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Row over plaque with Bhindranwale’s name at Bluestar Memorial
Memorial may hit communal amity: BJP chief
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Wealth tax: Akali Dal takes to competitive politics
Bathinda Head Constable’s Murder
State govt ready to pay Sarabjit’s medical bill, says Majithia
Cong, Morcha reach poll pact in Sangrur district
14.2% of people live in slums in state: Census
CM blames Centre for drug flow into state
Cancer-hit families cutting on basic needs, finds varsity study
341 missing persons untraced in Muktsar
Untimely rain sweeps aside high wheat yield estimates
Jang-e-Azadi memorial
School board to review move to regularise teachers
Videos on police “brutality” a rage on the internet
Stray bull critically injures man
Varsity to be set up at Mastuana Sahib
Five booked for child marriage in Tarn Taran
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Row over plaque with Bhindranwale’s name at Bluestar Memorial
Amritsar, April 28 SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar had clarified yesterday that he was unaware about the Damdami Taksal's move to name the memorial after Bhindranwale. He reiterated his stand today, claiming the curtain on the plaque that mentioned Bhindranwale's name was removed after he had left the venue. He declined to comment further. However, sources said the SGPC was upset with the Taksal and the controversy could widen the differences between the two. The sources said there may be a meeting between Makkar and Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa to sort out the issue tomorrow. Further aggravating the cracks between the SGPC and the Taksal, some persons reportedly tried to uproot a signboard mentioning the history of Operation Bluestar in the Golden Temple Complex last night. But Makkar strongly denied that anything of the sort had occurred. Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, SAD secretary, said they were in touch with the SGPC to ascertain how this had happened. The Taksal's move has drawn a flak from various quarters. Former SGPC general secretary Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said if the Taksal had to dedicate the memorial to Bhindranwale, it should have been upfront about it. National Executive member of the CPI Joginder Dayal alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had kept everyone in the dark over the issue. Inscription raises eyebrows Though the memorial has been named Gurdwara Shaheedi Yadgaar, it has been inscribed at its entrance that it has been built in memory of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and "other martyrs" of Operation Bluestar. There are also plaques on either side of the stairs leading to the memorial that mentions the names of Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh, Bhai Subeg Singh and Baba Thahra Singh. Also, there is a board mentioning Operation Bluestar's history in front of Gurdwara Jhanda Bunga
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Memorial may hit communal amity: BJP chief
Fazilka, April 28 Talking to mediapersons here, Sharma said the BJP had all along opposed the memorial. He was on his maiden visit to the district headquarters after assuming office. He was accorded a rousing welcome by local MLA and Cabinet Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani and thousands of party workers who held a road show. On Sukhpal Singh Nannu, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) and two-time BJP legislator from Ferozepur Cantonment having handcuffed himself and staging a protest at a police station following a dispute between his followers and workers owning allegiance to him (Sharma), the BJP chief simply described it as “unfortunate”. On CPS Navjot Kaur Sidhu and her husband, MP Navjot Singh Sidhu publicly airing their grievances against the party, he said Sidhu was too busy owing to his commitments with TV shows. To a query he said: “The BJP and the SAD will fight against the imposition of wealth tax on farmers with all its might, from the street to Parliament House, till it is revoked.” Sharma said that district-level dharnas would be launched from May 2. Condemning the attack on Indian death row prisoner Sarbjit Singh at Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan as "inhumane, unfortunate and violation of international laws", he blamed it on the "miserable failure of the Union Government's foreign policy". He said India was perceived as a soft state and the attack on Sarabjit was an insult to the country. On the ensuing Panchayati Raj elections, he said: “Seat-sharing for Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections would be worked out amicably with the SAD. He said the BJP would contest the seats allocated to it on the party symbol.
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Wealth tax: Akali Dal takes to competitive politics
Chandigarh, April 28 Asked why it did not react to the development immediately, a government spokesman at first said: " It is only a Bill till the time it is put to vote," referring to the wealth tax proposal. But he later said that the amendments were "innocuously" worded and not easily understandable. The spokesman said the ramifications of the proposal would surface only after legal experts and top income tax lawyers were consulted on the issue. The government claims that wealth tax is not new. It was first introduced in the seventies but withdrawn in 1982. It claims the tax was re-introduced in the Finance Bill 1992 but was never implemented. It claims even the introduction of the tax is contradictory as it had been assured then that it would be levied only on non-productive assets like farmhouses and bullion. The government says the tax was never implemented and it only came to light when the courts pronounced that it should be levied and the income tax authorities started issuing notices. That is the official view. However, sources claim that the Akalis, who have faulted on understanding the issue, have gone on the overdrive because the party is convinced it has a political issue on its hands with widespread ramifications. There is no report till yet defining the number of farmers or acreage which will be affected by the proposal. The government, however, claims both small and big farmers will be affected. This is because in Punjab, towns and cities are not spaced out and are within kilometers of each other. There are a total of 145 local bodies in the state. The most affected will be Doaba areas where entire tracts of land along towns and cities will come under the ambit of the tax. The government estimates that around a majority of farmers will be affected under the proposal under which areas under notified committees, municipal committees and corporations will be taxed. This is a huge political constituency whose concerns the Akalis want to be seen to be addressing. The Punjab Congress understands that it cannot let the Akalis claim a "victory" in case the proposal is dropped. Pradesh Congress president Partap Bajwa met Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and requested him to withdraw the proposal even before the SAD core committee could meet to discuss the issue. Bajwa has accused the Akalis of playing politics by adopting a confrontation strategy even before requesting for a rethink on the tax. Both the parties seem to be playing competitive politics on the issue. A competition has started even within the Punjab Congress with both Bajwa and former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh gearing up to claim responsibility for getting the proposal dropped. The proposal
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Bathinda Head Constable’s Murder
Bathinda, April 28 Most of the 150 nakas have been removed and the additional force requisitioned from other districts of Bathinda Zone sent back. Claiming that Jaswinder would be nabbed soon, police officials said efforts were on to catch him alive as he alone could reveal how he, his brother Kulwinder and Nahar Singh had masterminded their escape from police custody. It is still unclear as to what what exactly happened inside the police van carrying the three undertrials. Parents of the deceased claim the escorting policemen may have fought with one another and made their wards a "scapegoat". Circumstantial evidence gathered by the police does not support the allegation. The police is hoping that if caught alive, Jaswinder may provide them vital details. Members of the team that escorted the undertrials claim that the latter made some purchases at a grocery store in Bhikhi town from where they possibly bought red chilli powder too. Once inside the van, trouble began when one of them saw Kulwinder Singh trying to open the pouch carrying the chilli powder, they claim. Kulwinder and Nahar Singh were cremated under heavy police security at their native village Jai Singh Wala today. The aggrieved families staged a dharna seeking an inquiry into the police encounter. Letter of warning triggers row A row has erupted between the Bathinda police and Bathinda jail officials with the latter claiming they had warned the police through a letter that the dreaded undertrials could be planning an escape as they had done so earlier as well. A perusal of the hand-written letter shows it was marked to the Police Lines in charge and not any senior official. It carried details on the requirements for the transportation of various undertrials to Faridkot, Barnala and Panchkula. The letter, however, mentioned that the three undertrials for Panchkula were hardcore criminals and had escaped earlier too.
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State govt ready to pay Sarabjit’s medical bill, says Majithia
Amritsar, April 28 “It is time for both India and Pakistan to stop bitterness and work together to help Sarabjit. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will take up the issue of providing the best medical aid to him and, if need be, the Punjab Government will bear the expenses incurred on Sarabjit’s treatment,” the minister said.
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Cong, Morcha reach poll pact in Sangrur district
Sangrur, April 28 Congress district president Subhash Grover said it had been decided to contest all 21 ZP seats and 10 block Panchayat Samitis in the district jointly to defeat the SAD-BJP alliance. The parties would not field candidates against each other, he added. Secretary-general of the SAD (Longowal) Baldev Singh Mann said he was hopeful that the "secular front" formed for the elections would give a crushing defeat to SAD-BJP candidates. District secretary of the CPI Satwant Singh Khandewad said their alliance with the Congress was limited to the ZP and Panchayat Samiti elections.
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14.2% of people live in slums in state: Census
Chandigarh, April 28 Out of 143 statutory towns in the state, 71 towns have slums. SBS Nagar and Barnala districts do not have slums. Electricity is available to 96.6 per cent of the slum households and 98 per cent urban households in the state. The percentage of slum households in Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar is 97.3, 97.4 and 99, respectively. Tap water is available to 69.8 per cent of the slum households and 76.4 per cent of the urban households. The situation is better in Jalandhar and Ludhiana, where 97.2 per cent and 94 per cent of the households, respectively, have access to tap water. In Amritsar, 68.9 per cent have the facility of taps. Toilet on premises is available to 88.7 per cent of the slum households. Over 11 per cent of the slum households do not have toilets on their premises as compared to 6.6 per cent in urban areas. In Jalandhar, 97 per cent of the slum households have toilets on their premises. Similarly, 95 per cent of the slum households under the Ludhiana Corporation and 92 per cent under the Amritsar Corporation have access to toilets. LPG is the main fuel used for cooking in 67.8 per cent of the slum households as compared to 79.3 per cent of the total urban households. In the Ludhiana (76.5 per cent) and Jalandhar (74.8 per cent) Corporations, more than three-fourths of the slum households are using LPG for cooking. The corresponding percentage for the Amritsar Corporation is 67.4 per cent. Poor, are they?
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CM blames Centre for drug flow into state
Jalandhar, April 28 Addressing a gathering at a state-level function organised by the Aadi Dharam Samaj to mark the birth anniversary of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Badal said because of poor security arrangements at the India-Pakistan border, the flow of narcotics into Punjab had increased. "The Union Government has not taken steps to ensure strict security measures at the border. Owing to the wrong policies of the centre, the country's security is in peril with two neighbouring countries, China and Pakistan, posing a major threat to us." On wealth tax, Badal said the Shiromani Akali Dal would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the Union Government revoked its decision to levy the tax on farmers. "Instead of formulating policies for the weaker sections, the Congress has always deceived them by depriving them of their legitimate rights and by devising pro-rich policies," he alleged. Earlier in his address, Aadi Dharam Samaj chief Darshan Rattan Raavan spoke of Dr Ambedkar's contribution to the upliftment of the Scheduled Castes. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion were legislator Pargat Singh and former chairman of the Safai Karamchari Welfare Board Punjab Raj Kumar Atikay. The Chief Minister chose to skip the press conference after the function, leaving the venue in a hurry.
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Cancer-hit families cutting on basic needs, finds varsity study
Chandigarh, April 28 Prof Lakhwinder Singh Gill, Prof Inderjeet Singh and Parmod Kumar were the members of the project team. The focus was on economic and financial consequences for the families having cancer patients. Four villages — Kotbhai, Bhaliana, Doda and Channu — of Muktsar district where the incidence of cancer is the highest in the state were selected for the research. The Malwa region (Muktsar is also its part) has of late been dubbed as the state cancer belt. In a report recently, the state government had revealed that of the 33,318 cancer-related deaths in Punjab over the last five years, 14,682 had died in the Malwa region alone. Gill said 136 cancer cases were covered under the project. Of these, 103 were dead and 33 were coping with the disease. Sixtytwo patients were directly related to agriculture, 54 to household chores and 20 to other professions. Only three of them had an insurance cover. Of the total cases, 53 had cancer in liver, 25 in breast, 19 in blood and 17 in throat. During the research, it came to light that 45 of these persons borrowed money from ‘arhtiyas’ (commission agents), 26 from relatives, 38 from village landlords and 16 spent from their own savings (11 from other sources) for the treatment. The study also established the fact that a majority of villagers in Malwa still depend on arhtiyas for money. Interestingly, the incidence of cancer was found more — 52.21 per cent — among women as compared to 47.79 per cent among men in the targeted villages. The average cost on cancer treatment was found to be Rs 2.75 lakh and average ailment length 1.9 years. However, the treatment cost varied depending on the nature of the cancer. The cost stood highest at Rs 3.93 lakh among brain cancer patients. However, the important finding of the project was that in order to avail the expensive treatment and repay the money taken as loan (for treatment), victim families have had to cut down on food, clothing, housing, education and social functions. Another worrying factor that came to light was that in case an earning male member suffers from cancer, the family faces a lot of difficulty in securing loan. The moneylenders fear the money may not be returned following the patient’s death. The state government has taken initiatives to help cancer patients in their treatment, but the average per patient amount sanctioned by it is Rs 1.07 lakh. The research team has stressed on designing a financial resource support system for the cancer victim families, which should cover not only cancer treatment but also their basic needs. Costly, painful treatment
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341 missing persons untraced in Muktsar
Muktsar, April 28 Figures procured from the Zonal Police Integrated Network (ZPIN) revealed that of the 341 persons, 130 belonged to SC/ST and OBC communities. A perusal of the records disclosed that 87 of them were females, who were yet to be traced. The official data also uncovered that till date this year, 20 persons had gone missing from across the district, which included three females. In 2012, as many as 52 people, including 19 females, went missing. All were yet to be traced. The data of the current year revealed that maximum six persons had gone missing from the area in the jurisdiction of City Muktsar police station, four from Gidderbaha police station, three from City Malout police station, two each from Bariwala, Lambi, Kotbhai and one from Sadar Muktsar police station. Last year's figures revealed that maximum 11 persons had gone missing from the area in the jurisdiction of City Muktsar police station, 10 from City Malout police station, eight from Sadar Malout police station, six each from both Bariwala and Kotbhai police stations, four from Gidderbaha police station and two from Lambi police station. The parents of a boy, who went missing last year, said, "Whenever we approach the police officers concerned, they simply say efforts are afoot to trace our son. But so far, they have failed in doing so." Superintendent of Police (Detective) Gurinderjit Singh said, "Efforts are on to trace the missing persons. Several of them have been traced in the past." The Punjab Police has also uploaded details and photographs of 3,771 persons who had gone missing across the state and were yet to be traced.
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Untimely rain sweeps aside high wheat yield estimates
Jalandhar, April 28 The department has fixed a target of procuring 162 lakh tonnes of wheat in the ongoing rabi season, a figure that had touched 180 lakh tonnes last season. The area under the crop, 35.18 lakh hectares, however, is the same as it was in 2012. Director (agriculture) Mangal Singh Sandhu said, “The target of the produce is fixed after taking out an average of the yield in the last three crop cycles plus the current area under wheat cultivation… The yield could be less as a majority of the farmers misjudged the rains and did not irrigate their fields properly.” But last year, he averred, the bumper yield was witnessed due to the favorable weather conditions. The average wheat produce last year was 5,097 kg per hectare, which is expected to fall to 4,700 kg per hectare this year. Sandhu said, “We depend on revenue ‘girdawari’ (measurement process) for ascertaining the area under wheat cultivation. Even though the area under the crop has been reducing season by season due to various factors, including rapid urbanisation, the girdawari is showing the area as unchanged. May be that’s so because no proper girdawari has been conducted for the last several decades.” However, several areas in the Malwa belt were likely to produce adequate yield this season as well, he said. Jalandhar Chief Agriculture Officer Swatantra Kumar Aeri and his Kapurthala counterpart Manohar Singh said, “About 7 quintals per hectare less produce is expected this year as compared to last year. Unexpected rains in February are to blame for that (lesser yield).” While 8.66 lakh tonnes of wheat was produced in Jalandhar district last year, the expectation this year is 8.5 lakh tonnes. The area under the crop, however, remained at 1.71 lakh hectares. In Kapurthala district, 5.42 lakh tonnes of wheat was procured last year. But the figure this year is expected to touch only 4.8 lakh tonnes. Unlike most other districts in the state, the area under wheat cultivation has gone up in Kapurthala. While it stood at 1.10 lakh hectares in 2012, the area increased to 1.12 lakh hectares in the current rabi season.
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Jang-e-Azadi memorial
Chandigarh, April 28 Dr Hamdard will finalise the modalities for hiring the services of a reputed architect for the construction of the world class monument to showcase the contribution of Punjabis in the national freedom struggle. A decision to this effect was taken by Badal in a meeting of the foundation here. Apart from Barjinder Singh, the other members of this committee would include; Health and Family Welfare Minister Madan Mohan Mittal, former minister and senior BJP leader Balram ji Dass Tandon, Member Rajya Sabha Balwinder Singh Bhunder, former minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Som Parkash, Advisor to the Chief Minister Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister SK Sandhu and Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs SS Channi. The committee has been mandated by the Chief Minister to shortlist the best architect amongst the panel of renowned architects with a proven track of expertise, experience and architectural skills for building the state-of-the-art monument. The CM also appreciated the proposal put forth by Dr Barjinder Singh regarding the making of a feature-cum-documentary film on the different aspects of the Indian freedom struggle besides the setting up of a laser show to highlight the various watershed movements during the independence struggle. On the suggestion of Dr Hamdard, the CM agreed to seek the expertise of prominent film and TV personalities such as Shyam Benegal, Gobind Nehlani and Parkash Jha to make the 90-minute film on the Indian Independence movement, highlighting the role of Punjabis in English, Hindi and Punjabi. Badal also asked the members of the foundation to complete all the formalities in a time bound manner so that this prestigious project could be completed within the next two years. He assured the foundation that there would be no paucity of funds. Issues thrashed out
The panel Dr Barjinder Hamdard, Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal, BJP leader Balram ji Dass Tandon, Rajya Sabha member Balwinder Bhunder, former minister Sewa Sekhwan, CPS Som Parkash, Advisor to the CM Mahesh Inder Grewal, Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretaries SK Sandhu and SS Channi
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School board to review move to regularise teachers
Mohali, April 28 This was stated in a communiqué, dated April 6, 2013, signed by Gurdeep Singh, Additional Secretary, School Education. However, it was sent one-and-a-half-years after the board’s decision was taken. The teachers in question were regularised on August 2, 2011. Apart from taking required action against the official concerned, who had issued the order to regularise the teachers, the PSEB has been asked to review its decision according to the government’s policy. The communiqué further states that all the board’s decisions/resolutions, which have not been made according to the government’s guidelines, should be considered quashed. A senior board official, requesting anonymity, said the communiqué was not clear. “On one hand, we have been asked to review our decisions that are not in compliance with the government guidelines, and on the other, the communiqué states all such decisions should be considered nullified. The order is ambiguous,” said the official. Despite repeated attempts, Gurdeep Singh could not be contacted.
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Videos on police “brutality” a rage on the internet
Patiala, April 28 Perturbed, the Punjab Police now wants these videos to be “curbed for content and checked for authenticity”. Some of these videos show policemen slapping, abusing citizens or accepting bribe. A senior IPS office said, “We cannot gag everything going viral on the internet, but a mechanism needs to be adopted to check the veracity of these videos.” CSR Reddy, Additional Director General of Police, Information Technology, said he would get such videos examined. DS Bains, Principal Secretary, Home Department, said he would consult legal experts to find a solution. — TNS
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Steep rise in swine flu cases in Punjab
Ludhiana, April 28 Confirming the figures, Dr Dipak Bhatia, Project Programme Officer and Project Coordinator, Integrated Disease Surveillance Project, Punjab, said, “Last year, we received only 14 confirmed swine flu cases in the state, of which four died. But, of the 182 swine flu cases reported this year, 42 have died.” Dr Bhatia said they would analyse the data for morbidity and mortality. The 42 people, who died of the disease this year, would also be checked if they were suffering from multiple diseases. Dr Bhatia said, “The only reason for the spurt in the number of swine flu cases this year is favourable weather conditions for the H1N1 virus.” Ever since the temperatures have risen this year, no swine flu cases have been reported in the state. “However, keeping in view that several people are catching a flu these days, the state is keeping vigilant and would investigate any suspected case of H1N1 virus,” added Dr Bhatia.
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Stray bull critically injures man
Ropar, April 28 Telu Ram sustained injuries on his chest and arms. Tackling stray cattle has been a bane for the local municipal committee. “In a five-day project executed in October last year, we shifted 150 stray cows and buffaloes to the cow shelter,” said municipal committee officer Ashok Kumar. However, now once again hundreds of these were roaming around the town, he said. Since yesterday, we have caught 80 bulls and have begun shifting them to the cow shelter, he added. —TNS
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Varsity to be set up at Mastuana Sahib
Sangrur, April 28 The council is completing paper formalities and will soon apply for a no-objection certificate. Dhindsa was here to attend the centenary celebrations of Akal Senior Secondary School, Mastuana Sahib, located at Bahadurpur village, near Mastuana Sahib. Dhindsa announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the computer laboratory at the school.
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Five booked for child marriage in Tarn Taran
Tarn Taran, April 28 Soni alleged that some time back, his brother Amarjit Singh took away his daughter to take care of his ailing wife. He clandestinely brought his minor daughter to Hans Raj a few days ago. Investigating Officer Paramjit Singh said Hans Raj, Amarjit Singh and his wife Bholi had been arrested.
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A day after Operation Bluestar Memorial was dedicated to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and those killed along with him, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak committee (SGPC) seems to be in a fix.
A day after Operation Bluestar Memorial in Amritsar was opened, BJP president Kamal Sharma has expressed apprehensions that it may affect communal harmony in the state.
Expressing concern at the deteriorating health of Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who is in coma after a murderous attack on him by fellow prisoners in a Lahore jail, Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said today that the Punjab Government would bear his medical expenses, if need be. He was addressing a public meeting at Gumtala near here.
Jalandhar, April 28
At least 14.2 per cent of the urban population in Punjab lives in slums, says the census data released by the Directorate of Census Operations, Punjab, here today.