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Punjab police officials summoned at Akal Takht
Amritsar, January 17 Mr Sarna will not be available as he has gone abroad for one and half month. For the first time the Sikh clergy has decided to summon police officials for the denigration of Guru Granth Sahib . It is alleged that the police lathicharged Guru Granth Sahib, too, which was clear from the CDs. Similarly, clarification would be sought from Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh for issuing advertisements to Spokesman. Jathedar Vedanti said that being a Sikh, the Chief Minister, who had implemented Nanakshahi Calendar, approved by Akal Takht was morally bound not to issue any advertisement in a newspaper being run by an excommunicated Sikh. Meanwhile, the Sikh high priests have exonerated Mr Bhag Singh Ankhi, Secretary, Chief Khalsa Diwan, following his written clarification that he had not issued any advertisement to daily Spokesman, published from Chandigarh. Jathedar, Akal Takht said that his personal assistant would also write to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, seeking his clarification regarding the advertisements to Spokesman , Editor of which had been excommunicated from the Sikh Panth. The Sikh high priests postponed the case of Baba Daljit Singh Chicago, Gurjot Parkash chief Gurdwara (Chicago) even as a delegation from the USA led by Mr Kulwant Singh Hundal had submitted a complaint of ‘moral turpitude’. The meeting also directed to remove all posters, advertising smoking by using the Sikhs in the state. It also directed not to publish advertisements on the holy books.
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No security vetting for passengers on Lahore bus
Wagah, January 17 Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr V.K. Duggal, Union Home Secretary, said the passengers would not have to report to the police stations for security checks. Though the demand for waiving off security clause was raised on the floor of Parliament by local BJP Member Parliament, Mr Duggal claimed that the decision had been taken on the request of the state government to save them from any kind of inconvenience. He, however, said that the passengers would have to get two weeks’ advance reservation to visit Pakistan in this bus to enable the Indian security agencies to carry out quiet security vetting. He said old persons, women and children would not be checked by the security agencies during their journey to Pakistan. Efforts would be made to make their journey absolutely hassle-free. He, however, said that the clause of security vetting was inserted after discussion with the state government. The Union Home Secretary said that similar provisions would be made for the convenience of those travelling by Samjhauta Express. He, however, said the security agencies would keep vigil on the passengers and if any suspicious person was found to be travelling on the bus, he would not be allowed to cross over to Pakistan. In yet another significant statement, Mr Duggal said that the extradition talks with Pakistan were in progress and India had already submitted a list of fugitives. He hoped that the Indian Government was hopeful to get some of them (terrorists) back. It may be mentioned here that after the attack on Parliament, India had declared 20 persons, including five Sikhs (Parmjit Singh Panjwar and Gajinder Singh etc), as “Most Wanted”, who have taken refuge in Pakistan. Replying to a question, Mr Duggal said that after Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and even high-level talks with Pakistan, some important issues were settled through bilateral talks. Mr Duggal said that India wanted a “safe and economically strong” border, which is the policy of the Central Government. The Home Secretary said the main purpose of his visit was to inspect the infrastructure at the Attari railway station and the Wagah joint check-post. He said he had asked the Railways and other agencies involved to upgrade the facilities for the visitors. Mr Duggal said a task force would be constituted within a week by the Punjab Government, which would include members from Town and Country Planning, Commerce, Tourism, Union Home Ministry and the Border Security Force. He said the task force would submit its report within a month on the basic plan to improve the infrastructure and bring up the Attari railway station and Wagah joint check-post up to international standards and Rs 8-10 crore would be provided for the project.
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85-year-old’s body donated to medical college
Hoshiarpur, January 17 Body of deceased Avtar Chand, was sent by the district administration to the Anatomy Department of Government Medical College, Patiala, as per his will. The authorities of the Old Age Home after performing a ‘havan’ handed over the body to the district health authorities for being sent to the medical college. Old Age home warden Ms Reena Uppal told The Tribune that a postgraduate in English Avtar Chand was a bachelor from a well-to-do family of Nangal Shaheedan village near here and was admitted to the home in 1991. On August 13, 2003, he had a will prepared for donating his body to the Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Patiala, for research. He preferred to donate the body and other organs for some cause. He was motivated to donate his body by Ms Uppal and Dr Upkar Singh, medical officer of the Home, after he was operated upon for total hip replacement in 2003 in civil hospital. An industrialist and managing director of International Tractors bore the expenses on his hip replacement and medicine. During his stay in the civil hospital, The Tribune was his only companion with which he used to start his day. Mr Avtar Chand was a regular reader of The Tribune besides other newspapers and magazines. He had been devoting extra time to the magazines on Saturday and Sunday, Dr Upkar recalled. Ms Reena Uppal also disclosed Avtar Chand’s elder brother Mr Sansar Chand also died in the same Old Age Home a couple of years ago. She also claimed that during his stay in the Home for over 15 years hardly any relative turned up to meet him. “Avtar Chand had a different lifestyle and disposed of his property before joining the Old Age Home,” claimed Ms Uppal. “The Tribune was his favourite newspaper. He used to read editorials regularly and then discuss these with the home officials,” recalled Dr Upkar Singh. The Tribune was subscribed by us on Avtar Chand’s demand on the very same day he joined the Home. Since we were unable to meet expenses of the newspaper, a kind donor, Ms Suman Guleria, who runs a school, Toddler Home, in the city, offered to bear the expenses of the newspaper,” disclosed Ms Uppal. She also recalled whenever the hawker missed the paper, officials had to buy or arrange a copy of the newspaper to meet his requirement.
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Kuka movement to be part of history books
Malerkotla, January 17 Ms Bhattal made the announcement at a state-level Kuka Shaheedi Samagam, which was organised here to pay tributes to 66 Kuka Sikh martyrs of the freedom movement, who were blown off with cannons by the British at Malerkotla on January 17 and 18 in 1872. She also paid tributes at a martyrs’ memorial at Namdhari Samarak here. On the occasion, Ms Bhattal also released a book about Namdharis, titled “Elan-e-Jang” authored by Malkeet Singh Guara. Mr Hanspal honoured the minister with a siropa. Earlier talking to the mediapersons, Ms Bhattal said a core committee, comprising finance minister, rural development minister, health minister, under her presidentship would meet on January 27 to decide ways of recruitment of teachers and implement recommendations of the Education Reforms Committee. The minister also said both MPs of Congress party from Punjab were ready to vacate their seat for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh so that he could contest Lok Sabha election from the state. She said Baba Farid University of Health Sciences was not being shifted from Faridkot, rather the government would strengthen it by providing equipment and infrastructure.
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Inclusion of Lambi in Bathinda LS constituency draws objections
Bathinda, January 17 Prominent among those who raised their voice against the move were Pucca Kalan MLA Gurjant Singh Kuttiwal, Malout MLA Nathu Ram, District Congress chief Inder Singh Sahni and SAD (Amritsar) youth wing president Barinder Singh Mann. Scores of village panchayats from Rampura Phul also objected to the proposal. Sources said the Shiromani Akali Dal would benefit the most from the inclusion of Lambi in Bathinda, as the party was planning to field Faridkot MP Sukhbir Badal from the Bathinda LS seat in the wake of the proposal of his seat getting reserved. Political circles were abuzz that the move would also spell more votes for Sukhbir, as Lambi was the SAD supremo’s home turf. A Congress MLA also termed the inclusion of Lambi in Bathinda as an attempt to save it from becoming a reserved seat. Those opposing the move contended that it would not remain easy for the electorate of Lambi or Rampura Phul to approach their MPs. However, the Commission Chairman, Justice Kuldip Singh (retd), strongly denied that the move was meant to facilitate Badals. “Its total nonsense and we have nothing to do with it. The delimitation is purely based on the guidelines laid down for the commission,” he averred. He said the delimitation was aimed at strengthening the democracy and they were redrawing lines on the basis of the 2001 census. Earlier, the commission heard objections of political outfits and people from Moga, Ferozepore, Muktsar, Mansa, Faridkot and Bathinda districts. Advocate JS Gill from Moga sought the abolition of Dharamkot Assembly seat and the formation of Moga 1 and Moga 2 Assembly seats, while keeping Baghapurana and Nihal Singh Wala intact. Objections were raised from the side of Guru Harsahai MLA Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi over the proposed geography of his constituency and he sought the replacement of Jalalabad Kanungo Circle with Lakhoke, Mamdot and Behram Kanungo circles. Baluana MLA Mr Parkash Singh Bhatti said the commission’s first proposal was okay, but in the second proposal his seat got divided into two sub-divisions. Ferozepur Cantonment MLA Ravinder Singh Sandhu along with his hundreds of supporters objected to the abolition of Ferozepur Cantonment seat and the formation of Ferozepur city and Ferozepur rural seats. He urged that Ferozepur Cantt seat be retained. Interestingly, while Faridkot MLA Kushaldeep Dhillon suggested the inclusion of seven villages, which are proposed to be in Kotkapura, located in his seat’s vicinity, Kotkapura MLA Mantar Singh Brar opposed his move, stating that the area falling under his seat was already small. He demanded that his seat be made equitable with other seats of the district. Gidderbaha MLA Manpreet Badal was satisfied with the draft proposal except for the exclusion of eight villages from his seat. Malout MLA Nathu Ram objected to division of Muktsar’s Assembly seats in various Lok Sabha constituencies. The only submission from Mansa was relating to the inclusion of Jawaharke and Ramdittewala villages in the Mansa Assembly seat due to their proximity to it. Congress leader Krishan Kumar Sharma sought equitable distribution of population among all Assembly seats of the district, while Talwandi Sabo MLA Jeet Mahinder Singh Sidhu urged for the same for his seat and the Maur Assembly seat. Akali leader Baljit Singh and Pucca Kalan MLA G.S. Kuttiwal opposed Bathinda rural being kept reserved. The MLA also objected to the inclusion of Mehna village in Bathinda rural, as the village was non-existent for the past 22 years and the census had shown its population as about 27,000.
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Food centre may help small industries
Chandigarh, January 17 Claiming that linkages with the Agro- Industry will not only benefit the three partners, PAU also hopes to improve the general economy of the state. The university authorities feel that agriculture in Punjab is passing through a very serious crisis, and public- private partnership is the best alternative for the benefit of all participants starting from producer to the consumer. Thus the premiere agriculture university has proposed strengthening of research for processing of high value fruit and vegetable crops like tomatoes, peas, chilli, okra, kinnow and guava; and, development of health foods and drinks ( multi grain flour, soya milk, herbal and honey-based health foods and drinks with ginger extraction honey, fruit and vegetable based juices and beverages etc.). The university has also recommended development of pilot plant facility in food processing, within its campus at Ludhiana. Indian food industry is characterised by small and medium enterprises, which do not have enough resources to organise any in-house research and development of their own, and thus lack introduction of newer and advanced technologies. PAU is establishing a food industries centre, which will act as a nucleus for small industries. Besides, the university has also recommended the development of a pilot plant for bio- diesel production, which would incur Rs 14. 5 lakh cost. PAU authorities say that India ranks first in the world in buffalo population (92 million) and production of buffalo meat is 1. 5 million tonnes. The value of buffalo meat exported in 2000-1 was Rs 1375 crore, with a sharp annual increase in demand. Rearing of buffalo for meat and meat processing for value addition is thus another key area where scientist- industry- farmer can cooperate. Other key areas highlighted by PAU for strengthening liaison with agro- industry are strengthening of research on medicinal, aromatic and spice crops; cultivation of durum wheat for pasta making industry; enhancing export potential of basmati rice; improving quality and processing of soybean; and, developing ethanol producing sugarcane and maize varieties. The university says that after attaining a creditable rise in production, the agriculture of Punjab is at a stage where sustaining the production seems to be an arduous task. The future of agriculture lies in the adoption of agro processing and switch over from paddy to other less water requiring alternatives (fruits, vegetables , pulses and oilseed crops) that are amenable to processing. The agriculture has now to be based on crops and their varieties with special qualities that would enhance their marketing potential.
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Solve riddle of meetings with Dr Dhillon: Mann
Amritsar, January 17 Talking to The Tribune here today, Mr Mann said that, on one hand, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President, SAD, had dubbed Dr Ganga Singh Dhillon, president, USA-based Nankana Sahib Foundation a “Congress agent” on the other, his (Mr Badal) wife, Mrs Surinder Kaur, held “secret meeting” with Dr Dhillon in Pakistan. Earlier too, Mr Badal was instrumental in bringing Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, Chief, Khalistan Commando Force, during his regime, to India by using his good offices. He said he was surprised to know that the same Badal who was signatory to the representation sent to the then Secretary-General of the UNO seeking autonomy for the state had now started dubbing Dr Dhillon a “Congress agent”. He said Dr Dhillon enjoyed proximity with Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister. To substantiate his charge, Mr Mann said the CM was nominated as one of the members of the International Advisory Committee of the Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. Capt Amarinder Singh, who was signatory to the much-talked about Amritsar Declaration that sought sovereignty for the state, was now raising the bogey of terrorism in the wake of the coming assembly elections. The credentials of Capt Amarinder Singh, having soft corner for radicals, were clear from his visit to Canada when he addressed the Sikh sangat at Dixie Gurdwara while his police had inflicted electric shocks on Sarbjit Singh Panjwar, elder brother of Parmjit Singh Panjwar. He asked Mr Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh whether they were pro or against Khalistan. He, however, said that nobody should create hurdles if Dr Dhillon Wanted to come to his homeland (India).
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Rana, Goyal are AICC members
Ropar, January 17 This is their first term in the AICC. Mr Goyal, son of a former minister Bhagwan Dass Goyal, said he was informed about the decision by the PPCC president, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo.
— TNS
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NGOs protest against female foeticide
Nawanshahr, January 17 The activists, wearing aprons and holding banners, raised slogans against female foeticide. They reached there in a procession and sat in front of the house to mourn the “death of the unborn girl in the womb”. Mr Yashpal Hafizabadi, Mr Jaspal Gidda, Mr V.P. Bedi, Mr Birbal Takhi, Ms Rashmi Sharma, Mr Nirvair Sahlon, among others, condemned the heinous act of female foeticide. Mr Jaspal Gidda, secretary, Upkar, said NGOs in the district had decided to organise such “Shardanjhali Samarohs” in front of the houses of the errant couples, who opt to get their female child aborted, with a view to creating fear of social alienation among them. Mr Gidda said the female embryo had been got aborted from a clinic in Hoshiarpur district. The local administration had contacted the authorities concerned of Hoshiarpur district for appropriate action against the errant couple. Besides vigorous awareness campaigns against female foeticide, the Deputy Commissioner here has started an innovative and pragmatic pregnancy survey in the district. The record of pregnant women, eligible couples and birth of children is being computerised in the district to keep a close watch on the sex ratio and to detect any foul play with a view to disturbing the sex ratio. The DC has fixed a target of balancing the sex ratio in the district by March 31.
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Citizen cards for border residents
Chandigarh, January 17 The Minister was speaking at a meet-the- Press programme at the Press Club. Replying to a question, he said the matter of allowing passengers arriving by the Samjhauta Express from Pakistan to de-board the train at a point in Punjab was under consideration. On starting the issue of national citizen cards, the Minister said the residents of border areas across the country would be given these for the purposes of identity.
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high court Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, January 17 The two petitioners — Karan Talwar and Nikhil Khanna — have prayed that directions be issued to ensure that nobody from their family is implicated in some false case. In their petition filed through advocate R.S. Bajaj, Karan and Nikhil have stated that on November 7, 2004, while returning from a restaurant with some friends, they were stopped and attacked by some persons including one Loveninder Verma, whose father, Mr Inderjit Verma, was SHO, Police Station, Bilga, Jalandhar. Despite a complaint to the local police, no FIR was initially registered. Later, the FIR was registered following a representation made by the petitioners to Senior Superintendent of Police, Jalandhar. But, even after registering the FIR, the police made no arrests. In the meantime, the Inspector father of one of the accused started pressuring the petitioners and their family members to settle the case. When his offer was rejected, he allegedly threatened to teach the petitioners and their family members a lesson. However, in spite of the fact that anticipatory bail plea of the official’s son was rejected by a Jalandhar court on December 22, 2004, he has not been arrested or interrogated, the petition claims. Today, the petitioners’ counsel told the Bench that they face a serious threat to their lives and hence must be provided proper security. After hearing him, Mrs Justice Nirmal Yadav issued notice of motion for February 23.
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Pension adalat today
Chandigarh, January 17 Being held for the first time at Chandigarh, the adalat would benefit pensioners from Chandigarh, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib districts. The pension sanctioning authorities in various offices of the Chandigarh Administration and Punjab Government have also been invited so that the pending and returned pension cases could be settled in consultation with the Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs).
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SMO in vigilance net over graft
Fatehgarh Sahib, Jan 17 A team of Vigilance staff, headed by Mr Jaspal Singh, DSP, recovered the amount and arrested the doctor. Mr Jaspal Singh told the reporters that Kashmira Singh, resident of Bhuchi village, had a quarrel in the village and a MLR was got registered at the Civil Hospital, Bassi
Pathana. The DSP said Kashmira Singh went to the SMO, Civil Hospital, to get the copy of MLR at which SMO demanded Rs 5000 from him. Kashmira Singh expressed inability to give such a huge amount and submitted an application to the SDM, Bassi
Pathana, to get the copy. The SDM then marked the application to the SMO following which Kasmira Singh went to the SMO. SMO kept the application with him and told him that he would not give the copy till his palms were greased. They settled the matter in Rs 2000 and informed the DSP, Vigilance. The DSP said he took two shadow witnesses and laid the trap and the moment Rs 2000 were handed to the SMO, he was arrested and the amount was recovered from him. He added that the SDO would be presented in the court tomorrow.
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Factory making spurious drugs sealed
Amritsar, January 17 A team comprising Dr H S Mahal, Assistant Civil Surgeon, Dr Jaspal Singh Gill, district epidemiologist and Gurvinder Singh, drug inspector, raided premises of biopharma factory on a tip off that owners of the factory were allegedly involved in manufacturing and selling drugs after putting labels of reputed companies. According to sources in the Health Department, the officials recovered 15 kg of diazepam powder (used in sedatives) which could be used in making three lakh tablets of 5 mg strength. The authorities also seized two lakh tablets of CDZ (used in stress relief tablets), 18,000 tablets of snagara, 13500 tablets of nitrozepam and 850 injections of calmpose. The company does not have a licence to manufacture these drugs. The team also recovered labels of certain national and multinational companies, including Lupin, Sunrise Pharma, Unichem laboratories, Unimark, MD Pharma etc. Besides diazepam it also found raw material for manufacturing other medicines, which has been sent to laboratories for testing. The police has registered a case under sections 22,61,85 of the NDPS Act,
Section 420, 474 of the IPC and Sections 18(C), 27 (B) (2) of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act against Parmesh Arora owner of the factory and his son Sunny Arora. The accused have absconded.
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Conservator of Forests, 3 others booked
Chandigarh, January 17 Besides the alleged misappropriation of funds while buying machinery and equipment, these officials were charged with conniving with one another and misappropriating Rs 25 lakh in the Japan tree plantation project. A bureau spokesperson said a case under Sections 420, 467, 468, and 471 of the IPC and the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act had been registered against them. Besides Mr Grewal, the others booked were Mr Dharampal Sharma, Forest Range Officer, Malerkotla, Mr Prem Chand, Block Forest Officer, Patiala, and Mr Dogar Singh Bhatti, a retired Range Officer. It was found that during 1998-2001 as Divisional Forest Officer, Patiala, Mr Grewal along with the other accused had allegedly misappropriated Rs 10 lakh. The bureau alleged that Rs 8 lakh was siphoned off through forged bills for gypsum and Rs 2 lakh through the forged purchase of Kirloskar engines. The bureau served notices on them to join the investigations as all accused have obtained stay orders against arrest from the court. A gysum supplier to the Forest Department was also under the scanner in the same case.
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Two killed in car-mobike collision
Amritsar, January 17 According to information, the police took the driver of the car, Rajbir Singh of Amritsar, in custody and initiated further action against him. The deceased were going from their village to Jandiala Guru when the incident happened.
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2 laptops stolen
Mohali, January 17 Mr Varinder Preet Singh, a resident of Phase VII, complained that he had parked his car outside Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Phase VIII and gone inside to pay obeisance. When he came back he found that the two laptops kept in his car were missing.
— OC
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