Friday, August 7, 1998
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Friday, August 7, 1998 |
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Udham Singh
Nagar: SAD minister party to decision |
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 Ex-Babbar Khalsa |
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Welfare
fund rules for advocates |
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Udham Singh Nagar: SAD minister JALANDHAR, Aug 6 — The row between the BJP and its alliance partner, the SAD, took a new turn, when Ms Sushma Swaraj, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, said here today that the decision of including Udham Singh Nagar in Uttaranchal was taken by the Cabinet, in which the SAD had representation. Moreover, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Union Cabinet Minister, was a member of the group of ministers, which approved the Bill for carving out Uttaranchal. The centre had accommodated SAD's view point on the Land Ceiling Act. The BJP was still open to a dialogue to remove irritants, if any, she said while briefing the media. The SAD is opposed to the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttaranchal since a large number of Punjabi farmers are settled there. Admitting that the coalition government had to face constraints in comparison to majority governments, she said the BJP enjoyed very cordial relations with the SAD and that it understood political commitments and pressures of its alliance partners. Regarding corruption, Ms Swaraj said after assuming charge as Minister for Information and Broadcasting, she had sent out a single line directive that "corruption will have no place in the department". She said her ministry had detected that 1.5 lakh titles of newspapers were lying blocked with the Registrar for Newspapers in India (RNI). All these titles would be deblocked as any title, if not published for six months at a stretch would automatically become defunct, she added. She denied the charge that her ministry had deliberately delayed the passage of the Prasar Bharati Bill in the Lok Sabha so that it could not be adopted in the Rajya Sabha. She also refuted the charge of MPs belonging to the Left that the Bill had not been sent to the President. She said she signed the Bill at 3 p.m. on Monday and sent it to the President for his signatures but when the messenger reached Rashtrapati Bhavan at 5.30 p.m., the receipt office had closed. However, the Bill was delivered the next day. Since the Lok Sabha passed the Bill on July 31 there was hardly any time left to circulate it among the Rajya Sabha members as according to the procedure a 48-hour notice has to be given before placing the Bill for discussion. There was no intention to bypass the Rajya Sabha. On Prasar Bharti Chief Executive S.S. Gill's threat to retrench more than 18,000 strong staff she said if this decision was taken, the government would not back it. She said foreign equity in the print media would not be allowed, however, to control the foreign satellite channels a broadcasting Bill would soon be introduced in which the foreign channels would be asked to uplink from Indian territory thus enforcing rules and regulations, advertisement codes and legal bindings according to Indian laws. To counter cultural pollution, she said a broadcasting council on the lines of the Press Council of India (PCI) would be formed and to make the PCI more effective extra powers would be given to it. On the Women's Reservation Bill, she said the BJP was committed to reservation for women. However, she was against the concept of quota within quota. The minister said: "We are not heading for war with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue notwithstanding the escalation in firing from across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Admitting "failure'' in talks between Indian and Pakistan Prime Ministers at Colombo, she said the country was now taking all "necessary actions'' to neutralise Pakistani offensive against India. She said the government was seized of the situation arising out of sudden spurt in terrorist violence and increased intensity of firing by Pakistan and was taking adequate measures to meet the challenge. However, this did not mean that "we are heading for war'' over the Kashmir issue, she added. On media reports that Ms Sonia Gandhi was ready to form the government in the event of fall of the BJP-led coalition, she quipped "as Leader of the Opposition she (Sonia) can not be stopped from dreaming.'' Later Ms Swaraj inaugurated a satellite earth station at Doordarshan kendra here and said with the new facility the false propaganda by Pakistan could be countered and the station could broadcast cultural programmes also. The Punjab Chief Minister,
Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at the inauguration ceremony
demanded that the tricentenary celebrations of the birth
of Khalsa next year be telecast live by Doordarshan. |
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Volte face by Dal Khalsa AMRITSAR, Aug 6 — Once an outlawed outfit, Dal Khalsa International (DKI), has made a volte face and decided to achieve its targets through peaceful means. This is a major shift in its stand after two decades of its formation. The DKI chief Bhai Gajinder Singh, who has taken political asylum in Pakistan in a fax message said "on the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Dal, we promise you that the organisation won't work for the revival of black days". The organisation held a function in a local hotel for the first time today. Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, Bhai Ram Singh, Mr Jagmohan Singh Tony, Prof Sukhjinder Singh, president and general secretaries, respectively of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and Bhai Narain Singh, convener of the Akal Federation were invited to the meeting. His fax message was read at the convention. Bhai Gajinder Singh, chief of the DKI, was arrested by the Pak forces when he hijacked an Indian Airline plane from India to Pakistan. He said it was a matter of concern that the movement launched by the DKI had suffered reverses in the past which might be result of "our own mistakes" or for other reasons. He appealed to all Panthic forces to unite on a single platform for the accomplishment of the goals fixed by various organisations. Interestingly, the appeal was not addressed to the Sikhs only but to all Punjabis. However, in a resolution passed at the function reiterated that the Sikhs were a separate nation. The DKI also appealed to all Sikhs to rid itself of all types of factionalism and accept the 'maryada' of Akal Takht with any reservation. Bhai Kanwerpal Singh,
spokesman for the DKI in his address condemned the
alliance of the SAD with the BJP. He said this alliance
was not in favour of the Sikhs. The alliance was the
result of the "lust for power" of the Chief
Minister Parkash Singh Badal. However, the DKI resolved
that the organisation did not want any confrontation with
SAD at this juncture in the larger interests of the
community. |
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Ex-Babbar Khalsa activist
held PATIALA, Aug 6 — The Patiala police arrested listed militant Avtar Singh Seoli, a former member of the Babbar Khalsa group, and his two accomplices from Fatehpurbara village, near Dera Bassi last night. Stating this at Dera Bassi today, Patiala Range DIG Rajinder Singh said Seoli, who also worked as Balkar Singh, alias Binder, was arrested along with his associates Rishipal and Sukhbeer Singh, alias Sukhi while driving a stolen scooter. Mr Rajinder Singh said an automatic rifle, 14 stick bombs, six detonators, a .32 pistol, two country made pistols and cartridges of AK-47 assault rifle and .32 pistol were recovered from the accused. The DIG said Seoli, a listed terrorist since the past six years and an associate of Babbar Khalsa militants Harjit Kala, Sajjan Singh Happy and Zora Singh Mandoli, was arrested following a special operation under the charge of Dera Bassi DSP Gursewak Singh Toor. Mr Rajinder Singh said Seoli was in the process of organising his own gang for which he had been promised patronage from Kashmiri militants. The latter had promised him sophisticates arms once he proved his capability by engineering a major blast. The DIG said Seoli had changed his name to Avtar Singh Zindabad after coming in contact with the Kashmiri militants and was planning to bomb the Punjab Meat Plant here. He said a former militant who had introduced Seoli to the Kashmiri militants has also been identified. District police chief Parampal Singh Sidhu, who was present on the occasion, said Seoli had been active along the border with Haryana since the past two years. The militant had escaped from the clutches of the Haryana police on May 5 by brandishing a pistol at a naka. Mr Sidhu said Seoli was a proclaimed offender in eight cases in Punjab and six in Haryana. He said he was responsible for four murders recently besides being involved in many armed robberies and car thefts. |
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Welfare fund rules for advocates ROPAR, Aug 6 — The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has passed the Punjab and Haryana Advocates Welfare Fund Rules, 1998, to create funds for welfare schemes for advocates practising under the jurisdiction of the council. Giving this information here yesterday Mr N.S. Sitta, honorary secretary of the council, said these rules had been approved by the Bar Council of India and would extend to Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. He said a committee of trustees had already been constituted to consider the means to implement the rules which were likely to take effect from September. He informed that as per these rules, each advocate, who was enrolled with the Bar Council, would affix a stamp of Rs 5 issued by the Council on the "vakalatnama" (memorandum of appearance) for representing clients. The license of any advocate who did not abide by the rules and affix the stamps for three times in a row would be cancelled, being a professional misconduct under the Advocates Act. Mr Sitta said every Bar association under the jurisdiction of the Bar Council would have to get registered with the council. At every district and sub-divisional level, only one Bar Association would be recognised. He said the collected funds would be invested and utilised in the welfare schemes such as group insurance of members, retirement benefits, financial aid to junior advocates by way of stipend and nominal interest repayable in easy instalments and medical insurance. He said the funds would
also be used for granting financial aid to disabled
lawyers, providing free legal aid to poor cases,
recommended by the state Bar Council, and buying land for
constructing community centres and rest house for
advocates. |
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Passport release allowed with
conditions CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Lamba, who is also Special Judge for the CBI, today turned down the application moved by Mr Bikramjit Singh, a senior Punjab cadre IAS officer, for allowing him to operate his locker with the Sector 8 branch of the State Bank of India. Mr Bikramjit Singh in his application had stated that he wanted to operate the locker for taking out jewellery out of it. His wife wanted the jewellery for customary wearing. The judge, however, granted Mr Bikramjit Singh's request for operating his locker with the Sector 17 branch of the Punjab and Sind Bank and the Sector 35 branch of Canara Bank. He allowed this request because the CBI did not object to it. The CBI had brought to the notice of the judge that during a raid on his house the CBI had seized a huge amount of gold and 1,280 gm of silver. The official's wife could wear the jewellery as it was returned to him after the search. Mr Lamba allowed another application moved by Mr Bikramjit Singh for the release of his passport for four weeks. Mr Lamba, however, imposed stringent conditions for the release of his passport. He directed that Mr Bikramjit Singh would furnish a bond of Rs 1 lakh. In case he did not return, his bound would be forfeited and the bail granted to him would be cancelled. The CBI had raided the house of Mr Bikramjit Singh after the Punjab Government had referred his case to this premier agency. The allegation against him
was that he had amassed wealth beyond him known sources
of income. |
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Badal to unfurl flag at Ludhiana CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, will unfurl the national flag at Ludhiana on August 15. The Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, will unfurl the national flag at Jalandhar, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon at Patiala, Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura at Amritsar, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal at Muktsar, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal at Hoshiarpur, Mr Kanwaljit Singh at Fatehgarh Sahib, Mr Sarup Singh at Kapurthala, Mrs Upinderjit Kaur at Ferozepore, Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon at Gurdaspur, Mr Harmail Singh at Ropar, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh at Sangrur, Mr Manoranjan Kalia at Bathinda, Mr Mohan Lal at Moga, Ms Jagir Kaur at Nawanshahr, Raja Narinder Singh at Faridkot, Dr Rattan Singh at Mansa and Mr Sarwan Singh at Phagwara. Mr Baldev Raj Chawla, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, will unfurl the flag at Batala. State Minister Mr Ajit Singh Kohar will unfurl the national flag at Shahkot, Mr Gobind Singh Kanjla at Malerkotla, Mr Inderjit Singh Zira at Rajpura, Mr Nusrat Ali Khan at Ajnala, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan at Tarn Taran, Mr Sucha Singh Langah at Dasuya, Mr Surjit Kumar at Abohar, Mr Surjit Singh Kohli at Nabha, Mr Swarna Ram at Garhshankar and Mr Chiranji Lal Garg at Barnala.
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Enrolment drive by NRI Sabha LUDHIANA, Aug 6 — A special drive is being launched to enrol more members for the Ludhiana branch of the NRI Sabha to make the forum more effective to solve the problems and disputes of NRIs and to encourage them to invest their foreign earnings in the state. This was stated by Mr Arun Goel, Deputy Commissioner and chairman, NRI Sabha, Ludhiana branch, while addressing the monthly meeting of the executive committee here today. He said the sabha was considering a proposal to get it linked with website through internet to make available information regarding facilities and concessions for NRIs under different schemes of the Centre and state governments to its members. He said identity cards would be issued to all members of the sabha. Mr H.S. Rai, Mr Gurmail
Singh, Mr Amrik Singh Grewal, Mr Rabinder Singh Sohal, Mr
J.S. Randhawa, Mr Mewa Singh Gill and Mr Harbans Lal
Aggarwal attended the meeting. |
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"Rasta roko" stir on Aug 16 CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — Three political parties, the CPI, the CPM and the BSP plan to jointly resort to a "rasta roko" agitation on August 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to protest against the hike in bus fares. This was announced at a press conference jointly addressed by Dr Joginder Dayal, Mr Balwant Singh and Col C.D.S. Kamboj, representing the three parties, respectively. Among the demands raised by these three leaders were withdrawal of bus hike and giving free power up to 200 units to the poor; end atrocities on Dalits and women; stop police excess; and waive loans taken by the small and marginal farmers to enable them cope with economic hardships, including committing suicides. The government must
respond expeditiously, they demanded. |
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Better pesticides sought CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, general secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union said here today that pests had attacked paddy crop in various parts of the state. He said farmers were facing problems to control the attack as good quality pesticides were not available in the market and they had to use sub-standard pesticides available in large quantity. Urging the Punjab Government to take steps to make good quality pesticides available, Mr Rajewal said that damage to paddy crop would hit farmers, who were already facing financial hardships. He has urged the Punjab
Government to press the Central Government to fix Rs 750
per quintal as minimum support price of paddy keeping the
price index of 1967 as the base. The union would
organised a rally at Khanna on August 31, he added. |
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Samra resigns as Markfed chairman JALANDHAR, Aug 6 (PTI) — The chairman of the state-owned Markfed, Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, yesterday resigned from his office citing "continuing differences" with the Punjab Government as the reason for his move but said he would continue to be one of the directors. Mr Samra, who had obtained a stay from the Punjab and Haryana High Court after his sudden removal from the chairmanship some time ago, said that he did not want to continue in the post due to the ongoing feud with the state government. Mr Jagdish Walia was likely to take over from Mr Samra, official sources said. Mr Samra, for whom it was
the second term at the helm of Markfed's affairs, claimed
he enjoyed the support of eight of the 11 members of
Markfed's board of directors. |
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Eco-friendly methods in
farming stressed AMRITSAR, Aug 6 — Renowned environmentalist Sunder Lal Bahuguna, here today highlighted the reasons for deterioration of environment in Punjab due to overexploitation of soils for agricultural purposes. Mr Bahuguna was addressing faculty members and students of Guru Ram Das School of planning of GND varsity. Mr Bahuguna warned that continuous deterioration of soils may lead to severe dust storms as seen in the western countries. He said the only way to improve the environment is through adopting eco-friendly techniques in agriculture. He said austerity was needed to avoid wasteful use of natural resources. Mr Bahuguna criticised the building of large dams as these trap fertile soils. He suggested use of alternative sources of energy such as animal power, bio-energy. solar energy and hydro-electricity etc. Earlier, Prof B.R. Batra,
former Dean, Academic Affairs, welcomed Mr Bahuguna and
highlighted his contribution in the field of environment
movement in India. |
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NZCC to organise cultural
evenings CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Punjab Government has decided to organise a series of cultural events to mark the conclusion of the year-long celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Independence. With the support of the North Zone Cultural Centre, the Punjab Government will organise a cultural evening at Ludhiana on August 15 to depict the cultural heritage of Punjab. The theme of the main events has been prepared by the Punjab Public Relations Department. The North Zone Cultural
Centre will also organise cultural programmes at Patiala,
Ropar and Jalandhar on August 10,13, and 14,
respectively. Some cultural events will be organised by
the Department of Cultural Affairs, Punjab. |
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Army prowess on display JALANDHAR, Aug 6 — A display of Army equipment and rally by Vajra Corps (artillery brigade) organised as part of 'operation sahyog' concluded at Hoshiarpur today. The aim of the display was to reach out to common people, bring Army close to the masses and enable people especially students to see the prowess of the armed forces. The Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, inaugurating the display said it would motivate the youth to join the Army. Senior Army officers were also present. An array of weapons and
equipment including helicopters, tanks, missiles, guns,
military hardware was on display. |
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Two killed in road mishap BATHINDA, Aug 6 — Two persons were killed and two injured when a car rammed into a bus on the Bathinda-Barnala road here this evening. The police said the dead
had not been identified so far. The injured have been
admitted to the local Civil Hospital . The condition of
one of the injured was stated to be serious. |
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Ministerial union organises rally SANGRUR, Aug 6 — Members of the district unit of the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union today held a rally here outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner to express their resentment against Mr Gobind Singh Kanjla, state Minister for Youth Services, Grievances, Pensions and Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, who had allegedly misbehaved with Mr Pawan Kumar, a stenographer to Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) a few days back. The union members also blocked vehicular traffic for over an hour near the PWD rest house. The union members are
demanding cancellation of the transfer orders of Mr Pawan
Kumar who has been shifted to Barnala and registration of
a case against the minister. |
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Lawyers go on strike FAZILKA, Aug 6 — Members of the local Bar Association observed a strike here today in protest against the decision of the PSEB to charge commercial tariff on residential premises of lawyers. The PSEB had issued a circular vide which commercial tariff was to be charged from lawyers who had opened offices at their houses. Mr Udesh Kumar Kukkar, former president of the association, while condemning the decision said the lawyers did not run commercial activities at their residences and hence the imposition of commercial tariff was unjust. The members have, through a resolution, urged the Punjab Government to withdraw the tariff failing which they would intensify their agitation. The lawyers will observe
strike tomorrow also. |
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Councillor quits in protest MALERKOTLA, Aug 6 — A group of members of the local Municipal Council have revolted against the municipal president by resigning from different subcommittees constituted by the president. Mr Rakesh Sharma, who has
resigned from the house tax sub-committee, said yesterday
that his resignation was in protest against the
step-motherly treatment given to Ward 9 and that it had
no connection with the resignation of five other
councillors who had resigned from sub-committees earlier. |
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Police postings CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Punjab Government today ordered the promotion of Mr R.P. Singh, Mr Mohammad Mustafa and Mr Hardip Singh Dhillon as Deputy Inspector-General of Police. The government also issued
their fresh posting orders. Mr R.P. Singh will be DIG,
Counter Intelligence; Mr Mohammad Mustafa will be DIG,
PAP, Chandigarh, while Mr Hardip Singh Dhillon will be
DIG, Ferozepore Range. |
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Poppy husk seized from truck BATHINDA, Aug 6 — The local police today seized about 5 quintals of poppy husk which had been smuggled into the district from Rajasthan. Police sources said the poppy husk was smuggled into the district from Nagore district of Rajasthan in a truck. The bags were hidden under some cement bags which were loaded in the truck. During a routine checking by the police, the conductor of the truck fled near Bathinda-Malout-Mukatsar Tinkoni, when the truck was signalled to stop. The police found 13 bags
of poppy husk in the vehicle. The driver of the truck,
Mohinder Singh, has been arrested and a case registered. |
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R.K. Bedi is head of teachers' body AMRITSAR, Aug 6 — Dr R.K. Bedi, Professor and Head of the Physics Department (DTA-RTF alliance), has been elected president of the Guru Nanak Dev University Teachers Association. Dr G.M. Singh of physics department of DTF-RTF alliance, has been elected vice-president. The post of secretary also
went to the DTF-RTF alliance. Its candidate, Dr Devinder
Singh of psychology department, was declared elected with
114 votes. Mr Simrat Kahlon of IAS Centre was declared
elected joint secretary. Dr Sukhdev Singh of Dr Kawaljeet Singh
(computer science), Mr R.S. Salaria (computer science),
Mr Balwinder Singh (planning), Dr Gajendra Singh
(pharmaceuticals), Dr Daljinder Singh (physical
education) and Dr Jagroop Singh Sekhon (political
science) has been declared elected as executive members. |
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NSUI threat to launch dharna FEROZEPORE, Aug 6 — The state unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) had threatened to launch a dharna and a chain fast in front of the residence of the Punjab Chief Minister at Chandigarh if its demands are not met within a fortnight. This warning was given by the NSUI state president, Mr Sumerjit Singh Sami, while addressing a students' gathering outside the local RSD college here today. Criticising the SAD-BJP government, he said while students had been demanding facility of free-travel in buses, the government had enhanced the bus fares exorbitantly. He said academic fee had also been increased by the government, making it difficult for poor students to continue with their studies. Mr Sami complained about the lack of initiative on part of the government to promote sports in colleges. He demanded holding of elections to student unions in universities and colleges of the state Mr Sami announced appointment of Mr Amarinder Singh Tikka as the district president of the NSUI. The state vice-presidents
of the NSUI, Mr Mohan Pal Singh and Mr Sandeep Sharma,
also spoke on the occasion. |
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SHO suspended PHILLAUR, Aug 6 — The Phillaur Police Station House Officer, Sub-Inspector Balwinder Singh Sekhon, was placed under suspension by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Jalandhar, Mr Paramjit Singh Gill, during a surprise check of the police station last night. The Sub-Inspector was
reportedly found absent from his jurisdiction during the
SSP's visit. |
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