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Rains may damage crops in low-lying areas
Employees want ‘accelerated seniority’ benefit to go
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moga bypoll
Villagers queue up outside a polling station in Budh Singh Wala near Moga on Saturday. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan
Polling was free and fair, says Sukhbir
Capt praises good turnout despite bad weather
Outsider Ranike spotted ‘influencing’ electorate
Badal’s attorney contests claim of rights group
EcoSikh plans major green initiative
3 children burnt alive in Amritsar
7 get 10-yr jail in Gurdaspur rape case
3 held for duping youths by assuring them jobs in Army
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Rains may damage crops in low-lying areas
Amritsar, February 23 All the four districts of the Majha region --- Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Pathankot -- received rainfall today. It has been intermittent in some areas and incessant in others. Amritsar Chief Agriculture Officer Dilbagh Singh said the rainfall will not cause any harm in the fields if it is drained out in time. However, water stagnation, which is a possibility in low-lying areas, may lead to wilting of the crop, something that will leave an impact on its yield. He said Amritsar district had low-lying areas in Ajnala and Chogawan blocks. He said the rainfall in early February was beneficial for the crop, but too much of it might spell trouble for the farmers of low-lying areas. Sawinder Singh, a farmer having land on Majitha road, said, "So far so good, but more rainfall in coming days may create a problem for us." He said the rainfall was not good for potato and carrot crop, which he had also sown in his fields. Tarn Taran Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Sukhdev Singh Sandhu said the continuous overcast weather conditions were also posing a serious threat to the wheat crop as it may cause diseases like yellow rust. He said though they had been sensitising farmers on crop protection, they could not even spray their crop at a time when it was raining. Gurdaspur Chief Agriculture Officer Dr RK Sabharwal said the wheat crop had been doing well till now. “The diseases were on the decline and the growth was good. But, there are fears of the latest showers causing damage to it, the reports regarding which we will now receive early next week,” he said. He said in the current scenario, strong winds will prove further damaging for the crop. Similar apprehensions are being aired in Pathankot district where agriculture official Hartaranpal Singh said they too had agricultural fields in low-lying areas in certain pockets of the district where it was raining since morning. Punjab Agriculture Director Dr Mangal Singh Sandhu said there was no reason for the farmers to worry as of now and they should only avoid watering their fields as rainwater was enough for their crop at present. Also, the farmers having land in low-lying areas should not allow water to stagnate. The official said the rainfall would not only benefit the crop but also save electricity for the state. He said he had received reports of rainfall from across the state and it was good till it was not accompanied by strong winds. Dos and Don'ts Water should not be allowed to stagnate on fields in low-lying areas Watering of fields to be avoided as rainwater is enough at present Rainfall is good till the time it is not accompanied by strong winds
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Employees want ‘accelerated seniority’ benefit to go
Chandigarh, February 23 Shyam Lal Sharma, chief organiser of the state unit of the General Categories Welfare Federation, said: “ A similar judgement was made by the High Court on September 9, 2009, in the case of Pritpal Singh, who pleaded that the notification allowing 'accelerated seniority' to Scheduled Caste employees be quashed, except in specific cases”. The court had dismissed a Leave Petition Application filed by the state government. Later, the Supreme Court had also dismissed a Special Leave Petition filed by the Punjab Government in May 2010. Whereas Haryana implemented the order, Punjab did not. Prem Kumar
Verma, a Haryana Government employee, had challenged the March 16, 2008, government order under which ‘accelerated seniority' was granted to SC employees. The High Court held that the apex court , while upholding the 85th Amendment in the M Nagaraj vs Union of India case, had clarified in its judgement that the states "are not bound to make reservation for SCs in the matter of promotions." A senior superintendent, requesting anonymity, said: “As the Punjab Government is allowing 'accelerated seniority' along with promotions to the
SCs, it has resulted in reservation to SCs beyond the permissible quota, which is a great injustice to the general category employees”. He furnished a list of principals from various categories that showed 408 of the total 1,230 were from the SC category, exceeding 14 per cen quota. An employees' leader, RP Singh, said that the Punjab Government was providing the benefit of 'accelerated seniority' to Category I and II officers while the same was not being followed by
Haryana.
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moga bypoll
Moga, February 23 In Godhewala area of Moga town, local Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders allegedly forced their way into several polling booths and asked the Congress poll agents to leave. They later tried to influence voters, it was alleged. Both the rival candidates, Joginder Pal Jain of the SAD and Vijay Kumar Sathi of the Congresss, reached the site. "When I reached the booth, it was virtually captured by the Akalis. Though the district administration officials were present, none dared to push out the activists of the ruling party," claimed Sathi. He did not rule out of the possibility of the Akali workers having polled bogus votes. As Sathi received reports of Akali workers distributing cash in booths (number 111 to 117), he reached there and stayed put for two hours. Jain too arrived there, but left within a few minutes. Though it was raining since morning, the downpour failed to dampen the spirit of the voters. The polling began at 8 am and over the next three hours, 25 per cent votes had been cast. The count crossed 45 per cent by 2 pm. Thereafter, a heavy rush of voters was seen at all polling booths. At Saleena, Dagru, Daroli Bhai, Ghal Kalan and adjoining villages, both men and women were seen in long queues to caste their vote. Despite the rain, Mukhtiar Kaur (82) came on foot to caste her ballot at the government school in Saleena village. In some villages, Akalis were seen ferrying voters to polling stations in cars. Gursharanbir Singh Paggy, who recently joined the Akali Dal, was seen transporting voters at Saleena village. There were also reports that Akali leaders Kiranbir Singh Kang and Pawan Kumar Tinu, who were outsiders, were reportedly camping in Moga to "influence" voters.
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Polling was free and fair, says Sukhbir
Moga, February 23 Reiterating his commitment to overall development in the state, he said the ruling alliance was not fighting against individuals but the "anti-Punjab" Congress. He alleged that Congress men in Punjab were quitting the party as they felt "suffocated." He promised to bring in more reforms at the grassroots level. Joginder Pal Jain claimed that in view of the polling trends in both rural and urban areas, he was certain to win with a thumping majority.
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Capt praises good turnout despite bad weather
Chandigarh, Saturday 23 Amarinder Singh congratulated the election officials and security personnel for ensuring a free and fair poll despite “attempts by Akali leaders to influence polling”. The Pradesh Congress Committee president especially thanked the party cadre and leaders who, he said, had worked hard in Moga. “Each and every party worker and leader has contributed in this election which will ensure a comfortable victory for the Congress candidate,” he added.
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Outsider Ranike spotted ‘influencing’ electorate
Moga, February 23 A former Animal Husbandry Minister in the Parkash Singh Badal Cabinet, Ranike was forced out of the Badal Cabinet following a scam in his constituency. Congress candidate Vijay Sathi complained to the district authorities on the presence of Akali leaders in the village. "No official turned up to inquire into the matter," alleged
Sathi.
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Badal’s attorney contests claim of rights group
Washington, February 23 During a marathon hearing in a US court in Wisconsin on Thursday, Biskupic & Jacobs produced witnesses to buttress their assertion that the Punjab Chief Minister was shopping and was not present at the Oak Creek High School when the New York-based Sikh for Justice claims to have presented him with the court summons. Badal was in Wisconsin for the wedding of the daughter of Darshan Singh Dhaliwal in August 2012 when Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) filed a human rights violations lawsuit against him under the Alien Torts Claims Act and Torture Victims Protection Act in the Federal District Court of Wisconsin Appearing for Badal before Judge Adelman, Chicago-based Surinderpal Singh Kalra testified that "on February 19, 2013, he found original summons and complaint that the process server had given him at Oak Creek High School, in the trunk of his car". He claimed that the papers were handed over to him and not to Badal. Kalra also testified under oath that upon finding the original summons, he "immediately contacted Darshan Singh Dhaliwal". However, he could not explain when cross-examined by rights group's attorneys that "what made him come forward after six months of silence and the circumstances of finding the original Summons in the trunk of his car". Special Agents from the Diplomatic Security Service of the US Department of State testified that Badal was "shopping" at Boelter Super Store from 4:49 pm to 5:09 pm while the process server testified that he "served Badal" at 4:50 pm at Oak Creek High School where a ceremony was being held in honour of Sikh victims of the Oak Creek Gurdwara shooting. Judge Adelman granted Sikh for Justice time till April 5 to probe the evidence, complete the jurisdictional discovery on the service of summon on Badal and submit the supporting memorandum of law to the court. — PTI
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EcoSikh plans major green initiative
Chandigarh, February 23 Addressing a press conference here today, Ravneet Singh, India programme director of EcoSikh, said the focus would be to create awareness about Sikh teachings on nature preservation. "A number of gurdwaras, schools, colleges, businesses and institutions across the world have joined in the effort. Besides undertaking plantation drives at Hazur Sahib and Anandpur Sahib, steps are being taken to undertake environmental friendly measures at community kitchens to minimise energy consumption," he said. DP Singh Chawla, CEO, Hazur Sahib Committee, said: "The committee along with the Nanded Municipal Corporation will start a deluxe bus service for pilgrims to promote public transport. The move would help reduce carbon infusion into the atmosphere, the leading cause of global warming," he said. Manjit Singh, another environmentalist, said the SGPC was keen on reviving Naulakha Garden of Guru Har Rai at Kiratpur Sahib. Dr Rajwant Singh, president, EcoSikh, who joined the press briefing through video conferencing, said: "Our goal of having 1,500 Sikh organisations celebrating the Sikh Environment Day on March 14 was getting a good response from all over the world". The objective To create awareness about Sikh teachings on nature preservation To involve gurdwaras, schools, colleges, businesses and institutions in a plantation drive To undertake eco-friendly measures at community kitchens to minimise energy consumption
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3 children burnt alive in Amritsar
Amritsar, February 23 The incident took place at 3 pm when Jashandeep Singh (5), Kirtandeep Singh (3) and Navdeep Kaur (14 months) were sleeping at home. Their mother, Paramjeet Kaur, had gone out to run an errand. Their father Amarjit Singh was at work. Jasdeep Singh, Superintendent of Police, Amritsar Rural, said by the time the police got information on the incident, the family had cremated the bodies.
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7 get 10-yr jail in Gurdaspur rape case
Gurdaspur, February 23 The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of the accused, all of whom were present in the court. They were later taken to the Gurdaspur Central Jail amid tight security. A case under Section 376 of the IPC was registered at the Kahnuwan police station against bus driver Daler Singh, conductor Ravi Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Palwinder Singh, Jaspreet Singh, Satwant Singh and Sarbjit Singh on January 12, a day after the crime was committed. The charges were framed under Section 376 (G) of the IPC and the trial was held on a day-to-day basis. The incident had created widespread anger. Senior Congress leaders of the district had demanded sacking of the
SSP.
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3 held for duping youths by assuring them jobs in Army
Ferozepur, February 23 Gurdeep Singh, Gurwinder Singh and Baldev Singh have been arrested. Some firearms and old question papers related to the entrance examination for recruitment in the Army were seized from their possession. Vibhor Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), said the accused had been cheating youth on the pretext of providing them jobs in the Army. Another accused, Kuldeep Singh, an Armyman posted in Jalandhar, was yet to be arrested, the DSP said. He said the police had also seized admit cards of some aspirants. He said: "The accused used to charge Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh from every candidate by promising them assured selection in the Army. Till now, around 35 candidates have been identified from whom they had taken money”. A case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the City police station.
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wheat crop. But, the fresh showers are a cause for concern for the farming community, particularly those owning land in low-lying areas of the state.
Though no major incident of violence was reported during the Moga byelection today, stray incidents of booth-capturing were reported from a few areas.
In Godhewala area of Moga town, local Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders allegedly forced their way into several polling booths and asked the Congress poll agents to leave.
Members of EcoSikh, a Washington-based Sikh group, have announced major initiatives as part of celebrations of the Sikh Environment Day which is being observed on March 14. The day coincides with the coronation day of Seventh Sikh Guru Har
Rai.
The president of SAD and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal thanked the people of Moga, government officials, the Election Commission and his party workers for a free, fair and peaceful polling. He said it proved the claims by Congress leaders hollow that the polling would not be conducted in an impartial manner.
In a statement here today, he said it was a matter of immense satisfaction that the polling had gone off peacefully and that over 70 per cent people had cast their vote.