Thursday, October 28, 1999
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Thursday, October 28, 1999 |
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SHSAD not to contest SGPC
chief's post JALANDHAR, Oct 27 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal Working Committee today decided it would not put up its party candidate for the SGPC chief's election scheduled for November 10. Orders withdrawn not under pressure: govt CHANDIGARH, Oct. 27 — While admitting that the orders empowering sub-divisional magistrates to check unauthorised vehicles, including buses, were issued and later withdrawn, the government maintained that there was no pressure from any quarter. The three-page clarification also denied that the government transferred Dr B. C. Gupta under any pressure as there was no difference of opinion between the Minister for Transport and the Transport Secretary. |
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Netaji probe panel draws
up plan ROPAR, Oct 27 — The All-India Netaji Probe Steering Committee has drawn up a national action plan to collect facts and documents relating to Netaji’s "disappearance" in 1945. Rs 3000 cr road, bridge
projects up for grabs
Terms
for unity ‘not acceptable’ No
forced conversions: Father Facelift
to crematorium Model
village project under way Inter-state
police panel reviews steps Hotel
owner booked for assaulting XEN ‘Shaheed
Udham Singh’ shooting ends Infantry
Day celebrated Brar
takes over as consumer body chief 2
die in accident Farmers
of 5 blocks get threshers Theatre
festival at Andretta begins Minister
hears complaints |
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SHSAD not to contest SGPC
chief's post JALANDHAR, Oct 27 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal Working Committee today decided it would not put up its party candidate for the SGPC chief's election scheduled for November 10. According to highly placed sources, this decision was taken by the Working Committee here today after deliberations on the issue for over two hours at Hotel Dolphin. The meeting, presided over by party President Gurcharan Singh Tohra, decided that since the party lacked in the requisite numbers to win the post of the SGPC President, it would not announce its candidature. However, if Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President, SAD (Amritsar), decided to put up a contest against the SAD nominee, the SHSAD would support him. In the 170-member house of the SGPC, Mr Tohra is said to have 40-45 loyalists. This is not enough to place his party in a winning position. Mr Tohra is now aiming at getting at least three members into the 15-member Executive Committee to ensure "enough nuisance" to stall major decisions. Mr Mann's party has five members in the SGPC general house which will elect the President on November 10. The Working Committee also deliberated on feelers being sent by Mr Parkash Singh Badal on a reconciliation between the two parties. It decided that the SAD President would have to offer a formula acceptable to the party. However, Mr Badal would have to tender an apology at Akal Takht for "flouting hukamnama" and accept Bhai Ranjit Singh as the Akal Takht Jathedar. Those who participated
were Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, Mr Suchha Singh
Chottepur, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, Mr Manjit Singh
Calcutta, Mr Surjan Singh Thakedar, Mr Jagdish Singh Gaba
and Mr Sarabjit Singh Variana. |
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Orders withdrawn not under
pressure: govt CHANDIGARH, Oct. 27 — While admitting that the orders empowering sub-divisional magistrates to check unauthorised vehicles, including buses, were issued and later withdrawn, the government maintained that there was no pressure from any quarter. The three-page clarification also denied that the government transferred Dr B. C. Gupta under any pressure as there was no difference of opinion between the Minister for Transport and the Transport Secretary. "It was a routine transfer". The Press note said the order was under operation from September 20 to October 14. In total till October 26 as many as 1228 buses were impounded for either plying on unauthorised routes or plying beyond the authorised routes. The Transport department collected Rs 30 lakh as compounding fee. Now only transport department officers were carrying on the work of checking , the government said. The orders were withdrawn after the government found it was not in the public interest to give such powers to SDMs and was against the smooth flow of traffic. The note said: "These powers were withdrawn on the basis of reliable feedback received that conferring of such powers to the SDMs discharging official duties in 71 subdivisions would not be in public interest and smooth flow of transport vehicles. Obviously, checking of vehicles at such a large number of spots would cause disruption in the smooth flow of traffic and could cause great harassment to the travelling public. Moreover, SDMs are discharging multifarious duties as Revenue Officers and as Officer-Incharge of all the developmental activities within the jurisdiction of their respective subdivisions. It was also felt that in view of the apparently small size of subdivisions in the state, conferment of these powers had resulted in the overlapping of jurisdiction and was causing a confusion. It was due to these cogent reasons that after due deliberations, a conscious decision was taken to withdraw these powers from the SDMs. It is normal practice that in order to improve tax collection the government carries out a number of experiments. The conferment of powers upon SDMs to check transport vehicles was one of such experiments. However, when it was found that this decision could lead to harassment of travelling public and disruption in the smooth flow of traffic due to large number of checking points without yielding any commensurating increase in the revenues, it was withdrawn in the best interest of public. TNS replies: The Punjab Government's denial confirmed the thrust of The Tribune story that the orders were issued and later withdrawn within 24 days. It has also admitted that 1229 buses plying in an unauthorised manner were impounded and Rs 30 lakh realised as compounding fee. But the government has given its own kind of reasons to withdraw the orders and the end of a good experiment so abruptly. The government now dismisses this as an experiment and not a reform. It also does not talk about the increased revenue earning by the two state transport companies. The note does not say that there was no lobby of transporters and powerful politicians. But claims that in this case it acted independently. Then what was the tearing hurry for the Chief Secretary to order the transport secretary at night from Delhi to withdraw the orders. Who had spoken to him? Verified facts from
impeccable sources which The Tribune story quoted assert
that these politicians cutting across party lines and
transporter and some officers worked hard to see that the
orders were withdrawn. |
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And now wooden crates scam CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has taken cognisance of the purchase of one lakh wooden crates by the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation (PSWC). On inspection almost the entire purchase was found to be sub-standard and the crates did not measure up to the specifications stipulated. The purchase is worth more than Rs 2 crore. While the new Managing Director of the warehousing corporation, Mr Karan A. Singh, has been asked to conduct a "thorough probe" into the crate scam, a preliminary enquiry by the corporation’s Deputy General Manager, Quality Control, and Manager, Vigilance, has established beyond doubt that all was not well with the purchase made in the procurement season recently for stacking paddy. The report of the Manager, Vigilance, indicts severely the purchase made by the PSWC during kharif-’99. All district managers have been cautioned against accepting sub-standard crates. Meanwhile, the outgoing Managing Director, Mr Gurnehal Singh Pirzada, had stopped payments due to the suppliers. He had proceeded against the officials involved. One of them stands transferred to Bathinda, where he is now to look after paddy milling; the officer in question is Mr Yash Paul, Manager, Stores. Mr Pirzada, it is learnt, had sent a detailed note on the purchase scandal to the Financial Commissioner, Development, My Y.S. Ratra, on October 20. The copies of the details were marked to the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. When contacted, Mr Ratra said he had discussed the matter with the Chief Minister, who has ordered a thorough enquiry and he had firmly said. "No one is to be spared". Informed sources in the government and the corporation, however, revealed that requirement for wooden crates was discussed with the district managers on September 15. Their demand totalled 134,042 crates. Due to shortage of time, the purchase was to be effected through suppliers who stand shortlisted by the Food Corporation of India. Thus one lakh crates were purchased at the rate of Rs 213 per crate, plus sales tax ex-factory at the said FCI rate contract. The rate quoted by the Punjab Agro-Industries Corporation (Rs 250) and the Punjab Forest Development Corporation (Rs 265) was found to be on the higher side. The first order of 50,000 crates was placed with 10 firms, each getting equal share of 5,000 crates on September 27. An additional order was placed on seven firms on October 7. These seven were shortlisted from a list of 10 which stand approved by the FCI in term of rate contract and specifications. For the second order firms which had completed delivery of the first order were selected. What led to the exposure of the scam of supply of sub-standard crates was an "anonymous call" to the former Managing Director, who, however, was not available for comments. Nevertheless, sources said it was his order of an enquiry by the Manager, Vigilance, which exposed the scandal. Sources did not rule out kickbacks in the deal which is worth over Rs 2 crore. Informed sourced revealed that the 10 firms which supplied the crates much below the specifications and of poor quality were located at Guru Harsahai, Jaitu, Kotkapura, Ferozepore and Ludhiana. The enquiry report says at the time of "super" inspection, the crates at almost all places were found already under use. For checking the quality stacks of goods had to be removed at several places. This checking was done at over a dozen-odd stations. The specifications laid down by the FCI were compared with the actual specifications of the crates received. In terms of size, weight and measurements all crates were found below specifications. Besides even nails were not properly fixed. These were also less in number. At some joints there were no nails. As regards the condition of the wood used for making these crates, the report says: "Wood used in the crates of all the firms is unseasoned, mostly kutcha, having cracks and knots". There was only a single coat of paint instead of two proper coats of "solignum paint". In respect of standard weight of a crate, against specified 40 kg each, the average ranged between 20 kg and 30 kg. The Manager, Vigilance, has taken note of the fact that variations were "abnormal" against prescribed ones. Only 75 per cent payment has been made and remaining 25 per cent has been "blocked", pending detailed enquiry and fixing of responsibility. The new Managing Director is now expected to examine these issues as well; whether a valid procedure was adopted while purchasing crates; whether the right procedure was followed while conducting test-check and if special inspection was done properly; and what was the standard of crates party-wise and what remedial action was required to safeguard the corporation's interests. Informed sources said
connivance of officials and politicians is not ruled out
in the crate scam because certain officials were well
connected, politically. They are stay put in the
corporation. |
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Netaji probe panel draws up
plan ROPAR, Oct 27 — The All-India Netaji Probe Steering Committee has drawn up a national action plan to collect facts and documents relating to Netaji’s "disappearance" in 1945. The commission has been appointed by the Government of India for the purpose of in depth inquiry into the "disappearance" and subsequent developments in the case. The government appointed the commission after followers and members of Netaji’s family expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the previous two inquiry commissions, namely Nawaz Khan committee and the Khosla commission of inquiry. Unfolding the action plan while talking to TNS here today Mr V.P. Saini, public relations and publicity secretary of the steering committee, said besides collecting facts and documents, the committee would work in the direction of guiding those who intended to appear before the commission. The steering committee would meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on November 10 to seek access to all classified documents related to Netaji and the Indian National Army (INA) lying in government archives. He would also be requested to write in this regard to governments of various countries like England, Holland, Russia, Germany, Japan, the USA, Taiwan, China, Mynamar, Ireland, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The committee had opened its offices at Calcutta and New Delhi to manage day-to-day affairs and provide easy access to all those who wanted to extend assistance to the committee by providing facts and documents. It had also set up its research wing headed by Dr Chitra Ghosh, a niece of Netaji who is a research scholar. Dr Purobi Roy, another scholar of international repute, would also work as members of the research wing. The committee had formed a legal cell under the chairmanship of Mr Sunil Gupta who was also associated with the Shah Nawaz Khan committee and the Khosla commission of inquiry. The cell would engage the services of learned counsels to ensure presentation of facts and documents in a proper manner before the commission. Mr Pradeep Bose, a nephew of Netaji, a journalist and a research scholar, had been appointed liaison officer for coordinating with governments, research scholars and investigating agencies of foreign countries to seek valuable information and documents related to Netaji. The committee had
decided to set up coordination committees in all states
to involve the masses in a big way and to provide them
information about the working of the commission. |
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Rs 3000 cr road, bridge
projects up for grabs CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Punjab has offered major road and bridge projects worth over Rs 3,000 crore for development through private investment. The PWD (B & R) has drawn up a time-bound plan for facilitating major investments from the private sector in the development of 12 key road and bridge projects. The projects offered for development through private investment are, four-laning of Chandigarh-Ludhiana-Moga highway, including bypasses to Morinda, Samrala and Ludhiana towns, four-laning of Ropar-Balachaur-Nawanshahr-Phagwara highway; four-laning of Zirakpur-Patiala-Sangrur highway, including bypasses to Patiala and Sangrur towns; a six-lane Expressway linking Chandigarh to Anandpur Sahib directly; major improvement of Khanna-Samrala-Machhiwara-Rahon-Nawanshahr-Garshankar road, including a railway-over-bridge at Khanna; and a high level bridge over the Sutlej; major improvement of Jagraon-Sidhwan-Nakodar road, including a high level bridge over the Sutlej, major improvement of Mukerian-Gurdaspur road including, a high-level bridge over the Beas and railway-over-bridges at Dera Bassi, Kurali and Ropar. All these projects are on the BoT policy basis, according to a government press note. The World Bank has cleared four-laning of the four major national highways in Punjab; four-laning of Chandigarh-Ambala, Chandigarh-Ropar-Kiratpur Sahib. Jalandhar-Pathankot and Jalandhar-Amritsar National Highways at a cost of Rs 1430 crore. Another major work is a bypass to Jalandhar city at a cost of Rs 110 crore approved by the National Highways Authority of India. The construction of the
first phase of the project at a cost of Rs 57 crore has
already started. The Chief Minister reviewed these
projects at a meeting on Tuesday night. |
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Punjab must emulate AP,
Karnataka CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Bitten by the ever-growing fiscal crisis and a determined media focus on that, the Punjab Government picked up some courage and issued a long explanation. But tragically Mr Parkash Singh Badal's coalition government only ended up in hurling accusations at the previous Congress regimes. Mr Badal has every right to aportion a good deal of blame for the present messy situation to the Congress. But Mr Badal forgets that he has been ruling Punjab for more than two and a half years and is equally responsible for the current mess. How come sales tax realisation except on foodgrain in the mandis and petrol and diesel and on liquor, there is no growth. Could he answer the criticism that in Punjab where consumers beat every other state in their buying sprees, the ST recovery rate is not even half of many other neighbouring states. The Cabinet note tells all this. Look at facts last year, over two lakh scooters were sold. The same is the case about electronic durable, tractors, motor cars and fertiliser, medicines for all-humans, animals and plants. Think of any good, machine or cloth, Punjab tops the country in buying. And then how about tax collection? Income tax recovery from Punjab has moved up by 2 per cent. Central excise has shown a similar high growth. His partner, the BJP, has some answer as cadres and leaders are active in stopping it. Why should traders pay when farmers get free water and power? BJP leaders ask. But traders mostly charge from buyers and only deprive the government of its right to have sales tax. And if the BJP ministers, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal and Mr Balramji Das Tandon are to be believed, traders have had maximum concessions from the Badal government. It should be called a trader-friendly government. No sooner a tax is announced, a benevolent Badal rolls it back. Powerful people can ply buses in Punjab without permits and without paying taxes and who could touch them. A small attempt was called off at midnight when pressures became intolerable. As said earlier, the government statement did contain some truth. Mr Badal inherited not a very good state of fiscal situation and then there was the burden of the Fifth Pay Commission. But did not Mr Badal in a fair and frank study conducted by an intelligent finance secretary last year promise bold steps and corrective measures. What happened to them? No one can escape the blame. It is now Mr Badal's baby. The same is happening now in neighbouring Haryana. New concessions would cost Rs 200 crore and there the government lead by Mr Om Prakash Chautala is yet to spell out from where this money is to come. He has every right to care for the old and get rid of dirty octroi. But if Mr Bansi Lal could not do it, it was simple. The state was not flushed with money. And now, Mr Chautala is keen on rolling back power sector reforms. He is very right when he asserts that in developing countries one cannot charge the farmers the economic rates. They are already suffering and would be ruined. And that is his base. He has proved it by winning 85 of the 90 Vidhan Sabha segments in the Lok Sabha poll. Mr Chautala is also right that the World Bank loan would mean a big burden and is keen to honour his twin promise of free power and water to the farmers. But then where is the money? Haryana would need Rs 400 crore annually. And then the World Bank has made it as clear as daylight that it would stop the loan in the tracks and ask the government to pay back Rs 240 crore it has obtained. Not a rupee more from the rest of Rs 2,400 crore would come. What should Mr Chautala do under such circumstances when he is thinking of going for a snap Assembly poll! Accept the reality and be honest before the people. Free power would mean no more power as is happening in Punjab. Pay at the subsidised rate now and hope for the better. He could also try and prove if he can that he would implement the reforms minus the stings and do better than the previous regime. Governance and performance should be the key words. The previous government ushered in bold reforms and in three years improved the power position. Detailed plans and money for the next seven years are available. If Mr Chautala can provide money from other resources, he is welcome to kick out the World Bank. But tragedy with the states as Punjab Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh realised is that the resource base is inelastic and limited. Efficient management is the key point. It is true what is happening across the country. State after state, bitten by the populist bugs of free power, houses, water and jobs in the overflowing government organisations are going broke. What has the Congress inherited in Maharashtra, a number one state. The Shiv Sena and others have taken a revenge. "The saffron flag is gone leaving it mired in deep red", cried out one newspaper. Borrowing trebled to Rs 32,226 crore. 21 per cent going in for interest payment. Fiscal deficit for the current year is Rs 10,000 crore. Development expenditure is negative — 9.7 per cent against all states plus side of 5.8 per cent. Punjab and Haryana have
to learn a lesson from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka or
Kerala. Develop Infra structure, human resources and
provide as succour what is possible. It is time the
politicians stopped offering the moon at the election
time. |
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Terms for unity ‘not
acceptable’ AMRITSAR, Oct 27 —Mr Gurdev Singh Dhindsa, Secretary-General Shiromani Akali Dal, has said that the leadership of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) has not made any sincere efforts towards forging Panthic unity so far. Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Dhindsa said the SHSAD contention that it was ready for unity if Mr Parkash Singh Badal accepted Bhai Ranjit Singh as the Jathedar of Akal Takht was not acceptable. To a question, Mr Dhindsa said the working of the SAD was being streamlined in the wake of the party’s debacle in the recently conducted Lok Sabha elections. He said the membership drive of the party would be completed by the end of this millennium. He claimed his party
would win the election to the post of SGPC President. |
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No forced conversions:
Father JALANDHAR, Oct 27 — The spokesman of the state Christian community, Father Jose Puthenpura, has alleged that the Sangh Parivar was distorting facts to create an impression that the Pope was on a mission to India to convert people into Christianity. Briefing mediapersons here today, Father Puthenpura and Mr Shamaun Yousaf Sandhu, Secretary, Diocesan Pastrol Council, said the 2.25 lakh Christian population, which is merely 1.1 per cent of the entire state population, was peace-loving. They said the Christian population in the country was 1.96 crore which constituted 2.3 per cent of the nation’s population. Regarding accusations on forced conversions by the Sangh Parivar, they said: “Forcible conversions were against the basic tenets of Christianity, although, the Dalit community, which had been ignored by successive governments at the state and central level, felt inclined towards Christianity.” The charge that Christians missionaries were maligning the Hindu community through a disinformation campaign was not correct, they explained. “We only highlight attacks on religious congregations and church personnel by fanatic Hindu groups so that good people from every community can stand for the protection of the indefensible minority community.” They explained that the aim of the Pope’s visit was to preside over the concluding session of the Asian Bishops’ meet at New Delhi. Father Puthenpura said Hindu organisations, including the VHP, had the right to demand an apology from Pope John Paul II for crimes committed by Portuguese in Goa in the distant past, but they must introspect about repression of lower castes for centuries in India and offer their apologies to millions of victims of the caste system. “They can ask for an apology from the Pope and it is up to the pontiff to offer or not, but those asking for such show of repentance must look inwards and ponder whether an apology is called for to assuage the feelings of millions of victims who remained repressed for centuries under swarna castes and are bearing the brunt even now in states like UP and Bihar,” the Father said. Admitting that instances of crypto-Christianity were wide spread in Punjab and elsewhere as alleged by the VHP and other Sangh Parivar outfits, Father Puthenpura said: “The root of the problem is denial of reservation benefits to Dalits who have converted to Christianity. How does it change the economic reality of a Dalit family if it changes its mode of prayer,” he asked. It demanded that Dalits must continue to benefit from the quota policies even after change of religion. The Christian leaders took exception to VHP leaders terming the pontiff as a “dictator” and said, “the selection of the Holy Father is made by cardinals representing the church from all parts of the world and is a completely democratic choice.” The Christian leaders who run the largest seminary of priests here in northern India in the Catholic ecclesiastical province of Delhi covering Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh, said while it was true that missionaries and the Church preached that “Christ was the only universal saviour of the world, we do concede that followers of other religions may attain salvation through their own god.” Denying the charge of
forcible conversions, the Christian leader said
“anyone who becomes a Christian due to any
temptation or under pressure is not acceptable to the
church as a Christian.” |
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Facelift to crematorium HOSHIARPUR: On persistent demand for improving the local crematorium, former MP Kamal Chaudhry provided Rs 10.98 lakh from the MP Local Area Development Fund for the purpose. Instead of providing money to the Municipal Council who has been controlling it since 1959, Mr Chaudhry authorised Mr K.S.Parmar, Executive Engineer, Janauri Chohal construction division, Hoshiarpur, to complete the task. This crematorium was set up in the early forties at Hariana Road by a well-known social worker, Mr Gujjar Mal, covering 20 acres of land. Two platforms were constructed, one in the open and the other under a shed for cremating 12 bodies at a time. A big chunk of land was reserved for burying dead children. Besides, arrangements were also made to cremate the bodies according to the funeral rites of various communities. Bathrooms for men and women mourners were also constructed. A room was set up for keeping the last remains of the cremated bodies from where people used to take them for immersion in the Ganga at Hardwar or the Sutlej at Kiratpur Sahib. To make the environment neat and clean, parks with fountains and a baradari along with orchards were developed around the complex. After the death of Mr Gujjar Mal, no social worker came forward to manage the crematorium, making the Municipal Committee, Hoshiarpur, take over its control in 1959. The crematorium then fell on bad days as the municipal authorities, including municipal councillors, remained silent spectators to its deterioration. The crematorium is currently under repairs and renovation. A new cremation shed, adjacent to the old one, has been constructed keeping in view the rise in population of the city. The burial place for dead children has now been renovated systematically by providing “pucca” paths along the periphery and a central baradari. The main entrance has been given a facelift. Mr T.L.Bangay,
Superintending Engineer of the Dholbaha Dam construction
circle, who is now looking after the renovation work,
said the existing community bathrooms were being
renovated with all modern facilities. A urinal block
would be set up in the complex. The roofs of the existing
buildings had been given suitable treatment to prevent
leakage during the monsoon. The old baradari was being
dismantled and the construction of a new one would start
soon. The parks at the left and right of the main
entrance were being renovated. The CGI sheets over the
old cremation shed had been replaced. |
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Model village project under
way BHINDI SAIDAN, Oc t 27 — A village with modern infrastructure and latest facilities will soon take a practical shape. The efforts of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the district administration to develop Bhindi Saidan as a model village with the assistance of HUDCO have started bearing fruits. Various development projects are currently under way in this village, located in Ajnala tehsil of Amritsar district. The Deputy Commissioner (DC), Mr Narinderjit Singh, said a redevelopment programme had been prepared for the village with a focus on raising the income level of villagers through creation of additional economic activities and infrastructure for the training of unemployed youth. The DC said the other thrust areas included increasing the literacy rate through better education facilities and adult literacy programmes, focus on augmentation of health facilities, improvement in communication links, creation of infrastructure to cater to the recreational and cultural needs of the village, improvement in the transport and drainage systems and the existing housing stock, particularly the kutcha units. Mr Narinderjit Singh said an outlay of Rs 519 lakh had been envisaged for the plan, of which Rs 70 lakh would be provided by HUDCO. The works already in progress included construction of drainage at a cost of Rs 36 lakh, upgradation of the high and primary schools and a veterinary hospital at a cost of Rs 20 lakh. A cremation ground was also being constructed at a cost of Rs 1 lakh. Villagers would also be provided smokeless chullahs at a cost of Rs 90,000. The duckweed-based waste water treatment plant at a cost of Rs 5 lakh was almost complete. The village would be fitted with solar street lights at a cost of Rs 9.20 lakh. Regarding the
improvement of the housing stock, the DC said the state
government would take up the matter with the Centre for
financial help. |
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Inter-state police panel reviews steps GURDASPUR, Oct 27 (UNI) — Security and intelligence officers of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and central organisations like the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the Intelligence Bureau and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), at a joint meeting held at Pathankot, today reviewed coordinated efforts to meet any situation arising out of the post-Kargil situation in the region. Gurdaspur district police chief Varinder Kumar, later, said the Inter-State Coordination Committee meeting discussed and reviewed the post-Kargil scenario and security and intelligence measures needed to effectively meet challenges posed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Verification of nomadic tribes like Gujjars and Bakarwals as also of migrant workers came up for review. The meeting was attended, among others, by the Kangra Range police chief. The officers underlined the need to uncover hideouts of Kashmiri militants in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Police officers of the three states sought a coordinated approach to tackling criminals crossing over from other states. The example of a Bangali tribe in Gurdaspur district with expertise in thefts and illicit distillation was cited. The Punjab police urged
the Himachal Pradesh police to curb large-scale
distillation of illicit liquor by electrically operated
equipment in Channi village located close to the Punjab
border. |
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Hotel owner booked for
assaulting XEN BATHINDA, Oct 27 — The city police has booked Mr Ashwani Kumar, owner of Hotel President, Mr Pardeep Kumar and Mr Sham Sunder for the attack on Executive Engineer Kartar Singh Brar and junior engineer Fakir Chand of the Punjab State Electricity Board here yesterday. Police sources said Mr Brar, Mr Fakir Chand and another employee were attacked when they went to Hotel President to recover electricity dues from the owner and to check electricity theft. Mr Brar, who suffered a head injury, is admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the local Civil Hospital. He is stated to be out of danger. In an FIR registered by Mr Sukhdev Singh, another junior engineer, it has been alleged that the owner of the hotel was stealing power through a “kundi connection”. Power supply had been disconnected to the hotel for the past many months as the owner had not cleared electricity arrears. It said the accused used both sharp-edged and blunt weapons while attacking Mr Brar and Mr Fakir Chand. The accused also snatched away the checking register and other official documents from the raiding team. The PSEB Employees Federation, on the other hand, alleged that the police was supporting the accused. Demanding strict action against the culprits, the federation demanded that the Punjab Government and other authorities concerned make adequate arrangements for the security of employees. The SHO, when contacted,
said the accused would be arrested shortly. A case in
this regard under Sections 307, 332, 353, 379 and 34 of
the IPC had been registered. |
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‘Shaheed Udham Singh’
shooting ends AMRITSAR, Oct 27 — The shooting of the Punjabi and Hindi film "Shaheed Udham Singh" was completed today with the filming of the last shots of actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar in Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh, here. Talking to mediapersons after the shooting, Raj Babbar said the film was based on Sikandar Singh’s book "The Great Patriot and Martyr Shaheed Udham Singh". The book was released by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during his visit to Amritsar. Raj Babbar plays the title role of Udham Singh in the film which was directed by Chitrath Singh and produced by Iqbal Dhillon. The event was important because after a gap of many years the shooting of a film was held in Golden Temple. After the shooting the music cassette was released by Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, MP, at Jallianwala Bagh. The film will reel the ghastly scenes of Jallianwala Bagh and tremendous hardships faced by our freedom fighters to attain the freedom from the foreign rule. Besides Raj Babbar, the film includes Gurdas Mann, Amrish Puri, Shatrughan Sinha, Ranjit, Juhi Chawla, Tom Alter and Berry John. The film will be
released shortly. |
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Infantry Day celebrated BATHINDA, Oct 27 — Infantry Day was celebrated amidst fanfare and exuberance in Bathinda Military Station. The day marks the landing of the first post-Independence Infantrymen at Srinagar airfield on October 27, 1947, to beat back the assault on Srinagar by the Raza-Kars and the irregular troops of the Pakistani army. A Special Sainik Sammelan was addressed by Lieut-Gen G.K. Duggal, who highlighted the role played by the infantry within India and abroad as part of UN mission in Somalia, Cambodia and Rwanda. He also highlighted the role of the Infantry in preserving the integrity and unity of the country. While acknowledging the dangers and discomforts of the icy heights of Siachen Glacier, the vast deserts of Rajasthan and the jungles of the North-East, he expressed the confidence that the Infantry would continue to take all this in its stride cheerfully. He said the Infantry was
the most dominant arm on the battlefield. Seventeen out
of 21 Param Vir Chakras awarded so far had been won by
Infantrymen. In the past four years, infantry had been
awarded four Param Vir Chakras, three Ashok Chakras, nine
Mahavir Chakras, 19 Kirti Chakras, 54 Vir Chakras and 99
Shaurya Chakras. |
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Brar takes over as consumer
body chief CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Justice Harphul Singh Brar (retd) assumed charge as the president of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on Wednesday after his appointment by the state of Punjab under the Consumer Protection Act,1986. Justice Brar retired recently as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Before elevation to the Bench, he as a practising lawyer of the high court conducted various civil, criminal, constitutional and service matters. He has also held the posts of Senior Deputy Advocate-General, Punjab, the Public Prosecutor for UT, Chandigarh and Senior Central Government standing counsel for Punjab and Haryana High Court for over 10 years before elevation as a permanent judge. His tenure as the Executive Chairman of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority saw the establishment of permanent Lok Adalats in all the districts of Punjab. This was accompanied by a wide variety of schemes like the legal aid counsel scheme, provision of free legal aid and expeditious disposal of long standing cases in an attempt to secure speedy and affordable justice, especially to the underprivileged and backward sections of society. The other two members of
the commission are Mr Jasbir Singh and Mrs D.K. Bhamrah. |
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2 die in accident PATIALA, Oct 27 — Two persons died in a collision between an autorickshaw and a truck on the Nabha road near B and R office here today. While the driver of the autorickshaw was identified as Dharampal Singh, the other 30-year-old man could not be identified. Two more passengers who were also travelling in the vehicle escaped with minor injuries. The Civil Lines police
has registered a case and impounded the truck, whose
driver ran away from the accident site and was
absconding. |
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Farmers of 5 blocks get
threshers PATIALA, Oct 27 — Five blocks in the district have been selected for a new scheme of the government to provide latest machinery to farmers. Stating this at a farmers' training camp organised by the state Agriculture Department at Baradari Gardens, here yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, said the Punjab Government had decided to provide multi-purpose threshers to the farmers at subsidised rates. Patiala, Nabha, Rajpura, Ghanaur and Dera Bassi blocks in the district have been selected for the implementation of the scheme. Various agriculture
experts while speaking on the occasion advised the
farmers to opt for floriculture, as it was a profitable
business. The speakers also presented a list of various
varieties of flowers popular in foreign countries. |
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Theatre festival at Andretta
begins PATIALA, Oct 27 — The Department of Theatre and Television, Punjabi University, will organise a three-day theatre festival-cum-seminar on "Theatre: challenges and possibilities of the new millennium" at Andretta, near Palampur (Himachal Pradesh), in collaboration with Punjab Academy, Delhi, and Punjab Arts Council, Chandigarh, from October 28-30, 1999. The seminar is being organised under the "Multi-faculty millennium symposium series (1999-2001)". Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, will inaugurate the festival-cum-seminar, while Mr B.K. Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, Kangra (HP), will preside. According to Dr Gurcharan Singh, Head, Department of Theatre and TV, famous theatre personalities and scholars, including Dr Gursharan Singh, Dr Sutinder Singh Noor, Dr Navnindra Behl, Dr Satish Verma and Dr Devinder Kumar, will present their research papers in the seminar. Two plays, "Jasma
Odhan", a Gujarati folktale directed by Dr Yogesh
Gambhir and Dr Gurcharan Singh, and Badal Sarcar's
"Evam Inderjit" directed by Mr Balraj Pandit,
will be staged, besides a cultural programme by artistes
of the university's Department of Music and the
Department of Theatre and Television. |
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Minister hears complaints CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — The Punjab Agriculture Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, today met a number of persons from different walks of life at the office of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to hear their grievances. The grievances were in regard to poor power supply, upgradation of primary and middle schools, irregular supply of canal water and of desilting of drains etc. He assured the public that their grievances/complaints would be taken up with the departments concerned. Mr Ranjit Singh
Brahmpura, Cooperation Minister, will listen to the
grievances of public at the SAD office tomorrow from 10
a.m. to 1 p.m. |
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