Sunday, December 6, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Sunday, December 6, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Fund
shortage hits health project Hamdard
refuses to withdraw resignation Alumni
to restore CMC’s ‘health’ Badal
for war against communal forces College
opens amidst tussle |
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2
more bodies identified New
municipal Bill to be tabled |
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US Nagar
panel meeting on Dec 10 PCCTU's
plea on retirement age Waterlogging
problem in bet 2,800
cases settled in Lok Adalats End
rift over celebrations, AISSF urges CM Man
absconds with tehsil documents, case registered Karamchari
Dal's plea to government 11
kg of heroin recovered 20
crore to be spent on grain markets Arhtiyas
gherao Markfed office MC
staff strike enters fifth day CPM
protest rally on Dec 15 |
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| Mann decries attack on Punjabis | |
Longewala Day celebrated |
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Fund
shortage hits health project CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 — Paucity of funds is threatening Punjab's ambitious health care modernisation project. The World Bank which is funding the project feels that the State Government is not honouring its commitments. The Government is committed to release Rs 10 crore every month, but is not doing so. The World Bank's Country Director, Mr Edwin Lim who praises the efforts of the officers of the Punjab Health Systems Development Corporation (PHSC) is so concerned with the paucity of funds that he wants "to overcome the funds flow problem by allowing project funds to be released directly to PHSC from the Government of India". This shows almost no confidence in the State government through which all World Bank aids are finally routed as the basic guarantees for the return of the loans are provided by the State Government. Also, the budgetary support is approved by the state legislature. The World Bank is also worried about the cost escalation of the civil works and wants a fresh appraisal to be done by the PHSC. In fact, according to Mr S S Channy, the Managing Director of the Corporation, the Corporation has already agreed to have a fresh look at this problem. While shortage of fund could impede the progress and may lead to all sorts of complications including the World Bank stopping further aid, the bank otherwise finds "the project implementation continue to improve and significant achievements are seen in number of areas including strategic planning cell, availability of health services and hospital monitoring". This makes PHSC naturally happy. Total expenditures are likely to fall below the agreed benchmark of Rs 55 crore for the period April to November 1998. At the end of the October expenditure stood at Rs 24.7 crore. Delay in the release of funds from the state is the major reason for the lower expenditure time and for the resultant delays in civil works, equipment procurement, and some training activities. Only Rs 20 crore has been released against a plan of Rs 10 crore per month. The PHSC was recently able to obtain another bridge loan of Rs 25 crore from a commercial bank to improve the cash flow situation. The government gave assurances that every effort would be made to meet the benchmark for fund release during this fiscal year, despite the cash shortage in the state. The pace of the design work has picked up considerably, with preliminary designs completed for 101 hospitals. Yet the projected costs of the planned civil works are more than double the estimates. The total contract value of the 21 schemes that have been grounded is Rs 40 crore. The escalations were due to increases in costs of infrastructure, external works, and scope of work. The PHSC has agreed to commission an independent technical audit of the first 32 civil works grounded, to examine the causes of the changes in costs and designs from the SAR estimates to the bid documents and subsequent contract awards. Because of the limitations of the credit funds allocated to civil works, PHSC agreed to undertake the technical audit as an immediate priority, and to prepare a proposal for cost-cutting and re-allocating its credit funds to complete a revised programme of civil works. Introduction of disease surveillance system in three pilot districts had proceeded as per agreed benchmarks. The district-level training teams and rapid response teams have been formed and trained, and vehicles have been made available for district epidemiologists. Training of the rapid response teams will be completed by March 31, 1999. Mr Channy said that all the benchmarks for establishing the referral system in the pilot districts of Bathinda and Ropar have been met. Reporting formats for referral have been designed and are being used in the pilot districts since April. The mismatch of specialist doctors continues to be a bottleneck in the efficient functioning of a referral system. It was agreed that in the two pilot districts, the monthly review meeting of the Civil Surgeon will address how to make the referral system effective in the absence of complete staffing of doctors and paramedicals. Mr Channy said a gender action plan had been developed for the districts of Amritsar, Faridkot and Bathinda. A rapid survey to study the social reasons/compulsions for the distorted sex ratio is planned. The other activities planned for the next six months are television spots, street plays, print material and a film. These three districts have the lowest female ratio in the country. All hospitals have taken step in waste management, separating waste and initiating training of staff in waste management. The PHSC is preparing to evaluate proposals from short-listed firms to complete an appraisal of further medical waste management options. A pilot scheme, including hardware for medical waste disposal, has been proposed in four representative hospitals. There has been significant
progress in policy and institutional reform. The rate of
cost recovery from user charges has nearly doubled over
the last year, and the revenue is being appropriately
retained and used at the hospitals. Allocations to the
health sector, exclusive of the IDA credit, increased
only marginally, from Rs 330 crore in 1997-98 (actual
expenditure), to Rs 334 crore in 1998-99 (Budget). As a
proportion of the total state budget, this represents a
decline from 4.1 per cent to 3.8 per cent. The proportion
of total health budget going to primary and secondary
care (DHS and FW services) is showing a decline from 80
per cent in 1997-98 to 77.5 per cent in 1998-99. The main
causes have been the decline in the family welfare plan
allocation from the Central Government. |
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Royal
families to display guru's relics PATIALA, Dec 5 — Even as the Punjab Government is celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of Khalsa, 22 weapons, two Nishan Sahibs and other relics associated with Guru Gobind Singh ji lie 'unnoticed' at a gurdwara in the dome atop new Moti Bagh Palace here. The relics have been ignored by the Akali Dal and the SGPC for political reasons, alleges Capt Amarinder Singh, scion of the Phulkian royal house and the Pradesh Congress President, whose ancestors were bestowed with the weapons and Nishan Sahibs by the 10th Guru himself while some relics were collected by the family. The weapons and relics are, however, set to be in the limelight with the state Congress, headed by Capt Amarinder Singh, deciding to organise a Khalsa march from Anandpur Sahib to Damdama Sahib to commemorate the tercentenary. The march would give the people of the state an opportunity to see other relics associated with Guru Gobind Singh ji since they had only got to see seven weapons of the Guru, which were in the possession of the SGPC, during the foundation laying ceremony of the Khalsa heritage complex last month. The details of the march will be finalised at the December 8 meeting of the PPCC. The march is likely to be a big draw with relics and weapons in the custody of the Nabha royal house and the Bagrian family also being exhibited. Among the weapons on display will be a gun of the Guru with the entire 'Chandi di vaar' inscribed on it, a sword — inscribed with 'Sri Akal Sahai Guru Gobind Singh' — a hollow silver axe, a bamboo spear and an arrow used by the Guru. The other relics include a hukamnama sent by the Guru to the ancestors of the Phulkian house — Ram Singh and Tirlok Singh — when he was surrounded by Mughal forces at Chamkaur Sahib. The hukamnama, which asks the brothers to come immediately with horsemen, also blesses them, saying 'Tera ghar mera si and tere ute meri rehmat'. A 'gutka', on whose first page the Guru has written the 'mool mantra', and a large 'bhoj patra' on which the Guru has written down the preparations needed for battle, are also part of the collection of the Patiala royal house and kept the other heirlooms of the house in the gurdwara. Among the relics, Capt Amarinder Singh points to an arrow, which was used by the Guru and collected by the royal family later. The arrow had two gold rings below its tip which were either meant to provide for the last rites of the victim or his medication whatever be the case. Besides the 10th Guru's relics, Capt Amarinder Singh also has a massive steel sword of Guru Hargobind Singh, the propagator of 'miri piri. The other relics include a kirpan of one of the Sahibzadas. The weapons Guru Gobind Singhji bestowed on two brothers — Choudhary Rama and Choudhary Tirloka — after giving them 'amrit' in 1702, also form part of the collection. Referring to the attitude of the Punjab Government and the SGPC towards the relics, the PPCC chief alleged that rather than wanting the relics to be exhibited during the tercentenary celebrations, hurdles were created for him when the Victorian Albert Museum requested that Guru Gobind Singh ji's hukamnama, gun, arrow and kamarkas be loaned to it for an exhibition in England. It was unfortunate that
the Sikh community was seen to be fighting amongst itself
on such a historic occasion, he added. |
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Hamdard
refuses to withdraw resignation JALANDHAR, Dec 5 — Mr Barjinder Singh Hamdard, Editor-in-Chief of the Ajit group of publications, today turned down the request of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation asking him to review his decision to step down as president of its executive committee. The committee at its meeting in Chandigarh yesterday, had asked Mr Hamdard to continue to lend his services to the tercentenary celebrations in view of what it described his outstanding contribution to the Panth, Punjab and country. Reacting to the request of the executive committee of the foundation, Mr Hamdard said. "I have been thoroughly overwhelmed by the unflinching trust reposed in me personally and as president by the honourable members of the committee, each one of whom enjoys a place of unique distinction in Sikh and Punjabi ethos. I am also touched with profound gratitude by the praise showered on me for my role against repression in Punjab over the past decade and a half. Since I do not believe that any of the factors underlined in my letter of resignation had altered, I see no reason to review my decision." Mr Hamdard said in a press release here today that in his capacity as president of the committee and as humble Sikh, he had tried to project the tercentenary event and the message of the great Gurus on a global scale with the valuable cooperation received from everyone connected with the foundation, especially members of the executive committee. "We have indeed been able to focus international attention on the event as well as the unique contribution of the community to the world order," he said. However, Mr Hamdard said that as an humble and ordinary member of the great community, he would continue to work for the long-term glory of the Panth, Punjab and country. "But even while expressing deep sense of gratitude to you for the trust and affection showered on me, I see no reason to change my decision to resign. My services as a common Sikh are always available to you for the accomplishment of the historic tasks undertaken by you." I, along with you and millions of Sikhs and well wishers of the community all over the world, rejoice in the event and rededicate myself to the liberal and humanistic ideals of the great gurus," Mr Hamdard said. Tribune News Service adds from Chandigarh: The State Secretary of the Punjab CPM Mr Balwant Singh today said that Mr Hamdard should continue and fight from within." Resignation is the most easy thing that can come to any man. It is a sign of weakness and not of strength. Let Mr Hamdard fight there and not run away from his responsibilities. If Mr Parkash Singh Badal is not defending or standing against those who are trying to revive old ugly days in Punjab. what exactly is Mr Hamdard doing?" the CPM leader asked. Meanwhile, the Punjab
Government today reconstituted the Punjab State-level
Committee with Mr Badal as a Chairman and the Director,
Cultural Affairs, as a member-secretary. |
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Alumni
to restore CMC’s ‘health’ LUDHIANA: In a unique rescue effort, the alumni of the Christian Medical College and Hospital, one of the oldest medical institutions in this region, have come to the aid of their alma mater to pull it out of the ever-deepening morass it has been sinking into in recent years due to decreasing patient inflow and falling income. Old CMC students, now settled in different parts of the world, have volunteered to help the institution in cash as well kind in a multi-pronged programme designed to nurse the sick institution back to health. Physicians who have studied in the CMC and are now settled in the USA have chipped in with nearly $ 300,000 while those in the UK have contributed between £ 50,000 and 60,000. Those settled in Australia and other parts of the world are also being contacted. Dr Silas J. Charles, a Florida-based physician, has already joined the CMC as Director for a five-year term. Dr Sewa Singh Legha, a cancer specialist and an oncologist, based in Houston, is currently in the CMC for a month to function as Academic Consultant. Dr Bhagwant Kaur, a child specialist based in New York, Dr Rashid Dar, a radiation oncology expert from Canada, and Dr S.S. Gill, a cardio-surgeon from Louisiana are also here to help and guide the institution in different ways. Dr Legha, who is the secretary of the CMC Alumni Association of North America, also brings out a newsletter through which old students keep in contact with each other. "I have been visiting India almost every year, spending time in my village in Ropar district and at my alma mater. In 1983 some of us got together and set up the CMC Alumni Association. I volunteered to be secretary and served in that capacity ever since. The alumni would meet once a year and maintain a link with CMC". "I had been hearing about the problems of the CMC for some time past but it was only recently I realised that things were quite serious here", he says, adding that he, therefore, volunteered to help. He also published an appeal in the newsletter and the response was overwhelming. The CMC has more than 400 alumni spread in different parts of the world. Of these, as many as 250 are settled in the USA alone. Another 100 are in the UK. Many more are settled in Australia, Singapore and other South-East Asian countries. "We are still in the process of getting in touch with them and I am sure that the response from them too would be positive", says Dr Legha. A working committee of the alumni was formed and last year in December, they met the CMC management an made and offer of full-time commitment and support. "We said that we were willing to participate actively in managing the institution and would provide strong financial and academic support". It took them six months to work out an agreement with the administration, allowing them to volunteer their services. Dr Legha asserts that the CMC fundamentals are still very much in place. "The spirit of service is undiminished. What had diminished was the physical condition of the place as it failed to keep up with innovations and techniques in modern medicine because of poor financial health. It is only a matter of time before the institution once again rises to its status of national prominence and excellence in health care". The results of the efforts have already begun to bear fruit. The bed occupancy has risen to 50 per cent from just 40 per cent a few months ago. The CMC also rose to the
occasion during the recent train disaster at Khanna when
its medical and paramedical staff rescued a large number
of patients from the accident site and brought them to
the hospital. |
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Badal
for war against communal forces JALANDHAR, Dec 5 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal urged the people to wage a relentless war against forces of communalism and casteism. Addressing a massive gathering on the 24th barsi of Sant Baba Tarlok Singh at Kahna Dhesian village 30 km from here today, Mr Badal said that gurus and saints propagated the message of humanism and secularism. The foundation of Sri Harmandir Sahib was laid by Muslim saint, Mian Mir showing the rich philosophy of the gurus. Attributing the socio-economic backwardness of the country to faulty planning by successive Congress governments, Mr Badal said. India once known as the golden bird now had a per capita income lower than countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He said his government had extended benefits of over Rs 3,000 crores to all sections of society in the past 18 months. Huge projects like Rs 16,000-crore oil refinery, an international air port at Amritsar, science city at Jalandhar, medical and technical university, institute of renewable energy have been launched which would revolutionise the economy of the state. Mr Badal said that the Punjab Government had extended the date for payment of dues by the occupants of surplus rural evacuee land allotted to authorised occupants to December 31. He appealed the people to extend their cooperation to the government in implementation of various welfare schemes and keep a constant vigil on ongoing projects to ensure quality work. He announced upgradation of the village high-school to the plus two level from the next year and construction of a link road between Kahna Dhesian to Dhimpura and widening of the two roads from the village. He also directed the district administration to provide a bus service through the historic town. On this occasion, Mr
Surinder Singh Babla, announced his joining the Shiromani
Akali Dal. |
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Two
more bodies identified PATIALA, Dec 5 — Two more bodies of victims of the Khanna train mishap were identified at Government Medical College here today and taken to their native place by relatives. Now only three unclaimed bodies are laying in the medical college mortuary here. A total of 80 unidentified bodies of the train mishap victims had been brought here after the tragedy. KHANNA (PTI): About 300 baggage items, including cash and other valuables, of passengers of the ill-fated Jammu Sealdah Express and Frontier Golden Temple Mail, which had an accident near here recently are laying unclaimed at A.S. College here. College Principal Tarsem Bahia told PTI here on Saturday that they had allegedly handed about 250 baggage items to the families of passengers. About Rs 2.50 lakh in cash was also lying unclaimed with the college, he said. Bahia said that they had rung up people at many places, including Mumbai, Delhi, Amritsar and Jammu, requesting families to take back the belongings of their relatives. He said an all-religion
prayer meeting would be organised here on Monday to pray
for peace to the departed souls. |
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College
opens amidst tussle AMRITSAR, Dec 5 — Notwithstanding the fact that the Finance Department has not given sanction to any post due to the tussle between two Cabinet ministers of Punjab, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, Minister, Higher Education, today formally inaugurated the first Government College for Boys here. The staff has been getting salary from Patti, Sathiala, Ajnala and Kala Afgana from where the teachers and principal were brought by the Punjab Government to run this first-ever Government College for Boys in the city. Interestingly, Mr Calcutta inaugurated the college when only a few months are left for the annual examinations. It is pertinent to mention here that when the admission in colleges all over the state started on July 5, the process began here in mid-September. The classes were started in October after the strike by college and university teachers. Mr Calcutta admitted that it takes time to clear the files in government departments. He, however, assured the staff that he would prevail upon the Finance Department to give sanction to all posts in the college. The college has been opened in a rented building of the Red Cross Society for Rs 15,000 per month. The building is part of the deaf and dumb school, being run by the Red Cross Society. The rented building for the college, which has already enrolled 180 students of arts, has virtually no facility like grounds. For sports, students will have to cover more than 4 km for using the Gandhi grounds. The staff is finding difficult to accommodate 180 students. Apart from paucity of space, what is worse, is that inmates of the deaf and dumb school will face a lot of problems due to the opening of the college in their complex. Mr Calcutta, however, assured the staff of the college that all posts would be filled. The minister said that Rs
1 crore would be sanctioned by the state government for
new building of the college as 15 acres of land was being
acquired for the purpose. |
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New
municipal Bill to be tabled AMRITSAR, Dec 5 — The Punjab Local Bodies Minister, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, said here today that a comprehensive municipal Bill would be tabled in the winter session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, beginning from December 21, to give more powers to elected representatives. Mr Tandon, who was talking to newsmen here, said the new Bill would replace three old Acts — the Municipal Act of 1911, Executive Officer's Act 1936, and the Corporation Act, 1976. The new legislation, which would have about 700 clauses, was being formulated in accordance with the spirit of the 74th Amendment to the Constitution. The Bill would also introduce the concept of Mayor-in-Council, who would be empowered both financially and administratively to make changes on the basis of recommendations of elected representatives and improve the working of the corporations. Efforts were being made to bring about improvement in the corporations' working. The municipal employees would have to mark their attendance twice a day and heads of departments would have to sit in office for three hours to attend to the public. Confidential reports of officials could be entered only on merit. Those found wanting would be punished and efficient workers encouraged. Mr Tandon earlier reviewed certain projects, including the construction on Nehru market on Lawrence Road, which has been delayed by about two years. He assured that the market would start full functioning by April next year. Traffic hazards in the
city would be removed soon by shifting the present truck
stand to a new site spread over 132 acres outside the
city. |
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US
Nagar panel meeting on Dec 10 LUDHIANA, Dec 5 — The three-member committee constituted to decide the Udham Singh Nagar issue would be meeting on December 10. This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at a press conference here today. The Chief Minister, while strongly condemning the attack on a Sikh academy near Dehra Dun, said that a deputation would be sent to Dehra Dun soon to defuse the situation arising from the attack. Commenting on his party's failure in the Adampur byelection, Mr Badal said the failure of the SAD-BJP in this byelection was not a verdict against his government, but was due to the steep hike in the prices of essential commodities and the failure of paddy crop. The Chief Minister said
the Sangrur urea plant project had been cleared. |
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PCCTU's
plea on retirement age LUDHIANA, Dec 5 — The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union (PCCTU) has urged the Punjab Government to issue specific instructions to universities and colleges of the state regarding increase in age of retirement of teachers to comply with the notifications of the HRD Ministry. Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, Secretary PCCTU, said that as per the recommendations of the Rastogi Committee, the UGC and notifications of the HRD Ministry of July 27 and Nov 6, 1998, the retirement age has been raised from 60 years to 62 years. The revised notification of the HRD Ministry of Nov 6, 1998 leaves no confusion about the recommendations which are to come into force with retrospective effect from 1.1.96. In the absence of any
specific instructions from the state government even
after the revised notification, hundreds of university
and college teachers were being retired at the age of 60
by the managements. He said that an expeditious end to
this confusion was being demanded by the teachers. |
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Waterlogging
problem in bet GURDASPUR, Dec 5 — Sarpanches and panches of more than 30 villages of the bet area of Beas met at Ladoowal, 15 km from here, today to review the apathetic attitude adopted by the government towards the development of the area. Mr Raghbir Singh, sarpanch of Ladoowal said the area suffered from waterlogging and in spite of frequent representations to the government in this regard no action had been taken so far. The sarpanch of Bhattian village said the government school at the village did not have a principal for the past 4 years and the Health Centre was without a proper building. They passed a resolution
demanding desilting of the vast net of drains in the area
immediately to save the land from waterlogging. |
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2,800
cases settled in Lok Adalats HOSHIARPUR, Dec 5 — Mr RM Gupta, District Sessions Judge, yesterday said that 30 Lok Adalats had been held in the district so far, in which 2800 cases relating to marriage, accidents and cases of civil nature were disposed of. He said a compensation of Rs 4.15 crore had been provided to the aggrieved parties in these cases. He further said that free legal aid had been provided to 21000 persons in the district as against 28000 applications received for the purpose. Mr Gupta was presiding
over a seminar at Khalsa College, Mahilpur. |
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End
rift over celebrations, AISSF urges CM AMRITSAR, Dec 5 — The All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) has appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister and SAD chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the SGPC president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, to end the differences among various Sikh organisations and individuals, including the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, with respect to the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa. The federation held an emergency meeting of its 11-member policy-making body here today to discuss the situation arising out of the differences and their impact on the Sikh community. It suggested to Mr Badal and Mr Tohra to form a joint committee in consultation with all religious organisations concerned to chalk out a joint programme for the celebrations instead of parallel programmes being held by the government, SGPC, Akal Takht and Sant Samaj organisations. The federation president, Harminder Singh Gill, said the AISSF was of the view that these differences had lowered the prestige of the Sikhs in the eyes of others at a time when the entire community should have celebrated the occasion under a united command. The federation also reviewed the results of the Adampur byelection and assembly elections in four states. The federation criticised the BJP government for not resolving any of Punjab's problems. The federation blamed the soaring prices for the defeat of the BJP in the assembly elections. It also announced that the
federation would take out a Khalsa Chetna march from
Jammu to Anandpur Sahib to mark the tercentenary
celebrations. The march would begin from Jammu on March
15 and reach Anandpur Sahib the next day via Amritsar.
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah,
was expected to take part in the march, he said. |
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Man
absconds with tehsil documents, case registered DERA BASSI, Dec 5 — The Dera Bassi police has registered a case of theft of a forged registration deed and trespass in the office of the Tehsildar. A case under sections 380 and 454, IPC, has been registered while the accused is yet to be arrested. According to sources, Mr Din Dayal, reader of the Tehsildar, lodged a complaint in this context stating that Paramjit Singh, a resident of Janetpur village has absconded with certain important official documents belonging to the tehsil. The events leading to the registration of the case are interesting. Mr M.K. Vohra, a resident of Sector 28, had purchased 7. 6 bighas of land at Samlahri village for Rs 5 lakh. The deal was struck between Mr Vohra and Mrs Madhu Kalia and two of her associates, Mr Vijay Kalia and Mrs Meenu Kalia, who fraudulently posed themselves as owners of the land, and two cheques for Rs 60, 000 each were given to them as part payment. It was yesterday that Mr Vohra came to know that they were not the real owners of the land and had, in fact, forged the papers of the land and sold it to him. When the papers were presented for registration in the office the tehsildar, the accused alleged to be one of the associates of the Kalias snatched the papers and ran away. The original name of of
Madhu Kalia is stated to be Asha Thakur, a resident of
Sector 22, according to a complaint lodged with the
police by Mr Vohra. |
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Karamchari
Dal's plea to govt PATIALA, Dec 5 — The Punjab State Karamchari Dal today appealed to the state government to implement the anomalies committee report regarding the Fourth Pay Commission by December 31 as promised by it earlier. In a statement here, Dal president Hari Singh Tohra also demanded that the government should take action against hoarders immediately to put a stop to rising inflation. He also urged the government to redress complaints of employees like implementing the announcement made by the Chief Minister in May to increase house rent for employees living in Patiala to 15 per cent of the basic pay, regularising services of daily wagers and ensuring time-bound promotion. He said if this was not done, the Dal would organise a rally on February 2 next year. Mr Tohra also announced
the support of his Dal to the employees who had decided
to gherao the office of the Director, Panchayat, on
December 16 to press their demands. |
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FEROZEPORE, Dec 5 (PTI) — The Punjab Police has recovered 11 kg of heroin smuggled from across the border and foiled a smuggling racket organised by Pakistan's ISI to promote narco-terrorism in north India. Punjab DGP P.C. Dogra told newsmen here today that three persons arrested last night in a joint operation with the Customs Department Sukhdev Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Kashmir Singh, from Pala Megha village near Mohamdiwal post along the Indo-Pakistan border, were part of a team organised by Babbar Khalsa chief Wadhawa Singh. Besides the support of the ISI, he was assisted by two narcotic suppliers Waris and Shaunka, residents of Nagar and Shanta villages in Pakistan. He said that the nexus between Punjab militants and narcotic smugglers was established by several recent instances. Preliminary interrogation of the arrested revealed that they had smuggled in about 70 kg of heroin in the past few months. "One pistol and five
cartridges were also recovered. Mr Dogra said adding that
the Punjab Police was trying to identify recipients
within and outside the state.
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20
crore to be spent on grain markets MOGA, Dec 5 — The state government has decided to spend over Rs 20 crore on the development of grain markets in Punjab. According to reports,
there were 140 grain markets all over the state. Under
the scheme 16 markets would be covered in the first phase
while the development of other grain markets would be
taken up later. The government also proposed to launch a
state wide campaign to check the evasion of the market
fee to enhance its income as there were a number of
complaints in the past two years. |
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Arhtiyas
gherao Markfed office PATIALA, Dec 5 — Protesting arhtiyas gheraoed the office of the District Manager, Markfed, here yesterday and demanded immediate suspension of a manager. The gherao was led by Punjab Arhtiyas Association president Harjeet Singh Shero. The arhtiyas alleged that they had suffered financial losses due to the attitude adopted by the manager. The association demanded a vigilance inquiry and threatened to boycott the procurement season next year if their grievances were not redressed. District Manager Virinder
Singh later gave a cheque of Rs 40 lakh to the arhtiyas.
He also assured that their balance payment would be
cleared soon. |
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MC
staff strike enters fifth day BATALA, Dec 5 — The ongoing strike by Municipal Council employees entered its fifth day here today. The employees are on an indefinite strike against the dictatorial attitude of the Deputy Director, Local Bodies, Mr P.S. Shergill. The striking employees were addressed by Mr Ram Lubhaya Bawa, Zonal Secretary, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and National Secretary, Safai Karamchari Mahasangh. In his address, he alleged misappropriation of Rs 75 lakh in employees provident fund and misuse of MC funds. The employees demand for a probe and agitation had led to the suspension of five employees. The striking staff
demanded the reinstatement of those suspended. |
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CPM
protest rally on Dec 15 JALANDHAR, Dec 5 — The Punjab Provincial Committee of the CPM has condemned the gruesome murder of 11 CPM activists in Siricilla in Andhra Pradesh and has decided to stage rallies and demonstrations at the district headquarters in Punjab on December 15 to express solidarity with the struggling people of Andhra Pradesh. Mr Darshan Singh Khatkar, provincial secretary of the CPM said in a press note here today that crop losses, debt and exploitation by money lenders had forced the cotton growers to commit suicide. Mr Khatkar alleged that Mr
Chandrababu Naidu's campaign against the Communist
revolutionaries had made Andhra Pradesh a graveyard of
human and democratic rights of the struggling people. |
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Ahmadiya
convention begins QADIAN, Dec 5 — The three-day- international convention of Jamat Ahmadiya began here today with hoisting of the Ahmadiya flag by Maulana Hakim Mohammed Din, who also presided over the first session on the first day. He explained the basic aims and object of this convention in the words of its founder Hazart Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. The main aim is to cool down the love and affection for this world and to create within oneself. The craving for the love of god almighty, to fulfil his commandments and orders as desired by him. The first speech of the
first session was delivered by Prof Dr Hafiz Salih Mohd
Alladin, of Osmania University, Hyderabad on our god.
18.000 participants from India and 26 foreign countries
around the world are participating. |
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Longewala
Day celebrated JALANDHAR, Dec 5 — 23 Punjab Battalion celebrated its Longewala Battle Honour Day Somewhere in the Western Sector today. On this day in 1971, an infantry brigade group, supported by an armoured regiment of Pakistan, crossed the border and surrounded defence at Longewala border outpost held by Alfa company of 23 Punjab under the leadership of then Maj (retd Brigadier) Kuldip Singh Chandpuri. The battalion was awarded one MVC, two Vir Chakras, two Sewa medals, one Mention-in-Despatches and one COAs Commendation Card. As a recognition of this valour and gallant action, the battalion was awarded Battle Honour Longewala and theatre honour Sindh. Film ‘Border’ was based on this historic battle. A special sainik sammelan was organised on the occasion. Col V.K. Sharma, the present Commanding Officer, welcomed the Colonel of the regiment, Maj-Gen S.K. Awasthy, Maj-Gen S.P.S. Sidhu, Maj-Gen P.P.S. Bindra, Lt-Gen (retd) V.R. Raghawan and other distinguished guests. Longewala Day was marked
by a visit to unit quarter guard, laying of wreaths at
the war memorial, ‘bara khana’ and functions in
the officers’ and JCOs’ messes. War widows were
also invited in the function and presented gifts by Mrs
S.K. Awasthy. |
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Mann
decries attack on Punjabis FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 5 — The president of the SAD (A), Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, has strongly condemned the attack on Punjabis and the staff and students of Guru Ram Dass Academy near Dehra Dun and desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib by Uttaranchal supporters. While talking to mediapersons at his native village, Talania, today, he said, his party would not tolerate any attack on Punjabis, especially those living outside Punjab. He alleged that Mr Badal and Mr Tohra were responsible for such attacks on Sikhs as they had extended unconditional support to the BJP. He warned that his party
would not remain a mute spectator and demanded that the
central and state governments should ensure the safety of
the life and property of Sikhs immediately. He said he
would visit Dehra Dun soon. |
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Strike
call endorsed FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 5 — On a call given by the AIBEA for a countrywide strike on December 11, meeting of secretaries of the Rajpura, Sirhind, Bassi Pathana, Mandi Gobindgarh, Khanna and Doraha units of the Punjab Bank Employees Federation was held here today under the presidentship of Mr BK Jethi, zonal secretary PBEF. The participants endorsed the strike decision. Later, in a press note, Mr
Jethi said bank employees had decided to observe the
strike in protest against Narsimham Committee's report on
the privatisation of the banking and insurance sectors. |
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