 |
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| Monday,
October 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Cong plans offensive on paddy
issue Make Dhindsa ‘food minister’
Remand of accused extended Register
case against Badal: MP |
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‘Melas’ to settle bad
debts Chandumajra claims voters’
support Distillers
use inferior jaggery Ad-hoc lecturers to
get more emoluments
Bhattal alleges
‘jungle raj’ 12 DCC leaders
quit
Waiting for old-age pension RSS activists
hold rally Villagers
contribute for police station Mason electrocuted
at construction site Polio workshop
Inter-state gang of car thieves
busted Gang of robbers
busted, 3 held Girl escapes from
custody, yet to be traced Women’s row leads
to murder Four injured in clash
Courses for
jobs School body hails govt decision
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Cong plans offensive on paddy
issue FARIDKOT, Oct 8 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee will launch dharnas at each district headquarter on October 14 to pressure the state and Central governments to break the impasse in paddy purchases immediately. If they failed to take positive steps in this regard, the party would intensify the stir, said, Mr Avtar Singh Brar, vice-president, PPCC, and local MLA at a press conference here today. He alleged that lakhs of tonnes of paddy had been laying in different mandis in Punjab for the past fifteen days causing harassment to farmers. He said if Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was unable to convince Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to relax paddy procurement norms he (Badal) should withdraw his party’s support to BJP-led coalition at the
Centre. Mr Brar said his party and other Opposition parties had warned the state government during the assembly session on September 5 of the adamant attitude of the Centre on the purchase of paddy in Punjab, but the state government failed to heed the warning. He flayed Union Minister Shanta Kumar for adopting an indifferent attitude towards Punjab farmers and criticised FCI Chairman Bhure Lal for making ‘unhealthy’ statements on paddy specifications. He urged Mr Vajpayee to intervene keeping in view the economic conditions of Punjab farmers facing an acute crisis. Mr Brar also visited all the 21 mandis and purchase centres and listened the grievances of the growers in the Faridkot Assembly segment. |
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Make Dhindsa ‘food minister’ LUDHIANA, Oct 8 — Former Union Food Minister Surjit Singh Barnala today condemned the slow pace of paddy procurement in the state demanded that the post of Union Food Minister should be given to Punjab, the highest paddy producing state. “Only a minister from Punjab could understand the problems of the farmers” he said adding that as Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa is the only Minister from the state, the charge should be handed over to him. Accusing Mr Bhure Lal, Chairman, Food Corporation of India (FCI), for misrepresenting the fact about the quality of paddy brought to the market by the state farmers, Mr Barnala was, however, not forthright about what policy should Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, should adopt with the Centre Government due to its apathetic attitude towards the rice bowl of the country. Coming down heavily on the FCI Chairman he said the statement given by him was damaging to the already slow pace of the procurement. He said any action of the FCI assumed importance in the procurement process. Criticising the statement further he said it made the FCI officials more stringent and even the state agencies were now following suit. Mr Barnala said the FCI should relax the specifications of the paddy procurement. He said it would be a serious mistake if one thought bad procurement would only affect the farmers as trading community was all dependent on them. Mr Barnala, who was here to enquire about the health of one of his workers recovering from a leg fracture in the DMC, said that a delegation of halwais had met him on the way and told that the sales fell down to less than 50 per cent as farmers did not come for shopping. Mr Barnala termed the next 20 days as crucial for the state. On one hand paddy was rotting in the market and on the other, several farmers had still not harvested the crop due to the demoralising slow pace of procurement. He said the situation was more volatile due to the agitational mood of the farmers. He said the FCI was never willing to enter the market this time and thus was making false statements about the quality of the paddy. He held the view of the agriculture experts of the state , including Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agriculture University, regarding the quality of the paddy. According to the Dr Kalkat the quality of the paddy was much better than the previous years as the weather had remained dry during the pre-harvesting days which is very beneficial to the paddy. Mr Barnala said the country should come out in the support of the Punjab farmers as it was this state which had made the country self-reliant in food production. He also termed it wrong that other states did not need paddy. |
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Ministers decry Bhure Lal’s statement HOSHIARPUR, Oct 8 — Mr Gobind Singh
Kanjla, Minister for Social Security, Welfare of Women and Children, Punjab condemned Mr Bhure Lal, Chairman, Food Corporation of India (FCI), for describing 80 per cent of the Punjab paddy as defective. While talking to this reporter today Mr Kanjla said Mr. Bhure Lal’s statement had created panic among Punjab farmers and they were feeling perturbed about their paddy lying unsold in the market. He said the Centre should immediately relax the specifications for paddy procurement to save Punjab farmers. The statement of Mr Bhure Lal was irresponsible and was an insult to the farmers of state who have been contributing to the national pool during the past. Referring to the lifting of paddy from grain
markets, he said, Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, Chief Minister and Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Sports Minister, had already discussed this issue with the Prime Minister and Mr Shanta Kumar Union Cabinet Minister for Food and Supplies, and had made arrangements of lifting of paddy. Mr Kanjla advised rice sheller owners and commission agents of Punjab to rise to the occasion and extend cooperation to over come paddy procurement problems. He warned persons trying to exploit the situation and added that action would be taken against them. Meanwhile to review the progress of paddy procurement work, Mr P. Ram, Secretary, Food and Supplies Department, Punjab convened a meeting of officers of government procurement agencies here last evening. Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, was also present at the meeting. Addressing the meeting, Mr P. Ram instructed the officers to ensure the procurement of paddy soon after its arrival in the grain markets on the governments procurement rates. Farmers should be provided all facilities in the grain markets. Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu told that 27589 MT paddy had been procured in all the 75 procurement centres in the district so far out of which 9300 MT had been purchased by private agencies. They also inspected
Garhdiwala, Dasuya and Tanda centres. The Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, expressed his disagreement with Mr Bhure Lal’s statement about Punjab’s paddy. “Bhure Lal is only an officer and not a technical expert. He should have refrained from making such a sweeping judgement in respect of the quality of the paddy”, the minister said. A team of experts from the Union Government was already engaged in the process of assessing the quality of paddy in the state. This team has completed its task and is likely to submit its report to the government in a day or so, Mr Mittal said. He assured that in spite of the problem the government was fully sympathetic towards farmers. He also said that the government agencies would lift the entire paddy that came up to the laid down specifications and would ensure maximum price for the remaining paddy to
producers. FATEHGARH SAHIB: Even though the Deputy Commissioner holds a meeting of various paddy procurement agencies in his office daily, yet the process for the procurement of the paddy was slow in the district. The farmers and the commission agents were fed up with the agitations and blocked of traffic. The lifting of the purchased paddy was another matter of concern. The grain markets were filled with the heaps of paddy and with bags of purchased paddy. During a visit to various mandis, the farmers alleged that the private traders were fleecing them as they purchased the paddy below the support price. Mr Satnam Singh, an Akali leader and Sarpanch of Bras, the biggest village of the district, told The Tribune that the procurement staff was hand-in-glove with the private traders. He said that Bras and Badali Ala Singh purchase centres had been allotted to the Warehousing Corporation. He said there was only one inspector for both the mandis to purchase the paddy and he worked, in an arbitrary manner. He alleged that at the Bras purchase centre the inspector had made a purchase only for a day till Sunday, he was not purchasing paddy at Bras mandi and urged the farmers to bring their paddy to Badali Ala Singh
mandi. He said when the farmers shifted the paddy to Badali Ala Singh it was purchased at the lowest rate. He alleged that the inspector was hand-in-glove with the private purchasers, and he rejected paddy and urged the farmers to sell it to the private purchasers. He said the rejection and delay had compelled the farmers to dispose of their paddy at a very low rate varying from Rs 80 to 100 less than the support price. He said later the private traders sold the same purchased paddy to government agency at support price. He demanded that an inquiry should be conducted why the paddy as rejected at Bras and purchased at Badali Ala Singh by the same inspector. When contacted Mr B.S. Sudan, Deputy Commissioner, said the procurement process was getting momentum and was in full swing in the district. He said no one had brought this type of problem to his notice. He urged the farmers that if they faced any problem they should immediately contact his
office. MOGA: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kanwalbir Singh Sidhu, has issued a show-cause notice to various traders of this district that why action should not be taken against them for their alleged involvement in underweighing gunny bags of paddy by almost 1 kilo each which was at present being procured by the government agencies and traders. The notice had reportedly been issued as a number of paddy bags filled by the traders were found underweight after the purchase. The Deputy Commissioner also said that stern action would be taken against those who were found indulging in this practice. |
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BKU activists to
resume stir BATHINDA, Oct 8 — Activists of the Bharti Kisan Union have decided to relaunch the agitation in protest against the government’s policy of non-procurement of paddy as nothing has been done after the protest of the farmers who were given the assurance of paddy procurement by the authorities concerned. The authorities concerned had assured the agitated activists last evening about paddy procurement after which the farmers consented to withdraw the agitation against the government. But today the activists decided to relaunch the agitation when the authorities concerned did not lift the dry and clean paddy of the farmers from the purchase centres. This attitude of the authorities has spread anger among the paddy growers who have been making all possible efforts to get the fruit of their labour. Mr Harnek Singh, vice-president of the BKU (Ekta), Punjab, alleged the authorities concerned purchased paddy from only three centres out of nine of the Bhuchu Market Committee. Mr Hernek Singh warned the government to take a final decision in this regard so that the farmers could take a sigh of relief otherwise it would become a question of life and death for the farmers. |
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Farmers continue blockade SANGRUR, Oct 8 (PTI) — The unabated agitation spree of farmers, which has put the normal life out of gear during the last few days by resorting to road blockades in the district over the slow pace of paddy procurement, received a little let up today. Vehicular traffic on the main roads was as usual where as the infuriated farmers due to a delay in procurement of their produce disrupted the vehicular traffic on three link roads in the Barnala subdivision of the district. Normal life was paralysed at Dhaula purchase centre on the Barnala-Mansa road, at Aspal Kalan on the Barnala-Bhikhi road and at Kot Duna on the Bhikhi-Dhanaula road, where the blockade continued till evening. Sources in the District Food and Supplies Department revealed that the failure in relaxation in norms for the procurement of paddy accompanied with the scarcity of space had brought glut in the mandis of the district. Giving details of the procurement of paddy, sources revealed that the state had procured 28285 mt, the FCI 59956 mt, the Markfed 53144 mt, Punsup 54675 mt, Warehouse 27992 mt, Punjab Agro 27109 mt and traders 36763 mt. Meanwhile, ADC (Revenue) G.K. Singh said that the district administration had requisitioned 10 shellers in the district for the storage of paddy. The rice-millers were in confrontation with the government due to the “lack of clear policy” of the government for the custom milling of paddy and were not entering into any agreement to provide space to the state agencies. |
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Petroleum price
hike flayed MOGA, Oct 8 — Hundreds of farmers who had brought their produce to the market staged a demonstration today in protest against the hike in prices of petroleum products and threatened to intensify the agitation if the government failed to withdraw it immediately. The president of the Young Farmers Association, Punjab, Mr Shamsher Singh Dhillon, said the move had put more burden on the farmers after they had suffered due to the “indifferent” attitude of the government over the procurement of paddy. |
Concern over burning of paddy chaff MOGA, Oct 8 — Physicians here are concerned over the ill effects of the smoke caused by burning of paddy chaff by the farmers in the region as it causes various diseases. The chaff in burnt by the farmers all over the state to prepare their land for Rabi crop. Dr Sastrish Kaura, a local physician, said here that the burning chaff generally caused respiratory diseases leading to asthma. He said if no preventive measures were taken the smoke would harm a number of persons in the region particularly school children. |
Nexus behind paddy
crisis: Birdevinder PATIALA, Oct 8 — Senior Congress leader Birdevinder Singh today alleged that the present crisis in paddy procurement had arisen due to a clandestine nexus between the Punjab bureaucracy, Food Corporation of India ( FCI ), rice millers and political leaders at the top of affairs in Punjab and Delhi . In a statement here, Mr Birdevinder Singh said the Punjab Chief Minister should explain to the people what logic was there in offering the minimum support price of Rs 540 per quintal
whereas farmers were forced to dispose of their crops at a throwaway price of Rs 380 per quintal to rice millers. The Congress leader said farmers had only fulfilled their national commitment to make the country self-sufficient for which they were being “penalised”. |
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‘Melas’ to settle bad
debts BATHINDA: To reduce the non-performing assets (NPA), the State Bank of Patiala (SBOP) authorities have launched a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme in this region on bad debts by reaching a compromise with loan defaulters. The bank authorities, who have been facing a lot of problems due to gross NPA totalling Rs 669 crore have taken this initiative under the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). For this task, the SBOP has been organising settlement “melas” through its Settlement Advisory Committee in different parts of the operation area. At these “melas”, bank loan defaulters are being motivated to reach a compromise. The Bathinda zonal authorities of the bank, who have taken a lead in organising the settlement “melas”, are getting an encouraging response from borrowers. So far, the zonal office has organised three such meetings in Mansa and Bathinda. Four more meetings are scheduled to be organised. Mr Mahadev Balani, Deputy General Manager of the bank, who had organised the meetings with the borrowers, said about 500 cases of bad debt were settled and the SBOP would get Rs 180 lakh from the settlements. He said after March 31, 2001, some tough steps would be taken against the defaulters. He said the zonal office had got Rs 2.99 crore so far under the OTS scheme. Borrowers were also being contacted personally by senior bank officials and motivated to take benefit of the scheme. Efforts were being made to recover a major part of the NPA of the zonal office which totalled Rs 22 crore. The OTS scheme will bring relief to defaulters who are poor and illiterate and involved in protracted court cases. |
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Chandumajra claims voters’
support BATHINDA, Oct 8 — “We may have lost the byelection but the support of people is with us and people are fully aware of the malpractices of the SAD-BJP government,” said Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD), at a press conference here today. The electronic voting machines (EVMs) were just another tool in the hand of the SAD-BJP government in addition to the official machinery of the state, he alleged. Giving details of the alleged malpractices he added that most of the EVMs had broken seals, the signatures on the paper seals of the polling agents were not tallying, some of the EVMs had plain paper seals instead of the usual official seals, and the observers on duty were reluctant to take any action on the objections raised by us. “The returning officer was refused to listen to us and we tried to contact the Chief Election Commissioner but all in vain,” he said. Even the security arrangement of the ITI premises where counting was to take place was handed over to the Punjab Police just one day prior to the counting and taken over from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Mr Chandumajra said that his party had also taken
serious note of the non-procurement of paddy by various agencies and the remarks of Mr Bhure Lal, Chairman, FCI, were equally unfortunate. The recent hike in the prices of petrol, diesel, and LPG would lead to an additional burden of about Rs 700 crore on the common man, who was already reeling under debt. “We have joined hands with like minded parties and we shall take up the matter with the Chief Election Commissioner and if we do not get any positive “reply” we shall take the matter to the court. Replying to a question relating to the Harpreet case he said Bibi Jagir Kaur should resign from the presidentship of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) as she was the main accused in the FIR lodged by the CBI. Even Mr Parkash Singh Badal was equally guilty as he was also a witness to the entire episode. The coming Vidhan Sabha elections in Punjab will tell the truth about voters’ support we have and together with like-minded parties we will wipe out the SAD-BJP and Congress from the state, he asserted. |
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Distillers
use inferior jaggery FEROZEPORE, Oct 8 — Distillers continue to use poor quality jaggery to manufacture illicit liquor in this border district and the authorities seem to be doing nothing in the regard. The distillers frequently purchase cheap jaggery that is meant for the consumption of this cattle and use it for making liquor. Although such jaggery is unfit for human consumption, the Excise and Food and Civil Supplies Departments have done
little to prevent it from failing into wrong hands. Inquiries revealed that the jaggery meant for cattle is freely available between Rs 6 to 8 per kg. As this is half the price of good quality jaggery, the distillers purchase it to minimise their investment. With a kg of jaggery, 750 ml of liquor can be made. Sources in the Excise Department and IMFL contractors revealed that the distillers frequently purchased jaggery from Bansi Gate, Multani Gate and Makhu Gate areas. These facts came to light, after the contractors raided illicit liquor dens in recent months. Although the District Food and Supplies Controller is authorised to sanction permit for stocking and selling jaggery, it is being misused by the distillers. Officials admit their inability to check the misuse of jaggery as it is being purchased by the distillers on the pretext of using it for their cattle. The Food and Civil Supplies Controller, Mr Makhan Singh, said no licence was required to stock up to 25 quintal of jaggery. The Divisional Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr P.S. Parmar, said pressure on marginal jaggery traders might invite protests. Although Mr Parmar claimed that they checked the excessive purchase of jaggery as a preventive measure, he could not furnish any figure to suggest strict action having ever been taken. Foreign liquor contractors are learnt to have demanded that the scope of the Excise Act be increased to check the dual use of jaggery. Liquor contractor, Pawan Bansal told TNS that both the Chief Minister and the Excise Minister had already been apprised of the situation and they were hoping stringent measures would be taken to check the misuse of jaggery. |
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Ad-hoc lecturers to
get more emoluments GURDASPUR, Oct 8 — Mr Mohan Lal, Minister for Higher Education, said at Pathankot today that emoluments of lecturers working on an ad hoc basis in government colleges in Punjab were being raised from Rs 4,000 per month to Rs 8,000 per month. A tentative decision in this regard had already been taken and would be sent to the Cabinet for approval by next month. The number of ad hoc college lecturers in government colleges was about 600. The Supreme Court had also decided in favour of ad hoc college lecturers for paying them higher emoluments under the principle of equal pay for equal work. The Minister for Higher Education said the decision regarding the enhancement of emoluments of ad hoc
lecturers would add a burden of Rs 4 crore annually on the state exchequer. When asked about the absorption of ad hoc lecturers in government services, the minister said there was no proposal before the government in this regard. He said the government might at some later stage, absorb them in government services. The minister said higher education in Punjab would get a boost during the current year. As much as Rs 300 crore had been earmarked for the promotion of education. As many as 35 new courses, including computer science, business administration and information technology, had been added in the curricula of universities. Computer education had been introduced in all government colleges. Ruling out affiliation to new colleges in the private sector, he said private colleges in Punjab were being liberally accommodated by the universities to introduce job-oriented courses like BBA, BCA, BIT and computer diploma and degree courses, provided they fulfilled the conditions laid down by the respective universities in this regard. Mr Mohan Lal said the ITI building at Nanowal, near Kahnuwan, in this district would be taken over by Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, in due course of time after going through the formalities. The courses which would be introduced at Nanowal would be different from the courses at the regional centre of the university at Gurdaspur, he said. |
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Register case against Badal:
MP BATHINDA, Oct 8 — Mr Bhan Singh Bhora, MP, today urged the authorities concerned to make arrangements for the registration of a criminal case by the CBI against the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for allegedly destroying evidence in connection with the death of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of the SGPC president, Bibi Jagir Kaur. Mr Bhora while addressing a press conference here said Mr Badal and senior police officials tried to convert the murder of Harpreet Kaur into a case of natural death. He pointed out that the situation in Punjab had come to such a pass that the law enforcing agencies had been rendered powerless to take action against the criminals belonging to the ruling SAD-BJP alliance and those occupying important posts in and outside the government. He alleged that due to unjustified interference of the state Power Minister, Mr Sikander Singh Malooka, in the working of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) its functioning had been adversely affected. He said Mr Malooka should resign. Mr Bhora while criticising the Punjab Government for causing loss to the farmers due to non-procurement of their paddy crop said the head of Mr Badal, who claimed himself to be a champion of the farmers, should hang in shame as the poor peasantry had been facing the worst situation in the grain markets and purchase centres. He also criticised the state government for protecting those officials whose involvement in various irrigation and drainage scams had been established beyond any doubt. |
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Bhattal alleges
‘jungle raj’ HOSHIARPUR, Oct 8 — The law of the jungle prevails in Punjab, said Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Chief Minister, Punjab, while addressing a press conference at the PWD rest house here this afternoon. She said crime was increasing day-by-day and there was no check on it. Referring to the procurement of paddy she said the state government had failed to make arrangements for paddy procurement and as a result paddy was overflowing in grain markets. She said farmers would suffer huge losses if the government did not relax the paddy specifications. This would also adversely affect the economy. She strongly condemned the recent price hike in petroleum products and increase in the rates of power by the PSEB and said this had adversely affected the budget of the common man. She said Badal had completely ignored urban population and did not fulfil his election promises like abolition of octroi etc. She alleged that misuse of power, distribution of money to voters and rigging at election booths were the main causes for the victory of the SAD candidate in Sunam. The PPCC leadership would review its defeat. Replying to another question she said as compared with other political parties there was a little factionalism in PPCC, but there was complete unity among leaders who were not preparing for organisational elections on November 11. |
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12 DCC leaders
quit PATIALA,
Addressing a press
conference here, three DCC General Secretaries, Mr Ajay Thapar, Mr
Brij Mohan Goel and Mr Satya Walia, alleged that the weak and immature
leadership of the Pradesh Congress was responsible for the defeat of
the party candidate in the Sunam byelection. The leaders while
announcing their resignations from the DCC (urban) said they would
continue to remain loyal Congressmen and that they would go to Delhi
and urge the party High Command to the appoint a new PPCC President
who could run party affairs in a mature manner by taking the Congress
rank and file in confidence. They alleged that a gap had established
between the workers and the top leadership due to the wrong attitude
of the PPCC President. They said a change in leadership was necessary
to recover lost ground especially after the loss in the Sunam
byelection. They said they would hold a meeting tomorrow to finalise
their strategy following which they would apprise party General
Secretary, in charge of Punjab, Mr Moti Lal Vora of the
developments. The leaders said the party had also failed to
capitalise on the gains made by it in the recent elections to the
Municipal Committees of Sanour and Patran in the district. They said
the Congress had achieved an overwhelming majority in both the
committees, but the ruling Akali Dal was able to effect defections and
get its nominees elected as Presidents in both the Committees, in the
absence of any coordinated Congress strategy to counter this
move. The other leaders who resigned today included the DCC General
Secretary, Mr Gian Chand; the Joint Secretaries, Mr Jiwan Ram and Mr
Krishan Chand Fauji and the Block Congress Vice-President, Mr Sanjeev
Gupta. |
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Waiting for old-age pension AMRITSAR, Oct 8 — A senior citizen has been deprived of old-age pension for the past two years due to ‘political games’ of certain parties. The pensioner Gurdial Singh, son of freedom fighter the late Teja Singh, resident of Chetanpura village belongs to a Scheduled Caste. He had a major surgery and a Congress MLA had helped him to get financial assistance from the Red Cross to pay for his treatment as he had no source of income and his two sons had abandoned him. Later, he applied for old-age pension and it was sanctioned in 1998. But he has not received a single penny from the Social Welfare Department till date. The reason being that a Congress MLA had helped him earlier. This was conveyed to him allegedly by an MLA of the ruling coalition and he was also advised to take help of ‘agents’ to get his pension cleared. It is learnt that in order to get a pension of Rs 1000 a sum of Rs 200 has to be paid to the “agent”. This was revealed by Mr Satya Pal Dang, CPI leader. Earlier, Gurdial’s case was taken up by a CPI (M) leader which led the employees at the district social security office believe that he supported the CPI (M). Mr Dang in a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has highlighted the rampant corruption prevailing in the department. “Without paying to agents one can ‘never’ get pension from the government”, says Mr Dang, who alleged that many agents even keep the pensioner’s passbook in their own possession. Mr Dang said that this “state of affairs” in the department should be rectified. But maintained that it was not easy task talking into account that a number of influential politicians and bureaucrats are involved in this scam. |
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RSS activists
hold rally PHAGWARA, Oct 8 — A large number of RSS activists today took out a march here. A few Sikh RSS activists sported unsheathed swords in the march aimed at cementing nationalism and patriotism. The march converged into a rally at Hargobindnagar. Addressing the rally, Mr Kashmiri Lal, state Assistant General Secretary, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, declared that the RSS shakhas would continue to be held in villages even though certain ‘separatist’ leaders had declared to oppose these. He was evidently referring to SAD (A) President Simranjit Singh Mann’s opposition to RSS activists in rural areas. “We would go to every village under our nationwide” “janjagran abhiyan” and “sarbsaparshi” campaign,” declared the RSS leader. All 12,000 villages of Punjab would be covered, asserted Mr Kashmiri Lal. He also claimed that terrorism ended in Punjab due to pro-active policies of the RSS. “We are not against anybody. We do not believe in violence but we know how to defend ourselves, declared Mr Kashmiri Lal. Calling upon youth to shun tobacco and intoxicants, Mr Kashmiri Lal flayed advertisements in media particularly visual media, for glorifying smoking, drinking and other tobacco-related items. Mr Rajmohan Singh, senior vice-president, JCT Ltd, presided over the function and also addressed it. Lala Balwant Rai Gupta, RSS, divisional assistant president, also spoke. Dr Joginder Paul Sharma, District General Secretary, RSS, Mr Gupta Chairman, local Improvement Trust Mr Ram Saroop Arora, BJP leader, were among participants. |
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Villagers
contribute for police station JALANDHAR, Oct 8 — Residents helped the police financially to construct a police station at Bilga village in this district. The newly constructed building of the police station, set up in an area of 7
kanals, donated by the panchayat, was inaugurated by Mr Suresh Arora, DIG, yesterday. The entire money was collected and spent by an 11-member people’s committee of villagers and there was no involvement of the police. This idea was floated three months ago at a police-public meet. The contributors were honoured by the police with commendation certificates. |
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Mason electrocuted
at construction site BATHINDA, Oct 8 — Narinjan Singh, resident of Bambhia village in the district, was killed when he accidentally came in contact with a 33 KV power supply line near a building under construction at Bhatti Road, here today. The deceased, a mason was working at the construction site. He died on the spot and the upper part of his head got severed. The body of the deceased was taken to the civil hospital by the volunteers of Sahara Janseva. The police has registered the case under Section 174, IPC. |
Polio workshop CHANDIGARH |
Inter-state gang of car thieves
busted JALANDHAR, Oct 8 — The district police claims to have busted an inter-state gang of car thieves with the arrest of three Kashmiri youths and recovered four stolen cars from their possession on Thursday. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said the arrested persons revealed they used to take away cars from big cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jalandhar and subsequently the stolen vehicles would be sold in the Kashmir valley after changing the registration numbers. He said during the night domination operation launched by the district police, a police party had laid a naka at the Kapurthala road on the night of October 5. A car was intercepted at the naka for routine checking. Later, it was found the vehicle intercepted was stolen from New Vijay Nagar locality and the occupants were immediately arrested. They were identified as Sayyed Mehmood Al Hussan, Muneer Ahmed and Ayzaz Ahmed Bhatt. All of them are residents of Srinagar, said Mr Yadav. The arrested persons revealed they had recently stolen three cars from Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Delhi, which were recovered by the police near Jalandhar city railway station awaiting transportation to the valley, he said. The accused were produced in the court of the Magistrate here. |
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Gang of robbers
busted, 3 held AMRITSAR, Oct 8 — Close on the heels of the arrest of the ‘supari’ gang Majitha police arrested a gang of three robbers and seized arms and ammunition with the cooperation of the public. Those arrested included Harpinder Singh, alias Pinda, Buta Singh and Daljit Singh. One .12 bore SBBL gun, one .12 bore country made pistol, 10 live cartridges, some sharp-edged weapons and one scooter (No PB-35-770) were also recovered from them. A case has been registered under Section 399 and 402, IPC and Section 25, Arms Act at police station Beas against them today. |
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Girl escapes from
custody, yet to be traced BARNALA, Oct 8 — The police has not yet been able to trace Sonam, a 13-year-old girl who escaped from police custody a couple of days ago, according to police sources here. According to reports, the Tapa police arrested Sonam and her minor brother on charges of stealing money on
October 3. A case was registered against them under Sections 379, IPC, and Sections 25, 59 and 34 of the Arms Act. They were produced before the court on October 5. Following court orders, the boy was sent to a lock-up and Sonam was taken to Ludhiana for confinement in a women cell of a jail there. The sources disclosed that the jail superintendent denied to take Sonam in, saying that a girl of her age could be confined in Faridkot jail. When the police was bringing her back in order to reproduce her before the court the next day, she escaped by throwing dust in the eyes of police officials. Mr Ajaib Singh Kaleka, SSP, Barnala is reported to have placed under suspension Malkiat Singh, ASI, and Jasbir Kaur, constable for dereliction of their duties. |
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Women’s row leads
to murder KAPURTHALA, Oct 8 — Balbir Singh, alias Gorkha (36), a resident of the local Mehtabgarh mohalla was murdered allegedly by four persons of the same locality yesterday. According to the police, the four suspects identified as Surjit Singh, Charanjit Singh, Sukhwinder Kaur and Toti, entered the Surjit Singh’s house at about 10 p.m. last night and attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. Surjit Singh died on the spot. While leaving the assailants locked his brother, Jagjit Singh, in a room. On receiving the information the police reached the spot and took out Jagjit Singh from the room. A quarrel between women of two families had allegedly led to the murder of Gorkha. The police has registered a case under Sections 302, 452, 148 and 149 of the IPC against the four suspects. |
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Remand of accused extended PATIALA, Oct 8 — Duty Magistrate S.K. Arora today extended the police remand of the four accused in the Harpreet death case to October 10 besides ordering their medical examination when they were produced in the district court here by a team of the CBI. The Duty Magistrate extended the remand of the accused — landlord Paramjit Singh, maid servant Satya Devi and servants Harwinder Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar — following a request for the same by the CBI counsel who claimed the investigation in the case had reached a very crucial stage and that the accused should be remanded in police custody for another 10 days. Earlier the accused had been remanded in police custody for four days on October 5. The defence counsels made a forceful appeal claiming that there was no need for a further police remand in the case as the CBI had failed to establish any of the allegations in the FIR despite having investigated the case for four months on the orders of the court. The CBI counsel while appealing for further extension of the police remand in the case, said the issue was very delicate and sensitive in nature. The defence counsels claimed that the case had already been inquired into by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police. It, moreover, questioned the veracity of the marriage between Harpreet and Kamaljeet saying the prosecution only had a photograph to prove its point adding that photographs could be faked easily. The defence also claimed that the accused had been tortured by the CBI during the last four days when they had been remanded in police custody and that they should be examined by a board of doctors of Government Rajindra hospital. The CBI forwarded a report of the medical examination conducted by it today to the Judge. The judge later ordered that they should be medically examined at Government Rajindra hospital. Earlier, the accused were brought to the court under tight security arrangements. Few hundred Akali workers and supporters of Bibi Jagir Kaur, including local SGPC member Kamlesh Kaur, collected in the court complex in a show of solidarity with the accused. The accused covered their faces to avoid being captured by camera men. Earlier a potential ugly situation was averted by the police when a person who made an alleged derogatory remark against the SGPC was pounced upon by sympathisers of the SGPC chief. |
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Four injured in clash RAJPURA The panchayat had decided to cement a drain which also crossed
the street in which Mr Kurvinder Singh, a former sarpanch, lived. He
asked the panchayat to reconstruct the drain. The panchayat disagreed
and he got the work on the drain stopped. The panchayat informed the
Block Development Officer and his staff got the work completed
yesterday. This angered the former sarpanch and stones were hurled
towards the persons getting the work done. The injured have been
admitted to the local civil hospital. No arrests have been made so
far. |
Courses for
jobs FARIDKOT: The Punjab Government has set up a Sainik Institute of Stenography, Computer and Pre-recruitment Training Centre at the District Sainik Board complex here for the welfare of wards of ex-servicemen, widows and weaker sections of society. As many as 66 candidates against the strength of 80 have been getting training in courses which include Punjabi and English typing and shorthand, O level education in computer and training for jobs in the Army and other security forces. The duration of training is one year. The time-table of each course has been worked out in such a way that every trainee can attend all the courses. Efforts are being made to develop speed in both Punjabi and English typing and shorthand among the learners. The minimum qualification for the courses is matric. A nominal fees is also charged from students. The institute was been affiliated with the Languages Department, Punjab. Steps were being taken to get it affiliated with the National Certificate Vocational Training Centre, New Delhi. The pre-recruitment training course is being completed in 42 days. According to Mr Baljit Singh Brar, the Deputy Director, Sainik Board, during the past three years, the institution has helped 180, out of 256 trained youths, in earning their livelihood. Eighty six have been recruited in the Army and other forces and 94 in various government departments and remaining had been brought under self employment schemes. The state government has spent 2.50 lakh to promote the scheme. The institution has achieved second position in the pre-recruitment course. Mr Brar said recently an English speaking course has been introduced at the institute. He said 20 more job-oriented courses were likely to be opened at the institute. |
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School body hails govt decision MALERKOTLA, Oct 8 — A deputation of Gazetted Educational School Services Association, Punjab, led by the president of the state unit, Mr Joginder Singh Aulakh, held a meeting with Mr Tota Singh, Minister for School Education, yesterday. In a press note issued here today, Mr Aulakh said Mr R.S. Sandhu, Secretary, School Education, also attended the meeting. The deputation thanked the Punjab Government for issuing notifications (dated September 4 and 8) awarding Group. A status and Rs 10025-15100 grade to the principals and equivalent 19 categories. The deputation, however, protested strongly for not granting a higher grade to Deputy Director and equivalent posts. He said the minister had agreed in principle to declare the posts of principal as non-vacational, to appoint a school cadre officer against the post of DPI, Chandigarh, and to amend the pupils’ funds rules. |
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