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| Tuesday, November 21, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Take over wheat stocks, Punjab urges Centre More promotions likely in top-heavy
police HC issues notice to Principal
Secretary SMO’s certificate ‘false’ Charges against Badal
‘motivated’ |
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TADA detainees’ cases to be
reviewed Police to challan noise polluters from Dec
1
Tohra faction rules out unity with
SAD
2 Kargil veterans cleared for
jobs PSEB staff begin
protest Seminar held on Bhagat Singh Kikkar branches
worth lakhs axed in villages Soldier killed
in J&K Five killed in collision
NRIs oppose
minority status
More powers mooted
for district planning panels
1.4 kg opium seized Abducted minor girl
traced
3 colleges get Farid
university affiliation
Cold reality behind warm
quilts Plan to boost fish production AIBOA secretary flays
privatisation Bill
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Take over wheat stocks, Punjab urges Centre CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — While with the procurement of 109.55 lakh tonnes of paddy till date, a record has been set in the state, the Punjab Government has urged the Centre to immediately take over the 100 lakh-tonne wheat stocks lying in the state. Last year the total paddy procured was 107.93 lakh tonnes. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, told TNS here today that most of the rural paddy procurement centres had been closed down because of the non-arrival of paddy. Yesterday only 18 tonnes of paddy arrived in the grain markets in the state. The government procurement agencies had been told to remain in the main grain markets for some more days to procure paddy as some farmers might still want to dispose of their stocks. Among the government procurement agencies, Punsup has procured 15.87 lakh tonnes, Markfed14.83 lakh tonnes, the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 13.32 lakh tonne, the Punjab Food and Supplies Department 9.29 lakh tonnes, the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation 4.94 lakh tonnes and the Food Corporation of India 27.75 lakh tonnes. Private traders have procured 23.54 lakh tonnes, which is 21.5 per cent of the total procurement made by all concerned. Mr Mittal said the government had already released Rs 3,790 crore to the procurement agencies to make further payments to farmers. Bills for Rs 3,404 crore had been received till date from commission agents by the government agencies. Payment of Rs 2,628 crore had been released against such bills. Efforts had been made to make the payment within the shortest possible time after verifying the bill and completing other official formalities. The officials concerned had been told to release Rs 420 crore more in a day or so to the government agencies. Meanwhile, Mr Mittal at a meeting with Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister, urged him to take over the entire wheat stocks (nearly 100 lakh tonnes) lying with the state government agencies and to make payment to them. The state government agencies need money urgently to repay the loans secured from the consortium of banks for procuring wheat since 1997-98. Mr Mittal said that once earlier also the Union Government had got the entire stocks of wheat transferred to the account of the FCI and had made payments to the state government procurement agencies. About Rs 8,000 crore was due to the consortium against the state government agencies. Payment to the state government procurement agencies is only made after the transfer of the stocks to the FCI. Wheat continues to pile up in the state’s godowns in the absence of adequate movement of wheat to other states since 1997-98. Mr Mittal said that Mr Shanta Kumar had given an assurance that he would get this proposal examined by the officers concerned to help the state. Another issue which figured at the meeting was
the creation of more space for stocking rice in the state. Mr Mittal said he had told Mr Shanta Kumar that private parties were prepared to provide covered space for rice storage provided the government enhanced the period to retain the godowns from seven years to 10 years. He said this would be viable for private parties. At present the government signs an agreement with private parties to retain their godowns for seven years. About 2.77 lakh tonnes of rice has already been handed over to the FCI and out of this 2.59 lakh tonnes is levy rice. The milling of paddy has started in all districts of the state. Mr Shanta Kumar had given an assurance that the acceptance of levy rice from millers would not be delayed for want of space, Mr Mittal said. Asked about the giving of compensation to farmers who had sold paddy at a price lower than the minimum support price, Mr Mittal said a formula was being worked out by the officials concerned. The government was committed to giving Rs 100 crore to such farmers. Mr Mittal said paddy and wheat procurement in Punjab was a big challenge. He thanked the procurement agencies, farmers, commission agents, traders and millers for cooperating with the government in this connection.
1.09 cr tonne paddy
arrives in mandis PHILLAUR, Nov 20 — More than 1.09 crore tonnes of paddy arrived in different mandis of the state till November 18 evening. This was stated by the Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, while talking to this correspondent here yesterday. He expected more than 1.25 crore tonnes of paddy this year. Mr Mittal said the state government would arrange training camps at villages to educate farmers about different crops. When asked about the claims of some Congress leaders about the mid-term poll in Punjab, Mr Mittal said it was a propaganda of the Congress which was misleading the people. He claimed that the SAD-BJP Government led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would complete its present term and would again come to power in the next election of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
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More promotions likely in top-heavy
police CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — The Punjab Government may promote Mr S.S. Virk, an IPS officer of the 1970 batch belonging to the Maharashtra cadre, as Additional Director-General of Police besides elevating all five officers of the 1978 batch of the IPS as Inspectors-General of Police. After these promotions, the strength of Additional DGPs will go up to 18 and of IGs to 20. One of the arguments advanced in favour of Mr Virk is that all his batch mates belonging to the Punjab cadre have already been promoted as Additional DGPs. Though the Punjab Council of Ministers had decided early this year to send back all deputationists to their parent cadres, exceptions were made to retain some of the officers, including Mr Virk, who is at present Inspector-General of Police, Security. A highly decorated police officer, Mr Virk was injured in an attack by militants during his posting in Amritsar. The officers in line for promotion as Inspector-General are Mr Rajan Gupta, Mr Paras Moni Das, Mr Paramjit Singh Sandhu, Mr Sukhdial Singh Bhullar and Mr Harsh Raj Chadha. While the first four officers are serving with the state government here, the fifth is on deputation with the Union Government and will get proforma promotion. Mr Paramjit Singh Sandhu is due to retire on May 31 next year on superannuation. A reshuffle in the Police Department, which may witness the shifting of certain district police chiefs besides a couple of DIGs and IGs, is being linked to these promotions. The argument advanced in favour of these promotions is that in most other states, officers with a seniority of 20 years have become IGs while in Punjab they are still of the rank of DIG. The Police Department in Punjab has been becoming top heavy day by day simply because senior officers have not been opting to go on deputation or are not on the panel of the Union Home Ministry to go to one of the central police organisations or the ministry itself. After these promotions are ordered, Punjab will have one officer of the rank of Director-General, 18 Additional Directors-General and 20 Inspectors-General against a sanctioned strength of 141 officers. A couple of months ago, the state government had ordered the promotion of five Inspectors-General to the rank of Additional Director-General to clear officers of the 1970 batch. After these promotions, there have been three vacancies of Inspector-General. Those promoted then were Mr Lalit Bhatia, Mr S.C. Jain, Mr D.R. Bhatti, Dr G.S. Aujla and Mr M.P.S. Aulakh. As a sequel to the these proposed promotions, other officers are also in for promotion as Deputy Inspector-General. Certain officers among the eight of the 1987 batch have been given the local rank of Deputy Inspector-General. The 1987 batch officers are Mr Dinkar Gupta, Mr C. Sita Rami Reddy, Mr M.K. Tewari, Mr Rajpal Meena, Mr V.K. Bhawra, Mr Gurinder Pal Singh, Mr Randev Singh and Mr Balbir Singh. The last three are Punjab Police Service officers. At present, there are 10 Punjab officers on deputation with other states or Union Territories or the Union Government. They are Mr Gurbachan Jagat (Director-General of Police, Jammu & Kashmir), Mr V.N. Mathur, Mr R.K. Gupta, Mr Harsh Raj Chadha, Mr Ibrahim Mathai, Mr M.K. Tewari, Mr V.K. Bhawra, Mr Prabodh Kumar and Mr Parag Jain (Senior Superintendent of Police, Chandigarh). On the other hand, besides Mr Virk, other officers on deputation with the Punjab Government are Mr H.S. Grewal, Mr S.P.S. Basra, Mr S.K. Singh, Mr Khubhi Ram, Mr Ram Pal Singh, Mr T.S. Dhillon, Mr A. Gautam, Mr Suresh Kumar, Ms Amrit Brar and Mr Vivek Mishra. Mr I.M. Mirza and Mr Nalwa have already been sent back to the CRPF and West Bengal as a sequel to the decision of the Council of Ministers. Mr D.K. Tripathi, who was on deputation, has now gone to
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HC issues notice to Principal Secretary CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 (PTI) — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the Principal Secretary, Government of Punjab, Higher Education Department and DPI (Colleges), Punjab, Chandigarh returnable on January 30, 2001 on a civil writ petition challenging the rejection order passed by the Punjab Government in a case of promotion to the existing posts of principals, government colleges against Scheduled Caste category reserved points. The petitioner a senior lecturer in Giani Kartar Singh Memorial Government College in Hoshiarpur contended in writ petition that there are 51 posts of Principals in Government Colleges, Punjab out of which 75 per cent posts are to be filled by way of promotion and 25 per cent by way of direct recruitment with requisite qualifications as laid down in the notified rules called the Punjab Educational Service (College Cadre (Class I) Rules, 1976, amended in 1983 with application of reservation roster 14 per cent for SC category, consequently six posts come to share of Scheduled Caste category senior lecturers. The petitioner contended that five posts of principals in SC category are lying vacant. The Punjab Government has filled up certain vacancies of principals by giving current duty charge of the post in March/May and October, 2000 by ignoring the order of the Punjab Government Social Welfare Department for giving SC/ST reservation even for current duty charge. The petitioner contended that the Punjab Government in rejection order stated that the competent authority has referred the matter to the Cabinet Sub-committee for reviewing the yardstick on promotion policy between merit-cum-seniority vis-a -vis seniority-cum-merit. However, this stipulation in the impugned order was in contravention to the statutory provisions of rule 10 (2) as any administrative decision could not over-ride the notified rules. |
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SMO’s certificate ‘false’ FEROZEPORE, Nov 20 — A local businessman has accused the Senior Medical Officer here Dr Pritam Singh Saona, of helping a person booked for fraud here on November 3 in getting a false medical report to prevent him from being interrogated during the police remand. Through telegrams addressed to Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Chief Judicial Magistrate here, a city-based businessman, Mr Sandeep Gulati, has demanded a judicial enquiry against Mr Saona, who had allegedly favoured Narinder Bajaj — a Moga-based trader earlier booked on his complaint. Narinder was recommended to be admitted to a local hospital allegedly on the basis of a “false fracture report” in order to prevent him from being interrogated in the police custody on November 4. Narrating the sequence of events to TNS, Mr Gulati charged that Narinder had tried to flee after being arrested and had slipped, receiving a minor jerk in his foot. Subsequently, the police took him to the hospital for medical examination before being presented in the court. While, the SMO at the hospital
diagnosed a fracture in the left foot of the accused in his medical report, Mr Gulati alleged that the report was doctored to evade police remand for the accused for interrogation. Doubting the integrity of the report, Mr Gulati moved the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate accusing the SMO of favouring Narinder. The court later directed for re-examination of Narinder at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College in Faridkot. Surprisingly, a fresh medical examination report of Narinder at Faridkot stated that no fracture was seen. However, a team of doctors at Faridkot recommended X-ray and CAT scan at the PGI in Chandigarh. On being contacted for comment, Dr Saona charged Mr Gulati with manipulating the fresh medical report. Denying having favoured Narinder, he said, “The accused was complaining of pain when brought to the hospital, whereas the complainant tried to pressurise us against hospitalising him”. He said that he had recommended what he had deemed fit in the eyes of the law after satisfying himself of the patient’s condition. Narinder Bajaj was earlier booked for duping Mr Gulati after taking Rs 16 lakh from him promising to get him the agencies of some reputed companies of Chandigarh in 1988. However, the money was pocketed by Narinder and his brother Kishore Bajaj. After having failed to get a case registered against the two brothers, Mr Gulati had moved the high court, on whose direction the city police had to lodge an FIR. While Narinder Bajaj was arrested, Kishore is still absconding. |
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Charges against Badal
‘motivated’ CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — The Punjab Government in a statement issued here today reiterated that “the Punjab Chief Minister has been, in no way whatever, a party to the destruction of any evidence or any other offence” in connection with the death of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of Bibi Jagir Kaur. The statement, which was issued by the Punjab Public Relations Department, said that the allegations against Mr Parkash Singh Badal were motivated and aimed at maligning him by dragging his name into the controversy pertaining to the death of Harpreet Kaur. The presence of the Chief Minister during the last rites ceremony of Bibi Jagir Kaur’s daughter was customary. The Chief Minister had visited the families of the late Mr Bhagwan Dass Arora and also that of the late Mr Manjit Singh
Bhattal, both MLAs from Sangrur district. The statement said the presence of the Chief Minister at such social events did not amount to interference in the process of law and administration of justice. The statement further said that the Chief Minister had taken cognisance of press reports regarding Harpreet Kaur’s death and directed the DGP on April 26 to depute senior police officers to investigate the matter. The investigation at present was being carried out by the CBI. The mudslinging against the Chief Minister was an attempt to interfere in the investigation. Certain leaders of Opposition parties had recently urged the CBI to probe the Chief Minister’s presence at the time of the cremation of the body of Harpeet Kaur. |
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SAD meeting
on Bibi Jagir Kaur today CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — An important meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal ( SAD) will be held tomorrow at the residence of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to discuss the fate of the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who is facing a murder charge. The names of veteran Akali leader Jagdev Singh Talwandi, the Chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board,Mr Mal Singh Ghuman, the Punjab Public Works Minister, Mr Sucha Singh Langah, and the secretary of the SAD, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, have figured for the presidentship of the SGPC to replace Bibi Jagir Kaur. The election is due to be held on November 30. Meanwhile, according to a UNI report, Mr Ghuman today confirmed that he had been approached by the party leadership for this post. He said he had been earlier also asked by the party high command to become President of the SGPC in place of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Informed sources said that Mr Talwandi was discreetly lobbying to secure the post of President. He has met the Chief Minister in this connection, it is learnt.
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TADA detainees’ cases to be
reviewed PATIALA, Nov 20 — All cases pertaining to TADA detainees will be reviewed expeditiously by a board constituted by the state government and the same will be referred to the central government at the earliest. This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, while addressing mediapersons at Rakhra village, near here, today on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of Subedar Kartar Singh Dhaliwal. Mr Badal said there were at least 35-odd cases of youths detained under the TADA Act and all of them were being re-examined. While referring to the Tohra-led Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Badal said it was alright in a democratic country to launch protests but at the same time he added that such political parties should refrain from giving political colour to such protests. Mr Badal said the family of Mr Dhaliwal had floated a trust for development projects in the state. The trust would have an initial corpus of Rs 5 crore. A matching amount would be provided by the state government. Mr Badal invited NRIs from the region to float such trusts and assured them that there would be no bureaucratic hassles in their endeavour to float such trusts which would go a long way in harnessing development projects in the state.
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Police to challan noise polluters from Dec
1 PATIALA, Nov 20 — For residents living adjoining the posh marriage palaces ahead of Railway Crossing number 22, noise pollution has become a way of life. It is not only the residents who have to suffer noise pollution during the night when the noise levels are at their loudest, even DAV Public School situated nearby is suffering due to constant noise pollution during the day time. Noise pollution and parking of vehicles in residential areas remain the two major problems faced by residents of the area. While earlier vehicles used to clog the road leading to Model Town when these were parked in front of it, the vehicles are parked behind the marriage palaces now. This while removing the clogging of the road has caused its own set of problems. Residents complain that most of the vehicle-owners do not park their cars properly. They also say some of them start drinking liquor outside the marriage palace only near their cars and sometimes also keep the liquor bottles on top the cars and make an “impromtu bar” on the spot. This they said further leads to noise pollution as there are boisterous exchanges between them. More noise is created when the party gets over at the marriage palaces. Cars start leaving the party spot close to midnight disturbing the general peace and also causing inconvenience to school children who want to prepare for their examinations. Complaining against the menace seems to be a waste of time and most of the residents have stopped doing so. They say it is not as if the administration is not responsive, it is just that restrictions are imposed for a short period only and the situation reverts to old self. Though the administration has imposed restrictions on the timing of the orchestra and the marriage party itself, the palace owners find it difficult to control the hosts. Sometimes the orchestra is forced to play on well after the closure time and on other occasions, the party goes on till midnight. The DAV Public School situated near one of the marriage palaces has now approached the district police chief to control the menace. In a letter to police chief Harpreet Singh Sidhu, School Principal S.M. Devgan said the high-pitched music played at a nearby marriage palace near the school was a nuisance for the institution and the whole area. He said the disturbance was prevalent both during the night and the day. Mr Devgan in his complaint said such noise pollution was a routine affair. He said in the interest of education and right of the people of the area for a peaceful living, the administration must take concrete steps to check this menace. SSP Harpreet Singh Sidhu when contacted said that the administration was starting a noise pollution drive from December 1 in which noise pollution from marriage palaces and other places organising cutural events in the city would be checked. He said already meetings were being held at the mohalla level to spread awareness about the drive. Speaking about the noise pollution caused by some marriage palaces, he said cases had already been registered against some of them and that excess noise would not be tolerated. He said those found guilty of noise pollution would be challaned from December 1. |
Tohra faction rules out unity with
SAD FEROZEPORE, Nov 20 — Discounting all possibilities of unity with the ruling Akali Dal, a senior leader of the breakaway Tohra faction, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, said that his party would give a third alternative to Punjab politics. Despite having failed to open its account in two successive byelections of the Nawanshahr and Sunam assembly segments, Prof Chandumajra claimed that their faction was determined to defeat the ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine. Addressing a press conference at Bhure Kalan village near here, Professor Chandumajra, who himself had tasted defeat in Sunam, discounted all reports of any unity move between the warring Akali factions. He also ruled out that supporters of the Tohra faction were switching loyalties due to successive electoral defeats. On being pointed out that a number of frustrated Tohra loyalists had already joined the ruling Akali Dal in Ropar and Patiala districts, Professor Chandumajra said that those who claim to have deserted them owned allegiance to the Badal faction from the very beginning. Replying to a question, he said, the results of two byelections should not be construed as a referendum on the real Akali Dal, as both the elections were manipulated by the ruling Akali Dal. Accusing the Badal faction of using unfair means to win these elections, he said that the ruling Akali Dal has created a history of sorts by inviting “semi-nude girls” to dance in their campaigning to attract voters. He charged that it was for the first time in the history of Punjab that the ruling Akali Dal distributed liquor and poppy husk to win the elections. Describing the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, as a stooge of the RSS, he said that the Akali Dal under his leadership has deviated from value-based politics. He disclosed that a delegation of his party would meet the Chief Election Commissioner tomorrow to apprise him of the unfair elections held in Sunam. He claimed to have collected affidavits from voters, alleging unfair polling to be submitted to the Election Commission for necessary action. Referring to the CBI interrogation of SGPC Chief Bibi Jagir Kaur in the Harpreet Kaur death case, Professor Chandumajra said the Bibi, who proclaimed herself to be a mother of the Sikh Panth, could not even prove herself as a mother of her own daughter. Referring to the allegation of Tohra’s secret pact with the Congress, he shot back saying, “Badal has married his daughter to a family of a Congress leader. You can judge it for yourself, who is more close to the Congress”. |
2 Kargil veterans cleared for
jobs CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — Two disabled veterans of the Kargil conflict have been approved for appointment to the post of Inspector in the Punjab police, while next of kin of eight martyrs were interviewed for various appointments in the state government by a high-powered committee here today. Two candidates were considered for Class I appointments, including the Punjab Civil Service, while others have been offered Class III jobs as per their qualifications. The candidates included the widow of a soldier killed during Operation Rakshak in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the son of an Indo-Tibetan Border Police inspector. The committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, Mr
R.S. Mann, included representatives from the state government’s Finance, Sainik Welfare and Personnel Departments. The two disabled jawans had been seriously injured during Operation Vijay. Lance Naik Kashmir Singh of 8 Sikh was involved in the fight for Tiger Hill, when his left arm had been ripped off by an artillery shell. Despite his disability, he continued to be involved in the action, for which he was awarded the Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation Card. Sepoy Jatinder Singh was carrying rations to forward posts during a lull in the operations, when he stepped on a mine. His leg had to be amputated. Both hail from Gurdaspur district. Similar interviews had also been held last month, when two disabled soldiers, Jatinder Singh of 19 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and Harbans Singh of 8 Sikh, had been approved for appointment as Inspectors. The committee had also interviewed 17 war widows and next of kin of martyrs for jobs in the state government. These proceedings are still awaiting the approval of the Chief Minister. |
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PSEB staff begin
protest PATIALA, Nov 20 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Engineers Association today started its week-long agitation against the board manangement by wearing black badges and holding protest dharnas all over the state. Announcing this here, Association General Secretary Anil Miglani said more than 200 engineers of the Patiala region held a protest meeting here and demanded immediate settlement of all issues. The association leader said the second phase of the agitation would start from November 27 and continue till December 1. He said zone wise dharnas would be held outside the board headquarters here during this period. He said if the issues remained unresolved , the engineers would resort to work-to-rule stir from December 4. The board management had all along taken the engineers for granted and ignored all their issues. He alleged that, on the other hand, the board had given favourable treatment to other categories and even disturbed the inter services parity of pay scales. The association demanded that the board should immediately address the issues such as settlement of pay scales, remove anomalies and end stagnation. The engineers also demanded a scietific transfer policy ensuring a minimum three-year stay against the post.
Seminar held on Bhagat Singh BATHINDA, Nov 20 — A seminar on the relevance of the thoughts of Shaheed Bhagat Singh was organised here last evening. Among the distinguished speakers included Prof Randhir Singh. Speaking on the occasion Prof Singh said the only threat to the ideology of Shaheed Bhagat Singh was from the Marxist thoughts. He added that the mass appeal which Bhagat Singh still commands acts like a uniting force for the nationalists. Mr Jagmohan Singh, who is also a nephew of Shaheed Bhagat Singh said the attack on the ideology of freedom fighters was a well planned conspiracy of the so-called ‘Sikh-intellectuals’, whose only purpose was to spread religious fundamentalism. The seminar was attended by representatives of about a dozen social service and non-government-organisations. |
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Kikkar branches
worth lakhs axed in villages MOGA, Nov 20 — Residents of various villages in the districts of Moga, Ferozepore, Muktsar and Faridkot have axed branches of kikkar trees valued at several lakhs of rupees, leaving their stumps naked. According to reports it is stated that a large number of kikkar trees valued at crores of rupees had dried up last year in these districts following a mysterious disease. Only a few days back, a trailer loaded with axed branches of kikkar trees valued at several thousand rupees was impounded by officials of the Forest Department in this district and the accused was reportedly handed over to the police.
Soldier killed
in J&K LUDHIANA, Nov 20 — Gurdeep Singh, a soldier from Nurpur Bet village in the district, of the Sikh Light Infantry, laid down his life while fighting militants in Jammu and Kashmir. Gurdeep’s body arrived at his native village late in the evening today. His body would be cremated with full military honours tomorrow. He was the youngest of the two sons of Balkar Singh and had joined the Army a year ago. A pall of gloom descended on the village and the villagers assembled at the residence of Balkar Singh to condole the death.
Five killed in collision FEROZEPORE, Nov 20 (UNI) — Five persons were killed on the spot in a head-on collision between a bus and a Jeep on the Fazilka road of the
Ferozepore-Ganganagar national highway today. Sources said the Jeep, carrying employees of M/s Shiv Lal and Company (wine contractors), for checking a haul of illicit liquor in a nearby area, met with the accident near Nithal Khera village as it collided head on with the bus. While five persons died on the spot, two were critically injured. They were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Abohar, and later referred to CMC, Ludhiana.
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Kamboj women to get their
due ABOHAR, Nov 20 — Leaving the old traditions behind, the Kamboj community has now realised that the women should also be treated on a par with men in the male-dominated society. The Kambojs and Rai Sikhs are in majority in this border district. The Rai Sikhs have already stopped illicit distillation. Radha Soami satsang deras have also been set up in the district villages in a large number and this had considerably brought down the crime rate in their community. Though recently there had been some incidents of violence which resulted in five killings. The Ferozepore District Kamboj Sabha at a meeting held yesterday at Dera Bhajangarh suitable amended its constitution to pave way for social reforms. The meeting was presided by the district president, Mr Harkishan Lal Nandha. Mr Nanak Chand, general secretary of the national body of the community, attended the meeting as a special observer. The sabha decided to give representation to women in the working committee of its each unit at local and district levels. So far women of the Kamboj community had been elected members of the village panchayats and municipal committees but none of them was given any office in the organisational set-up of the community. The meeting also resolved to bar election of any member to the office of its president if he or she was an office-bearer of any political party. This was done to give the sabha a non-politico sovereign secular status. The meeting decided to give the control and day-to-day management of all deras, dharamshalas and other immovable property belonging to the community to the district body. The control was earlier in the hands of local managing committees or heads of the deras etc. The prominent deras included Bhumanshah Dera and Dera Bhajangarh in this district. In order to further strengthen the organisation socially as well as financially, the meeting resolved to complete the election of the area committees by December 17 as per assembly segments under the supervision of the district committee. While expressing solidarity with the state and national bodies of the community, the district sabha decided to hold a national convention at Guruharsahai in this district on December 26 on the occasion of the hundredth birthday of Shaheed Udham Singh. At least two Union Cabinet Ministers would also be invited. The presidents of the state and national apex bodies of the community would be requested to cooperate with the district unit in organising the conference. The sabha decided to extend cooperation to the projects of Shaheed Udham Singh Bhavan at Chandigarh, a memorial at SAS Nagar and renovation of Kamboj Bunga at Hardwar. Those present at the meeting included Mr Des Raj Kamboj, Mr Rajinder Kumar Sama, Mr Baldev Singh Mamujoia, Mr Kashmir Singh Tibbikalan, Master Wasawa Ram, Mr Tek Chand and Mr Daulat Ram. The decision to treat women on a par with men has been widely welcomed by the members of the Kamboj community as well as other women organisations. This may improve literacy rate also among the women folk which has largely lived under purdah. NRIs oppose
minority status CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — Disagreeing with a statement made by a senior officer of the NRI Sabha, an official body of the Punjab Government at Jalandhar, a number of NRIs said that the minority status was not acceptable to them. Mr Nirpal Singh Shergill, a member of the UK based Commonwealth Journalists Association, said here today that the NRIs had never sought minority status in the state and added that NRIs had made a huge contribution in the development of the state, and should thus he given VIP status. Drawing the attention of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, towards the issue, he urged him to look into the matter. He hoped that Mr Badal would give top priority to resolve the problems being faced by NRIs in the state. Meanwhile, another NRI said that the government should set up an NRI Commission in the state and it should be headed by an
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1 killed in accident BATHINDA, Nov 20 — One person died in an accident that took place on the Bathinda-Muktsar road, 15 km from here, when a Matador dashed against a scooter.
The deceased has been identified as Gurmeet Singh of Deon village of this district. He was going from Killi village to Deon village. The driver of the Matador absconded after the accident.
A case has been registered at Nahianwala police station against the driver of the Matador under Section 304 of the IPC.
Jindal elected MC
vice-president MALERKOTLA, Nov 20 — Mr Kewal Krishan Jindal was elected vice-president of the Municipal Council here this evening. Out of the total 26 votes, Mr Jindal got 15 votes while his rival Mr Abdul Latif Chohan secured 11 votes.
SDOs go on strike BATALA, Nov 20 — Sub -divisional officers of the PSEB went on week-long strike today. The call for the strike was given by the engineers association, PSEB, Gurdaspur branch. Their demands include: no privatisation; release of grades and promotion to SDOs held up since 1978. This information was given by Mr Major Singh, SDO, PSEB, Dhariwal, the general secretary of Engineers Association, Gurdaspur. |
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135 blind persons regain sight MOGA, Nov 20 — As many as 135 blind persons from Moga district have regained sight following the transplantation of eyes by the Moga Seva Bharti during last one year. Eyes were donated by residents of this town.
This was stated by Punjab Health Minister Baldev Raj Chawla, while speaking at a function organised by the Seva Bharti at Shahidi Park, here yesterday. Mr Chawla urged the people of the district pledge to donate eyes. Medical camp at Basiala NAWANSHAHR, Nov 20— The local Bhai Ghanaiya Seva Samiti organised a free medical check-up camp at Basiala village, 8 km from here, on Saturday. Mr Sohan Singh Thandal, State Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, inaugurated the camp. More than 1,000 patients were examined and medicines were given free of cost to needy patients.
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More powers mooted
for district planning panels FEROZEPORE, Nov 20 — The Punjab Government proposes to give greater administrative and financial rights to all district level planning and development boards in order to ensure allround development of the villages and to implement various development schemes at the grassroots. In addition to it, the state government will spend around Rs 482 crore on various development schemes during the current financial year. This was stated by Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Rural Development and Panchayatas Minister, Punjab, while presiding over the meeting of the District Planning and Development Board
here. In today’s meeting which was attended by the local MP, Mr Zora Singh Mann, and MLAs of all assembly constituencies of the district, nod was given to different development works to be done at a cost of Rs 303.25 lakh and an amount of Rs 6.35 crore was released to various departments for the already executed jobs. |
1.4 kg opium seized BARNALA, Nov 20 —The Barnala police has succeeded in seizing 1.4 kg of opium and 516 bottles of illicit countrymade liquor. Mr Ajaib Singh Kaleka, Senior Superintendent of Police, Barnala police district, said here today that during a surprise raid and search Surinderpal Singh, SHO, Kotwali, Barnala, seized 1.4 kg of opium from Nathu Ram, who hails from Barmer district of Rajasthan. A case against the alleged accused was
registered under Sections 18, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act at the Barnala police station on November 18. Mr Kaleka further revealed that 516 bottles of illicit countrymade liquor were seized from nine persons near Handiaya village, about 5 km from here. In this case, the alleged accused Makhan Singh, Gulzar Singh, Bhola Singh, Jassa Singh, Raju, Kala Singh, Bhola Singh, Kalha Singh and Kala Singh were arrested. A case under the Excise Act was registered against them. |
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Abducted minor girl
traced PHAGWARA, Nov 20 — A minor girl from the new hill state of Uttaranchal, who was allegedly drugged by a married youth Narayan and his accomplice Vijay Kumar and brought to Phagwara, was today recovered by a police party headed by ASI Om Parkash of police station Raipur near Dehra Dun. Mr Om Parkash told that the 13-year-old girl was allegedly kept in a hutment belonging to relative of 22-year-old Narayan who belongs to Dhumri village in Champaran district of Bihar. The police got a clue from a telephone call that Narayan had made to his Phagwara-based contact before abducting the girl on November 10. Tracing the destination of the caller, the police party reached the PCO and then the hideout and nabbed Narayan along with Pinki. However, Vijay Kumar could not be traced.
The ASI said that the minor girl had been raped.
Man found murdered RAJPURA,
Nov 20 — A dead body has been found near the bus stand of Rajpura. The man has been identified as Sanjay Kumar of Yamunanagar. Some drafts have been found from his pocket but no cash has been recovered.
Son of a jaggery merchant, he seems to have come to Rajpura for collection of payments. He was shot in the head at around 7.30 p.m. All the shopkeepers around, shut their shops and vanished. Thus there are no eye witnesses. Body has been sent for post-mortem. |
3 colleges get Farid
university affiliation DHURI, Nov 20 — On the recommendations of the Homoeopathic Council of Punjab, three homoeopathic medical colleges in Punjab have been given affiliation by Baba Farid University of
Health Science, Faridkot. In a press note issued here today, Dr Avtar Singh and Dr A.S. Maan president and general secretary respectively, of the Indian Institute of Homoeopathic Physicians (Punjab unit) has thanked the Vice-Chancellor of the university and the Chairman of Homoeopathic Council of Punjab for accepting this long-pending demand of the homoeopathic physicians of Punjab. The affiliated colleges are Homoeopathic Medical College, Abohar, Guru Nanak Dev Homoeopathic Medical College and Lord Mahavir Homoeopathic Medical College, both at Ludhiana. |
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PCCTU rally AMRITSAR, Nov 20 — Members of the Punjab Chandigarh College Teachers Union today organised a rally in front of the district courts. The president of the PCCTU, Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, addressing the rally urged upon the government to immediately implement their accepted demands. |
Cold reality behind warm
quilts BATHINDA:
With the temperature beginning to drop, it is time for quilt-makers to get busy. People have started purchasing quilts, mattresses and other items in preparation for the winter. However, those engaged in traditional quilt-making are finding it difficult to make both ends meet as the blanket industry has adversely affected their business. Customers are also rushing to big showrooms to buy synthetic fibre-filled quilts. The low production of cotton has also hit the quilt-makers. Making quilts by hand is time consuming and these people make very little profit. Moreover, quilt-makers are prone to diseases like asthma and TB. Most of them are poor and cannot afford to send their children to school. “The government has ignored people like us who are unable to get alternative work. It is drawing up new schemes for other sections but not for us,” lamented one of the quilt-makers, who runs his cleaning machine behind Government Senior Secondary School here. Vinod Kumar, a quilt-maker in Mool Chand Market, is not happy with this work although he has been doing it for the past 15 years. He said his father was also engaged in the same work. Members of most families in the business, he said, were suffering from diseases like asthma and TB due to the inhalation of cotton fibres at the time of work. “We cannot take up new work due to our poor economic condition and illiteracy,” he said. There are 10 quilt-makers in this market. Their families, including women, give a helping hand to them in the work. On an average, one quilt-maker can process one quintal of cotton a day. A sum of Rs 3 is charged for processing 1 kg of cotton. Raj Kumar, another quilt-maker, said the charges for filling cotton and stitching quilts and mattresses were Rs 15 and Rs 10, respectively. The authorities of the school, where the quilt-makers have installed their machines, said pupils were getting various lung diseases. They said they had written to the Civil Surgeon, the Deputy Commissioner and the Municipal Council in this regard but to no avail. According to a medical report, pupils of this institution were prone to respiratory diseases. Certain quilt-makers said they were ready to take up another job if proper aid and training were given by the government. |
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MOGA, Nov 20 (UNI) — The Punjab Government with the help of France has prepared a master plan to produce the seed of fish with fewer bones in the Ranjit Sagar Dam so that boneless fish production could be boosted and such fish made available at cheap rates. This was announced here yesterday by Dr M.L. Kaushal, Director Fisheries, Punjab. He said after the Green Revolution by increasing foodgrain production, the Punjabis had now started adopting fish farming on a large-scale, and the income from subsidiary occupations like fishery, poultry and dairy farming had increased from 14 per cent to 17 per cent. He suggested that village ponds, banks of rivers, canals and tributaries should be effectively harnessed for fish farming. According to Dr Kaushal, 14 fish farms in Punjab were generating income of more than Rs 7 crore by selling different types of fish seed and by the end of the Ninth Plan period the income would increase to Rs 9 crore per year. He also disclosed that Punjab fish farmers were getting a yield of 4734 kg per hectare as against the national average of only 2200 kg per hectare. The Director suggested that Punjab Agricultural University should be given more facilities for teaching, research and extension activities relating to fisheries. He also suggested that PAU experts should take up an integrated plan for fishery development in the water-logged areas. Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director of Extension, PAU, called for steps to prevent the pollution of ponds and rivers with sewage, otherwise these would become unfit for fishering. He said the area under fisheries should be increased only after a careful study of markets; farmers may have to face problems like those of paddy!
AIBOA secretary flays
privatisation Bill PATIALA,
Nov 20 — The All-India Bank Officers Association
(AIBOA) general secretary R. J. Sridharan, yesterday, condemned the introduction of the Bill in Parliament which sought to reduce government equity in the Public Sector banks to less than 51 per cent, paving the way for privatisation of banks on the basis of the Narsimahan Committee recommendations. Addressing a press conference here, Mr Sridharan said AIBOA considered the decision to be against the national interest and a move which would take away the proximity and access of the middle class and poor section of population from banks. He said, presently the banking sector had expanded in rural and semi urban areas and had enabled the rural poor, artisans and semi-skilled workmen to stand on their feet. He said bank credit to agriculture rose from a mere Rs 30 crore, approximately, to 18 per cent of the gross credit. Mr Sridharan said the government wanted to privatise banks in the name of
recapitalisation, when banks had suffered reduction in legitimate income due to defaults of Rs 60,000 crore, which even if partially recovered would result in annual income of above Rs 4000 crore per annum. He said interest rates had been lowered by the Reserve Bank of India by about five per cent giving about Rs 20,000 crore in concessions to big borrowers. He said the RBI had also announced a compromise scheme for payment of loans through which interest was completely waived off to big borrowers from 1997. The AIBOA secretary said, after writing off loans and not showing political will to criminally proceed against defaulters the government wanted to sell public sector banks and impose cuts on the staff besides rolling back the retirement age. He said any attempt to privatise Public Sector banks would result in an indefinite strike to force the government to abandon its anti national and anti poor steps. |
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