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| Sunday, February
25, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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CBI court to hear Bibi’s plea Patiala, February 24 The accused, including former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, her associate Dalwinder Kaur and Personal Security Officer Nishan Singh, were produced before the Duty Magistrate as Special CBI Magistrate Jaspinder Singh Heyer who was to take up the case, was on leave. Earlier on February 13, Mr Heyer had asked Bibi Jagir Kaur to furnish bail bonds of Rs 25,000 and given her time till February 24, which was also fixed as next date for hearing the case, to apply for regular bail in the trial court of the Sessions Judge. However, Bibi Jagir Kaur did not apply for bail from the trial court and instead filed an application in the Special CBI court urging that the order of the Magistrate asking her to take regular bail from the trial court should be recalled. Today at the onset of the hearing, CBI counsel S.K. Saxena declined to give any reply to the application of the accused claiming it was not legally permissible. He said the anticipatory bail granted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to Bibi Jagir Kaur was valid only as long as the accused did not submit himself to the court. He said on the last date the former SGPC chief had
presented herself before the CBI court and had been granted interim bail till February 24 and directed to take regular bail from the trial court till then. The CBI counsel said Bibi Jagir Kaur had till today shown no reason as to why despite benevolence shown by the Special Magistrate she did not apply for bail from the trial court. He said under such circumstances the former SGPC chief ceased to enjoy any bail and was not protected by any order. He said that court had only one option and that was to remand her in judicial custody. The defence counsel Satnam Singh Cler and Maninderpal Singh pleaded that there was no condition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court order indicating that it had been passed for a limited period . They said the order was exhaustive and complete in itself. The counsel said the court could not pass any order in the case either granting her bail or remanding her in judicial custody and that any such order would be a contempt of the High Court. The counsel also requested that the case be referred to the Special CBI court for hearing. They said they were requesting for this as they had asked for the recall of an earlier order passed by the Special CBI Magistrate and that the application should be heard by him. Following this despite protestations from the CBI counsel, the Duty Magistrate referred the case to the CBI court and fixed March 3 as next date of hearing. Earlier Bibi Jagir Kaur and the other accused were brought to the court under tight security arrangements. Today also saw an advocate — Kundan Singh Nagra — joining the case as an attorney on behalf of Kamaljit Singh, who was romantically inclined to Jagir Kaur’s daughter Harpreet Kaur and had reportedly married her. |
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Switzerland Tourism targets Punjab Chandigarh, February 24 He said: “there has been an overwhelming response to Switzerland as tourist destination. After we opened to the Indian market in 1997, we had a 30 per cent growth for the first two years. Last year, it was eight per cent. This year we expect it to be 10 per cent.” “Starting from almost zero, we had in 1998 as many as 1,31,000 overnight stays by Indians in Switzerland. It increased to 1,65,000 in 1999 and 1,78,900 in 2000. This year, we expect it to cross the 2,00,000 mark,” Mr Sommaruga explained. Travel and Tourism , he said, was the third highest revenue earner for Switzerland and employed three lakh people. Of the 20 million people who travelled to Switzerland every year, only one per cent come from India. Mr Sommaruga said though the initial target for this year was a little higher, it was revised after Gujarat was ravaged by a major earthquake on January 26. “Switzerland Tourism, which is a national marketing organisation, continues to keep India in the emerging markets section for it has a tremendous potential for growth. North India in general and Punjab in particular are the major potential areas. We are now trying to exploit this market.” The peak season to visit Switzerland, he said, was between April and July because of summer holidays in the country at that time. “The cool and pristine environment and breathtaking scenery has made Switzerland the most sought after destination for those on honeymoon, holiday-makers, film producers and businessmen,” he said referring to a cricket match organised by the Cricket Club of India in Switzerland last weekend. The most popular destinations were Mount Titlis and Jungfraujoch. A number of Indian restaurants had been opened to cater to visitors from all over the globe, Mr Sommaruga said. Accompanying Mr Sommaruga was Ms Shalini Khanna, market representative of Switzerland Tourism in New Delhi. The former addressed travel agents from Chandigarh and Punjab here. Mr Lokesh Bardia, Manager, Business Sales, Swiss Air, said with 17 flights from India per week, Swiss Air and Sabena were now focussing on South India. “If we have to expand our operations in India in the near future, Bangalore would be our first choice,” he said, claiming that the market in the “north was nearly saturated and could witness a normal 2 to 3 per cent growth while the overall growth of international air traffic from India this year is expected to be around 8 to 10 per cent. We expect some growth around Delhi because of information technology units coming up at Noida and in the National Capital Region.” Mr Bardia said if the Indian Government allowed, Swiss Air would like to bring bigger aircraft than the present midsize A-330 it was using on the Delhi sector and MD 11 from Mumbai. After increasing its frequency from three to seven flights per week from New Delhi, Swiss Air was fully honouring its commitment of the last bilateral agreement between the two countries. He said Swiss Air was perhaps the only airline which had introduced the meet -and-assist service for international air travellers coming from other stations, besides providing cell phone service on the arrival and departure times from Indira Gandhi International Airport. Indian flight attendants, Indian meals, inflight announcements in Hindi and Hindi music and movies were other attractions of Swiss Air services to and from India, Mr Bardia added. |
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Punjab to review LPG-for-all scheme Ropar, February 24 Earlier as reported in this newspaper the Punjab government had decided to surrender its kerosene quota in Ropar, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur districts from February end. The scheme was to be started from Ropar. This was done after the Punjab government opted to surrender its kerosene quota for 100 per cent supply of LPG in response to an offer in this regard from the Union Petroleum Ministry in April last year. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal was at Nangal today on a visit to his constituency. Referring to the victory of the SAD-BJP alliance in the Majitha byelections he said that it was a referendum on the government policies. The people have rejected the Congress in all the three byelections. Congress efforts to mislead farmers on the wheat procurement have also failed. The SAD-BJP alliance had also been strengthened further after this victory, he said. Mr Mittal, however, declined any possibility of the advancing of assembly polls due to the positive results in Majitha byelection. When asked about the possible solution for the PNEC workers who had not been paid wages for the past two years, Mr Mittal, told that a meeting under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, would be held on February 28 to work out some solution to end the misery of the workers. The representatives of the Department of Finance and the PSIDC would also participate in the meeting, he added. |
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Row over
house tax assessment Muktsar, February 24 Mr Sham Lal Goyal, President, National Consumer Awareness Group, alleged that the municipal council had not assessed the new bungalows rented out to private persons and commercial buildings. He alleged that the municipal council had not demarcated properties for the past 30 years which was mandatory for carrying out a survey in connection with the assessment of house tax. He pointed out that the municipal council had passed a resolution on July 21, 1997, proposing an increase of 15 per cent in house tax bills, despite the fact that it was entitled to enhance only 10 per cent on the previously assessed units after five years. Contrary to this resolution, the municipal council flouted rules and had sent bills pertaining to 1999 2000 and 2000-2001 by preparing the new assessment prematurely. The previous assessment was done in 1991. He said it had also imposed 5 per cent of the house tax on assesses as “fire cess”. He said the house tax bills had been sent on addresses as per the old record and if the properties had been sold off or had been lying vacant. He said if the authorities concerned did not take appropriate steps, the National Consumer Awareness Group would move court. Mr Sukhjinder Singh, Executive Officer, of the council, said assessment of house tax had been done as per the rules. He said in 1994, house tax assessment was done on the rental value of any premises and in 1999, a new policy was made under which the house tax was assessed after taking the cost of land and cost of construction of building. The fire cess had also been imposed as per the policy of the state government. He said house tax had been assessed by a three-member committee comprising President of the council, its executive officer and a councillor. He said the resolution of the municipal council was passed in 1997 regarding the assessment of house tax and the House wasd dissolved by the authorities concerned as this resolution was challenged at various levels. He pointed out that if any of the assessee had any complaint, he could approach
the higher authorities and contact the Deputy Commissioner. He said about two months ago, a team of the vigilance wing of the Local Bodies Department had carried out a door-to-door survey of all residential premises, including factories and marriage palaces, to cross-check the assessment. |
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Potable water a distant dream Nawanpind Khalewal (Jalandhar) February 24 The apathy of the successive governments towards the rivulet once a rich source of water for the area, has converted it into a stream of slush, which in turn has resulted in the deterioration of the quality of groundwater. The situation is so alarming in villages like Jalalpur, Phull Ghuddhuwal, Meda and Sajjana, and Kangana Mattewal, that water stored in a vessel becomes yellowish or yellow-black within five to 10 minutes. Since the government authorities have failed to come out with a solution, residents of these villages have no choice but to live with their agony and keep drinking unsafe water. We have even developed a taste for it and have got used to it, but in case there is some relative back home, we have to fetch water from the nearby villages, where the quality of water is comparatively good. “The problem turns intense when our women have to do the job of taking water from nearby villages,” complained Ranjit Singh of Khalewal village in Shahkot subdivision. Similarly Sajjan Singh of Ghudduwal village turned reminiscent when he remembered the good old days. “About 25 years ago the water of the rivulet was crystal clear and we used to catch fish from there and even use it for drinking purposes. But now it has got converted into a sewerage stream. Thanks to the governments which have failed to check the flow of industrial pollutants into it.” Residents alleged that inspite of a number of complaints, the authorities had failed to make arrangement for safe drinking water in almost entire “dona”, the area falling between two rivers — the Beas and the Sutlej. They feared that people of the area were suffering from various water-borne diseases. Another problem faced by villagers of the “Dona” area is the scarcity of water due to fall in the watertable in the area and its flooding during monsoon because of encroachment on hundreds of acres of the rivulet bed by certain unscrupulous farmers, who grow mustard and sugarcane crops in the bed. Some of them have even installed tubewells on the rivulet bed. “While on one hand, the watertable has plummeted to a level that now we can install a tubewell at a level of 95 feet in comparison to 50 feet, just a few years ago on the other hand, we have to face the fury of floods during monsoon for the authorities have failed to remove encroachments from the bed of the rivulet. While the Deputy Commissioner, Mr K. Shiva Prashad, was not available. Punjab Pollution Control Board officials admitted that groundwater pollution had reached an alarming level in the area for the release of untreated industrial sewage of Jalandhar city and other townships into the Kala Sanghian drain which subsequently flows to the Chitti Bein rivulet. |
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Accept masses’ verdict: Badal tells Amarinder Barnala, February 24 Reacting to Capt Amarinder Singh’s allegation that SAD owed its win in Majitha to manoeuvring of electronic voting machines (EVMs), Mr Badal refuted this allegation while talking to mediapersons at Bilaspur village, about 30 km from here today. Terming the allegation of Capt Amarinder Singh as baseless, Mr Badal said if EVMs could be manoeuvred by SAD led Punjab Government, how and why Sukhbir Singh Badal could be defeated in 1999 Lok Sabha poll in Faridkot. Mr Badal added that had EVMs been tampered how Ms Parneet Kaur, wife of Capt Amarinder Singh, could win Lok Sabha election in Patiala in 1999. |
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Harike
case: judicial remand for accused Patiala,
February 24 Joginderpal has been in police remand in the case in which it has been alleged that he dug out gold from the ‘haveli’ of his cousin Rajeshwar Singh Harike which had been buried by General Gurdial Singh Harike, the last Prime Minister of the Patiala State, since more than a fortnight. A case of dacoity has been registered against him at the instance of the daughter in law of the late General. Police officials while presenting the accused in court today urged that he should be further remanded in police custody for another 10 days. The police officials said they had taken the accused to Jaipur recently and that he had to be taken to some more places to get clues of the gold sold by him. Police sources later claimed that the accused had admitted during questioning that he had sold gold worth Rs 1.7 crore on the black market. The police earlier produced Kesar Singh, an eighty year old man in court whose statement was recorded under Section 164. Kesar Singh, who was a ‘sewadar’ of the late General had claimed that 60 kg of gold which had been given to the General for safekeeping by Muslims fleeing during partition and had been donated by the General to the Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara, had been taken out from the gurdwara after the General fell out with its management and buried in the ancestral haveli at Bakshiwala village near here. Kesar Singh said 40 kg more of gold had been also buried in the same haveli by the General along with him.
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Cong leaders to meet Vedanti on code violation Amritsar, February 24 Addressing a joint press conference, here today, Mr Gurinder Singh Kairon, Master Jagir Singh, all former Ministers, Mr Sukhbinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria, District Congress Committee Rural) chief Mr Lakha Singh, a former MLA and Mr Savinder Singh Kathunangal who contested the Majitha byelection asked the Jathedar of Akal Takht to summon senior Akali leaders at Akal Takht for running ‘illicit distilleries” in the Majitha constituency. They demanded ‘Hukamnama’ against Mr Parkash Singh Badal, president SAD and other Akali leaders who had indulged in ‘anti-panthik’ activities like illicit destillation during electioneering. The Congress leaders urged Ms Sonia Gandhi, President, Indian National Congress, to meet the President of India for demanding the constitution of a commission against alleged manipulations and tampering of electronic voting machines during Majitha byelection. They alleged that the Congress party had concrete proofs about tampering of EVMs. The Congress leaders alleged that the SGPC funds were ‘misused’ for the sake of Majitha byelection which was against the spirit of the Gurdwara act, 1925. They alleged that the election observers were ‘bribed’ by the ruling party and hence they turned a blind eye to every violation of the model code of conduct. They further alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner, Dr M.S. Gill, did not initiate any action against the violators of the code of conduct as he could be tipped for governorship after his superannuation on March 31. |
Mass marriages in villages, too ABOHAR: Residents of Panjkosi village, near here, had resolved to help the downtrodden by arranging mass marriages of girls from this section. A beginning was made on Shivratri. Residents, in cooperation with Bhagat Kuldip Kumar Sahu of Bodiwala Peetha village, arranged Baba Ram Dev katha under the banner of the Shri Baba Ram Dev Samiti for a week. Hundreds of women took out a kalash yatra. The procession started from Shri Ram Mandir and, after taking a round of the village, ended at the katha site, where a beautiful pandal had been put up. Members of the village panchayat, who had been taking keen interest in social activities under the guidance of Mr Surinder Kumar Jakhar, Chairman of IFFCO, helped make the event a success. Devotees of Baba Ram Dev were seen going to Panjkosi village not only from other villages but also from Abohar town, singing bhajan and carrying flags. A social worker, Ms Khazan Devi Parihar, who belonged to Kuharianwal village and is married in the family of a nambardar of Ghallu village, was among those who sponsored items of daily use to be given as gifts to those who got married on Shivratri. Both Mr Jakhar and Ms Parihar, while lauding the efforts of the organisers, hoped that social activists in other villages would follow this system in order to check the wastage of money on pomp and show. Mr Jakhar said the time had come for the utmost simplicity at marriages and parties. Recently, an initiative to make the concept of mass marriages popular was taken by rural branches of the Bharat Vikas Parishad, a voluntary organisation, in Ramsara, Amarpura and Rajanwali villages. Bhagat Kuldip Kumar Sahu is confident that religious-minded persons will come forward to arrange the mass marriages of girls belonging to poor families. A mass marriage function has been planned in the first week of March by another local organisation. Women are taking keen interest in the preparations for the function. It will also be preceded by a kalash yatra in which more than 250 women are expected to participate. |
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HIGH COURT Chandigarh, February 24 Pronouncing the orders in open court, Mr Justice V.M. Jain of the High Court also asked the premier investigation agency to investigate another case registered after Mukhija’s son was crushed to death. In his detailed order, Mr Justice Jain further directed the Moga Senior Superintendent of Police to hand over all the documents concerning the two first information reports registered at Station Dharamkot police station on October 14 and November 13 last year. Mr Justice Jain also asked the Assistant Inspector General (Crime) to hand over all the documents pertaining to another case registered at Police Station Sadar in Ludhiana. The Judge added that the investigation would be conducted by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. The officer, Mr. Justice Jain, added should not be from the Punjab cadre. Seeking probe by the CBI, Mukhija’s wife Parkash Kaur had earlier contended that she was not expecting justice from the Punjab Police who had failed to arrest the culprits. Claiming the involvement of an MLA, she had added that security to her husband was withdrawn just before the incident with mala fide intentions. DPI told to consider increment claim A Division Bench today directed the DPI (Schools) and the DEO (Schools) to consider the claim of a physical tracing instructor teacher regarding the release of increment within three months. In his petition, Mr Davinder Nath, working at a school in Patiala district, had earlier challenged the government’s action of allegedly not granting him three increments on acquiring post-graduation qualification in the second division as per state instructions. According to the instructions, he said three increments were to be granted to teachers having acquired a post graduate degree in first or second division. His counsel, had contended that the petitioner was given only two increments treating him as having passed the master’s degree in third division. |
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74 Inspectors promoted DSPs Ludhiana, February 24 Those promoted to the rank of DSPs will be placed in the pay scale of Rs 7,880-13,500 (with an initial start of Rs 8,000). The orders further said these DSPs will be on probation as required under the rules. It has also been stipulated that no Inspector whose record is not up to the mark and is not found fit for promotion by the DPC, will work as DSP, even on an ORP basis. The Inspectors promoted to the rank of DSP are Mr Jagmohan Singh (11/CID), Mr Baljinder Singh (FR/71), Mr Rajwant Kumar (PAP/101), Mr Goverdhan Lal (PAP/103), Mr Natha Singh (PAP/2), Mr Joginder Lal (78/FR), Mr Khushi Mohammed (164/FR), Mr Jaspal Singh (41/FR), Mr Joginder Singh (83/FR), Mr Raghbir Singh (150/J), Mr Surinder Singh (13/CID), Mr Hakam Singh (PAP/114), Mr Shinder Singh (12/PR), Mr Roop Singh (JRT/51), Mr Malkiat Singh (361/PR), Mr Gurmail Singh (PR/123), Mr Des Raj (8/FR), Mr Karamjit Singh (PAP/55), Mr Kehar Singh (PAP/106), Mr Sardool Singh (PAP/112), Mr Jaswant Singh (PAP/113), Mr Dalbir Singh (PAP/115), Mr Dalbir Singh (PAP/116), Mr Darshan Singh (PAP/120), Mr Ram Rachhpal Singh (PAP/119), Mr Bishamber Dass (PAP/123), Mr Puran Singh (PAP/124), Mr Gurnam Singh (PR/58), Mr Sarup Singh (PR/101), Mr Shamsher Singh (PR/103), Mr Sardari Lal (PAP/122), Mr Anokh Singh (31/FR), Mr Darshan Singh (2/FR), Ms Surinder Kaur (162/PR), Mr Ramesh Chand (PR/144), Mr Hakam Singh (1144/FDK), Mr Bharthari Singh (PR/149), Mr Gurdarshan Singh (PR/77), Mr Shamsher Singh (PR/145), Mr Ram Prich Singh (12/CID), Mr Kamaljit Singh (188/J), Mr Joginder Singh (89/J), Mr Sukhbir Singh (98/J), Mr Gurmail Singh (190/PAP), Mr Sardool Singh (PAP/33), Mr Roop Chand (PAP/46), Mr Gurdarshan Singh (PAP/125), Mr Mohinder Singh (PAP/126), Mr Santokh Singh (PAP/127), Mr Parshotam Singh (PAP/128), Mr Gurdip Singh (174/PAP), Mr Kulwant Singh (77/PAP), Mr Kulwinder Singh (PAP/3), Mr Savinderjit Singh (73/PAP), Mr Mandeep Singh (78/PAP), Mr Balbir Singh (82/PAP), Mr Narinderpal Singh (190/PAP), Mr Mohinder Mohan Singh (350/PAP), Mr Gurkewal Singh (355/PAP), Mr Amrik Singh (54/PAP), Mr Shinda Singh (177/PAP), Karnail Singh (121/PAP), Mr Sucha Singh (105/PAP), Mr Piara Singh (2/PAP), Mr Piara Singh (3/PAP), Mr Devinder Singh (93/PAP), Mr Sucha Singh (53/PAP), Mr Baldev Singh (38/PAP), Mr Amrik Singh (56/PAP), Mr Tasvir Singh (119/PAP), Mr Harbhajan Lal (R/6) and Mr Sarwan Singh (266/J). |
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Bathinda gets facelift for CM’s visit Bathinda, February 24 Bathinda, often called as the “city of sand dunes,” is famous for its dust storms of the city, particularly from July to September. However, as most of the city’s main roads have been dug up for various ‘development’ works, a lot of dust circulates, giving the feeling of a duststorm. The effort by the authorities to get the roads cleaned at this time has taken the residents by surprise. Not only is sand being swept away from the roads, but additional tractor-trailers and hand-driven trailers have been put to use so that the sand ‘collected’ from the roads is disposed out of the city. Mr Naresh Kumar, a shopkeeper on the GT Road of the city, said that it would be a blessing if the Chief Minister visited the city frequently. Driving a two-wheeler on the city’s dust-ridden roads was a curse, he lamented. Though the companies concerned pre paid the digging and re-carpeting charges to the authorities, the roads had not been re-carpeted for months after being dug up, he complained. Mr Chander Mohan Ruby, Vice-President, Peoples Law Forum, said that though the residents paid all sorts of taxes — on property, vehicles, income, etc — and even an additional cess, the state of civic amenities was pathetic, he lamented. |
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Limit VIP visits to
Amritsar: Dang Amritsar, February 24 A recent example, he said, was of a young girl who was raped but was kept in police custody without a medical examination for three days as the police was reportedly occupied with the Chief Minister’s security. Expressing distress over the hit-and-run accident in which a scribe died yesterday, he said the government should limit the visits of VIPs to the holy city. He said the Chief Minister spent nearly 40 per cent of his working days in the city in sharp contrast to the days of terrorism when he dared not cross the Beas. He said at least 25 per cent accidents would be reduced if VIP visits were streamlined. |
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Jassi
case: bail to accused cop denied Sangrur, February 24 The court dismissed his bail application finding it being without merit. Earlier on February 20 last, the court had fixed February 24 to hear the bail application on Joginder Singh. |
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Officialdom “harming”
Punjabi’s cause Jalandhar, February 24 Mr Tirlochan Singh, who addressing a gathering at local Lyallpur Khalsa College, on the occasion of silver jubilee celebrations of the college’s Punjabi Department, said today that Punjabis themselves were responsible for the slow progress of their mother language and the so called intellectual class was shy of using language as a medium of expression. Much harm has been caused by the officialdom and the teaching class, he said. Similarly the Jnan Pith award winner Prof Gurdial Singh lamented that those who could forged their mother language could never be nationalists and patriots. |
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Folk artistes mesmerise
audience Patiala, February 24 Whether it was the ‘dhaad’ Idu Sharif singing the traditional love ballads, Baba Kashinath on his vanjali and ‘been’ of Barkat Sidhu rendering the Sufi kalaam, the audience had a field day imbibing the best of Punjabi culture at the function organised by the Punjab Heritage Foundation. Among the unique performances was one by 80-year-old Baba Pokhar Singh. The Baba who still shakes a leg doing the Jhumar dance which is fast becoming extinct in the state was there with his troupe which consists mainly of family members. The troupe gave a scintillating performance which was much appreciated by the audience. The other performers included Puran Shah Koti, Des Raj Lachkani on the Sarangi, Bhand Som Sahota and Nakaals from Malerkotla. A separate exhibition of utensils used traditionally in Punjabi homes also generated enthusiasm among the visitors. Punjab Heritage Foundation general secretary R.S. Gill, who is also a teacher in the Music Department of Punjab University, said the foundation would make the function an annual feature. He said the foundation would also soon come out with cash awards for deserving artists. He said the foundation had been created with the help of NRIs with the sole aim of promoting folk art. |
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Attempt to saffronise
flayed Amritsar, February 24 In a joint press statement, Mr Karnail Singh Panjoli, president, AISYAD, and Mr Kanwarpal Singh of the Dal Khalsa said that with a deep-rooted conspiracy the saffron brigade had published a book “Sanskriti Gyan” for Class VIII students in RSS-run schools to create a wedge between Sikhs and Muslims. Since the move aimed at bringing both the minorities at loggerheads, the Punjab Government should ban the book. By touching the Ayodhya issue, the RSS had attempted to kill two birds with one stone: first, it had tried to project Guru Gobind Singh as a defender of the Hindu faith and secondly it intended to rope in the Sikh community in their favour in the ongoing Ayodhya controversy. Both the leaders alleged the RSS was playing with fire by hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. Referring to the statement in which the RSS said Sikhs had a separate religion and identity, both said it was a tactical move to deceive the Sikhs. They said both organisations would hold a series of programmes to create awareness among Sikh masses. “Those who believe the RSS had retreated from its ‘assimilative agenda’ were either unfit to lead the community or were playing into the hands of the RSS,” they said. Meanwhile, the Khalra Mission Committee Chairman, Mr Surinder Singh Ghariala, recommended a ban on the book which had a fabricated-version of Guru Gobind Singh’s attempt to liberate Ram janmabhoomi. He said the RSS endeavour to misinterpret history was aimed to break the affinity between the minorities. |
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Patwarkhana shifting opposed Bathinda, February 24 In a joint press note issued here today, Mr Chand Singh, president of the Mazdoor Union, Mr Daleep Singh, president of the Palledar Union, and representatives of rickshaw unions, said most of the labourers used to gather at the Labour Chowk which was near the patwarkhana. They added that most of the rehri owners used to sell vegetables and fruits here and thus earning their livelihood. They alleged in the name of development and progress the district administration was making efforts to uproot the labourers. |
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Move to shift hospital opposed Bathinda, February 24 Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal said the very idea of shifting the hospital was strange, as it was not in the interest of the general public. At present the hospital catered to the medical needs of the city and the residents of trans-railway colonies, and if it was shifted to Civil Hospital, which was far away from the heart of the city, they would be badly affected. The building of the hospital was given a face-lift a few years ago and now the same would be demolished to generate funds for the construction of offices for the bureaucrats, he added. Mr Aggarwal said the offices of the government departments located at the proposed site of the District Administrative Complex spend huge amounts on the maintenance of buildings and some of the offices were renovated by spending huge money a couple of years ago. If these were to be demolished, it would make a mockery of public funds, he said. |
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Health care prime concern among
doctors Patiala Dr Rao said the pressures on medical education were divided between the development of highly qualified specialists and the needs of extensive community-based health care. Governments and the professionals were seeking changes in professional education for health care workers which better fit the emerging and future staffing needs. Health care education and health care were closely related and should ideally operate together. He added that the change in medical education pattern was imperative due to the advances in the medical practice, changes in funding of health services and ageing population. However, with more clarity of aims and objectives, the development of the curriculum would be far better, easier and successful. The conference which discussed the technicalities in the medical profession invited delegates from India as well as abroad to initiate talks and present their research papers regarding the medical profession on various issues and problems faced by the authorities concerned. The thrust of this academic meeting was on ways to overcome deadly diseases which had to be rectified for the proper health care of the patients. Dr Ajmer Singh, ex-DRME, Punjab, Dr Pushpendra N. Renjen, senior neurologist from Apollo Hospital, Dr B.S.Babbar, Prof Medicines GMC, Dr O.P.Goel, Prof and Head, Medicines GMC, Dr Kamaljit Kaur, ex-professor and Head, Medicines, GMC and other professionals talked on burning topics of concern such as AIDS, acute ischaemic stroke, falls in elderly, breast conservation surgery, rheumatoid arthritis and acute asthma. The delegates hoped to come out with some solutions and medicines to cure these diseases and maintain health care in others.
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Cong kisan rally today Jalandhar February 24 The rally is aimed at highlighting the plight of farmers and to create awareness among them about the “anti-farmer” policies being pursued by the BJP led coalition government. Mr Jagjit Singh, vice president, PPCC, said here yesterday that issue like the Centre Government’s move to lower or scrap the minimum support price (MSP) and other problems of farmers like the delay in lifting or purchase of paddy and potatoes would figure at the rally. He said like the PPC, its Haryana counterpart would also ensure the presence of about one lakh farmers and workers from Haryana at the rally.
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Dhindsa’s no to cut in farm subsidy Kapurthala, February 24 Talking to mediapersons at local circuit house this evening, Mr Dhindsa said there was difference of opinion between his department and the Finance Department over the implementation of the Expenditure Reforms Commission (ERC) report. The ERC report has recommended complete cut in the subsidies in a phased manner in five years by increasing the prices of fertilisers by 7 per cent every year. Mr Dhindsa said his department wanted the complete cut in the subsidies in a period of seven to eight years for the implementation of ERC report. Commenting on the economic survey reports which suggest cut in the subsidies, Mr Dhindsa said the chief ministers of many states also wanted that there should be no cut in the subsidies on the fertilisers which would adversely affect farmers of the country. He disclosed that he was meeting the Union Finance Minister soon to discuss the subsidies on fertilisers. He said the expert committee on the subsidies would submit its report in a month and the final decision on subsidies would be taken after the report of the committee. Commenting on the implementation of GATT agreement from April for lifting import duty on 710 items which include agriculture products, he said it would not affect the farmers of the country much as import duty up to 40 per cent could be levied on some products. Replying to a question on a unity move between the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Sarb Hind Akali Dal, Mr Dhindsa said he was always in favour of unity but it should be on some principles and party discipline must be maintained. He said it was a good sign that Mr Tohra and Mr Parkash Singh Badal had moved towards unity. He said only Mr Parkash Singh Badal was empowered by the party to take the final decision on the unity. Mr Dhindsa inaugurated a sports stadium at Kheeranwali village. About fifty non-resident Indians of the village have built the stadium at the cost of Rs 30 lakh. |
Real estate market looking up: PUDA Chandigarh, February 24 Giving details an official spokesman of PUDA said here today that this land measuring 759 square yards though situated near the famous Adalat Bazar, did not have it front on to the main market. Moreover, as per the restrictions of building bylaws of the Municipal Corporation Patiala a ground coverage of only 50 per cent was permissible apart from the floor area ratio (FAR). This effectively meant that the purchaser could build only three storeys apart from the basement. However, thanks to innovative marketing techniques the site evoked an enthusiastic response and earned PUDA a gross Rs 1.66 crore. After frantic bidding among five participants, the biggest bid was made by V.K. Gupta and Associates. The spokesman said the bid amount had to be seen in the light of the fact that 75 per cent of the balance sale consideration had to be deposited in four half yearly instalments (within a period of years). The spokesman further said PUDA would auction fully developed booths, shops and SCO sites near existing Tehsil Complex, Patiala. The reserve price for the same had been fixed as Rs 20000 per square yards. The auction was scheduled for March 20.
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Additional EO’s posting to hit finances Bathinda, February 24 Official sources said the Punjab Government had been posting employees of provincial cadre in the local Municipal Council by ignoring to financial
liabilities on the one hand and on the other, a ban had been imposed on the recruitment of employees for those posts which fall in non-provincial cadre category. After the order of posting of Mr Hardev Singh as Additional Executive Officer in the local council was faxed here by the Punjab Government, Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, immediately wrote a demi official letter to the Director and Secretary, Local Bodies, Punjab urging them to cancel the posting of Mr Hardev Singh as Additional Executive Officer was not required at all. Mr Bhullar said with the posting of Mr Hardev Singh as Additional Executive Officer, the financial liabilities of the local council would increase despite the fact that efforts were being made to improve its financial health. He said apart from paying a huge salary to the Additional Executive Officer, a peon would also have to be arranged for him. Apart from it a vehicle and decent residential and official accommodation would also have to be arranged for him. He added that Mr Hardev Singh had joined as Additional Executive Officer. Official sources said earlier, the Punjab Government had posted two municipal engineers, four assistant municipal engineers, nine junior engineers, three draftsman and sanitary inspectors in the local Municipal Council on the pretext of development of city. A special post of officer on Special Duty (OSD) was created here also. The Punjab Government by posting surplus staff had made to bear extra burden of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh to local Municipal Council despite the fact that civil contractors once boycotted the tenders of various development works floated by the council on January 27 and 28, last year. Interestingly, the Punjab Government had imposed a ban on the recruitment of employees falling in non-provincial cadre. Even the council authorities, which had to abolish 43 posts of safai karamchari and skilled safai karamchari, had engaged the private contractors for carrying out sanitation in city, the sources added. The sources said local Municipal Council had already passed a resolution on November 30 in which it had urged the authorities concerned to shift those employees to other councils for whom there was no provision in its Budget. He added the council had lodged its protest and now it was up to authorities concerned to take action on it keeping in view the financial health of the Municipal Council and its responsibilities in the matter of development of the city.
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Punjab to have censor board Phagwara, February 24 Expressing concern over the perversion of Punjabi culture by vulgar songs, the minister said the board would regulate the sale of cassettes in market. The minister cautioned the gathering at a “sabhyacharak mela” that such songs would swallow the culture if effective measures were not taken forthwith. |
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Truckers may be charged for overloading Chandigarh, February 24 The issue came up for a detailed discussion at the recent meeting of the Council of Ministers. Informed sources said the Council of Ministers were of the opinion that overloading of trucks should be legalised and a fee be charged for every tonne of material loaded beyond the permissible limit. The authorities concerned had been told to study the Haryana pattern in this connection. Where for every extra tonne, Rs 150 was charged from the truckers. Truckers, who have a strong lobby in various political parties, have often complained to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, about the harassment faced by them. When the late Beant Singh came into power in 1992, his first decision was the disbanding of the highway Traffic Police which used to check vehicles on all important routes. Announcing his decision, Mr Beant Singh had used strong language against the police. Though truckers got a major relief with the decision taken by Beant Singh at that time, now Traffic Police within cities and towns has become a problem. It is supposed to streamline traffic and take action against violators. But it concentrates mostly on checking trucks and other heavy vehicles for “other purpose”. Mr Adesh Partap Singh, Excise and Taxation Minister, and Mr Tikshan Sud, Minister of State for Excise and Taxation, told TNS that soon a meeting would be held of senior officers of the department with their counterparts in the Directorate of Lotteries to enforce 30 per cent sales tax on lotteries at the earliest. They said their objective was to collect a revenue of Rs 50 crore from the sale of lotteries within a specific period. When pointed out that earlier they had proposed a tax to the tune of 20 per cent which was later jacked-up to 30 per cent, they said that it had to be done as Directorate of Lotteries had jacked up the percentage of prize money to 91 per cent from 85 per cent. They said earlier the Directorate of Lotteries had stated that it distributed 85 per cent proceeds collected from the lotteries as prize money, but later revised the figure to 91 per cent. In the light of the enhanced prize money, a 30 per cent sales tax was proposed. Both said the halwais had been exempted from the sales tax as the procedure adopted earlier to impose tax on them proved a source of harassment to them (halwais). The sales tax slabs were fixed on the basis of number of workers engaged by them at their shops. But as the number of workers continued to vary in such shops, it became impossible to fix the tax slabs. Mr Sud said the case of bakeries would be taken up separately. They said the sales tax relief given on 20-odd items at the recent meeting of the Council of Ministers would be implemented within a fortnight. Soon the draft notification to be issued in this connection would be sent to the legal cell for further action. By slashing sales tax on items like parts of bicycles, tricycles, vegetable oils, computer hardware and software,
pulses, etc, the government had passed on a benefit of over Rs 20 crore to the consumer. Both ministers said their department had come out with the best performance in tax collection in the country. Now the state was in a position to pass the benefit by rationalising sales tax structure, without tempering with the national consensus, to consumers. |
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5 booked for
kidnapping Sangrur, February 24 The police said here today that Mr Jaspal Singh was kidnapped on Thursday. |
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Two fake doctors held Bathinda, February 24 Police sources said in one case, Sham Sunder, who was running a chemist shop after taking a licence in this connection on rent from Kavita Rani, near Hazura Kapoora Colony, had been selling intoxicants to boys and girls by claiming to be a qualified doctor. In another case, two persons, namely, Kuldeep Singh and Sukhpal Singh, running a chemist shop at Kotshamir village after taking a licence required for the same on rent. They were selling the intoxicating medicines to innocent buyers and getting them hooked on drugs. Sham Sunder and Kuldeep Singh had been arrested by the police. In another case, the police had unearthed a racket of flesh trade being run Nagpal Residency Hotel by its owner Ramesh Kumar Nagpal. Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, in a press note issued here today, said young girls were lured to the profession of flesh trade by the owner of the hotel who also used to exploit them. The owner was doing so to earn enough money by renting out the rooms for flesh trade. |
‘Need’ to reduce digital divide Amritsar, February 24 Participants have made suggestions for incorporation in the documents on education to be formulated by the Human Resource Development Ministry in collaboration with the UGC and other allied educational organisations. The thrust of the resolution was on reducing the “digital” divide between the rural and the urban set-up. It was pointed out that around 70 per cent of India lived in the rural area and denying the benefits of information technology (IT) to them would mean weaning away a major portion of society. In a resolution on internationalisation of higher education, the conference recommended the formulation of an organisation on the lines of the National Council of Education to take steps to rationalise internationalisation and globalisation of higher education and evaluate the system in accordance with the need and meet the threat of foreign universities in India. The resolutions stressed on the designing of new courses to keep up with cultural, scientific and technological development. It was felt that the inflow and outflow of students should be regulated. A guidance and advisory body be set up to protect the interest of the students going abroad. The curriculum should be relevant to the socio-cultural diversity of India. The students from rural areas must not be left out from this process. Teachers should also be made computer savvy. The participants appealed the Centre and other organisations to help in rebuilding damaged college and universities in Gujarat. Mr Mohan Lal, Minister of Higher Education, presiding over the concluding session of the conference said with the induction of IT, the world had reached electronic revolution. The said education must perculate to the rural sector if we were to bring about a revolution in education. He said poverty could only be eradicated if the poor were provided with education. The Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev university, Dr H.S. Soch stressed it was time to find out ways to provide value-based knowledge. Mr M.L. Aeri, Principal of the college, said everything possible would be done to help the poor and rural-based students. |
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Papers presented on gender
relations PATIALA Prof Choudhary and various other intellectuals presented their papers on gender equality during the concluding seminar being organised by the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at the Punjabi University here today. Dr Arvind Kaur from Punjabi University spoke on “Domestic violence”. Dr Kamlesh Uppal, Department of Theatre and Television, Punjabi University presented her paper on “Gender issues and the theatre”. She emphasised the social and humanistic authenticity and the relevance of theatre probed through styles, characters and themes in theatre. Dr Minakshi from the Department of Education, Panjab University, pointed out the rising crime rate against women in her paper. Various other teachers and experts on the subject threw light on such other related issues which were coming forth with the fast pace in the modern world. Dr Malkit Kaur, Head of the Department of Sociology, said that all the papers received would be compiled in the form of a book. |
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Academic complex inaugurated Sangrur, February 24 Mr Garcha was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the new Techno-Academic Complex of the Bhai Gurdas College of Engineering and Technology here. Mr Garcha said the Punjab Government was drawing up plans to set up information and technology industries in the state. Mr R.S. Lehri, Director of the College, read out the progress report of the college. On this occasion, “Rendezvous-2001”, a cultural fest was also organised by the students of the college. Among others who spoke on the occasion, included Mr Ranjit Singh Balian, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Baldev Mann, AM, PSEB; Mr Nanak Chand Kalra, Chairman, Improvement Trust, Sangrur Mr Parkash Chand Garg, Chairman, Land Reclamation Corporation; Mr Paramjit Singh Gill, ADC to Governor and Mr Hakam Singh Jawanda, Chairman of Bhai Gurdas College Trust. The minister also announced Rs 21,000 for the students who presented the cultural
programme. |
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Teachers burn minister’s effigy Sangrur, February 24 The teachers, before burning the effigy, took out a protest march, carrying the effigy and banners against Mr Kanjhla, through the town. They also raised slogans against him. Earlier, the district unit of the Dal also staged a dharna and held a rally in the SDM office complex near the main bus stand here against Mr Kanjhla. Addressing the rally, Mr Nachhatar Singh Jahangir, state president of the Dal, asked Mr Kanjhla to stop the use of ‘derogatory’ remarks against its leaders immediately and improve his attitude towards teachers. Mr Jahangir also said an inquiry should be initiated by the CBI to ascertain the property allegedly amassed by Mr Kanjhla after becoming an MLA and minister. He also offered to get his own property probed by the CBI because Mr Kanjhla had levelled allegations against him in this regard. Mr Hardev Singh Raipur, senior vice-president of the Dal’s state unit, also announced that if Mr Kanjhla did not change his behaviour and stop levelling allegations against Dal leaders, it would plan a stir against Mr Kanjhla. Under the programme, the Dal would intensify the agitation in Sherpur, the assembly constituency of Mr Kanjhla. Almost all speakers criticised Mr Kanjhla. Among those who addressed the rally included Mr Bahadur Singh, general secretary of Punjab Adhiapak Dal, Mr Manjit Singh from Malerkotla. Mr Jagtar Singh Hasanpur (Dhuri), Mr Balbir Singh (Ahmedgarh), Mr Avtar Singh (Barnala), all leaders of the Dal, and Mr Rattan Lal, sarpanch of Kanjhla village. |
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Improve level of education, says Gheri Bathinda, February 24 Mr Gheri who addressed a press conference here today said the Dalit Sena would organise village and block-level rallies and enrol more members. Mr Gheri said the
education system of the country needs to be overhauled and the budgetary allocation should be increased to 10 per cent. The technical education should be encouraged, so that in spite of running after the government jobs, the youth should consider self-employment. The cost of education was increasing day by day and the admission and capitation fees should be done away with. The education up to BA-level should be free for the reserved categories, he added. The report of the Mandal Commission had not been properly interpreted. The state government had not implemented the report in a proper manner and the reservation for SCs in the state was only 12 per cent whereas at the national-level it was 27 per cent, he said. The reservation in the technical, professional courses and in the private sector should continue, Mr Gheri added. The population enumeration was on and there was no column for the Backward Classes. This was a calculated attempt made by the government to exclude the BCs from the reservation benefits. Commenting on the privatisation and contract system of employment he said that only the Class IV and III employees were axed and the senior level employees were never shunted. The state government had failed to check the corruption and the faith of the people in the state administration had been
wiped out due the wrong policies of the government, he added. |
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School children enthral audience Bathinda, February 24 The news reading, Punjabi and Haryanvi dance, amli, policeman, hypocrate, sadhu and the girl of China made the guests laugh. Mr Vivek Aggarwal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, was the chief guest. While addressing the gathering he said the play method of learning was the best for the pupils as they learn and grasp things effectively. He pointed out that the colonial educational system was not effective for the overall development of the students. He said the institutions should make efforts to develop the creative instinct of the students and they should be taught in such a way that they could develop their thinking habits. Mr Aggarwal appreciated the performance of the school and added that the students should be able to differentiate between good and bad. |
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VC assures PUTA on
demands Patiala,February 24 PUTA President Bhupinder Singh Khaira and secretary
Balwinder Singh in a statement here said the assurance was given by
the Vice-Chancellor following a meeting between teachers
representatives of the All-India Federation of University Teachers
Association (AIFUTA), Punjab Federation of University Teachers
Association (PFUTA), Punjab Agricultural University Teachers
Association (PAUTA), Guru Nanak Dev University Teachers Association
(GNDUTA) and PUTA, yesterday. The leaders said the negotiations on
the demands were held in an amicable atmosphere and all issues were
discussed with the Vice-Chancellor. They said the case in demands were
not resolved within a reasonable time then the agitation would be
resumed. Earlier yesterday, the teacher representatives of the
various universities besides representatives of the College Teachers
Union had held a dharna outside the office of the Vice-Chancellor to
press for their demands. |
Govt bluffing tenants: union Abohar, February 24 This was stated in a memorandum by the local Kirayaedar Union to the Deputy Commissioner today. Tenants of municipal councils all over Punjab have been offered one time sale settlement bonanza by the state government once again. The offer had been originally made when the Congress was in power. A meeting of the representatives of the tenants union had been called by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) in 1998 at municipal town hall here. The market value of municipal shops located in the main bazaar here was to be sold at 40 to 60 per cent of this rate to the tenants who had been running their business for the last few decades. The ADC had reportedly consulted the revenue officials present in the meeting and assured that orders in black and white would be conveyed afterwards. |
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