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| Tuesday, February 5, 2002,
Chandigarh, India
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HOSTEL RENOVATION
SCANDAL Ludhiana, February 4 The Registrar, Mr Alok Shekhar, has been asked to inquire into the matter as the replies to the charge sheets have been found unsatisfactory. Seven employees were issued chargesheets in June after a preliminary inquiry by the ADR (Engineering) . Sources said the action would follow against those indicted by the Registrar in the scam. The authorities had issued charge sheet to a former Estate Officer recently during whose regime the irregularities were conducted. He is yet to forward any reply in the case. Although more than eight months have passed since the employees were issued charge sheets, no headway has been made into the scandal which had taken the university by storm. Those who were issued charge sheets were Piara Singh Gill, former XEN, SDE Harnek Singh, SDE A.K. Garg, Harbhajan Singh, V.K. Saggar, Harpal Singh and Mahipal Singh, all JEs. They were given 15 days to replies. The matter was pending with the university for the last two years. The then Vice- Chancellor, Dr G.S. Kalkat, had assigned the Additional Director Research, Dr V.K. Sharma, to probe the matter who had submitted his report in January, 2001. The action was, however, not taken against anybody since then. Sources disclosed that the office of the Director Students Welfare had released an amount of Rs 70 lakh for the renovation of the hostels and it was alleged that the university had not advertised any notice inviting tenders and quotations for the materials required. These allegations were first levelled by the Employees Union of the PAU and it had also demanded an inquiry into the matter. It was also alleged that although the university had spent lakhs of rupees on the renovation, the condition of hostels had not improved. Sources disclosed that the records showed that Rs 6. 38 lakh were spent on repair of roofs, Rs 5.62 lakh on civil works, Rs 13 lakh on renovation and Rs 2. 56 lakh for the upkeep and maintenance of the hostels. Heavy expenditures were shown on other works including the repair of toilets, floors and fixing of doors and windowpanes. The union had alleged the irregularities on July 20, 2000 and the Vice-Chancellor had immediately ordered an inquiry. Dr Kalkat had asked for the report within a month but ADR had submitted it in January. The action was not taken and Dr Kalkat had submitted his resignation in March and Dr Aulakh had followed him in April. Dr Aulakh said he was issuing charge sheets at the moment but whosoever was found guilty would be punished. He assured that a strict action would be taken against all those who were found involved in the case. |
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Admission time: ‘moms’ on hire Ludhiana, February 4 As admission to most schools here is based partly on parents’ interview, it makes it important for them to be good at conversation and prompt with questions related to the child’s development. In some cases where the mother is a housewife unable to interact in English, smart mom takes her place at the interview. As most schools interview the parents and the kid separately, the chances of the plan’s success are high. Admission forms do not have photographs of the parents, so, with hundreds of parents coming for interview, it is impossible for the school to remember each face. Once the child gets admission, the job of the “smart mother” is over. Managements and staff of several schools have said that this was true. A teacher of a reputed Sarabha Nagar school said, at least one such case was detected at admissions every year, while a number of others went unnoticed. She said, “A smart couple came for the admission of their child last month. The child performed well and even the parents were prompt with their answers, but when the child was about to leave, he said ‘Chalo Auntie’. At this, the school Principal became suspicious and asked the child whether she was his aunt or mother. The child said she was his aunt indeed, at which, the Principal asked him, then, where was his mother. The child said she was waiting for him at the school gate. The Principal turned angry and cancelled the admission.” The teacher said the trick might not work every time. It can backfire if the child has not been “tutored” well. Managements of many other schools said parents were often caught telling other lies as well. Ms I. Kumar, Principal of Kundan Vidya Mandir, said, every year, parents were found lying about their qualifications. Matriculate persons said they were college graduates, even though they could not recall the names of their principals. With a view to checking such false claims, the authorities of DAV Public School of BRS Nagar have told parents to attach attested copies of their degrees with registration forms. The Principal of the school, Mr R.S. Patial, however, was busy interviewing parents and could not be contacted. |
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100 bottles of liquor seized Ludhiana, February 4 While sources said the supply was on as the locality was mainly populated with migrant labours, the Vardhman police has stepped up raids to check the liquor inflow. In four different raids, the police has seized 100 bottles, which is the biggest recovery in a single day during poll campaigning. According to a police handout, 24 bottles each were seized from a Pathankot resident distributing illicit liquor and in the second case, a Moga resident was found smuggling liquor into the area. Police sources said in both cases, the liquor was to be used in campaigning. Similarly, 35 bottles were seized from a Avtar Singh in another raid and 20 bottles were seized from Nikka Singh at a naka. The police sources said all the four accused were not residents of the city and belonged to other districts. They seemed to have come here for liquor supply during elections only. |
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Liquor distribution likely to boomerang: survey Ludhiana, February 4 The Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (GGSSC) and a news feature service conducted an opinion poll in collaboration with the ‘Aas Kiran De-addiction Centre’ throughout the state. About 94 per cent people said they would not only boycott the drug promoters, but also ask others to do the same. The survey also revealed that 62 per cent of the voters already knew which candidates were distributing liquor and had already made up their minds not to vote for them. The district has already reported a couple of deaths due to consumption of illicit liquor by voters. According to the GGSSC zonal secretary, Mr Surjit Singh, 50 per cent voters wanted political parties to spell out their stand on drug-addition and show seriousness to root out the menace. Another 30 per cent the parties should not have any truck with drug-traffickers, while over 15 per cent did not have any expectation from political parties, which they dubbed as non-serious in rooting out the menace. A large number of participants wanted political parties to declare their stand on drugs in their election rallies, they also demanded that the political parties should announce at public rallies the measures they would take against the menace of drug, if voted to power. Over 45 per cent went a step further and demanded that political parties must include their stand on drugs in the party manifesto. The survey was conducted in all 17 districts of the state with a sample of 2,000 voters. The Ludhiana zone president of the GGSSC, Mr Harjit Singh, said drug-addiction affected the whole society. He said candidates and parties distributing drugs are in fact spreading seeds of mass destruction of the society. About 55 per cent voters blamed politicians for the increasing drug menace. Only 34 per cent put the share of blame on parents and 25 per cent on the government. About 35 per cent people also blamed other factors such as unemployment, foreign TV channels, lack of religious education, environment in the society, increasing population, ignorance, migrant labourers, chemist shops, hypocrite saints etc. As many as 91 per cent voters expressed their concern over the increasing menace of drugs. As for the solution, about 85 per cent voters felt that the political parties could do a lot towards curbing drug menace. Over 80 per cent voters felt that the use of drugs in polls endangered society, democracy and national security. The survey also predicted that, results would be surprising in those constituencies were liquor, poppy husk, and other drugs were been freely distributed to woo the voters. Women voters would definitely give a blow to such candidates, said the survey. |
Campaigning adds to traffic chaos Ludhiana, February 4 While traffic jams and serpentine queues of vehicles at all big inter-sections here have become a routine, the campaigning for the Assembly elections has worsened the situation. Unmindful of the inconvenience to public, political parties and other candidates often put up huge tents on busy roads or in the middle of commercial centres for their election rallies. This diverts traffic to other roads, causes heavy traffic jams. A prominent educationist, who had to take a long detour to reach his residence just because a huge pandal for a political rally had been put up on a Ghumar Mandi road on Monday, said it seemed like candidates, the police and the civil administration had no civic sense. “Obstructing traffic has become a yardstick for the success of rallies and processions. The bigger the traffic jam, the higher a candidate’s popularity,” he said. Visits of the VVIPs for campaigning also brings misery to commuters, as hours before these visits, roads are sealed off and traffic diverted or stoped at one point. On Monday, there were reports of huge traffic jams at Fountain Chowk, Ghumar Mandi, Jagraon Bridge and the GT Road approaching the railway station. The traffic police failed to regulated the traffic. Many residents said there was no long-term or short-term traffic management in the city. “Issuing random challans will not improve the situation,” they said.  |
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Congress activist joins BJP Ludhiana, February 4 Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gosain claimed that during the tenure of the SAD-BJP government, the state had ushered in a new era of development. Several major projects were granted by the Union Government to promote industrialisation in Punjab and the government had provided several concessions to trade and industry. He charged the successive Congress governments — both in Punjab and at Centre — with pursuing policies of communal divide for their ulterior and political motives. Mr Gosain expressed confidence that the electorate would not be misled by false and wild accusations and hollow promises of opposition parties and would cast its votes in favour of SAD-BJP candidates to ensure another term for the ruling combine. In an election meeting organised at Shivaji Nagar, senior Congress functionary, Mr Ved Parkash Grover, announced that he had quit his party to join the BJP and campaign for Mr Gosain. The Deputy Speaker also addressed election meetings and inaugurated election offices at Kalgidhar Road, Issa Nagri, Hargobindpura, Shivaji Nagar, Miller Ganj, Nirankari Mohalla, Jagraon Bridge Road, Bearing Market and Field Ganj localities, where he claimed to have received tremendous response from the residents as well as members of the trading community. |
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‘Ayodhya temple not on NDA agenda’ Ludhiana, February 4 The minister was here to address election meetings at several places including Ghumar Mandi and Janakpuri in the city in support for the SAD-BJP combine candidates in the assembly polls. Disagreeing with a question that the BJP and VHP had similar views on the temple issue, Mr Khan said BJP was a political party, answerable to more than 100 crore Indians whereas VHP, like all other religious bodies, was free to have its own ideas and work on them. He, however, made it clear that the government favoured the solution of the problem either through court verdict or dialogue and no body would be permitted to take law in his own hands. He charged the Congress with raising bogey of the RSS to rouse communal and fundamental passions and to keep minorities away from the BJP. “The party conveniently chooses to forget the historically documented fact that it was under Congress regime that many of communal riots took place all over the country. People are still to forget the wounds of Army attack on Golden Temple at Amritsar and organised massacre of Sikhs in 1984.” While claiming that the BJP led NDA government was committed to safeguard the rights of minorities, Mr Shah Nawaz said the government had provided a massive subsidy of Rs 150 crore for Haj pilgrims. Later, addressing a rally in Janakpuri locality in Ludhiana East assembly segment, the minister observed that results of assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh were crucial to the extent that these could give a new direction to national politics. Exhorting the electorate to support the candidates, fielded by SAD-BJP combine, he asked them to decided whether they wanted a party, which had persistently been following a weak policy on Kashmir issue or a government, which had made the Pakistan rulers change their tone. The BJP candidate from Ludhiana East, Mr Sat Pal Gosain, among others was present at the meeting. |
Payal heads for
close contest Doraha, February 4 The Congress candidate’s campaign has got a boost with Mr Pritpal Singh Bishanpura of the Panthic Morcha joining the Congress. Councillor Harpreet Kaur, councillor Darshan Kumar, sarpanch Dilbag Singh Kaddi, Mr Tarlok Singh, Maksoodra panch, Mr Jasbir Singh, Principal of GTB College, Doraha, Mr Malkit Singh Payal and many other Panthic workers of Burmalipur, Lakhara and Jallah have also joined the Congress. The Congress candidate is campaigning in the Payal area where he has covered many villages. At many places he has been weighed against coins and sweets. He is getting the active support of Congress leaders and workers of the area. These include Mr Sudarshan Kumar Pappu, president, Nagar Council, Doraha, Mr Gurmit Singh, former political secretary, Mr Bant Singh Daburjee, chairman, Budhewal Sugar Mills, Mr Adarsh Kumar Bector, Mr Lakha Rauni and Mr Krishan Lal Gupta. The SAD candidate also attracts large crowds. He claims that a large number of persons, are with him and his party. He too is campaigning in the area and is confident of his victory. The candidate of the joint alliance is campaigning on the basis of commendable achievements of their party in the past and sincere promises for the future, he states. The area has been divided into six zones. Among those who actively support him are Mr Inderjit Singh Kala, Mr Tejbir Singh Sethi, Mr Tarlochan Singh Sufi, Mr Bhalbhadra Sood, Mr S.P. Verma, Mr Rajesh Bhanot, Mr Agnihotri and Mr Jaspal Singh. He is also being weighed against coins and sweets at several villages and towns. |
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Coming up with an alternative Ludhiana, February 4 Mr Dhanda is placed in a triangular fight with Mr Harnam Das Johar of the Congress and Mr Avtar Singh Makkar of the SAD-BJP alliance. He was a strong contender for the Akali ticket from Ludhiana West. Mr Dhanda has won the elections of the District Bar Association several times. He comes from an influential family of Ludhiana with a lot of social standing. Although he is facing a gigantic task, given the influence and experience of Mr Johar, yet he appears confident to score a victory in the constituency. This is despite the fact that the constituency is counted among one of the strongholds of the Congress. The young lawyer has been cashing in on his clean image and reputation. He has made himself quite popular among the youth, for whom he has a special vision. Moreover, he has been taking up the issues that touch his constituency the most. His emphasis, according to the election manifesto of the Ludhiana Vikas Manch, the platform on which he is contesting the elections, is on streamlining and rationalising the education system, particularly the admission process. He has been promising to make a big and decisive difference with his hard work, sincerity, honesty and commitment to the common cause. |
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Congress rally at Salana Amloh, February 4 Salana is the native village of the Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh. The Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal had a show of strength in the village, where hardly a house was left that did not have the flag of any of these parties on top. Mr Sawatantar Karkara, a member of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Joginder Singh, president of the local Beopar Cell, Mr Shingara Singh, president of the block unit of the Congress, Mr Gurdev Singh Khanian, general secretary of the district unit of the party, and Mr Pakhar Singh Salana addressed the gathering. Earlier, at Mandi Gobindgarh, Mr Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, party candidate from Amloh (reserve) constituency was weighed against coins on Sunday at Wards 3, 4, 7 and 17, Idgah near the railway station, the GT Road near Bhavnagar Market, Loha Bazar, Motia Khan Bazar and the GT Road near the police station. Mr Jagmeet Singh Bawa, head of the Anti-terrorist Front of Punjab, Mr Parkash Chand, secretary of the CPI, Mr Suresh Panday ‘Bunti’, Mr Inderjit Singh Randhawa, vice-president of the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front, and Subhash Bandey, district vice-president of the front, were also there. |
Punjabi writer Trilochan Singh Gill awarded Ludhiana, February 4 Before migrating to Canada, he worked as a lecturer in Punjabi at Malerkotla and Moga. He has authored many books, including Independence Movement of India, History of the Sikhs, Indian History — Mystery and Politics. He has written six travelogues besides many novels. His bilingual novel ‘An Accident’, in Punjabi and English, is widely read. He has translated Zafarnama in Punjabi and English. He has also written many short stories for children. Prof Niranjan Tasneem, Dr Parminder Singh, Mr Kulwant Jagraon and Mr Mahendradeep Grewal attended the function. Speaking at the function, Gill said Punjabi was the fifth widely used language in Canada. He advised youths not to waste money by giving it to the agents for sending them abroad. They should stay back in Punjab and work for its prosperity. In Canada there was a lot of discrimination and life was not a bed of roses, he said. “Hard work is the key to success whether one lives in Canada or India. Therefore Indians should strive to make their country more prosperous,” he added. He said some organisations were too liberal in awarding Punjabi writers. He felt that at times worthy writers were ignored, while those who beat their own trumpet bagged the awards. Only deserving writers should receive accolades due to them, he said. Professor Tasneem, Mr Jagraon and Mr Grewal lauded the achievements of Trilochan Singh Gill in the field of literature. |
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Punjabi Writers Association holds meeting Doraha, February 4 The members welcomed the decision of the K.K. Birla Foundation to honour Dr Dalip Kaur Tiwana. Mr Harcharan Singh Manga and Mr Sukhminder Singh Rampuri spoke on the occasion. The members of the association were urged to work for the promotion of Punjabi language. |
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Resolve to make Kila Raipur drug-free Kila Raipur, February 4 Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Mr Grewal pointed out that all these years, people, particularly the youth, had been made dependent on drugs and liquor. He asserted that there was an urgency to set the system right and prevent the youth from getting wayward. The Panthic Morcha leader, who gave up his Cabinet berth in the Badal government to join Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, maintained that the development was on top priority of his agenda. Expressing confidence about his prospects of winning from here, Mr Grewal claimed, “It will not be an ordinary win, but a landslide victory that will break all previous records here.” |
Fraud detected in bank Ludhiana, February 4 According to an FIR registered on the complaint of an Assistant Manager of the bank, the bank employee Ram Dass has allegedly swindled the amount by misplacing some drafts worth about Rs 20,000 through fraudulent means. The division no. 8 police has started investigation in the case. The employee was absconding, the police said. Shop burgled According to information, an unknown number of burglars tried to break into some shops near the military camp in Parbhat Nagar and managed to break open the shutter of R.K. Music Centre and made their way into the shop after breaking a glass pane fitted at the
entrance. Though the burglars fled on hearing the shop-owner’s voice, they succeeded in decamping with some calculators and watches which were on display in the shop. One injured Beating case Body identified 3 held with smuggled liquor The division number seven police has arrested three persons on the charge of smuggling Indian Made Foreign Liquor from Chandigarh and selling the same in the city at higher prices. The accused, who were arrested on Sunday while transporting the liquor by the police, are Ravi Sharma, Bishan Singh and Vijay Kumar, all residents of Partap Nagar. The police claimed that 84 bottles of IMFL were recovered from their possession. Body found Sahnewal Injured According to the FIR registered at the Sahnewal police station, the victim, Parkash Singh, has alleged that he was attacked by sharp weapons by his two neighbours because of a dispute between them regarding the making of an outlet from the street near their house. Earlier too, Major Singh and Swaran Singh had reported against Parkash Singh on account of the dispute. |
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Tipsy barber shaves child’s head, attacks father Ludhiana, February 4 According to information, Mr Nirmal Singh , a resident of the area, sent his son last evening to the barber for getting a hair cut but when the child returned with no hair at all on his head, he went to the barber and asked for an explanation. But the barber, who was tipsy, instead of admitting his mistake picked up a quarrel with him and started hitting him with an iron pipe lying in his shop. The area residents intervened and took an injured Mr Nirmal Singh to the Civil Hospital for a medical examination. In the meantime, when the tipsy barber came to know that the Basti Jodhewal police had been informed, he locked his shop and fled from the scene. |
Man drugged, looted Ludhiana, February 4 Mr Varinder Singh, the victim, has lodged a complaint that Vijay Kumar took him to the hotel and gave him a glass of juice. Shortly afterwards he became unconscious. When he woke up he found that the accused had taken away Rs 15,000, one gold bracelet and a ring. Hotel employees admitted him to the CMC Hospital. The Division No. 2 police station has registered a case against Vijay Kumar. |
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