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DISTRICT PROFILE-JALANDHAR
Traditional
Congress stronghold
Jalandhar, January 15
Jalandhar — this heartland of the Doaba region and a traditional
stronghold of the Congress since Independence — is likely to witness
a direct clash between the SAD-BJP combine and the Congress this time.
This was the only district in the state from where the Congress was
able to manage victory from four out of 14 seats even during the
strong ‘‘anti-Congress’’ wave during 1997 elections. The fifth
seat — Adampur — fell in the lap of the Congress when its
candidate, Mr Kanwaljit Singh Laali, defeated the SAD candidate by a
thin margin of six votes in the November 1998 byelection.
HC
tells
varsity to file reply
Reports of sexual harassment
Amritsar, January 15
Taking suo motu action on the two reports published in The Tribune
regarding cases of sexual harassment, Guru Nanak Dev University has
been directed to submit a reply in this regard by January 21. Dr R.S.
Bawa, Registrar, GND varsity, said the high court had issued notice of
motion to the university and sought a report on the issue.
Pawar offers to
field rebel Cong men
Chandigarh, January 15
The President of the Nationalist Congress Party, Mr Sharad Pawar, has
jumped into the political arena of Punjab. Today, he established
contact with rebel Congressmen offering them to field them in the
coming Assembly elections on his party’s symbol.
Badal
promises
voters more progress
Lambi (Muktsar), January 15
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Even as the first ray of the sun was yet to touch Punjab, Punjab Chief
Minister and President, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, was out from his ancestral house in Badal village to launch his
formal campaign himself in this Assembly segment, today.
Mr Parkash Singh Badal (atop the special vehicle) addresses his first election rally in Lambi (Muktsar) village, the constituency from
which he is contesting the election, on Tuesday.
— Tribune photo Kulbir Beera
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Cheema
quits SAD, announces candidature
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 15
A former minister, Mr Randhir Singh Cheema, today resigned from the
primary membership of the Shiromani Akali Dal and announced his
decision to contest as an Independent candidate from the constituency
in protest against denial of SAD nomination to him.
Another
peeved Akali minister quits
Hoshiarpur, January 15
Mrs Mohinder Kaur Josh, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare,
Punjab, revolted against Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and
President, SAD, in a protest for not allotting party ticket to her
from the Sham Chaurasi segment in the coming elections of the state
Assembly. Mrs Josh resigned from the state Cabinet and has sent her
resignation to Mr Parkash Singh Badal this afternoon.
Rebels’
ultimatum to high command
Bhawanigarh (Sangrur), January 15
Following the denial of ticket from Sangrur to Mr Parkash Chand Garg,
a working committee member of the SAD and Chairman of the Punjab Land
Development and Reclamation Corporation, two circle Jathedars, 1,100
workers, and Mr Garg himself postponed their decision to resign from
the party by a day to give the party high command time to review its
decision.
PPCC’s
charge against cops
Jalandhar, January 15
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee has charged the
Kapurthala police with misuse of powers by extending “undue” help
to Bibi Jagir Kaur, SAD candidate from the Bholath constituency.
Pasla
to seek separate poll symbol
Ropar, January 15
Mr Mangat Ram Pasla, leader of the breakaway group of the CPM in the
state, will seek a separate election symbol from the Election
Commission for his candidates in the forthcoming assembly elections.
Field
Dhillon against Badal, say supporters
Chandigarh, January 15
Supporters of Mr Maheshinder Singh Dhillon, who had recently joined
the Congress, have urged the party high command to review its decision
with regard to the allotment of the party ticket for the Lambi
constituency.
Maghi Mela ends on
colourful note
Muktsar, January 15
The three-day annual Maghi Mela, organised to commemorate the
sacrifices made by 40 “muktas” (liberated ones) while fighting
under the command of Mai Bhago against Mughal forces, culminated on a
colourful note at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib here today.
Exodus
from border areas continues
Ferozepore, January 15
People from the border areas of Ferozepore sector are still migrating
to safer places fearing the possibility of a war between India and
Pakistan. According to information from the district administration,
1,18,450 persons from 160 villages adjoining the Indo-Pak border in
this sector have gone to their relatives while a few have chosen to
take shelter in relief camps.
Harassment
by PUDA alleged
Bathinda, January 15
Ms Kaushalaya Devi of the city has alleged that despite the stay
orders of the court the officials concerned of the Punjab Urban
Development Authority had demolished a part of her house and
were forcing her to vacate it.
TRIBUNE FOLLOW-UP
Espionage case accused get
judicial remand
Bathinda, January 15
Narpat Singh Rathore, Shanker Parker and Dashrath Singh who were
arrested for allegedly taking photographs of vital installations on
the longitude and latitude basis on January 10 were today sent to
judicial remand till January 29.
Probe
ordered
into murder
Amritsar, January 15
The police has ordered an inquiry into the murder of Sukhbir Singh
Sukh on New Year’s Eve. Mr Jhilmil Singh, DSP, has been made the inquiry officer.
The deceased man’s brother, Harjinder Singh, had alleged that the
murder of his brother was the handiwork of Harbhajan Singh Brar, his
son, Meharban Singh, his wife Sukhjit Kaur and certain others who had
earlier been involved in an attack on him.
SGPC
may
reinstate dismissed staff
Amritsar, January 15
Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee President Kirpal Singh
Badungar today indicated that the committee would consider the cases
of all 489 employees who were dismissed at the behest of the Sikh
Gurdwara Judicial Commission.
Patient’s
attendants attack doctor
Phagwara, January 15
A doctor of the local Civil Hospital, Dr Ajay Kumar, was attacked last
night by attendants of Nasib Kaur, who died while she was undergoing
treatment. The police has registered a case.
Ferozepore steals
Citrus Show
Abohar, January 15
Fruit growers of Ferozepore district won the shield at the two-day
state level Citrus Show by bagging 70 out of 123 prizes. In all 4,110
entries were received, 3,500 of which were from kinnow growers of
various districts of the state. Prizes were given jointly today by Mr
N.S. Rattan, Financial Commissioner (Development), and Dr. K.S.
Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agriculture University.
120 Moga booths
sensitive
Moga, January 15
The administration has identified 120 of 315 polling stations spread
over the Dharamkot, Moga, Baghapurana, Nihalsinghwala and Panjgrain
constituencies of this district as sensitive, a police officer said
here today. Senior Superintendent of Police Sharad Satya Chouhan said
that of the 315 stations, 39 were urban.
Keep
check
on new mosques, DCs told
Amritsar, January 15
A joint meeting of Deputy Commissioners, district police chiefs of the
border area, including Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Amritsar, presided
over by Mr Rajan Gupta, IG (Border) here today decided to keep a close
vigil on the activities of suspects in the region.
Govt
staff
told not to go on leave
Muktsar, January 15
As a precautionary measure, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Babu Lal, has
issued strict guidelines to the heads of department of the district
directing them to ensure that employees do not go on leave in view of
the Assembly elections.
College staff rally
on Jan 23
Ludhiana, January 15
The Managements Federation, the Principals Federation, the Punjab and
Chandigarh College Teachers Union and non-teaching employees will hold
a state-level protest rally at Jalandhar on January 23.
Change
in school timings extended
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 15
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Vikas Paratap, in an order issued here
today, extended change in timings of all schools in the district. He
had earlier ordered that all government, private and aided schools in
the district would be open from 10 am to 3 pm while primary schools
would be functional from 10 am to 2 pm till January 15.
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New Delhi, January 15