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Takht chiefs to lay stone of 1984 memorial tomorrow
SGPC hails US verdict lifting ban on ‘kirpan’
OPDs remain shut in most hospitals
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Transfers ridden with ‘anomalies’
Residents protest against shifting of specialists
Relief likely for NRHM staff
Modi’s elevation may change equations in state BJP
No atta-dal, BPL families await renewal of ration cards
Ensure availability of mining material, Sukhbir tells DCs
Patiala MC: Give traders 10 yrs to relocate firms
32 officers shifted
Slain YC leader's father contradicts prime accused
Reservation of seats for post of sarpanch
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Takht chiefs to lay stone of 1984 memorial tomorrow
Talking to The Tribune, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjeet Singh GK said though they had yet to finalise the blueprint of the memorial. He said an 11-member committee formed by the DSGMC would finalise the design of the memorial within a month. Regarding notices issued by the NDMC, he said these were uncalled for and “politically motivated”. He said the Jathedars of all five Takhts would lay the foundation stone of the memorial in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, BJP president Rajnath Singh, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and CPM leader Brinda Karat. Asked whether the DSGMC had invited Congress leaders too, Manjit Singh said: " They are most welcome to attend the ceremony." Meanwhile, former Chairman of the National Commission of Minorities Tarlochan Singh said the memorial should be symbolic. It should neither be a building nor a gurdwara. It should have a room where photographs and the press clippings of the November 1984 violence could be kept. He said everyone’s viewpoint should be taken into account while decising on the memorial design. “We’re not against anyone and it should be ensured that the memorial should not create divisions or tension between communities,” he stressed. Sikh scholar Ashok Singh Bagarian said the memorial should not be in the form of a gurdwara and should not have a photo gallery. "A large number of people were killed. It will not be easy to get the photograph of each one of them. Therefore, it's better not to have a gallery." He said the memorial should be in the form of an 84-feet high black 'khanda' symbolising the November 1984 carnage. This is not the first time that the Delhi Government has put a spanner in the memorial plan. The Delhi authorities had raised an objection at the eleventh hour when Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley were to lay the foundation stone of the memorial in New Delhi's Punjabi Bagh area on November 4 last year. Sarna’s contention Amritsar: Former DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna on Monday filed a petition in the Delhi High Court against the construction of the memorial on the premises of Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib. Sarna said: “Those killed inside the Golden Temple during Operation Bluestar were martyrs as they died for a cause. In Delhi, thousands of Sikhs were murdered. They are not martyrs. Hence, constructing a memorial on the premises of Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib is not right.” He said his party (SAD-Delhi) was in favour of a memorial but only if it was built outside the gurdwara. He said the case would be heard on June 12. An unfazed DSGMC chief Manjit Singh GK said they were determined to go ahead with the stone laying ceremony on June 12 despite the petition. — TNS
About the design
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SGPC hails US verdict lifting ban on ‘kirpan’
Amritsar, June 10 It was earlier alleged that the trustees of the gurdwara had submitted affidavits to the court supporting an application for preliminary injunction from the judge for “barring all persons entering the gurdwara premises from bringing in ceremonial sheathed swords larger than 4-6 inches or other weapons that could cause injury or be a threat to the persons on the premises”. This had invited criticism from a large section of Sikhs. However, the board of trustees later clarified that there was no restriction on the small
‘kirpan’. “There is also no restriction on the full-size ‘kirpan’ usually carried by Bhai Sahibans and/or anyone who normally wears it. Nobody has ever been denied entry to the gurdwara because of the size of the ‘kirpan’ during the past over 30 years of its existence,” they
stated. Makkar also welcomed the verdict of the Pakistan Supreme Court directing former chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board
(ETPB), Syed Asif Hashmi, to deposit the money allegedly embezzled by him. The trust looks after gurdwara affairs in Pakistan.
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OPDs remain shut in most hospitals
There were reports of the strike having hit the functioning of hospitals in Amritsar, Bathinda, Mohali and Ropar. Hospitals in other districts largely handled only emergency and delivery cases. OPD, medico legal and surgery services were affected in a majority of the district and subdivisional hospitals and community health centres, besides two super speciality hospitals in Patiala and Jalandhar. A senior doctor said: "Emergency services are part of the medical delivery system. There are a sizable number of people who kept waiting for specialists or had their surgeries scheduled for the day. No one can ignore the fact that the work was affected on ground". In Bathinda Civil Hospital, only 70 patients availed OPD services against the normal count of more than 150, sources said. Women and child wing of the hospital, too, faced problems. Functioning of medical centres in Amritsar and parts of Tarn Taran districts were affected severely. Dr Hardeep Singh, president, PCMS Association, claimed the strike was complete even as the PCMS Specialist Association claimed the patient care was not affected. He said: "The agitation will continue tomorrow. Our protest will not affect the emergency services. We want the government to roll back the transfers". Dr Ashok Nayyar, Director, Health Services, claimed: "There was negligible impact of the strike on the hospitals as we had deployed additional medical personnel at all centres". He said: "We are open to talks with the protesting doctors. Certain transfers have already been held back and more are likely to be considered". Patiala: The bandh call given by the PCMS Doctors Association had no effect in the city. Apart from a token strike at a few places for about an hour, all community health centres and hospitals functioned smoothly. There was also no disruption in Patran, Samana and Nabha. In CHC, Model Town, a few doctors observed strike for an hour and then attended to the patients. Similar was the case with the CHC, Tripri. In Rajpura's AP Jain Civil Hospital, there was a token strike for about two hours, but doctors attended to the patients during this period as well. Jalandhar: PCMS doctors held a protest at the Civil Hospital today. They demanded roll back of transfers and the decision to shut 67 dispensaries in the state. The doctors threatened to resign if their demands are not met. OPD services remained suspended although doctors did not disrupt emergency services. OPD patients were inconvenienced. Tarn Taran:
Medical services remained badly hit in the district. The striking doctors lodged their protest in front of the office of the Civil Surgeon here. Dr Jatinder Singh Pannu and Dr Amandeep Singh, president and general secretary, respectively of district unit of the PCMS Doctors Association, said the government's move to shift specialist doctors from rural areas to urban has rendered the primary health centres of Sarhali, Naushehra Pannuan, Ghariala, Chabal, Mianwind and others non-functional. Strike called off Following an assurance by Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal that their demands would be looked into, the PCMS Doctors Association called off the strike late in the evening.
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Transfers ridden with ‘anomalies’
Jalandhar, June 10 "MBBS degree holders, who were working at dispensaries, have been posted as anesthetists after a mere three-month LSAS training even as a competent anesthetist needs a three-year MD degree," a doctor said. While the transfers aim at upgrading 100 dispensaries, the move will also cause downgrading of 67 dispensaries/establishments in the state, four of which are in Jalandhar. All specialist doctors from dispensaries at Kala Bakra, Shankar, Bandala and Nurmahal have been shifted, owing to which patients will be devoid of proper treatment. Among urban dispensaries, Aman Nagar and Gandhi Camp (areas with a dense population of BPL families) have also been devoid of specialist doctors. The Jalandhar Civil Hospital, which already has a dearth of specialists, loses at least 10 of its specialist doctors, including gynaecologists and ENT specialists. The move has also hit a few doctor couples of the district, who have been transferred to different stations.
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Residents protest against shifting of specialists
Sangrur, June 10 Leading the dharna, Parshotam Singh Phaguwala, president, Panthic Vichar Manch, claimed the government had transferred the doctors in a wrong manner. He said the CHC catered to the needs of a large number of villagers. "We had been urging the government to upgrade the centre to a civil hospital. But, the authorities instead transferred all the specialist doctors from here," he added. The protesters also demanded resignation of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Parkash Chand Garg, who hails from Bhawanigarh, alleging that he had failed to protect the interests of area residents. Senior Medical Officer Karan Singh said he had been informed that the government had posted two doctors at the CHC, but no one had joined so far.
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Relief likely for NRHM staff
Chandigarh, June 10 Confirming the development, Dr Ashok Nayyar, Director, Health Services and Family Welfare, said: "We have received a communication from the office of the Managing Director, NRHM, asking the benefits of shifting of doctors posted under the NRHM". Dr Nayyar said: "Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health, is on leave. A formal call will be taken after she joins the duty. "Doctors in this category are not on the payrolls of the government. They have been recruited as part of a special scheme. These doctors also draw lesser salaries and a number of them had joined because they got the posting of their choice". He said: "The transfers have been affected largely to make up for the shortage in 100 hospitals of the state. In case, we are not able to fill all the posts, we can provide services in at least four hospitals in each district. These hospitals should not be at a distance of more than 10 km to any resident". The official admitted that in the process of strengthening these hospitals, at least 60 other hospitals were affected, with some left with no doctors at all. "Our immediate requirement is strengthening of as many as 37 community hospitals, besides district and tehsil hospitals. The vacancies will be filled in a phased manner. Specialists will be posted as per requirement of the area". The director said the department was still open to withholding transfers in genuine cases. "We are looking into cases where pleas have been made to cancel transfers on the basis of certain physical handicaps or family requirements", he said. The state is short of nearly 50 surgeons, 100 gynaecologists, 50 paediatricians and 50 radiologists. At the same time, the state is said to have ample number of ENT and eye specialists.
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Modi’s elevation may change equations in state BJP
Chandigarh, June 10 Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had yesterday described Modi's elevation as a "masterstroke" and a "knockout punch." The party still is of the same opinion. Sources in the SAD said the Congress had benefited in the urban areas in the last parliamentary elections because urban Sikhs were favourably inclined towards Dr Manmohan Singh. They contended that in the same way urban Hindu voters were likely to rally behind the candidature of Narendra Modi and that Hindu Congress candidates would be the most-affected. The Punjab BJP is hoping that Modi's elevation will benefit the party in the state. They pointed out that Punjabi Hindus had risen to the occasion and the SAD-BJP had won 11 of the 13 seats when Atal Behari Vajpayee was projected as the prime ministerial candidate in 1998. There is general despondency in the BJP workers who feel they do not have any voice in the administration which is only responsive to Akali leaders. There is also a feeling that BJP ministers are not performing well. Party leaders feel that in such a situation, they can ride piggy back on Modi and ask votes in the name of development. Former minister Manoranjan Kalia says it is widely felt that Modi is the only person who can lead the party in the present scenario. And that is why the BJP had no alternative but to accept the demand of its cadre to appoint him as its poll committee head. With the BJP virtually divided into pro-Advani and pro- Modi camps, as far as the Punjab BJP is concerned, there could be a change of equations. Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma is known to be an Arun Jaitley loyalist. The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha is also a prime ministerial candidate. Those perceived to be close to Modi in Punjab include former minister Manoranjan Kalia and party general secretary Tarun Chugh. The latter owes his appointment to Modi. The Punjab Congress feels that things will not be so smooth for the SAD-BJP after Advani's fallout with the BJP. Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla says the party will see internal divisions in days to come. He also claims that Punjabis being essentially secular in outlook will not support the "communal agenda" of the BJP under Modi. Loyalty chart
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No atta-dal, BPL families await renewal of ration cards
These families have been facing hardships since there is no space left on the cards to make an entry of the ration received. The cards were made for a period of five years in 2007, which came to an end in April 2012. Even the printing orders for new cards have not been placed yet. As a result, the depot holders are now issuing ration to the beneficiaries after taking their signatures or thumb impressions on the last page where terms and conditions regarding the possession of the card are printed. A resident of Kotli Devan village in Muktsar district, who is a farm labourer and has a family of five, said the ration depot holder had told him that he was no longer entitled to get subsidised ration as there was no space left for an entry in his card. Rachpal Singh, sarpanch of a nearby village, said the beneficiaries were facing a number of problems in getting subsidised wheat and pulses as the government had not renewed their ration cards. District Food and Civil Supplies Controller Kaushal Rao Singla said: “If the BPL families are facing some problems, they may contact the Food and Civil Supply office to lodge a complaint”. Sources said a number of people had already lodged their complaints in this regard. DS Grewal, secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, said: “We are aware of the issue, but we are waiting for the Central bill on food security before issuing fresh cards. So far, no orders have been placed to print new blue cards”. He further said: “The blue ration cards are also to be linked with aadhaar cards and the process will begin from Nawanshahr, where it will be started as a pilot project.”
Scarcity of pulses
The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs authorities admit that most of the times there is a shortage of pulses to be distributed on subsidised rates. Often there is only one variety available
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Ensure availability of mining material, Sukhbir tells DCs
Chandigarh, June 10 At a meeting of Deputy Commissioners from all over the state, Sukhbir said it was the duty of DCs to ensure that nobody was allowed to create artificial scarcity of mining material by non- operating or under-operating the mines for profiteering. He said it was imperative for the district authorities to monitor the dispatch of excavated mining material everyday and send a report to the central control room daily. He asked the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, SK Sandhu, to coordinate with the Deputy Commissioners, Mining Department and Pollution Control Department to remove inter-departmental impediments delaying the auction of mines. Ordering the auction of 100 mines below 50 hectares, Sukhbir said the auction process should be accelerated. Focusing on river-bed dredging to excavate sand, he asked the Deputy Commissioners to identify at least 100 such spots where dredging of river was legally allowed. He said it was time the government adopted scientific dredging techniques to excavate sand from the river-beds without harming environment. He said surface mining, if possible, should be avoided as cultivable land could not be destroyed only for mining. Taking serious note of 4.57 lakh tonnes of mining material lying in two districts awaiting procedural clearance for auction, Sukhbir asked the department concerned to immediately auction the mining material. He also asked the Irrigation Department to undertake riverbed mapping to identify suitable sites for dredging sand. He said Punjab had a 800 km-long canal network and there was a huge potential for dredging sand scientifically. He asked the Industry Department to delegate the power to SDMs/tehsildars/naib tehsildars for excavating soil for construction purposes. Asking the Deputy Commissioners to cancel contracts of mines that had not started operations, Sukhbir said that nobody would be allowed to monopolise the trade by creating a scarcity of the construction material.
Taking stock
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Patiala MC: Give traders 10 yrs to relocate firms
Patiala, June 10 “We have passed the resolution and the government will now take a final decision on the issue,” he said. Meanwhile, Congress and the SAD-BJP combine today got into a tug of war to claim credit for the decision. While the SAD-BJP claimed it was their brain child, Congress said that the ruling combine was pressured to take the decision by them. Brahm Mohindra, Congress MLA (Rural) from Patiala, attended the General House meeting today and asked the councillors to ensure the affected shopkeepers are given 10 years to shift their business establishments. “The government needs to be more sympathetic towards the shopkeepers as most of them have been operating from their current location for several years,” he said. The Congress had been criticising the government for failing to draw a road map to provide alternate sites to such illegal establishments. Affected shopkeepers had been opposing the move and were ready to strike work today. The Municipal Corporation had short-listed 631 illegal establishments that were to be shifted.
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63 Cavalry launches trekking expedition
Chandigarh, June 10 The team will be negotiating a distance of 152 km over a route that will take them over the Khatling glacier at a height of 16,500 feet. It is a lateral glacier at the source of the Bhilangana river in the Garhwal Himalayas, a statement said. During the expedition, the team will also interact with the local populace en route and educate them on the need to maintain ecological balance. The regiment, also known as the Tresath Risala, has carried out numerous adventure activities for its troops in the past, ranging from an expedition to the Andamans, cycling expeditions in the Himalayas and treks to remote areas of Himachal Pradesh and Garhwal Himalayas. These expeditions were aimed at encouraging the troops to face tough challenges and build up the team spirit of the unit.
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Chandigarh, June 10 He said PCS officer Gurpal Singh Chahal, had been posted as Commissioner, MC, Patiala. Kanwal Preet Kaur Brar had been transferred as ADC (D), Ludhiana, Rishipal Singh as DETC, Ludhiana, Lovjeet Kalsi, as DTO, Amritsar, Amandeep Kaur as AC (Gen), Amritsar, Major (Dr) Amit as AC (Gen), Barnala, Jaspal Singh as SDM, Tapa, Harjit Singh Sandhu as Estate Officer, Bathinda Development Authority, Manpreet Singh as Secretary, RTA Bathinda and SDM, Talwandi Sabo, Harjot Kaur as AC(Grievances), Fatehgarh Sahib, Rajesh Tripathi as SDM, Jaito, and DTO,Faridkot, Arvind Pal Singh Sandhu as ADC (D)Ferozepur and SDM, Gurharsahai,Vijay Syal as SDM, Zira, Amit Bamby as SDM, Malerkotla, Nidhi Kalotra as SDM, SBS Nagar, Neeraj Kumar as SDM, Moonak, Nayan as SDM, Balachaur, Jatinderpal Singh as SDM, Raikot, Arina Duggal as AC (General),Ludhiana, Anupreeta Johal as Secretary (Exams), Punjab School Education Board, Patiala, Paramjit Singh as SDM Jalandhar-2, Bakhtawar Singh as SDM, Tarn Taran and Khadoor Sahib, Major Singh as ADC (Gen)Moga and SDM, Dharamkot, Pushpinder Singh Kailey as SDM, Ropar, BM Singh as DTO, Ropar, Amarbir Singh Bhullar as AC(General), Mohali, and Lakhmir Singh as OSD to CM. — TNS
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Slain YC leader's father contradicts prime accused
Amritsar, June 10 He was reacting to a press statement by Sarwan Singh, prime accused in the case, that he was innocent and that he had been implicated in the case. Daljit Singh, an eyewitness to the murder, was injured in the attack while trying to save his son. He said a police complaint was filed by his nephew since he (Daljit Singh) was injured in the attack. Meanwhile, reacting to Sarwan Singh's claim that he was the Patti Block Congress president, District Congress Committee president Dharamvir Agnihotri and constituency in charge Harminder Singh Gill said Sarwan Singh was expelled from the party on August 20, 2012, because of anti-party activities.
— TNS
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Reservation of seats for post of sarpanch
Chandigarh, June 10 The vacation Bench of Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain and Justice Paramjit Singh issued a notice for June 18 on petitions filed by Sukhwinder Singh of Nangal Thathal village in Hoshiarpur district and Kamaljit Kumar of Kittna village in the Garhshankar block. The two had challenged the instructions dated May 2 and the subsequent notifying of seats in the general category. Counsel for petitioners argued that the Punjab Government issued a circular to all Deputy Commissioners on May 2, directing them that the 2008 roster be made the basis of reservation for the 2013 panchayat elections.These instructions were mischievous as earlier reservation for the post of sarpanch was made on the basis of the 1998 roster. In his petition, Sukhwinder Singh contended that during the elections to the gram panchayat in 1998, the seats for the post of sarpanch were reserved for women in the general category. Again in 2003, these were reserved for male candidates in the general category . In 2008 again, these were reserved for women candidates in the general category. These had now been kept in the general category. As such, reservation for SC women candidates had not been made so far . Kamaljit Kumar contended that during the 1998 gram panchayat elections, seats were reserved for SC (men) and again in 2003 these were given to women in the general category. In 2008, these were kept for women in the general category. Now in 2013, the seats had been kept for the general category candidates. As such, in this case too reservation for SC women candidates had not been made so far. Kamaljit's counsel argued that as per the 1994 rules, seats had to be reserves first for Scheduled Caste candidates, then for women in the SC category followed by women in the general category and then for general category candidates. These rules had been violated by the government through its May 2 instructions, he argued. About the case
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Amritsar, June 10
Chandigarh, June 10
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