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| Monday, December 25, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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All set
for launch of biotechnology Shaheedi
Jor Mela begins today Minorities
panel for TADA cases’ review Move to
privatise sewerage: Tandon
TB eradication campaign launched |
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| Medical college alumni
to form committee PATIALA, December 24 — A resolution to form a committee of alumni members as a united association was passed on the concluding day of the Government Medical College alumni meeting where various delegates from different parts of the country and from abroad had gathered today.
BJYM state
unit reconstituted PPCC to hold rallies
from January Ravi Inder meets Kanshi
Ram Mid-term
poll not likely: Azad
Dowry
death: two get 7-year RI Distortion of Sikh
history Row over land
acquisition Councillor
urged not to commit suicide
Harpreet case: doc’s plea to turn approver Move to take over
school building opposed Insecticide dealers
allege harassment Marriage palace gutted Downsize ministry, says railway union Pak plan to ‘foment’
trouble in Punjab Pensioners’
plea to extend date Shakkargarh ‘vacated before pact signing’ Cremation ground
neglected: Dang
Judge visits police
station Punjab Assembly to discuss New Municipal Act
Housewife raped One arrested for abducting girl
82 JBT teachers promoted Students meet Governor
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All set for launch of biotechnology CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 — Realising the importance of biotechnology for the sustenance of agriculture in the state, the Punjab Government has set up a 17-member Biotechnology Council, besides seeking to involve top experts to facilitate the quick transfer of biotechnology for the immediate benefit of the farm sector. The Green Revolution appears to have turned sour as the state does not have much of either biotechnology or agro industry. The state government has already approved an integrated approach for the practical application of biotechnology in agriculture by bringing together the farmer and industry. The state now proposes to set up an institute for excellence in biotechnology with the support of the Department of Biotechnology of the Union Government by coordinating research activities in various institutions, including Punjab Agricultural University, Guru Nanak Dev University, Panjab University and the Institute of Microbial Technology, says Mr Rajan Kashyap, Principal Secretary, Science and Technology, Punjab. The linkage between the farm and industry will be provided through the All-India Biotechnology Association. To facilitate the biotechnology industry, the state government now proposes to offer a suitable piece of land for a biotechnology park at Anandgarh. Besides inviting private industry, public sector undertakings and boards like Markfed, the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation, the Punjab Mandi Board and even the Department of Agriculture will be involved in an attempt to catalyse the biotechnology revolution in the state, Mr Kashyap says. On December 26, some of the top scientists of the country, including Dr J.C. Mathur, Dr T.C. Jain and Mr Chander Parkash, will be here on an invitation from the Punjab State Council of Science and Technology. On the same day, a meeting will be held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. Dr Jain is a biotechnology expert representing the World Bank while Dr Chander Parkash belongs to the All-India Biotechnology Association.
Dr Mathur is being appointed consultant to the proposed institute of excellence in biotechnology. In fact, Punjab initiated work on the introduction of biotechnology by organising an all-India conference to discuss strategies on agro processing in February this year and followed it up with a meeting of top representatives of the biotechnology industry with the Chief Minister. Another redeeming feature has been the proposed development of an integrated project with the support of the World Bank for the cultivation of vegetables and other crops in a specified area in consultation with Punjab Agricultural University. In November, when industry leaders met Mr Badal, it was decided that private industry would fund this project. The land for the project is to be identified by PAU where farmers will be provided with the best quality of seed and inputs with a buy-back guarantee. According to Mr Kashyap, the Punjab Biotechnology Council, in consultation with the Department of Food Processing and the Department of Biotechnology, the World Bank and the Biotechnology Association, proposes to set up a demonstration project for catalysing the process of diversification of the cropping pattern to vegetables. “Some industries in the private sector have offered to market the produce abroad. These industries are also ready to enter into guaranteed buy-back arrangements with farmers. The World Bank is prepared to consider support for the project,” says Mr Kashyap. He says the proposed project could take either of the two forms: “One, contact cultivation in a selected area of 1,000 acres under the guidance of PAU with technology to be supplied by the industry, and marketing of the produce within or outside the country by the industry. Two, contact cultivation by farmers and the lifting of produce by public sector undertakings and further processing and export by private industry”.
Mr Kashyap maintains that the project to be initiated at the demonstration level, will be identified by the Vice-Chancellor PAU. Meanwhile, the following have been nominated to the Punjab Biotechnology Council: Chief Minister (chairman); Science and Technology Minister (vice-chairman); Chief Secretary; Principal Secretary, Science and Technology; a nominee of the Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India; the Managing Directors of Ranbaxy and Milkfed; Dr G.S. Kalkat (VC, PAU, Ludhiana); Dr S.K. Sharma (Director, PGI); Dr B.N. Mathur (Director, NDRI); Dr C.L. Koul (Director, NIPER); the President of the All-India Biotechnology Association; Dr Chandra Prakash (executive member, All-India BT Association); and Dr V.L. Chopra (expert). |
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Shaheedi Jor Mela begins today FATEHGARH SAHIB: The district administration has completed the necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Shaheedi Jor Mela here from December 25. The mela is organised to commemorate the martyrdom of two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, who were bricked in alive by Mughals for refusing to embrace Islam. The sacrifice is considered unique in the annals of world history. Political parties have been mobilising people for their respective conferences. Shopkeepers, stall owners and the organisers of amusement games have put up their structures and devotees have been pouring in. After the separation of Guru Gobind Singh’s family, while crossing the Sirsa nadi after leaving Kila Anandpur Sahib, Mata Gujri along with the two younger sons, Baba Zorawar Singh (9) and Baba Fateh Singh (7), took shelter in the house of Gangu, a cook of the Guru. However, the greedy cook informed Ranger, chief of Morinda, and the family was handed over to Nawab Wazir Khan, Governor of Sirhind. He ordered that the three be confined in Thanda Burj and embrace Islam. As a reward, he said he would spare their lives, give them lands and marry the two Sahibzadas to the daughters of noblemen. But the Sahibzadas refused to obey his command. The Nawab became mad with rage and ordered that the severest punishment be given to them. On the advice of Sucha Nand, he ordered them to be bricked in alive. Diwan Todar Mal broke the news to Mata Gujri. It proved fatal for her. When Guru Gobind Singh came to know about the incident, he made up his mind to punish the culprits. He chose Baba Banda Singh Bahadur to lead the Sikhs to take revenge. He ultimately defeated the Mughal forces. Earlier this annual feature used to be a ceremony of mourning for the young martyrs. Devotional songs were sung. Old women used to move around with black scarfs, mourning for the martyrs. But over the years the traditional nature of the mela has undergone a change. Now there are political conferences with mudslinging by leaders against one another. The political tug-of-war among rival factions and parties has replaced the religious fervour. The attitude of people has also changed. A large number of them, after paying obeisance at the gurdwara, spend most of the time seeing the circus, magic and dance shows and visiting stalls. The SGPC has commercialised the mela by renting out gurdwara land to a private contractor at high prices who sublets it to stall owners, the organisers of amusement games and others. They, in turn, allegedly fleece visitors. According to Prof Dharminder Singh Ubha, Head of the Commerce Department, Mata Gujri College, the mela seems to have lost its basic purpose — to commemorate the great sacrifice of the two Sahibzadas. Political leaders must take the initiative to make it a purely religious affair so that the coming generations may take positive lessons from the supreme sacrifice, he says. Prof Gurmohan Walia, Principal of the college, is of the view that with the passage of the time people have converted the mela into an occasion to celebrate and enjoy. The basic purpose was to remember the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas, propagate the values and principles for which they sacrificed their lives and to pass on this message to the next generation. Now the occasion is used for political purposes, too. People are likely to forget the supreme sacrifice if the leadership does not take remedial measures. One of the attractions at the mela will be the light-and-sound programme, “Sirhind ki Dastan”, being organised by the Punjab Public Relations Department highlighting the supreme sacrifice of the Sahibzadas. The mela will conclude with the bhog of the akhand path at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and a big procession led by the Punj Piaras up to Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup Sahib, the place where the Sahibzadas were cremated. |
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Minorities panel for TADA cases’ review AMRITSAR, Dec 24 (PTI) — Vice-Chairman of the Minorities Commission, Mr Tarlochan Singh, here today said that the intervention of the commission had led to the review and release of 650 TADA cases in UP and the other states. Talking to PTI, he said all states except Punjab had sent the list to them and they were carefully reviewing the lists so that necessary advice could be given to the states for the release of the detainees. He admitted that a large number of detainees had been languishing in the jails without trial. Mr Tarlochan Singh claimed that the minorities commission had been very effective in taking up the cases of the minorities with the government and the results had been encouraging. He cited the instances of land grabbing of the graveyards of the Christians and Muslims and the role of the commission in getting these areas vacated. He further informed that NRIs coming to India had no longer to get themselves registered with the police if their stay was less than six months. The leader of the commission added if they stayed for more than six months they had only to inform the SSP of the area and if they did not do so, they would be fined only $ 30 as compared to the imprisonment they had to undergo earlier. The blacklist of the NRI Sikhs had also been screened by them so that people could visit their motherland without any hitch. He disclosed that the statues of two prominent Sikhs-Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Bhagat Singh were to be installed soon in Parliament and the permission of displaying photos of five prominent Sikhs had also been obtained. He added that it was for the first time that the pictures of the Sikhs would be displayed in Parliament. |
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Move to privatise sewerage: Tandon GURDASPUR, Dec 24 — Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Local Body Minister, talking to newsmen here yesterday said the government was keen to cover cent per cent urban population of the state for providing water supply and sewerage. At present only 40 per cent of the urban population has the facility of sewerage and 50 per cent of drinking water. Mr Tandon said at present the finances were being arranged from Hudco and other financial institutions. He confessed that the loan instalments were not being paid regularly by the municipalities. At times funds earmarked for development works were diverted for the repayment of loan instalments. Mr Tandon said to provide the urban population the facilities of water supply and sewerage the government needed Rs 4000 crore in view of the resource crunch the government was considering to hand over the provision of water supply and sewerage to the private sector. To begin with Ludhiana city was likely to be chosen as an experiment in this direction. Mr Tandon said privatisation would bring efficiency. He added that privatisation would not entail any retrenchment of the staff. If the experiment was successful at Ludhiana it will be extended to other three municipal corporations and 36 Class I municipalities in the state. Mr Tandon said the provision of street lights had been privatised in all four municipal corporations at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala. The exercise had been successful and was being extended to Class-I municipalities in the state in the second phase. A meeting will be held on January 3 which will be attended by the presidents and executive officers of the municipalities and will be presided over by him. The meeting will discuss octroi schedule and removal of irritants regarding the privatisation of octroi. Mr Tandon said the Punjab government was serious to launch development works in urban areas. A Rs 38 crore project providing a 3-km over bridge from Jagraon to Chand cinema has been constructed at Ludhiana. Similarly a solid waste management plant is also being set up at Ludhiana and 25 acres of land has been earmarked for the project. He added that all self-occupied residential houses in the state had been exempted from house tax. Replying to question that Mr Badal had dropped the programme of inviting public to name the corrupt in open darbars, Mr Tandon said the Opposition hired persons who levelled baseless allegations which did not stand the inquiry. The state government under the leadership of Mr Badal has gained credibility and will last for its full term of five years, he claimed. Mr Badal and Mr Vajpayee by becoming permanent allies had strengthened Hindu-Sikh unity which was a landmark for permanent peace in Punjab. Earlier presiding over a price distribution function of Golden Model School here, Mr Tandon emphasised the need to introduce a chapter on the lives of patriots in school, college and university curricular. He also emphasised the need for dating information technology. Patriotism combined with information technology will contribute to make the nation strong and prosperous, he added. |
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TB eradication campaign launched LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — The Punjab Health Minister, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, today launched a project for eradicating tuberculosis (TB) from the state and also creating awareness about the disease. The campaign was launched amid much fanfare at a function organised in the Guru Nanak Dev Bhavan. Besides the minister a galaxy of doctors and senior officers of the Punjab Government and the Minister of State for Health, Mrs Mohinder Kaur Josh, were also present at the launch of the campaign. Speaking on the occasion Dr Chawla said he wanted to ensure a TB-free Punjab. Admitting the enormity of the task, the minister hoped that with cooperation from people and the medical community this mission. Giving details, he said that about five lakh persons died every year in India due to TB. He said there were about 20 million persons in the world suffering from the TB and 95 per cent of them were from the developing countries. He said, the TB patients were more prone to AIDS infection and about six million in the world were infected with HIV and TB both. Punjab had also several TB patients and a significant number belonged to Ludhiana. The migrant labourers were more vulnerable to the disease and they also become its carriers. The minister said for the total eradication of the disease, a comprehensive campaign was needed, involving maximum number of people. |
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Medical college alumni
to form committee PATIALA, December 24 — A resolution to form a committee of alumni members as a united association was passed on the concluding day of the Government Medical
College (GOMCO) alumni meeting where various delegates from different parts of the country and from abroad had gathered today. Dr Ravinder Singh, Principal of the college and chairperson of the conference, said, “The main thrust area was “state-of-art emergency care committee where everyone can benefit, particularly the needy. Since it will be a intensive care unit, the direct impact would be to focus the medical facilities being provided to the underprivileged “. During the occasion, various delegates from United States decided to form a corporate body from each country, the control of which would be held by the alumni and there will be no government involvement. According to Dr Harish Sood, vice-president and overseas co-ordinator of GOMCO (USA), two basic resolutions were proposed for their project on preliminary basis. They are resolution for the members of this body to raise funds and come back after one year for yet another annual meeting and relaxation of government rules for the successful handling of the project. Various faculty members said that the government had a large amount of funds which it is not prepared to give to the authorities concerned. Dr Ravinder Singh asked the government for cooperation to successfully handle the project. The US delegates urged the government to modify the rules and allow the medical profession a smooth passage, thereby helping the needy. The function concluded with the delegates committing that in the coming few years the alumni committee would do its best to bring about as many improvements in their organisation as
possible. The delegates have decided to meet again next year. |
BJYM state unit reconstituted PHILLAUR, Dec 24 — Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha Punjab president Sukhminderpaul Singh Grewal has reconstituted the state unit of the morcha and appointed its state- level office-bearers besides different district presidents of certain districts in the state. Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Grewal released the list of newly appointed office-bearers: state vice-presidents; Arun Khosla (Phagwara); Mr Ashu Kalia (Goraya); Mr Rajinder Cheema (Sangrur); Mr Surinder Singh (Anandpur Sahib); general secretary — Mr Arun Sood; press secretary —Mr Rakesh Behal (Jalandhar); secretaries — Mr Rakesh Garg (Malout); Mr Sheetal Parkash and Rakesh Jain (Ferozepur); Mr Ajay Kumar (Amritsar); political secretary — Mr Harminder Malik; treasurer —Mr Rajinder Trehan (Batala); executive members — Mr Varinder Khanna, Mr Rajinder Mittal, Mr Rajinder Bitta, Mr Ashwini Grover, Suman Verma, Dr Balkar Singh, Mr Ravinder Bawa, Mr Atul Kumar, Mr Rakesh Bhatia, Mr Rohit Shelly, Mr Kamaljit Setia, Mr Ramesh Jain, and Mr Ranjit Singh. District presidents are as following: Kapurthala — Mr Dev Sharma; Patiala (rural) — Mr Ravinder Singh Dhillon; Patiala (urban) — Mr Inder Kumar; Amritsar — Mr Soem Dev; Mukerian — Mr Suresh Singh, Ferozepur —Mr Karanbir Mehta; Ludhiana (urban) —Mr Rajiv Katna, Ludhiana (rural) —Mr Gagandeep Singh Khanna, Ludhiana (rural) general secretary —Chamkaur Singh; Moga — Mr Narotam Dev, Jalandhar (urban) — Mr Sanjeev Bali; Jalandhar (rural)—Mr Rajan Makkar; Faridkot — Mr Sandeep Sharma; Sangrur — Mr Parveen Kumar, Batala —Mr Ramesh Khosla. |
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PPCC to hold rallies from January FAZILKA, Dec 24 — Dr Mohinder Kumar Rinwa, former secretary of the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC) and former MLA, while talking to me-diapersons here today, said the PPCC would launch an awareness drive throughout the state against the alleged wrongful policies of the SAD-BJP Government. Party workers will hold protest rallies in all Assembly constituencies of Punjab from January next year, he said. Accusing the Badal Government of being anti-farmer, Dr Rinwa said the farmers were hard hit in the present regime. He said hundreds of farmers in scores of border villages of the subdivision were not getting canal water for the past two months. He alleged that the canal feeding the area had been dry due to mismanagement. As a result of this, the wheat crop would be affected adversely, he warned. He urged the government to workout a plan for the orderly procurement of wheat to prevent farmers from difficulties. He demanded that Rs 740 be fixed as minimum support price of wheat. Dr Rinwa said that the course of two seepage drains, Aspal and Abul Khurana, being dug in the area to remove seepage from Malout and Muktsar areas had render thousands of acres of land barren. He alleged that the farmers whose land had been acquired in the home constituency of Chief Minister for digging drains had been paid compensation while the farmers of other areas were yet to get the compensation. Dr Rinwa criticised Mr Surjit Kumar Jyani, Forest Minister, Punjab and local MLA for raising demand of making Fazilka a district headquarter and described it as a “pre-election stunt”. He alleged that the development process had came to a standstill in the town due to factionalism among BJP municipal councillors, due to which the post of civic body chief was lying vacant. |
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Ravi Inder meets Kanshi Ram JALANDHAR, Dec 24 — In order to explore the possibilities of the ‘third front’ in Punjab to defeat the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance in the coming elections, former Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and MLA Ravi Inder Singh held a closed-door meeting with BSP supremo Kanshi Ram for about two hours here today. According to sources, they discussed at length the formation of the third front comprising like-minded “secular” parties barring the Congress and the Left parties in order to defeat the present alliance. Mr Ravi Inder Singh, talking to the media said keeping in view media reports that the ruling alliance in the state was considering mid-term elections, efforts had been intensified to ‘revive the third front’ to defeat the “communal and corrupt alliance”. Asked to reveal the identity of the parties with whom talks were on for the formation of the front, he said it would be premature to say anything at this point. Mr Ravi Inder Singh alleged that Mr Parkash Singh Badal and his family members were involved in “corrupt practices” and the working of all departments of the state government were being handled by his family members. “Though Mr Badal claims himself to be the leader of the entire Sikh community, Sikhs are being humiliated since his nominees are involved in corruption and murder cases”. Mr Badal, he said being the Chief Minister, should not interfere in religious matters and refrain himself from “forcing” his ideas on the SGPC. |
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Mid-term poll not
likely: Azad JALANDHAR, Dec 24 — Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said here today that he saw little possibility of the SAD-BJP government holding possibility of the mid-term elections in Punjab. Talking to mediapersons, he said the state government would not dissolve the Assembly before the expiry of its term. He said though the Congress was not keen on mid-term elections, yet it was fully prepared in case the ruling combine decided on the same. He said there was no factionalism in the Punjab unit of the Congress and the high command had decided to induct 27 senior state Congress leaders from all sections into the All-India Congress Committee shortly. He said the state unit would be constituted after the conclusion of the National delegate convention of the Congress at Delhi on January 1. He advocated tripatriate talks to resolve the Kashmir issue in the interest of peace in the valley. He said the Congress was of the view that the Central Government should hold talks with Kashmiri militant groups. |
Dowry death: two
get 7-year RI PATHANKOT, Dec 24 — Mr Naginderjit Singh, Additional Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur, in a case of unnatural death, has convicted the husband and the father-in-law of the deceased Neelam to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment. According to complainant, Mr Yash Paul Mahajan of Amritsar, his daughter Neelam, was married to accused Parveen Kumar. The complainant gave dowry worth Rs 1 lakh at the time of marriage, in addition to the jewellery and other items. The accused started torturing and maltreating Neelam, telling her to bring money from her parents. On October 10, 1991, Parveen Kumar made a demand of Rs 30,000. Neelam also disclosed to her father about the beatings given to her by the accused. On refusal Parveen Kumar left the house in anger. On October 20, when her father went to her house at Batala he did not find his daughter in the house. Her in-laws, failed to give any satisfactory reply about her disappearance. Subsequently he lodged an FIR. The body of Neelam was recovered from Kurukshetra Brahm Sarovar in
December. |
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Distortion of Sikh
history AMRITSAR, Dec 24 — Bhai Gurbachan Singh Khalsa, ‘mukh sevadar’ (chief), Dashmesh Privar International, today lodged a complaint with Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, against a local publisher for distorting the Sikh history. Bhai Jiwan Singh Chattar Singh, publishers, when contacted admitted that the book contained distortion on the Sikh history. The sons of the publisher, however, claimed that the book had been withdrawn from the market and they were ready to make amendment in the book as per the directive of Akal Takht. Bhai Gurbachan Singh Khalsa, in his complaint alleged that the author of the “Sri Dasam Guru Chamtkar” claimed that the ‘bedava’ (disclaimer) was given to Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur, by his own mother-Mata Gujri. Following this, 40 Sikhs, also gave “bedava” to their Guru. He said that the Sikh history was very clear on the ‘bedava’ which was given by the 40 Sikhs, headed Bhai Mahan Singh when they had asked Guru Gobind Singh that they could not fight against the Mughals without food and hence wanted to return to their homes. However, the controversial book at page 445 reads “Mata wrote in protest that I am not your mother and you (Guru Gobind Singh) are not my son. Hence she wrote the disclaimer.” The book further reads that after writing the disclaimer, the mata (the mother of Guru Gobind Singh) called her grandsons and directed them to get the chariot ready. On this the Sikhs — the followers of Guru Gobind Singh, got sentimental and also wrote the disclaimer. He alleged that the publisher had distorted the Sikh history under some ‘deep rooted’ conspiracy. |
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Row over land acquisition BATHINDA, Dec 24 — The acquisition of 68 acres by the Improvement Trust for setting up transport nagar and a dairy complex on the Bathinda Goniana road from Dera Tap has created a controversy. The managing committee of Dera Tap in a complaint made to the Governor and Chief Minister of Punjab and the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, alleged that the piece of land measuring 68 acres was acquired by the trust secretly without the knowledge of the committee. Mr Gobind Nand and Mr Surinder Muni, president and secretary of the committee, respectively, alleged that Mahant Sarupa Nand, who was taking care of Dera Tap, did not inform the committee about the acquisition. They added that he did not file any objection against the acquisition with a mala fide intention. They urged the authorities to take action in this connection and not to make any payment of compensation to anybody as it would affect the rights of the committee. They also demanded a high-level probe into the episode. However, Mahant Sarupa Nand, said the committee was duly informed about the acquisition and it had taken place with their consent. He pointed out that the land was acquired by the trust as it was non-fertile and lying waste for many years. He added that he would purchase another piece of land with the amount of compensation. Mr Mohan Lal Garg, Chairman, Improvement Trust, when contacted, said 68 acres of land belonging to Dera Tap was acquired as per the rules and nobody objected to the notifications which were published in newspapers. He pointed out that the transport nagar and dairy complex were being set up in the city to decongest it and keep it clean. He added that with the shifting of all the transport offices and transport vehicles to the transport nagar, the traffic problem in the city would be solved. He further pointed out that compensation would be given to only the rightful claimants through the District Collector and if there was any dispute in this connection, the court would decide. Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, when contacted, said that so far, no complaint of the management committee had reached his office and whenever it came, action would be taken as per the law. |
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Councillor urged not
to commit suicide BATHINDA, Dec 24 — Activists of the Khooni Phatak Hatao Sangharsh Committee (KPHSC) today persuaded Mr Vijay Kumar, Municipal Councillor, not to commit suicide on January 1 if the government did not start the construction work of the railway overbridge before December 31 on the ‘Khooni Phatak’ near Paras Ram Nagar. They organised a rally at the main chowk of Paras Ram Nagar to express their resentment against the Punjab and Central Governments which had failed to start the construction work of the railway overbridge, so far. Mr Tarlochan Kumar, a representative of the KPHSC, while addressing the rally said the decision of the councillor to commit suicide was not right and he should withdraw his decision and continue his struggle in other forms. Mr Vijay Kumar said, he was firm in his decision of committing suicide at the ‘Khooni Phatak’ on January 1 at 10 a.m., if the government did not start the construction work of the railway overbridge by December 31. |
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Harpreet case: doc’s plea to turn approver JALANDHAR, Dec 24 — Dr Balwinder Singh, a Medical Officer posted at Pattar Kalan Government Primary Health Centre, who was questioned by the CBI in connection with the case relating to the death of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, has expressed his willingness to turn approver in the case. According to highly placed sources, the Chandigarh branch of the CBI has filed an application in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Prakash, stating that Dr Balwinder Singh has expressed his desire to be an approver against Bibi Jagir Kaur. Dr Balwinder Singh, was present in the court when the CBI counsel, flanked by a number of investigating officials, moved an application in the court of the CJM yesterday. The CJM is likely to take up the application for hearing tomorrow. Dr Balwinder Singh is the brother of Inspector Balkar Singh said to be close to Bibi Jagir Kaur. The latter remained the SHO of the Bholath police station for three years from 1997. The doctor is said to have worked in a charitable dispensary run by the ‘dera’ headed by Bibi Jagir Kaur before joining the state Health Department. |
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Move to take over school
building opposed TARN TARAN, Dec 24 — Residents here have decided to oppose the move of the Education Department authorities to take charge of the newly built building for Government Primary School, Fathechak, to use it for the office of the local Block Primary Education Officer (BPEO). Ms Sawinder Kaur, a municipal councillor, led the residents of the Fathechak locality presented a memorandum to the local BPEO, Ms Surjit Kaur, when she came to take the charge of the building yesterday. Ms Sawinder Kaur told newspersons here today that more than 150 students of the school concerned had been studying here in the absence of a building as the old school building had already been collapsed. The Education Department on the request of the residents had built a new building for the school but the department had decided to take it over for the BPEO office. Ms Sawinder Kaur has sent letters to the higher authorities apprising them of the move of the district education authorities to take the possession of the school building forcibly. The residents shouted slogans against the move of the authorities yesterday. |
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Insecticide dealers
allege harassment ABOHAR, Dec 24 — Certain insecticides dealers here have alleged that they are being harassed by officials of the Agriculture Department for taking strong exception to the payment of telephone bills of the department office here by the Insecticides and Fertilisers Dealers’ Association. The payment was allegedly made by cheque to the Department of Telecommunications by the association under a “secret deal”. As an inquiry by the Vigilance Department was demanded by some members of the association, the officials were using coercive measures to force the dissident members to withdraw the complaint. A contingent of plant protection and soil testing officers led by a PCS officer had raided a few shops of dealers of insecticides and fertiliser dealers on December 15. The team after taking samples of some insecticides directed that further sale of stocks lying at these three shops be stopped. |
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Marriage palace gutted PHAGWARA, Dec 24 (UNI) — A marriage palace was gutted in the town this afternoon but there was no casualty, the police said. Hundreds of people were attending a function when a spark spotted in bamboo ceiling of Mohan Palace at Satnampura, spread like a wild fire and gutted the main hall bringing down the ceiling and destroying furniture in no time. But fortunately because of adequate exits the people emptied the hall quickly, witnesses said. Mr Vijay Sondhi, who is a Municipal Councillor and partner in the palace, said he was in the kitchen supervising food arrangements at around 3 pm when somebody informed him of the spark in the ceiling. But when he rushed out the spark had become fire. Fire tenders took two hours to fight the fires. The loss was estimated at more than Rs 20 lakh, he added. |
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Downsize ministry, says railway union AMRITSAR, Dec 24 — Members of four branches of the Northern Railway Men Union (NRU) held a meeting to discuss the government’s statement that the Railways was suffering losses due to surplus employees. Mr Gurdial Dass, Central vice-president, said the statement was “misconceived”. The situation, he said, was existing because of the wrong policies of the Railway Ministry. The swelling number of bureaucrats in the Railway Ministry had added to the woes of the department. Mr Ashok Kumar, convener of the coordination committee, decried the privatisation policy. He said instead of cutting down the number of employees the government should effect a decrease of 10 per cent in the staff of the ministry and parliamentarians to set an example for the country. The meeting was also addressed by Mr Raghbir Singh, divisional assistant secretary, Mr Rattan Chand, divisional vice-president, and Mr Vijay Kumar, secretary of the union. |
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Pak plan to ‘foment’
trouble in Punjab BATALA, Dec 24 (PTI) — Inspector General of Police (Border range) A.P. Pandey has alleged that Pakistan is bent upon reviving militancy in Punjab by sending militants. Talking to mediapersons here last night, Mr Pandey said Pakistan’s secret agency ISI wanted to create law and order problem by sending militants from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Gujarat borders because Punjab border was fully protected by the security forces. He alleged that Pakistan also wanted to disturb the economy and youth by sending fake Indian currency and drugs. The recent recovery of fake currency from Wahga border was new tactic of the ISI which sent the fake Indian currency through courier but timely investigations by custom official foiled the ISI designs. He ruled out the possibility of the recruitment of militants in Punjab and particularly in the border range. |
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Pensioners’
plea to extend date LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — The Government Pensioners’ Association has demanded that the period of submission of family pension cases be extended by six months. In a press note, Mr Yash Pal Ghai, additional general secretary of the association, said the Punjab Government had given six months’ time to the pensioners, who retired before January 1, to submit cases for the revision of family pensions after a notification was sent on August 2000. The pensioners, however, said that this period should be extended by another six months so that a maximum number of the pensioners could take advantage of the scheme. Even in case family pension has not become operative, the pensioners have been told to apply on a prescribed proforma to the Accountant-General, Punjab, through the head office from where they have retired. The association has demanded an extension for new cases as well. |
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Shakkargarh ‘vacated before pact signing’ GURDASPUR, Dec 24 (UNI) — Himachal Pradesh Governor Suraj Bhan today obliquely criticised the Simla Agreement, saying the Army was asked to vacate conquered Pakistani territory in the Shakkargarh area across the Gurdaspur sector even before the agreement was signed in 1972. Addressing a state-level function of the Bharat Vikas Parishad held at Pathankot, he said December 16 was celebrated as Vijay Divas every year to commemorate India’s comprehensive victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war which led to the birth of new nation of Bangladesh but many did not know that “We had vacated Shakkargarh even before the Simla Agreement was signed and 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war returned. Underlining the need to inculcate Indian value system among the youth, the Governor said it was unfortunate that today’s youth knew more about film stars than the martyrs. He said about 2000 Army and other security personnel had lost their lives in safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country since the Kargil limited war in which 528 Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives and more than 2000 were wounded. |
Cremation ground
neglected: Dang AMRITSAR, Dec 24 — Mr Satya Pal Dang veteran CPI leader, has strong objection to the heaps of garbage near the western boundary wall of the municipal cremation ground at Chheharta. “The foul smell from the place is an insult to the dead who are on their last journeys”, he said. The tubewell in the vicinity is out of order. Besides many aspects of maintenance were sorely neglected. Even the visit of the former Mayor to this ground did not help improve the situation, he said |
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Judge visits police
station DHURI, Dec 24 — Mr R.M. Gupta, District and Session Judge, Sangrur, along with Mr J.S. Khushdil, Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) made a surprise visit to the local police station yesterday on a complaint of Mr Janak Raj of Chhahar village, Sunam subdivision, in connection with his brother’s detention by the local police. Mr P.L. Bansal, counsel for the complainant accompanied the Sessions Judge. Mr Janak Raj had filed an application before the Sessions Judge on December 22, alleging that an ASI along with other police officials visited his house on December 21 and took his brother Roop Chand. He further alleged that his brother was in illegal police custody and had asked the Sessions Judge to make a surprise visit of the police station and sought his brother’s release. However, no such person as mentioned in the application was recovered from the custody of the police during the visit. |
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Punjab Assembly to discuss New Municipal Act PHILLAUR, Dec 24 — Punjab Local Bodies Minister Balramji Dass Tandon, while talking to this correspondent here today said the New Municipal Act would be presented in the next Assembly session. Mr Tandon said the new Act would give more powers to the presidents of the municipal committees and the mayors of the municipal corporations. He said the working and maintenance of street lights water supply, sewerage and sanitation would be privatised in a phased manner. He said the computerisation of municipal works was being carried out in all local bodies of the state to accelerate the work. He said parking places would be arranged in big towns of the state to control the traffic. |
Housewife raped LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — A young housewife has been allegedly raped by three persons in the Sherpur area. According to a complaint lodged in police station Divison No. 6, she was abducted from her residence at Prabhat Nagar by three car-borne youths on the night of December 20. They took her to the Sherpur area where they allegedly raped her at gunpoint. Two of the accused were identified as Rakesh Kumar and Manjeet Singh. The identity of the driver has yet to be established. After committing the crime, the three fled away. Her husband who was out of station that time has lodged a complaint with the police. The police has registered an FIR. |
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One arrested for abducting girl AMRITSAR, Dec 24 — The police here has recovered a girl, Simran, and solved another case of theft with the arrest of one person. Mr Param Pal Singh Sidhu, SSP, said Simran was abducted from the Housing Board colony on December 12. Following the arrest of Sandeep Kumar she was recovered and another case of the theft was solved with Sandeep’s arrest. The theft had taken place in March at the houses of a bank manager, Mr Gurinder Singh, of Medical Enclave and Mr Arwinder Singh Chamak on the Dasunda Singh road, respectively. Four other members of the gang have also been identified as Vijay, Ramesh, Vinay and Parveen. The police has recovered some gold ornaments, three watches and a mobile phone from Sandeep. |
82 JBT teachers promoted TARN TARAN, Dec 24 — Mr Davinderjit Singh Dhillon, District Education Officer (Primary), Amritsar, in a press note issued here today, said 82 JBT teachers had been promoted to fill the vacant posts of head teacher in government primary schools in the district. Mr Dhillon said the teachers had been given 21 days to join. |
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Students meet Governor CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 — Children of Dashmesh Girls School and Dashmesh Girls College of Badal village were today the guests of Punjab Governor, Lt Gen JFR Jacob (retd). They spend their evening with Punjab Governor on the lush green lawns of Raj Bhavan. Also present on the occasion was Mr Parkash Singh Badal. As the band of the Chandigarh Police played, the children sang, danced and shared their happiness with the Governor, who exhorted them to study computers and equip themselves to face the challenges of the future. The children spent 40 minutes with the Governor, according to a press note. |
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