Thousands attend shobha yatra
JALANDHAR, March 25 — Cutting across party lines, political affiliations and religious barriers, thousands of people from all walks of life took part in the Ram Navami shobha yatra organised by the Ram Navami Utsav Committee here today.

Badal reactivates youth wing
CHANDIGARH, March 25 — The president of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today reactivated the party's youth wing which had become a defunct body in the recent past.

SGPC meeting on March 28
AMRITSAR, March 25 — The president of the SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur, has convened the meeting of all SGPC members here on March 28, earlier scheduled to be held at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, to give a final shape to the tercentenary celebrations.

Probe sought against Tohra
AMRITSAR, March 25 — Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta, a former President of the Indian Youth Congress, has alleged that Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra has "misused" his authority and funds during his 25-year tenure as SGPC President.

Form village-level panels: Tohra
RAKHRA (Patiala) March 25 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra today urged the Shiromani Akali Dal workers to form village-level committees to free the party from the grip of feudal lords.

Principals to boycott exams
LUDHIANA, March 25 — At a meeting of the joint action committee of the Federation of Managements and the Federation of Principals of 160 non-government colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh here today, members reiterated their resolve to boycott the forthcoming annual examinations in the three universities in protest against the decision to stop the 95 per cent grant-in-aid to these colleges.

IHRO cautions Jagir Kaur
LUDHIANA, March 25 — The International Human Rights Organisation has urged Giani Puran Singh not to act as Jathedar of Akal Takht and cautioned Bibi Jagir Kaur "not to play to the tunes of her master and end confrontation with Bhai Ranjit Singh as he reigns high in the hearts of Sikh people around the world as the Jathedar of Akal Takht.

Grievance cell for NRIs
JALANDHAR, March 25 — The Non-Resident Indians Sabha will setup a special grievance cell at Anandpur Sahib in April.

Need to privatise services
PATIALA, March 25 — There is a need to privatise services at the grassroots for which local government institutions as well as voluntary and charitable organisations should be properly harnessed.

Punjabi University reduces Ph.D. period
PATIALA, March 25 — Students of Punjabi University will now have to complete their PhD thesis within five years instead of the earlier period of seven years.

Self-propelled ART flagged off
KAPURTHALA, March 25 — The first self-propelled accident relief train sets comprising a powered coach and a trailer coach capable of running in both directions without reversal, was flagged off at the rail coach factory (RCF) here yesterday.

3 injured in attack
PHILLAUR, March 25 — About 12 truck-borne armed assailants shot at and injured Madan Lal near Sutlej river yesterday. Two members of the family were also attacked with lathis and kirpans.

PPCC announces office-bearers
BATHINDA, March 25 — Mr Jasmel Singh, President, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (SC and ST cell) today announced the list of party office-bearers, including general secretary, twentyone district presidents in urban as well as rural categories and 11 special invitee members of state body.

'Corp working a shambles'
PATIALA, March 25 — The Patiala Colonies Welfare Federation, an elected body of 52 colonies of this city, has criticised the "non-functioning" of the Municipal Corporation.

Quality education need of hour: CM
CHANDIGARH, March 25 — The Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber, today laid the foundation stone of a Rs 25 crore educational project — Hemkunt Trust Educational Institute — at Parole village in Ropar district, 8 km from here.

Budget is anti-people, says Tohra
From Tribune reporters and agencies

LUDHIANA, March 25 — The Tohra group in the ruling Akali Dal today gave a clear indication that it would function as a ginger group in the party and give sleepless nights to the dominant group in the Akali Dal.

Three MP's, including Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, and 10 MLAs belonging to the Akali Dal asked the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to immediately convene a meeting of the Akali Dal Legislature Party to discuss the "anti-people aspects" of the Budget presented in the Assembly by the Finance Minister, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, yesterday. "The Budget should not be passed in the Vidhan Sabha before the matter was discussed thoroughly by the legislature party", they said in a joint statement issued here today.

They said the Budget presented was "totally against the spirit of the mandate" won by the Akali Dal on the basis of which the present government was formed." The Budget has cheated the people, trampled upon their hopes, aspirations and feelings and affected every section of the society," they asserted.

They pointed out that farmers who had committed suicide out of frustration had been given no relief. The transport industry which was on the verge of collapse had been taxed even more while such items of daily use by the poor as pulses had been made costlier."

They added Mr Badal should have concentrated more on governing the state and controlling the reckless spending on non-productive issues, including his own helicopter, instead of wasting his time on politicising religion and denigrating Akal Takht and its principles.

JALANDHAR: Terming the Rs 990 crore deficit Budget of Punjab as "pro-rich and feudal", senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal on Thursday announced that she and her party legislators would boycott the rest of Assembly session and unleash a campaign to expose the government's failure.

"We see no point in continuing to attend the session which the SAD-BJP government was using to push through anti-people policies," Ms Bhattal told reporters here.

Ms Bhattal, who had staged a spontaneous walkout from the Assembly on Wednesday during the Budget presentation, conceded that the decision to keep away from the legislature was "entirely a unilateral move without discussions with leader of Congress Legislature Party Chaudhary Jagjit Singh."

Political observers here said Ms Bhattal, leader of a faction which currently finds itself marginalised in the present party set up under presidentship of Capt. Amarinder Singh, aims to exploit the opposition to the Budget as an issue to boost her standing.

Accusing the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, of rising the bogey of having inherited an empty treasury as "a cheap excuse to cover up bad fiscal management", Ms Bhattal said the SAD-BJP government had pushed the state into a financial crunch due to "bad policies and mismanagement of resources".

"The utter failure in procurement and storage of paddy, failure to get compensation for loss-hit farmers and increasing incidence of farmers committing suicides were a reflection of the government's inept handling of state's affairs," she added.

AMRITSAR: Mr Amrit Lal Jain, president, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, in a press note has criticised the Budget proposals and described that it as harsh and detrimental to the interest of traders and industrialists. He added that it would increase inflation and would make the life of citizens more miserable.

There is absolutely no justification in the enhancement of the rates of sales tax on petrol as its rate has already been increased due to cess. The enhancement of sales tax on medicines from 6 per cent to 8 per cent was flayed.

Mr Jain said the increase on bullion from 1 to 2 per cent and on gold ornaments from 2 per cent to 4 per cent would result in the decline of revenue as the previous government had reduced its rate and sales tax increase on pulses would hit the common man.

He criticised the entry tax on tyres, tubes, electronics, mobil oil and lubricants as these were already heavily taxed items.

The government had announced that it would establish a number of information collection centres to check the evasion of tax. If these were to be established then the enforcement wing of the Sales Tax Department should be wounded up.

Meanwhile, the mandal welcomed the reduction of sales tax on plastic furniture and on steel.

KHANNA: The Budget for the year 1999-2000 came under severe criticism from Mr S.S. Dullo, a senior Congress leader and former Excise and Taxation Minister. He termed the Budget as anti-poor and anti-people, while talking to mediapersons here on Thursday.

He ridiculed the Akali-BJP alliances for putting heavy burden on the common man who was already suffering from financial crunch.

He said the increase in road tax for buses and trucks etc. would again be passed on to the general public. The bus fares had been hiked recently and there was hardly any justification for this increase.

Similarly by reducing the sales tax on items like dry fruits and increasing it on pulses and medicines, the government has played a dirty joke on the common man.

He apprehended that the government was planning to impose house tax in the near future and summed up the Budget as discouraging.

Pro-capitalist Budget, says CPI
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 25 — Dr Joginder Dayal, Secretary, Punjab state Council of Communist Party of India, in a statement here today said that the present Budget of Punjab would hit the common man because he had to pay more for a variety of consumer items. The taxes has been levelled on common use items.

The government should have tightened its tax collecting agency instead of raising the taxes.

Dr Dayal said that the Economic Survey showed a marginal change in structural composition of the state's economy. "It means basically our state remains agricultural and nothing concrete has been done for industrialisation. Tall claims of attracting the NRI money for investment in industry has proved to be hollow".

Dr Dayal called it an "anti-poor" and "pro-capitalist" Budget.

The Bharti Kisan Union president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Mann, reacting to the Punjab Budget said that no government could claim to be people friendly, which spends 68 per cent of the public money at appeasing its own bureaucratic machinery.

This is a highly gloomy affair. The government should bring this internal expenditure to less than 18 per cent. Then it could claim to be representing the public.

The Finance Minister, he said, has very hesitantly announced Rs 100 per one lakh as turnover tax at the pending assessment cases of industries. This comes to be mere 10 naye paisa per Rs 100. Are farmers not highly taxed to the tune of 72 per cent of their turnover, which in comparison to industry comes to Rs 72,000 per one lakh? This fact had already been admitted by Parliament that the difference in price which the farmers get by their being subjected to various restrictions in marketing agriculture produce and the price they would have received without these restrictions, is 72 per cent of the value of their produce.

This highly negative aggregate measurement of support has been admitted by in writing in Parliament, wherein, representatives of Akalis are also a party. In this context the SAD-BJP combine has miserably failed to protect even the genuine interests of the farmers. "This is just a 'Gobles propaganda' that farmers are net beneficiaries of positive subsidies". He demanded a white paper in this regard.

Mr Mann said the Budget mentions henceforth Rs 100 crore will be additionally collected by increasing the fee on copies of revenue records, including jamabandi, talhana, as well as court fee, etc. The revenue records are required by those unfortunate, already highly debt-ridden farmers who badly require loans by mortgaging their land. Debt-ridden farmers are committing suicides because of their pitiable economic plight. Taxing them so heavily is nothing but forcing them to take the extreme step.

The government should allow agriculture to become remunerative only then farmers could shift to other allied professions, he added.

Analysis
Budget of shortfalls
by PPS Gill
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 25 — The Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, in his Budget speech indicated a total Budget of Rs 16,277 crore with a deficit of Rs 990 crore. This figure has been deduced without taking into consideration the full liabilities of several departments. Take Industry. It is under a liability of Rs 150 crore under the subsidy scheme. But in the Budget only Rs 50 crore is provided.

The Budget provision under the scheme for promotion of education among educationally backward classes in the Punjab state: scholarship to the Scheduled Castes and the Backward Classes is Rs 20 crore approximately, whereas, the actual liability is more than Rs 100 crore. Similar is the case in many other departments.

Even the figure of Rs 990 crore is a cosmetic arrangement, not based on ground realities. In fact it is a misstatement on facts. The 5 per cent cut envisaged on the non-Plan side (salary) and other non-Plan items is not based on actualities. The salary increase on account of dearness allowance instalments which will be due on 1.1.1999 and 1.7.1999 are likely to be not less than 15 per cent of the salary bill, especially when the first instalment has already been determined at a rate of 10 per cent.

Second, the arrears of many employees, especially of college and school teachers, is yet to be paid. This will be about 1 per cent of the salary bill. Third, increment which is earned by the government employees costs 2 per cent to 3 per cent of the salary bill. All these factors will enhance the salary bill by about 18 per cent over the last year, 1998-99 (actual payment minus arrears ).

If no recruitment is made in the year 1999-2000, as the Finance Minister said, against the retirements, savings will be to the tune of 3 per cent. In this manner, the salary bill is bound to rise at by 15 per cent over and above the salary bill of 1998-99.

As the salary bill of 1998-99 is somewhere around Rs 3,000 crore, the increase will be Rs 450 crore. As the Budget provision has been kept at 5 per cent less than last year, therefore, the increase over the Budget estimates will be to the tune of 20 per cent, i.e. Rs 600 crore. Thus 5 per cent saving on the salary aspect is a farce.

The non-Plan expenditure except salary has also been reflected with a 5 per cent cut. This is also not correct projection. Page 12 of the Budget speech indicates that the non-Plan expenditure has increased from Rs 786 crore in 1984-85 to Rs 5,353 crore in 1997-98 with continued average increase at the rate of 15.5 per cent. In such a scenario, the decrease of 5 per cent on non-Plan expenditure looks to be humorous if not ludicrous.

It will be a big achievement if there is no increase on the non-Plan side. Even then there will Rs 350 crore more expenditure in the non-Plan side against the figures indicated in the Budget.

The mobilisation of resources has been indicated at Rs 100 crore from the Revenue department without specifying any area. Similarly, Rs 400 crore has been indicated to be mobilised from the sale of government land. Both these figures are totally imaginary without any rationale. The recent announcement by the Chief Minister on the abolition of stamp duty on mortgage deeds will rather affect the revenue adversely. Even at base rates one cannot expect more than Rs 200 crore from the sale of land and Rs 50 crore from Revenue department, leaving a gap of Rs 250 crore against the Budget reflections.

Thus there will be a gap of Rs 600 crore on the salary aspect, Rs 350 crore on non-Plan side, and Rs 250 crore on resources mobilisation side against the Budget figures. This total of Rs 1,200 crore will hit the plan correspondingly. The latter seems more probable, if seen in the context of last year, when the estimated deficit of Rs 241 crore rose to Rs 1,162 crore.

Punjab will be raising a loan of Rs 7,290.68 crore and making payment under this head of Rs 5272.58 crore. It means Rs 2,018 crore is being mobilised through borrowings. The deficit would be to the tune of Rs 2190 crore, if the Plan size is to be kept intact. Thus the total mobilisation under borrowings and under deficits would be Rs 2,018 crore + Rs 2,190 crore=Rs 4,208 crore. But alas, the Plan size is only Rs 2,680 crore. It means even the total deficit which will be managed from the Reserve Bank of India and the total borrowings are not being channelised for productive purposes i.e. Plan purposes. A part of the same is being consumed by non-productive functions. Ideally, the Plan should have been met out of the "revenue resources". But here even resources which are raised in the shape of deficits and borrowings are being used for non-Plan obligations.

The rate of growth of any economy corresponds, proportionally, to the investment in the productive areas. In Punjab, the investment in productive areas is even less than the borrowing and the deficit taken together in such a scenario, high growth rate is just like a dream.

We want to overtake CPM: Kanshi
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, March 25 — The BSP supremo, Mr Kanshi Ram, said here today that his party was working towards the early poll of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Kanshi Ram said he favoured early Lok Sabha election. "I see each parliamentary elections as an opportunity to expand the BSP base. In the last General Election, our strength in the parliament may have gone down, but our base among the electorate has expanded. With the result, it has now become the largest political party in the country after the BJP, the Congress and the CPM. In the next elections, we want to overtake the CPM."

The BSP chief said the BJP government at the Centre would last as long as the AIADMK supremo, Ms Jayalalitha and the TN leader, Ms Mamata Banerjee, wanted. But we are also making efforts to ensure that the Vajpayee government does not last long."

He described the BJP-led coalition government as a government "with 18 joints".

"I have tried to hit at these joints by weakening the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. The BSP fielded its candidates in such a way in the assembly poll that the benefit did not go to the BJP. With the result, it was defeated in all three states."

Mr Kanshi Ram claimed his party would require two more parliamentary elections to capture power at the Centre. "I want instability everywhere so that we can bargain with the best dealer". He, however, emphasised that his party would not have any electoral alliance with the BJP, the Congress or the CPM. He also did not think much of the third force represented by the National Front.

He did not agree with the popular perception that the BSP phenomenon was on the wane. "It is a matter of deliberate strategy. We deliberately spread over resources thinly to contest 200 parliamentary elections last time so that we could become among the top four recognised political parties in the country. In the next elections, we will contest just 150 seats, including 85 in UP, 15 each in MP and Bihar, 10 in Rajasthan and the remaining in other states. Our strategy will be to ensure that neither the BJP nor the Congress wins more than 150 seats. They will then have to come to us for support and we will drive a hard bargain."

Mr Kanshi Ram asserted that his party was in a position to win 32 seats in UP alone. Hence, overtaking the CPM tally in the Lok Sabha to emerge as the third largest party would be no problem. He pointed out that in North India, the BJP had as many as 126 of a total of 140 seats, while the Congress had three. Therefore, his party would concentrate on ensuring the defeat of the BJP in these seats in the next poll.

He described as a "total failure" the Rabri government's performance in protecting the SC, ST and BC in Bihar. He said his party would not have any truck with Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav's party in Bihar.

The BSP supremo indicated that his sympathy lay with the ousted SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, in the current Badal-Tohra feud.

He said the Akali Dal consisted of "rich zamindars" and poor Akali workers. He could not side with the rich. Mr Tohra described himself as a "poor" Akali activist. Therefore, his sympathies lay with Mr Tohra and not Mr Badal.

He also said the BSP would organise a "siri march" consisting of poor and Dalit Sikhs from over Punjab to take part in the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib next month.

He said the march from different parts of the state would end at Anandpur Sahib on April 13 where a political conference would also be held. He would be among those who would address it.

Mr Kanshi Ram said the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, had promised "patshahi" to the Dalits in the caste-ridden society. It was sad to note that the Dalits continued to be treated as "siris (bonded labour) on the sprawling agricultural farms of the rich and the mighty in Punjab."

Thousands attend shobha yatra
From Our Correspondent

JALANDHAR, March 25 — Cutting across party lines, political affiliations and religious barriers, thousands of people from all walks of life took part in the Ram Navami shobha yatra organised by the Ram Navami Utsav Committee here today.

The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and his Cabinet colleagues, including Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Mr Manoranjan Kalia, Mr Ajit Singh Kohar and Mr Vinod Khanna, MP, took part in the function.

Jagatguru Shankaracharya, Swami Divya Nand Tirath, head of the Namdhari Sect, Sat Guru Jagjit Singh, Pandit Hans Raj, a learned katha vachak, Mr Narinder Chanchal, a prominent religious singer, chief editors of the Hind Samachar group of newspapers, Vir Partap and Nawan Zamana, former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, the local MLA, the Mayor and municipal councillors joined the celebrations.

In his brief message, Mr Badal extended his warm felicitations on Ram Navami. He said this auspicious occasion was a symbol of truthfulness, human brotherhood and attainment of religious merit and salvation. He said Lord Rama showed us the path of leading a pious and purposeful life and making this universe an abode of peace and harmony and a sea of kindness. He said the great spiritual ambassador had set noble traditions and values of life.

The shobha yatra passed through the bylanes of the city, propagating the message of oneness of mankind and unity in diversity culture, which is a source of external happiness and internal solace for all. Hymns and bhajans were also presented by eminent singers.

The Chief Minister and others were presented siropas by the organising committee.

Badal reactivates youth wing
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 25 — The president of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today reactivated the party's youth wing which had become a defunct body in the recent past.

Mr Badal, who held a meeting with the youth leaders here this morning, announced that Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, a member of Parliament from Ludhiana, would remain its president.

Those who were earlier holding the post of president of the youth wing units in Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh and West Bengal have been retained in the same capacity, Mr Aliwal said here today.

Mr Aliwal said that a 21-member committee had been set up to organise a Sikh youth conference at Anandpur Sahib in connection with the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa. A meeting of the district presidents and other officer-bearers of the youth wing would held at Anandpur Sahib on March 29, he added.

It seems that Mr Badal felt the need to revive the youth wing of the party as youth and Sikh Students' Federation leaders owing allegiance to his political rival, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, had lately become active at Anandpur Sahib. Pro-Tohra youth wing and Federation leaders had already planned to organise a youth conference at Anandpur Sahib from April 8 to 15 under the patronage of Bhai Ranjit Singh.

Obviously for countering the influence of Mr Tohra on youth, Mr Badal appears to have made youth leaders owing allegiance to him active.

SGPC meeting on March 28
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, March 25 — The president of the SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur, has convened the meeting of all SGPC members here on March 28, earlier scheduled to be held at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, to give a final shape to the tercentenary celebrations. According to reliable sources, the new Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Puran Singh, is likely to participate in the deliberations and it will for the first time that he will be involved in the finalisation of the detailed programmes.

According to political circles here, the move to change the venue to Amritsar was allowed to Bhai Puran Singh to participate in the monthly Khalsa Darbar, held under aegis of Akal Takht on the last Sunday of every month. Earlier such darbars were organised by Bhai Ranjit Singh.

While talking to the Tribune reporter, Bhai Ranjit Singh said he was unable to organise it due to the non-cooperative attitude of the SGPC.

The SGPC executive meeting to discuss the annual budget has been called here on March 29, while the budget meeting will held on March 30, according to SGPC sources.

Probe sought against Tohra
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, March 25 — Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta, a former President of the Indian Youth Congress, has alleged that Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra has "misused" his authority and funds during his 25-year tenure as SGPC President.

In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Bitta alleged that Mr Tohra helped terrorists in creating panic in the state. Welcoming his removal as SGPC President as he had been endeavouring to revive terrorism in the state, Mr Bitta urged the Central Government to constitute a commission to probe the charges against Mr Tohra. He alleged that Mr Tohra was responsible for "Operation Blue Star".

He also urged Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee to press upon Mr Nawaz Sharif to release all prisoners of war languishing in various jails of Pakistan. He alleged that the release of 14 prisoners from Pakistani jails in exchange for 43 prisoners by the Indian Government was not fair. Stories narrated by prisoners had shown that Indians were mercilessly beaten up in Pakistan jails. Many Indians were deliberately shifted to mental hospitals by the Pakistani authorities for obvious reasons.

On the other hand, the prisoners handed over by the Indian government had virtually no complaint. Mr Bitta said he was not against the on-going talks between Delhi and Islamabad. After the Lahore declaration signed between Mr Vajpayee and Mr Sharif last month, it was for the first time that the number of prisoners exchanged was not the same. What was the use of such declarations when Pakistan had not released even half the number of prisoners released by India, Mr Bitta asked.

Form village-level panels: Tohra
Tribune News Service

RAKHRA (Patiala) March 25 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra today urged the Shiromani Akali Dal workers to form village-level committees to free the party from the grip of feudal lords.

Speaking at a social function held at the residence of the SAD, youth wing General Secretary, Mr Randhir Singh Rakhra, near here, Mr Tohra said he would make those who had assumed dictatorial powers learn the ground reality by going to the people.

He said though he had repeatedly clarified that he would not make a separate party or break the government, false propaganda was being unleashed against him and his supporters were being harassed. He said he would hold a massive rally in Patiala soon to protest against the police repression meted out to his supporters.

Mr Tohra said the government had no business in organising the tercentenary celebrations. He added that if at all the government was bent on organising the tercentenary celebrations all its ministers and legislators should take baptism.

Others who spoke on the occasion were Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, MP, former minister, Mr Harmail Singh Tohra and Mr Surjit Singh Kohli, legislators, Mr Jagtar Singh Rajla and Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu and the Haryana Akali Dal President, Mr Kartar Singh Takkar.

Principals to boycott exams
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, March 25 — At a meeting of the joint action committee of the Federation of Managements and the Federation of Principals of 160 non-government colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh here today, members reiterated their resolve to boycott the forthcoming annual examinations in the three universities in protest against the decision to stop the 95 per cent grant-in-aid to these colleges.

During the meeting, held under the chairmanship of Dr Ishar Singh, the members deplored the statement made by the Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Sigh, yesterday that the grant for higher education would be phased out and brought to the zero level.

The two organisations demanded revision of pay scales on the basis of posts existing up to January, 1996, and also urged the government to immediately implement the pension-cum-gratuity scheme for employees of non-government colleges.

During a meeting of the Punjab and Chandigarh Non--Teaching Employees Union (PCNTEU) here today, members decided to boycott the university examinations in case the decision to grant them revised pay scales was not implemented.

IHRO cautions Jagir Kaur
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, March 25 — The International Human Rights Organisation has urged Giani Puran Singh not to act as Jathedar of Akal Takht and cautioned Bibi Jagir Kaur "not to play to the tunes of her master and end confrontation with Bhai Ranjit Singh as he reigns high in the hearts of Sikh people around the world as the Jathedar of Akal Takht.

The IHRO has decided to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa under the patronage of Bhai Ranjit Singh by holding a seminar on "three hundred years of the Khalsa Panth and human rights" here at GGN Khalsa College on March 29.

The IHRO chairperson, Mr D.S. Gill, and general secretary Mohinder Singh Grewal said here today in order to promote the Khalsa ideology worldwide, a coloured souvenir would be brought out on Baisakhi. Bhai Ranjit Singh would be honoured with Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Award on the occasion for upholding Khalsa traditions.

Mr Ram Maheshwary would be honoured with Diwan Todar Mal Award for his film: Sarbans Dani Guru Gobind Singh — a saga of self-sacrifice for establishing dharma (righteousness).

Mr Sabar Husain Sabar would be felicitated with Kavi Senapati Award for his selfless and dedicated services to the Khalsa Panth for the past 40 years through devotional poems.

Grievance cell for NRIs
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, March 25 — The Non-Resident Indians Sabha will setup a special grievance cell at Anandpur Sahib in April.

The executive committee of the sabha has taken the step as a large number of NRIs are expected to participate in the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa. The grievance cell will be monitored by a sub-committee, legal advisers and office-bearers of the sabha.

Need to privatise services
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, March 25 — There is a need to privatise services at the grassroots for which local government institutions as well as voluntary and charitable organisations should be properly harnessed.

These views were expressed by Mr G.P.S. Sahi, Principal Secretary (Higher Education) while delivering the presidential address at an ICSSR seminar on "Local government institutions in India" held at Punjabi University here yesterday.

Mr Sahi said panchayats could also come forward to run village-level institutions like dispensaries and schools. This would introduce an element of responsibility in the system.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr C.P. Bharthwal, Professor and Head, Public Administration Department at Lucknow University, lamented that though states wished to have more autonomy from the Centre, they were not prepared to share their own powers and resources with agencies below them.

He stressed the need for making women and other representatives belonging to the weaker sections aware of the working of local government institutions so that they could play an effective role.

Dr H.S. Deol, National Commissioner of Linguistics Minorities, in his inaugural address said decentralisation was the need of the hour. He stressed the need for cautioning people about their rights to make local institutions more vibrant.

Punjabi University reduces Ph.D. period
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, March 25 — Students of Punjabi University will now have to complete their Ph.D. thesis within five years instead of the earlier period of seven years.

This was among the important decisions taken at a meeting of the university syndicate presided over by Vice-Chancellor Dr J.S. Puar here last evening at which the university budget for the year 1999-2000 was approved.

The Syndicate decided that students going in for a PhD degree would initially be given a three-year period to complete their doctoral thesis. It decided that students could avail of a two-year extension if needed.

The amendments were suggested by a committee formed under the chairmanship of Pro-Vice-Chancellor Ram Murti Goel. It was also decided to do away with the provision of a one-year registration period for a PhD degree.

It was decided that non-PhD members would, henceforth, not be included on the Board of Postgraduate studies and Research. A minimum of 50 per cent marks have been made mandatory for registration in M.Phil.

The university adopted new rules for condoning lecture shortage. Students will now be able to avail lectures for time spent in undergoing training during a course, participation in sports and NSS activities as well as in case of marriage.

The Syndicate allowed computerisation of the university library under the inflibnet programme. It also decided that C.P.F. retirees would be allowed Rs 250 per month as medical allowance with effect from January 1 this year.

Dr Ranbir Singh Sarao, Registrar of the university, was allowed extension. Dr Yogesh Ghambir, Dr Pushpa Singhal and Dr Gurpal Singh were promoted Readers under the career advancement scheme. Dr Saroj Bala was promoted Deputy Librarian under the same scheme.

Liquor offered as ‘prasad’ at samadhi

BATALA, March 25 (PTI) — In an unusual bonhomie witnessed at the two-day fair, devotees thronged the sacred samadhi of Baba Rode Shah at Bhoma village clutching bottles of liquor as offering for the grant of a boon.

While male devotees offered liquor at the samadhi yesterday, on the concluding day yesterday only females were allowed to pay obeisance.

During the fair, devotees were seen making way to the samadhi with bottles and other containers full of liquor or lahan, which is offered at the shrine. This liquor is then distributed among the devotees, both females and males, who drink it as ‘prasad’.

The baba who belonged to Dhawan village near here left his family in 1896. The baba who became a saint, was once approached by a farmer of the village who despite being married for a couple of years had no child. With the blessing of the saint, a male child was born to the couple, who offered a sum of Rs 500 to the saint. But he refused to accept the money and asked the couple to purchase a bottle of liquor everyday and offered it as prasad to his devotees. This exercise was to continue until they had purchased liquor worth Rs 500.

Majority of the people who come here are childless couples who believe that they will be blessed with a child if they offered liquor at the shrine, especially during the fair. Even newly married couples from nearby areas come to seek the saint's blessings. The village is also famous for being the native village of noted Urdu poet Shah Mohammad during the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The baba died in 1924. Since then, every year a fair is held in his memory and people from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan visit this shrine.

Self-propelled ART flagged off
Tribune News Service

KAPURTHALA, March 25 — The first self-propelled accident relief train sets comprising a powered coach and a trailer coach capable of running in both directions without reversal, was flagged off at the rail coach factory (RCF) here yesterday.

Revamping the existing system of accident relief trains (ARTs) which are hauled by locomotives, this new unit will provide expeditious relief in case of any eventuality. Briefing the media after the flagging off ceremony, the General Manager, Mr V.P. Ohja, said the "relief units" costing Rs 2.2 crore will carry equipment for restoration and removal of debris. The first ART has been manufactured for Ambala division. Four more accident relief trains sets under production at RCF are expected to be completed this year.

A pioneer in the production of coaches, the RCF, which was founded in 1985, has so far produced 30 per cent of the coaches used by the Railways. The most popular model is the AC three-tiered one.

He said the Indian Railways had entered into a collaboration with M/s Linke Hoffmann Busch of Germany to manufacture coaches with stainless steel side wall and roof. With Eurofima coaches designed by M/s Fiat of Switzerland they would be capable of running at abut 160 km/hr on dedicated routes.

With this, transfer of technology and indigenous efforts of the RCF and the Research, Design and Standards Organisation at Lucknow will soon be able to develop new designs of coaches as per international standards. The RCF is moving with unending pursuit of excellence to capture global horizons.

The accident relief train was flagged off by three oldest employees of the RCF, Mr Bachan Lal, Mr Joginder Singh and Mr Francis.

3 injured in attack
From Our Correspondent

PHILLAUR, March 25 — About 12 truck-borne armed assailants shot at and injured Madan Lal near Sutlej river yesterday. Two members of the family were also attacked with lathis and kirpans.

While Madan Lal suffered a gunshot wound on his leg, his brothers, Sain Das and Amar Das, were discharged after treatment.

A case under Sections 307, 148, 149, 506 and 334, IPC, has been registered. Eleven persons have been rounded up for interrogation.

In another incident, Chaman Lal was attacked and injured by his own son, Jaswinder Paul, with sharp-edged weapons here yesterday.

A case under Section 307 and 334, IPC has been registered and the culprit arrested. A financial dispute was said to be the cause of the attack, the police said.

PPCC announces office-bearers
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, March 25 — Mr Jasmel Singh, President, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (SC and ST cell) today announced the list of party office-bearers, including general secretary, twentyone district presidents in urban as well as rural categories and 11 special invitee members of state body.

In a press note issued here, he said Ms Surinder Kaur Walia had been nominated as general secretary of the PPCC (SC and ST cell). The list had been prepared with the consent of the PPCC President, Capt Amarinder Singh and other senior Congress leaders.

Mr Lakha Singh, former MLA, had been appointed President of Amritsar rural district, Mr Rajesh Mattu of Amritsar urban, Mr Raj Kumar Sabarwal of Jalandhar rural, Mr Darshan Lal Atwal of Jalandhar urban, Mr Gurnam Singh, Patiala rural, Mr Kushwant Singh Sidhu, Patiala urban, Mr Mohinder Pal Singh Lalli, Ludhiana rural, Mr Varinder Kumar, Ludhiana urban, Mr Surjit Singh Seeta, Bathinda district, Mr Joginder Singh, Faridkot, Mr Shamsher Singh, Mansa, Mr Baldev Singh, Hoshiarpur, Mr Kashmir Singh, Ferozepore, Mr Harchand Singh, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mr Babu Ram, Nawanshahar, Mr Gurdev Singh, Moga, Mr Raj Kumar, Sangrur, Mr Amarjit Singh, Kapurthala, Mr Lakha Singh, Muktsar, Dr Daulat Ram, Ropar, and Mr Lahori Mal of Gurdaspur.

'Corp working a shambles'
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, March 25 — The Patiala Colonies Welfare Federation, an elected body of 52 colonies of this city, has criticised the "non-functioning" of the Municipal Corporation.

In a press statement, Mr Avtar Singh Brar, President, PCWF, alleged that the working of the corporation was in a shambles.

He said no attention was being paid to civic problems like broken roads, poor sewerage system and faulty traffic lights.

He also criticised the corporation for introducing house tax for colonies falling outside the municipal limits, which, he said, were devoid of basic amenities like sewerage system and drinking water.

Quality education need of hour: CM
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 25 — The Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), today laid the foundation stone of a Rs 25 crore educational project — Hemkunt Trust Educational Institute — at Parole village in Ropar district, 8 km from here.

The Governor said that quality education was the primary need for the success of any society. Without education no state could progress in any sphere. Praising the role of the trust in setting up the institute in this area, the Governor said it would help tackle the problem of unemployment in the state.

Mr Badal said the setting up of the institute was coinciding with the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa.