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| Friday, June 30, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
SGPC
to write to Vajpayee Tohra for genuine autonomy Armed security for couple Hand over irrigation scam to CBI:
CPI Corruption alleged at Bhakra
barriers Move to review appointment draws
flak |
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Drainage Dept yet to wake up Bathinda-Abohar shuttle extended Evasion of market fee alleged Policy on stray cattle mooted Sikh Intellectual Council panel Career progression scheme for JEs 3 trucks, 2 cars impounded 12 IPS officers transferred K.S. Grewal Threat to stop milk supply Public Grievances Association
formed
Plan to loot petrol station foiled DSP among three killed in mishap Six hurt in clash over land
dispute
Technical university urged to
review schedule Move to shift science block flayed
|
SGPC to write to Vajpayee AMRITSAR, June 29 — Efforts are afoot in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to "directly" communicate with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for the return of articles of the Sikh reference library which were not destroyed during Operation Bluestar 1984 and are with the CBI. A blueprint of the ‘first draft’ of the letter to the Prime Minister is being reportedly prepared after Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s three written communications failed to elicit any response from the Centre, highly placed sources in the SGPC revealed. The letter to the Prime Minister will be attached with a list of various articles in the possession the CBI. The SGPC move received added impetus after a communication received two days from the legal adviser of the SGPC in 1989. He enumerated the events of 1989 that have shed new light on the fact that many of the articles from the Sikh library were taken away by the CBI. According to the letter of Mr Puran Singh Hundal (then legal adviser) he had brought back some of the articles of the Sikh library from the CBI in 1989. The SGPC says Mr Hundal represented the SGPC after the high court had ordered the CBI to hand over articles from the Sikh library. SGPC sources say Mr Hundal was approved recently to seek details of articles brought back by him during that period. In his reply to the SGPC, Mr Hundal has written that in all 67 articles were brought back by him in 1989 which were reportedly deposited with the then SGPC secretary, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta. In his letter, Mr Hundal states, "I felt the CBI was handing over only some unimportant documents which they were bringing out from the store." Out of the total of 67, only three were discovered to be pertaining to the Sikh reference library. These were the three "accession" registers, referring to the index of total articles in the library, four old files of the newspapers "Pardesi Khalsa", "Akali" and "Pardesi" which had given added thrust to Akali and freedom movements, a samman patra presented to Mr Tohra, etc. Recently, a three-member committee comprising Mr Hardalbir Singh Shah (SGPC general secretary), Mrs Kiranjot Kaur, SGPC member and Mr Waryam Singh, secretary of the Dharam Prachar Committee, was formed to locate and document any information on articles from the Sikh reference library. The documentation of the lost articles is being expeditiously chronicled on computers. In all, 12,000 rare manuscripts, books and historical documents were there in the Sikh reference library established in 1949. Out of these 1,500 are rare books and manuscripts which include copies of the Adi Granth, including copies of various "Birs" and "Mulmantras" the Dasam Granth. There are various versions of Rahatnamas, Sakhis and Janamsakhis illustrated with beautiful miniatures, about 500 copies of commentaries and indexes of Guru Granth Sahib, rare manuscripts on Bhagat bani, paintings and miniatures of Sikh Gurus, photographs and "farmans" (royal orders) of Maharaja Duleep Singh addressed to the feudal chief of Lahore, photos of Princess Bamba’s visit to Khalsa College. It is pertinent to mention here that during Operation Black Thunder in 1989, some 1200-1300 books from Guru Ram Dass Library were taken away by the security forces. Interestingly, all such books were written in Hindi and related to Hindi literature, reveals sources in the SGPC. Many of the books were
returned to the library from in and around the Golden
Temple by people who identified them from their library
stamps and many were lost in the melee. |
Tohra for genuine autonomy CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The former President of the SGPC, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, sees a silver lining in what his rival in the Akali politics, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has said on the issue of autonomy. "It is good Mr Badal remembers that resolution which the Akali Dal passed at its Ludhiana conference in October 1978. I thought he had forgotten that resolution", Mr Tohra quipped. Talking to TNS today, Mr Tohra said he was not for seeking special status for Punjab. The integration of the country was supreme." What we are seeking is genuine autonomy. He reminded Mr Badal that the Ludhiana declaration specifically mentioned the policy programmes of the Akali dal adopted at Batala and Anandpur Sahib. It also specifically mentioned the division of powers between the Centre and the federating units. We have said in that resolution that the Centre should govern on four major subjects- defence, foreign affairs, communications and of course currency. Rest should be left to the States. This would help the States to become stronger and strengthen India", he said. It may be mentioned that Mr Badal yesterday in an exclusive interview to The Tribune had said that he stood by the Ludhiana resolution and found it still relevant. He also said that a genuine federal India would be very strong country. Interestingly the two leaders broadly have agreed on the concept of autonomy. But the differences remain. Today itself Mr Tohra said that if Mr Badal was really concerned, he should do something concrete. " Let Mr Badal first adopt a clear cut resolution in the Punjab Assembly so that the position is made clear to the country. Second, he should dig out the three resolutions passed at Batala, Anandpur Sahib and Ludhiana and present those to Parliament and the committee constituted by the Centre to have a fresh look at the Constitution. He has the advantage of expert lawyers and let him pick up courage and take some concrete steps", he urged. Mr Tohra, who leads the rival Sarab Hind Akali Dal and has been in the thick of the Akali politics for over three decades, said, " Akalis were in the forefront in raising the demand of autonomy and seeking clear cut division of powers and responsibilities. But somehow, the fight kept slipping, thanks to the leaders like Mr Badal. He often developed cold feet when the iron became really hot. We were instrumental in getting the Sarkaria Commission appointed. This Anandpur Sahib resolution was its basis. But what came out of that voluminous report? Let there be real good effort". But was he not equally responsible , Mr Tohra agreed that to some extent. "But Mr Badal has been the Chief Minister earlier. As the leader of the government and of the party he had more responsibility. I only led the SGPC. On several occasions, he developed nervousness and bargained for political power", he said. Mr Tohra also explained his position on the autonomy resolution adopted by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. He said, "That State has a peculiar arrangement with India and has different history. We must meet the aspirations of the people of that hapless State. There has been too much of blood-shed and we must find ways and means to end that crisis. Let those who are seeking autonomy and restoration of the1953 status f be branded as traitors. That could divide the people. This issue should be debated with sympathy and concern", he urged. Mr Tohra also had a dig
on some of the ministers who often issue statements
criticising whatever he says. " I do not know
whether they know what they are talking about as the
statements do not bear their signatures, but of Mr Kirpal
Singh Badungar, an office bearer of the Akali Dal Badal.
It is a queer way to fight political battles", he
added. |
Amarinder opposes autonomy demand CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Opposing the demand for autonomy, the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Capt Amarinder Singh, said that the former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, was once again out to destabilise the State by raising the issue of autonomy. He said that the issue of autonomy was totally irrelevant in the emerging economic order. Mr Tohra was playing a very dangerous game by supporting the issue of autonomy. Their was all politics behind Mr Tohra's statement and not the interest of Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh said. He said that silence of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal ,on the autonomy issue was a tacit approval of what Mr Tohra had said on the issue. Mr Badal should come out in open to tell people that what was his stand on this issue. Either he should support or reject Mr Tohra's statement. Capt Amarinder Singh said that the model of autonomy supported by Mr Tohra was the same mentioned in the Anandpur Sahib resolution. He said that even Rajiv Gandhi while signing the accord with Sant Harchand Singh Longowal had referred to the economic part of the Anandpur Sahib resolution to the Justice R.S.Sarkaria Commission. Rajiv Gandhi did not refer the autonomy part of the resolution to Justice Sarkaria, he added. Capt Amarinder Singh said that both Mr Badal and Mr Tohra had kept the State boiling for 20 years by raising issues like autonomy. He said that granting of autonomy to States would be the first step towards the disintegration of the country. When asked that the Rajasthan Chief Minister ,who belongs to the Congress party, had also asked for autonomy to States, Capt Amarinder Singh said the Rajasthan Chief Minister had talked about more fiscal powers and not autonomy. He said that he was disappointed as his friend Mr Farooq Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, had raised the issue of autonomy when Pakistan was waging a proxy war against India through Kashmir. He should not inflame the emotions of people, Capt Amarinder Singh said. Supporting the demand
for more fiscal powers to States, Capt Amarinder Singh
said Mr Tohra was not aware of the consequences of making
States autonomous. Mr Tohra was behaving like an
irresponsible politician. Capt Amarinder Singh said that
while defending Kashmir more jawans have died than in the
four wars fought against Pakistan. |
Armed security for couple CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Complying with the directions issued by the Punjab State Human Rights Commission here, the Punjab Police has provided security to a Kapurthala couple married against the wishes of the bride’s parents. In his orders, the Additional Director General of Police (Security) has directed that the couple — Mrinali Sharma and Lalit Sharma — should be escorted by two personal security officers armed with "small" weapons. The Commission had earlier directed: "The ADGP (Security) should provide prompt security of two gunmen, out of which one should preferably be a lady police official, to the complainant at state expense". Pronouncing the orders, Justice J.S. Sekhon had observed: "The complainants have verbally stated that the girl’s father has hired some bad characters who are pursuing their movements even at Chandigarh... Under these circumstances, it is considered desirable that the ADGP should provide prompt security...". Claiming to have been married according to Hindu religious rites, the two, in their complaint before the Commission, had earlier alleged that the girl’s parents "were harassing them in order to force the dissolution of the marriage". Accusing the parents of implicating them in a kidnapping case, the two had added that "at their instance, DSP Baldev Singh Dhaliwal as well as ASI Jaswinder Singh of police station city in Kapurthala were also harassing them unnecessarily". Counsel for the complainants had contended on their behalf that "the officials had even forced the two to append their signatures on blank papers when they went to police station kotwali in Kapurthala for joining the investigation as per the High Court directions". The Punjab and Haryana
High Court, it may be recalled, had granted interim
anticipatory bail to the two after they had filed a
petition through counsel Mr Justice K.S. Garewal of the
High Court had asked them to surrender before the
Investigating Officer and had further directed their
release on bail in the event of their arrest. |
Corruption alleged at Bhakra
barriers ROPAR, June 29 — Visitors have alleged corruption at the barriers enroute Bhakra Dam. A group of visitors from Sonepat lodged a complaint with the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities alleging that policemen posted at the Baramula barrier had charged money from the group, for allowing their vehicle to pass through. Their complaint has also been endorsed by the sales tax inspector of the Himachal Pradesh. In another incident a group of visitors complained that 100 red cross tickets sold to them by the BBMB Public Relations Office, were collected by the policemen at the Baramula barrier and were resold to another party. These incidents of the harassment of visitors increase during the peak tourist season when as many as 3,000 persons visit the dam daily. Certain "obsolete" rules meant to regulate the tourist traffic at the dam, not only put the visitors to harassment but also give the policemen posted there a chance to make some money. According to the rules visitors are not allowed at the top of the dam after 4 p.m. But the rule is silent about the passengers who have to pass through the dam to go to other places like the Naina Devi temple. Another rule prohibits carrying of cameras to the top of the dam but is silent about those carrying their cameras enroute. Officials posted at the barriers "take" advantage of such ambiguities in rules to harass visitors. Moreover, there are just four APROs at Bhakra and only one is posted at the top of the dam, at a time. He generally remains busy attending to the VIP visitors and other visitors have to remain on their own during their visit to the dam. Two posts of APROs have been vacant in the organisation since long. The BBMB authorities,
when asked to comment on these incidents, said they had
handed over the investigation to their internal
vigilance. They said they would install signboards at the
police barriers asking the visitors not to pay any money
to anyone. They also added that the BBMB would also write
to the Centre to change certain obsolete rules. |
Hand over irrigation scam to
CBI: CPI BATHINDA, June 29 — Mr Hardev Arshi, Leader of the CPI group, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, said today that the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, should hand over the investigation of the Rs 100 crore irrigation scam to the CBI if he was serious about weeding out corruption from Punjab. Addressing a press conference here, Mr Arshi pointed out that hardly any day passed when a case of financial bungling did not come to light in the state government’s offices. He alleged that number of senior officials of the state in connivance with the ruling party politicians had "eaten up" hundreds of crores of rupees through such bungling. While demanding the immediate suspension of the irrigation secretary, Mr Bikramjit Singh, allegedly for shielding "corrupt" irrigation engineers, Mr Arshi said if Mr Badal wanted to provide a corruption-free administration to the people then he should handover the investigations of all these scams to the CBI. He alleged that apart from shielding the corrupt officers and politicians, "criminals, having political power" were enjoying absolute immunity from penal action. He added that key political figures against whom criminal cases had been registered on the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had not been arrested by the police. Mr Arshi pointed out that Mr Badal had failed to take any action on the report of the CID which had mentioned that two irrigation officials had "embezzled" crores of rupees with the "patronage of a state minister." The CPI leader said Mr Badal should also clarify as to why he had been shielding Bikramjit Singh in spite of the fact that he (Bikramjit Singh) had been facing number of cases against him. He alleged that on the
one hand, Mr Badal had increased the electricity tariff and imposed sales tax on items of daily use to mobilise
money for the state on the other hand officials and
ruling party politicians were plundering the state’s
revenue. |
Move to review appointment
draws flak BATHINDA, June 29 — The move to review the appointment of principal of local Mahant Gurbanta Dass School for Deaf, Dumb and Blind, initiated at the instance of the Punjab Power Minister, Mr Sikander Singh Malooka, has started a controversy. A section of directors of the school, while talking to TNS, has alleged that the Principal, Mrs Anuradha, was selected by the school management after a proper procedure. They pointed out that applications for this post were invited after advertising in a daily newspaper. Eight candidates were interviewed by the committee constituted for the selection of principal, after which she was appointed. On the other hand, as per the copy of proceedings of the meeting of general house held on April 6, 2000, Mr Malooka expressed his dissatisfaction on the selection procedure and demanded that this appointment should be reviewed. For this task, Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner-cum-chairman of the school management, has constituted a five-member committee to review the appointment. Apart from his own representative, Mr Jaspal Singh also nominated a representative of the SSP, District Education Officer Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhuller, President, Municipal Council and senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Mr Baljeet Singh Beerbehman, Managing Director, Bathinda Central Cooperative Bank and also senior SAD leader, into the committee. Official sources said this committee would hold its meeting tomorrow on the school campus and review the appointment of Mrs Anuradha. Mr A.S. Bhatti, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), who will head the committee, when contacted, said the unanimous decision of the committee would be conveyed to chairman of the school who has the final authority to take action on the committee’s report. On the other hand, Mr Banarsi Dass, Director, School management, while talking to TNS today, alleged that there was no need to review the appointment of principal as it was made after a proper procedure. He alleged that certain persons having political motives were behind this move which would harm the functioning of school. He pointed out that when the matter of appointment of principal was discussed in the general house meeting, he and some other members, had protested against this issue and urged the person concerned that this issue was not relevant for discussion. But their protest was not recorded in the proceedings of the meeting. Mr Narinder Mittal, another Director of school, alleged that inclusion of two Akali functionaries in the committee constituted for reviewing the appointment showed that it was a political exercise. Sources said this move to review the appointment of the principal was being done with an aim to remove her so that a favourite of a ruling politician could be adjusted in her place. Even the proceedings of general house meeting were allegedly changed to ensure the removal of Mrs Anuradha. Mr Jaspal Singh, when contacted, said that committee to review the appointment of principal was constituted after a consensus in this regard was reached at the general house meeting. He added that divergent views of one or two directors on any issue were never recorded in the proceedings. He clarified that only those proceedings which were prepared as per a proper procedure would be taken as official proceedings. He added that any other document without any official authenticity could not be termed as proceedings of the general house meeting. He said that he would take a decision whenever he received the report of committee. He added that it was upto him to accept or reject the report of the committee. Mrs Anuradha, principal
of the school, when contacted declined to comment on this
issue. |
Drainage Dept yet to wake up R D 460 ( Khanauri ) , June 29 — The monsoons have started but the Punjab Drainage Department does not think so. It has yet to unclog two of the spans, besides syphons, here where mounds of silt have accumulated. A visit to R D 460, where the Ghaggar river is made to pass underneath the Bhakra mainline canal through syphons, reveals that work on desilting the spans of the bridge underneath the canal as well the syphons is yet to start. The importance of desilting the area can be understood from the fact that around one lakh cusecs of water accumulates at this point during the monsoon whereas the syphons have a capacity to deal with only 15,000 cusecs of water. This invariably inundates paddy fields for days during the monsoons and sometimes forces farmers to transplant paddy again. This year all flood-protection works in Patran subdivision of Patiala have been entrusted to the Executive Engineer, Drainage, Sangrur, despite the area falling in Patiala and seven villages of the area being threatened by flood waters every year. Drainage Department sources in Sangrur said work could not be started due to frequent transfers of officers and fund constraints. However, residents of the area whose villages are threatened say it is a matter of sheer negligence. Mr Tarsem Lal of Khanauri said funds could not come in the way of carrying out the work as the contractors could be paid later on for the work done by them. He said there had already been one good spell of rain already two days ago and water would flow to Khanauri soon. If there was another long spell of rain in the coming days the Drainage Department might not get a chance to lift silt from the syphons and water would accumulate around the area . Mr Tarsem Lal and others said the issue of acquiring three acres of land adjacent to RD 460 here which was necessary for flood-protection works had also not been done despite the Khanauri Nagar Council passing a resolution to give the affected farmers land elsewhere. Besides this, a raised mound in the Ghaggar river close to the syphons had not dug up properly. They said mud from this mound had got eroded and clogged the syphons. Work done by the department is being questioned by villagers elsewhere also. On a recent inspection visit, Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir received complaints from residents of Rampur Parta village, near here, that the Drainage Department was digging up the bandh along their village slightly and placing the same mud on the sides to show that fresh mud had been put on the bandh to strengthen it. These allegations were made in front of officers of the Drainage Department. Mr Bir has advised villagers along the bandh to form small committees to keep a check on the work being done by the department. Meanwhile the Patiala
district administration is taking measures to meet any eventuality if excess water accumulates at Khanauri. The
Deputy Commissioner has ordered motor-boats to be
stationed at Khanauri for speedy evacuation of villagers.
The Drainage Department has been directed to complete
flood protection works in the entire district by the
first week of July. Earlier they had been given a
deadline of June 15-30. |
Bathinda-Abohar shuttle extended ABOHAR, June 29 — The Railways have agreed to accept the long-pending demand of passengers of Bathinda, Gidderbaha, Malout, Abohar and Sriganganagar by extending the Bathinda — Abohar passenger shuttle up to Sriganganagar. The decision would be implemented from July 1, official sources confirmed today. The Northern India Railway Passengers Association had been asking the railway authorities to reschedule the passenger trains on this section and to cut down the four-hour stay of Sriganganagar — Ambala passenger train, which crossed Abohar at 7.37 a.m. but the passengers had to wait at Bathinda Junction for four hours for onward journey to Ambala. On the other hand, no train was available for Sriganganagar from Abohar for whole of the day. Mr Ramesh Goyal, secretary of the association, while giving this information thanked The Tribune for taking up the matter repeatedly and effectively. He said the association was grateful to Mr Vijay Kumar, DRM, Ambala, for accepting the demand and had requested him to flag off the train on Saturday. The train, starting from Bathinda at 7.10 a.m., will now proceed to Sriganganagar after a brief halt. On the other hand, the passenger train which had been of no use for many hours at Sriganganagar would now run as passenger train for Ambala facilitating the passengers going to Haryana and UP. The new schedule will enable passengers of the noon train from here to board Bathinda - Delhi passenger train at 2.10 p.m. Mr Goyal said the
Railways had agreed in principal to extend another train
from Bathinda to Fazilka during the day to facilitate the
passengers of over-crowded Fazilka-Bathinda DMU train. He
hoped the demand for providing a shed at second platform
at Abohar and an extended platform at Malout would also
be processed by the authorities soon. The association had
requested the DRM to get STD PCO booths sanctioned for
all railway stations between Bathinda and Sriganganagar. |
Evasion of market fee alleged AMRITSAR, June 29 — The Director of the Punjab Mandi Board, Mr Bhupinder Singh, alleged yesterday that there was large scale evasion of market fees in the fruit and vegetable mandi here. While talking to mediapersons here Mr Bhupinder Singh alleged that senior officers of the Mandi Board posted here in connivance with some commission agents had been siphoning off huge amounts of market fees daily, thus depriving the government of its rightful revenue. The director has also sent his report to the head office recommending the suspension of nine officers of the Market Committee who were found absent from the vegetable mandi during surprise check by him on Tuesday. Mr Bhupinder Singh added that he had gone to the mandi and as soon as he reached there the staff at the mandi left taking the entire record with them and left the office unattended. A complete report of the incident was faxed to the chairman and the secretary of the Mandi Board who have promised to take appropriate action. Commenting on the demand that the local mandi be shifted to the new location at Vallah, the Director said he would take up the matter personally. The Fruit and Vegetable Commission Agents Union has been reiterating its demand to shift the present mandi to the new site and granting them plots at reserve rates. Meanwhile, the Market
Committee Employees Union has condemned the action of the
Director for allegedly harassing the Market Committee
staff. |
Policy on stray cattle mooted CHANDIGARH, June 29 – On the one hand, Punjab is keen to improve the breed of cattle and declare them "disease-free". This is sought to be achieved through four-ways : by posting requisite staff in all veterinary hospitals and dispensaries ; setting up a regional diagnostic laboratory in Jalandhar ; a vaccination testing laboratory in Ludhiana ; and promote genetic engineering. The State faces a problem ever increasing hordes of unwanted, unfit, sick, abandoned and stray cattle. The stray bovine population is over one lakh , which gets swelled when more get pushed into the State from Haryana. The Minister of Animal Husbandry , Dairy Development and Fisheries, Dr Rattan Singh, is a worried man. Certain religio-political constraints come in his way to deal with this ever- growing menace. Crops are eaten away or destroyed by the unmanageable herd which roam the countryside. Add to this growing population the "wild animals" (boars in the Shivalik foothills and Neelgai in the South-West districts). These wreck havoc to crops . The stray cattle have become a major traffic hazard .They squat wherever they wish to. What does the State propose to do with this problem ? Dr Rattan Singh told TNS yesterday that he has ordered a general survey of 175-odd Gaushalas run by voluntary organisations or NGOs . These are are supposed to provide shelter, food and medicare. He is pursuing the file in the Chief Minister's office to allow the department set up an animal shelter in the premises of Rani-di-Dhee near Nabha. For that Rs 50 lakh are required. The minister, however, knows and admits this alone is not enough. Therefore he plans to propose to New Delhi to draft a "National Policy on Stray Cattle" since the menace is not confined to Punjab alone. Awareness of the problem persists. So does the solution. What is missing is the bile to change laws and Acts which deal with this problem. The country does have authorised abattoirs . The killing of bovines agitates sentiments of a large section of the population. Nevertheless, Dr Rattan Singh is convinced that the steps to look after the fit animals are being trampled under the hooves of unfit bovine. He is also aware of the treatment meted out to the sick and abandoned in the shelter-homes by animal-lovers. Punjab has already set up societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals in the districts. The objective is same as of the People for Animals: to look after "stray, sick, disabled and abandoned" animals and birds. With this purpose in view the Chief Secretary sent a memorandum on May 12 to all concerned outlining guidelines on allotment of land to organisations keen on setting up shelters for animals. The land is to be given on lease, initially for a period of 10 years. The lease amount will be Re 1 per acre "token money". The Lease will be renewable after every 10 years. Keen to improve animal
health care Dr Rattan Singh seeks a way out of the stray
bovines' way . Any help or suggestions ? |
K.S. Grewal CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Mr K.S. Grewal, an eminent journalist, has been appointed press secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Delhi State. Jathedar Avtar Singh
Hit, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Delhi
State, said Mr Grewal’s appointment as press
secretary would add to the prestige of the Akali Dal. |
Sikh Intellectual Council
panel CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The Executive Committee of the World Sikh Intellectual Council has constituted a five-member committee to represent the case of Sikhs before the Constitution Review Commission. The members of the committee are: Mr Gur Rattan Pal Singh, Dr Malkiat Singh Rahi, Dr Sukhdev Singh, former Commissioner of India, Mr S.S. Nishan with Mr B.S. Balluana as President. The members of the
committee will consult legal and political experts and
collect relevant material from all available sources. The
committee members will meet on Sunday next to discuss the
Constitution. |
Career progression scheme for
JEs CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The Punjab Government today issued a notification announcing a career progression scheme for junior engineers. The notification said after a service of eight years in a post of the same cadre, a Junior Engineer would be granted a higher scale of Rs 6400-10640 with same designation. After a service of 16 years, a Junior Engineer, will be granted the next higher scale of Rs 7220-11320 with a Class II (gazetted status) and designation of an Assistant Engineer. Meanwhile, Mr Amar Singh Randhawa, convener of the Joint Action Committee of Junior Engineers, said the committee had to struggle for a long period to press the state government to concede to their demand. He said even junior engineers from Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory, Chandigarh, supported the agitation launched by the joint action committee. He urged the Himachal Pradesh Government and the Union Territory, Chandigarh, to follow the Punjab pattern in case of their respective junior engineers. Mr Randhawa said through
the notification, the state government had made clear
that the implementation of the decision regarding career
progression would be mandatory for Boards and
Corporations. |
12 IPS officers transferred CHANDIGARH, June 29 (PTI) — In a reshuffle in the Police Department, the Punjab Government today transferred 12 IPS officers, including three DIGs. Mr S.K. Sharma had been posted as DIG Patiala while Mr S.K. Goel, DIG (Security, Chandigarh, had been transferred as DIG (Transport), official sources said. Mr Mustafa would take
over as DIG (Security), Chandigarh, they said. |
3 trucks, 2 cars impounded
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The Minister of State for Excise and Taxation, Punjab, Mr Tikshan Sood, today got impounded three trucks and two cars allegedly involved in tax evasion. Following a tip-off, early this morning, Mr Sood organised a surprise checking near Lakhnaur check-post in Ropar district. Addressing a press conference, Mr Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Minister for Excise and Taxation, in the presence of Mr Sood said today the initiative taken by Mr Sood would go a long way in curbing tax evasion and would encourage people to give a tip-off against those involved in such activities. Mr Kairon said when Mr Sood got the information that the owners of certain trucks had not made proper payment of tax and had forged documents, he led a team of senior officers to conduct a raid and the trucks and cars were impounded. He said the government was determined to achieve a target of Rs 3,000 crore tax collection in the state during the current financial year. Giving details of the
raids, Mr Sood said three trucks were being escorted by
some people in cars. When they were approached, they sped
away. But after a long chase all were arrested from a
shop where they were sitting after abandoning their cars
at a deserted place. |
Threat to stop milk supply MOGA, June 29 — Milk suppliers from all over Punjab, who supply milk to processing plants in several neighbouring states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, have decided to stop the supplies with immediate effect if these plants failed to pay them their dues running into crores. Stating this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Milk Suppliers Association, Mr Tajinder Singh, said today that even the cheques issued by the units against the payments had bounced. He further said the milk suppliers would take up the matter in a court if their payments were not made. The spokesman added that
several reminders had been sent to them by the
association regarding the bounced cheques. |
Public Grievances Association
formed BATHINDA, June 29 — Local citizens have formed a public grievances association. In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Dharamvir Walia, president of the association, said the association had taken up the matter with the Railway Ministry for introducing a ‘Shatabdi’train between Ferozepore and New Delhi. The association would also pressure the railway authorities to deploy staff at the unmanned railway crossing. Mr Bhan Singh Bhora, MP,
had been made patron of the association. The other office
bearers of the association included Mr Om Parkash Garg,
(senior vice-president), Mr Sadhu Ram Kushla (general
secretary) and Mr Sat Pal Bansal (cashier). |
Plan to loot petrol station
foiled ABOHAR, June 29 — They had planned to loot a petrol station to become rich but would now have to go to jail again. The conspiracy was hatched inside the sub-jail at Fazilka during their trial in different cases, they told the police here yesterday after having been nabbed at the industrial focal point, which had been lying incomplete for the past three years on the bypass on the Abohar-Sriganganagar road. Sources said the police on a tip-off cordoned off the focal point on Wednesday and arrested Om Singh of Chanankhera village, Sewak Singh and Shivraj Singh, both of Daulatpura village, and Ravinder Singh ‘Raju’of Nai Abadi here. They were allegedly carrying two revolvers of .32-bore each, some cartages and a knife. Their accomplice Krishan Kumar, however, managed to escape. The police recovered a Maruti car and an air gun. The vehicle had different number plates also. During interrogation it was revealed that they had thought of looting a petrol station in the morning but the presence of customers forced them to defer the attempt. They were also planning to commit wayside robberies, the police sources said. They were produced
before the vacation judge, who remanded them in police
custody till July 1. |
DSP among three killed in
mishap SANGRUR, June 29 — Three persons, including a DSP, were killed on the spot and one was seriously injured when their car met with an accident near Gajju Majra village, about 45 km from here, on the Sangrur-Patiala road last night. They were coming from Patiala to Sangrur. The police said here today that the deceased were identified as Ranbir Singh, DSP, Dhuri, Arvind Jindal, alias Rinku, a local industrialist, and Charanjit Singh, alias Channa, also a local resident. Another occupant of the car, Mr Sandip Sharma, DSP (CID) here, was seriously injured in the accident. He was admitted to a hospital at Patiala. The police said the
other vehicle involved in this accident was not found at
the accident site. |
Six hurt in clash over land
dispute TARN TARAN, June 29 — Six persons, including an ASI and a woman, were injured in a clash over land dispute today at the local Guard Bazar. Rajwant Singh and his
wife, Bhupinder Kaur, and their son Sukhwant Singh, and
Manjit Singh and Tejinder Singh were injured seriously.
ASI Harbhajan Singh was also injured while trying to
pacify the two sides. |
Technical university urged to
review schedule PATIALA, June 29 — Punjabi University today said it was unfortunate that Punjab Technical University (PTU), had cast aspersions on the university regarding clash of dates between the entrance test of Punjabi University and the group discussion by the PTU. Punjabi University will conduct the entrance test for admission to MBA course on July 3. Over 650 candidates from all over Punjab will sit in the test at five centres located at Patiala. The university Dean, Academic Affairs, Dr Kuldeep Singh Dhir, said at no stage the PTU communicated their schedule of group discussion and interview to Punjabi University nor bothered to coordinate with us. He said Punjabi University announced its schedule of entrance examination of professional courses, including MBA programme, on June 3 which clearly indicated the date of MBA entrance examination was July 3. In fact, it is the PTU which never bothered to contact Punjabi University even after our public announcement of the schedule. Had they (PTU) contacted us at that time it would have been possible to find out a solution of the problem even at that stage, he said. Dr Dhir added that any postponement of the entrance test at this stage would cause a lot of inconvenience to the students and would lead to delay in admissions. He said as per the
schedule announced by the PTU, nearly 200 candidates are
likely to appear for group discussion and interview on
July 3. He said in order to avoid the clash, the PTU has
been requested to shift the schedule for group discussion
and interview to accommodate the affected candidates. |
Move to shift science block
flayed MOGA, June 29 — Residents of Guru Tegh Bahadurgarh (Rode) in this district yesterday protested against the Punjab Government’s decision to shift the science block of Guru Tegh Bahadur College from here to Kotkapura, about 40 km from here in Faridkot district. At an emergency meeting held at Baghapurana, of various villages around the college, the chairman, Mr Deep Singh, said that the decision of the state government was discriminatory and was taken under political pressure. The participants of the meeting unanimously decided to launch an agitation if the government did not refrain from doing so. They said the science
block was set up several years ago and science being an
important subject, the shifting of the block would affect
the students badly. The students might also join the
agitation. |
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