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Two claimants to post of jatha chief
Amritsar, March 12 A large number of leaders from various political and religious parties from India and abroad, including the Jathedars of Akal Takht and Kesgarh Sahib, SGPC President, Congress and Akali leaders, were present at the ceremony. Dr Sant Parkash Singh Dhillon and Mr Gurdit Singh Bal, son and brother -in-law of Bhai Ram Singh, had to disconnect the mike (public address system) when a group , loyal to Bhai Surat Singh Puranji made attempts to announce Jathedar of Akhan Kirtani Jatha. Bhai Baldev Singh claimed to be the real Jathedar of the AKJ though Puranji had already been announced successor of Bhai Ram Singh at the time of his cremation a few days ago. Bhai Baldev Singh said the appointment of the Jathedar in the cremation ground was in gross violation of the Sikh Rehat Maryada. The family members came forward to stop the two warring groups to use the bhog ceremony for 'political purposes'. They had a tough time persuading the groups that it was a 'family function' and not one organised by the AKJ. Earlier, Damdami Taksal had split over the issue of successor of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Later, both the warring groups held separate press conferences where allegations and counter-allegations were made over the succession issue. Giani Baldev Singh gave certain documentary proofs to substantiate his claim that he was appointed successor by Bhai Ram Singh during his lifetime. However, the group loyal to Giani Puranji alleged that Giani Baldev Singh was 'expelled' from the AKJ last year when he had arbitrarily announced that he was the Jathedar of the AKJ.
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Air-India to double frequency of Amritsar-Toronto flight
Chandigarh, March 12 Now this flight will be available on all days of a week except Tuesday. A formal announcement about doubling of the frequency of this flight will be made when the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Air-India, Mr V. Thulasidas, visits Chandigarh on March 18. It will be his first visit to the city. In fact, for a long time no CMD of Air-India has visited either Chandigarh or Punjab for a long time. One of the reasons given for increasing the frequency of the Delhi-Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto flight has been the overwhelming response from air passengers of the region. So much so that all flights out of Amritsar for the next couple of months are already almost booked. The new six-day-a-week schedule of the Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto flight will become operational from May 1. Last year, the national carrier had resumed its international operations from Amritsar after a gap of more than two decades. The earlier “Balle Balle Birmingham” flight which used to connect Amritsar with Moscow and London was discontinued in the aftermath of Operation Bluestar in 1984. In between, the experiment of spoke-in-hub flights connecting Amritsar with Delhi by Indian Airline flights did not work well. Air passengers from the region proved all earlier apprehensions of an international flight from Amritsar to the Western sphere to be financially unviable wrong with their overwhelming response. Other than Air-India, Singapore Airlines also connects Amritsar with the Eastern sphere with a flight to Singapore, opening new avenues for travellers from the region to various destinations not only in East and South East Asia but also down under — Australia and New Zealand — and also the Americas. During his visit, Mr V. Thulasidas may also announce the intentions of Air-India Express, a subsidiary of Air-India, to introduce a new Amritsar-Dubai flight. At present, Indian Airlines operates a flight to Sharjah from Amritsar. Some other international carriers are also viewing Amritsar as a possible destination for increasing their operations in North India. British Airways and Malaysian are among the probable carriers who have got feasibilities of making Amritsar as an additional hub of their ex-India operations studied.
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Kiosk owners threaten immolation
Amritsar, March 12 The campaign against the probable demolition of kiosks is being spearheaded by certain municipal councillors and opposition leaders, including Ms Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, state vice-president, BJP. All shopkeepers downed their shutters to express their solidarity with the kiosk owners. The senior leaders, especially opposition parties chose to use the occasion to make political speeches against district administration , municipal corporation and ruling Congress. The police in mufti have been keeping strict vigil while traffic has been diverted, putting the common man to inconvenience. There are as many as 27 kiosks, near the historical Gurdwara Pipli Sahib.
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Sarbjit case: Bhikhiwind residents block traffic
Tarn Taran, March 12 Sarbjit was held responsible for bomb blasts in Pakistan. Traffic was disrupted for hours due to the dharna. Activists of the SAD, CPI, CPM, CPM (Pasla), Lok Bhalai Party and the Congress, while addressing the gathering, called upon the Union Government to make efforts for his release. Ms Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit, said the residents would again stage a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Amritsar on March 15. She said advocate Rana Abdul Hamid would meet Sarbjit tomorrow to get his consent for submitting the mercy appeal to the Pakistan
President.
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Four arrested for stealing 500 cases of Army rum
Sangrur, March 12 Giving this information here yesterday, Mr Harinder Singh Chahal, SSP, Sangrur, said a private truck carrying 500 cases of rum had departed from Rampur (Uttar Pradesh) on February 20 last for Jammu and Kashmir to supply the rum to the Army there. However, the trucker did not carry the consignment to Jammu and Kashmir and instead decided to sell the rum in the market, he added. Mr Chahal said the district police had arrested four persons in this connection so far while seven others were still at large. The police had also seized two Canters used in transporting the rum. The names of the arrested persons are Satar Mohammad, Fariad Khan, Jasbir Singh and Roshan Din while the absconding persons are Sahid Khan, Hanif Mohammad, Buta Khan, Kaali, Riaz and Goldy. The SSP said it was also learnt that the accused had supplied a major part of the 500 cases to one Harpal Singh in Sector 26 in Chandigarh. He said the Malerkotla police had recovered eight cases of rum while the CIA Staff of Bahadur Singh Wala had recovered 10 cases of rum. He further said the Malerkotla police and the CIA staff had seized one Canter each used for transporting the rum by the accused. He also said the police had also seized one and a half kg of opium from Mohammad Sadeeq, a resident of Bhudan village. The police has registered a case against Mohammad Sadeeq under Sections 18/61/85 of the NDPS Act.
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I-T notice to bank having Darbar Sahib’s account flayed
Chandigarh, March 12 The president of the Foundation, Mr Jaswant Singh Mann, said such a notice took away the protection given to the sanctum sanctorum of the Sikhs. He added that precious items of Sikh heritage, like manuscripts, documents and religious scriptures taken away by the Indian Army in 1984, were yet to be returned. The foundation has called for a special recruit drive of Sikh youth be taken up in civil areas besides military and paramilitary forces. The foundation has demanded that a commission be set up to review the political, religious and cultural grievances of the Sikhs, which have multiplied over the years. Also the issue of forming a separate Sikh identity that was not part of the Hindu religion be taken up, it demanded.
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Dal Khalsa launches march
Amritsar March 12 Before launching the March, Dal Khalsa alleged that certain forces were out to assimilate distinct identity of the Sikhs. The march began after performing ardas at Akal Takht. Carrying saffron flags, they urged their fellow brethren to dedicate the current year in upholding the honour and dignity of the Sikhs as a 'nation'. President of Dal Khalsa Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib called upon the Sikhs to adhere to Sikh principles, culture and traditions. He said the objective of the march was to correct all wrongs that had crept into Sikhism. Dal Khalsa had initiated a process to educate masses by undertaking such marches. Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu, president of Shiromani Khalsa Dal, said there was a need to change the existing political culture of the Sikh polity so as to instill pride in Sikh youth about their identity. In his address, he condemned the state for repeatedly trying to crush the democratic aspirations of the 'Sikh nation'. He said though the UN and even the Indian Constitution allowed us to express views and hold independent thought, yet it was being denied to minorities, he pointed out. Veteran SGPC member, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, who was present on the occasion said this 'historic march' of dedicated Sikh youth to Anandpur Sahib on the eve of Hola Mohalla, a festival of Charhdi Kala (high spirits) would go a long way to make Sikhs conscious of their identity and give a befitting reply to the forces that were bent upon to erode them. He said even today Anandpur Sahib was a symbol of 'liberty' and justice. Mr Kanwar Pal Singh , general secretary, Dal Khalsa, said while on one hand Dr Manmohan Singh had initiated a dialogue with Hurriyat leaders who sought independence for Kashmir, on the other hand, Sikh leaders who were espousing for the same for their community had to face humiliation, including imprisonment. This showed the 'double standard' of the Indian democracy, he alleged .
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Govt decision on health centres flayed
Nabha, March 12 According to the decision, a doctor will get Rs 30,000 per month and he will arrange a paramedic, a sewadar/sweeper along with pay water and electricity bills. The contract can be terminated at a month’s notice. The government claimed that it was an attempt to strengthen health services in the rural sector and empower the Panchayati Raj. There are apprehensions of a large-scale uprooting of the staff presently working in these health centres. Staff members have started using their contacts to stop his or her transfer to villages, in case it happens. Terming it as an act of degradation of the medical occupation, the Punjab Civil and Medical Services Association (PCMSA) has condemned filling of the posts of the doctor on contract. While talking to this correspondent over telephone, Dr Harish Malhotra, president of the PCMSA, Patiala, said now no doctor would dream of sending their siblings to medical profession as a doctor would be left at the mercy of a sarpanch, majority of whom were illiterate. He said the three-year proposed contract between the service provider (doctor) and Zila Parishad would only enhance corruption and blackmailing as the doctor opting this contract would be forced to obey the commands of sarpanchs in order to get his contract renewed. He said the government had not recruited any doctor after 1998-99 and the services of those recruited at that time were not regularised till date. Dr Malhotra said a large number of posts of doctor were lying vacant throughout the state. He said the PCMSA opposed government decision to fill these vacancies on contract basis and would organise protest rallies at Civil Surgeon offices in the state. Mr Sham Lal Sharma, president of the Punjab State Pharmacists Association said their association demanded the withdrawal of the decision of handing over health centres to Zila Parishads. He said the association would stage a dharna in front of the office of the Director, Health Services, on March 28. The Paramedical and Health Workers Employees Union, Punjab, have also decided to burn effigies of the state government at block levels from today to March 22. Union’s secretary Narinder Mohan Sharma told this correspondent that to compel the government to withdraw the decision, rallies would be organized on March 24 at the district levels in the entire state. The Punjab State Ophthalmic Officers Association also condemned the decision of the government.
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Blood Donors Council set up
Amritsar, March 12 Mr Manjit Singh, Chairman, Bhai Ghaniya Ji Mission Society, said the council would hold its first blood donation camp on the birth anniversary of the Khalsa — April 13 — on the Golden Temple complex. He said for effecting this change, reputed NGOs had been invited from all over the state. One of them was Prof H.L. Bansal, Chairman of the Punjab AIDS Control Organisation, from Rampura Phul, who succeeded in enrolling more than 15 per cent of town’s population as blood donors. He said though the major cities of the state had a number of reputed hospitals, there was shortage of blood due to lack of enthusiasm for donating blood.
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Truck operators reach compromise
Nangal, March 11 Besides, the assurance given to the truck operators that the compensation would be given to the family members of the truck operator killed and to those injured in the police firing by the Himachal police on March 5 at Goalthai in Bilaspur (H.P). The action would be taken against the police personnel if they were found guilty of not handling the situation on the day of the incident. The decision was taken in a meeting which continued for about three hours. Those who attended the meeting were Forest Minister and local MLA Bilaspur (H.P) Thakur Ram Lal, MLA Nangal and Parliamentary Secretary Industries and Commerce, K.P.S Rana, SSP, Ropar, Mr Surinder Pal Singh Virk, Punjab state Truck operators president, Tarlochan Singh Parmar, president of the Nangal truck operator, Mr Ravinder Singh Bitta and senior police officials of Himachal. "Besides others, it was also decided that only the local truck operators of Goalthai will carry the goods from the Industries. Neither Nangal truck operators nor Barmana would work here, Mr Lal told The Tribune. "Firing incident is unfortunate. With the help of Himachal Government and locals of Nangal we have managed to solve the dispute. It is also decided that the trucks and other two wheelers of Nangal truck operators which were left at Goalthai after the clash will be returned to them" Mr Rana said. "We have been making effort that the compensation be given to the truck operators who suffered in the police firing" he added. Since yesterday the truck operators had prevented the entry of the trucks from Himachal Pardesh in the
state. After the police firing at Goalthai tension had prevailed here for the past one week on the border area of Punjab and Himachal. The truck operators of Nangal and Barmana had clashed here to prove their rights to run their offices in Goalthai. The truck operators have demanded withdrawal of all the cases registered against them.
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Seminar on railway safety a flop
Abohar, March 12 The Divisional Railway Office had selected only Abohar on the Bathinda - Sriganganagar section to educate people through sarpanches and other elected representatives but the local authorities preferred not to inform either of them, sources said. Some sarpanches while expressing resentment over the apathy of the local Railway staff today said on the phone that maximum number of causalities were reported in this region during the past five years but the Railways did not bother to convert half a dozen unmanned crossings in to manned-ones. A school van carrying more than 24 students had rammed in to a passenger train on the unmanned railway crossing near Pakki village. Again all villagers travelling by a tractor-trailer were crushed as a train hit the vehicle in broad daylight. The accident had made Mr Vinod Karan, staff correspondent of a leading national daily physically handicapped as he rushed to cover the mishap. Six more such accidents were on record. The Railways had once exhorted the members of the Parliament to make contributions from their MP Local area Development Funds for raising the manned-level crossings but none responded to the appeal made, they rued. It was unfortunate that the maiden seminar organised by the Railways had failed in meeting the goal, they added.
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Villagers checked for hepatitis
Nabha, March 12 Though some residents claim that the disease is hepatitis-C, the health authorities say that the disease is not epidemic as only a few persons are found to be suffering from it. Villagers claim that six persons, including two women, have died of the disease in the past two or three months. Dr B. S. Mohi, Civil Surgeon, Patiala, that the residents of the villages became panicky when Darshan and Mohinder Kaur of Babarpur were admitted to various hospitals for the treatment of their hepatitis-like disease. Later, both died. He said that Darshan Singh died of liver damage due to alcoholism while Mohinder Kaur died of liver cancer. He admitted that she was also suffering from hepatitis-C but that was due to cancer. Acting upon the media reports, he constituted a rapid action group comprising 41 doctors and conducted a thorough survey of the Babarpur village on Friday. He said each and every resident was tested and one person was found to be suffering from hepatitis-B and two from hepatitis-C. He said the team also raided the clinics of some quacks but many of them escaped while hearing the news of team’s visit. He said that the team also made the villagers aware about the preventive measures, symptoms and other aspects of the disease. Dr Mohi said that similar survey was also conducted in some villages of Bhadson block but no case of the disease was reported. He said that he had ordered the hospitals and dispensaries of Patiala district to conduct a survey. He claimed that the situation was under control.
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Six of a family reconverted
Amritsar, March 12 Mr Somraj, his wife, Rajrani, and their four children joined
the religion after the “shudhikaran” ceremony which was performed by Sant Swami Swarupa Nand. When asked whether there was a procedure in
their religion to rejoin the fold, Swami Swarupa Nand said “shudhikaran” was a process enshrined in Karamkand of Yajurveda. Mr Somraj (40) said his family got converted to
another religion some 20 years ago. He said that he and his family were not converting under any type of pressure or allurement. However, gifts were given to the family during the ceremony.
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MC chief held, bailed out
Barnala, March 12 The Finance Minister, Mr Surinder Singla, was also present at the function. As soon as the minister left the venue, the police arrested Sharma. The police raided Sharma’s residence on Friday to arrest him along with other leaders in connection with a case registered against them on February 2.
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Rs 60,000 looted from traders
Tarn Taran, March 12 The Sadar police has registered a case under Sections 382 and 34, IPC, in this regards. Police sources said today that Ashwani Kumar along with his associates was coming back to Tarn Taran from Patti side after collecting money for the material supplied to shopkeepers. They were coming on a three-wheeler (PB-02-AK, 9592). When they reached Jandoke Sarhali village, four armed persons attacked them and a DATAR as a results snatched Rs 60,000 from them and ran away.
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3 killed in accident
Pathankot, March 12 The accident took place 3 km from Pathankot at a blind turn on the Pathankot-Mukerian road. The deceased are Suraj Prakash, lecturer at an ayurvedic college in Jalandhar, his son Shivang and driver of the car Bhupinder Singh. Puja, wife of Suraj Prakash, and her daughter Vidhu were injured seriously and shifted to the DMC, Ludhiana. The affected family belongs to the Model Town area of Hoshiarpur while the driver belonged to Tarapur village, near Hoshiarpur. Sources said the family was coming from Vaishno Devi. The Himachal Pradesh police has registered a case.
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Lover saved from being hanged
Kharar, March
12 While the girl’s friend, Satnam Singh, has been admitted to
the hospital, the brother of the girl, Sukhdev Singh, has been arrested
along with two of his friends. Another one of his friends, however,
managed to escape. According to DSP Rajbachan Singh Sandhu, the
incident took place late last night when neighbours of the girl called
the police complaining of a fight at her house. “A police team
reached the scene and found four persons thrashing another man. The
victim had multiple injuries. The youths were tying a rope around the
fan to hang the man,” he said. Later, it was found that Satnam Singh,
a Home Guard posted at Chandigarh, was allegedly having a relationship
with the girl and the two had been seeing each other for some time
now. He had been called by the girl to her house thinking that she
would be alone. “However, the girl’s brother came home and found
Satnam and his sister together. He got infuriated and called his friends
over to teach him a lesson. The four then beat Satnam up. After having
thrashed him, they decided to kill him and tied a rope around the fan to
hang him in order to pass it off as suicide. This was when the police
reached and brought the situation under control,” said Mr Sandhu.
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Seminar on research in education
Amritsar, March 12 Dr H. S. Soch, former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, presided over the conference. Speaking on the occasion, he emphasised to promote the creation of knowledge rather than mere dissemination of knowledge through quality education and quality research. Delivering the keynote address, Dr Pritam Singh, former Principal, Khalsa College of Education, said the quality of research had to be strengthened particularly at the higher level of education. Earlier, Dr Aruna Anand, Principal of the college, welcomed the delegates and the participants. About 100 delegates attended the college while more than 40 papers were presented on the occasion.
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Singla gives prizes to students
Barnala, March 12 Mr Singla made it clear that the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, was striving to modernise Punjab so that it could be a vigorous part of India. Mr Singla gave away prizes to the students of the college excelling in academics and extra-mural activities. Mr Jatinder Nath Sharma, general secretary of the college managing committee, welcomed the gathering.
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Commerce students get degrees
Amritsar, March 12 If the country desired to sustain the economic growth of over 8 per cent annually, it would have to pay due attention to education, stressed Ms Sushma Berlia, president of the PHD Chamber of Commerce, while delivering her address at the Economics, Business and Commerce Faculty Convocation of Guru Nanak Dev University here today. She said if India wanted to achieve the magic growth rate of 10 per cent, it would have to find ways and means of improving the competitiveness of its manufacturing sector, enhance productivity and upgrade its technology to meet global requirements. Ms Berlia felt that the problem of rising unemployment could be addressed through entrepreneurship. She inspired the educated youth to aspire for entrepreneurship rather than conventional employment. She added that education must build the character of students and instill in them human values like truth, humanity, loyalty, courage and discipline. Dr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, presided over the convocation and said the Punjab School of Economics of the university had been selected by the University Grants Commission under the Special Assistance Programme (SAP) for a grant of Rs 18 lakh.
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Without salary for six months
Batala, March 12 They said there were more than 10,000 employees who included teaching and non-teaching staff. They further said that in some schools the staff had not been paid salaries for more than nine months.
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Pak, India teachers agree on forming body
Patiala, March 12 The event followed the holding of a two-day seminar on “Society and Development Communication”, organised by university’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. The proposal was mooted by university teachers Dr Harjinder Walia, under whose chairmanship the meeting was held, and Dr Gurmeet Maan and approved by Dr Shafiq Jalandhari, Professor and former Head Department of Mass Communication, Lahore University, Dr Azmat Rasul and Dr Zarka Ali. Later during a seminar on “Role of media in the peace process”, Dr Jalandhari said media had played a positive role by making people more aware about their social environment.
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Toppers honoured at CMTR annual function
Kharar, March 12 Mr S.K. Salwan, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Technical University, was the chief guest. Students also organised a cultural show on the occasion. Welcoming the chief guest, Mr Vipin K. Dewan, Director, CMTR, read the institute’s annual report and said alumni of the CMTR had proved their mettle in the industry and last batch was placed in some of the best corporates in this area. The function started with the lighting of a lamp by Dr S.K. Salwan, which was followed by Saraswati Vandana performed by Volga, Swati Sharma, Yugeet Sharma, Gurpeet Singh, Karan Singal, Dinesh, Simrata Gandoke, Shail Sharma. The function witnessed some excellent dance performances and songs. Different items were performed by students like Radha dance, Rajasthani dance, Marathi dance, western dance, English play, etc. All students, staff members and guests were being kept on their toes with Punjabi ‘boliyaan’, Bhangra and innovative skits and Parodies. Prizes were distributed to the students for their excellence in academic, sports, quiz etc. Gurpreet Kaur got the first prize and Samridhi Dhawan got the second prize in academics for 2003-2005 session. Samridhi Dhawan was first and Harmeet Kaur stood second in the list of students of 4th semester of 2003-2004. For the session 2004-2006, Reetu Babbar and Nidhi Gupta of 2nd semester won the first and second prize respectively. A team of Rinu, Rohitesh Pandey and Rajesh Dhingra bagged the 1st position whereas team of Bhanu Sondhi, Jagdeep Singh and Deepak Thakur got 2nd prize in the quiz competition. Jagdeep Singh topped the charts in boys' single table tennis while Manish Chandel bagged the second position. In girls' single Preeti Chaudhray and Sonia Pathak won the first and second prize, respectively. The top slot of the boys’ double was secured by Jagdeep Singh and Yogesh Sharma while Lalit Sharma and Tarun Saini got the second prize. Amandeep Arora and Priti Chaudhary topped the list of mixed double and Lalit Sharma and Sonia Pathak won the second prize. Anjali Anand, Mandeep, Sheetal, Santosh, Ruchika Garg, Inderpal Singh got the prizes for hundred percent attendance in the session. Addressing the gathering, Dr S.K. Salwan congratulated the prize winners. He also appreciated the efforts of the students and staff members for organising a wonderful function. He admired the hard work of the teachers who helped the students in bringing out their best not only in academics but also developing their all-round personality. The function came to an end with the vote of thanks proposed by Brigadier Z.S. Dhaliwal.
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