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Car project: WB’s gain, Punjab’s loss
Chandigarh, May 14 Immediately after his impressive victory in the Assembly
elections, Mr Bhattacharjee broke the news to the people of West Bengal that Mr Tata would set up his dream car project in the state. Mr Tata, who had congratulated the West Bengal Chief Minister on his poll victory on May 11, must have said that he had decided to set up the project in West Bengal. Mr Tata has planned to manufacture a car with a price tag of only Rs 1 lakh. On March 3, Mr Tata had held a meeting here with Capt Amarinder Singh and his Cabinet colleagues. The Punjab Government had given a presentation to him with regard to the infrastructure available in the state and the progress made by it on various fronts. Later, the state government had claimed that Mr Tata was impressed by development in the state. The Punjab Government had made an open-ended offer to Mr Tata to allot land at places such as Nabha, Kapurthala and Ropar for setting up the car and other
projects. There are reports that a team of senior officials of the Tata company was shown land available at Nabha, Ropar and other places. Meanwhile,
officials of Tata Motors had also been exploring the possibility of setting up the car project in states like Haryana, Uttaranchal, Maharashtra and West Bengal. In a subtle way Tata Motors started a competition among these states to garner the maximum concessions for setting up the project. The states, which were in the race for the car project, offered liberal concessions to Tata Motors, it is
learnt. The Punjab Government was prepared to do the maximum for Tata Motors because it has been trying hard to bring some manufacturing units, which are a source of employment, to the state. Only a few days
ago, the Uttaranchal Government had offered land to Tata Motors near Pantnagar. It remains to be seen whether Mr Tata will set up some other project in Punjab. The Punjab Government was trying to bring three major projects to the state. One of these was of Tatas, the second of Volkswagen and the third of Ashok Leyland, which was to manufacture vehicles for defence purposes. There are reports that Volkswagen has opted for Maharashtra. Ashok Leyland was keen on setting up shop in Punjab.
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SGPC chief receives ‘siropa’ from encroacher on gurdwara land
Amritsar, May 14 In a hard-hitting communication, Mr Raghbir Singh, Secretary, SGPC alleged that accepting of ‘siropa’ by the SGPC coincided with the withdrawal of security (SGPC’s Task Force) from him, seemed a part of a ‘big conspiracy’ to get him (Raghbir Singh) eliminated. He alleged that the Baba might exploit the picture of the SGPC chief taking siropa from him during legal proceedings regarding encroachment upon Gurdwara property worth crores. The communication alleged that it was most unfortunate that the ‘honouring’ of the SGPC chief would embolden such Babas for ‘attacking him’ (Raghbir Singh) since he had dared to get the control Gurdwaras on the orders of Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission (SGJC). He said the jawans of the Task Force too had been withdrawn from him, thereby endangering his life. He urged the SGPC chief either restore to his security or write to the administration for providing police security. However, the SGPC chief told The Tribune the security of Mr Raghbir Singh would be restored. The SGPC president said that he had gone to the ‘Dera’ of Baba to resolve the matter amicably. He said the Baba had urged him to let sewer work be completed at his Amritsar’s ‘Dera’ which was stalled at behest of the SGPC. The four-page letter addressed to the SGPC chief, a copy of which has been sent to all members of the executive committee alleged that it was disgusting that the president opted to receive the ‘siropa’ from ‘unscrupulous person’ despite the fact that Shiromani Committee had passed numerous resolutions against such ‘Babas’ who were not working as per Sikh Maryada. Rather such persons had been encroaching upon the lands belonging to the SGPC in connivance with the senior functionaries of the Shiromani Committee. Giving background, Mr Raghbir Singh said that he was appointed receiver to take over a gurdwara belonging to a Sikh Baba on the order of the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission in 1997. He alleged that he took control of the Gurdwara from that Baba braving his armed followers. Similarly, he was again appointed receiver by the SGJC to take over the Satlani Sahib gurdwara in which four of the Shiromani Committee employees were injured in cross firing. The SGPC Secretary said that with the connivance of certain Shiromani Committee functionaries and senior officials of district police and administration, the ‘unscrupulous’ persons were exploiting legal loopholes. He alleged though Bibi Jagir Kaur, the then SGPC Chief too favoured such ‘Babas’, yet accepting of ‘siropa’ by the present incumbent (Mr Avtar Singh) may open Pandora’s box in the coming days and did not augur well for the Sikh institutions.
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5 persons beat up SHO
Hoshiarpur, May 14 Mr Kalia and Mr Raj Kumar were admitted to Civil Hospital where after providing first aid they were discharged. Shivani wife of Sandip Kumar of Gagret (Himachal Pradesh) was admitted to a local private nursing home for delivery a few days ago. Roop Chand, her father-in-law and Pushpa, her mother-in-law, were staying in the nursing home to look after her. At 1:30 am last night at least five assailants one of whom was identified as Ramandeep, an employee of Water Supply Scheme, Kalam Road Nawanshahr, came in a Maruti car (PB-010-5275) to the nursing home and enquired about Rakesh Rani mother of Shivani. When Roop Chand and his wife showed their ignorance about Rakesh Rani, they assaulted them with sharp-edged weapons and beat them up including Shivani. They also broke windowpanes of the nursing home. An employee of the nursing home informed the police station. Mr Jiwan Kumar Kalia, SHO who was on patrol on the Fatehgarh road saw the above said car coming in which assailants were going back. The SHO intercepted the car and nabbed them. All assailants were made to board the police van except driver of the car for which Mr Jiwan Kumar sent constable Gurmail Singh to accompany him to the police station. On the way they assaulted Mr Jiwan Kumar and his security guard and fled. Meanwhile injured Ms Shivani along with her father-in-law and mother-in-law were shifted to the Civil Hospital. Ms Shivani told reporters that her husband had jewellery shop at Haripur village in Kangra district (HP). Her father Rohit Verma had been living in Paris (France) for 10 years and had strained relations with her mother. Her parents were living in Nawanshahr where Raman-deeep was serving. He used to visit her mother. Sometime ago he took her mother to Amritsar. Mr R.N. Dhoke, SSP, Hoshiarpur said all accused had been identified and Gobind son of Balbir Singh of Bhalaipur Dogra (Tarn Taran) and driver Gurmit Singh son of Karam Singh of Padde had been arrested. He said the accused were running a brothel at Amritsar and wanted to take Rakesh Kumari there. He said that two different FIRs under Sections 307, 452, 323, 324, 380, 148 and 149 and Sections 397, 333 and 186 of IPC had been registered against the accused.
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Sale of spurious feed worries dairy farmers
Ropar, May 14 The farmers said that due to the sale of the adulterated milk in the market, they were getting low price from the government agency. As many as 309 farmers from Ropar, Mohali, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur and Fatehgarh districts were given cash prize and certificate by the Minister of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Tourism, Jagmohan Singh Kang, in a function here. In different categories, farmers who are producing 22 litres of milk in a single day were given cash prize of Rs 10,000, Rs 6,000 for 18 to 22 litre of milk, Rs 4,000 for 15 to 18 litres of milk, and Rs 1,000 for 15 to 12 litres of milk. Mr R.S. Kanwar, a progressive dairy farmer who is producing 5-quintals of milk per day and has won 12 awards in buffalo milking competitions said the feed of good quality was a most for good quantity milk. So instead of using impure feed available in the market, those involved in dairy farming should prepare their own feed to get better results. The sale of adulterated milk in the market was causing huge losses to the farmers. The Health Department should take samples regularly, so that those involved in the sale of adulterated milk are put behind bars, he added. Highlighting the problems faced by those involved in dairy farming, the president of the District Dairy Association, Mr Harinder Singh, said they would get the right price of milk only if the sale of adulterated milk was stopped in the market. Because of the sale of adulterated milk at low price, the dairy farmers were not getting price they deserved, he added Mr Jagmohan Kang said the government had sanctioned Rs 49 lakh to be given to more than 2,000 farmers involved in dairy farming. To check the quality of the feed, three mobile van were being put into service to collect samples of the feed available in the market. During raids, they had collected 1,100 samples so far. He said that for the benefit of the farmers, the Animal Husbandry Department was preparing feed at Patiala. Others who spoke on the occasion included local MLA, Ramesh Dutt Sharma, Chairman of the Animal Live stock Department, Mr Brij Lal Goyal, Director of Animal Husbandry, Mr B.S Sidhu and Director of Dairy Development, Anil
Kora.
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Docs to wear black badges
Patiala, May 14 In a joint press note, Dr D.S.Bhullar and Dr O. P. S. Kande, president and member of the Central Council, respectively, of the IMA, Patiala, stated that during the meeting a serious note was taken of this “ barbaric action of the police on the medical students and the anti-doctor attitude of the police and its inaction in day-to-day rising incidents of assault on doctors.” The IMA has appealed to all government and private doctors in the district to wear black badges from tomorrow. The IMA leaders have also demanded “immediate intervention of the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue and termination of the Police Commissioner of Mumbai who feigned ignorance about a lathicharge on medicos. More than 300 members of the IMA, Patiala, will observe a 24-hour token strike on May 16 and there will be a complete medical bandh throughout the district on May 25. However, the IMA has decided that emergency medical services will be operated normally.
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Medical students go on fast
Amritsar, May 14 The students locked the gates of the hospital and opened it only for patients. They also locked the orthopaedic and surgery operation theatres in the evening, which would not be operational for patients from tomorrow.
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NRI celebrates marriage with a message for society
Nawanshahr, May 14 While NRIs in abundance in the Doaba region of the state, are known for extravagance on occasions of marriages and other social functions, Mr Vijay Kumar has set an example to stop wasteful expenditure on such occasions. Mr Vijay Kumar said he had decided to solemnise his marriage without putting burden on his in-laws. He wanted to give a message: wasteful expenditure on social ceremonies should be avoided. He decided that his marriage party would go to bride’s place on bicycles to give a message to save petrol. He added he would return with his bride on the bicycle too.
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Telecom tower in cantonment despite opposition
Amritsar, May 14 In the forefront of the campaign to oppose the decision of the Army authorities, the Cambridge social activists and contemporary of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Mr Swarnjit Singh has expressed serious concern regarding security of the Army area. Mr Swarnjit Singh in a letter to Chief of the Army Staff, General
J.J. Singh had appreciated strong stand taken by him on the Google’s coverage of national security installations in the sensitive cantonment station of the country. He said the countrymen shared his concern over national security. He said in spite of opposition by the civilians and the military the Cantonment Board had allowed the erection of Airtel telecom tower in the cantonment school board complex. He said the tower was within and easy reach to the sensitive Army and Air Force radar system to the chagrin of the civilians living in the cantonment area. Former cricketer and prominent social activist of the area Swarnjit Singh also brought to the focus the poor civic amenities in the area. He said the Cantonment Board which is the apex body to look after the civic amenities of the large cantonment area was located in high Army security zone where civilians found it difficult to have access due to restriction of movement. In his letter to the Army chief, he said the Cantonment Board civilian election have not been held for past five years.
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Health staff hold protest rallies
Sangrur, May 14 This was despite putting up of nakas by the police at some places in the Lehragaga area to prevent demonstrators from reaching the minister’s residence. The police reportedly allowed the protesters to enter Lehragaga when Ms Bhattal left her residence to attend a function in a village in her Assembly constituency. The protesters also held a protest rally at the Lehragaga Community Health Centre for three hours demanding scrapping of the notification related to handing over of more than 1,100 rural dispensaries to the Zila Parishad, filling of vacant posts of doctors and paramedical staff on regular basis, regular and sufficient supply of medicines to the health institutes. The protesters also demanded the dismissal of Punjab Health Minister Ramesh Chander Dogra on account of the lathicharge on the health staff on April 30 in Hoshiarpur where about 35 health employees were injured. Mr Swarnjit Singh, general secretary, Punjab State Pharmacists Association, Mr Lal Singh Dhanaula, chairman, Coordination Committee of Paramedical and Health Employees, Mr Shyam Lal Sharma, president, Paramedical and Health Employees Union, Mr Jeet Singh Banga, state vice-president of the Class IV Government Employees Union, and Mr Krishan Lal, president of Multipurpose Health Workers Union, were among others who addressed the gathering. The health employees staged a dharna in front of the minister’s residence for about an hour and raised slogans in support of their demands and against the alleged “anti-people” and “anti-employee” policies of the government. The protesters also submitted a memorandum to the Tehsildar, Lehragaga, to be forwarded to the Chief Minister.
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Hang me instead of Sarabjit: YC leader
Amritsar, May 14 Addressing a press conference in the presence of Ms Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit, he said if there was any such provision in Pakistan, he was ready to sacrifice his life. He said he had written to Pervez Musharraf in this regard. He said he had written to the Law Ministry to take up the matter strongly. Ms Dalbir Kaur said she had written to the Pakistan President and given him a detailed case of Sarabjit. She urged President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to strongly pursue his case.
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Water supply to village resumes after a month
Tribune News Service
Ropar, May 14 The residents of the village had been facing an acute shortage of water for about a month as leakages surfaced in the pipes supplying water to the village. As a result, the villagers had to fetch water from a nearby village after covering 2 km. The Tribune had highlighted the plight of the villagers on May 11. “Within a day after the news item appeared in Chandigarh Tribune, the Health Department swung into action and repaired the pipes. The water supply started again in the village,” said the sarpanch of the village, Mr Inderjit Singh.
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Chemists to meet DGP
Jalandhar, May 14 The police had now started reviewing the cases, partly on directions of a committee comprising the DGP, the Chief Secretary, the Advocate-General and the Home Secretary. The process of review of cases had begun in Ludhiana, Bathinda and Nawanshahr. — TNS
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New team installed
Rajpura, May 14 Mr Pradeep Kamal took over as the president of the group. The chairman of the group, Mr Pradeep Nanda, highlighted the activities of the social organisation. Mr Raj Khurana, local MLA, who was the chief guest, appreciated the social services rendered by various NGOs and clubs in the town.
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Ex-MLA gets bail
Batala, May 14 A few other persons named in the cases also got the same relief, according to Mr J. S. Nayyar, manager of the educational society running the two girls’ schools control of which is the subject of feud between two political groups.
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Farmer’s electrocution: SDO, JE held
Hoshiarpur, May 14 Agitators said Mandeep Singh complained to PSEB officials two days earlier for current in the water of tubewell whenever it was switched on. But PSEB officials did not pay heed. They demanded action against the SDO and the JE, compensation for the family of the deceased from the PSEB and government job for a brother of Mandeep Singh. Later Mr Pritam Singh, Sub Divisional Magistrate (Civil) intervened and assured the agitators that they would get their demands accepted. A case under Section 304A of the IPC has been registered against Jaswinder Singh, SDO and Sukh Ram, JE of the PSEB and both had been arrested.
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Action against man for fabricating story
Moga, May 14 Mr Pawan Kumar Rai, SSP, Moga, yesterday, said that Kuldeep Singh lodged a complaint with the Bagha Purana police that three youths had “snatched” Rs 75,000 from him on May 12, near Lande village, when he was going to Wander village to make payment for the land taken on contract. During investigations, the complainant Kuldeep Singh confessed before the police that no one had snatched money from him. Rather, he had lost Rs 25,000, out of Rs 75,000, in the computer lottery business. So he fabricated this story to tell the owners of the land that the looters had snatched money from him. The SSP further said that on the information, provided by Kuldeep Singh, the police had recovered Rs 50,000 from him, which he had kept at a hidden place.
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Dowry cases registered
Hoshiarpur, May 14 Ms Balwinder Mann (48), a resident of Jalalpur village, stated that she was married to Gurmukh Mann of Palampur. She had two children. About 7 years back after the death of her mother, her husband and other family members viz Chhuar Singh, father-in-law, Makhan Singh, brother-in-law, Rano and Ranjit Singh, all of Palampur, started beating her regularly for bringing a share from her parental property. On May 6, 2006, they mercilessly beat her and threw her out of the house. The Tanda police has registered a case. In another incident, Harjit Giri of Haripur Basti, Mohalla Ranjit Nagar, Sangrur, stated that her sister Mamta married Ram Lubhaya about four years ago. Soon after her marriage, she was maltreated and tortured for dowry. On May 11, 2006, her sister took poison under frustration and died. The police has a registered a case.
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Head Constable, Home Guard jawan booked
Patiala, May 14 The two were produced before a Duty Magistrate who sent them in police remand till May 16 after a case was made out against them at the Kotwali police station today on a complaint made by Krishna who also claimed that the cops had forcibly taken away Rs 600 from him. According to the police, the two cops had stopped a migrant couple near the local bus stand on Friday and on the pretext of questioning them, they took them to a nearby hotel. However, once the cops and the couple reached the hotel, the boy was made to flee. The boy started crying outside the hotel and a passerby, after hearing his tale of woe, took them to the office of the Inspector General, Mr S.K Sharma, who after hearing the boy’s story, ordered an inquiry.
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2 die in road mishaps
Rajpura, May 14 According to sources, Umesh and Paramjit Singh, both residents of Jagdish Colony, were coming from the Shambhu side on the national highway when their scooter was hit by a tractor-trailer near the SYL Canal bridge. Both were rushed to the local Civil Hospital where Umesh died during treatment. In the second accident, Baldev Singh, a truck driver, was crushed to death by a speeding car when he was crossing the road after paying octroi at the Ambala octroi post.
TNS
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Diesel being smuggled to Rajasthan
Abohar, May 14
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Tussle for control of DAV schools
Batala, May 14 All those who have been named in the FIRs have gone underground or have been arrested by the police. Mr Jagdish Sahni, chairman of the two institutions, along with others have filed applications before the Sessions Court at Gurdaspur to seek anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure code. Mr J.S. Nayyar, manager of the two institutions, stated yesterday that they were running these two institutions under the direct control and management of a society namely Agya Wanti Marwaha Dayanand Educational Society which has been registered with the Registrar of Societies having the registration number as DIC/BTL/Society/2001 — 2002/811 dated September 7, 2001. It has further been stated by the manager that the DAV management committee at New Delhi has absolutely no concern or control over the management of the schools which are run by the society. It is alleged that the new management tried to take possession of the girls’ schools forcibly by issuing dismissal orders against the principles of these two schools without holding any enquiry. Resentment prevails amongst the staff members of these two schools and parents are worried about the future of their wards. Mr Nayyar further disclosed that certain vested interests under the patronage of the local political leaders and were trying to take over the schools illegally.
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Batala schools: DAV panel clarifies
Chandigarh, May 14 According to a statement issued here by the committee, Principal Kackria and Principal Veena Wanti have been nominated Chairperson and Manager, respectively, of the local managing committees of all three schools. The earlier incumbents of these posts, Mr Jagdish Raj Sahni and Mr J.S. Nayyar, were removed from the posts for alleged embezzlement and the old local management committees were dissolved. Principal Shanta Oberoi of Agyawanti Marwaha DAV School and Headmistress Kanta Mahajan of MRS Bhalla DAV School were also removed for alleged embezzlement of school funds and in their place Ms Aruna Anand and Ms Shabnam Handa have been appointed, respectively. The statement added that the claims of Mr Sahni and Mr Nayyar that the schools belonged to them were baseless and mischievous.
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Nurses Day celebrated
Kharar, May 14 Students of GNM (Ist and 2 nd years) presented a colourful programme and staged dramas depicting the lives of nurses. Ms Anugrah Ibrahim, principal of the institute, spoke about why she took up the profession. She urged the students to follow the profession with sincerity. A quiz for students was also organised on the occasion.
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