Unruly scenes at MC meeting: 
Mayor, councillors trade charges
By Kuldip Bhatia

LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — The general house meeting of the Municipal Corporation held in the committee room of the civic body here today witnessed angry exchanges and trading of charges between the Mayor, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, and several councillors. The unruly scenes continued for almost an hour and it was only after some senior councillors intervened to pacify the agitated councillors and the Mayor withdrew some of his offensive remarks that the proceedings could start and agenda items were taken up.

It was the quality control agency M/s S.G.S. India Ltd, commissioned by the MC to supervise the construction of roads along Budha Nallah, that evoked a stormy debate in the meeting. At the outset, the SAD councillor, Giani Baldev Singh lodged strong protest with the chair over giving effect to an item regarding the quality control agency, which was not approved by the House. He said the action of Mayor and the MC officials was tantamount to disrespect of the elected representatives.

A report on the working of the quality control agency, presented before the House, revealed that the agency had detected an excess payment of Rs 14,48,875 to the contractors in the construction work of roads along Budha Nullah. An independent councillor, Mr Jai Parkash pointed out that measurements of the work, shown in the measurement books (MBs) and those arrived at by the MC officials and the quality control agency were at variance. His demand that officers responsible for making excess payment to the contractors should be identified and proceeded against, found many supporters.

The MC Commissioner, Dr S.S. Sandhu, announced that the Additional Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sharma, would conduct a detailed inquiry and would submit his report in the next meeting of the House.

Mr Sunil Mehra (BJP) raised the matter of auction of shops in Purana Bazar, adjoining a temple, saying that the temple management was not taken into confidence. The Mayor assured the House that a subcommittee, comprising MC officers and the area councillor, will take up the matter and arrive at an amicable solution. The renaming of road from Durga Mata Mandir to Fountain Chowk as Basant Singh Khalsa Marg was also brought before the House for reconsideration, to which the Mayor and the Akali Dal legislator, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, who was present in the meeting, urged the councillors, not to raise the issues which had already been decided by the House.

As the item of the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) going in for construction of its new administrative complex at Ferozepore Road was taken up, the Commissioner, Dr Sandhu, observed that PUDA was an independent agency and the MC should not be interfering in its affairs. However, without much discussion, the House adopted the motion that PUDA should have its headquarters at Samrala Road and decided to forward its views to the government for further action.

The meeting accorded its approval to various other items, which included promotion of firemen to leading firemen, payment of membership fee to Council of Mayors, remission of house tax on a commercial property in Gur Mandi, owned by surviving family members of Gur Mandi fire, renaming of a park in Janata Nagar, renaming road from Children’s Traffic Park to Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Model Town as Sardar Avtar Singh Marg, auction of commercial sites near Lakshmi Cinema, appointment of computer operators on a contract basis and progress report on the construction of treatment plants under the Sutlej Action Plan.

The councillors, cutting across party lines, alleged discrimination in clearance of encroachments and connivance of MC employees in encroachments on MC land, roads and public streets all over the city. The Commissioner announced that a special drive will be launched to clear permanent and temporary encroachments along the roads and public streets, with the active involvement of concerned area councillors.

Among others, leader of BJP group councillors, Mr Pran Bhatia, Senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Jagdish Prasad Loomba, Mr Manjit Singh Mundian, Mr Kulwant Singh Dukhia, Mr Surjit Singh Ahluwalia, Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Mr Hakam Singh Giaspura, Mrs Manjit Kaur Gogi, Mr Kanwardeep Singh Pappi and Mr Balkar Singh and Mr Madan Lal Bagga took part in the deliberations.

Complainant turns out to be accused in forgery case
From Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — In an interesting turn of events, a complainant in a cheating case had turned out to be the prime accused in it. The alleged involvement of a policeman in the case makes it a larger forgery than what came to light earlier. It has also brought to light how after making some payment, police verification is got easily done in such cases.

Acting swiftly after a rare ‘speedy’ inquiry, which included a trip to Moga by a police party, the district police has also arrested four persons in connection with the forgery. Those arrested today included the former complainant Naveen Garg, a Moga-based woman, an unidentified man and a policeman Satnam Singh, who is working as Reader in the CIA wing of DSP, who, interestingly, conducted the inquiry.

Police investigation revealed that the complainant Naveen Garg, Ramesh Garg and the policeman had taken Rs 6 lakh from a Moga-based girl to get her passport made. The girl was interested in going abroad and had applied for a passport, which was rejected by the Passport Authority, Chandigarh. She then came into contact with Naveen Garg, who assured to help her by getting her passport made in the name of his wife.

However, some differences over the distribution of money arose between the three, which led Naveen Garg to lodge a complaint with the police regarding the issuance of the fake passport in his wife’s name. The police, helped by a leak, also got suspicious and inquired through the CIA staff police. The inquiry eventually exposed the alleged cheating done by the complainant in connivance with the police officer.

DSP (D) Manjit Singh, who headed the inquiry, confirmed that the complainant had turned out to be the main accused in the case. He said four persons, including a police officer, had also been arrested on the charges of cheating.

He said the complainant tried to act clever through getting a case registered against unknown persons about the making of the fake passport in the name of his wife. Explaining about the cheating, he said the complainant and the police officer took money from the Moga-based girl for getting a passport. The businessman got a passport made in the name of his wife but affixed a photograph of the girl. The police officer got the verification done.

Later, due to some differences, the businessman, apprehending some trouble, applied for the passports of all members of his family. The Passport Authority issued passports in the names of businessman’s wife and his two children but informed that there was a passport in the name of his wife. The businessman then lodged a complaint to protect himself from the trouble which he was anticipating.

Rape case: victim's mother-in-law alleges police inaction
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 22— The mother-in-law of the alleged rape victim of Parbhat Nagar here while talking to Ludhiana Tribune, decried the police for not registering a case against the three suspects , one of whom is known to the family. Officials at the Focal Point police station, however, said they had received a complaint only today and would be taking some action.

Interestingly, the family had reported the matter to the police only after getting the woman medically examined first. Another baffling fact was that the family had registered a complaint at the Focal Point Police Station which is far away from their residence instead of the Division No. 6 Police Station which is nearer their residence.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune from her residence here today the mother-in-law of the alleged victim said her daughter-in-law had gone to buy some vegetables on Wednesday night from a market in Bhagwan Pura near their residence. When she returned after more than two hours her clothes were torn and she was crying profusely. She also had scratch marks on her face and other parts of the body.

The mother-in-law said the victim told the family that she had gone to the market but at two open plots, three persons in a blue car dragged her in the car and raped her. She said that she had recognised one man who lived in the colony. She said the victim and her husband had reported the matter to the Focal Point police and later went to the civil hospital for medical examination.

She refuted the claims of the police that they had not received any complaint and maintained that they had complained to the police the very next day but when no action was taken they had gone in for medical examination. She said the couple had gone to Jalandhar today as the girl was feeling depressed here.

SHO Balwinder Singh Sekhon said he had received the complaint only today but as it pertained to the Division No. 6 police station, he was referring the case there.

He, however, said the complaint was doubtful as the family had an old dispute with another family of the colony and one of the persons named by the woman was from that family.

Dept of Posts postpones phone bill scheme
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — The Postal Department has been forced to postpone its much-touted “door-to-door collection of telephone bills” scheme and the night mail service scheme which were to be started this month.

Under the scheme the department had to collect the telephone bills from the subscribers for the first time in December.

The Chief Postmaster General, Punjab circle, Mr A.S.I.S. Paul, who was in the city recently while speaking exclusively to Ludhiana Tribune said the strike by postal employees had badly affected the plan otherwise the department was all set to give it a try this time.

He further said the plan had been delayed for a period of one month now. He said not only the telephone bill collection scheme but the night mail service which was to be started this month had also been delayed.

The scheme was planned for the convenience of the public as well as the Postal Department. Under the scheme the residents would not have to visit a post office to pay their telephone bill and the department would have been spared of the extra rush and burden of work. The scheme would have fetched extra allowances to the staff assigned the task of collecting the payments.

Officials in the department feel that it will be some time before normal working will be restored in the department so both the schemes will be tried during the new year. “We will now start both the schemes in the next month. We are hopeful that next time there will be no problems and everything will work out well.” said Mr Paul.

Under the telephone bill scheme postmen will collect telephone bills from the subscribers and after depositing the money the receipts will be delivered to the subscribers at their homes. This facility would have cost the subscriber Rs 10 out of which the postmen would have got Rs 1 per bill as incentive.

The department had also decided to launch similar schemes for the collection of electricity bills, water bills and municipal taxes in the near future. But due to the strike all plans are in the dumps for the time being.

Badal for restraint in religious affairs
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — In an obvious bid to stay away from the controversy raised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, over the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activities in Punjab with an objective to involve the Sikhs in its fold, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, advised restraint and said no religion or religious organisation should interfere into the affairs of others.

Talking to reporters at the inauguration of the trade fair being organised by the northern chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the Punjab Agricultural University campus here today, the Chief Minister evading a direct answer about Mr Talwandi’s remarks on the RSS said, “I am of the firm belief that each religion has the right to propagate itself without interfering into the affairs of others”.

While Mr Talwandi has been bold and forthright in his diatribe against the RSS, Mr Badal, despite persistent queries by the reporters, remained cautious and guarded in his responses. Mr Talwandi soon after assuming charge of the SGPC chief, started a tirade against the RSS activities in Punjab. The immediate provocation for the SGPC chief appears to be the activities of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, an RSS offshoot, in rural Punjab for including the Sikhs in its fold. Mr Badal remarked Punjab cannot afford religious intolerance and it should be discouraged at all costs.

The Chief Minister also ruled out early elections in the state and asserted that the elections to the Assembly would be held on schedule. He said, “I have been reiterating time and again that there are no plans for snap polls and I reiterate it again”.

Mr Badal also evaded a direct reply on the issue of Mr Sukhbir Badal being fielded for the Rajya Sabha. He disclosed that the final authority to decide the issue will be the Political Affairs Committee of the party. In case he was authorised to take a final decision, as was usually done, Mr Badal said, his decision had always been right and this time also it would be so.

The Chief Minister was all praise for the CII for organising the trade fair at Ludhiana. He pointed out, it would help in providing the industry a platform for better exposure besides developing a rapport with the outside world.

He said, the government was in constant touch with the industrialists and may soon be constituting a consultative committee for suggesting ways and means to improve the industrial growth in the state.

The Chief Minister also justified the allotment of government land to PAU and the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation. He claimed, it was after great efforts that the land was retrieved from the central government so that it could be used properly by different state agencies.

Reacting to the reports of encroachment on government land, Mr Badal asked the Deputy Commissioner Mr S.K. Sandhu, to conduct a thorough probe into the allegations and submit a report to him within one week.

1,100 acres earmarked for industry: Badal
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — The local industrialists were given an assurance by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the CM, that Ludhiana would be developed as a modern textile city in the near future. For this purpose 1,100 acres of land has already been earmarked at Ladowal village. The industry representatives will be given due representation to develop it.

Mr Badal also disclosed that about 250 acres of land was also available for other purposes. He suggested that this could be developed for recreation purposes. A golf club or a recreational park on the pattern of Fun City would be set up after studying its feasibility.

He was speaking at a meeting held with the local industrialists after inaugurating the CII Ludhiana fair. Those who attended the meeting included Mr JR Singhal, Vice Chairman, Punjab State Council, CII, Mr SP Oswal, Mr Sunil Kant Munjhal, Mr Vijay Munjhal, Hero Cycle Group, Mr Bahl, Regional Director, CII. Mr Badal appreciated the industrialists for making a substantial contribution to the development of the state.

Mr SP Singh, Chairman, Punjab State Council, Confederation of Indian Industry, after attending the meeting with the CM said they had been assured that the issue of sales tax on steel at the first point had been deferred for a year since by 2002 the VAT system will be implemented, so the sales tax at the first stage on steel will come into force at that time.

Mr Badal said, “An independent, empowered state electricity regulatory commission will be set up by March 2001 to fix the tariff on electricity. This will help improve the health of the PSEB which was suffering from huge financial losses.” However, he avoided giving any commitment over the removal of free electricity to the agriculture sector.

He agreed to look into the demand of the CII to conduct a study on the ‘diversification of agriculture’ in Punjab on the lines of CII-Mckinsey FAIDA Report of 1996.

Earlier, some industrialists tried to convince the CM to have released the hosiery goods seized by the CBI and the Sales Tax Department of the state few days back at the locla rail station. However, Mr Badal declined to intervene saying that the issue was already in the jurisdiction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, so he could do nothing.

Interestingly, Mr Badal arrived at the venue by 1.00 p.m., two hours before the scheduled time. A number of industrialists complained they were not informed about the changed programme.

Mr VK Goel, Chief Executive of the Vardhman Spinning and General Mills told the media persons since the CM had to go to Chamkor Sahib, the programme was changed at a short notice. 

Punjab Roadways declares 33 buses as junk
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — The Punjab Roadways depot here has put 33 more buses on the condemned list. It had auctioned 43 buses earlier.

A senior official of the depot said of the 165 buses 50 per cent were to be put on the condemned list. However, these buses were still operational.

He said for the past two years no bus had been put on the condemned list as replacements were not available.

Talking about the auction of the buses he said this time there was a good response. The depot got Rs 28 lakh by auctioning 43 buses. It was 40 per cent above the reserve price.

There was only 12 per cent increase from the minimum floor price of earlier auctions. The auctioned buses have bee bought by the Mettle Scrap Trading Corporation (MSTC) of India.

The official further added that the decision to give render to the MSTC was taken a senior level.

The decision to condemn 33 buses had been taken at a meeting of the condemnation board held here on December 20 last.

Shweta Shetty to perform on Dec 24
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — Lodhi Club will organise 'Millenium Eve 2k -1' to celebrate Christmas and New Year on December 24 in the club lawns.

Diwane to diwane hain fame singer Shweta Shetty will perform live for music lovers. Besides, famous Punjabi singer Jazzy B from the United Kingdom will also be performing for the first time in Punjab. Mr S.K.Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana will be the chief guest on the occasion.

AT THE CROSS ROADS
The age of Narcissus
By N.S.Tasneem

IN this age of the media, to exhibit themselves has become the primary concern of a large number of persons, jostling with others to be in the limelight in all fields of activity. To some extent this tendency can be attributed to a human weakness but it takes the form of an obsession when one falls in love with one’s image. The mythical youth Narcissus was so enamoured of his face that he lied down for hours on the bank of a clear pond to see the reflection of his face in water.

To be well-known or famous is one thing but to be recognised is another. Recognition is welcome when it results from the work of a lifetime but it loses its charm when extraneous efforts are made to draw attention. The garden is the best place where the beauty of a flower can be admired, said Mirza Ghalib. In case it is brought to the market for some material gain, it loses its intrinsic value.

Ghaarit-gare namus no ho
gar hawas-e-zar,
kyon shahid-e-gul bagh se
bazaar mein aaye.

I have found many poets and writers trying to catch the eyes of the general public. They recite one poem after another in symposiums simply because they want to get profuse applause and come on to stage in seminars to catch the attention of the audience. In this age when reading habits have nosedived, the audience takes the easy course of using eyes and ears instead of applying the mind.

In the early days of my writing career, I shied away from publicity. My books had no photograph of mine till 1973, when I wanted my photograph with Sardar Nanak Singh, the father of the Punjabi novel, to appear in my book of literary criticism.

I have changed with the passage of time. I am no longer with Bhai Vir Singh, who wanted to remain incognito. His books seldom carried his name and there were subtle references on the covers to their authorship. He came only once to the stage to recite his poem but left it midway. He never moved out to meet people. He visited Kashmir during summers to seek inspiration from nature and to be away from the crowd. He received the first Sahitya Akademi Award in 1955.

Now it is not desirable to remain within the precincts of one’s house. To be noticed by others is necessary. But to overdo the work of self-projection is counter-productive. It is not publicity but merit which counts. One should move with the times but should take care that one is not swept off one’s feet while doing so. One should not become a showcase to exhibit a showpiece.

COMMUNITY

Govt has betrayed people, says Cong
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — The SAD-BJP government, led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has betrayed the people of Punjab and has miserably failed to fulfil any of its poll promises.

The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) general secretary, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, secretary, Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa, and chairman of Urban Development Cell of the Indian Youth Congress, Mr Pawan Diwan, have said in a joint statement that whenever the Akali Dal government came to power in the state, the people were made to suffer.

More than a decade of terrorism and killing of innocent persons, was also in a way, brought about by various Akali factions.

The Congress activists observed that it was the then Chief Minister, Beant Singh, who had fought a battle against terrorism and separatism and in a bid to restore peace in this border state, had laid down his life. “Not only had the development process in Punjab been stagnating ever since the present government assumed office, the unabated crime wave all over the state had created a sense of grave insecurity among people.”

According to them, all sections of the people were feeling frustrated and betrayed as a result of anti-people policies of the government and the voters would not let go the opportunity to take revenge from the ruling coalition in the next assembly elections. The Congress leaders claimed that all-round development of Punjab would begin again after the Congress was voted to power.

Meanwhile, Mr Manjit Singh Malerkotla, OSD in the PPCC, has expressed resentment against denial of voting rights in the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections to sehajdhari Sikhs. In a statement, he said the decision, if given effect, would not only be violative of Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, but would also be a religious and sentimental injustice to the sehajdhari Sikhs.

Mr Malerkotla alleged that certain senior Akali leaders were behind the move to deprive the sehajdhari Sikhs of their voting right in the SGPC elections. The true followers of Guru Nanak would fight to the last to safeguard their right to take part in the SGPC elections, he added.

Beauty lies in good health, says Afreen girl
From Tribune Reporters

LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — Lisa Ray was in the city in connection with the opening of Lakme beauty saloon. The radiant and beautiful model-turned- actress was candid, ready to answer the questions put to her. Voicing her opinion on the concept of beauty, she said, “The real beauty is not skin deep. Beauty for me includes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual beauty. Yet good physical health is the most important ingretient of beauty. For looking radiant, I would advise young people to eat balanced food and do regular work-outs”.

You can't miss those ravishing Bengali looks which subtly lie hidden behind the fair Polish skin. Lisa Ray sports it all ...and very beautifully at that. No wonder her's is the face which embodies the image of the largest cosmetic corporate house of the country — Lakme. The choice of the industry which is all set to enter the beauty service providing market has been more than just judicious, for Lisa truly reflects the tenets of beauty.

Thanks to the strict beauty maintenance regime which Lisa religiously follows and also the lot of focus she lays on sensible eating. She need not have voiced the secrets of that sunny glow which dripped from her face. Her looks said it all.

On the use of make up and its ill-effects on skin, she replied, “In my profession of modelling and films, 80 per cent of times, I have to don make-up. But I follow good and regular beauty regime. The moment my assignment is over I remove my make-up. Commenting on Indian girls winning all major beauty crowns this year Liza said “Let us not be very cynical about the whole issue or give it too much importance. Moreover, these beauty pageants provide a good beginning to young girls wanting to enter the fields of glamour and movies — so where is the harm”.

“Moreover, I feel Indian girls are very intelligent and very fluent in English. Winning a beauty contest these days involve team effort”, she said. Whether these contests were making the young girls too obsessed with beauty and beauty products, Replying to a query Lisa Ray said, “when a thing is a novelty, it attracts a lot of people, but gradually it settles down. But right down the centuries, Indian women have been conscious of their looks and were often portrayed holding a mirror. What about Solah Shingar that women carried out in the past. They resorted to it because it made them feel good moreover — if the beauty products make you look good, you will feel more confident. In my view Indian women are really beautiful”.

Talking about her movie career, she said, “I have got a good role in Kasoor. I am enacting the role of a lawyer and my co-star is Aftab Sivdasani. In my next movie too. I have a good role. This is my second visit to Ludhiana and I love coming here for it is less polluted than Mumbai. I love the people also, they are very warm.”

From the girl who added beauty to the desert of Jaisalmer in the video of Nusrat Fateh ALi Khan song Aafreen, Lisa has come a long way. She has taken time off to finish other skills which lie dormant in the fair-glow girl. She took a whole year off to curate an exhibition at Mumbai last year. Collection of art is the very favourite hobby with her and among her priciest of possessions is the painting by Suhas Roy.

Reading is another must do for Lisa who was honest to confess her inclination towards the Bengal school of writers. Apart from that she loves to keep fit and follows a fitness regime, though not in a very disciplinary fashion. "I like eating everything. When I am in Punjab, I can't miss on those makki di rotis and kali daal. But I make sure that all eating is sensible. Also, I must walk for at least 15 minutes in a day."

As far as planning life is concerned, Lisa has not been a very hardcore planner. She says: "Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans. As far as now, the going has been good. But that does not keep me from believing in the theories of karma and destiny."

Lisa began modeling at a very tender age and that, too, when she had least expected to do so.

On being asked, if she enjoyed doing an ad for a soft drink where she bathes with the drink, she said, “Oh, I loved it as I love doing everything that I do. I enjoy my job.” Perhaps that is the secret of Lisa’s success and radiance.

Workers prevented from entering factory
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Dec 21 — Employees of Jaiparabolic Springs Limited were allegedly prevented from entering the factory premises by the management for the second day here today.

Mr Jagdeep Singh and Mr Satwinder Singh, president and general secretary respectively of the Jaiparabolic Employees Union, have appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister to intevene in the matter and help the suspended employees in getting back their jobs.

He alleged that the company had not implemented the agreement that had been reached out between the management and the employees. Instead it had suspended a large number of workers and many others were being issued threats that if they did not mend their ways they would be transferred to far-away places.

The union leaders have demanded the reinstatement of the suspended employees, wages for the month of November, bonus, uniform etc.

Prediction on Bush comes true
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — The prediction of Mr Vinod Kumar Gupta, an Executive Engineer with the Bhakra Beas Management Board, before the United States presidential elections that Mr George W. Bush will win has come true. His prediction was carried in different newspapers in the first week of November, much before the elections.

Mr Gupta had predicted that Mr Bush would find favour from women. He claimed that his predictions were proved right with the Secretary of State in Florida, Ms Katherine Harris, supporting Mr Bush by certifying him as the victor.

According to Mr Gupta, the close fight and narrow margin of victory between Mr Bush and Mr Al Gore was because both were having the same ascendant (the lagana) with both having Moon and Jupiter conjoined. Mr Bush is running in the subperiod of Rahu whereas Mr Al Gore is running in the main period of Rahu. Only Mercury in the seventh house made Mr Bush the President.

The astrologer predicts that the Mercury in the seventh house in the annual horoscope of Mr Bush upto July 7, 2001, will give him and his country success in computers, communications and solving women-related problems. But the Ketu in the third house will give him problems from colleagues, friends, labour, transport and travelling. His mother and the economy of the USA will face major setbacks. There may be major transport accidents in the USA during 2001.

Rahu in the fifth house in the Indian annual horoscope upto August 15, 2000, indicates that Mr Bush may lift sanctions against India but may not be able to help in boosting the Indian economy. Rahu in the eleventh house of Pakistan’s annual horoscope upto August 15, 2000, indicates that he may impose more sanctions against Pakistan.

This is not for the first time that Mr Gupta’s predictions have proved right. His predictions were regularly published in English and Hindi dailies. He had also predicted that Mr Bill Clinton would be elected and re-elected President, would get a fracture in the leg, would get involved in problems with women and would ultimately get rid of these.

Traders allege harassment
From Our Correspondent

KHANNA, Dec 22 — A meeting of the traders of the city to discuss the complaints against the private octroi contractors was organised at the local police station under the chairmanship of Mr Harinder Jit Singh Sidhu, S.P.(H) today.

Following complaints of harassment and irregularities by the octroi contractors, like illegal impounding of goods and snatching of bills and receipts from the traders, S.P. (H) called a meeting of the traders, contractors, municipal octroi staff and other officials and councillors.

Mr Vijay Vij, president, Electronic Association , Khanna, showed the fake octroi slips to the Octroi Superintendent and alleged that the contractors gave unprinted slips to the traders and collected octroi from them. The number of these slips was not mentioned in the municipal records.

The Superintendent asked Mr Vij to file a written complaint, assuring him that necessary action would be taken, and said no employee of the contractors would check octroi if not in uniform and without identity card.