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| Sunday,
September 29, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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MSP: farmers block rail traffic Patiala, September 28 Alleging that the Central Government’s decision not to increase the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy had resulted in much resentment among the farming community which was yet to recover from the effects of the recent drought, leaders of different parties threatened to intensify agitation if the Central Government refused to increase the MSP of paddy. Addressing the farmers, the President of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, said his party would organise a dharna at the Krishi Bhavan in Delhi on September 30 to protest against the “indifferent attitude” of the NDA government towards the farmers of the state. A CPM leader, Mr Balwant Singh, called upon all farmers in the state to oppose the Central Government’s “anti-farmer” policies. The General Secretary of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, also spoke on the occasion. PHILLAUR: On a call given by the CPI and the CPM, more than 200 farmers blocked rail traffic on the Phillaur-Jalandhar, Phillaur-Ludhiana, Phillaur-Lohian, Phillaur-Ferozepore rail sections for three hours in support of their demands on Saturday. Farmers and activists of both organisations sat on a three-hour dharna on rail tracks at the Nurmahal rail crossing here today. A rally was also organised which was addressed by CPI Punjab general secretary Joginder Dayal, Kisan Sabha leaders Lehmber Singh Taggar, Kulwant Singh, Swarn Singh Akalpur Gurcharan Singh Goggi. They criticised both Congress and Akali leaders for their anti-farmers’ policies. Meanwhile, as a preventive measure the Railway stopped 9367 up Malwa Express, and 1457 up Dadar Express at Ludhiana railway station, 4650 down Flying Mail at Phagwara railway station from 1.30 pm to 3 pm, 2497 up Shane Punjab Express at the Phillaur railway station from 12.30 pm to 3 pm, 9368 down Malwa Express at Goraya railway station, from 1 pm to 3 pm, and Lohiana-bound 3 LL diesel multiple unit train at Dadhuwal railway station from 1 pm to 3 pm. MANSA: Workers of the CPI, the CPM and the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) sat in a dharna here on the railway track for four hours as a part of their “Rail roko” campaign on Saturday. Mr Hardev Singh Arshi, former Budhlada MLA, Mr Buta Singh, former Mansa MLA, Mr Gurjant Singh Kuttiwal, Pakan Kalan MLA, Mr Jaswant Singh Phaphre Bhaike, former Deputy Speaker, Punjab and General Secretary, SHSAD, Mr Baldev Singh Khiala, former minister were among those who took part in the dharna. They demanded a minimum support price of Rs 700 for paddy and Rs 100 as paddy bonus. They held Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and Capt Amarinder Singh, equally responsible for the delay in announcing the MSP of paddy. When in power, Mr Badal did not safeguard the interests of farmers and now was shedding crocodile tears, they alleged. The Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh was criticised for not taking up the matter with the Centre on time. Activists also demanded regular electricity supply to the farmers. The loss of the Punjab State Electricity Board can be recovered by checking theft of electricity, kundi connections, transmission losses and corruption prevalent in the board, it was observed. PHAGWARA:
The 4650 down Amritsar-Delhi Flying Mail was detained at the railway station here from 1.30 pm to 2.58 pm on Saturday due to dharna by Leftists on the Phillaur-Noormahal branch. |
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MSP: MCPI raps Centre Ludhiana, September 28 It said the refusal of the government to make any increase in the MSP was unjust and was a cruel joke on the farmers because prices of diesel, fertilisers, insecticides and other inputs had gone up enormously during the last year. Mr Kuldip Singh, state secretary of the Punjab MCPI, said in a statement here today that the NDA Government led by the BJP, had proved to be anti-farmer and was pursuing such policies that were detrimental to the interests of the agricultural community under the dictates of World Trade Organisation. He further described it as most unfortunate that even the Congress government in Punjab had not fulfilled its promise of Rs 30 per quintal as bonus to the farmers on paddy. “The government, headed by Capt Amarinder Singh is also shedding crocodile tears over the MSP. The Centre and state government had also failed to give any relief to the drought-hit farmers and had not taken any decision in favour of farmers and domestic consumers on the anti-people recommendations of the state Electricity Regulatory Commission, he added. The District Congress Committee (Urban) charged the Union Government with pursuing its narrow political interests by deliberate delay in the announcement of MSP for paddy. The DCC president, Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa, further alleged that the former Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was party to the anti-farmer stand of the NDA government and his motive was to embarrass the Congress government on the issue. “However, a determined Chief Minister took a bold and decisive step by staging a dharna in Delhi demanding immediate announcement of the MSP and forced the Union Government to relent.” According to Mr Bawa, the SAD leadership, including Mr Badal and a member of the Union Cabinet, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, had betrayed the Punjab farmers and had no moral right to claim the support of farmers, who used to be the mainstay of the party in the past. |
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Decision on MSP bad, says SAD Chandigarh, September 28 He said that the Union Government’s decision not to hike the MSP had been influenced by the lobbies bent upon enforcing the WTO regimen comprising scrapping of the market support and government procurement of foodgrains and free play of market forces. He said that while the USA and the European Union were offering subsidies worth several billion dollars to the agriculture sector, the Indian Government was being made to withdraw even minor subsidies to the agriculture sector by the WTO. He said the nation, which was made self sufficient in food by Punjab’s farmers, had not remained watchful of their (farmers) interest anymore. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, who visited Banur, Rajpura and other grain markets of Patiala district this morning, said that farmers were not only feeling dejected following the retention of the MSP at last year’s level but also seething with anger for being forced to sell paddy at much below the MSP. This year farmers in Punjab saved their crops by spending up to Rs 5000 per acre extra on diesel and other inputs because of drought. The Union government has not taken its notice. The SAD would certainly raise its voice in support of victimised farmers. He said that instead of victimising the farmers, the Union government should have cut the overhead expenses of the Food Corporation of India to keep the end price low. The government was hitting farmers by not hiking the MSP as well as the consumers by adding overhead cost in the end price of foodgrains. He said that the ruling Congress party in Punjab has failed in pressurising the Centre to get the MSP enhanced. It only woke up when the farmers came on the
roads. The ruling party would be making a big blunder by discontinuing free power to this sector, he added. He said that destabilistion of agricultural economy in Punjab would have dire consequences on the law and order situation. |
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Tej Parkash flays PM on MSP issue Faridkot, September 28 The minister flayed the Prime Minister for calling the dharna staged by senior state Congress leaders and ministers in New Delhi on September 26 against the non-release of the minimum support price (MSP) for the paddy as an unwise step. Talking to mediapersons at the residence of local ex-MLA Avtar Singh Brar here today, Mr Tej Parkash Singh, who came to preside over a rural sports function at Dhimawali village in the district reminded that a tentative report regarding the loss of paddy produce was sent to the Central Government along with a demand of Rs 800 crore as a compensation to be distributed to the affected persons. He said many state ministers met several Union Cabinet Ministers, including Mr Ajit Singh, Agriculture Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, Finance Minister, and Mr Sharad Yadav, Food and Supplies Minister, during the past two months on many times and apprised them of the prevailing conditions and asked them for early announcement of the
MSP. |
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Gautam: BJP to press Centre for hike in MSP Ludhiana, September 28 Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Gautam maintained that the state and the centre BJP leadership would strongly plead with the government for enhancing the MSP. He agreed that there should have been some hike in the MSP as the farmers had to face huge losses on account of the drought. However, he stated that the Punjab Government should not politicise the issue and instead work towards ameliorating the plight of the farmers. The BJP leader also refuted the charges that the Central Government was acting at the behest of Mr Parkash Singh Badal and that was why it had delayed the announcement of the MSP. He pointed out: “The issue of the MSP does not concern Punjab only...it concerns the entire nation as our economy is based on agriculture only. There are other states also which produce paddy and are ruled by the NDA partners.” Replying to a question on the need of the party to expand its cadre base in rural Punjab possibly at the cost of its own alliance partner, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Mr Gautam clarified, “It is not like that...every party wants to strengthen its base and ours is the largest national party in the country so there is nothing wrong if we spread our network to rural areas”. He argued that a strong BJP and not a weak BJP in Punjab would be in the interest of the SAD. Mr Gautam was accompanied by the party’s in charge for Panchayati Raj Cell, Mr Vibhuti Narayan Singh and local leaders including the district BJP president, Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, Mr Rajinder Khatri, Mr Suresh Mittal and, Mr Kamal
Chaitely. |
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MSP: Forward Bloc flays govt Ropar, September 28 The meeting, which was presided over by Mr Veelappan Nair, chairman of the party, also urged the Union Government to announce subsidies and other benefits for the farmers because the farmers due to drought this year had been facing starvation-like conditions. It blamed the Union and Punjab Governments for the deteriorating condition of farmers. The meeting also stated that though the AIFB condemned the terrorist activities, sponsored and supported by Pakistan, and stood with the Government of India in its fight against the enemies of India, yet it demanded the reopening of the diplomatic channel with the Pakistan and the restoration of an atmosphere conducive to peace and cordial relations between the two countries. |
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Kisan bodies join hands Chandigarh, September 28 The meeting was attended by Mr Pishora Singh Sidhupur, president and Mr Gurmeet Singh Dittupur, general secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta), Mr Hardev Singh Sandhu, president and Mr Satbir Singh, general secretary, Kirti Kisan Union, Com. Ganda Singh, president and Mr Prem Singh Bhangu, state committee member, All-India Kirti Kisan Sabha, Mr Maghar Singh Kulrian, president, and Mr Karnail Singh Jakhepal, finance secretary Khetibari Kisan Vikas Front, Mr Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president and Mr Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, general secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta), Mr Kulwant Singh Sandhu, general secretary and Mr Raghbir Singh, vice-president Jamboori Kisan Sabha and Mr Kulwant Singh, president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Samber, general secretary, Punjab Kisan Sabha. According to a press note issued here, the organisations have rejected the minimum support price of paddy announced by the Centre. They have decided to support the dharna being organised by the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) at Chandigarh and the action of five kisan organisations to jam the rail and road traffics and dharnas on September 30 in Punjab. The seven organisations have decided to hold the next meeting on October 3 at Patiala. The organisations have demanded Rs 760 as the MSP for paddy and Rs 100 per quintal bonus, adequate compensation for drought-hit farmers. |
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BJP fine-tunes
party juggernaut for poll Khanna, September 28 Senior BJP leaders, including the general secretary, Mr Rajnath Singh, the national organising secretary, Mr Sanjay Joshi, senior leader and in charge of the party affairs in Punjab, Mr Sangh Priya Gautam and the in charge of the party’s Panchayati Raj Cell, Mr Vibhuti Narayan Singh addressed the workers on different issues. The workers are being put through brain storming sessions. The subject range from drafting press notes to party ideology and its propagation. However, the focus of the camp remains on rural development and NDA government’s contribution in rural uplift. The camp has been strategically linked to the Gaon Chalo Abhiyan of the party, flagged off simultaneously by the party general secretary Mr Rajnath Singh yesterday. According to the original schedule, party president, Venkaiah Naidu was supposed to inaugurate the camp. However, due to Akshardham killings in Gujarat, Mr Naidu’s visit was cancelled. The main purpose of the camp is not just ideological orientation of the cadres, but also of telling them about the achievements of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre in the past four years. Emphasising the importance of such camps, Mr Vibhuti Narayan Singh, pointed out, “the NDA government had done so much for the country with special emphasis on rural sector, but not many people know about it”. With an eye on the next general election, which is two years away, the party seems to have started preparing and training cadres for it. Mr Rajnath Singh agrees, “it is better to start in time lest you should be too late”. He claimed, “we are not making any false claim or promising moon, but only telling our cadres about our achievements and our future vision of India and want them to propagate it the grassroots level”. Although good in media management under Mr Vineet Joshi, still the party, according to the senior leaders, will prefer direct communication with people. “The communication has to be direct between the leaders and the workers with the common people...it is the workers, who can explain the achievements better and in a proper way”, says Mr Rajnath Singh. The party leadership has encapsulated its achievements of the past four years and plans in a compact package that is explained to the cadres in detail. For example, Mr Rajnath Singh points out, “it is for the first time in country’s independent history that a Golden Quadrilateral which will link four metropolises by six-lane express highways. Besides there would be road network of over 6000 km connecting all villages of the country with each other. The project would be completed by 2007” and cost Rs 60,000 crore. This is only one example which workers are being told to disseminate across the country so that at the time of elections not much effort was required. |
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SAD may not attend all-party meeting Chandigarh, September 28 The Chief Minister has called the meeting to discuss farmers’ long-pending demands such as revision in minimum support price (MSP), bonus on paddy, delay in procurement of paddy and the loss suffered by them in the wake of drought-like conditions. He has invited prominent leaders of all parties, besides MPs, MLAs and representatives of various kisan unions in Punjab. Sources said the SAD held a detailed in-house discussion on the meeting today. The opinion was not to attend the meeting for certain reasons and to contact other parties to prepare a joint response. However, the decision whether to attend the meeting or not would be announced either tomorrow or the day after. A spokesman for the SAD said calling of the all-party meeting at this stage “makes no sense”. He said what was being done by Capt Amarinder Singh now “ is too little and too late”. He said the meeting called by Dr Joginder Dayal, Secretary of the CPI, about a month ago on MSP, drought and other related issues was a most timely step which was sabotaged by the Chief Minister. No one from the ruling party or from the state government took part at that meeting. The spokesman alleged that “ it was a deliberate step on the part of the ruling party not to participate at the meeting called by Dr Dayal because it wanted to keep the drought and MSP issue in suspended animation as it (government) had neither prepared a report on the drought nor had it made any memorandum on the MSP then. Meanwhile, asked whether his party’s representative will participate in the meeting, the general secretary of the SAD, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, said the meeting had been called to camouflage the failures on the paddy and drought front by the Chief Minister. He asked why opposition parties were not consulted before holding a dharna in front of the office of the Prime Minister. The Chief Minister should have consulted other parties while taking such a step. He said Capt Amarinder Singh’s rule was proving a disaster for the state. What kind of governance was it where the ruling party had woken up to take up the issue of the MSP and procurement of paddy after two weeks of its (paddy) arrival and distress sale in grain markets, he asked. |
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Decision
arbitrary: PCS officers Chandigarh, September 28 Claiming to be “purely meritorious candidates” who came to the service on the strength of their educational qualifications, they said the decision to remove them amounted to “hanging them without a trial”. “The only thing against us as per newspaper reports is that our batches are found ‘tainted’ by the Vigilance Bureau. The subsequent unprecedented decision can be compared with any hypothetical situation like impeachment of certain persons without hearing them and that too in their absence, by the voice vote by parliamentary majority,” said some of the affected officers belonging to the 2000 batch. The 2000 batch officers termed the back reference of 1998 batch by the government as a healthy sign but termed the classification of tainted and non-tainted batches as ridiculous. “In fact, it should be tainted and non-tainted candidates. The present decision smacks of pick and choose policy,” they said, maintaining that none of them “has been named tainted and each one of us has brilliant academic record to our credit. We are open to any inquiry. We all come from moderate backgrounds and none of us is a VIP or even a VIP ward. We have suffered twice. Firstly, when we were deprived of seniority and secondly now,” they said. They also termed the decision as arbitrary, unreasonable and against the basic tenets of law. “Tomorrow if we take the test again and are selected and a ward of a VIP also gets in by dubious means, will the government and the high court remove all of us again,” they asked. The 1999 batch officers said their removal was a “rare case in the constitutional history of India that judicial officers selected by a selection committee of the PPSC and headed by none other than a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court have been thrown out in a most unceremonious manner.” They held that “a wrong motion has gained momentum with the state government as well as the high court that even if one candidate is found tainted, then the entire selection should go.” Now when the state government is claiming that it will not spare anybody who is found to have indulged in corrupt practices then why no action has been initiated against a senior bureaucrat responsible for recruitment of naib-tehsildars as the officer happens to be the confidant of the Chief Minister. Vigilance officers stopped conducting raids on tehsildars after they started preparing lists of benami properties of Vigilance officials, the 1999 batch judicial officers said. |
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Tangri’s accomplice turns approver Ludhiana, September 28 Yadwinder Singh, known as “right-hand man” of Jagdish Tangri, former president of the Shiv Sena (Rashtrawadi), stated before a Chief Judicial Magistrate here that he wanted to turn approver. The Judge had a close-door meeting with him last evening as earlier also another accused Sai Dass had expressed his desire to turn approver but his case could not be finalised. The Judge after satisfying himself completely sent him to a Judicial Magistrate (First Class) for the formal recording of his statement. The statement was recorded this evening. Yadwinder Singh is presently lodged in Central Jail here with the six other accused in the case. They are Jagdish Tangri, Sunil Tangri, Harwinder Lal, Vijay Dhabi, alias Chunni Lal, Rakesh Tyagi and Sai Dass. He had written to Jail Superintendent G.S. Sidhu expressing his desire to become approver. While Mr Anil Joshi, SHO Division No 3 police station, declined to divulge details, highly placed police sources confirmed the development. They said details of the statement would be available in a week’s time only, when the police got a copy of the statement. The turning of Yadwinder Singh as approver was become possible because of the constant effort by the police to strengthen their case against Jagdish Tangri and his associates, who were allegedly running a parallel administration in Gur Mandi here. Their den was busted by the police in an operation lasting three days. The police sources said the police had got strong evidence against the accused but if it got an approver, its case was strengthened. It had roped in an accused Sai Dass for the purpose but his case could not be finalised. The police was not revealing the causes about the failure of his case. Yadwinder Singh had been associated with the Shiv Sena (Rashtrawadi) party and its chief Jagdish Tangri for the past several years. He was one of the closest persons to the political leader. He along with Sai Dass and Harminder Pal Singh was arrested in the second week of July while manufacturing petrol bombs to thwart any police raid on Gur Mandi. A number of arms and ammunition were later recovered from him. He is understood to be knowing a lot about the alleged illegal activities of the accused. The police is already on the lookout of some other workers of Jagdish Tangri who were allegedly involved in illegal extortion. The Tangri duo along with their associates had been allegedly running an administration of their own in the Gur Mandi area in Chaura Bazar for the past 20 years or so. They have been accused of collecting “hafta” from shopkeepers and rehriwallas, sheltering the illegal duplicate CD business, running their own judicial system and extortion collection. They have also been accused of supplying arms and ammunition to rioters in Gujarat. The newly formed temple committee has accused them of storing blue films cassettes. The Tangri duo also face charges of torturing people in their secret chambers in the name of imparting justice. |
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No move to withdraw case against Bhattal Bathinda, September 28 However, he said the fact that Mrs Bhattal had withdrawn her petition would strengthen the anti-corruption campaign launched by the Congress government. “The Punjab Government will not compromise on the issues pertaining to corruption. A case in the same connection is even registered against Amarinder Singh,” claimed the Chief Minister. The then Special Judge, Mr B.C. Rajput, on May 2, 2002 ordered Mrs Bhattal to face regular trials in the corruption case registered against her on May 22, 2001, after allowing the application moved by the Vigilance Department on March 27 in connection with the withdrawal of application which they moved on January 2 for the return of challan presented against her on December 27, 2001. Ever since, the corruption case pertaining to the alleged bungling of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund by her when she was Chief Minister, Punjab, in 1996 has been registered against her, the case has been taking a new turn time and again. The case was registered and subsequently a challan presented in the court of Special Judge by the Vigilance Bureau during the rule of SAD-BJP combine in the state. However, the Vigilance Bureau officials, who presented the challan on December 27, 2001, moved an application on January 2, 2002, for the return of the challan by showing undue haste, allegedly under pressure from their political masters. The case again took a turn when the Vigilance Bureau moved another application in the court of Special Judge for withdrawing the earlier application moved in connection with return of challan. Earlier, the Special Judge issued summons against Mrs Bhattal and then non-bailable warrants against her. The Special Judge, after a few days of the issuance of non-bailable warrants against Mrs Bhattal ordered the SP (Vigilance) to execute the same against Mrs Bhattal, personally. Then Mrs Bhattal approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court which stayed the execution of non-bailable warrants against her and ordered the Special Judge to admit her to bail if she appeared before the court on the specified date and furnish the requisite bails bonds to his (special judge) satisfaction. Mrs Bhattal secured bail on February 8 by appearing in the court in person and submitting surety bonds of Rs 15,000, which were verified by Mr Sukhdev Singh. The case under Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 409 of the IPC was registered against Mrs Bhattal when a special judge, Bathinda, in whose court a complaint by Mr Balwant Singh Dhillon, President, District Amateur Boxing Association, was lodged in connection with the bungling in the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund allegedly done by Mrs Bhattal. The Special Judge ordered the Vigilance Bureau to hold a probe into the complaint lodged by Mr Dhillon. After a few days, the case was registered against Mrs Bhattal on the order of higher Vigilance Bureau authorities. |
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Kang supporters lathicharged Amritsar, September 28 The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Kishore Kumar, gave a three-day police remand to Mr Kang. Mr Tajinder Paul Singh Sandhu, SP (Vigilance), alleged that he had been receiving a number of complaints that Mr Kang had indulged in embezzlement to the tune of crores of rupees during his stint as Chairman of the forest corporation. The Vigilance Bureau has alleged that Mr Kang evaded stamp duty worth lakhs while recording the registered deed of a palatial house (worth Rs 2 crore) in a posh colony in the name of his wife. The Vigilance Bureau claimed that Mr Kang during interrogation has confessed that he had huge properties. A large number of supporters of Mr Kang, including senior Akali leaders, Dr Rattan Singh Randhawa, Mr Gulzar Singh Ranike, both former ministers, Mr Raj Mohinder Singh Majithia, former Member of Parliament, Mr Vir Singh Lopoke, Akali MLA, and Mr Rajinder Singh Mehta, senior Akali leader, assembled in the district court where Mr Kang was produced. The police had a tough time controlling the unruly Akali workers even as they raised ‘anti-government’ slogans. Among those who sustained injuries were Mr Jagir Singh, SGPC member and relative of Mr Kang, Mr Harbinderdeep Singh Lyallpuri, Mr Major Singh Sekhon, president circle Akali Dal, Mr Gagandip Singh Judge, Mr Major Singh Thathian and Mr Gurinder Singh Rayya, former Chairman of Market Committee, Rayya. Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, SGPC chief and Bibi Jagir Kaur, former President of the SGPC, in their separate statements have condemned the police lathi charge on peaceful agitators. The Akali leaders alleged that the supporters of Mr Kang were dragged out from the vehicles by the DSP of Baba Bakala and SHO and beaten up in public. The Akali Dal warned the government against alleged police excesses. Mr Kang alleged that he was ‘implicated’ by the Vigilance Bureau at the behest of Mr Jasbir Singh Dimpa, Congress MLA, against whom he had unsuccessfully contested the Assembly election on Akali ticket. |
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DIG staying in Kang’s
Rs 2 crore house Amritsar, September 28 The Vigilance Bureau has claimed that the house in 2183 square yards valued at more than Rs 2 crore was registered in the name of Ms Rastinder Kaur, wife of Mr Kang, was transferred by evading Stamp Duty of Rs 7.69 lakh. The value of land of the house is calculated at Rs 1.31 crore by the bureau (excluding the cost of construction). Mr Tejinder Pal Singh Sandhu, SP (Vigilance) claimed that Mr Kang had got the deed of the house registered in four parts (Rs 4.95 lakh each) on the same day causing huge loss of the state exchequer by evading Stamp Duty. However, when contacted the DIG of police said that he did not know that the house belonged to Mr Kang. The DIG, who has served here as district police chief claimed that one of his SPs had got possession of the said house as his children had to stay here on account of their studies. Feigning ignorance, the DIG said the SP had told him that the residence belonged to his relative settled abroad. However, when contacted the SP, who is a relative of Mr Kang, claimed that the said house belonged to his relative settled abroad. The SP also claimed that the house was purchased with “white money”. He (the SP) claimed that keys of the house had been with him for the past four years and he gave these to the DIG, who wanted to use it for a few months due to the study of his children. The bureau showed newsmen four deeds transferred in the name of Ms Rastinder Kaur, wife of Mr Kang on April 9 last year. |
Truck operators threaten strike Jalandhar, September 28 Talking to mediapersons here, office-bearers of the union said they would present a memorandum of their demands to the Chief Minister and give the government a month’s time to look into their demands and problems. Thereafter, the 65,000-odd trucks, registered in the state and with the union, would stop all operations. The union would also not allow trucks from other states to enter Punjab, they said. The union president, Mr Tarlochan Singh, said any action by the truck operators would hit the state’s economy. The union also demanded that payments to the truck operators whose vehicles were requisitioned for poll duty during the February Vidhan Sabha elections and later the block samiti elections should be released by the government immediately. The union listed a series of demands, including an end to the harassment of truck drivers by the police, octroi and transport officials in Punjab. They alleged that money was being extorted from truck drivers on flimsy grounds. The union said the police should be stopped from impounding loaded trucks as this authority in other states rested with the transport authorities. The truck operators also demanded that the payload in the case of trucks should be increased to 15 tonnes from 9 tonnes as trucks being fabricated now had a larger load capacity. Mr Tarlochan Singh also demanded that the toll on loaded trucks should be abolished.
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CM pays tributes to
PAP commando Bathinda, September 28 He said
all Punjabis were proud of their rich culture which included a long
list of sacrifice made for the country. He said the Rathore community
had made many sacrifice for the country and Jarnail Singh had kept the
tradition alive. The police authorities had a tough time controlling
the big crowd of sympathisers and relatives of the martyr. The Chief
Minister said his statue would be installed at the main chowk of the
area as a mark of respect. He added that the children of the family
would be educated in a police public school free of cost and said the
wife of the deceased would be offered a job in the PAP. He also handed
over a cheque worth Rs 4.93 lakh to the family members and announced a
job for his younger brother. Mr Bhan Singh Bhaura, and Mr Surinder
Singla, MLA, also attended the bhog. Mr Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Mr
Gurpreet Singh Kangar ( Both independent MLAs), Mr Bhagat Singh
Dhaliwal, president, DCC and Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner,
paid tributes to the martyr. Mr A.K. Das, Regional Manager, Oriental
Insurance Company, Chandigarh, who personally presented a cheque for
Rs 2 lakh to the wife of Commando Jarnail Singh, said here today that
all commandos of PAP were insured with the company. The Punjab
Government had insured all commandos, including those who were under
training at the Punjab Police Academy, with the company under the
personal accident insurance policy. The constables and head constables
had been insured for Rs 2 lakh, those in the ranks of assistant
sub-inspector to Deputy Superintendent of Police for Rs 4 lakh and all
other senior officials had been insured for Rs 6 lakh. |
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Tributes paid to Nachhattar Gill Moga, September 28 Nachhattar Singh Gill, popularly known as ‘Baiji’ was born here on December 25, 1925. He did his schooling from the local Khalsa High School and graduation from Brajindra College, Faridkot. He graduated in Law (LL.B) from Law College, Delhi. ‘Baiji’ was excellent in sports and athletics, both in school and in college, and later represented Delhi University and all-India universities in hockey. He held Delhi University’s record in the shot-put and discus throw. He also performed well in wrestling, badminton and shooting. Reading and poetry were his hobbies. He was very fond of animals especially dogs. He loved outdoor life and was the president of the Punjab Coursing (Kennel) Club. He came from an agriculturist family and took active part in the affairs of the town and its municipality. He had been the local Municipal Commissioner for 12 years (1953-64) and the Chairman of the Moga Improvement Trust for three years (1964-67). He served as the Chairman of the Subordinate Services Selection Board, Punjab, for two years (1977-79). He patronised numerous sportsmen and sports clubs. A man of high principles, honest living and secular thoughts, he was highly respected and loved by the people of all communities of Moga subdivision. During the troubled times, people from all communities, particularly from the weaker sections, came to him to get their grievances redressed. He was a champion and protector of the down-trodden, resolved hundred of disputes between families and helped innocent and the victimised. Being a true democrat, he always resolved problems through people and Panchayats. He was a devout Sikh and totally against terrorism, violence and repression. He was of the view that an early settlement of the Punjab problem should be found by involving the Punjabis themselves. He was bold and fearless and moved about all over the state without any protection. By his own example he infused courage in others, but unfortunately fell victim to the evil forces. Survived by his widow, two sons, both of whom are in the Indian Police Service, he continues to be remembered by all. |
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Sidhu’s application on jurisdiction dismissed Ropar, September 28 The counsel of Sidhu had filed the
application on September 21 in the court of the Special Judge stating
that the Special Judge had no jurisdiction to try the trap case as the
trap had been laid by the Vigilance Bureau on March 25 in Chandigarh
and the alleged recovery of the “bribe money” of Rs 5 lakh had
also been made from there. The Vigilance Bureau had caught Sidhu
while allegedly accepting bribe of Rs 5 lakh from Mr Bhupjit Singh,
Excise Inspector, which was part of an amount of Rs 40 lakh, to be
given by Mr Bhupjit Singh to be selected as a PCS officer. Mr H.S.
Kang, public prosecutor, said the Special Judge dismissed the
application of Sidhu as the prosecution had made a plea that the
Special Judge had the jurisdiction to try the trap case as per the
provisions made in the CrPC because the FIR against Sidhu had been
registered at SAS Nagar by the Vigilance Bureau in the
case. Meanwhile, the counsel for Sidhu today submitted another
application in the court of the Special Judge to discharge Sidhu for
want of valid sanction by the competent authority i.e. President of
India, to prosecute him in the trap and disproportionate assets cases.
A copy of this application was also supplied by the court today to the
prosecution. In this application, the counsel for Sidhu has stated
that as per the ruling of the apex court for granting sanction to
prosecute a person holding constitutional post, the Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court is to be consulted by the President of India, but
the Special Judge did not consult the Chief Justice in the case. The
Special Judge fixed October 9 as next date of hearing for
consideration of the application related to valid sanction and for
hearing of arguments on the framing of charges against Sidhu in the
case. |
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IMA presents memo to Justice Brar Hoshiarpur, September 28 The memorandum included the suggestions for redressal of grievances of doctors experienced during adjudication of medical negligence cases. It was highlighted that the adjournments in the cases waste the time of medical professionals and make the patients suffer. The chairman lamented that it took years to decide a case in consumer courts basically created for summary trial. He said multiple factors like overburdened state commission, unprepared counsels and indifferent attitude of litigant contributed to frequent adjournments. The chairman said the adjournments would be reduced as the government was amending the pecuniary powers of consumer courts. The new pecuniary powers would be up to Rs 20 lakh of the district forum, Rs 20 lakh to Rs 1 crore of the state forum and above that of the national forum. The IMA presented demands like associating a medical man with the adjudication of medical negligence cases due to their intricate and complex nature, discouraging of multifaceted complaints and creation of more Benches at the state level for early justice. The Chairman assured that whatever lies within the powers of the state commission would be executed immediately and other plausible suggestions would be forwarded to the government for consideration. Dr Dharambir Kapur, president of the Punjab unit of the Consumers Awareness and Welfare Association (AWA), accompanied by Joint Secretary Rajinder Vig met Justice Brar and gave him some suggestions for the welfare of the consumers. Dr Jagmohan Singh Dardi, secretary of the All-India Medicos Society and president of the Nursing Homes Association, suggested that only persons having technical knowledge should be appointed for cases against doctors and nursing homes for medical negligence. |
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Amended Consumer Act
in Lok Sabha: Brar Hoshiarpur, September 28 This was disclosed by Mr Justice H. S. Brar (retd), President, state Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, who was here in connection with the annual inspection of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, while talking to mediapersons at PWD Rest House here yesterday. He said the limit of the district-consumer forum was being raised from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 1 crore. The National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission would only deal with cases of more than Rs 1 crore in future. Mr Justice Brar said though the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission daily deal with 100 to 150 complaints, including appeals, original complaints, their revision and execution. But due to the shortage of the staff and proper resources the pending cases had increased to more than 2,400. He said two more Benches were required to clear all pending cases. He said keeping in view the pendency of cases which was much higher in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Patiala, the state government had been requested to constitute additional forums in these districts. Besides, he had also requested the government to appoint the whole time members of the forum in Punjab. He said consumer forums should solve the cases within three to six months of receiving the complaint. Mr Justice Brar was welcomed by Mr M. P. Handa, president, District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, citizens, leaders of various social organisations and members of the District Bar Association on his arrival at the local PWD Rest House last evening. |
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Badal’s ex-OSD case adjourned Ropar, September 28 The hearing was adjourned on the request of counsel for Mr Hardeep Singh when the court asked him to produce details of the bank accounts of Mr Hardeep Singh and other documents related to some other assets of the accused. Counsel told the court that he would submit the details on September 30, so the hearing be adjourned to September 30. The court also stayed the arrest of Mr Hardeep Singh till September 30. Mr H.S. Kang, Public Prosecutor, sought the dismissal of the anticipatory bail application of Mr Hardeep Singh on the plea that the Vigilance wanted to interrogate him in custody as he was not cooperating with the Vigilance. |
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Mother gets pension after 18 years Chandigarh, September 28 The agreement between the Union of India, besides other respondents, and Jaswant Kaur of Sangrur district was reached in the Punjab and Haryana High Court Lok Adalat. Taking up her petition, Adalat President A.L. Bahri and member Reva Gandhi, ruled: “It is agreed that ordinary family pension would be allowed to Jaswant Kaur with effect from June 11, 1984. This position is accepted by counsel for the petitioner as well as Jaswant Kaur. Hence, this writ petition is allowed in the stated terms. Let the orders be complied with within three months”. In her petition, Jaswant Kaur had earlier claimed that nothing was being done by the authorities to release the pension. Giving details, the petitioner had added that initially she was informed that the process for granting pension would be initiated after the expiry of seven years. The petitioner was, however, informed at a later stage that she was not entitled to special family pension as it was not admissible to parents of missing sons presumed dead during Operation Bluestar. She was subsequently told that even ordinary pension would not be paid to her. Going into the background of the case, the petitioner had claimed that her son Sukdarshan Singh was declared missing from the recruitment camp on June 10, 1984, although he had been detailed to apprehend deserters, evident from the statement of other soldiers. Arguing before the Adalat, Chairman, All India Ex-servicemen Welfare Association, Bhim Sen Sehgal had contended that the petitioner’s case for family pension was wrongly rejected by the respondents and was contrary to government instructions. He had submitted that the information provided by the respondents themselves had established that the soldier was reported missing while on duty during Operation Bluestar. Otherwise also, legal heirs were entitled to ordinary family pension even if the death of a missing soldier was not attributable to military service, Mr Sehgal had concluded. |
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Cops ‘beat up’ accused in custody Amritsar, September 28 However, the police has refuted the charges. Mr Rashpal Chand, who was brought by the police for remand at the court here today told this correspondent that he was beaten up by SI Gurdev Singh and Constable Jagir Singh at Verka police station where he was kept in illegal custody last evening. His wife Rama Sharma was also with him who alleged that the police officials had abused her and also slapped her son Ravi (11) when he tried to stop them. Mr Chand alleged the police had registered a false case of attempting to kill Rattan Chand against him following a dispute over a shop. However, Mr Gurdev Singh, SI, refuted the charges. He said a case under Section 307 (attempt to kill) and other sections of the IPC had been registered against him in July after a complaint was lodged by Rattan Chand Chand and his wife Ashawati of the same locality. He said, Dr. SK Kalia, SP City, had held an inquiry in which he was found guilty. Mr Rashpal had absconded since then, SI added. Mr Gurdev Singh said when police found him in the Putlighar area last evening and tried to nab him, he allegedly tried to run away and got injured after he accidentally hit against a wall.
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Serial aims at curbing drug addiction Bathinda, September 28 The serial being telecast on Jalandhar Doordarshan is aimed at creating an awareness among parents to nip the evil of drug addiction in the bud. Ms Paramjit Kaur
Devta, producer of the serial, claimed today that as the settings in the serial resembled the rural culture of this area, it would appeal to the masses. She said the entire shooting was done in various villages of the area.Mr Sarup Parinda (who plays the popular character of ‘Attro’ in Punjabi films and comedy shows) has written the script. |
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Ranjit Singh hails probe into Pak gurdwara funds Amritsar, September 28 General Musharraf has also ordered an inquiry into the working of Evacuee Trust Property Board after sacking its President and Chairman, Major-General Inayatullah Khan Niazi ( retd). The former Jathedar said to maintain transparency, the Government of Pakistan should make the inquiry report public. There were a number of complaints about the embezzlement in Sikh and Hindu shrines being controlled by the board. Bhai Ranjit Singh said a management committee should be constituted to maintain records of gurdwara funds. He said Pakistan should also take representatives of Sikh bodies into confidence while carrying out kar seva in the gurdwaras. Meanwhile, Mr Manmohan Singh, England-based Dal Khalsa leader refuted the charges that he had ever gone to Canada where he reportedly met General
Niazi. |
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Bail plea of 5 rejected Moga, September 28 Tirlok Singh, Sarpanch, panchayat members Bhajan Kaur and Nasib Kaur and brick-kiln owners Mukhtiar Singh and Ram Kumar had been booked by the Mehna police in Moga district for committing fraud. A case was registered against nine persons after they were found to have misused the government grant of Rs 7.60 lakh for the construction of houses for the houseless Scheduled Castes by the panchayat in Dhoorkot Tahliwala village. Additional District and Sessions Judge J.S. Chawla yesterday also rejected the regular bail applications of two other accused.
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Release Rs 75 cr: SGPC Amritsar, September 28 Mr Badungar said owing to the non-completion of the project, devotees from various parts of the world had been facing traffic problems. He also sought the early construction of the proposed flyover from the GT Road to Jallianwala
Bagh. |
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Asst lineman electrocuted Ropar, September 28 Sources in the PSEB here today said the linemen had been working at the Ghanauli-RTP ring main near Khuaspura village, near here, after obtaining work permit from the substation when suddenly power was passed through the line and they suffered electric shock and fell on the ground. They were immediately sent to the local Civil Hospital for treatment, from where they were referred to PGI at Chandigarh. |
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Scriptures found burnt Ludhiana, September 28 The incident came to light at 7 a.m. when some college students opened the shrine. A police team led by senior officers visited the scene and ordered the registration of a case. A case has been registered under Section 295-A of the IPC. |
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598 water
connections cut Amritsar, September 28 The municipal corporation is short by Rs 17.39 crore as dues from water consumers. Out of this Rs 65 lakh is due from government departments. The MC has warned the consumers to pay their water bills in time failing which connections would be cut without any notice by the department. |
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Kalsia Punjab Tourism MD Chandigarh, September 28 Mr Kalsia has earlier served as Commissioner, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, and Deputy Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib. |
Diversification is need
of hour: Kathira Amritsar, September 28 Talking to reporters here, he gave a clarion call to the farmers to gear up to face the onslaught of the fast modernisation of the agriculture globally. “Farmers ought to resort to diversification and bend themselves to the agro-based industries. Commercialising is the only way out that could turn the farming venture as highly profitable one”, he said. Speaking that the need of the hour was to apply information technology (IT) in every field regardless of the trade or vocation, he said, “IT significantly reduces cost factor besides enhancing accuracy and efficiency manifold.”
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Kisan Mela at Rakhra on October 4 Patiala, September 28 The farmers will be taken round the demonstration plots of the newly released Pusa Sugandh-2 and Pusa Sugandh-3 varieties of Basmati. The new varieties have a very high-yield potential with short maturation period and lodging resistance. Their rice has aroma with all the characteristics of Basmati. Lt-Gen (retd) J.F.R. Jacob, Governor of Punjab, will inaugurate the festival and Mr S.S. Boparai, Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, will preside over the function. Mr Tejveer Singh, Deputy Commissioner, will interact with the farmers on crop diversification plans of the Punjab Government. Dr R.K. Rampal, Director of Agriculture, will deliver the keynote address. Senior scientists from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute will discuss the breakthroughs in research for getting rid of the rice-wheat rotation. |
5 IGPs, 25 SPs transferred Chandigarh, September 28 Mr Narinder Sharma has been posted as IGP, Lokpal, in place of Mr R.C. Prasad, who has been shifted to the provisioning wing in the police department. Mr Chander Shekhar has been shifted to the crime wing as IGP in place of Mr S.M.Sharma, who has been posted as IGP-cum-Director, Vigilance Bureau. Mr G. D. Pandey has been sent as IGP, Commando, Punjab, against a vacant post. Mr Lajpal Singh has been posted as DIG (Operations) while Mr Ramji Lal has been posted as Assistant Commandant of 80 Battalion of PAP at Jalandhar. Mr Vijay Kumar Sharma has been sent to Faridkot as SP (Detective) while Mr Harbaj Singh has been posted in the crime wing as SP and Mr Amarjit Singh has been shifted to PAP’s 13 Battalion as its Assistant Commandant in Chandigarh. Mr Narinder Singh Sekhon has been sent to Patiala as SP (Operations) and Mr Amar Singh Chahal has been posted as Commandant of 27 Battalion of PAP at Jalandhar. Mr Surinderpal Singh has been posted as Deputy Director (General) at Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, while Mr Kanwaljit Singh goes as Commandant of IRB Battalion. Mr Jarnail Singh has been posted as SP at Jagraon while Mr Lakhwinder Singh has been posted as SP (Detective) at Mansa. Mr Gurdev Singh has been posted as SP (Headquarters) at Nawanshahr while Mr Ashok Kumar goes as SP (Detective) at Moga. Ms Amrit Brar has been appointed Deputy Commandant (General), Punjab Home Guard and Civil Defence while Mr Amrik Singh has been posted as SP (Detective) at Muktsar and Mr Mukhtiar Singh as SP (Vigilance Bureau) at Chandigarh. Mr Surinder Kumar Kalia has been posted as SP (Headquarters) at Amritsar and Mr Shiv Kumar Verma as SP (City-II) at Amritsar. Mr Opinderjit Singh Ghuman has been sent to Hoshiarpur as SP (Detective) while Mr Gurmit Singh has been posted as Commandant of 2nd Commando Battalion. Mr Darshan Singh has been posted as SP (Headquarters) at Hoshiarpur while Mr Surinder Pal Singh Parmar has been appointed SP Scheduled Castes and Weaker Sections (Crime wing). Ms Vidbhu Raj has been posted as SP (Counter intelligence) at Amritsar and Mr Sukhdev Singh has been posted as SP (JIC), Amritsar. Mr Jagdish Singh Kahlon has been posted as SP (Operations) at Ferozepore while Mrs Kalpana Nayak has been posted as SP (Headquarters) at Ferozepore. |
Pak national arrested Bathinda, September 28 Sources said the police authorities, after failing to extract any information from Ramjano, had decided to get her medically examined to confirm whether she was insane or not. According to information, Ramjano had remained in police custody for a considerable time and had told the police everything except the reason of her coming here. She refused a divulge the details by pretending to be mentally challenged. |
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One held under NDPS Act Gurdaspur, September 28 A press note issued by the police here today claimed that SHO of Shahpur Kandi police station sub-inspector Naresh Kumar yesterday arrested Chhinda while he was selling these capsules, which could not be sold without doctor’s prescription. From his pocket, 200 Parnov Spas capsules, 24 proxyvon capsules and 24 spasm capsules were recovered. A case under Sections 21-22/61/85 of the NDPS Act was registered against Chhinda. UNI |
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Hospital worker held for theft Gurdaspur, September 28 A press note issued by the SSP office here today claimed that the SHO of Pathankot sadar police station on specific information raided the clinic of Chandu Ram at Kothe Pandtan village. On being confronted by the police
official, Chandu Ram, a Class IV ward attendant at the civil hospital, admitted that he had no valid licence or degree to run the clinic.
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ETT students block traffic Kapurthala, September 28 Long queues of buses and other vehicles were lined on Jalandhar-Amritsar section causing inconvenience to the people. The students staged a dharna in the middle of the road near
Dhilwan. The students are demanding the scrapping of the new education policy.
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