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| Sunday, August 20, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
CM flays finance panel advice SAD (Amritsar) threatens stir Tohra denies links with Congress Dal Khalsa’s bid for chief’s return 700 riot victims file affidavits COMMUNITY Improving curves for grooms
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Industrial workers’ strike on Sept 15 Move to rake up
Sikh identity issue decried Chhota Simla lighted up in Patiala Nurses to press for demands Punjab Govt urged to fill posts 183.8 cr for rural development: Minister Club rivalry comes to fore Desiltation drive launched Empty godowns of food grains: Singla
4 get life term for
murdering kin Two commit suicide
Resentment among border students 30 BAMS seats ‘lying vacant’
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CM flays finance panel advice ROPAR, Aug 19 — The Eleventh Finance Commission’s recommendations have discouraged hard-working states and awarded those states who haven’t contributed much to the development of the country, according to Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab. He said a meeting of the Chief Ministers of the states effected by the latest recommendations is scheduled on August 21 at Delhi and the Chief Ministers, after discussing this problem, would jointly take up the matter with the Prime Minister. Mr Badal said that the faulty central policies formulated by previous Congress governments had hurt the interests of comparatively better developed states. Thus in the latest policy on roads in rural areas it has been decided that 5000 km length of roads would be laid to connect all villages with a population of over 1000 persons. However, in Punjab all such villages are already connected by road so, despite being one of the highest tax paying states Punjab will not be benefited by the scheme. About the SAD view on Constitution review he said that the party supports the Anandpur Sahib resolution as there was nothing objectionable in it and the party was for a true federal structure as the unitary system had hampered development of the states. Mr Badal was speaking at Morinda at a Sangat Darshan in the assembly constituency of his rival Mr Ravi Inder Singh. The function was held amid tight security due to the threats from the Congress workers and ETT students to gherao the Chief Minister. Congress workers led by ex-minister and the general secretary of the PPCC, Mr Jagmohan Kang, held a demonstration and shouted slogans against the Punjab Government to protest against the Anandgarh proposal. The Congress workers, who started their demonstration from the Shaheed Ganj gurdwara, alleged that the police had forcibly stopped their supporters from joining the procession. Later, a 15-member delegation led by Mr Kang gave a memorandum to the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister assured them that a solution would be found to the problems of villagers whose land was being acquired for
Anandgarh. ETT students who had gathered near the venue of the Sangat Darshan also shouted slogans but were not allowed to enter the venue. Earlier the Chief Minister announced that the rural health centre of Morinda would be upgraded to a community health centre with a capacity for 30 beds. Funds were also announced for the Morinda by-pass and an improved sewerage system. The market committee was also directed to pave the floor of Kurali Mandi. |
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SAD (Amritsar) threatens stir AMRITSAR, Aug 19 — The Akali Dal (Amritsar) today asked the Centre and the ruling Akali Dal to clarify stand on Sikh detainees languishing in jails in Punjab and other states for more than 20 years and threatened to take a “tough stand” in case they were not released. The party General Secretary, Bhai Ram Singh, and other senior leaders, talking to mediapersons, however, clarified that it would confine to a “peaceful and democratic struggle”. Referring to the “failure” of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh, to protect Punjabi settlers in Udham Singh Nagar, the Akali Dal (Amritsar) leader said the party would send a deputation to the President before August 25 and submit a memorandum requesting him to withhold consent to the new Uttaranchal State Bill. “Badal’s role on the issue is suspicious”, he said. Bhai Ram Singh criticised the Badal government for “neglecting” the ‘majha’ region of the state and advised ministers from the region to quit the Badal government. He asked the Central Government, specially Union Defence Minister George Fernandes, to clarify stand on the rare manuscripts, books and symbols of Sikh Gurus taken away by the Army during Operation Bluestar”. The Akali leader, blaming the RSS and the BJP for hatching a “conspiracy” to destroy the Sikh heritage, said Mr Fernandes had claimed that some “seditious articles” removed from the Sikh Reference Library had been destroyed. The government should come out with “a clear and definite statement”, he said. He alleged that labourers from other states were being settled in Punjab to reduce the Sikh to a minority. “They are being issued ration cards and being registered as voters. This trend should be checked otherwise Punjabi Hindus will also suffer”, he warned. He said a deputation of the party would meet Mr Parkash Singh Badal before August 25 to apprise him of the matter. The Akali Dal (Amritsar) said the Municipal Corporation had not paid attention towards the beautification of this holy city and the city was fast turning into a heap of rubbish. He asked the government to restore historical places like the Gobindgarh fort and the Ram Bagh and turn the fort to a museum. The party welcomed to its fold 50 activists of the All-India Sikh Students Federation. Bhai Ram Singh said the party would constitute a separate federation cell. |
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Tohra denies links with Congress AMRITSAR, Aug 19 — The president of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, has refuted the claim of Punjab Chief Minister and president of the ruling Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and said he had no links with the Congress. Mr Tohra, talking to reporters here today, was referring to the reported advice to him by Mr Badal to “snap” links with the Congress as a condition for unity talks. “Neither I had links with the Congress in the past nor would have in the future”, he remarked. Mr Tohra asked Mr Badal to appoint a commission to prove his links with the Congress. “I would quit politics if this commission proved my links with the Congress”, he added. Mr Badal is playing the same role in the Sikh Panth which Dogras played during the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, he alleged. Mr Tohra ruled out any unity with the ruling Akali Dal till Mr Badal accepted the ‘Sikh Maryada’ and appeared before Akal Takht. Mr Tohra said that Mr Badal played dubious role on the Udham Singh Nagar issue and allowed the area to be included in the new state of Uttaranchal thus weakening the interests of Punjabi settlers there particularly the Sikhs. “Badal proved to be a weak person and could not take firm stand on Udham Singh Nagar issue”, he remarked. He alleged that the BJP complicated the Udham Singh Nagar issue and even sacrificed the interests of the population of Hardwar. Asked about the future course of action on this issue, Mr Tohra said that the party had decided to support all organisations including
the Kisan Unions which were seeking reopening of the Udham Singh Nagar issue. He stated that a deputation of Delhi Sikhs would meet the President with a request to withhold assent to the Bill on new state as passed by Parliament. Claiming that both the BJP and the ruling Akali Dal were not sincere to Punjab Mr Tohra said that the BJP betrayed the minorities in the country. Mr Tohra did not approve of the release of over 50 criminals from jails in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in a bargain with forest brigand Veerappan who is holding Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar hostage. The Central government had not released 400 Sikh youths languishing in different jails in the country for the past 20 years. What is the difficulty in catching Veerappan, he asked. Mr Tohra criticised the reported statement of the Punjab DGP, Mr Sarabjeet Singh, who had assured help to policemen who were sentenced in cases of innocent killings in Punjab. These policemen
despite being sentenced were getting pay and other allowances regularly, he said. He asked Mr Badal to provide list of Sikh detainees who had been released in recent months and said that no Sikh was released despite the directive of the Supreme Court to complete trial of all those detained under TADA within six months. Mr Tohra said that his party had submitted a memorandum to the Tandon Commission set up to review of the Constitution whereas the Punjab government had not made any representation to the commission so far under pressure from the BJP. He said that trend of centralisation of powers of the state would lead to disintegration of the country as had happened in many countries like Russia and Yugoslavia, “country is to be given a federal set up as was the basic aim of the country’s major political parties like the Congress”, he added. In reply to a question, Mr Tohra said that the party would decide to fight the Sunam byelection of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha at a meeting on August 26. In any case the party would not support the Congress or the ruling Akali Dal candidates. |
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Dal Khalsa’s bid for chief’s return AMRITSAR, Aug 19 — After lying low for over a decade, the Dal Khalsa has stepped up its political activities to ensure smooth return of its chief, Gajinder Singh, from Pakistan. Gajinder Singh, an architect of the outfit led a team which hijacked an Indian Airlines plane to Pakistan en route Delhi-Srinagar on September 29, 1981 in protest against the arrest of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in connection with the Lala Jagat Narain assassination case. After undergoing imprisonment for 14 years in various Pakistani jails, he has been camping in the country since his release on November, 1994. Dal Khalsa Vice-President Satnam Singh and co-accused in the case had given a rude shock to the Indian intelligence agencies when all of a sudden he reached Punjab through the Nepal border last year. He had presented himself in the Delhi High Court which later acquitted him as no case was pending against him. According to sources, Gajinder Singh might adopt a similar method to sneak into India. When contacted Mr Kanwer Pal Singh, spokesman of the outfit, said, “We have been insisting on Gajinder Singh to return to his homeland to lead the organisation”. He further admitted that the outfit had been trying to strengthen the organisational set-up to provide sufficient infrastructure on his return. “He will surely come some day as there is no case pending against him in Punjab”, he added. However, the spokesman of the outfit has not given any time-frame for his return. He said there was a vacuum in the Akali leadership as traditional Akalis stood “discarded”. Hence it was the right time for him (Gajinder Singh) to return and fill the “leadership gap”. The recently published brochure by the outfit which carries a photograph of Gajinder Singh is being widely circulated. It gives window on historical phenomena and background of the movement. However, the outfit has
buried its old image which had forced the government to impose a ban on its activities between May 1982 to May 1992. The organisation has pledged to follow the democratic path, while unfolding its future plans, the outfit has pledged to participate in the forthcoming Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee general elections due to be held in 2001. “We are convinced that it would be proper to first concentrate all our energies and resources in reforming the shortcomings that has plagued the SGPC institution”, the brochure reads. The outfit had suffered a series of setbacks in 1982 when one of its former leader Jaswant Singh Thekedar was held responsible for severing heads and tails of cows and placing them inside temples which led to communal tension between the two communities. Earlier, the outfit had contested the SGPC elections against the Akali Dal in 1979 but failed to open its account. Besides organising series of seminars and conventions, the incident which shot the outfit into limelight was when one of its leaders, Satnam Singh raised slogans in favour of a separate Sikh homeland in the gallery of the Punjab Assembly on August 27, 1981. However, Gajinder Singh, clarifies that “it was an emotional outburst. It was the political protest against the arrest of Sant Bhindranwale. We had no arm and did no harm to any passengers. We intended to attract attention of the international community to the plight of Sikhs”. |
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700 riot victims file affidavits FEROZEPORE, Aug 19 — As many as 700 affidavits have been received by the Punjab Government from victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The Centre had asked the riot-affected to file fresh claims before the Nanavati Commission formed to probe the circumstances leading to the carnage in Delhi and other parts of the country. Stating this here today, the Punjab Advocate-General, Mr H.S. Mattewal, said the affidavits had been received through the Deputy Commissioners. He urged lawyers throughout the state to rise above professional considerations and help the Punjab Government in its objective to nail those involved in the massacre. Mr Mattewal, who was here to lay the foundation stone of the proposed lawyers’ conference hall, also asked the border residents to come forward with their difficulties before the committee so that special privileges could be granted to them. He said since the border residents lived under the constant fear of war, they deserved certain rights. He said two drafts seeking certain constitutional amendments had been prepared by the government and the ruling Akali Dal. These were ready to be sent to Delhi. Mr Mattewal said the state government had touched upon minority rights, besides the contentious Article 25 for amendments. Asked how successful was the Punjab State Human Rights Commission in handling complaints regarding police atrocities, Mr Mattewal said its success could be gauged from the large number of petitions it had received. He, however, expressed concern over the tendency of the police not to register a case and warned that the CrPC clearly said that the police was bound to register an FIR in all cases of cognizable offence. He said the police could at best delay registering a case for preliminary inquiry but the tendency to avoid registration of FIRs should be curbed. To a question whether the state government was contemplating help for police officers entangled in a spate of litigations, Mr Mattewal said it was for the elected government to ensure that no injustice was meted out to any innocent police officer. |
Improving curves for grooms JALANDHAR, Aug 19 — Breast augmentation with the help of plastic surgery is fast making its way to the list of fads of figure-conscious girls from upper middle class families, particularly those from Doaba region. Shedding age-old inhibitions, girls who want to improve their figures just drop in at the few cosmetic surgery clinics, in most cases along with their parents and NRI husbands. Their families don’t mind spending a few thousand bucks on enhancing the contours of the body. Girls from ordinary families with average educational qualification pressurise their parents and spouses to help them improve their looks and the choice falls on plastic surgery, which until a few years back was a new concept better known for correcting disfigured lips and noses and facelift of celebrities. In spite of being a costly affair and involvement of a few risks, girls from affluent families of the Doaba region and of some pockets of Himachal and Haryana are going in for breast augmentation or in medical parlance augmentation mammoplasty, so as to increase their self-confidence. Their number is rising with each passing day. Breast augmentation is also finding favour with educated girls from rural areas who often visit cosmetic surgeons along with their parents before marriage. And in case they have tied the nuptial knot recently, they consult their husbands or are even forced by them to get their appearance improved. Almost all women who opt for the surgery are below the age of 35. “Usually girls who are about to get married come to us. They have a complex on account of their unattractive figures. In some cases, we have to operate upon newly married girls, whose husbands don’t feel satisfied with their figures,” confided a plastic surgeon, who said a considerable number of such women are those whose husbands are “phoren-returned”. Mr B.P. Singh, a plastic surgeon here, said he had already operated upon 40-50 such women. He said 20 per cent of them came from rural areas of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal. “In one case, the husband of a newly married woman had thrown her out of her house due to her unattractive figure,” said Dr B.P. Singh. Plastic surgery was also being used to “correct a reduction in the breast volume after pregnancy, to balance the breast size and as a reconstructive technique following breast surgery,” he said. Said Dr Puneet Pasricha, another city plastic surgeon: “Though the number of persons who undergo such surgery is rising slowly, what is new is that the queries regarding the same have increased.”  |
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Industrial workers’ strike on Sept 15 AMRITSAR, Aug 19 — Representatives of various trade unions affiliated to the all-India labour organisations today submitted a memorandum to the Punjab Government demanding appointment of labour-cum-conciliation officer and labour inspectors in Punjab instead of handing over additional charges to some officers. “This policy is harmful for the interest of the working class in disposal of their grievances and disputes as it delays the matter of industrial problems and disrupts the industrial peace of the state”, the memorandum pointed out. The memorandum was addressed to the Punjab Governor, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the Labour Minister, Mr Balramji Das Tandon. The signatories to the memorandum included the all-India Trade Union Congress, the Punjab Mazdoor Dal, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Centre of India Trade Union, the Indian Trade Union Congress and the Punjab Pradesh General Mazdoor Federation. Certain labour organisations held a convention here today and demanded an increase in the minimum wages of the industrial workers to Rs 3500 and rise in price index at Rs 10 per point. The meeting was attended by representatives of INTUC, CITU, AITUC, the Hind Mazdoor Sabha. Senior leaders of these organisations addressed the convention. The convention rejected the increase of Rs 150 announced by the Punjab Government in the minimum wages of industrial workers. The Punjab Government had issued a notification raising the minimum wages of the industrial workers to Rs 1950 per month and government had invited objections till September 7. Speakers condemned the Punjab Government’s notification and announced to observe hartal all over the state on September 15 for increase of the wages. |
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Chhota Simla lighted up in Patiala PATIALA, Aug 19 — ‘Chhota Simla’ which is a part of the famous Baradari Gardens opposite the State Bank of Patiala headquarters, has been provided electrification, making it possible for the citizens of the city of enjoy it’s serene and
sylvan surroundings. The small patch, which is part of the historic Baradari Gardens laid at by Maharaja Rajendra Singh, is likely to become a congregation spot in the evenings, following the lighting exercise for the first time. The lighting exercise is to be followed shortly by the installation of piped music. The project which is expected to beautify the entire gardens will cost around Rs 17 lakh. This is the second major beautification exercise conducted by the district administration and the municipal corporation after the filling up of the Rajendra Tank on the Mall Road which has become a tourist-spot now. Regular visitors are excited with the lighting. They say it will enable them to enjoy the cool environment of Chhota Simla till night. However, others feel that some more steps need to be taken to enable Chhota Simla and the rest of the Baradari Gardens to regain their lost glory. Mr B.N. Gupta, one of the regular visitors of the garden said that the fountains in the ‘Chhota Simla’ patch need to be reactivated. They said there were around eight to ten fountains in the garden which were not functional. He said making the fountains functional would provide a better ambience to the gardens. Mr Devinder Singh, who has been visiting the garden for the last 20 years said the pathways of the entire garden need to be properly maintained. Though the authorities started metalling the ‘kachha’ roads of the garden, the task remains incomplete, confined leaving the rest of the garden roads at the mercy of the weather gods. Horticulture sources said there was shortage of gardeners, due to which gardens could not be maintained properly. Garbage mainly plastic bags, lying in the gardens are real threat to the ambience of the gardens, said Mr T.P. Kochhar, a retired LIC employee, who comes to the gardens for his morning walks. |
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Nurses to press for demands PATIALA, Aug 19 — The Punjab Nurses Association will be meeting the state Health Minister, Mr Baldev Raj Chawla, to urge him to implement their long pending demands. In a press note, Ms Jiwan Preet Kaur, President of the state unit of the association, said the government had yet to implement various long pending issues despite repeated requests, rallies and agitations. She said the state government should give the benefit of the pay scale of Rs 5800-9200, which had been earlier given, but later withdrawn due to some vague reasons. She demanded that Rs 2,000 should be given as special nursing allowance on the pattern of the Central Government. Since January 1,1986 only Rs 250 was being given as special nursing allowance. She also alleged that the government had reneged on its agreement to provide allowances and pay scales. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, had signed a written agreement to this effect on July 16 past year, but the government had not implemented it. Punjab Govt urged to fill posts CHANDIGARH, Aug 19 — The Subdivisional Engineers Association, PWD (B and R), Punjab, has urged the Punjab Government to fill the vacant posts of Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers and other ranks. In a statement issued here today, Mr K.S. Bhinder, president of the association for the Chandigarh-Ropar region, said three posts of Chief Engineers, 6 posts of Superintending Engineers, 17 posts of Executive Engineers and 46 posts of Subdivisional Engineers were lying vacant in the department for the past several months. Because of delay in promotions, there was resentment among the engineers as they were facing stagnation in their ranks for the past several years. He said the authorities concerned were flouting the rules and giving current duty charge to junior officials against the vacant posts while duly selected Subdivisional Engineers by the Punjab Public Service Commission were available for posting. Meanwhile, the following have been elected office-bearers of the association for the Chandigarh-Ropar region: president — Mr K.S. Bhinder; general secretary — Mr N.P. Singh, treasurer — Mr S.L.Gupta. Mr R.P. Singh, Mr Y.B. Singh, Mr Yogesh Gupta and Mr R.P.S. Kamal have been elected members of the executive. Mr M.S. Nijjar, Mr K.S. Bains and Mr Gajinder Singh have been elected members of the central body of the association.
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183.8 cr for rural development: Minister PATIALA, Aug 19 — The process of undertaking girdawari in flood effected villages has been completed and compensation to the villagers whose crops and live stock had been destroyed in the floods would be
paid shortly, said Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister, at a function held at Dharamheri village, near here, today. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that his government had given top priority to the developmental projects in rural areas. For this, he said, Rs 365 crore had been sanctioned by the government for the recarpeting of 8000 kms of link roads and for the construction of 2000 kms of new link roads. He added that Rs 183.8 crore would be spent on various developmental projects to be undertaken in rural areas, which included providing of basic amenities to the villagers. He said the government was in the process of implementing a plan to check floods and with this project people of Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa and Bathinda will not have to face the fury of floods in future. |
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Club rivalry comes to fore PATIALA, Aug 19 — After the regular squabbles between members of the Maharani Ladies Club, it is the turn of the Rajindra Gymkhana and Mahendra Club to be afflicted by the malaise. A faction led by the Club President put its own lock on the room of the Honorary Secretary preventing him from functioning from his office. The Honorary Secretary has in turn filed a complaint with the Civil Lines police alleging that the rival group had illegally put their lock on the office when it was closed. Even though the office had been locked four days back, no compromise has been affected till now. Both factions have presented their case before the police but the police is yet to swing into action. The club governing team is sharply divided with the Club President having seven members on his side and the Club Secretary having six persons loyal to him in the team. The faction led by Mr Bhupal Singh has taken advantage of its majority to hold three executive committee meetings. In the last meeting held on August 13, they ‘divested’ the Honorary Secretary of his powers and ‘appointed’ Dr Naveen Saronwala as the new Honorary Secretary. The executive committee meeting organised by the Bhupal Singh group also appointed a five-member committee to scrutinise the functioning of the Club Secretary which is headed by senior member Bal Krishan Singla with Bar Association President K.S. Nagra, the local Escorts-Goetze factory boss S.K. Ahluwalia, N.M.L. Tandon and Mohan Lal Garg being its members. However, Dr Walia continues to serve as secretary from alternative accommodation in the club premises. He has termed the meetings held by the rival group as ‘illegal’ in official communications saying only he could call a meeting of the executive committee according to the club constitution and that the rival meetings had been attended by only one
faction. The secretary has on his part issued a show-cause notice to the Club President asking why action should not be taken against him for holding ‘irregular’ meetings. Such notices have been issued to some other executive committee members as well. Sources disclosed that besides ‘administrative problems’ the point of difference between both groups was the issue whether 168 persons who had been provisionally allowed to use club facilities by the court should be given permanent membership or not. These persons, who had been made members about three years back, had had their membership revoked by the subsequent Governing Council following which they had approached the courts and been allowed to use the club facilities but had been denied voting rights. The group led by Mr Bhupal Singh stands for making them permanent members and had pressed for the same in executive committee meetings. The rival group while ‘ready’ to make the 168 persons regular members had pleaded that proper procedure should be followed while taking this step and that the executive committee was not competent to regularise membership. It had pleaded that only the general house of the club could regularise membership of the 168 persons and that any other step would invite contempt of court. Following this no decision could be taken in the matter. |
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Desiltation drive launched ROPAR, Aug 19 — The Punjab Government has started a campaign to desilt the 90-acre land of Surtapur, Chaunta and Bhani villages which was covered with silt ranging from 1-5 feet thickness due to a breach in the Siswan river bundh last month. The Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Mr G.S. Grewal, who launched the desiltation drive, said efforts were being made to make the land fit for agriculture by the rabi season. This campaign was launched after the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at a sangat darshan held at Chamkaur Sahib recently, directed the district administration — on the request of the villagers — to make efforts to desilt the flooded land. To compensate the villagers for the loss of their crops, Rs 15,000 per acre was being given for the land which had 3-5 feet silt deposition and Rs 7,500 for land with 1 to 3 feet deposition. Besides this, the district administration would also bear the entire cost of diesel and oil incurred on private tractors deployed for the campaign, the Deputy Commissioner said. The compensation for the damage to crops during floods had also been distributed to the affected villagers, he added. |
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Move to rake up
Sikh identity issue decried CHANDIGARH, Aug 19 — Mr G.S. Grewal, a former Advocate-General of Punjab and prominent Akali leader, has said Akali leaders had decided to rake up the issue of Article 25 of the Constitution with a view to repairing the damage done to Sikh institutions and religion by their conduct in the past three years. “There is no other explanation for raking up the issue again”, he remarked. In a signed statement Mr Grewal said: “There is no morcha. No crisis on the Panth, except some self-created mess — whole nation has lived under the protection of this Article for the past half a century and this Article has not proved to be a hurdle in any matter that the Sikhs wanted to do.” He added that many writ petitions were pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In these petitions various actions of the executive had been challenged for being contrary to this Article. The Religious Institution (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988, had also been challenged in the high court and now the matter had been referred to the Full Bench. The Sikh personal law of marriage under the Anand Marriage Act was fully protected by this Article. It was only under this Article that it had been held that Sikhs can wear kirpans of any size. Not a single argument had been advanced to prove that this Article had obstructed the progress of Sikh religion. Why, then, this fear and resentment? Mr Grewal questioned. Mr Grewal recalled that Mr Bhan Singh, a very famous Secretary of the SGPC, had told him that Akali leadership was likely to start a movement to tear Article 25 of the Constitution because they believed that its existence endangered the Sikh identity. Mr Grewal said he had consulted Mr M.S. Khaira, an advocate and a close associate of Mr Surjit Singh Barnala. He had agreed with Mr Grewal, he added.
Empty godowns of food grains: Singla PATIALA, Aug 19 — The Federation of Arhtiya Associations of Punjab President, Mr Bal Krishan, today said there would be no space to store the coming paddy crop in case the godowns in the state were not emptied of wheat stocks. In a statement here, Mr Singla said, as much as 265 lakh tonnes of wheat was lying stored in various godowns and in the open in the state. He said it would not be possible to get even half the stored wheat lifted before paddy procurement started. He added the wheat could be sold in the foreign markets only at a buyers price, as all attempts to sell it in the domestic market had failed. He said his federation had requested that the wheat stocks be disposed off immediately so that further government expenditure being incurred on godown charges and supervisory charges could be saved. Mr Singla said in October, after procurement of paddy started, there would be no space either in the godowns or in the open to store the procured crop. Darshan Dosanj
dead AMRITSAR, Aug 19 — The state secretary and member central committee of the CPI (ML), Mr Darshan Dosanj died in a private hospital here this morning. He was 60. Mr Dosanj, who was a leading member of the Naxalite movement in Punjab belonged to Dosanj Kalan village near Phagwara. He started his political career as worker of the CPI but joined the revolutionary movement of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. He later became member of the CPM and later switched over to the CPI-ML. He was also leader of the Punjab Kisan Sabha. His cremation would take place at his native place in Dosanj Kalan on August
22.
Shobha yatra
held JALANDHAR, Aug 19 — Cutting across party lines, political affiliations and religious barriers, thousands of people from all walks of life took part in the Lord Krishna Janmashtmi Shobha Yatra oragnised by Shri Krishan Janam Utsav Committee here today. Mahant Ganga Dass, Baba Kashmira Singh, Baba Kailash Nath, Mr Jai Krishan Saini, a former minister, Mr Naval Kishore Kamboj, district president BJP, Mr Buti Ram Bhalla, district president, VHP, Mr Anil Sharma, district president, Bajrang Dal, and many other leaders joined the
yatra. |
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Jallianwala carnage
witness honoured AMRITSAR, Aug 19 — Mr Shingara Singh, who is 105-year-old, was honoured today at a function in Rajasansi village on 54th anniversary of Independence. The grand old man claims himself to be an eyewitness to the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The function was dedicated to Thakar Singh Sandhawalia, founder of the Singh Sabha Movement and a leading freedom fighter whose death anniversary falls today. It was named “Goonj-2000”. Mr Shingara Singh, speaking to a large gathering on the occasion, regretted that patriotic feelings among the youth was dwindling. A cultural programme was also held.
Padda on world
affairs panel KAPURTHALA, Aug 19 — Mr Harbhajan Singh Padda, a senior leader of Punjab Congress was elected member of executive committee of the Indian Council of World Affairs for six years, according to Mr M.L. Mehta Returning Officer. Mr R.L. Bhatia, Member of Parliament and former Foreign Minister and Mr Balbir Singh another MP from Punjab were also elected vice-presidents of the council for three years. The council was founded by Mr Jawaharlal Nehru late Prime Minister of India to propagate the public opinion on foreign policy.
Boy outsmarts
kidnappers PHAGWARA, Aug 19 — Two scooter-borne youths kidnapped a 12 year-old boy but he soon returned home by outsmarting his kidnappers. The boy was on his way to the house of a friend when two persons on LML Vespa lifted him from a narrow bylane in Bansawala Bazar this afternoon. However, when the kidnappers stopped at the local Railway Road, the boy slipped away. He rang up his parents from a PCO and took a rickshaw to reach home. The DSP, Mr Satinder Singh, is investigating the incident.
Science City to be
opened by 2002 KAPURTHALA, Aug 19 — Pushpa Gujral Science City, being constructed on the Kapurthala-Jalandhar road, will be opened for public by 2002. Talking to newsmen here yesterday, Mr P.K. Vhatmik, Director General of the project, said the construction of the main building of the city would start within the next three to four months. He said the master plan of the city had reached the final stage. A Delhi-based firm had been assigned the architecture work. He said Rs 40 crore would be spent on the construction of the main building of the city and in all, Rs 70 crore would be spent on the construction of the first phase of the project.
State-level panel
to eradicate TB PHILLAUR, Aug 19 — The Punjab Government has constituted a 17-member TB eradication committee and appointed the Secretary, Health, Mr P.K. Verma, as chairman of this state-level committee. The Punjab Health Minister, Dr Baldev Chawla, talking to this correspondent, said here today that district-level committees for the purpose would be formed soon. He appealed to social organisations to adopt at least one TB patient for treatment. Dr Chawla said the Health Department would launch a campaign to prevent the sale and manufacture of spurious drugs and to provide better medical facilities. Modern equipment would be provided to all government hospitals.
Camp for heart
patients CHANDIGARH, Aug 19 — The Malhotra Heart Institute and Research Centre at Amritsar will organise on August 26 and 27 a camp for heart patients from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The institute will also hold a seminar on “Medical Education on Heart Technology” after diagnosing patients on these days. |
4 get life term for murdering kin SANGRUR, Aug 19 (PTI) — A local court has sentenced two brothers and their wives to rigorous imprisonment for life and a fine of Rs 2000 each along with their fifth co-accused for murdering their brother about five years back. According to judgement pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge J.P. Mehmi, copies of which were released to press today, Ranjit Singh, Gurdeep Singh brothers and their wives Balbir Kaur and Karamjit Kaur along with co-accused Amrik Singh were charged with murdering their own brother Surjit Singh on June 2, 1995 with sharp-edged weapons over a land dispute. The accused were also charged for inflicting grave injuries thus attempting to murder their mother Basant Kaur and father Didar Singh who pleaded for mercy to the accused. Surjit Singh succumbed to his injuries in the Malerkotla hospital, according to the prosecution case. The judge sentenced Ranjit Singh, Gurdeep Singh and Amrik Singh to undergo RI for five years and a fine of Rs 1000 and in default of payment of fine they will have to further undergo RI for six months each. They have also been sentenced to RI for three years and a fine of Rs 1000 each in default of payment of fine they will have to further undergo RI for six months. These accused have also been ordered to be sentenced to RI for one year each and RI for six months. |
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Two commit suicide PATIALA, Aug 19 — A Punjab Government employee committed suicide by jumping in front of the Ganga Nagar-Haridwar passenger train at railway crossing number 17, opposite the bus stand here yesterday. The deceased was identified as Mahinder Singh 45, a class 4 employee of Public Works Department (B and R). According to Rajindra Hospital Associate Professor O.P. Aggarwal, the head of the deceased had been completely crushed. Mahinder Singh was a resident of Bhanri village, 13 km from here. In another incident Narinder Kumar 18, committed suicide by slitting open his throat with a kitchen knife. Narinder was a resident of Deshmesh Nagar, Bhawanigarh and had twice failed in the matriculate examination. |
Resentment among border students FAZILKA, Aug 19 — Slashing of the number of the reserved seats for MBBS and BDS courses in the Government Medical Colleges of Punjab from 2 per cent to 1 per cent has caused resentment among students and parents living in the border areas of Punjab. Till the last academic session 2 per cent seats were reserved for these students. The Punjab Government had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to decide the number of seats to be reserved for various categories of students for admission to various technical and medical courses for the year 2000. The committee had decided to reserve 2 per cent seats for the candidates living in border areas vide its circular dated February 18. However, the reservation quota for those living in border area was abruptly slashed to 1 per cent. The reduced quota has been allocated to adjust the seats reserved for NRI students in government medical colleges of Punjab. But 22 out of 30 seats in this category are still lying vacant. Mr Satish Kumar Dhingra, president, Border Area Residents Forum, Fazilka, has urged the Chief Minister of Punjab to reserve the seats for the candidates living in the border districts of Punjab. |
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30 BAMS seats ‘lying vacant’ JALANDHAR, Aug 19 — A number of students and their parents are sore over the attitude of the authorities of Baba Farid University, Faridkot which has allegedly not filled 30 vacant seats of the bachelor of ayurvedic medicine and surgery (BAMS) course even after conducting counselling. Narrating the sequence of events, aspirants said the university authorities conducted counselling for the second time on October 10 last year after which they asked them to give their preferences for two colleges and advised them to wait for further intimation. However, neither any information had been given to them nor any vacant seat filled till date. “It was only in January that we came to know that the university had banned new admissions to all categories for the session 1999-2000, that too without informing the students. Was it not its moral responsibility to inform the students well in time so as to enable them to explore other avenues?” said Dr Raminder Sharma, father of a student who had participated in the counselling. He alleged that no vacant seat was filled by the university even after the admission date was extended by the Punjab Government up to May 5. In a letter to the Chief Minister, Punjab, the parents alleged that the university was ruining the careers of the students due to its “strange whims and fancies” and demanded that the seats lying vacant on different accounts should be filled from amongst eligible candidates. |
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