|
|
|
|
|
Cong rejects CM’s overture to end logjam
|
|
|
Denied space, Cong holds ‘session’ outside complex
Badal: Scrap Central schemes
PCC chief visits Shergill at PGI
PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa (right) enquires about the health of party leader Rajwant Singh Shergill at PGI in Chandigarh on Monday. A Tribune photograph
Tarn Taran Case
‘Kar sewa’ begins at Gurdwara Thara Sahib
Lobbying begins for Patiala Mayor’s post
Liquor ban in Anandpur Sahib on Hola Mohalla
Markfed auctions Nurpur Bedi land amid protest
Auction of liquor vends on March 22
High Court rejects former Additional PF Commissioner’s plea to quash chargesheet
|
Cong rejects CM’s overture to end logjam
Chandigarh, March 18 During zero hour, the CM got up to appeal to the Opposition to take part in the assembly proceedings. Maintaining that the Congress was at fault for bringing persons (Tarn Taran assault victim) into the assembly complex without a valid pass, disrespecting the Chair of the Speaker and beating up a government servant on duty, he said things could still be set right if the CLP Leader apologised for the same. He said but for the party's strategy to opt a policy of confrontation, he found no reason for this "stubbornness" on the part of the Opposition. He urged Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal to approach the Congress and invite its legislators to attend the session if they were ready to apologise for their actions. Badal clearly spelled out the party strategy on the issue. He said things could not go back to normal if the Congress did not tender an unqualified apology. He urged the Speaker to put an end to the “mock assembly” being held by the Congress in the complex. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal moved a resolution to condemn the hosting of mock sessions by the Congress. But the Speaker did not put it to vote. The Speaker invited CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar to his chamber but there was no meeting ground because Jakhar said he was not ready to go beyond what he had already said on the issue on the floor of the House. Jakhar said he was ready to give in writing that whatever had happened was “very unfortunate” and nothing beyond that. He asked the Speaker to apologise for sending the police to the CLP office. The latter refused to do so, leading to the CM delivering his speech on Governor's Address to empty benches. Speaker’s ruling The Speaker, in a significant ruling, said that the Vidhan Sabha complex would be considered as one unit (including the chambers, lobby, galleries and lounges) and that no one could stage a dharna or hold a parallel assembly which would be considered contrary to the rules of procedure and conduct of business of the House.
|
|
Won’t accept humiliation of our MLAs, says Jakhar
Chandigarh, March 18 “This SAD-BJP Government has a feudal mindset. I had said in the House that the happenings in the House were unfortunate. Ours is a principled stand. We did not commit any wrong. We will not tolerate our party MLAs being humiliated by the ruling alliance. We would rather go to the people's court,” he said. As law and order was a big problem, the Congress MLAs were keen to raise this issue forcefully, he said. “But the ruling alliance did not want the issue to be highlighted. It created a situation and left the Congress MLAs with no option but to boycott the session,” he alleged. He said the Congress would make police reforms a state-wide issue.
|
||
|
Denied space, Cong holds ‘session’ outside complex
Chandigarh, March 18 Denied space in the waiting area of the House, the Congress MLAs moved outside the building and placed a chair for “Speaker” Jagmohan Singh Kang. Commencing the “session” Kang read out the list of speakers for the day. Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Sunil Jakhar came prepared with a pile of papers to take up “issues buried from public view”. He said it was noteworthy that the Governor in his address had not once uttered the words “our government”. Giving due “respect” to Badal Senior, Jakhar said: “While addressing a rally in Malerkotla, the Chief Minister had snubbed his party leaders who wanted to play the communal card. We respect him for that. But that spark is now sadly missing and he is part of the set-up that has made sure that we are kept out of the House proceedings,” he said. Flashing a file of bills, Jakhar said: “The state had announced a special scheme for farmers with less than five acres of land. But the electricity department has now issued them bills running into several thousands and even lakhs of rupees.” Former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said the Badal government was itself to blame for not being granted tax concessions like those given to Himachal and Bihar. She said a decision on the matter was taken by the NDA that was in power then. “We need to ask the government where are the free cycles and computers they claim to have distributed among poor students. Can the government answer why Congress workers are being denied the benefits of the atta dal scheme?” Rana Gurjit Singh said the CM must explain as to why no action had been initiated on an inquiry (ordered on Nov 6 , 2012) into a WB Project for supplying water to about 800 villages. "The plastic pipes laid down for the project have virtually corroded,” he alleged.
|
||
|
Badal: Scrap Central schemes
Chandigarh, March 18 Addressing empty Opposition benches (due to the Congress boycott), he promised a “new Punjab”, with world-class social and physical infrastructure, in the next four years. Earlier, stressing on the need to maintain the federal character of the Constitution, Badal said that issues like fixing the price of agriculture inputs, upgradation of schools, allocation of funds under the National Rural/Urban Health Mission and allotment of link roads be solely left to the states. He lamented the “injustice” meted out to the state by successive Congress governments at the Centre. He said neither Chandigarh nor Punjabi-speaking areas had still been transferred to Punjab as promised. Even the riparian law on river waters was not being honoured. In his 90-minute speech, the CM explained the achievements by various departments even as he threw punches at his opponents, especially Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa. He said he had rung up Bajwa and urged him to end the policy of confrontation. Despite promising to do so, Bajwa had made confrontation his “flagship” scheme. The CM also took on outgoing PCC president Amarinder Singh. "It is unfortunate that Amarinder Singh has been summarily dismissed from his job. This could have been done more diplomatically. I hope the former CM will not be removed completely from state politics," he said. He also pointed out that Amarinder Singh's core supporters were among those to have rushed to Amritsar to greet Bajwa on his visit there. Badal claimed that the state had performed well on all financial parameters. He said revenue from VAT had gone up to Rs 12,000 crore in 2011-2012 from Rs 5,136 crore in 2006-2007 during the Congress regime and was likely to touch Rs 14,700 crore in 2012-2013. Likewise, excise collection was expected to be Rs 3,400 crore in 2012-2013 as compared to Rs 1,363 crore in 2006-2007. On the law and order, Badal said 20 fast-track courts had been sanctioned for speedy trial of gender crimes. Strict instructions had been issued not to summon women to police stations.
|
||
|
Focus likely to be on education, health, agriculture
And, the Budget is unlikely to see the imposition of any new taxes, though it will definitely have an outline on increasing resources by increasing the existing tax rate/slabs. The SAD-BJP government is also likely to offer cashless insurance to the state government employees. Dhindsa’s focus will also be on fulfilling the poll promises made by the government and additional resources will be allocated for the purpose. Though the Finance Minister had made budgetary provisions to buy laptops for government school students, to distribute employability allowance (Rs 1,000 per person) and for financial assistance to the dependents of debt-stressed farmers (other than releasing Rs 30 crore for assistance to the dependents of farmers who committed suicide), the state has been unable to fulfill its other poll promises. The Finance Minister is likely to present a budget of almost Rs 55,000 crore, up from Rs 50,648 crore in 2012-13 financial year. As the state government failed to lower the revenue deficit to the targeted Rs 3,123 crore during the current fiscal, Dhindsa has little room left to dole out any additional sops. The revenue deficit this year has dropped to Rs 4,800 crore from Rs 6,838 crore last year. But, the state is way behind in achieving the target of 1.8 per cent deficit of the GSDP (gross state domestic product). In the 2013-14 Budget, Punjab’s plan outlay is expected to be up by almost 10 per cent over last year’s Rs 15,500 crore. Though Punjab has been reprimanded for failing to meet the plan targets in the current fiscal, and is not expected to utilise more than 62 per cent of its annual plan allocation because of poor resource mobilisation to meet the plan outlay, this year, the state will focus on improving its plan utilisation. Hit by the economic slowdown and with its additional resource mobilisation drive not yielding desired results, Punjab is unlikely to meet the target set for generating Rs 38,043 crore revenue. The good news is that the state has managed to yield Rs 500 crore through resource mobilisation and an additional Rs 550 crore through deferred payment of pensions and retirement benefits, by extending the retirement age of employees — which has helped the state bring down the revenue deficit this year. The state has also been able to rein in its fiscal deficit, which is now 3.31 per cent of the GSDP, as against the target of 3.5 per cent. The fiscal deficit in the current year is expected to be around Rs 9,000
crore.
|
||
PCC chief visits Shergill at PGI
Chandigarh, March 18 Bajwa said despite threats to Shergill, he was not provided security by the Punjab Government. "Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be responsible for any such incident in future," he said. Shergill was allegedly shot at by two unidentified youths near Chamkaur Sahib. His condition is said to be stable. Sources said Shergill had filed a PIL in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for seeking security. The court had allowed his plea, but the government did not provide him any security, they said.
|
|
Farmers’ protest keeps cops on their toes
Amritsar/Tarn Taran, March 18 While the protesters were huddled inside, a huge posse of policemen laid siege to the shrine. The farmers were demanding immediate release of the community members arrested during their March 6 ‘Rail Roko’ protest as well as of those nabbed in the ASI case. They also sought a meeting with the Chief Minister to discuss other burning issues. Deputy Inspector-General (Border range) Paramraj Singh Umranangal, Tarn Taran Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kulbir Singh and Tarn Taran Senior Superintendent of Police KS Dhillon also reached the village to hold negotiations with the farmers who continued their protest for around five hours. A huge posse of police, including women personnel, remained on their toes all this while, apprehending a confrontation with the protesters. As per the plan, the farmer organisations were to stage a dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Tarn Taran, but heavy police presence at all the entry points of the town thwarted their bid, forcing them to stage dharnas in villages. This prompted the farmers to turn Piddi village into their protest hub. Subsequently, the police was deployed at entry points to the village and even a few women protesters were detained for a while when they were trying to reach the village. The farmers were threatening to turn it into an indefinite dharna, but later mellowed down following positive response from the government. On the other hand, activists of Kirti Kisan Union and Pendu Mazdoor Union succeeded in giving the police a slip and stage a dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Amritsar. After resorting to sloganeering for some time, they courted arrest (they were released in the evening). The protests came to an end in the afternoon when Tarn Taran ADC Kulbir Singh announced that the release of the farmers detained during the Rail Roko on March 6 was under process and that they would be freed soon. Besides, a meeting of the farmer bodies with the Chief Minister will be facilitated tomorrow. The farmers were also seeking a judicial probe into the mysterious death of ASI Kulbir Singh at Jeobala village in Tarn Taran on March 6. However, the
ADC told them that they could take up this demand during their meeting with the Chief Minister. Sangrur: The police today foiled attempts by farmers to hold a dharna at the District Administrative Complex here by deploying hundreds of police personnel in various parts of the city. Thirtyeight farmers were taken into custody in the town while they were heading towards the complex to stage a dharna. Senior Superintendent of Police Harcharan Singh Bhullar said the farmers were released in the evening. Later, activists of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) took out a “Dhol march” (beating of drum) in Gandhuan village near Lehragaga as a mark of protest against the alleged police highhandedness in curbing their agitation. Barnala: More than 100 farmers were detained in Barnala. Senior Superintendent of Police Snehdeep Sharma said the farmers were taken into custody from Mehal Kalan area. They were let off in the evening, he said. Moga: The police here today arrested eight farmers and detained 40 others when they tried to storm into the District Administrative Complex here to stage a dharna. They were protesting against the arrest of their leaders during the two weeks, particularly after the death of an Assistant Sub-Inspector at Taran Taran on March 6. Senior Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh Toor confirmed that eight farmers had been arrested and 40 others detained from various parts of the district. Yesterday as well, hundreds of women, under the leadership of Kuldip Kaur Kussa, held protests at Himmatpura village in Nihalsinghwala sub-division of the district against the state government for arresting farmer activists.
|
||
|
Tarn Taran Case
Chandigarh, March 18 Dr Rajkumar Verka, Vice-Chairman of the commission, hinted at the role of some taxi drivers in the "unfortunate situation" that emerged at a Tarn Taran marriage palace. Talking to The Tribune, he said: “The Home Secretary, DS Bains, and the Additional DGP (Crime), Jasminder Singh, have submitted two separate reports. These are not being made public yet as the state is also has to report to the Supreme Court by March 28. We have been informed that it might seek more time”. Dr Verka said there were indications that the taxi drivers with whom the victim had a confrontation may be responsible for the unsavoury development. Dr Verka categorically stated that he was “not at all satisfied” with the way the state government, particularly the police, had handled the case. He also spoke about a case in Kapurthala district where an influential farmer allegedly “married” a Class V girl for Rs 70,000. "She lived with him for more than two years and then fled. Sadly, the border police and the Jalandhar police said the case did not come under their jurisdiction and, hence, had not acted against the farmer.” “I will make comments on the personal file of the top officers concerned handling this case and submit the same to the Centre,” Dr Verka said.
|
||
|
‘Kar sewa’ begins at Gurdwara Thara Sahib
Amritsar, March 18 The work was inaugurated in the presence of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar. The Gurdwara Thara Sahib is located right next to the upcoming Operation Bluestar memorial. While the SGPC is contending that the ‘kar sewa’ of the gurdwara is being done as its building is in a bad shape, it is being seen by many as a bid to facilitate the construction of a dome atop the memorial. As per the ‘maryada’, the memorial could not have a dome atop it as Gurdwara Thara Sahib too didn’t have one. However, Makkar denied this and said the gurdwara building was not in a good shape and, thus, needed to be rebuilt.
|
||
|
Film shooting in Patiala
hospital upsets patients
Patiala, March 18 The film is being directed by Danis Tanovic and features Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi. The office of the Director of Medical Education and Research (DRME) and the college authorities did not bother to take a no-objection certificate from the district administration or even inform it about the shooting, which led to a chaos on the campus today. Sources said the film's financers and its director had approached the college principal for seeking permission, but the latter told them that he was not a competent authority. They later got permission from the DRME. The sources said the college had been depicted as a Pakistani hospital in the movie and the crew had put up boards in English and Urdu. During the shooting, the staff, students and patients were not allowed to enter the campus even during working hours. While the film crew was shooting with artistes playing the role of patients, the real patients were made to suffer as they could not get their medical tests done. There were no classes today. Students said with their exams approaching and internal assessment going on, the shooting had disrupted their studies. College principal Dr KD Singh said there was some confusion in the morning, but when he was informed about the problems, he told the film crew to ensure that patients and students did not suffer. "The shooting will continue for three days. I have told the crew to either shoot after the working hours or in certain portions so that the college continues to function as usual," he said. Patiala Deputy Commissioner GK Singh has objected to the shooting. "The DRME is not responsible for law and order in Patiala. It is our responsibility. Since the college authorities have not taken permission from us, the institution will be held responsible for any untoward incident during the shooting," he said. DRME Dr Tejbir Singh said: "We gave the permission on the condition that the film crew does not disrupt the college functioning. The college principal has assured me that he has sorted out all the issues and there will be no problem
in future".
|
||
|
Lobbying begins for Patiala Mayor’s post
Patiala, March 18 These are former Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli and councillors Harpal Juneja and Amarinder Bajaj. All these have started approaching their political bosses to gain their confidence. Having already made detailed reports about their work and contribution towards the SAD-BJP alliance, they are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that they don't miss the opportunity this time. The post fell vacant after Jaspal Pardhan resigned following his alleged involvement in the murder of his "daughter-in-law" Parampreet Kaur. According to Section 45 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, the corporation is supposed to fill the vacant post within one month. The MC has requested the Divisional Commissioner to initiate the process of electing a new Mayor. While two-time councillor Kohli and Bajaj are banking upon their family loyalties with the Akali Dal as they are the third generation leaders, Juneja reportedly enjoys proximity with state minister Bikram Majithia and the Chautalas, who are close to the Badals. Juneja is also harping on the Hindu card as there is around 68 per cent Hindu population in 50 municipal wards of Patiala. Kohli's grandfather Sardara Singh Kohli and father Surjit Singh Kohli were state ministers and Bajaj's grandfather Manmohan Singh Bajaj and father Indermohan Singh Bajaj were the chairman of the Improvement Trust. With a few days left for the government to make a final call, other councillors are adopting a wait and watch policy to know the final outcome before disclosing their cards.
|
||
|
Liquor ban in Anandpur Sahib on Hola Mohalla
Ropar March 18 Over 15 lakh devotees from different parts of the country and abroad are expected to take part. Convening a meeting of officials at Anandpur Sahib, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sucha Singh Mast said all the arrangements for the festival would be completed by March 20. The roads in these towns and adjoining areas would be repaired by March 21, he said. Mast said as many as 14 dispensaries would be set up in the area while 21 ambulances would remain stationed at different spots.
|
||
|
Markfed auctions Nurpur Bedi land amid protest
Ropar, March 18 The agitated residents had been protesting under the banner of Nurpur Bedi Sangharsh Samiti since March 13. The samiti today staged a dharna in front of the Markfed office at Giani Zail Singh Nagar in Ropar. Even as the district police had set up barricades at Nurpur Bedi and Ropar to stop protesters from marching towards the auction venue, many of them were able to reach the spot. The police rounded up samiti leaders Harbhajan Singh Asmanpur, Balbir Singh and Dinesh Chadha. They were later released. "We will not allow the construction of any building, except a stadium, on the land, which is being used as a playground by children for years," they said.
|
||
|
Auction of liquor vends on March 22
Patiala, March 18 The government expects to earn a whopping Rs 175 crore through application fee alone, which points towards the interest shown by the liquor mafia towards the trade. Excise officials said the department expected to earn Rs 4,000 crore in the next financial year and an additional Rs 175 crore from application fee. Last year, the department had collected Rs 141 crores as application fee. The department has decided to allow time till April 15 to the successful applicants to deposit the entire amount with interest. Punjab Excise and Taxation Commissioner Anurag Verma said: “Additional time will be allowed after a clearance from the district excise officer concerned”. Sources said the auction would not help small players as the fee was high and groups had already been formed. “Liquor prices are set to rise by more than 20 per cent under the given circumstances”, they stated. The deputy commissioners have been made observers for the auction to ensure transparency in the presence of the media. “Any dispute arising out of the draw would be sorted on the spot,” said Neelam Choudhary, Joint Excise and Tax Commissioner. The state consumed over 30 crore bottles of liquor in the current fiscal. The numbers is expected to reach 31 crore bottles next fiscal, thanks to the “over enthusiasm” of the state authorities in selling liquor.
|
|
High Court rejects former Additional PF Commissioner’s plea to quash chargesheet
Chandigarh, March 18 The Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice RP Nagrath has dismissed SK Khanna’s plea after hearing him in person. An FIR was registered against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on January 12, 2009, under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC. After an investigation, a closure report was submitted on March 31, 2010, in the court of CBI Special Judge at New Delhi. Accepting the report vide its order dated August 12, 2011, the court approved the CBI's recommendations for departmental action on the ground that the petitioner had indulged in misconduct and abused his official position in recommending purchase of books from a publishing house where his wife was a director. Thereafter, the Central Government issued the impugned chargesheet dated November 20, 2011, alleging “several irregularities to exhibit lack of absolute integrity and devotion to duty etc”. The petitioner challenged the chargesheet before the Central Administrative Tribunal, Chandigarh Bench, on the grounds that his appointing authority was the Central Board of Trustees, Employees Provident Fund Organisation. It was an autonomous statutory body and not a part of the Central Government. As such, the chargesheet was issued by an incompetent authority. Moreover, the Central Government exercised appellate powers in disciplinary matters under the service regulations. As such, the issuance of charge sheet by the Centre would deprive him the right to appeal under the rules, if required to be exercised. The Tribunal, however, turned down both the pleas with prima facie observations that the Central Government was competent to issue the chargesheet and the petitioner's challenge at the current stage was pre-mature. The review application too was dismissed. Dismissing the petition, the Bench asserted: “The challenge to the chargesheet on the ground that the Central Government could not serve him with the same unless it is approved by the Central Board of Trustees, Employees Provident Fund Organisation, is a plea which can be effectively taken by the petitioner in his reply to the charge sheet…. “Suffice it would be to observe that the petitioner may submit his reply to the chargesheet within a month and take all the legal and factual pleas which shall be considered by the competent authority objectively….”
|
||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Chandigarh, March 18
Chandigarh, March 18
