a committee for acquiring precious objects for the Khalsa Heritage complex at Anandpur Sahib. Experts in different
fields will be associated with the committee for
evaluation and authentication of the artefacts and rare
relics of Sikh gurus and Sikh period. |
‘Time in Guru Nanak’s
hymns a reality’ PATIALA, Feb 2 — A Sikh scholar, Dr Nirbhai Singh, yesterday said that time in Guru Nanak’s hymns was a reality and an inseparable dimension of eternity. Addressing the faculty and students of Punjabi University in connection with a commemorative lecture on “Guru Nanak’s World View and Modernity” organised by the Department of Guru Granth Sahib Studies, Dr Nirbhai Singh, who is a fellow of the Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, said Guru Nanak’s hymns affirmed reality of historical time and advocated dynamic view of life. In his presidential address, Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia said instead of being a reactive force, Sikhism should be proactive as it was a living and dynamic religion capable of solving the mental, intellectual and spiritual problems of man. He said the Sikh world
view was different from Islamic world view or the western
world view because for Sikhism it was a dynamic world and
not a static entity. |
Plea on sale of PAU land LUDHIANA, Feb 2 — In a letter to the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Vice-Chancellor, Dr G.S. Kalkat, five senior PPCC leaders, including Mr Gurcharan Singh Galib (MP), have urged him not to allow the alleged sale of 71 acres of the university land in order to earn revenue for the university. Mr Galib, Mr K.K. Bawa, secretary, PPCC, Mr Pawan Dewan, president, District Youth Congress and Mr Nahar Singh Gill, general secretary, PPCC, said by selling the land, we were limiting scientists in their research.
|
Constitution row a “ploy” LUDHIANA, Feb 2 — The Indian Ex-Services League has said the controversy on the revision of the Constitution was a ploy on part of politicians to cover up their failures during the past 50 years. In a press note here yesterday, Lt Col C.S. Dhillon (retd), president of the league, alleged that during the past five decades the successive governments had failed to provide economic, social and legal justice. He said several politicians who were presently in power and had also been part of various governments in the past, were engaged in more and more centralisation of power. This required a deep and
thorough study as the Constitution covered all aspects,
including adequate powers to states and making them
self-sufficient, he said. |
Women’s convention concludes LUDHIANA, Feb 2 — The delegates participating in the national convention of women today passed a resolution to form a secular front against the communal forces and condemned the anti-minorities signal being given by the BJP-led NDA government through constant propagation of Hindutva. More than 150 delegates from all over the country participated in the three-day convention, which concluded here today. The convention was organised by the National Federation of Indian Women and the Punjab Istri Sabha. Speakers from various
states said today that though the Indian Constitution
guaranteed the right to practise and preach one’s
religion, the recent spurt in violent attacks on
minorities was against this spirit. Discussions were also
held on “Saffronisation of Education,”
“Review of Constitution” and “Problems of
Working Women”. |
5 pc quota for Vimukt
Jatis CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — A delegation of the Punjab Pradesh Vimukt Jatiyan Sangh met the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at his residence. Mr Badal took a decision
regarding a separate quota for Vimukt Jatis at the
meeting. He issued an order under which they would get 5
per cent reservation in government jobs. |
Postal employees hold rally PATIALA, Feb 2 — On a joint call given by three national federations of the Telecom Department, employees of the Postal and Telecom Department staged a rally in front of the head post office here. The employees were protesting against the “new telecom policy of corporatisation of the Telecom Department”. Mr Nirmal Prashad,
Convener, Postal and Telecom Employees Coordination
Committee, said the three federations — the National
Federation of Telecom Employees, the Federation of
National Telecom Organisation, the Bhartiya Telecom
Employees Federation, are opposing the unilateral
decision of central government of corporatisation of the
telecom department without giving the benefit of pension
of total services and security of services to the
employees. |
Bank employees hold dharna PATIALA, Feb 2 — On a call given by the All-India Bank Employees Association and the All-India Bank Officers Association, more than 300 bank employees/officers staged a day-long dharna before the State Bank of Patiala, head office, here today. The employees were demanding the publication of defaulters lists, making wilful default of bank loans a criminal offence, stringent punishment to loan defaulters, special courts/legislations for expeditious recovery of bad loans and accelerated flow of credit to weaker and rural sectors. Mr N.K. Gaur, Secretary, Punjab Bank Employees Federation, said more than 58,000 crore bank loans had become bad loans. AMRITSAR: Bank employees staged a dharna in front of the Town Hall from 10.00 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday on a nationwide call given by the All-India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA). The employees have decided to stage dharnas and carry out a signature campaign to defend nationalised banks and to defeat the game plan, at the instance of international financial institutions for "subversion of our financial system and institutions and consequential subjugation of the country’s economy and political sovereignty".The AIBEA has placed four demands before the government — publish defaulter’s list, penalise defaulters, make wilful default criminal offence and speedy recovery of bad loans. The rally was addressed by leaders of the Punjab Bank Employees Federation and the leadership of the district Trade Union Council. The leaders charged the
Central Government with lack of political will to recover
the dues and surrendering to the pressure of business
tycoons to dismantle the nationalised banking industry. |
Senior officers found absent BARNALA, Feb 2 — Almost all senior officers of the local Public Health Department, including executive engineers and sub-divisional engineers, were found absent from the office when Mr Rahul Bhandari, (SDM), conducted a surprise checking of the office here yesterday. Mr Bhandari said none of
the clerks, junior engineers or draftsmen were present in
the office. |
Discuss demands with me: Mann CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — The Chief Secretary Mr R S Mann, has called various employees organisations, including the Punjab Non-Gazetted Employees Organisation the Bijli Majdoor Sangh and the Nagar Palika Karamchari Mahasangh on February 4 to discuss their demands with him. Mr Oma Kant Tewari,
general secretary of Government and Semi-Government
Coordination Committee, said a memorandum of demands was
already with the Chief Secretary. The demands include
promotions in the light of the recent judgement of the
Supreme Court, restoration of the LTC facility, no direct
recruitment of senior assitants, and city compensatory
allowance at the rate of Rs 300 a month. |
ASI arrested for accepting graft BARNALA, Feb 2 — Jasbir Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector, has been arrested for taking illegal gratification worth Rs 15,000 from Jarnail Singh for not torturing Parminder Singh, an accused in a case under Section 498. The arrest took place following the registration of a case against Jasbir Singh at the Kotwali police station yesterday under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Disclosing this here
yesterday, Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, said Ms. V. Neeraja, SP
(Headquarters), Barnala, was asked to conduct a probe on
a complaint of Parminder Singh against Jasbir Singh. The
inquiry report submitted by Ms Neeraja had substantiated
allegations against Jasbir Singh. |
Dharna by Punjab college
teachers CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — On a call given by the Punjab Government College Teachers Association (PGCTA), a dharna was staged here today by members of the state council of the association in support of their demands. As many as 200 teachers of various colleges took past in the dharna. Dr P.S. Bhatti and Prof Bhag Singh, president and general secretary of the association, respectively addressed the teachers. They criticised the state government for its indifferent attitude towards higher education. College teachers had not been paid arrears even after 10 months of revision of their scales. The government had already received its share from the University Grants Commission for the payment of the arrears. The other demands of the
association include raising the retirement age to 62,
incentive for in-service Ph.D teachers and the grant of
the designation of Reader in colleges. |
Dental teachers to strike work AMRITSAR, Feb 2 — The Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers Association will strike work from February 10. This will be followed by voluntary retirement of about 350 senior teachers having about 20 years of service. Announcing this, the general secretary of the association, Dr Baljit Singh Dhillon, yesterday said that the decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the association following the failure of the government to issue notification for the implementation of agreed decisions. He said the agitation
was suspended on December 9 on the assurance given by the
Punjab Chief Secretary, who had asked for three
weeks’ time for the implementation of the decisions
taken by the Punjab Government and the association. |
NFL to revamp fertiliser plants NANGAL, Feb 2 — “The NFL will revamp the Nangal, Bathinda and Panipat-based fertiliser plants. The fuel oil-based technologies in these plants will be replaced with those based on liquid nitrogen gas,” said Mr Dinesh Singh Chairman and Managing Director of the NFL, while talking to newspersons at a press conference here today. Mr Dinesh Singh was here to supervise the ongoing work at a urea plant at the NFL, Naya Nangal. He said the revamp would help improve the quality of urea and bring it on a par with the international standards. With the commissioning of this project by May-2001, the production here would increase from 1000 tonnes per day to 1,450 tonnes. The project at Nangal was being implemented at a cost of Rs 135 crore, he said. Justifying the revamp proposals, Mr Dinesh Singh said the technology in these plants had become obsolete and the cost of production was very high due to which these plants had been incurring losses since the past few years. He said the NFL had formulated a corporate plan in which it had been decided to diversify the plants into various fields such as petrochemicals, power generation and other related fields. This had been planned
keeping in view the government policy to privatise
various PSUs and to eliminate subsidies, he added. |
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