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Punjabi diaspora doing well, says Canadian MP
Sukhbir on fence mending mission
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Quota should be only for poor, says Shekhawat
Farmers’ faction dubs land consent as gimmick
Pensioners rue long wait
Abohar bar association criticises strike call by Ferozepur lawyers
250-cr approved for recarpeting link roads
Club serving liquor sans permit, qualms
Threat to Trident? Not quite, say cops
VIPs on the move
SCs discriminated against in teachers’ appointment: Buta
Drive against misuse of LPG launched
Govt aid sought to help Punjab’s ailing playwright
Sant Tirath Singh cremated
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Punjabi diaspora doing well, says Canadian MP
Bathinda, January 17 Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was present on the occasion, said it was a matter of pride that Punjabis were excelling abroad. In a lighter vein, he even offered to get her elected as an MLA or MP from Punjab. Students of Dashmesh Girls College, Dashmesh Girls College of Education and Dashmesh Girls Senior Secondary Public School presented a colourful programme on the occasion. Dhalla honoured international-level players from these institutes, including Rubi, Shifali and Rishu Tomar. Impressed, Dhalla also announced an annual scholarship for them. |
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Sukhbir on fence mending mission
Sangat Mandi (Bathinda), January 17 The three leaders, Jagroop Singh, state vice-president of the SAD, Darshan Singh Kotfatta, halqa in-charge, and Suraj Singh, a leader of the SAD, shared the stage and announced that they will now remain united to strengthen the party. Earlier, it was alleged that Kotfatta had lost the assembly election to the Congress candidate Makhan Singh last year because of internal bickering. Sukhbir said it was unfortunate that the SAD candidate lost from here although the constituency was considered its stronghold. Accepting the damage caused to the party because of factionalism, the leaders who did not see eye-to-eye with each other, assured Sukhbir that henceforth they would remain united. Sukhbir made the people aware of the development schemes that were being launched in the area. These include plans for drinking water supply, sewerage system, stabilising electricity distribution, irrigation system and opening new schools. Replying to a query, Sukhbir said, “I have started the party unification drive throughout Punjab and all the workers, disgruntled for what so ever reason, would be united and re-activated.” Replying to a question on his announcement of hiking procurement price of paddy at a time when the ground water was depleting in Punjab, Sukhbir said the SAD government wanted to provide remunerative price to farmers for their crops. The modified irrigation system would soon be commissioned in the state so that the farmers did not depend only on ground water, he added. While accusing the previous Congress government of having put a huge financial debt burden on the state by purchasing electricity from other sources, he said, “The SAD government has also been purchasing power from other states, but at the same time, we have taken steps to augment the existing infrastructure and set in motion new projects”. When he was asked about the call of Jathedar Nandgarh to members of the Sikh panth to reach Bathinda on January 20 to chalk out future strategy against the Dera Sacha Sauda, he said, “Peace and harmony of the state is the prime concern of the government and no one would be allowed to disturb it.” On increasing incidence of addiction that has caused a setback to the local youth in Army recruitment during a camp here, he said, “The administration has been ordered to identify a suitable piece of land for setting up a de-addiction hospital here with a capacity of at least 250 bed.” |
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Quota should be only for poor, says Shekhawat
Bathinda, January 17 Shekhawat was here after attending the marriage ceremony of the daughter of his friend Gurjant Singh at Ganganagar in Rajasthan. Talking to
TNS, Shekhawat said, “Due to reservation, differences arise between people. When a person from one community sees person of a reserved category becoming a higher official in the government, the desire for reservation comes into his mind. The government should focus on such issues so that the people of India should live like brothers and sisters. We should not divide them on the basis of caste, community or religion.” Speaking on the problem of increasing unemployment and drug addiction amongst youth of the country, he said, “Such problems arise only due to
over population in the country.” On the law and order situation in the country, he said, “Illegal immigration in our country is increasing and the home ministry as well as the intelligence agencies should keep a check on it. It is the root cause of almost all law and order problems in the country. Such people should be arrested and sent back. Even those harbouring such illegal immigrants should be punished by the government.” The former vice-president urged upon all political parties to join hands against poverty so that the weaker sections of society can benefit from it. Commenting on the
UPA, he said, “The UPA is in doldrums as the differences between the Congress and
Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav as well as the Left parties, is increasing day by day. But I don’t think there would be mid-term polls.” Gajinder Singh
Shekhawat, nephew of the former vice-president, Narinder Mittal, president, BJP (Urban),
Bathinda, besides others were among those present on the occasion. |
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Farmers’ faction dubs land consent as gimmick
Abohar, January 17 Indefinite dharna against the proposed thermal plant by members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan and action committees for Chanankhera, Kundal and Bhangala villages entered the ninth day on Thursday. Satnam Singh, president of the Chanankhera committee, while addressing the protestors lambasted one SAD (B) MLA for making false claims on willingness of farmers for acquisition of 2,050 acres of the agricultural land for the project. Describing the claim on farmers’ consent letter, he claimed that none of the signatory of the memorandum belonged to Chanankhera village. This had exposed political gimmicks, he lamented, adding that such baseless and misleading claims had further vitiated the atmosphere in the concerned villages. BKU block president Sukhmander Singh Bazidpur Bhoma, in a hard hitting speech, said the SAD (B) legislator and his associates were upset on the strong opposition generated by the agitation and described the dharna as an act of a handful of tillers. The MLA should better consult the owners of the Trident group of industries in Barnala to gauge the strength of the BKU activists, he quipped. Reiterating that the farmers of the three villages had pledged to fight a do or die game, Sukhmander Singh alleged that the local SAD (B) legislators were conspiring to create a Nandigram-like turmoil here in connivance with the administration. But the farmers would not retreat till the government abandoned the plan. Women and children might join the agitation in the next few days, he warned.
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Pensioners rue long wait
Abohar, January 17 Most of the women, aged above 65, said the representatives of the SAD (B)- BJP had time and again claimed in ‘nukkad sabhas’ that pension would be disbursed soon but such a day was yet to come even though the present government was completing its first year of rule. Those who joined the sloganeering against the government also included physically challenged people. “Some of us had been earning by working as housemaids at this age,” an old woman rued. One Sarbati Devi (73) was carrying her bank documents, which confirmed that the social welfare department had allocated her a sanction letter number 12,6873. One Isher Kaur, had completed 74 years of life but had to depend much on the monthly pension, which she had been denied for the last seven months. The concerned officials were not available for comments. — OC |
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Abohar bar association criticises strike call by Ferozepur lawyers
Abohar, January 17 The meeting was informed that president Devi Lal Bishnoi, secretary Sahab Ram and former president of the association, Surin Karwasra, had attended a meeting called by the Chief Justice Vijender Kumar Jain and justice Rajesh Bindal, the inspecting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for Ferozepur sessions division, at Chandigarh on January 15. Representatives of the entire bar associations of the district were present at the meeting chaired by the chief justice. According to a copy of the resolution released to the press in the evening, the chief justice and the inspecting judge had informed about the proposal for appointing the additional district judges at Abohar and Fazilka. The members of the association also sought to thank the chief justice.
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250-cr approved for recarpeting link roads
Ferozepur, January 17 The CPS laid the foundation stone of the link road between Mall road and Ram Sharnam Mandir, Ferozepur city, to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 7.50 lakh. While justifying the build, operate and transfer (BOT) schemes, the CPS said, “If we wish to raise our state to the top position, we need better infrastructure and transportation, for which we should all pay toll tax.” The income received through the toll tax would be spent on the development of roads and on providing better transportation in the state, he added. He informed that the government had approved Rs 250 crore for the recarpeting of link roads. Later, Dhuga laid the foundation stone of the new toilet block outside the Delhi Gate in Ferozepur city to be completed at the cost of Rs 5 lakh. Other projects for which the CPS laid foundation stones today included upgradation of the Government Primary School building of Luther village at the cost of Rs 5 lakh, a senior secondary school building at Bagge Ke Pipal village at the cost of Rs 30 lakh, link roads between Bhamba Hazi-Nihala Kilcha and Bhamba Hazi via Sunder Wale Jhuge at the cost of Rs 21 lakh, Kanda Wali and Kamaldin Niazian via Sunder Wale Jhuge at the cost of Rs 32 lakh, Kakkar village and Dhani Tara Singh Nanaksar gurdwara sahib at the cost of Rs 39 lakh, Kutbe Wala and Ferozepur-Mallan Wala road at the cost of Rs16.50 lakh and between Dulchi Ke and Bhagwanpura at the cost of Rs 10.80 lakh.
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Club serving liquor sans permit, qualms
Muktsar, January 17 “In which club it (gambling) is not taking place?” With this response, Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg, who is the Club’s chairman as per its constitution, acknowledged that liquor was being served and that the members also tried their currency luck on cards as well. The DC, however, defended his position by stating that he was not aware that the club’s body had not paid any revenue to the government to run the bar. “The club secretary or any other governing body member never told me that the club has no permit to serve liquor,” he said. When pressed hard with the query on the administration’s accountability on the issue, the DC said he would look into the matter. Avoiding an annual obligation of just Rs 2.6 lakh to the state’s excise department, the place has become a hub for the city’s elite, ranging from bureaucrats to the rich traders and industrialists. As per the state’s excise policy, any restaurant or club has to pay an annual excise of Rs 60,000 to serve beer alone and Rs 2 lakh to serve hard liquor. And notwithstanding the required permit, the City Club has been serving liquor for the past many years. “You can very well understand how we could touch the club whose chairman is none other than the DC, and you know the system well,” a senior official of the Excise and Taxation department said on the condition of anonymity. Some 25 bottles are emptied at an average every night at the club, which recently became the venue for the bureaucrats and other high-heeled citizens for the New Year eve celebrations. The local liquor vendors in the town had raised a hue and cry when the Club management arranged a particular costly brand of liquor from outside for the New Year bash, which was presided over by the DC himself. “We (the local liquor shop owners) are the regular suppliers of liquor to the club but the manner in which we were ignored and the liquor was bought from outside the town for the occasion was bad on the part of the club management,” said a local liquor contractor. The sources within the club management confirmed that the management had faced some wrath from within the members of the institution for “ignoring” the local liquor vendors during the New Year party. No club in the entire Muktsar district has been given a permit to serve liquor, while there are only three restaurants that pay the excise to serve liquor or beer, or both, in Muktsar town. Similarly, three restaurants in Malout hold the valid permit for serving liquor or beer, while no restaurant in Lambi and Bariwala blocks hold the said permit. There are 92 liquor vends, accompanied by ‘ahatas’, in the district. |
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Threat to Trident? Not quite, say cops
Barnala, January 17 The letter, written in simple Punjabi and on blank paper without a letterhead, contained threat to the senior officials of the Trident group of companies. The letter accused company officials of trying to destroy the fertile land of Malwa by creating pollution in the area.When contacted, local officials of the Trident group denied having received any such letter and said they had come to know about it only through the newspaper offices. Efforts were on to ascertain if the threat was a hoax. Barnala SSP Paramjit Singh Grewal said that the police had come to know of it only through |
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VIPs on the move
Bathinda, January 17 There was frequent movement of the former vice-president of India and BJP leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the chairman of the Scheduled Castes Commission Buta Singh and the working president of the ruling SAD Sukhbir Singh in the town. Buta Singh and Sukhbir Singh visited Goniana to condole the death of Sant Tirath Singh Ji. Sukhbir also participated in a function at Sangat Mandi. Shekhawat came here from Sriganganagar in Rajasthan and addressed a press conference in the evening. He also paid a visit to a local medical college in the city. |
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SCs discriminated against in teachers’ appointment: Buta
Bathinda, January 17 Buta Singh was here to attend the cremation of Sant Baba Tirath Singh of Tikana Sahib at Goniana, who passed away on Tuesday night. Accusing the Punjab government of showing indifference towards the SCs, Singh said that no candidate belonging to the SC category was selected while appointment for teachers was being made. A probe would be conducted in this regard and the report would be sent to the President of India, he added. About atrocities on SCs, Buta Singh said, “Earlier, such cases were reported from states like UP and Bihar, but these days, Punjab is going on the same lines as many cases have been reported from here.” On the omission of the word ‘Dalit’, he said it was a matter of interpreting the law as there were no words like Harijan and Dalit. Actually, the word is Schedule Caste, he pointed out. He further said that political parties who espouse the cause of Dalits would not be affected by the omission as no party is named as such. Accusing the police and politicians of committing atrocities on SCs, he spoke at length and cited many cases in this regard. About his role in strengthening the commission, he said, “I have joined the commission recently, but earlier, its decisions did not carry much weight which is not the case earlier.” Refuting allegations of misuse of rights provided, he said, “No such case has ever reported to me. The SCs have been treated badly, so they do not falsely implicate anyone.” When Buta Singh was asked about new schemes for the welfare of the SCs, he said, “We shall carry out an awareness drive as people are unaware of their rights and duties.” Buta Singh was accompanied by the secretary, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee, Tehal Singh Sandhu. |
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Drive against misuse of LPG launched
Bathinda, January 17 Giving details, an officer of the team said that 26 cylinders of Indane, 13 of Baharat Petroleum and eight of Hindustan Petroleum were seized on the first day of the drive. The flying squads were deployed at various places in the city to check the acute shortage of the LPG in the district. It may be mentioned that some four days ago, representatives of various organisation of the city had complained of the shortage of LPG to the DC and SSP at a public-administration meeting at the Circuit House.
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‘Rang de Basanti’ liquor brand recalled
Bathinda, January 17 The brand believed to be named after martyr Bhagat Singh’s slogan, ‘Mera rang de basanti chola,’ had people up in arms with many alleging that it hurt the patriotic
sentiments and people’s sensibilities. Many hoardings were sighted in the city carrying pictures of semi-nude girls along with the bottle of liquor, which invited the wrath of social activists. To pacify the protesters, government officials have expressed regret over the carelessness shown while granting approval to the brand name. Officials have also assured that the brand would be recalled from the market. It has also been learnt that orders have been issued banning the sale of the liquor in question. However, this particular brand of liquor was found to be selling throughout the district, even at village Sangat where acting chief of SAD (B), Sukhbir Singh Badal was present to attend a meeting. Sukhbir himself parried a query in this regard, saying he was not aware of the controversy. Financial Commissioner (Excise ) S.S. Brar told TNS over the phone, “We regret if the sentiments of the people have been hurt due to this inadvertent act. The government and the department are concerned and in the light of this, this liquor brand will be recalled.” “An investigation will be carried out to bring the guilty to book but the brand name must have been approved by some low ranking official,” Brar added. Liquor traders, however, were unrepentant, saying, “We are not concerned about the brand. What we can say is that the sale was good because of the hype created over its name.” |
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Govt aid sought to help Punjab’s ailing playwright
Bathinda, January 17 In his late 60s, Aulakh, who belongs to village Kishangarh Farwahi in district Mansa, has also won the Sahitya Akademi award for his book of short plays, Ishq Bajh Namaz Da Hajj Nahi, published in 2003 by Chetna Publications and also the Sangeet Natak Akademi award. Amardeep Gill, who is closely associated with Aulakh’s family, has informed that Aulakh would be operated upon at the hospital tomorrow. “He retired as a professor from a private college and so did not get many of the post retirement benefits. His present financial condition is not very good and the Punjab government should bear full expenses of his treatment.” Surjit Patar, president, Punjabi Sahit Academy, informed, “Aulakh has been making Punjab and Punjabis proud at the international as well as national level with his plays and now it becomes the duty of the state government to help him. Apart from Aulakh, other playwrights who got the Sahitya Akademi award include Balwant Gargi, Sant Singh Sekhon, Kapur Singh Ghuman and Charan Dass Sidhu.” Punjabi pop singer, Jasbir Jassi said, “He has written long and short plays and three of his collections of short plays, ‘Arbad Narbad Dhundukara’, ‘Begane Bohar Di Chhan’ and ‘Ik Ramayan Hor’ became very popular. He emerged as a successful dramatist, both in form and content, during the past three decades. The vision of life is most important in his plays and he gets this light from the Marxist philosophy.” Satnam Singh Jassal, head, Punjabi University Regional Centre, Bathinda, said, “Aulakh has always portrayed the emotional and economic inadequacies and dreams of poor peasantry. He is a dramatist in Punjabi literature who speaks the language of the masses and talks about the tillers of the land. He advocates a religion of love, equality and humanity. The Malwai dialect is the defining characteristic of his plays. The government should help in every possible way.” A father of three daughters, Aulakh has been living in Mansa for the last many years and almost his whole family is devoted to theatre. One of his son-in-laws, Gurwinder Brar, is also a famous Punjabi singer.
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Bathinda, January 17 The Sant’s successor, Bhai Kahan Singh, performed the last rites. The funeral procession started from the Tikana Sahib and people standing on both sides of the road paid rich tributes to the Sant. Avtar Singh Makkar, president, SGPC, Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Giani Gurbachan Singh, Balwinder Singh Bhunder and several political and social leaders participated in the procession. Before the funeral ceremony, Raagi Jathas from Darbar Sahib and Bhai Harbans Singh Jagadhari Wale recited religious shabads. Speaker of the Tikana Sahib, Chiman Singh said that the ceremony of collecting the ashes would be performed on Friday morning and the bhog ceremony and the Antim Ardas would be organised on January 31 at the Aasa Singh Girls College. — TNS
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Bathinda, January 17
Bathinda, January 17
Bathinda, January 17
Bathinda, January 17
Bathinda, January 17
