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| Friday, January 7, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Punjab must give up ‘politics of populism’ Pak boars forage in Indian fields Breakdown at Ropar power plant Fight to continue: MLAs |
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Arrest of Akali jathedar demanded Chawla promises better medicare Overage YC men ‘to be’ removed Lakhanpal’s statement ‘uncalled for’ Safeguard regional aspirations: Badal Sud criticised for accepting berth Prem Gupta ‘carbon copy’ of Birdevinder
Specialised foreign courses in varsity A father’s grouse against Punjab Govt Badal visits school, finds teacher absent Students hold protest march
One held for holding out threats Factory making fake paint unearthed
White Paper sought on fiscal position
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Panel orders relief to rape victim BATHINDA, Jan 6 — The case of rape of a teenaged Dalit girl in Killinihalsinghwala village has taken a turn for the third time since its registration with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes ordering the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jaspal Singh and the SSP, Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain, to present a challan against the accused Malkit Singh, a nambardar, under Sections 374 and 376 of the IPC and Section 3 of the Prevention of Atrocities on Scheduled Caste Act and pay Rs 25,000 as compensation to the victim on January 4. The commission, before which Mr Jaspal Singh, Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain, Mr S.R. Ladhar, former Deputy Commissioner, Mr Harnek Singh Srah, former SSP and Mr Harbaj Singh, SP (H) appeared on January 4 following the issuance of summons to them, also ordered that a free counsel should also be arranged for the victim. The local police allegedly arranged the bail for the accused Malkit Singh, when it presented the challan before the Judicial Magistrate on September 22,1999, by deleting the offence of rape under Section 376 and atrocities against the Scheduled Castes under Section 3 of that Act. The accused Malkit Singh, who otherwise was not entitled to bail, got the bail when his offence was allegedly changed from rape to molestation by the local police. Mr Harbaj Singh, SP (H), who held investigations into the case ordered that on the basis of the chemical examination report, it was found that no rape had been committed. The district attorney, Mr G.S. Dhaliwal, while giving his opinion on the application of the victim and her family members said there was a prima facie offence of rape under Sections 374 and 376 of the IPC read with Section 3 of the Prevention of Atrocities on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act. Sources said taking suo motu notice of the alleged denial of justice to the rape victim, the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes issued summons to five officials and asked them to produce the relevant record pertaining to the rape case before it. Official sources said on the orders of the commission for the local police again presented a challan under Sections 374 and 376 of the IPC (rape) and Section 3 of the Prevention of Atrocities on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act on January 5 before the Judicial Magistrate. The medical examination of the victim was conducted by a board of doctors constituted by the Civil Hospital authorities here only after a direction was given in this regard by a Judicial Magistrate when the victim along with her mother knocked the doors of the court after failing to get any response from the police and civil hospital authorities. The case was registered against the accused only on the direction of then District Magistrate when it was found that as per the report of the district attorney, the rape offence had been committed. The district administration also conducted an inquiry into the conduct of two doctors of the Civil Hospital who allegedly refused to conduct medical examination of the victim. The Punjab Government also initiated a move to take necessary action against these doctors. Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, when contacted said directions of the commission which included the payment of Rs 25,000 to the victim and arrangement of a free counsel for her would be followed. He added that the commission had also given instructions to the SSP to inquire into the conduct of the officer who had conducted a probe into the case. |
Punjab must give up ‘politics of populism’ CHANDIGARH, Jan 6 — The politics of Punjab and economy are the twin topics of discussion among the common people and the policy-makers. There is not much on either front to cheer. Understandably, Punjab scene cannot be viewed in isolation. It has to be seen in the context of Indian economy and politics. Nevertheless, Punjab does need added attention to pull it out of the quagmire it is stuck in. The SAD-BJP Government has crossed the half-way mark of its five-year term. Notwithstanding its known vacillation on men and matters related to socio-economic, religio-political and administrative aspects the fact is that Punjab is under the lens. The latest topic to talk about and express concern over the way Punjab is positioned were the economists and policy-makers (both administrative and political-executive) who had assembled at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, from December 27 to 29. The occasion was the 82nd annual conference of the Indian Economic Association. There were as many as 30-odd papers pertaining to Punjab alone, encompassing its economy and allied fields. Culled from those papers certain recommendations or suggestions have been drafted for adoption by the bureaucracy and the political executive. These are contained in a book ‘‘Punjab Economy: Emerging Issues’’ edited by Dr R.S. Bawa and Dr P.S. Raikhy. Both of them are professors in the School of Economics at Guru Nanak Dev University; the former, Dr Bawa, is also the Registrar. The book was provided to delegates. Talking to TNS, Dr Bawa today said the ‘‘dynamism of Punjab economy is lost’’. The solution to its problems have to be both short and long term. The state will have to speed up its pace to provide literacy and education, strengthen the social security network, link programmes of poverty alleviation and social development (with equitable distribution) with family planning and interlink agriculture and industry. ‘‘It is not the time to recount the ‘‘success’ story of Punjab that was in the seventies and eighties. The problems of the nineties have dominated the state and ‘‘failures’’ on every front stare in the face. Both challenges and opportunities have to be dovetailed and Punjab developed, politically, administratively and economically in the context of the emerging systems of World Trade Organisation, liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation,’’ Dr Bawa added. Punjab policy-makers and those responsible for implementation of the policies and programmes at the cutting edge of the administration have to have a large perspective of the future needs. Punjab today is marked by a slow growth rate, agriculture, industry and service sectors are in trouble, and the exchequer is under greater strain. In fact the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr H.S. Soch, added by saying that "politics of populism has to be given a go-by. This has already cost the state dear. Besides diversification from deadly wheat-paddy rotation integration of agriculture with industry and promoting agro-industry is a pre-requisite now. At the same time, fiscal health has to be improved. Punjab today has no room for any "soft options". There has to be strict tax compliance and improper collection of taxes has to be put an end to". Will the new Minister for Excise and Taxation, Mr Adaish Partap Singh, who is son-in-law of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, show guts to net the tax evaders and plug the loopholes and leakages, often in connivance between the department and the trade and business? The main emerging issue, the therefore is how best to develop "infrastructure, bridge the gap between the production, supply and demand of power for improved industrialisation, and, of course, imparting education". Punjab expects the political executive to concentrate on "economic planning" oriented towards development and not merely fritter away energy time and money on administrative cosmetic touches for electoral gains. A state dependent upon agriculture for its economic growth has to act smartly and ensure if production and productivity go up, the economic condition of farmers should correspondingly improve. It is the age of biotechnology and genetic engineering and of processing raw farm produce for value addition. "The government, should frame a policy for economic pricing of agricultural inputs, especially irrigation, fertiliser and plant protection chemicals, etc, so that farmers make judicious use of these and shift to economic pattern of farming" said Dr Bawa. The industry provided only 11 per cent employment while, agriculture labour accounted for 56 per cent. The imbalance has to be removed. For that more emphasis on agro-industry and rural development has to be there. Punjab today has only 50 per cent of the revenue receipts available for "current spending". The remaining 50 per cent is used for meeting "interest liabilities and repayments" and state is in a deep debt-trap. Institutions and departments have no money. Some are on the verge of closure. Despite transfer of some functions to panchayati raj institutions for want of finance these remain a non-starter. Why not set up an institute of agro-industries to help people enter a new field since there was considerable market for processed food stuffs? The government with an army of 41 Cabinet and Minister of State should have no reason for sulking and cribbing or still pursuing populist policies. These increase dissatisfaction in different segments of society who ask for their share of the loot. The failure of the government to meet such aspirations and demands at zero price results in frustration, said Dr Bawa. There is a lesson, said Dr Bawa, for Punjab. "You can tax heavily and collect it ruthlessly without any reaction, if you assure people of spending it wisely on the development of the state and if the government means business". People expect business and governance, not speeches and a string of "dos and don’ts" meant only for the constituents. Thus the deliberations of that annual conference and the edited book on "Punjab Economy" should provide the powers that be enough cud to chew and act. |
Pak boars forage in Indian fields FEROZEPORE, Jan 6 — Herds of wild boar have been wreaking havoc on crops along the Indo-Pak border. Sources in the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab Wildlife Department said the problem is more acute in winter when herds nesting in sarkanda (wild grass) on the Pakistani side cross into adjoining fields of farmers on the Indian side. Agricultural land of farmers lying beyond the fencing, raised to check infiltration, is especially vulnerable as the animals forage at night when, because of border regulations, farmers cannot remain across the wire. This has forced some farmers to ring their fields with ‘live wire’ for the night. "Our soldiers get them (the wires) removed in the mornings", one BSF official said. The problem is most severe in areas where the growth of wild grass is thick. The problem may aggravate in the coming months, when the wheat matures. The BSF authorities at times allow farmers to use potash explosive stuffed into the flour balls as lethal bait. "We cannot allow farmers to use live wire", a BSF officer explains by way of justification. Punjab Wildlife Director, Mr Gurmeet Singh also admitted to having received complaints of animals from across the border foraging in Indian fields, but claimed helplessness as hunting of the animals was illegal under the Wild Life Protection Act. The problem is common to all the three border districts where Indian farmers' fields lie beyond the border fencing. |
Breakdown at Ropar power plant ROPAR, Jan 6 — Following a disturbance in the Northern Grid at about 10.10 a.m. today, four units of the Ropar Thermal Plant (RTP) which were generating power at that time tripped and stopped power generation. The remaining two units (number two and four) were already closed. The number four unit is on annual overhaul while number two unit is under repair for boiler leakage. Due to failure in the grid, the residents in the town and nearby areas remained without power for about eight hours. The power shutdown also affected normal life, especially in offices and business establishments. Mr Satish Mittal, Chief Engineer of RTP, said that all four units resumed operations this afternoon. He said the three units (number 1, 3 and 5) had been synchronised with the grid while the fourth unit (number 6) was in the process of synchronisation and would start power generation at about 8.00 p.m. According to sources, earlier in the day, the PSEB authorities at Patiala, ordered closure of all outgoing feeders from the 132 KV grid sub-stations at Ropar and Asron in the wake of low generation. Due to this order, power supply to this town could be restored only at 6.15 p.m. |
Fight to continue: MLAs JALANDHAR, Jan 6 —The ongoing fight in the Punjab unit of the BJP took a new turn today when the two dissident MLAs, who had levelled serious allegations against the party’s state unit chief Daya Singh Sodhi and Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, the Local Bodies Minister, said that they had committed a mistake by going to the press. Mr Jagdish Sahni and Mr Satya Pal Gosain, the two BJP MLAs, who apparently used the occasion as a show of strength for they were accompanied by about 70 panches and sarpanches of the Batala area, the home constituency of Mr Sahni , however, reiterated that their "fight" against corruption will continue and they had already submitted "documentary proof" to substantiate their charges of corruption against Mr Sodhi and Mr Tandon. According to sources in the dissidents’ camp, the supporters of the two leaders had initially planned to raise slogans against Mr Sodhi and had even armed themselves with tomatoes to greet him. There was, however, no unruly scene during the course of meeting and Mr Sahni and Mr Gosain left the venue peacefully after meeting the state unit chief. The two leaders, during a press conference last week, had openly alleged that Mr Tandon and Mr Sodhi, had amassed crores of rupees during their tenure as a minister and the party president, respectively. The two leaders, admitted they had not been invited to the state office-bearers’ meeting presided over by Mr Sodhi here today, but had come "on their own" to express their view point to Mr Sodhi in his capacity as of the state unit chief. Talking to the media after meeting Mr Sodhi, the two MLAs, who were a bit reluctant, said they had come as they were apprehensive that an ex-parte decision might be taken against them for their outburst against the two senior leaders. "We have talked to Mr Sodhi and he has assured that we will be informed before final decision on the issue," said Mr Sahni amid efforts by some district unit official to prevent him from speaking to mediapersons at the circuit house, the venue of the meeting. Mr Sahni said no feeling of resentment was prevailing in his mind or that of Mr Gosain. "We don’t want any office. Our aim is to keep the party strength intact", he said. On the contrary, talking to the media later, Mr Sodhi said both leaders had expressed their displeasure over their non-inclusion in the ministry on the grounds that many people who were junior to them had been inducted. Their view was that their names were there in the first list of people to be inducted and were later struck off, said Mr Sodhi. Mr Sahni, when asked why they had come to a person against whom they had levelled serious allegations, said the allegations were at "personal level", but they had met Mr Sodhi as he was president of the state unit of the party. He said Mr Sodhi did not ask him for any proof to substantiate his allegations. Expressing of reservation, Mr Sahni said," "We will settle the matter at the party forum. In fact, what was wrong was our going out of the way and taking the matter to the press, which has unduly exaggerated the matter". He said they would hand over the "documentary evidence" against Mr Sodhi and Mr Tandon to Mr Narinder Modi, in charge party affairs of the state. "We will make the corrupt resign from the party as well as government berths," resolved Mr Sahni. Mr Sodhi said 10 out of 14 state unit office-bearers of the party, who were present in today’s meeting had authorised him to take action or initiate a dialogue with Mr Sahni and Mr Gosain. "First of all we will talk to them and see their reaction then we will think of any action against them". He said the party high command had been apprised of the situation. Meanwhile, it was learnt that Gosain and Mr Sahni have left for Delhi to join Mr Madan Mohan Mittal and Mr Manoranjan Kalia, two Tandon detractors, who are said to be camping in the Capital to express resentment over the developments in the state unit of the party to the party high command. |
Chawla promises better medicare PHILLAUR, Jan 6 — The Punjab Health Minister, Dr Baldev Chawla, has appealed to all BJP leaders to sink their differences at party meeting instead of issuing statements in the Press. Talking to The Tribune after assuming charge as Health Minister, Dr Chawla said here today that his top priority would be provide better medical facilities to people in government hospitals and end corruption. Answering a question on the shortage of medicines in government hospitals and the sale of medicines meant for hospitals in the market. Dr Chawla said the state government would ensure the availability of life-saving drugs and commonly used medicines in civil hospitals. He warned that senior medical officer concerned would be held responsible, where government medicines were found sold in the open market. The minister asked all government doctors to adopt a sympathetic attitude towards patients. He said efforts would be made to provide better medical facilities in civil hospitals. When asked to comment upon growing factionalism in the state limit of the BJP, Dr Chawla said the BJP was a disciplined party and indiscipline in the party would not be tolerated. About allegations levelled by BJP MLAs Satpal Gosain and Jagdish Sahni, Dr Chawla said that these allegations were levelled only to malign senior leaders. |
Overage YC men ‘to be’ removed PHAGWARA, Jan 6 — The All-India Congress Committee Secretary and in charge of six frontal wings of the committee, Ms Santosh Chaudhary today told a Press conference here that a change was on the cards in these wings for activating them. She said she had held meetings with national presidents of these wings, including the Youth Congress (YC), the Mehila Congress, the INTUC, the NSUI, the Seva Dal and the freedom fighters’ cell and was studying the report received from them. Overage persons in the Youth Congress would be removed and the wings would be revamped, she said. She said she agreed with the statement of RSS chief Rajinder Singh that the release of the three terrorists in the hijack case had demoralised security forces and shown India in poor light. Demanding a review of security arrangements at airports and air-planes, she said speedy trials and prompt punishments to terrorists was essential. An MP from Phillaur and member of the Railway Standing Committee, Mrs Chaudhary said top priority would be given to the construction of a railway bridge at the local Satnampura crossing. |
Arrest of Akali jathedar demanded PATIALA, Jan 6 — A deputation of the local tehsil staff and the district Bar Association met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Punjabi University here today and demanded immediate arrest of a Shiromani Akali Dal jathedar who threatened a tehsildar and others with dire consequences. The district police here had yesterday registered a case against Mohinder Singh Baghrian, who claimed to be the General Secretary of the Youth Shiromani Akali Dal and had been accused of snatching a registration copy form the local tehsildar Daljit Singh Chhena and misbehaving with the tehsil staff and advocates present in the tehsildar’s court. According to the FIR the incident took place on January 3 when the accused Mohinder Singh Baghrian came with some guards and supporters to the office of Mr Daljit Singh Chhena, tehsildar, and demanded registration copy of a land sale. The tehsildar informed him that the registration copy could not be issued because of a stay order by a district court on the land deal. At this Mr Baghrian, according to the police, abused the officer and used foul language, threatening him of dire consequence as he was the General Secretary of Youth Akali Dal. The accused is yet to be arrested. |
Lakhanpal’s statement ‘uncalled for’ PATIALA, Jan 6 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that Finance Secretary K. R. Lakhanpal should not have made any statement on the policy matter of power as it had created confusion among people. Talking to newsmen at Akad village, about 15 km from here in Rajpura block, the Chief Minister said senior state functionaries should refrain from making such statements. He said the state government did not have any plan to review its decision on supplying free power to the farm sector. Mr Badal said there was no need to give any statement on the power policy by the Finance Secretary as the state government had not taken any such decision. Replying to a question, the Chief Minister said the government had taken a decision to open IAS and PCS training centres in all three universities of the state in order to improve chances of preparing candidates in national and regional competitions. The Chief Minister chose not to answer any question on the jumbo cabinet formed by him recently. Ghanour legislator Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpura chided newsmen for asking this question. Earlier, however, at the inauguration of the international seminar on ethnicity, the Chief Minister gave his mind, saying before the elections partymen wanted to become legislators, then ministers and finally wanted portfolios of their choice. Mr Mukhmalpura, who was on stage at the university function, bore the talk with a grin. |
Safeguard regional aspirations: Badal PATIALA, Jan 6 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today, while giving a call for safeguarding regional aspirations, said ethnic problems had arisen in India due to its unitary system of governance under which linguistic, cultural, social and economic aspirations of ethnic groups had been ignored. Delivering his inaugural address at the three-day international conference on ethnicity being organised by the Department of Correspondence Courses at the Punjabi University campus here, the Chief Minister said ethnic conflicts and tensions were increasing at the global level and heads of states of all countries must sit together to ponder over this issue. He alleged in India the Congress was responsible for ethnic strife. He gave the example of Punjab, saying the state had been discriminated against even though other states had been reorganised on the base of language after Independence. He said it was due to this that people had later on put their trust in regional parties. Calling for the need for a federal system of governance, Mr Badal said the states had presently been deprived of financial, legislative and political powers. He said the state should be given more autonomy and more financial powers so that they could meet the aspirations of the people. In his presidential address, Punjabi University Vice Chancellor Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia said that throughout the world today ethno-social, ethno-religious and ethno-political contradictions had taken the place of class contradictions which dominated social scene earlier. He said ethnic contradictions were not transformation of class struggles or of economic tensions, rather ethnicity has arisen acutely owing to the growing self-consciousness on the part of ethnic groups and the minorities about their culture, language, religion and historical memory. Dr Ahluwalia further said contrary to the earlier belief, the processes and forces of modernisation had accentuated ethnic consciousness. Dr Ahluwalia introduced and propounded the concept of identitive multivalency of different types of identities to be treated as complementary to each other and not antagonistic to one another. This, he said, was possible only through a holistic, integrated approach to ethnicity, in place of the present conventional dualistic approach which contra-distinguishes national identity on the one hand, and ethnic and religious identities on the other hand. Dr William Safran from the USA, while speaking on the subject of ‘ethnicity in the First World, the Third World and Ex-Communist World’, said the process of globalisation and democratisation has accentuated the ethnic conflicts at all levels. |
Sud criticised for accepting berth HOSHIARPUR, Jan 6 — The Hindu Shiv Sena’s district unit, in a meeting here today condemned Mr Tikshan Sud, MLA for accepting a berth in the Badal ministry recently at the expense of bifurcation of the district. The Council of Ministers recently approved in principle inclusion of some villages of Hoshiarpur district in Nawanshahr district because of their geographical proximity to Nawanshahr. Mr Vijay Bhardwaj vice-president, Hindu Shiv Sena in a press release said Mr Tikshan Sud did not letter a word of protest against the move and had cheated people of Hoshiarpur by accepting the berth at the cost of division of the district. He warned that if the proposal was not shelved the local Hindu Shiv Sena unit would hold demonstrations and dharnas. The meeting also condemned expansion of the cabinet in the midst of a financial crisis. |
Prem Gupta ‘carbon copy’ of Birdevinder CHANDIGARH, Jan 6 — The Deputy Leader of the Punjab Congress Legislature Party, Mr Romesh Chander Dogra criticised the statement of Mr Prem Gupta in which he has questioned the views of Ch Jagjit Singh on financial emergency and his leadership in the CLP. Mr Gupta, he said, was not a member of the legislature party. Thus he had no right to speak about the affairs of the party. Mr Gupta was a "turncoat" and was in the habit of changing parties. Mr Dogra described him as a "carbon copy" of Mr Birdevinder Singh as both of them had roots in Akali-based politics. Mr Dogra welcomed the decision taken by Capt. Amarinder Singh to suspend Mr Birdevinder Singh from the party’s primary membership. He hoped that party would take stern action against all these people who had no confidence in the party leadership and created indiscipline. |
Specialised foreign courses in varsity PATIALA, Jan 6 — Punjabi University has decided to start specialised courses in collaboration with a foreign university from the next academic session. The courses being offered initially will be specialisations in business management and information technology. The university is talking with three foreign universities in this regard and has also offered to run a biotechnology course, keeping in view the advanced infrastructure available with it. The university Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, said under the collaboration students would study on the campus here for one year and go abroad to finish their remaining two-year course. An allowance had been kept for students. He said these students would be given a bridge course and absorbed in the mainstream relevent courses. The Vice-Chancellor said the university expected to earn from this venture as the collaborating university would be offered infrastructure on the campus after 3 p.m. by which time teaching of regular courses is over. The participating university would also profit as it would get infrastructure and trained man power. He said the teaching faculty for the courses would come from the participating university. Later a faculty exchange programme would be initiated under which teachers would go abroad and broaden their horizons which would benefit the students. Under the proposed agreement, the selection of students for the courses would be done jointly and the curriculum for them would also be prepared jointly. Wisconsin University, which has proposed to start courses in Chandigarh, may also come to Punjabi University. Dr Ahluwalia said though Wisconsin was welcome to start courses at the university, proposals for collaboration were being discussed with three other American universities, while declining to name the universities concerned, he said a definite proposal would be finalised soon. He said the participating university could also be given land to develop infrastructure it wanted as the university still had 75 acres of open ground. |
A father’s grouse against Punjab Govt CHANDIGARH, Jan 6 — Mr Hardial Singh, a resident of Kot Fatta Village in Bathinda district whose son, Darshan Singh, was killed in action at the China border, has been running from pillar to post for getting the promised financial help. Mr Hardial Singh in a statement said he had sent a number of representations to the Punjab Government and none of these has been acknowledged, let alone giving the promised compensation. "The supreme sacrifice that my son made for his motherland has remained unnoticed and without giving him proper respect and honour", the statement adds. The aggrieved father said his son, Mr Gurjant Singh, had submitted an application for a government job on compassionate grounds, being dependent brother of the deceased soldier. He, too, had been denied job till now. Mr Hardial Singh has urged the Punjab Government to treat the sacrifice of his son on a par with those who laid down their lives in the Kargil war. |
Badal visits school, finds teacher absent CHANDIGARH, Jan 6 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, made a surprise visit to Government Senior Secondary School, Banur in Patiala district, today and found Ms Santosh Kumari, mathematics teacher, absent from duty. He ordered initiation of disciplinary action against the erring employee. The Chief Minister listened to the problems of the teachers and interacted with students of the school. It was brought to his notice that rooms were not adequate for the students and there was no boundary wall for the play ground. The Chief Minister announced Rs 2 lakh for the school and said early steps would be taken for the construction of the boundary wall. |
Students hold protest march JALANDHAR, Jan 6 — Scores of students of the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Rampur Lallian village, took out a procession from the institute to the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today. The students were demanding early declaration of result of first and second year examinations of the institute. Addressing the protestors, Mr Navpreet Balli, the president of the DIET Students Welfare Association, urged the authorities concerned to declare the result of DIET students at the earliest. The students also submitted a memorandum of demands to the Deputy Commissioner. |
Karamchari Dal dharna today PATIALA, Jan 6 — The Punjab State Karamchari Dal will stage a dharna tomorrow in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office as part of the chain of dharnas organised all over the state from December 15 last year. Mr Hari Singh Tohra, President of the Dal, said the dharna was being staged to protest against the non-acceptance of general long-pending demands of the employees. |
School board to introduce two new topics PATIALA, Jan 6 — The Punjab School Education Board will introduce topics of drug de-addiction and human rights in the subject of social studies from the next academic session. Stating this here today, Mr Kehar Singh, Chairman of the board, said the two issues had assumed great importance in the modern society. He said all modalities of introducing the two topics had been completed. What remains is to decide the actual contents to be taught. He said the topics may be introduced from the middle or higher secondary as per the decision of the board. |
One held for holding out threats KHANNA, Jan 6 — The Khanna police has claimed to have arrested a person who had threatened to blast the Mathura-Jalandhar oil pipeline. According to the S.S.P. Khanna, Mr R.L. Bhagat, the person had held out the threat to the Jalandhar oil depot. The depot officials informed the police. The police with help of the department of telecommunications tracked down the threat calls to a public call office at Garhi village under Machhiwara police station. The police arrested the suspects with the help of the PCO owner. He has been identified as Manoj Kumar of Garhi village and an employee of the Indian Oil Corporation. A case has been registered under Sections 426/437,506 and 507 of the IPC against Manoj. |
Factory making fake paint unearthed BATHINDA, Jan 6 — The police has unearthed a factory which had been making paint under popular brand names for the past many months. Police sources said acting on a tipoff, the police has raided certain premises in the city and seized some quantity of fake paints. The accused, who have been identified are yet to be arrested. Mr J.K. Jain, SSP, when contacted, while confirming the seizure of some quantity of fake paint being produced in the local factory said a case against Ajay Maheshwari, Sanjay, Suneet, Ramesh and Surinder had been registered under Sections 420, 481, 485 and 486 of the IPC. The accused had absconded. A few months ago, the city police had unearthed a factory making fake cough syrup in the city under a popular brand name. |
Truck crushes boy ROPAR, Jan 6 — Gopal, 8, was killed on the spot in a road mishap near Sainik Rest House here last evening. According to an information, Gopal and another boy were going on a bicycle were hit by a truck. Gopal fell was allegedly crushed to death. The local police has registered a case under Sections 279, 304-A and 427 of the IPC. The truck driver sped away the truck. |
Four hurt in family feud FATEHGARH SAHIB, Jan 6 — Four persons were injured at Mohalla Harlalpura in Sirhind town of the district today evening. All the four have been referred to the Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. According to information, two brothers Amru and Raunki Ram, had an heated exchange over a sale of wooden cart. Mr Amru allegedly attacked the family of Raunki Ram with a knife and injured his son Som Nath, wife Banti and the third son and a passerby. After injuring all the three he ran towards the railway station and jumped before a running train. The train threw him away. The attacker was taken to Patiala in a serious condition by the Railway police. The police has registered a case. |
White Paper sought on fiscal position JALANDHAR, Jan 6 — Mr Jasdeep Malhotra, secretary of the District Congress Committee, has urged the Punjab Government to issue a White Paper on the worsening fiscal position of the state. In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Malhotra said the White Paper should be issued without delay as people the right to know the factors responsible for the sorry state of affairs. He alleged that the SAD-BJP combine had added 15 more members to the Cabinet just to appease a section of partymen. |
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