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| Saturday, February 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
Stir to ‘liberate’ Akal
Takht Jethuke firing orders
‘missing’ Debate on terrorism by BIC Punjab angry over CACP move on
wheat price Punjab to have electronic meters |
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Shiv Sena's plea to Jagir Kaur
PM
coming to Jalandhar
Doctors threaten stir from Feb 10 AIDS awareness camp ends 50-year-old choe dispute resolved MP decries “Water” row
Non-gazetted staff team meets Mann Patiala to be leprosy-free
Dean gets notice
|
Stir to ‘liberate’
Akal Takht AMRITSAR, Feb 4 — Giving a fresh twist to the crisis in the Panth, SGPC executive members belonging to the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal led by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and the SAD (Amritsar) led by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, have said both Akali Dal factions would launch a campaign to “liberate” Akal Takht from “government control”. Immediately after they were pardoned by Akal Takht for their role in the implementation of the controversial Nanakshahi calendar, the three executive members, Mr Harbans Singh Majpur and Mr Gurbax Singh Purain (SHSAD) and Mr Jagdhir Singh Katron (SAD-Amritsar), told mediapersons that Bhai Ranjit Singh was the “real Jathedar” who was “un-constitutionally removed by the pro-Badal executive last year. Asked why they had appeared before Akal Takht following the “hukamnama” (edict) issued by Giani Puran Singh, they said it was the duty of every Sikh to bow his head before Akat Takht. “It is the supreme temporal seat for the Sikhs the world over”, they say, reiterating that Giani Puran Singh had been appointed Jathedar in gross violation of the Sikh “Maryada”. All three executive members urged Akal Takht to summon Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and President of the SAD, for “repeatedly denigrating” the authority of Akal Takht. They alleged the present crisis in the Panth was the direct outcome of the “wrong” policies pursued by Mr Badal. They also demanded resignation of Bibi Jagir Kaur as SGPC chief as she stood “excommunicated” from the Panth. They claimed they had been “misguided” by Bibi Jagir Kaur on the Nanakshahi calendar. “Though we were ignorant about the implementation of the calendar even then, we appeared before Akal Takht, they said. They also urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to summon all those who continued to associate with Bibi Jagir Kaur even after her excommunication. Bhai Ram Singh, General
Secretary, SAD (Mann), Mr Onkar Singh Arora, President,
Mr B.S. Sodhi, Mr Harbir Singh Sandhu, Mr B.S. Gill and
many leaders of the SHSAD and the SAD (Amritsar) were
present at the press conference. |
Akal Takht to summon gurdwara
official AMRITSAR, Feb 4 — Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh has clearly indicated that the manager of the Gurdwara Tutti Gandhi Sahib ( Muktsar) would be summoned at the Takht for presenting a ‘siropa’ (robe of honour) to Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC chief who has been excommunicated from the Panth for implementing the Nanakshahi calendar. He also hinted that an official of Sohan Singh Bhagwan Kaur Charitable Hospital may be summoned for presenting ‘Mai Bhgo Memorial Award’ to the Bibi yesterday. Giani Puran Singh said action against the five Sikh High Priests who had challenged the ‘hukamnama’ issued by him from Guna (Madhya Pradesh) was also “under consideration”. He parried questions whether he would summon Mr Zora Singh Mann, member of Parliament, or state minister Sujan Singh who attended the function where Bibi Jagir Kaur was awarded the medal. “Everybody who attended the function cannot be summoned,” he said. Bibi Jagir Kaur, when contacted by TNS said she had not yet received a certified copy of the ‘hukamnama’ (edict). She refused to answer whether she would appear before Akal Takht or not. Dr Gurbachan Singh, Secretary, SGPC, who received a copy of the “hukamnama from Giani Puran Singh two days ago failed to deliver the same to Bibi Jagir Kaur for the second consecutive day today. He said he would deliver the same at the earliest so that the Bibi could take a decision in this regard. Sources said Bibi Jagir Kaur had no option but to appear before Akal Takht as the entire SGPC executive had already endorsed the ‘hukamnama’. Supporters of the Bibi feel that she has been “isolated” on the issue as the Chief Minister has failed to salvage her position. They suggest Bibi Jagir Kaur should adopt a “wait and watch” policy till the Nawanshahr byelection. Some senior leaders of the SAD want the Bibi to apply to Akal Takht for re-admission into the Panth at the earliest as much damage has already been done. Giani Puran Singh has already clarified that Bibi Jagir Kaur need not resign as SGPC chief. Mr Balbir Singh Naushehra Pannu, Senior Vice-President, SGPC, answering queries of mediapersons, said Bibi Jagir Kaur had received the ‘siropa’ (robe of honour) at Muktsar as she was yet to receive a certified copy of the “hukamnama”. “It has happened due to a communication gap”, he explained. He claimed Bibi Jagir Kaur continued to be the SGPC chief as the Akal Takht chief had clarified that she could not be directed to resign. Giani Mohan Singh, Head Priest, Golden Temple, talking to TNS has reiterated that the ‘hukamnama’ issued by Giani Puran Singh from Guna was not in accordance with Sikh traditions. He, however, said the joint statement issued by the Sikh High Priests challenging the ‘hukamnama’ was neither an edict nor a directive. “It was just a suggestion that hukamnamas should be issued from Akal Takht alone”. “If the Hukamnama issued by Giani Puran Singh could be considered a genuine one, then we must implement the edict of December 31, 1998, issued by Bhai Ranjit Singh, the then Jathedar of Akal Takht”. This hukamnama, with the
signatures of all five Sikh High Priests, had asked the
Akali factions to maintain a status quo till April 15,
1999”. |
Head Priest’s claim AMRITSAR, Feb 4 — Giani Mohan Singh, Head Priest, Golden Temple, has claimed that certain SGPC functionaries had approached him once again to accept the post of Jathedar, Akal Takht, in the last week of January. “However, I declined the offer on the plea that the Head Priest of the Golden Temple is senior to the Jathedar of Akal Takht”, he said. Giani Puran Singh was approached by the pro-Badal group of the SGPC last year with the offer when Bhai Ranjit Singh was removed from the post and Giani Mohan Singh had declined to oblige. However, Dr Gurbachan
Singh Bachan, SGPC Secretary, denied that any such offer
was made to Giani Mohan Singh. |
Jethuke firing orders
‘missing’ JETHUKE (Bathinda) Feb 4 — Even as the magisterial probe into the killing of two Dalit youths allegedly by the police in the armed clash between the BKU(Ekta) activists and the police here on January 31 has begun, the police authorities are ‘searching’ for the necessary orders of the Duty Magistrate required for resorting to fire to disperse the ‘mob’. Official sources said that Mr Upjeet Singh Brar, Duty Magistrate, who was present at the spot, did not give any order to the police to resort to firing. According to the sources, the absence of Duty Magistrate’s order regarding resorting to fire to disperse the BKU(Ekta) activists, who had jammed the rail traffic in protest against the overcharging of fare by bus operators, was worrying the police authorities. Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, when contacted, said that main thrust the magisterial probe concentrated on facts that under which circumstances the police resorted to fire, did the situation demand firing and why did the Duty Magistrate not give any order for firing to the police? He added the district administration was not opposed to any judicial probe into the matter as demanded by number of political parties. The main concern of the district administration was that truth should prevail. He pointed out that the magisterial probe would probe all other aspects of the situation which developed in the village before and after the clash. The district police authorities on the other hand had alleged that BKU (Ekta) activists, who turned hostile while talks were being held with them, attacked the police and some of them opened fire in which two police men suffered injuries. The police authorities also alleged that protesters had also tried to set a passenger train on fire which had been detained by them. The police had fired in the air for dispersing the mob. However, the villagers denied the allegations made by the police. They pointed out that policemen started firing by pointing their guns directly on the protesters without giving any warning. Meanwhile, the villagers are agitated over the fact that residents who are reportedly missing are in police custody. Mr Janitor Kumar Jain, SSP, said that there was not a single villager in the police custody except for those who had been arrested by the police in connection with a criminal case. A senior police official alleged that no senior civil official was present on the spot to guide them and to persuade the protesters who were turning violent and making provocative speeches. He alleged that BKU (Ekta) activists deliberately violated the law by jamming the rail traffic. He added that at the meeting of BKU activists and mini bus operators convened by him in January, the operators had agreed to charge the old rate of fare on the routes mentioned by the BKU activists but the activists were not willing to accept any offer. The activists did not listen any plea made by him during the negotiations. On the other hand, the
BKU activists alleged that they were forced to jam the
rail traffic as the policemen had arrested their four
leaders by cheating while they were coming back to the
village after attending the meeting convened by Mr Bhatti
at Bathinda. |
Debate on terrorism by BIC CHANDIGARH, Feb 4 — The Bradlaugh International Centre (BIC), planned on the lines of India International Centre in New Delhi, is all set to become functional later this month with a colloquy on a subject that has been traumatising all societies in general and democracies in particular — terrorism. The centre has received confirmation from a former Prime Minister, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Farooq Abdullah; and a former Director-General of the Punjab Police, Mr K.P.S. Gill. Besides, the president of the centre and a former Governor of Punjab-cum-Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen BKN Chhibber (retd), will also be among speakers, says Mrs Anuradha Gupta, honorary secretary of the centre. Besides the colloquium, the centre has decided to coincide with it, a couple of exhibitions, including one about paintings on terrorism and other on books that have been written about the problem of terrorism, which of late, has become a global menace. The purpose of the colloquium, says Mrs Gupta, is to bring together those who have dealt with the problem hands-on, as the head of the country; as the head of a state affected most by terrorism as Commander of the Armed Forces battling terrorists; and the Director-General of Police combating terrorism. The most recent cases of international terrorism include the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane as the entire country lived through the agony of 160-odd countrymen who were held hostage inside the aircraft at Kabul. The Kargil operations had been yet another chapter in the history of international terrorism in India. The colloquium is structured to encourage participation by the members, to speak, share, reflect and think, adds Mrs Gupta. Mr Gujral will speak on "Terrorism in India: global response" probably focussing on response from other countries and organisations like the United Nations, etc. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister has been given the subject of "The politics of terrorism, ways out " . Both Mr KPS Gill and General Chhibber will focus on "Terrorism : Issues and strategies" giving their perceptions of handling and countering terrorism. This will be the major
function of the Bradlaugh centre, the building of which
is to come up on Madhya Marg in Sector 15 adjoining the
Punjab Congress Bhavan. |
Punjab angry over CACP move on
wheat price CHANDIGARH, Feb 4 — Punjab is livid over the reported decision of the commission on agricultural costs and prices (CACP) to recommend the same price of wheat procurement Rs 550 a quintal — as it prevailed last year. With the new harvest round the corner, if there is no enhancement in the minimum support price of wheat it would cause avoidable embarrassment to the state government, which is part and parcel of the National Democratic Alliance. The SAD chief and Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is a known friend of the farmers. In fact, informed sources told TNS, Punjab had recommended a price of Rs 694 a quintal for wheat against its demand of Rs 670 a quintal last rabi season. At that time the CACP had shot down the proposal and pegged the minimum support price at Rs 550 a quintal, much to the chargin of the wheat growers. Mr Badal is reported to have written to the Union Minister for Agriculture, Mr Nitish Kumar, protesting against the CACP recommendation. He has urged the minister to keep in mind the cost of cultivation which has increased manifold over that of last year before finalising the MSP for wheat. Punjab is a major producer of wheat it being the main rabi crop. The foggy weather in January was causing worry as was the continuing dry spell. Farmers prayed for rain. Though cold weather was good dry weather was bad for wheat. Wheat is sown in an area of 33.20 lakh hectares of which 60,000 hectares is rainfed. The rest of the area is canal-irrigated. The CACP has in fact not been very responsive to Punjab’s recommendations on the minimum support price for foodgrains, this is borne by the fact that even in the case of paddy last year, while, the state had suggested Rs 570 and Rs 625 a quintal for common and superior varieties, respectively, the CACP had fixed Rs 490 and Rs 520, respectively. It is not clear whether Punjab’s request on higher MSP for wheat now would be entertained by the minister. The Chief Minister is
expected to take up the issue with Prime Minister
Vajpayee, who is scheduled to visit Jalandhar on February
6. |
Punjab to have electronic
meters PATIALA, Feb 4 — In a bid to stop power theft and improve the financial position of the Punjab State Electricity Board, the new management has decided to replace all electro-magnetic meters in the state with electronic meters in the next two years. Disclosing this here today in an interview with The Tribune, newly appointed PSEB Chairman G.S. Sohal said the very survival of the board depended on stopping power thefts and it had been decided to concentrate on this issue. He said replacing all electro-magnetic meters with electronic ones was a major step in this direction. He said an exercise was undertaken to install these meters in industrial units around one year back which had been successful. He said this would now be extended to all consumers under a self-financing scheme. He said new meters would be installed zone wise with resultant revenue paying for further installation. Mr Sohal said the board had also decided to start five-dedicated police stations to tackle the problem of power theft. He said the police stations would be opened At Bathinda, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mandi Gobindgarh and Jalandhar. He said each police station would look after one zone and would be under the control of an Additional Director-General of Police . The new Chairman said there would be no additional burden on the board due to the establishment of these centres as the board already had a vigilance cell and personnel would be taken out from the cell to staff the police stations. He said the stations would only entertain cases relating to theft of energy and pilferage of board material. He said the next major target of the board was complete computerisation. He said an IT plan covering customer services, accounting, business management and human resource development had been finalised. He said it was felt that energy accountability was the key on which the financial viability of the board hinged . Mr Sohal said the board was also examining the existing commercial accounting system in order to establish accuracy of financial dealings and arrive at justified tariffs. He said the exercise was being done to rationalise the present tariff slabs. He said the slabs would be simplified so that they could be better understood by the consumers. He said it had also been decided to select thrust areas where electricity supply would be increased. He said commercial production centres would benefit from this scheme. He said an effort would also be made to bring about overall economy of operations by upgrading inventory control and scrap disposing systems. When asked about his
reaction to a recent statement by the state Finance
Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh, that restructuring of the
PSEB was inevitable, he said a decision to this effect
had to be taken at the government level. He said if a
restructuring was to take place the interests of around
one lakh employees of the board would also have to be
watched. He said though there was no downsizing plan at
present, the board was not filling vacancies created by
four to five thousand employees retiring every year. He
said an attempt would be made to economise on manpower
and run the board on commercial lines. |
Shiv Sena's plea to Jagir Kaur AMRITSAR, Feb 4 — Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, President, all-India Shiv Sena, has urged Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, to present herself before Akal Takht as she had implemented the controversial Nanakshahi calendar which had "divided" the festivals which were being celebrated by the Hindus and Sikhs unitedly. He said from time immemorial, Indians had been celebrating all festivals on the basis of the traditional Bikrami Samvat and hence there was no reason to implement the controversial Nanakshahi calendar. He alleged that it was made by a Canada-based Sikh, Mr Paul Singh Purewal, at the instance of "some agencies". Supporting the stand
taken by Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht, he said
he had taken a bold stand by banning the implementation
of the new calendar. |
Jagir Kaur’s adviser resigns AMRITSAR, Feb 4 (UNI) — Mr Jagtar Singh Virdi, Media Adviser to the SGPC Chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, today tendered his resignation from the post. In his brief resignation letter here, Mr Virdi said ‘‘intense workload’’ has forced him to put in his papers and that he could not carry on with his duties as he had been appointed as a lecturer in a private college at Patiala. Mr Virdi was appointed
Media Advisor by Bibi Jagir Kaur last year. |
PM coming to Jalandhar CHANDIGARH, Feb 4 —The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, will visit Jalandhar on February 6 to preside over a private function, where he will be presented a draft for Rs 10 crore towards the Prime Minister's Relief Fund to help the families of Kargil martyrs. The Chief Minister, Mr
Parkash Singh Badal, will welcome him. Dr Farooq
Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir; Mr Prem
Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh; Mr Arun
Shourie and Mr Chaman Lal Gupta (both union ministers)
and Mr Narinder Modi, general secretary, BJP; are
expected to join Mr Badal in welcoming the Prime
Minister. |
School block in war
heroes’ memory FAZILKA: Mr Surjit Kumar Jyani, Forest Minister, inaugurated a school block constructed in memory of the Kargil war heroes at Lalowali village, 6 km from here, earlier this week. The block has been raised at the initiative of Mr Raj Kishore Kalra, headmaster of school, with the cooperation of village residents and school children, in six months. It has been decorated with photographs of revolutionaries like Subhas Chandra Bose, Chandra Shekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh. Addressing a large rural gathering, Mr Jyani lauded the construction of block and said the Kargil conflict had made it amply clear that India was strong enough to teach a lesson to its enemies. He exhorted teachers to impart moral science education to students as it was essential for national building. The minister also honoured school students who had been awarded President’s guides and scouts certificates. Mr Jyani announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for all-round development of the school and Rs 25,000 to the village panchayat. Mr Sher Singh, MLA from
Jalalabad, declared the school as the best in his area. |
Doctors threaten stir from Feb
10 PATIALA, Feb 4 — Doctors in the three government hospitals and medical colleges here today announced to resume their agitation from February 10 in protest against the government’s failure to give arrears of new pay scales to them. A general body meeting of the Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers’ Association resolved to boycott all teaching work from February 10 and to boycott all OPD work from February 18. Dr Ravinder Singh, Secretary of the association, said in a press note that resentment prevailed among the medical fraternity for non-receipt of arrears of new pay scales released in May, 1999. He said even though all other government employees, including dental teachers, had received the arrears, the medical teachers had been denied these. The teachers were particularly angry at the delaying tactics adopted by the government towards their demand, Dr Ravinder Singh said. The association had withdrawn their mass resignation programme in August, 1999, after getting an assurance of release of arrears after the parliamentary elections, he said. The doctors announced boycott of examination work in December, 1999, as the government had not fulfilled its earlier promise. He said the doctors were misled again as the state Chief Secretary R.S. Mann, promised disbursement of arrears within three weeks, but nothing had been done. The press note also said
if the state government did not accept the demands at the
earliest, doctors would take mass voluntary retirement. |
Stuffed animals await repair PATIALA, Feb 4 — Seven years after floods ravaged the Stuffed Animals and Birds Gallery in Sheesh Mahal here. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Conservation is still struggling to repair the damaged exhibits. The delay in repair has not only given a bad name to the department but also hurt the tourism potential of the world famous place. The gallery, also known as natural history gallery, is almost 70 years old. It prospered during the reign of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. Animals and birds stuffed with wheathusk and a kind of grass were displayed in the gallery. Some of species of birds are now extinct. Each exhibit is a work of art in itself. The department’s leaflet on the gallery says that the tiger gruntling and devouring on its kill is an imposing spectacle. The leaflet further says that pheasants are the most attractive birds among the mainly Asian birds known for their long tail turned inwards displayed. The skin of the birds needs repair. According to history, Maharaja Bhuinder Singh visited an exhibition in London in 1924-25 where such specimens were displayed. The King took a fancy to these and brought some back home. As hunting of animals was done by the erstwhile rulers there was no dearth of animal skin. The rulers took the help of W.H. Hutton and Rowlandward, artiste and texidermist, to set up the gallery here. The priceless treasure was gifted to the state by Maharaja Yadvindra Singh after Independence. Since then, it is on display in Sheesh Mahal. The floods of 1993 ruined a major portion of the gallery which was inundated. The stuffed animals on the ground floor suffered the most while the birds need minor repairs only. The building too developed cracks at several places. Now even seven years later, the exhibits are yet to be repaired fully. The authorities claim to have begun the repair work and white-washing of the building. They say that the animals would be displayed again in about a month. However, according to sources, it will take a longer time as the stuffed animals can only be displayed after the pedestals to mount them and the whole set of natural environs are repaired. It has been learnt that some animals have been given treatment but they are lying locked in a room for the past two years. A visit to the gallery shows broken glass cases in which animals were kept. A one of the trophies (head of a barasingha) had fallen from its place high on the wall more than a year ago and is still hanging precariously in one of the cases. There is dirt all around. Mr Lakhwinder Singh
Sodhi, Conservator, admitted that there has been a long
delay. He said the department could not find a suitable
texidermist for the job. |
Rich and vibrant masks PATIALA, Feb 4 — Artist Kavita Singh has chosen masks as a medium of expression at an exhibition which opened in Banasar Art Gallery here today. Besides a collection of masks of Hindu gods and goddesses, those of Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Cambodia, Tibet, China and Japan, besides stylised images symbolising corruption, pollution and terrorism are on display at the gallery in Sheesh Mahal till February 11. The exhibition was inaugurated by theatre artist Harpal Tiwana. Paintings in vibrant colours of the Madhubani style of folk art widely practised in the Madhubani area of Bihar for painting murals showing gods and goddesses and other chapters of Hindu epics are also displayed. Kavita has used the vibrant art form to depict the state of affairs of the girl child, her aspirations, hopes and gender bias. Speaking about her art, Kavita said she was drawn to the rich and vibrant folk art form of mask making because it perpetuated living art traditions both in India and abroad. She was drawn to the papier mache creations of Orissa, Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir but had tried to evolve her own medium by improvising on traditional styles. Kavita said she used
waste like old newspapers, wheat, flour, threads, wool,
jute, polythene bags, empty oil tins, cans, cardboard and
paints to create the masks. |
Freedom fighter dead AMRITSAR, Feb 4 —
Mr Sant Ramji, a freedom fighter, died due to a
protracted illness yesterday. He was 80. He joined the
Indian National Army. He was imprisoned by the British.
He is survived by his wife and two sons and two
daughters. |
AIDS awareness camp ends CHANDIGARH, Feb 4 — An AIDS awareness camp was organised by Umeed Khanna Foundation, Sangrur, in collaboration with NAZ Foundation (India), Trust, New Delhi, from January 31 to February 3 at Sangrur. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anirudh Tiwari, inaugurated the camp and Dr Richard Daniel, (former Director, CMC, Ludhiana, and President, Health Care Scheme Umeed Khanna Foundation, presided, according to Mr Arvind Khanna, Chairman Umeed Khanna Foundation. In his inaugural speech, Mr Tewari praised Umeed Khanna Foundation for its unending support and selfless service to the needy. The camp was held for the benefit of truck drivers and cleaners. Mr Balwinder Singh
Bhupinder, President Truck Union, Sangrur, thanked the
foundation for organising the AIDS awarness camp. |
50-year-old choe dispute
resolved PATIALA, Feb 4 — A 50-year-old land dispute involving 32 villages and blocking flood protection work on the Miranpur Choe, a seasonal rivulet in this district, has been resolved with the warring village panchayats agreeing to give land to the government here today. A meeting of all villages falling in the Ghanaur and Bhunderheri block was held here today under the chairmanship of Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister. In an official press note, the minister said a five-member committee under the presidentship of Mr Lehna Singh Tur, former MP had been formed. This committee would take affidavits from the village panchayats proclaiming the hand over of their land to the government within a period of 15 days. The minister said all panchayats had already agreed in principle about handingover the land at the meeting today. He said the government would provide a compensation of Rs 4.16 crore to the farmers whose land has been required. He said under the flood
protection project, besides desilting, widening of the
choe was also required. This exercise could not be taken
all these years due to the opposition of the villages and
a dispute over the exact path of the rivulet. He said
after the submission of the affidavits the work on the
choe would be taken up on a war-footing. |
MP decries “Water”
row JALANDHAR Feb 4 — Vinod Khanna, MP from Gurdaspur, has expressed fear that the film industry might shift out of Mumbai. He said the ongoing onslaught of gangsters on cine stars and others linked with the industry needs to be stopped. Demanding protection for film personalities, Mr Khanna said attacks on the industry in Bombay had increased after the Congress-NCP government came into power. Actor-Director Rakesh Roshan, two lab technicians and Anil Kumar, a film distributor, were attacked by gangsters for extorting money. Talking about Deepa Mehta’s controversial film, Mr Khanna said the shooting of the film should not have been stopped. If anybody had any objection, it could have been raised after the shooting was over. Mr Khanna, also demanded
a high-level probe to inquire about the delay in the
completion of the Thein dam project. He said the
government should fix the responsibility. |
Non-gazetted staff team meets Mann CHANDIGARH, Feb 4 — The Punjab Non-Gazetted Employees’ Organisation in a statement here today claimed that the Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Mann, has assured that the remaining promotions would be ordered soon. The facility of LTC would be restored and the government would examine the possibility of giving DA instalment in cash to those employees drawing a salary less than Rs 5000. A deputation of the
organisation along with representatives of the
Nagarpalika Karamchari Mahasangh and the Punjab Bijli
Mazdoor Sangh had met the Chief Secretary today to
discuss demands of the employees with him, according to
Mr Oma Kant Tewari, general secretary of the
organisation. |
Patiala to be leprosy-free PATIALA, Feb 4 — Speaking at the inauguration function of the three-day workshop of medical officers on leprosy in Mata Kaushalya Hospital, the Civil Surgeon, Dr R. Chander, said leprosy would be eliminated in the state by the end of this year. He said with a low rate of only 95 cases of leprosy being detected last year, this district is already under the elimination goal. The workshop has been
arranged to sensitise the medical officers towards
diagnosing and treating the leprosy patients in early
stage of disease. |
Dean gets notice CHANDIGARH, Feb 4 — On a contempt petition filed by Vinod Kumar, a student of Punjabi University, Patiala, Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, today issued notice to Mr Kuldip Dheer, Dean Academic Affairs, Punjabi University, Patiala, the Registrar and the head of the Department of Computer Science of the university for February 14. The petitioner stated that he had applied for admission to M. Tech course in computer science and engineering for the Session 1999-2000. For this, he fulfilled all the essential qualifications including the masters degree in mathematics and qualifying the entrance test for the course. He was placed fourth on the merit list. The petitioner alleged that deviating from the procedure of admission which said the eligibility was to be assessed on the date of interview, two persons — Vartika Nagpal and Anjali Kakkar — were admitted to the course. He filed a writ petition
in the High Court which directed vide its judgement dated
December 6, 1999, to admit him to the M. Tech course.
Firstly, he was not admitted as per the direction, but,
when he was admitted, he was not informed about the
beginning of classes and not allowed to take examination
for the first semester. Now, he was not being allowed to
attend classes for the second semester. |
College to honour S.S. Kang CHANDIGARH, Feb 4 —
A.S. College, Khanna, and its alumni association is
honouring the Governor of Kerala, Mr S.S. Kang. According
to the principal of the college, Mr Tarsem Singh Bahia, a
function to honour Mr Kang, who has been a Judge of the
Punjab and Haryana High Court and an old student of the
college, will be held at Khanna on February 8. |
 |
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