Saturday, November 28, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Saturday, November 28, 1998 |
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'Review
free power to farmers' 'Congress
high command misguided' Temple
water for city homes Pharmacy
college not to get aid Protest
against people’s panel |
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 Opposition to Saraswati Vandana "motivated" BATHINDA, Nov 27 — Mr Mohan Joshi, Central Secretary, Vishaw Hindu Parishad today said that opposition to the introduction of ‘Saraswati Vandana and Vande Mataram’ in the schools was politically motivated. Opposition
to unauthorised bus stand
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Medical
treatment to cost more Minister
admits corruption in govt departments 2
labourers die in mishap Former
sarpanch denies report Mittal
orders probe in paddy procurement De-addiction
centres to be set up Residents
resent government move Jathedar
"must condemn" murder of Hayer |
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Review free
power to farmers: Gujral PHAGWARA, Nov 27 — Former Prime Minister IK Gujral last night opposed the bringing of office of Prime Minister under the purview of Lok Dal. He was talking to reporters at the residence of Mr SP Sethi, MD Fine Switches Pvt Ltd after addressing the silver jubilee year function of the Fine Group of Industries here. Mr Gujral, said it was not only a matter of an individual but the prestige of a high office. PM's office represented respect and dignity of nation and can't be degraded by including it in the ambit of a panel, continued Mr Gujral, MP and a JD leader. If ever any PM came under clouds of any charges then President, Vice-President and Chief Justice of India should look into the matter and if a prima facie case was found, then the PM concerned should step down, continued Mr Gujral. The PM, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had sought cooperation of opposition parties for the Lok Pal Bill with PM's office being under its purview. On seven rounds of Indo-US talks between Mr Jaswant Singh and Mr Strobe Talbott, Mr Gujral, credited with a Gujral doctrine on foreign affairs, asked the Indian government to take the nation into confidence by disclosing what had been discussed in these negotiations. While the US team leader, Mr Talbott, Assistant Secretary of State, USA had disclosed American position, Indian team leader Jaswant Singh, Deputy Chairman, planning commission, had so far kept a studied silence, said Mr Gujral. It is sad Mr Talbott chose to address India through an article in an English daily published from Delhi, continued Mr Gujral. Perhaps US policy makers had come to the conclusion that Indian Government was incapable of addressing the issues and that Indian people should be addressed directly, quipped Mr Gujral. The five issues raised by Mr Talbott included the issue of signing the CTBT and freezing production of fissile material by India. When asked whether nuclear India was a better India, Mr Gujral quipped we, the people, have to better India. To whether India should sign the CTBT, Mr Gujral said our nuclear policy right from days of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had been same and we are for a nuclear free world. Sadly, those who had signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty had done nuclear proliferation, Mr Gujral said. On PM Vajpayee's hint a snap poll in the country, Mr Gujral asserted that there was no such possibility. The statement had been given to terrify supporters, quipped Mr Gujral. Earlier speaking at the silver jubilee year function of Fine Switches, Mr Gujral underscored need for creation of a free trade zone in South Asia and predicted that such a zone would be created in next five to 10 years. It would be mutually baneficial for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and other countries, claimed Mr Gujral. He stressed the need for quickening pace of industrialisation in country, international standardisation, quality control, upgradation with vision, development of middle-level industries, hitech, software goods for modernising India and giving employment to youths. We can't avoid globalisation but will have to take care of our own economy, continued Mr Gujral. Indian market alone was bigger than entire European market and we have the biggest middle class in the world that would definitely invest in India whose real face lay in industry, added Mr Gujral. Mr S.P. Sethi, M.D. Fine Switches welcomed and Mr I.K. Sardane, M.D. local Sukhjit Starch and Chemicals thanked Mr I.K. Gujral. Team of Fine Switch Gears Football Club, dealers and workers of company were presented awards by Mr Gujral who was given warm reception by company and citizens. During Mr I.K. Gujral's visit here last night power failed for about five minutes in local Industrial Area and Mr Gujral had to sit in complete darkness for about two minutes before the generators started. About 500 guests were dining. Securitymen immediately gave a body cover to Mr Gujral while one of them ordered loudly that nobody should make any movement. Mr Gujral himself asked in Punjabi, "Bijli chali gai" (Is there power failure"). When contacted today, Mr U.C. Saroa, Additional SE, PSEB, Phagwara Division, disclosed that a vehicle, said to be that of police, which was being backed, had struck the "stay" of an electric pole leading to power failure for just some time. A special SDO and other men were on duty and they immediately started generator, he said. The power supply also resumed immediately, added Mr Saroa. However reason of absence of any emergency light to meet any such eventuality during visit of a VVIP to a security sensitive state like Punjab could not be known. JALANDHAR: Mr Gujral today warned against efforts by India’s enemies to revive terrorism in Punjab and urged the government to remain vigilant about the activities of such elements. "We should know that our guard should not be dropped for even a moment" Mr Gujral told PTI here. Asked about the fears expressed by his friend Barjinder Singh Hamdard about activities of certain top religious leaders and colleagues of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal posing a threat to state’s peace and amity Mr Gujral evaded a direct reply but stressed need for vigilance. "During my two day visit to Punjab people have expressed fears about threat to atmosphere and public opinion must be created against such activities" the Lok Sabha MP from here said. RAIPUR (Jalandhar): Mr Gujral in his first comments on the Badal government’s action of providing free power to farmers,said the policy should be reviewed as it was not viable in the long run. "While subsidised electricity could be a feasible option, out and out freebies should be avoided in view of the resource crunch," Mr Gujral told a public rally in this village on the outskirts of Jalandhar. He said the people of Punjab were seeped in the culture of self-respect and enjoying free gifts was not in their nature. Mr Gujral also announced a grant of Rs one lakh for the village school. Mr Gujral asked how could a state be run without collection of charges for the services it provided to the people. States must learn to generate their own resources to fund development activities,he added. He said India was seeking
power supply from Pakistan but asked how the neighbouring
country could be assured of payment for the supply when
Punjab was supplying free power and water to the
agriculture sector. |
Congress
high command misguided: Bhattal CHANDIGARH, Nov 27 — Unhappy over the manner Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was removed from the office of Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the former Chief Minister said here today that the Congress party high command was "misguided" in her case. Addressing a press conference at her residence on return from abroad, Mrs Bhattal said that Mrs Sonia Gandhi's name was "misused" by the party leaders concerned for removing her from the leadership of the CLP. Though she did not name the leaders who misguided the party high command, she was obviously hinting at the PPCC President, Capt Amarinder Singh, and the AICC General Secretary, Mrs Meira Kumar, who is in charge of Punjab Congress affairs. "I had a brief talk with Mrs Sonia Gandhi on November 25 when I met her in Delhi to submit my tour report. Mrs Gandhi told me that she had nothing to do with the removal," Mrs Bhattal claimed. "If need be I will again talk to Mrs Sonia Gandhi," Mrs Bhattal added, clearly indicating that she had felt insulted and humiliated as she was removed from the party offices when she was abroad. "Nobody contacted me abroad before taking the decision to remove me from the leadership of the CLP. All claims made by certain leaders of the party that they had contacted me in Canada to take me into confidence while changing the leadership of the CLP are untrue", Mrs Bhattal said while replying to a question with regard to claims made by Capt Amarinder Singh that she was contacted on the phone in Canada in connection with CLP leadership issue. "Offices do not matter to me as I am trained and prepared to work for the Congress party as an ordinary worker," Mrs Bhattal added. Informed party sources said that Mrs Bhattal had been briefed by party activists that majority of Congress party MLAs were against her removal from the leadership of the CLP when a meeting in this connection was held in Delhi by Mrs Meira Kumar and Capt Amarinder Singh. However, the MLAs were told that Mrs Sonia Gandhi wanted a change in the CLP leadership and wanted to appoint a Scheduled Caste MLA as leader of the CLP. Then the MLAs agreed to the change and Chaudhary Jagjit Singh replaced Mrs Bhattal as CLP leader. Commenting about other political issues, Mrs Bhattal said that the Shiromani Akali Dal has reduced the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations to an "Akali show". "Why other political parties are not being involved in the celebrations?" Mrs Bhattal asked. "Akalis have monopolised the Sikh religion", she added. She urged the Akali leadership to involve all political parties in the celebrations. When asked about the
developments in the Anandpur Sahib Foundation and the
resignation of Mr Barjinder Singh Hamdard, Mrs Bhattal
said that the Akalis were fighting among themselves to
hide their own weaknesses. All was not well with the
foundation, she added. |
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AMRITSAR, Nov 27 (UNI) — The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has drawn up a comprehensive scheme for utilising the water of the holy sarovar of the Golden Temple here for supplying it to the residents of the holy city, parts of which face drinking water shortage in the peak summer season. This project which was drawnup by Mr N Mehta, Regional Director (North West Region) of the CGWB is expected to be executed by the end of this year. The SGPC has given the green signal. Giving details of the project, Mr Mehta said over the years there had been a sharp decline in the ground water level in the holy city, resulting in a number of tubewells going dry and creating water scarcity in the summer season. The ground water level, which a couple of years ago was 15 metres, had now gone down to eight meters and this was a matter of concern. The CGWB team visited the temple and discovered that on an average 1500 cubic metres of water was discharged from the sarovar each day into the outlet drain and this was replaced by the waters drawn from the Upper Bari Doab canal that is carried by the Hansli channel to the shrine. The basic motive behind this project was to utilise the water which was being discharged into the drains. Giving further details, Mr Mehta said as per the details of the project two injection pumps would be installed near Gurdwara Kaulsar on the periphery of the Golden Temple. These pumps would draw out the surplus water from the outlit drain and after going through on-line filters (purification process) would be supplied for house-hold use. Likewise, it was found by the CGWB team that about one lakh litres of water were used from the sarovar for cleaning the parikarma each day. This water then flowed into an outlit drain from the shrine. For utilising this water, injection pumps was being stalled in the park adjacent to the langar building in the temple complex. Likewise, the project
included utilising the rainwater which drained into the
outlit channels inside the temple. According to Mr Mehta,
a total of 448 million cubic metres of water from the
shrine would be recharged per year and supplied for
drinking purposes. The cost of recharge was just 11 paisa
per cubic metre and the entire scheme would cost Rs 9.75
lakh. |
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Pharmacy
college not to get aid NANGAL, Nov 27 — The local Municipal Council has stopped the financial aid to the local Shivalik College of Pharmacy. A council resolution states that the staff of the college will not be paid wages from December '98. The council in its proceeding has held the acting principal of college, responsible for this action. The Municipal Council has accused the principal of disobeying the orders of its chairman and not providing him with the clarifications on various issues. The Chairman of the council, Mr Rakesh Sharma, said he had repeatedly sought clarifications on the various accusations levelled against him by the council. According to Mr Sharma, the Municipal Council has accused the principal of making illegal appointments of non-teaching staff and then releasing salaries to them from the Students' Consolidated Fund without the approval of the council. The acting principal has also been accused of providing the details of the report of export committee of the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) which had surveyed the college for making it a B. Pharma college. The Chairman said the acting principal was not providing them the details of the report because it contained adverse remarks against him. The Principal of the college when contacted declined to comment about these accusations. The college since its establishment in 1983 is being run in a rented accommodation of General Shivalik College. Though the council has acquired eight acre from the NFL on lease to raise a building and has spent Rs 1.25 lakh for finalising its design, the building of the college is yet to come up. Now that the Pharmaceutical Council of India was considering to abolish the diploma courses in pharmacy by 2000 and the primary condition for starting a B.Pharma college being a building, the future of the college seems to be uncertain. The Chairman of the
council said the council didn't have Rs 2 crore required
to make the building. He further said that the council
was also not in favour of upgrading the college as the
admission to locals was the minimum and so the council
didn't think it wise to spend crores on the college
building. |
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Protest
against people’s panel AMRITSAR, Nov 27 — Rival political parties, BJP and Congress, joined hands today in demanding a check on the activities of the People’s Commission headed by Justice Kuldip Singh saying it would "help revive" militancy in Punjab. Speaking in the same tone, the BJP MLA from Amritsar, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, and the Congress general secretary, Mr Raj Kumar, described the commission as "dangerous for the security of India" and demanded that it be banned. The leaders were speaking at an impressive function jointly organised by the Shaheed Parivar Sangharsh Samiti, the Bajrang Dal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the BJP and the Congress. Family members of policemen and innocent persons killed by militants from both Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts participated. At least 300 children whose parents were killed during militancy, spearheaded the protests. Widows and children of those slained by militants later took out a march in support of their demand for a ban on the People’s Commission. The general secretary of the VHP, Mr Giri Raj Kishore, speaking at the function, pleaded for rehabilitation of the terrorist victims. He suggested that a sum of Rs 300 crore given by the Central Government for the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa be used for rehabilitation of the children of the victims and their education. A resolution passed at the function demanded a check on the activities of those who remained close to the militants. It pointed out that a conference recently held in Amritsar was addressed, among others, by the wife of the Khalistan Liberation Force chief, Dal Khalsa activist Kanwarpal Singh Bitto and Akal Federation leaders Narayan Singh and Balwant Singh. The resolution further asked the government not to recognise human rights organisations as these bodies never came into the picture when innocent persons were killed by militants or when people were killed by mobs during the anti-Sikh riots. "The People’s Commission is a conspiracy by foreign countries opposed to India to revive militancy and to malign the police which did a tireless job during militancy". Widows speaking on the occasion alleged that they were not being looked after well. They wanted their pension to be increased and the government to bear the cost of education of their children. Another resolution said demonstrations would be held wherever the People’s Commission held its sitting. "The commission will not be allowed to function", it said. Mr Raj Kumar, Congress
general secretary, said the People’s Commission was
an effort to bring out the militants lodged in jails.
"Similar things happened earlier during the tenure
of Mr Surjit Singh Barnala as Chief Minister when a large
number of militants were released from jails on the
recommendations of the Bains Commission," he warned. |
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Opposition
to Saraswati Vandana "motivated" BATHINDA, Nov 27 — Mr Mohan Joshi, Central Secretary, Vishaw Hindu Parishad (VHP) today said that opposition to the introduction of ‘Saraswati Vandana and Vande Mataram’ in the schools was politically motivated. Addressing a press conference here, he said that the persons and political parties, opposing the introduction of ‘Saraswati Vandana and Vande Mataram’, were insulting freedom fighters of the country as both these patriotic songs were symbol of freedom struggle. Mr Joshi, who is touring the border areas of Punjab to survey the problem of scheduled castes and non-scheduled caste disputes allegedly being instigated by Christians, said that in pre-partition days, the Muslim league was opposed to the recitation of ‘Saraswati Vandana Vande Mataram’ and that organisation was anti-national. He said that if opposition to the ‘Saraswati Vandana and Vande Mataram’ recitation in schools was not stopped then number of individuals and organisations could refuse to sing national anthem and recognise the National Flag. He said that all those who were opposing such national activities of the government should be declared anti-national. He said that Muslim minority was already demanding the implementation of their personal law which meant that a introduction of Islamic laws in the country. He pointed out that by giving special rights to the minority, the movement of separatism in the country was getting a boost and added that for maintaining unity and integrity of the country, all special rights given to the minorities should be withdrawn. He said that Muslim minority of the country was demanding unjust reservation of jobs in military, police forces, CID and Banking services. He said that while making necessary recruitment in these organisation neither quality of intelligence could not be comprised nor religion could be taken into consideration. Regarding the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, he said that it would be completed in three years as the construction work was in progress. Regarding Shiv Sena threat to the Pakistani cricket team in Mumbai, he said that if any anti-India element was coming to India in the garb of cricket player then they should not be welcomed. He added that if the BJP led-coalition government at the Centre allowed any anti-India element entry into the country, the VHP would oppose it tooth and nail. He said that Muslim member Parliaments (MPs) who held a conference on October 30 and 31 last had alleged that their population was being projected less than the actual number in census reports. He said it reflected that all previous Congress governments who claimed themselves as secular were anti-Muslims. He pointed out that Muslims of Bangladesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were being settled in the border areas of Punjab so that they could develop easy contacts with ISI agents to foment trouble in the country. He pointed out that hundreds of Muslims had been settled around the famous Durgiana mandir in Amritsar. Later delivering a lecture in the local SSD Girls College, he advised the students to save themselves from the invasion of Indian culture by western culture which was not suited to the Indian society having great social values and ethics. He said that importance of
Indian culture could be gauged from the fact that number
of people from western countries adopting the Indian
social and religious values very fast. |
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Opposition
to unauthorised bus stand PATHANKOT: Unauthorised halting of buses and taxis has created an unofficial bus stand at Siali Road touching Dhangu Road in the heart of the town. A large number of buses which have valid permits to ply from Chaki Bridge, outside Pathankot to Indora, Thakurdwara, Kandrori and various locations in Himachal Pradesh, are entering the town and stopping there. The parking of buses on the road throughout the day creates problems as there is no separate entry and exit routes. Besides, bullock and horse-drawn carts compound the problem. Even pedestrians face difficulty in walking on this road. Though there is a general bus stand, where the police has established a chowki to check all buses and screen every person to avoid any untoward incident, this "bus stand" is free from police control and no checking of buses or passengers is being done. Though people cannot understand why buses had been allowed to stop here, an increase in the number of buses as well as passengers has been a cause of concern. This road has been beautified by the local improvement trust, which has built a shopping complex. But with the creation of this "bus stand", residents are distressed. They approached the civic body to take action against the bus owners but in vain. A meeting of local
residents and the administration was also held, chaired
by Deputy Commissioner S.K. Sandhu. Though the issue of
this bus stand was raised at the meeting no action has
been taken so far. The residents want immediate removal
of this bus stand to save the town from unnecessary
congestion, leading to accidents. |
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Epilepsy
as ground for divorce opposed PATIALA, Nov 27 — Latest research has established that epilepsy is not a mental disease and thus it should be removed from the list of provisions in the Hindu Marriage Act for seeking a divorce in a court of law. This demand was made by Dr Harminder Singh, DM (neurology), while presenting his paper on epilepsy at the first "continued medical education" seminar organised by Punjab Chapter of Association of Physicians in India and the Department of Medicine at the local Government Medical College here today. He also informed that epilepsy was prevalent at the rate of 500 per one lakh of population. Most cases were curable but a change in the attitude of society towards the victims was a must. Dr Jagjit Singh Hans, Professor of Medicine, presented his paper on diabetics mellitus. He said by the end of 2010 AD, the prevalence rate of the disease would be more than 221 million in the world. He informed the gathering about the latest treatment available for curing the disease. The seminar was inaugurated by Mr KK Bhatnagar, Secretary, Medical Education and Research. Speaking on the occasion, he said continuous medical education should be made obligatory for every general practitioner after every five years of professional practice. Two physicians, Dr Harjit
Singh and Dr Janak Raj Sachdeva, honoured by the
Department of Medicine, Rajindra Medical College. |
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Medical
treatment to cost more PATIALA, Nov 27 — Medical education and treatment provided in government medical colleges and hospitals in the state will shortly become costlier. This was disclosed by Mr KK Bhatnagar, secretary, Medical Education and Research, here today after he attended a seminar organised by the Department of Medicine, Rajindra Hospital, here. Mr Bhatnagar said the three medical colleges and hospitals at Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala were facing a serious financial crunch and a raise in hospital charges and fees was aimed at generating funds for providing facilities at these institutions. Justifying the action, Mr Bhatnagar said earlier the money earned from hospital treatment and fees from students was sent to the state government. Now all money would be directly given to the institution which had earned it. This policy would facilitate rapid development of the institutions. He said a committee under the Secretary, Medical Education and Research, with the principals of the medical colleges as members would be in charge of the funds generated by the new policy. The committee would also decide on the use of the funds, Mr Bhatnagar explained. Enquiries on the financial position of the government colleges and hospitals have revealed that the budgetary grant to these institutions has remained the same for the past five years or so. It has become difficult for the hospital authorities to run the hospital kitchen as food cannot be served to patients at present rates. A similar situation persists in case of supply of medicines and tests conducted at the hospitals. Mr Bhatnagar said the government had cleared the revised pay scales of the teaching staff of government medical colleges. A notification to this effect would be released in a week. Regarding the contentious
issue of formation of the Punjab Medical Council, Mr
Bhatnagar said the Punjab Government had now decided to
nominate all 11 members to the council. Earlier it was
announced that five members would be nominated while the
remaining would be elected by registered doctors in the
state. |
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Minister admits corruption in govt
departments TARN TARAN, Nov 27 — An oil and rice mill will be set up at a cost of Rs 40 crore in the cooperative sector at Naushehra Pannuan with employment potential for 2500 persons. This was stated by Mr Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Cooperation Minister, Punjab yesterday at a rural gathering while inaugurating the 12th cane crushing season of the local co-op sugar mills at Sheron. Mr Brahampura called upon farmers to grow sugarcane and oil seed crops to earn more profit. Admitting prevalence of corruption in different departments the minister called upon the people to co-operate with government to eradicate it. Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur,
MP, and Mr H.S. Mand, MD, of the sugar mills also spoke. |
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labourers die in mishap FAZILKA, Nov 27 — Two labourers were killed and four injured when an Army truck overturned near a drain in Kabulshah village in Fazilka subdivision this afternoon. All six labourers were working as daily paid wagers with the Army. Mohinder Singh (20), a resident of Chananwala village and Raj Kumar (32) of Beriwala village in Fazilka subdivision were killed on the spot. The injured have been identified as Surjit Singh, Ram Singh, both residents of Noorshah village, Atam Singh, a resident of Chack Hamira village and Gurmit Singh of Pakka Chisti village. They were immediately
rushed to the local Civil Hospital. Doctors attending on
them said their condition was stable. |
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Pharmacists'
stir from Dec 8 BATHINDA, Nov 27 — After a positive response from the State Government for the past one year, the Punjab State Pharmacists Association will launch a statewide agitation from December 8. According to Mr Bhoj Raj, Vice-President of the association, 3,000 members of the association would hold black flag rallies in all districts of Punjab and the rallies would be addressed by senior leaders of the association. At a press conference here
today, he said pharmacists had decided to launch an
agitation to press the Punjab Government for accepting
their demands which include the enhancement of pay scales
and creation of posts of pharmacy officer. |
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Former
sarpanch denies report BATHINDA, Nov 27 — Mr Gurjant Singh, a former sarpanch and the husband of present sarpanch of Harkrishanpura village, 35 km from here, yesterday denied that the panchayat of this village had passed a resolution for giving the entire land of the village to the Punjab Government for setting up industry as published in a section of the press. In a joint press note issued here yesterday, Mr Gurjant Singh and Mr Maggar Singh, panchayat member, said that the news published in this regard was untrue and baseless. Mr S R Ladhar, Deputy
Commissioner, told TNS that he had investigated the
entire matter and it was found that the panchayat of
Harkrishanpura had not passed any resolution for
acquiring the entire agriculture land of that village as
they were facing famine-like situation. |
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Mittal
orders probe in paddy procurement ROPAR, Nov 27 — Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supplies Minister, Punjab, has ordered the Secretary and Director of Punjab Food and Supplies Department to hold an inquiry into the complaints regarding paddy procurement. Talking to this correspondent last evening, Mr Mittal said that he had received several complaints that commission agents allegedly in connivance with field staff of purchasing agencies had paid less price to farmers and later on sold the same to the government at minimum support price. Mr Mittal further said that some of millers reportedly refused to store paddy for custom milling or delayed its storage in their campus on one pretext or the other and had allegedly charged some amount from commission agents by exploiting the situation. The Minister called upon
the farmers, commission agents and public to submit their
complaints if they had against purchasing agencies or
millers. The complaint should be sent to the Secretary or
Director, Department of Food and Supplies, Punjab. |
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De-addiction
centres to be set up PATIALA, Nov 27 — De-addiction centres are proposed to be set up in mofussil towns in Patiala Police range with the help of social organisations to help fight the menace of drug addiction in rural areas. Disclosing this here yesterday after presiding over an inter-district guard mounting competition, Patiala Police Range Deputy Inspector-General P.M. Das said a step had been taken in this regard with the holding of a de-addiction camp in Malerkotla in Sangrur district which would be converted into a centre soon. He said the aim of setting up centres in small towns was to cater to rural addicts who could not be brought to camps at district headquarters. He said already the problem of addiction of posh and medicines like phencydil existed in the Malwa belt. Mr Das said the police force was now concentrating on community activities and was also going in for a major exercise to gauge the problems being faced by members of the force. An inter-district competition of guard mounting duties was held earlier for the first time in the state. Districts of Patiala, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib and (Barnala police district) of the range participated in the competition in which a demonstration was organised by ITBP and Punjab Police commandos. A range-level welfare
meeting where representatives from all districts of the
range participated was also held later in the evening. A
hepatitis-B campaign was inaugurated by the DIG for the
benefit of families of policemen residing in police lines
on the occasion. |
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Farmers'
conference
from Feb 8 JALANDHAR, Nov 27 — The Punjab Kisan Sabha, will hold a three-day state-level conference at Nawanshahr from February 8 to 10, 1999 to be addressed by the general secretary of the CPM, Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet. According to Mr Lehmbar Singh Taggar of the Punjab Kisan Sabha, oldest farmers' sabha in the state, will host this 33 state-level conference, to mobilise marginal farmers and the daily wage earners to launch a "karza mukti" movement, to liberate economically ruined peasantry of the state from debt trap, which had engulfed it. While, more than 50,000 volunteers "lall patti" groups are also expected to attend this historic conference, Mr Taggar said that village-level, tehsil-level and district-level meetings are being organised by party workers to organise villagers to attend the three-day conference. Speaking about the agenda,
of the state-level conference, Mr Taggar, said that, 453
delegates from all over the state and country will
discuss ways and remedial action plans to liberate the
farming community from the "heavy debt" it was
reeling under. |
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Residents
resent government move KHARAR, Nov 27 — About 300 residents in separate memorandums to the Principal Secretary, Local Self Government, Punjab, have demanded that the proposal to extend municipal limits of Kharar should be dropped. The notification of October 16,1998, proposes to include villages Desu Majra, Chaju Majra, Sante Majra, Khuni Majra and Fatehulapur in Kharar municipal limits. They allege prominent property dealers, bureaucrats and politicians who own land in these villages actually are behind the move. The Kharar Municipal
Committee is not able to provide sewerage, water supply
and street lights to the entire area, they allege. |
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Jathedar
"must condemn" murder of Hayer CHANDIGARH, Nov 27 — Former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said today that the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, and senior Akali Leaders should condemn the murder of Tara Singh Hayer, Editor of a Punjabi newspaper in Canada. She said that Mr Hayer was a voice of Punjab in Canada. "To kill an unarmed and handicapped person is against the Sikh tenets", Mrs Bhattal added. It was unfortunate that most of the senior Akali leaders had not condemned Mr Hayer's murder, she said. Mrs Bhattal claimed that
moderate Sikhs supported by the Congress party had won
election of 17 gurdwara committees in Canada out of a
total of 21. She said that she got very good response at
public meetings addressed by her at various places,
including the famous gurdwara in Surrey (Canada). |
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Takht
chief grieved AMRITSAR, Nov 27 — The Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, has expressed his heart-felt sympathy with the bereaved families of the victims of the train accident near Khanna yesterday. In a statement issued here today the Jathedar asked the Railway authorities to take effective steps to prevent recurrence of such accidents. Mr Satypal Mahajan, Chairman of the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, also expressed his profound grief and shock over the accident. FATEHGARH SAHIB: Members of the district Bar Association suspended work today in sympathy with the bereaved families of the victims of the train accident held near Khanna. The association at its meeting held today passed a resolution mourning the deaths in the train accident. The lawyers arranged medicines and donated blood for the victims at the site. Members of the Rotary Club, Sirhind, arranged blankets, sheets, tea and other eatables for accident victims. Mr TR Sarangal, Deputy Commissioner, has directed the Health Department to make arrangments for the treatment of injured in Civil Hospital, Mandi Gobindgarh. Baba Sarvjot Singh Bedi and Baba Hari Singh Randhawa, President and Secretary of the Sant Samaj, expressed shock over the accident and appealed to the sangat to help the victims. Capt Amarinder Singh,
President of the PPCC, visited the accident site and
hospitals at Khanna and Mandi Gobindgarh. |
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IT
complex inaugurated LUDHIANA, Nov 27 — The Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, Mr Ravi Kant, inaugurated the new office-cum-residential complex here today. A new system of functioning has been introduced which has made this office a "no-waiting office". The assessees are expected to come to the office only one minute before the appointment time. They will proceed for officer’s room after their appointment is cross checked and confirmed at the appointment-check counter. The Chairman stated that the progress of direct taxes collection vis-a-vis target laid down was satisfactory. However, there was need to continue close monitoring of the collection, particularly in the area of income tax. He added that in Ludhiana circle alone, 21 applications under the scheme had been received. In response to the VDIS of
1997, the amount of disclosure that was about Rs 600
crore was one of the highest in the country. |
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