The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, March 26, 2003, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
PROTEST MARCH: All parties protest march was organised from Gurdwara Singh Sabha through the main bazar upto the SDM office, here on Tuesday. The protesters raised anti-war slogans and demanded early stoppage of the military action against Iraq. Later, they submitted a memorandum to Mr Amarjit Singh Shahi, SDM, Amloh. The Bar Association at a meeting chaired by Mr Pritam Singh Swaich, vice-president of the association resolved to abstain from court work and wear black badges as a token of protest and decided to join the all party protest march. The resolution also condemned the killing of 20 innocent Kashmiri Brahmins in Nadimgarh village in Kashmir by terrorists.

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY: Bhagat Dhanna Jatt Khet Sabha, Punjab organised its fourth state-level function to celebrate the birthday of Bhagat Dhanna at Kumbh village, 4km from here, on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, after the Akhand Path Bhog, Chief Guest Dr Balwant Kaur, former Principal of Gurmat College, Patiala, who had presented her research works on the Bhagat said that Bhagat Dhanna is one of the 36 prominent saints mentioned in the Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Nanak Devji while collecting the writings of Saints, also collected the references of Bhagat Dhannaji and his writings are placed in the Guru Granth Sahib.

AMRITSAR
MoU SIGNED: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday between the DAV College Managing Committee and the Police Welfare Society for running the local police public school. The DGP, Mr M.S. Bhullar, and the Chairman of the DAV College Managing Committee, Mr G.P. Chopra, welcomed the move of the handing over of the management of the police school.

APPEALED: The Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) and the Khalra Mission Committee (KMC) have appealed to the Indian leaders to raise their voice for the expulsion of the USA from the United Nations Organisation for attacking Iraq. Mr Surinder Singh Ghariyala of the PHRO and Mr Balwinder Singh Chabbal, general secretary of the KMC, while stating this in a joint press release said there was a great difference between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden.

BATHINDA
PARISHAD POLL: The Bharat Vikas Parishad in a press note issued here on Tuesday said Mr Ashok Gupta had been elected president of the South-Punjab unit of the parishad, S.R. Prabhakar as secretary and Mr Naresh Pal Kansal elected as treasurer.

BODY FOUND: The body of a man (45) was fished out from the water body of Singo village, about 50 km from here, by volunteers of the Sahara Jan Seva. Sources said that the deceased was wearing a kurta and the body had putrified. The body was brought to the local Civil Hospital and handed over to the NGO after a postmortem examination which cremated the body.

DHARNA: Employees of local Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant on Tuesday held a dharna near the plant as part of the struggle against the proposed formation of a corporation in place of the PSEB. The employees shouted slogans against the Punjab Government and the Haldia Committee, accusing them of watching the interests of big industrial houses and ignoring the employees and consumers of the PSEB. The employees threatened to go for an indefinite strike if the government did not relent.

DORAHA
MEDICAL CAMP: A free check-up camp will be organised at Rajwant Hospital on Wednesday. According to Dr Rajwant Singh, a free skin examination camp would be held for residents of Doraha town and those of the surrounding villages by Dr Shalu Khurana. Dr Rajwant singh said vaccinations for children would be provided at concessional rates.

HOSHIARPUR
LOK ADALATS: To provide cheap and quick justice, Lok Adalats will be organised at Hoshiarpur, Garhshankar and Dasuya on Saturday. Mr Harbans Lal, District and Sessions Judge, Hoshiarpur, said here on Monday that keeping the view the number of cases two of three Benches would be constituted at the Hoshiarpur Lok Adalat.

CONVOCATION: The Punjab Government is spending Rs 126 crore to improve the standard of elementary schools. This was disclosed by Mr Romesh Chander Dogra, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, while addressing the annual prize distribution function of the local Government College, on Sunday. He gave away prizes to 265 students.

KHARAR
FUNCTION: The local Rotary Club organised a function under the Vocational Services avenue at Giandeep Senior Secondary School here on Monday. According to the project chairman, Ms Mandeep Kaur Badwal, the aim of the programme was to distribute certificates among those needy girls who had underwent training of tailoring and embroidery at the Rotary Vocational Training Centre. Ms Raghbir Kaur, Councillor, was the chief guest. She distributed certificates among 18 needy girls. A cultural programme was also presented by the girls.

LUDHIANA
DROUGHT RELIEF: The district administration has disbursed Rs 19.23 crore on account of drought relief for paddy among farmers in Ludhiana. According to a statement here on Tuesday, cheques for Rs 10 per quintal as bonus will also be disbursed to the farmers from next week. The farmers, who have not received their relief cheques till date, should contact their respective procurement centres or the district Food and Supplies Department.

DEAN OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES: Dr K.N.S. Kang, Director, Punjab College of Technical Education, has been nominated as the Dean of Management Studies for 51 management colleges of Punjab Technical University. He has been given an honorary charge to the post lying vacant for the past several years. Dr Kang is an electrical engineer from Regional Engineering College, Kurukshetra, MBA and Doctorate in the field of marketing and has been the Director of PCTE for the past four years.

NOMINATED: A Congress leader, Mr Kirpal Singh Grewal, has been nominated Chairman of the Kisan and Khet Mazdoor Cell of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. The appointment has been made by Dr Balram Jakhar, Chairman, Kisan and Khet Mazdoor Department of the AICC, with the approval of Ms Sonia Gandhi. Dr Jakhar has asked Mr Grewal to prepare a list of names for inclusion in state executive and appointment as district presidents in consultation with the PPCC President, Mr H.S. Hanspal.

PATIALA
URGED: Theatre groups, artistes and art lovers here have urged the Director North Zone Cultural Centre to provide free stage, light, sound and seating facilities to theatre enthusiasts for shows in the town on the pattern of Kala Gram, Mani Majra, Chandigarh, which provides such facilities for shows on Saturdays and Sundays. The National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS) has also urged the Chief Minister Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, to order the revival of held-up pension of the inmates of the local Dr Khushdeva Singh Leprosy Patients Colony.

WORLD TB DAY: The TB and Chest Diseases Hospital in association with Aastha, a social welfare organisation, celebrated the World TB Day here on Monday. Dr Jai Kishen, Head and Deputy Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said 40 per cent of the total Indian population was infected with TB bacillus and the disease claimed the life one person every minute. Dr Jai Kishen said TB was a curable disease and under the RNTCP (Revised National TB Control Programme) the spread of TB could be stopped. The Deputy Mayor, Mr Kabir Dass, said the stigma attached with the disease should be removed.

WORKSHOP: A four-day workshop on science and technical terminology organised by the Department of Anthropological Linguistics in Punjabi language concluded at Punjabi University here on Monday. The workshop was inaugurated by renowned linguist Dr Prem Singh of Delhi University. He delivered a lecture on technical terminology and problems and challenges facing Punjabi language in present times. He advised linguists of using simple words while preparing terminology. Earlier, Mr Joga Singh, Head of the Department, welcomed the guests. Prominent among others who spoke were Dr Mohan Lal, Scientific Officer, Commission for Science and Technological, Dr Jatinder Singh Sondhi, Assistant Director, Punjab State University Text Book Board, Dr G.S. Arshi, Dean (Faculty), and Dr R.N Pal, Pro Vice-Chancellor.

PROGRAMME: A programme on the management of hazardous chemicals was organised here on Tuesday by the HRD Foundation, New Delhi, in association with the Mohali Industries Association. It was attended by over 40 participants from the industry and government organisations. Mr Sanjay Kumar, Labour Commissioner, Punjab, inaugurated the programme.

SAMRALA
NRI KILLED: NRI, Sukhminder Singh (30), was killed here on Monday morning when a Maruti car hit into his scooter opposite the new bus stand. Mr Sukhminder Singh was going to Sri Bhaini Sahib to distribute sweets on the occasion of the first birthday of his son. He was a Namdhari. His body was cremated at Sri Bhaini Sahib after the post-mortem examination. The local police has registered a case and started the investigation. The driver of the Maruti car ran away after leaving the vehicle.

SPORTS MEET: The 20th village sports tournaments, including a cultural function is organised by the Baba Falahiwala Sports Club, Sherpur Bet, near here from March 27 to 30, according to the club chairman, Mr Sohan Lal Sherpuri. Mr Tejinder Singh Kooner, Vice-President of the district unit of the Congress will inaugurate the sports and Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, MP, and Mr Tej Parkash Singh Kotli, Minister of Transport, will distribute the prizes to the winners.

TARN TARAN
FREE EYE CAMP: As many as 350 patients were examined at a free eye camp organised here on Monday by the local Citizen Council with the help of the District Blindness Control Society. As many as 75 patients were admitted for operation. Mr Kuljit Singh, Assistant Income Tax Commissioner, inaugurated the camp.

BOOKED: Balwinder Singh, husband, Gurnam Singh, brother-in-law and Surinder Kaur, sister-in-law of Rajwinder Kaur have been booked under Sections 306, 498A and 34 of the IPC for allegedly killing her.

ZIRAKPUR
VOLTAGE SHOOTS UP: Electronic equipment, including cordless phones, televisions and CD players, were damaged due to a sudden increase in voltage at Highland Society, Baltana, Zirakpur, this afternoon.

CHANDIGARH

PURCHASE TAX: The BJP President, Mr Yashpal Mahajan, has said that four per cent purchase tax will not be levied on industries of the city. An assurance to this effect was given to him by the Finance Secretary, Mr Karan Avtar Singh, at a meeting here on Monday, according to a press note. Mr Mahajan also asked the Finance Secretary to defer the imposition of VAT on the city.

WRITERS’ WORKSHOP: A four-day writers’ workshop for development of reading materials for neo-literate began at the ICSSR Complex, Panjab University, here on Tuesday. The workshop is being organised by the Department of Adult, Continuing Education and Extension. Prof R.C. Rajpal, an eminent writer and a former head of the Department of Hindi at Punjabi University, in his inaugural address called upon writers to use maximum material which was based on the spoken language and dialect of the people for whom it was intended. Dr Ajaib Singh, director of the department send achievements in the literacy rate in India was sluggish. The neo-literate after having completed the neo-literacy were lapsing back into illiteracy. Dr C.L. Narang, assistant director, explained that there was a need to provide literature related to the daily life of the people. The prominent participants included Dr D.S Gupt, Mr K.L. Zakir, Mr Parvesh Sethi, Dr Harjit Kaur Sandhu, Principal S.C. Khosla and Dr Sharanjit Kaur.

SEMINAR: Techniques of using evaluation and feedback to improve learning were discussed at a seminar organised by Educational Initiatives, an Admedabad-based firm, at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41 here on Tuesday. Firm's director, Sridhar Rajagopalan, said various techniques could be used for improving student learning through evaluation of the students' output as well as feedback obtained form them. Earlier, the principal of the school, Mr D S Bedi spoke about the relevance of skill-based learning.

PANCHKULA
CAMPAIGN: BP-Panchkula, a company owned and company operated retail outlet of Bharat Petroleum, started a novel campaign for its customers, BP Panchkula discount booklet, here on Monday. Under the campaign, the customers are being given a discount booklet comprising discount coupons from leading establishments. Nearly 20 establishments feature in the booklet offering services like modular kitchen, jewellery, food items, medicines, gifts, hotel rooms, etc., according to a press note of the company.

DEMAND: The Citizens Welfare Association has demanded an Assembly status for the town by carving out a separate Assembly segment from the present Kalka Assembly segment. Mr S.K. Nayar, president of the forum, said the Delimitation Commission set up by the Union Government under Justice Kuldip Singh should take the demand into consideration as the town now had a population of over 2 lakh.

CAMP: At least 18 laparoscopic operations and one vasectomy was conducted by a team of doctors during a family planning operation camp organised by the local chapter of the Family Planning Association of India in association with the Arya Samaj, Sector 12, here on Monday.

MEETING: A meeting of the Haryana State Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Employees Welfare Association was held at Guru Ravidas Bhavan in Sector 15 on Sunday. Discussions were held on the 81st and 85th Amendments to the Constitution and the members were apprised of the provisions under these amendments.

SPRING CAMP: The annual spring camp at Satluj Public School started on Tuesday. Various highlights of the camp are cooking, dance, art and craft, spoken English, personality development, roller skating, general and physical fitness. The camp will conclude on April 1.

PROGRAMME: A consumer development programme was organised by Laghu Udyog Sewa Sansthan at Gari Kotahan village on Tuesday. The camp was inaugurated by General Manager of District Industries Centre, Ms Asha Jeyrath. The villagers were told about the various programmes offered by the Sansthan and District Industries Centre for setting up business enterprises.

AUCTION: The auction of kiosks of fruit juice, tea stall, coffee stall etc in the district court complex will be held on March 31. The bidders will be required to deposit Rs 5000 as bid amount before participating in the auction and will have to make arrangements for water, electricity and fire fighting on their own, said Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Satwanti Ahlawat.

HARYANA

AMBALA
COMPLAINT: On a complaint by the Superintendent of Central Jail, Ambala, the Baldev Nagar police station has registered a case against a prisoner who did not return after the expiry of the parole period. Maiman, a resident of Sonepat district had gone on parole on February 2 for four weeks which expired on March 3.

PROTEST: Private bus operators of Ambala City suspended the bus service on Tuesday to protest against the incident at Baldev Nagar in which several youth had beaten the drive of a private bus. A youth fell down from a private bus near Baldev Nagar chowk that provoked other youths to manhandle the driver of the bus. The bus drivers in protest parked their buses near Baldev Nagar police station and demanded arrest of the youths involved.

KILLINGS CONDEMNED: The local unit of Panum Kashmir on Tuesday held an emergency meeting to condemn the brutal killing of 24 persons in the valley. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Mr NN Kaul. District coordinator JL Kaul said that tributes were paid to those who were killed. He said that Kashmiri Hindus should be given proper protection. Mr Kaul alleged that local authorities were not providing any assistance to displaced Kashmiris despite repeated requests.

TB CAMP: A TB check-up-cum-treatment camp was organised by the Rotary Club of Ambala, along with Elders’ Fourm on Monday. Club president Naresh Bhardwaj said that the awareness about TB was generated in the camp. CEO Cantonment Board, Ambala Cantt Ms Sonam Yangdol was the chief guest. About 200 patients were examined. The patients were given medicines and healthy diet.

MDSD GIRLS COLLEGE: Two students of MDSD Girls College, Ambala City, Rama Saini (48 kg) and Pooja (53 kg) won silver and bronze medals, respectively, in state weight-lifting championship held recently.

DRIVE: The Railway Police, on a tip off by an intelligence agency launched a special search drive in the night trains especially coming from J&K side. The SP, GRP, Haryana, Mr Ravi Azad said that the special security arrangements had been made in Sialdah Express following the mass killing of Pandits in Shopian on Monday.

NABBED: The Railway Police has nabbed members of armed gang at Kurukshetra. The SP, Railway, said here on Tuesday that the crime branch of railway police received information about the gang of six miscreants. The police then arrested six persons Bhim Singh, Surinder, Rajesh, Arvind, Kanwarjit and Vijay. The police also seized .12 bore country-made pistol, two live cartridges and some sharp weapons from them. During the search 15 gm smack and 70 gm of opium was also seized from the possession of two of the miscreants.

MEMORANDUM: The Anti Terrorist Front of India submitted a memorandum to the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Neelam Pardeep Kasni, addressed to the President of India in protest against the killing of innocent civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. The national chairman of the front, Mr Viresh Shandilay, said the front would burn the Pakistani flag on Tuesday at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh.

FOOD BANK PROJECT: The local branch of the Mahavir International Service Club has started a food bank project. The zonal chairman of the organisation, Mr A.S.Ranka, launched the project. The secretary of the local branch, Mr Surender Jain, said under this project, wheat, rice and other food items would be collected by members of the club and distributed among the needy.

RALLY: Mr Surender Singh, general secretary of the Haryana Vikas Party, has promised that if his party comes to power, house tax and form No. 38 of sales tax would be withdrawn. He was addressing a rally in the city on Tuesday.

HISAR
ARRESTED: the police on Tuesday arrested a youth on rape charge. According to the police, Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Kanoh village, had allegedly raped a girl of the same village on Monday when she was alone in her house.

BOOKED: The police on Tuesday booked six persons, including three women, for demanding dowry. According to the police, Suman, a resident of Navdeep Colony was married to Anil Kumar of Umed Vihar Colony here last year. After the marriage her in-laws started harassing her for more dowry. The police has registered the case against her husband Anil Kumar, her sister-in-law Santosh, Rajbala, Geeta and another kin Surender Kumar.