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| Friday,
September 14,
2001, Chandigarh, India
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Civic employees stage massive rally Ludhiana, September 13 The ‘sangharsh committee’, on behalf of the agitating employees, also presented a memorandum to Mr O.A.K. Sondhi, Assistant Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, for submission to the government. Through the memorandum, the agitating employees served an ultimatum to the state government for acceptance of their demands within a fortnight, failing which they would be forced to intensify the struggle. Prominent among those who addressed the rally were Mr Hans Raj Gagat, Mr Devi Sahai Tandon, Mr Tarlochan Singh Lochi, Mr Lovely Pal Disawar, Mr Kuldip Singh, Mr Ram Parkash Gill, Mr Dina Nath Sidhu, Mr Kharaiti Ram Moong and Mr Om Parkash Chauhan. The speakers demanded that privatisation of sanitation work should be discontinued and the mohalla sanitation committees, which had become a breeding ground for corruption, should be disbanded. Expressing their strong opposition to the newly enacted Punjab Municipal Corporation Act 1999, they called for total review of the Act, in consultation with the representatives of the employees, so that the ‘anti-employees’ clauses could be removed before its implementation. Direct recruitment to the local bodies came under sharp attack at the rally as the trade union activists lamented that hundreds of employees were stagnating at their posts for over two decades since the direct recruitment had blocked all promotion channels for them. The speakers also urged the Department of Local Government to revert all those employees back to their original places of posting, who were transferred in an illegal manner. Other demands, which came under focus at the rally were deprovincialisation of Class III posts, proportionate increase in conveyance allowance, payment of bonus, filling up of vacant posts of fire men, regularisation of part-time sweepers, grant of another opportunity to MC employees for pension option, promotion of sanitary supervisors to the posts of sanitary inspectors and recruitment of malaria workers. |
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Part of marriage palace razed Ludhiana, September 13 The team of officials, led by Mr S.S. Bhatia, Municipal Town Planner, descended on the spot at around 1 pm and cleared the entire frontage of the Mohini Resorts marriage palace, which had been fenced and landscaped, to be used as reception. The entire operation lasted for about two hours, during which the boundary wall, steps and raised floor level of the area, meant for parking, was demolished with the help of bulldozers and the MC work force. Accompanied by a strong police posse, headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, the MC team comprised Ms Monika Anand, Assistant Town Planner, and several other buildings branch officials of Zone B. Mr Bhatia later told Ludhiana Tribune that the owners of the marriage palace had covered more than 2000 square feet of front parking area, which was being used for other purposes, in gross violation of the building bylaws, and the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The owners were directed to raise the floor level of the parking area six inches above the road level and to maintain the parking place in a proper manner. The MC served demolition notices to several other marriage palaces, resorts and commercial complexes in the city where parking places were covered and being used for other purposes since the amendment in the building bylaws, necessitated by directions of the High Court, had made violation non-compoundable. |
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Big day for little minds Ludhiana, September 13 The programme was jointly organised by SPIC MACAY and the Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam. The children seated on stage were thrilled to be close to the only Indian to have received the Grammy Award. Before starting his performance, he explained to the children that 90 per cent of Indian music was improvised. They started with an ‘alaap’ and the melodious fusion had the audience in a trance. As the duo played ‘jor’, the first part of Raga Dawati, their music and control soothed the nerves of the audience. The increase in tempo of the trio brought them a standing ovation towards the end of the performance, which was short in duration. Talking informally to the press before his performance, Bhatt said his performance had been appreciated by President Pervez Musharraf during the Indo-Pak Summit at Agra. He had been invited to perform in Pakistan. He said, “Music should wash away the dust from the soul of life. It should lift the mundane to the spiritual level. People with stress can meditate while listening to soothing music.” He had also come out with the Vishwa veena, another fusion instrument. He admitted, “I was always haunted by the music of the harp. The Vishwa veena, which has 35 strings, has fulfilled my dream.” Answering a question, he said, “I gave a bit of music for the film ‘Lagaan’. Classical music should appreciated because it is unmatchable. I love to perform at the Harbhallabh Mela.” His movie ‘Bhawander’ would be released soon, he added. Artistes were egoists and they could not work according to the dictates of others, which was the reason they were keen to give music for films, he added. |
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A fatal tale of infidelity Ludhiana, September 13 According to Devinder's father Harnek Singh, he (Devinder) had reconciled to the infidelity of his wife as her paramour Mohinder was already living with Devi in Devinder's house for the past few years. Being ill, he could not object to the relationship as he had been disowned by his father. Although Harnek Singh knew that his son had been allegedly poisoned to death, he decided not to proceed against the culprits by lodging a complaint with police as his two grandsons Gurjant and Gaggan would have to suffer if their mother were to be imprisoned. Harnek Singh today approached the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, seeking reopening of the case after nine months. He said he was now forced to seek legal action against his daughter-in-law as she had allegedly taken away the children and was not allowing him or any of his relatives to meet them. Harnek Singh said the DC had declined to order reopening of the case as there were no medical records available since no postmortem had been done on the body of Devinder. Interestingly, a Deputy Superintendent of Police posted at Khanna is reported to have publicly admitted that the duo, Devi and Mohinder had confessed before him of having poisoned Devinder to death. Making this revelation Mr Amrik Singh, a former Sarpanch of Issru, told a group of reporters outside the Bachat Bhavan here today that the DSP had made this statement at a public meeting held in Issru about two months ago. Devi and Mohinder Singh are currently living at Dhamote village in Payal tehsil along with two sons of Devinder Singh. The two are said to have had an affair before the marriage as Mohinder Singh and Devi belonged to same village, Ghou. After Devinder was disowned by his father, Mohinder Singh started living permanently with the couple. Meanwhile, Devinder developed some infection, which was ultimately confirmed to be tuberculosis. Devi and Mohinder Singh did arrange some treatment for him for some time during the initial stages and got him admitted to some hospital also. "But ultimately they decided to get him killed and they did it in such a subtle manner that everyone was given to believe that he died of his illness only", alleged Harnek Singh. Harnek Singh and Amrik Singh claim that every one in the village was aware about the truth and the circumstances which led to Devinder's death. “It is public knowledge that who did it and why and it is now upto the police and the administration to take action”, they pointed out. |
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Sweet dishes which diabetics can savour Ludhiana, September 13 An exhibition of such eatables was opened for inpatients, outpatients, staff and students at the department here yesterday. Over 250 persons visited the exhibition and took tips from the dietician and dietetics students, who also answered their queries. A number of beverages and desserts were on display. Tea, coffee, Rasna, lime juice, lassi and plum juice were among the beverages. Fruit custard, ice custard, suji halwa, pumpkin halwa, carrot halwa, lauki halwa, rice kheer, sago kheer, sevian kheer, apple sauce, apple stew, fruit salad, stewed pear and pancake were some of the dishes on display. These dishes were prepared without sugar, honey or jaggery. A substitute of sugar was used. Diabetics need not yearn for sweets anymore. The only care to be taken is to add equal powder after the sweet dish has been cooled. If used during cooking, the dish will not be very tasty. Ms Molly Joshi, Chief Dietician, said, “The main aim is to make all diabetic patients enjoy the sweet dishes along with their family members. They should have a taste of their favourite dishes in spite of being diabetics.” Posters and charts giving detailed information regarding diabetes, its complications and dietary management were also on display. The diabetics were advised to be careful of retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy. The diabetics were advised to control blood pressure and cholesterol to avoid complications. A qualified dietician should guide the proper food pattern of a diabetic. They could have a reasonably normal food with the help and support of a dietician. Diabetics should pay special attention to the food habits as medication alone could not lower the blood sugar level. The charts also suggested that diabetics should undergo a complete eye examination and to check feet and skin every day. In case of injury or pain, immediate treatment should be taken. Smoking and diabetes do not go together. Blood sugar and urine should be checked each year for signs of kidney damage. The exhibition highlighted that the starch in wheat, jowar, bajra and ragi should be used instead of the starch found in maida. A combination of wheat flour, gram flour and soyabean flour was ideal. They were also advised to eat whole pulses like rajmah, chana and soyabean instead of split pulses. Proper diet and exercise could help a diabetic lead a normal life. |
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Complaint was forged: Singha Ludhiana, September 13 He said the students of the college had denied of having written any such letter and the authorities believed that some outsider had written it with an intention of maligning the institute. However, the director agreed the charges levelled could be partly true, but he reiterated that the complaint was not sent by the students. |
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Arya
College remains closed Ludhiana, September 13 Mr S.R. Kler, Additional Deputy Commissioner, recorded the statement of one group of management, including Principal S.K. Syal, adviser to the administrator. He said the other group led by Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, secretary to the management committee, would present their case tomorrow. The college remained closed for the seventh day and students have told the managing committee that they would not resume their classes till the suspension orders against the Principal are cancelled. Stating this in a press note, Mr Sukhjinder Singh, president, Students Union of Arya College, supported the Principal and said the academic atmosphere was being affected due to fight between two groups of management. |
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Four held on robbery charge Mandi Gobindgarh, September 13 According to the SSP, Mr Harnek Singh Saran, a police party which was passing by the place of incident, rushed to the place and nabbed all the four robbers. They were identified as Ashok Kumar Nepali, Satinder Kumar, Brij Lal and Jasbir Singh of Khanna. The police seized one .12 bore and one .315 bore pistol and a scooter (PB-22-2951) from the possession of the robbers. A case under section 392 of the IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act has been registered. |
Number one city of Punjab stinks Ludhiana, September 13 Just as one walks out of the railway station to enter the old city, no matter by which exit, one is greeted with an all-pervasive stench of urine. Well, maybe the stench represents the city. The alley at the back of the reservation block at the farthest end which is used as an exit and entry point by many a passenger, has been turned into an open urinal with half of the lane being used for the purpose. The whole side of the rectangular railway park along the GT Road is being used as a urinal by men. If you choose to make your exit via the GRP police station towards the railway godowns, even then you cannot escape the stench. The whole wall beginning from the police station and running right upto the GT Road along which flows a drain is being used as a urinal. A small urinal built ages ago has been stuffed with garbage. Here is not the end. Walk a little further and the stench invades you once again as you approach the city’s icon, the Ghanta Ghar. Thousands of migrants and others who visit the lottery market use virtually every available space for relieving their bladders. On all sides of the market, you can find people standing against walls , lamp-posts or behind parked vehicles. Even the base of the historical monument which has come to be known as the city’s icon has been defaced by these people by converting it into a public urinal. Maybe it is because no public utilities exist in the area. Walk a little further towards Mata Rani Chowk and you would find that the little park-like structure which was supposed to beautify the chowk is also being used as an open urinal by auto-drivers and others. This place is only 100 metres or so from the headquarters of the local Municipal Corporation. Go to any other market within the old city and you would find every non-commercial place which is available either being used as garbage dump or a public urinal. Public conveniences which exist are few and far between. These conveniences, such as the one in chowk division number three at the back of the police station, also emit a lot of stink in the absence of proper maintenance. If you do not smell stink in these markets, it is not due to the absence of it but due to the overwhelming fragrances of incense used by the shopkeepers which no doubt spread around a pleasant aura. While in Chaura Bazar, you would not find an out-of-use space which has not been converted into an open urinal. The abandoned building of old kotwali which is used as a parking lot is also a favourite as an open urinal This is one area of the town which because of its dense business activity, particularly in view of the lottery market which is frequented by thousands of people every day, where public utilities are conspicuous by their absence. Other markets such as the Mandi Kesar Ganj, Saban Bazar, Pindi Street, Meena bazar are also devoid of any public utilities worth the name. What a shame for a city that prides itself for being the number one city of Punjab.  |
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Yet another inquiry into manhandling case Ludhiana, September 13 According to Ms Gurmeet Kaur, a resident of Nurpur village in the Jagraon police district, she was beaten up by some of her neighbours on June 9. She alleged it led to a miscarriage as she was two-and-a-half month pregnant. She approached the police, but no action was taken. In fact, an inquiry conducted by the police had held her responsible for levelling false allegations and a case was ordered to be registered against her. The police had even refuted her claim that she was pregnant and that her pregnancy got aborted due to the beating up. However, an initial inquiry conducted by a physician established that she had been pregnant. Apparently to prove her wrong, the police referred the case to a gynaecologist who had supported the police version that she was not pregnant. The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.R. Kaler, on August 23 at a sangat darshan programme, had directed the Ludhiana Civil Surgeon to investigate the matter and verify the facts. He had also taken strong exception to the police inaction. Since the Civil Surgeon's inquiry report was to be submitted today, Ms Gurmeet Kaur was also present on the occasion. The inquiry report was found to be vague as it did not establish anything. The Deputy Commissioner said it was not satisfactory and a fresh inquiry was ordered. The inquiry would be completed by the next sangat darshan. Ms Gurmeet Kaur had been moving from pillar to post to get a case registered against the culprits who beat her up which led to a miscarriage. She said she had decided to fight till the end. ‘‘I will not give up till I am granted justice and the guilty are not brought to book,’’ she asserted. She regretted delay in the case, but seemed hopeful that the guilty would be brought to book. |
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Cable viewing to cost more Ludhiana, September 13 According to agreement, the viewers can expect to watch 45 to 65 channels, depending upon in which company’s area they reside, though they will have to pay the same amount as monthly fees. Mr Kamlesh Bhardwaj, chairperson, New Ludhiana Cable Operators Association, disclosed that Siti Cable would provide 45 channels, City Home 54 channels and Win TV, a cable company of Star TV, 65 channels. The cable operators would have to pay Rs 20,000 instead of Rs 10,000. Cable operators had been agitating for the past many days against the unreasonable increase in channel fees by up to 100 per cent. The dharna in front of the Mini-Secretariat had been lifted after an assurance was given by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, to make efforts for a compromise between the two parties. Mr Bhardwaj said in the presence of Mr S.R. Kler, ADC, the agreement was signed between the association and the cable company officials. According to the agreement, the companies would not support unfair competition among the operators. No new operator would start service in the old operators’ area. The companies would not increase service charges without consulting the Cable Operators’ Association. The association thanked the DC and the ADC for their timely intervention. Mr Bhardwaj said with the agreement, the jobs of more than 2000 persons had been saved. He admitted that the cable companies had increased their charges and they had to pass this to the viewers. They also had to pay Rs 15,000 as entertainment taxes. Asked if any efforts would be made by them to improve the customers’ service, he said, “We will provide assured service and timely repair, though the number of channels is not in our hands.” The viewers condemned this hefty increase in the charges and without increase in the number of channels. |
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Arrest culprits: ex-serviceman Ludhiana, September 13 Having failed to get any follow-up action after the registration of a case under Section 326 of the IPC at the Sidhwan Bet police station, the retired Army man approached the DIG, Ludhiana range, on August 21, with his complaint. He stated in his application that on August 15, the accused, Kamikkar Singh, Charan Singh, a son of Raj Singh, Raghbir Singh, a son of Charan Singh, Gurmel Singh, a son of Waryam Singh, and Karnail Singh, a son of Jagir Singh, all residents of the same village, arrived in a car (PB 10-B 0311) duly armed with iron rods and other weapons while he was standing in front of his house. The accused started beating him and tried to abduct him. When he shouted for help, his daughter and wife came out of the house. On seeing him bleeding profusely, they also started shouting for help as a result of which the accused fled the scene. But before fleeing, the accused threatened him that next time they would definitely kill him. In the end, the complainant stated that he apprehended a threat to his family and a case of attempt on life and attempted kidnap should be registered against the accused. The DIG marked the application for an inquiry to the SSP, Jagraon, the same day. But having failed to get the inquiry initiated, he approached the DIG for the second time today with a fresh application. |
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PRTC
campaign to increase passenger load Ludhiana, September 13 Mr Sidhu said the PRTC might not be in a position to pay the salary to its staff in the coming months due to the financial crisis. The corporation was already facing problems in providing diesel, lubricants, tyres, tubes and spare parts. He has appealed to the officials and the staff to improve their dealing with the passengers so that more and more passengers prefer the corporation buses. However, various trade union leaders have alleged that in the prevailing circumstances it was not possible to revive the corporation because of illegal operation of buses by private operators. They said a joint investigation committee of the Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Roadways had submitted a report to the Transport Secretary and other officials alleging illegal operation of more than 200 buses, including about 80 buses of the neighbouring states, which were operating without any permit. It was resulting in losses worth crores to the corporation and to the state government. According to the report which was submitted on June 8, a number of buses under the banners such as Nirbhai, Pritam, Khatra, Jhujhar, New Patiala, Jimmy, National, New Fatehgarh Sahib, Kartar, Sutlej and a number of buses of a local politician were running without any valid route permit from Ludhiana to Jalandhar, Ambala, Jammu, Haldwani, Tanakpur and Patna. Interestingly, the report has mentioned that about 55 buses of the Haryana Roadways, 10 of the Rajasthan Roadways and eight of the UP Roadways are ferrying passengers without any valid permit. It was resulting in an annual loss of more than Rs 1 crore to the Punjab Roadways, PRTC and the state exchequer in the form of fare and road tax. No action has been taken despite publishing of the reports in various newspapers. One of the officials in the Transport Department, on the condition of anonymity, said,‘‘How can we take action against these operators, who are paying lakhs to the high officials and even to the ministers every month. Leaders of the ruling as well as opposition parties are running these buses. Perhaps the High Court may do something to break the politicians, officials and bus operators nexus.’’ The union leaders alleged the management was taking only superficial measures and no hard steps were being taken to save the corporation. |
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Ban on loudspeakers goes unheeded Ludhiana, September 13 Residents have filed several complaints to the administration against violators, but all in vain. The police seems to have become indifferent to all these violations. According to a complaint filed by nearly six residents of Rani Jhansi Road, the police hardly intervenes to implement the orders. Mr Subhash Agarwal in his complaint to the DC has said Saggar House, a marriage palace situated on Rani Jhansi Road, has been playing loud music that starts around 7 pm and it goes on till late in the night. Though on August 23 and 25 he had lodged complaints to the police control room and the Division No 5 police station, no action was taken by the authorities. Mr M.K. Khosla, another resident of the locality, complained to the DIG that he had brought the matter into the notice of the Division No 5 police station on August 30 for using loud music even after 10 pm by the marriage palace. Manpreet, a student of BA (III), pointed out that she was unable to study during the night for quite sometime as the music kept on disturbing her. She demanded that the district administration should strictly implement the orders. |
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‘Railways facing financial crisis’ Ludhiana, September 13 He said the decision to create 7 new zones and 15 new divisions was totally unjustified which was bound to increase wasteful expenditure further. The number of gazetted officers has been increased. The total expenses on an officer included pay allowances and other facilities like attached peon, driver, vehicle both in office and at residences. The number of officers should be reduced to the minimum level. He said the construction of the Konkon railway line in a hostile and difficult terrain had resulted in heavy economical loss to the railways in the short run. Similarly, the decision to convert meter gauge into broad gauge was taken without any consideration of financial reforms. The new unremunerative lines were indiscriminately sanctioned, which would drag on for years, due to shortage of funds. He lamented that such faculty investment decisions had resulted in wastage of funds and diversion of traffic to roads. |
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‘Terrorist threats should be taken seriously’ Ludhiana, September 13 The AIATF has demanded from the government to beef up the security around all important places in the capital like Parliament House, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safadarjung Hospital, India Gate, Red Fort and CGO complex. The spokesman of AIATF Mr Dewan, said in a press statement issued here today that not only the terrorist groups but the countries harbouring and supporting them should also be singled out by United Nations for strict action against them. The activists of All India Anti- Terrorist Front (AIATF) today observed two minute silence to pay homage to the victims of terrorist strikes in New York and Washington. |
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Mann seeks protection of Sikhs in USA Ludhiana, September 13 Mr Mann said that Americans were mistaking Sikhs to be Arabs. The televised images of the suspects wearing turbans had made the entire Sikh community in the USA the butt of rebuke and harassment. |
Sensex falls in LSE Ludhiana, September 13 Against this there was a crash like situation in the LSE yesterday following opening of Sensex at 2972, 178 points down as compared to previous close to 3150 on September 11. Subsequently, markets improved and the BSE index recovered about 60 points from day’s low which closed at 3033. |
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