Sunday, August 8, 1999
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Sunday, August 8, 1999 |
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Dissidents
keep away from Praneet’s meeting 4 injured in Bathinda blast |
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SGPC
undermining judiciary: Bhaur Paramjit Kaur SHSAD candidate for
Tarn Taran HC admits plea against conviction Teachers meet Chief Secretary ‘Give donations’ for
martyrs to Army Rly pensioners flay allowance
norms Power consumers resent wrong bills Bail denied Khalra, BKU chief AISAD nominees Residents sore with PUDA KU to be re-named after Tenth Guru |
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Dissidents keep away from PATIALA, Aug 7 — The dissident group in the Patiala city Congress and all aspirants for the Congress ticket from this constituency kept away from a party workers’ meeting called by Mrs Praneet Kaur, wife of Pradesh Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh, here today. Mrs Praneet Kaur had called a meeting of party workers to discuss poll strategy for the forthcoming elections. It was attended by office-bearers of the district Congress and certain functionaries of the pradesh Congress. However, the dissident group, including other aspirants for the party ticket, boycotted the meeting despite being sent invitations. Most of the dissidents wrote back their inability to attend the meeting reportedly in protest against the manner in which they had been invited. Some of the dissident leaders when contacted, however, said they had not been invited for the meeting. The dissidents decided not to attend the meeting in protest against the invitation which was signed by the private secretary of Mrs Praneet Kaur. They also protested against its wording which said "Maharani" Praneet Kaur had requested them to attend the meeting. Moreover, sources said,
the meeting was uncalled for when the Congress candidate
from this constituency had not been announced formally.
They said only the District Congress Committee could call
the meeting in case it was to discuss the election. |
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4 injured in Bathinda
blast BATHINDA, Aug 7 — Four persons well injured and a house was damaged in a powerful blast in Ganesha basti here today. The owner of the house, Bhupinder Singh told TNS that the blast took place around 4.30 am when he along with his wife and two daughters was sleeping in the courtyard of the house. Bhupinder Singh suffered injuries on the left arm, his wife on the face, his elder daughter Anuradha sustained collar bone fracture while his younger daughter suffered injuries on foot, wrist and arm. An explosive expert of the Punjab police Mr Jagir Singh the possibility of the use of explosive material in the blast said the incident took place due to the leaking of a gas cylinder. The walls of two bed rooms, store, kitchen and drawing room of the house collapsed and the roof caved in due to the blast. The blast was so powerful that windows, doors, utensils and other household goods were thrown into the surrounding houses. Mr Dinesh Sharma, SHO city police station, said Bhupinder Singh informed about the blast to the police at 6 am and the police reached the spot immediately. He said it seemed the blast took place due to the leakage of gas from the cylinder. Some burnt clothes, the regulator and pipe of the cylinder were found from the site of the blast. He said the police was making further investigations into the case. He ruled out any foul play in the blast. Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, said the SDM had been deputed to know the cause of the blast and submit a report. He added that the district administration would write to the Punjab Government for suitable compensation for Bhupinder Singh, whose newly constructed house had collapsed. Vinod Kumar, a neighbour
of Bhupinder Singh said that there was a loud noise and
surrounding houses shook when the blast took place. |
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11-man panel set up on core
theme CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — The Anandpur Sahib Foundation has set up an 11-member committee to evolve the core theme of the concept of the Khalsa Heritage Memorial at Anandpur Sahib. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of scholars, intellectuals and others held at the Foundation office in Sector 38-A here under the chairmanship of Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, yesterday. The 11-member panel, which will work under the convenership of Mr Gurjit Singh Cheema, Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs, would seek the views of experts in literature, history, culture, art, education and other areas. The committee will comprise Dr Jaswant Singh Neki, Dr J.S. Grewal, Dr Darshan Singh, Mr Prithipal Singh Kapoor, Dr Harnam Singh Shan, Dr Kirpal Singh, Dr B.S. Rattan, Dr Dalip Kaur Tiwana, Brig Gurdip Singh Grewal (retd) and Dr Baldip Singh. The panel can co-opt any other member as per its requirements. The panel was formed after a thorough discussion on different suggestions. Capt Kanwaljit Singh suggested forming a small panel to evolve a core theme of the proposed Khalsa museum. This panel would develop philosophical concepts and identify sub themes for the museum complex. It would also recommend constitution of sub-committees on different sub-themes for exhibition designs and display. The panel will submit its recommendations within two months. Capt Kanwaljit Singh
also appealed to the people and scholars in particular to
send in their suggestions in writing. The suggestions
should be on the philosophical concept and content of the
Khalsa museum to the foundation at its Chandigarh office
for consideration by the panel before finalisation of its
recommendations. |
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SGPC undermining judiciary:
Bhaur CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, general secretary of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, has alleged that the SGPC authorities were undermining the authority of the judiciary by changing illegally the trustees of various trusts run by the SGPC. He said Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, and Mr Parkash Singh Badal had replaced all trustees of Guru Ram Dass Charitable Trust, Amritsar. He alleged that close relatives of Mr Badal had been made members of the trusts by replacing old trustees. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal had been made a trustee of the Nankana Sahib Education Trust, Ludhiana, along with Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal and others. Mr Bhaur said all these
changes and replacements of trustees had been done in
violation of the undertaking given on behalf of the SGPC
in court, which gave a stay but vacated the same
following an undertaking not to make any changes. |
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Paramjit Kaur SHSAD candidate for
CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal today announced its candidates for Tarn Taran and Amritsar Lok Sabha seats. Mrs Paramjit Kaur Khalra will be the party candidate for the Tarn Taran seat and Mr Bhupinder Singh Mann, a BKU leader, will be the candidate for the Amritsar seat. Mrs Paramjit Kaur is wife of Mr Jaswant Singh Khalra, who was allegedly done to death by the Punjab Police when he took up the issue of cremation of unidentified bodies during militancy. The SHSAD had formed a joint front with the Bahujan Samaj Party headed by Mr Kanshi Ram; the Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic) head by Mr Kuldeep Singh Wadala; the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) headed by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann; and the Akali Dal (Panthic) led by the H.S. Rode. Mr Wadala will be the candidate for Jalandhar, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann for Sangrur, and Mr H.S. Rode for Faridkot. Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra will contest from Patiala, Mr Gurdarshan Singh Grewal from Ludhiana, Mr Sucha Singh Chhotepur from Gurdaspur, and Mrs Balbir Kaur Khalsa from Ropar; Mr Gurdeep Singh Deep from Bathinda will be the candidates for the Parliamentary seats. The front will support three candidates put up by the BSP for Phillaur, Ferozepore and Hoshiarpur seats. The front will support
Mr Mata Ram Dhiman, a BSP candidate, in Chandigarh. |
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SHSAD’s open letter to Vajpayee CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal has written an open letter to the Prime Minister, Mr A. B. Vajpayee, who visited Ludhiana today to kickstart the campaign for the SAD-BJP combine in this part of the country. Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, general secretary of the party, has posed several questions to Mr Vajpayee in the letter. In the first question addressed to Mr Vajpayee, the SHSAD leader wants to know what his government at the Centre had given to Punjab after coming to power. What grant it has given to complete the prestigious projects like Thein Dam? What have you done to complete the already announced and much-publicised projects like science city and starting of PIMS at Jalandhar? How much money has been sent for these projects from the Centre? What have you to say about the Rs 300-crore aid for those who suffered loss due to damage to their paddy crop last year? What about granting a status of holy city to Amritsar? Raising other issues like the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and Punjabi-speaking areas, Mr Bhaur has quizzed what has been done on this front by the BJP-led Government at the Centre? What action has been taken on restoring 13 per cent quota for Punjab in the armed forces and what is the progress with regard to releasing Sikh detainees languishing in various jails without trial. Why the relevant act has not been amended to exempt Sikh women from wearing helmets despite various representations given to the Central Government? Mr Bhaur has asked
whether he could ask Mr Badal to make public his and his
family’s assets ever since he has joined politics,
and order a CBI enquiry in this connection. |
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HC admits plea against
conviction CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has admitted an appeal preferred by Ranjit Singh Talwandi, Chairman of the PSIEC, questioning his conviction and sentence by the Additional Sessions Judge of Ludhiana in connection with the murder of Chamkaur Singh. A Division Bench headed by Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta, which handed down this order, also issued notice to the state of Punjab for August 27. In his appeal Ranjit Singh stated that the trial court had erred in placing reliance upon the prosecution evidence. He added the trial court had failed to appreciate the evidence in the light of clearly established circumstances and the background or probabilities. According to the prosecution accused Jit Singh, alias Pummy, had snatched away a rifle from a gunman and fired shots after he was exhorted by Ranjit Singh to kill as many persons as he wanted. During a quarrel
Chamkaur Singh died of bullet injuries on December 24,
1998, at Ludhiana. |
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Teachers meet Chief Secretary JALANDHAR, Aug 7 — Office-bearers of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) — Mr S.S. Hundal, Dr V.K. Tewari, Mr Sukhpal Singh and Mr N.P. Manocha — held a meeting with the Punjab Government represented by the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretary, the Special Secretary, the Department of Higher Education and the DPI (Colleges) regarding the demands of the union, at Chandigarh on Thursday. The union leaders said here yesterday that the government had agreed to maintain the status quo on the retirement age of the teachers at 60 years. They said the union opposed the dilution of the pension-gratuity scheme and stressed that the scheme released on December 18, 1996, must be implemented without further delay. The Chief Secretary assured them to expedite the clearance and early implementation. The union regretted that the Punjab Government had been delaying the full implementation of the package on pay revision notified by the HRD Ministry and the UGC and forcefully demanded the acceptance of all provisions. Dr V.K. Tewari, General Secretary of PCCTU, said that the union succeeded in convincing the Chief Secretary that all college teachers get the new pay-scales. The Chief Secretary
asked officials to submit the papers on the held up
salary grant of two years (1997-99) and assured the union
leadership that substantial amount would be released
since the colleges were facing acute crisis. |
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‘Give donations’ for
martyrs to Army AMRITSAR, Aug 7 — Former Minister of State for External Affairs R L Bhatia, in a letter to the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee requested to pass on to the Army Central Welfare Fund donations collected by the Centre for Indian martyrs and their families. He said the Indian Army can look after its fallen heroes families better and the involvement of civilians officers may create unnecessary problems. He urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the money-collected should be used for the right purpose. In another letter to the
Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Mr Bhatia
requested him to raise the state government contribution
for the family of each martyr to Rs 10 lakh as was done
by Bihar, UP and Rajasthan. |
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Rly pensioners flay
allowance norms LUDHIANA, Aug 7 — The Northern Railway Pensioners Association has flayed the rules of the Railway Ministry regarding eligibility to receive treatment at Railway Hospitals and said 80 per cent of the pensioners were neither getting the medical allowance nor treatment at the Railway Hospitals. Mr Sher Singh, president of the association, said the rule stipulating that the pre-1996 pensioners have to deposit an amount equivalent to their two months' pension to become members of the RELHS for becoming eligible for OPD treatment at Railway Hospitals was unjust. He said it was a hefty amount and demanded that the Railway Ministry should make treatment at the Railway Hospitals optional for the pensioners. He further stressed the
need for enhancing the Medical Allowance to Rs 250 and
reimbursement in case of hospitalisation, irrespective of
whether the pensioner was a member of the RELHS or not. |
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Power consumers resent wrong
bills AMRITSAR, Aug 7— Electricity consumers of Jail Gali, Ram Bagh (Hall Bazar) are up in arms against the ‘imaginary bills’ they have been receiving. In a complaint lodged with the Chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board, the consumers have alleged that the bills are being sent on imaginary consumption. Sometimes the bills are sent for small amounts. But when the actual readings are taken the bills amounts to thousands of rupees. Consumers find it difficult to pay such heavy amounts in one instalment. The residents have
suggested that the consumers should be given cards on
which the meter readings can be recorded. |
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Bail denied CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — Mr Justice M.L. Singhal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has declined anticipatory bail to Sewa Singh and Mewa Singh, who are facing trial in the ongoing fertiliser scam. They were booked by the
Punjab Vigilance Bureau on October 30, 1998, by
registering a case under Sections 420, 471, 218 and
120-B, I.P.C., apart from under Section 13 of the
Prevention of Corruption Act. |
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Khalra, BKU chief AISAD nominees PATIALA, Aug 7 — The All-India Shiromani Akali Dal today announced the candidature of Mrs Paramjit Kaur Khalra, wife of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, for the Tarn Taran seat. It said it would support Akali Dal (Amritsar) President Simranjit Singh Mann from Sangrur and Akali Dal (Panthic) leader Kuldeep Singh Wadala from Jalandhar. In a statement here, AISAD President Gurcharan Singh Tohra announced the candidature of its alliance partner and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) President Bhupinder Singh Mann from Amritsar. Mr Tohra said the AISAD would support the candidature of Capt Harcharan Singh Rode of the Akali Dal (Panthic), for the Faridkot seat and Bahujan Samaj Party nominees from Ferozepore, Phillaur and Hoshiarpur as well as the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Mr Tohra said the AISAD
itself was contesting seven seats of Amritsar, Tarn
Taran, Patiala, Ropar, Gurdaspur and Bathinda. |
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Residents sore with PUDA PATIALA, Aug 7 — Residents of urban estate phase-I have urged the Punjab Government to direct the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) to ensure proper upkeep of the area. In a press statement, Mr S.C. Sharma, a member of the Housing Board Residents Welfare Association, said heaps of garbage could be seen littered on the roads. The authorities had asked PUDA to remove the garbage, particularly from the by-pass road. But things have not moved so far. He said after the rain the garbage had become a breeding ground for many disease-carrying insects. Besides, the garbage made the roads slippery and prone to accidents. Residents said a spell
of rain caused the sewers in the colonies to choke and
the sullage flowed back into homes. |
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KU to be re-named after Tenth Guru LUDHIANA, Aug 7 (PTI) — The Haryana Government has decided to rename Kurukshetra University as Guru Gobind Singh University. This was announced by Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala while addressing a meeting held here for the launching of the Akali Dal-BJP poll campaign by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Mr Chautala said the
decision has been taken in view of the Khalsa
tercentenary celebrations. |
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