Wednesday, September 23, 1998
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Wednesday, September 23, 1998 |
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 Mr Simaranjit Singh Mann, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (A), acknowledges the greetings of his supporters at a rally held at the Sector 17 Parade Ground in Chandigarh on Tuesday — A Tribune photograph Mann threatens to fill up SYL Canal CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (A), Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, today served an ultimatum on the Prakash Singh Badal government to resolve the water dispute issue by November 20 failing which his party would fill up the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal. |
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 Badal
visits Adampur |
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Information
systems department on anvil Gurkanwal
is Punjab Mahila Congress chief Sikh
council accounts to be made public SAD
against Bihar Government sack Cops'
drive to plant saplings No
arrangement for paddy storage 9
killed in van-truck collision |
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Mann gives ultimatum to Punjab
Government, threatens to fill up SYL Canal CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (A), Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, today served an ultimatum on the Prakash Singh Badal government to resolve the water dispute issue by November 20 failing which his party would fill up the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (SYL). He was addressing an impressive rally at the Sector 17 Parade Ground to highlight the failure of the Punjab Government in honouring its poll promises. Though the Akalis were a coalition partner at the Centre, yet the interests of the farmers and the people had been sold down the river. The increasing rural indebtness, unemployment and the large number of sick industrial units in Punjab were a pointer of the state of affairs in the state, he added. The protesters, braving the downpour, sat without any shelter for more than five hours and raised slogans, demanding the removal of the corrupt Akali Government. The constant comparison by the present regime with the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was one of the major sore points with the agitators. Mr Mann said the present hike in bus fares and power rates coupled with the lowly renumeration for paddy had broken the back of the common man. While the government had announced the procurement price for paddy at Rs 475 a quintal, farmers of the state were being forced to sell at lower rates in various districts.He cited the example of Kapurthala mandi, where farmers were selling their produce for only Rs 300 a quintal. The wrong policies being pursued by the government had rendered thousands of registered medical practitioners and milkmen out of their vocation. There were as many as 2.50 lakh unemployed in the state and no avenues for their employment were being explored. Commenting on rampant corruption in the past few years, he claimed that if all the ill-earned money of the Badals, Bhattal and the Brars were to be confiscated, he would run the government on that money without collecting taxes from the people for more than six months. He came down heavily on the BJP Government on the issue of nuclear explosions, and said his party would not allow their deployment in any part of Punjab, and in case weapons were deployed in the state they would agitate for their removal. Other leaders demanded the setting up of a separate high court for Punjab after dividing the present court and handing over Panjab University to the state. As a major portion of the expenses in running the university were contributed by Punjab, what was the logic of allowing Haryana a share in the conduct of the affairs of the varsity, he asked. The claim of the waiver of the central loan of Rs 8500 crore by the present regime was also untrue. The reason for the accumulation of such an amount and the way in which it was spent needed a thorough enquiry, they demanded. The recent controversy concerning the Sikh clergy was the fallout of the rivalry between Mr Badal and Mr G.S. Tohra and it had not only hurt the sentiments of the people but was also an attempt to harm the Punjabis economically and politically, the leaders claimed. The gathering also unanimously passed several resolutions which include providing jobs to people, a curb on the demographic migration of labour to Punjab, free and unfetterred access to the people’s commission probing human right violations in the state, allevating the Dalits and poor of the state, waiving of small loans to farmers in view suicides by them, a thorough revamp of the state economy, a new look at the Sikh Gurdwara Act,1925, calling a special session of the SGPC to discuss various activities and programmes being undertaken to celebrate the tercentenary of the Khalsa besides keeping a check on the anti-Panth, and a ban on all Sangh parivar fronts raising their head in the state.
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Badal visits Adampur JALANDHAR, Sept 22 — With the impending byelection in view, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, today visited Adampur. Addressing a press conference here, he alleged that the state infrastructure had suffered due to Congress "mismanagement". Answering a query on Udham Singh Nagar, the Chief Minister said his party would vote against the Uttaranchal Bill in Parliament. On the alleged police-politicians- Revenue Department land mafia nexus in executing false registeries of Army bungalows in the cantonment area here, he said: "This government is for the people and justice will be done." On the demand of the state president of the BJP, for a judicial commission on the days of terrorism, the Chief Minister said "raking the past will not benefit anyone. There will be allegations and counter-allegations. The state government should focus its time and energy on improving the economic condition of the state." About the proposed committee for coordination between the SAD and the BJP, he said there were no irritants and contentious issues between the alliance partners. To a query on the poll
promise that his MLA and ministers would declare their
assets in 90 days of coming to power, he said: "It
is important that they maintain integrity."
Interestingly, only Mrs Upinderjit Kaur, Minister for
Technical Education, has declared her assets. He refused
to answer on the controversy involving the property of
the Akal Takht chief and the demand of the All-India Sikh
Students Federation that the migrant labour should not be
allowed to settle in the state. |
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Congress wants Lok Pal to resign CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — Urging the Punjab Lok Pal, Justice Harbans Singh Rai, to resign his office, Capt Amarinder Singh, President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, said today that his party would not accept any decision of Justice Rai. Talking to TNS here this afternoon at Congress Bhavan, Capt Amarinder Singh said that neither he nor his party had any faith in Justice Rai who, he alleged, was a close family friend of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Capt Amarinder Singh said that Mr Badal obliged Justice Rai by appointing his son, Mr Randeep Singh Rai, as Additional Advocate-General. Although Mr Randeep Singh was not eligible for the post of Additional Advocate-General, Mr Badal went out of the way to appoint him, he said. He alleged that while appointing Mr Randeep Singh, the Punjab Chief Minister had also violated Article 165 of the Indian Constitution governing the appointments of Advocate-General etc. He said that under Article 165 a minimum experience of 10 years as advocate was essential for appointment as Additional Advocate-General. Capt Amarinder Singh said the Punjab Government had issued verbal instructions to various government and semi-government departments to engage Mr Randeep Singh as their counsel in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Even after being appointed Additional Advocate-General. Mr Randeep Singh can be engaged as private counsel. Capt Amarinder Singh said the state government, which got a massive mandate on the slogan of transparency in its functioning, present facts before the public about its relations with Justice Rai and his son. He said his party would not take any case before Justice Rai pertaining to Mr Parkash Singh Badal. He said the party's Vice-President. Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar was collecting "evidence" against Mr Badal and his Government. Earlier the party wanted to move in the court of the Lok Pal but it had now decided to straightaway move the Punjab and Haryana High Court against Mr Badal and his Government as it had no faith in the present Lok Pal. He said that his criticism of Justice Rai did not mean that his party had no faith in the institution of Lok Pal. "We very much recognise the importance of this institution provided it plays a neutral role and be above any sort of suspicion". The Punjab Congress
President said that he was going to Delhi tomorrow to
finalise the tour programme of Mrs Sonia Gandhi to
Punjab. He said that Mr Mani Shankar Iyer was handling
the tour programme of Mrs Gandhi in Delhi and he would
meet him. |
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Gurkanwal is Punjab Mahila Congress
chief NEW DELHI, Sept 22 —
Mrs Gurkanwal Kaur, daughter of former Punjab Chief
Minister Beant Singh, was today appointed President of
the Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress.The announcement was
made by the All-India Mahila Congress President, Mrs
Ambika Soni.Mrs Ranjana Bajpai and Dr Prabha Thakur, MP,
were appointed chiefs of the Mahila Congress in Uttar
Pradesh and Rajasthan, respectively. |
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Information systems department on
anvil CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — Punjab has decided in principle to set up a new Department of Information Systems and Administrative Reforms. Towards this end, the evaluation wing of the Department of General Administration and the Department of Administrative Reforms are to be merged. A formal memorandum will be placed before the Council of Ministers shortly, it is learnt. The new department will have a Budget provision of at least Rs 15 crore for the current financial year. The aim of this department, coupled with the setting up of the Punjab Information Technology Service (PITS) Corporation, is to re-engineer the process of governance and the services provided by the government to citizens at a cost-effective price. This will usher in large-scale computerisation aimed at better administration. The government has already constituted an information technology vision group. The proposed department and corporation are to act as "facilitators" to enlarge the scope of information technology by opening Punjab's doors to the wider world. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has invited national and multinational corporations, associated with information technology, to explore the state offer and put up units. He has unfolded the state's "information technology plan" replete with "vision, strategy, policy and an action plan". The four strategic areas touched upon in the plan include information technology, information technology on industry and business, re-engineering government working and human resource development. Several Punjab towns with tremendous potential to lap up new technology have been identified. The government was keen on introducing several "one" or "non-stop" services for different sections of society for socio-economic development. The proposed line-up include putting up, statewide, "telecommunication" and "electronic" kiosks, multipurpose service booths, internet and E-mail stalls to enable youth find employment and income. These "kiosks" would meet all future needs given the global connectivity system and concept of software and hardware innovations. Besides its own resources, the availability of funds for "wiring" Punjab from New Delhi should not be difficult. As part of the proposed revolution through information technology, the state is keen on setting up a national institute of information technology or regional institute of information technology or an advance institute of information technology on the pattern of Andhra Pradesh. All public dealing offices will have action groups making administrative secretaries concerned responsible and accountable. The services of the Punjab State Technical Education Board will be used to revamp education at all levels and introduce computer training from Class VI. For industry information technology cooperative federation will be set up. The aim of Punjab, sources
said, was to become a "financial" services
sector powerhouse in the northern zone by setting up a
"centre for financial engineering". The role of
the National Informatics Centre, which has already
invested in the state, has been clearly acknowledged and
defined for the future. The state is keen on a
telecommunication network of its own and wants the Centre
to liberally extend facilities involving optic fibre
connectivity. There is a proposal for a tie-up with a
known MNC to help Punjab prepare for the next millenium. |
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Sikh council accounts to be
made public CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The SGPC president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra today, failed to persuade the Secretary-General of the World Sikh Council, Mr Jaswant Singh Mann, to hand over the accounts of the Council to the new set-up. Mr Tohra, who met Mr Mann at the residence of the Higher Education Minister, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, was, however, assured by Mr Mann that the details of the accounts would be published soon and copies made public. As far as the actual transfer of the money to the World Sikh Council under the command of the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh and under the presidentship of Former Supreme Court Judge, Mr Kuldip Singh, was concerned, Mr Mann said that the money (Rs 14 lakh or so) was lying with the Bank of Punjab and PSB Finances Ltd. He said he could not hand over the accounts or the money since a civil suit was pending in a Chandigarh court. This suit has been filed by Mr Shamsher Singh Maloya, an elder brother of the assassin of Mrs Indira Gandhi, the late Beant Singh. Efforts were made to locate Mr Shamsher Singh but he could not be contacted. Mr Mann maintained that the suit would also decide who could lead the World Sikh Council and who could be the office-bearers since it was a registered body. At an informal level, the
issue of Bhai Ranjit Singh owning a posh plot in Mohali
and other related matters were also discussed by Mr Tohra
with his aides. |
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SAD against Bihar Government
sack PATIALA, Sept 22 — The Shiromani Akali Dal is strongly opposed to any move to dismiss the Rabri Devi government in Bihar. Stating this yesterday at a press conference after addressing a rally at Dakala, village, 15 km from here, SGPC president SAD Rajya Sabha member, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, said the imposition of Article 258-A in Bihar was quite similar to Article 356. Mr Tohra said SAD was against the dismissal of any government under these articles. Declining to comment on what would be the SAD move if the Centre dismissed the Bihar Government, he said the Akali Dal would "definitely withdraw" support to the BJP government if Udham Singh Nagar went to Uttaranchal. Mr Tohra said though he was personally against the Rajiv-Longowal accord, yet he respected it and demanded its implementation. However, the Congress under Rajiv Gandhi failed to respect the accord. He declined comment on the ongoing jathedars' controversy. Referring to statements by some BJP leaders that the Punjab Government should set up a judicial commission to find out the causes behind the spread of terrorism in the state, a move promised by the Shiromani Akali Dal in its election manifesto, Mr Tohra said there was no need for the same. The government, instead of setting up a new commission, should extend the jurisdiction of the existing Punjab State Human Rights Commission. Earlier, addressing a moderate gathering of Akali Dal workers, Mr Tohra called upon the Sikh youth to forsake the use of tobacco and alcohol. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, Member of Parliament, said the framing of the national agriculture policy had been temporarily stalled as the SAD nominees in Parliament had expressed opposition to the absence of representatives of farmers in the committee set up to frame the policy. Mr Harmel Singh, PWD
Minister, enlisted the achievments of the SAD-BJP
government. |
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Cops' drive to plant saplings FEROZEPORE: The police force in this police range comprising the three revenue districts of Ferozepore, Moga and Muktsar has been ordered to plant saplings for beautification of the area and protection of the environment, besides performing routine duties. An order to this effect was given by the range's Deputy Inspector-General, Mr H.S.Dhillon, while addressing police personnel at the local Police Lines recently where he planted a "kachnaar" sapling to inaugurate the plantation drive. Those in charge of police stations and police posts would have to plant at least 100 and 50 saplings respectively, in their respective area for a year. In Ferozepore district alone, there are 17 police stations and 16 police posts. As such, 2,500 saplings of different varieties are expected to be planted within a year. A similar number of saplings are hoped to be planted in Moga and Muktsar districts. Besides, NGOs, head constables and SPOs have also been asked to plant saplings. Their duty would not end in just planting the saplings; they would also be responsible for the maintenance of the saplings planted by them. It is for this reason that the DIG had made this mandatory for all personnel so that the survival rate of saplings would be 100 per cent. The drive has been launched on the directive of DGP, Mr P.C. Dogra. The DIG has asked the
police force to motivate the general public also in
growing trees. He says Kerala is the only state where
people have adopted plantation of saplings into their
culture and tradition. |
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No arrangement for paddy
storage PATIALA, Sept 22 — Even though one week has passed since the commencement of paddy purchase by state-owned agencies, no arrangement has been made for storing paddy. The coordination committee of the state foodgrain agencies field employees in a statement issued here yesterday said they would not purchase any paddy from October 1 if the state government or the management of the agencies, like Markfed, Punsup, Punjab Warehouse, Punjab Agro and Food Supplies Department did not arrange for the storage by September 30. Mr Ashwani Kumar, spokesman of the employees associations of these four agencies which have formed a coordination committee this season, said in the absence of any concrete step taken by the government and the agencies, chaotic conditions prevailed at grain markets for which the field staff would be held responsible and thus victimised. The statement also said the field staff would adhere to the land specifications of paddy procurement by September 30 and would ensure the implementation of the bye-laws of the Mandi Board. It also said the stencilling of bags by arhtias with their licence numbers would be strictly implemented. In the event of its non-compliance such stocks would not be lifted by the procurement agencies. Employees would go in for
the joint custody of paddy only at those rice mills where
provisions for separate space was clearly demarcated with
boundaries, practicable lock system and effective watch
and ward staff were provided. |
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9 killed in van-truck collision ABOHAR, Sept 22 – Nine devotees, all residents of Haryana, were killed as the Tata Sumo van carrying them collided with a truck near Dudhli village between Pallu and Arjunsar last evening. District headquarters of the Bishnoi Sabha here, while confirming the incident, said the devotees returning after attending a religious fair at Mukam, a holy place of worship for the Bishnoi community. Reports received here late last night said there were 13 occupants in the van, all in the age group of 30 to 40 years. The van (HR22 B 2858) from Hisar was reportedly hit by a truck (RJ07-G-0585), and badly smashed. The badly charred bodies were dragged out by the villagers who rushed to the site. The driver of the truck sped away after the incident. The Sumo driver was among those killed, but his identification was yet to be made. A case has been
registered. |
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Russian
ballet dancers enthral FARIDKOT, Sept 22 — Russian ballet dancers enthralled the people at the local Baba Farid Cultural Centre auditorium here late last night. The 10 member troupe of Russian artistes performed at the auditorium packed to capacity, despite heavy rain. Bhupinder Kaur Mohali was a hit with the crowd Manpreet Akhtar, sister of the late Dilshad Akhtar, a renowned Punjabi folk singer, kept the audience spellbound for half an hour. She got a big applause from the audience. Bhagwant Mann and Jagtar Jaggi, comedians, performed "Modern Mirza". Bhupi Chawla, pop singer could not impress the gathering. The function was inaugurated with the lighting of lamp by Union Industry Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal who was accompanied by his wife. Mr Sukhbir Singh,
addressing the function, said he would make efforts to
increase the seating capacity at the auditorium. |
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Hoppers
attack rice crop LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — The rice crop in the districts of Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur, Faridkot, Mansa and Muktsar is under the attack of white-backed plant hopper. This has been reported by PAU entomologists after a thorough survey of the rice crop in Punjab. Another pest, namely the brown plant hopper, is also present in the fields. Nymphs and adults of these plant hoppers suck the plant sap and this results in the drying up of the crop in patches giving a scorched appearance. As the affected plants dry up, the hoppers migrate to the adjoining plants. The severely affected plants rot and can be pulled out easily leaving the roots behind in the soil. In view of the damage
caused by the hoppers, it is recommended that the pests
can be controlled by spraying lebaycid, thiodan,
nuvacron, ekalux or one litre of coroban dursban in 100
litres of water per acre.
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Police
busts 2 gangs of robbers HOSHIARPUR, Sept 22 — The Hoshiarpur police has busted two gangs of dacoits in the district. Mr R.P. Mittal, SSP, Hoshiarpur, said in a press note here last evening, that the Mahilpur police averted a dacoity and nabbed three persons on the night of September 20. They were later identified as Balbir Singh alias Billu, a resident of Halwara in Ludhiana district, Ashvani Kumar, a resident of Kot Fatuhi village, and Nirmal Singh of Mehrowal village. The police recovered a Bajaj Chetak (No. PB-07D-9432), two .12 bore SBL guns and eight .12 bore live cartridges from them. He said investigations
revealed that Balbir Singh and Nirmal Singh alongwith
Sukhchain Singh, alias Bitto, of Rakha village under the
Mullanpur Dakha police station, were involved in cases of
looting during 1988-89 in Jalandhar district. |
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Examination
fee AMRITSAR, Sept 22 — The BJP MLA, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, today condemned the Punjab School Education Board for charging students of Sanskrit appearing in middle and matric papers Rs 100 as examination fee. She pointed out that it was a retrograde step. The Punjab Government was
bent upon creating hurdles in the way of the spread of
Hindi and Sanskrit in the state, she alleged. |
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