The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Rain disrupts I-Day functions Tribune Reporters Jalandhar, August 15 It appears as if the rain gods too had wished that the Independence Day function passes off without any hassles. While it had been pouring since morning, it just stopped around 8.45 am, the time when the district-level function was to start at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium today. The entire ceremony was going to conclude around 10.45 am with a bhangra performance when it just started raining heavily all of a sudden. Irrigation minister Janmela Singh Sekhon unfurled the National Flag and took the salute from the contingents of the Punjab Police, the BSF, the Home Guards, ex-servicemen, NCC cadets, scouts and girl guides True to the Punjabi spirit, the bhangra troupe kept performing enthusiastically amidst heavy showers, thumping their feet on the muddy grounds. While there were water-proof tents for the VIPs, media, awardees and other dignitaries, the five tents erected for the schoolchildren (the only spectators for the event in the general public section) were without any plastic covers. The children who were sitting in the open tried to rush out of the gates after it started drizzling. An announcement was made asking them to stop for five minutes for the bhangra to be over but many managed to escape. The gates were then closed to prevent any further exodus. On the occasion, the needy women were given sewing machines and the physically disabled persons were gifted tricycles from the Red Cross funds. Twenty-six awardees were honoured which included five doctors, Dr J.P.Singh, deputy director, health services, Dr Gagandeep Singh of the Blood Bank, Dr Nirdesh Goel, Dr Chanjiv Singh and Dr Aman Sood. Government school teachers who were felicitated included Harjinder Singh Sahota, Jaswinder Kaur, Som Raj, Mulak Chand, Jasbir Singh and Shobha Sharma. Three civil defence employees who had faced a risk of their own lives to save jhuggi dwellers from a raging fire were also honoured. They include Chaman Lal, Paramjit Kaur and Jarnail Singh. Four students, Umesh Sharma, Muneet Sharma, Pawan and Kuldeep, along with Om Parkash, were also honoured for their selfless approach while saving the lives of flood-affected in the two-day back flood situation near Adampur. Hoshiarpur: Braving the incessant rain, the inhabitants of Hoshiarpur celebrated Independence Day with enthusiasm here on Friday. Minister for parliamentary affairs, medical education and research, forest and wildlife and labour Tikshan Sud unfurled the National Flag and took the salute from the contingents of the Punjab Police, the BSF, the Home Guards, ex-servicemen, NCC cadets, scouts and girl guides at local Police Ground. Paying tributes to the freedom fighters, Sud said that they would continue to live in the hearts of countrymen for ever. As many as 10 tricycles, five wheelchairs and 15 sewing machines were given to the needy persons by the District Red Cross Society on the occasion. A cultural programme was staged by schoolchildren to mark the occasion. The minister gave Rs 50,000 to those schoolchildren who performed in the culture programme despite heavy rain and announced a holiday tomorrow in all the schools in the district. Reports of unfurling the National Flag were also received from all the subdivisions and blocks in the district. Nawanshahr: The district-level Independence Day function was held with traditional enthusiasm and patriotic spirit despite incessant rain at ITI Ground here on Friday. Rehabilitation and natural disasters minister Ajit Singh Kohar unfurled the Tricolour and took the salute from the contingents of the Punjab Police, ex- servicemen, Home Gaurds, NCC cadets, etc. Freedom fighters, prominent personalities who had excelled in different spheres of life were honoured. MP Avinash Khanna, MLA Jatinder Singh Kariha, DC Nilkanth S. Avhad and SSP Shashi Prabha Dwivedi, among others, were present on the occasion. The chief guest announced a holiday in schools of the district tomorrow. Batala: Chief parliamentary secretary Jagdish Sawhney unfurled the National Flag at the Independence Day function held at Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Stadium in Polytechnic College here on Friday. He took the salute from the contingents of the Punjab police, Home Guards, NCC cadets, scouts and students of many local schools and colleges. A cultural show was presented by artistes and students of colleges and schools on the occasion. Sawhney honoured many eminent citizens and officers like social workers Mahashay Gokul Chand, SSP Dr Naresh Arora, SDM Jagwinderpal Singh Grewal, international kabaddi player Gurbax Singh, international hockey player Prabhjot Singh and many others. Sri Hargobindpur MLA Capt Balbir Singh Baath presided over a function at Government Girls High School. AICC member Ashwani Sekhri unfuled the National Flag at a function at Congress Bhavan, Batala. He honoured freedom fighters of the Congress like Pandit Harikishan.
	Freedom fighters rue govt’s apathy ‘We are remembered on national days only’ Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 15 The five Jalandhar-based freedom fighters who were honoured with a shawl and a memento at a district-level function here today had a faint smile even after receiving the honour. Reason: the Punjab government’s apathy towards them as they get a monthly pension of Rs 3,100 with which they are unable to meet their daily expenses. Expressing their grievances, the freedom fighters rued that other states had been constantly raising the pension amount but in Punjab the condition had been the same. The five freedom strugglers were honoured at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium by Punjab irrigation minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon who was also the chief guest at the function. Capt O.P. Sharma (86), who worked as security officer of Subhash Chandra Bose, said, “Freedom fighters in even small states like Haryana are getting Rs 5,000 per month. Then why this discrimination against them despite the fact that even we faced a tough time to get India its independence.” Ninety-three-year-old Khareti Ram Vasudev, president of the local chapter of the Freedom Fighters Association, pointed out, “We are only remembered by the state government on national days and that too for an honour. All of us can prove to be a great asset, provided we are given a chance.” He added that they could become an inspiration for youngsters by holding interactions with them and telling them about the real life experiences during the freedom struggle. “I have many original pictures of freedom movement, letter from Jawaharlal Nehru at my place which I can show to everyone. Instead of asking students to mug up history chapters they should be allowed to view the struggle through our eyes which had witnessed the agony and pain,” added Tilak Raj Suri (87), son-in-law of freedom fighter Lala Jagat Narain. “We are just five at function today and God knows how many of us will be alive by the next function,” added Gazigullah-based freedom fighter Prem Sagar.
	Money Matters Arrested for getting wife looted Phagwara, August 15 With a view to terrifying his NRI wife after an altercation with her and squeezing money from her, a husband stage-managed a snatching. The police yesterday arrested the husband along with his three accomplices and recovered the snatched valuables. Harwinder Singh of nearby Sunra Rajputan village, falling under Rawalpindi police station of Phagwara, had been pressing his wife Taranjit Kaur, a resident of Italy, to give him a huge amount. When she refused, he hatched a conspiracy with his cousin Manraj Singh of Buddipind falling under Tanda police station in Hoshiarpur district, to get her robbed. Two other persons, Gurcharan Singh, alias Charan of Pandori Sumla, falling under Haryana Bhunga police station in Hoshiarpur district and Gurinder Singh, alias Sodhi, also of Buddipind, joined the conspiracy, the police said today. The trio, with muffled faces, snatched 15-tolas of gold jewellery, a wrist-watch, a mobile phone, two credit cards and other valuables from Taranjit Kaur near Behram on July 24 when she was going with her husband. The shrewd husband had then given it to the police that the couple had been looted. The police nabbed the trio when they were going in a car to hand over the booty to Harwinder Singh at Sunra Rajputan and get their share from him. The trio was then taken to the residence of Jaswinder Singh who had confessed to have hatched the conspiracy. — PTI
	Fear Factor Flooded Sutlej: A nightmare for Nawanshahr villages Parmod Bharti Nawanshahr, August 15 Fear stalks residents of a number of villages, including Rail Majra, Dhangerpur, Auliapur, Tajowal, Mandala, Chakli Sujatpur, Nangal Chhangan, Mahhadipur, Shamaspur, Behloor Kalan, Kanaun and Saidpur, situated along the Sutlej in the district due to apprehension of floods. The incessant rain for the past three days and swelling Sutlej have made them panicky. The villagers have been making preventing arrangements to thwart the apprehension of breeches in the Dhussi bandh. With a view to allaying the fear among the residents as well as to accelerating the work of strengthening the sensitive points of the Dhussi bandh along the Sutlej, deputy commissioner Nilkanth S. Avhad, accompanied by SDM Prem Chand and officials of the different departments, today visited Dhangerpur, Mandala, Chakli Sujatpur and Tajowal villages to take stock of the preventive measures. He heard the grievances of the villagers. Satnam Singh (Tajowal), Bhagwan Dass (Kanaun), Tarlok Singh, Sat Pal (Chakli Sujatpur), Sohan Lal Lambardar, Surain Singh (ex-servicemen), Balkar Chand, among others, vented their ire against the drainage department which has allegedly done nothing to strengthen the sensitive points at the Dhussi bandh. The deputy commissioner, while talking to The Tribune said elaborate arrangements had been made to prevent floods as well as rescue and relief measures in the case of any disaster. “A sum of Rs 3.27 crore was demanded for carrying out works to strengthen the Dhussi bandh by the drainage department but Rs 40 lakh was received. The work on strengthening the sensitive points at Dhangerpur, Auliapur, Tajowal, Mandala, etc. were being executed. Besides, Rs 25 lakh had been received for rescue and relief arrangements.
	Flash floods claim student’s life Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, August 15 The flash floods claimed one more life of a young student of class VIII in Sakrala choe in Dasuya subdivision last evening. The death toll caused due to floods has now reached seven. Dasuya subdivisional magistrate Rahul Chaba told this correspondent on his mobile phone that student of class VIII Karnail Singh (14), son of NRI Sardul Singh of Sakrala village, was washed away while he, along with his friends, was trying to learn swimming in the village choe which was swelling following a heavy rain in the catchment area. His body was recovered by the BSF divers from the choe bed at Mohe village on Friday. Meanwhile, rain continued to lash the district on the third consecutive day.
	Sham Singh likely to be back in control of PSGMC Varinder Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 15 The government of Pakistan is likely to nominate Sham Singh as the new president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (PSGMC) next month. According to sources, the delay in the election of Sham Singh, who was the founder of the PSGMC, to head the Pakistan gurdwara committee again was due to the pressure of Sindhi Sikhs who want the hot seat this time. It may be mentioned here that Sham Singh became the founder president of the PSGMC when it came into being on April 15, 1999. The SGPC had not recognised Sham Singh and the PSGMC for a long time. Then SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur had even stopped sending jathas to Pakistan in protest against the formation of the PSGMC on the ground that it was the sole right of the Shiromani committee to manage the Sikh shrines in Pakistan as per the agreement signed between India and Pakistan. However, her successor Jagdev Singh Talwandi withdrew the boycott call and started sending jthas. Later, present SGPC president Avtar Singh had given recognition to the PSGMC. However, the PSGMC carried out massive renovation or construction work of Sikh shrines in Pakistan during the stint of Sham Singh. However, his successors had been in the web of controversies for one or the other reasons. Now, keeping in view his wide acceptability and experience of Sikh affairs, Sham Singh could again be nominated as president of Pakistan’s gurdwara committee. Meanwhile, DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna held a meeting with the new chairman of Pakistan’s Evacuees Trust Property Board Major-Gen Mohammad Javed which also controls the PSGMC. Sarna told The Tribune that Gen Javed had committed to carry on the “kar sewa” of more Sikh shrines as per Sikh architectural designs. He said the serais were being constructed in Nanakana Sahib while renovation of other Sikh shrines in Lahore and other parts of Pakistan would be carried out shortly.