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Budget debate adjourned Chandigarh, June 23 Sources say that it was during the adjournment that two ruling party legislators were persuaded to speak on the budgetary proposals after the House resumed its sitting. The continuous indifference of the ruling party legislators to the proceedings of the House is baffling. On June 18, the Deputy Speaker had fired a letter to the Chief Minister expressing anguish over the poor attendance of ruling party legislators in the Vidhan Sabha. Interestingly, even the chief whip, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Jagjit Singh, who are required to ensure that a sufficient number of ruling party members are present in the House, are often absent. Even after five days of the letter, things have not improved and the attendance of ruling party members has been far from satisfactory. Interestingly, sittings of the Vidhan Sabha are hardly between 30 and 45 days a year but even then many members prefer to stay away. There has been a growing belief that sessions of the Vidhan Sabha are called only to meet the constitutional obligations. While Ch Jagjit Singh is not well and is admitted to hospital, the charge of Parliamentary Affairs is now temporarily with the PWD Minister, Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, who also deputed for the indisposed Chief Minister for some time in the House today. Interestingly, the Deputy Chief Minister, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, was also present when Mr Bajwa was deputing for the Chief Minister. Peeved about the poor attendance of ruling party members, the Deputy Speaker had been making mention of it during the proceedings. In his letter of June 18, Mr Bir Devinder Singh said that to avoid any unpleasant situation, the presence of the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and the chief whip was essential for smooth functioning of the Assembly. “When a matter regarding a particular department is being debated, at least the minister and the Minister of State, including Parliamentary Secretary, of the department concerned should remain present in the House. On June 17, when a resolution on elementary education was being discussed, the Minister of State had to be called to the House. “The quorum of the House is 10 members or one-tenth and if there emerges a situation when the required number of members are not present, the presiding officer has to ring the quorum bell but such a situation will not be in the interest of the party,” said Mr Bir Devinder Singh in the letter, urging the Chief Minister to instruct all the members to be present in the House. |
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Bir Devinder rues lack of interest in Budget discussion Chandigarh, June 23 With this terse comment, Deputy Speaker, Bir Devinder Singh who adjourned the House. This situation arose because there were no members listed for the day to speak on the Budget. Thus, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha was today adjourned more than one hour ahead of its scheduled time. In fact, when the House was adjourned, there were just nine members on the Treasury Benches, including two ministers, besides Finance Minister Lal Singh against a sizeable number of opposition MLAs. Even the officer’s gallery was almost empty, except for the Principal Secretary (Finance), Mr B.R. Bajaj, and some others. Mr Bir Devinder Singh, in fact, had sent repeated messages to the Finance Minister and the chief whip, Mr Gurmit Singh Sodhi, to send a panel of names from the Treasury Benches to speak on the Budget. But there was no response. Initiating the discussion on the Budget, SAD leader Kanwaljit Singh wondered: “Where is the Budget’’? Then he himself answered: “Nowhere’’. Quoting from different newspaper editorials, news reports and from his own study of the Budget documents, he gradually built up his hypothesis to conclude that the government is on the brink of bankruptcy’’. He castigated the government for lacking in “talent, skill, intelligence and will to perform’’. Quoting figures from the Budget documents, he charged the government with presenting either “inflated’’ revenue receipts or “suppressing’’ revenue expenditure to conceal the yawning revenue and fiscal deficits. “My assessment is that at the close of the financial year, the revenue deficit will be Rs 4,000 crore and the fiscal deficit Rs 10,800 crore’’. The official figures were revenue deficit — Rs 3,442 crore and fiscal deficit — Rs 6,117 crore. Capt Kanwaljit Singh told Mr Lal Singh, who sat opposite him taking notes, that the government has totally failed to implement any of its pre-poll promises. This budget is dismal, unimaginative and bereft of any ideology and direction’’. Capt Kanwaljit Singh focused on economic parameters and dissected the Budget sector-wise to substantiate his charge that the government had failed to perform. He supported his hypothesis with statistics and quoted the Planning Commission that had projected Punjab, along with Bihar, among the states that would have the “slowest’’ overall economic growth in the Tenth Five Year Plan. The state had already logged “negative’’ growth in the agricultural and primary sectors. The former Finance Minister referred to “lack of will’’ to govern and place Punjab on the fast-track of development. He charged the government with failing to address the problem of unemployment or youth falling a prey to drugs. Capt Kanwaljit Singh chided the government for making false promises like getting Rs 5,000 crore from a non-existent International Consortium. Mockingly, he referred to a trip abroad for this wild-goose chase by politicians and bureaucrats. In the same breath, he wanted “conditions’’ put forward by the World Bank before giving any financial help to the state. When he referred to the price difference in DAP fertiliser supplied to farmers by co-operative societies and that in the open market, which was cheaper by Rs 27 per bag, the Deputy Speaker asked the Finance Minister to take note of this and include it in his reply to the discussion on the Budget. The Annual Plan was also ridiculed as the Budget speech had made no mention how it was proposed to be funded both by the Centre and from the state’s own resources. The Plan had neither offered anything to the farmers, traders, employees and industrialists nor addressed itself to the basic issues that concerned society. Besides Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Mr Malkiat Singh Dhakha, Mr Mantar Singh Brar and Mr Ashok Kumar also spoke. |
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Fake currency, degree racket busted, 4 held Amritsar, June 23 Mr R.P.S. Bajwa, SSP, Majitha, said at a press conference here today that four persons, including kingpin Shispal Sharma of Kot Kapura in Faridkot district and the owner of Shivalik Public School there, had been arrested. The plan to print fake currency and fake degrees had been hatched at the central jail here after Shispal’s school failed to attract many students and started running into losses. Others arrested are Janak Raj of Jalalabad in
Ferozepore district, Rajinder Singh of Central Jail Colony here and Inderjit Singh, who resided opposite the central jail here. Fake M.Com, B.Com, B.Ed and BA degrees of Bandhal Khand University (Jhansi) were being prepared with the help of head clerk of the university, who allegedly used to charge Rs 10,000. The degrees were being sold for between Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000 at Faridkot and Ferozepore. Of the fake notes seized, Rs 9.30 lakh of Rs 1000 denomination, Rs 50,000 of Rs 500 denomination, Rs 10,000 of Rs 100 denomination and Rs 10,000 of Rs 50 denomination. Fake notes totalling Rs 4 lakh were recovered from Shispal, Rs 1.5 lakh from Janak Raj, Rs 1.5 lakh from Rajinder and Rs 3 lakh from Inderjit. The police had been pursuing clues for the past month. On a
tip-off, at Adda Nath di Khui under Mattewal, five occupants of a Maruti car tried to flee when they were stopped. Four were nabbed while Hardeep Singh of Rajasansi escaped. Those arrested admitted that they had been printing fake currency at a rented accommodation of Inderjit Singh, at Rose Street, Bhavani Nagar, Majitha Road, here and had a computer, a printer and a scanner there. Shispal had been caught last year at Patti and Rs 6.5 lakh in fake currency had been seized. He was lodged in central jail, where he came in contact with Inderjit, lodged in the same jail. A plan was hatched to manufacture fake currency by both, who then called Janak Raj, Rajinder Singh and Hardeep Singh to join them after finishing their jail terms. Shispal said earlier he had assisted Mithu Singh Dhillon of Hoshiarpur who used to produce fake currency by using executive bond paper and colours obtained from Delhi. The money was generally circulated in hawala transactions and small purchases. Shispal said they used to supply Rs 1 lakh in fake currency for Rs 40,000 in real notes. The gang had till now manufactured Rs 35 lakh in fakes currency, out of which Rs 10 lakh was seized while the rest were in circulation in the Doaba region. Mr Bajwa said he could not rule out Pakistani connection in the racket as the seizures were made near the border. A case under
Sections 489 and 420 of the IPC was registered. |
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‘Agents’ make merry at Sub-Registrar’s office Jalandhar, June 23 The menace of brokers and agents, which ensures that your work can be done for a bribe tag ranging from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2000, is such in and around the office that they try to entice almost every visitor, probably, taking him to be their prospective “client.” Most of deals, it was learnt, were clinched allegedly through some selected deed writers, who are generous enough to promise to get everything done provided their price is paid to them. Enquiries revealed that about 80 to 100 land sale-purchase deeds were registered in one of the two offices of the Sub-Registrar here daily. When The Tribune team recently reached the venue, a large number of buyers and sellers were queuing up to wait for their turn. Interestingly, though in private almost everybody admitted that they would have to pay a price to get their work done through some agent or the other but, they were not
ready to come on record for obvious reasons. Kashmir Singh, a resident of Ghugshor village and Secretary of the Pendu Mazdoor Union, alleged that people had to pay a price ranging between Rs 1500 and Rs 2000 for registration of their deeds. Baljit Singh, another resident of Mithapur village, said he had to pay the same amount for the registration of deed of his plot. Interestingly, taking this correspondent as a prospective client, a person who claimed himself to be an advocate offered to get any of “his
work” done. On condition of anonymity he said that a retired but “more efficient” reader had been engaged by an official to do the official work and he was being paid Rs 300 per day by that official at personal level so that the work “does not suffer”. Enquiries revealed that five such private persons were hired by officials for doing petty jobs like getting photo copies done and for carrying “bahis”. Ms Inderjit Kaur, Sub-registrar, however, denied that any corrupt practice was prevailing at her office. “We don’t ask anybody to pay anything. But at the same time, we don’t know what happens outside and who does
what?” As far as I know, nobody is made to pay any bribe here,” she asserted. A round of the three storeyed revenue complex revealed that of the four ladies toilets, three were lying locked, while toilets for men were stinking. Of the four water coolers, which were placed adjoining to stinking toilets, only one was working
and there was no seating arrangement for visitors. The corridor in front of the office was being used as a
parking lot by officials. |
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3,502 terrorist victims’ kin given jobs Chandigarh, June 23 Under this policy, 3,502 persons had been given employment and there was no person left out for payment of ex-gratia relief in the state. All eligible families were getting the subsistence allowance regularly. This was stated by Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh in reply to a question by Mr Tarlochan Singh in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha here today. Since the Chief Minister was indisposed the reply was given by PWD Minister, Partap Singh Bajwa. The House spent quite some time during question hour on the appointment of Mr Gajendra Haldia, an IAS officer of the Rajashan cadre, as Adviser, Power and Roads. To a question by Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, the PWD Minister, defended the appointment, saying that Mr Haldia was an “all-rounder”. The terms and conditions of his appointment in both sectors, power and roads, were appended with the reply. In respect of the power sector, he was to draw a token salary of Rs 1 but was allowed several perks. In his role as Adviser, roads, there was an overall ceiling of Rs 16 lakh plus 0.66 per cent of the cost of project excluding the capital subsidy given by the state. Going by this calculation, Mr Badal argued that Rs 55 lakh would be paid to the Adviser. Also, the Chief Minister had earlier said there was only one Media Adviser, while the Adviser, Irrigation and Science, had quit. How come there was this Adviser, as well. He also wondered if there were no capable officers among the 200-odd IAS officers in Punjab to do what Mr Haldia was doing. The Finance Minister, Mr Lal Singh, told the House that two public sector undertakings and one apex co-operative institution had been closed. In all 2,173 employees had been rendered jobless. These were the Punjab Land Development and Reclamation Corporation, Electronic Systems, Punjab Ltd and the Spinfed cooperative spinning mills at Abohar, Bathinda and
Goindwal. Speaker Kewal Krishan had to repeatedly remind the Minister for School Education, Mr Khushal Bahl, to “give to the point, relevant replies, keeping them short and brief. Your replies elicit several more supplementary questions”. The Speaker’s comments came when Mr Bahl continued to give long replies to the supplementary questions. The original question by Mr Tarlochan Singh was on the number of vacant posts of elementary and secondary schoolteacher. There were several questions from the Opposition, particularly Mr Tota Singh, former Education Minister, including the one as to how many teachers were given jobs in the past three years. The studies were badly affected, he added Mr Bahl said action was taken against 144 teachers whose results were poor in 2002 and against 339 in 2003. On a question related to the PWD, despite the Speaker disallowing a supplementary by an Akali member, the PWD Minister, chose to reply saying that “poor quality” coal-tar was purchased during the Akali-BJP Government in 1999. Taking cognizance of the intended motive, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhundar called for a CBI inquiry into the purchase. The Deputy Chief Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, intervened to say a departmental inquiry was on in this connection. |
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Punjab plan to make jails more secure Chandigarh, June 23 Though the officials in the Punjab Police Headquarters are maintaining strict silence over the issue, the sources claim that the process of transferring jail wardens in the state has been initiated. The sources assert that jail wardens posted in Amritsar circle for more than five years have already been shifted out during phase one of operation weed-out launched recently. They, however, refuse to divulge the number of officers transferred out to other jails. The sources also claim that Jail Superintendents, Deputy Jail Superintendents, even Assistant Jail Superintendents, will be shifted out during phase two of the operation starting from July 1. As of now the department is in the process of identifying such officers in Patiala and Ferozepore jails, the sources assert. In all there are about 26 jails in the state, including 10 sub-jails, five Central jails and one women's jail. Inspector-General of Punjab Police S.K. Dutta — in charge of the prisons in the state — was not available for comments on the issue of transfers despite repeated attempts. The development is significant as the jail staff — posted at the same place for several years — tends to develop vested interests, at least this is what senior Punjab Police officers claim. They insist that the staff is sometimes involved not only in smuggling narcotics and other prohibited stuff — including mobile phones and weapons — to the inmates, but is also sympathetic towards their "favourites". Messages are also passed to the inmates. The officers go up to the extent of saying that the recent discovery of weapons in a jail was a testimony to this effect. Giving details, they say that the possibility of weapons being smuggled in, with the connivance of the staff posted at the same place for several years, cannot be ruled out. The fact that officers have not been caught in the act is no indication of smooth functioning, they assert. |
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Executive Magistrate, revenue officials assaulted Nangli (Amritsar), June 23 Dr Randhawa who was injured, including on the head, said the assault was unprovoked. He said he was physically pulled by hair from the official jeep and then beaten up when he along with other officials tried to leave the village following attack by Kishan Singh, his two sons and relatives. Among those who were injured are Mr Kewal Krishan, a Kanungo, and Mr Janak Raj, a patwari, who were immediately rushed to the local Civil Hospital. However, Mr Jasmeet Rai Mahajan, District Manager of the Khadi Board and a recovery clerk were unscathed in the attack. Dr Randhawa, however, said he could not take his gunman along with him since he had gone to his relatives in connection with some personal work today. The joint team of revenue and Khadi Board had reached the Nangli village at 5.45 a.m. and informed Nishan Singh about their visit. The wife of Nishan Singh, Ms Amarjit Kaur, was a defaulter of the Khadi Board despite repeated reminders. Dr Randhawa alleged that Kishan Singh had also taken at least fifteen loans by forging signatures. Talking to TNS, Mr Mahajan said there were hundreds of defaulters of the Khadi Board who had failed to clear the outstanding amount despite a number of reminders. Dr Randhawa said it was his presence of mind and quick reflexes that he could save his head from the direct attack with a blunt weapon. He alleged that when he rushed towards his official jeep after the attack, Nishan Singh and his two sons, Harcharn Singh and Amar Singh, chased him and tried to snatch keys of the vehicle. However, he succeeded in fleeing. The Tehsildar, whose clothes were also torn in the attack, said the joint team of revenue and the Khadi Board had gone to the house of Nishan Singh following the directives of the Deputy Commissioner–cum-Executive Magistrate to recover the loan in his capacity as Assistant Collector under the Section 3(1) Act, 1890. Dr Randhawa said during his 14-year service, it was for the first time that he had faced such an attack from the loanees. While Nishan Singh was rounded up by the police few minutes after the attack, the other accused had fled from their home. During a visit to the village, the house of Nishan Singh was found locked. The Sadar police has registered an FIR against the accused persons under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code on the complaint of Dr Randhawa. |
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Punjab to conduct PMET on July 25 Ludhiana, June 23 According to the notification, there will be a quota for NRI students to the extent of 15 per cent in private medical colleges of the state. The NRI quota in Government Medical Colleges will be as under: Government Medical Colleges of Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot-13, Government Dental College of Patiala and Amritsar-4 Government Ayurvedic College, Patiala-4. The seats in private medical colleges have been divided into 50-50 ratio between the government quota and management quota. Both the management quota and the government quota seats would be filled by the PMET merit and will have uniform tuition fee structure. The only difference is that the government quota seats would be filled by the university whereas the management quota seats by the respective management for which the applications would be submitted to the colleges directly. The 15 per cent NRI quota is within the 50 per cent management/minority quota, clarifies the notification. According to the notification there are four institutions in the state which have been categorised as minority institutions — Christian Medical College and Dental College, Ludhiana, Sri Guru Ramdas Medical and Dental Colleges Amritsar. The government has provided 50 per cent quota for minority students in these four institutions. The students belonging to Sikh and Charistian community from all over India can participate in the PMET conducted by the state government and compete for minority quota seats in these institutions. The notification has further clarified that there have been press reports that Christian Medical College, Ludhiana and Sri Guru Ram Das institutions were going to conduct their own separate tests for filling the minority quota seats. As per a Supreme Court decision the management quota seats or minority quota seats can be filled in one of three manners-the private minority institutions can fill the minority or management quota on the basis of PMET conducted by the university or the association of all private and minority medical institutions in the state can come together on one platform and conduct their own separate common entrance test or as institution can conduct its own test if it is more than 25 years’ old and has been conducting its test. It has further clarified that Sri Guru Ram Das institutions (SGRD) are not more than 25 years’ old and since the association of private college is not conducting any common entrance test, the minority quota in the SGRD institutions would be filled on the basis of the PMET conducted by the university. For this purpose, the government has allowed the students belonging to the Sikh community from all over India to participate in the university PMET and compete for the minority quota. As regards the CMC Ludhiana, the committee (Justice Mahjithia committee) took notice of their letter intimating that they were going to invite applications for test and the committee felt that this issue was premature since the CMC has not yet applied for permission to the committee for conducting own test. As of now, the minority quota in the CMC, Ludhiana, would also be filled from the PMET conducted by the university. |
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CBI charge sheet against 12 steel mill owners Patiala, June 23 Sources disclosed that the CBI had filed a charge sheet in this regard in the court of the Special CBI Magistrate here. Earlier the Punjab and Haryana High Court had asked the premier agency to investigate the matter in 1998. According to the agency the steel rolling mills sold furnace oil received by them in the black market between 1996-98. Those against whom charge sheets had been filed include Radhey Shaym Aggarwal, Lakhsmi Chand, owner of Hari Om Steel Mills Industries, Sukhwinder Singh, Harbans Singh, Supinder Kaur and Surinder Kaur, all owners of M/S Bhambhri Steel Mills Industry, Navinder Pal Chopra, Sukhwinder Pal and Rattan Lal, all owners of Lok Tilak Steel Rolling Mills, Surinder Kumar of Shelly Modi Industry and Ranjit Kumar and Rajesh Kumar of M/S Chopra Iron and Steell Rolling Mills. |
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24 candidates left in SGPC poll fray Bathinda, June 23 Except for the Talwandi Sabo and Balluana constituencies, where the SAD candidates are facing a direct fight with candidates of the Panthic Morcha, the other six constituencies are witnessing multi-cornered contest. In the Bathinda constituency, the SAD candidate, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bahia, faces Mr Toga Singh, SAD (A) candidate, Mr Ranjit Singh and Mr Iqbal Singh Jeet Phuli. Mr Ranjit Singh is being supported by local Sikh organisations. In the Bathinda (Woman) constituency, the SAD candidate, Bibi Devinder Kaur, faces a contest from Panthic Morcha candidate Bibi Karam Kaur, and Independent candidate Karamjit Kaur. In the Balluana constituency, the SAD (B) candidate, Mr Balwant Singh Bir Behman, faces a direct fight from the Panthic Morcha candidate, Mr Harpal Singh Chak Attar Singh Wala. In the Talwandi Sabo (General) constituency, SAD (B) candidate Mohan Singh Bangi faces a contest from the Panthic Morcha candidate, Mr Sukhdev Singh Kingra. In the Talwandi Sabo (Reserve) constituency, the SAD (B) candidate and former MP, Mr Chitan Singh Samao, faces a fight from the SAD (A) candidate, Mr Satpal Singh Fauji. Mr Babu Singh, Panthic Morcha candidate, has also been trying his luck from the Talwandi Sabo (Reserve) seat. The Maur Mandi constituency is witnessing a triangular contest as the SAD (B) candidate, Mr Kirtan Singh Ramgarh, faces a contest from Panthic Morcha candidate Gurtej Singh and an Independent candidate, Bibi Malkiat Kaur. From the Phul constituency, the SAD (B) candidate, Mr Jagroop Singh Dhillon, facing contest from SAD (A) candidate Bibi Simranjit Kaur and Independent candidate Balwinder Singh. The Bhagta Bhai Ka constituency has been witnessing a direct contest between the SAD (B) candidate, Dr Balbir Singh Deol and Mr Phuman Singh. A large section of other candidates who were in fray from Phul have withdrawn their nomination papers in favour of Mr Phuman Singh. On the other hand, Dr Deol is getting support from various Sikh organisations. |
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Pakhoke seeks DC’s transfer Tarn Taran, June 23 Mr Pakhoke challenged the orders of the DC to the gurdwara election commission. Mr Pakhoke is the SAD candidate from this seat for the SGPC elections. Mr Pakhoke alleged that the Congress was interfering in religious affairs of the Sikhs to take political mileage. |
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Badal failed to get BJP support on SYL, says Mann Patiala, June 23 Addressing a press conference here along with SAD (Longowal) President Prem Singh Chandumajra, the Akali leader said it was unfortunate that the SAD (Badal) had failed to elicit the support of Vajpayee as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the issue. He said Vajpayee had not spoken on the SYL issue even during his visit to Manali recently. Mr Mann said the Panthic Morcha, which was contesting the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections, had for the first time given an alternative to the Sikh masses who were fed up by the manner in which religious institutions were being made to serve political interests by SAD (Badal). He said the morcha visualised reaching out to the Sikhs through the SGPC and would strive for free higher education to the Sikh women in all states in which the SGPC run educational institutions. He said the morcha would also strive to establish Gurmukhi schools and colleges in Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana if voted to power in the SGPC. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra said it was unfortunate that the Sikh Gurdwara Commission had reversed the decision taken by the Returning Officer for the election who had rejected the nomination papers of senior Badal Dal leaders Mr Alwinder Singh Pakhoke, Suchha Singh Langah and Sewa Singh Sekhwan. He claimed that the decision was illegal and that his party would
challenge it at the appropriate platform. |
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Whip issued to Cong
MLAs, ministers Chandigarh, June 23 Hosting a dinner for party MLAs on June 24 was not unusual as every Chief Minister did so during the Vidhan Sabha session, he said. Since the session was slated to be adjourned on June 25, the dinner was planned to ensure the presence of party members because they generally left for their respective constituencies after the session.. Meanwhile, the Congress chief whip, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, issued a three-line whip to all Congress MLAs and Ministers to remain present in the House on June 24 and June 25 till the business of the House was over. |
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Film to portray Baba Deep Singh’s valour Amritsar, June 23 Addressing a press conference, the young director from Mumbai, Jaswinder Chahal, said he felt sad that in the powerful world of media had not been used to project the supreme and unparallel sacrifices made by the Sikh Gurus and their followers in the course of protection of their religion and country. He said that he had received support from the local Mata Kaulanji Bhalai Kendra, a welfare organisation run by a renowned ‘shabad’ singer, Bhai Guriqbal Singh. Chahal said a number of prominent film artistes, music directors, lyricists, cameramen and other technicians had offered their services free of cost for the making this epic based on the life, teachings and valour of Baba Deep Singh. The warrior laid down his life fighting the tyrant Afghan invader, Ahmad Shah Abdali, and his repressive army. The director who has also written the screenplay and script said the famous music director of ‘Gadar’ fame, Uttam Singh, would provide music. Leading star Tabbu would play the role of Nilofer, wife of Abdali’s son
Taimur. The film will be of two hours and 45 minutes’ duration and made in Punjabi, Hindi and English. It will be produced and released by Shot Real Production in collaboration with the Bhalai Kendra. He said this was a non-commercial venture as they planned to create awareness among the new generation about the Sikh religion. Bhai Guriqbal Singh said that more films based on Sikhism would be produced. |
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Govt apathy forces
commuters to face risk everyday Patiala, June 23 The bridge, which has been declared unsafe for the past more then two years, is on the verge of collapse. This despite the fact that Rs 1.98 crore had been received for the bridge’s reconstruction under a Nabard scheme from the Centre. Though the residents of the area have been assured time and again by the authorities that the reconstruction of the bridge will be taken up on priority basis, nothing has been done so far. Most of the vehicular traffic has to take about 20 km detour to reach Bhadson to avoid the bridge. Irate residents of Bhadson town have for some time been holding a weekly dharna on the bridge every Saturday. Former Akali Minister Daleep Singh Pandhi and his supporters join the dharna every week. However, to add to their chagrin the Public Works Department, which had reportedly received the funds required for the reconstruction of the bridge, refuses to show any signs of gearing itself to start work on the project. People living in the area are even wary of crossing the bridge on foot as they fear that the structure may collapse any time. Villagers have moved many applications in the past concerning the danger posed by the bridge. Mr Pandhi said those living in the Bhadson township were not the only ones to be affected as the bridge, which connects Bhadson with Patiala city, was also used by resident of surrounding villages. The villagers had been assured by MP Preneet Kaur prior to the elections that the construction work on the bridge would start within a week, however, nothing tangible had resulted so far, he added. Mr Pandhi said the reconstruction of the bridge had already been delayed due to red tape and only a proactive approach by villagers would make the officials concerned sit up and take notice. “Vehicles, especially the heavier ones, have to waste considerable amount of both fuel and time to skirt the bridge. The villagers will continue their weekly protests till work starts here,” he added. |
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Residents come to blows at police station Jalandhar, June 23 The residents, including a large number of women, who alleged that the police authorities were interfering under pressure of a local leader, staged a dharna in front of the police station and blocked traffic on the road in front of the police station for about an hour. Tension gripped the Kishan Nagar area and the Jaimal Nagar area after efforts were made to shift a temple, located in the house of a resident of Kishan Nagar, to a vacant plot in Jaimal Nagar. A person, who came along with some police officials, forcibly tried to disrupt the process, saying the vacant plot was the property of his family. He allegedly misbehaved with the residents. Residents alleged that the person who tried to block the shifting of the temple threatened them with dire consequences. Maintaining that the vacant plot was left by a Nakodar family for religious use, residents alleged that the police was shielding the accused. The dharna was lifted following an agreement between the police and the residents. |
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Death of birds not by eating
jamun: DC Faridkot, June 23 The post-mortem examination report conducted on the dead birds by the Animal Husbandry Department has been submitted to Deputy Commissioner by Mr Mohan Lal, SDM of Faridkot. Exonerating the Amritsar-based contractor for the sale of jamuns this year of the charges, he clarified that 1ml monochrotophos mixed in 1 litre of water was sprayed by the contractor on the jamun tress with the consent of the Horticulture Department of June 3. The chemical became ineffective after a day or two. The heavy rainfall during that time ensured that there could be no chance of such an incident. Twenty birds had died in Mini-Secretariat here after consuming jamuns from its trees allegedly sprayed with a pesticide. They were spotted by lawyers and members of the Tarksheel Society on June 19 who brought the matter to the notice of the SDM. |
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Prime Kharar land goes to govt as heirs not found Kharar, June 23 The office of the SDM would be issuing directions to the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council tomorrow to take control of the land till further orders to prevent any encroachment. Though the SDM could not trace the legal heirs to the property, two lawyers, Mr Anil Kaushik and Mr Rakesh Kaushik, had been claiming that they were the heirs to the land which belonged to Draupti, widow of Bullah. Draupti had died in 1947 and till about 8 months ago no claimant to the land had approached the authorities concerned for mutation. According to the SDM, Draupti did not have any issue and nor was any close relative of the family alive. It is learnt that after the two lawyers claimed ownership to the land, villagers from the area gave it in writing to the SDM that all these years they had not seen any legal heir to the land. While one of the lawyers claimed that Draupti was a cousin grandmother of his mother, the other claimed that he was from the seventh generation of the family which owned the land. Both claimants to the land have decided to approach the Ropar Deputy Commissioner and plead against the decision of the SDM. |
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Cultural programme organised Fatehgarh Sahib, June 23 Mr R.D. Kaley along with his troupe started the programme by presenting a Sufiana Kalam “Raba mere hal da mehram
tun, andar tun hain bahar tun hai, rom rom bich tun”. Then he switched over to perfect songs of Sham Singh “Sade bolan bich tun apne bol ghol de, sade sahan bich tun apne sah ghol de”. The audience started cheering when Kaley sung a song depicting the life of Sham Singh “Sun oye
Shamia, Samye dia mamian, Pania nu aag na tun la”. The song sung by Komal Chugh “Ud ud kanwa be maen sad ke
janwan, kade baeth sade bi banere, mahi aun di, je khabar lianwe, be maen pankh chumangi
tere” was highly appreciated by audience. |
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No bonded labour case in dist, says DC Fatehgarh Sahib, June 23 He said NGOs have also been urged to bring to the notice of district administration any case of bonded labour in the district. He urged the leaders of various labour unions to work in a cordial manner and assured them that they would not face any problem in the district. Comrade Natha Singh, Arjun Singh Talania, Mr Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa, GA to DC, Dr Tarsem Singh, CAO, Mr M.L. Guru, lead bank officer and Mr H.R. Dhillon, DFSO, also spoke on the occasion. |
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Poor sanitation in Urban Estate Bathinda, June 23 Mr
J.K. Verma, a resident, said the parks of the area were also in a state of neglect. The park adjacent to kothi number 110 had been converted into a garbage dump, he rued.
— TNS |
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Interim bail for PCS officer in bribery case Ropar, June 23 District and Sessions Judge Inderjit Singh, while taking up the anticipatory bail petition of the accused, confirmed the orders issued by the same court on June 16, wherein the arrest of the petitioner was stayed and the VB was directed to release the petitioner on the personal bond of Rs 10,000 in case she was arrested. The court granted relief to the petitioner after the counsel for the PCS officer argued that she has joined investigations and was a serving public servant with the state government, following which granting her bail could not affect the proceedings of the case. Charged with spending over Rs 1.52 crore more than her accounted income in the past decade, the former Deputy Director of Punjab New Mandi Township had been booked under Sections 7, 13 (1) (d) (e) read with Section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, at VB Flying Squad-1 police station in Mohali on June 8. The accused lady PCS officer had earned around Rs 42 lakh during her service from November 19, 1990, till October 31, 2000, whereas she allegedly spent over Rs 1.95 crore on accumulating assets on her and her family members’ names during this period, according to the FIR lodged on the basis of “reliable sources”. Accusing the lady PCS officer of spending over Rs 1.52 crore more than her actual income, the FIR further alleged that during her posting as Deputy Director of Punjab New Mandi Township, she accepted Rs 26,000 as bribe from one Gursharanbir Singh for registering his sale deed in Sabzi Mandi of Jalandhar city.
— UNI |
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Police custody for
tainted official Kharar, June 23 Mr Joginder Singh was arrested by a flying squad team of the Vigilance Bureau which was headed by Mr Zora Singh Brar, DSP. A case under Sections 7/13/2/88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered at the Phase VIII police station in Mohali. Mr Brar told The Tribune that Mr Ashok Kumar, who ran a clinic in Patran, near Patiala, had made a complaint to Mr Nirmal Singh Dhillon, DIG, Vigilance Bureau (Flying Squad I), Punjab, that Mr Joginder Singh was allegedly demanding a bribe from him to hush up a case. Mr Brar said a team of health officials, comprising the Civil Surgeon, Dr Hardev Singh, a senior medical officer, Dr Karmajit Singh, Mr Joginder and some others had raided the clinic of Mr Ashok Kumar on May 31. Some instruments, which could be used for carrying out abortions, were seized during the raid. Instead of getting a case registered in this regard, the officials concerned marked an inquiry in this connection. He said that Mr Joginder Singh approached Mr Ashok Kumar after the raid and allegedly demanded Rs 40,000 on the assurance that the inquiry report would go in the latter’s favour. However, the deal was settled for Rs 20,000. The DSP said that Rs 20,000 was recovered from a pocket of Mr Joginder Singh yesterday in the presence of two witnesses, Mr Rakesh Nayyar and Mr Vijay Gupta, who were working as SDO’s in the Punjab Pollution Control Board. Mr Brar said that the instruments found from Mr Ashok Kumar’s clinic by health officials were to be recovered. |
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Tribune Impact Malout, June 23 The suspended PSEB employees are sub-station operator (SSO) Harjit Singh and sub-station attendant (SSA) Sukhdev Raj. The raid was conducted soon after the publication of a news item titled ‘Farmers bribing PSEB staff for more power’ in The Tribune on June 19. Confirming the suspension, acting Muktsar PSEB Superintendent Engineer (SE) J.S. Behl told TNS that the suspended employees had been found providing two-hour more supply than fixed to the villages falling under the
Aulakh sub-station. The officers of different agencies of the PSEB, including flying squad, technical audit and mobile meter testing service (MMTS), were involved in the raid. However, Mr Behl said the department could not get any proof of taking bribe for providing more supply as according to him none of villagers came forward for recording their statements in this regard. At the same time, he confessed it was difficult for the department to control lineman and JE-level employees to desist them from such activities. Further, Mr Behl said raids had also been conducted at several other sub-stations. He appealed to the villagers not to pay even a single paisa to any PSEB employee for more supply. He said all villages would be provided electricity in a rational way. Among others, PSEB Bathinda SE Niranjan Singh was also among the officers who raided the Aulakh sub-station. He said that a detailed combined report had been sent to the PSEB head-office in this regard for further action. |
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CBI registers case against 25 income tax officials Patiala, June 23 The fact came to light during investigations into the cases of 31 other employees, who were alleged to have been recruited on the basis of false documents. The CBI has registered a case against these persons under Sections 420, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC. The recruitments, which the CBI is investigating, had taken place during 1990-92. The candidates were chosen by a panel, the role of which is also being investigated into. Allegations have also been levelled against the panel of selectors. Sources said a case had been registered against two inspectors, two stenos, four
lower division clerks (LDCs) and 17 upper division clerks (UDCs). Though a complete list could not be procured, those against whom cases have been registered include inspector Gurmit Singh, stenos Ranvir Singh and Surinderpal, UDCs Balbir Singh, Hardeep Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Sunita and Vimla, LDCs Suresh Kumar and Mahender Kumar. |
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Gang involved in flesh trade busted Bathinda, June 23 While the police rescued one minor girl identified as Sukhdeep Kaur of Chak Fathe Singh Wala village of this district yesterday, the four accused who have been arrested were being questioned about their modus operandi. Mr Kapil Dev, SSP, said a special team had been constituted to check all musical and dance groups dotting this district. Mr Dev said a raid was conducted at the house of Mr Gurcharan Singh of Dabwali Panniwala village of this region on the complaint of Mrs Gurjeet Kaur, mother of Sukhdeep Kaur. The police party rescued Sukhdeep Kaur from that house. She had been allegedly sold to Gurcharan Singh for Rs 30,000. The police also arrested three other members of gang. They were identified as Jagroop Singh Fauji, his wife Manjeet Kaur and Madhu, alias Surinder Kaur, residents of Jodhpur Romana village. The other members of the gang have been identified as Bhupinder Meet, organiser of a musical group in Mehna Chowk of this town, Gelo, a resident of Gidderbaha, Soni a dancer in the musical group, Paramjit Kaur, mother of Soni and Jugraj Singh, a resident of Dabwali town. Mr Dev said the gang members used to attract minor girls belonging to poor families in the profession of music and dance. After roping in innocent and unsuspecting girls, they would sell them to customers. The police came to know about this incident when Mrs Gurjeet Kaur, mother of a victim lodged a complaint with the police authorities. She alleged that her daughter had been working in the musical group of Bhupinder Meet for the past two years. A few days ago, she was called from her house for performing in an 11-day musical programme. But her daughter never came back home. She came to know that her daughter had been sold to Gurcharan Singh. A case had been registered under Sections 372, 373, 109 and 120-B of IPC against the accused in Nathana police station. A medical examination of the girl would be conducted. |
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Cops ‘fleece’ train passengers Ludhiana, June 23 In the incident, which took place in front of this reporter, the four policemen, two of them carrying Sten guns, started taking a round of the coach after boarding the train at Chakki Bank. Spotting a labourer from Orissa, who was travelling from Jammu along with his wife, they ‘ransacked’ his belongings after opening the briefcase. They even searched the purse of his wife. They kept on asking questions from the labourer. When they could not find any excuse to extract money from him, they took him aside. On return, the man disclosed that he was asked to pay some “kharcha
pani” as he was carrying excess luggage much above the permissible limits. However, he was advised by the fellow passengers not to go to the policemen with the money and wait there only. After about 10 minutes, one of the policemen reappeared and asked him scornfully as why he had not paid up. To avoid trouble, the man quietly offered Rs 100 which the cop took and left. Meanwhile, three other cops also reappeared, this time with a student, who was arguing with them. Inquiries revealed that they had searched the belongings of the student and found some cash and playing cards. They charged him with having made the money from gambling as he was carrying a pack of playing cards. The student had to pay up to avoid trouble. |
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Two quacks booked Amritsar, June 23 Dr H. S. Gill, Civil Surgeon, said Sewa Singh and his wife Dalbir Kaur, claiming to be doctors, had been running the hospital for quite sometime. He said when the team of the District Health Department reached the hospital, two women patients, Gurinder Kaur of Malliya village and Sukhwinder Kaur of Sangna village, were being operated upon for abortion. However, the husband-wife duo fled from the scene as soon as they came to know of the raid. A case under Sections 100 of the MTP Act and the PNDT Act at Jandiala Guru police station has been registered against the accused. Both the patients had been shifted to the Community Health Centre Manawala, the Chief Surgeon said. |
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3 theft cases reported Abohar, June 23 Earlier on Sunday morning the shutter of a kiryana shop was broken in the same manner causing a loss of Rs 5,000. Another theft was reported today morning at a liquor vend outside the abandoned cotton mills in Ahuja Nagri locality. The miscreants used jack to break the shutter and then dislocated the iron grill.
— OC |
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IGNOU exams from July 1 Ludhiana, June 23 As per the information given by Dr U.C. Pandey, Regional Director of IGNOU for Punjab and Chandigarh, the students of AS College, Khanna and CCIT, Ludhiana will appear for their term-end examinations at Guru Nanak Girls College, Ludhiana. He also said only those students who have completed 75% attendance for practicals will be allowed to appear in the examinations. IGNOU holds practical term-end examinations twice a year in the month of June and December every year and no examination fee is charged from the students appearing in these examinations. |
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Schools to have ‘Green Brigades’ Fatehgarh Sahib, June 23 Besides, to encourage tree plantation by people and social organisations, different types of saplings would be provided at minimum charges by the department, said Deputy Commissioner S.K. Ahluwalia, while presiding over a meeting of the district Forest Department here today. He said 150 schools had been chosen in the district, where special trees of different varieties would be planted so that pollution-free and appropriate atmosphere for education could be ensured. A “Green Brigade” in every school would be formed in the district in which students and teachers would be included. He said the units of Green Brigade would be set up in each school and the brigade would look after the plants, and they would also encourage the village elders to follow them. He said the members of the Green Brigade would be given proper training about the plantation of trees and their care. The members would cooperate with village panchyats and rural clubs for tree plantation. He said those who would work with dedication would be honoured by the district administration. School teachers encouraging students to become members would also be honoured. Mr Ahluwalia said the administration had fixed a target of planting approximately 1.25 lakh plants in the district and all arrangements for planting the trees had been completed. |
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Workshop on computer lab at
Punjabi University Patiala, June 23 All universities of the region have already complied with the requirement at the under-graduate and post-graduate levels. Keeping this in view, the Department of Physics, Punjabi University, Patiala, is organising a five-day workshop on ‘Computer laboratory training in physics’ for college and university teachers from June 24 to 28. Extensive training in programming languages and computer laboratory practices, with exposure to latest developments in computer applications to physics, will be imparted during the workshop. About 60 participants from different parts of the country will attend the workshop. |
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Ropar students for conference in USA Ropar, June 23 The students who have been selected include Sarabjit Kaur, Narinder Kaur, Gurvinder Kaur, Rajwinder Kaur, Rupinderjeet Singh, Ravinder Singh and Charan Kawal Singh. Mr Chopra said the 14-day conference would begin at Washington DC and conclude at the UN headquarters in New York. During the conference, the participants would share views on global economy, international human rights, role of the UNO, the World Bank and IMF and environment. |
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Banda Bahadur students excel in B.Tech exam Fatehgarh Sahib, June 23 Speaking to mediapersons yesterday, Dr D.S. Hira, principal, BBSBE College, said three students of the college bagged the positions in the examination held in December, 2003, the merit list of which was declared recently by the university. He said Sukhjinder Singh of the college bagged second position by securing 517 marks, Harjot Kaur bagged seventh position securing 507 marks, while Parshant Chand Sharma got 10th position in the university securing 499 marks. Dr Hira said though the results of third, fifth and seventh semesters of December, 2003, examination were declared, merit lists were awaited. |
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