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| Friday, December 22, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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2 of
Tiwari’s children defend parents Police
‘shielding’ SAD MLA Punjab to
honour Dosanjh tomorrow Top
Punjabi singers ‘shun’ DD High
Court Probe at
DFSC office begins |
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Boycott
clergy, CM: Ranjit Singh Gurdev Badal may be
called at Akal Takht Sacked
staff assail SGPC, hail Jagir Kaur Veracity
of Persian sources questioned CM lays
stone of power station Rinwa
harps on sops for urbanites UNICEF
team visits UKF project areas Christmas to be
celebrated at state level BJP youth
leader cremated District status for
Pathankot sought
Anti-encroachment
drive fails
Child
thrown into canal over Rs 100 16 stolen vehicles
recovered, 2 held 22 satta
dealers held, Rs 31,900 recovered Ex-Naib
Tehsildar held in land scam case Married
woman abducted, raped
DIET
students allege manhandling
Proforma for student appraisal scheme released Sanskrit
to be made compulsory
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2 of Tiwari’s children defend
parents CHANDIGARH, Dec 21— The Mamta case took a new turn with the youngest of two children of Mr B.P. Tiwari, Additional Director-General of Police (Security), Punjab, supporting him besides describing him as an “honest, efficient, caring and loving father”. “Both our parents used to treat Mamta as their daughter,” averred Ms Anamika Tiwari, and her brother, Abhishek, at a press conference here this afternoon, describing the allegations made by their elder sister, Sandhya, against Mr B.P. Tiwari as “nothing but a cock and bull story” which was being “thrust upon her” by some unknown forces. “A couple of days before Sandhya’s statement appeared in some newspapers making serious allegations against her father, I received a call from her asking me to meet her, failing which something serious would happen,” said Abhishek Tiwari, pursuing a computer course here. “Ever since she left the home to marry a boy of her choice, we had severed all our relations with her and her husband. Sandhya and her husband had been trying to ring us up but we always told them that we had nothing to do with them. When she left our home, she was 19 and it was in 1991.But why did she not say a word against her father earlier?” said Ms Anamika Tiwari, working in a private company at Nabha after doing her MBA from Punjabi University, Patiala. “I have been living with my father for 24 years and know him much better than Sandhya does. He is a very caring, loving, honest and efficient man. We cannot say who are the forces behind the present unfortunate episode, but Sandhya and her husband definitely vented their rage against our father to gain the sympathy of people,” Anamika said. Both sister and brother, youngest of the five children of the Tiwaris, maintained that Mamta lived with them for three days at their home and their parents treated her like their “daughter”. Talking about the death of one of their elder sisters at Hoshiarpur, they maintained that it was an “accident”. They also refuted the allegation that Mr B.P. Tiwari had “illicit relations” with a lady doctor whom they claimed to be a “close family friend”. “It was she who saved me from virtual death when I was seriously hurt when I was young,” recounted Abhishek. Both Anamika and Abhishek maintained that they had not yet applied their mind regarding the taking of legal action against Sandhya or her husband for “defaming their parents”. They refused to comment on the Mamta case, maintaining that the matter was before the court and was “sub judice”. |
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Police ‘shielding’ SAD MLA DHARAMKOT (Moga), Dec 21 — Despite being accused of conspiring to eliminate Congress leader, Mr Harmesh Kumar Mukhija, here on November 13 in the FIR lodged at Dharamkot police station, the ruling Akali Dal legislator, Mr Sheetal Singh, continues to move around freely. Even as the brother of the deceased, Mr Des Raj, had categorically named Mr Sheetal Singh as conspirator, the police is yet to question him. Congress leaders and relatives of the deceased, are accusing the police of shielding the MLA. While the police continues to attribute the killing to personal enmity, the Congress is mounting pressure for a CBI probe. The police claims that the killing was masterminded by Gurbux Singh Kukku, a Congress activist, to avenge his implication in a murder case at the behest of Mr Mukhija in 1993. The district police chief, Mr Sharad Satya Chauhan, had discounted the possibility of the MLA being involved in the killing. If the police story is to be believed, Mr Mukhija was eliminated at the behest of Kukku and his hitmen, who also had personal grudges against the deceased. While Kukku is still at large, Mr Chauhan, SSP, earlier said the aspect may be looked into only after the assailants were arrested and interrogated. He disclosed that the preliminary investigation indicated that Kukku and his friends had teamed up to eliminate Mr Mukhija to settle personal scores. However, the Opposition alleges that the conspiracy angle is being overlooked deliberately to please the legislator. To prove their point, relatives of the deceased said that the MLA was not grilled, even when he was booked for the murder of Mr Mukhija’s son in October. While the police gave a clean chit to the MLA in that case saying that Mr Mukhija’s son had died in a road accident, the FIR lodged at that time charged Mr Sheetal Singh with crushing the victim to death under his official vehicle. Though Mr Sheetal Singh admitted his association with Kukku, he claimed that this was of temporary nature to defeat Mr Mukhija in the last Municipal Council elections. “As Kukku had an axe to grind against Mr Mukhija, we both struck a temporary alliance by setting aside our party interests”. He said that Mr Mukhija’s murder was the outcome of personal enmity and there was no pressure on the police from his side to limit the scope of investigation. |
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Punjab to honour
Dosanjh tomorrow CHANDIGARH, Dec 21 — The Punjab Government will organise a reception in honour of Mr Ujjal Dosanjh, Premier of British Columbia province in Canada, and other members of the delegation accompanying him on a tour of the state here on December 23, it was officially announced today. Accompanying him on his first tour of Punjab after assuming top office in British Columbia early this year are his wife Raminder, son Umber, and two others — Mr Harbans Singh Dosanjh and Mr Ramesh Singhal. A press note of the government said that the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would host an official dinner and reception for Mr Dosanjh at the SAS Nagar Cricket Stadium on December 23. Two memoranda of understanding would be signed at the stadium the same evening. During the day, Mr Dosanjh and members of his entourage will participate in the World Punjabi Conference here besides attending other social functions. |
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Top Punjabi singers ‘shun’ DD JALANDHAR, Dec 21 — In the absence of top Punjabi pop singers, Jalandhar Doordarshan is forced to engage lesser known artistes for its new year programme. “Tik Tik Do Hazaar
Ik,” scheduled for the New Year eve. Even though the Doordarshan authorities had invited all top Punjabi pop singers like Daler Mehendi, Hans Raj Hans, Jasbir Jassi and others but the invitation has failed to evince interest of none of them for almost all of them have already been working on long-term contracts with different cassette companies. They either, did not respond or expressed inability to join the ongoing shooting process by saying that they were preoccupied with different cassette companies or TV channels. Noted Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan, according to Doordarshan Director Ashok
Jelkhani, had confirmed participation, but it got delayed due to the reason that he feel ill. “Though we completed the recording yesterday, but we will make separate arrangements for recording of his songs as per his convenience,” explained Mr
Jelkhani. It is not for the first time that top Punjabi artists has declined to perform for Jalandhar DD annual new year programme, but it has been happening for quite few years, primarily due to increasing competition posed by private TV channels and cassette companies, who pay more remuneration to artistes for exclusive performance. Many cassette companies have patronised their respective artistes and they promote them as company artistes as is in the case of a tie-up between Jassi and the Times Music and Hans Raj Hans with the T-Series. Doordarshan officials, who finished their month-long shooting schedule for the programme yesterday were however, hopeful that choice of the songs, singers comedians, the sound quality and picturesque outdoor locales would largely be able to fill the void created by the absence of big stars and the spectators would not find their programme lacking in any respect. “We have tried to break the monotony by introducing new faces as we think people don’t want repetition. Moreover, we have tried to highlight all colours of Punjabi culture including “Jaago”, “Giddha” “Bhangra” and folk songs. But he could not explain satisfactorily as to why the Puran Chand Wadali and party, which was honoured by the President of India for their contribution towards Punjabi music last year was not included in the list of the participating artistes. “He might not fit in the format devised by us” said Mr
Jelkhani. Mr Daljit Singh Sandhu, a producer associated with the programme said every effort had been made to make the programme a colourful extravaganza. “Besides artistes, focus has been on to shoot the programme on outdoor locations in the Khalsa College Amritsar, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and its rural museum. Ludhiana’s famed Chaura Bazaar. Bathinda Fort and of course the concrete jungle of Chandigarh. “the effort has been not to confine the artistes to indoor shooting”. The programme is based on artistes like comedian duo Jaswinder Bhalla Bal Mukand Sharma, Kamaljit Neeru, Satinder
Bitti, Sarabjit Cheema, Nirmal Sidhu, Sardul Sikandar and Kamaljit
Neelon. Mr Sandhu said the objective behind shooting the programme to be aired at 6.45 p.m. on December 31, at different places was to give due representation to all parts of the state and to give glimpses of various hues of Punjabi culture. Mr Jelkhani admitted that Doordarshan had to lay special emphasis on the quality of the programme, primarily owing to competition among different Punjabi channels. |
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High Court CHANDIGARH, Dec 21 — Mr Justice Amar Dutt of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered a CBI probe into the alleged illegal custody of Harbhajan Singh, a resident of Gaggarwal village in Khomano tehsil of Fatehgarh Sahib district on a petition by him. He was allegedly kept in illegal custody by cops of the Kheri Naudh Singh police station in shackles but escaped from there in October with his left leg shackled. While in custody, the police officials had tried to force him to take sulphas tablets. Handing down this order the Judge observed: “The incident warrants a re-investigation so that the petitioner in particular and public at large do not get the impression that they are not getting a fair deal at the hands of the courts”. Mr Justice Dutt directed the Punjab Police, which had been directed to probe the matter to “hand over all papers relating to the case, including reports of inquiries conducted by SP (Detective) Kanwarjit Singh of Fatehgarh Sahib and DIG Sanjiv Gupta of Patiala Range, to the CBI Director for further investigation of the case.” Quoting Justice Mulla of the Supreme Court that the DSP of Khamano along with other policemen, in whose custody of the Supreme Court Harbhajan was kept, acted like “bandits in
uniform”, Mr Justice Dutt directed the DGP to ensure protection to the petitioner and other witnesses in the case till the investigation and trial of the case is over. SC student challenges
admission Ms Sharanjit Kaur belonging to the Scheduled Castes challenged the admission of Ms Rakina to ETT course at DIET, Nabha, on the plea that the latter belonged to the Muslim community and got admission to the course by producing a Scheduled Caste Category certificate, which she was not entitled to. A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice NK Sodhi and Mr Justice RC Kathuria issued notice of motion for January 29. It was contended by counsel for the petitioner that as per the Schedule Castes Order 1950, no person who professed a religion different from that Hindu, Sikh and Buddhiest, shall be deemed to be the member of the Scheduled Castes. Counsel further submitted that certificate issued by Tehsildar, Nabha, to Ms Rakina was due to extraneous circumstances and as such the admission granted to her should be cancelled and the petitioner’s case considered for admission to course as the petitioner was on top in the waiting list. |
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Probe at DFSC office begins BATHINDA, Dec 21 — Ms Gurpreet Deo, SP (Vigilance), Jalandhar, has started a probe into the working of the office of the District Food and Supply Controller (DFSC), Ferozepore, following complaints of corruption made to the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in this connection by a section of Jalalabad rice mill owners today. Ms Deo, when contacted in the office of the DFSC, Ferozepore, on phone said she had come there to find out discrepancies in the working of the DFSC office on the directive of the Chief Director (Vigilance), Punjab. She said she did not know the background of complaints made by millers against the working of the DFSC office. She added that she would have to find out the discrepancies on her own. Sources said Ms Deo was deputed to probe the functioning of the DFSC office after millers made a complaint regarding corruption to Mr Badal this morning at Chandigarh. Mr Pawan Bajaj, a rice mill owner of Jalalabad, while talking to TNS from Chandigarh, said about 29 affidavits had been given to Mr Badal in connection with the bunglings of the office of the DFSC. He added that they were forced to pay bribes to run their rice mill units. He alleged they were made to pay bribe when the agencies were allotted to mills and then to issue contract. He alleged that certain officials had created wealth disproportionate to their known source of income. Mr G Vijralingam, Director, Food and Supply, who today reviewed the rice milling progress at Ferozepore today, when contacted said he had not received any complaint from any miller in the district. He added that he was not aware of any complaint made by Jalalabad millers to Mr Badal in connection with the working of the DFSC office. Mr Makhan Singh, DFSC, Ferozepore, could not be contacted despite repeated efforts. However, a senior official of the department said allegations of Jalalabad-based millers were baseless and not true. He said by making such allegations against the department officials the millers were trying to extract undue benefits. |
Boycott clergy, CM: Ranjit Singh AMRITSAR, Dec 21 — Bhai Ranjit Singh, a former Jathedar of Akal Takht, today gave a call to the Sikh ‘sangat’ to boycott the high priests, including Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh, and the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for allegedly violating Sikh ‘maryada’ from time to time. Addressing a press conference here today, Bhai Ranjit Singh said after his ‘reinstallation’ as Jathedar of Akal Takht he would declare all of them ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of misconduct) as they had violated the ‘hukamnamas’ (edicts) issued by him as Jathedar till December 31, 1998. He said he would launch a mass movement against the jathedars and Mr Badal. Ridiculing the communication sent by the four high priests to the SGPC executive on the issue of Giani Puran Singh, Bhai Ranjit Singh claimed that the Akal Takht meeting could take a decision without the presence of the head priest of the Golden Temple. He, however, said that it was mandatory that the head granthi of the Golden Temple should give a ‘siropa’ to the Jathedar of Akal Takht at the time of his installation. This was not done when Giani Puran Singh was installed as Jathedar. He said Jathedar Vedanti, Prof Manjit Singh, Giani Kewal Singh and Giani Bhagwan Singh had presented ‘siropas’ to Giani Puran Singh at the time of his installation as jathedar. On the protest lodged by Giani Charn Singh, priest of the Golden Temple, on the appointment of Giani Puran Singh as Head Granthi, Bhai Ranjit Singh asked why had he (Giani Charn Singh) presented a ‘siropa’ to Giani Puran Singh in the absence of then Head Granthi of the Golden Temple, Giani Mohan Singh? “At the time of installation of Giani Puran Singh as Jathedar, Giani Charn Singh presented a ‘siropa’ with a view that he would be promoted as head granthi in place of Giani Mohan Singh, who had virtually refused to honour the new jathedar.” The installation of Giani Puran Singh as Jathedar in his place (Bhai Ranjit Singh’s) was against the ‘maryada’ as his appointment took place in a circuit house. As to why the high priests did not question the ‘maryada’ issue at that time, he said with the fresh appointment of Giani Puran Singh as Head Granthi, Giani Charn Singh had been superseded. However, the Sikh high priests now had no moral right to question the fresh appointment of Giani Puran Singh as they kept “mum” despite the fact that ‘maryada’ was violated. Bhai Ranjit Singh alleged that Giani Joginder Singh had violated ‘maryada’ immediately after his installation as jathedar when he had revoked all ‘hukamnamas’ issued by Giani Puran Singh. “All designated high priests of takhts were not present when hukamnamas were rescinded”, he said. Bhai Ranjit Singh said these high priests had violated the ‘maryada’ when they amended the ‘hukamnama’ on langar. This was for the first time in the history of Akal Takht that a ‘hukamnama’ was amended. These four high priests were signatories to the amendment of a ‘hukamnama’. Bhai Ranjit Singh alleged that they (the high priests) were not concerned about ‘maryada’ at all. “They are just puppets in the hands of Mr Badal”, he alleged. |
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Gurdev Badal may be called
at Akal Takht ROPAR, Dec 21 — Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Agriculture Minister,
Pubjab, may be asked to appear before Akal Takht. The SGPC President, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, during his brief talk gave this indication to newsmen at Chamkaur Sahib today. Mr Talwandi said that when Mr Gurdev Singh Badal was ready to appear before Akah Takht, then he should have been be called. Mr Talwandi was at Chamkaru Sahib to attend the annual Saheedi Jor Mela organised at Katalgarh Sahib gurdwara. Earlier, speaking on the state of SAD (Badal) Mr Talwandi said certain organisations were trying to distort the Sikh history. The Sikhs should not fall prey to their designs, he said. Mr Talwandi also urged the Sikhs against following the sants who proclaim to be gurus. For the Sikhs, only guru Granth Sahib was the Guru, he said. The Jor Mela commemorates the martyrdom day of Sahibjada Ajit Singh and Sahibjada Jhujjar Singh, the elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh. Raja Narinder Singh, Public Health Minister, Punjab, criticised the Congress and the SHSAD for disturbing the peace of Punjab. He said the state had developed the rule of the present government. Mr Bhunder, secretary-general of the SAD, lamented that party leaders were going to the press against each other on petty issues, thereby annulling its achievements. Bibi Upinderjit Kaur, Urban Development Minister, announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the development of Chamkaur Sahib. |
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Sacked staff assail SGPC,
hail Jagir Kaur AMRITSAR, Dec 21 — All 489 SGPC employees, who were terminated on the direction of the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission, today raised slogans against the committee, alleging that they were terminated on political grounds. The terminated employees announced that they would move the Punjab and Haryana High Court and even the Supreme Court against the orders of the judicial commission. Mr Satnam Singh Sekhwan, general secretary, district Shiromani Akali Dal, Gurdaspur, said that he would challenge all appointments made during the time of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. They alleged that the SGPC failed to plead their case properly before the judicial commission. They further said that Bibi Jagir Kaur had adopted the same pattern for appointing employees that was
prevalent during the term of Mr Tohra. Mr Balbir Singh Pannu, Senior Vice-President, SGPC, however, assured the terminated employees that the SGPC would consider their cases sympathetically. |
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Veracity
of Persian sources questioned AMRITSAR: The translation of ‘Makhuze Twarekhe Sikhan’ (the selective history of Sikhs), a Persian Book, authored by Dr Ganda Singh, a great Sikh historian, into Punjabi has raised many questions on the veracity of Persian and English sources about the history of “Guru period”. Persian and English sources painted Sikh history the way it suited authors of the post-Guru period. The 72-page book in Persian, authored by Dr Ganda Singh, was translated into Punjabi for the advantage of common reader. Dr Harchand Singh Bedi, Editor of the book, has raised questions about the secondary sources of Guru period during British time. Dr Bedi said most of the Persian writers had used folk expressions to write the Sikh history which could not be described as a ‘true history’ of the Sikhs. Many Persian authors could not understand ‘Guru period’ properly as they were not contemporaries of Sikh Gurus. They (Persian writers) wrote about Gurus with a view to pleasing the rulers of their times. The introduction to the book, “Sikh Itihas sarot pustak” (A source book on Sikh history) runs into 90 pages. Interestingly, the original book of Dr Ganda Singh in Persian was first published by the local Khalsa College in 1949 — about a half century ago — which was quoted by various historians. Again, it is this College which has published its Punjabi translation with an introduction of 90 pages by the Editor, Dr Bedi who is a senior lecturer of the college and an eminent Sikh scholar. The introduction concluded that English historians, including Trump, Mc Leod, Cunningham and Webster, though wrote enough on Guru period, yet they failed to touch the basics of Sikh history. They did only “observatory work,” Dr Bedi said. These editorial pages of the book have led a serious debate about Punjab Sikh historians, particularly during Guru period. This book simplifies certain significant historical queries and controversies about Sikh masters. This book is a judicious attempt at contextual relevant comprehension of historical references, rare manuscripts and Dr Ganda Singh’s preface. It has also made an attempt at illustrating documentary proofs which would have posed a great difficulty to the modern generation in understanding them in their Persian version. Dr S.P. Singh, Dean, Colleges, Guru Nanak Dev University, and Head, School of Punjabi Studies, says that the editorial introduction of Dr Bedi raises many issues regarding the veracity of the evidence about the historiography of Guru Period and its historicity. The questions raised are: “Does the history written by the English about the Guru period falls within the ambit of authenticity? Does the historiography basis on Mughal record really comprehend the philosophy of Sikh Gurus, Guru culture and their way of life in its true perspective? Can a history based on these doubtful sources give birth to a true history and guard its veracity? In his forward, Dr Mohinder Singh Dhillon, Principal, Khalsa College, says the material which these alleged sources of Sikh history contain comprises imagined narration, folk stories and illustrations and self-made elements. These works (Persian sources) presumably used as sources, do not, for all intents and purposes, display any real understanding about Sikh philosophy, Gurmat, Guru culture and Gurmat history. |
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CM lays stone of power
station HOSHIARPUR, Dec 21 — The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, visited the Mukerian segment of this district today. He first went to Bhatian Jattan village and laid the foundation stone of a 66 KV sub station to be constructed at a cost of Rs 4 crore. On completion, this sub station would supply electricity to 37 villages of the area and ensure round-the-clock power supply to adjoining villages. He announced a grant of Rs 4 lakh for the development of the Bhatian Jattan village, Rs 1 lakh for Ram Sahay village and Rs 50,000 each for Dalit dharamshalas in both villages. Mr Badal inaugurated the Anusuya Joshi complex, constructed at a cost of Rs 28 lakh by an NRI family of the village in Government Senior Secondary School at Dhanoa village. He announced Rs 2 lakh for the development of the village and Rs 1 lakh for the construction of a culvert there. The Chief Minister inaugurated the new building of 50-bedded civil hospital, constructed at a cost of Rs 2.05 crore at Mukerian by the Health Department, Punjab. He laid the foundation stone of a Dr Ambedkar Complex to be constructed at a cost of Rs 25 lakh by the Municipal Council, Mukerian. He also laid the foundation stone of Dashmesh College for Girls at Chak Alla Bakash village and announced Rs 5 lakh for the college. Addressing a gathering at A.S. Senior Secondary School, Mukerian Mr Badal said that to provide better and modern education to girls, schools would be opened in all segments of the assembly. A sum of Rs 22 crore had been earmarked for the school buildings and other equipment during the current financial year. Grant of Rs 10 lakh each would also be provided to all these schools. The current financial year was being observed as development year due to which maximum grants were being given for the overall development of the state. The construction of three bridges, costing Rs 200 crore across the Beas and Sutlej would be started in February, 2001. |
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Rinwa harps on sops for urbanites JALANDHAR, Dec 21 — Is the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party going to adopt a confrontational posture towards its alliance partner, the Shiromani Akali Dal, headed by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on the long-pending issue of reduction of power tariff for urban people and the small scale industries? Yes, if a statement by the president of the state BJP, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa here yesterday is any indication. Though the BJP has never been vocal but the facility of free power to farmers, facilities to rural people and the power tariff hike has been a bone of contention and a source of simmering discord
between the SAD and its coalition partner the BJP with a number of leaders of the BJP indulging in occasional hush-hush that urban people have been ignored and burdened by the government. Mr Rinwa, who has even claimed, a number of times that the day was not far off when the BJP will have its Chief Minister following swelling of its rural base in the state, because the first BJP leader to say openly that if the hike of power tariff pertaining to urbanites and the small scale units was not withdrawn by the government. The BJP will have no choice but to adopt a confrontational approach. Mr Rinwa was talking to reporters at Sofi Pind, where he had come to visit the state-level meeting of the party today. “How can we sit idle on important issues like this?” he questioned however, he hastened to add that urban people were not facing any discrimination at the hands of the government. Mr Rinwa said since the power hike had badly hit the urban people in general and small scale industrialists in particular the party had conveyed its feelings to Mr Badal who has assured that he would look into the matter. Though he did not specify the party’s line of action, the BJP president said they would want for the response of the CM before deciding final course of action. Talking about his organisation, Mr Rinwa said a 11-member Disciplinary Committee had been formed to ensure discipline with the
party. |
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UNICEF team visits UKF
project areas CHANDIGARH, Dec 21 — A UNICEF delegation led by Ms Anjana Jena yesterday visited area where various social welfare schemes are being implemented by the Umeed Khanna Foundation (UKF) in Sangrur. The delegation consisting of representatives of 17 NGOs from Delhi and the surrounding areas, was impressed with the working of the foundation. The foundation has been working for the past more than three years and has undertaken various projects like free mobile dispensaries, self-help groups, schools to educate rural women and
stitching centres to help girls to earn. The delegates were impressed by the self-help group scheme run by women of Sekha village in Barnala. The scheme is managed by women of the village, who contribute Rs 50 each every month and then give loans to needy members at low interest. The loans are repaid in easy instalments. The delegates spoke to the women who had taken loans under the scheme. A notable thing about the scheme is that there is not even a single defaulter. The delegates also visited a school run by the foundation for rural women. The also saw the free mobile dispensary at Cheema and Bakhoo villages. Later the delegates visited the
stitching centre run at Akol Sahib (Sangrur) Where 31 girls are being given training. |
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Christmas to be celebrated at
state level AMRITSAR, Dec 21 — For the first time, a state-level Christmas would be celebrated here in this holy city on December 27. Mr Manawar
Masih, president, Christian Front Punjab and member of the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board while addressing a press conference today said that Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, and many of his cabinet colleagues would participate in the function. Earlier, the state-level functions used to be held at Gurdaspur — the Christian-dominated border district. Mr Masih said that Mr Badal would announce many developmental projects for the benefit of Christian community. He urged the state government to direct the district magistrates and district officials of the state to give foolproof security to the Christian community. He alleged that under the influence of the RSS and the BJP the function of Christians could not be held here last year. Mr Masih said that various Christian organisations and other sects would participate in the function. |
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BJP youth leader cremated BATHINDA, Dec 21 — Som Nath, senior leader of the state unit of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) of the Punjab unit, died when the Tata Sierra in which he was travelling, along with two others, collided with a truck near Daula village on the Bathinda-Abohar road last night. The body was consigned to flames today. Prominent among those attended the funeral were Mr Sukhwinder Pal Singh Grewal, President, BJYM, Punjab, Mr Darshan Singh Jeeda, President, Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP), Punjab, Mr Anil Bhola, President, city Congress. A local market remained closed today. |
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District status for
Pathankot sought PATHANKOT, Dec 21 — The office-bearers of the local city Congress Committee today staged a dharna in support of the Zila Banao Sangharsh Samiti whose agitation entered its 66th day today. Four members of the Bar Association, including Mr Rajinder Gupta, Mr Manjit Singh, Mr Sanjay Gulati, and Mr R.B. Purisat, sat on dharna. They are demanding upgradation of the subdivision to the district level |
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A clarification Apropos of the news in the Regional Briefs column on December 10, the Moga police has clarified that it had not arrested Mr Som Dutt Gupta, a resident of the Civil Lines area, following the recovery of a stolen scooter from his possession. It is Gurditta Singh of the Civil Lines area who has
been arrested. In fact, the scooter belonged to Mr Som Dutt Gupta. The error is regretted. |
Anti-encroachment drive fails MANSA, Dec 21 — The anti-encroachment drive launched by the administration has not had the desired effect. Markets of major towns of this district have become overcrowded again as shopkeepers have encroached on vacant land and even the footpaths have been occupied. The district authorities recently launched an anti-encroachment drive. The market had become orderly and ample parking space was made available for vehicles. Once the drive was over and the administrator transferred shopkeepers lost no time in illegally occupying the land and footpath space in front of the shops. As a result, the entire exercise which cost the administration a lot has proved to be a complete waste. During the tenure of the present administration nothing has been done towards removing encroachment. All footpaths and roads have been taken over by shopkeepers. It is difficult for people to cross roads. The local municipal council officials have never tried to check these encroachments because they have to look after many more problems which may be of benefit to them or their departments. The vehicles of the administration also have to wait to reach their destination but the officers-sitting inside have never thought to solve this problem because they have no time. |
Child thrown into canal over Rs 100 LUDHIANA, Dec 21— Just for Rs 100 a migrant labourer threw a four-year-old child in the Sidhwan canal here on Tuesday evening. Timely action by three policemen who by chance saw the shocking act saved the child and arrested the person. The accused man, Jagdish Kumar, told The Tribune he wanted to teach a lesson to the child’s father, Girrani Dass, a resident of Kidwai Nagar here, who had demanded Rs 100 that he (the accused) owed him . Girrani Dass, the father of the child, said he owned two rickshaws. He drives one himself while the other has been given on a daily rent of Rs 20 to the accused Jagdish Kumar. The accused had not paid rent for the past five days and when the rickshaw owner demanded his money they had a heated argument. Girrani Dass gave Jagdish Kumar an ultimatum to pay due sum due to him otherwise he would take his rickshaw back. The accused instead of doing this kidnapped the owner’s four-year-old son Chandan in the afternoon, took him around for a few hours in the city and then threw him into the Sidhwan canal near the upcoming South City. Fortunately, Constable Gurmail Singh who along with Constable Gian Singh and Home Guard Anil Kumar were returning from duty in a police van saw the person throwing the child in the
canal. While Gurmail Singh, who does not know much swimming, jumped in the canal and saved the child the other two ran after the accused and caught him after a chase. The unrepentant man then even tried to lead the police astray by taking them to several parts of the city before finally bringing them to the child’s house. The child’s parents were overjoyed to see their child back. “We were worried at our son vanishing,” Anita Devi, mother of the child. They were more anxious because of recent reports of a child’s dying after falling in a manhole and other kidnapping incidents taking place in the city. They said their joy turned into shock when they learnt about the act of “their friend” Jagdish Kumar. The child’s father said, ‘‘I would have preferred parting with all my money just to have my son back alive’’. He said he could not imagine in his wildest dreams that anyone could resort to such an act just over a paltry amount of Rs 100. The police, meanwhile, has recommended an award for Constable Gurmail Singh. Mr Pramod Ban, SP (City), said the police was recommending special promotion for Constable Gurmail Singh while a cash award and a commendation certificate were being recommended for the other two police personnel. He said the constable’s act was exemplary as he was not an expert swimmer and risked his life for saving the child. |
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16 stolen vehicles recovered, 2 held JANDIALA GURU (Amritsar), Dec 21 — One of the biggest inter-state gang of vehicle thieves was busted with the arrest of two of its six members. The others are still absconding. As many as 16 vehicles, including 5 heavy vehicles, A .38-bore revolver and six cartridges were recovered. Those arrested have been identified as Sukhchain Singh, alias Chaina, resident of Ram Singh Wala and gang leader Baljinder Singh, alias Billu, of Chola Sahib. They were arrested during a naka in the Jandiala Guru area. Two trucks, three truck-tankers, three Tata Sumos, four jeeps and four cars were recovered from their possession. Their worth is estimated at Rs 70 lakh. Mr Lok Nath Angra, SSP, Majitha, said their modus operandi was to steal vehicles from Maharashtra and Gujarat. They would prepare documents by using fake stamps and seals. These vehicles were brought to Punjab and sold at cheaper rates after improvising them. The vehicles were mostly sold in Tarn Taran to relatives, friends or acquaintances of the gang. Lakha Singh of Pakhokey who bought stolen vehicles from the gang has also been arrested. The police is on the lookout for Gurbhej Singh of Ruriwala, Farid Singh of Rahal Chahal and Gurdial Singh of Lakhalaptia for buying the vehicles. A case under Sections 379, 419, 420, 468 and 471 IPC, has been registered. A case under the Arms Act has also been registered against Baljinder Singh for the recovery of a .38 revolver which is a prohibited bore. |
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22 satta dealers held, Rs 31,900
recovered BATHINDA, Dec 21 — The district police arrested 22 satta dealers and recovered Rs 31,900 from them during the past 24 hours as part of a special drive. Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, said the police had made special teams to nab satta dealers throughout the district. The police had conducted raids at all places simultaneously. The dealers said the main centres of the satta and “dara” were in Delhi, Sirsa and Matili. The district police had earlier arrested a “baba” involved in the trade of satta. He would use a mobile phone to inform people about satta digits. Some of those arrested were wanted by the police in other cases also, Rakha Ram of Talwandi Sabo was arrested in the satta case and Rs 3,000 was recovered from him. There were 23 cases registered against him at various police stations. Similarly Gyan Singh of Bhuchu was arrested with Rs 5,000 of satta money. He was needed in four other cases. Raj Kumar of Bhucho, Daya Nand, Jagdish Kumar, and Rakesh Kumar, all of Bathinda, and Naresh Kumar and Rakesh Kumar of Bhucho were also wanted in other cases. Some of them were also involved in narcotics smuggling. |
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Ex-Naib Tehsildar held in land scam case JALANDHAR, Dec 21 — The Kartarpur land scam in which 42 acres of prime land worth crores at Kahlwan village were grabbed allegedly by preparing forged revenue records took a new turn when a former Naib-Tehsildar, Balbir Singh, was today arrested for forging records. Mr Gurnam Singh, sarpanch of Kahlwan, a complaint to the police on February 21 alleged that Pritam Singh of Reru Pind and five others had grabbed prime land belonging to Jumla Mushtrqa Owner (JMOs) by forging the signatures of the owners and preparing forged revenue documents in connivance with Balbir Singh. As many as 13 general power of attorney allegedly executed by 62 JMOs were found to have been forged by the suspects. They had ignored the stay orders granted by the civil courts and the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said Paramjit Singh and the Balbir Singh went to Kahlwan village and told the owners of the land that their land was being acquired by the government and they would be paid compensation. They allegedly obtained signatures and thumb impressions of the owners on blank papers which were kept in the revenue records. They also tampered with a letter of Jalandhar consolidation officer and got mutations transferred on March 25. Balbir Singh sanctioned these mutations on March 31. Paramjit Singh was booked and arrested last year on a complaint from the panchayat officer. Subsequently, Balbir Singh was suspended for his alleged involvement in the scam. |
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Married woman
abducted, raped LUDHIANA, Dec 21 — A married woman was allegedly abducted by two persons in a car and raped here today. She appeared for a medical examination in the Civil Hospital in the evening along with her husband but no complaint was lodged with the police till late in the evening. A doctor confirming the incident said the woman, resident of Parbhat Nagar in the city and a mother of two children, was allegedly abducted and raped by two persons. He said the woman had come directly for medical examination. He said according to a recent Punjab Government order a woman can come for medical examination before lodging a complaint with the police. The doctor said swabs collected had been sent for examination to the State Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory at Patiala. Interestingly, the Focal Point police said it had not received any such complaint so far. |
DIET students allege manhandling BATHINDA, Dec 21 — Students of the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) today staged a dharna at the bus stop of Deon village on the Bathinda-Muktsar highway, about 25 km from here, for about four hours. They were protesting against the misbehaviour of a bus conductor who manhandled them, they alleged. The students alleged bus conductors harassed them when they had to board a bus to go to their institute. The situation became tense when a bus conductor of a state transport bus took the vehicle to the police station at the thermal plant and requested the police authorities that the students should be made to vacate the bus and board another bus, one student alleged. One of the conductors of a bus of a private transport company had developed a habit of harassing the students, particularly the girl students, they alleged. As per the orders of the State Transport Department they said their concessional bus passes should be honoured in state-owned and private buses but this was not done. The private bus operators had got a ready excuse that when the government transport buses did not honour the passes then why should they. The students shouted slogans against the state government, the Transport Department and bus operators in particular. Mr Jaswinder Singh Mehama, president of the Students Union, DIET, Bathinda, said on the one hand the Education Department had not conducted exams of the first and fourth semester for the batches of 1999-2001 and 1998-2000 and on the other hand the stepmotherly treatment meted out to students of the Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) course was causing undue tension in the minds of students. When contacted the police officials at the thermal plant denied that any conductor of a state-owned bus had made a complaint to them this morning. Mr Gurinder Jit Pal Singh, Assistant District Transport Officer, Bathinda, when contacted said a meeting with DIET students and representatives of the transport company concerned had been fixed for Tuesday. He added that the problem raised by the students was very genuine and the authorities would take action on this shortly. However, the students ended their dharna and the situation became normal when Mr Jaspreet Singh Sidhu, DSP (R), reached the spot and assured them that action would be taken against the bus conductor who had manhandled them today. |
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Proforma for student appraisal scheme released Patiala, Dec 21 — Faced by an agitation by the Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) executive, the authorities today made it clear that there would be no roll-back on its stand on the career advancement as well as the student appraisal scheme, and went ahead and released the pro forma to be adopted by students to evaluate their teachers from this quarter onwards. The university Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, claimed that the authorities had a righteous cause and would not be deterred by the pressure tactics and the agitational approach of a section of the PUTA executive. A majority of the PUTA executive and some faculty members had held a dharna in front of the Vice-Chancellor ‘ s office yesterday, demanding immediate withdrawal of the student appraisal scheme besides calling for 100 per cent selection under the career advancement scheme. The United Teachers Front ( UTF ), comprising some university bodies, had disassociated from the dharna. The Vice-Chancellor announced that a top-level meeting today had decided to allow a second chance to those not selected by the career advancement scheme provided they respected the selection committee decisions and disassociated themselves from the PUTA demand on the issue. Dr Ahluwalia claimed that the real issue ‘’ unnecessarily ‘’ agitating the minds of a section of PUTA related to the scheme of appraisal of teachers by the students, which had already been approved by the Syndicate in pursuance of the CAS of the University Grants Commission (UGC). While making it clear that the scheme would not be withdrawn, he said its details could be discussed with PUTA provided they stopped opposing it in principle. The Vice-Chancellor said the scheme would grade teachers in terms of knowledge of the subject, power of expression, accessibility of the teacher for guidance to students before and after classes, punctuality, regularity and role model image of the teacher. He said the students would not write their names but only their registration numbers for the purpose of confidentiality. He said two pro formas would be filled in a year covering the periods from August to November and December to February. He said the pro forma would be printed in the handbook of information and would be available free of cost from the publication bureau also. Dr Ahluwalia said the pro formas would be ceremoniously distributed to the students in the beginning of the New Year, adding that the scheme was optional with the students having the right to exercise their option or not. He said the list of teachers with the grades scored by them would be published for their self-improvement. He said the scheme was aimed at building a moral pressure, but later the university Syndicate could take steps to initiate action against teachers who were judged poorly by the students consistently. Speaking on the issue of slow promotions under the present regime, the Vice-Chancellor said the facts were completely different with 18 promotions have taken place during his one-and-a-half year tenure besides 22 cases of regularisation of ad hoc teachers have been completed. He said in contrast there had been only four promotions during the three years prior to his joining the university. Meanwhile, a group of 48 teachers, who claim they are not aligned to any group in the university, gave a signed statement under the name of the “ Teachers Welfare Front ‘’ condemning the dharna held yesterday by the PUTA executive. The statement said the dharna was aimed at ‘’ torpedoing ‘’ the selection process and had no meaning as it was not organised after consulting the general body of the organisation. |
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Sanskrit to be made
compulsory AMRITSAR, Dec 21 — The Department of Sanskrit, Guru Nanak Dev University here, at the two-day seminar sponsored by the HRD Ministry took a unanimous decision for the promotion of Sanskrit language. Sanskrit would be made compulsory at the school level, vacant posts of Sanskrit teacher may be filled in the schools, colleges and universities while a Sanskrit academy would be established in Punjab. Speakers at the seminar called for liberal financial assistance to be given to Sanskrit students at each level. Also, the candidates qualifying for Shastri exam from this university should be awarded Shastri degree and may be entitled to get admission in MA (Sanskrit) and B.Ed. Similarly, scholarships should also be given to Sanskrit students. Schools teaching Sanskrit traditionally should be revived and be given the status of college. |
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