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| Thursday, October 3, 2002,
Chandigarh, India
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Politicians forget Bapu’s memorial on Oct 2 Phillaur, October 2 As per his wishes, an urn containing his ashes was immersed in the Sutlej, near the old railway bridge, on February 12, 1948. From then on, a fair at the site had become a regular feature. However, this memorial — situated a furlong from the GT Road — is, now, a mute testimonial of the present state of affairs. No politician bothered to turn up here today to pay homage to the Mahatma. The memorial is presently home to urchins and anti-social elements, with the real bearers of his legacy busy elsewhere. Old timers of this town recall how, on previous occasions, only news reports have made politicians and the administration take notice of the state of the memorial. “Politicians of Ludhiana and other places have been visiting the memorial every year on the birth and death anniversaries of the Mahatma in the past, but the place, now, remains utterly neglected,” they said. “A fair used to be held at the site here, where schoolchildren used to spin khadi and participate in various competitions. This trend continued till the late 1970s, but the fair, gradually, lost its sheen, probably because of the erosion of values. Committed Gandhians are, now, only a pleasant memory,” said Mr B.B. Goyal, a banker who used to participate in the fair as a student. People living near the memorial said the local administration and some politicians used to occasionally clean the place till a few years ago to prepare it for the two big days connected to Bapu. However, they have discontinued this practice. The calm and serene environs of the samadhi used to be an attraction for citizens of Phillaur, cadets of the Punjab Police Academy and tourists. With the deterioration of the place, few visitors come here, now. The place was selected by the then Union Government for the immersion of Bapu’s ashes. Then, the site was just beside the then GT Road bridge over the Sutlej. With time, the bridge became too narrow for traffic and another one was built at a distance. This took the focus away from the memorial as well. Today, it is lost in wild growth. Officials of the administration said they couldn’t repair the memorial, as it was maintained by an organisation called the Vayu Raksha Brigade. However, they could not give any address of the organisation. Old-timers used to visit this place for morning and evening walks earlier, but it is done no more. The memorial had got a new lease of life when the local administration, along with activists of the Punjab Pradesh Congress and noted Gandhians of the region, had cleaned up the memorial last year after Ludhiana Tribune had highlighted its poor condition.
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Teachings
‘forgotten’, but
Bapu remembered Ludhiana, October 2 The district health administration observed the day as Leprosy Awareness Day at a function in Hargobind Nagar here. There, Civil Surgeon, Dr S.N. Tiwari, stressed the need for creating awareness about leprosy, a completely curable disease. He said persons suspected of having contracted this disease should go in for a medical check-up. On testing positive, they should go in for treatment that was available free of cost at all government health centres. Health officials distributed slippers among patients of leprosy. To mark the occasion, the Adbhut Welfare Council organised a free medical camp, where visitors were tested for diabetes and given free medicines. Officials of the Health Department said diabetic persons should observe a strict diet control. They also said prevailing food habits and sedentary lifestyles had led to an alarming rise in the number of patients of diabetes that led to erratic blood pressure, heart ailments and renal diseases. Activists of the District Youth Congress, led by Mr Sarbjit Singh
Bunty, senior vice-president of the party, and Mr G.S. Arora, its general secretary, observed a ‘Sankalp Diwas’ to mark the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur
Shastri. In Gurdwara Bohar Sahib of Chhawni Mohalla, the DYC workers prayed for national integration and communal harmony and gave floral tributes to the leaders. The Urban Development Cell of the DYC organised a function in Congress Bhavan here to mark Gandhi Jayanti. Party workers paid floral tributes to the Mahatma and the district president of the cell, Mr Nirmal Singh Kaira, urged them to follow the path shown by him. He said majority of those who observed Gandhi Jayanti every year failed to respect Gandhian principles. “Gandhi’s message of communal harmony is relevant even more at present.” The Ludhiana Lok Sewa Club marked the occasion as a ‘Mourning Day’ to criticise communal violence in Gujarat, killings by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and acts of sacrilege at various places. At a meeting presided over by Mr Nirdosh Bhardwaj, members of the club observed a two-minute silence. Members of the Punjab Crime Prevention Bureau and the Punjab Samaj Sewak Sangh also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi in functions at Mata Rani Chowk and Manohar Nagar, respectively. Fatehgarh Sahib:
Addressing the gathering, Mr Bir Devinder Singh announced that six village of his constituency falling in Fatehgarh Sahib district would be adopted under the integrated rural development scheme and Rs 1 crore spent on the development of Chunni. He paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and urged all to follow the path of non-violence. He also visited the local grain market and expressed satisfaction over the procurement process. Mr Gurnam Singh, political secretary to the MLA who was also present on the occasion. Mr Vikas Partap, Deputy Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib, also paid tributes to Mahatama Gandhi. |
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Don’t harass
farmers, officials told Ludhiana, October 2 He said to ensure the smooth auction of paddy, ministers and MLAs of the Congress would supervise the auction operations at the mandis falling in their respective constituencies on a daily basis. The minister was talking to mediapersons at the Doraha mandi after supervising the auction operations of paddy today. He accused former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of betraying the farmers of the state and alleged that he had conspired with the NDA government to delay the procurement process of paddy in the state, which caused a substantial loss to the farmers because of distress sale. He said the Union Government had played a cruel joke on the farmers of the state by announcing a meagre relief of Rs 20 per quintal on paddy and by not enhancing the MSP. He said the state government, along with various political parties and farmers’ organisations, would try to get the relief amount enhanced to Rs 100 per quintal as the farmers of the state had to spent much higher on the irrigation of paddy crop during this year because of drought. Mr Tej Parkash criticised Mr Badal for welcoming the relief of Rs 20. He said if Mr Badal still claimed to be a farmer leader of Punjab, he must pull out of the NDA and call back Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, the only SAD minister, from the Union Government. He asked the farmers to harvest their crop only after it had ripened and bring only clean and dry paddy to the mandis so that their crop could be lifted immediately. He said the government had also made arrangements for paying for the purchased paddy at the earliest. He asked the farmers to immediately contact the local MLA or SDM in case of any problem at the mandis. Later, the minister also visited six purchase centres in Payal constituency to check the procurement arrangements and listened to the problems of the farmers. |
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Politicians
urged to keep away from ‘bir’ issue Ludhiana, October 2 Addressing mediapersons today, Ms Charanjit Kaur Mahal, principal of the college, said “We condemn the irresponsible statement of an SHSAD leader on instituting a parallel inquiry into the burning of the scripture in the college and demanding entry to the college premises on this pretext. We cannot allow someone to enter a girls college,” she asserted. She added that they had acted in accordance with the procedure laid down in such incidents and immediately informed the SGPC which sent a committee to investigate. The police was also informed and an investigation is under way, she pointed out. The principal, however, refused to comment on the incident any further but added that everyone should wait for the inquiry reports. Present on the occasion were Guru Nank Educational Trust chief Gurbir Singh Grewal and trustee Harmohan Singh Guddu. It may be recalled that some unidentified miscreants allegedly set a bir of Guru Granth Sahib on fire at a small gurdwara located inside in college in Model Town, triggering off tense moments in the city. Sources said different groups of the college management — one headed by serving president Gurbir Singh and another by former MLA Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal — had accused each other for the incident. The incident came to light at about 7 a.m. that day when some college students opened the gurdwara room for the Prakash ceremony of Guru Granth Sahib. They raised the alarm at which college staff, management members and several students rushed to the site. While the fire had destroyed the “bir”, it had partially touched a wall-mounted fan. The spot clearly suggested sabotage. |
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Plenty of ‘hunar’ at exhibition Ludhiana, October 2 Pointing out to a tall portrait of Gaj Gamini — a goddess standing on an elephant — she claims that when hung outside the entrance of a house it is sure to bring in a lot of ‘moolah’ for the owner. Similarly, certain paintings like a Sanchi stupa with a ‘lucky door in relief work’ is also a symbol of prosperity. When placed in a business establishment, it definitely makes the owners rich. She also adds that besides money, dowry-less marriages too can be effected by the use of certain paintings. A unique painting of Parvati’s marriage procession, if hung in the home of the girls of marriagable age, is certain to do the trick. The only obligation is that the girl in connection will have to light a lamp. Ms Harvinder says she has experimented with these paintings for the past seven years and they have been effective. She says: “I make such paintings on order only. Since paintings of Hindu gods as well as Sikh Gurus are on view, visitors have to view the exhibition barefooted,” she explains. Another striking painting is that of a rural woman, a prisoner to her dreary and humdrum existence. Yet, the pitchers of stored water symbolise that the wealth of family if exhibited in a house would bring more wealth. She has also utilised empty tins of refined oil and ghee by using ordinary paper to create a beautiful Japanese lantern, which, when lighted, brings good fortune. In another lamp, a pyramid with a crystal, enables the owner to spend money judiciously. A creative use of very ordinary stuff like, saw dust, ceramics, glass, fibre sheet,
kundan, saree borders, semolina, butter paper, mustard seeds and even edible gum has been utilised to craft out amazing figures. A painting of Venus playing drums and cupids playing around is the ideal picture to hang in the bedroom for childless couples.
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Bookies
run as police tightens noose Ludhiana, October 2 Well placed sources said that on the final match of the ICC Championship on Sunday and Monday, there was virtually no betting as a number of bookies were either behind the bars or had gone underground. It is learnt that the bookies have already fled the city or stopped their operations for the time being. Although all bets on Sunday and Monday were cancelled since rain washed the match away, not many bets had been placed. Since the bookies operate through cell phones, it is difficult to locate them as they keep changing their place of operations. All cell phones were reportedly switched off after raids on the bookies' hideouts. The sources said the betting business had not been effected much since there were no major cricket tournaments in the coming few days. However, the bookies had reportedly lost crores as they could not invite and accept bids for the final match due to the police pressure. Moreover, at the end of the day, all bets were cancelled. The bookies had great hopes for the final match as much hype had been created. Before the final match, bets worth crores were placed. And against all expectations, it turned out to be a rather grim day for the bookies all over. |
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CITY SCAN Terror has assumed a menacing position at the global level. The trigger-happy persons pose a great threat to peace-loving human beings. They are misguided, no doubt, but the religious sanction that they possess robs them of the sense of proportion. They suffer from temporary madness that leads them like Macbeth from crime to crime. They use terror as a weapon to inflict all sorts of atrocities at the behest of their devilish minds. They have no fear of God, although some of them operate in the name of God. They have no religion as only the irreligious rush forward to butcher innocent people. They strike not to wound but to kill as killing invests them with the dubious aura of crusaders. In the carnage in a temple at Gandhinagar (Gujarat), an infant survived while his parents could not be traced. The perpetrators of such atrocities cannot be spared any longer. Even death is no deterrent for them as they belong to suicidal squads. The need is to trace their origin and to crush the roots that nourish them. The creators of nefarious designs must be pinpointed and snubbed there and then. Contemplation without action is nothing short of looking the other way when countrymen bleed and succumb to their injuries. But to wreak vengeance on innocent persons for the crime of their co-religionists is just like playing the game of the enemy. Communal riots weaken the country and their fallout is far-reaching and disastrous. People become victims of loot and arson before they are subjected to torture and death. To see men, women and children fleeing from their homes is an appalling spectacle. Then to provide shelter to the survivals in camps is such an act as prolongs the agony of the miserable, however, well-meaning the gesture may be otherwise. So tempers should not be allowed to fray even in the face of gravest provocation. In case the minority community is taken into confidence, there is every likelihood of its cooperation and support in nabbing terrorists. The death of two or three terrorists is not the end of the matter. There are scores of them waiting in the wings. In the background of communal riots, they find an easy escape from the clutches of the law of the land. So the best course is to hand them over to the security forces when they sneak upon us for succour. There should also be no harbouring to them when they are on the run after committing the crime. During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, offence was found to be the best form of defence. His general, Hari Singh Nalwa, occupied the entrance of the Khyber Pass and entrenched a position at Jamraud (Afghanistan). Later, Dhian Singh set an example of devotion and labour by working with his own hands on the foundations of a regular fort at Jamraud. The enemy learns only when he is paid in the same coin. The rebuffing reply sends him staggering to the grave of his own making. The picture at present is a bleak one. Terrorism is a global phenomenon no doubt. But this is not a matter for any consolation to us. We have to deal with the calamity in our own way. No other nation can help us curb terrorism on our soil. Mere lip-sympathy on their part cannot assuage our sorrow and grief. The other nations have their own concepts of terrorism. Their diplomacy guides them to condemn or not to condemn a particular terrorist action. They are in the habit of looking to the other side when their own interests are jeopardized. Reliance on the world opinion is secondary to the assessment of our own political strength. Fox is traditionally cunning but in this case he has hoodwinked the advanced nations in an entirely successful manner. He is not going back to his resort before wreaking havoc, at a still larger scale, in the Indian subcontinent. He seems to be well-settled in his saddle and no wishful thinking can alter the situation. So the need of the hour is to be prepared for war, if we want peace. War is no solution, history tells us, to any problem. But wars have been fought, nevertheless, for just causes. Even the most peace-loving person will resort to fighting if he is pushed to the wall. The spirit of nationalism needs to be strengthened among the people who live on this soil, sacred to us. N.S. Tasneem
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City goes
green on vanamahotsava Ludhiana, October 2 Focusing on various development plans, he said the pending payments of the park management committees would be cleared within the next two days and an exhaustive screening exercise was on to tone up their working and to weed out non-functional bodies. “The MC has also embarked on a programme to take up the development projects of the under-developed areas and slum localities in the city,” he said. Mr H.S. Dang, Mr Jaswinder Singh Bhola, municipal councillors, Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, district president, SAD, and Baba Ajit Singh, Chairman, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, were present at the function. Meanwhile, NSS volunteers of the Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharam College in the city celebrated vanamahotsava by planting 100 saplings during an NSS camp on the college campus. The plantation drive was sponsored by the State Bank of Patiala. Dr
C.L. Narang, Programme Coordinator, NSS, Panjab University, Mr D.P. Sharma, Chief Manager, State Bank of Patiala, Mr Jagmohan Sharma, President, and Mr Sandeep Aggarwal, Member of the college management committee, Mr B.D.
Budhiraja, Principal, and Prof M.S. Farooqi, NSS in charge of the college, were present on the occasion. Dr Narang urged the NSS volunteers to work on five fundamental issues facing the nation which were illiteracy, pollution, population explosion, empowerment of women and national integration. The Punjab Scheduled Caste Vikas Manch also organised a plantation drive at the Rajesh Nagar locality in Haibowal area. Mr Dinesh Pratap Singh presided over the function and Mr Anoop Gill, president of the manch, was the chief guest. |
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READERS WRITE I take this opportunity to write about the system being followed by the sweetmeat sellers. September, October and November are the months of festivals and maximum sweets are sold during this period. Last year, the authorities had issued directives that the weight of cardboard box would not be included while selling sweets and shopkeepers were asked to quote the rates based on the net weight. However, most of the shopkeepers are flouting these directives and fleecing customers. On September 22, I went to a shop in Model Town, Bikaner Sweets, and purchased 1 kg of sweets at the rate of Rs 110 per kg. To my surprise, the weight of the cardboard box was about 190 gm and the shopkeeper insisted on weighing the box along with the sweets. Which meant that I was paying Rs 21 for a cardboard box. When I pointed this to the owner, he told me to buy the sweets from elsewhere. This irregularity should be noted by the Weights and Measures Department and the district administration. Since most of the consumers are ignorant, Press should also highlight this aspect to spread awareness and ensure that people are charged for the net weight. Directions should be issued to ensure that such boxes are made of a lighter material and that these are not be weighed with the sweets. Lieut Col S.K. Sood (retd) Tuition menace With your concerned efforts tuition menace in colleges has been eliminated, but a lot more needs to be done to save gullible children from exploitation by private schools and academics by developing centres of excellence in colleges and universities to cope with the demand of guidance necessitated by various entrance tests. Such a delicate issue needs to be tackled by academically oriented personnel rather than bureaucrats. The vigilance raids conducted on May 15 last sent shock waves among the teaching fraternity and demoralised us a lot. You have been kind enough to help in reinstatement of four lecturers of Government College, thus giving a healing touch to our bleeding wounds. I sincerely thank you for this goodwill
gesture. Now I earnestly request, through the columns of your newspaper, that vigilance cases against all 19 teachers involved are withdraw so that they can devote more attention to their. I, on behalf of our organisation. assure you to cooperation in the crusade against corruption and congenial academic atmosphere. Jai Pal Singh |
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World Elders’
Day celebrated Ludhiana, October 2 He said he would do his best to help the senior citizens at all levels. Mr Suresh Verma, vice-president, and Mr Rattanlal Pamela and Dr Ajit Singh Sikka, secretary of the Punjab Unit of the organisation, also addressed the gathering on this occasion. The speakers said there were about 11 crore senior citizens. Their welfare, respect in social life health and financial security should be taken care of. Dr Sikka, thanked the Punjab Governor, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd) for announcing a 10 per cent reservation for the senior citizens in Chandigarh Housing Board in the lower-income group. |
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Liquor-smuggling racket busted Ludhiana, October 2 A raid was conducted on the South City area on Sunday following a tip-off and as many as 130 cartons of whisky were seized from a residential building. A man, who claimed to be an employee of the gang leader, was also arrested from the spot. On his subsequent interrogation, the arrested man revealed some names on the basis of which the police has registered a case under the Excise Act against Pawan Sharma, a resident of Samrala chowk, and seven others, most of whom belong to Moga. Further investigations are on. Fake CDs seized:
According to Mr Gurpreet Singh, who conducted the raid, Dheeraj used to prepare the fake prints of various CDs at his shop in Upkar Nagar, while Abhishek sold the stuff near the Dandi Swami chowk in the Civil Lines area. A case has been registered at the Division No. 8 police station. Suicide bid:
According to information, the man stabbed himself in the neck with the intention to kill himself. His cries attracted public attention and the police was called in which has registered a case on the basis of a complaint filed by Pappu, a meat-seller in the area. Succumbs to burns:
The Division No. 7 police has registered a case against her husband, Pritpal Singh, who has been absconding after the incident. According to information, the deceased was married in 1991. But since the husband was unemployed, tiffs between the two were frequent. |
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Clarification on entry tax sought Ludhiana, October 2 The representation pointed out that this would discourage the local industries and they could think of migrating to other states like Himachal Pradesh, which was already offering several tax reliefs and benefits to the industry. This, it added, would also create problems for the fabricators and exporters working for the buyers outside Punjab. It also questioned the rationale behind introducing the entry tax when the VAT system was being talked about so much. It said that the industry was already facing multi-level tax and another tax would not only overload it but would contribute towards its collapse. |
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