Saturday, August 21, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Saturday, August 21, 1999 |
weather  spotlighttoday's calendar |
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Birdevinder,
others let off hook 6 children among 8 murdered |
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Education
not on agenda SAD(B) turns it into poll rally PM: no first use of N-weapon by
India Employing faith to contain
pollution Ludhiana SSP, Patiala DPRO
transferred NFL staff threaten strike from Aug
27 One arrested for spying Illicit liquor claims 3 lives Appoint economists on planning
board :VC Statement recorded in ‘sex
slave’ case BJP accused of cheating people |
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Suspension revoked CHANDIGARH, Aug 20 — With the revocation of their suspension order today, the way has been paved for Mr Birdevinder Singh, general secretary; Mr Prem Gupta, Joint Secretary, and Mr Brij Lal Goyal, a member of the executive of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), to join the party poll campaign. Mr Harcharan Singh Hero, Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee of the party, said here today that he and party president, Capt Amarinder Singh, were satisfied with the explanation of Mr Birdevinder Singh, Mr Gupta and Mr Goyal with regard to the show cause notice issued to them, and hence the revocation of suspension orders. All the three senior Congress leaders were suspended from the party for their alleged anti-party activities. Mr Hero said the show cause notice issued to Dr Satwant Singh Mohi had also been withdrawn following the explanation given by him being found in order. The same had been done in case of Mr Romesh Singla, another senior Congress leader. Mr Hero said Mr Birdevinder Singh, Mr Gupta and Mr Goyal were respected leaders of the party and they would certainly work hard to make party candidates emerge victorious by campaigning vigorously for them. At the same time he issued a warning to all that if any party leader found violating the party discipline and working against the party interests after August 21, he or she would be straightaway expelled from party. No compromise would be made as far as maintaining discipline in the party was concerned, he added. There were powers with the party leadership for ordering expulsion from the party in emergency situation like during elections. Informed sources said efforts were being made by Capt Amarinder Singh and other senior leaders to bring about a patch-up between the party president and Mr Birdevinder Singh, Mr Gupta, Mr Goyal, Mr Surinder Singla, Mr Sant Ram Singla, Mr Brahm Mohindra and others. The stand-off between Capt Amarinder Singh and these leaders was going on for the past two months or so and a lot of bad blood had been created between the two camps. In fact, Mr Birdevinder Singh and other leaders had not joined the campaign of Mrs Praneet Kaur wife of Capt Amarinder Singh due to their differences with the latter. Branded as "dissident leaders", Mr Birdevinder Singh, Mr Sant Ram Singla, Mr Surinder Singla and Mr Brahm Mohindra had held several meetings recently to formulate their strategy, vis-a-vis, Capt Amarinder Singh. The bone of contention was the nomination for the Patiala Lok Sabha constituency. Mr Birdevinder Singh, Mr Sant Ram Singla and Mr Surinder Singla were hot contenders for the party nomination, but Capt Amarinder Singh choose to support his wife as the party nominee. This stance of Capt Amarinder Singh created a wide rift among the two camps. Sources said after a formal contact over phone with estranged leaders, Capt Amarinder Singh succeeded yesterday in making them sit around the table at his Moti Bagh Palace to sort out the differences and bury the ongoing feud. Sources added that Bibi Rajinder Kaur Bhattal helped in resolve the differences to some extent. Mr Hero was also present. Among the dissident leaders who attended last evening's meeting were Mr Birdevinder Singh, Mr Sant Ram Singla, Mr Surinder Singla, Mr Prem Gupta, Mr Nirmal Singh Bhattian, Mr Lakhwinder Singh and certain others. Capt Amarinder Singh reportedly assured them that the suspension of the party leaders would be revoked and clarified about certain matters. He was annoyed about the language used against him by certain Congress leaders while issuing statements. On the other hand estranged leaders said they were part of the Congress Party and nobody had the right to treat them in a shabby and humiliating manner. Although the ground has been prepared for Mr Birdevinder Singh and others to join the campaign trail, Capt Amarinder Singh's problems as far as restoring discipline and setting the party house in order is concerned are far from over. Official candidates of the party are facing problem from their opponents within the party at several places like Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Sangrur, Bathinda and Hoshiarpur. He would have to spend more time to sort out the problems. Leaders like Mr
Birdevinder Singh are very impressive speakers and have
the capacity to mount attack on the SAD and BJP in
virulent manner. Their participation in the campaign will
certainly make a difference for the party at the
hustings. |
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6 children among 8
murdered SHERMAJRA (PATIALA), Aug 20 — Eight members, including six children, of a family of a labourer from Bihar were found murdered today morning near their house in this village, 10 km from Patiala. The blood soaked bodies of Triful Yadav, his wife Rani and their six children — Pawan (14), Rattan (13), Anjan (11), Renu (9), Baby (8) and Titly — were found at different places. While the bodies of Triful and his five children were found with in the house, the body of Pawan was found outside and the body of Rani was recovered from the fields nearby. The bodies bore marks of injuries caused by a sharp-edged weapon and had black and blue stains on them. While electricity wires were tied to all bodies, Rani's body was covered with torn clothes. According to the police the motive of the killings was robbery. Further interrogation of three suspects, who are in police custody, is on. The police said the three suspects — Rajesh, Nandi and Chander — all labourers belonging to the deceased's village had planned to kill Triful as they owed him money. The suspects told the police that they had also planned to steal money from Triful. They reportedly spent last night in Triful's house and in the morning they took away his wife and raped her in the nearby fields. Later, they allegedly killed her by slitting her throat with a kitchen knife. After this they returned and attacked the remaining members of the family. According to the police the suspects attacked Triful and his five children with knives and then electrocuted them. When the killers were coming out they spotted the sixth child, Pawan who had gone to the fields and killed him also in the same manner. The residents of the
village gathered around the bodies in the morning when
the police, led by senior officers visited the site.
According to a villagers, Ram Chander Yadav, the family
had been living there for the past 15 years or so and had
no enmity with anyone. |
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Bhattal on election campaign
from PATIALA, Aug 20 — Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister, today announced her decision to campaign for the candidates of the Congress and its allies in the state for the 13th Lok Sabha elections. Talking to newspersons here today Mrs Bhattal said she would address election rallies in constituencies at Raikot, Tapan, Barnala and Malerkotla on August 21 and Ahmedgarh, Nihal Singhwala and Sangrur constituencies on August 22 in favour of Mr Ajit Singh, CPI candidate, supported by the Congress from the Sangrur Parliamentary seat. Mrs Bhattal said she would visit the Assembly constituency of Lehragaga on August 23 to campaign for Mrs Praneet Kaur, Congress candidate for the Patiala Lok Sabha seat. Mrs Bhattal said she would launch her campaign vigorously now as earlier she was awaiting the filling of nomination papers. She expressed the confidence that the Congress Party would win the elections. The decision of Mrs
Bhattal attains significance as the former Chief Minister
is considered a great campaigner. |
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Education not on agenda JALANDHAR, Aug 20 — The country is abuzz with speculation as to who will form the next government. But the basic question seems to be overlooked. Does the nation exist for the sake of politicians or do politicians exist to serve the nation? While public opinion polls unequivocally show that whoever wins or loses in this election, politicians from all parties have lost the confidence of the people. The voter today is demanding greater accountability and transparency in the task of governance. Shortage of power, water and transport facilities in certain constituencies will determine the fate of many politicians in these elections. When TNS spoke to a cross-section of people in the Jalandhar and Phillaur parliamentary constituencies, it became clear that the voters main concern was "real" schools and well-equipped hospitals. Ms Rani Rai, a panchayat member of Nurpoor Dona said, "Our village constitutes 90 per cent of Scheduled Castes/OBCs and in the past 52 years, our village has produced only one graduate". The village has a government school with a regular staff but the teachers are either absent or take little interest in teaching. While politicians have been promising that by 2000 AD, India will be totally literate, the four states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have 52 per cent of the country’s illiterate and 15 per cent of the world’s illiterate. We have 22 per cent of the world’s school dropouts, and 30 per cent of the global population of adult illiterate. Reports warn us that by 2000 AD the country will have 50 per cent of the world’s illiterate. Apparently children don’t matter in the game of politics. The country’s most prosperous state has two nursery schools and 30 per cent primary schools without any basic infrastructure, as many as 60 per cent of government school buildings in the state are in a dilapidated state. Medical care is also a neglected area. The Civil Hospital in Jalandhar, the largest in the state, has been demolished and work on its reconstruction stopped. The Health Minister, Mr Manoranjan Kalia, when contacted told TNS that Rs 100 crore from the World Bank had been received. But where has the money gone? It seems that the
prediction of the UNDP human development report might
come true. According to it, India has six times more
soldiers than doctors and is in no way "ready"
to enter the next century. |
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Martyrdom day of Sant Longowal LONGOWAL (Sangrur), Aug 20 — The 14th martyrdom day of former Akali Dal President Sant Harcharan Singh Longowal observed at his native village here today was virtually changed into an election rally the Akali Dal (Badal) candidate Surjit Singh Barnala in which Congress bashing occupied centre stage. The necessity of installing Atal Behari Vajpayee as Prime Minister and detailed accounts to prove the incapability of Congress President Sonia Gandhi besides praise of Mr Barnala by the two union ministers Sompal and Sikander Bakht were the highlights of the function. The Rajiv-Longowal accord was not mentioned by anyone and nor did anyone talk of retrieving it and making it an election issue in the poll. Even Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal chose to be evasive on the issue when questioned whether his party would make it an issue. Union Industry Minister Sikander Bakht was the only one who talked about the sacrifice made by Sant Longowal in detail and said Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Surjit Singh Barnala were his natural heirs. He even chided some speakers for not speaking on the sant, including Union Agricultural Minister Sompal who spoke before him. Mr Bakht said the Congress was more to blame for making Mrs Sonia Gandhi its president than the lady herself. Mr Badal said it was up to the people to decide whether they wanted Mr Vajpayee who had demonstrated his maturity in the face of attack by Pakistan to rule the country or an inexperienced foreigner who had no credentials. He said the Congress campaign was already floundering and that the party would suffer its most humiliating defeat ever in the forthcoming elections. Speaking about the late Sant, the Chief Minister said he was not an individual but an institution. He said Sant Longowal had united the Punjabis and led the Akali Dal in the right direction. He said "we followed the Sant's direction to make the government in the state as well as at the Centre". Later talking to TNS, the Chief Minister, when asked whether he proposed to seek the resignation of Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh Badal against whose son a case has been registered for abducting and raping a girl, said the whole issue was not clear till yet. He said an inquiry was being conducted into the case and facts would be established after the completion. He said the law would take its own course in the case and there was no question of shielding the alleged culprits. The function lacked the
traditional zest and enthusiasm associated with it. The
crowds were also thinner than usual. Party secretary
general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, senior leader Jagdev Singh
Talwandi, Jasdev Singh Sandhu and minister Gobind Singh
Kanjla also spoke on the occasion. |
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PM: no first use of N-weapon
by India CHANDIGARH, Aug 20 — The final set of papers in Bofors payoffs case are expected soon, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee announced here today saying the Congress must explain relationship with Ottavio Quattorocchi against whom a chargesheet has already been filed. Talking to newsmen at Punjab Raj Bhavan here this morning, the Prime Minister said that it was clear from the chargesheet that there were 'kickbacks'. Anybody could see the chargesheet. Referring to the communiqué issued on behalf of the G-8 nations, the Prime Minister clarified that the nuclear doctrine issued by India was only a draft paper and not the final policy. "There has been no shift in our policy. We will not be the first to use our nuclear weapons, and further India will not use them against nations which do not possess them." Asked how India would react to fresh economic sanctions imposed by the G-8 nations, Mr Vajpayee said he had not gone through the entire communiqué issued by G-8 nations. "No one should jump to conclusions. We want that the draft doctrine should be studied properly. We are ready to discuss it with all nations, including Pakistan," he asserted. Mr Vajpayee, who answered questions from newsmen for 25 minutes, said there had been a demand to clarify control and command on the nuclear policy which has been specified now. He maintained that India had always been advocating complete nuclear disarmament. If the nuclear states agree to destroy their nuclear arsenal, India would be in the forefront. "The issue will again come up before the next General Assembly session of the United Nations. We are for nuclear disarmament. "If the security environment around us deteriorates, we have to take note of it. We continue to have a minimum nuclear programme," the Prime Minister said. Talking about the Ram Mandir, he said the matter was before the court. "We want it to be expedited. We will be bound by the decision." The Prime Minister said if there was cooperation from both Punjab and Haryana, the SYL dispute could be resolved through negotiations after the elections. "If the Cauvery waters dispute could be resolved through negotiations, why not SYL," he asked. He took a similar stand when asked about the stand of the BJP about the future of Chandigarh. "After the elections, we will try to find a solution to this problem." Mr Vajpayee said the imposition of a Kargil tax after the elections was only a proposal. No decision has been taken so far. To another question, he said the performance of the Central Government and not the Punjab Government should be talked about as elections were being held for the Lok Sabha and not the state assembly. He maintained that the NDA manifesto was the basis for the alliance partners to contest the coming Lok Sabha elections. The issue of foreign born nationals being made ineligible to accept high positions was in principle and not linked to any individual, he added. Mr Vajpayee said he
started his campaign from Ludhiana, in Punjab, and would
visit the state again for electioneering. Later, he left
for Haryana where he will address election rallies at
Karnal, Fatehabad and Rohtak. Tomorrow he would go to
Chennai. |
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Employing faith to contain
pollution KIRATPUR SAHIB (Ropar): Besides spreading spiritual message from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, environmental message will also be spread from there by distributing "prasad of saplings" among the pilgrims in the Golden Temple complex. This was conveyed to Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, by Bibi Jagir Kaur, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. She was here to participate in a programme, organised for the revival of "Guru Ka Bagh" (herbal garden) behind the Sheesh Mehal Gurdwara. More than 350 years ago, Guru Har Rai set up a herbal dawakhana (treatment centre) here along with a nursery of herbal plants. All herbal plants of Guru’s time have perished already. Bibi Jagir Kaur also conveyed that the SGPC had allotted a piece of land in the Golden Temple complex to stock the saplings. The saplings would be collected through government nurseries, private nurseries or donation. Mr Jaswinder Singh, a member of the SGPC from Amritsar had been made in charge of this project. She also said that the SGPC would launch a campaign for introducing "prasad of saplings" in the gurdwaras in the state. To participate in this programme, Master Mohan Lal, Forest Minister, Punjab, Mr J.S. Samundari, Divisional Forest Officer, Ropar, and other forest officials also visited the "Guru Ka Bagh." Prof Manjit Singh planted a sapling of ‘harrar’ in the bagh while Master Mohan Lal planted a sapling of "reetha", Earlier, Bibi Jagir Kaur planted the sapling of ‘baherra’. All these are herbal plants. Talking to reporters, Prof Manjit Singh said this herbal garden and the ‘perished’ ‘dawakhana’ had a reference in the historical books as Dara Shikoh, a brother of Emperor Aurangzeb, had been cured of a liver ailment by Guru Har Rai with herbal medicines, prepared from the herbal plants of this bagh. Since the departure of the Guru, this herbal garden also perished and now it was decided to revive it. Prof Manjit Singh said besides the Forest Department and the SGPC, other organisations had also been playing a role in the distribution of ‘prasad of saplings’. He said even today some women come from Delhi with saplings to plant here. The Sikhs of Delhi have launched a campaign in this direction and had set up three nurseries there for the purpose. The Jathedar said, he had talked about the issue with leaders of other religions and faiths at a function organised to mark the 300 birth centenary of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib where decisions were taken for the promotion of forestry and pollution-free atmosphere. He said Mr Birendra Hegde from Mangalore (Karnataka), Shankracharya of Triputi and World Wildlife Fund Organisation had been playing a major role in this direction. Prof Manjit Singh said since December 1997, about 1.70 lakh saplings had been distributed among the devotees as "prasad" at Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib. These were provided by the Punjab Forest Department. The Jathedar said he had selected this area for the plantation of herbal and medicinal plants as it had great potential, being a herbal belt. Besides, the inhabitants were small land-holders and poor. The production of herbal plants could be converted into a commercial project which would help them financially. He said with a view to promoting herbal plantation he had decided to revive the "Guru Ka Bagh" here. He said an international conference on ayurvedic and unani therapies was being organised at Anandpur Sahib in December to propagate herbal therapies. Master Mohan Lal called upon the people to plant a sapling at the birth of a baby and the death of a near and dear one to keep his or her memories alive. He also said that his department would make arrangements to distribute saplings as ‘prasad’ at the historical and religious fairs. Mr J.S. Samundari, Divisional Forest Officer, said 10,000 saplings of various plants were distributed today here and at Anandpur Sahib. These were the saplings of lemon, baherra, reetha, harrar, mango, guava and amla etc. Prof Manjit Singh
distributed the ‘prasad of saplings’ at the
local Sheesh Mahal gurdwara and Baba Gurdita ji Gurdwara
among the devotees. |
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Ludhiana SSP, Patiala DPRO
transferred CHANDIGARH, Aug 20 — The Election Commission of India today directed the Punjab Government to shift the Senior Superintendent of Police of Ludhiana district Mr Kuldeep Singh to some other place, name of Ms Gurpreet Kaur Deo has been cleared by the Commission for posting as Ludhiana’s new SSP. Sources said that the Commission had asked the Punjab Government to submit a panel of names for the posting of new SSP at Ludhiana this morning. The Punjab Government was given deadline of 12 O’clock for submitting the panel, it is learnt. Mr Kuldeep Singh has been transferred for being posted in his home district. Ms Deo is posted at Ludhiana as SP (Economic Offences) at present. Sources added that complaint against one Deputy Commissioner posted in the Malwa region had also been received by the commission for sharing platform with a politician at a function organised by spending state money. It is a violation of the model code of conduct. Meanwhile, SHO Joginder
Singh posted at Baghapurana (Moga district) and Mr
Ujjagar Singh DPRO, Patiala have also been transferred on
the orders of the commission. |
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NFL staff threaten strike
from Aug 27 NANGAL, Aug 20 — The workers of all the units of NFL have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from August 27 if their demands are not met. This declaration was made by the leaders of the coordination committee of all the union leaders of NFL at a gate meeting held here yesterday to press for their demands. The workers have been agitating since August 9 to get an agreement signed between workers and the management in 1998 implemented. Among the main demand of workers is a monthly incentive of Rs 601 on achieving production target, fixed medical allowance of Rs 751, finalisation of the promotion policy, finalisation of wage revision and settlement of the agenda for the year 1999-2000. These benefits were stopped by the NFL management in the wake of financial crisis in the company. Mr G.K. Soni, coordinator and Ramesh Bhardwaj, general secretary, while addressing the rally alleged that the NFL has gone into a financial crises due to the mismanagement of higher officials but the workers were being penalised for it in spite of the fact that they achieved their production targets. Citing cases of mismanagement he said that the NFL management had given interest free loans to various organisations like a Rs 100 crore to Madras Fertiliser Ltd which could not be retrieved, and a loss of Rs 133 crore in the urea scam. About four lakh tonne of
urea worth Rs 400 crore is lying unsold. The union
leaders also condemned the contractor system in NFL. |
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One arrested for spying MUKTSAR, Aug 20 (UNI) — The Malout police has arrested Angrez Singh under the Official Secrets Act, while he was passing on vital information about important installations to Pakistan’s ISI agents from PCO here. The SSP, Mr Kultar Singh, said here today that Angrez Singh was arrested on Wednesday last and later produced in a court which remanded him to police custody for five days. A diary was also seized from him. It contained telephone numbers of several ISI agents ,with whom he used to maintain contact, the police officer said. The SSP said the accused, during his 15-month stay in Lahore had got training from the ISI and returned to India in August last year. During interrogation, Angrez Singh confessed that he had links with Mustaq and Riaz, both ISI agents and residents of Kasur and Lahore respectively. The police interrogation revealed that Angrez first started smuggling gold at the instance of his relatives from his native village Bharowal situated near the border. He started the smuggling of gold in 1981-82 and was later arrested and served a jail sentence for two years. In 1990 after his release he was again arrested by Jammu police as he was trying to cross the border, the police officer said. However, he escaped from
the police custody and had been absconding since then.The
SSP said the arrested person had confessed that he was
providing valuable information to ISI agents and was
promised ‘heroin’ and money in turn from them. |
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Illicit liquor claims 3 lives KAPURTHALA, Aug 20 — Three labourers reportedly died following the consumption of spurious liquor in Warhyan Dona village last night. While the condition of the fourth labourer is stated to be serious. Mr Iqbal Singh told
newsmen that on following roof construction in his newly
built house in the village, its owner, Jasbir Singh gave
two bottles of illicit liquor to two masons and six
labourers. One bottle was consumed by two masons and two
labourers while the other bottle was consumed by victims.
After consuming the second bottle, four labourers became
unconscious. They were taken to civil hospital. Three of
them were declared dead. The police identified them as
Joginder Paul (50), Pappu (35), and Janiny (25). Pheeru
is admitted in a hospital in Jalandhar. The police has
registered a case. |
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Appoint economists on planning
board :VC PATIALA, Aug 20 — The Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, yesterday stressed the need for the appointment of economists on the Punjab Planning Board. Addressing the faculty of economists of the university here yesterday, the Vice-Chancellor remarked that the bureaucrats, despite their best efforts, were unable to convince the Planning Commission of India to attract projects for the development of the state. He said the economists could fill in this gap and contribute immensely for the revival and strengthening of the board. Mr Ahluwalia said he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and lobby for more interaction between the government and the experts from the university. Prof Sucha Singh Gill,
Head, Department of Economics, said the department had
decided to start M.Phil course from this academic
session. He urged the Vice-Chancellor for taking steps to
strengthen the computer section of the department. He
requested the Vice-Chancellor to approach the state
government for the availability of computerised data
lying with various agencies of Punjab government for its
productive use by the university experts. |
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Statement recorded in ‘sex
slave’ case LUDHIANA, Aug 20 — Mr Harpal Singh, Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Ludhiana, today recorded the statement of Gurpreet, alias Sonu, victim in the "sex slave" case involving the kin of the Punjab Agriculture Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal. The statement was recorded after an application was preferred on behalf of Gurpreet in which she alleged that she and her family was under strong pressure from certain politicians not to go ahead with the case. Therefore, her statement should be recorded immediately. The court, which had
earlier set Monday as the day for recording the
statement, conceded her request and recorded the
statement. |
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Two gangsters arrested PHAGWARA, Aug 20 — The police here today arrested two gangsters and recovered from them three stolen vehicles, one 12 bore pistol and two cartridges. The SSP, Kapurthala, Mr Iqbal Singh, said the arrest was made during a naka near Darveshpind, 8 km from here. The nabbed gangsters
included Piara Singh of Palahi village and Shiv Kumar of
Chaura Khuh locality here. Both were travelling in an
unnumbered white coloured Maruti car that turned out to
be a stolen one. Another Maruti car and a Maruti van were
later recovered from them. |
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BJP accused of cheating
people BARNALA, Aug 20 — Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, former Union Welfare Minister and Rajya Sabha member, has alleged that the BJP is a party of cheaters. He said, the BJP had cheated not only God (by forgetting the Ayodhya issue and Lord Rama) and soldiers who fought valiantly without proper facilities in Kargil but also poor farmers who had been forced to commit suicides. He said the war with Pakistan would not end till the BJP-led alliance was in power at the Centre. Mr Ramoowalia was addressing an election meeting at the local Thuliwalian di Dharamshala yesterday in support of the CPM nominee from Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, Principal (retd) Ajit Singh. The meeting was organised jointly by the CPM and the Congress. Mr Ramoowalia criticised the Vajpayee government for cuts in the Defence Budget which had led to loss of life in Kargil during the conflict with Pak intruders. Mr Ramoowalia expressed confidence that the CPM nominee would defeat Mr Surjit Singh Barnala and said the communal forces would not be favoured by the voters. Mr Som Dutt, former
state minister and secretary of the Punjab Congress,
urged the voters to strengthen the hands of secular
forces by voting in favour of Mr Ajit Singh. |
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Congress flays Chief Minister JALANDHAR, Aug 20 — The Congress Party has while castigating the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for "shielding" the family of a Cabinet Minister enveloped in the abduction and rape has demanded a CBI inquiry into the sorry episode. The secretary of the
PPCC, Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira, while dubbing the incident
as most unfortunate, alleged that Mr Parkash Singh Badal,
had make a complete detour round the promises he had made
to the people of the state. Contrary to promoting the
rights of women, he is trying to protect his
partyman’s family. He should have immediately asked
for Mr Gurdev Singh Badal’s resignation and ordered
a CBI inquiry into the entire episode. |
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Dr Gian Singh Mann on Hindi
panel LUDHIANA, Aug 20 — Dr Gian Singh Mann, renowned Hindi author and educationist of this region has been appointed member of the "Hindi Salahakar Samiti" of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers for a period of three years. Dr Mann has more than 45
books to his credit in the field of fiction, poetry,
drama and criticism and won two national awards for his
Hindi novels "Mrig-Trishna". |
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PSEB engineers threaten stir BATHINDA, Aug 20 — The PSEB Engineers Association has threatened to launch an agitation in protest against the negative attitude of the board's management towards their demands. In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr R.D. Rishi, Regional Secretary of the association, said their demands included removal of stagnation, promotional scales and improvement in working conditions. He further said it was felt that because of ad hocism prevailing at the top-level management the board was bearing losses and day-to-day interference by politicians in the board's working was causing harassment to engineers. He also condemned the
dilly-dallying attitude of the management regarding the
implementation of the board's policies. |
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Debar Badal from contesting
poll: Cong PHILLAUR, Aug 20 —Punjab Youth Congress Senior Vice-President Parminder Mehta in a communication to Chief Election Commissioner, M.S. Gill has alleged that Akali factions led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Mr Simranjit Singh Mann are openly mixing religion with politics to get votes. Badal and Tohra dals are using the name of Akal Takht and involving Jathedar Puran Singh and former Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh in election rallies to woo voters. Mr Mehta urged the
Election Commissioner that Mr Badal, Mr Tohra and Mr Mann
should be barred from the voting and contesting elections
like Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray to upkeep the secular
character of the country. |
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Teachers hold rally NAWANSHAHR, Aug 20 — Members of the local unit of the Government Teachers Union, Punjab, organised a rally in front of the office of the Treasury Officer here yesterday. They were protesting against the delay in clearance of salary bills and the alleged misbehaviour of the treasury officer. They also submitted a
memorandum to the SDM for forwarding it to the Chief
Minister. |
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