Ancestral links with
Gurus
CHANDIGARH, April 19 — There are in Pakistan several Muslim families who have emotional and spiritual attachment with Sikhism for the past several generations.

JAC decides to boycott exams
JALANDHAR, April 19 — The joint action committee of management federations, principals' federation, the PCCTU and the PCNTEU of the Punjab and Chandigarh, at an emergency meeting held here today, decided boycott exams of all three universities in the state and stage a protest rally in front of the office of the Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, on April 26.

Bathinda in grip of water shortage
BATHINDA, April 19 — With the day-to-day rise in temperature, underground water pipelines are going dry in the city.

Crop failures swell tractor bazaars
TALWANDI SABO: Tractors, which had played a significant role in the Green Revolution have now acquired a more important role in the lives of poor peasants of Punjab reeling under heavy debts.

Law graduates in spot
BATHINDA, April 19 — Negligence on the part of the Punjabi University authorities has put the future of law graduates of the local Guru Kashi Regional Centre in the dark.

421 cr spent on hospitals’ modernisation
HOSHIARPUR, April 19 — The Punjab Health Minister, Mr Manoranjan Kalia today alleged that that Congress and its allies had created political instability in the country by defeating of the confidence motion in Parliament on Saturday.

SGPC meeting on April 28
AMRITSAR, April 19 — A crucial meeting of the executive body of the SGPC will be held here on April 28, according to its president, Bibi Jagir Kaur.

Slow payments irk arhtiyas
LUDHIANA, April 19 — Resentment prevails among farmers and arhtiyas at Asia's largest grain market at Khanna over the alleged failure of the official agencies to settle payments for the wheat procured.

Tohra working hard to break away MPs
By Gobind Thukral
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 19 — Senior Akali leader and former SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra is working hard to convince the Akali Lok Sabha members to break away from the BJP alliance.

Mr Tohra who is in Delhi meeting these MPs is confident that a good number of them will be convinced of the futility of the relationship with the the BJP. He is trying to take the help of the BSP leader, Mr Kanshi Ram, to convince these MPs that alliance with the third front and the BSP would be politically more helpful than the present arrangement. According to informed sources here, Mr Tohra has also met the CPM General Secretary, Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet, to understand the situation and chalk out his next line of action.

These sources also pointed out that Mr Tohra argued that the Akali Dal which represented a minority community had nothing to gain by aligning itself with the majority community party like the Bharatiya Janata Party. "Punjab has got nothing except lip sympathy from the BJP. Take issues like the river waters, Chandigarh, Udham Singh Nagar or even the fiscal help, what has Mr Vajpayee done for Punjab. In fact, the best Prime Minister for Punjab has been Mr Inder Kumar Gujral. So why not align with parties like the Janata Dal which have been sympathetic to the cause of Punjab and that of the Sikhs". This is his common refrain.

At present, according to the calculations of the Badal camp in the Akali Dal, Mr Tohra can muster the support of three Lok Sabha members. They are his ardent supporter, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur and now Mr Surjit Singh Barnala. Since Mr Barnala will no longer be a minister at the centre, he could play his cards more openly. He has repeatedly showed his displeasure vis a vis Mr Badal. First he criticised Mr Badal for lowering the status of the Akal Takht and then he spoke from the platform of Mr Tohra at Anandpur Sahib during the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa. Mr Tohra is also counting the Lok Sabha member from Ropar, Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal. But the Badal camp asserts that she will not join the Tohra bandwagon. "She is firmly with us", one senior leader here said.

In any case, the Badal camp concedes that three MPs could go. But then the question is will they break away and form another group. Under the anti-defection law, at least one third of the members are required to cause a legitimate split. The Akali Dal has eight members. This could happen as when required. But Mr Tohra is working hard to win over more. The defeat of the BJP-led government has made his efforts more easy.

But Mr Tohra at the same time is keen to do nothing to invite expulsion from the Akali Dal. Which in turn could force him to launch another party. He would continue to pull the strings from behind and deny his direct role. Mr Tohra is acutely aware of the fate of Akali Dal splitters from the mainstream Akali Dal. These end up as rumps. This gives Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the Chief Minister and Akali Dal President, added strength. But he is taking no chances and is keeping a close watch over all the Lok Sabha members.

Sikh judicial panel case for larger Bench
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 19 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today referred to a larger Bench the petitions filed by Mr Dara Singh and Mr Kashmira Singh, former members of the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission, contesting their removal from the commission and the reconstitution of a new commission.

Mr Justice G S Singhvi and Mr Justice Amar Datt, who handed down this order, observed: "Since the issues before us are of great importance and would necessarily require appraisal of the challenge to the Central Government's powers under Section 72 of the Reorganisation Act to issue directions amending the provisions of Sections 70, 71, 74, 79 and 80 of the Act in the light of the arguments that the Judicial Commission has not been deemed to be an inter state body corporate in the said Act and the term of the Judicial Commission's member in the light of the observations made in Gurdit Singh Aulack's case and other ancilliary matters, we deem it appropriate that these matters be considered by a larger Bench of more than three Judges and formulate law points for its consideration.

The petitioners had contended that the state government did not have the power either to remove any member of the commission or to reconstitute the commission. Therefore, their removal from the commission was illegal. Their contention was that the SGPC was an interstate corporate body and the commission constituted under the SGPC. Act was also interstate body. Therefore, the state government did not have any power to remove any member. The power to remove or appoint any member of the commission vested in the Central Government.

Ancestral links with Gurus
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 19 — There are in Pakistan several Muslim families who have emotional and spiritual attachment with Sikhism for the past several generations.

Of these two have actively been participating in Sikh religious functions in Pakistan and elsewhere.

One such family is of Rai Rasheed Ahamad Bhatti and the other of Rai Aziz Ullah Khan. Both Mr Bhatti and Mr Khan had specially come from Pakistan to take part in the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa on the invitation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the Anandpur Sahib Foundation and the Congress party.

Talking to TNS, Mr Bhatti, who was accompanied by his son, Mr Harun Bhatti, said he was an influential politician in Pakistan and at one stage close associate of Mrs Benazir Bhutto. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly in 1970 and elected as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1977 and 1988.

Mr Bhatti belongs to the 15th generation of Rai Bular, a landlord, who was a contemporary of Guru Nanak Dev, the found of Sikh faith. Rai Bular was impressed by the spiritual acts of the Guru and became his devotee. Later, Rai Bular's family donated 750 murabas (18,750 acres) of agriculture land to Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. The gurdwara has been built at the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev.

Mr Bhatti's family takes part in the religious procession whenever it is held at Nankana Sahib during the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak. Apart from this, the family also runs a community kitchen during religious functions there.

Striking teachers return datesheets
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, April 19 — A piquant situation arose as datesheets, fourth in less than a month, issued by Guru Nanak Dev University were either torn or sent back by the striking staff of colleges, leading to uncertainty over the conduct of examinations of over one lakh students in five districts affiliated to the university.

It is for the fourth time that the university has announced new dates for the examinations in less than a month. As per the first announcement, the exams of graduate and postgraduate students in the five districts (including the border belt) were to be held from March 24. The examinations were postponed to April 1. Due to the announcement of boycott of examinations by the teaching community, the examinations were again postponed to April 16. Now the university has despatched datesheets to as many as 110 centre in the five districts which says the examinations will be held from April 27.

To make matters worse, the Guru Nanak Dev University Non-Teaching Employees Association has announced that no member of the association will be on supervisory duty in place of the agitating teachers till their "genuine" demands are accepted.

According to official sources the staff at Kanya Maha Vidyalaya and Doaba College both in Jalandhar have returned the datesheets to the university. When contacted Dr R.S. Bawa, Registrar of the university, said it was difficult to conduct the examinations apart from evaluation of answersheets without the cooperation of the teaching community.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has postponed his crucial meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of various universities at Chandigarhs to take stock of the situation arising due to the indefinite strike by the teachers in the state.

Most college managements specially private colleges, have refused to hold the examinations in their premises due to the 5 per cent cut in government aid as mentioned in the state Budget.

JAC decides to boycott exams
From Our Correspondent

JALANDHAR, April 19 — The joint action committee of management federations, principals' federation, the PCCTU and the PCNTEU of the Punjab and Chandigarh, at an emergency meeting held here today, decided boycott exams of all three universities in the state and stage a protest rally in front of the office of the Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, on April 26.

Mr Ashwani Kumar Sharma, convener of the action committee, said the boycott had been forced on the teachers by the "indifferent and callous" attitude of the state government. He criticised the university authorities for doing little to redress the grievances of the college staff.

He said the three Vice-Chancellors could play a key role by initiating a dialogue with the state government for a reasonable settlement.

No principal or his representative would receive question papers/examination material, nor will the managements allow use of buildings for examination purposes, he added.

Bathinda in grip of water shortage
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, April 19 — With the day-to-day rise in temperature, underground water pipelines are going dry in the city.

In some areas for the past two days the taps have gone dry and people have started using underground water that has been declared unfit for human consumption, due to high fluoride content.

Official sources said that as against the demand of 60 lakh gallons of water in summer daily, the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) was capable of pumping about 29 lakh gallons a day only.

This is for the third consecutive time in the past two months that pipelines in the city have gone dry. There was not much of water available to the residents even in the month of February when the demand of drinking water is minimum.

Mr K.S. Momi, Executive Engineer, PWSSB said that unscheduled power cuts were the main hurdle in supplying potable drinking water to the residents. He added that the demand had gone up to 60 lakh gallons a day and there is possibility of further increase in its demand.

Mr Momi said that the local Municipal Council would instal two tubewells in the town to augment the water supply in certain areas. He added that numerous schemes were in the pipeline to meet the demand of people.

At present, the drinking water scarcity is severe in Birla Mill colony, Ajeet road, Power house road, Poojanwala Mohalla, Arya Samaj chowk, the court road and trans-railway colonies.

Mr Momi said that for the past 10 years the Punjab government could not do much to improve drinking water supply in the city. Most residential areas remained without water, he added.

Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhuller, President, Municipal Council said that a special feeder of electricity would be installed at the main waterworks to tide over the situation.

Seminar on Khalsa Panth
From Our Correspondent

FARIDKOT, April 19 — The Faridkot Heritage Society organised a seminar on "Emergence of Khalsa Panth and its historic prospects" here yesterday on the occasion of tercentenary celebrations.

Speaking on the occasion many scholars said the basic doctrine of the Khalsa Panth originated during the period of Guru Nanak Dev and the final shape was given by Guru Gobind Singh.

Eminent educationists and Hindi poet, Prof Suresh Vatsyanan also spoke on the occasion.

In his key note address Major General H.S. Gill called the philosophy of the tenth Guru a vibrant and dynamic force which lost its values due to weak leadership in the Sikh community.

He demanded a complete ban on the use of highest Sikh temporal seat Akal Takht and other holy shrines for political matters. Mr Gill appealed to the Sikh community not to indulge in petty matters, work for the strengthening of the Panth.

Dr Prithipal Singh Kapur, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, said Guru Gobind Singh created Khalsa to imbibe the spirit for fighting against injustice and to help the downtrodden.

Mr Gurtej Singh, another scholar, said it was a matter of pride for the residents of Faridkot that Guru Granth Sahib was translated in Punjabi first time by Giani Narayan Singh here in 1890. Earlier inaugurating the function, Deputy Commissioner Gurinder Singh Grewal appealed to the people for spreading the message of the tenth Guru.

Among others who spoke on the occasion include retired principals Mr Sohan Singh and Mr Hans Raj Jain and Mr Harinder Singh, president of the society.

Offerings totalled Rs 1.84 crore
Tribune News Service

ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 19 — Lakhs of pilgrims who participated in the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa from April 1 to 18 offered Rs 1.84 crore as offerings at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, while paying obeisance.

The devotees also offered 141gram of gold, 218 gram of silver, dollars and pounds in the "Golak" (money box) placed at the Takht. The SGPC authorities have also received a large amount through cash receipts.

Talking to TNS here today, Mr Balkar Singh, manager of the Takht, said the pilgrims offered "Karah parsad" worth Rs 39 lakh. On April 14 alone, the pilgrims offered "karah parsad" worth Rs 5,93.000.

At least 54,000 persons were baptised from April 4 to 18.

Crop failures swell tractor bazaars
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

TALWANDI SABO: Tractors, which had played a significant role in the Green Revolution have now acquired a more important role in the lives of poor peasants of Punjab reeling under heavy debts.

The farmers, whose well-being has been absolutely shattered due to repeated failure of the cotton and paddy crops over the past few years, are selling their "friendly companions" in tractor bazaars organised in the nook and corner of Punjab to repay their mounting debts.

The size of tractor bazaar is swelling continuously as more and more tractors are coming to these markets for sale. The local tractor market and that of Barnala have perhaps become the biggest markets in the state.

Every Wednesday, a "sea" of tractors are brought here by their owners for selling them off to generate much-needed cash for meeting their day-to-day requirements and to repay their debts to banks and commission agents.

With banks shutting their doors and commission agents refusing to advance more loans, farmers, especially in the Malwa region, have been left with no other alternative than to sell off their farming aid which has become unpopular for them in the prevailing circumstances.

Farmers have even started hoodwinking banks by disposing of their new tractors, taken on loans, in these bazaars at rates much below showroom prices through underhand deals.

Joginder Singh of Jodhpur village who was standing with his tractor in this market told TNS that the tractor was the only tool which could generate a substantial amount to meet his requirements. he now preferred to hire a tractor for farming.

Another farmer, Nachhattar Singh of Kuttiwal village said that the cotton and paddy crops had repeatedly failed and he was reeling under heavy debt. He was selling off his machine to repay his debt.

In the local market, where about 10,000 tractors come every Wednesday to exchange hands, the transmission system is well organised. The commission agents take Rs 1000 from each party if the tractor fetches more than Rs 1 lakh and Rs 500 from each party if it fetches less than Rs 1 lakh.

Traders belonging to Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh come here for buying tractors at cheap rates. Thousands of people from these states have made the sale and purchase of tractors on a commission basis their full-time occupation.

Mr Kattar Singh Jeeda, president of the Northern India Cotton Growers Association, pointed out that the skyrocketing of tractors from a mere hundred to 10,000 in this market was strong evidence of the fact that middle, small and marginal farmers had been trapped in the vicious circle of mounting debt.

A survey of the market revealed that if this trend continued then a substantial number of tractors would go out of Punjab, which was known for its intensive agriculture and had largest number of tractors in the country.

Law graduates in spot
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, April 19 — Negligence on the part of the Punjabi University authorities has put the future of law graduates of the local Guru Kashi Regional Centre in the dark.

More than 100 students who passed a three-year degree course from the centre in the previous session, were shocked when the Bar Council of India refused to enrol them as advocates.

Official sources said the three-year law degree course was started here in 1995-96 by Punjabi University without prior approval from the Bar Council of India.

The university authorities continued to admit students without making any efforts to seek approval from the Bar Council.

Students alleged that they are suffering due to the negligence of the university authorities and they have been left to take up the case with the Bar Council on their own.

They point out that letters by the Bar Council to the Registrar, Punjabi University, Patiala, Guru Kashi Regional Centre, and the Law Department, say the students with LL.B degrees from the Regional Centre are not eligible for enrolment as advocates.

The students say their future is in danger and if they are not allowed to practise as advocates they will be on the roads.

Dr S.S. Bhatti, Director, Guru Kashi Regional Centre, when contacted, said he had written to the Dean, Law faculty, Punjabi University, Patiala, asking him to take up the matter with Bar Council of India in a positive way so that the future of the students could be saved.

He, however, said admission to law courses at this centre should not have done by the authorities concerned without the prior approval of the Bar Council.

421 cr spent on hospitals’ modernisation
From Our Correspondent

HOSHIARPUR, April 19 — The Punjab Health Minister, Mr Manoranjan Kalia today alleged that that Congress and its allies had created political instability in the country by defeating of the confidence motion in Parliament on Saturday.

Talking to media persons here, Mr Kalia said that during the previous elections, people gave a mandate to the BJP and its allied parties to rule the country and to the Congress and others to perform the role of Opposition.

However, he charged that the Congress and other parties violated the mandate.

The prevailing political instability would badly affect the economy of the country, he urged to the President to invite only a party which has decisive majority to form a government with a written support of other parties.

Replying to a question he claimed that the fall of Vajpayee Government at Centre would not affect the Punjab government in any manner.

To improve the health services in the state, additional and renovation work had been completed at all civil hospitals with financial help of Rs 421 crore from the World Bank.

Modern and latest equipment had been installed at all civil hospitals with the World Bank funds.

All vacant posts of doctor had been filled with the recruitment of 750 doctors recently. Besides, 350 nurses were being recruited.

Later, Mr Kalia participated at a function organised by the Arya Pradeshik Sabha Punjab at Bajwara in connection with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Hans Raj.

SGPC meeting on April 28
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, April 19 — A crucial meeting of the executive body of the SGPC will be held here on April 28, according to its president, Bibi Jagir Kaur.

Talking to TNS, she said all pending issues, which could not be taken up at the previous meetings due to the tercentenary celebrations, would be taken up. To a specific question whether the dismissal of Bhai Ranjit Singh, suspended Jathedar of Akal Takht, too, would take place at the meeting, she refused to divulge the details.

According to sources, the proposed meeting would also discuss issues relating to the alleged misappropriation of gurdwara funds, apart from "illegal" appointments by the previous house headed by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

Slow payments irk arhtiyas
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, April 19 — Resentment prevails among farmers and arhtiyas at Asia's largest grain market at Khanna over the alleged failure of the official agencies to settle payments for the wheat procured.

Mr Ranbir Sood, general secretary, Arhtiya Association, Khanna, said today that official agencies including the FCI, Markfed, Punjab Agro, Punjab Warehousing and the Food and Supplies Department appeared to have run out of funds. Therefore, these were going slow in making payments. This was creating serious problems of procurement at the mandi.

Till yesterday, out of a total of 5.69 lakh quintals of, 5.50 lakh quintals had been procured by official agencies. Private traders procured 18,600 quintals.

The procurement rate varied between Rs 550 to Rs 622 per quintal.