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| Saturday, August 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Relations with
BJP cordial: Badal Sikh panel’s notice
to Jagir Kaur IT courses: VCs to meet Give report in torture case, AG told Action against ineligible
pensioners: Kanjhla Atrocities on Dalits increasing: Cong |
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Nagar: Wadala blames it on disunity Sukhbir rules out pact
with SHSAD "Badal has befooled people, should
resign"
Teams set up to save
cotton from pests Illegal possession of land alleged
‘Three more DA
instalments’ for aided school staff Ban on substandard cattle feed Bandh against
killings in valley
Check influx of
labourers: SAD(A) 15 lakh for bridge
from MP’s fund Army recruitment
rally on Aug 22
Banks authorised
to collect direct taxes Math-gurdwara row: bandh in town
ASI sentenced to 3 years’ RI 3 killed in accident
VC launches new academic session Issues of Sikhs abroad highlighted Qualifications for
principals approved University extends
date for admission 
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Relations with BJP
cordial: Badal ROPAR, Aug 4 — "We have cordial relations with the BJP and our alliance with the party will remain intact", said Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, when asked to comment on the future of the SAD-BJP alliance in view of the SAD stand on the Udham Singh Nagar issue. He also allayed the fears of the SAD with drawing support from the NDA government by saying SAD might have differences with the BJP on certain issues but the alliance of both the parties was old and strong. Stating his views on the Udham Singh Nagar issue, Mr Badal further said though he had vindicated his stand on the issue but the further course of action, would be declared on August 6 after the meeting of the political affairs committee of the party. Mr Badal was at Chamkaur Sahib to hold sangat darshan to listen to the problem of the people. Bibi Satwant Kaur Sandhu, Minister for Printing and Stationery, Mr Tara Singh Ladal, State Minister for Education, the Deputy Commissioner Ropar, Mr G.S. Grewal and the SSP, Ropar, Mr GPS Bhullar, also attended the meeting. Earlier, while speaking at the sangat darshan, Mr Badal said he was holding these programmes to give on the spot reprieve to common people. Keeping in view the historical importance of Chamkaur Sahib it would be developed into an ideal township, he said. Mr Badal announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for improving the water and the sewerage facilities in Chamkaur Sahib. He also announced Rs 15 lakh for the development of a sports stadium and Rs 5 lakh for the Shiv Mandir dharamshala at Chamkaur Sahib. He, however, turned down the demand of converting it into a subdivision on the plea that since the census process was being under- taken, any announcement cannot be made in this regard. Mr Badal met the panchayat members of the various villages of the Chamkaur Sahib Assembly constituency and directed the district administration to solve their problem. About 122 panchayats attended the today’s sangat darshan. Mr Ujjagar Singh Wadali, Mr Jarnail Singh Aulakh, SGPC member and
former MP, Bibi Satwant Kaur Dhaliwal. |
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Sikh panel’s notice
to Jagir Kaur AMRITSAR, Aug 4 — The Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission has issued notice to Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC chief, and four other officials of the SGPC asking her to appear on August 11 in connection with abuse of powers and misusing of gurdwara funds. The notice has been issued by Mr Manmohan Singh Brar, Chairman, Mr Amrik Singh Randhawa and Mr Ajwant Singh Mann, members, on the application moved by Mr Satpal Singh Wadali, Senior Vice-President, Sarb Hind Youth Akali Dal. In his application Mr Wadali prayed to the judicial commission to pass an interim order to the respondents for recovery of Rs 10 lakh along with 18 per cent interest for incurring expenditure on the purchase of air tickets and other expenses of the delegates for attending the world religion conference at South Africa. The applicant prayed that ad-interim injunction be issued to the respondents directing them to deposit the money, failing which irreparable loss was likely to be caused to the gurdwara funds as the secretary of the SGPC, is likely to retire within few months and SGPC chief may give up the presidentship as a sequel to the "spoiled image". The petitioner urged the commission that the respondents be ordered to be suspended from the membership of the SGPC and gurdwara services till the disposal of the petition under section 142 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act. The main petition in this regard is also fixed for August 11. However, the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission has dismissed the petition of Mr Sarup Singh Dhesi, SGPC member of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, in which he had prayed to initiate action against SGPC chief, Chief Minister and other respondents. The petitioner in his petition had alleged that the respondents wanted to misuse the Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib by allowing Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee to inaugurate tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa Panth. The petition was dismissed on the ground that the tercentenary had
already been celebrated. |
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Give report in torture case, AG told CHANDIGARH, Aug 4 — On a petition alleging police torture, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Punjab Advocate-General to inform the court regarding the action taken on a complaint by a Mansa resident to the Director-General of Police. Taking up the petition filed by Mr Bagga Singh against Patiala’s Senior Superintendent of Police H.S. Sidhu, Inspector Sewa Singh and other respondents, Mr. Justice V.M. Jain also issued notice of motion to the Advocate-General for August 28. In his petition, Mr. Bagga Singh had earlier alleged that he was tied to a police vehicle and dragged after being picked up by the cops for the second time on July 28. The doctor examining him, after he managed to escape from their detention, had indicated as many as 16 injuries in his report, he had added. Giving details, he had stated that Rs 750 in cash, a gold ring and a bracelet were also forcibly taken away from him. The articles, he had added, had not been returned. Seeking the registration of an attempt to murder case, he had stated that the respondents had picked him up as he had filed a petition against them in the High Court earlier. The first petition, he had added, had to be withdrawn under pressure. Going into the background, he had stated that the
police had tortured him and one Surjit Singh, besides forcing them to
make a statement before a magistrate, after picking them up on July
10. The police were after him as a relative was involved in a
litigation with one of the respondents, he had added. |
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Action against ineligible
pensioners: Kanjhla SANGRUR, Aug 4 — The Punjab Government will take stern action against ineligible pensioners who had been getting pensions in the recent past under old-age and other pension schemes of the Punjab Social Security Department. The department will also make adequate arrangements to provide old age and other pensions to every eligible person in all villages of the state, according to Mr Gobind Singh Kanjhla, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Punjab, while addressing a pension camp, organised by the Social Security Department, at Ubhawal village near here today. He said the Punjab Government had fixed a target to provide pensions to about 6.50 lakh persons which had almost been achieved. The minister also stated that on the pattern of the Central Government, handicapped persons would be given government jobs and authorities had been ordered to implement it strictly. Mr Kanjhla announced that the state government would open model anganwari centres in all blocks in the state to provide quality education to the children between the age group of 3 to 6 years. He appealed to the people to form 101-member committees in their villages to speed up the development work. All sections of the society should be given representation in these committees, he said. Employment would be provided to one lakh unemployed
educated youths in a year. Employment to about 5 lakh unemployed
educated youths had been provided during past some years in the
government and semi-government institutions, besides through
self-employment ventures, he said. |
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IT courses: VCs to meet CHANDIGARH, Aug 4 — In a market where jobs are scarce, information technology (IT) is poised to alter the existing job specifications. It will open new doors and offer newer opportunities. the very concept of human resource development will get transformed as "dot.com" becomes a household word. Is Punjab prepared? There are around 14-15 lakh educated jobless, a majority believed to be unemployable. The future, as is being increasingly defined by technology, will enable only such educated persons to find jobs who are computer-literate with a given degree of competency and proficiency. The clerical cadre will have to either move out or metamorphose. In the emerging scenario, educational institutions in the state are as yet either ill-equipped or are not geared up to meet the new challenges, as per the market or industry requirements. In this age of competence and commerce, IT education "shops" are already mushrooming in the private sector. Most of those who have had training in IT at such "institutions" reportedly either face unemployment or under-employment. Therefore, to take stock of the present level of IT education and training demand and supply of trained manpower and to map out future projections on new career courses required to be introduced, a meeting of all vice-chancellors has been convened here on August 7. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is expected to preside. A brief background note on the subject, prepared by the Director, Technical Education and Industrial Training, Mr N.S. Kalsi, has been circulated. The suggestions on courses are primarily based on Meckinsey’s report of Nasscom, which has put the IT manpower requirement at 22 lakh (countrywide) by 2008. This requirement needs to be met if India is to achieve the projected target of $ 90 billion (including $ 50 billion exports) of IT business by then. The demand for an IT-savvy workforce is coming from even abroad. There are four categories of the workforce: IT-enabled services, IT services, software development and e-business. Punjab has set for itself IT business worth $ 7 billion by 2008. A conservative estimate puts the demand at 2,00,000. A liberal estimate is 3,45,000. The maximum share is apportioned to the IT-enabled services. At least 10 levels of the IT workforce have been identified with the required IT input or experience hours and also average salary levels per month. Starting with self-users (level 0), the other levels are: office-users and knowledge workers; advanced office-users and programmer assistants; IT-enabled services, programmers and code writers; low technology, high volume work related to IT and system analysts; project managers; software development; software design and development, high-end IT services and advanced e-commerce applications; and total system integration, consultancy (level 10). In Punjab mostly up to level 4 training is imparted. Exceptions are few when it comes to the higher levels of IT education and training. Therefore, taking into account the available job opportunities and the new scope future technology offers to the "mouse-friendly", the following IT courses are suggested: Bachelor of IT (B.Sc-IT); Bachelor of Business Administration, MBA (IT) — advanced and specialised courses; Master of Technology, postgraduate diplomas; diploma courses in enabled services, information technology, besides two certificate courses, one in enabled services and the other in IT. Issues like infrastructure, faculty and the involvement of the IT
industry right from the university to engineering colleges and
polytechnics will also come up. |
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Atrocities on Dalits increasing: Cong JALANDHAR, Aug 4 — The human rights department of the All India Congress Committee came out of its half-year long slumber with its Punjab unit organising its first meeting of its state executive, state advisory committee, newly appointed district presidents and functionaries and lambasting the Punjab police for violating the fundamental rights of people here today. Though the AICC had constituted its human rights department in December last, but nothing happened thereafter beyond the point of mere announcement of state presidents by Mr A.K. Sood, the national secretary of the department, who had appointed Mr Umrao Singh, a former Congress MP as state unit president of the department on December 10. Condemning the police and civil administration for a sharp increase in case of atrocities on Dalits, child abuse, exploitation of women, the department said the administration and the police officials were working hand in glove with the Akali government and were busy inflicting atrocities on people just to gain political mileage. Mr Umrao Singh said the number of cases of illegal detention was growing in spite of the Supreme Court guidelines to all DGPs to protect the fundamental rights, civil liberties of people. He said the failure of the police to implement these guidelines would be viewed seriously in future and the department would not even mind moving a contempt application against it in the Supreme Court. He said over since the SAD-BJP has taken over the atrocities on weaker sections had increased, which was a matter of shame. Another resolution passed on this occasion said the "subtle" move of the Akalis to defranchise certain sections of society was nothing but a move to deprive them of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution of India. Mr Umrao Singh also announced the formation of state and district
level committees. |
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Nagar: Wadala blames it on disunity JALANDHAR, Aug 4 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic) president, Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala, has said disunity among Akalis due to "wrong" policies of the Shiromani Akali Dal president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has led to the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar district in the proposed Uttaranchal state. Mr Wadala, addressing a press conference here today, said owing to his failure to help Sikhs of Udham Singh Nagar, Mr Badal had got sidelined from the political mainstream. He said the main reason for this was lack of unity among different factions of the Akalis, for which Mr Badal himself was responsible as he scuttled efforts by "right thinking people" to bring the Akalis on a single platform. Mr Wadala had been a close confident of Mr Badal and vice-president of the SAD (Badal) but was expelled from the party before the 1997 Assembly poll for his "anti-party" activities. AMRITSAR: The All-India Youth Akali Dal (AIYAD) on Friday accused Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of betraying the cause of Punjabis living outside the state. In a press note here, Mr Jaspal Singh Dhillon, president of the
AIYAD, demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister on moral grounds
for misleading Punjabis of Udham Singh Nagar by making promises that
the area would not be included in the new hill state of Uttranchal. |
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Sukhbir rules out pact
with SHSAD FAZILKA, Aug 4 — The SAD will oppose the Centre’s decision to include Udham Singh Nagar in Uttranchal within Parliament and outside. The Political Affairs Committee of the party will decide on the issue of withdrawal of support to the NDA, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, former union minister, told mediapersons before laying the foundation stone of a housing colony here today. Regarding the continuation of the SAD-BJP alliance, he said there were no fissures in the parties. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal ruled out midterm poll in Punjab. Ruling out an alliance with the SHSAD led by Mr Tohra, he said the SAD-BJP combine led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal would retain power in Punjab. Justifying power free of cost to farmers, he said it was not discriminatory as those in cities were also being provided with power at cheaper rates and the government was bearing the burden of subsidising the tariff for industrial and domestic power consumers. He said in future PUDA would carve out colonies as a joint venture
with private builders for which the land would be provided by PUDA. |
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"Badal has befooled people, should
resign" AMRITSAR, Aug 4 — Mrs Ratna, General Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, in a press note ,has alleged that Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab has never been serious on the issue of Udham Singh Nagar and had been misleading the people. In fact, he has deceived the people of Punjab as well as of Udham Singh Nagar. Mrs Ratna said Mr Badal should resign on moral grounds as he had played with the sentiments of Punjabis. Ms Ratna said Mr Badal had been assuring the people of Punjab till the last minute, he being a member of the unofficial three-member committee headed by Mr George Fernandes, nothing will be done without his approval by this committee but it came as a shock when in the Lok Sabha, Mr Fernandes declared that Udham Singh Nagar be included in Uttaranchal and Mr Badal has given his approval. Ms Ratna said that Mr Badal should desist from befooling the
public. Punjabis had gone and settled in UP 70 years back, and
converted barren terrain in fertile land and now their hopes were
dashed. She demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation. |
Teams set up to save
cotton from pests BATHINDA, Aug 4 — The state Agriculture Department has constituted village, block and district-level surveillance teams to save cotton plants from pests. Department officials who provided hybrid seeds of cotton to farmers during the sowing period are now providing them with pesticides and insecticides to get the desirable results. Mr Arjan Singh Chandi, Joint Director (cotton), Punjab, who presided over a meeting of all Chief Agriculture Officers (CAOs) of the cotton belt on the direction of Director, Agriculture, Punjab, Capt Deep Singh Sahota, yesterday, told TNS that so far the attack of pests and diseases on cotton plants was negligible. He said if the weather remained suitable during August and September, more than 13 lakh bales of cotton would be produced from 5.5 lakh hectares. He pointed out that though the growth of cotton so far was good, a close watch was being kept on it by department officials. To ensure a good yield and to protect the cotton plants from the attack of diseases and pests, farmers were made to sow seeds 15 days in advance. The help of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) was also taken to ensure a proper supply of water during the sowing period. Mr Chandi pointed out that farmers had sown about
20 per cent of the total area with hybrid cotton seeds and a good
yield was expected from it. |
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Illegal possession of land alleged BATHINDA, Aug 4 — Mr Surinder Pal, a resident of Moga, has urged the authorities concerned to take necessary action against the persons who has illegally possessed seven bighas (7200 yards) of land at Bhagu Road, Bathinda. In a letter written to Mr Bhan Singh Bhaura, Member of Parliament, Mr Surinder Singh, a blind, said that the land was registered in his name which he bought in 1986 from his relatives but one of his relatives had possessed illegally the land. Mr Surinder alleged that some well-known persons of the city attacked the family members and also demolished the house. He added that the police intervened and both parties compromised but after some time the other party again occupied his land forcibly. He alleged in the letter that Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, President, Nagar Council was involved in this incident. He added that Mr Bhullar was allegedly helping the persons forcing them to leave the city. Mr Bhullar when contacted denied all allegations
and said that he did not have anything to do with this land case. Mr
Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, when contacted said that he was not aware of
this land case and if a complaint was lodged with him, he would make
efforts to solve the case. |
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17-year search for missing son JALANDHAR: A 67-year-old retired school teacher, Mr Mangat Rai Aggarwal, continues to suffer as even after more than 17 years he has been unable to trace his missing son. On December 18, 1982, his young son, Sushen Kumar, a medical student, left home for a morning walk and did not return. The city police registered a case under Section 364, IPC (abduction with intention to kill) on January 11, 1983. During investigation the police arrested Vijay Kumar and Mukesh Kumar, sons of Mela Ram, on suspicion, but they were later discharged, being innocent. Ultimately, the case was treated as untraced and was closed. The case was reopened on November 17, 1983, for investigation, but was again closed on August 18, 1988, for want of clues. After that a special investigation team was set up to probe the case by the CIA staff, Chandigarh. It declared that the boy had been abducted by certain neighbours, who always used to threaten him. The retired teacher also knocked at the door of the Supreme Court. But the apex court, too, closed the case on May 15, 1998, as the then Punjab police chief failed to produce the records of the case before the court. Then Mr Aggarwal went to the Punjab State Human Rights Commission. It directed the Punjab police IG(Litigation) to procure the case investigating file from the SSP, Jalandhar, and submit it to the commission. The SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav, sent the entire records of the case (under RC no 186) on August 26, 1998, to the IG (Litigation). Mr Aggarwal received a letter from the commission (number PSHRC/99/13868) recently which surprised him. It said that under the provisions of Section 36(2) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the commission had no jurisdiction to issue any further direction as the incident took place much beyond the period of one year from the date of filing the complaints (numbers 150/98 and 1034/98). Both these complaints were, therefore, finally disposed of as such. The aggrieved father told this correspondent that the administration had failed to help him find his son. Mr Aggarwal has now appealed to the President, the Prime Minister
and the Home Minister to order a CBI or judicial probe into the
disappearance of his son. |
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NBCC not at fault:
Chief Engineer CHANDIGARH, Aug 4 — The National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) said today that deficiencies in the design of the Malout Institute of Management and Information Technology (MIMIT) had been brought to the notice of the authorities concerned during the "construction stage". Mr L.R. Batham, Chief Engineer of the NBCC, said that the contract for the execution of work at the MIMIT was awarded to the NBCC and it was provided with the structural drawings for the construction of various building complexes of the MIMIT. As far as the quality of work was concerned, experts had found it satisfactory after carrying out the required tests. Thus, the NBCC was not at fault in performing its contractual obligations. However, Mr Ranjit Singh Balian, Minister of State for Urban Development, who has conducted an inquiry into the construction of the MIMIT complex, told TNS that during the course of the probe he was not shown any document in which deficiencies in design were pointed out by the NBCC authorities concerned. He said he had also checked with the PUDA authorities and they did not produce any such document. He said he was very much concerned about the
"sub-letting" of the contract to various parties by the NBCC.
He was trying to probe under what circumstances
"sub-letting" was allowed by PUDA. Mr Balian has recommended
the suspension of certain engineers of PUDA and also action against
the NBCC in his inquiry report submitted to the Punjab Chief Minister,
Mr Parkash Singh Badal,who had ordered the probe. |
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‘Three more DA
instalments’ for aided school staff CHANDIGARH, Aug 4 — The Punjab Government has sanctioned three more dearness allowance (DA) instalments to aided school employees bringing their DA on a par with that given to government school employees. This has been claimed by the Punjab State Aided School Teachers and Other Employees Union in a statement issued here today. Mr Manohar Lal Chopra, general secretary of the union, said that the arrears due to the employees till March 31 this year would have to be invested in National Savings Certificates while the payment in cash of 38 per cent DA would be from April 1 this year. Earlier, employees of these institutions were getting 22 per cent DA. Mr Chopra said that the government had also issued orders condoning the strike period from February 24 to March 20 last year. The ban on recruitment in aided schools had also been removed. While thanking the government for taking these
steps, Mr Chopra drew its attention to the pending demand pertaining
to the restoration of parity between the retired staff of aided
schools and their counterparts in government schools in the matter of pensionery
benefits. |
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Patiala on the fast track IN the past few years, Patiala has received a face lift, and that has also changed, the outlook of its residents. The small lake has added to the beauty of the city. Boating in the lake is attracting a number of enthusiasts even from outside Patiala. The light spray from the high fountains in the lake makes a walk along The Mall a pleasure. The ducks are an attraction for children. Potted plants hanging on poles add to the charm. But the water in the lake is not clean enough to induce a person to dip his hands in it while boating. There is a good deal of vegetation on the bed which can be seen even from above. The green spot opposite Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib, created on the occasion of the 300th birth anniversary of the Khalsa, has become the favourite of evening walkers and children. The fountains and plants attract the attention of the passers-by. The fountains along The Mall from Fountain Chowk to Sheranwala Gate look gorgeous in the evening with their lights on. They welcome people coming to Patiala by bus from Bathinda and Barnala. Though the Fountain Chowk has been reduced in size in the interest of free flow of traffic, yet it has not lost its original charm and glory. It has been re-painted to give it a fresh look. The Sheranwala Gate will not be recognised by anyone who has remained out of Patiala for more than a year. Two big kings of the jungle in metal give meaning to its name. Boards hanging on light poles give directions to road users, though these could have been made a little bigger, and the letters a little bolder. Phatak No 22 and the chowk welcome you with multi-coloured flower beds. The rocky fountain on one side and beds of flowers and plants on the other corner of the round-about are all well maintained. Besides this, some of the well-known gates of Patiala have been repaired and are being preserved as a national heritage. The bus stand has been given new floors, counters, boards and toilets. The railway station entrance has also been beautified and a proper scooter-cycle stand and a canteen have been set up. Most of the roads have been done up. Driving on these roads used to be an invitation to trouble. Now these are in good shape. Though there do remain a few exceptions. Traffic in Patiala has become orderly to a great extent. Most of the traffic lights are working most of the time. Whenever these fail traffic policemen take over the traffic management. The idea of one-way roads has been implemented inspite of initial resistance. Much has also been done by PUDA. All parks in Urban Estate’s Phase-I and II have been turned into beautiful gardens. But the most dangerous thing on this route is the total darkness in the evening. The lights installed on the main road a few years ago are yet to start working. — Anil Manocha |
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Ban on substandard cattle feed BATHINDA, Aug 4 — The Punjab Government has decided to impose a ban on the sale of substandard cattle feed. Official sources said the government was contemplating to formulate stringent rules for the cattle feed industry. Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala, Animal Husbandry Minister, said in every cattle feed industry, the setting up of a laboratory for checking the contents of the feed would be made mandatory. The minister said complaints of substandard feed had been pouring in and the government was finding it difficult to check all samples. He said the government with the aid of the centres had made
arrangements for the marketing of fish products. In each district, a
fish farming development agency had been set up. |
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Check influx of
labourers: SAD(A) AMRITSAR, Aug 4 — The SAD (Amritsar) has decided to meet Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to check the inflow of migrant labourers into Punjab. Addressing a joint press conference here today, Bhai Ram Singh and Mr Gurjatinder Singh Bhikhiwind, general secretaries of the party, urged Punjabis to come on a common platform to check this trend. The SAD(A) claimed that 135 leaders of the All
India Sikh Students Federation (Gill), the Sikh Students Federation (Mehta-Chawla)
and the AISSF (Pir-Mohammad) had joined the Youth Akali Dal led by the
SAD(A). |
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Bandh against
killings in valley DERA BASSI, Aug 4 — A complete bandh was observed by the shopkeepers of the town in protest against the massacre in the Kashmir valley in which hundreds of people, including Amarnath pilgrims, were gunned down by militants on Tuesday night. Though the local market remained closed on the call of different trader associations, yet the shopkeepers in Lalru and Zirakpur did their business as usual. A few shopkeepers who opened their shops in the morning were also asked to closed their concerns and join the protest. Putting their shutters down, the protesters showed their resentment against the failure of the government in providing security to the pilgrims. Condolence meetings were also arranged at some places in the township. Political leaders, industrialists, traders, social workers and residents of the township have held the central and Jammu and Kashmir governments responsible for the massacre in which pilgrims, members of the minority community, labourers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, shopkeepers and other local residents were killed. Mr Brijesh Gandhi, Vice-President of the Municipal Council, opined that such a drastic incident could have been avoided had the governments made elaborated security arrangements for the pilgrims. The traders of the township have demanded that more security
personnel should be deployed for the safety of the Amarnath pilgrims. |
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15 lakh for bridge
from MP’s fund HOSHIARPUR, Aug 4 — Mr Charanjit Singh Channi, MP, has announced a grant of Rs 15 lakh from the Local Area Development Fund for the construction of a bridge on the Bhangi choe at Gaushala bazar here. He said Rs 10 lakh would be given during this financial year and Rs 5 lakh in the next. He was addressing a public gathering at the annual Bhagwati jagran at the Kanak Mandi chowk last night. The existing bridge on the Bhangi choe had been declared unsafe by
the PWD Department. |
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Army recruitment
rally on Aug 22 FATEHGARH SAHIB, Aug 4 — Deputy Commissioner B.S. Sudan said that Army recruitment rally for General Duty soldier category for Mazhabi Ramdasia Sikhs only will be held at Government Senior Secondary School, Fatehgarh Sahib from August 22 to 27. He added that candidates hailing from Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib districts will be eligible. Tokens will be issued on August 22 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first day. Those having passed X of 21 years as on 15 September, 2000 are eligible for enrolment height should be 170cm. For ex-servicemen 168 cm. Weight 50 kg. Candidates should bring
caste certificate, domicile certificate, character certificate and Xth
pass marks card and 12 copies of latest photographs, six with turban
and six without turban, on that day. |
Banks authorised
to collect direct taxes PATIALA, Aug 4 — A meeting of bank officers who are to implement the payment of direct taxes in different banks scheduled from August 1 was held here today. Presiding over the meeting, Mr B.M. Singh, commissioner of Income Tax, Patiala, highlighted the provisions of the 1/6 scheme and impressed upon the bank authorities to extend their best co-operation. Mr B.S. Rattan, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Patiala Range, asked the officers to implement the 1/6 scheme as well as quoting of PAN. Mr G.K. Chopra, Zonal Accounts Officer, explained the technical provision regarding collection of taxes and its remittance to the Income Tax Department. Managers of Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab and Sind Bank, the Bank of
Baroda and Corporation Bank attended the meeting and assured their
full cooperation in receiving payments on behalf of the Income Tax
Department. |
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Math-gurdwara row: bandh in town PHAGWARA, Aug 4 — Hadiabad continues to be a boiling pot with shopkeepers observing a bandh today in protest against what they called administrative high-handedness in tackling the math-gurdwara row over a dry tank. The police conducted raids to book the rioters who had indulged in brickbatting on Wednesday night damaging three official vehicles of local SDM Pritam Singh, Tehsildar Rajiv Verma and SHO Harbhajan Swaroop and injuring several persons, including the SHO and a police constable. It was learnt that Prof Piara Singh, President of the Management Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi had been arrested. Two other persons Pishori Lal Shastri and Dr Vijay Popli had been rounded up even though their names did not figure among those against whom the criminal cases had been registered. When this reporter visited Hadiabad this afternoon, the interior part of the city gave a deserted look. When contacted, Mr Ashok Uppal, leader of Swami Shankar Nath Parbat Math Committee accused the authorities of using intimidating tactics instead of resolving the issue through a rapprochement. However, local SDM Pritam Singh, asserted that Ashok Uppal was an accused and could level any charge. The authorities had tried their best to settle the issue amicably but people went to the extent of assaulting senior civil and police officers leading to the promulgation of Section 144 CrPC and registration of cases, maintained the SDM. No leniency would be shown towards law breakers, he said. Math activists said the shopkeepers would continue to down their shutters indefinitely. The strike would continue till the issue was settled to their satisfaction, said one of the strikers. On the other hand peace panel Chairman Dr Des Raj Sharma, Congress leaders Joginder Singh Mann, former Minister Smt Santosh Chaudhary, the Congress MP from Phillaur are meeting top officials in this connection. Meanwhile the dug-up portion of wall, which had become immediate
cause of flare-up on August 2, had been filled up. It was exactly after
a month of lull that the trouble had erupted on July 2 activists of
both shrines had indulged in brickbatting, injuring six persons
including the SHO. |
ASI sentenced to 3 years’ RI FATEHGARH SAHIB, Aug 4 — Mr P.S. Virk, Additional Sessions Judge, today sentenced Sadhu Ram, ASI, to three years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and one-year imprisonment under Section 13(2) of the Act. In his judgement, Mr Virk said there were no mitigating circumstances in favour of the accused as he had demanded and accepted Rs. 2,000 while posted as ASI, in charge of the police post. Chuni Kalan, through illegal means. Sadhu Ram has also been asked to pay a fine of Rs 1,000 and in case
of default of payment will have to further undergo imprisonment for
six months. However, both sentences will run concurrently. |
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3 killed in accident FATEHGARH SAHIB, Aug 4 — Three persons, including two women, were killed in a road accident in Khamanon subdivision of this district today. According to information, Bala Singh, his wife Dalwir Kaur and his relative Baljinder Kaur, all belonging to Fatehpur village, near Morinda town, were going to Machiwara on a scooter when a vehicle hit their scooter from behind. All three died on the spot. A case has been registered. |
VC launches new academic session PATIALA, Aug 4 — The new academic session of Punjabi University was formally inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, amid a colourful cultural function organised by the newly established Department of Dance. Casting a spell on the audience, the students of the first batch of the Department of Dance presented four different forms of classical dance which symbolised ''welcome to all, welfare of all, the rainy season and the thanks-giving''. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ahluwalia said that Punjabi University was the first university in this region to start MA dance classes on the campus. The department would impart theoretical and practical training to the students in classical, semi-classical and folk dances. Issuing a press note, Dr Ahluwalia said that the four departments of the university dealing with different forms of art would be soon located in one building so that these could supplement the efforts of other departments on the principle of synergy. Saying that the department would preserve and perpetuate the authentic forms of various dances, Dr Ahluwalia added that from next month the students living in the university hostels would be provided facilities to develop other skills and different hobbies. Dr Ahluwalia said that Punjabi University would make full use of the electronic media to present and propagate the Punjabi language, literature and culture and in this connection full length documentaries on different aspects of past and present culture of Punjab would be prepared. According to the press note, the university would soon establish a studio with all modern facilities. Dr Gurnam Singh, Dr Satish Kumar Verma and Dr Daisy Walia also
spoke on the occasion. |
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Issues of Sikhs abroad highlighted PATIALA, Aug 4 — The first lecture in the multi-faculty millennium series of lectures and seminars organised by Punjabi University today highlighted the issues before the Sikh community abroad with a special reference to the Sikhs in the USA. Delivering a lecture on the subject of western hemisphere and Sikh concerns, Dr Balkar Singh, Director of Punjabi University Centre for Teaching Punjabi in the USA, said that the Punjabi language was not getting it's due and was now called the language of Sikhs and only the Sikh community was fighting to propagate this language. Dr Balkar Singh added that the Sikhs were in the forefront in different fields in the western hemisphere because of their openness, federal attitude, outgoing habits and broad outlook. He said that the Sikh religion was getting more and more politicised and more and more personalities were established their individual sects and followings which were posing a direct threat to the Sikh religion as envisioned by the Sikh Gurus. Dr Kehar Singh, Chairman, Punjab School Education Board, in his presidential address, said that in the western hemisphere the Sikh shrine was unifying factor of the Sikh community. He said that a concerted effort was needed to remove the prejudices between the Sikhs who had migrated from India and the American Sikhs who were brought in the Sikh fold by Yogi Harbhajan Singh. Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia , Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University,
while inaugurating the lecture said that so far the community was
reactive whereas now it was imperative for it to be pro-active so as
to make conscious effort to influence the events and developments at
the national and international levels. |
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Qualifications for
principals approved AMRITSAR, Aug 4 — Guru Nanak Dev University has approved UGC qualifications for the appointment of principals in affiliated colleges. Dr S.P. Singh, Dean, College Development Council, said that for the appointment of principal in professor’s grade and principal in reader’s grade, the candidate should have minimum of 55 per cent marks in master’s degree or its equivalent grade of B in seven-point scale with later grades OABCD, E and F. He said for the post of principal in professor’s grade and in reader’s grade, the candidate should have experience of 15 years and 10 years respectively of teaching/research in universities/college and other institution of higher education. Dr SP Singh said, apart from this the candidate should be Ph.D or
equivalent qualification. He said, the teachers working as principals
who have been approved by university director education by December
24, 1998, would be exempted from the condition of Ph.D. |
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University
extends date for admission AMRITSAR, Aug 4 — Guru Nanak Dev University has extended the last date for the submission of application forms for admission to M.A. (Religious studies) up to August 10. According to Professor Jasbir Singh Sabar, head of Guru Nanak
Studies Department, those candidates who had passed B.A. with subjects
as Punjabi, History, Sociology, Philosophy as one of the elective
subjects and has obtained 45 per cent marks in these subjects, or 50
per cent marks in BA, were eligible for admission to MA (Religious
studies). The candidates desirous of admission in this course, now can
submit their application forms in the Department of Guru Nanak Studies
up to August 10, 2000, he added. For details and financial assistance,
candidates are advised to contact the Head of the Department. |
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