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Fruit and vegetable arhtiyas observe bandh, vegetable prices
rise
Ludhiana, March 28 The auction, for giving the contract of collecting market fee, that was scheduled to be held today, was postponed on account of the protest. The commission agents also threatened to observe complete Punjab bandh on April 1 if the decision to privatise collection of market fee was not withdrawn. “It is absolutely unfair to fix market fee as we are dealing in perishable goods, the prices of which keep fluctuating,” said Mr Amarbir Singh, general secretary, Punjab State Fruit and Vegetable Commission Agents Association. He said the annual market fee generated from Ludhiana was well above Rs 9 crore and the decision to fix a certain amount, which would be collected by a private contractor from the agents, would result in a major increase and the agents would not be able to afford that. Mr Madan Lal Bagga, president, Punjab State Fruit and Vegetable Commission Agents Association, said the agents had been paying the four per cent fee and there was no point in privatising and making things difficult for them. “We would observe complete bandh if the decision is not withdrawn,” he said. Mr Singh informed that agents in Banga, Nawanshahar and Ferozepur also observed a bandh and protested against auctions that were scheduled to be held today. He said while in Banga and Ferozepur the auctions were postponed, in case of Nawanshahar, commission agents accepted to pay a fix amount. However, he ruled out a similar possibility in case of Ludhiana, stating, “The fee generated from Ludhiana is over Rs 9 crore, which is much higher in comparison to that generated from Nawanshahar, which is only around Rs 10 lakh annually. “ Meanwhile, a steep hike in prices of vegetables was recorded today. While wholesale price of tomatoes increased from Rs 4 that was prevailing yesterday to Rs 20 today, the price of radish increased from Rs 20 to Rs 90 (for a pack of around 10 kg), onion from Rs 4 to Rs 7 per kg and that of green peas registered an increase from Rs 15 to Rs 25-30 per kg today. The prices of fruits, however, were not much affected. “The impact on prices of fruits takes some time as there is a gap of few days between placing the order and getting the supply,” Mr Amarbir Singh said. Officials, when contacted, refused to comment on the issue and said the matter was likely to be sorted out within four-five days.
Transporters threaten strike
Ludhiana, March 28 Transporters have also decided to join the three-day all-India strike on March 30, 31 and April 1 against introduction of valued added tax (VAT) for which the call has already been given by the Akhil Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mahasangh. Addressing the state-level meeting of Punjab State Goods Transport Agencies, the Punjab truck Operators Union and the All-Punjab Tempo Operators Union here today, functionaries of several transport associations flayed the harassment being caused by continuation of octroi despite poll promise of the government for its abolition, imposition of cess on petrol and diesel, poor maintenance of roads inspite of recovery of heavy road tax and toll tax all over the state and repressive treatment meted out to transport operators by traffic police and enforcement staff of transport and sales tax department. Speakers, including Mr Charan Singh Lohara, Mr Bhupinder Singh Pandher, Mr Bhola Singh Virk, Mr Kirpal Singh Sandhu, Mr Diljang Singh and Mr Gurinder Pal Singh alleged that the traffic police, Excise and |
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Escapee re-arrested
Ludhiana, March 28 Claiming the arrest here today, DSP of Industrial area, R.K. Bakshi said that they had been successful in nabbing the undertrial, Ramanand, who had fled with his accomplices including Birbal and Shamsher Singh on Monday last. They had broken the wall of the lock-up of the police station. The DSP said that these three persons had been brought on production warrants by the Focal Point police on March 18 from the jail and were in police remand till March 21. They were to be produced in the court again on March 21 but they fled from the police station. He added that after they had escaped from the custody, the police was keeping a tab on their possible hideouts. He said that during the investigation, the police came to know that the family of Ramanand and Birbal, who are brothers, had shifted their residence four times during the past six days. He said Ramanand was arrested yesterday from the Subhash Nagar area under Basti Jodhewal police station. Efforts were on to nab other two accused, he added. Having history of giving the slip to the jail authorities, the three undertrials, all residents of Machhiwara, were arrested by the Salem Tabri police on January 6 this year and sent to the judicial custody in the Central Jail Ludhiana. From there the Focal Point police had brought them on production warrants as they were needed by the Focal Point police in some theft cases. After the trio escaped from the lock-up, the then Focal Point SHO Surinder Mohan was sent to the police lines and two more police personnel were suspended for being negligent in duty.
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He pays for MC’s
negligence
Ludhiana, March 28 Despite knocking at various doors, Mr Talwar, formerly working as a screen printer, has to depend on the meagre earnings of his wife, which is not enough to support his family that includes two grown-up children. The accident happened on July 7, 1998, when Mr Talwar was driving his scooter through a flooded street in the Dhobi Ghat area on a rainy day. He was not able to anticipate an open manhole and his scooter got stuck in it. He fell on the road and his head hit to the cover of the manhole. The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, whose workers had not cared to cover the manhole, slammed its doors at him stating that the civic body cannot do anything for him. His request to the Deputy Commissioner could only get him a financial assistance of Rs 1,000. He was directed to the local Red Cross for guidance in self-employment scheme but nothing could help him. ‘‘I am going to immolate myself. May be then the authorities will move and provide me some help. They are so callous that they cannot do anything though it was their fault that they had kept the manhole open even during the rainy days. I cannot even move the court because I do not have money. Otherwise I could have expected some relief.’’ he said with tears in his eyes. His son is studying computers from Bhopal and his daughter is in Khalsa College. His wife has a private job and gets a small amount as salary. ‘‘They have converted a hardworking man into a beggar. I hate to go to them begging again and again. ’’ he added. Recalling the saddest day of his life, Mr Talwar said the injury was so grievous that he could not gather consciousness for a year and was in a coma. He did not know who had rushed him to CMC Hospital. He stayed in the hospital for a year and the family strained all its resources on his treatment. Later, when he regained consciousness, he found himself unable to move as both his legs were paralysed and his right arm could not be moved. There was an effect on his jaw bone and right eye also. A doctor in the Civil Surgeon’s office declared him 60 per cent physically handicapped. Now, he wants to do some work where he can sit and do something. He is ready to take up the job of loadman also. ‘‘I am moving my legs and arms constantly now. Though it is not possible for me to walk, talk and even eat but I am recovering. I can take up a job.’’
he added.
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Probe into privatisation of bus stands
sought
Jagraon, March 28 Leaders of union said the Amritsar bus stand had been leased out to the contractor for 11 years time whereas the Ludhiana bus stand for 10 and a half years Jalandhar bus stand for more than 9 years. They said 3,000 buses daily passed through Jalandhar and Rs 40 was charged as adda fee which totalled more than Rs 4 crore a year. Had the government undertaken the project and used it for 5 years and returned its possession Rs 30 crore could have been earned. The leaders also stated similar losses to be incurred at Ludhiana and Amritsar. The rally also condemned the conduct of officers and ministers since they were slapping penalty on the drivers who were involved in road accidents. The rally also blamed the transport authority to permit the private owners related either to them or to the ministers to ply their buses without any permit and decided to present memorandum to the foreign delegates on March 29, at Chandigarh. The rally was addressed by Mr Amrik Singh, depot president, and Mr Harbans Singh, vice-president and others.
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PAU budget approved
Ludhiana, Mar 28 The estimates show a deficit of Rs 31.18 crores which is proposed to be met by adopting austerity measures. Out of this budget, 53.24 percent will be spent on research, 25.24 percent on teaching, 11.27 percent on extension and 10.25 percent on general administration. Similarly, 85.10 percent goes towards payment of salaries, 0.62 percent to travelling allowance and 14.28 percent goes to contingencies, including wages. Dr V K Sharma, Registrar, PAU, informed that in order to meet the expenditures, the sources of grants will be state government (78.71 percent), ICAR (14.44 percent), other agencies (2.37 percent) and out of university sources (4.48 percent). He added that the BoM expressed its concern that the grants released by the state government were not enough to meet the committed liabilities, even the salaries. The Board also expressed its deep concern regarding the sustainability of pension fund. The board also decided that the Chief Minister may be approached to impress on him the need to provide adequate funds as per the budget estimates.
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What are the objects of the national legal literacy mission launched this month? It endeavours to empower the economically and socially disadvantaged citizens by making them legally literate. Mission will focus on education on legal rights, education on fundamental duties, education on availabilities and benefits of free legal aid. Do you think that Lok-Adalats are helping the litigants? Yes. Lok-adalats are proving important tools to mitigate the hardship of litigants as well as to reduce the huge pendency of cases particularly in subordinate courts. More than 2133 lok-adalats have been organised, in which 14000 motor accident claim cases were settled. Compensation of Rs 1,305,658,602 was paid to the litigants. What preparation are being made for national level lok-adalat to be held on 10th April at Ludhiana? Judicial Officers with the active co-operation of lawyers, officials of Insurance Companies are all set to beat the records of settling maximum number of cases in a single lok-adalat. Pre-lok adalats are being organised to persuade the litigants for resolving their disputes and put an end to bitterness. — Rajneesh Lakhanpal
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Punjab govt criticised for not acting against police
officers
Ludhiana, March 28 “It is the height of the state repression let loose on the prosecuting team, including witnesses and Ms Khalra’s advocate, Barjinder Singh Sodhi. And it is not only the denial of justice and negation of the rule of law but also exposes the intriguing silence maintained by the justice system, more disgustingly by the higher judiciary,” the outfits chairperson D.S. Gill and secretary-general M.S. Grewal, said in a statement today. “We need to bridle the state (police) highhandedness, criminal intimidation and atrocious behaviour against its citizens, especially lawyers defending victims in courts, in order to protect the judicial system so that it could render justice to the people,” they added. “And for this violation, all human rights groups in the state have decided to file a writ petition in the high court and to take up the matter with the lawyers, including the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council, if need be, they said. The writ petition, besides other things, will seek suspension of the accused officials from service and cancellation of their bails, along with providing
appropriate security cover to the counsel and witnesses. The Khalra case is of international importance because the deceased had unmasked the face of the state police to the world. And that was the motive for liquidating him after making the enforced disappearance,” they pointed out. Meanwhile, the IHRO has lent its support to the campaign of socio-religious and political groups, spearheaded by the Shiromani Khalsa Dal, for the release of Sikh activists from jails since long. We appreciate the initiative taken by Punjab and central governments in the regard, added Inderjit Kaur, secretary of the organisation.
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Cong activists meet Mayor, MC officials on bad
roads
Ludhiana, March 28 Mr Shiv Gupta, general secretary, Urban Estate Welfare Association, who also accompanied the delegation, send the civic body officials were told that the condition, of roads in most of the colonies was bad and civic amenities poor. The delegation alleged that the area councillor, belonging to the Shiromani Akali Dal, had failed to take up any development project for the area during his tenure. The commissioner assured the delegation that construction of new roads and repair of other roads and streets in the area would be taken up and work was expected to commence for this purpose in April itself. The civic officials said that tenders for road works worth Rs 21 lakh for Urban Vihar, Rs 9 lakh for the CRPF colony, Rs 14 lakh for Guru Gyan Vihar and Rs 1.47 lakh for Urban Estate Phase I and II were approved and work orders had been issued to contractors. Other development works slated for these colonies included the development of park at a cost of Rs 9 lakh and provision of streetlights at an expenditure of Rs 24 lakh. Mr Gupta said the insanitary conditions in Sabzi Mandi and Dasehra ground and menace of dairy farms in some of the areas was also brought to the notice of the MC officials, demanding remedial measures. Meanwhile, the residents of Urban estate Phase II, Dugri in Ward No 40, in separate representations, to MC and PUDA authorities lamented that roads in several areas of the colonies were in a pathetic condition and no repair or construction had been undertaken in past 15 years. The foot paths had disappeared under temporary and permanent encroachments and other amenities like street lights were elusive. They alleged that a large number of residents had made unlawful change in land use by setting up shops and other commercial establishments in residential premises. This practice, besides, creating inconvenience in many localities, was retarding development of commercial sites, causing financial loss to PUDA. Demanding action to improve civic amenities and other essential services, the residents threatened to hold dharnas and demonstrations if the authorities failed to initiate steps.
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Dawar blocks water supply disconnection
of defaulters
Ludhiana, March 28 While the parliamentary Secretary, Surinder Dawar denied any interference in the MC work and said that the connection was reconnected following protest by residents, MC officials said that he had directed the recovery team to do so. Mr Dawar said that he had gone there as it was a violation of human rights and all residents should be provided water. JE Randip Singh with some employees of MC had cut a connection in the area at 12.30 pm. Another Congress leader, Dr Amarjit called Mr Dawar over the phone and he reached the spot. Many residents also gathered there. The employees had to restore the supply and had to return without taking action against defaulters. Officials said that the matter would be taken up with Commissioner, S.K. Sharma when he would be back in the city. He was stated to be out of station.
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Tractor hits wall, two injured
Ludhiana, March 28 Two persons received injuries. One of them is stated to be serious. TNS
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Pensioners for early release of DA
Ludhiana, March 28 More than 7 lakh Punjab Government employees and pensioners urged the Punjab Finance Minister to release the DA instalment at the earliest. It would provide some relief to the low-paid staff, said Mr Yash Paul Ghai, Additional General Secretary of the Association.
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‘Sirhind Fateh Divas’ to be observed on May
12
Ludhiana, March 28 On May 12 this year, a state level function would be organised at Sirhind to mark the ‘Sirhind Fateh Divas.’ This decision was taken at a meeting of the mandal, here yesterday under the presidentship of Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa. He said 289th martyrdom day of ‘shiromani shaheed’ Banda Bahadur would be celebrated on June 9 at Mehrauli (Delhi). The national ‘Baba Banda Bahadur’ award would also be conferred them. Mr Bawa informed that a ‘Chetna march’ would be taken out from Poonch Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir to Nanded Sahib on Oct 16 on the occasion of birthday of the great soldier. The state executive committee meeting of the mandal was also attended by former mayor of Sleigh Gurbachan Singh
Thind, who was presented with a shawl, memento and a medal by Mr Bawa. Former legislator Jagdev Singh Jassowal rued that the history had rather been unfair to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, who had not been portrayed properly and for truthful depiction of the battle fought by this warrior against tyranny of Mughals history needed to be re-written. Mr Ravinder
Nandi, Mr Mohinder Singh Cheema, Mr Jiwan Das Bawa, Dr Rajinder Pal Singh, Mahant Devinder Das, Dr Krishan Baldev, Dr Jaspal Bawa, Mr Ashok Bawa, Dr Balraj Krishan, Mr Kewal Das Bawa, Dr Gurcharan Bawa, Mr Paramjit Nandi, Ms Neelam Bawa, Ms Kanchan Bawa, Ms Rajni Bawa, Mr Hari Das
Bawa, Mr Charanjit Bawa, Mr Sohan Lal Bawa, Mr Kewal Das Bangi and Mr Arjun Bawa attending the meeting.
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Defence forces need separate pay commission
IN most other countries there is a separate pay commission for the armed forces because their terms and conditions of service are different from those of the other services. In India, the government has always been turning down the requests of the defence forces for a separate pay commission. All pay commissions convened so far have ignored the fact that a military man is retired much earlier than his civilian counterpart. For example, a jawan is retired in his thirties, a JCO in his forties and a majority of the officers in their late forties or early fifties. And even with the weightage of service given to them, they cannot complete the stipulated period of 33 years of service to earn 50 per cent of their last pay drawn as pension. The civilian employees on the other hand, who retire at the age of 58 or 60 years, easily complete 33 years of service to earn their full 50 per cent pension. Of the many other disadvantages of these pay commissions has been the inadequate family pension to the defence widows. Yet again, if in several other countries a soldier’s last pay drawn is his pension and in India too, if pensions were over 85 per cent of the last pay drawn before 1947, then why should the soldiers be downgraded now? Is it the “reward” for their sacrifices? The only way to do justice to the defence forces is to set up a separate pay commission for them at the time of the Sixth Pay Commission, which is overdue now. Kidney and urostone centre
The recently empanelled Kidney and Urostone Centre for the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) members is located in Sector-20, Chandigarh. This super-specialty centre has been opened by Col V.K. Kapoor, who was a senior adviser, urology, in the Army Medical Corps. After premature retirement from the Army, he has been practicing at the CMC, Chandigarh, and is now the seniormost urology consultant at Fortis Hospital, Mohali. Col Kapoor claims to have operated upon many patients having prostate and bladder cancer successfully. His centre has the latest and the most modern equipment for removing kidney stones. The centre will be shifting to its new 25-bed complex in Sector-46, Chandigarh, in May. Army placement cell
After reading in this column on March 15, many ex-servicemen of various ranks have been inquisitive to know as to how many of them were provided employment by the Army Placement Cell, Headquarters, Western Command, Chandimandir, in 2004. Of the 353 ex-servicemen who were provided employment in 2004, officers, JCOs, other ranks and widows were 30, 94, 222 and seven, respectively. The officers were of the Lieut-Col and Colonel ranks and were employed in security and administrative jobs. Their salaries varied from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 per month, depending on their qualifications. Brownlow’s Punjabis war memorial
This war memorial was built in Ferozepore cantonment in the memory of the soldiers of 20th Duke Cambridge’s Own Infantry (Brownlow’s Punjabis), who laid down their lives in the World War I. The Brownlow’s Punjabis fought in the war in France, Mesopotamia, Egypt, East Africa and frontiers of India. COAS’ unit citation
For outstanding performance in the militancy-infested areas of Jammu and Kashmir from August, 2002, to October, 2004, 16 Jat has been awarded the “Chief of the Army Staff’s Unit Citation”. Col Pradeep Narayanan who led the battalion during Operation Rakshak, has commended all ranks for their courageous and selfless service to the country. — Pritam Bhullar
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‘People turning to astrologers’
Ludhiana, March 28 She said that in modern times definition of religion had not changed but its realm had. Leader of every sect wants to have maximum followers and hence wants maximum publicity.
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BKU decries cess on diesel
Samrala, March 28 This was stated here yesterday by Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, National General Secretary of the BKU. Reacting to the imposition of VAT, Mr Rajewal said that it would crush the farmers as 4 per cent tax on fertiliser, pesticides and other agricultural input products will push up the prices beyond the farmers’ reach. The prices of DAP fertiliser alone will increase to more than Rs 1000/- per quintal. Mr Rajewal demanded that all agricultural inputs and products should be kept out of VAT and no increase in diesel price should be made to save the farmers under debt.
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Lawyers organise Akhand
Path
Ludhiana, March 28 Siropas were presented to District and Sessions Judge Harbans Lal, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Verma and Mr H.P.S. Mahal, member-secretary State Legal Services Authority. Judicial Officers, lawyers, judicial staff, clerks and even litigants also attended the function.
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BJP decries propaganda against RSS
Ludhiana, March 28 A Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha Leader Sukhminder Pal Singh Grewal said here yesterday that the RSS, which had nothing to do with the controversy and had been dragged into this affair for political mileage. He asserted that the RSS was a social organisation. “The RSS had given neither any document nor issued any statement on the issue of Sikh youths.” He claimed that the state BJP leadership had spoken to the official spokesman of the RSS, Mr Ram Madhav, in this connection and he had made it clear that his organisation had not made any statement against SAD President, Parkash Singh Badal, or given any document to the media on this subject. Mr Grewal said the Congress was indulging in propaganda on this issue against the SAD-BJP alliance because its government in Punjab had failed on every front. It had been unable to give employment to lakhs of unemployed youth and had done nothing for farmers, employees and poor sections.
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Bid to loot bank; case
registered
Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 28 Mr Narinder Kumar Kashyap, Manager of the bank, had informed the police yesterday that some persons had tried to loot the bank. Though no major loss was reported to the police, burglars had broken all door locks and reached the strong room. Preliminary investigations revealed that the burglars had used a gas cutter for opening grills and doors. They had reportedly entered the bank from the back side of the bank. After having failed to open strongroom, they might have fled. Further inquiries revealed that the police had found two gunny bags bearing trademark of a cattle feed manufacturer of Makhan Majra village near Malerkotla town. These bags were reportedly manufactured in Chandigarh. The burglars had brought the bags to carry huge cash.
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Stolen truck found
abandoned
Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 28 Local police sources said the truck containing 306 gas cylinders belonging to Monika Gas Agency, Ludhiana, was found abandoned on a link road near Bhullath village in Kapurthala district. DSP Malerkotla Mukand Singh Mahli claimed that the miscreants had to abandon the truck along with the cylinders as they were finding it hard to keep it away from the eyes of the police since it bore the logo of the gas agency. Special teams had been pursuing the truck after they had received information from octroi posts in Ludhiana. Sukhwinder Singh of Phullanwal village in Ludhiana district had informed the local police on Thursday that a group of miscreants had taken away the truck after drugging and beating him and another occupant of the vehicle. Sukhwinder along with cleaner Jai Parkash had left Nabha around 8 pm on Wednesday. The vehicle was intercepted by the group, consisting of around five persons, near Akbarpur Chhanna on the Ludhiana-Malerkotla road. Sukhwinder and Jai Parkash had found themselves locked in a room at a deserted tube-well near Kup village the next morning, after which the former rang up manager of the gas agency Raj Kumar Sharma, who approached the
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Farmer murdered
Jagraon, March 28 Two killed
Babu Ram Todder and Vidya Nand of Bihar were allegedly killed when a fast driven truck (PNE-5580) hit them in the area of village Jalaldiwal. Raikot police has registered a case against Harvinder Singh of new grain market Raikot on the statement of Dinesh Saron of Jaman tola (Bihar ) as Harvinder Singh was driving the truck.
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