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| Thursday,
October
16, 2003,
Chandigarh, India
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Arrest warrants against 2 in Badal case Kharar, October 15 Meanwhile, in connection with the same case, Mr Satrinder Singh Kohli, a chartered accountant of Mr Badal, and the Chandigarh police SI, Mr Nirabhjeet Singh, today moved an application before the same court opposing the Vigilance Bureau plea for the issuance of arrest warrants against them. The court has fixed October 29 as the date of hearing for the application of the VB as well as the suspects. Mr Kohli has written in his application that he was shocked to read a report in The Tribune that the prosecution has moved an application seeking issuance of arrest warrants against him. He has written that his firm is the statutory auditor of some of the companies promoted by Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal and his family. He has stated that he has no connection with the cases that have been registered against the Badal family and he was not even handling the personal tax returns and personal accounts of Mr Sukhbir Badal. He has already been questioned by VB officials about the various companies promoted by the Badal family. He has written that the state government was acting in a malafide manner and was indulging in naked abuse of political power and authority. Similarly, Mr Nirabhjeet Singh has written that he also came to know about the application moved by the VB from a report in The Tribune. He has written that he has no connection with the cases registered against Mr Badal and his family. Both have pleaded that the application moved by the prosecution should be dismissed. |
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Hoardings adorn Patiala roads Patiala, October 15 The only difference is that while in Haryana, various public sector undertakings (PSUs), Cooperative societies, local bodies and other organisations have sponsored the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) Government hoardings, here the sponsors are either not indicated or are unknown. The only exception is the bridge over “Baddi Nadi” where Markfed undertook beautification of the central verge by putting up huge metallic statues of polo players facing vehicular traffic from either side and displayed pictures of its marketable products on the four reinforced concrete frames in violation of the Apex Court orders. Another hoarding at Mukat chowk, carrying pictures of both Capt Amarinder Singh and Mrs Parneet Kaur, the local MP, is by Rajpura Municipal Council, while another one fixed on traffic lights at the same intersection does not mention the sponsor. Another important difference is that in Punjab, most of the overhead highway neon signages, indicating distances to towns and cities ahead , have been partially or completely hijacked for highlighting the “hopes of Punjabis under the Congress rule”. The common slogan on overhead hoardings in Punjab is: “Only hope for Punjab : Diversification of Agriculture and Industrialisation” with pictures of both Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Capt Amarinder Singh. A few others are about the state’s first “transparent and responsible government”. Hoardings erected at intersections, side roads and other strategic locations talk about achievements of the Congress government in different areas, including housing and urban development. If Haryana hoardings and neon signboards carry pictures of Ch Devi Lal, Ch Om Prakash Chautala, Mr Ajay Chautala and Mr Abhay Chautala, Punjab hoardings carry pictures of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Capt Amarinder Singh. Only a handful of hoardings in Punjab carry pictures of local Congressmen appointed to key positions in different local bodies or cooperative societies. Interestingly, when the Punjab and Haryana High Court passed a series of directions, endorsing the Apex Court’s directives on hoardings, neon signboards and signages on highways, side roads and other roads, Punjab had launched a massive campaign to remove all such commercial and other hoardings from the roadside. Except for the latest Congress government hoardings and signages, the state has remained free from such “hazardous” display of claims or advertisements. In Kharar, for example, a number of massive hoardings and their supporting steel structures were removed in a swift operation. One is greeted with an overhead neon signage with pictures of Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Capt Amarinder Singh at Zirakpur. Similar signages appear all along National Highway 64. At Rajpura intersection, where National Highway 1 and National Highway 64 cross each other, there are two 15’x10’ hoardings at the intersection. Do we need to be reminded of achievements or hopes of our government every time we are on the roads ? Are they more important than human life ? Punjab and Haryana lose about 4,500 to 5,000 human lives in road accidents every year. This is the reason the Apex Court considered these as “hazardous and disturbance to safe traffic movement”. |
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Punjab to try again for China trip Chandigarh, October 15 Informed sources told The Tribune that the Union External Affairs Ministry today formally convenyed to the Punjab Government about the non-clearance of its delegation to China. In a brief two-line letter sent to the state government, the Union Government has, according to sources, stated “Reference your visit to China, we advise against taking the delegation under the leadership of a minister”. Because of the refusal of the Union Government, Punjab’s delegation was unable to proceed to China to participate in the India-China week to be celebrated there till October 19. Source said Punjab’s industrialists, who had suffered a big jolt in the eyes of their counterparts in China because of their failure to report in China as per the promise, had also decided to seek clearance from the Union Government for sending an independent delegation to that country in November-December. Most of the state Industrialists, who were to accompany the state government’s delegation, have their visa to China valid till January. “Though we are certain that our delegation has been stopped from going to China for political reasons, but we want to re-test the Union Government in this connection”, said a senior Minister of Punjab. The Union Government in the past had cleared all delegations led by Chief Ministers or senior State Ministers from other states. However, Punjab had been clearly discriminated against by not clearing its delegation’s visit to China, he added. In fact, the Punjab Government has been in direct confrontation with the Union Minister, Mr Venod Khanna, because he was not allowed to inaugurate a bridge over Naushahra Pattan in Gurdaspur district a few months ago by the State Government. His supporters were beaten up and arrested by the Punjab Police at the time of the inauguration of the bridge. “Mr Khanna, who seems to be a very powerful minister played the main role in getting our delegation’s visit China scuttled. Moreover Mr Khanna has a political tussle with Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, who was to lead the Punjab delegation to China”, said the Punjab Minister. However, senior Akali and BJP leaders say the state government had been openly humiliating even senior Union Ministers by using insulting language against them. “And it was now paying the price for taking confrontation with every body”, said a senior Akali leader. He said because of the hostile attitude of Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab had started suffering. However, a Congress Minister said it would be Punjab that would suffer ultimately because of the Centre’s indifferent attitude towards the state. |
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SDM’s vehicle found carrying fake Ferozepore, October 15 Mr Sarkar, during the course of inspection of the SDM office, asked for the vehicle registration register from the clerk concerned but he was unable to produce the same. The register was later found from the SDM residence, which itself is unlawful. When the Commissioner checked the register, he found that the registration number of the SDM’s vehicle-PB-47A-7777 — was fake. Mr Sarkar said the Gypsy was purchased in January, 2003 and on verbal orders of the then SDM, Mrs Alka Nanda Dayal, the registration number 7777 was put on it. The number had already been allotted to Mr Gurwaryam Singh of Zira in January, 2002. In order to obey the instructions of the then SDM, a number-plate bearing fake registration number PB-47A-7777 was put on the Gypsy without actual registration of the vehicle. After the transfer of Mrs Dayal to Faridkot, the SDM’s Gypsy — now being used by present incumbent Davinder Singh — continued to carry the same number illegally. Ironically, the SDM, who himself is the registration authority for motor vehicles has been found using the vehicle without proper registration. Mr Sarkar has ordered the removal of the fake number-plate from SDM’s Gypsy. He told that he would write to the Personnel Department for taking disciplinary action against the SDM Zira, Mr Davinder Singh and his predecessor, Mrs Alka Nanda Dayal. Mr Sarkar also checked several other government offices, schools and hospitals of the Zira subdivision and found Mr Darshan Singh, BDPO, Mr Baldev Singh, Clerk, Mr Jaswant Singh, Junior Engineer, Ms Ritu Bala of Government Primary School, Jalekha, and Mr Sarabjit Singh, Panchayat Officer at BDPO office, Kot Isekhan, absent from their duties. He also ordered the suspension of Mr Pal Singh, Centre Head Teacher of a government school. |
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Statement of witness worth only if he is cross-examined Chandigarh, October 15 In a ruling, Mr Justice K.C. Gupta of the High Court held the statement of a Vigilance Inspector could not be considered in a corruption case because his examination-in-chief had been recorded, but his cross-examination could not be recorded as he had died in the meantime. The judge further held: “Since his statement is incomplete and no opportunity was given to the appellant in the case to cross-examine the witness, his statement cannot be taken into consideration for any purpose.” The verdict was passed on an appeal filed by government employee Gurmukh Singh, challenging the orders of his conviction and sentence in a corruption case. The trial court, after holding him guilty in the case, had sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for 18 years. A fine of Rs 500 was also imposed on the employee. The accused, when confronted with incriminating evidence against him, had denied the allegations. Claiming to be innocent, he had alleged false implication in the matter and had demanded a trial. In an attempt to prove the allegations levelled against the accused beyond any shadow of doubt, the prosecution had examined as many as nine witnesses during the trial. Among the prosecution witnesses was Inspector Amar Singh of the Vigilance Bureau at Ropar. He was approached by the complainant in the case before a trap was laid to allegedly nab the accused in the act. Inspector Amar Singh was also a part of the team involved in the apprehension of the accused on allegations of accepting bribe. Upon receiving a signal from another witness, the Inspector and his team had caught the accused. The Inspector’s examination-in-chief was recorded by the trial court, but he died before his cross-examination could be conducted. After hearing arguments in the case and going through the documents placed on record, Mr Justice Gupta ruled that Amar Singh’s statement could not be considered. Moreover, it had not been proved on file that the appellant had demanded money and had accepted the same as illegal gratification for getting “a work done”. Acquitting the appellant of the charges framed against him, the judge had concluded: “From the mere recovery of the amount, the offence cannot be said to have been proved....” |
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Salary
bills of gurdwaras exceed “golak” Amritsar, October 15 After the removal of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra as SGPC chief in 1999, his successors, except Akali leader Jagdev Singh Talwandi, undertook “whole scale recruitment”, especially of unskilled low-ranking employees’ in various SGPC-run institutes. Against the monthly offerings Rs 2.26 lakh of Gurdwara Takht Damdama Sahib, excluding Rs 1.13 lakh which the gurdwara pays to the SGPC as per bylaws, the salary bill of the shrine is Rs 4.27 lakh. The amount excludes the huge amount spent on langar, electricity bills and other expenses. Whatever is offered by devotees goes towards the payment of employees and the management has to arrange funds to meet the gap. Several Sikh gurdwaras have not been able to clear dues running into crores to the SGPC. The salary bill of Gurdwara Kandh Sahib (Batala) is Rs 1.39 lakh against the total “golak” of Rs 1.20 lakh, excluding Rs 70,000 given to the SGPC every month. The salary bill of Gurdwara Guru Ka Bagh is Rs 1.20 lakh while the “golak is only Rs 1 lakh. Similar is the condition of Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak where the monthly salary of employees is Rs 1.26 lakh while the “golak” is Rs 93,000 only. The budget of Darbar Sahib, Muktsar, Gurdwara Sukchain Sahib (Phagwara), Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran, Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bahadur, Baba Bakala, is no better. After taking over as the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur had recruited 489 employees whose services were terminated by her successor Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi on the directions of the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission. A provision committee was constituted to recruit employees as per requirement. The committee had ruled in 2002 that no employee should be recruited without any provision. However, the rules framed by the sub-committee were blatantly violated and hundreds of employees were recruited without any provision. Jathedar Alwinder Paul Singh Pakhoke, senior vice-president who officiated for six days as SGPC president after the resignation of Jathedar Kirpal Singh Badungar, recruited about 120 low-ranking employees, mostly from his constituency. Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, honorary secretary of the SGPC, said the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 was clear that the Shiromani committee or institutes being run by it could not be treated as an industry, corporation or a business house where persons could be recruited at the will of chairpersons. The employees who were recruited got salary for the “seva” they rendered to gurdwaras or SGPC-run institutes. He justified the retrenchment of 282 employees who were recruited without any provision. He said with the recruitment of surplus staff, little funds were available for “dharam parchar”. He said the Shiromani committee would take more austerity measures. He said it was a matter of concern that the SGPC could not recruit professionals. The Shiromani committee did not have a stenographer of English to address queries received by it everyday from all over the world. The computer section was also in a pitiable state. |
Panchayat poll on October 29 Phagwara, October 15 Nominations for these posts can be filed from October 15 to October 18 in the office of BDPO here from 11 am to 3 pm. Scrutiny of papers will be done on October 20 and withdrawals, would take place on October 21. Polling on October 29 would be conducted from 8 am to 4 pm. Nobody filed nomination papers from the Vir Nagar Panchayat during regular panchayat polls a few months back. Sarpanch of village Ranipur Rajputan village died a few days after winning the elections. |
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Mann’s party to contest 4 seats Hoshiarpur, October 15 |
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Govt policies anti-people, says Tandon Phagwara, October 15 Mr Tandon termed the Amarinder Singh government as a government of gimmicks. It had raised taxes and tariffs but the revenue so generated was spent not on the development for people but on self development of the ruling party by hiking perks and payments, he alleged. Fees and funds of students had been hiked manifold, he
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British Sikhs offer help for Pak shrines Wagah, October 15 The leader of the jatha, Mr Harjinder Singh Sami, told newsmen that they visited Sikh shrines at Hasan Abdal, Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib, Sacha Sauda, Bhai Lalo Khuhi etc. The jatha pleaded for establishing an independent agency to undertake the renovation of the shrines in Pakistan. He felt the SGPC and the PSGPC were unable to maintain most of these gurdwaras. Barring Panja Sahib and Nankana Sahib more than hundred Sikh places were in bad shape. The leader said that a large number of Sikhs settled abroad can also contribute substantial sum to protect these gurdwaras in Pakistan. The jatha met Bhai Sham Singh and others who were maintaining the gurdwaras and offered their services to renovate the shrines. During their stay in Pakistan the jatha did not notice any anti-India activities at these religious places. |
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Homoeopaths from Pak arrive Wagah, October 15 The delegation, led by Dr Sheikh Azhar Intesar, president of the Pakistan chapter of Homoeopathic Doctors, has come to attend a three- day 14th International Homoeopathic Congress 2003, scheduled to be held from October 17 at the Air Force auditorium, New Delhi. The delegation has come on the invitation of Asian Homoeopathic Medical League. While talking to newsmen Dr Sheikh Intesar said that there was not any doctorate of homoeopathic system such as MD and higher degrees in Pakistan as compared to India. The homoeopathic mode of treatment was becoming popular in urban areas and spreading in villagers. He expressed his disappointment that the government was not doing enough to spread homoeopathy in the countryside. The leader of the delegation felt that India and Pakistani doctors should have regular interaction to update each other of the latest development in this system. |
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Canadian PM to ink pacts on trade, IT Amritsar, October 15 Talking to newsmen after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, Mr Rock said he was going to explore a number of areas, including information technology, communication, agriculture and infrastructure, where Canada and India can work together and help the economic ties grow at a faster pace. Mr Rock said the Candian Prime Minister during his visit to India next week, would sign a number of agreements on trade, IT, communication, tourism and aviation with the Indian Government. He said some Canadian airlines had already offered to start direct flights connecting New Delhi with Toronto. The Minister of Industries will interact with Indian businessmen during his stay in Delhi. He would address a meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industries and meet senior government officers to finalise the trade agreements between both nations to be signed by the Canadian Prime Minister. Mr Rock said the Canadian Premier would visit the Golden Temple to pay obeisance on October 25 before returning to Canada after a brief visit to Chandigarh on that day. Mr Rock was accompanied by Member of Parliament Raymond Symond and senior officers of the Canadian commissions. The honorary chief secretary of the SGPC, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta presented a siropa to the minister. |
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Solution to Kala Afghana issue favoured Amritsar, October 15 However, leaders of some factions of the Sikh Students Federation sounded a word of caution about organisations supporting the Kala Afghana controversy. While many Sikh intellectuals and leaders, including Mr Jaswant Singh Mann, Mr Suba Singh, Mr Bhag Singh Ankhi, Dr Gursharan Singh and Mr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, favoured resolving the contentious issue by holding discussions with Mr Afghana, Mr Joginder Singh, editor of a magazine, “ Spokesman”, and Mr Gurtej Singh and others announced that they would give a “befitting reply” to those who have challenged the supremacy of Akal Takht. |
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Cancellation of octroi auction raises doubts Hoshiarpur, October 15 The Local Bodies Department Punjab organised the auction at Shri Guru Gobind Singh Stadium Jalandhar on Monday in which several contractors from Hoshiarpur participated. Mr Harjeet Singh, Deputy Director Local Bodies Jalandhar, Ms Gurvinder Goindi Randhawa, Executive Officer and Mr Ajay Mohan Babbi, president, Municipal Council Hoshiarpur and two Municipal Councillors and Mr Bhupinder Kumar, Tehsilder Hoshiarpur on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner were present at the auction. The rate of the annual auction for octroi collection was fixed at Rs 7.61 crore and the final bid was Rs 8.51 crore by a local contractor. Twelve bidders deposited Rs 5 lakh each in cash as earnest money for bidding process, while two of the contractors deposited bank draft of Rs 5 lakh each for this purpose. A video film of the auction was prepared. When the bid was finalised, successful contractor managed to get back two bank drafts of Rs 10 lakh of the earnest money and slipped away from the venue and later the auction was cancelled. The Executive Officer Municipal Council Hoshiarpur was not available in her office. Mr Ajay Mohan Babbi, President Municipal Council said that due to a dispute among the contractors over the bidding the auction was cancelled. He said that fresh auction would be held very soon. |
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Of inflated phone bills and harassed subscribers Gurdaspur, October 15 When subscribers complained to the authorities in this regard and demanded correction of the bills, the authorities threatened disconnections of phones. The
subscribers have to deposit the bills. The telephone authorities maintain that the tariff has been increased and the enhanced bills are due to this. If it were so, the bills would have been one and a half times. The subscribers demand an inquiry into this. Subscribers allege that the hard disc of the new telephone exchange has been damaged and the authorities have issued bills taking in account zero reading, which is being denied by the authorities. Many telephone subscribers may prefer disconnection of their telephone to paying fat bills. There are complaints that subscribers who deposit bills in telegraph office on the Jail road here face inconvenience due to lack of proper co-ordination between the staff of the telegraph office and accounts department of the telephone department. Normally the subscribers depositing telephone bills often receive call from the Telephone Department to show receipts if they had deposited the bill, otherwise are directed to deposit the same with fine. Situation becomes difficult when subscribers misplace receipts. Some subscribers are thinking of moving the consumer court for the redressal of complaints. |
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Punjab to modify lottery schemes Chandigarh, October 15 This was stated by Mr
B.R. Bajaj, Principal Secretary, Finance, Punjab, today while giving away prizes to the winners of Punjab State Rakhi Bumper, 2003. The draft of first prize was received by Mr Jaspal Singh of Phagwara. To make schemes more acceptable to the public, he said he had instructed the department to add prizes in kind. The schemes were to be launched after the draw of Maa Laxmi Diwali Pooja Bumper on October 28. He gave two reasons for the popularity of Punjab State Lotteries — transparency in the draws conducted in the presence of the public on the announced dates and the practice of giving the drawn from sold tickets alone. He said the department had earned a profit of Rs 37 crore during the first half year as against Rs 31 crore during the first half of the previous year. This would be utilised towards developmental works of the state. |
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Fast by unemployed linemen continues Patiala, October 15 While the condition of those fasting, Kuldeep Patiala, Sukhwinder Lalehri, Paramjit Naulakha and Janak Singh Mansa is reported to be serious, supporters of Mr Kuldeep Patiala have vowed to continue the fast till their last breath. In a press note issued here today, the union president, Mr Mandeep Singh Sanour, has said Capt Amarinder Singh had not given any positive indication with regard to their demands. This is despite the assurance given by senior Congress leaders, who visited the persons sitting on the fast. Even Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal had said that she would take up their demand of filling up these vacancies in the board with the Chief Minister. Addressing a protest rally in Patiala, the chief adviser of the union, Mr Ram Singh has appealed to the government to accept their demands. He criticised the government for not keeping its promises made during the Vidhan Sabha elections. Union leaders who addressed the rally, threatened to intensify the agitation if their demands were not met. Meanwhile, Mr Sanour has appealed to all political parties, unions, employees bodies, farmers and students bodies to take part in the fast to be observed tomorrow. |
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Fest to showcase heritage Kapurthala, October 15 Renowned artistes will perform during the three-day festival. On October 17, Nazeer Ahmed Khan Warsi, qawwal, and his troupe from Hyderabad and Wadali Brothers will perform. On October 18, Rajan and Sajan Mishra, acclaimed vocalists, will render Punjabi bandishes. “Wichhre Paani”, a Punjabi opera directed by Madan Bala Sandhu, will also be presented. On October 19, Padma Bhushan Pt Debu Choudhury, a sitar maestro, and Prateek Choudhury will perform. Celebrated vocalist Padma Shri Parveen Sultana will also perform on the last day of the festival. |
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Madan Mohan nite on Oct 19 Jalandhar, October 15 Mr S.S. Ajimal, Chairman of the sabha, said a number of singers, Kirti Rajput, Rinku Sharma, Richa Sharma, Arshpreet Kajol Panju, Geeta Dutta, Naresh Dhiman, Arvind Dadwal, Gulshan Tandon and Mangal Singh, would mesmerise the audience. |
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Ambedkar mela organised Jalandhar, October 15 Mr Chanan Ram Chahal, president of the Federation of Ambedkarites Buddhist Organisation, England, said narrow thinking and communalism had put the country in a perilous situation. Prof Kewal Singh Parwana, president of the Ambedkar Mission Society, said Dr Ambedkar’s principles should be followed. He said Dr Ambedkar had embraced Buddhism on October 14, 1956. |
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Lab technicians defer rally Phagwara, October 15 Mr Jhirmal Singh Bhinder, a leader of the Association, said here yesterday evening that the decision of deferring the protest following a meeting of association with Dr Sandhu at Chandigarh yesterday. |
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Dharna against hike in water tariff Hoshiarpur, October 15 |
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SMO writes to CM, seeks promotion Bathinda, October 15 She has urged Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh to get her service record scrutinised and given promotion. She alleged that doctors junior to her had been promoted Chief Medical Officers. |
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Holiday on Oct 16 Chandigarh, October 15 |
Pace of paddy procurement more than expected Sangrur, October 15 Sangrur district topped in paddy procurement in the state in 2002 by procuring 21.44 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, of which only 1,37,971 MTs (6.4 per cent) had been purchased by traders. With 200 new rice shellers this year in the district, owners of the rice-shellers did not want to take any risk in the matter of paddy for milling. Mr Sarvjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, said nearly 190 new rice-shellers with 200 tonnes of capacity had been installed this year by the rice millers increasing rice-milling. from 600 tonnes to 800 tonnes in the district. Arrival of fine quality paddy has also attracted the traders. Ms Gurmeet Kaur Sidhu, District Food and Supply Controller (DFSC), Sangrur, said the district had 733 rice-shellers this as compared to 541 last year. |
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Markfed ‘delays’ paddy payments Chandigarh, October 15 Commission agents assert that they have no problem with other procurement agencies which are prompt in clearing the dues. This belies the government claim that the payments were made within 72 hours of the procurement of paddy. |
DCC office-bearers
announced Fatehgarh Sahib, As per list released, there are 16 vice-presidents, 11 general secretaries, 11 executive members, 13 permanent invitees, 14 secretaries, 11 organising secretaries and one treasurer and one media secretary. The following are the office-bearers. The vice-presidents are Pt. Naresh Sharma, Mr Ashok Kumar, Mr Gurdaman Singh, Mrs Karamjit Kaur, Mr Sukhdev Singh, Mr Ranjeet Singh Ghola, Mr Harinder Singh Bhambri, Mr Bhupinder Singh Jaggi, Mr Satish Kumar Gupta, Mr Harpreet Singh Prince, Mr Om Prakash Tangri, Mr Gursatinder Singh Jallah, Mr Gurdev Singh Kahanayan, Mr Charanjiv Sharma, Mrs Rekha Mehta and Mr Surinder Singh. The general secretaries are Mr R.N. Sharma, Mr Lakhbir Singh, Mr Subash Sood, Mr Hemant Pajni, Dr Mohan Lal Salempur, Mr Joginder Singh, Mr Gurdev Singh, Mr Nirmal Singh, Mr Harinder Singh Marwa and Mr Ranjit Singh Tarkhan Majra. The treasurer is Mr Devinder Kumar Makhan and the media secretary is Mr Kulidp Singh Shatran. |
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MC, police at loggerheads over posts’ construction Amritsar, October 15 Even as applications for approval and payment of advertisement tax and land rent are pending with the corporation, the work on the police posts is almost complete. Advertisements have also been displayed on them. Mr Brij Bedi, president of the Citizens’ Forum, who raised the issue said earlier the corporation had constructed steel structures to mount advertisements in violation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling banning advertisements, including billboards, banners and posters, and now the police was violating the same. As many as 21 Gypsy shelters, 10 beat boxes and 25 traffic umbrellas have been constructed by a private advertising company, a national advertising concern, in lieu of advertising rights on public land, including main roads, footpaths and crossings. Mr Manjinder Singh of the company said the application for the construction had already been submitted to the corporation. The company had also presented 12 motor cycles to the police. Mr Vijay Partap Singh, SP (City-1), said the corporation had given its approval for the same. He said the police could not afford to construct these with meager funds hence it had been entrusted to a company on contract. He said the construction was not in violation of the court ruling, as police information regarding phone numbers of control room help lines would also be advertised. However, the Commissioner of the corporation, Mr K.S. Kang, said the advertising company’s application had not been passed. He said a single company was given the contract without following the norms of advertising and public notices about the contract. He said he had written to the SSP, Mr Kultar Singh, about this. He said atleast two other companies were in the fray for the construction but the procedure had not been followed. On HC orders, he said in due course guidelines had been framed to allow advertisements which did not distract a driver. |
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PSEB move to recover
16.7 cr arrears Jalandhar, October 15 This was stated by Mr Raman Bhalla, Administrative Member of the PSEB, who was here to participate in a pension adalat, organised by the PSEB (north zone) authorities. Discussing the state of affairs in the north zone (Doaba region), he said the Punjab Police and department like health owed crores of rupees as arrears to the PSEB. Mr Bhalla said in the north zone alone power worth Rs 10.90 crore was stolen during last year, while the PSEB authorities had recovered Rs 8.72 lakh. He said corruption would not be tolerated in the Board and the ongoing anti-corruption drive had led to the arrest of six senior official and their cases were being investigated. Taking about the pension adalat, Mr Bhalla said one of its aims was to provide retirement dues to an employee on the day of his retirement. He said of the 113 pending pension cases, 73 had been disposed of. He distributed cheques for Rs 1.75 crore to 125 pensioners. |
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Homeless SCs to get 1.8 cr Sangrur, October 15 Mr Sarvjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, said this while addressing a meeting of the District Development Committee here on Monday evening . The Deputy Commissioner further said the administration had identified a total of 1,029 homeless scheduled caste persons, living below the poverty line, from 106 villages of the district for providing them a grant of Rs 20,000 each for the construction of houses. |
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Official suspended Chandigarh, October 15 Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Animal Husbandry Minister, had recommended his suspension, according to a press note. |
PSEB employee acquitted in bribery case Chandigarh, October 15 The accused, a Ropar resident, was earlier booked under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act after a prosecution witness alleged he had demanded money. Going into the background of the case, the complainant had claimed that he wanted a connection for installing an electric motor on his land. For acquiring a duplicate copy of the demand notice, he had approached the PSEB on February 18, 1986, but money was demanded. The employee was, subsequently, convicted and sentenced to one-and-a-half-year rigorous imprisonment in the case on July 14, 1992. After hearing the arguments in the case, Mr Justice K.C. Gupta of the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled: “It has not been proved on the file that the appellant had demanded Rs 100 for supplying duplicate copy of the demand notice....” |
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Mardana society chief booked Ferozepore, October 15 Mandip Kaur belonged to Nawanshahr district and had given an address in Ferozepore, which was attested by Mr Bhullar. According to Mr Parveen Sinha, district police chief, a case has been registered against Mr Bhullar on the basis of legal opinion sought from the District Attorney under Sections 65, 71, 465, 471 and 120-B of the IPC. Mr Sinha said the wrong address given in the ration card was also mentioned in the passport. Earlier, the DSP (Detective), Mr Baljinder Singh, had indicated Mr Bhullar for helping the girl to get a ration card on the basis of a wrong address. Mr Manish Chawla, SP, said even the photographs of the parents of the girl were manipulated, which was a serious crime. However, Mr Bhullar said he had no intention to give a wrong address of the girl. Giving details of the case, Mr Chawla said the case was registered following a complaint lodged by Pritam Singh. The complainant had alleged that Buta Singh, a resident of Nawanshahr, got the passport of his daughter prepared on the basis of a wrong address. It is learnt that the military intelligence had also sent an adverse report against Mr
Bhullar, who is a frequent visitor to Pakistan. Senior police officers said Mr Bhullar had been under observation. |
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MC clerk suspended Amritsar, October 15 The suspects are Mr Tarsem Singh, Head Clerk, Mr Narinder Singh, Mr Harjinder Singh, Mr Gurvail Singh, all clerks, and Mr Manoj Kumar, a peon. The complainant stated that he was a rickshaw contractor and used to give rickshaws on rent. He said he used to submit licence fee to the suspects, who allegedly took more money than prescribed. He said Mr Kirpal Singh, Additional Commissioner, on a complaint, demanded the record pertaining to the licence fees, which they suspects tried to hide. However, he succeeded in tracing the record, on the basis of which Mr Kirpal Singh suspended Mr Gurvail Singh. In a fit of rage, the suspects attacked and threatened to kill him. |
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Five hurt in road mishaps Fazilka, October 15 In another incident which took place on Tuesday night, three persons, Joginder Singh (25), Avtar Singh (52) and Raj Kumar (26), were coming in a truck to Fazilka. The truck driver lost control of the vehicle all of a sudden and collided with a tree resulting in injuries to all three persons. All the five injured have been admitted to the local Civil Hospital and are stated to be out of danger. |
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60 kg poppy husk seized from cop Sangrur, October 15 The police said it had also seized 60 kg of poppy husk from the vehicle of Sukhdev Singh of Moga district and Jagjit Singh of Ferozepore. All three have been arrested and a case has been registered. |
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Schoolgirl raped by acquaintance Tarn Taran, October 15 The accused picked the victim from her school on the pretext that her mother was seriously ill. On the way to home, Nimma allegedly raped her. The accused is at large while the police has registered a case under Section 376 of the
IPC. |
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80-year-old murdered Jalandhar, October 15 It is suspected that the woman was stabbed to death by suspected robbers who may have barged into her house between 9 am to 1 pm. The crime was detected in the afternoon when one of her relative came to provide her with lunch as usual. |
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Poppy husk seized Abohar, October 15 |
Media commercialised, says former VC Jalandhar, October 15 Dr S.P. Singh, who was speaking at a seminar “Media and Social Change”, organised jointly by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of the GND University, the Punjab Bhasha Academy and the Punjab Academy of Social Sciences, Literature and Culture on the varsity’s Regional Campus at Ladhewall near here, said the journalism of yesteryears was a bit different from the modern journalism. “Media has become powerful and media people have been doing good things for society, but at the same time commercialism has creeped in which makes it different from journalism of yore when people worked with untiring enthusiasm,” said Dr S.P. Singh. While lauding the positive role of the media, Dr J.S. Puar, former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, however, shared a different view. He said media was not as free as it was being projected. “Strings are sometimes pulled from elsewhere. Media depends upon advertisements which influence its Independence,” said Dr Puar. Mr Davinder Singh Chhina, a journalist and media researcher, Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar, talked about the role of the media in the field of human rights. “Media can change society and play a vital role by making people aware about their human rights and by highlighting rights violations,” said Mr Chinna. Mr Satnam Singh Manak from the daily Ajit described the role of media during the 1984 and Godhra riots. Later, about 25 old students of the Department of Journalism of the GND University held a meeting and formed a club. |
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PTU plan to set up digital libraries Amritsar, October 15 Dr Salwan said the university was taking initiative to issue ‘smart cards’ for the effective management of learning process and record keeping. He said the university was working on various new plans for building highly trained and motivated core faculty for advanced teaching and research in various disciplines of modern technology. Dr Salwan said stress would be laid on entrepreneurship, manufacturing technology, advanced electronic energy and information technology, for which the work had already started. He said the university was setting up regional centres where postgraduate and doctoral programmes would be offered to engineering teachers for faculty development and accelerated research and development. On the occasion, Dr Salwan was honoured by the Director Principal of the college, Dr S.S. Bhatti, and a robe of honour was presented to him by the Chairman of the college.
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Hearing aids given to 71 students Bathinda, October 15 Presenting hearing aids to 71 students, she said despite the handicap the students were doing well. She said 152 students were on the rolls of the school and hearing aids had been provided to all of them. She said the district administration had been helping the school and residents of the city too were contributing in cash and kind. Mrs Maninder Kaur Bhalla, Principal of the school, said the students had won first and second prizes at a competition held by the Bharat Vikas Parishad at Jaito town of Faridkot district. |
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Abolition of teachers’ post hits schools Fazilka, October 15 Mr Raj Kishore Kalra, spokesman for the Government Secondary Teachers Union, Punjab, while giving details said that of the abolished vacancies, 1,762 are at the secondary level and 1,480 at the primary wing level. The Director, Public Instructions (Secondary), vide circular dated September 23, has stated that in May 2001, the government had sanctioned 2,511 posts out of 4,273 posts in the middle, high and senior secondary schools under the plan scheme (Temporary) in 1,404 upgraded schools. Of these, there were 468 posts of Principal but surprisingly 433 of these posts remained vacant. Similarly, 374 posts of lecturer out of 1,404, 272 out of 1,465 posts of cadre master, 245 out of 468 posts of clerk and 438 out of 468 posts of class IV employees remained vacant. All these posts have now been abolished. |
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VC releases
book Patiala, October 15 Appreciating the writer of the book, Mr Boparai emphasised that her work had the capacity to inspire a compassion and honesty in one’s character. He appealed to students to adopt strong values and truthfulness in their approach. Mr Sudha
Murti, writer of the book said she had tried to bring before the reader real life incidents. Dr
N.S. Kapoor of the Journalism Department, who translated the book into Punjabi while terming it as a very enlightened work said the book divided into 52 chapters dealt with two opposite situations of human life. |
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70
students donate blood Bathinda, October 15 Mrs Gurmeet Kaur Bhattal, Principal of the college, in a press note issued today said a list of 300 students with their contact numbers had been prepared for emergency. |
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