 |
| Thursday, August 9, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
|
AMLOH TRIBUTES
PAID: The local RSS unit today paid tributes to Mr Sham Lal, Mr Kanti Sain Gupta, Mr Dinkar Nath and Mr Sudhakar Chakravarti, all “pracharaks” kidnapped by the National Liberation Front of Tripura on August 6, 1999. The Tripura Government declared them as killed only recently (July 28). Speaking on the occasion, Mr Pardeep Garg, district president of the RSS, alleged that the NLFT had been indulging in terrorist activities since 1980s to convert Hindus to Christians. People belonging to Hindu community were not allowed to display pictures of their Gods/Goddesses in their houses and women were not allowed to put on bangles or ‘sindoor’. Mr Garg demanded imposition of total ban on the NLFT by the Central Government. BATHINDA TIPNIS’ VISIT: Air Chief Marshal Anil Yashwant Tipnis will visit the Bathinda Air Force station on August 10. He will be accompanied by his wife and president of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association, Ms Molina Tipnis. This was stated by the station authorities in a press note here on Wednesday. DENTAL CAMP: A dental care camp was organised at a school of the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant here on Wednesday. Mr U.S. Lucky, General Manager of the plant, inaugurated the camp. About 400 schoolchildren were examined by Dr J.L. Jindal and Dr S. Goyal of the local Civil Hospital. ATTACKED: Anil Kumar, a contractor of the city, was injured when four persons him allegedly attacked him in the Birla Mill area here on Monday. Police officials said a case would be registered in this connection. STOLEN: Thieves reportedly stole about Rs 70,000 in cash, a VCR and VCP from a shop in the local Dhobi bazar on Monday. Police officials said a case would be registered in this regard. FARIDKOT RPI CONFERENCE: The Republican Party of India will hold a state-level political conference here on August 11. Stating this here on Tuesday, Mr Sukhdev Singh Pandhi, state general secretary of the party, added that speakers at the conference would emphasise the sanctity of the Constitution and review the national economic policies. FEROZEPORE SMUGGLER HELD: The police has arrested Daljit Singh who was wanted in a case under the NDPS Act and seized 40 kg of poppy husk. The SSP, Mr H.s. Sidhu, said the police was on the lookout for Daljit Singh for the past two months when his accomplices were arrested while trying to smuggle 18 bags of poppy husk in a truck, but he managed to give the slip. BASIC AMENITIES: The Punjab Government will spend Rs 32 crore to provide basic amenities to the residents of border villages along the zero line. Stating this during tour of border villages, Mr Zora Singh Mann, MP, said all farmers having land holdings across the fencing along the Indo-Pakistan border will be given a compensation of Rs 3,000 per acre each by the state government. OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been chosen office-bearers of the District Brahman Sabha: chairman — Mr Ajay Joshi; patrons —Mr Satpal Mola Fazilka, Mr Munshi Ram Zira and Mr Kewal Krishan Jalalabad, president — Mr Ravinder Kumar Ravi of Gur Har Sahai; and vice-presidents — Mr Manmohan Kali Abohar and Mr Madanlal Sharma of Vajitpur.
HOSHIARPUR ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local LIC Pensioners Association: president — Mr Ram Bhalla; senior vice-president — Mr Karamjit Singh; vice-president — Mr P.P. Mehta; secretary — Mr Gurdial Sharma; joint secretary — Mr M.L. Chawla and treasurer — Mr P.N. Sharma. BRIBERY
CASE: A case under Section 8/9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against Sukhdev Singh of Bainsa village and Joginder Singh of Kotla village for offering a bribe of Rs 1 lakh to Mr Sital Singh, Station House Officer, Mahilpur police, on Sunday for favouring a person in a murder case registered on July 27. Instead of taking the bribe, Mr Sital Singh registered a case against these persons. BOOKED: On a complaint of Paramjit Kumar of the Salwara locality here, the Sadar police on Monday registered a case under Sections 420, 406 and 506, IPC, against Gulshan Gabha of Goraya. According to police sources, Gulshan allegedly took Rs 2 lakh from him for sending him abroad. Paramjit Kumar was sent to Greece illegally where he was arrested and later deported to India. CASE REGISTERED: On a complaint of Renu Balla of Gambowal, the Dasuya police on Monday registered a case under Sections 498A, 323, 506 and 34, IPC, against her husband Tajinder Singh, brother-in-law Lucky, father-in-law Mehar Singh and mother-in-law Rajinder Kaur of Khiala, New Delhi. She alleged that soon after her marriage they started torturing her for not bringing more dowry. RESENTMENT PREVAILS: Resentment prevails among students of Tractor Mechanic Trade of ITI, Garhshankar, against the authorities concerned for providing them with a question paper on the mechanic diesel theory instead of their own trade in the recent annual examination. They have submitted a representation to the Secretary, examination, branch of the Technical Training Department, Punjab, in this connection. CELEBRATED: A function was organised by Ms Mohinder Kaur Josh, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, at the local Bibi Tani Nursing Hostel on Tuesday to mark the Teej. Giddha was performed and sweets and fruits were distributed among participants. LUDHIANA CONDOLENCE
MEETING: The Government School Lecturer Union organised a condolence meeting at Government Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar, to mourn over the demise of Prof Vijay Sharma, who was working as lecturer of economics. Prof Sukhdan Singh Rana, president of the union, presided over the meeting and Mr Gurdial Singh, Mr Harbhajan Singh, Dr Jarnail Singh, Prof Subhash Singla and Prof Tejwant Singh Pandher were also present at the occasion. Antim ardas of Prof Sharma will be held on August 14 afternoon at Gurudwara Sant Ishar Singh, Bhagwan Chowk, said the union members. MANSA MOGA EYE CAMP: As many as 16 blind persons of the district regained their eyesight after getting treatment at a special eye camp organised here by the Moga Eye Bank Society. The SSP, Dr Sharad Satya Chauhan and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kanwalbir Singh Sidhu, removed the bandages tied on the eyes of the patients. RURAL MEETINGS: The Senior Superintendent of Police, Dr Sharad Satya Chauhan, told mediapersons here on Monday that it had been decided to hold rural meetings in the district to solve problems of people. MEETING HELD: The executive body meeting of the district unit of the Punjab State Aided Teachers and other Employees Union was held at Doaba Arya Senior Secondary School here on Monday under the chairmanship of Mr H.R. Sharma. He and Dr Gurmit Singh Sra, president and general secretary of the union, respectively, in a press note said that though the government had issued a notification in March, 1999, saying that pension to the retired teachers would be paid as per new scales, the pension cases prepared as per the new scales had not been accepted by the department concerned. DEMANDED: Residents of the Baghapurana town, 15 km from here, on Wednesday complained that a pond in the town was stinking as carcasses of animals, including pigs, were floating on the sullage water of the tank. They have demanded that immediate steps be taken by the local Municipal Committee in this connection. ONE ARRESTED: The district police has arrested four persons in connection with the murder of Mangail Singh of Bhaloor village. Stating this here on Tuesday, the SSP, Dr Sharad Satya Chauhan, said the main accused Inder Singh who allegedly committed the murder was still absconding. EYE CAMP: As many as 16 blind persons of the district regained their eyesight after getting treatment at a special eye camp organised here by the Moga Eye Bank Society. The SSP, Dr Sharad Satya Chauhan and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kanwalbir Singh Sidhu, removed the bandages tied on the eyes of the patients. NAWANSHAHR DHARNA HELD: Teachers of middle schools of Banga block in the district held a dharna in front of the local treasury, about 13 km from here, in protest against the non-payment of their salaries for the past two months. Mr Pardeep Singh Gill, a teacher, criticised the government for its failure to give salaries to the teachers in time. PATIALA OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Pratap Nagar Sudhar Sabha Committee: president — Mr Hardiyal Singh Bhatti; vice-presidents — Mr Balvir Singh Kharor, Mr Iqbal Singh Virk, Mr Ram Saran Das and Mr Jasbinder Singh; general secretary — Mr Kulwant Singh; joint secretaries — Mr Darshan Singh, Mr Lajpat Rai and Mr Chamanpal Singh; and treasurer — Mr Dharam Singh
Hundal. TEEJ CELEBRATIONS: Blossoms School organised a Teej function here on Wednesday. Various competitions were held on the occasion. Performance of the students was judged by Ms B.M. Singh, Principal of the school and Mrs Bedi, coordinator of the function. Priyanka Gogia and Jasleen were adjudged Teej queens. Jaspreet won the first prize in dry flower competition. In the rangoli, Supinder and Priyanka bagged the first two positions. Harpreet and Amanpreet won the Rakhi making competition. Bharat Mittal and Amit bagged the fresh flower
jewellry competition. The function concluded with a Haryanvi dance. OCTROI ISSUE: The abolition of octroi by the Punjab Government from August 15 has been condemned by the Punjab Nagar Palika Karamchari Mahasangh during a meeting held here on Wednesday. A press note stated that employees would hold dharnas and rallies in protest against the move. Another meeting of the sangh would be held at Jalandhar on August 19 to discuss the issue. AFFILIATION: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has selected three colleges affiliated to Punjabi University, namely Patel Memorial National College, Rajpura, Khalsa College, Patiala, and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Arya Mahila College, Barnala, for starting vocational courses in computer applications and computer maintenance. Giving this information, Dr Janak Raj Gupta, Dean, College Development Council of Punjabi University, said each college would get a grant of Rs 17 lakh to meet the recurring and non-recurring expenditure for five years. PHAGWARA CREMATED: M.P. Kohli (59), officiating Principal of SBDSM Khalsa College, Domeli, who died here on Tuesday, was cremated on Wednesday. Mr Surjit Singh of the local gurdwara Sukhchaina Sahib placed a shawl on Kohli’s body on behalf of the SGPC. SAMRALA DANGAL: A dangal will be organised at Kulewal village, 5 km from here, on August 13, according to Mr Prem Singh and Mr Sher Singh, sarpanch and lambardar of the village, respectively. Only those wrestlers who are below the age of 40 years would be allowed to take part in the competition, they said, adding that cash and attractive prizes would also be given to the winners. GOVT FLAYED: The employees working in ITIs of Punjab are upset over the “anti-employee” policies of the government. Talking to the mediapersons here on Wednesday, Mr Manjot Singh Dhoot, secretary, State ITI Employees’ Union, alleged that the government was not bothered about their demands. He said main demands included a pay scale of Rs 5,800-Rs 9,200 for all instructors, adjustment of Class IV employees in Class III posts, release of pay to the employees working under plan scheme, implementation of court orders applicable to hostel superintendents and English teachers, etc. Mr Dhoot added that if 500 posts of instructors lying vacant were not filled, it would affect about 8,000 students who would be unable to get proper training. He also opposed the move to privatise ITIs. Mr Dhoot appealed to the Chief Minister to accept the demands of the employees, otherwise they would be compelled to start an agitation in the first week of September. STRIKE: The local Bar Association observed a one-day strike on Wednesday in protest against the demolition of old courts complex by PUDA. At a meeting held here under the presidentship of Mr M.G. Prasher, the lawyers decided to meet the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court with the demand to issue a stay order till a new place was allotted for the complex. FELICITATED: The Shaheed Karnail Singh Youth Club felicitated Mr Gurkirat Singh Kotli and Mr Tejpal Singh on Wednesday on their election as secretary of the Punjab Youth Congress and vice-president of the PPCC, respectively. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kotli said barsi of Late Mr Beant Singh, former Chief Minister of Punjab, would be observed at Payal on August 31.
TARN TARAN  |
||||||||||||||
AMBALA HISAR JIND KURUKSHETRA ROHTAK SIRSA SONEPAT BODY RECOVERED: The Kharkhauda police found the decomposed body of Pankaj, an eight-year-old boy, from a field at Sehoti village, about 20 km from here, on Tuesday. The victim had reportedly been missing since Rakhsha Bandhan. A case has been registered. SANCTIONED: The Board of National Capital Region has sanctioned a financial assistance of Rs 7 crore for strengthening fire services in 16 towns and cities of Haryana. The state government will reportedly provide all necessary fire-fighting equipment to 40 out of 68 civic bodies during this financial year. YAMUNANAGAR |
SHIMLA SAPLINGS PLANTED: The State Bank of Patiala organised a vanmahotsava on the premises of Women’s Polytechnic College, Kandaghat, on Tuesday. About 150 saplings were planted. Mr I.D. Sharma, Principal of the college, and Mr Aman Singh, Branch Manager of the bank, urged the students to protect the plants. OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the HPSEB Employees Union, Unit 3: president — Mr Khem Singh Thakur; senior vice-presidents — Mr Amar Nath and Mr Bhupinder Dutt; vice-presidents — Mr Krishan Chand, Mr Surat Ram, Mr Thumbi Ram, Mr Devi Ram and Mr Jagar Nath; secretary — Mr Vishwa Dev; and treasurer — Mr Durga Singh. LIVESTOCK
SHOW: Mr S.S.
Parmar, Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, the Department of Animal Husbandry, on Tuesday said the 55th Northern Regional Livestock and Poultry Show would be held from October 7 to 10 at Palampur in Kangra district. Presiding over a meeting in this connection, he said the show was being sponsored by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the Government of India, and would be organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Himachal Pradesh.
The ‘kala pani’ of Himachal TIPRI,
a sleepy hamlet in Jaswan subdivision of Kangra district with a rich
history, has earned the dubious distinction of being Himachal’s ‘‘kala
pani’’. During the days of the Raj, this outlying village enjoyed
all basic amenities which, comprised a primary school, a health centre
and a post office. “Those were the days when we were cared for.
Tipri fell on bad days after we became free from alien hegemony. The
oft-quoted expression ‘azadi’, has brought us nothing but misery,
exploitation, despair and disillusionment”, says Mangat Ram, a
septuagenarian who has seen this village grow. Notwithstanding the
state government’s tall claims to link even the remotest of the
villages by road, Tipri remains without a road even 50 years after
Independence. So much so there is not even a jeepable ‘‘kutcha’’
road, in the absence of which residents have to cover long distances to
reach their destinations. A survey on the proposed road has been
conducted so many times, but nothing tangible has come out. The road
would connect Tipri with Bathu, Bathra, Chaplah, Chanaur and its
neighbouring villages. Since there is no health centre here, residents have to suffer in stoic silence. It turns out to be a nightmarish experience when they have to carry a patient or a pregnant woman in critical condition to the nearest hospitals at Dada Siba (15 km) or Dehra (20 km). More often than not, they have to be carried in palanquins. They have to first reach Chanaur by wading through knee-deep water of the Tipri-Chanaur khud which swells at the slightest downpour and takes days to recede. In such a situation they have no choice but cover this 4-km long, and lonely stretch at their own risk. Incredible
as it may sound, Tipri has no school, which is a cause of concern for
residents of this ‘‘kala pani’’. A majority of the village
youth, especially girls, is deprived of their right to education, as no
sane parent would like to send their wards to schools at Bathu, Bathra,
Chanaur which are far away. Hardpressed by circumstances as they are,
they have started moving out of Tipri and settling down elsewhere. The other problems that dog Tipri are those of power and banking. The residents have to walk miles to deposit their electricity bills or lodge a complaint regarding a breakdown. For banking purposes, they have to shuttle between Tipri and Dhaliara or Badhal Thore. Besides
a host of other reasons, the finger of accusation is pointed at the
elected representatives for turning their little village into a ‘kala
pani’. They tour the area during their hectic electioneering tours and
announce packages for the integrated development of Tipri; which remains
to be seen. They make promises which they seldom keep. A paen for Punjabiat In the recent death of Ms Kulwant Kaur (54), mother of Bhupinder Singh Sandhu, president of the Folklore Research Academy, Punjab has lost a brave woman who stood vigil against terrorist attacks in her village Talwandi Sipahi Mal during the peak of militancy. Mr Bhupinder Singh was a member of the CPI (M-L) in 1983 when Communists were targeted. The village formed a self-defence force and conducted day and night vigil (by rotation) to thwart any attack from terrorists. In case of slackness during night vigil, Kulwant herself used to take a gun and remain on vigil throughout the night. This had earned her respect, especially from village women who not only came to her with petty squabbles and marital discord cases but also for moral support while facing adversities in life. Despite occasional encounters with terrorists, Kulwant always stood for Punjabiat and felt that the loss of life whether a terrorist or not was a loss for Punjab, recalls her son. On
the occasion of her bhog, villagers showered praises on her bravery.
What really brought her immense pain was when her daughter-in-law (Mr
Sandhu’s wife ) died of heart failure when terrorists were about to
gun him down. The
‘power’ behind the CM The
venue was Delhi. The occasion was a conference in which power
ministers and officials of the Union and state governments gathered to
chalk out power policies and strategies. In between the break, a dark
looking man in a light gray suit— the Chief Secretary of a southern
state— held the hand of a spectacled gentleman, and took him to a
corner. This man tells his Chief Minister, “Sir, meet him, he is
Harsh Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary and HPSEB Chairman. “The
response of that Chief Minister was very warm and with a gleaming
blushing face. He said: “Oh ! you are Harsh Gupta, considered the
powerman of Himachal Pradesh.” Suddenly a dhoti-clad power
minister of a northern state joined in and added another new enconium:
“Harsh’s electrifying contribution to the Himachal’s power
sector in the past one year is really remarkable and full of such
colourful achievements that he is today called “Shaktiman” of the
power sector in India, particularly in his state, Himachal Pradesh.” The
instant response of that Chief Minister was — “Harsh I would like
to give you an open offer, would you like to serve my state?” The
reply from Harsh was instant and he became little emotional and said:
“Sir, thanks a lots for your kind gesture. Though I belong to Delhi,
and am from the IAS cadre of Himachal Pradesh, I was born in Dehra
Dun, the adjoining hill state, now called Uttaranchal. My brother is
currently the Chief Secretary of the new state. But I have spent 90
per cent of my childhood and professional career in H.P. Hence I
cannot dream of anything but Himachal and see it grow and prosper.
Though I am physically before you, my heart and soul is permanently in
H.P. “The Chief Minister also became emotional and patted Harsh on
his shoulders and told — “your love towards H.P. is unparalleled.
You are a true son of the soil of H.P. I am sure, your Chief Minister
must be lucky to own a proud shaktiman like you.” There was a lot
of dramatic, flimsy political pressure tactics to supersede Mr Harsh
Gupta for the top-notch post of Chief Secretary. When all this hi-tech
drama failed they even went to the extent of telling the CM that the
candidate was so simple that he did not even wear a suit! But all this
fell on deaf ears. At last though quite late, Mr P.K. Dhumal had taken
this decision and the result — now his government is bound to take a
leap forward. Moreover at this very crucial juncture at the general
administration, which is in a lackadaisical shape, shall be positively
geared. The track record of Harsh Gupta is like a live rainbow. He
has served in the Union Ministries of Steel, Mines, Defence Production
and Commerce. In all these capacities he has excelled and did
innovative things which later became popular. His stint as Additional
Chief Secretary and HPSEB Chairman in the past 13 months has been with
distinction. Several MoUs were signed and power projects set up. And
Himachal’s 21,000 MW potential target shall soon be harnessed. A
89-year-old freedom fighter who had come to congratulate Harsh said:
“ I only wish if P.K. Dhumal had appointed Harsh Gupta as CS three
years ago all development activities initiated by him would have been
fulfilled. In a nutshell he has been given and acquired a goods train,
it has to be made and run like a Shatabdi. Contributed by Ramesh Dhiman, Rashmi Talwar and Illa Bali |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
