Friday, June 11, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Friday, June 11, 1999 |
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Application of Dhesi
restored AMRITSAR, June 10 — The Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission today restored the application of pro-Tohra SGPC member, Mr Sarup Singh Dhesi, which had sought the suspension of 10 pro-Badal SGPC executive members. Amarinder
to lead delegation to Delhi |
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CM
gives cheques to cane farmers Mohali
station stone laying on June 27 Hold
Lok Sabha poll earlier: BJP leader Urs:
Pak pilgrims wait for visa Finance
company dupes people Three
IAS officers transferred Brahmpura’s
denial on LS seat Dead
youth's kin given security Punjab
Cong united: Hero Tantrik
held |
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| Admissions to tech courses | |
Teachers to be re-employed |
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Application of Dhesi restored AMRITSAR, June 10 — The Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission today restored the application of pro-Tohra SGPC member, Mr Sarup Singh Dhesi, which had sought the suspension of 10 pro-Badal SGPC executive members, including Mr Balbir Singh Pannu and Mr Hardalbir Singh Shah, as they had committed malfeasance and misfeasance by holding unauthorised, illegal and politically motivated second meeting of the SGPC Executive on February 10 in express violation of the agenda set by the commission for the meeting. The applicant had said that the executive members allegedly held the meeting at either the residence of Giani Puran Singh or the Circuit House for his appointment in violation of the venue fixed for the meeting of the executive committee by the commission. The application which was moved in the court on February 11, a day after this meeting, was dismissed in default on March 3 as both counsel and the applicant were not present. Defence counsel objected to the acceptance of the application, saying counsel for the applicant had given false reasons that he was under belief that an application for adjournment had already been moved. He said this application could not be traced. Moreover, counsel had wrongly stated that he was attacked on the premises of the court by Mr Balbir Singh Pannu (the then SGPC secretary) although some altercation took place outside the court premises and that too after the working hours. The judge said he did not want to go into the question whether the application was false or not, but it was moved in the limited time. Restoring the application, the commission fixed July 22 for arguments. The court also allowed time till July 22 for the replication of the main application of Mr Dhesi for disqualification of the 10 pro-Badal SGPC members since they had become "patits" by working against the interests of the Panth and disobeying the hukamnama of Akal Takht of December 31. Besides Mr Pannu and Mr
Shah, the other respondents are Mr Kewal Singh, junior
vice-president of the SGPC, Mr Bhagwant Singh, Mr Satnam
Singhbhai Rupa, Mr Suba Singh Dhabwala Kalan, Mr Mal
Singh Ghuman, Mr Gurpal Singh Gora and Mr Joga Singh
Phaguwala. |
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Amarinder to lead delegation to
Delhi PATIALA, June 10 — Even as senior Punjab Congress leaders are camping in Delhi to voice their grievances before the high command, pradesh Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh today said he would also lead a delegation to Delhi on June 14 to demand stern action against the dissidents. Talking to TNS here, Capt Amarinder Singh said all district Congress committee presidents, legislators and former ministers and MPs would go to Delhi to meet Party President Sonia Gandhi. He said the delegation would urge the high command to tell the dissidents to go back and work in the field. He said the delegation would urge Mrs Gandhi to tell the dissidents to come to Delhi with their grouses after elections. The PPCC President said the delegation would inform Mrs Gandhi that while they were fighting the party's battle in Punjab, some leaders were trying to create dissension which would harm the party's prospects in the coming Lok Sabha election. Capt Amarinder tried to downplay the issues raised by senior Congress leaders, including former ministers Brahm Mohindra, party general secretary Birdevinder Singh and former MP Sant Ram Singla, saying the leaders had their own problems with party Vice-President Lal Singh, who had been made a member of the election committee. He said the election committee list had been finalised by the high command in consultation with its General Secretary Pranab Mukherjee and he could not recommend any deletion from it. Meanwhile, the war of attrition in the Punjab Congress may heighten further with sources saying that some legislators were also going to Delhi in support of dissidents who are already camping there. The sources said the dissidents had met already party General Secretary Pranab Mukherjee to convey their grievances. This would mean that only about half of the legislators from the state would accompany Capt Amarinder Singh to Delhi on June 14. Observers are also
calling the latest round of dissident activities as a
last ditch attempt by dissidents led by former Chief
Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal to offseat PPCC Chief Capt
Amarinder Singh before the Lok Sabha elections. |
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Timely supply of DAP assured CHANDIGARH, June 10 — Agriculture Development Officers posted in the field and other senior functionaries of the Punjab Agriculture Department have refused to verify the fertiliser bills on the basis of which fertiliser suppliers are given a subsidy by the government. Informed sources in the Agriculture department told TNS here today that staff members posted in the field urged the Punjab Government to withdraw a case registered against officials of the Agriculture department with regard to "bungling" in the subsidy last year by the Vigilance department. The sources said the field staff had conveyed to the authorities concerned that it would not take any responsibility with regard to verifying bills of fertilisers supplied to farmers by the fertiliser distribution network. Even a communication in this connection has been sent to the Punjab Government, it is learnt. Such a development may create a problem on the fertiliser supply front. Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has urged the Central Government to ensure uninterrupted supply of the DAP to Punjab. The Special Secretary (Agriculture), Punjab, Mr R.T. Jindal, and Director, Agriculture, Punjab, Dr M.S. Sonar, held a meeting recently with the officials of the Central Government in Delhi for adequate supply of DAP to Punjab. When contacted Mr Y.S. Ratra, Financial Commissioner (Development), said there would be no shortage of DAP at any stage in Punjab. All arrangements had been made to ensure timely supply of the DAP to the farmers. The Markfed authorities have been asked to make arrangement of two lakh tonnes of DAP for rabi crops. While the Markfed authorities would procure one lakh tonnes to distribute through its network of cooperative societies, another one lakh tonne of DAP it would procure for Punjab Agro, it is learnt. For procuring DAP, tenders had been floated by Markfed. Informed sources said the private traders had cancelled their orders for importing DAP following the Central government's decision to levy 5 per cent Customs duty on the import of DAP and also to reduce subsidy by Rs 3400 to Rs 3000 per tonne on the DAP imported. The orders cancelled were of 17 lakh tonnes of fertilisers. Following this development, the Punjab Government and also other major foodgrain producing states took up the issue with the Central government as shortage of DAP following cancellation of import orders was very much on the cards. Informed sources said now Central government had waived a 5 per cent Customs duty on fertiliser import and also increased subsidy on it from Rs 3000 to Rs 3200 per tonne. Following this private traders have started placing orders for the import of DAP, it is learnt. However, the Central government has increased the subsidy from Rs 4400 to Rs 4600 per tonne for the DAP produced by fertiliser plants in the country. The gap of Rs 1400 per tonne in the subsidy between imported and locally produced fertilisers would hit severely importers of fertilisers. They would have to compete with local manufacturers with an initial disadvantage of Rs 1400 per tonne in price. Whether they could afford to import a large stock of fertilisers or not before the sowing of rabi crops, it would depend on prices of fertilisers in the international market, official sources said. There would be a
requirement of 4.40 lakh tonnes of DAP for rabi crops and
for kharif crops arrangement had been made of 2.20 lakh
tonnes, official sources added. |
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Girls outdo boys in class X SAS NAGAR, June 10 — Once again girls have fared better than boys in the matriculation examination of the Punjab School Education Board, the result of which was declared by the board authorities here today. The pass percentage of regular candidates has nose dived and according to the board authorities, it was due to extra strictness observed by the board to check the use of unfair means during the examination. Savita Mall of the Guru Nanak Mission Public Senior Secondary School, Dhahan Kaleran village in Jalandhar district, who secured 610 out of 650 marks, has topped the list of successful candidates in the examination while Avnit Kaur of Modern High School, Amritsar, bagged the second position by getting 599 marks. The third position was shared by Meetu and Mamta of Durga Bal Vidya Mandir, Rajpura and Vivekananda High School, Pathankot respectively, both of them secured 597 marks each. While girls bagged the top three positions they maintained their superiority by recording a clear majority in the merit list also. Out of a total of 351 candidates figuring in the merit list as many as 230 are girls. According to the board
authorities, a total of 3,50,940 candidates appeared in
the examination. Of these 2,74,275 appeared as regular
candidates and 1,34,858were declared successful. The pass
percentage of regular candidates this year was 49.17 per
cent much below that of the previous year (65.95 per
cent). |
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CM gives cheques to cane
farmers GURDASPUR, June 10 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, addressing farmers in the premises of sugar mill, Paniar, near here today said that mid-term poll were forced on the people by the Congress at the instance of Mrs Sonia Gandhi. He alleged that Sonia Gandhi had roped in Jayalalitha who withdrew support to the BJP government. Mr Badal said the aim of the Congress was to instal Mrs Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister after but its game plan failed because it could not muster the support of 273 MPs in the Lok Sabha. Mr Badal exhorted farmers not to vote for Congress candidates in coming Lok Sabha poll because the Congress had done a great harm to Punjab. It was because of the Congress gameplan that Punjabi speaking areas and Chandigarh had not so far been merged with Punjab, he said. Mr Badal said the regional centre of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, will start functioning from August and will offer vocational courses in addition to law and master of business administration. He distributed cheques amounting to Rs 2.13 crore among 2333 farmers who had supplied sugarcane to the mill and had not been paid so far. Later talking to newsmen, Mr Badal said that he met Mr K.C. Pant, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and the Finance Minister had assured him an allocation of Rs 300 crore for the development of the state. Lashing out at Mr
Gurcharan Singh Tohra and his associate, Mr Badal said Mr
Tohra's party was a branch of the Congress and had
separated from the main Akali Dal to help the Congress.
The indirect involvement of Mrs Sheila Dixit Chief
Minister of Delhi in elections to the office bearers of
the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee was a
pointer in the direction, he alleged. |
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Mohali station stone laying on
June 27 CHANDIGARH, June 10 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, on return from Delhi said here today that the rail project linking Chandigarh with Ludhiana had been given a concrete shape. He said in a statement that the Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, would lay the foundation stone of the Mohali station on June 27. Mr Badal said he had a meeting with the Railway Minister in Delhi last evening and discussed many pending issues with the Railway ministry. The Chief Minister said that the Railway Minister had agreed to link Ferozepore, Moga, Ludhiana with a superfast train to Delhi. More coaches would be added to the existing trains and these coaches would be connected with superfast trains from Ludhiana for Delhi. The Railway Minister had also sanctioned Rs 3 crore for infrastructure development of Ferozepore station. Mr Badal also urged Mr Nitish Kumar to expedite another major project, Abohar-Fazilka, Beas and Tarn Taran rail link which was cleared by the union government. He demanded the release of Rs 10 crore for Domoria bridge at Jalandhar. He lamented that the
previous Congress Governments did not give a fair deal to
Punjab and only 11 km of railway line had been laid in
Punjab in the past 50 years. In the past two years the
Central Government with the efforts of the present
SAD-BJP Government in the state had sanctioned 200 km of
rail line, which is a record in Punjab. He said it was
only the Vajpayee Government which had sanctioned giant
industrial projects for Punjab. |
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Hold Lok Sabha poll earlier:
BJP leader AMRITSAR, June 10 — The BJP national Vice-President Mr Bangharu Laxman, has stated that the election commission (EC) should hold the Lok Sabha poll earlier. Talking to reporters at the Circuit House, Mr Laxman felt that due to the Pakistan-sponsored infiltration in Kargil and such a situation may lead to the postponement of elections which may create a constitutional crisis as the new Lok Sabha had to be constituted by October 21. The senior BJP leader pointed out that although the EC had decided to accept the view of the BJP-led government for an early poll preferably in June, but the EC in its own judgement had decided to hold the poll in September and October this year. Expressing his pessimism over the Indo-Pak Foreign Ministers talks to be held at Delhi on June 12, Mr Laxman added that though the discussion was to focus only on the Kargil issue but felt that the dialogue must continue irrespective of its outcome. Not willing to accept the blame for the present Kargil crisis, the BJP leader claimed that the seriousness of the infiltration was brought to the notice of the government in the first week of May. He was also non-committal about the timeframe during which the intruders could be forced to flee from LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. He appealed to all political parties, especially the Congress, not to politicise the situation which may harm the morale of the soldiers. Answering a question about the forthcoming poll and the chances of a national democratic alliance, Mr Laxman said the BJP and its allies would romp home comfortably to form the central government under Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. The BJP would, however, had decided to carry forward its common minimum programme enunciated by its allies but would not pursue its own manifesto. Commenting on the newly
found ally, the DMK, in Tamil Nadu, Mr Laxman
categorically stated that its alliance with the DMK and
other small parties would sweep the forthcoming Lok Sabha
elections. |
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Urs: Pak pilgrims wait for
visa FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 10 — The heightened tension between the two countries due to the Army operation in the Kargil sector may caste its shadow on the annual Urs at Rauza-Sharif here. According to information of government agencies, at least 275 Pakistani pilgrims are waiting to get their visa for visit to Fatehgarh Sahib to pay their obeisance. The annual three-day Urs, which is observed in memory of Sheikh Ahmed Farooqui Sirhindi will commence from June 11. Thousands of Naqshbandi Muslims from India and abroad are expected to pay homage. Rauza Sharif is one of the holiest shrines of the Naqshbandi sect in India. It is visited by lakhs of people during the Urs. Rauza Sharif, situated in the vicinity of Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, is the final resting place of Sheikh Ahmed Farooqui popularly known as Mujaddid Alf-e-Sani. The building was constructed in 1929. Sheikh Ahmed, the most eminent of Khwaja Baqi Billah's disciples, was born in Sirhind. From his childhood, Sheikh Ahmed moved in the company of saints. Around 1599, he left Sirhind to proceed on a pilgrimage and reached Delhi where he was welcomed by great Khwaja Baqi Billah who made him his disciple. Once Baqi Billah wrote to one of his friends "A person named Sheikh Ahmed belonging to Sirhind has acquired knowledge and is perfect in action. He appears like a lamp which will illuminate the world. When Sheikh Ahmed visited Baqi Billah second time, he was allowed to initiate disciples into the Naqshbandi order and was declared by the Khwaja as his successor. During his life time he (Nujaddid Alf-e-Sani) opposed Akbar's religious movement called "Din-e-Illahi". It is worth mentioning that when Banda Bahadur ruined the Sirhind town to take the revenge for the killing of young sons of Guru Gobind Singh, he did not harm Rauza Sharif. According to Mr V.K.
Janjua, Deputy Commissioner, pilgrims would be provided
with shelter, food, drinking water, medicines facilities.
Round-the-clock power supply would be given. He said a
bank counter for the exchange of foreign currency and an
information centre would also be set up. |
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Finance company dupes people JALANDHAR, June 10 — A private finance company, Rapti Group of companies, here with their main branch located at Sangam Complex near Milap Chowk has been closed down days ago. Its officials have also disappeared with a deposit of more than Rs 4 crore. According to employees, who were in the service of this company for the past two years informed that 31 branches throughout Punjab were closed the same day and its head office in Lucknow gave no reply regarding the closure of the company. The workers of the company said the company had duped hundreds of depositors. They added that the company officials — Mr A.N. Verma, Additional Zonal Manager, and Mr Neeraj Shankar Srivastava, Manager — have not only duped the investors but also cheated their workers and employees who have not been paid their salaries for the past couple of months. According to an investor, Mr Rajiv Sharma, Laxmipura, here he had lost Rs 7000. Another investor Mr Ram Swaroop of Kishanpura said he had deposited Rs 4000 two years ago in the company. A dozen shopkeepers of Nakodar were frustrated after losing a large amount of money. The SHO of Nakodar
police station, Mr Preetam Singh told this correspondent
on phone today that the police was looking into the
matter. |
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Three IAS officers transferred CHANDIGARH, June 10 — The Punjab Government today ordered fresh postings and transfers in respect of three IAS officers. Mr G.S. Pirzada has been appointed Managing Director, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation vice Mr Karan. A. Singh, who goes as Special Secretary, Finance. In place of Mr Pirzada, the New Registrar Cooperatives is Mr Suresh Kumar, who returns from deputation in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Mr Hussan Lal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, will look after the post of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Batala, as well. Mrs Kanwal Preet Brar, PCS, is new Assistant Commissioner (Grievances) Bathinda and in addition, Estate Officer, PUDA there, according to an official press note. The government has also
appointed Mr O.P. Gupta Chairman of Patiala Fatehgarh
Sahib Juvenile Welfare Board and Mrs K.R.Tiwana and Mr
Bhagwan Sarup as its members. |
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Brahmpura’s denial on LS seat GURDASPUR, June 10 — Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, senior SAD leader and Cooperation Minister, Punjab, has denied that he ever warned party president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, on the allocation of the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha seat. Talking to reporters here today, Mr Brahmpura said he had never pressurised Mr Badal to allocate the seat to his close confidant, Mr Balbir Singh Pannu, senior vice-president of the SGPC. He described the reports
in this regard as baseless and said the SAD’s rank
and file in Majha was with Mr Badal. |
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Dead youth's kin given
security BATHINDA, June 10 — Mr S.R. Ladhar, District Magistrate today directed the SSP, Mr Harnek Singh Sran to make proper security arrangements for the family members of Vinod Kumar, a youth of Partap Nagar locality who died under mysterious circumstances on June 5 in the local civil hospital. Mr Ladhar, who has already ordered a magisterial probe into the death of Vinod Kumar, gave this direction today. Mr Makhu Ram in his application alleged that there were stab wounds on the body of his son Vinod Kumar. He added that his son had been having an affair with a girl before his death because of which he had been receiving threats from certain persons. Mr Makhu also alleged that his son had been murdered as part of a conspiracy. Vinod Kumar was found in
an injured condition near a cinema house on the night of
June 4 and hospitalised. He died in hospital. |
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Punjab Cong united: Hero FEROZEPORE, June 10 — Senior Congress leader and Chairman of the Disciplinary Action Committee of the PPCC, Mr Harcharan Singh Hero has said that the Punjab Congress is united and there are no chances of a split in it. Talking to reporters here today, he denied reports that the rift in the Punjab Congress had come to the fore on Monday when two senior leaders, including former Chief Minister, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, boycotted the meeting of the State Election Committee (SEC). Giving the reason for the absence of Ms Bhattal from the SEC meeting, Mr Hero said that she did not get the message about the meeting in time. Mr Hero said Ms Bhattal had arrived immediately after the meeting was over. He said that indiscipline in the party would not be tolerated. Mr Hero alleged that the law and order situation in the state was worsening under the rule of the SAD-BJP combine government. Atrocities were being committed on the Dalits and the poor and Congress workers were being implicated in false police cases. He said that this had been brought to the notice of the Punjab Chief Minister by the PPCC President, Capt Amarinder Singh. In case the state
government did not take any action, the PPCC would launch
a mass movement. |
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Tantrik held LUDHIANA, June 10 — The police has arrested a tantrik, Baba Ajmal Khan from the Dhian Singh complex and registered a case under Sections 420 and 506 of the IPC. The police has also recovered Rs 44,000 and several letters written to him by certain naive clients asking for solutions to their problems. The tantrik was arrested on a complaint lodged by Mr Vinod Kumar, a resident of Haibowal. He had gone to the tantrik to ask for solution for some domestic problem. The tantrik had first charged Rs 2700 from him and later taken Rs 25000 from him. Mr Vinod grew suspicious
when the tantrik again demanded Rs 25000 from him after
he complained that his problem had not been solved. He
then, registered a complaint with the police and the
tantrik was arrested. |
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Admissions to tech courses on merit AMRITSAR, June 10 — Admissions to the B.Tech in computer science and engineering, electronics and communication engineering, food science and technology, sugar technology, textile chemistry, urban and regional planning and bachelor of architecture (B.Arch) at Guru Nanak Dev University for the current session will be based on merit during the CET-99 conducted by Punjab Technical University. Prof B.R. Batra,
Coordinator, CET-based admissions of the university, said
this decision had been taken as per the instructions of
the Punjab Government and all candidates desirous of
seeking admission to these technical courses were
required to submit separate applications on a prescribed
application form to the university on or before July 14. |
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Teachers to be re-employed FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 10 — Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister talking to The Tribune at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib today said the Cabinet had taken a decision to give appointment letters to all teachers who had been working for 89 days but had been relieved on the directions of the court. He said they would be asked to join duties shortly. He said the demands of striking revenue patwaris will be examined. He said the government has not yet received the report of the anomalies committee and whenever it will be submitted the government will take a decision on it. He said the Punjab Government has released Rs 1.3 crore for senior citizens and widow pensions and all the beneficiaries would get their pensions soon. Later he organised a Lok
Darbar in which the grievances of the people were
resolved. |
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DCC(U) office-bearers LUDHIANA, June 10 — The Vice-President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Gurcharan Singh Galib, today announced a list of 23 office-bearers of the District Congress Committee (Urban). During a press conference today, Mr Galib informed that the list of these office-bearers — four vice-presidents, eight general secretaries and 11 secretaries — had been approved by the PPCC President, Capt Amarinder Singh. He also said that these newly appointed office-bearers were chosen from amongst the old party workers and freedom fighters. With this present list,
the total number of office-bearers of the DCC(U) stands
increased to 268 (205 office-bearers appointed by Mr
Rakesh Panday and 40 by Mr Surinder Dawar, former
president of the unit). |
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Ex-MLA dead LUDHIANA, June 10 — Mr Om Prakash Gupta (83), President of the local SDP Sabha, and a former Congress MLA from the Ludhiana (East) Vidhan Sabha seat, passed away this morning. He was elected MLA for three consecutive terms. Mr Gupta had been
recuperating in the DMC for the past one month. Congress
leaders of the state and other politicians have expressed
grief over his death. |
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Lawyers go on strike FARIDKOT, June 10 — Members of the district Bar Association, Faridkot went on an indefinite strike today in protest against the indifferent attitude of the Punjab Government to accept their long-pending demands. The main demand include reorganisation of this district which was isolated after its bifurcation in three parts including Moga, Muktsar and Faridkot districts in 1995. They also staged a dharna in front of Division Commissioner's office here. Speaking on the occasion, representatives of various trade, political, social and business organisations and senior advocates expressed concern over the step-motherly treatment meted out to the people of this district. They said that about a month back a deputation of leading citizens, including advocates, met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at the local Circuit House who assured to give a sympathetic treatment to their demands while reorganising any other district in the state. The speaker said now the state Cabinet had already announced its decision to allocate 150 villages to Moga district but no action was taken to redress the grievances of people. In spite of the fact that a resolution passed by 100 villages panchayats belonging to Mudki and Bhagta Bhai Ka belt was already sent to the state government after the necessary approval of district administration. For their merger in Faridkot district. The agitators warned to
intensify their stir by launching an indefinite fast if
their demands were not conceded soon. |
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Pro-VC's term extended PATIALA, June 10 — Dr Ram Murti Goyal, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, of Punjabi University has been given extension for two years. Dr Goel, who joined this university as Pro-Vice-Chancellor in June 1996, and whose term ended today, was earlier Professor in the Department of Mathematics of this university. Dr Goel has written more
than 55 research papers. |
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