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| Sunday, June 18, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Cong outshines SAD-BJP combine Smuggler held, 57 kg of heroin seized Conman held for Rs 2.64 cr scam GND
University’s first rural college Many Australian courses ‘bogus’ |
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Mann against
mid-tem poll BJP to observe
Emergency week Ravi Inder: we would die as Akalis
CM: Thein Dam to produce 600 mw power by Aug
Plea against delay of power tariff revision Father’s love prized possession Panel’s plea on govt-run temples Bank union
against officials’ empowerment Kin of martyrs honoured
Cong leader
booked for murder 3 killed in tonga mishap
Teachers’ plea to CM
on transfer policy Behaviour of Mayor’s kin condemned
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Cong outshines SAD-BJP combine JALANDHAR, June 17—The Congress put up a good show by virtually pushing the rival SAD-BJP combine to the wall in the nagar panchayats of Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts which went to the polls today. The most interesting results are that of Bholath and Begowal nagar panchayats, which have been considered the SAD-BJP bastion owing to influence of by the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who also heads Dera of Sant Prem Singh Muralewale at Begowal. In Begowal, the Congress outshined the SAD-BJP combine by registering victory in six of the 11 wards. The same was the case in the Bholath Nagar Panchayat as the Congress managed to win in six of the 11 wards. In Dhilwan, except for one ward, victory in 10 wards was either registered by the Congress or independent candidates. The following are the winners of the Bholath and Begowal nagar panchayats. Bholath: ward no 2 — Ms Usha Rani, ward no 6 —Mr Ved Parkash Khurana, ward no 7 — Master Karamjit Singh, ward no 9 Mr Bhagat Singh, ward no 10 — Mr Kishan Babbar, ward no 11 — Ms Resham Kaur (all Congress), ward no 1— Mr Bhupinder Singh, ward no 3 — Mr Joginder Pal, ward no 4 — Mr Pholi Ram, ward no 5 — Ms Paramjit Kaur, ward no 8 — Ms Daljit Kaur (all SAD-BJP combine). Begowal: ward no 2— Ms Sukhminder Kaur Bhullar, ward no 3 — Mr Nivas Kukku, ward no 6 — Mr Sardari Lal, ward no 8 — Ms Sheel Kaur, ward no 9 — Mr Baldhar Ram (all Congress), ward no 1 — Mr Dilip Singh, ward no 4 — Capt Balbir Singh, ward no 5 — Ms Daljit Kaur, ward no 10 — Mr Mohinder Lal, and ward no 11 — Ms Daljit Kaur (all Congress). In Dhilwan, SAD-BJP combine’s Mehar Singh won by a margin of 20 votes. The remaining seats were won by the independents and the Congress. In the Shahkot township of Jalandhar district of the 11 seats, six were won by the Congress, four by the SAD-BJP combine and one by the CPI. The winners are: ward no 1 — Mr Gulzar Singh (Congress), ward no 2 — Ms Paramjit Kaur (Congress), ward no 3 — Mr Tarsem Mittal (SAD-BJP), ward no 4 — Mr Tara Chand (SAD-BJP), ward no 5 — Ms Anjana Puri (Cong dissident), ward no 6 — Mr Prem Kumar (Cong), ward no 7 — Mr Tarsem Dutt (Cong), ward no 8 — Ms Kavita Rani (Cong), ward no 9 — Mr Jagdish Chawla (SAD-BJP), ward no 10 — Roshan
Lal, (CPI-CPM), ward no 11 — Ms Veena Rani- (SAD-BJP), ward no 12 — Mr Darshan Lal (SAD-BJP dissident) and ward no 13 — Mr Naresh Chand (Cong). BHOGPUR: ward no 1 — Mr Tilak Raj (SAD-BJP), ward no 2 —Ms Vidwant Kaur (SAD-BJP), ward no 3 — Mr Punjab Singh (BSP-K), ward no 4 — Mr Ram pal (Cong dissident), ward no 5 — Ms Kulwinder Kaur (Ind), ward no 6 — Mr Piara Singh (SAD-BJP), ward no 7 — Mr Jaswant Singh (SAD-BJP), ward no 8 — Ms Gurmeet
Kaur (Cong), ward no 9 —Buta Singh (SAD-BJP), ward no 10 — Mr Mohan Bhandari (SAD-BJP) ward no 11 — Mr Jeet Ram (Cong dissident). GORAYA-ward no 1 — Ms Jasbir Kaur- (Independent), ward no 2 — Mr Ram Murti (Cong), ward no. 3 — Mr Kewal Krishan (SAD-BJP), ward no 4 — Mr Resham Singh (Independent supported by the Lok Bhalai Party), ward no 5 — Mr Santosh Kumar (Independent), ward no 6 — Sunil (independent), ward no 7 — Mr Rajendra Singh (Cong), ward no 8 — Ms Sarabjit Kaur (Cong), ward no. 9 — Mr Kamaldip Singh (Cong), ward no 10 — Mr Ram Asra (CPI-CPM), ward no 11 — Ms Gurbaksh Kaur (Cong), ward no. 12 — Mr Jiwan Dass (Cong) and ward no. 13 — Mr Sohan Lal also of the Congress. Cong wins 8 of 17
seats in Nangal MC NANGAL, June 17 — The Congress has won eight seats out of the total of 17 in Nangal Municipal Council elections. The strength of the BJP which had the majority in the earlier council, has been reduced to just three seats. The six seats have been won by independents. The winners are: Mr Mahesh Prabhakar (BJP), ward 1, Mrs Sarita Rani (BJP) ward 2, Ms Saroj Bala (Independent) ward 3, Mr Ranjit Singh Saini (Congress) ward 4, Mrs Anita Sharma (Independent) ward 5, Mr Vidhya Sagar (Congress) ward 6, Mr Manjit Singh Pappa (Independent) ward 7, Mrs Asha Rani (Congress) ward 8, Mr Raj Singh Nangal (Congress) ward 9, Mr Sukhdev Singh Parmar (BJP ward 10, Mr Harminder Kaur Minhas (Congress) ward 11, Ms Vijay Kaushal (Independent) ward 12, Mr Bishan Das (CPI) ward 13, Mrs Rekha Rani (Congress) ward 14, Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhinda (Independent) ward 15, Mr Pratap Saini (Congress) ward 16, Mrs Nisha Sabarwal (Congress) ward 17. Polling was peaceful but for a few stray incidents of unrest in ward 16 where the candidates of the Congress and independents alleged bogus voting. Over all 72 per cent polling was registered. While the leaders of the Congress termed their victory in these polls, as a referendum against the SAD/BJP government, the BJP attributed its loss of seats to lack of co-operation from local Akalis and the dissidents of their party.
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Civic chiefs face no-trust vote NAWANSHAHR, June 17 — Fissures in the ruling SAD-BJP-BSM alliance have surfaced here in the district following the notices served by the Municipal Committees of Nawanshahr and Banga towns for immediately calling meetings of the Houses to bring in no-confidence motion against Mr Chamkaur Singh Kauri and Mr Balbir, Presidents of Nawanshahr and Banga Municipal Councils, respectively. While Mr Kauri belongs to the BJP, Mr Balbir is a confidant of Mr Satnam Singh Kainth, President of the Bahujan Samaj Morcha (BSM) and a former MP. Leaders of the SAD-BJP-BSM combine here are accusing one another of being hand in glove with Congress leaders in this conspiracy against Mr Kauri and Mr Balbir. Mr Kauri is levelling allegations against Mr Mohinder Singh Hussainpuri, a SGPC and SAD working committee member, for ‘influencing’ two SAD councillors to sign the notice for ‘no-confidence motion’ against him. Mr Kainth, is accusing Mr Mohan Lal, MLA, Banga, of hatching the conspiracy against him. He is also levelling allegations against Mrs Varinder Kaur Thandi, President of the district unit of the BJP, for ‘influencing’ two BJP councillors for this purpose. The matter has also been brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Kauri, along with Mr Jatinder Singh Kariha, local SAD MLA, and other councillors supporting him, had met Mr Badal to apprise him of the situation. Mr Sita Ram Taneja, a former Municipal Council President, and Dr Naresh Puri, Municipal Councillor, are the main leaders who want to oust Mr Kauri from the post of president. They are counting on the annoyance of Mr Kainth over the political developments at Banga allegedly at the behest of Mr Mohan Lal, MLA and Mrs Thandi. To remove Mr Kauri, the Congress needs support of at least 11 councillors. At present, they have served a notice for calling a meeting for bringing in no confidence motion against Mr Kauri, with a strength of 10 MCs only out of a total of 16. They are hoping that the annoyance of Mr Kainth can help them in winning over the support of Mr Kamal, a BSM councillor. On the other hand, SAD-BJP-BSM leaders are making efforts to ‘patch up’. Besides informing Mr Badal they want to put an end to the ongoing rivalry between M Satnam Kainth and Mr Mohan
Lal. |
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Akali-BJP nominee
elected MC chief FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 17 — Mr Ashok Kumar Sood, candidate of the Akali-BJP combine, was elected President of the Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib Municipal Council today by defeating Congress candidate Charanjiv Kumar. Though there was a sharp difference between the two warring factions of the ruling SAD (B) over the issue of election, but the faction led by Didar Singh Bhatti and Rajesh Paul Singh Lalli managed to get the support of 18 members. Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhatti, district unit President of the Youth Akali Dal (Badal) and a close confidant of Mr Sukhbir Badal, brought all 18 members to the venue of the meeting. The Congress members were led by Dr Harbans Lal, MLA. The election was keenly watched due to the role of the Tohra faction who ultimately voted for the Akali-BJP candidate. Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhatti said it was after 20 years that in the stronghold of top Akali leaders, an Akali-BJP candidate had won the election for the Presidentship. Dr Harbans Lal, MLA, alleged that Mr Bhatti had abducted five of his councillors and kept them in his custody for more than 10 days. |
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4 poll officials, sarpanch booked JALANDHAR, June 17 — Four members of the polling staff, have been booked for consuming liquor while on poll duty for nagar panchayat elections at Bhogpur near here last night. According to the police, Jarnail Singh, presiding officer, Shankar Ram, polling officer, Jaswant Singh and Dharam Singh, who were on poll duty were allegedly found under the influence of liquor by Mr Krishan Kumar SDM during an inspection of the polling centre last night. A case under Section 188 of the IPC has been registered. Similarly, Rajinder Singh, sarpanch of Dalla village near Bhogpur was booked for roaming around a polling station in Bhogpur township near here today. The police has registered a case against him on a complaint by SDM Krishan Kumar with whom the sarpanch allegedly misbehaved when the former asked the latter about the motive of his presence near a polling station. |
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Smuggler held, 57 kg of heroin seized KAPURTHALA, June 17 (UNI) — An erstwhile smuggler of RDX was arrested with 57 kg of heroin, worth several crores of rupees in western Europe and north America, and 25 kg of opium from near Dhilwan on the Amritsar-Jalandhar national highway last evening. Claiming it to be one of biggest seizures of the high value narcotic made in the country in recent past, Jalandhar Zone Inspector-General of Police G.S. Aujla today said smuggler-cum-terrorist Gurlal Singh alias Lalli of Amritsar was arrested with the consignment but his three accomplices in Maruti car when intercepted, however, escaped. Three women couriers, Gurnam Kaur, Gurit Kaur and Ranjit Kaur, all residents of Thatha village near Amritsar, were also arrested, he added. Those who escaped were identified by the officer as Amolak Singh, Paramjit Singh and Happy. Mr Aujla said while 55 packets of one kg each of heroin and 22 kg of opium were seized from the car two kg of heroin and three kg of opium were recovered during raids at the houses of the getaway accomplices of Lalli. Like the women couriers, they, too, belong to village Thatha. The IG said the contraband, smuggled from Pakistan through the Ferozepore sector, was sent by one Waris, a Lahore-based smuggler. The consignment was to be delivered to contacts in Delhi for onward shipments to Europe and the USA, he added. The officer said Lalli, who was arrested twice for smuggling of 30 kg of RDX in 1998 and 1999 but had been released on bail, had taken to smuggling of narcotics. He said Lalli had been to Pakistan six times and was an important conduct for smuggling of the contraband which originated from Afghanistan and ended at destinations in Europe and North America after passing through Pakistan and India. Priced at about Rs 10,000 a kilo in Afghanistan, heroin when it reached Pakistan, became worth Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 a kilo and fetched a price of Rs five of Rs 10 lakh in India. But when it reached its ultimate destinations in countries of Europe and North America, its value zoomed to Rs 1 crore a kilo, he added. |
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Conman held for Rs 2.64 cr scam JALANDHAR, June 17 — With the arrest of a Lucknow-based conman, the district police claims to have busted a Rs 2.64-crore scam involving bagfuls of stolen and forged cheques, bank drafts, National Saving Certificates and Indira Vikas Patras, on the basis of which the master cheat was planning to raise huge bank loans. Interestingly, Anand Prasad, a resident of Daliganj in Lucknow, is a law and journalism and had served the State Bank of India as a clerk for five years besides practising law in early seventies. His arrest was an outcome of a tip-off received by the police that a la-Natwar Lal conman was camping in National Guest House near Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk where he was trying to raise bank loans against stolen and forged cheques, drafts and certificates. His arrest by a police party led by R.S. Cheema led to recovery of two briefcases laden with forged and stolen documents worth Rs 2.64 crore and 50 fake seals and stamps. According to Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, during initial investigation he tried to feign that he was a heart patient and had come to the city for raising a bank loan of Rs 2.5 lakh from a bank, but gradually confessed his role in the scam after he failed to explain how he came into possession of so many documents. Anand Prasad had come to National Guest House for a meeting with some of his Punjab-based associates, who had to help him in raising loans by way of pledging certificates. Three of his accomplices have been identified, but their names have been withheld by the police in order to maintain the secrecy of investigation entrusted to Mr Dilbagh Singh, SP (Detective). The investigation further revealed that stolen and forged cheques and drafts pertained to a number of institutions like City Cooperative Bank Lucknow, the State Bank of Saurashtra, Punjab National Bank, Allahabad Bank, the State Bank of India, the State Bank of Travancore, the State Bank of Indore, Lucknow Urban Coop Bank, Ramgarhia Co-op Bank New Delhi, and Kangra Co-op Bank. A large number of seals and stamps of all banks have been recovered hinting that these seals were put on the bank cheques and drafts before putting in forged signatures and presenting these to banks for encashment. In addition to this, a large number of dividend certificates of Hindustan Petroleum, the State Bank of India, Forbes Gokak Limited, Universal Cables, IDBI, UTI, Reliance Industries, PNB, Dena Bank and Vijay Bank have also been recovered from the “master cheat”. Dividend certificates are, however, genuine. Mr Yadav said the possibility of theft of documents from post office with the help of postal staff could not be ruled out. He said police parties have been despatched for arrest of the three other suspects. |
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GND
University’s first rural college PATHANKOT: Guru Nanak Dev University has opened its first University College at Niari village, 35 km from here, at Dhar Block named after Shaheed Ram Singh Pathania. With the opening of this college, the university has fulfilled its commitment to uplift the status of the eudcationally backward areas of this border belt of northern India. Master Mohan Lal, Minister for Higher Education, Punjab, laid the foundation stone of this college last week. Mr G.P.S. Sahi, Principal Secretary of Higher Education, Punjab Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Mr Bhardwaj, Chairman, Punjab Khadi Board, Dr H.S. Deol, D.P.I (Colleges), Dr R.S. Bawa, Registrar, Mr B.Vikram, Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, Dr Satinder Singh and Dr Bikram Singh, Deans, were present. Master Mohal Lal said the Punjab Government was spending more than Rs 200 crore every year for the development of higher education in the state and the Punjab Government had already released 18 crore as grant-in-aid for private-aided colleges. He said the State Government was giving more attention to the development of rural colleges and the college teachers would now onwards would have to serve in rural areas for at least three years. The Higher Education Minister congratulated the Guru Nanak Dev University authorities especially the Vice-Chancellor, Dr H.S. Soch, for opening this college at Niari (Dhar block). He also congratulated the university authorities for getting ‘A’ Grade (Five Stars) by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council. Bangalore (NAAC), due to its alround excellent performance in various fields. He said Rs 3 crore would be spent on improvment of drinking water schemes and Rs 5 crore would be incurred on the kandi project for the construction of check dams, tree plantation, so that the water of this area may not go waste. He said this new university college at Dhar block would open up new vistas for youth. They would be able to get jobs after completion of their basic education. Earlier Dr H.S. Soch said Guru Nanak Dev University was reaching out to providing education in the educationally backward areas. On the demand of the village Panchayat. Dr Soch announced, the nomenclature of the college would not be changed and admission to plus-one class would be made from the current academic session. The Vice-Chancellor said the university would introduce more courses in the college which are socially relevant to the areas. The college, he said would cater to the educational needs of not only this area but also Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. He thanked the Minister for Higher Education. Master Mohan Lal, for assuring all financial assistance for the development of this college. Mr G.P.S. Sahi, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, in his address said the new college would create a sense of acquiring knowledge in students as well as in the parents of this area. |
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Many Australian courses ‘bogus’ AMRITSAR, June 17 — The Indian students who go to Australia for higher education are a distressed lot as only 5 per cent of them succeed in getting genuine degrees. Most of them have been languishing Australian jails for various reasons. This disclosure has been made in a report of Mr S.J.S. Pall, Commissioner of Income Tax, Amritsar and Jammu and Kashmir, who has returned from Australia after a month-long tour. Mr Pall has alleged that many advertisements given on behalf of private companies based in Australia are bogus. These companies claim that they can assist Indian students in getting admission to colleges and universities in Australia. However, the students who get lured by such advertisements hardly get genuine degrees. He, however, clarified that certain institutes are genuine and they provide degrees on the basis of which lucrative jobs can be got. Mr Pall said he found during his stay at Sydney that most of the students from India and Pakistan had not come with the intention to get higher education, a degree or a diploma, but with a view to settle down in Australia. Since there was no other short-cut to enter Australia, they were doing so as students. Many of them were interested in marrying Australian girls for getting citizenship of that country. There were a number of instances where the students had acted unethically and seduced innocent girls to achieve this objective. Mr Pall said one of his close relatives in Sydney was a victim of this type of action on the part of a student who had gone to Sydney for staying. However, he clarified, there were students who were serious about getting degrees from foreign countries. The students going abroad fall prey to drinks and drugs more easily. The report quoted the example of an affluent family of Chandigarh which had sent its child for studies to Sydney. Instead, this student started taking drugs and visiting casinos, thereby wasting his parent’s hard-earned money. The situation became so bad that the boy had to remain in prison for a number of days. He had no money even to return to his country. However, an Indian in Sydney helped him with money and proper guidance to enable him to return to India. The authenticity of the institutions offering courses in foreign countries should be verified before sending one’s wards abroad, the report added. |
Mann against
mid-tem poll CHANDIGARH, June 17 — Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), said today that he was against the holding of a mid-term poll. Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, he said that democratically elected governments should complete their full term. Mr Mann alleged a former union minister from Punjab was involved in the murder of Ms Harpreet Kaur, a daughter of SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur. He said he was prepared to disclose the minister’s name to the CBI. No inquiry had been held despite a multi-crore scandal in the construction of the Thien Dam and an officer like Mr Bikramjit Singh, who himself faced a CBI inquiry once, had been made Secretary of the most prestigious power and Irrigation Departments. How a fair inquiry could be expected when Mr Bikramjit Singh was holding charge of the Irrigation Department, he wondered. |
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BJP to observe
Emergency week PHILLAUR, June 17 — The Bharatiya Janata party has called upon all its state, district and subdivisional units to mark the 25th anniversary of the Emergency from June 25 to July 1 throughout the country. Stating this Prof Brijlal Rinwa, President of the Punjab unit of the BJP and National Council member of the party, told The Tribune here today that the Punjab BJP would organise marches, rallies, seminars, conferences and hall meetings in which mistakes of the Congress which was responsible for the imposition of the Emergency would be exposed and young people, besides students, would be involved in the programmes. Mr Rinwa said all those who fought against the Emergency and suffered prison terms would be honoured at the functions. The Congress still had not apologised for imposing the Emergency, he said. He appealed to all district block and tehsil units of the BJP to organise programmes in Punjab where BJP workers would take a pledge to work for the strengthening of democracy. |
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Ravi Inder: we would die as Akalis KHARAR, June 17 — “The legislative party of the Shiromani Akali Dal in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha would soon meet to remove Mr Parkash Singh Badal from the leadership of the legislative party”. This was stated by Mr Ravi Inder Singh, MLA of Morinda, and former Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha while addressing a meeting of his supporters and workers at Kurali near here today. He said no importance could be given to his and other MLA’s expulsion from the SAD recently as they were even now members of the SAD Legislative Party legally. He alleged that at present Mr Badal was not bothered about the Panth and he was looking after only his family’s interests. He said “we are Akalis, we would remain Akalis and we would die as Akalis”. Mr Ujjagar Singh Badali, appealed to all Akali workers to join hands and fight unitedly. Mr Rajbir Singh, Vice-President, Sarb Hind Shiromni Akali Dal, Mr Zora Singh Bhuller, Mr Jasbir Singh Dhaliwal and Mr Jagmal Singh were among those who addressed the gathering. The meeting also passed a resolution criticising the expulsion of Mr Ravi Inder Singh and others from the SAD. Meanwhile, the Congress would have no option but to support any other government in place of Mr Parkash Singh Badal in Punjab as it did at the national level by supporting union governments headed by Mr H.D. Deve Gowda and Mr Inder Kumar Gujral. This was stated by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, while talking to mediamen here today. He was here in connection with the wedding of an Akali worker. |
CM: Thein Dam to produce 600 mw power by Aug PATIALA, June 17 — One of the Punjab governments most ambitious projects, the Thien Dam, has now been completed and 600 mw of electricity will be generated by the dam by August this year. This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, after inaugurating a bridge over the Ghaggar river at Manuali Surat village in Rajpura sub-division, near here, today. The Bridge has been constructed by the Punjab Government with the help of Baba Jagtar Singh Tarn Tarnwalian at a cost of Rs.7 crore. Mr Badal also laid the foundation stone for widening the link road connecting the villages of Manuali Surat, Lalru and Tepla and the road would be named as Baba Banda Bahadur Singh Marg. He said that with the completion of the Thien Dam, which has been built with the collaboration of the central government and which was under construction for the past two decades, there would be no shortage of electricity in the state. The Chief Minister asserted that with the construction of the Bathinda refinery there would be a revolution of sorts in the state as with the commissioning of the refinery petrol, diesel and other related products would be supplied to the adjoining states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and J and K. The CM added that work on laying the Ludhiana -Chandigarh Railway line had commenced on a war footing and would be completed soon. Mr Badal granted Rs 1 crore for the Shaheed Udham Singh Computer Learning Centre building being constructed at Banur. Prominent among others who spoke on the occasion were Local bodies minister Balramji Dass Tandon, Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh and Mr Balwant Singh, former Chairman, Market Committee, Banur. 
CHANDIGARH, JUNE 17 — The PSEB Engineers Association today urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, not to delay the tariff revision any further. The PSEB was on the verge of bankruptcy. The Association said that the dismantling of the electricity boards in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Orissa due to their financial collapse has resulted into repeated steep hikes of power tariff .Even then the situation did not improve. The recent controversy in Andhra Pradesh Electricity Board over tariff hikes and a steep tariff hikes in Orissa prove beyond doubt that so called reforms lead to huge tariff increase. Er M.S.Bajwa and Er Anil Miglani, President and General Secretary of the Association, respectively , in a signed statement said here today that the Association had repeatedly told the Chief Minister that free power to the agriculture sector was totally unjustified and was a major factor driving the PSEB to bankruptcy, particularly when cash compensation in lieu of the favour was not being given to the Board. The resistance of industrial lobby to the tariff increase was obviously due to the fact that cheaper power to the industry in Punjab compared to neighbouring States was one main reason for industrial profits, the Association leaders said. As per the data published by the Planning Commission, the industrial tariff was 330.3 paise per unit in Andhra Pradesh, 341 paise per unit in Haryana, 311 paise per unit in Rajasathan, 340.6 paise in Uttar Pradesh, 396.5 paise in Gujarat, 351.2 paise in Maharashtra, 287 .7 paise per unit in west Bengal, 299.4 paise per unit in Delhi compared to 243.2 paise in Punjab. Regarding theft , the Association said that it had repeatedly requested the Board and the Government to wage an all out war on theft ,but the government failed even to set up dedicated police stations to deal with power theft cases. Political interference and lack of will to tackle this menace was leading to more thefts. When the police stations were to be set up in Ludhiana, it was the industrial lobby which sabotaged this proposal. When board launched a special campaign against the theft in Ludhiana recently, a section of industrialists violently reacted and a criminal case was registered. Regarding overstaffing, the Association has been requesting the board for a decade to adopt manpower planning and streamline staffing patterns while successive Board managements have avoided this issue. The Association has repeatedly warned the Punjab Government against following the lenient policy towards theft of energy which is just the first link of a chain involving the generation of the black money .The Association has urged for an immediate crackdown on those indulging in the theft of energy. The Association said that the tariff was hiked over 30 per cent in 1998 ,but it was lowered down to 17 per cent under pressure of the industrial lobby and this was one of the major reasons for financial crunch in the Board. The Association has warned that the lack of funds would seriously affect power purchases and coal supplies to Punjab's thermal stations. |
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Father’s love prized possession LUDHIANA, June 17 — A father’s love is a prized possession, which we never outgrow, no matter how old we are. It is like a huge banyan tree, which encompasses our entire being. Father’s Day is a relatively modern influence in this country, having come from the west, but it is fast catching up in this part of the region. Although the elders may frown upon it, others are of the view that at least it
focuses on the role of a man who is responsible for keeping the hearth fires burning. This time it is being celebrated tomorrow. Mostly, Fathers act like a role model for their kids and consciously or unconsciously, kids want to be exactly like them, says Krishna
Kapil (22). He remembers some treasured moments when he used to sneak into his father’s room and put on his shirt, try on his tie and walk around in his giant shoes trying to act like ‘Dad’. He minces no words to add, that he still wants to be like him. A father is an emotional anchor to a daughter and vice-versa. Kavita Kapoor(18) remembers her every scraped knee that her dad bandaged for her. She wants to present a card and a lovely gift to her father. She further describes her father, who, according to her, has a smiling countenance. While Monika Singla(15) always feels safe and secure with her father, she is thankful to him for his steadying hand. “His hand was there to hold mine as I learned to stand on my own and explore the world around me” she adds in a choked voice. Usually a father’s shoulder is a favourite place to lean upon, while his lap, the favourite place to sit and feel secure for kids. Shefali, a seven-year-old, cannot imagine what life would have been like, if she had not had “him” as Papa. Akshay appreciates his father for listening and laughing at his poorest joke. He offers him his heart-felt gratitude for learning all the valuable lessons of life from him. His constant endeavour in life is to live upto his Dad’s ideals. So, girls and guys, go out, buy a card or anything you think he will appreciate to show that he is not just a person who foots your bills but someone whom you would like to be always there, no matter what you do. |
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Panel’s plea on govt-run temples SANGRUR, June 17 — The Punjab Mandir Vikas Committee (PMVC) has urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to initiate proceedings to hand over the control of government-managed temples in the state to a representative body of the Hindus by bringing a legislation in the next assembly session in this regard. These temples are mostly located in the princely states of Sangrur, Patiala, Nabha, Kapurthala and Faridkot. Mr R.P. Goel, general secretary of the PMVC, said here today that the handing over of the temples to a representative body of the Hindus was the need of hour as the government had miserably failed in providing funds and management for the development of the temples. The general secretary said as Mr Badal was not only a Chief Minister and the SAD president, he was also a part of the SGPC in one way or the other, so he should make provisions for the formation of a Hindu representative body through a legislation on the pattern of the SGPC for proper maintenance. Mr Goel said a representative body of the Hindus for the maintenance of the temples seemed to be a genuine demand at a time when Sikh leaders were demanding the disbanding of the Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and handing over the control of gurdwaras in Pakistan to the SGPC. The general secretary said the gold and silver ornaments of the deities were now in the custody of the state treasuries for the past several years and had not been taken out to adorn the deities since long. He urged the Punjab Chief Minister to order the authorities to open the boxes, containing the ornaments of the deities and clear doubts prevailing in the minds of the devotees about the ornaments. Mr Goel also claimed that the condition of the most of the government-owned temples, expect those under the management of non-government prabandhak committees, had been deteriorating due to the indifferent attitude of the bureaucracy. |
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Bank union
against officials’ empowerment BATHINDA, June 17 — Mr M.M. Behal, Senior Vice-President, Bank Employees Federation of India, Punjab, has urged the Ministry of Finance that bank officials should not be empowered with setting down the loan amount with defaulters under the compromise policy of the Reserve Bank of India. In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Behal alleged that bank officials would misuse their powers and would cause huge financial loss to respective banks by extending undue favour to the defaulters. He added that the Central Government should take necessary steps for empowering the Judges of the Supreme Court and high courts for recovering the loan amount from the defaulters. He pointed out that by taking certain effective steps the Central Government could recover Rs 58,000 crore from 3,800 businessmen of the country. |
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Kin of martyrs honoured JALANDHAR, June 17 — Kin of martyrs and soldiers of the Sikh Light Infantry, disabled in action after 1947, were honoured at a function organised somewhere in the Western Sector today. Brigadier MV Gangadharan, Commandant of the Sikh Light Infantry Regimental Centre, presided over the ceremony. He gave cheques worth Rs one lakh each to the disabled soldiers and Rs 50000 each to next of kin of 183 martyrs. The financial grant has been granted out of the Army’s Central Welfare Fund. On this occasion, studens of the Army School Jalandhar Cantonment presented patriotic songs, while display of pipe band was presented by the 12 Light Infantry in company of parading soldiers in erstwhile Sikh Pioneer uniform. |
Cong leader booked for murder MOGA, June 17 (UNI) — A senior Congress leader along with his four supporters have been booked by the Punjab police for alleged attempt to murder a rival candidate contesting Municipal polls from Dharamkot Nagar Council in this district. The police said yesterday that Harmesh Mukhija, a candidate from Ward Number 12 and his supporters — Desraj, Surjeet Singh, Gurcharan Singh and Kewal Krishen — raised slogans against rival candidate Baj Singh in front of his residence and also fired shots. Mr Mukhija claimed that during a door-to-door canvassing when he reached in front of the house of Baj Singh a few women started throwing stones at him and his supporters from rooftops. Someone even fired a few shots from rooftops in which he received injuries. Mr Mukhija that no doctor in the civil hospital was available for his medical examination and even when the incident was brought to the notice of the police it did not react. The police said no arrest had been made so far in connection with this incident. |
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3 killed in tonga mishap TARN TARAN, June 17 — Three persons were killed and two were injured seriously when their tonga turned turtle yesterday near Benwalipur village falling under local sadar police station. The tonga was going back to Benwalipur village from here when near the village the mare of the tonga went out of control. Jagir Singh (65) the owner and driver of the tonga and Pali (70) travelling in the tonga were killed on the spot. The seriously injured three-month-old baby Raman succumbed to her injuries today at the local civil hospital. The injured are Parsian Kaur and Sukhwinder Kaur both of Benwalipur village. The police has registered complaint. |
Teachers’ plea to CM
on transfer policy HOSHIARPUR, June 17 — Government teachers met Mr Tikshan Sud, State Minister for Excise and Taxation Punjab, Mr Kamal Chaudhry, former MP and Mr Hans Raj Nakra, president district unit of the BJP and urged them to persuade the Chief Minister and Education Minister, Punjab to reconsider the transfer policy of teachers. Teachers with 18 years’ urban stay would be affected with the implementation of new transfer policy of the state government. This had created a sense of fear and panic among the teachers and they were running from pillar to post for avoiding their transfers. Ms Kulwant Kaur and Mr Pritpal Singh spokespersons for the teachers community, said in press note issued here today that the new transfer policy was contrary to the general transfer policy framed by the Punjab government for 2000-2001. Even in the couple cases, sick and needy teachers had not been spared. They questioned why the policy of general transfer had been modified and applied to school teachers only. This policy will uproot many teachers and badly affect the studies of students. They said that teachers were staging dharnas to press upon the state government to withdraw this policy. They had also submitted a memorandum to Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, in this regard. |
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Behaviour of Mayor’s kin condemned AMRITSAR, June 17 — The PCCTU in letters to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Minister for Higher Education, Balramji Das Tandon, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, the state BJP President and to the Principal DAV College Amritsar has condemned the kin of the Mayor for allegedly creating trouble in the college campus. The executive committee of the local DAV College affiliated to the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) has called upon all right thinking people to come forward and condemn the actions of kin of the Mayor involved in unruly behaviour in an educational institute. “The executive committee of the unit record with deep dismay the unprecedented happenings in the college campus by some unruly outsiders led by nephew of the local Mayor, Mr Subhash Sharma, with the nefarious design of disturbing the atmosphere of an educational institution through muscle power, the letter said. The executive committee condemned the threats of elimination allegedly given by the wards of the Mayor and their goons. It urged the district administration to provide adequate security in the campus and take steps for the safety of teachers. The executive committee called upon the administration to check the entry of the Mayors’ wards into the college as they were no longer on the college
rolls. |
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