 |
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| Wednesday, April 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
Dharna
over Udham Singh Nagar issue Anandgarh issue echo in House Resolution on PSEB approved Furore in House over quota issue Tension after aged woman’s
murder
Badal isolated in party :
Ramoowalia |
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Drive to desilt Sirhind Canal
Efforts to reduce birth rate:
minister Landlord says BSF violating
agreement SGPC to plead case of Pak Sikhs
with PM
Check quality of drugs: PCMSA Alpine Club win
Case registered against lawyers Fake currency seized, 1 held Undertrial flees, robs, nabbed
Training centre inaugurated
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Dharna over Udham Singh Nagar
issue CHANDIGARH, April 4 — Akali MLAs belonging to the Tohra camp and the BSP MLA in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha staged a dharna in the House and urged the government to make a statement on the issue of Udham Singh Nagar district. Taking up the issue, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal said the Uttar Pradesh Government had already passed a Bill for the inclusion of the district in the proposed state of Uttaranchal. This was in violation of a commitment made by the Union Government that no step in this connection would be taken till its three-member committee submitted a report. Mr George Fernandes, Union Defence Minister, was the convenor of the committee, and Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the former Chief Minister of UP, Mr Kalyan Singh, were its members. Mr Grewal said while Udham Singh Nagar had been included in the proposed state, Hardwar, which was included in the original proposal, had been excluded. Urging the Treasury Benches, especially the BJP MLAs, to take a stand on the issue, Mr Grewal was said while the Punjab Congress party had supported the exclusion of Udham Singh Nagar from the proposed state, the Punjab BJP unit was silent. Later Mr Grewal sat on a dharna in the well of the House. He was joined by Mr Inderjit Singh Zira, Mr Bikramjit Singh, Mrs Daljit Kaur, Mr Shangara Ram Sahungara, Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, Mr Harmel Singh Tohra, Mr Prem Singh Lalpura, Mr Hira Singh Gabarian, Mr Surjit Singh Kohli, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta and Mr Ranjit Singh Chajjalwadi. The Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, appealed to them to go back to the Benches and they conceded. Earlier, a discussion was held on the annual statement of accounts of the Punjab Urban Development Authority and the PEPSU Roadways Transport Corporation. The issue of the demolition of a part of a religious place at SAS Nagar by the PUDA authorities led to noisy scenes. The House also passed excess demands over grants and appropriations for the years 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96. As many as five Bills, the East Punjab Ministers’ Salaries (Amendment) Bill, 2000, the Salaries of Allowances of Deputy Ministers, Punjab (Amendment) Bill, 2000, the Punjab General Sales Tax (Third Amendment) Bill, 2000, the Punjab General Sales Tax (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2000, and the Punjab Social Security Bill, 2000, were passed. The Punjab appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2000, was also passed. Meanwhile, Mr Baldev Singh Khaiala, an SAD MLA caused a flutter by raising a plantation issue which he described as a big scandal in the state. Speaking in the House, he said panchayats were being forced to sell permanent assets to buy poplar saplings for plantation in panchayat lands. Though these were available in the nurseries for Rs 5 per sapling, the panchayats were being made to pay Rs 15 per sapling. Seeking an inquiry, Mr Baldev Singh said instructions had been given to the panchayats to buy plants from a Shalimar Lands Project organisation. He said people behind the organisation should be identified. Some panchayats had told the authorities concerned that the land in their villages was not suitable for the plantation. Then too the panchayats were forced to buy the plants. There was a scandal of Rs 45.50 lakh in Bhikhi blocks alone, he added. During question hour, Mr
Hardev Arshi raised the issue of the sale of Budhlada
Cooperative Sugar Mill. He urged the government to revive
the mill as it was located in a backward area and people
needed it. |
Anandgarh issue echo in House CHANDIGARH, April 4 — The issue of setting up of a new city — Anandgarh — near Chandigarh today found an echo inside the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, which discussed the matter for nearly three hours. The afternoon sitting of the session had to be extended by one hour to enable members have their say. Yet several members were unable to participate. The sum total of the discussion is simple and candid: the ruling SAD-BJP is determined to go ahead with setting up of the city, announced by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, last April (1999) as part of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. The Opposition parties opposed the move and went on to say that it will take recourse to legal remedies and if need be to draw the "shamsheer" (sword) to quote Mr Ravi Inder Singh. The motion initiating discussion was moved by the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Upinderjit Kaur, who also replied to the discussion. She vehemently defended the decision of the government for the new city and regretted that most of what was said on the proposed project was not based on "merit" but more so on predictable "political and party line". She reeled off facts and figures and tried to convince the House that the government had decided upon the project with good intentions and those whose land will be acquired would be adequately compensated and ‘‘abadis’’ not disturbed. She also assured that the intended purpose was to improve socio-economic condition of the people living in the Shivalik foothills backwater and were in dire economic straits. Mrs Upinderjit Kaur, amidst interruptions, went on to announce that there would be no involvement of government money since the city project was ‘‘self-financing’’. She disclosed that HUDCO had agreed to give Rs 1,500 crore loan and Rs 200 crore were available under the rehabilitation fund. As the clock ticked by, the members started getting up. Soon the entire Opposition marched into the well of the House shouting slogans and protesting against the obstinate stance of the government. At this stage, the Speaker stood up to announce that the House stood was adjourned sine die. He thanked the members for their participation and cooperation throughout the entire budget session. The minister had to stop her speech midway with the assertion that Anandgarh would provide economic succour to the people. The main thrust of her brief speech centred around two questions: One, why a new city? And two, why in close proximity to Chandigarh? She explained the concept of urbanisation and need to regulate the growing haphazard development, which was totally unregulated and unplanned around Chandigarh. The minister refuted the repeated charge that Anandgarh would dilute and weaken Punjab’s claim on Chandigarh. To enable Punjabis march into the new millennium and adopt new technology the proposed city would be planned on hi-tech and scientific planning lines. Acknowledging the fear and apprehensions in the minds of people, whose land would be acquired, she assured them of government’s helpful and sympathetic attitude and listed steps to be initiated for providing due compensation, both in cash and kind; including 30 per cent solatium on market rate payable for acquired land and another 25 per cent as incentive to those who voluntarily offered land. The minister said it was baseless to say that a uniform rate had been decided upon by way of compensation. The owners would get the market price depending on the quality of land. On the other hand, the Opposition members, notably, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh of the Congress (Leader of the Opposition), Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Mr Ravi Inder Singh (both rebel SAD members), Mr Ajit Inder Singh Moffar (SAD-Mann), Mr Sohan Singh Badal and CPI’s Mr Hardev Arshi etc built up their arguments by pinning down the ruling SAD, whose President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had himself opposed the setting up of "new Chandigarh" in 1995 when late Mr Beant Singh had launched the project. Mr Grewal , whose speech had the necessary political punch, gave a good beating to the SAD for having changed its stance. He warned that political parties which vacillate and oscillate and give up their political agenda and programmes with passage of time become coward and are unable to face their constituents. He regretted that it was shameful that the same arguments which the Congress gave in defence of the "new Chandigarh" are now being propounded by the SAD leadership and speakers on Anandgarh. Warming up to the theme of discussion, he riddled holes into the SAD arguments on the need for the new city and stressed that it was time that the SAD kept its "old word" and paid greater attention to develop and sustain the existing cities and towns, which were crying for attention when it came to providing basic amenities and other civic facilities. The state as a whole lacked cohesive planning. The urban pockets and villages were hell holes. Given inbuilt system constraints and paucity of funds, rather than planning a new city in a hurry the government must consolidate, preserve and protect the existing dwellings, he added. Mr Ravi Inder Singh was upset that the House was not given the opportunity to discuss such an important and burning issue earlier in the budget session. Had the government been sincere and transparent in its thinking, planning and execution, it should not have shied away. In the process, the issue continued to be raised on different occasions and resulted in walkouts as well. He objected even to the name of the proposed city — Anandgarh. Mr Ravi Inder Singh went on to say that a gurdwara and a fort of same name existed at Anandpur Sahib. Naming a city on same pattern was contradicting Sikh history. He also referred to the
commencement of the census operations since April 1,
2000, and said a notification prohibited any government
to change names or undertake any such activities which
would inhibit census. He, thus, warned the government to
examine all aspects from "legal angle as well".
However, setting new cities was not on state list. |
Resolution on PSEB approved CHANDIGARH, April 4 — The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today unanimously approved a resolution ratifying the amendments to the Constitution of India falling within the purview of clause (d) of the proviso to clause (2) of the Article 368, proposed to be made by Constitution (84th amendment) Bill, 1999, as passed by the two Houses of Parliament. An official resolution, moved by the Minister of Power, Mr Sikandra Singh Maulka, was also approved to allow the PSEB to extend its limit of maximum amount which it may at any time have on loan. The limit has been raised from Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore. The House also passed, along with the above resolution on the PSEB on extending its loan limit, the following resolution under which "Parliament be empowered to regulate by law matters relating to government securities and all other matters connected therewith or ancilliary or incidental thereto". The resolution pertains
to regulation of public debt of the states. |
Furore in House over quota
issue CHANDIGARH, April 4 — As certain members from the Treasury Benches interrupted the proceedings of the House and staged a dharna in the well, the Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, adjourned the House for 10 minutes this morning. It was the first adjournment of the current Budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The session ended today. Raising the issue during zero hour, the Shiromani Akali Dal MLA, Mr Ranjit Singh Chajjalwadi, who has been perceived as a dissident MLA by the Badal camp, said he would resign from the House if Rai Sikhs and Rajputs were given a share from the 25 per cent reservation in jobs etc. for the Scheduled Castes. He said he had come to know that the Punjab Government was preparing an ordinance in this connection and Rajputs and Rai Sikhs would be included in the list of Scheduled Castes. As Mr Chajjalwadi was speaking, other SAD MLAs, including Mr Sohan Singh Bodal and Mr Bikramjit Singh and a BJP MLA Mr Ram Lal, supported him. In fact, Mr Ram Lal said if the government diluted the reservation for the Scheduled Castes by including more castes it would lead to a catastrophe in the state. As the Speaker asked Mr Chajjalwadi to sit down, he along with Mr Bodal, Mr Bikramjit Singh and Mr Shangara Ram Sahungara, a BSP MLA, rushed to the well and sat in dharna. As the arguments were going, Mr Sher Singh, a SAD MLA from Jalalabad, supported the inclusion of Rajputs and Rai Sikhs in the list of the Scheduled Castes. He said the Rai Sikhs and Rajputs were asking for their right which was long overdues. At one stage it appeared that things would go out of control as tempers ran high in the House on the issue. Though Mr Ram Lal spoke in an angry tone, he did not join the dharna. Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta tried his best to make him join the dharna, but in vain. Mr Jagjit Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the House, was also seen standing, but what he said was lost in the din. The government did not
come out with any statement on the issue. Mr Parkash
Singh Badal was not present in the House. |
Tension after aged woman’s
murder RAMPURA PHUL, April 4 — Tension gripped the area and shopkeepers put up their shutters following the daylight murder of an elderly woman in a populated locality here today. Police sources said Mr Amritpal, Station House Officer (SHO), Rampura, had been sent to the police lines and Mr Gurdeep Singh, Station House Officer, Dialpura, had been transferred in place of Mr Amritpal following the incident on the order of the SSP, Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain. The residents of the town raised slogans against the police. However, the senior police officials, who rushed to the spot, pacified them and sent the body for a post-mortem examination. The police sources said that the assailants come around noon when the deceased, Parvati Devi (65), was alone in her first floor house. The assailants killed her with a sharp-edged weapon and sticks and took away her gold chain, bangles and earrings. The accused also searched other household goods. According to the residents, the exact loss could not be ascertained yet. The only son of the deceased was away to Dabwali to attend a family function while her husband was away on his job. The incident came to light when the husband of the deceased, Mr Diwan Chand, came to the house for taking his meal around 1 p.m. However, the police got the information regarding the murder around 1.45 p.m. The police also pressed a dog squad into service and registered a case in this regard. In another incident in Bathinda city, two persons snatched Rs 35,000 from a milk vendor on canal road when he was coming to his house after collecting payments from his customers yesterday. Mr Kewal Krishan
Aggarwal, General Secretary, DCC, alleged that the Punjab
police had failed to maintain law and order situation as
the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had
politicised the police force completely. |
Badal isolated in party :
Ramoowalia JHUNIR (MANSA), April 4 — The President of Lok Bhalai Party, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, today said that the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was getting isolated in his own party as his party workers were fed up with his repeated ‘lies’ about important issues concerning the state. He alleged that the untrue statements of Mr Badal on international airport at Amritsar, oil refinery at Bathinda, signing of draft about the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar into the proposed Uttaranchal state by SAD through Mr Surjeet Singh Barnala and Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and role played in the Bibi Jagir Kaur and Akal Takht controversy had isolated him (Mr Badal) among Punjabis. Addressing a party conference here, Mr Ramoowalia said that normal Akali workers who had fought for long for the genuine demands of state together were fed up with the repeated lies of Mr Badal and had started deserting him. He added that ‘silence’ of Mr Badal on issues like international air port and oil refinery had exposed him among his party rank and file. He claimed that Mr Badal’s base was eroding fast and a change in the Akali leadership of the state was expected within six months. The common Akali workers had started joining the Lok Bhalai party, he further claimed. Mr Ramoowalia said on April 6 workers of Lok Bhalai party along with leaders of the CPI, the CPM, folk singers, two Congress MPs-Mr Balbir Singh and Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, a Samajwadi Party MP, Mr Raj Babbar and he himself would stage a dharna at Rajasansi Airport in protest against the shelving of the international airport project at Amritsar by the Central Government with the implied consent of Mr Badal. He added that another dharna would be held at Phulokhari village on April 10 by activists of Lok Bhalai Party in protest against the scrapping of the oil refinery project by the Central Government again with the implied consent of Mr Badal. Mr Ramoowalia, who had
been touring the rural and urban areas of the state for
the past many months to strengthen his party base, said
that even the AISAD president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra,
had supported the issue raised by him. |
Drive to desilt Sirhind Canal BATHINDA: The district administration, the Irrigation Department and the residents of several villages of this district have launched a massive operation to desilt the distributaries of the Sirhind Canal, known as the lifeline of this area. Official sources said in the past four to five years, the capacity of the main distributaries in this district had been reduced considerably as silt was not cleared. In a number of distributaries up to four to five feet of silt had accumulated. Owing to reduction in the water carrying capacity of the distributaries, the residents of those villages located at the tailend of the canal had been getting less water for irrigation and drinking. These residents are now depending upon on ground water as the canal water supply is inadequate. Owing to high fluoride content, the underground water is not fit for drinking and irrigating. Official sources said the capacity of the Bathinda distributary was 170 cusecs but at present it was running at 135 cusecs due to silting. The Bhadaur distributary was running at the capacity of 260 cusecs against the original capacity of 285 cusecs due to silt accumulation. These three distributaries have been supplying water to irrigate about 3 lakh acres of land falling in 105 villages of this district. Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, said these distributaries were being cleared of silt with the help of residents of 105 villages of this district. Villagers had offered their services for this task free of cost. He said desilting is
being carried out in two phases. In the first phase,
Irrigation Department officials with the help of
residents would carry out desilting from March 24 to
April 5 in two distributaries and in the second phase the
desilting would be carried out in the third distributary
(April 1 to 7). He added that desilting would increase
the water flow in these distributaries. |
Ex-MD’s clarification Apropos of the news item "Multi-crore gypsum scandal" published on March 27, we have received the following rejoinder from Mr A.S. Bhaur, former Managing Director of the Punjab Land Development and Reclamation Corporation (PLDRC): "I am surprised to read the contents of the news item which is absolutely false and misleading. The news item has not only tarnished the image of the corporation but also affected me personally in my social position. The value of 3,000 metric tonnes of gypsum is a mere Rs 25 lakh and not ‘multi-crore’ as alleged in the news item. The entire material, which is a mined product and not a fertiliser, is procured from the Government of Rajasthan through the Rajasthan State Mineral Development Corporation (RSMDC) and Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Ltd (RSMM) and is then transported to the State of Punjab under valid transfer documents — G.R. (Goods Receipt) and challan. The challan is issued by the RSMDC/RSMM, which are both government agencies. "On the basis of this, both RSMDC and RSMM draw bills like the PLDRC on a fortnightly basis, specifying datewise despatches along with quantity. The bill which also attracts Central sales tax of 4 per cent is duly audited and verified before payment is made through bank draft.The payment of the gypsum received is released directly to the RSMDC//RSMM and no middleman is involved in any transaction. The PLDRC still has to make payment of about Rs 93 lakh to the RSMDC for the gypsum stock despatched and this can be verified. "It is , therefore, wrong to suggest that gypsum is received only on paper. Physical movement of gypsum stocks has actually taken place in the state and there has been no misappropriation. "It is admitted that gypsum had been received at the destinations other than for that is a normal practice and which it was despatched, but that is a normal practice and no illegality is involved as the corporation has not suffered any financial loss. For instance, for the material destined for Ludhiana district, which was unloaded in Sangrur district, the transporter was paid freight earmarked for Sangrur district only and, therefore, the transporter has not gained any financial benefit. "Moreover, the corporation has its own registered dealers and the material, though destined for one place but received at another destination, has been duly accounted for in the relevant books of the corporation maintained with its registered dealers. The gypsum stocks had been unloaded only with our registered dealers. Even if there is any delay, that is on account of routine necessary sub-office formalities. "The report that gypsum was sold off in nearby areas by the transporter in connivance with certain high officials of the corporation, is also not true. Rather, the gypsum had been stocked with the registered dealers of the corporation on a consignment basis as per the policy of the corporation, and the transporter had been paid the freight amount by the registered dealer of the corporation of only that place where the gypsum stocks had been unloaded. "As regards penalty of Rs 50 per metric tonne on the transporter in case of default, it is stated that as per the agreement executed by the PLDRC with the transporter, the penalty could be imposed only in the event of short supply. Since there was no short supply, legally no penalty could be imposed on the transporter. "Since there was no
short supply and the entire gypsum stocks were physically
received and stocked with the registered stockists of the
PLDRC on a consignment basis, there is no question of
misutilisation of subsidy as reported". |
Efforts to reduce birth rate:
minister HOSHIARPUR, April 4 — People should extend cooperation to the government for implementing the family welfare programme to control the ever-increasing population. The Health Department of Punjab was making every effort to reduce the birth rate from 22.4 per cent to 21 per cent. This was stated yesterday by Ms Mohinder Kaur, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, while inaugurating a medical camp at Chakowal Sheikhon village, 18 km from here. She said 60.15 per cent of married couples had already been covered under the programme. The campaign for protecting the children from six dreaded diseases was successfully carried out by the Health Department of the state. To check the ever increasing cases of measles it had been decided to launch a special campaign from April 3 to 8 in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and Mohali to eradicate the disease. She handed over the keys
of ambulance, provided by the Health Department, to the
in charge of the Primary Health Centre at Chakowal
Sheikhon. She also distributed cheques worth Rs 1 lakh
each to seven village panchayats where elections were
held unanimously, Rs 50,000 each as second instalment to
develop eight panchayats and Rs 1.83 lakh to five
panchayats of the area for development. |
Landlord says BSF violating
agreement FEROZEPORE, April 4 — Fencing along the international border in Mamdot area near here has become a matter of dispute between the BSF and a landlord of Raja Rai village. The landlord, Mr Hari Ram Arora, who had earlier allowed the BSF to use a strip of land owned by him to raise the fencing close to Zero Line, has charged that poles for the purpose are not being pitched as per his consent. Mr Arora fears the BSF intends to "cage" 20 acres of his land, which might render him incapable of looking after his property. Although under an arrangement, he was to be left with 10 acres of the total 20 acres beyond the fencing, he has charged the BSF of altering the arrangement without taking him into confidence. In a communication to
senior BSF officers at Ferozepore and Mamdot, Mr Arora
has pleaded that the fencing of the entire 20 acres will
cause him a financial loss. To substantiate his claim, Mr
Arora has submitted a copy of the agreement prepared by
revenue officials. Mr Arora has also charged the BSF with
violating norms that bar the forces on either side of the
border from constructing defences within 150 meters of
Zero Line. Mr Arora says that repeated attempts to seek
appointment with BSF officers have yielded no results. |
Cultural show by deaf and dumb
students PATIALA, April 4 — Hidden talents of the deaf and mentally retarded children were in full view in a cultural programme-cum-competition organised by the Ramkali Devi Deaf and Dumb Seva Society and School at Laxmi Palace here today. Mr Aman Khanna was declared the best performer in the deaf and dumb category. Mr Shakti Srivastav was second and Mr Navjot Singh was third. Miss Parul Gupta, youngest participant, was given a consolation prize. In the open category teams of Arya Kanya Senior Secondary School came first, while Rose Garden School and Saraswati Model School were declared second and third, respectively. Mr Manjit Singh, a social worker, who helped in the arrest of a child kidnapper last year was honoured by the society principal Ashutosh Bajpai. The chief guest, Mrs Hardev Kaur Bhattal, awarded the prizes to the winners. Mr L.L. Aggarwal, Mr Shamlal Navyug and Mr Hansraj Gupta were the guest of honours. Mr Joginder Singh Kandhari sponsored the prizes. Mr Bajpai, principal of
the society, said the school imparts free hearing aids
and education to the deaf and dumb children. |
Check quality of drugs: PCMSA PATIALA, April 4 — The PCMS Association today demanded the imposition of stringent measures to check the quality of drugs being purchased by the Health Department of Punjab, asserting that the contaminated and substandard local anaesthetic drug Lignocaine, supplied by the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) to its various hospitals, had adversely hit the family welfare programme. The General Secretary of the association, Punjab, Dr D.C. Sharma, and the state Vice-President, Dr Rabinder Sethi, in a joint statement issued here, said the withdrawal of the contaminated drug at this stage was a cover-up operation for the faulty purchase policy being followed by the PHSC. The PCMSA demanded that all such drugs should be properly tested by random sampling before the supplies were made to the hospitals for use. Alleging that there had been hardly any significant improvement in secondary health care, the sole motive for which the PHSC was established, the PCMSA demanded review of the PHSC and a high-level impartial probe into the functioning of the PHSC during the past three years, especially the equipment and drug purchases, the civil works, the training programmes and the useless surveys and studies conducted. It demanded that the non-technical bureaucrat Managing Director of the corporation should be replaced by a medical man from the PCMS cadre if the Government was averse to the idea of winding up the PHSC. The General Secretary of
PCMSA said a massive rally by the PCMS doctors of Patiala
district and the local medical college was being held at
Rajindra Hospital, on April 7. The rally would be held as
a mark of protest against the failure of the Punjab
Government to implement the recommendations of the Fourth
Punjab Pay Commission in respect of PCMS doctors. These
recommendations included time scales at 4, 9 and 14 years
of service; and redesignation of posts of regular Senior
Medical Officers as Deputy Civil Surgeons with a
promotional increment. The PCMSA is also demanding the
implementation of the revised rates of non-practising
allowance with effect from January 1, 1996. |
Wedded to blood donation PATIALA, April 4 — Donating blood for a cause is their first love. They are a number of ‘star donors’ of this city who are silently pursuing their mission of ‘safe blood for all’ for the past several decades. Exponents of the World Health Organisation’s slogan — Safe blood starts with me — given to mark the celebrations of World Health Day on April 7, have finally been given their due by the Department of Transfusion Medicine, Rajindra Hospital. The department has compiled a directory of almost a thousand regular blood donors of the district. Those who have donated blood more than 20 times have been given special mention. While the directory is under publication, the department will remember the contribution of such donors tomorrow at a one-day workshop on Blood safety being held at the auditorium of Government Medical College. The list of donors is long but the real attractions are four men and one woman, who have donated blood more than 50 times. Mr Satpal Bansal, a bank manager, has donated blood 97 times, beginning from a scouts camp in 1965. He was encouraged by a lecture on need of blood an expert. On his wedding he told his wife that he was already married to the mission of blood donation. Happy at the growing awareness of blood donation among the young generation, he is peeved at the absence of an organisation fully committed to the cause. Mr Subhash Jain, an employee of the Thapar Engineering Institute, has donated blood 55 times. In 1965 he donated blood for the first time during the Indo-Pak war. His mother has always encouraged him to prove helpful to the society by such a selfless service. Having the B-negative blood group, he has compiled his own directory of persons with negative blood group. Blood donation gives him immense internal satisfaction. Dr Ish Kumar of the Department of Pathology, Rajindra Hospital, who has worked earlier with the Blood Bank Department has donated blood 60 times. He offered his blood for the first time during a camp to convince the people of the absence of any danger in the exercise. Donating blood since 1978, he has done the act four times a year but for the past few years, he had decided to donate blood on personal celebrating occasions only. Mr Binder Mansa, an employee of the NSS Department, who has donated blood 55 times, has rarely donated blood at a camp. He prefers giving blood to the person having an immediate requirement. He says a lot is required to educate rural people about blood donation. He once donated blood and immediately began playing kabaddi in a remote village to express his point. Ms Kiran Saxena, an old
woman having grandchildren, has donated blood more than
60 times. She was out of station and could not be
contacted. Dr Kulbir Kaur, Professor and Head, Department
of Transfusion Medicine, Rajindra Hospital, says the
State Government plans to honour such ‘star
donors’ in the near future. The directory will be
beneficial during a crisis situation, she adds. |
Centre claims clean sweep PATIALA, April 4 — The Punjabi University IAS and Allied Services Training Centre today claimed to have made a clean sweep in PCS (Judicial) results, declared by the Punjab Public Service Commission on April 1. Disclosing this here,
the Centre Director, Mr Arun Kumar Aggarwal, said out of
14 selected candidates, 11 had been trainees of this
centre. He said the topper, Mr Arun Kumar Aggarwal, also
had been trained at this centre. |
Alpine Club win PATIALA, April 4 — Alpine Club beat Kiwi Club, 2-0, to win the title in the second Patiala District Inter-Club Badminton Championship which concluded at the NIS Indoor Hall here yesterday. In the final, international player Vinod Vatrana and Virender Jain beat favourites G.S. Shah and Satinder Jain, 15-11, 14-15, 15-3, to give Alpine Club a 1-0 lead. In the second tie, the
fancied Alpine Club pair of Himanshu Sharma and Anil
Chowdhury played some good cross-court shots to unnerve
the rival pair of Rakesh Sand and Parven Goel. Despite
losing the opening set, the Alpine Club pair managed to
beat the rivals, 11-15, 15-13, 17-14, to give the club an
unassailable 2-0 lead and with it the title. |
SGPC to plead case of Pak
Sikhs with PM AMRITSAR, April 4 — The decision to remove Giani Puran Singh as Akal Takht chief was a painful one, Bibi Jagir Kaur, said here today. About the constitution of the committee comprising Sikh intellectuals to go into the "maryada" issue and the role and functions of the Akal Takht Jathedar, the Bibi pointed out that a decision on the same would be taken after Baisakhi and the culmination of the tercentenary celebrations at Anandpur Sahib. She said the SGPC would plead with the Prime Minister to allow Pakistani Sikhs to visit the Golden Temple. She said Punjab continued to be a "disturbed state" which prevented Pakistani nationals from visiting Punjab. Bibi Jagir Kaur said the
SGPC wanted to start a bus service from the Golden Temple
to Sikh shrines in Pakistan on a reciprocal basis. |
Hijack accused produced in
court PATIALA, April 4 — Abdul Latif of the Harqat-ul-Ansar and Yusaf Nepali, his alleged co-conspirator in the IC 814 Indian Arilines hijack case, were produced in the court of special CBI Magistrate Amarjit Singh Virk here today. The court recorded the
confessional statement of Abdul Latif under Section 164,
CrP.C. The proceedings of the case were held in camera. |
Punjab Assembly adjourned sine
die CHANDIGARH, April 4
— The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today adjourned sine die
after holding its budget session. It was the ninth
session of the eleventh Vidhan Sabha. |
Journalist dead AMRITSAR, April 4 — Veteran journalist Jagan Nath Sharma (82) died here today. Mr Sharma had represented PTI, AIR and other English dailies during his 50-year-long stint in journalism. Mr Sharma leaves behind
two sons and two daughters. His funeral this afternoon
was largely attended. |
Case registered against
lawyers GURDASPUR, April 4 — The Pathankot police registered a case under Sections 420/466/467/468/471/120B, IPC, against two local advocates Sarwinder Singh, Harpinder Kaur, now in Canada, two Ahlamads and one bailif for tampering with the court record. However, no arrest has been made so far. According to official sources Sarwinder Singh filed a suit in a local court against Bharat Wood Industry, SAS Nagar for recovery of Rs 31,423 in 1992. The court issued a decree on September 1, 1994, in favour of Sarwinder Singh for recovery of Rs 63,257 including interest. Sarwinder Singh filed a suit for recovery of the decree issued in his favour through Mr Udhay Kumar, advocate in the same year. Mr RK Gupta, judge concerned ordered attachment of rent of a property belonging to Bharat Wood Industry here. The accused reportedly tampered with the warrants of attachment of rent and added attachment of property of the said SAS Nagar firm. Meanwhile, the SAS Nagar firm thought that they would start getting the rent of their said property here after the decree amount was realised. In the meantime since the accused had tempered the court warrants the warrants had managed to go through formalities for holding auction of the said property of SAS Nagar firm. The official sources said that the said property was auctioned for Rs 2.3 lakh in favour of Harpinder Kaur now settled in Canada. The amount was deposit in the court. When Bharat Wood Industry management came to know about the auction of their property at here they filed a complaint against the accused in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Survinder Singh in his statement had said that he did not know Harpinder Kaur who purchase the said property in auction, but she turned out to be sister of his wife who is at present in Canada. Mr R.K. Gupta, Pathankot
posted Judge who had issued the decree attaching rent of
the said property of the complainant said that attachment
of the property of the complainant was forged by the
accused. |
Fake currency seized, 1 held DERA BABA NANAK, April 4 — The Batala police has claimed to have busted a three-member gang which had been involved in the circulation of fake Indian currency for quite some time. One member of the gang Gurbax Singh, alias Bakshi of Rama Talwandi village, police station Dera Baba Nanak, has been arrested and fake currency notes totalling to Rs 60,000 have been seized from him. There are 70 notes of Rs 500 denomination and 250 notes of Rs 100 denomination. All three members of the gang had contacts with terrorist groups. The arrested culprit had old contacts with a terrorist Vikramjit Singh, alias Bikka, who has since been killed in a police encounter in Chicharewal village. About four to five months back Gurbax Singh met Apar Singh, the mastermind behind the racket. Apar Singh had given Gurbax Singh a fake note of Rs 500 to circulate in the market as a pre-run. Gurbax Singh successfully floated the note in the market without raising any suspicion. Apar Singh accompanied by another person, gave the fake notes to Gurbax Singh on a condition that Gurbax Singh shall pay back the amount that is Rs 30,000 in real currency after successful circulation of the fake ones. But their intentions were foiled by the timely action of the police. The gang leader Apar
Singh and his associate, his brother Kewal Singh are
still absconding. The arrested was produced in court and
he has been remanded to police custody till April 6. |
Undertrial flees, robs, nabbed LUDHIANA, April 4 — An undertrial, Anil Kumar, who had been brought to the district courts here for a hearing in his case, escaped from custody yesterday. He was later arrested by the police, allegedly after he had committed a robbery in a house near the courts complex. On the pretext that he wanted to urinate, the accused took the constable on duty aside and fled by scaling of walks of the court complex. He later entered a house
in canal colony and decamped with Rs 4000 cash, some gold
and silver ornaments, one mobile phone, five watches, 70
American and 70 Canadian dollars. A case under Section
224, 454 and 380 of the IPC. |
Training centre inaugurated PATIALA, April 4 — The RCC Training Centre at Computer Centre, Income Tax Office, Patiala, was inaugurated by Ms S.P. Kaur, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Chandigarh. Mr B.M. Singh,
Commissioner of Income Tax, Patiala, and Mr B.S. Rattan,
Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Patiala, were
present along with other officers of the department. This
training centre is equipped with latest and state-of-the
art technology, which will help the department to train
officers and staff in latest computer information
technology. |
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