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December 29, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Security forces on maximum alert Top arms smuggler, 3 accomplices held Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan begins
A budding singer participates in the music competition organised at the outset of the Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan in Jalandhar on Thursday. — Photo by Sanjiv Stop self-praise, Dosanjh tells Punjabis 50,000 enumerators for census in Punjab |
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Malerkotla to have Urdu academy: CM Giving the blind a place in the sun Plea to compensate tubectomy victims
Barnala finds new job challenging Plea to uphold Cong ideology
Remand in Golden Forest case extended Commission agents seek protection WTO ‘not to’ affect farmers’ interests Dismissed staff seek Bibi’s help Police delaying arrest, alleges
councillor Suresh Oberoi promotes beauty
treatment Singh Sabha to follow
Bikrami calendar Highest taxpayers honoured NSS volunteers adopt village Villagers want road repaired Minister denies charge Mehli-Chaheru bypass soon Trade union leader dead
Hawala operator in ED net Four dacoities in Ropar dist
Venue of teachers’ rally shifted Computer
not for kids, says expert
Green tea industry
faces closure
Enhance damage percentage: millers
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Security forces on maximum alert TALWANDI SABO (Bathinda), Dec 28 — The security forces in the state have been put on a maximum alert to avoid any untoward incident and to keep law and order situation under control. The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said though there was peace in the state, the security forces had been asked to keep a strict vigil on the anti-national and anti-social elements. Mr Badal, who was here today to preside over the ‘sangat darshan’ programme, said no one would be allowed to disturb the hard won peace in Punjab. He added that the state police authorities had been keeping a close watch on violence in the other parts of the country. Condemning the killing of three personnel in the Red Fort in Delhi by activists of the Lashker-e-Toiba, Mr Badal said his government wished that peace prevailed in Punjab and other parts of country. Answering a question on the compensation to the farmers, who had sold their paddy below the minimum support price (MSP), he said half of the total, Rs 100 crore would be spent by the state government and the other half by the Union Government. He added that his government was working for the speedy payment of compensation to the farmers. The Chief Minister asserted that the next year would be remembered as a year of development. New projects for irrigation, road development, overbridges had been planned and the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) project had been given Rs 180 crore for remodelling. A new thermal plant would be established at Amritsar soon and sanction for the two new phases of the Lehra Mohabbat Thermal Plant, Bathinda, had been given each. Mr Badal said special scheme had been worked one for the uplift of women and schools would be upgraded and given Rs 10 lakh each for buildings. Mansa-Bathinda would have new upgradedschools. Referring to the recent controversy where the VIPs of the state were served with partridges at two functions he denied the charge. Incidentally Mr Badal who was here to listen to the grievances of people and redress them on the spot was himself a problem for them as a majority of shopkeepers in the old Bus Stand area were asked to keep their shops closed till the afternoon. |
Top arms smuggler, 3 accomplices held AMRITSAR, Dec 28 —The ‘encyclopaedia’ on firearms smugglers and his three accomplices have been arrested by the local police along with arms and ammunition. The king pin of the gang, Sadhu Singh, is infamous for his ‘up-to-date’ knowledge on the availability of illicit firearms in Punjab and Rajasthan. He was arrested from an abandoned house under police station C Division following a tip off. The others who were arrested with Sadhu Singh included Sham Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Ranjit Haldan, a resident of Uttar Pradesh. However, Rinku, another accomplice absconded. Interestingly, all accused came into contact with each other while undergoing sentence in the jail. Mr Kewal Kumar, SP (City) said during their jail term, they decided to float a gang for committing robberies and other crimes, including smuggling of firearms. Since Sadhu Singh was familiar with the arms smugglers, he would arrange arms and ammunition for his gang, Mr Kewal Kumar said that the gang had committed a number of crimes in the city. The revelations made by the accused speaks volumes of the jail environment all over the state which has virtually become a ‘breeding ground’ for the criminals. The accused, during their interrogation, disclosed that it was easy to find accomplices for floating gangs from within the jail. The police has registered the case under Sections 399, 400 of the IPC and Sections 25/54/59 of the Arms Act. The SP said Rinku who had absconded was considered a ‘master’ in stealing scooters and four wheelers, in the world of crime. He hoped that with the busting of ‘Sadhu Singh gang’ many more cases of thefts, dacoities and car thefts were likely to be solved. In yet another breakthrough, the local CIA had busted a gang of thieves, he said the raid conducted by Mr Gurdip Singh and Parmjit Singh Inspectors led to the arrest of Gurmej Singh who committed a number of theft cases in the city, he said the police had recovered a large quantity of stolen articles from him. |
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Malerkotla to have Urdu academy: CM MALERKOTLA, Dec 28 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today announced that an Urdu academy would start functioning in this historic town soon. He said this while addressing over 20,000 Muslims at the local Idgah gathered on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr celebrations. Maulana Hashim Sahib, Imam of the local Jama Masjid, led the namaz at the Idgah. The Chief Minister, while offering “mubarakbad” to the community on the occasion said a decision to set up the Urdu academy had been taken at an official-level by the government. He said minister Nusrat Ali Khan, should decide a date to start the academy. The government would initiate steps accordingly, he added. Mr Badal also announced that the Punjab Government would provide adequate funds to purchase land, adjoining the Idgah, for its expansion. He said he had instructed the Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, to take steps to purchase the land for the purpose. He said the state government would send Rs 15 lakh to purchase land for the Idgah so that people could offer ‘namaz’ in a spacious Idgah next year. The Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs 20 lakh for the development of the town. The Chief Minister said the Punjab Government had been making efforts to make this town a model city in the near future. He said no stone would be left unturned for the development of Malerkotla. Mr Badal also expressed happiness over cordial relations among the Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus of the town. The namaz of Id-ul-Fitr was also offered by thousands of Muslims in different mosques of the town and adjoining villages like Binjoke, Dalelgarh and Mubarakpur Chungan etc. Muslims also hugged each other and their Hindu and Sikh friends offered Id mubarakbad to them to share their happiness. FARIDKOT:
Id-ul-Fitr was celebrated with great enthusiasm at a mosque located near the new secondary school here. More than 1,000 Muslims performed namaz and greeted each other on the occasion. Mr Gurtej Singh Gill, senior SAD leader and president of the local nagar council, Mr Avtar Singh
Brar, local Congress MLA, Sukhinder Singh Dhaliwal, president of state UCPI unit also greeted their Muslim brothers. |
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Stop self-praise, Dosanjh tells Punjabis MOGA, Dec 28 — “Apne apte bhauta man nahi karinda”, (one should not be too proud of oneself) was the message Mr Ujjal Dosanj, the Premier of British Columbia, tried to send across the Punjabi community in his parting speech here today. Addressing a meeting organised to give him a public reception, Mr Dosanj said: “Punjabis are not the only special community in the world. There are several communities as good. In fact, all communities and all people are good”. He was trying to emphasise that Punjabis should do away with the habit of praising themselves. After a 10-day stay in Punjab, Mr Dosanj along with his family left for Andhra Pradesh today. There was a big turn out at the reception. He and his wife were virtually mobbed by the crowd. There were politicians who were seen grabbing him. In fact, they were competing with one other to introduce themselves to him. Mr Jaswant Singh Kanwal, a big name in Punjabi literature, when asked to comment about the function, said he was a bit disappointed. It was unfortunate that every one was talking about Mr Dosanj. No one was showing concern towards Punjab which was facing a crisis on various fronts. He said NRI Punjabis could put Punjab on the top position of Indian states by contributing to its development. He said at today’s function no one talked about the development of the state. It would have been better if the basic issues pertaining to the state had been discussed by Mr Dosanj and other NRIs assembled there. UNI adds: The pilot of the helicopter supposed to fly Mr Dosanjh to Delhi refused to do so, saying that his scheduled time had passed. Sources said the chopper made available to Mr Dosanjh and his family was supposed to take off from here at 12 noon. However, due to a slight delay in the programme, a function organised in his honour went on till 12.30 p.m. The district administration panicked when the Army helicopter pilot refused to fly Mr Dosanjh and his family members. The pilot reportedly refused to oblige the guest, saying that “the time limit has lapsed.” The SSP then contacted the External Affairs Ministry to get necessary clearance. The ministry talked to the Army authorities to reschedule the timings of the chopper. After a slight delay, Mr Dosanjh left for Delhi en route to Andhra Pradesh. |
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Badal offers to find bride for Amber Dosanjh JALANDHAR, Dec 28 — Amber Dosanjh, son of Mr Ujjal Dosanjh, British Columbia premier is yet to find a wife for himself and the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has offered his help in this regard. Addressing a function at Dosanjh Kalan, Mr Badal said he was approached by several parents to act as a mediator, but he said it all dependend on the Dosanjh family. Talking to this correspondent, Amber said he was yet to find a girl of his choice and said he would marry without caring about her country, caste, colour and creed. Amber, who is working with a grocery store in British Columbia, said. “These factors will not matter to me if I come across a girl of my choice.” He did not rule out his marriage to an India girl and said he had no girl friend. He said he loved India particularly Punjab, where he and his family were showered withso much of love. Hardly anyone pays attention to me as the son of a Premier and there is no security cover. But things are otherwise in India,” he said. Meanwhile, Phillaur MP Santosh Chaudhary has criticised the grant of Rs 1 lakh by the Chief Minister for the completion of a community centre named after the father of Mr Dosanjh at Dosanjh Kalan village. She claimed that the project was initiated by her and it had been “hijacked” by Mr Badal to get cheap publicity. Ms Chaudhary, in whose parliamentry constituency the village fell, said the construction of the community centre started in August after she had given Rs 4 lakh for this purpose out of her Local Area Development Fund. Actually, the grant of Rs 1 lakh was announced by me in May but officials took three months to hand over the cheque to the panchayat. PHAGWARA: Mr Dosanjh during an informal chat with TNS here late on Wednesday, said he missed the “makki di roti te saag,” sugarcane, “lassi” and bathing in the village pond. When asked what was the difference between his present visit and his earlier ones, Mr Dosanjh quipped in chaste Punjabi, “Main tan ohi banda han, tuhanu lagda hain merey wich koi pharak pia Premier banan nal” (I am the same old person. Do you see any difference in me on my becoming the Premier). However, he agreed that the security paraphernalia had made his visit look different. He also said the hospitality had been a bit “overdone” by enthusiastic people. Canadian politicians, Mr Dosanjh said politicians there just went about their work without any formalities or pump and show but here garlands and other formalities were too much. GARHSHANKAR: Mr Dosanjh, inaugurated an NRI-sponsored project of model gram at Kharoudi village. He said all those who had gone abroad wanted to see their native places prosper. He later went to his maternal grandfather’s village
(Bahowal). |
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Calcutta flays Dosanjh AMRITSAR, Dec 28 — Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, President, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, has alleged that Mr Ujjal Dosanjh, premier of British Columbia, had never supported the genuine demands of Punjab due to his Left leanings. Mr Calcutta said while the Punjabis were proud of his achievement on his becoming premier of British Columbia, he should not have commented on the local politics. Mr Dosanjh had wrongly advocated the cause of migrant labour in Punjab. The ground realities of India, especially in Punjab could not be equated with those prevailing in Canada. He said Mr Dosanjh became premier due to the acceptance of Multi-lingual outlook in Canada which was not in India. He alleged that Punjabi which was not accorded second language status in Punjabi speaking states of the country, was being taught in Canada. Mr Calcutta said most of the migrant labourers were not permanent residents of Punjab like the Punjabis who had got citizenship of Canada. He said most of the migrant labourers come to Punjab during seasonal crops and they had become voters in their respective states and Punjab as well. He said from legal point of view, such a trend was dangerous. Hence, Mr Dosanjh should desist from making comments on demographic or political situation in Punjab, he said.
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50,000 enumerators for census in Punjab CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — For the census, beginning February 8, training of enumerators and supervisors is under way in Punjab. It was inspected by Union Home Ministry Consultant, Mr S P Sharma, in Jalandhar and Kapurthala on Wednesday. According to the Deputy Director (Census Operations), Mr Madan Shyam, as many as 50,000 enumerators and supervisors, undergoing a three-round one-day training, have been appointed in the state to cover a population of 2.4 crore. Mr Sharma stated that since census was the only source of providing massive data required for various policy programmes at micro and macro-level, it put enormous responsibilities on enumerators and supervisors to ensure correctness of the same. This could be achieved by asking probing questions and collecting correct data. For instance, he told trainees due to incomplete and incorrect data collected in the 1991 census as many as 1.78 crore were excluded. This could be due to several factors, including non-reporting of information by respondents about infants, unmarried girls or even the aged or the visitors in the house. “It is for the enumerators and supervisors to ensure the minimum omissions and the maximum correctness”, he added. Mr Sharma also expressed concern over the low female work participation rate in Punjab. The data does not seem to reflect a true picture because work that done by women, whether on farms or within families, was not treated as such by the respondents themselves. A special effort therefore was required to be made for listing work women and children as well by asking if they had worked for say six months or less. Even unpaid part-time help on farm or family enterprise or in any other work as per census definition was also work. The three-round day-long training programme was conducted at Jalandhar and Bholath sub-division of Kapurthala. Countrywide, after the first round beginning February 8 a revision- be done from Mach 1 to 5. This would the first census of the millennium. A total of 20 lakh enumerators and supervisors had been put on the task to cover a population of 101 crore. This was one of the biggest exercises taken up by the Centre with the help of states and union territories, he added. Informed sources told TNS that in view of the census operations, the Punjab education department has rescheduled their annual examinations of the schools because a majority of enumerators and supervisors were teachers. |
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Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan begins JALANDHAR, Dec 28 — The three-day annual Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan took off today with an invocation of Goddess Saraswati and Lord Ganesha by way of a “yajna” on the Devi Talab Temple lawns. Keeping with the age-old tradition, a “puja” was organised to seek the blessings of Goddess Saraswati since the function relates to the purest form of music, known as classical music, held at a place associated with Baba Haballabh who derived his musical prowess from the Goddess in the 19th century. Bodh Mal, a local veteran artiste prayed for the success of the event. Students of Dev Raj Vidyalaya rendered “Saraswati Vandana”. Top classical artistes like vocalists Vijay Rajput and Gundencha Bandhu, shehnai player Mahavir Prasad and Rajan-Sajan Mishra are slated to perform late in the night in the presence of hundreds of music lovers and the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal, his Jammu and Kashmir counterpart Farooq Abdullah and journalist Kuldip Nayyar. Guided by the tradition, music aficionados and those behind the show, including Surendra Seth, Poornima Beri, S.S. Ajmal and Sudarshan Jyoti performed “vastra bheta” (offering of robes at the statue of Baba Harballabh) and “anjali bheta” (offering of flowers) in the backdrop of a beautiful stage decorated in accordance with the tradition by students of SD Girls College and HMV Girls College. The historical “vat vriksha”, where, the myth says, Baba Harballabh used to perform “dharupad” and to do “riyaz”, was nicely adorned. As many as 80 children exhibited their talent by singing classical “bandish” based on different “raagas” during the music competition. In the vocal “bal varg” (kids section), Pancham bagged the top slot, followed by Ruman Dey and Shradha Shreenath. In the “yuva varg” (youngsters section), Karan Rana won the first position, followed by Tejinder Paul Singh and Shruti Kapur. |
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Giving the blind a place in the sun MALERKOTLA: It does not take much effort to understand the plight of the blind and disabled.Though living in society and without any fault on their part the blind are being denied their rightful place. It is impossible to give this unfortunate lot the power of vision, but we can ameliorate their miseries by lending them a helping hand. It is not easy to run a home and school for the blind and disabled as it requires knowledge, experience, skill, and above all, patience. One has to devote a lot of time and observe minute details and keep an eye on the daily needs of the inmates. Their personal hygiene, clothing and providing a clean environment is essential. Their school syllabus, crafts training and discipline is important. Relations between teachers and inmates are to be looked, proper nourishment and wholesome food is also very important for the blind. This is available at the home for the blind and disabled at Malerkotla. The late Rotarian, Baboo Ram Sood, in the latter part of his life felt that the blind and disabled deserved more attention. He devoted his energy to their problems and conceived the idea of establishing a home for the blind and disabled. The project was big but bigger was Mr Sood’s determination. The idea was mooted with the members of the Rotary Club, Malerkotla, in 1971 and they accepted the idea. Then the Rotarian, Balwant Singh, a minister of in the erstwhile state of Malerkotla, came forward and donated 100 sq yd of prime land with six rooms and Rs 20,000 cash in 1971. Several philanthropists had rooms built at their expense while club members made liberal donations. The home started functioning in 1972 and was inaugurated on May 27, 1973. Babu Ram, who pledged his life to the home’s, died on February 17, 1978. The home’s management established high standards. It is his spirit of dedication, which is now being followed up by the Rotary Club. The main objective for establishing the home is to rehabilitate the handicapped. It is based on the principle that each individual is important. Therefore, the element of charity has no place in the running of this institution. An effort is being made to enable each inmate to stand on his own feet by allowing him a fair chance of developing his facilities and talents. Dr Mohd Shabbir, a social worker and senior Medical Officer (Dental), Malerkotla, and Mr Chaman Lal Jain, another social worker, are looking after the home these days. Mr Chaman Lal Jain, when contacted, said the purpose of the home is to provide board and lodging, clothing and medical facilities to the inmates. Besides classes in Braille are conducted at the home. Dr Shabbir said the home provided training in music, vocal and instrumental, handicraft, recanning of chairs and baskets, candle-making, soap making, weaving of dusters,
towels, bedsheets, and shawls and tailoring, etc. The home helps the blind and disabled to stand on their own feet by making them good citizens. The school has its own library with more than 1,000 books in three languages in Braille. Besides, textbooks from Class I to X, there are religious books pertaining to Hinduism and Sikhism. The home has 28 rooms with modern amenities, where students and staff live together. Four have been employed to look after the inmates. The Rotary Club runs the home. The chairman and vice-chairman is nominated among members to run and manage the school and home on a day-to-day basis. The state’s Social Welfare Department, Social Welfare Advisory Board, District Red Cross Society, Sangrur, and a number of philanthropists give monthly donations to the school. At present there are 16 students at the home. It is a matter of pride that about 40 students of this school are working in government posts and in private companies. |
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Plea to compensate tubectomy victims LUDHIANA, Dec 28 — A voluntary organisation, the Association For Democratic, Rights, Punjab today demanded compensation for victims of the Khanauri tubectomy operations case which left two women dead and nine others seriously injured. Stating this in a press conference here today, Mr Hari Singh Tarak, president of the association, also demanded that the guily doctors and other employees of the department be immediately suspended. They demanded the removal of the Sangrur Civil Surgeon and the Director, Health and Family Welfare Department, Punjab. The association also presented an inquiry report about its independent probe into the matter. The inquiry more or less corroborated the findings of a similar inquiry done by a committee of the PCMSA. |
Barnala finds new job challenging BARNALA, Dec 28 — “The Governorship of the newly carved hilly state of Uttaranchal is indeed a challenging job. I am very much fond of undertaking challenging jobs as well as assignments.” These views were expressed by Mr Surjit Singh Barnala Governor Uttaranchal Pradesh while addressing a public meeting at his hometown Barnala here yesterday. Mr Barnala said Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, and Parkash Singh Badal, Akali Dal Chief, had deemed him suitable for the office of Governor of Uttaranchal and he in all humility accepted the job. He admitted that initially people of Uttaranchal hesitated and refrained to be a part and parcel of Uttaranchal Pradesh. But now they had reconciled and accepted Uttaranchal as their state. He said following a visit to the rural and remote hilly areas of Uttaranchal he found that villages were without drinking water, electricity, roads and schools. |
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Plea to uphold Cong ideology FARIDKOT, Dec 28 — Mr S.K. Gupta, President of the District Congress Committee, underlined the need to strengthen the base and the secular ideology of the Congress at a district-level function organised here today to commemorate the 116th year of formation of the Congress. Mr Gupta appealed to all workers and leaders who had left the Congress to join hands and build secular values. Mr Avtar Singh Brar, Vice-President, PPCC, presided over the function. MOGA: A large number of Congress workers from various parts of this district assembled in the office of the District Congress Committee on Thursday in connection with the 116th foundation day of the Congress. The function was presided over by the District Congress Committee President Surrinder Kumar Gupta and attended by Mr Avtar Singh Brar, former minister, Mr Pritam Singh Pritam, President, Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes cell, and senior youth Congress leaders, among others. Mr Gupta remembered A.O. Hume, founder of the Indian National Congress, and its first president, Ms Anne
Besant, saying that they were Christians, but had founded the organisation with a secular outlook. |
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Remand in Golden Forest case extended Patiala, Dec 28 — Patiala Duty Magistrate Rakesh Kumar today extended the police remand of the five Golden Forest officials allegedly accused of duping investors to the tune of crores to December 31, besides ordering that they could operate their personal accounts only with the permission of the court. The accused — Neena Syal, H.K. Sinha, Lehmbar Singh, A.L. Syal and Romila Syal — were presented before the court here. The vigilance bureau had earlier in the day submitted an application requesting that the personal bank accounts and lockers of the officials be sealed immediately so that they could not be operated by them till investigations into the case were completed. The Superintendent of Police, (Vigilance) Mr B.K. Uppal, said investigations had revealed that the officials of the company acquired land from farmers at normal rates and took power of attorney from them. The same land was then sold at higher rates to the company to add to its assets. He said many farmers had given affidavits in this regard to the investigating agency. The vigilance department had carried out a series of raids in Patiala and Jalandhar districts on December 25 following which 14 officials of the company had been accused of indulging in fraudulent means. Eight of them had been arrested, including the Managing Director of Golden Forests India Limited, R.K. Syal, his family member Promila Syal and a company director Harbhajan Singh, besides five accused who were presented in court here today. A case under Sections 406, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120(B) of the Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972, has been registered against them. |
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Commission agents seek protection RAMPURAPHUL, Dec 28 — Even as activists of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) of this district have decided to stop the alleged “looting” of farmers by commission agents by launching an agitation, the commission agents have urged the Punjab Government to make arrangements for the safety and security of their lives and properties. The agents and other shopkeepers today closed their business establishments in protest against the threat by the BKU activists. Traders who had been boycotting the auction of cotton since yesterday, started the auction at about 3 p.m. today after opening their shops. Tension gripped this town yesterday when some of the members of the BKU (Ekta) went to the shops of some commission agents and asked them to furnish details of accounts of certain farmers as it was suspected that bunglings had been made in the payments made to those farmers. Mr Jaswant Rai Bhallo, President, Kacha Arhtiya Association, said the BKU activists were trying to extract undue benefits. He said he had offered all farmers to bring any genuine complaint to him in connection with the bunglings in the payment and it would be solved. Mr Balwinder Singh, General Secretary, BKU (Ekta), Rampuraphul block, in a press note here said the activists went to the shops of certain commission agents on the complaints of the farmers made in connection with the illegal charging of Rs 2 per paddy bag by the agents from them. He alleged that trouble was started by certain leaders of the traders who took out a rally against the BKU and raised slogans. He said the farmers had been asked to reach animal market on January 1 to work out a strategy in this regard. Mr Bhallo, however, said the BKU activists were trying to create a wedge between the farmers and the agents by carrying out a false propaganda. He expressed apprehension that on December 29 and December 30, the BKU could cause some trouble in this city and urged the Punjab Government to make proper security arrangements. Mr Jhanda Singh Jethuke, President, BKU (Ekta), Bathinda, said at today’s meeting, the activists condemned the act of the agents who had been creating tension. |
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WTO ‘not to’
affect farmers’ interests HOSHIARPUR, Dec 28 — World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement will only be implemented after protecting the interests of farmers in Punjab. This was stated by Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, State Food and Supplies Minister, while talking to mediapersons here yesterday. He said during a recent meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, he had indicated that some import duty would be imposed on goods to be imported under the WTO agreement. Replying to a question, Mr Mittal said the World Bank could not thrust any of its condition to provide financial aid. It was up to the state government to accept or reject the proposal of the World Bank to withdraw the facility of electric and water supply free of cost to the farmers. He said LPG connections to all waiting list holders would be provided before December 31. He said LPG connections would soon be provided on demand in the Kandi area. He made it clear that there would be no alliance with the BSP in the coming Assembly elections. |
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WTO pact harming farmers: Kanwaljit JALANDHAR, Dec 28 — Referring to the GATT and WTO pacts as a threat to agriculture and small scale industry, the Punjab Finance Minister Captain Kanwaljit Singh, who is a member of the Empowered Committee of the Finance Ministers today said the committee would try to hammer out solutions to the problems arising out of the dumping of cheap products by other countries in India by holding a meeting with the Union Finance Minister and the Union Commerce Minister in the third week of January. Interestingly, the Punjab Finance Minister sought to clarify that the facility of free power and water was not beneficial for farmers alone, but also for consumers of the state. Addressing a press conference here today, Captain Kanwaljit Singh, said consumer goods, food and agriculture products like vegetable oil have started descending on the Indian Market and these were available at cheaper prices as a result of huge subsidies offered by other countries to their farmers and industrialists. This was harming the interests of Indian farmers and small scale industry, which do not have considerable support from the government, and cannot even afford to match the subsidies offered by developed countries. At a meeting held by the committee on December 22, where eight state finance ministers were of view that the import of goods at cheaper prices were hitting country’s industry and agriculture, particularly of Punjab, the economy of which depended upon agriculture. He said during the proposed January meeting, the members of the committee would press upon the Union Finance Minister and the Union Commerce Minister to call a meeting of all the Chief Ministers and Finance Ministers to discuss the problem in light of initiation of second round of negotiations on the WTO. Captain Kanwaljit Singh said the Union Government signed the WTO in 1994, without consulting the state governments and in the present scenario it could not afford to disassociate itself with it. “The only solution is to secure maximum protection by way of negotiations,” said the Finance Minister. He pointed out that the state government was more or less in the dark about the technicalities and finer details of the pact since it had not been provided any document by the Central Government about it. “We have asked the Central Government to provide documents before the proposed meeting in January,” said Mr Kanwaljit Singh. He said the free power facility was not for farmers’ benefit alone, it was benefiting the consumers also as it resulted in the lowering of the minimum support price (MSP) as the input price is excluded while fixing the MSP. |
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Animal Husbandry Dept gears up to HOSHIARPUR, Dec 28 — The Animal Husbandry Department of the state has formulated short and long term policies to counter the threats posed by the WTO. This was disclosed by Dr G.S. Chahal, Director, the Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab in an interview at Nangal Shaheedan village 6 km from here, today. Dr Chahal said the government had imposed 40 per cent duty on all imported goods up to 2002. This short term policy would encourage local producers to compete with foreign traders. In the long term policy, emphasis had been given to reduce the productive cost of goods, increase the production and improve quality. He said to improve the health of animals, the state would be made disease-free with financial help from the Central government which had granted Rs 75 crore for the project which aims at improvement of animals health within the next five years. He said there were 2,850 animal husbandry hospitals and dispensaries in the state. He said to improve the quality of feed and fodder, the Centre had also granted Rs 11 crore. To improve the breeding of animals, a comprehensive project of Rs 37.50 crore had been cleared by the Centre. |
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Dismissed staff seek Bibi’s help AMRITSAR, Dec 28 — Many of the 489 SGPC employees whose services were terminated on the interim orders of the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission have reportedly approached Bibi Jagir
Kaur, former SGPC president for taking up the matter with Mr Parkash Singh
Badal. The affected employees plead that the SGPC has wrongly interpreted the interim orders of the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission
(SGJC). “The SGJC has simply directed the SGPC not to give salary to the 489 employees till the disposal of the main petition in this regard. However, without the disposal of the main petition, the
SGPC, headed by Jagdev Singh Talwandi, have terminated the services of most of the employees. Some affected employees, however, alleged that their services were terminated due to their proximity with Bibi Jagir
Kaur. While some employees who are close confidents of the office-bearers of the SGPC were not terminated on similar grounds. There are certain employees whose services were terminated though they do not fall in the category which was challenged in the
SGJC. There are certain employees who were not given termination orders but the management asked their superiors not to allow them to make their attendence on register. |
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Police delaying arrest, alleges
councillor BATHINDA, Dec 28 — Even after the registration of an FIR almost a month ago, against Gurdev Singh Romana, a Congress worker and his wife Ranjeet Kaur Romana, general secretary of the Mahila Congress for allegedly using defamatory language against Gurdeep Kaur, who belongs to the Scheduled Castes (SC) category, the district police has not arrested the accused. According to the FIR, Mrs Gurdeep Kaur, who is also a Congress worker and belongs to the Scheduled Castes category, attended the meeting of Congress workers on August 17, where the accused used defamatory language with a view to degrading her. Mrs Gurdeep Kaur alleged that she was an active member of the Mahila Congress but both the accused discriminated against her on the basis of her caste which was unlawful according to the Constitution. Paramjeet Kaur Brar, a Municipal Councillor, in a statement today, alleged that the police had not arrested the accused so far. She alleged that the accused were threatening Gurdeep Kaur to withdraw the case against them. She demanded that the police should arrest the two accused and protect Gurdeep
Kaur. |
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Suresh Oberoi promotes beauty
treatment PATIALA The film star, who was here to promote a beauty clinic, and inaugurate an oxygenated chamber plant , came across as a philosophical personality, who seemed to be content with life. Talking about his family Mr Oberoi said, “My dictionary describes it as ‘father and mother, I love you’. I belong to Balochistan, Hyderabad, where I left behind all my memories. My father ran a medicines business (eye-drops) with at least 23 companies.” Mr Oberoi thought himself a ‘student of life’ rather than a student of cinema. Mr Oberoi believes in self-realisation. According to him, “The ghulam (servant) of heart is a ghulam of all.” When asked about the film-industry’s involvement in mafia gangs, he said, it was the job of the police and the politicians to take care of that. He considered knowledge to be a carrier of all behaviour in humans. “Every wise man is not necessarily a nice man, but every nice man is a wise man”, he said. The incident of the death of his brother on April 26 in 1985, made him more realistic towards life. Now his concern was entirely towards social service rather materialistic. My wife goes to the Tata Memorial Hospital to see cancer patients and comforts them by spending time with them and helping them with medical aids.” In a lighter mood, Mr Oberoi said that he was a Dev Anand fan and treasures having got the opportunity to work with Nutan. His first film “Lawaris” was important for him because the movie had all the required ingredients. Mr Oberoi loves passing time on computers. His motto is ‘Handsome is, that handsome does’ and ‘hate the sin and not the sinner.’ Before concluding, he said he wished to launch his son Vivek Oberoi, into films, but he himself was least interested in the production or direction business. Dr Jaishree, the Managing Director of the Clinic, in her speech reiterated that the oxygen machine was a skin toner already set up in other clinics being operated by her in 15 states. “The machine made from American technology would solve various health problems through non surgical treatments”, she said.
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Singh Sabha to follow
Bikrami calendar AMRITSAR, Dec 28 — The Shri Guru Singh Sabha (regd) has decided to follow the traditional Bikrami Samvat for the celebration of the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh on January 2. The state government, the SGPC and other Panthic organisations have also decided to follow the Bikrami Samvat which could be a set back to the former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur. It may be mentioned here that as per controversial Nanakshahi calendar the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh should be celebrated on January 5 every year. It was the implementation of the Nanakshahi calendar which led to her ‘excommunication’ from the Sikh Panth through a controversial hukamnama which she never accepted. However, the ban imposed on the implementation of the Nanakshahi calendar had led to the sacking of Giani Puran Singh as Jathedar Akal Takht on March 28. Giani Mohinder Singh, a retired SGPC secretary and general secretary of Shri Guru Singh Sabha said the preparation for the gurpurb of Guru Gobind Singh had been completed.
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Highest taxpayers honoured PHAGWARA, Dec 28 — Mr S.K. Aulakh, Commissioner of Income Tax, Jalandhar, yesterday honoured three highest taxpayers of Phagwara and Nawanshahr at a samman samaroh organised here. Those honoured at the function were Ashok Kumar of Ashok and co, DCM, local Banga road (business category), Dr Dalbir Singh Purewal, Civil Hospital, Nawanshahr (salary category) and Dr Rakesh Kumar, an eye-specialist, Nawanshahr (professional category). A press note issued here on this occasion said the felicitated taxpayers would have facilities of non-scrutiny of their cases for the next three years, income tax clearance certificates and their pending rectification application and appeal effect would be settled within 15 days. The press note claimed that tax collections have increased to Rs 5 crore from Rs 2 crore in the past three years. |
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NSS volunteers adopt village AMRITSAR, Dec 28 — NSS volunteers from the BBK DAV College for women here have adopted Ruriwala village for its overall development. The Principal of the college, Mrs J. Kackria, told newsmen that a group of 100 NSS activists during their 10-day camp at the village would undertake a comprehensive socio-economic survey with the active participation of the village panchayat. The Principal added that the NSS volunteers had already started an adult education programme and to begin with had launched a signature campaign teaching villagers to write their names. Besides, this the college students had conducted a workshop on stitching and tailoring for which a number of girls and even married women were enrolled. The 10-day-long camp was inaugurated by the NSS coordinator of Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr Sukhpal Singh. The BJP, MLA, Mrs Lakshmi Kanta Chawla motivated the young girls and women of the village to take full advantage of the camp. |
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Villagers want road repaired MOGA, Dec 28 — Residents of Marimustfa and Thathibhai villages under Baghapurana police station in this district yesterday complained that the road linking these villages had not been repaired for the past several years. They said that although they had sent several reminders to the department concerned nothing had been done to repair the road. They urged the authorities to repair the road. Meanwhile, residents of Sukhanand and Bambhiabhai villages on Wednesday complained that they had been facing an acute shortage of drinking water for the past several months as the tubewell installed in their respective villages had not been working. |
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Minister denies charge HOSHIARPUR, Dec 28 — Mrs Mohinder Kaur Josh, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, has refuted the charge regarding differences between her and her Cabinet Minister Dr Baldev Raj Chawla on the working of the department. She clarified that due to some special reasons she could not attend a department function at Ludhiana on December 23 and December 24. Certain persons with vested interests were playing up the issue, she alleged. In a press release here today Mrs Josh said she had most regard and respect for Dr Chawla and all departmental work was being carried out with mutual understanding. She remarked that it was not necessary that both ministers should attend all departmental functions. |
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Mehli-Chaheru bypass soon PHAGWARA, Dec 28 — A bypass will be constructed from Mehli to Chaheru at a cost of Rs 46 lakh, according to Punjab Tourism Minister Swarna Ram. He inaugurated the work for levelling the bypass at local Guru Nanak Nagar, according to a press note here today. The bypass would benefit
people going from Jalandhar to Chandigarh. The nagar council and the market committee have given Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3.5 lakh, respectively, for the earth work. |
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Trade union leader dead BATHINDA, Dec 28 — Mr Guljari Lal Singla, a renowned trade unionist and founder member of the CPI movement in the Malwa region died last night after prolong illness. He was 70. He is survived by three sons. His funeral procession was largely attended. Prominent among those who attended the cremation were Mr Joginder Bhasin, former secretary of the state unit, Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, general secretary, DCC, Mr Anil Bhola, president, city Congress and Mr Diwan Chand, former president of the municipal council. |
Hawala operator in ED net JALANDHAR, Dec 28 — In an early morning swoop, the local Enforcement Directorate staff managed to lay its hands on a “hawala” operator who had allegedly laundered foreign money over an estimated Rs 22 crore and had disbursed it among his clients in the Doaba region of Punjab. Cash totalling Rs 23 lakh has also been
recovered from the central town residence of Parvinder Singh, alias Bindra, from where he was running the hawala racket with the help of fax machines and mobiles. Interestingly, as many as 50 fax messages, sent by his accomplices from London and from the ones sent by the receivers belonging to different parts of the region, have also been recovered by the department
officials during the raid, planned by the Delhi and Jalandhar offices of the directorate. The modus operandi of the accused was to deliver the money promptly in Indian currency to his clients whenever he received a coded message in this regard from his accomplices. He used to charge between Rs 500 and 1000 for a lakh of rupees. A case under Section 3 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 has been registered against the suspect. |
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Four dacoities in Ropar dist ROPAR, Dec 28 (PTI) — Ropar sub-division has been hit by a series of dacoities during the past 24 hours. Four dacoities were reported in four villages under Chamkaur Sahib, police station. According to police sources a gang of armed dacoits looted a patrol station in Lutheri village and three wine shops in Dulchi Majra, Barsalpa and Dugri villages. |
Venue of teachers’ rally shifted PHAGWARA, Dec 28 — The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) which is spearheading struggle of over 5000 teachers working in 172 non-government colleges, has shifted the venue of its ninth zonal rally from Doraha to Ludhiana, according to Prof Charanjit Chawla, general secretary, PCCTU. However, the date of this rally would remain same, said Mr Chawla here today. The teachers of Ludhiana, Khanna, Doraha, Raikot, Samrala, Phillaur, Jagraon, Narangwal, Sidhwan, Dakha, Gurusar Sudhar, would go on mass casual leave on January 9, converge at Ludhiana’s PU Extension Library for a protest march-cum-rally, disclosed Mr Chawla. Mr Kanwaljit Singh and Mr Kuldip Singh would be the chief and joint coordinators of the Ludhiana action zone, he said. He alleged that their cleared cases were gathering dust in the corridors of bureaucracy. The teachers are sore over continued delay in the implementation of Pension-cum-Gratuity Act, 1999, the release of Rs 4.20 crore and Rs 10.20 crore for pay cut of 26-day strike and salary grant of January-February, HRA to 48 rural colleges, added Mr Chawla. |
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Computer
not for kids, says expert PATIALA Interacting with
newsmen at the 37th annual conference of All-India Science Teachers
Association (AISTA) held at the State College of Education, Dr Rajesh
Kochhar, Director of the National Institute of Science Technology and
Development Studies, said computer proficiency was a skill that could be
learnt at a later stage and should not be imparted at early levels in
schools. Computers, he said provided information but could not clarify
various concepts of science and arts to school children. “I do not
think computers will help in transforming society. We are just creating
techno-babus,” said Dr Kochhar. The purpose of the conference was to evolve modern methodologies of teaching, so that the basic concepts are made clear to the children rather than just making them study the text-books. Dr
Kochhar said that half the text-books were written by persons who had no
knowledge of the subject and the others were unable even to convey the
ideas properly. The text-books should be written by experienced,
knowledgeable and eminent persons. “Let college teachers spend a few
years in schools and teach children, then write books after preparing
notes,” he said. The thrust should be to clear the concepts of the
children and educate them with the latest information supported with
evidence from normal life”, said Dr Kochhar. Dr Kochhar who spoke on
“Crisis of science education” emphasised that science should not be
taught as revealed knowledge. The best way to improve teaching in
schools was to make teaching more practical and conceptual. But these
forms were going out of fashion, primarily because of the objective-type
knowledge, especially during the entrance examinations. Dr S.N. Giri, AISTA President, told this correspondent that at the last meeting of the AISTA, exhibitions, quiz shows, essays, talks, tree plantation etc were organised. They even held a science aptitude and talent search test for the evalution of teaching techniques. Dr Manmohan Singh, the chief guest at the function, said teachers formed a very important part of society, specially science teachers because they were the builders of the mental make-up of a child. Dr
Kanwarjit Singh, Principal, State College of Education, Patiala, said:
“Such conferences are interesting and enlightening for the teachers.
There are problems related to books in different languages which are not
easily understood by all”.
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Green tea industry
faces closure AMRITSAR, Dec 28 — Owing to a poor export promotion policy combined with an unrealistic sales tax compelled by the state government, the traditional green tea trading industry is on the verge of closure. Tea traders are consequently shifting their bases to Jammu in view of the crisis situation. The steady migration is attributed to a direct tea (green) quota to Jammu and Kashmir due to an increase in sales tax from a previous of 3.3 per cent to 8 per cent from January 2000 and 2 per cent CST (central sales tax) levied in Panjab. The producers and suppliers of Assam, W. Bengal, Dehradun, Kangra etc who traditionally used to supply to Amritsar have found the direct trade more lucrative, by cutting down freight charges by one fourth as well as an exemption from CST and ST in Punjab. Internal threat notwithstanding an external threat looms large over the industry already reeling under the panic following reports of cheaper tea entering the market from abroad. The adverse trends in tea trade in Amritsar alone will severely affect nearly 70 tea grading factories contemplating closure or shifting as also more than 12,000 workers connected with the trade. |
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Enhance damage percentage: millers PATIALA In a statement here, the association president Mr Tarsem Saini, said the Punjab government while seeking the Rs 300 crore package from the State government had got the damaged percentage in paddy enhanced from three per cent to eight per cent . He said the acceptance of damaged percentage of rice, however, remained at two per cent like the previous year . He said if the Central government failed to enhance the damaged percentage in rice by 3.5 per cent, then the milling of the balance paddy would not be possible and any delay on this account would further aggravate the situation . He said rice produced after being stored for a long time would be rendered unfit for human consumption and if this happened the responsibility would lie with the Central and State governments . Mr Saini said the pace of milling of paddy procured by the State agencies was slow due to space shortage with the
FCI, because of which the millers were feeling insecure. He said millers had not even got their electricity connections restored as once this was done they would have to pay the
minimum monthly charges even for the closed unit . He called for abolishing the charge of monthly minimum charges for electricity from millers and said only bills on the actual utilisation base should be charged. He said this was the only way for milling to be speeded up.
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