 |
|
| Saturday,
November 4, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Farmers may
lose free power facility Nishan told
to give up before CBI today Confusion
over airport upgrade Sloganeering
at Mayor’s meeting Pak villages
under observation |
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Barnala got
post under secret pact: Bhora Barnala for
morning swearing-in ceremony Meeting of SAD soon
Advani
visits Radhasoami dera at Beas Agitating
TSU men block traffic Rs 2000
crore for four-laned roads PSEB body
alleges govt interference DA
instalment for pensioners SDM orders
probe into procurement Package
for paddy growers ‘a farce’ BKU (Ekta) men gherao
SDM’s office Painting,
drawing contests mark ‘vigilance week’
A.S. Chawla to be PPSC
member
Teachers
threaten agitation Punjabi
University students end strike PUTA locks
house allotted to OSD’s daughter
|
|
Farmers
may lose free power facility JALANDHAR, Nov 3 — Farmers of the state might not enjoy the
facility of free power after the implementation of the proposed
Electricity Bill-2000 to be tabled in Parliament in the forthcoming
winter session.
The facility has already increased the financial burden of the
cash-starved PSEB particularly since the state government owes an
outstanding amount of Rs 700 crore to it, after the facility of free
power was introduced by the ruling SAD-BJP combine in 1997.
Though there was no decision by the state government to withdraw the
facility as such, but the implementation of the Bill might make it
difficult for the state to extend it further since a provision in the
proposed Bill and a recent Central Government directive clearly says
that subsidies on power could not exceed the limit of 50 per cent under
the proposed uniform system, unless any state government was ready to
foot the remaining subsidy bill out of its own pocket, said Mr Suresh
Gupta, Member (Operations) of the PSEB before flagging off a “Power-Run
Chetna March” from here yesterday.
Mr Gupta admitted that the free power facility had put great
financial burden on the state as it involved annual amount to the tune
of Rs 1,200 crore, a part of which was being reimbursed by the state
government to the PSEB on a regular basis in the shape of interest and
electricity duty, however, the outstanding amount was soaring and had
touched the Rs 700 crore mark. He said the Central Government directive
said that the subsidy amount to any section could not cross 50 per cent
and the state which wants to extend the subsidy would have to pay the
amount exceeding the limit of 50 per cent. He said the process to
constitute the State Electricity Regulation Commission was underway and
a committee had been constituted for selection of the members of the
commission, which would formulate policies of the government.
Referring to the PSEB’s ongoing anti-power theft drive, Mr Gupta
said it had yielded good results and the board had realised an amount of
Rs 50 crore from the defaulters during the past six months. “We have
also suspended 150 officials for their involvement and abettment of
theft. Of 150 officials, seven were officers of the rank of the SDOs and
the Executive Engineers and a total of 31 officials belonged to the
district alone,” Mr Gupta said. |
|
Nishan
told to give up before CBI today CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — Mr Justice V.M. Jain of the Punjab and Haryana
High Court today directed Nishan Singh, prime accused in the Harpreet
case to surrender before the CBI by 10 a.m. tomorrow at the CBI
headquarters in New Delhi.
Harpreet Kaur, daughter of SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur, died under
mysterious circumstances in April and Kamaljit Singh, a youth from
Begowal village in Kapurthala district has claimed to have secretly
married Harpreet. He had petitioned the Punjab and Haryana High Court
seeking a CBI probe into Harpreet’s death. Nishan Singh, a security
guard and distant relative of Bibi, had allegedly played a role in the
death of Harpreet and her unborn male child.
Handing down his two-page order, Mr Justice Jain observed; “Till 10
a.m. tomorrow, the petitioner shall not be arrested in this case and the
investigating agency shall comply with various directions given by the
Supreme Court in D.K. Basu versus State of West Bengal case in 1997 and
CBI counsel will supply a copy of the said judgement to the CBI
investigating officer”.
Mr Justice Jain observed: “In case the petitioner fails to
surrender before the CBI on November 4 at 10 a.m. the above said
directions shall cease to operate”.
CBI counsel Rajan Gupta, while opposing the petition of Nishan Singh,
said: “The case is at a very premature stage and the petitioner is yet
to surrender. Therefore no such direction can be given”. |
|
Bibi has
disgraced Sikhs: Dal Khalsa AMRITSAR, Nov 3 — The Dal Khalsa has sought the immediate
intervention of Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti in forcing
Bibi Jagir Kaur to resign as SGPC chief. Leaders of the Dal Khalsa, Mr
Satnam Singh, Paonta Sahib and Mr Kanwar Pal Singh, in a joint press
statement said the developments that followed since the Shiromani Akali
Dal came into power in 1996 indicated degradation of moral values and
ideological decline in Sikh politics. They said the appointment of Giani
Puran Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht and the elevation of Bibi Jagir
Kaur as SGPC president were two major wrong decisions that had not only
“ruined” the sanctity of Akal Takht but also plunged the institution
of the SGPC into a deep crisis. The duo who represent dera culture, had
brought disgrace to the community at large, they added.
It was ridiculous that Bibi Jagir Kaur who talked of women’s
liberation and freedom during the tercentenary celebrations had refused
to allow her daughter to exercise her right to freedom. Bibi Jagir Kaur’s
refusal to resign indicated she had no regrets and her refusal to face
the public showed she was guilty, they said. It was a pity that the
president of the SGPC was on the run and the institution was being run
by employees.
“Besides the law of the land it is the Sikhs to whom she owes an
explanation” they held. On the Takht Jathedar’s statement that the
case was legal and not religious in nature, they said since she was a
leader of a religious institution her acts of omission and commission
could be discussed by the Takht, regardless of the nature of the case.
“We demand the Takht Jathedar to intervene and seek explanation
from the SGPC president on her suspected role in the mysterious death of
her daughter. The stage show, “Medni”, played at Jalandhar should be
an eye opener for the Jathedar as to how serious the matter was. The
issue is being discussed on the streets hence the community is facing
humiliation,” the two leaders held.
Both the leaders came down heavily on Akali leader Sucha Singh Langha,
who is also an aspirant for the post of SGPC president for practising
his faith contrary to Sikh reyht maryada. They blamed him for toeing the
BJP-RSS line besides playing the communal card for his selfish political
ends. |
|
Bibi’s
supporters raise slogans JALANDHAR, Nov 3 — A group of SAD workers and supporters of the
SGPC Chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, raised slogans against Kamaljit Singh, the
“husband” of Bibi’s deceased daughter, the former Punjab Education
Minister, Mr Sukhjinder Singh, and his son Sukhpal Singh Khatria during
a dharna in Bhogpur township today.
They cautioned Baba Kashmira Singh and Baba Mangal Singh Satlani
against extending support to Kamaljit Singh, who has alleged that
Harpreet was killed under a deep-rooted conspiracy.
The workers were led by Buta Singh Buttar, circle president of the
SAD, and Bibi’s political secretary Swaran Singh Josh. |
|
Confusion
over airport upgrade AMRITSAR: Even as the Badal Government has described
the upgrading of Rajasansi Airport as an international airport by the
Central Government as its “biggest achievement”, the diametrically
opposite statements on its status by Punjab bureaucracy has created
confusion.
The status of international airport was first given by Mr Inder Kumar
Gujral, the then Prime Minister, during his visit to Amritsar on May 3,
1997. Though the Union Cabinet took three years to clear the
international airport by approving the project on April 13, along with
elevation of five other airports, yet the Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs, (CCEA) has not given its sanction so far. Interestingly, in
full-page advertisements, given by the Punjab Government in various
leading papers, Badal Government described the elevation of Rajasansi
Airport as one of its biggest achievements. To add woes the residents of
Amritsar, Mr Ramesh Inder Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister
had stated that “lack of international airport in the state was
proving to be handicap in the setting up of a world institute of
technology in Punjab.
Prof Mohan Singh and Mr Charnjit Singh Gumtala, president and general
secretary of Amritsar Vikas Manch, respectively, asked Mr Parkash Singh
Badal to clearify whether his government was serious in implementing the
international airport project or not. They urged Mr Badal to seek the
permission of CCEA at the earliest.
The approval of CCEA is still awaited even as 14 international
flights have been operating from Rajasansi Airport. In April the total
number of international passengers at Rajasansi Airport was put at 7,058
which indicates that 84,696 passengers would arrive from various
countries during 2000-2001 at the airport. In spite of the termendous
response from the international passengers, neither the Central
Government nor the Punjab Government seems to be serious about the
expansion of the airport. The increase in the passengers is five times
if compared to the 1996-97 figures which was only 17,000. The flights of
Turkmenistan Airlines and Uzbekistan Airlines have also received a good
response. It could be gauged from the fact that the passengers have to
wait for weeks to get a seat on these flights.
What is worse, the Punjab Government has failed arrange for the
laying of the foundation stone of the airport upgradation project by the
Prime Minister, notwithstanding tall claims. On the other hand,
foundation stones of all the central projects including Earth Station at
Mohali, Oil Refinery at Bathinda, renewable Institute and Science City
both at Kapurthala, have already been laid.
While upgradation of Rajasansi Airport still hangs fire, the
statements of Mr Ramesh Inder Singh that international flights would be
started from Halwara Air Force Station (Ludhiana) has added to the
confusion.
Mr Ramesh Inder Singh had also stated that a foreign airline had
agreed to start flights from Halwara. Sources say that Halwara Air Force
Station is not economically viable for starting international flights.
Till now only Delhi airport has been catering to the needs of seven
northern states, including Punjab and Haryana. Hence, a small state like
Punjab cannot afford to create two international airports at a distance
of 130 kilometres. The Union Civil Aviation Ministry as well as
International Airport Authority of India does not consider one
international airport as “viable and feasible” on the pretext of low
traffic from the state. It was with the great difficulty and efforts of
Mr RPS Pawar, the then Secretary of Civil Aviation, Punjab, that the
Punjab Government had proved that there was sufficient traffic from
Amritsar.
The second reason for non-feasibility of Halwara’s upgradation is
that it is basically an Air Force station which cannot be converted into
an international airport easily. Only restricted flights can be allowed
from an Air Force station. |
|
Sloganeering
at Mayor’s meeting AMRITSAR, Nov 3 — Pandemonium prevailed at the first meeting
chaired by the new Mayor amid unprecedented security arrangements.
Eight angry Congress councillors staged a walkout minutes after the
meeting started to a packed house. Congress councillors should slogans
like “murder of democracy”. Mr Sunil Datti, leader of the Congress
party in the house, along with Mr Rajpal Mahajan (Congress) and Mr
Tarsem Bhola (CPM) alleged high-handedness on the part of the ruling
party in declaring the BJP candidate Mayor while the Congress polled 24
votes against the BJP’s 23 votes.
The issue of condoling the death of senior Congress leader Sitaram
Kesri trigged outrage among Congress councillors who refused to
recognise Mr Brij Mohan Kapoor as Mayor, alleging he had usurped the
position.
In the meantime, for the first house meeting in five months security
arrangements were unusually tight. All four exits to the corporation
house were sealed while mounted police held surveillance around the busy
Hall Bazaar, where the corporation building is located, throughout the
day.
Mediapersons held angry protests against the Mayor and the Deputy
Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, for being-barred from attending the
corporation meeting. While Mr Kewal Kumar, SP (City), said orders had
come from the Deputy Commissioner the latter denied having issued any
such orders to the SP (City) to keep away mediapersons.
Mr Om Prakash Kalia, senior BJP leader, claimed the house had passed
the ‘meeting’ agenda-today while BJP councillors seeking anonymity
expressed surprise as the day’s agenda compiled in 47 pages bearing at
least 225 development items was too mammoth to have been passed within
10 minutes. “It cannot even be read in 10 minutes, leave aside the
process of explanation, assessment, viability etc to pass the agenda,
they said.
The BJP, however, came for a rap from the media. They were not
willing to buy the theory of “not having enough place to sit for the
mediapersons and consequently fearing any untoward happening” as
claimed by Improvement Trust Chairman Bakshi Ram Arora before the
meeting started at 3 P.M. An effigy of Mr Balramji Das Tandon, Minister
for Local Bodies, was burnt outside the corporation office.
Meanwhile, Jathedar Ajaib Singh, senior member of the Sarb Hind Akali
Dal, has condemned barring of the press from the corporation meeting. |
|
Pak
villages under observation ZERO LINE (Ferozepore), Nov 3 — With the Pakistan-based ISI
increasingly relying on smugglers to carry out narco-terrorism in India,
drug peddlers on the other side of the border are under constant watch.
Sources in BSF said the activities of the people in at least two
Pakistani border villages — Gurki near Amritsar sector and Nagar Amin
near the Ferozepore sector — are under observation to thwart the
designs of the ISI. Since Pakistani smugglers, with ISI connections are
from these villages, the BSF soldiers deployed at the Indian border
outposts in their proximity are extra vigilant.
A visit to the Kulwant Border Outpost that is close to Nagar Amin
village of Pakistan revealed that the guards manning the area are extra
cautious. The villagers has become notorious as a prominent Pakistani
smuggler, Waaris Khooni hails from it. Intelligence inputs suggest that
he is working for the ISI and has links with Wadhawa Singh, a fugitive
Punjab militant. His name has repeatedly figured during the
interrogation of smugglers arrested in the recent past.
The ISI is relying on him to send RDX, narcotics and counterfeit
currency notes to India. BSF and the Punjab police sources confirmed
Waaris Khooni’s association with the ISI. He had survived a bullet
injury, when he attempted infiltrate into India a few years back. His
father Ashique Khooni was also a smuggler.
The family owns a big landholding at Nagar Amin village and a
palatial bungalow in Kasur city of Pakistan. Although Waaris rarely
stays in the village, he has a telephone connection at his farmhouse
that helps him to keep in touch with the activities in the area.
Unlike the BSF that discourages Indian smugglers from visiting near
the international border, the Pakistani Rangers do not bar them from
visiting the area due to the ISI support enjoyed by them.
There are instances of Pakistani smugglers frequenting the area in
guise of hunters to mislead BSF soldiers. Even though the land between
Nagar Amin and Kulwant Border Outpost is adequately fenced, the BSF do
not discount the possibility of throwing of material from above the
barbed wires. The elephant grass across the security fencing is
frequently deweeded and the area has been sufficiently brought under
cultivation to ensure effective visibility. |
Barnala got post
under secret pact: Bhora BATHINDA, Nov 3 — Mr Bhan Singh Bhora, member of Parliament, today alleged that senior Akali Dal leader Surjeet Singh Barnala had been appointed Governor of Uttaranchal under a secret pact between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Central Government. Talking to TNS on the phone from Delhi, Mr Bhora said the SAD had agreed to include Udham Singh Nagar into the Uttaranchal on the condition that Mr Barnala was made Governor. He alleged the SAD had always bartered away the interests of Punjab and Punjabis for petty benefits of individual leaders. The SAD had not taken up any pending issue relating to Punjab even though it shared power at the Centre and had cordial relations with Haryana Government. He said by securing governorship for Mr Barnala, who had been defeated in the last Lok Sabha elections, the party had shown it and not believe in democracy. He wondered how a person who had been rejected by residents of his native area could be made the constitutional head of a state.  |
|
Barnala
for morning swearing-in ceremony CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — The first Governor of the newly created State
of Uttaranchal, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, wants his swearing-in ceremony
to take place on the morning of November 9. He has cited astrological
reasons for seeking a postponement of the ceremony from midnight to 9 or
10 a.m.
The new state of Uttaranchal will come into existence from the
midnight of November 8 and 9.
According to informed sources, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, a former
Chief Minister of Punjab, Union Agriculture and Food Minister and
Governor of Tamil Nadu, feels that the swearing-in ceremony of the
Governor of a new state should be a public function organised during the
day and not inside a closed hall at midnight.
Mr Barnala has reportedly conveyed his sentiments to the
administration of the new state.
It may be recalled here that on the night intervening October 31 and
November 1, the new state of Chattisgarh came into being. The Governor
of Chattisgarh, Mr Dinesh Nandan Sahay, and the Chief Minister, Mr Ajit
Jogi, were sworn in shortly after midnight. |
|
Meeting
of SAD soon
MOGA, Nov 3 (UNI) — The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the
ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will meet soon to decide the candidates
for the forthcoming SGPC elections, party PAC chairman Jagdev Singh
Talwandi said here today.
Talking to reporters, he said no date had so far been fixed for the
meeting which was also likely to take up the issue of fielding the
present SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur again as many members wanted it.
Expressing his satisfaction over the performance of the SAD
government in Punjab, he said under the leadership of Chief Minister
Parkash Singh Badal, the era of “confrontation, hatred and communal
distrust’’ had been replaced with “peace, brotherhood and
understanding’’.
He congratulated Mr Badal on bringing the Rs 350 crore central
package for paddy growers and Rs 100 crore as compensation to farmers
for their paddy sale. |
Advani visits
Radhasoami dera at Beas AMRITSAR, Nov 3 — The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and his wife visited the Radhasoami dera at Beas last evening where a nine-day eye camp is in progress. He was shown the arrangements made under the supervision of eye specialist Dr J.M. Pahwa, a Padmashri awardee from Aligarh. Mr Advani, who visited the dera during his 65-minute stopover at Beas, had a special audience with Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon, heads of dera. Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Minister for Local Government, Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Minister of Cooperative, Mr Manoranjan Kalia, Minister of Medical Education, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Dr Rattan Singh, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development received Home Minister at the rest house of the dera along with the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, the DIG (Border), Mr Jasminder Singh, the SSP of Majitha, Mr Lok Nath and other senior officials. |
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Agitating
TSU men block traffic BATHINDA, Nov 3 — Hundreds of activists of the Technical Services
Union (TSU) of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) today blocked
traffic near the bus stand chowk to express their dissatisfaction with
the PSEB authorities and the Power Minister of Punjab who have adopted
an indifferent attitude towards their demands.
The traffic near the chowk came to a halt as activists raised slogans
against the Superintending Engineer, PSEB, and Mr Sikandar Singh Maluke,
Power Minister.
Mr Sukhmander Singh, circle convener TSU, while addressing the
gathering demanded that the authorities should withdraw the “false”
cases registered against 22 union representatives. He added that some
employees had been chargesheeted.
He alleged that about 250 employees had been victimised in the
subdivision to crush the power of the unions which were fighting for
their rights.
Mr Brij Mohan, circle convener of the Struggle Committee, said that
the activists of the unions had organised a flag march in 90 villages of
Punjab. He added that the employees of the circle would resort to
work-to-rule from November 7 to 11. If the SE, Bathinda, and the Power
Minister did not change their attitude towards their demands, they would
start an agitation.
Meanwhile, Mr Maluke, Power Minister, who was here to attend the
function in connection with the inauguration of the 40th branch of the
Bathinda Central Cooperative Bank Limited, explained that it had become
the habit of the TSU activists to organise the rallies and dharnas and
causing inconvenience to the general public.
He said, “All technical employees are getting smart salaries and
other benefits but they are not working properly. They are making
efforts to damage the image of the authorities by organising the dharnas”. |
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Rs 2000
crore for four-laned roads SANGRUR, Nov 3 — The Punjab Government has approved a comprehensive
plan worth Rs 2000 crore for four-laned roads and bridges in the state.
This was stated by Mr Ranjit Singh Balian, Minister of State for
Housing and Urban Development, after inaugurating a shed for the
procurement centre at Deh Kalan village, near here, today.
Mr Balian announced a grant of Rs 50,000 each for two dharamshalas in
the village. He also assured the villagers that a grant of Rs 1 lakh
would be arranged soon for the boundary wall of the village school. |
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PSEB
body alleges govt interference PATIALA, Nov 3 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB)
Engineers Association today claimed there was gross interference of the
government in sensitive cases, including purchases and contracts, and
that such unscrupulous elements were corrupting the functioning of the
board.
In a statement here which was released by its general secretary, mr
Anil Miglani, the association said calling for sensitive files by
political persons was a scandalous attempt to distort and influence
decisions. It said the association had been voicing its concern against
corruption at every level but the state government had failed to respond
to the appeal.
It said there were circumstances galore in which political
interference in theft of energy cases, purchase cases, postings and
transfers and disciplinary cases had demoralised the work force. It said
these proved that the government was not serious about combating
corruption and was in fact actively aiding and abetting this.
The association release said whereas the PSEB had complete autonomy
in service matters, gross political interference had become the order of
the day and lists of transfers on political grounds were on the records
of the board. It said this had played havoc with the board ‘ s
revenues. The placement and transfer policy of the board had been thrown
in the trash can. It said these issues were raised by it in November
1999 at the annual general meeting and appreciated by the Chief
Minister. However, the government had not acted upon it.
The release said the state power secretariat had just one power
engineer due to which the working of the Power Ministry was totally
non-technical. It said this was the reason why cheap populism was
continuing at the cost of the PSEB, particularly with regard to tariff
with the recent tariff hike in July 2000 being a glaring example of
interference by politicians and populist treatment being given to
influential lobbies such as industrialists. |
|
DA
instalment for pensioners CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — The Punjab Government today decided to release
another instalment of dearness allowance (DA) to pensioners on the
pattern of the Central Government.
According to the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, the DA
payable to the state government pensioners would be enhanced from the
existing 38 per cent to 41 per cent with effect from July 1.
Meanwhile, in pursuance of the recommendations of the Anomalies
Committee, the state government has decided to revise the minimum
admissibility of city compensatory allowance in respect of A, B-1 and
B-2 cities to Rs 100 per month from September 1, 1997.
The payment of arrears on account of dearness allowance and city
compensatory allowance will be made in cash, the Finance Minister said
in an official press note. |
|
SDM
orders probe into procurement FEROZEPORE, Nov 3 — The district administration has ordered a fresh
inquiry into the procurement process following complaints that farmers
are not being paid the minimum support price of Rs 540 per quintal for
paddy.
The irate farmers have charged commission agents of paying them less
than the MSP after selling their produce to government agencies.
Confirming this to TNS, the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Mr D.P.S.
Kharbanda, said he had received complaints to this effect by irate
farmers. He said he would personally visit market committees to enquire
into the allegation.
This follows a traffic blockade by agitated farmers in Khai area on
the Ferozepore-Fazilka road, near here, yesterday. The farmers, who were
led by the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal leader, Mr Karnail Singh Bhawra,
charged the commission agents with having pocketed the MSP.
The farmers are now seeking compensation for the loss. Mr Kharbanda
told TNS that the administration would summon the farmers and commission
agents to resolve the issue. The commission agents would be asked to
shell out the excessive price in case they are found guilty.
The commission agents, who had failed to issue an authentic receipt
to farmers, would also invite appropriate action, he assured. |
|
Package
for paddy growers ‘a farce’ CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira, secretary of the
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, said here today that the continuing
spate of suicides by farmers in the state exposed the “hollow”
claims of the state government that distress sale of paddy was not
taking place.
He said the fact remained that in spite of Mr Parkash Singh Badal’s
orders, millers and commission agents continued to exploit poor farmers
by forcing them to sell their produce at a rate lower than the minimum
support price.
He said the “drama” of the Rs 350 crore package was enacted by
the Badal government to take the sting out of the farmers’ agitation.
The package was nothing but a farce. Its actual implementation would
tell the real story, he added.
He said about 50 per cent of paddy was procured by traders and others
at rates lower than the MSP. The Congress had sought details from the
government about the purchase of the common varieties of paddy. He said
these varieties had not been procured so far. |
|
|
BKU
(Ekta) men gherao SDM’s office BARNALA, Nov 3 — Members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta,
Mahal Kalan, yesterday gheraoed the office of the Subdivisional
Magistrate (SDM) here for about three hours. They also sat on a dharna
there.
Farmers under the banner of the BKU Ekta had been protested against
the distress sale of paddy.
At the time of gherao an Executive Magistrate officiating as the SDM
was present in the office. |
|
Painting,
drawing contests mark ‘vigilance week’ PATIALA, Nov 3 — Corruption should be eradicated from all sections
of society and a checks and balances system should be properly initiated
in the country to ensure fairplay and also to root out corrupt
practices.
This was stated by Mr A.P. Pandey, IG, at a function organised by
State Vigilance Bureau to celebrate the `Vigilance Awareness Week’ at
the National Institute of Sports here today.
Mr Pandey, who is also the Director of Vigilance of the state police,
said corruption was spreading like wildfire in all stratas of society
and if not checked it would destroy the very fabric of democracy. He
said to enlighten people of the evils of corruption the department had
already organised an `anti-corruption week’ from November 1. A
re-think should be done by government agencies on ways and means to
check the menace of corruption.
Painting, drawing and sketching competitions for school children were
organised on the occasion. Sixtysix children from as many as 14 schools
of the district took part in these competitions.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, Deputy Commissioner,
said due to illiteracy most of the time it were the ruralites who fell
victims to corruption. He said that on during `kisan divas’ scheduled
for November 10 a special exhibition would be held to educate villagers
on the evils of corrupt practices.
Mr Brajinder Uppal, SP, Vigilance, also spoke on the occasion. |
A.S. Chawla to be
PPSC member CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — Mr Amarjit Singh Chawla, a former senior leader
of the All-India Sikh Students Federation, has been appointed a member
of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC).
He will take the oath as member tomorrow, according to information
available here.
Mr Chawla is said to be close to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr
Parkash Singh Badal. He had recently joined the Shiromani Akali Dal. |
Teachers threaten
agitation ROPAR, Nov 3 — The Punjab State Recognised Teachers Union has
threatened to launch an agitation if the Punjab Government fails to act
on its notification issued 18 months ago to implement the Fourth Pay
Commission recommendations in case of 2,500 pensioners of aided schools
of the state.
In a press statement issued here, Mr Manohar Lal Chopra, general
secretary of union, said resentment prevailed among the pensioners due
to non-implementation of the pay commission recommendations, despite the
notification issued on March 31, 1999.
Mr Chopra claimed that the issue had been settled between the
government and the union leaders of teachers at a meeting chaired by the
Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, on March 17, 1999.
Thereafter, 1380 agitating teachers had been released from various
jails. However, the Punjab Government had gone back on its word and was
not implementing the agreement.
Mr Chopra said a state-level meeting of the pensioners cell of the
union had been convened at Jalandhar to chalk out the future course of
action to get the notification implemented. |
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Punjabi
University students end strike PATIALA, Nov 3 — The strike by student organiations in the Punjabi University campus which started yesterday in protest against rustication of two students for alleged acts of arson ended with a compromise being arrived at today afternoon. The compromise came about after students did not allow holding of classes. They marched in the campus in rally going from one department to another following which teaching work was disrupted . The student rally culminated in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s-Office were they staged a dharna. Student leaders of the Punjabi University Students Association ( PUSA) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ( ABVP ) as well as members of the joint action committee formed to protest against the rustications condemned the university authorities for arbitrarily rusticating the students without ascertaining the facts. The rally was addressed by university ABVP president Sandeep Kapoor besides joint action committee leaders Amrinder Singh and Rupinder Singh. The students also announced that they would intensify their agitation once the teaching was resumed on Monday. However, a compromise was affected in the afternoon following which the University authorities permitted provisional attendance of the classes by the students, pending final order. The students in a written communication also condemned the burning of Diwali tents on the intervening night of October 18-19 at the campus which they said was in protest against a police lathi-charge on students who were trying to enter the Vice-Chancellor ‘ s residence where a special cultural function had been arranged. The students said the better course of action on their behalf would have been to convey the use of force by the police to the authorities for appropriate action so that the Diwali festival on October 19 could have proceeded smoothly with participation of all students. Some students had reacted
violently by burning a few tents after the police did not allow them
entry into the lane leading to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence. The
students staged a dharna the next day and did not allow setting up of
the Diwali stalls till nearly noon. |
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PUTA
locks house allotted to OSD’s daughter PATIALA, Nov 3 — In a dramatic development, the
Punjabi University Teachers Association ( PUTA ) today locked the house
allotted recently to Ms Amarbir Kaur, daughter of Mr Kirpal Singh
Badungar, Officer on Special Duty to the Punjab Chief Minister, on the
university campus following a meeting of its executive committee.
The PUTA executive took this unprecedented step after it
claimed all appeals to the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar not to
allot the flat, which is earmarked for teaching staff, to Ms Amarbir
Kaur in violation of university norms fell on deaf ears. Ms Amarbir is a
junior proof reader in the Department of Punjabi Language and
Development.
Meanwhile, PUTA seems to be set on a collision course
with the university authorities, with Vice-Chancellor Jasbir Singh
Ahluwalia telling TNS that he would get a case of criminal trespass
registered against those responsible for the locking episode.
He said the police would be asked to unlock the house
and take it out of the unlawful possession of PUTA and that anyone
opposing the move would be put under suspension. He said the university
would also take administrative action against those PUTA executive
committee members who were involved in locking the house.
The PUTA executive had met today to discuss various
issues, including the accommodation allotted to Mrs Amarbir Kaur, the
issue of two teachers being rejected under the Career Advancement Scheme
(CAS) and the issue of appraisal of teachers by students which had been
recently passed by the Syndicate.
According to PUTA secretary Balwinder Singh, the
executive unanimously passed a resolution condemning allotment of a
house from the teaching quota to a non-teaching member. He said the
executive felt that it was for the first time that an allotment which
had been made to a teacher had been cancelled in favour of a
non-teaching member.
It said the meeting felt that PUTA should take immediate
action in the matter following which the executive members locked the
house and gave a written communication to the Dean, Academics, who is
also Chairman of the House Allotment Committee, to restore the house to
its original allottee.
The PUTA executive has also expressed the feeling that
it had been betrayed by the Vice-Chancellor who it said had promised
that all teachers appearing for interview under the Career Advancement
Scheme (CAS) would be selected. It said two teachers of History,
Sukhdayal Singh and D. K. Verma had been rejected by the selection
committee recently. While condemning the rejection, it said the teachers
would agitate in case of any more rejection of teachers.
The executive also released statements of the Akhil
Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Punjabi University Students Union
in which the organisations said they no longer demanded appraisal of
teachers by students in the university. The executive said the
statements proved that that Vice-Chancellor had kept the Syndicate in
the dark about the real facts while recommending this item in the agenda
.
The Vice-Chancellor has reacted strongly on the issue of
selections under the CAS. He said he had not made any commitment to PUTA
in this regard. Striking a strident tone, he said the two teachers who
had been rejected would have to disassociate themselves from the PUTA
stand by Monday failing which the university would not give them a
second chance to appear before another selection committee. He said the
university had been given teachers a second chance to appear before the
selection committee again even though this was not mandatory.
On the issue of student appraisal also the
Vice-Chancellor said the scheme would be implemented by January1. He
said there was no question of taking it back and that only mediocre
teachers who were not doing their job needed to fear it. |
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Teachers’
strike today CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — Teachers working in colleges of Bathinda, Mansa,
Rampura Phul, Goniana Mandi, Bhudhlada and Damdama Sahib will observe a
strike tomorrow, a press release of the Punjab and Chandigarh College
Teachers Union said here today.
Prof Charanjit Chawla, general secretary, said the teachers would
hold a protest demonstration at Bhathinda and march to the DC’s office
to submit a memorandum of demands. |
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