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Tohra not to contest LS poll Zirakpur,
February 13 Mr Tohra made this
statement while addressing a massive rally of party workers in
Zirakpur, about 10 km from Chandigarh, here this afternoon. The SGPC
chief disclosed that the meeting would be chaired by SAD President
Parkash Singh Badal and keeping in view all aspects, the candidates
for 14 seats (13 in Punjab and one in Chandigarh) would be selected
taking all senior leaders of the parties into confidence. Workers had
come from far-flung areas hoping that Mr Tohra would announce the name
for the Patiala seat. They were a little disappointed as the SGPC
chief held back the name of the candidate and attacked the ruling
Congress in the state. During his 15 minutes speech Mr Tohra while
appreciating SAD General Secretary Capt Kanwaljit Singh, compared the
development works taken up in Punjab during the erstwhile Akali
government at par with the development works being taken up by Mr Atal
Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government in the country. Expressing his
solidarity with the NDA government at the Centre, Mr Tohra said that
Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Congress chief, stood nowhere against Mr Vajpayee
who was running the government by taking 17 political parties along.
While coming down heavily on the Punjab Government, Mr Tohra
criticised Capt. Amarinder Singh, Punjab Chief Minister, for
discontinuing the old pension scheme, shagun scheme, levying
electricity on farmers, besides other policies affecting youth, the
downtrodden and traders. Addressing the rally Capt Kanwaljit Singh
alleged that the Congress had betrayed the Punjabis by making false
promises before Assembly elections and appealed to the gathering to
rout the Congress in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. A former Food
and Supply Minister, Punjab, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, alleged that the
Congress misled the media as well as the public in assembly elections
which affected SAD and the BJP leaders adversely. Mr Mittal demanded
that the Chief Minister should give up his post since his government
had completely failed on every front and every development work in the
state had come to a standstill. Besides, Mr Gurpratap Singh Riar,
president of the Chandigarh unit of SAD, Mr Jaswinder Singh Jassi,
president SAD (Youth Wing), Patiala, Mr Narinder Sharma, president
Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat were also present on the occasion. |
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Badal
hints at alliance with BSP Mansa, February 13 While hinting that the SAD leadership was holding talks with the BSP for an alliance, Mr Badal said Congress leaders had been avoiding jumping into the election arena, fearing defeat at the hands of the SAD and its allies. He alleged that the Chief Minister had scuttled the Punjab oil refinery project due to his vested interests. Meanwhile, former Deputy Speaker Jaswant Singh and SGPC member Mr Kaur Singh Khara, who did not attend today’s rally, in a joint press note issued today alleged that a section of party leaders had been ignoring them to cause damage to the party. They, however, said that they had full faith in the leadership of Mr Badal and would work for the party. |
CPI-Cong pact on cards: Dayal Sangrur, February 13 He said a final decision on the issue would be taken by the state executive committee of the CPI at its meeting on February 20 in Ludhiana. The meeting would also decide the strategy and the number of Lok Sabha seats to be contested by the CPI in Punjab. Dr Dayal disclosed that Punjab Congress President H.S. Hanspal had approached him regarding an electoral alliance. He said the party would consider the offer of the Congress seriously to defeat non-secular forces. Dr Dayal announced that the CPI would certainly contest the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. A meeting of the district units of Bathinda and Mansa had been convened on February 16 to seek names of aspirants for the party ticket for the Bathinda seat. To a question, Dr Dayal said the name of the wife of a former CPI MP from Bathinda, the late Bhan Singh Bhaura, would also be considered for the party ticket as she was also a member of the party. |
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Panthic board meets tomorrow on third front Amritsar, February 13 This was disclosed by Mr Jaswant Singh Mann, general secretary of the PPB, while talking to TNS on the telephone today. He said the meeting was likely to be attended by Mr Ravi Inder Singh, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, Mr Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Dr Jagjit Singh Chohan, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, Mr Talib Singh Sandhu and Mr Kashmir Singh Patti. The PPB has already constituted three committees to explore the possibility of an alliance with the BSP, the CPI and splinter Panthic groups.
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General Samaj Party to contest Bathinda seat Bathinda, February 13 Mr Sidhu claimed that voters belonging to the general categories had been feeling “cheated” over the repeated extension of reservation of this seat. He said even as the party would have to field a candidate belonging to the Scheduled Caste category due to legal provisions, it would still vouch for putting an end to caste-based reservations. Mr Sidhu said during the Punjab Assembly elections in 2002, the party had got an encouraging response from the voters. He said the name of the candidate would be
announced during a state-level rally in Bathinda. |
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Patiala gears up for
Indo-Pak cricket tie
ON the eve of the Patiala Heritage Festival, the proposed goodwill cricket match between India and Pakistan seems more of a reality than it did until yesterday. With permissions coming from both sides of the border, the official Indian cricket team, to be captained by Kapil Dev, was formally announced today. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Wasim Akram is on job, firming up the Pakistani team, which will be announced shortly. The Punjab CM XI which will play Pakistan on February 19 at the Baradari Stadium, will have Navjot Sidhu as vice captain. Among veteran cricketers from India will be Mohinder Amarnath. Other members include Ajay Jadeja, Aakash Chopra, Ajay Ratra, Reetinder Sodhi, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia, and Sanjay Bangar from the Railways. Talks were also on with Harbhajan Singh and Rohan Gavaskar, who are yet to confirm their participation. Secretary Punjab Cricket Association M.P. Pandov said that the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan had extended a favourable response to Punjab’s initiative regarding the cricket match. He said that surplus funds generated from the match would be diverted towards infrastructural improvement in the 400 year old cricket ground in Patiala, which is even older than the Board of Control of Cricket in India. “We already have 5000 people visiting the Wagah border daily. We are going to introduce religion tourism circuit. We are also identifying the rich heritage fairs of Punjab like the Hola Mohalla, the Baisakhi etc and we plan to use these festivals to boost tourism in the future. Gradually, Punjab will be on the international tourism map.” |
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Riot of colours at Sheesh Mahal Patiala, February 13 The setting of the mela has immense aesthetic appeal with multi-hued tents, which will showcase products set against the backdrop of the historic Sheesh Mahal. The ethnic ambience which pervades the mela seems to have permeated into every small detail right down to the formation of the food court and the small amphitheatre constructed to host traditional folk performances. The semi-circular food court promises to be a “delicious” affair if the past record of the mela is any indication. Apart from the regular Punjabi cuisine, Chinese, fast food and traditional Rajasthani fare will be available this year too. More than 150 artisans from all over the country are bringing to the mela a dazzling array of handicrafts , most of which are a connoisseur’s delight. This year artistes from Kerala and Uttaranchal will add to the excitement. Artisans have also started arriving. “The response last year was tremendous. Encouraged, we have brought along even more stuff this year”, some of the artisans say with a smile. “I have heard that the response to the mela was very good when it was organised for the first time in Patiala last year. I had missed coming here last year. However, I aim to make it a permanent feature if I am able to do well this time” say some artisans.
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High Court Chandigarh, February 13 Challenging the recruitment of Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) in a “hurried” manner, a Muktsar resident asserted that the state of Punjab and other respondents were likely to recruit the “wards of influential people”. He added that seven ex-cadre posts had been advertised “for outstanding sports persons as one time measure” even though posts in sports category were already in excess of the quota. Quoting newspaper reports, petitioner Jaskaran Singh added that officials already promoted out of turn in the sports quota were facing reversions. Claiming the issuance of a “very short notice”, petitioner Jaskaran Singh added that advertisement for filling the posts of DSP was issued on February 7. The candidates were asked to appear in the interview on February 13 at Punjab Bhavan in Sector 3. The six-day notice, he asserted, may not have been sufficient for wider publicity among general public. He submitted that the respondents were apparently in a great hurry to illegally recruit the DSPs. Giving details, he claimed that “persons in power were illegally grabbing prime posts in civil and police department for their wards”. Meritorious candidates “from the general public” were being ignored in the process by “circumventing or violating the rules and methods laid down for the recruitment”. The petitioner said that the government had earlier also recruited a Cabinet Minister’s son illegally on compassionate grounds. The same, he asserted, had now been challenged and was pending before the high court. Jurisdiction issue In a petition filed before the high court, a city resident today sought directions for extending the jurisdiction of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission for entertaining cases of human rights violation in Chandigarh. The resident, Puran Singh, added that as of now the residents were forced to approach the NHRC at Delhi. A Division Bench fixed March 15 as the next date of
hearing. |
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Awaiting salaries
for four months Chandigarh, February 13 Sources said as the state had been passing through a difficult financial situation, grants could not be released to these schools. Grants were expected to be released shortly to pay the salaries for October and November. Mr Gurcharan Singh Chahal, President of the Punjab State Aided School Teachers and other Employees Union, told The Tribune today that the issue had been taken up with Mr Gian Singh, Director, Government Aided Schools, Punjab, who had assured of releasing the grant for third quarter immediately. Besides, the government has not paid the pending instalments of arrears for revised pay scales. The government had promised to pay the arrears in six instalments. With the grant-in-aid for the third quarter, the government is also supposed to release additional money to pay at least two due instalments of arrears Mr Chahal said Mr Gian Singh had informed him that Rs 23 crore was being released immediately and arrangements were being made to release the remaining Rs 53 crore in due course as the grant-in-aid for the third quarter. Meanwhile, the government is get to regularise the services of 450 teachers. Various schools have urged the government to regularise the services of those teachers as they had been recruited against approved posts in the past few months. The Government, however, says that since there was a ban recruitment in the state, they should not have been recruited. Mr Chahal said that the union was pursuing this case with the government. Another problem faced by teachers is the withdrawal of their pension scheme launched on February 5, 1987. The government withdrew this pension scheme in May last year, promising that one would replace it. However, nothing has been heard get about the new pension scheme. |
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MCI seeks details of doc’s role in scam Bathinda, February 13 Official sources said the MCI had asked the Civil Hospital authorities to send it the details pertaining to the educational qualification, name and designation of the doctor who was allegedly involved in the scam, apart from comments on the doctor’s conduct. The Punjab Human Rights Committee (PHRC), lodged a number of complaints with various authorities, including the Civil Hospital authorities, in connection with the issuance of fake medical certificates by a senior doctor to the kin of the convicts lodged in the jail to facilitate their release on parole about two years ago. In most of the inquiries conducted at various levels by the of Health Department, the doctor was found guilty of issuing fake medical certificates to the kin of convicts to facilitate the release of the convicts on parole. Dr Jugraj Singh Sandhu, Senior Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, said that as the doctor, had been shifted to some other government hospital, he had asked the MCI to seek details from that particular hospital. Mr Ved Parkash Gupta, general secretary, of the PHRC, in a press note here today, said that the district police authorities had also been inquiring into this matter on the direction of the DGP, Punjab. He said the police authorities had written to the Civil Surgeon to submit the relevant documents. |
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17,000 patients attend health mela Bathinda, February 13 The patients were examined by experts belonging to allopathic, homeopathic and ayurvedic systems of medicine. Apart from local doctors, doctors from the PGI, Chandigarh and Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, had also been invited. The facility for clinical tests was also available. A large number of patients have been referred to hospitals. Dr S. K. Goyal, Civil Surgeon, Bathinda, said the Civil Hospital authorities would work out how many patients were received from Mansa district and how many from Bathinda district in the health mela, which turned out to be a big success. Mr K. A. P. Sinha, Deputy Commissioner, urged members of the Indian Medical Association and Chemist Association, Bathinda, to make arrangements for vaccinating children below the age of 10 against hepatitis-B free of cost. He said the health authorities educated people about various aspects of health by organising exhibitions. Cultural items were also presented in this regard. He distributed tricycles among the handicapped. Patients were given medicines free of cost. |
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5000-yr-old Shiva temples excavated? Neelon, February 13 According to Mr P.D. Sharma, who has been supervising the excavation, the temples were excavated after a Delhi-based industrialist, who refused to be identified, had a dream that three ancient Shiva temples were buried near Neelon. The industrialist was reportedly told by a “divine voice” in the dream that the temples were located along a canal. The temples were found in a line with the images of Lord Shiva carved out in yellow stone. |
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Villagers block traffic Jalandhar, February 13 The protesters raised anti-police slogans and alleged that the police was trying to shield the suspects by not initiating action against them. They said the suspects were roaming freely in the area. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the police has rounded up two migrant labourers in this regard.
— OC |
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Kidnapped boy traced Nawanshahr, February 13 The abductor, Chhote Lal, a migrant labourer from Bihar, allegedly killed Sangeeta and threw her body in a tank. He beat up Pappu and abandoned him in the village before fleeing with the boy’s elder sister, nine-year-old Bimla. Meanwhile, the post-mortem examination of Sangeeta was conducted at the Civil Hospital and the body handed over to the parents. |
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Golden Temple theft case unsolved Amritsar, February 13 The police has reportedly not registered an FIR in the case. It only recorded a statement in the daily diary. Mr Surinder Singh, an NRI from the UK, who had come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple, said as he bowed someone pulled out his wallet taking advantage of the rush. He claimed he had lost 1,000 pounds, 250 euros and Rs 1,200, besides credit cards and other important documents. The in-charge of the police post refuted said it was not confirmed by the complainants whether the wallet was lost or stolen. |
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1 killed as school vans collide Bathinda, February 13 The vans, which were carrying students of two Talwandi Sabo schools collided head on due to intense fog. Resham Singh, driver of one of the vans, died on the spot while Ajmer Singh, the other driver, suffered serious injuries. Gurpinderjit Singh and Harpreet Singh, both students, also sustained injuries and have been shifted to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda. |
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Travel agent remanded in police custody Fatehgarh Sahib, February 13 Addressing a press conference, Mr Shiv Kumar, SSP, said one Saroj, widow of Mr Yadwinder Singh, had complained that Mr Daljit Singh, a travel agent of Morinda, had taken Rs 10 lakh from her for sending her son Lavinder Singh to the
USA. OC |
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100 kisan credit cards distributed Faridkot, February 13 |
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2 more Central Jail guards suspended Ferozepore, February 13 Jail Superintendent Swaran Singh said Sukhwinder Singh and Bachittar Singh were suspended today. After suspending nine guards yesterday, the Superintendent had requisitioned 15 personnel from the local police for manning watch towers in the high-security jail. Mr Swaran Singh said he had asked for 10 more policemen today.
— UNI |
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Youth misbehaves
with doctor, held Bathinda, February 13 Three youths, who claimed to be attendants of a patient, started misbehaving with the doctor while she was coming out of the operation theatre. She managed to catch hold of one of them while the others fled. Members of the staff, including senior Medical Officer, reached the spot and
handed over the youth to the police. Trouble started when the doctor came out of the operation theatre. The youths, who are yet to be identified, started singing songs and then passed some comments. The doctor who pleaded anonymity said: “The youths were passing comments and singing songs, I kept walking. When I reached the entrance of the hospital, I managed to catch hold of one of them while the others escaped. She said she had lodged a complaint with the police. The SP (City) said a case would be registered against the accused. |
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SHO beats up youth for marrying out of caste Nawanshahr, February 13 Kuldip Kumar, a Scheduled Caste, told this correspondent at the Civil Hospital today that he married a girl belonging to an upper caste in a temple in Chandigarh about four months ago. He returned his village a few days ago. On Tuesday, the SHO came to his residence and started abusing his father Sakhi Chand. Jiwan Pal and three others were also with him. When he came out, the SHO dragged him to his vehicle and took him to the police station, where he was beaten up and became unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he found himself at the hospital, Balachaur. He was later shifted to the local Civil
Hospital. |
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Suicide bid in front of DC’s house Jalandhar, February 13 According to the police, Parveen, a mother of two, had an affair with a neighbour. However, relatives of her lover had been harassing her on one pretext or the other. Security guards at the Deputy Commissioner’s residence got her admitted to the local Civil Hospital, where her condition was stated to be critical. |
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Youth commits suicide Bathinda, February 13 Police sources said that according to his wife, he had been feeling frustrated after he failed to collect the money required for the marriage of a sister living in Dadu village of Sirsa district in Haryana. Raju, who was working as a labourer in a factory here, had visited Dadu village along with his wife on Wednesday. In the afternoon, he left his wife at his in-laws’ place in another village and returned home. At night, he was alone in the house when he hanged himself. |
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33 per cent consumers
found stealing power Muktsar, February 13 In a press note issued here today, Mr M.S. Walia, Superintending Engineer, Distribution, said that in the past 10 months, 3,283 cases of power theft and 2,123 of using more than the sanctioned load were detected out of a total of 15,138 cases that were checked. A flying squad of the PSEB also found more than 1,100 cases of power theft in different regions of this circle. Mr Walia said that to ensure uninterrupted power supply, new transformers of 200 and 300 kva were being installed in this region. A new power house at a cost of Rs 6 crore was also being set up in the city, he added. |
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New PTU courses for professionals Jalandhar, February 13 Talking to reporters here today, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Mr Y.S. Rajan, said the courses were being introduced from the next academic session. “We have approached industrial houses in the state that intend to get their professionals to improve their capabilities. The courses will not be in the conventional style and study material will be sent to the students through e-mail or post,” he said, adding that the exams would be conducted through an open-book system. Also, students would not need to come to conventional examination centres. “The course will be designed in a style which invokes curiosity, inquiry and exploration in students. There will be 200 seats per session,” he said, maintaining that the students could interact with the faculty through Internet chat and e-mail. |
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PCCTU not to go ahead with protest Phagwara, February 13 The union was to stage a protest at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi on February 16. Dr Tewari said a letter had been issued by the office of Higher Education Minister Harnam Das Johar today, under instruction from the Chief Minister’s office, in which Capt Amarinder Singh had invited union representatives for talks at Ludhiana on February 16. This will be followed by another meeting with the Chief Minister, Finance Minister, Higher Education Minister, Chief Secretary and other high-ups in the third week of February, informed Dr Tewari. ROPAR:
Teachers of private aided colleges in the district observed a strike on Friday in protest against the alleged apathy of the government towards their demands. Teachers of Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib, Mai Bhago College, Morinda, and Bela aided colleges struck took part in the protest. |
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GND varsity convocation Amritsar, February 13 Mr Justice V.N. Khare, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, will address the convocation while Justice O.P. Verma, Governor, Punjab, and the Chancellor of the university will preside over the function. |
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