The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Vigilance raid on school
Authorities smuggle out records
Tribune News Service

A vigilance team argues with the authorities at Government Girls School at Motchpura Market in Ludhiana on Tuesday. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

Ludhiana, January 28
A team of the Chandigarh and Ludhiana Vigilance Bureau raided the Gokul Road SD Girls Higher Secondary School in Motchpura Market here today and confiscated several documents and files, following a complaint by a former teacher, that the school was involved in large-scale irregularities aimed at taking aid from the state government.

The moment the vigilance team entered the school, chaos broke out and the school staff started running here and there with files. Some teachers were caught running out of the school with attendance registers, but, sources said, some records had been smuggled out still.

Vigilance officials said that only the records had been seized. In her complaint, Ms Manjula Jain, a former teacher of the school, had said that the school had been tampering with record to take aid from the government. She said the school had only 429 students, but doctored records showed that there were 800 students in the school. This had been done to accommodate 20 teachers, whereas, only 11 teachers were needed in the school. She said even some officials of the District Education Office were hand-in-glove with the school authorities.

The second charge was that the school had received a grant of Rs 5 lakh from Lala Lajpat Rai, MP, but the school had purchased second-hand computers and no furniture, embezzling funds in the process.

A schoolteacher was absent from duty since October 2000, but marked present and given her salary as well. Students were forced to sweep floors and do cleaning jobs after school hours and given books and stationery at double the cost, said the former teacher of the school.

Another charge was that the school authorities were charging an admission fee of Rs 55.

Meanwhile, Mr Suresh Gupta, president of the Ludhiana Sewa Sangh, who had moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court against corruption in such aided schools, said, according to the information received by him, the school authorities had managed to “save” some registers and files from the eyes of the vigilance team. He said the school gave no receipt for the fee taken from students. Teachers were also not given their proper salaries.

Raid on Civil Hospital
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 28
A joint team of the Chandigarh and Ludhiana Vigilance Bureau today carried out a search inspection at the Civil Hospital and the Civil Surgeon’s office. The team checked the records, especially the cash and store stocks. Sources said the team found some discrepancies in the maintenance of records. Vigilance officials declined to give details.

Congress sweeps Block Samiti poll
Tribune Reporters

Mr Harbans Singh Bhanohar and Mrs Pritam Kaur Gobindgarh (both SAD) who were elected Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Block Samiti in Ludhiana on Tuesday.

Ludhiana, January 28
The Congress swept the block samiti elections held here today in various parts of the district. While the elections in Ludhiana-II and Dehlon blocks were postponed for the want of quorum, the results of 10 blocks were declared in the evening.

SAD leaders Harbir Singh and Pritam Kaur were declared elected chairpersons and vice-chairperson, respectively, for the Block Samiti of Ludhiana. Ms Jarnail Kaur also a SAD candidate was declared elected.

Ms Rajpal Kaur and Mr Gurmit Singh, both from the Congress were elected chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Doraha block, respectively.

In the Samrala block, Ms Gurmit Kaur was elected chairperson and Mr Ajmer Singh was elected vice-chairperson both candidates were Congress nominees.

The Congress also registered victory in the Sudhar block where Mr Inderjit Singh was elected chairperson and Surinder Pal Kaur was elected vice-chairperson. In Sidhwan bet block, both the chairs went to Congress nominees Mr Major Singh and Ms Jasbir Kaur.

In the Jagraon block, Mr Sher Singh and Mr Jagdish Singh, both from the Congress, were elected chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively. Similarly, Ms Jarnail Kaur from the SAD was elected chairperson of the Block Samiti of Macchiwara whereas the other chair went to Congress candidate Mr Sohan Lal.

Ms Parminder Kaur and Ms Baljit Kaur, both Congress candidates, were elected for chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively. In Khanna, Mr Kirpal Singh was elected chairperson while Mr Harminder Singh was elected vice-chairperson. Both candidates were Congress nominees. In Pakhowal, both seats went to Congress candidates with Mr Avtar Singh being elected chairperson and Mr Gurdip Singh as vice-chairperson.

Amloh: Dr Dilbag Singh Bhambari and Ms Mahinder Kaur Badali were unanimously elected chairman and vice-chairperson, respectively, of the Amloh Block Samiti here on Tuesday. The election meeting was held in the Block Samiti Office.

Talking to mediapersons Mr Amarjeet Singh Shahi, SDM-cum-Returning Officer, said the name of Dr Dilbag Singh was proposed by Mr Joginder Singh and seconded by Mr Balwinder Singh, while the name of Ms Mahinder Kaur was proposed by Mr Jagjeet Singh and seconded by Mr Harnam Singh. Out of 15 elected members, 14 were present on the occasion, beside Mr Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, MLA. Mr Amar Singh Loharmajra did not attend the meeting that started at 11 a.m.

The seat of chairman was reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate while the post of vice-chairperson was reserved for woman candidate. Mr Baljeet Singh, BDPO, Amloh, was also present in the meeting. Mr Ranjeet Singh Bhola, vice-president, DCC, Fatehgarh Sahib, read out a letter signed by the Chief Minister on the occasion.

Doraha: Ms Rajpal Kaur and Mr Gurmit Singh Shahpur were elected Chairperson and Vice-Chairman of the Doraha Block Samiti on Tuesday. A total of 15 members eight from the Congress, six Akalis, and one from the CPI — were present. Mr Tej Parkash Singh Kotli, Transport Minister, Punjab, was also present.

The election process concluded under tight security. Mr Sucha Singh Mast, SDM, Payal, and Mr Gurkirat Singh, BDPO, were present to ensure the peaceful conduct of the election.

Both were elected unanimously. Mr Jagjiwan Pal Singh Gill, an Akali activist said: “We intentionally did not make our candidate stand for this election because the Congress was in majority. Moreover, the CPI had aligned with the Congress and there was no point in making our candidate stand for these positions.”

MACHHIWARA: Ms Jarnail Kaur of the SAD has been elected chairperson of the Machhiwara block samiti while sarpanch Sohan Lal Sherpuri from the Congress has been elected vice-chairman. Mr Jaspal Singh Jassi, SDM, Samrala, was the presiding officer while MLA Koomkalan, Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, participated as an ex officio member.

Councillors reject scavenging tax
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 28
The General House of the local Municipal Corporation unanimously rejected a proposal for imposition of scavenging tax on city residents. Councillors belonging to the ruling Congress and opposition parties, while opposing any fresh tax, suggested that the measures aimed at resource mobilisation be brought before the house at the budget meeting to be in the near future.

The meeting, held after a gap of more than four months, contrary to expectations, turned out to be a smooth affair, except for a brief commotion and trading of charges between ruling and opposition councillors.

The trouble started when SAD councillor Harbhajan Singh Dang and Mr Gurdip Singh Neetu (BJP) charged the ruling congress with backing out from its poll promise of providing free water and sewerage facilities to households.

he levelled allegations of corruption against successive Congress governments, which evoked strong protests from Congress councillors. There were sharp exchanges between Mr Dang, Mr Hakam Singh Giaspura and Mr Neetu on one side and Congress councillors Madan Lal Bagga, Jasbir Singh Chadha, Deputy Mayor Sushil Gupta, Sat Pal Puri and Kuldip Janda on the other.

City Mayor Nahar Singh Gill, who presided over the meeting, intervened at this stage and issued a stern warning to all councillors to maintain decorum of the house. He said all accusations and personal remarks against one of the former Prime Ministers had been expunged.

The meeting adopted a resolution to provide interest-free payment of arrears of water supply, sewerage and house tax till March 31. Similarly, collection of development charges at the time of issuing the TS-I Form has been given a go- by and the MC will revert to the old policy of laying public streets without demanding development charges from the residents. The MC Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sharma, expressed apprehensions that interest-free payment of arrears and issuing TS-I without payment of development charges might adversely affect revenue collection and budgeted income. but showing respect to the feelings of the councillors, he said the proposal would be sent to the state government for approval.

Mr Parveen Bansal of the BJP raised objections to payment of a sum of Rs 50 lakh by the civic body to the police department and said that the proposal should have been brought before the house. The Mayor defended the decision, saying the directions of the Chief Minister had to be honoured as was the practice during the regime of the previous government.

Mr Bansal also sought approval of the house for penal action against erring employees for inclusion of paid bills of water supply and sewerage in arrears. The Commissioner assured the members that provisions already existed in service rules of the employees for departmental action for all acts of omission and commission.

The proposals for providing land to the Muslim community for a grave- yard, shifting of the cremation ground in the Urban Estate and payment of compensation for acquisition of private land along the Budhha Nullah were deferred and it was decided to form committees from amongst the councillors to go into the matter and make recommendations to the house before the next meeting.

The house gave its nod to the sale of MC properties through open auction, provision for five- year leave for civic employees for self-employment, regularisation of illegal water and sewerage connections, transfer of a piece of MC land to the Ludhiana Improvement Trust in lieu of land for an indoor stadium and revaluation of 44 acres of MC land to be given to the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board for construction of a sewerage treatment plant.

Earlier, before official business was taken up, the house adopted resolutions to mourn the deaths of the son of Mr Sat Pal Beri, Congress councillor and father and brother of Ms Sunita Rani, a BJP councillor.

Lure of greener pastures lands them in jail
Jupinderjit Singh and Mahesh Sharma
Tribune News Service

Rohira, January 28
In yet another case of exploitation of innocent villagers by travel agents, four youths of this village, along with seven others from Rajasthan, have fallen prey to their dream of greener pastures in a foreign land.

Found travelling on fake documents in Sudan, the youths have been held captive by the authorities there. Back home the anxious family members of these four youths are grappling with another tragedy.

The father of one of the youths died of shock on hearing the news. At least five members of the three other families suffered serious injuries in an accident while travelling to Delhi to nail the travel agent and to get help from Indian Embassy officials in rescuing the youths.

The travel agent, a woman, known as ‘Madam’ to the family members, has not only shattered the dreams of the victims, but has hit them economically as well. Each family had taken lakhs on loan from private financiers hoping their sons would repay the debt. Now these familles are again knocking at the doors of financiers to arrange money for rescuing these dear ones.

The four youths, Azhar Khan, Bittu, Gurpreet Singh, and Sudagar Bagga, had left the village, about 40 days ago. All, except Gurpreet Singh, were labourers. Gurpreet was a farmer. The families had given Rs one lakh each to the travel agent, besides incurring other additional expenses.

The travel agent had promised that the youths would be well treated, given a job with handsome salary and perks and a good place to live in. But now they are undergoing the worst nightmare of their lives in the captivity of the Sudan police.

A Ludhiana Tribune team visited the village today. While on the one hand, villagers were anxious about the future of the youths, on the other hand they were consoling the family of Gurpreet Singh, whose father Santokh Singh, had died of heart attack when the tragic news was broken to him. The villagers were also upset over the turn of events as several other youths were hoping to go abroad.

The parents of the stranded youths are so scared of the travel agent’s power that they declined to give any details against her. Sources said the agent had threatened them with dire consequences if they accused her or took her name before police officials or mediapersons.

One of the persons injured in the accident, Mr Bahadur Ali, father of Sudagar Baga, hesitantly told Ludhiana Tribune that his son, along with three other youths, had gone to Sudan. Their visas and other formalities were got cleared by the travel agent living at Noida.

‘‘It was arranged that a ‘nawab’ would meet the youths in Sudan and look after their comfort. But ‘nawab’ was nowhere. The youths were taken into custody as illegal immigrants and are now in the police captivity.’’

When the youths stated the role of the travel agent in procuring visas for them, the Sudan Government referred the case to the Indian Embassy in Sudan that reportedly initiated an action against the agent and asked parents of the four to send air tickets for their repatriation.

Family sources said the woman, who somehow managed to evade police action, asked the guardians of the youths to give in writing that they had gone to Sudan on their own. The families, however, have not given anything in writing so far.

Mr Bahadur Ali, said the agent had told them that one of the partners of ‘nawab’ had fled after duping him in Sudan. Around 400 youths from various parts of the country had reached there four months ago, but most of them had to return to India. These four youths were also accompanied by seven others from Rajasthan, who were also staying with them in a small school building in Sudan.

The families want a police action against the travel agent, but are worried about the safety of the youths. No political leader has come to their rescue till date.

He had no papers for tricycle
Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 28
Hope turned into despair for Kulwinder Singh when he was sent empty back empty-handed on a Republic Day function organised at the local Government College for Boys. Kulwinder Singh had come to the function after hearing that physically challenged would be given tricycles on the occasion.

However, he was not given a tricycle as he had not applied to the local Red Cross office for the same. Disappointed, he had to leave the venue.

Kulwinder, who can only crawl, had come from Lasare village in Khanna by a bus thinking he would go back riding the tricycle.

Talking to TNS he said he had applied to the Red Cross at Khanna but his constant reminders bore no fruit.

He said he was told to submit a fresh application with the local Red Cross. He was feeling disappointed as three others who had come with him were given the tricycles.

Kulwinder said he had developed the handicap when he was two years old. He kept on requesting the authorities for a tricycle but nothing had come of it.

Mr S.P. Mallik, secretary of the local Red Cross, said Kulwinder would be given a tricycle after he fulfilled certain formalities as required by the Government of India.

He said they had made a list of the disabled who needed help but Kulwinder had applied in Khanna and not with the Ludhiana administration.

Mr Mallik said he was supposed to furnish a medical certificate and an income certificate which should be less than Rs 2,000. He said he had told him to submit these requirements and attach an affidavit that he would use the tricycle and not sell it.

Mr Mallik added the Red Cross wanted to help people like him and the government had given them a grant of Rs 14 lakh which had to be used before March 31.

LUDHIANA CALLING

Symbolism holds an important place in our lives. Be it the national, religious or cultural, its celebration always creates a sense of belonging among the people. However, the national days have been reduced to ritualism. This Republic Day, when the country’s military might was being displayed at Rajpath, people in the city appeared indifferent. Not many attended the Republic Day functions, although the sun had come out after a long cold spell. Even the functions organised by various political parties did not attract much crowd. However, the Tricolour was purchased in thousands, as people sported it on vehicles and hoisted it on business establishments and houses.

Kissa kursi ka

Senior Congress leader, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, may have been elected Mayor, but he usually finds himself an odd man out when it comes to occupying chairs at various functions. Mr Gill seldom finds a seat at any function. at the Republic Day function organised by the Congress at the Vishwakarma Chowk, he did not get a chair again and had to sit on the ground with others. This made the local MLA, Mr Surinder Dawer, to take him to stage and find him a chair. The New Year Eve celebrations in the Satluj Club, the inauguration of the National Bridge Championship in the Satluj Club and the launch of the Drinking Water Supply Scheme by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation on November 1 were some other events where Mr Gill was found searching for chair. With all respects to the Mayor hand his status, better luck next time.

Kundi by PSEB?

The Punjab State Electricity Board raises noise against kundi connections, but it surprised everyone at the Republic Day celebrations in the Government College for Boys. The power supply for the function was through a kundi connection. Some news photographers clicked pictures of the kundis, only to invite the ire of an official. He told the newsmen: “DC Sahib has told the PSEB to give an uninterrupted power supply for the function and nothing is more uninterrupted than direct power supply.” May be the officials knows better about the efficiency of the PSEB, as far as the maintenance of uninterrupted power supply is concerned.

53rd or 54th?

Confusion prevailed on which Republic Day it was — 53rd or 54th? The confusion was spread by none other that the state government. Its advertisements gave the number as 53rd, while the advertisement inserted by the Union Government said it was 54th. Even a department store in the city offered 53 per cent discount on each items on Republic Day.

Watch your tongue

Chief guests tend to “overspeak” at functions. In front of the mike, they usually go on and on and organisers have a difficult time ending the function stretched beyond limit by the speaker. When Mr Lal Singh, Finance Minister of Punjab, was delivering his Republic Day address, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu, was caught looking at his watch. Perhaps he was counting the time taken by the minister in front of the mike.

Multipurpose repair

The NRI Sabha of Ludhiana held its annual meeting at an ultra-modern motor-repair complex near Dakha recently. Some boards, usually seen at car workshops, specifying the work being done there, juxtaposed with the occasion in a funny manner. Just over the stage where chief guests, including senior police officials, bureaucrats and politicians were seated, the board hanging over read Minor Repair. Where the NRIs were seated, the board over their heads read Major Repair. At the place where journalists were seated, the overhead board read Accidental Repair and where policemen were on guard, the board read Emergency Repair.

‘NIR’ Sabha

Several speakers at the annual meeting of the NRI Sabha aroused laughter in the audience by continuously pronouncing NRI as NIR. One of the speakers, later, said the time was short and there was so much to say. Thus, in haste, NRI was being pronounced as NIR repeatedly. It reminded one of the famous Bhagwant Mann satire, where a person repeatedly called an MLA LMA Sahib.

Colours of mourning

At the diamond-jubilee function of the Government College for Women, students organisers for five days of the function, had to wear white ‘salwar kameez’ and black sweaters. In the cold, the dress looked inappropriate. Some of the students said: “White and black are the colours of mourning.” An old student of the college said, in her days, students wore pink sweaters and looked rosy. “Why can’t we wear pink sweaters?” asked the volunteers.

Memory lane

Maharani Preneet Kaur was the chief guest at one of the functions organised by the Old Students’ Association to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the Government College for Women. When students performing giddha invited her to join them, she readily obliged and showed how adept she was at the dance. She sat down on the floor and tasted ‘sarson da saag’ and ‘makki di roti’. Later, she said all this reminded her of her carefree days spent at her ‘Nanaka’.

Obscene titles

Sentinel has often reported vulgar names of movies displayed on billboards. The latest one to hit the eye is that of a film titled ‘Pyaasa Jism’. The name has sexual connotations of the lowest order and hits one’s sentiments. The posters also suggests loud and lewd gesture. Is it fair to attract film goers with such cheap titles. Why should women and children be exposed to all this. Another movie called ‘Jism’ also has suggestive posters. Can the district administration shield the public from the onslaught of such vulgarity.

Tailpiece

A joke doing rounds in the police circles: What is the common between Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Pakistan’s ISI? Ans: Both are held responsible for anything that goes wrong in the state.

Sentinel

Factionalism to the fore at Lalaji’s anniversary
Naveen S.Garewal
Tribune News Service

Dhudi Ke (Moga), January 28
Shere-e-Punjab Lala Lajpat Rai sacrificed his life for the freedom of the nation, but politicians today left no opportunity to exploit his name for narrow political ends on the occasion of his birth anniversary.

the historic cultural mela held here for the past 48 years was converted into a show of strength where scantily clad women were made to dance on stage with a view to keeping the audience in tact.

While the Congress put up a parallel political stage for the first time in an apparent attempt to hijack the show, Akali Dal supporters tried their best to turn the Congress show into a damp squib and succeeded to quite an extent.

the entire village ,including the Lala Lajpat Rai Janmasthan Mela Committee (LLRJSMC), has split on political lines.

"For the past 48 years, the village has been celebrating the birth anniversary of Lalaji in the stadium of the local college. this year the Congress put up a political stage to draw political mileage", says Mr. Jagroop Singh, a local resident.

The Congress move proved to be a washout due to the last- minute cancellation in his programme to visit Lalaji's birthplace today by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

While two foundations stones, one for a Rs 35 lakh central government- aided water works project and another for widening of the village road by the Punjab government were laid on behalf of Captain Amarinder Singh by Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Dr Kewal Krishan and Chief Minister's Political Secretary H.S Barsat.

Dr Malti Thapar accompanied the two. Threats from supporters of the Akali Dal forced the district administration to deploy security personnel at the site of the foundation stone for the past many days.

The factionalism in the village surfaced when the sarpanch of the village, Mrs Gurdev Kaur, nominated a non- resident Indian (NRI) ,Mr Jagjit Singh Rana, as chairman of the mela committee and he in turn suggested the names of Akali M.P Sukhbir Singh Badal and senior Akali leader Tota Singh at number one and number two positions in the invitation cards, pushing Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's name to the third place.

This was objected to by the Congress supporter and ex-sarpanch, Mr Satnam Singh Swadeshi, who decided to have a separate political stage of the Congress.

Describing the happenings in the village as unfortunate, Capt Ajaib Singh, a member of the LLRJSMC, said: "this is the most unfortunate thing that has happened since November 17, 1959, when Dr. Rajendra Prasad, former President of India, laid the foundation stone of the Lala Lajpat Rai Birth Place memorial. He described the polarisation of the event as "unfortunate for the village".

Another member of the LLRJSMC, Mr. Roop Lal Mittal, who also happens to be descendant of Lala Lajpat Rai, brushed aside the happening in the village by saying, "groupism has divided the village, but which village does not have such factions".

Mr. Gurdev Singh, husband of the sarpanch, however, dismissed all talk of factionalism as 'figment of imagination" by certain people. He, however, refused to comment on two venues for this event of national importance.

Meanwhile, eight clubs participated in the rural sports meet held in the college stadium. Competitions were held in volleyball, kabaddi, hockey, bullock cart race, dog race and athletics.