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March 18, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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DYC men break ‘corruption’ pots at Clock Tower Ludhiana, March 17 The protesters, raising slogans and carrying earthen pots, which they described as the BJP pots of corruption’ demanded stern action against all those, who were exposed in the defence deal by Tehelka com. The pots were broken at Clock Tower Chowk. Mr Mehta said the NDA Government, headed by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had put the issue of national security in peril, to stay in power. “All out support to Mr George Fernandes, the union defence minister, who had since resigned, by the Prime Minister, was a proof that the PMO was also deeply involved in fixing defence deals.” The DYC President described the decision of judicial probe as a political stunt because Mr Fernandes continued to be the convener of the NDA and the present government was in office. “It would be in the fitness of things that the President of India dismisses the NDA government on charges of treason and compromising on the security of the country.” Mr Mehta also urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to learn a lesson from Ms Mamta Banerjee, leader of the Trinamool Congress and withdraw support to the BJP-led coalition. If the SAD(B) continued its alliance with the BJP in Punjab and the Centre, it will have to share the blame for meddling in the defence deals and will have to pay a heavy price. Prominent among those present on the occasion were Mr R.S. Bagga, Mr Ravinder Syan, Mr Jasbir Johny, Mr Shamsher Singh, Mr Sarbjit Bunty, Mr G.S.Arora, Mr H.S. Thukral, Mr Sabhajit Pandey, Mr Ashok Arora, Mr Charanjit Channi, Mr Som Nath, Ms Saroj Rani, Ms Champa Rani, Ms Pinki and Ms Sudesh. Meanwhile, The CPI (ML) Liberation District Secretary, Mr Ramesh Sharma, has said in a statement that the BJP leadership, in collusion with the senior officers of the defence ministry and the armed forces, had betrayed the people of the country by wheeling dealing in the defence procurement. The party has called upon the President of India to dismiss the NDA Government and book all those guilty of taking bribes on the charges of treason and waging war against the country. However, the BJP has chosen to see a deeper conspiracy behind the exposures made by Tehelka com and has termed the whole episode as a desperate attempt by the bureaucracy to settle score with the BJP led government. The migrant workers wing of the party has observed in a press note that certain bureaucrats were upset over the BJP coming to power, because they could no longer act in a dictatorial manner on strategic issues. |
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Octroi evasion
in lakhs? Ludhiana, March 17 Giving details, Mr Ram Tirath, Superintendent of the Octroi Department informed that on the intervening night of March 15 and 16, a tourist bus (DL-1P-6769) was intercepted on the national highway and as many as 144 packages of commercial goods were recovered from the vehicle. The bus, owned by Goyal Transport, Delhi, was regularly operating on Ludhiana-Delhi route. The goods seized by the octroi officials included electronic items like CDs, audio and video cassettes, CD players, cosmetics and
toiletries. The weight of packages ranged between 5 kg to 40 kg. Since nobody was apparently accompanying the goods, the MC officials suspected that the transport company might be involved in the transportation of goods, without payment of octroi. The amount of due octroi and the penalty for octroi evasion would only be determined when the owners of the goods lodged claims the department and the actual value of goods was known. In another case, octroi officials seized electric cables, worth Rs 1.5 lakh, which were being brought to the city from Jalandhar in a Jeep. On a tip off, octroi officials were intercepted a jeep (PB-08-9620) near Rahon road crossing on Jalandhar bye-pass road. During preliminary inquiries, it was learnt that the Jeep was making regular rounds between Jalandhar and Ludhiana to deliver goods to various parties and was evading octroi in the process. The MC Joint Commissioner Mr Harjinder Singh, said the enforcement wing of the department would continue its campaign to check octroi evasion. The concerted efforts made so far in this direction, had yielded encouraging results and many rackets of octroi evaders were smashed during past few weeks. |
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Shout! for you have no clout Ludhiana, March 17 But if you happen to be neither rich nor a politician, then you must think of some other means to get your complaint registered by the munshi of a thana. Yes, shouting may be of some help but that too, when you have a whole lot of people shouting with you and for you. During the past week or so, there have been at least three demonstrations against the policemen for not registering complaints of commoners. To begin with residents of Sarabha Nagar held a demonstration outside the area’s police station to demand the arrest of a person against whom an FIR had been registered. Almost simultaneously, another demonstration was held in front of the Janakpuri police post by residents of Ganesh Nagar for the arrest of the main accused in a beating case involving two youths of the locality. The third case involving beating and threatening by a city councillor of a temple devotee in Dhakka colony , Jamalpur, was perhaps the most tedious with police refusing to entertain any complaints in the beginning obviously due to the involvement of the councillor. Residents of the colony had to stage a demonstration in the colony park shouting slogans both against the accused as well as the police. It was only after the show of solidarity and strength put up by the people that the police registered a case against four persons in the case. Apart from showing the police force and the overall legal system in a poor light, it also goes to show the effect of collective ‘people-power’. |
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BOTTOMLINE Ludhiana, March 17 Mr Balwinder Singh Mali, president, Railway Commuters Union, Ludhiana, has alleged that the railway employees delay trains deliberately to help bus operators. Some of the railway officials were allegedly getting money from bus operators to delay the trains. Mr Mali in a written complaint to the railways has alleged, ‘‘On March 15 also the Howrah Mail reached the station at 7.30, late by more than half an hour. On complaining to the concerned ASM, the commuters were badly abused. He was not ready to give the complaint book, but only after great insistence the book was given and the complaint was registered on page no. 017. But no action has been taken against the culprits so far.’’ The passengers say in the morning about 250-300 commuters travel daily by trains to Jalandhar, Phagwara, Kapurthla and other cities. There are four trains in the morning for the commuters towards Amritsar side, including Chattisgarh Express, Howrah Duplicate and Howrah Mail. These long distance trains run often late, causing great inconvenience to the passengers. Mr T.R. Rana, Station Superintendent, Ludhiana agrees that these trains are often late.‘‘We can not do much as the trains reach here quite late. The Howrah Mail is sometimes late even by one to one-and-a half hour. Naturally the commuters will have to suffer in this case.’’ Refuting the charge of collusion of the railway staff with the private bus operators, Mr Rana said, ‘‘The allegation is totally absurd. How can we stop the trains or delay them when we have only 12 km area from Sahnewal onwards in Ferozepore division? The area behind Sahnewal falls under Ambala division. Secondly, there are clear instructions from higher officials that no mail or Express train can be stopped or delayed to give clear line to passenger trains.’’ Incidentally, the communication system at the railway station is not up to the mark. The commuters allege that the right information is not always available from the enquiry counter despite repeated attempts. The notice board continues to show that the train is running late though the train might have reached the station. The railway officials deny all these allegations. One official pointed out that the commuters are in the habit of complaining too much. The staff was doing its best to provide efficient services. The automatic route relay interlocking system that is expected to start in the next six months will solve the problem of signalling also. The trains which often have to stay at the station for 20-30 minutes will take less time. Mr Mali on the other hand is not satisfied with the arguments of the staff. |
Increase scope of NHRC, says Justice Verma Ludhiana, March 17 He stressed the need for creating awareness about the human rights and the role the NHRC can play in guaranteeing them. And to a great extent the commission had been successful, which is obvious from the fact that last year the commission received over 50,000 complaints. More than half of them were from the backward states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Although there are considerable number of complaints from Punjab as well, compared to these two states, the number is too insignificant. The NHRC Chairman has been advocating amendment to the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1953. He has already sent the proposal to the Union Home Ministry for its adoption for more efficient and effective functioning of the commission. On the controversial issue of alleged excesses by the law enforcing agencies, particularly in the troubled areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Justice Verma said the commission cannot conduct an inquiry on its own and it had to depend on the reports and explanations from the Army or the Para Military organisations. Section 19 of the Act does not provide for an independent inquiry by the commission into the complaints against the armed forces, which includes the paramilitary forces as well. In fact, the commission can only point out the negligence and lacuna and not do anything on its own. Justice Verma is of the opinion that the National Human Rights Commission and the courts were performing a complimentary role for each other. He said, with the constitution of the commission, the number of people rushing to courts for relief had come down. This is a healthy sign as it shows that there is sufficient awareness among people about the working of the Constitution. In order to ensure that the NHRC is not overburdened, the commission provides for the constitution of state human rights commissions in all the states of the country. So far 10 states have constituted their own commissions and all others have been asked to expedite the constitution process. The commission has taken up several issues on its own. Particularly after the Orissa super cyclone, the commission deputed one of its senior officials to Orissa to ensure that there is no negligence in providing aid to the cyclone victims. Similar steps were taken for Gujarat and the commission officials are regularly monitoring the work being done there. Listing the areas he had identified for the current year, the NHRC chairman said health, literacy and awareness about the human rights will be the priority. Besides the gender equality, child labour and child abuse are also the main areas of concern which the commission is taking up on a priority basis. About the awareness, Justice Verma disclosed that wherever he goes, he regularly interacts with the officers on the subject, as they are the people who can ensure that everyone gets his due rights. |
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A man of
principles IT is not often that one comes across persons of honour among politicians. Jasdev Singh Sandhu was one. When he passed away, Punjab lost a gentleman who had made a place for himself in public minds as a public servant. Jasdev Singh, whose bhog is being observed in Patiala
today, came from a distinguished and rich family. His grandfather, Bhai Gujjar Singh, was in charge of Burj Baba Attal Singh in Patiala where royal artefacts were stored. His bid of Rs 1 lakh in the 40s for a village near Patiala had made waves. He, however, still sought to enrich himself — by reading and spending time with litterateurs. He studied in Mahindra College, Patiala, where he was guided by the likes of Principal Teja Singh. While he was still young, Jasdev Singh wrote short stories and helped publish books written by others. During Partition, he played a major role in the resettlement of many of families. No wonder, he also studied the subject. After Partition, Patiala became a centre for displaced litterateurs and he would seek out such men, helping them in various ways with the considerable resources at his command. He was a law graduate whose extensive knowledge of political nuances of Punjab and legal acumen were often appreciated by his contemporaries. Though he projected himself as an aide to Giani Kartar Singh, which he was, Jasdev Singh Sandhu was also a political leader in his own right. He had been first elected an MLA from the Dhuri constituency in the Sangrur district in 1957, at the age of 28 — perhaps the youngest MLA of the time. He was elected from the Raipur constituency in the Patiala district twice, in 1962 on the Congress ticket and in 1969 on the Akali Dal ticket. He was Minister of State for Public Health and Colonisation from 1970-1971 when Parkash Singh Badal became Chief Minister for the first time. Jasdev Singh Sandhu was elected from Dakala in 1972 and Ghanaur in 1985. His wife has been elected thrice as a member of the Legislative Assembly. Whether in or out of office, he gained a reputation for being a helpful, courteous person of integrity. His house in Adalat Bazaar, Patiala, was a popular meeting place where persons from various walks of life would gather every day. His soft-spoken and humble manner, and a low-key approach were quite disproportionate to the influence he wielded. A long spell out of office normally spells the doom of any political leader. Jasdev Singh Sandhu was a people’s politician and he weathered it well. When he was appointed Chairman of the Subordinate Services Commission of Punjab, it was a move that was widely welcomed. He was still in the saddle when he died in a road accident on April 8 last year. He was 71. What Jasdev Singh Sandhu has left behind is a legacy for his progeny to follow and a goodwill that continues
after he is no more. |
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CITY SCAN Dr Sham Singh was ‘Saada aapna doctor’ (our own doctor). He was born at Rajgarh (near Doraha) in 1882. His father Buta Singh Dhillon was moderately educated but gifted with a robust common sense. He wisely raised resources to send his son to study medicine at Agra. He returned as Dr Sham Singh in 1904 with the L.S.M.F. degree. He was appointed a warrant officer in the HM Native Military Forces in 1904. He served till 1906. Thereafter, he was commissioned as a doctor in the Patiala State Army. He was upgraded to the British Army as assistant surgeon. Later, he was posted overseas during the first World War. He served in West Asia and North Africa. In 1920, he was posted at Quetta, Rawalpindi cantonment. In 1929, he started his practice at the growing Chaura Bazar. He was a specialist in snake bite and TB. He breathed his last in 1970 at 88. He was an example of simple living, useful thinking and sharing assets. Dr Chaman Lal Syal was his friend and neighbour. They would often call upon Dr Raghbir Singh. Both laughed heartily. Both had glowing faces and flowing beards. In a sandy and bushy track, he built his famous house, The Hermitage, on the nearly forgotten Emerson Road, the Mall, which is now called Dr Sham Singh Road. There are also other roads named after doctors like Dr Gujjar Mal Thapar, Edith Brown, the better known Miss Brown or Dr Brown and Dr Hira Singh. |
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Change CPF to GPF,
demand KV staff Ludhiana, March 17 It was way back in 1989 that the employees had opted for the CPF scheme as it was more beneficial at that time due to various factors. These included less basic pay, more interest on bank deposits and no tax on bank interest. However, the situation is altogether different now. With the reduction in the interest rate on bank deposits, a massive increase in the basic pay since 1989 and a proposed tax on the interest on PF, the employees feel that the CPF scheme would no longer be beneficial. Arguing the case, an employee pointed out that in case somebody opted for the CPF under the current scheme, he or she would get a monthly income of less than Rs 1,000 after retirement as compared to about Rs 8,000 for a GPF subscriber. KV employees said since their basic pay had increased by 14 times since 1986, GPF scheme would be more beneficial in terms of returns. Elaborating further, the employees said before 1986, the basic pay for PGTs was only Rs 440 which was increased to Rs 2,600 in 1986. After subsequent revision of their scales, it had come down to Rs 6,500. Since the pension was half of the basic pay, it too had increased by 14 times, they pointed out. Moreover, with a regular increase in DA, the pension had been further increased. Comparing it with the returns a CPF subscriber would get, the amount was far less. Hence, the employees were demanding conversion to the GPF scheme, they added. Pointing out the changes in interest rates on bank deposits over the years, they said the interest rate on fixed deposits had come down from 13 to the current rate of 7.5 per cent. With decrease in the rate of interest and tax on this interest, the income of the CPF subscribers had come down to a great extent. The employees regretted that although for the past several years they had been pleading their case with the KV management, nothing positive had come out of it. They appealed to the management that the employees be provided the GPF option so that they did not have to incur financial losses, particularly when the price index of essential commodities had increased manifold. |
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The shortlived
operation clean-up Ludhiana, March 17 Justice Gill was in town in connection with the annual inspection of courts and their working. The courts complex had been liberally sprinkled with lime powder in order to impart a cleaner look to the surroundings. But this exercise has proved to be a short lived affair. Heaps of paper, burnt or otherwise, can be spotted outside a number of courts in the complex. Along with these dry leaves also compound the problem. According to the prevailing practice, these leaves and waste papers are cleared through the easiest mode of disposal, burning. There are no garbage bins in the whole of the complex. Vacant spaces in between the offices of the advocates and lawyers are filled with garbage. |
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Seminar on Company Act Ludhiana, March 17 The speakers discussed at length various amendments in the Act including the provision of a separate section about corporate governance and the inclusion of management discussion and analysis report in the annual reports as per prescribed details. The amendment bill which was passed by the Parliament last year has provisions that the board of directors should have an optimum combination of executive, non-executive and independent directors. Every public limited company making initial public offer of any security for Rs 10 crore or more shall make it in demat form. The speakers included Mr Amarjeet Chopra, member central committee, Mr Ved Jain, Mr R.S. Sangvi, Mr Sudhir Malik and Mr Sanjay Aggarwal. |
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Budget of Nagar Panchayat passed Sahnewal, March 17 According to Mr Shamsher Singh Kaile, president, Nagar Panchayat, a budget of Rs 2,34,31000 was passed for the year 2001-2002. The budget shows an annual income of Rs 2,36,65000. A total amount of Rs 69 lakh would be spent on the salaries of personnel, Rs 15 lakh would be spent on miscellaneous works and Rs 1.5 lakh would be spent on water supply, sewerage, roads and streetlights and grant of loans. The budget was unanimously passed. |
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Foundation stone of dharamshala laid Samrala, March 17 On this occasion the SGPC member said that there was no shortage of funds for development works. “Whatever any society seeks will be given, but the funds should not be mis-appropriated,” he said. The Executive Officer of the nagar council said that Rs 2 lakh will be spent on this dharamshala. Mr Khirnian also said that a 20-km stretch of road will be repaired and the government had sanctioned Rs 1.9 crore for the purpose. Mr Khirnian also disclosed that the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, will inaugurate the construction work on the Satluj bridge connecting Rahon-Machhiwara and the work of widening the Khanna-Nawanshahr road will be started within one month. |
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A show
of NIFD designs Ludhiana, March 17 The exhibition was divided into various sections. In the first section, the students displayed various colour combinations and patterns of tie and dye on sarees, jeans, salwar kameez, dupattas, hand bags, wall hangings and towels. The fashion designing students displayed various designs of casual and party wear for men, women and kids. They used various patterns of embroidery, patchwork, painting and cut work to enhance their designs. The interior designing students of the institute gave demonstration of various settings for bedroom, study room, dressing room and living room. The students used wrought iron, cane and wooden furniture for different settings. Besides, the students also displayed jewellery items, hand bags, wallets, footwears, mirrors, photo frames and other gift items prepared by them. Mr Arvind Gupta, centre director, said all exhibits had been made by the students of the institute during their course work. |
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20 varieties of dahlia on show Ludhiana, March 17 According to Dr J.S. Bigla, the convener, the flower show got a tremendous response as hundreds of entries were received in different categories. The competitions are being organised under various categories, including home garden of different areas, college and school gardens, parks maintained by welfare associations, hospital, hotel, hostel and other institutions, municipal parks and chowks maintained by Municipal Corporation Ludhiana and other commercial houses. About 900 entries were received for the pot plant category, while about 200 entries were received under cut flower category. Besides a variety of flowers were displayed at the show. There were over 20 varieties of dahlia with varied colour, shape and size and over fifty varieties of foliage plants. Besides the flower show, baby show involving the competition for healthy baby and on the spot painting competition is also being
organised. |
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Construction of shop stopped Khanna, March17 According to information, some shopkeepers had filed a complaint to the SDM, Khanna regarding encroachment by some persons of a nearby village and commission agent in Khanna. They were allegedly encroaching on a piece of land just at the entrance of Guru Amar Das Market on G.T. Road and had dumped bricks on the vacant land. The shopkeepers said the persons who wanted to occupy the land had claimed they had purchased the land from Mr Balraj Bhandari about a month back. Where as the land actually belonged to the trust. |
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Annual Diksha Samaroh today Jagraon, March 17 |
Hit-and-run case, driver booked Ludhiana, March 17 The complainant stated that while he was going on his cycle on March 14 near the traffic lights of Jagraon bridge at about 2.30 p.m., he was hit from behind by an unknown driver who sped away after the accident as a result of which he was injured and admitted to the DMC Hospital. The case has been handed over to Mr Rajinderpal Singh, ASI. Body found: The case has been handed over to an ASI at Vardhman police post. Thief nabbed: The accused was booked under Sections 4511 and 379 of the IPC on the complaint of Mr Gurpreet Singh, Labour Officer, Vardhman Mill. Country-made
pistol seized: Car stolen: The Jodhewal police has registered a case of theft under Section 379 of the IPC. Liquor seized: A case under Sections 61/1/14 of the Excise Act has been registered against the accused. Illicit liquor recovered: |
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3 women die
of burns in 24 hours Ludhiana, March 17 While two women died today, one woman died yesterday. Arpinder Kaur (30), wife of Satwinder Singh of Munela village of Khamano tehsil in Fatehgarh Sahib district, was admitted in the hospital on March 13 with serious burn injuries. For three days she struggled for life and ultimately succumbed to her injuries yesterday. Manjit Kaur (42), wife of Malkit Singh of Dhagana village, Muktsar district was admitted in hospital a few days back. In yet another case Paramjit Kaur (33), wife of Nirmal Singh, resident of Ward No. 6, Kote Islam Khan Road, Zira in Ferozepore district, also died. |
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One
killed in accident, driver escapes Ludhiana, March 17 He was hit by a speeding auto-rickshaw on Friday. The autorickshaw hit his moped on the road between Montgomery Chowk and Gulati chowk in Model Town. According to Mr Narinder Singh, ASI, Model Town, the auto-driver fled the scene of the accident leaving his vehicle (PCF 9148). The
injured was rushed to the Civil Hospital where he breathed his last.
The Model Town police has registered a case in this regard. |
Market committee budget passed Samrala, March 17 The chairman said that in the next year the income of the committee was expected to be Rs 1.32 crore, and for development works the committee had passed the expenses of Rs 1.34 lakh approximately. Mr Kuldeep Singh said that for the construction of the Behlolpur-Harion road and the Bondal-Gharkhana link road, a sum of Rs 19.24 lakh had been approved. The secretary of the committee, Pandit Kuldeep Sharma, said Rs 25 lakh will be spent on the repair of various link roads. |
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