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| Thursday,
September 20, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Compensation money fuels drinking
binge An ‘ahata’ owner in Phase 7 acknowledged that over the past few weeks villagers had been making beeline to the liquor vends with wads of notes “virtually” falling out of their pockets. After receiving a share of three lakh as the compensation for his acquired ancestral land in Sohana village, Ranjit Singh comes home heavily drunk daily. His 60-year-old mother, Ms Ajaib Kaur, said he had bought a motorcycle and had taken to drinking after getting the money. Similar stories can be heard from the women folk of various villages in the area. Enquires reveal that a number of youths in the villages had taken to liquor and drugs with money landing in their hands. Another farmer, Mr Devinder Singh, said farming was last on the mind of youths as it was becoming a losing proposition. With their land being acquired and no alternative avenues of employment, the youths were taking to liquor and drugs. Only 20 per cent of the evacuated farmers had purchased land at various places like Khanna, Fatehgarh and Patiala districts and parts of Haryana. A small fraction were either taking land on lease or were buying milch cattle and tractors. A number of beneficiaries were going for sporty cars or latest models of motorcycles. Sociologists view it as a serious problem and feel the government should come out with a proper rehabilitation plan so as to take them away from the path leading to liquor and drugs. A 80-year-old resident of Lakhnor village, Mr Sukha, said he would prefer to end his life by drinking up the money, instead of seeing his wards wasting it on drugs. With this apprehension in mind a number of elders in villages go to bed after having a bottle of whisky. |
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PU CAMPUS POLL Chandigarh, September 19 The Panjab University Students Union-Haryana Students Association-Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad-All-India Sikh Students Federation group is directly pitched against the Students Organisation of Panjab University- Panjab University Students association front The SOPU-PUSA front has advocated its preference for an ‘open evaluation system, at least for the regular students which would stop delay in declaration of results.’ The PUSU-HSA-ABVP-AISSF has announced to work for structural changes in the presently outdated curriculum to make it relevant in the global scenario and national needs. The PUSU-HSA-ABVP-AISSF agenda has underlined the need for making the system of grace marks uniform in case of re-appear and regular candidates. Attendance requirement for classes should remain at 66 per cent against the 75 per cent proposal of the UGC. Students of the Departments of Political Science, Sociology, and University Business School should be allowed to re-appear in examination on lines of the examination system in Laws Department. The SOPU-PUSA has assured to work for ensuring that the date of declaration of results should be notified along with the date of conduct of examination. There was need for more transparency in conduct of practical examination. A new course for MS- computer science (hardware) needs to be started. Both rival student fronts have subdivided the individual goals under the subheads of students council, sports and administration, besides others. The PUSU-HSA-ABVP-AISSF has promised to work for promotion of a sense of nationalism and unity among students. There is an assurance to work for introduction of student exchange programmes among
There is need for a Chandigarh Students Parliament that should be chaired by the president of the PUCS. There is demand for representation of students in committees wherein their interests featured. The PUSU- HSA- ABVP-AISSF has also made promises for more activities in the cultural field The SOPU-PUSA assures to work for representation of students in the university Senate and the Academic Council. There is assurance of working for a career, guidance and placement cell besides functioning of an IAS coaching centre. The campaigning went till late in the evening starting from departments in the morning and hostels, particularly girls, in the evening. A big rush of the two rival student fronts was to be seen in the Pharmacy Department during the day. This time there is also stress on personal contact programmes by the candidates. The open house schedules for tomorrow at the Student Centre promises to be an interesting feature of the entire process with the best voices likely to be presented at a common forum. The election manifestoes appear to have come a little late this year. The Students Federation of India in a press release has promised support to SOPU. |
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Battlelines drawn for student bodies’
poll Chandigarh, September 19 Now there will be no voting in the Government College for Men, Sector 11, as the candidates for all posts have been elected unopposed. The nomination papers of both candidates for the post of president in the Government College for Women, Sector 11, have reportedly been rejected on various grounds. Hence there will be no voting for the post. The Principal of the college will nominate one of the students to the post at “some later stage”. In Government College for Women, Sector 11, nomination papers of Rama Brar have been rejected because of her being found overage for contesting elections. Papers of Sugandha Gupta have been rejected as she has cleared her last examination as a private candidate. According to rules, only regular candidates can contest elections of the students’ body. In Government College, Sector 11, students’ council has been elected unopposed. Ramandeep Singh Pannu is the president, Sandeep Singh Sandy vice-president, Gaurav Goyal general secretary and Ravinder Singh Sheokh joint secretary. In DAV College, Sector 10, Vikas Kaushik and Davinder Singh Negi have been elected unopposed as general secretary and vice-president, respectively. Elections will be held for the remaining two posts. Surbhi Singh has been elected unopposed as general secretary of the students’ union of the Government College for Girls, Sector 42. Elections will now be held for the remaining posts. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Parag Jain, along with the Superintendent of Police (City and Headquarters), Mr Baldev Singh, and the SDPOs concerned, visited the all city colleges to take stock of the election scenario. List of the candidates contesting the various posts of the student unions in city colleges is as follows: DAV College, Sector 10: president — Gurpreet Singh Sahi and Balwinder Singh (both BA III); joint secretary — A. Satyam Kumar Singh and Harjot Singh; general secretary and vice-president were elected unopposed. Government College for Girls, Sector 11: vice-president — Vandana Mishra, Ruby
Chakr; general secretary — Jyoti Bishnoi and Nidhi Takiyar; joint secretary — Anpurna Singh Bisi and Ambika Sharma; papers of both candidates for the post of president rejected. Government College, Sector 46: president — Bhaskar
Luthra, Bhupinder Sharma (Montu), Jatin Kumar Hellan, Ramandeep Singh and Upkar Singh (all BA III); vice-president — Amandeep Singh Sodhi (B.Com III), Geetika Bannerji (BA III), Harpreet Singh Sekhon (B.Com III), Jatinder Singh (BA II), Ram Paul (BA II) and Suraj Parkash (B.Com III); general secretary — Gaurav Rajdev (BCA III), Harvinder Singh Goga (BA II), Khalid Raza (B.Com II), Sarvinder Batra (BA III) and Sonu Verma (B.Com II); joint secretary — Amit Kumar (BA I), Gurjatinder Singh (BA I), Ravinder Singh (BA II) and Shivangi Gaur (B.Com II); MCM DAV College, Sector 36: president — Karamdeep Grewal, Kiran
Raghav, Tanvi Singh and Sukham Sindhu (all BA III); vice-president — Gurvinder Sidhu (BA II) and Priya Khurana (BA III); general secretary — Jyotsna, Poonam Banshtu and Sarabdeep Kaur (all BA II); and joint secretary — Ashima Sood, Gursimran Gill, Parneet Sarao and Teresa (all BA I); GGDSD College, Sector 32: president — Harmanjit Rekhi
(B.Sc III), Jagdeep Singh (BA III), Nikhil Sharma (BCA III) and Bhawana Shah
(B.SC III); vice-president — Manisha Singh (B.Com III), Kanav (BA II) and Nikita Chaturvedi (BA II); general secretary — Jaspreet Singh Dhillon (BA II), Kamalpreet Singh (BA I), Gaganpreet Kaur
(B.Sc III), Raman Sangra (BCA III) and Bhawna Shah (B.Sc III); and joint secretary — Divya Sharma
(B.Sc I), Damandeep Singh (B.Sc III), Manider Singh (BA I), Ritu Mongia (BA III) and Avandesh Pundir (BA III); Government College for Girls, Sector 42: president — Hemjit Singh and Harpreet; vice-president — Bhawna and Komal Sekhon; joint secretary — Prem Lata and
Shilpi, general secretary elected unopposed; GGS College for Women, Sector 26: students’ council to be nominated by Principal after the holidays, scheduled to start from September 23; SGGS College, Sector 26: president — Birinder Singh Dhaliwal and Amandeep Singh; vice-president — Karamveer Singh Panu and Akanksha
Makkar; general secretary — Tushar Anand and Vishal Deep; and joint secretary — Atul Bansal and Amrinder Singh
Virk.
DAV College poll: hearing adjourned Chandigarh, September 19 |
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Man shot at in broad daylight Panchkula, September 19 According to sources, the assailants fired a shot at Mr S.K. Aggarwal, an LIC agent, leaving him injured in his right arm. The victim was rushed to the General Hospital in Sector 6. Narrating the incident, Mr Atul Aggarwal, son of the victim, said a white Maruti car stopped at the main gate of their house at about 10 am. Two youths came out of it while one remained in the car. They rang the bell of the house and Mr Aggarwal went to the main gate. Enquiring whether their neighbours were in home, one of the youths fired a shot at him. ‘‘The bullet pierced muscles of the right arm of my father and he raised an alarm. The neighbours assembled on the scene and the assailants fled,” he added. Mr Aggarwal was discharged from hospital, but was admitted to the General Hospital in Sector 16. Upon receiving the information, Mr Manoj Yadav, SP, Mr Vikas Arora, ASP, and other police officials reached the spot. The police recovered a cartridge ( .315 bore ) from the spot. Though the family members denied any motive behind the incident, sources said that ‘‘property disputes’’ with a Sector 7 based trader were the main cause of the incident. On the allegation of Mr S.K. Aggarwal, the police has detained two suspects — Jaspal Singh and Palli. A case under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act has been registered. |
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Additional power for
UT Chandigarh, September 19 Besides this, the Chandigarh Administration was negotiating with Himachal Pradesh to purchase power on a long-term basis from its proposed Chamera stage II power generation project on the Ravi. A date to sign an agreement between the Administration and HP government is to announced soon. This will be over and above the additional power allocation. On the issue of additional power a source said this would be from the eastern power grid surplus. The line link connecting the eastern grid with the northern grid is expected to be complete in the coming months and the allocation made accordingly. At present the city has an allocation of 187 MW during peak hours. This is largely met with rotational power cuts which are imposed during the peak summer and winter months. When Chandigarh will join hands with HP the share of power will be allocated by the Union Power Ministry. The Chamera II project has a power generation capacity of about 550 MW. In the agreement aspects like what will the Administration pay and what will be funded by the Union Government will be built into the costs. It is economically prudent to invest in a Central project in Himachal Pradesh and ‘‘ wheel the power ’’ to Chandigarh through high tension lines by paying the National Grid Corporation. This would mean the expertise of NTPC’s or NHPC’s engineers would be used by paying up one time in lieu of power, say officials. |
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Kathak reintroduced, courtesy
Shovana Chandigarh, September 19 Shovana’s description of the fine arts and their significance in Indian spiritual text was all-engrossing. She began with commenting upon how the Gandharva Veda (the science of fine arts) went on to attain the status of the fifth Veda. The further significance of arts was highlighted by the fact that all manifestations of Indian deities had been blessed with some artistic quality or the other. Said Shovana, “Lord Shiva is Nataraja with a dumroo in his hand; Lord Krishna is called Natwar Krishna with a flute in hand; Genesha, Indra, Rudra were other dancing Gods; and finally the Goddess of Music Saraswati with a veena in her hand. All of them underline the reverence for arts in Indian mythology.” Before beginning her dance performance, Shovana took sometime off to explain the origin of kathak, which traces its roots from the Indus Gangetic belt. Said she, “The word comes from katha (story) and kathakar (storyteller). In the olden times, the Brahmins used to burst into ecstasy while narrating stories. The earliest mention of the dance form can be found in the Mahabharata. Even the Buddha period saw great dancers like Amrapali and Shaivati.” Explaining the base of kathak, Shovana said, “We, the kathaks, base ourselves in Hindustani classical vocal system, using all the four instruments, including solid, stringer and air instruments.” Accompanying Shovana today were Shakeel Ahmad Khan on the tabla and Vijay Sharma on the sitar. Madho Prasad was the vocalist for the evening. After delving into the various stages of kathak (rangmanch pravesh; obeisance to ten directions; obeisance to the chosen deity and then the narration blended with enactment), Shovana began her presentation. She involved the kids by asking the to recognise the sounds she made with her feet (horse, frog and cricket). She then created sounds of rain, lightning and thunder, asking the children to guess the same. This piece-presentation was followed by a katha, wherein Shovana used the medium of “abhinaya” to show how an angry Yasoda melts after Krishna implores that he had not eaten the butter. This presentation was followed by a sensitive portrayal of Yashodhra’s agony. The dancer did complete justice to the grieving wife of Siddhartha (later Gautama, the Buddha), who wonders over why the king could not have told her and left. Today’s programme was sponsored by The Tribune group of newspapers. |
Inadequate security arrangements at crafts
mela Chandigarh, September 19 With thousands of people from the city and the satellite townships of Panchkula and Mohali, visiting the cultural extravanganza organised by the Punjab Tourism and Development Corporation, the security arrangements as well as the fire fighting arrangements are quite inadequate. It is learnt that as many as 7,000 to 8,000 persons visit the area and the rush is maximum during evening hours. It is estimated that after dusk, as many as 6,000 persons visit the spot. According to the information available from police sources, only 28 cops, including two Inspectors and two NGOs have been deployed for the security arrangements. The police, it is alleged is relying more on the private security hired by the authorities. They also take refuge on the grounds that staff of the police station concerned patrol the area a few times each day. The fact, however, is that anyone can enter the venue at Parade Ground, by paying a fee of Rs 5 and the private security lets anyone in after merely checking the ticket. No metal detectors have been placed at the entrance and no one checks the goods being carried here. Even the Fire Department has not deployed a fire tender at the venue, allegedly due to shortage of fire tenders. It is learnt that on Monday minor short circuiting was reported in a few stalls. However, after a complaint was made to a sole employee of the Fire Department deputed there, the fault was rectified. |
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League seeks ‘one rank,
one pension’ Chandigarh, September 19 According to a press note, since the defence personnel were compulsorily retired young, this condition has a marked effect on the pension of JCOs and ORs. Because of this condition, a jawan on an average suffers a loss of about Rs 1,000 per month in his pension which, in turn, affected the pension of widows also. Another sore point with dependents of those who were killed in earlier wars and fighting insurgents and disabled in such operations is that they are not treated on a par with the Kargil casualties. This is despite the fact that unutilised funds collected at the time of the Kargil war are available to compensate those casulties. The president of the league, Brig Sant Singh, said the next election and the annual general meeting of the local branch would be held at Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir Auditorium, Sector 24, on October 6. The post of the president, senior vice-president, vice-president, secretary, joint secretary, publicity secretary and honorary treasurer would be filled at the elections, he added. |
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211 commuters challaned Chandigarh, September 19 According to information available, the police also impounded nine vehicles for violating the traffic rules and regulations. It is learnt that the police had laid nakas on 20 roads across the city. Speed guns to check overspeeding vehicles were set up at four places. All Subdivisional Police Officers and Station House Officers were posted at different places for this drive. |
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Saplings planted at Cactus
Garden Chandigarh, September 19 The area councillor, Ms Kamlesh, along with residents of the area, also planted saplings of neem and pipal. She had contributed over Rs 2 lakh from her ward development fund for the development of the garden. She pointed out that the said piece of land was being used as a dumping ground for the past 25 years. Keeping in view the shortage of water in the area, it was decided to have a catus garden here. The horticulture wing of the MC started work on the garden almost two months back. Small hillocks had been prepared and 10 varieties of cacti had been planted. Grass had been grown. Ms Nanda gave a patient hearing to the problems of the people. People highlighted the difficulties they faced in moving about due to the poor condition of V-6 ( internal roads) which had perhaps not been recarpeted for the past 20 years. They complained of water shortage in the area and pointed out the hefty water bills being issued to them by the MC. While the flat rate fixed by the MC in the colony was Rs 100, people were receiving bills to the tune of Rs 500 to 600 and even upto Rs 1500. They also told her about low water pressure and muddy water. People also mentioned frequent and long power cuts. Others pointed out that even as they had paid all instalments to the Chandigarh Housing Board, the possession of flats was yet to be handed over to them. They also demanded that a playground be developed here. The Rehri Market Association demanded a toilet and strengthening of inner lanes within the market. She was later taken to the community centre which had recently been vacated from the possession of the CRPF. The president of the Mazdoor Sudhar Sabha, Karsan Colony, Mr Sohan Lal, gave a memorandum to the Adviser. Soon after she left, some electricity wing employees started repairing the tubelights in the area. |
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Beant murder accused
taken for MRI scan Chandigarh, September 19 It is learnt that the accused is suffering from a problem in his knee joint. He was brought to the hospital here under tight security at around 6:50 am today. A number of points of PCR vehicles had been made en route the nursing home and he was brought in a convoy of 10 vehicles. A recovery van was also moving alongwith the convoy to pick up any unparked vehicles. The entire route to the nursing home appeared to be under seige, with policemen in uniform as well as plainsclothes guarding the area. An officer of the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police was posted on special duty. It may be recalled that two other accused in the assassination of the former Punjab CM, Balwant Singh and Jagtar Singh Hawara, were also brought to the same nursing home on March 12 and August 19 respectively, for an MRI scan and were sent back to the Burail Jail, after the tests were conducted, where they are presently lodged. Balwant Singh was operated upon at Government Medical College and Hospital. The accused had been booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation after the Chief Minister was killed in an explosion outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat. While the believed-to-be human bomb Dilawar Singh was killed in the blast, other accused in the case are facing trial. |
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Draw of lots postponed Chandigarh, September 19 A press note issued by the Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Board said the Board the already given a public notice to this effect in leading newspapers on September 18. The lists of eligible/ineligible applicants had been displayed on the Board premises. The ineligible applicants could submit their objections, if any, to the Board for which they might meet the Development Officer on any working day till September 24. |
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Re-draw for wards delimitation
sought Chandigarh, September 19 In a statement issued here today, Mr R.P. Malhotra, president of the association, said the delimitation should be undertaken in the presence of representatives of various welfare bodies, political parties and other prospective candidates who would like to be present there to witness the process. He alleged the pressure and influence of the ruling group was ‘clearly visible’ in the present delimitation with the result that the very meaning of the popular phrase depicting the true picture of democracy: “The government of the people, by the people and for the people”, had been defeated. The non-official members nominated to the ad hoc body for the delimitation of wards were chosen without consulting the welfare bodies or political parties of the area. Though the process adopted for the delimitation of various wards was sought to be made transparent by video filming of the process, yet there were apprehensions about the actual procedure adopted. Reservation of wards for various categories clearly showed favourtism towards some vested interests and smelt of foul play. “The procedure adopted clearly forewarns the residents of the town about the functioning of the municipal council and indicated about the influence and pressure going to be inflicted by the ruling group upon the coming democratic body,” he said. |
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Kanwar Iqbal records PM’s poems Chandigarh, September 19 A ballet ‘Bharat Kal Aj Aur Kal’, choreographed by Daisy Walia, Head of the Dance Department, Punjabi University, will be staged on October 1 at Punjabi University, Patiala. This ballet will make an endeavour to recapture the glory of India of the past, present and future, as conceived by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. According to Kanwar Iqbal, a special style of choir singing has been used to convey the spirit of patriotism more effectively. Traditional as well as latest electronic instruments are being used for this recording. The technical assistance is being provided by a recording engineer, Rajnish Sharma, for doing the job of mixing and editing. |
Woman killed in road mishap Chandigarh, September 19 According to an FIR registered under sections 279, 337 and 304-A of the IPC, it has been alleged that the scooterist Charan Singh was hit by a truck (PB-10AL-9457) last evening. Gurmel Kaur, his wife, was seriously injured in the incident and was rushed to the General Hospital, Sector 16, where she was declared dead. The police has arrested the driver of the truck, Rajesh Kumar. Kidnapped:
A minor girl was allegedly abducted by Daljit Singh, alias Raju, from Sector 45 yesterday. The police has registered a case under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC on the complaint of the father of the girl, Puran Singh. In a similar case, Sita Ram has been accused of having abducted the minor daughter of Karan Singh, while she was going to Panchkula. The police has registered a case of kidnapping on the complaint by the father of the girl. Theft: A sum of Rs 5,000 has been reportedly stolen from the Mauli Jagran residence of Mata Sher. Pappu, alias Arun Kumar, has been charged with the crime. A case under Section 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered. Booked:
The parking contractor of Shivalik Hotel has been booked for the breach of trust after a car parked in the paid parking has been stolen. The car owned by Mr Ravi Singh was reportedly stolen on September 17. Eve-teasing: Rajinder Pal has been arrested on the charges of eve teasing at Sector 42. He has been booked under Section 294 of the IPC. Stolen:
A Hero Honda motor cycle (HR-43- 3193) was stolen from the Sector 27 residence of Mukesh Yadav during the intervening night of September 16 and 17. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered.
SAS Nagar Nine arrested: The local police conducted raids at a lottery bazaar being run from a show room in Phase I on Tuesday and arrested at least nine persons for running the business. The suspects were allegedly running ‘satta’. The raids were conducted after the police got information that people in the lottery bazaar were allowing customers to bet on the digit one the lottery tickets instead of selling the tickets. A number of packets of the tickets were seized by the police. The ASP, Ms Kalpna Nayak, said a case under the Gambling Act had been registered against Sanjeev, Tarsem, Rajan, Subash, Rajinder, Lakhwinder, Gulshan and Darshan. A sum of 7,000 has been recovered from them. Cheating case:
The local police has booked members of two families on charge of cheating Harbans Kaur on the pretext of sending her abroad. According to information, the victim paid Rs 7 lakh to Raghbir, in January 1999. Acting on her complaint the police has registered a case under Section 420 of the IPC against Raghbir Singh, Surinder Kaur, Ranjit Singh, Sukhwinder Kaur, Inder Singh Buttar and Balbir Kaur. One booked:
The local police has booked Baldev Singh on charge of cheating Jaswant Singh Khera of Phase XI of Rs 11 lakh on the pretext of sending him to Italy. According to the information, the victim was a taxi driver in Dubai but wanted to reach Italy. He was allegedly lured by Baldev Singh. A case under Section 420 of the IPC has been registered. |
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SAS Nagar, September 19
