 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
MC chief loses no-trust vote
Panchkula, February 15 The ouster of Mr Bhandari signals a win for the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Chander Mohan, on the home turf, as he was leading the no-confidence motion. He had earlier failed to muster enough support against Mr Bhandari, leading to the failure of the no-confidence motion in October 2005. The deputy chief minister later told the mediapersons that because of non-performance, the councillors have risen over party lines in order to pass the motion against Mr Bhandari. Though Mr Bhandari himself failed to appear for the special meeting of the MC House, all 28 councillors (of a total of 31) present in the meeting, voted against him. Two councillors - former MC president Seema Chaudhary, and Ms Anita Aggarwal, besides the local MP (who is also a voting member) did not participate in the meeting. Interestingly, Mr Bhandari is a Congressman, but he did not have his party’s mandate while he remained the president of the MC. His own party men dethroned him today, but did not move a no-confidence motion against the Vice-President, Ms Kuljit Waraich. She is a member of the INLD, and has been made the interim president of the council. It was with the support of eight INLD councillors - Ms Kuljit Waraich, Mr Sunil Talwar, Mr Vikas Chaudhary, Mr Balwinder Singh, Mr Mahinder Singh, Mr Gomti Prasad, Ms Sharanjit Kaur and Mr Amar Singh - that Mr Bhandari had become the president in June last year, and later survived a no-confidence motion in October 2005. This time, these INLD councillors refused to support him “on charges of non-performance”. Senior INLD leaders, requesting anonymity, said because of political bickering within the Congress no development work was being done. “Let us hope that the new president will ensure development of the township,” they added. Later, SDM Verender Dahiya, who presided over today’s meeting, said the voting was done by a secret ballot and the entire proceedings were videographed. He said the proceedings of the meeting would now be sent to the Director, Urban Development, for further action. Meanwhile, Mr Ravinder Rawal, state secretary of the Congress, said the new MC president would be elected within a week.
|
|
|
Pawandeep being brought to city
Chandigarh, February 15 Arrested for the Sector 34 triple murder, in which he is believed to have slain his father, mother and aunt, he was arrested in Nagaland and was with the Chandigarh police on transit remand. Sources in the police said the main suspect was flown into Delhi tonight, from where he would be brought here by road under heavy police escort. According to information, senior police officers held several brain-storming sessions to discuss a strategy to nab the accused, who the police had found had fled to the North-East after committing the crime. An educated person, who had received some military training before he dropped out of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the police believed that he could be a hard nut to crack. It had prepared to face him in case he retaliated while being arrested as he was believed to be conversant with the handling of arms due to his training. A typical case of misdirected energies, Pawandeep Singh is said to have been a good student as well as a sportsman, who excelled in cricket and horse-riding. He had the advantage of good education, being the son of an Air Force officer, who was posted at many important stations. But over the years, Pawandeep developed a complex and came to believe that his parents did not bring him up well. He started resenting what he called discriminating attitude of his parents towards him vis-à-vis his younger brother. He is believed to have told the police during transit that he had committed the crime because his parents were contemplating disinheriting him and selling the family property to debar him from claiming his share. Sources in the police said the SIT members landed at the Delhi airport around 8 pm this evening. The team members were on their way to Chandigarh and would reach around midnight. The sources said during preliminary interrogation, Pawandeep had identified his accomplices as Ravikant Tyagi and Anil Tyagi. The Chandigarh police had dispatched teams to their various hideouts to arrest them.
|
|
Exams keep helplines busy
Chandigarh, February 15 Gradually the calls became more frequent and desperate. The counsellor, reading the student’s mind, realised that she was upto something dangerous. She sent somebody to the girl’s house. The girl admitted to contemplating suicide and to having attempted it a number of times before. She is one of the many feeling the heat of the examinations and the pressure to do well. Helplines in the city — be it that run by the PGI or two of the CBSE or that of counsellors — are ringing as March 1, when board examinations begin, draws near. Anxiety levels are at an all-time high, not only among students, but parents as well, worried about the examinations or restless about their wards’ inadequate study schedule. Says Ms Kulpreet Dhillon, psychologist and co-ordinator of Childline, “Students are calling up for practically everything, including problems of memorising, not being able to recall their lessons, sleeplessness and parental pressure. Depression over not being able to live up to parents’ expectations are weighing on the minds of the students.” Says Dr Adarsh Kohli, Associate Professor at the PGI, “Parents are worried about poor pre-board scores of their wards and are looking for ways to deal with this. They must realise that their anxiety is getting transferred on to the child and affecting study schedules negatively. It is not advisable to pack a child in a room full of books, cut outdoor activity and snap contacts. Parents can help by being supportive, relaxing the minds of anxious children and taking them out for walks and breaks.” While the GMCH has received no calls pertaining to examination anxiety, CBSE helplines are receiving at least 20 calls each everyday. “This anxiety is the outcome of a number of factors. While some students have lost focus, others are ill-prepared. Parents breathing down their necks is weighing on their minds. Parents must not talk of targets they have set for board examinations, but give frequent pep talks to them,” says Ms Sarita Manuja, a counsellor. Says Ms Madhu Bahl, another counsellor, “Mothers are particularly perturbed over the behaviour of their wards. They complain that the child is talking too much over phone, watching television and spending evenings with friends. Students are worried over preparation and what they should expect in the paper.” Counsellors are stressing on revision of syllabi, discussion with friends and, in case of non-preparation, focusing on limited syllabi to see them through. “We try and drive home the point that anxiety will get students parents nowhere. They should aim at relieving tension by communicating and discussing problems since they are both aiming for the common goal of a high score,” they say. Keeping cool to score well is the magic mantra, they add.
|
|
162 acres being acquired in Dhanas
Chandigarh, February 15 It may be mentioned that the corporation has been seeking possession of land not acquired falling in Badheri, Baheana, Bair Majra, Burail, Dadu Majra, Baria, Dhanas, Hallo Majra and Kaimbala. Sources in the administration said the rehabilitation plan was part of the ambitious plan to construct over 23,000 dwelling units on rental basis for the slum dwellers, who were occupying prime land in 18 slum clusters in and around the city. Earlier, under a special scheme “Licensing of Tenements and Services in Chandigarh, Scheme, 1979”, sites and services and low cost tenements had been provided on ownership basis to slum dwellers. The cut off date for eligibility for allotment under the scheme was December 8, 1996. The slums, which existed as on December 8, 1996, are only eligible under the scheme. Since the administration proposes to rehabilitate all slum dwellers existing as on date, it has been mentioned that around 24,000 families, living in 18 slum clusters will be given one-room tenements on rental basis. The plan is to rehabilitate all slum dwellers and to use the vacated land for the purpose as earmarked in the land use plan. Reacting to the acquisition of land in Dhanas village, Mr HS Biling, general secretary of the original oustees of UT villages, said after acquiring land from villagers at low rates, the administration was rehabilitating slum dwellers there. Citing a recent observation made by the Supreme Court in case of regularisation of colonies in Delhi, Mr Biling said the observation also applied to Chandigarh.
|
|
Defamation suit against Lucky
Chandigarh, February 15 In the criminal complaint filed by Mr Gupta, the preliminary evidence of the complainant was recorded in the court of the Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr Atul Marya. Along with Mr Lucky, the other persons who have been named in the criminal case are Mr Varinder Pal, brother of the Deputy Mayor, Ms Anu Garg, estranged wife of the complainant, and Ms Shakuntla, mother-in-law of the complainant. The counsel for the complainant said the same four persons have been named in the case, hearing in which has been now been fixed for March 6. It may be mentioned that a case of divorce between the complainant and his estranged wife is going on in the Lok Adalat.
— TNS
|
|
Road
cracks again, SDO chargesheeted Chandigarh, February 15 Reliable sources in the administration said that the concerned
Junior Engineer and the road supervisor have been suspended. The
contractor working on the project has been debarred from taking any
assignments of the administration for one year, sources said.
In a classic case of misuse of public funds, the road stretch under
question has broken at more than 100 points since it was recarpeted in
December, 2005. The road was recarpeted after five years and the daily
travellers maintain that the first crack had appeared within first
week of the repair.
The existing condition of the road shows a pitiable sight for the
stretch recarpeted very recently. Vehicles experience uneven bounces
and it is broken in all over the stretch. The road is dangerous,
particularly during nights.
The Engineering Department had also conducted a survey of the road
stretch and compiled a report. It has been indicated that road shows a
poor bond with the surface because of which it is unable to sustain
the weight of the traffic.
The portion also showed heavy moisture which was enhanced because
of the low temperatures. The repair work on the road is likely to
commence shortly, sources added.
Mr Ramanjit Singh, a daily traveller, said: “I travel on a
two-wheeler and return home during the night.
The lighting on the road is also insufficient because of which the
broken road is more dangerous”.
Unaware about the action taken by the administration, Mr Janak Raj,
a retired superintendent from the Punjab Government, said: “It is
surprising that the road had collapsed within a few weeks of the
repair. Either the planning and execution of the construction has an
inborne technical fault or the quality of material being used was of
very inferior quality”.
It is felt that the road stretch witnessed a heavy flow of traffic
because it was serving as a passage for the “long route traffic”.
A resident of Sector 48 who uses the road very regularly said: “The
entire road stretch needs to be dug up and redone. During the process
of recarpeting, the work was being carried out in patches and the
holes re-erupted.”
He said: “Residents feel that probably the base of the road
stretch was very weak which led to frequent relapses. The entire base
structure needs to be tightened up”.
|
|||||
|
Dalai Lama’s envoys in China for talks
Chandigarh, February 15 Disclosing this to The Tribune from Delhi, Mr Gelek Namgyal, a spokesperson of the India Tibet Coordination Office, said the delegation was led by the Dalai Lama’s special envoys, Mr Lodi Gyaltsen
Gyari, and Mr Kelsang Gyaltsen, besides other senior aids of the Dalai Lama. “His Holiness is pleased that the present round of talks, which began in 2002, is the longest process of continued interaction that we have had with the leadership in Beijing. For the last four meetings, the envoys have had very candid and serious discussion with their counterparts in the Chinese leadership”, Mr Namgyal said. He said the envoys received their final instructions from the Dalai Lama at Bodh Gaya on February 13 in the presence of Tibetan leaders Kalon
Tripa, Prof Samdhong Rinpoche and Tenzin Geyche Tethong, secretary of the Dalai Lama. The instructions are based upon the discussions of the “Task Force for Negotiation”, a core group formed for the purpose that held its 10th meeting at Dharamsala recently. The Tibetan community is hopeful that the talks would settle various issues such as autonomy for the Tibet region under Chinese rule, preservation of Tibetan cultural heritage, end to demographic changes in the Tibetan region and stopping atrocities upon the people of the Tibetan region. Nobel laureate, Dalai Lama has made it clear to the Chinese authorities in the past that he is not seeking “independence for Tibet”, but wants more autonomy for the region under China. The first four rounds of talks spread over the past four years have broken the ice between the Tibetan Government in exile at Dharamsala in India and the Chinese authorities. Meanwhile, in a protest of sorts against the reported censuring of Internet content on Tibet by China on search engines such as Google and Yahoo, several Tibetan websites have marked their protests. On Tuesday, a popular Tibetan website, Phayul.com shut down for a day by launching a “no luv 4 Google” campaign. But the Chinese Government issued a clarification through Reuters denying that it had any role in censoring information on Tibet on the Internet. The Chinese Government has been quoted as saying, “Chinese people can freely access the Internet and the government has never arrested anyone for expressing an opinion on the web. Chinese regulations were also in line with international practices and no different from rules in other countries like the United States which seek to block sites with harmful content”. Students for a Free Tibet, a group comprising Tibetan Youth across the world, has claimed that nearly 3,340 Internet users had signed up for its protest against these search engine’s policy on the China-Tibet issue. While Dalai Lama has clarified his position on Tibetan autonomy, several Tibetan groups, especially those of Tibetan youths, have been seeking the freedom of Tibet from Chinese occupation.
|
|||||
|
|
No new taxes in MC Budget
Chandigarh,
February 15 Being termed as the most ambitious budget of the corporation since its inception, the budget provides a quantum jump in the allocations on the plan side. In the current financial year estimates under the plan budget were to the tune of Rs 72.36 crore, whereas in the budget proposal for the next financial year under the plan head a provision of Rs 168.94 crore has been made, thereby registering an increase of 133.47%. On
the other hand an increase in the non plan budget is just a marginal
9.51% with estimated provisions under the non-plan head as Rs 180.97
crore against last year’s Rs 165.26 crore. The major developmental schemes which have been provided for under the plan budget for the next financial year are including provision of Rs 36.35 crore for improvement of roads, parking places and infrastructure facilities including Rs 18.15 crore for roads/parking places in Chandigarh and Manimajra, Rs 6 crore for concrete roads in a few sectors of Chandigarh, Rs 5.70 crore for improvement of infrastructure facilities in Sector 9, 17, 19 & 22. Markets, Rs 3 crore for parking place for tourist buses in city, Rs 3.50 crore for provision for pedestrian pathways around parks located on V-6 roads. The F&CC also approved to spend about Rs 35 crore for acquisition cost of land in various villages of Chandigarh and Manimajra, Rs 50 lakh for marriage palace in the city and Rs 7.40 crore for street light improvement. The committee also proposes to spend Rs 4 crore for improvement and augmentation of infrastructural facilities to rehabilitate colonies, Rs 4 crore for improvement and augmentation of infrastructural facilities in four villages of Chandigarh, Rs 1.95 crore for storm water drainage, Rs 1 crore for multi storied parking facilities.
|
|
|
Experts dwell on caste discrimination in India
Chandigarh, February 15 Speaking on the ‘Caste Question in Punjab and Haryana: A Subaltern Perspective’ organised by the Department of Sociology, Prof Atma Ram quoted renowned historian D.D. Kosambi emphasising that the Indian caste system can be understood looking at it holistically. Initiating the discussion, Prof Manjit Singh, Coordinator of the seminar, highlighted the importance of understanding of caste question in India, not only from the sociological perspective but also from the perspective of Indian politics in a democratic set-up and the Indian economy in an era of globalisation. Mr Atma Ram said during Buddha’s time there were more severe caste disabilities and caste discrimination in the agriculturally prosperous regions. “While there are various theories on the origin of caste system in India, it is difficult to say with certainty what really precipitated the Indian social system to be divided by the varna and the caste system,” he said. French Sociologist Loius Dumont, a structuralist has attributed the caste system to religion with the discriminating criteria being the purity-impurity binary. “Dr Ambedkar has clearly mentioned in ‘Annihilation of caste’ that Caste system has drawn its legitimacy from the Vedas and Indian scriptures. The fear of the ‘spiritual’ led to the consolidation of caste system in India,” said Prof Atma Ram, adding that it was for this same reason Dr Ambedkar found the solution to the caste system in renouncing Hinduism and joining Buddhism. “How far can conversion be an end to caste system is
worth-reflecting. It is worth-noting here that 5 lakh Dalits converted to Buddhism are, however, still availing ‘reservation benefits’,” said Mr Atma Ram. “If we are honest in our struggle against the caste system, it is important to understand the ideology of the established political parties whose purpose is entirely different,” he cautioned. During a discussion that followed the seminar, Dr Lalan Baghel pointed out that there was a need to make a distinction between the identity movement and anti-caste movement. “It goes to the credit of Dr Ambedkar that he became the first person in India history who gave a clarion call to end caste system in India. The caste system in Punjab and Haryana is as strong as ever. In Punjab, though there was adharmi movement but its scope remained limited to the Doaba region and could not achieve larger impact,” he rued, adding that many Dalits of other regions in Punjab do not know even the existence of the movement.
|
|
‘Stamp on marriage a move against gender bias’
Chandigarh, February 15 A majority of them feel that this will reduce fake marriages, protect the rights of women, especially the underprivileged, and go a long way in reducing matrimonial disputes by placing men and women on an equal footing. Many people Chandigarh Tribune spoke to hailed the move and said this was in the best interests of all concerned. Registration of marriages was recommended and practised in several communities, but it was not mandatory.
Section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, too provided for it, but it was at the sole discretion of parties to get their marriage registered, said Mr Charanjit Sharma, a city-based lawyer. He said in the absence of registration, it was difficult to prove the existence of a marriage. It would help in facilitating proof of marriage and provide stability to the institution by curbing bigamy, he said. He further said registration might prove inconvenient and expensive for the downtrodden, poor sections of society and people living in remote areas.
The Centre, state governments and union territories should ensure that registration did not become an instrument of corruption in the hands of registration authorities to extort money, he said. The procedure should be simple and transparent and the power could be delegated to gram panchayats and other local bodies, he said. Ms Yogita of the Housing Welfare Society, Sector 38 (West), said it would check exploitation of poor women by non-resident Indians and have a psychological fear in the minds of all parties concerned.
It was not a foolproof method, but would go a long way in maintaining the sanctity of marriage, she said. This judgment was timely and relevant, said Dr Ramesh Salhan, a Mohali-based doctor. Bigamy was an offence, but because of complexities and cumbersome legal procedures, persons practising it went unpunished, he said. Now it would go a long way in eradicating the evil of bigamy, he said.
Ms Harjinder Kaur, an MC councillor, said it was a positive move, but educating people about their matrimonial rights would help more, she said. It would go a long way in curbing matrimonial disputes and it was important to make rural and uneducated people aware about the Supreme Court ruling, she said.
Mr Sumeet Sehgal of the District Bar Association, said it would check fake marriages and protect rights of married women. The process of registration should be simplified so that couples and their families were not harassed, he said. It ensured that in case of a matrimonial dispute, the party affected got the benefits laid down under the law, he said.
|
|
Housing UT’s top priority
Chandigarh, February 15 The allocation under the Plan head in the next fiscal is about Rs 15 crore higher, compared to Rs 79.35 crore in the current financial year. Out of Rs 69.32 crore under the sub head of ‘others’ in the non-plan category, a substantial amount will be spent on land acquisition, sources say. A sum of Rs 26.55 crore has been earmarked under the sub-head of ‘others’ in the Plan category. A sizeable portion of this fund is also meant to be spent on land acquisition by the administration for new projects. Housing occupies the prime spot in the list of allocations out of the land occupied after acquisition. The Budget under the Plan category for the next financial year is earmarked at Rs 216.66 crore as compared to Rs 197.96 crore in the current financial year (2005-2006). Education, health, police and transport departments will get a hike in their Budget allocation as compared to the last financial year. The total allocation under the non-Plan category is Rs 1107.15 crore. Under the Plan head, police gets Rs 2.50 crore against Rs 2.25 crore in the current financial year; education gets Rs 32.51 crore against Rs 28.64 crore in the current year; health Rs 34.51 crore against Rs 32.79 crore in the current year; and transport gets Rs 6.25 crore against Rs 4.60 crore in the current year. The Departments of Labour will get Rs 71 lakh, secretariat gets Rs 8 lakh and Rs 19.16 crore is for energy. Perhaps, energy is the only field, which has seen a downward trend in the planned expenditure against Rs 22.60 crore in the current year. It is worth mentioning that a sizeable part of the allocation under the non-plan category goes in for the payment of salary and other benefits to the employees while the Budget under the Plan head has the maximum
allocations for new projects. Under the non-Plan category, secretariat gets Rs 3.33 crore, police Rs 80.58 crore, education Rs 169.37 crore and health gets Rs 58.84 crore.
|
|
HUDA house scheme last date Feb 20
Panchkula, February 15 Though HUDA had extended the last date for
registration from February 14 to February 28, they have now said registration of Cooperative Group Housing Societies is a time-consuming process and a number of documents are to be examined by the assistant registrar of cooperative societies concerned. It has thus been decided to fix February 20 as the last date for receiving applications and all such applications would be disposed of as expeditiously as possible by February 25. The registration of the GHS would be done on first-come-first-served basis.
Gym at HAFED
The Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (HAFED) today opened a gymnasium for its employees in its corporate office building in Sector 5. The gymnasium was inaugurated by Mr K.S. Bhoria, Chairman, Hafed and Financial Commissioner Cooperation, Haryana. He impressed upon the employees of the federation, the importance of fitness and exercise in a stress-filled working schedule.
|
|
Protest by PSEB staff
Mohali, February 15 The protesters resorted to a two-hour pen-down and tool-down strike in response to a call given by the Joint Action Coordination Committee,
Punjab. They said the management had adopted an anti-employee policy and
was not considering the demands of the employees. The committee condemned the activities of some unions, which had indulged in talks with the management to postpone the two-day strike, scheduled to start today. The employees demanded that the management not go ahead with privatisation, reject the Electricity Bill, 2003, and provide jobs for those who died while at work.
|
|
Fest of Gardens from Feb 24
Chandigarh, February 15 In order to entertain the visitors, a Hasya Kavi Sammelan will be organised on February 25 and popular Bollywood playback singer and performer Sonu Nigam will enthrall the people. It has been decided by the Chandigarh administration that no commercial stalls will be put up during the festival, this year. However, eatable exhibits will be put by the Institute of Hotel Management, Food Craft Institute and CITCO to cater to the visitors.
|
|
Need for O+ blood
Chandigarh, February 15
|
|
Inspector held for graft
Chandigarh, February 15 The raid was conducted by the flying squad of the Director-General of Police on a complaint received from a resident of Sector 25, Panchkula. According to Mr Rajesh Duggal, DSP, the Inspector, Surinder Pal Singh, was arrested when he allegedly went to the house of the complainant, Mr Vipin Kumar, to deliver the registration certificate of the society promoted by him and to collect the bribe amount of Rs 25,000. Mr Kumar, who is a property dealer, had applied for the registration of the Pink Rose Cooperative Group Housing Society for which he paid the official fee. The Inspector allegedly demanded Rs 25,000 from him for registering the society. He also promised Mr Kumar that he
would deliver the registration certificate at his house. Mr Kumar informed the DGP, Mr Nirmal Singh, who asked Mr Duggal to lay a trap. The Inspector was arrested after he allegedly accepted the money from the complainant.
|
|
ASI held for demanding bribe
Panchkula, February 15 While Avinash had paid Rs 30,000 to the ASI, he was asked to pay an installment of Rs 15,000 today. The team of the VB arrived after Avinash had handed over money, which was found lying with the wireless operator. During interrogation, the ASI admitted to having taken bribe. A case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
|
|
Chandikrit opened
Chandigarh, February 15 As many as 50 stalls, put up by industrialists of the city, showcasing a wide range of products manufactured by pollution (2) free small scale industries of the city have been put on display. The exhibition has been organised to promote local industry and the participants are expecting good exposure and response to their products. It is worth mentioning that the city has 1934 small scale industrial units apart from nine medium and large scale units. During the fair, school children will also participate in a quiz competition on February 16 and an on the spot painting competition on February 17. Students of KB DAV School, Sector 7 and Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School, Sector 27 presented welcome song and a Rajasthani and Punjabi folk dance. Mr Krishna Mohan, Home-cum-Industry Secretary, Mr R.K. Rao, Deputy Commissioner, Ms Swati Sharma; the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (East), Mr P.S. Shergill, the Director, Industries, Ms Amandeep Kaur, the Director, Social Welfare and representatives of the Industrial Associations of Chandigarh were also present on the occasion.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
