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| Monday, September 4, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Choice falls on Dhindsa’s son
Announcement expected today Chandumajra
reluctant to oblige BJP opposes scrapping
of Article 356 Assembly session likely to be stormy Paddy purchase from Sept 15: Badal Dasmesh students to be linked to US school |
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Artistes pushed out of ‘business’
Ex-minister flays
anti-Dalit step Power
theft: SDO, 6JEs suspended Cops overworked, in ill health Marriage of 160 poor
persons solemnised Badal lauds PR
Dept film Plays used to hone kids' skills Demolition of Kaur Sahab
ki Haveli begins Flyover planned
for Sangrur
PCS staff oppose seniority refixing Another chance for
terrorist-hit
Gangsters kill woman Youth beaten up Booked for
bigamy Bank MD booked
for embezzling Kargil funds
Fight malpractices by
universities, Dang tells students
‘Exempt milk plants from cess’
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Choice falls on Dhindsa’s son BATHINDA, Sept 3 — Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, son of Union Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, is likely to be the SAD-BJP candidate for the Sunam byelection scheduled for September 29. Highly placed sources said a formal announcement in this regard was to be made by party President Parkash Singh Badal soon. Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, General Secretary, SAD and Member of Parliament, talking to TNS at Talwandi Sabo today, said the party had “almost decided” to field Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa for the Sunam seat. There was no better candidate than him at the moment, he said. A formal announcement regarding the decision would be made by Mr Badal after a Political Affairs Committee meeting at Chandigarh tomorrow. The Sunam seat fell vacant after the death of MLA and former minister Bhagwan Dass Arora who had won this seat in 1992 and 1997. Party sources said Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa had been chosen as the candidate owing to various factors, including a strong recommendation of his name by Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal. Mr Sukhbir Singh and Mr Parminder Singh were said to be very close” and the latter is trying to project Mr Sukhbir Singh as the further leader of the party and Punjab. Also, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, a senior member of the SAD, tasted defeat in this constituency in 1997 at the hands of Mr Arora. Mr Surmukh Singh Mokha, who contested as an Independent in 1997, managed to get 20,000 votes, thus leading to the defeat of Mr Dhindsa since the Akali votes were divided. Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Punjab Science and Technology Minister, in charge of the Sunam election said this time the SAD-BJP candidate would register an emphatic win over candidates of other major parties. He claimed that the people would vote for the development works carried out by Mr Badal and Mr Dhindsa in the area. He claimed the Congress stood divided at the moment and this would be to the advantage of the SAD-BJP candidate. The Congress has been finding it difficult to find a suitable candidate for the byelection. Differences between PPCC President Amarinder Singh and former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal have made the task of the party high command in selection a suitable candidate difficult. The Congress high command is considering the names of Mrs Parmeshwari Devi, widow of Bhagwan Dass Arora, and Mr Surmukh Singh Mokha, an associate of SHSAD President G.S. Tohra, for the seat. Both candidates have the backing of different party factions. Sources say the CPI is likely to offer its support to the Congress candidate. |
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Chandumajra
reluctant to oblige PATIALA, Sept 3 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal today put off its decision on the party candidate for the Sunam Assembly byelection after former MP and party General Secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra, expressed reluctance to enter the fray working committee meeting here. Party sources said there was general consensus at the meeting, which was also attended by senior Akali leader Raviinder Singh, that Mr Chandumajra should be the party nominee for the Sunam byelection. However the Akali leader said the party must explore other possibilities too. The meeting was attended by almost all important leaders of the party, including former ministers Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Inderjit Singh Zira, Harmail Singh Tohra, Manjit Singh Calcutta and Surjit Singh Kohli. Earlier, a meeting was organised to elect the district president of the party. Present incumbent Rajinder Singh Tohra was elected unanimously. |
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BJP opposes scrapping
of Article 356 PHAGWARA, Sept 3 — Mr Balramji Das Tandon, Local Bodies Minister, Punjab and a senior BJP leader yesterday opposed the SAD demand for scrapping of Article 356, rewriting preamble of Constitution and amending Article 25. Addressing a press conference here last night, Mr Tandon was presenting his party's perception vis-a-vis the SAD memorandum submitted by the Punjab Chief Minister and SAD President Parkash Singh Badal to the Constitution Review Commission in Delhi early this week. On Article 25, Mr Tandon said the BJP believed that though Sikhs had a separate identity, they were part of national mainstream. They were not a separate nation, he quipped. Though practitioners of a separate faith, Sikhs, particularly Akalis, had adopted the Moga declaration in 1996 that stood for Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiat and which was the basis of BJP's coalition alliance in Punjab and at the Centre with them, continued Mr Tandon. Article 25 also envisioned that Hindu, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, all belonged to one "dhara" (mainstream). Regarding Article 356 he advocated that the power to impose the President’s rule should remain with the Centre. Denying that there were fissures in the SAD-BJP alliance, he said both parties had different perceptions on certain issues but Mr Tandon said they were solid like rock and victory would be theirs not only in Sunam byelection but in the next general elections. |
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Assembly session likely to be stormy CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 —The two-day Punjab Vidhan Sabha session starting here tomorrow is expected to be stormy with the Congress, CPI and Bahujan Samaj Party are threatening to raise various issues, including paddy procurement and power bills . The session has assumed tremendous significance after the announcement of dates for the Sunam byelection. "The Opposition is ready to floor the SAD-BJP combine on paddy procurement, law and order and power issues. The Government wants to avoid discussions on these important issues by limiting the session to only two days.," said Mr Jagjit Singh, leader of the Congress Legislative Party. Both the Congress and CPI are also determined to raise the issue of Anandgarh. The issue of paddy procurement, which is expected to be the main issue in the Sunam byelection, has been bothering the farming community of the state. Though paddy has started arriving in the grain markets, the state agencies have reiterated that they would start their operations from October 1 ,as originally scheduled. At present, the farmers are being forced to make distress sale of paddy throughout the State. Five different organisations of farmers have already given a call for a march to Punjab Vidhan Sabha on September 5. These organisations are busy mobilising public support for the march. On the other hand, the ruling SAD-BJP alliance would like to rush through the session as all members of the Council of Ministers of the State have already been assigned duties for the Sunam byelection . Some of the Bills, including one on the setting up of the Dairy Board in the State, are expected to be tabled during the session. |
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Paddy purchase from Sept 15: Badal TALWANDI SABO, Sept 3 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said today that procurement of paddy would start in Punjab markets by the central as well as state agencies from September 15. Mr Badal, who was here to inaugurate the first modern bus stand constructed by the PRTC, said he had a long discussion with Consumer Affairs Minister Shanta Kumar in this connection and Mr Kumar had agreed to start procurement of paddy from September 15. Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP who was accompanying Mr Badal said that there was nothing to worry as the procurement of paddy would start from September 15. Later addressing the gathering, Mr Badal announced that computer centres would be set up at each focal point of the state to generate employment opportunities for the rural youth. He added that the scheme would be started from Bathinda district. At the focal points complaint centres would be opened also for the convenience of the people and Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police would take up these complaints on priority. He added that at the focal points, the rates of foodgrains items in the nook and corner of state would be displayed for the use of farmers. Gradually, the international rates of these items would be displayed also. He said that the Punjab government had decided to modernise 130 bus stands in the state in this year. Some of new bus stands would be set up while the existing bus stands would be equipped with modern facilities for the convenience of passengers. He said that apart from it, the state highways and district roads would be strengthened. Old road unworthy buses would be replaced. He said that for the over all development of Talwandi Sabo town, the Punjab government would give liberal funds. He added that projects for eradicating the waterlogging in some villages, laying down of underground sewerage and construction of streets and drains would be prepared and executed shortly. Mr Amarjit Singh Member, Punjab Public Service Commission, who was present on the occasion got appreciation from MD, PRTC, Mr Vikas Partap. Mr Raghubir Singh, Transport Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Mr Sikander Singh (ministers) Mr Makhan Singh and Mr Balbir Singh (MLAs) were present on the occasion. |
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Dasmesh students to be linked to US school CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — Prompted by the love of his parents for their motherland, 17-year-old Samvir Singh Sidhu has taken upon himself the onerous task of establishing a distant learning centre of his alma mater in Patiala. A student of Grade 12 in The Hill School in Pottstown , Philadelphia, USA, young Sammy-- as he is called by his friends-- has formed a society to raise funds for this ambitious project. He is the founder President of The Hill School Entrepreneurs' Club. "We collected about $68,000 between April and June this year from corporations like the IBM, Solomon Smith Barney, Merill Lynch, Lehman Brothers and Sovereign Bank for the initial provision of 30 computer terminals with their CPUs and a server. Microsoft has offered a software donation for the project. These computers have arrived and are being installed at Dasmesh Public School. Once sufficient band width is available, the faculty of my school in Pottstown will take to online teaching of students admitted to Dasmesh Public School. Otherwise, the local faculty will conduct classes on Information technology and computers at this Patiala school." "Among the trustees of this school at Patiala are some eminent citizens, including famous eye surgeon, Dr Dhanwant Singh, and academician, Dr Bhagat Singh, a former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University," says Sammy, whose father, Mr J.S. Sidhu, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sovereign Bankcorp, America's 25th largest Bank, whose capital is equal to the size of the State Bank of India. "My son, Sammy, has been working on this ambitious plan of setting up an Internet-based technology centre at Dasmesh Public School at Patiala. I helped him raise about Rs 25 lakh from US corporations as donations for this noble venture. The idea is that latest technology should be made available to our children in India, free of cost. This centre will be eventually hooked with a similar centre at The Hill School, to make it possible for students in Patiala to attend combined classes in technology with The Hill School students in Pottstown, simultaneously, all over the Internet," Mr Sidhu Sr said. Talking to The Tribune here, Mr Sidhu said that if the Punjab Government agreed, he would like to approach all successful Punjabis in the USA and ask them for financial commitment to support the similar centres all over Punjab so that this state progresses ahead of both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in technology within the next five to six years. Sammy says that initially classes would be held in Word processing, understanding Windows, using the web for research and information, web design, setting up a business on the web and basic software development for students of Grade 12 and above. The classes will be held after school hours. |
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Artistes pushed out of ‘business’
JALANDHAR, Sept 3 — Cultural troupes, singers and other artistes and their foreign-based promoters find themselves pushed out of “business” owing to stringent measures adopted by embassies to prevent the illegal flow of people to their lands. Sending people of the region to foreign lands had become a brisk business for artistes and their promoters since 1995 till embassies of different countries realised the gravity of the situation and laid stringent norms for visas to their accompanists towards the end of 1999. This has resulted in a drastic cut in the income of these artistes. But the shrewd among them continue to flourish. According to conservative estimates anybody desirous of settling in his “land of dreams” had to pay anything between Rs 6-Rs 8 lakh to the singers and sports and culture promoters who would take him or her as a member of their troupe. While this allowed most artistes to boost their income and make “benami”property worth crores in different cities of the region, it left some less fortunate ones in distress. Some were deceived by their foreign promoters even after having paid huge amounts to them in advance. At least three such middle-level Punjab singers are at present in a debt trap and face threats from those from whom they took huge amounts but failed to deliver since their promoters abroad gobbled up the entire money without doing anything in return. One such singer, who was in the business in the early nineties, is reported to have sold his house to pay back the money to prospective migrants. A renowned Punjabi pop and folk singer, who claims to have taken more than 100 foreign aspirants as parts of his various tours to Europe, confided that those like him had been pushed “out of the business” due to the increased vigil on the part of the embassies. Now only four of five persons could accompany them to foreign tours. The embassies kept a close watch whether the accompanists returned along with the singer or not. “Moreover, now the embassies, in some cases, even take a test of accompanists like tabla and guitar players to see whether they can actually play the instruments or not. In most cases, visas are granted to only those who have been part of the troupe of an artiste for long,” he said. Another artistes, requesting anonymity, said the latest trend was to send people abroad as part of a shooting crew of a video or feature film. The entire focus had now shifted from Punjab to Chandigarh, Delhi and Mumbai. Many audio product companies of the region had shifted to making videos of their audio products, he said. After the restrictions, most promoters have charged their modus operandi and have started exploring comparatively lesser known fields like games, particularly karate and martial arts. They float sports clubs abroad and send invitations to some of their contacts for participation in some “championship or competition” to be organised by them. Their partner in turn, send groups of “sportspersons” after charging hefty amounts, anything between Rs 6 to Rs 8 lakh each. |
Ex-minister flays anti-Dalit step JALANDHAR Sept 3 — Former Punjab Minister Santokh Singh Chaudhary has criticised the recent action of the Punjab Government by scrapping the roster system, applied at the time of giving promotions to the Scheduled Caste employees. Mr Chaudhary said by resorting to the abolition of the 30-year-old roster system the Punjab Government on one hand had proved its ‘‘anti-Dalit’’ attitude and on the other hand had denied opportunity of promotion to Dalits in accordance with the reservation policy. ‘‘It has adversely affected the Scheduled Caste employees since now they can avail promotion at the entry level only.’’ Actually, the government has snatched the right to promotion from Dalits by citing and misinterpreting the Janjua judgement of the Supreme Court. ‘‘But nowhere in the judgement, the Supreme Court has mentioned anything about the present reservation policy in connection with the promotions,’’ he said. Mr Chaudhary said Punjab was the first state in the country where the Dalits’ right to promotion had been curtailed. He said he was amazed to learn that in spite of such an ‘‘anti-Dalit’’ step by the government, none of Dalit Akali ministers or MLAs had come forward to condemn
it.
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Power
theft: SDO, 6JEs suspended AMRITSAR, Sept 3 — A task force of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has detected 75 cases of power theft in the border belt in connivance with Board officials and suspended an SDO, six junior engineers, linemen and assistant linemen. According to official reports, the raids were made under a special drive launched against power theft. The PSEB has also recovered Rs 2.50 crore from those found indulging in power theft. The sources said the power theft, detected by the flying squad, was just a tip of the ice-berg. Big industrialists stealing power are yet to be brought to book due to their political connections. Official sources revealed that the Board officials helping the consumers steal power would pocket Rs 5,000 per connection. Many power motors were found unauthorised. |
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Cops overworked, in ill health AMRITSAR, Sept 3 (PTI) — Notwithstanding the end of terrorism in Punjab, cops continue to be overworked exposing them to ill health with hypertension and diabetes being the most common disease, a report has said. An annual medical report compiled on the basis of medical examination of 3,000 policemen in Amritsar and Majitha police districts said around 20 to 25 per cent of the cops were fond suffering from hypertension while another 10 to 15 per cent were diabetic with symptoms of anaemia, hyper-acidity, liver problem, anxiety-neurosis, depression, epilepsy among others. The report prepared by medical officer of Amritsar Police hospital, Dr Swarnjit Dhawan, noted that hypertension among policemen was mainly due to the burden of work, high alcohol consumption, dietary habits and their lack of awareness to proper treatment of the illness. “A large number of cops were not aware of what they were suffering from and they visited quacks for treatment,” Dr Dhawan said, adding but now their attitude has changed completely and they are coming out openly with their problems. “Their main grouse is that they have always to live under tension and are overstretched,” Dr Dhawan said in the report. The report laid stress on regular counselling for the cops through distribution of literature on hypertension, diabetes, depression and other diseases to enhance their health awareness. Under the project, patients with acute problem would be treated clinically while others would be given spiritual advice and tips to lead a tension-free life. Appreciating response from the cops Dr Dhawan said a personal health card was being maintained for the cops and they have started coming for a regular check up. Plans are afoot to upgrade the hospital, he said, adding a clinical laboratory has been set up for better diagnosis of diseases. Besides a number of welfare activities have been planned with special focus on interaction with the families of the policemen, said the district police chief Parampal Singh Sidhu who believes that family problems add up to the woes of the already tense policemen. |
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Marriage of 160 poor
persons solemnised FARIDKOT, Sept 3 — It was memorable day in the history of Kot Kapura, 12 km from here when the marriage of 160 couples mostly belonging to weaker section were solemnised in a day today in the town. Three pairs have arrived from Himachal Pradesh. The function was arranged by Dera Bhai Amir Singh headed by Sant Makhan Singh Amritsar. More than 20000 people from different sections besides heads of various religions and political parties attended the function to bless the newly wedded. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Sant Mangal Singh Head Sant Samaj, Giani Puran Singh former Jathedar Akal Takht, Bibi Gurcharan Kaur senior vice-president BJP Punjab and Mr Mantar Singh MLA (SAD) were among those who also joins the occasion. Each couple was provided with two beddings with a double bed, six pairs of suits, 38 utensils and other essential items of household. Praising the society for performing such a noble cause, Chief Minister Parkesh Singh Badal appealed the other religious and social organisations to follow the same in the interest of the society. He assured that the state government would give all sort of help to voluntary organisations for mitigating sufferings of poor people. Lunch was served to all participants on the occasion. Later talking to reporters, Sant Baba Makhan Singh said that the organisation had already solemnised marriages of more than 500 couples during the past few years at different stations in Punjab. He said that the society was also running Sant Kirpal Singh Seva Panthi Public School at Neelon in Ludhiana district to promote better education among the students of rural areas. It is affiliated with CBSE New Delhi. He further stated that 40 acres of land has also been acquired at Mansa to set up another higher secondary school for education. The work on this project would start soon. It has also been proposed to start engineering college in some rural area to impart better technical education. The station in this regard will be announced shortly. The main aim of his organisation is to provide better facilities to the poor class so that they could also avail proper opportunities in serving the
nation. |
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Badal lauds PR
Dept film CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, yesterday appreciated the efforts of the Information and Public Relations Department of the state for producing a film “Pragti Anandpur Sahib” aimed at highlighting the overall developmental activities undertaken by the state government at Sri Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of Khalsa tercentenary celebrations. After viewing the film at Punjab Bhavan on Friday Mr Badal expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the Public Relations Department. He said the state government had embarked upon an ambitious action plan to expedite the pace of information and publicity at the grassroot level in the state. |
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Plays used to hone kids' skills BATHINDA: The two-day Children's Theatre Festival organised by Natkhat, an academy for all-round development of children, at the open-air theatre in Rose Garden here recently, explored the hidden artistic skills of children who, on the one hand, made people laugh and, on the other, proved to be creative and thinking. The festival gave the signal that children are not born only to carry the "big bag" from home to school and back; they should be given the chance and time to enjoy childhood which comes once in a life. The children are not products used by parents to fulfill their desires. Children have their own personality which should be fully developed in the way they like. During the festival, about 40 children presented 70 different items including choreography, action-songs, poems, skits, monoacting and humorous items. The play "Lakh ki Nak" was a satire on corruption and showed the hidden face of society. The play 'Two-in-One' painted the mentality of false leaders and sadhus. The plays "Bhondu Raja", "Joker-Joker", "Chhote Bhand, Bade Bhand", Lalten di Vapsi", "Dr Maut Singh" and "Bahane" were staged effectively by the children aged between four and 13. The play "Dio Uncle" was based on the innocent villagers who were cheated by clever and cunning people (see picture). Mr Tony Batish, director of the festival, while talking to TNS said the aim of "Natkhat" was to provide the right atmosphere to children so that they could develop their skills and could become a healthy organ of society. He said he would be the happiest person if the children developed artistic skills. Child artistes Kulwinder Singh, Jaspuran Dhillon, Gurveer Singh, Lovepreet Sharma, Satbirpal Singh Sidhu, Pardeep Sra, Arashdeep Garewal, Sumanpreet Sharma, Anmolpreet Ghani, Lovedeep Kaur and Rajkamal Preet Kaur mostly acted in the plays. Mr Manikant Batish was the make-up man while Ms Natika Batish prepared the choreography. Mr Jatinder Jain, SSP, was the chief guest and Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, president of the Municipal Council, presided over the festival. |
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Demolition of Kaur Sahab
ki Haveli begins PATIALA, Sept 3 — It took Rs 5 lakh by Maharaja Karam Singh to construct the magnificent Kaur Sahab ki Haveli in the city for his younger son. Contractor Harkeerat Singh is getting Rs 13 lakh to demolish the haveli so that the ‘optimum utilisation’ of the land can be made by the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA). For the residents of the city a priceless part of their history is being wiped out. The demolition of the haveli spread over three acres of prime land in the city, started yesterday afternoon. The contractor has already demolished the main gate leading to the haveli and workers are bringing down the boundary wall. Only part of the main building has been touched till yet with workers bringing down the nearby barrack style construction which was the Faraash Khana (stores) of the Patiala state and the boundary wall. Even though the building has been declared unsafe since 1988 and orders for its demolition passed few months ago, the contractor is going to take three months to demolish the building. This is because the masonry is very sturdy and difficult to bring down, says the contractor who is supervising the entire operation. A visit to the site and inspection of the double storeyed structure revealed that it could have been maintained if the Public Works (Building and Roads) wing, which had been entrusted with its care so desired. A number of employees are still living in the building despite the demolition exercise having started. Om Parkash, an employee of the PWD (B and R), who is living on the first floor, said his living quarters were there for all to see. He said none of the roofs of the rooms occupied by him leaked. Others said the condition of the building had deteriorated in the past 10 to 12 years as the department concerned did not carry out any repair work. The building could be maintained even now if parts of it which had been badly damaged could be strengthened, they added. Om Prakash said though he would be shortly vacating the premises as he had been allotted alternative accommodation, he had not been served with any eviction notice. Around four to five families are still living in the main building. Even more disturbing is the large scale vandalisation which has taken place in the haveli. Most of the government employees living in the haveli have taken windows, doors and even intricately carved wooden frames with them upon leaving the premises. A visit to the haveli reveals that most of the doors, windows and frames are missing. However they are present wherever people are still residing. The most recent case of vandalisation occurred yesterday when part of the door in a room which had been intricately carved, disappeared from the premises last night. Half of door had been taken out of its frame by workers yesterday. Harkeerat Singh said workers had left part of the door in the building itself last night and that it was found missing today. People of the city who are interested that its heritage be protected and attempts be made to exploit its tourism potential by restoring historical buildings in the city are dismayed at the development. Patiala INTACH chapter President Raja Malwinder Singh has tried to stop the demolition of the haveli. Besides this the local PUDA office has received representations from several citizens to ensure the historical building is not lost. The building was constructed in 1805 by Maharaja Karam Singh as a residence for his younger son. Later it acquired the nomenclature ‘Kaur Sahab ki Haveli’ after Kaur Sahab its occupant in 1857. Kaur Sahab had to vacate the haveli and leave for Hardwar after the mutiny of 1857 in which he had assisted Bahadur Shah Zafar. The then Maharaja Narinder Singh had pleaded with the British Government that Kaur Sahab had acquired spiritual tastes and should not be charged with treason for helping Bahadaur Shah. The British Government agreed on the condition that he leave Patiala State. The
British Government banished Kaur Sahab from the kingdom
but his legacy still lives through the haveli. Now even
this is likely to be obilterated with the demolition of
the building. |
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Flyover planned
for Sangrur SANGRUR, Sept 3 — Mr Ranjit Singh Ballian, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Punjab, yesterday said that a flyover on the railway-level-crossing on the Sangrur-Dhuri road here would be constructed soon. He was addressing a blood donation camp at Sohian village about 3 km from here. Mr Ballian said the government had also planned a bypass road near Mastuana Sahib for the Patran-Sangrur-Barnala vehicular traffic. He said the government had already started survey on this project. He also disclosed that to check the monkeys menace, the government had planned to erect ring barbed wire around the Sohian Beer at a cost of Rs 67 lakh. With the erection of barbed wire, the standing crops of Sohian and other nearby villages would be protected from the monkeys, he added. |
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Record power
generation at
Lehra Mohabbat plant BATHINDA, Sept 3 — Mr Subhash Bansal, Chief Engineer, Operation and Maintenance, Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP), Lehra Mohabbat near here said yesterday that two units of 210 MW each at this plant achieved an all-time record power generation of 3066 lakh units in August 2000 operating at a plant load factor (PLF) of 98.10 per cent. In a press note issued here yesterday he said that the Central Electricity Authority had set a production target of 2650 lakh units for this plant. This new record had beaten up their own previous record set in January 2000 when the plant produced 3036 lakh units at 97.17 per cent
PLF.
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Eye surgeon
honoured AMRITSAR, Sept 3 — World renowned eye surgeon Daljit Singh was honoured with the first Bawa Balwant Award at an impressive function organised by the Sahit Vichar Kender at Guru Teg Bahadur College here today. The award, which carries a citation and a memento, was presented by Dr Harbhajan Singh Soch, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, on behalf of the Sahit Vichar Kender, Dr Kulbir Singh Kang. Eminent Punjabi critic, Dr S. Tarsem, general secretary, Kenderi Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Prof Kirpal Singh Kasel, prominent Punjabi critic, Mr Darshan Darvesh, Mr Parminderjit Singh, Mr Ajaib Singh Hundal, Mr Harbhajan Bajwa, Mr R.S. Bindra, Principal Nanak Singh and Dr Iqbal Kaur were among those present. Dr Attarjit Kaur Suri presented a paper on the contribution of Dr Daljit Singh in the field of Punjabi literature and eye surgery. |
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Girl killed in
mishap PHAGWARA, Sept 3 — In an accident involving a car and a scooter, a girl Parveen died while two other persons sustained injuries near Dhadda village on the Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road today. Hailing from Peeparangi, the girl was returning from Hariana Bhunga, it was learnt. |
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A clarification CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — Mr D.S. Bhullar, Additional Director-General of Police, Punjab, has clarified that he is no more under suspension. He said that he was reinstated in December last. On March 3 this year, he was appointed Additional Director-General of Police, V&S, Punjab State Electricity Board, Patiala. |
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Paddy crop hit
by diseases MOGA, Sept 3 — Farmers of several villages under Baghapurana police station in the district today complained that their paddy crop which was ready for harvesting had been considerably damaged following various diseases, including “Telas Chitta Ghotra”. They said that the leaves of the paddy crop had turned dry and yellow. They had sprayed pesticides on the crop but all in vain. They have urged experts of the agriculture university to look into the matter and save their crop. Crops sown in an area of about 100 acres has been affected. |
PCS staff oppose seniority refixing CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — Objecting to the tentative revised seniority list issued in case of PCS officers by the Department of Personnel headed by the Punjab Chief Secretary, a number of PCS officers have stated that redetermining the seniority of the officers appointed 14 years ago, under the rules and instructions applicable at that point of time, is totally ‘arbitrary’, ‘illegal’ and ‘devoid of bonafides’. The Punjab Government had issued a tentative seniority list of the 1986 batch of the PCS (Executive Branch) in July this year to implement the Ajit Singh Janjua case judgement Ist and IInd in case of Punjab Government employees. The PCS officers concerned had been supplied the tentative list in the third week of July and asked to submit their objections, if any, to the Punjab Government at the earliest. Before filing their objections, the PCS officers concerned had asked the state government to provide them certain information. They had demanded a copy of legal advice rendered by the state government’s Legal Department, detailed marks obtained by PCS officers of the 1986 batch in the interview and written test conducted by the Punjab Public Services Commission and details of methodology adopted with regard to fixation of inter se seniority of ex-servicemen vis-a-vis others. However, the government declined to provide such information and the PCS officers were again asked on August 22 to submit the objections at the earliest. Submitting their objections, the PCS officers have claimed that in the Ajit Singh Janjua case (Ist and IInd) the court dealt with a limited issue relating to the seniority of reserved category candidates promoted on reserve roster points on “accelerated promotions” at level “two” and upwards. The court did not deal with direct recruitment. They have stated that as “the Supreme Court has not said anything about the seniority of officials at the level of initial recruitment but the case is related only to the fixation of seniority of officials promoted against roster points, the facts of the judgement should not be distorted by the authorities concerned while implementing the judgement”. They have prayed that the tentative seniority list circulated among officers concerned should be withdrawn to keep the seniority of the 1986 batch, finalised in 1994, intact. They have sought personal hearing in this connection. Further objecting to the tentative seniority list, they have stated that they were offered appointment under Rule 21 of the Civil Services rules and seniority was also determined under this rule in 1994. Any attempt to refix the seniority on the basis of combined merit would contradict Rule 21, which was never examined by the Supreme Court in the Ajit Singh Janjua case as no direct recruit was party to this case. The PCS vacancies were notified by the PPSC in February, 1982, under rules and instructions prevalent at that point of time. Appointments of selected candidates were done in 1986 under the rules and instructions prevalent at that time. Such instructions and rules cannot be changed subsequently to the disadvantage of the PCS officers concerned after 14 years of their appointment as this will be ‘illegal’ and ‘arbitrary’, they maintain. The officers concerned have also revealed an alleged fraud which took place in the PPSC in 1986. They allege that the merit number of one general category PCS officer was fraudulently changed to benefit him. They have demanded the setting up of a commission of inquiry to probe the large-scale ‘tampering’ of the merit list by the PPSC. |
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Another chance for
terrorist-hit AMRITSAR, Sept 3 — Terrorist-affected families, who were unable to submit requisite documents and applications for employment will be given an another chance in the next six months after a government letter has been issued to this effect. The letter and its copies were issued by the Personnel Department to all heads of all government departments, Subdivisional Magistrates, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and to Punjab and Haryana High Court Registrar, in this regard. It came to the government’s notice that many of the families affected by terrorism could not apply for jobs in the stipulated period. The state government, therefore, decided to give six months from the date of issue of circular dated August 25 (No 11/105/98-2/PP1/10606). No other chance would be further given to any of applicants after the termination of the due date which the circular specifies. All decisions regarding employment for terrorist-affected cases would be decided only by the Finance Commissioner, the Chief Secretary and the heads of all departments. No case should be sent to the Personnel Department for further action, it was stated. |
Gangsters kill woman BHUCHOMANDI (Bathinda), Sept 3 — Suspected members of the gang of “kale kacchhewale” killed a woman and injured five persons last night in this town, 15 km from Bathinda. They entered into the house after breaking the side window. Police sources said the deceased had been identified as Nirmala Devi while her husband Raj Kumar, two daughters Veena and Alka Rani, father-in-law, Madan Lal and a relative Money Ram Jindal had been injured. The injured, including Raj Kumar and Money Ram Jindal whose condition was serious, had been shifted to a hospital in Ludhiana. Earlier, on the night of June 1, the gangsters attacked a house in Bathinda town and killed a girl and injured other occupants. The residents of town are agitated over the fact that the authorities concerned were busy taking care of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who visited Talwandi Sabo and Rampura phul instead of listening to their problems. A case under Section, 459 and 460 of the IPC had been registered in Nathana police station. |
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Youth beaten up MOGA, Sept 3 — Nearly 100 residents of Bekha village under the Baghapurana police station in this district yesterday beat up a youth who allegedly sodomised a five-year-old child, stated to be grandson of Mr Iqbal Singh of the same village. According to a report, the accused who later was identified as Balera Singh of Uttar Pradesh abducted the child from his home and took to him in nearby fields and committed the crime. Certain persons, who reportedly heard shrieks of boy came to his rescue and overpowered the accused and gave him a severe beating. He was then paraded in the street of the town. The boy later was admitted to a nearby hospital, the report said. |
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Booked for
bigamy TARN TARAN, Sept 3 — The police of the local Sadar police station has filed an FIR under Section 498-A, 494, 109 of the IPC against Jaimal Singh (35) of Kallaha village for bigamy without getting divorce from his first wife. Ten more persons are named in the FIR, including Ms Rajwant Kaur, alias Rajwinder Kaur, the second wife of Jaimal Singh. Ms Kulwant Kaur, the victim, who is residing at Kot Dharm Chand Kalan village with her parents complained to the SSP that she was married in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib on March 3, 1987, to Jaimal Singh, resident of Kallaha village and her parents had given sufficient dowry. She gave birth to two sons who are 12 and 10 years of age. She complained that she had been harassed for years to bring more cash and dowry from the parents. Her husband and others threw her out from her in-laws’ house in September, 1998, when she failed to bring Rs 1 lakh to purchase a Maruti car by her husband. Ms Kulwant Kaur further said that Jaimal Singh in connivance with others remarried on July 7, 2000, at a Jalandhar gurdwara without seeking divorce from her. The others who are named in the FIR to help Jaimal Singh for getting the second marriage solemnised are his father Karnail Singh, Gurmeet Kaur, Kulwinder Kaur, Balwinder Kaur, Balwinder Singh, Kulwant Kaur, Baldev Singh, Balwinder Singh Hothian and Darshan Kaur, alias Darsho. Before registering the FIR, the police got the legal opinion from the DA (legal). |
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Bank MD booked
for embezzling Kargil funds AMRITSAR, Sept 3 — The Managing Director of the State Cooperative Bank Surinder Pal Singh Chhinna, facing charges of alleged embezzlement of Kargil funds is yet to be nabbed by the police. According to reports here a case under Sections 420, 409 of the IPC for embezzlement of Kargil funds to the extent of Rs 50,000 was registered against FIR No. 117 with the police station Kotwali on August 25 as directed by the SSP here. Based on the complaints by the staff of the bank, the police after inquiry registered the case against him. Delay in arresting the culprit has intrigued the complaints. |
Fight malpractices by
universities, Dang tells students AMRITSAR, Sept 3 — Veteran CPI leader Satya Pal Dang today gave a call to student organisations to launch a fight against “malpractices” by universities in Punjab and Haryana at the time of admission to various courses through entrance tests. Mr Dang gave a number of instances when bright students had been denied admission on one pretext or the other with a view to accommodating “blue-eyed” candidates. The criteria mentioned in the prospectus were violated many times. Give an example, he said there were only four seats in the general quota in MSc (Food Technology) and an equal number reserved for NRIs. He alleged after the declaration of results of the entrance test, for the NRI quota were raised from four to 10 while there was an increase of only one seat in the general quota. He alleged that a candidate who had stood first in BSc (Food Technology) under Guru Nanak Dev University failed to get admission in MSc. Similar reports had also poured in from Hisar in Haryana. Mr Dang alleged that PAU had made “arbitrary” rules while admitting students for food and technology. He said there was no entrance test. The candidates were favoured during the interview. Some students belonging to VVIPs were selected. Not even the waiting list was displayed. |
‘Exempt milk plants from cess’ CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — The Punjab Dairy Development Board Ordinance, 2000, issued on July 19, has created a piquant situation for such small-scale city supply and milk pasteurisation plants which have an installed capacity in the range of 10,000 to 50,000 litres per day. As per the gazette notification, under Section 12, of the ordinance, a cess has been imposed on plants registered under the Milk and Milk Products Order. The cess is levied at the rate of 10 paise per litre on the registered capacity. This cess is to be paid quarterly. Consequently, the Directorate of Dairy Development, Punjab, has sent a communication to all such small-scale plants to work out the amount of cess for the quarter ending September 30, effective from July 19,2000 and remit the same through a bank draft. A representation has been submitted by these small-scale plant owners to the Chief Minister pleading that these units be exempt from such a cess as it tantamounts to a big financial burden. Of the 13-odd plants, only half a dozen or so are in business. They have takes financial assistance from various banks. Though not viable commercially and facing with competition, these units are struggling to survive in the market. The main demand of these people, says Mr Vinod Arora, is that exemption be granted from the cess, imposed in lieu of the purchase tax, as there is no purchase tax on city supply of milk. The second demand is that the recovery of levy or cess be stayed and instead the purchase tax of 4.4 per cent be continued for the time being. These units buy nearly 50,000 litres of milk daily from the villages, process it and sell it off in cities. Most of these small units are in the Khanna, Ludhiana and Jalandhar areas. The argument put forth against the new cess of 10 paise per litre on registered capacity of the unit is that by abolishing purchase tax at the rate of 4.4 per cent (which comes to 50 paise per litres) and replacing it with the former (10 paise per litre on registered capacity) would benefit multinational companies like Nestle India and Smithkline Beechman. Even large-scale milk plants which produce milk products will benefit as these units will pay cess at the rate of 20 paise per litre instead of 50 paise per litre. There is no purchase tax on supply of milk to cities nor is there sales tax on pasteurised milk. These small units will now have to cough up additional Rs 9 lakh to 10 lakh per annum. Moreover due to seasonal variations in the availability of milk, which affected the supply and demand, the small units will end up paying, on an average, 30 paise per litre instead of 10 paise per litre as envisaged under the scheme.
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