Monday, April 5, 1999
|
P U N J A B | |
Monday, April 5, 1999 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
||
|
Personal
Sikh relics sent to Delhi |
 |
|
|||||||||
|
GND
varsity budget approved Inauguration
of railway station put off Badal,
Tohra 'chips of the same block' AISSF
agitation against Badal Rs
3700 cr advance for wheat procurement A
lake of misery Insurance
company penalised
Principals’
rally today Cong
prepared to form govt at Centre Bhattal
justifies parallel show Release
pension of victims: Vimla Dang
Changes
in route of Khalsa march |
|||||||||||
 |
||||
Personal Sikh relics sent to Delhi PATIALA, April 4 — "Weapons" and personal artefacts from the private collection of the royal families of Patiala and Nabha and the Bagrian family were today taken to join the "dashmesh jyoti" in Delhi from New Moti Bagh Palace here by Ms Praneet Kaur, wife of Pradesh Congress Committee President, Capt. Amarinder Singh, and some Congress workers. A simple ceremony and "ardas" was performed at the palace by members of the family of Capt. Amarinder and some Congress workers who had gathered there after which the weapons and personal artefacts were carried in two trucks. Fiftyone Congress workers accompanied the two trucks which set off for Badarpur on the Delhi border where they would from the "dashmesh jyoti" coming from Patna Sahib before making their trip back to Punjab. Ms Praneet Kaur described the function held today as a private affair saying that even the "ardas" had been performed by the priest of the gurdwara at the palace. She said the weapons and other relics of the Nabha royal house and the Bagrian family had arrived at the palace yesterday and had been kept at the gurdwara in the palace. She added that the relics and the yatra would be formally received at Gharam on April 7, following which it would travel in Punjab covering Damdama Sahib and Fatehgarh Sahib before culminating at Anandpur Sahib. Among the relics of the Patiala royal house are a gun of Guru Gobind Singh with the retire "chandi di vaar" inscribed on it, a sword with inscription "Sri Akal Sahai Guru Gobind Singh", a hollow silver axe, a bamboo spear, an arrow used by the guru, a "Gutka" of the Guru in which the entire "mool mantra" has been personally written by him, besides a "Bhoj Patr" on which battle plans have been written. The relics of the Nabha
house included "kangah" and "kesh" of
Guru Gobind Singh, two "poshaks" of the Guru,
besides two Sri Sahibs. The Bagrian family relics
included the "loh" and "karchha"
given to the family by the sixth Guru, a
"khanda" given to one of the family ancestors
by Guru Gobind Singh at Nanded, besides the kirpan used
in the "anand karaj" of the tenth Guru. |
||
Farmers fancy PSEB scheme PATIALA, April 4 — A Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) scheme offering farmers the opportunity to install their own transformers has met with success and is now being introduced in the entire state. Around 100 such transformers mostly to cater to five horse power motors have been installed in the Dirba subdivision and around 700 more will be installed by June this year in Sangrur district, PSEB Administrative Members Baldev Singh Mann disclosed to TNS here today. Mr Mann said the board had decided to make the scheme available to farmers of the entire state by the next two years. He said under the scheme a farmer would be able to buy his own transformer ranging from Rs 18,000 for five horse power motor, Rs 22,000 for seven horse power motor and Rs 27,000 for 10 horse power motor. He said under the scheme the farmer was benefited as he got regular electricity supply for his tubewell motor and did not have to worry about the transformer tripping as it was not misused. He said the main advantage was in the paddy season when farmers resorted to running their motors on single phase connections which, resulting in the tripping of the transformer due to which all the 10 to 15 tubewell connections attached to it suffered. He said besides this there was also a problem of shortage of electricity supply to motors grouped together under a single PSEB transformer as the load on the system was more during peak summer hours. Mr Mann said the board was bearing losses ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 150 crore which were spent on repairing faulty transformers. He said this scheme if it caught the fancy of the farmers would ease the burden on the board. He said transformers bought by farmers privately would have copper binding which would also reduce electricity consumption and would have more longevity. The Administrative member
also disclosed that the coming summer would see the board
in a comfortable position as it would have 740 mega watt
of more power from the start of two units in the Thein
Dam besides the Lehra Mohabbat project. He said the board
might not need to buy electricity due to this during the
summer months. |
||
GND varsity budget approved AMRITSAR, April 4 — The Senate of Guru Nanak Dev University which met here today unanimously approved the Budget estimates of Rs 43.51 crore for the financial year 1999-2000 which show a deficit of Rs 9.50 crore. The Syndicate and the Finance Committee have already accorded their concurrence. Giving details, Dr HS Soch, who presided over the budget meeting, informed the members that the deficit includes Rs 4.40 crore as pay arrears following revision of grades of university teachers, 80 per cent of which has to be borne by the Centre and 20 per cent by the state government. Other reasons for the deficit are that the state government did not sanction Rs 1.03 crore paid by the university as arrears to the university non-teaching staff due to revision of their grades during 1996-99. He said this deficit also included Rs 3.35 crore as recurring liability on salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff over and above the expenditure sanctioned during the past year. Dr Soch said the Principal Finance Secretary, Punjab has informed members of the finance committee which met here last evening that the state government will now provide a maintenance grant, including the previous year's balance of arrears. With this the net deficit would come down to Rs 2.15 crore to be covered by the university by way of savings. The Vice-Chancellor said that the university anticipates a revenue of Rs 15.94 crore during the current financial year. The Vice-Chancellor told the house that a five per cent to 10 per cent cut has been imposed on contingencies and some budget provisions as compared to last year. Rs 43.51 crore or 55.40 per cent of the budget will be spent on teaching, research and allied teaching. Talking about development proposals, the Vice-Chancellor building projects of Rs 9.7 crore were cleared subject to availability of funds. He said priority would be given to construction of at least two hostel wings for boys and girls and a teachers' holiday home at Dalhousie. Tenders have been invited for construction of multi-faculty building named after Maharaja Ranjit Singh, to be completed within 3 years at a cost of Rs 3 crore. Rs 1 crore has been
earmarked for construction of a Guru Nanak heritage
centre on campus. |
||
Tercentenary celebrations ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 4 — The proposed inauguration of the newly constructed building of the local railway station and the reception of the first special train from Delhi by the Union Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, here tomorrow have been postponed. Stating this at a press conference here, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, and incharge of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa, said this was done as no confirmation of the Railway Minister’s programme had been received. Later, talking to this reporter, the minister said Mr Nitish Kumar had some other engagements and the programme would now be rescheduled. The special train from Delhi was to be started for bringing pilgrims from various parts of the country here to attend the tercentenary celebrations. The minister said arrangements for the accommodation of 1.5 lakh pilgrims had been made of these, 70,000 would be provided covered accommodation while the remaining would be adjusted in tented accommodation. He said more than 200 community kitchens would also be organised. An international sports meet would be organised from April 9 to 13 here. Wrestlers from Uzbekistan, Iran, India and Pakistan would take part in competitions. In the kabaddi tournament, teams from Canada, the USA, the UK, Pakistan and India would take part. He said the entire town would be illuminated from April 8. There would be a laser and a fireworks show on April 13. The Finance Minister said on April 8, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would pay obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and inaugurate the tercentenary celebrations programmes. He would also address a public meeting and release a book on the Khalsa. He would later inaugurate an exhibition of Sikh relics. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said
on April 14, Giani Puran Singh, Acting Jathedar of Akal
Takht, would address the Sikh community from Takht Sri
Kesgarh Sahib. |
||
Badal, Tohra 'chips of the same
block' SANGRUR, April 4 — Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Punjab Chief Minister, while talking to mediapersons here at PWD rest house last night said that Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Surjit Singh Barnala were the chips of the same block as they had all in the past encouraged the forces responsible for creating terrorism in the state. She said Akali leaders when out of power never condemned militant activities and attended bhog ceremonies of the killed terrorists. They did not even condemn the murder of their own leader Sant Harchand Singh Longowal. Referring to the feud between the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Mrs Bhattal said now one Akali faction was blaming the other for threatening peace and communal harmony in Punjab. Referring to the charge of
indiscipline levelled by PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh,
Mrs Bhattal said that she was a disciplined soldier of
the party adding there was nothing wrong in criticising
the anti-poor budget of the Punjab government and
opposing the anti-people policies of the SAD-BJP
government in Punjab. |
||
Jagir Kaur denies being a 'pawn' LUDHIANA, April 4 — The SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, has denied the charge that she is a pawn in the hands of the Punjab Chief Minister and SAD president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Addressing a press conference here last night, she said she had her own standing and would fulfil her duties as the SGPC chief. "If I flounder while doing my duty, I will feel sorry to the entire Sikh sangat and quit," she said. Asked to comment on Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra questioning the inauguration of the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa, by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, she said Mr Vajpayee had been invited because he was a "true son of the soil". The Prime Minister was not going to use the occasion for any kind of politicking, she said. Bibi Jagir Kaur said she had been unanimously chosen as the SGPC chief. "Whether Mr Tohra accepts me or not, I have already been accepted as the SGPC chief by the Sikh community," she said. She said till date she had not received any application for allowing Mr Tohra and Bhai Ranjit Singh to hold a separate function. However, she had already sent invitations to both of them to attend the tercentenary celebrations in her capacity as the SGPC chief. Bibi Jagir Kaur said she had not raised the demand for probing charges against Mr Tohra, but the decision was taken on the demand of the sangat. Asked about the reasons for the suspension of Bhai Ranjit Singh, she said he had tried to create a rift in the Sikh community by taking sides with Mr Tohra. She said the former SGPC chief neither heard the views of both sides nor heeded to appeals for unity. The Akal Takht Jathedar was a sevadar of the SGPC and was appointed by the members. He could be removed by the SGPC chief, if need be, she added. Asked whether trusts of educational institutions being run by the SGPC were being disbanded to further weaken Mr Tohra, Bibi Jagir Kaur alleged that Mr Tohra had always treated these institutions as his personal property. Therefore, it was necessary to reorganise these trusts. Lashing out at Mr Tohra for referring to her as a "mahantani," Bibi Jagir Kaur said she had never referred to him in any derogatory manner and had always called him Jathedar Tohra. She said she had formed a trust for her dera. "I have already said that neither I nor my children will have anything to do with the dera," she said. Speaking about the preparations for the tercentenary celebrations, the SGPC chief said many seva societies and dharam pracharak committees had been given responsibility for the celebrations. Bibi Jagir Kaur who
attended a party workers' meeting at Gurdwara Dukh
Nivaran was presented a cheque for Rs 1 lakh by the
gurdwara committee for the tercentenary celebrations. |
||
AISSF agitation against Badal AMRITSAR, April 4 — The All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) has decided to launch an agitation after the tercentenary celebrations of the foundation of Khalsa Panth (April 15) to liberate Akal Takht and the Panth from the ‘Badal camp’. In a written statement, issued here today, Mr Harminder Singh Gill, President AISSF urged the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee not to participate in any programme of the tercentenary of the Khalsa Panth being organised by the ‘Badal camp’. He should not become party to the ‘anti-Panthic’ activities of a particular group with his participation. The press statement welcomed the decision of melody queen Lata Mangeshkar of cancellation of her proposed visit to Anandpur Sahib and appealed to other singers and artistes not to take part as well. The AISSF strongly
condemned the conferring of "Sahibzada Ajit
Singh" Award on Union Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal
by Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, president Youth Akali Dal. He
asked how awards named after the name of a son of Guru
Gobind Singh could be given to a person (Mr Sukhbir Singh
Badal) who had fled the country when innocent youth were
being killed in fake encounters. He, however, justified
presenting of ‘Giani Zail Singh Award’ on Mr
Aliwal saying that like Giani Zail Singh, Mr Aliwal had
concealed his age by dying his beard with a view to
remain president of the Youth Akali Dal. Instead of
concealing his age, Mr Aliwal should be baptised at least
on the occasion of tercentenary of the Khalsa Panth, he
said. |
||
Rs 3700 cr advance for wheat
procurement BATHINDA, April 4 — The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has sanctioned a sum of Rs 3700 crore to Punjab for procurement of wheat in the current season. Stating this at a press conference here today, Punjab Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Mr Chiranji Lal Garg said that the first instalment of Rs 1340 crore had been released. He said wheat would be procured at all purchase centres operational last year and promised farmers all facilities including 'shelter' for the crop, drinking water and electricity. Payments for wheat procured would be made on the day of procurement itself. He said 50 kg capacity gunny bags had been given to procurement agencies as per international recommendations. So far about 100 tonnes of wheat had been procured. The Punjab Government will ensure that private trader do not pay less than the minimum support price of Rs 550 and added that a bumper crop of wheat was expected. To a question, he said there would be storage problems in the current season. The minister said flying squads had been set up to check malpractices and district-level and a state-level control room set up. He said though Punjab had
not fixed a target quantity for procurement, it would
make efforts to procure the maximum quantity. |
||
A lake of misery ABOHAR: A lake of dirty water surrounding the judicial and tehsil complex has endangered the lives of people who visit here everyday as it has become a breeding ground of various water-borne diseases. The attractive building of the court and tehsil is in bad shape as the stagnant water emits continuously foul smell and distracts visitors. The lake, spread over 10 acres, has become a permanent source of nuisance for the officials, judicial magistrates, litigants, lawyers and others, who are their establishments in the court complex. Though judicial magistrates have been making efforts to drain out the stagnant dirty water by taking up the matter with the local administration and with the Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepore, things have not improved. In a letter written by the local Judicial Magistrate to the District and Sessions Judge, Ferozepore, it was mentioned that the vacant land on all sides of the court complex was low. Rain water in a huge quantity accumulated in the low-lying land behind the lawyers’ chambers. Similarly, water also gets accumulated on the place adjacent to the court. The stagnant water has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. A large number of persons visit the court complex daily and lawyers and presiding officers and staff attached with the court remain there throughout the day. It is necessary to get the water cleared otherwise some disease is out to spread. The Judicial Magistrate had also requested to the District and Sessions Judge to take up the matter with Deputy Commissioner or with Punjab and Haryana High Court to get the work of filling of earth done in the low lying area at the earliest. Apart from this across the road there is a big pond of dirty water. The pond, which was used as butchery by the Indian Army in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, belongs to the local municipal council but is yet in the possession of the Army. The sewerage of a number of localities is being released into this pond, which is also posing a threat to the lives of residents of the town. Mr D.S. Grewal, Subdivisional Magistrate, Abohar, when contacted said Rs 2.50 lakh had been sanctioned for raising the level of the vacant low-lying area for filling. He added that work would begin when the funds were made available to the local administration. Talks were being held with
the Army authorities regarding the butchery to develop
this patch into a park or a shopping complex. |
||
Insurance company penalised FEROZEPORE, April 4 — The Muktsar District Consumer Redressal Forum president, Mr D.R. Singh Thakur, has directed the Manager, Divisional Manager and Regional Manager of Oriental Insurance Company at Muktsar, Ferozepore and Chandigarh, respectively, to pay a claim of Rs 1.85 lack with 12 per cent interest from the date of accident to a complainant, Mr Gurjeet Singh. The forum has directed the company to pay compensation within two months from the receipt of order. The parties are left to bear their own costs of litigation. The complainant had filed the case on December 18, 1997. According to a copy of the order, the complainant got insured his car (PB-04D/5255) on February 16,1997. On February 25,1997, the car met an accident near Chharata cantonment bypass in Amritsar district and the complainant got his car repaired at a cost of Rs 1.85 lakh. Later, the insurance
company refused to entertain the claim and cancelled his
policy on September 18,1997 arbitrarily. The complainant,
therefore, filed a complaint. |
||
March arrival at Bathinda on
April 6 BATHINDA, April 4 — The Khalsa Sirjana March being taken out from the birth place of Guru Gobind Singh — Patna Sahib — will reach here on April 6. In a press note issued here yesterday Mr Dawarka Dass, Convener, Shri Guru Gobind Singh 300th Year Khalsa Sirjana Swagat Samiti, said Swami Vasudevanand, Swami Satyamitranand, Mahant Avadhnath, Sant Virsa Singh, Sant Karam Singh and Sadhvi Ritambra were participating in the march. He said main objective of
the march was to promote universal brotherhood among
different caste and communities. He added that activists
of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Bajrang Dal, Bharat
Vikas Parishad and the Sewa Bharti would join the march
here. The march would proceed to Mukatsar from Bathinda. |
||
Principals’ rally today LUDHIANA, April 4 — Mr Tarsem Bahia, General Secretary of the Principals Association, Punjab and Chandigarh, has said a 300 times hike in college fees would be required to deal with the current crisis in government-aided colleges of Punjab, in the wake of a massive cut in grants under the 95 per cent grant-in-aid scheme. At a Press conference of the joint action committee of the Managements and Principals Federation held here yesterday, the principals said they would be forced to close the colleges if the state government implemented these cuts in grants. Dr Ishwar Singh, President
of the Joint Action Committee, said a rally would be held
at Chandigarh on April 5. He said that in case the
government did not concede to its demands, they would be
forced to boycott the examinations being conducted by the
three universities in Punjab, rescheduled from April 16. |
||
Cong prepared to form govt at
Centre LUDHIANA, April 4 — The Congress is ready to shoulder its responsibility and take the lead in forming an alternative government at the Centre in case the BJP-led coalition at the Centre falls out, according to AICC General Secretary, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad. He said this while speaking to mediapersons here today. He said the BJP-led government had to go as it had lost credibility. Supporting the demand for a joint parliamentary probe into the Bhagwat issue he said there should be a vote in the House on this issue and added the BJP was shying from a JPC probe because it had something to hide. Capt Amarinder Singh, who was also present, when questioned on the beginning of a rift in the PPCC, denied it and said the state unit stood united against the anti-people policies of the Akalis. The AICC general
secretary, PCC chief and former Punjab Chief Minister,
Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal were here to participate in
‘Id milan’ and sarv dharam rally organised at
Sherpur Kalan by the Indian Muslim Council. Others
present were Mrs Gurkanwal Kaur, president of Punjab
Pradesh Mahila Congress, Mr Harmohinder Singh Pardhan,
MLA, Mr G.S. Galib, former MP and Mr Nahar Singh Gill. |
||
Bhattal justifies parallel show LUDHIANA, April 4 — Senior PPCC leader and former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal lashed out at the Shiromani Akali Dal for not including other political parties in the state for chalking out a programme for the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa at the initial stages. During an informal chat with the mediapersons here today, Mrs Bhattal justified the separate tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa by the Congress, by saying that the parties other than SAD, had never been included in the planning process for the celebrations. Mrs Bhattal said that she had not violated the party discipline by walking out of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha during the Budget session. I have always followed the party policy, which clearly stipulates Congressmen to fight against injustice towards the masses. If anything is against the welfare of the people, I will continue to protest against this, she said. The former Chief Minister
said that there was no danger to the state unit of the
party, inspite of a difference of opinion amongst the
leaders. |
||
Release pension of victims: Vimla
Dang AMRITSAR, April 4 — The plight of widows of terrorist-victim who have not received their pensions for the past about eight months is miserable. Their husbands were killed by terrorists during peak days of militancy in the past. In a communication to Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Ms Vimla Dang, former MLA, has urged that the pension of the victims be released on priority basis immediately. Giving details, Ms Dang said as many as 25 widows from the newly created Khadoor Sahib tehsil met her and narrated their tale of woes. She alleged that the widows had been going from pillar to post to get their pensions released, but in vain. She said most of the widows were unable to bear the expenses of their children studying in schools and colleges. She added that the arrears of the pensions and study allowance had not been released so far. The sons and daughters of
terrorist victims who had attained the age of 18 years
had also not been given jobs as per the policy of the
state government, Ms Dang said. |
||
Affiliation to Baba Farid university
ordered FARIDKOT, April 4 — The Punjab Government has ordered the affiliation of all medical, dental and other educational institutions in the state imparting health science education with the Baba Farid Medical and Health Science University here. The orders will be effective from July 1, according to Dr L.S. Chawla, Vice-Chancellor of the university. All new institutions teaching health sciences shall henceforth apply for their affiliation to this university after July 1. Mr Chawla said Baba Farid university will conduct the examinations of the colleges from November, this year. Meanwhile, the university
offices has been shifted from the local medical college
campus to the tourist complex on the Faridkot-Kotkapura
road. |
||
Insurance cover for pilgrims AMRITSAR, April 4 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee has paid heavy amount to an insurance company to cover life insurance of all the pilgrims and employees of the committee who would participate in the 'Khalsa march' to be taken out in connection with tercentenary of the Khalsa. In a press release, issued
by the SGPC here today, in case of accident or death or
injury the compensation would be given to the victims or
kin or kith of their families who would participate in
the march to be taken from Kiratpur Sahib and Anandpur
Sahib. |
||
Rail overbridge to cost Rs 10
crore BATHINDA, April 4 — Punjab Food and Supplies Minister Chiranji Lal Garg and President of the Municipal Council, Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, today said that a railway overbridge would be constructed near Parasram railway-level crossing shortly. Addressing a joint press conference here, they said that the central government had approved the project and that it would be built at the cost of Rs 10 crore. The bridge when completed would link transrailway colonies-known as mini Bathinda with the main city. They said that to drain out rainy water from the transrailway colonies a disposal scheme worth Rs 32 lakh had been started. Another scheme for draining out the water in civil lines area, Ajit road, Power House road had also been made functional. They disclosed that to check the malpractices in construction work, the local municipal council would engage an independent agency to check the authenticity of the estimates and quality of various development works. They added that any contractor or official found making any bungling in any sort of construction work would be punished according to law. They said that all the
obstacles in the 100 feet road project in the heart of
city had been cleared and it would be constructed in this
financial year. |
||
'Govt move will tarnish MDU
image' ROHTAK, April 4 — Reacting sharply to the Haryana Government's move of divesting Maharshi Dayanand University of the authority to conduct the entrance test for admission to PMT, MD/MS, MBA, MCA and B Pharma courses, Lt-Gen OP Kaushik (retd), Vice-Chancellor of the university, said the move was unjustified and it would tarnish the image of the university in the country. He was speaking at meet-the-Press programme organised by the district unit of the Haryana Union of Journalists, affiliated to the National Union of Journalists, at Canal Rest House here yesterday. Lt. Gen Kaushik said no complaint was registered and no court case filed against the university administration when the entrance test for admission to MD/MS courses was conducted by the university in his tenure. On the other hand, he said 130 cases were filed in the court against the "irregularities" in these tests before he took over as the Vice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor refuted the charge of violation of reservation policy in recruitments. He challenged the complaints that he would resign from his post if they proved any violation in this connection. He said the university had appointed 15 teachers during his two year tenure and the recommendations of the University Grants Commission had been strictly adhered to in these appointments. He said the benefit of reservation could be obtained only at the time of appointment and not at the time of promotion to the post of reader and professor as per the UGC recommendations. Commenting on the
financial crunch being faced by the university, he said
he had been seriously considering to increase the number
of paid seats in various departments of the university.
Besides, seeking financial assistance from prominent
industrialists of the state was also under consideration. |
||
Funds of contention AMRITSAR, April 4 — The funds of the World Sikh Council (WSC) which had earlier led to an exchange of letters between jathedars, are again likely to become a bone of contention between the suspended Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh, and Giani Puran Singh, Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht. Allegations and counter-allegations about the misuse of the funds are being levelled again SGPC and office-bearers of the council. While the council alleged that SGPC officials had taken away the records by breaking open the lockers of its office in the Akal Takht Secretariat, Mr Kulwant Singh, secretary, SGPC alleged that such allegations were being levelled with a view to "embezzling" the funds. He claimed that the
possession of the secretariat and the office of the WSC
was still with Bhai Ranjit Singh and it would be got
vacated by moving the Sikh Judicial Commission. While the
WSC has announced that Bhai Ranjit Singh is still the
patron of the council, the SGPC claims that the Acting
Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh, became the
ex-officio patron following Bhai Ranjit Singh's
suspension on February 10. |
||
'Matka mafia' behind lottery ban JALANDHAR, April 4 — The Northern-India Lottery Association has condemned the Union Government's move to ban on lotteries as a ploy intended to strengthen the illegal "matka and satta" operators. In a press conference here today, Mr Om Parkash, President Northern India Lottery Association, said that the lottery business in the state was directly managed by the government with a directorate and a department exclusively set up for it. Besides hitting its staff the ban on lotteries would throw out employment over 25 lakh persons all over the country. He said besides employing 25 lakh persons the trade generated Rs 400 crore as direct taxes for the Centre and Rs 800 crore for different states. The revenue can be raised to more than Rs 3000 crore if lotteries were properly channelised he said. The Punjab earned Rs 15 to Rs 18 crore and could earn more than Rs 100 crore from on line lotteries. He said legal lotteries were essential for curbing matka, satta and gambling which generated no income and bred mafias. He alleged that the matka mafia played a major role behind ban decision by both coercing and buying politicians. He said the unemployment problem had been rightly anticipated by Bal Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief who refused to accept a blanket ban on lotteries. Besides the centre had not
solicited the views of the states including of Punjab and
the North East. |
||
NTAS for ‘Punjabi Theatre
Day’ PATIALA, April 4 — The National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS), Patiala, has urged Central and state governments to declare April 6 as "World Punjabi Theatre Day" and celebrate it in India and abroad every year. NTAS also called for
organising drama festivals and seminars besides
telecasting serials on the Punjabi theatre movement and
issuing a postage stamp in the memory of Prof I.C. Nanda,
a pioneer of modern Punjabi theatre on April 6, the 85th
anniversary of the movement. |
||
Changes in route of Khalsa march AMRITSAR, April 4 — Certain changes have been made in the route of the Khalsa march to be started from Lahore in connection with the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa. According to a press note issued by the SGPC here today, the Bhai Daya Singh Khalsa March would now start from Lahore on April 7 and would halt at Amritsar after covering Attari, Gharinda, Chicha Bhakna, Khasa, Chheharta, Sann Sahib Dhand Kasal Bir Baba Budha, Jhabal and Tarn Taran. The march would start simultaneously from the birthplace of "Panj Pyaras". After a stay at Amritsar, the march would proceed to Mehta, Baba Bakala, Rayya, Jalalabad, Nagoke, Khadoor Sahib, Goindwal Sahib, Mandi Mour and Talwandi Chaudhrian. After an overnight stay at Sultanpur Lodhi, it would start on April 9 for Kapurthala and cover Jalandhar, Adampur and Hoshiarpur. The march would start from Garhshankar on April 10 and proceed to Balachaur, Ropar and Kiratpur. The press note added that
Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib,
eminent journalist Kuldip Nayyar and other prominent
personalities would also take part in the march. |
||
Gateway to India incomplete AMRITSAR, April 4 — Notwithstanding the bus diplomacy launched by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee recently to improve Indo-Pak relations, the 'Gateway to India' the foundation stone of which was laid by Mr Parkash Singh Badal two decades ago at Wagah is still incomplete. Mr Badal, who became Chief Minister for the second time in the seventies had conceived the project as a 'Gateway to India'. Though Mr Badal became the Chief Minister for the third time about two years ago the huge project is still incomplete despite 1999 being launched as the year of development. "In a press release,
Mr Satya Paul Dang, a veteran CPI leader said that it was
unfortunate that the government had failed to complete
the project so far and urged Mr Badal to complete the
project on a priority basis now that the land route had
been opened. |
||
BJYM to hold 5,000 sammelans PHAGWARA, April 4 — The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Punjab, will hold 5,000 sammelans of its workers and secure anti-intoxicants and pro-rational pledges from 2 lakh youth during its "jan jagran drive" being launched from April 6 (the foundation day of BJP) to May 30. This was stated by Mr Tarun Chug, President, Punjab BJYM, here today at a press conference. Giving details, Mr Chug said 200 sammelans would be held in each district, involving wards, mohallas and educational institutions to highlight Vajpayee Government's achievements at national-level, like improvement in Indo-Pak relations, making India an atomic power, Rs 16,000 crore Bathinda refinery project, Ludhiana-Chandigarh rail link, Rs 100 crore grant for Khalsa's tercentenary celebrations. Earlier addressing workers
Mr Chug said a "yuva chetna march" would be
flagged off by the Punjab BJP chief, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi
from Hussainiwala on May 23. The march would conclude at
Jallianwala Bagh on May 30, he added. |
||
BSF, Pak Rangers meet today JALANDHAR, April 4 — The biannual India-Pakistan meeting between Pakistan Rangers and the Border Security Force (BSF) is to be held at BSF headquarter here from April 5 to 7. The Pakistan delegation headed by Maj-Gen Salim Ullab, Director-General, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), will reach JCP, Wagha, at 10.30 am on April 5. The surveyors, engineers and officers of narcotics control bureau of both countries will also participate. The Indian delegation is headed by Mr A.S. Aulakh, Inspector-General, BSF, Punjab, and included BSF ISG, Jammu, R and G headquarters and BSF headquarters, New Delhi, besides other officials. During this high-level
meeting discussions will be held between the delegates to
sort out minor irritants being faced presently by both
security forces on the international border, including
border crimes and drug trafficking etc, and other matters
of mutual interest. |
||
Warm welcome to Sant Yatra KHARAR, April 4 — The Sant Yatra jointly organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad and the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, which started from Patna on March 18, was given a warm welcome here today. A large number of people belonging to all sections of society received the yatra when it entered Kharar from Chandigarh. Among those who welcomed the yatra were Mr Om Parkash Aggarwal, Mr Roshan Lal, Mr Natrajan Kaushal, Mr Swarn Singh, Mr Preet Kanwal Singh, Mrs Baljinder Kaur, Mr Rajesh Gupta (Municipal Commissioner) Mr Ranbir Singh Kala, president of the Kharar Municipal Committee, Principal Balbir Bakshi, Mr Zora Singh Bhullar, Secretary, SAD, Ropar, Mr Kuldeep Singh Bassian, vice-president, SAD Ropar, Mr Prem Singh, president of the SAD, Kharar, Mr Shiam Ved Puri, president of the Kharar unit of the BJP Mr Shiv Parshad, secretary BJP, Kharar and talking to this reporter, Mr Charanjit Singh, organiser of the yatra, said he was overwhelmed by the response to the yatra. PATHANKOT: A Khalsa
Chetna Parkarma March which started from Takht Sri
Kesgarh Sahib reached here on Saturday. Thousands of
people welcomed the march. |
||
Tension in Jalandhar locality JALANDHAR, April 4 (UNI) — Preaching by a group of Christians allegedly through pamphleteering and inducement in the poor colony of Kishanpura in the city today led to tension when police personnel came to catch some residents on the complaint of some Christians who alleged they were browbeaten by them on Friday last. When a three-member police party headed by a head constable came to locality this afternoon to catch some residents pinpointed by Christian complainants, some pro-BJP residents of the area raised a hue and cry and alerted the party headquarter at Deendayal Upadhaya Nagar where a meeting of the youth wing of the BJP was in progress under the chairmanship of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) state President Tarun Chugh. More than 50 activists of the morcha led by Mr Chugh immediately rushed to Kishanpura and sat on dharna which was joined by their local sympathisers. While Mr Chugh left the scene a little later, BJP district organising secretary, Mr Gandhi, and BJYM district president Rajiv Chopra took over charge of the protest action. During the two-hour
dharna,which was lifted around 7.15 p.m., the BJP and its
youth wing activists shouted slogans against Christians
and the police demanding action against them. |
||
| Diary | ||
Traffic
jams bane of Nawanshahr NAWANSHAHR: With a sharp increase in the vehicular traffic coupled with narrow roads, the congestion in the town is swelling day by day. As most buses and passengers, instead of entering the bus-stand, prefer to operate from roadsides at Ambedkar chowk Nehru Gate, Chandigarh chowk and Railway station chowk, etc. Besides these, the railway crossings near sugar mills and Karyam road have become major traffic bottlenecks, especially during the sugarcane crushing season and procurement season of paddy, wheat and other crops. Traffic jams are a common sight and driving has become increasingly difficult. Moreover, the haphazard traffic, pot-holes on roads and lack of both traffic sense and initiative on the part of administration to control traffic have added to the woes. To decrease the volume of traffic, a bypass was planned during the Congress regime and the foundation stone of Nawanshahr bypass was laid three years ago by Mr H.S. Brar, the then Chief Minister and a sum of Rs 3.75 crore as the first instalment was also sanctioned. The site for the bypass could not be finalised during the Congress regime. But the project has only been given unceremonious burial during SAD-BJP rule, but also a major portion of the funds allotted for it has reportedly been diverted to adjoining Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts. It seems, Nawanshahr, now, is paying a heavy price for being a "politically orphan" town. « « « Although the residents are in a state of disillusionment as regards the development of the district, the local District Public Relations Department with a view to highlighting various achievements and development activities in the past two years has brought out an illustrated souvenir, which was released by Mr Parkash Singh Badal at Khatkar Kalan, on the occasion of Shaheedi Divas. While depicting various developmental activities, the souvenir says that in the past two years of the SAD-BJP regime had spent Rs 21 crore on the various development and welfare schemes. It particularly highlights that the district is leading the state in implementing housing schemes for homeless SCs and it has spent Rs 1.55 crore on the construction of 311 houses in 28 villages and all houses have been handed over to the beneficiaries. Moreover as many as five focal points at Jadla, Garcha, Pathlawa, Sahiba and Tonsa have also been constructed and a sum of Rs 1.46 crore has been got sanctioned for setting up a 50-bed hospital at Balachaur. Besides these special emphasis is being given to developing infrastructure, which includes construction of the first phase of the district administrative complex at a cost of Rs 75 lakh, a residential colony for officials, construction of Ambedkar Bhavan at Gujjarpur, construction of the Adarsh School complex at Khatkar Kalan, a park for public at Baradari Garden and other things. The condition of the road near Chandigarh chowk in the town, which is in very bad shape has already been improved to give a facelift to the town. « « « A local literary magazine Adbi Mehak has brought out a special issue which was released by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, on the occasion of Shaheedi Divas to highlight the Literacy drive now under way in the district. The drive was launched in October 1997, and as per a survey conducted at that time as many as 49,311 illiterates were identified and 3,215 sakharata kendras were set up. Two primers have been taught and in December, 1998, Dr Roshan Sunkaria, DC-cum-Chairman of the District Literacy Society, inaugurated the teaching of the third primer with a view to bolstering the movement and mobilise the village panchayats to make the drive a mass movement. « « « The local PSEB authorities, with a view to improving the supply and voltage have been augmenting transformers, LT cables and installing new transformers to minimise, public inconvenience and complaints with regard to frequent power breakdowns and low voltage. The LT cables in localities like Kayan Mohalla, Laroyan Mohalla, Ghas Mandi, Dana Mandi, Ravidass Nagar, Bhucheran Mohalla, Hargobind Nagar, Gulzar Nagar, Priends Colony and Satgur Nagar have been replaced. Besides, new, transformers at Mohalla Laroyan, Friends Colony and Ghas Mandi have been installed. The authorities nurse a grudge that though people approach them with complaints and problems regarding frequent power breakdowns and low voltage, they do not come forward to extend their support and cooperation whenever they plan to install new transformers for their convenience. Rather people cause hindrances and they have to overcome many hurdles in executing development projects. « « « The local Rotary Club besides contributing towards the Pulse-polio drive by way of organising seminars, rallies, helping the health officials in administering polio drops and supplying food for the staff at duty on the immunisation centres etc., has been doing a yeoman service here by providing career guidance and counselling scholarships, books, woollen clothes, shoes, sports material etc to needy students. It has also been organising blood donation camps, free medical check-up camps, tree plantation camps and sports tournaments. Mr Satish Vohra, president of the club, says the club is planning to organise mass marriages of poor girls and it is also going to materialise its dream project of having an ambulance for the convenience of the poor. « « « The Government Senior
Secondary School here has been made a co-educational
school, as the town, though a district headquarters does
not have any government school for girls. This step of
the government will help the parents of girl students to
educate their wards up to the plus two level by spending
less money. |
|||
 |
||
 |
| Nation
| Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
