Sunday, April 18, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Sunday, April 18, 1999 |
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DC's
'negligence' helped rapists Mother tongue, the easy language |
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 AmritsarBathinda Chandigarh Ludhiana Mansa Phagwara Patiala
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Students
at the receiving end
Anti-Badal protests planned Gurus used Brij to 'unite' people Raise in limit for free legal aid
Reserve staff sent on exam duty Flying squads to check market fee
evasion Teachers threaten to intensify
stir Police 'perusing' Mann's speech |
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DC's 'negligence' helped
rapists AMRITSAR, April 17 — The veteran CPI leader, Mr Satya Pal Dang, in a strong indictment of the local administration, has alleged that the local Deputy Commissioner through "wilful" negligence helped rapists of a young student to go scot-free. Mr Dang, in a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, copies of which were released to the press here, said a minor girl learning kirtan at a religious dera nearby had been allegedly raped by close relatives of the dera chief last year and a case registered with the local police station. The letter said the CPI leader had requested the SSP to investigate the case after the girl was sent to a nari niketan. An inquiry was instituted by the former secretary of the Local Bar Association who acquitted the accused on the benefit of doubt. Not satisfied with the outcome of the inquiry, the District Attorney recommended filing of an appeal by the state, but the Director, Litigation, Chandigarh, said it was not fit case for the same. Mr Dang in his letter said he suspected the Director, Litigation, had declined the request for "extraneous" reasons. A representation was made by the patron, of Punjab Istri Sabha, Mrs Vimla Dang, to the Advocate-General, seeking filing of the appeal at an early date. Mr Dang lamented that an application was made to the Deputy Commissioner on March 11, 1999, by the counsel for permission to see the victim at the nari niketan to get her the power of attorney which was necessary for filing the appeal. Mr Dang alleged that the permission was "deliberately delayed" to protect the accused. The last date for filing the revision appeal was April 9, but the file was kept rotating among local officials till April 8 in spite of the best efforts of the advocate. Hence the appeal could not be filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Reacting to the charge, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, told the Tribune reporter that he had allowed the counsel to meet the girl at the nari niketan to get her signatures. He asserted that since
he had no role to play in the filing of the appeal, it
was for the counsel or the parents to ensure the
application was moved in the High Court. |
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Mother tongue, the easy
language BATHINDA: Nobody can learn a language other than one's mother tongue easily. The mother tongue is learnt-very fast, while one has to waste a lot of energy to learn another language." This was stated by Padamshri Prof. Gurdial Singh at a seminar on the topic of "School-medium of education" organised by Baba Farid Public School recently. He said due to the wrong language policy of Punjab as well as the Central Government, the country was suffering heavy losses. In Punjab alone, only three lakh students out of a total of 23 lakh reached upto Class X. Due to lack of planning in the education system, the number of educated unemployed youth had been increasing day by day, he added. Dr S.P. Gupta, former Principal, Education College, Faridkot, in his paper read on the occasion said if children would be imparted education in a language other than their mother tongue, they would be rendered unfit to convey their feelings, view, desires, expectations and goals. Dr Jit Singh Joshi, an eminent educationist, in his address stressed the point that personality could be developed only through one's mother tongue. Dr T.R. Vinod, former Director, Punjabi University Regional Centre, in his speech said people who claimed that modern knowledge could not be attained in one's mother tongue were telling a lie. Prof Gurbachan Singh Naruana advocated that education should be imparted in mother tongue from the primary level up to the university level. Prof Rupinder Mann said the medium of instruction upto the eighth standard should be the mother tongue. Mr Mantar Singh Brar, MLA, while differing from other speakers said the mother tongue should be given priority and the required honour in the imparting of education, but the English language should also be continued in school in view of present needs. Mr Gurmit Singh
Dhaliwal, Principal (retd), Dr Ajitpal, story writer, Mr
Attarjit, Principal Suresh Gupta, Principal Sukhdev Singh
and Mr Surinder Preet Ghaniya also spoke at the seminar. |
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Students at the receiving end CHANDIGARH, April 17 — Call it complacency on the part of the Punjab Government or obstinacy of its finance department; indifference of the vice-chancellors of the state's universities or obduracy of the managements and principals of non-government aided colleges. The fact remains that undergraduate students, awaiting the commencement of annual examinations, are the victims. There exists a possibility that some postgraduate exams may also be affected. Besides regular students, others waiting for yet another set of date-sheet include campus, correspondence students and private candidates. The step taken and the timing of the protest chosen by the federation of managements and principals is unfortunate; it is tantamount to blackmailing of the government and holding students to ransom. Those who have held up the examinations are demanding, among other things, release of two years' (1997-99) salary, grant of Rs 22.34 crore and restoration of 5 per cent cut sought to be imposed on 95 per cent deficit grant-in-aid, which is committed under the act to the colleges. The most-hit will be colleges located in semi-urban and rural areas. In fact 70 per cent of the colleges are in such areas in Punjab. Moreover the cut imposed is on the salary component and in no way ensures check on wasteful expenditure. Agreed the government outgo of money is rather hedge. But then there is no rationalisation of the tuition fee and the funds collected by colleges managed by private organisations dominated as these are by one or the other political party. The TNS learns that private managements reveal only the tuition fee and not the money collected by way of exorbitant funds. This the government finds irksome. In the absence of accountability, lack of transparency in financial management persists with vengeance. Here it is pertinent to say that the privately managed colleges in rural areas are incapable of manipulating funds. The number of students is also less. Still lesser is the paying capacity of the students who come from middle and lower middle class families. If the problem is not handled in time, it will snowball into a major crisis, says a former general secretary of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union, Mr Charanjit Chawla. Tracing the genesis of the problem he said had the two years' salary money — Rs 22.34 crore been paid and 5 per cent cut on salary component not imposed, there would have been no problem. The president of the Panjab University Teachers' Association, Dr Satya Pal Gautam, blames the political executive for the stand-off because of electoral compulsions. He is unhappy the way some "money making" and some "money losing" colleagues are being run. It is the middle class which feels the pinch. Some parents who dish out hefty sums by way of donations etc. at school level are shy of paying a higher fee and funds at the college and university levels. Why not ask all students to produce fee receipts of school-time while seeking admission? "struggle of the present type, where students are suffering, is no way," he added. Negotiations with the
Chief Secretary have failed. With political crisis in New
Delhi and internal contradictions within the ruling
combine (SAD-BJP) in Punjab, one wonders whether the
Chief Minister will have time and inclination to sort out
the issues involved. Frustration and anxiety-neurosis
grips the students. |
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Over 3,500 houses not
allotted BATHINDA, April 17 — More than 3,500 houses worth Rs 18 crore built under the "home for homeless" scheme in 1997-98 by the Punjab Government are lying unoccupied as they have not been allotted to beneficiaries so far. The scheme was introduced by the SAD-BJP combine government for providing houses to those belonging to the Scheduled Castes and who were living below the poverty line. In the Budget of 1997-98, Rs 60 crore was earmarked for the construction of 12,000 such houses in all 17 districts of the state. However, due to financial crises, the Punjab Government could build only 7,862 houses by cutting down the budgetary allocation to Rs 44 crore reducing the target to 8,800 houses. Official sources said up to January 31, 1999, the government had allotted only 4,124 houses out of the total 7862 to the beneficiaries. The rest of the houses were lying unallotted. Official figures revealed that only 78 houses had been allotted to the beneficiaries out of the total 870 houses constructed under the scheme in Amritsar district up to January 31, 1999. Similarly, 57 houses out of the total 416 had been allotted in Jalandhar district. The figures further showed that up to January 31, 1999, not a single house out of the total 395 houses was allotted in Muktsar district. However, all 458 houses constructed in Bathinda district had been allotted. Interestingly, the Punjab Government withdrew the scheme in 1998-99 and introduced a new scheme for granting a loan of Rs 25,000 to the beneficiaries. Under the "home for homeless" scheme, the government had to spend Rs 50,000 on constructing a house as the land was to be provided by the village panchayat. Under the new scheme, it decided to give Rs 25,000 as loan to the beneficiary against his own plot. Mr Hardev Arshi, CPI
leader, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, talking to TNS alleged that
pro-Scheduled Caste policies of the government were being
withdrawn one by one. He added that only 2500 Scheduled
Caste families in the state could get the facility of 30
units of power free of cost. |
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Kashmiri ultras behind blast? AMRITSAR, April 17 — The bomb blast which rocked the thickly populated lane in the walled city last night has once again brought alive memories of the dark days of the militancy in the state. The crude device exploded near the telephone exchange in the Katra Jaimal Singh in the vicinity of residential and commercial complexes at about 8 p.m. Two persons were reportedly injured. Police and intelligence officials are trying to piece together the remnants of the crude device with the help of forensic experts and Army bomb disposal squads especially summoned from Chandigarh to determine the damage caused in the houses nearby. Although, the police remains tight-lipped about the identity of the outfit responsible for the blast, according to reliable intelligence sources, the hand of Kashmiri militants is suspected. Local hoteliers have been asked to be careful about those checking in and report to the police in case of any doubt. Residents of Ganj Dimori were today in a state of shock with glass, furniture, electric fittings and other household items laying scattered all over the place. A Tata Sumo bore the brunt of the explosion. Last month, on the eve of kar sewa near the Durgiana Temple, a similar blast damaged the outer wall of the nearby Ayurvedic College. The police has yet to establish the explosive used in that blast and trace the culprits. Meanwhile, the Deputy
Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Dr Baldev Chawla, BJP
MLA Laxmi Kanta Chawla and local Congress leaders have
condemned the blast and sought an independent probe into
the incident. |
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Central govt fall CHANDIGARH, April 17 — The fall of the Vajpayee Government in Delhi today will have its effect in Punjab. The anti-Badal Akali axis in Punjab was eagerly awaiting the defeat of the BJP Government in Parliament to gear up a campaign against Mr Badal. Informed sources said that the Bhai Ranjit Singh, the suspended Jathedar of Akal Takht, who has provided a platform to anti-Badal Akali factions and leaders to come together, had many aces up his sleeve to launch a religio-politico movement against Mr Badal in the state. Bhai Ranjit Singh while addressing a conference organised under his patronage by the Sant Samaj at Anandpur Sahib on April 14 had not only questioned the Shiromani Akali Dal's alliance with the BJP at the Centre but also asked what Punjab had gained out of it. Leaders like Mr Kuldeep Singh Wadala speaking at the conference had stated that there would be no problem in tackling Mr Badal at the political level after the fall of the BJP Government in Delhi. According to the sources, a programme has already been chalked out to launch a struggle against Mr Badal and his government in the state. Bhai Ranjit Singh has already fixed a deadline that he will accomplish his task of "liberating" Akal Takht from Akali religio-politico institutions by the end of next Baisakhi. The sources said that in the first phase to mobilise people against the Badal Government in the countryside, rallies would be held at the native places of important pro-Badal Akali and SGPC leaders. The first rally is expected to be held against Mr Badal at his native village, Badal. Likewise, rallies are likely to be held at the villages of those executive members of the SGPC who played a crucial role in the suspension of the Jathedar of Akal Takht. While talking to mediapersons, Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi, chief organiser of the Sant Samaj and crucial supporter of Bhai Ranjit Singh, had stated at Anandpur Sahib that Sant Samaj would build up such a people's movement in the state that it would make Mr Badal "perish" politically. The sources averred that
the Akali faction led by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann would
not be included in the campaign against Mr Badal by the
Sant Samaj. The announcement with regard to Khalistan
made by Mr Mann at Anandpur Sahib from Sant Samaj's stage
was not liked by Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi, Mr Gurcharan
Singh Tohra and others. They had to condemn Mr Mann's
statement by saying that it was a personal view of Mr
Mann and not of the conference or its organisers. |
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Gurus used Brij to 'unite'
people AMRITSAR, April 17 — The Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Dr A. Desai, expressing concern over the "denegration" of values, today exhorted the teachers to inculcate "moral and social values" in their students. Presiding over a national seminar on "Dasam Granth — pride of Indian culture" organised by the Department of Hindi, Guru Nanak Dev University, here, Dr Desai said universities could not remain isolated from society. Hence, the teachers should not remain confined to classrooms and work for the betterment of society. The seminar was organised by the university as part of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa Panth. She said Guru Gobind Singh wrote "Dasam Granth" in Brij, a language widely used by religious leaders of medieval India. She said Guru Gobind Singh adopted this medium and before him, all Gurus expressed their thoughts in Brij. She was of the view that the use of Brij was motivated at uniting the people of India in their fight against imperialism and tyranny. Earlier, Dr H.S. Soch, in his inaugural address, said the year of the tercentenary of the Khalsa Panth was time for introspection. The community should identify its shortcomings and remove these. Dr Soch said Guru Gobind Singh not only created the Khalsa, but also gave a new value system and it was the foremost duty of the Khalsa to protect this. He said the Guru sent five Sikhs to Varanasi to acquire knowledge in Sanskrit. They were afterwards called "nirmale". Thus, Guru Gobind Singh worked throughout his life to unite the nation. Dr Soch announced that Guru Nanak Dev University had decided to establish Guru Nanak Heritage Centre on the pattern of Sarnath Institute. Dr K. Paggarwal, an eminent Hindi scholar of Lucknow University and Vice-Chairman, National Sikh Sangat, said whereas a narrow outlook divided humanity, a liberal attitude, on the other hand, united hearts. Dr Kunwar Pal Singh from Aligarh, Dr Devinder Sarupo, Dr Harmohinder Singh Bedi, Prof Suresh Seth, Dr Kuntalmegh, Dr Rattan Singh Jaggi, Dr Inder Pal Singh, Pro Vice-Chancellor, and Dr Satinder Singh, Dean, Academic Affairs, also spoke. Dr Suresh Seth, a distinguished Hindi writer, released a book entitled "Guru Gobind Singh Aur Punjab Ka Hindi Vir Sahit" on the occasion. Dr Soch honoured Prof
Desai, Prof K.P. Aggarwal, Prof Kunwar Pal Singh and Prof
Devinder Sarup by presenting each a set of university
publications. |
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Raise in limit for free legal
aid MANSA, April 17 — The annual income limit of any person seeking free legal aid from the Punjab State Legal Services authorities will be increased from Rs 18,000 to Rs 30,000 shortly. While stating this at a function organised in connection with the inauguration of a permanent Lok Adalat here today, Mr Justice H.S. Brar, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Executive Chairman, Punjab State Legal Services said a proposal had been prepared for increasing the annual income limit and it would be sent shortly for the approval of the Cabinet. He said the scheme of permanent Lok Adalat and Free Legal Aid Council introduced under different provisions of the Constitution for the economically weaker sections of society had made justice for the deprived sections of society a reality. While giving details of the scheme, he pointed out that earlier, the judges used to collect cases which were regular in their respective courts to be decided in the Lok Adalat. This practice had been checked to a large extent. He added that all members who were associated with the working of a permanent Lok Adalat had been asked to make sincere efforts for creating an atmosphere of compromise between the disputing parties. He said a permanent Lok Adalat could be used even at the pre-litigation stage. Mr Justice Brar also pointed out that station house officers (SHOs) of Police Stations could play a vital role by referring the disputes which were of small nature to the permanent Lok Adalat, thus saving the litigants from other problems. He added that the panchayats also could use the services of the Lok Adalat. He said a permanent Lok Adalat would be set up throughout the state to provide speedy and cheaper justice to all. He added that in this district the duration of permanent Lok Aalat, which was the 14th in state, would be increased according to the increase in the number of cases. Mr Justice Iqbal Singh, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, who presided over the function, said the Lok Adalat justice accessible to all people. Mr H.S. Bhalla, District and Sessions Judge, said application under the Free Legal Aid Council were being processed at a fast speed and applicants were being given legal aid according to the requirement in this district without any delay. Mr Sanjay Kumar, Deputy
Commissioner, said the district administration would
contribute a lot in the success of the Lok Adalat. Mr Raj
Kumar Garg, President, Bar Council, proposed a vote of
thanks for the chief guests. |
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Bank defrauded of over 8 lakh PHAGWARA, April 17 — A couple reportedly defrauded a local bank of over Rs 8 lakh. A case under Sections 420 and 120-B, IPC, has been registered against the couple. The couple had issued cheques in the name of a foreign company which turned out to be bogus. they continued to cheat the bank by getting overdraft. Hailing from a nearby village, they are settled in UK. Meanwhile, two migrant labourers were cheated of Rs 16,500 by a man at the local railway station. The trickster reportedly
offered his services to buy tickets for them and to get
the balance "recorded" on the tickets. |
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Reserve staff sent on exam duty PATIALA, April 17 — Punjabi University today managed to conduct post-graduate examinations with the help of reserve staff at two centres — Government College for Girls here and Ripudaman College (Nabha) — where examiners did not report for duty in response to the boycott call given by the Punjab Government College Teachers Association. Dr Ram Murti Goel, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and Mr Paramjit Singh Khaira, Controller of Examinations, said the university had sent the reserve staff at all centres this morning as alternative arrangement for possible interruption in the conduct of the examinations. Dr PS Bhatti, President, Punjab Government College Teachers Association, said the teachers would continue the boycott till the state government accepted the demand for uniform age of superannuation for university and college teachers, payment of arrears, and counting of past service in the "feeder" grade. Dr Bhatti said if the
university had managed to conduct the examinations today,
it did not matter much as no teacher would be available
for evaluation of answersheets. A final decision in this
matter would be taken at a meeting of the co-ordination
committee of university and government college teachers
next week. |
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Flying squads to check market
fee evasion CHANDIGARH, April 17 — Mr Mall Singh Ghumman, Chairman, Punjab Agriculture Marketing Board, said here today that seven flying squads had been constituted to check the evasion of market fee in the state. He said he would himself head one of the flying squads. Warning corrupt officials, he said strict action would be taken against them while honest officers would be rewarded. The revenue earned from the sale and purchase of farmer's produce was being spent on the development of mandis and pucca link roads. While interacting with district mandi officers and secretaries of market committees, Mr Ghumman said there would be no problem in the lifting the sold produce from mandis. Mr P.S. Aujla, Secretary, Punjab Agriculture Marketing Board, said there had been a 22 per cent increase in the income of the board last year. There were 1,400
purchase centres duly equipped with facilities like
water, electricity, etc. He expected an amount of Rs 82
crore as income from market fee in the current rabi
season. |
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Teachers threaten to intensify
stir AMRITSAR, April 17 — A meeting of the All-India Federation of University Teachers Association (AIFUTA) Zonal Council held here today was critical of the dilatory tactics adopted by the Punjab Government in granting the revised pay scales to the academic staff of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The council decided to further intensify its struggle if its demand was not met. It also condemned the Punjab Government for imposing a massive cut in the grants to the universities and colleges in the state. The council urged the governments of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to implement the revised pay scales for university teachers in their respective states before April 30. The next meetings of the council would be held in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana to chalk out a course of action. It submitted a
memorandum to Prof A. Desai, Chairperson, UGC, who
visited Guru Nanak Dev University today, demanding
withdrawal of the "misleading" clarifications
issued by the centre on March 24. |
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Police 'perusing' Mann's speech LUDHIANA, April 17 — The Punjab Police is studying the speech delivered by the Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, during a function to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib in the course of which he reportedly raised the demand for Khalistan. This was disclosed here today by the Director-General of Punjab Police, Mr Sarbjit Singh, in a talk with newspersons. He said the police was trying to obtain a transcript of his speech. It would be studied to see if it infringed any law of the land. Mere newspapers reports could not form the basis for any action. In reply to a question, he said he did not expect any "negative fallout" of the current political strife in the ruling Akali Dal on the law and order. The situation was well under control. He noted the
tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib
which was the mega event of the century passed off
peacefully without any hitch despite the fact that an
unprecedented 70 lakh people were estimated to have taken
part. Besides, there were a number of visits by the VIPs,
including the Prime Minister and the Vice-President. He
said a total of 61 kg of RDX had been seized in the state
in the first quarter of this year. Of this, 32 kg was
seized from Pathankot, 9.5 kg from Shambhu and 4.5 kg
from Sirhind. |
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Murder case solved, three
arrested JALANDHAR, April 17 — The police has solved the murder case of Lekh Raj, a cook in the Punjab Armed Police, with the arrest of three persons. According to the police here today, the murder was committed by Asha Rani, wife of the deceased, Heera Singh and his associate, Rakesh. Sources said the body of Lekh Raj was found on April 14. It bore strangulation marks and injuries on the face and neck. Asha Rani had alleged in
an FIR registered that her husband was not getting along
well with his younger brother, Charanjit Singh. |
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Move to reopen Nirankari
case? AMRITSAR, April 17 — Will the Tohra-Nirankari issue be re-opened? The Sikh clergy is still undecided. A debate has been going on among Sikh scholars whether the clergy can do so or not. The then Jathedar, Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, now under suspension, had bailed out Mr G.S. Tohra from the charge that he had visited Nirankari Bhavan in Patiala during Parliament elections to seek votes for his protege, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, on the pretext of lack of "concrete evidence". Bhai Ranjit Singh had claimed that Capt Amarinder Singh, Congress leader, had not been able to substantiate his charge. According to sources, the Badal camp has been trying to re-open the Tohra-Nirankari case. The sources point out that senior leaders in the Badal camp feel that with the re-opening of the case, he (Mr Badal) will kill two birds with one stone. Both Bhai Ranjit Singh and Mr Tohra can be "defamed" publicly. However, a section of
the Badal camp opine that the chapter should not be
re-opened as it will generate yet another controversy. |
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