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| Wednesday, August 23, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Punjab to seek better deal from Centre: CM
No BCA course in govt colleges Human trafficking via Punjab Cotton industry
being discouraged: Sajjan BSP opposes talks with militants Inspector, ASI arrested in graft case
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Drama marks
MC chief’s election Mahapanchayat will expose
SAD: Cong
Vinod Khanna’s grant missing Plan to reframe PUDA laws Disabled employee ‘harassed’ Rally against fascist forces Mittal’s statement:
Dal Khalsa blames Badal Notice to CBI in Beant Singh case Mob stones PSEB complaint centre ASF to seek funds Docs seek Kanjla’s apology Industry to observe bandh today Gen Oberoi visits
garrison Artist reaches new heights through his brush
Total literacy plan flops
Five pilgrims killed Forged
documents’ racket busted Poppy husk seized, 1 held
College in unsafe building for 8 yrs Pensioners threaten
to go to court
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Punjab to seek better deal from Centre: CM AMRITSAR, Aug 22 — Even as the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has announced that the Punjab Government would continue to fight to get better financial deal from the Centre. Yet, he said, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP were permanent political allies and would contest the next assembly and Lok Sabha elections together. “Demanding of our due rights should not be taken as “anti Centre or anti-BJP stand”, he said while talking to the press after distributing awards to the students at Shri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, here today. He said he was in favour of removing backwardness of financially backward states but this should not be done at the cost of prosperous states. Replying to a question on the recommendations of Eleventh Finance Commission, Mr Badal said all states must get their due. Punjab had suffered a loss of Rs 1500 crore in the past five years due to wrong recommendations of the commission. The state was bound to suffer another loss to the tune of Rs 200 crore if the trend continued. Mr Badal said though his party was a partner in the Central Government yet it was its duty to highlight the genuine issues pertaining to states. In yet another significant statement, Mr Badal said that the state government won’t withdraw the facility of free power supply given to farmers as charged by the Punjab Pradesh Congress. Neither there was any move to hold mid-term poll, he said. Earlier, highlighting the achievements of Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Mr Badal said its name should be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Record as it (the college) has successfully accommodated a large number of students in the ‘smallest campus’. He said he was convinced to know that the college had introduced so many courses which were not available even in government institutes. The Chief Minister stressed that technical education and information technology were the subjects which required special attention so that youth can excell in this field. Mr Badal said the Punjab Government was committed to promote information and software technology. He said the government had made revolutionary changes in the educational structure of the state and introduced computer education as compulsory subject in all schools at the
grassroots level and has earmarked Rs 40 crore for this purpose. He exhorted the young students to adopt the software technology and technical education in their career and work for making it a mass movement which are the only way for tackling the problems of poverty and unemployment gripping the country. Appreciating the achievements of the women in every sector, especially in the education sector, the Chief Minister lauded the contribution made by the women-folk in securing top positions at every education level. The Chief Minister announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to install
at least 10 computers in Guru Teg Bahadur College to promote computer education. Mr Rajmohinder Singh Majitha, MP and State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, announced grants of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 25 thousand, respectively. Mr Om Parkash Soni, MLA, Mr Kirpal Singh, the former MP and prominent educationists, officials and citizens were also present on the occasion. |
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State of higher education-I CHANDIGARH, Aug 22 — The thrust of the Punjab Government on the introduction of information technology (IT) and computer education in colleges notwithstanding, none of the 48 government colleges in the state have introduced the Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) course so far. Though three of the four universities — Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjabi University and Panjab University — introduced BCA a couple of years ago, both government-aided and non-aided colleges have lapped up this opportunity to enrol students in this much-sought-after course. At present there are 138 government-aided and 26 non-aided colleges in Punjab, a majority of which are running this course. On the other hand, at least 36 government colleges are without regular Principals. There are nearly 500 vacancies of lecturer in these 48 institutions of higher education. These details sum up the state of higher education in Punjab. The Punjab Government had announced that ad hoc appointments would be made to fill all these 500-odd posts of college lecturer before the start of the new academic session early this month. According to the announcement, each of these part-time lecturers were to be paid a consolidated salary of Rs 8,000 a month for six months. But now the Principals of these government colleges have been told to make recruitment of ad hoc teachers on a monthly salary of Rs 4,000 each. These ad hoc appointments are also subject to clearance by the Finance Department. The statistics of the past 20 years makes interesting revelations on higher education in Punjab. In most of the courses run by these 212 colleges, girls have been outnumbering boys in enrolment. The new area of interest for girl students has been Commerce. In Government College for Women, Ludhiana, the minimum percentage for admission to BCom was 90. In 1971, there were only two girls doing BCom in Punjab. In 1998, the number increased to 9,417. In the case of boys, there were 1,365 boys doing B Com in 1971 and in 1998 this number increased to 11,680. Interestingly, in the case of M Com, an area traditionally dominated by boys, while there was no girl student in 1971 against three boys, the number of girls doing M Com in 1998 increased to 411 against 142 boys. The situation is almost the same in the case of MBBS. Against 502 girls compared to 1,586 boys in 1971, the number of girl students in 1998 rose to 1,131 against 1,368 boys. In MA classes, the number of boys came down from 2,608 in 1971 to 2,580 in 1998 while during the same period, the number of girl students increased from 1,510 in 1971 to 6,667 in 1998. In 1998, the number of girl students registered for PhD was 110 against 104 boys. It is in this area that both boys and girls have been matching each other in numbers. But in MPhil, which has probably lost relevance now, there were only five boys against 18 girls in 1998 while in 1990, the number of girl students was 355 against 263 boys. In basic sciences also, boys have been losing interest as is evident from the statistics. In 1998, only 635 boys were enrolled in the state against 1,187 girls. In 1971, there were just 115 girls against 244 boys doing MSc. The number of students doing BA and BSc also reveals that the number of girl students has been increasing rapidly. Against 16,480 girls who were enrolled for BA/BSc in 1971, there were 34,220 boys. And in 1998, while the number of girl students increased to 63,653 the number of boys rose to 52,918. Punjab (postgraduates) Year
PhD
M.Phil
M.A.
M.Sc.
M.Com
Boys Girls
Boys Girls Boys
Girls Boys Girls
Boys Girls 1971 12
1
xx xx 2,602
1,510 244 115
3 xx 1980
56 46
138 140 2,852 2,985
338 319 22
5 1990 74
74 263
355 2,176 3,115
500 636 61
59 1998 104
110 5
18 2,580 6,667
635 1,187 142 411 (Undergraduates) Year
BA/BA(Hons) BSc/BSc(H) BCom BE/B.Arch/B.tech/BSc
MBBS
Boys Girls
Boys Girls Boys Girls
Boys Girls Boys
Girls 1971 34,220 16,480 10,467 2,316
1,365 2 1,378
5 1,586 502 1980
33,436 27,635 7,780 3,395 5,162
324 1,676 31
1,629 587 1990 26,590 33,867
5,175 4,457 5,955 2,714 1,943
168 1,312 990 1998
52,918 63,653 6,455 7,995 11,680
9,417 6,878 1,478 1,368 1,131
To be concluded |
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Human trafficking via Punjab FEROZEPORE, Aug 22 — Despite fencing along the international border in the state, those engaged in trafficking of Bangladeshis to Pakistan continue to use Punjab for such activities. Apprehension of at least seven Bangladeshis by the BSF since January within the Ferozepore sector alone suggests that a mafia engaged in human trafficking frequently use the Punjab route to infiltrate hapless persons into Pakistan. Although the BSF claims that it has foiled attempts of intrusion through the fencing, sources say that the mafia on its part continues to bring Bangladeshis to the border districts of Punjab and later leave them to find a way to Pakistan. Most Bangladeshis arrested so far were poor and brought here with a promise of a comfortable life. Since some of them have Muslim relatives in Pakistan, they fall trap to such promises. The sources said those arrested were illiterate and could easily be cheated. All of them were later handed over to the police under the Passport Act. The possibility of their having overstayed in other parts of the country is not being ruled out. They possibly feared arrest and tried to escape to Pakistan after the BJP government stepped up its efforts to drive them out from India. A senior BSF officer said the Bangladeshis were brought to the nearest railway stations and bus stands in the border districts of Punjab and asked to take the route leading to the zero line. Unaware of the fencing, they would realise they had been misled only after being arrested. Apart from the Bangladeshis, the BSF is learnt to have arrested eight Pakistanis since early this year. Most of them were said to have strayed into the Indian territory by mistake and no objectionable material was recovered from them. The BSF claimed that they were not on a spying mission. However, it was unable to explain how three intruders from a distant Pakistani province, NWFP, strayed into the Indian territory. While the possibility of straying accidentally from the adjoining West Punjab province of Pakistan into the Ferozepore sector was understandable, there was no explanation for persons from NWFP infiltrating into the sector. |
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Cotton industry
being discouraged: Sajjan ABOHAR, Aug 22 — Mr Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, President, District Congress Committee today alleged that the SAD-led state government seemed determined to kill the cotton industry. He said instead of giving incentives for survival of the ginning industry it had increased minimum charges on electricity from Rs 240 to 400 per KW even for off-season periods. Talking to newspersons at his grain market office here on Tuesday, the former Cooperative and Irrigation Minister said the Chief Minister had declared this subdivision as a paddy area and the farmers had to pay the price for this in heavy power cuts. As a result even cotton farmers who were expecting a good pest-free crop this year suffered due to the erratic power supply. Mr Jakhar said all senior Congress leaders of Ferozepore district had pledged to work together. Lambasting the local BJP MLA, Mr Jakhar said due to his laxity a grant of Rs 54 lakh had lapsed last year and his politicking against the municipal council president had converted the town into a ‘living hell’. The former minister alleged that the Health Minister, Dr Baldev Chawla had laid the foundation stone of 100-bed hospital at Fazilka although no funds were allocated for the project. In fact the ministers of the present govt and the MLAs were on a stone laying spree. Mr Jakhar said the Executive Officer of the local Municipal Council had succumbed to ‘political pressure’ in disallowing secret polling on the President’s vote of confidence. |
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BSP opposes talks with militants JALANDHAR, Aug 22 — Terming the BJP and its allies as traitors the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today asserted that it was against talks with Kashmiri militants, autonomy to any state and the “unconstitutional” review of the Constitution. Clarifying his party’s stand on these issues, BSP supremo Kanshi Ram said the approach of the BJP-led government to the issue of autonomy was aimed at fragmenting the country. He said his party wanted an environment where the Centre enjoyed more powers than states. Referring to the ongoing move to review the Constitution, he said his party had always favoured the quasi-federal system which was a feature of the constitution. “We have decided to work for the complete restoration of the quasi-federal system in the country. In the first phase of our struggle to achieve our goal, a countrywide march was started by party activists on March 15 from Kanyakumari”. More such marches would be held in the entire country, besides seminars and symposiums, to create awareness among people about the need to restore the original glory of the constitution,” he said. Criticising the Constitution Review Committee, Mr Kanshi Ram said such a committee was “invalid constitutionally” since any review or amendment to the Constitution, the prior approval of Parliament was mandatory, which was not there in this case. “Let the BJP review the Constitution one hundred times, we will restore its original shape. I wonder how they dared to review the Constitution in the name of which they have taken an oath by merely setting up a 10-member committee,” he said, adding that his party was going to start an “andolan” from
Punjab in October and November to oppose the move. “We have decided to hold 5,000 symposiums and 50,000 people’s panchayats in different parts of the country to tell people about the dangers of tinkering with the Constitution,” he said. Ridiculing the BJP over its “contradictory” stance towards Article 370, Mr
Kanshi Ram said it was funny to note that a party which had been advocating the abolishment of Article 370 before coming to power, had changed its colour and had gone a step ahead by negotiating with militants on the issue of autonomy. “Have you ever heard Atal Behari Vajpayee talking about Article 370 after he became the Prime Minister, questioned Mr Kanshi Ram. He said his party did not favour giving more powers or autonomy to states, including Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. He claimed money, mafia and media were working against the interests of Dalits. “You see the recent Uttar Pradesh zila parishad elections in which we were leading, but the media did not come forward to tell the truth to people. Similarly, one of our men who was candidate for the post of zila parishad chairman had to spend Rs 80 lakh to buy eight members since other parties were offering even more amount,” revealed Mr Kanshi Ram. His party would not form an alliance with any other political force for the forthcoming Assembly poll in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, he added. |
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Inspector, ASI arrested in graft case PATIALA, Aug 22 — The Patiala Vigilance Bureau has arrested Sadar Police Station House Officer Inspector Rajwinder Singh and Assistant Sub Inspector Karam Chand on graft charges . Both the SHO and the ASI were arrested last night after the Vigilance Bureau personnel laid a trap at the Sadar Police Station . One Om Prakash allegedly handed over Rs 30 ,000 to the Assistant Sub-Inspector when asked to do so by SHO Rajwinder Singh . Both were arrested on the spot. Cases under Section 7, 13 (2) , 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act have been registered against them . A similar case has also been registered against another Sub-Inspector Karam Chand of the same police station . The Sub-Inspector is stated to be absconding. A case has been registered in the local Vigilance Bureau police station . Vigilance sources said the raid was led by Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) B K Uppal . They said the complainant was being forced to cough up money by the accused police officers, who threatened that they would involve him in a robbery case if he did not do so . They alleged that the bribe was accepted by the ASI on the directions of the SHO . The Vigilance authorities said a case had also been registered against Sub-Inspector Karam Chand as he was alleged to have forced the complainant to part with Rs 10,000 earlier . Meanwhile both Inspector Rajwinder Singh and ASI Karam Chand were produced before the Additional Sessions Judge Sabeena this afternoon . Both were remanded in judicial custody till September 4. Mr Rajwinder Singh has, however, been granted interim bail till August 25 by the Additional Session Judge on account of the death of his close relative . He will surrender in the court on August 25. |
Drama marks
MC chief’s election FEROZEPORE, Aug 22 — In a day of high political drama, Mr Ashok Gupta claims to have been unanimously elected as president of the local municipal committee (MC), after 15 councillors passed a resolution in his favour yesterday. The polling was fixed at 3 pm and Mr D.S.P. Kharbanda, SDM, was appointed observer by Mr K.S. Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner. At the time of polling, the executive officer of the municipal committee who had ballot papers and the proceedings book in his custody did not turn up. Thereafter, at a meeting with Mr Chander Mohan Handa, councillor in chair, a resolution electing Mr Gupta as president was passed. His name was proposed by Mr Prem Sethi and seconded by Mr Sat Pal. Out of a total strength of 25 councillors in the House, 15 signed the resolution in favour of Mr Gupta. The others who were present near the meeting room but did not attend the meeting refused to acknowledge Mr Gupta as president and termed the election as null and void. Ms Kinder Hans, officiating president had postponed the election a day before for an indefinite period due to illness. However, she had also come. The rival group comprising Akali-BJP members and few other councillors also passed a resolution terming Mr Gupta’s election as illegal. This group also claims the support of 13 councillors which makes the total strength of the House 28. The police had been deployed to check the situation. No one was present to give an official version and to endorse the facts. When contacted, the SDM declined to say anything, stating that he was merely an observer and was not supposed to comment. In this infighting, the worst sufferer is the public. All development work has come to a virtual standstill. |
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Mahapanchayat will expose
SAD: Cong BATHINDA, Aug 22 — Mr Mohinder Singh Dhillon, convenor of the local Congress Kisan Cell, and Mr Rupinder Singh Brar, former joint secretary, Punjab Youth Congress, yesterday said the Garib Kisan Mahapanchayat to be held in Muktsar in September would open a new chapter in the state politics. In a joint press note issued here, they said the mahapanchayat would expose the anti-farmer policies of the Akalis and the indifferent attitude of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) towards the problems of Punjab farmers in Parliament. They said so far Mr Jagmeet Brar, MP, who was to organise the mahapanchayat, had raised his voice in Parliament for improving the lot of the debt-ridden farmers. Mr Brar was the only leader who could bring the farmers back to the party’s fold, they added. |
Vinod Khanna’s grant missing GURDASPUR, Aug 22 — The Rs 2 lakh grant given by Vinod Khanna (MP), from his discretionary MP Area Development Fund to the Executive Engineer, PWD (B and R) for repair and maintenance of the
T.B. Hospital, Jiwanwal Babri, seems to have dissappeared into the bureaucratic
abyss. The grant was given about two years ago. In the interim the
T.B. Hospital closed and TB patients were shifted to a wing of the local Civil Hospital. The fact that the grant had not been utilised so far came to light when Mr Kavita Khanna, wife of Vinod Khanna suddenly visited the TB hospital last month. She reported the matter to her husband who took up the case with the Deputy Commissioner. Mr B
Vikram, Deputy Commissioner has directed the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) to inquire into the matter. The Additional Deputy Commissioner has since been telling the concerned executive engineer to submit a utilisation certificate or refund the amount to his office. He has even threatened legal action. Official sources said the executive engineer was hiding facts and had been shifting his stand on the issue. He had earlier said that the funds had been transferred to the Executive Engineer Public Health for construction of bathrooms at the hospital. But when the office of the Executive Engineer Public Health was asked to submit utilisation certificates it denied having received the grant and confirmed that no bathroom was either constructed or repaired by them in the TB hospital. Official sources said if the executive engineer in question did not produce a utilisation certificate within a week, the matter was likely to be referred to the Vigilance Department.
Plan to reframe PUDA laws BATHINDA, Aug 22 — The Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister, Mr Ranjit Singh Ballian, today, said that the state government was contemplating to reframe the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) laws to enable it to set up its own police stations. Mr Ballian who was here to inaugurate the computerised single window system in the PUDA office, said PUDA laws would be reframed to contain unauthorised and illegal colonies in urban areas. He pointed out that at present PUDA had been dealing with more than 1,000 FIRs and complaints registered in connection with the violation of its laws. He said under Optimum Use of Vacant Government Land (OUVGL) Scheme, PUDA had been identifying those sites which could be used for the construction of residential, commercial and official complexes to generate funds. In a joint venture with a private concern, PUDA had also prepared plan to construct residential houses for government officials in rural areas. PUDA would also develop residential colonies in the rural areas. Mr Ballian said PUDA had also taken up the task of constructing government dispensaries, hospitals, bus stands and district administrative complexes in the nook and corner of the state. Interacting with residents of urban estate area, Mr Ballian assured them that the Punjab Government would consider their request for not recovering the enhancement charges of their plots. Meanwhile, a report from Malout said even as a team of engineers of Roorkee University reported that the collapse of a part of the Malout Institute of Management and Information Technology (MIMIT) was due to the design, three PUDA engineers could be suspended any time. Official sources said Mr Ballian had recommended the suspension of a superintendent engineer, an executive engineer and a subdivisional engineer for their alleged failure to counter-check the design of the building prepared by the Technical Teachers Training Institute (TTTI). Mr Ballian while talking to TNS pointed out that the TTTI did not have the expertise to prepare designs for such a huge building. The minister said he had also recommended that the loss of crores of rupees which the government had suffered and the expenses on the building should be recovered from these engineers in the form of miscellaneous advance. He said the matter would be handed over to the Vigilance Department for further action.  |
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Disabled employee ‘harassed’ TARN TARAN, Aug 22 — The callousness of Health Department officials has put a badly handicapped employee to a lot of inconvenience. The employee, Baljit Singh, an MLT appointed at the Dalake health centre was transferred to the Mujaffarpur health centre in Nawanshahr district, more than 150 kms away. Social and other organisations of the town brought the matter to the notice of the Health Minister, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, who cancelled the transfer and Baljit Singh rejoined at Dalake. But he was against transferred this time to Kairon. When he went to take charge at Kairon, the SMO, Kairon refused to allow him to join saying there was no vacant post of MLT at the centre. Baljit returned to Chabal, were he was ordered to approach the Civil Surgeon, Amritsar. Although he has done several rounds of the office of the civil surgeon, it seems to have had little effect.
Rally against fascist forces BATHINDA, Aug 22 — The Insaaf International today organised a “sadbhavana” march and rally at Sports Stadium against the fascist forces which were making efforts to divide the people on caste, religion and colour basis. Hundreds of people and schoolchildren participated in the rally. Activists of the Insaaf criticised the state and Central governments for not protecting the minority communities. In a memorandum to the President of the country, Dr Vineeta Gupta, General Secretary of the Insaaf said the fascist forces, were the biggest danger to the integrity of the nation and the government should take the action against these forces. She urged the government to take action against these forces so that the minority communities could lead a peaceful life. |
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Mittal’s statement:
Dal Khalsa blames Badal AMRITSAR, Aug 22 — The Dal Khalsa today blamed the Shiromani Akali Dal President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for failing to check the undue interference of the BJP ministers into the Sikh affairs. Reacting to the reported statement of the BJP leader and Punjab Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, in which he had questioned the separate identity of the Sikhs, the Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh alleged that “the RSS was operating through its political offshoot the BJP to subsume the Sikhs into the Hindu fold.” Kanwar Pal took exception over the manner the BJP leader had objected to the demand for the separate personal law for Sikhs made none other than by the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Joginder Singh, and followed by the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur. The Jathedar of the Akal Takht represents the collective will and aspirations of the entire community, hence by questioning the demand raised by him, Mr Mittal has insulted the Sikhs at large,” he said. The criticism of BJP leaders against various Sikh issues ranging from Nanakshahi calendar,
segregation of sehajdharis, votes in the SGPC elections, incorporation of exclusive Sikh identity in the Constitution and now separate personal law has assumed alarming proportions, he said and added that the Sikhs would not tolerate. |
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Notice to CBI in Beant Singh case CHANDIGARH, Aug 22 — On an application for bail filed by Navjot Singh, accused in former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassination case, Mr Justice N.C. Khichi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to CBI’s Standing Counsel for October 18. Navjot Singh was earlier booked by the CBI for murder under Section 302, 307 and 120-B of the IPC after the former CM was killed in a blast outside the Civil Secretariat here on August 31, 1995. Claiming to have been implicated in the case, counsel for Navjot Singh, today contended on his behalf that the accused was roped in by the police in their over enthusiasm to solve the case. He added that the accused was behind bars for over five years now and most of the witnesses produced against him had gone back on their statements. |
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Mob stones PSEB complaint centre JALANDHAR, Aug 22 — A mob protesting against the electrocution of a schoolboy at 31 locality in Jalandhar Cantonment turned violent, stoning a Punjab State Electricity Board complaint centre last night, causing employees to flee the office in fright. Ajay Kumar, a 19-year-old student was electrocuted while trying to save his friend, Vishal, who came into contact with a live wire at around 9 pm last night. Vishal had to be shifted to the local civil hospital, where his condition was stated to be critical. Following the death of Ajay, a student of Montgomery School in the Cantonment area an agitated crowd converged on the PSEB office and began to pelt stones at it. The employees fled, leaving behind their vehicles in haste. The mob also forced shopkeepers to down shutters. Day before yesterday, we had lodged a complaint with the PSEB authorities about the loose wire, but nothing was done,” said Naresh Batra, a relative of Ajay. The police were deployed to defuse the situation. The PSEB office presented a deserted look today with no employee daring to turn up although a number of people had lined up to pay of their power bills. |
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ASF to seek funds ROPAR, Aug 22 — The first floor of the Khalsa Heritage Exhibit Gallery in the upcoming Khalsa Heritage Complex at Anandpur Sahib will be opened for public on December 1 next year. This information was given by the Finance Minister, Punjab, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, while talking to newsmen here. He was here to supervise the progress of the construction work of the complex. The Finance Minister said a total cost of Rs 200 crore, which includes Rs 100 crore for the construction and another Rs 100 crore for the interior decoration, would be incurred for bringing up this historic complex. The Union Government has released an amount of Rs 31 crore for the construction. The rest of the amount the Anandpur Sahib Foundation is planning to raise through donations. The account of the money received through donations would be kept by the professionals and no cash would be accepted as donation for this purpose. When asked about the contribution of the Punjab Government towards this project he said the government was contributing but declined to give the exact figure of the contribution. Many Sikh historians, scholars, religious leaders and educationists have been consulted for preparing the concept and the content of the heritage complex. When the construction work for the complex is completed, a core committee of Sikh intellectuals would once again meet at Anandpur Sahib for the final approval of the design and the interiors of the complex. The services of the experts from the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad are being taken for developing the interiors of the heritage museum. Nishan-e-Khalsa would be constructed in the third phase and is expected to be completed by August 2002, he said. All ministers of the Punjab Government would donate their one-day salary for the complex, he said. |
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Docs seek Kanjla’s apology PATIALA, Aug 22 — The Punjab PCMS Association today urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to impress upon the Social Security Minister, Mr Gobind Singh Kanjla, to tender a public apology for his alleged misbehaviour with four women doctors of Sangrur district at a public function at Nadampur village a few days back. In a press release issued here today, Dr B.S. Sahota, President and Dr D.C. Sharma, General Secretary, respectively, of PCMS Association, while strongly condemning Mr Kanjla, said the minister should know how to behave with government officers, especially women doctors on duty. They said senior state-level leaders would attend the protest demonstration being held at Sangrur on August 24 and threatened that the stir would spread to the entire state if the minister failed to tender an apology. A delegation of the association would call on the Chief Minister in this regard, they said. The PCMSA also criticised the Punjab Health Minister, Mr Baldev Raj Chawla, for his silence over the issue. The PCMSA expected much from the Health Minister, who was a doctor, but regretted that he had failed on several counts to safeguard the interests of doctors. Despite repeated assurances, the Health Minister had failed to get even the recommendations of the Fourth Punjab Pay Commission, implemented so far. The minister had acted irrationally and in a partisan manner during the general transfers this year, they added. |
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Industry to observe bandh today PATIALA, Aug 22 — Conciliatory talks between PSEB and the Industry and Trade Forum, Punjab, today broke down and the latter announced its decision to go ahead with a state-level bandh tomorrow to protest against the recent power tariff hike. The forum's President, Mr Harish Khanna, and the Patiala Chamber of Industries President, Mr N.S.Khurana, in a press conference here said the forum would not prevail upon the board management to rationalise the power hike, besides changing its policy on installation of new meters. Mr Khanna said the forum was in favour of deferring the implementation of the power hike so that talks could be held with representatives of industry to arrive at a consensus on the issue. He said the power hike would put the maximum burden on the small-scale sector units having medium supply from 20 to 100 kilo watt. He said the forum demanded installation of a state electricity regulatory commission for which a proposal had been mooted and accepted by the state Cabinet sometime in the past. He said the state government should defer fixation of power tariff to the commission. He said the board was suffering colossal losses which were a direct consequence of its inefficient working, overstaffing, corruption and above all unmetered supply of 8200 million units of electricity which went unaccounted every year. Mr Khanna said the board had adopted a new line to earn more revenue by levying huge amounts of penalty on industrial, commercial and domestic consumers on flimsy grounds. He said meters were replaced on flimsy grounds and consumers had to pay for replacements when its was the bounden duty of PSEB check the working of the meters at regular intervals and replace them if any defect was detected. |
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Gen Oberoi visits
garrison BATHINDA, Aug 22 — Lieut-Gen Vijay Oberoi, General officer, Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, accompanied by Mrs Daulat Oberoi visited Bathinda Garrison, yesterday. They were received by Lieut-Gen G.K. Duggal, General Officer, Commanding, Chetak Corps, and Mrs Kusum Duggal. In a press note issued today Lieutenant Colonel and General Staff Officer (Information) said that the Army Commander during his two-day visit was briefed on operational and administrative matters. The Army Commander also visited the formations and units located in the Bathinda station. He said that Mrs Daulat Oberoi who was also the President of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), Western Command, interacted with the wives and families of the officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and other Army officers. Mrs Kusum Duggal, President, AWWA, Chetak Corps, gave the brief resume of all AWWA activities and projects being run at Chetak Vocational Training Centre including Computer training to families of JCOs. Mrs Daulat Oberoi also saw the ASHA School for handicapped children and appreciated the progress of the school. Mrs Oberoi also inaugurated the immunisation programme for hepatitis B for the children of JCOs being provided at highly subsidised rates at the military hospital.
Artist reaches new heights through his brush PATIALA, Aug 22 — Various moods of women came out alive through colourful strokes at the Banasar Art Gallery here today where artist Swaranjit Savi has displayed two series of paintings — "The Quest" and "The Desire." The week-long exhibition was inaugurated by Mr Gulshan Lal Bhutani, Principal, Khalsa College. More than 40 paintings are being exhibited here. The artist has used bright colours to depict various moods of women starting from suppression to aggression, the man-woman relationship and also man's relationship with nature. Savi, who wants to spread joy through his brush, says he favours the Kangra school of paintings. Among various moods of women depicted in the Vedas and Kamasutra, 'hastini' and 'yakshi' are the most appealing, he added. Savi, who is also a poet, has 35 shows of "Poster Poems" series and a number of solo exhibition to his credit. He took up painting as a hobby during his college days. He believes that painting is one of the best medium which provides an artist with ample scope for self expression. Among the paintings exhibited here the 'Desire to reach new heights", "Childhood memories", "Women bounded by the norms of society" are worth mentioning. Talking on the commercial aspect of painting in Punjab, the artist says that Punjabis lack the artistic zeal which is not encouraging for the up-coming artists who want to take up painting as a profession. He said he had himself rejected the photographic style of paintings which was the second major school of art in Punjab after the Kangra paintings. His exhibition will be displayed at the gallery till August 29. 151 corpn staff missing from office CHANDIGARH, Aug 22 — Prof Jagir Singh Bhullar, Punjab Chief Parliamentary Secretary
(Industries), today conducted a surprise check in the office of the Punjab State Small-Scale Export Corporation. A press note issued by the Punjab Government said Mr Bhullar found that 151 employees of the corporation were missing. They included the Managing Director, the Joint Managing Director and the Chief Engineer. Disciplinary action would be initiated against them. |
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Brigadier Shergill’s
death mourned CHANDIGARH, Aug 22 — Mr Natha Singh Dalam, Punjab Information and Public Relations Minister, today mourned the death of Brig B.S. Shergill in a mine blast in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. Mr Dalam said Brigadier Shergill was an outstanding and dynamic officer who brought laurels to the country in Bangladesh and during the Indian peace-keeping operations in Sri Lanka. |
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SGPC staff case: stay on
salaries extended AMRITSAR, Aug 22 — The three-member Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission today extended till further orders its stay which restrained the SGPC from paying salaries to 243 employees recruited during the tenure of Bibi Jagir Kaur ie from March 16 to October 31 last year. The case has been adjourned till September 8. The respondent, Bibi Jagir Kaur, replaced her counsel in the case today. The case was filed by an activist of SHSAD, Mr Hardev Singh, on July 28 challenging induction of 234 persons in the SGPC by the Bibi, the SGPC Secretary, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, and two other officials by flouting service rules. The new counsel prayed for the adjournment of the case since he was to go through the case files. The court accepted his plea but directed him to place before the commission on the next hearing appointments orders of all the 234 persons.
‘Activate Punjab State Languages Act’ PATIALA, Aug 22 — meeting of Punjabi language intellectuals was held at the Language department complex here today. The intellectuals urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to re-activate the Punjab State Languages Act, 1967, which till now was lying in a dormant state for the last 33 years. Under this act, the Punjabi language should be made compulsory in all government and semi-government offices but the act was not being fully implemented. The following were elected office-bearers of the Bhasha Act Sangrash Committee, Punjab: President — Mr Ishar Singh Taang; general secretary — Mr Balbir Singh Bedi. They were further authorised to
nominate the other office-bearers. Insecticides found spurious MOGA, Aug 22 — Pesticides used by farmers for killing rats in their fields in the district have been found to be spurious. A group of farmers told mediapersons here yesterday that the pesticides which they had bought from markets had no effect on rodents. The same was the case with certain insecticides, they alleged.
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Rumour mongers held, let off PHAGWARA, Aug 22 — Two rumour mongers, Ajay Kumar of Mastnagar and his brother-in-law Jarnail of
Piparangi, were booked by the police yesterday. They had rung up the local Police Control Room saying some persons with muffled faces had forced them into a Tata Sumo and, after throwing acid on their legs, had pushed them into sugarcane fields on the outskirts of Mastnagar village. A police party, headed by Mr Gurmit Singh, in charge of Satnampura police post, rushed to the spot only to find that it was all a cock-and-bull story. Neither were there any sugarcane fields nor was any acid thrown by anybody on their legs. The duo had got drunk and dared not enter their house as Ajay’s mother had a talisman prohibiting drink. The inebriated duo coined it all as a cover-up to escape the mother’s fury. However, due to panchayat intervention the two were let off today after they
apologised. When contacted, local DSP Satinder Singh confirmed the report. |
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Flyover near 22 No Phatak demanded PATIALA, Aug 22 — The Raghbir Marg Residents Welfare Association has demanded the early construction of a flyover near the busy 22 No phatak area to ease the congestion of traffic. The association, in a press note, has also urged the District Administration to widen the road near the 22 No phatak leading
up to the PWD rest house and also to construct a road divider on the road. These demands have been made because of the traffic congestion in the area which leads to accidents. |
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Use of derogatory words flayed BATHINDA, Aug 22 — The Kshatri Tonk Sabha (KTS) has criticised the use of derogatory words in books on Baba Namdev. In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Surjeet Singh Bagri, president, KTS, said derogatory words had been used in books on Baba Namdev circulated in Punjab and
Haryana. He said the sabha would hold a procession on August 23 and markets would remain closed on the day as a mark of protest. |
Total literacy plan flops GURDASPUR, Aug 22 — It was with great fanfare that total literacy programme was launched in the district by Mrs Ravneet Kaur, the then Deputy Commissioner about two years ago, but the programme has failed to make any headway. A grant of Rs 25 lakh was received by the district from the Centre to implement the programme. A survey of illiterate persons in the age group of five to 35 years was conducted and about 3.5 lakh persons were identified. Social organisations were mobilised to participate in the programme. The programme involved an expenditure of Rs 1.25 crore and was centrally sponsored but one third of the amount was to be contributed by the state government which has not contributed its share so far. A grant of Rs 25 lakh received by the district has been exhausted and no further grant either by the centre or by the state government was received by the district. The Central Government will release its share only after the state government contributed its share, which at present is a remote possibility. A senior official on the condition of
anonymity said that such programme if it were to be a success should be completed under time-bound programme. Moreover, officials dealing with the scheme should not be transferred till the completion of the scheme. Funds should not be a hindrance to pursue the programme. |
Five pilgrims killed ROPAR, Aug 22 — Five persons were killed and 34 injured when a truck carrying pilgrims, coming back from a dera in Pathankot, overturned near Kalma Mod, Nurpur Bedi, yesterday. The dead include Fateh Chand and his wife Bajani Devi of Daroli village, Maya Devi of Bhanoopli village, Piara Ram of Gag village and Vir Singh of Kalitran village. Eight of the injured, who were in a critical condition, have been sent to the PGI, Chandigarh, while the others who sustained minor injuries have been admitted to the Anandpur Sahib Civil Hospital. Most of the pilgrims travelling in the ill-fated truck belong to villages falling in the Anandpur Sahib tehsil. According to the police, the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle, which led to the accident. The police has arrested the driver. a case under Sections 304-A and 287 of the IPC has been registered against him. |
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Forged
documents’ racket busted GURDASPUR, Aug 22 — The Shahpur Kandi police has arrested one Rajan Masih, a resident of Pathankot on charges of preparing and issuing fake driving licences, registration certificates of vehicles, domicile and scheduled caste and backward class certificates. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, in a press note today said that Davinder Singh, SHO Shahpur Kandi Police Station under Pathankot subdivision on specific information raided the hideout of the accused yesterday and arrested him. A case U/Ss 420/465/467/468/471 was registered against the accused on August 20. 63 blank registration certificate books, duly stamped by the DTOs concerned, 10 signed registration certificates with stamps and forged signatures of concerned DTOs, 77 blank driving licences duly affixed with the stamps of concerned DTOs and 10 driving licences with stamps and forged signatures of concerned DTOs have been recovered. As many as 50 scheduled caste/backward class blank forms, 47 scheduled caste/backward class certificates with the stamp and forged signatures of the concerned SDO/tehsildar, 100 blank forms of domicile certificate, 64 domicile certificates, duly stamped with forged signatures of the concerned SDMs/tehsildar, 31 slips with forged signatures of DTO regarding transfer, renewal and issuing of duplicate driving licences, 36 Form No. 38 required for the registration certificate with forged signatures of the concerned motor vehicle inspector and 5 blank photo copies of metric certificates were also recovered. The SSP said that the accused was in possession of stamps of the SDM/tehsildar, DTO and motor vehicle inspector. Stamps of various towns departments were also recovered. The accused confessed to having been in the business for eight years and having issued several hundred fake certificates. He used to charge Rs 800 per certificate. |
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Poppy husk seized, 1 held MALERKOTLA, Aug 22 — The local police arrested a smuggler of the area along with a huge quantity of poppy husk here yesterday. Police sources said a police party on patrol duty on Raikot Road saw two scooterists coming from Bhudan village side. On seeing the police the scooterists tried to flee. While one of them Kashmira Singh managed to escape his companion Paramjit Singh of Jodhewal village was apprehended. Mr Surinder Singh Saini, DSP said 35 kg of poppy husk worth Rs 1,50000/- was recovered from him. More poppy husk was recovered at a desolate spot near the village. |
College in unsafe building for 8 yrs MANSA: The Punjab Government seems to have been waiting for a disaster to happen in this town as it has failed to make arrangements to shift the students and staff members from the rickety building of the Nehru Memorial Government College to a safer place. More than 1500 students and staff members come to this building daily as the classes are being held. The college building was declared unsafe in 1992 by the PWD authorities. The roofs of most rooms have caved in and it has forced the teachers to hold their classes under the open sky but at times under the blistering sun. During the class, the students always move from one place to an other to avoid the direct sun The staff members say sarcastically that ruling politicians are waiting for the day when they get an opportunity to pay their tributes to those students and teachers who die when the building collapses. Set up as a private college in 1965 by prominent citizens of the town, the college was taken over by the Punjab Government in 1994 when the late Beant Singh was Chief Minister. He also promised to give Rs 4 crore to the college for construction of two blocks so that the students could work in a new building. On August 7, 1997, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who claims that his government is bringing about all-round development of the state, laid the foundation stone of the new block. He also promised to get the work done at the earliest by making adequate funds available. Even three years after Mr Badal’s promise, the construction of both blocks is lying incomplete. The district administration always used to cover the damaged portion of old building by tents whenever a VIP visited the college or whenever functions were held on its premises. Official sources say that every year money is sanctioned in the annual budget for the completion of the first block but it never reaches the college. Residents allege that certain politicians of the ruling SAD-BJP alliance who had lost popularity were deliberately trying to keep the construction of both blocks incomplete. Apart from the safety hazard, there are only 12 teachers on the rolls against a sanctioned strength of 26. Mr Badal’s promise that B.Sc medical and non-medical classes would be started at this college has also not been kept and students have lost hope. The staff members on condition of anonymity say the college campus was being used by the ruling politicians for self-glorification only. These politicians were not bothered about developing of the college. The teachers and students used to bring their water bottles with them as the Punjab Government had failed to make arrangements for potable water even after 35 years. |
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DAV teachers stage rally AMRITSAR, Aug 22 — Teachers of DAV College, Amritsar staged a rally in front of the principal’s office to protest against the callous attitude of the DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi ignoring their genuine demands. The 14-day old agitation picked up momentum today with agitating teachers threatening to mobilise students as well. The decision of the Delhi-based management to close down the college for a day was a clear indication of the growing unrest and the management anxiety. Dr V.K. Sharma, a teacher leader said disbursement of ADA in the form of NSC certificates instead of cash and withdrawal of fee-exemption of the wards of college teachers was indication of the managements insenstivity to their demands. |
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Pensioners threaten
to go to court MALERKOTLA, Aug 22 — Private-aided school pensioners have decided to go to court if their long-pending demands regarding disparity in pension are not accepted by the Punjab Government immediately. Speaking at a meeting held at the local S.D.P.P. High School on Sunday here, Mr K.K. Tandan and Mr Krishan Kant Rudra, state president and general secretary, respectively, of aided-school retirees expressed resentment for the non-implementation of the decision to bring their pension scale on a par with government retirees. Mr Jeet Singh and Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, district president and general secretary, respectively, of the aided-school teachers union extended their support to the demands. |
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