Monday, May 31, 1999
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N E W S Monday, May 31, 1999 |
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Cricket win dims Kargil gun roar Chandigarh, May 30 — While at one end guns roar in the Dras, Batalik and Kargil areas of Jammu and Kashmir, India is celebrating its inclusion in the Super Six in the Cricket World Cup '99 contest, with England losing to India in today's match by 63 runs. And Chandigarh had its share of fun, revelry and even fireworks to celebrate the occasion. "Cricket is just a match, but with the nation keenly watching both the game and the border offensive to flush out Pakistani infiltrators simultaneously, this win seems to be all about good luck and hope for us to win", said an optimistic Jaspal Bhatti, our very own king of comedy. Said two young advocates Rajan and Gaurav, "We took a few rounds of the city in our cars, played some loud music and are now planning to dine outside. It is great that India is now in the Super Six, and we could definitely head for a win. The game is all about chances". For those who entered into betting or even buying certain products that promised goodies if India made it to the Super Six, the time was just right to try and paint the town red. "I have won Rs 5,000, and am feeling on top of the world," said a young graduate, who says that he was stuck to his television all along. P.Kumar, who bought a music system of a particular brand that promised him refund of as much amount of money as the number of runs made by India, seems to be thrilled with India's win. "My wife is so happy after counting the amount of money that we have made till now that she has even stopped complaining of my sitting glued to the television all day long! India has done it, and the cricket team would certainly do us proud at the match," he added. For the not-so-die-hard fans of the game also the win was more than welcome. Said Pushi Chowdhary, a consultant, "I haven't been following the matches through and through, but am happy that India has made it. But I believe that it is the end of the road for India now, because by now the team would have burned itself out. I would be largely surprised if India manages to win the World Cup, in fact most of us would be". But the pressure and tension of reaching the finals cannot in any way make today's victory any less exciting. "It is party time for us today. We plan to go out, dine, wine and just have fun to celebrate. After all, we have been sitting in front of our televisions for so long. It had to have some results. And what could be more thrilling for us than to win a cricket match?" said Dheeraj Kumar, an executive in a company, who was all ready to go out and "toast" today's triumph, with his colleagues. And 'toasting' time it was today for brothers Pradeep and Jagdev, who soon after watching India's win over England dashed off to the lake to "simply enjoy". Said Mrs Nivedita, a housewife, "I am really proud of our cricket team. Just when we think that the game is gone out of our hands, our team gives us such a pleasant surprises. I had never been a keen watcher of cricket, but since my husband, who is crazy for cricket, did manage to get leave from office, I had to watch all the matches for him. And today me and my husband watched the match together, and India had to win! I have now called some friends at home to celebrate the great occasion". So all the best to our
cricket team to eventually make it to the finals. The
city, and the country at large, are joyously celebrating
today's win over England, but the real rejoicing and
feasting would take place only if India manages to
capture the magic moments of the '83 World Cup. |
Woman thief in police net PANCHKULA, May 30 — A look at a 45-year-old woman of Dadu Majra in Chandigarh, who may knock at your door asking for a glass of water, may dismiss her as an ordinary housewife. The woman, Kamla, who belongs to the infamous Sansi tribe, however, had committed many thefts during past several years. She was arrested by the police on Thursday when she was about to decamp with cash and jewellery from a locked house in Sector 11 here. The arrest was made possible with the help of a few alert residents. The occupants of the locked house returned when she was about to leave with the booty. She was soon overpowered by residents of the area. She admitted having her name in the records of the Chandigarh and Punjab police. When she was arrested by the police on Thursday, she initially feigned innocence, but after being questioned by the CIA staff of the police disclosed that she picked up the habit of stealing in her childhood and had graduated from small thefts to bigger burglaries. She does not remember the number of thefts committed by her so far. Even after marriage to Madan Lal, about 30 years ago, she did not give up the profession. She has four sons — Mukesh, Naresh, Sonu and Manu, all below 16 years of age, and two daughters — Poonam and Nirmala. A few years ago, her story with her photograph even appeared in ‘Manohar Kahania’, a periodical magazine. To know more details about her, there is enough on record with the Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana police. Meanwhile, a similar incident took place in Sector 10 a few weeks ago when a woman had tried to enter a house where a child was alone. The woman had to flee, however, when the child raised an alarm. In another incident, two
persons had tricked their way into a house in Sector 9
and decamped with cash and jewellery after locking a lone
woman occupant of the house in a room. In another
incident, four car-borne youths had made an unsuccessful
attempt to enter a house in Sector 10. |
Sant to baptise 1 lakh Sikhs
today CHANDIGARH, May 30 — With a view to bringing them into the fold of the Khalsa Panth on the occasion of the ongoing tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa Sant Maan Singh Pehowa wale has planned to baptise at least one lakh persons across Punjab on May 31. Baba Maan Singh said the baptism process will take place simultaneously at 11 different places in the state, including Tarn Taran, Faridkot, Mansa, Lalru, Kharar, Moga, Patran, Nawanshahr, Maachhiwara and Gurdwara Neem Sahib. "I have already performed an ardaas before the Almighty to bless me for undertaking the programme of amrit paan," said Baba Maan Singh while addressing reporters here today. He further said a heart hospital for unemployed and poor would be set up at a place where it would be easy for the people from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal to approach. He said the hospital would be completed by April 13, 2000, and free treatment provided to needy. He said he was also
planning to open a big gaushala at Pehowa in Haryana
within three years. |
PU to conduct BEd test CHANDIGARH, May 30 — Panjab University will conduct Common Entrance Test for admission to BEd course in all colleges affiliated to Panjab University, Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University. The date for the entrance test will be notified by Panjab University separately. The examination will be conducted at Amritsar, Chandigarh, Faridkot, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Ropar, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Abohar. According to a notification issued by the Punjab Government, candidates who want to take the examination have to be residents of Punjab. However, this condition shall not apply to candidates belonging to the 1984 riot victims category provided they fulfil other conditions. The entrance examination for admission to Malwa College of Education, Ludhiana, will be open to rural women candidates who are bona fide residents of Punjab. The test will comprise two papers. The first paper will have sections of general awareness (50 marks), general potential test (50 marks) and general mental ability (50 marks). The second paper will have language proficiency test where Punjabi will be compulsory for all who have studied the language up to matriculation level, while those who have not studied will have to take language test in English and Hindi. The government has also notified reservation of seats. Twentyfive per cent seats are reserved for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. For candidates from Backward Classes, 5 per cent seats have been reserved. Teachers’ children and spouse, children and grand-children of freedom fighters have 3 per cent reservation each. Widows, divorcees and deserted women, residents of border, “bet” and backward areas, riot and terrorism affected; sportspersons, and candidates from defence forces, paramilitary forces, and police, both serving and retired, their spouses and children have 2 per cent reservation each. In the handicapped
category, there is 1 per cent reservation each for blind
and other handicapped candidates, the notification said. |
Baddi-Chandigarh road cleared CHANDIGARH, May 30 — The Ministry of Forests and Environment has cleared the construction of an alternative road connecting Chandigarh with Baddi, the Himachal Minister of State for Town and Country Planning, Mr Hari Narain Singh, said here today. Addressing the sixth annual day function of the Himachal Maha Sabha at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, the minister disclosed that the Central Government had agreed to fully finance the road to be built via Jayanti Majri. The road would cut the distance between Chandigarh and Baddi substantially. Referring to the issue of permission to the children of those Himachalis who are living outside the state to take the CET and the PMT conducted by Himachal Pradesh University, the minister said he would take up the matter at the next Cabinet meeting He said he would make sincere efforts to allot land at Baddi for constructing a housing colony for members of the sabha. Former Chandigarh MP Satya Pal Jain, who was the guest of honour, assured the sabha that he would take up the case with the Chandigarh Administration for allotment of a plot for a ''Himachal Ashram''. Earlier, Mr M.P. Agnihotri, President of the sabha, demanded suitable land at Baddi-Barotiwala for a housing colony, permission for the students residing in the city, SAS Nagar and and Panchkula to appear in the CET and the PMT in Himachal Pradesh, construction of the link roads in the state and allotment of land for the ashram. Rajasthan, Santhal and
Himachali dances, including ''nati'', and songs were the
highlights of a cultural programme presented on the
occasion. |
Demand to extend last date of
VDS CHANDIGARH, May 30 — Various organisations, including those of traders and industrialists, have urged the Chandigarh Administration to extend the last date for the Voluntary Disclosure Scheme of enhanced and unauthorised power load. The scheme, which started in April, closes tomorrow. These organisations maintain that since some significant amendments to the scheme were made on May 20, there was not enough time for the people to avail themselves of the benefits of the scheme. According to Mr Joginder Singh Bhogal, an ex-member of the Local Advisory Committee, after the amendments were notified, only 7 working days were given to the general public, which was "too short a time to complete all the requirements". Mr Bhogal has also raised an objection to the demand of indemnity bond along with the application. "In case where the ownership of legal heirs has been established by the Estate Office, the requirement of an indemnity bond is unjustified and uncalled for. It is causing a lot of harassment and many applications are being rejected for want of indemnity bonds," Mr Bhogal added. There has been a big rush of domestic consumers for voluntary disclosure of their unauthorised power loads. The Chandigarh Beopar
Mandal had made a similar demand a couple of days ago so
that the people could avail themselves of the benefits of
the amendments to the scheme. |
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Youth Hostel
plans to generate funds To begin with physical fitness courses in aerobics, yoga and unarmed combat (karate) will start on June 1. Disclosing this at a function organised at the hostel today, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, said the training would be imparted by experienced coaches. A mini gymnasium has been provided for the benefit of the participants. The hostel is, in fact, facing shortage of funds, especially during winter season as the flow of tourists staying on their way to and from Shimla decreases. To generate more funds there were plans to add the facility of a sauna bath at the hostel by next summer. The Warden of the hostel, Sq Ldr K.K.Sharma (retd), said the other activities like a painting contest and music classes were also planned. The hostel would celebrate its annual day on August 26. Villagers for 24-hr power supply Residents of the village said the village was declared a model village in 1954 by the then Chief Minister of Punjab Partap Singh Kairon. They said since 1960-61 when electricity was provided to the village, it had been getting uninterrupted power supply for 24 hours in a day as it was linked with urban feeders. They said after the present Akali government took over, the village had been de-linked from the urban feeder and was getting supply from the rural feeder. They said because of this, the villagers were facing a lot of problems and small-scale industry was facing losses. They said the board should supply power for 24 hours because the village falls in the Kandi area within the Kharar municipal limits. Villagers were even paying octroi on the electricity to the municipal committee. Meanwhile, villagers have decided to meet the minister concerned in this connection. Urs function begins Hundreds of residents of this subdivision joined the function and paid obeisance to the Pir by putting chaddar on the mazar. The chaddar was taken to the dargah of Pir Meeran Malli Sahib. Gangooh Sharif Naseer Ahamad Sabri and Aivaj Hussain Vadiv Hussain from Saharanpur will perform quawwalis during a two-night “Mehfil-e-Quawali”. ‘Need for value-based
education’ This was stated by Braham Kumari Prem, National Coordinator of the religious wing of the Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation, while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of the "value-based education campaign" in Sector 33-A here last evening. Ms Daljit Kaur Chadda, DPI (Primary), Punjab, said when materialistic needs overpowered spirituality, it led to moral downfall of society. Mr Nusrat Ali Khan, Punjab Minister of Sports and Animal Husbandry, inaugurated the campaign. Songs, dances mark carnival This was followed by the dances of Rishabh Dev, Rakhee, Mohit Taneja, Nivedita, Neha and Amarpreet. An exhibition of paintings by eminent artists, done at the Plaza Carnival through the year, was organised by city artist Mr Prem Singh. The activities of sketching and face-painting carried on as usual. The carnival, which has closed due to weather conditions, would continue in mid-September. Workshop on vermi-compost Dr K.K. Garg, Joint Director, Ministry of Environment and Forests, who inaugurated the workshop, said the practice of vermi-composting resulted in an improvement in the crop yield. Mr S.K.Sharma, President
of the society, said the economically weaker sections of
villages could earn their livelihood by selling red
worms. He said the area where vermi-composting was
undertaken did not give a foul smell and it took a month
for the vermi-compost to be ready for use. |
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