P U N J A B

MLAs’ disqualification: SAD files affidavit
CHANDIGARH , June 21 — An affidavit was today filed by SAD General Secretary Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP, in the case disqualifying 11 MLAs from the membership of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha being heard by Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, acting as a tribunal.

Punjab to seek 4 deviations
CHANDIGARH, June 21 — When the Chief Ministers of the northern states meet in New Delhi tomorrow to review progress of the implementation of uniform floor rates of taxes, Punjab is expected to seek deviations in at least four items.

10 chargesheeted in hijacking case
PATIALA, June 21 — The CBI today filed a chargesheet in a special court here against 10 persons, including seven Pakistan, in the hijacking case of an Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in December last. The Pakistanis chargesheeted include the five hijackers Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter Sayed and Shakir and two accomplices Yusuf Azhar and Abdul Rauf, agency sources said.

Mother tongue issue divides Punjab BJP
ABOHAR, June 21 — Despite Punjab BJP President Brij Lal Rinwa’s move to press upon the Hindus in the state to declare Punjabi as their mother tongue during the ongoing census, a section of the party leadership in Mr Rinwa’s home turf has virtually rejected the more.

NRI’s bid to “remarry”
Ropar SP told to conduct probe
CHANDIGARH, June 21 — Directing the Ropar Superintendent of Police (SP) to personally investigate into the allegation of an attempt by a “married” non-resident Indian to tie the knot with a Mohali girl, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked him to ensure that the Chicago “engineer” did not leave the country.

POLITICS

Sukhbir ridicules Amarinder’s claim
FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 21 — Accepting the challenge of Capt Amarinder Singh, President, PPCC, regarding panchayat samiti and zila parishad elections, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Union Minister, said the SAD was ready to contest the same.

Badal urged to save youth wing
FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 21 — Mr Sarabjit Singh Dhillon, state general secretary of the youth wing of SAD while talking to reporters here today has urged Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal to voluntarily resign from the presidentship in the interest of the organisation or face a no-confidence motion because of his anti-Panthic and anti-party activities.

Wadala harps on third front
JALANDHAR June 21 — Mr Kuldeep Singh Wadala, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic), has urged the BJP leadership to shun the SAD president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at the earliest in the interest of anti-congress forces in the country.

Fracas over MC meet postponement
KHARAR, June 21 — To protest against the alleged illegal postponement of the meeting of the local Municipal Committee scheduled for today to elect three subcommittees, the members belonging to the opposition group, including Mrs Daljeet Kaur, MLA, Kharar, staged a dharna on the Kharar-Chandigarh road today. Vehicular traffic remained suspended for more than 20 minutes. The members of the Municipal Committee raised slogans against the Punjab Government and the district administration.

COMMUNITY

‘Offerings’ brought from Pak
AMRITSAR, June 21 — Senior SGPC member, Puran Singh Josh has alleged that the SGPC has been bringing donations made by Sikh pilgrims during their visits to the shrines in Pakistan to India.

New law on NRIs evokes criticism
NAWANSHAHR, June 21 — The new law framed by the Centre under which, the government has made it mandatory for NRIs visiting India on the basis of a 180-day visa to report to the SSPs concerned within two weeks of their arrival has evoked sharp criticism from NRIs and their relatives here.

Water theft irks villagers
ABOHAR: When the villagers of Dharangwala in this sub-division started night-patrolling in their area, they had hoped to check the movement of anti-social elements. But on the night of June 15, the village patrol stumbled on something more serious and of greater concern to them. They discovered several lengths of six-inch diameter pipes along the Muradwala Minor and the only purpose of keeping those pipes there could have been to draw water from the channel illegally for the fields nearby.

‘Bal Panchayats’ make poor kids cleaner, aware
PATIALA, June 21 — Ten-year-old Harish, son of a daily wage worker, is a changed boy. His clothes are clean, he is doing his homework regularly, becoming more aware of the world and most of all, taking his own decisions.

Signature campaign against Taliban
PATIALA, June 21 — As the hu(wo)man rights violation reaches its zenith in Afghanistan, a team of human rights activists all over the world are joining hands together in a signature campaign against the ruling Taliban.

Campaign to curb drug consumption
AMRITSAR, June 21 — The alarming increase in the consumption of substances like ‘bhang’ and ‘charas’ among the rural population of the state has prompted coordinated effort by the Customs Commissionerate, Amritsar and the zonal unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh to check it. A campaign has been launched to destroy the ‘cannabis’ plant whose wild growth in different areas of Punjab, mostly along canals, river bank and irrigation channels, has assumed alarming proportions.

• Army recruitment rally

• Punjab sets up panel of jurists, experts

• LIC employees hold demonstration

• Birdh Ghar to be expanded

• Punjab jail inmates to get more

• Rally against transfers held

• Village sans power for 10 days

• Mr S.K. Verma

Spurious medicines seized; one held
BARNALA, June 21 — The Barnala police has seized huge stocks of spurious medicines for animals which were being manufactured in a factory located near Mehal Kalan town of Sangrur district on June 19.

Conman arrested
BATHINDA, June 21 — The district police today arrested, Charanjit Singh, a conman, who was involved in more than six cases of cheating.

One booked for rape bid
JALANDHAR, June 21 — In a bizarre incident a young brick-kiln labourer allegedly made an attempt to rape a one-month-old daughter of chowkidar at Kanpur village.

Killed before they could save others PHAGWARA, June 21 — Before they could act as good samaritans, they died. The police said today that two brothers — Amandip Singh Laddi, 25, and his younger brother, Narinder Singh Ninda, 15 — were knocked down to death on the GT road near Chaheru by a speeding bus.

2 clerks arrested
JALANDHAR, June 21 — Two clerks of the local tehsil office have been suspended by the Deputy Commissioner after they allegedly made an attempt to secure the release of an agent of a deed writer in the tehsil complex here today.

MLAs’ disqualification: SAD files affidavit
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH , June 21 — An affidavit was today filed by SAD General Secretary Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP, in the case disqualifying 11 MLAs from the membership of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha being heard by Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, acting as a tribunal.

The affidavit was filed on behalf of the party President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

While one affidavit was filed in respect of 10 MLAs (against whom a petition seeking their disqualification has been filed by three ministers), the other was in the case of former Speaker, Mr Ravi Inder Singh ( against whom two ministers have filed a similar petition).

The Speaker has fixed June 27 as the next date of hearing when arguments will be heard and the petitioners would file a list of witnesses.

Along with these affidavits the petitioners, namely, Mr Raghbir Singh, Mr Sikandar Singh Maluka, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Mr Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur and Mr Ajit Singh Kohar, the following two proposed "issues" were also filed by their counsel.

These issues are: 1. Whether the respondents have voluntarily given up membership of the Shiromani Akali Dal which had set them up for

election in the facts and circumstances of the present case. 2. Whether the respondents have incurred disqualification for being members of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Legislative Assembly under the provisions of Article 191 (2) read with para 2(1) (a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

When the proceedings started in the chamber of the Speaker, counsel for the respondents moved two applications — one for "modifying" the order of the Speaker, dated June 19, to correct the factual inaccuracies. The counsel’s stand was that he never made any submission (on June 19)on behalf of the respondents that evidence shall be produced by way of an affidavit. After brief arguments, the Speaker rejected the application.

The second application was a "prayer" seeking that the Speaker "recuse" himself from conducting the proceedings. This was sought on the plea of allegations of bias of the Speaker. The prayer was that an alternative forum provided under the anti-defection law be invoked so that proceedings were not invalidated on the ground of "prejudice , bias, malice and motive etc."

The Speaker rejected even this and sternly told counsel that he was acting as per the Constitution.

The proposed four " issues" submitted by the respondents were (1) Whether on the basis of allegations made in the petition, it is proved that all respondents have voluntarily joined the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) or any other party (2) Whether petitioners are competent to file the petition. (3) Whether allegations disclose any cause of action triable by the Speaker under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. (4) Whether in view of the unrebutted facts disclosed in the reply filed by the respondents the Speaker should not try this case.

The Speaker, rejected issues 3 and 4 and accepted the first two.

The two identical affidavits filed by Mr Balwinder Singh, primarily veered round to say that because of their "conduct" the MLAs have

"demonstrated they no longer owe allegiance to the SAD on whose symbol they had contested and won election becoming MLAs thereafter".

The affidavit repeatedly mentions the name of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and that the MLAs owing allegiance to him, were given the ticket because of him and also made ministers for the same reason. Even in their resignation letters the MLAs had taken the plea that they were quitting in "protest against the alleged character-assassination and humiliating charges made against Gurcharan Singh Tohra."

The affidavit goes on to recap the sequence of events. It quotes instances how the respondents had conducted themselves on different occasions within and outside the Vidhan Sabha.They even sided with the Opposition to criticise the government policies and staged walkouts.

Moreover they had not even enrolled themselves as members of the party when a drive was launched on May 14. It lasted till October 30.

Punjab to seek 4 deviations
Tribune News service

CHANDIGARH, June 21 — When the Chief Ministers of the northern states meet in New Delhi tomorrow to review progress of the implementation of uniform floor rates of taxes, Punjab is expected to seek deviations in at least four items.

Though at the last meeting of the standing committee meeting on

June 7, it was agreed on 100 per cent compliance ( violating states will face 25 per cent across the board cut on Plan central schemes ) in respect of nearly 200 listed items, Punjab has prepared a case for some “deviations” in respect of liquor, diesel and fertiliser and pesticides.

Informed sources explained the rationale for such a request :

The floor rate on all types of liquor was fixed at 20 per cent. In Punjab country liquor is exempted from tax whereas Indian-Made foreign liquor and foreign liquors are taxed at 12 per cent. Punjab is not required to take any steps to revise the rate of tax on liquor as it has been decided that rates on liquor be revised from April 1, 2001, after the lapse of current contracts.

In respect of diesel, the floor rate is 12 per cent. Punjab levies 8 per cent. The neighbouring states too have not adopted the uniform floor rate. In Haryana, it is 10 per cent, Chandigarh 5 per cent and in Himachal 8 per cent. Let there be a zonal meeting of the adjoining states to sort out the matter. This was the consensus at the June 7 meeting.

Regarding fertilisers and pesticides, the issue of roll back of uniform floor rates of tax by the states was discussed. No agreement was reached in the standing committee despite best efforts by the Punjab and Haryana Finance Ministers.

The two states wanted fertiliser to be exempted from tax. The opposition came from those states for whom it was a good source of revenue.

In fact, the Punjab General Sales Tax Act, 1948, does not levy any tax on inputs and raw materials, generally. Tax is levied on finished products in most cases. On wheat and paddy tax is levied at the rate of 4 per cent. The national consensus was to withdraw it. Therefore, non-levy or low levy of sales tax on fertiliser and pesticides is in consonance with the Act.

Punjab argument is that exempting these two items will help reduce the cost of foodgrain production and will be in the public interest.

At tomorrow’s conference Punjab will raise the issue of IT policy as well. As per the new Punjab policy units which come into production within two years shall be granted sales tax incentives. This is not in consonance with the declared national consensus. Since all states will be keen on promoting this new industry the meeting must take up the issue.

Punjab is opposed to giving any concessions to any state in respect of implementation of the uniform floor rates. This stems from the premise that there is move to give some exemption to the north-eastern states. Let those be compensated in some other manner. Not by making exceptions in uniform floor rates.

In respect of the Central Sales Tax Act, the consensus on June 7 was to retain “C” forms as mandatory and authority given to the states be withdrawn so that no state can withdraw or lower tax on any particular commodity. Punjab is keen that a tax at the rate of 4 per cent be permitted to be levied on “branch transfer” and “consignment sales” to improve states’ finances, check avoidance of payment of tax by dealers in garb of consignment sales and branch transfers.

It is learnt that some states like Bihar have not toed the uniform floor rates. Some states even rolled back these rates despite the agreement among Chief Ministers in November 1999. Net-working of all states alone can ensure success of the scheme.

Insofar as the Value added tax system, it will be implemented from April 1, 2001. All states are training their personnel and the National institute of Public Finance and Policy is training the states. Korea is one country which can act as a role model for VAT to be introduced successfully ,says Punjab.

10 chargesheeted in hijacking case

PATIALA, June 21 ( PTI) — The CBI today filed a chargesheet in a special court here against 10 persons, including seven Pakistan, in the hijacking case of an Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in December last. The Pakistanis chargesheeted include the five hijackers Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter Sayed and Shakir and two accomplices Yusuf Azhar and Abdul Rauf, agency sources said.

Yusuf Azhar and Abdul Rauf are believed to be key conspirators behind the hijacking of the plane from Kathmandu to Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.

The three Indian nationals chargesheeted are Abdul Latif alias Patel, Dhupalmar Damai alias Nepali and Dalip Kumar Bhujel, they said.

While Patel, Nepali and Bhujel are in the custody of CDI, Pradhan, alleged to be an arms supplier, has been declared an absconder along with seven other Pakistanis.

The chargesheet was filed in the court of the Additional Sessions and District Judge J.S. Chawla amidst tight security and the judge conducted the proceedings in-camera.

The CBI has asked Interpol to seek their extradition from Pakistan as that country is a signatory to Interpol.

Besides, Pakistan is under obligation to extradite the hijackers under the Hague Convention on Hijacking and the treaties signed under the SAARC aegis, the sources said.

The chargesheet produced in the court said that Masood Azhar’s release was the motive for the hijack and that his rescuers were a part of the same gang of militants who tried to get him released by digging an underground tunnel in the Kot Balwal prison in Jammu in June 1999.

They said it was only in July 1999 that the hijack plot took concrete shape and the conspirators held several secret meetings in Dhaka and Mumbai.

The chargesheet said a crucial meeting took place in the Kathmandu Zoo on December 13, where Latif was told he would not be on the hijacked plane and should remain as the gang’s point-man in Mumbai.

Thereafter, the hijackers moved their base in Kathmandu but kept in touch with Abdul Latif, who in turn relayed the message to Abdul Rauf in Karachi, the sources said.

The CBI had secured warrants against the seven from sessions court in Patiala on May 12, the sources said.

The agency in its applications to Interpol has named Pakistan as the country where all the seven accused are believed to be living.

While Athar is said to be a resident of Bhawalpur other four hijackers and two accomplices are stated to be residents of port city of Karachi, the sources said.

The two accomplices — Abdul Rauf and Yusuf Azhar — are brother and brother-in-law respectively of Maulana Masood Azhar, one of the three released militants in exchange for the hostages, the sources said.

While Latif and Nepali are alleged by the agency of having provided logistical help to the hijackers and helped them in procuring Indian passports, Bhujel has been alleged to have helped the hijackers in procuring arms used for hijacking.

The government has already moved the Nepalese authorities to facilitate interrogation of the concerned officials in Kathmandu, the sources said.

The aircraft was hijacked on December 24 while flying in the Indian air space under the control of Air Traffic Control, Varanasi.

A hijacking case was initially registered at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and later transferred to Raja Sansi Airport police station in Amritsar as the plane had landed briefly there before flying to Lahore.

Mother tongue issue divides Punjab BJP
Tribune News Service

ABOHAR, June 21 — Despite Punjab BJP President Brij Lal Rinwa’s move to press upon the Hindus in the state to declare Punjabi as their mother tongue during the ongoing census, a section of the party leadership in Mr Rinwa’s home turf has virtually rejected the more.

In all probability, these leaders will not force a large number of Jats, Bishnois and Kumhars residing in Abohar, Balluana and Fazilka Assembly segments to declare Punjabi as their mother tongue. The three communities, who together form an electoral strength of over 1.50 lakh in these segments, widely use Baagri (a film of Hindi) as a mode of communication.

Pleading anonymity, these leaders told TNS that asking these communities to declare Punjabi as their mother tongue was unrealistic. According to them, Mr Rinwa’s statement stems from political compulsions.

Significantly, Mr Rinwa is a Jat, who speaks Baagri. A quick survey of the area shows that although these communities understand Punjabi, it is the Baagri language they use for communication within their families. A section of the party feels that the Baagri-speaking population cannot be forced to declare Punjabi as it mother tongue. Nor is it advisable on the part of the BJP leaders, they say. “Asking these communities to register an alien language as their mother tongue will not get votes for the party”, a senior BJP activist tried to reason.

Interestingly, the Forest Minister, Mr Surjit Jyani, who represents the Fazilka Assembly constituency, categorically remarked, “My mother tongue is Hindi, although our families have been assimilated into Punjabi culture”. Declining to go into the controversy over Mr Rinwa’s statement, he said, “Let us not politicise the language issue that earlier sparked a communal divide in the state”.

A Punjab BJP member, Ms Vijay Laxmi Bhadu, also said that she was a Baagri and would not declared Punjabi as her mother tongue. “In fact, nobody who speaks Baagri can be forced to do that”, she added.

Mr Rinwa’s statement had earlier sparked a debate, as the pre-Punjabi Suba period witnessed the Hindutva forces asking Hindus to declare Hindi as their mother tongue during a census. Subsequently, several Punjabi-speaking belts reportedly went to Haryana after the 1966 split of Punjab. Since then, the ruling Akali Dal is demanding readjustment of boundaries with Haryana on linguistic basis.

The issue is also sensitive on account of Haryana’s long-standing claim over Abohar and Fazilka, considered to be Hindi-speaking areas. Almost all mainstream political parties of Haryana are demanding merger of these belts with their state in lieu of Chandigarh. However, Mr Jyani downplayed the controversy saying, “Neither of us would like Abohar and Fazilka to be transferred to Haryana”.

NRI’s bid to “remarry”
Ropar SP told to conduct probe
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 21 — Directing the Ropar Superintendent of Police (SP) to personally investigate into the allegation of an attempt by a “married” non-resident Indian to tie the knot with a Mohali girl, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked him to ensure that the Chicago “engineer” did not leave the country.

Pronouncing the orders on a petition against NRI Gurinder Singh, Mr Justice K.S. Garewal observed: “The petitioner’s complaint discloses the commission of a cognizable offence. Therefore, a direction is given to Ropar SP under Section 154 (3) CrPC to personally investigate the case or direct any police officer subordinate to him to investigate”.

Mr Justice Garewal also observed: “In the meanwhile, the SP must ensure that Gurinder Singh does not leave India. In order to restrain Gurinder Singh from doing so, necessary notices may be flashed to the concerned authorities”.

In his detailed order, Mr Justice Garewal observed: “The petition is taken up today during no-work period because the petitioner seeks urgent relief against Gurinder Singh to restrain him from leaving India for Chicago in the USA”.

Mr Justice Garewal also observed: “The petitioner is the father of the girl who was engaged to Gurinder Singh on May 21 and the marriage is fixed for June 25. According to the petitioner, a large amount has been spent on engagement and gold ornaments along with clothes were also given as present. The total amount spent is about Rs. 7 lakh”.

Mr Justice Garewal added: “The petitioner submitted a complaint before the Station House Officer of Phase-I Mohali but no case has been registered. Thereafter, the petitioner approached the SSP Ropar for directions to the SHO Mohali to register a case but no action has been taken”.

The petitioner had earlier alleged that the “respondents had refused to marry the petitioner’s daughter after taking articles and cash amounting to more than Rs 7 lakh”.

The petitioner, his counsel had contended on his behalf, later on came to know that Gurinder Singh was already married. He was now saying that a divorce had been taken, counsel had added.

POLITICS

Sukhbir ridicules Amarinder’s claim
From Our Correspondent

FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 21 — Accepting the challenge of Capt Amarinder Singh, President, PPCC, regarding panchayat samiti and zila parishad elections, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Union Minister, said the SAD was ready to contest the same.

Mr Badal was talking to mediapersons at the residence of the Rajesh Paul Singh Lalli, senior Akali leader, at Bassi Pathana today.

Ridiculing the claim of Capt Amarinder Singh of making a clean sweep in the municipal elections he said these elections were not contested by any political party.

He said within six months the Congress would further split into four or five groups.

Record development had taken place in Punjab under chief ministership of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, he said adding that the remaining two years would be observed as development years and work on four-lane express ways would start soon.

Rejecting all speculations about a mid-term poll, he said the assembly elections would be held at an appropriate time.

Later he addressed a large number of Akali workers, leaders, panches, sarpanches and municipal concillors of Sirhind and Bassi Pathana.

Badal urged to save youth wing
From Our Correspondent

FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 21 — Mr Sarabjit Singh Dhillon, state general secretary of the youth wing of SAD while talking to reporters here today has urged Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal to voluntarily resign from the presidentship in the interest of the organisation or face a no-confidence motion because of his anti-Panthic and anti-party activities.

He alleged that Mr Aliwal is appointing office-bearers of the youth wing of SAD in an arbitrary manner and moreover, they are not even a member of the wing. He said Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, had constituted a 31-member committee to run the affair of youth wing, so he had no right to appoint any new office-bearer. He urged Mr Badal to save the organisation.

Wadala harps on third front
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR June 21 — Mr Kuldeep Singh Wadala, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic), has urged the BJP leadership to shun the SAD president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at the earliest in the interest of anti-congress forces in the country.

Mr Wadala addressing a press conference here yesterday said Mr Badal had lost people’s confidence and it was evident from his party’s defeat in recent nagar panchayat polls. He said to put up a strong front against the Congress in the interest of Punjab and the country, the BJP should discontinue its support to Mr Badal who, according to Mr Wadala, has also lost support of a majority of MLAs belonging to SAD. He suggested that a third front should be formed and activated so as to stop “evil designs” of Mr Badal and his family.

Fracas over MC meet postponement
From Shashi Pal Jain

KHARAR, June 21 — To protest against the alleged illegal postponement of the meeting of the local Municipal Committee scheduled for today to elect three subcommittees, the members belonging to the opposition group, including Mrs Daljeet Kaur, MLA, Kharar, staged a dharna on the Kharar-Chandigarh road today. Vehicular traffic remained suspended for more than 20 minutes. The members of the Municipal Committee raised slogans against the Punjab Government and the district administration.

The meeting was called at 11 a.m. today. The opposition members alleged that they had a strength of nine members, including the MLA, out of total membership of 16 and hence the President had been reduced to minority. They alleged that as the President said “let us start the meeting”, a telephone call from the “Chief Minister’s office” came and after that the meeting was postponed.

The group led by the President said that the meeting had been postponed because they had received a letter from the Tehsildar of Kharar to the effect that he was appointed observer by the Deputy Commissioner for this meeting and as he had to go to Chandigarh for some official work he could not attend the meeting and hence the meeting had been postponed.

Mr Charanjit Singh, Mr Natrajan Kaushal and Mr Rajesh Gupta, all belonging to the opposition group, alleged that the observer had no right to postpone the meeting. On the other hand, the pro-President members said that the meeting had already been postponed.

Heated words were exchanged between the members at this point and allegations and counter-allegations were levelled.

At this point Mrs Daljeet Kaur stood up and said that she always stood against injustice and injustice was being done in this meeting. She said that once the meeting had started it could not be postponed.

The opposition members alleged that this was being done because of a phone call received from the office of the Chief Minister. Mrs Daljeet Kaur said: “The Chief Minister is not a man who would indulge here in such an activity and this was being done by a so-called SAD leader who is sitting in Kharar and misusing the name of the Chief Minister and his son, Mr Sukhbir Badal”.

After many members left the meeting room, all nine members, including the MLA, met the Executive Officer of the committee and gave him a letter requesting him to give the proceeding book to them as they wanted to hold the meeting. Mrs Daljeet Kaur said she stood for justice.

When they did not get satisfactory answer they marched towards the road and staged a dharna there. The members raised slogans against the state government, the district administration and so-called SAD leader.

The police diverted the vehicular traffic to other roads.

After this Mrs Daljeet Kaur, in the presence of other members and mediamen levelled serious allegation against the so-called SAD leader and said that she had already raised this issue in the Vidhan Sabha and would again do so. She said that they met the Deputy Commissioner of Ropar and gave him papers regarding various misdeeds of this leader.

COMMUNITY

‘Offerings’ brought from Pak
From Our Correspondent

He even criticised Bibi Jagir Kaur for delaying the reinstatement of the former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh as a granthi of Golden Temple.

New law on NRIs evokes criticism
From Our Correspondent

NAWANSHAHR, June 21 — The new law framed by the Centre under which, the government has made it mandatory for NRIs visiting India on the basis of a 180-day visa to report to the SSPs concerned within two weeks of their arrival has evoked sharp criticism from NRIs and their relatives here.

Mr Balbir Singh Changiara, a Sikh missionary and general secretary, SAD (Badal), North America unit, and Mr Kewal Singh Pabla, president, Original Punjabi Market Association of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, while talking to this correspondent here today said the law had further increased the harassment of NRIs as they were being fined and being deported for violating it. Women and senior citizens visiting India were the worst affected, they added.

They further said that on the one hand the government was trying to woo NRIs to make investments here but on the other hand it was treating them like “criminals”. They have urged the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to immediately take up the issue with the Prime Minister.

Mr Pabla said if the government really wanted to win over the confidence of NRIs, it should immediately grant dual citizenship to them.

Water theft irks villagers
From Raj Sadosh

The Irrigation Minister had also formed a task force consisting of the Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police of Ferozepur and Muktsar districts and senior irrigation officers to monitor the distribution of irrigation water. Recently, the sub divisional officers of Fazilka had claimed that the theft of canal water had been effectively checked. Soon after the villagers seized the pipes used in stealing canal water, belying the claim of the officials. The farmers also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur demanding strict measures to check the theft of canal water. They pointed out that some years ago when such theft was effectively checked, the tail-end villages received sufficient water for their fields.

‘Bal Panchayats’ make poor kids cleaner, aware
From Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, June 21 — Ten-year-old Harish, son of a daily wage worker, is a changed boy. His clothes are clean, he is doing his homework regularly, becoming more aware of the world and most of all, taking his own decisions.

This is the result of a ''Bal Panchayat '' experiment started in Darukuta village adjacent to the city. The programme, started by the Navjivani Society, aims to sensitise the children of the village and those in neighbouring areas to the needs of the community as well as provide them a chance to better their life through self-education .

Every evening, children gather at the lone park in the village where they are attended to by a volunteer teacher and a girl from the village who is paid a stipend. Their nearly two hours' stay is a mix of fun and play with stories thrown in by volunteer teachers.

Explaining the teaching process, Dr N. S. Sodhi, who is the spirit behind the experiment and Secretary of the society, said the first thrust of the project, which had been continuing for nearly a year now, was on personal hygiene. He said the children were encouraged to improve their personal hygiene standards and be smartly turned out. He said doctors from various specialties checked the health of the children and if necessary follow-up support was also given by the society.

He said an attempt was made to educate the students. It was realised that most of the students who joined the project could not read even Punjabi despite being in third or fourth class of the nearby government schools. He said while elementary teaching skills were provided to the children and they were helped with their homework, an attempt was also being made to make them aware of their surroundings and the world.

Dr Sodhi said volunteer teachers gave lectures in the form of 10-minute story telling sessions. He said the children were given lectures by volunteer teachers on economy, history, mythology, religion, heroes and sports. In this manner, knowledge which should have otherwise been imparted to the children in the school or their homes, was being given to them to make them understand the world in a better manner.

The most important part of the programme is the concept of ''Bal panchayat". The students form a panchayat to frame their own rules. The panchayat is responsible for cleaning of the park as well as part of the neighbourhood. It is also responsible for maintaining discipline among the students. For instance, no one jumps the fence to come into the park. All use the gate.

Dr Sodhi said the children were also being involved in a campaign against polythene bags and a project was also in the pipeline to classify household garbage with the help of the children so that bio-degradable waste could be separated from the garbage. He said ''Bal Panchayats'' were also being formed in other villages where the society ran ''Self Help Groups '' for women.

Not everything is successful at the Darukuta children panchayat. There are children who are barely dressed and some who are not interested in studies. There is a lapse when the child goes out and does not attend the project for some time, said a teacher. However, many children have developed leadership qualities and confidence through the project which is likely to hold them in good stead.

Signature campaign against Taliban
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, June 21 — As the hu(wo)man rights violation reaches its zenith in Afghanistan, a team of human rights activists all over the world are joining hands together in a signature campaign against the ruling Taliban.

The campaign, initiated by Dr Stephan D. Mumford of Plan Parenthood Federation, North Carolina, and Mr Elton Kessel of International Federation of Family Health, Oregon, have entrusted Dr Ashi R. Sarin and Dr Raj K. Sarin to collect signature from Patiala district. 

Describing the pathetic condition of women since the Taliban took power in 1996, a letter issued by Dr Mumford described the condition being at the point where the term human rights violation had become an understatement. “Husbands have the power of life and death over their relatives, especially their wives, but an angry mob has just as much right to stone or beat a woman to death, for exposing an inch of flesh or offending them in the slightest way,” the letter said. According to an estimate by some relief workers, suicide rate among women has increased significantly since 1996.

This group of human rights activists, who intend to apply pressure on Taliban government to undo the wrong-doings to women, is going to appeal to the UN to intervene. “This signature campaign might not bring a drastic change into those women’s lives but even if it helps the Afghan women to enjoy the basic rights like attending school and working in all women environment, our effort will be successful,” said Dr Sarin.

Army recruitment rally
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR June 21 — An Army recruitment rally for general duty soldiers will be conducted by the Mandi based branch recruitment office from June 27 to 30 for candidates hailing from Mandi, Kulu, Lahaul and Spiti districts of the hill state.

According to a defence press note, for candidates of Sadar Mandi, Chackyot and Thunag tehsils of Mandi district, the rally will be held on June 27 while candidates of Kulu district and Sarkaghat tehsil of Mandi district will participate in the rally on June 28. For candidates of Sundernagar, Jogindernagar, Padhar and Karsog tehsils of Mandi district, a similar rally will be held on June 29.

Punjab sets up panel of jurists, experts
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 21 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced the setting up of a committee of legal luminaries, experts and intellectuals to present Punjab’s case before the constitutional review panel set up by the Union Government.

The members of the committee are Justice R.S. Narula, Justice S.S. Sodhi, Justice Harbans Singh, Justice Jaspal Singh, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab Finance Minister, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Mr P.S. Kumedan, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Mr H.S. Marttewal, Punjab Advocate-General, who will also be the convener of the committee.

Campaign to curb drug consumption
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, June 21 — The alarming increase in the consumption of substances like ‘bhang’ and ‘charas’ among the rural population of the state has prompted coordinated effort by the Customs Commissionerate, Amritsar and the zonal unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh to check it. A campaign has been launched to destroy the ‘cannabis’ plant whose wild growth in different areas of Punjab, mostly along canals, river bank and irrigation channels, has assumed alarming proportions.

In a run-up to the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, the campaign for total eradication of the cannabis plan began here yesterday. Officers of the Customs and NCB, headed by Mr D.S. Sra, Commissioner of Customs, and Mr Rakesh Goyal, Zonal Director, NCB, Chandigarh, directed the operation of uprooting the plan in Jania village near Jandiala town of the district.

The village sarpanch, Mr Kashmir Singh, along with panchayat members and villagers were also present. An awareness talk was held on the harmful effects of abuse of the narcotic plants on the youth and villagers were motivated to participate in and spread the campaign.

The villagers suggested that the PWD and Departments of Irrigation, Forest and Education should be included in the campaign for better results.

Other agencies like the district administration, police, PWD (B and R), Irrigation and Forest Departments of the state government will be mobilised to make the campaign successful.

LIC employees hold demonstration
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, June 21 — A demonstration was held in front of the Life Insurance Corporation divisional office building here today by the LIC Employees Union against the non-cooperative and anti-employee attitude of the Divisional Manager (I/C) Mr Rajesh Kandwal.

Mr G.S. Walia, general secretary of the union said they protested the non-implementation of an official order issued since January, thus victimising an employee of the branch office, Batala. The union also decried the unilateral issuance of contingency promotion list and transfers without flouting the criteria for postings agreed upon with the unions. Mr Walia cautioned the management to impart justice to the affected employees failing which they would launch a relay fast.

Birdh Ghar to be expanded
From Our Correspondent

TARN TARAN, June 21 — The local committee of the Chief Khalsa Dewan has decided to expand the 80-room Bhai Veer Singh Birdh Ghar.

Mr Harbans Singh Kairon, honorary secretary of the local committee, while talking The Tribune yesterday said that the committee had decided to construct additional 500 rooms in about 2 acres of land. It would have all modern facilities and cost Rs 6.30 crore.

Mr Kairon further said that the Birdh Ghar was established in 1959 to provide residential facilities, including food, to the old. Initially it started with three persons and now the number had gone up to 80, both men and women.

Punjab jail inmates to get more
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 21 — The Punjab Government today enhanced the gratuity rates paid to prisoners for their work.

Mr Ajit Singh Kohar, Punjab Minister for Jails, Defence Services, Elections and Freedom Fighters Welfare, said from today onwards Rs 7 per day would be paid to unskilled, Rs 9 per day to semi-skilled and Rs 11 per day to skilled inmates, respectively. Earlier it used to be Rs 6, Rs 8 and Rs 10 for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled prisoners, respectively.

The Minister said there were seven Central jails, five district jails, two open air jails, one women’s jail, one Borstal jail and 11 sub-jails.

With a view to engaging prisoners in some constructive work, industries like carpentry, textiles, durry making, woollen shawls, shoe-making, soap-making, knitting tags, laces, niwar and tailoring have been started in the jails. Besides, new trades of football making and hosiery goods have also been started in the Jalandhar and Ludhiana central jail.

Rally against transfers held
From Our Correspondent

AJNALA (Amritsar), June 21 — Employees of the Punjab Raj Mulazim Talmel Committee, a joint front of various organisations of employees, defied orders of the local administration today and staged a protest rally against the transfer of 35 revenue patwaris and demanded withdrawal of the transfer orders.

Twentyfive rallyists were arrested for defying orders under Section 144, IPC. The rally was led by Mr Sukhjinder Singh Gujjarpura of the All-Party Employees Organisation.

Mr Sukhjinder Singh alleged that the patwaris were transferred under political pressure by a minister residing here.

He also alleged that apprehending a call for dharna at the minister’s residence, Section 144 was enforced. The ban has been further extended up to July 20 after the arrest of the employees.

Village sans power for 10 days
From Our Correspondent

FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 21 — Residents of Reona Bholla village in the district have been without electricity from the past 10 days.

The residents told the reporter that in spite of repeated requests board officials have done nothing. They warned that if the supply was not restored they would gherao the office of Xen and would stage an indefinite dharna.

They have urged the higher officials to probe the negligence as paddy plantation was being affected.

Mr S.K. Verma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 21 — The Punjab Government today transferred Mr S.K. Verma, A.D.G.P. (Computer and Wireless), to the post of A.D.G.P.-cum-Director of Vigilance Bureau with immediate effect.

CRIME

Spurious medicines seized; one held
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Mr Ajaib Singh, said in another case, the police had recovered 40 kg of poppy husk from Mohinder Singh of Sherpur and a stolen truck from Satnam Singh.

Farmer castrated
From Our Correspondent

BATHINDA, June 21 — In a bizarre incident certain persons castrated Baldev Singh, a farmer of Bhucho Kallan village in the district.

Ajit Singh, brother-in-law of Baldev Singh, told this correspondent today that Baldev Singh was found lying unconscious in a field yesterday. He added that the victim was shifted to the Civil Hospital immediately.

Hospital sources said Baldev Singh had been lying unconscious for the past 30 hours.

Conman arrested
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, June 21 — The district police today arrested, Charanjit Singh, a conman, who was involved in more than six cases of cheating.

Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP said in a press note issued here today that, Charanjit Singh had duped Mr Surjeet Singh of Dhapali village of more than Rs 1 lakh.

During questioning, Charanjit Singh had confessed that about two years ago, he had taken away the jewellery and other items belonging to Mr Rajinder Singh of Mehraj village. About one year ago, the accused had also cheated Mr Amar Singh of Hamirgarh village when he took away about 16 buffalos of Mr Amar Singh by duping him.

Charanjit Singh had also cheated Mr Balbir Singh of Jalal village on the pretext that he would send his son abroad. He took Rs 45,000 from Mr Balbir Singh for the purpose.

In another case, Charanjit Singh cheated Mr Gurnam Singh of Aklia village by taking Rs 1.50 lakh from him on the pretext of securing the release of his kin from police custody.

A case under Sections 419 and 420 has been registered in this connection.

One booked for rape bid
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, June 21 — In a bizarre incident a young brick-kiln labourer allegedly made an attempt to rape a one-month-old daughter of chowkidar at Kanpur village.

Fortunately, the girl, daughter of Sham Lal was saved folowing the intervention by some fellow labourers, who saw the accused making an effort to rape the hapless girl in her hut on the premises of the brick-kiln. Her father said she was just one month and seven days old.

The accused has been identified as Somaru, a 25-year-old labourer from Uttar Pradesh. He was putting up in a jhuggi adjoining to that of Sham Lal.

According to the police, some labourers who were working at the brick-kiln sensed some unusual activity inside Sham Lal’s hut. Sham Lal was not present at the time of the incident, which took place on June 14.

Agitated over his act, the labourers gave a thrashing to Somaru, who made an unsuccessful bid to flee. He was, however, handed over to the Sadar police station authorities.

A case under Sections 511 and 376 of the IPC was registered yesterday in this connection. 

Killed before they could save others
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, June 21 — Before they could act as good samaritans, they died. The police said today that two brothers — Amandip Singh Laddi, 25, and his younger brother, Narinder Singh Ninda, 15 — were knocked down to death on the GT road near Chaheru by a speeding bus.

On their way to Jalandhar from Phillaur on a motor cycle, the two had stopped near Chaheru on seeing an injured father and his son wallowing in blood and writhing with pain. The two samaritans had the noble intention to help the victims of this earlier accident, but themselves became victims of an accident, the police said.

Laddi had been married just three months ago and was to leave for Canada soon.

2 clerks arrested
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, June 21 — Two clerks of the local tehsil office have been suspended by the Deputy Commissioner after they allegedly made an attempt to secure the release of an agent of a deed writer in the tehsil complex here today.

A bagful of land documents, including registered land deeds, stamp papers and some cash, were also recovered by the officials deputed by a local SDM to nab certain unscrupulous agents acting between officials of the tehsil office and deed writers sitting in the complex.

Addressing a Press conference here today, Mr Som Parkash, said Mr Sham Shekhar and Mr Manjit Singh, the two clerks, obstructed two officials deputed by SDM Krishan Kumar from performing their duty. The SDM had deputed his gunman and one official to nab agents who were duping people by assuring them that they would get their work done for a consideration. Mr Som Parkash admitted that despite computerisation of the tehsil office, some officials were registering land deeds manually which has been prohibited by him.

Both clerks were later handed over to the police.