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NIT Director not replaced, faculty submits mass resignations
BJP slams Union Govt for petrol price hike
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DGP orders probe into SI ‘threatening’ Cong leader
Prohibitory orders in place, but sale of liquor continues
Over 200 Punjabi NRIs from Libya granted passports
Villagers come out against JE for ‘delaying works’
Four injured in clash
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NIT Director not replaced, faculty submits mass resignations
Jalandhar, September 16 Given the fact that SBS Mishra, Director (in charge) of the institute wasn’t replaced despite their demand, they said the institute administration would be responsible for the lapses that follow. As many as 45 members (out of the total 96 members on the rolls) currently administering additional duties, signed their resignations today. While teaching would go on as usual at the institute, it was unanimously decided that the remaining 51 faculty members who are not holding any additional charge (except teaching) as of now, would not act as a replacement in the posts of those who have resigned. There was anger among the faculty members due to the total lack of communication with any of the members of the institute administration since the last general body meeting (GBM). They condemned the registrar’s response (to their resolution) published in this newspaper, calling his statements - regarding the appointment of a regular Director and appointment of HODs - ‘ambiguous and misleading’. Importantly, the fact that faculty members tendering the resignations include 5 deans, 18 wardens, 8 proctors and many society heads, would spell trouble for the institute especially, as sources say, since there is a lot of unrest among the non-teaching staff of the institute, too. The faculty members will hold a black badge protest at the institute on Saturday. They will also hold a peaceful protest in front of the administrative block on Tuesday.
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BJP slams Union Govt for petrol price hike
Hoshiarpur, September 16 Phagwara: Punjab BJP today slammed the Congress-led UPA government for the unjustified hike in petrol prices. Talking to newsmen here today, the former Punjab BJP president and Cabinet Minister Madan Mohan Mittal has demanded immediate withdrawl of the fuel price hike. He strongly condemned the unwarranted hike in petrol prices and said that it will unleash new inflationary trends, which in turn would dampen the growth rate. He said that the rising prices of diesel and LPG would adversely impact the middle class. Amritsar: Activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) burnt an effigy of the Union Government over petrol price hike here today. BJYM members raised slogans against the Congress-led UPA government. |
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SGPC Elections
Gurdaspur, September 16 Balwinder Singh Bhinda, secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), alleged that SI Surjit Singh Saini was openly threatening him with dire consequences if he did not Bhinda had sent petitions to the DGP, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission and the Secretary of Sikh Gurdwara Election Commission. In the petitions, he alleged that the SI was forcing him to campaign for Sekhwan. He said he was supporting the Panthic Morcha candidate Jagir Singh that has irked both Sekhwan and Saini. Following which, Saini started threatening him. He said in 2009 Saini was instrumental in getting a false case registered against him pertaining to the selling of illicit liquor and drugs. Bhinda claimed that he approached the then Deputy Commissioner Karamjit Singh Sra and the Punjab Home Secretary who asked the Gurdaspur police station to withdraw the FIR following a detailed inquiry. Police sources said that Saini, despite being posted in the Batala police station, was using the official vehicle of Sekhwan in the police station-a Scorpio (PB 06G 4832)-to campaign for Sekhwan. The Batala SSP Gurkirpal Singh said he was aware of Bhinda’s complaint and added that the DGP too had spoken to him on the issue. He ensured that proper action will be taken.
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Prohibitory orders in place, but sale of liquor continues
Amritsar, September 16 The Punjab Government has issued a directive prohibiting the sale of liquor and ordered closure of liquor shops and vends in the state for three days starting from today. The SGPC elections would be held on September 18. A random visit to the city revealed that the sale of liquor went on unabated with vend owners, especially at Chheharta, Khandwala, Kot Khalsa, Putlighar, Islamabad, Naraingarh and Maqboolpura, devising various ways to sale liquor. Vend owners sold liquor to customers on higher rates. These shops sold liquor through a small window in order to avoid any raid or action. Even some restaurants also served liquor to customers. It is pertinent to mention here that a number of liquor vendors have also approached the high court against the orders claiming that the government issued orders without serving them prior notice. Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer Rajat Agarwal admitted that he had already received several complaints in this connection. “The administration and police are taking action against those found guilty of selling liquor,” he added.
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Over 200 Punjabi NRIs from Libya granted passports
Jalandhar September 16 Of the about 3,000 Indians who were caught in the cross-fire between Col Gadaffi and the rebels, about 700 hailed from Punjab. Though, passports were issued to 350-400 out of the 700 such NRIs, about 300 were still sans passports for the lack of requisite documentation like emergency slips or emergency travel documents since their arrival in India in March. Their passports were either detained by their employers who wanted to retain them forcibly or were destroyed in incidents of wide-spread looting and arson in Libya. “We have solved their passport issue on the basis of their undertakings. We have decided to grant passports to them,” said the Regional Passport Officer, Jalandhar Parneet Singh who, had specially called these NRIs hailing from Libya to hear their grievances regarding the delay in issuance of passports. “It is like a second birth for us. I had left for Libya in search of greener pastures in January after spending Rs 50,000. We were working with a Tripoli-based company and were taken to Bangzai town about 1200 km from the capital for work. All of a sudden, rebels struck and laid a seige by blocking roads to Tripoli with a result that we were forced to leave our passports, belongings and money at Tripoli. We were straightway airlifted to India,” said Dharmpal, a mason hailing from Kartarpur. Jaswant Kumar, a cook who was working in Hamari town of Libya, said hooligans snatched all personal belongings like TVs. “Rebels forced us to part with whatever we had in our pockets and homes. After looting, they set our accommodation on fire,” he said. “We are left with no money as we had exhausted everything in Libya. So far, we have not received any compensation from the Indian government either. As if this was not enough, I had to walk down 10 km on foot to reach my village one day after making a round of the passport office. I had applied for the passport in March but, like a number of others, I am yet to get it,” rued Gurmit Singh, an aged mason hailing from Atti village near Goraya. The biggest problem of the displaced young NRIs was that they were still unemployed. “I am forced to roam without any job and I have no money to support my family either. So, like most of others, I am thinking of going to some other country to earn my livelihood after getting my passport. The government needs to extend some financial help out to people like us,” said Pawan Kumar of Jalandhar who worked in Benghazi town of Libya as a photo-copy technician.
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Villagers come out against JE for ‘delaying works’
Nawanshahr, September 16 A complaint against Parvesh Kumar Taneja, a JE at Mirpur Lakha, was lodged to the Jalandhar (North Zone) Chief Engineer by the sarpanches and villagers of Mirpur Lakha, Chak Mai Ditta, Mehmoodpur, Skohpur, Sahlon, Bohara and Sodhian. Taneja was accused of delaying works and intimidating the consumers. Ram Lal, Powercom SDO at Aur, was allegedly hand in glove with the JE. The villagers also levelled allegations on some other powercom employees. They have been accused of doing personal work during duty hours. Powercom’s Superintendent Engineer (SE) of the Nawanshahr circle, Baljinder Singh, deputed Executive Engineer (Tech) Ravinder Singh to conduct an inquiry into the matter. The inquiry officer recorded the statements of both the complainants and the accused. Taneja, in his statement, accused the lineman Kamaljeet Singh of misleading the panchayats and the villagers. He had sought written statements from the village panchyats and the consumers in this regard. “The lineman Kamaljit Singh misbehaved with me and even hurled a shoe at me when he was asked to do his duty properly,” alleged the JE. He had lodged a written complaint to the higher authorities regarding the issue. Lal said that he was pressurised by the errant lineman to file a false report, but when he refused, Kamaljit began to complain against him as well. A group of employees met the SE here to express solidarity with Taneja. Baljinder Singh said the inquiry is on and it would be premature to say anything now.
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Four injured in clash
Phagwara, September 16 Reports received here said revealed that Ashu Sharma, brother of Deepak, was married to Manu and had a one-year-old daughter. Both along with their daughter were residing in local Tibbi area. It was learnt that Manu was allegedly feeding some intoxicants to her kid, to which Ashu objected and left Tibbi house. He went back to his mother’s house in local Khera Road. Surinder and Mahinder, known to Manu, allegedly went to Ashu’s house and had a scuffle with Deepak and his friend Lucky.
— OC
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Jalandhar September 16
