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Development not possible with hollow slogans: Sonia
Phagwara, May 3 Ms Sonia Gandhi was accompanied by the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, senior Congress leaders, Ms Ambika Soni and Ms Mohsina Kidwai, PPCC chief H.S. Hanspal, party’s candidates from Phillaur and Jalandhar, Santosh Chaudhary and Rana Gurjit Singh, PPCC secretary Upinder Sharma and Chaudhary Santokh Singh who conducted the stage. Ms Gandhi urged the people to remain alert and keep a watch on the activities of those elements, who had a divisive approach. “Development is not possible with hollow slogans. It needs hard work, sincerity and honesty. You will find a difference with the Congress. It was the Congress who had introduced reservation for Dalits and women. But it is sad to see that the NDA leadership have failed to improve the lot of the poor and the Dalits,” she said. “We have been thinking about the country and they have been doing the same for themselves. The Congress made the history and they (NDA or the BJP) changed the history,” said Ms Gandhi. “What farmers, Dalits, and the women have got from the Vajpayee government? Rather, there is no value of hard earned money nowadays. Employment opportunities have shrunked. There were a number of scams ranging from coffin scam to shady defence deals,” Ms Gandhi asserted. “Maryada” of politics had taken a back seat during the NDA misrule and the time had come to throw out this misrule, Sonia Gandhi said in her 11-minute speech. Capt Amarinder Singh projected Ms Sonia Gandhi as the next Prime Minister. “I feel that we will form the next government and she would be the next Prime Minister. Be ready for the war. The Congress and its allies would bag all 13 Lok Sabha seats,” the Chief Minister said. He also honoured Ms Sonia Gandhi with a robe of honour, a sword and a golden plaque of the Golden Temple. Mr H.S. Hanspal said it were efforts of Sonia Gandhi which had enabled the Congress to win assembly elections in 18 states. Ms Santosh Chaudhary reminded people about the sacrifices made by the Gandhi family for the people of the country. Highlights: Sonia Gandhi was about two hours behind the schedule, which irked the crowd and a large number of persons were seen walking away even before her arrival. Students of different schools were brought to welcome Ms Sonia Gandhi with Congress flags. A group of girl students of SD Kanya Mahavidyalaya were seen leaving the venue even before her arrival following repeated harassment by Punjab police personnel, who did not allow them to stand under the shade. Overzealous policemen made life of visitors to the grain market miserable as they did not allow them to stand under trees even as the venue of rally was at a distance. |
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Sonia’s rally: misuse of govt machinery alleged
Nawanshahr, May 3 The District Transport officers and civil and police officials, posted in the Doaba region, had impounded buses and other private vehicles at the behest of the Congress government for the Phagwara rally, he alleged. Phagwara: The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, has denied misuse of official machinery for today’s rally of Ms Sonia Gandhi at Phagwara, a PTI report said. Talking to mediapersons after inspecting the venue and arrangements of the rally at local grain market on the Hoshiarpur road here yesterday, the Chief Minister asserted that since Sonia Gandhi was having Z-plus security, it was the duty of the state government to cooperate with the Special Protection Group for ensuring fool-proof security. |
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64 AISSF men join Congress
Patti, May 3 The Congress today received a shot in the arm when Baba Kashmira Singh, president of the Sant Samaj, announced support to all three candidates in the Majha belt, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran . Prominent among those AISSF leaders who joined Congress included Mr Harjit Singh Purewal, Mr Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu and Mr Narinder Singh Randhawa – all senior vice-presidents, Mr Bhagwant Singh Siyalka, Mr Navrit Singh Jallewal – both spokesmen of the party. Apart from this 18 sarpanches including Mr Iqbal Singh (Dayalpura), Mr Mohan Singh (Baghrari), Mr Balkar Singh (Sugga), Mr Hardev Singh (Bhagwanpura), Mr Puran Singh (Bhaini), Mr Daya Singh (Tatle), Mr Nishan Singh (Bua Patti), Mr Gurbachan Singh (Buraj Nathu Ke), Mr Baldev Singh (Burj Poohla ), Mr Milkha Singh (Kot Data), Mr Gurmail Singh (Manak Pura), Mr Dilbagh Singh (Boparai Madahal) and Mr Shalakh Singh (Nathu Chakk). Lambasting the SAD-BJP combine, Capt Amarinder Singh said during their five-year rule, the state’s economy was ruined. Describing the alliance as ‘unholy’ and anti-farmer, the Chief Minister alleged that the BJP wanted to abolish minimum support price which would bring catastrophe for the farming community. |
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Secular front will form govt: Ambika
Hoshiarpur, May 3 Talking to mediapersons here, she said the formation of the secular front was totally based on ideology which was essential and need of the hour. The Congress had to sacrifice the Hoshiarpur parliamentary seat only to satisfy the CPM, one of the constituents of the secular front. Modalities and a common minimum programme among the constituents of the secular front would be settled after the elections. The Congress would emerge as the single largest party and Ms Sonia Gandhi would become the Prime Minister. The General Secretary criticised the BJP and other constituents of the NDA for their non-secular attitude. She said NDA constituents, including the BJP would not secure more than 250 seats. When asked to comment on exit poll results, she said the Congress had opposed and demanded complete ban Later addressing a workers’ meeting, Ms Soni said keeping in view the victory in Assembly elections of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, BJP leaders were of the view that NDA constituents could also get majority in Parliament if the Lok Sabha elections were held in advance. The NDA government had spent Rs 450 crore on advertisements to highlight its achievements. She appealed to the voters to strengthen the hands of Ms Sonia Gandhi by ensuring the victory of Mr Darshan Singh
Mattu, CPM-Congress Mr H.S. Hanspal, President, PPCC, Mr Romesh Chander Dogra, Health and Family Welfare Minister, among others, addressed the workers. |
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Soni’s absence irks Congress
observer
Amritsar, May 3 Mr Soni, who had won the assembly seat from Amritsar (West) as an Independent candidate and later joined the Congress, has not attended any meeting in favour of Mr Bhatia so far. Though the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, had himself visited Amritsar at the time of the filing of the nomination papers by Mr Bhatia, Mr Soni skipped the occasion, sending a wrong signal among voters and party workers. When Capt Amarinder visited Amritsar when Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, former BJP chief joined the Congress, Mr Soni was again absent. He also did not attend any of the meetings addressed by the Chief Minister yesterday. Mr Cheema has told the party high command that Mr Soni commands considerable influence in Amritsar (West constituency) and hence his presence at various meetings had to be ensured. |
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Bank employees to support Cong
Amritsar, May 3 Announced its stand in a press conference here, Mr N.K. Gaur, general secretary of the federation, stated that the bank employees would support the Congress and Left parties due to their stand on a Bill introduced in parliament that proposed to reduce the government stake in public banks from minimum 51 per cent to 33 per cent. The Congress and Left parties had opposed this Bill as it would mean privatisation of the banks, he added. The federation also demanded that the rate of interest on the agriculture sector loans should be brought down. |
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Chawla offered me Rs 50 lakh, says Daya Singh Sodhi
Amritsar, May 3 Talking to The Tribune here today, Mr Sodhi, who joined the Congress after Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu was given the BJP ticket from Amritsar, blamed the state BJP leadership for manipulating with the panel. Refuting charges, Dr Chawla said Mr Sodhi was levelling baseless charges out of frustration. He said he did not have that much money with him which could be offered to anybody . Giving details of the games played by the Punjab BJP executive, who was directed to send the panel, did not include his name. But when he met senior BJP leaders at the Centre, including President Venkaiah Naidu and Sushma Swaraj, a new list was drafted which included his name. Mr Sodhi said senior state functionaries including party observers, Mr Kashmiri Lal and Mr Krishan Lal Arora, along with party high command had confirmed that he should launch a campaign as candidate from Amritsar seat as his name had been cleared. On the basis of this information, he had met his supporters to organise the campaign but much to his bewilderment the Central leadership of the BJP asked him to wait till his name was cleared by the high command. Mr Sodhi alleged that taking advantage of the
uncertainty, Dr Chawla rushed to Delhi and met Mr Piare Lal Pandey, a close associate of the party president, who managed to impress upon the leadership to clear the name of Dr Chawla as candidate from Amritsar. Mr Sodhi added that the entire episode had pained him considerably but the worst was to follow when an associate of Dr Chawla offered him Rs. 50 lakh and suggested that he should withdraw his name as the frontrunner and give an undertaking in writing that he would campaign for Dr Chawla. |
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Residents of border villages living on razor’s edge
Chandigarh, May 3 Sharing first-hand experience of what is life like in the border villages with The Tribune over the telephone from Bathinda, Mr Brar said: “During my extensive coverage of these villages, I observed that the people are practically living on a razor's edge. The border villages have remained untouched by development be it socio-economic or infrastructure or information technology or communication or cultivating fields across the fence or irrigation facilities.” Mr Brar uses “non-performance and neglect” of the constituency by all previous MPs, particularly Mr Zora Singh Mann of the Shiromani Akali Dal as his main poll plank. He lists unemployment and inadequate economic compensation as the two major demands of the people who could not cultivate their fields across the fence or the river in the wake of the Kargil conflict in 1998 and during the time taken to clear mines thereafter. Though all MLAs representing the three border districts had submitted a memorandum to Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Home Minister L.K. Advani in May, 2000, listing the area’s grievances and seeking adequate financial help for development and to resuscitate the stagnant economy, there has been no tangible outcome so far. “The BJP-led NDA, in which the SAD was a partner, remained unresponsive. Under the Border Area Development Plan, the state did not get what it had hoped and asked for, including compensation for crop loss and loss of life and limbs. There are estimated over 11,000 farmers with 17,000 acres beyond the fence in the three districts. They have always sought easy access to their farms. Also, the village link roads in all the three districts are in bad shape. “The need is to provide crucial missing road links and bridges to reduce time in carrying out farm and household chores.” Local transport is unheard of and means of irrigation are meagre. Mr Brar said: “The people living in the 10-km belt along the international border have faced and fought for too long a ‘low-intensity proxy war’ with Pakistan. The previous MPs had failed to voice their problems in Parliament. I shall do so, if elected.” Irrespective of the fact who wins, Mr Brar also mooted the idea that all four elected MPs must join hands and prepare a holistic, sustainable “regional border development plan to rejuvenate the economic activities”. Interestingly, Mr Brar's three opponents, all former MPs — Mr Zora Singh Brar (SAD), Mr Dhian Singh Mand (SAD-A) and Mr Mohan Singh Phallianwala BSP) — are also making similar claims. The fourth contestant is a former SAD MLA, Mr Inderjit Singh Zira. There are 16 candidates in the fray. The Congress candidate, Mr Sukhbinder Singh
Sarkaria, and the SAD's Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala in the adjoining Tarn Taran Lok Sabha constituency also expressed similar concerns, when contacted. They too are promising the people better educational and health services, besides potable drinking water in the “khara-Majha” belt in the constituency where the water is brackish. Enquires revealed that Punjab needed adequate money under the Border Area Development Plan for river works to counter similar steps taken by Pakistan. The Congress candidate, Mr
R.L. Bhatia, contesting from Amritsar constituency, said such was the topography of his constituency along the border with Pakistan, divided by the Ravi, that huge funds were needed to avoid flooding of the Indian villages. The plight of the people in the Gurdaspur constituency is also the same where Mr Vinod Khanna of the BJP is fighting with his back to the wall the Congress candidate, Ms Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder. She promises to pay attention to infrastructure, industry and economic resurgence to generate employment. In fact, in all the four parliamentary constituencies employment is as big an issue as industrialisation and improving returns from agriculture for the survival of the small and marginal farmers. There is a common demand in all the four parliamentary constituencies for resuming trade ties with Pakistan and beyond through the Wagah and Attari border. The voters of Ferozepore are demanding that Hussainiwala border also be opened to revive economic activities. This will give economic sustenance and employment to the youth living in the border villages. |
Don’t turn voters into tipplers:
residents
Amritsar, May 3 Situated on the outskirts of the city, Maqboolpura, where most of people were poor and addicted to drugs and alcohol, is a notorious place where nearly 150 persons died of narcotics consumption in the past few years. The children held a rally and shouted slogans like “Na vando daaro, na vando note... kite kamma lai mango vote.” Ms Paramjit Kaur, Ms Jasbir Kaur, Ms Charanjit Kaur and Ms Balwinder Kaur, all
widows, said they did not want any such locality like “locality of widows” to be formed in any part of country. Mr Ajit Singh, a social worker, who
has been running Citizen Forum Vidya Mandir Forum, a school for children of drug victims, for the past few years, said such practices gave bad impression on the minds of children. He urged the political leaders to resist from such anti-social practices. He said he along with other locality members would boycott elections if political leaders tried to woo voters with liquor, drugs and money. |
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Villagers to boycott poll over move to acquire land
Ropar, May 3 At a press conference held here, the villagers alleged that they always paid the penalty for their proximity to Ropar town. Their land had been acquired time and again by the government. Initially their land was for constructing the 132 kw substation of the PSEB. Then subsequently for the Ropar Police Lines, the power colony, Ropar bypass and Transport Nagar. They alleged that for these acquisitions, the government had paid peanuts to farmers who had lost most of the land. In the acquisition made by the Improvement Trust for Transport Nagar, farmers were paid just Rs 2.02 lakh per acre as compensation. The farmers approached the court in November, 2001, which ordered the trust to pay revised compensation at the rate of Rs 6.93 lakh per acre. However, the trust authorities had failed to pay the revised payments to farmers. Due to the repeated acquisitions, the holding of the some of the residents of the villages had been reduced to just one bigha. As if this was not enough, the Improvement Trust had made a fresh move to acquire 46 acres in the villages to bring up a defence colony. The land being acquired has been put into use by villagers for making houses and shops, the villagers alleged. Mr Gurnam Singh Railo, sarpanch of Railo village, alleged that the Improvement Trust, after acquiring land from them at the government rate, sold it at the market rate. If the trust wants to acquire the land for the benefit of the public, it should pay farmers the market rate so that they can rehabilitate themselves, he said. Mrs Jaswinder Kaur, sarpanch of Paprala village, asked why only their villages had been made the victim of land acquisition by the Improvement Trust or the government. The villagers also threatened to launch an agitation after May 10 if their demands were not met by the government. The Chairman of the Improvement Trust, Mr Ram Prakash Bali, said the site for the defence colony was selected by a high-powered committee of the Department of Local Self-Government. The trust authorities had registered the objections of villagers against the acquisition of their land, he said. These objections are to be forwarded to the government, which will take the final decision on it, he added. Regarding the non-payment of dues to villagers in lieu of land acquired earlier, Mr Bali said the case had been sent to the government. As soon as the government provides funds, these will be distributed among villagers, he said. Meanwhile, sources said the villagers had been motivated to protest against the recent acquisition of their land by some private developers who were paying them much higher price for the land. |
SAD team to meet CEC on May 5
Moga, May 3 SAD secretary Daljit Singh Cheema, stating this here on Saturday, informed that Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Mr Daljit Singh and Mr Avtar Singh Hit (Delhi) were other members of the delegation. Mr Cheema said the SAD would demand deployment of paramilitary forces in the state to ensure free and fair elections on May 10, particularly in the most sensitive Lok Sabha constituencies of Patiala and Faridkot from where Ms Preneet Kaur, wife of the Chief Minister, and Mr Sukhbir Badal, son of SAD President Parkash Singh Badal, were seeking elections to the Lok Sabha, respectively. |
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Patiala, May 3 An official release said here today the president of the council, had also appealed to the voters to vote and support Capt Kanwaljit Singh in the coming elections.
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Panel formed to implement code
Bathinda, May 3 In a press note issued here on Saturday, Mr Sinha said the coordination committee would urge the political parties and their activities to adhere to the model code of conduct. He added that the committee would report the violations of the code to the Returning Officer through the Assistant Returning Officers. The other members of the committee include Mr Inderjit Singh, Mr Gulzar Singh, Mr Sham Singh Jaura, Mr Jagjit Singh Joga, Mr Darshan Singh, Mr Sukhdev Singh and Mr Birinder Singh Mann. |
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Cops to record poll proceedings in sensitive booths
Chandigarh, May 3 The police has also asked Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and the Election Observer to make arrangements for recording the poll proceedings “at their own end”. The sources in Punjab Police headquarters say that video-recording of the proceedings will go a long way in identifying miscreants involved in booth-capturing and bogus voting. Moreover, the video films will help the authorities in taking a decision regarding repoll in case of any untoward incident. “The films will also act as a deterrent because the fear of identification will keep the miscreants away,” the sources said. Agreeing, Punjab’s Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP) Shashi Kant, in charge of the election cell set up by the Punjab Police, says, “Besides Patiala and Ferozepore, we are considering the possibility of recording the proceedings at sensitive booths in other parts of the state too.” A decision in this regard will be taken within a day or so, the sources said. So far, the Punjab Police has identified as many as 3,520 “sensitive” polling stations all over the state. The stations have been placed in the “sensitive” category because of “local conditions”. Giving details, the sources said: “Caste conflict” had led to tension in some booths during the earlier elections. Group rivalry was another threat of the law and order situation. In an attempt to “maintain law and order” situation at these stations during the elections, the police had decided to depute extra force. In all 10,267 polling stations were being set up in Punjab. Besides routine arrangement, one head constable, along with two constables, would be deployed at “sensitive” polling stations. A senior officer, on the condition of anonymity, claimed that dealing with the situation would have been a “lot easier” had the Centre accepted the demand for 150 companies. |
Vote out fascists, say students
Jalandhar, May 3 Shabnam a sister of Safdar Hashmi, a prominent theatre personality who was killed in 1989, said that her aim was to form a group of motivated young students from all over the country under the banner of Anhad to spread the message of communal harmony in India, besides convincing the people to keep the fascist forces out of power. At a press conference here Shabnam said, that political outfits like the Congress, the CPM, the CPI, the Smajwadi party and even the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had used the communal card at one point or the other but the BJP, the RSS and its sister concerns seemed to be the biggest threat to the secular fabric of the country. “We are told that we should get over Gujarat riots but the communal divide the BJP has created in state is so strong that no Muslim feel-secure and expects to get justice from the state”, said Shabnam. She accused the RSS, the BJP and the VHP of not even allowing them to express viewpoints independently, “We were attacked twice by the VHP activists in Gujarat and Andhra Pardesh when were holding the press conference and were threatened to keep mum said Shabnam. Shabnam disclosed that the students have covered more than 40 cities of southern and central India and the response has been very encouraging. Their next destination is Jammu. The students gave an account of their horrid experiences and how they feel frightened living in Gujarat, they also admitted that Gujarat riots have affected their tender psyche. Kendala Singh who is merely 16-year-old girl from Delhi said that she was scared to think that if she could ever survive in India if the BJP was bent upon creating communal division between various communities for its political end. Sahil Raza a 17-year-old boy said that he could not even disclose his name in Gujarat for being killed. Yaseen of Gujarat described his heart-rending tale how his father, grandmother and sister in law were killed before his eyes. Next day when he went to school his teacher told him to either leave Gujarat or suffer. The students presented a song asking the citizens to maintain national harmony. —
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Support for Bansal in Kharar claimed
Kharar, May 3 This was stated by Mr Jai Bhagwan Singla, a local municipal councillor, in a press note here today. Mr Singla said after Mr Jain had shifted to Chandigarh, he maintained no link with the residents of Kharar and also he had not bothered for the welfare of the town. He claimed that several BJP leaders in Chandigarh were also not supporting Mr Jain. |
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Sunil Shetty campaigns for Khanna
Pathankot, May 3 He said the policy of the NDA government was based on all around development and welfare of people, especially the downtrodden. Sunil Shetty is the third film personality to have come to Pathankot for campaigning in favour of Mr Khanna. Sanjay Dutt and Poonam Dhillon were here last week. |
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Independent withdraws in favour of Preneet
Patiala, May 3 Ms Bhinder Kaur stated that she, along with her supporters, had called upon Ms Preneet Kaur at the New Moti Bagh Palace today to announce her
decision. OC |
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Dowry seeker freed sans bail; NRI complains
to DGP
Amritsar, May 3 Mr Chahal, a resident of California, had lodged a complaint against Satwant Kaur, mother-in-law of her daughter Kamaldeep Kaur and other members of family, including husband and father-in-law of the girl. He had alleged that the accused had cheated him and his family by marrying her daughter by giving false particulars. The accused used to beat up and torture his daughter for want of dowry, He alleged that the woman was arrested under non-bailable offence and questioned how a senior police officer could issue instructions to release the accused without bail? Mr Paramjit Singh Gill, DIG, said the arrest should have been made after proper investigations, conducted by a senior police official. He said due to misuse of the Dowry Act, he had issued the instructions. Mr Chahal, in the letter to the DGP, alleged that initially no one was ready to register a case when he came in November last year and was told that he was not competent to lodge the complaint and her daughter should be present to file the complaint. He said he had to return back empty-handed and after a lot of efforts and legal opinion the case was registered against her in-laws. He alleged that after her release, Satwant Kaur was disappeared, along with her other family members who were not arrested till date. He urged the DGP to investigate the matter and help him to
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INSIDE BABUDOM
Chandigarh, May 3 Mr J.S. Bawa was the CBI chief while Mr Gurbachan Jagat, after serving the Jammu & Kashmir Police as its Director-General, headed the Border Security Force. Mr Sarabjit Singh is now heading the Central Police Research and Development Bureau, which also looks after police training in the country. Mr Sarabjit Singh had topped the 1965 batch of the IPS. Also retiring on May 31 with Mr Sarabjit Singh is the Punjab Prisons chief, Mr A.P. Bhatnagar, who belongs to the 1968 batch. Incidentally, the country's second seniormost police officer, Mr Jarnail Singh Chahal, also belongs to Punjab. He retires on June 30. Mr Chahal is attached with the Punjab Lok Pal office as Director-General of Police. All three police officers had at one stage or the fallen out of favour with the present Congress government in the state. Soon after Capt Amarinder Singh took over as Chief Minister in February, 2002, Mr Sarabjit Singh had proceeded on leave after Mr M.S. Bhullar was named the new police chief. It was only last year that Mr Sarabjit Singh got his present assignment. He is one of the few police officers in Punjab who has had a full three-year stint as Director-General. Mr Jarnail Singh Chahal, who remained Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation, was posted with the non-functional Lok Pal office. Since it was appointment against an ex-cadre and a non-sanctioned post, Mr Chahal had to seek legal help before he could get his salary. Needless to say, since there has been no Lok Pal since December, 2002, there has been no work for the large team of police officers posted there. Mr Bhatnagar, who was appointed Additional Director-General of Police, Intelligence, was issued a show-cause notice in the infamous Punjab Public Service Commission scam. Known for his integrity and professionalism, the government had no choice but to file the reply given by Mr Bhatnagar. After Mr M.S. Bhullar retired, the Punjab Government decided to promote Dr A.A. Siddiqui. In the process, both Mr S.K. Verma and Mr Bhatnagar, were also promoted. By the end of June this year, the number of DGPs in Punjab, unless the government decides to promote others, will come down to two from the present strength of five. Mr Sarabjit Singh has decided to settle in Chandigarh. His interest in white collar crime may take him to the third international conference on economic crime at Cambridge in August-September this year. |
Pathankot DC asks MC to adjourn meeting
Pathankot, May 3 The issue was raised by Mr Naresh Wadehra, a senior BJP leader and councillor, at the meeting of the House convened at the swimming pool complex here today to discuss the election of the vice-president of the council. All the seven BJP councillors were present at the meeting and demanded that the minutes book containing the proceedings of the March 31 meeting that passed the budget of the council for 2004-2005, be placed in the House. Mr Wadehra said he had with him an affidavit from all the seven BJP councillors — Vijay Kumar, Kamal Shoba Rani, Ram Pal, Som Nath, Ahshay Mahajan and Manjit Singh — denying that they had signed on the minutes of the council meeting which passed the budget. They alleged that their signatures had been forged to show that the budget had been passed. When the ruling Congress declined to show the record, the BJP councillors gheraoed the president and said they would fight till the end. Mr Wadehra alleged that civic body chief had mislead the house and the public On the other hand Mr Ashok Sharma, MLA, and Mr Sharvan Kumar, civic chief, refuted the allegations and said the signatures of the BJP councillors had not been forged. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer of Gurdaspur Parliamentary constituency, on learning about the meeting to elect the vice-president of the council, directed Mr Puneet Goyal, SDM, here to get the meeting adjourned as it would invite trouble from the Election Commission. The meeting to elect the new vice-president was convened after the present vice-president, Mr Romesh Tolla, had resigned from his post. He resigned alleging that the president of the MC Mr Sharvan Kumar had been ignoring the party councillors for the last many months. |
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Punjab not to return special term loan: CM
Phagwara, May 3 Talking to reporters here, the Chief Minister said Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Parkash Singh Badal, former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral and senior SAD and BJP leaders were misleading people that the Gujral government had waived the loan of Punjab. He said when Jammu and Kashmir and north-east states were not paying for the expenditures incurred on checking insurgency there, then why was the Punjab government asked to pay the loan.
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Atwal for opening Wagah border
Phagwara May 3 No other Prime Minister had done so much as Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee had done for cordial relations between the two countries, claimed Mr Atwal. Following the path of peace shown by the PM and the NDA, the SAD-BJP combine in Punjab would like to keep up the tradition. To encourage it, we would send kabaddi, hockey, cricket and other teams, along with cultural teams from this side of Punjab to Pakistan Punjab, he said. Yesterday Mr Atwal, speaking on the issue of Central Government education scheme, said “The Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan is a Centre Government’s elementary education scheme launched nation-wide but the Congress Government in Punjab was falsely claiming credit for the scheme. Almost every primary government schools in the state display a yellow and blue painted board stating “Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, Punjab Sarkar,” and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh claiming it to have been initiated by his government.” Asserting that the Congress government had taken the credit for the scheme Mr Atwal maintained that even brochures and leaflets distributed by state government in the past two years proclaimed the scheme to be a state government’s baby. Mr Atwal alleged that funds had been used for some other purpose than education. It had been spent on whitewashing furniture and infrastructure rather than utilising it as per the policy laid down by the Centre. |
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Youth seeks better civic amenities
Bathinda, May 3 A student of BA (final year) at the local Government Rajindra College (GRC) was so critical of the politicians that she barely managed to control herself from using foul language against them. When asked about her opinion regarding the right candidate for the Bathinda Parliamentary constituency, she said “sab ek jaise hai” (All are alike). Ranjana, 19, a resident of the city and student of Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology at Chandigarh, said while she was in school she came to know that the government was giving caste-based reservation and decided to vote for a party which promised to scrap this. Expressing surprise that no party was in the favour of scrapping the reservation policy, she said she would vote for the General Samaj Party, launched during the last Assembly elections. Her friend and classmate, Parul Kohli, also expressed the same views. A large section of youth, who were going to vote for the first time, said caste, religion and high-sounding promises would not influence them. They said clean drinking water, a medical college in the city and flyovers at all level crossings were their demands. They also expressed resentment over the fielding of “outsider” candidates in this constituency. Sarabjit Singh, a matriculate and daily wager at Aggarwal Cooler Industries here, said he would vote for a candidate who promised good roads and drinking water supply. He said most of the politicians were not interested in the development of their respective constituencies. |
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Pensioners protest against govt
Amritsar, May 3 The pensioners raised slogans against the state government for not disbursing amount due to them. Ms Chawla said the state government was not concerned about poor people who were unable for earn two square meals a day. She alleged that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the state government to disburse the pensions, but the government continued to dither over the issue. However, she refuted the allegation of making the non-payment of pensions an election issue. She said they had been protesting for a long time and urged the government to release the amount as soon as possible. |
97 cases settled at Lok Adalat
Bathinda, May 3 In a press note issued here on Sunday, Mr H.S. Dhaliwal, Civil Judge (Senior Division)-cum-secretary, District Legal Services Authorities, said Rs 6,027,494 were paid as compensation to the parties. The Lok Adalat was presided over by Mr Jaspal Singh, Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authorities. Mr D.S. Malwai, Mr Karnail Singh (both Additional Sessions Judges), Mr Dhaliwal, Mr Rajiv Malhotra, Chief Judicial Magistrate, and Mr H.S. Grewal, Additional Civil Judge, attended the Lok Adalat. |
DC warns local printers
Abohar, May 3 Such newspapers carried election-related material besides advertisements of a particular candidate and parties supporting him. Fresh complaints were dispatched to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the Chief Electoral Officer of the state and the Nirvachan Sadan headquarters of the CEC at New Delhi but none of them had so far responded. |
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Councillor alleges illegal mining
Kharar, May 3 Mr Roshan Lal said here today that the contractor was being paid by the council for doing development work but he was allegedly lifting sand and using it in an area that was with the municipal council. The council, as such, was facing a financial loss. He alleged that the council president, Mr Charanjit Singh, was involved in the racket. He said the matter had been brought to the notice of the council president many times, but no action had been taken. |
Four cops held for beating up juveniles
Faridkot, May 3 They were taken to the Civil Hospital from where they were referred to Government Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital. Deputy Commissioner Hussan Lal visited the hospital and found that the injured had not been provided with proper medicare. He directed doctors to attend to them immediately. Mr Mohan Lal, SDM, has been asked to look into the matter and submit a report. According to reports, Pawan Kumar (13), a resident of Basti Ajit Nagar, Sangrur, had been detained in the juvenile jail for the past several months. He was playing cards with some of the other boys when an altercation took place. This annoyed Havildar Dewan Singh who was on duty. He along with his colleagues Ashwani Kumar, Harjit Singh and Jarnail Singh beat up Pawan, injuring him seriously. Later, they beat up Paramjit Singh (16) with rods when he tried to intervene. Talking to this reporter here yesterday, the victims condemned the act and said they had appealed to the Deputy Commissioner for arranging a meeting with their parents. The Deputy Commissioner, condemning the action of the policemen, said the erring personnel had been arrested and a case had been registered against them. |
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Police action against two employees
recommended
Kharar, May 3 The action has been recommended under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. It is learnt that of the entire staff put on poll duty for the Morinda 68 segment, 29 did not attend the rehearsal held under the supervision of the ARO, Mr Sukhvinder Singh Gill. Later notices were issued to the absentees to present themselves before the ARO on April 30. Two employees, who were working as head teacher did not bother to come even on that day. |
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Four held for robbery
Hoshiarpur, May 3 This was stated by Mr Lok Nath Angra, SSP at a press conference here today. He said that they were planning robbery. Two scooters and one motor cycle to be used in the crime had also been recovered from them. He added during interrogation Sukhwinder Singh alias Banti revealed. At Balachaur he met Sonu, Bhundi and Rammu alias Raju Bhayia and stole two scooters and burgled the two three houses. He and Sonu also snatched gold chain in Banga. He also met Shiv Kumar alias Shivji who was running a fruit shop at Dhootan Adda. On his instigation Shiv Kumar, Gurtej Singh, Gian Chand and two other youths of Delhi formed a gang. On January 30, 2004, they looted Rs 1.25 lakh from a scooterist and motorcyclist. Gian Chand revealed that he purchased one new scooter for Rs 30,000/- from the looted money and hid it. Gurtej Singh revealed that he was an addict. |
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One held, 3kg opium seized
Bathinda, May 3 In a press note here yesterday, SSP Mukhwinder Singh Chhina said that Baldev Singh was nabbed by a police party led by Mr Paramjit Singh (ASI) that got suspicious when the accused tried to run away after confronted by the police party. During interrogation, the accused admitted that he had been bringing opium at Rs 18,000 per kilogram from Madhya Pardesh and the same was sold for Rs 25,000 per kilogram. He added that he had been selling opium for a long time and had been indicted for selling and purchasing of opium earlier also. A case under Sections 18, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act had been registered against him. |
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Wire theft plunges villages into darkness
Moga, May 3 |
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Looter nabbed with pistol
Sangrur, May 3 Mr Gurinder Singh Dhillon, SSP, Sangrur, said the local police had arrested a thief, Satar Khan, of Sherpur village who had stolen two scooters in April. The police had recovered both scooters (PB 10-J 7126 and PB-44-3819) from his possession. |
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4 booked for abusing civic body
vice-chairman
Lalru, May 3 According to police, Bahadur Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Gurjant Singh and Karamjit Singh of the village have been booked on the complaint of Mr Bant Singh. In his complaint to the police Mr Bant Singh has alleged, that the four abused and called him by his caste. By doing this they have defamed him, besides hurting his sentiments, he alleged. |
Sarvhitkari Samiti opens school
Jalandhar, May 3 Addressing the gathering, Mr Dinesh outlined the importance of education for the development of the society. He said the samiti would ensure that education for weaker sections of the society was provided at affordable cost and that more and more children received education. Mr Shital Vij, said the school would fulfil the needs of people of the area who, were worried about the escalating cost of education and who could not afford to send their wards to very costly institutes. Mr Dina Nath Batra, the General Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Sansthan, said “Besides regular education, we would ensure that the students learnt values of life and Indian culture as well. On this occasion, residents of the city, who had donated money and essential goods to the school, were presented by Mr Vij with shawls. |
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Loan issue sparks row in GND varsity
Amritsar, May 3 Reacting to the self-contradictory statement of Mr Varinder Pal, Finance and Development Officer, Dr
R.S. Bawa, Registrar and Dr P.S. Raikhy, senior Professor, Punjab School of Economics, GND University, said as per the report of the 11th Finance Commission, the special term-loan to Punjab had not been waived. Mr Varinder Pal, who had been a personal assistant, must understand the difference between waiving of the loan and reimbursement of the security-related expenditure, they pointed out. If the loan was to be waived, there was no need for the 11th Finance Commission to recommend a moratorium on the remaining loan and interest due for five years “so that the state is able to build its economy and be in a better position to repay the loan and the interest accruing in subsequent years”, they said. Even when security-related expenditure during 1984-94 was reimbursed to Punjab the waiver of Rs 3,413.11 crore already given to the state was to be accounted towards such expenditure. This clearly indicates that the entire loan of Rs 5,799.92 crore had not been waived, they argued. While defending their non-political stand, they asserted that they had expressed their views when contacted by the press. It was an economic issue and Mr Varinder Pal had no business with economics. If the reaction had come from an economist, the issue could have been debated, argued Dr Bawa and Dr
Raikhy. It was crystal clear that the loan had not been waived. It had been left to the 12th Finance Commission and the Government of India to decide after 2005, they asserted. |
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Stone laid for medical college
Bathinda, May 3 Mr Gill, in a press note, said Giani Gurbachan Singh, head granthi of the Golden Temple, had laid the foundation stone of the college on the Bathinda-Barnala road yesterday. He added that the 300-bed teaching hospital would start functioning by July, 2005, and would be upgraded to 500-bed hospital later. Mr Gill said the first batch would be admitted by July, 2006. Mr Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, president of the foundation, said total investment on the college would around Rs 100 crore. The college would bring advanced medical facilities to the doorstep of the local people, he added. |
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100 attend college reunion
Bathinda, May 3 Ms G.K. Bhattal, Principal of the college and patron of the society, in a press note said a slide show, besides ghazals were presented.
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PCCTU president
Bathinda, May 3 |
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