Thursday, November 25, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Thursday, November 25, 1999 |
weather  spotlighttoday's calendar |
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5 held in
irrigation scam Speakers at Nankana Sahib flay
SGPC |
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Calendar
controversy takes new turn Free Sikh youths in jails: Tohra ‘‘Need for more
microsurgeons’’ SAD to take up all pending issues Temple project to restart, says
Jagir Kaur Yogi’s move on Panthic unity Inter-state group to fight
militancy University celebrates foundation
day Bitta opposes mercy plea Row over use of ‘Shri’
with Brigadier’s name Another case against
‘rapist’ |
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5 held in irrigation scam GIDDERBAHA, Nov 24 — Five officials of the Bathinda canal division of the Irrigation Department, namely, Mr G.S. Sidhu, Executive Engineer, Mr G.S. Bains, SDO, Mr Hakam Singh Bhattal, Mr Daljit Singh Tangra and Mr Kaka Singh Chahal, junior engineers, have been arrested by the district police for allegedly indulging in fraud, forgery and embezzlement of government funds to the tune of crores of rupees. The officials were arrested late last night following the registration of two criminal cases against them at Gidderbaha and Lambi police stations under Sections 406, 409, 420, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC. Mr Hardeep Singh Dhillon, DIG, Ferozepore Range, said at a press conference here today that during preliminary investigation entrusted to him by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, following an inquiry by the ADC (D), Bathinda, Mr Alok Shekhar, evidence establishing the investment of the officials was detected. He added that Mr Badal had asked him to register a case and conduct a thorough probe so that any official involved in the scam could be punished. Mr Shekhar was asked to conduct the inquiry by the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Mr S.R. Ladhar, when Mr Tirath Singh Brar, Extra Assistant Engineer, Bathinda canal division lodged a complaint regarding bungling by these officials in various irrigation works. Mr Badal ordered the registration of a case and the arrest of the officials. Mr Tirath Singh Brar, in his complaint, had alleged that the five officials had embezzled crores of rupees by making bogus payments, bogus estimates and floating bogus tenders. He also alleged that the officials had made payments to contractors for works which were never executed. On the complaint of Mr Brar, Mr Shekhar, conducted an inquiry and found that the officials had embezzled more than Rs 2.5 crore in the past two years. The DIG said four police officials, including Mr Jaspal Singh Dhanoa, SP (D), Ferozepore, Mr Balkar Sidhu, SP (D), Muktsar, Mr Nachhatar Singh, DSP, Zeera and Mr Ashok Baath, DSP, Gidderbaha, were investigating different aspects of the alleged embezzlement. He added that the third case against the five officials would be registered in Bathinda district and a request to the DIG, Faridkot, would be made. He added that the police would put up different challans for offences allegedly committed by them. He disclosed that the police would investigate the case in a scientific manner by videography, still photography, soil-testing, recording villagers’ statements and making a chemical analysis of various works done by the officials. He pointed out that so far, Mr Brar had not sought police protection and added that it would be given whenever he demanded it. He disclosed that the
police would not spare any contractor found involved in
the scam. Any other official of the Irrigation
Department, found to be involved in the scam, would also
be taken to task. |
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Speakers at Nankana Sahib flay
SGPC AMRITSAR, Nov 24 — The speakers, including activists of the Babbar Khalsa, International Sikh Youth Federation, World Sikh Federation and the Dal Khalsa, who addressed the congregation at the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara (district Shekhupura in Pakistan) to mark the Gurpurb yesterday, condemned the SGPC decision of not sending the jatha of 3000 Sikhs to Pakistan. According to reports reaching here besides jathas from Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikhs from England, the USA, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore also reached the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara. Pro-Khalistan banners were also put up at the gurdwara. Pro-Khalistani literature was also distributed among the devotees. All arrangements for devotees, including langar, were made by the newly formed Pakistan Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee, headed by a former ISI chief, Mr Jawed Nasir. The other important speakers were: Avtar Singh Sanghera of the Babbar Khalsa (from England), Sukhwinder Singh of the ISYF (Rode group), Gurdip Singh Pardesi of the Dal Khalsa (Germany), Manmohan Singh Bajaj of the World Sikh Federation (England) and Sham Singh, PGPC co-chairman and Mastan Singh, Ram Singh (all PGPC members). The speakers reportedly took exception to the statement of Bibi Jagir Kaur in which she had claimed that there should be an overall control of the SGPC on Sikh shrines in Pakistan. They said the SGPC had no locus standi to control the Sikh shrines in Pakistan as it (Pakistan) was a sovereign country. They appreciated that Pakistan was the first Muslim country to form a body for maintaining Sikh gurdwaras. Mr Sham Singh reportedly rejected the SGPC demand of disbanding the PGPC. He said after the formation of the PGPC, gurdwaras in Pakistan had a "better management". They called upon the Indian Sikhs to send jathas on their own so that Gurpurbs could be celebrated in a "befitting manner". The speakers reportedly
celebrated "the victory of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann
and defeat of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal in the recently-held
Lok Sabha elections. |
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Calendar controversy takes new
turn AMRITSAR, Nov 24 — The controversy regarding "Nanakshahi" calendar today took a fresh turn when Mr S.S. Ahluwalia, President, Sri Harmandir Patna Sahib Committee, (one of the five takhts) said it would publish a separate calendar if the SGPC insisted on implementing the "Nanakshahi" calendar. The implementation of the calendar has already triggered off a controversy between the SGPC and Akal Takht as the latter has banned its implementation till a consensus is reached among the Sikh scholars and representatives of all Sikh institutions. Talking to The Tribune, Mr Ahluwalia alleged that the SGPC had adopted "Nanakshahi" calendar framed by a non-resident Sikh, Mr Pal Singh Purewal, under the influence of the "West". He said "it would create lot of confusion among the Sikhs all over the world if it would be implemented". In yet another statement, Mr Ahluwalia said Bhai Man Singh and Giani Hazoor Singh, Jathedars of Takht Shri Patna Sahib and Takht Shri Hazoor Sahib, were not being invited to the meetings of the Sikh high priests which was "undemocratic and against the very tenets of Sikhism". He said all five takhts were equal and the Guru had not defined the supremacy of any Takht". Elaborating on the "calendar controversy", Mr Ahluwalia said Sachkhand Hazoor Sahib (Nanded Sahib) had already published its own "jantri" (calendar) on the basis of the prevailing "Bikrami Samant". Mr Ahluwalia said while Bhai Man Singh was the senior most of the other three Jathedars, including Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Damdama Sahib, and Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Kesgarh Sahib. He added that the meetings of the five Sikh high priests should also be held at Takht Shri Patna Sahib and Takht Shri Hazoor Sahib to ensure the involvement of Sikhs of the other states also. Criticising the SGPC and
SAD for not taking the management committees of Patna and
Hazoor Sahib into confidence in connection with the
celebrations of the tercentenary of the birth of Khalsa
Panth, Mr Ahluwalia said such steps could alienate the
Sikhs living outside Punjab. He said the tercentenary
celebrations did not achieve the desired results. He also
criticised the Anandpur Sahib Foundation Committee on the
selection of Sikhs honoured at the time of tercentenary
celebrations. |
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Unruly scenes at SGPC meeting AMRITSAR, Nov 24 — Unruly scenes were witnessed at the SGPC Executive Committee meeting held in Guru Nanak Nivas here today when three members belonging to the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Akali Dal (SHSAD) and the Akali Dal (Amritsar) repeatedly interrupted the proceedings on various points. Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC chief, who presided over the meeting, directed Mr Balbir Singh Naushera Pannua, senior vice-president, to submit a report on the "conduct" of Giani Kewal Singh and Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedars of Takht Damdama Sahib and Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, respectively, at the earliest. A three-member committee headed by Mr Naushera Pannua was formed on February 10 to probe the charges against the two. The committee was formed when the then Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, was placed under suspension by the Executive Committee. Mr Gurbax Singh Purain, Mr Harbans Singh Manjpur and Mr Jagdhir Singh, belonging to the Akali Dal (Amritsar) and the SHSAD, made repeated attempts to get their note of dissent recorded. Bibi Jagir Kaur had a tough time pacifying the members. She said those members who were not present at the previous meeting could not get their notes of dissent recorded as per the bye laws of the SGPC. However, the members belonging, to the Tohra and Mann groups alleged that after taking over as the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, had recruited many employees in gross violation of the rules. They also alleged that a kin of Minister for Public Relations Sewa Singh Sekhwan was given admission in the SGPC-run dental college against the NRI quota by charging only Rs 1.30 lakh whereas the other students who got admission against the quota had to pay more than Rs 30 lakh. They also opposed the move to revert Mr Raghbir Singh, Additional Secretary of the SGPC. They claimed that since the case was sub Judice and Mr Raghbir Singh had already got a stay order from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he could not be reverted. However, the Executive passed the resolution reverting him. The opposition members also lodged a strong protest against the failure of the SGPC in safeguarding the interests of its members in so far as the imposition of a ban of donor seats in SGPC-run dental and medical colleges was concerned. They also opposed the expulsion of Mr Ram Singh Kular and Mr Jaswant Singh Neki from the Dharm Parchar Committee on "political grounds". While criticising the demolition of the office of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) in the SGPC complex, they said that an alternative building should be given to the party. However, the demand was categorically rejected. Mr Kewal Singh Badal and
Mr J.S. Fagguwal did not attend the meeting. |
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Free Sikh youths in jails:
Tohra PATIALA, Nov 24 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, today appealed to the BJP-led central government to free Sikh youth languishing in various jails of the country. In a statement here Mr Tohra said the detained Sikh youths should be pardoned and their sentences remitted to ensure the feeling of alienation which had crept up in their minds following Operation Bluestar in 1984 was removed. The SHSAD leader said the youths had been swayed by religious fervour following Operation Bluestar due to which they resorted to violence. He said now was the time to assuage the feelings of the Sikh community which had supported the BJP to take revenge on the Congress by granting pardon to the jailed youths. He said it was also unfortunate that the BJP had not tried to fulfil its responsibility on this aspect. He added that if even now the BJP did not take any concrete steps in this direction Sikhs would feel that the BJP was essaying an anti-Sikh role through political silence on the issue. "If this is so the hidden agenda of the BJP will be exposed", he added. He said the courts set up under the TADA law should be wounded up and sentences should run simultaneously and not separately as was being done at present. Mr Tohra appealed to
human rights organisations to come forward unitedly on
the issue so that the freeing of Sikh youths from jails
could be made a reality. |
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‘‘Need for more
microsurgeons’’ LUDHIANA, Nov 24 — Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd) today fulfilled one of his last public engagements in the state before he lays down office as the Governor of Punjab on Saturday. The Governor was the chief guest at the third National Conference of the Indian Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, hosted by the Christian Medical College and Hospital here. General Chhibber will be given a formal send-off at Punjab Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh on November 27. The new Governor, Lt-Gen J.F.K Jacob (retd), will be sworn in at the same day. General Chhibber was the author of Operation Rakshak-II and as Corps Commander at Jalandhar oversaw its execution during 1991-92. The operation was responsible in no small measure towards the control of terrorism in Punjab, paving the way for the holding of assembly elections in February, 1992, which brought the Beant Government to power. It was in recognition of his contribution towards Punjab’s return to normalcy after years of terrorism that he was appointed Security Adviser to the Punjab government after his retirement from the Army. After the death of Mr Surender Nath in a plane crash in Kulu, General Chhibber was elevated as the Governor of Punjab five years ago. He completed his five-year term on September 17, but was asked by the Government of India to continue in office till a successor was appointed after the parliamentary elections. In his remarks at the conference, General Chhibber said the age of 16, he had been trained as a soldier to kill, maim and wound the enemy whenever the enemy tried to harm the country or violate its borders. It was, therefore, ironic that at the end of his active life, he should have been invited to preside over the conference of doctors of mircrosurgery who gave a new life to patients by reattaching the limbs severed in accidents and war. "But I find that I am more happy to be here amongst the surgeons than I was there, killing the enemy...", he said with a laugh. During his stint as the Governor, General Chhibber had been accused of being involved in many a faux pax. Incidentally, his last public engagement here was also not without a faux pax, even though it was none of his fault. A wrong signal from a traffic policeman directed his motorcade to the venue of the conference although he was first scheduled to have a round of the nearby CMC and Hospital. The motorcade reached the venue of the conference only to find that there was no body to receive the Governor. In the meantime, the CMC authorities swung into action and escorted the Governor’s motorcade to the hospital where General Chhibber was shown certain patients who had undergone microsurgery. The Governor said the recent Kargil conflict had shown how important microsurgery had become now. In addition to nearly 500 soldiers who had died in the conflict, nearly 1000 had suffered injuries, requiring microsurgical attention. There was need to train more microsurgeons and to acquire the latest equipment for treating the victims of vehicular and mechanical accidents. He also had a word of praise for the microsurgery facilities available at the CMC and Hospital. Dr Abraham Thomas, President of the Indian Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, said during the past 16 years, the CMC had trained 36 microsurgeons who were providing excellent services in this field in renowned hospitals in India and abroad. The team of microsurgeons at the CMC had done 1200 replantations and 1100 microvascular free tissue transfers to repair traumatised tissues and treat chronic wounds. Dr G.S. Kalkat,
Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, said the
Engineering Department of the PAU was making allout
efforts to prepare new safety devices for agricultural
machinery and implements to minimise the chances of farm
accidents. |
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SAD to take up all pending
issues AMRITSAR, Nov 24 — Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Minister of Works and Estates and Secretary-General, SAD, has said his party will take up all pending issues of Punjab, including the transfer of Chandigarh and other left-out Punjabi speaking areas into Punjab, fair adjudication of inter-state waters and more autonomy to the states, with the Prime Minister at the earliest. The announcement of Mr Dhindsa comes in the wake of the statement of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD), who had threatened to launch a statewide peaceful agitation for the acceptance of pending Punjab issues from the beginning of the next millennium. Mr Dhindsa, who came here to pay his obeisance at the Golden Temple after taking oath as central minister, while talking to the press has said that his party will endeavour for an amicable solution of all pending issues of Punjab. Mr Dhindsa was presented "Siropa" (robe of honour) by Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC. Mr Dhindsa said he would
take up the issue of the formation of the Pakistan
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PGPC), headed by a former
ISI chief, with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari
Vajpayee. He said he would request Mr Vajpayee to take up
the issue of disbanding of the PGPC with General
Musharraf, Chief Executive, Pakistan. He alleged that
anti-India propaganda was being launched at the behest of
the PGPC which needed to be curbed. Mr Dhindsa said he
would urge the central government to give liberal
financial aid as it was facing un-precedented financial
crunch. |
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Temple project to restart, says AMRITSAR, Nov 24 — The SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, today announced that the Golden Temple Galliara (corridor) project would be soon restarted. Talking to newsmen here today Bibi Jagir Kaur pointed out that she had already taken up the matter with the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Badal had assured her that the remaining two phases of the Galliara scheme would soon be undertaken. The Chief Minister had assured that there would not be any constraint of funds for the project. Bibi Jagir Kaur said she had directed the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, the project director of the scheme, to start the work in right earnest. She emphasised that the SGPC would extend its cooperation in the completion of the Galliara project. The project had been kept in abeyance after the completion of two phases three years ago. A wrangle in the implementation agency — Municipal Corporation — had led to the suspension of the project. The Galliara project was
undertaken after the Bluestar Operation in 1984 to create
a corridor around the Golden Temple complex. This had led
to the displacement of thousand of shopkeepers and
residents from the area. The project also got stalled due
to the SGPC objection to the project design. |
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Yogi’s move on Panthic unity AMRITSAR, Nov 24 — A fresh attempt to forge complete Panthic unity, especially between the Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra, have been launched at the behest of Mr Harbhajan Singh Yogi a Sikh preacher. Talking to The Tribune reporter here today the Sikh preacher, said during his recent meeting with Mr Tohra and Mr Badal, separately, both had given positive indications to sink their differences in the larger interest of the Panth and such attempts would send positive signals to the rank and file of the party. Mr Yogi added that Mr Tohra had confided that the had only made a mere suggestion that the SAD President, Mr Badal, should consider appointing a working president so that he could devote more time to give good governance but his advice was twisted which led to his ouster. He claimed that Mr Badal as the supreme leader of the Akali party had accepted his suggestion to bring about a rapprochement among all groups and show magnanimity to forgive and forget in developments of the past. Mr Yogi felt that the unity with Mr Tohra at this juncture would help Mr Badal to run his government smoothly and with more vigour. He pointed that the he had discussions with both leaders and had apprised them of the situation which had sent confusing signals throughout the world. The divided Panth too was responsible for their almost complete rout in the recent parliamentary elections, he added. Answering questions about Mr Tohra’s pre-condition for talks with Mr Badal, Mr Yogi asserted that the former SGPC president had not indicated any such suggestion and felt that no sacrifice was bigger than the Panthic unity at this moment. Talking about the acceptance of Giani Puran Singh as the Jathedar, Akal Takht, by the Tohra group, he added that the Jathedar had offered "ardas" during the SGPC president’s election during the month where Mr Tohra was himself present. He suggested that both groups should avoid getting embroiled in the trivial technicalities and rise above the party politics to lead the party which had come to power after tremendous struggle and sacrifices. Mr Yogi felt that the
issue of Mr Badal to present himself before the Akal
Takht seeking penance was meaningless. He added that the
SAD chief had already called on the Giani Puran Singh.
The international Sikh preacher questioned the wisdom of
the SGPC to stop the practice of giving
"siropa" along with "parshad" at the
sanctum sanctorum. He felt the SGPC should reconsider the
issue and allow the distribution as large number of
devotees wish to carry the same with them to their homes
as sacred "parshad". |
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Inter-state group to fight
militancy GURDASPUR, Nov 24 — Mr J.P. Birdi, IGP, Border Range, said here today that the core group comprising SSPs of Gurdaspur in Punjab, Kathua Jammu and Kashmir and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh had been constituted to meet at definite intervals every month to exchange information regarding terrorist activities and devise means to fight terrorism from across the border. This was decided at a meeting of an inter-state coordination committee held at Pathankot today which was attended by IG Jammu, DIG, Jammu, SSP, Kathua, DIG, Border Range, SSP, Gurdaspur, SSPs of Chamba and Kangra from Himachal Pradesh and other prominent officers from the intelligence agencies. Some railway officials were also present. Mr Birdi said the ISI of Pakistan during the coming winters would try to open up borders of Kathua and Jammu instead of Rajouri and Poonch to send infiltrators from across the border to start terrorist activities in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Mr Birdi said all border barriers including Madhopur in Punjab would have additional security. Gaps in border fencing in Punjab would be removed with better security measure and observation posts to check infiltration from across the border. Those present at the
meeting exchanged inter-state border information. |
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University celebrates foundation
day AMRITSAR, Nov 24 — There is only one medicine in the world that is the philosophy of Guru Nanak which gives peace, prosperity, humanity and salvation. These remarks were made by Mr S.S. Ahluwalia, former Union Minister, while delivering his presidential address at the 13th foundation day celebrations which here held today at Guru Nanak auditorium of the university. Mr Harbhajan Singh Yogi in his speech stressed that one who was dedicated to "gurmantar", could be called a complete man. He called upon the common man to adopt the philosophy of Guru Nanak to get rid of all problems in this materialistic world. Mr Yogi emphasised on simple living and high thinking as enshrined in gurbani. Prof S. Rinpoche, Director of Central Institute of Higher Tibetian Studies, Varanasi, in his lecture stated that Guru Nanak had given a direction to the world for religious harmony and co-existence. He said since then the cooperation and coordination among various religious followers had notably increased in the country. Prof Rinpoche stressed that the religious unit required today was more than ever before keeping in view the tensions, conflicts, jealousy and other problems facing the common man. Dr Darshan Singh, Sikh scholar and Professor of Guru Nanak Studies of Panjab University, Chandigarh, spoke on educational development in Guru Nanak’s "Bani". He termed "Assa di var" and ‘Maj di Var’ as historical documents. Earlier Dr Harbhajan Singh Soch, Vice-Chancellor, while welcoming the learned speakers of the day said Guru Nank Dev University had made many strides in various fields in the past and reiterated its commitment to serve the society. The Vice-Chancellor told the gathering that the university had displayed more than 1000 coins at the exhibition held at Bhai Gurdas Library from the regime of Mohenjodaro to the Sikh times. He thanked Mr S.S. Ahluwalia, who assured him to send photostat copies of all "hukamnamas" and "birs" which were now lying at Patna Sahib for Guru Nanak Heritage Centre being established by the university. He appealed to everybody, who had something concerning the heritage, that they should contribute for the centre. Dr Soch honoured Mr Ahluwalia, Mr Yogi, Dr Darshan Singh, Prof Rinpoche, Mr GPS Sahi, by presenting each of them a set of university publications. Four new publications — "Grandeur of the Khalsa" and Education: New Horizon" both by Dr Inder Pal Singh, "Maharaja Dalip Singh and Government edited by Surjit Singh Jit and "Guru Nanak di Vadayee" by Dr Inder Pal Singh were released on the occasion. Earlier Mr GPS Sahi, Principal Secretary of Higher Education, Punjab, inaugurated an exhibition of rare books, manuscripts, coins, paintings, portraits, photographs showing the development of the university during the past 30 years. The APJ College of Fine
Arts, Jalandhar, also contributed towards this exhibition
by presenting rare works. An exhibitional women’s
hockey match was also played the hockey ground. |
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Bitta opposes mercy plea AMRITSAR, Nov 24 — The Chairman of the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF), Mr M.S. Bitta, has urged the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, not to show any mercy to Nalini, sentenced to death for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Addressing a news conference here today, Mr Bitta said Ms Sonia Gandhi’s request to the President to commute the death sentence of Nalini was a gesture borne out of compassion. The former IYC president reminded the President that no clemency was granted to the assassins of Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi. There were no special reason to show mercy to the killers of Rajiv Gandhi. During his short stint in politics, Rajiv Gandhi had become an international celebrity, ready to take the nation into the next millennium before his dreams were cut short by the dastardly act of the LTTE. World opinion, said the former Youth Congress leaders, should have precedence over Ms Sonia Gandhi or her children’s views conveyed privately to the President. He gave a call to those Congressmen to join him in supporting his viewpoint, who were raising slogans like "Soniaji hum sharminda hain Rajiv ke katil zinda hain". "The nation appreciates that the Congress President has not tried to take any political mileage out of this appeal in so far as she has quietly conveyed it to the President without giving an inkling of it even to her close political aides," he said. Expressing his apprehensions, Mr Bitta said acceding to Ms Sonia Gandhi’s request would amount to an encouragement to criminals and militant outfits who would spread their networks by engaging suicide squads for the purposes of getting "vibrant political personalities liquidated." Mr Bitta condemned Mrs Mohini Giri, former chairperson of the National Commission for Women, who broke the news about Ms Sonia Gandhi’s appeal to the President to strengthen her newly floated non-government organisation (NGO), Guild of Service. Campaigning for the abolition of capital punishment by politicising and exploiting Ms Sonia Gandhi’s sentiments. Mr Bitta urged Ms Sonia Gandhi to provide all help and protection to Nalini’s daughter through the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. But if there were some constraints or difficulties the AIATF would adopt the innocent girl and ensure her upbringing in a befitting manner. Mr Bitta reiterated that nothing should be done by the President which might give a blow to the efforts of the AIATF to counter terrorist forces, including the LTTE. A separate memorandum in this regard was being submitted to the President by the AIATF, he added. In reply to a question, Mr Bitta urged the authorities to give exemplary punishment to officials of the BSF (Intelligence) for their failure to detect a tunnel on the Indo-Pak border. He said this was the biggest failure after the Kargil episode. Answering another
question, Mr Bitta demanded a ban on the publication of
books relating to the secrecy of the country being
published by retired bureaucrats. He said the Central
government should enact legislation to ban such books so
that foreign powers could not take advantage of those. |
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Row over use of
‘Shri’ with FEROZEPORE, Nov 24 — The local Cantonment Board authorities have objected to "Shri" being prefixed with the name of their President, a serving Brigadier, by the Sub Divisional Magistrate in a communication seeking implementation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court order on traffic regulatory measures. In a letter sent to the SDM, Mr D.P.S. Kharbanda, on November 22, the Cantonment Board Executive Officer, Mr N.S. Reddy has lodged a protest over the board President being addressed to as "Shri". Mr Reddy has asked the SDM that whenever he writes a letter to their President, he should address him as Brigadier and not as "Shri", which is "derogatory" to the rank and status of the officer. Terming the use of the prefix "Shri" as embarrassing, Mr Reddy said the board President had taken serious note of the letter wherein "you have shown dis-respect". The SDM had invited the Cantonment Board President to a meeting to chalk out ways to implement the court orders for traffic regulatory measures in the cantonment. However, this communication sparked off a row. Besides, Mr Reddy added, the Cantonment Board being an autonomous body" under the Ministry of Defence was not answerable to the district administration. On the other hand, the district administration maintains that the board may invite contempt proceedings for not implementing the court directive. Dismissing this, Mr Reddy said the Cantonment Board was taking care of traffic norms in the Army-controlled areas on its own. "We are not accountable to the Civil authorities", he said. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, said that the cantonment needed immediate attention from the traffic safety point of view. Referring to the Army-civil authorities’ row, he said. "The Executive Officer in this case is trying to create a wedge between Caesar and Antony like Cleopatra". The SDM admitted having
received a communication objecting to the use of prefix
"Shri" with the Brigadier’s name and said
that he had all regard for defence personnel. He,
however, warned of contempt proceedings, if the
Cantonment Board refuses to attend the review meetings. |
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Naib Subedar cremated HOSHIARPUR, Nov 24 — Naib Subedar Swinder Singh of 5 Sikh Light Infantry who was killed in a mine blast near Gundowal of Doda sector in Jammu and Kashmir on November 22, were consigned to flames with full military honour at his native village, Bhatpur Jattan, of the district today. He is survived by his wife, one daughter two sons and his mother. Mr Iqbal Singh, Deputy
Commissioner, on behalf of the Punjab Government, Mr R.P.
Mittal, SSP, on behalf of the Punjab police, Col Vivek
Ananta Kishan, Commanding Officer, 12 Sikh Light Infantry
on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Col Hardev
Kaler, Lt P.K. Rai and Mr J.M. Sud, Army officers and
many others placed wreaths on the body of the martyr. |
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Another case against
‘rapist’ LUDHIANA, Nov 24 — Baljinder Singh, the main accused in a abduction and rape case and a relative of state Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh Badal has been booked in another case of cheating and fraud under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC. According to an FIR registered in the Model Town police station, the complainant, Mr Satbir Paul Singh, a resident of MIG flats at Dugri and a neighbour of Baljinder has alleged that Baljinder Singh had robbed him of Rs 1 lakh on the pretext of getting him a bus permit courtesy his connections with the family of the Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh Badal. Baljinder Singh is a brother-in-law of the minister's son, Suba Singh. Both Baljinder Singh and Suba Singh had been accused of kidnapping and raping a girl for a month. While Suba Singh had surrendered before the police and was later granted bail. Baljinder Singh is still at large. The FIR registered here
yesterday further states that Baljinder Singh had been
illegally occupying the MIG flat. |
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Punjab for more share in
central tax PATIALA, Nov 24 — The Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, said today that the state had appealed to the 11th Finance Commission to enhance the state’s share in the tax collected by the Centre. Talking to mediapersons after the inauguration of a rice mill financed by the Khadi Board at Mavikalan village in Samana sub-division Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the state had recommended that the central tax be shared equally with the states. He added that the
Finance Commission had been briefed that the state was to
get 29 per cent of the central tax according to the 10th
Finance Commission, |
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Kikar trees being sold
illegally MOGA, Nov 24— Some unscrupulous persons, allegedly in collusion with officials of the Forest Department, have started cutting kikar trees indiscriminately in the district and selling them in the open market, according to reports available here. Kikar trees, valued at crores, along canal banks and road sides had dried up due to a mysterious disease during the current financial year. Experts of Punjab Agriculture University have not yet been able to identify the disease. The drying up of the trees has caused considerable loss to the government. According to another
report, several neem trees are also reported to have
dried up in this district due to this disease. |
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Have soft policy on RMPs :
Parneet PATIALA, Nov 24 —Mrs Parneet Kaur, MP from the local Lok Sabha constituency, yesterday urged the state government to adopt a soft policy towards the registered medical practitioners (RMP's). In a press statement, she said she had surveyed the rural areas in the past few days and found that the RMPs were the backbone of the rural health service in the absence of proper medical care provided by the government. Under these circumstances, she said it was unfair on the part of the government to book the RMP's under the anti-quackery law. Mrs Parneet Kaur
suggested that the government should give training to the
RMP's so that they could become fully equipped to render
proper medical care. |
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Kanungo, patwari held KAPURTHALA, Nov 24
— Vigilance officials on Tuesday arrested Kulwinder
Singh, a circle Kanungo, Begowal, and Balkar Singh, a
patwari of Begowal for accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000
from Surinder Singh, a resident of Begowal village. |
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