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| Sunday, May 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
Akali leader’s house set on
fire Rinwa to be Punjab BJP chief Kanwaljit cautions against WTO PMET & eligibility clause Punjabi
University admissions
Replace
PPCC chief: Kairon Grewal questions Badal’s
stand Mann
demands ban on RSS |
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Why are authorities not opening
Shahi Samadan gate? Unconventional
fashion show Probe ordered into rail workshop
fire Child healthcare plan finalised Faridkot residents fined AIPRF call to unite against
imperialists
SP faces molestation charge High-tech dacoit arrested 12 injured as truck hits bus SHO, ASI to pay for excesses Xen granted bail 64 bottles of liquor seized
Delay in results flayed ‘Recruit teachers on
merit’ University gets court notice
|
Akali leader’s house set
on fire AMRITSAR, May 27 — District president Akali Dal (Urban) Pradeep Singh Walia’s house was set afire by miscreants in the early hours today. According to Mr Walia, who was sleeping on the terrace along with his family, the fire was detected at 5 a.m. when the family woke up to send children to school. They smelt smoke emitting out of the drawing room area first. The house is located in the Daim Ganj area of Islamabad. A case has been registered by the Islamabad police station. The family smelt smoke at first coming from under the door of the drawing room. On opening the door they found the room with smouldering. Sofa, furniture, crockery, window doors, wall pictures all were blackened and burnt. Chandelier had also fallen with the impact of the fire. As also, fans, exhaust fans, cooler were all misshaped. Mr Walia, who at first suspected a short-circuit to be the cause changed his opinion on seeing a bulb outside the burnt room lighted and the small string of light around the portrait of Guru Nanak Dev Ji too were burnt whereas all fuses were intact. Mr Satinder Mohan, assistant line man, Islamabad area confirmed that all electrical connections were intact in the house and short-circuit was ruled out. He was inspecting the house while talking to this reporter. The Fire Brigade was called only at 5.30 a.m. after preliminary operations of fire-fighting were done by the family members. The Fire Brigrade that arrived only at 5.45 a.m. took 45 minutes to douse the flames. Mr Darshan Lal Ohri, DSP, who was on the spot investigating the incident too suspected the fire to be the handiwork of someone. Mr Walia, however, believed that someone from outside threw a burning missile through the small gap between the cooler and the window, which he said was probably the only place to get something from outside. Mr Walia could not,
however, point who could have played the mischief and
started the fire. Loss of Rs 2 lakh is said to have been
incurred by the family. |
Rinwa to be Punjab BJP chief CHANDIGARH, May 27 — Mr Briz Lal Rinwa will be the next President of the Punjab unit of the BJP. A formal announcement in this connection will be made tomorrow. Mr Rinwa today filed his nomination papers for the post of President. He submitted four sets of papers. Four former Presidents of the State unit proposed the name of Mr Rinwa. As no one else has filed nomination papers for this post, Mr Rinwa’s election as President tomorrow will only be a formality. However, one Organisational General Secretary of the state unit of the party, Mr Jagmohan Kaura, has opposed Mr Rinwa’s candidature for the post. Raising several objections in this connection, Mr Kaura has submitted a list to the party high command’s observer, Mr Sangh Priya Gautam,who has rejected all the objections. Mr Kaura says that Mr Rinwa is not eligible for the post of President. Neither was he a primary member of the BJP for the past 10 years nor has he remained an active member for three terms of the party. These two conditions are required to be fulfilled to be a candidate for the party post, he adds. Mr Kaura has threatened that he would commit self-immolation if the party went ahead and announced Mr Rinwa as President of the Punjab unit of the BJP. He said that he would organise a dharna, demonstration and a protest march in front of the Aggarwal Dharmsala where the announcement with regard to Mr Rinwa’s election is to be made. Levelling other serious allegations, Mr Kaura said that he was not supplied a list of delegates for filing the nomination papers for the post of President. He says party records had been tempered with for making Mr Rinwa eligible for the post of President. He has urged Mr Gautam to examine the party record in this connection. He has also termed the election of party office-bearers in certain districts as a bogus and fake exercise. He said that in several districts, election of office-bearers was held only yesterday, 24 hours before the filing of nomination papers for the election of the State President of the party. Moreover, he says, Mr Rinwa himself supervised the election of office-bearers in 15 districts. How could Mr Rinwa be a candidate as he himself was involved in the election exercise at the district level and got elected those who could support him for the post of State President, Mr Kaura questioned. Rejecting all these allegations as baseless and flimsy, the party’s observer, Mr Gautam, who is also a General Secretary of the national body of the BJP, said that Mr Rinwa qualified to be a candidate for the party post as he had filed his nomination as candidate of the Jan Sangh from Abohar in 1977. He was a member of the party since then. Moreover, he remained General Secretary of the party from 1995 for two years and later became Vice-President. Mr Gautam said that Mr Kaura has filed objections by declaring himself as deemed candidate. There was no such provision in the party constitution. He said that the nomination papers of Mr Rinwa whose name had been proposed by Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Mr Manoranjan Kalia, all former Presidents of the State unit of BJP and the outgoing President, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, had been found in order. Earlier, yesterday Mr
Kaura had alleged that Mr Devinder Parsad Gupta,
RSS’s Coordinator in Punjab, was behind the move of
electing Mr Rinwa as President of the State unit by
ignoring the party constitution. Mr Narotam Rati is
acting as returning officer of the party for the election
of President. |
Sodhi reflective on eve of
exit CHANDIGARH, May 27 — The outgoing president of the Punjab unit of the BJP while, talking to the newspersons here today said he was committed to the party and it was others who had sinned. “I will open my mouth at an appropriate time to tell every thing”, he said promising to hold a press conference soon in this connection. There was pain in his voice when he said this. It appears that he is not happy over the way party has treated him. Listing his achievements, Mr Sodhi said that he minimised groupism in the party and ensured organisational election even in Ludhiana where elections had not been held for the past 20 years. The party was functioning from a rented room, I managed a 2200 yards plot for it in Chandigarh, he added. Even a glass of water was not served in the party office before I took over, but now one can have even cold drinks. When a list of newly
enrolled members would be released, all concerned would
come to know about my contribution to the party, he said
adding more that 50 per cent of new enrolled members were
Sikhs, he added. The party has made deep inroads in rural
areas during my tenure, he added. There are 4200 panches
of the party in the villages, he further said to
emphasise his point. |
Kanwaljit cautions against WTO LUDHIANA, May 27 — With the April 1, 2001, deadline for the WTO agreement coming into force staring the country right in the face, experts from the fields of agriculture and trade today held discussions on the “Implementations of the WTO on Punjab agriculture.” This seminar, held at the Punjab Agricultural University campus was inaugurated by the Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh. Expressing apprehensions about the implications of the WTO agreement on the agrarian economy of the state, he said that even after 50 years of Independence, the Government of India had not been able to formulate a comprehensive agricultural policy although 75 per cent of the country’s population was dependent on this sector. He felt that if proper safeguards were not provided under the WTO, the situation would become explosive and may ultimately lead to a law and order problem. While speaking on the crisis in the dairy industry due to the large-scale import of milk products, the Finance Minister said that the matter was being taken up with the Prime Minister to find ways and means to save the dairy farmers and stop the prices of dairy products from crashing. He said that if timely steps were not taken at the level of the Central Government, the Punjab farmers, who were already under heavy debt, would come under further financial stress, which would be fatal to the Punjab economy. Giving details of the Punjab Government’s plans to give a second push to agriculture, the Finance Minister informed that the important items on the agenda were the diversification from paddy-wheat rotation to other profitable crops and enterprises like dairy farming, mushroom growing, horticulture, creating of marketing structure; developing storage and processing industry on scientific lines and also developing infrastructure for export of farm goods. He said that the state government had earmarked Rs 200 crore during the current financial year for this purpose. Earlier, while welcoming the Finance Minister and other delegates, Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, emphasised that while reviewing the WTO we should be cautious not to harm the interests of the farmers so that they were able to invest in agriculture and keep on producing more and more to feed the increasing population which was expected to up by 30 crore during the next 20 years. Dr S.S. Johl, former Chairman, Agricultural, Costs and Prices Commission, Government of India, emphasised the need to understand the different clauses of the WTO properly and to reorient the internal policies of the government so that these are compatible with the WTO. Dr Karan Singh, senior economist of the PAU, said that Indian agriculture was basically a small farm economy under rain fed conditions with a few alternatives. Prof D.B. Bhattacharya and Prof Parthapratim Pal of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade also spoke. Mr Y.S. Ratra, IAS,
Financial Commissioner, Development, Mr D.S. Bains, IAS,
Managing Director, Punjab Markfed, Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy
Commissioner, Ludhiana, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal,
President and Mr Manjit Singh Kadian, general secretary
of the Bharati Kisan Union also spoke. |
PMET & eligibility clause CHANDIGARH, May 27 — The landmark judgement in the PMET (Punjab Medical Entrance Test) for year 2000 sets seal of approval and legitimacy on the eligibility clause of brochure, which was amended by a notification by the Governor of Punjab, by which a further restriction has placed that a candidate ought to have passed their 10 plus 1 and 10 plus 2 examinations from the recognised schools in Punjab and certain exceptions were also carved out. The judgement by Mr Justice Swatantar Kumar running into 82 pages and made available today, extensively deals with all possible challenges to the validity of the amended clause and the exceptions. The controversy related to 85 per cent state quote of seats, while 15 per cent seats have to be filled on an all-India basis. The challenge to the validity of impugned amended clause was that these conditions were arbitrary and discriminatory in as much as the candidates whose parents were living at Mohali, practically a part of Chandigarh, would be eligible to take the test, while those studying in Chandigarh would be ineligible. Similarly, the children who have done their qualifying examination from Chandigarh with parents living in Mohali have been rendered ineligible. Analysing the arguments of the opposing parties, Mr Justice Kumar quoted the following from the apex court Judgement while repudiating the argument of arbitrariness against the amended clause. It said, “The state has a dual purpose in imposing such a restriction. First, the state was to exclude forged/bogus domicile certificates. Second, the state wants to encourage the students who study in rural areas of Punjab for seeking admission to such professional courses. “The state policy can neither be said to be arbitrary nor discriminatory. The judgement exhibits a genuine attachment with the soil. Holding the policy behind the impugned clauses of eligibility to be constitutional and valid, the judge held the view that mere ground of inconvenience or policy being harsh” to the student who are a small coterie “and who had facilities of better education, they cannot raise a grievance and challenge the implementation of a policy,” the Judge said. However the court felt genuinely concerned with a very “microcosm class” of students who earned disqualification in both states and are not saved by any exceptions. A parent who was post in Chandigarh or any other place except Punjab but is a Punjab resident and his wards were pursuing course of 10-plus-1 or 10-plus-2 at his station of posting before the completion of the course, the parent was transferred back to Punjab, hence he could not take benefit of exception 2 (1) (b) (for government employees of Punjab serving outside Punjab). Whether his children did 10-plus-1 and 10-plus-2 both from outside or one class from Punjab and other from outstation or both outstation, such students would earn a disqualification or would be in-eligible for the state of Punjab as well as outside. This situation is not really attributable to the conduct of the student. The compulsion of employment has resulted in this extreme hardship. They must be granted some limited relief, said the Judge. While partly allowing the writ petition in respect of such petitioners or prospective applicants who are not even parties to these writ petitions but fall in the exclusive class of students afore referred, it was directed that: 1. Such prospective applicants would be entitled to submit their applications, complete in all respects to the competent authority within 10 days. 2. Such of these applicants who satisfy all other terms of brochure except the eligibility clause, shall be issued roll numbers by the authorities along with other general candidates. 3. Each of these students will file affidavits as required under annexure to the brochure, and that the authorities will entertain the applications if an affidavit declaring that the applicant had not already availed of such quota (85%) in any other state or union territory except for the state of Punjab. 4. The applicants seeking benefit under the directions of this court and taking entrance test, if found at any subsequent stage that they had filed a false affidavit, or had misrepresented the facts, their admission shall be liable to be cancelled. It was specifically clarified by Justice Kumar that this relief would be limited to the above class and only for the current year. The above judgement will
continue to be referred in such future litigation, goes
without saying and such limited but appropriate relief
may become more common as the justice demands. |
Punjabi University admissions PATIALA, May 27 — Punjabi University has set into motion the process of admissions to various courses at the university campus and at different centres run by the university for the academic session 2000-2001. Releasing the admission schedule, Dr Kuldip Singh Dhir, Dean, Academic Affairs, has said that admissions this year would be made for various courses at the Punjabi University campus, Patiala, the Guru Kashi campus at Talwandi Sabo, Guru Kashi Regional Centre, Bathinda, the Nawab Sher Mohammad Institute of Advanced Studies, Malerkotla, the Punjabi University Extension Library, Mohali and at Punjabi University Extension Centre for Computer Education at Jaitu. Entrance tests will be conducted for admissions to M.Sc. in physics, applied physics, botany, chemistry, forensic science, geography, human biology and zoology. Entrance tests will also be held for admission to all professional courses. Admission to the M.Com. course being run in colleges affiliated to the university will also be held on the basis of the entrance test. From the current session the departments which have been exempted from entrance tests include anthropological linguistics and Punjabi languages, English, Hindi, Punjabi education, Hon in Punjabi, Sanskrit, Persian, Urdu, Arabic, economics, History, political science, public administration, sociology, psychology, social work, philosophy, religious studies, defence and strategic studies, theatre and television, fine arts, music, M.Sc. (statistics), M.Sc. (astronomy and space science), Master of Library and Information Science, Master of Journalism and Mass Communication, Bachelor of Library and Information Science, BA Hon, school courses in economics and Punjabi, postgraduate diploma in counselling psychology, postgraduate diploma in computer application, all diploma and certificate courses, LLM, LLB (evening shift). The last date for
submission of forms for all courses has been fixed June
2000 whereas last date for submission of forms for B,
Pharm, and the MBA courses at Talwandi Sabo is June 16;
for MBA, MIB, MBE, MFC is June 18, for M.Com June 19; and
for M. Pharm, where the admission is to take place on the
basis of GATE, the last date is September 12. |
Replace PPCC chief: Kairon AMRITSAR, May 27 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and President, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), who has been criticised by voters of the Majha region for ignoring the border belt, is a happy man these days. The reason being that the animosity between the Bhattal and Amarinder groups in the Congress has widened in the region. Mr Gurinder Singh Kairon, younger son of former Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon, who had sought the ouster of Capt Amarinder Singh as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President has now announced that he would meet party chief Sonia Gandhi along with senior leaders of the party before launching a formal campaign against Capt Amarinder Singh. On the other hand, the District Congress Committee (DCC) and some former ministers and MLAs belonging to the Amarinder group have demanded immediate expulsion of Mr Kairon for his anti-party activities. Ms Ratna, general secretary, PPCC, has alleged that Mr Kairon is hand in glove with Mr Badal. Mr Kairon alleged that he had earned the ‘wrath’ of the PPCC chief as he had taken a ‘jatha’ of more than 3000 Congressmen to Delhi to convince Ms Sonia Gandhi to withdraw her resignation as the President of the Congress last year. He alleged it was for this reason that the PPCC chief had opposed his (Mr Kairon’s) candidature for the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha seat. On the demand of loyalists of the Amarinder camp that he should be expelled from the Congress for six years, Mr Kairon said he would urge Ms Gandhi to expel Capt Amarinder Singh from the party as he was not “loyal” to her. “Though Capt Amarinder Singh worked hard to ensure my defeat during the previous Lok Sabha elections, I remained mum for the past six months due to party discipline”, Mr Kairon said. He said he had to oppose the PPCC chief for the sake of the party as Capt Amarinder Singh’s continuance as the state party chief would ensure victory of the SAD in the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections. Political observers feel that the deepening of the crisis in the PPCC, especially in the Majha region, would make the SAD leadership happy. The Majha region has been a trend setter in the elections. While Mr Badal has already launched a political campaign to refurbish his image by organising sangat darshan in various parts of the border belt, the PPCC would certainly suffer due to infighting in the party. Apart from accommodating MLAs from the border belt as the Chief Parliamentary Secretary and as the Chairman, Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), Mr Badal had shown keen interest in the upgradation of the Rajasansi airport. The Congress infighting is bound to strengthen the hands of the Akalis and the BJP in this region. On the other hand, Ms Ratna in a communication to Ms Sonia Gandhi, has alleged that Mr Kairon was a disgruntled leader without any mass base. Senior leaders like
former minister Gurchet Singh Bhullar, former Speaker
Dilbagh Singh Daleke, former MLA Darbari Lal and others
in a joint press conference urged Ms Sonia Gandhi and
Capt Amarinder Singh to expel Mr Kairon from the party
for six years for his anti-party activities. |
Grewal questions Badal’s
stand CHANDIGARH, May 27 — Mr Gurdarshan Singh Grewal, a former Advocate-General of Punjab, today questioned the suggestion given by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for setting up a panel on federal structure. In a signed statement, Mr Grewal said Mr Badal did not have any faith in the federal structure. It was clear from the fact that he had issued a whip to Akali MPs to vote in favour of imposition of President’s rule in Bihar. Mr Grewal said before setting up any panel on studying federal structure Mr Badal should clarify the stand of his party on this issue. Mr Grewal also flayed
the stand of Mr Badal supporting the SGPC on its decision
not to send any jatha of Sikhs to Pakistan. Mr Badal and
the SGPC took this stand simply because the Pakistan
Government had taken a decision to set up its SGPC
“Why should Punjab oppose this stand of Pakistan?
After all Pakistan is an independent country and had
complete freedom to manage religious affairs of its
country.” |
Mann demands ban on RSS LUDHIANA, May 27 — The president of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) has demanded a ban on the RSS in Punjab as it was working against the interests of the state and the Sikh community. Speaking at a dharna in front of the mini-secretariat here yesterday, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, observed that the RSS was garnering the support of migrant labourers to destroy the demographic patter of the state. Charging the SGPC with failing to carry out its dharam parchar, Mr Mann demanded that the SGPC should come out with a white paper on the role of the Dharam Parchar Committee during the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa last year. Mr Mann appealed to the
Jathedar of Akal Takht to set up a monitoring authority
to carry out an audit of the working of the SGPC with
regard to the propagation of the Punjabi language, the
teachings of Sikh Gurus, drive against drug abuse and
amrit parchar. |
Why are authorities not opening
Shahi Samadan gate? PATIALA, May 27 — It is ironic that the government itself is coming in the way of opening up of the main gate of the Shahi Samadan (royal cremation ground) situated in the old city here. The gate is closed and the way to the grounds blocked by transformers and other material stored in the open by the telecommunication department authorities. The Telecommunication Department also has a complaint department in the premises. It is using the space just ahead of the gate and the steps leading down to the royal cremation grounds as a storage area for various materials, including cables. It has also bared the way into the grounds through a iron gate on which is written ‘no admission’. A visit to the site revealed that the Telecommunication Department had closed the main gate to the grounds where a tomb dedicated to Baba Ala, the founder of the Phulkian dynasty, is situated around nine years back. Earlier the Telecommunication Department only had a complaint center at the site. Besides the Telecommunication Department, one wing of two rooms built in the gate complex itself forms a post office. This post office has been housed here since a few decades. Telecom Department employees do not feel that they are hindering visitors to the site. ‘’There are very few visitors and they can use the side entrance going in the grounds from the quarters of the Mahant, who is also the manager of the grounds”, an employee said. However, he said the gates were opened once a year during the ‘Gugga’ festival when there was a rush of people to the tomb. Residents of the city want that the main gate should be opened so that people could be encouraged to visit the Shahi Samadan which has a magnificent tomb built in memory of Baba Ala besides various ‘chhatris’ behind it in memory of the later kings of the Patiala royal house. However, for this the Telecom Department would have to lift various material dumped around the gate and removes its barred entrance. Kamaljit, a nearby resident, said people were discouraged to visit the Shahi Samadan as the way to it presently was through the quarters of the Mahant. He also called for removing encroachments made on land of the cremation ground adjacent to the road just before the gate. He said where there was a very small temple earlier, had been reconstructed into a bigger one. More dangerous he said was construction of rooms on both sides of the temple which were being used for commercial purposes. When this correspondent visited the site, rooms to one sides were open and workers were engaged in manufacture of room coolers. Residents said the other rooms were used as godowns. It seems that land belonging to the Shahi Samadan which is under the management of the Mahant is much in demand and is worth crores of rupees. The District Administration has put up a board in front of the residence of the Mahant saying the property belongs to the government and is not for sale. The district administration is however not taking any step to remove encroachments near the main gate with a cow shed also coming up at its one end. A shopkeeper running his
business opposite the Shahi Samadan said whoever finds a
little place adjacent to the road puts up his
‘’khokha” so that he can eventually put a
concrete structure later on. Others said the gate should
be restored to its pristine glory and reopened to
facilitate entry into the Shahi Samadan which can also be
beautified by making a public park around the main
monument. They said the lower end of the gate had been
given a coat of paint by the postal department few days
back which did not serve any purpose as it had developed
cracks which needed to be addressed immediately. |
Unconventional fashion show AMRITSAR: It was a fashion show with unconventional materials at the J.D. Institute of Fashion Designing here. About 78 designers of the institute out of the total strength of 88 put together a three-day show ( May 10,20,21) .Dress material ranged from popcorn to bicycle tyres and wheel spokes. From a trickle, including parents of wards of the institute, on the first day, the show went on to attract hundreds on the second and the third day.The shows on the last two days went on till late night. The reincarnation theme included a skirt- blouse made of only zippers which could be unzipped at will to evoke different moods. For a run on sandy beaches was a dress in purple blue nylon strings with a matching fish net . Another dress made of waterproof corrugated sheets in copper colouring was embellished with sea shells. Measuring tape ,video tape ,nylon tape used for weaving ‘Charpoy’ and film strips were woven to create tops and skirts. Perhaps the most detailed and a complete little black outfit was made out of x-ray films. Pooja, the designer, got the idea when she saw x-rays of patients lying in a bin of her doctor friend`s clinic.The films were painstakingly cut into diamond shapes and zig zag strips and adorned with tiny diamond shaped mirrors and displayed with matching earrings, necklace, headgear and a hand bag. Whites however stood out. Plastic white saree with glittering silver border created an impact. So was the tracing paper dress with sequentially placed safety pins. Kiranjeet thought of safety pins to highlight the paleness of the paper while pinning her mom’s saree pallu. A bodice was created with computer CDs strung with computer cables and a circuit board, CPU and key board formed the motifs. Household items like bottle gourd threaded with mauli (sacred Indian thread) and wooden beads, dried lemon slices with beads and sequins and matching lemon pendants and earrings were also used. Broom, steel, wool, bandages, jute, ice-cream sticks, straw, kerosene lamp filaments, bamboo; bubble paper sheets, barks, ropes ‘chatayees (twig mats), wrapping paper were other materials used to create ethnic, traditional and western outfits. Dresses were designed with a view to unleashing creativity of the students; it was a kind of an extra curricular activity and a refresher, says Jaideep Singh, technical coordinator of the institute. The “most popular
dress award carrying an amount of Rs 5000 went to
creation in the plastic white saree and the bottle gourd. |
Probe ordered into rail
workshop fire AMRITSAR, May 27 — The railway authorities have ordered a high-level inquiry into the fire which broke out on May 23 at the local railways workshop, the biggest in northern India. The fire at the railway workshop followed less than a year after a separate fire wings in the railway workshop throughout the country were disbanded being economically unviable. The railway workshop here has already witnessed two fires in the premises in a span of two weeks. Three fire engines were pressed into service to douse the fire that burnt 300 wooden sleepers and threatened to spread to the enclosed area of the workshop . According to Mr Ashish Sharma, Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer, some workers of the workshop were burning some plastic scrap wire to extract copper that was to be restocked. A strong wind stocked the fire to the nearby stack of wooden sleepers and to be used as scrap for furnace in making brake boxes. Mr Sharma said as a precautionary measure more fire extinguishers are proposed for the workshop spread over 14 acres. Workers seeking
anonymity stated that the building being old had poor
electrical wiring and the workshop also used flammable
diesel oil. In such a scenario the chances of fires
breaking out in future were high due to heavy fluctuation
in power supply. |
Child healthcare plan
finalised LUDHIANA, May 27 — A comprehensive programme has been finalised to create awareness and educate the masses, particularly women, regarding reproductive child healthcare and family planning in the district with the active involvement of NGOs, village panchayats, women’s organisations and the Health Department. This was stated here yesterday by Mr S. K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, while addressing a special convention on reproductive child health and population education organised by the district Saksharta Samiti. He said the reproductive child health programme had been assigned by the National Literacy Mission on the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry and it was launched in January, 2000, in the district. Mr Sandhu stressed the need to curb the increase in population which had negated some of the achievements in the development of the country during the past 50 years. He said the child health project aimed at spreading awareness regarding population and health-related issues was a useful medium to educate people. Mr Tejvir Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), said the project funded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was aimed at creating awareness regarding family welfare, child health and nutrition amongst the target population by way of street plays, ‘kala jatha’ performances and other mass-media activities. He said the Health Department, through the district mass media wing, was being closely associated with the project. Dr Rajinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon, said the paramedical staff of the department would be actively associated with the programme. A compendium of various
songs and plays compiled by Mr Hira Singh Randhawa of the
Ludhiana Saksharta Samiti and a calendar of events
prepared by the samiti were also released by the Deputy
Commissioner. |
Faridkot residents fined CHANDIGARH, May 27 — For wilful disobedience of court orders on the sale of land, the Punjab and Haryana High Court here has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on two respondents. Pronouncing the orders on a petition by Faridkot district resident Mr Karnail Singh, Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal observed: “Respondents — Megha Singh and Harnek — were aware of the orders passed by this Court. Despite the same they have chosen to dispose of the land. They had been restrained from alienating the land. Thus, it is wilful disobedience of the directions of this court.” Mr Justice Aggarwal added: “In these circumstances, mere apology will not be enough and consequently each of the respondent is fined Rs 10,000. They are directed to deposit the amount with the registry of the court within a month”. Probe into case of murder On a petition for handing over the investigation of a murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to the Punjab Advocate General for July 6. Accusing the police of “hushing up the matter”, petitioner Lakhwinder Singh of Gurdaspur district had earlier stated that the prime accused in the case had not been arrested even though a person was killed in broad daylight while others had sustained injuries. The accused, he had added, were openly claiming that nothing could be done against them as the local police had connived with them. Till date the servant of the accused had been arrested, he had claimed. Counsel for the
petitioner had contended on his behalf that the Gurdaspur
Senior Superintendent of Police and Station House Officer
of a police station in Batala district “were
distorting the real version of the occurrence and
tampering with the record of the case, besides concocting
a false story to save the accused party in the murder
case”. |
Pvt guards told not to wear Army-like dress JALANDHAR, May 27 (PTI) — Taking exception to some hotels and other firms employing private security guards sporting uniforms akin to the Army camouflage, Senior Superintendent of Police Guarav Yadav today asked managements of such firms to ensure that their security guards did not wear uniforms similar to those of armed forces. The police arrested a private guard employed by a licenced pub for wearing such a uniform, “Private security guard Mohan Lal, a local resident, was arrested and charged with wearing garb used by the public servants. He was released on bail”, Mr Yadav said. “Legal action shall
be taken against such persons”, he added. |
AC coach at airport AMRITSAR, May 27 — As decided by the Chief Minister while reviewing the progress of upgradation of Rajasansi airport to an international one, Punjab Tourism has started comfortable airconditioned coach service at Rajasansi airport for the facility and convenience of NRIs and other tourists alighting at Amritsar for their further journey to various destinations in the state. The first such service was flagged off today by Mr V.S. Mulekar, Director, Airport Authority of India. This service will save people from fleecing by private taxi operators and other unscrupulous elements at the airport. A pre-paid taxi service
at the airport is also being started shortly where both
AC and non-AC taxis will be made available. |
AIPRF call to unite against
imperialists SANGRUR, May 27 — Inaugurating a two-day All-India Conference of the All-India People’s Resistance Forum (AIPRF), here today, Gursharan Singh, a noted dramatist and revolutionary writer, called upon the delegates to show the path of revolutionary culture to the suffering people for the cause of revolution. Gursharan Singh said that the people who had revolutionary ideology were dedicated to awake and inspire the working class to achieve their objectives related to revolution. He said the revolutionaries wanted to change the society and dignified living for all by bringing equality among, the people. He also said the artistes could play a vital role in inspiring the masses to go ahead with revolutionary actions. Prof Randhir Singh from Delhi University, addressing the gathering, pointed out that a clear theory was necessary to guide the revolutionaries as “revolution does not come from oppression and poverty alone”. He also emphasised on the need of building unity among different struggling forces to defeat the destructive plans of the imperialists. Comrade Gaddar, general secretary of the All-India League for Revolutionary Culture, presented a dramatic story of the struggles of the people of the Andhra Pradesh and Bihar etc through speech and song. Mr Hari Singh Tarak, Chairman of the reception committee of the conference, emphasised on the need of finishing the current “black era” in which all evils of society were growing. He said the people should work for removing darkness from all spheres of the society. Dr Darshan Pal and Mr G.N. Saibaba, president and general secretary, respectively, of the All-India People’s Resistance Forum, also addressed the gathering and spoke on the aims and objectives of the Forum. They also appealed to the people to strengthen it by participating in large number and propagating its programmes. The delegates also took part in a procession which passed through the main bazaars of the town. Nearly 250 delegates
from the states of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab are
participating in the conference. |
Bibi appoints press secretary JALANDHAR, May 27 —
Prof Manjit Singh, a lecturer in local Lyallpur Khalsa
College, has been appointed by SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur
as her press secretary, according to a press note issued
here today. |
Punjab asked to review stamp
duty decision CHANDIGARH, May 27 — The All-India PNB Officers’ Association has urged the Punjab government to review its decision on enhancement of stamp duty on acknowledgement of debt which is also called balance confirmation letter. Mr K.R. Jain, Zonal Secretary of the association, said the rate of stamp duty for executing an agreement for the grant of bank loan was Rs 15 per instrument, while the acknowledgement of the same on a later date was Rs 50. He said revenue stamps
were available in the denomination of Re 1 only.
Therefore, it was very cumbersome to affix 50 stamps on a
single piece of paper (balance confirmation letter). |
Support for child rights project CHANDIGARH, May 27—The “Umeed” Khanna Foundation has extended its support to a child rights project being patronised by the Punjab Human Rights Commission in 12 districts of the state. The project is an Indo-British venture funded by the British Council and is being implemented through the Punjab Police. Under this project, the child rights project trainees from each adopted district would be trained to organise people education programme(PEP) in primary schools. This programme would include the participation of the children, their parents and professionals where they would be educated about issues of child rights and child abuse.This programme would also include games, quiz contests and film shows. Umeed organised two such
programmes under the PEP at SOS village Rajpura and
Navjivan School for Mentally Retarded children at Sular
village, near Patiala.Earlier, Umeed had celebrated the
World Health Day by organising health check camps for
students in schools in rural and urban areas. |
SP faces molestation charge GURDASPUR, May 27 (UNI) — The Pathankot SP, Mr Mohinder Singh Sidhu, who is already in the eye of a storm in a case of corruption and is facing the charge of illegal confinement levelled against him by a serving and a retired police official, has now been charged with trying to molest a mother of three children. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Gurdaspur SSP to look into the complaint of a divorcee, who, in her petition to the court, alleged that the SP tried to molest her at his official residence at Pathankot on May 14. The SSP, Mr Varinder Kumar, said he had read in the media of the high court order to him but he has yet to receive it formally. “I will inquire into the charge on the receipt of the order ”, he added. Police sources said a case of corruption under Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the charge of forgery, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy under Sections 462, 468, 471, 506 and 120-B of the IPC was registered against the Pathankot SP vide FIR 62 on April 27 on the complaint of Assistant Sub-Inspector Tarsem Singh of the CIA staff, Pathankot. The police official alleged that Mohinder Singh Sidhu had already extorted Rs 30,000 of the Rs 50,000 he demanded from him by threatening to implicate him in a case of theft. Surinder Singh, when he was Inspector and SHO of Pathankot police station division number one, in his petition to the high court had alleged that Sidhu had harassed and mentally tortured him during illegal confinement at Pathankot on February 19 when he was serving as SHO under him. The high court has yet to pronounce its order on the petition. Varinder Kumar confirmed having received complaint of the then SHO and registration of corruption case against the Pathankot SP who functions under the charge of the Gurdaspur SSP. The SSP declined to answer when asked how an officer could continue to serve under him when his subordinates had levelled serious allegations against him and now a woman has slapped charge of molestation against him. The woman, who had also filed her complaint with the district police, who duly acknowledged its receipt vide number 12586 on May 20, said her husband Ajit Singh, whom she had divorced on November 29 last year, allegedly beat her in an STD PCO at Malikpur Chowk in Pathankot on May 13. She said when her cousin Champa, who was also present in the PCO booth where she worked as an operator to make both ends meet after the divorce, tried to rescue her, she,too, was ‘beaten up’ by Ajit Singh. She said after Ajit Singh left the booth, she and her cousin went to Sujanpur police station to lodge a complaint against him the same evening, but the munshi on duty fobbed them off, saying the SHO was out in the area and they were asked to come tomorrow. She said that when she went to the office of the Pathankot SP the next day, a police official on duty told her that the SP had gone to Gharota in connection with VIP duty. While waiting for the SP to return to office, his reader told her that the SP had reached home and, therefore, she could go there. She said it was around
6.30 p.m. on May 14 when she reached the SP’s
residence. The sentry on duty at his residence went
inside and returned and told her to come and wait for the
officer in the drawing room. She alleged that Sidhu,
dressed in a kurta and pajama, came to the drawing room
and sent out the sentry. When she showed her application
to the SP, he allegedly tried to outrage her modesty, but
she somehow fled his residence and returned home and
narrated the incident to her cousin Champa. |
High-tech dacoit arrested SANGRUR, May 27 — The police has arrested Sanjiv Kumar, alias Babla, of Dhuri town, who allegedly is a member of an inter-state gang of educated and high-tech dacoits, involved in several crimes in Himachal, Chandigarh, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Sangrur districts. Mr J.S. Aulakh, SSP, in a press note here today stated that on a tip-off the police arrested Sanjiv Kumar during “nakabandi” on the local Railway road while nine members of the gang had already been arrested and many looted articles, vehicles and cash had been recovered from them. He also stated that during interrogation, Sanjit Kumar revealed that he had taken active part along with his accomplices in looting three mobile phones from a local shop on January 29 last, in Rajpura town Rs one lakh on pistol-point from a scooter rider, and in Dhuri town on level crossing Rs 3.95 lakh from a van carrying cash of Dhuri Sugar Mill, Dhuri, on March 6 last. Mr Aulakh also stated that a mobile phone looted from Sangrur and Rs 20,000 had been recovered from his possession. The SSP further added
that on March 17 last he along with his accomplices had
been planning to loot the Central Bank of India at SLIET
at Longowal village when the police made a raid. Some
members of his gang had been nabbed a but he escaped. |
12 injured as truck hits
bus ROPAR, May 27 — Twelve persons were injured, two of them seriously, when a Chandigarh-bound CTU bus was hit by a truck coming from the opposite side. The accident took place near the bridge on Bhero rivulet, 4 km from here. Ten of the injured passengers have been admitted to the Ropar Civil Hospital and two to the PGI, Chandigarh. According to the bus conductor, Mr Balwinder Singh, who has also received injuries in the accident and has been admitted to the Ropar Civil Hospital, the truck driver lost concentration due to dizziness, and rammed his truck straight into their bus smashing the driver’s side. The police had to cut the bus body to get the bus driver, Surmukh Singh, out. Though the bus driver is stated to be out of danger, he has sustained multiple fractures in his legs. The truck drivers, who sustained head injuries has been shifted to the PGI. Another passenger, Amarjit, who sustained serious abdominal injuries, has also been shifted to the PGI. The ill-fated bus left Hoshiarpur for Chandigarh at 7 in the morning. There were about 30 passengers when it met with the accident. Raj Kumar, Jaswinder Singh, Harbans Singh, Darshan Singh, Ratni and Suraj Prakash are the injured passengers who have been admitted to the Ropar hospital. The police have
registered a case against the truck driver under Section
289, 337 and 338 of the IPC. |
SHO, ASI to pay for excesses JALANDHAR, May 27 — Taking a serious view of the stripping and beating up of a Dalit resident of Adhraman village near Nakodar by an SHO and an ASI posted at Mehatpur police station in public last year the National Human Rights Commission has directed the state of Punjab to pay Rs one lakh compensation to the victim. In its order, the commission while suggesting stern disciplinary action against both erring officials has suggested that the compensation amount should be recovered from both of them. Gurdial Ram, was allegedly beaten up with shoes and then made to walk naked before public on the ground of Mehatpur Police station by SHO Ajmer Singh. ASI Mohinder Singh and two constables on March 14 last year to pressure him to repay a loan of Rs one lakh taken by the victim from Avtaar Singh, a resident of the same village. Taking suo-motu cognizance of the incident on the basis of a news item in this regard in The Tribune of March 19, 1999 the commission had sent two of its investigation division officials to inquire into the matter and had also directed the Deputy Commissioner to probe the matter. The reports of the SSP, the commission team and the DC had established that Gurdial Ram was made to undergo inhuman treatment by the SHO the ASI and two of the police station constables. On the basis of inquiry reports the commission had observed,” the acts of police officials amounts to gross violation of human rights and dignity of human rights and dignity of person of Gurdial Ram, the police officials took law into their hands and abused the power. Giving details, the magisterial inquiry report had revealed that Avtaar Singh from whom the former had taken a loan, was seen sitting with Ajmer Singh at the time of the incident. Gurdial Ram was stripped of his clothes and was made to crawl around the police ground several times in presence of several persons. Some of witnesses had also stated during inquiry that Avtaar Singh had also abused Gurdial Ram by using vulgar language against him. The victim, who was chained with a wooden log kept in the police station was released only after he was made to sign some blank papers, the commission of inquiry had said. The probe had also held that Avtaar Singh wielded influence over local police officials for his close proximity with the local Akali MLA and due to his brother being Sarpanch of the village. Citing the incident as
violation of the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993,
International Convention of Civil and Political
Rights-1966 and Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights the commission said inhuman treatment meted
out to the victim was not excusable particularly when
members of a disciplined force were involved in it. The
commission has suggested that suitable action should be
taken against the police officials as recommended by the
Deputy Commissioner but whether any action has been taken
or not could not be ascertained for Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP
was not available for comment. The Deputy Commissioner
had recommended action against police officials under
Sections 342/347 and 355 of the IPC. |
Xen granted bail SANGRUR, May 27 — Mr R.M. Gupta, District and Sessions Judge, yesterday granted bail to Rajinder Singh Khurmi, an Executive Engineer in the Public Health Department here, in a case of drawing wages of 14 non-existent daily wage workers on the muster roll. Khurmi was arrested on Wednesday by the Sangrur Vigilance Bureau and was in judicial custody since yesterday. He was granted bail on his furnishing a bail bond of Rs 10,000 and one surety of like amount. Mr Mandip Singh Sidhu,
DSP (Vigilance), today said that another accused in this
case, Hari Charan Dass, a Junior Engineer, whose bail was
earlier rejected by the Punjab and Haryana High Court,
was absconding. |
64 bottles of liquor seized LUDHIANA, May 27 — At least 64 bottles of liquor (both illicit and licit) were seized by the police in separate incidents during the past 24 hours. Forty bottles and a quarter of illicit liquor was seized from Vishnu, a Nepali youth, now a resident of Yuvraj Hosiery, Janakpuri. The recovery was made on May 25 at around 1.15 a.m. from Barota Road near canal bridge by ASI Rajinder Singh and a case under Sections 61.1 and 14 of the Excuse Act has been registered. In another case, 24 bottles of Red Night English wine were seized from Gagan Dev Singh on May 26 from Partapgarh chowk village by ASI Gurdev Singh of Kumkalan police station. In another incident, a resident of Khatika village, Jagtar Singh, is alleged to have sustained injuries when he was attacked by a group of seven to eight persons on May 23. In a separate case, a
28-year-old man, Lal Chand of Dharampura, is alleged to
have been poisoned to death and his body was found in the
Atam Park area. |
Delay in results flayed AMRITSAR, May 27 — A meeting of the executive of the Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers Association (PSMDTA) here yesterday held expressed concern about the delay in the declaration of the results of 10 plus two (Science group) examination which was conducted by the Punjab School Education Board, SAS Nagar in March, 2000. Many medical and non-medical students want to appear or apply for higher courses and for defence services and the last date for submitting applications for many of these courses is June 15.The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, asks for the result and marks sheet of the 10 plus two examination before declaring the result of the entrance test. Many engineering colleges also have asked for these details before June 10. The PSMDTA has appealed
to the Chairman and Secretary, Punjab School Education
Board, to declare the result of 10 plus two (Science
group) at the earliest. They have said the detailed marks
sheet should be made available along with the result so
that students from the state may be able to apply for
higher courses and defence forces.The association
welcomed the Punjab governments decision that seats in
professional colleges would be filled only by students
who had passed their 10 plus two examination from schools
and colleges under the state jurisdiction. Many other
states had taken a similar decision years ago. |
‘Recruit teachers on merit’ PATIALA, May 27 — "The appointments of teachers at all levels should be reservation-free." This has been sought by the Punjab State General Category Welfare Federation in a press note issued here today. The federation Convener, Mr Amrik Singh, said both state and Central governments, while selecting teachers in primary and secondary schools, besides colleges and universities, had a nearly 50 per cent quota for reserved-category candidates. He said at the same time, the merit of the general-category teachers was ignored, despite their having better academic records than the reserved-category candidates. He said this encouraged casteism in society and should be removed. The federation has urged
the Punjab Government to formulate a policy where
teachers should be selected on merit alone. Meanwhile,
the district unit of the federation will hold a Jan
Chetna rally on May 29. |
University gets court notice CHANDIGARH, May 27 — Issuing a notice of motion for July 20 to Punjabi University at Patiala and another respondent, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court here has directed that the students of SAS Nagar based Guru Amar Dass Business School “shall not be compelled to appear in the examinations as private students, requiring them to pay an additional fee”. Pronouncing the orders
in the open court, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S.
Singhvi and Mr Justice Nirmal Singh, observed, “This
shall be subject to the condition that in the event of
dismissal of the writ petition, the amount of additional
fee shall be paid by the petitioner.” |
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