Chandigarh, May 4
A clash between the workers of the BJP and the Congress took place outside Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal's residence in the afternoon after the BJP tried to enter the premises. The police deployed at the house later dispersed the workers.

It was at 1 pm when BJP leaders Arun Sood, Rambir Bhatti and others crossed the police barricades one by one, and as soon as they reached near Bansal's residence, they started raising slogans against the Railway Minister.

Former Congress Mayor Pardeep Chhabra, former Youth Congress president Gurpreet Gapi, Youth Congress vice-president Yadvinder Mehta and others, who were present there, pushed the BJP workers towards the barricades with the help of the police.

The police intervened and put up barricades between the workers and leaders of both the parties. While the BJP leaders were raising slogans against UPA President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, the Congress workers were raising slogans against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, former BJP president Nitin Gadkari and others.

The BJP women workers teased the Congress leaders by showing them bangles and currency notes.

Earlier in the day, the BJP took out a protest march from the party office in Sector 33 to the Sector 33-34 light point. The BJP leaders have sought action against Congress leaders for the coal and 2G scams and the arrest of Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla on bribery charges. Senior BJP leaders, including state unit president Sanjay Tandon, former Union Minister Harmohan Dhawan and former MP Satyapal Jain, participated in the march.

The workers of the BSP, led by councillor Jannat Jahaan and Chandigarh BSP president Jagir Singh, burnt Pawan Kumar Bansal's effigy in front of the Congress Bhawan in Sector 35 here.

UP IN ARMS: BSP activists protest against corruption in the system and the recent bribe case involving Vijay Singla in Chandigarh; and (right) BJP activists protest at the road separating Sectors 33 and 34 on Saturday. Tribune photos: Manoj Mahajan

Open-and-shut case

Who gave the bribe? Who accepted it? How much was the bribe amount and for whom it was meant? It’s an open-and-shut case. Bansal can not deny his relations with his own nephew Vijay Singla because the latter had looked after his election campaigns as well~

— Prakash Javadekar, Spokesperson for the BJP

Only a few months ago, he had taken over as Railway Minister and started new trains from the city. We have high hopes from the minister. But, we will be shocked if his role in the bribery story turned out to be true.

— A resident

The land owned by Vijay Singla at Saidpur village in Dera Bassi.  Tribune photos: Manoj Mahajan

Acropolis is promoted by Mirage Infra Limited, a sister concern of JTL Infra Limited (formerly Jagan Tubes Limited). In 2007, Vijay Singla had purchased an industrial plot from Modern Bread in the Industrial Area and thereafter, applied for the conversion of plot for the Acropolis project under the UT’s conversion policy.

UT officials under scanner

UT officials are also under scanner for allowing Mirage Infra Limited to carry out the construction work without obtaining environmental clearance as projects more than 2 lakh sq ft require environmental clearance from the authorities concerned. Without obtaining the clearance, which was obtained recently, the developer had constructed a basement and six floors.

100-acre land in Dera Bassi

Vijay Singla and others have bought 100-acre land at Saidpur village in Dera Bassi. Sources said the land was purchased from one Iqbal Singh. The land is situated just adjoining the committee limit. The owners have applied for the change of land use as it was an agricultural plot. Recently, a dispute had also arisen between villagers and landowners over providing way to the land. The sources said the owners were planning to open a housing project and also to run a prominent school chain here, but it was yet to be finalised.

Acropolis plot resumed

The UT Estate Office has also resumed the converted site of Acropolis Mall. The owners have now filed an appeal against the Estate Office’s order. According to information, Mirage Infra Limited failed to submit conversion charges for the plot to the Estate Office, thereafter the Estate Office resumed the plot.

Chandigarh, May 4
Not only their fee structure but also the readmission fee charged by the private unaided schools in the city will come under the scanner of the three-member committee, which was recently appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Acting at the behest of the committee, headed by Justice RS Mongia (retd), the UT Education Department is soon to send a pro forma to all the private schools to know about their overall financial matters of the last two years.

Among a series of questions, which deal with their overall expenditure and fee structure, the committee has specifically asked in its pro forma about readmission fee charged by the schools for the promotion of a student to the next class.

It is learnt that parents complained of the schools charging hefty readmission fee between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000 per student. They said it was not justified at all. Recently, the chairman of the CBSE, Vineet Joshi, too, aired his concerns on this issue. He questioned why the schools were charging readmission fee for every class. He said schools would be penalised for the same, if specific complaints were made.

Sources said while the task of the committee was not to check the legalities whether or not the schools are allowed to charge readmission fee, but it would surely check how the issue of readmission charges is encouraging a profiteering tendency in schools. “If the fees charged by schools for admission, readmission or monthly tuition are found more than warranted, then, under the High Court’s directions, the committee has the power to direct the schools to refund money to parents," said sources.

A parent said it was wrong on the part of the schools to charge fee for readmission in every class. The committee must intervene in this matter and call for the audited accounts of the schools.

According to information, the scope of work undertaken by the committee would be for the session 2012-13, but it hopes to set up a permanent mechanism on the issue of fee hike in private schools. A senior official of the Education Department said the pro forma was ready and it would be sent to private schools early next week. The schools would be given 15 days' time to submit all their information. “Necessary action can be taken in case schools fail to cooperate,” said officials.

Mohali, May 4
The police arrested a member of the management committee of National Public School, located on the Kurali-Morinda road, for causing hurt to a student's mother and misbehaving with other parents, who came to discuss the fee-hike issue with the school authorities here today.

The arrested person has been identified as Vijay Kumar Tinku, who is the president of the Morinda Nagar Council and husband of Kusum Sharma, chairperson of the school, being run by a Trust.

The injured woman, identified as Manpreet Kaur, has been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Kurali. She has suffered cuts on her hand.

According to sources, high drama was witnessed at the school when about 75 persons (students' parents) reached to attend a meeting with the school authorities on the fee-hike issue.

“Tinku reached the spot and started misbehaving with the parents. He, along with staff members, started pushing the parents and in the melee Manpreet Kaur fell on window and suffered deep cuts on her hand,” the sources said.

The agitated parents started raising slogans against the school management. “Tinku, along with another member of the committee, shut himself in a room to save themselves,” said the sources.

The police reached the spot and pacified the parents. “We have registered a case under Sections 354, 323, 324 and 506 of the IPC against Tinku and arrested him on a complaint filed by Manpreet Kaur,” said Iqbal Singh, Station House Officer, Kurali Police Station (City).

He said the police had also detained one more member of the committee.

“Investigations are on. The school authorities have also made a complaint against some parents,” added the Station House Officer.

Chandigarh, May 4
The Chandigarh traffic police today challaned a government vehicle at the light point of Sectors 45 and 46 for the misuse of red beacon. Jagdish Singh Sarpal, a traffic marshal, spotted a vehicle bearing registration number HR 51 AB 0002 at the light point at 5.40 pm.

Head constable Narinder Singh asked the driver about the alleged misuse of the official vehicle, and it was found that the vehicle belonged to the Election Commissioner, Haryana, but he was not present in the vehicle and instead his wife was sitting on the rear seat. The vehicle was having plastic shields on both rear windows.

When the driver of the vehicle was asked to produce his driving licence, he became arrogant and aggressive and wanted the traffic marshal to speak to his boss.

The traffic marshal also videographed the vehicle.

“The traffic police was initially reluctant to challan the government official, but then had to challan it after pressure from my side,” claimed Jagdish.

The traffic marshal has also apprised the DSP (Traffic) of the incident. — TNS

Panchkula, May 4
Putting the phrase ‘Burning the midnight oil’ to its literal use, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) officials are putting an ‘extra effort’ to give a makeover to the Indradhanush Auditorium, Sector 5, Panchkula, which was lying unattended for the past many years. Thanks to the Congress vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, who is visiting the auditorium fir a party meeting on May 8 in Panchkula.

The Indradhanush auditorium was craving for attention for the past many years. Broken chairs with bulging foam, broken dice and payments was the face of the auditorium and the officials were least bothered about the same.

Now, the same auditorium is being pampered with the HUDA officials’ working day and night to make it look nice. “We just have two more days with us and lot of work has to be done. We have to finish the work before May 6 by the time SPG drops in,” said a HUDA official.

He further added, “Actually, the fitting of slips takes a lot of time and all the things have to be replaced.”

The complete auditorium is being given a makeover. Not only this, even the bookings by people till his visit has been cancelled so that people don’t spoil the venue.

“We are avoiding any bookings by people before his visit because we are working day and night and also we don’t want people to spoil the auditorium before his visit,” added the official.

To have a party meeting, Rahul Gandhi is expected to be there at Indradhansuh auditorium from 10 am to 5 pm. Three sessions of meetings would be held and he would be interacting with the party MPs, MLAs, former legislatures and office-bearers.

“We are on with the preparations and assure that Rahul Gandhi will go satisfied,” said Ravinder Rawal, Congress party worker.

Mohali, May 4
Around 250 families of Guru Angad Dev Nagar, Kharar, are not getting clean water for past two days, here.

Workers of the water supply department repair the damaged water pipes

Reason: Damage of water supply line due to mindless digging by Reliance Company to lay telephone cables in the area.

During a survey of the area, The Tribune team found dirty and stinking water coming from taps. Set aside drinking it or using for cooking purpose, the water was so muddy that nobody was using it for even washing their hands.

“I have been spending money on purchasing mineral water bottles for past two days, which is being used for drinking as well as cooking. We have not taken bath for the past two days,” said Jaswinder Kaur, a resident of the area.

Another resident, Sher Singh, an octogenarian, said he was forced to bring water from gurdwara of the locality. “I cannot spend money on buying water. So I fetch it in bottles from the gurudwara,” said Sher Singh.

Similarly, Renu Sharma, who is a teacher at a private school, said she fell sick she had consumed the contaminated water by mistake which resulted in serious stomachache.

Several people of the area claimed that they were forced to buy water from water tankers to meet their daily needs.

When contacted, Ramesh Kumar, sanitary inspector of the Kharar Municipal Council, he said during digging, the officials of the Reliance Company have damaged the water supply line twice in past three days.

“The soil and other materials are being diluted in the water at these damaged points,” said Ramesh adding that the officials of the company were clearly told about all the underground pipes and cables.

He alleged that the digging being done by them was conducted ‘mindlessly’. “Now that we are digging the earth to identify the spot, from where the soil is being diluted in the water line,” said Ramesh claiming that around 250 families in the area have been suffering with from the problem.

Mohali, May 4
The Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, and the Senior Citizens Club, Mohali, organised a musical tribute programme to commemorate the 40th death anniversary of the legendary Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi at the Koser Indoor Auditorium, Kendra Complex, Mohali, today.

Guest artistes RD Kailey, Dr Komal Chugh and SD Sharma doled out songs like “Mayein ni Mayein”, “Eh mera Geet”, besides Urdu ghazals. These artistes took the centre stage and spelt magic with solo and duet songs immortalised by Shiv Batalvi.

Kailey opened up “Hai ni ajj amber” and “Ikk kudi” before Komal Chugh brought alive the melody of Risham Rupahli, Galorian, Itran de cho etc.

The senior citizens relished more duets by Kailey and Komal like “Haal faqiran da”, “Teri yaad”, besides “Bhathi Waliye” and more ghazals on request. — TNS

Chandigarh, May 4
A play, “Wohti and Wife Returns”, was staged today at the Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh. Directed by Rakesh Manjhi, the plot was interesting with heavy dose of comedy infused for whole time entertainment.

Chandigarh, May 4
Sharing his views on the aspirations, dreams and challenges of Indian students, popular writer Chetan Bhagat strongly advocated for redesigning education system at Chitkara International School in Sector 25, Chandigarh, today.

Bhagat said, "For the last several years, our classroom teaching is stuck as to when Vasco De Gama arrived India or when India got independence. The idea of the education is to go beyond the dates and years and indulge the young brains into proper scientific reasoning and application, which sadly is missing in our system."

He said, "The problem lies in our outdated curriculum and old teaching practices, which is completely out of sync with modern realities and pragmatic approach."

He said ideally industry should tell colleges about its requirement and further colleges should guide schools about the kind of curriculum they need to prepare for the students.

Chandigarh, May 4
The annual result of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for Class X and Class XII will be declared anytime after May 15.

According to sources, Class X result will be declared before Class XII this year.

Regional CBSE Director RJ Khanderao, “Earlier, Class XII result was declared before Class X results. this year the board is expected to announce Class X result first due to the beginning of early admission process in Chennai region.”

He said, “The preparation of results is in full swing and the results will be announced anytime after second week of May.”

As per the information, over 1.80 lakh students appeared for Class X exam in Panchkula circle, which includes Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. In this circle, the ratio of Class X students who appeared in school-based board exam is, however, more than the students who directly appeared in board based external exam.

Among 1.8 lakh, Class X students, 98,237 students appeared for schools-based internal exam and 82,645 in board based external exam. In Chandigarh, however, number of students for school-based board is less than board-based exam. Against 4,975 students, 12,230 students sat in the board exam.

As per the information, the board introduced the option of school-based board about two years ago to remove the bogey of 'board exam' stress for students. Under this system, the exam for Class X board is held internally within the school only

The competition is, however, tougher for the Class XII exam. More than 1.48 lakh students appeared in the CBSE Class XII exam in Panchkula circle. In Chandigarh, a total of 16,115 students appeared for the board exams. Students said two to three papers were extremely difficult and they hope for some kind of lenient marking for those papers.

Chandigarh, May 4
Three students of the PEC University of Technology have designed software which will help in managing the rush at parking lots thereby giving a solution to the rush at parking lots in the city which leads to long queues of vehicles waiting for their turns to enter the parking area.

The students, including Ajay Goel, Kartik Anand and Nitish Garg have come-up with the project.

Ajay, a team member, said: "We got inspired by the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway where smart tags are allotted to each car, which is pasted on the wind screen and at the time of crossing the tool plaza they just need to slow down. We have also developed similar kind of tags that are on just a plain paper which will cost less than Rs 2. The commuter will just have to get the tags issued from the authorities managing the parking lots in the city," he said.

Nitish, another team member, said: "The tags will work like a debit card as the vehicle owner will have to keep-recharging it to avail the benefit. There will be a centralised server which will have the details of the all the vehicles having tags installed and the balance amount available in the account."

He said, "At the entry of a parking there will be a computer installed for scanning the tags pasted on the windscreen of the vehicle. This will reduce the time consumed at the entry of the parking as the tag will be simply scanned and the vehicle within in few seconds will enter the parking. Presently, the commuters have to wait for several minutes looking for loose-money and take the balance amount which leads to queues of vehicles stretching up to the road. The special tags pasted on the windscreen of the vehicles will have the registration number of the vehicles, make and colour of the vehicles stored in the central server."

"The concept will also help the police in locating the last location of the vehicle if it gets stolen. The vehicle if enters any parking lot in the city will get updated on the centralised server even if they change the number plate of the vehicle", said Kartik, another team member. The students said, "The set up of computers and other devices at each parking will cost up to Rs 30,000."

Chandigarh, May 4
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has identified as many as 18 centres for conducting the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) in Chandigarh. It is first ever common medical entrance test for the undergraduate courses, including MBBS and BDS, which will be held tomorrow across the country.

In Chandigarh circle, there are nearly 10,000 medical aspirants who will sit for the entrance test.

CBSE Regional Director RJ Khanderao said, “Proper measures will be taken for the smooth conduct of the examination. Besides, proper checking at every centre, all the centres will be video graphed. Every centre will have external observers who will keep a thorough check.”

As there is confusion among students about the applicability of the NEET, especially in private medical colleges, experts have a word of caution for the students.

A city-based biology expert and PMT trainer, Dr Arvind Goyal, said: “Students should now keep their fear aside for the NEET. Their job is to crack the test with the better state and all India ranking.”

“Since, Biology carries 50 per cent weightage in the NEET (ie 90 questions out of 180 will be from biology), the students must start the paper with biology first and then proceed to chemistry and physics,” he said.

Physics trainer, Vivek Gulati, said physics paper can be either easy or tricky. If a student finds first four to five questions difficult then they should start the paper from the last question.

Many also said that the students should avoid scribbling on the question booklet and do calculations only in the space provided for rough work. Many students start marking the answers of MCQs on the question paper itself, to be copied onto the OMR sheet at the end. this is strictly prohibited.

Chandigarh, May 4
The teachers from various colleges of Panjab University, evaluating the answer sheets at the evaluation centre at the PU, today submitted a representation to the Vice-Chancellor and Controller of Examination over the quality of refreshments served to the teachers, who evaluate the answer sheets.

The teacher few days back had reported the matter to the COE on which a committee was formed to look into the issue.

Jagdish Chander Mehta, a teacher at DAV College, who is at the evaluation duty at PU, said: “The quality of refreshments served to teachers is very poor following which they had approached the COE earlier also.”

Manoj Kumar, another teacher from the Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector 11, said that the refreshments were served in an unhygienic condition.

The issue to ensure that the quality refreshments should be served to the teachers was also raised by RPS Josh, a syndic, in the recent syndicate meeting.

Josh had demanded that the budget of Rs 22 per teacher per day for the refreshments should be increased to a substantial amount so that the teachers get good quality of refreshments.