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| Thursday, September 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Show of strength by SAD, Congress
No cakewalk for SAD Vigilance cases hang fire Delayed procurement irks farmers
Pakistan ‘behind’ Amritsar blast Bail for former jail warden accomplice Drive to beautify police stations |
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Governor visits
border village Rs 3.44 cr fraud by
defence officials “Langoor Mela” begins today Nawanshahr tops in literacy drive Effigies of Sikh scholars burnt Preparations on for Gurmat Samagam Effigy of civic
chief burnt Doctors take out march, give memo Student hit by bus Water samples fail test
70 cr cut from Plan assistance
4 held for sale of spurious liquor Case registered
against doctor Woman commits suicide
Engg college teachers
observe protest week AVRC on
the verge of closure Varsity takes steps
to improve evaluation system
Incentives for rice millers
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Show of strength by SAD, Congress SUNAM, Sept 27 — On the last day of campaigning for the byelection to the Sunam Assembly constituency, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress organised election rallies here today to seek votes for their respective candidates. The rallies were attended and addressed by top Central and state leaders of both parties. The main speakers at the SAD rally were Mr Surjit Singh Barnala and Mr Dara Singh, noted film and television personality. Mr Barnala had earlier shown reluctance at extending his support to the SAD candidate. This had created problems for the SAD. Most speakers at the rally, lashing out at the Congress, reminded the voters of its role in the anti-Sikh riots in 1984. A few leaders, including Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister, criticised Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SHSAD chief, accusing him of playing in to the hands of the Congress by fielding Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra in the byelection. They claimed this would indirectly benefit the Congress. The speakers praised the BJP-led Central Government and the SAD-BJP alliance government in Punjab for granting several concessions to the people of the state. At the Congress rally, most speakers criticised the SAD-BJP government for its alleged failure on all fronts. They lashed out at the SAD-BJP government stating that during its regime of more than three years, unemployment had increased manifold.
Farmers, traders, employees, Dalits and workers had been facing harassment. No section of society was happy with the functioning of the SAD-BJP government. They talked about the distress sale of paddy in the state. The speakers also condemned the increasing tendency of ‘‘parivarwad” in the SAD. They held the SAD government responsible for the closure of small units in the state. Addressing the SAD rally, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, called upon the voters to give a “burial” to the Congress in Sunam by giving its candidate a crushing defeat. He described the Congress as a “big enemy” of Punjab. Mr Badal accused the SHSAD leaders, including Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, of being hand-in-glove with the Congress. He said that was why the SHSAD had fielded its candidate in Sunam. Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Haryana Chief Minister, sought votes for the SAD-BJP candidate and described the Congress as a “double-mouth” snake. He invited Punjab farmers to come to Haryana to sell their produce in case of any difficulty. Mr Surjit Singh Barnala asked the voters to defeat the Congress. He also praised Mr Badal for the development works in the area. The SAD rally was addressed by four Union Ministers — Mr Arun Jaitley, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr Suresh Prabhu and Mr Geakwad Patil. Among others who addressed the rally were Bibi Jagir Kaur, President of the SGPC, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab Finance Minister, Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi, Senior Vice-President of the SAD, Prof Brij Lal Ranwa, President of the Punjab unit of the BJP, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Punjab Agriculture Minister, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Union Minister, Mr Satnam Singh Kainth, President of the Bahujan Samaj Morcha, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, SAD candidate, and Mr Dara Singh. Addressing the Congress rally, Capt Amarinder Singh, President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), said Punjab had been economically relegated to the 17th position by the SAD-BJP government. It earlier held the number one position. He criticised the SAD government for increasing power tariff and for its policy of privatisation. He said every section of society was dissatisfied under the SAD-BJP regime. Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Punjab Chief Minister, seeking votes for the Congress candidate, said due to “narrow thinking” of the Akalis Punjab had been divided into three states in 1966. She condemned the SAD for “stealing” her 51-point programme chalked out in December, 1996, for the development of the state. Mrs Parmeswari Devi, Congress candidate, promised she would complete all development projects initiated by her late husband. Mr Bal Ram Jakhar, former Lok Sabha Speaker, said the Badal Government was “looting” every section of society in the guise of taxes. He said oil mills and cotton mills in the state were facing closure. He asked Captain Amarinder Singh to prepare a list of “corrupt” ministers and bureaucrats. Mrs Ambika Soni, general secretary of the All-India Congress committee, criticised the Punjab Government’s policies with regard to employment, industry, agriculture and weaker sections. She said when the Congress came into power, all grievances of the people would be redressed. Mr Moti Lal Vora, general secretary of the AICC, apprehended rigging of poll by the SAD-BJP alliance. He alleged that SAD workers were taking possession of ration cards at a cost of Rs 500 from members of weaker sections so that they could not cast their vote. Among others who addressed the rally were Mr Bir Devinder Singh, former MLA, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, President of the All-India Youth Congress, Mrs Praneet Kaur, MP from Patiala, Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, Vice-President of the PPCC, Mr Santokh Singh Randhawa, former PPCC President, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Opposition leader in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, and Mr R.L. Bhatia, a former Union Minister. Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Mr Lal Singh, Mr Abdul Gafur, all former ministers, Mr Brij Lal Goyal, Mr Sant Ram Singla, Mr Gurcharn Singh Dirba and Dr Kewal Krishan, all Congress leaders, were also present. |
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Sunam byelection SUNAM, Sept 27 — Voter preference in the Sunam byelection remains ambiguous with less than 48 hours left for the election. It is very difficult to predict who will win the seat. TNS asked a number of rural as well as urban voters of this constituency about their choice but almost all of them gave an identical reply and said “cannot say at this stage and only time will tell”. While the voters are tight-lipped, the candidates of all political parties are hopeful of their victory. One or two candidates even talk about the unexpected result in this byelection. There are 13 candidates in the poll fray in this byelection. Out of these seven are independent candidates. The candidates include Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa (SAD), Mrs Parmeswari Devi (Congress), Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra (Sanjha Morcha) of nine parties, including the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Prof Sukhjinder Singh (SAD-A) and Mr Sampuran Singh Advocate, (CPI). As per the survey it would not be a cakewalk for the Congress (which had won the previous two elections consecutively) as well as the SAD (which had won this seat several times in the past). In Sunam this time in the presence of a political heavyweight, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra of the “Sanjha Morcha” who has virtually converted this byelection into a triangular contest. The tight lipped attitude of the voters has, however made the task of the campaign managers of different political parties difficult and complicated. Though Prof Sukhjinder Singh talks of an unexpected result in his favour and Mr Sampuran Singh (CPI) also is hopeful of a win but a majority of the voters here feel that in view of the “Sanjha Morcha” campaign the contest is by and large a triangular one. Besides, “Sanjha Morcha” candidate, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra has not only the support of nine parties, but has also gained support of the CPM which has thousands of votes in this constituency. On the other hand, both the Congress and the SAD have claimed that there will be a direct contest between the two parties. However, the “Sanjha Morcha” candidate, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, maintains that the voters will cast their votes in his favour as they are fed up of the Congress as well as the SAD. Thus it seems that it would not be a smooth sailing for any one. Majority of the people also feel that the victory margin may be less than one thousand but no one is ready to make any “pre-mature assessment”. |
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Vigilance cases hang fire JALANDHAR, Sept 27 —The Vigilance Bureau has been waiting the nod of the higher authorities for the past one year to proceed against 43 gazetted and 28 other officials of the Doaba region. While most non-gazetted officials were caught red-handed accepting bribe, in case of gazetted officers, cases were prepared against them on the basis of reports. After formal processing, these were referred by the field staff to the Vigilance Bureau headquarters or to the departments concerned at Chandigarh. But the Vigilance Bureau or heads of departments are yet to respond and accord permission to the Jalandhar Vigilance Bureau to initiate inquiries against the accused. According to sources, most lower and middle-level employees booked by the department belong to Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr districts. Bribe money to the tune of Rs 73,850 has been recovered from the officials booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. A study of the figures available with the department reveals that the Revenue Department tops the list. Of the 28 lower and middle level-officials booked this year, nine belonged to this department, followed by the Department of Telecom, with four officials. A perusal of the list of gazetted officers reveals that officers of almost all departments are facing corruption charges. A majority of cases pertain to Senior Medical and Medical Officers posted in rural areas. Others on the list are an SDO of PUDA posted at Jalandhar, a tehsildar posted in Kapurthala district, an XEN of the Irrigation Department posted at Amritsar, a Medical Officer posted at Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, an Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, a Senior Medical Officer posted at Kala Bakra village in Jalandhar district, a Senior Medical Officer posted at Primary Health Centre Balachaur, a DSP of the 75 Battalion of the PAP, Jalandhar, a Superintending Engineer of the Punjab State Electricity Board posted at Jalandhar, an officer of the Regional Transport Authority, Jalandhar, an ETO posted at Nawanshahr, a District Education Officer, a doctor of the Civil Hospital Kapurthala, an Xen of the Irrigation Department posted at Hoshiarpur and an SDO working with the Rural Works Department posted at Garhshankar in Hoshiarpur district. According to officials of the department, most cases pertaining to gazetted officers have been processed on the basis of source reports and detailed investigations will be conducted after the mandatory permission from the higher authorities. The field staff of the bureau need permission from a committee headed by the Punjab Chief Secretary. If the case of an officer has been referred to his department, the Secretary of the department has to accord permission for initiation of investigations. |
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Delayed procurement irks farmers RAJO KE (Ferozepore), Sept 27 — Unmindful of the extraordinary difficulties of cultivators who sowed the paddy along the sensitive Indo-Pak border here, the government agencies have not yet stepped in to procure their produce. Not a single procurement agency has lifted paddy from the Rajo Ke grain market where farmers from more than 20 frontier villages have been camping since September 18. Perhaps the authorities continue to ignore the difficulties these farmers have to face while sowing their crops across the security fencing raised here to check Pakistan sponsored infiltration. Delayed procurement has not only prompted these farmers to sell off their produce at prices below the minimum support price of Rs 540 to the rice millers but has also resulted in drying up of the paddy. Ridiculing the tall claims of the government that the agencies have entered the market, these farmers have formed a joint action committee and warned of agitation in case the procurement was delayed any further. Farmers are forced to dispose of their paddy for anything between Rs 440 to Rs 480 to the millers, who may actually pocket the minimum support price. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, assured of efforts to ensure speedy procurement. He disclosed the agencies had already entered 70 mandis out of the total 163 centres for procurement in the district. “Efforts are on to rope in agencies at more than 100 mandis at the earliest”, he said adding that a meeting with rice millers had also been convened to arrange sufficient space for storing the paddy. FARIDKOT:
The Faridkot district Rice Millers Association has criticised the Punjab Government for forcible storage of paddy in the godowns of rice millers in the district. In a press statement here on Wednesday Mr Ashok Jain president of the association, alleged the Food and Supply Department had been unloading the produce on the premises of rice sheller owners at Jaito and Kotkapura in spite of the resistance of the owners. JALANDHAR: Though the district administration has been claiming that paddy procurement by government agencies has been up to the mark so far, farmers of Partapur blocked traffic at the busy Jalandhar-Nakodar road for four hours in the morning blaming the state government for not lifting their produce at Partapura focal point mandi. The farmers led by former Congress MP Umrao Singh blocked the traffic at Partapura. They sat on dharna for four hours and raised anti-government slogans. Mr Umrao Singh alleged the Akali Government had no control over its officers who in connivance with rice millers were forcing the farmers to sell their produce at Rs 320 per quintal, much below the minimum support price announced by the government. MOGA: Although almost all government agencies in the district had earlier started making paddy purchases but farmers of various villages told mediapersons here on Wednesday no procurement of their produce had so far been started. They were awaiting their turn of paddy purchase. The stocks, valued at crores of rupees lying unsold here for over 20 days, have now started rotting due to inclement weather conditions. TARN TARAN:
Traffic remained blocked for more than six hours on the local Jandiala Guru byepass on Wednesday when hundreds of farmers led by the Punjab Kisan Sabha sat on dharna in the middle of the road against the non-procurement of paddy in the local grain market. |
Pakistan ‘behind’ Amritsar blast AMRITSAR, Sept 27 — Amid reports that yesterday’s blast was due to ignition of potash, the Bajrang Dal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) in a joint statement disclaimed the police version and termed the blast as a plant by ISI agents. Mr Prem Singh Sher, VHP general secretary and former MP, who had arrived from Delhi along with Mr Krishan Arora of the RSS and Mr Mohan Upadhaya, while talking to newspersons warned that yesterday’s blast was not a stray incident but an indication of danger similar to pre-Partition days. Alleging that Pakistani subversive agencies were behind the blast, he did not rule out the fact that an unidentified person who was killed could be the one who planted the explosive device and became a victim. On the other hand, they said in case of his identification his family should be suitably compensated. Meanwhile, a high-level forensic team arrived here today from Chandigarh. The three-member team comprised Mr S.N. Sharma, Mr Davinder Pal Singh Sehgal and a photographer. According to reliable sources, it is learnt the potash was stacked at one place in the nearly 3000 sq feet area which took the impact of the blast. “Had the potash been scattered the impact would not have been so great”, reveal sources. The forensic team has also managed to collect a sizeable amount of jute and paper bits. This is a pointer to the blast being caused by crackers and potash powder. Sources also reveal that smoke emitting from the blast site was black. The roof had collapsed towards the inside. No crater was made while some adjacent rooms remained intact after the blast. In case of plastic or other types of explosives the smoke is always white, a pit or crater formation is significant, the roof is torn open by the impact of the RDX or plastic explosive. Moreover, the adjacent rooms, one of which served as a kitchen, remained intact which is next to impossible as the loss of property and the area covered under the impact is far worse, explain highly placed sources. Meanwhile, a case has been registered at the Civil Lines police station under Sections 304A, 427, 336, 337, 338 and 188of the IPC for illegal stacking of potash and crackers in view of ban on stocking it without a licence. |
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Bail for former jail warden accomplice ROPAR, Sept 27 — An alleged human rights activist, Baghel Singh, whose visiting card was seized from the possession of Om Vir, the Burail Jail warden arrested recently, has been granted anticipatory bail by the Additional Sessions Judge, here Mr Mohinder Pal. Om Vir Singh was arrested while faxing a message of terrorist, Balwant Singh serving his sentence in the jail for allegedly conspiring in the assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh. After the seizure of the visiting card of Baghel Singh, an arrest warrant was issued for him but he eluded the police network for one month before mysteriously appearing in the court yesterday. Om Vir during his interrogation had told the police that Baghel Singh was accompanying the person who gave him the mobile phone, which he passed over to the terrorist, Balwant Singh in the jail. Since Om Vir Singh didn’t have any clue about the primary person who gave him the mobile phone, so the police was on a hunt for Bhaghel Singh. The council for Baghel Singh argued that the Punjab police declared him a dreaded terrorist during the peak terrorism days in 80s. The award money on his head was also claimed by the police. However, later he appeared before the Punjab and Haryana High Court and was sent to jail on court orders. Baghel Singh is presently released on bail. Due to his background his counsel argued that he shouldn’t be remanded in police custody. The judge in his orders observed that so far there is nothing against Baghel Singh in the police file expect that he accompanied one person who handed over the mobile phone to Om Vir Singh. The judge also directed Baghel Singh to join the investigation and on doing, so, the investigating officer will release him on bail on furnishing personal bond of Rs 50,000, with one surety to the satisfaction of the officer. The accused has also been directed against leaving the country without the prior permission of the court. |
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Drive to beautify police stations AMRITSAR, Sept 27 — While the first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi had won the Magasaysay award owing to reforms introduced by her in Tihar Jail, her husband Brij Bedi, a local businessman, has taken an initiative to give a facelift to police stations here. Mr Bedi motivated the American Sikhs, students of Miri-Piri School, for planting saplings of Ashoka. Mr Bedi was inspired by an article about activities of the New York police published in The Tribune. Mr Bedi, President of the Citizens’ Forum, has taken upon himself the task of beautifying Sadar Police Station. While talking to TNS, Mr Bedi said he wanted to break the myth that mostly criminals visit police stations. He said there should be no communication gap between the police and the people. With narrowing down the gap, there would be no fear psychosis, he emphasised. It is the duty of the people also to go to the police and discuss their problems, he said. He claimed that if people of the areas concerned would start adopting their local police stations the fear psychosis would be lessened. Ms Nirmaljit Kaur Sandhu, Principal, Miri-Piri School and the students joined Mr Bedi’s beautification campaign. She said with the community support, police stations could become model and it could be emulated by others in the country. Mr Bedi said activists of the Forum had pulled out Congress grass from the 5 kanal abandoned land of the police station. “There was no fan or toilet in the lock-up of the police station”, he said. He said the Citizen Forum would motivate social organisations and clubs for providing facilities in the lock-ups and other rooms of police stations. The forum also arranged for new furniture for police stations. |
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Governor visits
border village GURDASPUR, Sept 27 — Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retired), Governor of Punjab, today visited Government Senior Secondary School, Gahlari, on the Indo-Pakistan border today and listened to the grievances of farmers. The farmers of the area said that the government procurement agencies had not entered the market so far in the area to purchase paddy and as a result they are being faced with the distress sale of paddy. The farmers said in view of shortage of power supply in the area, the farmers have to face a lot of inconvenience white harvesting. They also demanded special reservation in the recruitment to defence forces for the residents of the border area. The Governor felt that the facilities being provided to the students for sports in the area were inadequate and directed the Deputy Commissioner, the District Education Officer, and the sarpanch of Gahlari to spare two acres of land of the village for grounds for the students interested in playing games. It was the first visit of the Governor after assuming office. On his way back he also met the students of government college here. A deputation of ex-servicemen headed by Lt-Gen Kanwaljit Singh Kahlon (retired) met the Governor and demanded immediate posting of Deputy Director, Sainik Welfare, which is under the charge of Deputy Director Sainik Welfare Officer, Amritsar. The Governor was informed that as many as 60000 persons from the area are ex-servicemen. The Governor was concerned about the lack of adequate furniture in the schools. He urged the Deputy Commissioner and District Education Officer to provide adequate furniture to the schools in the border area. He also directed them to keep cleanliness in the schools. The schools, he said, must be white washed regularly. |
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| Rs 3.44 cr fraud by
defence officials BATHINDA, Sept 27 — Defence Estate officials, who were asked to give compensation for land acquired from farmers to set up Asia’s biggest cantonment here, have in connivance with the landowners allegedly defrauded the authorities concerned of Rs 3.44 crore in the shape of “excess” payments. Official sources said the fraud was a mere tip of the iceberg and if proper verification of acquisition of thousands of acres and subsequent compensation was made by an independent agency, more embezzlement would come to light. The sources said officials of the Defence Estate Office had made an excess payment of Rs 1,65,600 per acre to 27 owners of 208 acres of land which was acquired about 20 years ago. The defence estate officials had worked out the compensation by dividing the land into two categories — barani and abadi — following a decision in this regard by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The officials concerned made payment for barani land equal to the abadi land. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had fixed the compensation at Rs 50,000 per acre for the barani land and Rs 90,000 per acre for the abadi land. The officials did not bother to consult the Collector and Naib Tehsildar, Military Land Acquisition during the exercise. Officials talking to TNS on the condition of anonymity said to bring the entire fraud into light, criminal cases should be registered against those at fault. They feared if this was not done, the matter would be hushed up. The Deputy Commissioner, said an inquiry would be made into the case and if found that excess payment had been made, arrangements would be made to recover the same. |
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“Langoor Mela” begins today AMRITSAR, Sept 27 — The 10-day long ‘Langoor Mela will begin tomorrow. Children dressed as “langoor” dancing in a procession passing through different parts of the town is a highlight of this mela. Though Muslims and Sikhs do not believe in idol-worship yet they bring their children to the “Bara Human Temple” which is part of the ancient Durgiana Temple. The temple reportedly has the biggest idol of Lord Hanuman in a unique posture. More than 5,000 ‘langoors’ throng the ancient temple bare-foot. Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, president of the All-India Hindu Shiv Sena and a Hanuman devotee, says many muslim families from Dubai and other parts of the world also visit the temple every year. The Durgiana Committee, headed by Mr Gopi Chand Bhatia, has made elaborate arrangements for the 10-day mela. Mr Nand Lal Nagpal, general secretary, said as part of the beautification plan the Durgiana Temple is being gold-plated at a cost of Rs 3 crore. A sum of Rs 1 crore has been donated for the purpose by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister. He further said special arrangements had been made to cater to the needs of tourists from other countries during the mela. According to legends the temple of “Bara Hanuman” was built at a place where the army of lord Rama had gathered to counter the challenge of ‘Luv and Kush’ who had caught the “royal horse” of “ashwamegh yajna”. It led to a battle and when, Hanumanji came to release of the “royal horse”, Luv and Kush caught him and tied him with a tree (which is still there). The “langoors” remain bare-foot all 10 days and sleep on the floor during “Navratras”. The “langoors” wear conical caps, wear a red uniform with silver stripes and carry silver sticks in their hands. |
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Nawanshahr tops in literacy drive NAWANSHAHR: The Literacy Society, Nawanshahr, has brought a feather in the cap of the district as well as the state as it has been awarded Satyen Maitra Memorial Literacy Award for standing first in the country in the “total literacy” campaign. The Vice-President, Mr Krishan Kant, and the Human Resource Development Minister, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, presented the award to Mr R.S. Sandhu, Punjab’s Education Secretary, Dr Roshan Sunkaria, Nawanshahr’s, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Tirath Ram Bhatia, Joint Project Coordinator, and his team of block project coordinators at a function in New Delhi on International Literacy Day (September 8.) Dr Sunkaria, DC-cum-chairman of the district Literacy Society, told this correspondent that the “total literacy” campaign was executed in the district from 1997 to 1999. Before launching the campaign in 1997, a survey was conducted in which 49, 311 illiterates were enumerated and the Literacy Society was able to make 43,859 persons literate by equipping them with functional literacy. Last year, Dr G.D. Bhatt, Director of the Himalayan Region Research and Study Institute, New Delhi, along with a 15-member team visited the district for doing external evaluation of ‘total literacy” campaign here. The team chose 2622 neo-literates belonging to 15 villages and eight municipal wards at random. Dr Sunkaria said he had conducted an experiment by linking the literacy drive with the development and welfare schemes in the district and literacy-conscious villages were given special grants for carrying out development work. Moreover, the newly attained literacy skills were also being utilised for executing the Reproductive Child Health and Family Welfare Programme (RCH) aimed at creating awareness regarding population control, AIDS, environment, pollution, general health awareness among the masses. The programme was currently under way in the district, he added. It is the first district in the country, which has linked the RCH programme with the literacy drive, says Dr Sunkaria, adding that now Literacy Society was all set to launch post-literacy campaign. To build a conducive environment for launching the drive the Literacy Society organised workshops of KRPs (Key Resource Persons), MTs (Master Trainers) and Sakharata Sewaks at block and village levels. The drive was aimed at inculcating the spirit of self-reliance among neo-literates by providing them training and awareness about the various schemes and loan facilities for setting up self-employment ventures like fish farming, piggery, mat and football making , kit sewing, etc. Under the project, the Literacy Society has already set up 40 sewing training centres (eight centres each in all five blocks of the district) in villages to impart training to needy women, the DC added. |
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Effigies of Sikh scholars burnt NAWANSHAHR, Sept 27 — The effigies of the office-bearers of the Institute of Sikh Studies — Mr Gurdev Singh, Dr Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon, Major General Narinder Singh and Dr Sukhjit Kaur Gill, who have allegedly been supporting assertions made in the controversial book “Sachi Sakhi”, were burnt by the members of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sports Club, Khatkar Kalan, in front of the statue of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh at Khatkar Kalan, about 9 km from here on Wednesday. Besides, “pranam shaheedam nu” programme was organised at the village by the club and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial College, Banga, to commemorate the birth anniversary of the martyr. A seminar was organised on the “life and thought of Saheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh.” The speakers criticised the remarks about Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai written in “Sachi Sakhi”. Freedom fighters, which included, Mr Chain Singh Chain, Mr Baldev Bedi, Mr Vasdev Chopra, Mr Piara Singh Mahil Gahilan, were honoured. Revolutionary plays by Pragati Kala Kendra, Landheran, Punjab Kala Sangam, Phagwara, and Navchintan Kala Manch, Beas, were also staged. TARN TARAN: Hundreds of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) workers led by Mr Pargat Singh Jamarai, district secretary, DYFI, Amritsar, burnt the effigy of Mr Kapoor Singh. DYFI workers raised slogans against scholars like Kapoor Singh. The DYFI also organised a seminar on “Shaheed Bhagat Singh and the role of youth in the modern era.” Mr Mangat Ram Pasla CPM leader, Mr Kulwant Singh Sandhu, Dr Baldev Singh Gandori were among the main speakers. |
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Preparations on for Gurmat Samagam RATWARA SAHIB, Sept 27 — Preparations for the 10th annual Gurmat Samagam at Ratwara Sahib being organised by the Vishwa Gurmat Ruhani Mission Charitable Trust, Ratwara Sahib, are in full swing. The four-day congregation will start on September 29. The samagam will be held under the supervision of Sant Wariyam Singh. Bhai Lakhbir Singh informed, ‘‘Renowned
sants, intellectuals and yogis will address the congregation, highlighting the philosophy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib by sharing their experiences on self-realisation’’. About 10 to 12 lakh devotees are expected to take part in the gathering. To accommodate the devotees, a 600 ft by 250 ft pandal has been erected At least 150 close circuit television sets will be installed. The whole area of the gurdwara will be connected through intercom. Special arrangements for round-the-clock langars have been made. Efforts are being made by the organisers to ensure that the devotees do not have to wait for their turn. The Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences and doctors from Yoga Rishikesh will provide free medical facilities to the devotees. Separate tents for males and females, cordoned off by snake trenches, have been erected in the complex. A large number of devotees are expected to arrive from foreign countries, especially Canada, the USA, England and Australia. For the foreign devotees, separate arrangement has been made in front of the gurdwara and about 40 rooms reserved for them. Apart from the local arrangements, other gurdwaras, school buildings and bhavans have also been reserved to lodge devotees coming from far-off places. The kar sewaks are working round the clock to give finishing touch to the beautification of the gurdwara. The kar sewaks have already constructed a 1,600-foot road.Special parking and lighting arrangements would be made for the occasion. Sites would be earmarked for the vehicles coming from various parts of the country. Sant Wariyam Singh Ratwara Sahib, Sant Mohinder Singh
Khannewale, Sant Bhupinder Singh Jarag, Sant Sadhu Singh Sangrur, Sant Kalian Das Singh Anandpur Sahib, Sant Dhanwant Singh Gurdaspur, Sant Hari Singh
Randhwaile, Sant Sarbjot Singh Bedi, Dr Ved Bharti Rishikesh, Swami Pritam Joti Hari Shri Amritsar, will enlighten the audiences through Gurmat thoughts. |
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Effigy of civic
chief burnt BATALA, Sept 27 — Shiv Sena activists held a protest rally here today in front of the municipal council office and burnt effigies of the president and the executive officer, local Municipal Council — Mr Gian Chand and Mr Harbhajan Singh Randhawa, respectively. The activists led by Mr Kamal Sharma, president of Gurdaspur unit of Shiv Sena, protested against the death of seven persons of Gandhinagar due to the intake of contaminated water supplied by the local municipal council. The protesters demanded the arrest of boh officials. However, city police has registered a case under Sections 148, 149, 186, 427, 462, and 506 of the IPC yesterday on a complaint by a municipal employee against some Congress workers who allegedly broke down the furniture of the municipal council here yesterday. |
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Doctors take out march, give memo HOSHIARPUR, Sept 27 — The SDM (Civil), Mr Paramjit, along with a police force did not allow members of the Indian Medical Association branch here, the PCMS Association members, including women doctors, to take out a peaceful march from the Civil Hospital here today on account of Section 144 of the Cr PC promulgated in the district. The women doctors were leading the march towards the district courts to present their memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, against the alleged attack by Mr Kamal Chaudhry, former MP at the residence of Dr Kiranjit Kumar, Civil Surgeon, Hoshiarpur, on the Civil Hospital premises on September 22. Later, they presented the memorandum to Mr Paramjit, SDM, before the hospital and shouted slogans against the Punjab Police. |
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Student hit by bus PATIALA, Sept 27 — An Ethiopian student was hit by a bus at the campus gate on Sunday afternoon causing him head injuries. This time the reason attributed was the poor maintenance work on the national highway. The student, Yemane , who was taken to Government Rajindra Hospital, has now been transferred to Apollo Hospital Delhi. This was not the first mishap at the university gate. “On an average”, informed Harnek Singh, security supervisor on duty at the main gate, “around 10 accidents occur in every month at this place of which of many prove fatal.” “We have written to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, twice for the installation of traffic lights outside the campus gate. But, all our requests have fallen on deaf ears”, complains the Chief Security Officer of the university. He further informed, “The only effect our complaints had is that now two traffic policemen come to streamline traffic for two hours in the morning from 8 a.m. to 10a.m., and for the same duration in the evening from 4p.m. to 6, p.m., but this is not sufficient.” |
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Water samples fail test PATIALA Mr Mohinder Singh Walia, Project In Charge of the Dedicated Brothers Group
(DBG) Medicare Project, Dr Rakesh Vermi, President of DBG, along with a team of Chief Medical Officer of Patiala, carried out tests at the group’s cost as it was feared that the tap water may contain poisonous bacteria, besides unregulated amounts of chlorine,
flourides, dioxin, lead, arsenic, etc. Residents of Charan Bagh, Old Bishan Nagar, Police Line area near Nabha Road and Old Mehar Singh Colony, are consuming this water. The Group has urged the Administrator, Municipal Corpo-ration, Patiala, to take necessary steps in the case. |
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AIYC president
summons meeting PHILLAUR, Sept 27 — The president of the All-India Youth Congress Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, has summoned an urgent meeting of all block and district presidents of the Punjab Youth Congress on September 28 at Dental College, Sunam, to finalise the poll strategy for Sunam byelection. Mr Surjewala said the people were fed up with the state government’s alleged anti-people policies. |
6 hurt in mishap PHAGWARA, Sept 27 — Six persons were injured in a collision between a roadways bus and a Jeep on the Banga road here today. |
70 cr cut from Plan assistance CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — The Union Government has cut about Rs 70 crore from the plan assistance to the Punjab Government as the PSEB has not cleared the dues of certain Central Government Organisations (CGOs). Confirming this here today, Mr K.R. Lakhanpal, Finance Secretary, Punjab said that the Planning Commission had ordered the deduction from the Plan assistance. However, a senior official of the PSEB, on condition of anonymity, said that some of the CGOs dealing with the PSEB had given “inflated” bills which were not accepted by the board. For settling the dispute, the board authorities put up their case before these organisations seeking the rationalisation of the bills. He said CGOs had the benefit of recovering money from the Plan assistance which was given to the states by the Union Government. The CGOs resorted to such measures to recover money from the board or any other state government undertaking. The cash-starved PSEB is facing a critical financial situation. It has urged the state government repeatedly to come to its help by compensating it for the free power given to the agriculutral sector. The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal had assured the payment of Rs 200 crore per year to compensate the board, but nothing has been paid so far. Informed sources said that the PSEB had recently taken up this issue with the state government authorities concerned. The PSEB has reportedly sought Rs 67 crore as the first instalment of the Rs 200 crore assured by Mr Badal. However, the state government authorities said the government had already paid Rs 220 crore to the board. They said that about Rs 70 crore had already been deducted by the Union Government and this amount obviously would be debited to the account of the PSEB. Besides, excise duty of Rs 150 crore of the state government was due against the board. The authorities said that apart from this amount, there was investment of Rs 7,000 crore of the state government in the board. The PSEB was supposed to pay at least nominal interest to the state government. This had not been paid for many years. There appeared to be no chance of the PSEB getting financial support from the state government in the near future. The State government itself was in deep financial crisis and it was not in a position to spare Rs 200 crore immediately to help the board. However, Mr Lakhanpal said that the state government had always stood by the board whenever it had faced any financial difficulty. He said the government would help the board to tide over the financial crisis. Recently, the PSEB Engineers Association had urged the Punjab Governor to direct the state government to withdraw the free power facility to farmers and to ensure at least 3 per cent rate of return to the board as per the Electricity Act. The commercial loss to the board last year was Rs 1,339 crore and by the end of the current financial year it was likely to be around Rs 1,048 crore. The rate of return was minus 46.62 per cent last year. The association estimated that because of free power to the agricultural sector, the PSEB was suffering a net loss of Rs 1,700 crore and the
cumulative loss was Rs 8,828.40 crore since 1992-93. |
4 held for sale of spurious liquor BATHINDA, Sept 27 — The district police has achieved a major success by arresting four persons who were indulging in the transportation and sale of spurious liquor under the garb of popular brand names of Punjab Medium Liquor (PML). Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, said the accused, who had been identified as Satpal, Ashok, Jagdish, Sadhu Ram and Anil Kumar were transporting spurious liquor to Rampura town of this district from Pritampura area of Delhi. In Rampura and other regions, the accused had been sellling each bottle of spurious liquor at a rate of Rs 100. The accused had been getting each bottle at the rate of Rs 15 only. He pointed out that a special police team which raided the premises owned by the accused in Rampura town seized more than 8000 bottles worth more than Rs 8 lakh in the market. The modus operandi of the accused was that they would bring liquor bottles from Delhi by pretending they were of Tyson and Silver Oak brand. In Rampura, they would change the wrappers and caps of the bottles and paste the wrappers of ‘Santra’, ‘Patiala Orange’ and ‘Malwa’. The accused had been indulging in this activity for the past many months. He added that some wrappers had been seized from the accused. The caps, the accused used to put on the bottles were of Chandigarh Distillery and Bottling Ltd,
Banur. |
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Case registered
against doctor BATHINDA, Sept 27 — A criminal case has been registered against Dr Parneet Kaur, who is running a clinic at Bhagta Bhai Ka, for allegedly causing death of a patient about three years ago. Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, said a case had been registered against Dr Parneet Kaur under Section 304-A on the complaint of Mr Nachhattar Singh, father of the deceased Sukhpal Kaur. In the complaint, Mr Nachhattar Singh alleged Dr Parneet Kaur, BAMS, performed surgery on her daughter for the premature delivery of baby. Dr Jain said the police registered a case on September 23, this year after making investigations.
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Woman commits suicide TARN TARAN, Sept 27 — Jasbir Kaur, a married woman of Patti town committed suicide by strangling herself last night. The police has registered a case under Sections 306, 34, IPC, against her husband and three other members of her in-laws on the complaint lodged by Joginder Singh, father of the deceased. According to sources Jasbir Kaur was married to Balwinder Singh about nine years back and they had two sons after the marriage. Joginder Singh in his complaint has alleged that his daughter was constantly harassed and tortured by her husband and in-laws members — Sukha Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Gian Kaur. The accused are reportedly absconding. |
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Rs 1 lakh stolen
from scooter PHAGWARA, Sept 27 — A sum of Rs 1 lakh was stolen from the boot of a scooter of a businessman, Mr Jaidev Duggal, at Satnampura yesterday. Mr Duggal withdrew the amount from a bank and drove down to his shop. He parked his scooter with the cash in the boot outside the shop. Two persons, who had followed him on a motor cycle, decamped with the cash. The police has registered a case under Section 379 of the IPC. |
Engg college teachers
observe protest week FEROZEPORE, Sept 27 — The Shaheed Bhagat Singh College of Engineering and Technology Teachers Association observed a protest week here and threatened to go on a strike if its demands were not met by the state government. The association demanded immediate implementation of the revised pay scales of librarian, DPE, computer programmer, foreman, instructor and workshop superintendent. Mr Tej Pal, general secretary of the association, alleged that revised pay scales as per recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission had been denied to the above members. The association also threatened to go on a mass casual leave from November 7 and to boycott the semester examination. |
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AVRC on
the verge of closure PATIALA, Sept 27 — The
Audio-Visual Research Centre (AVRC) in Punjabi University here is yet
again on the verge of closure as it has failed to fulfil the conditions
laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and has forfeited
its claim to more funds. The AVRC on the campus that had been lying closed for more than three years was revived last year when the UGC granted it Rs 9 lakh with the condition of making 24 broadcast quality films. However, the department is currently working on just four films which too are nowhere near completion. Till day the AVRC here has produced 69 films of which 27 were telecast. The rest were rejected on the plea that they were not of good quality. The
said movies on the Sanghol excavations and apple processing are under Dr
Yogesh Gambhir’s direction of the Television and Theatre Department.
He complains that the major lapse is the inadequacy of the staff. “Of
the 25 vacancies in the department, including the driver and chowkidar,
only five are filled. Furthermore, only two employees belong to the
technical staff of which one is a cameraman and the other is a office in
charge who also serves as the production assistant when the need arises”,
he said. Sources revealed that the vacant posts in the department were advertised four times but the interviews were not conducted even once due to various reasons. Ms
Satnam Kaur, office assistant since 1991, stated that the basic
requirement of the department was a full-time Director. “The part-time
directors have many other pressures and are unable to provide undivided
attention demanded by the AVRC”, explains Dr Gambhir. In the past one year four directors have been changed. Earlier also this department was rendered non-functional for some time when the UGC stopped funding the AVRC and the employees received their salaries after five months. “The
equipment is not of broadcast quality. Even when this was bought, the
technology was on its move out. Its basic utility is for training
purpose and not production. Also for many years most of the equipment
was lying packed as such in a store as the building was not ready. Some
of it was damaged during the floods. Now for production we had to bring
the cameras from Delhi every time. This adds to the cost”, Dr Gambhir
said. It is known that the UGC has granted the department nearly Rs 25 lakh over a span of four years which was not utilised judicially. In addition, the department also received Rs 23 lakh for buying recorders for its betacams which too are lying as such. Its not only the administration but also the building that is collapsing. Initially a gymnasium hall was taken over and converted into the current building of the AVRC. The construction began in 1989 and shifting was done five years later in 1994. Prior to this the AVRC was functional from Waris Bhavan. If
the dreaded fears of the staff come true then what will be the future of
the AVRC is one of the questions on the minds of all involved in it. In
order to resurrect itself the minimum funds required would amount to
about Rs 35 lakh, informs an insider. The employees are worried about
their future. They are UGC employees and the closure of the AVRC might
leave them jobless. |
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Varsity takes steps
to improve evaluation system AMRITSAR, Sept 27 — Guru Nanak Dev
University has taken measures to improve the system of evaluation of
answer-books of candidates for the supplementary examination beginning
from September 30. Stating this, Dr R.S. Bawa, Registrar, GND varsity,
said the university would procure a certificate from the examiner
concerned to the effect that he had taught the subject for at least
three years. For the evaluation of answer-books, one centre each had
been set up at Amritsar, Jalandhar and Gurdaspur. It had also been
made obligatory for each head examiner to convene a meeting of all
examiners before starting the evaluation. Each examiner would be given
only 40 answer-books daily for evaluation, he added. Dr Bawa said no
person, either from the teaching or the non-teaching staff, would be
appointed as examiner or checking assistant who had been debarred from
any remunerative work by the university. |
Incentives for rice millers BATHINDA, Sept 27 — In a significant decision, the Punjab Government has devised a scheme of incentives for rice millers to attract them to mill paddy without any hassel. Official sources said any rice miller who would mill paddy according to the scheme laid down by the Punjab Government would get cash incentive up to the maximum limit of Rs 30 per quintal. The Punjab Government had devised different slabs for different categories of rice millers. The cash incentive would be given to the rice millers according to the work done by them. Official sources said the Punjab Government had decided to give 5000 mt of paddy to those rice millers of Moga and Ferozepore districts that had a milling capacity of one tonne each. For additional each tonne capacity, 4000 mt paddy more would be given for milling. In other districts of Punjab, the state government would give only 4000 mt of paddy to rice millers. The sources added that incentives would be given to those rice millers who would purchase more than 25 per cent of the total quantity of paddy from their own sources. The Punjab Government was also considering the proposal to give option to the rice millers to sell the levy rice in the open market. The sources added that rice millers would also be given the option to finish the job of levy milling up to December 31 and start custom milling later. Most of rice mills in the state had not started their operation yet as the moisture content of paddy brought by farmers was high. |
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