tribuneindia... Punjab

P U N J A B

Monday, July 27, 1998

weather n spotlight
today's calendar

Teachers firm on stir plan
JALANDHAR, July 26 — The All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (AIFUCTO) has reiterated its decision to cease work on the campuses of 220 universities an 9,000 colleges in the country on August 4 followed by an indefinite strike from August 11

CPI decries arrest of state BSP secretary-general
JALANDHAR, July 26 — The CPI state secretary, Mr Joginder Dayal, today condemned the arrest of BSP state secretary-general Avtar Singh Karimpuri, alleging it was aimed at sabotaging Opposition parties' joint campaign against price rise and "atrocities on Dalits and police excesses."

Sekhwan re-elected
Dalit front chief
AMRITSAR, July 26 — Mr Seva Singh Sekhwan, Minister of State for Public Relations, has unanimously been re-elected president of the All-India Minorities and Dalit Front at its general House Session here today.

Attack on manager: staff demand action
ROPAR, July 26 — The Ropar Central Cooperative Bank Employees Union has demanded stern action against all persons who allegedly attacked and made an attempt to kidnap Mr Kuldip Singh, Deputy Manager of the bank, at the local bus stand on Friday evening.

Flood-prone villages identified
TARN TARAN, July 26 — The district police has made elaborate arrangements to face any eventuality in case of floods in this border area by identifying the sensitive villages.

Steamer service for Ranjit Sagar
GURDASPUR, July 26 — Steamer service in the 46-km-long lake of Ranjit Sagar Dam will be started next year and will stretch to Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, Mr Mohan Lal, Forest Minister, said here today.

Six Kashmiri jewellers held

Tohra justifies hike in power tariff

Punjab order on revised pension

A potential tourist spot

Held for showing blue film

Teachers firm on stir plan
JALANDHAR, July 26 (UNI) — The All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (AIFUCTO) has reiterated its decision to cease work on the campuses of 220 universities an 9,000 colleges in the country on August 4 followed by an indefinite strike from August 11 if the Union Government did not implement the University Grants Commission (UGC) recommended pay scales for university and college teachers and made its implementation mandatory in universities, government and non-government colleges in all states.
Stating this here today, federation national secretary V.K. Tewari said the government by its "unilateral irrational and hurried decision" on their pay revision had not only devalued the commission but also short-changed the teachers, jeopardising careers of the nine million students in the country.
He said if the government continued to ignore their just demands and stuck to its "narrow and myopic style of governance" the federation would be left with no option but to go on an indefinite countrywide strike for an indefinite period from August 11.
Mr Tewari described the raising of retirement age to 62 years as a "hoax" as the government had no power to make its implementation compulsory in states. It was only meant for teachers working in central universities, he added.
He alleged the Union Government had also failed in its duty to fulfil its constitutional responsibility of promoting academic excellence by ignoring and negating the UGC package aimed at all-round improvement of the academia in the country. It seemed the teachers' historic march to Parliament on July 21 too, had failed to move the government and see the writing on the wall, he added.

Sekhwan re-elected Dalit front chief
Tribune News Service
AMRITSAR, July 26 — Mr Seva Singh Sekhwan, Minister of State for Public Relations, has unanimously been re-elected president of the All-India Minorities and Dalit Front at its general House Session here today.
His name was proposed by Mr Surinder Singh Bamrah and was seconded by Mr Rajpal Singh. He has been authorised to nominate other office-bearers.
The House urged the union government to ensure the safety of minorities and Dalits.
By another resolution, the House demanded that Udham Singh Nagar district should not be included in the proposed Uttranchal, keeping in view the wishes of residents of the district.
It also demanded that the Bill envisaging 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state Assemblies be adopted at the earliest.
In yet another resolution, it demanded exemption for Sikh women and children from wearing helmets.

CPI decries arrest of state BSP secretary-general
JALANDHAR, July 26 (UNI) — The CPI state secretary, Mr Joginder Dayal, today condemned the arrest of BSP state secretary-general Avtar Singh Karimpuri, alleging it was aimed at sabotaging Opposition parties' joint campaign against price rise and "atrocities on Dalits and police excesses."
The CPI, CPM, BSP and the Janata Dal are scheduled to launch a statewide campaign by holding a dharna here tomorrow.
In a statement, Dr Dayal said the Punjab Government by adopting such browbeating tactics could not succeed in concealing their "abysmal performance on all fronts". The Akali government would be in the wrong if it thought that it could scare workers of the four parties from joining hands for the success of their agitation which, he said, would focus public attention on the government’s failure to deliver its promises.
Mr Karimpuri, along with four BSP workers, was detained at Garhshankar on Friday on the charge of having indulged in rioting and forcibly escorting two accused from the custody of the Garhshankar police station on Wednesday.
Mr Karimpuri was remanded to judicial custody till tomorrow by the Balachaur Judicial Magistrate before whom he was produced yesterday. The police, however, did not arrest BSP MLA Shingara Ram Sahungra who, they said, was also wanted in the same case registered on July 23. The police has, however, sought the permission of the Punjab Assembly Speaker to arrest him, police sources said.
BSP state president C.D. Singh Kambhoj, who along with Mr Sahungra, led the BSP activists to impose a blockade on the Mahlpur-Banga road, has threatened to launch an agitation from July 28 if Mr Karimpuri was not released by then. Six BSP workers would court arrest daily at Hoshiarpur from July 28 if their party leader was not set free, he added.

Attack on manager: staff demand action
From Our Correspondent
ROPAR, July 26 — The Ropar Central Cooperative Bank Employees Union has demanded stern action against all persons who allegedly attacked and made an attempt to kidnap Mr Kuldip Singh, Deputy Manager of the bank, at the local bus stand on Friday evening.
Mr Baldev Singh and Mr Bikramjit Singh, president and general secretary of the union, in a press note have alleged they suspect the attack was connected with the recovery of an old bank loan.
The union leaders said the 41 branches of the bank in the district remained closed yesterday and the employees held a protest rally in front of the main office of bank.
The employees' leaders warned if the authorities concerned failed to initiate stern action against the alleged assailants the issue would be raised at the state level.
The Managing Director of the bank, Mr Shadi Singh, has also condemned alleged attack and urged the district administration to take necessary action.
Meanwhile, Mr M.S. Malhi, SHO of the local city police station, said the police had held three persons, namely Gurjinder Singh, Manjit Singh and Gurmeet Singh, under Sections 107 and 151 of the IPC in this regard. The three were produced today before the executive magistrate who granted bail to them. He also said the police had sent the complaint filed by the Deputy Manager to the DLA for seeking legal opinion. A case would be registered against the quilty after opinion has been sought.

Flood-prone villages identified
From Our Correspondent
TARN TARAN, July 26 — The district police has made elaborate arrangements to face any eventuality in case of floods in this border area by identifying the sensitive villages.
Mr Jasminder Singh, SSP, and Mr Ram Singh SP (Headquarters), told The Tribune here today the police had identified sensitive villages and made arrangements to provide all possible help to provide all possible help to people. They said Rasulpur, Ram Singh Wala, Muthianwala, Jhugian Nur Mohammad, Bhangala, Tut, Jhugian Kalu, Jand, Jodh Singh Wala, Jhugian Rakha Singh, Kuwala, Sabhra, Gadiake, Dummiwala, Jhugian Shiho Mahi, Kot Budha, Bhaowal, Jhugian Peer Baksh Radhalke and farmhouses of Harike, Booh and Kirtowal villages may be affected by floods.
Police personnel have been deputed in the sensitive villages. They inform their respective control room about the latest situation. A list of at least 100 persons who know how to swim has been made. More than 50 persons have offered to provide "turi" (dry fodder) and green fodder for the cattle of flood victims. About 150 trucks, tractors and other vehicles will be on hand to save the people in case help is needed.
The phone numbers and addresses of SMOs, medical officers and veterinary officers have been noted. They have been asked to be ready in case of need. Boats have also been requisitioned. Safer places have been identified and tents will be put up there.
Control rooms are working at every subdivision in the police district along with the temporary control rooms. Arrangements have been made to avail of the public address system in each village.
The two officers said though there was no fear of floods in Tarn Taran and Goindwal Sahib subdivisions but even then arrangements had been made to face any eventuality.

Steamer service for Ranjit Sagar
From Our Correspondent
GURDASPUR, July 26 — Steamer service in the 46-km-long lake of Ranjit Sagar Dam will be started next year and will stretch to Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, Mr Mohan Lal, Forest Minister, said here today.
He said 2,130 acres of land in Punjab had been submerged for the purpose. The land belonged to the Forest Department and alternative land near Kathlour in this district had been given to it.
The Forest Minister said land ousters of the Ranjit Sagar Dam from Punjab would be given compensation at the rate of 65,000 per acre.
He said Dhar subdivision would have tourist spots at Dhar Dunera and Sartee.
He said the area under forest in Punjab would be raised from 5 to 10 per cent in due course of time. As much as 13,770 acres would be brought under afforestation every year, he added.

Six Kashmiri jewellers held
GURDASPUR, July 26 (UNI) — The Sadar police here today claimed having arrested six Kashmiri jewellers coming from Anantnag with silver ornaments for selling them at Amritsar allegedly without proper documents yesterday.
Silver ornaments weighing more than 50 kg and a video-cassette recorder besides an Ambassador car in which they were intercepted near Beant Singh Engineering College on the outskirts of the city were seized, the police added.
Those arrested under Section 411 of the IPC were today identified by the police as Nazir Ahmed, Adresh Baba, Mushtaq Ahmed, Masid Ahmed, Raiz Umed Khan and Hassan

Tohra justifies hike in power tariff
From Our Correspondent
HOSHIARPUR, July 26 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president, SGPC, justified the recent increase in the bus fare and power tariff by the state government, but said the hike should have been done in two or three installments.
Stating this to mediapersons at the residence of Mr Harjinder Singh Dhami, a member of the SGPC, at Piplanwala here today, he, however, said some relief in power tariff should be given. Mr Tohra said the Punjab Government had no alternative other than to raise the bus fare and the power tariff to generate funds as it had limited sources. The main source was to export wheat and paddy, but wheat and paddy stocks were rotting, lying in the open at several places in the state. He said the Centre had not made any arrangement for lifting them to other states.
Mr Tohra claimed that the bus fare and power tariff were still cheaper in Punjab as compared to some other states. Replying to a question, he justified free water and power facilities to farmers. He said due to the supply of water and electricity, free of cost, the production of wheat and paddy had increased manifold.
Referring to the merger of Udham Singh Nagar with the new proposed state of Uttranchal, he said the SAD was not alone in opposing this merger. Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ms Mamata Banerjee and a majority of Congress members were supporting the SAD in this regard, he said.
When asked to comment on the statement of Mr Kushabau Thakre, BJP chief, on the issue, he said Mr Thakre had his own views and he was free to express them in public. If the proposed merger of Udham Singh Nagar was done, the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the SAD would prepare a new strategy to oppose it, he added.
Later he addressed workers at a meeting at Gurdwara Kalgidhar Model town.

Punjab order on revised pension
From Our Correspondent
LUDHIANA, July 26 — On the directive of the Punjab government the Department of Finance issued a notification on July 21 that the Punjab government pensioners/family pensioners, who retired between January 1, 1986 to December 31, 1995 will get the revised pensions consisting of following benefits existing basic pension on January 1, 1996, 40 per cent of the existing basic pension, dearness relief admissible on January 1, 1996 first and second instalments of interim relief.
Mr Yashpaul Ghai, additional general secretary of the Government Pensioners Association, informed that the revised pension will be effective from January 1, 1996 and that the notification also deals with the pre-86 retirees.

A potential tourist spot
From Sushil Goyal
ROPAR: In view of some deaths of teenagers due to drowning in the past few years in the Sutlej near the Ropar headworks, there is need to develop the left bank of the river as a tourist spot.
On the left bank of the river near the headworks here children, teenagers and adults often take a dip during summer and on occasions like the Baisakhi, Sangrand and Panchbheekh fairs. This spot of the river is called by many as a deathtrap area. Even then, people can be seen there taking a bath or washing clothes.
Near the left bank of the river, there are some important places, including the place of the historic treaty between Maharaja Ranjit Singh and then Governor-General of India Lord William Bentick in October, 1831, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Bagh, War Memorial (under construction), Ropar headworks and the nearby Boat Club.
A large number of people take a dip on several occasions and worship Khwaja Peer before the onset of the rainy season. Although people of the area frequently visit this spot, no arrangements for their safety have so far been made.
People feel that in view of several deaths at this spot, the administration should initiate steps for the development of the left bank and develop the same as a tourist spot.
They suggest a police post should be set up there, besides providing services of a diver. Proper lighting should be done on the bank. Stairs and ghats for men and women should be constructed. Area should be earmarked for bathing and swimming. There should have the provision of rescue boats.
Sometimes washermen can be seen washing clothes. A special ghat at some distance can also be constructed for them.

Held for showing blue film
From Our Correspondent
SAS NAGAR, July 26 — One person was arrested on a charge of exhibiting a blue film on a cable channel being fed to homes here last night.
The arrest by the Phase VIII police followed a complaint lodged by Mr T.S. Atwal, a leader of the All-India Sikh Students' Federation.
Mr Atwal said he had come from Ludhiana to attend a federation meeting and was staying with his brother-in-law in Sector 71 here. At 11 p.m., he said, when he switched on a TV set he saw the film being shown on the local channel. The film was highly objectionable more so as the channel was being viewed by families in many houses.
He demanded action against all those involved in the exhibition of such films.
The SHO of the Phase VIII police station, Mr Balwant Singh, told The Tribune tonight that Paramjit Singh, the cable TV operator and proprietor, had been arrested.
The film cassette the VCR, a TV set and related equipment had been seized. A case had been registered under sections 292 (sale of obscene books, etc) and 293 (sale, etc of obscene objects to young persons) of the IPC and section 7 of the Cinematography Act 1952, he added.