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Rival parties gear up for Bholath MC chief re-poll
UK MP meets Home Secy, top cops
Thousands take part in Sayin’s burial ceremony
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Rival parties gear up for Bholath MC chief re-poll
Bholath (Kapurthala), December 19 The post of the MC chief had become a matter of prestige ever since the poll was postponed due to a ruckus created by the elected councillors on October 5 when these were scheduled to be held. While the Akali faction had gained a clear majority with the support of a few independent candidates at that time, the situation seems to be now more favourable for the Congress party workers. The situation has become adverse for SAD after complaints have been lodged with the local government department against two of its loyal councillors over “flagrant misuse of power”. A case has been registered with the police under Section 420 against Sukhwant Singh Takhar, an Akali confidant who fought independently from ward number 9 and a scribe with a Punjabi daily. The case has been registered after Takhar reportedly attested a wrong affidavit for power of attorney in the name of one Ramesh Kumar, residing in Dubai, for allegedly trying to usurp his land. A bail plea filed by the councillor before the Additional Sessions Judge too was rejected today. Takhar is reportedly absconding ever since the case has been filed and would not be able to attend the MC meet until he gets a stay from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, a petition for which, his supporters have said, would be filed tomorrow. The supporters of the independent councilor have alleged that the Congress leaders have got Takhar falsely implicated after he reportedly refused to side with the party despite much pressure. Mr Sukhpal Khera, a senior Congress leader, denied the allegations saying that the complaint held no ground. Yet another complaint has been lodged with the local government authorities against Ms Kulwant Kaur, also an Akali councillor from ward number 13, for alleged “misuse of power” for encroaching upon the land of nagar panchayat. The Deputy Director of the department also reportedly visited the area for verifying the complaint. There is another disadvantage for the Akali faction as Bibi Jagir Kaur, who is also supposed to cast her vote by virtue of being MLA from the area, is likely to be away in connection with a court case, hearing for which is scheduled for December 22 and 23. The Akali leaders too are trying their might as they are pressing for action against the Congress councillors who clashed with them on October 5, the previous day of the MC chief poll. It may be recalled that the election for the post of Municipal Council president in Bholath was put off earlier after unruly scenes prevailed in the tehsil complex. The Congress members allegedly even tried to tear up the oath papers and a register that an MC official was carrying to note down the proceedings. In the process, one of the Congress members even threw off the turban of Gurminder Singh, an officer of the Executive Committee (EO) of the MC. The convener of polls, Mr Iqbal Singh Sandhu, Assistant Commissioner (Grievances), had then decided to postpone elections. |
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UK MP meets Home Secy, top cops
Phagwara, December 19 The MP had met the Zonal IG, Mr Hardip Singh Dhillon, and DIG (Jalandar Range) Paramjit Singh Gill to press for the arrest of the murderers of the NRI.
Mr Keith Vaz is also likely to meet the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and the DGP, Mr S.S. Virk, on the issue. The family of the deceased also lived in the UK and their house in Phagwara was being looked after by a caretaker. Mohan Singh (59), a resident of Leicester, was the owner of a textile factory. The incident occurred when Mohan Singh was returning to Phagwara from Ludhiana on August 18. He stopped for lunch at a dhaba near the Satluj river bridge near Phillaur when he was attacked by about half-a-dozen unidentified assailants with blunt weapons including, baseball bats. He was hospitalised in Ludhiana with injuries in head and other parts of the body but could not be saved. The family friends of Mohan Singh claimed that the MP had assured them that he would be building pressure on government for speedy and concrete investigations and make all out efforts to get them justice. How serious were the UK authorities, especially Mr Vaz, can be gauged from the fact that back home, he had spearheaded a signature campaign and a representation signed by ten thousand residents of Leicester was handed to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr Michael Martin, seeking justice for Mohan’s family. It may be added here that the victim’s brother, Mr Tirath Biring, was a Conservative Councillor in the UK. |
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Thousands take part in Sayin’s burial ceremony
Phagwara, December 19 The body of the Sayin was brought to India in a special flight that landed at Raja Sansi Airport on Sunday. The body was brought to Mandhali village in a flower-decked vehicle late last night. The Sayin’s brother, Mr Balwinder Singh Bains, was among those who performed the “Sapurd-e-khak” by placing the body in the special pit and covering it with soil. Among those present at the burial ceremony were the national president of the Bahujan Samaj Morcha, Mr Satnam Singh Kainth, the former Akali MLA, Mr Mohan Lal, the Nawanshahr SSP, Mr Arunpal Singh, the Nawanshahar Deputy Commissioner, Mr Krishan Kumar, and several prominent citizens. Heads of several deras were also present. The Sayin was buried in a tomb, which he had himself prepared. The Nawanshahar police had made elaborate security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident during the ceremony. Meanwhile, uncertainty prevailed in the dera over the name of the successor of late Sayin Bhajan Shah Qadri. Though the civil and the police administration along with several village panchayats, including Mandhali panchayat, announced the appointment of Mr Balwinder Singh alias Billa as the new Sayin, some of the villagers complained that it was too premature to say something on this. They said a formal announcement of the name of the successor should only be made 40 days after the demise of the previous Sayin. It is also believed that Mohammad Ashraf alias Neela, the driver of the late Sayin and Gagandeep, the son of the Sayin’s brother, may emerge as contenders to take the “gaddi” (seat) of the Dera Roza Sharief. The late Sayin had succeeded his guru and maternal uncle Sawar Data Ali Ahmed Shah Qadri after his sudden demise in 1985. The Sayin headed 84 darbar rozas in the country. He was widely-travelled. An MA in English, the Sayin promoted sports and Punjabi culture by organising cultural melas and sports tournaments in the village on the occasion of Urs. Dera Mandhali is an important pilgrimage centre for thousands of devotees all over the world. |
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Weaker sections demand free power supply
Jalandhar, December 19 Addressing the gathering, Mr Tarsem Peter, president of the union, flayed the state government for not implementing the “much-publicised” scheme of giving free power supply to Dalits and people from weaker sections of the society. He said the poor had been receiving heavy electricity bills, which they were unable to pay. Mr Peter added that the policies of the government had deprived the weaker sections of employment opportunities and the rural poor were helpless in paying the bills. Privatisation policies, the union president said, were depriving the poor of education and health too. Mr Peter said the government must issue notification for free and unconditional power supply to the Dalits at the earliest. Or else, they would be compelled to stop the payments of the bills, he added. Mr Peter also urged the gathering to prepare themselves for a prolonged struggle. |
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TSU conference concludes
Jalandhar, December 19 Led by Mr S Dev Roy, president of the Electricity Employees Federation of India (EEFI) and the national secretary of CITU, and Mr H. S. Minhas, general secretary of EEFI, the conference discussed important issues being faced by the electricity sector and the trade union movement. The leaders criticised the Centre for not taking any step to review the Electricity Act, though it had been mentioned in the Common Minimum Programme and the trade unions had been assured of this in May, 2005. During the conference, it was decided that the trade unions would continue with their struggle to stop the privatisation of state electricity boards. “The privatisation moves of the Congress government will be opposed tooth and nail,” Co-convenor of the TSU, Mr Satish Chander, said. |
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Cold waves engulf region
Jalandhar, December 19 The temperature at Adampur was recorded at 0.4 degrees Celsius , while Halwara recorded 2.3 degrees, Pathankot recorded 4 degrees, Chandigarh 3.2 degrees, Ambala 2.2 and Amritsar 1.3 degrees.
— TNS |
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