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Students not to pay more fee Chandigarh, November 3 Various students’ organisations, at a meeting with the presidents of the college students’ councils, held at DAV College, Sector 10, here today, also formed a committee of elected members of various colleges to keep tabs on the developments in the colleges and ensure that students were not forced to pay the hiked fee or the “astronomical funds”. The committee also decided to display notices in all colleges against payment of the second instalment of fee. Addressing a press conference later in the day, the president of the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council, Mr Malwinder Kang, released a list of the total fee and funds collected by all colleges and alleged that private colleges were “looting” students in the name of better facilities. He claimed that while DAV College, Sector 10, had been collecting Rs 1.68 crore as funds and fee annually, going by the total number of students on its rolls, the Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, had collected Rs 18.66 lakhs, its number of students being 725 approximately. “The exorbitant charges will be acceptable to us provided the colleges give facilities in tune with the funds being collected. They are charging heavily and providing nothing in return. They cannot be allowed to continue this way,” claimed Mr Kang. He added that they would focus on the two issues of a rollback of fee hike by the UT Administration and the fee and funds being
Meanwhile, students from all colleges, except MCM DAV College, Sector 36, stayed away from classes and college campuses wore a deserted look. The students converged at Matka Chowk in Sector 17 in response to a call for a rally. A delegation left from there to hand over a memorandum to the DPI (Colleges), Mr Dilip Kumar. Students from colleges located away from Matka Chowk were brought to the chowk in especially hired private buses. However, students from nearby government colleges of Sector 10 and 11 marched to the venue from their campuses.
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MC to reject levy of property tax: Bansal What MP says
Chandigarh, November 3 During the special session, the Congress-dominant corporation would annul its earlier recommendation of levying 2 per cent property tax. The MP said the party was being forced to adopt the harsh step due to obdurate functioning of the Chandigarh Administration. He, however, refused to disclose the future strategy of the party on the issue. “The Administration has thrown to all norms of democratic functioning to the winds. We have noticed this trend in every work”, said Mr Bansal adding that there was a wrong impression in the minds of the officers in the Administration that Congress leaders could not react to the anti-people decisions. The path to protest through democratic means was open. Some of the Congress councillors reportedly offered to resign during a meeting chaired by the party President, Mr B.B. Behl, held before the press conference. Replying to a query, the MP stated that the city was revenue surplus and there was no need to levy additional taxes. If the revenue generated from the city was spent here, the quality of service can improve further, opined Mr Bansal. At least 13 Congress councillors, including the Mayor, Mr Subhash Chawla, President of the local party unit, Mr B.B. Behl and other officer-bearers of the local party
The Administration has twice rejected the resolution of General House on the property tax. He said before elections to the corporation were held, the then UT Administrator had rejected a move to levy the tax on the plea that the issue be decided by the elected councillors. “ We will also reject the resolution passed during the BJP ruled corporation on September 18, 1997, to levy the tax”, said the Mayor. Visibly upset, the MP said the Administration was taking anti-people decisions. The councillors are elected by the people and the Administration was ignoring the existence of the elected civic body. It would be better if the Administration implemented the recommendations of the second Delhi Finance Commission which had stated that 17 per cent share of the total revenue of Chandigarh should go to the corporation. At present the corporation was getting around 12 per cent of the share — which comes to around Rs 85 crore. As per the services being maintained by the corporation, the revenue share of the civic body out of the earnings by the Administration comes around 25 per cent, said the Mayor. As compared to spending of 83 per cent of the revenue, the corporation can give better services with just 17 per cent of the share, said the MP. He urged the Administration to be more responsive to the needs of the city residents.
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Nationwide alert for 3 wanted in robbery cases Panchkula, November 3 These three most wanted persons — Joga Singh, Kiran Sethi and her son Mannan Sethi — have already been declared as proclaimed offenders (POs) by the local police. While Joga Singh is wanted by the police since February 2000 in a case of robbing Rs 3.35 lakh from a trader, Kiran Sethi and her son Manan Sethi are the prime accused in robberies at two jewellers shops in 1999. It is learnt that the police has sent missives to all district police headquarters within the state, and also to the police headquarters of adjacent states to forward any information available on the whereabouts of the three accused. Senior police officers say over the past three years, since the accused were declared as proclaimed offenders, they have conducted raids at various places, but have failed to get any plausible results. Joga Singh was one of the key accused in the robbery of Rs 3. 35 lakh from a commission agent, Ganpat Rai, from near the latter’s Sector 9 house on February 13, 2000. Joga Singh’s brother, Tarsem, was employed as a driver with Ganpat Rai, a commission agent in Sector 26, Chandigarh. The police say that Tarsem knew that his employer often carried cash when he went to his shop in Chandigarh. Along with his brother, Joga Singh and friend Avtar Singh, he hatched a conspiracy to rob Rai. It was decided that the robbery was to be executed by Joga Singh and Avtar Singh. On February 13, 2000, when Rai had just left home for work in the morning on a scooter, Joga Singh and Avtar followed him in a Maruti car (the car’s registration number was missing), stalked Rai and after threatening him at gunpoint, robbed him of a bag containing the cash. The police had booked them under Sections 392 and 395 of the IPC and under the Arms Act. While Avtar Singh and Tarsem were arrested by the police, Joga Singh is absconding. In the second case, Kiran Sethi and her son, Manan Sethi are involved in two robberies — at Mittu Jewellers in Haripur village,
A BJP leader from Rajasthan, Anil Bijwari, was also reportedly one of their accomplices. His car was reportedly used to ferry the accused to the jewellers’ shops and back after the “ job” was done. He was arrested by the police earlier this year and is presently cooling his heels in the jail. According to the police, Kiran Sethi was the brain behind the two robberies at jewellers’ shops. The modus operandi adopted by her in both the robberies was similar. Along with Manoj Kumar, Gurdeep Kaur, alias Raju, Pramod Kumar and Amit Sethi (her another son) — Kiran and Manan — went to both the shops on the pretext of buying jewellery for a family wedding. After ensuring that sufficient jewellery was displayed on the counter they would rob the jewellery at gunpoint.
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Shootout in district courts Chandigarh, November 3 The incident took place when an accused, Harvinder Singh, allegedly involved in the murder of Harjit Singh, that took place in front of Hotel Mountview in Sector 10 was produced before the UT Judicial Magistrate at 3.50 p.m. The supporters of the deceased raised slogans against the Punjab police. Provoked by it, some of the supporters of the accused raised slogans in favour of the Punjab police. Both parties started pelting stones on each other and during the clash someone from one of the group reoprtedly fired a shot. A senior leader of Akali Dal of Shiromani Akali from the Muktsar unit, Mr Manjit Singh, were among the suspects arrested by the UT police on charges of attempt to murder, rioting and under the Arms Act in the shootout case. There are 16 accused and 64 witnesses mentioned in the case by the UT police. As a result of the clash between the two parties, four persons were injured. Later in the
untraced report, the UT police ruled out the possibility that any of the injured was hit by bullet. The police had attached the affidavit of the main witness which states that he had not sustained injuries due to bullet. The ASI with the UT police who was also witness said that he had not sustained injuries in the shootout case but had sustained injures as he fell on the road. Other witness also did not mentioned the name of any person. The accused have moved an application in the court of the UT Additional District and the Sessions Judge, Mr Balbir Singh, stating that the
untraced reports about the case by the former Superintendent of Police, Mr Baldev Singh, on September 14, 1991 and by the UT DSP, S.C Abrol be placed on the court records. The report was approved by the UT SSP on July 28, 2000. They have also stated that affidavits and statements of the witnesses should also be placed on record. The case was registered against 16 persons on charges of attempt to murder, rioting and under the Arms Act. The police had filed challan against the accused on March 24, 2001. |
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Police uses water cannons to disburse protesting villagers Chandigarh, November 3 An agitator Gurmeet Kaur had to be taken to the General Hospital after she complained that she was not able to see and hear after the police action. Baljinder Kaur, Balwinder Kaur and Amarjeet Kaur alleged that their gold earrings and pins were found missing after the police used water cannons. A large number of agitators, from as many as 22 villages, including Shiromani Akali Dal Gurpartap Singh Riar, saw their turbans getting untied and falling off due to the force of water. The agitation also delayed the blood sample of Avtar Singh’s mother being taken for DNA mapping further delaying the investigation in the case as the mother of the deceased was also taking part in the protest. The police alleged that force had to be used as the agitators sought to break the barricade at Matka Chowk and slapped a home guard personnel. The police also saw the protests as an attempt to politicise the murder to get mileage in the panchayat elections. The agitators, led by former Khuda Alisher Sarpanch Gurdial Singh, warned the Chandigarh Administration of another protest on Monday if the inquiry was not handed over to the premier investigating agency of the country. The protesters, including Naseeb Kaur, mother of the deceased, said on what basis could the police claim to have found out the truth about the murder when wife of the main accused had not been arrested. The wife of the main accused Makhan Singh was also alleged to be present at the spot when the murder took place. The agitators got provoked after the police refused to allow them to meet the Administrator, Advisor and even Deputy Commissioner. The agitators accused two police officials of mishandling the case and objected to their being posted on agitation duty. They alleged that one of the officers involved in the inquiry had misbehaved with them when they refused a post-mortem examination of Avtar Singh’s body on October 31. After hours of protest, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Inderjeet Singh Sandhu reached the spot and arranged a meeting between the agitators and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar. The agitators handed over a memorandum to Mr Arun Kumar to forward it to the Administrator. The DSP, Mr S.C. Sagar, who is investigating the case, had earlier said that he did not have any objection to the transfer of the case to the CBI. The protest agitators were addressed among others by Gurpartap Singh Riar, H. S. Sawhney and BSP President Balbir Singh Jangra. |
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Defence team visits
The Tribune Chandigarh, November 3 The team, headed by Air Cmde B.C. Talukdar, Head of Faculty (Research and Consultancy), is visiting various military, scientific and commercial establishments as part of the curriculum of the Long Defence Management Course, which they are undergoing. Besides The Tribune, other organisations on their itinerary in and around Chandigarh include the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Confederation of Indian Industries, Reserve Bank of India, Western Command headquarters and
industrial establishments. Air Commodore Talukdar said that the 44-week course is pitched at the directional and conceptual levels and about 90 officers of the rank of colonel and equivalent who have command experience are selected for the course. The members, going through the course, would be visiting about 120 private and public sector establishments all over the country, and carry out project studies with a view to find solutions to the
challenges being faced by defence as well as civilian organisations. Addressing the officers, Mr H.K. Dua, Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune, said that the newspaper does not have any political alignments and strives to be the “voice of the people” by focussing on issues and problems directly affecting the
common man. Special emphasis has been laid on projecting the state of educational and medical institutes in the region, which he said, were not in good health. The Tribune makes an
endeavour to highlight social cases, he added. Mr Dua said that The Tribune would like to expand its news operations at the national level while continuing to retain its regional focus. In reply to a question, he said that while the media does not face any censorship, there is constant pressure on it from political and corporate sectors. He said that the staff have to be trained not to give in to pressures, but to report in a balanced way. On the Tehelka scam, Mr Dua said that the motive of exposing corruption in the establishment was correct, but the means were not. Investigative reporting is a tool which can be misused by vested interests. He suggested several measures to check this. Earlier, the Chief News Editor, Mr Donald Banerjee conducted the members around the Tribune offices and explained the functioning of the editorial department, from the inflow of news to the
preparation of the page, while the Assistant General Manager, Mr Vishwanath, explained the printing process and organised a demonstration for the visitors. |
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Private bank services dear Chandigarh, November 3 For small services like photograph verification, address confirmation and signature verification services, the bank will charge up to Rs 50 each for these services if one fails to keep the minimum balance. Moreover, for offering monthly service of statement of accounts, the private bank will charge Rs 800 per year. These are some of the charges, revised upward as per the “revised charges” schedule of the HDFC Bank effective from July, 2003 quarter. Other private banks such as the ICICI Bank are also charging hefty amounts from customers who fail to keep the minimum balance with them. They justify all these charges with a boast of world-class service. Interestingly, the RBI — the apex bank of the country — has not issued any guidelines in this regard. The Indian Bank’s Association does offer some recommendations in this regard. No action is taken against the members for violating those. Since the average balance in the saving accounts of Indian customers was lowest in the world, say bankers, so they had to revise these charges to meet their increasing costs. Says Mr Gurmeet Singh, President, Mohali Industrial Association, “We are taking up the matter with the RBI shortly. A large number of industrialists in the region have expressed dissatisfaction with the high charges imposed by the private banks in the name of trivial services.” He said, “I have already closed down my saving account with the HDFC bank, that was charging too much for offering services such as ATM card. The statement of account and cheque book are offered by the nationalised banks at a nominal price.” Further, he said, with the increasing competition from private banks the nationalised banks, including the SBI, PNB and others had upgraded their services in recent years. Interestingly, the nationalised banks like the SBI, PNB and Allahabad Bank are offering services like ATM-cum-debit-card, check book, statement of account, tele-banking on saving accounts with just Rs 1,000 minimum balance. The charges for not keeping minimum balance during a particular month are as low as Rs 10 or Rs 20 as against Rs 750 asked by the HDFC Bank in a quarter. The ICICI bank charges Rs 250 per quarter if one fails to meet AQB in a quarter to the tune of Rs 2,500, and Rs 450 to Rs 500 if the AQB falls below Rs 2,500. While the
nationalised banks are offering cheque books at a rate of Rs 2 per leaf, private banks ask for Rs 5 per leaf. Though private banks do offer all modern services under “Zero Base scheme” for saving accounts, yet the charges are too high for offering even day to day services. For instance, they will charge Rs 30 per transaction for offering phone banking service, Rs 30 per transaction through ATM ( 5 free in a quarter), Rs 60 per cash transaction (3 free in a quarter), Rs 200 for cheque returns due to insufficient funds. These charges are applicable to those who fail to maintain AQB with them. In case of cash transactions at the branch of these banks, no more preferred by them, the customers will have to pay Rs 60 per transaction even for depositing money with them. Mr C.B. Goyal, president, Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “We have taken up the matter with the banks and the government at various platforms, but without any result. That is one of the reasons, that number of industrialists and other customers are not keeping their accounts with their branches.” |
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Health care engineering reduces costs Chandigarh, November, 3 Mr Baekken is here to attend the first national seminar on “Emerging Trends in Hospital Engineering” being organised at PGI. “The concept of having engineers trained at Health Facility Technical Management Institutes, posted in hospitals has yet to catch up especially in the developing countries,” he remarked. Mr Baekken, who is the Facilities Director at the University Hospital of Trondheim in Norway, said that for better patient-care and management of hospitals it was essential to involve the engineers right from the planning stage. “I will take up the matter with various international bodies regarding setting up a centre in India to train engineers in health care engineering, which can impart to training people from other developing countries,” he said. The Institute of Hospital Engineering, organiser of the seminar, have requested Mr Baekken to take up the matter with WHO so that the ministry of Health and Family Welfare can be asked to create a directorate of hospital engineering. He said though most of the issues and key areas of hospital engineering were the same world over but developing countries had some specific problems, and as such they should have their own model. “The subject of hospital engineering has become so important that an engineer is involved in the Operation Theatre, X-ray room as well as laboratories and this helps the doctor to concentrate fully on the clinical aspect,” he opined. Better coordination between doctors and engineers can bring a sea change in providing quality health care to the people, he added. Rating India as one of the best in the world as far as technology was concerned, he said, there was need to build a strong information system so that other developing countries can replicate their experience. He said there were only a handful of centres in the country which were specifically training doctors for hospital requirement. During the one-day seminar among the issues discussed were: importance of engineers in medical field, need for training of engineers, future vision and emerging trends. Though the Institute of Hospital Engineering was made in 1976, not much work was done and finally it was revived last year in March, with the efforts of Dr J.C. Mehta, who was the first Superintending Hospital Engineer and Estate Officer at the PGI, in 1971. “More than 95 per cent engineers in hospitals are not trained for this specific job and having trained people will reduce hospital expenditure by 20 per cent,” said Dr Mehta. He said unfortunately doctors were never involved in hospital management and technical issues and this was one reason why hospital projects were never completed on time. Over 150 engineers, architects, hospital administrators from the AIIMS, PGI, Punjab Health System Corporation and other parts of the country will attend the seminar. The recommendations of the seminar will be sent to the Health Ministry and all state governments for consideration and to emphasise the need for having institutes of hospital engineering. |
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Panchkula police to depose against HP police Panchkula, November 3 Senior police officials today said the Baddi police freed Amarjit Bawa, President of the Himachal Pradesh unit of INTUC, from their (Panchkula police) custody yesterday, after taking responsibility of producing him before the Panchkula court today. “Since they have failed to do so, we will have to make this submission in the court,” informed a top police official. It may be noted that the local police, led by DSP Kalka, Mr Rajesh Duggal, and armed with warrants against Bawa, had gone to arrest Bawa from Nalagarh yesterday. Bawa was in Nalagarh to address a public meeting, when the Panchkula police swooped down and managed to arrest him. As he was being brought to Panchkula, the Himachal Pradesh police stopped them at Baddi and forced them to let off Bawa on the plea that they were not informed by the Panchkula police regarding the purpose of their visit. However, after the Panchkula police was “forced to retreat”, Bawa “complained” of chest pain and was admitted to a hospital in Nalagarh. Late in the evening, he left Nalagarh and got himself admitted to the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla. The Himachal Pradesh police said till the time Bawa was recuperating in the hospital, they could not do anything. Senior police officials here, however, allege that Bawa is being shielded. “He is wanted in a case of attempt to murder at Shimla, when his men had attacked Pinjore-based lawyer, M.K. Shishodiya, on the Ridge. The Himachal Pradesh police had then claimed that they were unable to arrest Bawa because they could not track him down. Now, that the Panchkula police had arrested him yesterday and handed him to the Himachal Pradesh police, they should have produced him in the
court, "said a senior police officer. |
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Flats for slum-dwellers
available at premium Chandigarh, November 3 Investigations by Chandigarh Tribune have revealed that the tenancy rights are being handed out at a premium of anything between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000. By portraying the purchaser as a tenant, the allotment of the flat cannot be cancelled. Each flat is being allotted to the slum-dwellers for Rs 1.60 lakh payable over 10 years. When a Tribune team visited Sector 56, posing as buyers, property dealers in the area advised, “Do not buy the flats as the Chandigarh Housing Board is very strict this time. They will cancel the allotment on physical verification of the occupant. However, taking the same flat on rent is perfectly legal.” The going rental for about 300 square feet flat varies between Rs 800 and Rs 1000. The property is not given on rent unless premium is paid by the purchaser/tenant. The new buyer, then, pays the instalments which are due to the board and to the banks. The rent deed is prepared to cover up the clandestine sale on the General Power of Attorney basis. In the end, the allottee does not pay for anything except provide for the proof of his having lived in a slum earlier. The payment of initial money, instalments and all other expenses are paid by the purchaser. The allottee pockets the premium and moves back to the slum. This is not the first time that units meant for rehabilitation of slum-dwellers are being sold off by the beneficiaries. A case in point is the rehabilitation colonies in Palsora and Mauli Jagran. These plots were allotted to slum-dwellers who largely hail from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Today these colonies are pre-dominantly Punjabi, thus indicating that the plots had been sold off. Officials of the Chandigarh Housing Board agree that plugging all such clandestine sales is next to impossible. Sources said the craze for these flats was even more among the lower strata of the society. As the locality is fully-developed like another scheme of the housing board. The flats are almost ready-to-move in as basic amenities like water, power and sewerage are already there. |
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Marriage ceremony turns into battleground SAS Nagar, November 3 The two families had a major fight at the marriage reception ceremony yesterday on a trivial issue of the girl’s relatives having overfed the groom with
laddoos. While the groom and his brother were allegedly beaten up and robbed of their jewellery, a compromise was reached after seven hours of the ceremony having been cut short, and the bride was finally sent with the groom. The fight started just after the marriage had been solemnised and the newly wed couple were being blessed by the relatives. Talking to The Tribune, a close relative of the groom said the trouble started when one of the aunts of the bride, in her enthusiasm, forced two large laddoos in the groom’s mouth while he was sitting on the stage, almost choking him. The groom pushed the aunt away, who fell off the stage to which the girl’s relatives reacted by bashing up both the groom and his brother,
Yadvindra, alleging that the groom had pushed the aunt on purpose. The bride’s mother also allegedly made uncharitable remarks against the groom’s family and announced that her daughter would not go to the groom’s house. Eyewitnesses state that after that it was a free for all both sides to the extent that chairs were thrown at one another and some of the relatives got injured. The groom, who was the focus of the anger of the bride’s relatives, was robbed of his gold bracelet and Yadvindra’s wife lost her earrings. Yadvindra’s wife was also taken to hospital following the incident in a state of shock. The families left the venue in a huff after the incident and the ceremony was cut short with the guests leaving without having lunch. The groom’s family then complained to the police against the bride’s family and the Phase I SHO, Mr Pritam Singh Bedi, called both the families to the police station where a compromise was reached. |
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TRIBUNE
IMPACT Chandigarh, November 3 According to the understanding, garbage collection rates will be fixed and notified by the welfare associations, while the infrastructure will be provided by the corporation. Sources in the corporation assert that the infrastructure will include cycle carts — each costing about Rs 5,000. "The carts will be provided to the welfare associations after consulting the councillors concerned," the sources say. The development is significant as, according to sources, the signing of an MoU will not only ensure an uniform garbage collection fee, but will also go a long way in avoiding inconvenience to the residents. At present, the bin-free scheme has been launched in as many as 14 sectors throughout the city, including Sectors 8, 9, 10, 15, 18, 19, 21, 27, 28, 33, 35, 40 and 47. The sources add that in some of the sectors, the rates have already been fixed by the welfare association. Confirming the information, Councillor Chander Mukhi Sharma said, Rs 20 was being charged in Sector 8, while Rs 30 was being charged in Sector 10. "In Sector 9, the charges are a little high due to the size of the houses. As much as Rs 100 is being charged from the residents, half for kitchen, half for horticulture, waste," he asserts. The rates, he added, had been notified. "The garbage collectors have also been told to inform the residents about the rates," Mr Sharma says. Ruling out the possibility of overcharging in at least his ward, Mr Sharma insists, "As of now there are no contractors. The collectors have been absorbed by the welfare association thereby reducing the possibility of overcharging and exploitation". Describing the scheme as "good", Chandigarh's Mayor Subhash Chawla says, "There is always a scope for improvement. I am sure things will start to function more smoothly with the passage of time". The corporation, in October, had ruled that its staff would not collect garbage "from the domestic dustbins, haudis and open points, even the back lanes". No wonder, the system of door-to-door garbage collection, introduced in the city a few years ago by voluntary organisations in an attempt to solve the waste disposal problem, had assumed greater importance. |
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IAF recruitment rally from Nov 14 Chandigarh, November 3 For technical trades, a candidate should have passed intermediate/10 plus two or equivalent examination with mathematics, physics and English with minimum 50 per cent marks in aggregate or a three-year diploma in engineering (mechanical/electrical/ electronics/ automobile/ computer science/ instrumentation). For non-technical trades, he should have passed matriculation/ equivalent examination with minimum 50 per cent marks in aggregate with pass marks in English or passed intermediate or equivalent examination with a minimum aggregate of 50 per cent marks with pass marks in English. Candidates should have been born between March 1, 1983 and June 30, 1988, for technical trades and between March 1, 1985, and June 30, 1988, for non-technical trades. The candidates should bring original certificates along with their photocopies. |
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Tension over construction of boundary wall Zirakpur, November 3 The group, allegedly in connivance with police personnel, reached the site along with some labourers, a truckload of bricks and cement at about 6.30 pm and started the construction work. Owners of Titan Motors, a workshop of Telco Company in an other part of the land, were away and were evading their arrest following a case registered against them by the local police. Col B. S. Guraya (retd), Chairman of Titan Motors, alleged that Mr R.R. Bhardwaj, Deputy Chairman of the Punjab State Planning Board, had been misusing his powers and using political patronage to maintain his son’s claim on the land. Mr Bhardwaj has, however, denied the allegations saying that he has nothing to do with the case since his son, Mr Puneet Bhardwaj, has made a purchase deal with Ms Jaswinder Kaur Mann, seller of the land. Moreover, Puneet was staying with his family in a separate home for the past more than 10 years and he (Mr R.R. Bhardwaj) never interfered in his working, claimed Mr Bhardwaj. When asked whether he constructed the boundary wall around the disputed land, Mr Puneet Bhardwaj said, “You ask Ms Mann about this”. However, Ms Mann, a non-resident Indian, said it was a matter between Colonel Guraya and Mr Bhardwaj and expressed ignorance about the construction of a boundary wall at the site. A visit to the site this afternoon showed that about a dozen workers were busy with the construction job. A gate on the front portion of the premises of the workshop was blocked by constructing a brick wall. Besides, another gate adjacent to the disputed land was also blocked. The masons were constructing another boundary wall adjacent to the main gate of the workshop. Sucha Singh and Tara Dutt, guards with Titan Motors, claimed that some police personnel present at the site late last evening told them to keep mum. They also directed them not to call anybody for help till the time the boundary wall was constructed. Rameshwar, a guard who had a slip having telephone numbers of Mr Puneet Bhardwaj and Mr Gurjit Singh, SHO Zirakpur, said Mr Puneet Bhardwaj had put them on the job of constructing the wall. Mr Balwinder Singh Brar, DSP, Dera Bassi, denied any police assistance to Mr Puneet Bhardwaj in constructing the boundary wall. He, however, made it clear that the latter had approached the police for protection but was told that policemen would be provided to him only on the directions of the Subdivisional Magistrate.
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SEARCH WITHIN Anyone sensitive to the poverty and misery stalking the lives of millions in the urban slums and the villages in this land is overawed by the sheer magnitude of the problem. A sense of helplessness creeps in paralysing the very will to intervene in a hopeless situation. Many of us daily pass by victims of tragedies because of our sense of inadequacy. We move away with guilt feelings. In a country of one billion, there must be millions with a disturbed conscience. But there have been brave men and women who tried to make a difference. Of them the one name that comes readily to mind is that of Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkota, who, starting with five dollars as her capital and unbounded love for those who suffer, launched a humanitarian programme to provide a little succor to the dying sick and the abandoned. It spread worldwide, her greatest miracle. Among others, there is another encouraging example — that of Pujya Ma (Revered Mother), a former directress of physical education at Punjab University in Lahore, who, in the course of her spiritual pursuit, set up an ashram at Madhuban in Karnal, 110 km from Delhi. The inter-faith Arpana ashram is in the news with the visit of the Prince of Wales, a patron of Arpana (UK), to some of the villages served by the ashram on Friday. Let us face it: the poverty of our neighbourhood, in all its forms, poses a threat. There is much wisdom in the command to love our neighbour. We have a duty too. Those, educated at the expense of the masses living in ignorance and misery, cannot be indifferent to their plight. Communism had tried to explain poverty in terms of exploitation of the masses by the capitalist classes and called for a class struggle to set things right. And the Soviet experiment has proved that the Marxist remedies do not work. Poverty is not merely an economic issue and man does not live by bread alone. Does spirituality has any relevance to the poverty issue? In many ways. It is the greed and covetousness of the majority that create islands of affluence and poverty; if there is less willingness to care and share, it is because they have not known the way of love. Besides some go on hoarding in the belief that life consists in the abundance of things one possesses. All the reasoning by philosophers and politicians having failed to solve the issues facing mankind, there is a growing realisation of the need to look in the ‘spiritual’ direction (faith) for resolving the intractable human problems. “Intellect takes us along in the battle of life to a certain limit, but at the crucial moment it fails us. Faith transcends reason. It is when the horizon is darkest and human reason is beaten to the ground that faith shines brightest and comes to our rescue,’’ wrote Mahatma Gandhi who had spent a lifetime trying to improve the condition of the masses. Arpana’s experiment in villages and among the urban poor involves putting faith to work through love. Around 80 volunteers drawn from various professions, such as medicine, architecture, business, engineering, law and education live together as one integrated family at Arpana ashram under the guidance of Pujya Ma, who maintains: “I am of all religions. Since there is one Father, we are all His children, forming one family.’’ Her disciples, from different faiths, had left their lofty and lucrative careers to lead a life of service. “The highest form of charity is to put someone where he or she can dispense with other peoples aid,’’ opined Moses Maimonides. In other words, teach a man to fish instead of handing over fishes every time he needs to eat. Women empowerment through education and training and attitudinal changes attempted in villages have this philosophy behind the charity operations. Arpana’s activities achieved zero population growth in its 35 targeted villages in Haryana. Birth rates dropped from 36 per thousand in 1990 to 21 per thousand in 2002. Infant mortality declined from 120 per thousand to 30 per thousand. Women developed self-confidence; they learnt lessons in self-worth, seized opportunities and began to hope and dream of a more dignified existence than hitherto. The rural women are ready to act collectively for the common good. Prominent NRIs, Prince Charles of UK Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, and several organisations in countries like Japan and Ireland have lent a helping hand to this love in action. If everyone loves his neighbour, the world will be transformed in an instant! An old man was walking along the beach. He was found picking up star fish stranded on the beach and throwing them to the waters. There were thousands and thousands of such fish lying on the beach and another bystander wondered what the old man sought to achieve by his small effort. “There are so many star fishes on the beach. How are you going to save all of them? What difference does it make if you save a few of them?’’ he remarked, pointing out the futility of his endeavour. The old man, however, continued picking up the star fish and throwing one into the water, he observed: “It (my action) made a difference to this one!’’ — M.P.K. Kutty
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SAS Nagar roads await repair SAS Nagar, November 3 The worst hit are the residents of Sectors 70 and 71 who use the road separating these two Sectors as approach road. This road is in an extremely poor state and residents allege that they have never seen any repair ever been undertaken on the road. “It has been over two years since last repair was carried out. I have great trouble driving on the road. Considering that I have spent over Rs 5 lakh to live in this township, it still feels like I am living in a village,” stated Mr Shamsher Singh Ghumman, a resident of Sector 70. Sources in the council agreed that the road was indeed in a very bad shape but since the road was still under the management of PUDA they could not do anything. “This road is not maintained by us and neither does PUDA. PUDA does not have any maintenance and upkeep functions with regards to roads and till the time it hands over the road to us, the residents will have to live with it,” said an MC employee. Some other residents complained that the roads outside their houses were in an even worse condition. “If you were to see the condition of my scooter you will realise that the road I use every day is not useable”, said Mr Indraj Singh, a resident of Phase V, who complained that the road in Phase IV was in a very bad shape. Other than residential areas, most of the roads within the industrial areas too are in bad shape. “The road separating Ranbaxy and other Industrial units in Industrial Area here are full of potholes,” said an industrialist there. Similarly, residents of Phase V, Phase XI and Phase 3B2 have stated that the roads within the Sectors need repairs.
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FAUJI BEAT THE Royal Jats Pipe Band, then comprising Jats and Muslims, was raised in 1810. Some of its noted achievements during the British days are worth mentioning. The band performed at the historic “Delhi Durbar” held by Lord Curzon in 1903. It was given the privilege of playing at the time of inauguration of “The Chamber of Princes” (now Parliament House) on February 8, 1921. It also performed at the inauguration of the All-India War Memorial (now Amar Jawan Jyoti) on February 10, 1921. The band had to be re-raised in 1948, because after Partition in 1947, the Muslim personnel of the band went to the Pakistani Army along with two Muslim companies. After Independence, the band participated in the Republic Day Parade at New Delhi for three years from 1950 to 1952 and again in 1978. Of the several guards of honour that it played for at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, was the one given to Marshal Broz Tito, the then President of Yugoslavia in 1954. The band also played at the Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre, Ahmednagar, on the historic occasion of the presentation of 23 Colours by Mr R. Venkataraman, the then President of India on February 24, 1988. The band won the 33 Mechanised Division’s Band Championship in 1988 and 1989. Besides, it has won many other band competitions in the formations during the past few years. It also had the honour of participating in the band display at the celebrations of the “Vijay Divas” at New Delhi in 1995. First PVC:
Though the Indian troops had begun to land at Srinagar airfield on October 27, 1947, threat to the airfield, which was the only link with their bases, continued to mount. This was because of the tribesmen being in a much larger number than our troops. To save the airfield, the last defensible position at Badgam along the ridge, overlooking the airfield, was hurriedly occupied by a rifle company of 4 Kumaon under the command of Major Somnath Sharma. When this position was attacked by the tribesman at 2.30 p.m., Major Sharma’s wireless message said: “the enemy is only 50 yards from us. We are hopelessly outnumbered. I shall not withdraw even one inch but will fight to the last man, last round”. Major Sharma fell fighting along with his men. The company suffered heavy casualties. But the enemy advance was stopped. By then our reinforcements had been rushed in and the tribals were forced to withdraw. For his supreme sacrifice, Major Sharma was honoured with the country’s first highest gallantry award — the Param Vir Chakra (posthumously) — on November 3, 1947. NDA examination:
Today, English has assumed the status of an international language all over the world. Since our defence officers have to interact with officers of the other armies in the UN missions, joint exercises and foreign courses, they must have good command over the English language. Not knowing English well will put them at a great disadvantage even in our own country because in the South no one speaks Hindi. The Army is the last organisation that can be regionalised or continentalised in respect of the language if we want to remain abreast of other armies. Adopting Hindi for the NDA examination will, therefore, not be a wise policy. Disha: Col. Pritam Bhullar (retd.)
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MC office
compiles records sought by VB SAS Nagar, November 3 According to sources, these records are to be handed over to the bureau before November 5 after which the inquiry will begin. Most of the irregularities are likely to be found in some maintenance works undertaken by the council in the Industrial Area, Phase IX here, the sources said. A probe was ordered by the Chief Minister’s office after some councillors, belonging to the Opposition, forwarded a memorandum to him alleging that there were gross irregularities in the functioning of the council here, including the tampering of records. They had demanded that various works undertaken by the council should be thoroughly probed by an independent agency. A DSP, Vigilance Bureau, visited the council office on November 1 and took certain records pertaining to the works carried out by the council. |
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Employees pledge
transparency, integrity Chandigarh, November 3 The employees have pledged that they will strive to bring about integrity and transparency in their activities and work unstintingly for the eradication of corruption in all spheres of life. They have further pledged that they will remain vigilant and work towards the growth and reputation of their organisations and bring pride to their organisations and provide value-based service to the countrymen. They were further administered pledge to do their duty conscientiously and act without fear or favour. The officers present included the Joint Secretary, Finance, Mr Dilip Kumar, the Chief Architect, Mrs Renju Saigal, the Chief Engineer, Mr V.K. Bhardwaj, the Joint Secretary, Home, Mr Ashok Sangwan, the Legal Remembrancer, Mrs Neerja Kulwant Kalson and the Director, Public Relations, Mr S.P. Arora. |
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Lawyers gherao
police post Panchkula, November 3 Neeraj Sahni was assaulted by Gaurav and his friends, following an argument between the two on the night of November 1. Neeraj Sahni, along with his wife, was returning home after attending a marriage party, when their car was hit by another car being driven by Gaurav, on the Sector 8 and 9 dividing road. As the argument continued, Gaurav called his friends on the mobile and they all assaulted Neeraj. In the meantime, the police was called and the youth were taken to the Sector 10 police post. However, they were later let off.
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Vigilance Week
observed Chandigarh, November 3 |
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Applications sought Chandigarh, November 3
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Gaudiya Math to hold
celebrations Chandigarh, November 3 The kirtan will start at 4 am tomorrow which will be followed by mangala
aarti, prabhat pheri and nagar sankirtan during the day. According to a press note, guru vandana and pushpanajali samaroh will be held in which glories of Srila Gurudeva will be highlighted. |
Two labourers buried alive Chandigarh, November 3 The contractor of the Public Health (Division number 8), Mr Chaman Lal was arrested by the police and later released on bail for allegedly endangering life and personal safety of others under Section 336 of the IPC. After the death of Teru (35) from Palsora and Ram Milan (25) from Mauli Jagran another section of IPC 304 was slapped on the contractor for causing death by a negligent act. The cases were registered against the contractor as he had not taken the prescribed safety measures. As per the safety rules, a shuttering and a walled cover had to be provided in the
trenches. Teru and Ram Milan had gone to the trench to level the soil after an earth moving machine had dug it up but as soon as they went inside the earth removed started falling back on them. The police had to call rescuers from the fire brigade but it took at least took 10 minutes to extricate Teru who succumbed to his injuries while being taken to hospital. Ram Milan had died of choking when he was taken out from the trench after 40 minutes. The Administration has announced a Rs 50,000 compensation each to the kin of the deceased. The compensation amount will be deducted from the payment to the contractor, an official press note said.
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Convict escapes
from custody Chandigarh, November 3 The police personnel accompanying him said Amit was taken to the fourth floor of the PGI for some treatment in the ENT Department. The convict went to toilet on the fourth floor and did not come out for a long time. The two policemen on duty — one constable and another head constable — then went downstairs and saw that the small window at the back of the toilet was open. He is suspected to have climbed down through a pipe and run away. Immediately after the police came to know about the escape of Amit, it tried to locate him in the PGI compound and alerted its pickets on the border of the city. The escape of the convict from the hospital is said to be easy as the sentenced inmates of the jail are not handcuffed when they are brought here. Amit was convicted to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment in February in a dacoity case. Earlier, three police personnel used to accompany a jail inmate, but now the number has been reduced to two. The police personnel accompanying Amit have been placed under suspension. Amit had been to jail several times in petty cases. |
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27 weapons missing
from HC ‘malkhana’ Chandigarh, November 3 According to the complaint, a few relevant records of the ‘malkhana’ were also missing. The missing weapons included seven DBBL guns, five single bore guns, two Stenguns, four revolvers, two guns of .12 bore without any mark, a revolver of .455 bore, two pistols and a 303 gun. Besides, parts of certain weapons have also gone missing. The disappearance of two weapons had earlier been reported in the 1998 and 2000 and cases in that connection were in courts against two of those persons employed in the ‘malkhana.’ The police has registered a case under Sections 409 and 120 B of the Indian Penal Code. |
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Burglary at Country Club manager’s house SAS Nagar, November 3 The police said Mr Joshi heard a noise at about 4 am and woke up to find that two men were loading his TV into a waiting two-wheeler outside the club gates. He raised an alarm and the two men left behind the TV in a hurry and fled in the two-wheeler. Mr Joshi found that a CD player, most of the kitchen cutlery and crockery were missing from the house. The TV was broken as the thieves, on
realising that they could be caught, ran throwing the TV on the floor.
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18-year-old kills self Chandigarh, November 3 Sunil, who was working as a goldsmith, became unconscious at his uncle's house with whom he had been staying for nine years. According to the police, Sunil had been under depression since his mother stopped meeting him following her second marriage. His uncle, Mahinder Verma, told the police that Sunil fell unconscious after having bed tea. He was taken to the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital where his fight for life ended.
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