Sunday, December 27, 1998
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Sunday, December 27, 1998 |
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Year of turmoil, tragedy
& troubles CHANDIGARH: It was an eventful year marked by tragedy (train accident), turmoil (religio-political), tears (price rise, elusive onion and crop damage) and troubles (administrative and financial). Tohra-Badal fight to hit Udham Singh Nagar interests: Mann FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 26 — Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), while addressing a political conference at Shaheedi Jor Mela here today, said the infighting in the SAD had provided a chance to the BJP government at the Centre to merge Udham Singh Nagar district with the new state — Uttaranchal. |
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Petrol
dealers' strike on Dec 28 PM to
inaugurate dam on Jan 12 Barnala's
assurance to rice millers Badal
attacked for remarks on SGPC Dang
alleges "land grab" 'Hit
Chintak Divas' on Jan 1 Notice
to SMO criticised PYC
to have 33 p.c. quota for women |
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Year of turmoil, tragedy &
troubles CHANDIGARH: It was an eventful year marked by tragedy (train accident), turmoil (religio-political), tears (price rise, elusive onion and crop damage) and troubles (administrative and financial). Even the start of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa had its share of controversy. If the year dawned with Lok Sabha elections on the door-step, it passes into history with a train accident. Punjab witnessed one of the worst train mishaps in living memory in which over 200 passengers of two trains were killed in the wee hours near Khanna. The ruling SAD-BJP combine won all 13 Lok Sabha seats contested by it or supported by it. At least three byelections followed, one to Parliament (Tarn Taran), which the SAD won, and two to the Vidhan Sabha (Sham Chaurasi and Adampur): the SAD and the Congress Party won one seat each in the Assembly byelections. This gave the SAD a big jolt plunging the party into a crisis, which has triggered an internecine war. A battle royal is on between the SAD President Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. This is causing concern in the politico-administrative circles. Among the casualties, so far, are five pro-Tohra Ministers, whose resignations were accepted even before the ink dried on them; contrary to the expectations of many. In this, presumably, "fight to the finish", the man to be watched is the Jathedar of Akal Takht — the unpredictable Bhai Ranjit Singh. His controversial actions and religious edicts had created ripples and divisions among the Sikhs, the world over. A typical example is the "hukamnama" on the way and manner langar is served in gurdwaras. He also banned marriages in hotels, whereto the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, was taken for "Anandkaraj". The religio-political upheaval during the year involved the Sikh clergy. The "missing" accounts of the stillborn World Sikh Council distanced and divided the Sikh head priests. The Akal Takht Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh, insisted that Jathedar Takht Keshgarh Sahib, Bhai Manjit Singh tender a statement of accounts. The Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Bhai Kewal Singh, also got embroiled. The allegations traded by them have partially eclipsed the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. Amidst controversy the government managed to have the foundation stone of the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex (of which 'Nishan-e-Khalsa' is a key component ) laid at an impressive function at Anandpur Sahib. Bhai Ranjit Singh was conspicuous by his absence. His on-going war of words with the editor of a Punjabi daily of Jalandhar and the visible division and line-up of the religio-political leadership at the top is well known and unfortunate. The year turned out to be of crisis even for agriculture. The fury of nature hit the unsuspecting farmers who suffered huge loss of cotton and paddy due to untimely rain. The sugarcane production is already low. As if nature's wrath was not enough, man connived with nature to further rob farmers when paddy procurement started. Prior to this came the news of farmers committing suicides. The DAP fertiliser muddle due to "monopolistic" marketing and sale by Punjab Markfed added to their woes. Punjab had a two-part Budget session, in March and June. The conduct of legislative business and the way important Bills were kept for the last day and the manner these were rushed through (without meaningful discussion and debate) showed how the SAD-BJP government functions. If it is "directionless" equally "uninspiring' is the opposition, which even lacks floor coordination in the Vidhan Sabha. The panchayat elections held during the year will be long remembered for blatant misuse of authority by the state and irregularities committed by it. A dozen-odd officers on duty were "suspended" and police cases registered against them on the insistence of the State Election Commission. No sooner the election storm blew over all those "suspended" (on the same date) were "reinstated" (on the same date). The opposition failed to pin down the government even on this issue inside the Vidhan Sabha though it raised din outside the House. The acceptance of the recommendations of the pay commission added to the failing, frail financial health, pushing the state to the brink of bankruptcy. With very poor resources' inflow the kitty has been bled dry by the outflow of money, concessions, populist measures and ever rising non-productive expenses have contributed to the financial mess. The issue of a people' commission also hogged the headlines, as did the continuous unresponsive attitude of the central BJP leadership to Punjab's demands. Even the Udham Singh Nagar issue remains unresolved. The "hawks" forced the SAD to serve an "ultimatum" on the BJP. While the committee on Udham Singh Nagar is yet to meet and reach a conclusion, the Centre has moved the Bill on Uttaranchal in the Lok Sabha. So much for SAD-BJP relationship. Though yoked together, the two have failed to plough a straight common-cause, furrow. The government's own list of "achievements", "announcements" or "promises fulfilled" is long and seemingly impressive. Topping the list is the oil refinery at Bathinda. Its foundation was laid by the Prime Minister. This single, one, milestone sums up that 1998 was the "year of the industry". But the state is silent on abolition of octroi or on notification of the Punjab Rent Bill, which has received the President's assent. The problem of government achievements is their poor projection, thanks to the even poorer Public Relations Department. Secondly, the government has spread its development sweep too wide. Thus there is no visible impact. Even its image stands blurred. The Congress Party underwent surgery. Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was removed from the presidentship of the PPCC; in came Mr Amarinder Singh. She was also replaced as Leader of the CLP in the Vidhan Sabha; Chaudhary Jagjit Singh stepped into her shoes. Some key central projects and Punjab's own institutions have been slow in coming up due to bureaucratic red-tape and paucity of funds. First the power tariff was hiked to 33 per cent and later there was a climb down to 16 per cent during the year. If the High Court indicted
the government in the Mr V.K. Khanna case, some IPS
officers have challenged the extension granted to the
Director-General of Police, Mr P.C. Dogra. |
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Tohra-Badal fight to hit Udham
Singh Nagar interests: Mann FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 26 — Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), while addressing a political conference at Shaheedi Jor Mela here today said the infighting between Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra had provided a chance to the BJP led government in the centre to merge Udham Singh Nagar district with the new state — Uttaranchal. He said that Mr Tohra had been branded as a Congress-agent and a Akail baiter by the supporters of Mr Badal but despite such comments he was not quitting the party led by the Chief Minister. He said that Mr Tohra should leave the Badal-led party and express his faith in the Amritsar declaration and join hands with him for giving a new dimension to Sikh politics in the state. He said his party would give a new programme on April 13 next. He said that his party would fill the SYL canal. Criticising the Badal government, he said that neither traders nor businessmen and other sections of the society were happy with the Punjab government. Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala,
President of the Democratic Akali Dal called upon the
Jathedar of the Akal Takht to intervene to end the feud
between Mr Badal and Tohra. Among others who addressed
the conference were Mr Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Mr Jaswant
Singh, Mr Baldev Singh and Mr Dhyan Singh Mand |
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Film on Udham Singh launched SUNAM (Sangrur), Dec 26 — Fifty years after Independence, the little-known saga of Udham Singh, an orphan who witnessed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and killed its perpetrator Sir Michael O'Dyer 20 years later in London, will be shown on the silver screen. The Punjabi movie, which is to be shot on a grand scale in India and England, was today launched at the native place of the martyr here. Raj Babbar, who is enacting the pivotal role of the martyr, sounded the clapper board. The movie aims to give a true account of Udham Singh and details of his activities abroad as well as crucial facts about the assassination of Sir Michael O'Dyer and its aftermath. This has been made possible through research conducted by Sikander Singh who was able to persuade the British authorities to open some of the files pertaining to the martyr. These papers were banned earlier under the Official Secrets Act. Talking to TNS, the film's director Chitrath Singh said not much was known of the martyr except that he was born in Sunam, educated at an orphanage in Amritsar and that he had enlisted to serve as a water carrier when the Jallianwala massacre took place. "There are huge gaps of what all Udham Singh did and doubts that the killing of Sir Michael O'Dyer was done on the spur of the moment", Chitrath Singh said. The film director said new research had proved that Udham Singh had killed Sir O'Dyer, who had commanded the Jallianwala massacre, according to a well laid out plan. He said the killing had also be chosen for a time when it would make maximum impact and that soon after, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee had spoken about giving freedom to India. The director said other myths that had been woven around Udham Singh that he was uneducated and a simpleton would also be cleared by the movie. He said research had proved that Udham Singh had an understanding of politics and was a fond reader of newspapers. "He was in touch with the IRA and was also a member of the Ghadar party for whom he acted as a secret agent at a very high level", Chitrath said. He said the personality of Udham Singh would also be brought out in the movie. "His belief in a socialist framework like Bhagat Singh, but his grounding in Sikh scriptures, unlike the latter, who was an atheist, would be highlighted". Chitrath said the various journeys taken by the martyr who was born Sher Singh, then baptised as Ude Singh and then Udham Singh besides other aliases used abroad and finally taking of the name Ram Mohammad Singh Azad would be depicted. He said the message of secularism and communal harmony shown by the martyr by taking such a name would be highlighted. He said it was for this reason that the film was also being dubbed in Hindi and English in which it would be called "From Golden Temple to Caxton Hall." He said the film would be completed by the middle of next year as 1999 was also the 100th birth anniversary of the martyr. Chitrath said the dialogues of the film were being written by noted poet Surjit Pattar and the script by Atul Tewari. It is being produced by Iqbal Dhillon. Raj Babbar said an attempt
would be made to make a good film by depicting the era in
which Udham Singh lived sincerely. He said the film would
have commercial ingredients but it would be a set apart
from the typical Punjabi formula film. He said good
movies could be made in Punjabi and that the right kind
of producers should come forward as there still was a
market for Punjabi movies. |
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No Central leader for Giani's
function FARIDKOT : The fourth death anniversary of former President, Giani Zail Singh, will be observed at his native village, Sandhwan, in this district on December 27. Several prominent leaders of various political parties including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal (SAD), Chaudhry Jagjit Singh, CLP leader in Vidhan Sabha, PPCC President Capt Amarinder Singh, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Mr Joginder Dayal (CPI) and Mr Sukhinder Singh (UCPI) will pay their tributes to Giani. However no central leader of any political party is expected to attend the function. Giani Zail Singh, born on May 5, 1916, in a middle class Punjabi rural family, rose to the highest position of the country due to his dedicated secular services to the cause of the nation, farsightedness and political shrewdness. He was one of the pioneers of the Prajamandal movement. An active freedom fighter, he had to suffer an imprisonment of five years (1938 to 1945). After working in various capacities in Pepsu, he became Chief Minister of Punjab. Then he held charge of ministries at the Centre. In 1982 he became President of India and enjoyed a full five-year term. Even four years after his death, neither the central nor Punjab governments have built a memorial for him so far. On the occasion of his bhog ceremony on January 8, 1995, the late Chief Minister, Beant Singh, announced that an engineering college in his name would be set up at his village, but before the scheme materialised Mr Beant Singh was killed. According to Mr Surinder Gupta, District Congress Committee president, the condition of Ekta Sthal (samadhi of the Giani) at Delhi is in a deplorable condition. Sandhwan village, his birthplace, still does not have basic facilities like bus stand, panchayat ghar, a road to the cremation ground, a proper dispensary and primary school. The Kotkapura Cooperative
Spinning Mill located in the village, which was founded
by Giani Zail Singh on December 12, 1976, has ceased to
function, rendering its nearly 1400 workers jobless. No
steps have been taken to complete a bypass named after
the Giani from Kotkapura to Tehna village via Sandhwan,
cutting the distance to major towns in Punjab, Haryana,
Chandigarh, Delhi and Himachal . Mr Avtar Singh Brar, the
then Education Minister, had laid its foundation on
August 19, 1996. |
Petrol dealers' strike on Dec 28 JALANDHAR, Dec 26 — Petroleum dealers of six districts of three states adjoining Chandigarh will go on a strike on December 28 to protest against the high cess imposed on petrol and diesel by the state as compared to the union territory of Chandigarh. President Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association J.P. Khanna, while briefing the media, alleged that the disparity in petroleum prices encouraged, smuggling of petrol and diesel from Chandigarh to Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ambala, Patiala, Parwanoo and Panchkula will go on a strike on December 28 in protest against high sales tax and cess. The Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association also alleged that police officials took petrol and diesel without paying for it during visits of the, Prime Minister, Assembly, parliamentary elections and gurdwara elections. The bills are still pending. Similarly dealers were not in a position to supply petrol on credit to the government any longer as pending bills already totalled over Rs 9 crore. They said the proposed sales tax, would strangulate dealers and drive them to bankruptcy. He urged the Punjab Government to not link petrol payments with other deferred payments. He said cash-starved petrol dealers had only option either close petrol stations or switch to exclusive cash sales. Chandigarh, unlike other
states or union territories, does not have any surcharge,
cess or octroi on petrol or diesel and levies 0.7 per
cent sales tax while Punjab has 12 per cent tax —
ten per cent sales tax, one per cent cess and one per
cent octroi — and Haryana has ten per cent sales
tax. |
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PM to inaugurate dam on Jan
12 PATHANKOT, Dec 26 — The Ranjit Sagar Dam, a prestigious hydro-electric project, will be inaugurated and dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on January 12. This was stated by the Minister of Forests, Punjab, Mr Mohan Lal in a press conference at Pathankot today. The 600 MW project will make Punjab self-sufficient in electricity. The project was started in the year 1977 but delayed by several years for lack of funds. A total of 3765 hectares of land of Gurdaspur district was acquired for the reservoir of the project. The minister was here in connection with a forestry issue relating to felling of 2.5 lakh trees in the reservoir area. The government took a decision to fell these trees through an open auction in April-May, 1998. As a result trees worth Rs 1.71 crore were sold to the public. But following a departmental dispute the felled trees could not be transported out. The minister convened a meeting of the dam authorities, Secretary Irrigation and Power and Secretary Forests on Thursday in which it was decided that all revenue accrued from the sale of trees should go to the Shahpur Kandi forest fund to enhance the speedy development of Dhar sub-division. It was also decided to auction the remaining lot of trees on December 30-31. The way has also been cleared for export of cut material. The minister clarified
that auction of trees was done only after the Forest
Corporation failed to take responsibility for felling of
trees and there had been no illegal felling. |
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Barnala's assurance to rice millers SANGRUR, Dec 26 — Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Union Minister for Food, Chemicals and Fertilisers, said the genuine demands of rice millers and the agro-based industry would be sympathetically considered by the Central Government. Mr Barnala gave this assurance while presiding over a seminar on "Problems of paddy millers in Punjab, its magnitude, root cause, solutions and consequent gains". The seminar was organised by the Sangrur District Industrial Chamber here last evening. Various speakers at the seminar stressed that rice-milling trade had become totally unprofitable and if the various specifications regarding the milling and procurement of paddy were not relaxed the rice millers and the allied industry would face closure, hitting the state economy, the development of the agro-based industry and the interests of the farmers. The speakers stressed that nearly nine lakh tonnes of paddy was lying unmilled in Punjab because milling by rice millers as per the existing specifications was not viable. Mr Surjit Singh Barnala admitted that rice milling trade had become unprofitable and needed to be restored to its financial health. Mr Barnala said he would soon call a meeting of representatives of the rice millers and allied industry to discuss their problems across the table to find a permanent solution to their problems. Mr V.P. Maghan, President of the Industrial Chamber, welcomed the chief guest. Mr Gobind Singh Kanjla,
State Minister for Youth and Pensions, and Mr Baldev
Mann, General Secretary, Shiromani Akali Dal, also spoke
on the occasion. |
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Badal attacked for remarks on
SGPC FARIDKOT, Dec 26 — Mr Sukhinder Singh Dhaliwal, President, United Communist Party of India, Punjab, today criticised the state Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for his statement that the SGPC is a branch of the Akali Dal. In a press note issued here, Mr Dhaliwal alleged that Mr Badal in a move to regain supremacy had insulted the whole Sikh community by saying that the SGPC was a wing of the SAD. He added that Mr Badal knew it well that the SGPC was constituted under a separate constitution and its election were held by the Government. He pointed out that by converting the SGPC into a branch of SAD, Mr Badal had also tried to make the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Bhai Ranjit Singh as his subordinate. He observed that this was a result of SAD's dangerous policies of mixing religion with politics. Mr Dhaliwal also pointed
out that by adopting a resolution to celebrate the
tercentenary of creation of the Khalsa as a party, the
Congress was slipping away to a wrong path and by using
the religion for political interests, the Punjab Pardesh
Congress Committee (PPCC) was destroying its traditional
character of secularism. |
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Dang alleges "land
grab" AMRITSAR, Dec 26 — Mr Satya Pal Dang, CPI leader has urged the state government to disqualify the Mayor and Senior Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Corporation for allegedly encouraging "land grabbers" in the name of religion. In a Press statement Mr
Dang alleged that while the Senior Deputy Mayor, who
belongs to the Akali Dal, allegedly tried to
"donate" the site of the public park in Rani Ka
Bagh for constructing a gurdwara, the Mayor (a senior
leader of the BJP) allegedly tried to grab" a piece
of land for a 'mandir' in violation of the court orders.
Important personalities from different political parties
also helped in "grabbing" the government land,
he alleged. |
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'Hit Chintak Divas' on Jan 1 AMRITSAR, Dec 26 — Bajrang Dal, Punjab, has decided to launch the "Hit Chintak Movement" from January 1, 1999, to mobilise Hindus and Sikhs to join the organisation. In a Press release, issued
by Mr Sudhir Mahajan, Press Secretary, Bajrang Dal, a
decision to launch the movement was taken at a
state-level meeting held under the presidentship of Mr
Arun Khanna, convener of the Bajrang Dal. The Press
release said January 1 would be observed as "Hit
Chintak Divas" all over the state. A door-to-door
campaign would also be started to encourage the women to
join the "Durga Vahni", a wing of the Vishva
Hindu Parishad. |
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Notice to SMO criticised BATHINDA, Dec 26 — The Punjab Sahit Sabha has condemned the Civil Surgeon of the local Civil Hospital for issuing a show-cause notice to Dr Ajit Pal, a Senior Medical Officer, for writing a book "Sehat Sambhal" in Punjabi. In a press note issued here today, Mr Jagmohan Kaushal, President of the sabha, criticised the Civil Surgeon for issuing the notice to Dr Pal and said it was unconstitutional and undemocratic. He said under Article 51-A of the Constitution, every one had the right to spread scientific knowledge for public good and by writing the book, Dr Pal had not violated any rules of services laid down by the Punjab Government. Dr Bawa Ram, Civil
Surgeon, however, said the Director, Health and Family
Welfare (Punjab) had asked him to clarify the fact that
whether Dr Pal had taken permission from the State
Government before publishing the book and added that he
had only supplied this information to Dr Pal, for
necessary reply. |
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PYC to have 33 p.c. quota for
women ROPAR, Dec 26 — The Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) will reserve 33 per cent posts for women during the reorganisation of the state unit in the first week of February. Addressing a press conference here last evening, newly appointed PYC President Devinder Singh Babbu said there was no proposal to have a separate mahila wing in the Youth Congress, but women would be given a 33 per cent share in the party as per the decision of the high command. Mr Babbu said in the new set-up appointments of the office-bearers would be made on merit. There would be no place for tainted persons. The state executive and district unit bodies would have a small size. The President claimed that there was no groupism at any level in the PYC and at the same time warned the party workers that indiscipline would not be tolerated. Mr Babbu further said that
Youth Congress units would be set up at the village level
to strengthen the grassroots and work "against the
SAD-BJP government of the state which had made Punjab
bankrupt by its wrong policies." |
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Farmers hold protest rally AMRITSAR, Dec 26 — About five thousand farmers and technocrats of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Soil Conservation departments held a protest rally on a call given by the Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee, Punjab (AGTAC), outside Guru Nanak Bhavan complex, here today. They urged the Punjab
Government and the Pay Anomalies Committee to restore
professional pay parity of agriculture technocrats with
veterinarians and sought conveyance allowance, academic
allowance, additional increments for higher
qualification, rent-free accommodation and redesignation
of various agriculture officers' designation as Assistant
Director (Agriculture) in the interest of the farmers. |
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Quick disposal of legal cases sought MOGA, Dec 26 (UNI) — Faridkot District and Sessions Judge HP Handa has sought complete coordination between the judiciary and the civil administration for quick disposal of cases pending in the judicial courts in three districts of Muktsar, Faridkot and Moga. Mr Handa was presiding over the Legal Services Coordination Committee meeting at Faridkot. The meeting was attended by all three deputy commissioners, three senior superintendents of police, Chief Judicial Magistrate and District Attorney (legal services). The meeting also reviewed
the pending cases and considered various other means for
quick disposal of cases pending in various courts. |
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Man commits suicide BATHINDA, Dec 26 — Amarjeet Singh, owner of an electronic goods showroom at Sardulgarh (Mansa), committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan in the Vikas Hotel here yesterday. Police sources said that Amarjit Singh checked in the hotel located near bus stand on December 24. Sources said that he was under depression and attempted suicide on November 7, 1998. In an accident two months ago his two daughters, one son, wife and mother had drowned when a jeep being driven by Amarjit Singh fell into Bhakra main line canal near Pilchia village in Mansa district. The hotel owner came to know about the suicide today when some friends of the deceased who were searching for him came to the hotel and checked the booking register. They broke open the lock of door and found Amarjit Singh hanging from the ceiling fan. Mr Dinesh Sharma, SHO,
Kotwali Police (city) told TNS that the body was handed
over to the deceased's relatives after post-mortem. |
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Railway stations may be upgraded HOSHIARPUR, Dec 26 — After several representations made by the district authorities and social and political organisations, Mr Nitish Kumar, Union Railway Minister, has directed the railway authorities of Ferozepore division to reconsider their decision relegating the railway stations of Garhshankar, Saila Khurd and Jaijon Doaba from "B" class stations to flag stations. The relegation of the stations had led to a lot of resentment among the inhabitants, traders and industrialists. A deputation of the area comprising Mr R.K. Mishra, Mr Inderjit Saini and Mr Vijay Kaushal of the Punjab Samata Party, Comrade Darshan Singh Mattoo and Mr P.C. Sharma of the CPM, Mr Gian Chand of the Janata Dal and Mr Jaipal Singh of the Congress met the Railway Minister at Delhi and apprised him about the situation. Mr Inderjit Saini told
newsmen that on the directions of the Union Railway
Minister the Divisional Manager, Railways, Ferozepore
Division, had called a meeting of public representatives
on December 31 at Ferozepore to reconsider its decision. |
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