 |
|
| Monday, August 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Mid-term poll may depend on Sunam result Free power units to Dalits may increase AIFUCTO to observe “betrayal day” Groupism evident at Cong meeting Badal urged to quit alliance with BJP Quacks thrive in govt docs’ absence |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Differences in SAD factions come to fore
Guru’s statue in gurdwara Badal settles complaints Trust officials, residents
clash; 2 hurt Police academy hit by financial crunch Akali leader accused of grabbing school land Zila parishad land to be auctioned Women safai karamcharis rule the roost Hike in power
tariff resented Devoted to the downtrodden Handicapped
persons for shifting of job office Watch Patiala on the Internet PSEB engineers
resent BBMB move on officers Farid award for honesty announced
New bus fares after survey: DC
Six held for
KLF terrorist’s escape Two killed in
bus-car collision
Lack of funds hits projects Orders not to
shift school
|
|
Mid-term poll may depend on Sunam result CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The vacant Sunam assembly seat holds the key to the future course of politics in Punjab as the chances of a mid-term poll in the state hinge greatly on this byelection. The seat fell vacant after Mr Bhagwan Dass Arora of the Congress allegedly committed suicide on July 3. According to the procedure normally followed by the Election Commission, a byelection is to be held within six months of a seat, either of the Lok Sabha or a state Assembly, falling vacant. Observers, however, point out that there has been no procedural sanctity on the issue of holding byelections as there have been several instances when these have been either not conducted or were ordered much after the expiry of the six-month period. The most recent example they quote is of the Jalandhar Cantonment assembly seat which remained vacant for the entire remaining term of 18 months after the assassination of the then Chief Minister, Beant Singh, on August 31, 1995. Fresh election to this seat was held as part of the general election in February, 1997. As of today, there has been neither any official communication from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab nor from the state government to the Election Commission for the holding of this byelection. Officials maintain that there is no mandatory provision to hold the byelection within six months of a seat falling vacant. Under one of the provisions, a byelection can be delayed in case the Assembly elections in the state are due in less than a year from the date an assembly seat falls vacant. In either case, the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state also appears to be in no hurry to recommend the holding of an early byelection to the Sunam assembly seat. The outcome of the byelection, as and when held, will have a great bearing on the future turn of political events in the state. Political circles maintain that a triumph at Sunam may act as a catalyst for the SAD-BJP alliance to go in for a mid-term poll. A reverse, as experienced by the alliance in the recent SAS Nagar municipal elections, may force the government to abandon the idea of going to the electorate in the immediate future and continue in office till a time “conducive for a public mandate” arrives or the term comes to an end. At present the state government seems to be on a confrontation course rather than finding the going easy with its major national alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party. The recommendations of the 11th Finance Commission, the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in Uttaranchal, the dithering of the BJP on the Constitution review panel and the dilly-dallying on paddy procurement by the Food Corporation of India are among the issues on which Punjab appears to be far from happy with the NDA government at the Centre. Sources in the Shiromani Akali Dal maintain that instead of supporting its alliance partner on various issues in the state, even the Punjab unit of the BJP has been training its guns on the Dal, missing no opportunity to embarrass its leadership. Even on the issue of holding a mid-term poll in Punjab, the BJP leadership has been openly supporting the poll as has been evident from statements made by party leaders at various fora in the recent past. In case the SAD-BJP alliance decides to recommend the holding of the Sunam byelection some time in the last quarter of this year, it would be able not only to “judge the mood of the people” but also “test its popularity”. The other option could be to avoid the Sunam byelection and straightway jump into the election fray early next year. This, political experts suggest, may not be advisable as the political leadership has available to it “a litmus test” before deciding on its future course of action. They feel that the holding of the Sunam byelection at the earliest possible opportunity is unavoidable. The holding of a series of “sangat darshan” programmes by Mr Parkash Singh Badal in the recent past is an indication that the government may go in for the byelection soon. A triumph, of which the Shiromani Akali Dal claims to be confident, may send the message for an early mid-term poll, may be in February-March next year before the start of the new wheat procurement season. The thinking in the Dal is also to pre-empt both the criticism and the adverse reaction to be set in motion with the stricter implementation of the WTO and GATT agreements from April 1 next year. Another important factor that must be weighing on the mind of the think-tanks of the Shiromani Akali Dal is the “unsavoury situation” that could develop for the ruling alliance in case the Union Food Ministry continues with the same “dilly-dallying” policy when wheat starts arriving in the grain markets in April next year. The Dal cannot afford to antagonise the farming community, its main strength. As of now, the options available for the Shiromani Akali Dal are limited. And Sunam continues to hold the key to the future of Punjab politics. In the last elections, Mr Bhagwan Dass Arora won the seat defeating Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, general secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal, by 2,406 votes as an Independent, Mr Sunmukh Singh Mokha, polled a little more than 20,000 votes. Otherwise, it has been a traditional Shiromani Akali Dal stronghold. |
|
Free power units to Dalits may increase BATHINDA, Aug 27 — Keeping in view the coming byelection of the Sunam Assembly segment, the Punjab Government is actively considering a proposal to increase the number of free electricity units to Dalits from 30 to 50 per month. Official sources said that all aspects of this proposal had been discussed in detail at higher level and a decision to this effect could be taken any time. In another move to appease the peasantry, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) authorities had reduced the connection amount to Rs 20,000 from Rs 25,000 under own your tubewell (OYT) scheme. The PSEB authorities had also decided not to take labour charges from those farmers who themselves would execute the work of erection of power cables. Sources said the PSEB authorities had decided to hear the grievances of the power consumers and in this connection official of the rank of Superintendent Engineer (SE) and Executive Engineer (XEN) had been asked to hold lok adalats at sub-divisional level in their respective area once in a two months. Sources added that apart from it, the Punjab Government had been trying its best to bring Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee for commissioning the Thein Dam project in September before the Sunam byelection. Mr Vajpayee might also inaugurate thermal power project in the Goindwal Sahib also on the same day. Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Science and Technology Minister, Punjab, who has been made the election in charge by the Shiromani Akali Dal, when contacted said the Punjab Government was doing development work allover the state. He added that nothing was being done specially for Sunam to woo the voters as the SAD-BJP alliance would secure a victory with a huge margin. He added that he had started holding meetings with the prominent persons of the Sunam assembly segment. He said that Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal would hold ‘sangat darshan’ in this area on August 31. |
|
AIFUCTO to observe “betrayal day” JALANDHAR, Aug 27 — The four-lakh strong apex body of
university and college teachers under the banner of All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (AIFUCTO) has begin mobilising support for the “Satyagrah” on Teachers Day on September 5. At a meeting held at D.A.V. College here today, Mr V.K. Tewari, secretary, AIFUCTO, said the teachers would observe September 5 as “betrayal day” and court arrest in front of
other office of the Minister of Human Resource Development in New Delhi. While hundreds of teachers would violate prohibitory order in the Capital, all other units would strike work for an hour and hold campus rallies throughout the country. Dr Tiwari alleged that Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Minister for H.R.D., had violated the agreement reached by the teachers on September 5, 1998, ending the 26-day nationwide strike of the AIFUCTO. The AIFUCTO had been assured of prompt government orders on the issues agreed upon. He said at least one lakh teachers had been adversely affected as the career advancement scheme (CAS) was yet to be implemented from January, 1996. Revised pay scales had already been granted to teachers of agriculture universities. All other sections of employees had got the benefit from January, 1996, hence the denial to other university teachers was “unjust”. Similarly, 20,000 DPE’s and librarians who had enjoyed parity in scales had been denied the enhanced basic pay at Rs 14940, Dr Tewari alleged. Whereas the Fifth Pay Commission had granted assured a third promotion to Central Government employees, the same was agreed to by Dr Joshi two years ago. But he had backtracked form the promise. Dr Tewari flayed the “negative and indifferent” attitude of the minister who had assured the Lok Sabha on May 5 this year that the agreement would be implemented in full. The AIFUCTO leadership had met Mr M.K. Kaw, Secretary for Higher Education, on August 14 and demanded that the agreement of September 5, 1998, as well as other decisions reached at the meeting of October, 6, 1999, chaired by Mr Kaw be honoured. But no meeting had been convened by the minister and the Secretary, Dr Tewari added. |
|
Groupism evident at Cong meeting JALANDHAR, Aug 27 — The ongoing cold war between supporters of Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Amarinder Singh and his detractors Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Jagmeet Brar once again came to the fore yesterday with both groups trying to convert a state-level convention of the human rights department of the All-India Congress Committee (I) as their respective show of strength. Both groups shared a common dais but when Mr Balbir Singh, MP, got up to address the workers, to the surprise of many, instead of deliberating on the issue , he started urging the national chairman of the department, Justice Ranga Nath Mishra, to ensure that the newly floated rights body headed by his rival, former MP Umrao Singh, did not act as a parallel force to the PPCC. It is not for the first time that Mr Balbir Singh has attacked Mr Umrao Singh. He has been seeking the latter’s expulsion from the party on the ground that he had worked against him in the last Lok Sabha poll. He found an ally in the PPCC President, Capt Amarinder Singh, who said that politics should be kept away from the activities of the human rights body. “I advise the department office-bearers to keep themselves away from active politics for a while and serve the people of the state by fighting against human rights violations,” he said. In the same breath he assured that the legal cell of the PPCC would extend all help to the newly set-up human rights department. “The PPCC and our legal cell both are with you in your movement against human rights violations,” Capt Amarinder Singh said. “You (Justice Mishra) had assured me that the department will keep itself aloof from politics since politics and human rights cannot go side by side”, he added. Justice Mishra in his address said: “We don’t encourage politics in the human rights department.” Later, he clarified that human rights and politics did not necessarily end in confrontation “if persons involved are doing their duty in right earnest”. Interestingly, Congress workers at Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall virtually presented a house divided. In spite of repeated reprimand from speakers, particularly local MLA Avtar Henry, they kept raising slogans and counter-slogans in favour of their respective leaders. While those sitting on the left, raised slogans in favour of Mr Umrao Singh, those collected on the right side of the entry point raised slogans in favour of Capt Amarinder Singh. |
|
Badal urged to quit alliance with BJP CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The Sikh Core Group, an organisation of eminent Sikhs, has urged the Shiromani Akali
Dal (SAD) headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal to withdraw from the alliance with the BJP immediately. The group held a meeting to discuss this issue yesterday. Among those attended the meeting were Justice
R.S. Narula, Dr Kharak Singh, Brig Gurdip Singh (retd), Mr Gurdev Singh, a former IAS officer, Dr Kirpal Singh, Principal
G.S. Shergill and Dr M.S. Rahi. After the meeting, Brig Gurdip Singh, said the “magnanimous” offer of “ unconditional” support to the BJP-led Government at the Centre and partnership in the state government amounted to abject surrender of a helpless
minority. The alliance with the BJP had not proved fruitful and was against the interest of the Sikhs. Hence, the SAD should withdraw from the alliance. The group favoured unity among Akali and Non-Akali Sikh leaders to fight for the legitimate rights of the Sikhs as well as other minorities. By uniting on one platform, the Sikh leadership should take up the issues of Sikh identity, state autonomy on the basis of the Anandpur Sahib resolution, the exclusive rights of Punjab to its river waters as per the riparian laws, and the transfer of Punjabi-speaking areas and Chandigarh to Punjab. The group felt that taking advantage of division in the Akali ranks, the BJP strategists had pushed the SAD into a position where it had to lean heavily on BJP support for survival. For all practical purposes, the SAD had become an adjunct to the BJP. About the Udham Singh Nagar district issue, the group said the SAD had taken the right step by pleading for its exclusion from Uttaranchal. But the SAD failed miserably to get the district excluded. It also failed to keep its promise to withdraw from the BJP-led government at the Centre on this issue. It was an act of betrayal on the part of the SAD. The humiliating blow to the SAD had weakened it and had given a superior bargaining power to the BJP in state politics in the future. |
|
Quacks thrive in govt docs’ absence KHEMKARAN (Amritsar), Aug 27 — Even as the government doctors remain absent from duties the quacks are having a field day in the border belt. As a result quacks continue to thrive, with the medical authorities reluctant to take any action against them despite a Punjab and Haryana High Court order against the practice by unregistered medical practitioners. There are no takers for government quarters built for medicos and other staff of the health centre at Rajoke (on Indo-Pak border). This is a clear proof that the government doctors posted in border areas hardly attend to their duties. As the health services in this belt are in a shambles, the residents of the border belt either have to be at the mercy of unregistered medical practitioners or rush to Amritsar, more than 40 km away which can be inconvenient as well as traumatic in case of emergency. The residents of the area have been raising hue and cry for the last so many years to ensure attendance of the government doctors and other medical staff but to no avail. Though the government has posted adequate staff in the border belt but the ‘bunk’ observed by them has worsened the situation. The residents allege that the doctors and the other medical staff absent themselves from duty in connivance with the higher authorities. The non-supply of medicines, including life saving drugs, have also made the situation pitiable. Ironically, some health centres are functioning from the ‘borrowed’ buildings, including a gurdwara, as the department has no buildings of its own. There is a primary health centre (PHC) Rajoke headquarter and community health centre (CHC) at Khemkaran established under the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC). There are eight subsidiary health centres (SHCs) at Chackwalia, Mehandipur, Bhura, Assal, Toot, Bhangala, Varnala and Rajoke under the PHC, Khemkaran. The border town of Valtoha has a mini PHC. Besides, there are eight sub-centres at Cheema, Dasuwal, Dibbipura, Manawan, Mehmoodpura, Maddar, Van Tara Singh and Amarkot to provide first aid to the women especially pregnant mothers and the newly born children. For these health centres a total of 140 posts have been sanctioned, including one post of senior medical officer (SMO) and 14 medical officers. Only eight posts are lying vacant and these comprises two sanitary inspectors (SIs), two of drivers, one of block extension educator and three of multipurpose health workers (MPHW-M). The SHC, Chackwalia, is functioning from a two-room set of the village gurdwara, during a survey of the area, no staff was found on duty except Mr Piara Singh, a peon, who failed to tell about the whereabouts of the remaining staff which include medical officer, one pharmacist, two ANMs and one MPHW. People gathered on the spot told that they hardly seen staff or patients. On visiting the SHC, Varnala, native village of Prof Jagir Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Punjab, the SHC, which is operating from a two-room set of the village gurdwara, was seen locked as neither the MO nor other employees were present there. At mini PHC, Valtoha, at 12-45 p.m. there was only Ms Rajwant Kaur, lab technician. The remaining staff, including the MO, LHV, Pharmacist, ANM, MHW and another lab technician and fourth class employees were not seen there. At this PHC only two patients were given treatment on August 17 and four on August 18. There are residential quarters here but no one lives here. At the SHC, Rajoke, a village having a population of 13,000 where the health department has appointed two medical officers, dental surgeon and LHV, ANM, LT, SMI and two class four employees each, only one class four employee, Mr Balbir Singh and a handicapped employee were present, the second class four employee Kalwant Singh came later on. Mr Nirmal Singh, Sarpanch of village, told that they had complained a number of times to the authorities concerned regarding the nonavailability of the doctors. The sub centres at Dasuwal, Dibbipura, Manawan, Mehmoodpura, Maddar, Wan Tara Singh and Amarkot have no buildings of their own whereas residential quarters at the SHC, Rajoke, are not being used by the staff. However, Dr Harjap Singh Mahal, Senior Medical Officer,
Khemkaran, could not be contacted during the two-day tour of the border belt. When contacted on telephone, he denied that the doctors were absenting themselves from their duties. |
Differences in SAD factions come to fore GURDASPUR, Aug 27 — Differences between two factions of SAD over the election of the district president came to surface here yesterday when the faction headed by Mr Sucha Singh Langah, PWD (B&R) Minister, held a separate meeting at Gurdwara Singh Sabha. The meeting was primarily called to make lists of workers who had spent part of their lives in jails during Akali agitations. But the agenda of the meeting was not followed and the meeting turned out to be a meeting where workers expressed their confidence in Mr Langah and impressed upon the SAD high command to give another term to Mr Langah as district president. Akali sources said there was a controversy regarding the election of the president during the tenure of Mr Langah. But Mr Parkash Singh Badal intervened and sent his son Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal to announce the presidentship in favour of Mr Langah at the meeting held at Gurdwara Burj Sahib at Dhariwal at that time. The election to the post of the president of the district unit of the SAD have not been allegedly held for the past eight years. Mr Langah said he had the support of more than 75 per cent circle jathedars in the district. The other faction, who is supporting the appointment of Mr Kartar Singh Pahra as president of the district unit of SAD, held a meeting at the Panchayat Bhavan here yesterday. The meeting was held to honour Mr Balkrishan Mittal who was recently appointed president of the district unit of the BJP. The meeting, besides Mr Pahra, was attended by Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, and Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation. Workers at both meetings, however, expressed resentment over the treatment of workers by the ministers and officials.  |
Guru’s statue in gurdwara NAKODAR (Jalandhar), Aug 27 — Statues of Guru Gobind Singh and Banda Bahadur have been installed at Nanaksar Thath gurdwara on the outskirts of this township on Malsian road. It is, perhaps, for the first time that a statue of a Sikh guru has been set-up at a religious place. This is in gross violation of Sikh rituals and tenets, according to the SGPC. The practice of idol worship among Sikhs, according to the SGPC, is being encouraged by different “agencies” working actively to erode the basis of Sikhism. A life-size cement statue of Guru Gobind Singh, astride his horse has been there for more than a year at the left side of the sanctum sanctorum. The statue of Banda Bahadur on the right side of the main gurdwara hall is under construction. The Thath gurdwara is headed by Baba Gurbaksh Singh, a disciple of Baba Kundan Singh Nanaksar Kaleranwale, who looks after the sect’s main gurdwara at Kaleran village near Jagraon in Ludhiana district. Baba Gurbaksh Singh, when contacted on the phone, said installing a statue of a guru was not against Sikh rituals since at least six statues of the sixth guru already existed in different gurdwaras in Ludhiana district. However, in the same breath he admitted that the practice of erecting a statue was against the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh. Baba Satnam Singh, one of the “sewadars” at the gurdwara admitted that setting up of a statue in a gurdwara or elsewhere was against the principles of Sikhism. He said initially a number of devotees had opposed the installing of the statue of Guru Gobind Singh at the place, “but it was difficult to undo whatever had been done”. He said keeping in view the sentiments of the “sangat”, a canopy had been constructed over the statue so as to protect it from the vagaries of nature. The SGPC Secretary, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, said raising statues of gurus was violative of established Sikh norms, rituals, and the “rehat maryada”. “Guru Gobind Singh has strongly condemned the practice of idol worship in Dasam Granth and Zafarnama,” he said. He alleged that different “agencies” were behind the move. On the course of action to be adopted by the SGPC on the issue, Dr Bachan said the SGPC could only create awareness among the people. It is up to the people or the Sikh sangat to do anything in this regard. What I can do is to put the matter before the Dharam Prachar Committee of the SGPC, and I will do that,” Dr Bachan said. Badal settles complaints MOGA, Aug 27 — About 50 out of a total of 62 complaints of village panchayats of Moga district were today settled at the sangat darshan programme held at Sekhakalan village in this district by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal . Almost all heads various departments, including the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Sharad Satya Chauhal, were present. While addressing these panchayats, Mr Badal directed all heads of departments to give a sympathetic hearing to the village panchayats and solve their day-to-day problems. He warned there should be no cause of complaint otherwise he would take action against officials concerned. He sanctioned special grants to panchayats for the work being undertaken in villages. FARIDKOT (FOC): The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, inaugurated a complex of the Government High School for Boys at Panj Grain Kalan village, 22 km from here on Sunday. The entire amount of Rs 25 lakh spent on the building was collected through donations with the sincere efforts of villagers. The Chief Minister said the Punjab Government had decided to organise a sangat darshan programme twice a week at each village as a step towards resolving problems. He reiterated the determination of the government to develop the state in every field on top priority basis. during the current financial year, the government would spend more than Rs 2000 crore under this programme. More than 2500 km of new roads would be constructed and others would be repaired. A number of bus stands would be renovated and new bridges brought under development programme. Tenders regarding the construction of roads had already been invited and work would start very soon.
|
|
Trust officials, residents
clash; 2 hurt BARNALA, Aug 27 — Tension has been brewing up in public here following a clash between a team of local Improvement Trust officials and residents of Aabe Basti here today. In the clash, Pritam Singh a Dalit resident of this colony sustained about 50 per cent burn injuries and another resident Bimla Devi sustained head injuries. They were admitted to the Civil Hospital here for
treatment. Bimla Devi, while talking to this reporter in the emergency services wing of the Civil Hospital alleged that she got hurt by the lathi blows of the police. Mr Kewal Singh, president of Aabe Basti, charged the local Improvement Trust authorities with having sinister designs of uprooting Dalit residents living in Aabe Basti (number of houses 100 to 125. He said these residents, whose houses numbered 100 to 125 were living there for past 50 to 60 years having power and water supply connection in their names. This colony is inhabited by a large number of Kumhar community. He alleged that the improvement trust team accompanied by the police used coercive methods to uproot them without offering them any alternative site to rehabilitate them. But Mr Rupinder Singh Sandhu Chairman, Improvement Trust, Barnala, made it clear that the trust authorities had no plans to demolish houses or uproot any Dalit resident. Mr Sandhu said trust team comprising an Executive Officer and
S.O. accompanied by three policemen had gone to inspect the site, for laying a sewage system and constructing road . He asserted the Trust authorities had acted under the due provisions of law. Mr Sandhu said most of residents were illegal occupants of the Trust land and some political parties conspired, to provoke these residents who attacked the
S.O.S. car, breaking his wrist under, well-planned conspiracy. |
|
Police academy hit by financial crunch PHILLAUR, This was stated today by Mr A.A. Siddiqui, Director of the academy while presenting a report about the academy at the passing out parade of 85 trainees held on the academy premises, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort, 22 kms from Ludhiana. Addressing Mr Bikramjit Singh, Principal Secretary, Home Affairs, who was the chief guest at the function, the director sought his help in solving the financial problems faced by the academy. Elaborating the problems, he said a proposal to modernise training at the academy was pending with the government, due to which modernisation of training was being affected. He said the academy needed a modern indoor gymnasium, swimming pool and new library building. A special grant of Rs 1.5 crore was announced by the state government in March 1997, but no funds had been released so far. Besides these, a proposal of increasing incentives given to police personnel posted on deputation at the academy had also been hanging fire, due to which few personnel were willing to get posted here. He said a number of changes were necessary in the way of functioning of the Punjab Police to improve its image. He said a police public school was started with government assistance in the academy for the benefit of wards of police personnel, but the school was also awaiting expansion for want of funds. Mr Bikramjit Singh assured him to take up the matter with the state government. He also stressed on the need to change the way of policing in the state to make it more friendly to the people. He lauded the work done by the Punjab Police during terrorism. He said the academy had played a major role in modernising the functioning of the police. He added that the introduction of various specialised programmes by the academy, aiming at improving the police image and bringing about behavioural and attitudinal changes in the police, were commendable. A total of 85 trainees, who had finished their course today, participated in the passing out parade at a glittering ceremony, sprinkled with shooting skills of policemen, acts of motorcycle-borne cadets and mounted policemen. Besides these, the dog squad of Punjab Police also entertained the audience with the exhibition of its bomb-detection skills and method of catching thieves. Shooter T.S. Dhillon presented his shooting skills. Special prizes were given to cadets winning top positions in their courses. |
|
Akali leader accused of grabbing school land AMRITSAR, Aug 27 — Mr Bhupinder Singh Mann, a former Rajya Sabha member and national president Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) and management of Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Batala, has convened an all-party conference in Batala on August 30 in protest against an alleged attempt to take possession of the school by demolishing its walls recently at the behest of a senior Akali leader. Addressing a joint press conference, here today, Mr Mann, Mr Gurbax Singh Randhawa and Mr Balbir Singh Bhagowalia, president and manager of management committee of Khalsa School, respectively, sought immediate arrest of Mr Jagdish Singh Walia, a senior Akali leader and former Chairman, MARKFED, who allegedly made a vain attempt to “grab” the school building. They claimed that litigation was going on between the
Wakf Board and school management over the ownership of the property and hence any attempt to ‘grab’ the property was in violation of the law.
Zila parishad land to be auctioned GURDASPUR, Aug 27 — Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, talking to The Tribune here today said prime land worth more than Rs 350 crore belonging to zila parishads and panchayat samitis had been identified for sale through open auction. The proceeds of the sale would spent on development activities by his ministry. Mr Kahlon said the land identified for sale was prone to encroachments. Most of the land belonging to zila parishads and panchayat samitis which had been encroached on by private individuals had been cleared off. About 1000 acres which had been encroached would be cleared off very soon. The legal process in this regard was at the final stages. Mr Kahlon said the hue and cry raised by the Congress about mid-term elections in the state was absolutely baseless. The SAD-BJP government would last its full term. Mr Kahlon said elected representatives under Panchayati Raj would be given more powers. The Cabinet sub-committee had already approved it. It would be brought in the Assembly for amendment very soon. The Punjab Government has already ordered Sarpanches to look after government institutions and give a report about their working in the area falling under their jurisdiction. Mr Kahlon said the lease for panchayat land had been increased to Rs 2000 per acre against Rs 1000 per acre earlier. This would enhance the income of panchayats by several crores of rupees. |
|
Women safai karamcharis rule the roost PATIALA, Aug 27 — It may be a man’s world but women rule the roost as far as the Municipal Corporation here is concerned. The city is literally cleaned by them as women safai karamcharis far outnumber their male counterparts in this class. However, contrary to present-day work places where women are sometimes more in demand, the city wants more men on the rolls of the Corporation’s cleaning staff so that the entire operation can be managed more effectively. Presently out of an effective strength of 538 sweepers on the rolls of the corporation, women account for 312. They are also more visible as they are mostly exclusively employed in the task of brooming. The increase in the women staff among the sweepers in the city has occurred in the past eight to 10 years. Nearly 100 women have been adjusted in the corporation following the death of their husbands. The mortality rate among the male sweepers is high as they sometimes fall prey to poisonous gases from sewers. Besides this corporation sources said that many male sweepers had been hastened to their doom due to the high rate of drunkenness among them. This they said, was due to the very nature of their job as well as the tendency of people to bribe them to do extra work by offering them liquor. Whatever the cause of death, their wives were recruited in their place on compassionate grounds, they added. Brooming has been an exclusive preserve of women sweepers in Patiala, with men doing the manual work, including lifting of garbage and sewerage duties. As there has been no recruitment of permanent sweepers in the corporation since the mid eighties, there has not been a corresponding increase in the male work force with the advent of machinery and more sewerage lines. This has led to peculiar problems. On many occasions no male employee can be found to do duty on the trolley of the corporation on which garbage is collected from various sites. Besides this, men are constantly needed for removing blockages as well as cleaning of the city sewers besides water tanks. As the Corporation has to do with the work force at its command the entire operation of lifting of garbage has become difficult to manage. The corporation has partly dealt with the problem of cleaning and collection of garbage in around 40 outer colonies in the city which are not covered by its sweepers by encouraging colony welfare associations to hire their own sweepers for which the corporation also puts in half of the money. However, presently due to lack of male staff, the corporation is having problems in lifting the garbage from the outer colonies through its fleet of tractor trollies. Presently the corporation has a sanctioned strength of 671 sweepers, out of which only 538 posts are filled. Though the corporation has kept some people on daily wage basis, there is no move to increase the strength of the employees as all general recruitment has been stopped by the government. Corporation sources while expressing the urgent need for more male staff said there was no move to recruit more employees and posts rendered vacant following retirement of an employee were also not filled. They said another problem which had crept due to recruitment not having taken place for 15 years was the increase in the average age of employees. They said coupled with this was the problem of wrong declarations, particularly of women, many of whom were still in service even though they were practically overage. City residents feel efforts should be taken to check this anomaly or partly privatise sanitation services. Meanwhile, men will have to wait their turn before they can gain ascendancy amongst the safai karamcharis. Hike in power
tariff resented AMRITSAR, Aug 27 — The Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal has resented the recent hike in power tariff and demanded its immediate withdrawal. They urged the corporation to abolish octroi. Mr Tarsem Lal Jundal, secretary of the mandal, in a press note decried the privatisation of octroi collection leading to harassment of the trading community. They demanded a reduction in the sales tax on a number of items as announced by the Excise and Taxation Minister last month for which a notification had still not come. The mandal further demanded the abolition of purchase return and taxes on all kinds of wastes and the early enforcement of all revised rates of sales tax on all types of yarns announced since April. Meanwhile, the beopar mandal urged the government to withdraw false cases against its president and vice-president Mr Ashwani Kumar Mehta and Mr Satpal Singh Bajaj, respectively and other office-bearers of the Ferozpore Beopar Mandal. They sought a high-level inquiry into the alleged registration of cases against its members.
|
|
Devoted to the downtrodden NAWANSHAHR: The local Lions Club, it seems, is trying to change the public image of clubs by dedicating itself to social service in its true spirit, instead of merely going through the formality of a social service project. Mr Iqbal Singh and Mr A.S. Bhatti, president and secretary of the club respectively, say that club members are being mobilised to dedicate themselves to social service and they have got a good response. Members have started showing an eagerness to help the poor. Citing the example of an accident in which jhuggis of about 38 migrant labourers were gutted in a fire few months ago at Rahon, Mr Iqbal Singh says that he along with his club members visited the site and as per the need of the affected families. The club provided them 38 tarpaulins to enable them to rebuilt their jhuggis. Similarly, timely help was also provided to a youth to enable him to undergo treatment at Ludhiana for burns, he added. The club had also sent liberal donations for the welfare of the families of Kargil martyrs and victims of the Orissa cyclone. A tree plantation drive was held recently during which saplings were planted at the gaushala, cremation grounds and along the roadsides. It also observed Pinglaghar Day to commemorate the memory of Bhagat Puran Singh, founder of the Pingalwara, Amritsar, at the local Doaba Kushat Ashram and distributed fruit among ashram inmates. A function was organised to commemorate the memory of Mother Teresa at Rahon and distributed fruits among school children. The club has decided to adopt schools being run by a prominent social worker, Mr Naubat Rai, to teach the children of jhuggi dwellers, he added. Besides, the club has regularly been organising free medical check-up camps. A “jan kalyan divas” was also observed in which sewing machines, tricycles and blankets, etc were distributed among widows and the handicapped. The club plans to honour dedicated teachers of the area on Teachers Day (Sept 5). It has also been providing help to the needy students and honouring brilliant students. The club recently held a “drug de-addiction camp” to mobilise the youth to wage a war against the addiction, Mr Iqbal Singh pointed out. Handicapped
persons for shifting of job office BATHINDA, Aug 27 — The handicapped persons of the district are a harassed lot as the newly opened employment office in the city has been opened on the third floor of the employment complex. In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Jora Singh, senior vice-president, Physical Handicapped Association, Faridkot, alleged that it was very difficult for them to climb up the stairs to reach the office. First they had to go to Chandigarh. He pointed out that there were 15 per cent handicapped persons in Punjab but no one was representing them in the Vidhan and the Lok Sabha. Seats should be reserved for the handicapped in both the Houses of the Parliament, he demanded. He alleged that the government had decreased the travel allowance for the handicapped from Rs 225 to 150. The travel allowance should be increased to Rs 500 per month, he added. He said the state government should provide all facilities to the handicapped which were mentioned on the identity cards of handicapped issued by Social Security Department. He added that the handicapped persons, too, were the healthy and active part of society. He alleged that the government had adopted discriminatory attitude towards the handicapped. He said all handicapped of Bathinda and Faridkot districts would launch agitation to protect their rights and interests.
Watch Patiala on the Internet PATIALA, Aug 27 — The website www.Patialvi.com was launched at the office of Web Solutions Pilli Sarak by Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Takht Shri Kesgarh Sahib, here toady. The website will provide information on the history, heritage, trade, tourist spots and the other aspects of Patiala and its people. With the launch of this website, information about schools, colleges, hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants, fire stations and ambulance services of the town will be available on the Internet. The site also offers e-shopping and free e-mail services. The website also provides links to matrimonials, e-loans and sale-purchase of old vehicles etc. |
|
CPI leader’s appeal
to Opposition AMRITSAR, Aug 27 — Mr Satyapal Dang, veteran CPI leader, yesterday appealed to all opposition parties in the Punjab Assembly and Akali and BSP MLAs to force the state government during the monsoon session to agree to appoint a special committee to go into the problems and difficulties of terrorist-victim families in the state. These included entitlement for jobs on a priority basis which had so far been misinterpreted on the pretext of the Supreme Court judgement. Besides, a regular flow of pensions to the aggrieved families. Mr Dang questioned the wisdom and integrity of the government which could appoint a committee to go into the details of anti-Sikh riots but had not appointed a similar committee to go into the grievances of terrorist affected families. |
|
PSEB engineers
resent BBMB move on officers CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The PSEB Engineers Association has resented the move of the BBMB to create its own cadre of Class I and II officers in “contravention” of the rules and regulations. The BBMB does not have its own cadre of officers and they are taken from the partner states according to the prescribed quota. The recent employment advertisement issued by the BBMB in this connection is irregular. Moreover, the requirements regarding qualification and experience have been “tailor-made” to favour particular persons. The BBMB’s move will prove detrimental to the interests of the partner states, said Mr Purshotam Lal Garg, regional secretary of the association. The association also noted with concern that the BBMB had given an important post of the rank of SE/Director of the HPSEB in its corporate office even though the HPSEB does not qualify for this on the basis of its quota. The association wanted the BBMB to appoint a suitable officer from the PSEB to the post as per the prescribed quota. |
|
Farid award for honesty announced FARIDKOT, Aug 27 — Mr Hem Raj Mittal, former Chairman of the Service Selection Board, Punjab, has been selected for Baba Farid Award for honesty in public life by Baba Farid Society. In a press note issued here today, Mr Inderjit Singh Khalsa, Chairman, Baba Farid Society, said the society had instituted three awards for three different categories and selection of the persons who
would be given award had been done by the governing body of the three organisations of Baba Farid Society. He said Sant Amar Singh of Forezepore cantonment had been selected for Bhagat Puran Singh Award for his selfless service to the suffering
section of humanity. Mr Harnam Singh, Additional Sessions Judge (retd), and Mr Girdhari Lal Chopra,Additional Session Judge (retd), had also been selected jointly for this award for their honesty in judicial services. He said the awards would be presented on September 23 here on the occasion of the concluding day of the three-day Baba Farid mela. An appreciation certificate, a shawl and Rs 51,000 in cash would be given to each awardee. Demolition of
building stayed SANGRUR, Aug 27 — The District Judge, Mr
R.M. Gupta, yesterday stayed the demolition of a historical building “Frashkhana” which was being demolished for the past several days. The court has stayed the demolition drive till September 26 on an appeal filed by Mr D.S. Dalee, Mr Baljit Singh and Mr Sat Pal Sharma, all local advocates. Earlier, they filed a suit for permanent injunction restraining the Punjab Government through the District Collector and the Contractor from demolishing the building situated near the local Pheruman Chowk in the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) here. AMRITSAR, Aug 27 — Lt-Gen B.S. Malik, Chief of Staff, Western Command, visited the Golden Temple today. He was accompanied by his wife. They paid their obeisance at the sanctum-sanctorum. The General and his wife offered their prayers for the well-being of the soldiers, their families and for the prosperity of the people of Punjab and nation.
Air-defence units to be modernised JALANDHAR, Aug 27 — The Defence Ministry has decided to modernise all air defence regiments in the country within four years. Let-Gen A. Mukherjee, while addressing a gathering at the golden jubilee celebrations of 105 Air Defence Regiment said computer-operated guns would be provided to the troops to face the increasing threat from the neighbouring country. He said the air-defence system was very important in modern warfare.
|
New bus fares after survey: DC BATHINDA, Aug 27 — Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, has given directions with regard to a special survey to be conducted to decide the bus fares of different routes in the district. In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Jaspal Singh said the bus fares of different routes would be decided according to the 49/51 policy of the Punjab Government. He added that the bus fare would be ignored if it was less than 50 paise but a rupee would be charged where it would be more than 50 paise. He added that the administration had set up the various teams to check the bus fares of the different routes. Meanwhile, the Bharati Kisan Union (EKTA) has urged the authorities concerned to implement the 49/51 fare policy of the government to avoid exploitation of passengers. In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Jhanda Singh, district president,
BKU (EKTA) said although the Punjab government and the Regional Transport Officer, Ferozepore had directed the department concerned that the fare from Bathinda to Rampura was Rs 13 and from Bathinda to Bhucho the fare was Rs 6. The bus owners were charging Rs 15 and Rs 8, respectively from Bathinda to Rampura and Bhucho. He alleged that the authorities concerned were not listening to the people seriously and the bus owners were making money by exploiting the passengers. He added that the BKU would launch agitation against the authorities if the bus fare policy of the state Government was not implemented. |
Six held for
KLF terrorist’s escape JALANDHAR, Aug 27 — The district
police has unravelled a major conspiracy hatched in the local Central Jail for escape of Khalistan Liberation Force terrorist, Jasbir Singh Jassa, from Nabha jail, by arresting six persons and recovering a gypsy used by them in the escape of Jassa on August
21. Jassa, was lodged in the local jail and had escaped form the custody of Patiala police form Nabha courts on August 21 with the help of three unidentified persons, in a white
gypsy. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said during the investigation into the conspiracy, it was revealed that the conspiracy was hatched in the local jail by Jassa and his two KLF associates, Ram Singh and Jagtar Singh and Sukhwinder Singh and Karnail Singh, who were in the jail on murder
charges. Amrit Pal Singh, alias Jangi, Bhupinder Singh, Bhupi and Nishan Singh, Billa, had helped Jassa escape from the custody of the police officials by using a white gypsy (Pb-08-5265), provided to them by Baj Singh, a brother of Karnail Singh. Manjinder Singh, brother of Sukhwinder Singh, alias Sukha, used to visit the jail to meet his brother and it was through him that Sukha gave directions to Amrit Pal Jangi, Nishan Singh and Bhupinder for carrying out the escape. On August 21, they accosted the police party escorting Jassa and forcibly took away Jassa from
them. Mr Yadav said Nishan Singh, alias Billa, was arrested at a naka near Maqsudan Chowk on August 26 and a .12 bore pistol along with two cartridges was recovered form him while three others were still at large. |
|
Two killed in
bus-car collision LUDHIANA, Aug 27 (PTI) — Two persons were killed in a head on collision between a car and a bus near Mullanpur on Ludhiana-Ferozepore road, 15 km from here, late Saturday evening. According to the police the victims were coming to Ludhiana in a car when a private bus coming from the opposite side collided with the car. They died on the spot and the car was badly smashed. The victims were identified as Avtar Singh (34) and Suraj Prakashm (50). The police here today handed over the dead bodies to the members of their respective families after the post-mortem. |
Lack of funds hits projects ANANDPUR SAHIB: The local polytechnic college was one of the many ambitious projects started by the Punjab government during the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth. The college was planned as one of the finest polytechnics in the state to give impetus to technical education in the area. The total cost of this project at that time was estimated to be Rs 11.04 crore. In the heat of the moment the government released Rs 1 crore for this college with which a portion of the mechanical wing of the college and a few staff quarters were constructed. However, just after the conclusion of the celebrations in April 1999, the funds for this polytechnic project dried up. Since May 5, 1999, no funds have been released to continue the construction work. The contractors have stopped work as their dues have not been cleared for the past one year. The work on the local Industrial Training Institute (ITI) has also come to a standstill. The total cost of the ITI building was estimated at Rs 1.42 crore. During the tercentenary celebrations Rs 51.67 lakh was sanctioned for it. Out of which the payment of Rs 34 lakh has been made. The work on this project has been stopped due to lack of funds. Most villagers of the area have lost their agriculture land for developing these technical education institutes. They say if these institutes become functional, it not only will access to technical education but also boost the sagging economy of the area. |
|
Orders not to
shift school BATHINDA, Aug 27 — The Civil Judge (Junior Division) here has restrained the Principal of Saint Paul’s High School to shift the school from the power house road to Adarsh Nagar (East) till August 31, following an application by the action committee of parents. The committee had urged the authorities not to allow the Principal to shift the school as it was difficult for them to send their children by bus. The parents said most of the students studying in the school were from the city but the school was being shifted to a new place, 7 km away from the city. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
