Friday, October 8, 1999
|
P U N J A B | |
Friday, October 8, 1999 |
weather  spotlighttoday's calendar |
 |
||
|
Barnala
let down by hometown Tohra to support move to replace
Badal |
 |
|
||||||||||
|
Infighting
led to defeat: Kanwaljit
Capt Amarinder Singh wins proxy
battle Varsity constitutes college
council
Amarinder takes up cudgels for
poor Badal hints at broader ministry
Cong men take out victory march Victory of justice, says Mann Tur grateful to Kairon family Victory march by Congress PAU forum seeks timely payment Punjabi play staged |
||||||||||||
 |
||||
Barnala let down by hometown PATIALA, Oct 7 — It is not the victory of Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann which is the talk of the town. It is the defeat of Akali Dal (Badal) senior leader Surjit Singh Barnala which is being talked about. Residents, however, have a "told you so attitude" while referring to it. This is because Mr Barnala has been let down by residents of his hometown who preferred to side with Mr Mann and give him a lead of 17,567 votes in this Assembly segment of Sangrur constituency. A resurgent Simranjit Singh Mann, who has managed to become third time lucky in his contests with Mr Barnala, probably understood the importance of Mr Barnala when he took out a victory procession in the city today morning. While earlier also Mr Barnala has not fared very well in Barnala. This time he has lost with a much larger margin. The trend had started becoming clear with regard to his hometown much before the polls with people not inclined to vote for him. Traders were particularly unhappy saying they would rather not vote than support Mr Barnala. However in the last days they turned to Mr Mann as he was able to win them over in his new avtaar of a pacifist and one who stood for Hindu-Sikh unity. Though Mr Barnala tried to turn the tide by holding a number of small meetings in Barnala town. It did not have the required effect with people unhappy over shifting of the bus stand and other local issues. It is because of this that people of the town feel it is not Mr Barnala who has lost but Mr Mann who has won by pleading for a chance to serve them. Local leaders while not willing to come on record feel Mr Barnala cannot lay the blame for his defeat on his detractors in the Akali Dal (Badal). They say though a legislator Malkiat Singh Kitu had revolted against him along with other leaders. The margin of defeat indicated that there was a definite undercurrent of opposition to him. The fact that Mr Barnala barely pipped CPM candidate Ajit Singh to the second position indicated the downslide in voting in his favour. Mr Barnala could only win convincingly in Nihalsinghwala and lost the Malerkotla and Dhanaula segments to even Ajit Singh. Mr Mann on the other hand led convincingly by 23,314 votes from Malerkotla, by 17,914 votes from Sherpur, by 15,079 votes from Bhadaur, 11,638 votes from Sangrur and 7,042 votes from Dirba. While Mr Barnala left for Delhi late in the evening yesterday. Mr Mann took out a victory procession in Barnala which was well attended. Mr Mann was taken around the main Bazaar in an open jeep which was preceded by scooters and persons performing bhangra. His wife also accompanied him. Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Mr Mann said the victory was a reward to his constant service to society. When asked about his new pacifist role, he said he was working according to the wishes of the sangat. He said earlier also he had done as the sangat told him to do. The Amritsar Dal leader said attempts had been made to tarnish his reputation by holding him responsible for encouraging terrorism. He said this was farther from truth and that he stood for Hindu-Sikh bhaichara. He said he had always stood up for the Hindus and had he been a supporter of terrorism, all sections of society including Hindus Sikhs and Muslims would not have voted for him. Mr Mann said he would
now concentrate on the development of Sangrur
constituency and ensure that grants given for the
constituency were not misused. He also will not have any
condition for entering Parliament, he said when asked if
‘kirpan’ would again be made an issue. |
||
Tohra to support move to
replace Badal CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 — The president of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, today made it clear that he would support a move initiated by anyone to replace Mr Parkash Singh Badal as Chief Minister within the legislative wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Answering a specific question that there are reports about certain leaders becoming active within the legislative wing of the SAD to replace Mr Badal as Chief Minister, Mr Tohra said he was not an MLA of the Punjab Assembly but his party would extend full support for replacing Mr Badal. Mr Tohra has the support of at least 10 MLAs in the legislative wing of the SAD and five of them remained ministers in the Badal Cabinet. They had resigned following differences between Mr Tohra and Mr Badal on certain key political and Panthic issues. Reports are doing the rounds in the political and bureaucratic circles that certain leaders within the SAD have become active against Mr Badal and have held meetings in the past a few days. Asked that what sort of relationship his party would maintain with the Central Government expected to be led by the BJP, Mr Tohra said his party would press the Centre to solve all pending issues pertaining to Punjab and pull the state of the financial crisis. Holding squarely, Mr Badal and his alleged non-Akali advisers responsible for the defeat of the SAD in Punjab, Mr Tohra said he had requested the Chief Minister many times with folded hands to avoid "Congressisation" of the SAD and care for party workers, but he did not listen. Mr Badal had handed over the administration of Punjab to his family and the media had highlighted all this. There was scope for unification in the Panthic parties if Mr Badal resigned from the presidentship of the SAD. He had failed on every front and could not be accepted as the leader of the party. Other conditions for a compromise would be to reappoint Bhai Ranjit Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht and seeking of forgiveness by Mr Badal by appearing before Akal Takht as regards violation of the 'hukamnama issued by Takht. The clash with Mr Badal was not personal. The Chief Minister was asked to follow certain Panthic principles, he said and added that he was only for the replacement of the leader of the SAD not for the dismissal or removal of the SAD-led government in Punjab. "My party is building its cadre in the state, and soon 11-member jathas will be set up in the state which will mobilise people against Mr Badal." Mr Tohra claimed that
within a year the SHSAD would be able to play a
meaningful role in Punjab's political affairs. |
||
Bent on cutting club poll
costs ABOHAR: If the Election Commission of India can succeed in curtailing expenses for the Lok Sabha and Assembly, why can’t voluntary organisations like the Lions Club do the same. This argument comes from Mr Balbir Kumar who had been fighting to bring austerity in the election of the District Governor or Vice-Governor for several years but lost hopes recently for bringing any reforms. With 15 years standing as a member of Lions Clubs, a teetotaller and vegetarian, Mr Balbir Kumar was declared best secretary at the region, district and multiple level. He was declared best president and won many state and international awards for excellence and service doing his duties in different capacities. He also heads the Income Tax Gazetted Services Association, (Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, J and K). In a letter circulated to 150 Lions Clubs of the District 321 F, Mr Balbir Kumar regretted that even when the new Lions year was yet to start, the clubs had started receiving communications from incoming candidates for 2000. Wasteful expenditure was incurred by candidates for many years except when there was unanimity. In addition to the qualifications fixed by Lions International for the post of Vice-Governor and District Governor, the candidates needed a lot of money to canvass at clubs, issue circulars, entertainment, boarding and lodging arrangements of the delegates and even payment of dues of some clubs supporting them. This has put many candidates in economic crisis and some of them had not even now come out of that but the leaders had not learnt any lesson. Many talked of reforms but none could enforce the same. He was pained to point out that most fellow Lions had left the movement due to such a situation. They had concluded that there was nothing in Lionism except the ugly show of wealth by contestants. Now the time had come to bring reforms to attract quality members and to elect "real" leaders who were primarily concerned with service to the humanity. Mr Balbir Kumar made some suggestions after conducting a survey among Lions. He suggested that a limit should be fixed for incurring expenditure on elections and observers should be appointed for examining the expenditure. No candidate be allowed to host dinner or breakfast to influence voters. The eatables should be arranged by the District Governor at the annual conference. Arrangements for stay of the delegates be made through a sub-committee appointed by the District Governor. Payment must be made by the clubs. The district administration should not make free lodging and boarding arrangement for former District Governors at the annual conference. Previously lakhs of rupees were spent on this account. This money contributed by the members could be saved for needy and poor persons. Only Governors from other districts should be honoured and treated as guests. Mr Balbir Kumar said the former District Governors were treated as permanent guides and members of the District Governors’ advisory committee but they had unfortunately split themselves into different groups and encouraged factionalism. The organisation wedded to service of the society was looking like a political playfield. Reforms were urgently needed in such a situation, otherwise prospective candidates would be ruined after the next election. It is pertinent to
mention that four candidates had so far started their
election campaign in a big way. Mr Kumar who had been
asked by many Lions Clubs to take the initiative to cut
wasteful expenditure. |
||
Infighting led to defeat: Kanwaljit FATEHGARH SAHIB, Oct 7 — The State Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, has admitted that the government suffered a jolt in the Lok Sabha elections due to rampant corruption in the administration, factionalism within the party and unnecessary harassment of traders by private octroi contractors. Talking to newspersons here today, he said people had expressed their resentment over the style of functioning of the government and it was not a vote in favour of the Congress. He said the people and even party workers were annoyed with the working of the bureaucracy since the officials had no accountability towards the public. He said the Congress, which had been badly defeated elsewhere, got only negative votes in the state. Answering a query about the demand of Capt Amarinder Singh, President, PPCC that Mr Parkash Singh Badal should resign he said Capt Amrinder Singh would also seek the resignation of Mrs Sonia Gandhi under whose leadership the Congress had been rejected? ‘‘Our’s is a regional party and the Congress is a national party. If she tenders her resignation, we can also think,’’ he said. While refusing that the Tohra faction was one of the reasons for the party’s defeat, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the people had rejected it. He refuted all speculations in the media about change of leadership in Punjab and the meetings being organised by Ravi Inder Singh on the issue and said the entire party was behind Mr Badal and there was no danger to his leadership. On free electricity and water to farmers, he said these issues could be one of the reasons for the defeat and would be discussed in the Cabinet following which a decision would be taken. Later, Capt Kanwaljit
Singh distributed prizes to the winners of the Punjab
State School Games held at the local senior secondary
school. |
||
Badal spent Rs 20 cr to buy
votes: Brar AMRITSAR, Oct 7 — Congress candidate Jagmeet Singh Brar from Faridkot parliamentary constituency describing his victory over the Union Minister of State for Industries and son of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as the Waterloo of the corrupt Badal family. Mr Brar who was speaking to reporters here after winning the seat said it was the humble man of Punjab who had defeated the political and powerful might of the Punjab Chief Minister who had pooled all his government resources to indulge in sophisticated rigging which had no parallel in the annals of Indian democracy. Mr Brar alleged that Mr Badal and his family had spent more than Rs 20 crore to buy votes and use coercion on poor villagers and intimidated the Congress leaders and workers. His win was to give crushing blow to its ugly acts of naked display of power. The giant killer pointed that the edifice of the power Mr Badal’s Akali party had been brought down by the weight of corruption of his family which had drained the state and its people. Answering questions about the coming days about the change in Akali politics after the Congress sweep in the state Mr Brar said that "Major political upheaval" was expected in Akali leadership in very near future. He criticised the blatant misuse of official machinery and the involvement of top ranking IAS and IPS officers in the polling campaign had brought down the administration to the lowest ever level which he claimed had never happened in Punjab. He described the use of government might to indulge in rigging but the commonman proved that no power on earth could buy them. Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar expressed deep anguish over bankruptcy in the state which he blamed was due to the wrong fiscal policies of the Badal government. He said that today Punjab was in debt trap with the state owing Rs 24000 crore which makes the state with highest per capita debt in the country. While the state suffered but the Badal family became "rich". Mr Brar felt that PPCC chief Captain Amarinder Singh and all Punjab Congress MPs would prepare comprehensive financial blueprint to save the state from sliding down. Further, he would personally lobby for more funds and development projects to pull the state out from the present morass. The Congress would seek a CBI inquiry into the crores of rupees which were pumped into the prestigious Faridkot constituency meant for the development of the area. He regretted that Badal should step down from chief ministership. He had lost in his own village, tehsil and town and had no moral right to remain in the chair of the CM of the state. Commenting on the effect of Akali party split, he said that although, the division in the Akali vote bank had helped him but it was resurgence of the Congress under the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Capt Amarinder Singh which had made his victory possible. Talking about his development project which he plans to take up Mr Brar felt that the urgent need was for providing sanitation facilities in all villages of the state which had remained neglected. Earlier, Mr Brar visited
the Golden Temple, Durgiana temple and laid wreaths at
the martyrs memorial at Jallianwala Bagh. He was accorded
rousing reception as his convoy reached the city. |
||
Capt Amarinder Singh wins
proxy battle PATIALA, Oct 7 — In a battle of captains and an old patriarch in Patiala parliamentary constituency Punjab Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh seems to have emerged winner albeit through his wife. Capt Amarinder’s wife Parneet Kaur defeated beat Mr Surjit Singh Rakhra of the Akali Dal (Badal) whose campaign was managed by Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh and Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra who is the protege of All-India Shiromani Akali Dal president Gurcharan Singh Tohra. With the victory Capt Amarinder Singh’s stock in the area has become a reality at the cost of the two others. While Capt Kanwaljit Singh could not even assure the victory of the Akali Dal (Badal) candidate from his assembly segment of Banur. Mr Tohra suffered a shock with his candidate losing security deposit. Mrs Parneet Kaur was able to win without the support of senior party leaders. With this Capt Amarinder’s hold on the party will be better as most of the PPCC dissidents hail from this constituency. As Mrs Parneet Kaur won convincingly without active help of the dissidents reduces the latter’s bargaining power in the party. The lead taken by Mrs Parneet Kaur in all constituencies except Shutrana has also lifted the morale of Congress leaders who earlier were charged with only having influence in urban areas particularly Patiala. The fact that she could take this lead with the help of second rung leaders at some places indicates that these newly sprung up leaders may threaten the veterans who did not take active interest in the polls. As regards the Akali Dal (Badal), the polls have proved that Capt Kanwaljit Singh cannot carry the party in the constituency all by himself. It also exposed the void left by the division in the party. The Dal Badal had very little time to consolidate its position after a division in the district jatha. Though successful in roping in important leaders to the party and ensuring large scale desertions from the Tohra camp. They were not successful in finishing off the AISAD candidate who secured 89,000 votes. Confidence of the Badal Dal rested on the fact that Sikhs would vote for only one Akali Dal due to which reason Mr Tohra would draw a blank in this constituency. This theory failed in this constituency with old age loyalties ensuring sufficient votes for Mr Chandumajra to defeat Badal Dal candidate. For Mr Tohra, election
proved unlucky as he failed in his announced goal of
defeating the Badal Dal candidate. Mr Tohra had all along
claimed that the Badal Dal candidate would lose to his
protege and that the election would be a referendum on
the popularity of the Badal government. Though the Akali
Dal (Badal) did lose. |
||
Badal vows introspection CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 — The Shiromani Akali Dal President and Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today accepted the verdict of the people in the Lok Sabha elections with "humility and dignified democratic grace", promising "sincere introspection and immediate remedial steps" to serve the people. In four-page statement, backed by a press conference, Mr Badal said there were several factors which caused the debacle of the SAD-BJP combine in the state. He referred to the dubious role of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who, he alleged, had connived with Congress, as one of the factors. If the Congress and the Left have won a few extra seats with the open support of Mr Tohra there was nothing to feel proud of since sensing rout and extinction from the political map of Punjab, Mr Tohra and his followers openly asked the people to vote against the SAD-BJP alliance and in favour of the Congress and the Left. Targeting Mr Tohra, he continued to say that people had finally thrown Mr Tohra and his "opportunistic ideology" into the dustbin of history. His (Mr Tohra) party was in complete wilderness, and Mr Tohra, in fact, owed an explanation to the people of Punjab for helping the Congress, which was responsible for Operation Bluestar, Delhi riots and a large number of atrocities against Punjabis. In the same breath, Badal ridiculed the demand of the PPCC President, Capt Amarinder Singh, asking him to resign. Such a demand is a "hasty opportunism". Should not Capt Amarinder Singh make a similar demand on the Chief Ministers of the states ruled by the Congress, where the party had been wiped out? Take Delhi, Rajasthan, Orissa, Goa etc. "Why those states’ chief ministers should not be asked first to stepdown?" Mr Badal said to take stock of the situation and review the causes and effect of the Lok Sabha poll he had called a meeting of the party’s district presidents in Chandigarh on October 9. This will be followed by a meeting of the party’s Political Affairs Committee here on October 11 and, thereafter, a meeting of the working committee, legislative party and, so on. At the press conference, Mr Badal was asked a barrage of questions on "factors" which led to defeat, "dynastic" rule and if he had received complaints of party men working against official candidates. The import of the defeat suffered by the SAD-BJP alliance was reflected in his replies and the way he handled the questions. He stuck to his old concept and theory that Punjab had always gained from non-Congress governments when in power in Delhi and that the SAD had done more for the state in two years than what the Congress could do in 20 years. He also reiterated that the peoples’ expectations were high. All those may not have been fulfilled; the government fell short of them. Nevertheless, a renewed effort will be made to serve the people". On supply of free power to the farm sector and other policies and on the criticism of financial mess with money being spent in the Faridkot Lok Sabha constituency etc, Mr Badal in his characteristic style maintained that the party meetings would discuss all the issues. He strongly defended the spendings in Faridkot due to water logging and counter questioned newsmen if what they said was true how come the Akali candidate there lost. He also defended that political families members had to be actively involved and there was nothing wrong. Mr Badal congratulated
the country on reposing faith in Mr Vajpayee and the NDA
would be better placed to serve the country. "We are
entering into an era of cooperative federalism, which is
so necessary for the all-round and balanced development
of the country", he added. |
||
Varsity constitutes college
council AMRITSAR, Oct 7 — Dr Harbhajan Singh Soch, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University on the guidelines of the University Grants Commission has constituted a College Development Council for better coordination and to solve the problems of the affiliated colleges of the university. The Vice-Chancellor and the Dean, College Development Council, will be chairman and convener of the council, respectively. According to Dr SP Singh, Dean, College Development Council, university teachers, principals, lecturers and educationists will be included in this council. He said apart from this presidents of managing committees of private colleges, principal Dr Gupta, DAV college managing committee and Director, Colleges, Dr H.S. Sidhu, President Teachers Association, Mr Rajmohinder Singh Vice-President Khalsa College Managing Committee. Mr Balbir Singh President Lyallpur Khalsa College Managing Committee will also be included. Dr S.P. Singh said other members of the council will be senator of the university. Principal Inderjit Singh of Guru Nanak College Phagwara, Principal Jagdish Singh of S.S.S.S. College, Principal Mohinder Singh of Khalsa College, Amritsar. Among the college lectures Mrs Paramjit Kaur Pasricha from Government College for Women, Amritsar, Mr V.K. Sharma from DAV College, Amritsar, Mr Sukhwant Singh Gill from Government College, Gurdaspur, and Mr Manohar Singh from Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, has also been included in the council. According to Dr S.P. Singh, among principals who are included in the council are Mr M.L. Aeri, Mr Subhash Kumar, Ms Inderjit Kaur and Mr S.S. Chatha. He said Dr Inderpal
Singh, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Dr Satinder Singh Dean,
Academic Affairs, Dr H S Deol, DPI, Colleges, and
university professors Dr M.S Hundal. Dr N.S Tung, Dr S.K.
Bhatt and Mr B.R. Batra are also included in the list. |
||
Amarinder takes up cudgels for
poor CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress President, Capt Amarinder Singh, said here today that if the state government could not afford to give subsidies to various sections of society it should review its decision. He said he was of the view that subsidies and other financial benefits like free power, etc., should be given across the board to all sections of society and not to a particular person or a community. He would like the poor, toiling to make both ends meet, get time the benefit of free power if the government could afford to do so. The PCC chief said his party was not for tackling financial crisis in a piece-meal way. the state’s financial problem should be solved as a whole. The PPCC had already set up a committee under a former IAS officer, Mr R.R. Bhardwaj, and it was examining critically all aspects of Punjab’s economy. After the preparation of the report by the committee, the party would come out with its financial agenda. Opposing the hike in diesel price, he said it would hit all sectors, including agriculture and industry. Calling for a roll back in diesel prices, Capt Amarinder Singh said the hike would lead to inflation. Thanking the people of state and his party activists for the resounding victory of his party in the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh said he would soon apprise the party leadership in Delhi of the activities of dissidents in the Lok Sabha poll. Capt Amarinder Singh said his party would not involve itself in any manner in the internal squabble of the SAD. "My party will not support any hue of blue (Akalis)," he asserted. He demanded the
withdrawal of criminal cases registered against his party
activists in Ferozepore district. "There were 33
criminal cases and all these should be withdrawn."
He came down heavily on the SSP, Ferozepore, for
allegedly playing the SAD’s game in that district. |
||
Dengue death toll rises to six FATEHGARH SAHIB, Oct 7 — The death toll allegedly due to dengue fever in the district has risen to six. Earlier two children had died and when the news item on this appeared in The Tribune the Civil Surgeon had denied that there was any dengue fever case in the district. The disease has spread in Defera and its adjoining 10 villages. A survey conducted by the Health Department reported that 78 persons of these 10 villages are suffering from the fever. The latest casualties were reported in Talania village the native village of Simranjit Singh Mann where two daughters of Harbans Singh had died — Sonu five and Annu (seven) one Ramandeep (four) daughter of Major Singh in Defera village Mandeep Kaur (eight), daughter of Swaranjit Singh, Kulwinder Kaur (six) daughter of Bhupinder Singh and Kulwinder Kaur seven, daughter of Gurmail Singh were the victims. When this correspondent visited villages the multipurpose health workers were taking the samples of the blood of the villagers. Mr Rajinder Singh, Sanitary Inspector, said five teams of these workers were conducting survey in affected villages. The blood samples at children below 10 years had been taken as the fever was more prevalent in the children below 10 years. All deceased were female children, he added. However, Dr C.P. Bansal, Civil Surgeon again denied that these deaths were due to dengue and said they were suffering from encephalitis. He said fogging machines have been put into service and efforts were being made to catch the pigs in the area which caused the disease. Our correspondent from Ludhiana adds that even as the number of dengue cases in the city continued to increase, an expert team from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases arrived in the city today. The team today visited areas such as Shivpuri, Basti Jodhewal, and Subhash Nagar, from where most dengue cases had been reported and collected adult mosquito and larva and also blood sample for virus identification. There have been 47 suspected dengue cases in the CMC. Ten confirmed and three suspected cases in DMC and one confirmed case each in Bhagwan Ram Charitable Hospital and Mohan Dai Oswal Hospital, were reported in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Health
Officer, Municipal Corporation, Dr P.S. Brar, informed
that fogging was being carried out in the city and around
50 inspectors of the corporation were visiting door to
door to educate people about taking remedial measures. |
||
Badal hints at broader
ministry CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 — The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today hinted that the Punjab Council of Ministers will be expanded after the formation of a national government in Delhi. He told a press conference that there could be change of portfolios as well but refused to say how many would be inducted into the Cabinet. Likewise, on action against those SAD MLAs siding with Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, he said the case was before the party’s Disciplinary Committee. Besides the party Secretary-General, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, the Punjab Advocate-General, Mr Hardev Singh Mattewal, was also present. At one stage finding the
Chief Minister in a tight spot, his officers stood up to
hint that the conference was all over, they bailed out
their Chief Minister. |
||
Cong men take out victory
march HOSHIARPUR, Oct 7 — A victory procession of Mr Charanjit Singh Channi, the newly elected Congress MP from the Hoshiarpur Parliamentary constituency, who defeated Mr Kamal Chaudhry of the BJP by 34,106 votes, was taken out though the main bazaars of the city today. Thousands of his supporters and party workers joined the procession. A drummer was engaged for "bhangra" and "ladoos" were offered to all present. Earlier, Mr Channi
pointed out that water scarcity problem the residents of
the villages, particularly in the Kandia area were
facing. He said the district was lacking behind in the
industrial sector and promised to ensure its all-round
development. |
||
Victory of justice, says Mann FATEHGARH SAHIB, Oct 7 — Thousands of people and workers of the SAD (A) today visited the residence of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann at his native village Talania 2 km from here. There were jubilation and celebrations. Mr Iqbal Singh Tiwana an official spokesman of the party said that it was victory of justice and truth in the fight against violence and evils. He said this victory would affect political scenario in the state. The victory would also strengthen the Hindu-Sikh unity and problems of the state now would be raised in Parliament effectively. He thanked the voters of Sangrur. He said Mr Mann along
with his supporters would go to Amritsar to pay obeisance
at Akal Takht tomorrow. |
||
Tur grateful to Kairon
family TARN TARAN, Oct 7 — Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur who has won the Tarn Taran seat on the Shiromani Akali Dal ticket has said that the credit of his victory goes to Kairon family" including daughter and son-in-law of Mr Parkash Singh Badal Chief Minister who worked day and night and campaigned. Talking to The Tribune
Mr Tur said that Ms Parneet Kaur, daughter of Mr Badal
and her husband Mr Adesh Partap Singh Kairon MLA from
Patti worked hard for him Ms Parneet Kaur was an aspirant
for the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha ticket. However Mr Badal
denied ticket to her and announced the candidature of Mr
Tur who belongs to the Panthic family of the Majha
region. |
||
PAU forum seeks timely
payment LUDHIANA, Oct 7 — The Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) Employees Welfare Forum has urged the authorities to make arrangements for the timely payment of salaries to the employees and warned against the step-motherly treatment being meted out to the non-teaching staff of the university. At a meeting of the forum held here yesterday, members took a serious note of the non-payment of salaries in time for the past six months and the non-payment of salaries for the month of September. Mr S.P.Gupta, Secretary
of the forum, said the members also expressed resentment
over the non-acceptance of certain demands, like the
implementation of the G-4 pattern of the other
universities in the state from January, 1986, restoration
of the secretariat pattern of pay scales for the
ministerial staff and drivers and regularisation of the
63 days' strike period, as done in the case of teachers. |
||
Victory march by Congress JALANDHAR, Oct 7 — The Congress took out a victory procession, today starting from Congress Bhavan, to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The newly elected MP, Mr Balbir Singh, in his address expressed gratitude to the electorate. He said dissidents in the party which had worked against the party interests would face disciplinary action soon. Prominent Congress
leaders present in the victory march, were, Mr Kanwaljit
Singh Lalli, Dr Lekh Raj Sharma, the CLP leader, Mr
Jagjit Singh, Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Mr Avtar Henry
and Mr Jai Kishan Saini. |
||
Punjabi play staged PATIALA, Oct 7 — A Punjabi musical play "Odak Sach Rahi" was presented by the National Theatre Arts Society on the occasion of the inauguration of Bhai Sahib Sardar Gurbax Singh Memorial Trust Auditorium at Majri Akalian, 8 km from here. The play was directed by Pran Sabharwal and Ms Sunita Sabharwal. The chief guest, Mr Narjinder Singh Sekhon, SP (HQ) inaugurated the auditorium building. He appealed to sarpanches and panches present there to organise more play to promote emotional integration. Capt R.S. Randhawa, ADC, stressed the importance of theatre for engaging the youth in constructive activities and in keeping them away from drugs. Artistes and prominent
persons, including sarpanches, were honoured. They
include Mr Jagtar Singh, Mr Gursewak Singh, former
Sarpanch, Majri Akalian, Prof Ashok Shahi, Mr Mohinder
Singh, Mr Tehal Singh, Subhash Patialvi, Ravi Grewal,
Nirmal Nimma, Arvind Modgil, Mohan Kamboj, Gopal Sharma
and Rakesh Thakur. |
||
11 arrested for gambling LUDHIANA, Oct 7 — The police has arrested 11 persons under Sections 13, 3 and 67 of the Gambling Act in two separate incidents. The police confiscated Rs 4, 53,000 from their possession. Vikas Kumar, Vijay Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar were arrested in the gambling case by the police station division number 6. Three persons — Amrit Kumar, Pritpal Singh and Gurdip Singh were arrested in connection with the second case of gambling. Five persons — Rakesh Kumar, Ravi Kumar, Amarjit Singh, Jaswant Singh, and Dharam Singh — were arrested by the Sarabha Nagar police for gambling on October 5. In another case, the
police has arrested Kailash and Gurmit for allegedly
stealing a scooter from Sahnewal on October 4. The stolen
scooter, with registration number PB-10-AG-4059 was also
recovered from them. |
||
Brother, sister die in mishap TARN TARAN, Oct 7 — Two scooter-borne persons, a brother and sister, were killed in a road accident here yesterday. According to information available, Harinder Singh (19) of Cheecha Bhakna village was going back to his village with his sister, Bhupinder Kaur (25), when near Kakka Kandiala village on the local byepass a private bus hit their scooter, killing them on the spot. A case has been
registered in the city police station. |
||
Additional charge CHANDIGARH,
Oct 7 — Mr Ramji Lal Jossiar, Conservator of Soils
(Headquarter), has assumed the additional charge of Chief
Conservator of Soils, Punjab, following the retirement of
Mr Manjit Singh Bains. |
||
Trains held up for 5 hours PHILLAUR, Oct 7 — Both up and down railway traffic between Doraha and Jalandhar Cantonment remained disrupted for five hours due to a technical problem and repairing in Ludhiana yard today. Railway sources said
here today that most of the passenger trains remained
held up at different stations. Sources said that down
line 6398 dn Malwa Express 2474 dn Superfast Express and
2498 dn Shan-e-Punjab Express remained detained at
Phillaur, Goraya and Phagwara railway stations
respectively. While 8397 up Malwa Express and 5207 up
Moori Express were detained at Sahnewal and
Dhandari-Kalan respectively, sources said that normal
traffic could be resumed at 5.40 p.m. |
||
Freedom fighter cremated LUDHIANA, Oct 7 — Veteran freedom fighter Dev Raj Seth (85) was cremated here today. He died yesterday. He was imprisoned during the Quit India Movement in 1942. Mr Seth is survived by
his wife and a son. |
||
Tribune correspondent passes
away MALERKOTLA, Oct 7 — Mr Devinder Goyal, Tribune correspondent here died of a heart attack today. He was 45. He leaves
behind his mother, wife and two sons. His cremation was
largely attended. |
||
GND varsity exam dates
changed AMRITSAR, Oct 7 — Guru Nanak Dev University has changed the dates for the B.Com part I (paper V: commerce theory and functional management) examination from October 15 to 22, due to administrative reasons, Dr R.S. Bawa, Registrar, said here today. Dr Bawa said the time and examination centres would remain the same. The examination of
BA/B.Sc part II examination, which were scheduled for
October 25, would be held on October 26 at the same time
and examination centre. |
||
 |
||
 |
| Nation
| Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
