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| Tuesday,
June 20, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Civic poll results: a hint to ruling combine Cong making false claims: Badal Tandon ignored in own constituency Decision on power hike left to CM Bibi to meet PM on
Pak gurdwara issue
Powermen threaten agitation over Bill PSEB staff
unit not to join stir |
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Plea on Indo-Pak
bus service rejected Anticipatory bail for couple Protest march taken out Foster parents for lost kids
Admn recommends
testing of samples of canal water 57 villages declared
flood-sensitive
Manhandling of Kairon: 8 booked 3 robbers held,
looted articles recovered
2 more victims of dowry greed Police raids dera to settle score
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News
analysis CHANDIGARH , June 18 - The preliminary results of the just concluded elections to five municipal councils , 25 nagar panchayats and 12
election-election ) in Punjab indicate that the Congress has gained over the ruling SAD-BJP combine. The general elections to the municipalities , including three municipal corporations ( Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala ) and other municipal councils and nagar panchayats were held in 1998 . To study their popularity graph, the political parties usually take the election outcome as a measure . Both the winners and losers interpret , analyse and present the results as per their own
perceptions of political reality. The Congress President , Capt Amarinder Singh, has already done so. He told TNS from Patiala that the "success" of the winners was due to the hype created by the Congressmen. They raised their voice against tampering with the public distribution
system. In the same breath he boasted that the outcome was a vindication of the "policies" of the Party President, Ms Sonia Gandhi". Capt Amarinder Singh claimed that the Akali and BJP workers created "mischief" in some places, like
Muktsar party activist, Mr Avtar Singh Sidhu, was injured and had to be hospitalised. Nevertheless, the results showed that the people "wanted the Congress" Some did contest on the Congress symbol. Majority of the Independents who have won were backed by the party, he added. There is no official reaction from the ruling party. Since the civic elections are not normally contested on the "symbol" of any political party which otherwise does lend support to contestants, the results in some ways do mirror the mood of the
electorate. The present political culture in Punjab shows "restiveness" within all parties. The internal strife and struggle to topple and oust the person ahead and above is not the prerogative of the SAD-BJP alone. The Congress is not far behind. If one does not get much to hear from the Communist outfits it is because "We have nothing to fight over" , as a sitting CPI legislator put it. Fortunately for the SAD-BJP, unfortunately for a democracy, the near absence of or presence of a non-active healthy and strong Opposition ( as in Punjab ) does not portend well for the State. While the Akalis staged a remarkable comeback in February 1997, the Congress was stunned and maimed by the very "Human Bomb" which killed Beant Singh in 1995.It is still to recover. The euphoria created by the Adampur Assembly bye-election which the Congress won soon after Capt Amarinder Singh was made the State party President soon
evaporated like the proverbial ether. The Congress in Punjab is only a "signboard" . After the death of Beant Singh the party has remained dismembered. The reasons are obvious . As elsewhere, the Opposition usually kept itself aloof from the ruling party coalition. Except for brief skirmishes over trivial issues during the Assembly
sessions. There also the Opposition is a house divided against itself with little or no floor coordination . Going by numbers it outsmarts the Opposition. In an "off the record" meeting a senior Congressman admitted to TNS that "issue- based politics is not there" . Seldom do Opposition members (may be MPs or MLAs) invite the Chief Minister to their constituencies or lead deputations to plead for a common and community
cause. The ruling coalition also does not extend the same courtesy to the Opposition MLAs when the Chief Minister or ministers tour the State. Mr Parkash Singh Badal , on his part , has now written to individual MPs inviting them to meet him . The days specified for such meetings have also been indicated. "I admit that we in the Opposition have seldom taken an initiative of our own to plead for Punjab's issues with the Centre . We have all along forgotten that we are dealing with the elected Head of the State and not just a President of a political party", he added. Asked how many times did the Opposition invite the Chief Minister to share a meal with them and take up peoples' issues , the Congressman was silent. Therefore fault lies as much with the Opposition by remaining passive (except for criticising the politicians and not the policies of the government) as with the SAD-BJP which is lost in in -house politicking. Within the Congress , it is learnt , a serious debate is on whether the party should go to the next round of Assembly elections with the present party President, Capt Amarinder Singh or a change be effected. That change, the Congress leader said should be made well in time to enable the new incumbent come to the grips with ground realities. The ongoing organisational election process in the States and later in New Delhi, he dismissed it as a mere "bogus" exercise. A churning process is quietly taking place within the Congress since it shall have to make hard decision for improving its housekeeping as well as when it comes to forging electoral alliances with the other political parties. In Punjab it may primarily be the Akalis and the Congress, with
BJP taking a piggy-back ride on the former. The presence of the BSP, howsoever fractured , cannot be wished away . The Communists have pockets of influence and there are any number of
Akali Dal factions. Thus if Punjab was to go to the hustings in next few months the Akalis and the Congress would still have 60 : 40 ratio. Hard days are ahead for all parties . |
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Cong making false claims: Badal CHANDIGARH,
June 19 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and
some senior Akali Ministers, said today that the claims made by the
President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Capt Amarinder
Singh, regarding party’s performance in municipal council and nagar
panchayat elections were false and exaggerated. Mr Badal said the
candidates had not contested these elections on party symbol, hence
there was no question of the party winning or losing the election. He
said no senior party leader had campaigned in these elections and
added that these were local elections and had been contested at local
level. He said he had got reports that at almost all places candidates
supported by the SAD-BJP local leaders had won. The claims made by the
Congress were thus false and a political propaganda. Capt Kanwaljit
Singh, Finance Minister, said the candidates supported by the Congress
had lost in all four towns — Patran, Ghagga, Sanoure and Ghanoure.
Challenging the claims made by the Congress and its leader Capt
Amarinder Singh, the Finance Minister said what he (Capt Kanwaljit
Singh) had said about four towns was based on facts. He said in these
four towns, candidates supported by the SAD-BJP combine had won in a
big way and would be running the respective councils and nagar
panchayats. Mr Sikander Singh Maluka, Minister for Power, said the
candidates supported by the SAD-BJP combine had won the election in
Warriwala, Bagapurana and Bhikhi defeating the candidates supported by
the Congress and other opposition parties at local level. He said he
had got reports that in these three local bodies the SAD-BJP supported
candidates would form the governing bodies of the municipal councils
and nagar panchayats. He said the Congress was misleading people by
making such false claims. |
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Tandon ignored in own constituency PATIALA, June 19 — The Punjab Local Bodies Minister, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, has apparently been ignored in his constituency. The state Finance Minister, Captain Kanwaljit Singh, who is unofficially looking after the Patiala district for the Akali Dal (Badal), got all the attention at the inauguration of a bridge at Manauli Surat village yesterday in the Rajpura constituency by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. At the ceremony, the Local Bodies Minister was only mentioned by the Chief Minister, while he showered praise on Capt Kanwaljit Singh. The CM said Capt Kanwaljit had worked hard to take care to the state's finances. Also, all demands put forward by the Finance Minister were passed on the spot, while the CM did not even discuss the demands put forward by the BJP. The Finance Minister asked the CM for more money for the setting up of Shaheed Udham Singh Computer Institute in the Banur constituency. He said Rs 1.50 crore which had been sanctioned were needed to buy computers alone. The Chief Minister said an additional Rs 1 crore would be given for the construction of the institute building. The CM also accepted the demand for a women's college at Sarwarnagar put forward by Capt Kanwaljit. On Capt Kanwaljit's request, The CM also sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for the development of several villages. The BJP, on the other hand, was treated in a humiliating manner. Only its Rural President, Mr Devraj, was allowed to speak. He was virtually forced to end his speech midway. He also had an argument with the stage secretary over the issue of posting of doctors at Lalru Medical Centre. He said he should be allowed to talk in detail as only one BJP leader compared to three Akali leaders, besides the CM and Capt Kanwljit, had been allowed to speak. He said after the CM had announced that a stadium would be built at Rajpura, the matter had not progressed. Later, at a press conference, the Local Bodies Minister was virtually snubbed by the CM. This happened when newsmen brought to his notice the statements given by Mr Tandon and the Union Sports Minister, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, on the issue of free power. The Chief Minister said there was no question of withdrawing the facility and ministers should not give individual statements in this manner. Also, senior leaders of the Akali Dal like the Cabinet Minister Ajaib Singh Mukhmaipur, who is considered not close to the Finance Minister, were denied a chance to speak. Sources said the advertisements before the function released by the BDO also carried only the CM's and the FM's names. They said this was later changed after protests by supporters of the Local Bodies Minister. |
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Decision on power hike left to CM CHANDIGARH , June 19 --The final decision on the issue of enhancing power tariff in Punjab was left to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who heard the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) and industry representatives at a joint meeting held here today. The Minister for Power, Mr Sikandar Singh Maluka, told TNS "a decision will be taken in a day or two." He refused to divulge any details. Informed sources, however, said that the industry contested the claims and calculations of the PSEB in terms of per unit cost of production ,transmission losses and units supplied to the agriculture sector. "Why not impose tariff on the farm sector supply as well", it was argued by the industry representatives. The PSEB being an
autonomous body the PSEB has the statutory powers to enhance power tariff, but
political decisions often short-circuit its proposals. The annual average cost hike is around 15 per cent. The Board wants even 6-8 per cent inflation cost to be taken into consideration. It has proposed 35 per cent hike across the board. The industry is putting up a strong resistance . Even at today's meeting a BJP minister was reportedly toed the industry line. From what emerged at the meeting it seems at least 15 per cent hike is likely. The President of the Trade and Industry Forum, Mr Harish
Khanna, confronted the Board on certain facts of the PSEB balance sheet and audit reports. He said the per unit cost of electricity was Rs 2.53 and not Rs 3.55 as made out by the Board. The industry was already paying Rs 2.83 per unit. Moreover, the balance sheet has put transmission losses at 17 per cent, while, the audit report says these were 31 per cent. The PSEB Chairman, Mr G.S. Sohal, pointed to the heavy debt and repayments to be made and wanted the government and industry to see reason. The Board has to be run on commercial basis .The role of the Board and industry should be complimentary . Their inter-dependence cannot be undermined. |
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Bibi to meet PM on
Pak gurdwara issue AMRITSAR, June 19 — Expressing resentment over the reported move of the Pakistan Government to convert the historic Gurdwara Choubachcha Sahib near the Lahore fort into a mosque, the SGPC today called upon the Indian Government to take up the matter with the Pakistan Government. Briefing newspersons about the executive committee meeting the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, said she along with the whole executive and some prominent Sikh leaders would meet the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani, and other central ministers to take up the matter with them. In the meantime she along with executive members would have consultation with the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal in a day or two to seek time for a talk with the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, the executive in a resolution has asked the Pakistan Government to desist from such acts as the Sikh body had been getting reports of desecration of Pakistan gurdwaras. Bibi Jagir Kaur stated that the Indian Government had already cleared the SGPC visit to Pakistan to sort out the issues. Meanwhile, the executive formed a three-member sub-committee comprising the SGPC General Secretary, Mr Hardalbir Singh Shah, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, secretary, Dharam Parchar committee, to collect all data about the articles on the Sikh history. Which had already been returned to the library and the articles still not returned. |
Powermen threaten agitation over Bill PATIALA, June 19 — The north zone convention of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers today said the Electricity Bill 2000 was nothing short of shameful sellout of the power sector to multinationals operating through World Bank, IMF, ADB, and powerful industrial houses to earn huge profits at the cost of the common consumer. The convention held here said while SEBs of the country were not allowed to earn even three per cent surplus, the Electricity Bill earlier allowed 16 per cent post-tax profits. With its latest amendment, even the 16 per cent limit had been removed, thereby allowing private investors to earn unlimited profits. The convention warned the Union Government to take heed to the unprecedented loot and high tariffs being charged by Enron in Maharashtra and to note how domestic tariff was being hiked to Rs .05 per unit in Andhra, how World Bank wanted 600 per cent hike in agriculture tariff and how the reforms in Orissa had caused repeated steep hikes in tariffs, despite which the Gridco company of Orissa was on the verge of Bankruptcy. Being declared sick and referred to BIFR (Bureau of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction). The convention noted that though the unbundling and reforms process as per the World Bank formula had failed in each and every state where it was tried out, the Government of Rajasthan had surrendered to World Bank and agreed for unbundling and dismantling Rajasthan State Electricity Board. The convention warned that if such a step was carried out, it would lead to immediate, total and indefinite strike by all the engineers and employees of RSEB. It said engineers and employees of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir would join the struggle and flare up the agitation over the entire northern region, which could lead to total black-out. Engineers and workers of northern region would hold daily dharnas at Jaipur from July 10 to 13, followed by a massive rally at Jaipur and all state capitals on July 14. In case RSEB engineers and employees went on strike, engineers and workers of northern region would proceed on work-to-rule, followed by 1 hour and 2 hour walk-out action and if strike entered sixth day, all engineers and workers of northern states would take direct action. It was further decided that on the anniversary of quit-India-movement, all electricity employees and engineers would hold a massive rally outside Parliament on August 9 against Electricity Bill 2000 and privatisation of SEBs in the name of reforms. It was also unanimously resolved that the Haryana Government be asked to immediately reinstate R.L. Choker and R.S. Bhatti, who were victimised by the Bansi Lal government, along with several other workers. The convention warned the Government of India that by handing over the power sector of country to multinational and private parties, the entire economy of the country, which depends upon electrical power, would be at the mercy of these parties and the proposed Electricity Bill 2000 was nothing short of a total sell-out of the economic independence of the country and slavery, with World Bank playing the role of the East India Company. The convention stressed that privatisation of power invariably caused steep hike of tariff, which would not only shatter the country’s industry, but worse, it would take power out of reach of the common farmer, reverse the green revolution and place the country once again at mercy of foodgrain imports. Indian industry, faced with steep tariff hikes, would not be able to compete with imported goods. It said a study of state electricity boards of the country by Planning Commission showed that the SEBs of the country were forced to operate with subsidised tariffs without compensating for subsidy, leading to a minus 18 per cent rate of return against statutory three per cent in 97-98 and minus 18.7 per cent in 98-99. It said the Planning Commission documents showed that with just 60 per cent unit increase in tariff, the SEBs of the country could come out of the red and earn 3 per cent rate of return. While not allowing the SEBs to operate with just 3 per cent return, the Bill would allow unlimited profits to private investors and tariff increases that could be as high as 200 per cent, as in the case of Andhra.  PSEB staff
unit not to join stir AMRITSAR, June 19 — The urban district unit of the Punjab State Electricity Board Employees Federation has decided not to join the strike by board employees to be held on June 21, saying that it is against the interest of the employees. The union, in a press note issued here yesterday, said that a decision to this effect was taken at an emergency meeting of the federation, which was held in the Golden Temple substation and was attended by its circle and sub-circle office-bearers. The meeting was presided over by Mr Avtar Singh Bamrah, circle secretary, who said that the oranisations participating in the strike were playing with the future of the employees and were ‘not sincere’ towards their demands. The federation unit, however, resolve to continue its struggle for acceptance of the genuine demands of the board employees. These include the publication of the formulation committee report, prevention of privatisation, scales and category-wise basis and promotion to linesmen as JEs on seniority basis.
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Plea on Indo-Pak
bus service rejected PHAGWARA, June 19 — The Inspector General Punjab Police (Training), Mr D.R. Bhatti, while addressing a state-level Rashtriya Ekta Divas function here today, said that ordinary crime should not be mistaken for revival of terrorism. The function was held on the 12th “balidan divas” of Prof Rama Kant Jalota, founder president of Punjab Hindu Shiv Sena, and his close associate Vinod Gupta who were gunned down by militants. On trans-border terrorism, Mr Bhatti said as long as Kashmir continued to be a hot spot, Pakistan’s ISI would keep on trying to balkanise India. He turned down the demand of the Sena President, Mr Surider Dogra, to stop Indo-Pak bus services. He also urged that services of retired police officers, like Mr K.P.S. Gill, Mr Julius Riberio and Mr Ved Marwaha should be availed off to combat cross-border terrorism. Mr Bhatti stated that 25,000 innocent lives
including those of 2,000 police officers and jawans were last due to terrorism. Besides
Mr Bhatti, Swami Pushpinder Swaroop, patron, Mr Surinder Dogra, president, Mr Pawan Prabhakar, general secretary of the Punjab Hindu Shiv Sena Mr Irvin Khana, Editor of a newspaper paid tributes to Prof Jalota and Vinod Gupta. |
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Anticipatory bail for couple CHANDIGARH, June 19 — A couple, married against the wishes of the girl’s father, were today granted anticipatory bail by Mr. Justice K.S. Garewal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court here. Pronouncing the orders on a petition by Harpreet Kaur and Gursharan Singh, residents of tehsil Garhshankar in Hoshiarpur district, Mr. Justice Garewal observed: “The petitioners seek anticipatory bail even though no case has been registered so far”. The Judge further observed: “The petitioners are present and have pleaded that they are now married to each other. Under these circumstances, the arrest of the petitioners is stayed”. Expressing apprehension regarding the possibility of false complaints being lodged against them, the two had earlier stated that the girl might even be kidnapped by her father in connivance with relatives. Seeking the grant of anticipatory bail, the petitioners had added that problems were being created for them as the girl’s father was against their marriage and the relatives were unhappy. Giving details, counsel for the petitioners had stated on their behalf that the girl’s father had been issuing direct as well as indirect threats to her. He had even asked her to leave the husband, counsel had claimed. The two, he had added, were living in Chandigarh to save themselves from “the clutches of bad elements and the police” knowing that they would be harassed if they returned to their native village. Going into the background, he had stated that the marriage had been solemnized as per the Sikh rites in a gurdwara at Chandigarh on June 16 “in the presence of friends and relatives”. The two, he added, were major. |
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57 villages declared
flood-sensitive ROPAR, June 19 — Fiftyseven villages in the district have been declared flood-sensitive in view of the forthcoming monsoons and the presence of large number of rivulats in the district. This information was given by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr G.S. Grewal, at a meeting of the district committee for flood control. The committee, which comprises officers of various departments, has been constituted to take control measures in the flood-sensitive areas here. Mr Grewal added that the flood-sensitive areas had been identified after an extensive survey and the relief camps would be set up at these places by June 30 to provide immediate relief in case of flash-floods in the rivulets. In addition to it, flood-monitoring communication centres which will have the facility of a telephone and the wireless, will be set up at the district and the sub-division levels. Moreover, the Army authorities at Chandimandir have also been informed about the kind of cooperation that may be required from them in case of flashfloods, the Deputy Commissioner added. |
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Protest march taken out SANGRUR, June 19 — The district unit of the Lok Sangarsh Committee, Punjab, under the leadership of its state convener Tarsem Jodhan today took out a protest march in the town against the implementation of the General Agreement on Trade and Tariff (GATT) and the policies of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Members of the committee took part in the march and raised slogans against the GATT and WTO. Later, a rally was organised by the committee at the district administrative complex here which was addressed among others by Mr Tarsem Jodhan, a former MLA, Bibi Shaminder Kaur Longowal, a leader of Janwadi Istri Sabha, Mr Kiranjit Singh Sekhon, a central committee member of the MCPI, Mr Chajju Ram Rishi, joint secretary of Government Teachers Union, Punjab, and Mr Sat Pal Bharti, vice-president of the Punjab unit of the CITU. Addressing the gathering, the speakers told the people that with the implementation of the GATT the ban on the import of about 714 consumer goods had already been lifted while the ban on the import of another 715 consumer goods would be lifted from 2001. They warned that this would not only ruin the country but also spread unemployment and poverty. The speakers while condemning the registration of cases against seven of their supporters on May 29, when two groups of the Lal Jhanda Punjab Bhatha Mazdoor Union clashed here, demanded the withdrawal of the same. They also demanded the withdrawal of the hike in the power tariff, implementation of pension and provident fund scheme for the brick-kiln workers and strict implementation of the Bonded Labour Act in the state. |
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Foster parents for lost kids BARNALA, June 19 — The Bhagat Mohan Lal Sewa Samiti here is an organisation which voluntarily scouts for lost kids and acts as their foster parents. The Samiti’s latest adoption is Sajjan, a 12-year-old deaf and dumb
boy, who strayed into Barnala a few months ago. As he was unable to reveal about his parents and the village, the Samiti adopted him hoping that some day someone will come to claim him. Now he lives with Mr Shaym Lal, an active member of the Samiti and an avid blood donor. “ Though I have my own children. I treat Sajjan as my
son. There is a no discrimination in any manner. He gets the same type of clothes to wear as my other children and also the same food. In fact, often, Sajjan takes the lion’s share as he has become a pampered one in the family”, says Mr Shaym Lal. When criminals are busy in plucking semi-bloomed
flowers (kids), the Samiti is busy extending help to the distressed and the needy. Set up on January 13, 1921, as an all-India sewa samiti at the instance of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, a leading social reformer of his time, the Samiti has established a distinct identity by restoring several errant girls and boys to their parents and by making a major contribution to improving the lot of society. However, it was named after Bhgat Mohan
Lal, its founder member, following his death in 1962 at Hardwar where he had taken a team of volunteers to serve drinking water to pilgrims at the Kumbh mela. Subhadra, a girl from West Bengal is happily married in Ludhiana because of the initiative of the Samiti. As a lost child, she was handed over to the Samiti a few years ago. Bibi Lajwanti Devi, leader of the women’s wing of the Samiti, kept Subhadra at her house for some years before marrying her off. Subhadra treats the Samiti as a house of her parents and maintains relations with it accordingly. The Samiti has 100 members, including 40 women. One has to really work selflessly for several years to earn membership. It has married off a Muslim girl Akhtri Khatun to a Muslim boy as per
Muslim customs. She belonged to Partha area in Bihar but was duped by someone. The couple is now settled in a village in Sangrur district. While holding of mass marriages of poor girls by voluntary organisations has become a fashion these days, but the society has been doing this for the past 27 years. It had an interesting beginning. Pandit Bachna Ram of Aspalan village, near here, was a father of five girls. He fixed the marriage of all his five daughters but had no money to perform the ceremony. When the Samiti activists came to know of it, without telling Bachna Ram they landed in the village with all the material required for the marriage and returned here only after marrying off all the five. Villagers were surprised to see all this. Those who wondered as to how Bachna Ram would manage the marriages of his daughters were at their wit’s end. The Samiti has , so far, quietly married off 60 poor girls. The Samiti has taken up a project worth Rs 30 lakh for constructing a “ Shanti” hall in the premises of the cremation ground. This hall, which is nearing completion, will be utilised for holding prayers and to pay tributes to the departed, according to Mr Hari Kishan Dharni, President of the Samiti. The Samiti performs the last rites of the unclaimed and abandoned bodies. It has special arrangements for an ambulance to transport accident victims to specialised hospitals at Patiala and Ludhiana. One of its most cherished work is to make arrangement of cold drinking water at least at 45 public places from the bus stand to the railway station and schools during summer. By spending over Rs 2 lakh, the Samiti has installed a water cooler and a mini tubewell at the main bus stand to serve water to commuters. In fact, the Samiti made its beginning in the field of social service by making arrangement of drinking water and providing volunteers for streamlining traffic at big melas like Kumb at Hardwar and others at Kurukshetra and Naina Devi. In the medical field, the Samiti’s contribution is unique. For the past 35 years it is continuously organising eye operation camps and for the past 18 months organising medical camps for vaccination against Hepatitis besides holding blood donation and polio drop camps as a routine. Mr Shyam Lal has donated blood 82 times. His blood group is of a rare category. |
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Cong men observe
bandh MOGA, June 19 — A complete bandh was observed in Baghapurana town in the district today against the atrocities allegedly committed on Congress workers and other persons during the panchayat elections yesterday injuring a large number of them seriously. Shopkeepers,
rehriwalas, vendors and Dhaba owners also joined the bandh. The General Secretary, PPCC, Dr Malti Thaper Mr Darshan Singh
Khote, former minister of Punjab, President, PPCC, (farmerwing), addressed the gathering condemning the manhandling of Congress workers allegedly by workers of the ruling party. |
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Giani Puran Singh’s
case discussed? AMRITSAR, June 19 — The fate of Giani Puran Singh, who was sacked as Jathedar of Akal Takht in March last and was suspended as Granthi of the Golden
Temple, still hangs in balance amidst conflicting reports in SGPC circles, here. Certain executive members on the condition of
anonymity claimed that the executive discussed the matter today and had passed a resolution to reinstate Giani Puran Singh but this was not being made public. When newsmen tried to get information from the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, she refused to say anything. |
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Book released CHANDIGARH, June 19 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, released “World Punjabi Media Year Book” at a simple function at Punjab Bhavan here today. The book is edited by Mr Baljit Singh Brar, a journalist from Jalandhar. |
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Kabir’s birth
anniversary HOSHIARPUR, June 19 — The birth anniversary of Kabir was celebrated here on Sunday. A function was organised at Bahadurpur which was presided over by Mr Tikshan Sud, Punjab Minister for Excise and Taxation. Mahant Raminder Dass of Dera Baba Charan Shah, Bahadurpur, also addressed the gathering. |
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Rs 35-crore scheme
for sanitation PHAGWARA, June 19 — The Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, has announced a Rs 35-cr sanitation scheme for providing an eco-friendly environment in the villages of the state. He stated this while addressing the annual Jor mela at nearby Palahi village yesterday. The mela was held in this historic village to
commemorate the visit to Guru Hargobind there. The minister also announced upgradation of the village school and widening and early completion of the Phagwara-Palahi road. |
Former Punjab
CE Bains dead CHANDIGARH, June 19 — Mr Mohinder Singh Bains, a former Chief Engineer, PWD (B and R), Punjab, died of renal failure here today. He was 73. He was also the technical member of the Punjab Housing Board. Mr Bains is survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter. His funeral will take place on Wednesday at 12.30 p.m. |
Admn recommends
testing of samples of canal water FEROZEPORE, June 19 — The district administration is learnt to have recommended the testing of samples of the canal water being sold by several firms at Abohar and Fazilka. In a report sought by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, following the publication of news item in The Tribune, “Engineer’s kin sells canal water”, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, has recommended the testing of samples by the Health Department. Mr Sidhu pointed out that six firms, including one run by the brother of the Superintending Engineer (Irrigation), Mr B.N. Pojara, were drawing water from the canals and selling it in the market. He recommended that the sampling was required to ensure that the consumers were getting filtered and pure water. Mr Sidhu maintained that since the underground water being widely consumed in the area was unfit for consumption, the public was relying on bottled water being sold by these firms. |
Manhandling of Kairon: 8 booked TARN TARAN, June 19 — The unruly incidents of June 17 happened at a polling booth of ward no 4 in Khemkaran at the time of election for the nagar panchayat where Mr Surinder Singh Kairon, a former member of Parliament and a close relative of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was manhandled by a group of Congress workers led by former Punjab minister, Mr Gurchet Singh Bhullar, took a new turn last night when the police of Khemkaran station registered a case for interfering in the performance of duty by polling staff against eight persons by name and 25 others. The persons against whom the case under Sections 412, 452, 332, 506 and 186 and other sections of the IPC has been registered are identified as Tarlok Singh Chackwalia, Daljit Singh Amarkot, Wassan Singh of Dhull Kona, Surinder Singh, Mangat Ram Gulati, Joginder Singh, Kishan Kumar and Kikkar Singh. The FIR says that these eight persons along with other 20 to 25 armed persons forcibly entered the polling area and created obstacles for the security and polling staff. It is also alleged that one constable was injured in a stone-throwing incident by Congress workers. Reacting sharply against registering the case, Mr Gurchet Singh Bhullar called it politically motivated and said that it is registered at the instance of Mr Surinder Singh
Kairon. 3 robbers held,
looted articles recovered SANGRUR, June 19 — The Amargarh police has arrested three members of a gang of robbers along with arms, ammunition, looted gold ornaments and cash amount. Giving this information here today, Mr Jatinder Singh Aulakh, SSP, said the arrested robbers were Buta Gir, Bhim Gir, both belonging to Patiala district, and Suresh Kumar, a resident of Gadhli village in Kaithal (Haryana). Another member of this gang, Harbhajan Singh Mant (Amloh) was yet to be arrested. The police during patrolling arrested Buta Gir and Bhim Gir. It recovered a .315 bore pistol along with two cartridges from Buta Gir and a .12 bore pistol and two cartridges from Bhim Gir. The police recovered a gold necklace, a pair of gold ear-rings, a pair of gold bangles and Rs 6,000 in cash from the possession of Suresh Kumar. During investigations the accused confessed that they had looted the recovered articles with the help of their accomplice, Harbhajan Singh Mant. They also confessed that they looted a pair of gold bangles, a pair of gold ear-rings and Rs 12,000 in cash from Guru Nanak Nagar, Tripari, Patiala, on May 31 last, while on June 3 last they looted a gold necklace and Rs 12,000 in cash from Sector 7 in Panchkula. The robbers had also confessed that they had planned to loot a Kothi in Malerkotla but could not succeed in their plan. Cases had been registered against the suspects in the Amargarh police station. PATIALA, June 20 — The Patiala police has registered cases under the dowry Act against relatives of two women who died in mysterious conditions last night. According to police sources, Anita ( 22 ), who was married two-and-a-half years ago, died last night. According to the F I R registered against her husband Bhupinder Kumar, mother-in-law Sumitra Devi two
sisters-in-law. Anita had been married in the Tafazalpura locality of the city and belonged to Sunam. She was brought to the Government Rajindra Hospital today. In another such case, Hardeep Kaur (22) died in mysterious circumstances at her home in Badoh Kalan village, near Dakala. A case has been registered against her husband Didar Singh, an Army man who had come on leave, her mother-in-law Raj Kaur, father-in-law Mahinder Singh and three sisters-in-law. The FIR alleges that Hardeep was made to consume some poisonous substance . In another case, Prithpal Singh (70) allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance in Kala Jharr village, near Bhawanigarh. |
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Police raids dera to settle score LUDHIANA, June 19 — The attack on the dera at Jhamat village near here is another example of police interference in settling personal scores of people. The dera of Baba Satpal Singh Mastana was allegedly raided by around 30 to 35 persons in police, uniform at around 11 p.m. allegedly at the behest of two former “Cats” of the police, who had a personal score to settle with the baba. The police personnel claimed that they were from the CIA, Jalandhar, informed Baba Satpal Singh. He alleged that a couple of weeks ago he had told two of his followers Karamjit Singh and Hari Singh of Siyarda village that he was interested in buying a new car. The two had reportedly taken Rs. 40,000 from him. Whenever he asked about the car and the money they would try to avoid the issue. It was then that the baba took up the matter with the village panchayat. It is alleged that the two followers of the baba got angry with this and decided to seek revenge. When the baba bought a new car a couple of days back, the two former Cats got a perfect opportunity to avenge themselves. they allegedly got a raid conducted at the dera on the pretext that the new car bought by the baba was a stolen one and was also used in a few crimes. The baba alleges, “The policemen were in a drunken state and demanded that either I pay Rs. 20,000 to them or face action.” However, two of my other followers Karnail Singh, president of the district Youth Akali Dal (Rural), and his father Gurcharan Singh reached the spot and they managed to avert any police action. |
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Sarpanch dies
in accident JALANDHAR, June 19 (UNI) — Bhandal Dona village sarpanch Jarnail Singh (42) died in a road accident near Mand on the Jalandhar-Kapurthala road today, the police said. Jarnail Singh on the spot, while his aide Hardeep Singh was wounded when the jeep in which they were travelling was hit by a private bus, the police added. |
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2 car thieves held ROPAR, June 19 — Two car thieves were arrested by Mr Surjit Chand of the CIA after a tip-off at a checkpost near Bahrampur. The SSP, Ropar, Mr GPS Grewal, while giving this information to newspersons said the accused, Raman Inder Singh of Bannur and Darshan Singh of Ambala, were wanted in a number of cases of thefts. A Maruti car HR26 G 4930, which was allegedly stolen from Sector 5, Panchkula, a Sunny moped, two scooters and one motorcycle was recovered from them. A case under Section 411 of the IPC has been registered. |
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