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Badal to welcome Advani rath in Mohali Mohali, March 23 This was stated by Mr Harjit Singh Bhullar, secretary of the Ropar unit of the BJP, while talking to mediapersons here today. He said that Mr Advani’s yatra would reach near the Civil Hospital area in Phase VI at 9.15 a.m. where he would also be welcomed by almost 1,000 workers of the BJP and the SAD. From Chandigarh Mr Advani would be accompanied by Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, President of the Punjab unit of the BJP, and Mr Satya Pal Jain, BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Chandigarh. Mr Bhullar said that the Deputy Prime Minister would be halting only for about five minutes in Mohali where he would be presented a sword, a
siropa, a doshala and a turban. Mr Badal would stay with Mr Advani throughout his Punjab visit. When asked about his reaction to Mr Simranjeet Singh Mann’s threat that Mr Advani would not be allowed to enter Punjab, Mr Bhullar said that Mr Advani’s yatra was only spreading a message of peace. He said that Mr Harjit Singh Garewal, general secretary of the Punjab unit of the BJP, had talked to the Punjab DGP in this regard. The matter had been brought to the notice of the Ropar SSP as well. Party workers would be playing no role in this regard. |
BJP plans big bash Chandigarh, March 23 Mr Jain said the sarpanches who had agreed to support the BJP included Mr Om Prakash (Mauli Jagran), Mr Mam Chand Rana (Maloya village), Mr Tarsem Pal (Dadu Majra village), Mr Sadhu Singh (Sarangpur), Mr Kamlesh Sharma (Khuda Lahora), Ms Harmit Kaur (Kaimbwala) and Ms Jai Kaur (Raipur Kalan). He said Mr Advani would be received by Ms Mohinder Kaur, sarpanch of Behlana village, at the airport and the rally would then be welcomed by Mr Sukhjeet Singh Sukha, sarpanch of Hallo Majra village. He said the BJP had installed special screens at the rally ground so that the public could enjoy the Indo-Pak cricket match. Asked whether defeat could lead to changed crowd tempers, he said, “We have already won the hearts of the people. The matches are being contested and watched in the true sportsman spirit. There is no threat”. Mr Jain said Akalis were the allies of the BJP and the matter had been repeated by the Akali leadership at different platforms. Asked about any definite information on the alliance in the local set-up, Mr Jain said the matter would be cleared within a couple of days. Mr Yash Pal Mahajan, president of the local unit, of the party, said the first two phases in the campaign had been completed. The third phase would be launched after the visit of Mr Advani, he added.  |
Meetings held on yatra Mohali, March 23 Mr Surinder Pal Singh, SSP, told Chandigarh Tribune here that he had met representatives of the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal to discuss the law and order aspect. He said the representatives provided various details about the visit of Mr Advani. The SSP said that a separate meeting was held with police officials to discuss the security arrangements. The final plan in this regard was worked out and the route finalised. He said that traffic on the roads at Mohali, Kharar and Morinda, where Mr Advani would be halting for a few minutes, would be disrupted only for about half an hour. During this period traffic would be diverted. When asked whether additional force had been requestioned to cover the visit of Deputy Prime Minister in Ropar district, the SSP said additional force was not available. A part of the force had been sent on election duty. Some had been sent to provide security cover to film stars who had come in connection with a shooting. He said that 700 to 800 police personnel would be mobilised for the visit of Mr Advani. |
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Stalls using water from toilets Chandigarh, March 23 Several shops that are flouting rules have been identified in Sectors 21, 27, 34, 46, 44, 32, 15, 17, 21, 20, 27 and 28, besides the Industrial Area. A majority of these are sweet shops, meat shops, drycleaners, tea stalls, and fast foods joints. A juice shop in Sector 15 is drawing water from a “standpost” and the used water is disposed of in the open. In the Sector 21 rehri market, certain shopkeepers are using water from toilets. Despite a clear notice from the MC not to use water from hand pumps as it was not fit for consumption, it is being used in several places, especially at “ahatas.” Nearly 80 per cent of the shops are using water without any provision for water connection. The MC had prepared a detailed report regarding the misuse of water in various sectors in November 2003. A copy of the report was submitted to the corporation members. However, no action has been initiated so far. A visit to different areas of the city showed that shops were drawing water from the standposts and some even from the toilets. In certain cases, water is being drawn from existing water connections. Water meters in a majority of such cases were been found to be defective. A senior official said the report had been passed on to the higher
authorities but no orders had been received yet. |
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Dhawan INLD nominee from city Chandigarh, March 23 The contest in the city will be triangular. Mr Dhawan's main opponents are Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal (Congress) and Mr Satya pal Jain (BJP). Mr Dhawan had supported the Congress in the 1999 parliamentary elections. He had parted ways with the party some time back. There were rumours of his joining the BJP, but Mr Dhawan denied those. Born in 1940 in Fatehjung (Pakistan), Mr Dhawan migrated to Ambala after Partition. He shifted to Chandigarh in 1960. Mr Dhawan did his M Sc (honours) in Botany from Panjab University. He started a small-scale industry in 1970 and became the president of the Industries Association in 1978. He joined the active politics in 1979 and became the president of the local unit of Janata Party in 1981. Mr Dhawan was elected to Parliament in 1989 and became the Union Minister for Civil Aviation. |
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Discos can’t serve beer Chandigarh, March 23 The Administration also said as part of its efforts to remove the liquor vends in makeshift tin sheds in southern sectors, 13 such vends would be shifted to proper shops. Besides residents, hotel owners and liquor traders operating out of commercial areas had protested against the carrying of trade from tin sheds. The Administration kept the taxation structure the same as was last year and the number of vends would also remain the same at 78. This meant that the price of liquor would be more or less the same as last year. Excise and Taxation Commissioner Mr Arun Kumar said the existing provision for opening of sub-vends on the borders of Chandigarh with Punjab and Haryana would remain the same. Last year, it had been decided that traders on both sides would pull back from the positions bang on the border, which led to needless cost-cutting and competition . Last year, discotheques in the city were allowed to serve beer and have pubs. This year, the policy did not mention any such thing. Auction of liquor vends would be carried out on the old pattern by clubbing country liquor and IMFL vends. At present, the city was divided into five zones. The number might remain the same, but would vary as per the situation. |
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Terms for auction changed Chandigarh, March 23 The Finance Secretary in a notification made today said “In case of auction of a site/building with a reserve price exceeding Rs 10 crore, the Estate Officer may, by an announcement prior to the auction, direct the purchaser to make the entire balance payment of 75 per cent of the auction money within a period of 90 days. The interest as applicable shall be payable beyond the period of 30 days from the date of auction”. Earlier the successful bidder was to pay the balance 75 per cent within 30 days from the date of auction without interest. |
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Cop suspended over attack on Tribune team Zirakpur, March 23 It has also started investigations as to whether the ASI and 11 henchmen arrested are to be booked in a case of attempt to murder. Sources said the ASI was politically well-connected and in the last two years, had been transferred from the Lohgarh police post many times. Due to his relations with Ms Sheelam Sohi, who had lost from the Banur Assembly constituency against Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Gurjit Singh had managed to get his transfer orders cancelled every time. Ms Sohi denied shielding Gurjit Singh. He was also involved in an incident of insubordination last month. Following the assault on the Tribune team, residents of Zirakpur, Dera Bassi and Lalru and mediapersons of the area today protested against the police authorities before the Lohgarh police post. At least 250 residents and mediapersons held a protest march in the Zirakpur market and raised anti-government and anti-police slogans. Mr Narinder Sharma, president of the Zirakpur nagar panchayat, alleged that the ‘land mafia’ had been enjoying police and political patronage and grabbing government land at prime locations fearlessly. The protesters also submitted a memorandum to Sub-Divisional Magistrate D.R. Garg. Even 24 hours after the incident, the police had not recovered any weapon from the site. A group of residents visited the site and recovered four sickles, a sword and six sticks. The Chandigarh Press Club condemned the incident. The Chandigarh Punjab Union of Journalists also condemned the attack. PATIALA: Capt Kanwaljit Singh, former Punjab Finance Minister and SAD-BJP candidate from Patiala constituency, has condemned the assault on The Tribune team. He added that the incident was a direct attack on the freedom of Press and had exposed the law and order situation in the state. |
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Police orders inquiry Chandigarh, March 23 Talking to TNS he said he spoke to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Rajinder Singh, who had a word with the Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr
A.S. Rai, who assured him that an inquiry would be held. “I think some DSP-rank officer is inquiring into the incident and appropriate action would be taken against those found
guilty”. There was no response from the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, despite a message being left with one of his staff members till the time of going to the Press. Meanwhile, the Tribune reporter, Bipin Bhardwaj, who was in hospital last night, has been discharged. |
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In search of ‘lost’ Wazirabadis Chandigarh, March 23 Their repertory is strong with pictures of ancestral houses in Wazirabad, most of which belonged to Hindus and Sikhs. There are also a large number of historical monuments, including gurdwaras and temples, which the artistes have photographed to remind the migrant Pakistanis of their rich past. Yet another interesting aspect of their work is a huge body of portraits of people living in Wazirabad, many of whom have actually been recognised by people in India. Hopeful of the venture which virtually aims at building bridges, Imran Mani, the founder of a voluntary agency called “Save Apna Wazirabad” told The Tribune that the results of the effort had already started showing. “When we displayed our works in the streets of Model Town and Gujranwala here in India, we actually found people who recognised the portraits brought by us. These two localities alone have about 16 persons who migrated to India after Partition. Now that we have located 16 displaced persons, we are expecting to locate more people in the near future.” Being documented by the volunteers of Save Apna Wazirabad, all these buildings are looking up after ages. As Saqib informed, “We worked a lot for the conservation of these buildings. About 16 youngsters have come together to form the NGO, that acts as a pressure group to save the historical legacy of Wazirabad. I am a librarian at Ustad Ala Baksh Library in Wazirabad.” |
BJP ignoring true martyrs, says Pawan Bansal Chandigarh, March 23 According to a press note issued here today, addressing party workers at a ‘padyatra’ in Sector 22, Mr Bansal said the BJP lacked democratic temper, which was vital in running the national polity. It was a matter of concern that while the country had surplus foodgrains, “thanks to the Green Revolution brought about by Indira Gandhi, crores of countrymen were forced to sleep hungry under BJP rule.” The Congress ‘padyatra’ organised by Mr Pradeep Chhabra, Senior Deputy Mayor, was received in different parts of the sector markets and houses. Mr B.B. Bahl, president of the local unit, Mrs Kamlesh, Mayor, and Mr H.S. Lucky, president of the local Youth Congress, were also present. Earlier during the day, Mr Bansal visited Mauli Jagran and Darua villages. Mr Bansal said the Land Acquisition Act was an anachronism today and had outlived its utility. |
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7-year-old waits for parents Panchkula, March 23 According to Ms Madhu Sharma, honorary secretary, the child was left in Sector 10 by a rickshaw-puller. The child was taken to the Sector 10 police post and later brought to Bal Niketan. Gulshan claimed to be a resident of one of the colonies in Chandigarh. He said he ran away from his house when he was scolded by his mother,Renu. His father, Mr Kali Charan, earned his living by stitching bags, the child added. For any information on the child, contact telephone numbers 2560780 or 9814851780. |
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Big cats get
implants Chhat Bir, March 23 The zoo authorities say that these transponders would not only help in maintaining the records of the animals but also prove helpful in controlling inbreeding among the big cats. Besides the tigers, the authorities would also put transponders on young Asiatic lions and panthers. In the next phase, large animals like elephant and birds would also be covered. |
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5-year-old crushed
to death Chandigarh, March 23 The driver of the bus, Shubhkaran, has been arrested and the bus, owned by Sector 22-based Punjab Travels, has been impounded. The body of the child has been kept in the mortuary of the PGI, the police said. The father of Ranjit is a palmist, the police said. |
Documents seized from Cossets’ office Chandigarh, March 23 A team of Chandigarh police investigators raided the Panchkula-based office of the company last night. They were extracting information from the computers and scanning documents to find out if something incriminating was available in the records. The earlier efforts of the Chandigarh police had come to
naught as the computers seized last time did not provide much information about the functioning of the company. The police hoped that the company was likely to keep vital information with the back office. The police said the documents now seized might provide the evidence and give a push to the investigation. The police, remained tight-lipped about the seizure and what information it had provided. It admitted that computers and a few documents had been taken into possession and it was verifying the facts. The company had been operating through control rooms which had been shifted regularly. The earlier such back office or control room was functioning from the Mani Majra notified area committee. The police was investigating against the company as part of its action against multi-level marketing companies initiated at the request of the Reserve Bank of India. The present back office in Panchkula had been rented barely a month ago. |
Office-bearers elected Chandigarh, March 23 |
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