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| Friday, October 6, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Crucial SGPC meeting put
off Farmers continue
protests Centre may relax paddy norms Wireless monitoring
of paddy purchase |
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Vijay M-137 launched Farming under threat of gun, wild
boar Ropar power plant Plant to be shut for 2
days Cong protests against petro price
hike
Garg lauds alliance for Sunam win
Sethi’s remarks ‘uncalled for’
Residents unhappy over
streetlighting Four-laning of Patiala road to begin
soon 6 women, child hurt
in stone throwing Freedom fighters
can’t get medical reimbursement Tea, coffee in trains costlier
Upgradation of Canadian Centre sought
Gang of extortionists
arrested Brothers sentenced for murder 2 cops held for snatching arms Couple foils robbery Heroin worth
Rs 2 cr seized 1 killed as LPG
cylinder explodes
PCCTU issues stir
calendar Move to privatise
ITIs, polytechnics
Chemists observe
complete strike Petrol dealers’ stir put off
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Crucial SGPC meeting put
off AMRITSAR, Oct 5 — Close on the heels of registration of an FIR in a case pertaining to the mysterious death of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of Bibi Jagir Kaur, the crucial executive committee meeting was scheduled to be held at Anandpur Sahib tomorrow has been postponed indefinitely without assigning any reason. The executive members have been intimated through phonograms or telephonically. This was officially confirmed here today. This is the second time that the executive meeting has been postponed in less than a week without assigning any reason. Earlier, the meeting was scheduled to be held at Amritsar on October 4. However, it was postponed to October 6 and the venue of the meeting shifted from Amritsar to Anandpur Sahib. Strongly condemning postponement of the meeting, Mr Harbans Singh Manjpur, SGPC executive member of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal sought the resignation of Bibi Jagir Kaur following registration of a criminal case by the CBI into the death of her daughter. Bhai Amrik Singh, senior president SHSAD, Mr Major Singh Uboke, a former MP, Mr Harminder Singh Gill, president All India Sikh Students Federation have also asked Bibi Jagir Kaur to step down as SGPC president. Sources said that Bibi Jagir Kaur has postponed the meeting at an eleventh hour as there was apprehension that some members could have asked her to resign as president in the meeting itself. At one time, executive members had forced Mr Baldev Singh Sibia, the then president to tender his resignation. SHSAD has two and SAD (Amritsar) one member in the executive. Mr Balbir Singh Naushehra Pannuan, senior vice-president who belongs to the ruling party has become a strong critic of Bibi Jagir Kaur for a variety of reasons. Recently, he had locked a strong room of the cashier when a Rs two lakh payment was made to an SGPC member, Mr Kashmir Singh Gandiwind in violation of bylaws. The three-member inquiry committee comprising of Mr Hardalbir Singh Shah, general secretary, Mr Jaswinder Singh Advocate and Ms Kiranjot Kaur — both SGPC members belonging to the ruling party — had ‘indicted’ Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, SGPC secretary of passing ‘wrong’ orders for making the payment. The inquiry committee had also recommended immediate removal of Dr Bachan. However, no action has been taken in this regard. This significant issue was likely to have been raised at the meeting of the executive. The meeting assumes significance in the wake of annual elections for the post of SGPC president scheduled for November. Though Bibi Jagir Kaur has been successful in the removal of Giani Puran Singh as Jathedar Akal Takht she in turn has been facing strong criticism from members of ruling party. Mr Puran Singh Josh, a senior SGPC member, had launched a mass movement against Bibi Jagir Kaur and many cases are pending in the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission against her, perhaps the first SGPC president against whom so many cases are pending. |
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Farmers continue
protests JALANDHAR, Oct 5 — Agitated over the pace of purchases paddy farmers blocked traffic in different parts of the Doaba today. Vehicular traffic was disrupted for over an hour on the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur road following a dharna at Rama Mandi. Farmers were led by Congress MLA from Jalandhar cantonment constituency Mr Tej Parkash Singh, who alleged that farmers were being harassed by the government and their produce were being rejected on various pretexts. The dharna was lifted following an assurance by SDM Vinay Bublani, who said the agencies would procure all the crop within specifications. Similarly, a group of farmers, led by Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khalra, organised a sit-in on the Jalandhar-Amritsar road at Dhilwan Kalan this morning. The Kirti Kisan Union members blocked Sultanpur Chowk at Lohian for about three hours in the afternoon. Mr Kulwinder Singh, of the KKU, alleged that farmers produce was not being purchased by the agencies to benefit the traders, who were exploiting farmers by purchasing their crop at a lower price than the minimum support price. The total procurement of paddy in the state, according to Food and Supply officials, has been 23 lakh tonnes. This is less than the total purchase during the corresponding period last year when around 28 lakh tonnes of the crop was purchased. “Actually, last year we had started purchase 10 days earlier, but the figure for this year is also encouraging. See we have purchased 3,70,000 bags of paddy today itself”, said Mr P. Ram Secretary, Food & Civil Supplies, Punjab while talking to The Tribune. Meanwhile, enquiries with the Food and Supply authorities have painted a gloomy picture of purchases saying going by the current pace of purchases, unless there is a relaxation in
specifications farmers of the state will have no option but to opt for distress sale of an estimated 30-35 lakh tonnes of their crop, roughly 35 per cent of total arrivals. The main reason for this is an attack by a fungus, called “tela”. Officials of different agencies say there is a difference between discolouring of the grain this year as both the husk and grain is
discoloured and damaged. “Last year, we used to ignore black spots on the skin since the grain inside was white, but this year grain too is damaged”, an official said. MALERKOTLA: Agitated farmers, commission agents and labourers of Malerkotla mandi staged a dharna on the mall road to protest against the callous attitude of various government procurement agencies. The protesters raised slogans and criticised the Akali government for not purchasing their paddy. They said government procurement agencies and FCI officials in connivance with private traders had been rejecting the paddy on the ‘excuse’ of specifications. Protesters were demanding that paddy be purchased immediately in all 17 purchase centres. DHURI: Enquiries at the local grain market reveal that while agencies have started to procure the paddy following protests some days ago the process of procurement is tardy and there is a glut in the grain market. The purchases seem to be an eyewash to avert dharnas and blockades in future. As per the record of Market Committee, Dhuri, only 1, 98, 800 qtls of paddy have been purchased by private traders as well as government agencies up to against a total arrival of 3,80,000 quintals of this 1,05,620 qtls paddy has been purchased by private traders. |
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Centre may relax paddy norms MAKHU (Ferozepore), Oct 5 — A team from the Ministry of Agriculture is visiting Punjab to assess the quantum of damage to paddy as a prelude to possible relaxation of specifications. Disclosing this to TNS here today, the Chairman of the Food Corporation of India, Mr Bhure Lal indicated that any decision to relax specification of paddy may be taken after the visit. Mr Bhure Lal who was here to review procurement, disclosed that the quantum of the damaged paddy was significant in Punjab this time. Although he was unwilling to predict the exact amount of damaged paddy in the over a dozen mandis visited by him since today morning, he said. Expressing his sympathies with the farmers, who are resenting the slow pace of procurement, Mr Bhure Lal said, “the relaxation of paddy specification is not within my competence. As of now, the FCI will purchase paddy as per the specifications”. Mr Bhure Lal said only the central team, which arrives today evening along with the representatives of the state government, can decide on relaxations after making an assessment of the paddy stock. He also sought to allay the fears of farmers that the millers who are buying paddy at low prices due to delayed procurement may resell it at the minimum support price. “We will tighten the norms to ensure that the millers do not make a profit out of such situation. We won’t let them play games”, he assured. After touring Ropar, Nawanshahr, Jalandhar and Amritsar districts, he observed that the paddy grown in Punjab was generally inferior and said the specifications were not unique to this reason. Meanwhile, farmers blocked traffic at Arif Ke village on the Ferozepore-Makhu road to register their protest against delayed procurement of paddy. Farmers from at least six villages halted traffic and government vehicles by placing wooden logs, strands of barbed wires across the road. They charged that not a single agency, not even millers had stepped in at Arif Ke Mandi to lift their produce. Although the administration had earlier stepped in and asked the agencies to lift paddy, farmers continued to camp at the mandi, where some 80,000 quintals of paddy is awaiting procurement. The farmers have vowed not to lift the blockage till their produce is lifted. HARIKE (Amritsar): Mr Bhure Lal, said contaminated seed and wrong agricultural practices were responsible for the damage to paddy in Punjab. Talking to the press, here today, Mr Bhure Lal said he had a lot of sympathy for the farmers and had directed all officials to procure quality paddy vigorously. He was accompanied by zonal manager and senior regional manager of FCI, Mr D.P. Reddy visited 12 grain markets in Amritsar district. Replying to a question, Mr Bhure Lal said he would take strict departmental action against FCI officials if found
guilty of indulging in corruption or harassing farmers. In a significant statement, he said space for storage of foodgrain was no constraint and the FCI had sufficient space. Old wheat stocks would be moved shortly for accommodating more paddy. FCI was also constructing its own godowns as without proper storage capacity procurement exercise would have no meaning, he said. The FCI chairman said that the corporation had created sufficient space for storing Punjab’s paddy in Hyderabad, Rajasthan and other states. He said wheat stored in various godowns would be moved for making space for paddy. Meanwhile, Mr Bhupinder Singh Mann, a former Member Parliament and president Bharti Kisan Union strongly criticised Mr Bhure Lal for skipping the grain markets of the border district of Gurdaspur. Mr Bhure Lal had even failed to visit Bhagtanwala grain market, the biggest mandi of Amritsar district. MOGA (FOC): FCI chairman Bhure Lal said here today that farmers in Punjab were accustomed to bringing unripe paddy to markets. Which did not meet specifications. He denied a shortage of storage capacity in Punjab saying at present there was storage capacity of 10 lakh tonnes in Punjab and FCI could muster another 10 lakh tonnes of storage capacity. He urged farmers to bring only mature and dry paddy. He said there was no demand for foodgrain anywhere as almost all the states were self-sufficient in foodgrains. |
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Wireless monitoring
of paddy purchase FEROZEPORE, Oct 5 — A special wireless network has been established by the district administration to keep a check on the law and order problem arising out of the farmers’ resentment due to the slow procurement of paddy in various market committees. As the farmers continue to protest against the slow procurement of their produce by blocking road and rail traffic in the district, the administration felt the need of such communication network to keep itself informed of the ground situation. In case of any emergency, the Deputy Commissioner’s office is informed and the SDMs are rushed to the mandis to ensure smooth lifting of paddy. The situation turns tense whenever the procurement agencies refuse to lift paddy on account of strict
specifications of the government. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, told TNS that the network is the first of its kind in Punjab and helps the authorities prevent any untoward incident. The farmers had protested against the delayed procurement by halting trains in the Fazilka, Khai and Makhu areas. There have also been frequent road blockades in the district since the procurement began on September 21. On one occasion, the farmers in Mandi Ladhuka had detained Food Corporation of India officials in protest. Sources in the administration revealed that these “arm-twisting” methods have resulted in the procurement of damaged and discoloured paddy. Of the total 7 lakh MT of paddy that has arrived in various mandis, 4.80 lakh MT has already been procured. Despite difficulties, the farmers have faith in the administration that is monitoring the procurement process from Makhu to
Abohar. |
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BKU activists block
traffic BATHINDA, Oct 5 — Traffic near Bhuchu Khurd village of this district came to a halt when activists of Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) did not allow vehicles to proceed in protest against the paddy procurement policy of the government. The activists also jammed traffic near Jethuke, Maur crossing, Mandi Kalan, Beer Mandi, Rampura, Bhai Rupa, Selbrah, Dhipali, Mehraj and Bhagta villages of this district. Passengers who wanted to reach Bathinda from Rampura, had to travel 70 km instead of 30 km to avoid the blockade. The activists said the government was making the false claims to assuage public anger. Mr Jhanda Singh Jethuke, district president, BKU (Ekta) who lead the agitation, alleged that the government which had claimed to be the government of farmers, was deliberately ignoring the plight of farmers sitting in different grain markets for the past three weeks to sell paddy. |
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Teams formed for paddy procurement FATEHGARH SAHIB, Oct 5 — 61534 MT of paddy was purchased till yesterday in different mandis of the district by various procurement agencies, according to Mr B.S. Sudan, Deputy Commissioner at Sanghol grain market yesterday. He said special teams had been formed under the
ADC(G) and ADC(D) to ensure smooth procurement of paddy. The DC said that surprise checking of mandis had been initiated to ensure that paddy is purchased and the payment is made on the same day. He said during surprise checking, licences of four commission agents had been suspended for shortcomings during the procurement of paddy. He said directions had been issued to the procurement agencies to purchase even that paddy which is close to government specifications. |
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Growers urged not to block traffic SANGRUR, Oct 5 — Mr Gobind Singh Kanjhla, Minister for Social Security, Punjab, today made an appeal to the paddy growers not to block roads or stage dharnas on the issue of slow purchase or non-procurement of the paddy by government procurement agencies. Mr Kanjhla said such dharnas and road blockades were creating problems in procurement. He was addressing a meeting convened to review the progress of procurement of paddy here. The meeting was attended by the SDMs of this district. |
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Farmers block
traffic at Dhuri SANGRUR, Oct 5 — Paddy growers today blocked traffic in Dhuri and Longowal village in the district in protest against the slow procurement of paddy of the government agencies and tough specifications fixed by the Central Government for the procurement of paddy. The Dhuri police said this evening that the farmers blocked the road at Sangrur chowk in Dhuri from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and protested against the government and its policies with regard to paddy procurement. About 100 farmers took part in the protest. Another road was blocked on a drain bridge near Longowal village for more than four hours by about 300 farmers. This road blockade affected vehicular traffic to Sunam and Sangrur through link roads. The farmers started the road blockade around 11.30 a.m. and ended it around 4 p.m. |
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BJP
Condemns road block
PATIALA, Oct 5 — Mr Bhupesh Kumar Aggarwal, senior vice-president of the district unit of the BJP condemned yesterday’s incident when thousands of farmers virtually sealed the entire city by creating road blocks. Mr Bhupesh Kumar alleged that the Congress, after losing the Suman byelection, had become totally frustrated and had started indulging in nefarious anti-social activities like motivating yesterday’s road block by farmers. In a press release Mr Bhupesh Kumar said the Congress was responsible for stoking the fires of yesterday’s sordid incident due to which life in the city virtually came to a standstill.  |
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Protest against oil price hike MOGA, Oct 5 — Hundreds of farmers staged a demonstration against the unprecedented hike in the prices of petroleum products and said they would intensify their agitation if the government failed to withdraw it. Young Farmers Association President Shamsher Singh Dhillon said the hike was a great burden on farmers already ruined by the government delays in procurement of their stocks. |
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Paddy heaps
pile up in mandis RAJPURA, Oct 5 — In Grain Market located at Focal Point of Mardanpura village of Rajpura subdivision, not even a single grain has been purchased for the past fortnight. Despite promises by the government, no government agency has started the procurement of paddy. As a result of this thousands of tonnes of paddy brought here since September 21 is lying waste and is being taken by the farmers to Ambala and other cities. Sitting in this purchase centre, farmers said they had been here for the past fortnight. The manager of Markfed, the government procurement agency related to this area, informed over the phone they had no place to keep the paddy. |
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Vijay M-137 launched PATIALA, Oct 5 — Barley, a neglected crop by many Indian states has the potential of becoming a major cash crop in the northern India, said Mr Kalyan Ganguly, president Brewery Division of the United Breweries (UBS) Limited while launching Vijay M-137, a variety superior malting quality barley here at Maltex House today. Addressing mediapersons, Mr Ganguly said Vijay M-137, the outcome of 10 years of relentless effort of the research and development centre of the United Breweries Limited, Bangalore, was a high-yielding and lodging resistant variety and could be grown in a commercial scale even in the infertile land which is no longer useful for growing wheat or rice. Due to lack of commercial aspect barley had never been a favourite crop among the farmers, said Mr Ganguly. To encourage the farmers to grow ‘Vijay M-137’ the United Breweries Limited has made tie-up with the farmers to provide seeds and required technology on a buy back basis. Talking about the future plan, Mr Ganguly said the UBS would be pressurising the government to formulate a separate set of policies for beer producers. Since beer is essentially a food product, it should not be subjected to the same set of policies as hard drinks, said Mr Ganguly. ‘Vijay M-137’ which is expected to ensure a continuous supply of malting quality barley to the functioning malt division of the UBS, the Maltex House, located at Rauni has already been sown in 1024 acres land in Patiala, Sangrur and
Mansa. |
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Farming under threat of gun, wild
boar ALONG THE ZERO LINE, Oct 5 — Despite security fencing raised along the zero line to check infiltration, farmers of Ferozepore district that shares a 134-km border with Pakistan feel a threat to their lives, environment and crops from Pakistan. A survey of several villages near the Hussainiwala and Mamdot borders reveals that farmers having lands across the fencing face numerous challenges. Although fencing has rid them of threat from Pakistani intruders, those having land close to the zero line near Hussainiwala face difficulty in saving their crops from wild boar, which are often driven to the Indian side by Pakistani civilians and Rangers. The problem compels the farmers to use potash-filled wheat balls to kill the animal, as protecting the fields during night is impossible due to restrictions imposed by the Border Security Force (BSF). At times, the villagers plead for fencing their fields with live wires with the BSF. A farmer, Mr Puran Singh, of Pakhra village lamented, “The fencing cannot prevent the wild boars that frequently devastate our crops across the fencing”. Another problem is that of the effluents from the leather industry in Kasur on the other side which are discharged into rivulets and creeks leading to the Sutlej river in the Indian territory. The creeks near Tindiwala, Jalo-ke and Rajo-ke villages are so polluted that fishing is rendered impossible. Besides, emanating foul smell, the effluents also affect the skin of the cattle. Mr Makhan Singh, Sarpanch of Rajo-ke village, confirmed that they have been facing the problem for more than a year and villagers avoid taking cattle to the rivulets. In the absence of a clear demarcation of the border in the Sutlej waters near the Mamdot area, the farmers face a much serious threat from the Rangers. Only recently, the Rangers had rounded up two Indian civilians — Chaman Singh and Harchand Singh of Bahadur Ke village — when they ventured into the river for fishing. They were freed only after the BSF lodged a protest with its Pakistan counterpart. Likewise, a youth was abducted by the Rangers in Fazilka last year. He was returned as part of an exchange of captives by the forces on either side of the border. The Rangers have also been posing a threat to the labourers engaged in the construction of fencing near Raja Rai village. Since the Rangers were annoyed at the construction of fencing close to the zero line, they built fresh defences in retaliation. Mr Mohan Singh, a Panch of Raja Rai village, lamented that with the Rangers stationed close to the zero line, the villagers virtually worked under the shadow of guns across the fencing. However, the BSF officials sought to play down the threat from the Rangers, saying that the two cases of abduction were exceptions. They assured that the special “kisan guard” shadows the Indian farmers, whenever they go to the fields across the fencing to prevent any mischief by the Rangers. |
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Ropar power plant CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The Punjab Government has taken serious note of the induction of an “imbalanced rotor” in Unit IV of the Ropar Thermal Plant causing a huge loss to the Punjab State Electricity Board by way of generation of power, etc. The Power Minister, Mr Sikander Singh Malooka, told TNS here today that he was looking into the entire rotor controversy. By Monday, an inquiry would be ordered. He said the inquiry would be handed over to either the Punjab Vigilance Bureau or a committee of technical experts appointed by the state government. The Tribune had broken the story regarding the induction of the “imbalanced” rotor in unit IV and its breakdown. Mr Malooka, who had a talk on the phone with the Chief Engineer of the thermal plant this morning, said the rotor had been taken out and would be sent to the BHEL factory for balancing and the rectification of other faults. Unity IV would remain closed for about a month as the plant authorities had also decided to go in for a general over-haul of the unit. Earlier this unit was shut down in January this year for a general overhaul. It is the second time that the plant authorities have gone for general repairs in one year. General repairs of Unit’ I, due in September have been postponed because of the bogging down of Unit IV, it is learnt. The main focus of the inquiry would be on why the “imbalanced” rotor was inducted and the financial loss
suffered by the PSEB. He said the rotor induction work was done in a casual way. The PSEB had been running thermal plants for the past three decades and the officials concerned should have fully satisfied themselves about the “rotor balance” before induction. An inquiry would also be held into the partial collapse of the outfall of the escape channel of the Ropar plant. The outfall was constructed only 15 years ago. Mr Malooka said that he had got information that the retaining walls of the outfall had deflected inwards and also sunk by 1 ft because of erosion in the foundation. Meanwhile, taking a serious view of the statements made by a former Chairman of the PSEB, Mr N.S. Vasant, who is at present the adviser to the PSEB, Mr Malooka said that Mr Vasant was issuing misleading statements about the Punjab Government. He said the government had never interfered in the internal functioning of the PSEB and the allegations levelled by Mr Vasant to this effect were untrue. The government was only discharging its duty of supervision of the board’s functioning. The board could not be given absolute freedom to decide matters like the hike in the power tariff, which affected the people of the entire state. Moreover, he said that efficiency in the board could not be brought about by enhancing the power tariff. The entire functioning of the board required to he overhauled. He said by streamlining the coal procurement system, Rs 500 crore could be saved by the board. There was a big scandal pertaining to coal in the PSEB and it required thorough investigation. By preventing the theft of power, Rs 400 crore would be saved and by taking some other steps like slashing the number of posts at the top level about Rs 200 crore be saved. “Is there any need for 30 Chief Engineers in the board?” he asked. Many officers in the top echelons of the PSEB had no work to do, he added. He said the Ropar plant was, by and large, constructed under the supervision of Mr Vasant only 15 years ago. This plant had started giving trouble within such a short period, he added. “Who should be held responsible for it?” he asked. Mr Malooka said the state government faced the wrath of people in the case of power failure in the state and the unavailability of connections in the countryside and no one in the PSEB was held responsible this. He said the elected government was answerable to the people. It was the duty of the government to supervise the functioning of organisations like the PSEB. Mr Malooka has told the management of the PSEB to remove Mr Vasant from the post of Adviser at the earliest as this would be in the interest of the board. |
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Plant to be shut for 2
days CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The Punjab State Electricity Board has decided to shut down the Ropar Super Thermal Plant from 8 p.m. on October 13 to 9.30 p.m. on October 15. The board said in a press note that it was an emergency shutdown but did not assign any reason for it. However, informed sources said the shutdown had been decided to carry on vital repairs in the out-fall of the escape channel of the plant. The Tribune had reported about the matter on September 24 and following day Mr N.S. Vasant, Adviser to the PSEB, had denied that closure of the plant was on the anvil. He had stated that the PSEB would try to carry out repairs without shutting down the plant though engineers of the PSEB had made it clear that no repairs would be possible without shutting down all units of the plant. The PSEB has sought the permission of the state government for the complete shutdown of the plant during this period. The government accorded permission for the same today, it is learnt. A PSEB spokesman said all five units would remain closed during the period. The sixth unit had been out of order since August 24 because of a fault in its rotor. There would be a likely shortfall of about 1050 MW in power generation because of the shutdown. Though measures were being taken to cover up some of the shortfall, yet these measures would not be sufficient to bridge the gap, the statement said. The PSEB has announced its power supply schedule during the shutdown period. From 8 p.m. on October 13 to 6 a.m. on October 14, there would be no 3-phase power supply to the agriculture sector. However, I-phase supply for general consumers in rural areas would be maintained for the maximum possible period. There would be a power cut of about four hours to I-phase power supply consumers in rural areas. There would be a power cut of two hours to urban and industrial mixed feeders in rotation during this period. From 6 a.m. on October 14 to 9.30 p.m. on October 15, all large supply industry (with a connected load above 100 kw) and all medium supply industry ( with a connected load above 20 kw to 100 kw ) would remain closed. However, essential and processing industry would be allowed to run their load to peakload exemptions. Similarly, other large supply and medium supply industry would be allowed to run the essential load up to 10 per cent of their sanctioned contract demand, subject to a maximum limit of 50 kw. Milk plants, ice factories, daily newspapers, cold stores, oil depots, poultry farmers, ice candy units and exclusive bread manufacturing units would be exempted from the power regulatory measures. The board authorities have advised the industrial consumers to reschedule their weekly off days accordingly. |
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Cong protests against petro price
hike CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr Amarinder Singh, today led a delegation to the Governor and submitted a memorandum protesting against the recent hike in the prices of petroleum products. The Governor, Lt-Gen
J.F.R. Jacob (retd), was also apprised of the plight of farmers who faced difficulties in selling paddy. The Congress delegation sought his intervention to stop distress sale. The Governor gave an assurance that he would talk to the Chief Minister on his return from New Delhi, where he had already met the Prime Minister and the Minister for Consumer Affairs to seek the quick purchase of paddy, with a lenient view of the prescribed specifications, and the speedy movement of stocks outside Punjab to create storage space. Incidentally, the Congress proposes to launch a relay dharna in mandis from October 10. After submitting the memorandum,Mr Amarinder Singh told mediapersons that he would meet the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr M. S. Gill, to demand a repoll in Sunam through ballot papers and not electronic voting machines, which he alleged were tampered with. In fact, a similar demand has been made even by the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal President, Mr Gurcharan Singh
Tohra. The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has already termed such a demand as one arising out of frustration. The memorandum, inter
alia, said the hike in the prices of petroleum products had given a severe blow to farmers and the poor. He disputed the Centre's argument that the upward revision was necessitated due to an increase in crude oil prices in the international market.This decision was purely political in nature and smacked of ad hoc steps. It was anti-poor, he added. |
Garg lauds alliance for Sunam win BATHINDA, Oct 5 — The Punjab Science and Technology Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, has claimed that the victory of Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa in Sunam byelection has proved that the SAD-BJP alliance was the true representative of the people of Punjab. Addressing a press conference here yesterday he said the people of Punjab had rejected the communal politics of the Congress. By defeating the nine parties Sanjha Morcha’s candidate, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, the people had also proved that they were not for the return of unrest in the state he said. The minister, who was in charge of Sunam byelection, said the mass base of SAD-BJP alliance had widened due to development works carried out by its government. He said the result of the byelection indicated that the SAD-BJP government would return to power again. Mr Garg alleged that agitations launched by the employees of different departments and students of ETT during the byelection were sponsored by the Congress and the Sanjha Morcha. |
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Sethi’s remarks
‘uncalled for’ PATIALA, Oct 5 — The president of the Block Congress Committee Mr Anuj Trivedi, has condemned rebel Congress leader Mr Ravail Singh Sethi’s attack on the PPCC Chief Capt Amarinder Singh in which Mr Sethi had said Capt Amarinder Singh should own moral responsibility for the Congress losing the Sunam byelection. In a press release issued here today, Mr Trivedi said the comments of Mr Sethi were unwarranted and uncalled for. He added that a person who was not participating in party activity had no right to issue such statements. Mr Trivedi said there was no use blaming Capt Amarinder Singh for the Sunam defeat as he was the same person under whose
leadership the Congress had given a commanding performance in the last Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. |
Residents unhappy over
streetlighting BATHINDA: Residents of some localities here are sore over the poor streetlight system. Residents of the Old City, Mohalla Pujanwala, Nai Basti, Amrik Singh Road and Bibiwala Road complain that streetlights in these areas are connected to the domestic power supply. Thus, whenever there is a power cut, the streetlights, too, go off and there is complete darkness. The situation is no better on the local stretch of the Bathinda-Muktsar highway. The road had been under repair for the past few years and was opened to traffic in August. However, there are no streetlights on the stretch from Pukhraj cinema to Tinkoni on Namdev Marg. This is the main road connecting the city to Faridkot, Muktsar and other towns. Lack of streetlights makes it highly accident prone. The level of the road is also low on one side causing rain water to stagnate in that portion for days. A resident regretted that while the authorities were challaning the drivers of two-wheelers for not wearing helmets and the owners of polluting vehicles, little was being done to make roads safe for driving. When contacted, Mr S.K. Mittal, Executive Officer, Municipal Council, said streetlights were connected to the domestic power supply on the request of consumers. However, efforts were on to get separate power supply lines for the streetlights in the town. Admitting that some streetlights on the stretch of the highway were out of order, he said this was due to problems with the wiring. |
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Four-laning of Patiala road to begin
soon HOSHIARPUR, Oct 5 — Mr Sucha Singh Langah Minister for PWD Punjab said here today that the PWD had recently prepared projects of Rs 2740 crore relating to the construction of bridges, roads etc. He said work on four-lane roads from Zirakpur to Patiala, Ludhiana to Chandigarh, Zirakpur to Anandpur Sahib, Phagwara to Chandigarh, and Ludhiana to Moga will begin within the next 2-3 months. Ludhiana would get a four-lane
bypass for which Rs 500 crore has been earmarked. Construction of bridges on the Sutlej at Rahon at a cost or Rs 32 crore and on Beas at Naushera Pattan Mukerian at a cost of Rs 24.60 crore will also begin soon. Construction of another bridge on the Sutlej at Sidhwan at a cost of Rs 25 crore would also be taken in hand during the current financial year. As many as 29 Railway overbridges will be constructed in Punjab of which the Centre will finance 14 bridges. Construction of railway over-bridges at Sunam at a cost of Rs 12 crore and at Dera Bassi at a cost of Rs 12.50 crore had already been started while at Tanda and Mukerian it would be taken in hand during current financial year. |
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6 women, child hurt in stone throwing JALANDHAR, Oct 5 (UNI) — Tension gripped Basti Bawa Khel in the city this afternoon following clashes leading to brickbatting by two groups in which at least six women and a child were injured. The clash occured over a proposed sewerline through a lane situated between the houses of migrant labourers and residents of the locality. The labourers had been insisting on connecting the sewerage pipe of the locality to the existing line. But residents feared this would block the narrow pipe which would not be sufficient to take in the discharge from the 52 living quarters proposed to be built by the plot owner. Supporters of the plot owner swooped down on the locality at around 3 p.m. and started threatening the residents. Some of them even started pelting the residents with stones. The latter retaliated, leading to a free-for-all, before police arrived. The police had earlier tried to effect a compromise. The police has been deployed in strength in the locality in view of the tension. |
Freedom fighters
can’t get medical reimbursement AMRITSAR, Oct 5 — It is a fact that freedom fighters are not entitled to reimbursement of their medical bills in the PGI, Chandigarh. While revealing this, Mr Satya Pal Dang, CPI leader sought the attention of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the case of an 84-year-old freedom fighter. Mr Muni Lal, freedom fighter and cancer patient was denied reimbursement for his medical bills, even as MLAs, MPs and former MLAs and MPs are entitled for reimbursement, observed Mr Dang in a representation to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary on July 5. A letter was promptly issued by the Principal Secretary, sanctioning the reimbursement of Mr Lal’s bills of the PGI in anticipation of the rules being amended to make freedom fighters eligible for medical help and reimbursements. However, on September 30, Mr Dang received a letter dated September 25 from the office of the Chief Minister in a reply to his D.O. (demi official) letter written in July to Mr Badal. It reads that Mr Muni Lal, freedom fighter is “not entitled” to reimbursement of his medical bills as this facility is not been given to freedom fighters. |
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Tea, coffee in trains costlier PHILLAUR, Oct 5 — The Railways has increased the rates of tea and coffee at railway stations and in trains with effect from October 1. Disclosing this, Railway sources said here yesterday that the rate of a cup of tea had been increased from Rs 2 to 3 and that with tea bags in disposable cups from Rs 3 to Rs 4. Instant coffee now costs Rs 5 instead of Rs 4 per cup. |
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Upgradation of Canadian Centre sought CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, has urged the Union External Affairs Ministry to upgrade the present Canadian High Commission Information Centre located in Chandigarh to a full-fledged Consulate to further strengthen Indo-Canadian relations. In a communication addressed to the Union External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, today, Mr Badal has strongly pleaded that the people from northern states are facing harassment and hardships at the hands of various
agencies in New Delhi while trying to get either Visitor’s or Immigration visas. Mr Badal pointed out in the letter that the present office which was inaugurated by Mr Lloyed
Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada in January, 1997, on the persistent demand of the people of northern states, had proved to be a great source of information and help for issuing visitor and
immigration visas by the Canadian High Commission. He said thousands of people from northern states had gone to Canada in search of jobs and business opportunities. |
Gang of extortionists
arrested AMRITSAR, Oct 5 — Five members of a gang dealing in extortion, looting, kidnapping, murder and assassination were arrested by the Majitha police yesterday. They were trying to steal a vehicle. Two country-made .315 bore pistols along with cartridges were seized from them. The Majitha SSP, Mr Lok Nath Angra, said those arrested were Satnam Singh, alias Satta (gang leader), Hardip Singh, alias Bukan, Mohinder Singh, alias Sarpanch, Dalbir Singh, alias Doctor, and Balvinder Singh, alias Binda. While Mohinder Singh is a resident of Nawazpura in Shahjahanpur (UP) district, the other four are from Amritsar. On receiving a tip-off, the SHO, Mr Sandeep Kumar, and others raided the area of Pakharpura and arrested the gangsters. During interrogation, it was revealed that Gagandeep Singh, owner of Gill Filling Station, Dasuya, had hired the gang to kill a boy running ‘Thuman Medical Store’ at Gardhiwala for Rs 4 lakh. A truck was to be used to crush the boy who had allegedly eloped with Deep Gagan’s cousin and married her. However, the boy escaped the attempt on his life. Some other crimes also came to light during interrogation. A case under Sections 399 and 402, IPC has been registered against the gangsters at Kathunangal police station. |
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Brothers sentenced for murder LUDHIANA, Oct 5 — District and Sessions Judge S.S. Arora today sentenced two brothers, Sukhwinder Singh Bhapp and Baljit Singh to life imprisonment and one and a half year imprisonment respectively for murdering Balraj Gill, a Municipal Councillor in March last year. The murder took place at Abdullahpur Basti. The case gained importance after the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the Sessions Court here for early disposal of the case. In August this year the case again hogged headlines when a night before its date of hearing date a powerful bomb exploded at night in the court room of Mr Arora. It is being suspected that the bomb explosion was a pressure tactic. However no concrete proof of this was ever found. |
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cops held for snatching arms KAPURTHALA, Oct 5 — The city police today arrested two constables — Joginder Singh and Manjinder Singh of the Punjab police — on the charge of snatching arms of guards of Dr Upinderjit Kaur, a Cabinet Minister, and beating them up. Mr Iqbal Singh, SSP, told newspersons that both policemen were drunk and hit their Contessa car with a guard Gypsy outside the house of the minister near Charbatti Chowk. When the driver of the minister questioned them for hitting their car with the Gypsy, they started abusing and grappling with him. They also entered the tent pitched up in front of the house of the minister and tried to run away with the arms of the guards but were arrested on the spot. The police has registered a case under Sections 506, 186, 353, 332, 201, 279 and 341 of the Indian Penal Code. |
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Couple foils robbery KAPURTHALA, Oct 5 — A couple of Tagore Nagar in Manssorwal Dona village foiled the attempt of robbers to commit robbery in their house in the early hours today. The couple told the police that at about 3 a.m. they woke up after they heard a windowpane being broken. When they came out of the house, they saw robbers climbing the outer wall of their house. Mr Dharam Paul Passi caught hold of one of the robbers. The robber, was hit by an iron rod on his head and he fell unconscious. However, the other robbers fled away. Later, with the help of neighbours, he was handed over to the police. He was wearing an underwear and a banyan and was carrying a bag of stones. In another incident, thieves stole gold ornaments, some cash and other household articles from a house in Adarsh Nagar. The police has registered cases.
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Heroin worth
Rs 2 cr seized AMRITSAR, Oct 5 — In a major haul, the Sarai Amanat Khan police today claimed to have seized 2 kg of high-grade heroine worth Rs 2 crore in the international market. The seizure was effected after a tip-off to Mr Sukhminder Singh Maan, DSP. In a naka by the police and the DRI, two persons in a white van were apprehended. The heroine was hidden in the van compartments. Those arrested have been identified as Hardip Singh and his cousin Surinder Singh. They were carrying the consignment to a contact man in Ludhiana. |
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killed as LPG
cylinder explodes BATHINDA, Oct 5 — A migrant labourer was killed when an LPG cylinder being used for industrial purposes exploded at a private gas refilling company at the Dabwali road in the city today. According to police sources, the cylinder exploded when the labourer was refilling gas in it. The police has taken the dead body for post-mortem and the matter is under investigation. The person is yet to be identified. In another incident, a migrant labourer Ram Niwas allegedly committed suicide by consuming insecticide. |
PCCTU issues stir
calendar PHAGWARA, Oct 5 — Piqued over continued bureaucratic bottlenecks and the “backtracking” of the Punjab Government from its commitments to the teaching community, the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union
(PCCTU) has virtually released a stir calendar of a long drawn struggle, spread over four months from October to January, for its 5,000 teachers working in about 170 non-government colleges. Ten chief coordinators of multi-member struggle committees for holding rallies in the constituencies of the Chief Minister, Finance Minister, Education Minister, and some MLAs, had been appointed, Prof Charanjit Chawla, general secretary of the PCCTU, said here today. A statewide “vidya bandh” (education bandh) would be observed on October 18 with a demonstration outside the office of the DPI (C) in Chandigarh. It would be followed by protest rallies at Firozepore, Bathinda, Barnala, Amritsar, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Banur, Doraha and Gidderbaha on October 30, November 7, 14, 20 and 27, December 2, 11 and 19, January 9 and 19, respectively, Professor Chawla said. The demands of the teachers included the implementation of the pension and gratuity scheme, release of Rs 4.20 crore for the 26-day strike period for which the Chief Secretary, Mr
R.S. Mann, had already agreed and grant-in-aid to 25 unaided colleges, Professor Chawla added. |
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Move to privatise
ITIs, polytechnics NAWANSHAHR, Oct 5 — The Punjab Government, which is finding it difficult to make the newly constructed polytechnics and ITIs operational due to financial crunch in the state, is going to lease out five polytechnics and nine ITIs to the private sector. A detailed scheme for leasing out polytechnics and ITIs has been formulated and the Chief Minister’s nod is awaited for its implementation. Though the land for setting up polytechnics and ITIs has been provided by the panchayats concerned, the government bore the cost of construction of the buildings. According to informed sources, the government is finding it difficult to arrange funds for providing staff and infrastructural facilities to make them operational and no funds except the salaries of staff have been sanctioned for the Technical Education Department for the past two years. Owing to these factors, a scheme to lease the institutes to the private sector has been formulated. The buildings will be given on 33 years lease and an earnest money of Rs 7.5 lakh and Rs 4 lakh per annum would be charged for the polytechnics and ITIs, respectively. The private institutions will have to run the polytechnics and the ITIs as per norms of the department. The liability of the staff and equipment would be of the private sector. |
Chemists observe
complete strike BATHINDA, Oct 5 — More than 8,000 wholesale and retail chemists of Punjab observed a complete strike today on a call given by the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists. The strike was complete, Punjab Chemists Association president R.D. Gupta claimed here today. They are demanding that no taxes other than those printed on the labels of medicines, should be levied. Our main demand was that medicines should be available throughout the country on a uniform rate and no tax should be levied on life-saving drugs, he said. Tax on drugs was a kind of tax on public health, he said. HOSHIARPUR:
Retail and wholesale chemists of this district observed a complete strike on Thursday in support of their demand for printing
uniform maximum retail prices, inclusive of all taxes, on medicines. The chemists also staged a rally at the medicine market and presented a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. KAITHAL: The chemists downed their shutlers in this district. The closure of chemist shops caused a lot of inconvenience to people as medicines were not available even to emergency patients. HAMIRPUR: Hundreds of chemists of this district observed a strike in support of their demand. Reports reaching here from various parts of this district said the strike had a bad effect on hospital services as several patients went without medicines. |
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Petrol dealers’ stir put off AMRITSAR, Oct 5 — The proposed “no purchase” campaign of petrol dealers from tomorrow (October 6) has been deferred for three months. This was disclosed here by Mr J.P. Khanna, Chairman, coordination committee, All India Federation of Petroleum Traders, in a statement here today. The campaign has been postponed in view of the acceptance of the dealers’ demands by Mr Ram Naik, Minister for Petroleum. The committee had urged for setting up of a high-powered committee. The committee was constituted comprising representatives of the oil companies, federation of all India traders and the Additional Secretary of the Petroleum Ministry, to look into the grievances and demands of petrol dealers. He said the committee would submit its report within three months. Mr Khanna, who is also the president of Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association, expressed his satisfaction over minister’s gesture. |
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