Jalandhar, November 16
Marked with a very thin gathering of BJP workers, the much-publicised state-level rally organised by the party against the Congress-led government “for giving a clean chit to Mr Natwar Singh” turned out to be a low-key affair outside the district administrative complex here today.

Even as the top BJP leadership of the state could be seen campaigning against the ruling party, their spirits remained low as not more than 50 party workers could be seen attending the rally. Even as Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, state president of the party and MP, Mr Vijay Sampla, state secretary, and Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, social activist and former MLA, were to address the dharna, the turnout remained significantly low.

The party workers remained seated on a small piece of mattress even as few grassroots level workers stood aside in queues holding the party flags. The speeches were short and outbursts a few.

Addressing the party workers, Mr Khanna said that the fact that Mr Natwar Singh was not divested of his seat in the Cabinet proved that he was being sided by his party workers. He said that a probe ordered into his role in the oil-for-food scam as pointed out in the Volcker Committee report too seemed to be a farce. He reiterated the party’s demand of getting his resignation from the Centre.

Ms Chawla said that infighting between the Congress leaders was affecting its working in the state, thereby hindering the process of various developmental projects required for public welfare. MLA Bir Devinder is on loggerheads with Minister of Local Bodies, Mr Jagjit Singh, MLA Raj Kumar is out against Education Minister, Mr Harnam Das Johar, and the Deputy Chief Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has been showing dissidence towards the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

Later the BJP activists gave a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, demanding resignation of Mr Natwar Singh. Talking to The Tribune soon after, Mr Khanna said that since the rally was supposed to be attended only by executive members, the gathering was bound to be low. He said that massive shows of the party were in the offing.

Mr Khanna said that one of the most important events being planned by the party was a kisan rally in Fazilka where tens of thousands of farmers from all across the state were expected to converge. He said that he was trying to convince Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister, to address the rally.

Mr Khanna said that fresh recruitment of party workers had already begun at various places and inactive workers were likely to be replaced by them. He said that the 18 cells of the party, including those represented by the SCs, women and farmers were being revived in view of the elections ahead.

Jalandhar, November 16
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is ready with its homework for the Debate on Development in the Punjab Assembly. MLA Manpreet Badal talking to The Tribune said that he along with the former Finance Minister Captain Kanwaljit Singh was in process of preparing the reply for the forthcoming debate in the Assembly. The Akalis plan to give a detailed rundown on the failures of the Captain government in its tenure. The party had collected the data on development and will be presented by Leader of Opposition Prakash Singh Badal, MLA Manpreet Badal and former Finance minister Captain Kanwaljit Singh.

Merely signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) by the government do not carry any meaning, says Badal. The MOUs only mean that they have agreed to do business but no plan has yet actualised on ground, he added. The state government has already gone back on the Nuclear Power plant in the state. The government is doing real bad in every field feels Badal as the facts collected by them show that in the fields of irrigation, electricity and infrastructure show a miserable performance by the state government on all fronts. The state’s infrastructure is worsening day by day and is worse than even the neighbouring Rajasthan. Even the state of Haryana is going to set up three power plants and Punjab has failed to do anything about the worsening power situation in the state. The state has not invited any major investment in the state. The government has failed to provide any facilities to invite industry in the state. Failure of the state to cash on its potentials is major drawback of the development policies of the present state government, says Badal. The policies are merely on paper and not even a single poll promise has materialized on the ground. Employment statistics are really disheartening and the employment rate is going down further, says Badal.

He blamed the Chief Minister for not following the convention of the state Assembly for conducting the debate in very dignified manner. He said that the Chief Minister has never attended the Assembly even as member of the Akali Dal. The people even in his assembly segment were fed up of petty corruption, which exists in petty bureaucracy, says Badal. The failures of the government are the focus of the reply to be given by the Akalis in the Assembly in the debate. He also informed that the Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat would be coming to inaugurate Old Age home, which would have the capacity to accommodate 100 senior citizens, in Badal village after two days. 

Jalandhar, November 16
In today’s elections of the office-bearers of the Jalandhar Central Cooperative Bank, Mr Naib Singh Kohar was elected Chairman, Mr Budh Singh was elected the Vice-Chairman and Mr Anil Dutta was elected the Managing Director of the bank.

The elections, fought by the Congress on the basis of a pact with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to contain the infighting in the Congress rank, turned out to be an eventful one.

The pact with the SAD saved the day for the Congress, as Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s close confidante Mr Anil Dutta got elected as the managing director of the bank only after the seven Akali directors voted for him.

But Mr Baba Rajinder Singh, President of the District Congress Committee (Rural), belonging to camp opposing the Chief Minister, was not in support of Mr Anil Dutta vying for the coveted post.

Independent director Mr Inderjit Singh Bajaj proposed the name of Mr Naib Singh Kohar, a son of the former Akali minister, Mr Ajit Singh Kohar, for the post of Chairman. Kohar too got elected unanimously. Mr Budh Singh was also unanimously elected the Vice-Chairman.

The infighting within the Congress resurfaced when the name of Mr Anil Dutta was proposed by Mr Bajaj for the post of Managing Director. Mr Rajinder Singh was not in his support, with Mr Ashwini Julka pushing Mr Rajinder Singh for that post. The meeting was stuck over the issue and a call from the Chief Minister’s Office got the discussion flowing, sources disclosed.

Mr Sukhdev Dutt, Mr Inderjit Bajaj, Mr Sukhwinder Singh and Mr Jaswinder Singh were elected members of the bank’s executive committee. Mr Ranjit Singh Kahlon from Akali directors’ camp was elected as the representative of the State Central Cooperative Bank. 

Jalandhar, November 16
The hostel and security staff for the Dr Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) is going to be increased soon, says the new Director of NIT Dr Moinuddin. Dr Moinuddin who joined as Director of the NIT replaces the outgoing officiating Director Raghubir Sharma. He has been appointed for a term of five years.

Talking to The Tribune Dr Moinuddin said that he planned to not only increase the staff but also appoint an in campus warden to keep better care of the interests of the students. Dr. Moinuddin’s name was decided as regular director for the post last month, immediately after the tragic Amit Gangwar suicide case due to ragging. Security of the students would be the area of priority for NIT says Dr Moinuddin.

Dr Moinuddin today termed Amit’s suicide as very unfortunate and said that he was trying to get the co-operation of the entire faculty of the institute and the non-teaching staff of the institute. For the security set up of the institute Dr Moinuddin says that he will beef up the security arrangement by increasing the staff and also an on campus regular warden would be appointed who would stay on the campus to deal with any problems faced by the students.

The new Director has come down here with clear vision to overhaul the syllabii, examination system, as well as open up new departments. Elaborating on his plans the new Dsirector who has served at the Regional Engineering College now NIT Srinagar, from 1975 to 1990 says he plans to open new departments for electrical engineering and biotechnology.

The syllabus of the NIT departments is also going to be revised, says Dr Moinuddin. Research and development is the major focus area for Dr Moinuddin who was associated with the Central University Jamia Milia Islamia before being appointed Director of NIT. It would also be ensured that the question papers are set from the entire syllabus. The laboratory standards on the campus would also be improved, says Dr Moinuddin.

About the ragging situation on NIT campus Dr. Moinuddin says that he has the experience of handling much complex situation at the now NIT Srinagar and hopes that the situation on the campus will improve considerably with more security and appointment of on campus warden.

The NIT authorities had earlier denied about the appointment of the Dr Moinuddin as new Director and had said that though Dr Moinuddin’s name had been cleared by the Ministry of Human resource development but he had not been appointed for NIT Jalandhar. 

Jalandhar, November 16
Taking out a massive public awareness rally through the city, the students and staff of local DAV schools, colleges and polytechnic institutes tried to launch an attack against social evils here today.

The rally that was organised on the call of Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha started from Sain Dass School at 11 am. The rallyists were addressed by Mr G.P. Chopra, national president of DAV College Managing Committee.

Addressing over 10,000 students taking part in the rally, he urged them to strive for eradicating social evils including dowry, casteism, female foeticide, AIDS, corruption and child labour. He even told them to spread awareness over scientific issues such as pollution and crop diversification. He said that the Arya Sabha had recently held mass marriage for 151 needy couples and another such programme for 101 marriages was being planned to be held in Ludhiana on December 11.

During the rally, the students also organised “nukad nataks” to convey their message of various social issues. The students carried placards and distributed leaflets for social awareness as they passed through Phagwara Gate, Balmiki Chowk, Mai Hiran Gate, Bhagat Singh Chowk and other important intersections.

The rally was welcomed at various places by the city residents who distributed fruits, biscuits, cakes and snacks. Those who participated in the rally included Mr D.R. Gupta, director, DAV Colleges, Ms P.P. Sharma, president, Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha, and Mr M.L. Aeri, secretary of the sabha.

Phagwara: The Mohan Lal Uppal DAV College, Mehtan, Phagwara, today took out a Jan Chetna rally for awakening masses against social evils like female foeticide, dowry system, corruption and drug addiction among others.

Students of various schools of the area also participated in the rally.

Jalandhar, November 16
Test-tube twins were born, first time at Amarjit Test Tube Baby Centre, here last week.

Stating this, Dr Amarjit Singh, MD of the centre, said the twin boys, Ansh and Vansh, were born to an issueless couple from Mukerian. He said this was the first delivery of the test tube babies at the centre that had been set up last year.

He claimed that many NRI couples from Greece, the US and New Zealand were coming to him for getting in-vitro fertilisation treatment, as the technique was much cheaper in India than abroad.