Tuesday, November 16, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Tuesday, November 16, 1999 |
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Punjab
seeks grant of Rs 4,420 cr A tribute to 8 Sikh |
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Private
bus operators resent special tax Rail mishap averted, equipment
damaged CPI for special Assembly session Board’s term expires but
Chairman stays MCPI call to oppose new economic
policy University students’ clash:
two suspended Malwa granted bail CM’s assurance on ST Act
amendment Drug addiction on the rise Cheema made PYC vice-president Kewal Singh seeks Badal’s
mediation Immigration ‘racket’:
legal opinion sought Royal turban turns out to be
‘sarpech’ 75 officials found absent Gill: make police computer savvy Spurious woollen fabric seized,
two arrested Campus violence on the rise MCs’ rift has ‘hit’
development work Teachers oppose poll work Recruitment rally from Nov 19 Two held for stealing car Servant loots gold, cash |
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Punjab seeks grant of Rs 4,420
cr CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — Punjab has prepared an exhaustive memorandum to be presented to the 11th Finance Commission visiting Chandigarh tomorrow. The Council of Ministers approved the memorandum at a meeting today, according to an official press note Punjab has requested the commission to recommend a grant of Rs 4,420 crore to the state for solving problems of the border area, huge liabilities of the pay commission, waterlogging, stagnation in agriculture, large Scheduled Caste population, promoting education of girls, computerisation of government departments etc. The memorandum says that the grants-in-aid under Article 275 should also be given to individual states facing special problems of national concern regardless of the fact whether a state has revenue surplus before devolution or not. About measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of the state to supplement the resources of panchayats and municipalities, the memorandum says: financial needs of the municipalities for providing infrastructure and services are to the tune of Rs 5,866 crore for the period 2000-2005 A.D. Since Rs 1560 crore is available for infrastructure, the commission is requested to provide the balance requirement. Likewise for panchayati raj institutions, Rs 5,015.18 crore is required for execution of essential obligatory and infrastructure needs during the same period. The projected income for the same period is Rs 531.70 crore. The commission should, therefore, recommend the remaining deficit of Rs 4483.48 crore. The memorandum lists suggestions on the devolution of union taxes and duties and additional duties of excise in respect of income tax, union excise duties, grants in lieu of tax on railway passenger, fares, incentive for fiscal discipline, financing relief expenditure etc. Punjab has suggested that the share of each state in divisible pool be determined on the following basis. (1) 70 per cent on the basis of population as per 1971 Census; (2) 20 per cent on size of the gross state domestic product; (3) 10 per cent on fiscal discipline. The percentage share of states in the gross receipts of central taxes be fixed at 29 per cent for 1996-97 and 1997-98; at 33.33 per cent for 1998-99 and 1999-2000; and 50 per cent for the five-year period (2000-2005) covered under the award of the 11th Finance Commission. The state should be paid arrears from 1996-97 onwards. Punjab has reiterated
that a special term loan of Rs 3,772 crore, outstanding
on March 31, 2000, and payment of interest, thereon, be
waived in tune with the decision of the Central
Government taken on September 8, 1997. |
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Private bus operators resent
special tax LUDHIANA, Nov 15 — Private bus operator in Punjab have urged the state government to take immediate steps to restore the economic viability of their buses operating in the state. Leading private bus operators of the state at a meeting held here yesterday said the recent hike in diesel prices and the imposition of special road tax at the rate of Rs 3.49 per km had made plying of buses uneconomical. It costs Rs 15.13 per km to run a bus whereas the receipts did not exceed Rs 12.50 per km. The meeting was presided over by Mr Fateh Singh Libra. Bus operators present at the meeting urged the government to reduce the rate of the road tax to Rs 1.50 per km. The exemption from road tax available to private buses on account of maintenance and repairs be increased from 18 to 36 days in a year. They complained that while the government was harsh towards private bus operators, it has turned a blind eye towards the mismanagement creeping in the state-owned buses. All private buses now conformed to the government regulations banning the use of pressure horns, dark glasses and carried first aid boxes. But the state owned roadways buses seldom cared to adhere to these stipulations. And the checking by the authorities was confined to the private buses only. Even infringements by roadways buses were ignored which were seldom challaned. They urged the government to take immediate steps to check the unauthorised plying of trucks, tempos, Sumos and jeeps for ferrying passengers. Similarly, Punjab Roadways, Pepsu and CTU were operating in unauthorised manner on several routes which needed to be checked, they added. They also wanted that
the government should launch a drive for recovery of road
tax and other dues from buses belonging to the
state-owned Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transport
Corporation in order to fill the empty coffers of the
state. The PRTC alone owed Rs 120 crore as road tax to
the government. |
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A tribute to 8 Sikh CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — A special tableau has been put up at the International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi as a tribute to veterans of the 8th battalion of the Sikh regiment. Brig K.S. Kang (retd.), a former Director of the Punjab Sainik Welfare Department, who designed the tableau, said here today that the tableau depicted the actions of 8 Sikh during the Kargil operations and had been displayed at the trade fair as a mark of respect to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty and also to bring about greater awareness amongst the public about the role of the armed forces. "We also wanted to highlight the difficult terrain in which our troops fought and the tremendous odds in terms of weather as well as the enemy faced by them," he said. 8 Sikh, along with 18 Grenadiers, had fought one of the most decisive battles during "Operation Vijay" and wrested the strategically vital Tiger Hill overlooking the Srinagar-Leh highway from Pakistani-backed intruders. The battalion suffered heavy casualties in the process, with 35 killed and 64 injured. As per reports, 20 enemies were also killed. For 8 Sikh, the battle for Tiger Hill did not end there. The unit had to face two counter attacks, including one by a Pakistani Major, who was also reported killed in the ensuing battle. 8 Sikh was also among the units earmarked to be honoured by the Punjab Government. The state government decided to honour all those units which had a majority of troops from Punjab and had collectively shown exemplary courage and offensive spirit on the battlefield during "Operation Vijay". The tableau, measuring 12 feet by 8 feet, was made of fibre glass and represents the Dras-Kargil battle zone. Electronic gadgetry incorporated in it highlighted areas occupied by Pakistani intruders and cleared by the Indian Army and also depicts shelling and smoke. Brig Kang said the
tableau would be shifted permanently to the Punjab War
Museum coming up in Ludhiana after the trade show. The
tableau had been prepared in collaboration with
Chandigarh Arts College, Sector 10. |
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Rail mishap averted,
equipment damaged LUDHIANA, Nov 15 — A major rail accident was averted here today when a diesel multiple unit (DMU) started off from Ludhiana Railway Station without a driver and then changed tracks to a dead line, thus avoiding a head-on collision with the Jhelum Express. Although there has been no casualty, electric equipment worth around Rs 2 crore has been damaged as a result of the DMU first hitting two masts and then a booster transformer. This led to three coaches of the DMU being derailed and falling at least 100 feet down. The electric wires of the transformer and the masts then hit the Jhelum Express coming from the opposite direction, causing minor damage. It is learnt that the DMU starts from Ludhiana Railway Station around 5.40 am everyday. Today, while the driver was checking the hooks, one of the hooks gave way and the engine, which runs on diesel and is automatic, started and immediately caught speed carrying three coaches along. The Jhelum Express, too, was coming at full speed from the opposite direction. The DMU then hit a sand-dune and changed track to a dead line. Incidentally, this train derailed after crossing over at least 3 km from the railway station and the Dumoria bridge. Had the derailment occurred at the bridge, it would have caused many casualties if the Jhelum Express had run into it. The officials of the electrical branch of the Railways working on the site informed this correspondent that the booster transformer and the masts were completely destroyed and that it would take at least 12 to 15 hours to repair the damage. The Area Manager,
Railways, Mr Kuldeep Singh informed that the Divisional
Manager, Ferozepore, had instituted a four-member
committee to find out the cause of the accident. It would
submit its report within the next 10 days. |
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CPI for special Assembly
session AMRITSAR, Nov 15 — Mr Joginder Dayal, state secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has said that his party would request the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to convene a special session of the Assembly at the earliest to take stock of the precarious financial conditions prevailing in the state. There was urgent need to analyse the reasons which led to the financial crunch, he said here today. Mr Dayal said the CPI would publish a ‘white paper’ on the prevailing economic situation which was the result of rampant corruption, mismanagement and populist measures taken by the ruling SAD-BJP combine. He said the CPI would seek services of eminent economists for preparing blueprint of the proposed ‘white paper’. Cooperation of former ministers of the Congress and other like-minded parties would also be sought in this regard. Mr Dayal said the CPI would launch a statewide agitation against steep hike in diesel prices, busfares power rates and other agricultural inputs etc. The party would convene an all-party meeting shortly to evolve a common strategy on this issue. He said youth wings of the CPI including the All India Students Federation (AISF) and the AIYF, would hold a protest rally at Amritsar on November 17. The CPI-affiliated five kisan organisations would resort to gherao of the SDMs all over the state for against anti-farmer decisions taken by the Badal government. Mr Dayal alleged that the campaign by Mr Badal against corruption was "stage-managed". The CPI leader opposed the proposed expansion of the ministry by Mr Badal. He said the expansion of the cabinet would put additional burden on the state exchequer. Mr Dayal also criticised
the Chief Minister for interfering in the internal
affairs of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak committee
(SGPC). |
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MCPI call to oppose new
economic policy LUDHIANA, Nov 15 — The Central Committee meeting of the MCPI which took place at Kila Raipur village 18 km from here under the presidentship of Mr Sudhir Bhattacharya, Politburo member from West Bengal has given a call to the working people of India to oppose the economic policy by liberalisation privatisation and globalisation being pursued by newly the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre in its second phase. It is ridiculous that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance earlier swore by "swadeshi" are now inviting foreign capital in insurance sector up to 26 per cent and further planning to open banking also to foreign multinationals, he said. He also alleged that the Congress led by Mrs Sonia Gandhi was also in league with this anti-people policy of the government reviewing the 13th Lok Sabha elections, the party leadership lamented that inspite of the attempts made by the centralised formations of the Congress and the BJP to eliminate the regional parties. They had emerged stronger than ever before and attempts of fostering party system in India has foiled. In a resolution, the Central Committee of the MCPI strongly condemned the 40 per cent of rise in diesel prices would further raise all round price-level and affect agriculture adversely. It has also took a strong notice of huge burden on the people by way of taxation by the central and various state governments which is attack on the living conditions of working and middle class people. Central Committee
members from Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar,
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab participated in the
three-day long meeting and held discussions over the
various issues concerning the people, Comrade Jagjit
Singh Lyallpuri, general secretary, Comrade Sudhir
Battcharya, member of politi-buro and Uma Shankar Singh
also member polit-bureau of the CMPI participated in the
deliberations. |
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University students’ clash:
two suspended AMRITSAR, Nov 15 — The Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University suspended six students responsible for violence on the campus last week. The Vice-Chancellor has ordered a high-level probe into the incident. The inquiry would be headed by Dean Student Welfare Dr Bikram Singh Ghuman. Two students had received serious injuries. The incident took place on November 12 on the university campus. According to information available here, two factions of the students due to some old enmity challenged Harpreet Singh, a student of the Department of Law and his friend Mandeep Singh on that day and beat them up with hockey sticks. According to eyewitnesses the group led by Amanpreet Singh Chhina had warned Harpreet that he would be taught a lesson and he should be prepared. On inquiry it was revealed that trouble started when students from all factions had gone on a picnic on last month and tension had arose due to some misunderstanding which resulted in the fight last week. Although, the university and the parents of the injured students had filed a report with the Sadar Police station but no arrest had been made so far SSP Parampal Singh Sidhu told The Tribune that a case was registered under Section 323 of the IPC as such no cognisance was made thus the police has not arrested the students named in the report. Meanwhile, father of
Harpreet Singh who was beaten up badly told The Tribune
that a lot of political pressure had been exerted on him
not to pursue the case. But he asserted that he had felt
humiliated as on one hand his son was assaulted while the
influential people were trying to hush up the case of
violence which might had cost the life of his son. |
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Board’s term expires but
Chairman stays CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — A piquant situation has cropped up in the Punjab State Mandi Board, which has a Chairman, a political appointee, but no board as such. According to informed sources, the term of the board (non-official members) expired on October 7. All five of them, Mr Ajaypal Singh, Mr Rajinder Singh, Mr Avtar Singh, Thakur Jaideep Singh and Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, were appointed members on October 7, 1996. The term of the board is three years. As per section 3 of the Punjab Agricultural Produce marketing Act, 1961, the board is constituted by the state government. The board has 16 members — eight official (as per designation) and eight non-official. The board the term of which has expired was constituted on March 1, 1996 with Mr G.S. Atwal as Chairman. Along with him eight official members were also nominated. It was only later in October that five non-official members were appointed. The appointment of Mr Ghuman was done in March, 1999, seven months prior to the expiry of the term of the board. As per the board Act, the Chairman is one of the members. His term is co-terminus with that of the members. Therefore when the term of the board expired on October 7, 1999, how come the Chairman continues to function? It is over one month yet he enjoys all perks and powers which go with the post. According to sources, even legal opinion sought from the Advocate-General says that Mr Ghuman is not the Chairman since the term of the board is over. Even otherwise, the Act says that if a new member is appointed midway or any time during the three-year term of the board, the new member remains on the board only for the remaining period of the term. Therefore, though Mr Ghuman’s appointment came about in March, 1999, his term ended along with the five members on October 7 itself. The Mandi Board has been in the midst of one or the other controversy ever since its previous secretary, Mr P.S. Aujla, put his foot down and refused to implement certain orders passed by the Chairman, Mr Ghuman. The stand taken by Mr Aujla being that the same were violative of the rules and the Act. Mr Aujla later offered to quit. The latest is that Mr Ghuman is alleged to have made officials return a cheque (No. 407949, dated October 8, 1999) for Rs 1,07,484 to M/s New Kisan Rice Mills, Mamdot, which was realised by way of penalty and other dues recovered from the firm following the detection of certain irregularities in respect of rural development fund and market fee. The Chairman later placed under suspension two officials, Mr Jagtar Singh Sanghera and Mr Rajinderpal Singh, who had effected the recoveries. It is alleged that these officers had refused to compromise with the erring traders, who allegedly had the protection of an Akali leader. Mr Sanghera has received six roles of honour and four cash awards following his role in detecting theft of market fee, rural development fund and other irregularities in various mandis. He was in the enforcement wing. No one within the board has so far given him any hearing. The entire functioning
of the board is slated for discussion at the level of the
Chief Minister since it is wrapped in controversies where
favouritism, nepotism, postings, transfers, suspensions
and reinstatements are allegedly being done arbitrarily. |
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Malwa granted bail LUDHIANA, Nov 15 — Gurcharan Singh Malwa, one of the main accused in the Mamta Kulkarni abduction case was today granted bail by the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Mr C.D. Gupta. The case involved the alleged attempt to kidnap cine star Mamta Kulkarni during her visit to the city on October 30. However, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr A.K. Mehta today remanded him in police custody for two days in a separate case registered against him at Focal point police station on charges of impersonation trespassing and attempt to kidnap. The police had
registered an FIR under Section 364, 506 and 511 of the
IPC against Malwa and Kamal Sharma. The other accused,
allegedly for attempting to abduct the daughters of Mrs
Surjeet Kaur by posing as the SSP Chandigarh and as a CBI
inspector. Meanwhile, the SSP, Ms Gurpreet Deo when
contacted, said that attempts were being made to arrest
Kamal Sharma, the other accused in these cases. |
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Company made to rectify
India’s map SANGRUR: Persistence shown by Dr Surinder Singla, secretary of the local branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), has forced a drug company, USV Limited to rectify the distorted map of India shown on its literature. The map shown on one of its products, Doxy-1, had deleted a huge area of Jammu and Kashmir and this distorted literature was circulated to doctors and chemists. Dr Surinder Singla, who is also organising secretary of the state IMA and regional secretary of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) in a communication to the Managing Director of USV Limited served an ultimatum to rectify the blunder of distorting the map in the company’s literature circulated to doctors and chemists, failing which he threatened the association would initiate legal action besides boycotting the company products. He pointed out that the distorted map omitting portions of Jammu and Kashmir had hurt the sentiments of citizens, especially at a time when Indian soldiers made huge sacrifices in the Kargil sector to preserve the country’s integrity. A news report on the ultimatum given for rectifying the distorted map was first published in The Tribune from Sangrur on October 16. The report made the issue a matter of public concern. A product manager of the company, Preeti Dixit, in a letter dated September 23 admitted the omission but in a dubious manner took the plea that it was only an artist’s depiction. At the same time the product manager promised to reprint their literature after making corrections. The letter also assured withdrawal of the literature in question from their field staff. However the same manager hastened to despatch the second letter to Dr Surinder Singla just after four days on September 27 in which the plea was taken that the omission occurred due to a wrong reference used by the company. The pleas taken by the product manager in both these letters "an artist’s depiction" and of "wrong reference used" were unconvincing, says Dr Singla. Dr Singla in another letter to the company on October 11 warned the company to apologise publicly through media to clarify the omission of portions of J & K in the map in Doxy-1 literature to the entire population of the country and also asked the company to disclose the source of wrong reference so that it might not be used again. Moreover it was also essential that the Union Government knew the source of the wrong reference to initiate proper action. According to Dr Singla, some senior officials of the company contacted him at his T.B. Clinic in the local Civil Hospital to close the issue but Dr Singla remained adamant in a public apology and disclosure of the source of wrong reference. Ultimately, a new map with due correction showing the omitted portions of Jammu and Kashmir in it was reprinted by USV Limited and sent to Dr Singla as proof. The previous literature with distorted map was also withdrawn. However, the IMA is
still pressing the company to disclose the source of
wrong reference. Dr Singla has urged the Union Government
to issue strict guidelines and directions for publishing
the map or the flag of the country by any organisation or
an individual so that the blunder is not repeated.
Artists’ depictions in this regard should be banned,
says the association because the honour and the unity and
integrity of the country is involved. |
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CM’s assurance on ST Act
amendment AMRITSAR, Nov 15 — The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has given a categorical assurance to the agitating business community that the government would suspend the implementation of the controversial recent amendment in the Sales Tax Act incorporating the clause of arrest in case of evasion. Mr Badal had invited representatives of various state-level business associations for a meeting held here last night to discuss ways to stop evasion of taxes and to repeal the Act which would empower the sales tax officer to arrest and fine the traders indulging in malpractices. Mr Badal reiterated the government’s resolve to collect maximum revenue and said if the business community was prepared to offer its support, the state government would definitely repeal the controversial notification. The Chief Minister, along with the Secretary, Excise and Taxation, Mr C.L. Bains, and the Director, Excise and Taxation, Mr Sudhir Mittal, discussed various issues concerning the tax with the representatives. Mr Badal asserted that the government was prepared to abolish octroi provided the traders offered to pay taxes and not indulge in any manipulation and evasion. The Chief Minister had constituted a high-power committee with Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh, Minister for Local Bodies Balramji Das Tandon, Minister for Food Supplies Madan Mohan Mittal along with seven representatives of the trading and industrial association to evolve methodology within a fixed timeframe. The Punjab Beopar Mandal said Chief Minister announced that in the Cabinet meeting the final decision to withdraw Section 24 and 24-A of the Act with regard to the arrest and levying of penalties would be considered. Meanwhile, representatives of various trading bodies accepted the proposals of the Chief Minister and assured that they would come up to the Chief Minister’s expectations. They also decided to call off the proposed strike in protest against the sales tax amendments. The president of the All-India Hindu Shiv Sena, Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, said the government must withdraw amendments in the Act immediately.
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Drug addiction on the rise GURDASPUR, Nov 15 — Drug addiction in this district is assuming alarming proportions if the number of patients admitted to the 30-bedded Red Cross Drug De-addiction-cum Rehabilitation Centre here is any indication. The centre is being run by the Punjab Red Cross branch and the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Red Cross is meeting 10 per cent of the centre’s expenses while the remaining is contributed by the ministry. According to Dr J.P. Jalota, Project Director of the Red Cross Drug De-addiction Centre, more than 1,500 patients were admitted to the centre for treatment. As many as 78 per cent of them were in the age group of (20 to 40),, 6 per cent under (20) and 16 per cent above 40. The drugs being used by the addicts, included proxyvon capsules, corex and phansedril cough syrups, morphine and fortwin injections. About 16 per cent of the patients treated at the centre were alcoholic, 19 per cent opium addicts, 13 per cent smack and brown sugar addicts and 5.5 per cent ‘bhang’ and tobacoo addicts. On an average, the addicts, who volunteered for detoxification, had been using the drugs for more than 5 years. Synthetic drugs, which include capsules, syrups and injections were being used in a large number of cases because they were easily available and cheaper than heroin and smack, he said. Dr Jalota said persons seeking admission to the centre were predominantly from the middle class and higher strata of society. The addicts were not fully occupied in their profession and a majority of them were with secondary education. Dr Jalota said 40 per cent of the addicts become neurotic and more than 10 per cent turn out to be psychotic. About 80 per cent of the addicts belonged to nuclear families and 20 per cent to joint families. Those who were hooked to opiates, smack, capsules and injections loose the taste of alcohol, he added. Dr Jalota urged
non-governmental organisations to come forward to rid
society from the evils of drug addiction. |
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Cheema made PYC vice-president AMRITSAR, Nov 15 — Mr Manish Tewari, President Indian Youth Congress has appointed Mr Amardeep Singh Cheema as vice-president of the Punjab Youth Congress on the recommendation of Mr Devinder Singh Babbu, president Punjab Youth Congress. Mr Cheema a senior Youth Congress leader hailing from Gurdaspur district is a progressive young farmer widely travelled abroad in the UK the USA, Canada, Germany, Holland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and interacted with the youth organisations and learning new techniques in agriculture sector from farmers and large cooperative farms. A computer engineer by profession with good academic record has left lucrative jobs in the USA and came back to India to help marginal farmers in organising large cooperative farming of floriculture and seed processing with modern techniques having good returns as compared to conventional farming. He belongs to a family
of freedom fighters. |
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Kewal Singh seeks Badal’s
mediation AMRITSAR, Nov 15 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Punjab, and president Shiromani Akali Dal, Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht and Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar Damdama Sahib held a closed-door meeting at the residence of Akal Takht Jathedar here today. They reportedly discussed the issue of the registration of a criminal case for dowry-death against Giani Kewal Singh, his son and a relative at Talwandi Sabo police station. According to sources, Mr Badal was asked to prevail upon Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC chief for not seeking resignation of Giani Kewal Singh in wake on case registered against him. Giani Kewal Singh reportedly asked Mr Badal that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had not yet declared him guilty in connection with the suicide of his daughter-in-law. Bibi Jagir Kaur had stated that Giani Kewal Singh would be asked to quit as Jathedar in wake of registration of a criminal case against him on the direction of Punjab and Haryana High Court for maintaining dignity of the Takht. Meanwhile, in a written press statement, here today, Giani Kewal Singh denied that he had refused to quit as Jathedar as reported by a news agency today. He said the news agency had distorted his version. He, however, said that he had no lust for any post and hold the SGPC in high esteem. On the other hand, Mr
Jasbir Singh Ghuman, general secretary, Sarb Hind
Shiromani Akali Dal, has asked Giani Kewal Singh to
resign immediately for upholding the dignity of the
institution of Takhts. Mr Gurcharan Singh Walia, a former
general secretary the SAD, however, said that Giani Kewal
Singh should not quit as Jathedar as he was not declared
guilty by any court. |
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Immigration ‘racket’:
legal opinion sought BATHINDA, Nov 15 — The district police has sought the opinion of the Assistant District Attorney (ADA) for registering a case against unscrupulous agents involved in immigration from Punjab to foreign countries through illegal means in lieu of money on the basis of a complaint by Mr Rajinder Kumar, a local resident. Mr Harnek Singh Sran, SSP, to whom the application of Mr Rajinder Kumar has been forwarded by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.R. Ladhar, said a case would be registered when the ADA would give his opinion. Mr Rajinder Kumar, who returned to India after spending six months in Italy and various jails of Kiev, capital of Ukraine, had alleged in the complaint that Paramjit Singh Pamma, his mother and sisters belonging to Fatehgarh Sahib district along with other travel agents were indulging in sending Punjabis to foreign countries in lieu of money through illegal means. He alleged that he paid Rs 3 lakh to Pamma, his mother and sisters in his house in presence of his parents and friends in May 1999 for going to Italy. He stated that Pamma had promised that he would arrange four years’ of stay for him in Italy after taking him there by air. The complainant alleged that he along with others, was first taken to Moscow by Pamma and another agent, Tajinder Singh Gullu. After a few months, they were taken to Kiev illegally. After reaching the Ukraine-Solvakia border, the agents asked them to jump over the live fencing wire. When they refused to do that, they were left in a forest. He said that they were arrested by the border police of Kiev. The police torture them they were forced to drink their own urine. They were kept hungry for days together. He alleged that after returning to India, when he approached the mother and sisters of Pamma, they threatened to kill him and refused to return his money. He also appealed to the
authorities to take steps to save lives of Punjabis being
tortured in Kiev jail. |
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Royal turban turns out to be
‘sarpech’ PATIALA, Nov 15 — The royal turban of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh which was reported to have been sold at an Indian jewellery auction held by Christie’s at London was actually a turban ornament called the ‘Patiala sarpech’. Though the Wall Street Journal had given an article on the issue under the headline, ‘Turban legend’, it was picked up by an agency and referred to as a royal turban. This fact was confirmed after TNS procured the article from the Wall Street Journal. The ‘sarpech’ is an ornament studded with diamonds, emeralds and rubies, besides having enamel work, which is tied with threads on both sides horizontally in the middle of the turban. It has an inverted plume embellishment in the centre on top of which a plume was placed. According to the Wall Street Journal, two doves carved from single emeralds rest on either side of the central figure with carved rubies and emeralds used throughout. The reverse side of the ‘sarpech’ is covered by elaborate enamel floral designs which are visible only to the wearer "and perhaps his dresser". It has called this "a privately appreciated lavishness". The article says a plume was placed atop the ‘sarpech’ to create a bird-of-paradise effect which afforded the wearer a "regal yet coquettish air". The article says though turban ornaments were not always created using the finest quality stones, they were known for the intricacy of their craftsmanship. The ‘sarpech" followed the tradition of the Moghul era as it was heavily influenced by the ornate Islamic style. The ‘sarpech’ was auctioned by Christie’s on October 6. The article gives an account of how Maharaja Bhupinder Singh ascended the Patiala throne at the age of eight in 1900. He came to be known for his opulent lifestyle as well as his architectural projects. The article, which has a picture of the ‘sarpech’, also has one of the Maharaja wearing it. The ‘sarpech’ was apparently worn only on special occasions. As the quality of the picture in the Wall Street Journal was not good, it could not be ascertained whether the same ‘sarpech’ was shown on the cover of K. Natwar Singh’s book, "The magnificent maharaja — the life and times of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala". On the cover of the book, the Maharaja is shown wearing a ‘sarpech’ along with rows of rubies and precious gems on his turban. Apparently,
‘sarpeches’ were popular with the Patiala
royalty who have always been staunch Sikhs. A visit to
the local art gallery revealed that a similar
‘sarpech’ was also worn by erstwhile Maharaja
Mohinder Singh. |
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75 officials found absent BATHINDA, Nov 15 — As many as 75 officials were found absent from duty when the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ajaib Singh Bhatti, SDM, Bathinda, Mr Gurtej Singh and SDM, Talwandi Sabo, Mr Krishan Chander raided various offices today morning on the direction of Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.R. Ladhar. According to details submitted to the Deputy Commissioner by these officers, the officials who were found absent included Executive Engineer of Mandi Board, Bathinda Mr Gurinder Singh Chahal, Sub-Divisional Officer of same department, Mr A.K. Singla and Sub-Divisional Engineer, Panchayati Raj, Talwandi Sabo, Mr Satish Kumar. Apart from it, the other senior officers, who were found absent included, Mr Kuljit Singh, Horticulture Development Officer, Talwandi Sabo, Mr Walati Ram, Range Officer, Forest, Mr Sat Pal Rahi and Mr Sant Singh, Inspectors, District Food and Supply Control Department. The report said that 13 officials were found absent in the Market Committee, Bathinda office alone, 12 in the office of Animal Husbandry Department, Bathinda, 11 in the local Tehsil office and nine in the local District Food and Supply Controller office. All raids were made in these offices after 9 a.m. The 13 employees were found absent in the Market Committee office at 10.35 a.m. Mr Ladhar said that
heads of the departments concerned had been asked to call
a written explanation of those officials found absent
today. He added that district administration would ensure
that government employees did not indulge in absenteeism. |
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Gill: make police computer
savvy PHILLAUR, Nov 15 — Mr K.P.S. Gill, former Director General of Police, Punjab, has stressed upon the need for a technological revolution in police forces for better surveillance. Mr Gill was talking to mediapersons here today after inaugurating a six-day national level vertical interaction course for the IPS officers on "Strategic Management of Human Resources". He said only a computer savvy police provided with the latest equipment could deal with growing crime rate. It would also make policing effective by almost 90 per cent. Replying to a query, Mr Gill said there was a need for greater autonomy at the district level as it would enable the officers to make judicious use of funds in their respective districts. Earlier, while talking to the participants, the former DGP stressed on the need for effective manpower planning and deployment. Citing an example of Ludhiana during the peak of terrorism, he recalled that after one terrorist organisation had reportedly sold off the region to another for Rs 60 crore a spate in terrorist activity was anticipated. Instead of increasing
the number of patrol vehicles, forces were deployed in a
way that round-the-clock surveillance could be carried
out in all areas, he added. |
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Spurious woollen fabric seized,
two arrested AMRITSAR, Nov 15 — The police here arrested two persons in connection with the manufacturing and sale of spurious Raymonds woollen fabric. The police nabbed Gopi Nath and Rakesh Kumar of Shastri market on the written complaint of Mr Ramesh Bhardwaj, a senior officer of Raymond Woollen Mills and local Textile Commissioner alleging that a firm named as G.N. Traders were indulging in the sale of duplicate suiting with fake stamped Raymonds premium woollen fabrics thus duping innocent buyers. Acting on their complaint, the police raided the residence of Gopi Nath and recovered 1700 metres of woollen fabrics worth over Rs 2 lakh. It is reliably learnt that actually over 7000 metres were lying in different godowns but the police seized only a small fraction as the alleged kingpin in manufacturing duplicate cloth had managed to transfer the stocks to safe places. The police had however, made raids at number of places in the city but could not find more material. Meanwhile, both Gopi Nath and Rakesh Kumar were remanded in police custody for two days to secure recovery of more material. The police had registered a case under various sections of cheating forgery and under Copyright and Trade Mark Acts. The city had become
notorious for fake and duplicate suitings and other
fabrics. Last year also the police recovered such
material and arrested number of persons. |
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Campus violence on the rise PATIALA, Nov 15 — Incidents of violence and student unrest are increasing day by day on the campus of the local Government Mohindra College, a premier education institution of the region. Hardly a week passes when one or other incident of violence involving various groups of students is not reported. Today tension prevailed in the college due to a scuffle between two groups. According to college sources, on Friday students observed strike when a teacher of the Department of Physical Education thrashed a student. A group of students did not support the strike call which led to skirmishes. Today’s fight was a sequel to the last week’s violence. Prof M.M. Singh, officiating Principal of the college, dismissed the incidents as "minor ones." Police sources in the Division no 2 police post said violence seemed to have become an inseparable part of the institution. Last month an arm of a youth was injured seriously in an incident. A couple of weeks ago students of the college had a tiff with an Assistant Sub-Inspector. The sources said the
police could maintain vigil only at the entry points of
the college. It was the duty of the college authorities
to maintain discipline inside the college premises. |
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MCs’ rift has ‘hit’
development work FEROZEPORE, Nov 15 — The SAD (B) MP from this parliamentary constituency, Mr Zora Singh Mann, has admitted that "infighting" among the local SAD-BJP combine municipal councillors was responsible for the suspension of the development works in this border town. Addressing the annual convocation of the School of Nursing of the local Anil Baghi Hospital yesterday, he said that due to this reason development funds worth Rs 20 lakh, which were released by the Punjab Government, were about to lapse. He asked the residents to make efforts at their own level to get these funds utilised for development of their town if their elected representatives (MCs) were unable to serve them. If the residents were able to do this, he too would allocate funds worth Rs 20 lakh out of his discretionary quota, he added. Replying to the allegation that none of the MPs elected from Ferozepore had done anything for the development of the constituency, Mr Mann said the reason was that a majority of his predecessors were outsiders. Regarding reopening of the Ferozepore border, the MP said this demand could not be met at present due to strained relations with Pakistan after the Kargil conflict. Efforts were on to start the Punjab Mail from Fazilka instead of from Ferozepore. Besides, Mr Mann claimed, he was also trying to get a rail track laid between Fazilka and Abohar. About the merger of nearly 150 villages of the Dharamkot area in this district with Moga district, Mr Mann said that these villages had been excluded from the Ferozepore district keeping in view the demand of the villagers concerned. He, however, assured that no other area of the district would be cut in the future. Mr Mann announced a
grant of Rs 2 lakh from the MP’s fund for Anil Baghi
Hospital and gave away prizes to outstanding nursing
students. Among those who spoke was Mr Satya Pal Baghi,
President, Anil Baghi Charitable Society. |
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Teachers oppose poll work FATEHGARH SAHIB, Nov 15 — Primary school teachers of the district today held a rally in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum protesting against assigning them the work of the revision of electoral rolls. All teachers of the district were called by the local SDM-cum-Returning Officer to collect the material. The teachers protested why were they involved in every activity. Mr Hardev Singh Gill, President, the DTF and the Mr Santokh Singh said that all primary schools of the district were closed today and they had been called here. They said every type of work be it polio drops camps, literacy campaign, census campaign or any other work they were assigned the work. Now it is for the first time that they had been assigned the work of revising electoral rolls. Earlier the patwaris used to do this job. They demanded that no other work except of education should be assigned to them particularly during these days when examinations were approaching. They said in most of the Primary schools of the district there was only one teacher and many posts were lying vacant. Whenever any job is assigned they have to close the school, which causes loss of studies of students, resulting in poor results and they are punished for that. The Deputy Commissioner assured the deputation that it would be ensured that during examination days they were not assigned any other job. The Naib Tehsildar
Election told that on the instructions of the Election
Commission that a teacher be appointed on every polling
booth, they have been asked to do the job. He said last
year also the teachers were assigned the job. |
||
Recruitment rally from Nov 19 JALANDHAR, Nov 15 — The Army will organise a recruitment rally from November 19 to 28 at War Hero stadium in Sangrur. The recruitment of the general duty soldiers (GD) and technicians, were for the candidates, residing in Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana and Roopnagar districts. Candidates should be
between 16 and 21 years of age for general duty soldiers
post and 16 to 23 years of age for technical categories
and should have passed the matriculation examination. |
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4 sentenced to 7
years’ RI SANGRUR, Nov 15 — The Additional Sessions Judge, Patiala, Mr Inderjit Kaushik, has sentenced four persons to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 under Section 306 of the IPC for abetting the suicide of Kiran Bala. They are Kiran’s husband Charanjit, father-in-law Om Parkash, mother-in-law Leela Devi and a relative, Ramesh Kumar. They would further have to undergo three months’ rigorous imprisonment in case of default in the payment of fine. Kiran, daughter of
Lajpat Rai of Sangrur, was married to Charanjit on May
10, 1987. She committed suicide on September 20, 1995,
because of harassment by her in-laws for dowry. |
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Loan scheme for scavengers AMRITSAR, Nov 15 — Mr Dewan Sahotra, Assistant Manager, National Safai Karamchari Finance and Development Corporation (SKFDC), said the Centre had chalked out an ambitious plan to make scavengers self-reliant. Addressing more than 300 safai workers here today, Mr Sahotra said the corporation would provide Rs 5 lakh to each scavenger at the rate of 4 per cent per annum for opening their own units. He said the scavengers in other states had already taken benefits from this scheme. He said the corporation was committed to promote economic development activities of scavengers. Among those who spoke on
the occasion included Mr S.C. Sarkar. Mr Ravinder Kumar
Billa and Mr Subash Mehra. |
||
3 shops gutted FAZILKA, Nov 15 — Three shops in Sarafaa Bazaar, near Clock Tower, were gutted in a fire which broke out early morning today as a result of electric short circuit. The shops of M/s Surjit Singh Satinder Kumar, M/s Ashok Kumar Subhash Chander and M/s Om Parkash Goldsmith were damaged in the fire. It is reported that more
than 70 per cent of goods of karyana stores were reduced
to ashes. Fire-engines took more than three hours to
control the fire. |
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RMPs submit memorandum to DC GURDASPUR, Nov 15 — More than 2,000 registered medical practitioners from Punjab participated in a state-level dharna here today in protest against the registration of cases against practitioners. They demanded withdrawal
of cases registered against them. They burnt the effigies
of Dr R.K. Sharma and Dr Varinder Kumar who had filed a
petition in the Panjab and Haryana High Court demanding
ban on their medical practice. |
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NGOs should strive to
‘remove’ social tension PATIALA, Nov 15 — The NGOs and social organisations should not only concentrate on providing humanitarian aid but should also strive to remove social tension. These views were expressed here today while talking to mediapersons by Mr Earnest Cummings, coordinator of the local capacities for peace project (LCPP) launched jointly by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to take preventive action against tension prevailing in society. Deputy Commissioner and
District Red Cross chief Jasbir Singh Bir said the Red
Cross had launched a programme in which volunteers whould
liaise with the project coordinator to eradicate various
social evils. |
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Servant loots gold, cash LUDHIANA, Nov 15 — A Bihari servant working in a household in the posh Model Town area fled after stealing 500 gm of gold and Rs 1 lakh in cash from the house yesterday. According to information available from police sources, Jagmohan Singh and his wife had gone to visit some relatives when the servant, Raju, stole the cash and jewellery from their almirah. After some time, Jagmohan Singh’s son and daughter-in-law too left the house. Raju had already hidden the loot by then and fled on his bicycle. In another case, vigilance officials have arrested Dr Inderjit Bagga, Medical Surgeon, Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 500 from a person, Raj Kumar, allegedly for preparing his medico-legal report. A case has been registered. In a separate incident,
the police has arrested two persons — Paramjit
Singh, alias Pamma, and Jasbir Singh, alias Sirra, under
Section 411 of the IPC. It is learnt that the two were
involved in stealing vehicles and selling them. |
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Plant poplar saplings: DC ROPAR, Nov 15 — Soil Conservation Department will construct small check dams in the Kandi areas of Ropar district to provide water facilities to farmers for irrigation purposes. This was stated by Mr G.S. Grewal, Deputy Commissioner, while presiding over a district-level seminar organised in connection with national soil resources conservation week at Khizrabad village, about 25 kilometres from here, today. Mr Grewal said about 40 water harvesting dams had already been constructed in the district. These dams had made 2000 hectares barren land cultivable by providing irrigation facilities. He also appealed to farmers to plant a large number of saplings especially poplar, in the Kandi area to prevent soil erosion. Mr Ram Ji Lal, Chief
Conservator of Soils, Punjab, gave information regarding
soil conservation programmes in the Kandi areas. |
||
Insurance staff hold rally PATIALA, Nov 15 — Members of the National Federation of Insurance Field Workers held a rally here today in protest against the dictatorial attitude of the LIC management towards all class of development officers. The rally was part of a
nationwide rally and among the prominent leaders who
addressed the rally was Mr Hardeep Singh, Divisional
President of the Chandigarh division. |
||
Case against scribe, brother KHANNA, Nov 15 — A case of kidnapping has been registered by the local police against Sunil Sharma, a reporter of Punjab Kesri, and his brother, Ravi Sharma, a Youth Congress leader, on the complaint of Manjit Kaur, wife of a Dalit mason, Harjit Singh. Manjit Kaur has alleged that the duo owed Rs 70,000 to her husband for the construction of a house. They allegedly called him for the payment from his house on the night of November 9 and took him away along with his scooter. She alleged that either her husband has been held captive or has been eliminated. The police has
registered a case under Section 364/34, of the IPC. |
||
Two held for stealing car JALANDHAR, Nov 15 — The Jalandhar police has arrested two persons for stealing a car. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said here today that a case under Sections 328 and 379, IPC, was registered at police station Nurmahal on a statement by Gurmej Singh, driver of a Maruti car (PCJ-46). The complainant stated that he was using his car as a taxi and two persons came to him at the taxi stand near Ravi Dass Chowk here and hired the Maruti car for going to Rurka village. After reaching Goraya they asked the driver to join them for drinks and said that they want to take the car to Nurmahal and would pay him extra money. Some pills were allegedly put into the driver’s drink and later the three went to Nurmahal. During the journey the driver lost consciousness and woke up at Pasla village without the car. Mr Yadav said inspector Tarlochan Singh, SHO, at police station Nurmahal arrested the two accused persons on November 8. The arrested are
Dharmender Kumar and Rajinder Singh, alias Bittu. Bittu
was earlier arrested in a murder case but was later
acquitted. The accused have been produced before the
judicial magistrate and remanded to police custody. |
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