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| Tuesday,
July 30, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Rise in gastroenteritis cases in city
Ludhiana, July 29 Dr J. S. Bhullar, Civil Surgeon while talking to Ludhiana Tribune said to keep the situation under control the department had set up 28 mobile medical teams of health workers in the district. Each team consists of one Medical Officer, one Pharmacist, one staff nurse and one Class IV employee. The teams have been directed to be in touch with the area councillor and an active NGO in case of emergency. The team members have also been told to report at the Civil Hospital immediately if they failed to detect the problem in time. The number of the Control Room is 444193. “We have arranged 10 separate beds at the Civil Hospital to deal with an emergency situation. In addition to all this, the mass media wing of the Health Department has started an awareness campaign to tell the people to consume only chlorinated and boiled water. We are also taking the water samples from several areas for checking the chlorination level”, said Dr Bhullar. Dr Bhullar said he himself had visited these slum areas along with the health workers and had found stagnant water at many places. “In certain areas sullage overflows”, he said.Dr Harkanwal Kaur, a physician at GTB Hospital, said till July 21, 11 cases of gastroenteritis had been reported at the hospital but in the past five days more than eight patients had been admitted. Dr Harkanwal said the reason could be intake of infected food items or consumption of contaminated water. The CS, however, stressed that until the Municipal Corporation improved the sanitation condition in slum areas, they could not do much to curb the problem. Meanwhile, Mr S. K. Sharma, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, said the corporation had already doubled the quantity of chlorine put in water supply pipes. The workers have been asked to take water samples from schools, marriage palaces, hotels and restaurants. Mr Sharma said in case he received complaints of water contamination, the area will be provided with water supply from tankers.” We have also asked the health workers and sanitary inspectors of the department to destroy over ripe, cut or exposed fruit besides exposed sweets, ice-candies, sugarcane juice and other such items”, maintained Mr Sharma. He also said roadside meat shops would be closed down and the violators would be penalised. The corporation has also alerted the area councillor to call mobile medical teams in case of an emergency.  |
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Often against, PHRC now with cops
Ludhiana, July 29 The case is one of the very few ones, in which policemen had approached the PHRC for protection of their human rights. Another distinctive feature of the case is that it reflects how the police department allegedly conducts inquiries after inquiries, without hearing the case of all sides, thus aggravating the matter. The PHRC has come to the cops’ rescue by stopping an order of the ADGP Internal Vigilance Cell, Punjab, who had a few months ago directed the Ludhiana Range DIG to initiate legal as well as departmental proceedings against the policemen following their indictment in an inquiry by an ADGP, Internal Vigilance Cell. The inquiry stated that they had harassed and falsely implicated a man, Amarjit Singh, who had in the first place complained against the police personnel and some other persons. The PHRC orders stated that it had got enough evidence to say that the human rights of the police personnel had been violated in this specific case. It deemed the complaint to be fit for registration as a case. The PHRC sources said it was probably the first case of its kind in which the commission had acknowledged the infringement of human rights of police personnel. The policemen: DSP Rajeshwar Singh, Inspector Prithipal Singh, Sub-Inspector Mewa Singh, ASI Kulbir Singh and constables Harjinder Singh and Lakhwinder Kaur, all posted with Jagraon police, were facing an imminent threat to their career following the commencement of departmental proceedings against them. The case file reveals that Inspector Prithipal Singh had complained to the PHRC about the violation of his and other cops’ human rights as the ADGP, Internal Vigilance Cell, had given the orders against them allegedly without giving them even a single hearing. The complainant said he was an Inspector in the Punjab Police and was posted as SHO, Raikot police station, when Amarjit Singh had made a complaint on May 25, 2001, against some persons namely, Dogar Singh, Karamjit Singh etc. This was marked to Sub-Inspector Mewa Singh and the complaint was found to be false. It was revealed that Amarjit Singh had previously also made false complaints against Dogar Singh and others and had also got some false reports published in the newspapers. The proceedings under Section 182, IPC, were also initiated against Amarjit Singh for furnishing false information. Amarjit Singh, thereafter, had approached the
ADGP (Crime ) with a complaint against the police officials concerned. He alleged that they had taken Rs 25,000 from him. An inquiry was marked to DSP Rajeshwar Singh, who found the allegations to be baseless. He recommended registering of a case under Sections 465 /467/ 471/197/198/199/200, IPC, against Amarjit Singh. An FIR (No 39 dated February 22, 2002) was then registered at police station, Jagraon. Thereafter, on August 28, 2001, Amarjit Singh made a complaint before the commission, which was enquired into through the ADGP , I V Cell. The inquiry conducted by SP Surinder Singh Atwal, Internal Vigilance Cell, in which no one from the cops' side was allegedly given an opportunity to be heard, The complainant further stated that while dealing with the inquiry report, the commission had acted on the alleged
ex-parte findings of the SP and had recommended the SSP, Jagraon, to cancel the FIR against Amarjit Singh and not to submit the charge-sheet in the court. It has been learned by the complainant that the police department is now filing an FIR against the complainant and others in pursuance of this inquiry conducted by the SP . It has been prayed that the matter may be reinvestigated by the commission. The case file further said Mr T.S Cheema of the PHRC had noted that the inquiry officer had, in the concluding part, categorically stated that SHO Prithipal Singh, DSP Rajeshwar Singh and Ms Lakhwinder Kaur had entered into a criminal conspiracy in getting the FIR (No. 39) registered against Amarjit Singh. A recommendation was thus made by Mr Cheema to the SSP, Jagraon, to get the said FIR cancelled and in the meantime, not to submit any charge-sheet in the court. The counsel for the policemen argued that the action had been initiated against them vide the directions issued at Annexure P-13 by the ADGP, Internal Vigilance Cell, who had on May 29, 2002 asked the DIG, Ludhiana range, to commence proceedings against the officials named above. The counsel argued that these officials were being proceeded against without being given a chance to present their case. They were not heard either by the ADGP, IV Cell nor by the commission. Further, he stated that there was not even a recommendation by the commission to take action against these persons. the initiation of proceedings is, therefore, arbitrary, one-sided and thus violative of their rights. The PHRC orders said the allegations do prima facie make out a case for the violation of human rights and be registered as a case. It also directed that no further action would be taken on the recommendations made by the ADGP, Internal Vigilance Cell, and no FIR on this issue will be registered till the commission completed the scrutiny of the matter. |
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DMCH ROW Ludhiana, July 29 In a meeting held at the old DMCH today, the faculty decided to start the OPDs at the hospital depending on the infrastructure available, from tomorrow onwards. But at the same time, the doctors were of the view that proper resumption of work was possible only after certain negotiations took place between the DMCH management and employees. The doctors said the Ad hoc Management Committee had assured that the administrative changes would bring transparency and democratisation in the hospital. The doctors also said none of the members had met any official of District Administration. The doctors said their only motive was to safeguard the interest of patients and students. Meanwhile, a meeting of the representatives of various political parties was held here today for early restoration of normalcy at DMCH. The meeting was attended by Mr Malkit Singh Dakha, Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa, Mr Avtar Makkar, Mr Ajit Singh, Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, Dr Arun Mitra and Mr Tarsem Jodhan. A deputation of the leaders will meet the Chief Minister tomorrow at Chandigarh. |
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DMCH man dies in hospital Ludhiana, July 29 A section of the faculty said the DMCH management was callous towards its employees who were in jail or hospitals. It said someone should be held accountable for Satpal’s death. |
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Farmers
to oppose digging of SYL canal: BKU Ludhiana, July 29 In a statement here today, the BKU president, Mr Ajmer Singh
Lakhowal, took exception to provocative and threatening statements of Mr Chautala. “The matter is already pending with the Supreme Court in the form of a writ petition filed by the BKU and the Haryana Chief Minister will do well not to mislead the farmers in his state on the crucial issue of river water”. He said the farmers in the neighbouring state had already paid a very heavy price for the ‘morcha’ and they knew the government tactics too well to fall in the trap once again. According to Mr Lakhowal, the Punjab farmers are facing a severe crisis arising from the delayed monsoons. A drought-like situation virtually prevailed in the state and the paddy growers had no other choice but to either save their crops by the use of generating sets and undergo heavy financial burden on consumption of diesel or to plough their fields and say goodbye to their paddy crop. He said in the wake of globalisation and cut-throat competition, the farmers in Punjab stood at a great disadvantage, particularly due to the government indifference and apathy in giving effect to the much-publicised policies for diversification. The farmers were still trapped in traditional crop rotation of wheat and paddy, but in the present situation sustaining the traditional crops looked like a distant dream. Focussing on the deteriorating farm economy and economic condition of the farmers, the president claimed that more than one third of the land under cultivation in the state was pledged to moneylenders or other financial institutions. Unable to pay back their debts, the farmers were turning landless and even resorting to suicides. Mr Lakhowal called upon the government to set up a commission with a specific brief of freeing the farmers from clutches of old debts and deferring current loans, including instalments of principal and interest for at least three years. An action plan for assisting the farmers for diversification was also called for, he added. |
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Panchayat
discusses child-thrashing case Ludhiana, July 29 Even though the school was closed today on account of one-day state mourning announced by the Punjab Government, a meeting called by the panchayat was held on the school campus. Refuting allegations made by the parents of Balbir Singh and siding with the teacher, Ms Harjinder Kaur, Headmistress, declared that the teacher did not use stick to beat the child. She said while the teacher was about to slap him for misbehaving in the classroom, the child held the teacher by her arm. Following the incident, Mr Gurbachan Singh, father of the child, went to the teacher’s residence, abused her and threatened her with dire consequences, she said. The headmistress said when Balbir’s parents were called in the school, they refused to turn up for three days. She said on Saturday, a meeting of the panchayat members, parent-teachers association and school staff was held in which it was decided that the child be expelled in case he continued to spoil the school atmosphere. Ms Harjinder Kaur also stated that on the same day, Mr Gurbachan Singh came to school, demanding a school-leaving certificate. On this, she said he was told to write an application but he refused to do so. She denied any allegations of expelling the child and said the child’s name was still there on the school rolls. Today’s meeting was attended by Ms Sarabjit Kaur, the physical education instructor accused of beating the child who had been appointed by the school on July 1 on a contract basis, entire school staff, members of parent teachers’ association and some villagers. Meanwhile, Mr Bachitar Singh, District Education Officer, had yesterday declared that he had decided to sack the teacher accused of punishing the child physically. However, Ms Harjinder Kaur denied having received any such communication. She said she came to know about such a decision this morning while she was reading newspapers. She said she had contacted the DEO yesterday but he did not convey him any such decision. The headmistress said in case the orders had been passed through a written communication, these would be routed through Government Senior Secondary School at Threekey village, which was the cluster centre, and reach her office after one week. She said she had also heard that the DEO was planning to visit the school tomorrow to discuss the matter. However, the decision regarding the removal of the teacher and DEO’s visit to the school tomorrow could not be confirmed as Mr Bachitar Singh was neither available at his residence nor in the office till evening. |
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Teej festival celebrated
with gusto Ludhiana, July 29 According to a press note, the welcome song was presented by Bindiya. A group dance was performed by the club members. The women sang “Rabba Rabba meen varsa...”, and presented giddha on the occasion. A formal announcement of the new team was also made. The Deputy Mayor, Ms Susheel Gupta, was the chief guest. She was welcomed by Ms Meena Girotra. Amongst others present on the occasion were Ms Renu Bembi, Ms Anju Kapoor, Ms Swaraj Mehta and Ms Rajinder Kaur. |
Probe sought against doctor Doraha, July 29 The Punjab State Electricity Board lineman Antarpal Singh (32) is survived by his wife and two children. His brother, Nirmal Singh, says that the family is still in shock. In petitions to Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab, and Mr Tejparkash Singh Kotli, Transport Minister, Nirmal has said that the SMO concerned and the hospital officials have refused to hand over Antarpal’s record to the family, in spite of orders from the Khanna Subdivisional Magistrate. The SDM had issued the order on June 20. The family sent a copy of it to the hospital through registered post on June 25 and also went there on July 2, but to no avail. Antarpal’s relatives, then, met the SDM, who sought an explanation from the SMO. Nirmal alleged that the hospital officials were trying to alter the record to save a colleague. Dr J.S. Bhullar, Civil Surgeon of Ludhiana, has already ordered an inquiry against Dr Dharampal, SMO. It is being alleged that the SMO’s negligence killed Antarpal on May 21 after a ureteric stone had been surgically removed from his body. Dr N.C. Bassi, District Family Planning Officer, was to conduct the inquiry and give a report within a week after the order was issued on July 1. Nirmal said Dr Dharampal had taken Rs 2,000 in bribe from Antarpal for the operation. One of the SMO’s assistants at the operation table, who had been called from outside, was equally responsible for the lineman’s death, he said. “My brother was operated upon at 10.30 am on May 20 and, after half-an-hour of the operation, we were shown a small stone taken out of his body, but not allowed to see him. After five hours of this, the doctor referred him to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, saying that the patient had been finding it hard to breathe,” said Nirmal. According to the DMCH doctors, Antarpal could have been saved had he been brought two hours earlier. “The doctor did not care for the patient after the operation, so, he is responsible for his death,” said Nirmal. |
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SSF to disrupt Nurmehlia
sect function Ludhiana, July 29 Addressing mediapersons here today, Mr Gurcharan Singh Grewal, president of the federation, said they had brought the rise in the acts of sacrilege in the state to the notice of the present and past government but to no avail. “Things have come to such a pass that it is impossible for a Sikh to ignore the goings on which threaten to split the Sikh masses,” he asserted. “The federation is in touch with all like-minded outfits and is also soliciting the help of the sangat to stop this preaching of the sect chief and his followers. It is a matter of record that we have never tolerated any interference in our beliefs and will not do so now and the responsibility for any untoward incident will rest with the government,” he threatened. “In this context, the activists of the federation and other organisations will assemble on July 31 at Gurdwara Kalgidhar, Malout, at 9 a.m. to chalk out a strategy to prevent the holding of such utsavs where innocent Sikhs were being led astray with selectively distorted
shabads from Guru Granth Sahib,” he revealed. The outfits which have confirmed their participation, include the SSF (Mehta), Khalsa Panchayat, Dal Khalsa, SAD, SAD (A), SGPC besides the Naujawan Khalsa Panchayat, he added. Other functionaries present on the occasion commented that “it was a matter of grave concern that self-styled godmen like Bhaniara and Ashutosh had been allowed to operate in the state with impunity. They had caused untold pain to the devout and created an atmosphere where the people wanted to take matters in their own hand.” |
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Industrialist
alleges police
high-handedness Ludhiana, July 29 Narrating his tale of woes, Jagjit Singh, owner of NKH Garments, said he had a feud over property with his relatives, who beat him and also shot at him. His employee P.K. Verma was witness to the incident and was picked by the police and tortured. He said the police, instead of arresting the accused, started harassing Jagjit Singh and also arrested Basant Bahadur, driver of Jagjit Singh, and kept him under illegal detention and tortured him. He alleged that some cops at Division No 7 police station were threatening to falsely implicate him in case he fails to take back his FIR. The police had also allegedly picked up his employee P.K. Verma and kept him under illegal custody. Mr P.K. Verma was illegally abducted by the police and on July 17, the warrant officer of the Punjab and Haryana High Court raided the police station and got P.K. Verma out of the police station. Basant Bahadur was also later released by the police at Machhiwara after lodging an FIR u/s 109 Cr PC and after producing him before the SDM, Samrala. The medical examination of Basant Bahadur revealed that he had injuries on his private parts, hands, legs and various other parts of the body. Police sources, however, said that the industrialist was cooking up false stories. The industrialist said he had proof of police high-handedness and the police was deliberately not arresting the persons who had beaten him up. |
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BJP lambasts govt on fresh tax Ludhiana, July 29 An emergent meeting of the district and mandal level office-bearers, held at party office here today under the leadership of Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, district president, observed that the decision to tax the consumers for the use of their own generators was like adding insult to the injury. The fact was that the domestic consumers as well as members of the trade and industry were forced to make use of generators that cost many times more only because the PSEB had failed to provide uninterrupted and adequate power supply. The BJP termed the ill-advised move as fatal for the trade and industrial circles and an ample proof of the anti-people policies of the Congress government. The government had betrayed the masses and the imposition of tax on generators was yet another blow to the people, who were already reeling under a worst-ever power crisis. The BJP district chief warned the government of a mass movement, involving protest demonstrations, rallies and dharnas, to give voice to the resentment of the people if the notification on tax on power generators was not immediately withdrawn. Prominent among those present at the meeting were former Deputy Speaker of Vidhan Sabha, Mr Sat Pal Gosain, Mr Pran Bhatia, Mr Madan Mohan Vyas, Mr Rajinder Bhandari, Mr Ramesh Sharma, Dr Balbir Chand
Kapila, Mr Anil Sareen, Mr Rajinder Pal Jain, Mr Shakti Sharma, Mr Vir
Abhimanyu, Mr Harish Bedi, Mr Kamal Chatley, Mr Rajinder Khatri and Dr Gurdev Chand. Meanwhile, the BJP councillors in the Municipal Corporation here have elected Mr Parveen Bansal as the party group leader. According to the BJP district president, Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, Ms Sunita Aggarwal will be deputy leader and Mr Surinder Sharma the secretary of the BJP group in the civic body. Further, Mr Harish Tandon has been nominated district secretary and Mr Prem Sagar Sharma member of the executive committee of the district unit. |
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Cong flayed for ‘terror campaign’ Ludhiana, July 29 Mr Harminder Malik, co-convenor of the media cell, said people in the state were at the receiving end in view of the policies being pursued by the government. No one had been spared. All benefits to the employees have been frozen, free power to farmers was to be withdrawn and no drought-relief measures had been announced till date. |
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DYC demands ban on ‘gutka’ Ludhiana, July 29 The demand has been made by Mr Parminder Mehta, president, District Youth Congress, at a rally organised at New Subash Nagar here yesterday. It was attended by a large number of women and children. They carried placards decrying the drugs and raised slogans against the drug abuse. A number of speakers addressed the rally. In a press note of the DYC, Mr Mehta and other leaders said the Punjab Government should follow the pattern of the Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and other governments and immediately ban the sale of intoxicants. The note said the government should also forcefully implement the ban on smoking at public places. |
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Transport
Nagar phones play hookey Ludhiana, July 29 Stating this, owners of transport companies said employees of the department used buldozers this morning to dig soil for putting sewage lines and in the process they cut telephone ducts underneath. They said their business was much hit due to the lack of communication. Mr Bharat Khanna, Regional Manager of a transport company, said when he talked to employees of the Sewage Department working in the area, they turned furious instead of listening to the complaints. He said the employees showed him a copy of permission signed by the SDO and the JE of the telecom department of the area. Mr
G. S. Julka, General Manager, Telecommunications, said he was not aware of the problem and would make efforts to get it rectified as soon as possible. Similarly, residents of Daad village complained that even though new telephone lines had been installed in their area, there was some problem in the connectivity. They said phones remained dead for most of the time. |
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Two injured in engine shed fire Ludhiana, July 29 The fire was controlled by the railway employees themselves. The exact cause of the fire could not be known. Railway sources said an inquiry would be conducted into the incident. They said leakage of gas was seeming to be the cause of fire. |
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Class IV union to intensify agitation Amloh, July 29 Mr Chand said the PWD and MC employees, on the orders of Sub-Divisional Magistrate, were on duty to remove encroachments when they were beaten up and the truck was damaged. A police report was lodged against 17 persons on July 12 on the statement of Executive Officer, Municipal Council. Thereafter, a protest march in the main bazars was organised and a dharna was staged on July 26 in front of the SDM office. A memorandum was given to the SDM, who had expressed surprise over the police inaction. The president said the union would further intensify the stir if no action was taken. |
Dowry almost claims another life Ludhiana, July 29 Jasbir had been frequently subjected to torture by her in-laws for bringing money from her parents. As long as she kept succumbing to their demands, nothing went wrong. But on July 27, when she finally refused to comply, she was beaten up mercilessly up until her brothers accompanied by a police party came to her rescue. Narrating her tale of woes, Jasbir said she was married two years ago to a factory employee, Bhupinder Singh, a resident of Vishwakarma Nagar. Although she belonged to a well-to-do family, her parents decided to marry her off to a factory employee with a meagre salary hoping that he would respect her. For two years, the two brothers and parents of Jasbir kept extending monetary help to her new family. Soon the temptation to get more money made her husband and in-laws demand for more. They occasionally tortured her and forced her to comply with their demands. A few days ago, Jasbir’s brother Kashmir Singh bought a motorbike for himself. Her husband allegedly started demanding a motorbike for himself. But this time she did not tell her parents. Things turned ugly as she was beaten up and threatened to be killed by her in-laws. On July 27, she was again assaulted by her mother-in-law, brother-in-law and husband. Sensing more trouble she rang her brothers up who reached there immediately. Kashmir Singh alleged that when they entered the house they saw her mother-in-law and husband rough their sister up. Her brother-in-law allegedly tried to strangle her with a duppatta. He said he was shocked to see his sister bleeding profusely from the injuries on her arms, probably inflicted by a sharp-edged weapon. Her brothers raised an alarm and neighbours converged on the spot. Thereafter her brothers went to the Vishwakarama police post and rescued her with the intervention of a police party. She was later taken to the Civil Hospital. Talking to Ludhiana Tribune at the hospital, the victim, who was visibly shaken, said she did not want to go back to her in-laws house. “They would kill me. This time I have been saved but I am sure if I go there again, I will become another victim of dowry death.” Her mother, sitting besides her, said she had never thought that her daughter would be treated like that. Jasbir’s brother said the police has registered a case under Sections 323 and 324, IPC. Yesterday, they had gone to meet the SP (City-II), Mr Naunihal Singh, who had ordered an inquiry into the case before the registration of the case. |
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In-laws held for seeking dowry Jagraon, July 29 The complainant alleged that she was maltreated, harassed and tortured for not fulfilling the demands of her in-laws. The police has arrested the accused and produced them in the court of Mr H.S. Grewal, JMIC, Jagraon. |
Chamber opposes govt measures Ludhiana, July 29 The chamber sought the withdrawal of entry tax on steel scrap and stressed on the need to withdraw the multiple taxation. The chamber further opposed the increase in the penalty from 30 to 50 per cent by the taxation department as this was contrary to the demand for reduction in the same. Mr Sharma alleged that the officials of the taxation department were given targets and they had made false cases to achieve the same. He further charged that officials levied penalty on the plea that the driver of the truck had run away without stopping the truck at the barrier. The department would not listen to any plea and 50 per cent penalty was being imposed. The delegation also suggested a round-table conference with the trade and industry to sort out the difficulties. Further the industrial units enjoying sales tax exemption were also to being levied the same. Mr Joshi promised to look into their difficulties and also to organise a dialogue to resolve the matter. The state government was also urged to disburse the capital subsidy to the industrial units which were entitled for the same. |
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Yatra leaves markets quiet Doraha, July 29 Various unions of Doraha, including the Karyana Merchants Association, Cloth Merchants Association, Maniari and Readymade Garment Manufacturers Association, Electronics Union, collectively decided to take out a ‘‘sadbhavana yatra’’ for three days. According to Mr Pritam Singh Jaggi, chairman, Karyana Merchants Association,‘‘ This is an annual feature and for the past five years we have been closing our shops in order to plan a tour and refresh ourselves to start our business anew. The announcement in this regard is made 15-20 days prior in order to prepare the customers for the same.’’ The decision to close the shops was taken in a joint meeting of the office-bearers and members of the various unions. |
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