Thursday, March 18, 1999
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Thursday, March 18, 1999 |
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Police shoots
"smuggler" JALANDHAR, March 17 — Two persons were gunned down by the police at a farmhouse in Rehrwan, Punia, near Shahkot yesterday and a case has been registered for murder against the police at Shahkot police station. SAD leader shot dead, suspects held LUDHIANA, March 17 — All five suspects wanted in connection with the murder of a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Municipal Councillor, Mr Balraj Singh Gill, here last night have been arrested. |
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Tohra was de facto CM:
Badal FATEHGARH SAHIB, March 17 — Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal said Mr Tohra former President SGPC had acted as de facto Chief Minister of Punjab and wielded the real power over the administration while he himself had never asserted his authority in the same way. Mr Badal was talking to reporters at Lullon village 15 km from here today. Protesting
traders lathicharged
Cong
walks out on teachers' issue A
padyatra for national unity Notice
to Punjab CM, Lok Pal Homeless
refuse inferior houses Tohra
supporters condemn CM No
water for SYL canal: CM Status
quo on children hospital sought Liquor
shop auctions net Rs 95.15 cr Tercentenary:
parallel office set up |
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Police shoots
"smuggler" JALANDHAR, March 17 — Two persons were gunned down by the police at a farmhouse in Rehrwan, Punia, near Shahkot yesterday and a case has been registered for murder against the police at Shahkot police station. The sarpanch of Punia village Ranjit Singh (35), and his servant, Tarsem Singh (27), were gunned down by a police party led by Mr Gautam Cheema, Assistant Superintendent of Police, here. According to the police version, on a tip-off the police party raided the farmhouse of Ranjit Singh, who was supposedly involved in a poppy husk smuggling. The two were killed in cross firing, which according to the SSP Mr Gaurav Yadav, also left two constables injured. But the injured constables, Mr Mohinder Singh and Mr Kulwant Singh, were admitted to the local Civil Hospital at 11.40 a.m. exactly 12 hours after the incident took place. This raises some doubts in authenticity of the police story. Interestingly, the SSP admitted that no recovery of poppy husk was made from the farmhouse. When TNS visited the site a shell shocked villager, Satnam Singh, alleged that the police had fired at point blank-range and showed the door and the bed covered wth blood. He showed the bullet marks on the door, the dressing table and the bed. Ranjit Singh died in his bedroom, while Tarsem Singh was killed while trying to escape from the back door. Incidentally there were over 30 buffaloes in the compound which did not receive any bullet injury. A Matador "ATA 9799," was found parked in the compound. It had empty whisky bottles and glasses. The villagers alleged that the raiding party left this vehicle and ran away as the entire village assembled. On the other hand, Mr Amar Singh Chahal, SP, here who has been appointed to investigate the incident, denied categorically that it belonged to the police. When TNS visited Nakodar, the SSP said the Matador belonged to the police. However, he added that a case has been registered against the police personnel. What is more bizarre is that, a drunk ASI, Darshan Singh, was caught by the villagers early in the morning when he tried to escape from the site. He has been indicted in the case. The SSP admitted this fact also. But this appears to be a case of different versions from different police officers. The ASP Mr Gautam Cheema, when contacted at Nakodar police station, said he led a chase to intercept the vehicles carrying poppy husk for over one and half hour. The police chase was unable to confiscate the vehicles which according to Mr Cheema crossed over the Sutlej, which is difficult to cross these days. The question which arises is with did the vehicles disappear. Ranjit Singh is a close relative of the Agriculture Minister, Mr Ajit Singh Khohar, who visited the house of the victim today. This appears to be the reason for the case being registered. When TNS asked the
villagers whether Ranjit Singh was a smuggler and a
proclaimed offender, as alleged by the police, they
vehemently denied the allegations and said the police was
now trying to cover up the killings. They reasoned.
"Why would a successful farmer owning more than 1000
acres and a sarpanch of the village indulge in such
activities". The family enjoys a clean reputation in
the villages around Shahkot and Ranjit Singh's elder
brother, Satnam Singh, is the sarpanch of Rehrawan. |
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SAD leader shot dead, suspects
held LUDHIANA, March 17 — All five suspects wanted in connection with the murder of a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Municipal Councillor, Mr Balraj Singh Gill, here last night have been arrested. The main suspect, Sukhwinder Singh alias Bhap, surrendered in the court of Mr J.S. Kaler, Judicial Magistrate, First Class, this morning. According to the police, the other four arrested were Gurbachan Singh, Baljit Singh, Jagdish Singh and Amrish Singh. The killing took place late last night when a car belonging to Mr Amarjit Singh Bhatia, senior vice-president of the SAD (Urban), Ludhiana, was stopped by a gypsy in Fauji Mohalla in Abdullah Puri locality in the City. Mr Gill who was driving the car was shot dead as soon as he stopped the car. A nephew of Mr Amarjit Singh Bhatia, who was accompanying Mr Gill escaped unhurt. Mr Bhatia who is a Badal loyalist, told Tribune News Service that he along with Mr Balraj Singh Gill had gone to Amritsar yesterday in connection with the SGPC meeting which passed a no-confidence motion against Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and elected Bibi Jagir Kaur as the new SGPC chief. They returned to Ludhiana late last night. Mr Gill dropped Mr Bhatia at the latter's residence and left for his house along with Mr Bhatia's nephew. It was on the way that he was shot dead. According to the police, a revolver was used to kill Mr Gill. Mr Bhatia ruled out any political motive behind the killing. He alleged that the suspects were searching for him also. "I have personnel enmity with some of the arrested persons. I had been writing to the police for several years that I apprehended threat to my life from these people, but no notice was taken of my warnings". Mr Bhatia alleged that one
of the arrested was a militant who later turned a police
informer. |
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New SGPC chief to focus on
tercentenary ANANDPUR SAHIB, March 17 — Cast in the mould of "sewa" and "simran": service and meditation Bibi Jagir Kaur is a woman with a difference. A streak of disdain is discernible in her tone when someone asks her how she feels to be the first "woman" president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). She despises gender differentiation and counters with a question. "Did Guru Nanak not give equal status and rights to women and men? Should my appointment not be seen with the same analogy and in the same context?" Bibi Jagir Kaur was here on Wednesday to pay obeisance at Takht Keshgarh Sahib. Talking to TNS Bibi Jagir Kaur exuded confidence in handling the affairs of the SGPC. She said she will deal with organisational matters and functioning later, and concentrate on the tercentenary for now. She promised to follow the Sikh Gurdwara Act, the law and the rules in discharge of her responsibilities. A teacher by training and a preacher by temperament, she did her graduation from Chandigarh's Government College for Women and later a B.Ed. She is an excellent "gidha' dancer and a debater. Cultural activities interest her and novelists like Nanak Singh and Dalip Kaur Tiwana have influenced her. She described "religion and politics" as siamese twins. She trained in religion and politics while working as "mukh sewakia" in Dera Sant Baba Prem Singh Muralewale, Begowal and is well versed in "gurbani and gurmat". Bibi Jagir Kaur's life underwent a sea change three years into her marriage in the death of her husband, Bawa Charnjit Singh, in 1983. She had been married for only three years when the tragedy struck. Since then she wears white: "no taboo". What kept her going then was her teaching career. It also gave her an opportunity to look at things in a proper perspective. She was pushed into the vortex of active politics by her work during the 1988 floods. Afterwards, she was elected first to the SGPC (1996) and then to the Vidhan Sabha (1997). In a nostalgic mood she said her family had always endeavoured to observe the concept of "miri and piri" and ensured that political life was untainted by "corruption, lies, greed and blemish." She does not believe in personalities. It is the work done which matters and speaks for itself she says. Understandably, she is still under the shadow of Mr Parkash Singh Badal but does not agree that she will always be compared with her predecessor. But she knows her priorities. "Time is short. Tasks are many." Only after the tercentenary, will she turn to cleansing the SGPC. She knows the ills afflicting the Sikh 'parliament' and is conscious of misappropriation of money, encroachment or gobbling up of SGPC properties and other malpractices but for now these parried questions which were coontroversial or contentious, pertained to jathedars and religio-political affairs. She was, however, forthright in saying that "propagation and preaching" of Sikhism is her priority and is her wont to set up a string of "gurmat training institutions" where ragis, sewadars, granthis and others could be exposed to knowledge and information on Sikhism to make them understand the basic concepts, postulates and maryada. She wondered why today's youth had adopted the path of "apostasy and intoxicants". She has plans to give a new meaning to "gurdwara". beyond a mere place of worship saying, it is a multipurpose institution where Sikhs in particular and the community's aspirations and expectations in politics, religion, social engineering and economic well being in general have to be watched and enhanced". The money available has to be channelised. The SGPC president is a strong votary of a new All-India Gurdwara Act. Such an act can take care of the present loopholes and enable redefinition of the role of various Sikh institutions. The SGPC looks after over 900 gurdwaras. The community's involvement has to be ensured. "Afterall if SGPC is a repository of Sikh sentiments, the Panth itself is a trustee of the SGPC", she added. Bibi Jagir Kaur has a lot
to do and much to undo. But she is articulate and knows
her job responsibilities. As a teacher of maths she is
analytical and believes in a "scientific"
approach to the problems which beset the panth. |
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Tohra was de facto CM: Badal FATEHGARH SAHIB, March 17 — Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal said Mr Tohra former President SGPC had acted as de facto Chief Minister of Punjab and wielded the real power over the administration while he himself had never asserted his authority in the same way. Mr Badal was talking to reporters at Lullon village 15 km from here today. He had come to pay respect to solicit the support of saint Hardev Singh Lullon, a renowned sant of the area. He said he had even instructed officials to give more weightage to the orders of Jathedar Tohra, atlhough he (Mr Badal) never interferred in the religious affairs of the SGPC. But Mr Tohra instead of setting his own house in order openly dabbled in politics. It has been his long cherished ambition to be Chief Minister. He said that it was not he who started the present feud, adding if Mr Tohra had any complaint he could have raised it at party fora instead of airing his views in the press. He said a few days back Mr Tohra had been praising the Akali government. He said the party was supreme while people join or leave it. Even should I leave it will hardly effect it. Answering a query, he said it was up to the SGPC to tackle the issue of Bhai Ranjit Singh the suspended Jathedar of Akal Takht. When asked when Mr Tohra would be removed from the party he said "I cannot say". He said now that the feud in the Akali Dal was over the government will pay full attention towards the problems of the people. He said talks will be initiated with striking teachers and the academic atmosphere of the state will be restored. He asked Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, not to waste his energy in filling SYL canal as he had already declared that Punjab did not have spare water. Regarding the demands of
rice mill owners he said he had taken up the matter with
Centre and will again approach them as the declared
relaxations are not sufficient. |
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Protesting traders lathicharged BATHINDA, March 17 — The local police today resorted to a mild lathi charge and water canons to disperse the traders who were protesting against the auction of octroi posts held at the office of the Deputy Director, Local Bodies, Punjab, here. Traders on the call of the Punjab Pardesh Beopar Mandal, Yuva Beopar Mandal and other organisations had observed a complete bandh in the city to protest against the auction of octroi posts to private parties. About 20 persons, including Mr Surinder Kapoor, former minister, Mr Jagroop Singh Gill, former president, Municipal Council, Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal and Mr Anil Bhola (Congress leaders) Mr Madan Lal Kapoor, President, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee, (Beopar cell) and police officials suffered minor injuries when some persons started throwing stones at the protesting traders. Mr Gutrej Singh, SDM, when contacted denied the lathi charge. He added that only water canons were used to disperse the traders when they were trying to disrupt the auction. Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, General Secretary, District Congress Committee, and Mr Jagroop Singh Gill, former president, Municipal Council, alleged that some of the bidders were not allowed to go to venue of the auction as it was held to favour certain influential persons. Mr Surinder Kapoor, former minister, said as the abolition of octroi was a prominent item in the election manifesto of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) before elections, the Punjab Government should now cancel the auction and abolish the octroi. The traders alleged that when they were holding the dharna in a peaceful manner, the policemen resorted to selective lathi charge and also damaged a jeep belonging to one of the traders. Mr Madan Lal Kapoor, President, PPCC (Beopar cell) said as the large-scale bunglings had been made at the auction, they would approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court for its cancellation. He added that shopkeepers would down their shutters tomorrow and stage a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office to protest against the police high handedness. They would also urge the state government to cancel the auction. Mr B.S. Bhullar, President, Municipal Council, while denying the allegations said the auction was held in a free and fair manner and had fetched Rs 1.1 crore more than the reserve price of Rs 7.50 crore. Mr Prithvi Chand, Deputy Director, Local Bodies, said nobody was stopped from entering the venue of the auction. He claimed that about 11 bidder deposited their earnest amount before the start of auction. Mr Bohar Singh, Executive
Officer, Municipal Council, said the Municipal Council
would ensure that private employees of the octroi
contractors did not harass any person. He added that
private employees would be allowed to check any vehicle
only in presence of government official. |
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HC order on vends' auction
stayed CHANDIGARH, March 17 — The Supreme Court has stayed the operation of the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court restraining the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department from confirming the auction of liquor vends in the state till March 22. An order to this effect was passed yesterday by Mr Justice S.P. Bharucha and Mr Justice R.C. Lahoti on a special leave petition filed by the Punjab Government against the March 12 High Court order. Mr Satya Pal of Chandigarh had preferred a writ petition in the High Court praying for quashing the auction of group No 113 to 117 in the Ludhiana excise circle alleging certain irregularities in the auction of these vends. The petitioners had further alleged that the auction was against the interests of the state revenue and also against the directions issued by the High Court in a similar writ petition earlier. The petitioner had also maintained that his bid of Rs 33 crore against Rs 32.70 crore of Maan Singh Garcha and Company was accepted and that he was willing to pay Rs 35 crore for the aforesaid group of vends. After hearing the petition and the Punjab Advocate-General, Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice N.K. Aggarwal permitted the holding of auctions as scheduled. "However, the petitioners before us shall be permitted to take a person with a video camera and to record the proceedings of the auction. Furthermore, these auctions shall not be confirmed by the Excise & Taxation Commissioner till March 22. However, this shall not preclude the competent authority from accepting 10 per cent of the bid money by way of deposit at the fall of the hammer in the auctions," the Judges' order said. Aggrieved by this impugned order, the Punjab Government filed an SLP in the Supreme Court. Mr Justice S.P. Bharucha and Mr Justice R.C. Lahoti in their order observed that "there is nothing other than his assertion to indicate that the original petitioner had made a bid of Rs 33 crore or, for that matter, any bid whatever. There are video cameras positioned at the auction site, but the original petitioner's bare allegation is that they were so slanted that they could not have recorded whether he had made a bid or not. "As the order records, the matter was taken up by the High Court before lunch and the court had then directed the copy of the petition to be served upon the Advocate-General. Pursuant to this, the Advocate-General appeared after lunch, and sought time to consult the department on whether or not a larger bid made on behalf of the original petitioner in court could be accepted. Without responding to that application, the court proceeded to pass the order that pertains not only to the particular vends in petition but also to others of which auction was yet to be held. "On the oral submissions of the learned counsel for the original petitioner, reliefs were granted which are not sought in the petition; along them permitting the original petitioner to take a person with a video camera with him to the auction site to record the proceedings of subsequent auctions. Also directing that these auctions would not be confirmed by the department until after March 22,1999. "We find no warrant for the order relating to group nos 113 to 117 for Ludhiana excise circle, which was properly the subject matter of the petition, because there is nothing to indicate that the original petitioner had made a bid as he alleged. Far more so, there is no justification for the order that has been passed in regard to the auctions which are yet to be held. Suspicion cannot take place of proof to warrant the passing of such orders. Leave granted. "Pending further
orders, the order under challenge shall remain
stayed," the order said. |
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Cong walks out on teachers'
issue CHANDIGARH, March 17 — While the Congress party staged a walkout in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha during zero hour and boycotted the session for the remaining period today over the issue of demands of teachers, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the state government was seriously pondering over the demands of teachers. Mr Badal made the statement after Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, a BJP MLA from Amritsar, raised this issue in the House. The Chief Minister said he had taken up the issue of releasing teachers from jail with the Home Secretary of the Union Territory, Chandigarh. Having a dig on the Punjab Government, Mrs Chawla said already one teacher from Jalandhar had died in the jail as he did not get medicine there. All others should be released, she urged. Mrs Chawla said the agitating teachers were brutally treated and education in schools had gone haywire. Copying in examinations was going on and teachers were on the roads for the past one month. She asked why parity among government and private school and college teachers was being disturbed now when it was continuing since 1967. She said the government had given an assurance that there would be uniformity in wages of all school teachers and urged Mr Badal to make a statement in this connection. As Mr Badal ended his statement and sat down, floor leader of the Congress party, Chowdhary Jagjit Singh, got up to raise this issue as he was not happy with the CM's statement. Mr Chowdhary said the CBI inquiry should be held with regard to the death of a teacher in jail and his family should be given Rs 5 lakh as financial assistance and one of his family members should be given a job. He said the teaching community was on the roads and facing lathis. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, said Chowdhary Jagjit Singh could not raise this issue as it had already been discussed and the CM had made the statement. There could not be any debate on this issue, he said. The Speaker did not allow Chowdhary Jagjit Singh to continue. In protest Congress MLAs walked out of the House. Later Mr Chowdhary addressed a press conference in his party's office in the Vidhan Sabha and said the government was not paying any attention towards the demands of teachers. He said students were suffering due to the indifferent attitude of the state government towards teachers. He said his party boycotted the proceedings of the House as it thought the government was dilly-dallying on the teachers' issue. During the calling-attention notices, Mrs Chawla said kerosene was being sold in the black instead of making it available to poor sections of society through the public distribution system. She said monthly was being taken from depot holders. Mr Mittal said there was no black marketing of kerosene and said appropriate action would be taken if Mrs Chawla brought any such case to the notice of the authorities concerned. He also gave details of the kerosene distributed in the state and the system adopted in this connection to prevent any sort of malpractice. Responding to another
calling-attention notice given by Mr Hardev Arshi with
regard to government-aided colleges, Mr Tota Singh said
that the government was sympathetically considering
giving UGC scales to teachers of such colleges. |
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A padyatra for national
unity BATHINDA: Learning the religions, cultures and lifestyles of people of different states of the country by running through its length and breadth has become a way of life for a young lad belonging to Rishikesh (Uttar Pradesh). Vijay Shanker Mishra, a graduate from Banaras Hindu University, is at present covering the entire country on foot to spread patriotism, national integration and awareness regarding the environment among the public. Starting his journey from Porbandar (Gujarat), he has covered about 33,000 km and 21 states on the country in about 1,100 days. During his journey, he has covered schools, colleges and other educational institutions en route to meet all sorts of people for spreading national integration. Vijay says by his travels he has acquired a vast knowledge of people's problems. He selected Porbandar to start his journey because it was the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. Moreover, his mother wanted him to follow the Mahatma's principles. This is not Vijay's first walkathon. Sometime ago he traversed a distance of 3,020 km on foot from Lucknow to Kanyakumari in 91days and cycled from Jammu to Lucknow, a distance of over 1,000 km. He had already made it to the Limca Book of Records for his effort in covering the distance between Lucknow to Kanyakumari on foot from October 19, 1995 to January 17, 1996 for national integration. He passed through 33 districts and 485 villages in course of his journey. His day roughly starts at 5 a.m. He sets forth from the place he had stayed overnight to his next destination and usually covers 35 to 40 km a day. He also maintains a logbook in which the responses of different people to his noble mission are recorded. After completing this mission, he plans to embark on another journey with a different objective. He feels that after undergoing the varied experiences in this journey, he would not face many problems in the next mission. He says he met the maximum number of Collectors and Superintendents of Police in the country during his journeys. He has also been
motivating youth which whom he interacted during his
journey. He has asked them to take up relevant issues
such as corruption, terrorism, drugs, alcoholism and
communalism, which afflict present day society. |
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Notice to Punjab CM, Lok Pal CHANDIGARH, March 17 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and four other persons, including the Punjab Lok Pal, for May 3 on a petition filed by Mr Lal Singh, a former minister in the Harcharan Singh Brar Government and former Vice-President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, questioning the appointment of Justice H.S. Rai as Punjab Lok Pal. Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Amar Datt, who handed down this order, observed: "Since Mr Khosla (Deputy Advocate-General) has already been requested to accept notice on behalf of respondent No 1 (State of Punjab), no fresh notice is being issued to respondent No. 1. The Bench directed that reply (to the petition) may be filed on behalf of respondent No 1 within four weeks for consideration of stay. We consider it appropriate to hear arguments of respondent No1. Therefore, the matter will be taken up on March 19. Earlier, counsel for the Punjab Government had produced a sealed envelope containing records about the appointment of the Lok Pal, which was opened in the court. "We have perused the files which are ordered to be returned to Mr Khosla in a sealed cover. Further arguments heard," the Bench observed. In his petition Mr Lal Singh had prayed to the Bench issued the necessary directions to the state government to quash the appointment of Justice H.S. Rai as Lok Pal as it was illegal and void ab initio. Mr Lal Singh also urged the Judges that the complaint filed against him by Mr Chaman Parkash Singh, a resident of Patiala district, and subsequent proceedings before the Lok Pal be quashed. He alleged that the complaint against him was procured by one of his political opponent through Mr Chaman Parkash. The allegations levelled against him in the complaint were vague. On the request of the petitioner's counsel, the Bench ordered the deletion of Randip Singh Rai's name from the array of respondents. Contempt notice to 5 excise officials The High Court today issued contempt notice to five officials of the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department for March 22 for intimidating and threatening Mr K.L. Goyal, counsel for Mr Brijesh Tiwari, a businessman of Ludhiana, questioning the illegal detention of his goods and vehicles. The officials are Ms Kiran Rosy, Deputy Director (E&T), Mr Magnesh Sethi, Mr Dharam Singh, Mr Harjit Singh and Mr J.C. Vohra, all officers. Mr Justice J.L. Gupta and Mr Justice N.K. Agrawal, who handed down this order, recorded counsel's statement: "Mr Goyal had pointed out that certain officers of the department had misbehaved with him and threatened him. He has now filed an application along with his personal affidavit. He undertakes to affix the court fee stamps. "We have perused the application and the affidavit of Mr K.L. Goyal, prima facie, the facts as disclosed in the application and the affidavit indicate undue interference with the proceedings in the court. These appear to be calculated to impede the course of justice." "In the circumstances, we consider it proper to issue notice to the officials to show cause as to why proceedings for contempt of court be not initiated against them. The notice has been issued for March 22". Mr Justice Gupta further observed: Mr Brijesh Tiwari has appeared in person. He prays for permission to withdraw the writ petition. We have recorded his statement. The application for permission to withdraw the writ petition is adjourned to March 22," the day the officials will appear in court. The Judges had also
recorded the statement of Mr Tiwari which, inter alia,
said: Mr J.C. Vohra met me in court about half an hour
back. It was about 1.15 p.m. that he had met me today and
had asked what happened in this case.... I have given a
copy of my request to withdraw the writ petition to Mr
Vohra. About four-five days back a truck loaded with iron
scrap, which was coming from Ahmedabad, has also been
detained by Mr Malik at Khanna. I do not want to continue
with my writ petition because it would hamper my
business. My business would be spoiled if I continue to
prosecute my writ petition". |
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Homeless refuse inferior houses PATIALA, March 17 — Representations of a number of panchayats demanding allotment of houses to Scheduled Castes under the 'home for homeless' scheme launched two years ago by thg SAD-BJP government are piling up in the district welfare office here even while almost 500 of the total 550 houses constructed so far still await owners. According to sources there are various reasons why the houses, even those complete in all respects, have not been allotted including conflicts, over the names of those entitled to them. Under the scheme 650 houses were to be constructed in this district of which 550 have been constructed. However handing over possession has been possible only at a village near Nabha, where 30 owners moved into the new houses. At other places a fight was on between panchayats and even between MLAs over 'deserving' allottees with each segment pushing its favourites. Thus in Daunkalan village near here where two groups of claimants have went to court showing dissatisfaction at the compromise allottees decided by the district administration and the local MLAs. At other places like 'Chalela and Bakshiwalah' villagers actually refused to take possession of houses alleging that the material used in the houses was of very low quality suggesting they could be unsafe. At village 'Akoth' on Devigarh -Pehowa road in this district the allottees similarly refused to take possession quastioning the wisdom of constructing 10 houses in a low lying area where water seeped into the foundation and dampness into the walls. Executive Engineer Panchayati Raj Mr Sanjeev Gupta said the reason for the houses not being plastered was the inordinate delay in receipt of Rs. 4000 additional grant for the work. He said the grant was cleared in 1997 but the department had not received it. He added it was the fault of his department if the panchayats provided land in low lying areas for construction of these houses. Sources at the district
welfare office said delegation of village panchayats
converge on the office demanding allotment of houses
almost daily. |
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Tohra supporters condemn CM PATIALA, March 17 — Three legislators, including former Minister Surjit Singh Kohli, and district Akali jatha president Rajinder Singh Tohra today led a frontal attack against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, even as the election of Bibi Jagir Kaur as president of the SGPC was widely welcomed. In a joint release, former Minister Surjit Singh Kohli, Mr Jagtar Singh Rajla, Mr Gurdev Singh Shatrana and Mr Rajinder Singh Tohra said the Chief Minister would have to pay a heavy political price for creating conditions which led to Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra resigning as president of the SGPC. They said the resignation, had been given to maintain the supremacy of the Akal Takht and prevent violation of the hukamnama of the august body. Meanwhile, a meeting of
Akali workers presided over by veteran Akali leader
Manmohan Singh Bajaj, who is a confidant of the Chief
Minister, welcomed the election of Mrs Jagir Kaur. In a
separate statement, the United Teachers Forum and Women
Teachers Forum of Punjabi University also hailed the
election. |
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No water for SYL canal: CM CHANDIGARH, March 17 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today stated in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha that water would not be released into the Sutlej Yamuna link canal. He was responding to a question raised in this connection by Mr Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, MLA belonging to the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) headed by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann. Mr Badal said: "Tell your leader, Mr Mann, to abandon his programme with regard to filling up the SYL canal as the Punjab Government has no proposal to release water into the canal". Earlier, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, made a reference to the election of Bibi Jagir Kaur as president of the SGPC. He said the House should congratulate her for the achievement. Mr Hardev Arshi thanked
the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mr Farooq Abdullah,
for introducing Punjabi in schools in his state. |
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Status quo on children hospital
sought BATHINDA, March 17 — The district unit of the Punjab State Pharmacists Association, has urged the Punjab Government not to convert the special children hospital into general hospital. In a joint press note issued here today, Mr Bhoj Raj, President and Mr Baldev Sharma, Chief Adviser of the association said that about 20 years ago the then Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal established the children hospital first of its kind in the state here to provide better facilities to the children. For the last 20 years the children hospital was located in the building of civil hospital here and about two months ago it was shifted to the building of old civil hospital. They alleged that some medical professionals tried to change its status by admitting patients who were over 14 years of age. However, with the intervention of the association this practice was stopped. They alleged that now again the local health authorities were trying to change its status to a parallel civil hospital which would defeat the purpose of setting up a separate children hospital. The association had also
demanded that the authorities should provide latest
equipments in this hospital. |
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Liquor shop auctions net Rs 95.15
cr AMRITSAR, March 17 — Liquor shop auctions here registered an increase of 11.82 per cent against 7.74 per cent in the previous year. Giving details of the annual auction for Amritsar district, Mr N.R. Bali, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, said today's single group, both for urban and rural belt, was auctioned at Rs 95.15 crore against Rs 85.09 in the previous year. Although the Punjab Government had planned to get an increase of about 8 per cent, but the district had exceeded the target. The entire auction was held amid tight security and conducted in a smooth manner. A large number of contenders had thronged the indoor stadium at Goal Bagh and it was over within an hour. Mr Bali refuted the allegation by some political sections that the auctions were manipulated to favour some powerful lobbies close to the Chief Minister. He added that the increase in the revenue would vindicate our stand that there was no political interference in the bidding. The state government's new policy had anticipated the increase in the auction of liquor shops this year. With the single-group auction today, all different contenders of liquor contractors will have monopoly in the district which is likely to make the liquor costlier. The commissioner, however, pointed that the increase per bottle would be roughly about Rs 5 or Rs 6 per bottle. In the new policy which was envisaged, the state government also proposes to allow opening of pubs selling draught beer from the current financial year. The auction was attended
by representatives of the district administration,
financial commissioner, assistant excise and taxation
officers. |
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Tercentenary: parallel office set up LUDHIANA, March 17 — The central office of the Khalsa Panth tercentenary committees set up by Bhai Ranjit Singh for holding parallel celebrations was inaugurated here at Gurudwara Akalgarh by Baba Sarabjot Singh, President of Gurmati Sidhant Pracharak Sant Samaj. During the function held here today, it was also decided to set up sub-offices of the committee at Gurdwara Gurgyan Prakash Jawaddi Kalan and at Amritsar, Bathinda, Chandigarh and Delhi. A decision to set up a media cell at Jalandhar has also been taken. The function was also
attended by former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Jasbir
Singh Rode, Jathedar Surjan Singh Thekedar, Baba Sucha
Singh, Jawaddi Kalan, Baba Chamkaur Singh and Jathedar
Buta Singh. |
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Roadways men block traffic PHAGWARA, March 17 — Roadways employees today blocked traffic on GT Road outside local bus stand for over half-an-hour resulting in long queues of vehicles on both sides of the road. This was in protest against the beating up of Kanwarpal, a driver of the Haryana Roadways. The stalemate ended
following the intervention by the local DSP, Mr Pritam
Singh and the impounding of private buses belonging to
those who were involved in the incident. |
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Man held for killing daughter BATHINDA, March 17 — Harpal Singh Bajwa, who allegedly killed his daughter, Jasbir Kaur for marrying a boy, Kulwant Rai, belonging to a different caste was arrested here today. Police sources said the pistol used in the crime had been recovered. Mr Dinesh Kumar Sharma, SHO, City Kotwali police station, told Tribune News Service that a case under Section 304 of the IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act had been registered against Harpal Singh. Harpal Singh who unsuccessfully contested the Municipal Council poll fired two shots at Kulwant Rai, Jasbir Kaur and his sister, Neena, when the three were going on a motor cycle in Mehna Chowk Bazar last evening. While Jasbir Kaur was
killed, Kulwant Rai and Neena escaped unhurt. |
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MC interviews disrupted NANGAL, March 17 — Pandemonium prevailed in front of the local municipal committee office here today when at least 100 employees of the committee, disrupted the interviews for the posts of assistant pump driver and work mistries. The employees who gheraoed the committee office about 10 a.m. were protesting against the recruitments. The leaders of employee union were demanding that the lower grade workers who were working against the posts for which interviews were being conducted since last 12 years, should be first given promotions before making new recruitment. They also alleged that some of the recruitments were being made in violation of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1975, which stated that 75 per cent of the promotions in councils should be done from within the council. The employee lifted the siege when the interview dates were postponed. The interview dates have now been fixed on 24 and 26 March. The former president of the municipal committee, Mr Ashok Nayar, was among those who addressed the protesting employees. However, thereafter nearly 400 candidates who had come from different parts of the state, gheraoed the committee, office. They raised slogans against the committee for causing undue harassment to them. They alleged that in spite of the fact that the employee union had issued an ultimatum to the committee, they didn't take any prior measure to prevent the incident. The candidates were pacified only when the president of the committee Rakesh Sharma and Executive Officer assured them that no such incident would happen in future. The President of the
council, described about the incident as unfortunate. He
said that the committee was short of staff and the
present interviews were being conducted as per the
directives of the high court. |
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Suspected polio case in Rajpura PATIALA, March 17 — A suspected polio case detected from Chamaru village in Rajpura block of this district has set alarm bells ringing in the district civil surgeon's office here. According to sources after receiving reports that Vina, a minor daughter of Mr Iqbal Muhammad, a potter by profession had contracted polio, a special team from the civil surgeon's office was despatched to collect samples of foecal. Sources said detection of a suspected case from Rajpura block assumes significance as last year two positive cases were reported from this block, as a result of which the block was specially included in a special pulse polio immunisation drive launched on March 14 and 15. Dr Rakesh Gupta, Assistant
Civil Surgeon, when contacted said they were awaiting the
laboratory report of the samples and would be in a
position to comment only after that. He said the potter
was a migrant labourer and in the past also polio cases
were detected mainly among migrant labourers. |
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Three of a gang arrested GURDASPUR, March 17 — The local police today arrested three members of a gang of dacoits while two of their accomplices escaped under the cover of darkness. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, in a press note issued here today said the police on specific information raided the hide-out at the Chanan Dian Marrian here and arrested Balbir Singh, alias Babbi, Raj Kumar, and Tirath Kumar, alias Langra, all residents of Dadri Mohalla, while other members of the gang including, Lakhwinder Raj and Parvej Masih, alias Bheji escaped. One .303 pistol, two .12 bore pistols and 12 cartridges were recovered from their possession. A case under Sections 399 and 401, IPC, has been registered against the accused. The district police chief said during interrogation the accused confessed to having committed robbery at Thanewal village where Ravinder Singh of the same village, in whose house they committed the robbery, was killed in 1990. About two months back, the accused looted a karyana shop of Santosh Kumar at the grain market. They also committed a
burglary at the house of a professor in front of the
grave-yard on Batala Road and decamped with gold
ornaments. |
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Mountaineer pledges organs LUDHIANA, March 17 — The youngest mountaineer to have scaled the Mt Everest, Ms Radha Thakur, will donate her organs after death. She announced this at a function held at Christian Medical College here yesterday to mark organ donation awareness day. Dr Kim Mammen, Medical Superintendent of CMC, said that of 90,000 persons having renal problems, only 3,000 get kidneys for transplant. He said that if half of the 55,000 persons who die in road accidents each year decided to donate their kidneys, more than half of the requirements of patients would be met. The hospital management
plans to circulate a pledge form and an organ donation
card. Patients who had successful organ transplant
operation at CMC, were introduced to the audience. |
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Action initiated against cops KHANNA (Ludhiana), March 17 — The Governor of Punjab, Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), has informed a delegation of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) that action had already been initiated against irring policemen inovolved in the lathi charge on teachers at Chandigarh recently. The Governor was in Khanna to preside over the annual convocation of A.S. College today. The delegation led by Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, Secretary, PCCTU, and Prof Kanwaljit Singh, president of its district council, was also assured by the Governor that he would prevail upon the state government to find a solution within a week for the on-going agitation by university and college teachers in the state. The delegation also
presented a memorandum to the Governor, wherein they
demanded regular release of quarterly grants to colleges,
implementation of revised pay scales for teachers,
implementation of the pension-cum-gratuity scheme from
April 1, 1992. The teachers have also criticised the
government decision to give fixed grants to colleges in
place of the 95 per cent grant being given to private
colleges since 1977. |
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Kisan mela concludes LUDHIANA, March 17 — Managerial skills are as important as the production technology for achieving success in high-tech agriculture and new enterprises like flower cultivation, mushroom growing and fish farming require quick decisions which can decide the final outcome of these enterprises. This was stated by Dr H.S. Garcha, Dean, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, PAU, while addressing farmers at the valedictory-cum-prize distribution function of the two-day kisan mela on the PAU campus here. He said these new enterprises had potential of producing more food in terms of nutrients from per unit of land. Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director Extension Education, PAU, appreciated the large scale participation of the farmers in the mela. He also advised them to produce their own seeds instead of procuring them at high cost. Earlier, Dr Garcha gave away prizes to 31 farmers and six women who had excelled in farm produce and home science competitons. Sixteen commercial firms also won prizes for good display in the agro-industrial exhibition. The first prize for the sale of PAU farm literature went to the Farm Advisory Service unit of Bathinda district. NSS girls' unit,
meanwhile, held a camp during the mela. |
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Specification limit irks rice millers PATIALA, March 17 — The Punjab Rice Millers Association President, Mr Tarsem Saini yesterday said a cruel joke had been played on rice millers by the Central Government which had given relaxation in specifications only till March 31. Mr Saini said the relaxations which itself were insufficient, had been granted till March 31 giving the millers only 10 days to mill their paddy stocks. The Central Government had further discriminated against the millers as no relaxation had been granted for rice to be delivered in the levy account out of the paddy procured by the millers in their own account. He said the association felt cheated as the facts regarding the exclusion of the levy rice from the relaxation and the limitation of March 31, were never discussed in the meeting held with the Prime Minister. It was more irksome that in the case of Uttar Pradesh relaxation allowed was applicable for both levy and custom-milled rice. Mr Saini said a meeting of
the executive members of the association of the state had
been called on March 20 at Dhuri to chalk out a plan for
holding a dharna in front of the office of the Food
Ministry in New Delhi. |
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Two held for murder SANGRUR, March 17 — With the arrest of Baldev Singh, alias Devi, son of Mr Bhag Singh and Balwinder Singh son of Mr Gurmail Singh both residents of Kheri village, about 5 km from here, the murder case of Joginder Singh, resident of the same village has been solved, according to Mr Arpit Shukla, district police chief. The murder was committed two weeks ago, says Shukla. According to district police chief, the two had a quarrel while sharing a drink with the deceased Joginder Singh at Sangrur. They followed Joginder while he was on his way to the village residence on his cycle and murdered him on the way near the village. The case was solved
following the recovery of a driving licence and a purse
on the site of murder belonging to them. |
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MP supports teachers' demands BATHINDA, March 17 — Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, President, BJP, Punjab and member of Parliament, today appealed to the Punjab Government to accept the genuine demands of the teachers of private-aided schools. Talking to TNS from Delhi on telephone, Mr Sodhi said though the state government would have to face additional financial burden by accepting the demands but it should go ahead with it to prevent any loss of studies for students. He added that it was the
Akali-Jan Sangh combine government of Punjab in 1977
which had granted the pay-scales to private teachers on a
par with government teachers. |
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Principals assault hotel owner ABOHAR, March 17 — Mr Chander Gagneja, proprietor of a local hotel, and his minor son were reportedly assaulted by principals of two model schools and certain others who forced their entry into the hotel last night. The police had to intervene as the assailants ransacked the hotel twice, alleging that the owner had duped them and others by conducting monthly cash draw schemes running into several lakhs. Mrs Gagneja, however, in an FIR alleged that certain persons were threatening to "liquidate" the entire family and to set the hotel on fire. She has sought protection
from the authorities. |
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