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Jalandhar
votes 2014
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Manpreet’s pics figure on Congress hoardings
Photographs of PPP president Manpreet Badal and sitting Jalandhar MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee put up outside Congress Bhawan during the filing of nomination papers of Chaudhary Santokh Singh in Jalandhar on Monday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh
Cong candidate has Rs
3.82 lakh excise dues
Contractual staff put on poll duty in violation of EC norms
Better jalandhar unplanned commercialisation—II
Teachers plan to stage protests ahead of Lok Sabha elections
Farmers seek reduction in production cost of crops
Ashes of 1857 martyrs to be immersed in Ravi river on April 13
Granthi nabbed in murder case
Rs 3 lakh stolen from SUV
FROM SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
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Jalandhar
votes 2014 Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, April 7 While there was a complete restriction on not allowing more than four persons with the candidate inside the court room of the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, a similar barricading by the police at the entry gate of the administrative complex was perhaps not as effective. It was only after the cops deputed at the gates realised that hundreds of supporters of the party had barged in that they decided to shut down the gates on those trailing behind. Similarly, scores of supporters of the BSP candidate Sukhwinder Singh Kotli, donning a blue cloth around their necks with party symbol on them, also managed to come along with the candidate. Even as there is a restriction on such a high number of supporters of a party entering the 100-m radius circle of the district election office, the district administration and the police failed to keep a check on them. It being the penultimate day of the filing of nomination papers, even the foot march by hundreds of supporters of various candidates towards the complex during the peak hour of the filing of nomination papers led to a traffic jam on the road outside. Bajwa holds meeting inside complex In another alleged violation of the code of conduct, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Partap Singh Bajwa talked to mediapersons on election issues hardly 10 m from the court room of the DC within the administrative complex. While the Akali candidate had refused to talk to the media inside the DC complex during the filing of his papers on Friday, the PPCC president did not hesitate even for a minute discussing the party strategies and defending the party’s decisions. Bajwa, PYC chief, ex-ministers cool heels The Congress candidate, who was accompanied by party president Partap Singh Bajwa, his brother and former minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, his son and Punjab Youth Congress president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary and ex-ministers Avtar Henry and Amarjit Singh Samra had to wait for nearly an hour, as there were three independent candidates already in queue waiting to file their papers before him. While Bajwa first kept on standing outside the court room, sensing that there could be a longer delay, they made him and other party leaders and supporters comfortable by making them wait in the DC’s meeting hall. Revenue officials were seen repeatedly asking Bajwa for a cup of tea and telling him that there would be just a 15-minute delay. The officials of the nomination committee were at the same time seen telling the independent candidates to quickly wind up their formalities and shift to the room of the Reader to make space for the next candidate. Covering candidate and proposer not allowed in As Chaudhary Santokh Singh was filing his nomination paper, his wife Kiranjit Kaur, retired DPI (Colleges) and son Vikramjit could not attend the ceremony. Both were seen silently peeping from outside the door of the court as no one from the party other than Bajwa, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Amarjit Singh Samra and Congress General Secretary Satnam Kainth were allowed inside. Vikramjit, who was his covering candidate, was allowed in only after his father had left. Even the District Congress Committee president Rajinder Beri, who was the proposer, could not make in at that time. Kainth joins Chaudhary Satnam Kainth, who had announced his defiance against Chaudhary Santokh Singh two days ago, was today seen rallying around the candidate the day through. He was even present at the candidate’s pre-nomination rally. Among those who did not show up today were former Congress MLA Kanwaljit Lally, former Jalandhar Improvement Trust chairman Tajinder Singh Bittu and party’s assembly candidate from Shahkot CD Kamboj. Nominations go up to 15 It being the penultimate day of the filing of nominations, 11 nominations were filed in the day. The total number of nominations have gone up to 15, with four nomination papers filed till Saturday. It being holiday on account of Ram Navmi tomorrow, the papers will not be accepted tomorrow. Wednesday will be the last day of filing papers. The candidate of the Aam Aadmi Party Jyoti Mann is yet to file her papers. Others who put in their papers today were Tara Singh Gill of BSP (Ambedkar), Tarsem Peter from CPI (ML), Paramjit Kumar from Bahujan Mukti Party, Subhash Gauria from Shiv Sena, independent candidates Darshan Singh, Manjit Kaur, Vijay Kumar and Luv Kishore. No chopper for Bajwa Bajwa, who was scheduled to fly from Qadian today, had to come by road, as he reportedly did not timely fulfil all requirements for the permission of landing of his chopper by the district administration. PYC chief Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary alleged that the district administration was playing in the hands of the Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. He said, “The administration gave us permission, but did not smartly mention any coordinates for landing at the PAP ground owing to which the PPCC chief had to start by road right at the spur of the moment.” Restrictions on media again Yet again imposing restrictions on the media, the nomination committee members of the District Election Office did not allow the reporters to enter the court room of the DC where nominations were being filed today. The reporters were, instead, allowed to come via a door and stand in a small space which was already covered by the photographers. It was after the reporters took up the matter with DC-cum-DEO Varun Roojam that they were finally allowed in.
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Manpreet’s pics figure on Congress hoardings
Jalandhar, April 7 After the pact, the PPP leaders, too, were seen joining the show of strength of the Congress today during a pre-nomination rally held at Congress Bhawan. The party’s spokesperson Dr Navjot Dahiya and former PPP councillor Jaswinder Singh Billa also made it to the rally. The photographs of the sitting Congress MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee, who has now been given ticket by the party from Hoshiarpur, too, have found space in these hoardings. Interestingly, the picture of former CM Capt Amarinder Singh figures ahead of the PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa. None of the local Congress leaders, including former ministers Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Avtar Henry and Amarjit Singh Samra, former MLA and District Congress (rural) president Jagbir Brar, District Congress (rural) president Rajinder Beri and Adampur-based leader Satnam Kainth, do not figure on the hoarding.
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Cong candidate has Rs
3.82 lakh excise dues
Jalandhar, April 7 A column of the government liabilities in the affidavit mentions that the candidate has the amount payable to the Central Excise, which is to be paid up to June 30, 2014, as per an order of Assistant Commissioner, Jalandhar, dated December 6, 2013, under Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme. The candidate, who has own assets worth Rs 9.44 crore and that of his wife at Rs 1.52 crore, also has liabilities worth Rs 28.65 lakh towards various banks.
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Contractual staff put on poll duty in violation of EC norms
Jalandhar, April 7 While over 300 school teachers working on a contractual basis have been assigned these duties in the district, the total count of contractual staff deputed on election duty is far greater. On April 4, a request had been made to the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Punjab, asking for the removal of contractual staff in districts. Recently, a letter was issued to DCs for the removal of contractual staff. But so far there are no plans to withdraw the contractual staff from duty. Some of the staff who have been assigned duties are from schools where the teachers are too limited and the nearest school is at least 12 km away. Government High School, Mundi Kassu, has only two staff members for 120 school children. Both have been assigned election duties, and one of them is working on a contractual basis. While the school sarpanch and authorities had approached the local MLA Ajit Singh Kohar over the issue on Saturday (and many other occasions before that), the duties were not withdrawn. Sarpanch Banta Singh, said, “Residents of five six villages, including Mundi Kassu, Jattan Mundi Kassu, Chak Bandala, Morajhvala, had approached MLA Ajit Singh Kohar on Saturday and previously also DEO Kuldeep Sharma. The other nearest high school at Nawa Pind Khalewal is 12 km away. The problem is especially grave for girls. But no one bothers.” School managing committee chairman Jaswant Singh said, “One of the teachers stays 77 km away and travels daily to school. During rehearsals, they will have to travel 90 km (one side). It isn’t plausible.” At Government (Boys) Senior Secondary School, Bhogpur, there are a total of four contractual teachers who teach about 800 students and three are on election duty. In the Bhogpur block, a majority of the contractual staff has been assigned election duties in violation of the Election Commission guidelines. Other schools where contractual staff have been deputed on election duties include Government Senior Secondary School Isherwal, Government High School Chugitti, Government (Girls) Senior Secondary School Phillaur, Government High School Mansoorpur, Government Senior Secondary School Bhar Singh Pura, Government High School Pachranga, Government High School, Ghorewali, Government High School Alampur Bakka, Government Senior Secondary School Bhatnura Lubhana, Government High School Sheikhe Pind, Government Middle School Behram Sarishta, Government Middle School Pandori Musharkti. When asked why despite the EC guidelines and anger from parents (villagers as in the case of Mundi Kassu), the teachers had been deputed on election duty, DEO (S) Kuldeep Sharma said the duties were finalised by the DC and I had no role in it. However, after a letter in this regard by the EC, the duties are now being withdrawn.” DC Varun Roojam said, “We did receive a letter in this regard. Our foremost concern is fulfilling staff requirements. However, we will look into this issue and remove staff where possible.” Sources say the removal of contractual staff will result in a crisis, as the district doesn’t have any alternative staff handy. So, it is impossible to remove them. Except school SSA/RMSA staff, ad hoc and contractual staff from colleges have also been deputed on election duties. Some of these have been fighting for regularisation for years. Chief Electoral Officer Punjab VK Singh said, “The state officers cannot disregard or overstep the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. I shall be examining the matter tomorrow. Contractual staff can’t be deputed for poll duty.”
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Better jalandhar unplanned commercialisation—II Rachna Khaira Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, April 7 Parents should opt for school transport The biggest problem to this issue is traffic chaos inside residential areas with long rows of vehicles jamming the small roads in front of various commercial establishments like schools and hospitals. Parents instead of picking up children from schools, should opt for the school transportation or may go for carpooling in their respective groups. Also, ambulances can be parked inside the underground parking of hospitals. Mostly, it has been noticed that the hospital authorities do not allow patients to park vehicle in the basement as most of them have turned it into a mortuary or a medical store. The enforcement agencies should take stern action against such violators. SK Nigam, General Manager, BSNL Adopt clear-cut policy against habitual offenders The laxity on the part of various enforcement agencies seems to be the prime reason for such a haphazard commercialisation of the residential areas. There should be a complete check on such violations. Various agencies demolish the encroached area, but within 24 hours of the demolition, the violators again build the structure at the same site. The administration should have a clear cut policy on the issue instead of punishing such habitual offenders. Sushil Kumar Malhotra, retd principal, DAV College Residents associations should play active role The resident welfare associations (RWAs) can play an important role to curb this menace and also to put a check on the follow up by various enforcement agencies. The associations should strictly follow any kind of violation or inconvenience caused due to the opening up of any commercial establishment in their area and must inform the respective enforcement agency to act immediately. If the agencies do not take any action, the RWAs should follow the court of law accordingly. As nobody can enter your house without your permission, how can you allow somebody to enter and operate your residential colony which can damage the atmosphere of your surroundings? Manpreet Kaur, NRI Spend fee collected on development of the area The commercialisation fee collected from the area should be spent on the development of the same area only. Actually, the conversion charges from the residential to commercial use of land are very high and is one of the main sources of income to various departments. But mostly, the funds collected as commercialisation fee are used to pay salaries to the staff of the respective departments or some other miscellaneous expenses. There should be a clear-cut policy drafted by the state government that the commercialisation fee collected from a given area should be spent on the development of the respective areas only. Varun Dada, Employee Improve quality of public transport in city I think the use of basement in residential colonies should only be restricted to parking purpose only. Most of the residents are having more than one car in the city, so the flow of traffic has increased in the past few years. Looking at the heavy rush of vehicles on the colony roads, I think the quality and consistency of public transport should be improved so that residents should opt for the public transport rather than using personal conveyance. Dr Kanchan Sandhu, Asst Professor, PAU Schools must have traffic marshal teams I think the biggest problem presently is the schools running from residential colonies. All the schools must have traffic marshal teams that can coordinate and control heavy rush of vehicles in the afternoon. The schools can also plan different timings for different classes at an interval of 15 minutes. This will not only reduce the congestion but will also provide relief to the parents who find it very difficult to locate their ward from the sea of students wearing the same uniform. Dr Sumita Abrol Use Right to Information for empowerment Although, we take all things into consideration while converting a land from residential to commercial use, it is the way a person uses it is a matter of concern. If the people living in the area are facing any difficulty due to the presence of any commercial establishment in their area, they must report the matter immediately to the enforcement agencies concerned. Nowadays, with facilities like Right to Information (RTI) they can get information on the action taken on their complaint. Manpreet Singh Chatwal, Municipal Commissioner
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Teachers plan to stage protests ahead of Lok Sabha elections
Jalandhar, April 7 However, with the conclusion of the 10th board exams today and the announcement of all the various nominees, many of the unions now plan to schedule protests in the coming days, in support of their recent and past unfulfilled demands. While the grouse of almost all teachers across unions in the district (and the state) at present is the non-release of salaries for the past two months (February and March), protests on these and other issues have been held in Majha as well as Malwa but none in the district so far. While some unions say they were prevented (pacified, to be exact) by the education department to stall their planned protests, others say they were waiting for the exams to end and yet others say they are expecting results soon but almost all have a list of demands which will be unveiled in the coming days - in some cases accompanied by constituency-wise protests. One of the most influential unions in Punjab, Master Cadre Union Punjab, having strength of over 29,000, had, during the last general elections, managed a big triumph - an increase in their grade pay. But this time the union again has a long list of demands. The union has been holding protests for payment of pending salaries in various cities but the same hasn’t been done in the district. Harbans Lal, district head of the Master Cadre Union, says, “Like other cities, we were planning to hold a dharna in the city but the DEO,Senior Secondary, told us on Wednesday that the grants for our salaries had been released and we will get them soon. We will wait until Monday after which we will make formal demands for release of salaries.” Meanwhile, state president Gurpreet Riar, reacting on the silence in the region said, “Protests have been held elsewhere but in the coming days we are devising a serious plan for the entire state as well. After a state-level meeting on April 12, union members will be holding a series of protest dharnas at various constituencies.” The prime demands of the union include increase in step up pay on the basis of experience, promotions to senior masters many of whom have still not been promoted to the post of principals despite decades in the department, protests against the strengthening of private players in the education system and starting of English medium groups in many senior secondary schools. The Computer Teachers Union - a major support system for the district administration as well as election duties has yesterday issued a release about the non-issuance of salaries but with leaders saying their heads have been meeting the government and their demands might be met soon, they plan no protest presently. Meanwhile, the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation - an umbrella union for other unions as well as the Science Masters Union, shall also be chalking out programmes on protests. Members of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Union and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) Union are presently distributing pamphlets against the government regarding their demands including pay anomalies and regularisation but haven’t planned any protests so far. Primary school teachers of the aided schools who have not been paid their salaries for the past many months and awaiting DA arrears ,too,do not have any plan for a protest so far. |
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Farmers seek reduction in production cost of crops
Jalandhar, April 7 Kulwant Singh, General Secretary,Jamhuri Kissan Sabha, said to reduce the cost of farming, products including seeds, fertilisers, pesticides/herbicides and tools should be provided on subsidised rates. Apart from this, minimum support price of crops should be hiked by 1.5 times as per Dr MS Swaminathan’s recommendations. “All the crops must be brought under minimum support price, so that farmer will not suffer while they go to market to sell their produce. In 1970s, 43 per cent irrigation was depending upon canals which has been decreased to 24 per cent. The rivers should be channelised for create more canals for irrigation”, he demands. Jagat Parkash Singh of Jalandhar Potato Growers Association said due to the growing gap between input and output, farmers had been suffering a lot. “There is no investment or a specific budget for research on farmer’s plight that I want the next government to concentrate upon,” he added. Jagat said agriculture had always been on the mercy of nature. The government should come up with a scheme to provide them an insurance cover rather than providing meagre compensation after the natural calamity. |
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Ashes of 1857 martyrs to be immersed in Ravi river on April 13
Jalandhar, April 7 Hundreds will gather to pay homage to martyrs on the call given by Amarjit Sarkaria and Kabal Singh Sahpur, heads, Gurdwara Shaheedi Ganj Shaheedan Vala Khuh Ajnala Committee and historian and research fellow Dr Surinder Kochar. Making a declaration in this regard, members of the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Committee said, the blood-stained soil and ashes of the martyrs would be immersed in the Ravi by thousand of persons at the very place where about 150 comrades and associates of these martyrs were gunned down and their bodies thrown in the river. Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Committee president, Darbara Singh Dhillon, General Secretary Dr Raghbir Kaur and Convener of the Cultural Wing Amolak Singh said a special jatha lead by the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Committee would start from the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall on April 13 at 8 am to the Saheehdan Vala Khuh, Ajnala (Well of the Martyrs). Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee appealed to the diaspora ‘in India and aborad’ inheriting the tenets of the ‘Ghadar Movement’, to appeal to the Punjab government to preserve the remaining part of the ashes scientifically. The committee members appealed to people furthering the cause for preserving the ideology of the martyrs to participate in the march on April 13 in a large number. |
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Granthi nabbed in murder case
Jalandhar, April 7 The accused were identified as Mahinder Singh, resident of Bolina village. He reportedly killed his sister-in-law Kamalpreet Kaur on the suspicion that she had poisoned his brother Gurmeet (husband of the deceased) to death. The matter came to the fore after he allegedly confessed to committing the crime before the police. The victim's mother Parminder Kaur told the police that Gurmeet had died six months ago under mysterious circumstances. Since that day, the accused was suspecting that Kamalpreet had deliberately poisoned him to death, the mother alleged. "On Friday, the accused had called my daughter at dera on the pretext that he wanted to return Rs 1.5 lakh which her husband had lent to his close friend. My daughter had not returned home thereafter. Then I filed a missing report at the division No. 8 police station and also told the police to inquire the role of Mahinder Kaur. Acting on this complaint, the police had rounded up Mahinder on Sunday. During preliminary questioning, Mahinder admitted that he strangulated his sister-in-law to death and dumped her body in the gutter. He also accepted that he committed the crime as she had killed his brother. Sources said apart from considering Kamalpreet as the killer of his brother Gurmeet, the accused was also suspecting that she was having affair with some person.
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Rs 3 lakh stolen from SUV
Jalandhar, April 7 Officials of the police division No. 3 reached
the spot and registered Sources said CCTV cameras were also installed outside the petrol pump and the police were inquiring the footage to nab the thieves.
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CT group holds anaemia detection camp
Jalandhar: CT Group of Institutions organised a health camp named ‘Anaemia Detection Camp’ under the guidance and supervision of Civil Hospital and Indian Medical Association, Jalandhar Branch at Guru Arjun Dev Gurudwara Sahib, Bilga Village. During the camp, over 300 volunteers were examined. A team of 10 members, comprising doctors and technicians from the Civil Hospital, Chawla Nursing Home for IMA- Jalandhar, NSS volunteers from CT Group of Institutions and faculty from CT Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences contributed effectively. Aahvaan In continuation with the programme Aahvaan - Vote - My Duty - My Right ,started by the students of Mehr Chand Polytechnic College, another event for motivating the young voters was organised on the campus. Youth of the institute made a human chain showing the word VOTE. Principal Jagroop Singh has announced special appreciation for the students who exercise their franchise. He said the institute would continue to organise such events till the date of elections to motivate the youth for participating in the voting process. Parent-teacher meet A parent -teacher meet was held at the Government Model Co-education Senior Secondary School. Parents and teachers talked about the bright future for schools. The parents honoured the principal on the occasion. School principal, chairman of the school managing committee were also present on the occasion.
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Following the Congress-PPP pact, photographs of the PPP president Manpreet Badal have all of a sudden emerged on the hoardings put up by the Congress candidate Chaudhary Santokh Singh in the city.
