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December 30, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Mukhija case takes new twist Plan to boost irrigation Octroi collection by private parties may be scrapped Cong to highlight govt’s failures Punjab Cong to launch mass programme Judge declines police request Youth’s death: SHO suspended |
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Farooq sings at sammelan Pomila Syal to be produced in court today
BJP to contest 40 seats in Punjab MLAs air grievances SHSAD youth
wing to intensify stir
Year round-up Villagers intensify thikri pehra following
robberies PAU rejects Bains’ plea Corruption prevails in police: Pandey
Millennium seminar on January 7 Unending wait
for “shagun” SSF: remove 2 high priests Probe sought into
blood sale BJYM state unit dissolved Hurriyat talks with Pak opposed SGPC poll rolls
preparation from Jan Shuttering collapse ‘being politicised’
Booked for raping Dalit
Varsity to create 10 per cent extra seats Language Department
appoints teachers
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Mukhija case takes new twist FEROZEPORE, Dec 29 — The registration of an excise case against the prime accused in the murder of Congress leader Harmesh Kumar Mukhija in Moga has deepened the mystery. The prime accused, Gurbax Singh Kukku, who has been granted bail by the district and sessions court here had pleaded that he was arrested by the Ludhiana police on November 12 under the Excise Act, whereas Mukhija was murdered in Dharamkot on November 13. This clearly contradicted the statement of Mukhija’s brother, who had accused Kukku of murder. While the police until now had claimed that Kukku was absconding, his sudden appearance in the court added an interesting twist to the case. The baffled Moga police is now trying to get the excise case registered against Kukku investigated. Mr Hadeep Singh Dhillon, DIG, has indicated that the circumstances under which the excise case was registered against Kukku should be probed and the matter had been referred to the Director General of Police. This follows an application moved by the relatives of the deceased, who suspect a foul play behind the excise case slapped on Kukku. The police, which has been virtually caught unaware, is keen to ascertain, how Kukku was arrested in Ludhiana, if at all he was present at the site of the murder. Whether Kukku has engineered some manipulation is yet to be ascertained. The details of the excise case are also being gathered to ascertain the time gap between the two separate incidents occuring at different places. As the fresh development may have far reaching ramifications on the legal position of the murder case, the opposition parties — the Congress and the CPI have mounted pressure for a CBI probe to unravel the larger political conspiracy behind the murder. While the Congress activists are observing fast, the CPI alleged that Mukhija was the victim of a conspiracy engineered by his rivals within the Congress and the rulling Akali Dal. Extending full support to the demand for a CBI probe, the member of the CPI state council, Mr Randhir Gill, categorically charged that people within the Congress and the Akali Dal might have teamed up to eliminate Mukhija. He reminded that Kukku, himself was a Congress activist and had struck an alliance with the Akali Dal legislator Mr Sheetal Singh, to defeat Mukhija in the Dharamkot Municipal Council elections a few months ago. While Kukku had personal
enmity with Mukhija, Mr Sheetal Singh saw a potential political threat in Mukhija, who was a popular figure in his constituency |
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Plan to boost irrigation FARIDKOT: The district administration has drawn up a special plan to provide better irrigation facilities to farmers, particularly those in the remote areas of the district. Under the scheme, 10 more minors will be constructed next year. Each project would cost about Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh with the administration meeting diesel and other expenses of running pumpsets, while the remaining work like labour and strengthening of minors with sand will be done by the residents of the beneficiary villages through “kar seva”. Committees headed by sarpanches will be formed to monitor the plan with the help of the irrigation technical officials. Each minor will cater the needs of six to eight villages. Initially three minors namely Dohak, Golewala and Mudki have been chosen to start work. Land in this regard had already been donated by the residents of the area concerned and the construction of Dohak minor had been started on war-footing. A distance of 2.05 km of this minor had already been covered and the remaining would be completed next month. Talking to mediapersons at the site of this minor, Mr A Venu Prasad, Deputy Commissioner, said it would supply 70.05 cusecs of water and irrigate 4,403 hectares in six villages, including Sukhanwala, Qilanau, Chetsinghwala, Shersinghwala, Dhabshersinghwala and Dohak. Moreover each minor would save lakh of rupees. The Deputy Commissioner claimed that it was the first step undertaken by any district administration in the state. Mrs Angrez Kaur, sarpanch of Sukhanwala, and Mr Harbans Singh, one of the member of the minor’s construction committee, said it would not only irrigate 1300 acres in Sukhanwala village but also improve the economic condition of the villagers. The two disclosed that the residents were facing hardship in earning their livelihood. They expressed the hope that their fellow residents would follow the same path in cooperating with the administration to enhance their sources of income. The Deputy Commissioner said 31.66 acres in six villages had been acquired for completing the Dohak minor project. This scheme was undertaken earlier in 1995 but failed to get final shape due to unavoidable circumstances. The process regarding the construction of the other minors was under progress and would be finalised shortly. |
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Octroi collection by private parties may be scrapped CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The Punjab Local Government, Labour and Employment Minister, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, in a statement issued today said at certain places the presidents of municipalities and other councillors had themselves taken “benami” contracts for octroi collection and were compelling municipal employees to collect more octroi from traders and others putting them to a lot of harassment in violation of government directions. “In view of this, the Punjab Government is seriously considering doing away with the system of octroi collection by private contractors by amending the law. The government will also take adequate steps to remove other irritants in the existing system of octroi collection to make it more transparent and people-friendly,” he added. Mr Tandon further said that the government had reviewed octroi collection through contractors and taken cognisance of complaints pouring in from different quarters. He, however, said that octroi leakage had been considerably plugged. There was ready cash available with municipal committees for development work. A meeting of “A” class municipality presidents and executive officers has been convened by the Minister here on January 3 to state stock of the situation. |
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Cong to highlight govt’s failures FARIDKOT, Dec 29 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee will organise district-level conferences to protest against the SAD-BJP government’s failure on all fronts and to protect interests of the people in the state. First such conference will be held on the eve of Maghi Fair at Muktsar on January 13. Many senior party leaders, including Mr Moti Lal Vohra, Mr Gulam Nabi Azad, Mrs Ambika Soni, Captain Amarinder Singh president PPCC and Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal former Punjab Chief Minister are likely to address it. This was stated by Mr Avtar Singh Brar, vice-president PPCC and local MLA at a press conference here today. He alleged that nepotism and corruption had reached its peak in the state and the government had failed to check it. Without naming anybody, Mr Brar alleged that a number of SAD-BJP alliance ministers had amassed huge wealth through corrupt practices and the Congress party after coming to power in Punjab would appoint a commission to probe the matter. He hoped that the party would emerge the single largest party in the next assembly polls in the state. Mr Brar also decried the Central government for failing to contain activities of anti-national forces in the country. Due to the alleged weakness of the Centre a big number of Army officers and jawans sacrificed their lives in the Kargil Sector while fighting Pakistani infiltrators last year. Even weakness of the Centre had caused entry of militants in Red Fort New Delhi recently. Mr Brar criticised Union Home Minister L.K. Advani asking Pakistan to stop anti-India activities. The PPCC vice-president appealed all patriotic forces to join hands with the Congress to defeat evil designs of communal forces. |
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Punjab Cong to launch mass programme PATIALA, Dec 29 — The Punjab Congress is launching a mass mobilisation campaign from January 3 to expose the “anti-people” policies of the ruling Akali-BJP combine. Addressing a press conference here today, senior Congress leaders — Mr Lal Singh, Mr Sant Ram Singla and Mr Birdevinder Singh said rallies would be held at Dakala and Ghanaur on January 3 to start the mass mobilisation programme. The leaders said the party would highlight the “all-round failure” of the Akali-BJP combine during the programme claiming all development had come to a halt and that the government had failed to satisfy all sections of society. The Congress leaders asked the Chief Minister to pass a Cabinet resolution and then urge the Central Government to opt out of the World Trade Organisation if it was so against the global pact. They said the WTO was not being highlighted in the right perspective by the Akalis and that the Congress would take out a paper to explain the global trade pact to the people . They said if the people were facing any problem due to the WTO, the fault lay with the Central Government for not using the inherent clauses in the Act in favour of the country. The Congress leaders also claimed that the “sangat darshans” being presided over by the Chief Minister were “election darshans” and were being conducted with an eye to a mid-term Assembly election. They alleged that the Chief Minister was misusing the state helicopter which was being used for party programmes. They alleged that even when the Chief Minister used the state helicopter, his cavalcade of cars was also used to reach each and every destination which was a big waste of the people’s money . The District Congress (rural) President, Mr Hardyal Singh Kamboj, disclosed that rallies were being organised in all Assembly constituencies in the district in a phased manner. |
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Judge declines police request BATHINDA, Dec 29 — Mr Gurbir Singh, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, has rejected the police request to cancel the FIR registered against the sarpanch of Raike Kalan village for possessing “lahan” (raw liquor). Mr Gurbir Singh while deciding on the report moved in the court in connection with the cancellation of the FIR, held that there were sufficient grounds to proceed against the accused under Section 61 (1) (A), of the Punjab Excise Act for possessing four drums of lahan weighing 80 kg each. The court was bound to take cognizance of the offence and hence the request of the police to cancel the case was rejected. The judge held that the Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), Mr Gurtej Singh, found the accused, Sukhpal Singh, innocent had done so with some motive or under political pressure. The process for the cancellation of the FIR was initiated by the police without taking note of the fact that the mere possession of lahan was an offence, he observed. According to the copy of judgement delivered on December 18 and procured by The Tribune today, a case was registered against Sukhpal Singh a few months ago after he was found in possession of lahan. Four drums of lahan were seized when a party comprising police and excise officials raided his house. Before the raid, Sukhpal Singh recorded his disclosure statement that he had concealed four drums of lahan in a room where cotton was stored. However, later on the police filed a cancellation report for the FIR on the grounds that Sukhpal Singh had filed an application that he was innocent. The application was processed by Mr Gurtej Singh, who inquired into the matter and found the accused innocent on the grounds that the lahan did not belong to Sukhpal Singh and hence the case be cancelled. The judge held that it had been proved that the accused had committed the offence but the police on its own found him innocent on the basis of statements of villagers. The police was required to send the case for trial. It was the court which was to decide whether the accused was innocent or not. In the present case, as the entire investigations had been completed on the spot when the police and excise officials raided the premises, there was no need to order a re-investigation and it was a fit case for rejecting the request of the police to cancel the FIR, the judge observed. |
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Youth’s death:
SHO suspended HOSHIARPUR, Dec 29 — The Station House Officer of the local Model Town police station Swarn Singh, has been suspended for negligence in duty after Pawan Kumar (27) of New Model Town consumed poison at the Model Town police station last evening. He was taken to the local Civil Hospital in serious condition, where he died. Mr Sanjeev
Kalra, SSP told mediapersons here today that as per the directions of Human Rights Commission, the
District, Magistrate was informed of the incident, who ordered a magisterial inquiry into this case. He said that post-mortem of the dead body was conducted by a board of doctors and its video film was also prepared. He said he had also deputed SP (Operation) to conduct a departmental inquiry into the death. On a complaint against Pawan Kumar by some Kashmiri labourers regarding stealing Rs 35,000, the Model Town police called him for inquiry on December 23. These labourers were tenants of Pawan Kumar. Mrs Maya Devi, sister of the deceased, said 12 Kashmiri labourers had hire two rooms of Pawan Kumar on a monthly rent of Rs 1,500. After a month, Pawan Kumar demanded his rent from them, but they did not pay it. Instead, they lodged a complaint against him, she said. |
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Farooq sings at sammelan JALANDHAR, Dec 29 — Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah today sang at the Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan, even as the limelight was hogged by inimitable Meeta Pandit of Gwalior Gharana who depicted various moods of a love-lorn girl at the Devi Talab Temple here. Meeta took music lovers to a high with the rendering of “Jo humne tumse baat kahi ... tum apne dhian me magan rahe”, a “bandish” in Raga Bageshwari, with rhythmic “teen taal”. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister surprised the audience when he walked onto the dais, took the mike and said he wished to sing for the audience. His effort was appreciated when the spell-bound audience responded with an applause. Meeta displayed the talent she inherited from her father and famed artiste L.K. Rao Pandit, as she gave an excellent rendition of “bols” of the raga bejeweled with “alaaps” and “taans” and complimented with tunes created by noted harmonium player Mehmood Dhaulpuri, accompanied by Akram on tabla. Her facial expressions and the “rela tall” by Akram were well appreciated by the audience. Meeta sang a “Punjabi tappa” in Raga Khama and rendered Raga Tilak Kamod with bols, “Teerath ko sab jag kare” of the raga in her “khayal”. What made it more beautiful was the balance of “swaras” achieved by Meeta when she lay the different colours of a single “swara” for about 50 seconds. Dr Abdullah could not hold himself for long, saying that “Main koi bada kalakar to nahin, par mere khayal me main bhi kuch suna sakta hoon”. He sang “More Ram, kab aao ge more angana, more Ram ... more Shyam. Ban ban dhoondoon, gali gali dhoondoon, nahin mile more Ram, more Shyam...” in soulful mood. He said: “Allah ne zinda rakha aur agar mujhe vaisa ustaad mila jaisa is bachchi ko mila hai, voh din aayega jab main bhi is jagah par gaaungaa. Yeh kheti abaad rahe, yeh mehfil sajtee rahe”. He said the human race was the same and there was no difference of caste, creed, colour and country. “Jis din ham yeh samajh lenge ki Ishwar, Allah our Wahe Guru mein koi pharak nahin, us din ye zamin jannat ho jaaegi. Aap Allah ko kisi na kisi shakal mein Himalaya ki chotiyon par, Kedarnath our Badri Nath ke mandir mein or apne dil mein dekh sakte hain, baat ik hi hai”, said Dr Farooq. “Ik baat kehta hoon. Prabhu ke daman ke bina kisi ka daman nahin thamna”, he said, adding that the sad thing was that we did not recognise our artistes and their talent. “What is the charm of honouring a person with Padma Bhushan after his death? “Allah kala har kisi ko nahin deta,” he said. To encourage such events and promote art in the valley, his government would organise similar sammelans in Jammu every winter and in Srinagar every summer, he said. Earlier, the sweet “mangla dhawani” tune on shehnai by Pandit Mahavir Prasad, a disciple of Hari Prasad Chaurasia, declared the sammelan open after it was inaugurated by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the sammelan. The Punjab Finance Minister, Captain Kanwaljit Singh, also assured financial assistance to organisers by the government. Prasad played Raga Maaru Bihag and was accompanied by equally accomplished Ustaad Kale Ram, who played “kehrwa” and “teen taal” on tabla. Young Vijay Rajput mesmerised the crowd when he touched the “alaap” of his “bandish”, “Bahut din beete ajhun naa aaye more Shyam...”, in Raga Puria. Vocalist duo Rama Kant and Uma Kant Gundecha beautifully explored the depths of Raga Malkauns. |
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Pomila Syal to be produced in court today ROPAR, Dec 29 — Pomila Syal, sister of R.K. Syal, Chairman of the Golden Forests Group, who is one of the directors of the company, will be produced before the Duty Magistrate, here tomorrow by officials of the Vigilance Department. The Vigilance Department is likely to seek judicial remand for Pomila. Pomila is being produced in the Ropar court because she is one of the owners of the 530 acres
purchased illegally by the company in Sakhpur village of Nurpurbedi block in the district. R.K. Syal has already been sent to the Ropar sub-jail on a judicial remand till January 1. Despite the fact that it has been widely reported in the Press that R.K. Syal was in the Ropar sub-jail, his counsel yesterday moved a petition before the Duty
Magistrate alleging that the family members of Syal were not informed about his whereabouts. The petitioner demanded that Syal be produced before the court and a proper judicial remand given in the case. The petition was, however, rejected. R.K. Syal has been receiving his political friends in the sub-jail. As per the register of the jail, his visitors besides others include, Mr Kiran Vir Singh Kang, Vice-President of the Youth Akali Dal and a confidant of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal. Meanwhile, thousands of investors in the district are confused about the future of their investments. The agents of the company are also fear-stricken that they also might be involved in case. The SP, Vigilance, Ludhiana, when contacted on the phone said any investor who had any kind of document pertaining to the company, should supply it to their office at Ludhiana or Patiala. About the likely action against the agents, he said they might be made the co-conspirators later. The SP, Vigilance, also denied certain media reports that R.K. Syal had been shifted to the Ropar sub-jail, without the consent of the doctors. Syal was shifted to Ropar after the doctors at the Kesar hospital, where he was kept, certified in writing that he was fit to be shifted to short distances, he added. The legal experts, when asked if the agents or the workers of the company could be made a party in the case, said the accused had been convicted under Section 120-B of the IPC. This section is invoked against the crime committed by one or more persons in a criminal conspiracy. Since the agents and the workers of the company lured the investors into illegal schemes, they could also be made a party in the case, they said.
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BJP to contest 40 seats in Punjab FAZILKA, Dec 29 — Prof Brij Lal Rinwa, President of the Punjab unit of the BJP, while addressing party workers gathering here today on occasion of Yuva Shakti Divas being observed to celebrate birthday of Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, said the BJP would plead with the alliance partner SAD for contesting elections on 40 assembly constituencies on BJP symbol in Punjab Assembly elections whenever these are held. Explaining his volte-face on post of Punjab Chief Minister, the BJP Chief said Mr Parkash Singh Badal was their unquestioned leader. In reply to a question on rampant corruption in the state, Professor Rinwa said he had taken up the issue with the Chief Minister and would get appropriate action in specific and genuine cases if brought to his notice. Mr Rinwa, who was accompanied by Mr Surjit Kumar Jyanti, Forest Minister, Punjab and MLA, Fazilka, distributed fruits among patients in the local hospital and attended a blood donation camp. |
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MLAs air grievances CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — A joint meeting of the coalition partners, the SAD and the BJP, today turned out to be a forum for the airing of grievances by MLAs. In return, they were asked by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who presided, to work assiduously in their respective constituencies if they wished to return to power after the Vidhan Sabha elections due in less than a year. The meeting, held in the Vidhan Sabha complex, was more in the nature of gearing up the party apparatus for the forthcoming assembly poll. If MLAs rued that development works in their constituencies were either delayed or not initiated for want of finance, they also complained that Ministers seldom paid heed to their requests, sources disclosed. Mr Badal, true to his style, did not specifically respond to what was being said. He, however, invited suggestions from the MLAs on preparations for next year’s Budget promising one more detailed meeting to be held shortly for that purpose. He also advised the party MLAs to meet the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, regarding their pending demands and development projects. Most of the MLAs were unhappy that development activities relating to roads, bridges, the upgradation of schools, etc, were not being taken up in their constituencies. Some others said officers with a “negative” attitude posted at the cutting edge of the administration should be removed if people were to be given equitable justice. There was also a demand that issues like social security and pensions should be dealt with speedily and greater care. The administration must give people-oriented relief, the MLAs urged. The meeting, sources said, also brought to the surface “irritants” among SAD and BJP MLAs, most of whom said Ministers interfered in the constituencies of other MLAs. They organised official tours without any prior intimation not to speak of consultation. Mr Badal asked the Ministers to avoid such irritants and circulate their programmes among the MLAs concerned. The meeting saw the issue of octroi being raised by BJP MLAs and the contract system attacked by them. In fact, the Minister of Local Government, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, said that the municipalities were not given their due share of Rs 58 crore by way of octroi on liquor last year. In the same way in the current year, against dues of Rs 50, crore, so far only Rs 13 crore had been made available. Most of the grievances focused on the functioning of the Finance Department, which did not release even the money received under various Centrally sponsored schemes. At one stage, the Education Minister, Jathedar Tota Singh, stood up to say that first the differences between Capt Kanwaljit Singh and Mr Tandon should be resolved. The Chief Minister, sources said, was a patient listener. He did advise participants not to talk to the media but added in a lighter vein that some would still do so. He said today’s meeting was primarily to wish them a Happy New Year and invite their suggestions on the Budget for next year since that was going to be an election year. He proposed to tour all constituencies and impressed on the MLAs to nurse their constituencies. Soon after the joint meeting, the MLAs belonging to the BJP met separately and reviewed the outcome of the meeting that lasted less than two hours. The refrain at the meeting of the BJP MLAs, sources said, was that they were not heard by “Big Brother.” “Saadi te sunwai koi nahi”, remarked a BJP Minister. Therefore, the BJP MLAs decided to meet again here on January 2 and meet the Chief Minister later with their problems. Some of the BJP Ministers are unhappy with the portfolios allotted to them. The state president of the BJP, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, is likely to attend the January 2 meeting. A BJP Minister, speaking on condition of anonymity, said to him the real purpose of today’s meeting was, perhaps, to send a clear signal to all MLAs to get ready for the Assembly elections. After a pause, he said: “To me, it appears the elections will come like a bolt from the blue”. An Akali Minister, who endorsed what his BJP colleague had said, added: “August may see Punjab go to the polls”. However, he hastened to add no such signal was given at the meeting. The meeting, several ministers and MLAs admitted, did not either conform to or adopt any particular policy line as such on any issue except Mr Badal wanting that the problems of each constituency should to be tackled on priority and work started sooner than later. He repeatedly gave an assurance that arranging finance was no big deal, promising to make the same available. Sources said he did, however, express his concern over the growing rift within the two parties as well as among MLAs of the two parties and between ministers and their juniors. Mr Badal offered to tour any constituency if a proper time-frame was drawn up. If programmes like “Sangat Darshan” paid dividends and provided an opportunity to get feedback at first hand, these also enabled the government to mend its fences. His stress, sources said, was on strengthening the respective party performances and uniting the rank and file. |
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SHSAD youth
wing to intensify stir PHAGWARA, Dec 29 — The All-India Youth Akali Dal, youth wing of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, led by Mr Karnail Singh Panjholi, will intensify its struggle for the release of more than 500 Sikh youths being detained in various jails of the state for the past 16 years. This was announced by Mr Panjholi while talking to TNS here today. He said the Youth Akali Dal would hold a state-level demonstration at Sangrur on January 5. Mr Panjholi said the Central Government was adopting double standards. On the one hand it had announced a ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir and had expressed willingness to hold talks with militants, on the other hand it was not in favour of the release of Sikh youths detained in various jails without trials, he said. Mr Panjholi alleged that nobody was being allowed to meet these youths. He threatened that the Youth Akali Dal would continue to hold demonstrations till all Sikh youth detainees were released. |
Year round-up AMRITSAR, Dec 29 — The first year of this millennium witnessed unprecedented unsavoury and unfortunate incidents in the annals of Sikhism. The year began with contentious issue of “Nanakshahi jantri” in which the Sikh community involved itself in avoidable controversy. Implementation of the controversial “jantri” (calendar) and subsequent ban imposed by the then Jathedar Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh, had virtually divided a section of the Sant Samaj and the SGPC, as “mini Parliament” of Sikhs all over the world. The unsavoury controversy resulted in the “excommunication” of Bibi Jagir Kaur through a ‘hukamnama’ (edict) issued by Giani Puran Singh from Guna (Madhya Pradesh) on January 25 which she never accepted. It was for the first time in the 396-year history of Akal Takht that any SGPC chief was ever ‘excommunicated’ from the Sikh Panth. Again it was history that ‘hukamnama’ was issued by Jathedar Akal Takht to settle “political scores” with the SGPC chief. Though the Nanakshahi calendar, authored by Canada-based Sikh Pal Singh Purewal was first published on March 18, 1998 at the time of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra yet it was implemented by Bibi Jagir Kaur. In another unprecedented development, the five Sikh high priests had rejected the ‘hukamnama’ issued by Giani Puran Singh from Guna whereby Bibi Jagir Kaur was ex-communicated. The year would be considered as “most unfortunate” in Sikh circles as the sizeable leadership of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, many SGPC office-bearers, the trustees of the SGPC a number of Sikh scholars and even high priests were squarely responsible for the “violation” of age-old “maryada” (Sikh traditions) for vested interests. The definition of “maryada” and its interpretation was “distorted” by those at the helms. Most of the SGPC members were seen siding with the ruling at the cost of “maryada” which had hurt sentiments of Sikhs not only in India but abroad. The issue of “maryada” became a “laughing stock” for the non-Sikhs all over the world. They were utterly confused over this vital issue due to varied interpretations of “maryada”. In yet another unprecedented move, Giani Puran Singh ‘excommunicated’ three high priests — Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar Keshgarh Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar Takht Damdama Sahib and Giani Bhagwan Singh, head granthi Akal Takht on March 12 through another controversial “hukamnama.” However all hukamnamas” issued by Giani Puran Singh from January 25 to March 28 were revoked by another set of five Sikh high priests on March 29. While revoking the “hukamnamas” issued by Giani Puran Singh, on March 29, Prof Manjit Singh, Giani Kewal Singh and Giani Bhagwan Singh did not participate in the meeting of Akal Takht as they were ‘excommunicated’ from the Panth. However, Giani Puran Singh, who was removed as Jathedar Akal Takht on March 28 by pro-Bibi Jagir Kaur executive committee members and his supporters had claimed that the edicts once issued by Akal Takht could not be withdrawn. It was during this year that Bibi Jagir Kaur remained “underground”, twice which is considered unprecedented development in the history of the SGPC. She was the first SGPC chief who remained underground during February after her “excommunication” and again after the registration of a criminal case by the CBI against her. She was the first SGPC chief against whom a criminal case was registered by the CBI. She appeared before the CBI without caring about the demand of her detractors that she should have resigned as SGPC chief before appearing before the CBI. Mysterious death of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of Bibi Jagir Kaur, became the basis for her “unceremonious removal” as SGPC chief on November 30. During this year, unprecedented number of cases were registered against Bibi Jagir Kaur in the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission. Serious allegations like the embezzlement of gurdwara funds, surplus recruitment and violation of ‘maryada’ were levelled by the petitioners against Bibi Jagir Kaur and her senior staff members. The appointment of a “sacked Jathedar” as head granthi of Golden Temple again is an unprecedented move. The new SGPC body, headed by Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi has opened Pandora’s box by appointing Giani Puran Singh. For this, Mr Talwandi himself ‘apologised’ for the “wrong” decision. This is for the first time that the SGPC chief had ‘apologised’ publicly. During the 25-year tenure of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, such a situation never happened. Mr Talwandi known as “Iron man” in the Sikh circles compromised openly the supremacy of the SGPC by announcing that he would “obey” Mr Badal while taking vital decisions in future. It is for the first time in the 76-year history of the SGPC that its chief had ever restrained head granthi, of the Golden Temple from participating in the meetings of the Sikh clergy. While the other four high priests had written to the SGPC that no meeting could be held without the presence of head granthi of the Golden Temple. The SGPC executive committee replied that the Akal Takht Jathedar could call other priests of the Golden Temple in his place. The current stand-off is likely to spill over to the next year as some “honourable” way out is not there. The SGPC may either revert Giani Puran Singh to the post of granthi or it may initiate action against the other high priests. Inquiry against Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh is still pending report of which is likely to be submitted next year. The Akhand Kirtani Jatha (Prabandhki Panchayan) has announced openly that it would stage a dharna in front of Akal Takht if the Sikh high priests accepted the appointment of Giani Puran Singh as head granthi of the Golden Temple. |
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Villagers intensify thikri pehra following
robberies BHAGAT MAJRA (Ropar), Dec 29 — Robbers, armed with rods, batons and knives, decamped with gold jewellery worth Rs 80,000, besides cash, after striking in a village in Ropar district on Wednesday night. Following the attacks, panic has gripped the villagers. According to sources in the police department, 12 muffle-faced robbers also tortured a family for over two hours after entering their house at mid night. No case has been registered by the Punjab police despite representations by the villagers. Fear was writ large on the faces of the villagers. When the Chandigarh Tribune team reached the village soon after receiving the information, about 15 villagers, armed with batons and gandas, surrounded them. This happened after the door of one of the houses on the outskirts of Bhagat Majra village was knocked at by this correspondent late in the evening today. The villagers revealed that on Wednesday night, the robbers forcibly entered the house of Gurmail Singh and tied the hands of all the three male members before thrashing them. His son Mohan Singh tried to resist but in vain. They were demanding the cash and gold in the house. Mohan claimed the absence of cash and ornaments in the house. “One of them, called Jaila, lifted my three-year-old son in the air and put a knife under his cheek”, Mohan claimed. Scared, the boy’s grandmother opened the wooden cupboard. ‘‘They took away all the gold jewellery that was in the house,” Mohan said. Earlier, during the night, the struck at the house of Mohan’s uncle, who lived about 500 yards from his house. According to Mohan, cash and jewellery was taken by the robbers by adopting same tactics. Senior police officials, when contacted, said further investigations into the matter were on. They added that action would be taken after verifying the facts. Meanwhile, the sarpanches of all nearby villages have decided to intensify the thikri pehra in their respective villages. The police also claims that they too have increased the patrolling in the wake of the recent spate in robberies. |
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PAU rejects Bains’ plea LUDHIANA, Dec 29 — The Board of Management of Punjab Agricultural University
(PAU) has rejected the request of Mr Harcharan Bains, Media Adviser to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, to defer the recovery of the salary paid to him against study leave by the university. Mr Bains was Assistant Professor in the English Department in the PAU before he took study leave to do Ph.D. Later, he joined as Media Adviser to the Chief Minister. Official sources told The Tribune here today that Mr Bains had requested to defer the recovery of the salary paid to him against study leave citing certain reasons. However, the board, which met recently, rejected his plea asking him to deposit the money due against him. There is a lot of resentment in the PAU over the Bains issue. Faculty members say that in other cases the university authorities were prompt to effect recovery in case of failure of teachers concerned to submit their Ph.D thesis in time but in Mr
Bains’ case the authorities were dilly-dallying for one reason or the other. It may be mentioned that Mr Bains was allowed study leave by the university initially for two years to enable him to do Ph.D with effect from August 3,1990. Later, the leave was extended by one year. According to the terms and conditions of the bond executed by him, he was required to submit his Ph.D thesis within five years. The bond also stipulated that in the event of his failure to do so, he would have to return the entire amount of the salary paid to him during the period of study leave along with interest. Mr
Bains, according to sources, failed to submit his thesis within the specified period. However, when Mr Badal took over as the Chief Minister in 1997, Mr Bains sought the permission of the university authorities to join the Punjab Government as media adviser to the Chief Minister. While considering his request to join duty in the university without submitting his Ph.D thesis, the Board of Management of the university at its 167th meeting held on July 2,1997, decided that Mr Bains would be deemed “to have joined duty in the university with effect from March 2,1997 and to accept the assignment of Media Adviser to the Chief Minister with effect from March 3,1997, on deputation on terms and conditions to be settled between the university and the Punjab Government.” Significantly, the board also decided at the aforesaid meeting that since” Mr Bains has failed to submit his Ph.D thesis, the period of his study leave and the leave of the kind due granted to him from August 3,1990, to March 1,1997, may be treated as leave of the kind due.” In addition, the board categorically resolved that recovery be made from Mr Bains “ for the excess payment made to him on account of the grant of study leave as per the terms and conditions laid down in the bond.” Though over three years have passed since the board took the decision to effect the recovery, nothing has been done. It is reliably learnt that Mr Bains has made repeated pleas to the university authorities to defer the recovery of the amount from him. For instance, in a letter dated October 12 last, he requested the PAU authorities to defer the decision regarding recovery of study leave salary from him” till such time as he completes his deputation with the Punjab Government.” In this letter he also reportedly gave an assurance that he would complete his thesis “ well before joining the duty in the university.” He even went to the extent of suggesting to the authorities concerned that” the university may stipulate that he must either complete the thesis or deposit the entire amount of study leave salary with interest with retrospective effect before joining the university.” Subsequently, through another letter of November 9 this year, Mr Bains reportedly gave another undertaking to the university that he would “ submit his Ph.D. thesis positively by March, 2002, as his deputation with the Punjab Government runs concurrently with the term of the present government which expires in March, 2002”. |
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Corruption prevails in police: Pandey TARN TARAN, Dec 29 — Admitting that corruption prevailed in the Police Department, Mr A.P. Pandey Inspector-General Police (IG) Border Range, Amritsar has called upon the local district police to bring visible change in its behaviour to make border area people satisfied. Mr Pandey, while addressing a meeting of the sarpanches, panches, Municipal Councillors and representatives of different political, social and other organisations stressed that people too should cooperate with the police to bring the change. The IG assured the meeting that anti-social elements indulging in the sale of like drugs smack will be dealt with an iron hand. He also advised the people to abide by traffic rules. Mr Pandey also addressed the meeting of police officials including the gazetted officers, SHOs of the area separately. Mr Jatinder Kumar Sood, local Municipal Council president, Mr Kulwant Singh Saraf, president, Municipal Council Patti, Mr Mohinder Singh sarpanch, Gram Panchayat Jeobala, Mr Surinder Singh Kanwal, freedom fighter, Comrade Balwinder Singh Bhikhiwind President’s Shaurya Chakkar winner (CPM leader), Mr Manjit Singh Tarn Tarni (SAD leader), Mahant Gurmukh Das (Congress leader) and others spoke at the public meeting and brought public problems to the notice of the Inspector-General. Mr Jagdish Kumar local SSP, Dr Naresh Kumar Arora local SP (HQ) too addressed the meeting. |
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Millennium seminar on January 7 PATIALA, Dec 29 — The Punjab State Services Federation, the Punjab Electricity Board Employees Federation and the Punjab Mazdoor Dal will hold a joint millennium conference of employees and workers at Gurdwara Singh Sabha on January 7 to give a new direction to the working class and trade union movement in Punjab. Disclosing this here yesterday, State Services Federation President Charanjit Singh Walia said the conference which would be inaugurated by former Prime Minister I K Gujral would demand regularisation of services of all ad hoc workers, filling of all vacant posts by promotion or direct recruitment , restoring border area , Kandi area and Bet area allowances and giving 15 per cent house rent to employees posted at Patiala, besides others from the Punjab Government. He said the federation would also take steps for fulfilment of various demands, including removal of stagnation, creating promotional channels for all employees and removal of discrimination on disbursal of emoluments . |
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Unending wait
for “shagun” AMRITSAR, Dec 29 — Girls awaiting “shagun” under the “shagun” scheme of the Punjab Government have already entered into matrimony. They have had children but the promised “shagun” has yet to reach them even after four years of marriage. Many of these poor families have taken loan from relatives and friends for marriage of these girls. Similarly government has made a mockery of its old age pension scheme. Also widows and handicapped too have not received the much awaited pension. Ms Luxmi Kanta Chawla BJP MLA criticising the government said that Rs 4 crore was earmarked for these schemes but only Rs 80 lakh was spent out of the total sum. “Till suffering sections resort to agitations the government remains unmoved” she noted. She demanded, that the government understood responsibilities and made all efforts to implement these for the good of the masses. |
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SSF: remove 2 high priests AMRITSAR, Dec 29 — The Sikh Students Federation (SSF), in a statement here yesterday said that the crisis arising from the restraint put on Giani Puran Singh’s participation in the Sikh clergies meeting could only be resolved with the removal of two head priests Giani Manjit Singh, Jathedar Keshgarh Sahib and Giani Kewal Singh Jathedar Damdama Sahib. Mr Iqbal Singh Former P.A. to Giani Puran Singh and vice-president, SSF, said that the third Head priest Giani Bhagwan Singh head Granthi Akal Takht who was also excommunication from the Panth by former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh is already nearing his retirement in a few days, hence, all three excommunicated jathedar’s removal would pave the way for the “rightful” participation of head granthi Darbar Sahib Giani Puran Singh. Further it was stated that the SGPC executive committee’s decision to put a restraint on Giani Puran Singh was against the age-old ‘maryada’ of the Sikh Panth “under any eventuality the head granthi Darbar Sahib is under obligation and responsibility to complete the quorum of the clergy by sending a representative of “his own choice” and not by the diktat of the SGPC executive committee he stated. The federation has sought the removal of two ex-communicated Sikh high priests to pave the way to end the recent crisis and restore the Sikh ‘maryada’. |
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Probe sought into
blood sale FEROZEPORE, Dec 29 — Accusing certain private laboratories of selling blood with impunity, members of the Life Line Blood Donor Society here have sought probe into the menace. In a statement issued here today, the president of the society, Mr Vikramjit Singh Rattan, has categorically accused certain private laboratories of charging Rs 1,200 for blood from the patients. Without naming the laboratories, Mr Rattan alleged that the money was being charged on the protest that the donors were seeking monetary benefits in lieu of blood. Even as the society is pressing upon the administration to act, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Prem Lata Sood, on being contacted said she was not aware of any such incident having taken place in the city. She, however, said she would get a case registered against any laboratory which was found indulging in this practice. |
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BJYM state unit dissolved Phagwara, Dec 29 — The state president of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Mr Sukhminder Singh Grewal has dissolved the state unit of the morcha with immediate effect. Talking to The Tribune here today, he said all state and district level appointments announced on December 23 had been cancelled with immediate effect due to some unavoidable organisational compulsions. He said the appointments of all district presidents should also be considered cancelled. Mr Grewal said new appointments at state and district levels would soon be announced after consultation with Punjab BJP President Brij Lal Rinwa. It may be recalled that Mr Grewal held a press conference here on December 23 and announced the list of state office-bearers and district presidents of the Punjab unit of the morcha. |
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Hurriyat talks with Pak opposed AMRITSAR, Dec 29 — Criticising the permission accorded to All-Party Hurriyat Conference units of Jammu and Kashmir to hold talks with the neighbouring country the Shiromani Youth Akali Dal (Syal Kahlon) has cautioned the government against plans of J and K terrorist outfits of internationalising the Kashmir issue once again. Mr Kuldip Singh Kahlon and Mr Paramjit Singh Bhalowali president and press secretary, respectively, in a joint statement said the government’s soft stand on the issue could cost the nation dearly. Ample proof against the backdrop of the ceasefire announcement is the recent attack on the Red Fort. “Under the garb of charting out a peace plan, an Hurriyat leaders are hatching a conspiracy detrimental to India” said Mr Syal while reiterating the central leadership to exercise caution. |
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SGPC poll rolls
preparation from Jan CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — For the next general election to the SGPC, to be held in October, 2001, the preparation of the electoral rolls will begin in the first week of January next year. According to amendments under consideration of Central Government, any Kesdhari Sikh above the age of 18 years shall be entitled to get his/her name registered as a voter on signing the statutory declaration form. All organisations of Sikhs, whether political, social or religious, interested in the coming SGPC elections can send suggestions and views or obtain further information from the office of the Gurdwara Election Commission, according to the secretary of the
commission, Mr Gurdev Singh. |
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Shuttering collapse ‘being politicised’ PATIALA, Dec 29 — Mr Balwant Singh Sandhu, president of the Punjab Nagar Palika Karamchari Mahansangh, said on Friday that the incident of the fall of shuttering of a Municipal Corporation building, under construction near the NIS, was being given political colours by various leaders. According to him, out of the two persons who died under the debris of the building, the body of one of the
employees was sent in a van and the other in a government ambulance. The injured were sent to hospital in cars and were given treatment and free medicines. He said there was confusion within their staff because of the registration of the case. He added that the corporation would like an inquiry commission to be set up. |
Booked for raping Dalit KHANNA, Dec 29 — A case was registered today at the Payal police station against Gurdip Singh, alias Deepi, of Madnipur village, near Payal, for allegedly raping a Dalit girl of the same village. According to the SSP, Mr R.N. Dhoke, the suspect is still at large. Mr Jarnail Singh, father of the victim, had complained to the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, and the SSP, Khanna, accusing Gurdip Singh of raping his daughter. He alleged that the suspect had threatened to kill her if she reported the matter to anyone. Mr Jarnail Singh stated in his complaint that not knowing about the rape he married his daughter to Bhajan Singh of Bugge Kalan village, near Amloh. She gave birth to a female child after three months of her marriage on September 7, 2000. Mr Jarnail Singh said Gurdip Singh had come to the hospital and promised to marry her. The newly born baby was thrown in the fields of Mallowal Tibby village. A case was registered against Mr Jarnail Singh’s daughter at the Amloh police station under Sections 307 and 317 of the IPC. She is still under judicial custody and the baby is being brought up at SOS Children’s village in Rajpura. |
Varsity to create 10 per cent extra seats Patiala, Dec 29 — Punjabi University has decided to create 10 per cent extra seats for all classes and courses at all levels in colleges and the university departments for poor and meritorious students of the rural areas. At a meeting of the College Development Council of the university which was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, it was decided that in every course and class 10 per cent extra seats, with a minimum of five seats, would be created to provide an opportunity to the youth belonging to poor families who have the merit but do not have the means to study as regular students. The meeting decided that the students would be provided all educational facilities right from the admission to the completion of the course free of cost. It said in addition every college would be provided another five per cent extra seats the income of which would be spent on poor students. A committee had been formed to finalise the modalities of the scheme. The council by another decision decided that the examination duty and the evaluation of answerbooks would be made compulsory for all teachers working in the colleges. It said any teacher refusing to perform these duties would run the risk of losing his approval from the university. It said to expedite the evaluation of anwserbooks and declaration of results it had been decided to complete the examinations within one month and all results would be declared by June 20 so as to start the new academic session well in time. The meeting felt that in order to streamline the process of reevaluation it had been decided to allow two weeks time for applying for reevaluation and the university would declare the result within the next two weeks. It decided that all answerbooks up to under graduate level would be evaluated through table marking. Following a request from a number of college principals to check the menace of private tuitions in affiliated colleges, it was decided that all the aspects of the problem would be studied to tackle it effectively. The meeting was attended by Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Dr R. M. Goel and the Dean, Colleges, Dr Janak Raj Gupta and the Registrar, Dr B. S. Bhatia, besides others.
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Language
Department appoints teachers Patiala, Dec 29 — The Punjab Language Department has appointed six Deputy Directors and six Assistant Directors here today. Mr Avtar Singh, Mrs Jagjit Kaur, Mrs Mahinder Kaur, Mrs Balwant Kaur, Mrs Kuldeep Kaur and Mr Amarjit Singh have been appointed as the Deputy Directors . Mr Ulangkar Singh and Mr Tharampal Chaudhry have been appointed as Assistant Directors. Mrs Harbhajan Kaur has been appointed as District Language Officer, Mrs Amar Vinod is the District Language Officer, Kapurthala, Mr. Kesar Singh is the District Language Officer, Gurdaspur and Mrs Vishwa Kirti as the District Language Officer, Mansa. |
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