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tribune special
Month on, Hayre fails to join as NRI panel member
NRI projects under RTS Act soon
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Grievance panel to start work next week
Congress workers protest, seek CBI probe
Sack Majithia, demands Youth Cong
More ministers may be
involved: Khaira
PPP seeks removal of ‘illegal’ SAD hoardings
SAD to sound poll bugle at Maghi Mela
Sardulgarh MLA keen to contest from Bathinda
AAP to launch poll drive from Fatehgarh Sahib
Rural development Director appears before rights panel
PIMS docs may call off strike today
SGPC official ‘diverts’ donor’s money to own account
Govt on back foot over Bhola’s charges, looks for a way out
No CBI probe: Sukhbir
Mining at Ropar quarries to resume anytime
Now, liquor vendors told to get licence by February 4
Manrajwinder’s parents to visit Oz High Commission today
National Institute of Electronics to be set up in Ropar soon
Sangrur civic body to earn
Rs 30 lakh from hoardings
Firecracker unit catches fire, owner dies
Sikh Rattan for former ragi
Administrative work takes a hit as posts lying vacant
Abohar FM station hanging fire as govt fails to provide land
Fazilka villagers oppose setting up liquor factory
Hoshiarpur MP asks PM to intervene
Another drug racket busted, kingpin held
Bhawanigarh woman held for killing mother-in-law
Moga girl abducted, gang-raped
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tribune special
Jalandhar, January 7 The state government, in August last, had announced setting up of three fast-track courts but the promise is yet to be kept. The courts were to come up in Moga, Ludhiana and Mohali. The NRIs now either have to depend on the lone NRI court in Jalandhar or the judiciary in their native area. The Jalandhar court too has not been of much help. Since it is headed by a Junior Division Magistrate, it can only handle civil suits, meaning criminal cases will be hears in regular courts. Taking note of the pending cases, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had recently approved the constitution of an NRI court at the appellant level in Jalandhar district. The recommendation was made by the District Administrative Judge. A proposal to convert the existing two (non-NRI) fast-track courts in Jalandhar into NRI appellant courts has also been sent to the high court. The Doaba belt, comprising Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr districts, has the highest numbers of NRI-related complaints in Punjab. Though the government had announced that the Jalandhar court would exclusively hear the complaints of NRIs, the ground reality speaks otherwise. This court still continues to hear the over 2,500 cases pending with it before it was converted into an exclusive NRI court. This is in addition to other cases of two police stations in its jurisdiction and a women’s cell. Though the court has been taking up NRI cases on a priority, the community cannot expect speedy disposal of their complaints. Since its re-designation, around 392 new NRI cases have come up in the court and 358 have been disposed of so far. “Due to lack of infrastructure and shortage of judges, the government is hesitant to start more fast-track courts for NRIs,” says advocate Inderjit Singh Bhatia. He says trial has been speeded up in Jalandhar after the constitution of the exclusive NRI court “but only in some matters”. “This court cannot handle certain cases, including of succession and Guardian and Ward Act. It also cannot handle criminal suits,” he says. A Chicago-based NRI, Amarjeet Kaur, complains: “One court won’t serve the purpose in a state where every third house belongs to an NRI. The government should set up more exclusive courts at the junior and the appellate level as well as speed up trial.” Her case over a land dispute has been pending in the Jalandhar court for the last six months. From 2001 to 2011, the Union Government had released funds amounting to Rs 870 crore to various states for setting up fast-track courts for clearing pending cases. Twenty such courts were set up in Punjab. “Though the Centre has discontinued the scheme, Punjab has been maintaining those courts at its own expenses. It should designate some of them as NRI courts,” says Justice (retd) Arvind Kumar, chairman of Punjab State Commission for NRIs. Legal tangle Due to lack of infrastructure and shortage of judges, the government is hesitant to start more fast-track courts for NRIs… The Jalandhar NRI court cannot handle criminal suits and certain other cases Inderjit Singh Bhatia, advocate Though the Centre has discontinued the scheme (for setting up fast-track sourts), Punjab has been maintaining those courts at its own expenses. It should designate some of these as NRI
courts Justice Arvind Kumar, NRI Commission chairman One court won't serve the purpose in a state where every third house belongs to an NRI. The government should set up more exclusive courts at the junior and the appellate level as well as speed up
trial Amarjeet Kaur, Chicago-based NRI The proposal (to have three fast-track courts) has been taken up with the high court. The government has informed the high court that it is ready to bear the expenditure incurred on setting up these
courts Bikram Majithia, nri affairs minister
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Month on, Hayre fails to join as NRI panel member
Jalandhar, January 7 Nominated reportedly on the recommendation of BJP state president Kamal Sharma, Hayre’s UK citizenship is stated to be the obstacle to him joining the office. Hayre confirmed he had not yet joined as his appointment had been referred to the legal cell for their opinion. Insiders said an amendment in rules for appointment to the NRI Commission was under consideration. They said Hayre himself was keen on joining as a member even if it came at the cost of his British citizenship. The commission has around 400 cases listed with it. While Hayre is yet to join, another member, Jagtar Singh Saini, had stepped down following complaints that he participated in BJP functions during zila parishad and block samiti elections in May last. Based in Hoshiarpur, Saini now is a BJP general secretary. Hayre had headed the NRI Sabha from 2008 to 2012. Initially aligned with the Congress, he later shifted his loyalty to the BJP. He lost to Jasvir Singh Shergill, who reportedly managed NRI votes of hundreds of Indians living in Gulf countries. Shergill said he had proposed having the NRI Sabha chairman as a member of the commission as it could have helped in speedy disposal of complaints.
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NRI projects under RTS Act soon
Chandigarh, January 7 “We have received complaints from NRIs that proposals submitted by them take too long at the official level. Now, we have decided to bring such proposals under the RTS Act. The officials concerned will have to approve or reject the proposal within a specified period. In case of failure, action will be taken against the official concerned,” said Bikram Singh Majithia, Punjab Minister for NRI Affairs here today. Talking to The Tribune, Majithia said the current government-NRI funding ratio for such projects was 75:25 and projects were underway in over 50 villages. The government had earmarked Rs 42 crore for such projects in the current financial year. Majithia also said it was wrong to conclude that most of the NRIs were against the SAD. “Only some radicals are opposed to the Akali Dal. Had the NRIs been anti-SAD, we would not have won most of the seats in Doaba, the region from where most people are settled abroad,” he said. Asked what the main objective behind holding NRI Sammelan was, Majithia said the government wanted to resolve various problems faced by NRIs in Punjab. “The previous conferences have proved useful in understand the issues faced by NRIs.” Following such interactions, the government had amended the Punjab Rent Act 1995, the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act 1953 and the Pepsu Tenance and Agriculture Lands Act 1955 to get the properties of NRIs released from tenants. He said registration of marriages had been made mandatory to deal with fraud NRI marriages. Majithia said the government would write to the Centre to open exclusive Punjab centres in Indian embassies in the countries where Punjabis dominated the list of NRI migrants.
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Cong gives in to disgruntled leaders
New Delhi, January 7 The panel will be headed by Jalandhar Lok Sabha MP and Congress Working Committee’s special invitee Mohinder Singh Kaypee. Among the members will be senior leader Lal Singh, AICC secretary KL Sharma and Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress chief Malti Thapar. The Congress leadership has asked the committee to look into all grievances and submit a report to the AICC within a month. “This committee will look into grievances and in consultation with senior leaders suggest the ways and means to address the issues,” Shakeel Ahmed, AICC general secretary in charge of party’s affairs in Punjab, stated in a communiqué to Punjab PCC president Partap Singh Bajwa. Top sources in the Congress said a seven-member disciplinary committee for the PPCC would be announced tomorrow to ensure that workers aired their grievances at the party forum alone. “Anyone doing otherwise will be dealt with by the disciplinary panel,” AICC sources said. Ahmed said: “We have formed a grievance committee and hope all senior leaders will engage with the committee and give suggestions on ways to improve the PCC. We hope none will talk about his/her concerns openly. The committee will report back to us in a month.” Three of the four members on this panel are disgruntled leaders Kaypee, Lal Singh and Malti Thapar. While Kaypee is cross with PPCC president Bajwa for appointing Jalandhar Rural and Urban district Congress presidents without consulting him, Lal Singh has been upset over lack of say in the appointments for Patiala where MoS External Affairs and Patiala MP Preneet Kaur has had a key role. Malti Thapar had slammed the PCC list which comprises just eight women among more than 100 office- bearers. Senior Punjab leaders said the grievance panel would not inspire confidence among the disgruntled leaders who would have liked the AICC general secretary to address the rebellion. “The grievance panel appears meaningless. The high command should have directly held talks with the leaders concerned and acted,” said a leader. Congress leaders said they had done the balancing act by having an SC (Kaypee), an OBC (Lal Singh), a Brahmin (KL Sharma) and a woman on the committee. PPCC List Row *
Three of the four members on the grievance panel are unhappy with the PPCC appointments *
Mohinder Singh Kaypee is cross with PPCC president Partap Bajwa for appointing Jalandhar Rural and Urban district Congress presidents without consulting him *
Lal Singh has been upset over lack of say in appointments for Patiala where MoS External Affairs and Patiala MP Preneet Kaur has had a key role *
Malti Thapar has slammed the PCC list for inadequate representation to women Another PPCC member quits Amritsar: Alleging favouritism in the new PPCC list, senior party leader Tarsem Singh aka DC today resigned from the party post. Addressing mediapersons here today, Tarsem Singh, who had resigned as Income Tax Commissioner to join the Congress few years ago, alleged that the present state party leadership was constantly ignoring him. Without naming state party chief Partap Singh Bajwa, he said: "The policy of encouragement and support to turncoats will prove disastrous for the party in the parliamentary elections". He said he was compelled to construe that the PPCC chief was encouraging sycophancy as he was sidelined during the mass contact programmes held in his Attari constituency. Tarsem was among the 140 leaders who were recently appointed executive members. Earlier, he was party in charge of the Attari assembly constituency. Senior Congress leader OP Soni refuted the allegations. He said Tarsem had lost two successive assembly elections in 2007 and 2012 from Khadoor Sahib and Attari, respectively. He said the reports of his remaining absent from Attari were constantly pouring in.
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Grievance panel to start work next week
Jalandhar, January 7 “We will seek a clarification on the terms of reference of the job assigned to us. We will hear grievances and suggestions made by District Congress Committee (DCC) leaders and submit a report to the party high command within a month,” said Mohinder Singh Kaypee on the phone. He was on his way to Jabalpur. Kaypee and his loyalists are happy over the assignment given to him. Senior leaders such as Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, who had raised a banner of revolt against PPCC chief Partap Bajwa, are pleased that the party high command had responded to their pleas. “Now, leaders will be able to put forth their viewpoint before the committee without mincing words,” said Chaudhary Jagjit Singh. He said the party could not afford dissidence at this juncture when parliamentary elections were round the corner. Hence the setting up of the grievance panel was a welcome measure. Mohinder Singh Kaypee, MP The committee is fully competent to execute the job. I am sure that they will deliver. Their basic job is to see where the problem lies and suggest remedial measures. Amarinder Singh, former CM
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Congress workers protest, seek CBI probe
Amritsar, January 7 Congress workers demanded Majithia’s arrest. Harminder Singh Gill, general secretary, PPCC, said Majithia should be sacked from the Cabinet and booked under the NDPS Act . Fatehjung Singh Bajwa, PPCC general secretary, said the Chief Minister should ask Majithia to quit. He said the Congress would launch a state-wide agitation if Badal tried to shield Majithia. He also demanded action against police officers who allegedly took a Rs 25 crore bribe for shielding smugglers. The probe must be handed over to the CBI, he said. Congress leader Lalli Majithia said: “If the CM doesn’t sack Majithia and order that a case be filed against him, the Congress will step up its protest.” Fatehgarh Sahib: Local Congress workers threatened to disrupt rail and road traffic if the government did not order a CBI inquiry into the alleged involvement of Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in a multi-crore drug racket. Led by Mandeep Kaur, wife of local MLA Kuljt Singh Nagra, the protesters burnt Majithia's effigy amid anti-government slogans.
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Sack Majithia, demands Youth Cong
Jalandhar, January 7 Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary said it was a matter of concern that Majithia, brother-in-law of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, has been named by Bhola as the brain behind the multi-crore drug racket. “Bhola has said he will reveal names of more ministers and police officers. This proves that the drug trade in the state has the blessings of the Punjab Government,” said Chaudhary, adding that he would meet Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on the matter. Local Congress workers burnt minister Bikram Majithia’s effigy at Company Bagh Chowk here. The workers, led by District Congress chief Rajinder Beri, gathered in front of the MC office amid slogans of ‘jija-saala murdabad’. Leader of the Opposition in MC House Jagdish Raj Raja said an independent inquiry into accusations against Majithia was a must. The Pendu Mazdoor Union also held a protest against the minister. “A thorough probe into the role of Majithia and other SAD leaders named by Bhola must be held,” said union leader Kashmir Singh Ghugshore. Moga: Congress workers burnt effigies of Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia at Moga, Baghapurana and Dharamkot on Tuesday. Youth Congress leaders Sukhwinder Singh Danny and Manjit Mann lashed out at the Chief Minister for “ignoring controversial issues.” District Congress president Darshan Singh Brar said: “For a fair probe, the case should either be handed over to the CBI or a judicial commission.” Amarjit Singh Bittu Dharamkot, block president, said Majithia should be put behind bars. Gurdaspur: Dera Baba Nanak MLA and Gurdaspur District Congress president Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa today sought a CBI inquiry into the assets of boder area MLAs. He said druglord Jagdish Bhola's disclosure that a senior Cabinet Minister was involved in drug trafficking proved that SAD politicians were hand in glove with the drug mafia. " The CBI should look into the assets of all legislators of border areas. Some of them have become rich overnight," Randhawa added.
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More ministers may be
involved: Khaira
Chandigarh, January 7 Releasing a photograph of Akali leader and accused in the drug racket Bittu Aulakh sharing stage with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Majithia and Khadoor Sahib MP Rattan Singh Ajnala, Khaira said the involvement of more senior Akali leaders in the racket could not be ruled out. "The people of Punjab are curious to know the names of other Akali ministers who are involved in the drug trade as Bhola has said that three ministers are actively involved," he said, adding that these leaders were creating hurdles in the fair investigation. Khaira said it was unfortunate that Sukhbir had chosen to defend his brother-in-law instead of ordering a fair probe. He
said the Punjab Police was highly politicised. "I dare the Punjab Police
to allow Jagdish Bhola to record his statement before a magistrate," he
said. Gurdaspur: Fatehjang Singh Bajwa, general
secretary, PPCC, today demanded immediate arrest of Revenue and Public
Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and a CBI probe into the drug racket. He said Majithia's involvement in the drug racket had become clear after drug lord Jagdish Bhola named him. He
claimed that two more ministers were involved. He said the Congress would launch an agitation if Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal failed to initiate any action against Majithia. He also demanded a probe into allegations that police officers took Rs 25 crore bribe to shield drug smugglers. Meanwhile, party leaders Raman Bahl and Vinay Mahajan held demonstrations in Gurdaspur and Sujanpur, respectively. The Congress will launch an agitation if Chief
Minister Parkash Singh Badal fails to initiate any action against Majithia. Fatehjang
Bajwa, ppcc general secy
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PPP seeks removal of ‘illegal’ SAD hoardings
Muktsar, January 7 Honey alleged that the SAD leaders had not even spared the outer wall of District and Sessions judge’s house on the Kotkapura road. “The hoardings have come up on the outer wall of the police station. It seems the police station has been converted into SAD’s office,” Honey said. He demanded the administration should remove “illegal” hoardings and initiate action against people who installed them.
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SAD to sound poll bugle at Maghi Mela
Abohar, January 7 Addressing party workers and supporters here today, district president of the ruling party Manjit Singh Barkandi said that adequate arrangements should be made to ferry thousands of people by road transport to make the SAD conference a grand success. Circle president Jathedar Kaur Singh said that road safety norms would be followed strictly as the region had been engulfed in fog.
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Sardulgarh MLA keen to contest from Bathinda
Mansa, January 7 The party high command yesterday sought his willingness for contesting from
Bathinda. Mofar said today that he was willing to accept any challenge for the party. Former Rajya Sabha MP Surinder Singla and former legislator Harmander Singh Jassi are the other two claimants for the seat.
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AAP to launch poll drive from Fatehgarh Sahib
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 7 Vishal Moudgill, convener of the party in Fatehgarh Sahib, said they had sought permission to hold the rally from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office. Moudgill the party was getting an overwhelming response at its membership drive in the district. He said five camps were arranged daily in Sirhind, Mandi Gobindgarh, Bassi Pathana, Amloh and Khamano. People from all walks of life were seen at the camps.
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Rural development Director appears before rights panel
Chandigarh, January 7 In dock for not obeying the commission’s orders, the Director, Rural Development and Panchayat , Dr SK Raju, personally appeared before the commission and expressed regret for the same. He has assured the commission that such an incident will not re-occur and that official matters of such nature will be handled on priority. The Director informed the Commission that action had been taken against the department employees, responsible for delay in furnishing the details under the Punjab civil services (punishment and appeal) rules, 1970. The Director has further claimed that letters from the Commission had neither been shown to him nor had they been sent to the related branch, as a result he was not aware about the gravity of the matter. The Commission had thrice asked for a report from the director of rural development and panchayat department regarding illegal acquisition of government land and misuse of panchayat grants. The Department did not feel the need to submit the report to the Commission hence the Director had been summoned for December 6, when the director submitted a written apology. It may be mentioned that the residents of the village ‘Haidon baet’ in Ludhiana, on May 2, 2012, had filed a petition against the sarpanch for misusing his position, and for irregularities in distributing grants, besides illegal acquisition of government land. In the complaint, the involvement of the husband of the lady sarpanch, who is the Panchayat secretary was also mentioned. The commission took serious notice of this matter and demanded a report from the panchayat department. Interestingly, the Director told the Commission that action had been initiated against the father-in-law of the lady sarpanch for illegal acquisition of 6 marlas of government land.
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PIMS docs may call off strike today
Jalandhar, January 7 After the assurance by Dinesh Mishra, the doctors also agreed not to restrain MBBS students from attending their classes from tomorrow. But, they said the final decision would be taken tomorrow after a staff meeting, which would be held in the presence of local MLA Pargat Singh. Around 50 doctors meet Mishra on the PIMS premises today. They raised various demands, including one-pay-one-rank, increments, promotions and payment of pending dues. But, the paramedical staff is adamant on continuing with their protest. They have been demanding that either the state government or the Centre should take control of PIMS. Dr SS Sidhu, one of the doctors leading the protest, claimed Mishra had agreed to pay another month’s salary to the striking doctors by January 20. Then, he said, only a month’s salary would remain pending. The management has already cleared three months’ salary.
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SGPC official ‘diverts’ donor’s money to own account
Amritsar, January 7 SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said the matter was under investigation. The matter came to light when the devotee filed a complaint with Makkar, accusing the official dilly-dallying the issuance of a receipt for the donation. SGPC Secretary Manjit Singh said action would be taken if the official was found guilty. “The inquiry has been entrusted with the SGPC flying squad. We are scrutinising the account details of the official. Our aim is to find out if it really happened with bad intention or the issue was just conspired to malign the image of the official,” he said.
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Govt on back foot over Bhola’s charges, looks for a way out
Chandigarh, January 7 The government remained undecided on whether or not to order an inquiry against the minister till late in the evening. Government sources said top functionaries in the Home Department held closed-door meetings to take a call on initiating an inquiry. The officials debated on the terms of reference of a possible inquiry and the person or agency to be entrusted with the task of going into Bhola’s allegations against Majithia and top police officials who busted the drug racket. Sources say the reason behind the government mulling an inquiry is to avert the possibility of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) looking into the charges. With the General Election round the corner, the state government does not want to be embarrassed by the allegations levelled against its minister. Bhola has alleged the involvement of three Akali ministers in the drug racket and threatened to name another minister from the Doaba region on January 20 during his next court hearing. With senior Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar moving the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the court having put the state on notice for a CBI probe in the matter, the state government is wary of the central agency investigating the matter. Sources say the government is keen on an action plan before the petition comes up for hearing on January 28. Some officials are reported to have argued that ordering an inquiry would tantamount to biting the bait thrown by the Congress. They feel that the government will be cornered if it orders an inquiry. Further, it will not be in the best interest of the SAD-BJP alliance, especially with elections round the corner. Jalandhar: Druglord Jagdish Bhola was brought on production warrant here. His medical examination was conducted at the local Civil Hospital on Tuesday evening. Inspector-General of Police Balbir Kumar refused to give any information on Bhola. Sources said the Jalandhar police brought Bhola here to question him on his role in a case involving a brother sister duo who were arrested by the CIA on July 2011 and synthetic drugs recovered from them. Home Department officials go into a huddle * Top Home Department officials hold closed-door meetings to take a call on an inquiry * Debate on terms of reference of a possible inquiry and the person/agency to be entrusted with the inquiry into druglord Bhola’s (in pic) charges against Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia, state police * Bhola has threatened to name another minister ‘involved’ in the drug racket during court hearing on January 20 * The Badal Government is desperately trying to avert the possibility of a CBI investigation into the charges * The government fears that allegations against its minister may cost the party dear during the coming Lok Sabha elections
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Sukhbir Singh Badal, deputy chief minister I have done no wrong. I am open to any impartial probe and ready to be hanged if Bhola furnishes any proof against
me. Bikram Singh Majithia, revenue minister The blatant manner in which Majitihia has chosen to respond to the charges is disgraceful. People in Majha can attest to the fact that Majithia is actively involved in drug
trade Manpreet Badal, ppp president
Mohali: The Punjab Government will not order a CBI inquiry into Bhola’s allegations against Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia, said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on the sidelines of a function here on Tuesday. “Should we go for a CBI inquiry because a criminal is speaking against us? If a criminal names the Prime Minister or Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi, will you hold an inquiry against them? This is ridiculous. Bhola must prove his allegation against Majithia,” Sukhbir said. He alleged that the Congress had started playing “dirty games” ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Majithia, who was present at the function, said: “ I am ready to be hanged if Bhola furnishes any proof against me.” — TNS Bhola's charges baseless: Patiala SSP Patiala: Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hardial Singh Mann today said he and his team would take the Bhola case to its logical end. He said several agencies, including the Narcotics Control Bureau, Army Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, BSF’s Intelligence wing and the Enforcement Directorate, were jointly working on the case along with the Punjab Police. “Hence, the allegation that the Punjab Police took Rs 25 crore from Bhola are baseless,” he said. He said such allegations motivated him further to take on notorious drug smugglers. “From the start, Bhola has been trying to shift the focus of investigation. His charge against the state police is just another attempt in this direction. We have collected sufficient information on at least 40 drug smuggler. We will ensure that the guilty are nailed. My team is working very hard on the case and we have ensured that the inquiry is totally transparent,” the SSP said. Mann claimed there had been no political interference in the case.
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Mining at Ropar quarries to resume anytime
Ropar, January 7 Mining in the district was banned in June 2011 following a direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court leading to acute shortage of building raw material. It also led to the prices of sand and gravel skyrocketing. Moreover, hundreds of cases were registered against the people found mining illegally. However, the state government auctioned some of the quarries in September that could not become operational due to want of clearance from National Environment Impact Assessment Authority (NEIAA). While the NEIAA approved the case of the five abovementioned quarries, the bidders after obtaining the no objection certificate from PPCB placed the case before Principal Secretary KA Singh for his approval yesterday. Recent developments *
The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) issued a no objection certificate in this regard yesterday *
The government is expected to approve mining in these quarries tomorrow.
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Now, liquor vendors told to get licence by February 4
Sangrur, January 7 State Food and Drug Administration Commissioner has written to state Excise and Taxation Department Commissioner in order to issue these directions to all the liquor vendors. The licences are being issued by designated officers at the offices of civil surgeons in the districts. When contacted, Dr Surinder Singla, designated officer-cum-District Health Officer (DHO), Sangrur, today confirmed the receipt of such a letter. He said liquor vendors with an annual turnover of up to Rs 12 lakh, would have to get registered while vendors with an annual turnover of over Rs 12 lakh, would have to obtain a licence. He said under the provisions of the FSSA, liquor vendors without the requisite documents after February 4 would have to pay a penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh and face an imprisonment of up to six months. The letter makes it clear that the liquor business would be treated at par with the food business. The registration fee is merely Rs 100 per annum while the licence fee is Rs 2,000 per annum.
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Manrajwinder’s parents to visit Oz High Commission today
Hoshiarpur, Janaury 7 Sources said Manrajwinder’s elder brother Yadvinder Singh and cousin Michael Iman Singh informed the victim’s mother Sarabjit Kaur and father Surinderpal Singh that he was out of coma. Manrajwinder’s parents have been staying at the house of Sarabjit’s brother in Pakhowal village in Hoshiarpur. “God has saved my son on Gurpurb today. Now, I just want to be close to him,” said Sarbjit, on hearing the news. Sarabjit Kaur and Surinderpal Singh would leave for Delhi tonight to appear for their interview in New Delhi at 10 am. After completing the paper work, they will return to their native village, Nangal Kalan, on Wednesday night and then catch a flight to Melbourne the next day from New Delhi. Yadvinder, who is in Australia, said the Australian Government was bearing all the expenses of Manrajwinder’s treatment. Yadvinder said Manrajwinder Singh had a suffered from a serious head injury and was operated upon. He said the victim’s condition was improving. On December 29, Manrajwinder Singh (20), a student of commerce at the Cambridge College of Melbourne, was assaulted by eight thugs while he was with two of his friends near Melbourne's Princes Bridge. Thereafter, he was admitted to the Alfred Hospital. The itinerary *
After completing the paper work in New Delhi, they will return to their native village, Nangal Kalan, on Wednesday night *
Thereafter, they will catch a flight to Melbourne the next day from New Delhi.
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National Institute of Electronics to be set up in Ropar soon
Ropar, January 7 The standing Finance Committee of Department of Electronics and Technology (DeitY) approved the construction of the institute on November 19 with a financial outlay of Rs 84.64 crore. The officials at the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, Chandigarh, (NIELT) are preparing to start the construction. Sources said the Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology would soon lay the foundation stone of the institute. The state government allotted the land to NIELT, Chandigarh. According to a communiqué from NIELTS to state Chief Secretary, the institute was to be set up in Ropar, considering the huge requirement of trained manpower in the electronic sector. Various courses would be introduced to develop skilled manpower for indigenous manufacturing and development of electronics products. The institute would introduce programmes of varying duration from four weeks to one year in Electronic System Design Manufacturing (ESDM) and IT. About the institute *
The institute is to be set up in Ropar, considering the huge requirement of trained manpower in the electronic sector. *
Various courses will be introduced to develop skilled manpower for indigenous manufacturing and development of electronics products. *
It will introduce programmes of varying duration from four weeks to one year in Electronic System Design Manufacturing (ESDM) and
IT.
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Sangrur civic body to earn
Rs 30 lakh from hoardings
Sangrur, January 7 Sources said the council had earned a maximum of Rs 5 lakh a year from hoardings in the last five years. After dividing the city into four zones this year, the council succeeded in allotting three zones through bidding for Rs 23.5 lakh. The remaining zone, for which tenders will be invited soon, is likely to fetch Rs 7 lakh.The sites for putting up hoardings and advertisement boards have been identified as per directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after forming a five-member committee. The committee has selected 17 spots in the city where hoardings and advertisements boards can be installed. Enterprising move *
After dividing the city into four zones this year, the council succeeded in allotting three zones through bidding for Rs 23.5
lakh. * The remaining zone, for which tenders will be invited soon, is likely to fetch Rs 7
lakh.
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Firecracker unit catches fire, owner dies
Qadian (Gurdaspur), January 7 The incident happened when the victim, Kunan Singh, was demonstrating the use of firecrackers to a customer. The roof of the factory was blown off. Singh sustained injuries and died on the way to the Civil Hospital, Batala. The fire tenders from Batala reached the spot after an hour. Police officials from Batala reached the spot. Qadian’s firecracker manufacturing units have been operating in contravention of norms.
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Sikh Rattan for former ragi
Amritsar, January 7 The SGPC is contemplating action against the online sale of “pinni parshad” by a Bangalore-based firm. Disclosing this here today, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said the matter was forwarded to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh for his approval. Bhai Gurmej Singh, who is visually impaired, had produced a Braille version of Guru Granth Sahib in 12 years. Dr Kirpal Singh has done immense research in Sikh history and would be the first recipient of this honour from Akal
Takht.
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Administrative work takes a hit as posts lying vacant
Gurdaspur, January 6 On one hand, the administrative work is suffering as key posts are lying vacant and, on the other, residents cannot complain under the Right To Service (RTS) Act since officers designated as first or second appellate authorities have not been appointed. A senior bureaucrat, on the condition of anonymity, said: “Since long the Punjab Government has been treating Gurdaspur as a poor cousin of other districts.” Recently, IAS officer Joram Beda was posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) giving relief to overworked officials but, before he could join, he sought a deputation to Arunachal Pradesh, his parent cadre. The post has been lying vacant since. The posts of General Assistant (GA) to the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Executive Magistrate (EM), District Revenue Officer (DRO) and Sub-divisonal magistrate (SDMs) of Batala and Dera Baba Nanak are lying vacant. Gurdaspur District Transport Officer (DTO) JS Grewal has been given the additional charge of Batala SDM, while Gurdaspur SDM Tejinder Pal Singh Sandhu is holding the additional charge of Dera Baba Nanak SDM. All these officers are designated as either first or second appellate authorities to decide complaints under the RTS Act. Needless to say, residents are a harried lot. Deputy Commissioner Dr Abhinav Trikha, however, claimed that work pertaining to the RTS Act was not suffering. “We have made arrangements to ensure that work does not suffer,” he said. Politicians admit that owing to the district’s ‘backward’ tag, officials are unwilling to get posted here. “We have to adopt the carrot-and stick-policy when it comes to transferring officers to Gurdaspur. They are reluctant to be posted here as getting transferred to the district is considered a punishment posting. We are, nevertheless, doing our best to ensure that the requisite numbers of officers are posted here,” a minister from the area said. Petitions pertaining to the recently held panchayat elections have been consigned to the back-burner. “The appeals from Batala are heard by the ADC (General), but in his absence there is nobody to decide the election petitions,” an official said. Overwoked officials *
Recently, IAS officer Joram Beda was posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) giving relief to overworked officials but, before he could join, he sought a deputation to Arunachal Pradesh, his parent cadre. The post has been lying vacant since *
The posts of General Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner, Executive Magistrate, District Revenue Officer and Sub-divisonal magistrate of Batala and Dera Baba Nanak are lying vacant *
Gurdaspur District Transport Officer JS Grewal has been given the additional charge of Batala SDM, while Gurdaspur SDM Tejinder Pal Singh Sandhu is holding the additional charge of Dera Baba Nanak SDM.
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Abohar FM station hanging fire as govt fails to provide land
Abohar, January 7 The Centre had asked the state government to allot 2.5 acres for the project but, till date, the Parkash Singh Badal government has not acted. The proposed station has a provision for the state-of-the-art studio with a budgeted cost of Rs 48 crore. Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Sunil Jakhar sought Chief Minister Badal’s cooperation to fast track the project for Fazilka’s remote sub-division. It is being said that the Chief Minister spoke to the Fazilka Deputy Commissioner (DC) in this regard. In spite of repeated attempts, the DC did not respond to phone call by this correspondent. The district administration asked the Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs) of Abohar and Khuyian Sarwer, besides the local Municipal Council (MC) to find land for the project, but none responded. An idea for the FM radio station was floated on April 5, 1995, when the-then Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Col KP Singh Deo, inaugurated a 100-watt Low Power Transmission (LPT) centre of Doordarshan (DD), Jalandhar, in a rented accommodation here. Deo had assured then Union Minister Balram Jakhar and then Rajya Sabha member Virendra Kataria that the LPT centre would be equipped with the FM radio station and shifted to an upgraded complex. To this day, the assurance is to see the light of day. The sorry state of affairs can be gauged from the garbage littered around the LPT centre. This is not all. The centre has been gradually losing 20-km range since no efforts were made to upgrade it technically. It relays DD news channel programmes that have limited viewers. Placing the issue in a larger perspective, Dr Rajinder Girdhar, who had represented Punjab at the national cultural festivals, said: “In most villages, shamlat land has been encroached on, but the administration finds it difficult to allot just 2.5 acres for a project of national importance.” “The state government has not bothered to provide land for the FM radio station that could promote talent among youth, besides educating farmers. It seems that the government is neither inclined to promote agriculture nor culture,” Sukhjit Brar of Daulatpura village said.
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Fazilka villagers oppose setting up liquor factory
Fazilka, January 7 The sarpanches, along with other villagers, of Khui Khera, Bodiwala Pitha, Kikarwala Roopa, Beganwali, Bandiwala, Sabuana, Jandwala Kharta, Tahliwala, Shahtirwala, Lakhewali Dhab, Kheowali Dhab, Kabulshah Khuban, Raikot and Hiranwali have written a letter to the Deputy Commissioner (DC), pleading that toxic waste water from the proposed factory would result in the degradation of environment and sub-soil water. As a result, health-related problems would arise and, hence, the environmental clearance should not be given to the factory. The 14 panchayats have passed a resolution to protest the proposal. The villagers, including women, had protested near the site of a public hearing conducted by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) on December 14. Hiranwali sarpanch Santosh Godara said that on being persuaded by liquor company’s consultant YP Jain, villagers visited Bathinda’s Sangat Kalan village to asses whether or not any damage was caused to environment because of the firm’s distillery unit there. The villagers found that polluted water from the factory caused damage to the environment. Thus, villagers are opposed to the proposal, villagers Satpal Sharma and Davinder Godara said. Panchayat member Balram Keswania said if the proposal was not shelved, the sarpanches and all members would resign from their posts and go on a hunger strike.
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Hoshiarpur MP asks PM to intervene
Jalandhar, January 7 Besides, Khanna has demanded that the Centre should create pressure on Pakistan to ensure safety of minorities in that country. Referring to a news report, ‘Pak refugees stare at a bleak future’, published in The Tribune on January 2, Khanna, in a letter to the Prime Minister and others, said Hindus and Sikhs who, had migrated from Pakistan for fear of being converted to Islam, were living in a pitiable condition. “The news report states that the Hindu migrant families from Pakistan are leading a miserable life. They have not been given permanent residency and the right of citizenship. You are aware that Hindus and Sikhs have been treated with cruelty and their property is not safe. Their human rights have been violated from time to time, but the Indian Government is unable to put pressure on Pakistan to ensure that they live a dignified life,” the letter states.
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Another drug racket busted, kingpin held
Patiala, January 7 The police claimed that Dev had been in the drug trade since 2004 and had even supplied opium to drug peddler Jagdish Singh Bhola. Hardial Singh Mann, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, said Dev was arrested from Sriganganagar on January 5. He was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patiala, yesterday, who remanded him till January 14. Investigations revealed that precursor chemicals katamine, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were procured by peddlers from Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi and smuggled into Canada. The processing of these chemicals to manufacture synthetic drugs was done mainly in Canada by China and Vietnam nationals. The SSP said the primary conduits for smuggling the contraband into India were Pramod Tony, a Karol Bagh-based operative, and another person who owned a ship. Case file * Dev has been into the drug trade since 2004 * His men procure precursor chemicals from Mumbai and Delhi and smuggle these into Canada * The chemicals are used to manufacture synthetic drugs in Canada * Pramod Tony, a Karol Bagh-based operative, and another person who owns a ship are primary conduits in India * Dev had also supplied opium to drug peddler Jagdish Singh Bhola
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Bhawanigarh woman held for killing mother-in-law
Sangrur, January 7 The accused, Beant Kaur (23), is married with a three-old-child, and her paramour Kuldip Singh (25) is pursuing a Diploma in Pharmacy at Kalaudi village. They were in a relationship for over a year. Beant’s husband has been working in Dubai for the past two years, while she was living with her mother-in-law in Bhawanigarh. Beant and Kuldip are accused of murdering former’s mother-in-law Harwinder Kaur (50) at her house in Bhawanigarh, 22 km from here, on December 31. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu said today that Beant had lodged a complaint with the police that unidentified people had murdered her mother-in-law with an intention to loot the house. During investigation, Beant confessed to be in a relationship with Kuldip for the past about one-and-a-half years, Sidhu said. She admitted that Kuldip used to visit her house often. On December 31, Harwinder saw him in the house and raised a hue and cry. At this, Beant hit an iron tool on her mother-in-law’s head twice, resulting in her death. After Harwinder died, the accused took gold and silver ornaments from her body and created a scene of robbery to mislead the police, the SSP said, adding that the police had recovered the mobile phone and ornaments from the accused. Case file *
The accused, Beant Kaur and her paramour Kuldip Singh allegedly murdered Harwinder Kaur (50) at her house in Bhawanigarh on December 31 *
Beant admits that Kuldip used to visit her house often. On December 31, Harwinder saw him in the house and raised a hue and cry. At this, Beant killed her
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Moga girl abducted, gang-raped
Moga, January 7 The girl yesterday managed to escape from the clutches of the youths and returned home. A case has been registered at the Mehna police station against the accused identified as Gurpreet Singh, Gopi and Soni, all residents of Ghal Kalan village in the district. The victim's father who works as a labourer at a brick-kiln reported the matter to the police. He had earlier filed a complaint after his daughter went missing. He alleged that no efforts were made to trace her. The medical examination of the victim conducted at the district hospital confirmed that she was raped. The police were raiding the possible hideouts of the accused, who were evading arrest, said a police officer.
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Clash at Takht Patna Sahib, 3 injured
Hoshiarpur, January 7 The Dal Khalsa has termed the clash as “shameful and disgraceful.” Its president HS Dhami said the Giani Partap Singh, who is Head Granthi of Takht Sachkhand Hazur Sahib, was appointed additional chief granthi of Takht Patna Sahib, to which Gaini Iqbal Singh and his supporters objected. This led to a bloody tussle. Reiterating his party’s demand for a judicial commission to look into the drug trade in the state, he said arrested druglord Jagdish Bhola’s charge that Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia was involved in drug trafficking was a matter of concern and should be probed by a sitting Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge as the “people must know the truth”.
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Jalandhar, January 7
Congress workers today burnt an effigy of Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia at his home turf and Bhikhiwind, demanding that his “role in drug trafficking” be probed. They also blocked NH-15 at Harike in Tarn Taran for more than an hour. People’s Party of Punjab also held a protest on the issue.
Former Congress MLA and party spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira today demanded a
CBI probe into the sensational disclosures made by drug kingpin Jagdish Bhola
regarding the involvement of Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the
racket.
A day after alleged drug kingpin Jagdish Bhola raised a political storm linking Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia with the illicit drug trade in Punjab, the state government is in a fix on how best to deal with the raging controversy.
The government remained undecided on whether or not to order an inquiry against the minister till late in the evening. Government sources said top functionaries in the Home Department held closed-door meetings to take a call on initiating an inquiry.
The nearly three-year ban on mining of sand and gravel at five quarries in the district is likely to be lifted this week. Sources said the Punjab Pollution Control Board
(PPCB) issued a no objection certificate in this regard yesterday and the state government was expected to approve mining in these quarries tomorrow. The quarries are located at
Surewal, Bhalan, Kiratpur Sahib, Palasi and Dayapur. Around 73,000 tonne of sand and gravel can be extracted from the 73-hectare Surewal quarry in a year and 12,000 tonne of raw material from the 6-hectare Bhalan quarry.
The Punjab Government has failed to provide land for an FM radio station that the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had approved last year.
We will seek a clarification on the terms of reference of the job assigned to us. We will hear the grievances and suggestions by DCC leaders and submit a report to the high command in a
month.
If a criminal names the Prime Minister or Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi, will you hold an inquiry against them? Bhola must prove his allegation against
Majithia.
Similarly, 37,000, 22,000, and 63,000 metric tonne of raw material could be mined from Kiratpur Sahib (32 hectares), Palasi (19.5 hectares) and Dyalapur (53 hectares) respectively.