The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Ranjit Sagar Dam Engineers launch vital equipment
CHANDIGARH, Oct 9 — Tugs, equipment required by dam engineers for the inspection of the reservoir and to carry out a silt survey, have been introduced in the reservoir of the Ranjit Sagar Dam through an innovative technique. Under normal circumstances, the floating equipment, consisting of a 600-tonne self-propelled floating “Derrick crane,” a 120-ton non-propelled transportation barge and two 50-tonne tugs, were to be launched when the reservoir level rose to an expected 518 elevation ft.

Chemists up in arms against police
JALANDHAR, Oct 9 — Chemists and druggists are up in arms against the highhandedness of the police for allegedly framing them in false cases. Dr Vishwa Dogra, president of the Jalandhar District Chemists Association, addressing a Press conference here today, alleged that during the past fortnight, the police conducted raids on shops of chemists who failed to offer bribes to police officers. They were booked under different Sections of the NDPS Act.

Ahmadiya sect holds sammelan
NAWANSHAHR, Oct 9 — The Ahmadiya Muslim Jamaat, Punjab, with a view to propagating communal harmony and religious tolerance, as preached by Hazrat Mirza Gulam Ahamad Qadiani, founder of the Ahmadiya sect, organised a sammelan at Rail Mazra village, 30 km from here, yesterday.

Deputy Mayor seeks action against Additional Commissioner
AMRITSAR, Oct 9 — The Senior Deputy Mayor of the local Municipal Corporation, Mr Lakha Singh, who is officiating as Mayor due to the resignation of Mayor Subash Sharma, today demanded disciplinary action against the Additional Commissioner, Mr D.P. Gupta, for sabotaging the meeting of the House scheduled for tomorrow.

Forum to eradicate corruption set up
BATHINDA, Oct 9 — Prominent residents of the district have formed a Vigilant Citizens’ Forum to eradicate corruption from government departments. The forum was formed yesterday after a discussion at a workshop on “Corruption — can we do something about it?” which was organised by the Swami Vivekanand Study Circle at the circuit house here.

Chakreshwari fair from tomorrow
FATEHGARH SAHIB, Oct 9 — Fatehgarh Sahib is the land of great martyrs, saints and gods. Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Rauza and Mata Chakreshwari Devi Jain Temple, religious shrines of Sikhs, Muslims and Jains, respectively, are situated here.

Issue of shifting junk dealers rusts
PATIALA, Oct 9 — Going, going, but never gone. This defines Kabari Market of Patiala the best. It is to be shifted to Transport Nagar because for the past many years, it has become a traffic bottleneck on Bahera Road. There will also be more parking space at the place if the market is shifted.

Federalism a sham, say experts
JALANDHAR, Oct 9 — The Indian federal structure has created phony federalism that does not go beyond ceremonial devises, according to experts.

14 Pak, 8 Bangladeshi prisoners to be freed
AMRITSAR, Oct 9 — Mr Justice V.K. Bali, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, has ordered the release of 14 Pakistani and eight Bangladeshis during an inspection of the high security Central Jail here today.

State-level dharna by PPCC today
PATIALA, Oct 9 — A state-level rally- cum-dharna will be organised at Jagraon tomorrow by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) in protest against the steep hike in the prices of petroleum products, LPG and the ‘anti-people’ policies of the state government.

Workshop on religion held
AMRITSAR, Oct 9 — A workshop on ‘Diversity of religion and moving towards harmony’ was organised by the Manav Manch, Punjab, at Khalsa College Public School in collaboration with the diocese of Amritsar (DNI) DIT Memorial Resource Centre, Khalsa College Public School, Christian Institute for Religious Studies, Baring Union Christian College, Batala, National Council of Churches in India, Nagpur, Sepd and Alexandra Senior Secondary School, Amritsar. The workshop was addressed by various Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Christian scholars.

Sangathan opposes fresh recruitments
HOSHIARPUR, Oct 9 — Mr Kulwant Singh Saini, General Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangathan in a press note issued here today, warned the local government authorities not to make direct recruitment for the 742 posts of Inspector, Junior Engineer, Assistant Municipal Engineer and Accountant in the Municipal Councils.

Great great grandma is no more
A clarification
Meeting of TB control panel
Camps held

ADMINISTRATION

75 pc levy quota for rice millers
CHANDIGARH, Oct 9 — The Punjab Government has fixed 75 per cent levy quota (compulsory procurement) on each rice miller for the 2000-2001 kharif season on the rice produced by him out of the paddy purchased.

CRIME

Two youths held for robbery
FAZILKA, Oct 9 — Two unemployed youths of the city who allegedly committed a robbery here were arrested within 72 hours of the crime. Ankur Monga, a diploma-holder in electronics and communication and Sandeep Kumar, alias Kala, reached the house of a commission agent, Mr Ashwani Kumar Bhateja, on October 5.

Khalra case: SPO summoned
PATIALA, Oct 9 — The District and Sessions Judge, Mr S.N. Aggarwal, today ordered to summon Special Police Officer (SPO) Kuldip Singh on January 18 next for his statement in the Khalra murder case.

Police Inspector crushed to death
PHILLAUR, Oct 9 — An inspector of the Punjab Police, Bachan Singh (55), was crushed to death by a bus near Bhattian village between Goraya and Phillaur on the G.T. Road this afternoon.

8-year-old girl crushed to death
FEROZEPORE, Oct 9 — An eight-year-old school girl, Sukhbeer Kaur, was crushed to death by a bus near Baba Shershahwali Chowk this afternoon.

Labourer killed
ASI held

EDUCATION

Mission Reach launched
PATIALA, Oct 9 — Relevance and Excellence in Achieving New Heights in Education System (Reach), a mission to raise the standard of education as part of Technology Vision-2020 has been launched by the Government of India.

Bibi spotted in Begowal
From Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

BEGOWAL (Kapurthala) Oct 9 — Even as supporters of Bibi Jagir Kaur had organised a “show of strength” to express solidarity with her during the presence of the four accused in a Patiala court yesterday, mysterious calm prevails at her sprawling ‘dera’ here which still acts as a power centre at least for the district administration.

Nearly 100 supporters of Bibi Jagir Kaur had converged at the ‘dera’ before leaving for Patiala on the morning of October 8 in nearly 10 vehicles. Though they remained silent spectators in the court premises, but it was said to be an effort by close confidants of Bibi Jagir Kaur, apparently to boost morale of the accused on one hand and to give a message to the authorities concerned that the SGPC chief was still enjoying a great degree of support among masses and to give a message that her arrest could possibly lead to an unrest-like situation in the region, if not at least in Begowal area. What was the real impact of this show of “strength” could only be judged at a later stage, but it indicated that Bibi’s supporters were not in a mood to digest that she would be arrested by the CBI in the near future, especially in the wake of such a “vast” support base. Most of the vehicles, according to sources, had been arranged for her supporters by the district administration since the officials concerned had been directed by a close Bibi confidante to do so.

Meanwhile, a mysterious veil of silence and calm and even normalcy shrouded the ‘dera’ of the SGPC chief. A visit to the place by this correspondent today, revealed that though a few visitors and common followers kept dropping in the ‘dera’, but there was no tension among people in general, even as they were curious about the whereabouts of Bibi Jagir Kaur.

One of her confidants and PA, Mr Sawran Singh Josh, was seen busy running the affairs of the ‘dera’ in Bibi’s absence and was even solving the problems of people by calling up various officials including the DC and the SSP Kapurthala on the ‘dera’ telephone. Most of problems of people pertained to lack of ‘bardana’ in Briar village grain market in the Bholath area. Mr Josh repeatedly made telephone calls to the DC the ADC, the SSP, and the SP and asked them to intervene to solve the problems faced by farmers, transporters, most of which were supporters of Bibi Jagir Kaur. Earlier, the power of centre had shifted from Begowal to the Jalandhar’s Defence Colony residence of Bibi Jagir Kaur after the death of Harpreet and the subsequent media hype. On the other hand, three “akhand paths” were in progress in the main hall of the ‘dera’ with Dalip Singh, a ‘dera’ manager, saying that the flow of followers had trickled down after the arrest of five accused in the Harpreet case. He said it was due to Bibi’s absence and all were worried over the recent developments. He said during normal days 100-150 devotees used to come daily and these days the number had been dwindled to just seven-10 people.

Meanwhile, late night reports said Bibi Jagir Kaur made a dramatic appearance at her ‘dera’ at around 7 p.m. and stayed there for about half an hour before rushing towards Jalandhar via Bhogpur. Before leaving for Jalandhar, where she was expected to stay in a palatial house near her residence in Defence Colony, she directed her about 10 supporters to reach the Dukh Nivaran gurdwara in Patiala in big numbers. It may be mentioned that five accused who have been arrested in the case and who were remanded in police custody till October 10 would be produced in the court tomorrow.

Bibi Jagir Kaur indicated that she might also stage her presence at Patiala, intelligence sources said adding that 70-75 residents of Begowal might leave for Patiala early tomorrow morning. According to some residents, Bibi came to the village in her official SGPC Ambassador car, which was escorted by securitymen in two Gypsies.

Bibi is likely to surrender before a Patiala court tomorrow. She has discussed the possiblities of her surrender with her close confidants who had converged at Begowal where she is expected to have visited this evening.

	Harpreet Kaur case Badal: law will take its own course Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, Oct 9 — “The law will take its own course, may it be to punish the guilty or to exonerate the innocent,” a press note issued by the Information and Public Relations Department of the Punjab Government said maintaining that “the Chief Minister has the highest regard for the principle of the rule of law and, therefore, does not wish to make any comment what soever on the merits of the case during its investigation.” The investigation in the case regarding the death of Ms Harpreet Kaur, daughter of Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, was being carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation in accordance with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the note said. It further said the allegations dragging the name of the Punjab Chief Minister into the controversy were patently false, baseless and politically motivated. “There was not even an iota of truth in the irresponsible, unsubstantiated and mischievous allegations that the Chief Minister was a party to the destruction of evidence or any other offence. “The presence of the Chief Minister during the performance of the last rites of Ms Harpreet Kaur was with the sole objective of discharging a routine social engagement, nothing more and nothing less. The routine presence of the Chief Minister at a social function can in no way be deemed as interference in the process of law and administration of justice. In the case of Ms Harpreet Kaur, the death had allegedly occurred between the night of April 20 and 21 and by the time the Chief Minister participated in the cremation next morning, no element of doubt had arisen in either the media or otherwise which was in his knowledge,” the note said. “It is a matter of record that on going through the news reports, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala, had directed Mr Harmail Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bholath, and Mr Munish Chawla, SP (Headquarters), to hold inquest proceedings under Section 174, Cr P C. The DGP, Punjab, also directed the SSP, Kapurthala, through a demiofficial letter of April 25 with reference to a news item in The Tribune on the same day, for getting an inquiry conducted by an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police and also sought his report. The Chief Minister, after taking cognizance of the media reports, directed the DGP on April 26 to depute a very senior police officer to investigate the case. The DGP deputed Mr K.K. Attri, IGP, Crime, to investigate the matter. Accordingly, a team was set up comprising Mr P.S. Gill, Mr Munish Chawla, Mr Satinder Singh and Mr Manjinder Singh. Subsequently, by orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court the case was transferred to the CBI, the press note said.
	Bibi Jagir Kaur’s ouster sought Tribune News Service AMRITSAR, Oct 9 — The Gurbani Gurmat Sant Samaj and Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, have demanded immediate resignation of Bibi Jagir Kaur, president, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, who has been booked in the case about the death of her daughter. Addressing separate press conferences, here today, Baba Mangal Singh, acting president, Sant Samaj and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra said Bibi Jagir Kaur had no moral right to be head of the Sikh body. The “Sikh rehat maryada” (Sikh code of conduct) had clearly mentioned that those involved in the ‘death’ of their ‘kuri’ (girl) stand excommunicated from the Sikh ‘qaum’. Mr Tohra and Sant Mangal Singh alleged that Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar Akal Takht, should either discharge his duty or tender his resignation. Bibi to participate in Oct 14 procession Tribune News Service AMRITSAR, Oct 9 — Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC President, would participate in the religious procession to be taken out from Akal Takht on October 14. This was disclosed in a press note issued by the SGPC here today.
	Dalvinder Kaur’s remand extended till Oct 11 NEW DELHI, Oct 9 (PTI) — A city court today extended the judicial custody of Dalvinder Kaur, one of the accused named by the CBI in the “mysterious” death of Harpreet Kaur till October 11. Dalvinder Kaur, who has been charged with criminal conspiracy and illegal confinement of Harpreet Kaur, teenaged daughter of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, had earlier been remanded in judicial custody till today after the CBI had arrested her in Delhi on October 5. She has been admitted into Ram Manohar Lohia hospital since then and today a duty magistrate was sent to the hospital for completing the legal formalities. Besides her, the CBI has arrested Harminder Kumar, Satya Kumari, Paramjit Singh and Sanjeev Kumar, who also were produced in the court of Jaspinder Singh. He remanded them in CBI custody till October 10 yesterday in Patiala.
	Central team, too, rejects paddy From Our Correspondent MOGA, Oct 9 — A spokesman of the high-level central team sent by the Centre to resolve the ongoing problems about procurement has endorsed the statement of Food Corporation of India Chairman Bhure Lal that most of the paddy crop arriving in the markets of Punjab was below the specifications laid down by the Centre. He did not however mention the extent of defective paddy. He issued the statement after visiting various grain markets of Punjab here yesterday. The spokesman said that the FCI will not purchase any paddy which did not meet the specifications laid down by the government. The team had already directed farmers to bring dry and good quality paddy to the markets so that there not be any hinderance in procurement. He criticised the rail roko decision by Punjab farmers and appealed to them to give up this policy as it will serve no purpose. The FCI was sympathetic towards Punjab farmers problems he said. The team will submit its report to the union government tomorrow for further consideration. Meanwhile, taking a tough stance the BKU said the entire stock of paddy should be immediately procured as markets all over the state were flooded with it leaving no space for fresh arrivals. Its leader, Bhupinder Singh said that the moment has come for the farming community to adopt a do-or-die policy on the issue. He said that the agitation by Punjab farmers would be intensified if their stocks were not purchased by October 15 as farmers had to make arrangements for sowing the rabi crop. He accused the government agencies of corruption saying if farmers were ready to pay bribes there was no hinderance to procurement. Similarly millers also asked farmers to sell their paddy to millers at lower rates.
	Cong to use paddy issue to widen base From Chander Parkash Tribune News Service BATHINDA, Oct 9 — Having failed to score victory in Nawanshahr and Sunam Assembly byelections, the Punjab Congress leadership is now thinking of using the shortcomings of the SAD-BJP government of state to the party’s advantage for the next general assembly elections due after more than one year. For this task, the state Congress leadership had decided to hold dharnas and rallies all over Punjab to lodge its protest against the harassment of the farmers on account of non-procurement of their paddy crop by the government agencies. The dharnas to be held in series, starting from the end of this week, will also be used to widen the party’s base in the rural areas where the Akalis have maintained domination as indicated from the results of two byelections. Mrs Preneet Kaur, wife of PPCC Chief, Mr Amarinder Singh and member Parliament, while talking to Tribune News Service from Delhi on telephone, said the SAD-BJP alliance had won the Sunam byelection by violating all norms democracy and misusing officials and official machinery. She added that result of Sunam byelection was not a referendum of the people on the performance of state government. She said Congress workers would start staging dharans all over Punjab from October 10 in protest against the non-procurement of paddy by the government agencies. She further said that in absence of government agencies in the markets, the paddy growers had been suffering huge losses as they had to sell their crop at a much lower rate than the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 540. She pointed out that in the past three and half years, the farmers had been feeling shattered to such an extent that they had started committing suicide. She said that non-procurement of paddy at MSP further force the farmers, who were already reeling under heavy debt, to end their lives. Mr Harminder Singh Jassi, General Secretary, PPCC and member, AICC, said that a list of shortcomings of the Badal government was being prepared. He added that during rallies and demonstration, the party would also raised the issue of hike in diesel price rampant corruption, raising graph of crime in Punjab and denial of basic amenities and funds for development to the people of those areas which were represented by Congress MLAs by the Punjab Government. He said that after the party’s organisational elections, no Congressmen would sit idle and would make efforts to free people from the shackles of misrule of the SAD-BJP government in Punjab. He alleged that justice was being denied to people at large as a section of bureaucrats and police officials had become a puppet in the hands of ruling politicians on one hand and on the other senior members of the ruling alliance involved in criminal cases had been getting ‘VVIP’ treatment without any fear of their being arrested by the police. Our Gurdaspur Correspondent adds: A large number of farmers under the leadership of Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, General Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), sat on a dharna on Monday at the Sathiali crossing near Kahnuwan in protest against slow procurement and distress sale of paddy. Traffic between Gurdaspur and Kahnuwan, Gurdaspur and Srihargobindpur and Kahnuwan and Batala was disrupted. Addressing the gathering, Mr Bajwa threatened an agitation by the Congress to force the government to compensate the farmers against the distress sale of paddy. He asked the farmers to preserve acknowledgement slips given by arthtias. He said the party had already planned a rail-roko andolan and the gherao of the residences of Deputy Commissioners in the state to pressure the government to compensate the farmers as per the minimum support price. Mr Bajwa said the farmers had also suffered on account of the hike in petrol prices. The step was likely to result in more suicides by the farmers as they would not be able to pay back their debts and the responsibility of this would go to the government. Effigies of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Agriculture Minister, were burnt on the occasion. Meanwhile, the Kirti Kisan Union held rallies in various grain markets in Kalanaur area and condemned the government for the way in which it handled the procurement of paddy. Mr Nishan Singh, District Food and Supplies Controller, meanwhile, said the government procurement agencies had purchased 59,255 MT of paddy against the total arrivals of 2.57 lakh MT in this district so far. He claimed that the sale of paddy was going smoothly and there was no pending paddy arrival in the grain markets of this district.

	Farmers block rail traffic From Chander Parkash and Jaswinder Paul Singh MANSA, Oct 9 — The railway authorities have cancelled three passenger trains on the Ferozepore-Delhi section following the rail blockade organised by farmers in this city in protest against the non-procurement of paddy by government agencies. The trains which were cancelled today are the 342 Down Ferozepore Delhi, 341 Up Delhi Ferozepore and Ferozepore-Jind shuttle. The Ferozepore-Mumbai Janta Express and the Intercity Express have been diverted from Jakhal Junction to Dhuri Junction to reach their respective destinations. Mr Ruldu Singh, Vice-President, BKU (Ekta), who was leading hundreds of farmers, said the agitation would continue till the entire paddy was procured by the government agencies. Due to the blockade, the town was virtually divided into two parts and residents had to face a lot of problems. Earlier, BKU (Ekta) leaders had appealed to the farmers of this district to reach at the dharna site so that the Central and the state governments could be pressured for purchasing the paddy. Mr Ruldu Singh alleged that despite the tall claims of the authorities concerned the farmers had been facing a lot of problems in grain markets and purchase centres for the past two weeks as their paddy was not being procured by the agencies on one pretext or the other. On the Mansa -Patiala road, the farmers led by Congress leader, Manjeet Singh Chalbuti blocked the traffic in protest against the non-procurement of paddy. The blockade was lifted only after district officials promised them that their paddy would be lifted within 36 hours. Mr Harbans Lal, Station Superintendent, Bathinda, said only express trains would proceed through different routes. He said if the farmers did not lift the rail blockade, more trains would be cancelled. Mrs Raji P. Srivastava, Deputy Commissioner, said the farmers had been assured that the paddy would be procured and there was no need to get panicky. She said teams had been monitoring the procurement process and wherever there was laxity on the part of the government agencies, immediate action was being taken. She added that any procurement agency official found negligent would be taken to task. She said talks with the agitating farmers were on and they were being persuaded to lift the rail blockade. Our Staff Correspondent adds from Sangrur: Continuing their protests against the slow purchase of paddy by the government agencies, the farmers on Monday blocked traffic at three places in this district. The agencies did not procure paddy in the local grain market as the inspectors of these agencies were demanding that the state government should accept their demands with regard to the procurement of paddy, Mr Pradeep Kumar Singla, general secretary of the local Arhtiya Association, said. The farmers blocked traffic at Dhuri, Dirba, and Benra villages on the Sangrur-Dhuri road for some hours to force the government to speed-up the procurement of paddy and in support of relaxations in the specifications fixed by the Central Government. An inspector said they had submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, adding that if their demands were not conceded, they would go on an indefinite strike from October 13.
	Panic among farmers From Bipin Bhardwaj LALRU (Patiala), Oct 9 — The specifications laid down by the Government of India for the procurement of paddy have created panic among Dera Bassi farmers. A number of farmers are disappointed as no agency has openly come forward to purchase their produce for over a week. The agitated farmers have even threatened to sit on dharna against the government policy on the purchase of paddy. The ban imposed by Haryana on the arrival of paddy from Punjab has further dashed their hope of getting a good price for their produce. A survey by a Tribune team revealed that farmers of surrounding villages who had brought paddy on tractors to mandis at Lalru, Humayunpur, Tasimbli, Jarot, Dera Bassi and Samgoli had to take back their produce after spending five days as the procurement agencies refused to purchase the paddy. According to the specification of the Central Government, paddy should not contain grains with more than 3 per cent of ‘‘damage discolour’’. The farmers lament that the damage discolour is not because of their fault but due to unfriendly-weather and other natural factors. Mr Sewa Singh (70), a resident of Sarseeni village, who brought 1,200 quintals of paddy to Lalru mandi, said not even a single quintal of his produce was purchased by the procurement agencies till date. ‘‘The inspector comes and declares that the produce is unfit after inspecting it. This results in great disappointment as a lot of efforts and money goes into cultivating paddy,” complained Mr Ajaib Singh Tiwana, who had to take back 100 quintals of paddy. The farmers are also accusing the millers of not picking up their produce. “As their godowns are being used by the government to store paddy in the absence of state-owned godowns the millers also cannot purchase our paddy,” adds Jagtar Singh, a local farmer. Farmers allege that the private agencies are purchasing their yield at rates less than the ones fixed by the government. Though Rs 540 per quintal has been fixed by the government for Markfed, Punjab Warehousing Corporation, FIC and other government agencies, yet they are given less rates, claims Jeeva Singh, a resident of Singhpura Bhudda, near Zirakpur. As per the records of the Lalru Market Committee, 10,991 quintals of paddy was found to be fit for purchase. Of this, 10,002 quintals have been purchased by Markfed and Punjab Warehousing Corporation at the rate of Rs 540 per quintal. Paddy from the Tasimbali mandi is being picked up by Markfed only.
	Opposition to observe “black day” Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, Oct 9 — Various Opposition parties will observe October 14 as a “black day” in Punjab to protest against the distress sale of paddy and the hike in the prices of petroleum products. This was stated here today by Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD). He said representatives of various political organisations, including the SHSAD, the CPM, the Lok Bhalai Party, the Janata Dal (Secular), the Samajwadi Janata Party, the MCPI and the Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal-Mann), held a meeting here today to press the state and Union Governments to procure paddy at the minimum support price. Mr Chandumajra said that people of the state would also be urged to close their establishments on October 14. He said the Badal government had “miserably failed” on paddy front. The Union Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, and the Chairman of the FCI, Mr Bhure Lal had rubbed salt on the wounds of farmers of Punjab by making provocative statements about the quality of paddy. He said the political parties which met here would hold meetings at the district headquarters to mobilise their activists for October 14. Meanwhile, these parties have demanded the arrest of Bibi Jagir Kaur, President of the SGPC, in connection with the Harpreet Kaur case. Mr Badal should be included in the case for allegedly destroying evidence. They said Mr Badal was present when Harpreet Kaur’s body was cremated.
	Inspectors boycott procurement From Our Correspondent CHANDIGARH, Oct 9 — Inspectors of all Punjab government agencies, including the Food and Supplies Department, Punsup, Markfed and the Punjab Warehousing Corporation in this district boycotted the procurement of paddy and staged a dharna for six hours in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today in protest against the indifferent attitude of the state government towards their demands. The main demands include fixation of dry age in paddy, joint responsibility of government employee concerned and rice millers after the unloading of the produce in rice shellers, arrangements for proper lifting and unloading and verification of the quality of paddy. They also held a rally. However, the issue was resolved after four hours following the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr A. Venu Parsad, who assured them to sort out the matter. The Deputy Commissioner promised to forward their first two demands to the government soon. Directions have been sent to senior officers of the agencies to solve the other problems at their own level. Meanwhile, Mr Sukhinder Singh Dhaliwal, state president, United Communist Party of India, has criticised the Central Government for making excuses under the name of specifications to procure paddy in Punjab. He said farmers had changed their cropping pattern in national interest. Mr Dhaliwal criticised Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for his failure to take timely action to ensure the procurement of paddy in the state.
	Declare crop prices in advance: BKU From Our Correspondent MOGA, Oct 9 — A three-day annual convention organised by the All-India-Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), which concluded in Bangalore yesterday, urged the Union Government to announce the prices of crops in the whole country well before the arrival of the crop and that it be purchased at the rate announced by the government. This was stated here today by the press secretary of the Punjab unit of the BKU, Mr Bhupinder Singh Mahesari, who had just returned from Bangalore. In another resolution the convention has urged the government to immediately make procurement of paddy from all mandis of Punjab and pave the way for fresh arrivals. The convention also demanded that the subsidies be restored to the level of 1992 until developed nations withdrew their subsidies. It also demanded that indiscriminate import of grains be immediately stopped. The president of the Punjab unit of BKU, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, who addressed the convention tabled a resolution that a lenient view be taken on non-agriculturists who wanted to purchase agricultural land, including multinationals. He said India and Third World countries should put pressure on the WTO to take agriculture out of the WTO or pull out.

Ranjit Sagar Dam Engineers launch vital equipment
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 9 — Tugs, equipment required by dam engineers for the inspection of the reservoir and to carry out a silt survey, have been introduced in the reservoir of the Ranjit Sagar Dam through an innovative technique. Under normal circumstances, the floating equipment, consisting of a 600-tonne self-propelled floating “Derrick crane,” a 120-ton non-propelled transportation barge and two 50-tonne tugs, were to be launched when the reservoir level rose to an expected 518 elevation ft. This year, due to poor rainfall in the catchment area of the Ravi, the water level hardly went up to 508 elevation ft. This would have deferred the launch of the above equipment by one year.

To avoid this, unconventional methods were used and the first tug was launched on September 30 followed by another one three days later. The tugs are powered by a 335 HP marine engine, have a speed of 2.5 nautical miles and a pulling capacity of 2.5 tonne.

The job of placing the tugs in the reservoir by the unconventional method was quite risky, but it could be accomplished by innovation and improvisation of the cranes, say the dam authorities. The launch was supervised by senior engineers of the project.

This floating equipment is required for handling the 200-tonne bulk heads placed on top of the intake shaft of two irrigation tunnels and carrying out the closure work in the tunnels and the inspection of gates. The equipment costs Rs 21 crore.

The 50-tonne tugs, launched by the project engineers, took about 11 months to complete journey from Mumbai to the dam site. Special trailers were made for their transportation. The movement of these tugs was slow as transmission and telephone lines had to be temporarily removed to allow passage. The filling up of the reservoir started in February, 1999. Though generation from the power house could not be started as scheduled due to some problems in the power tunnels, other benefits relating to flood control, irrigation supplies and the generation of additional power from the Upper Bari Doab Canal hydel projects had started accruing.

Chemists up in arms against police
From Our Correspondent

JALANDHAR, Oct 9 — Chemists and druggists are up in arms against the highhandedness of the police for allegedly framing them in false cases.

Dr Vishwa Dogra, president of the Jalandhar District Chemists Association, addressing a Press conference here today, alleged that during the past fortnight, the police conducted raids on shops of chemists who failed to offer bribes to police officers. They were booked under different Sections of the NDPS Act.

Mrs Anita Bahri, owner of a chemist shop alleged that her father-in-law had been implicated in a false case and had been shown as intercepted at Maqsoodan naka while carrying 15 ampules of norphinx on September 24.

“In fact, two policemen came to my shop and purchased two norphinx injections from my father-in-law. After that, he was asked to report at the police station. Surprisingly, he was arrested on the way to the police station and booked under the NDPS Act,” she said.

The local civil surgeon had reportedly already written to the Superintendent of Police on September 29 that norphinx injections did not come under the category of “psychotropic substances” and could be stored in a shop without licence.

The association demanded that the police should be accompanied by a drug inspector during raids as specified under the Act.

When contacted, Mr A.S. Chahal, SP, said he had no knowledge of the incident since he was on leave for the past four days.

Ahmadiya sect holds sammelan
From Our Correspondent

NAWANSHAHR, Oct 9 — The Ahmadiya Muslim Jamaat, Punjab, with a view to propagating communal harmony and religious tolerance, as preached by Hazrat Mirza Gulam Ahamad Qadiani, founder of the Ahmadiya sect, organised a sammelan at Rail Mazra village, 30 km from here, yesterday.

More than 2,000 persons from all over the state attended the sammelan in which representatives of different religious sects preached the principle of love for all and exhorted the public to follow it.

Mr Mohammad Krimuddin Shahid, president of the Majlis Ansarul Ahmadiya, Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib and Anandpur Sahib, Mr Rajinder Kumar Mittal, general secretary, Adivakta Parishad (RSS), Punjab and Haryana, and Father Thomas (Catholic Church, Chandigarh), among others, spoke on the occasion. They said the country’s strength lay in secularism and it should be preserved through religious tolerance.

Deputy Mayor seeks action against Additional Commissioner

AMRITSAR, Oct 9 (UNI) — The Senior Deputy Mayor of the local Municipal Corporation, Mr Lakha Singh, who is officiating as Mayor due to the resignation of Mayor Subash Sharma, today demanded disciplinary action against the Additional Commissioner, Mr D.P. Gupta, for sabotaging the meeting of the House scheduled for tomorrow.

In a letter written to the Secretary, Local Self Government, Mr N.K. Arora, today Mr Lakha Singh stated that he had directed Mr Gupta to call a meeting of the House on October 10 to discuss the long pending issues regarding development of the city.

However, he said the officer had not acted accordingly and did not call the meeting on the plea that he had received the letter dated October 5 this morning only.

Charging the officer for having mala fide intentions in this regard, Mr Lakha Singh said that he would take up the matters with his party supremo and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Meanwhile, Mr Gupta, when contacted, claimed that Mr Lakha Singh had no right to summon a meeting of the House in the absence of Commissioner and Secretary of the House. Interestingly both the posts are vacant.

Forum to eradicate corruption set up
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Oct 9 — Prominent residents of the district have formed a Vigilant Citizens’ Forum to eradicate corruption from government departments.

The forum was formed yesterday after a discussion at a workshop on “Corruption — can we do something about it?” which was organised by the Swami Vivekanand Study Circle at the circuit house here.

Mr C.S. Talwar, founder patron of the Circle, said corruption was responsible for hindering the progress of the country and denying justice to a large section of society.

The main aims and objectives of the forum include bringing about transparency in the functioning of government and public utility departments, exposing corruption in order to improve public services, bringing about accountability in the functioning of government departments, supporting all public servants who have stood up to uphold the law and protect public interest, helping victims of injustice and exploitation at the hands of official machinery and increasing public awareness regarding the harmful effects of corruption.

Mr Hem Raj Mittal, former Chairman, Punjab State Service Selection Board, was honoured at the workshop for his contribution towards fighting corruption.

	Issue of shifting junk dealers rusts From Jangveer Singh Tribune News Service PATIALA, Oct 9 — Going, going, but never gone. This defines Kabari Market of Patiala the best. It is to be shifted to Transport Nagar because for the past many years, it has become a traffic bottleneck on Bahera Road. There will also be more parking space at the place if the market is shifted. A lack of a clear directive by political masters has made the local authorities complicate the issue. As a result of this, the market has become the biggest eyesore in the inner city. It has blocked an entire road. No one knows when will it be shifted. This is because continuous deadlines for shifting it out of the city have expired. Discussions have taken place between representatives of junk dealers and the Improvement Trust officials regarding the issue and the rates at which compensatory plots are to be allotted to the dealers in Transport Nagar. However, there has been no positive outcome. The Municipal Commissioner, Mr K.S. Kang, said the Improvement Trust was in the process of allotting land to junk dealers. Sources in the Improvement Trust say that the issue has become politicised and a political directive was needed to shift out the junk dealers. They said the body was ready to allot land at a minimum cost to the junk dealers, but they were still not ready to move out. The sources said, at each meeting, the dealers demanded further reduction in the reserve price. The Improvement Trust authorities said, though seven developed sites and 25 plots in Transport Nagar had been auctioned about two years ago, dealers had not set up shops there. They said the trust had earmarked 64 developed sites and 122 plots in Transport Nagar for junk dealers. The trust authorities were ready to reserve more plots for the dealers, they said. Earlier, the Corporation had identified about 160 shops in the market and recommended that the owners of these should get plots in Transport Nagar. However, representatives of the dealers had said, as the ownerships of many shops had been divided among relatives, owners of all shops in the market should be eligible for relocation in Transport Nagar. The dealers want that some other shops in the market, including those of motor repairmen, should also be shifted out of the city. The junk dealers want that land should be allotted to them at a nominal price. They said the civic body at Amritsar had struck a similar deal with the junk dealers there and the market there had been shifted out of the city. Residents of the city say that it is the duty of the Municipal Corporation to clear the road blocked by tractors of the junk dealers. “If the corporation clears the road of tractors, the dealers will immediately shift to the new location,” said Mr Amarjit Singh, a Bahera Road resident. He said the dealers had blocked an entire stretch of road by parking tractors on it. Residents say that the corporation needs to take a hard stance on the issue. Mr Tajinderpal of the inner city said the introduction of one-way traffic could be useful. He said access to Adalat Bazar could become easier if the market was shifted out of the city.
	Federalism a sham, say experts Tribune News Service JALANDHAR, Oct 9 — The Indian federal structure has created phony federalism that does not go beyond ceremonial devises, according to experts. Speaking at a national seminar on Indian Constitution and Deferalism, organised by the Punjab Academy of Social Sciences, Literatures and Culture at Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall here yesterday, Dr Harbhajan Singh Deol, former Commissioner, Linguistic Minorities in India, said the federal aspect of the Constitution had several flaws due to which federalism had been reduced to a mere window dressing. While the division and distribution of power in the three lists in the Constitution was a formal acceptance of federal principles, the states had to follow single unitary Constitution. The basic question was why did the Constituent Assembly of free India retain and preserve the centralising features and ignore the image of provincial autonomy?” he said. Was it political myopia of the framers of the Constitution or some historical compulsions confronting them at that moment, and has it not been a fact that a class of Indian politicians have remained only power crazy?” asked Dr Deol. He added that the cultural diversity was ignored although Indian culture is not the culture of a single political region or area. “A strong centralised state cannot develop the regional cultures, which in turn generates unrest among people. Example of former USSR is before us,” he said. Mr Satya P. Gautam of the Department of Philosophy and a political analyst in his paper, “Present Indian Political System: Issue of Political Autonomy,” said the central government had an undue and excessive control over governance and political affairs of the states and the situation could be rectified only through the devolution of powers to the state governments by restructuring Centre-state relations, as has been voiced and demanded by several political parties. He said autonomy as self rule was to be seen as freedom from both external and internal heteronomy and Indian society was not only facing problems in its autonomy from external pressures, both in the political and cultural domain, but it was also facing equally strong pressures from within its own structures, traditions and practices. Thus, any discussion on the issue should be multi-dimensional. Prof. Prithipal Singh Kapoor, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, in his paper, “The Constitution Review and Anandpur Sahib Resolution,” said the Indian Constitution had been a document prepared in a haste and the Constituent Assembly did not have the mandate of the people, which cast doubts on its legitimacy. “The entire task of framing the constitution was completed in just two years by people who were obsessed with the idea of unity and integrity of the country rather than anything else and were themselves products of the British system,” he said. He said the framers of the constitution did not do anything to allay the fears of minorities by just asserting that much had been said in the section of fundamental rights to guarantee the existence of minorities. “That explains why the Sikh representatives led by Sardar Hukam Singh outrightly rejected the Constitution and had refused to sign the draft document” said Dr Kapoor. Dr Joginder Singh Puar, chairman of the academy and former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala also spoke.
	14 Pak, 8 Bangladeshi prisoners to be freed Tribune News Service AMRITSAR, Oct 9 — Mr Justice V.K. Bali, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, has ordered the release of 14 Pakistani and eight Bangladeshis during an inspection of the high security Central Jail here today. The High Court had already directed the jail authorities to release all Pakistani prisoners by October 30 who had completed their sentence. Mr Justice Bali also listened to the grievances and problems of jail inmates. He asked them to confess their crimes, if any, so that sincere efforts could be made for their release. He was accompanied by the District and Sessions Judge and other senior judicial officers.
	State-level dharna by PPCC today Tribune News Service PATIALA, Oct 9 — A state-level rally- cum-dharna will be organised at Jagraon tomorrow by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) in protest against the steep hike in the prices of petroleum products, LPG and the ‘anti-people’ policies of the state government. This was stated in a press note issued by the Vice-President of the PPCC, Mr Sant Ram Singla. He said the dharna would be addressed, among others, by the PPCC President Capt Amarinder Singh, Member Parliament, Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib and other senior Congress leaders. Mr Singla added that all the district units in the state had been directed to stage dharnas in their respective districts and have also been asked to submit memorandums to the respective deputy commissioners.
	Workshop on religion held Tribune News Service AMRITSAR, Oct 9 — A workshop on ‘Diversity of religion and moving towards harmony’ was organised by the Manav Manch, Punjab, at Khalsa College Public School in collaboration with the diocese of Amritsar (DNI) DIT Memorial Resource Centre, Khalsa College Public School, Christian Institute for Religious Studies, Baring Union Christian College, Batala, National Council of Churches in India, Nagpur, Sepd and Alexandra Senior Secondary School, Amritsar. The workshop was addressed by various Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Christian scholars. In his keynote address, former Bishop of Amritsar diocese, Dr Anand Chandu Lal, proposed three tasks — living in kinship with nature, to promote wisdom of all cultures and faith traditions and participate in the movement from segregation to solidarity. Mr Hardip Singh, Principal, Sikh Missionary College, Amritsar, Maulvi Barhan Ahmad Zaffar and Dr Surinder Ajnat, Chairman, All-India Atheist Society, Banga spoke on various aspects of religion. In Charge, Inter-Faith Desk of National Council of Churches in India, Dr Packiam T Samuel, in his address stressed on the need of launching a movement to create religious traditions. A group discussion was also held. A 10-member delegation from Germany also participated in the workshop.
	Sangathan opposes fresh recruitments From Our Correspondent HOSHIARPUR, Oct 9 — Mr Kulwant Singh Saini, General Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangathan in a press note issued here today, warned the local government authorities not to make direct recruitment for the 742 posts of Inspector, Junior Engineer, Assistant Municipal Engineer and Accountant in the Municipal Councils. He demanded that the appointments should be made only from the existing municipal staff by promoting them, failing which the sangathan would go on strike throughout the state. He said the government had already made appointments of officer cadre employees, a case against which was still pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Now it had released a letter for the fresh appointments of 742 officer cadre employees he added. He said whenever the sangathan requested the authorities to make appointments for filling vacant posts of clerical staff in the offices, they turned down their requests under the plea that there were no funds to pay salaries to them. Great great grandma is no more BATHINDA, Oct 9 (PTI) — Very few persons are fortunate enough to have entered the fifth generation of their family. Ganga Devi Verma, who died yesterday, was one such person. A resident of Jaito Mandi, Ganga Devi reached the fifth generation about two years ago when a son was born to the grandson of her eldest son, Dharam Paul Verma. She used to play with her great great grandson till last week before she fell ill. She was cremated at Jaito yesterday, her family members said.