J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

10 months for Assembly poll, ticket battle hots up in Congress
Jalandhar, April 27
With the next Assembly elections scheduled to be held in about 10 months, a number of Congressmen have already started vying for the party ticket for the Jalandhar Central seat. The aspirants include former MLA Raj Kumar Gupta and owner of Radisson Hotel Gautam Kapoor.

Welfare of cops’ families ‘top’ priority of Gurdaspur police
Gurdaspur, April 27
Based on various parameters, Gurdaspur was rated the number one police district in Punjab last year and the police top brass is leaving no stone unturned in its endeavour to retain the top slot this year too.

Government school students ‘fail’ DC’s test
Hoshiarpur, April 27
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dharam Dutt Tarnach expressed his dissatisfaction to the teachers over the level of educational knowledge among the students after interacting with them at Government High School, Government Elementary School, Dhamai, and Government Elementary School, Bagwain, in Garhshankar subdivision today.

Army holds seminar on energy sources
Pathankot, April 27
A seminar on “Use of non-conventional and renewable sources of energy” was held by Army officers of the Pathankot zone at Kiran Auditorium here today. The seminar focused on the emerging avenues in the area of utilisation of renewable sources of energy as a substitute for conventional ones.

98,985 tonnes of wheat procured
Hoshiarpur, April 27
As many as 98,985 tonnes of wheat worth Rs 70.69 crore have been procured in 61 procurement centres and payment of Rs 59.88 crore had been made to the farmers so far.

Amritsar-Chandigarh Duronto
Left parties’ hunger strike enters 8th day
Amritsar, April 27
The Left parties’ chain hunger strike against the Railways for not “honouring” its budgetary announcements entered its eighth day today. Women members of the CPI and CPI (M) took part in the protest, being held at Amritsar Railway Station.

10 months for Assembly poll, ticket battle hots up in Congress
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 27
With the next Assembly elections scheduled to be held in about 10 months, a number of Congressmen have already started vying for the party ticket for the Jalandhar Central seat.

The aspirants include former MLA Raj Kumar Gupta and owner of Radisson Hotel Gautam Kapoor.

Talking to The Tribune, both Gupta and Kapoor said they were aspirant of a Congress ticket from Jalandhar Central Assembly Constituency.

Interestingly, Congress councillors falling under Jalandhar Central Constituency have come out in the open against any move of their party leaders to allocate ticket to either Raj Kumar Gupta or Gautam Kapoor.

The councillors met former PPCC president and currently CWC member Mohinder Singh Kaypee, who is also an MP from Jalandhar, on April 19 to request him that neither the hotelier nor the former MLA should be considered for the ticket for Jalandhar Central seat.

Talking to The Tribune, Congress councillor Rajinder Beri, also vying for the same ticket, said Kaypee had assured them he would convey their feelings to the party high-command that neither any “parachute” candidate nor any leader who re-joined the Congress just a few months ago should be allocated ticket.

Raj Kumar Gupta had left the Congress and joined the BJP just a few weeks before the last Assembly elections after he was denied the ticket and was allocated to former Improvement Trust chairman Tejinder Singh Bittu. After his several years stay in the BJP, he rejoined the Congress during PPCC chief Amarinder Singh’s rally at Jalandhar Cantonment on March 6.

Similarly, known for his closeness with Amarinder Singh, Gautam Kapoor started holding meetings with the electorates of Jalandhar Central constituency just a few weeks earlier.

Interestingly, Congress councillors requested Kaypee that the ticket should not be allotted to any one of them.

Meanwhile, another aspirant for the ticket from this seat, PPCC secretary Ashok Gupta met Punjab Congress in charge, Gulchain Singh Charak, at AICC office in New Delhi on April 21 requesting him that Gautam Kapoor should not be allotted a ticket as he was not even primary member of the party.

When contacted, Gautam Kapoor, said “Every Congressmen has right to claim for the ticket and it is up to the party high command to see to which Congressman the ticket should or should not be allotted. Any person whom the high command will allot tickets, all Congressmen should support him.”

Welfare of cops’ families ‘top’ priority of Gurdaspur police
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, April 27
Based on various parameters, Gurdaspur was rated the number one police district in Punjab last year and the police top brass is leaving no stone unturned in its endeavour to retain the top slot this year too.

Addressing a press conference, Harpreet Kaur, wife of Gurdaspur SSP Varinder Pal Singh, said under the “Dhee Rani” scheme, the police would give Rs 25,000 to the parents (police personnel) of a girl child from its welfare fund, which would be kept in the form of a fixed deposit.

Computer education would be imparted to the children of policemen having their residences in the Police Lines complex. Girls, who had completed their plus 2 would be given the option of joining various professional courses, like beautician courses, so that they can secure an independent future for themselves.

Harpreet Kaur added that from now onwards more emphasis would be given on opening youth clubs providing sports infrastructure there. Wards of cops taking part in youth club activities would also be sent to play in various district-level competitions held from time to time in the town.

The police district, which took a severe battering during the days of terrorism in Punjab, had also become environmental friendly. Hundreds of trees and saplings would be planted in vacant spaces, which fell in the jurisdiction of the police.

Free-medical camps would be held from time to time to ensure that cops and their families lead a healthy life. Free medicines would also be distributed at these camps. Drug de-addiction centres would also be established at various places.

The police had also decided to open sewing centres for the benefit of wives of policemen.

Government school students ‘fail’ DC’s test
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, April 27
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dharam Dutt Tarnach expressed his dissatisfaction to the teachers over the level of educational knowledge among the students after interacting with them at Government High School, Government Elementary School, Dhamai, and Government Elementary School, Bagwain, in Garhshankar subdivision today.

He asked many questions to students and found that almost all of them could not give right replies. He instructed teachers to take special care of students for raising their standard of education so that they could compete with their counterparts in other schools.

The DC made a surprise checking of government dispensary, veterinary dispensary and the schools of Dhamai and Bagwain villages. He also checked the quality of mid-day meal being given to the students of the schools.

Later, the DC inspected Farad Kendra, Block Development and Panchayat Office and cooking gas agency at Garshankar town. He also checked the gas booking register of the agency.

Army holds seminar on energy sources

Pathankot, April 27
A seminar on “Use of non-conventional and renewable sources of energy” was held by Army officers of the Pathankot zone at Kiran Auditorium here today. The seminar focused on the emerging avenues in the area of utilisation of renewable sources of energy as a substitute for conventional ones.

Major-Gen Kanwaljit Singh, VSM, General Officer Commanding, 29 Infantry Division, was the chief guest. While speaking on the occasion, he brought out the indispensability of norms and yardsticks chalked out by organisations like the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources, with an objective to improve energy efficiency and adapt the construction techniques and infrastructure design to facilitate the use of renewable and non-conventional sources of energy.

Speakers from renowned institutions and ministries like IIT, Delhi, Ministry of New Renewable Energy Sources, Bureau of Energy Efficiency and Beant College of Engineering, highlighted the necessity of switching to renewable energy resources in pursuance of national goal of achieving energy security and preserving the environment. — OC

98,985 tonnes of wheat procured
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, April 27
As many as 98,985 tonnes of wheat worth Rs 70.69 crore have been procured in 61 procurement centres and payment of Rs 59.88 crore had been made to the farmers so far.

This was disclosed by Deputy Commissioner Dharam Dutt Tarnach after visiting the procurement centres at Samundra, Garhshankar and Saila today. He interacted with a number of farmers at these centres to know their difficulties and checked the facilities being provided to them.

He said arrangements for cleanliness, potable water, shelters, lights, tarpaulin, meals, etc, to the farmers had been made in the centres.

Amritsar-Chandigarh Duronto
Left parties’ hunger strike enters 8th day
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 27
The Left parties’ chain hunger strike against the Railways for not “honouring” its budgetary announcements entered its eighth day today. Women members of the CPI and CPI (M) took part in the protest, being held at Amritsar Railway Station.

CPM district secretary Amarjit Singh Assal announced that a massive rally would be taken out in favour of their demands on the occasion of Labour Day on May 1.

CPI national council member Harbhajan Singh alleged that black sheep in the Railways in connivance with private transporters was behind holding back the launch of direct Amritsar-Chandigarh train.