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Youth Akali Dal threatens gherao of MC House
Ludhiana, June 26 Mr Simarjit Singh Bains, councillor of ward No. 24, while addressing mediapersons here today said if the issue was not included in the agenda of items to be discussed in the next General House, he would stage a boycott of the meeting. Warning the MC House against passing such amendments in Town Planning Schemes to allegedly “favour some influential men”, Mr Bains said if the House did not drop the amendments passed in last meeting, members of the Youth Akali Dal would gherao the House that day. He alleged that the MC was busy favouring the influential and the rich by compounding their encroachments and cracking a whip against the poor who had somehow constructed shelters on small plots. The issue has once again come to the fore with the warning of Mr Bains. The scheme was passed at the last meeting of the MC House and Opposition councillors had staged protests at this. The issue was resolved when the Mayor and Congress councillors had assured of dropping the amendment in the next House. Taking up the cause of city residents, Mr Bains added that even though the residents of the city were reeling under shortage of potable water, the “rich” Municipal Corporation was not doing anything to solve their problems. He added that he wanted to inform the public that if the MC installed generators on tubewells it would do away He claimed that he would require an amount of Rs 25 lakh for installing generators on all eight tubewells supplying drinking water to the residents of the area. He said he would soon solve the problem of water scarcity in his area. Claiming that water crisis was mainly a consequence of erratic power supply as tubewells failed to pump out water during a power cut, Mr Bains said: “If we install generators at the cost of Rs 3.25 lakh per generator in all wards, the problem would be solved and we would not be under fire from the public.” He further claimed that there were around 370 to 372 tubewells in the city, 40 of which were already equipped with generators. However, only 15 of these were working and rest had developed technical snags.
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SAD (Amritsar) protests against Indo-French tie-ups
Ludhiana, June 26 Talking to TNS after submitting a memorandum to President APJ Abdul Kalam through the Air Force authorities at Halwara Air base, Mr Charan Singh Lohara and Prof Jagmohan Singh, general secretaries of the outfit, said: “We have written to the President as the head of the defence services of India. We believe that as a conscientious person, Dr Kalam will understand the rationale of our protest and prevail upon the government to step up diplomatic measures with France to ensure that the Sikh turban is given due respect.” “We strongly believe that when a country like France, which proclaims to be the cradle of equality and fraternity, continues to obstinately deny the Sikhs their right to wear the turban, it is grossly unfair and wrong for India to engage in military air exercises with it,” they pointed out. They said an Indian Air Force team, comprising six SU-30K air superiority fighters and an II-78 mid-air refueller, would be participating in Garuda-II, the second joint fighter exercise with the French Air Force, from June 15 to 30 at the Istres Air Base in France. “Sikh organisations worldwide, including ours, have launched an all-round peaceful campaign to inform the French Government that they are infringing on our right by putting restrictions on the wearing of the turban by Sikh students in France and humiliating the Sikhs by asking them to remove their turbans while photographing them for identity purposes”, they added. Citing an example, they said that on May 19, 2000, after his deposition in a coup, the Fijian Prime Minister, Mr Mahendra Chaudhry, sought India’s support to ensure an early return to democracy in Fiji islands. India reacted with
god speed as the interests of Indians of Hindu origin was at stake. Our submission is that what applies to the Fijians of Hindu origin, should also apply to Sikhs, who hail from the same sub continent. The question is what prohibits or restrains India from taking up the cause of the Sikhs with France with the same zeal as it took up the cause of the Fijian Hindus ? The leaders said India had placed orders for Scorpene submarines, Mirage 2000 interceptor/attack aircraft with nuclear capabilities, artillery pieces, and has allowed Indian purchases of Airbus commercial planes. All these products are French. Along with these purchases the Indian Air Force has entered into joint military air exercises with the French Air Force, they added. “It is tragic that France has chosen to pander to its xenophobic, ultra right wing ideology, which has in the past made it a willing accomplice to Nazi ideology under the Republic lead by Marshal Henri Philippe Petain,” they pointed out. It is pertinent to mention that even though this current racism is targeted against the Sikhs, they have been allies of the French under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Emperor Louis Phillipe of France opened diplomatic ties with the Lahore Durbar. Later France also provided political asylum to the deposed Sikh ruler, Maharaja Duleep Singh. Sikh armies have liberated the French homeland from German and Nazi dominance during both the World Wars. The Sikhs have always stood for the ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, they added. The decision to purchase second hand Mirage 2005 fighters from Qatar Air Force will demoralise the Air Force, which is already reeling under the failure of obsolete MIG 21s. The deal will also lead to corruption, as the price will not be bench marked against any competition or previous sales, they warned. The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) wants that all weapons brought by Mr P. Chidambaram, during his tenure as Minister of State for Home (Internal Security) from 1986-1989, from former Soviet-occupied-Afghanistan The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) stands for peace in the world. Sikhs, in thousands, lie buried in the cemeteries of Europe, including France, for liberating the latter during WW II. If the French are not stopped, this racist virus will spread to other countries and there are there are indications of such possibilities in Germany, Belgium and Denmark, they added.
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Work hit as small savings agents resent order on commission
Ludhiana, June 26 Citing complications arising from improper tax deduction at source (TDS) and the Department of Income Tax raising additional demand on the Department of Posts, the Chief Post Master General (CPMG), Punjab circle, had issued orders on May 25 stopping payment of commission to small savings agents at source from June 1. The orders further asked the agents to submit monthly bills to their respective head post offices or sub post offices and directed payment of commission to them through cheques after due deduction of the TDS from head post offices concerned. The agents, however, maintained that the orders of the CPMG were violative of conditions laid down in their appointment letters, as also notifications issued by the Union Ministry of Finance, which provided for commission due to small savings agents to be paid at source after making deductions of income tax under the relevant law. The affected agents, led by functionaries of the National Saving Agents Welfare Association, launched an agitation and struck work from June 1, demanding reversal of the orders and reverting to old system of payment of commission at source. Having met with no success with senior officials of the Department of Posts here, the body of agents submitted a memorandum to the Union Ministry of Finance seeking intervention against the injustice and victimisation of small savings agents in Punjab region. According to Mr R.S. Verma, a city-based small savings agent, the change in the prevailing system of payment of commission (at source), ordered by the CPMG, Punjab, was arbitrary and violative of the binding notifications of the Ministry of Finance. He said the Department of Posts’ plea was unsustainable since there were only a few cases in litigation with the Department of Income Tax, that too related to failure on the part of the assessees to file the TDS returns. The agents, Mr Verma pointed out, were also sore at the orders of the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices (SSPO), Ludhiana, vide which the working hours of the savings bank for “agents business” were fixed from 9 am to 11 am as against working hours of 9 am to 2 pm for postal savings bank for public. He claimed that the SSPO had no such powers to restrict the working hours for agents. In a similar memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the National Saving Agents Welfare Association has lamented that the procedure for payment of commission to small savings agents had been changed only in Punjab, while the other states were still following the notifications issued by the Ministry of Finance for on-the-spot payment. The association apprehended that the revised complex procedure would not only lead to delay in payment of commission, which could extend up to three months in the case of agents based in rural areas, but would also breed corruption since the payment would be centralised at the head post offices concerned, which were not in a position to handle the increased volume of paper work.
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Rain brings respite from heat
Ludhiana, June 26 The city residents were seen enjoying in the rain. Children had come out on the streets of their colonies to enjoy the showers. The commuters were seen moving on the roads with umbrellas and watering raincoats. The rain, however, exposed the preparedness of the civic body as far as the drainage of the city was concerned. Small puddles of water were seen on the roadsides and at some places sewers had choked. The rainwater had collected on the roadsides and under the Damoria Bridge. For the past many days there was no relief from the hot and humid weather prevailing all over the state. The power cuts and erratic water supply had made the lives of the people all the more miserable in some areas. The residents had to switch over to their ACs as the air coolers were rendered ineffective by the humid weather. Moving out in the sun also proved very costly for some who suffered sun-stroke as such cases had increased in the city manifold. The rain-showers have brought cheers to the farmers as they are busy transplanting the paddy. It has become easier for them to transplant it in the pleasant weather instead of the hot sun. Experts of the PAU said that the rain was good for the crop.
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Aloke Nath nostalgic about ‘Buniyad’ days
Ludhiana, June 26 But Aloke Nath looks at it positively. He said, “Buniyad” represented a classic genre. “You cannot provide classics everyday and everywhere. same is the case with the television serials”, he remarked, while adding, it may be difficult to compare the two but Buniyad genre was certainly the better one. He said the television had witnessed a revolution. During those days there used to be one or two serials on the only channel available. Now there are umpteen number of television channels. They keep on telecasting the programmes and even repeating them. “When there is such a mad race, there are likely to be many compromises as well”, he observed. But the television channels have certainly provided platform to the artistes all of whom cannot make it to the big screen. He agreed that the increased number of channels had led to increased demand for artistes and they were getting well paid now. However, he agreed, the television still remains “less glamourised” than the cinema, but it has its own advantages. Aloke Nath, who has already performed in about 400 movies and television serials, said right now he had no film in hand, but was doing three television serials. He said the patience was always a great attribute of an artist and patience does pay in the long run. With a note of caution and advice for the aspiring actors and actresses, he said, there was no promised way nor any shortcut. “You may make it or you may not, but it is always better to try”, he said. |
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Ludhiana Calling Spare sadhus A group of sadhus was playing cards at the railway station the other day. A photographer tried to take their picture from an angle. One of them saw him and asked the others to stop playing. The sadhus put their cards down. When asked, one of them said: “Sadhu logon ko patte khelna mana
hai, kyon hamara image kharab karte ho bhai, (Sadhus are not allowed to play cards. Why are you spoiling our image?)” he quipped. Soon after they were at it again. With more than half the city population reeling under acute scarcity of water, further aggravated by drastic power cuts throughout the day, the civic administration and its elected representatives are under fire from the people. To make the matters worse, there have been long intervals between meetings of the General House and the Finance and Contracts Committee of the MC, thereby affecting the pace of other development works in the city. Amidst all this, Mayor Nahar Singh Gill has been making tall claims of his work like signing MoUs with a couple of civic bodies in Canada during his recent foreign tour and bringing latest technology in different fields from China and France. Where is the respite for the common man? Not-so-sweet water As scorching heat is taking its toll on the people here, there is a galore of “chabeels” (sweetened water), “langars” and “bhandaras” (community feasts) on the roadside all over the city. While the intentions of the organisers of these “chabeels” are appreciable, those partaking of sweetened water or eatables seem to be completely oblivious to the health hazard they are exposed to. This, because more often than not they consume contaminated water and stale food at chabeels. To top it, the traffic chaos created at the sites of these “bhandaras” and “langars” have to be seen to be believed. Untimely functions With summer climbing its peak, invitation to a function, that too a school function at 1pm, isn’t much of a welcome. The plight of children all made up for the function is pitiable. After uncountable rehearsals, children in their attires with layers of makeup climb the stage and perform, only to get off all sweaty. They go straight to their water bottles to find some respite. But more often than not, their bottles are empty as heat has made them drink up all the water. Can students and media be spared from such untimely functions? Personal loans It is surprising how time has changed and with it banking strategy. Earlier, if one had to take a personal loan, the person had to furnish “n” number of statements and proof of his sound financial status. It was a tough job to get a loan and one had to furnish a lot of guarantees. But now the banks have come down to putting up kiosks on the roadside with banners saying “Personal loans...”. People can just stop by and avail of these loans. That’s called progress, isn’t it? Puddles are back After reeling under sultry weather conditions for weeks, the residents woke up to a windy and rainy morning today. People were visibly relieved, as finally they got a respite form heat, for a short while at least. But with rain also have come puddles. Plastic bags dotted these puddles, that were more visible in low-lying areas, after today’s showers. The relief from heat is short-lived as these puddles pose a grave threat to health. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and a number of people fall victim to water-borne diseases. Can Municipal Corporation ever be equipped to handle the aftermath of rains? Unfriendly plastic If there is one thing that gives the employees and officials of the local Municipal Corporation a tough time, then that is plastic bags. These bags are responsible for choking the sewerage system of the city. And most of the manpower of the MC goes waste in cleaning the gutters that overflow because of the polythene menace. Officials have made various appeals to the residents not to litter polythene bags in sewer system. Unfortunately, the appeals have never been heeded. Tailpiece A unique ladies’ sangeet invitation by the brother and sister of a bride read: “Come and meet our family in the evening, bring your ‘appetite’, bring your children. And bring your dancing
shoes.” — Sentinel
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Banda Singh Bahadur remembered
Ludhiana, June 26 Mr Gurbax Singh Kahlon narrated the event of history with which everybody was emotionally surcharged. Mr Charanjit Singh stressed that a lot is yet to be written about the contribution of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Mr Sukhdev Singh said Baba Banda Singh’s doctrine was still relevant. The function was presided over by Jathender Avtar Singh Makkar while Mr Kashmir Singh Sheera, chairman, Rajput Sabha (regd) was the chief guest. Mr Makkar assured all support to Sirjandhara on behalf of the SGPC. Mr Sheera said the great deeds of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur should be highlighted in Punjabi literature. Rana Inderjit Singh said many things were yet to be written about Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Students of Gurmat Gian Missionary College presented “Shabad.” Mr Mohinder Singh Sodhi, Mr Gurbax Singh Kahlon, Mr Jagjit Singh Bedi, Mr Ajit Singh Arora, Mr Sukhdev Singh, Principal Prem Singh Bajaj and Mr Darshan Singh Darshan also spoke on the occasion. Mrs Manjit Kaur Sidhu and Mrs Rajnish Kaur both from the U.K. also commented on the life of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Member’s of the Rajput Sabha (regd), especially Mr Surinder Singh Bunty, took a pledge to further the cause of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur by helping the poor and downtrodden. Mr Varinder Singh of Shahid Memorial Society said the first Sikh Empire was established by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. All present at the function were of the opinion that the first freedom fighter was Baba Banda Singh Bahadur who set up a kingdom and also died for the people. Mr Kulwant Jagraon paid tributes and Mr Davinder Singh Sekha narrated the important events in Baba Banda Singh’s life. It was decided that Sirjandhara would get a book published on Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. On this occasion Prof Ravinder Bhathal, Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar, Mr Kashmir Singh Sheera and Rana Inderjit Singh were honored. Mr K.J.S. Aujla thanked the audience, writers and the poets.
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Rs 1,000 cr for improving plan roads: Dakha
Ludhiana, June 26 Mr Dakha was addressing a well-attended function after formally inaugurating the laying of premix on 22 km long patch of Ludhiana-Sangrur road at a cost of Rs 5 crore at Gill village here today. Mr. Dakha said under 10 projects of NABARD, Rs 325 crore had already been released to the government, besides Rs.50 crore each from the Prime Minister Roads Scheme and the Central Roads Funds. He said the state government had also planned to improve the plan roads network in the state to the international level standards. It had decided to collaborate with the Malaysian Government and a 16-member-team headed by the Public Works Minister from Malaysia had already visited Punjab. He said the Punjab Government had taken special care of the interests of farmers and provided regular eight hours of uninterrupted power supply to the farmers during paddy season. He claimed that during last year the government had purchased power costing Rs 2,400 crore from other states for this purpose. He said the SAD had always been exploiting farmers and in reality did nothing for them during its tenure. The Congress government had created a corpus fund of Rs 450 crore to give pension to 14 lakh beneficiaries. Referring to the development projects in the Dakha constituency, the MLA said around 90 per cent of the link roads had already been repaired in the constituency and the work on the remaining was in progress. Apart from that, six plan roads have also been completed at a cost of more than 10 crore in the constituency, he added. He said in the constituency the main road from Chowkimaan to Bhundri would also be strengthened at a cost of Rs 1.61 crore and the Sidhwa Bet road had also been strengthened at a cost of Rs.3.41 crore. The Sant Isher Singh Marg road from Shareen to Rara Sahib would also be strengthened at a cost of Rs.2.15 crore. Mr Dakha said that under
the Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan Rs 10 Lakh had been released for the improvement of infrastructure facilities in Government Girls High School at Gill village. He also announced that Gill village would be undertaken under the Integerated Development Scheme and Rs 25 Lakh would be spent to lay sewerage, water supply and streetlights etc. in the village. He assured that the main problem of the stagnation of sullage water in the village pond would also be tackled shortly.
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‘Coordination among depts must to combat drug abuse’
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 26 Claiming that his district was in the forefront in community policing, Mr Rajiv Ahir, SSP Jagraon, said despite best efforts, the crusade against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the district did not yield the desired results. “We arranged a number of drug de-addiction and awareness camps and beneficiaries and their families showed keen interest but antisocial elements always tried to neutralise the effect,” said Mr Ahir. He suggested that some central agency should coordinate the work of various departments, including the National Narcotic Control Bureau, state police, Health Department and social, religious and political parties. Mr Harinder Singh Chahal, SSP Sangrur, and Mr Surjit Singh Grewal SP (D) said the traffickers had started taking shelter in the vicinity of religious places. “They have been exploiting religious sentiments of innocent people who unknowingly provide them shelter in emergency. Social organisations should come forward to create awareness among the masses,” said the officers. Mr Harinder Singh SHO, claimed that most of the crimes, including economic offenders, forgeries, murders and abductions had their genesis in drug addiction. In case of extreme social detachment the victim might commit suicide, added Mr Singh. Dr Anshu Gupta, a psychiatrist, claimed peer pressure was the main reason behind the spurt in number of youths getting addicted to narcotics. He claimed that most of the addicts who came for enrolment at the camps had just crossed the adolescence. Mr Jaggie Chahal, a social activist of the area, said at times the police shielded the gangsters involved in the illegal trafficking of narcotics and drugs. Referring to a communication sent to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ludhiana, and earlier Mr Jaggie claimed that he along with his friends had handed over a member of a gang of smugglers to the SHO at Jodhewal Basti but instead of busting the gang, the police official let him go. Observations revealed that even the de-addiction- cum - rehabilitation centres did not work efficiently for want of coordination among various sections of the society.
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Day against drug abuse
observed
Ludhiana, June 26 Dr Amanpreet Singh Deol welcomed the invitees. Prof Kanwal suggested that to eliminate the evil of drug abuse emphasis should be laid on the upbringing of children. Prominent among the participants were Mr S.S. Bawa, SP Prof S.S. Deol, Prof Parmjit Kaur. A pledge was taken in the end to work for a drug-free society. Meanwhile, the Bhartiya Yuva Maitri Sangh also organised a seminar in Field Ganj to mark the day. Mr Goldi Sabharwal, president of the sangh, asked the youth to say ‘no’ to drugs. He said their organisation had been working against drug abuse for the past five years. At the end of the seminar, members Meetu Dua, Manjit Kaur, Vinod Gulati, Balvinder Singh, Deepak Chabbra, Nitin Gulati, Surinder Bunty, Harpreet Singh and Om parkash burnt drugs, bidis and cigarettes.
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Lecture on Vedic teachings
Ludhiana, June 26 Delivering his lecture on the inaugural day of the ‘Ved Saptah’ being organised by the Arya Samaj, Model Town, here, Acharya Bhushan said Vedic teachings remain the most rational and appealing. Vedas have served as a guiding light for the humanity for ages together and these still remain relevant in today’s world as well. He said Indians were genuinely proud of their rich heritage and the treasures of the wealth of Vedas. Vedas, he said, need to be approached with a rational and broad mind. These brighten the intellect and broaden the vision. From times immemorial great men have taken recourse to the teachings of Vedas and have benefitted a lot and these will continue to remain relevant for the ages to come.
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Magician Sharma given farewell
Ludhiana, June 26 During the function, the chief guest, Mr Jagdeesh Singh Bains, MLA, and Mr Balwinder Singh Bains, Mr Gurcharan Singh and various other magicians of Punjab and the Ludhiana Magic Club honoured O.P. Sharma and junior O.P. Sharma. The dignitaries weighed O.P. Sharma against silvar coins and junior O.P. Sharma against sweets on the stage.
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Six held for flesh trade
Jagraon, June 26
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Power cuts hit industry
Ludhiana, June 26 The PSEB authorities have been making power cuts ranging from four to six hours for the industrial feeders and urban feeders (domestic supply). But they have never stood by the official schedule. The power supply has remained erratic and on an average power cuts amount to six to eight hours daily. According to Mr R.P. Bhatia, Zonal Chairman, All-India Induction Furnace and Steel Rerolling Mills, production of steel plants had been hit by more than 35 per cent and suffered daily loss of more than Rs 10 crore. The steel mills also suffered heavy losses, he said. Mr Bhatia said the amount of power supplied was not sufficient even to heat the furnaces of the plants. There was shut down for 27 hours and supply for 21 hours. Similarly, the production of engineering and other industries in the city has gone down by more than Rs 100 crore everyday, according to Mr Inderjit Singh Pradhan, president, and Mr Avtar Singh, general secretary, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings, Ludhiana, respectively. They said monthly production of industries in Ludhiana was estimated at Rs 5,000 crore and more than one third production had been hit by the unprecedented power cuts. Mr Avtar Singh maintained that the industries had to pay wages to the labour for eight hours even if they did not get power supply for eight hours continuously as the shift was of eight hours. Moreover, the cost of production had also increased with the heavy power cuts. The industries were using diesel generating sets to run the factories. The enhanced diesel prices coupled with the increase in power tariff and rise in the electricity duty has added to the woes of the industry. Mr Bhatia said in Mandi Gobindgarh they did not face problem of raw material as the same arrived from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The normal life has also been badly affected by the power cuts. The water supply has been hit in the towns. The power supply to the rural areas is rather worse and all claims of the PSEB to supply power to the tubewells for eight hours are proving hollow. The farmers complain that they get hardly five to six hours power supply. The domestic power supply in the rural areas remain shut for 14-18 hours. The PSEB has given an advertisement in the newspapers giving telephone numbers of senior officers of the zonal offices for getting any information about the power cut. But the officers are seldom available and their mobile phones remain switched off.
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