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| Thursday, August 3, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Ludhiana-Jind road
is national highway Tohra, Mann unite on
resolution
CM trying to hush
up scam: CPI Rebels set to embarrass
Amarinder Balmikis say Kalia
politicising issue
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Brahm Mohindra to
contest
FCI decision: CPM to launch stir Pay costs to shooter, Sports Director told Delhi-Lahore bus
detained Garbage pile-up nullifies
drive Cops’ phones may be disconnected Power supplied only for 6 hours a
day
Fisheries
Department faces paucity of funds Punjab
Government promotions BBMB staff get salaries
though late House tax arrears’ interest waived
for 1 month CTU bus suspension
hits Chhat Bir Karmachari dal
stages dharna
Faith in cops restored as murderers
held Youth succumbs to stab wounds Dalit girl
gang-raped Robbers loot
cash,
jewellery
PCCTU seeks DC’s help in teacher’s
case H.S. Sidhu elected GNDUTA
chief
Wheat
procurement raises eyebrows Traders allege
fleecing Labour court awards
seldom honoured: BMS
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Despair among SAD
leaders CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — Akali Dal leaders, shocked by the decision of the BJP government at the Centre to include Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttranchal, are yet not clear how they should react. Despair is writ large on their faces. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had called his close aides to Delhi yesterday after the Union Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, faxed him his report. But there, too, it was more of a dissection of the events leading to the decision. “The BJP has let us down and George has stabbed us in the back” was the refrain. But back here, Mr Badal spent the day in Patiala and spoke to his trusted colleagues. It is also clear that if Mr Badal has to save his leadership, he has to go by the resolution passed by the Political Affairs Committee in November 1998. It stipulated three clear positions. The Akali Dal would vote against the resolution if Udham Singh Nagar district was included in the proposed hill state. Second, the Akali Dal would withdraw its support to the Vajpayee government. Third, it would extend only issue-based support from time to time. That was in November 1998 when the Akali Dal had eight Lok Sabha seats, crucial for the survival of the BJP-led government. But now the party has just two Lok Sabha members and the Vajpayee government does not depend upon Akali support. How can the Akalis play that card and with what benefit? In fact, for Mr Badal, it will be difficult to take any such hard decision. His dependence upon the BJP has increased after the Akali Dal’s split. Unless he mends his fences with the former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, he cannot lead any meaningful moves vis-a-vis the BJP which has a strong 18-member group in the Punjab Assembly. And to queer the pitch for Mr Badal, Mr Tohra has taken a straight line. He said that no other party, not even the Congress had harmed the Akali Dal during its last 50 years of existence as much the BJP has done. “We have always supported the BJP and lent it crucial support when other parties were leaving it. We did not demand anything more than that the wishes of the people of Udham Singh Nagar be considered. And see how the BJP has treated us”, Mr Tohra said. This is the first time after the split that Mr Tohra has come out openly to attack the BJP. One thing is clear in ruling circles. If Mr Badal fumbles this time, he may face a big threat to his leadership and Mr Tohra will be a gainer. The choices are limited, Mr Badal was told today. He either builds bridges with the rival Akali Dal, a task which is not very difficult or plays second fiddle to the BJP and continues with the present arrangement. He has lost the battle, but should not lose the war, was one wry comment of a close aide. |
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Centre trying to appease
SAD NEW DELHI, Aug 2 — The Atal Behari Vajpayee government is now trying to accommodate the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, after having decided to include the Udham Singh Nagar district in the proposed new state of Uttaranchal. Realising that the majority view of the people of the Udham Singh Nagar district had been summarily dismissed by the Union Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, who headed the three-member official committee, efforts are on to do the next best thing so that the economic interests of the Punjabi community is not crushed. Mr Badal and his SAD which is a partner of the NDA government at the Centre are anguished at being let down by the BJP leadership. The Chief Minister expressed his displeasure on the Udham Singh Nagar district issue yesterday in no uncertain terms implying that certain crucial decisions were being taken unilaterally without proper consultations with the parties concerned. The NDA regime which is leapfrogging from one crisis to another does not want to up the ante of an ally. This assumes importance for the BJP as it is a coalition partner of the ruling SAD in Punjab. With Uttaranchal on the anvil and Udham Singh Nagar district forming part of it a foregone conclusion now, the central leadership wants to work out the next best formula so that the dominant Punjabi community is not alienated or compelled to migrate. The Centre is actively considering bringing within
the ambit of the proposed Uttaranchal state the command areas where sugarcane is grown in the five adjoining districts of Udham Singh Nagar so that economic activity does not come to a grinding halt. The SAD President of the Uttar Pradesh unit, Mr H.S. Cheema, told TNS today that with the worst fears of the Punjabis having come true on the Udham Singh Nagar issue, thanks to Mr Fernandes and the machinations of the Congress, “we are keeping our fingers crossed so that some political and economic balance is maintained.” Emphasising that there is no bondage of any kind with the people in the plains and the hills, Mr Cheema feared that reverse migration to Punjab would start taking place if the Centre did not address this burning issue calmly without being swayed by short term political gains. Expressing his gratefulness to Mr Badal for having taken the cause of the people of Udham Singh Nagar with the top central leadership, Mr Cheema feared that the NDA government might club some villages cursorily from some districts of Uttar Pradesh designating them as the command areas of sugar. “That will be catastrophic,” he said. Mr Cheema explained that as Udham Singh Nagar had agro-based industries, the districts of Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilli and Pilibhit should form part of the proposed Uttaranchal state. “This is imperative for rice and sugar mills as well as the solvent units,” Mr Cheema added. Meanwhile, Mr Fernandes denied reports in a section of the press that he had misled Parliament on Udham Singh Nagar becoming a part of the proposed Uttaranchal state. Clarifying, he said in a statement “I have recommended to the Union Home Minister that Udham Singh Nagar should be a part of Uttaranchal. I also said in the Lok Sabha that there were differing perceptions on this issue and there were certain apprehensions in the minds of the people of that region. I had also said in the Lok Sabha that I had made a separate set of recommendations for addressing these concerns.” |
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SHSAD: Badal did
not take tough stand CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — The Sarab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) said today that because of his political vested interests, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal did not take a tough stand on the Udham Singh Nagar district issue. Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary of the party, said Mr Badal had failed to get any issue resolved so far. Udham Singh Nagar district had been included in the proposed Uttaranchal by violating all norms of parliamentary democracy. He said the Union Minister, Mr George Fernandes had exposed Mr Badal’s stand on the Udham Singh Nagar district by making a statement in Parliament. He said without Mr Badal’s consent, there was no possibility of the Uttaranchal Bill being passed in the Lok Sabha. The BJP led government at the Centre had taken full advantage of the division in the ranks of the Shiromani Akali Dal. He said the Congress was also equally responsible for the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar district in the proposed state. Alleging that the Congress was playing a double game on this issue, Mr Chandumajra said Udham Singh Nagar’s inclusion in the new state could be stopped even now if the Congress opposed the Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira, secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, in a statement said that Mr Badal created a false sense of hope among Punjabis, but miserably failed to protect the interest of Punjabis living in Udham Singh Nagar district. He said Mr Badal had disposed of his agriculture land in the Terai belt of UP knowing the fact that Udham Singh Nagar district would be included in the Uttaranchal. The PPCC had sought the scrapping of the Bill keeping in view the sentiments of residents of Udham Singh Nagar district. |
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Decision on
US Nagar condemned PATIALA,
In a press note, Mr Avtar Singh Mulanpuri and Mr Paramjit Singh, President and General Secretary of the party respectively, said that both the SAD and the Congress were saying that they were helping the Sikh community, but both parties were shedding crocodile tears on the issue. They termed the recent visit by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar as a ‘drama’. Mr Paramjit Singh said that the Bill for the creation of the new state was signed by the Cabinet in which both Mr S.S. Barnala and Mr S.S. Dhindsa were present, at one time or the other.
Rebel MLA flays SAD on US Nagar LUDHIANA, Aug 2 — Former Punjab Minister and SAD legislator Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal today made a scathing attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal over inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in Uttaranchal and asked the party to withdraw support to the NDA coalition government in the Centre. Talking to mediapersons here, he said the party leadership in general and Mr Badal in particular, had failed to safeguard the interests of the Sikh population in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Mr Nahar Singh Gill, commenting on the failure of the SAD to honour its commitment to the people of Udham Singh Nagar said the ruling party had a long history of betrayals and double standards. |
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PAC to decide on role in NDA:
CM PATIALA, Aug 2 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today clearly indicated that his party would not immediately precipitate matters with the Centre over inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar district in the proposed Uttaranchal state, saying the matter would be taken up in a meeting of the party’s Parliamentary Affairs Committee on August 6. Talking to newsmen here he refused to be drawn out into making any statement on the issue except that Defence Minister George Fernandes had not consulted him before finalising the report of the three member Committee and that he did not know that the bill had been listed on the business of the house yesterday . The Chief Minister said he had protested to the Prime Minister on the issue, adding that courtesy demanded that all committee members should have been taken into confidence before submission of the report. He said after touring Udham Singh Nagar he could not talk with the Defence Minister due to continous din in the helicopter and afterwards he had told the Defence Minister that he would discuss the issue on August one. He said from the very beginning his party was committed to solving the issue of inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in Uttaranchal by taking into account the wishes of the people of the district. He said his party had recommended institution of a non-political committee or a committee comprising of representatives of political parties to decide the issue. Mr Badal, however, refused to comment on whether his government would insist on the Centre excluding Udham Singh Nagar from Uttaranchal state . He was at a loss for words when his attention was drawn to the manner in which he had been rebuffed by the Uttar Pradesh government and refused comment on whether the people of Punjab should still hope that he would do something for Udham Singh Nagar district . Later, while inaugurating the Modern Shopping Complex of the Improvement Trust near Railway Gate number twenty two, he said the pace of development in the state was evident from the setting up of mega projects like the oil refinery at Phullo Kheri village in Bathinda district and upgradation of the international airport at Amritsar at a cost of Rs 120 crore . Speaking at a public meeting at Sher-e-Punjab market organised by the District Akali Jatha Urban President Manmohan Singh Bajaj, he said the next two years would be observed as development years and an amount of Rs 2,700 crore would be spent on reshaping planned and non planned roads, strengthening and widening highways and construction of bridges. Meanwhile, there are indications of a stromy PAC meeting with a section of leaders urging the party to stand by its last resolution on the issue to withdraw its minister at the Centre. Highly placed sources said the credibility of the PAC would be at stake at the meeting if the resolution was rescinded or the party diluted it. The lone SAD minister’s position is all the more tenuous as there is no love lost between him and former Union Minister Surjit Singh Barnala who are rivals in Sangrur district. The fact that Mr Dhindsa was part to the Cabinet decision on reorganisation of states will not help. Apart from withdrawal of ministers the Akali Dal can continue to give issue-based support to the Centre to keep the Congress out of power. The leaders ridiculed the Chief Minister’s claim that he did not know that the bill would be taken up yesterday as the bill had been listed in the business of the House and was not passed in a secret manner. |
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Ludhiana-Jind road
is national highway SANGRUR, Aug 2 — The Union Government has declared the Ludhiana-Sangrur-Jind road as a national highway. Giving this information here, Mr Ranjit Singh Balian, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Punjab, said the decision of the Union Government would lead to the widening of the Ludhiana-Sangrur-Jind road which would ultimately provide better motorable road to vehicular traffic. Mr Balian also stated that a new building for the zila parishad office would now be constructed near the district administrative complex while the residential complex would be built at the site of existing zila parishad complex. Besides this, residential quarters for the officers would also be built at the site of Panch Ghar situated near the Patiala gate here. The minister said on the demand of the Aarhtiya associations of Sangrur and Bhawanigarh, the pharrs (yards) of the grain markets at both places would be extended by 25 acre each. He said a new building for the health centre at Bhawanigarh had been constructed. He said the building would be inaugurated on August 5 by Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, and Dr Baldev Chawla, Health Minister. |
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Tohra, Mann unite on
resolution AMRITSAR, Aug 2 — Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) who has ideological differences with Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) has announced that his faction will join hands with the latter in moving a resolution on autonomy in the forthcoming monsoon session of the Punjab Assembly. Talking to TNS on the phone, Mr Mann said his party would table the Anandpur Sahib Resolution passed 1973, and claimed Mr Badal had been misleading the panth by saying it would pursue the Anandpur Sahib Resolution while making recommendations to the Constitutional Review Commission. He said Mr Badal would pursue the resolution of 1978 not the one passed in 1973 at Anandpur Sahib. It may be mentioned here that after jointly contesting the previous Lok Sabha elections Mr Mann and Mr Tohra parted company due to a ‘personality clash’ and ideological differences. Mr Mann won from Sangrur parliamentary constituency with the support of the SHSAD, but shortly after the elections, both factions started giving statements against each other. Mr Mann said Mr Badal should immediately resign as Chief Minister and President SAD if he had failed to safeguard the interests of residents of Udham Singh Nagar. When contacted Mr Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister said the party would discuss the issue of Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed meeting of Political Affairs Committee to be held on August six. He admitted that Mr George Fernandes, Defence Minister and chairman of the three-member committee on Udham Singh Nagar had put the SAD in a tight spot, but the party would take a firm stand on the issue. Mr Badal is under pressure to go in for mid-term polls and party sources said if he failed to withdraw form the Yajpayee led NDA government he would meet the fate of the ‘Barnala government’ which was toppled in 1987. Had Mr Barnala resigned as Chief Minister when the Rajiv government failed to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab on January 26, 1987 as expected he would have won the subsequent assembly elections. Party circles are of the view that if Mr Badal recommends mid-term elections on the issue the SAD will get sympathy votes. Saner elements also plan to approach the Jathedar Akal Takht for forging panthic unity so that the Badal Government can muster support in the Punjab assembly in case it part company with the BJP. In the absence of a ‘bold stand’ the SAD could lose ground to its rival Akali factions and the Congress, which have already geared up for mid-term polls. The Congress MPs Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar and Mr Balbir Singh won aplause for staging a walk out form the Lok Sabha on the issue. |
CM trying to hush
up scam: CPI BATHINDA, Aug 2 — Mr Hardev
Arshi, leader, CPI group, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, today alleged that Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal was trying to hush up all the scams in the Irrigation and Drainage Department over the last three years. Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Arshi said that first Mr Badal tried to hush up the Rs 2.5 crores irrigation scam unearthed by the Bathinda district administration by changing the inquiry officer. Later the police investigating the criminal cases registered against guilty officials in the connection did not present challans in court allowing the guilty to secure bail. Recently Mr Badal refused to suspend four officials of the drainage wing despite Irrigation Minister, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, recommending their suspension. Mr Sekhon pointing to a Rs 50 crore scam in
anti-waterlogging work. He alleged that the scams were being hushed up as money diverted in the scam was being chanelled to ruling party politicians. |
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Rebels set to embarrass
Amarinder Patiala, Aug 2 — Punjab Congress dissidents are determined to embarrass the state Congress President, Capt Amarinder Singh, on the anniversary of the Quit India Movement to be observed on August 9 by congregating here at the statue of Praja Mandal leader Sewa Singh Thikriwala, who fought for the liberation of the people from the princely domination represented by Capt Amarinder Singh’s forefathers as well as the British rule. The dissidents are attempting to turn the congregation into a symbolic rally against the state Congress President. A fortnight back, party General Secretary Ramesh Singla while sending his resignation to the PPCC chief had disclosed the plan for holding a congregation at the statue and had criticised the PPCC chief for being uncommunicative and not organising any programme to ameliorate the plight of the common man. Party sources said Mr Singla had since been won over by the PPCC chief who had also refused to accept his resignation. The strategy of the dissidents seems to have changed somewhat now with former MP and AICC member Gurcharan Singh Dadhahoor yesterday urging the PPCC to dedicate the Quit India Day this year to the memory of Thikriwala. Mr Dadhahoor in a statement here said it would be in the fitness of things if the Quit India Day was dedicated to the martyr and his saga of sacrifice was ‘’narrated ‘’ on the occasion . The former MP said if the event turned into an all-party conference, it would add grace to the occasion as Thikriwala did not belong to any particular political party. He appealed to all Congressmen, particularly the Praja Mandalists, to gather in large numbers at the statue of the martyr to pay homage to him. He said the inhuman torture suffered by the martyr to emancipate the people from ‘’rajwara shahi’’ and the manner in which he was cremated secretly in the jail compound after succumbing to his injuries inspired an entire generation to join the freedom struggle . The impetus and aggressive tone of the earlier dissident plan has, however, been diluted. Mr Singla had disclosed earlier that Congressmen would gather at the statue of Thikriwala and later at the statue of former Chief Minister Beant Singh following which a conference would be held at the Central State Library which would be attended by senior state as well as central leaders. Mr Dadhahoor has only requested the PPCC to adopt the programme as its own while simultaneously giving a call for people to gather at the statue without waiting for the permission of the PPCC. The sources said there would not be much response to the programme from the city as well as the district and the success of the function would depend on the attendance of former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and party MP Jagmeet Brar. They said the district Congress was likely to boycott the function. There has also been an erosion in the support for the dissidents with Mr Singla playing cool at the moment and former minister Prem Gupta who was an arch dissident earlier and had been expelled from the party having “reconciled” with the PPCC chief according to highly placed party sources . The dissidents are, however, making a last minute attempt to put up a good show on August 9. Attempts are being made to ensure the participation of a few Central leaders on the occasion to lend credibility to
it. |
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Brahm Mohindra to
contest Patiala, Aug 2 — Dissident Punjab Congressman and former Minister Brahm Mohindra today declared his candidature for presidentship of the state unit. Addressing a press conference at his residence here bang opposite the New Moti Bagh Palace residence of the PPCC Chief, the dissident leader said he was standing for presidentship as Capt Amarinder Singh had weakened the party by alienating the masses and Congressmen. The former minister said in the existing atmosphere of tension and confrontation the need of the hour was discipline, unity dedication and brotherhood. He asked to party men to help him to rebuild the Congress under the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Mr Mohindra said unwarranted treatment of senior Congress leaders like former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, party MP Jagmeet Brar and senior leader Birdevinder Singh was the root cause of indiscipline in the party. Whenever any of these leaders aired their views on policy matters Capt Amarinder immediately ordered his ‘sychophants’ to issue statements criticising them, he said. He alleged that the party president was encouraging anti-party elements by rewarding and promoting those who opposed it and contested as independents.This had destroyed the hundered year old fabric of the party. He said the party Presidents claims on membership were also misplaced and membership was of the party not Capt Amarinder’s personal property. When asked about his course of action if the party high command ensured installation of Capt Amarinder as elected President of the state unit, he said he would abide by the decision but continue to oppose the choice. |
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Balmikis say Kalia
politicising issue JALANDHAR, Aug 2 — The ongoing caste clash between two groups outside police division no. five on July 29 took a new turn with Balmiki groups supporting former Congress minister blaming Mr Manoranjan Kalia, a BJP minister for politicisation of the issue. Mr Amrit Khosla, president City Balmiki Sabha, alleged that Mr Kalia who was backing the Balmiki Sabhas only to damage the image of Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee, a former Congress minister. In another development, Mr Rajkumar Hans president Balmiki Sabha Basti area demanded that former Congress minister Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Ram Lal councillor and Paras Ram should be arrested and booked for their statements against the Balmiki community otherwise the Sabha would block traffic at Nakodar chowk on Sunday. Mr Kaypee refuted the allegations. |
FCI decision: CPM
to launch stir CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — The Punjab unit of the CPM said today that it would start an agitation in the state to protest against the Union Government’s decision not to procure paddy in Punjab in the forthcoming procurement season. Prof Balwant Singh, Secretary of the state unit of the CPM, addressing a press conference here today, said the decision of the FCI not to procure paddy in the state was an anti-farmer action of the Union Government. He said the Union Food Ministry had directed the FCI not to procure paddy in Punjab. The CPM would organise rallies in the state to oppose this decision. The farming community would be hit in a big way by this decision. The CPM would also educated people about the “anti-people” policies of the state and the Union Government. Prof Balwant Singh said the Union Government was blindly implementing the policies dictated by the international organisation. These policies would adversely affect various sections of society including farming community. He said the Badal government had failed to resolve the problems of farmers and poor sections. Quizzed about the issue of Udham Singh Nagar district, Prof Balwant Singh said Mr Badal was misleading people on this
issue.
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Pay costs to shooter, Sports Director told CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — Directing Punjab’s Director of Sports to personally pay Rs 5,000 as costs for compelling a national-level shooter to approach the court for relief, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has also asked him to grant the petitioner a sports gradation certificate with sub-grading. The Bench, comprising Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi and Mr Justice R.C. Kathuria observed: “Since the action of the respondent in withholding the issuance of the requisite certificate to the petitioner is wholly arbitrary and unjustified as a result of which she was compelled to approach the court for relief, we direct that she will have her costs from the respondent which are assessed at Rs 5,000”. The Bench, in its detailed order, also observed: “The costs shall be paid by the Director of Sports personally and the amount shall not be debited to the state exchequer”. The Judges also directed the respondents to consider petitioner Jasmeen Kaur Brar’s claim for admission to medical courses after treating her as having been granted the certificate. In her petition, Ms Brar had earlier stated that the Grade B certificate issued by Director on the basis of her participation in the shooting championship at Bangalore, had failed to indicate the sub-grading. This, she had added, would have improved her grading in the sports category for admission. Ms Brar’s counsel had stated on her behalf that the petitioner did not receive a reply to the representation made to the Director for the grant of certificate with
sub-grading. |
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Delhi-Lahore bus
detained JALANDHAR, Aug 2 — The route of the Delhi-Lahore bus service was today diverted from the national highway near the Phagwara bypass near here following a bandh call being observed in the area in protest against the killings of Amarnath pilgrims in Kashmir valley last evening. Police sources said buses were briefly detained at Phillaur and Kartarpur at either end of Jalandhar and sent to their respective destinations via Nurmahal-Nakodar and Nakodar-Nurmahal, bypassing Phagwara town located on the national highway between Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The sources said detour was made as a precautionary measure because Shiv Sena activists had forcibly halted the bus near Phagwara a few months back to protest against the killing of bus passengers near Sirhind. The same Sena activists forced the bandh in Phagwara today. AMRITSAR: The All-India Hindu Shiv Sena in a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has said the central government should not hold talks with Kashmir ultras as there were more than 25 such groups. He said if the terrorists or foreign mercenaries continued killing Hindus and other minorities, the Hindu Shiv Sena would retaliate in other parts of the country. Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, president of the Sena, said it was the duty of the central government to safeguard the interests of Hindus and other minorities in the valley. Mr Baxi Ram Arora, a senior BJP leader and Chairman of the Improvement Trust, has also condemned the killings of innocent Amarnath yatris. Meanwhile, the Bajrang Dal has given a call for Punjab bandh on Thursday against the massacre of Amarnath yatris. The Amritsar Tea Traders Association has decided to join the statewide call for a bandh given by the VHP to protest against the brutal killings of the Amarnath pilgrims and other innocent people in Kashmir on Tuesday. PHAGWARA: Agitated activists of the Hindu Shiv Sena, the BJP and other political, religious and social organisations on Wednesday forced closure of shops here in protest against the Pahalgam carnage in which 32 persons, including 25 Amarnath pilgrims, were massacred by Pakistan backed terrorists on Tuesday night. A large group of angry protesters stalked in various bazars to effect a bandh. Mr Pawan Prabhakar general secretary of the Punjab Hindu Shiv Sena, claimed the bandh was called by the Sena and supported by others. Senior BJP leaders Ram Saroop Arora, Tilak Raj Kalucha and others were also with the protesters. The processionists raised angry slogans against Pakistan. Traffic on the Phagwara-Banga chowk and the bus stand was disrupted for a while as protesters performed a “siapa”, warning Pakistan of serious consequences in case it did not halt trans-border terrorism. BATHINDA: Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Science and Technology Minister, Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, District Congress Committee general secretary, Mr Parminder Goyal, Senior BJP leader, Mr Mohan Lal Garg president of the BJP district unit and the District Bar Association, condemned the killings of Amarnath pilgrims and labourers at Pahalgam. The District Bar association observed a strike. FATEHGARH SAHIB:
The state unit of the Anti-Terrorist front has criticised terrorist organisations responsible for the massacre of innocent Amarnath yatra pilgrims. HOSHIARPUR: Mr Tikshan Sud, state Minister for Excise and Taxation, and BJP leaders here condemned the killings of 25 pilgrims. They demanded Rs 5 lakh each as compensation to the families of all those killed. SANGRUR: Condemning the fatal attack on the Amarnath yatris by the militants at Pahalgam, the president of the All-India Sri Baba Amarnath Yatra Committee, Mr Sumer Garg, criticised the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Union Government for not taking adequate steps for the safe journey of the pilgrims despite threats from the militants. LUDHIANA: The Bhole Bhandari Charitable Trust on Wednesday urged the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Home Minister to visit Pahalgam to review the security arrangements and restore peoples’ faith in the wake of Tuesday’s killings of Amarnath yatris at the hands of
militants. |
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Garbage pile-up nullifies
drive HOSHIARPUR: The Municipal Council has wasted lakhs of rupees in the name of beautification and widening of the Mall Road adjoining the district courts. though the town has not experienced any heavy rainfall this month but newly constructed portions of footpaths at various places have been damaged due to use of alleged substandard material. All old and big trees on the Mall Road, which provided greenness and made the environment pollution-free, had been cut down. The existing footpaths from Jail Chowk to Bahadurpur Chowk were rebuilt. Substandard material had been allegedly used in the construction of these foot-paths and instead of laying good earth, sand used for it. Laying of a bitumen carpet is being done even when it rains and road levelling has not been done properly due to which the rain water gathers in front of the Income Tax Office, Sadar police station and Zila Parishad causing great inconvenience to the visitors of these offices. It is worth mentioning here that no drain has been constructed to drain out the stormwater on this kilometre-long road. Even small drains have not been built to drain out rain water. Though the council has installed fancy tree-guards across footpaths but heaps of garbage and debris remains to be lifted, thereby nullifying the beautification drive. Almost all natural outlets on this road to drain out rain water have been obstructed by buildings which have been allowed. Besides, the council laid concrete slabs haphazardly on various lanes and bazar roads by replacing the existing bitumen carpet. This replacement has raised their level from the plinth level of shops and houses. Owing to poor material almost all slabs have developed cracks and potholes. the situation has further aggravated with the recent construction of ducts in almost all bazars by the Telecom Department. The telecom contractors have dug up most bazar roads and lanes. Though the department has already deposited labour charges with the Municipal Council a long time ago, but the council has failed in carrying out repair. The pits dug for laying ducts have not been filled properly leading to accidents. Besides, the rain has made these roads slippery. Rain water fills the pits causing accidents, particularly of two wheelers. On account of irregular cleanliness of drains and accumulation of garbage, all drains and the main sewer line have been choked. This has resulted in the overflow of sullage, which spreads in lanes and bazars and emits stink. the municipal authorities have turned a deaf ear to complaints on this plea that they had themselves got posted here recently and had yet to come to grips with problems. According to the official sources, the Deputy Commissioner has written to the Principal Secretary (Local Govt) in this regard. He recommended action against the Executive Officer and Assistant Engineers concerned of the council for showing negligence. He also recommended black-listing of two municipal contractors who had built portions of the Mall Road. The Deputy Commissioner suggested a Vigilance Department inquiry into the construction. But nothing has been done yet. |
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Cops’ phones may be disconnected ROPAR, Aug 2 — The police authorities and the police stations in the district may lose their telephone connections if they don’t pay their dues to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). In a letter, the DoT authorities have issued directions to disconnect the telephones of the police authorities who here not cleared their dues. According to sources, the district police owes Rs 15 lakh to the DoT. This amount has accumulated over the past two years. A majority of these bills pertain to the telephones which have the STD facilitly. The District Police Headquarters owes Rs 8 lakh to the DoT while various police stations in the district owe the remining amount. The DoT is now contemplating to take action against the “erring” police authorities. However, in view of the importance of telephones in maintaining law and order, they are initially thinking of reducing the facility to just incoming calls before finally disconnecting the telephones. The police officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, blame the government policy for the non-payment of the telephone dues. |
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Power supplied only for 6 hours a
day SAILBA, Aug 2 — Several villages connected to the electricity feeder at Sailba village located on the Kurali-Khedrabad road, are facing erratic power supply. The residents lament that the feeder was supplying electricity for six hours a day only and that too with frequent cuts. Demanding at least eight hours of supply daily, the Vice-President of the Kandi Area Sangharsh Samiti, Roopnagar, Mr Ravinder Rana, said, "The feeder at Khedrabad is supplying electricity for 24 hours a day while the feeder at Dhakora village is supplying power for eight hours." "Why don't we get equivalent power supply on a par with Dhakora?" he asked. The Sub-Divisional Officer (Electricity), Mr B.K. Bhandari, while admitting that the area was facing power cuts clarified, "We are giving eight hours' supply everyday as it was the policy of the government to supply at least eight hours of power". According to the locals, the feeder at Sailba caters to the demand of power to more villages as compared to the feeder at Khedrabad or Dhakora village. The residents of the area complain that as soon as darkness descends, the voltage either becomes very dim or the power goes off. |
Fisheries
Department faces paucity of funds FEROZEPORE, Aug 2 — Paucity of funds has affected the routine inspection of rivers by the Department of Fisheries to check poaching. Even as fishing is prohibited these days, the department officials are unable to carry out raids due to their inability to meet fuel expenditure. It is learnt that the department is facing an acute shortage of funds. The jurisdiction of the local Fisheries Department is large making it difficult to inspect the Sutlej river stretch — from the Harike headworks to Hussainiwala — and that also without a vehicle. Although fishing is prohibited during these months on account of the breeding season, sources in the department do not rule out possibility of poaching and expressed inability to check the menace. Poaching of certain varieties of fish is strictly prohibited during the monsoons to ensure that they do not perish. This is to ensure that the fish population is not affected. The Assistant Director of Fisheries, Mr Jagdish Singh, said the department was reeling under a financial crunch. He added that no case of fish poaching had been reported to the department so far. However, inqueries made in the market revealed that fish contractors continue to sell varieties, such as “damra”, poaching of which is prohibited during the monsoons. Pleading anonymity, some fish sellers disclosed that the contractors continued to catch “damra”, “sohal” and “tarkanda” varieties from the Sutlej. On being contacted, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, said he believed that fish poaching must be occurring in some pockets of the Sutlej, but assured to check up the difficulties being faced by the Fisheries Department. He, however, added that the menace had been substantially checked at Harike where the Army had started its operation to weed out water hyacinth. |
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Punjab
Government promotions CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — Conceding a long-pending demand of the Secretariat Staff Association, the Punjab Government has filled four posts of deputy secretary and seven of under secretary by promoting the officers concerned. The promotions have been ordered in the light of the Janjua judgement. Seventeen posts of superintendent (Grade-I), 15 posts of superintendent (Grade II) and 11 posts of senior assistant have been filled by ordering promotions. Mr Jaswant Singh Randhawa and Mr Oma Kant Tewari, office-bearers of the association, welcomed the filling of the posts. |
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BBMB staff get salaries
though late ROPAR, Aug 2 — The employees of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) were paid salaries yesterday after the partner states paid up the dues to the board on the directions from the Centre. The BBMB management had failed to pay the salaries to its 15,000 employees on the last working day of July. The employees had threatened to disrupt the power supply if they were not paid salaries by August 1. The Financial Adviser to the BBMB, Mr Satish Loomba, said the partner states had paid some dues and had promised to release the pending dues soon. Mr Loomba maintained that efforts were being made to release salaries on time. Reliable sources said the Centre had helped the BBMB to pay the salaries, fearing worker unrest. Presently, the partner states owe Rs 89 crore to the BBMB, which amounts to 26 per cent of board’s annual expenditure. |
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House tax arrears’ interest waived
for 1 month MALERKOTLA, Aug 2 — The Punjab Government has decided to waive the interest on house tax arrears if paid within the next month. In a letter to all municipal councils and nagar panchayats of the state, Director-cum-Special Secretary of Local Government, Punjab has clarified that the period will be effective from the date of passing of a resolution to this effect by the respective municipal councils/nagar panchayats. He clarified that this amnesty which is a one-time exercise may go a long way in recovery of arrears of house tax. Surprisingly, the demand was made by councillors of the local municipal council themselves. |
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CTU bus
suspension hits Chhat Bir CHHAT BIR,
Because of the suspension of the
Chandigarh-Chhat Bir bus route (No - 79), most sufferers are the students and office-goers who were availing themselves of the facility for the past many years. Earlier, the bus use to reach Chhat Bir at 7 a.m. and reach Chandigarh at 7.30 a.m. This was the most suitable bus for the students and office goers for Chandigarh. Visitors to the zoo are also facing inconvenience due to the unscheduled timing of the bus route. The residents have to take lifts from other vehicle owners or hire autorickshaws to reach their destination at Chandigarh and surroundings. Mr Krishan Sharma, a local resident, alleged that bus drivers has suspended the route without any direction from the department. Others further alleged that some CTU drivers are hand in glove with the owners plying autorickshaw on this route. The
CTU authorities were not available for
comments. |
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Karmachari dal
stages dharna PATIALA,
Addressing a gathering, the President of the Dal, Mr Hari Singh Tohra, urged the Chief Minister to implement the recommendations of the Pay Anomalies Committee, to raise the house rent to 15 per cent. In a press note issued here, Mr Tohra said that the government had not yet regularised the services of ad hoc employees working on 89 days, work charged employees and daily wage workers. He opposed the policy of the state government to hand over the boards and corporations to privately managed bodies. He criticised the state government for not holding regular meetings of Joint Consultative Machinery of Punjab. |
Faith in cops restored as murderers
held HOSHIARPUR, Aug 2 —With the arrest of the murderers of her husband the shattered faith of Mrs Simarjit, resident of Mohalla Sukhiabad here, has been restored. Mr R.P. Mittal, SSP, Hoshiarpur, said at a press conference here today the body of Krishan Avtar, husband of Simarjit, a resident of Sukhiabad area of Hoshiarpur, was found in a field near Ajowal locality of the city on June 17. A case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC was registered in the sadar police station. Krishan Avtar was telegraph messenger in the Hoshiarpur Telegraph Office. His wife Simarjit and son Naresh Kumar told the investigating officer their neighbour Kapil Dev Sharma, who was a colleague of the deceased, had killed Krishan Avtar. Their family had strained relations with the family of Kapil Dev Sharma. They pressed the police to arrest Kapil Dev in this case. But the investigating officer said he found Kapil Dev innocent as a result of which he was not arrested. The mother and son then made representations to high police officials in this connection. They alleged the Hoshiarpur police was favouring Kapil Dev and they had lost faith in it. On their representations the DIG, Jalandhar range, transferred the investigation file to the SP (D), Kapurthala, few days ago. The SSP said that meanwhile Mr Ravinder Bakshi, DSP (City) and Mr Jasbir Singh (SHO) succeeded in arresting Raj Kumar, alias Vijay Kumar, resident of Adamwal, who confessed his involvement in the murder of Krishan Avtar. He also revealed the involvement of Surinder Kumar, alias Chhinda, son of Kushi Ram of Bhootpur Bassi Gulam Hussain, Mukhtiar Singh, son of Avtar Singh of Bassi Gulam Hussain and Dharminder Kumar son of Madan Gopal of Adamwal, in this murder. The sadar police arrested the aforesaid persons and recovered a pistol from Dharminder Kumar and one .12 bore pistol along with live cartridges from Surinder Kumar. The SSP said the aforesaid culprits were thieves. They killed Krishan Avtar for a petty sum of Rs 70. He said that after performing his duty on the evening of June 16, Krishan Avtar went to a liquor shop on his bicycle. On the way to his house he started drinking. The culprits, who were already drinking in the “Ahata”, presumed that Krishan Avtar had a handsome amount in his pocket. They were not known to Krishan Avtar. But they introduced themselves to him and offered him a drink which he accepted. When he became drunk they took him towards Ajowal where they hit him on the head with a rod. They took Rs 70 from his pocket, his wrist-watch and his cycle. Before fleeing from the scene they also mercilessly hit his private parts and left him to die there. Mrs Simarjit and her son Naresh Kumar were also present at the press conference. The culprits were produced before mediapersons. They confessed their crime. |
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Youth succumbs to stab wounds PATIALA,
According to the police, Akhtar had a fight with another youth, Kalu, yesterday afternoon. In the evening, the accused, along with some other persons, attacked Akhtar with sharp-edged weapons near Safabadi Gate. Akhtar succumbed to his injuries in the hospital early today morning. A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered at police station division number 4. Akhtar is survived by three children. |
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Dalit girl
gang-raped AMRITSAR, Aug 2 — A minor Dalit girl (13) was allegedly gang-raped by youths of her community. A press release issued by the police claimed that the girl was abducted from Dhakka colony when she was asleep outside her house, taken to an adjoining colony and gang-raped. However, Mr Parmpal Singh Sidhu, SSP said it was yet to be ascertained whether the girl was kidnapped or had gone along with her consent before she was gang-raped. |
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Robbers loot
cash,
jewellery JALANDHAR, Aug 2 — Two persons, posing as CID officials, looted cash and gold jewellery worth lakhs of rupees from a house in the city today. Two unidentified persons came to Dr Dhiraj Gupta’s residence in Shakti Nagar at 11 am. They “introduced” themselves and started searching the house for illegal arms and ammunition. According to Dr Gupta, his mother and two servants were detained at gunpoint by one of them in a room, while the other one continued the search. They looted 35 tolas of gold jewellery and Rs 1.25 lakh cash, he said. No male member was in the house at the time of the robbery. Mr
P.K. Uppal, SP, said the robbers were in the age group of 30 to 35 years and were possessing only toy pistols. |
PCCTU seeks DC’s help in teacher’s
case AMRITSAR, Aug 2 — Mr K.B.S. Sodhi, president of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), in a memorandum yesterday sought to bring to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner the case relating to the kidnapping and harassment of Prof Amrik Singh, of Hindu College. The case dates back to the April, 1994, annual examinations. It is alleged that since Professor Sidhu did not allow copying, some students broke furniture at the examination centre and misbehaved and attacked him. He was saved by the timely intervention of the other staff on duty. An FIR was lodged following which a student was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and four others were acquitted. One of the acquitted, Harish Mehta of Ramanand Bagh, Amritsar, filed a defamation case against the professor. On May 22, when Professor Sidhu went to the court in connection with the case, he was kidnapped by Harish Mehta with the help of his friends and the police (as per his statement) and was tortured mentally for the whole night. An FIR was lodged in the Civil Lines police station, Amritsar, but nothing has been done so far. The suspect is alleged to be threatening and harassing the
professor. |
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H.S. Sidhu elected GNDUTA
chief AMRITSAR, Aug 2 — Dr H.S. Sidhu has been re-elected president of the Guru Nanak Dev University Teachers Association (GNDUTA), defeating his nearest rival, Dr R.K. Bedi, by a margin of 19 votes in the annual election of the association (2000-2001). He got 151 votes while Dr Bedi polled 132 votes. The third contestant for the presidentship, Dr R.S. Salaria, got only 25 votes. Dr Jaspal Singh was elected vice-president by defeating Dr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon in a straight contest. He polled 181 votes, while Dr Dhillon got 124 votes. Dr Devinder Singh was elected secretary by a magrin of 10 votes. He defeated Dr Kulwant Singh who got 148 votes. Dr T.S. Banipal was elected to the post of joint secretary by getting 170 votes. He defeated Dr P.S. Sharma who got 142 votes. Dr G.S. Buttar (160 votes) defeated Dr Adarsh Pal (145 votes) to get the office of treasurership of the association. According to Dr A.K. Thukral, Returning Officer, Dr A.S. Sidhu (182), Mr Kawaljeet Singh (172), Dr (Mrs) J.K. Dhillon (167), Dr B.S. Bajwa (158), Dr Sukhpreet Singh (158) and Dr Karamjit Singh (154) were elected executive members of the association. |
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Parmar new Dean of Academic Affairs AMRITSAR, Aug 2 — Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, has appointed Dr Swaran Singh Parmar, Professor of applied chemical sciences and technology, as Dean, Academic Affairs of the university. This has been stated in a notification issued by Dr R.S. Bawa, Registrar. |
Wheat procurement raises eyebrows SARDULGARH (Mansa), Aug 2 — The restarting of procurement of wheat in this grain market by the Punjab Government has raised eyebrows. Though Mrs Raji P. Srivastva, Deputy Commissioner, said that procurement of wheat had been started on the order of the Punjab Government, which had directed procurement agencies to procure wheat from April 1, 2000 to March 31, 2000, activists of CPI (ML) Liberation, Punjab alleged that procurement had been started to favour hoarders. They alleged that certain traders and commission agents who had hoarded the wheat in anticipation of a price increase were now off-loading their stocks in the guise of farmers following a fall in the prices of wheat in the open market. Mr Rajinder Singh, State Secretary and Mr Kirpal Singh, District Secretary, CPI (ML) Liberation, alleged that certain traders had hoarded wheat in huge quantities while evading payment of market fee, Rural Development Fund (RDF) and ‘Dami’ in the hope of profits on selling the wheat in the open market at high prices after the procurement was over. But these hoarders were now off-loading their stocks at grain markets to get the MSP. According to informations gathered by this correspondent in the past eight days about 30,000 quintals of wheat had been off loaded in the market. During the procurement season from April 1, 2000 to May 31, 2000 the grain market received more than 8.5 lakh quintals of wheat. An official of the Punjab Mandi Board, on condition of anonymity told TNS that as per prevailing trends more than one lakh quintals of wheat was expected to arrive in this market during this second procurement. He pointed out that taking economic conditions of general farmers of this area into consideration, the wheat arrival was unusual as general farmers hadn’t the capacity to hold back wheat. Interestingly hoarders of Haryana have also started off-loading their stocks here as it is located near the Punjab-Haryana border. Mr Pritam Singh, Secretary, Market Committee, when contacted, said procurement had been started again as farmers of the area were apprehensive that wheat stored by them might get damaged in flooding by the Ghaggar which runs along the town. He said procurement was started after the district administration ordered it. The CPI (ML) Liberation activists alleged that procurement had been started by the Punjab government under pressure from ruling party politicians who were trying to protect the economic interests of hoarders. They said the price of wheat in the open market was Rs 540 per quintal while hoarder were selling it at Rs 580 per quintal to procurement agencies. They sought a probe into the matter. Mrs Srivastva said that she had asked the district food supply controller to monitor procurement and said anybody found violating procurement norms would be taken to task. 
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Traders allege
fleecing PATIALA,
In a press release, the mandal alleged that in order to make huge profits in a wrong manner, the contractors had resorted to various underhand means, like insisting that people bringing goods had under-billed the same to evade octroi, which was not the case. Octroi rates were being overcharged and the mandal urged the government to take note of these unfair tactics, otherwise trade in the region would be badly hit. |
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Labour court awards
seldom honoured: BMS BATALA, Aug 2 — Mr Jawahar Lal Ghosh, general secretary, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Gurdaspur district unit told this correspondent here today that industrial and other labour in Punjab was not getting justice even after labour courts and industrial tribunals decided in their favour. The decisions taken by courts remained unimplemented for years together, since these courts do not follow through on their decisions. This was a sad reflection on the office of the Labour Commissioner, Punjab. It is mandatory to implement an award within one month of its gazetted notification. For example the Industrial Tribunal, decided in the case of Mr Davinder Pal, Sub-Inspector Municipal Council, Batala on 3.10.1997 that the scale of pay above that of junior assistant but below that of Senior Assistant be given to him with effect from 1.1.1986. The gazette notification was given on March 27, 1998, but to date it has not been implemented. The matter was brought to the notice of Mr Balramji Das Tandon, Labour & Employment Minister, who referred the case to Director, Local Government, Punjab, for implementation but nothing happened. If this is the state of a case marked by the Labour Minister himself that of others can be
imagined. |
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