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November 19, 2002, Chandigarh, India |
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WTC iron making new homes Mandi Gobindgarh, November 18 The furnace owners, who were earlier reluctant to re-use the scrap of the WTC, considering it to be unlucky, had finally decided to melt it and sell it off to various dealers after reshaping it. ‘‘It would have already become a part of various houses in the state, as, lot of iron is used as construction material. Earlier, we had thought that it would be ominous to use the material here but due to the shortage of scrap we went ahead and reshaped it,’’ said a furnace owner. The remoulded iron was sold to various iron dealers not only in the state but in the cities like Muzaffarnagar also. The owners are not left with a single piece of scrap now. Now they are waiting for the scrap from Afghanistan after the US attack on the Taliban. ‘‘We are wondering why the scrap has not been sold by Afghanistan as yet. The scrap from all over the world makes its way into Indian ports from where it reaches Mandi Gobindgarh, known for a large number of iron castings. Maybe it will reach us in a month or so,’’ said one of the owners. According to Mr Parveen Kumar, Manager of Patiala Castings, as many as 10,000 tonnes of scrap of the WTC had been received by the furnaces in the city alone. It was of varied shapes and sizes. In some cases, the material was so fine that the traders had sold certain pieces without moulding them. But in some cases it had to be melted. The owners said the scrap was transported to Gujarat port in July this year and was then sent to scrap dealers across the country. It was received by the local dealers in September, one year after the attack. For some days, the dealers did not melt it thinking it would not sell. They said the scrap was costlier as it was
Interestingly, many casting company owners were averse to disclosing the origin of the scrap fearing that their material would not sell. The dealers said they did not want to leak the information about the source of the scrap. They were still surprised at the manner with which the news about it spread. But after it was converted into huge iron bars, nobody could make out from where it had come. So there were no problems in selling the material. |
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200 CPM workers court arrest, released Ludhiana, November 18 The district police, however, did not allow the workers to fill the jails. The workers were taken to Division No. 5 police station in a bus and two tempo-trucks and released after about half an hour. Before the arrests, the workers staged a rally at Chattar Singh Park and then marched towards the Mini Secretariat. They staged another rally for about 10 minutes in the secretariat ground, raising slogans against the Congress government. The workers then boarded the awaiting vehicles. A large number of women also courted arrest.
Mr Balwant Singh, Secretary of the state unit of the party, addressing the rally said they had launched the agitation to criticise the oppressive policies of the Congress government led by Capt. Amarinder Singh.. He said they will demanding that the anti-corruption drive of the state government should be followed on constructive lines instead of ‘witch-hunting’, Chandigarh to be handed over to Punjab along with the Punjabi-speaking areas, upholding the state’s right over river waters. Mr Balwant Singh said the party had always stood for the rights of the peasantry. One of their main demands was getting drought-relief for the farmers. Other demands included the creation of employment opportunities, old-age and widow pension and free education up to the higher secondary level. Mr Balwant Singh gave a clarion call to all the rank and file of the party to participate in large numbers in the jail-bharo agitation. |
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Crackdown
on beggars Ludhiana, November 18 This follows the arrest of around 50 beggars arrested under the Prevention of Begging Act, 1971. While, earlier the crackdown concentrated in Model Town, Civil Lines and Ferozepore Road area, today the police action was complete and beggars were picked up from all over the city. Over 70 cases have been registered in different police stations. Police sources said the arrests may act as deterrent to those taking up begging in the city. The earlier crackdown did not have the desired effect as there was a marginal decline in the number of
beggars on the city roads. However, today several religious places and main crossings saw very few beggars. At some places the beggars had completely vanished. Surprisingly, several of those arrested were identified as Sikhs. The police sources said it was yet to be seen whether they were converts. Interestingly, more than 90 per cent of the persons nabbed belonged to either Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. Remaining had residential addresses in Punjab only. |
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Nagar kirtan marks Gurpurb celebrations Ludhiana, November 18 A massive parbhat pheri was taken out by gurdwara Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha in the Civil Lines area in which men, women and children participated in large numbers. The parbhat pheri started from Upkar Nagar and covered Deep Nagar, Shiv Mandir, Vrindavan Road, Neem Chowk, Kailash Chowk, Gole Market and Shahi Mohalla before culminating a the gurdwara in Guru Nanak Pura. Tea was served at several places along the route of the parbhat pheri. An impressive nagar kirtan was taken out from Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha in
the Vishwakarma Colony which was led by ‘Panja Piaras’. Students of six schools participated in the nagar kirtan. Children, dressed up as ‘Panj Piaras’ caught everybody’s attention. The nagar kirtan was presided over by Mr Wassan Singh, president of the gurdwara managing committee. The National Welfare Society and the Bhai Manj Singh Sewa Society were
Similarly, a nagar kirtan was taken out from gurdwara in Parbhat Nagar which was led by ‘Panj Piaras’. Members of the Istri Satsang Sabha sang hymns while wrestlers from the Ranjit Akhara displayed their gatka skills in the nagar kirtan. Mr Sohan Singh Goga, councillor, and Mr Hira Singh Gabria, a former Akali MLA, were among the dignitaries who participated in the nagar kirtan. Another impressive nagar kirtan was taken out from Gurdwara Singh Sabha in HL Colony of Jamalpur which passed through Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, Urban Estate, Housing Colony and the New Vishwakarma Colony before returning. Mr Gurcharan Singh, president of the gurdwara managing committee, participated in the nagar kirtan. The nagar kirtan was greeted at several places by associations of shopkeepers who arranged refreshments for the participants. Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha in Haibowal also took out an impressive nagar kirtan under the leadership of Mr Joginder Singh, president of the gurdwara managing committee. Several bands and schoolchildren also took part in the nagar kirtan which was led by ‘ Panj Piaras. Similarly, nagar kirtans were also taken out in Janta Nagar and Bhola Colony falling in ward number 13. |
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Spiritual
tourism to be encouraged: Vinod Khanna Ludhiana, November 18 Talking to the mediapersons, he said the budget allocated for tourism has increased five times, which would take care of development of roads, resorts and hygiene of the environment. He further said that there would be six integrated circuits of world-class stature instead of focussing on different states. The circuits can be Buddhist, World Heritage, hill stations etc. The Prime Minister has formed a core committee and decided to make tourism a
national priority, as one tourist provides jobs to 12 persons besides bringing in revenue, he added. He said the government had decided to cash on spiritual tourism, as India could offer tourists with various spiritual activities, including yoga, meditation and pranayic healing. He said millions of westerners were eagerly waiting to come to learn these things. Maintaining that the soul of India is spiritualism, he said that all of us have a question within us regarding life, nirvana and enlightenment. It is available if you seek it whole-heartedly with total commitment. If the seeker is ready, he will find the master. Masters are always there though there are some charlatans posing as gurus, who profess to walk on water and gave a bad name to India. Osho had created a revolution in spiritualism and wanted to bring in a change in the orthodox ways and went for dynamic meditation. He said when he joined his commune in 1976, people thought he had lost his mind but surprisingly the present generation finds a good rapport with his ideologies. Answering a query if Osho was against politics, he said, “He was against the political mind and never against politics. Politics is a platform to do good and give back to society what one has received from society. He had joined politics because he felt since he has made peace with himself, he can do good to society, help his government and party. Asked whether the BJP’s ideology was acceptable to him, Khanna said that Osho’s ideology can be accepted by any party. He said he never felt there was any dichotomy between Vinod Khanna and Swami Vinod Bharati as they were one. |
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Dance drama
on Osho’s vision
Ludhiana, November 18 Osho’s magnetic voice
carressing the people said: There is a music which has no sound, the
soul is restless for such sound. Anhad said Osho can be the one hand
clapping. In the beginning all was sound and from the sound was born
the seed of life. Sound transcends all creation and there is
dissolution in sound. In the ecstasy of sound alone lies the becoming
and being of the man and the woman. The play began with a
beautifully-choreographed dance followed by the appearance of two
distressed persons. Both are disillusioned as their love has not begot
them love. There have been all sorts of stresses and deceitful
incidents. They are totally frustrated. And they are bewitched by the
soothing songs of two ministerial of Osho who tell them that love is
of higher plane like that of Radha and Krishna. What follows is a
beautiful Radha waiting for her Krishna. They dance and get lost in
the mutual love till other ‘gopis’ wake them up. Vinod Khanna,
actor and Minister for Tourism and Culture said Osho had no philosophy
of his own. He used the philosophy of Buddha, Guru Nanak, Jainism and
Zen Budha to make his message clear. The play has used the ideas very
creatively and reinforced the importance of meditation in one’s
life.
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Marriage
party shown the door Ludhiana, November 18 A dowry case under Sections 496 and 498 of the IPC has also been registered against the bridegroom’s family. According to police sources, a local resident, Tarlochan Singh, had arranged the marriage of his daughter with Gurpreet Singh, son of Iqbal Singh of Sudhar, at the marriage palace. In his complaint, he said he had already spent several lakhs on the rituals and ceremonies besides the dowry. However, just before the marriage ceremony was to be performed, the bridegroom’s family demanded a dowry of Rs 8 lakh, along with a Ford Ikon car. This stunned Tarlochan Singh, who was seen requesting his would-be relatives to spare his innocent girl of the social stigma as the bridegroom and his parents threatened that they would leave the place without the bride if their demands were not accepted. As the requests proved futile, a sudden wave of anger swept the girl and her family. They overcame all fears of any problem of future marriage for the girl and showed the ‘baraat’ the door. Though the celebration had already turned into mourning due to the controversy, the stand by the girl’s family cheered them. |
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Demolitions illegal: BJP Ludhiana, November 18 Condemning the demolition of more than 100 houses in Kuliwal village the district president of the BJP, Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, said the Badal government had specifically passed orders that no house constructed five years earlier on government, PUDA, MC land or panchayat land shall be demolished. He said the yesterday’s action was illegal and unjustified and the party would try to use every forum to get justice for the victims. He pointed out it was decided that the actual price at rates specified in the circular should be charged from them. He said a BJP deputation met the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, when PUDA had issued notice to the residents of Vishkarma Colony at Focal Point and brought the previous government orders to his notice. The BJP leader said these were only small houses of poor persons at Kuliwal village and demolition of these houses had further proved that the Congress government was anti-poor. The Congress in its manifesto had promised to give plot for houses to the poorer section of the society, but the Chief Minister seemed to have already forgotten the Congress manifesto. Mr Sethi warned the administration for agitation if the demolition of the houses of the poor continued. Mr Sethi, who is also the Secretary of Managing Committee of Arya College, Ludhiana, condemned the Ludhiana police for arresting Mr R.K. Gupta, a lecturer of Arya College. No doubt private tuition work was banned for lecturers of government colleges and the government-aided colleges, but these rules did not apply to persons on leave without payment. |
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Congress
convention a damp squib Ludhiana, November 18 The rally was earlier supposed to be attended by the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh and the PCC president, Mr H.S. Hanspal. However, the Chief Minister’s visit was cancelled and Mr Hanspal was supposed to address the rally. Mr Hanspal was accorded reception at Sahnewal, Jamalpur and other areas on the outskirts of the city. He then drove to the Circuit House for a halt. However, Mr Hanspal reportedly decided to stay back in the Circuit House as he reportedly learned about poor worker turnout at the venue and returned from there only after expressing his displeasure over the arrangements and the “miserably” poor presence. As Mr Hanspal refused to come to the venue, he summoned all legislators and local leaders to the Circuit House and sought reasons for the poor turnover. The local leaders reportedly conveyed to him the inability of the workers to reach the venue for various reasons. After Mr Hanspal refused to come to the rally, the MLA from Ludhiana Rural, Mr Milkiat Singh Birmi, announced that Mr Hanspal had to rush to Delhi as he had been summoned by the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi. Later, a visibly upset District Congress Committee president, Mr K.K. Bawa, tried to explain the poor turnout citing various reasons. He said it had been decided that Mr Hanspal would be accorded reception at various places where groups of at least 500 persons were to receive him and later join his convoy. He clarified that although the workers organised the reception, they failed to reach the venue. Some senior Congress leaders attributed the poor turnout at the convention to the internal differences within the party in the district. They pointed out that not many people were happy with Mr Bawa as the DCC president. On the other hand, a senior leader told Ludhiana Tribune that the organisers of the rally had deliberately tried to keep them away by assigning duties in the outskirts of the city. “They deliberately tried to keep us away and met their nemesis”, said a senior leader. Those who attended today’s rally included the Transport Minister, Mr Tej Prakash, Mr Milkiat Singh Dakha, Mr Milkiat Singh Birmi, Mr Surinder Dawer, all local MLAs, DCC (urban) president, Mr K.K. Bawa, and DCC (rural) president, Mr Gurdev Lapran, and several councillors. |
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INTUC flays Kelkar recommendations Ludhiana, November 18 The general secretary of the organisation, Dr Shiv Gupta, stated in a press note today that the withdrawal of various exemptions would reduce the national saving rate, social security and hamper industrial growth rate. At present, social security was available for those who invested in Life Insurance Corporation policies, UTI, NSCs etc and the government did not provide any social security at all. With the decrease in national savings rate from 24.6 per cent in March, 2002, there will be adverse effect on the industrial growth also. Leaders of these organisations also criticised the NDA-BJP government for reduction in the rate of interest on savings bank accounts, fixed deposits and even for reduction of interest rate from 12.5 per cent to 9.5 per cent on Employees Provident Fund Contributions. All these policies had been adopted by the BJP government with intentions to provide benefits to the big industrialists and capitalists. Mr K.R. Tripathi, president, Indian National Bank Employees Congress, stated that direct tax collections had increased from Rs 38,000 crore to Rs 90,000 crore in 2002-03 and most of it was contributed by the employees, who paid the income tax honestly. The leaders pleaded for providing 100 per cent tax rebate on housing loans. |
Trader drugged, robbed Ludhiana, November 18 The victim, Khushi Ram, was returning with friends, who dropped him at Khanna. There, he was offered a lift by two youths. However, the youths drugged him by giving him some sedatives mixed with tea and biscuits. They took away at least Rs 4,000 in cash besides some gold and silver jewellery worn by the trader. The trader was thrown out of the car on the road side. He later regained consciousness and was brought to the CMC hospital here by some passersby. The police said the victim was partially conscious and was not in a position to give details about the description of the two youths.
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Body found Khanna, November 18 He died due to excessive bleeding. His body has been sent to the local Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Ludhiana Bid to abduct girl: The Model Town police has booked three persons, including two women, for allegedly trying to abduct a minor girl during a marriage party at Model Town extension on Saturday night. According to an FIR, the accused Dina Nath and the two unidentified women tried to snatch the minor daughter of one Ranjit Singh when she was sitting in the lap of a female relative. |
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Man killed by brother Khanna, November 18 According to the police, the two were returning from a barat and as soon as they alighted from the bus they were travelling in, the elder brother, Avtar Singh, stabbed Nirmal Singh with a knife. Nirmal Singh died on the spot, while Avtar Singh fled the scene. The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC against Avtar Singh. |
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Man booked for
molesting grand-daughter Ludhiana, November 18 |
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Dhanda promises to raise engineering exports Ludhiana, November 18 Speaking at the reception organised in his honour by the Engineering Exporters’ Association of India here on Saturday night, Mr Dhanda said the engineering exports faced stiff competition from China and the Government of India needed to several measures to provide level-playing field to the exporters in the country. The meeting was presided over by Lala Lajpat Rai, Member Parliament. Mr Rajinder Jindal, president of the association, said that EEPC was formed in 1955 and since then the chairman was elected from southern or other states. It is for the first time in the past 47 years that chairman had been elected from Punjab. He said the exporters of bicycle and bicycle parts were feeling honoured on their fellow exporter being elected to this coveted post. He said the exporters were hopeful that Mr Dhanda would be able to represent the problems and difficulties being faced by the exporters of bicycle and bicycle parts of Punjab and he would be instrumental in getting framed policies from the Ministry of Commerce which would be conducive to exporters, since he himself was an exporter of the same. Mr Jindal pointed out that there was a need to make a strategic action plan to mop up the Indian exports of bicycle and bicycle parts, which stood at Rs 900 crore as compared to Chinese exports of Rs 8100 crore. He said the major bottleneck being faced by exporters from Punjab was their locational disadvantage. “Our state being far away from sea ports we have to spend a lot to ship our products”, he pointed out. Mr Jindal suggested that the Ministry of Commerce should extend transport concession to exporters of Punjab also as it was done for exporters of the North-East in the last Exim policy. The exporters of Punjab should be allowed to deliver their products at ICDs and carrying cost to sea port should be subsidised. He said that the exporters should be exempted from the payment of VAT at the time of purchase of goods meant for export instead of refund of it. Mr Chaman Lal Tangri, general secretary of the association, said that exporters community was not being supported by government as it had imposed sales tax on sale of import licences without specifying the rate of tax. He said that this being incentive given by centre government there should not be any tax on it. |
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Rationalise
IT, pleads chamber Ludhiana, November 18 In a memorandum presented to the taskforce of direct and indirect taxes, headed by Dr Vijay Kelkar in a meeting convened by the Confederation of Indian Industry here, Mr Ashok Juneja, vice-president and Mr Avtar Singh, general secretary of CICU, raised the issue of abnormally high rate of income tax in the country, which in a way proved counter-productive and a deterrent to those willing to pay taxes. According to Mr Juneja, the rate of taxation in India was almost the highest in the world, ranging between 9 per cent to 20 per cent in the major countries. Mr Juneja, who is also the president of the Taxation Bar Association, observed that an earlier exercise in rationalisation of income tax structure had led to significant increase in the number of assessees, higher income being shown by members of trade and industry and overall fund flow position easing, which in turn facilitated more development. "The number of taxpayers at 1.16 crore in 1997-98 has gone up a little over 3 crore during the current year while the direct tax collection has shot up to 90,000 crore from 38,000 crore during the same period, which works out to an increase of 140 per cent." The CICU functionaries suggested that big agriculturists, with an income over Rs 1 lakh might be brought in the tax net and with the additional revenue generation, proportionate relief should be given to all assessees, including salaried class, traders, industrial houses and professionals. Mr Juneja further wanted that expenses incurred on acquisition of one self residential houses by the assessees should be exempted from income tax without any upper limit. |
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