The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, March 23, 2001,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
BOOK RELEASED: Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti on Tuesday released a book, ‘Racial discrimination, the Sikh and their future’, written by Dr Malkiat Singh Rahi at the Golden Temple.

DORAHA
DISPENSARY: The Dashmesh Charitable Dispensary has completed its four years of its establishment and Akhand Path was organised on the occasion. Mr Sadhu Singh Ghudani, local MLA, said the dispensary is progressing by leaps and bounds under the presidentship of Mr Inderjit Singh Kala.

ONE INJURED: A man was injured in a clash on Jaipura road on Monday evening, the case of which was registered on Wednesday by the Payal police. According to the FIR, Ravinder Singh, who runs a jewellery shop as well as a PCO on Jaipura road, in Doraha, was taken unawares when he was attacked by Baljit Singh on Monday evening. Baljit Singh not only broke the glasses of the shop and destroyed the things inside the shop but also badly injured Ravinder Singh. A case has been registered against the alleged accused under Sections 323, 324, 452 and 427 of the IPC.

HOSHIARPUR
TWO HELD: The police has arrested Sunil Kumar, resident of local Mohalla Subhash Nagar and his accomplice Hoshiar Singh for trying to snatch away a video camera of Surinder Singh.

JOINT RALLY: The CPI, the CPM, the Janata Dal, the Lok Bhalai Party and the RPI units jointly staged rally at Shaheed Udham Singh park here on Tuesday against the NDA government. They demanded the resignation of the NDA government.

PRIZES DISTRIBUTED: Minister for Higher Education, Master Mohan Lal addressed the annual prize distribution function of Government College here on Wednesday. He said the proceedings were being followed to provide pension and gratuity benefits to the teachers of private colleges but the management of these colleges had not deposited the GP fund money, which was about Rs 100 crore with the department. He also announced Rs 1 lakh college grant.

NOMINATED: The Punjab Legal Services Authority, has nominated Mrs Ramesh Kumari, Additional Civil Judge, Senior Division, here as presiding officer of the permanent Lok Adalat from April to June this year, according to Mr L.R. Roozam, District and Sessions Judge.

LUDHIANA
FREE TB CAMP: A free medical check-up camp will be organised on World TB Day, which falls on Saturday, at Sant Das Darbar Charitable Hospital by the Health Department, Ludhiana. According to a press statement made by Dr Anil Verma, district TB officer, the TB and chest patients would be examined by renowned doctors and free medicines will be provided to the needy.

HEPATITIS-B CAMP: A hepatitis-B and free medical check-up camp will be organised on Saturday and Sunday in New Shivpuri by Pandit Chand Lal Memorial Trust. The camps will be inaugurated by Dr S.K. Joshi and Dr K.K. Rattan.

BHAGAT SINGH: The state unit of the All-India Ambedkar Naujawan Sabha would organise a function here on Sunday at the occasion of the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, according to Mr Kashmir Singh.

HOMAGE: The Inquilabi Kendra, Punjab, will pay homage to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at a function to be held at Sherpur Chowk on Sunday noon. A joint meeting of the Inquilabi Kendra, Moulders and Steel Workers’ Union, Punjab Industrial Workers’ Union and Lok Ekta Sangathan was held here on Thursday to review the arrangements for the function. A revolutionary play would be staged by Sirjan Art Centre, Raikot, apart from music and choreography programmes at the function. Other organisations such as the Democratic Teacher Front, Taraksheel Society are also collaborating to make the function a success.

AWARDED: Nearly 214 students of Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women were awarded degrees at the annual convocation held here today. Degrees were awarded to 17 students of MA English, seven of BA (honours), 57 of B.Com and 133 of BA. Besides, nearly 206 students of the college were given away prizes for securing top three positions in the college. Four students who were given rolls of honour included Gagandeep, Kamaljit, Renu and Rakhi Aggarwal. Also 11 sports stars were given college colour. The degrees were awarded by Master Mohan Lal, Minister of Higher Education, Punjab. Ms Anup Kaur Bansal, Principal, told the students to work hard to get better results.

MACHHIWARA
CASE REGISTERED: A fresh charge of keeping 7 kg opium has been levled against Parminder Singh of Machhiwara who is absconding in the case registered against him under Sections 279, 307, 353, 524 and 511 of the IPS. The previous case was registered on March 13. Now the Khamano police has registered another case under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the IPC.

NAWANSHAHR
SEMINAR HELD: Students of commerce and economics department of Amardeep Singh Shergill Memorial College, Mukandpur, here organised a seminar on “Marxism and political economy” on Wednesday. Dr T.R. Vinod, head of the Punjabi University regional centre, Bathinda, and Dr Satinder Singh of the Department of Punjabi Regional Centre, Bathinda were the main speakers.

PATIALA
NEW SCHEMES: Various new schemes will be launched soon such as immediate lodging of the FIR, installation of pagers, and application of reflectors on tractor-trawlers and other vehicles so as to avoid accidents in Samana subdivision. This was disclosed by Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), in a function organised by the Citizens Council at Samana township, near here, on Thursday. Free reflectors were distributed by the Rotary Club on the occasion. Mr Sidhu further encouraged various other voluntary organisations to come forward and contribute free reflectors in other areas so as to prevent accidents. Mr Sidhu further assured that all reflectors would be installed within one month.

AGITATION THREAT: The Punjab and Chandigarh Ayurvedic College Teachers Association (ACTA) has decided to start a state-level Agitation from May 1 if their demands are not accepted latest by April 30. The Association has demanded constitution of a committee including the heads of departments of the college to form new service rules and promotions of the existing staff.

PHAGWARA
FINE RECOVERED: At least 10,655 cases of irregularities were detected and a total fine of over Rs 1 crore was recovered till February 28 during this year in this PSEB Division. According to Mr Ajit Singh, Senior XEN. Out of 1733 cases pending since March 31, 1990 demand notices for 475 tubewell connections have been issued.

PHILLAUR
DISSOLVED: Shiv Sena Punjab unit Vice President Pawan Parbhakar has dissolved the party’s Nakodar unit . He told newspersons here on Wednesday that the new team of office-bearers would be announced soon.

CAMP CANCELLED: The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha has postponed its training camp proposed to be held from March 22 to March 25 at Talwandi Bhai near Ferozepore, the morcha state unit president Shkhminderpaul Singh Grewal said on Wednesday.

SAHNEWAL
INAUGURATED: Tagore International Public School was inaugurated today by Mr Jagdsih Singh Garcha, Technical Education Minister, Punjab. The welcome address was delivered by the Principal of the school, followed by Shabad, solo dance and rhymes by students.

SAMRALA
BUDGET: The budget of the local nagar council for the financial year 2001-2002 has been passed by the Administrator, Mr Sandeep Hans, PCS, here on Thursday said Mr Devinder Singh Grewal, Executive Officer of the committee. Talking to mediapersons Mr Grewal said that Rs 1.87 crore has been allocated for the development of Samrala. Mr Grewal also said that some more schemes were being launched to enhance the committee income.

TARN TARAN
BJP DEMAND: BJP workers led by Mr Vijay Pal Chaudhry marched to the office of the local SSP on Wednesday and presented him a memorandum demanding the arrest of four Congressmen who had allegedly beaten up Mr Anil Joshi, BJP’s local mandal president on Tuesday here. The BJP workers said Mr Hari Krishan Arora, Mr Jaspal Singh Pala, Mr Rajinder Bhandari, Mr Vijay Chamiari seriously injured Mr Joshi. According to one more information Mr Anil Joshi has fired on the Congressmen with his revolver when they wee burning the effigies of the Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Mr Bangaroo Laxman on Tuesday.

ZIRAKPUR
ARRESTED: The Lohgarh police has arrested a vendor for selling illicit country made liquor. Sources in the police said that a vendor, Soni, running a shack in Lohgarh village, was reportedly selling liquor to the labourers living in this area for the past some years. He was involved in the trade without any licence.

CHANDIGARH

CRITICISED: Mr Sunil Parti and Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri, senior leaders of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC), on Thursday flayed the Vajpayee government for registering “politically-motivated” case against Mr Vincent George, a key aide of the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi. In a statement, they said, “We are not opposed to law taking its own course, but we want to make it clear that such vindictive tactics of intimidation are politically counter-productive.”

MEDIA WORKSHOP: A two-day regional media workshop on rural development organised by the Press Information Bureau, northern region, concluded here on Wednesday. Delivering his valedictory address, Mr J.S. Kesar, Financial Commissioner and Secretary Rural Development and Panchayats, Punjab, highlighted the need for organising a chain of media workshops at the block level so as to take the message or rural development to the grassroots and to create greater awareness among the rural people about the various programmes and policies of the government. Pointing out the fact that nearly three-fourth of the country’s population lived in rural areas, he urged the media to communicate the rural development schemes in simple language to make them aware of their rights and duties.

PROCESSION: A procession of the palki of Shirdi Sai Baba will be taken out after the Mangal Snan at 6 a.m. on March 25, this was announced by the Shirdi Sai Samaj here. The palki will start from Tribune Colony and would end at Panchkula on the occasion of Ram Navmi.

NEW PIB OFFICIAL: Mr Ashok Kumar, an Indian Information Service officer, till now Joint Director, Directorate of Field Publicity (NR), Chandigarh, joined as the Deputy Principal Information Officer, Press Information Bureau (NR), here on Thursday. He replaced Mr Kanwal Kishore, who has been promoted in the senior administrative grade of the Indian Information Service and posted as the Regional Director, Directorate of Field Publicity (NR), Chandigarh, according to a press note issued here.

MEDICAL CAMP: The Awami Kala Kendra will organise a medical check-up camp on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh on Friday at Government High School, Kajheri (Sector 52). Doctors of allopathy, homoeopathy and acupressure will examine patients and distribute free medicines. One can register oneself for examination in the camp on telephone numbers 669699, 605070, 669755 or at the camp.

ASSOCIATION: Mr Shivlal has been elected the third general secretary of the Chandigarh Colonies Welfare Association. He will look after the Colony No. 5, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Colony, Ram Darbar, Indira Awas Colony, Nehru Colony and Kuldeepak Colony. While Mr Gopal Dishawar will look after Bapu Dham Colony, Indira Colony, Mani Majra, Maulijagran and Colony No. 5. Mr Kishore Kumar has been entrusted with Rajiv Shahpur Colony, Maloya, Palsora, Lal Bhadur Colony, Janta Colony and Kumhar Colony. This was announced by Mr Achhe Lal, president of the association in a press note.

SEMINAR: A seminar on career prospects for professionals and business potential in Canada was held at the Law Auditorium of the Panjab University on Wednesday. The seminar was addressed by Col (retd) B.S. Sandhu, chairman of the Worldwide Immigration Consultancy Services, and Mr Curtis Panke, director Global Placement Services, Toronto.

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: At least 276 units of blood were donated at Punjab Engineering College at a camp organised by the NSS unit of PEC here on Thursday. Mr I.J.S. Bakshi, acting Principal, Chandigarh College of Architecture, inaugurated the camp which had been organised in collaboration with the State Bank of India and the Rotract Club of Chandigarh Central.

RESOLUTION PASSED: The People’s Action Front, in a meeting held here on Thursday, passed a resolution condemning corruption in defence deals, which has been exposed so vividly. According to a statement issued here, the resolution said that the Prime Minister should accept the truth and step down gracefully instead of “buying” support from coalition partners. The front, in a communication faxed to the President, has demanded immediate dismissal of the Vajpayee government.

CAMP: A ten-day art and craft summer camp concluded here with fun and fervour. An exhibition of the creations made by the kids during the camp were also put up. The kids had prepared beautiful masks, paper mashe, pottery, egg shells and puppets. Almost 25 children participated in the workshop organised by Go Banana Kids Club. Simultaneously, a dance workshop was also organised for the kids.

PANCHKULA
FEE HIKE RESENTED: Parents of wards going to Hansraj Public School 6, have resented the fee hike claiming that school authorities had promised against it during the last session. A parent said that the school invariably increased the fee each year without taking the parents into confidence. Meanwhile, the school authorities clarified stand, stating the admission form clearly mentioned that the school authorities could increase fee by 10 per cent at the beginning of the academic session.

SAS NAGAR
CONDEMNED: Mr Hardeep Singh, SGPC member, on Thursday condemned the alleged burning of the holy Quran in Amritsar by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti. He said strict action must be taken against the guilty as such a mischief could lead to a communal flare-up. The SGPC member said such incidents took place as the laws were not stringent enough to deal with those who committed sacrilege and denigrated any religion.

CASSETTE RELEASED: Singer Gill Hardeep’s new cassette, "Jat Risky after Whisky," was released by song writer Makhan Brar at a press conference here on Thursday. Brought out by Raja Entertainers, this is Hardeep’s fourth music cassette and the 61st of the company run by a Canadian group. The new cassette was earlier released in other countries and in Pakistan there was a record sale, Mr Maninder Singh Gill of the company said. As many as 2.50 lakh cassettes would be released in India, he added.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
FATAL MISHAP: Driver Rattan Singh (38) was killed on the spot when his cement carrier hit another cement carrier driven by Subhash on the national highway near Kothipura, about 10 km from here, on Wednesday.

CHARAS SEIZED: The police has seized 25 packets of “charas” weighing over 12 kg kept inside a sewing machine in a bus going from Sundarnagar to Chandigarh. No passenger owned up the sewing machine. A case has been registered under Section 20 of the NDPS Act.

CONG MEN JOIN BJP: Six Congress leaders from two gram panchayats of the Gehadwin assembly constituency joined the BJP at public meeting at Jamali and Saiasi village on Tuesday. Piyarelal, president, Panchayat Badole gram and his panchayat members Nikkaram, Ramkrishan, Dayaram and Krishan Singh, Ms Sumati Sharma of the Jamoi ward president of the Gram Sudhar Sabha, Sundaroo, declared their full faith in Mr Dhumal’s leadership.

WATER SCHEME: The government is spending Rs 5.30 crore on the construction of Peerbhiyanoo lift drinking water supply scheme which would benefit 11,000 people of 10 panchayat areas, the Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mr Jagatprakash Nadda said this while inaugurating a filtration gallery in Seer Khud of the Peerbhiyanoo drinking water supply scheme on Wednesday.

HAMIRPUR
BUDGET APPROVED: The nagar parishad has approved the budget of Rs 1,36,12,704 for 2001-02. According to Mr Raj Krishan Sharma, Executive Officer of the parishad about 75 per cent of the money reserved under the expenditure head would be spent on developmental activities. The main thrust would be on the construction of link roads, nullahs and maintaining the buildings of the parishad.

MANDI
ONE HELD: The police on Wednesday has arrested Allaharakha Khan for setting on fire offices of the Excise and Taxation Department and the Regional Transport Authority on the night of August 14 last year. Five other accused in this case — Hassan Ali, Joginder Sain, Shyam Lal, Beli Ram and Jiya Lal — had already been arrested.