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Politics over CM’s Sangat Darshan comes to the fore
SAD, BJP demand special industrial package for state
Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, BJP state chief Kamal Sharma and other
SAD-BJP leaders after presenting a memorandum to the Punjab Governor in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan |
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SIT begins probe into PPSC recruitment scam
Congress panel to decide on Khaira’s outburst in a week
Cong poll panel to meet on Jan 27
AAP leader alleges police harassment
SAD poll panel holds meeting
Farmers fight yellow rust disease with ‘lassi’
Fan units battle winds of change
8 cops suspended for lying about arrest
Tube well connections to pre-2007 applicants in a month
Give regular jobs to safai karamcharis, demands BSP leader
Two youths to stand trial for rape in Oz
Janjua’s petition in graft case dismissed
7 drug peddlers held
Proclaimed offender held
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Politics over CM’s Sangat Darshan comes to the fore
Gurdaspur, January 24 The Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency, allocated to the BJP, has nine assembly seats, out of which Pathankot, Sujanpur, Bhoa and Dinanagar have been allocated to the saffron party. The remaining — Gurdaspur, Qadian, Batala, Fatehgarh Churian and Dera Baba Nanak — are the SAD seats. Akali leaders aver that being Bajwa’s home turf, the Chief Minister wants to organise the maximum Sangat Darshan programmes in the constituency. But, the infighting among the area in-charges and a BJP-SAD divide in some seats, including Dinanagar, has meant that the CM was left with little option, but to shelve his plans on many occasions. Chief Minister loyalists — former Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon and former Cabinet Minister SS Sekhwan — persuaded Badal to hold the programmes in their respective seats of Fatehgarh Churian in November and Qadian in September. On the flip side, Sangat Darshans are yet to be held in Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur and Batala — strongholds of former Cabinet Minister SS Langah, Parliamentary Secretary GS Babbehali and Batala Area In-charge LS Lodhinangal, respectively. “People in Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur and Batala are irked as no Sangat Darshan has been organised. The event carries political mileage as grants are given to panchayats to carry out development projects. Going by a conservative estimate, one Sangat Darshan translates into 7,000 to 10,000 votes for the SAD,” a former SAD Minister said on the condition of anonymity. There have been reports of area chiefs are impressing upon Badal not to hold the programme in areas where their rivals rule the roost. Senior leaders reportedly persuaded Badal to cancel the Sangat Darshan in Dinanagar scheduled for January 21 and 22. The rivalry between Gurdaspur district SAD president SS Langah, considered close to Badal, and Dinanagar BJP area chief BD Dhuppar is said to be reason behind the cancellation of the event.
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SAD, BJP demand special industrial package for state
Chandigarh, January 24 The MLAs had earlier announced they would stage a dharna outside the Governor's residence. Sources said the Governor asked the Akali leaders to meet him at Raj Bhawan so that he could hear their grievances. Outwitted, the SAD-BJP leaders had no choice but to cancel the protest. Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal said. “We deserve a special industrial package more than any other state as we battled terrorism. It is strange that the Punjab Congress leadership bends before the Gandhi family and refuses to take up Punjab’s cause with the Centre. Our MPs will now protest in Parliament,” he said. Punjab Congress chief Partap Bajwa said the Congress-led UPA Government had never discriminated against Punjab. Rather, it was the NDA Government, in which the Akalis were partners, that had first announced tax concessions for industry in all hill-states and the North East states.
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SIT begins probe into PPSC recruitment scam
Patiala, January 24 Sources said retired IPS officer MS Bali and Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) Chief Director Suresh Arora began the inquiry on Monday. “The team has also set up a permanent office in the Public Works Department guesthouse where senior VB officers will be available for hearing and registering any complaints in this regard,” they said. The state government had notified the constitution of the SIT a fortnight ago. The scam had taken place when Sanjit Kumar Sinha (who died in 2011) was the PPSC chairman. Sources said the SIT had summoned all the files pertaining to the recruitment from the PPSC headquarters in Patiala. “The then PPSC members, who were part of the selection process, can also be summoned for the probe as the then chairman is no more,” a source said. “Many candidates had raised a hue and cry over the manner in which recruitments were made to the PPSC in two lots of 100 and 212 under the General PCMS-1 category in 2008 and 2009,” said a senior officer. “The SIT members would regularly visit Patiala and meet people who have anything to say on the issue. The probe is being monitored by the high court and is to be completed within four months,” he added. SIT member Suresh Arora told The Tribune that candidates who had appeared for the test, whether they were selected or rejected, were free to contact the team and record their statements or objections if any. VB officials said the SIT team would be assisted by an Inspector General-rank officer, four Superintendents of Police, three Deputy Superintendents of Police, five inspectors, four Sub Inspectors, five Assistant Sub Inpectors, five head constables and 20 constables.
Team camps in Patiala * There were allegations of corruption and favouritism in the selection of 312 medical officers in 2008 and 2009 by the Punjab Public Service Commission *
Retd IPS officer MS Bali and Punjab Vigilance Bureau Chief Director Suresh Arora began the inquiry on Monday *
Sources said the SIT had summoned files pertaining to the recruitment from the PPSC headquarters in Patiala. The then PPSC members, who were part of the selection process, can also be summoned for the probe
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Cong leader joins AAP
Abohar, January 24 He had hosted a national seminar on organic farming organised by the Kheti Virasat Mission. His wife Indu is district president of the Congress Mahila Morcha. Jyani said he was disillusioned with the functioning of other parties and that AAP alone provided a platform for all right-thinking people. “AAP neither believes in caste or creed-based politics,” he said. Jyani has reportedly decided to apply for the Ferozepur ticket. Well-placed sources indicated that a senior BJP leader may also join AAP. They said that Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya (SAD), a Rai Sikh, no longer enjoyed a rapport with BJP workers who felt they were neglected in the allocation of funds under the MPLAD Scheme.
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Congress panel to decide on Khaira’s outburst in a week
Chandigarh, January 24 Gopal Krishan Chatrath, chairman of the Disciplinary Committee for the state Congress unit, said, “I cannot offer any comments on his statement without going into its details. The party will deliberate the matter before reaching any decision.” At the same time, party spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira, in a separate press release, said, “I hereby issue a clarification to the effect that while holding a press conference yesterday, I never mentioned the name of any Congress leader.” At the same time, Khaira said, “It is also correct that during my verbal interaction with mediapersons, I expressed anguish that though senior leaders made statements that 30,000 false cases were registered against Congressmen out of political vendetta, they did not take any action. Unfortunately, no senior leader has come to the rescue of these aggrieved Congressmen including me.” He said no leader made any effort to approach various redressal forums such as Human Rights Commission, SC Commission, Women Commission, High Court or the Supreme Court to ensure justice for these victimised Congressmen. Khaira said, “I did not name any leader, particularly Partap Singh Bajwa, Capt Amarinder Singh or Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, as reported today.” At the same time, the chain hunger strike of the state Congress party, demanding a CBI probe into a drug racket, continued for the sixth day today. Gopal Krishan Chatrath, chairman, Disciplinary Committee, led the strike along with Jasbir Singh Dimpa and Sardul Singh Bandala, PPCC general secretaries from Baba Bakala and Jandiala assembly constituencies.
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Cong poll panel to meet on Jan 27
Chandigarh, January 24 Confirming the development, a senior member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) said the 29-member panel in its first meeting at the party office here, would shortlist the aspirants. The list of candidates would
then be sent to the party high command. Sources said “the committee could shortlist three names for each of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The final list that will be sent to the AICC could have fewer names in case the party decides to forge an alliance with another political party”. Some important names in the election committee include Bajwa, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Sunil Kumar Jakhar, AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, former presidents, RL Bhatia, Shamsher Singh Dullo and HS Hanspal, Union Ministers of State, Preneet Kaur, Santosh Chaudhary and Manish Tewari, former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and AICC secretaries, Ashwani Sekhri and Kuljit Singh Nagra. Capt Amarinder Singh is a permanent member of the committee and Mohinder Singh Kay Pee
is a Special Invitee of the Congress Working Committee. The list also has the names of Members of Parliament, Ashwani Kumar, Sukhdev Singh Libra and Ravneet Singh
Bittu.
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AAP leader alleges police harassment
Sangrur, January 24 Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, SAD secretary general, said his party had no objection to any party enrolling members. The SHO could not be contacted.
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SAD poll panel holds meeting
Chandigarh, January 24 Chaired by SAD secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, the meeting deliberated upon the party's likely vision statement for the poll campaign, said Harcharan Bains, panel spokesman. Senior Akali leaders, including Jathedar Tota Singh, general secretaries Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal and Prem Singh Chandumajra, were also present. SAD secretary Daljit Singh Cheema conducted the proceedings. The panel will again meet on January 31.
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Farmers fight yellow rust disease with ‘lassi’
Faridkot, January 24 The benefit of spraying ‘lassi’ is not limited. If ‘lassi’ is sprayed before the attack of yellow rust, it not only saves the crop from the disease, but also improves yield and quality, say Dr Om Parkash Rupela, National Consultant to World Bank, and Dr GV Ramanjaneyulu from the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA), Hyderabad. They are the consultants with Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), a voluntary organisation working on eco-friendly agriculture in the state. For 1 acre, 7.5 liter of ‘lassi’ was enough to control yellow rust, and improve yield and quality of the grain, said Vinod Jiani and Ashish Ahuja, who practice organic farming in Fazilka over 100 acres. “Farmers in the district have been spraying ‘lassi’ as a preventive measure for the past eight years,” said Amarjeet Sharma, organic farmer from Chaina village in the district. KVM Executive Director Umendra Dutt claimed that scientists from the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (Karnataka) had shown in a scientific study the impact of ‘lassi’ in controlling yellow rust.
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State of Industry Amritsar
Amritsar, January 24 The industry used to produce a vast range of ceiling, table, exhaust and pedestal fans. Brands like Unison Fans, Universal Fans, Atlas, Grindlay, Neelam and ABC had become household names across the country when the industry was at its peak here. Data procured from the Punjab Government shows that at present, a mere seven units are registered with the Department of Industries and Commerce in Amritsar. These units also include some ancillary units that produce fan components, including wire and plastic parts. Those associated with the industry cite a slew of reasons for the present crisis. Change in policy As Satnam Singh, former fan manufacturer who is now into hotel business, puts it: “Leave side announcing any bailout package, no government ever bothered to even constitute a commission to take stock of the problems facing the industry.” Satnam says the Centre’s decision to change its policy (in the early 1990s) that used to ensure nationwide uniform prices of raw material came as a major blow. “The cost of raw material like iron, steel, coal and copper shot up in Amritsar. As a result, our fans became much costlier than other parts of the country,” he recalls. The decade-long militancy was the final nail in the coffin, he remembers. Kiranjit Singh, who is still running ABC Mechanicals, says locally manufactured fans could not compete with high-end brands like Usha, Orient and Cromptonas these companies started selling fans at quite lesser rates. Screw units better off Though the fan industry is struggling for survival, the plight of the wire drying and wood screw manufacturing units is comparatively better. Surinder Mohan, who established his wire drying unit in 1958 and claims himself to be a pioneer in the field, says over 2,000 tonnes of screws used to be manufactured in Amritsar in a month. He says there used to be about 100 wire drying units and close to 500 units manufacturing wood screws and nuts and bolts. The local industry gets raw material in the shape of iron wires (known as mild steel rods) in coils from Jharkhand (Jamshedpur). A fraction of it also comes from Mandi Gobindgarh. Wire drying units convert mild steel rods into coils and thin wires, which are used to manufacture screws and nuts and bolts. He says with the scrapping of the freight equalisation policy in the early nineties, the uniformity in the prices of raw material across the country came to an end. Subsequently, the number of these units dwindled. Currently, about 300 small-scale units are involved in rolling out screws, nuts and bolts whereas the count of wire drying units is less than 40. A manufacturer, Sameer Goel, says Amritsar is still the biggest manufacturer of wood screws. Nails manufactured here are supplied to Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh while wood screws and bolts are sold al over the country. Availability of expert artisans at cheap wages and marketing teams with a well-knit network across the country provide an edge to these units. A majority of the units qualify as a cottage industry as these are located in houses. Surjit Singh, General Manager, District Industries Centre (Amritsar), says wood screw and wire drying associations have been told to organise at least 20 units to become eligible for grants up to Rs 25 crore from the Union Government under its scheme for the revival of medium and small enterprises. “The funds can be used for setting up modern machinery. But, no association has come forward so far,” he says. (To be continued) Key problems * The Amritsar fan industry has failed to compete with the low-cost variants of
high-end companies * The change in policy that ensured uniformity in the prices of raw material dealt a major blow *
The decade-long militancy made matters worse * From 2,500 units two decades ago, the number has tumbled to less than 10
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8 cops suspended for lying about arrest
Mansa, January 24 Jain has accused the policemen of wrongful confinement, torture and demanding bribe for his release. He alleged he was shown arrested with banned drugs from the village, which is 8 km away from his shop. Jain claimed the policemen came to his shop enquiring about some medicines and took him into custody. He alleged he was tortured and then a case under the NDPS Act was slapped on him. Khattra confirmed the suspensions. The suspended policemen are the then SHO (Bhikhi) Sub-Inspector Gurdarshan Singh, ASIs Bhagwant Singh and Balvir Singh, head constables Balvir Singh, Rampal, Karnail Singh and Sukhwinder Singh and constable Gurdev Singh. In 2010, another chemist, Ramesh Kumar of Mansa, had levelled similar allegations against the police. Heroin worth
Rs 70 cr seized Ferozepur: The police today seized 14 kg heroin worth Rs 70 crore and nabbed a drug peddler, identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, of Palla Megha village. Paramraj Singh, IG, Bhatinda Zone, said during a special naka near Sabuana village, two motorcycle-borne persons were signalled to stop. They tried to flee, abandoning the vehicle. One of them was caught and identified as Gopi. He was allegedly involved in several cases pertaining to drug peddling. Manminder Singh, SSP, said till date 32 cases had been registered in the district under the NDPS Act. Undertrial, wife booked Hoshiarpur: The police have booked undertrial Harjeet Singh and his wife Daljit Kaur under the NDPS Act on a complaint by the Deputy Superintendant of Jail. He alleged that the jail authorities had recovered 5 gm of drug powder from the undertrial supplied to him by his wife when she came to meet him on Thursday. — OC How the lie was nailed * Ashok Jain of Bhikhi in Mansa was arrested in August last *
He produced CCTV footage to falsify the police claim * The High Court has ordered the Mansa SSP to appear before it on January 28 *
The court had earlier directed him to form a special investigation team on the matter *
In 2010, another chemist had levelled similar allegations against the police
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Tube well connections to pre-2007 applicants in a month
Mohali, January 24 Speaking to mediapersons after installing Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon as Chairman of the Punjab State Tubewell Corporation here, Sukhbir Badal, who was accompanied by Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said whereas the SAD-BJP Government had cleared pending applications for tubewell connections, the previous Congress Government had not bothered to release a single connection. He said he had already approved installing more than 300-deep tubewells in the kandi and bet areas of the state. He had also approved a programme for the optimum utilisation of the existing tube wells. Installing Parkash Singh Bhatti, former MLA from Balluana, as Chairman of the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation, Sukhbir said the corporation was focusing on giving easy credit to the Dalit population to help them start their own ventures. Installing Vijay Danav as Chairman of the Punjab Dalit Vikas Board, Sukhbir said they were committed to the welfare of Dalits and 40 per cent of the welfare budget would be spent on them.
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Give regular jobs to safai karamcharis, demands BSP leader
Jalandhar, January 24 Addressing about 2,000 safai karamcharis and sewermen who have been squatting outside the MC office for the 10th day in support of their demands for regularisation, creation of more jobs and pension, Kashyap said, “When our party supremo Mayawati was the CM in UP, she regularised the jobs of all safai karamcharis with a salary of Rs 18,500. She even allowed women employees to mark their attendance at 10 am after sending their children to schools and completing the household work. The total working time for the staff is just four hours a day. “If a state with a population of 22 crore can do this, why not yours? It’s because your government does not care about weaker sections,” he said.
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Two youths to stand trial for rape in Oz
Melbourne, January 24 Ajitpal Singh (31) and Randhir Singh (20), who pleaded not guilty at a magistrate court yesterday, were ordered to stand trial in the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court on charges of rape, abduction, unlawful confinement and committing acts of indecency. The two allegedly used a dating application to lure the woman into meeting them at a hopping centre. On September 26, when she reached there, she found three men in a car but did not greet them. One of them then got out of the car, allegedly abducted her and sexually assaulted her. The third man has reportedly fled the country. --- PTI
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Janjua’s petition in graft case dismissed
Chandigarh, January 24 He was booked in 2009 after he was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 2,00,000. Soon after, he was removed from the office of Punjab Director, Industries. Janjua had challenged the sanction order. Appearing in person, he submitted that the competent authority to remove him from service was the Union Government as he was an IAS officer and so, the sanction for prosecution granted by the Governor deserved to be set aside. Justice Rajesh Bindal said “where the sanction order exists but its legality and validity is put in question, such an issue has to be raised in the course of trial”. “Once there is an order sanctioning prosecution of the petitioner, the issue can only be raised during the course of trial.'' Justice Bindal asserted: “The sanction for prosecution of the petitioner under challenge in the present case is not an order in isolation. It has relation with an FIR registered against the petitioner under the Prevention of Corruption Act. “The result of the present petition will be on the trial of the petitioner in the criminal case. There are enough provisions in the criminal law to take care of the grievance of the petitioner. A civil writ petition otherwise also would not be an appropriate remedy. “As in the present case, the petitioner has an effective remedy of raising the issue before the criminal court where the trial is pending.”
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7 drug peddlers held
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 24 Gurmeet Singh Chauhan, SSP, said the police at a naka signalled a car (PB-10CG-0316) to stop, but the driver sped away. After a chase, the car was intercepted and searched. The police found 100 kg poppy husk. All four car occupants were arrested. They were identified as Kulwinder Singh of Ghel village, Ranjit Singh alias Rana of Majitha, Rajesh Kumar of Sirhind and Sabu Tiwari of Bihar. During preliminary investigation, it was found that they supplied drugs in rural areas. The SSP said a patrol team searched Gurbir Singh of Raipur. He was found carrying 100 gm smack. Satwinder Singh of Balhara village was nabbed with 1,200 capsules and Harcharnbir Singh of Amloh with 1,000 tablets.
Jagmeet to assist Shashi Kant Moga: Addressing members of the District Bar Association at Moga on Friday, Congress leader Jagmeet Brar said he would assist former DGP Shashi Kant who had sought a CBI probe into the international drugs racket in the state.
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Proclaimed offender held
Sangrur, January 24 Mandeep Singh Sidhu, SSP, said they had also recovered 1 kg opium and a motorcycle from his possession. The SSP said Pargat confessed that he had been involved in the smuggling of narcotics and bank robberies along with his accomplices for the past few years.
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Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil today persuaded the SAD-BJP legislators not to stage a dharna outside his residence in protest against the extension of tax concessions to the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and
Uttarakhand.
BSP national general secretary Narinder Kashyap today used the platform of the agitating safai karamcharis to cash in Dalit vote for the forthcoming parliamentary poll.
The footage, sourced from a CCTV installed in Jain’s shop in Bhikhi, shows he was arrested from the shop in August last year, and not from the village, as the police had claimed. “The Punjab and Haryana High Court has now ordered the SSP to appear before it on January 28. The High Court had earlier directed him to form a special investigation team to probe the charges,” said Jain in his complaint. The investigation panel, comprising a Superintendent of Police, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and a CIA in charge had found the eight policemen at fault, Jain said.