 |
|
| Sunday, February 3,
2002,
Chandigarh, India
|
|
||||
|
Irked, Bhatia courts arrest, may quit SAD Ludhiana, February 2 Accompanied by about 100 supporters sporting black badges, Mr Bhatia arrived at the Gurdwara Singh Sabha and performed ardas. He then proceeded towards the Model Town police station, which is a few hundred yards away. A strong police contingent, which outnumbered Mr Bhatia's supporters, stopped him and his supporters ahead of the police station in front of the Arya Samaj temple. Mr Bhatia directed his supporters to keep away as he wanted to court arrest alone. He was followed by his son, Mr Rajinder Bhatia and 30 other persons including Ms Sukhwinder Kaur, a councillor, and the president of Gurdwara Dukhniwaran, Mr Prithipal Singh Pali. Mr Bhatia was protesting against the registration of an FIR first against his nephew, Mr Charanjit Singh Pannu, and against him and others yesterday. Mr Pannu had been accused of having attacked the election office of Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, Mr Bhatia's arch rival in the party and the candidate from Ludhiana West, on the night of January 31. Mr Bhatia and his supporters had staged a demonstration in front of the Model Town police station to protest the registration of the case. To add insult to injury, the police had registered another case against him and other supporters for violating Section 144 of the CrPC. Mr Bhatia claimed that this morning, when he went to meet the Chief Minister in Chandigarh, some police officials raided his residence and of his supporters. He alleged that one of his supporters, Mr Tejinder Dang, was dragged out by his hair while he was bathing. He claimed that the police had also ransacked his house. "In order to avoid further raids and harassment to my family and my supporters, I decided to present myself before the police", he said. The SAD vice-president alleged that this was being done due to a conspiracy hatched by Mr Makkar in connivance with the administration. He did not appear satisfied with the role of Mr Badal. He said, "the Chief Minister told me to meet the Deputy Inspector General of Police, who told me that he would call me up, but he never did. Asked about his future course of action, he said only the police would decide after his arrest. |
|
Free liquor claims another life? Ludhiana, February 2 Though the exact cause of the death would be known only after the chemical report of the deceased’s viscera is received, the police, on the basis of circumstantial evidence and the doctor’s suggestion of the cause of death, is almost sure that the man had died due to excessive drinking. The identity of the man was perplexing the police as no one has recognised him or claimed his body. The middle-aged man seemed to be an electrician by profession as a tester, screw-driver and a small wrench were found from the deceased’s pocket. The man also seemed to be poor as his clothes and shoes were worn out. The body neither had any injury marks nor did the man seem to have died due to cold as was being suspected by the police. The Basti Jodhewal police said they were checking up with other police stations in the city if anyone had lodged a missing report about any man resembling the deceased. The man’s death has once again brought to centrestage the disturbing practice of the supply of free liquor allegedly by candidates during their campaigning. Already two deaths due to excessive intake of spurious liquor have taken place in two different areas under the Jagraon police district. Darbara Singh had died in Barundi village near Kila Raipur and another person had died in a village near Gursar Sudhar last week. The third death, the first of its kind in the city, indicates the beginning of supply of liquor in the city as well. The Election Commission has so far not taken any action in this regard. |
|
Political
activities on school premises alleged Ludhiana, February 2 Mr Rakesh Pandey, the Congress candidate from the Ludhiana North Assembly segment, in which the school falls, complaining to the Election Commission stated that BJP leaders Lala Lajpat Rai and district president Harbans Lal Sethi were using the school premises for political activities. He said it was against the election code of conduct as the educational institutions should not be used for political purposes. Refuting his charges, the manager of the school, Mr O.P. Tandon, said today that Mr Pandey was acting at the behest of two members, who were staunch Congress supporters. He claimed that they wanted the control of the funds and management of the school and were now trying to use the office of the EC for their vested interests. Mr Tandon claimed that after he took over the management of the school, he noticed a scam in the school and got an FIR registered against the then principal and the vice-president, Mrs Rajesh Sharma under sections 406,409,420, and 120-B of the IPC. He alleged that in order to hamper the investigation, the principal who retired on January 31, 2002, got the District Education Officer, appointed as the Drawing and Disbursing Office of the school for drawing grants and disbursing salary to the staff. He disclosed that he challenged the decision with the DPI Punjab, who gave a decision in his favour and made him (Mr Tandon) as the Drawing and Disbursing Officer of the school. He claimed that Mrs Sharma did not like it and got Mr Rakesh Pandey to complain with Election Commission against the management. He said since Lala Lajpat Rai and Mr Harbans Lal Sethi were not concerned with the management of the school, charges levelled against them were “only baseless and motivated”. The controversy is only the extension of the ongoing internal conflicts within the APSP and AVPP which have been coming to fore from time to time. The conflicts are mainly due to the affiliations of the members with different political parties. In the present context, it is between the BJP and the Congress, which are locked in a keen contest in Ludhiana North where Mr Pandey is contesting against Mr Pran Bhatia of the BJP. A few months back, the same conflict led to a long-drawn controversy over the removal of the principal of the local Arya College. |
|
Poll rallies choke streets Ludhiana, February 2 The harried commuters came to know the reason for the jam only when they neared gurdwara Chhevin (sixth) Patshahi, towards Baba Than Singh Chowk. Outside the gurdwara, a number of VIP and police vehicles were parked and six armed cops were standing along the road in a relaxed manner, least bothered about the chaos on the
road. They were not supposed to direct or control the traffic as they were on security duty at a public meeting being held in the neighbourhood by none else than Mr Sat Pal Gosain, who is contesting as the BJP’s candidate from Ludhiana East constituency. And it was only after the rally cavalcade sped away from the area that traffic on the road became normal again. It was around 5.30 pm or so that a jam again occurred on the same road which again was surely not the usual time for it. This time the reason was a variety show being held on the roadside stage erected opposite the CMC Hospital. Banners canvassing for Sat Pal Gosain and displaying the “Lotus” symbol adorned the stage. A large audience, comprising mostly of migrants and children of the locality, was enjoying the show and they were really disappointed when it came to an end. But before winding up the show, the announcer, who had a “patka” with election symbol wrapped around his head, promised the audience that there would be a repeat performance tomorrow. A huge, colourful “shamiana” came up right at the beginning of the Chaura Bazar near the Clock Tower in the afternoon today. Flow of traffic was obstructed as vehicles were being directed to other roads. Piles of rented chairs were brought to the place. At around 4 pm., the chairs were being arranged as Ms Shushma Swaraj was expected to address a public meeting later in the evening. These scenes are quite common in the city these days as the congested roads of the city have been subjected to further pressure, thanks to the current electioneering by various candidates contesting the Assembly polls. Residents, however, wonder why are these candidates resorting to roadside public meetings when the Daresi ground is available for the purpose. Observers opine that none of the present-day leaders is so charismatic that people would go especially to listen to him, so these leaders have to come to people and catch their attention. These leaders are even finding it hard to gather audience for meetings being held in congested areas. Another reason for these roadside meetings is that the poll contestants are keen on identifying themselves with their voters by visiting their respective localities and doling out all kinds of poll promises. Going by the current picture, one can safely say that tomorrow’s law-makers are surely behaving as law-breakers these days. |
|
The cop who fears “amlee’s” curse! Ludhiana, February 2 This particular cop, whose name and place of posting is being withheld by the Ludhiana Tribune for obvious reasons, gets hold of a drug addict, he confiscates whatever quantity of the contraband is found on his person and then lets him go scot-free and without registering a “parcha” or whatever. But what does he do with the seized ‘maal’? He reportedly sells it to other addicts who are known to him. Sources revealed that when Mr H.S. Sidhu, SSP, took charge, he was informed about this particular cop and the practice being adopted by him. The cop was then summoned to the SSP’s office. When he was asked to explain as to why he did not register any “parcha” against the drug addicts apprehended by him, the cop’s candid answer was: “Sir, if you really want to know the truth, the fact is that I am scared of inviting an ‘amlee’s curse’ by making out a case against him’. |
Paswan advocates right to work Mandi Gobindgarh, February 2 It was due to his pro-people policies that his name had been entered in the Guinness Book of World Records for wining the elections with a record margin. During his five terms as minister is different departments, not a single allegation of corruption had ever been raised against him, he asserted. Speaking on ruling parties in the state, Mr Paswan said earlier governments had been formed on the basis of negative votes. If the Congress was in power, people used to vote for SAD and vice-versa, he explained. The process continued, but the basic problems of the people continued to pileup, he rued. Speaking on unemployment, the party president said labourers from other parts of the country came to Punjab in search of work and people from this state went abroad in search of work. The right to work should be included in the list of fundamental rights, he opined. Health cards of children should be prepared for adequate treatment and education should be free, along with books and clothing, he added. Policies adopted by the governments after Independence had failed on the population front and the condition was going from bad to worse day by day, he claimed. He cited the example of England, where the population was static around 5.5 crore for the past 30 years, and of the USA, where it was 22.5 crore. Equivalent of the population of Australia was added to India every two years, he stated. |
|
31 take part in beauty contest Ludhiana, February 2 The contestants wore traditional Indian outfits including sarees, ‘lehangas’ and ‘lachas’ in pastel as well as bright colours of blue, pink, orange, black and green. The contest was divided into three rounds. Round one was face-to-face round in which all 31 models walked on the ramp. Twelve contestants were shortlisted for round two and finally six girls were chosen for the final round. The questionnaire round drew some funny answers from the participants. A contestant, when asked as to why Punjabi women were considered beautiful, replied: “They are beautiful because they eat pure desi ghee and drink pure milk”. The show was anchored by Prashant Kumar. The judges included former Ms India Shikha Swaroop, Ms Indira Ahluwalia, a beautician, and Ms Malini Jain, Marketing Manager, Herbal Glow. |
Sukriti, Iknoor, Kuldeep win painting contest Ludhiana, February 2 Students were divided into three groups according to their classes. Students of Classes II to IV were grouped in sub-junior category, Class V to VII were grouped in junior category and those from Classes IX to XI participated in senior category. In sub-junior group, Sukriti Sharma from BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School painted ‘My future’ and was declared first. Deepali Goel from DAV Public School received second prize, while Ravneet Kaur from GGN Public School won third prize. In junior category, Iknoor Sahni from GGN Public School painted poster titled ‘Glorious past withering fast’ and stood first. Manjot Kaur from GGN Public School clinched second prize, while Paramdeep Singh from Atam Public School won third prize. In senior category, Kuldip Singh from GGN Public School won first prize for his landscape. Roop Kangarwara from BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School was declared second, while Richa from DAV Public School stood third. |
|
Harbir
tops poetry contest Ludhiana, February 2 Students from over 20 colleges of Punjab participated in the contest. In poetry recitation competition, the team from Swami Gangagiri Janta Girls College,
Raikot, was declared overall winner. Individual prizes went to Harbir Kaur from Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, followed by Anmol Singh from Arya College and Jaskanwal Sohi from Khalsa College for Women. Parminder Kaur from Swami Gangagiri Janta Girls College,
Raikot, won the consolation prize. In histrionics, Punjab Technical College again clinched the overall trophy. Sukhjit Kaur from Guru Nanak Girls College, Jasmeet Singh from SCD Government College and Jasdeep Kaur from Government College for Women were declared first, second and third, respectively. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
