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| Thursday, August 24, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
SAD to submit memo to review panel Live
shells found in border village 17
Bangladesh nationals held Computer
courses in state of chaos Kanshi Ram
vents wrath on party men Ramoowalia to form third alternative
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Dal (A) move may put SAD in spot Cong rival groups try to upstage each other Cong men to move HC on panchayat poll Identification drive sparks political row Ballian blames Cong for temple row
Punwire employees for CBI probe ‘Give Sikhs independent identity’ CM urged to accept staff demands SGPC team to discuss kar seva with Pak Traders observe bandh against power hike Arya Samaj dispensary needs care Airport upgradation hangs fire Building temples of knowledge SGPC threatens to
sue journalists Plan to develop slum
areas PCMSA threatens strike Pharmacists stage rally
Double murder mystery solved Two arrested for
embezzlement
Probe likely into
exam irregularities
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SAD to submit memo to review panel NEW DELHI, Aug 23 (UNI) — As differences cropped up between ruling coalition partners, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP over the contents of the memorandum proposed to be submitted to the Constitutional Review Panel on behalf of the Punjab Government, the Akalis have decided to go ahead with their separate presentation, basing it on the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. SAD General Secretary Balwinder Singh Bhundar said his party would shortly submit the memorandum to the review commission as it had prepared a draft pleading for a genuine federal polity with more powers to the states as envisaged in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, adopted by the party in 1978. The Badal government had to reverse its earlier decision of submitting a memorandum to the review panel by the state government when the BJP Cabinet ministers opposed the Akali demand for scrapping Article 356 that empowered the Centre to impose President’s rule in any state. The BJP ministers also did not agree with the SAD assertion for greater autonomy to the states. “These main issues coupled with some other things led to differences between the ruling alliance partners and the state Cabinet could not reach a consensus over what should be the memorandum all about,” Mr Balramji Das Tondon, BJP leader from Punjab said. But Mr Bhundar said because of the constraints of coalition politics, it was felt that the presentation of the memorandum to the review panel should be left to SAD only and the state government would stay away from it. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal set up two state-level committees — one of his government and the second one of SAD in the capacity of its party President — to draft two memoranda to be submitted to the Constitutional Review Panel set up by the Vajpayee government a few months ago to recommend changes in the statute, in tune with the requirements of the present times. The two ruling alliance partners could not agree on the draft of the memorandum prepared during series of meetings held under the chairmanship of Mr Badal and attended by his Cabinet colleagues. “The BJP’s Punjab unit never favoured SAD’s meddling in Udham Singh Nagar issue which amounted to interferring in other state’s affairs and going beyond the limits of the Akalis,” Mr Tondon said. He asserted, “The Udham Singh Nagar issue concerns Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal and Punjab has nothing to do with it.” The Akali stance on the Udham Singh Nagar issue could set up a wrong precedent “as migrant labour from Uttar Pradesh could also start making such claims in Punjab in the future,” he added. Akali leaders, party sources said, were resentful over the outburst of Mr Tandon on the memorandum issue in an interview to a private TV channel a few days ago. |
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Live shells found in border village AMRITSAR, Aug 23 — Fortyfive years after the Indo-Pak war, residents of Atal Garh village on the border, yesterday found as many as 35 live 25 pound artillery shells buried in the ground. The SSP, Mr Parampal Singh Sidhu, told The Tribune today that the shells were found when the villagers were digging the land of Mr Gurmukh Singh to raise the plinth level in the Anaj Mandi area. Preliminary investigations revealed that the shells were Co-10/62 of lot No. 157 with make No. 199 and type MK-17, 25 pound artillery shells. Villagers stated that the Army had set up morchas and dug trenches there to repulse the Pakistani attack during the 1965 war. The Army authorities were informed about the recovery and place was cordoned off the SSP said. The Army found 34 shells from the spot while one shell was recovered from the Mandi area where the plinth level was being raised. The area was sealed by the Army and the shells were being removed to a safer place. |
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17 Bangladesh nationals held BATALA, Aug 23 (PTI) — The BSF apprehended 17 Bangladesh nationals while they were trying to cross over to Pakistan without valid documents on the Indo-Pakistan border in the Dera Baba Nanak sector of Gurdaspur district last night, the police said today. They were caught near the Abad border observation post and belonged to Sanjay Ganj district in Bangladesh, the police said. They said preliminary investigations showed that they reached Dera Baba Nanak town from Amritsar in a train from where they went to the international border to cross over to Pakistan. The arrested foreign nationals disclosed that they were fishermen in Bangladesh and a foreign travel agent had promised to send them to Pakistan, the police said. |
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State of higher education-II CHANDIGARH, Aug 23 — The decision of the Punjab Government to introduce computer education in all government colleges from the current academic session in its endeavour to “vocationalise higher education” has its own teething problems. In one of the colleges on the periphery of the city, one of four companies given the contract to conduct training on two modules of computer education in the state, has virtually shut up shop even before opening it. Even the contact person is reportedly untraceable. The companies given the contract to run these courses in Punjab include the NIIT, Aptech and TULEC. The authorities, however, are not worried over the disappearance of the agency from the college on the plea that only 60 credit hours of computer education have to be provided. Any time lost at this stage, they maintain, can be made up during the remaining period of the academic session. In some other colleges, which have recently been taken over by the state government, there is basically no supporting basic infrastructure to facilitate the introduction of these computer courses for arts students. The fee to be charged for these computer classes is Rs 125 per month. Initially, the department wanted computer education introduced in selected 25 government colleges only. This computer education apart, the reason for not introducing the Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) course in government colleges in the state is reported to be the variation in the fee structure. Against a normal tuition fee of Rs 600 a year in government colleges, private colleges running the course are charging anything between Rs 19,000 and Rs 21,000 per annum for the BCA and BMIT courses in the state. The fee structure in various colleges affiliated to Panjab, Punjabi and Guru Nanak Dev Universities is more or less the same. Government colleges, however, are not allowed to charge this heavy fee. The Department of Higher Education has been reportedly insisting that the Punjab Financial Rules dealing with the collection of tuition fee and other funds from students should be amended to facilitate the introduction of these popular courses in government colleges as well. Sources reveal that a proposal has been pending with the government wherein it has been suggested that if the Punjab Financial Rules are amended and colleges are allowed to start and maintain separate accounts for introducing courses like BCA and BMIT, they would become autonomous and plough back the money so earned for regularly updating the facilities. For example, it has been suggested that a Patiala-based government commerce college should be allowed to introduce the BCA and BMIT courses on an experimental basis. The college should be permitted to maintain separate accounts for these courses and be allowed to charge the fee on a par with government-aided or non-aided colleges in the state. Against 40 seats in BCA, 20 should be reserved for the free category where each student would pay around Rs 19,000 per annum as tuition fee, development fee and security. Of the remaining seats, 14 should be payment seats against which each admitted student would pay between Rs 28,000 and Rs 30,000 per annum. The remaining six seats should be reserved for NRIs on the payment of a minimum of US $ 1,000 per annum. Similar proposal has been made for students to be admitted to the proposed BMIT course. After employing two full-time computer teachers, procuring hardware, including computers and server, employing a helper and other staff, purchasing other equipment and meeting all other expenses, the three-year course would show a net return or profit of Rs 40 lakh. This money, the proposal said, should be ploughed back into augmenting teaching aids and facilities in the college concerned. The funds under the scheme could be managed by the parent teachers association, provided the Punjab Financial Rules are amended. Another reason for the chaos and confusion has been the multiplicity of authorities controlling the “vocationalisation of higher education.” For example, the BCA and BMIT/BIT courses are run by Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjabi University and Panjab University as well as the Punjab Technical University. Introduction of compulsory computer education in government colleges in the state is, however, under the direct control of the university to which a particular college is affiliated. The present rules do not permit the dual affiliation of a college. To be concluded |
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Kanshi Ram vents wrath on party men JALANDHAR Aug 23 —Annoyed over the performance of his party’s Punjab unit, the Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mr Kanshi Ram, repeatedly snubbed senior party office-bearers by calling them ‘ruffians’ time and again during the BSP’s two-day conclave which concluded here today. Mr Kanshi Ram, who was visibly perturbed over the party’s poor performance in Punjab said “Main inhan mushtandian nu kiha hai ki ankh nall jiona sikho. Har vaar eh kehna ke sannu doo jian ne litar ditta galt hai. Eh taan enhan di kamjori hai asin Punjab wich pichhe haan, nahin taan koi vi dalitan nu jihna di abadi 34 per cent hai koi bhi takat agge aun ton nahin rok sakdi.” (I have been asking these ruffians to live with a sense of pride. Saying everytime that we have been trampled by others is not right. No power can ignore Dalits, which constitute 34 per cent of the total population of Punjab). Chiding the BSP’s Sunam unit president for not telling him that his constituency was going to the polls soon due to recent death of the Congress MLA Bhagwan Dass Arora, he said, “See, he did not tell me about the forthcoming byelection what can you expect from such a worker? I have been asking such mushtandas to gear up and work for the party but they have failed to do so. I will have to see how to set them right.” He also snubbed his party office bearers for not meeting the target of enrolling three lakh new members. “Their slackness was visible during the entire enrolment exercise,” said Mr Kanshi Ram in the presence of a number of senior party functionaries, who had no choice but to listen to their boss. |
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Ramoowalia to form third alternative PATIALA, Aug 23 — Rajya Sabha member and Lok Bhalai party chief Balwant Singh Ramoowalia today said his party would form the third alternative in Punjab in order to effectively take on the ‘misrule’ of the Akali-BJP government in the state. Addressing a press conference here, he said he was shifting his residence to Ludhaina from Delhi. He said he would reside in the party office in Ludhiana and address his energies to serve the people of the state. He said he was shifting back to the state after a 16-year stint in Delhi. Mr Ramoowalia said he would not be forming a third front
along with other like-minded parties right now. He said the purpose of his party was to emerge at the third alternative in Punjab. He said he was projecting his party in this manner as currently the same set of people ruled the state whether they belonged to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) or the Congress. He said leaders of both parties helped each other whenever in power to the detriment of the common man. Mr Ramoowalia said the SAD government had lost all credibility in the state. He said the party had failed to stick to its own resolution on the Udham Singh Nagar issue and had badly let down the people of the district in Uttar Pradesh who had pinned their hopes on them. He alleged that the SAD government never even seriously raised the demand with the Centre. The Rajya Sabha MP said even the Home Minister had made it clear that the SAD had never asked for exclusion of Udham Singh Nagar from the Uttaranchal state. He said it was astonishing that the committee had not even accepted the resolutions of 305 panchayats who had given in writing that they wanted to be a part of Uttar Pradesh. He said there were a total of 327 panchayats in Udham Singh Nagar district. The MP also presided over a function in Samana where he felicitated newly-elected members of the Aggarwal Dharamshala and School Committee. |
Dal (A) move may put SAD in spot AMRITSAR, Aug 23 — The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, may find itself in a spot as the lone MLA of the Akali Dal (Amritsar), Mr Ajitinder Singh Mofar, moved a motion for holding a debate on the controversial Anandpur Sahib Resolution, passed in 1973, during the forthcoming two-day monsoon session of the assembly to be held on September 4. Talking to TNS on the telephone, Mr Mofar said that he had filed an application under Rule 71 of the Punjab Assembly before the Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, in this regard. Mr Mofar said the motion was required to be moved seven days before the session. “If the Speaker does not give time for tabling the Anandpur Sahib Resolution for debate, I can raise my voice in the House as this is an urgent matter which has to be discussed and debated at length”, he said. Mr Mofar alleged that the ruling SAD (Badal) had been misguiding the Sikh masses on the issue of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. “While we would table the Anandpur Sahib Resolution passed in 1973, the Akali Dal (Badal) has decided to base its recommendations on the basis of the resolution passed in 1978.” Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President of the Akali Dal (Amritsar), talking to TNS on the phone said that the ruling SAD (Badal) would stand ‘exposed’ on the floor of the Punjab Assembly as it was unlikely to pass the resolution like the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which demanded full autonomy for the states. “If Mr Badal and his faction back out from the resolution, we will expose them in public”, he said. Besides, Mr Mann said that his faction would fight to get the Hindu Marriage Act replaced with the Anand Karaj Act passed in 1909.  Cong rival groups try to upstage each other PATIALA, Aug 23 — The game of one- upmanship in the Nabha Congress may boil over in the August 25 Pradesh Congress rally being held there with both groups trying their best to ensure that the other does not gain supremacy in the assembly constituency. Though PPCC General Secretary Ramesh Singla has reportedly scored a victory over his main rival Randeep Singh, who is the son of former State Minister Gurdarshan Singh , by being given the responsibility to host the show, the rival group is trying its best to dilute his importance by issuing separate posters itself and claiming it to be a Pradesh Congress show in which they were equally involved. Both Mr Singla and Mr Randeep Singh are aspirants for the party ticket from Nabha. However, Mr Singla is going ahead with organising the rally himself . He is touring the rural areas of the constituency extensively to ensure there is a sizable gathering at the rally site in the New Anaj Mandi . The Singla faction has not requested any help from the rival faction though Mr Singla himself says everyone is welcome to participate in the rally. Mr Randeep Singh has not even been invited officially to the rally with only his mother Mrs Satinder Kaur, who is a general secretary, being invited . The Singla faction is also planning to deny Mr Randeep Singh any space on the dais, which may result in frayed tempers . Mrs Satinder Kaur while confirming invitation to the rally , said she would herself not sit on the stage if Randeep Singh was barred from doing so . She said Randeep had a right to sit on the stage as it was his constituency . Meanwhile, both factions are working separately by issuing posters, appealing to people to come to the rally. Mr Randeep Singh said the Pradesh Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh would visit his residence before the rally. Satinder Kaur said as Capt Amarinder Singh was expected in Nabha tomorrow she would apprise him of the recent developments. Sources said it is likely that Capt Amarinder Singh brings about a rapprochement between both groups so that there is no showdown between them on Friday. The PPCC President is likely to balance both groups by giving them equal importance. |
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Cong men to move HC on panchayat poll KAPURTHALA, Aug 23 — The Congress councillors of the Nagar Panchayat, Begowal village, will challenge the election of president and vice-president of the local body held on August 22 by filing a writ in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This was announced by Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira, secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, while talking to mediapersons here today. Terming the election as ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘biased’, he alleged that the quorum at the meeting was not complete and the election was also conducted after engineering defection in the councillors of the Congress. He alleged that Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, engineered the defection of Mrs Harbans Kaur, a Congress councillor, to her party by offering her the post of president of the Nagar Panchayat. He further alleged that only six councillors out of 11 participated in the meeting whereas, as per the provisions of the municipal Act, at least two-thirds of the members of the council were required to be present for the election of president and vice-president of the panchayat. He alleged that Mr Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, SDM of Bholath subdivision, who chaired the meeting, acted in a biased way under the directions of Bibi Jagir Kaur. Mr Dhaliwal remained with Bibi Jagir Kaur at her Dera in Begowal for half an hour before the election and after the polling was over he again went to her Dera to apprise her of the election results. In the Nagar Panchayat elections, a confidant of the SGPC chief, Mr Jagir Singh and his wife, Mrs Amarjit Kaur, fought the elections as Akali candidates and both were defeated at the hands of the Congress nominees, Mr Sri Niwas and Mrs Harbans Kaur, respectively. The post of president of Nagar Panchayat Begowal is reserved for a woman
councillor. |
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Identification drive sparks political row MOGA, Aug 23 — The police identification drive of migratory labourers from UP and Bihar has sparked a debate in political circles here. While the police and the administration justified the move stating that most of the petty offenses were committed here by migratory labourers, political observers alleged that this was part of a “larger conspiracy”. Since the migrants are considered loyal voters of the Congress, the observers apprehended designs of the ruling Akali Dal to drive them out of the state in the garb of such a campaign. It is estimated that over 2,000 migratory labourers reside in and around the city, and work in small-scale industrial units and farms for living. Besides, a substantial number of these migrants are rickshaw-pullers. While the district police chief, Mr Sharad Chauhan, said that these migrants were involved in a large number of petty crimes the Deputy Commissioner, Mr K.B.S. Sidhu, claimed that the drive was necessitated to check the increasing crime rate. While they denied any political motive behind the move the Left alleged that the identification drive, which was purely a law and order exercise, was aimed at harassing migrants and force them to flee from Punjab before the next assembly elections. To substantiate the charge, the Communist Party of India (CPI) said that the ruling Akali Dal had recently sought constitutional amendment to restrict the voting rights of migratory
labourers. |
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Ballian blames Cong for temple row SANGRUR, Aug 23 — Mr Ranjit Singh Ballian, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Punjab, has alleged that local Congressmen had raised the Mangla Devi Temple issue to block the development of Sangrur town. Addressing a press conference here last evening, Mr Balian said local Congressmen, including Mr Jasbir Singh, a former Congress MLA, and Mr Surinder Pal Singh Sibia, Secretary of the PPCC, had played a vital role in raising the issue. It may be mentioned here that a tussle is on between PUDA and the Yuvak Mandir Sudhar Sabha of the local Mangla Devi Temple over possession of building, adjoining the temple, for the past several days. Devotees and the sabha have been observing a chain fast in front of the temple here since August 12 to regain
possession of the building which they say is a part of the temple. Mr Balian said he had taken several steps for development of the town which were not liked by the Congressmen, including a plan to construct new buildings by demolishing old government buildings. He said he was being maligned as anti-Hindu and anti-temple, which was not true. But he said he had no authority to give PUDA land to a temple or a gurdwara. He said if demarcation by revenue officials showed that the building in question belonged to the temple, the PUDA would immediately hand it over the same to the temple. He said PUDA had sent a Rs 11 crore water supply and sewerage scheme for Sangrur to HUDCO for financing. He had also arranged Rs 50 lakh for the development of slum areas of the town. |
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Youth Akali Dal
meeting on Aug 26 CHANDIGARH, Aug 23 — The general secretary of the All-India Shiromani Youth Akali Dal, Mr Jaswinder Singh, said here today that a meeting of youth wing activists and officer-bearers would be held in Sunam on August 26. He said Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra and other senior leaders would address the meeting. |
Punwire employees for CBI probe PATIALA, Aug 23 — The Punjab and Union Territory Employees Joint Action Committee today demanded a CBI probe into charges of corruption levelled against its senior officers, besides alleging that a deliberate conspiracy was in the offing to get the factory declared a sick unit and sell it off to a private party. Addressing a press conference here, the committee Chairman, Mr Sajjan Singh, said only the CBI probe could find how a factory which had been running in profit for the past 23 years had suddenly acquired a negative balance in just one year after the Akali Dal (Badal) government took up the reins of the state. He alleged that though cases regarding corruption of Rs 92 crore had been registered yet the government was to question the top bosses of the company. He said as the company was under the direct charge of the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and the ministry concerned was with the Chief Minister, the matter should be investigated by a top agency. He alleged that currently efforts were on to get the company declared sick and sell it off to a private party. The Punwire Employees Union President, Mr Shahid Ahmed, said the factory did not fulfill any of the conditions whereby it could be declared sick. He said the factory still had Defence orders of Rs 85 crore, private orders of Rs 10 crore, sufficient assets and a work force which was willing to work. |
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‘Give Sikhs independent identity’ CHANDIGARH, Aug 23 — The Sarab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) headed by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra has sought a provision in the Constitution for ensuring a “distinct and independent identity for the Sikhs”. The party has also demanded a provision in the statute for the border states allowing them to determine “what kind of relations they want to have with the neighbouring countries”. Mr Tohra has submitted a detailed memorandum to the Chairman of the Commission for the Review of the Working of the Constitution (CRWC). The party has urged the CRWC that Clause 25-II(b) should be reworded for ensuring a distinct and independent identity for the Sikhs. In 1950, the Constitution in a subtle way tried to put the Sikhs within the orbit of the Hindu social order. The party has asked for drastic changes in the Preamble to the Constitution. It should be explicitly acknowledged and clearly stated in the Preamble that India is “a multinational state with a multi-ethnic populace”. To preserve and protect this diversity, India should be committed to cultural pluralism in the real sense of the term. Keeping in the mind the multiple character of Indian society, the federal structure cannot and need not be rigidly uniform. The necessary variations and flexibility are called for. The principle of autonomy to the states should be acknowledged and implemented. But the quantum of autonomy should be decided in keeping with the peculiar situation of a particular state. Generally, the states can be classified into three categories. First, those with a dominant Hindi-speaking Hindu population; second, with a dominant Hindu population but non-Hindi speaking; and third, non-Hindi speaking with a dominant non-Hindu population. Elaborating on this point, the party has stated in the memorandum that there are significant variations and problems and consequent demands of the states falling in these three different categories. While the non-Hindu populace is facing the threat of “Hinduisation” of its culture and ethos, the non-Hindi speaking states are wary of the attempt to impose Hindi, which is detrimental to their native language. So this reality needs to be strictly kept in mind while evolving a suitable pattern for a federal structure in India. Referring to the quantum of autonomy to be given to a particular state, the important thing is not the willingness or otherwise of the Central Government to part with its powers and authority but the needs and requirements of the said state to effectively protect and preserve and ensure the flourishing of its distinct identity and to utilise its resources and potentialities for its all-round development. The party has stated that the Union Government’s interference should be restricted to defence, foreign affairs, currency and general communication. But in these cases also the principle of flexibility should be applied. For instance, keeping in view the large number of Sikh shrines and historical places in Pakistan and the strong cultural and emotional ties between the people of East and West Punjab, what the people of Punjab in general and the Sikhs in particular want is an atmosphere of goodwill and friendly relations between India and Pakistan. Since any decision on relations with Pakistan is in the hands of the Union Government, the Sikhs in particular have to bear the brunt of any tension between the two countries resulting from that decision. So, while sticking to the principle of preserving the unity and territorial integrity of India, such states should be given a special allowance in the matter of relations with the neighbouring countries. They should be in a position to decide on the kind of relations they want to have with the neighbouring country. On the language issue the party says that India is a multilingual state. No special privilege or status should be accorded to any particular language. All languages that are spoken and written in the country should be treated on a par (as is the case of Switzerland or as prevalent in the erstwhile Soviet Union). Attempts to impose Hindi on a non-Hindi speaking populace in the name of the national or link language
should be stopped. It should be left to the people of the state concerned to opt for the language they want to use for communication purposes. Seeing
a motive behind the setting up of the CRWC, Mr Tohra has stated that the decision to review the working of the constitution had not been taken all of sudden. He is of the view that the minorities in the country have been sidelined in all respects. In the states, which have racial, religious and cultural diversity, the majority community seeks to establish its hegemony by perpetuating its political power. In the memorandum detailed mention has been made of the alleged excesses committed against minorities, especially the Sikhs, after Independence and the non-fulfilment of promises made to leaders of the minorities by Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and others. The CRWC has been urged to make such changes in the statute as may infuse confidence among the restless minorities and people of diverse ethnic origins. Pointing out several weaknesses in the Indian Constitution, the memorandum says that nowhere in it has the true character of Indian society been spelt out. All along the principles of Union, unity and homogeneity have been kept in focus. The identity of Sikhs, Muslims and Christians is in no way insignificant. The provisions in the Constitution for the protection of the minorities are inadequate.
CM urged to accept staff demands AMRITSAR, Aug 23 — A state-level meeting of Punjab State Services Federation (PSSF) was held here under the presidentship of Mr Charanjit Singh Walia, former Member Parliament and vice-president Shiromani Akali Dal where problems being faced by government employees were discussed. The meeting urged the Chief Minister to accept the long pending demands of the employees including implementing all the recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission. It urged the government to implement the anomalies committee report. State president of the PSSF, Mr Ranjit Singh Walia said promotional grades given to PCS, Deputy Superintendents police and other selected categories should be given to all government employees and the accounts of general provident funds should be decentralised at the district level. Mr Walia said a state-level conference of PSSF would be held at Patiala on December 31, 2000 which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, a former Prime Minister and other dignataries will grace the occasion. |
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SGPC team to discuss kar seva with Pak BATHINDA, Aug 23 — Bibi Jagir Kaur, president of the SGPC, has said that Sikh jathas would not be sent to Pakistan for the ‘darshan’ of historical gurdwaras until the issue of kar seva in Pakistan’s gurdwaras is not resolved by the government. Addressing a press conference here today, she said that a representative group of the SGPC would visit Pakistan to talk to the government to undertake the responsibility of kar seva of gurdwaras there. The Indian Government had given the permission to the SGPC to send the representative group to Pakistan for the talks, she added. She said that the SGPC had made all arrangements to broadcast shabad-kirtan, hukamnamas and ardas from Amritsar on the Internet so that Sikhs living in different parts of the world could get connected directly to Darbar Sahib. She added that according to an agreement with a British firm, all religious programmes would be telecast from Amritsar through television channel. About Rs 3 crore would be spent on this project, she added. When asked about the achievements of the SGPC in the educational field, she said that an engineering college was being established in Mumbai and the building of the medical college in Shahbad Markanda was under construction. About Rs 6 crore would be spent on the engineering college in Mumbai and the money would be contributed by the ‘sangat’. She pointed out that all educational institutions being run by the SGPC in Maharashtra were working effectively and most of the students there wore ‘destar’. Though the people in Punjab were nearer to Akal Takht comparated to other states, they were not fully committed towards their religious and historical values. She added that new religious instructions approved by Akal Takht would be imposed on all gurdwaras of the world. A new campaign had been launched in this regard, she added. Priests of all gurdwaras were being trained to ensure correct pronunciation of shabads and recitation of
gurbani. |
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Traders observe bandh against power hike PATIALA, Aug 23 — The Patiala Chamber of Industries, the Patiala Industries Association and the Focal Point Industries Association today observed bandh in response to a state-level call given by the Industry and Trade Forum, Punjab, to protest against the recent power hike by the PSEB yesterday. Most of the business establishments also remained closed in support of this call. Leading a team of more than 200 industrialists Mr N.S. Khurana, president of the Patiala Chamber of Industries, submitted a memorandum to Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, Deputy Commissioner, Patiala. In the memorandum the chamber along with the Beopar Mandal and its various units, the Industrial Chamber and Association of Patiala, requested the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to intervene in this matter so that the hike in the power tariff over and above that recommended by the state government was withdrawn immediately. A similar bandh was observed at Patran today, where most of the Industrial and business establishments remained closed. The Samana Chamber of Industries, Samana, in collaboration with local arhtiya and bazar associations observed bandh and handed over a memorandum to the Subdivisional Magistrate. The bandh was also observed at Rajpura, Nabha, Sirhind, Bassi Pathana, Mandi Gobindgarh and
Bhadson. |
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Arya Samaj dispensary needs care PATIALA, Aug 23 — There may have been many improvements in the medical profession but time seems to have stood still as far as the Arya Samaj dispensary here is concerned. The dispensary continues to be housed in a room in a busy market place, as it was years ago. The dispensary attracts around 100 to 150 patients daily mainly because it is situated in the heart of the inner city. For the patients who come here, it is a torture. The have to invariably stand outside in the open. We have lodged numerous complaints to improve the situation in the dispensary but it does not seem to have had much effect, says Prem Kumar of the same locality. He said numerous complaints have been lodged with the Director, Health Services, but so far nothing has materialised. Civil Surgeon Rameshwar Chander said he had recommended the shifting of the dispensary to some other area with more accommodation but the move has not fructified. There has been a talk to shift the dispensary to some bigger place nearby, said the Medical Officer of the dispensary, Dr Jitender Sadana. He said he had to counter complaints regarding shortage of space but could not do anything in the matter. He said the proposal to shift the dispensary to more spacious quarters was still to be passed. The single room has been divided into two chambers by a curtain. One of them is utilised by the doctor to check the patients. The curtained chamber does not ensure privacy as it barely covers the chamber. Ms Kanta Devi, the Staff Nurse, said women patients were the worst sufferers and sometimes had complained about lack of privacy. Pointing to the pathetic condition the patients were subjected to Mrs Kiran Verma, a patient, said that the long wait in the heat sapped the energy of the patients and left them further weak besides making them vulnerable to infections. It is especially hard on the children who visit the dispensary, she added. Shortage of essential drugs is another problem the dispensary has been facing. Most of the time we are told to buy necessary medicines from chemist’s shops, said Mr Jagdish Lal, another patient who has been coming to the dispensary for his treatment for the past few years. Confirming that the dispensary often fails to provide drugs to the patients, Dr Sadana said that the dispensary has tried to tie up with NGOs for the supply of essential drugs. However, so far only the Rotary Club has come forward to help the dispensary with drug supply, he said. Efforts are being made to improve various dispensaries, which are operating in such conditions, said Dr Chandar. Recently Rs 46 lakh was sanctioned to upgrade the dispensary of the Sanour Gate, he added. |
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Airport upgradation hangs fire RAJA SANSI (Amritsar), Aug 23 — Despite loud claims of upgradation of Raja Sansi as an international airport, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has yet to give its clearance for the project. The clearance, expected last year, has been held in abeyance and the international project continues to hang fire. The airport authorities, however, claim that the matter has been taken up by the Civil Aviation Ministry with the CCEA, but they are yet to receive a positive response from them despite reminders. The reasons cited for the delay by
aviation sources is the investment to return ratio (IRR). The Cabinet committee expects a return of nearly 12 per cent on their investment, but the current project promises less than 4 per cent, of return on the international airport project. Also the recent setbacks encountered by the CCEA in the airport projects at Lucknow and another one at Nagpur, wherein the airports equipped with “cargo complexes” at the cost of nearly Rs 6 crore are generating negligible returns on the investments made by the government. The complexes have turned non-viable following their minimum usage. The project (complexes) were reportedly sanctioned under political pressure. These loss-making cargo complexes have made the CCEA exercise caution in giving clearance to the Amritsar international airport project, now coming up as Guru Ram Dass International Airport. The sources also feel that political pressure from Punjab is not enough to push the project towards clearance without a reasonable IRR. The inauguration of a visitors’ waiting lounge yesterday is being termed as an interim arrangement before the actual clearance of the project by the CCEA, the airport staff say. The airport Director, Mr V.S. Hulekar, said that he had asked the
Aviation Ministry to expedite the clearance of the international airport project to meet the increase in the international passenger traffic. Earlier, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister yesterday inaugurated the newly constructed visitors’ lounge, completed at a cost of Rs 24.76 lakh, with a seating capacity of 400, snack bar, toilet and other facilities. Mr Badal said that the international airport would change the whole economic, trade, industrial and tourism scenario of the border district and state. |
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Building temples of knowledge NAWANSHAHR: Swami Brahmanand Bhuriwale, Master of the Garib Dassi sect, which has a large number of followers in Ropar, Ludhiana, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Patiala and Sangrur districts, is a saint with a difference as he prefers building “temples of knowledge’’ (educational institutions) rather than religious temples and deras and preaches ‘‘service to humanity’’ along with spiritualism. He was born in 1915 in Chuharpur village (Nawanshahr district) in an affluent family of jamindars, who also had a large farm in Nainital. Girdhari Singh (the real name of Swami Brahmanand) came in contact with Swami Lal Dassji Bhuriwale and in 1962 he renounced all worldly comforts to become Swami Brahmanand for propagating the teachings of Acharya Garib Dassji, founder of the Garib Dassi sect. Since then, Swami Brahmanand has dedicated his life to the welfare of the “Gau (cow), Garib (poor) and Kanya (girl).” He has been urging his disciples to donate generously for setting up schools and colleges in remote rural areas for the benefit of the poor, especially girls. Besides, he has been mobilising his disciples and devotees to set up hospitals and organise medical camps in villages. Swami Brahmanand often says: ‘‘Mar jaoon mangoo nahin apne tan ke kaj, paramarth ke karan mohe aaye na laj’’ (I will prefer death to begging for myself but I have no hesitation in begging for the cause of public welfare). To put his preaching into practice, the Maharaj Bhuriwale Garib Dassi Education Trust was founded in 1984 under the patronship of Swami Brahmanand, which in the beginning set up a degree college at Pojewal (Nawanshahr) in the name of Maharaj Bhuriwale Garib Dassi (MBG Government College). The foundation stone of the institution was laid by the then Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr Bal Ram Jakhar, in February, 1985. After constructing the building, the college was handed over to the government. In August, 1986, it was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala. The trust was also instrumental in mobilising philanthropists to donate 27 acres of land for the construction of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Pojewal, the foundation stone of which was laid by the then Union Minister, Mr Rajesh Pilot in 1988. The trust is at present running Maharaj Brahmanand Bhuriwale Garib Dassi Gokal Gour Girls College at Rattewal village (Nawanshahr); Maharaj Brahmanand Bhuriwale Garib Dassi Rana Gajendra Chand Girls College, Mansowal Zonawal (Hoshiarpur district); Maharaj Brahm Sagar Brahmanand Bhuriwale Garib Dassi College, Tibba Nangal, Anandpur Sahib tehsil; Swami Brahmanand Bhuriwale Garib Dassi Kanya High School, Barhmi village (Ludhiana district); and Maharaj Lal Dass Brahmanand Bhuriwale Garib Dassi Public School, Tapprian Khurd village, Balachaur tehsil. Besides, a new college and a hospital at Tapprian Khurd village and Malewal village in Balachaur tehsil, respectively, are being set up. Construction work on these is almost complete. The trust also organises three eye camps at Tapprian Khurd, Chandian Kalan (Ropar) and Bathari (Una district) and two medical camps at Tapprian Khurd and Dham Raqba Sahib village (Ludhiana) every year. Swami Brahmanand has also set up a gaushala in Mutton village (Nawanshahr) with modern facilities besides constructing temples at Dham Raqba Sahib, Barhmi village and Bhar at Nagar Chowk (Ludhiana), Bhawanipur Beet (Hoshiarpur) and Tapprian Khurd, Rattewal, Makhupur and Udhnowal villages in Nawanshahr district. Swami Brahmanand has nominated one of his disciples, Acharya Chetnanandji, as his successor. Swami Brahmanand Bhuriwale has been honoured by the Governor of Punjab for his notable contribution to the field of education. |
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SGPC threatens to
sue journalists AMRITSAR, Aug 23 — The SGPC today warned newspaper and reporters of legal action for filing fake reports about the Sikh body. The SGPC secretary, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, in a statement alleged that it was unethical for newsmen to make frivolous reports. He was referring to a press report in which it was mentioned that the executive committee which met at Anandpur Sahib on August 21 had failed to decide on anything. Dr Bachan said that the executive discussed many matters on the agenda and concerning gurdwaras under Section 85 of the Gurdwara Act but adjourned discussions on certain matters. The SGPC is seriously considering serving legal notice on certain newspapers and
reporters.
Plan to develop slum
areas CHANDIGARH, Aug 23 — The Punjab Government today formulated an ambitious plan to improve the deteriorating conditions in slums in the state. The Local Government Minister, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, said six towns of the state had been identified to be covered under the Centrally-sponsored national slum development programme with an expenditure of Rs 9.93 crore. This scheme is aimed at providing basic amenities in urban slums, including provision of the basic infrastructure under the education and health sectors. He said during the next two years Rs 15 crore would be made available as additional assistance under this programme to provide basic civic amenities in the slum areas. Two lakh slum dwellers would be benefited during the next two years, he added. Mr Tandon said work already in progress in 14 towns. These were Kapurthala, Mansa, Ropar, Nabha, Jagraon, Bathinda, Mukerian, Nawanshahr, Pathankot, Ferozepore, Gurdaspur, Abohar, Fazilka and Patiala.
SANGRUR, Aug 23 — The Sangrur district unit of the PCMS Association will submit a memorandum to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, here tomorrow against Mr Gobind Singh Kanjhla, Social Security Minister, Punjab, who allegedly “misbehaved” with four women doctors at a special old age pension camp at Nadampur village a few days ago. Addressing a press conference in the presence of the four women doctors Dr Daljeet Kaur, Dr Rupinder Bakshi,, Dr Monica Kharbanda and Dr Satwinder Kaur here this afternoon, Dr Darshan Pal, district president of the PCMS Association, said they would urge the Chief Minister to take stern action against Mr Kanjhla unless the latter apologised publicly by tomorrow. Dr Pal said the PCMS Association would intensify its agitation after tomorrow by involving paramedical staff and democratic organisations. He said as a first step health services in government hospitals would be paralysed from tomorrow after a rally and protest march by doctors in the town. Dr Darshan Pal claimed the Bharati Kisan Union had and gram panchayat of Nadampur village had given in writing that the women doctors had reached well in time the mini PHC of Nadampur village to perform duties at a special old age pension camp. The president of the association informed mediapersons that Mr Anurag Aggarwal, Special Secretary, Health, Punjab, here today, met the association members and the four affected women doctors to know the facts and get first hand information about the incident. Dr Darshan Pal said that they had been threatened by unknown persons on the phone that the minister would file a suit against the women doctors in the court and a parallel rally would be organised by the minister’s men tomorrow at the local Civil Hospital. Dr Daljit Kaur also claimed that the minister not only “misbehaved” but also used abusive language. Dr Surinder Singla, press and public relations secretary of the Punjab unit of the Indian Medical Association, said if Mr Kanjhla did not apologise by tomorrow private nursing homes would also stop functioning in the district.
Pharmacists stage rally FAZILKA, Aug 23 — Responding to a call from the Punjab State Pharmacists Association, pharmacists of district Ferozepore staged a protest rally in front of the office of the Civil Surgeon, Ferozepore on Tuesday evening. Mr Ravinder Luthra, secretary of the association, while addressing the rally warned the government that the pharmacists of state shall intensify their stir and may proceed on indefinite strike if their demands are not accepted. Their demands include grant of basic pay scale of 6400-10640 and timebound scale after 4, 9 and 14 years of service, grant of non dispensing allowance, regularisation of pharmacists working on 89 days basis, registration of pharmacists as medical practitioners after 10 years of service, etc. Later they presented their demand charter to the Civil Surgeon and Deputy Commissioner. |
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Pensioners’ plea
to Centre CHANDIGARH, Aug 23 — The Coordination Committee of Central Government Pensioners Associations has urged the Union Government to grant 1 per cent additional pension for each year above 33 years of service. At a meeting here today, the committee demanded an increase in the fixed medical allowance to Rs 250, payment of travelling allowance to pensioners to visit places of pilgrimage and reimbursement of medical claims.
Janamashtami
celebrated AMRITSAR, Aug 23 — Janamashtami was celebrated with religious fervour throughout the city here today. A large number of devotees visited beautifully decorated temples of Lord Krishna and offered prayers. Yesterday, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, participated in the ‘sobha yatra’ taken out through the busy streets of the city. 4-year-old dies
in accident AMRITSAR, Aug 23 (UNI) — A four-year-old girl identified as
Radha, died after a iron railing fell on her in the rest house (serai) area of the Golden Temple complex here today. A police report said the deceased was hanging onto the railing, when it fell on her. Construction work is on in the serai area. The girl was from the Kot Mit Singh locality of the city. |
Double murder mystery solved TARN TARAN, Aug 23 — The local police has solved the double blind murder mystery in which two bodies were found on June 28 in Tung village falling under Harike police station. Mr Jagdish Kumar Mittal, SSP told newsmen here today that these bodies were later identified as those of Manjit Singh of Paringri and Daljit Singh, alias Sona of Kot Budha. A case under Sections 302, 201, 148, 149 of the IPC was registered in the police station on the statement of Ms Surinder Kaur, mother of Manjit Singh, who idendified the suspects as Gurdeep Singh, Ranjit Singh, Santokh Singh, Sahib Singh and Bagicha Singh, all residents of Paringri village falling under Patti police station. The police has picked up moulds and other sufficient evidence from the incident site. The SSP assigned the task of investigating the case to Udham Singh, Inspector, of the local CIA, under the supervision of Mr Tejinder Singh, local DSP (D). Constable Gurdev Singh posted at Ludhiana and a resident of Paringri, Karaj Singh also a resident of Paringri, and Rachhpal Singh, resident of Thatha village, have been arrested. A land dispute is said to be the cause behind the murder. According to information, the local district police has recovered a stolen Swaraj tractor and a Zen car from the possession of Sunil Kumar Sharma of Amritsar and Gurbachan Singh of Tarsikka. The tractor was stolen from the Forest Department Mannawal and the car from Welcome Palace, Ludhiana. Harjinder Singh, alias Jinda, a resident of Bhikhiwind, the purchaser of these vehicles, too has been arrested. |
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Robbers in uniform loot 9.75 lakh PHAGWARA, Aug 23 — In a daring incident five armed persons in police uniform stormed into the house of one Surinder Kumar and looted Rs 9,75,000 in cash besides jewellery, last evening. The uninformed robbers told Kamla, wife of Surinder Kumar, that they had come from C.I.A. staff Kapurthala and were conducting a raid. The woman was alone in the house at the time. The police registered a case under Sections 506, 454, 380, 148, 149
I.P.C. |
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Three killed, 2 hurt in collision PHILLAUR, Aug 23 — Three persons, including a couple, were killed on the spot, while two others sustained injuries when the Maruti van in which they were travelling to Anandpur Sahib collided with a truck near Banga last evening. The deceased were identified as Gurnam Singh, his wife, Jaspal Kaur of village
Paragpur, and Paramjit Kaur of the same village. The injured include Tejinder Singh and Narinderjit Singh, who were admitted to Guru Nanak Mission Hospital, Dhahan
Kaleran. The police has registered a case and arrested truck driver after impounding the vehicle. In another road accident, one
scooterist, Balbir Singh, died on the spot and his pillion rider, Manpreet Singh, sustained injuries when the scooter they were riding was hit by a speeding bus near Naura village last
evening. |
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Two arrested for
embezzlement PATIALA, Aug 23 — The Patiala Vigilance Department has arrested two staff members, including a head constable, on the charges of embezzling money from the treasury chest of the local police station. Vigilance sources said head constable Gurcharan Singh, who was an Assistant Accountant, and Inderjit Kaur, who was a cashier, had allegedly embezzled dues of employees accumulated in the treasury. They said these dues were taken out by the duo by faking signatures of employees. The sources said the duo had also taken out money of the Ludhaina vigilance police station, besides that which was accumulated on account of rent. They said the duo had been arrested after the local Deputy Superintendent of Police checked the treasury chest and found the irregularity. Both have been remanded to judicial custody till September 4. Earlier they had been given a three day police remand. |
Probe likely into
exam irregularities AMRITSAR, Aug 23 — The Punjab Government has taken serious note of alleged malpractices in the post graduate medical entrance test conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University here on behalf of Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences in the first week of this month. More than 60 medical graduate doctors from here and other parts of Punjab had made representations to the Prime Minister, Union Education Minister and Medical Council of India that the university authorities had allegedly committed large scale irregularities in the entrance tests. The government is likely to institute a high-level probe into the charges. |
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College teachers to stage dharnas CHANDIGARH, Aug 23 — College teachers from Ferozepore, Muktsar, Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur districts and the city will stage dharnas in front of the offices of their respective principals on August 25 in protest against the non-implementation of the pension and gratuity scheme by the Punjab Government. Prof Charanjit Chawla, general secretary of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, which has given a call for the dharnas, said the Finance Department was the main stumbling block in the implementation of the orders on the scheme. |
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Protest against cut in
admission quota SUNAM, Aug 23 — Students of backward areas who want to get admission to BDS and MBBS courses are up in arms against the Punjab government which has reduced the number of seats reserved for these courses in medical colleges of Punjab from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. For the BDS, there is not even a single seat reserved for the backward areas in the current session whereas 2 per cent seats were reserved for the students of backward areas till the last academic session. |
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