Thursday, April 1, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Thursday, April 1, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Parallel
celebrations likely Dhesi
moves gurdwara panel |
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Police to keep tab on ex-convicts |
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| Raj Babbar's assurance to film makers | |
AISSF: Make Takht Jathedar autonomous |
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Tercentenary of birth of Khalsa CHANDIGARH, March 31 — Warring Akali factions are taking hard positions regards the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa that begin on April 14, Baisakhi day. It is now clear that two parallel celebrations would be held at Anandpur Sahib, the birth place of the Khalsa. One would be led by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who heads the Akali Dal and now directly controls the SGPC and the second by the ousted SGPC Chief and an Akali veteran, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, and suspended Akal Takht chief Bhai Ranjit Singh. Observers fear that the parallel celebrations have all the potential of taking a violent turn. The SGPC president, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who now fully supports the government move on the question of celebrations, has declared that the other factions would not get the usual allotment of land at Anandpur Sahib. This land is under the control of the SGPC and while earlier decision was to allow the Tohra- Ranjit Singh faction to hold a parallel conference, the newly elected SGPC chief has refused to go by the earlier decision. She first declared that no one would be allowed to hold parallel celebrations and the Panth should present one united face on this historic day. Later she said she had not received any application for the allotment of land. To this Bhai Ranjit Singh's curt reply is that he does not recognise what he calls as "trump organisation" led by Bibi Jagir Kaur and need not to send any formal request. " The land is already with us," he declared. This particular piece of land is close to the one where the vast celebrations are planned by the government and its Anandpur Sahib foundation. The SGPC strategy is to occupy this land much before the Baisakhi day and thereby deny the other faction any advantage to capture the area. But in case Bhai Ranjit Singh and others, including fledgling Akali factions lead by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann and Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala try to occupy that area to hold a meeting, the government and the SGPC will not allow this. This could lead to violence. As the government is bound to maintain law an order, it might have to use force and this would get a bad name for the government. The administration and the police in Ropar district are busy framing response to any situation. At the state level too, there had been meetings to make the arrangements fool-proof and ward off any untoward incident. But ask senior officers and they say that any attempt to hold parallel meetings could lead to any kind of situation. Watching the developments the Congress has taken on lease a 12-acre plot of land from a farmer . " We do not want to be at the mercy of the SGPC. The Akalis fighting battles could have involved us also," a senior Congress leader said. In this context Mr Badal today made what he called an impassioned appeal to end all bickerings. In a two-page statement here, Mr Badal said: "The entire Sikh sangat, devotees, Panthic and other organisations and leaders should join the Khalsa tercentenary functions under the patronage of the five holy Takhts". He declared that he himself would take part in these celebrations in his capacity as a humble and devout Sikh and all Panthic leaders would be accorded equal respect at the functions. Mr Badal vehemently pleaded that "political differences notwithstanding, there can be no differences among the Sikhs about our devotion to the Guru or about the Khalsa Panth founded by him. Therefore, differences of political views must not be allowed to become a hurdle in the way of the community celebrating the tercentenary in a single and united endeavour". Describing the tercentenary as a moment that comes rarely in the life of the community, Mr Badal said: "We are all extremely blessed that this event has come in our lifetime. We may have sharp divergence of political views or may even nurture some grievance or grouse against one another but eventually we are the offsprings of the same Guru. We not only have a shared pride in the heritage of Guru Gobind Singh, but have also a sacred commitment to safeguard and uphold this unique heritage". The Chief Minister emphasised that he has the highest regards for all Panthic leaders regardless of their stance or attitudes. "To bring the entire Panth on a single platform at once is our cherished and profound desire as well as a sacred religious duty. To fulfil this pious desire and discharge this responsibility, I am willing to go barefoot and with folded hands to the doorsteps of any person or leader in order to persuade him to join the united efforts of the community in making the tercentenary a memorable occasion." Mr Badal said he was anguished at the attitude of certain leaders who respect the historic and sacred institutions of the Sikhs only so long as they happen to head these institutions. The Chief Minister expressed "deep satisfaction" over the unrivalled religious devotion and enthusiasm with which Sikhs from not just Punjab but from all over the world are beginning to converge on the birth place of the Khalsa. He said preparations were afoot day and night to take these devotees in a warm welcoming embrace of the sacred Anandpur Sahib. He appealed to the entire community to come to the warm fold of the Guru, transcending all differences of opinion, approach, caste or creed and discarding all kinds of prejudice. "Celebrating the 300th birth anniversary of the Khalsa in a show of total Panthic unity and a shared devotion and enthusiasm is the highest evidence of our commitment to the ideals of the Guru. This is also the bare minimum that this historic occasion demands of us". Mr Badal said that holding separate and mutually opposed functions for the purpose amounts to causing painful divisions in the community, thereby trying to belittle the glory of the Panth. "The whole mankind and the entire history of human race is watching us. It would be a pity and disgrace if we cannot display unity, forgetting our petty prejudices even on such an important occasion." The Chief Minister
clarified that he respected the right of every Sikh to
pay his respects to the Guru in his own way. But it would
not bring any credit to the community if it cannot unite
even in a sacred sentiment of devotion to the 10th
master. |
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A
listless
Budget session CHANDIGARH, March 31 — How will the coming generations remember the Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s last Budget session of this century? The session was not only listless but also a clear demonstration of the vertical divisions within the main political outfits, which failed to come to grips with social, economic and political issues facing the state. The ongoing tussle between the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and a former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, cast its shadow on the session. Pro-Tohra MLAs not only twice walked out of the Assembly during the session but they also had a dig at the Budget presented in the House by Mr Badal’s Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh. Apart from this they also made attempts to embarrass the government on several other issues. They did not like that MLAs belonging to the Badal camp make laudatory references with regard to the appointment of Bibi Jagir Kaur as president of the SGPC. Pro-Badal MLAs confronted pro-Tohra legislators in the House by shouting at them, especially when Mr Inderjit Singh Zira, a Tohra confidant, started a parallel speech when the Finance Minister got up to wind up the discussion on the Budget. On the other hand it came to be known during the session that all is not well within the BJP, which otherwise is known as a disciplined organisation. Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla of the BJP had a number of times tiff with other BJP members in the House, particularly with Mr Jagdish Sahni and Mr Madan Mohan Mittal. In fact, she raised several important issues of public interest which were not liked by the Treasury benches. Mrs Chawla minces no words to attack the government and she was hold enough to call the spade a spade. Likewise the tussle between the Capt Amarinder Singh and Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal camps in the Congress was obvious in this session? Mrs Bhattal did not come to the House even once and did not take part in discussion. However, she was seen once or twice in the Vidhan Sabha complex. She preferred to set agenda for the Captain’s men in the House from the outside. But Mrs Bhattal said outside the House, Captain Amarinder Singh’s men raised the same issue in the House. There was nothing worth discussing and mentioning in the Governor’s Address and also the speech made by the Chief Minister in the House. In fact, the Chief Minister skipped very important issues. He preferred to set the agenda for the next century. But there was nothing new in that agenda. His thrust was on Punjabi ekta, the slogan which he raised shortly before the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections about two years ago. All know that the next century is going to make revolutionary changes in the world. To prepare Punjab for the same, the government should have come out with a proposal at least for the next decade. Punjab’s agriculture is in doldrums. There was no focused and concentrated discussion in the House on the issue. It is true that some Opposition members like Mr Hardev Arshi and even Mr Baldev Singh Khaiala, a SAD MLA, tried to raise this issue for a discussion, but nothing of that sort took place. The government’s own economic survey admitted that the economy remained subdued in the past months. There was a fall in the gross state domestic product, which was a very serious issue in case of a state like Punjab. But there was no serious debate on the economic survey except using certain points of the survey to criticise the performance of the government. There were several walkouts from the House, especially by the Congress. In fact walkouts have become a norm than exception during the session. Opposition benches time and again complained that they were not being allowed to raise key issues as Treasury benches tried to shout them down. But the overall performance of the Opposition benches, expected to give tough time to the government facing the worst financial crisis, was not as expected. There are members who come to the House after doing proper home work on issues. They raise and discuss issues in proper perspective. Among these are Mr Hardev Arshi, Mrs Chawla, Mr Avtar Singh Brar, Mr Makhan Singh, Mr Inderjit Singh Zira, Mr Dhanwant Singh, Mr Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Mr Jagdish Sahni and Mr Manpreet Badal. But most of the members in the House remain silent spectators. Various debates on peripherial issues are becoming the hall mark of the House known and considered to be a most sacred platform for taking up matters of public interest in a parliamentary democracy. Vague answers of important and inconvenient questions were not liked by Opposition members. They brought this to the notice of the Speaker. A lot of precious time got wasted in case the minister concerned came out with a vague reply as those asking questions had to put supplementaries. The government is required to be told to come out with terse replies in the House. Senior journalists, who
have covered the Punjab Vidhan Sabha for the past several
years commented that it was one of the "dullest
session". |
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Work
on Goindwal power project soon GOINDWAL (Amritsar), March 31 — The Punjab Government has selected GVK Industries as developer for the Goindwal Sahib coal-based power project. The work will soon commence as 1400 acres of land have been identified for acquisition. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is expected to lay the foundation stone of the project in the first week of April. The proposed plant site was selected by the PSEB due to the availability of infrastructure facilities such as water, power evacuation and land with minimum displacement. The PSEB had originally obtained the clearance from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) in 1992 for setting up a 2x250 MW coal-based power plant in phase 1 and with a provision for an ultimate capacity of 1000 MW. The plant will consist of two numbers of steam generating coal fired boilers. The steam thus generated will be used for operating the turbine which is coupled with an alternator for producing electrical power. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, giving details of the plant said to provide the environmental quality of aesthetics, a scientifically designed green belt in an area of 225 acres as per the guidelines of CPCB/MOEF will be developed within the plant side. Due to the burning of coal in the boiler approximately 1742t/day ash will be collected at various stages, fly ash collected from ESP be mixed with water and transported in slurry form to ash ponds. A suitable ash pond will be built within the plant. The overflow of water from ash pond will be recycled to the ash handling system for continuous use. He said the construction
of the proposed plant would result the socio economic
status of the surrounding villages. The plant will
improve voltage levels and also the development of
infrastructure in the area. The plant will give
employment opportunities to about 2000-3000 persons in
skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled jobs during the
construction phase and to 250-300 persons during
operational phase. |
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Dhesi moves gurdwara panel AMRITSAR, March 31 — Pro-Tohra SGPC member, Sarup Singh Dhesi today moved an application before the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission for the restoration of his application filed on February 11 which was dismissed in default on March 4. The original application sought disqualification of 10 Pro-Badal members of the then executive committee of the SGPC for holding "unauthorised, illegal and politically motivated executive committee meeting and suspending Bhai Ranjit Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht without "legal, religious and moral" authority. The application also described the executive Committee of the SGPC meeting held on February 10 in express violation of the agenda set by the commission. Mr Dhesi in his application submitted for the restoration that his absence on March 4 was neither wilful nor intentional as he was under belief that as he had filed application for adjournment, hence the commission would adjourn the case to any other date. The Counsel for the respondents said that the reasons for the restoration were not valid. The commission however issued notice on the other party for reply on April 22. Meanwhile the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission adjourned hearing till April 22 on the main petition of 10 Pro-Badal former executive committee members known as Hardilbir Singh Vs Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra for appropriate action against Mr G S Tohra , former senior vice president , Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and three former executive committee members, Mr Surjit Singh Cheema, Mr Gurvinder Singh Shampur and Bibi Kuldip Kaur for their removal and disqualifying them for a period of five years for grave acts of malfeasance, breach of trust, neglect of duty and abuse of power. The adjournment came as the defence counsel said that notices could not be served to some of the dependants. The commission further adjourned the hearing till April 22 in the main petition filled by Pro-Tohra SGPC members, Mr Sarup Singh Dhesi under Section 142 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act for declaration that respondents Mr Hardilbir Singh Shah, Mr Kewal Singh Badal, Mr Balbir Singh Pannu, Mr Raghujit Singh Virk, Mr Bhagwant Singh Hardothala, Mr SAtnam Singh, Mr Suba Singh, Mr Mal Singh Ghuman, Mr Gurpal Singh Gora and Mr Joga Singh had become "patits" and were unfit and disqualified to continue as the members of the SGPC either as members of the executive committee or general body for Anti-Sikh actions like disobeying hukamnama of Akal Takht. The commission accepted the plea of the defence counsel that the reply to the petition was ready but could bot be signed as the members were preoccupied in important works like Budget session of the SGPC general house and the tercentenary celebrations of Khalsa Panth. The commission further adjourned the application till April 22 of Pro-SGPC members for starting contempt of court proceedings against Mr Tohra and other executive committee members and the former SGPC secretary Mr Surjit Singh for non-compliance of the orders of the commission for calling executive committee meeting of the SGPC on February 10. The defence counsel again reiterated today that proceedings on the application could not be started since service of notice on the counsel was not proper service according to law and service of the application to Mr Tohra personally was essential in the interest of the justice. The counsel for the petitioners prayed for proceeding in the case and exparte decision on the application. The defence counsel prayed for service to Mr Tohra as per the rules and said that the court should not pass exparte orders. Meanwhile the counsel for 10 Pro-Badal SGPC executive members refused to withdraw application moved under Section 142 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act for placing Mr Tohra , Mr Bhaur and Pro-Tohra former executive members under suspension and restraining them from functioning on their respective offices since it had become infructuous after new SGPC election. The counsel took plea that the application of the members prayed for the suspension of Mr Tohra and others from membership also. The commission chairman
when pointed out that the application was not clear on
this point and be withdrawn, the counsel said that he
would submit an amended application in this respect on
the next date hearing of case on April 22. |
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Police to keep tab on ex-convicts PATIALA, March 31 — The police here has initiated a process to reverify the status of former convicts and history sheeters as there have been instances of some persons being involved in crimes after being let off. Disclosing this here today at a press conference, district police chief Parampal Singh Sidhu said it had also been decided that the antecedents of those at standing bail for robbers and criminals would also be checked as there had been cases of fake names and addresses being given while bailing out history sheeters. Mr Sidhu said the police would also start a campaign to verify the antecedents of migrant labourers arriving in the district for the harvesting season. He said the verification of migrant labour was being made a regular feature. Giving examples of how those charged with robberies were again committing them, he said a 17-year-old boy Gurjinder Singh aliaa Romi who had been nabbed by the police in April 1997 and seven vehicles, including a car, had been recovered from him, had recently been caught in the act of stealing a Zen car. The district police chief said a move to initiate one-way traffic from Sheranwala Gate to the Quila Chowk would be started soon. He said this had been necessitated due to severe traffic congestion in this market area. He also announced that the district police had been successful in nabbing the culprits who fired and seriously injured two persons Bhola Singh and Bittu on the night of March 28 and 29 near Bhadson. He said the assailants who had been identified as Bant Singh, Paramjit Singh and Sukhdev Singh had sped away with the victims' jeep No. HR-01-F-8442 after seriously injuring them. Mr Sidhu said the arrests had been made following a naka laid by Bhadson station house officer at the Mallewal Bir. He said three pistols and one country made, 12 bore rifle alongwith some live cartridges were recovered from the accused. Mr Sidhu said the
assailants on interrogation disclosed that they had
brought arms and ammunition from Uttar Pradesh with an
intention to loot. He said they had identified their gang
leader as Ujagar Singh, who according to the police had
already served jail terms under the Arms and Explosives
Act, he said special teams had been deputed to nab Ujagar
Singh. |
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Engineer's
death: CBI
probe sought BATHINDA, March 31 — The Punjab branch of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), has urged the state Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and West Bengal, Chief Minister to institute a CBI probe into the death of Engineer Rajinder Kumar Singla of Dhuri, who was attacked in Calcutta and subsequently died under mysterious circumstances in February this year. In a press note issued here today, Mr Ved Parkash, General Secretary, PUCL, Punjab, said Singla, who was working in a private textile mill, was found in a serious condition on a rail track by the Rai Bareli police. He died while he was being shifted from Rai Bareli to Punjab by his family members. According to investigations made by the PUCL, Singla informed his father-in-law, Mr Mohan Lal, on the telephone from Calcutta on January 21, 1999, that he was facing a threat to his life from the son of the mill's chief engineer. On January 30, Singla again phoned his family members that he had been freed from the 'custody' of the chief engineer's son and left for Punjab. When Singla did not reach Dhuri and his whereabouts could not be known, the family members informed the Calcutta police. However, on February 5, a textile mill official informed them that Singla was in a hospital at Rai Bareli in a serious condition. The family members went to
Rai Bareli and shifted Singla to Lucknow. But when his
condition did not improve, they decided to shift him to
Punjab and he died on the way. He had suffered a head
injury and his one leg was broken. |
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Union leader alleges underhand
method BATHINDA, March 31 — Mr Pritam Singh, Deputy General Secretary of the PRTC Workers Union (AITUC), Patiala alleged that the authorities of PRTC, Depot-I had made serious irregularities in the auction of cycle stand, shops and vends at local bus stand held recently. In a statement supported by affidavit circulated to reporters here today, he alleged that the Depot-I authorities did not give possession of cycle stand to Mr Kulbir Singh on February 1, 1999, whose bid of Rs 40,400/- as monthly rent was the highest in the auction held on January 6, 1999. He said that Depot authorities refused to give possession to Mr Kulbir Singh despite the fact that he deposited Rs 1.21 lakh advance with these authorities as rent for three months. Mr Kulbir Singh to move court for justice, he added. He further alleged that Depot authorities again held the auction of cycle stand on February 11, 1999 and sanctioned the lease of cycle stand to Mr Sarwan Singh son of Mr Kehar Singh, member, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) loyal to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The bid of Mr Sarwan Singh was Rs 33,500. The union leader also alleged hanky-panky in the auction of STD PCO, fruit shops and other vends. He added that some rehris had been given sanction to move in the bus stand area despite the fact that there was no provisions in the department's rules and regulations. He alleged that the union had been bringing such irregularities by the local depot authorities into the notice of higher state transport authorities but to no avail. He added that the PRTC was suffering huge loss on this account. Mr Raj Singh Sidhu, General Manager, PRTC, Depot-I, when contacted denied any irregularity in the auction of cycle stand or any shop in the local bus stand. He claimed that department rules permitted the movement of rehris in the bus stand area. When asked to show the record of auction of cycle stand, he said that the file containing all documents related with cycle stand auction was lying with the advocate of the department as it was contesting a case against Mr Kulbir Singh. He alleged that certain
union activists were making false allegations against the
Depot management to pressurise it for extracting
"unjustified" benefits. He claimed that of
Depot-I, got third position in the state in the matter of
earnings. |
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"Garib
Sikhan
da Siri" march begins today PHAGWARA, March 31 — Re-christening Siri Khalsa March as "Guru Gobind Singh ji de Garib Sikhan da Siri March" the Bahujan Samaj Party Punjab today released the itinerary of the march aimed at propagating ideals of casteless and egalitarian society as preached by the 10th Sikh Guru. Punjab BSP general secretary Avtar Singh Karimpuri alleged here that Akalis feudal coterie engaged in Khalsa’s tercentenary celebration had turned back on Guru’s ideals of human equality and made real Sikhs of Guru the siris (bonded labourers). With view to ringing in Guru’s ideals the BSP has coined two slogans for its march — "Siri Banana Band Karo, Patshahi da parbandh karo" (stop becoming bonded labour, secure regal supremacy) and "Jaat Paat Mitawange, Bhaichara Banawange" (we will root out casteism and create brotherhood). Mr Karimpuri denied press reports that the BSP would join any pre-Baisakhi programme of Bhai Ranjit Singh, suspended Akali Takht Jathedar or Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, president, the Panthic Akali Dal. The Garib Sikhan da Siri
March will start tomorrow from Takht Sri Damdama Sahib,
Talwandi Sabo and conclude at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at
Anandpur Sahib on April 13 with a "garib sikhan da
sammelan" to be addressed by BSP chief Kanshi Ram,
disclosed Mr Karimpuri. The march will be led by Guru
Granth Sahib and Panj Piaras. It will have 12, night
halts en route from April 1 to April 12 at following
places — Pirkot (Mansa), Kheri (Sangrur), Bathinda,
Muktsar, Jalandhar, Ferozepore, Moga, Jodhan Mansooran
(Ludhiana), Dhuri, Ghanaur (Patiala), Sirhind, Kiratpur
Sahib. |
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Refrain from politicking: Kewal
Singh TALWANDI SABO, March 31 — While calling on all political parties to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa by spreading the message of oneness of humankind at Anandpur Sahib on April 13, Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Damdama Sahib, today said the city housing Takht Keshgarh Sahib should not be made an arena of politics. Talking to TNS here, he appealed to all religious, social and political organisations to spread the message of Guru Gobind Singh and propagate the principles of Sikh religion from their respective stages. He said everyone should celebrate the tercentenary as a true follower of Guru Gobind Singh and not as a member of any religious, social or political party. When asked whether there was any possibility of some sort of compromise between the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the former, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, he said there was no such visible move on the surface at the moment but every Sikh belonging to every economic strata wanted the tercentenary to be celebrated by the entire Sikh Panth unitedly. He said Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa for breaking social, caste, racial, regional and occupational barriers but the present political system was dividing the people, especially the Sikh Panth, into different factions. He added the present political system was not delivering any meaningful results but religion made one's thought process progressive. He pointed out that no political speech would be allowed from the stage of the SGPC on the occasion of the tercentenary at Anandpur Sahib. The public gathered on this occasion would be enlightened about Sikh history and culture. Giani Kewal Singh said Baisakhi would also be celebrated in a traditional way here. He added that the Parikarma march being started from Anandpur Sahib would reach here on April 7. Regarding the budget
presented by the SGPC yesterday, he said huge funds had
been set aside for spreading general as well as moral
education in those pockets in the country where the
population of Sikhs was considerable. |
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School buildings unsafe BUDHLADAWALA (Bathinda): Due to severe water logging, the buildings of the government high and primary school in this village have been rendered "unfit" for educational activities. The primary classes are being held in the local gurdwara while the high school classes are being conducted in government quarters. Mr S. Kataria, DEO, (Secondary), told TNS that the high school building was under construction and more than Rs 5 lakh had been spent on it. She said the state education authorities had been requested for more funds for completion of school building at the earliest. Mr Kulwant Singh, DEO, (Primary), said as the building of the primary school had become unsafe, two more rooms had been constructed in the school premises. Funds had been allocated by the Punjab Government for the construction of two more rooms. He said at present education to 257 primary students was being imparted in the local gurdwara. Official sources said about 300 acres in this village, 700 acres in Bahiman Diwana and about 100 acres each in Chuge Khurd and Beer Behman villages had been affected by water logging. Affected farmers of the villages have demanded that they be given 20 temporary tubewell connections for draining out water into the nearby distributaries. Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy
Commissioner, when contacted, said he had asked officials
of the Drainage Department to carry out a survey and
prepare a scheme for logging a special drain in these
villages in order to eradication the problem. |
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Husband, wife booked for murder KHANNA, March 31 — The police has registered a case under IPC 302/34 against Bahadur Singh, his wife and another person Bija village after the recovery or a decomposed body of veterinary doctor Harnek Singh, who was reported to be missing for the past two and half months. Bahadur Singh is real brother of the deceased veterinarian. As per the information available Dr Harnek Singh was posted at Baraa village under Fathehgarh district. He married twice but was not having any child. So he had planned to adopt a nephew, son of Bahadur Singh, as his son. Later on he chose the son of another brother Majhail Singh for adopting. In this context Akhand Path was to be performed on January 13 but on January 9 he is said to have gone to Khanna for the purpose of making purchases and never returned. His family members, in his absence, and waiting for him offered the prayers after the Akhand Path. Mr Bachan Singh, father of Harnek Singh reported the matter to the police at police post Kot under Sadar police station Khanna. After 70 days on 20.3.99, a corpse was noticed in the village pond. The police was informed and the body was fished out on the basis of dress and other factors, Bachan Singh identified the body to be that of his son Harnek Singh. Mr Bachan Singh lodged a complaint against his another son Bahadur Singh. His wife Sukhwinder Kaur since they bore grudge against Harnek Singh for changing his stand in the matter of adoption of their son. Another person Sohan Singh was also named. As per Mr Arvind Puri SHO
sadar police station Khanna., the case has been
registered under IPC 302/34 against the three accused.
While Sukhvinder Kaur and Sohan Singh have been arrested,
Bahadur Singh is absconding. Efforts are on to arrest
him. |
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Chemists demand 5 per cent tax on
medicines ROPAR, March 31 — The Senior Vice-President of Punjab Chemists' Association Rajinder Jaggi has urged Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to initiate steps for the implementation of a uniform sales tax of 5 per cent on medicines in the north zone. Mr Jaggi said the association had taken a serious note of the 2 per cent increase in sales tax on medicines. Earlier, sales tax on medicines was 6 per cent, besides a 10 per cent surcharge. He expressed surprise over the government's attitude towards the increase in sales tax on medicines. While it had abolished sales tax on 46 life-saving drugs, it has been increasing sales tax on other medicines. Mr Jaggi demanded
abolition of octroi on medicines to make them available
to the poor at cheap prices Cattle fairs not to be held ROPAR, March 31 — In view of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa to be held at Anandpur Sahib in the first fortnight of next month, the district administration has decided not to organise cattle fairs in the district from April 1 to 16 to maintain undisrupted vehicular traffic on all main roads for the convenience of pilgrims. According to the Deputy
Commissioner, Mr K.S. Sidhu, the cattle fairs to be
organised at Ropar on April 1 and 2, and at Anandpur
Sahib on April 15 and 16 would also not be held. |
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AISSF:
Make
Takht Jathedar autonomous AMRITSAR, March 31 — The All-India Sikh Student Federation today demanded that the Jathedar of Akal Takht should be made totally autonomous, should be above politics and kept out of the SGPC control. The President of the AISSF, Mr Harminder Singh Gill, while addressing a press conference here today demanded that the post of Jathedar Akal Takht was supreme and no one would be allowed to use it for any political purposes. Mr Gill felt that Mr Parkash Singh Badal had denigrated the Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh for his selfish motive. He pointed that the federation would intensify their struggle to stop the politicisation" of the takhts. He cautioned Mr Badal and his supporters to desist from interfering in the religious matter, especially in the appointment of Jathedars of takhts. He also reminded the Chief Minister that while the Sikhs were celebrating the 300th anniversary of Khalsa Panth there were thousands of young men who were still languishing in jails for past many years. He said the SAD chief should make efforts to release them immediately. The AISSF chief said that
Mr Badal should enact an all-India gurdwara act.
SGPC staff reshuffled AMRITSAR, March 31 — In a major reshuffle, the SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur today ordered major transfers and promotion of 18 senior staff members with immediate effect. In a press note issued here today, the SGPC President appointed her loyalists to key posts in the SGPC while the axe fell on the Tohra appointees who were transferred out of the SGPC headquarters and some were demoted. A superintendent in the dharam parchar committee, Mr Sukchain Singh, had been appointed Deputy Manager, in the SGPC while Mr Nirmal Singh a supervisor in the purchase department, had been shifted to the SGPC office. These transfers have not
come as a surprise and the reshuffle was seen as
punishment to Tohra loyalists. |
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Cops
kill woman PHILLAUR, March 31 —
Mrs Shaveta, travelling in a Jalandhar-bound Tata Sumo,
was allegedly shot dead by Punjab Police Head Constable
Balbir Singh, and Constable Dinesh Chaturvedi who
reportedly were under influence of liquor near the Sutlej
river bridge naka near here on Tuesday evening. According
to reports received here both accused police employees
tried to stop the Sumo and asked Sumo owner Vinod Kumar
for "Chai Pani". When Vinod Kumar refused to
offer seva constable opened fire upon them and Shaveta
died. The police has registered a case under Section 302
of the IPC and started departmental inquiry. TADA detainees to observe fast NABHA, March 31 — Ten TADA detainees lodged at the maximum security prison here have decided to observe an indefinite fast from tomorrow charging the Sikh Panth of having forgotten them on the occasion of the tercentenary celebration of the birth of the Khalsa. In a statement issued here, they said the Panth leadership had forgotten those who had made sacrifices for it. They added that nothing was being done for those who were languishing in jails since years. "Our children and families who are orphaned are a neglected lot with no one coming forward to help them". The Jail Superintendent,
Mr Bhajan Singh, when contacted said he too had received
a note signed by the 10 detainees regarding their
indefinite fast. |
||
Raj
Babbar's
assurance to film makers PATIALA, March 31 — The shooting of Iqbal Dhillon's "Shaheed Udham Singh", a Punjabi feature film, here achieved great importance in view of coinciding sixth World Theatre Day celebrations, according to the international coordinator for the world theatre movement, Mr Pran Sabharwal. Raj Babbar, member, Rajya Sabha, and a popular cine star, who performs as Shaheed Udham Singh said "Punjabi theatre aiming at promoting Punjabiat, patriotism and universal amity would be strengthened in India and abroad to revive memory of Shaheed Udham Singh and other martyrs." Recalling his career days as a theatre activist along with Om Puri, Yog Raj Sedha, Girja Shankar and Gurdas Mann during 70's, Raj Babbar assured every help and sponsorships for patriotic performances in Mumbai during tercentenary celebrations of birth of Khalsa. Iqbal Dhillon and
Chitrarth Singh, producer and director, respectively, of
"Shaheed Udham Singh" have urged the government
to strengthen the theatre movement which could help to
promote Punjabi film industry. |
||
Govt land worth lakhs sold NANGAL, March 31 — Government land worth about Rs 40 lakh was sold in connivance with the local Revenue Department. Four individuals — Ramesh Kumar, Pawan Kumar, Ram Asra and Ramesh Kumari — had 84 marlas of land in Rajnagar locality of Nangal in their names. However, they sold 204 marlas of land to 22 individuals. The market price of the land in the area is about Rs 25,000 per marla. They were also able to secure proper registries and mutations of the government land sold by them with the connivance of the local Revenue Department. Sukuntla Devi (five marlas), Narinder Kumar (eight marlas), Jagmohan (eight marlas), Satya Devi (five marlas) are among those who were sold government land by Ramesh Kumari and Pawan Kumar. They were given proper registries and mutation nos 2436, 2355, 2674 and 2764. Moreover, many of those who have proper land deals registered in their names are now facing problems in getting the mutations of these plots as these belonged to the government. Piara Singh, another victim, who has been running from pillar to post for the past three years, alleges that in spite of his best efforts no action has yet been taken against the accused. Mr Tejvir Singh, ADC,
Anandpur Sahib, ordered an inquiry into the matter
recently. The Sub-Tehsildar, who conducted the inquiry,
said he had sent his report to the authorities concerned. |
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