Wednesday, April 28, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Wednesday, April 28, 1999 |
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Badal
expresses reservations |
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Inside
resistance to tax reforms Tohra loyalists form new YAD
Nankana Sahib Trust dissolution
stayed SAD snaps alliance
Rights panel notice to police Filling up of Durgiana Mandir tank
starts Sangrur residents face acute water
shortage Mental inmates face starvation Sow paddy late, urge rice millers Minister reviews wheat purchase Ramoowalia welcomes mid-term poll PPCC threatens to block traffic Protest against distillery Majitha withdraws resignation Gang of conmen busted
Shiv Sena asks for recall of
diplomats |
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President's decision on trust vote CHANDIGARH, April 27 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today expressed his reservations over the President's decision to ask the BJP-led coalition government to seek a "vote of confidence" after the withdrawal of support by one of the allies, the AIADMK headed by Ms J. Jayalalitha. Addressing a press conference, Mr Badal said there was no need for such a suggestion when Parliament was in session. "Every step during the budget session is like a vote of confidence", he added. Asked if he meant to say that the President had played a "partisan role", the Chief Minister said "I have indirectly said what is to be said". Both the Congress and the AIADMK are responsible for the toppling of the government. The two have conspired. Did Ms Jayalalitha not describe her meeting with Ms Sonia Gandhi as a political earthquake? In fact enough was known about the role of the AIADMK. No action was initiated as it would have gone against the BJP and its allies", he added. Warming up the subject, Mr Badal said even Ms Sonia Gandhi stood "exposed" in this political upheaval. "Some senior Congressmen had confessed to me that their aim was to expose her". Having connived with the AIADMK the Congress failed to muster enough number of members of Parliament to form a government. "At least we had 270 MPs on our side. The Congress could not go beyond 233 odd MPs. All this only showed that the Congress, as is its wont, always adopted wrong means to achieve political power. It has done immense and worse type of harm to the country". Mr Badal said his party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, would continue to remain steadfast with the BJP in the coming mid-term poll. "We will welcome any political party which is opposed to the Congress". He was asked if he foresaw a split in the SAD and problem in the distribution of the ticket or if the sitting MPs will be renominated despite visible signs of indiscipline shown by some of them. Mr Badal replied that people knew the value of their vote. They would always vote for the party, which is supreme. Right from the days of Baba Kharak Singh people down the decades have voted for the sad. "If some people wish to leave the party what can I do". In the same breath he said: "No immediate action" was on the cards against Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra or Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, who had spoken from the stage of Mr Gurcharan Singh and Bhai Ranjit Singh (suspended Jathedar of Akal Takht) at Anandpur Sahib during the tercentenary celebrations. The Chief Minister expressed unhappiness over what Mr Barnala had done but is yet to take up the matter with him as party president despite having met several times since then. In this context, the compulsion of the scheduled meeting of the SAD wings — organisational, the Political Affairs Committee, the Working Committee, past and president MPs, MLAs, district presidents and the SGPC members — to be held at Anandpur Sahib on April 29 has also changed. Earlier it was to be a "thanksgiving" meeting because celebrations were a success. Now it will take into account the situation obtaining following the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and fresh elections around the corner. Mr Badal parried most of the questions on the Lok Sabha elections, giving of the ticket, alliances for the poll, etc, by saying that he had not yet consulted his colleagues or held discussions in the party fora. Therefore he could not comment or answer most of what was being asked. Nevertheless he pointed out that the elections had been imposed at a time when least expected. "This will have a negative impact on the economy of the country. The Election Commission itself is expected to spend nearly Rs 1,200 crore on the poll. Thus a mid-term poll is not a luxury which India can afford or the people can bear. Let the Election Commission make the poll schedule clear. Only then political parleys will begin", he added. He favours early elections. On the home front, however, Mr Badal said that his government priorities were clear: improving road network, infrastructure, water logging, oil refinery, education, etc. Both administrative matters and electoral preparations would get due attention of the government and development pursued. The Punjab Chief
Minister said as per the Guru's message "we are
happy in any given situation and prepare for the same as
it warrants". Therefore, it was difficult to say
what would happen tomorrow. But given the coalition
politics, pre-poll alliances between parties would ensure
better stability of a government, which is formed
afterwards. Even voters, who have matured and understand
things better now, would have a proper choice before
them. No one wants to waste his vote. |
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Stop sending jathas to Pak:
SGPC AMRITSAR, April 27 — The SGPC has suggested to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to stop sending jathas to Pakistan as gurdwaras there were being used for "anti-India propaganda" at the behest of the Pakistan Waqf Board. In a letter to Mr Badal, the SGPC secretary, Mr Kulwant Singh, said that the gurdwaras in Pakistan were being misused as part of a conspiracy. Their condition was deplorable and there was no trace of many historical places belonging to the Gurus as the Waqf Board had not paid any attention to their maintenance. Giving details of the 'shabbily' treatment meted out to SGPC officials and members of the jatha by officials of the Waqf Board, the SGPC secretary alleged that the stage was deliberately handed over to certain elements for indulging in anti-India propaganda. Mr Kulwant Singh also alleged the misuse of funds of Sikh shrines by the board. A jatha of about 1700 recently visited Pakistan to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa. SGPC officials accompanying it were not allowed to manage langar, place golaks and conduct other affairs as officials of the board had said that a new body, namely, Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had been formed to maintain the shrines. In view of this, Mr Kulwant Singh said, there was no relevance of sending jathas to Pakistan. He said the board officials were not aware of the Sikh traditions and hence could not make proper arrangements. The board had violated all traditions of Sikhism by not celebrating Baisakhi at Panja Sahib. Instead, it was celebrated at Nankana Sahib. This was a direct interference in the affairs of minorities in Pakistan. The SGPC secretary alleged that the Waqf Board had taken possession of all collections made during the visit of the jatha and had not made proper arrangements for accommodation and langar. No funds were spent on the facelift of the Sikh shrines, he alleged. Mr Kulwant Singh urged
the Chief Minister to write to the central government so
that the matter could be taken up with the Pakistan
Government. |
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Bid to stem water-logging THERI (Muktsar): Even as the Punjab Government with the help of Nabard has pumped in crores of rupees into this district for overcoming the problem of water-logging, thousands of acres of land is still under a thick sheet of water in many villages. Farmers of a number of villages of Muktsar district for the past many years could not grow a single blade of grass due to water-logging, which has rendered their agriculture land unfit for growing anything. According to a survey conducted by a team of The Tribune, nearly 1,500 acres of land is still under water in this village, 600 acres in Babania and 1,200 acres in Inna Khera villages, besides this, thousands of acres of land affected by severe water-logging was lying unused in villages of Ghagga, Gurusar, Lundewala, Sarainaga and Ratta Khera. Large patches of farm land are also affected by water-logging in Gilzewala, Sarawan Bodle, Fakkarsar, Jhabewali, Bhunder, Maniawala, Smegh, Karniwala and Tappa Khera villages. Residents of villages hit by water-logging said that in certain pockets the problem had become acute due to defective design of drains built by officials entrusted with the task. On the other hand, large lakes of water which have developed in these villages have become a permanent source of health hazard. The stagnant and stinking water of the artificial lakes have become a breeding ground for number of water-borne diseases. Villagers alleged that the Punjab Government had not made any arrangements to vaccinate them against various diseases. Thana Singh of Babania village said in his village nearly 400 acres of land had been flooded as the drainage department had failed to lay down pipes to link this area with the Malout drain located a few yards away from the site where the water had now accumulated. In certain villages due to defective designs of drains and less deepness, water instead of flowing into the drains flows back to the area, which is already water-logged. In some villages, the defective digging up of drains has made a number of patches of fertile land water-logged. Mr Angrej Singh of Gurusar village alleged that his fertile land had submerged in water after a drain was dug in his land. The government had not given any compensation to him so far. The villagers said installation of shallow tubewells along the Sirhind canal, which was one of the major sources of water-logging, could not yield the desired results. Mr Gamdoor Singh of this
village said small drains dug by the drainage department
for dewatering the flooded fields without any proper
planning did not help in any way and it was a sheer
wastage of money. He added that drains should be dug deep
to allow water to flow naturally. |
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Inside resistance to tax
reforms CHANDIGARH, April 27 — The Punjab Cabinet is sharply divided on devising measures to meet the growing fiscal deficit. This is the reason why Cabinet meetings to discuss the measures have twice been postponed, according to informed sources. The BJP, a partner in the coalition government is dead set against an increase in taxes. In fact, the BJP Ministers argued and scuttled at least three proposals which had been voted by the Assembly. Sales tax on two wheelers, auto parts, rubber goods and ball bearings has been rolled back. With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, the BJP would step up efforts to stop fiscal changes. "The BJP is the stumbling block. The party MLAs are actively agitating against sales tax officials and its Ministers even after approving new tax rates, oppose the measures," say two senior Akali Ministers on condition of anonymity. Both the senior BJP Ministers, Mr Balramji Das Tandon (Local Bodies) and Mr Madan Mohan Mittal (Food and Supplies) have been instrumental in getting proposals to hike taxes postponed, sources say. Last year also, the BJP was largely instrumental in stalling an additional levy of Rs 225 crore. Punjab, almost number one state in development, had to virtually live on borrowed money. This may not be possible this year. But the BJP ministers deny this charge of being a stumbling block. They admit that they have opposed, and will continue to oppose certain taxation proposals. "Why did the Finance Minister in his speech say that the portion relating to surcharge of Re 1 per litre on diesel be treated as unread and instead went on to levy other taxes", a senior BJP minister, who too wished not be to quoted,? asked. The BJP, however, is not opposed to any economy measures. "We want to raise additional resources to develop Punjab and are for economy in government expenditure", the Local Bodies Minister, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, told TNS. A high-level committee of officers which met here on Monday could not decide the immediate response. The consensus was that since the mid-term elections are near, the government could do little at this stage to raise more revenue. But the larger question of finding money to fund the development plan remains unanswered. The year 1998-99 which was budgeted to end with a deficit of Rs 241.39 crore but ended with a whopping deficit of Rs 1162.40 crore. Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh made a bold attempt in his budget and announced a reduction in subsidies, an increase in user charges for public services to save Rs 450 crore. There was also to be an additional mobilisation of Rs 540 crore, increases of Rs 165 crore and sale of government land worth Rs 400 crore. These measures have been nearly withdrawn. The state government might ultimately end up selling land to finance the Annual Plan of Rs 2,680 crore. There is, however, some reprieve for the hard pressed Finance department. The Union government, after a prolonged exercise, has agreed to stagger the recovery of the outstanding amount of Rs 780 crore in one case and Rs 70 crore in another. This has been done as demanded by the states at the National Development Council meeting to help them meet the burden of the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations, which was too heavy for them to carry. A two-member committee set up by the Central Government recommended some relief. So Punjab gets Rs 850 crore to tide over the problem temporarily. The Finance department has the authority to implement the proposals passed by the State legislature. But it is keen to involve the entire ministry. The reason being that the government as a whole has to commit itself and gear up. Some economy measures are being implemented. But a 5 per cent cut in all non-Plan expenditure and a 15 per cent reduction in subsidies across the board are yet to be enforced. Also, any ministry that spends Rs 5 crore annually on upkeep must make some gesture and cut expenses on Ministers. This could send the right kind of message. Reforms must begin at the top. Interestingly, Punjab's
efforts have been appreciated and its analysis of the
fiscal situation and the budget speech have been
circulated to all state governments as a guideline. The
Union Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission have
told all state governments to follow Punjab as a model in
fiscal reforms. But what of Punjab itself! |
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Tohra loyalists form new YAD FATEHGARH SAHIB, April 27 — Supporters of former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra formed the Youth Akali Dal (Tohra) at a meeting here today. Addressing a Press conference, Youth Akali Dal general secretary Harvinder Singh Harpalpur said the Youth Akali Dal was formed by Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra to utilise the services of the youth for the community, but ever since Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, MP, became its president, he used it for his vested interests. Mr Karnail Singh Panjoli, secretary-general of the Youth Akali Dal, was made the convener of the new wing and Mr Randhir Singh Rakhra would be its spokesman. Besides, a 51-member committee was also formed. It would nominate district presidents and other office-bearers. Earlier a meeting of workers of the Youth Akali Dal was held under the presidentship of Mr Panjoli in which resolutions appreciating the services of Mr Tohra and Bhai Ranjit Singh suspended Akal Takht Jathedar were passed. In another resolution the BJP and the Congress were blamed for the mid-term poll. The participants advocated the formation of a third front and ruled out any compromise with the Badal faction. They criticised Bibi
Jagir Kaur, president of the SGPC, for ordering large
scale transfers of SGPC employees. |
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Water shortage in Ludhiana LUDHIANA, April 27 — Many areas in the city are reeling under an acute water shortage following a persistent dry spell and failure of the Municipal Corporation to provide new tubewells on time. The water shortage is not only apparent in old city areas like Kundanpuri, New Shivpuri, Salem Tabri and Chaura Bazaar but also in localities like Sarabha Nagar, Model Town, Civil Lines and Aggar Nagar. In this city of 27 lakh people, the main source of water supply is 189 tubewells under the Municipal Corporation. Of these, 97 are in the Civil Lines, Sarabha Nagar, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, Model Town, Aggar Nagar, Haibowal and Kitchloo Nagar areas. The remaining tubewells cater to the thickly populated old city areas. Only 55 per cent of the total population is covered under the water supply system of the Municipal Corporation. The corporation supplies 220 million litres of water every day against the total requirement of 486 million litres. Every year the city faces a shortage in the supply of water by the corporation but it is generally just before the beginning of the monsoon (June-end). However, it is perhaps for the first time that there is a water shortage in April. The corporation supplies water for 10 hours each day. However, residents complain that the pressure is so low that they have no alternative but to use booster pumps. On the other hand, officials at the corporation blame residents for installing pumps direct on the main line, which leads to reduced pressure. "A better way is to collect water in a tank and then lift it by pumps", said Mr Swaran Singh Jandu, who is currently holding additional charge as SE (Operation and Management), Water Supply and Sewerage. Contrary to claims made by the corporation that it is supplying potable water, residents feel otherwise. Cases of many persons in Janak Puri and Shivpuri suffering from water-borne diseases have been reported. However, Mr Swaran Singh said the corporation had cleaned all its tanks. The cases of water-borne diseases were only in those areas where people had laid water supply pipes through drains. Ms Swaran Singh said the
corporation was doing its best to augment the water
supply. Twentysix additional tubewells were being sunk in
different areas. Eight of these were likely to be
commissioned by the end of this month. In addition, the
corporation planned to increase the water supply by two
to three hours each day. Five tubewells had been
replaced. This would provide adequate relief to the
residents, he said. |
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Nankana Sahib Trust dissolution
stayed CHANDIGARH, April 27 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the public notice issued by the SGPC on April 6 announcing the dissolution of the Nankana Sahib Education Trust. Mr Justice G.C. Garg and Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi, who handed down this order on a petition jointly filed by Mr Heera Singh Gabrio and Mr S.S. Bhour, both trustees of the Nankana Sahib Education Trust, also issued notice to the S.G.P.C. president, Bibi Jagir Kaur, apart from S.G.P.C. secretary Kulwant Singh and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for July 20. The petitioners stated that Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr Badal had made a plan to capture educational institutions. With this goal in view, they got the resolution passed by the S.G.P.C. on March 30 dissolving the Nankana Sahib Education Trust. This was done by the S.G.P.C. because it could not remove the petitioners and other trustees under the trust deeds provisions. The petitioners claimed
that trust deeds did not authorise the S.G.P.C. to
dissolve the trust any time. All this had been done in an
illegal manner in order to capture the Nankana Sahib
Trust and other educational institutions in the state. |
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Punjab to curb advertisement
fraud PATIALA, April 27 — The Punjab Government has decided to introduce a new advertisement policy to ensure better coordination and check malpractices resorted to by small newspapers to corner government advertisements. Taking to newsmen after a seminar on the role of the press in modern times organised by the Punjab Small Newspapers Editors Union, Public Relation Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan said under the new policy all advertisements would be routed through the Public Relations Department only. Other departments would not be allowed to issue advertisements on their own. The minister said this was being done following a survey in which it was revealed that hundreds of newspapers in Punjab were able to procure government advertisements on the basis of a registered name alone without actually printing a newspaper. He said this malpractice was most prevalent in the Patiala belt. Ironically, earlier the Punjab Small Newspapers Editors Union President Sohan Singh had urged the Public Relations Minister to help small newspapers financially by reserving a percentage of advertisements for them. Mr Avtar Singh, Editor, Gairat also called upon the minister to help small newspapers while presenting a paper on the status of small newspapers and the problems faced by them. While speaking at the seminar, the Public Relations Minister said it had been decided to install photo faxes at Delhi and Chandigarh besides in the district towns of Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Bathinda. He said photo faxes would be installed at a cost of Rs seven lakh each. Besides this facilities for direct scanning of video cassettes would also be created at important district headquarters. Mr Sekhwan said the Punjab Government was also taking steps to propagate the culture of the state, for which it had reserved a half hour slot on Punjabi World Channel between 6.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. He said the programmes and policies of the government would also be highlighted in the programme. Earlier, Mr Sekhwan
presided over a meeting of district Public Relation
Officers here. |
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SAD snaps alliance HOSHIARPUR, April 27 — Following opposition of the SAD candidate by BJP municipal councillors for the post of vice-president of the Municipal Council, Hoshiarpur, the SAD Municipal Councillors ended their alliance with the BJP here yesterday. In a joint press release, Mr Varinder Singh Bajwa president district unit of the SAD and Ms Mohinder Kaur, MLA said SAD councillors put the name of Mr Kharaiti Lal Katna as candidate for vice-president yesterday. Mr Tikshan Sud BJP MLA was also present in the meeting. But instead of supporting the SAD candidate the BJP councillors proposed the name of Mr Mohan Lal Pehalwan, an Independent, due to which the SAD candidate was defeated. They said that there would be no alliance between the SAD and BJP municipal councillors in future. It may be recalled the SAD supported the BJP candidate for the presidentship of the council due to which Mr Sat Pal Sareen, the BJP nominee won the election. Mr Hans Raj Nakra President of the district unit of the BJP, in a press release here today said that the end of the alliance between SAD-BJP in Hoshiarpur MC was most unfortunate. Raising the yesterday episode due to which the alliance snapped, Mr Nakra said that the BJP had expelled Mr Kharaiti Lal Katna from the party for contesting against the official party candidate during the last Municipal Council election. After winning the election Mr Katna joined the SAD. In protest a written complaint was lodged by the BJP unit with Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and President of the SAD. But instead of expelling Mr Katna from the party the local SAD leaders made him the party leader in the house to the annoyance of BJP councillors. This fact was also brought to the notice of Mr Badal. Mr Nakra said that before the election of vice-president of the municipal council, it was brought to the notice of the SAD that the majority of SAD-BJP Councillors were not in favour of Mr Katna. But the SAD leaders ignored this and told the BJP that the name of the SAD candidate would be announced during the election meeting of the council. The name of Mr Katna was announced at yesterday meeting despite opposition from some rebel SAD Councillors led by Ms Harbhajan Kaur put up the name of Mr Mohan Lal Pehalwan, an Independent Councillor. He said that Mr Tikshan Sud, BJP MLA and Ms Mohinder Kaur SAD MLA, who were both present, tried their best to withdraw the name of Mr Mohan Lal, without success. So the president of the council had no option but to hold the election. At this the SAD councillors staged a walkout from the meeting and the candidate of the rebel SAD councillors was declared elected. Mr Nakra said that local
BJP leadership was still keen to continue its political
alliance with the SAD and was ready to work with them in
a congenial atmosphere. |
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Sangrur residents face acute
water shortage SANGRUR, April 27 — Residents of Sangrur town are facing an acute shortage of drinking water. Pressure of water is very low and it is hardly available even to the ground floor residents. Due to low pressure, first and second floor residents have to face difficulty of potable water in summer. Sangrur town has a population of 70,000 persons out of which only 62,000 have the facility of piped drinking water and remaining 8,000 meet their drinking water requirement through handpumps purity of which is not guaranteed as the water has never been tested by any competent authority, admit official sources. Facility of piped drinking water has been eluding residents of Haripura near Dhuri bypass, Dasmesh Colony near Government Raj High Secondary School, parts of Mann Colony and on the Hareri road. There are nine tubewells which supply drinking water to the town. Of these four tubewells have outlived their life. Two of these, which are near the Patiala gate were installed over 30 year ago while the other two — one near the Fire Brigade and the other near the Nabha gate — were installed over 15 years ago, say official sources. Normal life span of a tubewell is 15 years and so these four tubewells have outlived their life. The pumping of water has been reduced from nearly 30,000 gallons per hour to 15,000 gallons of water per hour. Hence though the number of tubewells comes to nine but for actual purposes so far as the pumping of water was concerned, the existing nine tubewells are equal to six tubewells, say Water Supply and Sewerage Board sources. Keeping in view fall of water output in the existing tubewells and increase in population, one additional tubewell is required every year while no tubewell has been installed for the past over seven years, say official sources. Besides the Sangrur Municipal Council does not have a generator to maintain even the existing water supply in case of power cuts and power failure. Unscheduled power cuts are frequent and these disrupt normal water supply causing inconvenience to public. The District Water Supply and Sewerage Board authorities on the directions of the Punjab Government prepared an estimate for Rs 285 lakh for the augmentation and expansion of water supply in Sangrur town in 1996-97. The estimate was approved by the Punjab government. The prepared estimate provided for four more tubewells, two more water reservoirs having a capacity to store 30 lakh gallons of water and for laying 32 km of pipeline to provide this facility to the entire town's population. Under the proposed estimate, Hudco was to provide a loan of Rs 142 lakh and the Punjab government was to finance Rs 86 lakh. The remaining amount of Rs 57 lakh was to be spent by the Sangrur Municipal Council. The proposal seems to
have been shelved as Hudco was to provide this loan on
the guarantee of the Punjab government because it was to
be repaid by the Sangrur Municipal Council. But the
Punjab government did not give any such guarantee. |
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Rights panel notice to police BATHINDA, April 27 — The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has asked the Principal Secretary Home and Inspector General (IG) Litigation Punjab to submit a report within four weeks into a reported incident of some persons and putting copper sulphate into the eyes of a farmer, Gurmail Singh of Nandgarh village. Taking suo motu notice of a news item titled "copper sulphate put into farmer's eyes" published in The Tribune on March 24, 1999, the commission fixed the hearing of the case for April 28, 1999. Mr Gurmail Singh, a farmer of Nandgarh village was allegedly beaten up by the former sarpanch of the village Teja Singh and others. The assailants later put copper sulphate in his eyes and illegally confined him at Teja Singh's house. He was later handed over to the police at Nandgarh Chowki where he was kept for the night without being given any medical aid. Police sources said none
of the accused had been arrested so far even though a
case in this regard was registered more than 20 days ago.
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Filling up of Durgiana Mandir
tank starts AMRITSAR, April 27 — After the successful culmination of the kar seva of the famous Durgiana Mandir, the ceremony of the filling up of the sarovar around the main temple started with a havan yajna here on Sunday. Thousands of devotees from all parts of the country participated in the "jal avtar" ceremony. The main organiser of the kar seva, Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, said it would take nearly two months to fill up the holy tank. The Department of Fisheries would provide fish to keep the water clean in the tank, he added. The second phase of the project for the beautification of the temple had been delayed as the promised funds to the tune of Rs 1 crore, announced by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had not been released, he said. Mr Ramesh Talwar, Secretary of the management committee of the temple, said the work on the gold plating of the main domes of the temple had already commenced. The entire process would require over 40 kg of gold, but the committee had received 2 kg through donations. He hoped that the
momentum of the work would pick up as soon as the
government released funds. |
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Mental inmates face starvation AMRITSAR, April 27 — The 436 inmates of the Vidya Sagar Mental Hospital face the spectre of starvation as the state government has failed to pay the arrears of diet money which have mounted to over Rs 40 lakh during the year 1998-99. The BJP MLA, Mrs Lakshmikanta Chawla and member of the local visitors committee who had taken personal interest in the welfare of the mentally ill patients expressed at the pathetic state of one of the better known institutes of the country. Lashing out at the state of health authorities, Mrs Chawla expressed deep anguish as the management not receiving funds to pay the arrears to the milk supplier and to the canteen contractor who had since stopped supply leaving the patients to their fate. The BJP leader, giving details of the financial position of the mental institute, told The Tribune that the inmates were an little as Rs 4 per day as diet money in 1991-92 which was raised to Rs 8 and eventually to Rs 25 in September 1997. But the government failed to implement its own order or clear mounting arrears. The annual expenditure of the institute is at Rs 39,78,500 but the government released only 20 lakh last year. The resource crunch
besides its effect on the inmates has also had a fallout
on the supply of anti-psychotic medicines. Though
required to be administered regularly supplies have not
been received for the past one year, affecting treatment. |
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Sow paddy late, urge rice
millers PATIALA, April 27 — The Punjab Rice Millers Association today appealed to the state government to educate farmers about the necessity of sowing the right variety of paddy at the right time to ensure better yield. In a statement here the President of the association Mr Tarsem Saini said paddy should be sown after the summers were on the wane, as paddy sown during the height of summers, as was being done in Punjab, resulted in high breakage content. Mr Saini appealed to the farmers to discard varieties like PR-103, PR-111 and PR-114 as the breakage content was on the higher side and instead sow PR-106 and PUSA-44. He said due to advance sowing, the water level was receding and consumption of electricity increasing. At the time of the crop becoming ripe in September there was also the danger of rains. He said this had resulted in losses during the past two years. He added that while sowing should take place after June 15, it should be harvested in October when the temperature cooled down, leading to minimum broken content. Mr Saini also appealed to the state and central governments to scrap the old paddy milling policy as rice recovery from the paddy in Punjab was very less in yield. He further said the state was already suffering heavy losses due to non-milling of about 40 million tonnes of paddy as the rice recovered from it was inferior in quality. He said millers were suffering heavy losses and were on the brink of closure due to the non-implementation of rice ratio, relaxation in specifications and higher breakage content. 1800 rice millers of the state, having a milling capacity of 2,500 tonnes, were already burdened with huge stocks of paddy. Mr Saini said unless they were not released of the burden of these stocks and their genuine demands not accepted, they could not think of buying any more stocks. The association
president said millers of the state had got nothing
except lip sympathy from the state and central
government. He added that even on issues like withdrawal
of arbitration cases pertaining to sale of paddy crop
1994-95, enhancement of milling charges and fixation of
out-turn ratio the government had done nothing. |
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Minister reviews wheat purchase CHANDIGARH, April 27 — Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Punjab Food and Supply Minister, held a meeting here today with officials concerned to review wheat procurement in the state. The minister was told an amount of Rs 660 crore had been released for making prompt payment to the farmers. Mr Mittal said Rs 1340 crore had been earlier paid by various procurement agencies to farmers. The Reserve Bank had also been requested to raise the existing cash credit limit of Rs 2000 crore to Rs 2700 crore, keeping in view of heavy arrival of wheat. He added that of 52.68 lakh tonnes of wheat that arrived in the various mandis till last evening, as much as 52.28 lakh tonnes had been procured by government agencies. Meanwhile, Mr Brahm
Mohindra, a former Congress minister, has urged the
Punjab Governor to monitor the wheat procurement
operation in the state. He alleged that farmers were
facing problems as payment was not being made to them. He
said there was no transparency in wheat procurement in
the state. |
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Ramoowalia welcomes mid-term poll BHIKHI, (Mansa), April 27 — The National President, Lok Bhalai Party, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia said that the people of Punjab were happy at the fall of the Atal Behari Vajpayee's government as it was anti-Punjab. He pointed out that in the last 13 months of its rule, the BJP-led government had not invested in Punjab. Talking to mediapersons here today he said even the sanctioned Rs 300 crore compensation for rain affected paddy and cotton was not released. On the other hand it betrayed the sentiments of Punjabis by including Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed Uttaranchal state. It did not give Rs 105 crore earmarked for upgrading Amritsar airport during Mr H.D. Deve Gowda's government. When asked whether his newly floated party would contest the next Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held before October 21, he said a meeting of the party's senior functionaries would be held at Ludhiana on May 2 to decide. He clarified that he was not in favour of any poll alliance with the Congress as the Congress had not given Punjab anything in its 45-year rule. He appealed to the people of Punjab to "teach a lesson'' to Mr Badal in the next elections. SRINAGAR; (PTI) — Former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said on Tuesday there was no alternative but to dissolve the Lok Sabha in view of the fluid situation prevailing in the country after the fall of the Vajpayee government. Commenting on
dissolution of the Lok Sabha, the Mufti, who won the
Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in the 1998 elections, told PTI
here now people will decide which party they want should
rule the country. |
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Beating up of dhaba owner AMRITSAR, April 27 — Mr Jasbir Singh Dimpa, General Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, has threatened to block traffic on GT Road at Beas on April 29, if the former Akali MLA, who had allegedly beaten up a worker and the owner of a dhaba near Beas was not arrested immediately. In a press statement issued here today, Mr Dimpa said the former MLA rounded up by the police on the complaint of the dhaba owner was, however, let off due to "political pressure". He alleged that the former Akali MLA had been committing excesses due to his political connections. Resentment prevailed among the general public against the police and the former MLA due to his alleged excesses. Mr Dimpa claimed that earlier an FIR was also lodged against the relatives of the former MLA for beating up some women at the Beas police station. However, the police had not arrested any of the accused so far. When contacted, Mr H.S. Brar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Baba Bakala, admitted that the worker and owner of a dhaba in Beas were mercilessly beaten up by the former MLA. He said the police would take appropriate action against the accused. Mr Dimpa urged the
district police chief, Majitha, to take appropriate
action against the accused and members of his family. |
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Protest against distillery KAPURTHALA, April 27 — Mr Bhupinder Singh Walia, and Mr Yash Mahajan patron and president of the local beopar mandal began a 24-hour hunger strike against the management of Jagatjit Distillery, Hamira, for discharging foul smelling effluents. Members of the beopar mandal assembled at Subash Chowk from where they marched in procession to the district court where they set in dharna. Those who set in dharna included Mr Swaran Singh Cheema organising secretary of the Punjab Congress and Mr Paramjit Singh vice-president of the local municipal council. Mr Mohan Lal, Forest minister, Punjab who was here to preside over a meeting came to the site of the dharna and received a memorandum. The dharna was lifted on the assurance of the minister that their demands would be fulfilled very soon. The beopar mandal also
demanded that arrangements be made to clean Jallokhana
chowk and open the mosque in Mohalla Sheikhan to the
public. |
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Majitha withdraws resignation AMRITSAR, April 27 — The president of the Khalsa College Management Committee, Mr Parkash Singh Majitha, withdrew his resignation today. Mr Majitha had resigned
on health grounds. Following this, Mr Satyajit Singh
Majitha and SAD's Rajya Sabha MP Rajmohinder Singh
Majithia had staked claim to the post and refused to
withdraw. This had forced the Chief Minister to postpone
the committee election last week. |
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Gang of conmen busted JALANDHAR, April 27 — The police has busted a four-member gang of conmen who used to dupe unsuspecting persons promising them to double their money. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP said here today that Mr Raj Kumar, who works in the municipal corporation, was approached by a gang member. They impressed upon him that they had the "expertise" to double any amount of cash. Taken in by their talk he gave Rs 25,000 to them and they said they would return Rs 50,000 to him. However, after waiting for a few days he suspected a foul play and lodged an FIR on April 25 against Fauji Ram, Simro, Gurpratap and Kamal Kumar. A police party headed by SI Surinder Pal of CIA staff laid a naka at BMC chowk and arrested them. However, the kingpin of
the gang, Fauji Ram managed to escape. |
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Sant Samaj decries SGPC chief JALANDHAR, April 27 — The Gurbani (Gurmat) Sidhant Parcharak Sant Samaj, while condemning the SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur making "arbitrary" statements against the Akal Takht, has also advised her to restrain, her "campaign" agianst the supreme temporal seat of the Sikh Faith. Taking a serious note of the recent statements of the SGPC president, against the authority of the Akal Takht, the president of the GGSP Sant Samaj Baba Kashmira Singh and acting president Baba Mangal Singh here today in a press statement alleged that, the SGPC was not the "sovereign authority" of the Sikh religion, as claimed by Bibi Jagir Kaur, while, the Akal Takht according to the Sikh religion was the highest temporal seat. Moreover, the Sant Samaj
has also raised the issue of victimisation being indulged
in the "garb" of "Akal-corruption"
drive launched by her. Bibi Jagir Kaur never raised the
"issue" in the numerous meetings she attended
as a SGPC member but on becoming the president of the
organisation, she is finding faults they alleged. |
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Shiv Sena asks for recall of
diplomats AMRITSAR, April 27 — The president of the All-India Hindu Shiv Sena, Mr Surinder Kumar Billa urged the Union Government to recall its diplomats from Pakistan in protest against the handing over of control of Sikh gurdwaras in Pakistan to militant elements. In a letter to the President released to the press here today, Mr Billa said that the Pakistan Government, instead of giving the management of Sikh shrines to the SGPC had handed over its management to an anti-Sikh ISI body in order to crush the minority community in Pakistan and continue its proxy war with India. Lt Gen Javed Nasir, a former head of the ISI, was made a head of a new body called Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee a few days ago. Mr Billa said that the
Pakistan Government was not sincere in its intentions
towards India and had been treating its minority
communities as second class citizens. |
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Councillors stage walkout ABOHAR, April 27 — The SAD members of the local Municipal Council, including a woman, lodged a protest over the stepmotherly treatment meted out to their wards by the President of the Council, who belonged to the BJP. The SAD and the Congress members also staged a walkout last evening. Member of the Congress alleged that the President had flouted the rules to promote and transfer employees to key posts. The SAD members were,
however, persuaded to rejoin the proceedings by the BJP
leaders as they had fallen short of quorum. The meeting
also approved auction of a liquor vend in favour of
"liquor-king" of the region for Rs four crore,
a crore higher than the reserve rate. |
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Two die in mishaps JALANDHAR, April 27 (PTI) — A young man was crushed when he slipped and fell on tracks while trying to board a train, while a 45-year-old man was crushed by a jeep in front of his house, the police said today. Paramjit Singh (35), a resident of Delhi, was killed when he attempted to jump on to a train at the local railway station, the police said. Nirmaljit Singh, an employee of Punjab and Sind Bank, was crushed by a jeep when he came out of his house in the local Urban Estate today. He was rushed to CMC
Hospital in Ludhiana where he succumbed to injuries. |
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Markfed inspector suspended BATHINDA, April 27 — Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, has suspended the inspector of Markfed deputed at Kutiwal purchase centre from violating the norms laid down for the procurement of wheat. Mr Ladhar, who toured various grain markets and purchase centres in the district to oversee arrangements has also suspended the licences of commission agents of Kutiwal purchase centre and Rampuraphul grain market as they were found indulging in malpractices in the procurement of wheat. Mr Ladhar, in a press
note here today, said that more than 2.30 lakh tonnes of
wheat had been purchased in this district by various
procurement agencies against the target of four lakh
tonnes of wheat. He added that per acre yield of wheat
was between 16 quintal to 20 quintal this season. |
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Move to check water-borne
diseases LUDHIANA, April 27 — The district administration has decided to launch a cleanliness drive to check the spread of water-borne diseases in the summer months by clearing garbage, stagnant water, taking samples of eatables and soft drinks and by destroying rotten vegetables and over-ripe fruits. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of district level coordination committee here yesterday under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Goel. The Deputy Commissioner called upon the officials concerned of Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana and Municipal Councils of other towns of the district to ensure the daily lifting of the garbage and to clear stagnant water where mosquitoes could breed. He said that samples of eatables and drinking water would be taken jointly by the teams based on SDM, SMO and DSP concerned and warned that no seller of eatables should be harassed due to personal reasons. The samples should be taken on merit. At the meeting, it was
also decided to involve students, village panchayats and
other social organisations in persuading the people for
proper cleaning of the surrounding areas. |
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STDs on rise AMRITSAR, April 27 — Increase in the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) which had grown to five per cent among the age group of 15-49 in this district had startled the local health officials. The Civil Surgeon Dr Rajinder Singh in a press note issued here yesterday said that he had directed the paramedical staff with the help of social organisations to conduct survey at the village-level and to organise camps for creating awareness among people about this disease. Earlier, the Deputy
Commissioner Mr Narinderjit Singh, while inaugurating the
Family Health Awareness Week at Verka said that all
patients suffering from diseases like AIDS and STD would
be treated at the primary health centres free of cost, by
the medical specialists posted there. |
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DCC revamped AMRITSAR, April 27
—The general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh
Congress Committee, Mrs Ratna yesterday announced the
revamping of the Amritsar district Congress Committee
(urban) by appointing four new vice-presidents including
Mrs Harinder Chopra Mrs Gulshan Kumari, Mr Gian Singh and
Mr Parma Nand Gupta in a press note issued here
yesterday. She also nominated three general secretaries
— Mr Inderjit Khurana, Mr Radha Krishan Sharma and
Mr Hardeep Singh Gill. |
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Dalit front decries govt JALANDHAR, April 27 — The All-India Dalit and Minority Welfare Front has assailed the SAD-BJP government for its failure to fulfil its promises to Dalits. Mr O.P. Kalyana, general secretary of the front, alleged here today that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had repeatedly claimed on the eve of the Vidhan Sabha elections that the Dalits would receive special treatment, if the SAD-BJP combine was voted to power. Mr Badal had also been pronouncing that the combine believed in a classless society and the Dalit's problems would figure high on its agenda. However, the ruling combine did not take any interest in the uplift of the Dalits and no promise made to them was fulfilled. There had not been any perceptible improvement in their socio-economic conditions during the SAD-BJP rule, he alleged. Mr Kalyan cautioned the Dalits to be aware of various parties which were making tall promises to garner their votes. He appealed to leaders
of Dalit outfits to unite and evolve a strategy for the
forthcoming Lok Sabha poll. |
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Bhai Lalo divas on May 1 FATEHGARH SAHIB, April 27 — The Shiromani Akali Dal will celebrate May day as Bhai Lalo divas. A state-level function will be organised at Ludhiana, said Mr Charanjit Singh Walia, Vice President of the SAD and president of Punjab State Services Federation here today. He told reporters that May day will be dedicated to tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister will preside over the function. He said efforts would be made to get the demands of employees for being given dearness allowance from January 1 in cash accepted. He said all top political leaders and leaders of various employees organisation will attend the function. LUDHIANA: The Punjab State Services Federation, in association with Punjab State Electricity Board Employees Federation and Punjab Workers Union has decided to celebrate the labour day on May 1 as Bhai Lalo Day, in memory of the famous trade unionist. This information was
given by Mr Avtar Singh Deol, general secretary of the
Punjab State Services Federation here today. Their
state-level function will be held at Pal Auditorium, PAU.
|
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PUTA to boycott official
functions PATIALA, April 27 — The Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) today decided to intensify its ongoing agitation against "victimisation" of teachers and non-teaching employees of the university by boycotting all official functions. Stating this here today PUTA president S.S. Khaira and joint secretary Manjit Singh said the association would also hold rallies at the time of such functions. The PUTA leaders made an appeal to ministers and bureaucrats not to attend such functions on the invitation of Vice-Chancellor J.S. Puar as the Vigilance Department had prepared a detailed report against him relating to charges of corruption and malpractice in the matter of appointments, admissions and migration. PUTA, through a resolution, appealed to the Chief Minister to immediately suspend Dr Puar and initiate action against him on the basis of the Vigilance report. Dr Sham Lal Singla,
convener, Nationalist Teachers Council, condemned Dr K.C.
Singal, a former President of PUTA, for accepting the
headship of the Department of Business Management
"in haste", especially so when the
Vice-Chancellor had removed Dr Gurdip Singh from the
headship and debarred the prospective head, Dr M.S. Bedi,
from taking over the headship in due course. He said both
Dr Gurdip Singh and Dr Bedi had been raising their voice
against the actions of the Vice-Chancellor. |
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Merry shot mars celebrations PATIALA, April 27 (PTI) – A merry shot fired in a marriage party at Nabha near here today numbed all celebrations when it fatally hit an eight-year-old boy. The police said the bridegroom's brother fired the shot during festivities at the bride's place, which hit the boy. The police said it had
registered a case in this connection. |
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