Congress supports colonisers’ agitation

Flaying SAD-BJP government for introducing the “anti-public” policy of regularising illegal colonies after depositing a huge amount, the Congress has also come forward to support the agitation launched by colonisers. Demanding immediate withdrawal of the new policy, former MLA Jagbir Brar raised questions over the implementation of the policy retrospectively. He said the policy would impose undue extra burden on thousands of residents of such colonies. Also criticising the revenue authorities for imposing a ban on registering sale deeds of immovable properties located in the illegal colonies, he demanded that the ban should be immediately lifted in public interest.

Jalandhar, July 13
More than seven months after the BJP state election in charge set aside the election of the district party president, the party has failed to take a decision on the appointment.

The insiders feel that either the party leaders are adopting delaying tactics so as to diffuse polarity or do not want to hurt the feelings of any two of the three main candidates in line. The party president is likely to choose from any of the three main contenders - acting president Subhash Sud and former presidents Ravi Mahendru and Shiv Dyal Chugh.

While the first one is a neutral candidate, the second is the choice of MLA from Jalandhar (Central) Ravi Mahindra and third of Chief Parliamentary Secretary KD Bhandari. Interestingly, Local Bodies Minister Bhagat Chunni Lal has so far not pushed any of his candidates for the post.

Sud has had two terms while Mahendru and Chugh have had a term each. Party workers feel that if the senior leaders are unable to decide among the three, they may choose a new face from among the office-bearers. Even that perhaps seems to be a remote possibility going by the fact that some district office-bearers, including Anil Sachar, Vipin Sharma, Dewan Amit Arora, Nawal Kamboj and Ramesh Sharma, have already been promoted as state executives.

Owing to delay on the part of the BJP to appoint its district president, the party workers seem to be working in complete disarray and there have been no efforts to strengthen the organisational setup.

State president Kamal Sharma and general secretary Tarun Chugh during several visits to the city have been simply giving assurances to the workers saying that a decision on the matter would be given soon.

It was on November 23, 2012, that former state secretary Ravi Mahendru had been appointed as the district president. His election, however, was set aside on the orders of state election in charge Vinod Sharma on December 4 on the appeal of Shiv Dyal Chugh, whose candidature had been rejected by the poll committee.

Kapurthala, July 13
The SSP, Inderbir Singh, has appointed Jaswinder Pal Singh SHO of the Talwandi Chaudharian police station after replacing SHO Narinder Pal Singh because of yesterday’s incident in which three accused escaped from the lock-up of the police station.

The SSP said despite a high alert sounded in the region the accused had not been apprehended. He said he was yet to assign a departmental inquiry against SHO Narinder Pal Singh, which would take about three months.

Jalandhar, July 13
While the whole world is gearing up to celebrate the first centenary celebration of the historic Gadar Movement this year, Jalandhar is desperately looking for three of its unsung heroes. It has recently managed to identify one but the hunt for the two others is still underway.

The newly identified Gadar hero is Bhan Singh from Basti Guzan. He was active at the Nairobi centre of Gadar Movement in East Africa and was identified with the help of archives received from London and the National Museum of Delhi.

“We just managed to identify his name and locality as of now. We are still connecting the missing threads. Two more people from the city were with him. We are trying to locate them also,” said Gurmeet Singh, co-convenor of the Gadar Shatabdi Celebration Committee, Jalandhar. The event is scheduled to be held on November 1.

Punjab played a very important role in the Gadar Movement as the state was a great source of immigration to USA and Canada, which were the main centres for the movement. “We only have records of those who were caught, imprisoned and sentenced to death. Most of them were also found fake as they used to hide their real identity when caught. So it is very difficult to trace them,” said Chirangi Lal Kangniwal, a research scholar at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee, Jalandhar.

Although, the centenary celebrations of Gadar Movement are on since November last year, it is now gaining momentum. In the city, a political satire ‘Har shakh pe ullu baitha hai’ is scheduled to be staged on July 27 at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall. A ‘Chetna Kafila’ comprising more than 50 people will kickstart from Jalandhar and will visit at least 100 different prominent villages of Gadarites in the state. A mobile van carrying the replica of original 250 rare pictures of the Gadar Movement will also be accompanying the Chetna march.

Political activist, student organisations, volunteers and students will be joining the march en route.

Later, a Chetna Mela will be held from October 28 to November 1 in the city where painting, declamation, singing and quiz competition related to Gadar Movement will be held.

“With all these pompous events in place, we are trying hard to locate our ancestors who gave us a reason to celebrate them and nevertheless showed us the way to live a life full of freedom and choices,” said Darbara Singh Dhillon, president of the Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee. 

Jalandhar, July 13
On the second day of the ‘Save the girl child campaign’, an awareness seminar was held at the Civil Hospital, Nurmahal. Dr Shiv Dial Mali, District Family Welfare Officer, presided over as the chief guest. A play on the theme was presented on the occasion by actors.

Dr Malhi apprised the audience of various schemes being run by the government regarding family welfare, family planning, schemes for pregnant women and girls. Talking about one of the schemes, he said the families who had one or two daughters and had opted for family planning would be given a compensation of Rs 500 per month by government per child. This compensation would continue till the child attained 18 years of age.

He also said if the society does not put an end to the practise of killing girls, then we would be facing a highly skewed sex ratio.

He also apprised the audience about various acts and their provisions.

Dr Ashok Thapar, Dr Sonu Pal, Dr Bhupinder Singh, were also present among others on the occasion. 

Jalandhar, July 13
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has asked the owners of Aristocrat Gallery to refund an amount of Rs 1,360 for a defective trouser and pay up Rs 1,000 as compensation to its client.

In his complaint, Gurmail Singh, a resident of Army Enclave in Dhina village, said he had purchased a trouser for Rs 1,360 from Aristocrat Gallery on February 13.

At the time of purchase, he was assured about the durability of the cloth but after three weeks from the purchase, the said piece turned out to be defective as it started scattering/decomposing from many places.

Gurmail said he showed the defect to store staff, who kept the trouser and assured him of a replacement within 15 days.

A receipt for the same was also issued on March 6. He said a fortnight later, he went to the store for a replacement but was asked to come again later. Gurmail alleged that the replacement was postponed on one pretext or the other.

The plaintiff said the store owner did not give any response to the complainant despite repeated requests and personal visits. Even after issuing legal notice on April 15 to the store owner there was no response, he added.

The forum gave a notice of the complaint to the opposite party but none appeared on its behalf. So, the case was proceeded against ex-parte.

“The opposite party has not appeared to contest the claim of the complainant despite notice. So it appears that it has nothing to say in the matter.

From the unrebutted evidence on the record, it stands proved that the trouser sold by the opposite party to the complainant was defective.

The complainant had returned the defective trouser to the opposite party, but the same has not been replaced within the stipulated period of 15 days and even thereafter, the complainant served legal notice dated April 15, but to no effect,” the forum gave its view.

It accepted the complaint and directed to refund the price of the trouser to the complainant. It also awarded Rs1,000 as compensation and litigation expenses. The store owner has been directed to pay the amount to the complainant within 15 days from the date of receipt of copy of the order. 

Jalandhar, July 13
Stationery was distributed among the students of National Labour School, Bhagat Singh Colony, Jalandhar, by PAHAL, an NGO, in collaboration with M/s Satpal & Sons, in the memory of late Ravi Bhushan. Prof Lakhbir Singh, president of PAHAL, said supporting in the cause of education in the memory of elders is a noble idea. Only education in right direction can help the needy to overcome the problems like poverty and evils. The students pledged they would regularly come to school in a neat and tidy condition. They also promised to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to education. Yog Acharya Shwetank Swami blessed the young students to working hard to achieve their goals in life.

Sikander Singh, Ramesh Variana, Sanjeev Shally, Gurcharan Singh, Capt HS Khurana, Gurpreet Singh, Bharat Bhushan, Kulbhushan from M/s Satpal & Sons, Gopi Kataria, KS Cheema, KS Nagra, Puneet Singh, Pahal member Khushwant Singh Chahal and PAHAL intern Yan, from China, were present on the occasion. 

Jalandhar, July 13
A ‘Veer Nari’ meet was organised by the Vajra Corps for the wives of martyred soldiers at Jalandhar Cantonment here today. As many as 70 Veer Naris attended the meet from various districts of the state.

Shardha Bakshi, president Vajra Family Welfare Organisation, welcomed the Veer Naris. Bakshi personally interacted with each of them to know about their wellbeing and problems being faced by them. Veer Naris were updated by the officers’ wives, who acted as counsellors, about the welfare schemes undertaken by the Centre, the Punjab Government and the Army for them. They were also felicitated during the ceremony.

The forum also highlighted important guidelines issued from time-to-time by the Army headquarters on aspects of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Canteen Stores Department (CSD) facilities, medical benefits, schemes on placement of wards/widows of martyrs and Assured Decent Last Rites Scheme.

Col HP Singh, president of Zila Sainik Board, said the programme was an effort to reach out to the families of these martyred soldiers and extend them a helping hand. Various grievances, banking, placement, pension and utility cells were set up for the day with business groups extending a helping hand for the noble cause. Veer Naris were presented with shawls, induction cookers, sewing machines, walkers, bags and other gift items.

Jalandhar, July 13
Mehdipur Volleyball Championship was organised by 21 Punjab Regiment, under the aegis of Gurki Brigade, with the idea of promoting sports and spirit of competition amongst the youth of the remote areas of Khemkaran tehsil.

A total of 10 teams participated in the ten-day championship with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm. The finals were played between Macchike and Assal Uttar B team. Macchike lifted the inaugural trophy of Mehdipur Volleyball Championship beating Assal Uttar B team by 3 sets to 1. A cash prize of Rs 15,000 was given to the Macchike, the winning team, by commanding officer, 21 Punjab and MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha.

The locals appreciated this initiative taken by the Army to reach out to the people in the far flung areas, where sports facilities are limited. — TNS 

Jalandhar, July 13
A two-day training camp by All India Agricultural Workers Union for its activists from Hindi speaking areas concluded at Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall here on Saturday.

Union general secretary and MP A Vijayaraghavan and its joint secretary Suneet Chopra also participated in the camp to impart training to the union activists.