Friday, August 27, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Friday, August 27, 1999 |
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Dhumal
seeks votes for Kamal Chaudhary |
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Tohra
playing game of Congress: Badal
Four
KLF men arrested Ropar town residents sore Coop sugar mill a white elephant Civic body, residents lock horns PCCTU withdraws strike call Registration of rape case ordered Hav Lakhbir Chand cremated Five killed in mishaps Hari Singh Arewala dead |
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Dhumal seeks votes for Kamal
Chaudhary ROPAR, Aug 26 — Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal claimed that voters of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal had made up their mind to vote for National Democratic Alliance candidates to make Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the next Prime Minister. He was addressing an election rally, organised in favour of Mr Kamal Chaudhary, BJP candidate for the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat at the local old grain market last night. Mr Dhumal held the Congress responsible for pulling down seven non-Congress governments in the past 20 years. He said the Congress had no right to seek votes as it had forced elections several times. He said the people did not want elections time and again and would reject the Congress. Mr Dhumal also claimed that the Congress party’s election symbol "Hand" would become a thing of the past in the 21st century if the voters succeeded in defeating it in the current Lok Sabha election. He also expressed the hope that National Democratic Alliance (SAD-BJP and BSM) in Punjab would repeat its performance of elections of 1998 in this parliamentary poll. The Chief Minister also said that during intrusion in 1948 by Pakistan and in 1962 by China, the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru expressed his inability to deal with the same, but this time Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee stood firm against the intrusion by Pakistan in Kargil and emerged winner. He called upon the people to cast votes in favour of the candidates who would strengthen Mr Vajpayee's hands. He said every vote was an important so all voters should cast their votes. He cited the example if a vote could pull down the Vajpayee government, your single vote could also become instrumental in the defeat or win of a candidate. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supply Minister, Punjab, addressing the gathering said the country needed a strong and able Prime Minister like Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. So cast each vote to Kamal Chaudhary to make Mr Vajpayee the next Prime Minister. He accused the Congress of promoting corruption which forced the people to reject the Congress which ruled the country for more than four decades. Mr Mittal said the Congress now wanted to establish foreign rule in the country through a woman of the foreign origin. He said the people would not allow to succeed the Congress in doing so. He also urged the voters to cast votes for Mr Vajpayee who emerged victorious in Kargil, made the country sixth nation in atomic powers and did not allow to rise the prices despite a war-like situation in Kargil. Master Tara Singh Ladhal, MLA from Anandpur Sahib, also called upon the voters to reject the Congress to give a clear mandate to the Prime Minister Vajpayee. He said SAD-BJP-BSM candidates would win in all constituencies. Mr Kamal Chaudhary, BJP candidate from Hoshiarpur, also sought votes for a strong NDA government at the Centre. He also lauded Mr Vajpayee for tackling the Kargil situation. GARHSHANKAR: Mr Dhumal today appealed to the people of Punjab to defeat the Congress and vote for Akali-BJP-BSM candidate Kamal Chaudhry from the Hoshiarpur constituency. He was addressing a meeting in the bet area's of Saila and Binowal few kilometres from here. He blamed the Congress for destabilising and finally for the fall of the Vajpayee government. He lashed out at Mrs Sonia Gandhi first claiming to form government within two days of Vajpayee’s government and later on for failing to muster sufficient support and plunging the nation in to mid term polls costing the nation crores of rupees which could otherwise had been spent on the development of the country. The audience kept the spell bound for at least 45 minutes of his speech and burst into laughter when in a sarcastic style he said "a lady who does not know Hindi can’t rule Hindustan". He appreciated the Vajpayee government for nuclear tests at Pokhran and subsequent winning of Kargil war. He blamed the Congress for Kargil war. He said it was the political instability in the country which had prompted Pakistan to wage a war and the instability was due to the Congress’s lust for power because Congress without power, he said, behaved like fish without water. During his whirlwind tour in a helicopter in the Hoshiarpur parliamentary constituency in connection with campaigning of Mr Kamal Chaudhry BJP-SAD-BSM candidates, yesterday, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal Chief Minister of Himachal addressed public meetings at Talwara, Dhaul Khera, Saila Khurd and Binowal. Addressing meetings at these places Mr Dhumal said that Indian Army personnel recently got due respect and appreciation from the government as well as from the public for their supreme sacrifices and bravery while flushing out Pakistani intruders from Kargil and Dras sectors of J&K which raised morale and encouraged forces. He appreciated Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee’s government for making various schemes for the welfare of army personnel and ex-servicemen. He alleged that Congress leaders were hungry for power and whenever their opponents formed government they toppled it by hook or by crook. People of the country were fully satisfied with Mr Vajpayee’s performance of 13 months rule. He said that present election was being contested in the name of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Mrs Sonia Gandhi. He appealed to the people to vote in favour of Mr Kamal Chaudhry to strengthen the hands of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. BATHINDA: Mr Dhumal said today that the state government would not allow the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab under any agreement without the settlement of seven per cent share of Himachal in the Union Territory. Reacting to recent statements of Haryana Chief Minister, Om Parkash Chautala that all outstanding disputes of Punjab and Haryana would be solved through negotiations with Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Dhumal said that it was not possible without giving HP its due share. Addressing a press conference at the residence of Punjab Food Minister, Chiranji Lal Garg, Mr Dhumal said that under the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966, liabilities and assets were transferred to the newly formed states. He added that He had fulfilled its liabilities but it could not get its assets. He pointed out that HP government was also claiming 19.1 per cent share of electricity generated at Bhakra dam as this was the right of HP state under the then agreement. In another significant statement, he said that Pong Dam oustees would be rehabilitated in the Himachal while on the other hand the matter had been taken up with Rajasthan government and central government or their rehabilitation in the Rajasthan state. He claimed that Congress party would not cross the figure of 100 in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections as the electorate throughout the country were in a mood to punish it because it had caused the fall of seven non-Congress governments in the last 20 years. When asked why
non-Himachal Pardesh residents were not allowed to
purchase land in the state, he said that as the state had
little acreage of agriculture land so its purchase by the
outsiders had been banned. |
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Controversy over change of symbol FARIDKOT, Aug 26 — A controversy has erupted in this constituency following the change of symbol from "arrow" to "bus" of an Independent candidate, Mr Ashok Kumar Deora, for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections by the returning officer, Mr G.S. Grewal, without the consent of the candidate. Official sources said Mr Deora was given an "arrow" symbol on August 21 when all 14 contesting candidates from this constituency were allotted symbols. On August 23, the returning officer changed the symbol of Mr Deora from "arrow" to "bus". The sources said the symbol was changed as the "arrow" was a reserved symbol for the newly-formed Janata Dal United and the returning officer detected the mistake after allotting the symbol. Mr Deora, however, in a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner, has sought his intervention as he said he had started his campaign and had got posters, banners and other poll-related material printed with the "arrow". He alleged that this had been done deliberately to create hurdles in his campaign, adding that he had been pressurised by the district authorities for extracting his written consent for the change of symbol. The returning officer, when contacted, refused to comment. Mr Sudhir Kumar, election observer, said the Election Commission had been given a report in this regard by the returning officer. He said he had nothing to do with the complaint made to him by Mr Deora as he was not able to take any action. Dr Barjendra Singh,
chief electoral officer, when contacted at Chandigarh
said the symbol had been changed with the permission of
the Election Commission as it was not a free symbol. |
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Bhai Ranjit Singh tones down
speeches LUDHIANA, Aug 26 — Bhai Ranjit Singh, former Jathedar of Akal Takht has softened tone and tenor of his speeches at rallies in support of candidates of the Third Front led by the former president of the SGPC, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. His bellicose speeches and truculent style of electioneering has caused considerable consternation and concern to the Third Front leaders, who are said to feel that religious content of the speeches could invite wrath of the Election Commission of India. Dr Manohar Singh Gill, Chief Election Commissioner, a Punjabi, understands well the implications of likening the present electoral battle to a "fight between Akal Takht and Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab" and the effect it could have on the behaviour of the Sikh masses. It is, therefore, more than likely that he might personally intervene in the matter and urge caution on this score. According to insiders, the Third Front leaders are also apprehensive that these speeches could become the subject matter of poll petition by an aggrieved party after election and become a source of trouble for the successful party nominees. The Third Front leaders have, therefore, reportedly advised moderation to Bhai Ranjit Singh and urged him to tone down religious rhetoric in his election speeches. There is considerable relief in the party that Bhai Ranjit Singh, who generally has strong views on all issues and cannot be easily brought round to support a particular point of view, has acted on their advice and reduced the religious content of his speeches, as evidenced by his utterances at poll rallies held in Gurdaspur yesterday in support of SHSAD candidate, Mr Sucha Singh Chhottepur. He now is confining his speeches to the criticism of various acts of omission and commission of the Badal government which is regarded as the main adversary of the SHSAD. Bhai Ranjit Singh, who toured Ludhiana parliamentary constituency of Sunday declared the present electoral battle to be a fight between "Akal Takht and Mr Badal, who according to him had turned his back on the holy shrine". He was also unsparing in his criticism of the Chief Minister for allegedly defying the authority of the Jathedar of Akal Takht and defying his "hukamnama". He compared his removal as the Jathedar of Akal Takht to butchery in which "Mr Badal had wielded the knife of government authority to butcher him". His speeches have drawn a sharp reaction from the Punjab PCC Chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, who felt that it was "shameful" for a person who had occupied such a high Sikh religious position to stoop so low to solicit votes. The alleged
"inflammatory speeches" by Bhai Ranjit Singh,
have in the meantime, become the subject matter of a
complaint to the Election Commission of India by the
Punjab Janata Dal. In a communication addressed to the
Election Commission, the Chief Electoral Officer of
Punjab and the Returning Officer for the Ludhiana
parliamentary constituency, the Commission has been urged
to intervene immediately and restrain Bhai Ranjit Singh
from inflaming religious passions of the people and debar
the candidates put up by the Third Front led by the SHSAD
chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, from contesting the
elections. |
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Tohra playing game of
Congress: Badal BABA BAKALA, Aug 26 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, and Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, have alleged that Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, was playing the "game of Congress." Addressing a political conference of the SAD on the annual festival of Rakhar Punnia here today, Akali leaders have asked Mr Tohra to join the Congress. The leaders further alleged that Mr Tohra was "hand-in-glove" with the Congress high command to divide the Sikh votes so that it could take benefit out of the division. Mr Badal alleged that the Congress had played a "cruel joke" by projecting Ms Sonia Gandhi as the prospective candidate for prime ministership. Being foreigner, she should not become Prime Minister as she does not know our culture. He urged the voters to vote for the SAD-BJP candidates so that a stable government could be made at the Centre. Meanwhile, addressing the Congress rally, Mr Amarinder Singh, President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, alleged that the SAD-BJP government had failed on all fronts. He said only the Congress could give a stable government at the Centre. He alleged that corruption had surpassed all previous records of corruption during the Badal regime in the state. Mr Vajpayee had failed to safeguard the interests of the country as about 500 soldiers laid down their lives due to intelligence failure. The leaders of the third front also pitched a separate pandal on the occasion. The gathering was very thin. Bhai Ranjit Singh, a former Jathedar, Akal Takht, alleged that the owner of the land who had given space to the third front for holding a political conference was held in illegal custody. With the result the venue of the conference was shifted to another place. He also alleged that people were stopped from attending the conference. Addressing the gathering, Bhai Ranjit Singh urged the voters to vote for the candidates of the third front. Mr Gurcharan Singh
Tohra, President, SHSAD, claimed that his party would win
all seats. |
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Brar backs Brar CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The Congress candidate, Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, contesting from the Faridkot parliamentary constituency, today got a shot in his election campaign with a former Chief Minister, Mr Harcharan Singh Brar, extending his support to him. This was disclosed to TNS on cellphone by Mr Jagmeet Singh after the two had met for over one hour at the native village of Mr Harcharan Singh at Serai Naga in Muktsar. During the one-to-one meeting many "misunderstandings" were removed with Mr Harcharan Singh assuring him of his full support, he added. To a question Mr Jagmeet Singh said Mr Harcharan Singh was not well due to pain in his back. He was also pained to read in newspapers about his meeting with the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, whereafter it was construed that he was helping Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal. Quoting him, Mr Jagmeet Singh said he stressed that "I am a born Congressman and will die a Congressman. It is absolutely untrue that I will support Akali candidate". Mr Jagmeet Singh is hopeful that while Mr Harcharan Singh gets well in a day or two his family members will canvass with him and address poll meetings. Mr Harcharan Singh has considerably influence in Muktsar district, which has Muktsar, Lambi, Malout and Gidderbaha Assembly segments. He commands following even in Kotkapura. In 1998 election, Mr Jagmeet Singh had polled more votes than Mr Sukhbir Singh in these very constituencies, which were always thought to be the pocketborough of the Badals. Mr Jagmeet Singh maintained that with this meeting he would able to sustain and even step up his campaign in the coming days. The news of the meeting
has spread far and vide, in the constituency, which has
stirred Congressmen, who were passive so far. |
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Sonia a novice in politics:
Badal HOSHIARPUR, Aug 26 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, said Ms Sonia Gandhi, President, AICC, was totally inexperienced in politics and administrative affairs. Moreover, she had a foreign origin. Mr Badal was addressing an election meeting at Saila Khurd, 32 km from here, yesterday. While giving examples of such mistakes, he said Jawahar Lal Nehru, did a mistake of giving some statements against China in 1962 due to which the country lost its 32000 km long territory. Similarly, Lal Bahadur Shastri returned back the captured area to Pakistan in 1966 during the Tashkent pact and Rajiv Gandhi sent Indian forces to Sri Lanka due to which both leaders lost their lives. He added that if an inexperienced and foreign-origin women, who did not knew the Indian culture, became the Prime Minister, than it would be disaster for the country. He criticised the Congress for its alleged step-motherly treatment towards Punjab. He said during its 45-year rule at the Centre it did not grant any big project to Punjab nor provided any financial assistance to the state projects. It did not provide any new railway line to state whereas it shared electricity and river waters of state. He further said the BJP-led government had provided Rs 16,000 crore refinery and Rs 14,000 crore fertiliser plant to Punjab. It had sanctioned three new railway lines for Punjab and an international airport in Amritsar to benefit the people. Besides it also provided Rs 400 crore for the completion of the Thein Dam project. Mr Badal appealed to the electorate to vote for Mr Kamal Chaudhry to strengthen the hands of Mr Vajpayee so that he could form a stable government at the Centre. GARHSHANKAR: Mr Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday lashed out at the Congress for its alleged irresponsible behaviour which resulted in the mid-term Lok Sahba poll. Crores of rupees which would be spent on the poll could have been otherwise spent for the development of the nation. He said this party had now made a foreigner as its Prime Minister candidate who has no experience in politics. He was addressing an election rally in favour of the SAD-BJP-BSM candidate for Hoshiarpur constituency, Mr Kamal Chaudhry, at Saile village, 10 km from here. He appealed to the
people to compare the 13-month-old Vajpayee government
with 45 years of rule by the Congress. There has been no
scams, no communal riots in Vajpayee’s regime. The
nuclear tests at Pakhran and the victory in Kargil has
raised the prestige of the country. |
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Akal Takht main issue:
Chandumajra PATIALA, Aug 26 — Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, candidate Sarb Hind Shiromani Akal Dal and the BSP for the local Lok Sabha seat said today that the "honour of Akal Takht was the main issue before the voters for electing representative from the state to the 13th Lok Sabha. Addressing a series of election rallies in various parts of the constituency, Mr Chandumajra said contrary to claims made by the SAD and the Congress about the poll issue of "Vajpayee versus Sonia" or Desi versus Videshi", the voters in the state would poll in favour of those individuals or parties which had fought for the honour of Akal Takht. Mr Chandumajra said the
elections would also wipe away the Congress from the
political scene of the state. He said the voter had still
not forgotten the "step-motherly" treatment
given to them during the Congress regime. |
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6 Cong workers hurt in
lathi charge LUDHIANA, Aug 26 — Six persons were injured, two of them seriously, in an alleged police lathi charge on Congress workers, when they were prevented from staging a dharna at Jagraon bridge here today. The Congress claim that the police at the behest of a senior BJP leader, came down heavily on the 200 Congress workers who were staging a dharna in the afternoon today in protest against police inaction in an altercation case between the BJP and Congress workers here yesterday. They alleged that the police began lathi charge on protesters, which also included women. The SSP Ms Gurpreet Kaur Deo, when contacted denied that the police had lathi charged the crowds. The police did its duty of stopping the protesters from obstructing traffic by peaceful means and no force, whatsoever was used she stated. Mr Om Prakash Angrish, a Congress Councillor, who was leading the dharna, however, alleged that around 30 policemen came in police jeeps and started beating them up without warning when they were going to the SSP's office to complain about police inaction in a case involving the bashing up of an 80-year-old party worker Pyare Lal by Mr Gurmeet Singh Neetu, PA to the local BJP MLA, Mr Sat Pal Gosain and some other BJP workers yesterday while he was leaving for Mrs Sonia Gandhi's rally. Mr Pyarelal had lodged a complaint with police station division no II against the BJP workers yesterday." However, the police failed to take any action against them and when we tried to persuade them into taking action by peaceful staging of dharna, we were harassed by the police" says Mr Angrish. The injured were taken
to the Civil Hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, several
local Congress leaders including Mr Surinder Dawar,
president DDC (u), M r Pawan Diwan and Mr Krishan Kumar
Bawa have demanded that the accused BJP workers be
arrested. |
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Four KLF men arrested FARIDKOT, Aug 26 — Faridkot police arrested four militants belonging to the Khalistan Liberation Force (Jaffarwal) during the nakabandi near Kotkapura yesterday. Those arrested were Gurdas Singh, alias Aman of Baghapurana, Dalip Singh of Dhanaula (Barnala), Daljit Singh, alias Happy and Jasbir Singh, alias Badal, of Dhakabasti and Kotkapura, respectively. One Maruti car bearing a fake registration number with four pistols and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered from them. Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Mohammad Mustafa, DIG, Faridkot range, said Gurdas Singh who was involved in many cases of murder and arson during militancy had been lodged at Nabha Jail for many years and was released in 1997. Similarly, Dalip Singh allegedly killed Amrit Lal Goyal and Darbara Singh Longowal who were SAD candidates in the Assembly election from Sangrur district in 1996. The DIG further stated that the four had also kidnapped Dipu Monga of Kotkapura and took his car also when he was coming from Bathinda to Kotkapura. Mr Balbir Singh Khera,
SP(D), Faridkot, who was present said three other
accomplices of the group, including Jasbir Singh Jassa of
Malerkotla, Jagtar Singh, alias Raju of Mansa and Ram
Singh alias Rama of Tohana (Haryana) had been arrested in
Jalandhar last week. |
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Ropar town residents sore ROPAR, Aug 26 — Great resentment prevails among local residents against keeping Ropar-town out of the Ropar parliamentary constituency at the time of the delimitation of the constituencies more than 20 years ago and the indifferent attitude of the MPs, elected from Hoshiarpur, towards its progress and development. The town now has 25,000 voters, majority of whom feel that injustice was done to them by attaching the town with Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha constituency after including it in the Anandpur Sahib Assembly segment. At the time of last delimitation, Ropar Assembly segment was abolished but the segment excluding Ropar town was named as Chamkaur Sahib Assembly segment. Local residents and political leaders of different political parties attribute the inclusion of Ropar town into Anandpur Sahib segment to the then Chief Minister, Giani Zail Singh, who allegedly did this to ensure his victory from Anandpur Sahib in the next Assembly election as the town was considered a stronghold of the Congress. Earlier, he had also won twice from Anandpur Sahib in 1970 and 1972. Ropar constituency is perhaps the only Lok Sabha constituency where voters of the town-Ropar—after which the constituency is named, cast their votes to a candidate of another constituency i.e. Hoshiarpur. The residents also allege that this is the outcome of the joke played on them by Giani Zail Singh. Large number of voters also allege that the town is considered nobody’s baby due to the indifferent attitude of the MPs, elected from Hoshiarpur from time to time. Mr Bhag Singh, a former Congress MLA, alleged the local residents felt that they had been "cheated" at the time of delimitation of the constituency as the MPs from Hoshiarpur had always ignored this town and preferred overall development of the Hoshiarpur area. Besides the residents were emotionally attached with Ropar Lok Sabha constituency and wanted to be attached with it. Mr Khillari Ram Budhiraja, a former president of the local Municipal Council, also accused the MPs from Hoshiarpur of not giving development grants to the town especially the Municipal Council though thousands of voters cast votes for them from here. He demanded that Ropar should be created as an Assembly segment which should be part of the Ropar Lok Sabha constituency. Jathedar Bhag Singh, District President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), also alleged that no MP from Hoshiarpur had so far, cared for the development of the town. He also demanded the exclusion of the town from Hoshiarpur constituency and inclusion of the town into Ropar Lok Sabha Constituency. Mr Kanwal Nain Kakkar, District General Secretary of the BJP, also favoured Assembly segment status for Ropar and its inclusion in Ropar parliamentary constituency. He promised that his party would write to the Election Commission in this regard. Mr Jagir Singh Ganesh, President of Punjab unit of the Janata Dal (United) said MPs from Hoshiarpur and Ropar (Reserve) parliamentary constituencies did not own the town for development purposes. Mr Gurmukh Singh, an SAD Municipal Councillor from ward number 8 here, also demanded independent Assembly seat for Ropar and the inclusion of the town into Ropar Lok Sabha seat. He was also of the view that the town was like an "unclaimed" child for the MPs of Hoshiarpur and Ropar. This was the main reason that the town could not get its due share from the local area fund of an MP. A cross section of the
society here also raised its voice to detach the town
from Hoshiarpur parliamentary constituency and include it
in the Ropar constituency. Besides, creation of Ropar
Assembly segment in place of Chamkaur Sahib also emerged
as a major demand. |
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Coop sugar mill a white
elephant RATAUL ROHI (Ferozepore): The Zira Cooperative Sugar Mill at Rataul Rohi village, 7 km away from Zira, has provided to be a white elephant for the Punjab Government because its losses have been mounting almost every year. The foundation stone of the mill, established as a unit of Punjab Sugar Industries Limited, an associate company of PSIDC, was laid by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the then Chief Minister. A sum of Rs 674.36 lakh was spent on setting up the mill, which started functioning on January 1, 1981. Later, following a decision of the Punjab Government, the mill was brought under the cooperative sector on April 1, 1991. The mill functions under a supervisory committee, headed by its chairman, who is Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies at Ferozepore. Its members total 5,313 sugarcane growers. About 700 persons are employed at the mill, which also provides indirect employment to nearly 10,000 persons. A heavy amount comes into circulation in the area due to the mill, which is thus, proving a boon for prosperity of the surrounding area, including Zira. Only during three financial years (1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88), did the mill earn profits of Rs 61.51 lakh, Rs 35.83 lakh and Rs 23.11 lakh, respectively. The mill was honoured with National Productivity Award too in 1986-87. But, during the remaining years it earned losses which have risen to Rs 3906.58 lakh during 1998-99 as against Rs 25.50 lakh during 1988-89. The mill returns Rs 300 lakh every year as payment of interest on loans taken from various financial institutes, including the IDBI. Talking to this reporter, the Zira SDM, Mr Bakhtawar Singh, said a major reason for the mill running into losses was its mismanagement during the past few years. Besides, the area under sugarcane cultivation had fallen. The SDM says efforts are afoot to improve the working of the mill. Sugarcane growers who are members of the mill have been paid their dues and they are not frustrated now. The present management is also making efforts to enhance the area under sugarcane, he adds. The mill management has
reportedly requested the Punjab Government to
"save" it by returning the loans repaid to
financial institutions in a lump sum so as to enable the
mill to stand on its own feet. |
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Development charges PATIALA, Aug 26 — Providing basic amenities in the outer colonies of the city continues to be a problem as residents of these localities have locked horns with the municipal corporation over the issue of the payment of development tariff. While the municipality has citing financial crunch, expressed its inability to provide basic amenities of sewerage, drinking water supply, metalled roads and dumping grounds to Dashmesh Nagar, Anand Nagar, Rattan Nagar, Upkar Nagar, Gurbax Colony, Bishan Nagar, Tafazalpura, Tegh Bagh Colony, Partap Nagar and several other small localities around Sirhind Nagar and Sanaur Road and levied development tariff ranging between Rs 12 and Rs 100 per square yard. The residents have refused to oblige saying the tariff is too high and discriminatory as no such tax is levied on the older or the inner colonies of the city. As the deadlock between the two continues the residents live in ugly surroundings with roads dotted with potholes, stinking water accumulated here and there due to rain or waste water from houses and heaps of garbage dumped on streets and vacant plots, unhygienic look of the places. According to Mr Avtar Singh Brar, president, Patiala Colonies Welfare Federation, an elected body of 52 colonies of the city, representatives of the outer colonies had at a meeting last week decided not to pay any tariff in the name of development to the municipality or to share 50 per cent cost for getting basic amenities as offered by the municipal corporation in a latest scheme. Mr Brar said the municipality had levied a hefty tariff of development which ranged between Rs 12 to Rs 100. The tariff has been opposed as the residents say they are living in welfare state where it is the duty of the government or its bodies to provide basic amenities to the residents. The residents of outer colonies which have come under the jurisdiction of the municipal corporation recently feel they are discriminated against. As another reason for opposing the new tariff, the residents say the municipality is charging duty from them but no such duty is levied on old colonies of the city. Municipal Commissioner, K.S. Kung, however, justified the imposition of development tariff on these select colonies. He said all colonies have been constructed in a haphazard manner flouting all norms of decent urban development. Under such circumstance, the cost of providing amenities like roads, sewerage, drinking water facility, garbage dumps had multiplied. Further he said the residents of inner colonies had paid development taxes when the localities came up. Mr Kung also rejected the charges of high development tariff as levied by the residents. He said while they were charging Rs 12 per yard, the actual costs cover to the nearly Rs 500 per square yard. A survey of some of the
colonies revealed the pitiable condition of the
residents. With cowdung dumped not only in vacant plots
but has also lying on roads along with heaps of garbage
the place not only stinks but also become a serious
health hazard. A shower is enough to inundate most of the
area. |
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PCCTU withdraws strike call JALANDHAR, Aug 26 — In view of the talks with the Chief Secretary to the state government, the Punjab and Chandigarh College Treachers Union (PCCTU) withdrew the call for a strike mass casual leave and rally at Moga on August 30. Dr V.K. Tewari, General Secretary, and Mr S.S. Hundal, President of the PCCTU, said the issues on which the government agreed had been made time-bound. Private colleges would receive the arrears of the salary grant of the previous two years in three stages — Rs 5-10 crore on August 27, Rs 5-10 crore on next Tuesday and the remaining out of Rs 23.61 crore on September 10. The grant for the second quarter of this year would be disbursed in the first week of October. The much-delayed pension-gratuity scheme needed yet another amendment as conveyed by the legal remembrancer which the government assured to do in the forthcoming Assembly session following which the whole scheme would be notified and released for implementation in September. The union pleaded for the implementation of the UGC recommendations on pay revision. While agreeing in principle to extend the benefit to all non-government affiliated colleges as on 1.1.96, the government said it would release the scheme by September 10. It also agreed to extend the time for doing refresher courses up to December, 2000. However, the UGC direction on the adjustment of total service for promotional placements would be done only after the receipt of a clarification from the HRD Ministry. The government also agreed to release the scale of Rs 2,200-4,000 from October, 1992, as per UGC directive. It said the basic pay of Rs 14,940 for DPEs and librarians would be granted after a clarificationf rom the HRD Ministry. Besides the Chief
Secretary, the government was represented by the
Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Special
Secretary and DPI (C). |
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Registration of rape case ordered AMRITSAR, Aug 26 — The district police has officially received the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for registering a rape case under other sections against DSP Sukhminder Singh Mann, ASI Gurinderpal Singh and Head Constables Baldev Singh and G. Singh. Mr Parmpal Singh Sidhu, SSP, has said the case will be registered at ‘C’ division police station as per the directions of the high court. "We would do in compliance of the orders of the court," he said. The DSP is the son-in-law of an Akali Rajya Sabha member and a close relative of an Akali minister. It may be mentioned here that the orders of the court were passed on the complaint of the petitioner who had alleged that she was raped by the accused persons at a police chowki. Mr Justice THB Chalapathi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in his orders dated August 5 had directed the SSP, Amritsar, to direct the SHO, C-division, to register case against the accused under sections 342, 323, 326, 354, 376, 379 and 34, IPC, on the basis of the complaint lodged by the petitioner. The review petition filed by the accused was reportedly rejected by the court. The registration of the
case against the DSP would put the ruling party in a
tight spot. |
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Hav Lakhbir Chand cremated HOSHIARPUR, Aug 26 — The mortal remains of Havildar Lakhbir Chand of 289 Sata Battery who laid down his life at Plahwar of Akhnoor Sector in Jammu and Kashmir on August 24 were consigned to flames with full military honour at his native village, Raipur, near Shamchaurasi, 18 km from here, this afternoon. Army contingents after giving the last salute, fired in the air as a mark of respect to him. Mr Ram Asra, father of the deceased, lit the pyre in the presence of thousands of people from all walks of life at the village crematorium. Havildar Lakhbir Chand is survived by his wife Kamalesh Devi, son Sandeep Kumar (6) and two daughters. Earlier, Mr Iqbal Singh
Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, placed a wreath on behalf of
the Punjab Government, Mr R.P. Mittal, SSP, on behalf of
the Punjab Police, Lt. Col J.S. Sandhu on behalf of the
Chief of Army Staff, Lt Col. I.S. Bains on behalf of
Lt-General K. Dabur, Core Commander, and Major K.S. Patel
on behalf of the Army Commander also placed wreaths on
his body. |
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Five killed in mishaps BATALA, Aug 26 (PTI) — Four persons were killed on the spot and two women injured when a car carrying them collided head-on with a truck near Bidhipur railway crossing, 13 km from here, the police said today. The incident occurred yesterday when the car was going to Shahpur Kandi from here, they said, adding that the deceased were identified as Prem Sagar, Mukesh Sagar, Sanjiv Kumar and Anmol Kumar. In an another mishap on the Moga-Ludhiana road, a driver of a car died on the spot while the other four occupants, including three women, were injured, the police said. The ill-fated car smashed into a Punjab Roadways bus from behind near Millanpur yesterday. The driver was
identified as Avtar Singh (65). |
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Hari Singh Arewala dead AMRITSAR, Aug 26 (UNI) — An Akali leader and former SGPC executive member Hari Singh Arewala died after a brief illness here today. He is survived by three children. Mr Hari Singh also
remained the president of the district unit of Shiromani
Akali Dal. The SGPC president, Bibi Jagir Kaur, and the
secretary Mr Kulwant Singh, mourned the death. |
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