Sunday, April 11, 1999
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Sunday, April 11, 1999 |
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Congress chooses
alternative site PATIALA, April 10 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress has decided to hold its conference on Baisakhi at Anandpur Sahib at an alternative site near the PSEB guest house there following the disposal of its writ filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to restrain the government from acquiring land leased by it adjacent to Sikh Heritage Park to hold its function. Spread Sikh tenets, says
Puran Singh |
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 AmritsarAnandpur Sahib Bathinda Chandigarh Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdaspur Hoshiarpur Jalandhar Ludhiana Moga Muktsar Patiala
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Cong to draft economic plan TADA detainees end fast Vulgarity upsets pop singers CGWA's plan on underground water 2 killed in dispute over money Legal aid scheme introduced Early diagnosis of meningitis
stressed Land grabbing leads to clash Kidnapped child found All set for wheat procurement Gang of vehicle thieves busted |
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Congress chooses alternative site PATIALA, April 10 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress has decided to hold its conference on Baisakhi at Anandpur Sahib at an alternative site near the PSEB guest house there following the disposal of its writ filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to restrain the government from acquiring land leased by it adjacent to Sikh Heritage Park to hold its function. Addressing a press conference here, Pradesh Congress General Secretary Bir Devinder Singh said the onus for the inconvenience caused to devotees would be on the government as the alternative site was hopelessly inadequate. Mr Bir Devinder Singh said the party was rethinking its entire programme for the occasion. He said as it was difficult to display the shastras as well as hold a conference at the present site due to lack of space, the party was planning to display the shastras at Kesgarh Sahib. The Congress leader said the Shiromani Akali Dal government had generated ill-will by acting with an indecent haste to acquire the land leased out by the party from private individuals on April 1. He said on the other hand the Congress had shown generosity and magnanimity with two senior leaders, Mr Manmohan Singh and Mr Sharad Pawar, attending the inaugural function of the celebrations at Anandpur Sahib on Thursday. He said as the present site was only two to three acres, the party would appeal to the devotees to bear the inconvenience. The government would be responsible for any problem due to overcrowding, he added. Mr Bir Devinder Singh said the government should have provided adequate accommodation to all political parties to hold their conferences on the occasion. The denial of land could also have been due to the Congress having expressed its inability to participate in the Fateh march organised by the SAD. The Congress General Secretary also said the Sarbans Dani Shradha Yatra was drawing huge crowds everywhere. Even at Bagrian on Thursday night, the yatra was given a tumultuous reception. However, a section of the press had needlessly tried to create a controversy by saying PPCC President Amarinder Singh had left the place in a huff following a poor response. Sangrur Zila Parishad
Chairperson Roop Kaur Bagrian, who was also present at
the conference, said Capt Amarinder Singh had left the
venue to see off former Maharaja of Nabha Hanumant Singh.
She said even though the yatra reached Bagrian seven
hours behind schedule at 10 p.m., it could only leave
past midnight following the reception accorded to it. |
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Spread Sikh tenets, says Puran
Singh ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 10 — Giani Puran Singh, the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, today addressed a gathering from a huge pandal constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore near Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib and called upon the people to disseminate the message of the Gurus and propagate Sikh principles and tenets. He arrived here last evening to participate in the tercentenary celebration functions. Giani Puran Singh, who was speaking at a katha vichar and sant samagam programme, also asked the gathering to baptise themselves. He said Sikhs should seek "Sarbat da bhalla' when he would perform an "ardas" on April 14 here in this regard. At the pandal, devotees were listening to katha vichar and lectures delivered by saints and preachers. Several of them were watching the programme on closed-circuit television sets. Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Takht Keshgarh Sahib, was also present on the occasion though he did not address the crowd. Others who addressed the gathering included Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Anup Singh, head parcharak, SGPC, Giani Gurbux Singh Gulshan, a missionary from UK, Giani Ranjit Singh, head granthi, Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Giani Harinder Singh and Giani Sant Singh Maskin, both from Alwar (Rajasthan) and Swami Parmanand Haridwar wale and Bhai Chiranjivi. Mrs Surinder Kaur, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, was also seen making arrangements for tomorrow's Mata Sahib Kaur istri sammelan at the pandal. Meanwhile, a jatha of American Sikhs today visited Takht Keshgarh Sahib. The members of the jatha were presented with siropas by Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh. A march of saints, drawn from 25 states, also visited the Takht. The devotees partook of
langar and took a dip in the holy sarovar. |
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Challenges & the Sikh role ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 10 — The Sikhs enter the 21st century with the memorial celebrations of two tercentenaries; one, crowning of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh and two, installation of Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru. The two celebrations have come at a time when, on the one hand recitation of Sikh scriptures is not confined to gurdwaras alone, but is all over cyberspace and on the other, when the Khalsa Panth is passing through a historical transition, facing a crisis created by the ego-centric religiously and politically influential individuals who have often misused the established Sikh institutions for vested interests. Certain basic issues and questions rankle in the mind of the Sikhs who once again find themselves at the cross-roads looking for the right direction to meet challenges in the next century. The TNS put these questions to the Takht Keshgarh Jathedar Prof Manjit Singh, who being in the amidst of jubilation, said, "We have neither ignored nor shield away from such challenges (issues) which confront the Sikh quom". Professor Manjit Singh is a strong believer that Sikhism is not "static". He is in the process of assimilating the views of the people (including institutions) concerned as to how to re-invent and re-define the Sikh religio-political institutions and their role. "It took 13 long years to draft the prevalent Sikh 'Rehat-Maryada'. The process of finding an answer to issues and questions in the mind of the Sikhs today has begun," he added. He is confident that soon new equations and relations will be defined. He did not elaborate how in the new world order and in the light of the "message" of the Guru this will be done. Several Sikh scholars, historians and researchers already submitted their views on topical issues and questions being raised. After the celebrations he will concentrate on this aspect. In fact the SGPC has its limitations. Sikh diaspora is widely spread. The idea of the World Sikh Council was mooted some time back in this context. That remains in the foetus. The Sikhs need a worldwide apex organisation to prepare them educationally, administratively, economically and spiritually to meet the new challenges. Youth too have to have a proper place and ample space in the proposed organisation, he stressed. If there is anguish among the Sikhs today it is because of stagnation. A churning process has begun in both religious as also political domain, said Prof Manjit Singh. The spiritual conclave on April 14 here will give answers to many issues not only will the five Takht Jathedars give their message to the quom but an inter-faith global conference, scheduled later in the day, will come out with a "declaration" of peace, brotherhood and development based on the principles and postulates of Guru Gobind Singh's philosophy. The parting gift to the sangat will be one lakh saplings. "Environment is equally important for the progress of mankind," he said. Prof Manjit Singh said a blueprint of development is ready for Anandpur Sahib, which will not become desolate and isolated after the celebrations as is commonly believed. It has to grow as a trade-centre with pollution-free industry to add to the economic wellbeing which will bring social equality and happiness to the people. Besides an ayurvedic institution, a 300-bed hospital (medical college) and drug de-addiction centre are planned. From here a movement against drug abuse will be launched with a worldwide sweep. Some Sikh NRIs are working on these projects, he disclosed. Propagation of religion
and universal brotherhood will get added attention.
Notwithstanding the criticism and internal conflicts and
contradicitions in the present religio-political line-up,
Prof Manjit Singh is confident that all this will be
sorted out in due course through dialogue and consensus. |
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'Regilding after truce in Panth' AMRITSAR, April 10 — The UK-based Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ), which has completed the first phase of regilding the upper portion and domes of the Golden Temple with about 500 kg of gold, has now decided to start the second phase of regilding the inner portions of the temple only when the warring Akali leaders would bury the hatchet. Due to the current crisis in the Panth, members of the jatha had to undergo a lot of inconvenience for completing the regilding work, which was done after a gap of 170 years. The "Harmandir Sahib" had assumed the name of "Swarn Mandir" (Golden Temple) when Maharaja Ranjit Singh got the gold plating of the shrine done. Bhai Mehnga Singh, a member of the jatha who supervised the regilding work, talking to TNS said it was with the grace of the almighty that the jatha was given the "seva" (service) of regilding the temple. The jatha is an apolitical organisation and the task of regilding the temple was entrusted to it in 1994 after scrutiny. The work was started on February 3, 1995, by "Panj Piaras", including Bhai Naurang Singh, Prof Manjit Singh (the then acting Jathedar, Akal Takht, and now Jathedar Keshgarh Sahib), Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar Damdama Sahib, head granthi, Golden Temple, and Sant Baba Labh Singh of Kar Seva Anandpur Sahib. Bhai Mehnga Singh said it took five days for work like handing over the keys of the "golak" (money box) to SGPC officials after the completion of the first phase of the regilding. It was obvious that the jatha was not happy over the differences between the Akali leaders. However, the gigantic task was completed well before the tercentenary of the Khalsa Panth, he said. The regilding of the inner portions of the temple and related work would require more labour and attention. "It is not a simple work", he said, adding that "We hope that the Akalis would stop squabbling so that the second phase could be started". Artists and master craftsmen were called from Muradabad, Varanasi, Agra and Makrana (Rajasthan), who worked day and night to complete the "kar seva". According to Bhai Mehnga
Singh, great attention was taken to retain the intricate,
precise decorative nature of the embellishments. The
craftsmen were given a copy of the interior of the
"Harmandir Sahib" before commencing work. |
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Sant Samaj's conference CHANDIGARH, April 10 — Former SGPC President, G.S. Tohra has asked the Ropar district administration to remove the loudspeakers from near the venue of Sant Samaj's conference at Anandpur Sahib at the earliest otherwise these will be thrown away. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Tohra alleged that the organisers of "sarkari" (Badal Government's) conference at Anandpur Sahib have put up loudspeakers near the Sant Samaj's conference venue with a view to playing mischief and disturbing the Samaj's conference. Mr Tohra and Bhai Ranjit Singh, the suspended Jathedar of Akal Takht, will be star speakers at the Samaj conference. Besides, leaders of three Akali parties led by Mr Kuldeep Singh Wadala, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, and Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, will also be there. National leaders, including former Prime Minister, Chandra Shekhar, Mr Laloo Parsad Yadav and Mr Kanshi Ram have also been invited to speak from the Samaj stage. In fact, the Samaj conference is being held under the patronage of Bhai Ranjit Singh. Mr Tohra said he had sent Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, to meet the district administration at Anandpur Sahib in this connection. He alleged that the Punjab Government, led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was making all efforts to provoke "us" (Tohra camp). "We have decided to avoid confrontation at every cost. The government is sowing seeds of confrontation deliberately as it wants us to be branded as villains of peace", Mr Tohra said. Giving instances as to how the government was creating hurdles in the way of the Sant Samaj to prevent him (Mr Tohra) from organising a conference at Anandpur Sahib, Mr Tohra said first the land allotted by the SGPC to the Sant Samaj for holding the conference was cancelled. After this a sarpanch offered to give land to the Sant Samaj but the government made him give it to a circus management. Again the government did not allow a sant to give land to the Samaj for holding the conference. When another person gave land to the Samaj for the conference, the authorities concerned tortured him mentally a number of times forcing him to go back on his commitment with the Samaj. Now when the venue for holding the conference had been prepared by the Samaj, the government had put up loudspeakers near it. All this was being done to build up confrontation. He alleged the Badal Government was demolishing the Khalsa principles, traditions and concepts. Having a dig at the Badal Government, Mr Tohra said that several Sikh traditions and principles were violated at the conference organised on April 8 by Mr Badal and his associates at Anandpur Sahib. Neither there was "parkash" of Guru Granth Sahib for "Hukamnama" was taken. He said he had only appealed to Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee to participate in the conference organised by Mr Badal if Sikh "maryada" was maintained there. "But Mr Badal camp distorted my statement and tried to create division in Hindus and Sikhs by branding me "communal", Mr Tohra said. This occasion should have been used to propagate Sikh traditions and principles but the government was busy in ostentation. The tercentenary was never sought to be celebrated the way it was being done to get political mileage out of the celebrations. Mr Tohra questioned the decision of Mr Badal to invite Congress leaders, including Mr Sharad Pawar and Dr Manmohan Singh, to the conference. Only a few days ago Mr Badal was telling all Akali MPs that the Congress was the number one enemy of Sikhs. When asked about his
agenda, Mr Tohra said he would strive for the restoration
of prestige of Akal Takht demolished by Mr Badal and his
associates. |
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‘Fateh’ march from Kiratpur on
April 12 ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 10 — An amusing situation arose at the media centre here this afternoon. While mediapersons were waiting for the arrival of the SGPC President for a press conference, in trooped several wrestlers with marigold garlands around their necks. They went to the dais and occupied the chairs. They were, however, no ordinary wrestlers. It was a team that had come from Pakistan. Just as the team was beginning to settle down and the manager, Khalid Mohammad, was about to speak, in walked Bibi Jagir Kaur with several "officials". She too went to the dais and was introduced to the wrestlers. Shortly before she was to begin her session with the media, Capt Kanwaljit Singh arrived and joined the others on the dais. As the wrestlers left, he began to address mediapersons and Bibi Jagir Kaur looked on helplessly. Capt Kanwaljit Singh gave details of the proposed "fateh" march from Kiratpur to Anandpur Sahib on April 12. He said after all five marches (coming from the birthplaces of the first Panj "Piare" baptised in 1699) assembled at Kiratpur, they would be merged into one procession. In the lead would be the Guru Granth Sahib, followed by caparisoned elephants carrying "nagars", a contingent of 101 horsemen, a jatha of 301 youths and bands of the Sikh Regiment, the Sikh Light Infantry and the police. The jathedars of Takhts, representatives (from Patna Sahib and Hazur Sahib) and Sikh political leaders would also join the march. Capt Kanwaljit Singh took the opportunity to counter the allegations of the former SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, that the march was wrongly termed "fateh" (victory). He cited several instances how the Sikhs overcame assaults on them at different points of time and had eventually emerged victors. The march was one of thanksgiving, he said. Bibi Jagir Kaur on the other hand, only wanted to make an appeal to all women, urging them to attend the Mata Sahib Kaur istri samagam (women conference) tomorrow and make it a success. Among the listed speakers are Dr Prabhjot Kaur, Dr Inderjit Singh, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Ms Rabri Devi, Ms Meneka Gandhi, Ms Mamta Banerjee, Ms Upinderjit Kaur, Ms Surinder Kaur Badal, Prof Manjit Singh, of Jathedar, Takht Keshgarh Sahib, and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The topics selected for the conference include: "Role and contribution of women in Sikh history"; "Sikh women: Present status, problems and challenges"; and "Sikh women in 21st century: Contribution and possibilities". Wives of the President and the Vice-President are expected to attend the conference besides Ms Rama Devi, Governor, Himachal Pradesh, wife of Mr L.K. Advani, Ms Uma Bharti, Ms Vasundra Raje and Ms Niranjan Kaur. Bibi Jagir Kaur said the
SGPC had decided to give Rs 10 lakh as relief to victims
of the earthquake in the Chamoli area of Uttar Pradesh.
She said she would visit the area after the celebrations. |
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Khalsa chetna marches reach ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 10 — All five Khalsa chetna marches, which began from the native places of the Panj Piaras namely Bhai Daya Singh (Lahore), Bhai Dharam Singh (Hastinapur), Bhai Mokham Singh (Dwarka), Bhai Sahib Singh (Bidar) and Bhai Himmat Singh (Jagannath Puri) a few days ago arrived at Takht Keshgarh Sahib here this evening. Earlier, the marches were received at Kiratpur Sahib by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, accompanied the Khalsa march from Dwarka while Mr Tota Singh, Punjab Education Minister, and Mr Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Cooperation Minister, accompanied the Khalsa marches from Bidar and Lahore, respectively. The other two marches from Jagannath Puri and Hastinapur were brought here by Bibi Upinderjit Kaur, Punjab Technical Education Minister, and Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Rural Development and Panchayats Minister, respectively. The "Panj
Piaras" of all marches and other prominent persons
were presented with siropas at the Takht. |
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Canadian jatha crosses over AMRITSAR, April 10 — As many as 68 Canadian Sikhs today came to India by road after paying obeisance at various gurdwaras of Pakistan. Overwhelmed by the unprecedented hospitality extended during their stay in Pakistan, the Canadian Sikhs said that most shopkeepers did not charge money for meals or other commodities they bought from bazaars. The Canadian Sikhs who have come to Punjab in connection with tercentenary celebrations of the foundation of Khalsa Panth also paid obeisance at Golden temple. Earlier they were given a warm reception at Wagha border. Prominent among those who crossed the Wagha border are Mr Wazir Singh Kahlon, Mr Harinder Singh Sohi, Mr Balwinder Singh Brar and Mr Ajit Singh Wahd. It is pertinent to
mention here that a jatha of 351 Pakistani Sikhs (mostly
Sindhis) will visit India by road to participate in the
tercentenary celebrations. This is the first jatha of
Pakistanis to visit India by road after 52 years of
Independence. |
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Tohra's plea on liquor vends CHANDIGARH, April 10 — Former SGPC chief G.S. Tohra today urged the Punjab Government to wind up liquor vends in the cities and towns founded by Sikh Gurus. This should be done by the state government on the occasion of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. He said Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kartarpur, Hargobindpur, Kiratpur Sahib, Anandpur Sahib and some other cities and towns were founded by Sikh Gurus. There should also be no liquor vend on either side of Guru Gobind Singh Marg, Mr Tohra said. He also urged all Akali MLAs, ministers and MPs to set an example for others by getting themselves baptised on this historic occasion. Mr Tohra asked the
government about the high-level committee which was set
up under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to
review the cases of Sikh detainees lodged in various
jails. The committee, set up immediately after the
SAD-BJP alliance took over the reigns of power in the
state, had not given its report so far. |
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Cong to draft economic plan MUKTSAR, April 10 — The PPCC President, Mr Amarinder Singh, said today that the Punjab Congress had constituted a committee headed by Mr Bhardwaj to prepare an economic package plan for the state for the period starting from 2000 to 2025. Addressing a press conference after paying his obeisance at the historic Tuti Gandi Sahib Gurdwara here, he said the package would include the limits of government's support to agriculture, industrial and social sector, besides other things. He added that the plan which would be ready by May, 1999, would be given to Dr Manmohan Singh for giving finishing touches. The state Congress would base its manifesto for the next Assembly elections on this plan. When asked whether he would approach the Akal Takht Jathedar against the violation of "maryada" by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at the inaugural function of the tercentenary of the birth of Khalsa, as alleged by former SGPC President, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Capt Amarinder said the Congress did not want to jump into the Akali crises. "It is an internal matter of Mr Badal and Mr Tohra and I don't feel concerned about it", he added. The PPCC President alleged that Mr Badal had institutionalised corruption and every job, from a peon to a Tehsildar, was on sale in the state. He added that family members of Mr Badal were also involved in this rampant corruption. He said the Congress, when it comes to power would launch a war against corruption and all present government officials and ministers who were indulging in corruption would be taken to task. He pointed out that he would request the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Chief Ministers, Mr Ashok Ghelot and Mr Digvijay Singh, to set up educational institutions in the name of Sikh Gurus in their respective states on the tercentenary of the Khalsa. Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, Vice-President, PPCC, who accompanied Capt Amarinder Singh, alleged that Mr Badal had lost a historic opportunity at Anandpur Sahib on April 8 when he failed to get anything worthwhile from the Prime Minister. He added that the Akalis had bartered away Punjab's interests merely to share power at the Centre. He added that the "sarbans dani shardha yatra" was given a warm welcome by people at Bhalaiana village. Later, the yatra which
started from the gurdwara here drew big crowds in the
city, enroute to Nihalsinghwala. Its was joined by Mr
Devinder Singh Babbu, President, Punjab Youth Congress,
and other leaders. |
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TADA detainees end fast NABHA April 10 — TADA detainees today ended their nine-day old fast at the maximum security prison here following an appeal made by the Akali Dal (Amritsar) President, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, at a dharna held outside the jail. The strike ended at 5 p.m. after an advocate of the detainees, Mr Brijinder Singh Sodhi, was allowed to meet them. The Jail Superintendent, Mr Bhajan Singh, confirmed the end of the strike. Earlier in the afternoon jail authorities had refused permission to a five-member delegation led by the Amritsar Dal chief to meet the prisoners. Talking to TNS, Mr Sodhi said the detainees told him that though nine of them had gone on a fast on April 1, but now all 53 detainees, including convicts and undertrials, had joined the strike. He said on Mr Mann's plea the detainees urged other prisoners in Jalandhar and Chandigarh to end their fasts. The Amritsar Dal chief said the Chief Minister should ensure the release of these undertrials who were languishing in the jail for nearly 14 years. Reacting to the one-year remission announced for TADA convicts by the state government, he said it was insufficient. He added that the party would take up the case at its conferences to be held in Anandpur Sahib on April 13 and 14. There are a total of 53
TADA detainees lodged at the jail here, including 23
convicts. The prisoners had gone on a fast to attract
public attention on their plight on the occasion of the
tercentenary. |
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Vulgarity upsets pop singers LUDHIANA: Increasing vulgarity in music videos being aired on television channels has begun to worry the artistes, but they say there is nothing much they can do about it. Some of the top pop singers of India, including Jasbir Jassi, Usha Uthup, Anamika and Anaida were here on Thursday to perform at a musical concert and took the opportunity to share their views with mediamen on a number of issues. They answered a variety of questions with ease but seemed visibly uncomfortable when quizzed about the need to include shots of half-clad girls, gyrating to musical numbers, in their videos. "I am so ashamed of those semi-nude shots of females in my video", says Jasbir Jassi, whose "Dil le gayee kudi Gujarat di" has turned out to be a runaway hit and has been on the top of popularity charts for quite some time now. "I have done serious singing on stage in Punjab for more than a decade. Therefore, I hardly need any props. But I was absolutely new to Bombay. I did not know much about video production. I did just what I was told to do during the making of the video of my song". Jassi says that he had been facing a lot of criticism from his friends for being "too fussy". As a matter of fact, "some of them even told me to go back to Punjab if I don’t like the ways of Bollywood. Therefore, by the time the video production came, I was thoroughly intimidated and I did just what I was told...." He says he did object to the video shooting of half-clad girls in his song. "I asked them ‘Bhaji, aye kee ho riha hai’ but I was told not to worry. These girls won’t be visible on the TV screens...." He believes that ultimately it is good music that prevails. "There have been so many vulgar video songs but not all of them sell", he points out. Anamika asserts that the artistes don’t have any control over the video production of their songs. "I can’t say anything about the others, but struggling artistes like me and Jassi don’t have any say in the making of videos". Anaida, however, saying that nobody can make you do anything which you don’t want to do. "I for one have not been doing any in my videos, which one can’t watch in the company of one’s parents and children". Usha Uthup says that she has been singing for nearly three decades but she has never felt the need for changing her dress for stage shows. "Ultimately, it is the good music which attracts people". Usha, who was born in Chennai, brought up in Mumbai, married in Kerala and now lives in Calcutta, says that she loves Punjabi songs. "They are so lively. I am grateful to the people of Punjab and Asa Singh Mastana who gave me such a big hit ‘Kali teri gut, te paranda tera lal ni’. She feels that Punjabi
music has always been popular. It is only now that it has
begun to dominate the airwaves. Anaida says that Punjabis
are very passionate. Whatever they do, they do it with
all they have. That is why even their music is so
"jaandar". Anamika is proud being a Punjabi
from Jalandhar. It is the Punjabi dholak beat which
carries the day. Jassi feels that Punjabi music owes its
success to the fact that it is so melodious. The music is
so rich and you all know what a big treasurehouse Punjab
is". |
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CGWA's
plan
on underground water LUDHIANA, April 10 — The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) plans to employ artificial recharge techniques in a bid to conserve and boost underground water resources in the city. This was stated here today by Mr M. Mehta, Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board, north-western region. He said the authority planned to drill five shallow tubewells (100 m deep) to known the vertical extent of ground water pollution in shallow aquifer and five tubewells (350 m deep) to know the quality of groundwater at deeper levels. It was also proposed to minimise the groundwater pollution by dilution. For this, artificial recharge technique would be tried by using canal water in Sidhwan canal and tapping storm water near the Circular Crossing using the recharge shaft. Rain water harvesting structures were also proposed to be constructed in the Deputy Commissioner's office and the Municipal Commissioner's office. A sum of Rs 50 lakh would be provided for these works under the central sector scheme which would be executed in collaboration with the state government and the Municipal Corporation. He said Ludhiana had already been notified as a "critical area" by the CGWA on account of an alarming decline in the water level coupled with groundwater pollution. A mass awareness programme had already been initiated in the city. Members of the public as well as industry owning groundwater abstraction structures like motorised hand-pumps, shallow and deep tubewells were required to get themselves registered. However, the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana was yet to get itself registered with the CGWA. He said the construction of any new groundwater abstraction structures on the premises of any industry or by an individual in a residential area was prohibited. The motorised hand-pump, shallow or deep tubewell could only be installed after taking prior permission of the CGWA. There were no
registration charges for it. Forms free of cost were
available at all zonal offices of the corporation in the
city. Those not filling registration forms were liable to
be punished under the provisions of the Environment
Protection Act. The last date for registration had been
extended till June 30. |
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2 killed in dispute over
money MUKTSAR, April 10 — Two persons were killed in a dispute over money which allegedly took place between a landlord and his assistant on April 7 at Lakhewali village in this district. Police sources said there was a dispute between the landlord, Jagsir Singh, and his assistant, Joga Singh, over the payment of money. On April 7, Harwinder Singh and Gurwinder Singh, sons of Jagsir Singh went to the house of Joga Singh to pressurise him to pay the advance money which he had taken from their father. Two of their friends were also with them. In a scuffle which took place in the house of Joga Singh, Shingara Singh, father of Joga Singh reportedly attacked Harwinder Singh and others with a sharp-edged weapon. Harwinder Singh died on the spot. Joga Singh ran away from his house after the incident but was later allegedly shot dead by Gurwinder Singh, brother of the deceased. Mr Parmod Ban, ASP, when
contacted, said the police had arrested Shingara Singh.
However, Gurwinder Singh had absconded. A case under
Sections 302 and 34, IPC, had been registered against
Shingara Singh, while a case under Sections 302 and 34,
IPC, and Section 25 Arms Act, had been registered against
Gurwinder Singh. |
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Legal aid scheme introduced FATEHGARH SAHIB, April 10 — For social welfare and ensuring justice to the people, a new Legal Aid Counsel scheme has been introduced in the state. Under this scheme, counsel have been appointed in magisterial courts. They will provide legal assistance to persons in custody in filling remand applications, securing orders for bail and moving miscellaneous applications. They will also conduct cases on behalf of such persons at state expense. This was stated here today by Justice H.S. Brar, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, while inaugurating the 13th permanent Lok Adalat at the district courts. He said Lok Adalats were being organised in every district to reduce the burden on ordinary courts and to provide, speedy justice to the poor and needy. These had acquired a statutory status. He said litigation had become very expensive and beyond the reach of ordinary men. Therefore, it was necessary that an atmosphere of compromise should be created. He said even the government had amended the Constitution and enacted a law to set up Lok Adalats for imparting speedy, conciliatory and inexpensive justice. He said the police could play a vital role in bringing about rapprochement between the litigants. If it became necessary, the police should send a case to Lok Adalats instead of ordinary courts. The Lok Adalats would function once a week ordinarily. If the number of cases increased these would work daily. In the Lok Adalats 68956 cases had been decided and a compensation of Rs 75 crore awarded. In his address, Mr Justice V.K. Bali, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, highlighted the merits of Lok Adalats. He advised lawyers to put service above self. Mr Tejinder Singh
Salana, President of the District Bar Association,
highlighted the problems of the lawyers. Mr A.N. Jindal,
Additional District Sessions Judge, Mr T.R. Sarangal,
Deputy Commissioner, Mr M.S. Chahal, SP, also addressed
the gathering. |
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Early diagnosis of meningitis
stressed PATIALA, April 10 — Experts today stressed the need for early diagnosis and treatment of meningitis, which they said had affected all age groups. Delivering his presentation on the subject at the conference of the north-west chapter of the Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists here today, Dr A.K. Banerjee of the PGI, Chandigarh, said meningitis should be treated as a medical emergency. He said delay in treatment could result in permanent disabilities. He said different kinds of organisms could create meningitis, including tuberculosis. Identification of the specific organism was essential for appropriate treatment, he added. Dr B.D. Radotra and Dr P. Roy from the PGI and Dr Gurjinder Singh from GMC, Patiala, stressed on etiology, pathology and laboratory diagnosis, besides clinical aspect. The seminar on surgical pathology of breast lesions was chaired by Dr Harsh Mohan from GMC, Chandigarh, and Dr Surinder Singh, GMC, Patiala. They emphasised the role of early diagnosis as it was the most common cancer of women the world over. They said carcinoma breast and carcinoma cervix cancer usually went hand in hand. The successive speakers emphasised the role of detecting the disease at its early or borderline stage when it was curable. Diagnosis by mammography, fine needle aspiration cytology and biopsy was important as breast self examination was not well known in the country, Dr Harsh Mohan said. A histo-cyto interlude on life lesions was chaired by Dr Kasum Joshi, PGI, Chandigarh, and Dr Vinita Malhotra, President NW-IAPM. A guest lecture was delivered by Dr S.K. Sood, a haematologist and adviser to the WHO from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. Earlier, Dr L.S. Chawla,
Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health
Sciences, Inaugurated the conference. |
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Land grabbing leads to clash MOGA, April 10 — Illegal grabbing of cultivable land by certain persons at Sukhanand village under the Baghapurana police station in this district, had led to a clash between two parties in which three persons, all sons of Channan Singh, of the village, were injured. Stating this here today, the General Secretary, PPCC Dr Malti Thaper, said a group of armed men of Sukhanand village harvested the entire crop of Channan Singh, whom she described as a Congress supporter, and then illegally occupied his land with the assistance of some policemen. She said if Channan
Singh's land was not vacated and handed over to him, her
party would launch an agitation. She demanded a probe
into the matter. |
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Kidnapped child found JALANDHAR, April 10 — The Nakodar police has found a child who had been kidnapped from his school on April 9. An FIR was also lodged against the three alleged kidnappers. The SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav, said here today that the kidnapped child, Abhishek, had been missing. This was reported by his mother to the police at 3.30 p.m. when he failed to reach home from his school, New Janta Model High School. A student of class II, Abhishek was kidnapped, according to him, in a white Maruti van by two men and a woman. The police sent information to railway stations, adjoining police stations, and put up nakas on all roads leading out of Nakodar. The child was abandoned near a guest house at Gahira village on the Nakodar-Jalandhar road. The SSP said the
registration number of the van had been determined. |
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All set for wheat
procurement LUDHIANA, April 10 — Official agencies in Punjab are all set to procure 70 lakh tonnes of wheat in the state this year. This was disclosed here today by the Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal. Talking to reporters, he said wheat arrivals had begun in certain mandis of the state, but harvesting on a big scale would commence only after Baisakhi. Nearly 1500 centres had been established for the purpose. In reply to a question,
he said about 50 lakh tonnes of wheat procured last year
was still lying in various godowns. Punjab was pressing
the Centre to expedite the movement of wheat from the
state. It had been assured that 14.5 lakh tonnes of wheat
would be moved out of the state through special trains
during April |
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Annual credit plan computerised LUDHIANA, April 10 — Ludhiana has achieved yet another first by computerising the annual credit plan (ACP) of the district. Launching the ACP for 1999-2000, Arun Goyal, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, said yesterday that a computerised ACP available on a floppy was a big step towards making credit planning need based. Now the ACP would be dynamic and upgradable throughout the year based on the changing credit needs. The policy of the sanctioning priority sector loans by a committee of the SDMs, bank managers and government agencies also shown good results last year. Sanctioning the disbursement of loans had been much faster during 1998-99 compared to the previous years. The annual credit plan
of the district amounting to Rs 1,313 crore has been
prepared by Punjab and Sind Bank under the guidance of Mr
H.S. Lamba, Zonal Manager, Ludhiana. Quantumwise there is
a net increases of Rs 157 crore over the previous year.
The share under the priority sector is Rs 908 crore which
includes Rs 432 crore for agriculture, Rs 362 crore SSI
and Rs 114 crore for the priority sector. Percentage
wise, it is a 22 per cent increase over the previous year
plan. |
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PSEB warns generator users HOSHIARPUR, April 10 — The PSEB has issued an order against the persons who are getting electricity supply from generators during power cuts imposed by the Board. In a press note issued
here yesterday, the Executive Engineer of the PSEB
(Operation) said the consumers who were getting power
from generators during power cuts should take the prior
permission from the Board within a month as per the
letter no 12/99 of the Board. He warned that action would
be taken against the defaulters. |
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Station masters to go on fast AMRITSAR, April 10 — The All-India Station Masters Association (AISMA) is going on an indefinite fast from April 14 in front of the residence of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. The PM had been the president of the association for 10 years. All station masters of Ferozepore division will wear badges and will observe a fast while on duty in support of their leaders who are going on indefinite fast. The central executive committee of AISMA directed all divisions and zones to start relay fasts at their respective headquarters from April 14. A press note issued by
Mr Harjit Paul, Secretary of the association, said it was
a matter of great concern that instead of providing a
solution the administration was introducing more
complexity by planning interpolation of other categories
in senior grades of station masters. |
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Teachers' demands PATIALA, April 10 — A number of teachers' groups of Punjabi University have demanded interest at the market rate on unpaid arrears of the revised pay scales along with all due payment in one instalment. The Teachers' Union
Front, Progressive Teachers' Forum, Centre for University
Teachers, group for Teachers, and Free Thinkers' Forum
have, in a joint statement, also demanded 15 per cent
house rent allowance. |
||
Gang of vehicle thieves
busted BATHINDA, April 10 — The police claims to have busted an inter-state gang of vehicle thieves with the arrest of Surjeet Singh of Teona village and Gurcharan Singh of Nathpura village. The SSP in a press note issued here today said that the gang was involved in the lifting of vehicles from Faridkot, Delhi, Haridwar, Hisar, Gurgaon, Rewari, Madhya Pardesh and Orissa. He said the gang members would hire a vehicle and make the driver unconscious by intoxicating or injuring him before taking away the vehicle. Two jeeps had been recovered from them, apart from two countrymade pistols and cartridges. The SSP said Surjeet
Singh was involved in two murders and a number of
criminal cases had been registered against him. He had
escaped from policy custody at Alwar (Rajasthan) when he
was being taken back to jail from court in 1997. |
||
Show-cause notices to oil
dealers GURDASPUR, April 10 — The Officer of The District and Food Controller has issued show-cause notices to wholesale kerosene dealers of Pathankot regarding the cancellation of their licences in view of the excess rate of transportation. The District Food and Civil Supplies Controller in a press note here yesterday said the lapse came to light when he inspected ration depots at Kalanaur, Dera Baba Nanak and Kotla Surat Malhi in March. Depot holders complained during the inspection that the whole sale dealers were charging higher transportation charges than fixed by the department and did not issue receipts. Meanwhile, the wholesale
dealers of Pathankot are on strike. |
||
Hand over land to school:
Dang AMRITSAR, April 10 — Mr Satya Pal Dang, CPI leader, has urged the Punjab Government to hand over the piece of land belonging to the state of Kashmir to Government School, Daimganj (Amritsar), after getting it vacated from influential persons who have allegedly encroached upon the prime land. In a letter written to the Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, Mr Dang said it was a matter of concern that the encroachment could not be cleared even though the question was raised by him in the Punjab Assembly when he (Mr Dang) was an MLA. The letter further alleged that a former Mayor of the local corporation had helped the encroachers. He claimed that the land was legally transferred to the Education Department of Punjab. On the other hand, the students and staff of Daimganj School were facing a lot of hardship due to inadequate space. Mr Dang alleged that the influential persons had even constructed a marriage palace apart from carving out residential plots in the adjoining land of the school at the behest of the then Mayor. It was done in violation of the status quo orders of the Punjab and High Court, he said. Mr Dang sought immediate
action against the culprits. |
||
Principals' conference AMRITSAR, April 10 — Academic Staff College of Guru Nanak Dev University will organise a two-day annual conference of principals of the affiliated colleges and senior academicians at Guru Nanak Bhavan Auditorium from April 19 here. According to the
Director of the conference, the conference will be
addressed by the Chairperson of the UGC, Dr A. Desai, and
other senior academicians from national institutes in
Delhi. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr Harbhajan Singh Soch, will
inaugurate the conference on April 19. |
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Banks refuse to accept soiled notes MOGA, April 10 — A large number of soiled currency notes are in circulation here and most of the shopkeepers and businessmen refuse to accept them. Currency notes of small denomination are mostly found torn. Certain banks too refuse to accept them from their customers causing great inconvenience. The Reserve Bank of India had directed the holders of soiled currency notes to get them replaced from the State Bank of India, but even they refused to accept these notes. Moreover, no new
currency of small denominations has also been issued by
ban |
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