Sunday, May 23, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Sunday, May 23, 1999 |
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Wider
understanding of Sikh philosophy IAS officers play 'musical chairs' |
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BJP keen
to contest five LS seats Kuldip Singh may rescind decision
KCF man arrested, murder plan
foiled Dairy owners not to move out Army can 'check infiltration' Civic chiefs to quit en masse
Tohra men denied permission to
hold meeting AISSF men allege false cases GHTP (unit one) generation to be
delayed PMET to be held on July 4 Work on Dashmesh canal this year
Suggestions for sugarcane growers Tohra loyalists to mobilise
support
Cleanliness drive launched Doctors oppose fee hike |
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Wider understanding of Sikh
philosophy CHANDIGARH, May 22 — The tercentenary of Khalsa is witnessing some solid interest in Sikh philosophy worldwide. Seminars, lectures and symposia apart, certain universities are establishing inter-disciplinary programmes to understand Sikhism and conduct serious research into its various aspects. Coventry university close to London is the latest. Earlier universities of Michigan, and Columbia, California University at Santa Barbara and the University of British Columbia in Canada had started either new programmes or set up chairs to study and teach Sikh philosophy. According to Dr Gurbhagat Singh, a former professor of English, who heads the Institute of multicultural and Sikh studies at Patiala, has Coventry University launch an interdisciplinary programme in Sikh and Punjab studies. "The programme aims at fulfilling a long-felt need of the diasporic Sikhs and Punjabi community to educate their sons and daughters about their heritage from global perspectives," he said. The university organised an international conference in collaboration with the Coventry Council of Sikhs. The conference discussed Sikh thought and practice from the recent global, inter-disciplinary and post-modern perspectives. Among the participants were Dr Ian Talbot (Coventry University), Dr Arvindpal Singh Mandair ( Coventry University and SOAS, London), and Shinder S.Thandi (Coventry University). The inaugural address on "The Khalsa in the Sikh Tradition 1699-1999)" by Dr Jagtar Singh Gewal (former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University) provided historical evidence to establish that the Khalsa at the time of Guru Gobind Singh consisted of the Singhs and non-Singhs/Sahajdharis who believed in the 10 gurus, Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Guru Panth. The formulation of 5Ks came later in the 19th century although 4 Ks had existed before. The notion of Rahit (codes of conduct and living ) was quite dynamic, its main emphasis, as elaborated by Bhai Chaupa Singh, was on right belief and right practice. According to Dr Grewal, in the 18th century and the later 19th century the dominant identity constituting the Khalsa was the Singh identity. Although Bhai Nand Lal, a court poet of Guru Gobind Singh, had distinguished the Khalsa identity by elaborating the Sikh rites of passage in contradiction with the Brahmanical rites, yet it was only in the 20th century when to meet the Arya Samaj challenge Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha differentiated the Sikhs as a separate "kaum". Dr W.Owen Cole (Chichester Institute of Higher Education), and Dr Gurinder S. Mann (Columbia University ) on "The Khalsa and Sikh Identity." took up three issues: (i) What constituted Sikh identity prior to Guru Gobind Singh's declaration of community as Khalsa? (ii) What was the content of the Khalsa identity? (iii) How did the Khalsa influence the future thinking of the Sikh community? His view, like that of Dr Grewal, was that the Khalsa identity was constituted both by the baptised Singhs and Sikhs/ Sahajdharis who believed in the Gurus and their thought. Dr Pishaura Singh (University of Michigan), in his paper on "Perspectives on the Khalsa rahit" emphasised the colourful diversity of the Khalsa tradition with accommodative approach to the Rahit Maryada. The Khalsa order to him is not as homogenous as it appears. Dr Darshan Singh (Punjabi University) criticised the reductionist interpretations of the Khalsa heritage. The basic concern of the Khalsa was "the establishment of the Kingdom of God." He compared the Khalsa ideal with the visions of the other sacred communities that had emerged from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. Dr Arvindpal Singh Mandair ( Coventry University) and Dr Gurbhagat Singh (Punjabi University) talked about "The Baisakhi of 1699: rupture of the Indian grand narratives." He established that Guru Gobind Singh "manifested" the Khalsa as a distinct model community of dialogue and multiplicity, and not homogenising, like the communities based on the centrist and essentialist Allah-centred and Brahma-centred paradigms of Islam and Hinduism. Guru Gobind Singh, in his compositions recited on the baptism ceremony, gave this model to the Khalsa through his semiotics constructed around the notion of "detotalitive" and non-essentialist God. Anne Murphy (Columbia University ) questioned the usefulness of Harjot Oberoi's concept of "Sanatan" for understanding 19th century Sikhism. It is just to create an "other" to an articulated Khalsa identity. Balbir S. Bhogal (University of Derbi) emphasised the need for a contextualised interpretative practice of the Guru-word in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru-word needs to be elaborated in view of the diaspora, and still preserve its originality. Dr Avtar Brah (University of London), further explored Sikh thought , practice, and hermeneutics from very complex postmodern perspectives. Navdeep S.Mandair (University of Warwick) spoke about recent cultural and psychological studies, pointed out the inadequacy of the modernist interpretations that reduce Sikhism to a "subaltern" ontology in which no dialogue takes place between modernism and Sikhism. Prabhjot S. Jutla (University of London) spoke on "Living without history" and pointed out the problematic and inadequacy of the historians of Sikhism educated in Western paradigms. They have represented the rich and multidimensional existentiality of the Sikhs with one-dimensional modernist frameworks to come to terms with their personal traumas. The Khalsa, its scripture and tradition, especially with diaspora, still remain unelaborated to generate a heremeneutic that may give the community a "therapeutic reflexivity." Tarsem S. Cooner (Sandwell Social Services) lamented at the hegemonic European perceptions of Sikh identity that are leading to inappropriate social work services. Suki Bhullar (Freelance journalist of London) in her presentation on "The postmodern Punjabi women" dealt with the highly problematic and contradictory existence of the Punjabi woman who is raised in a patriarchal society that also "ironically" promotes equality. She is made to follow an image of "superwoman," but simultaneously she is expected to remain subordinate to her male and elder family members. The contradictory message given, when related to religion and culture, makes the life of the younger diasporic woman more complicated. Mr Ishtiaq Ahmed
(University of Stockholm), and Dr N.G. Barrier
(University of Missouri) dealt with the different
controversies among the Sikhs of North America from Singh
Sabha movement to the recent Akal Takht debate. Dr
Iftikhar H. Malik (Bath Spa University) suggested that
the reality of Pakistan's multiethnicity and pluralism
had been ignored due to the ideologised and practised
trans-regional Islamicity. |
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IAS officers play 'musical
chairs' CHANDIGARH, May 22 — What keeps the political executive and bureaucracy busy in Punjab? Simple. It's postings and transfers. While the political executive may pretend to the "fed up" with this exercise, entirely done on "sifarish" with employees having identified posts which are lucrative or otherwise and which they like or dislike. But major blame must be apportioned to the top echelons of the bureaucracy itself. Any guess who heads the list of those who exercise "sifarish" or who seek to exert pressure, direct or indirect, from a plum post? None else than IAS officers themselves and yet they rue "frequent transfers". The Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Mann, admits that "our officers exercise direct or indirect pressure to seek 95 per cent of the available posts according to their own likes and dislikes". This really calls for "self-introspection". There were only a few who did not approach the authorities in one way or the other. What does the Chief Secretary do? "In my heart of hearts, I regard myself as the champion of such officers. I have special esteem for them and within the given limitations I try to do my best for them". This reference is in respect of the ones who do not bring forth "sifarish". These views are expressed in an interview the Chief Secretary has given in the Punjab State IAS Officers' Association in-house magazine, The Occasional File's May issue. He was interviewed by the Editor, Mr Sarvesh Kaushal, who is Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. In fact the "frequency" of transfers of IAS officers is amply reflected in a related article in the same issue. It is by Mr C. Roul, Special Secretary, Finance. He terms this business of postings and transfers of IAS officers as "musical chairs". The percentage of IAS officers who held a post for less than one year (as on January 1) between 1964-86 and 1999-93) was 58.20. In his view the IAS officers' movement is "quick and erratic". This "quick and erratic" movement has accentuated since January 1, 1996. The officers who have a "stable tenure" are in a minority. In Punjab, barely 7.63 per cent officers were found to manage to hold on to their posts for more than two years between 1991 and 1999; while 25.31 per cent held their posts for periods ranging from more than one year to less than two years. These figures are quite in contrast to 65.44 per cent who could hold their posts for less than one year. Besides other issues raised therein, Mr Roul has listed reasons for the "quick and erratic" movement of IAS officers and lack of stability of tenure. These are: 1) whims of individual ministers; 2) vacancies due to leave, training, promotions, deputations, retirement and resignation; 3) transfer due to incompetence; 4) and scrambling by IAS officers (men and women) for "wet" posts. His conclusion is that high mobility of IAS officers reduced the "effectiveness" of their leadership and over a period of time they become "cynical" and "lack the drive to achieve anything significant". Mr Mann has admitted in his interview that he is aware of the term "redundant financial commissioners" and "redundant commissioners" but encounters great difficulty in persuading IAS officers to accept Centre deputation at the right stage of the career. "But most of them wriggle out". The creature comforts of Chandigarh are far too attractive than a posting at the Centre. Consequently, Punjab has an unmanageable cadre at certain levels and officers are relatively underworked. The induction of officers from other states on deputation has also aggravated the problem. On effective governance and providing efficiency input in a "need based" manner or using "seniority" as a yardstick, the Chief Secretary wants rationalisation of the whole matter. "Although in the given system, certain perks, you may call them efficiency inputs, are tagged with seniority of an officer, I feel junior officers having proficiency and aptitude to effectively use computers should be provided lap-top and other computers". Though providing of air-conditioned offices, vehicles, etc, are vital for the promotion of efficiency only those entitled alone should have such facilities. He is against those officers who circumvent government rules and order to acquire such perks. A thorough rationalisation of entitlement is favoured by him. But if any thing has been done is not mentioned. Yet with each passing
day the government issues posting and transfer orders at
times adjusting and readjusting the ones who managed a
"sifarish". But the overall impact of the
reshuffled exercise is yet to be felt. |
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Bright year for wheat farmers CHANDIGARH, May 22 — For the farmers of Punjab and Haryana beleaguered by repeated crop failures due to unkind weather conditions in the past few years, this year's wheat season has come as sunshine. Purchases by government agencies alone in the two states have totalled well over 117 lakh tonnes. The government agencies — the Food and Supplies Department, Markfed, Punsup, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Punjab Agro-Industries Corporation, Hafed, Food and Supplies Department, Haryana Agro Industries Corporation, Haryana Warehousing Corporation and Confed in Haryana and the Food Corporation of India in both states — have all together procured wheat worth well over Rs 7,000 crore in the season which has almost come to a close with daily supplies now trickling down to a few thousand tonnes in the mandis of the two states. Both states have achieved the highest-ever wheat production this season when the climate has been good for wheat crop, resulting in healthy grain and higher yield in most areas of the region. some of the otherwise paddy-growing areas in particular have reported higher wheat yield-varying from 50 quintals to 65 quintals per hectare. As government machinery was keen on making quick procurements the traders and individuals made negligible purchases during the season which had begun at least 10 days ahead of the purchase time. In most cases farmers were given prompt payments — generally within 72 hours of the purchases. In turn, farmers made quick payments to banks, which reported reasonably good recovery position. According to estimates, the agencies in Punjab have been able to procure nearly 78.60 lakh tonnes and in Haryana over 38 lakh tonnes. The total production in Punjab is believed to be 140 lakh tonnes of wheat and in Haryana over 82 lakh tonnes. Both states have made the maximum contribution to the Central pool of 700 lakh tonnes this year. Having received reasonably good value for their produce, the farmers are believed to have retained less wheat for high-price time sales in the year as compared to earlier years. The government agencies have now almost stopped making purchases. Flour mills and traders have become somewhat more active in purchases. Although the Government
of India has allowed export of one million tonnes of
wheat, farmers would prefer to dispose of wheat in the
domestic market where sales at present are more
remunerative than export. As against the fixed
procurement price of Rs 550 a quintal. |
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BJP keen to contest five LS
seats CHANDIGARH, May 22 — The Punjab unit of the BJP wants to contest at least five Lok Sabha seats this time. The state-level leaders who had been having discussions on sharing of seats with the ruling Akali Dal feel confident that the party could win more seats this time. The split in the Congress, the main adversary, has given it more confidence. The Local Bodies Minister, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, and the Food and Supply Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, had some preliminary discussions with the state BJP President, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi in this regard. Last time the BJP had contested three seats in alliance with the Akali Dal and won all. These seats were Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur. It is another matter that they had no real BJP candidate except for Amritsar from where Mr Sodhi entered the poll arena for the first time. From Gurdaspur they brought film actor, Vinod Khanna and the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had not only to canvass hard, but also provide funds. From Hoshiarpur, Congress defector, Mr Kamal Chaudhry was the BJP candidate. Mr Sodhi who has already publicly claimed that the party would like to put up a candidate from Jalandhar would also wish to add either Patiala or Ludhiana. The BJP had contested the Ludhiana seat earlier. While the party is confident of winning and also convincing the Akali Dal leader and its president Mr Badal, its track record from Jalandhar showed it in poor light. From 1977 onwards, the BJP has never won this seat. The Akali Dal bagged it in 1977 as anti-Congress wave swept the state. But in 1980 and 1985, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral claimed this seat with a good margin. In between the Akali Dal's late Mr Darbara Singh won it with a small margin in 1986. During all these elections, the BJP never got more than 50,000 odd votes. Thus the Akali Dal questions this claim. The picture from Patiala is no better. Since 1977, it is either the Akali Dal or the Congress winning the seat. If it was Akali Dal candidate, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, in 1977, the turn came for Mr Amarinder Singh in 1980. Then Akali Dal's Mr Charanjit Singh Walia. Mr Atinderpal Singh in 1989. The Congress party's Mr Sant Ram Singla in 1992. But then it was snatched away by Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra in 1996 and 1998. So it has never been the BJP citadel. Ludhiana too offers no
solace to the BJP. From 1977, the party never won. It had
been Congressmen in 1980 and 1992 and the Akali Dal in
1977, 1985, 1989, (Mann Akali Dal) and in 1996 and 1998.
Since it has a very large number of Hindu votes, this
emboldens the BJP to claim the seat. But the Akali Dal,
sources point out, would not concede more than three
seats it contested in 1998. Here too, the Dal would like
the BJP to consider the candidates as it has reservations
about Mr Sodhi and Mr Khanna. |
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Kuldip Singh may rescind
decision CHANDIGARH, May 22 — Justice Kuldip Singh (retd), who recently resigned presidentship of the World Sikh Council, has agreed to review his decision. Disclosing this here today, Mr Baldev Singh Sibia, acting president of the Council, said that Justice Kuldip Singh was requested by Bhai Ranjit Singh, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and others to withdraw his resignation, at a meeting held here today. The meeting was called to discuss various Panthic issues. Mr Sibia said the
Council had opened its office in Sector 37. |
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Finance good films: Divya BATHINDA: The Punjab Government should set up a special wing to finance good Punjabi films to revive Punjabi cinema wilting due to lack of support. These views were expressed by Bollywood star Divya Dutta while talking to TNS here on the occasion of the premiere of the film "Train to Pakistan" in which she plays a leading role. When asked what more could be done to promote Punjabi cinema, she said the state government should extend the facility of tax exemption to all Punjabi movies and writers should be motivated to write meaningful script with educative themes. She said she had enjoyed working in two Punjabi movies "Shaheed-e-Mohabbat" and "Train to Pakistan". "By playing effective roles in these two movies, I have got more recognition and acceptability amongst Punjabi audiences. These two films are very close to my heart", she said. Divya, who had not been born at the time of the partition of the country in 1947, said she had experienced it while working in these two films both based on Partition, and had felt sad while shooting the films. When asked how she got from Sahnewal village (Ludhiana) to Mumbai, she said she was selected by Stardust in a talent contest after which she worked in a lead role in the Hindi film, "Ishq Mein Jeena Ishq Mein Marna" which did well at cinema houses. So far she had done around one dozen films. She said she would work hard, perform well and strive to earn a berth amongst the best actresses of Indian cinema, but would not decline offers of good Punjabi films. "I would love to do good Punjabi films", she reiterated. When asked what message she wanted to convey the people at large, she said that religion, caste and region should not be a barrier to love, which was above all these. She said to promote
communal harmony as a permanent feature of Indian
society, inter-caste marriages should be encouraged. |
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KCF man arrested, murder
plan foiled AMRITSAR, May 22 — The Batala police has arrested Gurnam Singh Gama a member of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF). Gama was wanted in a number of crimes, he was arrested while he was planning to kill a person who had allegedly killed his cousin (a Head Constable). According to Mr Lok Nath Angra, district police chief, Gurnam Singh Gama was a member of the Sarabjit Singh, alias Saba, gang of the KCF. The other gang members are Gurdev Singh Sabba. Gurmit Singh, police station Sultanwind, Amritsar and Sarabjit Singh Gurdev Singh and Gurmit Singh were arrested by the Baba Bakala Police in October, 1997, and recovered RDX, detonators, pencil bombs and two foreign made revolvers of .32 bore. After the arrest of Gurdev Singh and Gurmit Singh, Sarabjit Singh Saba and Gurnam Singh had gone underground. Gurnam Singh, during this period stayed in about a dozen gurdwaras in Bombay as a "pathi" Mr Angra said Jagtar Singh, a cousin of Gurnam Singh, was murdered by four persons of the same village about four years ago. Inquiries revealed that Gurnam Singh was planning to take revenge of this murder and had come to the village with the intention of killing those who had reportedly killed his cousin. The timely action of the police has prevented the killings by arresting Gurnam Singh. After carrying out his plans, Gurnam Singh was to contact Sarabjit Singh Sabba who was reportedly staying in Cuttack with Bachittar Singh, a resident of Sheron in Amritsar. Bachittar Singh with the help of Sarabjit Singh Sabba had murdered his nephew. One country-made pistol
had been recovered from Gurnam Singh. He was produced
today in the court of Mr Baljinder Singh, Judicial
Magistrate, Batala, who has sent him in judicial custody
up to June 3. |
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Dairy owners not to move out PATIALA, May 22 — Members of the local Dairy Farm Union has opposed the Municipal Corporation's move directing them to shift out of the city to nearby villages without offering to give them any land for the purpose. The corporation has served notices on nearly 400 dairy owners directing them to shift to nearby villages on their own within three months. The notice says it will be advisable for them to shift on their own as buying government land may be an expensive proposition for them. The notices have come in for a severe criticism from the dairy owners, who said not giving them land for shifting out of the city, will amount to the betrayal of a promise made to them by the state government. They also criticised the corporation for trying to forcibly move them out of the city by imposing new taxes. Talking to this reporter, Dairy Farm Union president Dalip Singh said attempts were being made to prevent the dairy owners from demanding land by quoting high prices. He said the dairy owners were ready to buy land from the government at reasonable prices, but were being quoted rates which did not prevail on the outskirts or the city. The union president charged Corporation Commissioner Harkesh Singh Sidhu with trying to force them out of the city by imposing a charge of Rs 50 per animal per month for lifting dung from preordained points by the corporation. He said such a huge amount per animal would make their business unviable. He also charged that a challaning spree had been started against the dairies and a delegation would meet Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and submit a complaint in this regard. Mr Dalip Singh said they were in favour of a dairy centre away from the city as they would then be able to benefit from a ready market, besides proper electricity and sewerage facilities. He said the union should be first given land outside the city and then given a three-month notice to shift out. In the absence of the Commissioner, Health Officer D.C. Sharma, when contacted, denied that a challaning spree had been started by the corporation. He said the number of challans had gone down now with many violators preferring to pay the penalty. He said the violators were being challaned only for throwing dung in drains and not depositing dung at specified points. Mr Sharma said dairy owners had been told to buy land in nearby villages on their own as they would have to pay the development charges, if the government acquired the land for the purpose of rehabilitating them. He said the Improvement Trust has also acquired 35 acres for dairy development, but the process of developing the site would take nearly two years. Earlier, the Municipal
Corporation had identified 3.5 acres in Ghalauri village
which it said would be sold off to dairy owners in order
to persuade them to move out of the city. |
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Army can 'check infiltration' JALANDHAR, May 22 — Lt-Gen Surjit Singh, GOC-in-C, Central Command, today claimed that the Army was capable of checking infiltrations and protecting the Line of Control. Talking to mediapersons, he admitted that the Army had suffered as many as 70 casualties in the Kargil sector. He said due to the hostile terrain it was difficult to check infiltrations in the Kargil sector. But, the Army was in absolute control of the situation, he said. General Surjit Singh said the Army could be only a stop-gap arrangement in controlling militancy and the permanent redressal was possible only through political initiative and resolution. Lauding the "thawing" of diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan, he said the Lahore pact was a historic leap in the relations between the two neighbours. However, the initiative needed careful handling. Responding to a query on the modernisation of the armed forces, he said although the Budgetary allocation was 3.5 per cent of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in reality it amounted to between 2.5 per cent and 3 per cent. Even if the Army received 3.5 per cent of the GDP it would take 15 years to modernise it. He said the Army was taking some hard decisions and cutting down on internal expenditure. It had downsized its force by 50,000. However, he said more resources should be made available, as the Army today, was involved in more civil work. The General said the Army had lost 8392 personnel in the past five years on internal security duty. General Surjit Singh who is also Colonel of Dogra Regiment, inaugurated, a boys hostel for the wards of widows of the regiment personnel. Dogra Regiment has 266 war widows. A similar school would
soon be opened at Jammu, he informed. |
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Civic chiefs to quit en masse TARN TARAN, May 22 — The conflict between the presidents of zila parishads and nagar panchayats of Amritsar district, on one side, and the local bodies official, on the other, has taken a serious turn with the parishad presidents deciding to tender their resignations en masse in protest against the "indifferent" attitude of the authorities. The presidents of the zila parishads at Tarn Taran, Patti, Jandiala Guru and Rayya and nagar panchayats at Khemkaran, Bhikhiwind and Majitha held a meeting at Patti yesterday under the presidentship of Mr Ajit Singh Malhotra. They expressed concern about the alleged indifferent attitude of the Director and Deputy Director, Local Self-Government, after their first meeting held on April 23, 1999. At this meeting, the civic chiefs condemned the Punjab Government for appointing staff in their respective institutions. They also pointed certain irregularities being committed by the officials of the Local Bodies Department based at Amritsar and Chandigarh. The civic chiefs warned
the Punjab Government that if it failed to check these
officials, they would not work in favour of the SAD
candidates in the forthcoming elections and would also
resign en masse from their posts. |
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Resignation of Sonia 'a drama' FEROZEPORE, May 22 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said here today that the resignation of Mrs Sonia Gandhi was a drama. Addressing a press conference he added that the happenings in the Congress were part of a game and Mrs Sonia Gandhi would withdraw her resignation. In reply to a question, Mr Badal said SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur would issue a White Paper to highlight the alleged bungling in SGPC funds by its former chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Later, addressing a public meeting organised by the district unit of the SAD, Mr Badal asked people to choose the "right" person for the post of Prime Minister. Criticising the Congress he said the party was an enemy of the state and in the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll, voters should keep in mind that the party was responsible for the 1984 riots and the "attack" on the Golden Temple. He said Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra was given enough time to mend his ways before his expulsion. Mr Badal said the SAD-BJP government had done a lot of development work in the state. Addressing the conference, the Minister for Agriculture, Punjab, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, said due to raids by officials of the Department of Agriculture, nearly 70 companies dealing in substandard fertilisers had shifted from Punjab. Mr Badal said 20 lakh
tonne more wheat had been produced in the state this year
as compared to the previous year. |
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Tohra men denied permission to
hold meeting FATEHGARH SAHIB, May 22 — Supporters of former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra have been denied permission to hold a meeting tomorrow at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib by the manager of the shrine. The meeting had been convened by Akali workers loyal to Mr Tohra and was to have been addressed by him. Mr Tohra is touring the district to mobilise party workers. He asked them to attend the Ludhiana meeting on May 30 in large numbers. Talking to The Tribune, Mr Tohra dared the government to hold a CBI inquiry, instead of issuing a White Paper, on the functioning of the SGPC. The same step should be taken with regard to the functioning of the government. He criticised the SGPC for spending Rs 1.5 crore on the pandal constructed at Anandpur Sahib for the tercentenary celebrations. The government should have spent the money because it was "only a government show" he said. Mr Karnail Singh Panjoli, convener, Youth Akali Dal, and Mr Narinder Singh Tiwana, chairman, Market Committee, Sirhind, said they would hold their meeting at the gurdwara at all costs because the shrine belonged to all. Meanwhile, the newly
appointed manager of the gurdwara proceeded on leave
today. |
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AISSF men allege false cases PATTI, May 22 — AISSF leaders owing allegiance to Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SAD dissidents and leaders of the human rights wing of the SAD organised a rally here today in protest against the registration of cases against certain AISSF activists by the Tarn Taran police, allegedly at the behest of the Chief Minister's son-in-law Mr Adesh Partap Singh, and his family members. The protesters raised slogans against Mr Adesh Partap Singh, who is the local MLA, and other members of the Kairon family for "forcing" the police to register "false and fabricated" cases against their political opponents. Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, a BJP MLA, had also complained to Mr Parkash Singh Badal during his recent visit to Amritsar that the family of his son-in-law had been "interfering" in the working of the district administration. However, Mr Surjit Singh, district police chief, Tarn Taran, denied that the federation leaders had been implicated in fabricated cases. Mr Harminder Singh Gill, president of the AISSF, demanded a high-level inquiry into the registration of "false" cases against Mr Badal's opponents. Speakers alleged that the Badal government had failed to fulfil poll promises. A senior Akali leader, Bhai Manjit Singh, said a mass movement would be launched against the members of Mr Kairon's family before the elections. Among others who
addressed the rally were Mr Major Singh Uboke, a former
MP, Mr Surinder Singh Ghariala, chairman, human rights
wing of the SAD, and a senior Akali leader, Bhai Manjit
Singh. |
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GHTP (unit one) generation to
be delayed LEHRA MOHABAT, May 22 — The commercial run of the first unit of 210 MW Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) is likely to be delayed as faults have developed in the plant. The unit was synchronised on December 29, 1997. Normally a unit is put on commercial generation after three months of its synchronisation. The plant was kept under surveillance and plant engineers tried to stabilise it. On August 14, 1998, the turbine of the unit got jammed resulting into the closure of the unit for indefinite period. The unit was again synchronised on April 8, 1999 and stabilisation exercise started by the plant engineer. But on April 13, 1999, the unit was again shut down for a week as a serious fault developed in it. The unit would take about four months for going on stream if all went well. Due to inordinate delay in the commercial generation of the first unit, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) had suffered losses in hundreds of crores due to the nine-month-long shut down of the unit due to jamming of its turbine. PSEB sources said the unit was to be commissioned commercially in March 1998. Repeated faults in the vital sections of unit one kept on delaying its commercial generation. On the other hand, the unit two was synchronised after the first unit was on commercial generation since October 1998. The PSEB authorities were worried as the production of electricity from unit one was not certain and on the other hand the demand of power was on the rise due to the onset of paddy season. Official sources said
that GHTP authorities had assured the Punjab Government
to give 80 lakh units daily during the entire paddy
season and all the plant engineers were praying to the
God to meet this target, said a senior plant official on
the condition of anonymity. |
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PMET to be held on July 4 AMRITSAR, May 22 — Guru Nanak Dev University will conduct the Punjab Medical Entrance Test (PMET) on July 4 on behalf of the Punjab Government and Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences (Faridkot). On the basis of this test, admissions to MBBS, BDS and BAMS would be made to various medical, ayurvedic and dental colleges of the state. According to Dr Satinder Singh, Dean of Academic Affairs, Guru Nanak Dev University, a notification to this effect had been issued by the state government. The PMET would be conducted in 11 cities of the state, including Amritsar, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Faridkot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Patiala and Pathankot. The prospectus for the PMET can be obtained from the authorised centres against a cash payment of Rs 200 by May 28. The last date for
submission of forms is June 10. |
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Work on Dashmesh canal this
year PATIALA, May 22 — Punjab Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh has said work on the construction of the Rs 230 crore Dashmesh Canal will start this year. Addressing a gathering at Haripur Hinduan village in the Dera Bassi block of the district, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the money for speedy execution of the work was being provided by the state government. He said besides this more tubewells would be installed in the semi-arid areas of Dera Bassi, Rajpura and Ropar so that better irrigation facilities could be provided to people. He also inaugurated a deep tubewell executed at a cost of Rs 18 lakh. The Finance Minister
also announced a grant of Rs 75,000 for the village
cremation ground, Rs 50,000 for the maintenance of
religious places and Rs 1 lakh for the building of a
middle school. |
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Man killed for Rs 500 LUDHIANA, May 22 — A man was murdered here yesterday allegedly by three persons following an altercation between the four over Rs 500. According to information available from Focal Point police station, the deceased, Awadh Narayan Giri, owed Rs 500 to Ramshri Giri, Mahendra Giri and Rinku. The three called Awadh Narayan to their shop and after consuming liquor with him beat him to death. The police has
registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC. |
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Suggestions for sugarcane growers LUDHIANA, May 22 — Dr Darshan Singh, Head of the Department of Entomology, has said sugarcane growers can save up to Rs 700 per acre by destroying eggs and moths of sugarcane top-border early in the morning. He said at that time moths remain inactive and the eggs on the inner side of the leaves could be seen from distance. He was addressing a seminar on integrated pest management for sugarcane crop organised at the Cooperative Sugar Mill, Fazilka. Dr Sarjit Singh Gill, Additional Director, Extension Education and Communication Centre, PAU, suggested besides insecticides other insect-control methods should be tried. Dr D.D. Narang, Senior Entomologist, PAU, said timely sowing and the prevention of lodging of sugarcane can bring down the pest attack considerably. Dr Ravail Singh Brar, M D, Sugar Mill, Fazilka, said the mill would launch a campaign for adopting an integrated-pest control methods suggested by PAU experts. Dr Kartar Singh Brar, Dr
M S Doohara, and Dr Sarjit Singh also spoke. |
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Tohra loyalists to mobilise support JALANDHAR, May 22 (UNI) Loyalists of former SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra will meet at Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar Gurdwara here on May 25 to mobilise party activists from the Doaba region for the May 30 Alamgir meeting where a Panthic convention to formalise a split in the Akali Dal is scheduled to be held. Stating this here today, Sarabjit Singh Wariana a Tohra loyalist said that the meeting, to be presided over by party's former senior vice-president Surjan Singh Thakedar, would be attended among others by senior party leaders like Sukhjinder Singh and Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal and former SGPC senior vice-president Sukhdev Singh Bhaur. Significantly, the meeting is being held at the gurdwara whose management is controlled by Mr Jagjit Singh Gauba, district president of the Akali Dal (Amritsar). Mr Gauba has been
hobnobbing with Tohra-loyalists for quite sometime and he
is the lone member from the radical Akali faction of
Simranjit Singh Maan who is in the 51-member struggle
committee set up by the Tohra loyalists as a precursor to
the formation of the new Akali Dal likely to be led by Mr
Tohra. |
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Robbers' gang busted, 4 held HOSHIARPUR, May 22 (UNI) — The police has busted a gang of robbers with the arrest of its four members, including a former militant of the Bhindrawale Tigers Force of Khalistan (BTFK). The Dasuya DSP, Mr Rajinder Singh, here today identified one of the accused as Nirmal Singh Nimma, the gang leader, formerly associated with the BTFK, and his three accomplices — Charanjit Singh, Kulwinder Singh Kaka and Kamaljit Singh. One .315 bore pistol along with three cartridges, .32 mm revolver with 13 bullets and five bullets of .303 bore were recovered from their possession. Nirmal Singh, a dismissed constable of the Indo-Tibetan Police Force (ITBP), hatched a conspiracy with Kamaljit Singh to set up a gang inside Hoshiarpur Jail last year. Both were lodged in the jail in connection with an earlier case. After his release on November 23 last year, Nirmal Singh arranged Rs 6,000 and allegedly bought firearms from Rampur in Uttar Pradesh and organised the gang, which committed several lootings in Jalandhar, Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur districts. A former accomplice of BTFK militants, Harnek Singh Neki and Amarjit Singh Rana and Nirmal Singh also made an attempt on the life of wife of ITBP Superintendent of Police Mahinder Singh Brar when he was constable there, he added. Arrested yesterday, a
case under Sections 399, 400 and 402 of the IPC and
Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act had been
registered by the Tanda police against the four accused. |
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Cleanliness drive launched MOGA, May 22 — A cleanliness drive was launched in almost all villages of the district today under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Kang. Under the drive, villagers would clean offices and the buildings of panchayats, schools and dharamshalas in their respective areas. The Deputy Commissioner
also announced a special award of Rs 50,000 for the most
clean village and two more awards of Rs 30,000 and Rs
20,000 for the second and the third-most clean villages,
respectively. |
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Military-coloured vehicles banned MOGA, May 22 (UNI) — The District Magistrate Mr Kulbir Singh Mang, today banned the use of military-coloured vehicles, including jeeps and motor cycles, by civilians as also wearing of clothes which could be mistaken for uniforms. He said there was apprehension that the ‘‘misuse of military- coloured vehicles’’ by some elements might create law and order problems. The order would remain in force in the district till June 24, By an other order, Mr Mang also banned the use of high-volume loudspeakers, orchestras, crackers and fireworks as they might create pollution. Even at religious or marriage functions loudspeakers would not be allowed to operate at full volume. At marriage palaces,
loudspeakers and orchestras would be allowed only between
9.30 p.m. and 11 p.m. , he added. |
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SHO, ASI suspended MOGA, May 22 (PTI) — The SSP today placed under suspension Jasbir Singh Sub Inspector in charge of police station division No-2 and ASI Mohan Lal with immediate effect. The SSP said here today that the two officials were placed under suspension following complaint lodged by members of the local Bar Association for the alleged manhandling and illegal detention of a senior lawyer and member of the Bar Mr Kulbhushan Sood, on Thursday. The SSP has requested
the District Magistrate to hold an inquiry into the
incident. |
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26 cr for bricklining of water courses MOGA, May 22 (UNI) —The Punjab Government has released Rs 26 crore for the bricklining of water courses in Abohar and the Sirhind canal feeder. Out of this Rs 13 crore had been granted by the Centre. This was stated by Punjab Minister of State for Irrigation Sikander Singh Maluka while talking to UNI here yesterday. He said the state
government and the Centre had already given Rs 8 crore
for the bricklining of water courses of the Bathinda
canal. |
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PAU to produce virus-free
citrus plants LUDHIANA, May 22 — Punjab Agricultural University has decided to launch programme for producing virus-free citrus plants on large scale. The buds for this purpose have already been imported. The university will produce two lakh plants each year. This was stated here today by Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, while presiding over a meeting of the state-level Fruits and Vegetable Growers Committee of the university. Dr Kalkat also announced that Dr A.S. Sandhu, Head of the Department of Horticulture, and Dr Sukhminder Singh Gill, Director, Seeds, would hold detailed discussions with the Punjab Seed Corporation, National Seed Corporation, state departments of horticulture and agriculture in order to chalk-out a plan for the production of quality vegetable seeds. They would determine the seed requirements of the state and prepare detailed proposals for its production. He also stressed the importance of minimising the use of insecticides and declared that research project on bio-control of insects particularly borers will be started. While stressing the importance of marketing, he suggested that possibilities of exporting fresh vegetables should be explored by conducting market surveys in countries like Russia, France, China and those in eastern Europe. Dr J.S. Kolar, Director
of Extension Education, Dr K.S. Aulakh, Director of
Research and Dr A.S. Dhatt, Director of the Institute of
Post-Harvest Technology for Fruits and Vegetables, were
also present. |
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Doctors oppose fee hike AMRITSAR, May 22 — A general body meeting of the Junior Doctors Association held in the Medical College here today unanimously decided to support the agitation of the Medical Students' Association against the hike in the fee for undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses. The association also took strong notice of the actions being taken by the authorities to suppress the agitation. Dr Neeraj Gill, President of the association, said demand for a hike in the stipend / salary of interns and house surgeons was genuine and must be accepted by the government at the earliest. Meanwhile, the Student
Federation of India (SFI) has decided to organise rallies
all over the state in protest against the fee hike. Dr
Sahota, a leader of the SFI in a press note condemned the
action of the authorities of Patiala Medical College,
against the students. |
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SAD 'followed no rules' CHANDIGARH, May 22 — Mr G.S. Grewal, a former Advocate-General of Punjab, said here today that the Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal was working for the past few years with utter disregard to the rules and regulations. He said that as per rules, the general house of the SAD had to meet at least once in a year. But ever since Mr Badal became its president, the general house of the party had not been called even once. Neither annual report nor audit report were placed before the house for approval. In fact this was perhaps the only party which was functioning without a treasurer. Most of the members of the working committee did not even have a copy of the rules and they did not know if one such thing existed. The dissident group led
by Mr G.S. Tohra had called a meeting of all delegates on
May 30 at Ludhiana to move a resolution of no-confidence
against the president of the party, he added. |
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Dal Khalsa to hold
‘prayer day’ AMRITSAR, May 22 — The Dal Khalsa has decided to hold June 5 as 'prayer day' in memory of those who were killed while defending the sanctity of the Sikh shrines, during Operation Bluestar in June 1984. The function will be held on the premises of Khalsa College. Talking to mediapersons here, Dal Khalsa secretary general Kanwar Pal Singh said his organisation believed that those killed in Operation Bluestar were 'martyrs of the faith' and the 'prayer day' was being organised to honour their services to the panth. He said the successive governments, had tried that the Sikhs should forget the June 84 incident but had failed to tender apology to assuage the feelings of the Sikhs. He said his organisation
had approached Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, to
allocate suitable place for holding the function. But her
response was not appreciable. It was ridiculous on the
part of the SGPC for turning back on such Panthic issues,
he added. |
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‘Give dole to workers rendered jobless’ JALANDHAR, May 22 (UNI) — The national executive of INTUC at its 239th annual meeting here deliberated on the political situation in the country, besides taking up issues concerning organised and unorganised labour at its main session presided over by its president, Mr G. Sanjiva Reddy. Expressing concern about growing industrial sickness because of the liberalised economy, the executive decided to impress upon the Congress to include in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha poll its demand for a monthly unemployment allowance of Rs 1500 for employees rendered jobless. The meeting said the income tax exemption limit should be raised to Rs 1 lakh, the upper limit on the payment of bonus be abolished, a minimum of two financial upgradations be assured to Union Government employees under an assured career progression scheme recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission, 12 days' casual leave be restored and an additional increment for employees undertaking family planning measures be restored. The meeting discussed measures to improve the working conditions of child and women labour. Nearly 80 members, who
took part in the deliberations, underlined the need for
expanding the INTUC base in unorganised sectors like
agriculture. |
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Sadbhavna Manch pays homage to
Rajiv PATIALA, May 22 — The president of the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna Manch, Mr Vishnu Sharma, who is also the organising secretary of the Pradesh Congress, said today that the manch would organise a series of mass marriages and blood donation camps in the memory of Rajiv Gandhi under the guidance of Mrs Parneet Kaur. In a statement here, Mr Sharma said a function had also been organised to pay homage to the late leader and clothes were distributed amongst the poor at the function. Mr Sharma said the country and the party needed the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi now more than ever before and therefore she should not withdraw at this critical juncture. He hailed the Congress Working Committee's decision to expel the three rebels of the party and said that there was no place in the party for those who questioned the leadership of Mrs Gandhi. Others who paid homage
to the late Prime Minister were Mr Rajinder Modgill, Mr
Nand Lal Goraba, Mr Madan Bhambri, Mr Sanjeev Walia, Mr
K.K. Malhotra, Mr Sanjeev Garg and Mr Ajay Thapar. |
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