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TOP STORIES

Anti-SAD groups unite; to fight SGPC poll on common symbol
Amritsar, July 31
While the SAD has begun the exercise to select candidates for the SGPC elections, the moderates and hardliners have begun parleys to form a united front against the ruling party.

Badal felicitates kin of Shaheed Udham Singh
Sunam (Sangrur), July 31
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with kin of freedom fighters at Sunam on Sunday Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today lauded the innumerable sacrifices made by the Punjabis in the freedom struggle, despite the fact they constituted a mere 2.5 per cent of the country’s population.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with kin of freedom fighters at Sunam on Sunday



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EARLIER STORIES




Dome-like structure of one of the four temples of Panj Temple at Fatehgarh Churian near Amritsar Historic Panj Temple of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s era cries for care
Fatehgarh Churian, July 31
Even as the Archaeological Survey of India and Punjab tourism authorities have been restoring various heritage buildings in and around Amritsar, Panj Temple, about 25 km from the holy city, lies in a state of neglect. More than one-and-a-half-century-old Panj Temple comprises four small temples of lord Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha and Surya in as many corners with the main temple of lord Krishna and Ram at the centre.

Dome-like structure of one of the four temples of Panj Temple at Fatehgarh Churian near Amritsar





POLITICS

LS LodhinangalLodhinangal creates a flutter
Batala, July 31
Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, sitting, SAD MLA from Qadian, created a flutter in the Akali rank and file, announcing his candidature from the neighbouring Fatehgarh Churian assembly segment for the ensuing assembly elections at a well-attended gathering here today.
LS Lodhinangal

Assembly poll: Congress identifying seats for young faces
Chandigarh, July 31
Amarinder Singh, former CM
The AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, has reportedly decided on alloting the party ticket to the youth in the forthcoming assembly elections in Punjab. State Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh has already started the process of identifying constituencies where the party can nominate young persons, particularly women.
Amarinder Singh, former CM

CPI willing for tie-up with PPP
Amritsar, July 31
Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary Nirmal Singh today said the party was willing to join hands with the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) for the coming assembly elections.

BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad and Navjot Singh Sidhu in AmritsarBJP launches campaign to galvanise youth into action
Amritsar, July 31
Hinting at a fiery monsoon session of Parliament beginning tomorrow, BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad today said the main Opposition party would counter the UPA government on corruption, terror and price rise.

BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad and Navjot Singh Sidhu in Amritsar. Photo: Vishal Kumar



COMMUNITY

Forest staff make mockery of transfers
Mohali, July 31
It seems that the Punjab Forest Department is following the footsteps of the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Department when it comes to cancelling or modifying the transfer orders (two to three times) of its officers to enable them to be at the place of their choice.

Ahead of farmers’ march, Mansa turns into fortress
Bathinda, July 31
The Mansa district has been converted into a virtual cantonment to thwart the attempt of the activists of the 17 kisan and farm labour unions to enter the Gobindpura village on August 2 to protest against “forcible” acquisition of the fertile land of the farmers by the government for setting up a thermal power plant in the private sector.

Fired up against govt

Members of the Unemployed Teachers Front burn copies of the results of the Teacher Eligibility Test in Bathinda on Sunday
Members of the Unemployed Teachers Front burn copies of the results of the Teacher Eligibility Test in Bathinda on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Bar assn chief moves poll panel against MLA
Amritsar, July 31
The president of the Bar Association of Baba Bakala today submitted a complaint against the ruling party MLA from Khadoor Sahib for violating the model code of conduct ahead of the SGPC elections.

Hold AIEEE in Dec, varsity urges HRD Ministry
Jalandhar, July 31
The Punjab Technical University (PTU) has urged the Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry to conduct the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) either in December or January to avoid delay in beginning of the academic session in the engineering colleges on time i.e. July 1.

Liberia honours Jalandhar man
Chandigarh, July 31
India’s Honorary Consul General to Liberia, West Africa, Upjit Singh Sachdeva has been conferred with the “Knight Grand Commander”, Liberia’s highest award during 164th Independence day celebration. He belongs to Jalandhar.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and his wife Sunanda at the Golden Temple in AmritsarCongress MP Tharoor, wife visit Golden Temple
Amritsar, July 31
Congress MP and former Union Minister for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor and his wife Sunanda Pushkar today paid obeisance at the Golden Temple here. Tharoor did not interact with the media but chose to tweet his experience on the social networking site, Twitter. “At the wondrously beautiful and uplifting Golden Temple, Amritsar. Magnificent, serene, awe-inspiring,” he tweeted.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and his wife Sunanda at the Golden Temple in Amritsar . Photo: Vishal Kumar

Sainis, Suniars urge govt for inclusion in OBC list
Gurdaspur, July 31
Two prominent Punjab-based castes - Sainis and Suniars (goldsmiths) - which account for a sizeable vote bank in the state, have urged the Punjab Government to include their castes in its OBC list so that they are in a position to avail employment opportunities offered by the state government from time to time.

Herb scam: Probe panel member transferred
Patiala, July 31
The ongoing probe into the alleged medicinal herbs purchase scam, to the tune of Rs 2 crore, in the Government Ayurvedic Pharmacy, Patiala, has come under a scanner, with the Department of Health and Family Welfare transferring Dr Shivraj, Medical Superintendent (MS) of the pharmacy and a member of the inquiry committee probing the alleged scam. Sources told The Tribune that certain bureaucrats and political personalities were allegedly making attempts to influence the probe, which was the main reason for transferring Shivraj to Behar Sahib, Patiala, on July 26.

Non-disbursal of Arrears
College teachers threaten to observe Sept 5 as Black Day
Sekhwan Patiala, July 31
Feeling humiliated over the refusal of Punjab Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan to meet a delegation of the college teachers; the agitated teachers, working in the government and private colleges of the state, have threatened to launch an agitation against the SAD-BJP government.
Sekhwan

e-governance
CGC Landran ties up with InfoTech
Chandigarh, July 31
Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran, which starts its session for new comers tomorrow has tied up with Punjab InfoTech for a unique e-governance intiative, where students will be outsourced to state technological projects on ‘no profit, no loss’ basis to give them hands-on training.

Double Plan outlay for farm sector, say economists
Ludhiana, July 31
The Centre may have stated that by 2020, the country needs to produce 280 million tonnes of foodgrain but agricultural scientists believe that it would be an “impossible” task unless the Centre doubles its Plan outlay in agriculture and allied activities.

Volunteers from commando complex help clean park
Patiala, July 31
Social activists from the Friends of Environment tied up with Commando Training School, Bahadurgarh, to clean the Environment Park on Passy Road. As many as 300 volunteers from the commando complex took part in the drive to remove weeds and other unwanted growth from the park, to make it clean for the commoners after the rains that left the park full of wild growth.


CRIME

Couple kill child, commit suicide
Amritsar, July 31
A couple allegedly committed suicide after administering poison to their five-year-old son in Ramdass area, about 40 km from here, today.

Immigration Fraud
City couple booked for duping youth
Patiala, July 31
The city police has registered a case pertaining to cheating and conspiracy against a city-based travel agent husband-wife duo for duping a local resident of money to the tune of lakhs on the pretext of sending him abroad. While the Tripuri police has registered a case against the accused couple, it is yet to make arrests.

Top








 

Anti-SAD groups unite; to fight SGPC poll on common symbol
Perneet Singh
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 31
While the SAD has begun the exercise to select candidates for the SGPC elections, the moderates and hardliners have begun parleys to form a united front against the ruling party.

Talking to The Tribune today, SAD secretary DS Cheema hinted that not all sitting members in the SGPC House may be fielded this time. He said: “We will field candidates selected on the basis of their image in the constituency, their hold in the religious arena and their spirit to perform sewa.”

He said 12 SGPC members of SAD had died in the past seven years. Some were facing health problems relating to old age. He said the final call on the allotment of ticket will be taken after meetings with district SAD chiefs, party MPs and MLAs.

He said the SAD would field fresh faces as it had done in the last elections.

On the SAD manifesto for the SGPC elections, Cheema said this would be ready in the next couple of days.

On the other hand, the SAD (Delhi), SAD (1920) and SAD (Longowal), who have joined hands, are making efforts to carry along radical outfits like the Dal Khalsa and the Khalsa Action Committee.

Senior Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh said the parleys to forge an alliance had already begun. He said there were two options- first, all opposition groups, moderates and hardliners, put up a united front and contest the poll on a common election symbol and second, the moderates and the hardliners form their own fronts and enter into a seat sharing arrangement.

He said the picture would become clear over the next few days and the first list of candidates probably released by August 4.

The DSGMC and the SAD (Delhi) chief, Paramjit Singh Sarna, said: “It would not be a cakewalk for the SAD candidates... it could be anybody’s game this time.”

He said “he would urge the Home Ministry to deploy the CRPF to ensure free and fair elections”. He objected to the Sangat Darshan functions in Punjab in view of the SGPC elections.

The SAD (1920) chief, Ravi Inder Singh, said they had formed a six-member committee to hold negotiations with other opposition groups.

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Badal felicitates kin of Shaheed Udham Singh
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

A member of the Kamboj Sabha raises slogans after garlanding the statue of Shaheed Udham Singh in Amritsar
A member of the Kamboj Sabha raises slogans after garlanding the statue of Shaheed Udham Singh in Amritsar. Tribune photo/ AFP

Sunam (Sangrur), July 31
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today lauded the innumerable sacrifices made by the Punjabis in the freedom struggle, despite the fact they constituted a mere 2.5 per cent of the country’s population.

Addressing a gathering on the 72nd Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Udham Singh at a state-level function at the local grain market, Badal said the state had played a unique role in the freedom movement.

“The sacrifice of Shaheed Udham Singh, who avenged the Jallianwala massacre by killing Sir Michael O’dwyer (the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab who had ordered the massacre), will always be remembered in the annals of history,” he said.

“The rich legacy of unprecedented sacrifices by the martyrs will act as a lighthouse to guide the destiny of our future generations,” the Chief Minister said. He said the aspirations of these martyrs had not been realised even after 65 years of Independence with a majority of people bereft of basic amenities.

The Chief Minister said it was a matter of pride that heroes of the national movement like Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai and Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha were all Punjabis. “The valiant Punjabis have inherited the spirit of self-sacrifice and patriotism from Guru Nanak Dev ji, Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji, Sri Guru Teg Bahadar ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, who waged a relentless battle against the terror unleashed by the Mughal emperors to safeguard human rights and protect the innocent and hapless from their tyranny,” Badal said.

The CM honoured the descendents of Shaheed Udham Singh, freedom fighters and activists of the Punjabi Morcha. Earlier, he paid homage at Udham Singh’s memorial.

Secretary general of the SAD and Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and his son PWD Minister and local MLA Parminder Singh Dhindsa also paid tributes to Shaheed Udham Singh. They appealed to the youth to imbibe the spirit of self-sacrifice. The Chief Minister praised the father and son for their contribution to the party. “Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has played a vital role in bringing the SAD to power,” he remarked. Dhindsa called the CM “lohpurush”, who was behind the “unparalleled development” in the state.

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Historic Panj Temple of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s era cries for care
PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service

One of the walls that was whitewashed
One of the walls that was whitewashed. Tribune photos: Vishal Kumar

Fatehgarh Churian, July 31
Even as the Archaeological Survey of India and Punjab tourism authorities have been restoring various heritage buildings in and around Amritsar, Panj Temple, about 25 km from the holy city, lies in a state of neglect.

More than one-and-a-half-century-old Panj Temple comprises four small temples of lord Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha and Surya in as many corners with the main temple of lord Krishna and Ram at the centre.

The temple was built during the reign of Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh and has been a rich treasure trove of resplendent frescoes of Hindu deities and first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev.

However, the invaluable frescoes have been decaying due to lack of knowledge among the inhabitants of the area. The lower portion of the walls, which were adorned with priceless frescoes, of the three of the four temples, have been ignorantly whitewashed by the caretakers of the temple. A small temple-like structure situated opposite to the temple lies closed and is in a shambles.

In the absence of any check, some locals have even constructed their houses around the temple, which is now under private possession. The present owner, Mohinder Pal, is said to be the descendent of the former priests and caretakers of the shrine. He says the family lacks enough resources to restore the wall paintings in its original form. He claims that the frescoes got damaged due to moisture and the wall paintings in the Shiva temple have been whitewashed in the absence of any conservation plan.

"The structure of the temple, especially the four domes, which are made up of Nanakshahi bricks, is a unique style of architecture," says Dr Balwinder Singh, a conservationist and head of the department of Guru Ram School of Planning, Guru Nanak Dev University. He says the structure is of great importance and needs to be safeguarded from the mindless urbanisation. The fort-style temple is built in Mughal style with domes on the top.

The floor patterns are a testimony to the fact that it was constructed during the Renaissance period in Punjab, he says. Similar floor patterns have been found in the historic Ram Bagh garden, Gurdwara Baba Atal and Pul Kanjri.

Dr Kanwaljit Singh Kang, who has compiled research work on frescoes in his book "The wall paintings of Punjab and Haryana" (published in 1985), has also mentioned about this temple.

Dr Kang says the construction of the temple could be dated back to 1841. The main sanctum sanctorum stands on the circular plank surrounded by a "parikarma", he says.

The language department, Punjab, has also written about the temple in its survey book -- "Fatehgarh Churian" -- published in 1994. It says it is first religious place of the township. The temple was constructed by Rani Chand Kaur of Kanhaiya Misl, who was married to Kharak Singh, elder son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

"This was especially constructed by Chand Kaur for the family members and visiting guests," say residents of the area.

Expressing his dismay, Rajneesh Khosla, who is known for preservation of handwritten manuscripts, points out: "It is a matter of great concern that such a rare piece of art, exhibiting our past and which can be a great tourist attraction, is dying a slow death due to official apathy." He wrote a letter to the Union Tourism Ministry urging it to send a team of experts for the preservation of the temple.

sorry state of affairs

About the temple...

  • Situated about 25 km from Amritsar, the Panj Temple is over 150 years old
  • Built during the reign of legendary Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh
  • Has a rich treasure of frescoes of Hindu deities and Guru Nanak Dev

Lies in bad shape...

  • Lower part of walls in 3 of 4 four temples, once adorned with frescoes, ignorantly whitewashed
  • A small temple like structure situated just opposite to the main temple is closed and is in a shambles

Top

 

Lodhinangal creates a flutter
Announces candidature from Fatehgarh Churian, Speaker Kahlon’s turf
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Batala, July 31
Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, sitting, SAD MLA from Qadian, created a flutter in the Akali rank and file, announcing his candidature from the neighbouring Fatehgarh Churian assembly segment for the ensuing assembly elections at a well-attended gathering here today.

Assembly Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon is the sitting MLA from Fatehgarh Churian. He is preparing the ground to fight the next elections from the same seat he won in 2007.

Lodhinangal, who was addressing a meeting of sarpanches, panches and Block Samiti members of villages in the jurisdiction of the Fatehgarh Churian assembly segment, said he had taken this decision with the blessings of the SAD high command. The SAD youth wing chief, BS Majithia, was present at the gathering. “This gave the impression that the MLA has the backing of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal,” remarked a senior Akali leader.

The BJP made its presence felt at the gathering in a big way with almost all senior Fatehgarh Churian leaders present at the meeting, which later turned into a rally. After the delimitation exercise, nearly 70 per cent of villages falling in the Qadian assembly segment have been shifted to Fatehgarh Churian.

Senior SAD leaders present at the meet said that Lodhinangal’s declaration had put the top brass in an embarrassing situation. They claimed that if his claim to the Fatehgarh Churian was rejected, the MLA had enough influence to cause damage to the SAD in Batala, Qadian, Dera Baba Nanak and Fatehgarh Churian during the elections. “Lodhinangal is a leader with a mass following. In 1986, he dared to take on the SAD candidate from Qadian, KS Boparai, as an Independent and lost by a wafer thin margin of 300 votes. When contacted, Kahlon, said he had no information about the Qadian MLA’s announcement. “ If he is saying he will contest from my assembly segment, then I wish him the best,” he remarked.

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Assembly poll: Congress identifying seats for young faces
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 31
The AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, has reportedly decided on alloting the party ticket to the youth in the forthcoming assembly elections in Punjab. State Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh has already started the process of identifying constituencies where the party can nominate young persons, particularly women.

As in the case of the Lok Sabha elections, the effort will be to put up young candidates where the party either does not have a ready candidate (following delimitation) or has repeatedly lost the seat.

The Congress had allotted three seats to young candidates in the parliamentary elections and had won the seats of Sangrur and Anandpur Sahib, held by Vijay Inder Singla and Ravneet Bittu, respectively.

State party chief Capt Amarinder Singh said besides giving a new face to the party where it was weak, the infusion of new blood would rejuvenate the party in the long run. “Young candidates, even if they lose this election, will have enoughtime to build base for future battles”, he said.

Sources said the experiment would also serve to ensure the youth did not drift towards the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) camp led by Manpreet Badal or the SAD, which has promised more representation to young party workers.

Sources said the Congress had not undertaken any major overhaul, except in the Malwa belt, since 1992 when the party won amid poll boycott by the mainstream Akalis. There is a feeling that several candidates are continuing to get the party ticket on the basis of past performance even though their chances of victory are slim. The number of such seats is not likely to be more than 15. Many new faces could be put up from the reserved seats.

Though the party has a number of youth leaders waiting in the wings, it has not been able to project young women leaders, something that is admitted by its leaders. The State Mahila Congress is given little importance in the overall scheme of things and there is little representation of women on top Youth Congress posts. In such a situation, finding women candidates will be difficult, say party sources.

Capt Amarinder said the party would rely on its own surveys to identify seats where young leaders can be fielded. The party has started a survey to assess whether the sitting MLAs can win their seats. Besides, the party has completed a survey on identifying the “ideal” candidates for each of the 117 seats and is awaiting reports of a second survey in this regard.

The gameplan

  • The effort will be to put up young candidates where the party does not have a ready candidate (following delimitation) or
  • Where the party has lost the seat repeatedly
  • This will ensure the youth does not drift towards the PPP or the SAD

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CPI willing for tie-up with PPP
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 31
Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary Nirmal Singh today said the party was willing to join hands with the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) for the coming assembly elections.

Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a district council meeting of the party here, Nirmal said: “Manpreet Badal-led PPP has thoughts and ideology very similar to our party and, therefore, we will not hesitate in joining hands with him. But, both the parties are yet to talk officially.”

Talks were also on with several other organisations regarding an alliance, he said. And the CPI and the PPP could jointly, said he, provide a third alternative to the people of Punjab, who were “fed up with the false promises and corrupt practices of the successive governments.

On whether the Prime Minister’s Office should be brought under the purview of the Lokpal Bill, he said the need of the hour was to check corruption but the prime minister should be keep out of it.

The PPP chief is on a whirlwind tour of the US and Canada to woo non- resident Indians who can play a decisive role in the outcome of the assembly elections.

He has reportedly been in touch with Left leaders for a poll alliance. This can prove especially fruitful in the Doaba region where the Left has a sizeable vote bank.

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BJP launches campaign to galvanise youth into action
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 31
Hinting at a fiery monsoon session of Parliament beginning tomorrow, BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad today said the main Opposition party would counter the UPA government on corruption, terror and price rise.

In the holy city to introduce the party’s nationwide campaign “Friends of BJP”, Prasad said, “In tomorrow’s session, we will raise the core issues of corruption, national security, black money stashed by Indians in foreign banks and inflation. Some of these issues command voting motion in the House; we will compel the UPA Government to furnish replies.”

Prasad, who was accompanied by local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, said terrorism had spread its wings on the Indian territory, as was evident from the recent Mumbai blasts. “Since 1993, Mumbai has been targeted for the fifth time. If the financial capital of the county is attacked repeatedly, it will send wrong signals to global investors.”

On the Cabinet-approved draft of the Lokpal Bill, to be tabled in the Lok Sabha during the session, Prasad said the Prime Minster’s Office (PMO) should also come under its jurisdiction. "We support the introduction of the Lokpal Bill, but we want it to be made more effective and transparent so that its recommendations can be implemented in true letter and spirit without exempting any one, not even the Prime Minister,” he said.

About the “Friends of BJP” move, Sidhu said the movement had been floated to galvanise educated youth, entrepreneurs and professionals like doctors, engineers and CAs to make public opinion stronger for eradication of social vices like corruption, terrorism and inflation. “This will help India realise its potential as a superpower in real sense,” he said.

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Forest staff make mockery of transfers
Get orders modified for choice posting
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

Mohali, July 31
It seems that the Punjab Forest Department is following the footsteps of the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Department when it comes to cancelling or modifying the transfer orders (two to three times) of its officers to enable them to be at the place of their choice.

In the last one month, ever since the new Minister for Forest and Wildlife, Arunesh Shakar, took over reins of the department from Tikshan Sud, getting a choice posting has become all the more easy for forest officers, especially for the officers of the Punjab Forest Services (PFS).

“ It appears that consideration, other than merit, seems to have taken centrestage to get a preferred place for posting in the department. There is no sense in transferring out an official and then cancelling the order,” said an Indian Forest Service (IFS) cadre officer.

The large-scale transfers have been done at a time when it is the most vital period for the field officers to undertake plantations, being the rainy season. But due to the transfers, most of the officers and the field staff are busy joining at the new place of posting or lobbying to get their transfer orders cancelled or modified.

Arunesh Shakar said the transfers had been made either on request or demand of the political leaders. However, he was short of words to explain the transfer orders being modified two to three times. He claimed that the transfers would not affect efficiency of the department.

A perusal of the list of transfer orders shows that certain PFS cadre officers have been posted in cadre divisions where the IFS officers should have been posted. Dev Raj, a PFS officer posted as Divisional Forest Officer (Hoshiarpur) was transferred as DFO (Faridkot). A few days later, Dev Raj was transferred back as DFO (Hoshiarpur).

Similarly, the transfer orders of DFO (Ropar) Baldev Singh, posted as DFO (Wildlife) in Patiala, were cancelled and he was posted back as DFO (Ropar). Another PFS officer Naresh Mahajan, DFO (Soil Conservation), was transferred as DFO (Ropar) and then as DFO (Ludhiana).The transfer orders of DFO (Gurdaspur) Rajinder Pannu as DFO (Ferozepur) were cancelled to post him back at Gurdaspur.

An IFS officer, Harsh Kumar, Conservator (Research and Training), Hoshiarpur, after being posted as Conservator (Ferozepur), has been transferred back as Conservator (Research and Training). Another IFS officer Dharmender Sharma, Conservator (Research and Training), was first posted as Conservator (Monitoring and Evaluation) and then posted as Conservator Forest (Soil Conservation).

There are several other such examples when officers have been transferred twice or thrice or their transfer orders have been cancelled. On the other hand, certain Conservator and Chief Conservator-rank officers have not been touched.

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Ahead of farmers’ march, Mansa turns into fortress
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 31
The Mansa district has been converted into a virtual cantonment to thwart the attempt of the activists of the 17 kisan and farm labour unions to enter the Gobindpura village on August 2 to protest against “forcible” acquisition of the fertile land of the farmers by the government for setting up a thermal power plant in the private sector.

“Over 2,000 PAP and regular police personnel have been deployed at various places in the district. Police personnel from Ropar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Tarn Taran, Sangrur, Barnala, Muktsar, Faridkot and other districts have reached Mansa,” said a senior police officer.

Personnel from various police stations and commandos of the Punjab police have also been deployed at the nakas that have been set up around Mansa. Barricades have been erected on all the highways and roads leading particularly to the Gobindpura village, which is the epicentre of the agitation.

General Secretary of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) Sukhdev Singh Kokri said activists of the 17 unions would make efforts to reach Gobindpura and pull down the barbed-wire fencing that had been erected by the private company around the 880 acres of the acquired land. He warned that the efforts of the Punjab Government to thwart their march would be resisted.

Kokri said the Draft Bill of the Centre for the procurement of land prohibits acquiring of the agriculture land that was under double cropping. Meanwhile, more than 100 women of the village tried to pull down the fencing in a stretch of four acres. Another group of women and children blocked the Bathinda-Mansa Highway to lodge their protest against the acquisition of the fertile land.

‘Don’t acquire land forcibly’

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal (also chairman of Punjab Mandi Board) has asked the Punjab Government to postpone the acquisition of agriculture lands till Parliament passed the Bill that would get the farmers six times more the price of their land than the existing market price. The BKU chief asked the state government not to acquire the land forcibly for private parties. 

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Bar assn chief moves poll panel against MLA
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 31
The president of the Bar Association of Baba Bakala today submitted a complaint against the ruling party MLA from Khadoor Sahib for violating the model code of conduct ahead of the SGPC elections.

In a complaint to the Election Commission of India (with a copy each to the Gurdwara Election Commission, the SGPC and the DC of Amritsar), Rajinder Singh Tapiala alleged that MLA Manjit Singh Manna had held public meetings in a gurdwara and distributed Rs 3 lakh in Rattangarh village, Rs 1.5 lakh in Wadala Khurd village and Rs 3 lakh to the sarpanch of Ajit Nagar village in Rayya block.

Seeking an inquiry into the incident, the complainant said some other leaders of the ruling Akali Dal had been luring the voters in the Baba Bakala subdivision, distributing ‘forged’ blue cards meant for the BPL families.

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Hold AIEEE in Dec, varsity urges HRD Ministry
Sarbjit Dhaliwal/TNS

Jalandhar, July 31
The Punjab Technical University (PTU) has urged the Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry to conduct the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) either in December or January to avoid delay in beginning of the academic session in the engineering colleges on time i.e. July 1.

This year the academic session will begin in the first week of August in most of the engineering colleges. The PTU admits students in the affiliated colleges on the basis of the AIEEE, which is usually held in May and result is declared in the first fortnight of June. After the declaration of AIEEE result, it takes about five-six weeks for the university to complete the admission process.

At least, three rounds of counselling had to be held to provide adequate opportunity to students to make it to the stream of their choice. Owing to this reason, it was not possible to start the academic session before the first week of August, which further delays the examination of first and subsequent semesters.

Vice-Chancellor of the PTU Dr Rajneesh Arora said he would like to declare the result of the last semester of the degree courses by June 30, which was now declared in the mid of July owing to unavoidable technical reasons.

Dr Arora said it would enable the students to apply for admissions in the Post Graduate courses at various places in time and also to apply for admission abroad, besides various jobs. Arora said he would also request the Punjab Government authorities concerned to take up the issue of holding the AIEEE in December-January with the HRD Ministry.

Meanwhile, Adviser of the PTU Dr Nachhatar Singh said some significant adjustments in the varsity calendar had made to reschedule the exams. He said the academic session would begin 15 days in advance in case of 3rd to 8th semester. Instead of August 1, it would officially begin from July 15 and subsequently it would start from July 1.

He said decision in this regard had been taken to declare the result of 3rd to 8th semesters early, keeping in mind the demand by the students. He said the academic session in case of 1st and 2nd semester could not be advanced to an earlier date due to technical reasons related to the admission process. He said the PTU had also planned to expedite the process of evaluation of answer sheets by arranging table marking on the university campus or elsewhere.

The PTU logic

  • After the declaration of AIEEE result in June, it takes about five-six weeks for the university to complete the admission process
  • It is, thus, not possible to start session before the first week of August, which further delays the examination of first and subsequent semesters

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Liberia honours Jalandhar man
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 31
India’s Honorary Consul General to Liberia, West Africa, Upjit Singh Sachdeva has been conferred with the “Knight Grand Commander”, Liberia’s highest award during 164th Independence day celebration. He belongs to Jalandhar.

Sachdeva has become the first Indian in African history to have been awarded the highest award by a sitting Liberian president since Liberia declared her Independence 164 years ago on July 26, 1847.

The award according to sources was presented to him by President of the Republic of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for his outstanding contribution to the cause of the socio-economic development, recovery and reconstruction of Liberia after the civil war that ravaged the entire nation.

Earlier, he was honoured with the Parvasi Bhartiya Award by President Pratibha Patil for enhancing India's image globally during 3-day-long Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held at the Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, in January this year. Sachdeva was born in Jalandhar and graduated from the Guru Nanak Dev University in 1982. He migrated to Liberia and started his career in 1987. He was appointed as Honorary Counsel General of India in 1998. He formed his own company Jeety Trading Corporation, which rapidly transformed into a mega building material, which has been catering to the construction and household needs of entire Liberia and Sierra Leone.

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Congress MP Tharoor, wife visit Golden Temple
Relish Amritsari kulchas at popular dhaba
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 31
Congress MP and former Union Minister for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor and his wife Sunanda Pushkar today paid obeisance at the Golden Temple here.

Tharoor did not interact with the media but chose to tweet his experience on the social networking site, Twitter. “At the wondrously beautiful and uplifting Golden Temple, Amritsar. Magnificent, serene, awe-inspiring,” he tweeted.

The Congress MP and his wife relished Amritsari kulchas at the famous Bhrawan Da Dhaba. “Amazing four-hour visit to Amritsar with gluttony at Bharawan Dhaba. Aloo kulcha, chhole, black dal, lassi to die for (but not from, I hope!),” he tweeted.

He also paid homage to the martyrs at Jallianwalla Bagh. “The eternal flame at Jallianwalla Bagh, an enduring tribute to the martyrs of the freedom struggle. At Jallianwalla Bagh, where a British massacre of unarmed Indians forged a nationalist consciousness,” Tharoor remarked on Twitter.

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Sainis, Suniars urge govt for inclusion in OBC list
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, July 31
Two prominent Punjab-based castes - Sainis and Suniars (goldsmiths) - which account for a sizeable vote bank in the state, have urged the Punjab Government to include their castes in its OBC list so that they are in a position to avail employment opportunities offered by the state government from time to time.

The Central Government has already included these two castes in its list of Other Backward Castes (OBC). However, over the past few years, the Punjab Government has steadfastly refused to acknowledge their status in its OBC list.

This means that people of these castes can only avail job opportunities provided by the Central Government and their wards can also seek admission to professional colleges on reservation basis. However, people of these two castes can neither avail employment opportunities offered by the state government on reservation basis nor can they take the reservation route as far as admission to professional colleges is concerned.

According to information gathered by a local lawyer Ranbir Singh under the RTI Act, the state government has put 69 castes under the head of BCs and OBCs and Sainis and Suniars do not figure in the list. Leaders of these castes are livid over the Punjab Government’s “erroneous and illogical” decision of not including them in the state government’s BC/OBC list.

Manmohan Singh Bhagowalia, general secretary of the SAD (BC wing), said: “Despite having their roots in Punjab they have been ignored by their own parent state. This means that people of these castes can’t avail job opportunities provided by the state to BCs and OBCs.”

“The Central Government admits that these castes fall in the OBC list while the Punjab Government says we are neither BCs nor OBCs. Sainis and Suniars can avail benefits of the Central Government but there is a catch her Job opportunities of the Central government are very limited as compared to opportunities provided by the state government,” said Nidhi Saini, a Taragarh-based RTI activist.

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Herb scam: Probe panel member transferred
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Satpal Gosain, Minister for Health and Family Welfare
Satpal Gosain, Minister for Health and Family Welfare

Patiala, July 31
The ongoing probe into the alleged medicinal herbs purchase scam, to the tune of Rs 2 crore, in the Government Ayurvedic Pharmacy, Patiala, has come under a scanner, with the Department of Health and Family Welfare transferring Dr Shivraj, Medical Superintendent (MS) of the pharmacy and a member of the inquiry committee probing the alleged scam.

Sources told The Tribune that certain bureaucrats and political personalities were allegedly making attempts to influence the probe, which was the main reason for transferring Shivraj to Behar Sahib, Patiala, on July 26.

Notably, Shivraj was posted as MS, Ayurvedic Pharmacy, Patiala, on June 7. Few days later, the alleged scam pertaining to the purchase of the low quality and spurious medicinal herbs by the pharmacy during the past two years came to light. Following the media reports about the alleged scam, a four-member probe committee was constituted to inquire into the matter by the Director, Research and Medical Education, Punjab, and Shivraj was inducted as one of the committee members.

Sources in the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, said Shivraj was conducting a thorough and impartial probe into the alleged scam. “Fearing that heads may roll in the inquiry report, he has been transferred. It is nothing but a deliberate attempt to get him out of the probe committee in order to influence the inquiry report,” alleged some officials of the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

Meanwhile, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Satpal Gosain said he had already taken cognisance of the matter and had written a letter to the Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Satish Chandra, stating that transfer of Shivraj at this stage would adversely affect the ongoing probe and hence his transfer orders should be revoked.

“We will ensure that impartial probe is conducted and once the inquiry report is ready, necessary action would be initiated against the guilty,” he assured.

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Non-disbursal of Arrears
College teachers threaten to observe Sept 5 as Black Day
Umesh Dewan/TNS

Patiala, July 31
Feeling humiliated over the refusal of Punjab Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan to meet a delegation of the college teachers; the agitated teachers, working in the government and private colleges of the state, have threatened to launch an agitation against the SAD-BJP government.

The vice-president of the Punjab Federation of College and University Teachers Organisation, Prof Jaipal Singh, said if the state government failed to disburse the arrears of the revised pay scales of teachers and other academic staff of universities, government colleges and government-aided private colleges of the state, they would stage protest demonstrations in all parts of the state and would observe September 5 (Teachers Day) as the “Black Day”.

Jaipal said, “On Wednesday, a delegation of the college teachers went to meet Sekhwan in Chandigarh regarding the demands of the teachers and the issue of the release of the arrears, but the minister refused to meet us.

Despite repeated requests to the staff of the minister, we were not allowed to convey our demands to him. This is not only injustice with the teaching community, but also shows the callous attitude of the state government towards the education sector.”

In pursuance of the recommendations of the University Grants Commission (UGC), on September 4, 2009, the Punjab Government had revised the pay scales of teachers and equivalent cadres in universities and colleges in the state with effect from 1st January, 2006.

“Despite the notification, teachers and other academic staff working in government and private colleges, GNDU and Punjabi University, are awaiting the disbursal of the arrears, as per the revised pay scales with effect from January 1, 2006,” said Jaipal, adding that they would prepare a comprehensive strategy to deal with the crucial issue of the non-disbursal of the arrears. Despite repeated attempts, Sekhwan was not available for comments.

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e-governance
CGC Landran ties up with InfoTech
Sumedha Sharma/TNS

Chandigarh, July 31
Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran, which starts its session for new comers tomorrow has tied up with Punjab InfoTech for a unique e-governance intiative, where students will be outsourced to state technological projects on ‘no profit, no loss’ basis to give them hands-on training.

The initiative introduced on a pilot basis last year got MBA , MCA and engineering students to develop softwares for various projects of the state government, which help the authorities in serving the citizens better.

Among various projects completed by students last year are Prison Management System, Single Window Industrial Clearance Service (SWICP), Industry Interface Web Portal (IIWP) and templates for project planning for small and large scale industries. Content Management System (CMS) based web portals were designed and developed, which included automation of news, menus, pages and photo galleries portals for the Election Commission of Punjab, and testing various websites like that of Punjab Infotech and Institute for Development and Communication (IDC).

“ We are the only college to have this kind of an e-governance centre. We have taken our students a step ahead of submitting projects or doing summer internships. They are getting hands-on experience and the government is getting the much-required innovation,” said Satnam Sandhu, director, CGC, Landran.

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Double Plan outlay for farm sector, say economists
This is must to achieve the target of 280 million tonnes by 2020
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 31
The Centre may have stated that by 2020, the country needs to produce 280 million tonnes of foodgrain but agricultural scientists believe that it would be an “impossible” task unless the Centre doubles its Plan outlay in agriculture and allied activities.

Economists at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here said while the demand for foodgrain had increased manifold, the government had decreased the Plan allocation drastically since 1980 in percentage terms in agriculture and allied sectors.

“The targets required by the Centre will not be achieved unless the Plan outlay for agriculture is increased to at least 7.5 per cent. The existing Plan allocation for the agriculture sector is just 3.8 per cent.

“At present, 241 million tonnes of foodgrain is produced in the country. By 2020, we need to produce 280 million tonnes of foodgrain, that is why enough funds are needed to achieve set targets”, said Dr MS Sidhu, an agricultural economist at PAU.

As per Five-year Plan documents, the Plan allocation for the agricultural sector has been drastically reduced since the First Five-year Plan (1951-56). The agriculture sector was given a share of 14.9 per cent of the total Plan outlay in First Five-year Plan (1951-56), while in second plan, the allocation for agriculture reduced to 11.3 per cent. In the third Five-Year Plan, agriculture sector was given 12.7 per cent share while the allocation was increased to 14.7 per cent in fourth Plan (1969-1974).

“But after Sixth Five-year-Plan, the allocation for agriculture has seen a continuous decline. In the existing 11th Plan (2007-12), agriculture is allocated with just 3.8 per cent share. With such a low Plan outlay, how can we increase production of foodgrain? Agriculture has seen a slowdown in the growth rate due to less allocation in percentage terms. We cannot achieve the desired results unless the Plan outlay in agriculture sector is increased,” said Dr Sidhu.

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Volunteers from commando complex help clean park
Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 31
Social activists from the Friends of Environment tied up with Commando Training School, Bahadurgarh, to clean the Environment Park on Passy Road. As many as 300 volunteers from the commando complex took part in the drive to remove weeds and other unwanted growth from the park, to make it clean for the commoners after the rains that left the park full of wild growth.

President of the Friends of Environment group Balbir Singh said the commando volunteers spent almost four hours in cleaning the entire park and due to their efforts, the wild growth was cleaned.

“This park is used by locals for walks and exercises. Due to the rains, the park was full of wild growth and the volunteers ensured that no plants were destroyed in the drive,” he said.

Meanwhile, people, gathered in the park early in the morning, pledged to stop using plastic bags and instead use jute bags.

Commandant, Commando Training School, Bahadurgarh, Gurinder Singh Dhillon said such gestures help protect the environment and ensure healthy police-public interaction. “We would continue to contribute to the cause of environment is every possible way,” he stated. 

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Couple kill child, commit suicide
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 31
A couple allegedly committed suicide after administering poison to their five-year-old son in Ramdass area, about 40 km from here, today.

The deceased have been identified as Harbhajan Singh (35), wife Gurmeet Kaur (30) and Gurjeet Singh (5). Harbhajan had returned from Dubai about five days ago after living there for over a year.

The police has launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause behind their taking the extreme step. A case has been registered following a complaint by Harbhajan’s brother Gurdial Singh.

Balwinder Singh, SHO of Ramdass police station, said two sulphas tablets were recovered from the spot. He said initial investigations revealed that the couple, originally hailing from Nawan Pind village in Batala, had been residing there for the past 10 years.

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Immigration Fraud
City couple booked for duping youth
Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 31
The city police has registered a case pertaining to cheating and conspiracy against a city-based travel agent husband-wife duo for duping a local resident of money to the tune of lakhs on the pretext of sending him abroad. While the Tripuri police has registered a case against the accused couple, it is yet to make arrests.

The police said the accused had been identified as Raspal Singh and his wife, Hardeep Kaur, who had allegedly duped a resident of Tripuri, Chirag Malhotra, of Rs 2,40,000 for sending him abroad. “However when the couple failed to send the victim abroad, he demanded his money back, following which accused started avoiding him,” said the police.

“While an FIR has been registered, the couple is on the run and yet to be arrested,” said the Tripuri police.

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