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BKU threatens stir against privatisation
Ludhiana, June 6 Talking to mediapersons here today, the working president of BKU, Mr Manjit Singh Kadian, and other functionaries asserted that the union would effectively block the government move to privatise Punjab State Electricity Board, government schools, hospitals and sugar mills. In particular, the BKU vociferously opposed the handing over of cooperative sugar mills to private parties while pointing out that farmers were share holders in these mills. They were constituents of governing bodies of these sugar mills and the government ought to honour the decisions of governing bodies of the sugar mills, which had opposed the privatisation bid. Mr Kadian asked the government to curb the use of veto power by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies where policy matters were concerned. “Similarly, institutions like PSEB, government schools and hospitals have social commitments to the people of the state to make available power, education and healthcare on affordable terms. If these departments are privatised, the profit-oriented private parties, having no social or moral obligations to the people, will make these basic necessities out of the reach of common man.” The BKU activists asked the government to scrap the policy of privatisation which had been adopted at the instance of certain vested interests. On the contrary, the government should make arrangements to provide more funds to government schools and healthcare institutions so that the people, belonging to weaker sections were not deprived of the facilities of free primary education and health cover. At the same time, the working of cooperative sugar mills should be streamlined so that these could also deliver the desired results.
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PCR cop injures man, runs away
Ludhiana, June 6 Mohinderpal Singh, a resident of Dugri, developed a fracture in his leg after he was allegedly injured by a PCR cop near the Railway Station in the wee hours today. He was going towards the station after leaving his scooter at his father’s house in Khud Mohalla. The cop allegedly did not bother to pick him up. He left him on the spot while he was bleeding profusely. An autorickshaw driver of Laddowal village saw him lying on the road and rushed him to local Kapoor Hospital. The doctors present in the hospital gave him first aid and then referred him to Sri Ram Charitable Hospital in Daresi. Doctors said that Mohinderpal had developed a fracture in his leg when he was hit by a speeding motorbike. They said that the injury would take around six weeks to heal. Mr Jaswant Singh, his father in a complaint to SHO, Kotwali, has sought registration of a case. He has demanded that the PCR cop responsible for the incident should be identified and action should be taken against him. “My son and his family were going to Hemkunt Sahib to pay obeisance there. He had dropped his wife and children at the station in the morning and was going to join them soon. But they were also summoned back with the efforts of an autorickshaw driver, who got an announcement made at the station,” he said. “It is shocking that the PCR cop, who is supposed to help the public, left him in the middle of the road. Thankfully, it was 5 a.m. and there were some commuters on the road, who rushed him to the hospital. Otherwise he would have bled to death. At least the cop would have been humane enough to shift him to the hospital,” said his father.
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Turning a deaf ear to complaints of power theft
Ludhiana, June 6 The power theft being committed by scores of jhuggi dwellers through a well-oiled network of wooden poles, unlawfully erected on road sides, and certain conniving officials of PSEB, was not only causing huge financial losses to the government exchequer but had become a big source of inconvenience to the area residents, who have to face problems like frequent tripping, low frequency and power failure for no fault of theirs. In a written representation submitted to PSEB authorities here, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar Action Committee has complained that a large number of jhuggi dwellers had taken ‘kundi connections’ from LT power cables, passing along 150 square yard side in E block of the colony for quite some time now. The functionaries of action committee maintained that repeated written complaints made to SDO and other officers of Atam Nagar Sub-Division of PSEB had failed to evoke any effective step against the menace. Mr Pran Bhatia, president of the committee, informed that officials concerned of PSEB had made spot visit many a times in the recent past but no action had apparently been taken against the offenders, who continued to steal power, causing resentment against other residents of the colony. He said the pleas for registration of criminal cases against power thieves and seizure of cables and ‘unlawful’ poles had fallen on deaf ears, which imply that some employees of the PSEB were hand in gloves with the jhuggi dwellers in the power theft racket for monetary benefits. In fact, the menace of power theft through kundi connection had spread far and wide in the city which has a sizeable population of migrants and local labour of small and medium industrial units in thousands. It is learnt that many jhuggi dwellers were stealing power in several other colonies like Model Town, Model Town Extension, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Giaspura and Haibowal where the shanties had electric lights, fans, coolers and televisions, running round the clock through kundi connections without any fear of law.
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Murder case solved; 1 arrested
Khanna, June 6 Mr Dilbagh Singh, SP (D), said here yesterday that in August, 2004, conductor Parmjit Singh, resident of Bharthla village, was murdered with sharp-edged weapons. A case was registered against some unidentified persons at Samrala police station, but the police was clueless about the case. Family members of the deceased met the new SSP, Khanna, Mr Naunihal Singh, regarding the case. The SSP deputed CIA in charge Gurdeep Singh to investigate the case. During investigation, the police came to know that Tejinder Verma had confessed before Sohan Singh, sarpanch of Bharthla village, that he and his companion Charnjit Singh had murdered the conductor. Tejinder Verma confessed to the police that he had murdered the conductor over a money dispute. He said they called the conductor at a tubewell of the village and murdered him with sharp-edged weapons. The accused was produced in the court of Civil Judge K.K. Goel, who sent him to the police custody till June 8.
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Dehlon BDO defies HC orders
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 6 SAD leaders of the Kila Raipur constituency have resented the administration’s move to remove their candidate allegedly acting on the behest of some congress leaders. Meanwhile, the BDO, Dehlon, has maintained that the oath would stand cancelled till the next orders by the court. Ms Jagir Kaur, who had defeated Ms Swaran Kaur by five votes during panchayat elections held two years ago, had challenged the orders of the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, in which he had declared her opponent winner on the basis of recounting conducted by an SDM. Though Mr Ashutosh Mohunta, a judge at the high court, had directed the administration to bring sealed boxes of votes for recounting at the court under the supervision of an advocate, the BDO, Dehlon, administered the oath to Ms Swaran Kaur on June 3 violating the court orders. Perusal of the latest orders of the court revealed that Ms Ranjana Shahi, advocate was appointed to conduct the recounting afresh. Both parties had been asked to share a sum of Rs 20,000 to be paid to the advocate for the job. Counsel for the appellant had contended that the recounting by the district administration was done in a clandestine manner Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, MLA, Kila Raipur, Mr Raghbir Singh Saharanmajra, member, SGPC and Mr Mann Singh Garcha, (SAD leader) have accused the authorities of acting on the behest of some Congress leaders who wanted to remove Ms Jagir Kaur from her chair. The BDO on the other hand said the oath administration ceremony would stand cancelled till the order by the court. “Ms Swaran Kaur was administered oath earlier as we had not received the present orders by then,” he explained.
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Shiv Sena chief held, released
Ludhiana, June 6 The police arrested Shiv Sena Hindustan chief Pawan Sharma early today morning for staging a demonstration near Clock Tower besides putting behind bars six labourers in the focal point area. All of these were released on bail later. The labourers were booked by the division No. 7 police on the report of an ASI who found that about 15 persons had gathered in an unlawful assembly in a colony. Sources said the labourers belonged a labour organisation who could have resorted to strikes in some industries. The Shiv Sena chief had led a demonstration in protest against recent terrorist activities causing bomb blast in two cinema halls in Delhi. Tension gripped Kutcha Pandit Beli Ram colony today morning when more than 30 cops raided his house and arrested him. He was later released on bail. The police action comes in the wake of a strong flag march carried out by the police yesterday. Sources said the district administration and the police have resolved to take strict action against the violators of the Section 144 . They violators have been booked under Section 188 of the IPC for violating the orders.
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Jagir Kaur prefers to keep mum
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 6 The SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said the incident was not worth being considered by her office as she had many more things to look after. “I can not afford wasting my precious time on such petty matters. Only because Mr Partap Singh Bajwa and others, who accepted the honour led by Panj Piara were Congress leaders, does not make the incident an issue that should be taken up the president of SGPC,” reacted Bibi Jagir Kaur when told that senior SAD leaders had demanded conditional apology by breakers of Maryada according to them. She further suggested: “Those who feel that their religious sentiments had been hurt should contact the SGPC members of their respective area.” Meanwhile, Mr Harpreet Singh Garcha and Mr Raghbir Singh Saharanmajra, SGPC members, maintained that they had received representations from the members of Sikh community of their area. “We have already forwarded these representations to the SGPC office and were told these would be taken up at some meeting to be held in future,” claimed the members owing allegiance to SAD. Earlier, Sikh leaders, including Mr Charan Singh Lohara, general secretary of the SAD (Amritsar), Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, an SAD MLA from Kilaraipur constituency, Mr Maan Singh Garcha SVP, SAD, Mr Raghir Singh Saharanmajra, Member, SGPC, Mr Kuldip Singh Karwal, General Secretary Youth wing of SAD (A) had criticised Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, PWD Minister of the Punjab Government and Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, MLA, for accepting the said honour at foundation laying ceremony of a road at Jodhan village. “According to the Sikh maryada, Panj Piaras cannot lead a procession unless they are accompanied by Guru Granth Sahib. By accepting the honour, led by Panj Piaras, the Congress leader have tried to equate memorandum with holy grants,” the leaers had said. They had urged the heads of SGPC and Akal Takht to summon the leaders and the organisers of the said function and take action against them according to the Sikh tenets. Mr Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, had said the incident was an insult to the institution of Panj Piaras. Though he had said that the leaders who had violated the Sikh Maryada would be asked to make amends, no communication was reported to be sent to the concerned leaders.
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Breaking through the boredom barrier
With our mobiles, internet, racy cars and television channels, we are luckier than kings and emperors of old in making life exciting. We have at our command more resources to keep ourselves entertained, so it would seem. Yet boredom is an everyday fact of lives faced by the ordinary men of our times. It is as if man gets addicted to excitement and he is ever desirous of an increasing dose of the same to make life interesting.
When the Hippy generation came into being, it was explained that they got bored with the humdrum routine of life, and they chose a deviation to a bohemian existence. Perhaps some philosophically interpreted the happening as proving the worthlessness of worldly pleasures to add significance and meaning to life. Most of the Hippies had come from affluent families and had tasted the physical pleasures that prosperity could make available while they are yet in their thirties. As against this, life continues to be a struggle in the third world nations and the earning of a livelihood is so exacting a drudgery that they have no time to feel any boredom. Being preoccupied in the battle to make both ends meet, they never arrive at that empty moment to feel the meaninglessness of their existence. Some of our youngsters end up on the wrong route to happiness as they try to bring in variety and new types of entertainment to their dull existence. It is no use blaming them for getting addicted to the internet or mobiles or films or to cricket because they are just giving expression to an aspect of human nature the appetite for excitement. It is only when it is indulged in excessively or harmfully, this becomes a matter of concern. Psychiatrists are only too willing to admit concerning youth that ennui has made more gamblers than avarice; more drunkards than thirst; more suicides than ill health or other tragedies of life. Rightly did Pascal affirm: there is nothing so insupportable to man as to be in entire repose, without passion, occupation, amusement or application. Then it is that he feels his own nothingness, isolation, insignificance, dependent nature, powerlessness. Self-sufficient and self-centered individuals draw inwards and fail to make the contacts with others so vital for emotional health and happiness. It is contact with others, interchange of views and ideas that ultimately brings out and ripens a man’s individuality. The lowest and simplest form of life on this planet consists of a single cell. It is a complete unity, all-sufficient in itself, caring nothing for, and desiring nothing of its neighbours. The amoeba, as this cell is named, is certainly alive in the physical sense. Man can not be content with such an isolation. No man is an island, it is said. He is part of a continent. He lives only when he is related and involved in the lives of others. Man is created to be a social being and whoever ignores goes against what nature intended him. We never feel bored as long as we are engaged in doing something we really enjoy doing. As a matter of fact, when we are lost in a labour of love, doing the things close to our hearts, we experience a high that words can scarcely describe. American social philosopher Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) used to maintain that when people are bored, it is primarily with their own selves that they are bored. Self-centered people who live in self enclosed prisons get bored with their own selves. There is nothing unnatural or unusual about feeling bored from time to time. This is just our bodies’ way of telling us to pick up the tempo; to find something a bit more challenging, stimulating and interesting to do. Wake up if you are feeling bored with your lot. Make some immediate changes. End the stagnation and open up. Let there be something new to revive your enthusiasm. See what you can do to serve someone in your neighbourhood. Get interested in some hobby. Or as Dale Carnegie would put it: “Throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.” M.P. K. Kutty
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Short stature, tall dreams
Ludhiana, June 6 He had never thought of himself as inferior to his taller relatives or youths of his age but had to face a lot of difficulty while looking for a mate.
Harwinder has two brothers and three sisters and have normal height. Manjit Kaur has five sisters and three brothers who are also taller than her. Both families earn their livelihood by doing labour. Harwinder Singh, who has been working as a bus conductor in a private bus service for the past seven years, gets Rs 50 a day, which according to him is not enough to make both the ends meet. He is fond of listening to music and performing bhangra. Manjit Kaur, a house wife, is shy in nature and is fond of experimenting with dishes and improving upon her culinary skills. According to Harwinder’s parents, they had great difficulty finding the match but were satisfied with the outcome. They love their daughter-in-law and have good understanding with her. Both families are happy with the marriage. The couple is also happy and getting the support of the families. Harwinder’s parents never stop thanking God for making the match. “Harwinder was very naughty. He used to fight with me when we played together. Once he wanted to slap me but could not reach my face,” says Harwinder’s sister. She says her brother is choosy in selecting dishes and likes to dance to bhangra music at marriage ceremonies. Sewak Singh, his brother, feels Harwinder is very cooperative and that they are living happily in a joint family. “I have no regrets about being short but when someone pokes fun at me, I get a little hurt,” Harwinder quips. He says his dream is to become a successful man but his short height has always acted as an impediment to the path of success. The couple is fond of children. But are worried about passing on their condition to their offsprings. “No, we just want our children to be healthy. Height is immaterial,” they said.
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Parking blues at Bhadaur House
Ludhiana, June 6 The shopkeepers have urged the Superintendent of Police (Traffic) to visit the area to have on the spot assessment. The president of the association, Mr N.S. Nanda, disclosed that people visiting different areas and markets park their vehicles in the Bhadaur House leaving little space for those who visit the market. He said the market had been developed along modern concepts but due to improper traffic management, it had turned chaotic. Mr Nanda said the association also urged the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, to ensure that the work on the elevated road project between Jagraon Bridge to Chand Cinema was completed soon. He said hotels in the area were the worst sufferers as their business had been hit. The association maintained that the road between nullah and the Bhadaur House market behind the shop-cum-flats was in a deplorable condition. It demanded that the road should be got metalled. The prominent among those who attended the meeting included Mr Jagdish Anand, Surinder Thapar, Devinder Batra, Madal Lal, Vinod Madan, Balwinder Singh Kanwar, Kuljit Singh, Vinod Bansal, S.N. Sharma, Chhotu Lal and Sunil Kumar.
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‘People’s participation must to save environment’
Ludhiana, June 6 The day was observed as a part of National Environment Awareness Campaign in coordination with the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology on the theme ‘save environment — lead a healthy life’. A large number of activists of the BJGVJ, along with students from different schools, carrying banners and placards, went around the garden while distributing handbills on issues related to environment. They also held corner meetings. Speakers at the function emphasised the need for making peoples’ participation effective, without which life on earth would face serious consequences. “Global warming occurring as a result of large number of gases accumulating in the atmosphere is a pointer towards this fact.” They termed it as tragic that as a result of greed of a few people, the entire mankind had to face the problems related to ecological disturbances. Dr Arun Mitra, general secretary of the jatha, remarked that a sustained continuous effort on the part of the people was required to promote healthy environment. Dr Rajinder Pal Singh explained about the problem of environment in agriculture, particularly after the entry of genetically modified terminated seeds by multinational companies. He cautioned the people about the danger of falling water-level and asked them to adopt new methods in agriculture for rain water harvesting. The participants in the function pledged to carry forward the movement for environment protection right from their homes to the city and still further to the national level. Students of Guru Ram Das Model School and DAV Public Senior Secondary School recited poems on the environment conservation. Prominent among others present at the function were Mr Krishan Lal Malik, Mr Sohan Singh, Ms Kusum Lata, Mr Amrit Pal Singh, Mr Manoj Bassi, Dr Daler Singh, Dr Gurpreet Ratan, Mr Gurmeet Singh, Mr Pardeep Sharma, Mr Baldev Singh Brar, Mr Sandeep Kumar, Ms Veena Sachdeva and Mr Raj Kumar.
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Training camp organised on Environment Day
Ludhiana, June 6 Speaking on the occasion, Dr S.S. Gill, Director, Extension Education, said that instead of expecting help from the government agencies, all the social groups should also engage themselves in keeping the environment neat and clean. He said that every person should plant minimum five trees as decreasing number of trees was responsible for the changes in the season and the increasing heat. “We should save our environment in order to save the future of our children,” said Dr Gill. Describing the importance of World Environmental Day, Dr (Mrs) Neelam Mahajan said that the women can make important contribution in this field, adding that medicinal plants should be planted. He presented one kit of medicinal plants to the officials of cooperative society. Besides, Dr Sanjiv Chauhan, Dr Kiran Grover, Dr Pushpinder Kaur Sandhu, Dr Sukhminder Kaur and Dr Harinder Kaur Saggu also spoke on the occasion. Mr Ujaggar Singh, former President of the cooperative society,
Mehna, Mr Amrik Singh and other officials of the society thanked the officers of the Punjab Agricultural University for chosing their village to celebrate the World Environmental Day.
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Training camp for sarpanches
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 6 Chairman, Panchayat Samiti, Sadhu Singh Kalia inaugurated the camp, which was attended by sarpanch and panches of various villages. BDO Baljinder Singh Grewal said experts in various social subjects educated the representatives about public interest projects launched by the state government from time to time. The exercise would enable the panches and sarpanches to help beneficiaries of various weaker sections of rural society in obtaining government assistance in various projects. Member, Block Samiti, Raghu Nandan Sharma also spoke on the occasion.
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Veena winner of recipe contest
Ludhiana, June 6 Renowned master chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who declared the winners, also shared some useful tips on Washington apples with audience. The participants were adjudged on the basis of innovation
and use of different flavours of Washington apples effectively, WAC said. Mr Sumit Saran, India representative, WAC, said : “With Indians becoming increasingly health conscious and looking for healthier eating options, Washington apples offer an ideal choice.” Ms Simran Aujla of WAC said Washington apples were available throughout the country. She said these apples were subject to stringent grading standards. “The contest is an effort to educate people on how best they could use this versatile fruit,” she said. Ms Balie Kler was declared second and Ms Sashi Jain got the third prize.
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Threat to install water pumps
Ludhiana, June 6 Dr Balwant Singh, president of the Public Welfare Society, Model House, said the pressure of water was so low that it took over half hour to fill a bucket. ‘‘We will be forced to install water pumps,” he said. The residents also complained of bad roads in the area and said the roads had not been recarpeted for years. They claimed that the roads near the houses of a minister and a former minister were in good condition. They also said a water pipe had been leaking for the past three days.
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Posthumous honour for
Gen Aurora
Ludhiana, June 6 Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh is expected to present the award to the daughter of the General, Anita Kalra. This was stated by president of the mandal Krishan Kumar Bawa here today. He said Banda Singh Bahadur, a great warrior who was also known as liberator of farmers, had not only fought against the tyranny of Moghul rulers and avenged the martyrdom of two Sahibzadas — Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh — but had also launched a crusade against landlords by distributing land among the tillers. He said martyrs, saints and Gurus were great assets, not only to a community but to the entire human race.
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Child succumbs to injuries
Panchkula, June 6
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Ex-IAS officer bereaved
Ludhiana, June 6
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Sarpanch hurt in attack
Jagraon, June 6
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Malls offer limited shopping
experience
Ludhiana, June 6 The company’s research, which was conducted in leading cities across the country, pointed our that people were seeking much more than merely shopping experience from malls. “People are looking for activity centres, entertainment centres, value added shopping experience, business-cum-commercial services and recreation-cum-entertainment centres,” Ms Seema Saha, vice-president, Subhi International told Ludhiana Tribune. While an increasing number of malls were coming up, the success of these malls, where majority people hesitated to shop primarily due to high prices of goods offered, remained doubtful. The city had witnessed inauguration of at least six mega malls in the last few months only. While companies talked of ambitious plans and growing metropolis culture, the fact that shops remained, unoccupied in many of the city’s shopping centres, even in busy areas like Ghumar Mandi, raised doubts about success of upcoming malls. “That is what necessitates the need to know what people want and they like,” said Ms Saha. While the company’s first mall, would come up in Ludhiana, it would also come up with malls in Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Mohali and Patiala. “We are focusing on social and cultural activities besides providing anchor stores for shopping, dining places and dedicated entertainment areas, which would provide replacement for clubs and community centres.” Emphasising that the company aimed to promoted cultural activities in a serious manner, she said :”While that is what would make us unique, we do not aim cultural activities to be a revenue source. We are willing to provide that space to say NGOs or local organisations involved in promoting art of various forms, free of any charges.” Besides, there would be special activities to celebrate festivals.
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