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| Tuesday, January 4, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Airport ‘did not’ have refuelling ladder Open varsity to come up at Damdama Sahib 'Amarinder violated party norms' Trees drying, dying in Punjab Farmers threaten immolation |
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BJP workers ‘disappointed’ BSM snaps ties with SAD, BJP BJP emergency meeting on Jan 6 Bahujan Morcha quits SAD-BJP alliance Matrimonial service for NRIs
11 officials found absent 70 bonded labourers freed Bypass project a distant dream Rajindra Tank greets winged visitors Family of four HIV positive Khanna bus stand in bad shape Preserve “dhadi” tradition: Badal Protest march by DIET students Handling of hijack decried
One booked on rape charge Gang of thieves busted
Traders seek probe into exploitation NRIs urged to invest in Punjab
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Revolt by MLAs upsets BJP CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Revolt by three senior BJP legislators has torn as under the tall claims of the Punjab BJP that it was a united party. It has upset the state leadership to such an extent that it has sought stern action against these "wayward MLAs". Two MLAs, Mr Jagdish Sahni from Batala and Mr Satpal Gosain from Ludhiana, both firebrands, have not minced words in attacking both the state unit president, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi and, the Legislature Party leader and a senior Minister Mr Balramji Das Tandon, for conniving to keep them out of the present expansion of the ministry. They were sure of their induction and had even met the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, twice to press their claims. Now they are angry and have gone public, attacking these leaders right and left and seeking their replacement. The third senior MLA and a social worker of repute, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla from Amritsar, is against the large size of the Ministry per se. She feels that a state passing through its worst fiscal crisis could carry the burden of such a large ministry. Each minister costs the exchequer a neat Rs 5 lakh. While the Food and Supply Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, today refused to comment on the sharp criticism, Mr Tandon felt that these MLAs had crossed all limits and they had to be checked. Earlier, Mr Tandon and Mr Mittal were angry with media reports that their party was divided and that MLAs were egging for plum portfolios, but now they conceded that all was not well. "They had no business to make public their opinion and attack the leadership. The party platform is the right place to air grievances and not press conferences. Some action has to be taken against them," Mr Tandon told TNS. He refused to spell out the action by saying that it was for the party high command to decide. But he insisted that action had to be taken so that the virus did not spread further. "We are proud of being in a highly disciplined party," he added. Mr Sahni and Mr Gosain were sure to be inducted in the ministry. In fact, the Akali leadership would have very much liked these two MLAs to be in the ministry. Mr Badal and his close associates are said to be unhappy with both Mr Daya Singh Sodhi and Mr Tandon. Mr Sodhi had repeatedly alleged that people close to Mr Badal made Rs 50 crore during the last excise auction. He was also not happy with the Kairon family as such and now one of the family members and Mr Badal’s son-in-law, Mr Adesh Partap Singh, is a Cabinet Minister. The same way, Mr Badal, according to a senior Akali leader, feels that Mr Tandon is not very cooperative and in hushed tones he had made certain allegations of corruption also. But according to BJP party sources, the two MLAs, Mr Tikshan Sood and Mr Baldev Raj Chawla, were inducted after the party high command cleared their names. The party high command as usual consulted Mr Sodhi and Mr Tandon. This is the usual practice. In fact, party sources said in August, 1997, when the Ministry was expanded for the first time, the BJP lost one position. Mr Badal had indicated that he would induct six from the BJP. Later, he enhanced the number, but BJP leaders could not recommend any other name. "We had to wait for over two years to get full quota as the party high command could not decide at short notice," a senior party leader here said. He emphasised that the BJP was not the Congress and the high command had total control. |
Airport ‘did not’ have refuelling ladder AMRITSAR, Jan 3 (UNI) — The Raja Sansi airport did not have a requisite ladder for the refuelling of the hijacked airbus and this factor could have played its role in delaying the Indian Airlines aircraft by even more than an hour on the night of December 24. The fact that the airport was not equipped with the ladder needed for refuelling an airbus, had been ignored so far in the midst of the controversy whether the stay of the plane could have been delayed for more time. Inquiries revealed that as the airbus did not ply on the New Delhi-Amritsar route and the only ladder available for refuelling was the one used for feeding ordinary 737 type of carriers. Indian Airlines and airport officials here said on the night of December 24, if they had been given orders from New Delhi to carry out the refuelling of the airbus, it would have taken at least 15 to 20 minutes to assemble a ladder for this purpose. After that the actual refuelling exercise would have taken 40 minutes thereby prolonging the stay of the plane here by over an hour and possibly even more, officials said. Previously, there used to be a ladder for refuelling an airbus here because an airbus flight used to operate on the New Delhi-Amritsar-Srinagar route but a few years ago this was stopped and the ladder was taken away to some other airport. Instead of taking off after 49 minutes of landing at the airport, the hijacked carrier could have been detained for an hour-and-a-half if the refuelling orders had been given, they said. This time would have been sufficient for an anti-hijacking squad of the National Security Guards (NSG) to land here, the officials said. Making rough calculations, the officials said the airbus landed at Raja Sansi at 7.01 p.m. and took off at 7.50 p.m. Suppose orders for refuelling the plane had been given 10 minutes after the carrier landed, the first step to implement these orders involving the dispatching of Indian Oil tankers towards the plane would have taken at least 20 minutes and another hour for the actual refuelling and for assembling the ladder. Regarding the mystery shrouding the actual identity of B. Lal, who called the air traffic control at Raja Sansi to know whether the plane had landed on the night of December 24, the officials said the two calls were received from B. Lal who identified himself as an official from the Union Home Ministry. However, the so-called B. Lal only made inquiries whether the plane was being refuelled but at no point suggested or gave orders for refuelling the airbus, the officials claimed. |
Open varsity to come up at Damdama Sahib PATIALA, Jan 3 — The second open university in the country will come up at Damdama Sahib in the name of Guru Gobind Singh on the premises of the Punjabi University Regional Centre which will be expanded to accommodate it. The university will, however, be different from the Indira Gandhi National Open University as it will be offering only specialised courses in business management, computers and vocational training. It will also have a centre for Sikh studies. With the creation of the open university, the demand for the upgradation of the regional centre at Damdama Sahib into a full-fledged university is likely to be finally laid to rest. There had been a demand to raise a university in the name of Guru Gobind Singh at Damdama Sahib from people of the area and was being considered by the government. While financial constraints would have prevented the establishment of a full-fledged university at Damdama Sahib, an open university can be started at Damdama Sahib using the infrastructure available with the regional centre with minimum expansion. Presently the Damdama Sahib centre has an administrative block, teaching block, hostel as well as a college attached to it. Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia in an exclusive interview with The Tribune said a meeting held with various intellectuals by the Chief Minister had resulted in this idea. He said the Chief Minister wanted a self sufficient organisation which could offer specialised pratical oriented courses. He said as there was no other university offering such courses in the northern region, it had been decided to go ahead with the idea. Dr Ahluwalia said it had been decided that courses in the open university should also be suited to school dropouts and adults so that they could make something of their life by starting afresh. He said the university would also aim to remove illiteracy in the backward Malwa belt of the state. The Vice-Chancellor said procedural formalities for starting the university were being worked out following which staff would be kept there to make it a reality. He said as basic infrastructure was ready, the university could be inaugurated any time. He said business management and computer courses could be medelled on existing courses in the university while new ones which were practically oriented would be prepared specially for the new university. The Vice-Chancellor said initially Punjabi University would also conduct examinations and take up administrative responsibility of the new university. Speaking about the computer courses which were to be started by the open university, Dr Ahluwalia said students could avail of centres specially opened by Punjabi University to train themselves in computers. He said while one college was already functioning at Jaito which could be used by open university students talks were going on with a few multinationals to open various such centres in the state. |
'Amarinder violated party norms' PATIALA, Jan 3 — Reacting to his suspension Mr Birdevinder Singh said here today that his struggle to liberate the party would continue. He said his outburst against the PPCC chief was not a storm in the tea cup but there was a group of Congressmen behind him. "Our aim is to liberate the party from the clutches of feudal lords, Akalis and sympathisers of terrorism." He said the PPCC chief had overstaffed the party by bringing in people from outside at the cost of genuine Congressmen. "We will not tolerate this and I will take up the issue at the highest level." Mr Birdevinder said browbeating could not be done in the name of discipline and added that party functioning should be made democratic and autocratic rule would not be tolerated. Speaking about the Disciplinary Action Committee he said its members were stooges with the body it self having become defunct. "Before issuing me show cause notice they should have spoken to me. I have only joined issues with Capt Amrinder Singh where as he has committed gross violation of party norms by alleging that I was hobnobbing with Akalis." "Speaking on the issue of financial emergency he said he had only given his opinion on a particular matter concerning the people of Punjab and it was not an act of indiscipline. "Under no circumstance will I accept financial emergency in the state." |
Trees drying, dying in Punjab CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Punjab, which already has very thin forest cover, is facing a crisis of drying and dying trees. More than 50,000 trees have either dried or died in the state in the recent past. Worried over the very high casualty rate, the Punjab Government has approached the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, for diagnosing the dying and drying of trees. When contacted in this connection, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr Gurmeet Singh, told TNS today that already a project in this connection had been submitted to the Dehradun institute. A team of experts from the institute, according to Mr Gurmeet Singh, had visited the state recently to collect the root samples of the affected trees. The report from the institute was expected within two months, he added. By and large kikar (babool) trees had been affected in the state. Sheesham (tahli) has also been affected in certain areas. Among the affected districts are Bathinda, Ferozepore, Faridkot and Sangrur. Waterlogging in certain areas, especially in the Malout-Abohar belt, has caused vast damage to trees in recent years. But drying and dying of trees in non-waterlogged areas is a new phenomenon which has made the Punjab Forest Department officials concerned sit up. Mr Gurmeet Singh said that there seemed to be a "group of reasons" for the mortality of trees in such a big number. Interestingly, fully grown trees of 20 years of age or above have been by and large affected. Fungus and viral diseases can be the possible reasons for death of trees in big number. Climatic changes and smog and fog during January last year for a prolonged period are also being cited reasons in this connection. Mr Gurmeet Singh said that once the trees became weak, these were attacked by several diseases. Fungus was considered a big enemy of trees. It covers the root in such a way that the trees are unable to draw nutrients from the soil. Punjab is not the only state to be affected by this phenomenon. According to Forest Department officials, reports of dying and drying trees in vast numbers have also come from Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and even Nepal. Experts of the Dehradun are making collective and individual research in this connection. |
Farmers threaten immolation FEROZEPORE, Jan 3 — A section of marginal farmers, who were earlier allotted irrigation land on lease after Partition by the government, are up in arms against the state authorities, who have decided to auction this property to this over their financial crisis. In the series of telegrams sent to the irrigation authorities, about 300 farmers have threatened to come out on the streets, while a few have even warned of self-immolation if the state government did not shelve the move that is expected to render them homeless. While demanding that this land be transferred to them on easy instalments, the farmers are opposing any move to benefit ‘outsiders’. About 10,000 acres belonging to the Irrigation Department in a dozen border villages is being auctioned. Since the property was earlier allotted to these farmers on lease, they are opposed to the auction, fearing eviction. “As we have been tilling this land since early 50s, ours is the first right on the property”, Mishar Singh of Basti Hibib Ke village said. Jagjit Singh of Basti Kambhoj claimed that the land, now being auctioned, was earlier covered by thick forest and that the farmers had made it fertile over the years. This has obviously irked the farmers, who now apprehend eviction. Speaking to TNS in front of the Telegraph Office, where these farmers had gathered, representatives from the villages likely to be affected claimed that over 50,000 persons would be rendered homeless by the move. Demanding that the move be shelved in larger public interest, the farmers said that instead of auctioning the land to ‘outsiders’, the property should be sold to them on easy instalments. |
BJP workers ‘disappointed’ BATHINDA, Jan 3 — BJP workers of the Malwa region are disappointed with the ‘shabby’ treatment being meted out to them by the party high command and the Punjab Government in the past over three years. The BJP workers of Ferozepore, Faridkot, Moga, Mansa, Bathinda, Sangrur, Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts of the Malwa region, including the district-level leaders are agitated over the fact that no BJP worker had been given any post in various government organisations so far by the Punjab Government. Mr Mohan Lal, president, BJP, Bathinda district, said the workers had been conveying their sentiments to the party high command regularly regarding this neglect steps. The party workers alleged that they had not even been given representation in the district-level grievances panels and planning boards, constituted after the SAD-BJP combine came to power in the state. A senior worker, on the condition of anonymity, told TNS that a district-level leader was made special invitee to the grievances committee and planning board of Bathinda only on the directions of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal when the person concerned made a complaint to him at Chak Fatehsinghwala village on December 24 that BJP workers were being ignored in the government’s functioning. Mr Narinder Mittal, a senior BJP leader of the area pointed out that the central leadership of the BJP had ignored the interests of party workers when it ensured into a poll pact with the SAD. He added that the BJP central leadership contended itself with only 20 assembly seats in 1997 despite the fact that it had fielded about 40 candidates in the 1992 assembly elections. He alleged that party leadership had ignored even those persons who had contested the assembly elections in 1992 as BJP candidates when the militancy was at its peak and SAD led by Mr Badal had boycotted the poll. Mr Chiman Lal Mehta, another senior party worker, who alleged that those party workers who had made sacrifices for the betterment of party had been ignored by the present leadership. Mr Nand Singh, a senior BJP leader, alleged that the present BJP leadership in the state had become self centred and if it continued, the party might collapse. |
BSM snaps ties with SAD, BJP PHILLAUR, Jan 3 — The Bahujan Samaj Morcha (BSM) has decided to disassociate itself from the SAD-BJP alliance. This was announced by the morcha’s national President, Mr Satnam Singh Kainth, while talking to this correspondent here today. He said that morcha would support or oppose the SAD-BJP government purely on merit in future. NAWANSHAHR: While addressing mediapersons here on Sunday, Mr Kainth said the BSM, a breakaway group of the BSP, would dedicate this year to strengthening its organisation by launching a massive membership drive and constituting party units at the village level. He said that he had started organising district-level workers’ meetings for the purpose. Organisations representing Dalits should unitedly come forward to struggle for their cause. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, should review his policies which were responsible for the financial crisis. Mr Kainth, who had contested two Lok Sabha elections with the support of the SAD-BJP combine, said that he had kept all options open regarding the ensuing Nawanshahr byelection. |
BJP emergency meeting on Jan 6 PHILLAUR Jan 3 — Following the raising of a banner of revolt against the BJP leadership by two BJP MLAs Satpaul Gosain and Jagdish Sahni alleging foul play in the decision regarding the inclusion of BJP ministers in the state cabinet, the Punjab BJP chief, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi has summoned an emergency meeting of the state office-bearers on January 6 at Jalandhar. Stating this, Mr Avinash Jaiswal office secretary of the BJP Legislative Party, said here today that the all-India BJP secretary, Mr Narinder Modi will address another state-level meeting of all office-bearers and district BJP chiefs on January 20 at Pathankot. He said latest political developments besides organisational matters will be discussed at the meeting. |
Bahujan Morcha quits SAD-BJP alliance PHAGWARA, Jan 3 (UNI) — The ruling Akali-BJP combine today suffered a setback when the alliance’s third partner the Bahujan Samaj Morcha, a splinter group of the Bahujan Samaj Party, dissociated from the combine charging it of adopting anti-people policies. Morcha state president Satnam Singh Kainth, who was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha with the support of the combine but lost in the recent Lok Sabha elections in spite of the combine’s support, today told UNI that the morcha would strengthen its independent identity by enrolling one lakh new members by April 14. Declining to commit himself whether the morcha would field its candidate in the assembly byelection from Nawanshahr, Mr Kainth said his party would finalise its poll strategy in its district conference at Nawanshahr on January 26. Mr Kainth hails from Nawanshahr district and could significantly influence the outcome of the byelection.Accusing the Akali-BJP government of adopting anti-people policies, Mr Kainth claimed that it did nothing for the welfare-of Dalits. |
11 officials found absent LUDHIANA, Jan 3 — Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Agriculture Minister, today conducted surprise raids in three different offices under his department at Jagraon and found 11 officials, including two office in charge absent from duty till 11.30 a.m. He asked the heads of the department at Chandigarh on the telephone to take disciplinary action against the guilty. The minister went to the agriculture office at Jagraon where he found the agriculture officer absent. The minister also found six employees of the market committee, Jagraon, absent from duty. He went to the office of Assistant Engineer (Civil) Punjab State Mandi Board and marked four officials absent. Mr Badal said the state government would strictly ensure the presence of the employees in offices and strict action would be taken against the defaulters. TARAN TARAN: The government is trying to provide more job opportunities and making efforts for the uplift of industries in the border belt of the state. Mr Gulzar Singh Ranike who has been inducted as Minister for State told The Tribune today that the border area of the state was already facing a number of problems. Schools did not have the requisite staff and civil hospitals lacked staff, bus services were not upto the mark. Mr Ranike said by inducting him into the Cabinet Mr Badal had given proper representation to the border area. |
70 bonded labourers freed FATEHGARH SAHIB, Jan 3 — 70 bonded labourers, including women and children of 13 families, were freed from the clutches of a brick kiln owner on the directions of High Court by the Deputy Commissioner. While talking to this correspondent Mr V.K. Janjua Deputy Commissioner said that on the directions of Hon’ble High Court he, the SDM and DSP raided the brick kiln at Dhanaula village in Khamanon subdivision in the district. He said 70 persons, including women and children were found in the kiln. When asked why they had not fled they replied that the owner of the kiln had deployed armed guards to watch over them. Moreover they didn’t have either money or a place to go to. All the bonded labourers were brought to the DC office in a truck. The DC said the police has been directed to register a case under Section 16 and 18 of the Bonded Labour Act against the kiln owner and also u/s 344 IPC for illegal confinement . He said the labourers would be given bus fare and money for food by the Red Cross to return to Muzafarnagar , their native district. |
Bypass project a distant dream PATIALA, Jan 3 — The construction of the Patiala-Sangrur bypass regarded as one of the key solutions to the city’s soaring traffic problem still remains a distant dream. Conceived, surprisingly, 20 years ago, the project work had failed to move in top gear, thanks to problems faced in acquiring land for it, lack of funds provided by the Centre and the absence of pressure mooted by the state government for completion of the project. Analysing the traffic problem faced by the city, one appreciates the vision of the planners that went in designing the project two decades ago. Only if the implementation programme had been followed in the same spirit, the congestion of traffic one comes across today may not have occurred. The city is small by any standards. The main roads are quite wide to accommodate the local vehicular traffic. The rush one sees on the roads is mainly due to heavy vehicles like truck and buses, whose main function is to simply pass through the city. Anticipating the traffic jams the project had been dreamt of in 1979 but till date only 75 per cent of the land has been acquired. With delay the construction cost has gone high. From under Rs 15 crore in 1985 when the project was approved the cost, according to revised estimates, has gone up to Rs 22 crore today. The official records say that the approved length of the bypass is little above than 19 km. It begins from almost opposite the Sirhind bypass on the Patiala-Chandigarh highway and circles Chaura village and other places to meet the Patiala-Sangrur highway near Wazirpur village. The bypass crosses over four-water channels and the need for construction of bridges over them has added to the costs. According to sources in the PWD (B and R) Department, the bypass project continues to be delayed because of difficulties faced in land acquisition. The sources say that one of the hindrances was acquiring the land of Bir Moti Bagh which was denied. Due to this denial the length of the bypass increased as it had to encircle the forest land. Further, with continuous delay the prices of land, mostly belonging to farmers, also soared high and the budgetary allocation fell short. Sources also revealed that the state government had not pressurised the Centre to consider this project on a priority basis, due to which it was denied funds. The sources said for the last two years no money had been received. Mr A.S. Aulakh, executive engineer, PWD, said the main cause for the delay was the shortage of funds supplied by the Centre. He said the department had sent a request for Rs 2 crore to the government for land acquisition, which has not been provided for the last two years. Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir said the bypass project was in talk. “It would take a lot of load off from the city roads and help solving the traffic problems,” he said, adding that he would take up the issue with the state government. |
Matrimonial service for NRIs PATIALA, Jan 3 — In a unique gesture, the Patiala website has started a matrimonial service for non-resident Indians besides catering to their demand on educational, revenue and historical information. The matrimonial service has been started in coordination with the State NRI Sabha headquartered at Jalandhar. The sabha has been involved in the project as all matrimonial alliances can be vetted by them. In an exclusive talk with The Tribune, Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir said the service has been started as there was a demand for it both abroad and in Punjab. He said people in the state were not able to get correct information about matrimonial alliances from abroad and there was also the problem of wrong facts being furnished due to which many a girl was cheated. Mr Bir said the sabha would verify the matches said, if necessary, get a police verification done. Once the matches were verified, it would get them published in newspaper. He said a meeting had been held with sabha members recently in this regard and subdivisional magistrates had also been told to make an assessment on NRI in their divisions. Once information was collected, an NRI directory would be made. The Deputy Commissioner said NRIs were also being given assistance in court cases, revenue cases and general information about educational facilities, besides historical and cultural information about khataunis being available at the touch of the button. The NRIs were also being encouraged to invest in the state, specially the small saving scheme through the Patiala website. The purpose was two-fold: ensuring that NRI investors would get assured interest on their investment as well as increasing collection of small savings as the state could draw from them for development purposes. He said locally, the website was keeping a record of blood donors so that donors could be contacted immediately in case of an emergency. He said a record of the amount of blood available of various groups in the blood bank was also being kept. The citizens of the city could also avail themselves of the facility of e-mail from the information centre opened in his office. A nominal charge was collected for e-mails which went in the account of the Red Cross. |
Rajindra Tank greets winged visitors PATIALA, Jan 3 — After a gap of nearly 40 years, migratory birds have been again spotted at the historic Rajindra Tank. The tank which was neglected for many years was recently cleaned. Efforts to restore its lost glory were made by way of introducing boating facility at it. Colourful lights have been put up all around it. The Adventure Sports Club, a private organisation which has been given the contract to run the tank, bought birds like ducks and geese to add to the attraction of the lake. Its tourism potential has increased as the winged visitors from Siberia and upper reaches of Russia and Kazakhstan are coming here. According to the District Wildlife Officer, Mr Jagdeep Singh, who has kept a close watch on the arrival of the birds. Siberian pintail has been spotted by him at the tank. These birds, he said migrate from Siberia in these months because of a heavy snow in that region. Mr Jagdeep Singh said he had spotted three pintails and hoped that more would come. He said some of these birds travel ahead to find a convenient place to pass the winter. He said the tank offered almost a perfect location to here the migratory birds. “There is plenty of fish and water plants here”, he said. He also said if a corner of the lake was reserved for the birds, more might come. Mr Y.B. Handa, Chairman of the club; said he was hopeful of the visit of the migratory birds as earlier this month, local migratory birds like cormant and dabchicks had arrived here. He said though boating took place at the lake daily, the club would provide a secluded corner to the birds. |
Bring culprits to book: Cong PATIALA, Jan 3 — The District Congress Committee (Urban) today demanded that culprits responsible for defiling the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Rajindra Tank Garden should be brought to book immediately failing which the party would organise public protests against the administration. A deputation of the DCC led by its President, Mr Ved Prakash Gupta, submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. The deputation raised slogans protesting against the defiling of the statue and marched to the Deputy Commissioner’s office from Rajindra Tank Garden. The memorandum said it was intolerable for secular citizens to remain unmoved by the act. It said a report should be lodged in this regard and investigation started to bring the guilty to book. The memorandum also demanded security at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. It said security personnel should also be posted at Beant Singh Chowk in Chhoti Baradari as well as Sewa Singh Thikriwala Chowk to ensure that mischievous elements did not defile or damage them in any way. |
Family of four HIV positive GURDASPUR, Jan 3 (UNI) — The new millennium started on an alarming note in this border district when all four members of a family, including two male children aged six years and eight months, were found HIV positive in the Civil Hospital here. Hospital sources, while declining to reveal the identity of the family, however, said the family hails from the most-infected Srihargobindpur belt of the district in Batala sub-division. They said with four new cases, the total number of AIDS cases detected in government-run hospitals in the district till 1999 has gone to 54. As many as 44 persons have been found infected with HIV. Six such cases were detected last year. Of the total 54 cases, 27 persons had died of the virus infection, while one was shifted to an Amritsar hospital, the sources added. They said besides these 54 cases, six members of a family, suspected to have been infected with HIV last year during preliminary test in the civil hospital here, were referred to the Government SGTB Hospital at Amritsar for confirmation. But the family members neither reported at the Amritsar hospital nor returned to the hospital here. The sources said another alarming feature of the AIDS cases in the district was that more than 30 patients, including dead and alive, were reported from the Srihargobindpur belt. Of them 19 were truck drivers and their 10 spouses, they said, adding that these truck drivers had been plying their vehicles mostly in South India. The sources said of the total cases, one each was that of an army Jawan and a BSF jawan. Besides at least three children, including two cases reported on new year day, also suffered from the dreaded disease. The sources said the actual number of those suffering from AIDS could be much because those who went to private clinics for AIDS tests never reported to government hospitals. |
Khanna bus stand in bad shape KHANNA: The general bus stand situated on the GT Road near Amloh road chowk and Government Girls School is in a bad shape. The Khanna Municipal Council appears to be least concerned in improving its condition. The bus stand was built 13 years ago at a cost of Rs 10 lakh. Its construction work was abandoned midway due to lack of funds. After the levelling of the ground, 17 shops were built and completed in 1985. In the absence of a boundary wall around the bus stand, cattle can be seen roaming inside the compound, dirtying it with dung. The sanitary condition too is bad. Garbage is thrown helter-skelter. Passengers are forced to answer the call of nature in the open as the toilets remain dirty most of the time. There is no regular water supply in the toilets. Water taps are missing. The two hand pumps are in a working condition but there is no proper arrangement for disposal of the waste water which always flows into the open compound. The metalled road in the bus stand has potholes, which get filled with rain water. Vehicles move in a haphazard manner in the compound. A large number of long-distance buses headed for Delhi and Amritsar do not enter the bus stand and pick up passengers from outside the bus stand. A number of buses bound for Patiala also do not enter the bus stand and stop at the GT Road chowk, causing inconvenience to passengers. There is no proper arrangement of lights. Only a few lights are in working condition and these are insufficient in number. |
Preserve “dhadi” tradition: Badal AMRITSAR, Jan 3 — The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has urged the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and other religious and social voluntary organisations to make efforts to preserve the tradition of “dhadis and sarangis” which is fading amid high voltage pop music. Presiding over a “dhadi darbar” organised by the SGPC to honour Sikh “dhadis” at Gurdwara Guru- sar Sahib at Madoke Brar village, 20 km from here, Mr Badal said the sixth Guru, Hargobind Sahib, who originated the art in 1606 at Akal Takht Sahib, had patronised and encouraged the “dhadis”. The Chief Minister urged the SGPC to open an institute to impart training to the youth in this regard. He said the government would also revive the annual award of the best “dhadi” which was given by the Language Department. Paying tributes to Sohal Singh Sital, who was a great master of dhadi’, Mr Badal said a befitting memorial would be constructed in his memory by the SGPC and other voluntary organisations and the Punjab Government would donate funds for this cause. The Chief Minister honoured a number of “dhadis” with a gold medal, memento, sword and siropa. |
Protest march by DIET students ROPAR, Jan 3 — Students of the local District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) and unemployed ETT students today held a protest march in the town after holding a rally in front of the DIET building for scrapping the ‘sikhia karmi’ scheme. The students held a dharna on the road near the mini secretariat here and blocked traffic for about 15 minutes. They raised slogans against the district administration and the Punjab Government. Addressing the students, Mr Avineet Chadha, state general secretary of the Unemployed ETT Teachers’ Union, Punjab, warned the state government that they would launch an agitation if it did not call students’ organisations to initiate talks for the withdrawal of the ‘sikhia karmi’ scheme. Mr Jasbir Singh Kajauli, president, Unemployed ETT Teachers’ Union, Ropar district and Mr Ravinder Pappi, a student leader, also addressed the rally. Meanwhile, Mr Shamsher Singh Rai, a former Congress MLA from Chamkaur Sahib, has criticised the state government for its indifferent attitude towards the demands of the ETT students. He alleged that the government was appointing teachers through backdoor in the name of the ‘sikhia karmi’ scheme. |
Handling of hijack decried MOGA, Jan 3 (UNI) — President Lok Bhalai Party Balwant Singh Ramoowalia has criticised the handling of the situation arising out of hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane, IC 814. Mr Ramoowalia while talking with this reporter here today said that release of three militants had undermined the position of our country. It was clear that India had lost many friends while tackling the hijacking episode. Mr Ramoowalia criticised the expansion of the Punjab Cabinet at a time when the state was in dire straits. According to Mr Ramoowalia, the Vajpayee government had stopped the upgradation project of Amritsar airport to the level of international airport by the Gujral Government. This Rs 105 crore project was sanctioned by the Planning Commission in December 1997 and since April 1998 it was not approved by the pre-investment board. |
Baba Tara Singh’s anniversary observed TARN TARAN, Jan 3 — The 13th death anniversary of Baba Tara Singh of Sarhaliwale was observed yesterday at Sarhali village, 30 km from here, which was attended by more than one lakh devotees. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Pooran Singh, Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur, MP, Mr Surinder Singh Kairon, former MP besides Baba Nand Singh. Baba Inderjit Singh, Baba Heera Singh, Baba Hakam Singh, Baba Sukhwinder Singh and other heads of deras of the area addressed the gathering. |
Blood bank gets approval HOSHIARPUR, Jan 3 — The Central Licence Approving Authority, the Director General of Health Services, Government of India, has granted licence to Bhai Ghanayia Ji Charitable Blood Bank, Model Town, Hoshiarpur, according to Mr Bhupinder Singh Pahava, president of the bank, here today. Bhai Ghanayia Ji Charitable Blood Bank is the first charitable blood bank in the private sector in Hoshiarpur district and has been granted the licence for a running blood bank. Mr Pahava said the blood bank would not collect blood from the professional donors and would provide blood as per the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court. |
‘No Hindu jathas for Pak’ PHILLAUR, Jan 3 — No Hindu pilgrim jathas will be sent to Pakistan till an assurance of full security and protection is given by Pakistan. This was stated by the All-India Hindu Shiv Sena President, Mr Surinder Billa, while talking to newspersons here today. He said Hindu jathas would not visit Shri Katasraj on March 5 on Shivratri. He urged the Prime Minister to ban all Pakistani jathas to India due to the hijacking episode which involved Pakistani terrorists. |
Railway pensioners seek medical allowance LUDHIANA, Jan 3 — The Northern Railway Pensioners Welfare Association has expressed resentment over the non-payment of medical allowance to railway pensioners residing within municipal corporation limits. At a meeting of the pensioners held here yesterday, members regretted that in spite of a fax message sent to the Union Minister for Railways in this regard last month, nothing had been done so far and the pensioners were neither getting a medical allowance of Rs 100 nor being given OPD treatment at the Railway Hospital. |
Probe sought into corruption charges AMRITSAR, Jan 3 — The Punjab Congress General Secretary, Mr Raj Kumar has sought from the Punjab Governor a high-level probe into corruption charges levelled by two senior BJP leaders against certain Punjab Ministers and the Punjab BJP chief, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi. Two senior BJP members Mr Jagdish from Batala and Mr Satpal Gosain from Ludhiana had levelled these charges and said the ministers and the BJP chief had allegedly amassed huge wealth in the name of their parties. The Congress General Secretary in a statement here today asked the Governor to dismiss the Punjab ministry and initiate legal action against the "corrupt" ministers and the Punjab BJP chief. |
MC ignoring HC order on dairies AMRITSAR, Jan 3 — Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla (MLA) demanded the shifting of dairies out of the city, a long-pending demand of Amritsar citizens. She reminded the municipal corporation that the orders of the High Court dated June 30, 1998 had so far not been implemented and charged the corporation of having a vested interest in blocking implementation. |
One booked on rape charge RAMPURA PHUL ( Bathinda), Jan 3 — The local police has booked Karamjit Singh, alias Babli of Pirkot village allegedly for raping a woman of the same village and subsequently forcing her to commit suicide. Police sources said Karamjit Singh went to the house of the victim on August 19, 1999. He raped the victim, mother of two children. She burnt herself to death on August 20. The police treated the case as a matter of ‘abnormal death’ under Section 174 of the Cr P.C. The police did not record the dying declaration of the victim. Mr Bir Chand, the husband of the deceased moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Before committing suicide, the victim narrated the incident to her mother-in-law. The mother-in-law told the story to her husband. A formal complaint was lodged with the police. On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the local police registered a case against Karamjit Singh. The accused is yet to be arrested. |
Gang of thieves busted PATIALA, Jan 3 — With the arrest of seven persons, the district police today claimed to have busted a 14-member gang of thieves which used to drug co-passengers on a railway journey before looting them. Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu, SSP, said here today that the gang operated on the Jalandhar-Delhi rail route and had looted nearly 40 passengers. Their modus operandi was to get friendly with co-passengers and then offer them sweets or biscuits which contained a sleep-inducting drug. Mr Sidhu said the drug called 81-number Golli by the gang members could even kill. The SSP said that Inspector Jaswinder Singh Mangat, Assistant Sub-Inspector Sanjeev Kumar and Constable Balwinder Singh, who played a key role in catching the culprits, would be awarded. Mr Sidhu said the gang looted Mr Om Parkash at the local railway station here yesterday. Leads provided by the complainant and further investigation led the police to the gang’s hideout near Kali Devi Temple here today. A large number of stolen goods have been recovered. The SSP said interrogation of the accused have revealed that the gang consisted of 14 members. He said the police was carrying out raids to catch the remaining ones and other police districts have also been informed about this. |
12 held for gambling LUDHIANA, Jan 3 — The police has arrested 12 persons and registered a case under the Gambling Act against them. In another case, the police has arrested Hari Lal for indulging in ‘satta’ and a case under the Gambling Act has been registered. |
Torture decried AMRITSAR, Jan 3 — Decrying the torture meted out to Mr Balbir Singh and Tarsem Singh, Mr Satya Pal Dang today lashed at the state police department. The two belongs to Krishan Nagar, Chheharta in Amritsar district. Their wives are sisters. A brother-in-law of the two had complained to the police that they were in possession of an AK-47 rifle. Subsequently in 1991 the two were detained. They were let off on Mr Dang’s intervention. Subsequently, the two were arrested several times and let of on Mr dang’s intervention. |
Traders seek probe into exploitation PATIALA, Jan 3 (UNI) — The trading community of Punjab has demanded the constitution of a judicial commission to probe the alleged exploitation and fleecing of businessmen and traders by various state agencies and “irrational” taxation measures adopted by the State Government which have given a setback to the trade and industry in Punjab. The President of the Punjab Beopar Cell, Mr Ved Parkash Gupta, while talking to mediapersons here today said that the proposed judicial commission should look into after-trade measures taken by the state administration during the past 15 years and the exploitation of the millers and traders by the Food Corporation of India and the state agencies. Mr Gupta said traders were exploited to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees. He said politicians, bureaucrats and officials of the state agencies had formed a nexus to fleece the traders and businessmen by adopting anti-trade measures. This had become a permanent feature of governance of the State, he alleged. The imposition of 20 per cent sales tax by the State Government had given a blow to the trade and industry in Punjab and the revival of industry in Punjab had become impossible, he claimed. He added that “Jat phobia” had become the moving force for the Chief Minister who was taking to anti-trade and pro-agriculture policies. Explaining the “indifferent” attitude that the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, extended even to the agro-based sector, Mr Gupta said that the former Chief Minister of Punjab, the late Beant Singh, had constituted a high-powered committee headed by him to review the storage and movement of rice, but Mr Badal has not cared to form such a committee. The traders’ leader demanded that the state government should ensure fast movement of rice from Punjab to other States as the storage problem had become very acute in the State. In these circumstances, the traders and millers should be allowed to store milled rice in their premises in public interest, he suggested. |
NRIs urged to invest in Punjab HOSHIARPUR, Jan 3 — Addressing the annual convention of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) Sabha, Hoshiarpur district at the Services Club here today Mr B.K. Sirivastva, Commissioner Jalandhar division-cum-chairman of the NRIs Sabha, Punjab appealed to NRIs to set up industrial units in Punjab adding facilities for this would be given by the state. He said by setting up industry in Punjab NRIs could not only get a good return on their money but render service to the country by generating jobs. He said the Punjab NRI Sabha did commendable work in solving problems of NRI families living in the state. A non-political non-government organisation the Sabha was founded for promotion of NRI interests. Mr Prem Singh, President NRI Sabha Punjab said that there were more than 3000 regular members of the Sabha now. Enrolment of more NRIs was being done to make the body more affective. Mr Ajwinder Singh was unanimously elected President of the NRI Sabha, Hoshiarpur. |
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