Saturday, November 21, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Saturday, November 21, 1998 |
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Oust
anti-farmer govt, says Meira 9.5
lakh tonnes of old paddy lies unmilled Guru's
relics to be displayed |
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 Future of people’s panel uncertain AMRITSAR, Nov 20 — Even as the Punjab Government has decided in principle to write to the Central Government for extending the period of State Human Rights Commission headed by Justice V.K. Khanna up to 10 years, the future of People's Commission seems to be uncertain. Fake
driving licence scandal unearthed |
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Farmers'
body seeks compensation PRTC
rally against ban on recruitment Sangrur
selected under health plan Employees
allege lathi charge 1-hour
strike by LIC staff Municipal
council member ousted Foundation’s
appeal to people VC
asks scholars to be tolerant Record
sale of DAP by Markfed |
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Oust
anti-farmer government, says Meira ADAMPUR, Nov 20 — The Congress while appealing to the electorate to make the Adampur byelection a referendum on the SAD-BJP government, has predicated that after the ensuing poll in four states, the political situation at the Centre would "be entirely different". Predicating that the SAD-BJP government would be ousted within days after the Congress came to power at the Centre for "non-performance," the AICC general secretary in charge of the party affairs in Punjab, Ms Meira Kumar, addressing a rally of over 10,000 people at Adampur, alleged that the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre was responsible for the present economic and political instability. Lamenting that the Punjab economy was in a shambles due to the "anti-poor" and "anti-farmer" policies of the SAD-BJP government, she said "Never has the gallant farmer of the state resorted to suicide. But today the demoralised peasantry is resorting to this desperate act". Mr Parkash Singh Badal's government, which had projected itself as a "messiah of farmers", had failed to come to the rescue of the farmers in the state, she said. The PPC chief, Mr Amarinder Singh, criticised the Chief Minister for his "fraudulent" policies and "false" claims of ushering in peace in the state. On the contrary, he alleged, it was the Badal-Tohra duo which had "instigated" and "misled" the youth during the militancy period and had asked the then secretary general of the United Nations, Mr Boutros Boutros Ghali, to accord recognition to "Khalistan". How then could they claim to have ushered in a era of peace and communal harmony in the state, he asked. On the economic issue, too, the SAD-BJP government had failed to give relief to any section of society with the small and marginal farmer was caught in a debt trap. He said during the Beant Singh regime, the Congress had issued a "special girdawri within 10 days to compensate the farmers for the crop lost. No relief had been given by the Punjab government to the farmers who had lost their paddy crop. The PPC chief claimed that rampant corruption by men comprising Mr Badal's coterie would lead to his downfall. Condemning the SAD-BJP Government for resorting to "hooliganism" in the Adampur constituency, he warned the police officials to stop harassing the voters of the constituency. One Mr Jaswant Singh was brought to the dais who had been hurt during lathi charge by the police at an INTUC rally at Bhogpur. The PPC chief announced that the Congress was capable of manning the polling booths on the day of the election and warned all state officials to refrain from "misusing" their authority. The Congress candidate, Mr
Kanwaljit Singh Lalli, while alleging manhandling of his
workers, called on the electorate to vote for change. |
9.5
lakh tonnes of old paddy lies unmilled BATHINDA, Nov 20 — Even as the Union Food Ministry has not come out with guidelines regarding specifications for the milling of recently procured government paddy, about 9.5 lakh mt of paddy procured last year by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other Punjab Government agencies is lying unmilled in the open godowns. Sources in the FCI said the paddy procured by the FCI and other Punjab Government agencies last year was rain soaked and being milled by the millers under relaxed specifications (URS) extended by the Central Government. With this facility coming to an end on October 31, 1998, the milling operations of old paddy have come to a halt. Now the millers as well as government agencies are awaiting the extension in the date. Mr R.C. Dhingra, DM (Commercial), FCI, when contacted at Chandigarh on the telephone told TNS that the FCI headquarters at Delhi had been requested to make efforts for extending the date of the URS facility to the millers up to December 31, 1998. He said about five lakh mt of paddy belonged to the FCI, adding that at present, the FCI had no proposal to sell this stock of paddy in the open market. Sources said due to non-milling in specified time, this stock of paddy had come down qualitywise and had been branded as ‘beyond rejection limit’ stock. If the stock of paddy was not milled in time, it would become unfit for marketing and thus would cause loss of crores of rupees to the FCI and other Punjab Government agencies. On the other hand, the milling of paddy procured by the FCI and other Punjab agencies in the current season has not started so far. The Union Food Ministry has not laid down any guidelines for the paddy milling by the rice millers. About 60 lakh mt of paddy was purchased by the FCI and the Punjab agencies in this season. Out of that, about 30 lakh mt of paddy is lying in the rice mills of the state under the joint custody of rice mill owners and the respective government agencies. Mr Shashi Singla, a rice miller of Rampura Phul and vice-president of the Punjab Rice Millers Association, when contacted on the telephone said the association had met the Punjab Food Minister in September for setting up the "practical" rice specifications for the millers for ‘smooth’ milling. He said the association had suggested to the State Food Minister to conduct a test of yield of rice from the paddy after getting it milled from Central Research Food Institute (CRFI), Mysore, first before laying down the milling specification. He said the association was awaiting the response of the Punjab Government in this regard. He said as far as the old paddy lying with government agencies and the FCI, was concerned they were waiting for a nod from the Union Food Ministry regarding extending the date of URS facility. He warned that if the Central Government did not take timely decision in this regard, it would suffer a great loss. Mr Inder Jit Singh Dhillon, executive member of the association, while talking to TNS said at present about 60 per cent rice mills in the state were not working due to no government milling while the remaining mills were not running to full capacity. He said only ‘sela’ plant were operating. He pointed out that old paddy lying in the open godowns were becoming unfit with each passing day. Mr Gian Chand Bansal,
press secretary, FCI Executive Staff Union, when
contacted said the union had urged the Union Food
Minister, Mr Surjeet Singh Barnala, to extend the date of
facility of URS to the millers so that the FCI and other
government agencies could be saved from huge losses. |
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Future
of people’s panel uncertain AMRITSAR, Nov 20 — Even as the Punjab Government has decided in principle to write to the Central Government for extending the period of State Human Rights Commission headed by Justice V.K. Khanna up to 10 years, the future of People's Commission seems to be uncertain. Justice Kuldip Singh, Chairman of the World Sikh Council, has already said he has no objection to winding up the People's Commission if the period of the State Human Rights Commission is extended to 10 years. It is pertinent to mention here that human rights organisations had criticised the Chief Minister for not fulfilling his promise to the electorate to probe the killings of innocent persons during the Congress regime and governor's rule. According to sources, if the demand of the state government is accepted by the Centre, the human rights organisations will virtually be left with no programme to mobilise victims of alleged police excesses. The state government has been reportedly perturbed over the conferences organised by the Dal Khalsa International, Akal Federation and Akali Dal (Mann) where widows and orphans of slain militants had gathered in large numbers. The sources said certain organisations were of the view in case the Central Government agreed to accept the demand of the state government to extend the term of the Human Rights Commission, the People's Commission should continue documentation of cases of police excesses. The affected families, too, have suggested that the People's Commission should continue its sittings. The People's Commission
has already been directed not to hold its proposed
three-day sitting to be started at Amritsar on November
28 by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. |
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Guru's
relics to be displayed CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — Some original weapons and relics belonging to Guru Gobind Singh and two horses, whose lineage is traced to his personal horse, will be among the main attractions at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex at Anandpur Sahib on Sunday. The function will mark the beginning of celebrations of observing the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa. Among the weapons, specially procured for the occasion, is a sword of Guru Gobind Singh. This is at present in the collection of arms gallery, Quila Mubarak Museum, Patiala. It has been transferred from Tosha Khana of Sangrur. This sword was presented to Bhai Dharam Singh by the Guru at Abchal Nagar (Nanded) at the time of his departure for his native place, Bagrian, along with other objects, including a 'pothi' of Gurbani. His father, Roop Chand, had been earlier blessed by Guru Har Gobind, who also bestowed the title of "Bhai" on Roop Chand. This sword has an inscription in Persian script in gold letters to indicate that a local chief, Mohammad Yar, of Surat had presented the same to the Guru. There is another smaller sword. It has a jade handle. It dates back to 1695 and also bears Persian script. It was given by the Guru to Baba Tiloka, an ancestor of Phulkian State. Baba Tiloka was baptised by the Guru at Damdama Sahib in 1705, along with his brother, Ram Singh. Both these weapons have been at Patiala after the formation of Pepsu. There is also a bowl (chhana). Guru Teg Bahadhur drank milk in this bowl and bestowed it to the owner, Gujjar Ram of Khiala Kalan (district Mansa). It remains in the possession of the family till todate. The Guru had ordained the bowl be taken care of and used at home only. It is with Pandit Nachattar Singh. "Pesh kawatch" is another relic, which belongs to Baba Banda Singh Bahadhur. It has an inscription in Persian script bearing Samvat 1752. It was given to him by the Guru. "Anmol Singh"
and "Jodhan Singh" are the two horses, pure
white in colour, which have reached Anandpur Sahib from
Nanded. Their lineage is traced back to the personal
horse (Dal Singar) of Guru Gobind Singh. Also on display
will be "wooden slippers" of Guru Gobind Singh
besides weapons preserved at Takht Keshgarh Sahib at
Anandpur Sahib. |
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Fake
driving licence scandal unearthed PATIALA, Nov 20 — A fake driving licences scandal involving four clerks and 14 agents associated with the District Transport Office has been unearthed by the police. Four of the agents Hardev Singh, Inderjit Singh, Daljit Singh and Darshan Kumar were arrested here today and remanded to police custody up to November 22. Mr Jaswinder Singh Mangat, SHO, Police Lines, said with the unearthing of this scandal various loopholes in the system of issuing driving licences had been exposed. He said so far the police had registered cases against the 18, but the number was expected to grow much more after questioning of the arrested agents. He said according to the information available with the police, more than 70 per cent of the driving licences issued after 1993 were fake. The highest number of bogus licences were the 'renewed driving licences'. The modus operandi of the alleged culprits was that a person was first given a fake driving licence issued by a fake District Transport Authority from some other state. After getting the licence, the person applied for the renewal of his licence from the District Transport Authority here by getting it registered in the same office. The renewed licence was issued allegedly with the connivance of the office employees. It carried all legal formalities like the number of the district from where it was originally issued. Mr Mangat further informed that to make the licence foolproof, clerks of the District Transport Office here used to send a registered letter to the district from where the licence was issued in the first place. As this transport authority did not exist, the clerks did not post the registered letter but preserved the registration slip of the post office to tag it with file of the person applying for the renewal of licence. As per the norms after one month the transport office can renew the licence on its own. A clerk got Rs 1200 for one licence and the practice had been continuing since 1993. Apart from this category of fake licences, the police said the agents used to issue licences on their own. They took money from the applicants and first issued a learning licence by affixing fake stamps and fake signatures. This licence was immediately converted into a regular one. The agents allegedly took Rs 400 for each licence. The police said more
information about the scandal was expected with the
questioning of the arrested persons. The police was also
carrying out raids to arrest the other alleged accused. |
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Fund
shortage may hit Jalandhar institute CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — The Union Government has slashed the annual budget for the Department of Non-Conventional Energy Sources by more than 30 per cent. This has adversely affected the ministry's thrust on building up non conventional eco friendly power sector in the country. According to ministry sources, the annual budget which itself was not very high, a meagre Rs 240 crore, has been cut by Rs 70 crore. This is going to have a long term impact on the ongoing projects all over the country and may also adversely affect the foreign grants and loans for the development of this vital area. One of the projects to suffer may be the Sardar Swaran Singh institute of non conventional energy coming up at Jalandhar. This centrally-aided project for which till now only Rs 10 crore has been spent, is a prestigious institute designed to play a crucial role in the development of non conventional energy like solar energy, wind energy and other en- vironment friendly projects. The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who is concerned with the delay has already taken up the issue with the ministry, sources said. At a meeting with the Union Secretary, Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Mr C.R. Kamalanathan here today, the Secretary for Science and Technology, Mr Y.S. Ratra and the Director, Mr Jagjit Puri, took up the issue. Mr Kamalanathan assured that he would do his best to help Punjab and Haryana, which were leading states in adopting new technologies. Talking to TNS later, Mr Kamalanathan said: "we are bound to help the state and see that this upcoming institute does not suffer. The process of selection of a director for the institute has already started and funds would be there to help". Asked why this vital area was being neglected and people were not adopting this technology, Mr Kamalanathan said. "We are trying hard and success is also there. One reason could be the lack of funds and second lack of awareness. It has to compete with highly subsidised power sector". His colleague , Mr Ajit Kumar Gupta, Adviser to the Ministry said: "Once the power is sold at the cost of generation , then people would realise how cheap and beneficial this non conventional energy is. We face adverse situation right now. The government subsidy is there, but not to the required extent. Yet, now private sector is coming forward and new plans announced in this budget are helping". Both emphasised that renewable sources were the best answer to meet the demands of the country. In the end this was cheap and more environment friendly. So far all over the country one million biogas plants and 30 million solar cookers had been installed. How many really function could be anyone's guess. This high-level team had
meetings with Punjab and Haryana officers. Haryana's
Secretary, Power, Mr S.Y. Qureshi said that Haryana which
had lagged behind earlier had now taken the lead and Mr
Gupta confirmed that the project profiles prepared by
Haryana were being circulated as models. |
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Implement
new pay scales: PUTA PATIALA, Nov 20 — The Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) has urged Higher Education Minister Manjit Singh Calcutta to ensure speedy implementation of the overdue new pay scales for university teachers. A PUTA delegation led by its president, Dr Surinder Singh Khaira, and the secretary, Dr N.S. Atri, brought the issue of existing disparity between merit promotee and direct recruitee teachers to the notice of the minister and requested him to take the issue of amendment of the Punjabi University Act on an urgency basis in the Cabinet so that the matter could be resolved honourably. The delegation also took up the issue of non-release of increments and retirement benefits to the teachers because of provisional release of the September salary with the minister. It also took up the issue of implementation of the Syndicate decision about giving benefit of an hoc service to university teachers. Dr Khaira and Dr Atri claimed the minister assured the delegation the issues would be settled soon. Meanwhile, the Punjab Government College Teachers Association has demanded early implementation of the Human Resource Development Ministry’s notifications regarding pay scales and left-over clauses of the 1988 notification. A deputation of the association led by Dr P.S. Bhatti and Prof Bhag Singh Sandhu, president and general secretary of the association, respectively, met Principal Secretary, Higher Education, Mr G.P.S. Sahi, and Principal Secretary, Finance, Mr Rajan Kashyap, yesterday in this regard. An association release
said it was given a patient hearing and assured of
time-bound implementation of the demands raised by it. It
said Mr Sahi had directed the Department of Higher
Education to solve the demands of teachers at the
earliest so that they could devote their whole attention
to academic development in colleges. |
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Farmers'
body seeks compensation BATHINDA, Nov 20 — The Punjab Young Farmers Federation (PYFF) today urged the state government to make arrangements for giving suitable compensation to farmers for the failure of paddy and cotton crop. In a press note issued here today, Mr Amritpal Singh Brar, president of the federation, said that about 75 per cent of the cotton crop had been damaged due to attack of American bollworm while more than 25 per cent paddy crop had been destroyed due to calamities. He said suitable compensation to the rain-affected farmers was the need of hour. He also condemned the Punjab Government for not ordering a special girdawri for the crop losses. He pointed out that there was an acute shortage of DAP in the state and due to this the Punjab Government would not be able to achieve the target of 138 lakh tonnes of wheat fixed for the next year. The federation leader said
there were a number of village societies who had not been
supplied DAP fertiliser for the past two weeks. |
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PRTC
rally against ban on recruitment BATHINDA, Nov 20 — Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) workers have blamed the Punjab Government for preparing ground for phasing out the state-owned transport to favour private transporters. In a press note issued here today, Mr Pritam Singh, Deputy General Secretary, PRTC Workers Union, alleged that step-motherly treatment was being meted out to state-owned buses while making their timetables to extend "favours" to the private transporters. He alleged the route permits to the private transporters would go against the state-owned transport. Free bus travel facilities to 18 categories had also affected the state transport. Earlier, the workers held a gate rally in protest against the ban on new recruitment in the transport sector. delay in promotions rising prices, bonus and introduction of the contractor system in public transport. A rally would also be held
at Chandigarh on November 30 in this regard. |
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Kirtan
on website AMRITSAR, Nov 20 — The SGPC and the Punjab World Communication Private Limited have signed an agreement for assigning the rights of programme of "shabad kirtan" from the Golden Temple to be taken on website on the Internet for a period of three years extendable with mutual consent. According to a press note issued here today, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, acting President, SGPC, and Mr Kishore Motiani, chairman of the company, signed the agreement. As per the agreement, the
SGPC shall make available the required infrastructure,
including space to install, store and operate equipment,
tapes and other machines to be used in recording and
uploading the "shabad kirtan" from the Golden
Temple and other events and ceremonies. |
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Sangrur
selected under health plan SANGRUR, Nov 20 — A district-level family welfare function was organised by the district health authorities here last evening. Dr Puran Singh Jassi, Director, Health and Family Welfare, was the chief guest while Dr S.K. Khullar, Civil Surgeon, presided. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jassi stressed the need for family planning. He said Sangrur district was the only district in Punjab which had been selected under the "reproductive child health programme" for providing good health services in the rural and urban areas. Twentyfour districts had been selected under this programme in the country and Sangrur was one of them. A sum of Rs 18 crore would be spent here under this programme during the next five years while an amount of Rs 2.25 crore would be spent during the current financial year. The project would be funded by the World Bank. Prizes were distributed
among health workers and doctors. |
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Employees
allege lathi charge JALANDHAR, Nov 20 — A controversy has arisen about the confusing reports on the lathi charge on employees of the Punjab Roadways Joint Action Committee at a rally at Bhogpur by the police. The Congress state unit president, Captain Amarinder Singh, has condemned the lathi charge by the police on INTUC members. Mr Jaswant Singh who had received lathi blows on his back was brought to the rally at Adampur where slogans against the SAD-BJP government were raised. However, the SHO, Bhogpur,
denied any such incident had taken place. Meanwhile, the
employees' joint action committee has condemned the state
government for resorting to a lathi charge on peaceful
employees today. |
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1-hour
strike by LIC staff PATIALA, Nov 20 — A one-hour walk-out strike was observed by the local unit of the LIC of India here today on a call given by the All-India Insurance Employees Association against the proposed privatisation in insurance industry. Mr Narinder Walia, President, Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association, addressing the rally said the agitation would continue till the government gave up its "anti-public sector policies". AMRITSAR: Employees of GIC and LIC here today observed one-hour strike and a rally on a call given by the All-India Insurance Employees Association. The strike was observed in protest against the government's plan to open up the insurance sector. Mr J.S. Randhawa Ved Kumar Narinder Singh and Ashok Sharma spoke on the occasion. They said they would oppose any action of the government in this regard. JALANDHAR: As
part of the countrywide protest against government's
reported move to open up the insurance sector to Indian
and foreign private insurance companies, LIC employees
working in all offices here observed a one-hour walk out
strike on Friday. |
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Municipal
council member ousted NANGAL, Nov 20 — Ex-chairman of Nangal Municipal council Ashok Kumar Nayar has been ousted from the council. According to Regional Deputy Director, Local Government, Mr Nayar has been held responsible for tampering with official records in case of recruitment of teachers in the local Shivalik Model School. He has also been accused of not adopting merit as criterion during the selection of teachers and issuing appointment letters to teachers without the consent of Municipal Council. He has been impeached under Section 16 (1) E of the Municipal Act, 1911. Mr Nayar when contacted,
however, denied the allegations levelled against him. He
termed all allegations as baseless. He said he would
approach court to get justice in the matter. |
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Foundation’s
appeal to people CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — The Guru Gobind Singh Foundation today appealed to all faith-followers of all religions to participate in the Anandpur Sahib ceremony on November 22. In a statement, the foundation president, Mr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, said the boycott by certain parties, factions and individuals of the Khalsa tercentenary foundation stone-lying ceremony at Anandpur Sahib reflected ulterior political and egoistic considerations. Some differences of opinion, on one or the other aspect, were but natural, a healthy sign of community's sensitivities. But such differences, should not become dissension on political, factional and egoistic grounds. The Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, therefore, instead of boycotting the ceremony, should, rather set a high example of "humility and equality" by participating in the function, without awaiting personal appeal or persuasion by Panthic leadership. A similar appeal has been
made by the Bhartiya Sikh Pratinidh Board President Giani
Gurcharan Singh, who wants the Jathedar of Akal Takht to
lead the celebrations. |
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VC asks scholars to be tolerant PATIALA, Nov 20 — The Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Dr Joginder Singh Puar, today urged scholars to show tolerance and do away with narrow-mindedness. Speaking at the concluding day of the three-day seminar on the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations, Dr Puar said the seminar, which had invited scholars with varying views, had worked towards this goal. Dr Puar said he hoped the seminar would prove to be a milestone. He said a new direction for research on in many areas of Sikh history had been provided by the seminar. Those who took part in
today's discussion included Dr S.S. Dhanoa, Dr Kulwant
Grewal and Dr Kirpal Singh from Miri Piri Academy. Dr N.
Muthu Mohan, Reader, Guru Nanak Devji Chair, Mudurai
Kamaraj University, Madurai (Tamil Nadu), presented his
paper on the concepts of "Sach and Sach Achar"
in Sikhism. |
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Record
sale of DAP by Markfed CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — The Punjab Markfed, which is the nodal agency for supplying fertilisers in the cooperative sector, has created an all-time record in the sale of DAP rabi 1998-99. Against the sale of 1.22 lakh tonnes in 1994-95 and 1.37 lakh tonnes last year, Markfed has already sold more than 2 lakh tonnes in the current rabi season. The sale is almost 50 per cent higher than last year. This is despite there being a general shortage of DAP in the country for the rabi crop. The Fertiliser Association of India has reported that the total shortage of DAP for the rabi is around 20 per cent and it is likely to get worse on account of importers cancelling their contracts. In view of the advance
sowing of wheat on account of rains during mid-October,
Markfed deputed its senior officers to Mumbai and Orissa
to ensure that rakes carrying fertiliser were loaded on
daily basis for destinations in Punjab. Markfed even
incurred loss by buying DAP at a higher cost to ensure
farmers were supplied fertiliser in time. |
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Punjabi
varsity results PATIALA, Nov 20 — The
result of B.A. Part III, B.Sc. Part II, B.D.S. final
Prof, M.P.Ed., D.P.Ed, B.P.Ed. parts I, II, and III,
M.Sc. (Physics) parts I and II, M.A. (Sanskrit) part I
and MA (linguistics) part I conducted by Punjabi
University in October, 1998, will be declared on November
23, according to a press note issued here today by the
university. |
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Journalist
cremated PATIALA, Nov 20 — The
mortal remains of Hardeep Singh Sahni, Chief Editor of
The Daily Senapati, who died here last night, were
consigned to flames today. The pyre was lit by Mr Sahni's
elder son Rajinderpal Singh. Mr Sahni is survived by his
wife and two sons. |
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