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| Monday,
June 4, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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AISSF to defy ‘ban’ on
function Amritsar, June 3 Withdrawing the written approval, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Secretary, SGPC, said it was learnt from newspaper reports that the federation was trying to use the platform for political purposes which could not be allowed. Hence, the federation was directed to organise akhand path at Gurdwara Shaheedan. Mr Harminder Singh Gill, President, AISSF, alleged that the SGPC had imposed a ‘ban’ on the function at the behest of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister. He said though the federation had given in writing that peace would be maintained at the function, yet the SGPC had banned the conference. He said the federation, at an emergency meeting, had decided to violate the ‘ban orders’. He alleged the Badal government had adopted the policies of the Beant Singh government. While some radical Hindu organisations were planning a bhog ceremony in memory of Army jawans killed during Operation Blue Star, the federation was being stopped from organising the ‘sadbhavna divas’. It seems radical Sikh organisations which wanted to organise the bhog of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale on June 6 may not be allowed to capture the stage on that day. The impression gathered from the contents of the letter is that the SGPC would make ‘ghallughara divas’ a totally religious programme. The police may crack down on radical Sikhs who try to capture stage on the occasion. Mr Gill said the SGPC had uprooted tents pitched for the function. He said the federation had mobilised a number of Hindus for observing the anniversary of Operation Blue Star as ‘sadbhavna divas’. Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi himself had categorically assured the federation that it would be allowed to organise the function. He said it was a matter of concern that the SGPC had lost its role and Mr Badal had usurped absolute powers. He alleged the ruling SAD leaders were puppets in the hands of the BJP. He said Mr Badal had imposed the ban to please the BJP, its political alliance. Asked whether the AISSF would urge the Jathedar of Akal Takht to summon Mr Badal, Mr Gill said the federation felt that Giani Joginder Singh did not have the guts to initiate any action against the leader of any party. |
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15 bodies to hold ‘antim ardas’ for
Sant Chandigarh, June 3 Talking to newsmen, Bhai Narain Singh said the response so far from both the SGPC and the management of the Golden Temple complex had been in the negative. “Even the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state under the influence of some powers, is indirectly opposing the holding of the antim ardas for Sant Jarnail Singh on June 6 at Akal Takht. “We know there will be obstacles in our way but we are determined to hold the antim ardas at Akal Takht without entering into any confrontation with anyone besides remaining peaceful. In case we are not allowed to enter the Golden Temple complex on that day, we will launch a massive campaign to ensure that on ‘ghallughara divas’ in 2002, the antim ardas for Sant Jarnail Singh is held in every village and every gurdwara in the state,” he said. Accompanied by Maj-Gen Narinder Singh (retd), Mr D.S. Gill, Mr Gurtej Singh Brar, Bhai Kanwarpal Singh, Mr Surinder Singh Ghariala, Mr Jaspal Singh Dhillon, Mr Satbir Singh, Mr Manjit Singh Bhoma and others, Bhai Narain Singh said that the coordination committee of the 15 organisations had requested the manager of the Golden Temple complex for permission to organise akhand path and antim ardas for Sant Jarnail Singh in the complex. “But there has been no response. Similarly, we had met the Jathedar of Akal Takht yesterday and he told us that the issue would be discussed at a meeting of the Sikh high priests on June 4, implying that akhand path could not be organised in the Golden Temple complex. “We have already started ‘sehaj path’ of Guru Granth Sahib at Gurdwara Kabir Park in Amritsar. And after the bhog, we will move to Akal Takht for performing the ardas. We are even prepared to perform the ardas after the SGPC finishes with its ‘ghallughara divas’ programme,” he said. He maintained that an appeal had been made to all Sikh organisations to join the antim ardas for Sant Jarnail Singh. Accusing the Damdami Taksal and the Shiromani Akali Dal of collusion in denying the status of martyr to Sant Jarnail Singh, Bhai Narain Singh held that the response from the family of the Sant was positive. |
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Gill speaks up for detained
cops New Delhi, June 3 “If a terrorist, who has killed several people during the militancy, can get away and be released on parole, why can’t the cops be,” Mr Gill said in his brief presidential address at a function organised by the All-India Anti-terrorist Front. “The cops should be allowed to go as the war is over now,” he said. The function was observed to mark anti-terrorist day and “humble tokens” were given to as many as 30 families who had suffered due to militancy. Mr Gill said the threat of terrorism was knocking at the doors of every resident of the country and the people needed to keep their “guns and swords ready to frustrate any such attempt.” He said peace could be brought about only by taking certain bold steps to tackle the menace. Among the recipients of the “humble token” at the function were the wife of Pradeep Bhatia, who was killed in a bomb blast at Srinagar last year, when he was performing his duty and the wife of Rupin Katyal, the lone victim who was killed by hijackers of an Indian Airlines plane in December, 1999. Mr Gill called for full preparedness among the citizens and state forces to counter the menacing tentacles of terrorism which was assuming dangerous proportions. “Shanti sirf sochne se nahin milti, uske liye banduken aur talwaren saf rakhni parhti hain aur man banana parhta hai ki yadi hame larhna parhe to ham larhenge ( Peace cannot be acheived only by thinking about it. Guns and swords need to be kept ready and a firm resolve should be there that if we need to fight we will fight),” Mr Gill said. “If a nation wants to live in peace it should be fully prepared for war”, he said adding, “ If you want to seriously fight terrorism, then spare a thought for the troops for they are the ones who would lead the fight on behalf of the weaponless citizens”. Stating that peace had been restored in Punjab with a lot of sacrifices by policemen and para-military forces, Mr Gill regretted that several people who fought against terrorism were being haunted and put in jail while terrorists, who killed thousands of people, were receiving sympathy. “If the country wants to fight the menace of terrorism, it should take care of those who devote their lives fighting a war against it,” Mr Gill said and added that it was a war and if anybody committed some mistakes while fighting it, they should be forgiven and not put in jails. Speaking on this occasion Minister of State for Rural Development Rita Verma, whose husband Randhir Verma died while fighting dacoits in Bihar, called on the wives, children and families of those killed by terrorists, to be prepared for further sacrifices to fight terrorism and urged them not to feel weak and helpless but to accept the challenge thrown by the fate. Mr M. S. Bitta, president of the anti-terrorist front who himself has borne the wrath of brutal terrorist attacks, said that a strict law must be implemented by the government to deal with terrorism and all political parties should work unitedly to fight separatist forces. Mr Bitta also said that security agencies such as the RAW, CBI and IB should be kept out of the shadows of bureaucracy to ensure its efficient functioning. The families included those of former Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh, Father Graham Staines who while working for poor people in Orissa was killed along with his two minor sons by fundamentalists, Mr Pradeep Bhatia, Hindustan Times photographer who was killed in a bomb blast in Srinagar last year, Mr Shakeel Ahmed of the Karnataka police who lost his life while fighting sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, Mr Gulshan Kumar, doyen of the Indian film music industry who was killed by terrorists in Mumbai, Ms Vandana Mallik, an IPS officer who was killed by terrorists in Manipur, Mr Lalit Maken, MLA of Delhi who became a victim of terrorist attack, Mr Randhir Singh, SP of Dhanbad and Ashok Chakra awardee, Mr Preetam Singh, a police officer from Uttar Pradesh. |
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Firing over land dispute, 70
held Nangali (Amritsar), June 3 According to the FIR lodged at the Sadar police station, Gurwinder Singh, a resident of Patti, came with at least 80 persons, including some relatives, to take possession of the land and resorted to firing to forcibly do so. According to the SSP, Mr Parampal Singh Sidhu, 70 persons have been arrested and 12 rifles seized, including a .315-bore rifle. They have been booked under Sections 307, 342, 452, 148 and 149, IPC, and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. A police party was also reportedly fired upon when it reached the spot. The SP, city II, Mr Rajesh Jaiswal, confirmed that a few shots were fired at the police. He blamed the Revenue Department for the mess which had led to the violence over the land. The SP said both parties possessed documentary evidence of being the real owners of the disputed land. Gurwinder Singh had purchased the land from Partap Singh, the actual owner of the land, whereas Gurpreet Singh had purchased it from farm labourers who were transferred the ownership of the land by the government long time ago. According to Gurpreet Singh, a similar violent incident took place on April 14 after which Sections 107 and 150 CrPC were imposed on April 30. However, the SP, Headquarters, Mr Nageshwar Rao, revealed that the complainant, Gurpreet Singh had also been booked under Section 336 of the IPC for unlawfully using a weapon without informing the police as the other party had stated in its complaint. |
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Seats lying vacant in engg
colleges Ferozepore, June 3 In the local Shahid Bhagat Singh College of Engineering and Technology against the total quota of 275 seats, 100 seats are lying vacant in the current academic session. All seats in the Material Engineering Department are vacant whereas in Industrial, Chemical and Production disciplines there are no takers for paid seats. The annual fees which was Rs 10,000 in 1998-99, was enhanced to Rs 33,000 in 1999-00 and in 2000-01, it has been again hiked substantially to Rs 48,000. As a result, it is now beyond the capacity of persons belonging to middle class to get their wards admitted to these colleges. Not only this, the government has decided to fill 50 per cent of the total seats in these colleges on donation basis which is being charged to tune of lakhs of rupees but there are no takers either, except for few disciplines in top notch colleges. According to information, already 50 per cent of the grant-in-aid has been cut down in the SBS College of Engineering and Technology here, Beant Singh Engineering College, Gurdaspur, the GZS College of Engineering and Technology, Bathinda, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana and the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology Patiala, this year. All these colleges have been given signal that 75 per cent and 100 per cent of the grant will be slashed down in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, respectively, in order to make them self-dependent. The Ferozepore Engineering College Faculty Association (FECFA) terming the decision as a farce, has urged the state government to reconsider, the decision to impose 100 per cent cut in the grant-in-aid. Criticising this move, the FECFA said the proposal should be immediately withdrawn and the decision to allot. 50 per cent seats on payment basis should also be reviewed. When contacted, Mr NS Kalsi, Director Technical Education, said as it was a policy matter, he was not competent to give his views on the issue. |
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Forgery case: police not registering
case Bathinda, June 3 Mr Jasmel Singh had given a written complaint to Mr Justice R.L. Anand of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in March this year in which he alleged that the land and revenue records pertaining to his land had been forged by the revenue officials. Mr Jasmel Singh alleged that despite the fact that he was the owner of land measuring about 80 kanal and nine
marla, the accused had managed to get the land records forged and got a part of his land transferred in their name. The land was gifted to his father by his father’s uncle, Mr Rattan Singh, and measured about 210
kanal. But his father distributed the land among his cousins but kept a piece measuring 80 kanal and nine marla with him. After getting the land records forged the accused were named in the FIR lodged by Mr Jasmel Singh, but they had not been arrested as yet. Mr Jasmel Singh said that the fraud committed by the accused had been exposed in three different inquiries conducted by Mr Gurtej Singh,
SDM, Bathinda, Mr Kapil Dev, SP(O), Bathinda and third by Mrs K.P.
Brar, Assistant Commissioner (complaints) Bathinda. But the police had not arrested the accused. Those accused include, Sukhmandar Singh, Himmat Singh, Raj Kumar, Jahgir
Kaur, Billu Singh, Babu Singh, Balbir Kaur, (all residents of Balluana village,
Bathinda) Ramesh Kumar, ex-patwari, now Kanungo (Tehsildar’s office,
Bathinda), Bhoj Raj, kanungo, DC office, Bathinda and Ravinder Kumar,
ex-kanungo, (Tehsildar Bathinda). All of these have been named in the FIR lodged by Mr Jasmel Singh. The district police authorities were not registering FIRs against the other accused in the case, KS
Mahi, ex-Tehsildar Bathinda, now Sub-Registrar Jalandhar and Anil Kumar
Garg, Tehsildar Bathinda, alleged Mr Jasmel Singh. Dr Jatinder Jain,
SSP, Bathinda, when contacted said he was unaware of the case. “If any complainant has any complaint or grievance, he can come to me directly,” asserted Dr.
Jain. |
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Punjab declares 3-day mourning Chandigarh, June 3 The National Flag will be flown at half mast during this period and there will be no official entertainment during the mourning. This was stated by an official spokesman in a press note. Meanwhile, Mr Brij Lal
Rinwa, state President, BJP, and the Avinash Jaisal, General Secretary, have expressed deep shock over the tragic death of King
Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and 10 other members of the royal family. They conveyed their heartfelt condolences to Nepal and to members of the royal family. |
Fake bodies have got grants:
SHSAD Sunam, June 3 Talking to mediapersons here today, he dubbed the Badal-led SAD-BJP government as “anti-trader and anti-farmer”. He said as a result of the wrong policies of the Badal Government, traders and farmers had been forced to lead a pathetic
life. He said the farmers had been committing suicides because they were unable to pay their loans. Professor Chandumajra demanded from the state government decrease in the hike effected in octroi, sales tax and power tariff besides abolition of the “rule of inspectors” in the state. He also asked the government to decrease the rate of interest for farmers on different types of agriculture loans to 8 per cent to meet the international rate of interest in loan cases. Professor Chandumajra criticised Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister, for holding sangat darshan programmes. He said sangat darshan programmes were designed by Mr Badal to concentrate all powers in his hands. He said the entire administrative system had collapsed by Mr Badal by giving grants to panchayats and other organisations on the spot at the sangat darshan programmes. He said due to collapse of the administrative system in some cases fake organisations had also managed to receive grants which was a matter of concern. A thorough probe was required in this direction, he added. He also said Mr Badal had converted the entire state exchequer into the discretionary quota of the Chief Minister. He said Mr Badal was distributing funds at the sangat darshan programmes by procuring loans from the central government. Professor Chandumajra also appealed to the intellectuals to organise seminars on the WTO in Punjabi language in place of English in the rural areas of the state so that rural folk could also get knowledge about the WTO policies. Professor Chandumajra said there was no possibility in the near future of a patch-up between the SHSAD and SAD. He said Mr Badal was nursing only his family members whereas the SHSAD was a party of workers and believed in democratic traditions. |
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No soft spot for ultras:
Dhindsa Sunam, June 3 Mr Dhindsa said this was merely a propaganda against the SAD and its government as the SAD had never adopted a lenient view even in a single case related to militants so far. It had also not granted remission to any militant as the SAD was of the view that the law would take its own course in dealing with cases relating to militants, he added. Mr Dhindsa, after laying the foundation stone of an auction platform in the new grain market here, said regarding the issue of blacklisted Sikhs, the SAD’s stand was clear that it would not have relations with any such person who was even nowadays propagating against India by sitting abroad. Mr Dhindsa said now there were only 195 Sikhs on the blacklist of the Union Government whereas this number was more than 1,500 earlier. He expressed the hope that many names from the blacklist would be deleted soon. Regarding an alliance with other Akali Dals in the ensuing Assembly elections in Punjab, Mr Dhindsa said the SAD would not patch up with other Akali Dals on conditions. However, if any Akali Dal wanted to come with the SAD, the same would be welcomed, he added. Regarding the allotment of the Rajya Sabha seat to the BJP, Mr Dhindsa said it showed that the SAD and the BJP had
cemented ties. Later, Mr Dhindsa, addressed a public function which was organised at the new grain market here by the newly formed local Market Committee under the chairmanship of Mr Pritpal Singh Handa. Mr Dhindsa disclosed that besides the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, would also address a district-level SAD conference on June 7 at Sangrur. |
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Probe sought into ‘Pigeon’ scandal Hoshiarpur, June 3 In a joint press release here yesterday Mr Balwant Singh Khera, a former state Janta Dal President and Mr Raj Kumar Nidder, general secretary, said their party had decided to hold a dharna on June 14 at Jalandhar for exposing the on-going human trafficking by ministers, SAD office-bearers and SGPC officials. They also demanded the setting up of an inquiry commission by the centre to probe this illegality under the alleged patronage of the Chief Minister. The leaders said the incident had injured the sentiments and image of the Sikh community all over the world. In this case manuscript of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was procured, fake ornaments of Sri Guru Gobind Singh were shown and fake Panj Piaras were taken, who later went underground in Canada. They alleged that Mr Mal Singh Ghuman, Chairman Marketing Board, Punjab, had gone with a Kabaddi team to England but no player had returned until now. The duo further alleged that Bant Singh Doraha, Chairman of the Sugarfed, was also involved in this kind of activity. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, MP, son of the Chief Minister had also dropped some of his confidants, including his PA in America, they said. |
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SJP chief joins Dalit
Sena Bathinda, June 3 Mr Harbans Singh, general secretary of the Dalit Sena Punjab in a press note, issued here today said that Mr Somnath Somi a leader of the Shiv Sena with 200 party workers had also decided to join the Dalit Sena. Mr Gurtej Singh Kandara, district president of the DS, Mr Bhajan Singh Matoo, state secretary of the DS, Mr Dharampal Singh Gurchaci, district general secretary, and workers of the Dalit Sena welcomed the persons. |
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Gurcharan Kaur’s papers in order Chandigarh, June 3 As per the rules, the presiding officer will wait till the last date of withdrawal of nominations, June 4, till 3 p.m. before declaring the result. |
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Paswan to attend Ludhiana rally Bathinda, June 3 |
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Panchayat, Principal
at loggerheads Fatehgarh Sahib, June 3 The Principal, Mrs Sushila Sood, in a complaint lodged with the Mulepur police station
alleged that before her posting as Principal an expenses of Rs 22,855 had been shown in the school register where as there were no bills for this expenses. She alleged that the sarpanch Bharpur Singh had been pressurising her to make payment for these expenses. She said as she refused to oblige, on May 5 the village sarpanch auctioned certain material of the school without her permission and without forming any committee. She said she had informed the DEO about the activities of the sarpanch. She further alleged in the complaint that the sarpanch and certain other members started pressurising her to pass a resolution to start the construction work in the school as Rs 1 lakh had been sanctioned from the MP fund for the school. When she refused, by saying that no such amount had been received by the school nor had she any knowledge about the amount, so the resolution would be passed only when the amount was received. She said the sarpanch, an office-bearer of the SHSAD, threatened her with dire consequences and took the entire record in his custody and locked the school by removing the staff and the students from the school. They started raising slogans and abusing her and the staff. They also told her to keep off the school. She requested the police to get the record back and to remove the locks from the school. On the other hand the sarpanch, himself a retired teachers’ union leader and active worker of the SHSAD described the working of the school principal as dictatorial and alleged that she was encouraging groupism in the school. He said the village panchayat had caught certain teachers under the influence of liquor during schooltime. One of the teacher had been asked by the panchayat not to enter the school in future as he was a habitual drinker. The school Principal failed to check his activities. The panchayats of six surrounding villages had written for the transfer of the Principal. The sarpanch said the village panchayat was constructing two classrooms from the funds sanctioned from the MP quota for the school and the money given by Sant Hansaliwale had been deposited in the School Development Fund, but the Principal wanted to grab the amount. The police had called both parties to the police station today, but the Principal did not turn up. A large number of villagers and women reached the police station. They protested against the complaint lodged by the principal and demanded her suspension. |
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Talwandi sore over Bluestar white
paper Mansa, June 3 Mr Talwandi, who was in Barhe village in the district yesterday in connection with the foundation stone laying ceremony of a public school in memory of Guru Teg Bahadur while addressing a press conference said it was unfortunate that the SGPC published a ‘white paper’ about a decade after Operation Bluestar. He alleged that Mr Tohra, who was then president of the SGPC was only responsible to publish a ‘white paper’ on the incident but he (Mr Tohra) did not take interest in it. He said it was also the responsibility of the SGPC to make available such ‘white paper’ to every Sikh. The ‘white paper’ should have been published immediately after the incident. It would have been better had Mr Tohra released it when the government had issued the White Paper in the same connection. He said the SGPC was formed to remove some vested interests from religious places. But certain persons used the religious places as their own property and created danger for the Sikh community. He disclosed that SGPC elections would be held on schedule and for it, he had written to the authorities concerned. He added that he would meet the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, shortly in connection with the lowering the voting age from 21 years to 18 years for the SGPC poll. He said Prime Minister would also be urged to make arrangements for the release of those Sikh youths who had been languishing in various jails. |
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Regulate solar energy, states
told Amritsar, June 3 Consequently the Union Ministry from Urban Affairs and Employment (Department of Urban Development) has approached all state governments to introduce and regulate solar energy for heating purposes in functional buildings “and requested that the model regulations/building byelaws for the installation of solar water heating systems (SAWHS) may be circulated to local bodies in the state,” for their incorporation in the building byelaws as stated in the Union circular. The proposal also stresses that no building activity be allowed in any future (new) buildings in seven categories, unless it is installed with the SAWHS, in addition to auxilliary solar assisted water-heating system. The categories include barracks for the armed forces, paramilitary forces and police, hospitals and nursing homes, hotel lodges and guest houses, hostels of schools, colleges, training centres, functional buildings at railway stations and airports like waiting, retiring and rest rooms besides inspection bungalows and catering units. Included in the list are community centres, banquet halls, ‘Janjghars’, kalyan mandaps and residential areas with more than 150 sq metre of the plinth area. Although the cost of installation will work out to the tune of lakhs of rupees the proposal will definitely takeoff the load from the power sector with only an initial minimum installation cost of Rs 20,000 for 100 litre capacity of Sawhs plus heat pipelining that costs approximately Rs 250 per metre. Significantly, industries find no mention in the enlisted categories despite they being the largest consumers of heated water for manufacturing, processing etc., especially in textile units that Amritsar has in aplently. Although these model regulations were mooted on April 9, 1999 through a letter no. 11025/25/94-UCD and are recommendatory in nature they are likely to find approval with the provision of “modification to suit local conditions” as has been specified in the proposal in the face of power crisis throughout the country. Earlier, the Punjab Government had also proposed to install 500 solar energy operated hand pumps especially to the agricultural sector with a view to tapping solar energy that is non-polluting and available in abundance. |
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CM grants 1.50 cr for Bholath
uplift Kapurthala, June 3 Akali leaders took the opportunity to use it a platform for on election rally in view of the forthcoming Assembly and SGPC elections. He announced a grant of Rs 1.50 crore for various development works in the Bholath subdivision. He also announced grant of Rs 5 lakh for the proposed Dewan Hall at the religious dera at
Begowal. Prominent among those who addressed the gathering included Union Fertilisers and Chemical Minister Sukhdev Singh
Dhindsa, Mr Raghbir Singh, Mr Mohan Lal both Akali ministers and Mr Charanjit Singh
Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha. |
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Swimmers losing lives in
canal Patiala, June 3 There have been seven such casualties in the past few days. In the latest incident, two college students, Inderpal and Anil Kumar, who misjudged the speed of the current, were swept away by it. About 10 days ago, three children had died near Lang village a little further upstream. An Army personnel had also reportedly drowned in the canal about a week ago. The recovery of the bodies of three children of a family from the canal, after they had drowned in the Ropar district, has prompted demands for a ban on swimming in the canal. The district administration of Ropar had banned swimming in the canal two days ago. The banks of the canal along the Nabha road on the outskirts of the city become picnic spots for families in summer. While elders sip beer, youngsters have dips in the canal and the small channels that branch out of it. Sources said, earlier, youngsters used to swim only in the small channels, but now they had developed an attraction for the canal. They said the channels, too, were unsafe for swimming as these were about 10-foot deep each. However, swimming in the canal is always dangerous because of the swift current. The risks do not seem to bother youngsters of this city that does not have a community swimming pool. Meherban Singh, a 13-year-old boy of Tagore Public School, was
swimming in the canal with Sunny of Shining Gems School and some students of Government Multipurpose School. They said their parents often did not know that their kids dived in the canal. In most cases, parents thought that children cooled off in the small channels. Many regular visitors to the place said they had often seen youngsters struggling against the current and being rescued by experienced swimmers. Though a Home Guard police post is near the canal, the police personnel said they could not stop anyone from swimming in the canal. Officials of the Irrigation Department are also helpless in this regard. While photography is not allowed near the spot, no obeys this rule. Officials of the Irrigation Department say that the area has become a suicide spot. Mr Swatanter
Saxena, a social worker, said a ban on swimming in the canal was the only way of saving young lives. |
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Tributes paid to Editor of ‘Sant Sipahi’ Amritsar, June 3 Leading the mourners were the president of the
SGPC, Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi, who described the former Air Force officer and the Editor of ‘Sant
Sipahi’ as a fearless person who had kept the flag of the family high. The Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Prof Manjit Singh, also paid homage to Wing Commander Kamaljit Singh and said his passing away had left a void in the lives of his near ones. The Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan
Sabha, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, the Minister for Cooperatives, Mr Ranjit Singh
Brahampura, former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh and many leading representatives of the
SGPC, religious leaders and others took part in the bhog ceremony. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, who was scheduled to attend the bhog, could not make it as his helicopter developed some snag at Chandigarh this morning. His condolence message was read out. |
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Household items in truck catch
fire Bathinda, June 3 According to sources, the goods caught fire when the truck got entangled with electric wires running above the road. The electric sparks from the wires set the household mattresses on fire. Preliminary investigation revealed that the truck, which was loaded in
Chandigarh, after partially unloading at the office of one of the transport companies in the city was taken to the Ganesha Basti area for home delivery. The truck reportedly got entangled with electric wires and the loaded goods caught fire. According to sources, the driver of the truck after noticing the fire drove the truck to the main road to control the damage. Two fire tenders were put into service by the Fire Department. The extent of the damage, however, could not be ascertained. |
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Palledars still at large: FCI activist Bathinda, June 3 Mr Nasrali alleged that activists of the Punjab Pradesh Palledar Union had a clash with those of the Palledar Mazdoor Federation in which many activists of the federation were inured. Cases under Sections 307, 326, 323 and 324 of the IPC were registered against activists of the Punjab Pradesh Palledar Union but these activists had not been arrested as yet, he alleged. The accused had been roaming freely in the area and were threatening that the cases registered against them should be withdrawn, he alleged. Activists of the union led by Mr Nasrali met the Superintendent of Police (Detective), Mr Rupinder Singh
Bhullar, and submitted a memorandum. |
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Yoga gaining
popularity Patiala, June 3 Various yoga centres have come up in the city and experts have taken up the task of making the city residents familiar with this age-old
practise. Yoga is being taught at various centres. Yoga classes have also started in the Baradari Gardens. Seeking an answer to various afflictions and a search for fitness seems to be reason for taking up this activity by the city residents. They feel that yoga and meditation reduce mental tensions. Youngsters are also find the therapeutic qualities of yoga beneficial as they feel it increases their concentration as well as their learning capacity. Talking to a cross section of yoga experts, they said that yoga had become popular since the last few years in the city. This, according to some patients, was because yoga had been modified for beginners with the use of props and gadgets that enabled them to practice
`asnas’ in much easier way without exerting much. A popular centre makes use of various props such as belts, ropes, wooden bricks, chairs, pillows, bandages and weights which are used in different ways for curing various diseases. The patients have find it useful in stabilising and stretching their muscles which for long had remained
inactive. Mr Kuldip Singh, retired senior engineer from PSEB and director of this institute, is an expert in the field for the past 30 years. According to him, yoga is helpful mainly in curing problems faced by women of all ages especially after pregnancy. “Women who practice yoga asnas and pranayama do not need cosmetics. The facial exercises in yoga increases the blood circulation of the face and enhances the beauty which is much better than the other creamy facial techniques used by beauticians”, said Mr Kuldip Singh. Surprisingly, yoga has attracted many doctors as well showing that even the medical profession lacks certain treatments. Dr Agyajit Singh, retired Head of Psychology Department, Punjabi University, feels after joining the yoga classes, he has almost overcome his knee problem. He adds that his blood pressure has also been reduced from 160/105 to 130/90 which is near about normal. Dr Anurag
Jindal, MBBS, had been suffering from migraine for the past four years. He said that through yoga and meditation, ‘the frequency as well as the intensity of disease has tremendously reduced’. Ms Balwinder Sharma, running a yoga centre for the past 20 years, said that yoga exercise could cure such miseries and pains to which even the doctors had shown their helplessness in curing. It enabled patients to overcome exhaustion and depression of the weary routine
life. Mr D.S.Bahia, running another yoga centre said that yoga played a key role not only in reducing the physical and mental stress of a person but helped in measuring the spiritual level too. The centre also had water therapy and meditation to regulate the body functioning and used herbal treatment as well. |
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Tributes paid to former MLA Sunam, June 3 A large number of people participated in the anniversary programme. However, except Ms Parneet Kaur, MP from Patiala, no other prominent leader of the Congress was present. Among others who participated in the programme were Master Mohan Lal, Higher Education Minister, Punjab, and Mr Dhanwant Singh, MLA from Dhuri. |
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36 hurt in 3
road mishaps Hoshiarpur, June 3 A police report said 10 persons were injured in a head on collision between two private buses near Hariana. In another incident 16 persons received injuries after a collision between a tourist bus coming from Jammu and a truck coming from the opposite direction near Uchi Bassi village on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway. In the third incident 10 persons were injured in a collision involving a tourist bus and a truck near Mukerian.
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SDM to conduct probe into roof
collapse Mansa, June 3 Mrs Srivastva, while talking to TNS, said that after receiving the report from the SDM, appropriate action would be taken. She said a survey of all government school buildings had been done and necessary grants had been released. |
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25 marriages solemnised Ropar, June 3 Mr Kirpa Saroj, Special Secretary, Home-cum-Labour Commissioner was the chief guest on the occasion. |
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Summon Badal to Takht, says KMC Amritsar, June 3 |
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Row over paying
farmers Mansa, June 3 Mr Ruldu Singh, vice-president, BKU (Ekta), announced on Friday evening that since the seed dealers had given Rs 50,000 as compensation to the farmers, the BKU (Ekta) leadership had decided to lift the five-day dharna. However, Mr Radhe Ram, president, Beopar Mandal, said the claim made by the BKU (Ekta) leadership that Rs 50,000 had been given to the farmers was false and baseless. He added that claim of the BKU (Ekta) leadership that farmers and traders had reached a compromise was also baseless. He said no trader had paid compensation to any farmer in connection with the damage to the cotton crop. He alleged that the BKU (Ekta) leadership was trying to extract undue benefits from the traders by pressurising the district administration and the traders but was met with a tough resistance. Mrs Raji P. Srivastva, Deputy Commissioner, said the district administration had not paid any penny to anyone. She pointed out that she had told the BKU (Ekta) activists that the district administration was always ready to convene a joint meeting of traders and farmers to sort out their issues. |
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‘Withdraw cases against technocrats’ Muktsar, June 3 In a massive rally organised on the call given by the Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee (AGTAC), a resolution in connection with the rationalisation of subsidies on chemical fertiliser and making the whole process transparent was also passed with the raising of hands by participants. The participants also passed the resolution demanding implementation of professional pay parity, grant of conveyance allowance and increment for higher qualification. The participants also demanded that the decision of Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal taken on December 8 last year to cancel anti-farm technocrats notification should be implemented without delay. The participants pointed out that there were a great resentment among the agriculture technocrats regarding the non-implementation of notification issued on December 8 last year. Various experts including Dr Satnam Singh, state general secretary, AGTAC, Dr Balwinder Singh, joint secretary, AGTAC, said while taking to The Tribune that to compete against the WTO the state was in dire need to upgrade and update its farm technologies. Any move to lower technical qualifications of agriculture technocrates, would prove suicidal for farm sector, they maintained. Dr Balwinder Singh, State, President, the Soil Conservation Officers, Association blamed the
government that it showed ‘verbal’ sympathy to the farmers and was making no serious efforts to save the farmers and their deteriorating economy. Dr Hazara Singh Cheema, state general secretary, Punjab, Animal Husbandary Services Association said that the area under the fodder crops could be increased for good results of the Animal Husbandry and dairy sectors. He alleged that the government was not serious in its efforts to reduce area under wheat and paddy rotation. |
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MC undertakes task of cleaning Ganda
Nullah Patiala, June 3 The recently acquired excavator-cum-loader machine has been used by the corporation especially for cleaning the nullah though many residents have complained that the machine is not that efficient during the cleaning process. They feel that the machine is unable to clean the drains of the nullah and inefficient in taking out the entire garbage from it. The corporation Commissioner, Mr
K.S.Kang, sanctioned Rs 6.75 lakh for the project to save the city from the risk of internal floods. He said several smaller drains and the non-functional portion of the famous rajwaha will also be cleaned before the onset of rainy season. Giving details of the work, the corporation Health Officer, Dr
D.C.Sharma, under whose supervision the work is being done, said the nullah has been temporarily diverted to the Jacob drain which was meant for the overflow of the
nullah. The corporation is now trying to desilt the nullah that is stretching a few kilometres throughout the city. The corporation authorities have also requested the city residents not to throw any garbage, scraps, polythene bags and animal dung into the nullah and city sewerage system. The corporation has also employed about 150 workers including the 100 daily wagers especially for this purpose. |
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PSEB timings Patiala, June 3 Issuing a press note, the board here said the new timings would be from 7 am to 2 pm instead of 9 am to 5 pm. |
Gang supplying smack to students busted Moga, June 3 District police chief Kultar Singh said on the phone from Muktsar today that the gang members were arrested while travelling from Sriganganagar in Rajasthan to Malout in a private bus. Those arrested were identified as Jagdish Kumar of Bikaner and Jagdish Rai and Gurtej Singh of Sriganganagar. “A 10 kg contraband opium was recovered from their possession with 4 kg from Jagdish Kumar and 3 kg each from the other two members,’’ the police officer said. Mr Kultar Singh said the police also arrested two others, including Harish Kumar and Sukhwinder Singh, residents of Abohar and Malout, respectively, and seized 20 gm and 10 gm of smack from them. He said police investigations had revealed that the gang members were mainly into the supply of smack and opium to students of educational institutions, with the main supply going to an engineering college in Malout. “I have also written to my counterpart in Bikaner for further information about the activities of the gang members,’’ he said.
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Police Inspector’s son shoots himself Patiala, June 3 According to the police, Kushwinder Singh, alias Tony, son of Mr Baldev Singh
Brar, a Punjab police Inspector posted at Jagraon, allegedly shot himself with a country made .32-bore pistol. The Sadar police has registered a case under Section 306,
IPC. Kuswinder Singh was a resident of Dashmesh Nagar-B. However, the police was not forthcoming about the details of death. |
PSMDTA: promotions arbitrary Amritsar, June 3 Dr Baljit Singh Dhillon, General Secretary of the Association, said that the executive committee is surprised as to how the PCMS Association has become so much interested and involved with the so-called promotions of non-medical teachers in the Medical Colleges. The non-medical teachers are part and parcel of the Medical and Dental Teachers Association and the association had demanded UGC scales for its non-medical teachers such as Biochemists, Physicists, Microbiologists, Librarians and Physical Educators working in Government Medical Colleges. |
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3 school teachers suspended Phagwara, June 3 Stating this here yesterday the state Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, said the Education Department received complaints that few unmarked answersheets had been seen lying on a rehri. Mr Tota Singh said he ordered a probe, following which DPI (School) Jagtar Singh raided the school on May 30. The DPI reached the school early in the morning and checked cupboards and questioned the teachers concerned. He reportedly found unmarked answersheets from cupboards of two teachers, the minister added. The DPI submitted his report on June 1 and on its basis the three teachers were suspended. |
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Prospectus ambiguous, allege
students Bathinda, June 3 A group of aggrieved students told The Tribune that it was not mentioned in whose name the demand draft for Rs 450 was to be made. Also the amount of fee to be paid was printed only on form ‘A’ and not anywhere in the prospectus. A student, while showing the prospectus to The Tribune said the prospectus was silent on the number of seats for various subject combinations. Not only this but the university has demanded three self-addressed stamped envelopes, but the value of postal stamps was not indicated. “If the envelope is to be sent by registered post by the university, it will require postal stamps with Rs 20 but if it is to be sent by ordinary mail, it will require postal stamps worth Rs 4. Not only this but the documents asked by the university are not specifically mentioned at one place”. On form ‘A’ it is mentioned by the university that the candidates should send detailed marks of matriculation examination as proof of the subjects taken up, but on the inner cover page of the prospectus, the university has asked the candidates to send the marticulation certificate, as proof of date of birth. While some of the students maintained that the university had clarified the mistake, and had said in a vernacular daily that the fee was to be sent in the name of the Registrar, others expressed ignorance about the same. Mr B.S. Bhatia, co-ordinator, B.Ed entrance test and Registrar Punjabi University, Patiala, could not be contacted . |
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Table marking over, results not out Barnala, June 3 According to information from reliable sources in Government Ranbir College, Sangrur, an on-the-spot table-marking centre of the university created for the first time, where bundles of evaluated answersheets, along with award lists of various subjects, have been lying for the past many days, university authorities have so far not collected the answerbooks and award lists from the centre. According to reports, the table-marking process concluded a few days ago. Nearly 60,000 answerbooks were evaluated here. Last year, the results of BA (part-I) were declared in September . |
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Plea on appointment
of Vice-Chancellor Patiala, June 3 The organisation said since independence no university in Punjab had given priority to the Dalit community for a higher post. He said as per rules laid down by the University Grants Commission
(UGC) and the Central Government, reservation should be there for such members of the community. The organisation has urged the Punjab Governor, to introduce the reservation policy at the earliest. |
Prepare to face WTO regime:
Ojha Longowal (Barnala), June 3 These views were expressed yesterday by Mr V.N. Ojha, Principal, Secretary, Technical Educated and Industrial Training, Punjab Government in his inaugural address at the two-day workshop. “Where we go from here” conducted by the Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET). Mr Ojha, who was the chief guest at the inaugural session of the workshop said he would make a recommendation to the Union Government to grant ‘deemed university’ status to SLIET in light of the spectacular achievements, advances and contributions made by the institute, during one decade of its existence, through value based modular system of technical education in the twin fields of industrial training and technical education. He suggested that SLIET should further expand its faculty and educational systems and programmes by creating research and development oriented atmosphere for students and faculty, giving atmost priority to exchange senior faculty globally, faculty retention, resource generation, new innovations and high industrial involvement in all aspects. He assured all possible help from the side of the government. Dr R. Natarajan, Director, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai, in his key note address on the occasion, emphasised on the need to globalise the higher education in general and the technical education in particular. Dr Natarajan, dwelling on the topic “future directions for technical education in the new millennium” said there were several new directions for the technical education in the new millennium. He asserted that the 21st Century Engineers and Engineering Administrators needed qualities and capabilities which addressed its needs. He further said students having exceptional traits required new strategies for satisfying their learning needs and equipping them for the new spectrum of jobs. He said, “as in several other sectors, technology is driving educational delivery systems”. Dr Amrik Singh, former Vice-chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, in his address talked on the sub-themes “Academic Programmes, teaching methodologies and Curriculum Development” and the “self employment and entrepreneurship encouragement.” Dr R.P. Bajpai, Director, CSIO, Chandigarh, was the Chairperson of the session. Earlier, Dr R.C. Chauhan, Director, SLIET, welcomed the distinguished guests and highlighted the remarkable achievements and invaluable contributions made by SLIET in the field of technical education and industrial training during the past one decade. Dr Anand Vaz, Dean (Academic), SLIET, on behalf of the SLIET faculty and students presented the vote of thanks. |
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PSEB restrictions
on industry Patiala, June 3 A press note of the board said that peak load restrictions on medium supply consumers (50 kw to 100
kw) will be removed from June 4 while the peak load restrictions on large supply consumers ( above 100
kw) will continue. The three phase power supply to tubewells will work for seven-and-a half to eight hours per day. It was also stated that the net thermal generation from the four units of
GNDTP, Bathinda, two of Lehra Mohabbat and five out of six units of Ropar Thermal Plant were 420 lakh units per day. The board management hopes to make up the shortage by imposing urban/industrial cuts up to two hours per day as well as cut on single-phase supply in rural areas. |
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