Monday, January 18, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Monday, January 18, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Good
response to pulse-polio drive Cong
selects spots for meeting, relics display |
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Work on
laying sewers starts Medical
team makes survey CM
pays tributes to Kuka martyrs CPI
to organise people's march Probe
affiliation, urges FEAR |
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Good
response
to pulse-polio drive AMRITSAR, Jan 17 — The second phase of the pulse-polio campaign generated an overwhelming response in the district today. Braving the cold weather conditions a large number of parents thronged the 1,780 pulse-polio booths set up all over the district to administer polio drops to their children. More than 140 mobile teams including NCC boys and girls battalions and students from the local medical college were also engaged in the drive. Fifty scooter-borne teams were also flagged off. BARNALA: In response to the nationwide pulse-polio drive for the eradication of the disease about 10,000 children were administered the drops by the local Health and Family Welfare Department here on Sunday. Dr S.S. Toor, Chief Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, inaugurated the drive. Organisations like National College of Nursing and Midwives, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Bhagat Mohan Lal Sewa Samiti, Nishkam Sewa Samiti and Lions Club participated in the drive. MOGA (UNI): The Punjab Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, called upon the people of the state to make the polio immunisation campaign a success so that children could be protected from this dreaded disease. The minister inaugurated the programme at a special function organised in Civil Hospital here by administering drops to a child and addressed a function organised by the district Health Department. The Civil Surgeon on the occasion said 468 teams including 20 mobiles were pressed into service. NAWANSHAHR: The second phase of the pulse-polio drive was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, Dr Roshan Sunkaria, by administering polio drops to the children of a slum area near Grain Market here on Sunday at a function organised by the local Rotary Club. As many as 68,314 children were immunised at 520 centres, including 21 mobile ones, in the district during the second phase of the campaign. Dr Surinder Kaur Kochar, Civil Surgeon, inaugurated the drive in the Balachaur subdivision. ABOHAR: A large number of children were-administered polio drops at camps in this subdivision on Sunday. Punjab National Bank, the State Bank of India and some other nationalised banks coordinated with other clubs and societies in organising such camps where children were offered toys. The Fellows Club arranged free medical check-up for children. FARIDKOT: The Civil Surgeon inaugurated the immunisation drive by administering polio drops to children in the second round of the programme at a district-level function held in Jeewan Nagar here on Sunday. More than 35,000 children were immunised. As many as 1545 officials, including members of different voluntary organisation, performed the duties at 351 centres. FATEHGARH SAHIB: Mr Balwant Singh, an MLA of Amloh, inaugurated the second phase of the pulse-polio campaign by administering polio drops to children at CKVKL Hospital, Charnarthal Kalan. The Civil Surgeon, Dr P.L. Goyal, said doses of the vaccine were administered to 65,000 children in 530 camps. FAZILKA: Over 31,000 children were given polio drops in the town and villages of this block on Sunday in the second phase of the pulse-polio programme. Dr P.M. Kakkar, Senior Medical Officer, said NSS volunteers and members of social organisations helped in the campaign. GURDASPUR: The Deputy Commissioner, inaugurated a pulse-polio camp at Ranjit Bagh 3 km from here, and Mr Anil Alag, Commandant, 19 Guards, in the Army area here on Sunday. As many as 380 children were administered polio drops. At a camp organised at the bus stand more than 350 children were given polio drops. As many as 2,617 camps were organised. HOSHIARPUR: Polio drops to 1.80 lakh children have been administered in 862 centres both in rural and urban areas of the district on Sunday. Dr S.R. Gupta, Civil Surgeon, said railway stations, bus stands, brick kilns and jhuggies were covered by the mobile teams. JALANDHAR: More than 2.60 lakh children were administered polio drops in the district here on Sunday. Mr Manoranjan Kalia, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, inaugurated the state-level pulse polio camp at Preet Nagar here. He said more than 30 lakh children would be administered the vaccine at 15,000 camps. LUDHIANA: In the second phase of the pulse-polio immunisation, as many as 2,428 centres for giving the vaccine to children were organised here on Sunday. In addition, mobile centres were also organised for people living in slums. PATIALA: Nearly two lakh children were administered pulse-polio drops at 801 camps held in the district on Sunday on the occasion of the second round of the pulse-polio immunisation drive. The programme was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, at Mata Kaushalya Hospital. He said 35 mobile vans had been pressed into service for the purpose. TARN TARAN: As many
as 7,800 children were given polio drops at 28 camps
organised here on Sunday by the Health Department. Dr
Karanjit Singh, SMO, of the local Civil Hospital, said
different social organisations extended full cooperation
to make the campaign a success. Similar camps were
organised at Patti, Valtoha, Khalra, Harike, Goindwal,
Sarhali, Chabal and Khadoor Sahib. |
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Cong
selects
spots for meeting, relics display ROPAR, Jan 17 — Infighting among the Akalis, especially the feud between Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra will mar the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. In such circumstances, the responsibility of the Congress has increased manifold ensuring that the celebrations are on a grand scale, as the party sees these in a historical perspective involving the social, cultural, religious and political aspects. This was stated by Mr Bir Devinder Singh, general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) and secretary of the Congress tercentenary celebration programme implementation committee, while talking to this correspondent here today. Mr Bir Devinder Singh was here in connection with the celebrations. He visited Anandpur Sahib yesterday where he saw and selected some spots for the holding of a conference, displaying of the Guru's relics and the stay of 25,000 persons in April. He also held a meeting there with SGPC representatives. He said as the selected spots were under government control, he along with other Congress leaders would meet the Punjab Chief Secretary tomorrow in Chandigarh in this connection. He said the conference and the display of relies would be held on April 13 or 14. The final dates for all programmes would be decided at a meeting tomorrow in Chandigarh under the presidentship of Mr Amarinder Singh, president, PPCC. He said the "Sarbans Dani Shardha Yatra" was likely to start on April 9 from Patna Sahib to reach Anandpur Sahib on April 13. The yatra would bring the "Dasmesh Jyoti" from Patna Sahib. It would pass through Bihar and UP before reaching Delhi where the "jyoti" would be placed in the office complex of the AICC for the paying of obeisance by devotees. The yatra from Delhi would be sent off by Ms Sonia Gandhi. Later, the yatra would pass through Haryana. It would also visit Malerkotla. As part of the celebrations, the Congress would organise five massive blood donation camps in Amritsar, Faridkot, Patiala and Ludhiana districts besides Chandigarh during a fortnight to be observed in memory of Bhai Kanhayaji. Five seminars would be organised to propagate the teachings of the Guru. An inter-faith seminar, under the presidentship of Ms Sonia Gandhi, would be organised in Delhi. Mr Bir Devinder Singh said
there was no political motive behind the organisation of
the celebrations by the Congress. It was a tribute to
Guru Gobind Singh, who brought about a social revolution. |
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Badal beat 'hasty retreat on bus
fare' CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — Mr Avtar Singh Brar, Congress MLA, today asserted that the Congress was a secular political party and could take care of its credentials. Answering questions at a press conference, Mr Brar said: "We all know the danger of mixing religion with politics. Akalis have tasted it for too long. They have lowered the dignity of such institutions like the SGPC and the Akal Takht by politicising these. The leaders in order to settle scores have been getting them declared 'tankhaiya' from that holy seat. Congressmen should avoid that pitfall and not get involved", he said. Mr Brar and former Rajya Sabha member, Mr Surinder Singla and a former minister, Mr Prem Gupta were asked to specify their stand on the proposed Congress-supported march to celebrate the Khalsa tercentenary. They were specifically asked whether it was appropriate for the Congress to go to Akal Takht and invite the Sikh clergy to lead the march. They were evasive in their answers. Mr Brar suggested that the Congress should keep out of such controversial issues, while Mr Singla disclosed that the party leadership would meet here tomorrow and take a decision. Mr Singla made a scathing attack on the performance of the Akali-BJP Government. "Finances were in a mess and as the government nearly insolvent, it was trying to misutilise Central funds. A sum of Rs 750 crore, realised from banks for food, was diverted to other areas, while Rs 220 crore worth of Central grants were also diverted. No one knows what has happened to Rs 90 crore provided by the World Bank for health, he pointed out. The former MP also alleged that the transport company of Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal had not paid a single paisa as tax so far and was hoodwinking the people. He had no guts to cut the bus passenger fare as announced by him. "Excise collection growth at just 3.8 per cent is the lowest so far. We fear that the government would make a fast back during liquor auctions next march. Already Mr Badal has favoured only two L-1 licensees for the wholesale import of liquor. Ginning mills in his area have been provided concession worth Rs 50 crore. Sales tax collection is in bad shape not because the traders do not pay, but because the government is corrupt," he added. Mr Singla led a strong defence of traders and industrialists and asserted that not more than 5 per cent of them were corrupt. Others are honest. He criticised Mr Badal for his alleged statement that the traders were evading taxes. "Heavy taxes and too many slabs are responsible for the lower collection. I strongly advocate lower tax rates, lesser slabs, rationalisation of the taxation structure and more simple collection style", he said. But Mr Singla could not tell what was the total volume of trade in Punjab and how much tax traders and industrialists should pay. He kept repeating that traders were honest but Mr Badal was dishonest. He would also not comment when told that the traders rarely provided bills showing sales tax and that the late Beant Singh, had admitted that only 10 per cent paid taxes while 90 per cent evaded tax. Mr Singla made a novel point when he said that the government had no constitutional or legal right to make traders collect sales tax on behalf of the government and then hand it over to the state: "There is no sovereign right with the government and traders can refuse to oblige the government. Let the government do on it own", he advised. Asked whether sales tax
was ultra vires of the Constitution and would he advise
the Congress governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and
Orissa to bid goodbye to sales tax collection, he
replied. "I am concerned here with Punjab". |
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Work on laying sewers starts BATHINDA — This city, which has been developed on sand dunes, has been witnessing little development. Declared as a "City of the future" by Punjab Governor BKN Chhibber a few years ago, the city has been facing many problems like inadequate sewerage, potable water supply, potholed roads and chaotic traffic. Apart from it, the menace of stray animals, roaming every nook and corner of the city, persists as the authorities have ignored it. The city, which houses large oil dump of different oil corporations, fertiliser plants, thermal plants, engineering and polytechnic colleges, has been getting little funds for development from successive governments. So far, only 45 per cent of the population of this expanding town has been covered with sewerage, while half the population gets potable water supply. Some roads are not worth driving vehicles. After a number of representations to the authorities, work of laying underground sewers has started in certain pockets. The government had sanctioned Rs 2.72 crore for laying sewer lines. Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, told TNS that with Rs 50 lakh, which had been released by the Punjab Government, work on laying sewers had started in the Gurunanak Pura area and on Goniana road. Stormwater drains were also being laid in some areas. All these works would be finished by May 1999. He claimed that with the laying of stormwater drains, the problem of stagnation of rain water at Paras Ram Nagar and the Civil Lines area would be solved. According to Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) sources, the underground water of the city is brackish and unfit for drinking. To supply canal water to the entire city, at least Rs 20 crore would be required by 2012. On the other hand, to cover the entire city with underground sewerage facilities, Rs 40.26 crore would be needed in five years. The work can be carried out in phases. It may be mentioned that sewers laid on the Bathinda-Mansa road had collapsed a number of times, thus causing a huge loss to the state exchequer. Senior officials of the sewerage board had been punished by the authorities for malpractices adopted while laying sewers. Residents demand that as a
mega- cement plant, oil refinery and pesticide plant is
being set up in and around the city, the Punjab
Government should allocate a larger quota of funds for
the city's development. |
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Medical team makes survey FARIDKOT-KOTLI (Bathinda), Jan 17 — Even as jaundice spread in this village in the past 15 days, the district health authorities started taking samples of drinking water from all villages today. Official sources said jaundice was under control as no new patient suffering from the disease had been reported. The health authorities had been carrying out a door-to-door survey in the village surrounding this village as a preventive measure. Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, who visited the village today told TNS all sources of drinking water in the district were being chlorinated. A camp would be organised in this village in a day or so to immunise the residents against jaundice. A medical team comprising Dr V. Mohan, Vice-Principal, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, Dr Samarjit Kaur, pathologist, Dr T. Jesupadam, microbiologist and Dr H.L. Kajal, a professor of medicine, today visited the village and made inquiries. Talking to TNS, Dr V. Mohan said blood samples of the patients had been taken and they were trying to find the source of infection. He said the detection of 18 cases of hepatitis was surprising. Official sources said four fake registered medical practitioners who were running their shops in the village had gone underground after the authorities swung into action. Mr Ladhar said that to increase the capacity and repair of existing waterworks in the district Rs 4 crore was needed. He had asked the state government for Rs 1 crore to carry out repairs of some waterworks immediately. He said in most of the
villages the water supply was canal-based as underground
water was unfit for human consumption. He claimed that
all arrangements had been made for checking the spread of
jaundice further in the district. |
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CM
pays
tributes to Kuka martyrs MALERKOTLA, Jan 17 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today invited and appealed to Namdharis to take part in the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth. Paying tributes to 66 Kukas (Namdharis) who had sacrificed their lives during the struggle for independence 127 years ago at Malerkotla, Mr Badal said there was no other example of this kind in the history of India. As many as 66 Kukas were blown up by cannons by the British rulers at Malerkotla on January 17 and 18, 1872, while they were raising their voice against cow slaughter. Mr Badal said Indian history was full of sacrifices and 80 per cent of these had been made by the Punjabis. He said people follow the path shown by Gurus and saints who had taught us to live in peace and communal harmony. Mr Badal promised to help the Kuka Martyrdom Memorial Trust, Bhaini Sahib, in completing the Kuka martyr memorial at Malerkotla, but said at this moment he was not in a position to give any financial help as the state treasury was empty. He said next year the Punjab Government would definitely give Rs 50 lakh for the memorial. Mr Badal said it was for the first time that the Kuka shahidi conference was organised by the state government. He added since his government had come to power it had decided to organise all shahidi functions. Mr Nusrat Khan, state Minister for Sports, and Mr Gobind Singh Kanjhla, state Minister for Youth Welfare, were also present on the occasion but they did not address the shahidi conference. Mr Surjit Singh Barnala,
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, also came
to the shahidi conference but left the pandal after
paying tributes to the Namdharis. He left the pandal
before the arrival of the Chief Minister. Satguru Jagjit
Singh Maharaj, head of the Namdhari sect, blessed the
gathering on this occasion. |
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CPI to organise people's march SANGAT (Bathinda), Jan 17 — Mr Joginder Dyal, secretary of the Punjab unit of the CPI, said today the party would organise all-India people's march in front of Parliament on March 15 during the Budget session to press the Central Government to allocate funds for agriculture, education and eradication of unemployment and poverty. Addressing a function organised for paying tributes to Shaheed Dhana Singh who was killed by terrorists here in April, 1992, Mr Dyal said before organising the people's march the Punjab unit of the CPI would launch a jail bharo agitation from February 15 to highlight the misdeeds of the SAD-BJP government of Punjab. He alleged that both the Centre and the Punjab Government were boosting fundamentalism, adding that such a situation could bring terrorism to the fore in Punjab again. He alleged the BJP government at the Centre was implementing its hidden agenda of "Hindutva". He added that attacks on Christians in Gujarat, digging up of the cricket pitch in Delhi by activists of the Shiv Sena and "saffronisation" of education were all part of the hidden agenda. He pointed out that the BJP and the Congress party's stand on the IRA and Patent Bill was evidence of both parties being in favour of surrendering the economic sovereignty of the country to the multinationals. Regarding the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa, Mr Dyal said marches should be taken out on the eve by the religious organisations and not by the political parties. He added that by inviting the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, to lead its march the Congress party had gone away from its traditional secularist approach. Mr Hardev Arshi, group leader of the CPI in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, said the state government was facing financial crises due to "misutilisation" of funds by the authorities concerned. He said corruption in the SAD-BJP government had touched new heights. Corruption was being patronised by the family members of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, he alleged. He added that Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal was running the state government by proxy. He alleged that farmers were looted openly in the grain markets with the Punjab Food Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, being in the know regarding this. He said it would continue so long as Mr Mittal would remain the Food Minister. He said the CPI had demanded that a CBI probe should be held to expose the corrupt practices adopted by officials of procurement agencies to loot the farmers under the patronage of their "superiors". Mr Bhan Singh Bhora, former MP, said it was the right time for secular forces to unite on a single platform to fight against the communal forces which were ruling the country. Mr Jagjit Singh, secretary of the district unit of the CPI, said his party would be ready to make any sacrifice for the protection of the rights of farmers and the poor. Earlier, Mr Jagir Singh
Joga, veteran CPI leader and former MLA, laid the
foundation stone of Shaheed Dhana Singh yadgari gate on
the approach road to the village. |
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Probe affiliation, urges FEAR PATIALA, Jan 17 — The Forum for Educational Action and Reform (FEAR) today urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) to probe affiliations granted by Punjabi University to new colleges during the tenure of Dr Balkar Singh as Dean, College, which concluded on January 7. In a statement here, the forum president, Dr Amarjit Singh Dhillon, alleged the probe was being demanded by his organisation as various new colleges had been given affiliation last year by Dr Balkar Singh by violating the Mandatory UGC norms. Dr Dhillon said form wanted to know why permission was given to eight professional colleges, including six for running Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) and bachelor of Business Administration courses and two for graduate medical course in homoeopathy without adhering to UGC norms as they needed to comply to higher academic standards. The FEAR president said of these colleges two were colleges of management and technology which were housed in rented portions in shopping centres in the city and owned by sons Dr Balkar Singh and Dean, Academic Affairs, Dr B.S. Bhatia. He said one college belonged to the owner of a vernacular newspaper and was located in portion of a school in Thikriwala Nagar. He said two colleges of same category had been opened in rented structures in Mohali and another college in an improvised structure of S.S.D. Girls College, Bathinda. Dr Dhillon said two colleges of graduate medical courses of homoeopathy had also been given affiliation during 1998 and were housed in a shop-cum-flat in Mohali and a deserted old residence of a nambardar in Lehal Colony, Patiala, respectively. The FEAR president said it was also noted by the forum that none of these colleges had qualified staff. One of these colleges was headed by a retired school headmaster, he added. He said the forum felt it
was the duty of the UGC to safeguard and protect the
standards of higher education in India and not allow
opening and continuation of substandard colleges. |
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Rally
by
Punjab Youth Congress LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — The Punjab Youth Congress workers today took out a protest rally against the soft stand taken by the central government against the culprits involved in the violence against Christians in Gujarat. Mr Parminder Mehta, senior
youth Congress leader and member of the PPCC, expressed
grief over the incident and alleged that the Prime
Minister, instead of empathising and providing security
to the victims, had shifted the focus on religious
conversions. |
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Leave
celebrations'
issue to SGPC, PATIALA, Jan 17 — The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes member and former Akali Dal (Badal) MP Harinder Singh Khalsa today said that the arrangements for holding the tercentenary celebrations should be left to the SGPC or Akal Takht. Speaking at a function organised by the Punjabi Vikas Manch where he was honoured, Mr Khalsa said the government should keep out of the celebrations. The former MP termed the controversies arising over holding of the celebrations as "unfortunate". He said as the celebrations involved religious activities they should be left to religious organisations like the SGPC. Speaking on the rights of the Scheduled Caste, he said though the Constitution had provided certain rights and concessions to the members belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes but these were not properly implemented by successive governments at the Centre. The Principal Secretary to
the Punjab Chief Minister and Secretary Industries, Mr
Ramesh Inder Singh, released three books written by
Punjabi writer, Dr Sarabjit Kaur Sandhawalia. |
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Delay in salary payment flayed JALANDHAR, Jan 17 — The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union (PCCTU) strongly criticised the State Government for failing to attend to the problems of the teaching community. Dr V.K. Tewari, general secretary of PCCTU, said here today that in spite of the repeated promises, the government had delayed disbursement of pension and gratuity to about 2000 retirees of aided colleges. He said that the government subjected the pension scheme to red tape as the scheme had already been passed by the Cabinet in January, 1996. He said teachers were the only section of employees not given the benefit of revised pay scales though the government of India was committed to meet 80 per cent of the expenditure against the posts as on January, 1996. Arrears of pay-revision were to be given in one instalment, but the whole process was the victim of bureaucratic wrangling, he said. Objecting to the negative attitude of the Punjab Finance Department, Dr V K Tewari said that the salary grant for November and December as also the arrears of Rs 9.78 crore had been held up and teachers had not been paid salaries for months. He said that the union would organise a massive protest rally at Banur in the constituency of Captain Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab on January 19. Teachers from the districts of Ropar, Patiala, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Nawanshahr and Ludhiana would take mass casual leave and join the rally, he said. Dr Tewari said that the
union supported the cause of the students against the
steep increase in fees and funds and demanded that the
Punjab Government stop repression and arrests of the
student leaders. |
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Punjab economy in a shambles: Congress CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 (PTI) — The Punjab unit of the Congress today charged that the state's economy had been plunged into crises after the alleged refusal of the banks to provide loans. "The lead bankers — Punjab National Bank (PNB) and the State Bank of India (SBI) — have refused to lend money to the state and its economy is in a shambles," Punjab Congress economic committee convener Surinder Singla told reporters here. He alleged that the revenue collection system in the state had "collapsed" and there was "a decline in the plan expenditure". The annual plan expenditure of the state has come down from Rs 24,000 crore last year to Rs 9,000 crore this year with most of the expenditure coming on maintenance of old projects, he claimed. He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had "admitted" that the tax concessions given to traders and industry had shown no positive result. The rate of taxation has
to be reduced and tax slabs need to be of smaller size to
increase tax collection, he said. |
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Khanna gives 10 lakh grant for
hospital GURDASPUR, Jan 17 — Mr Vinod Khanna, actor-turned-MP, while addressing a khula darbar at Bhaini Mian Khan in the Beas Beth area of the district said yesterday the bridge over the Beas near Nusseha ferry opposite Purana Shalla will be constructed in due course of time. Though the construction of the bridge is on the agenda of the Planning Commission, the contract for work will be handed over shortly to a private company. Mr Khanna said he had allotted Rs 18 lakh out of his MP's discretionary fund in the nine Assembly constituencies for carrying development work. He also announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh as his contribution towards the construction of Jathedar Ujagar Singh Memorial Hospital at Sekhwan in this district. Mr Sekhwan, state Minister for Public Relations and Rehabilitation, said the Punjab Government had sanctioned a Rs 2.75-crore project to overcome waterlogging in the Khanuwan Beth area. He said the work of laying the paving on the link road from Khnuwan to Mallewal would be taken up during this year. A sum of Rs 1.2 crore had been sanctioned in this regard. He announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for widening the grain market at Bhaini Mian Khan. Mr Sekhwan said the government had sanctioned Rs 4.8 lakh for the construction of a bus stand at Khanuwan. Mr SK Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, said two industrial focal points, one each at Sohal and Bhaini Mian Khan, were being set up in this district to absorb unemployed youth. The unemployed youth will be given loans at cheaper rates of interest to set up small industries in these focal points. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP,
appealed to the people to cooperate with the police in
consolidating peace in the district. He said orders had
been issued to police officials to give due recognition
to the elected representatives of the people. |
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BJP workers 'being ignored' FATEHGARH SAHIB, Jan 17 — Attacking the Punjab Government, the BJP has alleged its workers are being ignored by the civil administration at district levels. This had caused resentment among the party workers said Mr Jagmohan Kaura, organising secretary of the state unit of the BJP, while talking to mediapersons after presiding over the state-level meeting of general secretaries of the BJP at Sirhind today. He demanded that BJP workers should be given proportionate representation in district-level grievances committees and planning boards so that workers may work with enthusiasm and relations between the two coalition partners may be strengthened. He regretted not setting up district coordination committees as per the decision taken at a meeting held with the Chief Minister at Jalandhar recently. He said to strengthen the
party in the state a decision has been taken to set up
mahila morchas, yuva morchas, kisan morchas and SC/ST
morchas at the village level also. |
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Dalit front to visit Gujarat LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — A deputation of the All-India Minorities and Dalit Front would visit the affected areas in Gujarat where Christians and their institutions were attacked and damaged, and would submit the report to its president. This decision was taken at a meeting of the executive of the front held here today under the chairmanship of Jathedar Sewa Singh Sekhwan, President of the front. Jathedar Sekhwan said the meeting condemned the violence against Christians and demanded that the Prime Minister directed the Chief Minister of all states to take strict measures for the security of the minorities. He said under the
Constitution people in India had the right to preach
their religion. After getting the detailed report a
deputation of the front would go to Delhi to meet the
Prime Minister, the President and the chairman of the
National Minorities Commission in this regard. |
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Man arrested for carrying
unlicensed PATIALA, Jan 17 — The police here has arrested one person on the charges of illegal possession of a foreign-made pistol with live cartridges and a magazine. The CIA police said the accused Vinay Pal Singh, alias Vany, had disclosed during investigation that he had bought the pistol from a trader in Uttar Pradesh. However, the motive for carrying the unlicensed weapon and ammunition has not been known so far. A case has been registered
against the accused. |
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JEs to stage dharna on Jan 28 ROPAR, Jan 17 — More than 5,000 Junior Engineers working in various wings of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) will stage a dharna at the board headquarters in Patiala on January 28 in support of their demands and to protest against the board’s indifferent attitude. Mr Rajinder Saini, a spokesman of the Council of Junior Engineers of PSEB, said here today that this decision was taken at the meeting of the central working committee of the council yesterday. While discussing the demands, members flayed the board for not honouring the demand of reimbursement of 30 litres of petrol to the JEs working in the field as accepted by the board management at a meeting held on March 14, 1998 in Chandigarh. Mr Saini said resentment prevailed over the non-serious attitude of the PSEB management regarding the finalisation of the basic pay scales and allowances for the employees. He said the Wage Formulation Committee (WFC) constituted by the board had failed to submit its final report. On the other hand, some of the recommendations which had been approved by the WFC were either over-ruled or not implemented. Some of these recommendations were electricity concession, TA for the employees, local outdoor conveyance allowance, special pay and project allowance. Mr Saini urged the PSEB
management to implement the demands agreed at the March
14, 1998, meeting. He warned the management that if
timely and adequate measures were not taken, they would
observe complete strike in the second week of February. |
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Bus passenger robbed HOSHIARPUR, Jan 17-- A case of robbing of a bus passenger through intoxication came to light when a victim, Mr Anil Kumar Bassi, a resident of Nai Abadi, Hoshiarpur, and rig in charge of Jacson International Ltd, Bombay, told this correspondent that he boarded a DTC bus at 1.45 p.m. at Delhi on January 12 for Jalandhar. A young stranger sat next to him and after crossing Ambala offered groundnuts and later bhujia to him, which he accepted. He said soon after
consuming the bhujia he became unconscious. He did not
know how he reached Jalandhar or his house at Hoshiarpur
on January 14 or where he remained during the period. He
said that during this period the stranger took away two
gold rings, a gold bracelet, a gold, chain, Rs 40,000 in
cash, his identity card and return air ticket from Delhi
to Bombay. |
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Jathedar of Kesgarh Sahib assailed AMRITSAR, Jan 17 — Mr Harminder Singh Gill, president of the All-India Sikh Students Federation, has criticised Prof Manjit Singh, alleging that jathedar of Kesgarh Sahib, was received by some excommunicated Sikhs during his visit to the USA. In a statement, issued here yesterday Mr Gill said Prof Manjit Singh had violated ‘the hukamnama’ issued by Akal Takht by accepting reception by the ‘excommunicated’ Sikhs. Mr Gill appealed to the
Sikh masses to work for the upholding of Akal Takht which
was the supreme temporal seat for the Sikhs all over the
world. |
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YC to organise
‘chetna’ rallies PHILLAUR, Jan 17 — The Punjab Youth Congress will soon organise "Jan chetna rallies" at village, tehsil, block and district levels. Talking to this correspondent after installation as Punjab Youth Congress president in his first interview, Mr Davinder Singh Babbu said that the SAD-BJP government could not solve any problem despite its alliance partner ruling in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh besides in the Centre. Mr Babbu asked to comment on groupism within the party, said there will be no space for groupism. Regarding constitution of PYC, Mr Babbu said that the state unit of the PYC would be reconstituted by February 15 and district and block units would be formed after it. Mr Babbu urged the union
government to review its decision to increase retirement
age of government employees because this decision had
impeded the employment opportunities of lakhs of
unemployed youth in the country. |
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Punjab pensioners demand parity BATHINDA, Jan 17 — The Punjab Government Pensioners Welfare Association has urged the Punjab Government to bring parity among state government and central government pensioners. In a press note issued here yesterday Mr Kishan Singh, general secretary of the association, said the central government had brought all pre-1996 pensioners with post-1996 pensioners. He said as the Punjab Government was committed to grant all facilities to its pensioners on the central pattern so it should implement the revised pensions for the pensioners. He said that the Punjab
Government should make arrangements for granting revised
pension from January 1, 1996 and for the payment of
arrears. |
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