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| Monday,
June 9, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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SGPC chief writes to PM Amritsar, June 8 The SGPC chief also took strong exception to the report of the Union Home Ministry that Sikh militants were getting arms training in certain countries which enjoy good relations with India. “It is stunning to go through the anti-Sikh contents of the annual report of 2003 by the Union Ministry. The paragraph (1.20) of the report says : There are approximately 50 splinter groups of militants active in Punjab. However, contrary to this assertion, the next few lines mention only six such organisations. In all fairness the Home Ministry should have supported such a far-reaching statements with sufficient evidence”. The SGPC chief said absurdity of the above assertion was self-explanatory, as there had never been 50 militant organisations during the peak militancy days. “Furthermore, in a bid to lend support to anti-Sikh and anti-Pakistan propaganda the report refers to Pakistan as trying to revive militancy in Punjab in a big way through the ISI which has promised its full support to the overseas pro-Khalistan leaders who visited Pakistan during Baisakhi celebrations in April, 2002. It is absolutely baseless as there exists no trace of such thing on the ground”, the SGPC chief said. The letter further reads, “as the signs of a thaw between India-Pakistan relations are becoming visible, such unconfirmed allegations can become impediment in the peace initiative”. Mr Badungar said it was all the more intriguing to read in the report that the ISI had set up training camps for Sikh youths in Muscat, Dubai, Thailand and Iran. He said the government should have come out with facts and figures in this regard. “Such a wild and serious charge not only impacts adversely on the image of Sikhs but also on the countries in questions. Mr Badungar asked the Prime Minister to look into the matter and have those objectionable contents removed from the annual report so that the Sikhs might feel alienated in their own motherland. |
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SHSAD President discharged
from hospital Patiala, June 8 “We declared Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as a martyr from Manji Sahib in the Darbar Sahib complex in 1995”, Mr Tohra said while talking to TNS. He said, however, this move could not be adopted fully because of pressure from relatives of the sant himself who claimed that he was alive. He said besides this, there was pressure from the Damdami Taksal and the SGPC could not adopt this line completely. Mr Tohra said the SGPC and the Sikh “panth” had been paying respects to Sant Bhindranwale on a constant basis at Akal Takth during the “Ghallughara” week. When questioned about recent allegations that he and Mr Parkash Singh Badal had been a party to Operation Bluestar which led farm attack on Akal Takth, he said this theory had been propounded by some ‘agencies’. He said the agencies had a two-pronged strategy of killing Sant Bhindranwale as well as discrediting both him and Mr Badal. Questioned about a recent function organised by the Shiv Sena to pay respects to soldiers who had been killed during Operation Bluestar, he said everyone had a right to his own opinion. He, however, said if the function was held with a competitive spirit alongside the June 6 function organised by the Akal Takth Jathedar then it was wrong. The veteran leader also made it clear the unity had already been achieved. He said he had already dissolved the SHSAD after the elections. He said the party organisational set up had not been created again because talks of unity had been initiated with the SAD. When asked whether his party would merge with the SAD, he said the Akali Dal was neither his nor Badal’s. Meanwhile, Mr Tohra will stay at the Hira Nagar residence of his son-in-law, Mr Harmail Singh Tohra, in the city. His son-in-law said the doctors had advised complete rest to Mr Tohra and he would not be travelling out of the city for some time. |
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Martyr’s status: BJP has reservations Phagwara, June 8 |
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Punjab Govt blamed for Talhan Hoshiarpur, June 8 They condemned the statement of the president of the PPCC in which he had tried to blame the BJP and other political parties for the incident. They demanded resignation of the Capt Amarinder Singh’s government for its failure to protect lives and properties of people. Meanwhile, the Guru Ravi Dass Sabha, Hoshiarpur, at a meeting here last evening constituted an eight-member Dalit Chetna Action Committee for supporting of Dalits of Jalandhar and for taking action to join the struggle. Principal Chaman Lal, Mr Mohinder Singh Heer, Mr Gurmail Singh Bajaj, Principal Shiv Singh Bunger, Mr Chanan Lal, Principal Chain Kumar, Mr Malkiat Ram and Harjinder Singh were nominated members of the committee. The Dalit Chetna Action Committee demanded compensation of Rs 15 lakh each for the families of the deceased and government job for their kin. The committee also demanded compensation for the losses to property in the violence. Shiromani Akali Dal legislators Chaudhary Balbir Singh Maini and Desh Raj Dhuggi today said that the Talhan incidents had reflected Capt Amarinder Singh government’s failure and, therefore, the Chief Minister should quit the post. The two legislators demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the violence. Phagwara: A meeting of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha Punjab was held at nearby Hadiabad sub-town on Sunday with its president Manjit Singh Rai in the chair and its BJP state in charge and party’s general secretary, Prof Rajinder Bhandari, also taking part. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, both leaders criticised the government’s failure over Talhan issue. The meeting maintained that Punjab Government should not have allowed the problem to linger on. It decided to hold a state-level seminar on River Linking Project at Jalandhar on July 6. Jathedar Rajinder Singh Fauji, member of the Central Executive Committee of SAD (A), and also a member of the party’s fact-finding panel for the Talhan incident saw fascist forces of Hindutava behind the caste clashes between Dalits and Jats at Talhan village. In a statement here, Jathedar Fauji claimed that the panel had visited the village a few weeks ago and had succeeded in narrowing down the differences between the two sides after meeting representatives of the Dalits and the Jats. However, the fascist forces exploited the issue which had flared up now into caste clash, he said. |
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BSP for sack of Amarinder govt Sangrur, June 8 Addressing a joint press conference here this evening, Mr Avtar Singh Karimpuri, President of Punjab BSP and Mr Narinder Kashyap, in charge BSP affairs, Punjab, added that no Dalit in Punjab was safe as the Amarinder Government was ruling the state with “Mannuvadi” approach. Mr Karimpuri said in view of the “anti Dalit” policies of the Congress Government in Punjab, the BSP appealed to the Dalits to do work for the political “death” of the Congress. He said in the previous Assembly elections, the Dalits voted for the Congress in a big way, but the Congress was not “reawarding” them with “lathis” and “bullets”. Mr Karimpuri also stated that the Punjab BSP would hold a “Ninda avm Dhikkar Rally” on June 10 at Chandigarh to raise the voice of Dalits. On the same day the BSP would also submit a memorandum to the Punjab Governor to dismiss the Captain Government as it had “failed” on all fronts, especially in protecting the Dalits. Mr Karimpuri also alleged that social boycott of Dalits by the upper castes at several places was an outcome of encouragement to “mannuwadi” approach by the Captain Government. |
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Talhan: Badal flays Cong Faridkot, June 8 He said if no immediate action was taken to maintain peace in the area, the situation might deteriorate. Holding entirely responsible to the Congress government for the prevailing conditions, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal alleged that whenever the Congress found itself in trouble, it always tried to create communal tension through different religious acts among different communities. Talking to this reporter here today, Mr Badal, who had returned here last evening after touring the affected areas, said due to the misdeeds of the previous Congress government, hundreds of innocent people lost their lives during the militancy over a decade ago in the state. Ridiculing the claim made by Capt Amarinder Singh during a press conference at Jalandhar yesterday for identifying the culprits behind this disturbance he said why the government was delaying in nabbing them. While criticising the excesses of the police being committed on the
Dalits, Mr Badal alleged that rule of jungle was prevailing in Punjab and nobody was there to check the police activities. He also assailed the government for imposing curfew in the area only to create panic among inhabitants of the area. Mr Badal also deplored the civil administration failing to control the situation at the initial stage. In reply to a question Mr Gurdev Singh Badal disclosed that both the SAD and the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal
(SHSAD) led by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra would jointly contest the coming panchayat elections in the state and give a crushing defeat to the Congress. |
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Talhan incident condemned Bathinda, June 8 Mr Tara Singh Brar, district press secretary of the federation, said here that the incident was the result of vested interests and the discriminatory policies being followed by successive government. Urging both the aggrieved sides to exercise restrain, Mr Brar said people should not play into the hands of the politicians, who had been creating the wedge between various sections of society. He urged the government to provide free treatment to the injured and to beef up the security. In another statement, Mr Rajbir Singh Sidhu and Mr Suresh Kumar
Goyal, both office-bearers of the General Samaj Party, today condemned the clashes. |
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CM skips visit to violence-hit areas Jalandhar, June 8 The sources maintain that though the Chief Minister wanted to visit the affected areas, he accepted the advise of the Administration and changed his mind. One of the reasons given for the Chief Minister skipping the affected areas was the apprehension of a probable gherao by agitated “Dalits” in Buta Mandi area and the “Jats” in Talhan gurdwara. |
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Caste clash: BJP seeks relief Chandigarh, June 8 Terming the caste clash incident as unfortunate, he said the BJP would take up this issue with the Centre and demanded a compensation of Rs 15 lakh for the Dalit killed in alleged police firing in Jalandhar and Rs 1 lakh for those injured in the incident. “Those behind this act should be severely punished. The whole incident has been engineered by those elements who do not want communities to co-exist peacefully. The Punjab Government could have prevented the violence from breaking out had it acted on time, but it chose to overlook the series of events which led to this clash,” Mr Shastri told mediapersons here today. |
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Phagwara bandh today Phagwara, June 8 |
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Power sector reforms must: Manmohan Chandigarh, June 8 Speaking at a seminar on "Power sector reforms in Punjab" organised by the PSEB Engineers' Association here today, he said the course of reforms could be decided by holding debates and discussions with technocrats, professionals and other experts. "I expect the Punjab Government to hold discussion at every level before passing the Punjab Electricity Bill, 2003." It was also the Congress agenda to make the power boards self-sustaining by ordering reforms. Talking about the power subsidy to farmers, the former union minister said it could be given only to the extent that it should not affect the financial sustainability of the board concerned. When asked to elaborate on power sector reforms, Dr Manmohan Singh said he was not proposing outright privatisation of such utilities. "Let there be structural reforms in this sector. There should also be entry of the private player to make it competitive to benefit consumers", he added. Mr Y.S. Ratra, Chairman of the PSEB, talking about internal reforms said "I would like to turn every feeder centre into a profit centre. Without following this route, there would be no reduction in line and other energy losses." All concerned would be made accountable with regard to generation and sale of power. The board's cash loss, which had come down to Rs 531 crore, would be wiped out by the end of this financial year. The board would break even by March 31, he added. Reforms were bound to stay though a cautious approach would have to be adopted in this connection. Mrs Vini Mahajan, Managing Director of the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board, said "unbundling" of the PSEB should not be confused with privatisation. There was no intention to privatise the board, she asserted. She said while going for power reforms, all expert groups, including PSEB engineers, would be involved in the process. "It was wrong to say that reforms were being introduced in Punjab at the behest of international financial institutions. The state government was using its own genius to initiate the reforms", she said. Mr S.K. Anand, a Member of the PSEB, said reforms should evolve from within the organisation and not imposed from the top. Unfortunately technocrats had been marginalised in this country and they were not being allowed to play any role in policy making. Mr Gajendra Haldia, author of the power reforms in Punjab, said he did not oppose subsidy to the farming sector. "I wanted that the subsidy should be given in a more transparent and focused manner". He tried to remove misunderstandings with regard to restructuring of the PSEB. The open access to private players was the need of the hour to make the field more competitive, he said. There could not open access in the existing structure of the PSEB because the monopoly of the board in the carriage system would create problems for private power generators, who would like to use the carriage system for distribution of power. There were high losses and low efficiency in PSEB. Mr M.S. Bajwa, president of the PSEB Engineers' Association, said there was no need for unbundling the PSEB which was on the road to recovery. The reforms were possible in the existing structure of the board. He was for functional unbundling of the board. There should be accountability at all levels in power generation, transmission and distribution. Every officer should be asked to give an account of power units received and sold. The board management should review the performance of each wing. Open access may be introduced on an experimental basis. There should be a professional management with a fixed tenure. He underscored the need for massive human resoure development. Mr M.G. Devasahayam, a power sector expert, said it was the most complex sector. It could not be treated like any other commercial sector. The reforms could only be made keeping in view the socio-economic composition of the country. There were crores of marginal consumers of power with a low capacity to pay. Among others who spoke were Mr Garish Sant, a member of an NGO on the power sector from Pune. Mr N.S. Vasant, a former Chairman of the PSEB, was also present. |
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PSEB not to be privatised: minister Jalandhar, June 8 “The state government has decided not to privatize the board and rather encourage the private parties interested to install power plants in the state as there was lack of funds with the government to install new power generation plants” Mr Lal Singh told reporters here today. Justifying the imposition of power tariff on farm sector, he said that this was must to impress upon the World Bank to take loan, which was not given by the latter during the last five years due the Badal government’s decision of providing free power supply to agriculture sector. “Although there was free power worth Rs 1250 crore going to Farmers, but government has imposed just minimum tariff to collect only Rs 300, rest of the money was still going as subsidy to them” he added. In principle the World Bank has agreed to give us loan of Rs 5000 crore, out of which Rs 1000 crore will be spent to upgrade functioning of the PSEB and rest of the money will be spent for development projects, water supply and building basic infrastructure, he said.
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Announcement on united Akali Dal soon Amritsar, June 8 After the formal unity, Mr Tohra would write to the Chief Election Commission to derecognise the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal. The united Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) will be rechristened as the Shiromani Akali Dal and suffix Badal would be deleted. However, Mr Badal will continue to remain the president of SAD. The spade work for the much-hyped unity had already been done. According to sources, there will be major reshuffle in the SGPC and its trusts. Though Mr Tohra is not keen to take over as SGPC chief immediately, yet he will like to get his men “adjusted” in various trusts being run by the SGPC at the earliest. When contacted on phone, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, a former secretary SGPC admitted that Mr Badal had spoken to Mr Tohra on telephone after he was exonerated by Akal Takht. Mr Calcutta said Mr Tohra had said that Mr Badal could visit his house at Patiala any time for the formal unity. He said Mr Tohra was happy that Mr Badal had appeared before Akal Takht. |
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Crucial SAD meeting tomorrow Chandigarh, June 8 Sources said today that the latest political situation arising out of the caste-clash at Talhan village would be discussed at the meeting, besides chalking out the election strategy with regard to the panchayat poll to be held on June 29. The SAD had already expressed its concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and had demanded the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh’s, resignation. The sources said the date for holding a formal function to announce the unity with the faction led by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra would also be decided at the meeting. |
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Cong councillors’ rift to the fore Faridkot, June 8 According to reports as many as 10 party municipal councillors out of a total of 14 in the local nagar council had separate meeting with the PPCC president at the residence of Ms Amritbir Kaur, vice-chairperson of the council, today and demanded action against another senior Congress councillor Gurtej Singh Gill for disobeying the party high command during the election to the post of president of the council held here in March last. They alleged that Mr Gill had got one of his supporters Gurcharan Singh, elected to the coveted post with the support of the independent and Shiromani Akali Dal councillors thus damaging the cause of the party. They said Mr Bal Mukand Sharma, vice-president of the PPCC, who had arrived as a party observer for the poll had also taken a serious view of the matter and had recommended to the party high command to take disciplinary action against all those Congress councillors, including Mr Gill, who had violated the party’s discipline. The 10 councillors said Mr Gill, who had remained a senior leader of the SAD consecutively for over 40 years, had joined the Congress during the last Assembly poll in the state to meet his political gains. Levelling many more charges, the councillors also accused Mr Gill of adopting a discriminatory attitude towards them with the support of the president of the council in the selection of various development works being taken up in the town after the grant of Rs 57 lakh by the Punjab Government recently. They also sought a probe into the alleged misutilisation of funds worth Rs 90 lakh that had been given by the former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, during a sangat darshan programme to the nagar council during the tenure of Mr Gill as president of the council. Mr Joban Singh, Mr Tulsi Ram, Ms Amritbir Kaur, Mr Baljit Singh Gora, Ms Uma Grover, Ms Sonia Bansal, Mr Mohinder Singh Bhandari, Mr Ranjit Singh Khera, Ms Jasbir Kaur and Ms Sukhjit Kaur, were among the councillors who met the PPCC president. Later, Mr Khera and Mr Joban Singh admitted that they had brought the facts in this connection to the notice of PPCC president. Interestingly Mr Gill, who had the support of one of the senior office-bearers of the PPCC, was sitting in an adjoining room of the house at the time. He also had an heated argument with a PPCC member who also got support of another senior office-bearers of PPCC for using some derogatory remarks against Mr Gill earlier. While categorically refuting the charges, Mr Gill said he was a staunch supporter of the policies of the Congress and would try to maintain them at all costs. He also clarified that he had not violated any party discipline during the poll and added that he had already explained this at the meeting of a five-member disciplinary action committee held at Chandigarh last week. He disclosed that Mr Avtar Singh Brar, vice-president, PPCC, and ex-MLA, Faridkot, and Mr S.K. Gupta, a veteran Congress leader and a close associate of former President Giani Zail Singh, were also present in the DAC meeting. |
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Mann fears rigging Jalalabad, June 8 He alleged that certain Congressmen had been “accommodated” while preparing the reservation lists and reservation of Chak Suhele Wala, his native village, was an example of it. Many SAD stronghold panchayats in his area had been reserved at the behest of a Congress leader, he added while talking to presspersons at a rice mill here yesterday. However, the SAD was prepared to counter any “dirty design” of the Amarinder government and the public support to SAD would show that the panchayat elections would be the beginning of the downfall of the Congress government in the state, he added. |
MLA opens bridge on behalf of CM Soan (Ropar), June 8 Mr Rana opened up the 445.90 metre bridge with 1125 metre-long approaches with protection works after cutting the ribbon and throwing it open to general traffic. The said bridge was completed for more than two months ago and was just waiting inauguration by the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister’s programme was fixed four times in the past two months to inaugurate the said bridge. Every time the district administration and the PIDB officials were started preparing for the Chief Minister’s visit. However, the visit was cancelled at the last moment. Mr KPS Rana talking to newsmen at the bridge site yesterday clarified that the Chief Minister had deputed him to inaugurate the bridge keeping in view the inconvenience to the people of the area. Sources however said that the Congress men decided to inaugurate the bridge apprehending that the SAD/BJP workers of the area were planning to get the bridge inaugurated from Mr Parkash Singh Badal. The SAD/BJP leaders have been claiming that it was their government that cleared the bridge project. When asked if he had violated the election code of conduct by inaugurating the bridge he said that he had just opened up the bridge for general public keeping in view their convenience. Ms Vini Mahajan, Managing Director of the PIDB, who was also present on the occasion told newsmen that the said bridge was the joint venture of the PIDB and PWD Department. The work of the bridge had been completed in 14 months at a cost of Rs 8.5 crore. The work of the connecting the bridge with 20 metre wide road is likely to be completed by September at an approximate cost of Rs 5 crore. The PIDB had been entrusted with the job of developing infrastructure in the state. It gets funds of Rs 100 crore a year from the one per cent infrastructure cess levied on the food grain procurement and Rs 1 on the petrol in the state. This year the government has increased the budget of PIDB to Rs 120 crore. To another query she told that toll was being proposed by the PIDB for the maintenance of its projects. To assess the toll tax proposal it has been imposed on the newly developed Ropar-Phagwara and Jagraon-Nakodar roads. The toll tax has been proposed at the rate of Rs 10 per 40 km. On imposing toll tax on the Soan bridge she said though at present there was no such proposal, tax had to be imposed in future to maintain the road, she said. The bridge that was planned during the regime of the previous government was budgeted initially at cost of Rs 18 crore. However, after adopting different and new technology the cost has been Rs 8.5 crore. Mr KS Rao, the site engineer at the project said that the cost of the project has been cut with the adoption of the wing wall design adopted for the first time in the state. Besides this the guide banks have been developed at the side of the bridge, which have saved the amount to be spent on the canalization of the Soan river. |
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Idol theft: police still clueless Mard Khera (Sunam), June 8 This stolen idol, measuring 90x60 cm, was unearthed by a local girl, Paramjit Kaur, on September 19, 1980, while digging a mound. When the news about this rare idol spread the Central Government reportedly tried to take it in its custody but the move was opposed by the villagers. Later, the village panchayat constructed a small temple and installed the idol of the Sun God there. Mr Rameshwar Dass, a resident of Sunam, told TNS that the stolen idol was registered with the Punjab Archaeology and Cultural Affairs Department (SGR/945/1982/9.2.1982) under the Antiquities and Art Treasures/Rules, 1973. Mr Avtar Singh, Sarpanch of the village, said he had got an FIR registered at Mehlan police post near here when the theft came into his notice. Mr Vir Singh, father of Paramjit Kaur, who had unearthed the idol said the theft of the idol came to their notice when his granddaughter, Harjinder Kaur (13) visited the temple on February 20 to clean it. The police had registered a case under Sections 295, 380 and 457 of the IPC on February 24. Mr Deepinder Pal Singh, in charge, Mehlan village police post, when contacted over the phone, said the police was trying to trace the idol and arrest thieves. He said he had visited the National Crime Record Bureau in New Delhi, in the last week of May and had brought records of idol thieves from there and added that there was no mention of any idol thieves’ gang active in Punjab. He said the police was also in touch with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Chandigarh, in this regard. Mr Sukhdev Singh Virk, SHO, Sunam Sadar police station, said the police had also conducted raids at several places, including Chandigarh, to nab the thieves. He said the Sangrur SSP had also constituted a high-level committee, comprising SP(D), Sunam DSP, and Sunam SHO, to handle the case and trace the stolen idol as early as possible. |
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Shiv Sena chief ‘misusing’ security Amritsar, June 8 The All-India Hindu Shiv Sena chief, Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, in a letter to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has claimed threat to his life from the new Durgiana Managing Committee. The head of the Sri Durgiana Managing Committee, Mr Surinder Arjun has, however, alleged that the sena chief was deliberating “hyping up the threat” to his life to retain his high security despite being a non-political entity. In a complaint to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, Mr Arjun stated that the sena chief was “misusing” his security to collect funds in the name of the Durgiana committee. However, the sena chief who enjoys a security cordon of four gunmen, a driver and jeep, in his letter to the Prime Minister has alleged that he had been attacked by terrorists in the past and was receiving constant threats from them. The Durgiana pannel head, has alleged that the organisation headed by Mr Billa was a one-man show with no office and no members. Mr Arjun has also alleged that Mr Billa collects fund for which no authorised temple receipts are issued. He said a number of complaints were received in the last six months in this connection. Both the respective chiefs accuse each other of occupying the Durgiana temple premises illegally to “control” its massive offerings and donations. |
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Khalsa Panchayat flays Akali leadership Chandigarh, June 8 Eminent speakers focussed on the need for the emergence of a new Sikh leadership, which could protect the interests of the minority community and tenets of Sikhism. Most of them pointed out that what was being projected as reasons for the Operation Blue Star was not the reality, as the Golden Temple was attacked in 1984 by the then Congress government to appease the majority Hindu vote bank. A freelance journalist, Mr Dalbir Singh, emphasised on need to outrightly reject the Akali leadership, which had selfish and opportunistic motives. He alleged that Akali leaders had been playing games for the sake of the chair. It was the failure of the Sikh community to identify the leadership and then to keep trying new leaders without getting the desired results. Later, he criticised the media for resorting to yellow journalism. Bhagwan Singh, a former leader of the All- India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), gave an eye-witness account of the Operation Bluestar. He criticised G.S. Tohra and P.S. Badal for supporting the Congress government and misguiding the Sikh community. He also hinted at the conspiratory move on the part of the Akali leaders to meet Congress leaders and their close associates to manipulate the Operation Bluestar then. Elaborating on the issue, Giani Kewal Singh, a former Jathedar of Takht Sri Dam Dama Sahib, said Sikhs were not able to move out of the political and religious leadership. Even though there was no provision for clergy in the Sikh religion, over a period of time religion had gone into their
hands. There is a need to keep a control on the clergy and a host of other religious `babas’, who are taking the people to ritualism, away from the tenets of Guru Granth Sahib towards ritualism, thereby damaging the Sikh psyche, he added. Sukhdev Singh, Editor of Aaj di Awaz, clarified that Operation Bluestar was not merely undertaken to get Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale out of the Golden Temple, but to concentrate on the majority Hindu votebank. It would have happened in any case for it was an attempt to pressurise the Sikhs. Infact, the Army had been asked to get ready for this operation six months before it already took place. Mr Sukhdev Singh said the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi reportedly took the advise of Russian leadership to solve this problem, and who based on their own experience suggested that eliminating youth in the age group of 15-35 years will help ease out the situation. “There is a need to overhaul the system and create a healthy Sikh environment,’’ said Mr Harsimran Singh. He pointed out that Simranjit Singh Mann was projected as an alternative leader when he won by a massive mandate, but was he able to cash on that. Jaspal Singh, another journalist, who was a UNI correspondent at Amritsar during Operation Bluestar, gave an eye-witness account of few incidents during the operation. He also talked about how media was used to blow small issues out of proportion and not carry some other news, which was more important. Earlier, the convener of the Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat, Mr Rajinder Singh, dwelled on the role of the then government, Akali leadership and the media in the Operation Bluestar. He blamed Jathedar Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, for violating Akal Takht principles in absolving SAD leader, Prakash Singh Badal of all charges thereby hurting Sikh sentiments. |
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SI, ASI yet to be arrested for ‘torture’ Amritsar, June 8 Alleging this Mr Ashwani Kumar, in a press conference said here yesterday that the accused were roaming freely and threatening him of dire consequences if Ashwani did not withdraw his complaint. He revealed that he was brutally tortured during his illegal custody at some “private” place. It may be mentioned here that the local police had booked the accused police officials only after the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court where the complainant had filed a writ petition against them. Mr Ashwani Kumar alleged that the SI and the ASI had raided his house on May 7 and kept him in illegal custody till May 12. He alleged that he was released after his brother, Rameshwar, paid Rs 25,000 to them through a mediator. The police officials were also accused of holding his brothers — Anil Kumar and Ajay Kumar — on May 5 who were later released with the intervention of some persons. In an open letter to the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Mr Vaneet Mahajan, Vice-President of the All-India Anti-Corruption Morcha, who had raised the issue, demanded their arrest and full security of the victim and his family. |
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A true Sikh school Ferozepore Students of this school, irrespective of caste, creed and culture are excelling not only in academics and sports, but they could also recite Japji Sahib, Sukhmani Sahib and other religious prayers with great confidence. At present, there are 142 Sikh, 410 Muslim and around 120 other students belonging to weaker sections of society who are provided free education. The school, which was established in 1999, has vast playgrounds, excellent academic results and above all, feeling of oneness and a spirit of secularism. Mr Ajgar Bhatti, who is the Headmaster of the school, told the Sikh pilgrims who recently visited Nankana Sahib that all children in the school irrespective of religion and belief were taught Gurmukhi language. Bhai Mastan Singh, Managing Director of the school said although there were eight government and 14 other private schools in Nankana Sahib yet parents feel proud to get their wards admitted to this school. He said the major financial assistance for the running expenditure of the school was being extended in the form of donations by the Sikhs living in Europe and some other parts of the world. He said six students had been selected for the MBBS and four for engineering course. He said that the motto of the school was based on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev i.e “Kirat Karni, Naam Japna, Vandke Chhakna”. He expressed the hope that soon it will become one of the biggest schools in the region for which a master plan for its extension was being drafted. |
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1,500 quintals wheat sent to Barmer Abohar, June 8 Talking to newsmen, Mr Jakhar regretted that certain SAD and BJP activists, besides a section of the media, were criticising the generous step of the state government linking it with the coming assembly elections in Rajasthan. He reminded that the same elements, had appreciated then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son when hundreds of trucks and rail wagons laden with dry and green fodder for Rajasthan were flagged off three years back. Leaders of the Opposition were crying that godowns in Punjab had no space to store more wheat whereas hundreds of people in other states were dying of hunger. “Now when we decided to gift wheat for the needy people to save them from starvation, why there was hue and cry. It was shameful and inhuman thinking”. Mr Bajwa lauded the generosity of residents of the region for providing help to drought-hit people of Rajasthan. “Our Gurus had taught us this”, he said. Mr Bajwa took officials of the PWD to task for poor maintenance of the highways in the area. He asked them to expedite patchwork of potholes at the earliest. |
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Mentally challenged man hospitalised Bathinda, June 8 The hospital authorities has asked the family members of Partap to get him admitted to the hospital, failing which they could face legal action for chaining a mentally challenged person. A news report about Partap Singh was published in The Tribune on May 30. Partap seemed a bit better at the hospital today. Although he could not speak properly, but he managed to communicate that he was feeling well. Partap has been admitted to the psychiatry and de-addiction ward of the hospital. Partap was a Class IV employee posted at Sangat Veterinary Hospital before he suddenly started showing signs of mental imbalance about 20 years ago. Mr Rajinder Singh, a brother of Partap, said his (Partap’s) condition deteriorated after some time and he started killing birds with stones. He said later, he began to attack passerby with stones. He claimed that he underwent treatment at various mental hospitals, but to no avail. Mr Balwant Singh, the eldest son of Partap, said he was studying in Class V when his father lost his mental balance. He had to discontinue his studies due to his father’s illness. |
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Infant dies due to employee’s ‘negligence’ Malerkotla, June 8 According to information, Mohd Hanif’s wife gave birth to a baby boy on the night intervening June 6 and June 7 at Dausaundha Singh Wala village. The boy was feeling uneasyness so he was brought to the local civil hospital where the doctor had put him on the oxygen. After sometime the boy condition was improved so the doctor asked Mr Rakesh Kumar, a Class IV employee of the hospital, to shift the baby in the ward from the emergency. Sources said during the shifting of the boy the employee removed the oxygen apparatus which led to the death of the infant. After his death the grandmother of the deceased took him to the local police station to get a case registered against him but to no avail. Later when some mediapersons reached the police station the SHO registered the case. Meanwhile, employees of the local civil hospital have threatened to boycott their duties claiming that injustice had been done to Mr Rakesh Kumar. |
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Man released from illegal custody Amritsar, June 8 Prem, who reportedly suffers from ailment of both kidneys, was alleged to have been thrashed while in custody and complained of severe pain thereafter. He was admitted to the hospital after his release. Mr Baldev Singh, SHO, Sadar police station when contacted expressed ignorance about the case and said he would look into the matter. Mr Inderjit Singh, in charge, Fatehgarh Churian police post under which the Nangali village falls, did not attend the call on his mobile. In the meantime, Promilla, wife of the victim, said her husband had been hospitalised after he complained of severe pain in the abdomen. Prem was released from the police custody in the evening. It had also come to light that the police had released the victim a few hours after this correspondent and another mediaperson visited the chowki, yesterday, to reportedly evade action for keeping Prem in illegal custody. However, senior police officials, including Mr Narinderpal Singh, SSP, and Mr Shiv Kumar, SP of the area, could not be contacted even after repeated attempts. |
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Four killed in mishap Moga, June 8 Three persons, including a woman and her son, were killed and another injured when their car dashed against a tree near Ghalkalan village on the Moga-Ferozepore road. The car driver, woman and her son were killed on the spot, while the injured admitted to hospital whose condition is stated to be out of danger. The deceased have been identified as Chandigarh-based woman Daljit Kaur and Vishal. The identity of the driver is yet to be ascertained. In another incident, more than 30 persons were injured when their bus collided with a truck also near Ghalkalan village.
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Markfed employee found dead in rice sheller Patiala, June 8 The employee, Mohan Singh, was a retired Army personnel and had been posted at the sheller to guard the Markfed stock kept in the sheller and had also been given a room in the sheller compound. His son, Harwinder Singh, said when his father did not come home, he and a few others came to the sheller to inquire about his whereabouts. Harwinder said sheller employees told them that Mohan Singh was not present in the sheller. He said, however, when he found the cycle of his father as well as his clothes in the room in which he used to rest, he became suspicious. He said today he along with few of his friends had come to the sheller and asked its owner to open the plant. He said when they were not handed over the keys to make the search, they called in the police. When the sheller plant was opened, Mohan Singh’s body was recovered. Sheller owner Mohinder Singh said he did not know anything of the incident as the sheller was presently closed. He said, however, it appeared in all likelihood that Mohan Singh had climbed to the roof of the sheller to ward off monkeys and had fallen into the hall beneath as part of the tin roof was loose. The police is still investigating the matter. |
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‘Koi Gal Nahin’ likely to bring fresh wave Setting itself apart from the usual heavy mettle-based pop music, “Koi Gal Nahin”, is based on the sound lyrical and musical platform supported with fresh layers of “Shararat” or naughtiness, to which Prince CJ has tried his level best to do full justice, particularly, for his
appealing looks and physique and his ability to roam and dance around his heroine and other pretty girls in two videos on the lines of chocolate heroes of the yore. Though he has to make a rapport with countless Punjabi music lovers across the country and abroad, Prince CJ, who originally belongs to Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, is a product of Khalsa College, Amritsar. He got training in music under the baton of Sardar Manmohan Singh of Ludhiana. He has the ingredients of a music star — good looks, mingled with naughtiness, a good voice and capability to manoeuvre different scales with ease. “Akkad Bakkad” is running number 2 on the ETC Punjabi’s “Saada Top Ten,” and is very likely to be liked by one and all in all age-groups,” said Prince CJ adding that the album has eight songs depicting all shades of the Punjabi culture. “The title song ‘Koi Gal Nahin’, praises the carefree attitude in a simple — don't worry be happy — style, while “Akkad Bakkad” is all about the joys of a rural children’s game. ‘Rabba Rabba’, the third number’ depicts playful antics and fun with beautiful girls. Variety has been added with a sad number 'Yaar Nigahon Door’ and “Din Jawani De’, another song which advises beautiful girls to make most of the short time they have to enjoy life, said Prince CJ. “Actually, we assessed after a research that humour has all-time appeal among people of all age-groups. Besides this theme has not been exploited by the Punjabi music industry for so long. “Shararat” is something which everyone understands and enjoys,” said Mr Yogesh Sharma, Gurmeet Singh and Tajwant Lamba, partners of Cheers Music. Yogesh Sharma, Gurmeet Yogesh Sharma, who was running a music studio in Mumbai and who was known for
enhancing audio-video production standards, said initial response to the album was encouraging. He said the shooting of the two videos was completed in Mauritius and the role opposite Prince CJ has been played by Ms Rashmi Ghosh, last year’s Miss
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Pall of dust hangs over region Bathinda, June 8 The thick layer of dust has ‘defaced’ the entire region and also led to manifold increase in the Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in the air. Increase on SPM has triggered asthalmatic attacks besides other problems for the patients of respiratory and lung diseases. With reduction in visibility the movement of vehicles has also been affected and the visibility in some parts of the city was so poor that vehicles had to move at a snail's pace. The visibility on the roads and railway tracks, particularly on the outskirts of the city was so poor that only the railway engines were visible and not the coaches. A cross section of residents said this was the worst season of the duststorms in the region and added that this year the frequency of the same had been increased. Some women residents said that the duststorms that have been sweeping the region almost twice a week this year and the name given to this city, ‘dust bowl of Punjab’ was justified. With scarcity of water they had been finding it difficult to maintain the cleanliness of dwellings, they claimed. The business has also been hit as people have started staying at home instead venturing out in heat and dust. The dusty winds have given some respite from the scorching heat of the season, but without rains, they are not of much help to the farmers, said agriculture officials. Mr Gurdarshan Singh, a local farmer said that the dust-covered saplings of cotton faced stunted growth. He said that showers during this period would be of immense help to cotton farmers. Senior doctors of civil hospital, when contacted, urged the patients of respiratory diseases to keep a check on the quality of air they were breathing. They said that air-filters and even handkerchiefs could be used to keep out dust from air and added that proper cleanliness of the eyes should be ensured dust particles could lead to irritation after they get into eyes. |
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Water shortage in villages Moga, June 8 Bhekha village is the worst hit. Villagers are forced to bring water from a nearby canal. Residents of Sukhanand village said most of the water sources had dried up and the water was not fit for consumption. Residents of Bambihai and Korewala Bhekha Jaimalwals villages are also facing water crisis. |
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Seminar on Guru Angad Dev Tarn Taran, June 8 Sikh scholars Dr Jasbir Singh Sabbar, Dr Balwant Singh Dhillon, Dr Jodh Singh and Dr Amanjot Kaur read their papers regarding the life history, political situation, philosophy, preachings, gurbani and other aspects related to the period of second guru. A large number of residents, including surpanchs, panchs and representatives of different political and social organisations, participated in the seminar. |
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Blackout in Patiala Patiala, June 8 PSEB Chief Engineer (Systems Operation) Padamjit Singh disclosed that a fault had occurred in the 66 KV diesel component works
(DCW) line in the evening. He said due to this two transformers installed there were closed. He said the transformers were being re-energised. |
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Unidentified body found Bathinda, June 8 Mr Vijay Goyal, President of the Sahara Jan Seva, in a press note, said here today that the body was cremated after the post-mortem examination. |
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One killed Phagwara, June 8 |
Woman held for killing husband Maur Mandi (Bathinda), June 8 Earlier, the police reportedly solved the blind murder of Bikkar Singh, a resident of Sandhoa village which took place in December last. The arrested Satnam Singh constable posted in Mansa district on June 2. Police sources said Satnam Singh, a resident of Beer Behman village of Bathinda district, killed Bikkar Singh as he reportedly wanted to live with Baljeet Kaur, wife of the deceased with whom, the accused had illicit relations for the past many years. The sources added that first both Satnam Singh and Baljeet Kaur allegedly conspired to kill Bikkar Singh. After killing Bikkar Singh, the accused threw his body into Bhakra Main Line canal near Golewala in Talwandi Sabo subdivision. The dead body was still untraceable. However, the police impounded the Maruti car, used in the crime. Mr Ashutosh, DSP, Talwandi Sabo, said Bikkar Singh had been missing since December 8, 2002. A case in this connection was registered under Section 364 of the IPC the police. After investigation into this case, the police got clue to the illicit relations of Baljeet Kaur with Satnam Singh. When Satnam Singh was questioned, he confessed his crime. Satnam Singh was arrested. A case in this connection had been registered under Sections 302, 201 and 364 of the
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11 held under Excise Act Gurdaspur, June 8 Those who have been arrested are Sukhwinder Singh alias Kala of Mustafapur, Mittran alias Gogi of Deeda Sainian, Lakhwinder Singh of Wadala Granthian, Bishno and Babbi, both of Awankha, Kavita and Sudesh Kumari of Gharota, Kalidas of Teloor, Dhanna Ram of Kahnuwan, Parveen of Dadwan and Sham Lal of Saili Kullian, Pathankot. More than six working stills have been unearthed and 6.75 lakh ml of illicit liquor, 24 bottles of whisky and 30 bottles of liquor have been seized.
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One killed in group clash Ferozepore, June 8 The injured have been admitted to Ferozepore Civil Hospital and a case registered. All this happened over a Railway land in Sudhara village falling under Mallanwala Police Station, adjacent to the fields of Inder Singh. |
Heritage to send teachers to UK Chandigarh, June 8 “Eversince we started a series of exchange programmes with Kent County two years ago, they have sent two groups of teachers to Punjab, but due to paucity of funds we were not able to send teachers to that country,” says Prof Rajpal Singh. The last team from Kent County visited Punjab in March this year when they held many interactive sessions in various schools in the city as well as in Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala and Ropar. Heritage, which started youth, cultural and teachers exchange programmes with different counties in the UK since 1994, has been unable to send teachers and cultural troupes to the country due to the financial problems. “Since we receive no financial help from the government or any other agency, we are not in a position to send cultural troupes, teachers and youths to the UK despite the fact that many other counties in the UK are willing to join hands with Heritage for such exchange programmes,” says Prof Rajpal Singh. However, things are looking up for Heritage now as the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers is showing interest in funding teachers and cultural troupes from India. The visit Prof Rajpal Singh is planning next month to the UK is expected to put everything in the right perspective, materialising a concrete plan for continuing the exchange programmes from the Indian side without much hiccups. The cultural exchange programme covers three aspects — youth exchange programme, teachers exchange
programme and artistes exchange programme. The duration of these programmes varies from four weeks to one year. “Though Heritage also holds exhibitions, conferences, seminars and lectures on major cultural issues at the local level, the thrust is on the exchange programme as it is through such academic and cultural exchanges, that the bias about each others lifestyle and culture can be removed,” says Prof Rajpal Singh. The selection process for sending artistes and teachers is likely to start after July. The selection committee in India includes representatives of the British Council, New Delhi, the UT Administration, Chandigarh, and the Punjab Government, along with individual artistes of national reputation like Nek Chand, creator of the Rock Garden, and Surinder Kaur, the Nightingale of Punjab. |
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Semester system introduced Amritsar, June 8
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Jalandhar, June 8