 |
|
|
|
|
|
Panthic parties for alliance against SAD
Amritsar, October 10 This was a consensus among the leaders of various Panthic parties at a seminar, ‘Panthic Vichar
Manch’, held today. Mr Chandumajra said that his party was ready to forge political alliance with parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party, Left parties or the SAD
(Amritsar). Bhai Ranjit Singh, a former Jathedar of Akal Takht said that he would extend his support to the SAD
(Longowal) and the SAD (Amritsar) if both joined hands to defeat Badal
factions. Mr Chandumajra alleged that Mr Parkash Singh Badal was projecting his son, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal as next the Chief Minister by throwing all democratic norms to the wind. He said the dreams of Senior and Junior Badal won’t be fulfilled, as the ‘Sikh
Sangat’ would oppose such ‘un-democratic’ moves tooth and nail. He said there were many senior leaders in the SAD
(Badal) who made supreme sacrifices for the sake of Sikh Panth were being bypassed by Mr Sukhbir Singh
Badal. The Panthic leaders who addressed the seminar alleged that the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee had failed to come up to the aspirations of the Sikh
Panth. Bhai Ranjit Singh alleged that SGPC Chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, who was facing serious cases had no moral right to head a religious body like the Shiromani Committee. He alleged that Bibi Jagir Kaur was misguiding the Sikh Sangat on various issues. Lashing out at Mr Parmjit Singh
Sarna, President, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, for his proposed ‘religious procession’ from New Delhi to Nankana Sahib, he said huge collections of the Sikh Sangat would go waste. Political undertones were evident in the Sikh religious seminar organised by the Shiromani Akali Dal
(Longowal) here. Though purpose of the seminar was to discuss the ills plaguing the Sikh religion but it concluded with the ‘decision’ of urging different political parties to stop Mr Parkash Singh Badal and his ‘desire’ to install his son as the next Chief Minister of Punjab.
|
|
4 cops dismissed, seven suspended for gang rape
Amritsar, October 10 The police has also written to the Health Secretary, Punjab, and Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, Deputy Commissioner, for deputing a special team of doctors to carry out check-up of undertrials and convicts in the Central Jail before referring them to hospitals. Briefing mediapersons here today, Mr H.S. Randhawa, Deputy Inspector General of Police, said four policemen, Head Constable Arjan Singh, constables Nishan Singh, Balbir Singh and Mohan Lal of Tarn Taran police district, had been dismissed from service for their connivance in the alleged rape case, for negligence on duty and for keeping in view their past records for having links with smugglers. The Jail Superintendent, Capt S.P. Singh said the alleged culprits, Dilraj Singh and Sukhdev Singh, serving sentence on charges of smuggling, had raped after their appearance in the court on October 6. He said he had sent a written communication to the Medical Officer that the convicts should be allowed to appear in the court if they were “fit to be produced”. Strangely, the doctors found them “fit” and allowed them to appear in the court. If they were medically fit, why the doctors had not recommended their repatriation to the jail. The Jail Superintendent claimed that both convicts were referred to the local Civil Hospital on the direction of the court for heart treatment on the request of their lawyers on September 21 and 29. It is learnt that the jail’s dispensary/hospital is ill-equipped. Hence, jail inmates easily get themselves referred to government hospitals on the pretext that dispensary jail does not have CT Scan, ECG or other equipments. Interestingly, the Civil Surgeon, Dr S.S. Sohal, had visited the Central Jail on October 6 and told the jail doctor that the convicts or undertrials should not be referred to government hospitals on “flimsy grounds”. Dr Sohal said his department had taken all measures to stop recurrence of such incidents. He said all undertrials or convicts, referred to government hospitals, were being sent back to jail.
|
|
Rs 4.4 lakh looted from bank
Bholath (Kapurthala), October 10 According to sources, at 12.40 pm a robber, on the pretext of getting a draft, forced the bank guard to hand over his gun to him on a pistol point. Then his two accomplices, armed with revolvers, entered the bank and locked all six employees and 10 clients present in the bank, in one room after snatching their mobile phones. They asked Jiwan Jyoti Tiwari, cashier of the bank, to accompany them to the strong room. After looting Rs 4,41,645, all three fled the spot after shifting the staff and clients to the strong room. On the request of the staff, they did not lock the door of the strong room but locked the grill only. Before fleeing, they left the mobiles and keys in the bank. After the robbers fled the staff and other people locked in the strong room started shouting. Then some persons playing cards near the bank reached the spot and released them. The robbers did not loot any customer in the bank. On receiving information, Mr Rajiv Ahir, SSP, Kapurthala, Mr Gurmit Singh, SP (D), and Mr Amrik Singh Powar, DSP, Bholath, rushed to the bank and started investigation. A dog squad was also pressed into the investigation. The police has registered a case in this connection. The SSP, when asked about the vehicle used by the robbers, said the police was not aware of the type of vehicle used by them. Meanwhile, the police has registered a case under Sections 392 and 342 of the CrPC.
|
|
SAD leaders instigating farmers to stage protests: Dullo
Mohali, October 10 Mr Dullo was speaking to mediapersons at a product-launch ceremony in industrial area here today. Stating that discoloration of rice in the state was the result of untimely rains, Mr Dullo pointed out that the strike of the rice-shellers had also a major role to play in leading to the crisis. He said the Punjab Government had already demanded a relaxation of at least 8 per cent from the rice colour specifications and that had brought relief to the farmers. When asked about the Chief Ministers’ conclave and the message given for Punjab by the All-India Congress Committee chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Mr Dullo said: “I was not involved with the conclave. But our focus vis-a-vis the Centre has been to ask for all those benefits that the Centre gives to the neighbouring states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.” Responding to a question regarding the closure of public sector units in Mohali, Mr Dullo said the Managing Directors of the companies should keep a tight leash on the functioning of such units. “They should work as watchdogs of these companies and create a system by which the lapses that led to the companies going into losses earlier are not repeated,” he said.
|
|
Guarantee MSP or face protest, says CPI
Bathinda, October 10 The CPI made this announcement while staging a protest outside the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI). Addressing party activists, the deputy leader of the CPI’s parliamentary group, Mr C.K. Chandrapan, questioned the claims of development being made by the government that the farmers were being “looted” and that they were committing suicides. A member of the CPI’s central committee, Mr Joginder Dayal, said the Congress Chief Ministers’ conclave in Chandigarh had achieved little and the chances of withdrawal of free power to farmers had increased. The district general secretary of the party, Mr Jagjeet Singh Joga, demanded compensation for the farmers whose crop had suffered damage in the September 22 rainfall.
|
|
Markfed starts procurement of cotton
Faridkot, October 10 Inaugurating the procurement, Mr Avtar Singh Brar, vice-president, PPCC and former MLA claimed, that the entry of the state agency in the market would not only prove beneficial to farmers but it would also enhance the market fee and rural development fund of the market committee. Nearly 12,000 bales of desi and other varieties of cotton have arrived. Before the entry of the state agency, the market committee was earning only Rs 10 lakh under both the schemes, according to Mr Brar. While promising to utilise all the funds for various development schemes in the rural areas in the block, Mr Brar said the Cotton Corporation of India would also arrive in the market in the next few days. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Karam Singh, Manager, Markfed, and a cotton expert, said out of the total expected arrivals of 22 lakh bales both the Markfed and the CCI had procured 5126 and 5040 bales since October 1 whereas traders had purchased 55,000 bales of same crop up to September 30.
|
|
Decline in cotton prices arrested
Bathinda, October 10 The city’s cotton market recorded the arrival of 2,200 quintals of cotton, of which the Cotton, Corporation of India (CCI) has procured 500 quintals and Markfed, 460. The lowest price of cotton here was Rs 1,614 and the highest Rs 1,840. The president of the District Arhtiya Association, Muktsar, Mr Gurdas Girdhar, said the market witnessed the arrival of 6,500 quintals, of which the CCI purchased 1,300, Markfed 1,200, and private buyers 4,000. He said though the market saw brisk buying, there was a scope for improvement on the bidding front. He said the prices today ranged between Rs 1,775 and Rs 1,835. Sources said 1,000 bales of cotton arrived in Malout, where the average rate was Rs 1,750. However, the prices increased up to Rs 1,800 with the visit of Punjab Animal Husbandry Minister Jagmohan Singh Kang to the market. The Gidderbaha, too, had an arrival of 1,000 bales at the rate of Rs 1,750. In Ferozepore district, Fazilka saw the arrival of 600 bales, while Abohar had a bumper arrival of 2,000 bales. The rate was Rs 1,800 in Fazilka and Rs 1,750-1,775 in Abohar. Cotton prices are witnessing an upward trend in the neighbouring Sirsa district of Haryana as farmers sold their cotton at Rs 1,850. Experts say the increased purchase by the government agencies had helped the farmers whose cotton was fetching low prices. A CCI official said they had increased the quantum of purchase in the past three-four days as the quality had improved. He said earlier they were procuring cotton from fewer centres, but now they had reached the maximum of 16 centres. He said they were also purchasing a sizeable quantity of cotton at the MSP of Rs 1,835. The CCI had also started cotton purchase in nine major centres of
Haryana.
|
|
Six commission agents arrested
Tapa (Barnala), October 10 The agents were trying to stop the 335 U B Ambala-Ganga Nagar passenger train by lying on the track. Meanwhile, agitated farmers and commission agents blocked traffic at the Barnala-Sangrur road. Earlier, the protesters held a dharna before the market committee at
Barnala. Ms Surjit Kaur Barnala, wife of Andhra Pradesh Governor Surjit Singh
Barnala, visited the dharna site. On the request of the commission agents, Ms Barnala spoke to the OSD Chief Minister with regard to the paddy purchase in Sangrur district. She expressed concern that the government was not getting correct information regarding the plight of farmers.
|
|
Cane growers hold rally
Phagwara, October 10 The cane growers demanded from Punjab Government Rs 150 as minimum support price for per quintal sugarcane. Addressing the rally, Lehmber Singh Taggar, general secretary, Punjab Kisan Sabha, Rashpal Singh, president of the society, Ajmer Singh Samra, former society president, Harbhjan Singh Bhullarai, vice-president of the society, Dial Singh Dhanda, Gurmej Singh Mandhali, kisan leaders, warned that in case direct purchase of cane was not discontinued by the mill authorities, then a demonstration would be held here on October 26 and a concerted struggle launched. The cane growers also asked the government to clear their arrears, with 14 per cent interest. Mr Taggar regretted that the government had not increased the MSP of cane during the last eight years while the cost of production had more than doubled.
|
|
Punjab sends relief material to J&K
Jalandahr, October 10 The relief material was being sent as per directions of the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh. A convoy of 45 trucks was flagged off by the Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr Avtaar Henry, from the PAP complex. The trucks would be off-loaded at the Adampur air base, from where the relief materials would be air-lifted by Army planes. The relief material has been collected from various districts of Doaba
region. Mr Henry appealed to the people of Punjab to contribute the maximum
relief. Mr Ashok Gupta, (DC) said the administrator would collect more relief material.
|
|
IAF help sought
Chandigarh, October 10 The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, said: "We are in touch with Mr Ghulam Nabi
Azad. These blankets are needed there immediately."The material would be lifted from Adampur near Jalandhar or from
Pathankot.
|
|
Purewal appointed citizenship judge in Surrey
Jalandhar, October 10 Dr
Purewal, who hails from Shankar village of Shahkot subdivision, is an academic in Surrey, British Columbia. A Ph.D in political science, he has been a professor and lecturer at various universities of Canada, including Simon Fraser University, Kwantlen University College, University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, and Queen’s University. Dr Purewal has also been a research associate at the Simon Fraser University Institute of Governance Studies and at the Centre for Indian and South Asian Research at the University of British Columbia.
— TNS
|
Try guilty in ’84 riots as terrorists: SAD
Amritsar, October 10 Mr Badal was addressing mediapersons following a meeting of the Youth Akali Dal, which was held for chalking out a plan to mobilise its activists to participate in “insaaf rally” scheduled for November 4 at Delhi. He said the aim of the rally was to demand justice for the victims of riots. He said: “Mr Jagdish Tytler, Mr Sajjan Kumar and Mr H. K. L. Bhagat had committed the crime as serious as terrorists of Jammu and Kashmir and hence they be prosecuted under the same law as terrorists.” Though the Nanavati Commission report did not analyse the riots in a comprehensive manner, they would be satisfied if it is implemented in totality, he added. With a view to consolidating the Akali Dal at the grass-roots level, he said 10 lakh forms for the membership of the YAD had been distributed and the scrutiny of the members was on.
|
|
Debate on Punjab terrorism rescheduled
Chandigarh, October 10 A debate on the action-taken report, following the recommendations of the Justice B.S. Nehra Commission, is scheduled for October 13. A special session focussing on terrorism in the state would now be held on October 18. Earlier, the Vidhan Sabha session was scheduled from October 13 to 15 and the last day was reserved for a debate on terrorism. The rescheduling has been done as the Leader of the Opposition and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, expressed his inability to be present on October 15, the day which was originally reserved for the debate on terrorism in Punjab.The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, told mediapersons here today that it would have been meaningless to have the debate without the Leader of the Opposition attending it.
|
|
Clash between Sikh devotees, dera followers averted
Bathinda, October 10 A large number of Sikh devotees and organisations from Sangrur, Moga and Zira converged on both the gurdwaras of the village, under the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh, in the morning. Sant Baljit Singh Daduwale and Takht manager Bharpur Singh were also present. The devotees were adamant on their stand of not allowing the dera management to take along Guru Granth Sahib to the dera from either gurdwara. Finally the dera dropped its plan and began Ramayan path there. Meanwhile, addressing the devotees, the jathedar said they should not allow sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib at any
cost.
|
|
Inspectors of foodgrain agencies stage dharna
Sangrur, October 10 Mr Pawan Sharma, district co-coordinator, Punjab State Foodgrain Agencies Coordination Committee, said owing to the presence of black grain up to 15 to 17 per cent in the paddy, they were unable to procure it as government’s specifications state that up to 8 per cent damaged or discoloured paddy can be procured. He said they were facing humiliation at the hands of farmers as they were gheraoed frequently by the growers. Sometimes, the agitated farmers also misbehaved with them, he added. A 12-member committee, comprising representatives of foodgrain agencies, met the Deputy Commissioner in his office and submitted a memorandum to him. Their demands include analysis by the special teams of the discoloured and damaged paddy lying at the grain markets, security for the field staff of foodgrain agencies, and entry of private traders into the grain markets to procure paddy. Mr Sharma said the Deputy Commissioner told them that he had convened a meeting of the managing directors of all agencies and the Director, Food and Supply, Punjab, here tomorrow to resolve the issue. The Deputy Commissioner also asked them to procure paddy as per specifications and assured them that the administration would not put any pressure on them for procuring paddy setting aside the specifications.
|
|
2 die of suspected gastroenteritis
Phagwara, October 10 Phagwara SDM Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, who visited the locality, confirmed two deaths.He disclosed that while Ekta Kumari, (4) died today, Risha Kumari (6 months), had died earlier. He also said that 11 other children were suffering from diarrhoea.
— OC
|
|
Trial run of bus postponed
Amritsar, October 10 While confirming this here today, Deputy Commissioner Kirandeep Singh Bhullar said the new date of the trial run would be announced by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs after receiving information from Pakistan. The governments of the two countries have agreed to start the bus service between the two cities from November 15, the birth date of Guru Nanak Dev.
— UNI
|
|
Drive to make disabled aware of their rights
Faridkot, October 10 Presiding over the inaugural function, Mr Mohinder Pal, District and Sessions Judge and Chairman of the body, stressed on proper implementation of the Act of 1984 to save neglected children from excesses being committed by different sections of society. He also asked all judicial officers to pay attention to providing free legal services to the needy to protect their rights. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Alok Shekhar disclosed that the District Red Cross Society had already spent over Rs 1 crore on various welfare schemes for rehabilitation of such children. Moreover, a multipurpose school had also been set up on the Faridkot-Kot Kapura road at a cost of Rs 1 crore last year under the same programme. A large number of members of various NGOs and social organisations, besides judicial officers, attended the function.
|
|
Police station found stealing power for 20 yrs
Sangrur, October 10 Mr Kansal said here today the enforcement squad had detected theft of power in the police station as no electricity meter was found installed there. He added it also came to his knowledge at the police station that from the very day of starting of the police station, which had come into existence nearly 20 years ago, the Lehragaga police station (city) had never applied for any regular power connection, but continued to get power supply directly from the PSEB power line. Mr Kansal said in this case power had not been stolen by way of “kundi connection” as an electricity wire had been used to connect the PSEB power supply line and the police station. He also said further proceedings in this case would be initiated by the Lehragaga PSEB authorities.
|
|
Kerala delegation in Kot Kapura
Faridkot, October 10 During the five-day stay, the members will focus on the working of the education and health systems. The delegation comprises 10 groups consisting of five members each who will visit 35 villages in various parts of the district and interact with people.
|
2 women held for abducting girl
Jalandhar, October 10 Satpal of Ram Nagar had borrowed Rs 15,000 from accused Gurnam Kaur two years back and the loan stood at Rs 23,000 at the rate of 36 per cent interest. Little did the man know that his inability to pay back the small amount would one day threaten the life of his minor daughter Neha. The family, that belongs to the Dalit community, was being pressured to pay back the loan. The accused took Neelam from Delhi and kidnapped the girl from her residence and took her in a car. The family informed the police. The security was beefed up today and the police caught the accused. The girl was safely returned to the family. The police has registered a case.
|
|
Six booked for cheating
Amritsar, October 10 A case under Section 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered against the suspects, who have reportedly been absconding. The complainants have alleged that they had established a factory — Onkar International — in September, 1993, on Batala Road in partnership with Narinderpal Singh, Kiranjit Kaur and Manmohanjit Singh. They have alleged that the suspects opened three new firms and in October, 2003, sold off a piece of land (381 yards) belonging to the property without their knowledge. Thereafter they changed the name of the firms and deleted the names of Navtej Singh and Buland Iqbal Singh as partners. However, the accused talking to The Tribune refuted the allegations .
|
|
Labourer assaulted
Khanna, October 10 According to the victim, there was a clash between his employer and another farmer on Sunday. He said an opponent of his employer was angry with him because he had told about the clash to some residents of the village.
OC
|
DAV College wins youth festival trophy
Amritsar, October 10 The ‘B’ Division Zonal Trophy went to SGAD College, Khadoor Sahib while S.N. College, Qadian, was declared runners-up and BUC College, Batala, remained the third. Dr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, presided over the concluding function and gave away the prizes and congratulated the winners.
— OC
|
|
Lecture on Guru Nanak
Patiala, October 10 In his remarks, Dr S.S. Sidhu, Governor, Manipur, who presided over the lecture, said Guru Nanak’s Bani, a treasure house of philosophy, was perennial in nature.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
