Sunday, May 16, 1999
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Sunday, May 16, 1999 |
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Badal launches SAD
campaign KAPURTHALA, May 15 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal today formally launched the party's campaign for the coming Lok Sabha elections in the state before a congregation held at Gurdwara Ber Sahib at Sultanpur Lodhi. Tohra
to take next step after May 20 |
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J.S. Brar
ready for truck with Left Navjot Sidhu seeks ticket from
Patiala Main breach yet to be plugged
Corruption alleged in PNB dealings Kandi project staff without work Govt implicating critics: PUCL CM inaugurates power substation |
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Badal launches SAD campaign KAPURTHALA, May 15 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal today formally launched the party's campaign for the coming Lok Sabha elections in the state before a congregation held at Gurdwara Ber Sahib at Sultanpur Lodhi, 30 km from here to mark the second death anniversary of senior Akali leader Atma Singh, father of Dr Upinderjit Kaur, Technical Education Minister. He appealed to the people to vote for the Akali Dal as they had in the past in the elections to the state Assembly, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Lok Sabha. Mr Badal accused Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, former President of the SGPC, of siding with the Congress in the elections to office bearers of the Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC). He alleged that on the directions of Ms Sonia Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit deputed Congress MLAs to canvass in favour of Mr Tohra's candidates. Mr Badal expressed the hope that the public would not divide its votes even though the Congress had assigned this task to ‘certain’ Akali leaders. He termed the expulsion of Mr Tohras a hard step taken with a heavy heart after appeals to Mr Tohra and his supporters failed to bear fruit. The incidents in the elections to the DGPC had surpassed all limits he said forcing him to expel Mr Tohra. Mr Badal reminded the audience of sacrifices made for ousting foreign rulers from the country and cautioned that the Congress was again "imposing" a foreign lady on the nation. Paying tributes to Atma Singh he said he had dedicated his life to the Sikh Panth. Mr Badal announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh for the development of Sultanpur Lodhi. Bibi Jagir Kaur
President, SGPC, welcomed the expulsion of Mr Tohra and
said by becoming an Amritdhari at Anandpur Sahib, Mr
Badal and his colleagues had become politically stronger.
She announced that a college would be set up at Ucha
village by the SGPC in memory of Bibi Nanki. |
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SAD leaders 'rue thinning
crowds’ BATHINDA, May 15 — Dr Sat Pal Bheteja, Chairman of the Rajiv Gandhi Lok Bhalai Manch, Punjab, said today that the SAD-BJP government had failed on all fronts and was now offering new incentives to attract people to their political conferences on the eve of Lok Sabha elections. In a press note issued here, he pointed out that a minister of the state government had recently stated that every panchayat bringing one truck loaded with people to an Akali conference would get a grant of Rs 1 lakh and more the number of trucks, more would be the amount of the grant. Dr Bheteja pointed out that this was an evidence of erosion in the ruling SAD-BJP's appeal to the masses in the state. He added that SAD-BJP leaders were worried about thinning crowds at their election meetings. He said by making such statements the minister concerned had also proved that the state government was deliberately making allegations against the previous Congress government of state handing over an empty treasury. Dr Bheteja said the
people, in the state had come to know that the Punjab
Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had made
"false promises" and were not likely to fall in
his trap this time. He added that the Congress was fast
gaining popularity under the leadership of the PPCC
President, Mr Amarinder Singh. |
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Tohra to take next step after
May 20 LUDHIANA, May 15 — The former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, said today that his group would decide its next course of action after May 20 — The deadline set by Bhai Ranjit Singh for Mr Parkash Singh Badal to appear before him and accept the supremacy of Akal Takht. Talking to newsmen here, Mr Tohra declined to make a direct comment on his "expulsion" from the Akali Dal. He, however, pointed out that the expulsion ran counter to Mr Badal's stand that he would not expel anyone from the Akali Dal and would rather allow people to walk out of it. The former SGPC chief said his expulsion had conclusively proved that it was Mr Badal and not he (Mr Tohra) who was being aggressive. "I have taken no offensive action throughout the controversy which began with my innocent suggestion on the appointment of a working president of the party in the wake of the Akali defeat in the Adampur by election," he said. He also complained that the BJP leaders had not done anything concrete to save the Akali Dal from an internal feud. "I told Mr L.K. Advani in Delhi yesterday that the BJP has not played the role of an elder brother in the whole affair. They should have asked Mr Badal to settle his differences with me in an amicable manner". Mr Tohra also said that he had no intention of creating a split in the Akali assembly party right now. But things would start moving on their own after the parliamentary poll in September-October because the Akal Dal was in for a poll debacle. The veteran Akali leader also said that the coming parliamentary elections would show that neither the Congress nor the Akali Dal enjoyed the support and confidence of the people. Instead, a third force consisting of the Akali members owing allegiance to him and a few other political parties would gain a decisive upper hand in Punjab. Mr Tohra replied in the negative when asked if the proposed third front would also include the Akali Dal (A) led by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann. "Mr Mann has his own agenda which is not acceptable to others," he said. Mr Tohra also described
as "incomplete" the baptism ceremony of Mr
Badal at Anandpur Sahib yesterday. He said under Sikh
tenets, the wife, too, had to become an Amritdhari with
the husband. Her absence would mean that the ceremony was
not complete. |
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CM hints at action against
Tohra men EKAL GADDA, (Amritsar), May 15 — The Punjab Chief Minister and chief of the Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal has hinted at action against pro-Tohra loyalists in the party for their anti-party and anti-Akali government activities. "Such persons have no place in the party ... either they leave the party on their own or they will be shunted out", Mr Badal said while talking to newsmen soon after his inauguration of a 132 kv power-grid sub-station in this village built at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore. Justifying the expulsion Mr Badal said that he was given a ‘long rope’ despite his anti-party and anti-government activities. Asked about anti-party statements of former party MP Prem Singh Chandumajra he said nobody would be allowed to play with party discipline and action against him might be taken soon. Mr Badal did not agree
with newsmen that the expulsion of Mr Tohra and possible
action against his supporters would have its impact in
the coming Lok Sabha mid-term polls. It is the history of
the party that people voted for a single Akali Dal.
Examples of Master Tara Singh, Sant Fateh Singh, Sant
Harcharan Singh Longowal and Mr Simranjit Singh Mann bore
this out. |
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Adoption racket busted AMRITSAR, May 15 (UNI) — As a couple providing shelter to children in want of love and care (due to the lack of it in their families) they seemed to be serving a social cause. But Subash Sethi and Ms Sudesh were no Samaritans. Instead the duo treated these hapless kids as commodities, selling them at exorbitant prices to issueless couples. For Subash Sethi and his female accomplice, these ‘unwanted children’, who were either a burden on their families or fed up with strict were gullible victims for their promises of free shelter and care. Subash Sethi who was running a marriage bureau ‘saccha rishta’ in Vasant Vihar area was recently arrested and brought here last Wednesday along with his female accomplice. According to the police, Sethi confessed that besides running a marriage bureau he also arranged ‘unwanted children’ for issueless couples ‘free of cost’. The ‘adoption ring’ came to light after the police picked up one of the children, eight-year-old Harpreet alias Happy, who ran away from his adopted home. In police custody Harpreet spilled the beans about his adoption by a housewife in Katra Bhagian in the walled city here. The revelations led the cops to New Delhi and Sethi. Though Sethi denied his involvement in the trade, local police officials claimed that Harpreet had been sold for Rs 30,000 to one Mrs Sweety of Katra Bhagian here, from where he ran away last Monday. Police officials said preliminary interrogation of Sethi revealed that Harpreet a resident of Murthal in Sonepat district of Haryana was brought here and sold to Mrs Sweety through a local contact. Harpreet told the police that his father, Purshottam, had taken him to New Delhi and asked Sethi, who is known to the family, to take care of him. However, police officials said that questioning of Harpreet’s father is vital to establishing whether the child had been "sold" by the father. A police party has been sent to bring Harpreet’s father for questioning. They said that Harpreet’s elder brother Tinku too had "disappeared from the care" of Sethi a couple of months back. The police said that Sethi had confessed that in the past six months he had helped in the "adoption" of seven children by issueless couples, mainly in the national Capital. Among the seven children were two minor children of a widow who wanted to get rid off them as they were a hinderance to her re-marriage. Sethi asserted that the widow handed her two children to him willingly. The Amritsar police has sent another police party to the national Capital and sought the help of the Delhi police to trace the "adopted" children. The Kotwali police here
have registered a case under various sections of the
I.P.C. against Sethi and his woman accomplice. |
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Ramoowalia may contest from
Ludhiana LUDHIANA, May 15 — Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, MP and President of the Punjab Bhalai Morcha, is likely to contest the Lok Sabha poll from the Ludhiana constituency. An indication to this effect was given here today by Mr Ramoowalia in a talk with TNS. Mr Ramoowalia is at present a member of the Rajya Sabha and has about three years and nine months to go before he retires. Therefore, Mr Ramoowalia says, he is trying to become a member of Lok Sabha not so much to become an MP as to prove a point that the Akali-BJP coalition government in Punjab is "moving away" from the people. The masses in the state have started looking for an alternative. Mr Ramoowalia said his organisation would contest nearly half a dozen seats, including Ludhiana, Phillaur, Sangrur, Patiala and Tarn Taran. He was of the view that the Congress should contest the Lok Sabha poll in alliance with other like-minded parties for the maximum benefit. He referred to the reported remarks by the PCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, that the Congress would contest the poll on its own strength and said the Congress would not be able to make much headway in the state. Mr Ramoowalia said the Congress should contest the poll in alliance with Left parties and outfits like his own party. Asked if he would broach the subject with Congress leaders, Mr Ramoowalia quipped: "Why should I. The Congress stakes are much higher than ours in these elections. Let them come to me for help, if they want any". Mr Ramoowalia warned the BJP not to overplay the issue of Ms Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin because of the backlash it could provoke against people of Indian origin in foreign countries. He said under the Indian Constitution, anyone who had lived in India for 10 years continuously could become an Indian citizen. Under the circumstances, he failed to understand why BJP leaders were harping on this issue. He pointed out that there were two and a half crore people of Indian origin living in different parts of the world. In many countries people of Indian origin had come to occupy high public positions. If the BJP continued to rake up the issue of Ms Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, it could lead to a racial backlash against Indians in countries like the USA, Canada and the UK. He also warned the BJP against attacking the institutions of President and Election Commission which were fair and non-partisan. Referring to the baptism
of Mr Parkash Singh Badal at Anandpur Sahib yesterday, Mr
Ramoowalia said the move was ill-timed. It had pleased
none. On the one hand, an impression had gone around
among Hindus that Mr Badal had turned a
"fundamentalist and hardliner." On the other
hand, Sikhs had come to view the event as just another
stunt of an Akali leader who had been
"misleading" the Panth for more than two and a
half decades, he claimed. |
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J.S. Brar ready for truck
with Left CHANDIGARH, May 15 — Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, Vice-President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, said here today that he was prepared to contest the Lok Sabha election from the Faridkot constituency against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's son Mr Sukhbir Badal. Though a final decision to field the candidate for the constituency would be taken by the party high command, but there was no hesitation on my part as far as contesting the poll from Faridkot was concerned, Mr Brar added. In fact expecting that the party would nominate him as the candidate, Mr Brar has already started campaigning in the constituency. "I would abide by the party's decision but sensing the positive mood of party high command I have launched a campaign", Mr Brar said. Mr Brar is known as traditional fighter against the Badal's family in the Faridkot area. He has contested several elections directly or indirectly against the Badal family in Faridkot belt. Once again he wanted to be in the poll arena against Mr Badal's son. Alleging that a close relative of Mr Badal had forcibly occupied land in Fazilka, Mr Brar urged Mr Badal to resign on this issue. There was no transparency in the Badal Government, he alleged. He said the ruling Akali Dal had got registered nearly 70,000 bogus voters in the Faridkot constituency. Mr Brar urged the Election Commission to order a high-level probe to weed out bogus voters from poll rolls. People from Haryana have been enrolled in Faridkot, Moga and Muktsar districts as bogus voters," he added. Ruling out any
adjustment with the Tohra faction, Mr Brar said he was in
favour of entering into an alliance with Left parties. Mr
Parnab Mukherjee would visit the state on May 23 and all
issues pertaining to Lok Sabha election would be
discussed by party office-bearers with him on that day,
he added. |
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Navjot Sidhu seeks ticket from
Patiala PATIALA, May 15 — Even as the Election Commission is yet to announce the exact dates for the "Lok Sabha" elections, ace test cricketer Navjot Sidhu has made it clear that he will contest from the Patiala constituency. The 35-year-old cricketer, who has played 51 test matches for the country, including the 1987 Reliance World Cup, has already filled and submitted the mandatory form in the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) office at Chandigarh. In the general election for the 12th Lok Sabha, Sidhu's name was proposed by then Punjab Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Dhanwant Singh, who despite having being denied the Congress ticket won as an independent from Dhuri. At that time Sidhu was preparing for the Australian tour of India and had scotched rumours about his fighting the election. In a press statement, he had said, 'Cricket is the pivot around which my life revolves. At present I am not interested in politics'. Though Sidhu was
unavailable for comments as he is away to England to
cover the World Cup matches for Doordarshan, his wife
confirmed that he had submitted the form to the PPCC on
May 12. |
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Main breach yet to be plugged PATIALA, May 15 (UNI) — Even though the Army has successfully plugged minor breaches in the Bhakra main line (BML) canal, plugging of the main breach near Patran will take another week as the flow of water in the canal has not yet been decreased to the desired level. According to sources, an estimated 1600 cusecs of water has been reduced in the canal since the main breach occurred on Thursday and unless the flow of water is brought under control, complete plugging of the main breach will be difficult. The gushing water has badly affected tubewells in four villages of Naiwala, Shatrana, Gulad and Gagoud and has also entered some of the deras in Patiala and Sangrur districts. Meanwhile, former member of Parliament Prem Singh Chandumajra had criticised the ruling Akali government in the state for its "indifference" towards Shatrana village and surrounding areas of the district. In a press statement, Mr Chandumajra said he visited the affected area today and was "pained" at the plight of the residents who had still not been paid flood relief. He demanded a
compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre as flood relief for
the farmers. He praised the district administration and
the Army for effective handling of the situation. |
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Man killed by wife, kids BATALA, May 15 — In a bizarre incident, Piara Singh, a resident of Dharmabad under Dera Baba Nanak police station, was burnt to death while he was asleep by his wife and two minor children. His body was then cut into pieces, packed into two Gunnybags and thrown into a drain 300 yards from the house. Giving details, Mr Lok Nath Angra, district police chief, said the deceased was an alcoholic and would often abuse and beat his wife and children. On the fateful night, Piara Singh reached home drunk and asked his wife Surjit Kaur, for water. However, when she came with the water, he started abusing her. This led to a scuffle and Piara Singh fell unconscious to the ground. Fed up Surjit Kaur and her children Gurmohan Singh (14) and Raj Want Kaur (16) poured kerosene on his clothes and burnt him to death. They dug up the ground and buried the body. The next day they dug out the body and cut it into five pieces which were packed into two gunny bags. The bags were thrown into a drain near the house. There was no clue to the crime for about a month after it occurrence. On May 1 Pritam Singh, brother of the deceased, who stayed in the same village, lodged a complaint with the police regarding his missing brother. He mentioned Surjit Kaur and her children as suspects as in February Surjit Kaur and her children had beaten up Piara Singh and broken one of his leg. The accused were being summoned to the police station regularly for interrogation. During one such interrogation under the supervision of Mr Harjinder Singh Sandhu, Superintendent of Police (Detective), the accused broke down and confessed to the crime. A case under Section
302/201/34 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered
against all three. |
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Corruption alleged in PNB dealings JALANDHAR, May 15 — The newly set-up All-India Bank Staff Association AIBSA today slammed the umbrella organisation of bankmen, the United Forum of Bank Employees Union (UFBU) for allegedly selling out workers' interests and vowed to expose "the nexus between politicians and bank managements which is primarily responsible for the failure of many public sector banks". "The banks are failing, not because of inefficiency but due to large-scale irregularities being committed by top management personnel and interference of politicians", the AIBSA general secretary JN Kapoor told reporters here. He said the UFBU sold out the interests of workers despite a long drawn out agitation by agreeing to a 12.25 per cent wage hike, down from the 56 per cent demands. "It is a complete and shameless capitulation before the dictates of Indian Bank Association", Kapoor said. He said the AIBSA would not only fight the UFBU--IBA "anti-employees" pact but would also relentlessly pursue cases of scams in the banking sector. "The AIBSA is the first organisation to approach the Supreme Court, the CBI, the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Central Vigilance Commission to pursue scam cases in Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs 200 crore," Mr Kapoor said. General Secretary of the Punjab National Bank Workers Federation, Mr J.K. Saini, alleged "rampant corruption" by top management officials of the Punjab National Bank was responsible for ruining the economic viability of the bank. Certain business houses owed over Rs 200 crore to the bank. Prominent among these was the Raunik Group which was given Rs 100 crore as loan. Ironically, the PNB had reached a compromise with the group, for Rs 30 crore even as a case for recovering was pending in court. According to the federation Sri Shiv Shakti Mills, Bombay, was another "favourite", enjoying the largesse of the bank. A rebate of Rs 23 crore had been given to the company while Willard - Vijorai Group received a rebate of Rs 10 crore and an advance to the tune of Rs 33 crore. Demanding that officials of the Reserve Bank of India be held accountable for the failure of many national banks, the AIBSA said RBI nominees on boards of banks, thanks to their clout, often push through certain decisions which eventually turn out to be against the bank's interests. As the RBI is the controlling authority, it must be held accountable for such failures, Mr Kapoor said, adding the federal bank had singularly failed to publish a list of major defaulters even once since it knows only too well that "influential people, including big industrialists and politicians," would figure prominently in any such list. While the non-performing assets of the banks were pegged at a whopping Rs 60,000 crore, at least Rs 50,000 crore were due as loans towards big business houses, he said. The AIBSA also slammed those at the helm of various bank unions of workers and officers, saying they were merely interested in their own perks instead of representing and fighting for employees. The AIBSA general secretary said while salaries of those in senior managerial positions would soon witness a quantum jump to stem the exodus of these professionals to private sector banks, the workers' wages would remain abysmally low. The AIBSA also criticised the M S Verma Committee recommendations for either retrenching large number of employees of UCO Bank, the United Bank of India and Indian Bank or impose a 25 per cent wage cut upon 80,598 employees of these three banks. The strategies like wage
cuts and voluntary retirement schemes were nothing except
anti-employee measures, Mr Kapoor said. |
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Kandi project staff without
work HOSHIARPUR, May 15 — More than 250 work-charged employees of Kandi canal are without work for the past two years on account of non-sanctioning of the second phase of the project and non-allocation of funds. The canal is to be extended from Hoshiarpur to Balachaur in the second phase of the project. The monthly expenditure for the salary of these work-charged employees is Rs 12 lakh and the annual establishment expenditure is Rs 6.45 crore. The salary of work-charged employees has not been paid for the last five months due to which lot of resentment prevails among them. According to official sources the salary liability of these employees is over Rs 70 lakh for 1998-99. The plan of second phase of the project is still lying with the Central Water Commission of India for final approval, but in the absence of a regular Superintending Engineer none of the senior officers can get this project cleared from the commission. Mr A.S.Atwal, Superintending Engineer, Kandi canal, retired from service on March 31,1999. Mr T.L.Bange was appointed in his place, but he remained on the post up to May 10 and Mr R.L.Jindal has now taken over in his place. According to sources Mr Jindal’s promotion is also due within the next 3-4 months, so there is not much he is expected to do get the project cleared from the commission. The estimated cost of the second phase of this project is Rs 145.68 crore. After the completion of stretch from Hoshiarpur to Balachaur, this canal would provide irrigation facility to an area of 29,527 hectares in 218 villages of the Kandi area. It may be recalled that
the first phase of the canal from Talwara to Hoshiarpur
has already been completed and is providing irrigation to
about an area of 22,600 hectares. |
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Govt implicating critics:
PUCL BATHINDA, May 15 — Dr Vineeta Gupta, member, of the national council of the People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), today alleged that members of the ruling SAD-BJP combine were implicating political opponents and critics in various cases. In a press note issued here, she said the SHO posted at Sardulgarh had booked a reporter of a Punjabi daily in a "false" criminal case on the "diktats" of a senior Akali leader. She described the incident as shameful and condemnable. She said the SHO had himself been booked in two murder cases on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court for killing innocent persons a few years ago. Demanding the dismissal of the SHO, Dr Gupta demanded that the scribe be immediately released from jail and the case against him withdrawn. She alleged murder cases
were on the rise, Dalit women were being tortured in
police stations and FIRs registered as per the
"connections" of the complainant. |
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CM inaugurates power
substation EKAL GADDA (Amritsar), May 15 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has hinted at action against pro-Tohra loyalists in the party for their anti-party and anti-Akali government activities. "Such persons have no place in the party... either they leave the party on their own or they will be hunted out", Mr Badal said while talking to reporters soon after he inaugurated a 132 kv Power Grid Substation in this village, built at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore. Justifying the expulsion of the former SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra for the party from six years, Mr Badal said he was given a "long rope" despite his anti-party and anti-government activities since long and nothing was done in haste. Mr Badal said his government had given priority to the generation of power to make the state strong in both agriculture and industry. He said the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had been approached during his recent visit to Jalandhar to spare time in June for the inauguration of the Thein Dam which would start producing 600 mw of electricity in the next two months. He claimed that the state would have surplus power with the completion of the Goindwal Thermal project which was likely to be operational in the next two months with a capacity of producing 500 mw of electricity. Modalities of the project have already been completed, he added. Mr K.S. Gill, Chief Engineer Punjab State Electricity Board (border range), stated that with the commissioning of the 132 kv grid substation at least 70 villages in the region would be getting improved electricity supply. The Chief Minister also
switched on a separate feeder for the village for 24-hour
uninterrupted supply. |
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Health official accused of
graft BATALA, May 15 — Kiryana merchants last evening called Mr Jagdish Sawhney, the local MLA, along with the President of the Municipal Council, Mr Gian Chand, to the dera road to complain against a district health official. They alleged that the health official, along with his team, took samples from shops and collected Rs 14,500 from six shopkeepers of dera road, Mian Mohalla and adjoining areas. The official concerned admitted before Mr Sawhney and the shopkeepers that he had taken this amount. He assured that he would return this money last night. The shopkeepers have
urged the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal to
immediately transfer the official. |
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Dharmendra's no to electoral politics JALANDHAR, May 15 (PTI) — Cinestar and hero of many Bollywood blockbusters Dharmendra has said he has no intention of joining electoral politics though he has been approached by political parties to contest the coming Lok Sabha poll. "I have clearly told those who wanted to field me in the Lok Sabha elections that I was not interested in electoral politics", he told former MP and senior Congress leader Gurcharan Singh Galib over the phone. Vice-President of the Punjab Youth Congress Amarjit Singh Tikka told Mediapersons that Dharmendra termed as "baseless" reports about the possibility of his contesting the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat. Mr Galib, who is related
to the Bollywood hero, is himself an aspirant for the
Congress ticket from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat. |
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Traffic blocked over demand JALANDHAR, May 15 (UNI) — Residents of Nakodar and adjoining areas today blocked a traffic island outside the town, disrupting vehicular movement to Mehatpur, Haripur Bath and Pandori villages to press their demand for the repair of the Nakodar-Mehatpur road. The dharna was led by Nakodar's Municipal Councillor Des Raj. The blockade was lifted
soon after 8 am. when the Nakodar Subdivisional Officer
Mr Sucha Singh Mast, visited the spot and assured the
agitators that the road would be repaired with in a week.
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Two killed in road mishap FATEHGARH SAHIB, May 15 (UNI) — Jasbir Singh, alias Jassa (16), and Gagandeep, alias Gaggi (18) were killed when a speeding private bus hit their scooter near Aam Khas Bagh here today. The police has registered a case under Sections 279 and 304 of the IPC against the absconding driver on Lok Sevak Transport, Sirhind. The bodies have been
sent for a post-mortem. |
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Show-cause notice to Dr Mohi CHANDIGARH, May 15 — Mr Harcharan Singh Hero, chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, said here today that he had served a show-cause notice on a Congress leader, Dr Satwant Singh Mohi. Mr Hero said Dr Mohi had recently made a statement against a senior party leader and a former Chief Minister, Mr Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. Dr Mohi has been asked to submit his reply of the show-cause notice within 15 days. Otherwise action will be taken against him. Dr Mohi is a close
confidant of Capt Amarinder Singh, president of the PPCC. |
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Bank officer suspended PATIALA, May 15 — Field Officer, Land Mortgage Bank, here Baljinder Singh Chandumajra, a relative of former Member of Parliament Prem Singh Chandumajra, was suspended today following his indictment in a fraud case. Stating this in a press statement, Mr Harbans Singh Lang, Director of the bank, and Mr Baljinder Singh Lang, Chairman, Loan Committee, alleged that Baljinder Singh had befooled farmers by taking their signatures on false papers. They said after many
complaints were received senior officers investigated the
matter and found Baljinder Singh guilty. Legal action is
being taken against the suspended officer and a
high-level inquiry into the possibility of more such
cases has been ordered. |
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Nurses stage rally PATIALA, May 15 — Nurses at Government Rajindra Hospital here staged a protest rally on a call given by the Punjab Nurses Association. They were protesting
against the government's move to cut Rs 3,000 from the
salary of nurses who had drawn salary according to the
new pay scale of 5,800-9,200 as actually the pay scale
was 5,000-9,200. The nurses are also opposing the fee
hike of nurses' training school and reduction of 5 per
cent in house rent allowance. |
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Medical students' stir continues PATIALA, May 15 — Rejecting the latest notification of the state government, which exempted old students (medical) from the recent fee hike, the Medicos Action Committee continued their fast for the second day in front of the Government Medical College here today. Mr Rajinder Kumar, convener of the action committee, said the old students, already doing their courses, were protesting as they opposed any policy of putting financial pressure on the students. Mr Kumar also alleged that in order to curb the students’ agitation the principal of the medical college had forcefully evacuated the hostel and had not even exempted the final year students, who were having their exams. Mr S.S. Sidhu, principal of the college, however, said that no student had been told to vacate the hostel and claimed that in fact students attendance in classes and exams had increased. Meanwhile, the students' agitation got a further impetus when four organisations namely — the Association for Democratic Rights, the Mehnatkash Sangharash Kendra, the Technical Services Union and the Bhartiya Kisan Union announced their support for the students' cause here today. In a joint statement, Mr
Vidhu Shekhar Bhardwaj, spokesperson for the four
organisations, said they would stage a dharna in front of
the medical college and Rajindra Hospital on May 24 to
express solidarity with the students and the patients. He
said a major part of the society would be deprived of the
medical services if the hike in fee and hospital charges
was not withdrawn. |
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Robbed by monkey MOGA, May 15 — A newly married woman travelling by car with her husband was deprived of her bag containing two gold bangles, a few currency notes and other articles of daily use when the bag was snatched by a monkey near Barog on Thursday. The couple was on their
way to Simla. Helped by passers-by, the two tried to
recover the bag by offering grams to the
"robber" but in vain. The monkey disappeared
with the booty. |
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