Amritsar, November 28
The Punjab ministerial staff may call it “right” to paralyse the work in offices for a week to gain the government’s attention towards their demands, but ask newlywed Puneet Kashyap and Rashmi, who have been trudging from one counter to another at the Deputy Commissioner’s office requesting the officials to process their file for getting their marriage registered.

Puneet, an IT software professional in Toronto, has to catch his flight to Canada, but before that he has to finish the mandatory formalities, but who cares. “I took special leave from my office in Toronto to finish these formalities only. With great hardship, we could manage to finish the formalities, but today they refused to deposit the marriage registration fee due to their pen-down strike. How unjustified is it to harass the common man who has nothing to do with their demands?” said Puneet, who was worried that he would now have to cancel the return ticket and bear the financial loss because it was a non-refundable ticket.

His was not the lone case. Lakhwinder Singh, a resident of Majitha Road, had come to make Scheduled Caste certificate, but all his efforts to get the job done proved to be futile. “I somehow managed to get the part of work done by the Suvidha Centre, but the file cannot be complete without the endorsement of the clerical staff concerned,” he said.

Similarly, Raghbir Singh, a retired electricity wing official, came to get his documents registered with Tehsildar, but his file got stuck, because there was no clerk to verify it. Jagdish Singh faced the same difficulty at the District Transport Office to get his vehicle registered. “My work got stalled till the end of the strike. Now that they are all on casual leave, they cannot be compelled to do the job,” he resented.

Similarly, due to the ongoing strike, people are finding it hard to get death and birth certificates.

The ministerial staff has sought revised pay scales that will burden the state with an additional Rs 100 crore in the current fiscal and that too before the Assembly elections. The employees stated that they would not return to their desks before their demands were met.

The work at the government offices, which included PWD (B&R), public health, agriculture, horticulture, sanitation, irrigation, revenue, treasury, Suvidha Centre and district transport office, has virtually come to a standstill. This strike, which is to continue for the next six days more, is not only bothering the general public at government offices, but will also dent the exchequer to the tune of over Rs 15 crore, if the estimated daily footfall of 250 persons at the DC office alone is anything to go by. According to rough estimates, the district transport office used to process around 250 registration certificates (RCs) every day, but in the next six days, there would be no registration done.

The agitating staff agreed that their strike would affect the revenue collections by way of land registration and stamp duty, etc, but they stated that they were helpless.

The ongoing strike by members of the Punjab Ministerial Staff Union is not only hindering work at the city’s mini secretariat and other state government offices, but also affecting revenue collections.

Ashneel Kumar, president of the DC Office Employees Union, said the strike would continue till December 2. During the proceeding week, the whole ministerial staff would be on mass casual leave. “We are compelled to take this step because the government is unmindful of our repeated pleas of granting us our dues, which include raise in pay scales in commensurate with the level of qualification they possess, draft policy matters for our promotional avenues according to 12 categories on the pattern of the 4-9-14 years span, allowances as per the Punjab Civil Secretariat norms. We will resume our work as soon as the government gives its nod towards our demands, otherwise we may continue our agitation,” he said.

Amritsar, November 28
Wearing black badges, doctors at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital and its allied health institutions today held a two-hours strike, due to which health services were affected.

Patients were found waiting for the doctors to resume work, while they were raising slogans against the government outside the hospital premises. The two-hour strike would be organised for two more days starting from today.

The PCMS Association in its meeting had decided to stop work for two hours daily and to stage dharnas in the hospitals for three days in protest against the government on its failure to issue notification regarding merging of the NPA with the basic pay.

Dr Ranjit Singh Buttar, state secretary, PCMS Association, said in a meeting on November 5, a high-powered committee, headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, had acceded to their demand of removing various anomalies in their pay scales, including merging of the NPA with the basic pay.

However, the government failed to issue notifications in this regard. Dr Buttar alleged that the Assembly elections were round the corner and the Punjab Government was playing delay tactics in issuing the notification.

Among their other demands were the notification of correction of pay formula and DACP after 20 years of service. He said the NPA on DP should be notified and the arrears should be released from April, 2004, to December, 2005. They said the revision of academic, higher education and conveyance allowances should also be notified.

He said if the government failed to issue the notification soon, they would be forced to intensify their agitation and go on mass casual leave, thus leaving the health facilities in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, patients were seen waiting for a long time on the premises of the Civil Hospital.

Om Parkash of the Hall Bazaar area said he arrived in the hospital in the morning and was waiting for his turn. “Before my turn comes, the doctors went on strike and I can do nothing in this regard, but to wait for another couple of hours,” he said.

The doctors said they would examine all the patients even if they had to work till evening.

Amritsar, November 28
Education in government schools was partially affected as members of the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) and members of the Ministerial Staff Union of the Education Department observed separate strikes against the SAD-BJP government in favour of their demands.

Sukhraj Singh Sarkaria said the five-day sit-in in front of the DPI office at Chandigarh began today.

He informed that members of the DTF would join the protest tomorrow. He said their demands included starting of benefits of new scale of the ACP from January 1, 2000, timely promotion of each cadre, granting of promotion to master cadre from January 1, 1996, and hike in medical allowance to Rs 1,000.

He said buses carrying agitating teachers would depart for Chandigarh tomorrow morning from near bus stand. He added that if their demands were not met even after the agitation, then they would chalk out a plan to hold a massive rally at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s Lambi constituency.

Meanwhile, over 350 employees of various schools and Education Department of the city under the patronage of the Ministerial Staff Union has been on a mass leave from November 22.

It affected the working and studies in the city schools. Regular enrolment and mid-day meal were also affected. 

Amritsar, November 28
The CIA staff has nabbed three persons involved in stealing of cars from various parts of the city and then selling them after forging documents. Their one accomplice managed to dodge the police taking the advantage of the darkness.

Acting on a tip-off, the police arrested them and recovered four cars, besides 250 g charas, 200 g intoxicant powder, sharp-edged weapons and a country-made pistol from them.

During the preliminary investigation, the trio confessed to have stolen 15 cars from various parts of the city till now. Those arrested have been identified as Balbir Singh of Faizpura, Jagdip Singh of Nikko Saraya village (Gurdaspur) and Amarjit Singh, alias Amba, of Navi Abadi, Rattan Singh Chowk here. Their accomplice, identified as Lakha Pardhan, of Johal village, managed to escape from the spot.

Balbir and Jagdeep run a car workshop at Fatehgarh Churian, while Lakha Pardhan is the president of the Auto-Taxi Union in the historic township.

“As Balbir and Jagdeep are both car mechanics, they know all the tactics to open locks of cars. Amarjit Singh used to work as a painter in the shop, while Lakha used to sell them in villages,” said RP Mittal, Commissioner of Police.

He said the trio was arrested in the Jahajgarh area market of junk dealers after a tip-off.

About the modus operandi of the gang, he said gang members used to procure old engines and chassis from junk dealers along with their registration cards and then fix them on the stolen vehicles with the help of welding instruments at their workshop in Fatehgarh Churian.

A case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 472 of the IPC, Sections 20, 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered at the B-Division police station in this connection.

Meanwhile, the accused were presented in the court and remanded in two-day police custody.

The Commissioner said manhunt was launched to nab the absconding accomplice and raids were being conducted at his suspected hideouts.

Amritsar, November 28
Acting on a tip-off, the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) today nabbed Rajinder Singh, alias Papu, resident of Bhubali village (Gurdaspur) but presently residing at New Dashmesh Nagar, opposite Khalsa College here, for allegedly possessing 7 kg of opium.

Satinder Pal Singh, AIG, Counter Intelligence, in a press note issued here revealed that Rajinder Singh was arrested near Ryan Public School on the Amritsar-Jalandhar bypass when he was going to deliver the consignment in a car.

A case under Sections 18, 25, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against him at the SSOC police station.

According to preliminary investigations, Rajinder has close links with some notorious inter-state smugglers involved in drug trafficking. The seized opium came from Rajasthan.

“He was in constant touch with opium smugglers based in Rajasthan,” said the AIG, while adding that investigations were being carried to unearth the complete nexus of the gang.

Amritsar, November 28
Dejected by the long delay after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) raised objections to its original plan to have Food Street in the proximity of Ram Bagh Gardens, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation is all set to explore alternative locations for Food Street.

The three spots shortlisted by the MC are the century old heritage Town Hall complex, the outer Ring Road and a plot behind the Durgiana Mandir.

However, the two locations-Ram Bagh panorama and a piece of land adjacent to the century-old Victoria Jubilee (VJ) Hospital-proposed by the MC were rejected for the food street purpose by the ASI on the grounds that these sites are of historic importance and should be preserved.

This 5-crore dream project of the Amritsar administration was conceptualised on the pattern of Lahore.

Ironically, the ministry had earlier accepted the panorama of Ram Bagh for the ambitious project and had released fund of Rs 25 lakh as its first instalment. Later, the location was rejected on the basis of ASI’s stipulated norms which commands that no construction of the sort can be allowed on areas falling within a radius of 100-yard of protected heritage sites as it hampers the preservation process of historical monuments.

Following this, the MCA pleaded the matter in the High Court for Ram Bagh panorama site, the final decision for which is still pending.

The officials said the rejection of the sites was done by the ASI as it had done for the cities like Rajasthan.

“But, the same principle cannot be applicable in congested city like Amritsar where you can hardly find an open space. Secondly, we appealed to High Court to review the case as the panorama part of the Ram Bagh area has been exempted from the ASI’s stipulated norms. These 3 to 4 acres of land is the most ideal site for a food street. The existing L-shape boundary wall can be removed and it would connect to the Lawrence road, just opposite to Adarsh cinema. But, the matter is in the court on the insistence of the ASI,” said an official preferring anonymity.

Nevertheless, with the residents known to be fond of foods, the ministry’s proposal to shortlist the city for setting up a dedicated food street was no surprise. Eating out here has always been an experience as the city offers mouth watering kulcha, puri-chholey, makki di roti with sarson da saag and not to forget, Ambarsari machhi.

Ethnic dishes attract tourists and if all these dishes can be brought at one place it would give a huge boost to the tourism industry.

Amritsar: Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar, organised a University Grants Commission (UGC) sponsored workshop for teachers, with less than five years of experience, at college campus today.

Amritsar, November 28
The family of Karamjit Kaur, whose body was recovered from the Ravi River at Veeroke town in Narowal district of Pakistan, is running from pillar to post to get her body back in India.

They have approached civil administration and the BSF officials, but no headway has been made in this regard. Now, the family has urged the government to intervene. Karamjit Kaur (35) was a resident of Ghonewal village in Ramdass area of Amritsar.

Karamjit Kaur, who originally hailed from Gurdaspur, was married to Jaspal Singh of Ghonewal village. She was reportedly missing from her in-laws' house from November 15.

Karamjit’s family alleged that Jaspal and his family used to beat Karamjit and used to ask her to bring money from her parents. They alleged that the in-laws killed her and threw the body in the river. Following this, the Ramdass police had registered a case under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC against husband Jaspal Singh, sister-in-law Kulwinder Kaur and mother-in-law Munna Devi.

Now, the bringing back of the body is being delayed to the alleged bureaucratic hurdles as the deputy commissioners’ of Amritsar and Gurdaspur were passing the buck to each other. While the incident has occurred in Amritsar, the victim’s mother, who will receive the body, belongs to Gurdaspur.

“We have approached Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, who had asked us to approach respective DC of Gurdaspur. However, the DC of Gurdaspur has asked us to consult DC of Amritsar,” said Amrik Kaur, mother of the deceased during a press conference here today.

Mohinder Singh Kainth, Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, when contacted said as the deceased belonged to Amritsar and the incident also occurred there, it was up to the DC of Amritsar to take up the issue.

Rajat Agarwal, Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, said he wants to make sure that they are the real relative of the deceased. “There is absolutely no issue in this, if the family wants us to proceed in the case, we will definitely do it and approach authorities concern to bring back the body,” said Agarwal.

Amritsar, November 28
Opposing the Central Government's decision to approve 51 percent Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand retail, the local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu today stated that the big retail chain would not find place in at least 11 states, which are being governed by the BJP.

Holding a rally at the Hall Gate here today, Sidhu said the new policy would prove to be destructive for small traders and retail outlets who contribute at least 40 percent in the country’s economy.

“Their contribution cannot be overlooked. When there was global meltdown, it was the small retail traders and shopkeepers who sustained the country’s economy,” he said.

However, the local commuters had to face tough times as the whole stretch of the road leading to Hall Gate and the Crystal chowk got choked. In the absence of any alternative route, the serpentine queues of vehicles remain stagnated on the road for nearly an hour. 

Amritsar, November 28
Of over 9,000 local youth who appeared in the Army recruitment rally here, nearly 33 percent of them were disqualified for failing to meet the requisite minimum physical standards.

The physical standards of youth from this border town are falling. Considering the city as cultural capital of Punjab and Punjabi spirit, the trend is bound to dishearten its inhabitants.

Deputy Director General (Recruiting), Headquarters Recruiting Zone (Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir), Brigadier Vinod Raizada here today said in all 9,075 candidates had turned up at the rally and out of them about 3,000 were rejected for not meeting the minimum physical standard of 170 cm height, 77 cm chest and 50 kg weight.

Meanwhile, a joint study conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University, Department of Human Genetics, also confirmed that physical standard is slowing declining among the Punjabis. Senior Assistant Professor Badarud Doza and Sandeep Kaur Brar in 2007 on ‘Biological Affinities between Migrant and Parental Populations in Punjab’ confirmed about the declining physical standards of youth in Punjab, in general, and in Amritsar, in particular.

The study examined biological affinities between parental population, migrants from Pakistan after 1947 and non-Punjabi migrants from other states of India in Punjab. The analysis suggests that migration had caused significant changes among the Punjabis.

They stated that Punjab has been used as the gateway of India for ages. All foreign invaders like the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Parthian, Huns, Turks, and Mongols came to India through the North-West. The migration of different ethnic groups still continues today.

Accepting that the overall physical standards of punjabi youth have gone down due to the change
in lifestyle, Brigadier
Vinod Raizada said the Army yet managed to get the best boys. The recruitment rally was held for different categories of soldiers, including soldier general duty, soldier clerk, soldier technical, soldier tradesmen and dependants of serving and retired soldiers.

In all 30,351 candidates from Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Pathankot apart from Amritsar took part in the rally. About 11,445 were rejected in the preliminary round of height checking on the first day of the eight-day rally, which kicked off on November 24.

Brig Raizada said as of now 2,099 candidates have been found to be fit for the run. Elaborating the screening process he said the candidates have to undergo 1.6 km run, pull ups, balance and crossing a nine feet ditch and then they have to undergo medical check-up. Finally, the successful candidates would appear in a Common Entrance Examination to be held on January 29. 

Amritsar, November 28
Lakhbir Singh died in a road mishap when his motorcycle was hit by an unidentified vehicle. He was returning home when the incident took place. A case has been registered against unidentified person in this connection at Lopoke police station.

Jassa Singh, father of the deceased, said his son was returning home when some unidentified person hit him near Sohian Kalan village. He died on the spot.