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15 writers, 2 Pakistani MPs honoured
Ludhiana, September 25 He said this at a function organised by the Shaheed Memorial Seva Society, an NGO, in collaboration with the Ramgarhia Education Council, at Ramgarhia College here this morning. He was accompanied by Mian Aslam Bodla, Member of Parliament and Chairman, Standing Committee, Pakistan. Welcoming them, Ms Harmet Kaur, Principal of the college, said it was sad that we had to stand in queues to get visas to Pakistan. She rued that children could not be sent to Pakistan for exchange programmes. Mr Khan said he would try to facilitate travel of school and college students. He appreciated efforts of the NGO in helping needy children and recognising work of eminent personalities. Fifteen writers - Prof Gurbhajan Gill, Mr Ninder Ghugiawani, Mr Om Parkash Gason, Mr C. Markanda, Prof Brahm Jagdish Singh, Dr Sarabjot Kaur, Dr Surjit Singh Bhatti, Dr Amrish Rishna, Dr Surjit Singh Marjara, Mr Anoop Singh Khanpuri, Mr Babu Singh, Mr Nirmal Jinda, Dr Sushil Kau, Dr Gulzar Mohammad and Mr Harsimirt Vidyarthi - were honoured. A shabad and a sufi song were presented. A cultural show was also organised. The function was presided over by Mr Surinder Dawar, Parliamentary Secretary. Mr Khan was the chief guest at a dinner hosted by the Baba Bulle Shah Foundation International last night. Mr Khan and Mr Bodla were honoured by the foundation. Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, presided over the function. Mr Khan said, “Now is the right time for dialogue between the two countries. It is a good time to forget mutual hatred and distrust. We should hasten the process of bringing proximity between people of the two countries. There are mischievous elements on both sides of the border who want to disrupt the peace process. If we miss this chance, future generations will not forgive us.” Mr Verma said people of India and Pakistan had responded to the initiative of the governments of both countries of initiating a bilateral dialogue to improve relations. He added that the exchange of cultural delegations had been started on a large scale. Mr Khan hoped that both countries would benefit from new decisions in trade and culture. He appreciated the unilateral announcement of releasing liberal visa facilities by India to senior citizens and journalists of Pakistan. He hoped that it would be reciprocated by Pakistan. Mr Khan acknowledged the hospitality and love of the people of Punjab. He said both countries had suffered on all fronts, including development, education and economic and cultural progress, due to conflicts and wars. He said he was impressed with fast development in education and infrastructure in India. Mr Bodla, whose family had migrated from Bodla village in Muktsar district, said he had been impressed on his visit to the village and appreciated the response of the people there. Mr Gurcharan Singh, president of the foundation, and Mr Nirmal Jaura, its secretary, demanded liberal visas for cultural delegates of both countries.
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NRI’s land grabbed despite SC order
Ludhiana, September 25 The district administration had got the plot vacated from the group last year after the Supreme Court decided in favour of the NRI, Bharat Bhushan. However, despite the court orders the group has, using armed men, re-occupied the piece of land, last week . They have thrown out the NRI’s friends who were local caretakers of the land. The NRI had even given a power of attorney to one of his trusted friends, Harbans Singh. A case was registered under various sections against the illegal possessors Surjit Singh, Hardev Singh, Ajit Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Gurdeep Singh and Gurmukh Singh, besides others. However, none of them has been arrested so far. The Sahnewal police has not managed to free the land from their possession. The District Magistrate, Mr Anurag Verma, is learnt to have called both the parties along with their lawyers to work out a compromise. Mr Harbans Singh claimed that his NRI friend had given the land on lease to Mela Singh who later refused to vacate it. The NRI, being in the UK, gave a power of attorney to Harbans Singh to fight the case. The district courts and the Punjab and Haryana High Court passed a verdict in favour of Harbans Singh. Meanwhile, Mela Singh passed away and his three sons took over the land. They appealed against the High Court order in the Supreme Court but lost. They gave an affidavit at the instance of the SC that they would vacate the land. The orders were implemented through the local police and the district administration last year but to the utter surprise of Harbans Singh, the rival group again took control over the plot with the help of armed musclemen.
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GNDEC strike ends
Ludhiana, September 25 Stating this here today, Surinder Pal Singh and Vikram Singh, president and secretary, respectively, of the Punjab Technical Students Action Committee, said there was no clarity over the proposed meeting between parents and teachers, but parents planned to come to the campus for discussions to ensure that strikes were avoided in the future. Meanwhile, the suspended Principal, Dr R.P. Singh, had not received any suspension letter from the SGPC. He refused to comment on the issue. There was confusion as Bibi Jagir Kaur had reportedly told mediapersons that she had taken the decision of suspending the Principal, but proper procedure would have to be followed, which would take time. The decision of suspending Dr J.N. Jha, Dean, Academics, was not carried out. The then acting SGPC President, Mr Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, had ordered his suspension. The Principal had forwarded it to Mr Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Additional Secretary, GNDEC management committee, who had not taken any decision on the orders. There was growing criticism of Bibi Jagir Kaur for taking an on-the-spot decision to suspend the Principal without issuing him any show-cause notice, apparently under pressure from the agitating students. The critics said she should not have gone to the college without understanding the situation and knowing the facts. Some members of the faculty said the strike had caused a lot of damage to the college as many companies were now approaching the college for placement of its passouts. The problem had been caused by the row between Dr R.P. Singh and the Nakana Sahib Education Trust vice-president, Mr G.S. Sangowal, who had managed a job for his son at the GNDEC, they said. They elaborated, “Mr Sangowal’s son wanted to work in the air-conditioned atmosphere of the computer laboratory, while the Principal wanted him to work in the college workshop. Difference on this issue had led to the starting of the campaign against the Principal.”
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Relief for detained brothers
Ludhiana, September 25 The detention order was passed against the brothers on the allegations that they had attempted to export a consignment by mis-declaring it to be alloy steel forging (machined), although the same was alleged to be the metal scrap. It was further alleged that the goods were
over invoiced as the value thereof was declared to be Rs 170 to Rs 175 per kg whereas the actual value was only Rs 4 to 5 per kg. During the course of the hearing, the Supreme Court found that the samples from the export consignment had been drawn by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the same had been sent for chemical analysis to Central Revenue Control Laboratory, New Delhi. In its report, the laboratory had confirmed that the samples were, in fact, made up of alloy steel. In these circumstances, the Supreme Court held that the subject matter of the consignment, therefore, was not scrap metal. The court further observed that the detaining authority did not wait for the results of the chemical analysis before issuing the order of detention and the order had been passed in haste without there being adequate material.
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Give Sehajdharis their right, says Dr Ranu
Ludhiana, September 25 This was stated today by Dr Paramjeet Singh Ranu, national president of the SSF, who in a three-page letter to the PM, has written that it was merely a political move by the NDA government to issue a notification (dated October 8, 2003) by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to debar the Sehajdhari Sikhs with cut beards and shorn hairs from casting their votes Stating that Sikhs are already in a minority, Dr Ranu said by this notification a new minority has been created within a minority as more than 80 per cent of the total world Sikh population are the Sikhs with cut beards and shorn hair. Even 90 per cent of the NRI sikh population belongs to this category of Sikhs. It is a matter of shame on the part of SGPC, Akali Dals and the Sikh leadership that the census figure of the world Sikh population has declined to 6.1 per cent. Dr Ranu also said the notification of the Union Home Ministry had raised a question on the religious sentiments of the Sehajdhari Sikhs who are approximately eight lakh in number as per the latest enrolment of voters by the Chief Gurdwara Election Commission. Not even a single Sehajdhari Sikh has been taken as a member in the SGPC which shows that the Amritdharis are not bothered about Sehajdharis and the whole control of the religion is in the hands of Amritdharis. He claimed that this was a violation of their human rights. The SSF has appealed
to the Prime Minister to come forward about support for his religion as he is also a Sehajdhari Sikh.
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NGO to help uproot social evils
Ludhiana, September 25 Education and health care would be one of the major thrust areas. The panchayats would be taken into confidence so that children from poor families could be provided with books, copies and other items. If need be para teachers could also be recruited, he pointed out. He said medical camps would be organised regularly so that basic health care facilities could reach the poorest. The staff at such camps would also educate the people about personal hygiene and how to take precaution against serious diseases like TB, polio, AIDS, hepatitis etc. Medicines would also be provided free of cost at such camps. Mr Mukandpuri said presently there were no libraries in most of the villages. They would work in this direction to encourage reading habit . In the beginning, newspapers would be provided along with books to the children. Playgrounds would be carved out, he added. Drug abuse was another area of concern and de-addiction camps would be held at the village level.
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Ramlila committees resent admn rigmarole
Ludhiana, September 25 The Urban Estate Ramlila-Dasehra Committee, which has been holding the annual event for some years, has accused the district administration of having mala fide intentions because of the rigid procedures prescribed by it for holding the annual show which has great public participation. Mr Raj Garg, president of the Urban Estate Ramlila-Dasehra Committee, has submitted a memorandum to Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, in this regard. The memorandum alleged that the SDM, to whom the Deputy Commissioner has relegated powers to okay the holding of Ramlilas all over the town, was adopting rigid procedures with mala fide intentions.
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Wellness seminar held by ladies club
Ludhiana, September 25 On this occasion, Dr Baljeet Kaur Bagga (MBBS, MD, Gynae), gave a talk on the non-surgical treatment of heavy periods by baloon therapy. Mr S.K Puri, nutrition expert also gave a talk on the importance of nutrition for women and causes of obesity and arthritis. Prizes were given to the women having healthy glowing skin, best smile, beautiful hair and Perfect 10 figure . Surprise gifts were also given to select few of the audience. This club is also working for the social well being of the society and gives financial assistance to needy poor families.
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Deen Dayal Upadhyay remembered
Ludhiana, September 25 The speakers urged the countrymen to follow the ideals of Upadhyay. “He is the architect of the BJP, which was earlier known as the Bharatiya Jansangh. There was a need to follow the path shown by leaders like Upadhyay”, the leaders said. The BJP had resolved to spread the teachings of Upadhyay among the youth.
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Chhapar Mela preparations
Ludhiana, September 25 Meanwhile, local residents have welcomed the decision of the administration to impose a ban on the sale and carriage of articles, which could be used as weapons.
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Couple booked
Jagraon, September 25 According to information Hans Raj, son of Piara Singh and Ms Parkash Kaur, wife of Hans Raj of Kot Umra, entered her house around midnight and used criminal force with the intent to outrage her modesty. No arrest has been made so far. 3 booked:
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New language software introduced
Ludhiana, September 25 While speaking on the occasion Mr Verma said with the development of new software to convert the Gurmukhi script to Shahmukhi there would be a revolution in Punjabi literature and research work. He said information and technology had developed fast and had a great impact on the printing of books. He said the world had become like a small village due to advancement in the field of information technology. He said with the induction of the new software and Punjabi-English dictionary, officials working in government and private organisations would also benefit. The Deputy Commissioner said the advanced technology had brought revolutionary improvement in the field of paintings and with further improvement even masterpieces would be available at cheaper rates. Addressing the function Dr Satinder Singh Noor, a Punjabi writer, said in order to improve the quality of Punjabi literature and art, the induction of advanced technology was the need of the hour, He said the big libraries in the developed countries had been connected through the Internet and research students can locate the desired information from any library while sitting in their homes. He said in Delhi all Punjabi teachers had been provided with computers, so that they could educate the students about the operation of computer in this field. Dr Gurpreet Lehal gave a presentation of his new software. Jaswant Zafar presented an audio-visual show of his poetry while Malkit exhibited his digital paintings. Talking about the programme, Mr D.S Sekhon, general secretary of the institute, said the institute would study the impact of various ecnonomic, social and political issues and their role in overall development of Punjab. Similarly, the audio-visual presentation of poetry by Zafar displayed how technology can be put to good use to make poetry reach a large number of people. Mr Amarjit Singh Grewal, Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill, Mr Inderjit Singh Hasanpuri and Dr Ranjit Singh were also present on the occasion.
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Canara Bank Union to observe strike
Jagraon, September 25 According to a bank press note, the conference is taking place at a time when the bankers despite operating profits of more than Rs 40,000 crore are refusing to allocate even 10 per cent of the profits toward enhancement of salaries. While crores are being written off on account of non-performing assets and banks are declaring record dividends, no salary hike is given to the employees. It says, while in the RBI employees are given options for pension five times, which is denied to commercial bank employees. This scheme is extended to commercial banks only through the RBI. The conference will discuss these issues and take steps to further consolidate and intensity the employees’ struggle in the banking industry. 
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