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| Tuesday, August 8, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
SAD ties itself into knots Badal for setting up rural IT centres Monsoon brings cheer to farmers Cops ‘prone’ to drug addiction Kids face rough weather in open-air schools
Two acquitted in murder case
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Inadequate facilities at post offices Cong delegation meets EC Cheating case suspect gets interim bail Swayamsevaks stage march Hyacinth-choked Kanjli awaits help Handicapped allege mismanagement Initiative urged on
female foeticide Dal Khalsa
releases ‘white paper’ Action against 8 shopkeepers likely Court stays
demolition of Qila Mubarak
DCs told to be
people-oriented
Sexual abuse: PSEB staff protest Abducted boy found murdered One held in
murder case
Strike by
teachers of DAV colleges
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News
analysis CHANDIGARH: The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is caught in a crisis of its own making. It has tied itself into knots. The obvious reference is to its “muted stand” on Udham Singh Nagar district, which stands included in the new hill state of Uttaranchal. The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party deliberated on the subject behind closed doors on Sunday. Opinion was divided. Unanimity eluded the members on the course the party should chart, having plunged itself into unfathomed choppy waters. The official stand is simple: a “strong protest” over the passage of the Bill, “continued support” to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), “no resignation” by Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa as minister and “opposing” of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The crucial issue at the moment is not Udham Singh Nagar, as a cross-section of the Akalis put it when asked for their reaction and response to the decision taken by the PAC. The larger issue of consequence is the “future” of the alliance between the SAD and the BJP. Can there still be an “honorable” relationship between the two? Can the SAD swallow the “insult” and afford to be “ignored” and “dictated” in future as well? The precedent has been set now. Clearly, the Akalis have a lot of egg on their face. There is visible disillusionment when Akali admit: “The passage of the Bill, the betrayal by Mr George Fernandes and the mute response of the PAC has caused a lot of embarrassment.” This common refrain will force the leadership to introspect and take the rank and file into its confidence if it is to continue to claim that it is the “sole” voice of the Sikhs. The chinks in the PAC show that a majority of the members had favoured the withdrawal of support to the NDA, extending only “issue-based” support in future. The party President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, though otherwise. Some members asked: Who else will represent the Sikh point of view? The public stand of the SAD is that it espoused the cause of “all people” of Udham Singh Nagar; not the Sikhs alone. Yet, having spearheaded the campaign on behalf of Udham Singh Nagar, the Akali leadership failed to carry the day. The dilemma of the SAD is understandable: it is a political entity; it is also “the government”. The contradictions are obvious. The BJP took a purely “political” decision. It went ahead with the Bill in the Lok Sabha, created Uttaranchal with Udham Singh Nagar in it, trampling on the sentiments of the Akalis. PAC members were aware that the BJP had watched its own political
interests. Why could it not do the same in respect of the SAD and its constituents? After all, the party is answerable and accountable to the people, being the repository of their aspirations (social, economic, political and religious). How could the Akalis allow the BJP to treat them in a roughshod manner? Party men are now asking these questions. There are no easy and convincing answers. All this will cause consternation among senior leaders. Those members who preferred taking of a strident stand argued that “political survival” was far more important than merely “running a government”. It was emphasised that the party take cognisance of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, MP, who was fast emerging on the political map. The party cannot lose sight of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. It can do so at its own political peril since he had offered “unconditional support” provided the SAD took a “manly” stand and gave the BJP the kick it deserved. The PAC members said mere “strong protest” would create a new unsavoury controversy among Sikhs because theirs was a “weak” stand. They warned: a lot of hot debate would be generated followed by adverse public reaction. Mr Parkash Singh, sources said, maintained a studied silence for most part of the meeting, which lasted four hours. He is known to be a patient listener who keeps his cards close to his chest. The ultimate “unanimous” decision, as Mr Parkash Singh put it, was taken because the “boss” was against any further precipitation of the crisis, which could set in motion a cascading political reaction. Some Akalis were of the opinion that the leadership always worked in a vacuum. It has been that way for a long time: on crucial issues it skirts, meddles and messes up. Udham Singh Nagar is an emotionally volatile issue. The PAC decision only points to this ad hoc approach and style of handling sensitive issues. The SAD has again failed to faces a challenge. “First it lays booby traps for itself. Then it tries to hop, skip and jump”, remarked an Akali MLA. This strategy does not pay for too long. The leadership has to be decisive, he added. |
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Badal for setting up rural IT centres CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — To make Punjab globally competitive and put it on the world computer and information technology map, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today unfolded a composite plan to take information technology to every village and home in the state. A multipronged strategy has been drawn up. Presiding over a high-level meeting of Vice-Chancellors of all universities, the principals of various engineering and business management colleges and experts, Mr Badal called for opening rural IT centres at the block level. The five universities would do so in close cooperation with the engineering colleges and undertake short-term courses in computer sciences and information technology. A high-powered committee of experts was also set up with two senior faculty members in the IT field from each university to evolve a uniform pattern of courses, said a press note. The Vice-Chancellors of Panjab University (Mr K.N. Pathak) and Guru Nanak Dev University (Mr Harbhajan Singh Soch), the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University (Mr Ram Murti) and the principals of various colleges sought liberal funds and grants for creating “A”-class infrastructure. |
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Monsoon brings cheer to farmers CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — Near-normal to good run of the monsoon in various parts of the country so far has brought cheer to farmers, especially in Punjab and Haryana, where paddy has emerged as a major kharif crop. A mid-season review of the southwest monsoon made by the Meteorological Department of India has revealed the total rainfall during the first phase of the monsoon season has been evenly spread across the country, but it was deficient in Saurashtra and Kutch, Kerala, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura and island territories. It was also deficient in Tamil Nadu where the main rainy season is the northeast monsoon period (October-December). The “time distribution” of rainfall has also been satisfactory. Most meteorological subdivisions of the country received good rainfall after the onset of the monsoon and did not experience any prolonged dry spell. The states affected by drought last year such as Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana received good rainfall this year. Though there was a fortnight’s delay in the onset of the monsoon over Gujarat, the rainfall activity was good after onset. For the country as a whole, the cumulative rainfall during the period June 1 to July 31 has been normal. The rainfall was excess in 29 out of 35 meteorological sub divisions of the country covering 89 per cent of the area and 72 per cent of the districts. In Punjab except Sangrur district where rainfall has been reported scanty, which means 60 per cent below normal, and Faridkot district, where rainfall has been reported deficient, which means 20 per cent below of the normal, other districts have/had a good rainfall. In fact, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepore, Ropar, Patiala, Bathinda and Kapurthala have had excess rainfall, which means 20 per cent above normal. Likewise, In Haryana, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Sonepat have recorded excess rainfall while Jind, Hisar, Bhiwani and Mahendragarh have had deficient rainfall so far. Last year, a major part of Haryana had scanty rainfall. In Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, Mandi, Kinnaur and Kulu districts have had excess rainfall and the Lahaul and Spiti area has recorded deficient rainfall. In fact, the Kinnaur and Shimla areas had some incidents of cloudburst and also of floods causing major damage in certain parts. In Jammu and Kashmir, Kupwara, Badgam, Baramula and Srinagar districts received deficient rainfall till July 31, according to the review. However, Chandigarh and Delhi have had excess rainfall. In Uttar Pradesh, the rainfall was normal except in Hardwar and Rae Bareli districts. Large parts of Rajasthan have had good rainfall. No monsoon depression has been formed so far. When such a depression is formed, it leads to heavy rainfall in the areas to which it moves. Its formation take place in the Bay of Bengal the main source of rainfall during the monsoon in a large part of the country. However, there was the formation of three low-pressure areas in June and four in July which resulted in good rainfall in Central and North-West India. During the second half of the monsoon, which ends in September, the rainfall in the country is expected to be normal as per the department’s long-rang forecast. June to September is taken as the monsoon season in the country and the mid-season review is made in the first week of August. Data available from all meteorological divisions up to July 31 is analysed. Mr Deep Singh Sahota, Director, Agriculture, Punjab said the paddy crop was in healthy shape so far and free from all sorts of pest attacks and diseases. The area under the paddy crop is about 25.10 lakh hectares against 26 lakh hectares last year. Likewise, the weather had been favourable for the cotton crop so far. Boll formation had started and a pest attack, which had been noticed in some areas, was below the economic threshold level (ETL). He said if the weather remained favourable in the coming weeks, one could expect a good cotton crop this year. |
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Cops ‘prone’ to drug addiction BATHINDA, Aug 7 — Pardeep Singh (name changed), a police constable, repents the moment when he took opium for the first time. Easy availability of narcotics in his profession has turned him into a drug addict. Motivated by friends and other relatives, he has been getting treatment at the local Red Cross Deaddiction Centre. Manjeet Singh (name changed), another police constable, took to drugs because of the easy availability. First he took the drugs for fun, then it became a habit and now he can’t live without a ‘dose’. Feeling isolated from the society, he has decided to leave the drugs. Mohinder Kumar, another constable, in 1994 as a member of a police party, which seized narcotics, tasted opium and poppy husk which later turned to drug addiction. According to information, more and more men in ‘khakhi’ uniform have been becoming addicts to one or the other drug. Official sources said that every year a number of policemen were reporting to the Red Cross Deaddiction Centre here for treatment. In the last seven and half years, more than 70 policemen, including some senior official and army personnel, got treated at this centre. Sources said that in 1999 alone, about 32 men in uniform reported at this centre for treatment. So far in this year about eight policemen had reported at the centre. Most of the policemen who were getting treatment were addicts to poppy husk, opium, alcohol and synthetic drugs. Dr Mehboob Singh Sran, Project Director, Red Cross Deaddiction Centre, when contacted, said that policemen were becoming drug addicts as the drugs were easily available to them. Most of these addicts were feeling stressed by heavy workload and were suffering from tension. He pointed out that most of the policemen acting as hunter of drug peddlers had themselves become hunted as the same drug peddlers had become suppliers of drugs to them. Mr Hazara Singh, Project in charge, Drug Deaddiction Counselling Centre, when contacted, said that tough duty hours and easy availability of drugs had been turning policemen into addicts. |
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Kids face rough weather in open-air schools AMRITSAR, Aug 7 — As many as 33 primary schools in this district do not have buildings and tiny tots have to study under trees, gurdwaras and temples. Some schools were there even before the Partition but the indifferent authorities have failed to construct buildings for these schools even after so many years. Government Primary School, Tung Pai, which comes under the municipal corporation area, was opened way back in 1943. However, even 53 years after the Partition, the school is still operated from under a pipal tree in a gurdwara. The gurdwara management do not allow to keep the furniture of school in any of its rooms in case of rain. The staff of the school has taken a room on rent in the village for keeping the furniture. For this purpose all teachers contribute Rs 60 per month for the rent. The schoolteachers say that the class keeps on moving into shadows along with the movement of the sun. There is no facility for drinking water as the gurdwara management has ‘provided limited help’ to the school. More than 90 per cent students of this school belong either to the scheduled castes or economically backward families. An old man say that his father had studied in this school. “And now my grand children are students of this school”, he adds. Government Primary School at Dashmesh Nagar is also without a building. The school, which is being run in a public park (located between two railway lines) is without a roof for students. The tiny tots are exposed to risk when they cross railway track while coming to school. The schoolteachers say the school, which became operational about three decades ago, could not get a building constructed due to various reasons. The staff has to keep their chairs, tables and a tin which contains attendance register in a room in the locality. In this school also most of the students belongs to Scheduled Caste or other backward classes. A visit to Government Primary School, Maqbool Pura, presents a pathetic picture. The school is without boundary wall and stray cattle could be seen grazing inside the complex. Interestingly, the entry of the school is blocked and students have to enter the school through the building of Indian Reserve Battalion. More than 98 per cent students of this school belong to the Scheduled Caste. Some rooms and veranda of the dilapidated school can collapse any time. The other schools without buildings include Government Primary School Islamabad, which is being run from a rented room. Government Primary School Khemkaran (II) is being run from a temple. The schools which had to be closed due to constant decreasing in number of students and financial crunch include Government Primary School, Dal Mandi. This school had two teachers who were teaching two students. The other schools included Government Primary School Katra Dulu, Government Primary School, Bag Jhanda Singh, Government Primary School, Harnam Singhwala, Primary School, Nasar, Primary School, Kotli Aulakh. Primary School, Mohar. The Education Department has recommended closure of other two schools due to decreasing strength of students. These are Government Primary School, Varnali, where one student each is studying in first and fourth standard. The other school which is likely to be closed is Government Primary School, Mehmoodpur. Mr Davinder Paul Singh, District Education Officer (Primary) says that seven schools have been closed during his two-year tenure. He says he will give top priority to construct buildings for schools without buildings whenever he will get grant from any quarter. The sources say the department could not get proper land to construct school buildings as in most of the unauthorised localities proper land for schools has not been earmarked. Many private schools, however, mushroomed in such localities. The people, who can afford to admit their wards in public schools hardly think of sending them to government primary schools where proper infrastructure is not available. Ironically, while the Punjab Government has made teaching English at the primary level compulsory, these primary schools without building failed to teach even the mother tongue properly. Interestingly, many schools, having miniscule strength could not be closed by the government as the teachers, who want to remain posted in city, have shown ‘bogus’ admission of students. However, the department has denied such reports. On the other hand, there are 700 vacancies of primary teachers in the district. The DEO (primary) informs that department has already advertised for this purpose. According to a survey of these schools the lack of teachers have been adversely affecting primary education. |
Two acquitted in murder case CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — Acquitting two Faridkot tehsil residents, sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed the appeal filed by the third accused. The Bench, comprising Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice A.G. Garg, acquitted Malkiat Singh and Baljinder Singh while dismissing the appeal of Hardev Singh against the orders of the Faridkot Additional District and Sessions Judge sentencing him to life imprisonment for murdering Tarsem Singh. The three, along with other accused, were earlier booked by the Punjab Police for murder under Sections 302, 307, 324, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code. According to the prosecution, Hardev Singh, as a part of an unlawful assembly, had fired at Tarsem Singh on June 26, 1994. The motive behind the crime, the prosecution had stated, was that Darshan Singh and Gurmit Singh from the complainant’s side had caused injuries to Hardev Singh in 1991. The accused, when confronted with the incriminating evidence against them, had, however, denied the allegations. Claiming to be innocent, they had asked for a trial.  |
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Inadequate facilities at post offices NABHA: Residents of Nabha are sore at the indifferent attitude of the Postal Department and the government towards the woeful condition of post offices here. The worst in this regard is the main post office. Till 1994, this post office was situated in the main market which was a convenient location for the residents of the town. The building housing the post office was spacious enough to accommodate the big crowd of visitors and also had a parking facility. The postal authorities paid little attention to its maintenance and it was declared unsafe in 1995. It is now lying in ruins. Since then, the main post office has been shifted to a rented building in a congested area of the town opposite Panchmukhi Mandir. The Postal Department is paying every month Rs 5,500 as the rent of the new building and till date Rs 3 lakh has been spent on this account, an amount which the residents say could have been utilised to carry out repairs to the old building. The owner of the new building is demanding that it be vacated as the five-year tenancy agreement is about to lapse. According to Mr G. S. Rahil, Senior Postmaster, the post office lacks facilities for the public as well as the staff. “There are only four rooms for 37 staff members. The postmen have to sit in an open verandah to sort the mail. There always are chances of the mail getting damaged in the rainy season. There is no parking facility even for two wheelers. The premises is not big enough for the rush of visitors, particularly on the days when telephone bills are to be paid. There is no counter to attend to about 18,000 telephone subscribers who go there to pay their bills and no shed under which they can sit as they wait for their turn. They have to stand in the open, in sun and rain. Facility to pay telephone bills at the three other post offices has not solved the problem as these post offices are situated at inconvenient locations and have a heavy crowd of visitors.” About a year ago there was talk of granting Rs 4 lakh for demolishing the old building, but nothing had happened, he added. According to Mr Rahil they had sent the map of a new post office building to the Municipal Committee for approval. The committee demanded Rs 27,000 as fee. The department was ready to pay the fee, but the committee raised the fee to Rs 81,000. The project has been hanging fire since then. The Director of Posts, Ms Asha, visited the post office and promised concrete action to providing a proper building for the post office, but so far nothing has materialised. The condition of the three other post offices in the town is no better. All three are operating in single rooms and each has only one staff member who is unable to cope with the work single-handedly. The post office near Patiala gate is located on a busy road and has been manned by one person for the past 30 years. The one on the Hospital Road opposite the old grain market is not even known to many residents because of its location, the third storey of a remote building. Inadequate lighting in the stairs makes it an unsafe spot to visit. People also avoid visiting this post office because they fear theft of their vehicles parked in the market. In the rainy season, the market comes under two to three feet of water. The post office at the railway station has a parking facility but it has not been able to provide satisfactory service to the visitors on account of shortage of staff. The residents have been vociferous in their demand to rebuild and renovate the old building of the main post office. |
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Cong delegation meets EC CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — A delegation of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee led by its president, Capt Amarinder Singh, today called on Union Election Commissioner Krishna Murthy in support of its demands. A press note issued by the party said the delegation explained to him the difficulties faced by voters in obtaining photo identity cards. Some of the voters had to travel 15 km to 30 km for getting their photo identity cards. The hours fixed by the government for this purpose were from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This arrangement did not suit the voters. Moreover, the photo identity cards were prepared on the basis of the 1995 voters’ lists. Some of the persons who became eligible during the next five years were excluded. The delegation demanded that the preparation of photo identity cards should be a continuous process and those persons who became eligible should be allowed to exercise their franchise. The delegation also said that electronic voting machines should be dispensed with in the byelection. During the course of the Nawanshahr byelection, many loopholes were noticed. Several malpractices were indulged in by the ruling party. |
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Cheating case suspect gets interim bail SANGRUR, Aug 7 — The Sessions Judge here has granted interim bail to Mr Sat Pal, a resident of Sangrur, now residing at Panchkula, till August 17 in a case of cheating and breach of trust with the local branch of Punjab National Bank. The local police had registered a case against Mr Sat Pal on July 29 under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC after examining a complaint lodged by the Senior Manager of the bank here. According to an information available here today, the court while granting interim bail also ordered that in the event of Mr Sat Pal’s arrest, he could be released on his furnishing bail bond for Rs 10,000 with a surety of the like amount. In his complaint to the SSP the Senior Manager of the bank had alleged that M/s Jindle and Co, Sangrur, comprising three partners, including Mr Sat Pal, had raised a loan/cash credit limit for Rs 3 lakh on November 11, 1989. The firm had secured the limit by equitable mortgage of three immoveable properties one of which belonged to Mr Sat Pal. But on July 11 the bank was informed by Mr Kamlesh Kumar, Mr Sat Pal’s brother, that Mr Sat Pal had sold that property on December 13, 1991. The Bank Manager alleged that Mr Sat Pal had cheated the bank as the property mortgaged with the bank could not be sold till the full and final adjustment of the loan account of the
bank. |
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Swayamsevaks stage march AMRITSAR, Aug 7 — People from all walks of life today participated in a silent protest march to express their anguish over the spate of killings and kidnappings by the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) following a call by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Processionists had covered their mouths with pieces of cloth in protest against the “inaction” of the communist government in Tripura and the helplessness expressed by its leaders to contain the NLFT. A “nagara” was sounded “to wake up the Tripura Government from its slumber”. The procession, which started from Town Hall, passed through Hall Bazar, Bhandari Bridge, Court Road and culminated into a big rally at the district courts. Members and office-bearers of religious, social, trade, labour and student organisations participated. Mr Brij Bhushan Singh Bedi, Punjab Prant Sangh Chalak of the RSS, who led the procession outlined the plot of foreign missionaries and the church in inciting terrorism and spreading separatism in the region. The kidnapping of the four senior functionaries of the RSS was part of their design to drive a wedge between different communities in Tripura. Later a memorandum was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner to be forwarded to the President, the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, the Governor and the Chief Ministers of the Tripura and Punjab. It demanded that to prevent the escalation of tension between different communities the foreign missionaries should be expelled from the state and steps should be taken to secure the release of the RSS men and other persons. Memoranda were submitted to the district authorities at Abohar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala and Jammu. Report of a protest march was also received from
Bathinda. |
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Hyacinth-choked Kanjli awaits help KANJLI, Aug, 7 — Once a beautiful tourist spot developed by the Maharaja of Kapurthala in 1870 for the entertainment of royal guests, the Kanjli Lake is dying a slow death, now primarily due to the hyacinth growth and partly due to the lack of a serious effort on the part of the government to tackle the problem. The picturesque lake, surrounded by thick woods on two sides and vast waters of Kali Bein river, is the only water body in the Doaba region and was a place of tourist interest till the deadly weed gradually started engulfing it and restricted boating activity in the lake to a large extent about 10 years ago. The gradual trickling of fresh water from Beas into the lake through the upstream Buddhu Barkat barrage in Hoshiarpur district has added to the problem over the years. The level of water in the lake increased due to the absence of regular cleaning and desiltation in it. The lake had been made by accumulating Beas water in one of its tributaries, Kali Bein river, with the help of a barrage constructed here in 1870. But the absence of proper upkeep has led to the fading grandeur of the lake. Even as the Army authorities have recently launched a full-scale operation to clear the neighbouring Karike wetland of the weed, but no such effort has been made here either by the district administration, Army authorities or the NGOs. This lake, spread over an area of 4 sq km is shrinking with hyacinth covering more than 60 per cent of its surface. The fund-starved district administration, however, either depends on good flow of water which eventually flushes out the weed downstream or resorts to the clearance of weed with the help of one or two daily wagers. “We cannot undertake a large” scale project to clear the lake since we don’t have funds for that. All that we have got from the government for this purpose during the past four-five years is an amount of Rs 60,000, which is far from being adequate to meet the actual requirement”, said a senior official. Mr Davinder Singh, an official posted at the lake, said in view of the lack of manpower and funds, they had to depend on the flow of water for the clearance of the weed. “Whenever, there is a strong water current, we drive the weed to one side and open the barrage and it flows out of the lake with water”, he said while admitting that it was not a permanent solution. “The longer lasting solution lies in the flow of water. The weed multiplies in stagnant water. If somehow, we are able to break the stagnation by putting fresh water, into the lake from Buddha Barkat barrage, the problem will be solved”, said Mr Davinder Singh. Mr V.K. Singh, the Deputy Commissioner, admitted that lack of funds was a major hindrance in the way of cleaning the weed from the lake. He said in fact four-five workers were needed to steer the weed out of the lake effectively, particularly during the monsoons when the inflow of fresh water in the lake was comparatively more. But it would be possible for the administration only if it managed to have funds for the purpose. He said the lake had been completely cleared of the weed in 1994, when the district administration had launched “kar sewa” with the help of the people of the area and a similar effort could prove fruitful now also. Handicapped allege mismanagement AMRITSAR, Aug 7 — Alleging mismanagement and malpractices by the Deputy Commissioner’s office regarding interviews conducted for unemployed handicapped persons, the unemployed handicapped Welfare Union has decried the harsh attitude of authorities during the interviews. Mr Satish Kumar, president of the union, said in a press note issued today that about 700 handicapped persons were called for interviews and only 350 of them were interviewed from 10 am to 4 pm. A one-hour written test was conducted after that and there was no provision for seating and refreshment during the interviews. Even water was not provided to the candidates. The remaining candidates were asked to appear the next day for interview. Mr Kumar also alleged that many applications, which were registered were also missing. Alleging political pressure for malpractice in interviews held earlier at Patiala for the blind, he said persons with only 10 to 15 per cent vision disability were accommodated at the behest of the Civil Surgeon while genuine cases were turned away.
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Initiative urged on
female foeticide CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — The inter-faith conclave organised by the Gurmat Sagar Trust, Anandpur Sahib, and the Voluntary Health Association of Punjab at Anandpur Sahib yesterday urged for a major initiative on parts of social activists to tackle the problem of female foeticide. The conclave was organised at the Institute of Alternate Medicine, Guru Har Rai Hospital, Anandpur Sahib. Speaking at the function, Dr Mira Shiva from New Delhi said amniocentesis, which was introduced in 1982 as a medical technology, was being misused to know the sex of the child. She said at least three hundred lakh women were dying as a result of this and other forms of maltreatment. Mr Manmohan Sharma, Executive Secretary, VHAP, welcoming the religious leaders for coming together on a common platform said all right thinking people should join campaign against female foeticide. The conclave started with a spiritual recitation on guitar by Kris Muni Singh and Ms Shavinder Kaur. Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, said female foeticide was disturbing harmony of society. Prof Darshan Singh said the Malwa region had been most affected by this evil practice because of loose grip of Sikhism in that belt. Among others who spoke were Dr Nirmal Singh, Father Edwin, Mohtarma Zehra Zaidi, Maulana Ajmal Khan, Father Mathew, Sister Alphons, Ms Ramesh and Ms Harjinder
Kaur, according to a press note issued here today. Dal Khalsa
releases ‘white paper’ AMRITSAR, Aug 7 — The Dal Khalsa, which was banned for a decade from 1982 after the hijacking of Indian Airlines plane to Pakistan, released a “white paper” on the activities of the RSS on its 22nd foundation day here today. While releasing the “white paper”, the Dal Khalsa reiterated that the “Sikhs are a separate nation”. The Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and other Sikh high priests had already reiterated on May 14 after the “Sikh conclave” that the Sikh community had distinct identity. The Sikh clergy had also directed the ruling SAD to constitute a committee for preparing draft recommendations to be presented to the Constitutional Review Commission for enlisting Sikhs as a separate nationality. The “white paper” — “Ikk hor dharm-yudh da mudh” (beginning of yet another religious struggle) — was released by Prof Sukhjinder Singh, senior vice-president, Dal Khalsa. Action against 8 shopkeepers likely AMRITSAR, Aug 7 — The local Improvement Trust is likely to take action against eight shopkeepers in the prestigious Nehru Shopping Complex on the Lawrence road tomorrow for having failed to make the complete payment of shops purchased by them. The shops are likely to be vacated with the help of the police. Trust sources say that notices have already been issued to 14 shopkeepers asking them to either pay the outstanding payment or negotiate with the trust within a month of receiving the notice or vacate the shops, failing which they would be forcibly vacated. According to the sources, eight shopkeepers, who were served with the notices, have neither approached the trust nor acknowledged the notices. Significantly, Ms Chadha House Capital Services (shop number 92) has gone against the terms and conditions of the auctions and has used the shop as a bar and liquor shop. Surjit Chicken House has encroached upon the parking space in front of his shop. While the liquor shop owes Rs 22 lakh, the chicken shop owes about Rs 42 lakh. This shop was sold at Rs 40.5 lakh, the highest bid in the auction. Shops Nos 4, 6, 84, 85, 90, 91, 92, 94 are likely to face action from the trust authorities. The sources say that the 25 per cent payment paid after taking possession of the shops has already been forfeited. Besides that the goods in the shops will be confiscated by the trust.
Court stays
demolition of Qila Mubarak SANGRUR, Aug 7 — A local court today restrained the District Collector and a contractor from demolishing the historical Qila Mubarak (fort), situated in the middle of the town, and other old government buildings here. Mr Dasvir Singh Dalee, Mr Sat Pal Sharma and Mr Baljit Singh filed a suit for the permanent injunction restraining the District Collector and the contractor from demolishing Qila Mubarak and other old and historical buildings in the town. The state government had earlier decided to demolish the historical and old government buildings of this town to construct new buildings there through PUDA. The court after hearing the plaintiffs and counsel for the defendants (District Collector and contractor), restrained the District Collector and the contractor from demolishing Qila Mubarak (fort), situated in the middle of the city, here, consisting of the qila building (fort), a girls senior secondary school, a computer block, newly built rooms for girls’ school, PWD office and the Baghi Khana building now used as the CMO office. The case will now come up on August 11. |
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Recruitment
rallies from Aug 10 JALANDHAR, Aug 7 — The Army will organise recruitment rallies for all categories of candidates of Gurdaspur, Zira, Sultanpur Lodhi and Fatehgarh Sahib from August 10 to August 22. Candidates will be required to report at Gurdaspur on August 10 while candidates belonging to Ferozepore, Moga, Mansa, Muktsar, Bathinda and Faridkot should report at Zira on the same day. The recruitment of candidates belonging to Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and Ropar districts will be held at Sultanpur Lodhi, while candidates from Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib have been asked to report at Fatehgarh Sahib on August 22, a defence press note said.
Minister convenes
MC meeting HOSHIARPUR, Aug 7 — Following repots about insanitary conditions in the city published in these columns, the state Minister of Excise & Taxation, Mr Tikshan Sud, who represents Hoshiarpur segment in the state Assembly, convened a meeting of municipal officials here last evening. A press note issued here today by Mr Kamaljit Satia, Municipal Councillor, stated that the prevailing conditions in the city were reviewed at the meeting. It was decided to carry out works of the council more effectively, improve sanitary conditions and repair the damaged roads on a priority basis. It was also decided that the President and the Executive Officer of the council would deal with the complaints regarding sanitation and initiate prompt action.
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12 fall ill after
taking soft drinks ABOHAR, Aug 7 — More than 12 persons fell ill after drinking soft drinks at a religious fair at Khuyian Sarwar village in the subdivision yesterday. Six of them were rushed to the Civil Hospital. Mr Avtar Singh, general secretary, CPM, said adulterated eatables and soft drinks were being sold at bus stands, religious fairs and markets with the alleged connivance of the Health Department. |
DCs told to be
people-oriented CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today gave clear directions to the divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to make official business at the cutting edge transparent, people-oriented and corruption-free. Needy people must get quick justice, he said. Presiding over a high-level meeting of deputy commissioners, divisional commissioners, financial commissioners and principal secretaries of selected departments, he said all of them should discharge their role as public servants in ‘‘true sense’’, say a press note. He suggested that they should monitor the progress of development works and review the implementation of welfare schemes. |
Sexual abuse: PSEB staff protest FEROZEPORE, Aug 7 — Sexual exploitation of the wife of a Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) employee and her subsequent death due to suicide has forced his colleagues to launch an agitation. Accusing the police of delaying the arrest of the culprit under political pressure, members of the PSEB Technical Services Union have intensified their agitation. They today gathered in front of the Sadar police station to register their protest against the death of the wife of an assistant lineman at Sher Khan village. She was reportedly a victim of sexual exploitation and blackmail. The union leaders alleged that she was sexually exploited by a village doctor who was not being arrested under political pressure from ruling Akali Dal leaders. Although a case had been registered against the doctor, no arrest had been made so far. Explaining the delay in the arrest, the SP (Headquarters), Mr N.P.S. Sidhu, said the court had stayed it and the orders could not be defied. The union leaders pointed out that the stay order had already been vacated and the suspect was moving freely. The police, however, claimed that the doctor was missing. The president of the Ferozepore division of the union, Mr Subhash Kumar, alleged that a private medical practitioner, frequently abused Harjinder Kaur sexually, forcing her to immolate herself last month. The doctor, at whose clinic the victim had gone once for treatment allegedly administered an intoxicant to her and took her photographs in a compromising position. He later used them to blackmail her. Subsequently, the victim set herself on fire and died after over 20 days at Mission Hospital. The PSEB employees said they would further intensify the agitation if the police failed to arrest the suspect. |
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Abducted boy found murdered KHANNA, Aug 7 — The case of kidnapping of six-year-old Aman Sood came to a tragic end today with his body being found in a sugarcane field of Kalal Majra village, about 9 km from here. The child was kidnapped six days ago from near his house when he was returning home from school. An anonymous call demanding a ransom of Rs 10 lakh was received by the family after half an hour of the kidnapping. However, there was no contact with the kidnappers after that. The police had rounded up more than 100 persons on suspicion. It is learnt that an Army man, Mr Nazar Singh, working in the fields heard the cries of child in the nearby fields last evening. He immediately informed the village Sarpanch about it. However, the Sarpanch reportedly told Mr Nazar Singh that he would contact other panches and look in the fields. It was only around 8 am this morning that the residents of Kalal Majra village went to the sugarcane fields and found the body of the child. His half pants had been taken off and a yellow cloth tied round his neck. Later, the police was informed about the recovery of the body and the DIG, Ludhiana range, Mr P. S. Sandhu, and the SSP Khanna, Mr R. L. Bhagat, rushed to the spot. Although the dog squad could not lead the police much, the police was able to secure some fingerprints from the belt buckle of the deceased. Meanwhile, heart-rending scenes were witnessed at the house of Aman Sood. His parents were too much in a shock and regretted that had the police and villagers acted in time, their son would have been alive. It may be noted that after the boy was kidnapped last week, the local residents had formed an action committee to monitor the progress of the case. A complete bandh was observed on Saturday against the kidnapping and the failure of the police to trace the child. Later, the body of the child was sent to the Civil Hospital Khanna for a post-mortem examination and the doctors confirmed the death was caused by strangulation. |
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One held in
murder case FARIDKOT, Aug 7 — The district police has arrested Sewa Singh, a resident of Kapurthala district, for his alleged involvement in the murder of a person near Ladwa town of Kurukshetra district of Haryana in April. Dr Arun Oraon, SSP, in a press note issued here today, said a tractor belonging to the deceased had also been recovered from the possession of Sewa Singh. He added that Sewa Singh along with three others had allegedly killed a person in April and he escaped from the site of crime on the tractor of the deceased. One of their associates identified as Ranjit Singh had already been arrested by Haryana police. The SSP said the four suspects had allegedly murdered an unidentified person as he was having illicit relations with the wife of Ranjit Singh. Sewa Singh was arrested while he was heading for the weekly tractor bazar held at Kotkapura in order to sell the tractor. In another case, the police has arrested Tari Singh and recovered a stolen motor cycle from him. |
Strike by
teachers of DAV colleges AMRITSAR, Aug 7 — Teachers of DAV colleges of Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts observed a strike and staged a dharna in front of the Principal’s office in their respective colleges today. Prof Bhushan Lal, spokesman and zonal convener of DAV College Coordination Committee, demanded an inquiry into the issue of a letter by the DPI office concerning the mode of payment of the ADA and demanded that the payment of ADA be made in all DAV colleges in cash as it had been made in aided-colleges of Punjab. Prof Parkash Singh, convener, DAV Colleges Coordination Committee, said a stay-in-strike would be observed on August 10 in DAV colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh. He warned that the struggle would be intensified if the DAV College Managing Committee failed to concede the demands. |
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