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Each minister to have one portfolio, says Amarinder Talwandi Bhai (Ferozepore), December 8 “By loyalty means that only those MLAs will be inducted into the Cabinet who are willing to work according to his directions. I am head of the Cabinet and if anybody wants to be the member of the Cabinet, he or she will have to work as per my directions,” pointed out the Chief Minister, who was here today in connection with the formal inauguration of the 49th National School Games. The Chief Minister said the size of the Cabinet after expansion would be such that each minister would handle one portfolio. He added that he would also leave all portfolios except the one being handled by him presently. Mr Ravinder Babbal and Mr Hans Raj Joshan, both Parliamentary Secretaries, were sitting on the left and right side of the Chief Minister while he was talking to mediapersons. “I am going to discuss the matter of Cabinet expansion with the AICC chief, Ms Sonia Gandhi, on December 10 and after her approval, it will be carried out immediately. In the next expansion, the MLAs belonging to minority communities and those MLAs, who have been elected for the first time will be inducted into the Cabinet,” he said and added that no minister would be dropped but portfolios of some ministers might be changed. He declined to disclose the number of MLAs who would be inducted into the Cabinet. He, however, said apart from inducting new faces in the Cabinet, some MLAs, who had been enjoying junior status in the Cabinet, would be promoted as full Cabinet ministers. He said there would be no Deputy Chief Minister in Punjab. He said Dr Harbans Lal, who was sacked as Forest Minister, would be taken back in the Cabinet only after he was found not guilty in the report of an inquiry conducted into the allegations levelled against him. When asked whether the Cabinet expansion was being carried out to diffuse the crises that had gripped his leadership, he said there was no leadership crisis and the Cabinet would be expanded as it was due for long. When asked about his comments over the fact that some Congress MLAs belonging to the dissident group had gone to Delhi to meet party high command against his style of functioning, he said about five to seven MLAs had been called by party central leaders to tell their grievances before the committee headed by Dr Man Mohan Singh. The other two members of the committee were Ms Mohsina Kidwai and Mr Ahmed Patel. When asked that what the Punjab Government had been doing to find out those elements which had leaked the report of Vigilance Bureau in connection with the investigations made into the disproportionate assets case against the former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and his kin, he said a senior ranking official of the Punjab police was conducting an inquiry into this case and action would be taken on his report. To a question, he said his fight against Mr Badal was not personal but it was a fight of the state against corruption. He said now the people of Punjab had come to know that Mr Badal and his kin had indulged in rampant corruption. He said so far the Punjab Government had put 400 persons of Punjab behind bars in corruption cases. |
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Efficiency, loyalty to decide induction Talwandi Bhai (Ferozepore), December 8 “By loyalty means that only those MLAs will be inducted into the Cabinet who are willing to work according to his directions. I am head of the Cabinet and if anybody wants to be the member of the Cabinet, he or she will have to work as per my directions,” pointed out the Chief Minister, who was here today in connection with the formal inauguration of the 49th National School Games. The Chief Minister said the size of the Cabinet after expansion would be such that each minister would handle one portfolio. He added that he would also leave all portfolios except the one being handled by him presently. Mr Ravinder Babbal and Mr Hans Raj Joshan, both Parliamentary Secretaries, were sitting on the left and right side of the Chief Minister while he was talking to mediapersons. “I am going to discuss the matter of Cabinet expansion with the AICC chief, Ms Sonia Gandhi, on December 10 and after her approval, it will be carried out immediately. In the next expansion, the MLAs belonging to minority communities and those MLAs, who have been elected for the first time will be inducted into the Cabinet,” he said and added that no minister would be dropped but portfolios of some ministers might be changed. He declined to disclose the number of MLAs who would be inducted into the Cabinet. He, however, said apart from inducting new faces in the Cabinet, some MLAs, who had been enjoying junior status in the Cabinet, would be promoted as full Cabinet ministers. He said there would be no Deputy Chief Minister in Punjab. He said Dr Harbans Lal, who was sacked as Forest Minister, would be taken back in the Cabinet only after he was found not guilty in the report of an inquiry conducted into the allegations levelled against him. When asked whether the Cabinet expansion was being carried out to diffuse the crises that had gripped his leadership, he said there was no leadership crisis and the Cabinet would be expanded as it was due for long. When asked about his comments over the fact that some Congress MLAs belonging to the dissident group had gone to Delhi to meet party high command against his style of functioning, he said about five to seven MLAs had been called by party central leaders to tell their grievances before the committee headed by Dr Man Mohan Singh. The other two members of the committee were Ms Mohsina Kidwai and Mr Ahmed Patel. When asked that what the Punjab Government had been doing to find out those elements which had leaked the report of Vigilance Bureau in connection with the investigations made into the disproportionate assets case against the former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and his kin, he said a senior ranking official of the Punjab police was conducting an inquiry into this case and action would be taken on his report. To a question, he said his fight against Mr Badal was not personal but it was a fight of the state against corruption. He said now the people of Punjab had come to know that Mr Badal and his kin had indulged in rampant corruption. He said so far the Punjab Government had put 400 persons of Punjab behind bars in corruption cases. |
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Bhattal to meet Cong high command today Chandigarh, December 8 Mrs Bhattal was interacting with mediapersons in the District Courts Complex here today. Mrs Bhattal was in the court in connection with the hearing in the corruption case registered against her. Giving details, the Agriculture Minister said that she had received invitation from the Congress high command to review the current scenario in the Congress Legislative Party (CLP). The high command had also called other MLAs to discuss the situation, she added. While reacting to the Congress defeat in three states, Mrs Bhattal said, “I always have positive attitude and there is always scope for improvement. I am going to Delhi and everything will be discussed in detail”. When she was asked whether she would urge the Congress high command to change the leadership in Punjab, Mrs Bhattal said that if she were so asked by Ms Sonia Gandhi, then she would definitely express her views. Mrs Bhattal criticised the move of the Akali leaders to organise a dharna and agitations to show their solidarity with Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who had been lodged in Patiala jail in connection with a corruption case. The Akali supporters should restrain themselves from participating in any agitation, she added. Mrs Bhattal criticised the Punjab police and the Public Relations Department for functioning under political influence. Mrs Bhattal said that recently the state police had become a tool of politicians and working blindly under their directions. But she refused to divulge the name of any officials. Talking about the functioning of the Public Relations Department, Mrs Bhattal said that she had come to know that the department had issued press notes against her which were not signed by anyone. She advised the officials not to work for any politician. |
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Order in Bhattal case reserved
till tomorrow
Chandigarh, December 8 The arguments in the case began with Mr P.N Lekhi, counsel for the complainant, claiming that the investigation agency did not require any sanctions from the state before filing the challan. Stating that the charges should be framed against Mrs Bhattal, Mr Lekhi said that Mrs Bhattal had failed to provide the details where she had spent Rs 20 lakh withdrawn from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund till date. Claiming that Mrs Bhattal could not be discharged at this stage of the case, Mr Lekhi also cited various judgements arguing about the role of the Special Judge while framing charges. The counsel said that Mrs Bhattal had to face a trial as she had committed a crime by misusing public money. The counsel further added that regarding the evidence shown by Mrs Bhattal’s counsel had no relevance at this stage of the case. Arguing that the complainant’s counsel did not go through the files, Mrs Bhattal’s counsel said that Mrs Bhattal had distributed the money among the needy persons and deserving institutes. Supporting his claim, Mrs Bhattal’s counsel said that the documents submitted by the state government in the High Court and the statement of former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the Vidhan Sabha clearly mentioned that Mrs Bhattal had properly disbursed the amount. He also raised questions over the role of the investigating agency in the case. The counsel said that the investigating agency had just once called Mrs Bhattal to explain her view where she had stated that all the relevant records were lying in the CM’s office and, moreover, she had already been given clean chit in the case by the Badal government. Claiming that Mrs Bhattal deserved to be discharged in the case, the counsel stated that the investigating agency did not register any case against Mrs Bhattal at Chandigarh therefore the challan filed by it had no legal sanctity. He alleged that the three star witnesses in the case had forged the documents to implicate Mrs Bhattal.  |
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George, Dhindsa wish Badal happy birthday Patiala, December 8 He said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government would take “appropriate” action in support of the Badals. Refusing to elaborate, Mr Fernandes said he would brief the Prime Minister on the issue. He, however, ruled out the imposition of President’s rule in Punjab. The Union Minister landed at the airport in the city around 4 pm alongwith Union Textile Minister Shahnawaz Khan and drove to the Central Jail immediately. The two ministers went inside to meet Mr Badal along with Union Fertiliser Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa who had been waiting for them outside the main gate with a birthday cake and bouquets of flowers. Sources said SAD President’s brother-in-law Amarjit Singh Sidhu also shared the birthday cake with Mr Badal and congratulated him on turning 77. The three spent more than one hour with Mr Badal and his son Sukhbir. Later, interacting with the media, Mr Fernandes said Badals they were being dealt with “cruelly” and the state government was acting in a revengeful manner against them. “I was shocked to learn that Sukhbir Badal was put up in a cell which is reserved for condemned prisoners. What is more shocking is that the government is claiming it would put the MP again into the same cell”, he added. He went on to say that Mr Badal was a “big person” and he was not perturbed in any way regarding the facilities being given to him in the jail. The Union Minister also claimed that it had come to his knowledge that Akali workers were stopped from coming to today’s rally and that many of them were detained unlawfully. He said this was condemnable. Meanwhile, SAD President’s brother-in-law Amarjit Sidhu offered to send food from his home for both father and son. However, Mr Badal refused the offer, saying that he would have jail food only. The jail
authorities, meanwhile, gave permission to Sukhbir’s father-in-law S.S. Majithia to meet the Badals today. |
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George calls on Tohra’s wife Patiala, December 8 Mrs Joginder Kaur was admitted in the hospital a few days back after she complained of uneasiness. Mr Fernandes also spent some time with Mr Tohra in the hospital. |
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Balasar farmhouse assessed at 3.47 cr Patiala, December 8 Disclosing this here yesterday, Vigilance DIG B.K. Uppal said this value had been arrived at following a report prepared by a technical team comprising members of the Vigilance Bureau and technical and valuation experts. Mr Uppal said the market value of the entire farmhouse had been calculated to be around Rs 10 crore. The assessment report stated that though the farmhouse had been
constructed over a period of time, the new building had been constructed after 1997. It said the building had elaborate landscaping all around it with the main gate being 32 feet wide and 12 feet high. It said the farmhouse was built on the lines of a fort and drinking water was drawn from a canal running at a distance of around 6 km from the farmhouse. The report stated that the construction cost of the ground floor comprising 5,136 square feet at the rate of Rs 1500 per square feet came to Rs 77 lakh while the construction cost of the first floor which measured 994 square feet had been valued at Rs 14.91 lakh. It said the cost involved in the construction of a swimming pool and link road was Rs 2 lakh and Rs 15 lakh,
respectively. It said the land filling cost had been estimated at Rs 75 lakh and that Rs 59 lakh was calculated to have been spent on landscaping. As much as Rs 41 lakh was calculated to have been spent on the
mezzanine flooring. Mr Uppal said the doors and windows of the farmhouse were of superior quality teakwood with melamine finish. He said even the toilet were tastefully decorated with the extensive use of marble and various other embellishments. According to the report, electrical wiring of superior quality copper had been laid in conduit pipes with fancy switches and light fixtures. |
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Bid to ‘run over’ SHO, 9 SAD men arrested Sangrur, December 8 Giving this information here today. Mr Gurinder Singh Dhillon, SSP, Sangrur, said minibus with number PB 13-F-8566 was coming from the Barnala side at a high speed today when the SHO, Mr Jasmail Singh, stopped the bus and asked the driver to show documents and the route permit of the vehicle, but the driver failed to produce the documents and the route permit and told the SHO that there were SAD workers in the bus who were going to Patiala to attend the SAD rally there. The SSP further said that during this conversation, a person, identified himself as Charanjit Singh Jatana former President of the Rampuraphul Municipal Council, alighted from the bus and said nobody could stop the bus and occupied the driver’s seat. The SSP alleged that Mr Jatana told the police that whosoever would come in front of the bus would be run over by the bus. He said the SHO and the police party tried to stop him, but Mr Jatana drove the bus dangerously with an intention to kill the SHO and the police party. All policemen saved their lives by jumping away from the bus, he added. The SSP claimed that the SAD workers, sitting in the bus, also shouted and instigated Mr Jatana to drive the bus even if the police party got killed and the bus got out of control and rammed into the iron barricades at the naka. Meanwhile, Mr Malkiat Singh Keetu, SAD MLA from Barnala, also arrived on the spot and tried to intervene but the SHO explained the incident to him. Later, Mr Keetu left the scene. He also said about 20 occupants of the minibus had been allowed to go after they were found innocent while nine, including Mr Jatana, were arrested. |
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College teachers hold stay-in strike Phagwara, December 8 They raised anti-government slogans. Led by Prof Jasbir Singh Johal, former district president of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), the protesters sought the help of the local MLA and the Punjab Social Welfare Minister, Mr Joginder Singh Mann, for taking up the twin issues with the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt. Amarinder Singh. A memorandum was also presented to the minister who promised to do something in the matter. The protest was observed in response to a statewide call given by the PCCTU. The teachers will cease work again on December 17. A mobilisation week will be launched from January 15 to 20 next year for awakening the general public about the backtracking of the government from its poll promises. A two period strike and campus rallies will be held on January 19 and 20. Teachers of 172 non-government colleges will resort to mass casual leave on January 21 and converge outside the office of the DPI (C) in Chandigarh to hold a protest march up to Matka Chowk where the PCCTU office-bearers will court arrest. HOSHIARPUR:
On a call of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), all teachers of the local DAV College observed a strike in support of their various demands on Monday. Their main demands are restoration of full grant-in-aid to the colleges and clearance of pension and gratuity cases of teachers, etc. Prof Jarnail Singh, spokesman for the teachers, said teachers of other private government-aided colleges of the district also participated in the strike. AMRITSAR: A large number of teachers of private colleges of Gurdaspur and Amritsar on Monday observed a stay-in strike in colleges and held a protest march. They blocked the traffic at Lawrence Road here. The teachers then proceeded to the house of Prof Darbari Lal, state Minister of Education, to protest against the non-implementation of the Congress party manifesto. They shouted slogans against the state government. SANGRUR: Led by Prof P.K. Sharma, district president of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), members of the district unit of the PCCTU on Monday held a rally and staged a dharna in front of the local residence of Mr Arvind Khanna, MLA from Sangrur, in support of their demands. However, Mr Khanna was not present at his house so the protesters submitted a memorandum to a representative of the MLA. The rally was addressed, among others, by Prof P.K. Sharma, Prof Kanwaljit Kaur, Prof Santosh Garg, Prof Malkiat Singh and Dr Tejwant Mann. A report of a similar protest by college teachers at R.K. Arya College, Nawanshahr, was also received. |
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Teachers submit memorandum to
Finance Minister Patiala, December 8 Members of the Punjab and Chandigarh Teachers Union said the state government had issued a letter in February this year, to all heads intimating them regarding upgrading of Patiala city from C-class to B-2 class for the purpose of house rent allowance
(HRA). All employees of Patiala were entitled to 15 per cent house rent allowance instead of 7.5 per cent of their basic pay. They added that employees of all other government and semi-government departments and colleges in the city have started getting 15 per cent HRA since March but employees of local Modi College and Khalsa College were still getting 7.5 per cent
HRA. They further added that even private colleges in other cities of same status get 15 per cent of the
HRA. Besides this, the union further demanded the restoration of 95 per cent grant to all aided non-government colleges of the state. The union also demanded the retention of the plus two classes in colleges so that students were not deprived of better facility and infrastructure. |
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IAS officer deputed to resolve Chief Amritsar, December 8 Ms Dass will be camping in the Circuit House here where representatives of both the warring groups and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Raminder Singh, have been summoned on behalf of the NCM. Taking a serious note of the taking over of the Chief Khalsa Dewan by the SDM, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, said the Deputy Commissioner had acted at the behest of the state government. He said the administration must hand over the charge of the Chief Khalsa Dewan to the subcommittee, constituted by Akal Takht, as it was an internal matter of the Sikhs. Earlier the NCM, at its emergency meeting held in New Delhi today found the reply of the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar as “unsatisfactory”. The Deputy Commissioner had tried to justify the taking over of the Chief Khalsa Dewan in wake of a serious law and order problem. It is learnt that after discussing the row with both parties, the visiting Secretary to the NCM, Ms Dass may direct the Deputy Commissioner to hand over the charge of the Chief Khalsa Dewan to a five-member committee constituted by Akal Takht comprising Justice Kuldip Singh, Justice R.S. Narula, Principal Ram Singh, Dr Kharak Singh and Mr Prithipal Singh Kapur, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University. However, the NCM will like to exclude Mr Bhag Singh Ankhi and Mr Charnjit Singh Chadha, leader of rival factions of the Chief Khalsa Dewan from any committee so that an amicable solution could be found. |
BSP men stage dharna over Ambedkar issue Jalandhar, December 8 Hundreds of BSP workers yesterday staged a dharna outside the Doordarshan Kendra here to lodge their protest against the alleged deliberate attempts of DD officials to avoid coverage of party functions. The state BSP general secretary, Mr Pawan Kumar Tinoo, addressing the gathering, alleged that though the BSP had organised a massive function in the memory of Dr Ambedkar at Phillaur on Saturday and it was covered by a DD team, but later during the telecast of news in the evening, it was found that the clippings of the coverage of the function were shown as a part of another function organised by the Bhaujan Samaj Morcha (BSM). “The deliberate attempt of DD officials not to telecast the BSP function and using the video footage of our function to give credit to another political party will not be tolerated,” Mr Tinoo said. The protesters demanded that erring DD
officials should be suspended for tampering with the video footage and the original coverage of the function should be telecast to bring truth to the people. |
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Badal’s effigy burnt Bathinda, December 8 Mr Baldev Singh
Khiala, former minister and general secretary, Akali Dal, in a press note issued here today said the effigy of Mr Badal was burnt as he had brought bad name to the Sikh community by indulging in corruption. He added that the Akali Dal had decided to launch statewide campaign against various acts of omission and commission of Mr Badal during his rule. |
Heritage Festival concludes Amritsar, December 8 Among the politicians, Mr R.L. Bhatia, MP topped the list of those who were honoured, including Mr Harchand Singh, political secretary to the Chief Minister, Dr Raj Kumar, Mr Jugal Kishore, Mr Harjinder Singh Thekedar, all MLAs, and Mr Ashwani Sekhri, Minister for Culture, Health and Family Welfare. Besides, prominent personalities, including Dr Daljit Singh, eminent eye surgeon, Mrs Anita Singh of
INTACH, Ms Phoolan Rani, painter, Kargil war hero martyr Kanav Deep Singh (posthumously) Mr Mohinderjit Singh, architect, and Mr Avtar Singh, sculptor, were also honoured. |
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Head Constable not held despite FIR Bathinda, December 8 In a representation to the SSP, Bathinda, Mr Mohan Lal had alleged that neither the Head Constable, Mr Darshan Singh, had been arrested nor he had returned his goods which had allegedly been taken away from his house in his absence by policemen posted at the city police station in 2001. He said a case against him was registered under the Dowry Act on the complaint of his daughter-in-law in 2001. Policemen posted at the city kotwali then raided his house and took away some expensive women’s garments. After that he got a release order for these garments from the court and when he went to the city police station, it was found that his garments had been changed. He said on his complaint, a criminal case was registered against Mr Darshan Singh, Head Constable, who was then in charge of the malkhana. The case was registered against him after Mr Harbhajan Singh, the then SP (Head-quarters), held an inquiry into his complaint and found his allegations true. He said so far he had failed to get back his original garments from the police authorities despite the fact that the court had ordered their release. Mr Nilabh Kishore, SP (City), Bathinda, said an investigation into the case was going on and action against Mr Darshan Singh would be taken going by the report. He said the complainant, Mr Mohan Lal, had failed to produce the receipts, which could establish that he had bought the garments. |
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243rd Corps Day celebrated Bathinda, December 8 In a press statement issued here today, the Army authorities said with many activities to commemorate the occasion in an appropriate manner having been organised in various ASC establishments, Brigadier B.P. Tiwari, the seniormost ASC official posted at Bathinda, also recalled the glorious deeds of the ASC over the past few years. The Brigadier said the gallant soldiers had kept the flag of the ASC flying high from the Jammu and Kashmir operations during 1947-48 through the Korean war (1851-53) to Operation Vijay where their valour earned them seven gallantry awards, including a Mahavir Chakra, three Vir Chakras and two Sena medals. Most recently, Operation Parakram displayed the meticulous foresight and planning of the corps. The corps added to its glory with its time-honoured tradition of maintaining flawless logistics support to the Army, Navy and Air Force in every corner of the country, always and everytime living up to their motto “service is our creed”, the press note said. |
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Mela dedicated to Bindrakhia Phagwara, December 8 The mela concluded around midnight last night, a press note said today. Punjab Social Welfare Minister Joginder Singh Mann was the chief guest at the sixteenth mela held every year in memory of slain film star Varinder. Wreaths were put on the pictures of both Varinder and Bindrakhia and a two-minute silence was observed before start of the mela organised by the Varinder Memorial Trust and a monthly Punjabi magazine. This year’s Varinder Memorial Award for Punjabi singing was given to Sarbjit Cheema and Rani Randip. Mr T.D. Chawla, a veteran Punjabi journalist, was awarded the Punjabi “pattarkari” award. Mr H.S. Batra of Siti Cable was also honoured. |
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Power cuts irk Kharar residents Kharar, December 8 Residents say that power supply gets disrupted around 8.30 a.m. and remained erratic till about 2.30 p.m. While the Municipal Council here has been receiving complaints from residents for the past many days regarding shortage of water, persons whose business depended on power supply have been making complaints at the office of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) but to no avail. The residents were already getting inadequate supply of water but the position got worse during the past many days as the council was not able to operate tubewells at the scheduled timings due to power failure. An official of the council said today that power disruption at peak hours had adversely affected the supply of water. He said at present the civic body was running tubewells even between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. which is otherwise treated as rest period. Mr Malkiat Singh, who is running a shop near the bus stand, said nobody attended to phone calls at the PSEB complaint centre. He said when complaints were made personally regarding the disrupted power supply, the staff on duty said that they were helpless in the matter. He said he had installed a photostat machine and a fax machine at his shop but could not attend to customers because of frequent power failure. He said nobody was aware whether the power failures were due to some breakdowns or were to be treated as shutdowns as no information was provided in this regard. Mr Supinder Mavi, who prepared video cassettes and CDs at his shop, said he could not start his work till 3 p.m. as the supply of power during the morning hours remained erratic and he had to work late in the evening to complete his work. Mr N.S. Rangi, SDO, PSEB, said the supply of power remained disrupted only due to shutdowns and there were no power breakdowns as such. He said in such cases the local officials were helpless as instructions for shutdowns came from the System Controller, Punjab. Mr Rangi denied that the staff on duty at the complaint centre did not attend to phone calls of residents. He said the board had deliberately provided one-way telephone facility, of in-coming calls only at the centre so that the staff was not able to keep the phone busy by making unnecessary calls. |
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Rotary Club launches road-safety week Patiala, December 8 Speaking on the occasion, president of the club Didar Singh Basson highlighted the contributions of the club. Maintaining that a number of projects had been undertaken by the club during the current year, the diamond jubilee year of the club, he said the same pace would be maintained in the future as well. Mr Basson said the focus for future projects would be on pollution control, physically challenged children, health camps and eye operations. Addressing the gathering, Mr Rai said while no efforts were being spared by the police to improve the traffic in the city, better results could be achieved with the active participation of voluntary organisations such as the Rotary Club. Mr Rai also presented a Rotary international citation for outstanding efforts to Dr Ashok Gupta, a past president of the club. Earlier in the day, traffic safety week was inaugurated by SSP Patiala N.S. Sekhon by affixing specially designed reflectors on vehicles which do not possess tail lights. |
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Pakistan Rotary delegation Amritsar, December 8 |
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Lawyers’ strike today Pathankot, December 8 The lawyers will also present a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Law Minister. They will hold protest rallies in Delhi, in the high courts and at the district headquarters. —
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Five-year-old boy abducted, killed Jalandhar, December 8 Mukul, alias Nannu, was missing since about 5.30 p.m. on Sunday. He had allegedly gone out with Sawaan, a neighbourhood boy of his age to play in the backyard of his maternal grandparents’ house. He had gone there along with his parents Ajay and Anita for the marriage of his uncle Sanjiv. Mukul’s father is working with municipal corporation as a sevadar”. Mukul’s parents said after realising that their son had not returned till late in the evening, they informed the police, which launched a hunt to trace him. Some residents of the area also joined search which went on throughout the night and this morning. “Two boys who were sitting on a wall near a water tank adjoining to the municipal tubewell, pointed towards a bag floating in the tank. When other women and I opened it we were shocked to find the body of Mukul in it. There was no injury mark on it, said Mohinder Kaur an aunt of Anita. The body was sent to the Civil Hospital for a post-mortem. Mr Rakesh Kaushal, SP (City), said the police was working on various theories and was likely to zero in on the criminal very soon. He said a case under Sections 302 and 364 had been registered at Police Division No. 6. |
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Truck driver shot at, 4 arrested Bathinda, December 8 Mr Ajay Maluja, SP (D), in a press note issued here today said the accused — Iqbal Singh, Lakhbir Singh, Harchet Singh and Narinder Singh — were arrested at a naka laid at the Bhucho crossing after they fled the scene. He said Mr Bhupinder Singh, the driver, was attacked as he did not give them way to cross their vehicle. Mr Bhupinder Singh suffered gun shot injuries on his arm. A case against the accused was registered under Sections 307, 341 and 34 of the IPC and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act in the city police station. |
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Mystery shrouds pastor’s death Phagwara, December 8 When the pastor got down at the local bus stand, he fell unconscious after taking something with a glass of water. While the two male friends slipped away, his companion took Monu to Civil Hospital. The doctors declared him as brought dead. The police took his companion who is married in custody for questioning. The police is investigating whether the pastor consumed some poisonous stuff. |
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Youngsters rob bank of Rs 3.75 lakh Ferozepore, December 8 The culprits fled after looting the cash at gun-point, injuring the bank manager, Mr Ajit Parsad Monga. They snatched the gun of the bank’s guard and beat the bank manager with the butt of the gun when the latter resisted them. The dacoity was committed at the Zira Gate branch of the bank. Senior district police officials and bank officials reached the scene while the police has started investigations and a hunt for the dacoits was on. —
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Engg institute holds convocation Longowal, December 8 Dr Natarajan was delivering the convocation address at the Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET) here today on the occasion of the sixth annual convocation of the SLIET. Dr Natarajan also gave away medals and merit certificates to the 60 first and second position holders of degree, diploma and certificate courses who passed out their respective examinations in 2003. Earlier, Dr S.K. Salwan, Senior Adviser, Punjab Technical University (PTU), Jalandhar, as a representative of the PTU’s Vice-Chancellor, awarded degrees to 221 students, who had passed out their degree courses in 2003. Dr R.C. Chauhan, Director, SLIET, awarded diplomas to 270 students and certificates to 253 students. |
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