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SAD still with BJP, claims Cheema Chandigarh, May 2 Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, secretary of the SAD, pointed out that there should be no confusion of the SAD tie-up with the BJP. Dr Cheema said Mr Prakash Singh Badal, President of the party, did not give any separate instructions to workers. On the other hand, Mr Riar said yesterday, “I was given the instructions in front of a seven-member committee. I do not believe in anyone else except Mr Badal. I am going all out to support Mr Dhawan, except in case Mr Badal personally gives me new instructions”. Sources in the BJP pointed out that the high command of the BJP had contacted Mr Badal and said a break-up at the local level could have an impact at the national level. This forced the Akalis to reconsider their decision to support the INLD. The SAD today took notice regarding news items published in various newspapers regarding the Chandigarh parliamentary seat and clarified that the common candidate of
the BJP-SAD alliance was Mr Satya Pal Jain. The SAD was supporting him whole-heartedly
and there should be no confusion on the issue. Dr Cheema issued a press note from the chief election office of the SAD on the direction of SAD President Parkash Singh Badal and clarified that
no separate direction had been issued to any individual to issue any statement on behalf of the party. Mr Badal had made it clear that no party leader was allowed to issue any statement in
this regard. Dr Cheema said in Punjab, there was a wave in favour of the SAD-BJP alliance. Mr Harmohan Dhawan, INLD candidate, said he was trying to get in touch with Mr Om Prakash Chautala, President, before making any
comments. Mr Riar conceded that the current situation had led to confusion
among Meanwhile, official sources in the SAD said the action of Mr Riar to go against the party directions would place him in an uncomfortable situation. “We will wait for a couple of days and take disciplinary action, in case it is needed,” the sources added. |
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Fall in number of UT voters Chandigarh, May 2 Against 5,84,656 voters in Chandigarh in 1999, the number fell to 5,07,646 voters in January this year. Even after the registration of 15,000-odd new voters, the number still is way behind the 1999 figure. The same is true of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The population growth rate recorded by the 2001 Census in these states nowhere near the changes in electoral rolls. In Haryana population recorded 28 per cent growth in the 1991-2001 period, the number of voters fell from 1.1155 crores in 1996 to 1.1086 crores in 1998. It fell further by 50,000 voters in 1999. In 2000 when last assembly elections were held, the number of voters, 1.1153 crores, was still short of the 1996 mark. Against this negative growth of voters between 1996 and 2000, the increase of 13 lakh voters in the past four years is surprising. Even if the growth rate is taken at 2.80 per cent, the number of voters should have increased from 1996 onwards. As of now as many as 62 per cent of the people of the state are voters, which according to Census experts, is on the higher side. The same is true of Punjab. After the last Assembly elections in February 2002, the state government constituted a one-member enquiry committee to look into complaints of voters, whose names appeared in electoral rolls and had photo identity cards, but were not allowed to exercise their franchise. Though Census records 19.76 per cent growth in Punjab’s population during the 1991-2001 period, the number of voters has increased unevenly. For example, between 1996 and 1997, the number of voters swelled by almost eight lakhs, only 1.17 lakh new voters were included in the 1998 Lok Sabha electoral rolls. Between 1998 and 1999, again four lakh new voters were added. And between 1999 and 2003 assembly elections, the increase in voters was just less than a lakh. But between 2002 and 2004, the number had swelled again by four lakh. In Punjab the percentage of voters to population works out to be 64.28 per cent. In the 1991 Census, it was revealed that the percentage of population below 19 years of age was 43.78 per cent. The figures for below 19 population of the 2001 Census are still not available. Those may be in the same range, a little more than 40 per cent. As such the number of eligible voters to the total population should have been in the 55 to 57 per cent range. In Himachal, the growth of population and voters appears to have kept pace with each other. Though the Census 2001 records growth of population in the hill state at 1.75 per cent, the number of voters has grown by 2.50 lakh between 1996 and 1999 Lok Sabha polls and by nearly four lakh voters since then (1999). Election Commission officials admit that in the absence of a reliable mechanism of registering voters, the
existing system is vulnerable to exploitation. |
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PU to send roll numbers through Postal Dept Chandigarh, May 2 The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the PU Syndicate where the system came under fire with admit cards having not reached students in time. The university will work out the modalities of sending admit cards by post as was done this year for rural areas. At the meeting, it was also pointed out that unable to deliver the cards, the courier company had advertised on the cable television network to reach out to students, mentioning addresses where the students could collect their cards from. However, this had also not worked and resulted in commotion at the PU Examination Branch. While it was decided to dispatch roll numbers well in advance, the university authorities have also approved the use of registration numbers as roll numbers for examination. According to the latest recommendations, principals of colleges, too, would be allowed to collect admit cards of their respective students. |
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No holiday in govt schools today Chandigarh, May 2 The DPI (Schools), Mr D.S. Mangat, said since it was a restricted holiday, the schools would be functional. However, there was no official confirmation regarding holiday in private schools in the city. The President of the Independent School Association, Mr D.S. Bedi, said he had no information regarding the holiday in other private schools. It is learnt that as the monthly house tests of some schools were scheduled for tomorrow, there would be no holiday. |
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Sailor’s 28-year wait for
pension ends Chandigarh, May 2 A letter received on Friday from Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, states that scrutiny of documents submitted by him shows that he is entitled to pension. He will start getting pension once details of last pay drawn are received by the ministry. He will also be paid arrears for the past 28 years. A resident of Upal Heri village near Rajpura, Saroay had joined the Indian Navy as a Boy Sailor in 1960. He left the Navy in 1976 after serving it for 15 years and five months. Besides an year of training, he had also spent four years as a Boy Sailor during his period in uniform. Despite serving for the minimum time required to be eligible for pension, he was left high and dry on release. After living in miserable conditions, which even deprived his children of proper education, he approached the Ex-servicemen’s Grievance Cell here a few months ago, which took up his case. In a letter written to the Director, Pay and Allowances, Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, as well as the Commodore, Bureau of Sailors in Mumbai, yesterday, the Cell pointed out that despite high court directions that the period of Service as Boy Sailor be counted towards the calculation of pension, it had not been done. Earlier, this service was not counted while assessing pensionary benefits. It was only during the eighties, when a number of affected persons sought judicial remedy to their grievances that the court directed that the period be taken into account. Saroay, thereafter, wrote to the authorities several times, but did not receive any response. Following the court rulings, he had become eligible for grant of pension as he fulfilled the criteria. This criteria is in sharp contrast to the pension regulations governing civilian employees, who are become eligible after 10 years of service. Saroay suffered another blow when authorities refused to treat him as an ex-serviceman. When he had left service, the rules stated that any personnel who had completed five years of service could be called an ex-serviceman. Thereafter, the rules were amended and it was ruled that a defence personnel should be drawing a pension to be called an ex-serviceman. |
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Ashi Prashar is Mrs Homemaker Panchkula, May 2 The show began with the women, irrespective of their age or vital statistics, vying for the crown of Mrs Homemaker. In the first round, these women walked on the stage in a specially designed stage, amidst the collage of laser beams, as their families — husbands, children and parents -in-law — sitting among the audience, cheered for them. The women introduced themselves and disappeared for the next round. In the second round, they were shortlisted and five of these homemakers were selected for the final round. The judges — Ms Sudha Madhuri Das, Ms Ritu
Mazumdar, Ms Kulpreet and Dr Priyanka — tested these participants’ presence of mind they were subjected to a question-and-answer round. In between the various rounds, the audience was entertained by Deedar Lahori and Balwinder Safri of “Safri Boys” fame. The two Punjabi pop singers had the crowds swaying as they crooned their popular numbers. As many as 500 entries were received by the organisers of the show, Net4Barter, from women all over the region. The organisers had then short-listed the candidates, and 25 of these women underwent the preliminary rounds yesterday. These women were not only asked questions by the jury, but a questionnaire was also prepared for their husbands, children and parents-in-law, to judge them for their homemaking skills — time management, human resource management, finance management, et al. The winners of various titles were selected yesterday. These are as follows: Ms Beautiful Smile: Ms Shampa Mukherjee Mishra; Best Mom: Ms Mukulshri Aggarwal; Ms Beautiful: Dr Parijat Singh; Ms Kitchen Queen: Ms Shampa Mukherjee Mishra; Ms Personality: Ms Sushma Sharma; Ms Confident: Ms Sweety
Bhasin; Ms Housekeeper and Ms Best Daughter-in-law: Ms Anjali Deewan; Ms Talented: Dr Ila Bhatia; and Ms Best Wife: Ms Kusum
Kuthiala. |
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Dullo focuses on national issues Mohali, May 2 He said both the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal had taken advantage of religious feelings of the masses to gain power and had unleashed a spate of communalism in the state and the country. ‘‘Congress is the only party that takes with itself people of every religion, caste and creed. The Congress alone can keep the nation united,’’said Mr Dullo. Invited by the Ex-servicemen Grievances Cell, Mr Dullo was accompanied by the OSD to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mrs Lakhvinder Kaur Garcha. ‘‘We are equally to be blamed for this communalisation of the nation. We have given a chance to the BJP to come to power. And what is worse is that the educated people are moving towards communalism,’’he said. Flaying the Akali Dal, Mr Dullo said although the SAD claimed to have done a lot for the Sikh Panth, it was actually a way of getting power. ‘‘They have ruined the state’s economy. Farmers have never been given their due. They have rotted in poverty. But now things have changed. Two years of Congress rule has improved the situation. Farmers are now paid within hours of the wheat reaching the mandis. They are getting 10 hours of electricity also in the Congress rule,’’ he added. Mr Dullo also promised to look into the various problems of ex-servicemen at the local and national levels. Col S.S. Sohi, president of the grievances cell, said its members had decided to support the Congress in Ropar. Mrs Garcha also spoke on the occasion and showed her support to Mr Dullo. Talking to mediapersons later, Mr Dullo said he was getting a positive feed- back from villages. He stated that he was aware of the problems being faced by industrial workers in the township. ‘‘We are taking steps to rehabilitate those who have lost jobs, but due to the Model Code of Conduct, these announcements cannot be made,’’ he said. Responding to a question regarding the state of the victims of the 1984 riots, Mr Dullo said the government was taking care of them. |
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Support to Dullo assured Mohali, May 2 In a press note, Dr Jasmer Singh said he had had a conversation over the telephone with Mr Bir Devinder Singh, MLA, Kharar, who had urged him and his supporters to work for the victory of Mr Shamsher Singh
Dullo. Dr Jasmer Singh said he would highlight the work done by Mr Bir Devinder Singh in areas such as the repair of the
Kharar-Banur road, construction of the Manauli Siau bridge, establishment of the 220KV sub-station at
Jhanjeri, sanctioning of another bridge on the Kambala-Roorki choe and the opening of Government Senior Secondary School at Kharar. |
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Venod Sharma on comeback trail? Chandigarh, May 2 Mr Sharma, who has been in a rather extended political limbo following the incident involving his son in a murder case two ago, was very much visible at the election rally of Congress President Sonia Gandhi here today. He also oversaw arrangements for the rally. Although he did not address the rally, he was seated on the podium. While Mr Bahl omitted taking notice of his presence at the rally while conducting the stage, all principal speakers did not fail to address Mr Sharma while delivering their speeches. |
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Jain visits six
gurdwaras Chandigarh, May 2 He was presented “shiropas” at the places he visited, a BJP press note said. Mr Jain addressed rallies in Darua, Mauli Jagran, Raipur Khurd, Hallo Majra, Raipur Khurd and Makhan Majra villages. He highlighted the achievements of the BJP-led government during its tenure. The BJP candidate had an interaction with investors of the JVG Investors Group, who said they had been cheated. Mr Jain assured them of all help. The BJP clarified that Mrs Sushma Swaraj, Union Health Minister, would address a rally here on May 4. The rally was earlier scheduled for May 5. |
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Presiding officers asked to ensure free, fair poll Chandigarh, May 2 They were instructed to take necessary steps
to ensure convenience of voters during their visit to polling stations
for exercising their franchise. It was also stressed that all
presiding officers needed to submit the details of polling with or
without voter identity cards immediately after the conclusion of
polling along with the diary of presiding officers. Presiding
officers and polling parties were also given demonstration about the
use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), the sealing of ballot units
and control units and the procedure of setting up the EVMs at the four
counting centres, namely Government College, Sector 11, the Government
College for Girls, Sector 42, Government College, Sector 46, and the
Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Sector 26. The AROs
present, among others, were Mr S.P. Arora, Mr N.S. Brar, Mr Arun
Sekhri, Mr Naresh Narwal, Mr D.S. Mangat, Mr Gurdip Singh, Mrs Sarita
Malik, Mr H.S. Kandhola, Mr O.P. Popli, Mr Kuwant Kumar Kalson and Ms
Madhvi Kataria. |
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First Vote “I am enthusiastic about exercising my voting right for the first time though I know that it is going to be a difficult choice in the present political scenario. With almost every candidate involved in some scandal where can we find persons like Lal Bahadur Shastri, a simple, truthful, honest and a dedicated person whose life was an epitome of simplicity? Still I would prefer a young, bright and committed person, who would be serious about doing something good for the city and its residents. Since I have been born and brought up in Chandigarh, I wish to see it as an ideal city of the country. Honesty, integrity and simplicity would be my main criteria and the elected representative should be accessible to all. I know it is going to be a tough job but secularism of Congress is closer to my heart and I feel that who so ever is elected should strive hard to retain the glory of the City Beautiful.” |
Assaulted man alleges
foul play by police Mohali, May 2 Giving details of these allegations at a press conference organised here today, Mr Jagbinder Singh said on April 21, he was waylaid and beaten up and his money and jeep were taken away by the attackers. An FIR was lodged following the incident under Sections 323, 341, 382, 148 and 149 of the IPC. ‘‘Subsequent to the FIR, two persons were arrested, but released on bail. Why were these persons let off when the offences were non-bailable,’’
Mr Jagbinder Singh said he had suffered a fracture during the incident, but the police did not register this fact in its report. ‘‘I went to the PGI and a fracture was discovered, but the police did not take any cognisance of this fact,’’he said. Mr Jagbinder Singh said he was caught between political pressure and servitude of the police.’’ |
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Oustees demand
dwellings in city Chandigarh, May 2 The issue was highlighted at a press conference in the Sector 38 gurdwara here today. Mr H.S. Billing, general secretary of the society, in a memorandum has said the maximum installation payable per dwelling should be Rs 100 or below, though it could be for 100 years. The plots should be allocated "strictly on non-saleable basis. Defaulters should be punished with a fine or even imprisonment, he said. The society has forwarded nearly 4,000 applications for consideration by the administration. It was pointed out that the lal dora should be extended and the allocations made according to the Act of 1886 needed to be amended. |
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British Library celebrates anniversary Chandigarh, May 2 A clay-modelling contest was a hit with the participants, who tried their skills in making models of different items. The fun-filled event began with the inter-school quiz, which saw participation by various schools. Children in the age group of 13 to 15 years were involved in word-building. All members of the library, along with members of their families, participated in one activity or the other. The academic sponsor of the celebrations was Chitkara International School. The tiny tots (up to seven years of age) tested their grey cells with arranging jigsaw puzzles. In the website designing contest, participants in the age group of 18 to 25 years made original and innovative designs for the British Library website. There were contests where library members could participate in a written quiz on the United Kingdom, slogan-writing on ‘I love British Library because’ and graffiti-writing, for which the topic was UK football. According to Mr Sushant Banerjee, manager, British Library, “These celebrations at the library are our way of saying thank you to the people of Chandigarh who have been with us right from the beginning. It is only due to them that the library is one of the most respected libraries of the region.” The winners: inter-school quiz: first — Vaibhav Nangia, Ritwik Grover and Kritarath Jain (St John’s High School); second — Ravneet Singh, Ganadeep Singh and Shamit Monga (St Kabir); Shaheen Ali, Mayan and Navjot (Gyan Jyoti Public School); clay- modelling contest: first - Balpreet Singh and Vipul Kamboj; second Mani — Kandan; third — Lakshya; jigsaw puzzle: 4 to 6 years: first — Sidharth Yaddanapudi; second — Shamin Aggarwal; third — Upamanyu Yaddanapudi; above three years: first — Tarini Goyal and Ananaya Aggarwal; second — Vishesh Arora; website designing: first — Mithil Arora; second — Vishal Sharda; third — Jagdeep Singh. |
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Verma greets people on eve of Milad-ul-Nabi Chandigarh, May 2 Greeting the people on the eve of Milad-ul-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet, the Governor said His message of universal brotherhood and love was more relevant now then ever before. Launching a concerted campaign to eradicate poverty and inequality from the face of this earth and ensuring dignity of every human being would be a true tribute to Him, the Governor said. |
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Sri Sathya body organises ‘langar’ Chandigarh, May 2 According to Dr Subhash Mahajan, district president of the organisation, the programme commenced with ‘sarva dharam bhajan’ by devotees, followed by a ‘nagar sankirtan’, in which at least 200 devotees and villagers participated. |
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Seminar on getting over
limitations
Chandigarh, May 2 During the workshop, an interactive session, psycho-spiritual talks and a demonstration were held. During the seminar, participants were taught to overcome self-imposed restrictions that retard personal growth and development.  |
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A clarification Chandigarh, May 2 He had received injuries allegedly when his hand got stuck in the window of a car and the driver dragged him for at least 15 feet. It is regretted that in the news item,
“Cop dragged to death, two teenagers held”, published on April 30 in these columns, it was erroneously mentioned that Mr Silk Ram had died. |
Driver takes away impounded truck Chandigarh, May 2 A case of theft has been registered at the Industrial Area police station on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Hans Raj who alleged that Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Vidwar village in Hisar district had stolen the truck (HR-39 A 1497) from near the Traffic Lines last night. The police suspected the driver as the truck did not have any ignition key and it could have been started only by joining certain wires and he would have known this fact. The truck was parked outside the Traffic Lines complex as it was full with other impounded vehicles. A traffic police official said because the truck was longer than the normal ones, it had been parked outside the Traffic Lines to leave space for other impounded vehicles. |
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Suicide by class XII student
suspected Kharar, May 2 The victim, Hardeep Kaur, had just appeared as a private student and lived with her parents in Navi Abadi Colony, Kharar. She was found in an unconscious state last evening and was rushed to the Civil Hospital here. She was referred to PGI, where she died this morning. According to the statement given to the police by Hardeep’s father Surmukh Singh, who is a conductor with CTU, Hardeep was undergoing treatment for a medical problem and had taken a wrong dose of a medicine. However, according to the PGI report on her death, a poisonous substance in a large quantity was found in her system. The police has started inquest proceedings. Meanwhile, the local police found an unidentified body at Siali village, near here, today. The body was of a male of about 30 years. The body, according to the police, seemed to be of a migrant labourer. It was found in a wheat field. |
Business offices inaugurated Chandigarh, May 2 E-Meditek Solutions has been licensed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority as a third-party administrator, an intermediary in the health insurance sector for administering medical insurance services. The company, which commenced operations in 2000, has its corporate office in DLF, Gurgaon. Addressing a press conference at CII today, Mr Gopal Verma, managing director of the company, said E-Meditek had tie-ups with National Insurance Company as well as other insurers and more than 1,000 hospitals all over the country. Embee Insurance Brokers, with its corporate office here, has 14 branches in North India. Mr S.K. Jain, managing director, said it was empanelled by all 12 non-insurance companies for providing single-point services. |
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Market Pulse Park Avenue, the formal menswear brand of Raymond Apparel Ltd has launched a new range of men’s innerwear collection comprising undershirts and briefs. The collection will be available under various sub-brands such as Apollo, Zephyr, Eros and Adonis. The innerwear is crafted from 100 per cent American supima cotton that has higher strength and a softer feel. The undershirts, with and without sleeves will be priced at Rs 249 and Rs 199, respectively. The new range of briefs is in two styles, micro briefs that will be available under the sub-brand Adonis (Rs 129) and Y-front, which will be available under the sub-brand Eros (Rs 199).
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