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Health services paralysed
Amritsar, May 25 Rising above the party affiliations, Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu, BJP MP, urged the entire political spectrum not to make reservation a poll plank. Coming to the support of the protesting doctors, he said the government should give weightage to merit, especially in higher educational institutions. Mr Sidhu said he was not against reservation. He assured those from different castes and communities that medicos were with them. He urged the Central Government to help them with books, good food, extra coaching at primary and secondary education level and financially enable them to compete with others in the advanced scientific fields. Dr Hardeep Singh Deep, honorary state secretary, said merit should be the only criteria for selection of candidates to higher education in professional fields. He urged the government that the just demands of striking doctors be met at the earliest. Later, the agitating doctors submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar. SANGRUR: Medical services at the local Civil Hospital on Thursday remained paralysed as barring reserved categories’ doctors almost all members (government and private doctors) of the local unit of the IMA observed bandh here against the government’s quota policy. The protesters held a rally in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here. They also submitted a memorandum to Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, here to forward the same to the President of India. The protesters were addressed among others by Dr Inderjit Singla, Dr Amandeep Aggarwal, Dr Surjit Singh, Dr Prabhjot Singh Sibia, Dr S.K. Bansal, Dr Mandeep Singh, Dr K.G. Singla and Dr Vivek Bhatnagar. BATHINDA : The IMA here on Thursday observed a bandh to protest against the caste-based reservation. Doctors closed their clinics for the entire day and no OPD patients were examined. The PCMS Association also boycotted work and joined the protest. A rally was also held on the Mall and a memorandum presented to the Deputy Commissioner. HOSHIARPUR: Members of the district branch of the IMA stopped medical services here on Thursday in support of students and doctors agitating against the proposed reservation in higher educational institutions. All private clinics and nursing homes remained closed. However, emergency services were not included in the strike. Doctors at the Civil Hospital, Tanda, wore black badges. The Indian Dental Association and the NIMA also closed their establishments. Gurdaspur: Students of private schools in Gurdaspur yesterday joined the anti-reservation agitation. Over 100 students from various schools organised a rally and burned the effigy of Union Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh. They also blocked traffic for about an hour at the old bus stand. They gave a bandh call till 1 pm as a symbolic protest against the reservation policies of the government. A probe should be held and Mr Arjun Singh should be sacked for trying to divide the country on community lines, they said. The local IMA also supported the agitation.
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Minority status for SGPC, Christian bodies to continue
Chandigarh, May 25 The Punjab Government has decided to amend the Punjab Private Health Sciences Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Fee and Making of Reservation) Act, 2006, and exclude the institutions run by the Sikhs or Christians from the purview of the Act. The Punjab Council of Ministers will meet on May 31 and the amendment will be part of the agenda. Official sources said today that it had been decided that the Sikh community would continue to enjoy the status of a minority despite the Sikhs being in the majority in the state as per the Census of 2001. Had the government not allowed minority status to the SGPC institutions, it would have resulted in a dichotomy. The SGPC institutions in neighbouring Haryana enjoy minority status and by not allowing the same in Punjab would have been incorrect, said officials while confirming The Act was passed in March this year and this is the second amendment that will be introduced. The first one was carried out last month when the quota of seats for non-residents Indians was doubled. The proposed second amendment on Sikh and Christian institutions has the potential to snowball into an election issue. The Act had no "exception clause" for minority institutions that would be added now, said the sources. The Sikh and Christian communities had been up in arms, saying the freedom granted under Article 30 (1) of the Constitution to establish and administer their own educational institutions was being "suppressed". The two communities had objected to the Act, saying the Supreme Court in its judgement in August 2005 had ruled on the reservation policy, admission policy, fee structure, regulation and control by the state and the role of committees dealing with admission and fees, in relation to minority and non-minority unaided higher educational institutions. However, while bringing legislation for this purpose, the Punjab government had forgotten that this judgement had exempted minority unaided professional institutions on these issues. The Act had said that unaided minority institutions would have a management quota of " not more than 50 per cent of the total intake of students". In the case of aided minority institutions, the quota would be 33 per cent. Also, the Act says admission to management quota seats will be made on the basis of inter se merit determined by the Common
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Sidhu draws flak
Amritsar, May 25 Mr Sat Pal Dogra, State’s Vice-President of the BJP (SC/ST Cell) in a missive to Mr Rajnath Singh, President, BJP, has accused Mr Sidhu of not toeing the party’s line by supporting the agitating doctors protesting against 27 per cent reservation for other backward classes of the country. He has asked the party’s high command to ask Mr Sidhu not to support the agitating doctors and maintain discipline of the party. Mr Dogra said the party had supported the central government on the issue of 27 per cent reservation to the OBC.
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Dang for all-party meeting
Amritsar, May 25 Stating this in a press release here today, Mr Dang said he was of the firm view that effort must have been made to evolve a national consensus.
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“Da Vinci Code” banned
Gurdaspur, May 25 This decision was taken today by the Minister for Culture and Archives, Mr Pratap Singh Bajwa ,when the representative of Christian community met him here today. Mr Bajwa said that after the Christian leaders met him ,he discussed the matter with the Punjab Chief Minister ,Capt. Amarinder Singh ,on the phone. The Chief Minister has allowed him to ban the film in keeping in view the hurt sentiments of the Christians of the state. The film would not be screened in the state till the producers or distributors satisfy the Christian community leadership, he said. Dr Franco ,who led the delegation to the minister today ,said that the film fuels the myth that Jesus had wife and children.
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Hundreds of education posts lying vacant
Sangrur, May 25 In the district, out of a total of 100 posts of Principal of secondary schools, more than 80 posts are lying vacant. Likewise, out of more than 170 posts of Headmaster of high schools, about 135 posts are vacant. The district has about 850 government primary schools and 14 education blocks. All education blocks do not have regular Block Primary Education Officer (BPEO). Not only this, out of 98 posts of Centre Head Teacher in the district, more than 50 posts are vacant. Besides this, the district has about 550 posts of head teacher in government primary schools, but as per information more than 200 schools have no regular head teacher. The post of DEO (Elementary) has also been lying vacant for the past several months. The fate of the post of Deputy DEO (Elementary), is not known following the officer’s arrest on May 13 in connection with the bungling in the purchase of computers. A post of Deputy DEO (Secondary) is also vacant, as are the posts of District Science Supervisor, District Vocational Guidance Officer, District Coordinator (vocational courses) and Assistant Education Officer (Sports). Six posts of senior lecturer are vacant at the DIET. It is learnt that five lecturers have been working against the posts of senior lecturer at the DIET. At the Government In-Service Teacher Training Centre, the post of principal and four posts of senior lecturer are vacant. Hundreds of posts of teacher and lecturer are vacant in the schools, due to which studies are being affected. A representative of the teachers said teachers were not being promoted on a regular basis due to which the duties of regular Principals, Headmasters, BPEOs and other officers were being performed by lower-rank officials.
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Spate of robberies, lootings put police under pressure
Chandigarh, May 25 This sudden spurt in heinous crime has not only put the police under pressure but also prompted various political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, to criticise the state government for deterioration in the law and order situation. Most of the incidents of snatching, looting and robbery have been reported from the Malwa and Majha belts. In one of the latest incidents, reported from Kapurthala yesterday, a victim died while trying to resist armed intruders. The Punjab BJP chief, Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, and the National Executive Committee member of the Yuva BJP, Mr Vineet Joshi, charged the state government with being hand in glove with goons in the state. In the past 23 days, more than 30 heinous crime spots had been reported in the
state. This, they said, had led to a steep rise in the crime graph. The crimes included the looting of a State Bank of Patiala branch and a petrol station in Bathinda on May 12. Then there was a robbery in Ferozepore district a few days ago. Other than this, antisocial elements were making industrialists their target as well. On May 13 industrialist Gurmeet Singh was murdered and his house looted. Within a few days, Sonalika Tractors in Hoshiarpur became the next target . The duo criticised the state government's failure to solve these cases. Other than these, they said, the gang rape case in Sultanpur Lodhi, which had sent shock waves throughout the state, had not been solved. People in border areas were being reminded of the days of
terrorism. Corroborating their statement, they quoted the case of Vijay Kumar and Manoj Kumar of Verka who had been getting letters telling them to leave their houses, failing which they would be eliminated. Besides grappling with the problem of unrest among doctors and dentists over the reservation issue, the police has on its hands likely protests over the screening of the controversial film, the ''Da Vinci Code". Besides, the growing incidence of white-collar crime and self-immolation and the increasing number of political rallies, demonstrations and protests are other major challenges facing the law enforcement agencies. The government is likely to ban the screening of the "Da Vinci Code," which is otherwise set to be released tomorrow. The coming week will be hectic not only because it will be the 22nd anniversary of Operation Bluestar but also because a series of religious processions will be held throughout the state to mark the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev. Besides, farmers and the Bharatiya Janata Party, and now the Bahujan Samaj
Party, have announced the next phase of statewide protests and dharnas. Mr Avtar Singh Karimpuri, president of the Punjab unit of the BSP, said that dharnas and rallies would be held at Sangrur (June 12), Hoshiarpur(June 13), Gurdaspur (June 14) and Ropar (June 16). The BSP wants the Mandal Commission report to be implemented, free supply of electricity to Dalit and backward classes, implementation of the 85th Amendment to the Constitution and 50 per cent subsidy on the supply of foodgrains to Dalits and backward classes. The BSP is also protesting against growing unemployment and privatisation.
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Partying students lathi-charged
Abohar, May 25 Later, an irate mob thrashed three persons in uniform, two of them Home Guard volunteers, inside Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital here, sources said. The son of a fertiliser dealer had hosted a dinner in the open lawns of a hotel located near the police complex here yesterday to celebrate his success in the Class XII exam. The small gathering of a dozen students was caught unaware when five policemen came to the lawns and started beating them with lathies objecting to playing of the music system at a high volume. The persons in uniform damaged crockery and furniture as the students rushed out. Four of them reached the Civil Hospital with injuries. Meanwhile, scores of citizens, including relatives and friends of the injured students, arrived at the hospital on getting an information about the incident. As the Home Guard volunteers and a police constable questioned the students about how they got injured, the irate mob allegedly thrashed them and tore the uniform of a Home Guard volunteer.
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B.C. Shekhar is new ADC to Governor
Chandigarh, May 25 Meanwhile, Mr Mohd Mustafa, IGP, Border Zone, Amritsar, will hold charge as IGP, Training, Chandigarh, in addition to his present duties.
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Free power to SC families only on paper: BSP
Hoshiarpur, May 25 This was alleged by Mr Avtar Singh Karimpuri, BSP chief, Punjab, while talking to mediapersons here today. He said the Congress government was propagating about the free electricity to the Scheduled Caste families only for getting their votes in the coming elections.
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200-year-old court building being used as cowshed
Rasulpur (Tarn Taran), May 25 The palatial building with beautiful arches and architectural design belongs to the family of Sir Joginder Singh, who was one of the ‘purest gems’ of the British government and also remained Home Minister in erstwhile Patiala state and was honoured with the title of ‘Sir’ like Sir Chhotu Ram. A visit to the site revealed that the new owner had given new look to the building with modern designs while the rest of the structure is crumbling. Mr Dev Dard, a heritage lover said that while the state government had earmarked big budget for infrastructure of Tarn Taran city to mark the 400th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjun Dev, it would be a great service to the mankind if its heritage buildings were preserved for the next generation. He said conservation of such sites was more important than the upgradation of the city as district headquarter since the site had great tourist potential. Colossal damage was done to the qila-type haveli and court building when Tubewell Corporation opened its office. The old well has dried up due to apathy, by all concerned. The court was the property of Zaildar, who belonged to Shukarchakia Misl of legendary Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The new occupant of the building is Bibi Joginder Kaur, sarpanch of the village. Her son, Mr Satwinder Singh said his family had made all efforts to preserve a great portion of the building . However, it was difficult to conserve the monument of Rasulpuria Sardars, spread over two acres. He said gorgeous coloured glasses and wooden ventilators, doors etc had been removed from the court building and kept in a store . However, shockingly the court building is being used to store chaff and keep animals . A cutter has been installed inside the building. However, descendants of Zaildars, including Gursharn Singh said that his grandfather used to tell him that the ‘Zail’ included revenue estates of 36 villages. The Zaildars would hold court in the building. Nobody has bothered to recognise the services of the family so far. (to be concluded)
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Akal Takht jathedar’s luxury car withdrawn
Amritsar, May 25 The car had hit headlines when the then SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, purchased it from the Dharm Parchar Committee funds, a few days before her unceremonious removal. However, after taking over as the SGPC chief, Mr Avtar Singh had told mediapersons that the car would be given to the jathedar of Akal Takht. It is learnt that certain SGPC employees reached the house of the jathedar yesterday with keys of a Scorpio vehicle donated to Darbar Sahib by a devotee and took away the luxury car to the SGPC chief’s office. Mr Avtar Singh took the car to Tarn Taran to attend meetings in connection with the 400th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev. When contacted, Mr Prithipal Singh Sandhu, personal assistant, evaded a direct reply. He said he had no information regarding the change of car. Earlier, many senior leaders of the Akali Dal had urged Mr Parkash Singh Badal to remove Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti as Jathedar of Akal Takht when he had given a recorded statement to a section of the Press that the SAD should drop the word “Akali” from its name. However, some persons suggested Mr Badal that the unceremonious removal of Jathedar Vedanti would not be a wise step at a time when the general Assembly elections were round the corner. When contacted, Mr Roop Singh, manager, Darbar Sahib, said the car had been changed on Giani Vedanti’s personal request.
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Baba Jagtar Singh installs palanquin at Darbar Sahib
Tarn Taran, May 25 Baba Mohinder Singh ,a follower of Baba Jagtar Singh , said the old
palanquin, believed to have been installed here during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit
Singh, was repaired a number of times and it needed to be replaced . Baba Mohinder Singh said that a sum of Rs. 1.25 crore has been spent on the new palanquin .He told that the sum was donated by the followers of Guru Nanak Dev in the country and abroad . He said that 10kg gold has been used for the palanquin besides Sag wan wood and copper alloy. It took six months to construct the palanquin .
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7 reservoirs made functional after 2 decades
Amritsar, May 25 Mr. K.S. Kang, MC, Commissioner, inspected the working of the OHSRs yesterday. He said each reservoir had a capacity of two lakh gallons and would provide potable water to the localities. 11 tubewells had been installed and there was an underground reservoir with four lakh gallon capacity and four OHSRs each with one lakh gallon capacity at Kesari Bagh which would also be ready for supplying water. Three more tubewells would be installed with these. They proposed to replace 40,000 feet galvanised iron pipes and cast iron pipes at a cost of Rs 3 crore for the smooth supply of water. Mr A.S. Dhaliwal, superintendent Engineer, said the city had 30 OHSRs, out which 18 were in working condition. He urged the public not to use “tullu” pumps and utilise water judiciously.
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2 chemist shops raided
Sangrur, May 25 The Drug Inspector said during raid at Ambey Medical Agency in Kaula Park he had seized 98 bottles Rexcof, 29 bottles Biorex (both cough syrup), 700 tablets of momotel, 5,550 tablets of microlit, 1600 tablets of phenotil and 96 capsules proxyvon. During raid at Prem Medical Hall, Sangrur, he seized 700 injections of Ocytocin and eight bottles of phensedryl. He said these drugs would be produced in a court for taking these in possession. He said the campaign would remain continue to control illegal sale of medicines (drugs) in the district. Two chemist shops, Vinod Medical Hall, Sangrur, and Deep Medicos at Barnala were also inspected. At both shops, no pharmacist was found at the time of inspection.
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A writing career cut short
He was different. He never compromised on what he felt was right. With an incisive mind, Saravmeet, who passed away last week, used to make even the best of political leader uneasy by asking inconvenient questions of public interest. Nothing can be more saddening than to see such a promising Punjabi and Hindi writer and perceptive journalist leave this world at such a young age. Saravmeet was 38 when he breathed his last on May 18. Always bubbling with confidence, he had already established himself as one of the most hard-hitting column writers. From Punjabi journalism, he had switched over to Hindi journalism a few years ago. And he made his name in Hindi journalism. Impressed by his talent, his employer asked him to write a daily column for the Hindi daily he was working for. Unfortunately, he died a day before the publishing of the first piece of his daily column. However, as a tribute to him, his newspaper published the pieces he had submitted. He was born in Gandli village(Amritsar). He was given the Bhai Vir Singh Award by Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, for the best young story writer in Punjabi for his book “Tarlomachhi Kayanat”. He also edited one book — “Eh Kahania” — of Punjabi stories. The eminent playwright, Gursharan Singh, staged a play in almost all parts of Punjab and elsewhere based on Saravmeet’s story” Kalan” that was a satire on our caste-ridden society. His story “Pigalansheel Faulad”, which was a satire on literary figures, was one of the most talked about stories. He wrote for the best literary magazines in Hindi and also for Punjabi papers published abroad. An unsparing writer, Saravmeet used to even lambast his best of friends in his writings when he felt strongly about any issue involving them. He was a very sensitive person, perhaps unfit for this materialistic world. He was fond of having a daily sitting in the evening with his close circle of literary friends. No one is perfect in this world and he also was not. However, his literary talent was such that no one minded what he said and wrote about any literary figure or other personality. Friends and journalists will get together tomorrow in Mohali’s Sector 71 to pay tributes to him. He is survived by his wife, Davi Devinder, and a son, Anhad Mukhtar Singh. — Sarbjit Dhaliwal.
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Mumtaz’s kids to be released today
Chandigarh, May 25 Mumtaz, hailing from Pakistan, married Ibrahim some years ago. The three children were born out of the wedlock. About one and a half years ago, Ibrahim, who hails from Bangladesh, took Mumtaz and his children to his native place in Bangladesh, only to desert them for another woman, with whom he left for Saudi Arabia. He also took along their passports and other documents.
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Suvidha camp mismanaged
Ropar, May 25 He was scheduled to inspect the cases to be settled in different places, including Ropar, Chamkaur Sahib and Anandpur Sahib. A large number of persons facing land dispute, matrimonial dispute, property dispute or other cases gathered here since 10 am. After checking the functioning of the suvidha camp at Chamkaur Sahib, the DIG reached here around 1 pm. The police had to wait for the DIG and there was little time to hear the grievances of the people. He cancelled his visit to the suvidha camp at Anandpur Sahib and the people waiting there came to know of it only around 2 pm. Talking to mediapersons, he said the suvidha camps were organised so that cases were settled with mutual consent. It had been decided to organise a training camp for personnel posted at police stations to improve their dealing with the people, he added.
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Two cops suspended
Abohar, May 25 The ASI allegedly demanded Rs 45,000 for releasing the relative and his tractor. A deal was struck with payment of first installment of Rs 16,000, the complainant said. As the complainant could not arrange the rest of the money they allegedly booked another relative Iqbal Singh in a criminal case.
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Naib Tehsildar held for bribery
Sangrur, May 25 Giving this information to The Tribune this evening, Mr G.S. Bhullar, SSP, Vigilance, Patiala Range, said the Vigilance team recovered the bribe money from the pocket of the Naib Tehsildar. He said the test of hand-wash of the Naib Tehsildar was also found positive. Besides the bribe money, the Vigilance team also recovered Rs 4,485 from the possession of the Naib Tehsildar.
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Youth commits suicide
Ropar, May 25 He allegedly took the extreme step after the girl he loved got married recently. Pankaj of Mani Majra in Chandigarh came to Morinda yesterday and tried to contact her. The police said the youth consumed some poisonous substance after he failed to get any response. He was later admitted to the hospital at Morinda, where he breathed his last. After postmortem examination at the Civil Hospital here in the evening, the body was handed over to the parents of the deceased.
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ITI students allege fee overcharge
Bathinda, May 25 The protesters handed over a memorandum to the Additional Deputy Commissioner. The students of art and craft course first brought the matter to the notice of the institute’s management committee and later informed the AISF about it. As per the memo, the AISF leaders investigated the matter and found that the students were being “overcharged ”. The students’ parents told the AISF leaders that though the prospectus mentioned the fee as Rs 8,000, which included sports and library funds and miscellaneous charges, whereas the institute didn’t have any sports ground or library. The memo claimed that the students were charged Rs 14,300 but were issued a receipt of Rs 8,000. The AISF leaders had approached the institute management on May 22 and tried to sort out the matter through talks, but in vain. Later, the students decided to give a three-day notice to the management for resolving the issue. They have demanded from the district administration that the amount overcharged from them should be returned. They have also sought appropriate legal action against the institute management. The protesters warned that if the management didn’t budge till Monday, they would intensify their agitation.
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Guru Arjan Dev college planned for Tarn Taran
Tarn Taran, May 25 He said keeping in view an approximate inflow of 10-15 lakh devotees from all quarters, exhaustive plans were being chalked out to strengthen the infrastructure of the town. Special stress was being laid on basic amenities. Besides religious celebrations, an impressive light and sound programme on Sikh history would be an added attraction.
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BSc (IT) part-III results today
Amritsar, May 25
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Students’ gesture
Rajpura May 25 A demand draft amounting to Rs 60,735 was handed over to the village director, Col Harinder
Singh (retd), by the school director, Mr Dharam Pal, and students at a function here yesterday. Inspired by a school teacher, Ms Parveen Midha, the amount was collected by the students of Class VI to X from their near and dear ones. In some cases, the students also contributed their pocket money. The largest amount was collected by Risin Juneja( Rs 1,535) followed by Ishat Bawa ( Rs 1,500) and Ishan Bawa (Rs 1,440). Mr Dharam Pal and Col Harinder Singh appreciated the efforts of the children for the noble
cause. Currently, there are 171 children in the SOS Village.
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