Sunday, November 22, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Sunday, November 22, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Tohra
supports Takht chief's stand North
American ultras condemn killing Guru
"laid foundation of secularism" |
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 Recall EC observer: Cong Dharna
by farmers, technocrats |
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Tandon for
cutting cost of medicare Another
cotton crop failure feared Physical
instructors not paid wages Bar
members abstain from work DSP
killed in road mishap Function
to be telecast live "Convention
for justice on Nov 28" Sikh
educational conference on Nov 27 Six
poppy husk smugglers held Conference
of surgeons Christian
Front to support SAD Plea
to PM on Fazilka-Abohar rail link PSSF
to join rally at Chandigarh Naib
tehsildar suspended Award
in memory of Gulshan Kumar 'Guru's
'kalgi' must be displayed at Baisakhi' Dealers
selling DAP at 'premium' |
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Tohra
supports Takht chief's stand CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, today said the decision of the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, to stay away from the Khalsa birth tercentenary celebrations was based on certain principles. Though the SGPC President said he had personally requested him to grace the occasion, the stand taken by Bhai Ranjit Singh was clear and simple. He has not been associated with any of the details of what was intended to be done either tomorrow or thereafter. Therefore, when the Jathedar says if, tomorrow, any controversy erupts then the onus of its religious implication will be on him. How can then he be a party to something of which he was unaware and not apprised of at the planning stage. Mr Tohra said he did find some weightage in what the Jathedar said while explaining why he wished to distance himself from the ceremony of unveiling the foundation stone of the Khalsa heritage memorial complex at Anandpur Sahib tomorrow. The SGPC President admitted it was a mistake on the part of the government, which was the main organiser of tomorrow's function, not to have involved the Jathedar in the proposed celebrations and projects. "I am a party to that mistake", he said. It was not for the SGPC to endorse or approve whatever the government does. On such big occasions, like the tercentenary celebrations, it was for any secular government to ensure there was smooth going for the people who were provided all facilities especially when a large turnout was expected, he added. The SGPC was keen to raise the "Nishan-e-Khalsa", which is part of the complex. As the government was footing the bill, the SGPC would only be a participant in the foundation stone laying ceremony on Sunday. Moreover it was always the government which protects and preserves history and heritage. He sought to clarify his statement on the Rs 100 crore aid announced by the Prime Minister at the national-level celebrations committee meeting in New Delhi on November 5. "All I am keen on is that at least Rs 50 crore out of that sum is spent on building a modern hospital in Anandpur Sahib. The SGPC will make land available for the hospital". Whether the Jathedar is involved in future programmes to be organised for the celebrations remains to be seen, as the Anandpur Sahib foundation is headed by Mr Brajinder Singh Hamdard. Its meetings have been far and few. Though Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra has been associated with the approval of the complex and other related developments he was evasive when asked if involvement of the SGPC alone was not enough since it was equally responsible as a repository of Sikh religion and shared the same with Akal Takht. The SGPC President gave enough hint that the main function on April 13,1999 and some other related celebrations will be in the domain of the SGPC. The government involvement would be more in infrastructural development and other civic and civil works, while the SGPC would share the burden in other functions. Besides this raging issue of the Jathedar either attending or not attending tomorrow's function at Anandpur Sahib, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra was also asked about the killing of Mr Tara Singh Hayer in Vancouver. To this Mr Tohra said
"we have regretted the incident. It is absurd to
link Hayer's killing to Akal Takht or issues related to
it". Over the years Hayer's newspaper has been
spitting venom against Akal Takht, the Sikh Gurus and the
Sikh philosophy. He was excommunicated recently, he
added. |
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Hayer’s assassination CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — While police in Canada is re-evaluating information about a hit list targeting six other moderate leaders, "fundamentalists" around North America have condemned the assassination of Tara Singh Hayer and blamed outsiders for what they called an attempt to divide the Sikh community. A story in today’s Toronto Star has quoted Anne Lowthian, Executive Director, World Sikh Organisation, as saying that the continuing violence was the result of interference from outside forces bent on dividing the Sikh community. "(But) the issue of tables and chairs is not the issue," she said. The moderates have clashed with fundamentalists recently over an edict from Jathedar of Akal Takht to remove tables and chairs from gurdwara dining halls. The police has been called out repeatedly to stem violent melees. People have been arrested and gurdwara closed out of concern for public safety. The Vancouver Sun, a daily, in a major story yesterday said the police had received information about a list of seven names around the time of the Miri Piri parade, an annual religious celebration that was cancelled last July because the police feared attempt on the lives of Tara Singh Hayer and Mr Balwant Singh Gill, President, Guru Nanak Temple. Also on the hit list were other moderate Sikhs, excommunicated by Jathedar of Akal Takht. The newspaper further said that within the last month, Hayer had spoken to his close friend and newspaper columnist Gurnam Singh Sanghera about being on the hit list. Sanghera said, "I was 100 per cent sure he knew he had immediate threats". Most of those on the list had told the newspaper that they were well aware of the potential threat against them and were taking precautions. They also called on the police to do more to protect them and bring Hayer's assassins to justice. "Before I didn't take this hit list very seriously, but now things have changed," said Mr Balwant Singh Gill, who has been given a bullet-proof vest by the police. Hayer’s grief stricken family, the newspaper said, put on a brave face a day after the killing and delivered the latest issue of Indo-Canadian Times. Reporters were also shown the scene of slaying. The slain publisher's son, Sukhdev, the newspaper said, also called on the Canadian government to take action against some of the militant groups, including the Sikh Youth Federation and the Babbar Khalsa. He also confirmed that his father had received a death threat last month, but the police said they had nothing on the file. Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Grant Learned said the police may set up an international toll free tipline. A national toll-free tipline has already been set up. The police has appealed to the Sikh community to "maintain calm and control in the community" and to come forward with any information that could help investigations. The Canadian newspapers have even quoted the Punjab DGP, Mr P.C. Dogra, as saying that "it is a very disturbing development that could have a fallout in Punjab". Meanwhile, friends of
Hayer have pledged a $ 25,000 reward in the case. Mr
Jarnail Singh Bhandal, a Presidential candidate for the
Abbotsford Gurdwara elections tomorrow, said that Hayer's
murder was definitely an attempt to intimidate moderate
supporters from abstaining from voting. |
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Guru
"laid foundation of secularism" CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar today said the foundation of secularism was laid the day Guru Gobind Singh ordained that Guru Granth Sahib would be the "Guru" to which all Sikhs should pay obeisance. The philosophy contained in that holy scripture was the "message" of the Gurus, who believed in and preached "universal brotherhood" and "universal well-being" of humanity. The message was all the more relevant at present when dark clouds of hatred, religious intolerance, economic disparities and ethnic conflicts were overhead and when the chasm between the rich and poor was widening. In the spirit of universal humanism, the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa provided an occasion to "correct the distortions", ease the prevailing tensions and "involve the people in regaining their self". Mr Shekhar was speaking at a convention held as part of the Khalsa birth tercentenary celebrations held at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College here and hosted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the Sikh Educational Society. The SGPC has formed a Khalsa Panth Sirjana Tistri Shatabdi Committee as well for such occasions. Recalling his association with Punjab, Punjabis and how he came close to Sikhism, Mr Shekhar said it was during the "solitary confinement" in Patiala jail during the Emergency that he had had the occasion to read books on Sikhism. In an emotional outburst he said his advice not to send the Army into the Golden Temple complex was ignored by the then Prime Minister. The consequences were before all. He regretted that his was the lone voice against that operation and killing of Sikhs following the assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi. "Even my own partymen did not stand with me". He agreed with the comments of the SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who welcomed him, that there was difference between a "kirpan" and a "talwar". The Guru gave the Sikhs the former because it is a weapon of defence. It was used as a weapon of offence only when there was "zulum and injustice". It was used to "protect" the havenots and the oppressed. Contrary to this, a "talwar" was a symbol of "oppression". The philosophy behind this had to be understood as to why the Guru baptised the Sikhs. The sacrifices, heroic tales and martyrdom of the Sikhs were well known. Therefore, never ever should political power come into conflict with the Sikh religion. For it was Guru Tegh Bahadur, who preferred to be beheaded for humanism, freedom of religion. The present celebrations would have had their desired impact and effect if more than mere "symbolism" attention was paid to "substance" as to what the Guru’s message stood for. The SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, described Mr Chandra Shekhar as a "true" friend of the Sikhs, who stood alone when the entire country went against the Sikhs. He quoted from Gurbani to say that when all else wilted and turned brown, Mr Chandra Shekhar alone was there like a green plant. He recalled the role of the Sikhs in the freedom struggle. "Lucky are those who are alive today to see the tercentenary celebrations", he added. Mr Gurcharan Singh announced that two schools would be opened during the celebrations — one at Mohali and the other at Qadian — by the Sikh Educational Society. In the campus of the SGGS College for Women in Chandigarh, a Rs 50 lakh multi-purpose auditorium would be built besides setting up of a Sikh reference library. Earlier, two Sikh scholars, Dr J.S. Grewal, a former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Dr Gurbhagat Singh, a former Dean, Languages, Punjabi University, Patiala, read out their papers, while Dr Grewal spoke on the "Khalsa: vision and legacy"; Dr Gurbhagat Singh spoke on "Sikh identity and Sikh institutions". Principal Bharpur Singh moved a resolution which was adopted at the convention. It "appealed" to the politico-administrative rulers of India to introduce "reforms" in the democratic set-up to ensure "proliferation and propagation" of miniorities which had separate "cultural and religious" identities. Where need be, certain changes and amendments should be made in the Constitution. The Punjab Minister of Higher Education, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, also spoke on the same lines as the resolution was drafted. He declared Sikhs neither believed in dominating others nor could they be dominated. Khalsa Panth was not a "mazhab" but a continuous "spirit", a movement, a social rebellion, a political upheaval and a people’s revolution against all that was wrong, oppressive and archaic in the given religio-political and social order. Khalsa did not believe in a "theocratic" state. It was a strong votary of equal opportunities for all faiths to develop and grow. The Union Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, also spoke. He hoped the celebrations would help create an environment which would leave a long-lasting impact on next generations, something for prosperity. Earlier, Mr Gurcharan Singh released a book of poems "Toofan Di Gode Chon" by Col Jasmer Singh Bala, who is Secretary of the SGPC Committee on Celebrations. Sant Sucha Singh Javadi
and Mr Jasbir Singh Rode, a former Jathedar, Akal Takht,
were presented shawls by the SGPC President. |
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Congress:
recall EC observer JALANDHAR, Nov 21 — The Congress has raised doubts on the credibility of the observer appointed by the Election Commission for the Adampur byelection. The Congress general secretary, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, has alleged in a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner that Mr G.P. Verma, general observer for the Adampur byelection, not only accepted the hospitality of the Akali-BJP government from November 13 to 15 but was also taken on a tour of the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir. He said he also enjoyed the hospitality of the Akali Dal at Amritsar during this period. He has termed his indulgence in such activities during the course of elections and absence from the constituency a serious breach of civil services rules and unbecoming of an official of the Election Commission. An observer who has been entertained by the Akali-BJP government for three days does not enjoy our faith and trust any more and has become a stooge of the ruling party", he has further alleged. Mr Bir Devinder Singh has said the Election Commission is an institution of eminence and if officials appointed by the commission undermine the prestige and dignity attached to it then the people of the country would lose faith in the impartiality of the commission. He has said the actions of Mr Verma are a sad reflection of the Election Commission and therefore it will be desirable to recall him immediately to restore faith in the impartial working of the commission. He said: "We take back our earlier request to increase the number of Election Commission observers in the constituency and the observers to be appointed from outside the state of Punjab." He said an observer
appointed by the Election Commission had to oversee the
smooth conduct of elections. His presence in the
constituency was a signal to all officials of the state
and central government employees not to take part in any
kind of political activity or indulge in any action which
could smack of favouring the candidature of a particular
party. |
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Dharna
by farmers, technocrats FEROZEPORE, Nov 21 — Technocrats of various departments, including, agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry, and farmers from all over the district staged a dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today in support of their demands and against the alleged "wrong" policies of the government. Addressing the dharna, various leaders said following the liberalisation and globalisation policies of the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation the government had "destroyed farming" in the state. The government was planning to privatise certain government departments, including agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry. They added if the government succeeded in privatising these government departments the farmers would be deprived of getting technical know-how free of cost. They said due to the "wrong" policies of the government farmers who were in debt were committing suicides, they alleged. The speakers also criticised the government for constantly ignoring the suggestions given many times by agricultural technocrats. They asked the government to implement a national agriculture policy in the larger interests of the farmers, take steps to make farmers free from debts, implement crop insurance schemes, invest more in the agricultural sector and give full compensation for the crops damaged as a result of natural calamities. Among other things, they also demanded pay parity for technocrats, acceptance of joint demands of all employees, withdrawal of alleged fake vigilance cases registered against agricultural technocrats and status of assistant director, agriculture, for block agricultural officers. The speakers also demanded
setting up of a committee under the leadership of
"Agtech" for finding a permanent solution to
the problem of American insect and waterlogging in
Punjab. The government should be bound to accept the
recommendations of this committee, they added. |
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Tandon
for cutting cost of medicare LUDHIANA, Nov 21 — Doctors and hospital authorities should take the responsibility for making available new techniques in medicare to the common man at a reasonable cost. Mr Balramji Das Tandon, Local Bodies Minister, while inaugurating the 19th annual conference of the Northern Chapter Association of Surgeons of India at Daynand Medical College and Hospital said today tests for diagnosis of a disease and its treatment were so expensive that even a middle class person could not afford the same. Dr Seetal Singh, secretary of chapter, the president of the Indian Surgical Society, Mr Brij Mohan Munjal, president of DMC's managing committee, and Dr S.B. Khurana, Principal of DMC, also spoke. Dr Mohan Lal Gupta,
organising secretary, said 600 delegates were
participating in the three-day conference. |
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Another
cotton crop failure feared FAZILKA: Cotton, popularly known as 'white gold' and considered to be the main cash crop in this area, is on the verge of extinction. According to available figures, there has been a gradual decline in the area under cotton cultivation in Fazilka block. In 1995 cotton was cultivated on 70,000 acres of land. The crop covered 65,000 and 59,000 acres during 1996 and 1997, respectively. In the current year it has been cultivated on 46,000 acres — an all-time low. Likewise a steep fall in cotton arrivals due to low yield has been recorded. In 1996-97 the total arrivals in the Fazilka market amounted to 6,53,590 quintals. Last year (1997-98), the total cotton arrivals came down to only 2,72,056 quintals — the lowest since Independence. The arrivals this year are not likely to be encouraging and may be around the same as last year. The reason for the decline in the area under cultivation and arrivals are several. Failure to check the growth of the American bollworm, white fly and pests and apathy of government agencies are the main reasons for the low cotton yield. Bad weather is another factor. The cotton crop has suffered damage for the fourth successive year. A minimum yield of about four quintals per acre is necessary for meeting the cost of inputs. In many cases the yield fell to two quintals per acre. Traditional cotton producers lost interest as they had suffered heavy financial losses. Many of them even switched over to other crops like paddy. Cotton producers maintain that there is no uniform pattern of crop damage and failure. In certain villages, farmers of the same village got high yields of eight to 10 quintals per acre while others got only about two quintals. Reports of varying yields have come from Kamalwala, Kandhwala, Dabwala Kalan, Channanwala villages of this block. Experts of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, maintain that the main cause of low yield is the American bollworm which extensively damaged the cotton crop. These experts denounce the practice of spraying mixed pesticides and maintain that is another cause of crop damage. To check the spraying of such pesticides, the Director of Agriculture, imposed a ban on sale of such pesticides last year. When the insecticides manufacturing companies challenged the ban in the High Court, intriguingly the Director withdrew the case. These pesticides are being sprayed extensively, which does not affect the American bollworm. On the other hand, pesticides companies maintain that only a mixture of pesticides is capable of destroying the bollworm as well as pests. A sizeable section of traditional cotton producers interviewed by this correspondent, however, says that the cause of the crop damage and low yield is a mystery. They squarely blame the PAU and state agriculture department for not coming to their rescue. They allege that the PAU has not introduced pest and American bollworm resistant varieties of cotton. They are also sore that the integrated pest management scheme had not been implemented. Mr Prem Babbar, former president of the Farmers' Forum, Fazilka, complains that training courses, farmers' camps and field days had not been organised properly to benefit farmers. No preventive and pest-management measures had been suggested. He says utility of neem-based products in pest management had not been highlighted. Cotton producers should be educated to stop the use of synthetic prythroid insecticides, banned in Western countries, as this causes an adverse effect on the cotton crop. Mr Satish Kumar Dhingra, president of Pesticides Dealer Association, while expressing similar view, holds the government responsible for paying little attention to the falling cotton yield. Mr Dhingra says that Som Nath, MCH-5, Ganga and Cauvery, all hybrid seed varieties deemed to be resistant to the bollworm, have not proved successful. Under these circumstances a majority of cotton producing farmers have resorted to cultivation of Raja Sikander variety of cotton, not approved by PAU. This variety originates from the Sikanderpur Seed Farm, Sirsa. This variety is claimed to be less prone to pests. He wants the Indian Council of Agriculture Research and the PAU to develop a new pest-resistant variety of cotton. Agriculture department officials, while denying some of the charges, maintain that improper pesticide spraying is the main cause of low yield. Inclement weather in September is another reason for the extensive cotton crop damage, as it is the optimum flowering time for the white gold. They say rough weather enhances pest attacks. These officials say that those farmers who had followed the spray schedule had got a good yield. Caught in the spin of
claims and counter-claims of officials of government,
agricultural experts, pesticides and seed dealers, the
plight of most cotton producers of Fazilka area is
miserable. Most of them are in a dilemma as insecticide
manufacturers claim that use of mixture is the only
viable solution to check bollworm attack while PAU
experts claim their use to be detrimental. However
neither of them has been able to substantiate their
claim. |
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Physical
instructors not paid wages JALANDHAR, Nov 21 — More than 350 physical education teachers of the national fitness corps have not been paid salaries for over, four months. The general secretary, Mr R K S Dhawan, said here today that these instructors were absorbed in the Punjab Education Services in July, 1976, on the assurance that the total expenditure to be incurred on their pay, allowances and pension would be borne by the Union Government. But due to delayed correspondence between the Departments of Finance and Education, the payment of their salaries had been delayed. He said in spite of
repeated warnings issued by the Department of Finance to
the Department of School Education that it should settle
the financial matters with the Centre, nothing had been
done in this regard. |
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Bar
members abstain from work FEROZEPORE, Nov 21 — Members of the District Bar Association (DBA) abstained from work on the third consecutive day today to express their resentment against a "threatening letter" received by a local judicial officer. According to the DBA secretary, Mr P C Munjal, members of the bar have urged the police to trace the culprit and bring him to book. Members of the bar said
that elaborate arrangements for the security of judicial
officers should be made by the district administration,
Mr Munjal added.
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DSP
killed in road mishap KHARAR, Nov 21 — Mr Mota Singh, DSP, Counter-Intelligence, Punjab Police, Chandigarh, died in a road accident in the early hours here today. According to police, the incident occurred when a truck (HP-19-4336) collided with a Punjab Roadways bus (PB-12 B-9207) here on the Kharar-Chandigarh road. The deceased was travelling in this bus which was coming from Chandigarh. The bus overturned as a result of this accident and many passengers got injured. Two of the injured were admitted in the PGI. The Kharar police has
registered a case under Sections 304 A and 279 of the IPC
against Vijay Kumar, driver of the truck. |
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Function
to be telecast live JALANDHAR, Nov 21 — The Chief Executive Officer of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, said today that Doordarshan had decided to telecast live the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex tomorrow. In a release Mr Bir said the Doordarshan network would telecast the programme of the occasion from 11.15 a.m. to 1.15 p.m. He said that to facilitate
pilgrims visiting Anandpur Sahib in connection with
foundation stone laying ceremony, the district
administration had set up three reception, information
centres at Anandpur Sahib. |
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"Convention
for justice on Nov 28" AMRITSAR, Nov 21 — Even as the counsel for People's Commission has given an undertaking to the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the sitting of the commission will not be held at Amritsar on November 28, the human rights wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal, in a tactical move, has decided to hold a "convention for justice" here on that day. The proposed convention will held under the chairperson Mrs Parmjit Kaur Khalra, wife of Jaswant Singh Khalra. According to a press note,
at the proposed convention, people would be mobilised to
counter the propaganda by certain
"anti-Panthic" forces against the People's
Commission. |
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Sikh
educational conference on Nov 27 JALANDHAR, Nov 21 — The 60th all-India Sikh educational conference will be held on November 27 at Guru Nanak Mission Hospital, Dhahan Kaleran, Nawanshahr. Mr Budh Singh Dhaman,
Chairman of the conference, said in a press statement
here today the function would be presided over by Mr
Surjit Singh Barnala. Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, former Prime
Minister, would inaugurate the function. Mr G S Bhullar,
Editor, Punjabi Tribune, would preside over a journalism
session at this conference. |
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Six
poppy husk smugglers held HOSHIARPUR, Nov 21 — The police here has unearthed a gang of poppy husk smugglers. According to a press note of the police, six members of the gang Vij Chanchal Singh of Machhiwara, Balbir Ram of Abalpur, Balbir Singh of Bhora, Prem Lal of Vireba, Jaswinder Singh of Mao Sahinb and Makhan Singh, alias Manjit of Ruki were arrested last evening and 40 bags of poppy husk seized from their Maruti cars. According to the police, the gang used a mobile phone in its operations. A case has been registered
at Mahilpur police station in this connection. |
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Conference
of surgeons LUDHIANA, Nov 21 — The CME Programme of the 19th Annual Conference of the Northern Chapter of the Association of Surgeons of India was inaugurated here yesterday at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital by Mr B.M.L. Munjal, president, managing society, and MD, Hero Motors. The programme was presided over by Prof J.C. Dhall, president, NC-ASI. Guest lectures were
delivered by eminent surgeons from all over the country.
Dr Balakrishnan from Chennai spoke on surgical management
of complications of myocardial infarction. Dr P.
Venugopal from Kerala delivered his talk on PUJ
obstructions, Dr J.D. Wig (Chandigarh) on lower GI bleed,
Dr S.K. Mathur (Mumbai) on portal hypertension, Dr S.P.
Kaushik (Chandigarh) on restorative proctocolectomy and
Dr V.K. Khosla (Chandigarh) on recent advances in
management of head injury. |
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Christian
Front to support SAD JALANDHAR, Nov 21 — The Christian Front, Punjab, has announced its support to the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) in the Adampur Assembly byelection. Disclosing this here yesterday, Mr Munawar Masih, founder and president of the front, Jalandhar unit, said there were 10,000 Christian votes in the Adampur constituency. The front had addressed gatherings at Bhogpur, Drauli Kalan, Bhadiana, Ghandhaula, Kalra and Droli Khurd and other 60 villages in the constituency, he added. Meanwhile, the Samajwadi
Party, Punjab, has decided to support the SAD (Amritsar)
in the Adampur Assembly byelection, Mr Bhal Inder Sekhon,
state party president, said here yesterday.
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Plea
to PM on Fazilka-Abohar rail link FAZILKA, Nov 21 — Mr Hanuman Dass Goyal, former member of the Divisional Rail Users Consultative Committee, Ferozepore division, in a memorandum to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee urged that work on the railway track between here and Abohar be commenced soon. He said the project was cleared by the Lok Sabha in the last financial year and Rs 30 crore had been earmarked for the first phase. Railway Minister Nitish Kumar had, in a letter dated August 20, given an assurance that the construction would start after getting a clearance. With the completion of the
project, the Fazilka and Abohar areas would be connected
directly with trains going to Haryana, Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and UP. |
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PSSF
to join rally at Chandigarh JALANDHAR, Nov 21 — The Punjab Subordinate Services Federation (PSSF) and the Mulazam Action Committee (MAC), Punjab, have decided to join the state-level rally at Chandigarh on November 30. Mr Sukhdev Singh,
convener, PSSF, and Mr Rakesh Chander Sharma, general
secretary, MAC, said in a joint press statement here
yesterday, that they had decided to join the state-level
rally against the indifferent attitude and wrong policies
of the central government. |
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Naib
tehsildar suspended FEROZEPORE, Nov 21 — The local Divisional Commissioner, Mr R.N. Gupta, has placed under suspension a naib tehsildar posted in the tehsil office here following certain complaints about alleged irregularities committed by him. The matter relating to the tehsildar has been referred to the state government for appropriate action. Giving this information
here today, an official spokesman added that this step
had been taken as a part of the general cleansing
operation ordered by the Punjab Government in larger
public interest. |
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Award
in memory of Gulshan Kumar PHAGWARA, Nov 21 — The local Punjabi Kala and Sahit Kendra has instituted an award in memory of slain Gulshan Kumar, founder of T-Series, according to kendra President H.S. Preet here today. The award would be given to Punjabi folk singer Surinder Shinda at the Punjabi Filmi Sabha Yachark Mela to be held here on December 6. The mela will be held with the cooperation of the Culture Department, Punjab, and the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala. Punjabi poet Surjit Pattar would be given Lok Kavi Harbhajan Singh Ankhi Puraskar. The best comedian of the year award (1998) would be given to Jaswinder Bhalla-Balmukand Sharma duo. The Punjabi Sangeet award would go to Charnjit Ahuja. Twelve media and film personalities would also be felicitated. Ms Jagbir Kaur, Punjab,
Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister and Mr Sewa Singh
Sekhwan, Punjab Public Relations Minister would be the
chief guests. |
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'Guru's
'kalgi' must be displayed at Baisakhi' MOGA, Nov 21 — The president of the Punjab Mahila Mandal and general secretary of the PPCC, Dr Malti Thapar, today impressed upon the Union Government to use its good offices for the return of Guru Gobind Singh's "Kalgi" from the United Kingdom. Speaking to mediapersons here today, she said the "kalgi" was lying at Albert Museum London. She demanded that it be played on Baisakhi as part of the tercentenary celebrations. She said Lal Bahadur
Shastri during his regime made efforts to get back the
"kalgi" but could not get success. |
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Dealers
selling DAP at 'premium' MOGA, Nov 21 — The sowing of rabi crop has been delayed in almost all villages in this district following the non-availability of DAP fertiliser. Stating this here yesterday, former President of the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Mr Kuldip Singh Sandhu, said although Deputy Commissioner Kulbir Singh Kang had already banned the export of DAP fertiliser from this district, it was not available with dealers, who were now taking advantage of its shortage and indulging in malpractice. He alleged certain dealers
were selling it at a premium. He has demanded a probe
into the matter. |
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