 |
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| Tuesday, March 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
Badal
surprised at Bibi’s behaviour Mann
urges CM to call meeting of Sikh bodies Ranjit
Dam project: probe sought SIT
to probe poisoning deaths Probe
gypsum scam: HC |
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| Custody death accused
‘abducted’ PATIALA, March 27 — A well-known custody death case of September last year in Ropar district took a curious turn here today as a Sub-Inspector under suspension, Malvinder Singh Malhi, one of the prime accused in the case vanished from Rajindra Hospital last evening. He re-appeared in the morning claiming he had been forcibly taken away and tortured through the night by a senior police official of Ropar.
CPI
assails Union Govt’s policies SHSAD
to launch stir from April 13 PCC
meeting on April 2 Walkout
on reservation issue Parneet
criticises state govt
Rare
fossil find in Shivaliks Pak
team visits irrigation sites Probe
into attack on Sikhs in HP sought Full
outlay for pension not released MD
set deadline on arrears payment Funds
demanded for developing colonies Budget
session extended International
flight inaugurated Mineral
auction
Seminar
on world faiths inaugurated in Punjabi University Bhatia
for gradual pace of reforms
|
Badal surprised at Bibi’s
behaviour CHANDIGARH, March 27 — The Shiromani Akali Dal President and the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is perplexed at the behaviour of SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur. Despite his best persuasive efforts, she has not been helpful in resolving the crisis currently eating into the vitals of SAD. “It is a crisis thrown up by two persons holding important positions, the SGPC President and the head of Akal Takht. We were expecting the SGPC President to bow to the hukamnama issued by Akal Takht and resolve fast the crisis as other members of the SGPC executive had done. Instead she has divided the high Sikh clergy and pushed the Panthic leadership into a quagmire”, a senior minister here commented. He has been trying to persuade the Bibi to present herself before Akal Takht and accept any “tankha” and end the crisis. Five days ago Mr Badal had sent a clear message that Bibi Jagir Kaur keeping away from her stand on the hukamnamas issued by Akal Takht chief Giani Puran Singh from Guna in Madhya Pradesh and from Amritsar, should write a clear letter expressing full faith and seeking time to present herself to seek “tankha”. What the SGPC President did was that she wrote a simple letter expressing just faith and no regrets for the violation of the hukamnama. Her second letter again reiterated that all five high priests should be there when she was to present herself. Now this was just not acceptable to the Akal Takht Jethedar. At least three high priests have been excommunicated by Akal Takht chief. How could he allow them to join him at the meeting. So when Mr Surinder Singh Kairon, father in-law of Mr Badal’s daughter, met Giani Puran Singh, he showed him the letter which Mr Pritam Singh Bhatia, an SGPC executive member, had written to Akal Takht. He had sought time to present himself before Akal Takht to seek pardon. The letter is couched in the most humble language and Mr Bhatia would be submitting for the second time now. Giani Puran Singh said Bibi Jagir Kaur would have to submit herself and offer an unconditional apology. While Bibi Jagir Kaur has not given her final mind, she seems to be adamant. She is not prepared to accept the hukamnama in the first instance and if at all she is to present herself, other high priests should be there. In this situation, Mr Badal, sources in SAD said, has little choice, but to go by the wishes of Akal Takht. One, the Bibi would be persuaded or ordered as the situation warranted not to be present at the SGPC executive meeting slated for tomorrow at Amritsar. In her place, the Senior Vice-President, Mr Balbir Singh Pannu, could preside. This could assuage the feelings of Giani Puran Singh who had directed Mr Badal to appoint an acting president of the SGPC. Later also to pass the budget on March 30, Bibi Jagir Kaur need not attend the meeting. During the past some days, the Chief Minister personally spoke to the SGPC President and asked her to submit to the wishes of Akal Takht and then he had the backing of the Political Affairs Committee. Later, in between several emissaries, including former Akali Dal President, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, had long meetings with Bibi Jagir Kaur on Giani Puran Singh. Akali circles here also confided that initially the crisis was thrown up as Giani Puran Singh felt humiliated at the curt remarks of the SGPC President and thought of teaching her a lesson or two. But later some Akali leaders, including some close advisers of Mr Badal, complicated the matters. For example, Mr Talwandi had told the Akal Takht chief some days back when he was sent by Mr Badal to resolve the crisis that he did not need to worry as the SGPC President had either to bow or leave. Mr Talwandi is himself a candidate for the post of SGPC President. The same way, Cooperation Minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura has been playing his cards in such a fashion that his close associate, Mr Pannu, gets the coveted position. This, given the highly volatile politics of the Majha region, Mr Surinder Singh Kairon would not like. he has been keen to help Bibi Jagir Kaur. In between there were many others who were running with the hare and hunting with the hound. Knowing the interest of all the players, Mr Badal has himself tried to intervene, but here the Bibi ditched him. “Many a crisis of
the present nature were created and resolved by the
former president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra who survived
for 25 years. He understood complexities of the religious
leadership. Mr Badal despite his long association with
the religion politics of the Akali Dal had watched the
battles from the sidelines and hence his inability to
resolve the crisis fast. Mr Badal and Mr Tohra both
needed each other. Their parting of ways has landed the
ruling Akali Dal in this ditch,” was the cryptic
comment of rebel Akali MLA Ravi Inder Singh. |
Mann urges CM to call meeting
of Sikh bodies CHANDIGARH, March 27 — The President of the Akali Dal (Amritsar), Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, today urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to call a meeting of leaders of various Sikh organisations immediately to formulate a joint strategy and stand regarding the crisis faced by Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference here after returning from Kashmir valley where 35 Sikhs were killed a few days ago, Mr Mann said Sikhs did not want to stay in Kashmir and that they wanted to migrate from the places they were living at present. Kashmiri Sikhs felt that the honour of their women was not safe in the prevailing circumstances and the level of fear among them was very high. As it is a national Sikh issue pertaining to the entire Sikh “nationality”, there was a need to arrive at consensus by the Sikh leadership to decide what should be done by Kashmiri Sikhs. Whether they should migrate or stay back? This and several other issues required to be discussed. As Mr Badal is an elected leader of Sikhs in Punjab, it is his duty to take initiative on this issue. He was very clear about the involvement of Kashmiri militants and foreigner mercenaries in the killing of Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora village. “On this issue I am very clear that killings had been done by Kashmiri militants and foreign mercenaries”, Mr Mann asserted, disagreeing with other Sikh leaders who had stated that some government vigilante group might be involved in this carnage. Thanking the various organisations, including the BJP and the Shiv Sena, etc for expressing grief over the death of Sikhs in Kashmir valley, Mr Mann said Sikhs would not toe the BJP and the Shiv Sena line on this issue. Both the BJP and the Shiv Sena were trying to divide Sikhs and Muslims by projecting that Sikhs had been killed by Muslims in Kashmir valley. This was not acceptable to me, he added. When asked what could be the possible way out, Mr Mann said in 1990 when such incidents had occurred in the Kashmir valley, he had rushed to Srinagar then and had a talk with Hurriyat Conference leaders telling them that as Sikhs were neutral as far as the Kashmir issue was concerned, they should not be harmed. Since 1990, there was no incident involving Sikhs prior to Chatti Singhpora tragedy, he added. Mr Badal should use diplomatic and security channels to talk with Pakistan and Afghanistan to protect Sikhs in J and K, Mr Mann said. As he was part of the National Democratic Alliance ruling the country, he could use the channels of the Union Government to do so, he added. Opposing the arming of Sikhs in Kashmir, Mr Mann said that such a step could pose bigger problem and lead to reprisals against Sikhs in Kashmir. It would be a big embarrassment for the Union Government if Sikhs migrated from the Kashmir valley. Already Pandits had migrated and the process of ethnic cleansing would be completed if Sikhs also migrated. He said that militants had complete domination during night in Kashmir while during the day the Army ruled the roost. Mr Mann said that Mr
Badal should call the meeting before March 31 to arrive
at consensus so that an announcement could be made in
this connection at a bhog ceremony which would be held on
March 31 at Chatti Singhpora village. |
Budget debate CHANDIGARH, March 27 — Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chowdhary Jagjit Singh, has sought a high-level probe into the construction of the Ranjit Sagar Dam project and delay in its commissioning. Initiating a debate on the Budget proposals for the next financial year, Chowdhary Jagjit Singh said that thousands of crores of rupees had been spent on the project but it had not been completed so far. He said he had got a report that snags which had developed in project’s tunnels would not be removed for many more months. Calling the Scheduled Caste Component plan a purposeless document, Chowdhary Jagjit Singh said the plan should be direct proportion to the Scheduled Castes population in the state, which was around 28.31 per cent. But the plan amount was only 11 per cent. He said only window dressing was done by showing expenditure of the plan in various schemes while actually no benefit was extended to the Scheduled Castes under this plan. He said most of the money was spent on establishment and it had been seen that often money was not released under this plan for various schemes. Many a time grants were not approved at various levels and schemes remained stuck up in government offices or treasuries, he added. Opposing the various schemes like golden handshake, Chowdhary Jagjit Singh said the government should make full productive use of the services of employees and the government should give assurance to the House that surplus employees of various departments and the public sector undertakings supposed to close would be adjusted in other government departments. He said Punjab was already facing unemployment problem, while the government had imposed a ban on the creation of new posts and recruitment against the existing posts. Expressing his fear that Badal family’s close friendship with Devi Lal’s family in Haryana may prove non-beneficial for Punjab, Chowdhary Jagjit Singh said Mr Badal should take advantage of this friendship for the good of Punjab. Branding the Punjab Budget as funding of figures, Chowdhary Jagjit Singh said though annual plan for the current year was of Rs 2680 crore but he had got the information that only Rs 900 crore had been spent. He said what was the use of preparing such big annual plans if money was not be spent. Due to non-availability of money earmarked for various schemes, the development process in the state was greatly affected. Saying that the deficit of the Budget would touch a figure of Rs 3500 crore by the end of the next financial year, Chowdhary Jagjit Singh said that the Punjab was reeling under the burden of the debt. It had to pay interest in thousands against the debt. Speaking from the Treasury Benches, Mr Manpreet Badal supported the various proposals in the Budget. He said that the Budget was innovative and setting up of the expenditure commission and the disinvestment commission should be welcomed by all. Stressing on the need of consensus on the Common Economic Minimum agenda of the state, Mr Manpreet Singh Badal said that such a step would be a landmark in the history of the state. Justifying the cut in expenditure, proposals to close loss-making public sector undertakings and various schemes for cutting the establishment cost, Mr Badal said Punjab could not afford to spend 67 per cent of its Budget on 3 per cent population of the state. As a last speaker today, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal said that the schemes announced under the “second push to agriculture” plan in the Budget were not practicable. He said there would not be any progress on the diversification front until the market was assured for the crops to be sown under the diversification programmes. Farmers faced a lot of problems to dispose grapes, citrus fruits and even sunflower etc. Terming the government’s claims to cut expenditure on the establishment, Mr Grewal said in fact Punjab’s administration had become a top heavy. There were 13 Chief Engineers and three of them were posted in SYL canal project which the government claimed to have closed. Likewise there were 45 Superintending Engineers. There was huge number of
ADGPs and IGPs. The government was doing nothing to do
away the top heavy administration. |
SIT to probe poisoning
deaths JALANDHAR, March 27 — While a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed by the district police authorities to probe the bizarre deaths of the sarpanch of Budhanwal village and 10 members of his family by “poisoning”, the interrogation and cross-examination of a number of witnesses and circumstantial evidence has revealed that the “poisonous” tablets were distributed among family members by the sarpanch himself. Interestingly, preliminary investigation revealed that most of the family members suffered from diabetes. The sarpanch was said to be “fond” of visiting doctors and about 100 different tablets and bottles of medicine were recovered during a search of the house. An SIT, headed by Mr Dilbagh Singh, Superintendent of Police (Detective), who will be assisted by Mr R. S. Cheema, DSP (D) and DSP Shahkot is probing the case, according to Mr Gaurav Yadav, the Senior Superintendent of Police. No time frame, has been fixed for the SIT to complete its investigation. Though there is no eye-witness to the incident except the family’s servant Mohinder Lal, the police is working on different theories. “Statements do vary, but a number of people, who talked to family members in conscious and semi-conscious state while they were on their way to hospital, claimed to have heard them saying they had been given some tablets by the sarpanch,” said Mr Yadav. Mohinder Lal, who has been detained, said in his statement to the police that he had seen the sarpanch distributing “diabetes” tablets among family members, who fell unconscious soon after taking them and died on their way to hospital or after reaching there. The police authorities has not been able to determine the motive behind the incident but ruled out the possibility of robbery. “The sarpanch’s gold chain was found there and no other article or jewellery seems to have been touched. Mr Yadav said adding none of the witnesses had pointed a finger at Mohinder Lal, who had been working with the family for the past 18-20 years. “Moreover, during the post-mortem examination no mark of injury or sign of struggle was found on any of the bodies.” The police in working on three possibilities — the sarpanch could have killed his family under depression, he did not know the tablets were poisonous or these were given to him by someone else as medicine. What has lent a bit of credence to the last theory is the recovery of bottles and about 100 different tablets including of vitamins from the ill-fated house. According to sources, the family, which initially had just six acres of land, had prospered after Gurmit Singh returned from a six-year stint in the USA. He had purchased 18 acres of land and set-up a cold storage with the help of a partner after having spent Rs one crore, which Rs 25 lakh was taken as loan from a bank. The cold store was inaugurated on February 13 this year. Some witnesses said the
sarpanch was pessimistic about the success of his new
venture and they had heard him saying,” We have
spent so much of money on it, but who will prefer to keep
his potatoes when there is a glut like situation. |
Probe gypsum scam: HC CHANDIGARH, March 27 — Taking cognizance of a news report in The Tribune exposing an alleged gypsum scandal by the Punjab Land Development and Reclamation Corporation and others, Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the state of Punjab, the Chief Secretary, the Director-General of Police and Inspector-General of Police (Vigilance) and the Managing Director of the Punjab Land Development and Reclamation Corporation ordering them to inquire into the alleged scandal. The Judge directed the High Court registry to treat the report as a civil writ petition and fix it before an appropriate Bench. Mr Justice Gill passed the order taking suo motu notice in the interest of justice. In the report published, today, the allegation of a multicrore scandal involving fake entries of gypsum (used as a fertiliser) had been made in registers of six divisions of the corporation during the past two years. It was alleged that the entries of gypsum despatched by the Rajasthan Mineral Development Corporation had been sent to divisions other than to those to which it was intended. It was alleged in the
report that 38 trucks of gypsum, each truck with loads
varying from 10 to 34 tonnes for Ludhiana division had
been received in Sangrur. |
Custody death accused
‘abducted’ PATIALA, March 27 — A well-known custody death case of September last year in Ropar district took a curious turn here today as a Sub-Inspector under suspension, Malvinder Singh Malhi, one of the prime accused in the case vanished from Rajindra Hospital last evening. He re-appeared in the morning claiming he had been forcibly taken away and tortured through the night by a senior police official of Ropar. Malvinder Singh, an undertrial lodged in Central Jail here, has been hospitalised since January. He is one of the four accused in the custody death of a 21-year-old truck driver, Devinder Singh alias Bhola of Hassanpur village in Ropar. The case hogged headlines last year because of allegations of a retired cop being hired by the police to torture the truck driver. Talking to The Tribune, Malvinder Singh claimed he was taken away by a police party led by Mr Gurmeet Singh, SP (Operations) last night and tortured. Gurmeet Singh has however, denied his involvement in any manner. Talking to this correspondent over the phone from Ropar, he said as he was not an accused in the custody death case there was no need for him to abduct the Sub-Inspector or torture him. He said the Sub-Inspector was concocting the story to escape prosecution. Claiming that the Civil Lines Police was refusing to record his statement, Malvinder Singh said from his hospital bed that he was being treated in the hospital in special room number 29. He said he had been framed in the custody death case and has proof to substantiate his claim and to expose the real culprits as well. He alleged that last night an ASI and constable met him in the hospital and requested him to accompany them outside where Mr Gurmeet Singh, SP Operations, Ropar was waiting along with family members of the custody death victim, who they said had come for rapprochement in the case. However, when he stepped out he was driven to a number of places in Patiala and Ropar district, where the SP along with other police officers of the two district tortured him. He said they were demanding records in his possession proving the involvement of some senior officers in the case. He alleged that he was badly beaten up and hung upside down in a canal, stabbed with a broken soft drink bottle in his chest and thighs. He even showed his injuries to this correspondent. Interestingly while the medico-legal report of his injuries is yet to be prepared, the Civil Lines police has registered a case under Sections 224 and 223 against Malvinder Singh and three constables of Ropar police who were supposed to sit guard on him at the hospital. While the three constables have been charged with negligence of duty, Malvinder Singh has been booked for running away from captivity. SSP Harpreet Singh Sidhu claimed the torture story was false. He said Malvinder Singh was trying to settle scores with SP Gurmeet Singh, who was one of the police officers investigating the case. The SSP said Malvinder
Singh and another undertrial often spent long period of
time outside the hospital. The police had information
about this. He also went out last night and was found
absent from the hospital during checking. Today morning
when was stopped at a police nakka near the hospital, he
stabbed himself with a piece of glass and cooked up the
whole story. |
CPI assails Union Govt’s
policies CHANDIGARH, March 27 — Urging for a political solution to the Kashmir problem, Dr Joginder Dayal, Secretary of the Punjab Council of the CPI, said today that the policies pursued by the BJP-led government at the Centre were mainly responsible for increased violence in J and K. Addressing a press conference, Mr Dayal, who had gone to Chatti Singhpora were 35 Sikhs were killed recently, said that there was a need to activate political forces in J and K. He said no political outfit was active in that state. Urging the government to make proper security arrangements at the border to check infiltration of foreign mercenaries and terrorists in the Kashmir valley, Dr Dayal, who was accompanied by Mr Bhan Singh Bhuara, a member of Parliament from Bathinda to J and K, said that concrete political and economic steps should be taken to improve the lot of Kashmiri people who say that no money was being spent for the development of the state. He said that there were all chances of exodus of Sikhs from Kashmir valley. He said the delay in the visit of the Home Minister, L.K. Advani, to the Kashmir valley added to the fear of the Sikh community. He said all secular forces should help to check the impression that only Hindus and Sikhs were being killed in the Kashmir valley. He said in fact among the people so far killed in the Kashmir valley by militants, 70 per cent were Sikhs. He has urged for a joint
condolence meeting by all political parties on March 31. |
SHSAD to launch stir from
April 13 PATIALA, March 27 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal will launch an agitation from April 13 to protest against the ‘failure’ of the Punjab Government ‘on every front’. Announcing this in a press release here today, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary SHSAD said the state government had not taken up a single demand of the Punjabis with the Centre. He said the SHSAD, under the leadership of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, former SGPC president has issues several times but now it was time to take the matter to the streets. He said on Baisakhi
activists of the party and other like-minded individuals
would collect in Amritsar and launch the agitation.
Before that district-level meetings would be organised to
mobilise public opinion. |
PCC meeting on April 2 CHANDIGARH, March 27 — Capt Amarinder Singh, President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, has called a meeting on April 2 of the party’s office-bearers, MPs, MLAs, former MPs and MLAs, district Congress presidents and members of the executive committee to discuss the current political situation in the state. Mr Moti Lal Vora,
general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee,
will address the participants at the meeting. |
Walkout on reservation issue CHANDIGARH, March 27 — On the issue of “reservations” the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today again witnessed a walkout by the entire Opposition during zero hour. The issue was raised by the BSP member, Mr Shangara Ram Shangara. He has vowed to raise the same issue every day till the Budget session lasts. He was joined by other members of the Opposition, the Congress and the CPI in the walkout and slogan shouting. It is a permanent fixture in every sitting. At one point of time, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, intervened to draw the attention of the chair to the issue and said this should not be allowed. Finding the Treasury Benches silent, the Opposition staged a walkout. Most of the issues
raised by several members during zero hour were
disallowed by the Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal,
while members insisted. There were some exchanges between
BJP members and the lone Akali Dal (Amritsar) member, Mr
Ajit Inder Singh Moffar, on the issue of having a
discussion on the killing of 35 Sikhs in the Kashmir
valley. The Speaker disallowed, Mr Parkash Singh Badal
intervened to say that he had been there and would do so
again on March 31, when the bhog ceremony is held. What
was possible had been done and would be done in future as
well by the government. |
Parneet criticises state govt CHANDIGARH, March 27 — Mrs Parneet Kaur, a member of Parliament from Patiala, addressing a press conference here today said that the Punjab Government was doing nothing to protect Patiala and other adjacent district from floods. Saying that Ghaggar river played havoc with the villages located on its either side in Patiala and Sangrur districts, Mrs Parneet Kaur said she had got Rs 25 crore sanctioned from NABARD as a loan to take preventive measures against the floods in Patiala and Sangrur districts. But the government had not given a matching grant for the execution of the flood protection works and to use the loan money for this purpose. She said that due to the sluggishness on the part of the drainage wing of the State Irrigation Department, the entire Patiala constituency could feel the fury of floods during the ensuing rainy season. Urging Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister, to personally intervene, Mrs Parneet Kaur said it was the duty of the state government to protect people from impending threat of floods. She said that the Punjab
Government had almost collapsed as far as the
Administration was concerned. There was no doctors in
rural hospitals and dispensaries, no teachers in schools
and services sector was in doldrums. |
Rare fossil find in Shivaliks ROPAR: Dr Vidwan Singh Soni, Principal of the local Government College, has recently found fossils of two tusks of an elephant which became extinct thousands of years ago. One of the tusks is 11 feet long, while the other is about 8 ft long. Both fossils are of the same elephant which were found intact in the sediments of the Shivalik range. Along with the fossils of the tusks a couple of jaws and other bones, perhaps of the same elephant, were also found. It seems the tusks, jaws and bones belonged to Stegodon Insignis, which was 13 ft in height and had long tusks. Dr Soni says although several genera and numerous species of the ancestors of the elephant from the Shivalik exist in the collections of geologists and palaeo-anthropologists, but an almost complete pair of tusks is a rare find. It is another addition to his large collection of rare vertebrate fossils and palaeolithic tools from several new archaeological sites. Three years ago Dr Soni had found a straight and complete rare tusk of an elephant about 6.5 ft long from mid-Shivalik sediments of the Bhakra-Naina Devi hill range, 8 km east of Nangal. This tusk was believed to be more than five million years old. Later he found a second tusk with a molar tooth which was half the length of the first. Both tusks were straight and pointed. Many species of elephants became extinct. Now only two species exist in the world. One is the Asian elephant while the other is Loxodonta or the African elephant. Dr Soni, a physicist, takes interest in pre-history and palaeontology and aims to set up a mini natural history museum in Punjab as there is such museum in the north-western region. He feels that to inculcate scientific awareness among the masses knowledge of the surroundings, of earth’s history and the origin of the man is necessary. Dr Soni also feels that
being a scholar in physics, astronomy, geology,
palaeontology and the rise of man, he can make a useful
contribution for development of the scientific temper
among non-experts by setting up such a museum. |
Pak team visits irrigation
sites FEROZEPORE, March 27 — A three-member team of Pakistani officials today visited the district to see development works undertaken at various irrigation sites under the Indus Water Treaty, signed between the two countries in 1960. The team headed by the Pakistani Commissioner for Indus Waters, Mr Syed Jamat Ali Shah, visited the irrigation sites falling in the Indus basin, according to his Indian counterpart, Mr A.C. Gupta. However, limited areas were shown to the team for security reasons, according to sources in the Punjab Irrigation Department. The areas, where the team was not taken included sensitive headworks. Accompanied by two advisers, Mr Syed halted here last night on the last leg of his tour of the region. The team had arrived in Delhi on March 24 to undertake a fresh tour, according Mr Gupta. He added that this was a reciprocal tour of Pakistan officials, as an Indian team had earlier visited Pakistan for similar reasons. Limited areas were shown to the team, although its members insisted on seeing more sites. NANGAL (FOC):
Earlier, the Pakistani team visited this town. He was
received by the Chairman of the BBMB, Maj-Gen R.R. Oberoi
(retd). The team members visited the Nangal dam. |
Probe into attack on Sikhs in HP sought AMRITSAR, March 27 (UNI) — The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has demanded a thorough probe into the unprovoked attack on Sikhs in Himachal Pradesh and demanded stern action against the culprits. In a letter to the Union Home Minister, the copies of which were also sent to Himachal and Punjab Chief Ministers, Secretary of the SGPC Gurbachan Singh Bachan while strongly condemning the report of Sikhs beaten up by people in Himachal said the community had hardly recovered from the shock of the carnage of 35 Sikhs in the Kashmir valley, another incident had taken place which created a sense of fear among the community residing in different parts of the country. He said the incident had
once again reminded one of the humiliation and loss of
properties suffered by the community in the aftermath of
Operation Bluestar. In the letter Mr Bachan also demanded
exemplary punishment to the culprits. |
Full outlay for pension not
released GURDASPUR, March 27 — Pension schemes for various categories, including old persons, has not been properly implemented in this district during the current year. Against an allocation of Rs 11.55 crore for pension, only Rs 8.44 crore has been released so far though the current financial year is about to end. Karam Devi of Mirpur village, near here, who has been receiving old age pension for the past several years, told this correspondent yesterday that she received pension only for the first quarter of the current financial year. She said whenever she approached the office of the District Social Security Officer, she was not given any definite date for receiving her balance pension. According to official sources, the number of applications received for old age pension was more than 1 lakh. After scrutiny, the number fell to 70,000 on further verification. As many as 40,000 persons, including women, were found eligible. As per official records, only 17,533 beneficiaries have been covered so far under the pension scheme. There are, however, complaints that the persons who have received pension under the scheme are either relatives or favourites of political leaders. According to Mr S.K.
Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, the Planning Department has
released Rs 6.93 crore under the old-age pension scheme,
Rs 84.89 lakh under the scheme to help widows and
destitute women, Rs 31.11 lakh for dependent children and
Rs 34.77 lakh for financial assistance to disabled
persons. As many as 4248 widows and destitute women, 1980
dependent children and 2279 disabled persons have been
assisted during the current financial year, he claimed. |
MD set deadline on arrears
payment CHANDIGARH, March 27 — On a writ petition filed by Mr Rajnish Kumar and other employees of the Punjab Women and Children Development and Welfare Corporation, alleging non payment of salaries for 21 months, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed Mr R.L. Kalsia, Managing Director, and Mr Rupinder Singh, Additional Managing Director of the corporation to ensure on or before March 29, the payment of at least one tenth of the salary arrears of the petitioner employees including pay and allowances. This direction was issued by Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill. Earlier appearing in the High Court on a direction by the Bench, the Managing Director stated before the Bench that all bona fide steps had been taken by the corporation for getting the funds released from the government for paying salaries to the employees. The Bench, however, was not impressed and observed that there was absolutely no reason for not paying the salaries of the petitioner for the past 21 months. Notice to director on pay scales Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal today issued notice to Mr P.K. Mahapatra, Director of Secondary Education, Haryana, on a contempt petition filed by Mr Rameshwar Dass and three other drawing, arts and craft teachers of Ambala district. The petitioners submitted that in 1998 the pay scale of these teachers was revised from the scale of Rs 5500-9000 scale, but their juniors were given pay scales up to Rs 5750 as on January 1, 1996 while their pay scale was revised from 1998. They had filed a writ
petition in the High Court on which the respondents were
directed to consider and take action in accordance with
the law. The petitioners submitted that the respondents
had not complied with the above direction and were
thereby guilty of the contempt of court and should be
punished accordingly. |
Funds demanded for developing
colonies PATIALA, March 27 — The Patiala Colonies Federation has threatened to launch protest dharnas if the municipal corporation does not make budgetary provision for carrying out development activities in the outer colonies of the city. Flaying the budget of the next financial year passed by the corporation and sent to the state government for approval, a federation release issued here today demanded immediate allocation of funds for providing basic amenities to the residents of outer colonies. Mr Harpal Singh Khangura, Secretary of the federation, said the outer colony residents have been given a step-motherly treatment by the MC. He said the corporation was earning a huge revenue by way of collecting development charges from these colonies from those constructing houses. However, he claimed the funds were not pumped back to provide facilities to the residents. He said the people were living without street lights, water supply, sewage system and metalled roads in these colonies. They had hoped things would improve after the coming into being of the municipal corporation in place of the municipal committee two years ago but things had actually deteriorated. Mr Khangura said the MC
was duty bound to provide amenities to these colonies. He
said the residents will come on the streets if the MC
does not make immediate provision for the development of
these colonies. |
Pollution check drive a farce PATIALA, March 27 — In need of a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate in Patiala? Just drive down to the nearest private centre. Deposit the fee demanded and get the green label. What about the test? You must be joking. None of the centres checking pollution in the city are concerned about that. Better still, if you want a PUC certificate for a friend or relative who is too lazy to come personally to the centre to get his vehicle checked, pay a little more and the green label to ward off traffic policemen will be in your hand. This correspondent tried this himself at one of the centres. Even as various centres checking pollution in the city have made the drive a complete farce, citizens are angry at the manner in which they are being fleeced by the centres. The centres are charging Rs 20 for conducting a test on a scooter and Rs 50 on a car. Citizens feel that the rate is not justified as the certificates are valid for only six months. They say the rates have been fixed arbitrarily to favour individuals authorised to conduct the tests and that the rates in Chandigarh are lower. Many individuals and organisations have approached the authorities but nothing has been done so far. Mr Ashok Chawla, President of the Citizen Welfare Society, says while the traffic police is concentrating on checking pollution certificates for two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws operate with impunity in the city despite emitting polluting effluents. Mr Chawla says though visible pollution is evident in the case of auto-rickshaws as these mainly use kerosene, no action is being taken against these. Others feel that vehicles up to three years in use should not be taken under the ambit of the PUC certificate. Mr Rajinder Singh says stress should be on checking road worthiness of vehicles. He adds that only those garages should be authorised to check vehicles which have qualified staff on their rolls. He says the pollutants being checked should be specified, as using unleaded petrol has hardly resulted in any pollution. Mr Bhupinder Singh says rates charged by various garages to check pollution of vehicles should be approved by the government. He claims that none of the pollution centres are issuing receipts for the money being charged by these, which indicates that the rate being charged is not approved by the government. He adds that rates vary
in some cases. He says the traffic police should be
involved in the drive and that pollution certificates
should be issued by a few centres, manned by traffic
policemen. He suggests that medium and big vehicles
should also be taken under the ambit of the drive. |
Budget session extended CHANDIGARH, March 27
— The Budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has
been extended up to April 4. An announcement to this
effect was made by the Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal,
in the Vidhan Sabha this afternoon. As there would be no
sitting on March 31, the business slated for this date
has reportedly been postponed to April 4. |
International flight inaugurated RAJASANSI (Amritsar), March 27 — An international flight TS-440 between Amritsar-Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, and on to Birmingham was launched by Turkmenistan airlines amid much fanfare here today. The Punjab Minister for Civil Aviation, Raja Narinder Singh, inaugurated the flight, which would take shorter time than the other scheduled international flights. In his address, the minister hoped that this air link between Turkmenistan and the UK would help boost our relations with these countries. The Turkmenistan Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Murad Shkurov, said a new chapter had been written in the history of our relations with India. Mr R.P.S. Pawar,
Secretary, Department of Civil Aviation, Punjab, while
welcoming the flight, said Rajasansi airport at Amritsar
would be given a face-lift with all modern infrastructure
and international facilities for the passengers. |
Minority panel to visit valley PATIALA, March 27 — The Minority Commission of India Vice-Chairman Tarlochan Singh today said the entire commission would visit Chatti Singhpura village in Kashmir, where 36 members of the Sikh community were massacred on March 20. Talking to newsmen here, Mr Tarlochan Singh said the team led by its Chairman, Justice Mohammad Shameem would also tour Jammu and Srinagar during its three day visit from March 30 to April 1. He said the team would
interact with the Sikh community to know their
apprehensions as well as their other difficulties. |
Mineral auction CHANDIGARH, March 27— The Punjab Government said today that henceforth, the minerals founds within the Shamlat “deh” land being managed by gram panchayats would be auctioned by the gram panchayats concerned. A decision to this
effect was taken at a meeting held by the Chief
Secretary. |
Seminar on world faiths
inaugurated in Punjabi University PATIALA, March 27 — World Congress of Faiths joint president Marcus Braybrooke today said people of the world were increasingly beginning to realise that scriptures of the world were spiritual treasure stores from which we could all benefit. Delivering the keynote address in the three day international seminar on Sikhism: The religion for the third millennium being organised by the Department of Encyclopaedia of Sikhism at Punjabi University here, Professor Braybrooke, said on many occasions such as on Commonwealth Day in Britain, people of all faiths came together to listen to readings from the scriptures of the world. He said Sikhism, like the Christian Gospel, affirmed that every person was precious to God. The langar is open to everyone regardless of caste, creed, colour or sex and in the teaching of the Gurus, women were equal in the eyes of God. Delivering his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia observed that with its radical metaphysical and sociological postulates, Sikhism had the potential for ushering in a new higher civilization. This potential, was not realized owing to the feudalization of the Sikh movement soon after Banda Bahadur, with the consequential Brahiminization of Sikh society. Dr Ahluwalia felt there was radical shift from reason to spirit, as the foundational principle of post-modern global society. Renowned Sikh leader, Yogi Harbhajan Singh, while wishing the seminar success, said western people had realised that wealth could give comfort but not peace of mind. He said true religion elevates, ennobles and purifies. Swami Agnivesh, an eminent inter-faith thinker of India, pleaded for social spirituality to unite the people. Agnivesh’s address Participants at the seminar squirmed in their seats as the noted social activist, Swami Agnivesh, talked of some home truths and said what he felt was wrong with the Sikh movement. Swami Agnivesh painted a sordid picture of a movement in disarray while delivering his speech in the university here. He said Sikhism, which had been founded to erase casteism had itself got entangled in it with now, even gurdwaras being named after different castes. He said if Sikhs were keen to rise above casteism, they should not identify themselves with their surnames. He said they should also be open to inter-caste marriages. He said if true principles of Sikhism were taken into account, he was also a Sikh because he, too, was a shisya of the Gurus, though he might not be recognised so. He said Sikhs could increase their number manifold if they did not straitjacket themselves. He also said the beard and the dress could not be made the primary identity of the faith. This view was contested by the university Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, who said though one's identity as a human being was important, his secondary physical identity was also important due to ethnic and religious reasons. Swami Agnivesh, later while talking to the TNS, said if the physical identity was secondary, it should remain so. He said it was unfortunate that real message was missing and the form was dictating the religion. This, he said, led to the spread of fundamentalism. Swami Agnivesh said the Sikh leadership had failed to live up to the ideals of the Gurus, which had harmed the entire community. He said religion had been enmeshed in politics and did not concentrate on the teachings of the Gurus. He said it was surprising that the Sikh leadership was now even fighting on issues like the Nanakshahi calendar and the wearing of helmet, ignoring the real issue of social justice which needed their attention. He said the real challenge for Sikhism in the third millennium would be to work for removing gender inequality and abolishing the caste system. He said Punjab should show the way to the entire country by working for the establishment of an egalitarian society. He said the message for
the next millennium should be "social spirituality
of oneself and of the whole of mankind". He said
social action was the need of the hour and social
transformation could only take place through a definite
programme . "If you have any such programme, count
me in," he added. |
Bhatia for gradual pace of
reforms AMRITSAR, March 27 — The former Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr R L Bhatia today said that colleges and universities needed to adopt new curriculum to meet global challenges. He made these remarks while delivering the convocation address at the 94th convocation of Khalsa College here. Referring to the present dilemma in which the country was forced to move into the fast lane despite social and economic structure not being geared for the change. He felt that the economic philosophy propounded by former Finance Minister Manmohan Singh which kept in mind India’s social patterns should be the new model for change. He felt that the new economic mantra enunciated by America was not a suitable role model for the country as India lacked basic infrastructure. A mixed approach was more suitable for our growth, he added. He announced a grant of
Rs 5 lakh for the college. |
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