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| Friday,
November 24, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Resignation not sought: Bibi Rs 50 cr for Punjab border districts Punjab to stress on girls’ education Teachers draw up different ‘timetable’ Talks with Rangers fruitful:
IG PWD, PIDB on collision
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Money released for
power panel Purchase arrangements irk farmers DM fears threat
from rice miller
SAD begins campaign for Assembly
poll 6 councillors join
SAD
Are missionaries being
harassed? Punjab cops to be on Kumbh mela
duty DGP violated SC orders:
Randhawa
No holiday in Punjab today Widow seeks security cover
for family HC rejects unseated
MLA’s plea Farmers
decry MSP deductions Decks cleared for
transport colony Hepatitis cases denied ‘Jails in Punjab
overcrowded’ PSEB staff seek transparency Paediatric
Forum organises seminars Panel on Sobha Singh
centenary set up
One killed in road accident
University
celebrations begin today
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Resignation not sought: Bibi AMRITSAR, Nov 23 — “The party chief has not sought my resignation and in case it is desired, I will do so immediately”, said Bibi Jagir Kaur, while talking to mediapersons at the SGPC office here today. The SGPC President was answering a volley of questions over her future in the party. A spirited Bibi pointed out that it was the prerogative of the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to authorise the Political Affairs Committee of the party to decide the next chief of the SGPC. The election for the post is scheduled for November 30. Even in case Mr Badal wished to appoint another candidate to the post, she would extend all support and cooperation to the successor. The Bibi said she had full faith in the ability of Mr Badal who had conveyed to her that he would consult senior party leaders, members of the executive committee and the “sangat” before arriving at a consensus on the next SGPC President. Bibi Jagir Kaur condemned the brutal killing of Sikh truck drivers and attendents by militants in Kashmir yesterday. She said the SGPC would offer all possible help to the bereaved families. On the unsavoury incident at Begowal yesterday where her supporters had laid a siege to the house of Kamaljit Singh, who claims to be the husband of Harpreet, she said after learning about the incident from the Deputy Commissioner of Kapurthala, she had directed him to take appropriate action. Talking about the CBI case against her, the Bibi said she hoped that the “truth would be out one day”. The SGPC chief said she had offered full cooperation to the CBI. Earlier, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who arrived more than an hour late at the SGPC complex, held a meeting with the executive members. She flagged off 15 buses for SGPC-run schools in the state. Bibi Jagir Kaur announced that special Sikh libraries would be set up in all schools and colleges being run by the SGPC. During the forthcoming budget of the SGPC, higher allocation for education was planned. She said that SGPC would provide more buses for schoolchildren in the coming months. |
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Rs 50 cr for Punjab border districts NEW DELHI, Nov 23 — The Centre has agreed to a package of Rs 50 crore for development of three border districts of Punjab and to have a fresh look at the formula for allocation of the Border Areas Development Fund. According to an official spokesman, Rs 15 crore has been relased as a special grant for drinking water projects in the state while Rs 6.4 core has been released for
infrastructure development and Rs 9.7 crore under the Rural Areas Development Fund. The Border Roads Organisation would spend another Rs 15 crore for building pontoon bridges to enable people of border areas to have access to their land on the other side of the border fences. The BSF had identified seven places for the purpose and Army’s clearance was being sought. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Home Minister L.K. Advani and attended by Defence Minister George Fernandes, Rural Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman K.C. Pant besides Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The Centre has also agreed to appoint women Home Guards at 302 gates at the border fences for frisking. This would enable women to carry out agriculture activities in their fields falling across the fences. Union Home Secretary Kamal Pande said after the meeting that the Centre had agreed to place these revised guidelines before the National Development Council for more allocation of funds for border areas. The state government has also sought more quota for recruitment in the Army and the BSF. The spokesman said that decision to have a fresh look at formula for allocation of the Border Areas Development Fund was made keeping in view the sensitivity of the state’s border with Pakistan. Officials said that the Home Minister would visit Wagah Border on November 26 to interact with MLAs representing border areas. This is the second high-level meeting to discuss the problems facing the people in border areas. Another meeting would be convened after a month.
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Punjab to stress on girls’ education TALWANDI SABO, Nov 23 — Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal today said special stress was being laid on enhancing the literacy rate among the girls of state. Arrangements were also being made to equip the rural youth with computer education. Mr Badal, while addressing a function organised in connection with the foundation-laying ceremony of the Information Technology Bhavan at Guru Kashi Regional Centre of Punjabi University, Patiala, here said in some of the districts, including Bathinda and Mansa, the existing arrangements for girls education were very poor. He added the Punjab Government had earmarked Rs 30 crore in the current financial year to enhance the literacy rate among girls. He said that in each Assembly segment three primary schools would be upgraded to middle-level, three middle-level schools would be upgraded to high-level while three high-level schools would be upgraded to higher secondary level. Apart from it, Rs 40 crore were being spent on the building of government schools. He said the Guru Kashi Regional Centre would be developed into a full-fledged university and no shortage of funds would be there for this task. Mr J.S. Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, said the Information Technology (IT) Bhavan, first of its kind in the country, would be set up in 34 acres at a cost of Rs 5.5 crore. He added the regional centre would be developed as an institute of advance learning by introducing best and latest management and computer courses and with the initiation of Sikh religious studies courses here in the coming years. He pointed out that a foreign-based private company — Optimas — had been contacted to develop the local regional centre as an internet resource material centre which was a new concept in the country. He added that this scheme had also been floated on the Internet. He said that main aim of the Punjabi University authorities were that there should be complete computer education for everybody from rural to urban people. He said that a college of education with B.Ed course would start functioning from next academic session in Bathinda town. The foundation stone for the building of same had been laid by Mr Badal. About Rs 4.5 crore would be spent on the building. The local municipal council had given adequate land for the building on a lease basis. Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Minister for Law and Justice, who was instrumental in getting the B.Ed college for the town said that it would fulfil the long standing demand of people of this region. Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP, Mr Sikandar Singh, Minister, Mr Balbir Singh and Mr Makhan Singh (MLAs) were present on the occasion. Later, Mr Badal announced that a master plan for beautification of Talwandi Sabo town would be prepared from experts and liberal funds would be arranged for the same to develop this historic town. Mr Badal also said that he would hold a probe to find out the reasons for delay in the start of construction of waterworks in this historic town. Mr Badal, while expressing displeasure over the inordinate delay in the start of work of waterworks, said that Rs 30 lakh had already been given to the authorities concerned for the same by the Punjab Government. He also directed the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jaspal Singh, to start the construction of waterworks immediately so that residents of this historic town could get potable water at the earliest. He said Talwandi Sabo could be given a municipal council or a panchayat type system could be retained as per the wishes of the inhabitants. He added that adequate funds for a 50 bedded hospital, sewerage facilities and government offices buildings would be released by the Punjab Government soon. He said liberal funds would be given for development projects in the state as the government had decided to lay special stress on development in this year. Mr Badal said there was absolute peace in Punjab and law and order situation was under control. However, the Congress was trying to create trouble. With its demand for sending a Central team to assess the law and order situation in Punjab as made to the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, yesterday. Mr Badal said the Punjab Government would welcome any team sent by the Central Government to assess the law and order situation. Regarding the alleged murder of Congress leader and President award winner Harmesh Mukhija at Dharamkot recently Mr Badal said the accused involved in the ‘murder’ had been arrested by the police. He said there was no truth that any Akali leader was involved in murder of Congress leader. Mr Badal, while condemning the killing of Punjabi drivers in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, said that some anti-national elements were trying to sabotage the efforts being made by Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee to establish peace there. He added the Punjab Government would give Rs 1 lakh as monetary help to the kith and kin of those who had been killed by militants. Meanwhile, Mr Amritpal Singh Brar, member, National Council, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), while condemning the Congress demand for a Central team to assess the law and order situation in Punjab, said Mr Amarinder Singh, PPCC President, was doing all this to gain political benefits in the coming Assembly elections. He said that Mr Amarinder Singh should demand a Central team from the Congress-ruled Karnataka state where sandal wood smuggler Veerappan had been holding the entire administration to ransom for the past many years. Meanwhile, Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, General Secretary, DCC(I), today said the Central Government was trying to appease the international community at the cost of innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir. He added that Mr Vajpayee should have learnt a lesson from Amarnath and Chhattisinghpora killings before announcing the unilateral ceasefire during the month of Ramjan in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Teachers draw up different ‘timetable’ CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — Education, given its fallacies, is now at centre-stage in Punjab. There is growing concern among parents, students and educationists over the way the system of education operates, right from school to university. The problems associated with the existing system of education (general, technical and professional) are complex. Tackled independent of one another these may have a cascading effect, much to the chagrin of all those involved. These problems begin right from the admission of students to the recruitment of teachers. These also pertain to entrance examinations, syllabi, its relevance to real-life problems and needs under the changed societal system, lack of uniformity of courses in universities, conduct of examinations, the in-built system of delays in the declaration of results and error-filled marksheets. A debate continues over the “right” type of fee structure for students, pay and pecuniary benefits for teachers, in service and after retirement. There is a cry for financial back-up from educational institutions. And, of course, the piling up of new demands of the teaching and non-teaching staff, while old ones remain unimplemented. The timetable is usually associated with classroom teaching and examination schedules. But teachers of government-aided and un-aided colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh have evolved a “timetable” of their own. It is in vogue since August 1 last. It will last, as of now, till January 18, 2001. These teachers’ “timetable” is one of street demonstrations, protest sit-ins outside their respective colleges and the offices of Vice-Chancellors, courting of arrest and the holding of rallies at selected key places in the state. As per the “timetable” , teachers are now to march to Pathankot, the constituency of the Minister of Higher Education, Mr Mohan Lal, for a demonstration on November 27. This will be followed by one in the constituency of the Minister of Finance, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, on December 19 and finally at Gidderbaha, to draw the attention of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, on January 18. All protests are to focus attention on certain promises the government made but did not keep, despite a constitutional commitment. The bureaucracy has the cheek to rubbish even these commitments, as the politicians look the other way. The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union general secretary, Mr Charanjit Chawla, says : “There is a minimum effect on teaching”. At times the government does take cognisance of the issues and responds to the union. But will apportioning blame help either side? The Special Secretary, Education, Mr Amarjit Singh, for instance, wrote a letter to Mr Chawla on October 15, wherein, inter alia, the reference was to four demands. The letter was more in the nature of “sympathetic consideration”. One demand was referred to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development for “clarification”, the second to the state’s own Department of Finance for “approval” and another elsewhere for a “deep study”. The Principal Secretary, Higher Education, Mr G.P.S. Sahi, wrote: “Action is being taken in the matter”. This was on November 9. Who does not know how government act, react or tackle a given situation or an issue? It is through either prolonged denial, delay and dithering or the constitution of “high-level” committees. Something similar is happening in the case of the pending demands of the union despite certain written agreements and a pension-cum-gratuity Act, passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on March 30,1999. The main ire of the union is directed against the Principal Secretary, Mr K.R. Lakhanpal, who is quoted having said: “The pension scheme is financially not viable. The contributory provident fund contribution by teachers is not enough to last more than four years. After this, the Punjab Government will have to bear the burden of paying pension to the teachers. Usually employees contribute to a fund for their pension while they are in service. Here employees want all benefits of social security without contributing anything themselves”. As college teachers slug it out, scant attention is being paid to education even at the school level. The attention of the Punjab School Education Board Chairman, Dr Kehar Singh, has now been drawn to it with the board’s own schools being singled out as “substandard”. This is because of the “apathy shown by the state’s college at the time of admission and giving preference to students who appeared under the CBSE and ICSE systems”. In a detailed letter, Mr Jagdish Singh, a Senate member of Guru Nanak Dev University and former member of the school board, has painted a grim picture of school education. He has sought remedial measures to stem the rot. His argument is that the CBSE and ICSE systems drain Punjab of nearly Rs 5 crore annually, by way of expenditure on books, etc. Why should the board not step in? Time is running out for the board to improve its academic standards and revive the lost confidence of parents in its system of education. “Schools are the nurseries for higher education. If these are neglected, the results will be disastrous; the rot has already set in, particularly in village-level schools, adversely affecting rural colleges”, says Mr Jagdish Singh, who has dedicated his life to the cause of education. Private educational institutions retain 90 per cent of the students. Why not enable them to compete to cope with the CBSE and ICSE syllabi? Why should the board not help well-located, well-established and well-financed schools? There is dwindling financial support from society and the government. As education standards fall, frustration grows. Lackadaisical teachers, indifferent bureaucrats and the absence of political will have eroded values once attributed to teaching, reducing education to a mere commercial activity. |
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Talks with Rangers fruitful:
IG WAGAH, Nov 23 — Talks between the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers were fruitful, claimed the leader of the India delegation, Mr Avtar Singh Aulakh, IG of the frontier force. Talking to newspersons at the checkpost here, Mr Aulakh said both sides had expressed their concern over the civilian casualties on both sides due to firing and reiterated their commitment to stop the unprovoked firing. The IG said the two-day long deliberations had resulted in better coordination. He was hopeful that in the coming days they would be able to control firing, especially in the Jammu sector. Mr Aulakh added the Pakistani side had assured it would not target the civilian population, especially the farmers. The Indian delegation had assured the Pakistani counterparts that the BSF patrol would exercise restraint. Most of the pillars under repair were between the Madhopur border and Rajasthan and work on those would be completed during one year, he added. The Pakistani delegation was led by the Rangers chief from Sind, Major-General Abdul Kadir, and was assisted by Major-General Zarrar Azim, head of Rangers, Punjab. The Indian delegation was given a ceremonial send-off . The Rangers had arranged tea with band in attendance. The next round of biannual talks would be held here after six months, he added. The IG points out that in case of any problem flag meetings could be held at a short notice. During the two-day meeting at Lahore and five rounds of talks were held which were attended by the delegation. The discussions covered almost the entire gamut of border patrolling, smuggling of narcotics and other matters. Mr Aulakh said the talks made it possible to resolve problems of stray animals and persons who accidentally cross over the International Border.
On the issue of damaged pillars, Mr Aulakh said the PWD engineer who accompanied the delegation had clarified that out of 51 Indian pillars which were damaged, seven had been repaired. The repairs of 10 more would be completed soon, he
added. He said Pakistan had given them a list of 86 pillars in the riverine belt which required longer time for survey. |
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PWD, PIDB on collision
course CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — The bylaws of the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) could not be approved at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, following a tough stand taken by the Public Works Minister, Mr Sucha Singh Langah, against certain entries in the draft of the bylaws. The PIDB is an important organisation set up by the state government to develop infrastructure worth Rs 2,200 crore. This includes the building of roads, bridges and flyovers. Informed official sources said that Mr Langah protested against the way the agenda of the meeting, called to approve the bylaws, was sent to him only a day before the meeting. The sources said Mr Langah got the agenda through his cook on November 20 around 12.30 p.m. Though he did not get enough time to study the agenda, he objected to certain clauses in the bylaws. The sources said the Chief Minister had directed the PIDB authorities to have detailed discussions with the officers concerned to satisfy them about various provisions made in the bylaws and also to look into the objections raised by the minister. Mr Langah had urged the Chief Minister to hold such a meeting. Defending his department at the meeting, Mr Langah, according to the sources, said that the PWD had the expertise and experience at its command to execute various projects at rates that were much lower than that quoted by the big companies. Handing over the infrastructure projects to such companies would ruin the local contractors who had made investment worth crores of rupees to install hot-mix plants. Moreover, he said that when local contractors would execute works, the payments made to them would be reinvested in the state. Mr Langah also sent a detailed note to the Chief Secretary drawing his attention to decisions taken at a meeting held on May 31 between officers of the PIDB and the PWD. That meeting was convened by the Chief Secretary to settle the dispute between the two over certain matters pertaining to the projects to be undertaken by the PIDB. With the intervention of the Chief Secretary, a blueprint of the area of jurisdiction of the PIDB and the PWD was prepared. In fact, the PIDB and the PWD have been on a collision course for the past several months. Mr Langah has made it clear to the Chief Secretary and the PIDB authorities that he would not allow supremacy of the PIDB in the case of works to be supervised and executed by the PWD. Referring to the May 31 meeting, Mr Langah said that most the decisions taken at it had been overturned in the draft of the bylaws presented at the meeting held on November 21. Mr Langah raised objections to the sweeping powers given to the Managing Director of the PIDB in the bylaws in connection with the finalising of bids, execution, supervision and payments. He emphasised that the MD should confine himself to the provision of funds and not interfere in the execution and supervision of works to be allocated to the
PWD. |
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Money released for
power panel PATIALA, Nov 23 — Punjab Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh today said the government had released Rs 2 crore for establishment of the Power Tariff Regulatory Commission. Addressing a press conference here, the Finance Minister said all members to the commission would be nominated soon and it would start functioning within the first quarter of 2001. He said although it had been some time since the state government had agreed to the setting up of the panel, the matter had been pending for want of certain clarifications. He said once the panel started functioning, it would decide on the issue of any hike in the power tariff structure. Capt Kanwaljit when asked about the delay in compensating the PSEB for the power given free of cost to the farming sector, claimed that the state government had been “adjusting” Rs 250 crore annually towards electricity duty. When confronted with the statement of a senior official that no funds had been released in lieu of the expense incurred by the board in supplying power to the farming sector, he retorted: “Do you think I am telling a lie”. ‘’I am stating authoritatively that adjustment against electricity duty has been made for the past one year, he emphasised. The minister was, however, non-comittal on whether the board officials had been giving false statements to the press in this regard . A senior official from Chandigarh had stated recently that the file pertaining to compensation against rural power supply was pending with the Finance Department. The official had also claimed that though electricity arrears in some cases had been allowed to be adjusted, it had nothing to do with compensation to be given in lieu of free power to the PSEB. On the mounting losses in the PSEB, he said various reasons were responsible for this and the losses of the board did not have anything to do with free supply of power to the farming sector. Capt Kanwaljit said the board was incurring a huge loss due to 33 per cent transmission losses, which needed to be be curtailed. He said the board was overstaffed and the salary bill itself was a huge burden on the board. Besides, the board had to suffer as power was being given at a cheaper rate to consumers by neighbouring states. |
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Purchase arrangements irk farmers ABOHAR: Even as there are reports of a better cotton crop this year, farmers are not satisfied with the arrangements for purchase by government agencies and private buyers in this leading cotton-producing area. At one time Abohar accounted for more than one-tenth of the total cotton production in the northern region. However, during the past three years cotton growers have been virtually ruined financially due to factors like adverse weather, attack by pests, spurious insecticides and fertilisers and a slump in the cotton yarn market. Sources said the arrival of cotton at the New Grain Market here this time was two and a half times higher than that in the corresponding period last
year. The average arrival was 7,500 quintals of American cotton and 1,500 quintals of desi cotton per
day. Although Markfed and the CCI were in the market, private traders purchased most of the cotton. The narma staple was considered better than that of last year. That increased the rate to Rs 2,040 per quintal whereas desi cotton was sold for Rs 1,550 per quintal. Last year the local factories had undertaken the ginning and pressing of 1.80 lakh bales and so far they have cleared more than 80,000 bales. The figure is likely to go up to 2.40 lakh bales by the end of the season. Traders are expecting a further rise in the rates of good quality cotton, but the trend may not last long. The American bollworm and the white fly had not seriously affected the cotton crop in this area. Going by experience, farmers avoided sowing the nawab variety this year. This helped them save the crop from the leaf curl and white fly problems. The moisture level was also not excessive. The farmers generally preferred hybrid seeds, which are considered less prone to pest attack. IFFCO and KRIBHCO also played a vital role by organising seminars for farmers, inviting scientists from PAU, HAU and elsewhere, to inform growers about the proper use of fertilisers the avoidance of excessive insecticides. At a joint meeting of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and the Bhartiya Kisan Union, leaders of the two bodies regretted that none of the assurances given by the authorities regarding the farmers’ demands had been implemented. Farmers had called off their dharna in front of the Market Committee here on October 24 after a meeting attended by the SDM, the chairman of the committee and representatives of the Arhtiyas Association. It had reportedly assured the farmers that their charter of demands would be implemented. The demands included an end to the ad hoc auction of cotton, scrapping of the 1 per cent commission charged by arhtiyas from cotton sellers, payment of freight charges to farmers for lifting cotton from the mandi yard to the ginning factory and the presence of the arhtiyas concerned at auctions. The farmers were also sore over the unprecedented delay by the commission agents in constructing shops on plots purchased by them in the New Grain Market 20 years ago. The old grain market had been denotified by the state government. Farmers said they faced problems shuttling between the old and New Grain Markets. On the other hand Commission agents complained that many farmers avoided paying their debts on one pretext or the other. |
DM fears threat
from rice miller FEROZEPORE, Nov 23 — A District Manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation (PSWC) has charged a rice miller with intimidation and attempt to prevent him from performing his duty. In a complaint addressed to the senior police officers, Mr S.K. Sharma, District Manager, PSWC, has sought action against Surinder Kamboj, a rice miller of Jalalabad, for threatening to eliminate him and his relatives. Accusing Surinder Kamboj of misappropriating the paddy worth Rs 3 crore allotted to him for milling by the Corporation last year, he also charged the miller with threatening to implicate him in a false case. Mr Hardeep Singh Dhillon, DIG, said he had directed the DSP (Jalalabad) to look into the matter and take necessary action within three days. While narrating the incident Mr Sharma said that he was threatened by Kamboj, when he visited his mill on November 21 to confiscate the paddy, which he had allegedly arranged from an open market to cover up the gap in his stock. He added that since the department had suffered a loss of over Rs 3 crore due to misappropriation of the paddy, he went to Kamboj’s mill to shift the new stock to PSWC godowns. He said that the department had given him specific instructions to seize the new paddy stock arranged by Kamboj to cover up misappropriation. He also disclosed that his predecessor and a local manager were earlier suspended for the misappropriation committed by Kamboj. Mr Sharma said a politically well connected Kamboj had threatened him against taking the stock into his costody. However, Kamboj charged Mr Sharma of demanding a gratification of Rs 5 lakhs for sparing him. He added that a motivated complaint had been slapped against him for not accommodating Mr Sharma. Vehemently denying the charge of having arranged a new paddy stock to cover up misappropriation, he claimed that it was the old stock that the PSWC had earlier allotted to him for milling. |
SAD begins campaign for Assembly
poll LUDHIANA, Nov 23 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is understood to have identified about 80 Assembly constituencies, predominantly in the rural areas for “intense campaigning” with a view to ensure good results in the next Assembly elections due in the year 2002. The plan was adopted after a survey conducted in July through the Public Relations and Rural Development Departments in these Constituencies. Certain key constituencies were reportedly got surveyed by a Chandigarh-based non-government research group. It was during that time only that the reports regarding mid-term poll had gained ground. While the rival groups particularly the Congress had first felt that the survey was being done for a snap poll, later it turned out to be an exercise to explore the prospects in constituencies which the party could cultivate with various developmental works and other activities. The survey is reported to have concluded that the party should not bank on the votes of Jat Sikhs alone, as after the takeover of the reins of the PCC by Capt Amrinder Singh, the SAD has lost USP value with this section. Besides the fragmentation with the ouster of the Tohra group is also a cause for concern. To neutralise this damage, the survey has concluded that the party should focus on other groups like Harijans who had distanced themselves from the Congress and had switched their loyalty towards the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Given the drift in BSP support base, the SAD has been suggested to work on this segment. According to sources in the SAD, Chief Minister’s son Mr Sukhbir Badal is personally supervising the final shape being given to the plan enacted by the party for implementation. Mr Sukhbir Badal who was recently elevated as the General-Secretary of the party is believed to have already started monitoring various development activities in these constituencies. The party is reported to have left most of the urban seats for its alliance partner, the BJP. Moreover, the sources disclosed that the SAD does not want to waste its energy where it does not have bright prospects. The plan is said to be the brainchild of Mr Sukhbir Badal. The 80 constituencies identified by the party will be flooded with the funds. Since the party has with it more than a year before it tries its luck again, it has decided to utilise this period to its maximum benefit. With the Congress continuing to remain a house divided against itself and the estranged colleague of Mr Badal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra already lying low obviously for his failure to get any public support, at least in the last two Assembly by-elections, the ruling SAD finds itself in most enviable position. The sources did not rule out an advanced election being recommended by the ruling alliance, which is also being claimed by the PPCC President, Capt Amrinder Singh. However, there was no such idea as yet, the sources clarified. The Bibi Jagir Kaur episode is said to have made the ruling SAD a little defensive. But the impact may not last for long as the public memory is always too short to sustain itself for quite long. While the officials, particularly in police stations, in most parts of the state are said to be too close to Mr Sukhbir Badal, further reshuffling is also on the cards. The funds are reportedly being pumped into the Assembly segments for the developmental works. What could not be done during more than past three years is likely to be done within a year now, as the people believe, nobody will have the courage to ask for votes if their demands are not met. The ruling alliance, particularly the SAD is said to be too happy and confident after the relief package announced by the Union Government for Punjab farmers. And for this the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, has been unfailing in his claims to have made the Prime Minister to announce special package for Punjab, which had earlier suffered due to the terrorism.  |
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6 councillors join
SAD BATHINDA, Nov 23 — The district unit of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) today got a shot in the arm when six Independent municipal councillors of the town joined the party in front of party President and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Punjab Law and Justice Minister, said that all six Independent councillors had joined the SAD and reposed faith in the leadership of Mr Badal. Those who joined included Dr Charanjit Singh, senior vice-president, local municipal council, Mr Raj Garga, Mr Basant Singh Agroia, Mr Vijay Kumar Sharma, Mrs Chinder Pal Kaur and Mrs Tripta Devi, Mr Garg added. After the joining of six independent
councillors, the SAD now enjoys absolute majority in the House. |
Are missionaries being
harassed? JALANDHAR, Nov 23 — Are Christian missionaries at Bishop house in the Civil Lines here being subjected to humiliation by some fundamentalist organisation? Yes, if the kind of unsavoury treatment being meted out to the missionaries and Christian visitors, the inaction on the part of the Municipal Corporation authorities and the district administration during the past two years is any indication and if fears of missionaries in this regard are taken into account. What has become the major problem for Christians visiting the place for weekly congregations and the missionaries is the repeated throwing of carcasses in front of the main gate of Bishop’s house, which according to some of them, could be the handiwork of some anti-Christian organisation. Others suspect that it could be just the careless attitude of workers of a nearby hotel. Interestingly, missionaries were scared to come out openly and speak against any person or organisation for fear of revenge. When this correspondent visited the Bishop’s house yesterday morning the air in the front lane was filled with nauseating smell, as two half-opened bags of chicken-heads were lying in a corner. Chicken-heads had even spilled out of the bag and lay scattered here and there so was chicken skins and feathers. “It has become more of a routine here. It is nothing, another day it was two white Pomeranian with their heads slashed and stuffed in a gunny bag,” he said on condition of anonymity. Speaking in a well-guarded tone some missionaries maintained that it was going on for long but they did not want to name anybody for fear of being targeted by nefarious elements. But what has led most of them to fear the involvement of some anti-Christian force was the intriguing inaction on repeated complaints of the church authorities to the local civic authorities regarding the dumping of such things in front of the Bishop house gate. “We are fed up with filing complaints with municipal authorities. They have not done anything rather a senior official had expressed his inability to do anything in the case. For how long we have to tolerate all this filth and humiliation?” questioned another mission ary. The Mayor, Mr Suresh Sehgal, and the Commissioner, Mr B.C. Thakur, were not available for
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Punjab cops to be on Kumbh mela
duty CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — A contingent of the Punjab police will be in Allahabad on law and order duty during the Kumbh mela celebrations early next year. According to sources, 10 companies, mostly of the Punjab Armed Police, are being spared for the Allahabad assignment by reorganising deployment in the state. At present, the Punjab Armed Police and the India Reserve Battalions in Punjab have been assigned several security duties, including the guarding of currency chests and important branches of various nationalised banks in the state. Previously, the job was assigned to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Sources in the Police Department pointed out that though an additional 16 companies had already been deployed in certain new police districts in the state to contain the growing incidence of violent urban crime, the sending of 10 companies to Allahabad would in no way affect the static deployment of the police on security duty. Besides guarding banks and vital installations, the IRBs and the Punjab Armed Police also look after the security of VIPs and others in the state. The force is being spared for Allahabad by reorganising the deployment of reserves of both the India Reserve Battalions and the Punjab Armed Police, sources in the Police Department said, maintaining that the necessary instructions to the companies concerned would be issued shortly. If the sending of a police force to Allahabad is any indication, the chances of a mid-term poll early next year recede. There has been speculation in political circles that the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state is weighing the option of advancing the Assembly poll from February, 2002, to early next year before the arrival of the wheat crop in the market. Though the sending of 10 companies from a force of over 70,000 men is not much, indications are that the government is keeping open the option of advancing the assembly elections. It is after a while that the Punjab police has been asked to perform duty outside the state. Punjab police contingents were deployed in some states during the last general election and have also done some internal security duty in a few states in the past. Of late, there has been a spurt in violent urban crime , including robberies, killings after thefts and burglaries, rape and kidnappings and even “supari” killings. That is why certain new police districts with scarce manpower resources were provided with additional companies from the state reserves. Certain districts have been demanding additional manpower for several other mandatory duties, including the implementation of the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on vehicular traffic. |
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DGP violated SC orders:
Randhawa AMRITSAR, Nov 23 — Mr Kirpal Singh Randhawa, Deputy Chairman, Punjab Human Rights Organisation, and member of the World Sikh Council, in a statement alleged that in violation of the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court, the DGP, Mr Sarbjit Singh, had withdrawn his escort security vehicle since May 27 last year. The press note mentioned that Mr Kirpal Singh had cooperated with the CBI in the investigation of the infamous “unclaimed and unidentified bodies case” during militancy and was also a witness in the Jaswant Singh Khalra kidnap case. He alleged there was a threat to his life from police officials involved in the cases. On a petition of Mr Randhawa, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had sent written orders to the ADGP (Security) and the IG for strict compliance of his orders in this regard. Later, Mr R.S. Mann, Chief Security and Principal Home Secretary, Punjab, also wrote to the DGP on February 24 for compliance but the DGP did not oblige. In a memorandum, Mr Kirpal urged the Chief Minister to look into the arbitrary functioning of the DGP. |
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No holiday in Punjab today CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — The Punjab Government has decided to observe the martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur on December 1 instead of November 24. According to a notification issued by the government here today, November 24 would now be a working day for all state government offices, boards, corporations, public undertakings and educational institutions in Punjab. December 1 would be a holiday within the meaning of Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Tomorrow (November 24) is going to be observed as a restricted holiday in Haryana on account of Guru Teg Bahadur’s martyrdom day. Unlike Punjab, Haryana will follow the traditional calendar and observe Guru Teg Bahadur’s martyrdom day tomorrow, an official spokesman said. |
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Widow seeks security cover
for family TARN TARAN, Nov 23 —Ms Gurcharan Kaur, a widow of Harike village, has demanded security cover for her son Balbir Singh, a naib-tehsildar and other members of the family due to a threat to their lives from the Jalandhar police which had allegedly registered false cases against Balbir Singh. Talking to The Tribune here today, she said her son was called by Mr Gautam Cheema, SP, Jalandhar, and others on July 28, 1999, in connection with an FIR. However, he was arrested and reportedly tortured by the police. Balbir Singh had lodged a judicial complaint against the SP and seven others responsible for torturing him during interrogation. His mother said the police lodged a fresh case against him on February 21 to pressure him to withdraw the case. She said she had sent an eight-page complaint comprising the alleged misconduct by the Jalandhar police to all IAS, IPS, PCS, PPS and officials of the Revenue Department. |
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HC rejects unseated
MLA’s plea CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — Mr Justice A.S.Garg of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed a petition filed by former MLA from Samalkha, Mr Kartar Singh Badhana, seeking a stay on the order passed by the court earlier unseating him and declaring Mr Hari Singh Nalwa as elected. Mr Badhana has pleaded that he wanted to move the Supreme Court against the High Court order and the impunged order passed on November 10 should be stayed for some time. Mr Justice Garg, while dismissing the petition ruled once the main allegations of the candidate who challenged the election were found to be correct it would not be appropriate to upset the same as such grant would have repercussion on the case, if a stay was granted. |
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Farmers decry MSP
deductions FEROZEPORE, Nov 23 — Irate farmers of Karhma village, near here, have accused as many as 13 commission agents of unauthorisedly deducting Rs 50 against per quintal of paddy while making payment of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce. The farmers alleged that whereas the government has fixed Rs 540 as MSP for paddy, they have been paid lesser amount for their produce by these agents. Atleast six farmers have approached the SDM complaining unauthorised deduction by agents despite having been paid full amount by the state procurement agencies. They also charged the agents of not returning the balance payment, despite warnings by the administration to slap criminal cases against the erring agents. Led by the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal leader, Mr Karnail Singh Bhawra, these farmers have vowed to launch an agitation if the authorities allowed the agents to exploit them any further. They have also resolved to move to the Punjab and Haryana High Court if the administration fails to wriggle them out of the current crisis. These farmers claim to have incurred losses of Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 on account of deduction in the MSP. They also accused the agents of denying them authorised receipts. Mr Bhawra told TNS that all assurances of the administration to make the erring agents make full payment have failed to yield desired results forcing the farmers to take to the streets. The SDM, Mr D.P.S. Kharbanda, has assured that the District Mandi Officer has been asked to gather details from all the procurement agencies and centres to identify the erring agents who will be asked to shell out the balance payment. |
Decks cleared for
transport colony BATHINDA, Nov 23 — Decks have been cleared for the setting up of transport colony and dairy complex in Bathinda town following the issuance of notification in this
connection by the Punjab Government on November 16. Official sources said the local Improvement Trust authorities would set up a dairy complex in 32.5 acres and a transport colony in 67.88 acres with investment of Rs 4.38 crore and Rs 9.23 crore, respectively. Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, when contacted said the entire project would be implemented within six months. He added that facilities like roads, water supply, sewerage and other amenities would be provided within six months. He added the site plan of both the schemes had been prepared and plots would be given by draw of lots to the applicants. He added the Improvement Trust had adequate funds to implement the scheme. He pointed out that with the implementation of these two projects all dairies dotting the city would be shifted to the dairy complex while all transport unions, including truck unions and tempo unions and booking offices of transporters, would be shifted to the transport colony. With the implementation of these two schemes, the problem of traffic congestion in the city would be solved. Apart from it, the local municipal council would not face the problem of insanitation and choking of the sewerage system. |
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Hepatitis cases denied PHAGWARA, Nov 23 — A three-member board of doctors, constituted today to conduct a survey of the New Model Town and Prem Nagar areas to find out facts about reports of the spread of hepatitis-A, had denied the occurrence of any fresh cases at present. According to an official press note issued this evening, the survey team found certain patients were stricken with the disease about two months back but they had recovered. The disease was caused by contaminated water but the problem was over now, added the press note. The board was constituted by Dr Buta Ram Gill, Chief Medical Officer at the Civil Hospital here. The members included Dr Rajiv Aggarwal and Dr Ajay Kumar, both medical officers, and Dr Rajesh Sood, a child specialist. Dr Gill survey team, claimed the press note signed by the four. |
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‘Jails in Punjab
overcrowded’ JALANDHAR, Nov 23— Admitting that almost all jails in Punjab were overcrowded, the Punjab Minister for Jails, Mr Ajit Singh Kohar, said the major factor responsible for the present state of jails was the presence of large number of undertrials booked for minor offences. Addressing a seminar on deaddiction organised by the Chemists’ Association in the Central jail here yesterday, Mr Kohar said 30 per cent of the jail inmates were those booked under the Dowry Act, while 25 per cent were booked under the NDPS Act. In response to a representation by 58 inmates compaining that they were not being granted their due leave, Mr Kohar assured them that the Punjab Government was planning to provide leave facility to those undergoing imprisonment under the Dowry Act and the NDSP Act. Mrs Geetika Kalha, Commissioner, Jalandhar Division, said the administration would provide every facility and cooperation to social organisations to help them initiate drug deaddiction programmes. |
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PSEB staff seek transparency BATHINDA, Nov 23 — The only way to ensure profitability in the Punjab State Electricity Board
(PSEB) is to introduce transparency in the administration and privatisation is no panacea for ills of the board. This was stated by Mr Phaljeet Singh, general secretary, Bijli Mulazam Front
(BMF) of the board at a convention of the activists of the BMF which concluded at the local Teachers Home yesterday. Addressing the members of the front, Mr Pahljeet said the privatisation move in the PSEB was not good and it would be unable to remove the inefficiencies and inadequacies of the board. He added that the technical loss of the board had reached up to 33 per cent. He stressed the need for transparency to improve the efficiency and ensure profitability of the board. |
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Paediatric
Forum organises seminars HOSHIARPUR, Nov 23 — Paediatric Forum here organised three seminars at Nursing School in the Civil Hospital, Shri Guru Ram Dass Nursing Institute and old office of the civil surgeon during the Newborn Week from November 15 to November 21. Dr
J.S. Dardi, president of the forum, in a press note issued here today, said all the child specialists stressed the need to take precautionary measures during delivery to prevent infection to the monther and the newborn. |
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Panel on Sobha Singh
centenary set up CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — The Punjab Government has constituted a high-level committee to commemorate the birth centenary of Sobha Singh, an eminent Punjabi artist on November 29. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the Cultural Affairs and Tourism Minister, Mr Swarna Ram, would be the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the
commitee. |
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One killed in road accident BATHINDA, Nov 23 — At least one person was killed in an road accident that took place late last night near Talwandi Sabo. According to police sources, Mr Parchawa Singh, was crushed to death by a tractor. The post-mortem was conducted at the local Civil Hospital and the body was later handed over the family members of the deceased. The police had
registered a case under Section 304-A. In an another incident, Mr Jagpal Singh, Junior Engineer, Punjab State Electricity Board, died suddenly at the godown of the PSEB last evening. As per the information available he was here at the godown to collect some equipment, he complained of pain, but before he could be given medical assistance, he expired. His family at Hoshiarpur was informed of the incident by his
collegues. |
University
celebrations begin today AMRITSAR, Nov 23 — The 31st foundation day celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev University will be held on the university campus tomorrow. Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Haryana Chief Minister will preside over the function. Master Mohan Lal, the Minister for Higher Education, Punjab, and Mr Balbir Singh, State Minister of Higher Education, will also participate. Mr Chautala will also inaugurate Bebe Nanki Girls Hostel Block-II which cost Rs 1.5 crore. Mr Tarlochan Singh, Chairman of the Minorities Commission, New Delhi, will inaugurate an exhibition of books, rare manuscripts, portraits and photographs to mark the occasion. Dr J.S. Neki, Dr (Ms) S.K. Jolly and Dr K.P. Aggarwal will deliver lectures at the Guru Nanak Bhavan auditorium. Guru ka langar, women’s inter-college hockey match, inter-college Punjabi art competition-cum-exhibition and sufiana gayan will also be held. Dr K.P. Aggarwal, secretary general, Crime Prevention Society, Lucknow, inaugurated an exhibition of Punjab folk art at the Sangat Hall of Guru Nanak Bhavan. The exhibition has been organised by the College Development Council of Guru Nanak Dev University in collaboration with the different colleges. On display are traditional weapons, old utensils, folk music instruments traditional Punjabi ornaments and other articles depicting the Punjabi culture. Dr S.P. Singh, Dean, College Development Council, said awards to the first three winners will be presented tomorrow. |
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