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Innocents listed as militants, HC told
State pins hope on Finance Commission for bailout
Congress too bats for farm package
Dy CM opens incentive floodgates for investors
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Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura thermal plants get coal supply assurance
Tension in Fatehgarh Churian over shifting of power meters
Floods: To assess loss, central team to visit Muktsar today
Special train to Bikaner to benefit Abohar cancer patients
Ex-CM Brar’s wife dies at 85
Sand mafia attacks police patrol party in Ferozepur
2 Moga cops held for drug trafficking
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Innocents listed as militants, HC told
Chandigarh, September 7 Whosoever went abroad during the period of terrorism in Punjab, his name was mentioned in the list of hardcore terrorists, said Banga Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bhagwant Singh during the resumed hearing on a criminal petition filed by Shingara Singh. He was seeking directions to the Punjab Police to delete his name from a list of “non-hardcore terrorists” maintained in the police records of Behram police station in Nawanshahr district. Shingara Singh contended that he was never involved in any criminal case during his entire life. In his affidavit, the Banga DSP admitted that “during the period of terrorism, the names of the persons who went abroad, as per a report of the Crime Branch, CID Security and Secret Information, were mentioned in the list of hardcore terrorists”. The DSP, in his affidavit, also admitted there was no record available with the police showing involvement of the petitioner in terrorist activities. “The police has no objection if his name was ordered to be deleted from the list of non-hardcore terrorists.” Taking serious exception to the contents of the affidavit, Justice Ram Chander Gutpa orally expressed his shock and dismay over the statement and also the conduct of the police in not deleting the name of the petitioner from the list of non-hardcore terrorists and instead leaving it to the High Court to order deletion of his name from the list. Justice Gupta, however, adjourned the hearing to October 1.
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State pins hope on Finance Commission for bailout
Chandigarh, September 7 Making a forceful presentation, after submission of a memorandum, before the Finance Commission led by its Chairman YV Reddy at the Punjab Bhawan this morning, the Chief Minister informed the commission that the Centre had referred the issue of debt-stressed states of Kerala, Punjab and West Bengal to the 14th Finance Commission and thus demanded Rs 24,813 crore as debt relief grant towards outstanding small savings and Central Government loans. He mentioned that the then Prime Minister IK Gujral had waived the entire special term loan raised during the militancy period in Punjab. However, when it came to implementation, only the outstanding balance on that date was waived. He impressed upon the commission to grant a special term loan and interest already paid by the state amounting to Rs 2,694 crore at current prices. The Chief Minister also requested the commission to fix the share of states in central taxes at 50 per cent and also to bring cess, surcharge and royalties to the shareable pool. Seeking a package of Rs 8,775 crore, the Chief Minister said the state needed the money for a shift in the cropping pattern (Rs 2,400 crore), upgrading grain storage and handling (Rs 2,750 crore), development of livestock sector (Rs 1,880 crore), water management (Rs 550 crore), market development (Rs 585 crore) and research and development (Rs 350 crore), besides other things. The state said the government did not have requisite funds to achieve diversification in agriculture, and the money the state got under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was too less to achieve this objective. Punjab has also asked the Finance Commission to set up a dedicated agriculture diversification fund for states that were instrumental in ushering in the Green Revolution and devolution of this fund should be based on performance benchmarking. Since devolution of funds for agriculture through a common pool or plan allocation have failed to bring farmers out of the wheat-paddy cycle, Punjab has urged upon the Finance Commission to make a sustainable arrangement for funding of agriculture diversification that increases the size of the agricultural economy and avoids a situation where the country's food security and livelihood of farmers are threatened. Earlier, Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa said the government had enacted Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act in 2003 and subsequently amended it to make it consistent with the fiscal consolidation path recommended by the 13th Finance Commission. The state has been able to meet the financial consolidation path targets except for revenue deficit.
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Congress too bats for farm package
Chandigarh, September 7 Former Finance Minister Surinder Singla, who was accompanied by Congress spokesman Rajanbir Singh at a meeting with the commission members, said the state had made a huge contribution to help the country achieve food security. So, now was the right time to help the state rebuild its agricultural economy, Singla said. Singla also urged the commission to create a special fund to support and rehabilitate the SC population in the state. The state had the highest percentage of SCs in the country, he said. He also sought a special industrial incentive scheme to promote industry in the state. Singla said Punjab should be treated as an industrially backward area due to the flight of industry and capital in the last few years. He said the state had lost industry to neighbouring states that were given special incentives by the Centre for the development of industry. The commission should also make provision to help the existing small and medium-scale industry. He alleged development in the state had come to a standstill since the SAD-BJP Government had mismanaged its economy. Singla said they had also asked the government to issue a white paper on the economy. But, the government turned down this demand, he said. He said PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa and other senior Congress leaders would hold a meeting with the commission again in Delhi this month to discuss various economic issues.
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Dy CM opens incentive floodgates for investors
Chandigarh, September 7 Announcing the policy at a function organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi, Sukhbir said Punjab would give 80 per cent VAT and 75 per cent CST exemption for 10 years for all projects with fixed capital investment ranging between Rs 1 crore and Rs 25 crore. He said 85 per cent VAT and 80 per cent CST exemption would be given for investment from Rs 25 crore to Rs 100 crore. Projects with investment of Rs 100 crore or above would get 90 per cent and 85 per cent VAT and CST exemption, he added. While addressing industrialists, Sukhbir also announced that 100 per cent property tax exemption would be provided for investment up to Rs 100 crore and mega projects with an investment of Rs 100 crore or above would be exempted from property tax for 12 years.
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Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura thermal plants get coal supply assurance
Jalandhar, September 7 KD Chaudhri, CMD, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), said the FSA between Talwandi Sabo Power Limited and Mahanadi Coal Fields Limited had been signed. "For the Rajpura plant, the pact has been signed between Nabha Power Limited and South Eastern Coalfields Limited," he said. Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, a subsidiary of Sterlite Energy, is developing the Talwandi Sabo plant while Nabha Power Limited, a subsidiary of L&T Power Development, is developing the Rajpura plant. Construction is underway and the first unit of both the plants is expected to be operational by year-end. Sources said the Talwandi Sabo plant would get an assured supply of 7.72 million tonnes of coal per year from Vasundhra Coal Field Mines, Sambalpur in Orissa. Similarly, the Rajpura plant would get 5.5 million tonnes of coal per year from SECL's mines at Raigarh in Bilaspur (Chattisgarh). Senior power corporation functionaries said power generated by these two thermal plants would be supplied to the PSPCL. Chaudhri said: "Both the plants will use supercritical technology, which helps generate power efficiently and reduce pollution. After the commissioning of these plants, power scenario in the state will improve drastically." Power officials said a 660 MW unit of the Talwandi Sabo plant, being set up at Banawali village in Mansa, was expected to start generation by November end while a 700 MW unit of the Rajpura plant, being developed at Nalash village near Rajpura, would be commissioned in the first week of December.
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Certain forces don’t want me to contest from Amritsar: Sidhu
Amritsar, September 7 Talking to The Tribune on phone from Delhi, Sidhu said, “I have gauged their intentions, which are very clear. They don’t want me to fight from the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat. I am ready to step aside and also willing to campaign for the person fielded by them. However, I will request them not to create hurdles in the holy city’s development.” The cricketer-turned-politician claimed there were some people who felt insecure and were blocking Amritsar’s development. “They are blocking development merely to stop a person. Why this insecurity?” he asked, reiterating that he was ready to make the sacrifice for the alliance. “I have not joined politics for making any personal gains. On the contrary, I left my flourishing career to take up politics as a mission.” He said he had no fear as he knew he did nothing wrong and was fighting for the truth. Sidhu said he had already brought the issue of scuttling of his pet projects to the notice of some of the top BJP leaders in New Delhi. He said he had never resorted to anti-party activities and never breached the coalition dharma. “I spoke out now as Amritsar’s development was at stake and my commitment to this constituency was being questioned. The people must remember that I contested from Amritsar when nobody was ready to face senior Congress leader RL Bhatia. I won the election for the party in 13 days,” he said. Sidhu termed the diversion of funds meant for Amritsar to other towns as “totally illegal” and “autocratic”. He questioned the rationale of keeping the Amritsar Improvement Trust funds amounting to over Rs 100 crore unused while various city projects were hanging fire.
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Tension in Fatehgarh Churian over shifting of power meters
Gurdaspur, September 7 The Batala Police had to take out a flag march to defuse the tension. Representatives of 17 farmer organisations are supporting the residents in their protest against the PSPCL's move to shift
the meters. More than 48 activists were booked by the police when they tried to disrupt the process. Raghubir Singh, Executive Engineer, said the shifting of electricity meters would take three days. Two days ago, power officials had gone to Sukh Sagar Colony to shift electricity meters outside the premises of consumers, but the residents forced them to beat a hasty retreat. Policemen accompanying them too made good their escape after finding themselves outnumbered. SS Mand, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. Tarn Taran: Reports of a standoff between police-supported power department officials and villagers over attempts to curb power theft were received from the district as well. SSP Ranjit Singh confirmed that the PSPCL conducted raids with the police help. Kisan Sangharsh Committee leader Satnam Singh Pannu, however, alleged that 100 farmers were detained in three districts even though they were not involved in any power theft.
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Floods: To assess loss, central team to visit Muktsar today
Muktsar, September 7 Sources in the district administration said the members would assess the losses suffered by villagers and the state government. It will give a report to the Centre on the basis of which funds would be released. Other members of team are Rajesh Kumar, former Chairman, Central Water Commission; and Avinash Mishra, Joint Adviser, Planning Commission (Water Resources). Mishra will not come as he is reportedly unwell. Badal had recently approached the Planning Commission to send a team to the state to assess losses due to floods in Punjab, besides suggesting measures to avert such natural tragedies. In July last year, a high-level expert group on waterlogging had visited Punjab on the request of the state government. In the recent rains, three persons had died while many were displaced in Muktsar district. A number of houses had collapsed. Some government offices too suffered losses. Agricultural fields are still inundated. In some villages, residential areas are waterlogged. Some of the main roads have been damaged badly in the district. Certain drains are still overflowing and the pace of drainage is reportedly slow. Three power grids are also waterlogged causing losses worth crores of rupees to the PSPCL. Political pressure seems to be weighing heavy on officials engaged in the drainage operation. Villagers have blamed the faulty drainage system and improper cleanliness of the drains for floods.
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Special train to Bikaner to benefit Abohar cancer patients
Abohar, September 7 At present, one has to spend more than 12 hours in the passenger train from Abohar to Bikaner through Bathinda-Hanumangarh. The development will benefit commuters from this remote area, including cancer patients and their relatives, who have been travelling by Abohar-Bikaner train, infamous as ‘Cancer Express’. As of now, the authorities have agreed to run the special train on a trial basis till October 9. Patients who have to visit Bikaner for affordable cancer treatment and their relatives can now board the Sarai Rohila train at 6 am to reach Bikaner by the afternoon. However, they will have to book seats in advance as no general coach has been attached to the train.
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Ex-CM Brar’s wife dies at 85
Chandigarh, September 7 Her last rites were performed by her daughter Kanwaljit Kaur Brar in the evening. The funeral was attended by several politicians, including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Food and Supplies Minister Adesh
Partap Kairon, besides people from different walks of life. Gurbinder Kaur was elected as a Member of Parliament from Faridkot in 1980. She also remained a member of the Assembly and a Leader of the Opposition. Her daughter-in-law Karan Brar is the Congress MLA from Muktsar. Her husband Harcharan Singh Brar had died in 2009 while her son Kanwarjit Singh, alias Sunny Brar, a former MLA, had died last year.
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Sand mafia attacks police patrol party in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, September 7 Sources said when the police officials, including Sub-Inspector Gurbachan Singh and Head Constable Sukhchain Singh, challenged the accused at Janda Bagga village, they thrashed the duo and tore their uniform. The accused have been identified as Saraj Singh Nambardar, Loombi, Nishan Singh, Hari Singh, Mandar, Gurbhagat Singh, Shinda and Gurmeet Singh. A few of their accomplices escaped along with tractor-trailers.
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2 Moga cops held for drug trafficking
June 20, 2009:
Head Constables Balkar Singh and Pippal Singh arrested in Madhya Pradesh with 76 kg poppy husk; their third colleague escapes Oct 26, 2009:
Head Constable Jaswinder Singh arrested for drug trafficking Nov 17, 2009:
Sub-Inspector Rajesh Hastir and Head Constable Raj Singh arrested for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 5.5 lakh from drug smugglers to help them escape April 15, 2010:
Constables Balwinder Singh and Kuldip Singh allegedly caught red-handed while supplying opium to a peddler
Moga, September 7 As much as 168 kg of poppy husk, 66 bottles of liquor and Rs 46,000 cash have been recovered from the duo, Assistant Sub-Inspector Jarnail Singh (in charge of Nathuwala police post) and Munshi Jasbir Singh. Confirming the development, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) KJS Dhillon said acting on a tip-off, he along with other senior officers conducted a raid at the police post on the intervening night of Friday-Saturday and found the contraband and the illicit liquor kept there. Dhillon said when questioned, the accused, booked under the NDPS Act, failed to give any satisfactory reply. He said while Jarnail and Jasbir were arrested, Head Constable Devinder Singh Billa managed to escape. “Efforts are on to arrest the third accused,” he said. The SSP said the trio had been dismissed from service. He did not rule out the possibility of illegal sale of drugs at the police post. The accused were produced in a court, which remanded them in three-day police custody. Reacting to the incident, Congress leader and former Minister Darshan Singh Brar alleged that the SAD-BJP government was trying to protect a Moga Akali leader whose involvement in drug trafficking had come to light. He alleged the ruling party leader was hand in glove with the accused and had been protecting them for quite some time. The claim, however, was refuted by the SSP saying investigations were on into the case.
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