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| Saturday, December 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
PGPC issue: Bitta to back
Talwandi Talwandi must undo wrongs of
Tohra, Bibi:
Dal Letters pile up as strike continues Free power ‘harming’
farmers Raid exposes huge tax
evasion |
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Implement poll promises,
BJP asks SAD Giani’s family harassed: NCP Contempt notice
to Chief Secy
RPI conference on Dec 16
Punjab women commission
soon Minister not target
of blast: IGP Transform social
system: seminar Long queues and frayed tempers PSEB engineers
to strike work Amarinder takes credit
for paddy package Unemployment
allowance
sought Marriage palaces
face closure A rest-house for ex-servicemen Rs 50,000 grant for
environment association Medical council may be revived First aid post inaugurated Noted Persian scholar Gulwant Singh dead Committee formed to
probe fire incident
3 killed as car,
Jeep collide
3 held in attempted murder case Boy's body found
GND University
bags overall trophy
Bank scheme
for loan defaulters
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PGPC issue: Bitta to back
Talwandi AMRITSAR, Dec 8 — The All-India Anti-Terrorist Front has urged Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee to take up the matter of disbanding of Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PGPC) with Prime Minister immediately as the Government of Pakistan had allegedly chalked out nefarious designs to spread anti-Sikh propaganda form Sikh shrines there. Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta, president of the front said he would support the efforts of the SGPC for getting the PGPC disbanded as it was headed by Mr Javed Nasir, a former chief of the ISI. He suggested that the SGPC should come forward for the maintenance of Sikh shrines in Pakistan so that innocent Sikhs should not get misled with the anti-India propaganda. He advocated that it was the sole right of the SGPC for maintenance of gurdwaras in Pakistan as per the Nehru-Master Tara Singh pact. Mr Bitta alleged that the ISI was inviting top militants in Pakistan at the time of Guru Nanak Dev’s birthday and other occasions. He said the SGPC should take the responsibility for sending jathas to Pakistan. He alleged that certain Sikh leaders had been meeting the top militant leaders in Pakistan on the pretext of jathas. The front demanded the immediate removal of Mr Javed Nasir as Chairman of the PGPC. He said Javed Nasir was responsible for killing of lakh of Sikhs and Hindus in Punjab during his stint as ISI chief. Mr Bitta demanded probe into the collection of offering by the SGPC during the tenure of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra from Sikh shrines in Pakistan. Instead of bringing offerings to India it should have been spent on the maintenance of gurdwars there, he said. He said the front would meet the High Commissioner of Pakistan in New Delhi to put forth his view. |
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Talwandi must undo wrongs of
Tohra, Bibi:
Dal AMRITSAR, Dec 8 — Appreciating the change in guard at the helm of SGPC affairs, the Dal Khalsa yesterday asked the new incumbent to regain the lost glory of the religious institution by establishing the supremacy of religion over politics. In a press statement issued here yesterday, party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi would have to undo the damage caused to the institution by Jathedar Tohra and Bibi Jagir Kaur in the past. The foremost task before Mr Talwandi was to uphold the sanctity of Akal Takht, the institution dragged into controversies time and again by various political factions for their vested interests, he added. The issues confronting him were the propagation of Sikhism since a large number of Sikh youths were becoming apostate, banning the sale of birs of Guru Granth Sahib, defusing the stand-off between the SGPC and the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, banning the sending of jathas to Pakistan, evolving consensus on the authenticity and authorship of Dasam Granth, defeating the anti-Sikh designs of the RSS, implementing the Nanakshahi calendar, segregating the voting rights of sehajdharis in the SGPC elections. Such tasks could only be accomplished if Jathedar Talwandi did not follow “blindly” the dictates of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, he said. To address these basic problems challenging the Sikhs, Mr Talwandi would have to rise above party lines and political considerations. |
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Letters pile up as strike continues BATHINDA, Dec 8 — Even as the ongoing strike by the postal employees all over the country proved a boon for the courier operators, the routine post of various government departments of the state is piling up. Official sources said various departments of the state government were finding it difficult to deliver their letters and other documents at various destinations through courier services as they are very expensive. Sources said the urgent letters were being sent through fax. Courier operators in the city are doing brisk business owing to the
strike. Mr Krishan Bareja of a leading courier service, said in the past two days, there had been a jump of nearly 25 per cent in the business.
AMRITSAR: Postal employees’ strike entered its fourth day today. The postal services came to a standstill and undelivered mail has piled up in the post offices. In a press note issued here, the National Union of Postal Employees has condemned the alleged indifferent attitude of the government. A rally was organised in front of the local General Post Office. The employees also burned the effigy of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Hall Gate
here. MANSA: The striking employees staged a dharna in front of the main sub post office here on Friday. Postal services were hit at
Budhlada, Sardulgarh, Bareta, Jhunir and Joga. |
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Free power ‘harming’
farmers JALANDHAR, Dec 8 — Even as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) remained non-committal about the continuation of the facility of free power and water facilities to farmers in case the Congress assumed power in the next assembly elections, renowned agriculture scientists have strongly flayed the SAD-BJP combine for “harming” the farming community by extending this facility to them. Talking to newspersons after addressing a seminar organised by Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Chairman of the Progressive Farmers Association at Red Cross Bhavan here today, Captain Amarinder Singh said the state Congress was in the process of changing its approach towards the farming class and it will reflect in the party’s manifesto which is under the process of formulation by a high-powered committee. Captain Amarinder Singh, however, did not make any commitment on the issue of free power to farmers. Even as the 1997 manifesto of the party had promised free power and water to farmers. He said he was not prepared to comment on the issue or whether the facility should be retained or withdrawn as the party was consulting farm experts the viability of the facility and a final decision about the matter would be taken collectively. He also ruled out his party going in for a poll alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party headed by Mr Kanshi Ram. Dr S.S. Johal, a renowned farm expert and former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University and Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, said people were making hue and cry about the implementation of the World Trade Organisation pact without making a proper study. He said unlike the popular perception, the WTO has been considered to be a threat by the developed countries, who have even devised some safeguards to save their people. “The problem is that we have our own shortcomings that is why we are dreading the WTO and rather we should see it from a positive angle. It has opened the world market to us on the contrary China is striving to be a member of it,” said Dr Johal. Dubbing the facility of free power and water to farmers as a cheap method to get popularity, Dr Johal said the facility has damaged future of farmers since the amount of subsidy is deducted while fixing the minimum support price MSP due to which the MSP comes down. “In fact it is a loss to farmers, I am strongly against it,” said Dr Johal. He said the Punjab farmer was suffering on the account of excessive production, and the state government should have advised them to come out of the vicious circle of paddy and wheat, even if it had to extend some subsidy to farmers to retain their lands without sowing any crop. “You know our godowns are overflowing with 45 million tonnes of old stocks or cereals and on the other hand 50 per cent of our population goes to sleep without having proper meals and what is more painful is that we are incurring huge expenditure on the maintenance of these stocks.” said Dr Johal. He advised the Punjab Government to withdraw atleast 20 per cent of area of the 2.60 lakh acres under the paddy wheat circle which will force the Centre Government to announce a proper price of these crops and asked farmers to set up a farmers’ chamber which could exert pressure on the government for the formulation pro-farmer policies. Dr S.S. Khaira, former VC of the PAU, also condemned the existing system of subsidies on power and water. He said instead of subsidies, the government should invest more in the field of agriculture research and to save farmers from the onslaught of the foreign companies who were all out to monopolise the varieties and seeds of different crops. Mr G.S. Dhillon, the former Chief Engineer of the Punjab Irrigation Department, said instead of subsidy on power, farmers should be given a subsidy of Rs 2 a quintal to monitor the decline of the water table, a committee should be formed by the Punjab Government. Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira, the president of the Progressive Farmers’ Association addressed the gathering while progressive farmers including Avtaar Singh Dhindsa, Sarabjit Singh Bariana and Fateh Singh Bajwa shared their success stories with farmers. |
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Raid exposes huge tax
evasion CHANDIGARH Dec 8 — When CBI and Punjab Excise and Taxation Department officials conducted a joint raid on December 6 at Ludhiana railway station to check tax evasion, they were taken aback to see the quantum of evasion and other aspects of this scandal. Already hosiery material worth Rs 7 crore has been seized by the raiding party at the railway yard in Ludhiana. The raid was conducted at the instance of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had passed a specific order to check tax evasion in this region, especially done with the connivance of government officials. A senior office of the department told TNS here on the evening that the court had directed today to charge full penalty on the seized material on which tax had not been paid. No one should be let off, whatever be the consequences. The officials concerned have been told not to bow pressure being built by
certain traders involved in the racket. In fact, the railway yards used to be beyond the jusrisdiction of the state agencies in the matter of checking of the material unloaded there for transportation purposes. However, the state Excise Department authorities conducted the raid in collaboration with the CBI as it is a national investigating agency. At least three CBI inspectors were part of the raiding team. Officials of the department said that certain persons were using the railway transportation facility for huge tax evasion. Woollen goods worth several hundred crores are transported through the Railway from Ludhiana to other parts of the country. What is the modus operandi? A senior official of the department said that consignments were booked on fictitious names by senders. From the factory to the railway yard, the material was sent along with computerised bills to avoid inspection on the way. When the material reached the railway yard, the computerised bills were thrown into the dustbin. Traders were aware of the fact that state government officials could not conduct raids on railway yards and took advantage of this to evade tax. The official said initial investigations had revealed that it was a big racket which had been going on for the past several months. However, because of the intervention of the high court, the entire scandal had been exposed. He said the department had invited the parties concerned to get the seized material verified. Otherwise, it would seize the material on a permanent basis and no claims would be entertained in this connection. The department authorities are expected to furnish details of the seized material to the high court soon. |
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Implement poll promises,
BJP asks SAD JALANDHAR Dec 8 —With a view to strengthening its base among rural, urban and Scheduled Caste voters in the light of the next Assembly poll, the Punjab unit of the BJP has planned to pressurise its alliance partner SAD (Badal) to help it out by implementing most of the promises made by it in its manifesto on the eve of the 1997 Assembly elections. A section of the BJP is disturbed over the way its poll promises aimed to woo the urban voters, particularly the abolition of octroi, were not implemented by the SAD. The party fears that it might not be able to face the urban voters at this stage when the SAD was being viewed by urban voters as a pro- rural party. The BJP which thinks that extension of some facilities to the rural people by the SAD, particularly free power to farmers, could make its urban voters to shift their loyalties, has already made its resentment public by condemning the “pro-rural” attitude of the SAD and granting of free power to the farmers during its state-level meeting held on November 22 at the Chandigarh at the residence of Mr Mohan Lal, Minister for Forests. “We have already asked the SAD leadership to either withdraw the free power facility to the farmers or to compensate the urban people on the same pattern. We have also asked the government to lower the power tariff in urban areas,” said Mr Sukhminder Pal Singh Grewal, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. While the party do not want to weaken its base dwindling in urban areas, it is eyeing rural and Scheduled Caste voters and its core group consisting of a few senior leaders has even started working in that direction. According to insiders, the party leadership has planned to go to the farmers and the Scheduled Castes by enlisting the Rs 350 crore Central relief to the paddy growers and the introduction of the Janashree Yojna, an insurance scheme for Dalits of the state on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh, as its achievements. The party is going to organise a state-level “ceremonial meeting” in the memory of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. According to a senior leader, the BJP was also busy formulating a package of concessions for the urban people. The proposed package which is still said to be in its infancy, was likely to be presented to the SAD leadership after completion for final nod and proper implementation. |
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Giani’s family harassed: NCP BATHINDA, Dec 8 — The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today alleged that family members of the late President Giani Zail Singh were being harassed by the Delhi Government on the direction of AICC President Sonia Gandhi. Mr Amritpal Singh Brar, member of the national council of the party, in a press note issued here, alleged that cheap tactics were being used by the Delhi Government to get the government house vacated from the family members of the late President. He said this act of the government was condemnable. |
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Contempt notice
to Chief Secy CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — Mr Justice
J.S. Khehar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a contempt notice to the Chief Secretary, Punjab, Mr
R.S. Mann. Inder Singh, a resident of Karali village in Patiala district, had filed a petition alleging that early this year a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mr Arun B. Saharya and Mr Justice
V.K. Bali, through a landmark judgement, had directed the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana and the UT,
Chandigarh, to distribute the ‘bachat’ land under the possession of village panchayats to original owners if the purpose for which the land had been kept in the ‘bachat
khata’ had been served. The petition alleged that he sent a number of representations to the Chief Secretary but no action had been taken till date. Mr Justice
Khehar, after hearing arguments advanced by counsel for the petitioner, issued a notice to the Chief Secretary to show cause as to why contempt of court proceedings not be launched against him. |
RPI conference on Dec 16 FARIDKOT, Dec 8 — The Republican Party of India (RPI) will hold a state-level political conference at Shahkot of Jalandhar district on December 16 to protest against the decision of the Central Government to implement the GATT Treaty and Dunkel proposals. The conference will also stress upon the government to resolve the problems of unemployed youths, settle the state river water disputes and include Chandigarh and Punjabi speaking areas in Punjab, said Mr Sukhdev Singh Pandhi, state general secretary and member of the central body of the party while talking to media persons here today. |
Punjab women commission
soon CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — The Punjab Council of Ministers today decided to frame the Punjab state women commission Act. The Bill will be placed in the next session of the Vidhan
Sabha. The meeting decided that cases of pension for the aged and other welfare categories be decided at the subdivisional level rather than at the district level. In respect of farmers whose land is beyond the fence on the border, the council decided that compensation be paid on the pattern of previous years. A sum of Rs 7 crore is available. The council reiterated its decision not to charge stamp duty on the hypothecation of land for agricultural loans and this facility stands extended to allied fields as well, including dairying, bee-keeping, fisheries, horticulture and floriculture. In respect of poultry an upper limit of Rs 1 lakh has been imposed. Henceforth the resources of the Local Government will be deposited in a separate account and not in the state exchequer. A suitable amendment to the relevant Act will be made and presented to the council before going to the Vidhan Sabha. A state-level agricultural produce marketing committee will be constituted for suggesting ways and means for proper marketing and streamlining of the procurement process. The government will create sufficient storage facilities and surplus land of the colonisation department will be transferred to the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation for the construction of plinth and godowns. The state has decided to wind up PUNWAC the Punjab Women and Children Development and Welfare Corporation — by repealing the Act. For a modern mental hospital the assets of the existing hospital will be transferred to the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, which will be helped by government by standing guarantee to raise a commercial loan of Rs 40 crore for constructing the proposed institute. A new promotion policy has also been approved for officials. All cases of heads of departments will be decided on a merit-cum-seniority basis. The minimum benchmark for promotion will be “very good” and those graded “poutstanding” will rank senior to those given “very good”. For posts in Group A in the scale of Rs 12,000 to Rs 16,350 and above, the benchmark will be “very good” and those getting “outstanding” will be senior to those with a “very good” remark. Promotions to all posts in Groups A and B will fall within the purview of the departmental promotion committees. The annual confidential report rating have also to be reframed. |
Unemployment
allowance
sought FARIDKOT, Dec 8 — The local unit of
the Communist Party of India (CPI) has urged the Union Government to
provide unemployment allowance according to the minimum wages to the
youths. In a press note issued here today, Mr Pawanpreet, district
general secretary of the party, criticised the Union Labour Minister,
Mr Satya Naryan Jatiya, for adopting hire and fire policy in
government jobs. He said the provision of unemployment allowance
would reduce frustration prevalent among youths and help in bringing
law and order situation under control. |
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Marriage palaces
face closure BARNALA, Dec 8 — At least two local marriage palaces face closure due adverse recommendations of the civic as well as police authorities. Sources in local administration revealed that Mr Rahul Bhandari SDM, and the SSP in their recommendations to the higher authorities observed that these marriage palaces suffered from some technical defects. In June this year, Mr Anirudh Tewari, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate, Sangrur, had ordered marriage palaces located in Sangrur to obtain no-objection certificates within a fortnight’s time along with nine copies of site plan and the map. The orders of the Deputy Commissioner passed under Section 144 warned that marriage palaces without certificates would face
closure. |
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Minister not target
of blast: IGP AMRITSAR, Dec 8 — After visiting the site of the bomb blast at Mallewal in Batala police district, the newly posted Inspector-General of Police, Mr A.P. Pandey, said that though it was a case of mischief, no human being was a target in this incident. A low-intensity blast occurred in Mallewal village a few minutes after the passing of a vehicle of the Cabinet Minister, Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, a few days ago. Mr Pandey said that the intensity of the blast was so low that it could not have hurt any human being. He, however, said despite the low inten- sity of the explosion, he was taking the case seriously. He said the Batala police had launched a manhunt for the suspects. He said he would direct all SHOs in the border belt to give due regard to senior citizens and women. Mr Pandey said being representatives of the people, politicians had the right to take up their (people’s) cases with the police. However, he said “he won’t succumb to any political pressure for the wrong doings”. He claimed that though the crime scene in Amritsar was “under control”, he would endeavour to streamline policing. Later, he held a meeting of the police chiefs of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts and asked them to work to the satisfaction of the people. |
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Long queues and frayed tempers PATIALA, Dec 8 — Anyone wishing to reserve a seat at the railway station here has to be prepared for a hellish wait. The reason. The only one of the two computerised reservation counters is functioning. This results in long queues and frayed tempers but there is no hope is sight for the harassed people of the city as the railway authorities are in no hurry to improve the situation . The crux of the matter is shortage of staff due to new instructions by the railway authorities that the inquiry centre should be manned by reservation and inquiry clerks. Earlier these clerks were only manning the reservation counters and the inquiry centre was being manned by the ticket collectors. Presently, there are only four reservation-cum-inquiry clerks and a head clerk, besides a reservation supervisor. With two of these manning the inquiry counter, only one computerised reservation counter can be opened to the public. Clerks on duty said they reserved around 450 seats daily which included tickets which had to be processed manually like warrants of army personnel. They said though they were able to tackle the rush, the queue became inordinately long when warrant or concession tickets had to be processed. Residents of the city are fed up with complaining for the past few months. A quick perusal of the complaint register revealed that several people had requested for opening another computerised reservation counter. Others have also questioned the improvement in service at the inquiry centre. Sohan Singh said despite attempts being made by the authorities to tone up the efficiency of the inquiry, it was difficult to get through to it on the phone. Some others said in this age there should be more than two computerised counters to make reservation hassle free and that it was surprising that only one counter was functioning. The clerks on duty said it sometimes became difficult to man the inquiry counter properly when some of them proceeded on leave. They said they had requested for an increase in the number of clerks at the station for long, but nothing had been done in the matter till yet. People standing in the queue at the reservation counter, when interviewed, were also livid at the Railways for not using one of the two computers at its disposal for reservation purpose. ''I have been standing here since more than one hour,'' said Bihari Lal, who wanted to get a seat reserved for Patna. Bihari Lal and others say in such a situation the local authorities could start another manual counter which could attend to women and senior citizens. ''With speedy reservation on computer, the system of a separate queue for women was done away with but in such a system some relief should be given to them as well as senior citizens,'' said Mrs Surinderjit, a housewife. Assistant Station Manager
K.P. Meena, when questioned, on the issue said there was a shortage of staff due to which the second reservation counter could not be operated. He said the matter had been brought to the notice of senior officials. |
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Transform social
system: seminar CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — The biggest challenge facing the Indian economy and society is the need to successfully manage a structural transformation of economic and social systems in response to
globalisation. This process cannot be managed equitably and efficiently without a social dialogue among the main parties, including the
labour, the management and the government. These obsevations were made during a three-day national seminar on “Promoting Social Dialogue in India” organised by the International Labour Organisation in collaboration with the Department of
Labour, of Punjab Government, here. The seminar concluded today. The participants felt that India had a long-standing tradition of tripartism and talks among the
labour, management and the government had resolved many problems. There had been many success stories like the social security system in Kerala and Tamil
Nadu. Participants, however, felt that in spite of these success stories and the historical strength of social dialogue in the country, institutions and the practice of social dialogue was weakening due to a variety of factors. It was felt that the scope and coverage of social dialogue needed to be broadened. The traditional emphasis on worker protection, conflict regulation and decent work must be augmented to include raising productivity wealth creation and job creation. They felt that social dialogue would succeed only if each party brought constructive proposals for economic and social transformation to the table. It was more likely to succeed in the present context if it broadened its membership to include consumers, non-governmental organisations and other groups. It was also pointed out that labour issues were being sidelined at an increasing number of
forams. The Indian Labour Congress was becoming less relevant. Many governments continued to make policies without consulting unions or
their labour departments. Such trends were not going to help the process of social dialogue.
Labour issues and labour policy needed to be made central to all government policies. Labour departments must be involved in all key economic and social policy issues, the conference said. |
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PSEB engineers
to strike work PATIALA, Dec 8 — The Punjab State Electricty Board
(PSEB) Council of Engineers has reiterated its demand that all junior engineers
(JEs) and additional assistant engineers (AEE) will strike work on December 12 against the proposed Electricity Bill, 2000, which will be tabled in the current session of Parliament. In a press release, the engineers said that all JEs and AEEs would go on a 24-hour strike in all the
thermal and hydroelectric projects of the board. Mr Sukhdev Singh and Mr P.K. Alipuruia, President and General Secretary of the council, respectively, said that the engineers would go on strike on a call given by the National Coordination Committee of Employees and Engineers. Both the leaders demanded the scrapping of the Electricity Bill as it was against the interests of the employees. The council also condemned the abolition of more than 7,000 posts in various cadres from the PSEB and claimed this step on the part of the authorities would definitely affect the supply of power to the consumers. |
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Amarinder takes credit
for paddy package JALANDHAR, Dec 8 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) supremo Captain Amarinder Singh was not his usual witty self here today. Confronted by a question as to why the PPCC had been unable to play an effective role as an opposition and make its presence felt in Punjab particularly when the assembly election were due, Captain Amarinder Singh asserted that it was the Congress which had forced the rival SAD-BJP combine to take measures for the welfare of people particularly the farming class. Even as the BJP and SAD are claiming that it were they who were behind the recent Rs 350 crore Centre Government package to paddy growers, the PPCC
chief said: “The package is an outcome of the pressure mounted by the Congress on the ruling party.” When asked to enlist more such “achievements”, the PPCC chief virtually drew blank and turned towards former Punjab Minister Partap Singh Bajwa and said: “What were our other achievements? Bajwa, you explain to them.” And it was a stunned Bajwa who tried his best to save the situation by saying, “The Akalis have done nothing for the benefit of people, especially farmers. The government still owes Rs 1200 crore to farmers.” Mr Bajwa also went on to rectify that it was not Rs 350 but just Rs 100 crore which has come to the state as relief. |
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A rest-house for ex-servicemen FARIDKOT: The Punjab Government has constructed a rest-house on the Faridkot-Talwandi road here for ex-servicemen who visit this district and divisional headquarters town on official or private business from time to time. The rest-house, named after PVC winner Sub Joginder Singh, consists of 6 A.C. sets, two main halls, a dormitory having 10 beds, a drawing-cum-dining room on the ground and first floors and two bedrooms on the ground floor. One of the halls has been earmarked for the Sainik Welfare Department. A fee of Rs 40 and Rs 20 per day has been fixed for officers and J.C.Os respectively, whereas Rs 10 is charged for each bed in the dormitory. State and central government officers can also stay at the rest-house at a rent of Rs 60 per room per day. Similarly, other civilians can avail of the opportunity after depositing Rs 120 per day. Lunch, breakfast and dinner at concessional rates is served on demand. The entire amount collected from rent is being spent on the maintenance of the complex and on the welfare of ex-servicemen. The rest-house has been built on a 10 kanal, 16 marla plot at a cost of Rs 70 lakh. According to Mr Daljit Singh Brar, Deputy Director of Sainik Welfare, a “marriage palace” having a big hall, two rooms, a store, one open kitchen and a lawn has also been set up adjoining the rest-house for holding social functions. Officers of other ranks, JCOs and the officers can book it at rents of Rs 600, Rs 1000 and Rs 1400 per day respectively whereas the government and civilians can rent it at Rs 1600 and Rs 2500 per day respectively. |
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Rs 50,000 grant for
environment association PHAGWARA, Dec 8 — The Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, Mr
V.K. Singh, inaugurating the 10th ‘vatavarn mela’ here today, underlined the need for societal and attitudinal change in people’s orientation towards environment. The Deputy Commissioner gave an assurance of administrative cooperation for setting up garbage management plant. He called upon the organisers to conduct annual audit of plants to ascertain the number of saplings planted that had actually survived. He asked people not to use polythene bags and use of bio-degradable items for checking environmental degradation. The Deputy Commissioner also announced a grant of Rs 50,000 each for environment association and for
plants. Mr Jagat Singh Palahi, patron, local environment association, mooted three “R’s” of reduce, refuse and recycle for creating eco-friendly pollution-free environment. He said people should use only those products that “reduce” pollution, “refuse” those items that cause pollution and “refuse” articles and goods for saving environment from
degradation. Mr Kuldip Sardana, Mr Malkiat Singh Ragbotra president and general secretary of association, respectively, also spoke. The Deputy Commissioner also planted a sapling on the occasion. At least 50 stalls exhibiting various projects were installed at the fair. As many as 18 voluntary organisations took part in the fair organised by the environment association which itself is a member of the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP). |
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Medical council may be revived HOSHIARPUR, Dec 8 — A delegation of the Indian Medical Association, Punjab, led by President Dr O.P. Singh Kande and Secretary Dr Kuldip Singh, met the Health Minister, Punjab at Chandigarh yesterday and submitted him a memorandum regarding its long-standing demands. In a press note issued here today, Dr Kuldip Singh said the issue of anti-quackery drive started by the state government was discussed at the meeting. It was agreed to revive the state medical council. Dr Kande assured the Health Minister that the IMA would give full cooperation in the implementation of state government's tuberculosis eradication programme. |
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First aid post inaugurated NAWANSHAHR, Dec 8 — Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, inaugurated a first aid post at Asron village, 40 km from here, on Friday. He said the police with a view to provide timely help to the road accident victims had planned to set up such posts on the Ropar-Jalandhar main road. These posts would be equipped with mobile vans, wireless and telephone sets. The special police officer and homeguards jawans would patrol the area. For convenience of the drivers as many as 40 signboards had been affixed along the road besides setting up studs and cat eyes (lights) SSP said. Steps had also been taken against the dhabas serving liquor to drivers. |
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Noted Persian scholar Gulwant Singh dead PATIALA, Dec 8 — Prof Gulwant Singh, a noted Persian scholar, passed away at his residence on the Punjabi University campus here today. A revered scholar and a walking encyclopaedia on classical literature, Prof Gulwant Singh, was loved, admired and worshipped by thousands of his students spread all over the country. He was presently engaged in the task of translating Guru Granth Sahib in Persian language. Prof Gulwant Singh had been provided with life fellowship and residence at the university in recognition of his services. Teachers, students and employees of the university held a condolence meeting on the university campus today. In a separate condolence message, former legislator, Birdevinder Singh, said Punjab had lost an eminent scholar. He said Prof Gulwant Singh was among those who joined Punjabi University when it came into being and through academic pursuits made it what it was today. The World Sikh Intellectual Council also condoned the death of the scholar and said the state had lost a multilingual intellectual. |
Committee formed to
probe fire incident AMRITSAR, Dec 8 — At three-member probe committee was formed hours after the outbreak of fire at Guru Nanak Hospital here by the medical college, Principal Dr
O.P. Mahajan. The three members of the committee include Dr Bhola Singh, head of Surgery (II) Unit, Dr
R.K. Bhandari, Head of X-Ray Department and Dr H.S. Gill Medical Superintendent. A PSEB official may also be included in the committee. The committee will inquire into the circumstances that triggered sparking in the transformer and led to fire. |
3 killed as car,
Jeep collide SANGRUR, Dec 8 — Three persons were killed and five injured in an accident when a Maruti car and a Jeep collided on the Sangrur-Barnala road at Mastuana Sahib village near here last evening. The car was on its way to Nariangarh village while the Jeep was going to Abohar from
Chandigarh. The deceased Sukhdev Singh his wife, Harpal Kaur, and his nephew, Pritpal Singh, were travelling in the car. They were residents of Nariangarh village near Bhawanigarh and were reportedly returning from a marriage. The injured persons — Ranjit Singh, Kalu Ram and Manmohan Singh, residents of Amarpura
(Abohar), and Mahinder Singh, Rajinder Kumar, residents of Bhagsar village
(Abohar) — were the occupants of the Jeep. The injured were discharged from the local civil hospital. The police has registered a case under Section 304 of the IPC while the drivers of the car and Jeep had absconded, the police said here today. |
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3 held in attempted murder case PATIALA, Dec 8 — The local police today arrested Ashutosh
Gautam, a son of the former BJP city president, Pitambar Dutt, and two others on the charge of attempt to murder following a clash with the son of the local Shiromani Committee member Kamlesh Kaur on December 5. Ashutosh and the two others were presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate S.K. Berry following their arrest and have been remanded to one-day police custody. Ashutosh and his colleagues had allegedly beaten up Devinder Singh, the son of the SGPC member, at a music shop in Lahori Gate on December 5. Following this, there had reportedly been a compromise between the two parties the same day. However, the police today arrested Ashutosh and others following a complaint filed by the victim. The complaint, which has been registered in Division No. 4, alleges that Devinder had given a cassette for recording at the music shop of one Jagmohan Singh. It says the cassette was not returned despite the recording charges having been paid. It says Devinder took two cassettes from the shop on the promise that he would return them when the recording of his cassette was done. Devinder in his complaint alleged that the music shop-owner Jagmohan phoned him on December 5 to convey that his cassette had been recorded and that he should collect it. It alleged that when he reached the shop he was grappled and pulled in, following which he was hit by Ashutosh and Jagmohan and three four others with iron rods. He alleged that an attempt was also made to knive him adding that he was able to escape only when a hue and cry was raised on the spot. Devinder alleged that the accused also snatched a gold chain being worn by him. It alleged that only when people gathered at the spot did the accuse leave him and escape. The police had registered a case under Sections 323, 324, 501, 148 and 149 mainly concerning beating and wrongful confinement following the incident. However, the police today changed the case to that of attempted murder and arrested the accused. Earlier before the arrest of the accused, SGPC member Kamlesh Kaur had alleged that the SHO was biased against her and she was being pressurised to agree to a compromise.
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Boy's body found LUDHIANA, Dec 8 — The worm-infested body of a minor boy was found from a vacant plot in Mohan Singh Nagar area of the city today evening. The boy, suspected to be around 14, was wearing a white shirt, navy-blue trousers and a red cardigan. His dress seemed like a school uniform but the school is yet to be identified. The body, which had turned blue, was spotted by some children playing in the plot. They informed the division no. 2 police station which recovered the body and sent it for postmortem. Mr Randhir Singh, SHO, said no clue of the identity of the dead body had been found so far. He said the police had shown the body to some parents whose children were missing but no one had identified it so far. He said it seemed that the boy had been bitten by some insect. |
1 killed, 2 injured as
jeep, bus collide BATHINDA, Dec 8 — One person was killed and two injured in a bus-Jeep collision near Jassi Bagwali village of this district yesterday. The deceased has been identified as Parinka (18), resident of Bathinda, The injured Jagdeep Singh, driver of the Jeep and Gaurav (16) have been admitted to the Civil Hospital. The accident took place when the driver of the Jeep tried to overtake another vehicle. During overtaking, the Jeep collided with a bus coming from
Dabwali. |
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3 kanungos
suspended SANGRUR, Dec 8 — The Deputy Commissioner had suspended three kanungos namely Hamir Singh, Gurmej Singh and Harnek Singh of
Sular, Lehra and Chhajli villages, respectively, and two patwaris namely Sukhpal Singh and Pawan Kumar of Shahpur Kalan and Khetla villages, respectively. According to official sources, they have been suspended in a case of changing girdawri in an “illegal” manner of a dera land of Kherri Naga village near Dirba in this district. The Deputy Commissioner had received complaints from villagers in this regard. An inquiry was conducted following which the Deputy Commissioner suspended the
kanungos. |
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Murder case solved,
two arrested MALERKOTLA, Dec 8 — CIA staff has arrested two persons in connection with the murder of Leela Krishna, a hotel owner, at Shastri Nagar on September 16, 1999. This was stated by Mr Jatinder Singh
Aulakh, SSP, Sangrur, here today. He said Jatinder Kumar of Gaya district in Bihar was arrested by CIA staff today while Mohammed Yaqoob of Mohalla Bagwala here was arrested on November
24. Jatinder Kumar has confessed to the crime, according to the police. He was also wanted in two murder cases in Bihar. A case under Sections 302/34 of the IPC and 25/54/59 of the Arms Act had been registered against the
accused. |
GND
University
bags overall trophy AMRITSAR, Dec 8 — Guru
Nanak Dev University, which reigned its supremacy in sports in the
country by winning the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad trophy 15 times, has
shown its prowess by annexing the overall general championship in the
North Zone Inter-University Youth Festival, 2001, held at M D
University, Rohtak. The GND University won three trophies of the
Association of Indian Universities for music, fine arts and literary
events in this festival. The youth festival was sponsored by the
Association of Indian Universities, Department of Youth Affairs and
Sports. Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister of Haryana, who
presided over the valedictory function, presented the overall trophy
to Mr Baljit Singh Sekhon, Director of Youth Welfare of the
university. Mr Sekhon said 14 teams of Guru Nanak Dev University have
been declared best in group song, classical music instrumental
percussion, and non-percussion, classical music vocal, western song
solo, western group song, one-act play, mono-acting, mimicry, debate,
painting, cartooning, poster making and clay modelling. He said these
teams would represent the north zone in the All-India Inter-University
National Youth Festival to be hosted by Banaras Hindu University from
January 29 to February 2, 2001. The Director said the University
participated in seven items of music and won six out of these.
Similarly, the university took part in five items of theatre and was
declared winner in three. The university debate team also won the
first position. He said the university won four events out of six in
fine arts. Teams from the APJ College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, DAV
College, Jalandhar, HMV College, Jalandhar KMV College Jalandhar,
Doaba College, Jalandhar, Khalsa College, Amritsar, BBK DAV College
for Women, Amritsar, G.N. National College for Women, Nakodar,
participated in this festival and have brought laurels to the
university in the field of art and culture. |
Bank scheme
for loan defaulters MALERKOTLA, Dec 8 — The State Bank of Patiala organised a camp at the local SSI branch here yesterday under the special scheme for reaching a compromise with loan defaulters of 12 branches here. Mr V.A. Ghai, Assistant General Manager, State Bank of Patiala, while presiding over the function advised the loanees to avail the special opportunity to settle their loans. He warned that those who would fail to avail of the opportunity, tough steps would be taken against them after Match 31, 2001. Mr Ghai further added that the one-time settlement scheme would bring relief to defaulters who were poor, illiterate and involved in protracted court cases. Mr M.S. Jaggi, Chief Manager of the local branch of the bank, said, as many as 50 loan cases under the scheme were settled on the spot. He added that most of the loanees assured that they would deposit their loan by March 31, 2001. |
21 rice millers
lose licences FARIDKOT, Dec 8 — The district administration today suspended the licences of 21 rice millers for committing various irregularties besides failing to make arrangements with the state government agencies for the paddy custom milling in Faridkot district. |
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