Disabled job aspirants sent back
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25—Hundreds of handicapped aspirants for 100 Class posts advertised by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Punjab, who had come from distant parts of the state for their interview, were in for a rude shock when they were told by a peon at the Sector 34 directorate office that there will be no interview today.

Agitated over the 'indifferent attitude' of the higher officials of the department for putting them into trouble by not informing them about the postponement of the interview in advance, they blocked traffic at the Sector 34-35 intersection for more than two hours.

The candidates could be pacified only after a senior official of the directorate assured them that their interview would be held at the district headquarters later.

The candidates, in hundreds, had started converging on the directorate office even before 9 a.m., the scheduled time for interview. But on reaching the venue, they were shocked to be told by a peon that the interview stood cancelled.

Interestingly, there was no senior official around to make this announcement to the candidates, which was a major cause of resentment among the candidates, who sat on the road, shouted anti-Punjab Government slogans and blocked traffic for over two hours at the road dividing Sectors 34 and 35.

Airing his grievances, Yogesh Kumar, an aspirant, who had come from Amritsar, alleged that what had resulted in harassment and financial loss to the candidates was the way the candidates had been treated by the directorate authorities."They did not even bother to inform us in advance, which could have saved us a lot of trouble," he complained.

Mr Raj Kumar, another candidate from Malout, said if at all the directorate had called the candidates, it should have visualised their problems, particularly for their being handicapped. He said as he had to bring his caretaker along with him, he had to spend about Rs 500 on the travel expenses alone.

Similarly, Jasbir Singh, an ex-serviceman, who had lost his leg during the IPKF's mission in Sri Lanka, rued that he could reach the city with a great difficulty from Mehndipur near Hoshiarpur, his native village. "As I am jobless these days, I had to borrow Rs 200 from one of my relatives for the purpose of appearing in the interview, but I think it has been wasted due to the callous attitude of the authorities concerned," he said.

As Chandigarh police personnel made efforts to pacify them and make them clear the blockade, the candidates started shouting slogans such as "Punjab sarkar murdabad," and " Sehat vibagh murdabad."

While all this was happening, a constable tried to manhandle this correspondent saying, "What are you doing here?" and physically pushing him aside.The matter was resolved with the intervention of a DSP, who was on duty.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the directorate reached the office and assured the candidates that their interviews would be held at the respective district headquarters according to a revised schedule.

3-day carcasses spread stink
Villagers want 'Basera' shifted out
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25—The alleged delay in the removal of carcasses of three animals by the People for Animals from "Basera", the shelter run by the animal rights organisation at Khudda Ali Sher village, today sparked off a protest by the villagers. They alleged that the non-removal of carcasses for "days together" was leading to an unhygienic conditions in the village.

The village panchayat, in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, has demanded the removal of the hospital as the "filthy" conditions in it, "frequent" death of the animals, and lack of proper disposal of these could lead to outbreak of serious diseases in the village.

On the other hand, Ms Payal Sodhi, in charge of the local unit of the PFA, has alleged that the villagers were being provoked by a group of people working against the interests of the organisation. She however, confirmed the death of two animals, a cow and a calf, both "victims" of an accident.

The drama started around 10.30 a.m. when a group of villagers, including women, led by Mr Pal Singh, Sarpanch, gathered outside the animal shelter, held a protest and shouted slogans against the organisation. They alleged that no one from the organisation had bothered to remove the carcasses of "three animals", a cow, a calf and a dog, which had been lying there for the past three days, resulting in foul smell from these.

Mr Rachhpal Singh, a resident, while talking to the TNS, alleged that it was not for the first time that the dead animals were not removed for "days together," but was a routine affair at the shelter. "It is very difficult for us to live near the shelter. It is stinking all the time due to lack of cleanliness," he rued while adding that the shelter should be shifted to a place outside the village.

Mrs Sukhbir Kaur, who lives just next to the shelter, said it was a matter of concern that bodies of a calf and a cow had been lying there for two days, but nobody had bothered to take these away. She went to the extent of saying that three days back the officials of the organisation dumped carcasses of three dogs in a bin near the shelter.

Mr Manmohan Singh, also alleged that in the absence of a proper disposal system, dead animals lay there for days together.

When contacted, Mr Ran Bahadur and Mr Amrit, both officials of the organisation, confirmed that while the cow died last evening, the stinking body of the calf had been lying there for three days.

On the other hand, Ms Payal Sodhi, claimed that both the animals died yesterday. She claimed that the cow and the calf, both accident victims, were there for two and three days, respectively.

Mr Piara Singh, a member of the panchayat, alleged that the worst thing, which could lead to outbreak of diseases, on the part of the officials was that in the past they even used to dump dead animals, particularly, in the village pond. He alleged that if the shelter was not removed, the responsibility of outbreak of any serious disease in the village would be that of the UT Administration.

Ms Sodhi, maintained that there was nothing unusual about the death of the animals, "but the issue is being raked up unnecessarily by the villagers, as they are being provoked by a group of people," she said refusing to identify the particular "group".

She said the delay, if any, in the removal of the carcasses was due to the non-availability of the village "mochi", to whom the organisation had tried to contact a "number of times," after she was informed about the death of animals,"this morning".

PGI's baby care unit grows
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — With the inauguration of paediatric surgery services and the new operation theatre complex today, the Advanced Paediatric Centre of the PGI has added another feather to its cap.

While the paediatric surgery service was inaugurated by the PGI Director, Prof B.K. Sharma, the operation theatre was inaugurated by a former Director of the institute, Prof I.C. Pathak.

In his inaugural address, Professor Sharma said the role of the doctors had shifted from that of being involved in the composite well-being of the family to specialisation. The buzz word today was "to know and to do " and for this, the art of communication and handling people had become an important part of doctors' training, he added.

Professor Pathak, while tracing the history of paediatric surgery, said paediatric surgeons were very special as the skills and care required to keep a baby with surgical problems required great devotion.

However, it was very rewarding speciality as babies, who survived had the next 60-odd years of life to go on. No other branch of surgery could boast of such a long survival, he said , adding that the departmental results between 1970 and 1999 had shown great improvement in the quality of survival.

Prof K.L.N. Rao, Head of the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Advanced Paediatric Centre, PGI, hoped that the waiting list for routine operations would soon be a thing of past, keeping in view the increased bed strength and operation theatre timings which the new centre would provide to the community.

Professor Rao informed that with the commissioning of the new services, the first of its kind beyond Delhi, the number of beds would go up to 55 from the present 29 beds. Similarly, the strength of the total operating beds would go up from 6 to 10. Besides this, a reasonable amount of space would be provided to babies below one year and feeding mothers, he added.

He listed the services the department was providing to the community in terms of quality care, neonatal surgery, and tracheobronchial endoscopy for life-saving emergencies. Apart from this, the department provided expertise in areas like portal hypertension, biliary atresia, exstrophy bladder and complex urological problems.

Dr K.L. Narasimhan proposed a vote of thanks.

Later, Prof Ravi Kumar, President of the Indian Association of Paediatric Surgeons, said the association was working with a view to establishing an advanced paediatric centre at the district/taluka level to provide best facilities to the children.

He said the PGI was one of the earliest institutions to start the post-graduation in paediatric surgery and was one of the best institutes in the field of paediatric surgery.

Air Vice-Marshal N.B. Amaresh, Senior Consultant (Surgery), DGAFMS, Ministry of Defence, informed that the armed forces were planning to open five more advanced paediatric centres in the next three years. The armed forces had two centres in Delhi and Pune at present, he added.

Air Marshal Amaresh, who was trained in Australia, said the armed forces had not lagged behind as far as providing medical treatment to the wards of the armed forces personnel was concerned.

The doctors at the armed forces hospitals, who were trained at the PGI and AIIMS, were providing medicare to children on a par with the best hospitals in the country, he claimed.

Later, a continuing medical education programme was organised on "Interaction between institutional specialists and the community doctors" in which over 150 delegates participated.

Ante-natal diagnosis, management of congenital malformations, emergency care of surgical babies and pain relief were some of the topics discussed.

Three held for robbery
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, April 25 — According to the local police, the robbery, five months ago, at the house of an SDO of the Punjab Mandi Board in Sector 12-A here, was the work of an inter-state gang based at Uttar Pradesh.

The revelation was made today with the arrest of three persons of the eight-member gang by the CIA wing of the district police. All the gang members are 25 to 30 years of age. They were wanted in several cases of robbery, dacoity and violation of the NDPS Act, by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

One of the arrested persons, Iqbal, has been brought here on a production warrant from the Bijnour Central Jail where he was serving a sentence under the NDPS Act. He told the police that he along with his accomplice had come to attend the engagement ceremony of a gang member Salim's sister at Mani Majra.

The SP, Mr Alok Mittal, said a Mani Majra-based timber contractor, Nand Kishore, who had worked at the SDO's house, knew a gang member, Rajinder alias Babbu. During the latter's visit to Mani Majra, Nand Kishore reportedly told him that they would hit a jackpot if they struck at the SDO's house.

Rajinder, along with other gang members, who had come here in a taxi from Bijnour, planned the robbery. Salim was sent to inspect the house and he reported that no male member would be present there at the time of the strike. While Salim stood outside, other three robbers, armed with two country-made pistols and a knife, ransacked the house looking for jewellery and cash. The SDO's sister, Ms Satya Devi, was assaulted by the robbers.

The leader of the gang is reported to be one Khan. From the arrested gang members, Nand Kishore, Iqbal and Sarfaraz, the police has recovered jewellery worth at least Rs 15,000. The modus operandi of the gang is that one of the gang member, Salim opens a tailoring shop in the area where they plan to strike. Then they coordinate their activities from there.

Electoral rolls revised
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The first phase of revision of electoral rolls for the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency, concluded today at 524 polling stations set up all over the city.

Being a holiday today, the response was overwhelming at most of the centres where people turned up in large numbers to fill forms for inclusion and alteration of names in the voters’ list. At certain booths, the staff on duty had a hectic schedule. In some cases, particularly in rural areas and colonies people were not sure of their house numbers and age. The staff was of the view that in the case of those voters who had recently attained the age of 18 years, the Administration should have asked for their birth certificates.

The awareness about the exercise, which was undertaken on the directive of the Election Commission, was more today due to reports in the media and the word spread by neighbours. The second phase will be conducted on May 8 and 9 at these polling stations.

Toppers honoured at function
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The Guru Harkrishan Educational Society, Chandigarh, today held its annual function at Rotary Club, Sector 18, to honour the topper students of various universities. Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, was the chief guest at the function. He gave away prizes to 34 toppers in the field of engineering, medicine, and other professional courses.

The students honoured, from the states of Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka and Chandigarh, were given cash prizes of Rs 500 to 1,100 each, besides rolls of honour.

Dr Kalkat stressed the need for vocational education, and appreciated the role of the Society. The Founder Honorary Secretary of the Society, Mr A S Rawal, presented a report highlighting the work and achievements of the Society.

The list of students of the various Institutes who were honoured includes: Karam Singh Raju, Gurmit Kaur, Ankur Aggarwal, Zeenie Sarda, Prabhjot Kaur, Simarjit Kaur, Hemant Gupta, Manish Ahuja, Anuradha, Rajesh Kumar, Jagriti, Sukhmandir Singh, Ritu Aggarwal, Aarti Sabharwal, Monika Saproo, Jasmine Mann, Jatinder Singh, Arshvinder Singh Sehmi, Tejeshwar Singh, Punnet Kumar Gupta, Mandeep Singh Ghumber, Arashdeep Kaur, Gagandeep Kaur, Harkanwal Preet Singh, Kuldip Kaur, Arti Syal, Gurinder Kaur, Bhupinder Singh, Pardeep Singh, Baljit Kaur, Hanuman Prasad, S. Lakshmi Santhanam.

Tributes paid to Major
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, April 25 — Rich tributes were paid here today by a large number of persons to Major Harinder Pal Singh who laid down his life while fighting militants on April 13 in Kashmir valley.

Various speakers demanded that the Punjab Government should immediately start working on a memorial in Kharar in memory of the late officer.

Addressing the gathering at the Shradhanjali Samagam on behalf of 18, Grenadiers Battalion, Maj Joy Das Gupta said Major Singh would be a source of inspiration to the present and future armymen.

Mr S.S Gulati, Principal, Govt College, Mohali, declared that Major H.P Singh Memorial Award be instituted in the memory of the late officer.

Mr Tirlochan Singh Sidhu, former Principal of Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Kharar, demanded that the uniform of the Major should be preserved in the school so that it could be a source of inspiration to students.

A large number of politicians, including Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta, Mr Avtar Henry, Mr Harneik Singh Ghruan, Mr Mann Singh Manheda, addressed the gathering.

Mr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman, Punjab School Education Board, demanded that the widow of the late officer should be appointed Project Officer in the Board.

The Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Mr Kubir Singh Sidhu, and SSP Ropar, Mr Jaskaran Singh also paid tributes to the late officer and said the Administration would set up a memorial in his honour.

Award for city architect
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — City-based architect, Mr Surinder Bahga, has been selected for Michael Ventris Award for Architecture 1998. The Architectural Association of the UK confers this award annually to those architects who have made considerable contribution in the field of architecture and intend to do further research on a particular project.

The award for 1998 has been given to two architects — one from Sweden and other from India. Mr Bahga plans to carry out detailed research on the astronomy observatory at Jaipur. A graduate from Chandigarh College of Architecture, he has designed a large number of projects ranging from churches, tourist complexes, hospitals to urban design and landscape schemes.

He is recipient of several awards including Sir M Visweswaraya Award. He has also co-authored two books, Modern Architecture in India and New India Homes.

Importance of child health stressed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The fourth annual conference of the local branch of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) was held at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, here today.

Delivering the inaugural address, Director-Principal of the hospital, Prof VK Kak, while highlighting the importance of child health, exhorted the paediatricians to do their best to ensure a healthy future for nation’s children.

Dr Indira Duggal, President of the local branch of the IAP, highlighted the activities undertaken in Chandigarh under the auspices of the IAP last year.

Prof Veena Parmar, Head of the Department of Paediatrics of the GMCH, spoke on the importance of paediatrics in the medical curriculum.

Dr PSN Menon from the AIIMS, New Delhi, made two interesting presentations — one on the diabetes in children and two on how problems associated with precocious puberty could be handled by the paediatricians.

While Dr S Mohan of the PGI spoke on the early detection of squint in children, Dr Banani Poddar from the GMCH delivered a talk on the relevance of chicken pox vaccine in clinical practice.

Dr Savita Malhotra from the PGI spoke on the importance of early detection and treatment of psychiatric disorders in children. Prof Lata Kumar, also from the PGI, showed how chronic chest conditions could have clinical presentations.

In the afternoon, Dr Amita Trehan from the PGI spoke on the bleeding disorders in children. The meeting ended with a panel discussion on jaundice in new-born babies.

Over 70 paediatricians working in SAS Nagar, Panchkula and Chandigarh took part in the discussion. Dr Anil Narang took over as the president of the local branch for the year 1999-2000.

‘Anglo-Indian schools in the forefront'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — "Anglo-Indian schools are in the forefront of education and the motto of our association will be further promotion of education," stated Mr Neil O'Brien, President of the All-India Anglo-Indian Association and Chairman of the Indian Council of Secondary Education, at a get-together organised by the city chapter of the Anglo-Indian Association at St Stephens School in Sector 45, yesterday.

With 60 branches of the association all over the country, Mr Brien stressed the need of the association to make its presence felt. "Unless we organise ourselves into a body, our voice will not be heard. Each of us tends to drift apart. The organisation is a sign of the solidarity of our community and gives us the satisfaction that we can fall back upon somebody in our time of need," he said.

The local chapter is headed by the Principal of St Stephens School, Mr Harold Carver, and it has over 70 members. The annual meeting of the association is held once a year in Delhi.

The body undertakes charity work at the Missionaries of Charity regularly. Mr James Norman, Secretary of the association, said,"We are willing to help any other organisation if it is involved in doing some good job and working for social welfare.''

Speaking about the ICSE board, Mr Brien said that though there was a period when the number of schools opting for it was dwindling, but now about 40 schools were joining them each year. "The Central Board of Secondary Education is followed by private and government schools alike, while most of the private schools are affiliated to us and that goes to our credit," he said. He claimed that no school had left the board in the last five years.

About the changes in the syllabus to prepare students for the 21st century, he said that the board was working on evolving a flexible syllabus and the emphasis was on adding skill-based subjects to the curriculum. Besides having introduced many changes in the syllabus, the board had introduced subjects like environmental studies and yoga. "My motto has always been to think globally and act locally. I am taking what I find best in the syllabi prescribed by various boards and adapting those," he added.

Mr Brien said that the ICSE certificate was recognised in some countries like the United Kingdom, the United States of America and parts of Australia. He stated that though there had been a few changes in the last five years, a lot more were expected and this would be a continuous process.

Veteran athletes selected for world meet
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — Dharamvir Sharma in above-75-years category and Ms Bhupinder Banta Singh of Chandigarh in above-70-years category, in men and women sections, respectively, have been selected to take part in the 13th World Athletic championship for Veterans to be held at Gateshead (England) from July 29 to August 8. This was said in a press note of the Veterans Athletic Association of Chandigarh. Other veteran players of Chandigarh who have been selected for the championship on the basis of their performance in the recently concluded National Athletic Championship are: Shamsher Singh (above 75), Teja Singh (above 65), Amar Singh (above 75) Ajmer Singh (above 60), Kirpal Singh (above 60), Surinder Singh (above 55), Gurdial Singh Saini (above 50), Ramesh Chander (above 45), Charanpreet (above 40), and Hardeep Singh (above 40).

All the selected athletes have been advised to contact the General Secretary of the association.

15 get Prime Minister Life Saving medals
Tribune News Service

BHANU (Panchkula), April 25 — The five-day 42nd All-India Police Duty Meet came to a grand finale at the ITBP Basic Training Centre here this evening.

The Prime Minister Life Saving Medals were given to 15 personnel of various state police departments and central police organisations, while the Andhra Pradesh Police was presented the All Round Championship Trophy.

The highlight of the function was a fire works display, a judo demonstration in which recruits displayed their mastery by breaking slabs of ice, bricks, wooden planks, besides jumping through rings of fire. Hundreds of personnel, participants and their families, besides senior officers of the neighbouring states, witnessed the more than two-hour long ceremony marked by repeated applause.

The feats of Constable Tarsem Singh, who not only lifted a heavy wooden plough or pulled a loaded jeep with his teeth, made a motor cycle with three pillion riders pass over his chest, held the audience spellbound. A tattoo show, the last show of the day, was also appreciated by the audience. A “barakhana” held in the evening was attended by all participants and officers.

Earlier, Mr Gautam Kaul, DG, ITBP, presented the PMs Life Saving Medals to 15 persons, including a posthumous honour. The opening and closing ceremonies were held under the supervision of Mr N K Mishra, ADIG. As many as 33 teams comprising 1, 100 participants took part.

Mrs Sumitra Devi, young widow of Constable Shiv Mohan Singh Chauhan of Madhya Pradesh, received a medal. Her husband was electrocuted while saving lives of his three colleagues.

The gallant Chauhan was on sentry duty during the Jhule Lal Festival held at Gwalior when he saw a live wire from a power transmission line on a police jeep parked underneath. Without caring for his life or waiting for help, he himself threw the wire away and in the process was electrocuted.

Others who were presented awards include SI C Nageshwar Rao (Andhra Pradesh), Constable Mohannad Ishaq (Andhra Pradesh), SI Karim Miajee Bhai (Gujarat), HC S Chenniah (Andhra Pradesh), HC Ram Swarup (Uttar Pradesh), HC Puram Singh (BSF), Constable Boatman Daya Ram (BSF), L/Nk P Dev Rajan (CRPF), Rifleman Shastri Prasad Radha (Assam Rifles), Dr B S Nabiyal, Inspector Prem Singh, Constables Satish Chandra, Constable Hem Chandra and Constable Shishu Pal, all from the ITBP.

It was Rani, a Labrador of the Himachal Pradesh Police, who stole the ceremony with two gold medals adorning her neck and a graceful walk in the process earning the sobriquet, heroine of the meet. Her handler received the Best Dog Trophy.

The best shooter of the meet was Inspector Santokh Singh, Punjab Police, who was presented the Home Ministers Medal. He scored 234 points out of 240 points.

Other trophies presented on the occasion are: best team rifle shooting - ITBP, second best - Tamil Nadu, best team revolver/pistol shooting - BSF, second best - ITBP, best team rifle, revolver and pistol shooting - ITBP, second best - BSF.

The Best state police shooting team trophy went to Punjab.

Andhra Pradesh bagged the Scientific Aids winners and runners up trophies while the third prize went to Tamil Nadu.

Other awards presented are:scientific aids written test - SI T Sarkar (Andhra Pradesh), Scientific Aids Medico legal test oral - Inspector C H Rajaiah (Andhra Pradesh), scientific aids finger prints - SI Ashok Joshi (Madhya Pradesh), scientific aids foot prints - SI A Yakoob (Tamil Nadu), scientific aids observation test - HC M Ramakrishna (Andhra Pradesh), scientific aids portrait - HC Shiv Narayan Singh (Uttar Pradesh), scientific aids photography test - SI Anant Kumar (Andhra Pradesh), police photography winners - SI Satish Chukey (Madhya Pradesh), police photography runners up - N Shanmuga Nathan (Tamil Nadu).

Best team in computer awareness trophy was bagged by CRPF.

Worm found in tap water
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — A worm was yesterday found in the tap water of Subhash Nagar, Mani Majra.

Mr Ram Bhaj Sharma, President of the Social Welfare Association, contacted the Sub-Divisional Officer concerned and informed him of the incident. When Mr Sharma and Mr Surinder Kr Kaushik, General Secretary of the association, visited the water source, the munshi and the keyman on duty told them that there had not been any stock of medicine to be mixed in the water for the past two months.

The tank, which was the main source of water supply to the locality, was also open. Pigs were swimming nearby and this dirty water was getting mixed with the water supplied to the locality.

SNIPPETS

Arhtias' threat
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The Subzi Mandi Arhtias Association today threatened to launch a strike on April 30 if the traffic police did not stop towing away the vehicles loaded with fruits and vegetables, according to a press note issued by the association.

461 donate blood
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — As many as 461 Nirankari volunteers, including 106 women, donated blood at a camp here today.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr M. Ramsekhar, who was the chief guest, called for evolving a Chandigarh calendar of blood donation camps by involving all other NGOs with a view to ensuring a regular flow of blood for the needy in the medical institutions.

A spokesman of the Sant Nirankari Mandal said that a series of 100 blood donation camps was being held in the country during this year.

Indian engineering congress opens
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The two-day session of the 13th Indian engineering congress, organised by the Institution of Engineers-India (IEI), was inaugurated by Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), Governor of Punjab and Administrator of UT, Chandigarh, at Tagore Theatre here today. The theme of the congress, which is an annual event of engineers, technologists and scientists engaged in research and development, was ''information technology for sustainable competitiveness''.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that India had emerged as a strong player in the information technology industry, and gave a call to all the engineers to work on the concept of quality in industrial activities to attain a competitive edge in the world market. He said that the role of an engineer in the new cyber age was multi-dimensional and there was the need to broaden his perspective beyond the technical aspects.

While emphasising on the need for providing sustainable development in infrastructure in rural areas, the Governor said that all efforts were needed to be directed in preserving the delicate eco-system.

Earlier Dr M.P. Chowdiah, President, Institution of Engineers, spoke on the activities of the IEI. Dr Chowdiah talked about the challenges facing the engineers.

‘IITT strike related to HPU’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The management of the IITT College of Engineering at Kala-Amb in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh has said that the week-long strike by the students of the college was regarding the demands related to the Himachal Pradesh University.

The demands of the students were three chances to clear supplementary papers, revaluation of answer sheets by an independent agency, implementation of carry-over system with retrospective effect, grace marks upto five in each subject and special incentives for the engineering college.

A spokesman of the college said that the strike was not regarding the infrastructure at the college. He said that the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), which had approved the college, had recommended additional seats.

Yuva Morcha plea to President
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, April 25 — The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha has urged the President not to give any more time to parties to form the new government at the Centre.

Addressing newspersons here yesterday, a member of the Punjab executive body of the morcha, Mr H.S. Bhullar, and the president of the Ropar district unit of the morcha, Mr Arun Sharma, said the BJP-led coalition was defeated in the Lok Sabha by one vote but the Opposition had so far failed to form the government. The BJP and its allies, at the time of the voting, were still united while the Opposition was divided and had failed to muster the required support of MPs.

The two leaders said Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav wanted to “blackmail” the Congress to become the Prime Minister. On the other hand, the Congress itself wanted to grab power.

The youth leaders said if mid-term elections were thrust upon the people, Mr Yadav and the Congress would be responsible for that avoidable situation.

Mr Bhullar and Mr Sharma said Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee had many achievements as Prime Minister, including a solution to the Cauvery waters problem, the Pokhran blast and improvement in the relations with Pakistan.

Writers' conference ends
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The three-day All-India Conference of National Federation of Progressive Writers ended today with the announcement of an 'elaanama'.

Even though all the writers at the conference spoke in favour of the freedom of expression in whatever language a writer may write, today's winding-up session witnessed just the opposite of this. The writers said that they would issue an 'elaanama' and not a 'declaration'.

The 'elaanama' condemned the arms race in the sub-continent. The delegation from Pakistan said not only the arms race, but also the nuclear-arms race needed to be condemned. An amendment to this affect was passed today. A clause discussing the need to change the present system of education was also included.

An amendment that was passed said the old name of the conference, 'All-India Conference of Progressive Writers' would be restored since the new name 'All-India Conference of National Federation of Progressive Writers' was not much in use.

Namvar Singh was elected the Chairman of the conference. Various other writers were elected to the presidium, including Harcharan Singh and Santokh Singh Dhir.