 |
|
|
SGPC to make foreigners aware of Sikh tenets
Shifting of Power Meters |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal interacts with people in Ghudda village in Bathinda district
on Tuesday. Photo by writer
Punjab Industries Dept seeks stake in Mohali IT project
Incubator Deaths Case
Cong draws up plan to hold series of rallies
Ex-MLA opposes Channi’s induction into Congress
Dayal seeks resignation of Transport Minister
Tackling Bio-Medical Waste
Firemen try to douse the flames at a cotton thread factory in Retgarh village near Samana on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar
RBI introduces ‘debt swap scheme’ to help farmers
Three bureaucrats promoted
Rajan Gupta made DGP
HC: Provide two security men to Bir Devinder
|
|
SGPC to make foreigners aware of Sikh tenets
Talking to the media after a SGPC executive meeting, SGPC president Avtar Singh said: “The turban frisking incident involving India’s envoy to UN Hardeep Puri has forced us to adopt a fresh approach to address our concerns over the issue. Therefore, we have decided to provide a detailed information about the Sikh identity, history, culture and five Ks (kesh, kangha, kada, kirpan and kachcha) to foreigners in their country and in their own language. We will come out with literature in languages like French, German, Spanish etc. We will also send brochures about the Sikh identity to the UN Secretary-General and all embassies in New Delhi.” He added that they would also send a memorandum to the UN Secretary-General and heads of the state of different countries. In another significant move, he said the SGPC would set up Sikh missions in different countries, adding that it would also go a long way in clearing confusion over the Sikh identity. He said a high-level panel comprising Sikh intellectuals would be formed to make efforts for spreading the religion abroad. The panel would take care of the working of the missions. The SGPC president said they had made up their mind to acquire a piece of prime land in Washington to set up a Sikh mission there. In yet another important move, he said they would acquire 2.5 acres being offered by Gurdwara Sahib Charlotte at North Carolina in the US for setting up the printing facility for Guru Granth Sahib. It will be the first such facility outside India. Earlier, the SGPC used to transport ‘birs’ of Guru Granth Sahib through chartered flights from the country. The SGPC chief said their delegation, which is at present on a visit to the US and Canada, had physically verified the land being offered in Washington and North Carolina, and they would set the ball rolling for their acquisition as per the US norms once the delegation returned to India. On a query, he denied that there had been any delay on the part of the SGPC in taking measures to make people aware of the turban issue post-9/11. “In fact, it was due to our efforts that murderous attack on Sikhs had stopped,” he claimed. He renewed his call to all Sikh organisations to reach New Delhi on December 23 for a protest outside the US Embassy. He justified the protest stating that they simply wanted to convey their message and they would do it peacefully. “Had our letters to the PM over the issue made any impact, we would not have resorted to this step,” he added.
|
|
|
Several hurt as cops, residents clash
Rajay Deep/TNS
Bathinda, December 21 The incident occurred when activists of the farmers’ unions turned violent against the Powercom’s drive to shift electricity meters to outside the houses. The drive was reportedly aimed at checking power theft, but agitators termed it as a government step towards the privatisation of the electricity department. It was a free-for-all situation as on the one hand activists of farmers’ unions were reportedly threw stones at officials and in retaliation, the police lathicharged them and even resorted to open fire in the air. Several people from both sides were injured and two vehicles belonging to the contractual staff allied with the Powercom were also damaged. Vehicles of the SDM and the DSP Phul sub-divisions also bore the brunt of agitators. According to information, staff of the Powercom, along with some contractors, equipped with police protection, entered the village and started the process of shifting meters. Initially, everything was peaceful but after some activists of farmers’ unions particularly belonging to the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union reached the spot, people started lodging resentment against the drive and a dharna was staged on the outskirts of the village. Umashankar, SDM, Phul, disallowed the use of their public announcement system. Later, agitators shifted their dharna to a common place inside the village. Taking preventive measures, the police surrounded them. However, influenced over some “provocative” speeches, some youngsters of village, led by union activists, suddenly attacked the policemen by throwing stones and bricks. A large number of cops, along with a battery of senior officers, reached the spot and resorted to lathicharge and even opened fire in the air. About 15 of the accused had been arrested, while an operation to nab others was still going on. Umashankar said: “We had allowed a peaceful dharna in the village but the situation took an ugly turn when several activists of farmer unions (all outsiders) enticed villagers to turn violent.” On the other hand, district president of the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), Shingara Singh Maan, termed it a pre-planned move of officials.
|
|
Cops not spying on Manpreet: CM
Ghudda (Bathinda), December 21 “Following the principles of democracy, we have given him full space to reach out to the masses and convey his message,” claimed the Chief Minister, who was here to inspect development works in his ancestral village, Ghudda. Asked whether an investigation would be carried out to verify his allegation, the CM replied, “When it is for sure that the allegation is baseless, there is no need to launch any special probe into the matter.Moreover, I am unable to understand even if the intelligence wing of the police is collecting information on him, as he alleges, will the exercise be of any use?” he asked. While getting an account of three major projects initiated in Ghudda, the Central University of Punjab, a university college and a Remount & Veterinary (R&V) squadron to train NCC cadets, he expressed satisfaction over the pace of development. He said the Central University of Punjab, which was at present functioning from a transit campus at Bathinda, would be shifted to the main university complex in Ghudda village within three years. He said a Rs 60 crore cancer diagnostic and treatment centre had been sanctioned for Bathinda.
|
|
Punjab Industries Dept seeks stake in Mohali IT project
Mohali, December 21 “Since the project will have 40 per cent industrial component, it will be beneficial for the Industries Department to participate in the project as similar projects are being planned in Ropar, Rajpura and other parts of the state,” principle secretary Industries SS Channy wrote in a communiqué to the secretary of the Housing and Urban Development, Dr SS Sandhu. Sources in the housing department said the proposal of the Industries Department would be taken up in the next meeting of the board of members of GMADA. Participating in the project will mean that the Industries Department will have to partner in acquiring 1,800 acres of land. The land is expected to cost around Rs 2,700 crore. GMADA Chief Administrator VP Singh said any decision on the request of the Industries Department would be taken at the highest level. Incidentally, GMADA is set to notify the Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act as part of the land acquisition proceedings. The expected land acquisition rate is expected to be around Rs 1.50 crore, as has been in case of Aerocity. “ By all terms, it will be the largest acquisition in Chandigarh’s periphery in the last decade,” pointed out a GMADA official. The sources said it was due to the overwhelming response of the Aerocity project, located perpendicular to the proposed IT city, that the Industries Department was keen on tapping the industrial component. This was primarily due to its strategic location near the upcoming international airport. Unlike phase 1 and phase 2 of the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park of the UT Administration, Manimajra, that offered around 350 acres of land, the integrated IT park would offer plots of varying sizes in 1,800 acres of land. Apart from the IT component, the city would offer limited residential and
commercial components.
|
|
23 months gone, no action against guilty
Aman Sood/TNS
Patiala, December 21 While initially the government had ordered a judicial probe into the episode after the Medical Education Minister had resigned over the issue, the Home Department later ordered a criminal probe by the Police Department. The minister concerned, Tikshan Sud had later withdrawn his resignation. Sources confirmed that the criminal inquiry into the whole incident that resulted in the death of six infants on January 31, 2009, is almost complete with the inquiry conducted by a SP rank officer submitting the findings to Patiala SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill almost a couple of months back. An FIR is yet to be registered. Speaking on the case SP (Operation) SS Boparai said he had visited the hospital and the findings were with the SSP. “Prima facie it appears to be particular mistakes in individual capacity and we are pressing to recommend a case under Section 304-A of the IPC,” said Boparai, who completed the inquiry. Earlier, the government had already received a report submitted by former Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge KC Gupta, who was appointed as a one-man inquiry committee by the Punjab CM. In his report KC Gupta had recommended to chargesheet four government employees, including two doctors and one-fourth class employee that included Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital then Principal Jaswinder Pal Kaur Shergill and the head of Pediatrics Department Dr KK Lochan, who is still the head.
|
|
Cong draws up plan to hold series of rallies
Chandigarh, December 21 In a strategy devised by Amarinder Singh himself, the Congress does not want to be caught unawares just in case reports of the possibility of relatively early elections in the state come true. He has told his party leaders that it would be most appropriate to start a series of rallies, road shows, etc while the rival the SAD-BJP leadership has preferred to take a sabbatical due to the cold winter. Beginning tomorrow, the Congress campaign will start from Sangrur in the Malwa region, where the Congress is planning a big rally. After Sangrur, over the fortnight the Congress will hold rallies in Tarn Taran on December 24, a political conference at the Jor Mela in Fatehgarh Sahib on December 27 , another rally at Mohali on January 9 and a political function during the Maghi Mela at Muktsar on January 14 . Sources in the party said all programmes had been meticulously planned with a senior leader from the PPCC coordinating the arrangements, under the leadership of a local leader at all places where the rallies and road shows will be held. The PCC sources disclosed that the party this time had tried to spread out the programmes uniformly in Malwa, Majha and Doaba. A close aide of Amarinder Singh told The Tribune that the PPCC president had personally drawn up the party programme for the next few weeks.His aim was to create a uniform impact everywhere. The mass contact programme of the Congress, scheduled after the constitution of the PCC and the District Congress Committees, was delayed earlier due to the reshuffle in the AICC. The changes in Delhi are expected to lead to a change of general secretaries in charge, etc. Amarinder Singh has now decided to go ahead with his programme by assigning duties to the local leaders. But at the same time he has made it clear that assigning duties pertaining to the arrangements for party programmes should not be construed as a guarantee of appointment to particular posts. The possibility of early elections has gained ground after Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal gave a hint to this effect as also in the backdrop of reports that the Election Commission of India may advance the Punjab elections.
|
|
Ex-MLA opposes Channi’s induction into Congress
Chandigarh, December 21 Addressing newsmen here, Bhag Singh said Channi was a candidate for the Congress ticket in 2007 and when he did not get it, he contested the seat as an Independent. Bhag Singh said instead of returning to the Congress fold after the elections, Channi chose to extend support to the SAD. Asserting that the Congress should not encourage such opportunism, the former legislator appealed to the PPCC president not to induct Channi into the party.
|
|
Dayal seeks resignation of Transport Minister
Jalandhar, December 21 Alleging that the Punjab Government had surrendered to private transporters on the issue of increasing bus fares, Dayal said the minister had already made it clear that big transporters were calling the shots in the Transport Department and hence he was left with no moral authority to continue as a minister. Dayal said big private transporters had “hijacked” the department following which Punjab Roadways and the PRTC were suffering losses. “In connivance with senior officials of the department, influential private transporters have grabbed peak rush hour slots in the timetable to ply buses on all main routes,” said Dayal, adding that the minister should make it public that how many times the timetable regarding main routes had been altered in the past four years. Urging the government to withdraw the hike in bus fares, Dayal said tax on all luxury buses should be increased from the existing 50 paise per km to Rs 2.25 paise per km, which was charged from ordinary buses.
|
|
Pollution control board to hold camps for pvt hospitals
Anshu Seth/TNS
Ludhiana, December 21 The PPCB, in its advertisement dated December 17 in a section of the media, had categorically mentioned that some of the hospitals/ healthcare facilities were operating without a valid authorisation as required under the rules, which is punishable under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It further reads that the PPCB in order to give the last chance to the erring hospitals/healthcare facilities was organising special camps for an on-the-spot processing and grant of authorisation applications. The special camps for authorisation will be held on December 23 at Patiala, Ludhiana, Khanna, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda, Sangrur, Faridkot, Hoshairpur, Mandi Gobindgarh, and Mohali. The regional offices of the PPCB will grant new authorisation to private hospitals and renew the expired authorisations under bio-medical waste (management and handling) rules. The hospitals have also been asked to come with all documents, including a valid agreement with the common bio-medical waste treatment facility; self-declaration of bed capacity; a demand draft according to the prescribed fee as per the bed capacity, partnership/proprietor certificate/list of directors and annual report containing the details of the generation of bio- medical waste. Interestingly, the PPCB was oblivious to the violations of the BMW rules for years, as no action had been initiated against the government or private healthcare facilities. The rules were implemented in 1998.
|
|
Cotton goods destroyed in factory fire
Tribune News Service
Patiala, December 21 Firemen from three districts took 12 hours to douse the flames. According to police officials, the incident took place at 2.30 am at Sarbat Thread Mills and the unit’s godown, where cotton stock worth crores of rupees was stored, was the worst affected . “Though the owners informed the authorities, including fire officials, immediately, rescue efforts took couple of hours to begin as fire engines were called from Samana, Mandi Gobindgarh, Patiala, Barnala and Rajpura,” they said. An onlooker said the flames were huge and fire engines had to throw water continuously to extinguish them. “The smoke inside the godown made the job of firemen difficult as they were without oxygen masks and fire uniform,” he added. Jaswinder Singh, SHO, Samana, confirmed that the fire reduced everything inside the store to ashes and even an iron ceiling and sheds collapsed along with the wall following an immense heat. “We are yet to register a case in this regard but prima facie, it appears that cotton goods worth Rs 5-6 crore were damaged. Burnt items could not be taken out till the filing of the report,” he added. Another police officer said though the fire brigade authorities were informed immediately, they came nearly an hour late. “By then, the fire had spread through the factory, especially in the area where the raw material was kept,” he said.
|
|
RBI introduces ‘debt swap scheme’ to help farmers
Ropar, December 21 Under this scheme, a land owner or cultivator of land, who had taken loan from any moneylender could get an amount of Rs 50,000 from any bank by submitting declaration or undertaking that he has to return the amount to moneylender, which he has raised for farming purposes. Officials of the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) district coordinator from Punjab & Sindh Bank (Rupnagar) said banks could sanction loan of Rs 50,000 per farmer after getting execution of formal documents of the bank for three years on prime landing rates to be recovered by half-yearly installments. — TNS
|
|
Three bureaucrats promoted
Chandigarh, December 21 An official release here said all three officers were in the super-time scale. Jaspreet Talwar has
been given pro forma promotion and will get all benefits once she returns from deputation.
|
|
Rajan Gupta made DGP
Chandigarh, December 21 An official release here today disclosed that ADGP, Traffic, RP Singh had been given additional charge as ADGP, Railways. DIG, Security SPS Basra has been given additional charge as DIG, Training.
— TNS
|
|
HC: Provide two security men to Bir Devinder
Chandigarh, December 21 The directions were issued as an interim measure. Justice Surya Kant also issued notice of motion and asked the state to provide details of the threat perception at the time of the security withdrawal. Reacting to the withdrawal of the security cover provided to him for almost two decades now, Bir Devinder has asserted that he had been targeted for extending support to former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal for his “Jago Punjab Yatra”. Terming the entire process of withdrawal of security cover from his ancestral home in Kotla Bhai Ka village in Sirhind and his residence in Model Town, Patiala, as “politically motivated”, Bir Devinder alleged since he had been instrumental in criticising the government for their “wrongdoings,” he had been targeted.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Amritsar, December 21
Almost 23 months after the tragic incident that charred six infants to death at the Phototherapy Unit at Government Rajindra Hospital in 2009, the Punjab Government is yet to take any action against the guilty despite two inquiries, which proved to be a mere eyewash. Despite assurance in this regard by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal, the guilty staffers are continuing at plum posts inside the hospital.
No casualties
Amritsar, December 21