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Varsity
credentials questioned
Chandigarh, December 28
Recent media criticism that
“historical research has reached the level of plagiarism with the
merit of preservation” makes Guru Nanak Dev University a
controversial host for the Indian History Congress starting on
December 28.
YEARENDER — 2002
— ISSUES & TRENDS
Punjab’s
economy in logjam
Chandigarh, December 28
Economic revival of Punjab
remained a major issue this year. Steps initiated in this direction
stand derailed. Hopes pinned on relatively young and educated Chief
Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, have been belied. For the past 11
months he has not moved beyond Akali bashing and targeting politicians
who dare to stand up to him.
EPF
scam probe handed over to crime branch
Ropar, December 28
The crime branch of the Punjab
police has taken over the investigations of the sensitive EPF scam
case in the Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant, Ropar. Sources said
the ADGP (crime), Punjab, had written to the SSP, Ropar, Mr G.P.S.
Bhullar, to hand over the entire material regarding the investigations
in to the case to the crime wing for further investigations.
Pak
‘trying’ to revive militancy in Punjab
Hoshiarpur, December 28
Mr M.S. Bhullar, DGP, Punjab,
took the salute at a march past by 345 newly passed out recruits of
the BSF at the Subsidiary Training Centre Kharkan, 12 km from here,
today. Mr Bhullar awarded trophies to nine recruits for their
outstanding performance in different subjects during their nine
months’ basic training. Sarat Dutta was adjudged the overall best
recruit constable.
Pak
using gurdwara funds against India: Badungar
Bathinda, December 28
Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar,
President, SGPC today said that funds collected as offerings at
gurdwaras in Pakistan were being used for anti-India and anti-SGPC
propaganda.
Cane
crushing goes swadeshi
Chandigarh,
December 28
Dissatisfied with sugar
mill owners, the sugarcane growers of Doaba and some parts of
Malwa are carting their produce to kulharris’ (indigenous
‘gur’ mills). Hundreds of ‘kulharris’ dot highways and
some link roads in the sugarcane belt. Most of these are run by
migrants especially from Saharanpur and Meerut.
A family works at a 'kulharri’ (indigenous ‘gur’ mill) on the Chandigarh-Fatehgarh Sahib road on Friday.
— Tribune photo by Karam Singh
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Preneet
gains on Tohra’s turf
Patiala, December 28
Once known as the political turf
of Akali leader Gurcharan Singh Tohra and later of ‘’Captains”,
the year 2002 saw the rise of Preneet Kaur, wife of State Chief
Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, in the district’s political arena.
‘Punjabis
more prone to heart attacks’
Bathinda, December 28
Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalra, heart
specialist, Fortis Heart and multi-specialty hospital, Mohali, in a
statement here yesterday said as cardiovascular diseases were assuming
epidemics proportions. People should be educated about the prevention
of heart diseases.
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Harballabh
feast for music lovers
Jalandhar, December
28
Defying the December cold
wave, thousands of music lovers and maestros left no stone
unturned to relive the memory of Baba Harballabh at the 127th
Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan at the Sri Devi Talaab temple,
which kept reverberating with soothing shehnai, santoor and
Dhrupad till early this morning. |
PSEB plan to check power theft
Patiala, December 28
Government Hospitals and residential colonies of the State and Central security agencies, which till now were not checked for theft now will receive measured power supply under a new scheme initiated by the PSEB and billed accordingly.
Work on canals full of holes: Vigilance
Chandigarh, December 28
A number of irregularities have been detected by the Vigilance Bureau in the various repair and other works carried out on the Bhakra Mainline Canal and its off-shoot known as Narawana Branch in the Punjab area.
Clergy
‘can’t issue’ directives
Chandigarh, December 28
By issuing “hukamnamas”
(directives) the Jathedars of five takhts have of late wielded powers
which “gurmat” never vested in them. This observation has been
made by Mr Joginder Singh Sawhney, Mr Gurtej Singh, General Narinder
Singh (retd), Mr Rajinder Singh, Mr Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon and
Justice Ajit Singh Bains in a letter addressed to the Jathedar of Akal
Takht, with copies to all Jathedars.
SAD
to work for riot victims
Chandigarh, December 28
The local unit of the SAD will
urge party president Parkash Singh Badal and party secretary general
and Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa to lead a delegation to the
Chief Justice of India for seeking justice for the victims of 1984
anti-Sikh riots.
Send
CRPF officers back: PPSA
Phagwara, December 28
A meeting of the Punjab Police
Service Association, today demanded that of seven CRPF deputationists
be sent back and decided to oppose their absorption in the Punjab
police. Those seven CRPF officers were in the CM’s their security
outfit. If these seven deputationists were absorbed, it would affect
seniority of 450 PPS officers, the meeting said.
Former
judge’s arrest stayed
Pathankot, December 28
Staying the arrest of the former
judge of the Allahabad High Court, Mr R.K. Mahajan, in an alleged case
under Section 36 of the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act,
1995, Mr A. K. Sharma, District and Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur, has
issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab for January 10.
Plan
to boost water supply
Faridkot, December 28
The district administration has
drawn up a comprehensive plan to augment drinking water supply in the
rural areas of the district. Under the scheme new pipelines will be
laid, more reservoirs constructed and if need be more water works set
up to ensure the supply of piped water.
Police
remand for Bibi Jagir Kaur’s kin
Kapurthala, December 28
Sarabjit Singh Man accused in
abduction of Babblu a minor son of NRI Jagir Singh of Begowal and
Parampal Singh were produced in a court on Friday which remanded them
in police custody till December 30.
Four
acquitted
Khamano, December 28
Mr G. S. Gill, Sessions Judge of
Fatehgarh Sahib, has acquitted Mr Bhinder Singh Ranwan and three
others, Mr Dilwar Singh, Mr Sher Singh and Mr Baljit Singh, in a case
filed by Mr Ram Singh. Mr Ram Singh had alleged that the accused had
beaten up him in Manderan village and burnt his turban on December 5,
2000.
Sant
Harnam Singh remembered
Bathinda, December 28
More than 1000 devotees visited
Dera Ram Tilla, at Maluka village, 15 km from here, to participate in
the annual samagam, held under the patronage of Sant Balwinder Singh,
to remember Sant Baba Maha Harnam Singh on his anniversary today.
Army
recruitment rally from Jan 6
Amritsar, December 28
The Army has organised a
recruitment rally for Jawans for all castes at Gurdaspur from January
6 to 12. Interested candidates between the 16-21 age group belonging
to Amritsar and Gurdaspur and having passed matriculation examination
(with 45 per cent marks) or plus two, examination, should report at
Gurdaspur on January, 6 at 6 a.m.
170
panchayats given grants: DC
Muktsar, December 28
Ms Usha R. Sharma, Deputy
Commissioner, yesterday said that 170 panchayats in the district had
been given a grant of Rs 50,000 each. She was addressing panchayat
zila parishad and panchayat samiti members here.
Final
voters’ list by Jan 4
Kharar, December 28
The final publication of
voters’ lists of all 15 wards of the Municipal Committee, elections
to which are scheduled in march, 2003, would be completed by January
4, 2003.
Robbery:
bank staff were ‘negligent’
Ropar, December 28
Negligence on the part of bank
officials posted at the Surewal branch of the Ropar Central
Cooperative Bank was a major factor that led to Wednesday robbery. The
SSP, Ropar, Mr G. P. S. Bhullar, stated this after completing a
preliminary inquiry into the case.
Cash,
jewellery looted, car taken away
Jalandhar, December 28
Three armed robbers, one of whom
was donning a Punjab police commando uniform, attacked the Urban
Estate house of the owner of a famed dhaba and decamped with cash
worth Rs 2 lakh, 25 tolas of gold jewellery, two mobile phones and a
Maruti Zen car after locking 10 members of the family and servants in
the bathroom today.
Robbers
loot Rs 2.8 lakh from 2 banks
Fazilka, December 28
Robbers broke into two branches
of banks at Abhun village, 12 km from here, last night and decamped
with Rs 2,79,246 and a gun. According to an FIR lodged with the Sadar
police, the State Bank of India and Central Cooperative Bank branches,
located in a building complex on the village outskirts, were broken
into by the robbers after cutting window grills.
Inspector
booked for taking bribe
Ropar, December 28
The Vigilance Department
yesterday booked Gurcharan Singh, Food and Civil Supplies Inspector,
posted at Anandpur Sahib, on the charges of taking a bribe of Rs 500.
Gurcharan Singh was arrested by Vigilance officials on a complaint of
Balbir Singh Sandhu, a ration depot owner of Anandpur Sahib.
4
held for smuggling poppy
Bathinda, December 28
Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, in a press
note today said that the police had arrested four persons in three
cases and seized 137 kg of poppy husk.
Stress
on updating library facilities
Patiala, December 28
Inaugurating the 20th national
seminar on “Digital Information System and Services” of the Indian
Association of Special Libraries and Information Centres at Punjabi
University here yesterday, Punjab Education Minister Khushhal Bahl
emphasised the need for libraries to provide access to quality
information in a timely and cost-effective manner by using modern
tools of communication.
NEW YEAR’S
CELEBRATIONS
Hostel
residents who love to stay back
Patiala, December 28
For at least 50 students of
different hostels of Punjabi University, the New Year’s eve is not
about going back home and spending time with their folks or planning a
party and jiving all through the night. It is in fact about
celebrating with their “extended family” i.e. fellow hostel
residents.
Petro
dealers’ threat on supply to govt vehicles
Jalandhar, December 28
The Punjab Petroleum Dealers
Association today threatened to stop supply of petroleum products to
the vehicles of government officials’ tell outstanding dues were not
cleared by the state government.
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The
Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, said here today that there
was no innocent Sikh youth languishing in jail at present as claimed by
various Sikh organisations. He claimed that all those arrested during Operations
Bluestar and Black Thunder had been released.
