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| Thursday,
September 18, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Flouting excise rules
to lure boozers Ludhiana, September 17 This despite the fact that the Rule No. 37 in Chapter 5 of the Punjab Intoxicants License and Sale Orders, 1956 clearly states that “the licensee shall not give to any customer any free dole of liquor nor shall he give any perquisite or dasturi on the price of liquor sold.” The Maharashtra-based liquor company has come up with the scheme under which a coupon is to be filled in by the customer with every bottle of beer and the winner of the lucky draw gets Rs 5,000 through a draw of lots every week. The offer being given by the company is valid from September 1 to October 1 and the consumer is being given a coupon with each bottle of the beer. The coupon has to be dropped in a lucky draw box. Weekly draws are being taken out and the persons are being contacted over the phone for results. Some excise officials, on the condition of anonymity, said it was being done in contravention of the rules and the activities were not being checked by the authorities. While the company was flouting the rule, it was also not caring two hoots about the rules provided by Chapter 4 that prohibited printing, publishing, circulating and selling of any newspaper, book, leaflet, booklet or other publication containing advertisement, commending or soliciting the use of any intoxicant. Big and bright posters were being used by the company in the city to announce the scheme. The para No. 19 of the orders states that “no person shall print or publish in any newspaper, book, leaflet, booklet or any other publication or otherwise display or distribute any matter commending or soliciting the use of any liquor or intoxicating drug such as is likely to encourage or incite any individual or class of individuals or the public generally to commit an offense under the Act.” The Act provides for the confiscation and forfeit of the publication containing any advertisement or matter of the nature by the state government and for the disposal of such articles as per the decision of the Financial Commissioner. Mr Manjit Singh Brar, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, when contacted said it was a violation but added that he was not aware of the happening. He assured that he would look into the matter and decide on the course of action. |
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Murder shrouded in mystery Ludhiana, September 17 The body, which bore multiple injuries and was packed in a plastic bag, was discovered by a rag-picker. The GRP (Government Railway Police), which got post-mortem conducted, is still trying to work out the murder and has taken into custody Dr Harvinder Singh, who had employed the victim as a car driver, and Aslam Khan, a friend of the victim. Though the post-mortem report maintains that Babu Lal’s death was caused by an injury on the head and strangulation, the police is working on the assumption that his murder was the result of some illicit relations as his sex organ had been mutilated by murderer(s). The police theory of revenge killing is based on the way the body had been stabbed. According to the statement of Dr Harvinder Singh, Babu Lal had left for his house on Wednesday after finishing his duty. On the other hand, Aslam Khan said that he got a phone call from Babu Lal at about 8.30 pm on Wednesday. Babu Lal reportedly told him that he was going away to Jalandhar for a couple of days. The deceased, who was married about 14 years ago, was living with his wife, three daughters and a son in Punjabi Baga Colony and working as a car driver for Dr Harvinder Singh for the past nine months. |
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Health Dept gears up to
tackle dengue Ludhiana, September 17 Dr S.N.Tiwari, Civil Surgeon, said dengue cases were generally reported between the months of September and December. Only timely precautions could save people from the disease. He said, “Mosquito bite was responsible for spread of dengue. The virus goes into the body and destroys platelets — an essential constituent of blood that keeps it thick. Blood becomes thin due to loss of platelets and patient shows symptoms such as high fever, body ache, fatigue and bleeding in severe cases.” He said the department was gearing up to meet any eventuality. “Not only anti-dengue, but anti-malaria campaigns had also been conducted by the department in recent months. Pits, coolers, etc should be properly covered and sprayed with DDT and black oil so that there is no breeding,” he said. The department was planning to send teams of health workers to different areas to check dengue and educate people about preventive measures, said an official of the Health Department. Dr Gursharan Singh, president of the district unit of the Indian Medical Association, said, “Dengue is caused by the bite of Aedes Agypti mosquito that becomes active in post-monsoon season. This mosquito bites only in the early morning or late afternoon. It has white stripes on the back and survives only for two to three weeks.” High fever, severe headache, pain in the eyes that worsens with eye movement and pain in muscles and joints are the common symptoms of dengue. Dengue haemorrhagic fever can be life threatening. |
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Girls get books, but after exams Ludhiana, September 17 As almost all students had already bought books, the books given to girls now would remain lying as surplus. A visit to the Government Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar, from where these books are being distributed reveals that the department has wasted lakhs from the Sarb Sikhya Abhiyan fund on the purchase of such books. The books have been stored in science laboratories of the school and are being distributed to schoolteachers coming from different subdivisions for the past few days. The schools of Ludhiana East, Ludhiana West, Khanna and Doraha have already received books and now schools in Jagraon, Payal and Raikot areas will be covered. Since the Scheduled Caste girls were already getting free books from the welfare department, education officers decided to include all girls from the general category. Last week, all government schools had been told to give lists of girl students belonging to general category studying in their schools. The girls from the Backward Classes, they were also included in the list. Currently, the Classes VI to VIII students are getting books. Few days back, girls from Classes I to V were sent books through the Block Primary Education Officers (BPEOs). “Our government will always remain slow in decision-making. What is the fun of getting books at this stage? This would have been a boon to the students had they got these in the beginning of the session. They will not even be able to sell these as there will hardly be any buyer at this time of the session,” said a science teacher from a government school near Vishwakarma Chowk. Another teacher from a school near bus stand said, “It seems so funny distributing books to the children when they already have purchased their own sets. They also laugh as ask, “Where do we keep this extra set of books?” Ms Harvinder Kaur, District Education Officer (Elementary), said the decision regarding purchase of books was not taken by the higher authorities at the right stage. She, however, said this still would benefit many girls from very poor families who had been sharing books with their classmates till date. |
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Industrialists
seek SSP’s help Ludhiana, September 17 Mr Harinder Singh Bhogal, one of the members
The delegation sought stern police action against unscrupulous elements. They said it was the outcome of the activities of such people that industry had collapsed in cities like Amritsar and Kolkata. Attributing clear motives to ‘sponsored strikes and dharnas’, the delegation brought to the notice of the SSP the planning of alleged vested interests, who had staged three strikes within a span of two weeks. The delegation apprehended that such elements might create more problems in future and spoil the industry. The SSP was urged to take preventive measures. The industrialists said persons, who were responsible for these strikes, were issuing threats to them saying they would ensure the closure of factories. |
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Buddha
Dal to block screening of ‘Hawayein’ Ludhiana, September 17 Mr Kulbir Singh Khalsa, chief of the dal, said they had been approached by several youths who had seen the movie yesterday and had pointed out that the movie had left deep scars on their psyche. The portrayal of the atrocities were so real that those who had suffered during the terrorism days had relived those terrifying moments. The movie comes at a time when the whole community was trying to bury the past and get on with life. A large section of the youth feels that the movie was not aimed at depicting the trauma of that period but was actually a slap in the face of the Sikhs taunting them about their inability to secure justice for the thousands of innocent widows in the country, he added. “Peace had been restored in the state at a great cost and some of the youths may take offence and again take up the gun to change what they term as injustice to the entire community”, he pointed out. “We are willing to go all out to get the movie banned in the state. In case the administration does not ban it, we will picket the theatres and physically prevent people from entering the halls. The movie is the handiwork of certain vested interests who do not want that the people should live in peace with their fellow brethren,” he alleged. He said there was much to be done in the state than trying to dig old graves. He added that their efforts were targeted towards redressing the rampant drug abuse among the masses and to awaken them against the danger posed by self-styled sants and the mushrooming of “deras” in the state. He said it was unfortunate that people were turning their back on religion and were becoming apostate. “This has been going on for a long time and it was the need of the hour to put a stop to this menace which is getting out of hand,” he said. He said intoxicants were freely available across the state and youths were consuming them to beat the unemployment blues. The state had miserably failed to provide employment avenues to the educated youth. The condition of the rural youth were even more deplorable. The land holdings were dwindling and there was no alternative for them. A delegation comprising Mr Santokh Singh, Mr Balam Singh, Mr Rur Singh, Mr Amarjit Singh, Mr Kashmir Singh, Mr Mehal Singh and Mr Satnam Singh awaited the arrival of the DC, who was away to Chandigarh, to submit a memorandum.
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BKU to chalk out strategy for next WTO meet Ludhiana, September 17 This was stated by the BKU chief, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, in a statement here today. He said a five-member team led by him from the Punjab state unit would participate in the meeting to discuss the WTO implications with specific reference to the farmers in Punjab. Attributing the prosperity of farmers in the developed countries to the massive subsidies being provided by the respective governments, he claimed that Indian farmers were competent to produce world-quality farm products in sufficient quantity if they were also given similar subsidies. “More than 70 per cent farmers of the entire world have heaved a sigh a relief over the rightful stand taken by a group of developing nations, including India and Brazil, on the issue of farm subsidies.” Mr Lakhowal said had the USA and other developed nations succeeded in prevailing upon the WTO meet, the farm economy in the country would have shattered with the flooding of the market with cheap foodgrains, dairy products, fruits and vegetables from foreign countries. Even at the prevailing prices of farm products, the Indian farmers could have a competitive edge in global market if the farm subsidies in developed nations were curtailed. The BKU president, asked the Union Government to remain on guard against the attempts by the USA and its allies to carry out their agenda in the next meeting of the WTO and even in the intervening period. The Indian government should remain in touch with other developing countries and a joint strategy should be chalked out to counter the pressure tactics by the rich nations. “At the same time, the government should enhance the farm subsidies to a suitable level so that the Indian farmers can compete in the world market and the farm economy could flourish.”
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New district BJP chief lists agenda Ludhiana, September 17 Talking to Ludhiana Tribune after taking over as the district chief of the party, Dr Verma said his primary agenda would be to further strengthen the party and make it a strong cohesive unit. Dr Verma (50) who describes himself as a swayamsevak, is an ophthalmologist by profession and has been involved with the party for a number of years. Dr Verma was accorded a rousing reception at the Samiti Kendra, the local party headquarters. All senior leaders of the party including, MP Lala Lajpat Rai, former Deputy Speaker, Mr Satpal Gosain, outgoing president, Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, state general secretaries Prof Rajinder Bhandari and Mr Shakti Sharma, Mr Pran Bhatia and others were present on the occasion. He announced that the party would organise a public meeting on September 19 which is expected to be attended by some senior leaders also. |
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Councillor
seeks CM’s resignation Ludhiana, September 17 Mr Bhatia said this while addressing party workers here. He said the Chief Minister should own the responsibility for his corrupt colleagues. Commenting on the outburst by PPCC chief at the Congress Legislator Party meeting in Chandigarh on Tuesday, he said the PPCC chief had rightly remarked that certain ministers were involved in corruption. Maintaining that the so called anti-corruption drive launched by the Congress government was politically motivated and aimed at settling scores, Mr Bhatia observed that the Chief Minister was threatening that former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would be arrested for his acts of omission and commission during his regime. Among others present on the occasion were Dr Baljit Singh, Mr Jasbir Singh Dogra, Mr Shavinder Singh Bedi, Mr Charanjit Singh Bhatia, Mr Balwinder Singh Lovely, Mr Varinder Singh Dhaliwal, Mr Prabhjot Singh, Mr Robin and Mr Jasdeep Singh. |
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Aliens who don’t belong to anyone, anywhere Ludhiana, September 17 While Mr Jain is living a neglected life away from his children in a single room, Mr Bhalla has to bear with the daily torture that he is continuously subjected to by his sons and grandsons. Both of them are at the fag-end of their life and both of them would prefer to die than to live a life that appears to them worse than death. For, they just do not belong to anyone or anywhere in this world. Mr Jain once happened to be the patron of a family which rules the world of business, not only in Ludhiana, but across the country. He has created big business empires too well known everywhere. And still he has to be content within the four walls of a single room he has managed to occupy in the city itself. He is in his nineties and had come to Ludhiana before Partition from a nearby village. He did not have any formal education or a good financial background as his father had passed away when he was not even 10. It was sheer hardwork and creative entrepreneurship that led him to create a big business empire, he now no longer owns. The total worth of the business owned by his children runs into several thousand crores of rupees. Mr Bhalla is a postgraduate from Panjab University, Lahore. Quite an articulate person who can speak as comfortably in English and Urdu, as he can in his native Punjabi, Mr Bhalla is in his mid-eighties. But he has no wish to live more. Probably death might be more soothing to him than the everyday torture he has to undergo. Although not having risen to the heights like Mr Jain, he had also established himself quite comfortably in the business. He had a prosperous brick kiln business. He was politically and socially also active and once headed the civic body of Ludhiana. It was very difficult to make these two elderly men to speak out, lest they invite more trouble for themselves from their children. Probably for some still left out love for their children or the fear of repercussions, they did not like to be quizzed about their personal life. And they could comment on anything and everything in quite a rational manner except their personal plight. It was only through the passing references that one could make an idea of their sorry plight. Mr Jain happens to be relatively luckier than Mr Bhalla as the former does not live with his children, while the latter has to share the same house. Mr Bhalla bequeathed a phenomenally good business with a handsome fortune to his children. But they could not manage it well and suffered huge losses. The spacious house, located in one of the posh localities in Ludhiana, was constructed by Mr Bhalla himself. And it is an irony of fate that he is not welcome in that house. He is segregated and isolated. Only a few days back, he was not even allowed to use the toilet and the bathroom as his children and grandchildren locked it out. He had to use the servants’ bathroom. His children believe that Mr Bhalla still possesses a handsome bank balance. They want him to part with that money. Only a couple of years ago he bailed them out by paying about Rs 5 lakh when they needed it the most. At that time he was living in an old age home. Although Rs 5 lakh bought him the return to his home but only to learn later that he was still the alien to the people who were occupying that house. Feeling desperate and having got fed up with the hostile attitude of his children and grandchildren, he reportedly even tried to commit suicide but was prevented to do so by a close friend, who happens to be his only hope now. He might have handed over the remaining money to his children, but he knows that even that will not buy him any comforts and he will then be turned out of the house for good as was done with him earlier. Mr Bhalla is too frightened to share his plight with anyone, lest he may be tortured more. He does not want to go to the old-age home once again and that, too, at the fag-end of his life. For, he feels that he should spend his last days of his life in the same house, as he says, it is no more a home to him, he constructed with his blood and sweat. Clad in a white worn out kurta-pyjama, he remains crouched in a broken chair. He is not even able to move. He gets to eat only if his servants can manage stealthily something for him in absence of his children.
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Half-hour ordeal for 12 lawyers, scribes Ludhiana, September 17 Even as the courts have started functioning in the new judicial complex, there is no generator backup for the lift and the moment power supply is disrupted, all those inside the lift are left hanging, virtually. Though, the Bar association has brought the matter to the notice of the authorities several times, no action has been taken so far. The Bar has now decided to take up the issue with the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who will visit the courts on September 20. It seems that the administration is awaiting a major tragedy. Today number of lawyers, including two women lawyers and two journalists from the leading dailies, had to face a lot of problems, due to power failure. The exhaust fan was also not working properly. Gripped with fear, the lawyers started making mobile phone calls to their colleagues on the court complex and asked them to do something for them saying that they were feeling very uneasy. A lawyer informed the Bar President, Mr Harish Rai Dhanda. He immediately asked the concerned SDO (Electricals). A junior engineer immediately reached there, but by that time, the operator of elevator had rescued the peoples. |
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Waterlogging
in parking lot Ludhiana, September 17 Sandeep, Rohini, Mandeep, Hardeep and Sheetal say their clothes get splashed with dirty water of the puddle when they go through it. It becomes difficult for them to take out their scooters as they have to use
manoeuvring skills to save themselves from falling into the puddle. “Our efforts are not always successful as sometimes despite our best efforts, we are not able to manage the scooters and both the scooters and the rider skids into the pool of water. “It is a very embarrassing situation as we fall topsy-turvey. Not only do we soil our
clothes, but become laughing stock of others. If any students slips in the morning, obviously the student cannot attend the college as the clothes get dirty and the student has to go home to change her clothes” say the students. |
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Residents
resent lack of civic amenities Ludhiana, September 17 The growth of congress grass in the colony is also causing problems for the residents who have written to the administration several times to remove the weeds but to no avail. They say that during and after the rains the place becomes hell to live in the absence of any amenities. The wild vegetation grows all over, rain water gets collected here and there and becomes a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. According to Major General S.S. Jwanda (retd), a resident of the area the unplanned dairies near Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, a colony developed by Ludhiana Improvement Trust are causing their own problems of stink, mosquitoes and waste water. He said that the owners of the dairies threw the dung on the railway line passing near the colony thereby adding to the residents woes. He added that the outer road of the area was in bad state. It was a bumpy ride for the commuters. Stating that the road was a peripheral passage that connected Guru Amar Dass Nagar with Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, General Jwanda said that was one of the four outer roads in the colony. Two were carpeted and the rest two required immediate attention. ‘‘I am seeing this road for the last 15 years. It has not been recarpeted. Whenever there is rain, water stagnates for more than two weeks on the road. There is terrible growth of congress grass on the roadsides between Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and BRS Nagar,” said general
Jwanda.
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Seminar
on ozone preservation Ludhiana, September 17 Delivering the keynote address, Dr Arun Mitra, general secretary of the jatha, said that the depletion of the ozone layer was occurring due to human activity. He said the blatant use of chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) in refrigeration, air conditioning, production of foam mattresses, aerosol propellants and fire extinguishers was depleting ozone gas in the stratosphere that helped in absorbing ultraviolet rays. Pointing out the hazardous effects of ozone depletion, Dr Mitra said that if infra red rays enter the earth in a large quantity, these could lead to a rise in temperature, affect flora and fauna, cause skin cancer, cataract, visual impairment, change of crop pattern and genetic changes in life on the earth. Dr Mitra said that the developed countries were more to be blamed more in such cases. He said that on an average, an American was putting 36 times more load on environment compared to an average person in the developing country. He said that if such malpractices are not checked, these would lead to disastrous consequences like melting of glaciers and rise in sea level. Dr Rajinder Singh Aulakh, another member, said that with the entry of multi-national companies in the country, bio-diversity had been threatened. Such companies were patenting even the age old products of India, which have been used here by people for several decades. The seminar was followed by a question-answer round in which the students put forth their queries on the topic. Mr M.P. Singh, acting principal of the polytechnic, said that the institute would participate in all such activities that would help in the promotion of appropriate technology for sustainable development. Mr S.P. Singh, lecturer, thanked the speakers for their valuable ideas. |
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Pensioners
flay pension formula Ludhiana, September 17 Mr Yash Paul Ghai, Additional General Secretary, Punjab Government Pensioners Association, in a press statement today termed the formula “most unjust” and demanded its immediate rollback. “Under the new formula, a person who retires at the age of 58 will get commutation at the rate of 6.21 instead of 10.46 as was provided under the old formula. It means under the new rules, the retiree will get nearly Rs 60,000 instead of Rs 1,00,000. Besides, the rate of interest chargeable on the commuted pension has been raised from 4.75 to 8 per cent under the new rules.It is again a minus point of the new dispensation”, said Mr Ghai. Mr Ghai further added that the revised formula did not apply in the case of the Punjab cadre IAS officers. They will get commutation of pension at the higher rate than that of other
employees. He said, "It is a case of sheer discrimination. Pensioners want the government to restore the old formula”. |
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One held with poppy husk Ludhiana, September 17 House burgled:
Fraud alleged:
Case registered:
Jagraon The accused were arrested at a naka. Jagtar Singh, the complainant, who was accompanying the police, identified the accused. The phone was recovered. |
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