Friday, May 7, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Friday, May 7, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Dhillon
justifies PGPC creation |
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FCI
looking for airstrips
Nabha problem unsolved Back-door entry in college
Punjab Govt's days numbered: Cong Ritambhara may be pitted against
Sonia DCC chief's plea to partymen Bihari migrant held for killing
student Sunil Dutt for N-free zone Markfed incurs heavy loss City's transfer "a dead
issue" ‘Simplify’ distance
education Cotton growers in a fix |
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Interview CHANDIGARH, May 6 — Mr Ganga Singh Dhillon, Punjab-born American Sikh leader, is the man behind the setting up of the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PGPC). Mr Dhillon, once a Leftist and later a freewheeling Akali leader hails from Bassi Pathana and is settled in the USA for the past three decades. While he has not visited India since 1981 when he spoke about an autonomous Sikh state, he has been a frequent visitor to Pakistan where he was actually born. He claims that he has been close to that country’s ruling elite and is instrumental in freeing the historic Sikh gurdwaras from the clutches of Pakistan Aukaf Board. "Every morning and evening we pray to the Almighty, Waheguru, to allow us open and free access to the gurdhams in Pakistan from which we have been separated due to partition. I have succeeded in getting this free access and now onwards these gurdwaras, so far badly managed, will be managed by Sikhs themselves", he claimed. Controversy surrounds the setting up of the PGPC. The SGPC has protested against this by saying that it would not like to send jathas to the historic shrines, including Nankana Sahib in Shekhupura district where Guru Nanak was born. There had been vehement protests by Akalis and the Government of India has been urged to lodge a formal protest and make the Pakistan Government withdraw the new law. Also Gen Javed Nasar, a former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence network of Pakistan, who heads the Aukaf Board, parallel to India’s Wakf Board is now heading the PGPC. This move has only added to the misgivings, and the motive behind the move has become suspect. Mr Dhillon (71), who is keen to visit Punjab and explain the whole story, however, cannot visit as earlier visas had been denied to him, asserts in an interview that gurdwaras are no longer an evacuee property and are free. He spoke on the telephone from his house in Washington. Excerpts from the interview: Question: What was the need to form the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee? Was not the present arrangement good enough? Answer: First, Sikhs were not happy the way the gurdwaras were managed by the Pakistan Aukaf Board. Those from India and other countries who visited Pakistani shrines know this well. But much more important is the sad feeling that the birth place of Guru Nanak and other historic gurdwaras had been declared an evacuee property. Imagine an abode of the great guru has a refugee status. Can one imagine the same for the birth of another founder of a religion. Christians, Hindus and other minorities have their shrines free in Pakistan, but strangely Sikh shrines are not of such importance. There was an agreement signed by the home ministers of the two countries in 1953 which facilitated the setting up of the two boards in the two countries. It was patently wrong and India’s Independence Act did not visualise this. We have struggled for long to see that our morning prayer "gurudhama de khule darshan didar" is answered and the God had been, indeed, kind. Q: A Majority of Sikhs live here in India. What role they would have in the management of these gurdwaras and what you call ‘khule darshan didar’? A: They have every role to play. First the gurdwaras would not be controlled by the Pakistan Aukaf Board. There are 700 Sikh families in Pakistan who were not free to visit the shrines, much less to manage these. They would now elect a committee. This committee would have representatives from other countries like the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom and India. The jathedars of five Takhts in India would have one representative each on the committee. It would have a wider acceptance. And what is more any Sikh from India could come to the Wagah border and get a visa to visit the gurdwaras for a fortnight throughout the year. The present arrangement is to have fixed number of Sikhs visiting during the Gurpurabs. This is reciprocal. But now Sikhs all over the world would have free year-long access to these holy shrines. Tell me what is wrong with this? See what is happening to the SGPC and the Tohra-Badal feud. They have only brought bad name to the Sikhs. We also succeeded in sending 300 Pakistani Sikhs to take part in the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib. Let this act become fully operative and people would see the difference. Q: But the first experience of the Sikhs visiting these gurdwaras last month was not a happy one. Also, what happens to the present sewadars and Sikhs from Sindh who have been managing the gurdwaras? A: The arrangement was good and complaints have other basis. I have been in Pakistan for a couple of months, struggling hard to get this new Act passed and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been very helpful and kind. The sewadars would remain there. You will see a marked change very soon and all doubts would be clear. Q: But see there is a Sikh gurdwara Parbandhak Committee headed by a former ISI chief, Gen Javed Nasar, a Muslim. What confidence will it create here? A: General Nasar is now
the chairman of the Pakistan Aukaf Board and by that
position he is heading the PGPC. But this is just
temporary. A new committee is elected by the Pakistani
Sikhs and others as I explained, there shall be no one
else than a Sikh heading the committee. It would be a
democratic institution as per the Sikhs tradition and on
the SGPC pattern. Does not the Deputy Commissioner of
Amritsar preside over the first meeting of the general
house of the SGPC and he may be a Sikh, a Muslim or a
Hindu. It is like this only. |
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Reduced area for cotton CHANDIGARH, May 6 — It is rather a bad beginning on the cotton front. The Punjab Agriculture department had planned to bring about seven lakh hectares of land under the cotton crop this year in the cotton belt having seven districts in its fold. The target was to produce 20 lakh bales of cotton. The proposal was to transfer area from the paddy crop to the cotton crop. But it will not be possible. The department's senior functionary who deals with the cotton crop in the state told TNS today that now the target had been fixed to cover five lakh hectares of land under the cotton crop to produce 15 lakh bales. Already the farming community is facing a major problem with regard to availing of healthy cotton seed in the cotton belt. Last year cotton crop was attacked by American bollworm and other pests and almost the quality of the entire seed had been spoiled. Not only in Punjab but in Haryana and Rajasthan as well the cotton crop was affected by the attack by pests. Punseed had only 1,704 quintals of delineated certified seed with it for distribution to farmers in the cotton belt. It has already released this seed to farmers. From all sources, official sources in the Punjab Agriculture department said only 6,500 quintals of certified seed was available while requirement was of the order of 65,000 quintals for sowing cotton in five lakh hectares of land. Mr Arjan Singh Chandi, Joint Director (Cotton), said that as per the norms fixed by the government only 10 per cent certified seed of the total requirement was provided by government agencies. He said that the department on its own was trying its best to provide quality seed to the farmers through its dealers who have availed of seed from farmers, ginning factories and other sources. Department officials were testing the germination percentage of the seed being distributed through dealers. He added that the germination level should be above 65 per cent. But where germination level of the seed was below this, farmers were being advised to increase the dose of seed for sowing purpose accordingly. Normally farmers use 5 kg seed for sowing one acre. But it could be raised to 6 kg keeping in view the low quality of the seed, Mr Chandi said. The problem has been compounded as healthy cotton seed is not available even in Haryana and Rajasthan. Department officials had taken up this matter with the Punjab Agriculture University and had mooted a proposal for bringing the seed from southern and western states where cotton crop was healthy last year. However, experts of the PAU rejected the proposal by saying that only the varieties recommended in case of Punjab should be allowed to sown in the state. In southern states the climate is at great variance from the northern states. So southern varieties are not suitable to be sown in Punjab. Mr S.S. Bains, Chairman of Punseed, said the initial target of his department was to prepare 10,000 quintals of delineated certified seed but only 1,704 quintals could be prepared as good quality seed was not available for processing. Mr Chandi said that dealers had been told not to overcharge from farmers and to sell seed around Rs 25 a kg. The prevailing dry spell is also worrying farmers. In fact dusty winds sweeping the countryside are troubling the farming community. Such winds damage cotton crop at the sprouting stage. Mr Chandi said farmers had been asked to complete cotton sowing by May 15 as advance sowing of cotton might prove useful. The other problem which is haunting the officials concerned and the farmers is containing the attack of American bollworm. Due to the attack of the worm last year cotton production in the state fell to six lakh bales from 5.62 lakh hectares. Will officials will be able to contain the attack this year? Everything will depend on the weather. If the weather remains favourable and not cloudy in August-September, then there is a possibility of the crop being saved from attack. Otherwise come what may, the cotton crop will again suffer a setback. However, officials of the Agriculture department have started preparing themselves to save the cotton crop from attacks the various pests and diseases. Recently a meeting of all senior officials of the Agriculture department from cotton-producing districts, PAU officials and others was held at Bathinda where a strategy was finalised to counter the attack of pests and diseases. The thrust will be on integrated pest management (IPM) and the Lambi scheme will be extended to all the seven cotton-producing districts. Under the scheme a cluster of villages in each district will be provided with special surveillance cover by cotton experts. A department official claims that last year the results of this scheme were more than satisfactory. It is pertinent to
mention here that from 1991 to 1997 the cotton crop had
given a boost to Malwa's farm economy. However in the
past two years it had not produced good results. Farmers,
in certain cases, committed suicide. |
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Tax relief to appease voters CHANDIGARH, May 6 — With the Lok Sabha poll round the corner, the Punjab Government has started in right earnest to prepare a blueprint, aimed at appeasement of the electorate. The SAD-BJP combine, which succeeded in sending some "correct" political signals to the nation at large after what Punjab has been through, continues to be engaged in a cold war at home. The rural-urban divide and political interests of the two coalition partners yoked as these are fairly clear. In a bid to dispel such an impression, the SAD President and Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is all set to "accommodate" the junior partner ensuring that the poll prospects are not hindered with the SAD getting the blame for being "unfair" to business and trade while pursuing its pro-farmer policies. Consequently, much against the ground realities the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday decided on rollback certain tax proposals contained in the March 24 speech of the Finance Minister. The plea being that tax collection will drop considerably if same concession and tax relief is not given to business, trade and industry, which is facing recession. Another argument advanced for reducing the proposed taxes being that as per discussion among neighbouring state finance ministers the aim should be to ensure that diversion of trade from Punjab to other states did not take place. Tax collection has almost been stagnant in Punjab despite the potential to pay and the will to contribute. Apparently this does not seem to be true. Consequently, to please the BJP and appease the urban voters the Cabinet yesterday reduced the taxation as follows: hosiery and readymade garments: the tax enhanced from 2 per cent to 4 per cent has been slashed to 3 per cent; halwai and bakery goods: the government has reviewed the tax imposed earlier and it shall now be on a lumpsum basis so that the field staff won't harass traders. A new scheme is on the anvil. As announced by the Finance Minister in his budget speech, all pending cases related to sales tax assessment up to 31.3.1995 will be finalised on the basis of deemed assessment. Earlier the financial ceiling was Rs 50 lakh. But now the government has decided to settle all cases in a summary trial without asking for any additional documents from assesses regardless of the ceiling on total turnover. Thus, the ceiling of Rs 50 lakh on turnover has been dispensed with. This would provide great relief to the trade and the industry as cases of businessmen would be disposed of without further questioning. They would be required to deposit Rs 100 per Rs 1 lakh turnover. The government has reduced the present rate of tax from 12 per cent to 8 per cent on oils and lubricants; the proposed rate of 8 per cent has been cut to 3.5 per cent and 4 per cent on automobile dealers. There has been strong protest and representations to dose on two and three-wheelers also, the rate has been reduced from 6 per cent to 3 per cent; and on bullion and spices from 2 per cent to 0.5 per cent. In sofaras furniture, the present rate of 12 per cent on steel furniture has been reduced to 6 per cent. Similarly, the rate of tax of 8 per cent on plastic furniture has been reduced to 6 per cent. The present rate of 8 per cent has been cut to 2 per cent on ball bearings. As per new taxes, revenue expected (additional) was Rs 70 crore. Now it will be less. Moreover, the government today stayed the enhanced rates of rent in Punjab Bhavan, New Delhi. The daily rate had been raised from Rs 10 to Rs 50 for officials, MPs, MLAs. But the same has been rolled back now. The Financial Commissioner, Taxation, Mr C.L. Bains, first talked to finance department officials and convinced them that his tax realisation would have adversely affected if tax relief were not granted. Moreover BJP ministers, at loggerheads among themselves, too had been vocal on such issues when it came to watching interests of the urban constituents. If the SAD had not done what it has conceded the fissures between the two partners would have deepened and widened. Already, Mr Badal is peeved at the utterances of the BJP leaders, particularly, the state president of the BJP, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi. He had taken up the issue with national leadership of the BJP against Mr Sodhi. Sources in the finance department when contacted told TNS tonight that the financial health of the state at present, was "stable". But given the process of "rollback and relief" which political executive has now initiated it was apprehended that the run-up to the actual Lok Sabha poll may see more concessions on their way. "The government may insist on doling out money for political gains later". What has been decided on Wednesday is being widely interpreted as the beginning which will eventually slow down the process of tax and administrative reforms with the Council of Ministers is already talking in different tones on different issues. There is pressure that even the 50 per cent cut imposed on advertisement money of public relations should be restored in the larger "political" interests of the government. In fact lack of political will and considerations other than governance, a tremendous build-up on transfers and postings with an impending administrative reshuffle on the anvil, the situation is not what one had anticipated. With the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa over and Mr Badal in complete control of the religio-political affairs it was expected he would show his mettle in improving administrative housekeeping, which has not happened. It is in this backdrop
one has to view the kind of laxity creeping into the
governance of the state with a string of reliefs
attached. |
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Wheat storage LUDHIANA, May 6 — The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is identifying abandoned airstrips in the state for storage with a view to coping with the unprecedented glut created by a record wheat output this year. Mr D.P. Reddy, Senior Regional Manager, FCI, Punjab region, has asked district managers to inspect 11 airstrips and report on their suitability for the storage of wheat within 24 hours. The airstrips include Bakshiwala, Daklah, Jawalpur and Nabha in Patiala district, Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepore, Gurdaspur, Nanaksar in Ludhiana district, Sangrur and Jalandhar. The FCI has also signed up with the Container Corporation of India for the bulk evacuation of wheat from Punjab. The first container train loaded with nearly 8,200 million tonnes of wheat was flagged off from Ludhiana a few days ago. According to official figures available here today, more than 70.92 lakh million tonnes of wheat had been procured in Punjab till yesterday. The quantum of wheat procured during the same period last year was 46.97 lakh million tonnes while the figure for wheat procured during the same period in 1997-98 was just 21.68 lakh million tonnes. This meant that the FCI and other government procurement agencies till now had to handle almost 25 lakh million tonnes of wheat more than the total arrivals last year. The wheat glut has choked full a large number of grain markets in the state. Although the wheat arrivals and procurement operations in Punjab have already peaked and are now in the process of being wound up, wheat bags continue to clog major grain markets in the state due to storage and transportation problems. More than five lakh bags of wheat are lying in eight major mandis of Ludhiana district including Khanna, Machhiwara, Samrala, Doraha, Sahenewal, Mullanpur, Raipur and Jagraon. But Mr Lakhi Ram, District Manager, FCI, Ludhiana, says, that the mandis will be cleared within the next three days. Wheat arrivals in Punjab have already started declining. The state received a record 6.12 lakh million tonnes of wheat on April 20. As against the peak arrival of 3.30 lakh million tonnes on a single day last year on April 21,1998. According to officials here, more than 95 per cent of wheat procurement has been completed. In Punjab, most of the mandis have also been wound up. Low key wheat procurement is, however, expected to continue for another couple of weeks. The unprecedented wheat glut in Punjab this year has once again highlighted the need for educating the farmers to stagger marketing of their produce in the mandis. The FCI is of the view that the farmers must bring their produce to the mandis in accordance with a schedule drawn up by the FCI and other procurement agencies. This would ensure quick and efficient procurement and storage of wheat. Some time ago the FCI had even recommended to the Government of India to give an incentive between Rs 5 and Rs 10 per quintal to farmers who brought their produce to the mandis by staggering it but it was shot down by the Centre. BATHINDA: The heavy arrival of the wheat in various grain markets of the district has created problems for the procurement agencies. Owing to large-scale purchase, the procurement agencies are facing acute shortage problem. Sources said officials of the procurement agencies were rushing to various grain markets to arrange more space for storing wheat. The problem was so acute, that in certain cases the wheat was not being stored in a proper manner. The sources said that the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation had stored about 60,000 bags of wheat in two rice shellers at Maur Mandi and Raman while Punsup officials were roaming in various markets to arrange space for storing the wheat. The shortage of space had also slowed down the lifting operations in the grain markets. Thousands of wheat bags which were purchased few days ago were still lying in the markets. About 65 per cent of the procured wheat had been lifted so far. Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, when contacted said that heavy arrival of wheat had created the storage and lifting problem. He added that this problem would be solved soon. The impasse over the
relaxation of paddy bought by the FCI, state agencies and
the private rice miller had been resolved last month and
the FCI had started lifting shelled rice from the mills.
The Additional Secretary, Food, Mr C.S. Rao, said that
under the levy scheme, the FCI and other agencies were
taking deliveries. |
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India may export 1 million
tonnes of wheat AMRITSAR, May 6 — For the first time in the history of independent India, the country proposed to export one million tonnes of wheat in the current year in view of the unprecedented wheat glut. This was stated by Mr R. S. Mathur, Secretary, Food, Government of India, after reviewing the procurement and storage arrangements made in Punjab and Haryana. Addressing a press conference, Mr Mathur claimed that till date over 125 million tonnes had been procured as against the 127 tonnes purchased last year but the continued arrival in the mandis of Punjab, Haryana and other states would reach an all-time record as the procurement process had just started in Uttar Pradesh. The early arrivals especially in Punjab and Haryana had necessitated a review of all arrangements, including storage, movement to other states and into problems relating to payments etc. Mr Mathur complimented the Punjab and Haryana Governments for their efforts to make excellent arrangements for wheat procurement. As far as the storage of the bumper crop was concerned Mr Mathur claimed that all agencies, including the Food Corporation of India, were providing all possible space to store the crop. The Food Secretary was confident that with the coordination of the Railways, the movement of the foodgrain to deficit states would start in the right earnest and hoped all bottlenecks would be removed shortly. Mr Mathur said the Ministry of Food had recommended the removal of restrictions on the storage of wheat by private traders and also to allot 10 lakh tonnes to the actual users for selling in the open market. No private party would need a permit to buy or sell wheat in the market in view off the wheat glut. Last year, the government had allowed the export of wheat and wheat products to the extent of one lakh tonnes only but due surplus production this year, the ministry had recommended to the Commerce Ministry to allow the export of wheat and its products to the extent of one million tonnes. On the question of food subsidy given by the Central Government under the public distribution system, Mr Mathur said in the last financial year, the central exchequer contributed over Rs 7,000 crore and during the current year the Budget estimate was over Rs 8,500 crore depending upon the demands of various states. The subsidies were essential for the country as more than 46 per cent of the population lived below the poverty line. He, however, evaded
queries with regard to the recent deaths due to
starvation in the North East and in Orissa but said it
was a state subject. |
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Both parties reject panel NABHA (Patiala), May 6 — The constitution of a committee to resolve the crisis surrounding the Shiv Durga Temple in the Punjab Public School premises has been an exercise in futility with the school authorities and the Temple Committee, which had taken over management of the temple on April 3, rejecting it. Talking to TNS school bursar Col J.S. Mann said it was unfortunate that neither the school authorities were invited to the meeting presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner Capt R.S. Randhawa last evening, nor the school headmaster given representation on a nine member panel constituted after the meeting. Col Mann feared that the school might not get justice with three members of the Temple Committee on the new committee. He alleged the Deputy Commissioner had wrongly claimed that the school authorities had not approached the administration before the crisis erupted. Col Mann said he had personally met Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir on April 2, a day before a mob demolished the boundary wall of the school. On the other hand, Mr Om Prakash Jindal, who is an executive member of the state BJP and patron of the Temple Committee, told TNS that a committee had been "fabricated by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) after holding a meeting of a few persons. He said the committee constituted at the instance of the ADC was "not acceptable". The meeting had nominated three office-bearers of the committee to the new body. The decision was taken without taking him or the Shiv Durga Committee into confidence and without the consent of the nominated members themselves, who were not present at the meeting. Mr Jindal said the propaganda that the Temple Committee wanted to use the playground in front of it for commercial gains was false. He said the ground was needed for religious activities only. He also said the committee members would start a fast if the administration tried to rebuild the wall of the school or take any step "detrimental to the interests of devotees." Talking to TNS, the ADC said he had held a meeting of prominent social and political representatives of Nabha yesterday to give audience views of all sections, including the silent majority, which was against the activities of the Temple Committee. Capt Randhawa said a general consensus had been reached at the meeting that a workable solution should be arrived at after taking all factors into consideration. He said since the temple stood on government land, the demand for independent access to the temple would be submitted soon. He said it had also been decided that only religious "parchar" would be allowed at the temple. Some citizens had also cautioned that the Temple Committee wanted to make commercial use of the land in front of the temple. There were few devotees
at the temple this afternoon, although committee members
said the rush picked up in the evening. Langar continued
to be served in front of the temple. |
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Probe ordered AMRITSAR, May 6 — At least four students from an un-recognised dental college have succeeded in getting themselves migrated to the local Government Dental College by allegedly 'flouting' rules. One of the students is the daughter of a top official of Guru Nanak Dev University. In a complaint to the Punjab Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the university, it has been alleged that wards of influential persons who had got admission in the un-recognised dental college after paying donations, had got themselves migrated to the local Government Dental College through a "joint migration test" conducted by Patiala University in 1998 in violation of rules of the Dental Council of India and the university. Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, a BJP MLA, while condemning the 'illegal' migration of the BDS students from the 'un-recognised dental college' to the local Government Dental College has alleged that rules were bent to help of migrations. She alleged that for the "migration test" Punjabi University, in its prospectus, had clearly mentioned that students from a dental college recognised by the Dental Council of India are only eligible and the college must be recognised before the last date of the submission of the application form for appearing in the test. Mrs Chawla alleged that top officials of Guru Nanak Dev University had also helped in allowing 'illegal' migration of the students. Their migrations were regularised by the university by flouting rules. She claimed that these seats could have been filled from the waiting list of the PMT candidates. Meanwhile, a probe has reportedly been ordered into the matter by the state government. However, when contacted,
officials of Guru Nanak Dev University denied that they
had shown 'undue' favour in migrations. They pleaded that
the university had allowed the migrations as per the test
conducted by Punjabi University. |
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Darshan Singh wants Sikh
personal law LUDHIANA, May 6 — A former Head Priest of Akal Takht, Prof Darshan Singh, said today it was unfortunate that no resolution for adopting Sikh personal law was passed during the tercentenary celebrations at Anandpur Sahib. Talking to mediapersons here today, he lamented that most of the effort went on beautifying Anandpur Sahib and no step was taken to "elevate" Sikh religion by raising the demand for a "separate identity". Hailing the appointment of Bibi Jagir Kaur as the SGPC chief and hinting at Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra's deviation from religion into politics, Prof Darshan Singh said the Bibi, who had a strong religious background would be better in spreading the teachings of Sikhism. In a carefully worded statement, the former Head Priest of Akal Takht said whereas Mr Tohra was responsible for the harm to Sikh traditions earlier, the sole responsibility now lay on Mr Parkash Singh Badal's shoulders. Questioned on the
dismissal of Bhai Ranjit Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht,
he said this was a matter that solely concerned the SGPC. |
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Punjab Govt's days numbered:
Cong MOGA, May 6 — The SAD-BJP combine Punjab Government which has already completed one year is now facing serious financial crisis and has been left with no alternative but to sell government property, particularly of the municipal committees all over the state, and do everything, including increasing hospital fees, government colleges fees and hiking power tariff and bus fares to pay salaries of government employees in the state. Criticising the policies of the Badal government, the president of the women's wing of the PPCC, Dr Malty Thaper, the president of the District Congress Committee, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh, the president of the PPCC farmers' wing, Mr Satnam Singh Sandesh, and several others said under such circumstances how long could a government run. They said the state government's days were numbered. According to a survey, government employees of almost all departments and people in particular were so much frustrated with the policies of the Badal government that they had decided to bring in new faces during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections as the present state government had failed on all fronts and failed to keep up the promises made before elections. The president of the Punjab Pensioners Association, Mr Hardev Singh, said here today the Badal government had refused to pay even monthly pension to the aged and the widowed. It had directed treasuries all over the state to hold up all payments as the government had no money for even pensions and salaries, he added. According to reports, several universities in the state had not been paid money for teachers. All development work in all departments all over the state had also been held up as the Deputy Commissioners in their respective districts had not received money for development. According to another
report, all complexes which were proposed to be built in
this district during the first month of 1998 had not been
built. |
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Ritambhara may be pitted against
Sonia LUDHIANA, May 6 — The BJP may field the firebrand Sadhvi Ritambhara against the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, in the Lok Sabha elections. Highly placed sources in the party indicated here today that the BJP planned to tie down to their own constituencies as many Opposition stalwarts as possible in the poll. Mrs Sonia Gandhi is likely to contest from the traditional family constituency of Amethi in UP. Since the BJP leadership has openly declared that it will go all out to turn the "foreign origin" of Mrs Sonia Gandhi into a poll issue, it is felt that Sadhvi Ritambhara is the best person for this purpose. She has a "swadeshi" image which will only serve further to highlight the "videshi" connection of Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Candidates were being
handpicked to oppose other Opposition stalwarts also, the
sources said. |
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DCC chief's plea to partymen PATIALA, May 6 — Patiala District Congress Committee (Urban) president Ved Prakash Gupta yesterday appealed to Congressmen not to air their views on party candidates for the ensuing parliamentary elections to the Press. In a statement here, he said they should not air their different views to the Press and keep the interests of the party in mind. Mr Gupta was apparently reacting to party general secretary Birdevinder Singh's views that senior Congress leaders should look beyond their families when asked about the candidature of Mrs Praneet Kaur, wife of Pradesh Congress president Amarinder Singh, for the Patiala Lok Sabha seat. Mr Birdevinder's statement had been challenged by party organising secretary Vishnu Sharma who had called him an "over ambitious" individual who was working against the policies of the party. Mr Gupta said the Congress was a disciplined party and decisions taken by the party high command on the distribution of seats were binding on everyone and there was no need to speculate about the merits of the likely candidature of various leaders. The DCC president also disclosed that the All-India Congress Committee had only put off organisational elections for the time being while the enrolment of party members would continue till May 31. He said all Block Congress Committees and other important parties functionaries engaged in the enrolment campaign had been instructed to continue work with enthusiasm. He said the strength of the Block Congress Committees under the jurisdiction of the Patiala Urban District Congress had been enhanced from three to five. Mr Gupta said the Block
Congress Committees' presidents, office bearers of the
District Congress Committees, heads of frontal
organisations and former Congress municipal commissioners
had also been requested to associate themselves with the
enrolment of new voters in their respective areas before
the end of target date as announced by the government. |
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Bihari migrant held for killing student JALANDHAR, May 6 (UNI) — The police today claimed to have solved the sensational murder of Class VII student of Saint Joseph School Neeraj Pawar with the arrest of an accused who used to play with the victim at Ravinder Nagar in the city. Stating this at a joint press conference, Superintendents of Police A.S. Chahal and Pawan Uppal said Bihari migrant Promod Mahato, (25) whom the police had held as the prime suspect was arrested today on the basis of strong circumstantial evidence. The knife used in the crime and coins stolen from the victim’s coffer had been recovered. The two police officers said the murder of the 12-year-old boy appeared to be premeditated and burglary seemed to be the motive. A resident of Tingachaia village in Kathiar district of Bihar, Mahato had purchased a ticket for a circus show in the city on the day he allegedly committed the crime with the apparent motive to mislead the police. Investigation of his antecedents and sustained interrogation had provided the police with clinching evidence to get Mahato convicted in court. Mr Chahal and Mr Uppal said the well-built Mahato had been sacked a few months ago by an absentee non-resident Indian who had employed him two years ago to keep a watch in his house in the same locality. Known to be a bully, Mahato was employed by one Mago to keep a watch at the construction site of his house coming up opposite the residence of victim’s father N.K. Pawar, a Bank of Baroda manager in Ludhiana. Police investigation revealed that Mahato, who used to play cricket with Neeraj in the locality, gained easy access into the Pawars’ house which was locked from the inside with Neeraj alone at home on that fateful day. Neeraj that day did not go to school as he was not keeping well. His father, too, was on leave but had gone out on an errand. Mahato allegedly cut the main artery of Neeraj’s neck. The latter bled to death. The accused then took away the "golak" of the child containing a large quantity of coins, over 20 of which have been recovered from the accused. Terror-stricken Pawars left their newly built home shortly after the murder of their only son. The police also claimed to have solved within hours the murder of a Uttar Pradesh migrant with the arrest of three accused, two of whom hail from the same village as that of the victim. The police officers said two knives allegedly used in killing Narasingh (26) at Basi Peer Daad in the city on the intervening night of May 4 and 5 had been recovered from the accused identified as Salak Ram and Atma Ram, residents of victim’s native village Basori in Faizabad district and Gurucharan of Mealtho village, also in Faizabad district. Mr Chahal and Mr Uppal said Gurucharan, who shared a room with Narasingh, helped the two others in committing the crime by keeping the doors of the building open on the fateful night. Gurucharan allegedly inflicted wounds on his thigh to show that he had resisted the assailants to save Narasingh. The remaining two accused lived in the Model Town area. The officers alleged that Narasingh was killed because of his illicit relations with the wife of Salak Ram. They said Narasingh had bought two knives for allegedly killing Salak Ram as he, too, had learnt that his friend had come to know of his relation with his wife. The accused stuck one
knife into the chest of Narasingh and used the second to
inflict wounds on his neck when Narasingh was asleep. The
victim’s photo with Salak Ram’s wife had been
seized by the police as evidence. |
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Sunil Dutt for N-free zone AMRITSAR, May 6 — Actor turned-Social reformist Sunil Dutt has advocated a nuclear-free South Asian zone and area of peace comprising the SAARC countries. Mr Dutt, chairman of the Yuva Shakti's Expedition, covering the SAARC countries on his 15,000-km yatra, proposed an agenda for friendship among these nations. Talking to this correspondent, he felt the need for the total elimination of poverty, hunger and providing education and healthcare for all. Mr Dutt, who started his expedition from Colombo on March 3 along with a 12-member delegation comprising social activists from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and India, was planning to go to Pakistan on May 26. He said he had taken this expedition of "hands across the borders" for making a strong appeal to leaders of the South Asia bloc to show political courage and vision to take poverty-stricken population which constituted more than 25 per cent of the world population to the next century with an assurance for better life. He urged these nations to cut the defence outlay at least by 5 per cent to give these to their people masses, safe drinking water and adequate nutritional diet and to take up other social welfare projects. He said the Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr Girija Prasad Koirala, had promised him that he would take up the proposal to cut the military expenditure in the next SAARC summit. The film star, who spoke in chaste Punjabi, addressing a select gathering at Guru Nanak Dev University last evening, said he was deeply moved by the starvation deaths in the North East, the miserable condition of the people living in the rural belt of Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, besides India. He said he was ashamed that in spite of independence, these South Asian countries remained in abject poverty without hope for a better living. A strong votary of creating the SAARC zone as an area of peace and prosperity, he felt just as after the Second World War, the European countries had broken all barriers and formed a strong European Union, the poor nations of South Asia should give up all conflicts and fight for the betterment of the masses. He said nuclear tests were not meant for poor countries like India and Pakistan where a vast majority of the population was below the poverty line and deprived of the basic amenities of life. The nuclear explosions
by India and Pakistan had not served any purpose but had
led to money being diverted to developing nuclear
arsenals and purchasing sophisticated weapons, he added. |
||
Markfed incurs heavy loss FEROZEPORE, May 6 — No one has been booked so far for a loss worth Rs 58,58,533 lakh caused to Markfed on account of shortages in wheat stocks and differences in rates of wheat stocks of 1994-95 and 1996-97 at its branch office at Makhu in this district. Inquiries made by TNS reveal that though Markfed holds two Field Officers (FOs) responsible for the loss, the district police had given them a "clean chit". On April 9, 1998, the District Manager, Markfed, Ferozepore, wrote a letter to the SSP, demanding the registration of a case against the FOs, Mr S.K. Puri (dismissed) and Mr Surat Pal Singh (under suspension) as he alleged that they were responsible for the loss as they were joint custodians of the stocks. The District Magistrate apprised the district police chief that during the delivery of the wheat stocks to the FCI and to private parties, shortages in wheat stocks were detected. The amount of shortages had been assessed to the tune of Rs 26,21,187 lakh, the letter said. It said due to their negligence, the quality of the stocks of 1994-95 had deteriorated and was rejected by the FCI. Markfed was thus compelled to sell the same to private traders at a loss of Rs 32,37,346 lakh. Both officials were issued charge-sheets by the department concerned. It also alleged that they had been found guilty of "misappropriation" of wheat stocks. Meanwhile, sources said the SSP had, about three months ago, informed the District Magistrate Markfed that in an inquiry by the local anti-fraud squad, shortage in weight was detected. The SSP reportedly
informed him that wheat stocked in open should have been
delivered to the FCI and other private parties within
nine months, whereas according to his (DM, Markfed)
office record, delivery was made in four years. |
||
City's transfer "a dead
issue" NURPUR BEDI, May 6 — "Transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and other state issues are now dead. There is no need to raise them again to maintain peace in the state which is the priority of our party". This was stated by Master Mohan Lal, a BJP MLA and Forest Minister, Punjab, while talking to reporters here yesterday. He was replying to a question about the failure of the BJP to accept the demands of the state like the transfer of Chandigarh and other Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab and the settlement of the rivers water dispute. The minister said certain forces wanted to raise such issues to disturb the peace in the state. Master Mohan Lal said that Mrs Sonia Gandhi would not be accepted by people as the Prime Minister. He admitted that the Badal-Tohra feud might affect the performance of the SAD-BJP combine in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. He claimed that the combine would sweep the poll. On infighting in the
Punjab unit of the BJP, the minister admitted that there
were dissensions in the party. However, there were no
major differences among the party leaders on any issue,
he claimed. |
||
‘Simplify’ distance education PATIALA, May 6 — A workshop on the "Development and transformation of teaching material into self-learning mode", organised by Stride, Indira Gandhi National Open University, for the teaching faculty of the Department of Correspondence Courses at Punjabi University, Patiala, concluded yesterday. Inaugurating the workshop, Prof V.S. Prasad, Pro Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU, observed that the system of distance education was aimed at the democratisation of society and it would replace formal education in India in the next century, as every fifth student in India was already getting education through correspondence. Since in distance education, the teaching material was a teacher in print, there was need for structuring, simplification and proper presentation of content. Hence, the transformation of teaching material into the self-instructional mode was essential. Delivering his presidential address, Prof R.M. Goel, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, remarked that a teacher of distance education should keep himself abreast of the latest knowledge and all literary developments. He also stressed the need that the self-learning material should be developed by the teachers of distance education alone. While welcoming the chief guest, Prof J.S. Brar, Head, Department of Correspondence Courses, Punjabi University, Patiala emphasised that under the prevailing paradigm, the printed material had to be written in such a way as should enable the student to acquire knowledge through the self-learning process. Earlier, Prof Bakhshish Singh, ex-consultant, Distance Education, University Grants Commission, said that distance education should take up vocational and job-oriented courses to meet the needs of society. He further emphasised
the need for distance education keeping pace with the
revolutionary changes that were taking place in society
by making use of satellites, computer and audio-visual
aids in imparting instructions to learners. |
||
Cotton growers in a fix BATHINDA, May 6 — The Punjab Zamindara Union today urged the state government to make arrangements for adequate supply of canal water and certified seed cotton to farmers of the cotton belt in Punjab. In a press note issued here today, Mr Mohinder Singh, general secretary of the union, pointed out that more than half of the cotton sowing period (April 10 to May 10) had elapsed and the farmers could now sow cotton only in a few thousands of acres due to scarcity of seed and irrigation water. He alleged that as the markets had been flooded with spurious fertilisers and pesticides, the per acre yield of the cotton crop had gone down considerably and cotton growers who were already facing debt had been further plunged into a financial crises. It was time that the
Punjab government took steps to save the situation and
write off the debts of farmers, he added. |
||
Two sisters gangraped FAZILKA, May 6 — Two sisters aged 18 and 16 of Jodha Singh village in Jalalabad subdivision were allegedly gangraped by five persons of the same village. According to the Sadar police, Jalalabad, Pamma Singh, Manga Singh, Minda Singh, Chhinder Singh and their fifth accomplice forced their entry into the house of the girls when their parents were away for harvesting gagged them and took them to nearly fields where they were raped. A case has been
registered under Sections 376, 363, 506, 148 and 149,
IPC. All accused are absconding. |
||
Roll back fee hike, urge
students PATIALA, May 6 — Students of the local Government Ayurvedic College today observed a strike against the recent hike in fee for ayurvedic, medical, nursing and paramedical courses. The student staged a rally and wore black badges to protest against the anti-student decision of hiking the fee. In a press note, Dr
Harjit Singh Rahi, president of the Ayurvedic Students
Association, appealed to the Punjab Government to roll
back the fee hike or the students would intensify their
agitation. |
||
BA III, B.Sc III exams
rescheduled PATIALA, May 6 — Punjabi University today rescheduled examinations of BA and B.Sc final year following a request made in this regard by students. The university has also decided to postpone all examinations scheduled to be conducted on May 8 owing to the preoccupation of staff with the revision of electoral rolls on that day. The date for holding these examinations would be notified later. According to the revised schedule of final year BA and B.Sc examinations, the chemistry paper III earlier scheduled on May 15 would now be held on May 22. The geography paper II would be conducted on May 31. The geography-3, business and office management, rural development, home management and linguistics examinations scheduled for May 27 have been postponed to June 2. The paper of Punjabi general and Punjab history and culture, common for both BA and B.Sc classes, earlier to be held on May 26, had been postponed to May 27. Mr Paramjit Singh
Khaira, Controller, Examinations, said all examination
centres and Principals of colleges had been intimated
about the revised date sheet of BA and B.Sc I and II that
were originally scheduled from April 17 to 24. |
||
Amarinder to select candidates PATIALA, May 6 — The Patiala District Congress Committee (Rural) today authorised PPCC chief Amarinder Singh to select party candidates for the Patiala and Ropar parliamentary constituencies. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the DCC (Rural) presided over by its president, Mr Hardial Singh Kamboj. The meeting also decided
to establish new primary party units between May 25 and
June 2. |
||
Students resent clash of exam
dates LUDHIANA, May 6 — Students of B.Com (final year) who are appearing in the annual examination and at the same time appearing in the CA inter (group I) examination have expressed concern over the clash in the examination date for the two examinations on May 12. The CA inter (group I) auditing paper which was to be held on May 3 has now been postponed to May 12 by the ICAI. The B.Com final year paper of cost accounting is also slated to be held on May 12 in the afternoon session. The students appearing
in the two examinations, have urged the ICAI to postpone
the examination. |
||
'Need to develop' moral values BATHINDA, May 6 — Dr Harbilas Bansal, president, Bharat Vikas Parishad Punjab, said here today that there was need for developing moral values in society. Addressing delegates who participated in a state-level workshop here, Dr Bansal said they should work hard to promote social values in society. The work shop was
organised by the parishad to identify various social
welfare projects to be started by it this year. |
||
Primary teachers sans salaries FAZILKA, May 6 — As many as 100 teachers working in the 50 new primary schools of Punjab have not been paid salaries for the months of March and April as sanction for the posts of teachers is awaited. Mr Raj Kishore Kalra, a
spokesman of the Government Teachers Union, Punjab, in a
statement said the union have urged the Punjab Government
to intervene. |
||
Flow of patients has 'picked
up' AMRITSAR, May 6 — The Director, Research and Medical Education, Dr Mrs Sudesh Khanna, today claimed that after a marginal drop in the flow of patients in various wards of government hospitals here following the hike in hospital service charges, the inflow had picked up again. She claimed despite the hike, government hospital charges remained far less in comparison with hospitals in the private sector. Dr Khanna said 779 patients had reported on May 1, 1070 on May 2 and 976 on May 3. Likewise in the wards, bed occupancy had improved considerably. With additional funds generated through the enhanced charges, hospital services were likely to be improved. Dr Khanna claimed that the Medical College faculty here had welcomed the move aimed at generating funds. The Director, however,
clarified that the increase in the tuition and hostel fee
would be applicable to students securing admission in
undergraduate and postgraduate courses starting this
year, while those already in government medical colleges
would not have to pay the new charges. |
||
'Tax on hide withdrawn' JALANDHAR, May 6 — Wasting little time to appease the BJP votebank, the state President of the BJP, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, today announced the withdrawal of "tax" on skinhide while declaring the Chief Minister had agreed to all demands of aided schools and the state government would continue the 95 per cent grant pattern. Speaking at a press conference here today, he said these "decisions" had been taken after deliberations with the Chief Minister. Dubbing recent press reports that Mr Balramji Dass Tandon would contest the Amritsar parliamentary seat as "wrong", he clarified that the "BJP was a united cohesive party" and the parliamentary board of the BJP alone could decide "who was going to contest from where". On the ongoing feud between the Tohra-Badal groups, he said it would have no affect on the SAD-BJP performance in the coming parliamentary elections. Later, a meeting of BJP
leaders and workers chalked out the programme for the
scheduled visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to
the city on May 13. |
||
BJP reduced to minority in
MC NABHA (Patiala), May 6 — The BJP-led municipal committee here has been reduced to a minority with the councillors aligned to the Congress Leaders Ramesh Singla and Randeep Singh uniting after a patch up between the two leaders today. While Mr Randeep Singh enjoys the support of nine members, Mr Singla has the support of seven members. Mr Singla, had enabled setting up of the BJP-led committee by securing the support to BJP Presidential nominee Ms Swarupa Singla. Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Mr Singla said the municipal councillors had united at the instance of the PPCC President, Capt Amarinder Singh, and the BJP-led committee had been reduced to minority. Mr Singla said it had been decided to bring about a no confidence motion against Municipal Committee President Swarupa Singla in case she did not resign on her own at a committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow, he said in case the members were denied the old register the minutes of the meeting would be recorded in the new register. Mr Singla warned all Congress councillors to attend tomorrow's meeting. He said if any Congress councillor did not attend the meeting and vote against the committee president, he would be expelled from the party for a period of six years. Although the strength of
the committee is 21, it has been reduced to 20 with the
resignation of one BJP member. Now there are three BJP
aligned members and a one SAD member. |
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