Sunday, September 17, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
Ex-PMs refuse to campaign in Sunam Pressure mounts on Mayor to quit Nihangs, Christians do seva at mosque Dacoities down in Punjab
Cong wins MC poll as
BJP MLA abstains Atwal,
Kadiyan leave for England |
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DD to telecast film on Malta
tragedy today 1.5 lakh reconverted to Hinduism: VHP All rivers highly polluted: ex-judge Gastroenteritis fear grips
residents Rs 2454 cr collected under
Sanchayika scheme
Power thefts deplete PSEB coffers
500 pouches of liquor seized
Gender inequality in Punjabi University
|
Ex-PMs refuse to campaign in Sunam LUDHIANA, Sept 16 — None of the four former Prime Ministers of India who have formed themselves into an ex-PMs' club, will campaign for the newly-floated nine-party Sanjha Morcha candidate, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, in the Sunam by-election to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha slated for later this month. An indication to this effect was given by Sanjha Morcha leaders who returned here today from Delhi after a meeting with Janata Dal leaders. The four former PMs are Mr V.P. Singh, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, Mr H.D. Devegowda and Mr Chander Shekhar. The Sanjha Morcha leaders had gone to Delhi to invite them to visit Punjab to address some poll rallies of Professor Chandumajra, a former MP, who has been put by the SHSAD headed by the former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, as the Sanjha Morcha candidate to contest the crucial Sunam by-election. But one of the former Prime Ministers made it clear to the Sanjha Morcha leaders that while they were appreciative of the efforts being made by them to bring secular, non-Congress forces together on a single platform, they would not be able to campaign for Professor Chandumajra because of a "certain protocol" which prevented ex-PMs from taking part in electioneering in by-elections. The ex-PMs, it was explained to them, tended to stay out of even parliamentary by-elections. Therefore, campaigning by them in an assembly by-election was totally out of the question. The refusal by the former Prime Ministers to come to the aid of the Professor Chandumajra is seen by political observers here as a setback to the poll campaign of the Sanjha Morcha candidate. It is known here that Professor Chandumajra as well as his political mentor, Mr Tohra, were initially reluctant to contest the Sunam by-election, coming as it does in the wake of the Nawanshahr by-election in which the SHSAD candidate forfeited his security deposit. Professor Chandumajra had himself lost in the Patiala parliamentary constituency election held in September last year. Mr Tohra was said to be of the view that his party could not afford another political setback in Sunam. Hence, his reluctance to take up the challenge in the by-election. Informed sources here say that it took quite a lot of persuasion on the part of the Sanjha Morcha leaders spread over two meetings held at the residence of rebel Akali leader Ravi Inder Singh in Chandigarh earlier this month, to bring the SHSAD leader round to the view that its failure to contest to the Sunam by-poll would send the signal that it lacked the nerve to face the SAD(B) in the electoral battlefield. Those who persuaded the SHSAD to contest included Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala, Mr Harish Khanna, Mr Teja Singh Tiwana, Mr Darshan Singh Zida, Mr Prem Singh Bhangu and Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode. Among the factors which finally persuaded Mr Tohra to agree to contest the Sunam by-poll, according to the sources in the Sanjha Morcha, was the promise by the JD leaders to rope in the four ex-PMs, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mr Laloo Parsad Yadav, to campaign for Professor Chandumajra. The failure of the four ex-PMs to turn up could rob the Sanjha Morcha's poll campaign of some lustre. But the Sanjha Morcha leaders are trying to put up a brave front over the development and seem to be banking on a split in the vote banks of the ruling SAD(B) and the Congress vote banks to see their candidate through to the Vidhan Sabha. From all available accounts, the contest in Sunam is turning into a triangular fight among Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa (SAD-B), Mrs. Parmeshwari Devi(Congress) and Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra (SHSAD-Sanjha Morcha). Meanwhile, the JD(S) leader, Mr Harish Khanna, has in a letter to the Election Commission complained about the alleged malpractices being indulged in by the SAD(B) in the Sunam constituency. He alleged that the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues were virtually camping at Sunam and "using all sorts of money and muscle power" to influence the voters into voting for the ruling party's candidate. Official machinery was also being misused and money and material openly distributed among the people, he alleged. Liquor was also available freely. I-cards had been allegedly taken away form poor and illiterate people who were aligned with other parties. This would debar them from taking part in the election because production of I-cards is now compulsory for taking part in the polling. He demanded that the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues should be advised to desist from using money and muscle power and concentrate their attention on the Sunam constituency. Security arrangements in the Sunam constituency should be entrusted to some Central government agencies like the
CRPF. Administration in Sunam should be issued a clear directive to strictly follow the elections laws. A team of central election observers should be dispatched to the constituency to oversee the election work. |
Pressure mounts on Mayor to quit AMRITSAR, Sept 16 — Even as pressure has mounted on Mr Subash Sharma to resign as Mayor of the municipal corporation after his expulsion from the primary membership of the BJP for six years, the Congress had adopted the policy of wait and watch. There was hectic activity in the city as the BJP, the Mayor and the Congress held separate meetings to chalk out future plans. The meeting of District Congress Committee constituted a three-member committee comprising Dr Raj, General Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Jugal Kishore Sharma and Mr Dharmpal Sareen. The party would explore the possibility of installing a Mayor of the party. The municipal councillors owing allegiance to Mr Om Parkash Soni, an Independent MLA, However, did not attend the meeting. Sources said that though the Mayor had been trying to win over the municipal councillors of Opposition parties, it was difficult for him to remain in power. The BJP has 24 councillors in the 60-member House of the corporation while eight councillors belong to the Shiromani Akali Dal. Six MLAs, including an Independent, also belong to SAD-BJP and have a voting right. The Congress has 21 councillors and the Janata Dal one councillor in the House. Earlier, Mr Lakha Singh, the Deputy Mayor who belongs to SAD, had signed a joint statement with three Akali councillors in favour of the Mayor, but he did a volte face later. |
Nihangs, Christians do seva at mosque SRI HARGOBINDPUR (Gurdaspur), Sept 16 — It may sound strange, but it is true that Nihang Singhs have been performing seva at a mosque in this town founded by the sixth Sikh Guru
Hargobind, on the banks of River Beas for the past 50 years. Sikhs and Christians have also been looking after a temple and dargah in Kishankot and Masania villages in this border belt. The seva continued even during the peak of terrorism as these religious places are situated in the border district of Gurdaspur. This presents a unique example of cultural pluralism and communal harmony. The Nihang Singhs of Taruna Dal who have been looking after Guru-ki Masit in this dusty town say that the Masit (mosque) was constructed by Guru Hargobind for his Muslim subjects. While leaving the country after the holocaust of Partition, the Muslims had requested their Christian brothers to look after the majestic dargah of Baba Shah Badr Dewan in Masania. The family of Yunas Masih has been fulfilling the promise given to Muslims about 54 years ago. Masania village was dominated by Muslims before Partition but the entire population had to leave for the newly created Pakistan. The Sarpanch of Masania, Mr Amrik Singh, says that a jatha of Muslims from Pakistan would throng this mosque till 1970. They stopped visiting the village after the Indo-Pak war of 1971 due to visa restrictions imposed by both the countries. However, the villagers, including Hindus, Sikhs and Christians perform seva at the dargah with devotion. Giving the historical background of Guru ki Masit at Sri Hargobindpur, Baba Kirtan Singh said it was mentioned in the religious books that the mosque was constructed by Guru Hargobind for his Muslim subjects in the 17th century after a fierce battle with the Mughals. The Taruna Dal, a Nihang sect has also installed Nishan Sahib adjoining the masit, presenting a scene of communal harmony. Baba Kirtan Singh said it was Baba Bishan Singh, Taruna Dal chief, who took the initiative to conserve Guru ki Masit. He said he too had been performing seva at masit for the past two decades. The three religious places — Guru ki
Masit, Krishan temple at Kishankot and the dargah at Masania have been chosen by the Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative
(CRCI) for its conservation-cum-unity development project under Unesco’s Culture of Peace Programme-2000. Ms Gurmeet
Rai, chief of CRCI, says that the Sikh Foundation of the USA had earmarked $ 20,000 through Unesco for the conservation of Guru ki
Masit. The site would attract devotees and tourists after it is developed. |
Dacoities down in Punjab CHANDIGARH, Sept 16 — Cases of dacoities and robberies, which dominated Punjab during militancy in the late eighties and the early nineties, have declined. The number of thefts has, however, remained unchanged, but incidents of burglary have increased . Crime in Punjab can be divided into two parts — one, during militancy and second, after normalcy returned in the state. During the militancy days the use of firearms and other explosive devices was very high. The armed robberies and dacoities, too, were high but crime against women and children in general was much lower than after the return of normalcy in the state. In 1988, for example, there were 582 robberies. And this year, until September 13, the number of robberies was just 41. Same is the situation with dacoities. In 1988 there were 112 dacoities while this year, only 20 dacoities have been reported so far. The incidence of thefts has, however, remained unchanged. In 1988 2130 theft cases were reported in the state. In 1999, the number was 2212 and this year, between January 1 and September 13, 1575 theft cases have been reported. Over the period theft of vehicles has increased. Police officials attribute this trend to the increase in the purchase of motor vehicles. In the early eighties the owners used to keep their vehicles inside their homes. In the past 10 years the number of vehicles per family has increased. As a result many vehicles are parked on the roadside or at unauthorised places outside homes, institutions and offices. The number of dacoities and robberies has not changed in the past three years. The number too, has remained the same 61. The number of theft cases reported in Punjab between January 1 and September 13 in 1998 were 1209. This number went up to 1447 in the corresponding period in 1999. And this year the number has further increased to 1575. The incidence of burglaries has increased over the previous year. Between January 1 and September 13 last year, 861 burglaries were reported in Punjab. This year, there have been 1129 burglaries. For the same period in 1998, there were 972 cases of burglary. Increase in petty crimes — thefts, burglaries — after return of normalcy in Punjab reflects the reactivation of petty gangs. Though police officials blame migrants for rise in crime. “Supari” killings in the state has caused concern among police officials. Patiala, which witnessed highest number of kidnappings, leads other towns in dacoities, robberies, burglaries and thefts. Seven hundred and eighteen criminal cases were reported from this non-industrial town, followed by Jalandhar with 287 cases and Ludhiana 283 cases. Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur and Ropar are other districts where number of robberies, dacoities, thefts and burglaries between January 1 and September 13 this year have been more than 100 each. Most cases of motor vehicle thefts remained unsolved. In 1997, 287 stolen vehicles were found but this year the number of such vehicles is only 59 against 97 in 1999 and 160 in 1998. The cash recovered from arrested criminals, which was a whopping Rs 3.72 crore in 1996, has come down to Rs 56.6 lakh this year. It was 37.75 lakh in 1999 and Rs 94.85 lakh in 1998. |
Atwal,
Kadiyan leave for England CHANDIGARH, Sept 16 — The Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan
Sabha, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, and the Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan
Sabha, Mr Satbir Singh Kadiyan, today left for England to attend the 46th Commonwealth parliamentary Conference. The conference will be held in London and Edinburgh from September 20 to September 29. They will also visit Canada, the USA, Switzerland and France to study the functioning of the Parliamentary institutions. Mr
Atwal, before attending the conference, will attend the meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at New Jersey as a regional representative of the Asia region. Mr Atwal is the first Punjabi to be elected as regional representative from the Asian region for the Association. He is also a member of the programme planning committee of the Association. |
DD to telecast film on Malta
tragedy today HOSHIARPUR, Sept 16 — Four years after the Malta boat tragedy, Doordarshan will telecast a documentary on the incident on DD News channel tomorrow at 8 pm and DD-2 channel on September 21 at 8.30 am. This was stated by Mr Balwant Singh Khera, Chairman of the Malta Boat Tragedy Probe Mission, in a press statement here yesterday. He said a German TV company had already telecast a film of the tragedy. Mr Khera thanked all those persons and organisations that had helped the probe mission in bringing the culprits to book. He specially thanked Mr B.P. Singhal, MP from Uttar Pradesh, for raising the issue in Parliament and persuading Mr L.K. Advani, Union Home Minister, and Mr Jaswant Singh, Union Foreign Minister, to speed up the proceedings to nab the culprits. He criticised Congress and Akali Dal MPs from Punjab for not taking up the issue in Parliament. He alleged that the MPs never raised any issue relating to the problems of people of Punjab in Parliament. He pointed out that Bibi
Tana-de-Sulita, MP in Italy, did a commendable job of exposing the tragic incident following which the Italy Government registered cases against 13 culprits and issued their arrest warrants. |
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1.5 lakh reconverted to Hinduism: VHP BATALA, Sept 16 (PTI) — The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today sought a complete ban on conversion and demanded introduction of a common civil code in the country. The national secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Mr Vinayak Rao Deshpande alleged that Christian missionaries wanted to convert two crore Hindus to Christianity and had sought financial assistance from European countries for this endeavour. He told reporters the VHP has launched a special campaign against the conversion of Hindus, adding “at least 1.5 lakh Hindus who were converted to Christianity were brought back into mainstream and at least 10 lakh were saved from conversion”. He said the annual “kendriya marg darshan” would be held at Goa from October 17 and 18 in which 200 saints from different Hindu sects would participate. He said there were 1800 non-government organisations in the country of which 80 per cent were Christian organisations indulging in converting Hindus to Christianity. He said the Reserve Bank of India in the report stated that a total of Rs 438.20 crore was sent to different Christian missionaries from abroad in 1986-87 against Rs 209 crore in 1980-81. This amount was being used for conversion in the country in general and the eastern states in particular. He alleged that Pope John Paul II had announced the beginning of conversions in Asian countries while presiding over a meeting of the Asian churches council on November 7 and 8 last year. For this purpose Christian missionaries would construct nine lakh churches and distribute ten crore Bibles in India. |
All rivers highly polluted: ex-judge AMRITSAR, Sept 16 — India presents a grim picture of degradation with water, air and soil badly polluted. Non-governmental organisations and educational institutions should come forward in the campaign against pollution, according to Justice Kuldip Singh, former judge of the Supreme Court. He was delivering his discourse on “Environment Protection: A Global Challenge” here today at the conference hall of Guru Nanak Dev University. The one-day seminar was arranged by the Centre for Environmental Legal Studies of the Laws Department of the Guru Nanak Dev University under the convenorship of Dr Gurjeet Singh, Head of the Department. Dr S.S. Parmar, Dean, Academic Affairs inaugurated the seminar and Dr R.S. Bawa, Registrar of the university presided. Justice Kuldip Singh said the fourteen major rivers in India along with medium rivers, lakes etc were all highly polluted. This in turn leads to recurring epidemics of waterborne diseases like cholera, jaundice typhoid and dysentery and loss of agricultural productivity. He said there were 114 cities on the bank of the Ganges but non of them had set up the sewage treatment plants. Out of the 3119 cities in India only 8 have been provided with sewage treatment plants. He said on the average, one person dies of air pollution in Delhi every hour. Dr S.S. Parmar in the inaugural address threw light on the details of chemical environmental pollution. Dr R. S Bawa, registrar while proposing a vote of thanks said environment should be made part of school curriculums. He appealed ot environment scientists ot launch an environment campaign to make the general public aware of environment pollution. |
Gastroenteritis fear grips
residents MALERKOTLA, Sept 16 — Fear prevails among residents of Al-Falah Colony and its adjoining areas regarding the spread of gastroenteritis. Sewerage work here has allegedly been lying pending for several months. Several cases of diarrhoea have been reported from the area. Residents have alleged that the drinking water being supplied is unhygienic and its intake causes stomach upsets. Similar cases have also been reported from other parts of the subdivision. According to reports, three members of a family of Bhumsi Maler, Anwari (18), Asima (65), and Bashiran (42), died recently, allegedly of gastroenteritis. The authorities concerned, however, said the cause of deaths was not yet known. The Executive Officer said no case of gastroenteritis had been reported from the area. There was an urgent need for the authorities to wake up to the situation as the menace of gastroenteritis in the area could assume dangerous proportions, a resident said. |
Rs 2454 cr collected under
Sanchayika scheme BANUR, Sept 16 — The Department of Small Savings, Punjab and the Army Welfare Department have decided to celebrate the birth anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh as samman smaroh, every year. Besides honouring ex-servicemen with medals, 11 needy Army families would be honoured during this function. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister of Punjab, made this statement while addressing a gathering on the Sanchayika Day function at Government Senior Secondary School, Banur, here today. The state-level function was jointly organised by the National Savings Organisation, Punjab and Chandigarh and the Directorate of Small Savings, Punjab and Chandigarh. The minister congratulated the students for their participation in the Sanchayika Scheme and emphasised the need of saving. He urged them to participate in the nation-building activities through the scheme. Mr Vinod Kumar Bhalla, Director, Small Savings of Punjab, informed that Rs 2454 crore had been collected under this scheme during 1999-2000 which is a record. The state is chasing a target of Rs 3000 crore this year. Mr Mohinder Singh, Regional Director of National Savings, stated that the scheme has been implemented in 3006 schools with a total membership of 1031610 students who had contributed Rs 382 lakh during 1999-2000. A cultural programme was presented by the students to mark the day. Mr Gurnam Singh, Principal of the school, Mr T.S. Negi, Senior District Saving Officer, Patiala and other residents were also present. |
Family benefit scheme CHANDIGARH, Sept 16 — The Punjab government has decided to grant Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 to members of a family whose head dies in accident or natural death, respectively, under the National Family Benefit Scheme. During the current financial year Rs 104.12 lakh had been earmarked for this purpose and Rs 19.65 lakh had been disbursed to about 1200 beneficiaries. |
Shortage of kerosene FATEHGARH SAHIB, Sept 16 — There is an acute shortage of kerosene in Sirhind and Mandi Gobindgarh towns of the district. The oil is being sold at Rs 12 per litre in the open market, whereas it is not available at control rates. Migrant labourers are among the worst affect. They told this correspondent today that ration depot holders were fleecing them and if they questioned the high rates, they were denied the oil. The district Food and Civil Supply Department has failed to ensure the smooth supply of kerosene and check its black marketing by depot holders. |
Scooterists killed
in mishap PHAGWARA, Sept 16 — Two scooterists, Tara Chand, 20, and Balwinder, 30, were killed when their scooter collided with a car, tossing them before an oncoming tractor trailer at Satnampura this evening. The scooterists belonged to Kotrani village. While one of them died on spot, the other succumbed to his injuries at the Civil Hospital. |
Power thefts deplete PSEB coffers BATHINDA, Sept 16 — Even as the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has been passing through a financial crisis, it has been doubly hit by the agriculturist and industrialists of the state. Farmers, despite enjoying the facility of electricity for the agricultural purposes free of cost for about three years have been indulging in the theft of power by running tubewells on the electrical motors illegally. Official sources said that enforcement wing of PSEB had been seizing such motors in hundreds every month from all over the state. The unscrupulous farmers were preferring to indulge in power theft instead of taking regular power connections for their tubewell under ‘Tatkal’ scheme. As a result the PSEB has been suffering loss of lakhs of rupees every month. In every village, 10 to 20 electrical motors are installed illegally, a few months ago, a team of the enforcement wing seized about 22 electrical motors from Kotli village of this district. Official sources pointed out that with the installation of electronic meters in big industries, the trend of power theft was on decline as the power stealers had been finding it difficult to tamper with the meter. However, the new trend is that unscrupulous citizens and industrialists are stealing power directly from the transformer. They bypass the electrical meters by linking the cable between the transformer and supply line of their premises. Mr G.C. Goyal, Director, Enforcement, PSEB, said that in this week, two industries — one at Moga and one at Ludhiana — were raided as the industrialists concerned were stealing power directly from the transformer. He added that the menace of power theft was so high that every month, this wing had been generating the revenue of Rs 80 lakh on an average by imposing penalty on the power stealers. He added that menace of power theft was also prominent among dhaba, residential houses with air conditioners, hotels and marriage palaces owners. Mr Goyal clarified that no member of the flying squads of the enforcement wing had harassed traders of Bathinda as reported in a section of the press. Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, General Secretary, DCC (I), Bathinda, alleged that the Punjab Government was trying to fill the coffers of the PSEB by imposing penalty even on the genuine customers. He added that PSEB had been facing a financial crunch due to wrong policies of the government. |
500 pouches of
liquor seized PATIALA, Sept 16 — The Excise Department has seized 500 pouches of Liquor from Amrik Singh Alias Pinta, an alleged whisky smuggler and Dhabha owner near Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib on the Sirhind Road here. According to the Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr I.S. Chahal, it is the second case in the 24-hour special operation launched by the wing. “We have also seized 50 pouches from village Bhedpura on the previous night,” he said. According to the Excise Inspector, Mr Gurinder Singh these pouches of 180 ml were sold by Amrik Singh at Rs 15 each which were then resold in the market at the rate of Rs 25 each. He said wine contractors were facing problems due to smuggling and that Amrik Singh had already been caught three times. |
Gender inequality in Punjabi University PATIALA, Sept 16 — Gender inequality rules Punjabi University even in the 21st century. The fairer sex is still considered to be the weaker sex. They are not allowed two-wheelers in their hostels, while boys enjoy this facility. “University education is the highest level of education, where the youth are educated and groomed to enter the world as responsible citizens. All the qualities of society are brought on one platform, to be imparted to the impressionable brains. One such quality rehearsed in the campus should be the equality of gender. Ironically, it is better said than done”, says a PhD research scholar and hosteler. One major inconvenience faced by the girls is a ban on keeping vehicles in the girls’ hostel. Shikha, a hosteler, laments: “Girls will use the vehicles better than boys, who burn fuel pursuing girls”. Prinyanka, another hosteler, says: “This is unfair on the part of the authorities. After all, at least at university level, we should be treated at par with boys. The constitution gives equal rights to men and women. Why can the university not do the same?” “The authorities must be having an impression of girls being physically stronger than boys. Why else would they tolerate girls walking all over the campus in the sun, while guys take a petrol ride everywhere. They have easy access to the city too, while we are left with the tiring and cumbersome option of autos and rickshaws or for waiting for the university bus”, remarks Meera. The Dean, Students Welfare, D.S. Dhillon, explains, “The culture of our university is different from other places. The parents of the girls are interested in imposing a ban on vehicles. In spite of this, if some girl approaches me with a genuine problem, I allow her to bring the vehicle”. Off the record, sources reveal that lack of sheds for vehicles in the girls hostels is one of the factors for not giving them permission to keep the vehicles. These hostels were built without any provision for scooter stands. Another major drawback is deficiency of security personnel. The common gate for all the three hostels is looked after by the only guard of hostel number three, in addition to the hostel gate. |
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