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| Monday,
June 11, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Ferozepore, June 10 “I had a meeting with Mr L.K. Advani recently, who assured me in this regard,” Mr Badal told UNI here. These youths had landed in Pakistan jails after trying to return to India from the west-Asia via Pakistan. However, they were caught by the immigration authorities and have been in the jails for over five months now. Mr Badal was here for participating in the function organised by the Punjab Regiment to pay tributes to the widows and families of martyrs, disabled jawans and ex-servicemen. He said Rs 859 crore had been reserved for strengthening the base of education in the state. He informed that 1,404 new schools had been upgraded and vacancies of 800 teachers would be filled up soon. Talking about other developmental projects, he said, a “gigantic project named Infrastructure Development Board has been set up in the state which has identified a number of road and bridge projects. These mainly included four-laning of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana highway, repair of the Khanna-Samrala-Machiwara-Rahon-Nawanshahr road, providing a bypass at Ludhiana, a new bridge on the sutlej to connect Nakodar with Jagraon and a new bridge on the Beas on the Mukerian-Gurdaspur road. The Chief Minister said keeping in view the economic condition of the villages more than 80 per cent of the work of link roads covering 34,000 km had since been completed and an amount of Rs 365 crore released for making 2000 km of new roads in Punjab. “New transmission lines in villages were being laid and for next year a massive programme had been prepared for releasing new connections to 25,000 tubewells in the state”, he added.
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Call for Panthic unity unlikely to yield results Amritsar, June 10 Though Akal Takht has played historic role in forging unity among Akali factions whenever there was a split in the party, in the present context leaders of various Akali factions are not giving significance to the institution for a variety of reasons. Many Akali factions still consider Bhai Ranjit Singh as the real Jathedar. Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, was the first to reject the directive of Akal Takht. Mr Parmjit Singh Sarna, a former President of the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee, has said that Panthic unity can be possible if Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President of the ruling Akali Dal, gives an undertaking that he will not lay claim to the post of Chief Minister after the forthcoming elections to the state Assembly. However, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, and Akali MLA and a confidant of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, SHSAD, has welcomed the call of Jathedar Vedanti, Mr Calcutta has, however, said that the Akal Takht Jathedar should have not declared that the rival Akali factions were without any Panthic agenda. Earlier too, the call for Panthic unity by Prof Manjit Singh, the then acting Jathedar of Akal Takht in 1994, had ended in a fiasco. Interestingly, a new Akali Dal, the SAD (Amritsar), headed by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann came into being. Fresh efforts initiated by Jathedar Vedanti are not even acceptable to the ruling party as such, though Mr Badal has stated that he is ready for Panthic unity on his own terms. He is not ready to accept the terms and conditions of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and leaders of other rival Akali factions who have been insisting on his (Mr Badal’s) appearance before Akal Takht. Leaders of rival Akali factions feel that Mr Badal violated the hukamnama issued on December 31, 1998, by the then Jathedar, Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, directing leaders of various Akali factions to maintain a status quo till the celebrations of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa Panth instead of maintaining the truce, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Bhai Ranjit Singh were unceremoniously removed as President of the SGPC and Jathedar of Akal Takht, respectively. The SHSAD and other Akali factions maintain that the hukamnama issued by Bhai Ranjit Singh at that time for truce among the Akali factions was still valid and Mr Badal and other leaders of the ruling party could be summoned at Akal Takht, Mr Badal says he has not violated any ‘hukamnama’. Giving of ‘clean chit’ to the ruling Akali Dal for persuing the Panthic agenda has given the impression that Jathedar Vedanti is playing a partisan role under pressure from the ruling party. “No judge can pronounce judgement before a case is filed before him, many Akali leaders opine. It may be mentioned here that while addressing the Sikh sangat from the rostrum of Akal Takht on June 6 to mark the 17th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, Jathedar Vedanti had stated that the splinter groups were devoid of any Panthic agenda. When the ruling party itself gives little significance to the call for Panthic unity by Jathedar Vedanti, leaders of Akali factions are not morally-bound to accept the call. So much so, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, President, SGPC recently criticised Jathedar Vedanti for the mild tankhah awarded to the private publishers of Guru Granth Sahib. It was for the first time that any SGPC chief has commented on an edict issued by Akal Takht. If such is the respect given to the Jathedar by the SGPC chief, one can well expect the response of leaders of rival factions. |
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Villagers
rejoice Khabra’s
win in UK poll Chandigarh, June 10 Khabra (72) belongs to Kaharpur village in Hoshiarpur district. He defeated his Conservative Party rival in Southall with a record margin of 13,883 votes. He is among the seven British Asians who were elected. Seventytwo-year-old Khabra, a post-graduate in political science, migrated from India in 1956 but maintains a house in his village, which is looked after by his two nieces, Kashmir and Mohinder Kaur. Two of Khabra’s brothers in Gogron and Suna villages, near
Kaharpur, distributed sweets among neighbours and decorated their ancestral house after his victory. Staff and students of Guru Gobind Singh College at Mahilpur town, Khabra’s alma mater, also celebrated his
win.Surinder Sharma, a bookseller in Mahilpur, recalls Khabra’s visit to his shop. He said the defeat of Ujjal
Dosanjh, former premier of British Columbia, who also hails from the same region, had shocked them, but Khabra’s news made up for the loss. Gurudev
Kaplas, an old friend of Khabra, said politics was always the first love of the British MP. “He became the youngest headman of the village in 1955,” he said. He said Khabra had gone to New Delhi to become a teacher when he got a chance to go to Britain. There, Khabra initially worked as a labourer and then did a course in teaching. He then became a teacher at a London school. Politics charmed him, and he joined the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) in the early 1960s. In late 1970s, he became the IOC president and joined the Labour party. In 1978, he became the counsellor of Ealing Borrough of Southall. In 1992, he became the first Punjabi to be elected to the House of Commons from Southall by 700 votes. He won by 21,465 in 1977. People in his village want him to keep winning. “We want to see him on top of the world,” said village headman Gurdial Singh.
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Cops take away fasting mill worker Bathinda, June 10 According to information, the health of Mr Kainth started deteriorating yesterday and the Health Department employees who had been monitoring his condition felt the need for his hospitalisation. Meanwhile, members of the Spinning Mill Workers, Mansa, have decided to participate in the relay fast by sending one of their members to sit on fast on June 11. The agitating workers would hold a rally in Budhlada the same day to protest against the alleged atrocities of the police and civil administration. Members of various political and social organisations said that if the government did not change its attitude towards the labourers, they would launch a massive agitation programme. The labourers who were appointed in the sugar mill at Budhlada were demanding the opening of the mill so that the labourers who were rendered jobless when the mill was closed in 1993 could earn their living. The agitating workers today reportedly sent a letter to the Punjab Human Rights Commission to intervene in the matter. They urged the PHRC to take action against the authorities concerned. The rally held today in front of the office of SDM, Budhlada, was addressed, among others, by Mr Hardev Arshi, MLA, and a senior CPI leader, Mr Ram Sarup Ankhi of Dhaga Mill Bachao Action Committee, Mr Darbara Singh of BKU (Ekta) and Mr Swaranjeet Singh Daleo of the Students Federation of India. The leaders alleged that the government was not paying any heed to the problems of the labourers. They alleged that the labourers who were rendered jobless were not paid their dues. The labourers of the sugar mill had earlier suspended the agitation when the administration had made a promise on behalf of government to look sympathetically into the matter. A few months ago, a tense situation arose when Mr Kainth decided to set himself on fire in front of the mill if their demands were not met. However, the authorities persuaded him not to do so. Sources said that the police might have taken Mr Kainth for a medical examination as his health had deteriorated. |
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Crucial
BJP meeting tomorrow Chandigarh, June 10 The state unit chief, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, who completes a year in his office that day, may also want the executive to draw a comprehensive plan for the coming year which would witness the Assembly elections. The major task for the party at the moment is not only to mobilise its units but also to work hard in getting most of the irritants in the way of its urban agenda cleared by the coalition government of the state. The BJP has been pressing the Punjab Government not only for the abolition of octroi but also for the withdrawal of power tariff hike besides a few other demands pertaining to the urban trading community. Though the BJP would also like to start building pressure on the SAD chief and the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for more seats yet the decision is likely to be left to the party high command. Besides office-bearers and executive committee members, prominent office-bearers of some of the frontal organisations of the party are also likely to attend the Tuesday’s meeting. Mr Rinwa has reportedly made it clear to the district units and units up to the samiti level to go down to the grassroots level to assess party’s position. Though the BJP leadership was successful in taking the Chief Minister to the areas which are represented by it in the state Assembly for the “sangat darshan programmes” yet it continues to press for a decision on octroi and power tariff. The meeting assumes importance as it would mainly focus on preparations for the ensuing Assembly elections. The BJP has much more at stake than its alliance partner after the debacle it suffered in the five state Assembly elections held recently. Its election strategy and the programme it wants to take to the electorate will start taking shape from Tuesday’s meeting. The feedback from the grassroots level will be reviewed as the meeting is expected to continue until late in the evening. besides the calendar of events and activities to be undertaken by the pay, it will also emphasise on overcoming its drawbacks and weaknesses and finalising action plan vis-a-vis its major coalition partner for the coming months before the elections. The party may also take notice of the statements of the Chief Minister in which he did not rule out the possibility of forging an alliance with any other party to defeat the Congress in the next elections. These statements, the political circles indicate, do not rule out the possibility of some seats adjustment for a broad alliance with even the Bahujan Samaj Party, especially in the Doaba and deep Malwa belt where the Dalits have been supporting Mr Kanshi Ram. |
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Boards put up for free legal services Jalandhar, June 10 The central government had enacted the Legal Services Authorities Act in 1987 to ensure that opportunities for securing justice were not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability and had made the provision of free and competent legal services to weaker sections of society. “We have already put up display boards at different public places in Jalandhar, including the railway station, the bus stand and government offices like those of the Deputy Commissioner, the Senior Superintendent of Police, the Block Development Officer, all police stations besides subdivisional courts at Phillaur and Nakodar. These boards will soon be fixed at public places in Nawanshahr and Balachaur”, Mr M.M. Aggarwal, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority told this correspondent here today. Mr Aggarwal further said they had decided to organise legal aid camps particularly in rural areas, slums and labour colonies with the aim to educate weaker sections of society about their rights as well as to encourage the settlement of disputes through lok adalats. He said pamphlets published in the regional language would be distributed among people providing all details of the scheme during these camps. According to the Act, every person shall be entitled to free legal services, if that person is a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, a woman or a child, a mentally ill or disabled person, a victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake, a victim of trafficking in human beings, an industrial workman or a person in custody. The applicant would have to apply for free legal aid with the district legal services authority concerned along with an affidavit stating his income. A part from rendering free legal aid to weaker sections the Act specifies that lok adalats should be organised at different places at regular intervals of time in the country by persuading both the parties to enter into a compromise to settle the long-pending disputes. Earlier, the 111th Lok Adalat was organised on the local court premises under the chairmanship of Mr M.M. Aggarwal. A total of 174 out of 215 cases pertaining to the Hindu Marriage Act, motor vehicle accident claims and civil suits presented before the seven Benches constituted for disposal of the cases, were settled amicably. An amount of Rs 52.21 lakh was distributed as compensation. “The success of these lok adalats can be gauged from the fact that 10,519 cases have been settled and Rs 18.50 crore has been distributed as compensation so far in the district. If the court is satisfied that the matter is an appropriate one to be taken cognizance of by the lok adalat as there are chances of a settlement the case can be referred to it for speedy disposal’, says Mr Aggarwal. He further said they were regularly organising lok adalats at Jalandhar, Phillaur, Nakodar, Nawanshahr and Balachaur. |
Differences within BJP unit Rampura Phul, June 10 According to information, a group led by senior state functionaries Mr Murari Lal Singla and Mr Rakesh Verma, complained to Dr Chawla that senior leaders were being ignored by the mandal functionaries. They said they were neither informed about nor invited to the function to be presided over by Dr Chawla. Things took ugly turn when both groups insisted on the minister to tea at their places. The minister came in for a surprise when both groups started raising slogans. The group led by Mr Sunil Bitta, president, BJP Mandal unit, insisted that the minister took tea at the house of a senior woman functionary. Dr Chawla assured the leaders that he would visit the houses of members of both groups. |
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Makwana
to meet Punjab Cong men Chandigarh, June 10 According to Mrs Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, general secretary,
PPCC, his visit is aimed at moblising the Congress rank and file for the coming elections to the Vidhan
Sabha. |
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Mann supporters join SAD Moga, June 10 This announcement was made at Dhaleke village in the presence of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, General Secretary, SAD, and member of Rajya Sabha, here last night. The activists belonged to various parts of the Baghapurana Assembly constituency. |
Electrifying moments at Hussainiwala Ferozepore A visit to the joint checkpost at Hussainiwala is integral part of the itinerary of all those who visit this border town of Punjab, may it be some visiting dignitaries, or a relative or friend of a resident of this place. For everyone it runs out to be a memorable and lifetime experience to witness this rare electrifying drill. As soon as we walk past the BSF checkpost, the point from where the vehicles are not allowed to go further without due permission, the entire atmosphere look surcharged as the alien nation, which was once part of ours, is just stone’s throw away with barbed wire separating the two. Old-timers fondly remember with a touch of nostalgia, the exhilarating experience of travelling to Lahore traversing through this area. But now as this border has been sealed for any sort of activity, things have undergone a sea change in their eyes. The cobra fencing, the bunkers of ditch-cum-bandh, the observation towers almost sketch a picture of a warfield. For all those who come from far and wide, to witness the sturdy BSF jawans matching step by step, trying to prove an edge over their arrivals, it is an experience of a different world. The raised eyebrows, the stretched shoulders and the daring glances send waves of tremor through the body from head to toe. Though the sanctity of the border is well preserved and well exhibited, yet the contours of these dare devil commandos who always place the nation above their souls fill the atmosphere with suspense as one keeps on probing, what must be the feeling of performing for the nation’s pride and glory. With the last note of the buglers’ sound the ceremony folds up amidst thunderous applause by the audience on both sides, the sentinels of both nations match every action while lowering their respective national flags maintaining clock-like precision. The intense feeling of patriotism, spirit of sacrifice and hatred for the man on the other side largely written on their faces, these guardians of the border — the men in khakhis with proud feet — match back to their barracks. The enthusiastic crowd on either side slowly make their way home, but not before stealing a glance only to look behind at their brethern hitherto separated by hatred. The sun goes down followed by a dark sheet marking the end of the day’s journey, day after day, year after year people on both sides keep on thronging the JCP with different streaks of thoughts coming to their mind. For some, it is a stereo-typed ritual, for some it is a perfect drill by their soldiers, and for some it is a glimpse of land on the other side similar to their and for some it is a glimpse of the people on the other side. |
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Work on drainage project starts Bathinda, June 10 The project that will cost about Rs 32 lakh will be helpful in the drainage of rain water. Special disposal motors will be installed to drain out the water. The roads are choked after rain in these localities. Sometimes choked sewers generate dirty water making the roads unmotorable. Mr Chiranji Lal Garg said if the plan was success, similar projects would be started in other areas of the city. He said rainwater choking roads was a major hurdle for the residents and the problem would be dealt with on a priority. Special arrangements had been made to tackle the problem before the onset of monsoons. Explaining the government plans, he said to provide drinking water to the residents, Hudco would give a loan of Rs 42 crore to the local municipal council. Mr Garg further said low-lying areas of the city would be paid special attention for providing basic facilities. In the first phase, the work of laying main sewerage from the TV tower to the local canal had been started and would be completed soon. The minister alleged that the previous governments had not done much to solve the problems of the city. He alleged if the previous governments had taken the necessary steps in time, the situation would not have deteriorated to such an extent. Mr Garg alleged that a sum of Rs 36 crore, which was sanctioned to tackle the problems of the city, was diverted to Abohar and Muktsar areas by the earlier government. |
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Cargo traffic to be streamlined Wagah, June 10 An official spokesman said here it had been decided to streamline the cargo wagons interchange system as on both sides of the border export commodities had piled up in the past few months. The meeting also agreed that the BXR-wagons (for cargo use) attached with the bi-weekly Samjautha Express should be increased. The spokesman said the discussions also pertained to increasing the weekly running frequency of the Samjautha Express from two to four days. The Indian delegation was led by Divisional Manager (Ferozepore Division) G.S. Marwaha while the Pakistan delegation was led by Mr Abdul Gafoor, Divisional Superintendent of the Lahore area. The Indian Railways has asked Pakistan to provide eight-wheel cargo coaches as these have a larger in-built capacity than those currently running between the two countries and also for providing better facilities to passengers at Attari and Wagah. The Indian delegation pointed out that 35 wagons staked with sugar were awaiting clearance from the Pakistan side. Likewise, wagons containing poultryfeed bound for India were awaiting clearance from the authorities this side.
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Punjab
Regiment honours war widows Ferozepore, June 10 The function was attended by Mr Prakash Singh Badal, Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Lt-Gen, R.S. Dayal, Lt-Gen P.P.S. Bindra, Maj-Gen S.K. Awasthy, besides hosts of senior serving and retired Army officers . While expressing his gratitude towards the unparalleled contribution made by the Punjab Regiment, since its inception 250 years ago, Mr Badal asserted that the nation was proud of the gallant warriors. Mr Badal, who had a special word of praise for retired Brig. Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, hero of the Longewala battle during the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict, stated that he would take up the issue of the modification in the policy of entry of Punjabis in the armed forces with Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. While assuring his unflinching and categorical assistance to the Army, the Chief Minister announced the setting up a regimental sub-centre of the Punjab Regiment in the state, presently located at Ramgarh in Bihar, due to which jawans were facing a lot of inconvenience. Brigadier Kahlon, Director, Sainik Welfare Board, in his address said Rs 14 crore had already been distributed among the kin of martyrs and jobs had been provided to members of 190 families. Moreover, gas agencies and petrol stations had also been allotted. He said a war memorial had been set up in Ludhiana at a cost of Rs 2 crore and 11 families were being provided monetary assistance of Rs 2 lakh every year. At today’s function 325 bereaved families were presented with cheques for Rs 1.50 lakh each from the Army Central Welfare Fund and the National Defence Fund. Lt-Gen Ranjit Singh Dayal, who is vice-president of the Punjab Regiment Officers’ Association, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister, Brig, A.K. Khosla, Commander, Khemkaran also addressed the gathering. |
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Tributes
paid to Giani Kartar Singh Hoshiarpur, June 10 He released a book containing 55 articles by prominent persons on the life of Giani Kartar Singh on the occasion. Mrs Mohinder Kaur Josh, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr Sohan Singh
Thandal, Minister for Food and Supply, Mr Balbir Singh Miani, Sohan Singh Bodal and Mr Arunesh Shaker, both MLAs, SGPC chief JS Talwandi, Bibi Jagir Kaur and many others paid tributes to Giani Kartar Singh. |
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Bar Association Labour Court protest Patiala, June 10 Releasing a press note, Mr S.D. Marwaha, general secretary of the Association, said that by observing a strike, the Association had protested against the action of the Sangrur police regarding the dispute of laying the foundation stone for construction of chambers in the newly-built judicial complex. The Association has also demanded withdrawal of cases registered against lawyers during the lathicharge at Sangrur. |
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Bitta criticises govt for inviting Musharraf Jalandhar, June 10 Mr Bitta, addressing a press conference at the local Circuit House yesterday, alleged though the Central Government had always insisted that talks would only be held only after Pakistan stopped aiding and abetting terrorists outfits, fighting a proxy war with Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir but the government has virtually surrendered the interests of the nation to militants by changing the previous policy. Peace can only be restored in the valley by strictly dealing with these terrorist outfits as was done by the security forces in Punjab. The validity of talks with a military ruler in doubt is also since any democratically elected government in Pakistan can reject the accords signed by General Musharraf with his Indian counterpart at a later stage,” Mr Bitta added. Moreover, 54 prisoners of war (POW) detained in Pakistani jails since Indo-Pakistani War in 1971, were still to be released despite assurances by the Pakistani authorities in this regard, he said. He
suggested that representatives of the USA and the United Nations should also be invited to join these talks so that Pakistan could not backtrack from commitments, to be made during talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. He was of the view that to stop ever-increasing political intervention in the selection of chiefs of intelligence agencies like Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other security forces, could be stopped by setting up a special committee headed by the President, which will function independently and all appointments would be made in consultation with the President. He alleged that the Pakistan intelligence agency ISI was behind the recent massacre of all members of Royal family of Nepal. The Central Government has failed to check the increasing base of the ISI in the country and adjoining states, which would have adverse impact on the integrity of the nation, he said. He
advocated that Pakistan should appoint a Sikh as the president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandak Committee in place of the present incumbent who is a former ISI chief. |
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Vinod Khanna opens bridge Pathankot, June 10 Mr Vinod Khanna had promised the people a bridge during his election campaign. The pantoon bridge would provide access to residents of about 70 villages to the rest of the district. They have had to go to Gurdaspur via Pathankot. This bridge will facilitate residents of the Bharial area comprising nine villages on the Indo-Pak border. Mr Khanna assured the people that the second bridge over the Ujh river would be completed very soon. This bridge will provide relief to the people, who during the rainy season, remain cut off from rest of the state. |
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Awareness
camp on health held Bathinda, June 10 Mr Baldev Raj Chawla, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, was the chief guest. Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Minister of Science and Technology, was the guest of honour. Mr Norang Lal Mittal, president of SSD College, presided over the function. Mr Chawla said the Punjab Government was making every effort to curb the menance of drug addiction and to eradicate the diseases like TB and AIDS from the state. He appreciated the efforts and services rendered by Seva Bharti, here in all welfare programme of the state government. Mr Garg said Seva Bharti was doing good service to humanity and he assured them that he would urge the state government to provide a van so that they could provide health and medical facilities at the doorstep in remote areas of the district. He also gave Rs 2000 as award to the students of the Bal Seva Kendra and the tailoring school of Seva Bharti in connection with the cultural programme. Seva Bharti and the Bathinda unit of the Indian Medical Association honoured Mr Chawla. |
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Rally against privatisation Sangrur, June 10 Giving this information in a press note here today, Mr Bhupinder Samber, vice-president of the Punjab Kisan Sabha, said the government should write off debts of farmers, introduce of a crop insurance policy, stop imports of agriculture commodities and give remunerative prices through public procurement to save the agriculture sector. Mr Samber said the government should also stop indiscriminate privatisation and disinvestment in National public properties, besides giving top priority to small-scale industries. It must give adequate subsidies to SSIs and stop retrenchment of staff in industrial units. Mr Samber said other major demands of the organisations included end to privatisation and commercialisation of education, old-age pension for all at the rate of Rs 1000, end to violence and atrocities against women, 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and Assemblies and enactment of law for agriculture workers. |
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‘Compensate
parents of electrocuted boy’ Amritsar, June 10 Mr Dang alleged that the death was caused due to the negligence of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) and its two officials. Despite writing about this to the Chairman of the Board on May 5, urging for compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the bereaved couple, “not even an acknowledgement of the letter has been received from the Chairman of the P.S.E.B. nor from his office,” said Mr Dang. Mr Dang has sought the Chief Minister’s intervention to ensure that the poor parents of the deceased child get adequate compensation without delay. |
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Councillor
cremated Phagwara, June 10 Punjab Tourism Minister Swarna Ram, Nagar Council chief K.L. Gaba, vice-president Ram Sarup Arora and former Punjab minister Joginder Singh Mann were among those who placed wreaths on the body. |
Indebted farmer killed self: BKU (E) Bathinda, June 10 In a press note issued here today, they said all expenses for the bhog of the deceased would be borne by the union. The kisan leaders said the suicide by Neta Singh was due to the failure of the cotton crop, which had rendered him penniless. They said if immediate steps were not taken by the government more suicides would follow in the coming days. The two leaders urged the Chief Minister to make sure that Rs 2.5 lakh should be paid to the farmers as was agreed by the state government at the meeting of the representatives of the kisan unions and the Chief Minister. The leaders urged the government that the family of Neta Singh should be given compensation immediately. They added that if their demands were not fulfilled they would launch a protest. They said the union would start a massive agitation during which rallies and dharnas would be held in front of the offices of the officials concerned. |
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Foodgrain
thefts on the rise Moga, June 10 The report said that about 15 wheat bags belonging to Jagtar Singh, stolen from the grain market were recovered from the policemen while the remaining from the thieves. The report further stated that foodgrains valued at several lakhs of rupees belonging to government procurement agencies had been stolen from godowns in Moga, Muktsar, Ferozepore and Faridkot districts during the past year. Not only this, the foodgrain stocks in the godowns of the government agencies in these districts valued at about Rs 200 crore had been damaged due to negligence of the employees. |
Boy kidnapped from classroom Phagwara, June 10 Mr Raj Kumar, father of the child, in his complaint lodged with the Satnampur police station, had alleged that a clean-shaven youth in his early twenties went to his son’s classroom and asked for him by name. The class-II student, identified as Sawan Kumar, was initially not allowed to go with the unidentified many by his teacher. However, on being told that he was the child’s relative and had sought permission from the principal, the teacher allowed him to go with the man, Mr Raj Kumar alleged in his complaint. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Ms Gurpreet Kaur, visited the school after the incident. She herself conducted a probe today, recording statements of witnesses. The police has registered a case under Section 363 of the IPC but no arrests have been made so far.
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Two quacks arrested Bathinda, June 10 In a press note issued here today, Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, said a quack Jalore Singh, was running a medical hall at Kotshamir village of the district. He had been supplying intoxicating medicines at very high rates to the unsuspecting villagers under the garb of treating them. Another quack Baljit Singh, alias Balli, was running a medical store near bus stand in the city. He had also been selling intoxicants to people at high rates. Mr Jain said 311 capsules and tablets were seized from Jalore Singh while 10 bottles of intoxicating syrup were seized from Baljit Singh. Two separate cases had been registered against them in Sadar police station and Kotwali police station, respectively. Parshotam Singh had been arrested on the charge of smuggling narcotics as during a raid on his house at Bhalla village 2.80 quintals of poppy husk was seized. Charan Singh, another drugs trafficker was arrested for possessing 40 kg of poppy husk. Avtar Singh of Kot Guru village, Hansa Singh and Jagga Singh were arrested for possessing 15 kg of poppy husk. Three cases had been registered in different police stations against them. |
Class III textbook full of errors Amritsar, June 10 This publication edition 2001 is based upon a Survey of India map with the permission of the Surveyor-General of India. The title of the textbook is Samajik Sikhiya. Responsibility for the correctness of details on maps rest with the publisher as mentioned in the book. On a map Amritsar has been mentioned as a ‘single tehsil’ whereas, according to Revenue Department records, as approved by the civil administration, Amritsar is divided into ‘two tehsils’. The map shows no demarcation between the two tehsils. Even as Baba Bakala tehsil has been clearly shown Khadoor Sahib tehsil has been shown merged with Tarn Taran. There are six tehsils in Amritsar district. Lesson three of the book deals with factories and mills and on page 15 it mentions the sugar mill at Tarn Taran while Sheron village where the mill is located and by which it is widely known has not been mentioned. The Sugar Mill at Bahala village has not been mentioned at all. Similarly, a road map in lesson 4 on page 23 shows the Amritsar-Ram Tirath road, without mentioning Lopoke and Chogawan, despite this road being a major traffic route that connects the border village of Ranian and Lopoke. In the same lesson, the Amritsar-Majitha road is shown dotted with Chuslewal, Kaccha Pakka, Bhikhiwind, Khalra villages while none of these villages exist en route that road. The Amritsar-Khem Karan road on the map does not mention important villages of Bohru, Kherdin-Ke, Thatha, Chabbal, Gagobuan, Bhikhiwind and Sursing. Even the Amritsar-Harike road has been mentioned as Amritsar-Sarhali road, say teachers of primary classes teaching in government schools. Famous annual melas of Kotha Sahib, Rakhar Bhunia and Bir Baba Budha Sahib which are held at Valloha village, Baba Bakala and Thantha Sahib, respectively, have been described as festivals of the district. A map in lesson six on main towns, villages and historical places does not show Lopoke, Chuganwa block, Preet Nagar and Ranian. Mr Karan Raj Singh Gill, convener of the Primary Elementary Sikhiya Bachao Morcha and secretary-general of the SC/BC Teachers Union has taken exception to the carelessness of the board in publishing textbooks carrying mistakes.  |
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Reader
receives threat calls Amritsar, June 10 In a letter to The Tribune, he said the unknown callers threatened to not only harm his career but also his family and his personal self amounting to elimination. He has sought security in addition to monitoring of his professional career. |
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Topper
from a rural govt school Bathinda, June 10 She scored 82.44 per cent marks and acquired the first position among all government senior secondary schools of Punjab. Amandeep belongs to a poor family of Nathana. Her father Harmail Singh runs a small cycle repair shop in the village. Not much educated himself, he never dreamt that his daughter would bring so much pride for the family, her village and school. Mr Shamlal Gupta, Amandeep’s teacher, said that she was a brilliant student and had obtained 76 per cent marks in the plus one examination. Amandeep gave credit of her success to her teacher and parents. She wants to do Masters in Computer Applications (MCA) and become an IAS officer. Mr Nirmal Singh, Principal of the School, said that Amandeep brought laurels to the school and village by her hard work. |
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Students
want pool to function Patiala, June 10 The exact date of construction of the pool is not known. Old timers, however recall that the pool existed when the Bhupindra Kothi, a part of the college, was constructed.. Present day teachers and students allege they have never known the pool to functioned. When contacted Mrs Gursharan Kaur Jaggi, the Principal of the college, said that college authorities had tried to fill the pool a number of times with water but due to the unavailability of desired funds and other facilities such as changing rooms and showers, the pool could not be started. Mrs Jaggi said that the maintenance of the pool required a lot of funds and the main problem lay in getting those funds sanctioned either from the PWD or the state government. She added that last year also, efforts were made to clean the pool and restart it for further usage but the paucity of funds had remained a major stumbling block. Prof Raj Kumar, Head of Physical Education, said that apart from funds, the problem also lay in creating posts of Life Guard and employing trained coaches who would be able to handle situations in case of any mishappening. He said that trained coaches were also required to provide training to interested students. A cursory look at the pool revealed that it was a mess with broken pieces of furniture and rubber tubes having been dumped into it. Neha, a second year student, said, “Most students join the institute in the hope that the squalid condition of the swimming pool will improve someday and that they will be able to enjoy swimming in cool water during the scorching summers, but in vain.” Students feel that either the pool should be renovated and made accessible for usage or it should be demolished to make way for the construction of a new building block. Gitanjali, a first year student, said, “Though certain new rooms have been recently constructed in the college campus, they are still not sufficient to cope with the demand for rooms.” |
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