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| Wednesday, July 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Power tariff hike hits medium units Petition against Bibi withdrawn Move resolution, Mann tells CM MP urged to take up boat tragedy in House PGPC ‘violating maryada’ POLITICS Not in race
for chief’s post: Jagmeet Brar
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Kainth aide loses
trust vote
Acquittal of rape accused Overbridge or shopping site? 14 medical officers promoted
Gang of killers busted Fake soft
drinks unit detected ‘Tension’ behind MLA’s suicide Poppy husk seized, 2 held Woman looted of
cash, jewellery
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Power tariff hike hits medium units CHANDIGARH, July 4 — The Punjab Government while increasing power rates this time has hit hard where it hurts most. It has targeted medium-scale industries, the backbone of the industrial economy of the state. Now it has an agitation to face. Industrial units having an installed supply of between 20kw and 100 kw have been made to pay 42 paise per unit more. This comes to 17.3 per cent, the highest. While the small-scale sector will pay 25 paise per unit more (an 11 per cent hike), the large sector has to contend with an increase of 11.4 per cent. Furnace oil-based mills face an increase of 21 paise per unit, or 7.5 per cent. Domestic consumers pay 27 paise per unit more, or 10 per cent. Clearly, the hardest hit is the medium sector. This in a way includes the small sector as these days many small units have more than 20 KW meters installed, industry sources here said. And industrialists in this all-important segment are reacting sharply. From July 7, a stir in being launched. The Industry and Trade Forum, Punjab, has condemned the move of the Punjab State Electricity Board and the state government to effect a hefty increase in the power tariff. The state government had formed an industrial panel and the issue of power tariff hike was to be decided in consultation with all members of this panel. ‘‘No consensus could as yet emerge, but the board and the state government have taken a unilateral decision to enhance the rates. The formation of an industrial panel was mere eyewash. With this move, the government has not only betrayed industry and trade but the people of the state as well. The intention of the government is to continue with its populist scheme of giving free electricity to the farming sector and make the other categories of consumers bear the extra burden as a direct consequence thereof. It is abundantly clear that the government is not at all sincere and does not care for the welfare of all sections, Mr Harish Khanna, president of the forum, told TNS Industry sources said: ‘‘Around 98 per cent of the small-scale units have power connections in the region of 20 kw to 100 kw and the percentage increase for this category of consumers is the highest at 17.3 per cent’’. The government and the power board had “purposely” thrust an extra financial burden on the small-scale sector in a “calculated” move to impede their growth. As had already been decided and announced by the forum, it would go ahead with the launch of a state-wide agitation beginning with a protest rally on July 7 at Vishwakarma Chowk, GT Road, Millerganj, Ludhiana, against the power tariff hike. “This will be followed by similar protest rallies in other districts as well,” Mr Khanna added. |
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Petition against Bibi withdrawn CHANDIGARH, July 4 — The writ petition filed by General Secretary of Sarv Hind Akali Dal Prem Singh Chandumajra against the holding of SGPC President’s office by Bibi Jagir Kaur was today dismissed as withdrawn by a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Nirmal Singh. Mr Chandumajra, in the writ petition had earlier asked for a declaration stating that since Bibi Jagir Kaur had been ex-communicated from the Sikh religion she stood disqualified to hold any office under the Sikh Gurdwara Act. He had also sought directions to her to vacate the President’s office. Today, counsel for the petitioner submitted that he had been instructed by Mr Chandumajra to withdraw the petition since the hukamnama by the Akal Takht Jathedar had been withdrawn. Bibi Jagir Kaur, it may be recalled, was ex-communicated by Giani Puran Singh for not obeying the orders of Akal Takht issued to her earlier. A similar writ petition filed by Baba Mangal Singh, acting President of the Gurbani Gurmath Sidhanth Parcharak Sant Samaj, was adjourned by the Bench to August 30 to enable the SGPC to file a reply. |
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Move resolution, Mann tells CM SANGRUR, July 4— The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) today urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to present the Anandpur Sahib resolution (1973) in the Assembly. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President of the SAD (A) and MP from Sangrur, said if Mr Badal did so, the SAD(A) would support the resolution in the house he expressed hope that Mr Ravi Inder Singh, MLA from Morinda, and other MLAs who were now in Mr G.S.Tohra’s camp, would also support Mr Badal on the autonomy issue. Mr Mann said the resolution could be passed despite opposition from the Congress and the BJP. He said his party endorsed the autonomy resolution passed by the J and K Assembly. Regarding the likelihood of a mid-term poll in Punjab, Mr Mann said Mr Badal would not commit this “blunder” as he would meet the same fate as Mr Virbhadra Singh, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, who had recommended poll much before the end of the Assembly term. Besides, Mr Badal had no issues to lure
voters, he said. However, Mr Mann said, Mr Badal might test his government’s popularity by fielding a candidate for the Sunam Assembly constituency which had no representative in the assembly after the death of Mr Bhagwan Dass Arora. He appealed to Mr Badal not to field a candidate in the Sunam
Assembly byelection but to support his party candidate as the SAD(A) had much influence in this area. Mr Mann said his party would send a telegram to the Chief Election Commissioner to impose the election code of conduct in the Assembly constituency immediately or else the ruling Akali Dal would start releasing special grants for development works to influence voters. Mr Mann also demanded an inquiry by the CID (Crime) branch or a Magistrate into the alleged suicide by Mr Bhagwan Dass Arora. Sunam MLA. The SAD(A) President said the BJP and the RSS had made Indian politics vicious as they were propagating against the minorities. Besides, members of organisations like the Bajrang Dal and the Shiv Sena were being given training in arms at
camps. He exhorted the President of India to take hard steps against the BJP government, including its dismissal, if it did not change its policies. Mr Mann opposed the review of the Constitution saying that such an exercise would be illegal because there was no such provision in the Constitution. He said only amendments could be made to the constitution. |
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MP urged to take up boat tragedy in House HOSHIARPUR, July 4 — Mr Balwant Singh Khera, Chairman of the Malta Boat Tragedy Mission, in a press statement here yesterday said the mission had requested Mr Charanjit Singh Channi, MP, and Mr Kamal Chaudhry, former MP, to raise the Malta boat tragedy issue in Parliament and get released the list of the deceased and the survivors from the Central as well as Punjab Governments so that 117 families could know the fate of their wards. The mission also requested both leaders to help the families get back Rs 3 lakh each charged by the travel agents to send the victims to the USA. Besides, the mission also requested Mr Romesh Dogra, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, to raise this issue in the Assembly. Mr Khera said no leader had sent proceedings of the action taken by them in this regard to the Mission office. He pointed out that more than half a dozen cases relating to this tragedy were on in other countries against persons responsible for the tragedy. He criticised the Central government for not deputing any of its officers to probe this tragedy. He appealed to the public and voluntary organisations to come forward so that culprits could be punished and compensation given to victims’ families. He alleged that office-bearers of the Punjab NRI Sabha were only grinding their own axe. He further alleged that the sabha had collected huge funds from the NRIs, but it had not spent a paisa on the welfare of families of the victims. |
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PGPC ‘violating maryada’ ATTARI, July 4 — The Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PGPC) has failed to follow “maryada” in Sikh gurdwaras in Pakistan. This was observed by pilgrims who visited Pakistan in connection with the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Pilgrims told this correspondent that though the PGPC had made special efforts to maintain the gurdwaras, yet it had failed to perform the “maryada”. Mr Dalbir Singh Nijjar, a Canada-based leader of the Babbar Khalsa International, criticising Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, said he (Mr Badal) must visit Pakistan for seeking unconditional apology for not sending jathas to Pakistan. He alleged that Mr Badal had failed to plead the “Sikh cause” at national and international levels. Gajinder Singh, Chairman, the Dal Khalsa International, and Lakhmir Singh Rode, another militant leader also met the members of the jatha, however, they neither made any speech nor distributed “inflammatory literature” to the jatha. The 52-member jatha was led by Mr Chaman Singh, president, Youth Akali Dal (SHSAD), Delhi. Dalbir Singh Nijjar announced that “Sikhs would continue their peaceful struggle to establish a Sikh state. For this we are ready to make any sacrifice”, he said. Mr Sham Singh, a Pakistani Sikh and Co-chairman, PGPC, urged the SGPC to lift ban on sending jathas to Pakistan. Mr Sham Singh reiterated that the PGPC was ready to cooperate with the SGPC in maintaining proper ‘maryada’ in various gurdwaras in Pakistan. |
Not in race
for chief’s post:
Jagmeet Brar AMRITSAR, July 4 — Congress MP Jagmeet Singh Brar, who was here today, denied he was an aspirant for the post of Pradesh Congress chief. But his supporters claimed that in view of the heightened infighting between the PPCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, and former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, speculation in the Congress circles was rife that Mr Brar may emerge as a consensus candidate acceptable to both factions. Mr Brar addressing a press conference here, advocated change in the state leadership. He pointed out that Punjab was being ruled by “feudal” families. He said it was the nexus between these ruling families and bureaucrats which had brought ruin to a prosperous state like Punjab. Mr Brar announced that all district scrutiny committees formed by district presidents for the smooth conduct of the party poll had been scrapped on his complaint to the high command. He said the high command had urged the district committees to reconstitute the committees with representatives from all factions. Mr Brar alleged that Dr Farooq Abdullah had the tacit support of the BJP leadership on the autonomy resolution. Mr Advani had been talking about releasing detained militants. He had offered talks with Hurriyat leaders and advised Dr Farooq to set the stage for autonomy, he alleged. He urged Mr Badal to clarify his stand on state
autonomy. |
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Kainth aide loses
trust vote NAWANSHAHR, July 4 — The no-confidence motion against Mr
Balbir, President, Municipal Council, Banga, and an aide of Mr Satnam
Kainth, was passed despite efforts by Mr Parkash Singh Badal to the contrary. The Chief Minister had reportedly assured Mr Kainth that he would direct Mr Mohan
Lal, MLA, to put an end to his confrontation with Mr Balbir. Mr Kamal, a BSM municipal councillor of
Nawanshahr, at a press meeting here a few days ago had announced his support to the group of councillors in the Nawanshahr Municipal Council opposed to the President of the council. The group had served a no-confidence motion against Mr Chamkaur Singh Kauri. The CM had deputed Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon and Mr Chiranji Lal
Garg, both Cabinet Ministers, to resolve the crisis. |
Acquittal of rape accused CHANDIGARH, July 4 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today allowed an appeal filed by the State of Punjab challenging the orders of the Ludhiana Additional District and Sessions Judge acquitting a three-wheeler driver accused of raping a five year old girl. The orders were passed by Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice A.S. Garg. The accused — Anil Kumar of Dholewal Chowk in Ludhiana — was booked for rape and attempt to murder by the Punjab Police under Sections 376, 342 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code on October 30, 1985. According to the prosecution, the girl’s father, searching for the victim after failing to find her in the house, had discovered the accused trying to rape her in a vacant plot. The accused, the prosecution had added, escaped after hearing the alarm raised by the father, leaving behind the semi-conscious girl bleeding from her private parts. Anil Kumar was later acquitted by the trial court after being given the benefit of doubt. Pronouncing the orders on May 6, 1986, the Judge had observed: “On the basis of evidence produced in the court, the case against Anil Kumar cannot be said to be free from doubt and giving him the benefit of doubt, I acquit him of the charges framed against him”. The Judge had also observed: “The accused was medically examined on October 30, 1985, and the doctor is categorical that his private parts do not have any injuries thereon. This too would rule out the possibility of Anil Kumar having participated in the incident in which the girl had received injuries on her person”. Challenging the orders, the State had stated that the lower court’s findings “were based on mere surmises, conjectures and assumptions and were thus not tenable in the eyes of the law”. Arguing before the court, State counsel had added that the prosecution had “proved the case to the hilt and the acquittal of the accused had caused a grave miscarriage of justice”. Recruitment of
lecturers Issuing notice for August 21, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday directed that recruitment of lecturers in Khalsa Senior Secondary School at Thatha in Amritsar district shall be made subject to the final decision of a writ petition. In their petition, before Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal and Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill, members of the school’s governing body, Mr Shabeq Singh and Mr Manjit Singh, had earlier sought directions against allowing the three member educational committee of the SGPC “to make recruitment of the staff on the basis of advertisement published on May 15”. The petitioners had also asked for directions “for prohibiting the three-member education committee from functioning as a substitute of the 16-member committee as required under the Delhi pattern of grant-in-aid rules”. Counsel for the petitioners had contended on their behalf that “the action of the State of Punjab and other respondents in dissolving the governing committee of the school as required under the Delhi pattern and giving powers to run the school to the three-member educational committee was arbitrary, illegal and against the principles of natural justice”. Directions for quashing an order dated January 28, 1999, granting exemption from constituting a managing committee was also sought on the ground that the same was contrary to the law and rules governing the payment of grant-in-aid. Technician’s
interview On a petition alleging “deliberate disregard” of orders regarding a technician’s interview, Mr Justice J.S. Khehar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Mr N.T. Shanmugham, and the PGI Director, Dr S.K. Sharma, “to show cause as to why proceedings under contempt of court be not initiated”. Seeking the summoning of the respondents, the petitioner, Raghbir Singh, had earlier stated that “according to the Division Bench’s order it was obligatory for the opposite parties to subject the petitioner to interview but with a view to bypass the directions an oblique order was passed on November 13, 1999”. Counsel for the petitioner had contended on his behalf that “the conduct of the opposite parties constituted a flagrant disregard of the order which tantamounts to gross contempt of court”. |
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Overbridge or shopping site? AMRITSAR: The overbridge on the GT Road here is serving as an unauthorised a shopping area even as the Municipal Corporation turns a blind eye to the increasing encroachments by sellers. Beggars and small-time shopkeepers throng the foot-bridge from the early hours causing inconvenience to those who pass over it. The overbridge has become a shopping site for goods like handkerchiefs, toys, balls and hardware items. As there is no facility for garbage collection, waste gets lodged in crevices of the steel structure, damaging it. Those who sell their wares on the bridge, however, say they keep it clean, but refuse to admit that their presence restricts the space meant for pedestrians. The overbridge was built four years ago by the corporation at a cost of Rs 25 lakh following numerous fatal accidents on the busy road. A plan to shift the bus stand near the bridge to the outskirts of the city was also mooted earlier in view of the accidents. The original plan for the overbridge envisaged the selling of advertising rights for the site to a private company for Rs 35 lakh for a period of 30 years. However, the plan fell through when there was a hue and cry by residents who alleged that preferential treatment was being given to a particular all-India advertising company. A ban on hoardings during the period of this controversy led to the plan being shelved. Finding nothing of “financial interest”, the corporation has ignored the overbridge and let it slide into the hands of encroachers. |
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14 medical officers
promoted PHILLAUR, July 4 — The Punjab Government has promoted 14 medical officers as Senior Medical Officers with immediate effect while 31 SMOs and 450 medical officers working in different government hospitals and dispensaries have been transferred. These officers are: Dr Amrik Singh M.O. Dasuya, Dr Ajay Kumar M.O. Chhatrana (Patiala), Dr Vijay Kumar (Hoshiarpur), Dr Raghbir Singh, (Payal), Dr Ranjit Kumar (Muktsar), Dr Vijay Kumar (Mukerian), Dr Gurminder Kaur (Mannawala), Dr Gurdev Singh Maan (Jalandhar), Dr Jaspaul Singh (Jalandhar), Dr Inderdayal Goyal (Narot Jaimalsingh), Dr Ram Kumar (Dera Bassi), Dr Shivji Lal Kotia (Narot Mehra), Dr Ravi Parkash Dogra (Gharota) and Dr Hardip Kaur Dhillon
(Batala). |
Gang of killers busted JALANDHAR, July 4—By arresting four persons, the district police claims to have busted a gang of contract killers, operating in the Nakodar area under the garb of “Kale-Kachhewalas”. With this, a case of murder of one Gurmej Kaur of Chak Pirpur village has also been solved. In the crime, which appeared to be a handiwork of “Kale-Kachhewalas”, Gurmej Kaur had been murdered in her house on July 21 last year. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said in fact, perturbed over her alleged bad character, her brothers-in-law Ajit Singh and Swaran Singh, both residents of Chak Pirpur, had hatched a conspiracy in connivance with their maternal nephew Surinder Singh, alias Chinda to kill her. To execute the killing they had hired a group of desperados for Rs 70,000. The group had killed Gurmej Kaur with a .314 bore country-made revolver. Mr Yadav said during the course of time, the investigating officer, Nakodar SHO Sucha Singh, came to know that Gurmej Kaur was not killed by “Kale-Kachhewalas”, and there had been tension in the family over her alleged behaviour, which might have led to her killing. He said besides Ajit Singh and Swaran Singh two members of the gang of contract killers have been arrested while search was on for their other accomplices. Those who have been arrested have been identified as Satish Kumar, alias Ballu, a resident of Lakhanpal village near Nurmahl, and Surinder Singh, alias Shinda, a resident of Thakkar village near Goraya. Satish Kumar was the head of the gang, who along with one of his accomplices Jeeta had also shot Manjit Kaur of Rangra village on April 10. The investigation into the case has been entrusted to Mr Mander Singh, DSP, Nakodar. The Nakodar police has arrested two persons in connection with the murder of Lehmbar Singh, a resident of Rahimpur village. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said there was a tiff between Ram Pal, a paint contractor and his employees Baldev Singh, alias Jattu and Ravi, residents of Rahimpur village, over some payment. They had a fight with Ram Pal on July 1 and chased him to his uncle Lehmbar Singh’s house. When Lehmbar tried to intervene, both Jattu and Ravi and two more boys attacked him with bricks, resulting in his death on the spot.  |
Fake soft
drinks unit detected BATHINDA, July 4 — The district police has unearthed a unit at Bhagta Bhaika town in which fake Pepsi and Coca-Cola drinks were being manufactured. In a press note issued here today, Dr Jatinder Kumar
Jain, SSP, said that Balbir Singh was making Pepsi and Coca-Cola drinks in his house at Bhagta Bhaika town The police team which raided the premises caught Balbir Singh red-handed while manufacturing fraudulently soft drinks under the popular brand names. A bottle-filling machine, 16 duplicate bottles of Coca-Cola, 20 bottles of Pepsi, 72 empty bottles and five litres of Coca-Cola solution was seized from the
premises. Balbir Singh was allegedly selling the fake soft drinks to unsuspecting customers. A case under Sections 420 and 272 of the IPC was registered against him. The suspect has been arrested. In another case, the local police has arrested Lajpat Rai who was running a factory in the city at which duplicate cassettes of popular brands were being manufactured. An audio recording machine, 270 duplicate cassettes. 12,000 inlay cards, 100 empty boxes and 25 blank cassettes were seized from the factory. A case under Sections 52-A 63,65 and 68-A of the Copyright Act, 1957, and Section 420 of the IPC registered against the
suspect. |
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‘Tension’ behind MLA’s suicide SUNAM, July 4 — Though some residents close to the family of Mr Bhagwan Dass Arora, Congress MLA from Sunam, are of the view that due to tension in the family for the past several months, the MLA had killed himself with a revolver, members of the Arora family in almost identical statements to the police have reportedly said that he had committed suicide in sheer despair, having been a patient of diabetes and high blood pressure. The police had not received the post-mortem report so far. Persons close to the Arora family here claim that there had been tension in the family after the marriage of the MLA’s younger son. The deceased had divided the family business between his sons a few month back. Dr Hardeep Sharma, member of the board of doctors which conducted the post-mortem, said Mr Arora shot himself on his head just above the ear pinnae on the right side. |
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Poppy husk seized, 2 held GIDDERBAHA (Muktsar), July 4 — The local police has arrested Jarnail Singh, member, Panchayat of the Butter Bakhua village of the district for allegedly indulging in smuggling of narcotics. Mr Ashok Baath, DSP, told TNS that on receiving a tip-off, the police raided the residence of Jarnail Singh and seized three bags containing 120 kg of poppy husk. Jarnail Singh was arrested and the jeep used in the smuggling of narcotics was impounded. Labh Singh, driver of the jeep, absconded, the DSP added. In another case, the police today seized three bags of poppy husk from Gurmej Singh, alias Geja, of Wadian village. The suspect was hiding himself in the sand dunes located on the Wadian-Lundewala road. |
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Woman looted of
cash, jewellery PATIALA, July 4 — Two unidentified youths after gagging and blindfolding Mrs Raj Rani (65), a resident of the Purana Lal Bagh area, robbed her of Rs 22,000 and gold ornaments worth thousands of rupees. According to the police the youths, one of them a Sikh and another a Hindu knocked at the door of Mrs Raj’s house. She opened the door and they said that they had come to meet her husband who was not at home. They then asked her for a glassful of water. She went inside to fetch water when one of the youths gagged her and blindfolded her. The another one tied her hands and the both took away jewellery and cash kept in two different boxes. She managed to get her hands free after an hour and came out of the house that happened to be on the main road. The police has registered a case under Sections 454, 458 and
342. |
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