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Smuggled liquor now travels on state roadways buses
No foreign language course in schools of Doaba
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‘Abolition of octroi by state government not the right step’
Deadlock in RCF continues
Chief Minister releases documentary on PAP
Youth stabbed to death
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Smuggled liquor now travels on state roadways buses
Phagwara, February 19 He said that since the vehicles were released only after the fine was paid, these smugglers prefer government buses to transport liquor consignments. “But we have increased the vigil.” Sources say smugglers pose as tourists and carry big bags, which generally contain the consignment. They start from various places in Himachal Pradesh and travel across Haryana and Punjab, sources add. They say that since government buses are not checked that often, it becomes easy for them to smuggle liquor. Sources add that in cases where liquor was recovered from private cars hired or owned by smugglers, the penalty imposed against the smugglers is more than the value of the liquor and the vehicles are attached for the recovery. Hence, the smugglers, who do not wish to get into long litigation, are forced to pay the fine. Now, except confiscated liquor, they do not have anything “expensive,” which can be attached by the officials for effecting recovery, and hence they tend to negotiate at the highest official level and prefer to go in for the litigation, sources add. Last year, the Excise and Taxation Department busted various inter-state rackets of liquor smuggling in Punjab. |
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No foreign language course in schools of Doaba
Jalandhar, February 19 As such, citing this as a reason, none of the CBSE-affiliated schools here have come forward to apply for the course that would start in the coming session. While CBSE is already offering a number of foreign languages in its curriculum, none of these are being taught here. Most of the students in Doaba thus rely upon a few private foreign language teaching centres, most of which charge exorbitant fees. Significantly, this is for the first time that CBSE has included an East-Asian language in its syllabi. The board, in its circular to all the affiliated schools, has specified that Japanese was being introduced to help the students avail better job opportunities. The CBSE officials have also stated that there has been a boom in the ITES industry, thus increasing the demand for personnel who are well-versed in Japanese. Indo-Japan collaborations have touched new heights ever since there have been reciprocal visits by the Prime Ministers of the two countries, the note states. It has also been mentioned that the teaching of the language would help in improving cross-cultural understanding between the two Asian countries. It would give impetus to India’s increasing economic and cultural ties with Japan, the CBSE circular adds. It also says that Japan could become one of the new destinations for Indian students in pursuit of higher education abroad. The CBSE is also planning to hold a short-term teacher-training course as a supporting strategy. But the local schools have not shown much keenness. “We want to start the course, but getting suitable faculty is a problem,” Principal of the Apeejay School, Ms Ranjana Sood, said. “Most language teachers are concentrated in metros and none will be ready to come to Jalandhar.” However, Principal of the MGN Public School, Ms J. Gill, seemed more keen on teaching French to the students. She said the school had wards of many NRIs. “Their parents have long been demanding the introduction of French as a subject. We’re more keen in starting a course in this language before we go in for Japanese,” she added. Ms Bowry, Principal, Innocent Heart School, said that arranging faculty for teaching Japanese was the real problem. “We will advertise for the same in March and if we get a suitable teacher, we are ready to provide him or her lodging and start the course in Japanese from the coming session.” |
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‘Abolition of octroi by state government not the right step’
Phagwara, February 19 Noted advocate from Nawanshahr, Mr J.P. Gupta, said, “If people would be made to pay an alternative tax, what is the point in abolishing octroi?” He added that there would be no benefit to the people. “Instead they would be made to pay the same amount some other way,” Mr Gupta said. Mr Ashok Sharma, a Phagwara-based leading stockist, said that instead of abolishing octroi, the government should abolish the contract system in octroi. He alleged that octroi contractors harassed traders and businessmen. Mr S.K. Sharma, an industrialist, was of the view that instead of abolishing octroi, the government should abolish transit passes, which were a “headache” to truckers carrying goods. He said the government should make arrangements for collecting the fee at a single point. A city-based doctor was of the view that abolishing octroi would be a “setback” to the democratic system. He said that the municipalities were the roots of democracy and snatching the right of collecting funds like octroi from them would not be in favour of development. He said that after abolishing octroi, the municipal bodies would be at the mercy of government authorities to get funds. Former Punjab Minister, Mr Dalip Singh, alleged that the Congress had “stolen the idea floated by the Akali-BJP government” and put it into its own manifesto. “During their four-year rule, they did not talk about it. But now, when elections are approaching, the Congress leaders have started making all sorts of promises to attract people.” He said the government had already implemented VAT and after that it had no right to collect entry tax or to impose any other alternative tax in place of octroi. A senior advocate from Jalandhar said that octroi was a major source of income for cities and towns, and the general public never took it as a burden. |
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Deadlock in RCF continues
Kapurthala, February 19 In a press release issued by the council and the union, Mr Brij Mohan, joint secretary, Staff Council, and Mr Hari Dutt, president of the Mazdoor Union, claimed that after the joint secretary refused to write the apology, Mr Yash Pal Gupta, the RCF General Manager, instructed the authority concerned to accept the resignations submitted by the elected Staff Council members en-masse on January 10. The leaders claimed that Mr Bhandari had asked the management to sort out the differences and initiate a dialogue with the members of the RCF Staff Council. But Mr Gurjit Singh, Public Relation Officer, clarified that the General Manager had nothing to do with the resignations of the Staff Council members. He added that the administration was keen on initiating a dialogue with the agitating employees. Meanwhile, the agitation of the members of the council entered its 17th day and their indefinite chain hunger strike entered the sixth day. |
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Chief Minister releases documentary on PAP
Jalandhar, February 19 While releasing the documentary “Kadam Kadam Kaamyaabi”, Captain Amarinder Singh lauded the role of the PAP in maintaining law and order and providing security to vital strategic installations and VIPs. The documentary would be telecast on Doordarshan at 6.30 p.m. on February 25. The documentary has been conceived by the PAP’s Additional Director General of Police, Mr Rajan Gupta, and produced by Mr Agya Pal Singh Randhawa from Jalandhar Doordarshan. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also attended a function organised by the Northern Chamber of Small and Medium Industry. Later, he visited the house of the chamber’s patron, Shital Vij, to participate in a ceremony pertaining to the marriage of the latter’s daughter. Captain Amarinder Singh, along with his media advisor, Mr B.I.S. Chahal, and Punjab Ministers, Mr Avtaar Henry, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh and Mr Mohinder Kaypee, visited the offices of two vernacular dailies, Ajit and Punjab Kesri. The Chief Minister also handed over a cheque of Rs 50 lakh for earthquake victims in Jammu and Kashmir to the Managing Editor of Ajit, Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard. |
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Youth stabbed to death
Jalandhar, February 19 According to the police, Sikandar Pal, a resident of the area, was killed after he tried to save one of his relatives, Mintu, who was being beaten up. The incident, eyewitnesses said, occurred when one Rinku, the son of the victim’s aunt, was verbally abused by some persons. To sort out the matter, he reportedly called Mintu, his brother. But when Mintu reached the spot, he was allegedly beaten up. Then, Sikandar Singh reportedly went to rescue Mintu but became a victim himself. |
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