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syl
issue
Power supply to be normal in few days: Dy CM
Jakhar apologises for revealing panel proceedings
Majithia took Rs 70 lakh hawala money: Cong
excommunication
of Haryana Sikh leaders over formation of HSGPC
Jathedar urged to take back decision
A day after, SGPC reinstates auditor
Managements of 11 Adarsh schools back out
Burundi
national Yannick's death
Varsity to hold special exam to fill BDS seats
Man kills daughter, lover in Bathinda
Dalits burn effigy of Sangrur MP
School mgmts wary of toll-free help desk
Rain inundates posh areas of
Sriganganagar
Sikh man in UK jailed for 5 years
SC breather for marriage palace owners
Cong ex-MLA acquitted in murder case
Clerk booked for fraud
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assembly in session
Sukhbir said this during the zero hour when Independent MLA from Ludhiana Baldev Singh Bains sought a CBI inquiry into the alleged synthetic milk racket. Bains alleged the co-operative milk plant procured milk illegally from Rajasthan and later sold it at lower prices as milk powder. He alleged that it was synthetic milk, and that nearly 82 lakh litres were sold in the market. Sukhbir said, “The Chief Minister has already ordered an inquiry and further action can only be taken when the probe panel submits its report.” He maintained the stand when Bains claimed that the inquiry officials belonged to the same department and, as such, “the probe cannot be impartial”. The matter of the illegal supply of milk from a Rajasthan firm was first raised by Tarlocahn Singh Jassar, one of the 12 members on the Board of Directors of the Ludhiana plant. Bains had alleged at a press conference in Chandigarh recently that the milk was not only supplied illegally but it was synthetic too.
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syl
issue
Chandigarh, July 17 Both the sides stated in the Assembly today that they would oppose the SYL issue tooth and nail, claiming Punjab did not have surplus water. The Congress, though, cornered the Akalis asking the government to make a statement clearing its stand as the SAD's coalition partner BJP was in power at the Centre. The Congress said the Centre had again raised the issue by allocating Rs 100 crore for a feasibility study on the project. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said no water would be given, though he did not criticise the NDA government. During discussion in the zero hour, Jakhar had raised the SYL issue claiming the Narendra Modi government had “raked up the controversy by keeping aside Rs 100 crore for the feasibility study”. Jakhar said like the Akalis, even he and his MLAs were not in favour of the project as Punjab “did not have excess water to share with other states”. The Deputy CM claimed the Akalis had made several sacrifices over the issue, and that there was no question of letting the SYL fructify.
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Power supply to be normal in few days: Dy CM
Chandigarh, July 17 Making a statement during zero hour, the Deputy Chief Minister said the Congress-led UPA government had failed to create any additional fuel capacity and that had hit the functioning of the state's thermal plants. He claimed despite several memorandums and appeals by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the UPA government had not raised the coal supply to Punjab. At least 1,546 mw of thermal capacity could not be tapped because of paucity of coal, he said. Sukhbir said with the NDA government in power at the Centre, the Coal Ministry, in the past few days, had increased the coal supply to the thermal plants. Earlier, Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Jakhar sought a “white paper” from the state government on the issue of power “shortage”. Sukhbir gave a detailed reply on the floor of the House assuring things would be “normalised” in the next 15 days as the problem was “temporary”. He, however, said the Congress-led UPA government's failure to create additional fuel capacity had led to under-performance by thermal plants in the state, and that this had created the recent power shortage even though Punjab had achieved “power-surplus status in thermal capacity”. The Deputy Chief Minister claimed that despite repeated memorandums and personal appeals by the Chief Minister, the UPA government “did not increase the coal supply to Punjab to cater to the new thermal capacity created in the state”. He said as much as 1,546 MW of thermal capacity had not been tapped due to paucity of coal.
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Jakhar apologises for revealing panel proceedings
Chandigarh, July 17 The Speaker had pointed out the news reports to him at the instance of BJP legislator Madan Mohan Mittal. Jakhar, however, got some reprieve in a previous case of Breach of Privilege against him for parading a Dalit woman and her father, victims of alleged police high-handedness, in the Assembly two days ago. The special power committee sought time till September 19 for submitting its report. In its preliminary report, the committee said due to some reasons the report could not be presented in the current session.
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Majithia took Rs 70 lakh hawala money: Cong
Chandigarh, July 17 Khaira alleged Majithia received Rs 70 lakh drug/hawala money on April 18, 2011, from Rohit Goyal alias Pinky, a courier of Bhola's aide Gurmeet Manchanda. The latter is at present lodged in the Nabha jail. Showing a document of phone call records, Khaira said a senior officer working in the financial investigation unit (FIU) of the Punjab Police has passed on the information to him. Demanding Majithia's resignation and registration of a case against him, the Congress leader said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had promised to take action against Majithia if there was any proof against him. He said the FIU while tracking call records of Pinky's mobile number 9356414931 got the information of delivery of Rs 70 lakh to Majithia, whose mobile number 9814000003 had also been mentioned in the transcript prepared by the FIU. Khaira alleged the FIU succumbed to the political pressure and made no further investigations into
the matter.
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excommunication of Haryana Sikh leaders over formation of HSGPC
Amritsar, July 17 Talking to The Tribune, former SGPC secretary Manjeet Singh Calcutta said for the past sometime, the edicts being issued by the Akal Takht clearly “gave an impression that it was acting at the behest of the ruling SAD”. He felt that the Takht had no purview to interfere in administrative affairs of the SGPC. He said the SAD was playing havoc with the prestige and respect of the Takht. “The Takht’s supremacy is being compromised with by decisions like ex-communication of Haryana Sikh leaders. The Akal Takht Secretariat should also be freed from the clutches of the SGPC,” he said. To de-politicise its functioning, he said, there was need to formulate norms for appointment, qualification, tenure and removal of the Akal Takht Jathedar, besides clearly defining their working sphere. Former Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission chairman Kashmir Singh Patti said the Akal Takht Jathedar had no right to issue an edict. According to him, the edicts were earlier issued by the Akal Takht only after a unanimous decision was reached on any issue by ‘Sarbat Khalsa’. He claimed that the tradition of calling ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ was done away with by the SGPC on Nirankari issue in 1978. He said it was high time that the old tradition was revived. Former National Commission for Minorities chairman Tarlochan Singh opined that the Akal Takht should have an advisory committee comprising Sikh intellectuals to discuss the issues referred to it in detail and help in reaching a wise division. He said the move would go a long way in upholding the supremacy of the Akal Takht. He said the Akal Takht was the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, which was respected all over the world and there was need to strengthen the institution and make it more acceptable. Noted Sikh scholar Ashok Singh Bagrian said what the ruling SAD was doing was the “blatant use of gurdwara for political gains and the Election Commission was also a party to it as it was silent on the SAD having two constitutions”. He also stressed on the need to have proper guidelines for the appointment of the Akal Takht Jathedar. Former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, who had advocated framing of norms for the appointment and tenure of the Akal Takht Jathedar during his term, said the ex-communication of Haryana Sikh leaders in haste had certainly hit the supremacy of the Akal Takht. “As per ‘maryada’, they should have been summoned and given an opportunity to clarify their stand before acting against them,” he said. Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa said they would not question the Akal Takht move, but stated that they had urged the Jathedar not to act in haste and give Haryana leaders a chance to present their side of the story. Another former Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Bhagwan Singh, termed the Akal Takht's decision against Haryana Sikh leaders as “politically motivated”. He said it was purely a political issue and the Akal Takht should immediately withdraw its decision.
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Jathedar urged to take back decision
Amritsar, July 17 Bhai Mohkam Singh, in a statement, said the issue of a separate gurdwara committee for Haryana was purely political. He said the Act in this regard was formulated by the Haryana Government while Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Deedar Singh Nalvi were not signatories to it. “Therefore, the decision to ex-communicate them should be immediately withdrawn,” he said. According to him, the Sikhs in Haryana first bore the brunt of Partition in 1947, then they were separated in the name of Punjabi Suba and now they were being separated due to the incompetence of the SGPC. He said freedom was every human being’s right and initiating “inappropriate” action against anybody fighting for freedom was not correct. He also alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal wanted to disturb the atmosphere of Punjab in the name of separate gurdwara panel for Haryana.
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A day after, SGPC reinstates auditor
Amritsar, July 17 Though SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar could not be contacted despite repeated attempts, secretary Dalmegh Singh confirmed the development. However, the SGPC is tight-lipped about the reasons behind the sudden U-turn. Drawing an annual package of around Rs 1 crore, Kohli came under fire from a section of the SGPC executive members who questioned his hefty pay and working style during a recent meeting of the executive committee. Talking to The Tribune last evening, Makkar had stated that Kohli had been dismissed on the charges of misuse of power, unnecessary interference in administrative affairs and truancy in work. He said the decision was taken in the last meeting of the SGPC executive committee and the orders were released on July 16. He said Kohli was drawing a package of Rs 8 lakh per month and was looking after the affairs of the SGPC, Guru Granth Sahib World University and its other educational institutions. He had stated that Kohli had further engaged around five to six employees whose salaries too were being paid by the SGPC. He had also alleged that Kohli’s team members used to ill-treat other SGPC employees and that they had received complaints in the past. He had also hinted that the services of these employees (engaged by Kohli) may also be terminated in near future.
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Managements of 11 Adarsh schools back out
Faridkot, July 17 The Punjab Education Development Board (PEDB) has now invited charitable trusts, societies, educational institutions and other groups to operate these schools as private partners. Among these schools, three are in Faridkot, two each in Mansa, Moga and Bathinda and one each in Ferozepur and Hoshiarpur. While inviting new partners to operate the schools, the PEDB has amended certain rules. Since the department had been under attack for not providing its share of contribution on time, there is a provision under new rules that the partner can charge fees from the students if the PEDB fails to release its share on time. But the partner will have to submit a detailed account of expenditure to the board and charge only the fee as fixed by the board. To contribute its share, the PEDB relies on education cess levied on the sale of liquor in Punjab. Since the managements have withdrawn from the institutions, three schools in Mallan, Middumann and Pacca villages in Faridkot are on the verge of closure as the teachers are not getting their salary and students are without books. The power supply to one of these schools has been snapped for non-payment of bills. Similarly, Government Senior Secondary Adarsh School in Pacca village of Faridkot is a picture of neglect. There is no drinking water facility. Teachers have to pool in funds to purchase stationery and other items. To improve the quality and the level of school education in rural areas, 24 Adarsh schools from classes pre-nursery to XII were opened in the state under the public-private partnership mode in 2007-08. The operational cost of an Adarsh school with up to 2,000 students is capped at Rs 1,600 per student which is shared on 70:30 basis between the PEDB and the private partner. The latter is responsible for running the schools. No fee or fund is to be charged from the students and they are to be provided books free of cost. Sources said the managements had left amid controversies such as charging of fee from students on one pretext or the other and the PEDB not making timely contribution of its share.
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Industrial waste makes life miserable for Ropar villagers
Ropar, July 17 Heaps of burnt sand lying in streets of these villages have been playing havoc with the health of villagers. The DCM authorities and the Punjab Pollution Control Board, however, feigned ignorance about any such problem. The soil in these villages has turned black due to open dumping of burnt sand, an industrial waste generated at the DCM plant. Premnagar village has virtually turned into an ash pond. At Railmajra, burnt ash dumped in the open enters the homes of villagers whenever a strong wind blows. Banks of Bisht Doab canal have turned black due to burnt sand in Majra Bet village. "The residents have been facing this problem for the past many years," said Surinder Pal Chhinda, Block Samiti member from Rail Majra. "I have sent several representations to the authorities concerned, including the pollution control board, but nothing has been done to control the menace so far," he said. Rail Majra resident Jagpal said the burnt sand dumped in the village had made their life hell. "You cannot keep any eatable or clothes outside because as soon as you did it, a black layer of burnt sand would cover it," he said. Many people in the area had been afflicted with breathing problems for the past couple of years, said Rajinder Singh Saabi, another local resident. Manoj Gupta, the contractor who lifts sand from the DCM factory, said “Sometimes people request us to unload black sand in their fields so that they could fill craters; and we often oblige them," he said. DCM general manager Ajay Chandorkar has promised to look into the matter. Punjab Pollution Control Board XEN Avtar Singh said, "We received a complaint around 6 months ago and things were resolved. Now, I will investigate into the matter again."
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Burundi
national Yannick's death
Jalandhar, July 17 Even senior police officials admit if Rommy had managed to get an NOC from the Police Commissioner office, he must have been helped by some police officials. Taking a preventive measure for future, Jalandhar Police Commissioner Kunwar Vijay Pratap has now directed the Jail Department to send all NOC requests directly to him for clearance. “I will scan all NOC requests for parole. Every NOC will be issued only after inquiring into the conduct of the criminal concerned,” he said. Sources said the Police Commissioner had also written to the Jail Department not to entertain any parole application of the accused lodged in Kapurthala Modern Jail in connection with the Yannick case. Yannick, who remained in coma for two years after a murderous attack on him in Jalandhar on April 22, 2012, died at his home on July 1. Rommy, who was among the seven accused convicted for attempt to murder, obtained 28-day parole on March 6 this year. He was supposed to return to jail on April 4, but he didn’t.
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Mountaineer awaits promised job
Muktsar, July 17 She was promised a job in the Punjab Police by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during the Independence Day celebrations in Ludhiana in 1998. But 16 years have passed and Sukhwinder is yet to get the promised job. Once a spirited sportsperson, Sukhwinder now works with an insurance company in
Bathinda. Due to apathetic attitude of the government, she has to forgo her desire to join adventure sports as a career.
Sukhi, now 42, is unable to afford the medical bills of her ailing mother. Her father passed away a few years ago and her brother has been in depression ever since his son drowned in a pond two years ago. Sukhi had also scaled Mount Saser Kangri (the highest peak in Karakoram region) in 2002. She achieved this feat without carrying any oxygen cylinder. Besides, she travelled on a bicycle from Muktsar to Khardung La pass (world’s highest motorable road in Ladakh region) at a height of 18,380 ft covering 1,250-km in just 21 days in 2000. She has won many other awards and medals. In 2005, she went on an expedition to the Mount Everest. She wanted to scale the highest mountain without carrying any oxygen cylinder, but this time she got stuck in a snowstorm 800 m short of the peak and had to return. Despite all her achievements, she never got any help from the government. Some local residents had contributed to fund her expeditions. Talking to The Tribune, Sukhwinder said: “My dreams have been shattered. I wanted to earn a name in adventure sports. However, if the state government gives me a job even now, it will boost the morale of other sportspersons, who are unfortunately never given any incentives.” She said she initially worked with a private bank for five years, but lost her job after the bank merged with another bank. “I have so many appreciation letters, but these are just pieces of paper. Whenever I approached any leader or bureaucrat, I only got a false assurance that the job would be given in a short period.” Local residents said the condition of sportspersons in the state could be gauged from Sukhwinder’s plight, who despite belonging to the home district of Chief Minister had to face a raw
deal. Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, District Sports Officer, Muktsar, said: “Since I joined here last year, the former mountaineer has so far not approached me. Moreover, we don’t have any record in this regard.
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Varsity to hold special exam to fill BDS seats
Ferozepur, July 17 Anxious over the large number of vacant seats in dental colleges post-counselling, the Association of Private Medical and Dental Colleges had approached the state government. Of the 14,000 students who had appeared in the All-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) held this year, only 1,300 students scored more than 50 per cent marks to qualify for admission in various colleges. With the state colleges having 1,200 seats in MBBS and 1,100 in BDS, more than 1,000 seats in BDS have, thus, remained vacant. Now that the medical colleges in Patiala, Faridkot and Amritsar have been allowed more seats, those who took admission in BDS during the first counselling are likely to opt for MBBS. This may leave almost all BDS seats vacant. Dr Kamal Baghi said the AIPMT should not be the sole criteria for admitting Punjab students in medical colleges. He pointed out that earlier when the government held the PMET, more students qualified for admission to medical/dental colleges than the number of seats available. Dr SS Gill, Vice Chancellor, said another test to fill vacant BDS seats would be held by July-end or the first week of August. “Students who have passed the Class XII exam with at least 50 per cent marks will be eligible to appear in the test,” he added.
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Man kills daughter, lover in Bathinda
Bathinda, July 17 “Simarjit came to meet my grand-daughter in the early hours. My son caught them together and hacked them to death,” said Darbara Singh. He said his son had no remorse over the killings. Sarpanch Gurpreet Singh said he received a phone call from Chamkaur Singh at 1.30 am and rushed to his house. There, he saw two bodies lying in the front yard. Chamkaur Singh reportedly used an axe and a knife to kill the couple. The bodies have been sent for a post-mortem.
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No staff, villagers lock school gate
Abohar, July 17 At least 15 posts of teacher are vacant in the school. Surjit Singh, director, Panchayat Samiti, said there were only two teachers for more than 250 students in the school. He said the Chief Minister and the Education Minister were apprised of the situation during their tour to the town last month, but no action had been taken so far. Kuldeep Singh, a parent, said Suratgarh MLA Rajinder Bhadoo (BJP) had been approached several times as most parents could not afford private tuitions. But their pleas had fallen on deaf years, he said. Om Parkash, chairman, Vidyarthi Vikas Samiti, said some teachers were shifted on deputation, but they lacked interest in teaching work and left. Subhash Bhakar, chairman, Panchayat Samiti, visited the village to convey that the DEO had offered to provide two teachers on deputation, but the protesters refused to relent.
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Dalits burn effigy of Sangrur MP
Sangrur, July 17 They claimed that they continued to be socially boycotted despite Mann telling the Lok Sabha a few days ago that the issue had been resolved. Mann refuted the allegation against him. Accusing the Congress, BJP and BSP leaders of playing politics on the issue, he said he planned to meet the vice-chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Raj Kumar Verka. The president of the Adi Dharam Samaj, Baopur, Raj Pal, said Mann had “misled” the Lok Sabha. He said that upper caste farmers had employed only a few Dalits as farmhands. “Our children have stopped going to the village stadium for games. The priest of Guru Ravidass Temple, who was beaten up some time ago, has put a lock on the temple gate,” he said. The secretary of Guru Ravidass Welfare Society, Ram Kumar, also took part in the protest.
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School mgmts wary of toll-free help desk
Bathinda, July 17 The help desk is expected to handle the information flow from related branches and then give an answer. It is expected to gather information on the functioning of schools, such as staff attendance, classroom teaching and general discipline. School managements feel that the exercise may prove futile unless responsibility is fixed and certain officials are asked to reply to the queries. When contacted, GK Singh,DGSE, said: “Those on duty will maintain a record of all incoming calls, the details of complaints and the time taken to file replies. Grievances can also be sent on www.ssapunjab.org. “The office will send these to the departments concerned. The departments have been asked to respond within 15 days.” He said he was certain that the move would save parents and their wards of needless harassment.
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Rain inundates posh areas of
Sriganganagar
Abohar, July 17 The residents waded through knee-deep water. The town’s several posh localities, such as Bhardwaj Colony, Jawahar Nagar, Maharana Pratap Colony, Aggarsein Nagar, Sukhadia Nagar and Meera Marg, were inundated. Some roads on which sewage pipes had been laid only recently caved in. The local administration is trying to drain out the rain water from the affected areas.
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Sikh man in UK jailed for 5 years
London, July 17 Kalvinder Singh Uppal had fled to India after he was linked to the abduction and sexual exploitation of the woman in the Highfields area of Leicester in East Midlands four years ago. The victim had been brought from India to the UK on the understanding that she would be working as a dancer in the entertainment industry, "Leicester Mercury" reported. But when she arrived in the UK, she was made to offer sexual services to strangers. In July 2010, she was kidnapped at knifepoint from her house. She escaped from the gang when they dropped her at the Birmingham airport with the intention of taking her back to India. Seven men were convicted for their role in the kidnapping, but the police always believed Uppal was the ringleader. The Leicestershire police worked with the Indian authorities and international law enforcement bodies to secure Uppal’s extradition to the UK last year. He appeared in the Leicester Crown Court last week and was jailed for five years. Detective Inspector Tim Lindley, who led the team that brought Uppal back to this country, thanked the Indian authorities for their help. He said: “ The victim was threatened with sexual violence and death.” — PTI
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SC breather for marriage palace owners
Patiala, July 17 The Punjab Marriage Palace and Resorts Association will now file the review petition in the High Court. On January 10, the association’s plea was disposed of by the Punjab and Haryana High Court which maintained that the Punjab Government’s policy was justified and should not be changed. The association moved the Supreme Court, which has granted permission to the association to withdraw the special leave petition and file a review petition in the High Court. The Supreme Court in its orders stated: “Since we have granted liberty to the petitioner, the direction given by the High Court in para 34 of the impugned order remains suspended till the review petition is heard and decided.”
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Cong ex-MLA acquitted in murder case
Amritsar, July 17 An Akali worker, Dilbagh Singh, was killed during a clash between SAD and Congress workers on January 29, 2007, a few days ahead of the 2007 Assembly elections following which the Election Commission of India had postponed the election in the Beas constituency. Dimpa and his 12 supporters were booked for murder. Advocate Sandeep Gorsi, counsel for Dimpa, said: “After seven-and-a-half-years, the court has stated that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges and all accused in the case are innocent.” — TNS
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Jalandhar, July 17
Chandigarh, July 17
Responding to Khaira's allegations, Majithia said the former Congress MLA "seems to have lost his mental balance after seven successive poll losses". He alleged the documents produced by Khaira were fudged. Majithia said: "I am not answerable to the false and malicious campaign launched by Khaira against me." He questioned why Khaira had come out with the allegations now when the matter was "exposed" in 2011 when the Congress was in power at the
Centre.
The Takht's supremacy is being compromised by decisions like ex-communication of Haryana Sikh
leaders.
Tarlochan Singh,
Mann’s defence