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| Tuesday,
May 27, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Romana summoned at Takht Amritsar, May 26 Meanwhile, the high priests at a meeting held at the Akal Takht secretariat here decided to seek advice from a religious advisory committee on May 30 on whether the Sikh clergy of Patna Sahib had the right to declare any Sikh ‘tankhaiya’. However, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, while replying to a question claimed that Akal Takht had the sole right to pronounce ‘hukamnamas’ declaring anybody ‘tankhaiya’. On the other hand, the five head priests of Takht Patna Sahib, signed by Giani Iqbal Singh, Bhai Rajinder Singh, Giani Baldev Singh, Giani Dalip Singh and Bhai Nihal Singh, had barred Mr Romana from working as president of committee, on the other he was stopped from taking part in religious activities till he clarify his position by appearing before the Sikh clergy. |
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Panthic
Morcha flays unity move Chandigarh, May 26 Among those who attended the meeting were Mr Ravi Inder Singh, a former Speaker; Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, a former SGPC President, and Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, a former Jathedar of Akal Takht. Speaking to media-persons, Baba Sarabjit Singh Bedi said Mr Badal had violated the edit issued by the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, in December, 1998. However, Mr Badal had not admitted to this fact in the letter written to the present Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti. Mr Badal, he said, had tried to play a joke on the Jathedar of Akal Takht by writing a vague letter. Mr Tohra, he said, should not forget that he had also participated in the “ardas” held at Akal Takht where a decision was taken not to shake hands with Mr Badal in future. Mr Talwandi said it would be unprincipled unity between Mr Badal and Mr Tohra. It would be wrong to describe it as
Panthic unity. Intervening, Mr Ravi Inder Singh said it would in fact, be unity between two individuals. Mr Badal he said, was playing a very dangerous game and he had ruined Akali politics. Mr Rode said the BJP was behind the unity move “I would soon write to the Jathedar of Akal Takht to point out that Mr Badal was deliberately showing his ignorance about the edict issued by Bhai Ranjit Singh. Mr Badal should not be spared in this connection”, he added. |
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Mann meets Sikh clergy Amritsar, May 26 Mr Mann held a closed-door meeting with Jathedar Vedanti for an hour. He urged Jathedar Vedanti to leave the matter of ‘Panthic unity’ to the ‘Sikh sangat”. Mr Mann told Jathedar Vedanti that Mr Badal and Mr Tohra, who were at loggerheads, had decided to join hands at the behest of BJP/RSS and hence Akal Takht should not put its stamp on such efforts, having ulterior motives. He said he had resigned as president of the Akali Dal on April 13, 1994 at Takht Damdama Sahib for the sake of
Panthic unity as per the directive of the then acting Jathedar, Akal Takht, Prof Manjit Singh, to pave way for the complete
Panthic unity. Though leaders of various factions had disbanded their dals but Mr Badal had refused to obey the directive of Akal Takht at that time. Later on Mr Tohra too withdrew himself from the SAD (Amritsar) which was formed on the directive of Akal Takht. Mr Mann said going by the history of Mr Tohra and Mr Badal, the decision should be left to the Sikh sangat.” |
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NANAKSHAHI CALENDAR Chandigarh, May 26 Addressing mediapersons here today, Dr B S Dhillon from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, said that the calendar was highly beneficial for the Sikh community and would help maintain their identity in the multi-religion society. Present calendars in vogue were based on the movements of the moon or the earth’s revolution around the sun, which project a different date for festivals every year. Further, the festivals were loosing sync with seasons, and according to one estimate, the festival of Baisakhi would fall in May 1,100 years hence instead of April. The Nanakshahi calendar was modified version of the solar calendar, which takes into account indigenous months referred to in Guru Granth Sahib. Changes in seasons and their relation with indigenous ‘Bikrimi’ months such as ‘Har’ in summer and ‘Poh’ in winter regarding dates and months had been fine tuned. The method adopted would result in no event falling twice in a year or not occurring in a year at all. An event would fall on the same date every year. Referred to as an academic, geometric and cultural exercise to allocate dates to historic events and festivals, new trends and constant scientific endeavour might require a further re-think in the calendar in the future. Highlighting current issues facing the community, the forum’s president, Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon, said that the Sikh youth needed a general renaissance to make them aware about Sikh tenets and moral values. The system of education in Sikh institutions not only needed changes, but a complete revolution. He added that caste pride still persisted among Sikhs and the practice of naming new gurdwaras after specific castes should be done away with. |
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‘Move
out’ staff from tax collection centres Chandigarh, May 26 Official sources told The Tribune today that a note had been sent by the office of the Transport Commissioner to the Director, State Transport, to make available a fresh lot of employees with satisfactory record for posting at the tax collection centres as certain members of the existing staff have not been working “sincerely”. There are eight such centres in the state which are manned by over 40 employees. Most employees are conductors of Punjab Roadways that functions under the control of the Directorate of State Transport. However, the centres are under the control of the State Transport Commissioner. The centres have been set up to collect taxes from buses, taxis and other vehicles having no entry permit for Punjab. Such vehicles can enter the state by paying the requisite taxes at these centres. Not only the Commissioner’s office but the Punjab Government Transport Workers Union has also objected to the way conductors are selected for posting at these Centres. The union has demanded that such postings should be made on the basis of seniority. The union has submitted a representation to the Transport Minister in this connection. Another controversy is regarding the staying of the suspension of certain conductors by the Transport Minister. On the basis of checking of the relevant record, Punjab Roadways ordered the suspension of a number of conductors in March. However, the suspension was stayed on the orders of the Transport Minister within a few days . Sources said before staying the suspensions no inquiry was conducted at any level. Meanwhile, the transport lobby has once again succeeded in scuttling the move to change the transport policy to allow free movement of deluxe and airconditioned buses. A proposal was mooted last week before the Cabinet sub-committee in this connection by the Transport Department. The subcommittee has reportedly directed the officers concerned to prepare a comprehensive policy with regard to the plying of deluxe and airconditioned buses. It means the matter has been delayed. Official sources said a notification with regard to the enhanced special road tax would be issued in two weeks. The special road tax has been increased from Rs 5.18 paise to Rs 5.75 per seat per km. It will add Rs 16 crore to the kitty of the Transport Department. Besides, the taxes for various categories of public carriers such as trucks, mini trucks and tempos have also been increased. It will earn an additional revenue of Rs 5 crore for the department.
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Police beats up CMP driver Bathinda, May 26 Before snatching the camera, the policemen twisted Harwinder Sharma’s arm and manhandled him. After taking the camera, the policemen deleted all photos in it. The camera was returned to Sharma after about two hours and that too when SHO Baljinder Kumar directed the policemen to produce the camera before him. Harwinder Sharma, while talking to mediapersons, alleged that first, the policemen, who were beating the driver of the CMP, Mr D.C. Pandey, told him to click the photograph and when he clicked some photographs, his camera was snatched and he was manhandled. Information gathered by TNS revealed that four military personnel were taking liquor in one of the “dhaba” located near the police station. They entered into some dispute with an employee of the liquor vend on the issue of overcharging of beer bottle. The employee called the police and complained that the four military police personnel had manhandled him and tried to break some bottles of liquor also. All four persons were rounded up by the police and were taken to the police station. In the police station, Mr D.C. Pandey, driver of the CMP, abused the policemen and attacked some of them, including an ASI, Mr Kundan Lal, police sources said. However, Mr Pandey, who was having injury marks on his body, alleged that 10 policemen started beating him up mercilessly the moment he along with his colleagues was brought to the police station. He added that the policemen kept on beating him despite the fact that there was no provocation from his side. He said his nose started bleeding. Later on, the policemen told him to wash his shirt, which was dotted with bloodstains, he added. He said the policemen dragged him after catching him from his hair. He denied that he along with his colleagues entered into any dispute with the employee of the liquor vend. Major Karan Bhagat of the CMP, who reached the police station, asked the scribes present in the police station not to make any issue out of the incident. However, Mr Harbhajan Singh, SP, (H), who also came to the police station, said a case under Section 353 and 186 of the IPC would be registered against the CMP personnel. He said he would take up the matter with the Army authorities also. He said suitable action would be taken against those
policemen who snatched the camera of Sharma and manhandled him. However, mediapersons demanded that the guilty policemen be placed under suspension. Meanwhile, the police freed the four CMP personnel without taking any action against them. |
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Probe sought into Dalits’ boycott case Jalandhar, May 26 Meanwhile, though the state Chief Secretary, Mr Rajan Kashyap, during his last visit on May 17, instructed the district administration to get the issue resolved by taking into confidence both the warring factions, but the latter had virtually failed to take any initiative in this regard so far. Spokesman for the Damdami Taksal and chief of the JAC Bhai Mohkam Singh and SAD (Democratic) president Kuldeep Singh Wadala, however, alleged that the BJP was trying to vitiate the peace and communal harmony by unnecessary raking up the controversy over alleged boycott of Dalits even as there was no such call given by the Jat community. The issue, according to them, was blown out of proportion by the BJP to gain control of the gurdwara managing committee, which they said, would not be tolerated by the
Panthic forces. The Dalits of Talhan village are demanding that they should be given due representation in the gurdwara managing committee as they constitute 80 per cent of the total population of the village. Whereas, the JAC contended that there was no scope to allow the participation of non-Sikhs in the committee as it would be a clear-cut violation of
Panthic traditions. Bhai Mohkam Singh said the state government should set up a judicial commission headed by a sitting High Court Judge to probe the matter as the National Commission for Scheduled Caste, which conducted an on-the-spot inquiry about two months back, failed to consider the facts presented by the Sikh organisations and gurdwara committee in this regard and solely made recommendations to the state government under the influence of some state BJP leaders. On the other hand, the convener of Dalit Action Committee, Mr Chanan Ram, and vice-president of the state unit of the BJP, Mr Vijay Sampla, alleged that the Congress government was trying to hush up the matter by not initiating any action against those who were booked under the Prevention of Atrocities on Scheduled Caste Act about four months back. “Though we have been sitting on a relay fast at Dr B.R. Ambedkar Chowk here for the past two weeks in protest against the indifferent attitude of the state government towards such a sensitive issue, but none of the senior bureaucrats or minister even tried to discuss the matter, which clearly reflects its anti-Dalit approach,” said Mr Sampla, denying the allegations that the BJP was instrumental in creating wedge between the communities for political gains. He alleged that the administration even failed to obey the instructions of the state Chief Secretary, who asked the former to immediately get the matter resolved by initiating a dialogue with the representatives of both the communities. |
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HIGH COURT Chandigarh, May 26 In an application before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Samra claimed that the two were asked to make him appear before the police and withdraw the allegations regarding a threat to his life. The two were also pressurised to give in writing that their lives were not in danger, Samra stated. Going into the background of the case, Samra explained that he had filed a petition seeking security cover, besides directions to the police against harassing him and his family. Samra added that he had been receiving threatening calls from police officials and as such his life and liberty, along with that of his family, were in danger. He claimed that Jalandhar's Senior Superintendent of Police Varinder Kumar and other cops came to his residence at 11.30 p.m. on May 25. Eight to 10 officials barged into his house, pushed aside his wife, and questioned her about his whereabouts, the petitioner asserted. The policemen also threatened her that she had merely seen the trailer and would now be shown the entire movie. Later, they took the petitioner and his son to a police station before detaining them till about 3.40 a.m. The SSP, he asserted, was present there till about 3 a.m. Taking up the case, a Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice Amar Dutt and Mr Justice Varinder Singh, directed the filing of the application in the High Court registry. The case will now come up for hearing on May 28. Orders reserved The High Court today reserved orders on an appeal filed by Punjab's Additional Director-General of Police Daljit Singh Bhullar against the trial court's orders sentencing him and three others to life imprisonment in a triple-murder case. The case pertains to the murder of a non-resident Indian and business partner of the Bhullar family, Dr Paramjit Singh Sahota, and two others in 1996. Claiming to have been implicated, Bhullar in his petition, taken up by Mr Justice K.C. Gupta and Mr Justice K.S. Garewal, had submitted that he had no connection with the incident and as such he was liable to be acquitted of the charges framed against him. Anticipatory bail Punjab's former minister Jagdish Singh Garcha moved the High Court for grant of anticipatory bail in an alleged cheating and corruption case. The case was registered under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, besides the Prevention of Corruption Act, by the Vigilance Bureau at Ludhiana. Seeking the grant of bail, his counsel had contended that a false case had been registered against him. He had further submitted that the Congress government was framing cases against its political opponents. The case is likely to be taken up for hearing
tomorrow. |
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Cong Seva Dal training camp
inaugurated Bathinda, May 26 Senior Congress leaders, including some MLAs, also addressed the volunteers, who are being given training about the working and functioning of the party. Mr Jagjit Gillatti, chief organiser of the camp, briefed the workers about the nine-point programme of the Congress as prepared by the All-India Working Committee of the party. |
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Book looks into cases of Punjab’s missing Amritsar, May 26 This was revealed by Mr Ram Narayan Kumar, a renowned human rights activist and author of “Reduced To Ashes: The Insurgency And Human Rights In Punjab”, in a press conference here today. He alleged that the commission had not yet heard a single victim’s testimony. He alleged that nothing had been disclosed about the CBI investigations in such cases. He added that the full contents of the CBI report which was submitted to the Supreme Court in December, 1996, were kept secret on the ground that the disclosure might hamper further investigation. Mr Narayan said the NHRC had concluded that the records of the investigation carried out by the CBI were not helpful in revealing the necessary facts. The State of Punjab and its agencies had not provided any meaningful information. He informed that to fight for the rights of the victims, an organisation, Association of Families of Disappeared in Punjab (AFDP), had been formed. It aimed to draw families of the disappeared more directly into campaigning for and spreading awareness about the
issues of justice and truth in Punjab. On the occasion, the copies of a book, The Final Report of the Committee for Coordination on Disappearances in Punjab (CCDP), authored by Mr Ram Narayan Kumar along with Mr Amrik Singh, Mr Ashok Agarwal and Mr Jaskaran Kaur, were presented to the president of the AFDP and widow of Jaswant Singh Khalra, who also disappeared on September 6, 1995. The book presents specific information about the personal and political backgrounds of 672 persons from Amritsar district who were allegedly kidnapped and executed by the security forces before being surreptitiously cremated. However, Mr Ram Narayan Kumar claimed that the list issued by the CBI in 1996 gave the total figure of persons cremated surreptitiously in three cremation grounds of Amritsar district, — Tarn Taran, Patti and Durgiana temple cremation grounds, — as 2,098. The CCDP has managed to investigate 1,703 incident reports from all over Punjab, out of which 889 are from Amritsar, one out of 17 districts in the state which was worst effected by the militancy during the period. Out of these 889, only 672 figure in the CBI lists. The first volume of book presents the summaries of only those 672 cases. |
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Ice effect or hot burns? Bathinda, May 26 Sunita (name changed), a 17-year-old girl, is repenting the moment when she decided to welcome the would be husband of her cousin at the marriage function held in a local hotel on Thursday. While she was busy in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, some members of the marriage party started spraying the foam, a petroleum product. After a few seconds, when someone lighted the matchstick at some distance, Sunita was in flames. She was covered by thick clothes to extinguish the fire and by the time the fire was put off, she found her arms and some other parts of the body badly burnt. She was taken to hospital where she is under treatment. A few weeks ago, during another marriage function, a member of the party sprayed the foam with pressure on the guests dancing to Punjabi beats. The spray hit the eyeball of Pardeep and he had to remain hospitalised for two days to save his vision. About two months ago, Vinita (name changed), a young girl of this town, had to spent a lot of money on the treatment of her skin, which had got damaged due to spray of petroleum foam on her body when she attended the marriage of her relative. Incidents of injuries following the spraying of ice-foam, including burns, skin rashes and irritation in the eyes, have increased. The inflammable nature of the additives used in these items had made their use as dangerous as playing with fire, rather than “ice effects” as their names indicates. A section of doctors while talking to TNS pointed out that the use of spray cans containing petroleum foam should be banned, as it was highly unhygienic and dangerous to life. Not only the chemicals and additives of these sprays, but also the high pressure of the contents in the cans is a cause of concern as in some incidents, the cans have burst, causing injuries to the holders of the cans as also people standing nearby. |
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Youth died in mishap,
not murdered: union Bathinda, May 26 The association alleged that the wife of the deceased Baljit, wanted to grab the property of the sarpanch of the village, therefore she was levelling allegations against the sarpanch. Mr Jeet Singh, president, and Mr Ashok Kalra, general secretary, of the Janta Karamchari Sangh of Bathinda Ammunition Depot, issued a press note here today claiming that Baljit had died in an accident. They claimed that they had conducted an investigation into the incident of the death of the youth, as one of the accused named in the FIR registered on the complaint of the wife of the deceased, was a member of their union. The youth had died at Mehma Sawai village while he was coming from Akalia village, after dropping someone at that village on the intervening night of April 2 and 3. While the villagers claimed that the youth died as his scooter skidded, the wife of the deceased said some residents of the village murdered him. She alleged that the sarpanch and nambardar of the village were behind the murder. A case under Sections 302, 120-B, 148 and 140 of the IPC was registered against Kulwant Singh,
nambardar, Major Singh, his sons Nebu Singh, Bittu Singh, Neeta Singh and Kulwant Singh on April 3 on the complaint of the wife of Baljit. |
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Traders
want railway crossing
to remain open
Patiala, May 26 According to railway norms, it closes down the railway crossing on which an overbridge is constructed to cut down on costs since it also invests on the construction of the overbridge. In some cases, if there is a demand to keep the railway crossing open, some other railway crossing close to the site is surrendered, according to the norms. The shopkeepers have started a movement to keep the railway crossing open, saying that the business of around 300 shopkeepers would be ruined if the railway crossing is closed for vehicular traffic. The shopkeepers having businesses on both sides of the railway crossing have come together under the banner of the 22 Number Market Association and the Bhupindra Road Market Association. Association leaders Joginder Singh Kohli and Narinder Singh Bedi said the Mayor had promised them that their views would be put before Patiala MP Preneet Kaur so that the matter could be taken up with the railway authorities. Mr Bedi said businesses would be adversely affected if the railway crossing was closed for traffic as it would cut off accessibility to the markets situated on both sides of the crossing to people of the nearby areas. He said as most of the shops in the markets dealt in consumer goods, their business would be ruined. Meanwhile, Om Verma of Verma Bakeries said there were other practical problems also which necessitated the continued opening of the railway crossing. This, he said, included the fact that there were two schools situated on both sides of the Railway crossings. Negotiation of the overbridge by children on a daily basis on rickshaws and cycles could result in accidents, besides causing them inconvenience. Besides, the shopkeepers said, the Khel Sahib gurdwara was also situated right next to the railway crossing and people coming to pay obeisance would also be inconvenienced in case the crossing was closed. The shopkeepers say the way to the cremation ground in Badungar is also through the railway crossing and people would be inconvenienced if they had to negotiate the overbridge to get to the other side of the crossing. Though the shopkeepers may have a point in keeping the overbridge open to traffic, there is the issue of closing another railway crossing to keep the 22 number crossing open. Sources said the only crossing which could be closed in lieu of the 22 number crossing was the 24 number crossing. This, they said, was unlikely because the crossing number 24 was used by people to go to the Cantonment railway station, besides it being an important link to the Model Town locality. The shopkeepers say the 22 number crossing can be kept open if the state government offers to pay for the cost incurred in keeping it open for traffic.
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Vegetable
market to be shifted to Sanour road Patiala, May 26 Speaking at a function held at Sanour near here in which Mr Surjit Singh was installed as President of its Nagar Council, Mr Lal Singh said that the present vegetable market was situated in a very congested area due to which farmers faced problems in taking their produce to it. He said though the demand to shift the vegetable market out of the city was also made due to the pollution caused by throwing of refuse in the ‘Ganda Nullah’ which ran along it, the proposal to do it could not be implemented till now. He also claimed that the
government has granted nearly Rs 1 crore for the overall development of the Sanour area during the last one year. He said this included money being spent on construction of roads and streets. The minister also assured that proper lighting
arrangement would be made on the Sanour - Patiala road and soon the work of widening this road would also start. Mr Lal Singh has also announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for building a sports stadium in Sanour. The Senior Deputy Mayor Nagar Corporation, Patiala Mr Kabir Das, president Congress Committee, Sanour, Mr Rajiv Goel, Member, Zila Parshad, Ashvani Kumar, Member PPCC Narinder Sharma were also present on the
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Singla
launches drinking water scheme Bathinda, May 26 Mr Singla, while speaking at a function organised at Amarpura Basti here for launching a drinking water scheme last evening, said providing proper civic amenities to the residents would be the top priority of the government. He said efforts would be made so that maximum people get benefits from various welfare schemes launched by the government. He said various schemes for providing water, sanitation facilities and better roads would be launched soon in the town. The water scheme launched yesterday is a joint venture of the Municipal Corporation and the Giani
Zail Singh College of Engineering and Technology. Under the scheme the waterworks of the engineering college would be augmented and surplus water would be supplied to Amarpura Basti, which is having a population of nearly 15,000. Officials said Rs 94.5 lakh had been spent on the waterworks out of which the state government provided Rs 54 lakh. During the function Mr Singla distributed 77 rickshaws and gave cheques to 70 per sons for starting small-scale business under the Self-Employment Scheme. Mr
D.P.S. Kharbanda, ADC (Development), said the Punjab Scheduled Caste Welfare Corporation provided loans of Rs 11 lakh to these beneficiaries.
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36th performance
of ‘Daaire’ Patiala, May 26 The chief guest, Dr P.L. Goel, Civil Surgeon, Fatehgarh Sahib, urged Mr Pran Sabharwal, Director, National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS), Patiala, to stage ‘Daare’ in all subdivisions including district headquarters’ of Fatehgarh Sahib, which had the lowest gender ratio in the state. He lauded the efforts of Dr Manmohan Kaushal, President, Lions Club Supreme, Mandi Gobindgarh, and his team for eradicating the
menace of foeticide and promoting good theatre in the area. Earlier the 35th performance of Daaire, presented by NTAS in collaboration with the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, at Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Phagwara, was inaugurated by Mr I.K. Sardana, MD Sukhjit Starch & Chemicals, Phagwara. Presiding over the performance, the Civil Surgeon of Kapurthala Dr Satya Prakash Jagat, appealed to the public to spread the play’s message of treating girl and boy alike. Principal Vishav Mohini Sindhwani, applauded NTAS’ presentation. Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion were, Ravinder Sharma, Madan Mohan Khattar, Dr Harinvansh Mehta and Manohar Lal Chopra. |
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Summer
camp for special children Faridkot, May 26 The Deputy Commissioner said during the camp various types of training, including clay
modelling, fabric painting, art and craft, pot-painting, flower arrangements, theatre, dance and music would be imparted to 30 children free of cost. He further said during the past four years, the society had spent more than Rs 25 lakh for the upliftment of special children. A plan had also been worked out to construct a multi purpose institution for disabled. The entire project would cost about Rs 1 crore and the construction work would start soon. The Deputy Commissioner praised the artistes for devoting their services to the needy. Later talking to this correspondent, an artist Mrs Nisha, underlined the need for imparting training, particularly on the topics after visualising the interests of children. She impressed upon the government to set up special schools at each
district headquarter on priority basis. Another artist Mrs Sunita Jain laid stress upon promoting fabric painting, pot making and flower arrangement. |
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Malta boat tragedy: hearing from today Hoshiarpur, May 26 Mission chairman Balwant Singh Khera said relatives of the victims could implead themselves as plaintiffs in the case at this stage to sue for damages. Most of the victims were from the Indian sub-continent, including 175 from the Doaba area of Punjab.
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Job quota for upper caste ‘political stunt’ Phagwara, May 26 In a joint statement here today, Mr Shyam Lal Sharma and Mr Nirmal Singh, president and general secretary of the federation, respectively, alleged that it was a ruse to perpetuate reservation for the Scheduled Castes. The upper castes should beware of the trap that was meant to divert their attention from their ongoing struggle for ending reservation, they said. Besides, it was an attempt by the BJP to take the wind out of the Ashok Gehlot government’s sail in Rajasthan ahead of the Assembly elections in four states and the Lok Sabha elections next year, they said. They opposed the Rajasthan Government’s announcement to provide 14 pre cent job reservation to economically weaker sections among the upper castes, including Brahmins, Vaishyas and Rajputs. “Both the sections of the BJP and Congress are sheer political stunt”, they alleged. |
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SYL issue: tribunal demand decried Ludhiana, May 26 The apex court had
decided the case in the favour of Haryana and had directed Punjab to
complete the Satluj-Yamuna link canal by January 15, 2003. Punjab had
moved the court challenging the validity of the various agreements on
the issue inked in the past. The case has now been listed for hearing
in July. Reacting to the statements of the Chief Minister, Mr
Amarinder Singh, and the state Congress chief, Mr H.S. Hanspal, for
setting up a tribunal to settle the issue, Mr D.S. Gill, chairperson
of the International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO), said the move
to challenge the various agreements was a step in the right direction.
But now the pro-Haryana lobby active in the corridors of power was
bent on scuttling the case before the apex court and had now mooted
the idea of a tribunal, he alleged. “I have written to the Chief
Minister, that it was wrong on his part to ask Deputy Prime Minister
L.K. Advani to constitute a new water tribunal on the SYL issue. |
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IMA organises CME
Patiala, May 26 This was disclosed by Dr Atul Sachdeva, Professor and Head Medicine,
Government Medical College, Chandigarh, at a continuing medical education (CME) programme organised by the Patiala branch of the Indian Medical Association at the local medical college here yesterday. Dr Sachdeva said that in India more than 40 million people were infected with hepatitis -B virus while recommending that the entire family should get vaccinated. The common track of the chronic infection was during pregnancy from the mother to the new borne. Dr M.M Gupta, a gastroenterologist from medical college, also spoke on the
occasion. Dr Adarsh Chopra, a retired professor and president of local IMA, informed that the IMA would regularly conduct such academic meetings and CME programme on last Sunday of every month. The CME programme was largely attended by many members of IMA, retired medical teachers, young doctors and medical students, according to its local convener, Dr D.S. Bhullar.
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Withdraw
ban, demands PCMSA Hoshiarpur, May 26 Dr Hardeep Singh and Dr Ajay Bagga, both office-bearers of the state unit, described the decision as anti-employee. They said this decision would make the lives of nearly 4,500 families of the deceased employees miserable. They urged Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, to withdraw the ban as it was the moral duty of the Government to look after the families of its employees after death. The association also demanded review of the government reimbursement medical policy. |
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Warm send-off
to Kang Patiala, May 26 A warm send-off was given to Mr Kang by the board management in the afternoon, Board Chairman Y.S. Ratra lauded the services rendered by Mr Kang to the PSEB during his tenure. Board Members S.K. Anand and H.S. Sohi were present on the occasion besides head of departments and senior officers. Mr Kang has earlier served as Deputy Commissioner of Moga. Before being appointed Administrative Member of the PSEB, he also functioned as Commissioner of the Patiala Municipal Corporation. |
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Drive against narcotics Chandigarh, May 26 A series of raids were conducted last week by a six-member team comprising the State Drug Controller, four Drug Inspectors, a Civil Surgeon led by Mr D.P.S Sandhu, Director, Health Services, in Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr districts. The team seized drugs like
corex, phensedryl, dexavone, spasmoproxyvon, diazepam, and fortwin injections, which were being sold in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act . As many as 31 bottles of corex syrup, 608 capsules of proxyvon and 510 tablets of lomotel were seized from a chemist shop in Garhshankar town of Hoshiarpur district. From another shop, 75 injections of fortwin and nine bottles of corex were seized. Dr Sandhu said with a view to curbing the illegal sale of intoxicants and sub-standard drugs, raids would be conducted in two or three districts every week under his supervision. |
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Bhattal discusses farmers’ problems Chandigarh, May 26 They said only certified seeds of cotton and other crops should be allowed for sale. Various agencies bring uncertified seeds to Punjab and sell them to gullible farmers. They said the government should be cautious about the entry of multi-national companies in the agricultural sector in the state. They also objected to the involvement of more than one government agency in the crop diversification programme. It should be handled either by the Punjab Agricultural University or by the Punjab Agricultural Department, they added. Mrs Bhattal said she would took into the sale of substandard seeds. She said the Union Government was not cooperating with the state government on the issue of crop diversification and had not responded to the Johl Committee report yet. |
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Plan to monitor
cattle fairs Chandigarh, May 26 Ms Bhattal said a joint strategy was being formulated to ensure better functioning of cattle fairs so as to effectively control contagious and infectious diseases in
cattle. Mr Kang said cattle fairs were proving an impediment in the control of infectious diseases of cattle since animals from all over the state and outside were being brought and sold here. |
One IAS, 10 PCS
officers transferred Chandigarh, May 26 |
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MCs get cheques for development Hoshiarpur, May 26 This was disclosed by Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Punjab Local Bodies and Employment Minister, at a press conference at PWD Rest House here today. He said he had come to deliver the cheques for Rs 1,17,72,000 to Hoshiarpur Municipal Council, Rs 27,68,000 to Garhshankar, Rs 31, 98,000 to Dasuya, Rs 16,98,000 to Mukerian, Rs 17,87,000 to Tanda, Rs 6,20,000 to Hariana, Rs 4,97,000 to Garhdiwala, Rs 3,35,000 to Sham Chaurasi and Rs 7,96,000 to Mahilpur Nagar Council of Hoshiarpur district. |
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EPF authorities
summon records of contractors Ropar, May 26 The council authorities have been asked to give details regarding the amount for which the contracts were allotted by the council, the number of persons employed, weather they were covered under the EPF Act and the nature of their work. The action follows a report in The Tribune columns that contractors working with government departments and municipal councils were blatantly violating the EPF act. The Executive Officer of the Nangal council, when contacted, said a communication from the EPF authorities had sought information on all contractors. |
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Lawyer’s munshi booked for cheating litigants Pathankot, May 26 According to sources, the police on January 6 this year raided the premises of Prince Medical Store at Batala and seized certain banned drugs from the shop. It arrested Balwant Singh and Kulwant Singh and a case under Sections 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered against them. The accused filed bail application before Mr Bhupinder Singh, Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, Grudaspur, which was rejected on April 2. The munshi of the advocate representing them allegedly took Rs 2.50 lakh on the promise of managing bail for them. But another bail application filed by the accused was also rejected. The relatives of the accused demanded their money back from the munshi who reportedly returned Rs 2 lakh but kept Rs 50,000 with him. The accused reported the matter to the police and a case was registered against the munshi, who had absconded by then. |
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Siti Cable chief held Amritsar, May 26 Interestingly, a police press note gives a clean chit to senior police officials accused of being party to the sex scandal. The statement reads: “Allegations made in the complaint are being investigated. So far no evidence against the police or judicial officer have come on file”. The volte face by the police came after 48 hours of registration of an FIR on the basis of a fact-finding report of the PHRO which alleged that the accused had “supplied call girls” to senior police and judicial officers besides politicians. It is learnt that the police withdrew the allegations against the officers following pressure from seniors. According to the police, Mr Dhanuka was arrested today under Sections 406, 420, 506, 386 and 120-B of the IPC. Mr Dhanuka had to be booked again following publication of news about ‘leniency’ showed to him by the police. According to reliable sources, family members of all IPS officers of this police district had attended the New Year party at the amusement park here. It is alleged that the park management served cocktails free of cost. |
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Jail Suptd held for cheating Gurdaspur, May 26 Mr R.P.S. Brar, SSP said here today that the Subedar-Major complained that the accused met him at his residence at Naushehra Nalbanda in the year 2000 and allured him to send his son to the USA. A settlement was reached between the two and Rs 9.26 lakh paid to be accused. A case under Section 420, IPC, was registered against him. During preliminary interrogation, the accused admitted that he had cheated many persons. |
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Peddler
held with 50 kg poppy husk Jalandhar, May 26 Mr Varinder Kumar, Senior
Superintendent of Police, said here today a police party deployed at a naka near Jakkopur Kalan village yesterday came across a scooterist carrying a gunny sack on the pillion. The sack’s contents when searched yielded 50 kg of poppy husk. In another case, the police arrested one person with fake currency notes. A police party, while
patrolling the area, intercepted a person riding a motor cycle at Cheema Gate, Nurmahal. He was found carrying fake currency.
UNI |
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4 booked
for betting Bathinda, May 26 Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, stated in a press note here today that the accused namely Budh Ram, Vijay Kumar, Rajesh Kumar and Balwant Dev had booked a room of a hotel near the local railway station and were being betting on the match. He said they had collected money from some punters of the city and they got the rates of betting from a Chandigarh-based bookie,
Dimpa. The SSP, said it had been revealed during the investigation that the accused had been active in the business for the past few months. He said three mobile phones, a colour TV and Rs 2,190 were recovered from their possession. A case under Section 420, IPC, and Sections 13-A, 3 and 67 of the Prevention of Gambling Act has been
registered. |
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Arms
recovered, one held Rampura Phul, May 26 Police sources said Balbir Singh, who was coming to the city from his village, was stopped by the policemen. On his search, a rifle was recovered from him. The sources said when the accused was questioned, he stated that he had buried some arms in his fields. A police party led by Mr Devinder Attri, SHO, local police station, took the accused to the spot and recovered three guns. A case has been registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act.
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Romanian
booked Amritsar, May 26 |
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Punjabi University suspends 2 teachers Patiala, May 26 The charges were framed against Dr Rani seven months ago in a case involving attempt to rape of student of Fine Arts Department of the University, Saru Rana by former Vice-Chancellor, Dr
J.S. Ahluwalia, in which she was a co-accused. Prof Gurpal Singh had been charged with committing irregularities in the marking of question papers of PCS (Judiciary) examination during the tenure of former Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu. The university issued suspension orders to Dr Rani last night while Prof Gurpal Singh received his suspension orders a little earlier. While Dr Gurpal Singh could not be contacted, Dr Rani said the suspension was aimed at stopping her from becoming head of the department and Professor for which she would have become eligible on May 30. The suspension order of Dr Rani states that the charges had been framed against her under Section 506 of the IPC by the Sessions Judge, Patiala in October, 2002. It said despite the fact that the Sessions Court had charged her with serious criminal act almost seven months ago, she had not informed the university about the matter. The note said since she was a senior teacher of the university she should have realised the gravity of matter. It said the case had been examined from legal and
administrative perspective and seeing the serious charges, she was being suspended with immediate effect. Sources claimed that the suspension letter of Prof Gurpal Singh was also worded on similar lines though a copy could not be procured. Meanwhile Dr Rani’s husband and Reader of the Hindi Department, Dr Chaman Lal, has claimed that the suspension order against his wife was against the norms because the Syndicate had earlier reinstated her when she was suspended after being remanded to
judicial custody in the same case on May 3, 2002. He said the Syndicate had reinstated her subject to the final decision of the court. He said when a final decision was still to come and even the Punjab and Haryana High Court had stayed proceedings in the case till July 10, Dr Rani could not be suspended according to rules of the university. The teacher also claimed that no teacher could be suspended twice in one case. He said the university could not expect the teacher to keep forwarding information about the case to the university when the Syndicate had clearly stated that it would see the final outcome of the case. Dr Chaman Lal claimed that it seemed the Vice-Chancellor Swarn Singh Boparai had been miffed at a letter addressed to him on April 20. He said in the letter he had questioned the Vice-Chancellor’s decision to exempt former Fine Arts student from appearing in the practical examinations while reappearing for the second year examination. He said he had suggested that the decision be reviewed or a meeting of the Academic Council be called to discuss the matter dispassionately. “Even though I had written the letter in my capacity as member of the Senate and Academic Council it was not even acknowledged”, he added. The teacher also claimed that the Vice-Chancellor was being misled by a faction of teachers belonging to the Teachers United Front group. |
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DTF, Adhyapak Dal
hold dharnas Sangrur, May 26 Another dharna was held in the complex of the
DEO (S) office here by the members of the Adhyapak Dal, Punjab, under the leadership of Mr Nachhatar Singh Jahangir, president of the Adhyapak Dal. Mr Jahangir said the
DEO (S) had committed “irregularities” while shifting teachers from one station to another while implementing the rationalisation policy. He said this had compelled the teachers to start an agitation. He said in some cases, teachers working under the blackboard scheme, had also been shifted even though they did not come under the rationalisation policy. He said he would meet the
DPI (S) tomorrow at Chandigarh to get these transfers cancelled. On behalf of the DTF Punjab, Mr Gurbakhshish Singh, also a former state secretary of the DTF Punjab, said the DEO should immediately cancel those transfers which had been done in violation of the rationalisation policy. He alleged that at some places, the teachers who had come with post, had not been touched otherwise they should have been shifted on top priority as per the policy. He urged the state government to take steps to get the policy implemented in letter and in spirit. |
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Clarification Bathinda, May 26 Also Punjabi University, Patiala, has issued an admission notice stating there will be no entrance test for LLM. The errors are regretted. |
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Keep trying till you succeed: Sidhu Dera Bassi, May 26 He also asked youngsters to follow the moral of “King Bruce and the Spider” — try try again and you will succeed — during an interactive session with students of different local schools here today. The cricketer was here to distribute fixed deposits receipts and recurring deposits among various customers of the Dera Bassi branch of the State Bank of Patiala. A total of 105 fixed deposits receipts and recurring deposits worth Rs 80 lakh were also signed by Sidhu on the occasion. He also apprised the customers of various innovative schemes launched by the bank in the past year to meet the financial requirements of various types of customers, especially teachers, doctors, judicial officers, defence personnel, small traders and agriculturists. The Deputy General Manager of the bank, Mr N.S. Deshpande, stated that the State Bank of Patiala was the only public sector bank which had achieved computerisation of all its branches and extensions. The bank has recently launched an attractive scheme, “Vitt Bonanza”, offering concessions in the rate of interest and margins to customers who avail of loans like car finance, education loan, consumer loan and housing finance in package, said Mr R.S. Singhal, Assistant General Manager. Those who spoke on the occasion also included Mr N.S. Mangat, Manager of the SSI branch and Mr I.G. Gupta, Dera Bassi branch Manager of the State Bank of Patiala. |
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