Thursday, August 19, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Thursday, August 19, 1999 |
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Badal
asks DIG to probe rape case SGPC team to Pak cleared |
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‘Allegations
against SGPC baseless’ Calcutta warns SGPC Factory making fake cough syrups
seized Training course for quacks 130 poor couples married off Over 200 police trainees qualify Police ‘victim’ seeks
PAP security SGPC to tie up with TV channel Contributions to Kargil fund Doraha town being dewatered |
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Badal asks DIG to probe rape
case FEROZEPORE, Aug 18 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has asked the Ludhiana police range DIG to make an investigation in depth to find out the truth in the case of the 17-year-old Ludhiana girl who was allegedly abducted and raped repeatedly by the son of a Punjab Akali Minister and his brother-in-law. At a press conference held here today at the residence of the Minister of State for Cooperation and Sainik Welfare, Punjab, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, when a reporter showed a copy of The Tribune carrying the news item "Girl used as sex slave" about the incident, Mr Badal immediately contacted on phone the Ludhiana police range DIG. Mr Badal directed the DIG to check up the matter in depth and inform him accordingly. The alleged victim, who disappeared from Ludhiana in April, on Tuesday made a dramatic appearance before newspersons and levelled charges against the son of a Punjab Akali Minister and his brother-in-law. Talking to mediapersons, Mr Badal did not rule out a political conspiracy behind the alleged incident which had been brought into the limelight at the time of parliamentary elections. He apprehended that certain political forces might want to malign the image of Akali leaders. Regarding the apprehension being expressed by certain Opposition leaders that large-scale bungling and rigging in the Lok Sabha elections by the SAD-BJP activists might take place in Punjab, Mr Badal replied that such a thing had never taken place even during the rule of the Congress. He assured that nothing of the sort would happen. He said certain senior leaders of the BJP, including Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Mr Lal Krishan Advani and cine star, Shatrughan Sinha, would conduct a campaign in favour of the SAD-BJP combine nominees in Punjab. The dates of their visits were yet to be finalised, he added. When asked had his (Mr
Badal's government ever taken the long-pending issues of
Punjab, including the transfer of Chandigarh and the
river waters dispute, before the Vajpayee government, Mr
Badal said it was not possible to get all work done
within the 13 months' rule of the Vajpayee government. |
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Demand for resignation of
minister LUDHIANA, Aug 18 — Three Akali legislators and four members of the SGPC belonging to this district today demanded the resignation of the Agriculture Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, on moral grounds for the alleged involvement of his son and close relatives in an "abduction and rape" case in the city. They also demanded a CBI inquiry into it. In a joint statement, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Mr Hira Singh Gabria, Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa (all MLAs), Mr Gurbux Singh Puddain, Dr Inderjit Singh Grewal, Bibi Kuldip Kaur and Bibi Amritpal Kaur Baliyewal (all SGPC members) said that the involvement of the minister's son and close relations in this case was bringing a bad name to the state. If Mr Gurdev Singh did not resign on his own, the Chief Minister should dismiss him from his Council of Ministers, they added. PATIALA: The All-India Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra has demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged rape of a Ludhiana girl by the son and relative of the minister. Talking to newsmen here,
Mr Chandumajra said the incident was a reflection on the
lawlessness rampant in the state. A CBI inquiry was
necessary to ascertain whether there was a wider
conspiracy to exploit girls coming to the state from
outside. He accused the Chief Minister of trying to
shield the culprits, saying that only an impartial
inquiry would reveal the truth. |
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SGPC
team to Pak cleared AMRITSAR, Aug 18 — In a significant development, the executive meeting of the Shiromani Committee held here today took a final decision to send an 11- member delegate to Pakistan to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and all concerned for demanding disbanding of the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PGPC) headed by a former chief of infamous Inter Service Intelligence (ISI). The Executive Committee, which met in the Guru Nanak Niwas here today, cleared all 11 delegates, including Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC chief, for visiting Pakistan. The list of delegates would be sent to the Government of India for scrutiny. Talking to the TNS after the meeting, Bibi Jagir Kaur said the SGPC could not tolerate the formation of the PGPC at any cost. It may be mentioned here that Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal and Chief Minister, Punjab, had already wrote to the Central Government that anti-India propaganda was being done in Sikh shrines in Pakistan after the formation of the PGPC. It is pertinent to mention here that the SGPC had stopped sending jathas to Pakistan after the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa Panth in protest against the formation of the PGPC. The leaders of the jatha which visited Pakistan to mark the tercentenary celebrations were meted out a rough treatment in the hands of PGPC officials. So much so that the SGPC officials, who accompanied the jatha to Pakistan, were not allowed to make arrangements for ‘langar’ for the devotees. Bibi Jagir Kaur said that the decision of sending jathas to Pakistan from November this year to mark the ‘gurpurb’ of Guru Nanak Dev would be taken by the SGPC after the visit of the delegation to Pakistan. She said the delegates would ask all concerned, the reason for formation of the PGPC. If the delegates would get good response from Mr Sharif and other persons concerned, the final decision about sending of the jathas would be taken then. Meanwhile, Bibi Jagir Kaur said that the SGPC had chargesheeted three employees, including two inspectors, who were caught red-handed, while stealing cash from ‘guru ke golak’ (money box). One of the inspectors is said to be a close relative of a high official of the SGPC. On the other hand, the
SGPC Executive did not touch the controversial
‘Nanakshahi’ calendar obviously in wake of the
forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. It may be mentioned here
that the ‘Nanakshahi’ calendar was unanimously
adopted by the SGPC. However, the same was banned by
Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht. |
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Rebels may join Cong campaign PATIALA, Aug 18 — Senior Congress leaders of this constituency, who had formed a dissident group to thwart the candidature of Pradesh Congress President's wife Parneet Kaur and had boycotted her campaign till now seem to have no alternative left but to toe the party line. Though the dissidents were absent from yesterday's rally held by the party as a show of strength before filing of nomination papers by the Congress candidate, they were likely to join the campaign soon. They no longer had any rallying point as former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who sympathised with them, had herself come to get Mrs Parneet Kaur's papers filed yesterday. Mrs Bhattal also had a close door meeting with the Pradesh Congress chief. She later disclosed that she had urged Capt Amarinder Singh to request all senior leaders to campaign actively for the party. She, herself, was likely to campaign for the party in the Lehra segment which forms part of the Patiala constituency. The dissidents also seem to have run of excuses for not joining the Congress campaign. Earlier they had taken umbrage when they had got an invitation for a party meeting called by Mrs Parneet Kaur through her personal assistant. However, following this they were sent invitations urging them to contribute their mite towards the election by Mrs Parneet Kaur herself. Talking to newspersons yesterday, Capt Amarinder Singh said all leaders were being asked to campaign for the party individually. Former MP Surinder Singla confirmed this saying the PPCC President had talked to him over the phone. He said though he was going out of the city for a few day, he would campaign for the Congress nominee after his return. A spate of meetings held by the dissidents to evolve their strategy had also remained inconclusive as they were hesitant to breach party discipline. In fact few prominent leaders had come on record to say there was no question of breaching party discipline. It was just a matter of being asked properly to campaign for the Congress candidate. Disclosed one dissident leader who had not been personally contacted by the PPCC President till now. Some of the leaders also wanted assurances that show cause notices issued to them for breaching party discipline would be withdrawn. Though the dissident would reluctantly join the Congress bandwagon in this constituency it was to be seen if they were able to galvanise Mrs Parneet Kaur's campaign which had still to gain momentum. Due to dissident the Congress campaign had stuttered in most assembly segments except the Ghanaur and Dakala seats. Mrs Parneet Kaur was already far behind both the Akali candidates who had done a round of all constituencies more than once. The senior leaders, including former MPs Sant Ram Singla and Surinder Singla, former ministers Brahm Mohindra, Prem Gupta and Raj Khurana, party General Secretary Birdevinder Singh and former Punsup Chairman Brij Lal Goel had formed a pressure group to deny the party ticket to Mrs Parneet Kaur. Even after grant of the party ticket they had abstained from campaigning. However, it seems now
with them having been asked to campaign for the party
nominee they will find it hard to refuse without inviting
disciplinary action. |
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Kairon family to back Tur AMRITSAR, Aug 18 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate from the Tarn Taran parliamentary constituency Jathedar Tarlochan Singh Tur, who filed his nomination papers today, got a boost with the "Kairon family" including Mr Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, a sitting MLA from Patti and his wife Parneet Kairon (daughter of Mr Parkash Singh Badal) backing him. Talking to the Press Parneet Kaur Kairon said the Kairon family was not annoyed over the denial of party ticket to her. The allegation was "ridiculous and unfair". Asserting that the issue was closed Mrs Parneet Kaur said the decision of the party president was supreme and every party member must respect that. "Let us work together and make all possible efforts with no stone left unturned to ensure the victory of Jathedar Tarlochan Singh Tur," said Parneet Kaur and Adesh Partap Singh jointly. The couple said they would take active part in the election campaign of Mr Tur and would undertake a hectic tour of the area in the coming days to seek vote and support for Mr Tur. They gave a call to the partymen to sink their differences, if any, and work for the victory of Jathedar Tur. Meanwhile, Mr J.S. Bal, Mr Ramesh Talwar, Mr Bhupinder Singh, Mr Satpal (all Independents), Mr Ashwani Kumar (All India Forward Bloc), Mr Malkiat Singh (Nationalist Congress Party), Mr Dalbir Singh, Mr Bakshish Singh, Mr Kartar Singh (all Independents), Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur (SAD) filed their papers today. Meanwhile Mrs Parneet Kaur inaugurated the election office of Jathedar Tur. Addressing a gathering,
Mrs Parneet Kaur, who too was aspirant for the party
ticket from here, said she bowed before the decision of
the party and promised to work for the success of
Jathedar Tur. Surinder Kairon too addressed the
gathering. Mr Ajay Pal Singh Meerakot, Mr Veer Singh
Lopoke, Mr Gulzar Singh Ranike (all MLAs) and other
leaders of the party were present. |
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Wadala for debate on political
ideology JALANDHAR, Aug 18 — Mr Kuldeep Singh Wadala, the common candidate of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, the Sant Samaj and the BSP for the Jalandhar parliamentary seat has demanded that a debate be initiated at common platform, explaining their political ideology and priorities for development. Mr Wadala, the first to start his campaign for the constituency, has so far addressed political rallies in all nine segments of the constituency, while the offices in Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Sultanpur have been opened. Mr Surjit Singh Cheema, Mr Jagjit Singh Gabha and Mr Sarabjit Singh Wariana, all Tohra loyalists, Mr Pawan Kumar Tinoo of the BSP, and Mr Anoop Singh Minhas SAD (A) are spearheading Mr Wadala's campaign. The third front is making rampant corruption, non-performance and ignoring of the states' interests by the SAD-BJP alliance poll plank. The humiliation of the Akal Takht also features in the speeches, while Mr Parkash Singh Badal is dubbed as anti-Panthic. Mr Wadala's campaign was
attended by Mr Tohra, Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, Bhai Ranjit
Singh, Mr Simranjit Mann and Mr Kanshi Ram. |
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Parties allege harassment by
cops BATHINDA, Aug 18 — Mr Amarinder Singh, President, PPCC, Mr Joginder Dyal, state Secretary, CPI and Mr Balwant Singh, state Secretary, CPM, today alleged that senior police and civil officials of Punjab were threatening workers of their parties for opposing the SAD-BJP candidates for the coming Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a joint press conference here, they said, the government officials, who had been identified, were pressurising the workers of these parties to support the SAD-BJP candidates and in case of refusal the workers were being harassed. They said that they had warned these government officials who had become 'campaign managers' of the SAD-BJP candidates. The Election Commission would also be approached in this regard. To a question, they claimed that the issue of the foreign origin of AICC President Sonia Gandhi on which Mr Parkash Singh Badal was carrying out the entire campaign had been rejected by the people of Punjab. They claimed that alliance of the CPI, the CPM and the Congress which originated to defeat the communal forces in the country would make a clean sweep in Punjab. Mr Amarinder Singh,
while answering a specific question, said that he had
instructed all Congressmen to support the party's own
candidates or the candidates of alliance partner whole
heartedly. |
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BJP only option, says Sushma PATIALA, Aug 18 — Former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj has said the Bharatiya Janata Party was the only option before the people in case they wanted a reliable and dependent government. Addressing a large rally in support of Akali Dal (Badal) candidate Surjit Singh Rakhra at Rajpura town near here last night, Mrs Swaraj said while the BJP government had proved its mettle during the Kargil crisis. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had also emerged as a mature leader who had acted with firmness and restraint during the entire crisis. Mrs Swaraj said due to these factors there was a clear wave in favour of the National Democratic Alliance led by the BJP and its allies. It was necessary to elect a stable government which could last five years and the NDA was the only answer. Punjabi brotherhood had been created in Punjab due to her party's alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal. This had ensured a sea change in the atmosphere of the state and changed the way how the Sikhs were perceived outside Punjab earlier. On the other hand, the Congress Party was bereft of any issue on the eve of elections. The people on their part would not forgive the Congress for bringng down the BJP government by taking the help of AIADMK chief Jayalalitha. The Punjab
Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, said every
section of society had been benefited by various schemes
undertaken by the Akali-BJP government. Punjab
Subordinate Services Selection Board Chairman Jasdev
Singh Sandhu, Local Bodies Minister Balramji Das Tandon
and Akali candidate Surjit Singh Rakhra also spoke at the
rally. |
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‘Allegations against SGPC
baseless’ AMRITSAR, Aug 18 — The Secretary of the SGPC, Mr Kulwant Singh, yesterday described a news items which appeared in certain sections of the press to defame the SGPC and its management as a conspiracy. In a press note issued here, Mr Kulwant Singh said the allegations levelled by a member of the SGPC, Mr Baldev Singh, were totally baseless and devoid of any facts. It further said action was taken against Jit Singh, a clerk working at the Golden Temple, as he was allegedly found stealing money while counting the cash offerings. Taking a serious note of the utterances by Mr Baldev Singh, the secretary said there was no question of showing any leniency towards Jit Singh, and the case seeking his dismissal had been forwarded to the President of the SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur. He cautioned the people
to be aware of the conspiracy being hatched by certain
vested persons to defame the SGPC. |
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Calcutta warns SGPC AMRITSAR, Aug 18 — Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, a former Akali Minister and close confidant of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, has warned the SGPC authorities for trying to get the house of Bhai Ranjit Singh, a former Jathedar of Akal Takht vacated. "Bhai Ranjit Singh may not be Jathedar for a coterie of SGPC's office-bearers, but he is still the real Jathedar of Akal Takht for the Sikhs all over the world". Mr Calcutta, while talking to TNS said the SGPC had no locus standi to get the house vacated as it belonged to the Guru Ram Dass Charitable Trust. Mr Calcutta claimed that he (Mr Calcutta) was still a member secretary of the SGPC-run Guru Ram Dass Hospital Charitable Trust and the revamping of the trust by Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, was "illegal" and the Tohra camp would file a defamation case at the Punjab and Haryana High Court against this. He further said the SGPC had withdrawn its resolution regarding the disbanding of the trusts when challenged in the high court. Mr Calcutta claimed that
Mr Tohra had already nominated trustees of the Guru Ram
Dass Charitable Trust in March for six years be
exercising the powers given to him by the General House
on October 23, last year. The trusts could not be
disbanded or revamped like sub-committees, he added. |
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Factory making fake cough syrups
seized BATHINDA, Aug 18 — The local police has seized a factory in Deep Nagar here which was being used for making spurious cough syrups by Jagdish Lal, Superintendent, Deputy Commissioner's office, Mansa, and his son, Satish Kumar. Police sources said on a tip-off, a police team raided the one-room premises of the factory yesterday and seized 766 bottles of cough syrup bearing the fake lable of "Cosdyl" of Jackson Company, Faridabad (Haryana), 465 bottles without labels, sealing machines and other containers having different raw materials. Mr Dinesh Kumar, SHO, city police station, told TNS that Satish Kumar had been arrested while his father Jagdish Lal had absconded. He added that the police had also recovered empty bottles, seals, sugar solution, tape role with tape machine and packing boxes. The SHO said the father-son duo had been running the factory for the past one month. He added that Satish Kumar was running chemist shop in the city. For the past more than one year, the markets of the town have been flooded by spurious medicines. Spurious drugs are being manufactured at Delhi, Ludhiana and here and being supplied to Haryana, Rajasthan and other parts of Punjab. After a report regarding this appeared in The Tribune a few months back, the district administration carried out raids on many drug shops and seized huge quantities of spurious medicines. Many shops were even found running without licences. The official sources said during the past some years the markets of Bathinda had earned notoriety in the state for the large-scale sale of intoxicants at chemists shops. A case against Satish
Kumar and Jagdish had been registered under Sections 21,
22, 25 and 27 of the NDPS Act, Section 420 of the IPC,
and Section 27 of the Drug and Cosmetic Act. |
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Training course for quacks CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — Call them quacks or unqualified doctors. The fact of the matter is that these medical practitioners operating in thousands, primarily in rural areas of Punjab, are now under the state government's lens. Following a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court a survey was conducted to identify these ‘doctors’, whose clinics are operating illegally. As a means to stem any agitation from these ‘doctors’ and also to ensure that court orders are implemented, the government has decided to introduce a three-month capsule training course for these doctors on the lines of say multipurpose health workers' training or auxiliary staff. Consequently, the government has decided that such practitioners, who are matriculate, had one science subject and had been in practice for more than five years (as experience) could join such courses to be run at the block level. These will be in batches of 30 to 35. For each month the fee subscribed is Rs 1,500. Those who fail to avail of this opportunity will be dealt with as per the law, while, others could become eligible legitimately for carrying on their practice, say informed sources. Though a formal decision has been taken, the government is withholding the announcement of same due to poll code of conduct being in vogue. Sources in the
government say quite a large number of such
‘doctors’ have established nursing homes but
possess no qualifying degree. Patients thus are at the
mercy of these practitioners. Due to elections some
"soft"approach is being adopted. Neither many
cases are being forwarded to the police in districts
concerned nor training course being publicised. These
‘doctors’ allegedly act as a conduit for urban
doctors to refer patients. Some time ago the state had a
problem in respect of ones who bear the mark of
‘RMP’ — registered medical practitioner. |
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130 poor couples married off FATEHGARH SAHIB: The district police with the blessings of Baba Ajit Singh Hansaliwale organised a mass marriage of 130 poor and needy couples at Gurdwara Ramana Sahib in Hansali village. Talking to mediapersons after participating in the function, Mr Sanjiv Gupta, DIG, Patiala Range, said on the directions of the Chief Minister, and the DGP, Mr Sarabjit Singh, the police in the state besides doing its official duty had also undertaken social activities. He said all efforts were being made to make the police people-friendly. He said the police-people interaction had improved resulting nabbing of anti-social elements as people had started providing the police with information. He wanted to remove the fear from the masses so that they could redress their grievances without fear and middlemen. Such functions were being organised as a part of this people-friendly campaign. Mr Paramraj Singh Umranangal, SSP, said earlier in May 1999, the district police had solemnised the marriage of 26 couples at Hansali. Since then a number of poor families had started thronging his office seeking help to solemnise the marriage of their daughters. With the Baba's encouragement the district police decided to organise it. He said voluntary organisations had also cooperated with the police, village panchayats. Religious organisations were also involved in this function. Earlier thousands of people thronged the Baba's dera. It was a mela-type situation when about 130 barats started coming to the venue. The military and police bands were in attendance. The barats were received by the sangat and police. The marriages were performed according to Vedic and Sikh rites. After the religious ceremony, the barat and relatives were served refreshments. Gold watches, earrings, household furniture, cycles, fans, utensils, mattresses and other items were given to each couple. Baba Ajit Singh along with Mr N.P.S.Aulakh, IG (HQ); Mr T.R. Sarangal, Additional Director, Industries, Mr Balwant Singh Shahpur, MLA; and Mr Randhir Singh Cheema, a former minister, blessed the couples and presented gift items to them. Mr V.K.Janjua, Deputy Commissioner, announced that all the couples covered under the shagan scheme would be given cheques of Rs 5,100 each. The organisers announced
that marriage of 200 couples would be solemnised soon. |
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Over 200 police trainees
qualify PHILLAUR, Aug 18 — Mr Sarbjit Singh, DGP, Punjab, today took the salute at the passing out parade of Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur. As many as 207 trainees of various promotional courses passed out. In his address to the passing out trainees, the DGP congratulated them and complemented the Director of the academy and his team for the excellent training standards and an impressive parade. He also appreciated the efforts of the academy for designing new courses which were proving extremely beneficial in educating police personnel to meet day to day challenges besides bringing in desired attitudinal changes. Mr A.A. Siddiqui, Director of the academy, presented the report, in which he said the focus of all training programmes was to improve the functional efficiency of the police personnel. He said this year the university cell of the institution had provided facilities to police personnel to appear in MA and M Phil in police administration examination privately. He said the initial response of the field police officers was very encouraging. In order to encourage the police personnel to improve their qualifications, incentive of either cash rewards or special increments should be provided to all those officers who improved their academic qualifications, while in service. Mr Siddiqui also projected some problems of the academy with a view to improve the police training standards at PPA, Phillaur. A cultural programme and
a bara khana were also organised a day before the parade. |
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Police ‘victim’ seeks
PAP security TARN TARAN, Aug 18 — Mr Surinder Singh Fauji (55), an eye-witness in the case of eliminating six Sikh youths in the night of December 14, 92 at Gharka village near Beas river by a Punjab Police party, has demanded security of PAP or IRB personnel as his CRPF guards have been taken back on the instructions of the Supreme Court. Mr Surinder Singh, a resident of nearby Fatehabad village, in a press statement issued here today, said he had been badly tortured by the Punjab Police during the militancy period and a fear psychosis still prevailed in his children's minds. Hence the presence of the Punjab Police personnel in his house would disturb the mental peace of his family members. He was provided with CRPF guards on the instructions of the Supreme Court in 1996. Mr Surinder Singh has
demanded from the Punjab Government that he should be
given security of PAP or IRB personnel keeping in view
the prevailing fear psychosis in the minds of his
children and other family members. |
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SGPC to tie up with TV
channel PHAGWARA, Aug 18 — The SGPC is all set for a tie up with a private TV channel, Punjabi Duniya, for the telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple. Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, said here yesterday that the telecast would commence soon. The SGPC had served a legal notice to Punjabi World for breaching the contract by discontinuing the telecast. Meanwhile Bibi Jagir Kaur took to task the former Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh, for lowering the dignity of Akal Takht by campaigning for political parties in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. She declared that she
was totally against campaigning by present Head Priest of
the Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh, and added the Akal
Takht Jathedar belongs to the masses and should not be
partial. |
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Contributions to Kargil fund LUDHIANA, Aug 18 — Employees of the Bank of India have contributed Rs 3 crore to the Prime Minister's National Defence Fund. The management of Raekot Public School, Raekot, has offered, to provide free education for the wards of Kargil martyrs. SAMRALA: A draft for Rs 13,100 collected by the local Senior Secondary School for Girls was sent to the District Education Officer(s), Ludhiana, on Wednesday for the Punjab War Heroes Relief Fund, according to the Principal, Mr Bachittar Singh. Another draft for Rs 16,865 was presented by Commdt Rashpal Singh to the SDM, Mr Baldev Singh, for the Punjab War Heroes Relief Fund. PATIALA: The staff of Government Model Senior Secondary School here has contributed one day's salary for the Kargil Relief Fund. The school has also deposited Rs 8,720 collected by the students for the welfare of the families of the Kargil martyrs. PHAGWARA: The local Brahman Sabha on Tuesday contributed Rs 51,000 to the Kargil Relief Fund. The amount was presented to Mr V.K. Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, at a function held here. The local Senior Citizens Council also contributed Rs 5,100 to the fund. JALANDHAR: Lt-Gen Kamal Davar, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, received a draft for Rs 51,000 from Ms I.K. Sardana, chairman of the College Management Committee of Kamala Nehru College for Women, Phagwara, and Dr Rita Bawa, Principal of the college, on Wednesday for the Army Welfare Fund for families of Kargil martyrs. The amount
has been collected by the students of the college by
selling bangles and badges. It also included three days'
salary contributed by the college staff. |
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Doraha town being dewatered LUDHIANA, Aug 18 — Residents of Doraha town today got some respite with the dewatering operations launched here yesterday. The town has been water-logged for the past several days. Drainage Department officials claim that the water level in the town has come down by almost nine inches and 50 per cent of the water-logged area has been dewatered. "The department has
installed four pumps to drain the water from the town and
throwing it in to the canal", informed Mr M.S. Gill,
Executive Engineer. He claimed that the dewatering of the
remaining area would be done tomorrow morning. |
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College teachers to protest on
Aug 30 CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) has decided to hold a demonstration at Moga on August 30 to protest against the false promises made by the state government and to get their genuine demands implemented at the earliest. The president of the association, Prof S.S. Hundal has urged the Punjab government to accept the genuine demands of the teachers of the government-aided colleges. Resentment prevails among college teachers with regard to the indifference on the part of the government towards their demands. The pension gratuity scheme announced on December 14, 1996, has not been implemented so far. Mr Hundal said that Shiromani Akali Dal ( SAD) in its manifesto, in 1997 assured that all non-government colleges that were opened after November, 1981, would be given funds under the grant-in-aid scheme, but even after a lapse of two and a half years no steps had been taken in this regard. The demands include
release of Rs 23.61 crore grant for the session 1997-98
and 1998-99, besides regular quarterly grants; release of
Rs 14,940 grade for librarians and DPEs. |
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Post-mortem of torture victim
conducted TARN TARAN, Aug 18 — The post-mortem examination of Lakhbir Singh, alias Lakha, who was tortured to death day before yesterday in police custody at police post, Chohla Sahib, was performed yesterday at the Local Civil Hospital by three doctors. It has been video-filmed, according to the National Human Rights Commission's instructions. Mr Inder Singh, father of the deceased said they had to wait for the body as his son had died 48 hours ago. Meanwhile, Sub-Inspector
Fateh Faqir Singh, who tortured to death Lakhbir Singh,
was produced today before the Judicial Magistrate here. |
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JD merger BATHINDA, Aug 18 —
Mr Vipan Kumar, President of the district unit of the
Janata Dal, in a press note issued here today said the
entire unit had joined the Janata Dal (United), led by Mr
Sharad Yadav. |
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