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Badal flays Cong, PPP for ‘forgetting’ martyrs
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23 legislators attend lunch hosted by ex-PCC chief Capt Amarinder
Irregularities mar job scheme: CAG
Copying: Supdt withdraws complaint against attackers
SGPC to take legal opinion on seeking damages from Centre for Op Bluestar
Hola Mohalla celebrations get underway
Assault victim says will continue fight
Justice Sikri set to join as Supreme Court judge
Two more arrested in heroin seizure case
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Badal flays Cong, PPP for ‘forgetting’ martyrs
Nawanshahr, March 23 Addressing a gathering at a state-level function to pay tributes to the martyrs, Badal said: "Congress leaders skipped this programme as today is the installation ceremony of their new president". Taking a dig at PPP chief Manpreet Badal, the CM said: "Manpreet had constituted his political party from this sacred land. But it seems that he has also forgotten the date of martyrdom of these great heroes". Badal said Congress MLAs' boycott of the budget session on the directions of Partap Singh Bajwa reflects that the Congress was only interested in the politics of confrontation. Ridiculing the mock assembly session by Congress MLAs, he said they should form their mock government as well. Badal said the "Jang-e-Azaadi" memorial coming up at Kartarpur at a cost of Rs 200 crore to showcase the supreme sacrifices of Punjabis in the freedom struggle would be completed in two years. On CAG report that pointed out stashing of Rs 3,194 crore funds by the government in various PSUs between 2007 and 2012, the Chief Minister said the transfer of funds to PSUs was not new and this practice was also followed by the previous Congress government. Badal felicitated martyrs' kin Raminder Kaur Mann and Vinod Thapar. Others present included Cabinet Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Chaudhary Nand Lal, state BJP president Kamal Sharma and MLA Daljeet Singh
Cheema.
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On first day in saddle, PCC chief Bajwa gives war cry against Akalis
Chandigarh, March 23 Partap Bajwa's installation ceremony was unique in more ways than one. Not only the party cadres, particularly the Dalits and those belonging to the weaker sections, turned up in huge numbers, but the entire top state leadership of the Congress was also present. Prominent among those who attended the function were Union Ministers Manish Tewari, Ashwani Kumar, Pawan Kumar Bansal and Preneet Kaur. Former PCC chiefs Capt Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal too shared the stage after a long time. The function was well organised, but even the best of organisation failed to contain the enthusiasm of the party workers and MLAs who stormed onto the stage. Partap Bajwa reciprocated the gesture of the workers by leaving his seat to sit down with them for a while. Hitting out at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for “trying to belittle” his appointment through statements, he said he had, during a protest by the Youth Congress in front of the Punjab Secretariat in 1978, stormed into Parkash Singh Badal's office and occupied the CM’'s chair. “But this time, I will repeat the act democratically.” Exhorting the Congress workers not to feel scared of the Akalis, he said even the rule of Auranzeb and the British had come to an end. Bajwa also announced that the party would shortly release a toll-free number and a programme headed by its legal services co-chairman Jaiveer Shergill, which party workers could use to register complaints of political vendetta. Today’s function will also be remembered as the one in which the Congress high command spelt out its action plan for the party workers in Punjab. Ambika Soni not only upheld the stand taken by the Congress Legislature Party in boycotting the state assembly in “support” of the Tarn Taran assault victim, but also exhorted the PCC chief to take on the “goonda raj” of the Akalis aggressively. The workers were also told that a strategy was
being prepared to take on the Akalis and that the party workers would now onwards have to deal with the ruling party activists “in the language they understood best”. A clear message was given by central leaders, including Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, that the change of guard in Punjab had both party president Sonia Gandhi as well as vice president Rahul Gandhi’s blessings and that everyone would work
unitedly.
Sidelights
The lone absentee: While nearly every leader worth his salt in Punjab Congress politics was present at Partap Bajwa's installation ceremony, the lone absentee seemed to be Congress Working Committee member Jagmeet Singh Brar. The CWC member was also a contender for the PCC chief's post, which eventually went to Bajwa. Discordant voices: Former Pradesh Congress president Shamsher Singh Dullo, who was the first to speak at the installation ceremony, struck a discordant note when he launched a veiled attack on former PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh. The senior leader said there was an urgent need to take the party out of the "corporate as well as five-star, culture besides putting an end to personality politics. "We all need to become Congress men again," he said. Bhattal bats for Bajwa: Former PCC chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal batted for new incumbent Partap Bajwa, saying the party high command had appointed a person "steeped in Congress culture to head the Punjab unit after a long time". She also made a reference to Capt Amarinder's leadership saying the party did not form its government in the state last year due to its own "shortcomings". The woman behind the man: Qadian MLA and PCC chief Partap Bajwa's wife Charanjit Bajwa today proved she is the woman behind her husband's success. She controlled the stage from behind the scenes and was responding to each and every development at the function. New man to the fore: Former MLA Sukhpal Khaira has emerged as one of the foremost supporters of Bajwa. On the occasion, he launched a vitriolic attack on the Badal family. Fire leads to commotion: As soon as the new PCC chief took to the stage, set outside the party office in Sector 15, to deliver his speech, a commotion broke out as news of a fire spread among the workers. A Doordarshan van had caught fire nearby. A fire tender from Sector 11 rushed to the spot and doused the flames. Tributes to Bhagat Singh:
Partap Bajwa paid floral tributes to Bhagat Singh on the occasion of Martyrdom Day at the martyr’s native village Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr. Bajwa said he had deliberately chosen the day for assuming charge as the state Congress chief as Bhagat Singh's life and his sacrifices were a source of inspiration for him. “The Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement launched by Bhagat Singh during the freedom struggle is very much relevant even today,” he said.
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23 legislators attend lunch hosted by ex-PCC chief Capt Amarinder
Chandigarh, March 23 The Amarinder camp achieved quite a coup by ensuring the presence of Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar at the lunch. A large number of legislators from the Malwa belt, including heavyweights Laal Singh, Kewal Dhillon and Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Doaba leaders including Rana Gurjit Singh and Majha stalwarts including Sukhjinder Randhawa and Tript Rajinder Bajwa attended the lunch. So did former ministers Choudhary Jagjit Singh, Santokh Singh, Avtar Henry and Amarjit Samra, all from the Doaba region. Sources said the Amarinder camp made the occasion a social one and even asserted that there was no intention to make it a show of strength. Interestingly, while Amarinder drew support from the MLAs who would seek re-election in 2017, the MPs who would face poll next year preferred to stay away. A leader who attended the lunch claimed that the impression they got was that Amarinder Singh would remain in central politics but would also visit the state to "strengthen" the party. This, the leader claimed, would keep him relevant in state politics. However, the Bajwa camp asserted that many of those who had been invited to the lunch had no inkling that the occasion would be used to show Amarinder Singh's hold in the Congress Legislature Party.
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Irregularities mar job scheme: CAG
Chandigarh, March 23 In one such incident, three Block Development Officers and the Chief Executive Officer of Barnala Zila Parishad transferred Rs 28.59 lakh to the District Forest Officer (DFO), Sangrur, in Sepetember 2008 for plantation under the scheme. The DFO incurred Rs 7.47 lakh for raising 2.36 lakh plants and excavating 63,168 pits. He returned the remaining Rs 21.12 lakh to the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) in February 2009. The plants were to be nursed up to July 2009. The DFO demanded funds in July 2009 for the maintenance of the plants as their condition deteriorated. No funds were released and all plants died in November 2009 and the pits so excavated also got filled. In short, Rs 7.47 lakh spent under the scheme went down the drain. In Hoshiarpur district (Tanda block), seven persons worked on two sites on the same dates (April 16 to April 30, 2010). Their job card numbers mentioned in the muster rolls were also same at both the sites. When asked to file a reply in this regard, the department stated that an inquiry was conducted, following which a sarpanch was suspended. However, documentary evidence in support of the reply was not furnished by the department. Many such instances can be cited. In its report, which was submitted to the state Assembly on March 20, the CAG had stated that Rs 569.31 crore were spent, out of Rs 868.82 crore available, under the scheme between 2007 and 2012. The average mandays generated during the period of five years ranged between 25 and 39 days per household against the guaranteed 100 days in a year. The CAG has reported that there was a delay of up to 790 days in the payment of wages to workers.
Report findings
Diversion of funds, delayed issuance of job cards, execution of impermissible works, irregularities in muster rolls, lack of transparency and accountability towards the implementation of the scheme, short release of state's share and improper planning are acting as a major hindrance in the proper implementation of the scheme in the state
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Copying: Supdt withdraws complaint against attackers
Sources said the move was apparent as the accused, Pran Nath and his son Vikas, being close relatives of a senior leader of the ruling party, had used their clout and pressured Pushpinder to reach at a compromise. Pushpinder also handed a letter to the DEO, in which he admitted that a scuffle had taken place at the centre on March 21 and that he had lodged an FIR at Majitha police station in this regard. “I have been in shock ever since the incident happened. I am not used to working in such circumstances,” he said while adding that he had reached a compromise ‘on the insistence’ of the opposite group. He said, “I will not be able to discharge my duties peacefully at my present posting at Government Higher School, Abdal, and therefore I request you to transfer me to my native place in Dinanagar.” KS Pannu, Director General School Education said though the victim had withdrawn his complaint, there were several other teachers at the centre who were also beaten up that day. He said he would order an inquiry into the incident. Gurpreet Singh Riar, president, Democratic Teachers Front, said the association had called a meeting on Monday (March 25) to chalk out further course of action. He said the teaching community was deeply concerned over the matter.
Case file
Official seeks transfer I have been in shock ever since the incident happened. I am not used to working in such circumstances Pushpinder Kumar, Superintendent
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SGPC to take legal opinion on seeking damages from Centre for Op Bluestar
Amritsar, March 23 SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and secretary Dalmegh Singh today held a meeting with many intellectuals, who recommended the SGPC to pursue the matter further in court. Makker said they had unanimously decided to take legal opinion before proceeding further. In 1985, SGPC had moved an application in the Amritsar court, seeking Rs 1,000 crore as compensation for the damages caused to the Golden Temple complex during the operation run by the Indian Army. The Delhi High Court on January 17, 2013, where the case was later transferred, had asked SGPC to submit court fee if it wanted to continue with the case. SGPC, however, did not respond.
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Hola Mohalla celebrations get underway
Kiratpur Sahib, March 23 The akhand path began at gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib, and the bhog will be held on March 25. Giani Tarlochan Singh extended greetings to the Sikh community all over the world on the occasion. All the gurdwaras and the streets leading to Kiratpur Sahib and Anandpur Sahib have been decorated to mark the occasion. Several devotees thronged the town and had a dip in the sarovar at gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib. The authorites have shut down the toll plaza at Kiratpur Sahib to prevent traffic congestion. The liquor vends within a radius of 5 km of Kiratpur Sahib will also remain closed till March 25 and from March 26 to 28 at Anandpur Sahib.
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Assault victim says will continue fight
Tarn Taran, March 23 She claimed the incident had ruined her image in the public. She alleged the erring policemen had also snatched Rs 18,000 and two gold rings from her father. Her brother Laddi was forced to put his face in a toilet during police custody and her cousin Jagjit Singh was also beaten up severely, she alleged. She said the case had been taken up by the Supreme Court and the next date of hearing was April 1. Meanwhile, the district administration has made arrangements for accommodating eight CRPF personnel near the house of the girl. Kulbir Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, said a portion adjoining to her house that was owned by her relatives had been vacated and all arrangements were being made with the help of the village panchayat.
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Justice Sikri set to join as Supreme Court judge
Chandigarh, March 23
Information suggests his name has been cleared by the SC collegium and his warrants of appointment are expected to be received by the Punjab and Haryana High Court after being signed by the President. Justice Sikri was chosen as “one of the 50 most influential persons in Intellectual Property in the world in a survey conducted by Managing Intellectual Property Association for 2007”.
— TNS
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Two more arrested in heroin seizure case
Fatehgarh Sahib, March 23 The accused have been identified as Rajinder Singh, a resident of Dibra, and Kulvir Singh, a resident of Sector 6, Karnal. The police has also seized their Skoda car, which was intercepted during a naka on the GT Road last night. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hardial Singh Mann said during the interrogation, it was revealed that the two used to supply sedative powder from Meerut to Canadian NRI Anup Singh Kahlon, alias Ruby; former Punjab DSP Jagdish Singh Bhola; Sukha Singh, a resident of Ghakhal (Jalandhar) and Raja Kandola. The SSP said Kahlon and Bhola used to further supply the powder to Manpreet Singh Gill of Canada and Kulwinder Singh, a resident of Kharar. "The accused revealed that Mani Gill had given the Skoda to them to smuggle the sedative powder," he said. The SSP said Kulvir Singh had revealed that he had close links with terrorists and had shifted to Karnal in 1998. He had murdered a Nepali in 1984 in Karnal and had spent one year in a jail there. Kulvir was later arrested by the Anandpur Sahib police. He spent a few years in a jail in Haryana, where he came in contact with Bittu, a resident of Bijnore in UP and NRI Fauja Singh. He also supplied 25-kg sedative powder to Sukha Singh. The SSP said Kulvir supplied Jagdish Bhola consignments of 25 kg each of sedative powder for more than 15 times. Both the accused were produced in the court today, which remanded them to police custody.
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Amritsar, March 23