 |
|
|
|
|
|
Terror victims against scrapping of death term
Amritsar October 24 Angry and agitated, over the recent suggestions of ‘scrapping of death sentence’ she threatened to commit suicide along with her remaining family members in front of the President of India. Defending the step she said it was more dignified to end our lives than be killed by Piara Singh Nihang’s gang -the killers who would hatch conspiracies in jails against them. Joining issue with her and others of Baserka Bhanni village in the brutal killing that day when 18 persons (13 of Swarn’s) were gunned down in indiscriminate firing, Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta heading the All-India Anti-Terrorist front, who escaped in a bomb blast allegedly by Davinderpal
Singh Bhuller — now facing death sentence, declared “we will hold a protest demonstration and march by families of victims of terrorism including those effected by Veerapan (dacoit) in the capital to stage a strong dissent in mid November,” adding that such suggestions would only lend ‘wings’ to terrorist activities. Recalling that bloody day of November 30, 1981 Swarn Kaur cried “Shagana wala
vehra, khoono khoon ho gaya” (the wedding courtyard turned blood-spattered). Her son Angrez Singh was to be married that day who miraculously escaped the brutal massacre. “My husband, sons, newly married granddaughter wearing ‘chooda’ (marriage bangles), another one pregnant were not spared by barbaric murderers!” Visibly stirred, Mr Bitta however refused to be drawn into a controversy over the fate of Sarbjit Singh claiming innocence in bomb blast case facing death sentence in Pakistan on mistaken identity. He said, death row prisoners over 75 years and women could be spared. Lashing out at Pakistan for not reining the terrorists even in the face of disaster by quake and subsequent killing of J&K Education Minister when India was extending all assistance to it, he accused the Pak President of refusing aid initially for fear of exposure of active “terrorist training camps” in Muzaffarabad. Advising caution over opening multiple routes in Kashmir by India he added that it was the right moment to demand back PoWs from Pakistan. In another statement the front president announced to file a PIL in Supreme Court against ‘phone tapping’ as a tool of blackmailers and compromising security.
|
|
|
450 gm RDX seized from Hawara’s accomplice
Ropar, October 24 Gurdeep Singh is in police custody till October 27 and is being interrogated by the CIA, Ropar. Sources said after getting information from Gurdeep Singh, a team including Inspector CIA staff, Mr Gurdeep Singh, and Kharar SHO Sukhjit Singh Virk seized RDX and ammunition from near the Bhukri rivulet passing through Jandpur village in Kharar. A senior official of the intelligence wing who interrogated Gurdeep Singh, said on the condition of anonymity that the accused had revealed his plan to eliminate senior Congress leader Mr H.K.L. Bhagat, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and Baba Paira Singh Bhanirewala of Nurpurbedi. He said after the arrest of Hawara, his life had become miserable. His son and a daughter had stopped going to school at Alampur village in Fatehgarh Sahib and he was upset for his family. Gurdeep also confessed that he along with Hawara, had planted a time bomb in the ashram of Bhanirewala on January 9 but it exploded before its actual time.
|
|
|
Badals declare ‘war’ on Amarinder
Alamgir (Ludhiana), October 24 While the party tried to make out that the November 4 rally in Delhi, for which today’s meeting was held, was being organised to protest against the failure of the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre to punish those responsible for the killing of thousands of innocent Sikhs in Delhi in November, 1984, the speeches made by Mr Badal and Mr Sukhbir Singh made it too obvious that they were preparing for the elections. While exhorting the workers to rise to the occasion, Mr Badal declared: “This is not a simple election (while referring to the forthcoming Assembly election scheduled in early 2007), this is a war against the dictatorship”. He asked the workers to channelise the resentment prevailing against the Congress government and ensure that the government was thrown out. He asserted that the proposed rally would be one of the biggest in the history of Delhi. He said party workers and supporters from Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh would be attending the rally. While Mr Badal declared war on Capt Amarinder Singh, Mr Sukhbir Badal appeared to be more aggressive and belligerent. He accused the Chief Minister of being the “biggest liquor mafia, sand mafia and land mafia of the state”. He claimed that corruption had crossed all limits in the state under the patronage of the government.
|
|
State needs a revolution in education
Chandigarh, October 24 Though the functioning of the new Guru Angad University for Veterinary Sciences has been stayed, Punjab has witnessed a virtual explosion in school, technical and professional education during the past few years. “Though we have a large number of technical institutions, both in rural and urban areas, besides 50-odd colleges of education (B.Ed), there is no authority to monitor the quality of education being imparted in this rapidly growing private sector,” says Mr Bir Devinder Singh, MLA from Kharar. He was the one who had initiated debate on the Lovely Professional University Bill. Today he was at Fatehgarh Sahib where a new campus, Canadian Institute of International Studies, was inaugurated. Emphasising the need for quality education, he said, degrees alone did not matter. Quoting from the recent Planning Commission report, Mr Bir Devinder Singh revealed that Punjab had slipped to the 15th position in generating employment for educated youth. Punjab’s employment generation, he said, was below many neighbouring states and was just 0.73 per cent. The reason, he said, was the poor quality of education. “Our graduates and postgraduates are not able to compete with their counterparts from other states where the standard of education was maintained. Opening of distant coaching centres or colleges in showrooms with or without proper infrastructure was no indication of the spread of quality education. Earlier, Mr Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon, a former Professor of Panjab University, said that the survival of Punjab after green revolution was only in education revolution. Responding to the call for setting up a National Commission on Knowledge by the Prime Minister, the Marwaris have taken lead to start a “knowledge city” in the Marwar belt. Punjab, too, needs a “knowledge city”. For survival in the present day competitive world, he said, “What we need is new ideas. And ideas come only through gain of knowledge.” Col B.S. Sandhu, founder of the Canadian Institute of International Studies, said Information Technology explosion had reduced the world into a global village where now the spread of knowledge was no more limited to the advanced or developed countries. India’s biggest potential, he said, was in its 40 per cent population which was below 40 years of age. Equipping this power with knowledge and training makes the country a big power. Keeping in mind outsourcing, it was necessary that quality education of world standards was provided to our youth, especially in a forward-looking state like Punjab. Major-Gen K.S. Mann (retd) felt that India was becoming a major centre for the world not only for software experts, but also for trained nurses and paramedical staff, besides other technologies. He said though there was a large outflow of students, especially from Punjab, for technical and professional courses overseas, efforts were being made and should continue to be made to provide the same or even slightly better quality of education at almost 25 per cent rates of the advanced nations. There has to be some quality control somewhere. Availability of trained faculty, for example, was one area where most of the private institutions, were compromising. Many of the academicians admit that passouts from various institutions in Punjab find it difficult to get jobs both in the national and international markets. They suggest that the state should set up a state education authority, an autonomous body of top academicians, industry professionals and others to ensure that minimum standards are maintained.
|
|
Few takers for classical music, say Misra brothers
Kapurthala, October 24 The audience, too, comes in for a good measure of criticism, as Pandit Sajan Misra feels that unlike the western audience that “pays” to attend music concerts, here the audience takes music flippantly. Still more disconcerting is when organisers of a music concert fail to maintain the decorum. “We need to do a rethinking about all this. I would say some kind of systematic churning of attitude is required,” he adds. In the 1990s, the Misra brothers were given the Sangeet Natak Academy Award. Their numerous performances in the USA, Europe, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Middle East have been quite successful. In fact, their concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, London, and the Lincoln Centre, USA, are still remembered. When they sing, they are “one soul singing in two bodies”. No competition, no rivalry. Not surprisingly, their illustrious lineage — Pandit Ganesh Misra was their
great-grandfather and Pandit Sursahai Misra was their grandfather — shows beautifully in their music. Pandit Rajan Misra and Pandit Sajan Misra’s “Gurkul” at Dehra Dun, where the
guru-shishya-parampara is followed, has been drawing music students. They were in the city last evening in connection with Baba Jassa Singh Kapurthala Heritage Festival. Earlier, last evening of Baba Jassa Singh Kapurthala Heritage Festival organised by the Kapurthala Heritage Trust in collaboration with INTACH was one of those rare occasions when time freezes in its track to create space for eternity. As Birju Maharaj’s
kathak, Pandit Rajan Misra and Pandit Sajan Misra’s bhajan and Pandit Kishan Maharaj’s tabla combined to form a beautiful
jugalbandi, the audience could not help raving about its sheer magnificence. It was for the first time that Pandit Birju Maharaj from
Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow, the Misra brothers and noted tabla player Pandit Kishan Maharaj had come together to perform in
jugalbandi. The very start with “Aaye zor ghanghor barsan ko, damini dham dham dhamke bijuriyaa chamke” evoked the ideas of purity, harmony and perfection. “There was no touch of any florid excesses that have become a part of cultural oeuvre these days. Unlike many programmes where artistes micromanage their performances, this jugalbandi was impromptu. And it was sans any intellectual nitpicking,” remarked a spellbound listener. However, there were a few disconcerting notes when Pandit Birju Maharaja expressed his dissatisfaction with the state setting. He said he found it difficult to manage his dance steps as the stage was uneven. The open-air stage arrangement, too, did not find favour with the kathak exponent.
|
|
|
Widow gets pension after 21 years
Chandigarh, October 24 Mangat, a resident of Jatana village near Ludhiana, had been discharged from the Navy in January, 1984, after serving for 14 years. Since he had not completed the mandatory 15 years of service for grant of pension, rules then applicable did not allow sanction of pension. As the case was being pursued, Mangat reportedly died in September, 1986, after he was thrown out from a running train near Palwal in Haryana while travelling from Mumbai to Delhi. His family, however, came to know about the incident much later. Thereafter began another battle for the family. With no source of income, Harinder took to odd jobs and ad hoc work to bring up her two children and she moved top several places in search of work. It was in 2004 that her case for grant of pension was taken up by the Ex-servicemen's Grievance Cell in Mohali. In 2003, the cell had taken up a case with the central government through the Navy to amend pension rules for condoning a period of up to 12 months so that 14 years service does not go waste. Ministry accorded its approval in December, 2003, which benefited a large number of Navy personnel.
|
|
|
Delay in paddy harvesting may not light up farmers’ Divali
Chandigarh, October 24 Various reasons, including unprecedented changes in the weather, cultivation of late-maturing varieties and initial reluctance of farmers to harvest their produce till the Centre announced relaxations in the specifications for procurement, are advanced for the delay in harvesting this time. Although the date for procuring paddy on the basis of the relaxed specifications has been extended till November 15, many farmers may still not be able to meet the new deadline. The sowing of rabi crops, including wheat, may also be delayed this time. It is paddy money running into hundreds of crores of rupees that supports the
festivities. In a way the entire trade in Punjab is directly dependent on the procurement money. Delay in procurement adversely affects the trade, taking away some charm from the festivities. The procurement of paddy by state agencies has been brisk. There are hardly any reports for harassment of farmers after the rejection of their produce for not conforming to the
specifications, but delay in the maturing or ripening of the crop may be worrying farmers. Both farm and weather experts agree that changes in the weather witnessed during the last kharif season had an adverse impact on the crops, especially paddy. Signs of an early winter, presence of a nip in the air and the shortening of days have all contributed to the delay in the harvesting of the crop in some belts of the state. Earlier, an unprecedented spell of inclement weather in September led not only to discoloration and deforming of grains but also slowed down the process of grain formation. While the state government has stated time and again that every grain of paddy would be procured, the farmers’ only worry has been further extension in the deadline for procuring paddy.
|
|
Office of Majitha SSP gheraoed
Amritsar, October 24 The activists were shouting slogans and lifting placards having mottos against police administration and political leadership for its alleged involvement and pressure. Mr Balwinder Singh, senior leader of Punjab Kisan Sabha, and Mr Ratan Singh Randhawa, secretary, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, demanded the suspension of SHO of Ajnala police station. They also criticised the district police chief of Majitha and demanded immediate arrest of accused Baba, besides compensation of Rs 8 lakh to the teacher. Mr Jaswant Singh had alleged that head sewadar Lakha Singh and his followers, with firearms, used bulldozer and tractors trolleys to demolish the house. He said the debris, along with furniture and other belongings was dumped in the houses of some Congress workers at the behest of the Congress MLA.
|
|
Power plant to be named after Beant Singh
Ludhiana, October 24 This was stated by the Panchayat, Rural Development, Irrigation and Power Minister, Mr Lal Singh, while addressing a gathering after inaugurating a community centre in Bilaspur, the native village of Beant Singh, 25 km from here, today. The centre has been constructed at a cost of Rs 30 lakh. Referring to the power sector, the minister said the state government planned to execute more power projects at a cost of more than Rs 2,000 crore. “To augment power supply, we have taken up the execution of another power generating unit at Lehra Mohabbat with an investment of Rs 1,789 crore, which would generate 500 MW additional power,” he added. Besides the Shahpur Kandi project (168 MW), Mukerian Hydel project stage-ll (19 MW) and UBDC Stage-lll power project (75 MW) had also been taken up. He said the government had launched an Accelerated Infrastructure Development Programme under which a village development fund of Rs 750 crore had been created to cover 1,500 villages for complete sewerage and sanitation facilities in the next two years. Dwelling upon infrastructure development, the minister said the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) had initiated an upgradation programme of Rs 500 crore. The construction of seven ROBs, 1,100 km of high traffic corridors and six high level bridges on rivers and upgradation of 355 km of major roads was under execution.
|
|
Bank staff begin fast
Patiala, October 24 The employees are protesting against reduction in the wages of single window operators and imposition of marketing policy, creation of currency administration cell, advising the cash department to accept the cash without counting in violation of the rules and regulations and violations of policy of rotational transfers.
— TNS
|
|
12 Punjab officers made DIGs
Jalandhar, October 24 The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has promoted Mr Paramjit Singh Gill, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarao, Mr Ishwar Chander, Mr Kanwaljit Singh, Mr Roshan Lal Bhagat, Mr Nirmal Singh Dhillon, Mr Bajinder Kumar Uppal, Mr Jagdish Kumar, Mr R.P. Mittal, Mr Parampal Singh, Mr Sham Lal and Mr Balbir Kumar Bawa as DIGs. In a communication to the Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr Jai Singh Gill, Mr J.B.K. Kaushish, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has clarified that all these 12 IPS officers of the 1991 batch were eligible for holding posting as DIG with Central Government organisations. These organisations included the CBI, the IB, and the paramilitary forces like the BSF. Most of these officers held key positions and played key roles in containing the decade-long turmoil in Punjab. Though most of these officers were decorated with one or the other medal for their services, Mr Paramjit Singh Gill, currently serving as DIG, Jalandhar, and Mr Ishwar Chander, DIG, Vigilance Bureau, Jalandhar Zone, held the distinction of having been awarded two most prestigious medals — President’s Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) and the President’s Medal for Meritorious Services (PMMS). Even as these 12 IPS officers have been empaneled by the MHA as DIGs, but interestingly the Punjab Home Department is yet to decide their selection grade and confirmation, leading to promotion. This means that though these officer were holding current duty charge (CDC) since July, 2002, technically, they were not confirmed as DIGs by the state government till date.
|
|
No DPROs in 4 districts
Faridkot/Muktsar, October 24 Faridkot’s Public Relations Officer Manohar Singh was suspended a few days back for an alleged goof he made during the Chief Minister’s visit to the city during Baba Sheikh Farid Mela. The district also didn’t have an assistant public relations officer after the retirement of Mr Inderjit Singh Sidhu on August 31. In the absence of a responsible official work of public relations office has been suffering and it was left to lower staff to manage the office work. Surprisingly, a drama artiste, who was one among those recruited in 1980s by the state government to sensitise villagers on its policies by staging dramas, is the in charge of public relations office in Faridkot. The suspension of Faridkot DPRO has also spelt trouble for public relations staff in Muktsar, as he held the additional charge of Muktsar. Sources said the public relations employees in Muktsar had not received salary this month, as Manohar Singh had drawing and disbursing powers. Muktsar didn’t have DPRO for the past over one year and APRO BS Brar was the in charge. Similarly, the post of DPRO was vacant in Moga, from where Mr Nath Singh Butar was transferred a couple of months back and APRO, Gurdev Singh, was heading the office. He would also retire in December end. The scenario is no different in Bathinda and Mansa where DPRO, AS Bakshi, is holding charge of both districts following the transfer of Mr Naginder Singh from Bathinda to Chandigarh. Sources said the role of DPROs holding additional charge was limited to drawing and disbursing salaries and they only come into picture in the absence of the APRO concerned. All above five districts account for 20 Assembly seats and they could well tilt the scale of power towards any party in the elections. Out of these 20, SAD won 15 seats in the last elections, while Congress won four seats in the last elections. Muktsar, Moga and Faridkot are citadels of Akalis, as they hold 10 out of total 11 Assembly seats.
|
|
Licences of three arhtiyas suspended
Sangrur, October 24 Giving this information here today, Mr Husan Lal, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, said these arhtiyas had bought paddy from the bazigars and filled the same in the bags. But during the checking of the bags the quality of paddy was found to be poor, he added. The Deputy Commissioner said the names of the firms of the arhtiyas whose licences had been suspended were M/s Data Sohan Traders Company, M/s Toor Traders and M/s Kasturi Surinder. He said this step had been taken to check others from doing it. He also said more than 9.39 lakh tonnes of paddy have been procured in the district so far, while the procurement of remaining paddy was expected to be completed during the next 10 days. The Deputy Commissioner also said there was no shortage of DAP fertiliser in the district as 40,000 tonnes of the fertiliser were now available in the district against 49,000 tonnes. He said more 12,000 tonnes of DAP would reach the district by October 30. The Deputy Commissioner also appealed to the farmers to purchase the DAP fertiliser as per their requirement as there was no need to deposit the stocks of the same. He also asked them to bring the matter to the notice of their respective SDMs if they faced any problem in the purchase of DAP.
|
|
9 hurt in clash
Rajpura, October 24 According to the eyewitnesses, tension was prevailing between the All Food and Allied Loading and Unloading Mazdoor Union (AFALUMU) and the Punjab Pradesh Paledar Union (PPPU) since morning. Both the unions had reportedly locked horns over the issue of lifting of grin sacks for various procurement agencies. Taking stock of the situation, the police was deployed at the grain market today. When the police deployment was relaxed, both the parties entered into verbal clash which turned violent. Sources said with rods and sticks were used in the clash resulting which nine labourers sustained injuries. The situation was brought under control after the senior officers of the police and administration intervened. The police reportedly rounded up some persons of both the unions, including Mr Harchand Singh, president of the AFALUMU. No case has been registered.
|
|
Body found in pool
Abohar, October 24 According to information, some residents of the deserted locality, who had gone to respond to the call of the nature early this morning near the railway track, noticed the body and informed the police. DSP Narinder Pal Singh rushed in immediately. A male foeticide of more than six months was also found dumped near the pool. Other objects found near the pool included an emptied Celphos pack and powder, glass of water and broken liquor bottle. Though the police was yet to examine different aspects, preliminary investigations indicated that the wheatish colour body was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon at the neck. Wounds caused by broken bottle appeared in the stomach, sources said.
|
|
PTU, GND varsity close gates on Rai varsity students
Gurdaspur, October 24 Mr Raman Bhalla, Member, Administration, PSEB, and one of trustees of Rai University centre here, stated this while talking to
The Tribune on telephone. He said after the Supreme Court order, he had stopped taking new students. He said he had approached the authorities of both
above said universities but they expressed inability to take in Rai University students. They stated that the Supreme Court had not issued any clear direction in this regard. By absorbing the Rai University students they could not increase the strength of their students. There are about 20 students in the Gurdaspur-based centre of Rai University. Efforts are being made to contact some foreign universities also to explore the possibility if they can absorb the affected students. However, till date no university has agreed in this connection. Mr Bhalla said the students were given the offer to get degree through distance education from various universities like IASE and NDU. However, they refused to accept the offer. The students have not even registered themselves for the current semester and some of them have already moved to the Delhi centre. Meanwhile, the aggrieved students today submitted a memorandum of their demands to the SDM, Pathankot. They demanded that the Punjab government should direct both universities to accept Rai University students.
|
|
Dr Ravi Baba Farid varsity VC
Chandigarh, October 24 He will replace Dr J.S. Gujral, who tendered his resignation last week. Dr Ravi has also held the post of Director, Research and Medical Education, and comes from a family of doctors.
— TNS
|
| 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 | |
