No rift with Tohra, says Badal
SAS Nagar, Jan 5 — The January 7 meeting of the SAD to be held at Anandpur Sahib will take up only the centenary celebrations of the Khalsa and nobody will be allowed to raise any other matter, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said here today.

Departments lack coordination
HARIKE (Tarn Taran), Jan 5 — The Irrigation, Fishery and Forest and Wildlife Departments are not running smoothly while working at the wetland Harike.

PPCC showed respect to my views: Brar
ABOHAR, Jan 5 — The PPCC Vice-President, Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, has denied that he was taken to task by other party leaders at party’s meeting held at Patiala on Sunday.

Counselling for BDS course
PATIALA, Jan 5 — Counselling for admission to the BDS course in government dental colleges and for free and merit seats in private dental colleges of Amritsar, Faridkot and Mansa has been fixed for January 14 at Government Dental College and Hospital here.

Students to gherao CM's residence
PATIALA, Jan 5 — The Joint Action Committee of student unions agitating against the hike in the fee structure in colleges affiliated with Punjabi University yesterday decided to gherao the residence of the Chief Minister on January 19.

Rs 1 crore to improve sewerage
GURDASPUR, Jan 5 — Rs one crore has been sanctioned for the expansion of sewerage facilities in the town.

SGPC clarification on Damdama Sahib
AMRITSAR, Jan 5 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee today said though the Central Government had not recognised Damdama Sahib as a Takht under the Gurdwara Act so far despite repeated resolutions of the committee, the community and the SGPC has recognised it.

Primary schools in all villages
PATIALA, Jan 5 — The Punjab Government will open primary schools in every village of the state.

• Sen's remarks decried

• Edict can’t be "criticised"

Action against Mohindra sought
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Jan 5 — Senior Congress leaders today urged pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh to take stern disciplinary action against former Minister Brahm Mohindra for questioning the organisation of a religious march by the party in connection with the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa.

In a joint statement, pradesh Congress vice-president Lal Singh and joint secretary Prem Gupta said Mr Mohindra had committed gross indiscipline by rushing to the press with a ‘biased and mischievous’ statement.

Both leaders said contrary to what Mr Mohindra was claiming the matter of holding a religious march to coincide with the tercentenary celebrations was approved by the pradesh Congress unanimously at a meeting held on December 8. They said Mr Mohindra had participated in the meeting and did not raise any objection to the holding of the march.

They said moreover if Mr Mohindra had any doubts in his mind about the organisation of the march he should have conveyed these to the pradesh Congress chief instead of "twisting" the facts to make it appear as if there were any division in the Congress party over the holding of the celebrations.

In a separate statement pradesh Congress general secretary Birdevinder Singh while saying the statement of Mr Mohindra was nothing but "an outburst of a sick mind", said a resolution to celebrate the tercentenary year in a befitting manner was passed by the Punjab Assembly under the chief ministership of Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal when Mr Mohindra was a member of the Assembly.

Mr Birdevinder Singh said Congress president Sonia Gandhi, had written to the Prime Minister to appoint a committee to celebrate this occasion and the Prime Minister had not only appointed a national committee but also earmarked Rs 100 crore to commemorate the tercentenary celebrations. He said two Congress Working Committee (CWC) members and leaders in both Houses of Parliament Dr Manmohan Singh and Mr Sharad Pawar were representing the Congress party on this national committee.

Mr Birdevinder said Mrs Sonia Gandhi had also written to the PCC presidents in the country to prepare their own commemorative programmes to celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner. He said it was under these instructions that a meeting of the pradesh Congress under the chairmanship of Capt Amarinder Singh was held at Patiala to discuss the issue and an 11-member committee appointed under the convenership of Mr Jagmeet Brar.

In another statement, pradesh Congress general secretary Sant Ram Singla said the people of the country and particularly the Hindus must uphold the values of the Gurus and their traditions by participating whole-heartedly in the tercentenary celebrations. He said moreover the Congress had participated in various national festivals of all religious groups and participating in the tercentenary celebrations could not be called a deviation from secular policies.

Mr Singla also called upon Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi to take a serious view of such statements as they tarnished the image of the party.

In a separate statement organising secretary Sanjeev Garg also called upon Mrs Sonia Gandhi to take disciplinary action against Mr Brahm Mohindra as he was an AICC member, Mr Garg said this was most necessary as such statements would serve as a hurdle in rebuilding of the Congress party in the state.

JALANDHAR: The Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Choudhary Jagjit Singh, has condemned Mr Brahm Mohindra, his own partyman, for his opposition to the "Khalsa marches".

He said Mr Mohindra did not "have his secular values correct", the CLP leader said the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa birth should be celebrated by all "secular minded" people irrespective of any creed or religion. "It's a historic event", while the 10th Guru Gobind Singh’s father Guru Teg Bahadur sacrificed his life to protect the ‘Kashmiri pandits’. The 10th Guru raised the ‘Khalsa’ to protect the country from the Moughul invaders. Mr Jagjit Singh said that 10th Guru was not a monopoly of the Akalis alone.

Mr Brahm Mohindra, was present at the meeting where celebration and tercentenary leader was decided. Mr Jagtar Singh Multani, former Congress Minister said here today that on January 3 this year, at another meeting at Patiala. The state Congress resolved to participate in the tercentenary celebrations of all religions. "Mr Multani is a member of programme implementation committee" set up by the PPC chief to formulate plans for the the celebrations.

Mr Jagjit Singh said that the decision to participate and organise celebrations for the Khalsa birth, was initiated by the AICC president Mrs Sonia Gandhi, he said. The AICC president asked all other pradesh Congress chiefs to take part in this historic event.

The CLP leader, felt that before going to the media, Mr Mohindra should have discussed the matter with the PPC chief Mr Amarinder Singh. This is an anti-party activity, he alleged. The organising secretary Mr Anil Datta also condemned Mr Brahm Mohindra’s statement and has advocated his sack from the party.

Reliable sources in the party view this "statement by Brahm Mohindra, as triggering a controversy" to create an embarrassing situation for the PPC chief, Mr Amarinder Singh, who after winning the Adampur byelection has shown that he is no novice in the state politics.

MUKTSAR: Differences in the state leadership of the Congress party came to fore here today when many second-rung leaders openly condemned the putting off of taking out party's yatra on the eve of tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa.

Mr Jasmel Singh, President, PPCC (SC and ST) cell who is also a close confidant of PPCC president Amarinder Singh, while addressing a workers meeting organised in connection with preparation of yatra here said that postponement of "Deg Teg Fateh Sarbans Danni Shardha Yatra" at this juncture was not good for the party. He appreciated the work of Mr Jagmeet Brar in organising people for the yatra.

Mr Vijay Sathi, organising secretary, PPCC, and senior Congress leader in his hardhitting speech declared that those who had lobbied for the postponement of "yatra" would not be spared by the people.

He said that certain leaders including, Mr Avtar Brar, Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta, and Mr Partap Singh Bajwa and others could not take the "rising popularity" of Mr Jagmeet Brar easy and had launched a false propaganda against Mr Brar.

Mrs Jasvir Kaur, Chairperson, Block Samiti, Bagapurana alleged that certain leaders, who were jealous of working of Mr Brar had been trying to torpedo the party' s yatra programme. She made it clear that Mr Brar would gain politically from his adversaries' activities.

Mr Raghbir Chand, former MLA, Gidderbaha alleged that certain Congress leaders were trying to harm the party interests by postponing the yatra at the time when Mr Brar had made it a movement by holding more than 250 meetings in the past three months throughout the state.

It may be mentioned that senior Congress leader, Mr Brahm Mohindra had already said that a party committed to secular values was not expected to patronise one particular religion and lead marches as announced by Mr Amarinder Singh.

Mr Avtar Singh, President, District unit, while addressing the workers said that march would be taken out on that date which would be decided by the state leadership. He said that he would press the state leadership to make this city the starting point of the yatra.

Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, PPCC vice-president, condemning the statement of Mr Mohindra, said that the Congress as per its secular traditions had been celebrating the main occasions of every religion for the past many years. He said that Mrs Indira Gandhi even attended the function organised in connection with the birth and death anniversaries of great Sikh gurus.

Mr Brar clarified that party's yatra was also a symbol of its traditional secular tendencies as people and leaders of different religion, caste and sects had been invited for their participation in the yatra. He added that Mr Amarinder Singh would personally extend invitation to SAD president, Badal and other senior Akali leaders.

To a question, he said that he had explained certain issues within and outside the state unit to Mrs Gandhi in a recent meeting. He added that Mr Amarinder Singh would be meeting Mrs Sonia Gandhi for further discussion on certain party's issues on January 7.

BATHINDA: Many senior leaders of this district today urged the party high command for taking disciplinary action against Mr Brahm Mohindra, former minister for condemning the party's plan to take out a secular yatra on the eve of tercentenary of birth of Khalsa.

In a joint press note issued here, Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, Mr Krishan Kumar Sharma (both general secretaries of the DCC) and Mr Ashok Kumar, former district Youth Congress president, alleged that Mr Brahm Mohindra had made a irresponsible statement regarding the party's yatra and hence violated the discipline of the party.

AMRITSAR: In a joint press statement issued by Prof Darbari Lal, and Dr Raj Kumar, both general secretaries of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Jugal Kishore Sharma, president district Congress Committee (urban) and Mr Sukhbinder Singh, president district Congress Committee (rural) have strongly condemned Mr Brahm Mohindra, senior Congress leader and former Punjab minister for criticising Capt Amarinder Singh, president PPCC for celebrating tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa Panth. They urged Mrs Sonia Gandhi, president, Indian National Congress to take strict action against Mr Mohindra.

The statement said that Mr Brahm Mohindra did not know the history of Sikhism and hence issued a communal statement criticising the proposed Khalsa march to be taken out by the Congress to mark the tercentenary. It stated that Mr Brahm Mohindra was ignorant of the supreme sacrifices made by Guru Teg Bahadur who laid down his life for protecting Hindus.

Guru Gobind Singh created Khalsa Panth 300 years ago, a revolutionary step ever taken by anybody in the annals of the Indian history.

Gurpurb celebrated with gaiety
From Tribune Reporters and PTI

CHANDIGARH, Jan 5 — Birth anniversary of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh was celebrated with traditional gaiety and religious fervour in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh today.

Gurdwaras in the region were tastefully decorated. Special religious congregations and community kitchens (langars) were organised on the occasion.

A large number of people visited the Takht Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, where the Guru founded the Khalsa Panth 300 years ago on the Baisakhi day.

The Golden Temple at Amritsar was also decorated and illuminated. A large number of devotees took dips in sarovars (tanks) attached to the gurdwaras in the region at various places, including Amritsar, Muktsar and Nanaksar.

"Prakash Utsav’’ marking the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh was celebrated with great devotion and religious fervour throughout Himachal Pradesh.

Thousands of devotees thronged the gurdwaras and participated in Shabad-Kirtan, path and other religious discourses. The gurdwaras were tastefully decorated and illuminated and Prabhat pheris and langars were also organised.

The celebrations passed off peacefully in the region, official sources said. 

AMRITSAR: The birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru was celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervour here today.

Devotees thronged Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple to pay obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum and to have holy dip during the whole day. Akashvani (AIR) station, Jalandhar relayed special programme of shabad kirtan, parbhat pheris and special langars were organised by the devotees in various parts of this holy city.

The entire Golden Temple complex would be illuminated tonight, when the fire-work would be an added attraction.

Historic "jalau" (jewellery) were displayed at the sanctum sanctorum of Golden Temple. Akal Takht and gurdwara Baba Atal Sahib.

ROPAR: Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh was celebrated with enthusiasm and religious fervour in the local Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha and Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib today.

Large number of devotees paid obeisance in gurdwaras and partook of langar there. Bhog of Akhand Path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was performed. Religious diwans were also held. Gurdwaras were tastefully decorated.

A Nagar Kirtan was also organised on the occasion of birth anniversary of the Guru last evening in the town. Laddoos, tea and pakoras were distributed by sangat to the participants of the Nagar Kirtan.

NAWANSHAHR: Guru Gobind Singh's life teaches us to work for communal harmony and welfare of all. This was stated by the Welfare Minister, Punjab, Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur, addressing a religious function organised in connection with the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, at Mohmood Pur nearby village on Tuesday. He called upon the people to follow the path shown by the Guruji.

He announced grants of Rs one lakh and Rs 50,000 for solving the problem of drainage of sullage water and for carrying various developments works respectively in the village, on the occasion.

JALANDHAR: Birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh was celebrated with fervour in different parts of the city and surrounding areas here today

Thousands of devotees, including women and children, started parbhat pheris from the decorated gurdwaras in the city early in the morning and paid their obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib. They also participated in "Shabad Kirtan" and religious assemblies.

The "akhand paths" and 'langars' were organised in different parts of the city. The main function was held at gurdwara Diwan Asthan, Central Town.

A function was also organised on this occasion at the Guru Nanak Mission Hospital here by its committee and distributed 'prasad' among the devotees.

No rift with Tohra, says Badal
From Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, Jan 5 — The January 7 meeting of the SAD to be held at Anandpur Sahib will take up only the centenary celebrations of the Khalsa and nobody will be allowed to raise any other matter, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said here today.

Mr Badal, who was speaking to mediapersons after laying the foundation stone of the Khalsa College Centenary Bhavan in Phase III A denied there was any infighting involving him and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC president. He ruled out the return of militancy to Punjab as a result of infighting among Akali leaders.

Earlier addressing a gathering Mr Badal said the building of Khalsa College, Amritsar used to be the best in northern India but now had become old and needed renovation. Earlier he had given a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the purpose but the amount was not enough. Much more had to be done to bring back the old glory.

Khalsa College, Amritsar, had given a lot to the nation in the form of generals, educationists, doctors, engineers and politicians, he added.

Mr Badal announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the bhavan.

The college authorities honoured Mr Raj Mohinder Singh Gill, MP and vice-president of the governing council of Khalsa College, Amritsar, Principal Santokh Singh, a 98-year-old student of Khalsa College, and Mr Jasjit Singh Samundri. Mr Santokh Singh and Mr Jasjit Singh announced Rs 1.01 lakh for the college bhavan. Mrs Pritam Kaur Pandher, a former Executive Officer, SAS Nagar Municipal Council, also announced Rs 1 lakh for the institution in memory of her late husband, Mr Sarbjeet Singh Pandher, Assistant Labour Commissioner.

Stressing the importance of education, Mr Badal said that it was time that a new education policy was formulated. Every child should be given good education and that too result-oriented. Indian students had to compete with the students of other nations.

In border areas no importance was being given to education. Children were not interested in studying and teachers in teaching. No teacher wanted to be transferred to the border areas, added Mr Badal. The government, the bureaucracy and the public had to join hands to bring about development in the state.

The Chief Minister said the government was experimenting with the policy of sending DCs, SSPs, CMOs to each Assembly constituency for on-the-spot redress of problems. The people should not meet ministers for the removal of grievances as the latter only dealt with planning. A large number of government officials were not doing their duties. He had suspended an SMO of a hospital near Gurdaspur for neglecting hospital duty and running a private clinic in Gurdaspur during office hours.

Mr Swaran Singh Boparai, an old student of the Amritsar college who held an important position at the Centre gave big projects to Punjab. When he went to the Coal Ministry he gave access to mines from where good quality coal could be had for using in the Goindwal thermal plant.

When Mr Inder Kumar Gujral became the Prime Minister, Mr Badal said, he approached him with various problems being faced by the state. A meeting was fixed and all major decisions were taken in about an hour and a half. Mr Gujral waived loans amounting to Rs 8400 crore, gave approval for a rail link between Chandigarh and Ludhiana, an international airport and a Rs 16,000 crore oil refinery to the state.

He said at the meeting of International Punjabi Society yesterday he had suggested that a big foundation should be set up which would have huge funds at its disposal. The interest earned on that amount should be spent on the removal of poverty in Punjab. Reacting to his suggestion those present made contributions to the tune of Rs 1 crore. But that was not enough. It should be a regular feature for every donor.

Relieved teachers victims of politics?
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Jan 5 — "My husband is suffering from cancer. I have no money for his treatment now since my family was depending on my job and I, like hundreds of others have been forcibly relieved from the post of teacher. The government promised to "adjust" us during the elections but now they have turned a deaf ear to our problems, it is just because we were appointed in the reign of Beant Singh," laments. Iqbal Kaur with tears willing in her eyes. She is a national-level kabaddi player with B grade.

Gurji Singh from Rayya is under depression because his wife left him when he was ousted from the post of teacher by the government. He has attempted suicide twice. There are many more such tales of woe. Nothing has been done by the government till date for the teachers forcibly relieved from their jobs as they were kept on an ad hoc basis for a period of 89 days.

During the Congress reign, when the late Beant Singh was the Chief Minister, in 1994, teachers with B.Ed. were recruited in access to the posts advertised. Those not selected filed a writ in the High Court.

The High Court in its decision said that the selections were "unfair" and cancelled all appointments. In 1996 the government kept all these teachers on an ad hoc basis when hue any cry was raised by them. They were given extensions as the government kept on taking stay from the court.

Meanwhile the other lot which was not selected approached the Supreme Court, which directed the government to "adjust" the teachers. When the Badal government came into power, it tried to adjust them through an ordinance but that was also cancelled by the High Court. In 1997, all 2182 teachers were relieved from their respective posts. Since then they have been running from pillar to post for justice.

At least six teachers have committed suicide till date and many have suffered serious injuries during their agitation when they were kept in jail along with their young ones.

Balvinder Kaur is among those whose husband and father were burnt to death in the anti-Sikh riots in 1984. She, too, has been removed from the teacher's job.

Departments lack coordination
From Our Correspondent

HARIKE (Tarn Taran), Jan 5 — The Irrigation, Fishery and Forest and Wildlife Departments are not running smoothly while working at the wetland Harike. As a result sharp contradictions are being observed in the day-to-day functioning of these departments here.

As the wetland Harike is a very attractive place for migratory birds which come here in winter from different parts of the world, the Punjab Government established a bird sanctuary here in 86 sq km which is fenced to provide peaceful atmosphere to the migratory birds and to attract more and more birds. This work is being looked after by the Forest and Wildlife Departments.

This is the point where the Beas and the Sutlej confluence and the water level of these rivers and the reservoir is handled by the Irrigation Department. This department has deputed an official of the rank of Superintending Engineer here to supervise the work and protect water from diseases. The Fishery Department too works here to collect revenue.

The Irrigation and Fishery Departments are facing problems here. The sanctuary is fenced and entry is prohibited. Officials of the Irrigation Department have to enter the area to observe water level or for other works. These officials have to seek permission from the Wildlife Department.

This hurts them as they consider themselves senior to Wildlife officials. Wildlife officials registered a case last year against Mr Sampooran Singh, SDO, Irrigation, for "forcibly" giving water vegetables on contract worth Rs 1.92 lakh. The revenue was deposited in the Treasury.

This year the vegetables have not been auctioned.

Similar is the position with the Fishery Department and the Wildlife Department. The latter has written a letter to the former to remove its three boats lying within the bird sanctuary, but the "orders" are not being obeyed.
The Irrigation Department and the Fishery Department are helpless to perform their duties in the bird sanctuary.

Sources suggest a high-level meeting to sort out the matter.

PPCC showed respect to my views: Brar
From Our Correspondent

ABOHAR, Jan 5 — The PPCC Vice-President, Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, has denied that he was taken to task by other party leaders at party’s meeting held at Patiala on Sunday.

Mr Brar told newspersons here on Monday that Mr Jagjit Singh, Mr Surender Singhla and other prominent leaders showed utmost respect to his views during the discussion on tercentenary procession.

He said he was convinced of suggestion put forward by his party colleagues that weather would make it little difficult for people to join the holy procession. He said he agreed with the PPCC President, Mr Amarinder Singh, that fresh programmes would be announced on January 6.

Mr Brar said he has been involving persons of all sects and beliefs for the past three months. The programme was chalked out with the blessings of the party President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. He had met Jathedar Ranjit Singh of Akal Takht with the consent of Capt Amarinder Singh.

He clarified that he had never requested the Jathedar to intervene in the fight between Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the SGPC President, Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

Mr Brar questioned Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal’s authority of summoning all senior officers of Ferozepore district to Jalalabad West where he had gone to lay the foundation stone of a 220-KV PSEB sub-station on Monday. Due to Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal’s visit work suffered in all government departments, he added.

Counselling for BDS course
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Jan 5 — Counselling for admission to the BDS course in government dental colleges and for free and merit seats in private dental colleges of Amritsar, Faridkot and Mansa has been fixed for January 14 at Government Dental College and Hospital here.

Disclosing this, college principal Malkiat Singh said candidates who had already been admitted to the BDS courses in government and private dental colleges and were interested in migrating to other colleges could submit their applications through the principals of the allotted colleges by January 9.

Students to gherao CM's residence
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Jan 5 — The Joint Action Committee of student unions agitating against the hike in the fee structure in colleges affiliated with Punjabi University yesterday decided to gherao the residence of the Chief Minister on January 19.

Disclosing this here, committee convener Surinder Singh Ghumana said though the JAC had been representing to the government for the past two months to direct the university authorities to roll back the exorbitant fee hike, no action had been taken.

Mr Ghumana said while the government was calling for the eradication of illiteracy, it was not taking any action against the university which was taking education away from poor students.

The JAC also passed a resolution condemning the attack on Rakhra Cinema here on Sunday by some miscreants when "Fire" was being screened.

Rs 1 crore to improve sewerage
From Our Correspondent

GURDASPUR, Jan 5 — Rs one crore has been sanctioned for the expansion of sewerage facilities in the town. Mr Rakesh Jyoti, President, Municipal Council, stated this here today that half of the amount will be spent on the construction of disposal channels and the remaining half will be spent on the laying of sewer lines.

The town has sewerage facilities only in 55 per cent of the total populated area in the city. The areas still not having sewerage includes Stuti Mata Mandir area, the Kahunuwan Road, the Civil Lines, part of Sunder Bagh Colony, part of Gopal Nagar Mohalla, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and back of Guru Nanak Bagh Colony.

The recently extended area of municipality which includes ITI area of the GT road, Nabinpur and Arya Nagar also do not have sewerage.

Mr Jyoti said that water supply and sewerage board has been directed to prepare the estimates for different localities for laying sewer lines so that priorities could be fixed within available resources. He added that areas already close to sewer lines will be given priority.

Leakages in sewer lines take a long time to be repaired. Maintenance work is with the Water Supply and Severage Board and whenever a leakage or choking of sewer lines is reported the Nagar Council refers it to the board for preparing estimates. The funds in this regard have to be provided by the Nagar Council which most of the times does not have provision of funds in this regard.

Insiders say that the staff provided by the Nagar Council to the board is not utilised properly for the purpose. Most of the class four employees given to the board for the maintenance of sewerage are used as servants in the houses of the officers of the board.

According to Water Supply and Sewerage Board sources the flow of funds from the Nagar Council to the board are irregular. Moreover, the board officials depend upon the Nagar Council for payment of salaries of their staff and at times have to do without salaries due to unavailability of funds with the Nagar Council.

Mr Jyoti said that most of the development funds of the Nagar Council were eaten away by the board against heavy arrears which the Nagar Council owes to the board. He said that the Council was actively considering to handover Water Supply and Severage to the board on permanent basis.

Meanwhile at a meeting held here of the board officials and the officials of the Nagar Council here recently which was presided over by Mr Satpal Mahajan, Chairman, Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Punjab, the instructions have been issued to take up the laying of sewer lines for which the funds have been sanctioned.

Sen's remarks on N-tests decried
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Jan 5 — Mr Ashok Gandhi, organising general secretary, and Mr Narinder Verma, press secretary, of the district unit of the BJP, have condemned the statement of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen made before Star TV in which he has called India's decision to conduct nuclear tests as a political mistake.

While calling the Pokhran tests a pride for the country, Mr Gandhi and Mr Verma deplored Mr Sen's remarks as uncalled for and unwarranted. Mr Sen had not understood the pulse of the Indian people and the importance of achievements of the Pokhran tests in the context of dangers from some neighbouring countries.

Mr Verma accused Mr Sen of giving tacit support to those parties and elements within the country which were trying to torpedo the achievement of the Pokhran tests by the BJP government for their political ends.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had asked Mr Sen, who has been awarded the Nobel Prize in the field of economics, to contain himself on economic issues and should refrain from making political statements. Mr Sen was not aware of the defence problems which the country was facing and he was not an expert on the point.

SGPC clarification on Damdama Sahib
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Jan 5 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee today said though the Central Government had not recognised Damdama Sahib as a Takht under the Gurdwara Act so far despite repeated resolutions of the committee, the community and the SGPC has recognised it.

In a press note issued by the SGPC said the jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib had been getting all facilities and recognition on a par with jathedars of the other Takhts. The press note added that the SGPC had appointed Sant Harchand Singh Longowal as the first jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib on April 13, 1963.

Edict can’t be "criticised"
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Jan 5 — In a press note issued here today, Dal Khalsa secretary-general Kanwar Pal Singh said, "even as the intentions of the Jathedar could be debated and that, too, in a healthy manner, the tradition and concept of 'Hukamnama' is unquestionable and cannot be challenged."

He said though there was no need for an edict at this juncture the reported remarks criticising the edict on the Tohra-Badal tussle were unfortunate.

On the statement of the Jathedar of Kesgarh Sahib, Prof Manjit Singh, that Takht intervention was not in Panthic interests, Kanwar Pal Singh said Prof Manjit Sing himself had intervened in 1994 to unite various factions of the Akali Dal at the behest of Mr Tohra.

Primary schools in all villages
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Jan 5 — The Punjab Government will open primary schools in every village of the state. This was stated today by Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh while inaugurating a primary school building in Bhatiras village of Rajpura Block.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh said Rs 14,300 crore would be spent on development works in the state in the Ninth Five-Year Plan. He said from this amount, Rs 786 crore would be spent in rural areas for the upgradation of social and economic life of villages.

He also announced that Rs 25 lakh each would be spent on Nadhali, Hulka, Khanpur and Kaloli villages to improve irrigation facilities there. He said tubewells would be installed under the guidance of the Punjab State Tubewell Corporation.

Mr Sukhdev Singh Changra, member, Zila Parishad, Chairman, Market Committee, Mr Santokh Singh, Mr Jagjeet Singh, president, Nagar Council, Banur and sarpanch of the village, Mr Tara Singh, also spoke.