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CPI seeks ‘White Paper’ on petro price hike
Sangrur, June 11 Talking to The Tribune today, Dr Dayal said the Central Government should clearly mention in the “White paper” that at what cost it was buying crude oil from the international market. Besides this, the government should also tell the people about the cost of crude oil after the landing of the same in the country and about the cost of oil after the refinery expenses. The government should also mention in the “White Paper” about its profit, and the taxes and duties, imposed on the petrol and diesel by the Centre and the states, he added. Dr Dayal said there was a big burden on the people in the form of various taxes and duties on the petrol and diesel prices. He said the people were paying Rs 25 as taxes on petrol (per litre) and about Rs 18 on diesel. He said thus the government had now put a burden of Rs 30,000 crore on the people which would result in inflation and rise in prices of other commodities in Punjab and other states. Besides, it would further aggravate the agrarian crisis in Punjab as the farmers would have to pay about Rs 250 crore more on the diesel, he added. Dr Dayal also said with the increase in the prices of the petroleum products, the private bus operators had started demanding an increase of 10 paise per km in the bus fares. The hike in petrol and diesel would also hit the industry adversely. He stated that the CPI, the CPM and other left parties would organise protests on June 13 throughout the country against the hike in the prices of the diesel and petrol. Dr Dayal urged the Union Government to withdraw the hike in the petrol and diesel prices without any further delay. He warned if the government failed in withdrawing the hike, then it should be ready to face an agitation and protests to be organised by the people in the country.
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State BJP chief: post may go the Dalit or Sikh way
Chandigarh, June 11 Elections to the state Assembly are due in less than eight months from now.
If the present chief of the state unit, Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, who represents Hoshiarpur in the Lok Sabha, has his say in the election or nomination of his successor, it will be for either a Sikh or a Dalit. Though the BJP high command has reiterated its commitment of going to the next Assembly elections in Punjab with the Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD), the state leadership issue still stands open. The front-runners for the top position include the Amritsar Member of Parliament and firebrand cricketer-turned-politician, Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu, and a national secretary of the party, Mr Harjit Singh Grewal. Both belong to the dominant Jat Sikh class which predominantly has been a supporter of the SAD. Another strong contender for the top position and who has the backing of Mr Khanna is the Dalit leader from the Doaba region, Mr Vijay Sampla, who shot into prominence during the Talhan imbroglio a couple of years ago. The BJP, though predominantly an urban traders party, has been making serious and determined efforts for a foothold both in the Sikh peasantry and the Dalits. The phenomenal rise of Mr Grewal in the central BJP politics is a corroboration of this thought process in the party. With a farmer as its national leader and a Jat Sikh representing the state in the BJP high command gives the state unit a lever to seek a foothold in rural Punjab. While Mr Grewal has over the years earned a niche for himself as a trusted lieutenant of the party chief, Mr Rajnath Singh, he will not miss an opportunity to return to the state politics as the Punjab BJP chief. His main rival, Mr Sidhu, is also considered close to the senior leaders of the party, including Mr Lal Krishan Advani and Mr Arun Jaitely. His open stand against the reservation quota may be an issue which his detractors may use against him to prevent his elevation in the Punjab BJP. Mr Vijay Sampla, who successfully organised impressive rallies of the Dalits in the recent past, has got the BJP a platform among the Dalits of Punjab in general and in the Doab in particular. He is a grassroot worker and enjoys a considerable following. The party high command, too, holds him in high esteem. The fourth candidate in consideration is Mr Rajinder Bhandari. He is also one of the respected leaders in the Punjab BJP. But keeping in view the coming Assembly elections, the party high command may prefer its President from either the minorities or the Dalits. As of now, the Dalits are 29.5 per cent of the total electors in Punjab.
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District status for Tarn Taran on Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day
Tarn Taran, June 11 The name, Tarn Taran, originally belonged to the sarovar (the holy pond), a name given by Guru Arjan Dev. Literally it means “the boat that takes one across” (the ocean of existence). Tarana in Sanskrit is a raft or a boat. Selfless Sewa, hallmark belief of the Sikh faith, was on display all along the roads leading to Tarn Taran, here. Bare foot on a burning tarmac, they ran after passing vehicles and people urging them to partake of their hospitality. Baba Harchowal has arranged exclusive langar of sweets. The local Mohalla committees are serving food in their respective lanes of the city. The manager of a gurdwara, Mr Major Singh, claims that more than 2000 ‘langars’ (community kitchens) had been arranged by the SGPC, Sikh sants, babas of kar sewa wale . The unusual dedication and fervour could be gauged from the gestures of local residents who had offered their residential premises for the devotees to the SGPC. “More than 300 residents had come forward to offer their houses for comfortable stay of the devotees,” the manger added. The manager said that the local administration was fully cooperating with SGPC for making arrangements. The gesture and sincerity of their purpose did not leave any one untouched. It has added to the serenity and festivity of the grand occasion, which marks 400th martyrdom of Guru Arjun Dev. The SGPC expects more than 50 lakh people to visit the ancient city. The ‘golk’ (offerings from the devotees) has been more than Rs 1 lakh every day. The state government and district administration has made elaborate security arrangements to mark the mega event. Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, Minister PWD, Mr Bhartinder Singh Chahal , Media Adviser to Chief Minister, Mr Harwinder Singh Sarna , President Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee , Mr Gurtej Singh Bhullar , an MLA , Mr Kirandip Singh Bhullar , Deputy Commissioner and Mr Parveen Kumar Sinha held a high-level meeting here to review the arrangements . Mr Bajwa said that Tarn Taran would be elevated as 19th district to mark the mega event. He said an MoU be signed for power generation at Goindwal - the birth place of Guru Arjun Dev.
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Badal, SGPC chief to cross over to Pak
Amritsar, June 11 While the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (PSGPC) had already announced that Pakistan would welcome the nagar kirtan if it would be led by Guru Granth Sahib instead of an individual, the SGPC has stated that it would be led by “Panj Pyaras”. The nagar kirtan would start from Harmandar Sahib at 9 a.m. The religious procession would reach Wagah via Jallianwala Bagh, Phawara Chowk, Akali Phula Singh Burj, Bhandari Bridge and Putlighar. After formation of PSGPC , it is for the first time that the SGPC and the SAD had showed unusual enthusiasm. Earlier, the then SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who herself is now going to Pakistan to participate in the nagar kirtan, had decided to stop jathas to Pakistan in protest against the formation of the PSGPC in April, 1999, on the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa.
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Inter-state trucks ferry narcotics
Gurdaspur, June 11 The SSP Gurdaspur, Mr Paramraj Singh Umranangal, while talking to The Tribune told that the police had information that the trucks were being used for smuggling narcotics. However, due to a large number of vehicles coming and going to Jammu and Kashmir daily it is practically impossible to check all of them. The police got the information on Friday that opium was being smuggled into the district through two trucks from Rajasthan. The police also had information regarding the registration numbers of vehicles in which the narcotics was being smuggled. Both the trucks were intercepted at nakas laid near Jakholari and Parmanand village on the Gurdaspur-Pathankot road. On search, 4 kg opium was recovered from each of the intercepted trucks. Paraminder Singh of Yamunanagar and Kashmir Singh of Ambala, truck drivers, were arrested. A case under NDPS Act has been registered against both the accused. On interrogation, the accused told that they were to deliver opium at Pathankot and Jammu and Kashmir. The SSP said that further investigation in the case was going on to identify the persons to whom the opium was to be delivered. Earlier also the police had caught huge cache of poppy husk and charas from a house located in a posh locality of Pathankot. The sources here revealed that the Pathankot bordering Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir has become transit centre for narcotic smugglers. The smuggled narcotics are brought here in bulk. They are packed in small packets and supplied further to retailers. The smugglers were also using poor women for the job. The Pathankot police in the recent past caught a poor woman from UP with narcotics. She later told police some people gave them small amount of money and packets containing narcotics. They have to deliver the consignment to linkmen of smugglers here. The police sources revealed that smugglers were using poor women for transporting narcotics as they are least suspected by the police.
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Land dispute: woman abducted, hair shorn
Hoshiarpur, June 11 According to the police, Kaka of Sahiba, along with three women — Sonu and Rani of Mahilpur, and Surinder Kaur of Mehmadowal village — and Mohinder Singh, Head Constable posted at the Saila Khurd police post, allegedly abducted Naresh Kumari, wife of Manohar Lal of the same village, from the house of her aunt in Ward No. 4, Mahilpur, yesterday. Naresh Kumari had been residing with her aunt, Darshna, for the past eight days. The abductors bundled her into a Maruti car (PB-08-2218), took her to her village where they allegedly beat her up and sheared her hair. Later, they took her to a photographer, Tony, at Nawanshahar who clicked her photographs. Thereafter, they went to the house of Joga Singh at Mehmadowal (Mahilpur) village and held her hostage there. Next morning, they again bundled her into a TATA Sumo and brought her to Hoshiarpur where they forcibly got her signatures on an affidavit. On way to their village, they again mercilessly beat her up and threw her on the road near Dansiwal village. The sarpanch of the village saw her lying there. He informed the police and got her admitted to the Civil Hospital, Mahilpur. Sources said after regaining consciousness, Naresh Kumari told the police that she had got 5 acres from her parents of which 3 had been sold by her husband to Kaka without her consent. Kaka wanted to purchase the remaining 2 acres also, but she had got a stay from the court restricting her husband from selling the remaining land. This had infuriated Kaka. To teach her a lesson, he and his accomplices abducted her, beat her up and sheared her hair. According to the SHO of the Mahilpur police station, a case has been registered.
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No check on illegal mining on highways
Hoshiarpur, June 11 As per the rule laid by the board mining cannot be carried out within 300 metres of the state highways. However, on the Mukerian-Talwara state highway brick-kiln owners are carrying out mining for making bricks very close to the road. More than 5-foot deep trenches have been dug alongside the road. The mining close to the road is a threat to the highway as it would lead to soil erosion in the area. Besides, the trenches are threat to the persons using the road, especially at night. A migrant labourer, who was working at one such trench, said nobody as yet had asked them to stop the mining in the area. Sources here said the brick-kilns owners take land on lease from farmers for mining. They remove the top lawyer of the soil and use it for making bricks. Removing top layer from fertile agricultural land is illegal, but the authorities concerned have done nothing to stop the practice. The Supreme Court in a judgment against illegal mining in Aravali hills in Haryana has ruled that the mining cannot be carried out in the area where it causes irreversible damage to natural resources. The mining of fertile top layer in the fields causes an irreversible damage to the natural source. The board has directed all brick-kiln owners to plant at least three rows of broad-leaved trees around their kilns. However, hardly any brick-kiln owner has complied with the order.
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Girl’s death turns out to be honour killing
Tarn Taran, June 11 Mr Parveen Kumar Sihna, SSP, said here today that father of the girl Roop Singh told the police that the marriage of Rajwinder was fixed for January 4, 2006. But, two weeks ahead of the marriage she disappeared. The family had to marry her minor sister in her place on the fixed date to avoid any humiliation. She returned home after the marriage. When the members of her family asked her to explain the reason behind her disappearance she insulted them. Perturbed over the adamant attitude of his daughter and to avoid social embarrassment Roop Singh decided to eliminate her. He and his son Balwinder Singh beat her to death and threw the body into the pond with the help of Hardeep Singh, Avtar Singh (cousins of the deceased) and Gulzar Singh, who was close to the family. They tied bricks on the body so that it could not come up. The SSP said all accused had been arrested.
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Signature campaign against high rates of ST
Chandigarh, June 11 The national secretary of the party, Mr Harjit Singh Grewal and its youth leader, Mr Vineet Joshi, in a statement here today said the party would launch a signature campaign against the recently ordered hike in the petrol and diesel prices and ask the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to order a cut in the sales tax to bring the price of both fuels down. They said the high rate of taxation on petrol and diesel prices was unbearable for people of the state. The BJP leaders said the sales tax rate should be reduced to such an extent that it should not affect the common man and farmers. Mr Joshi said there was 27.5 per cent sales tax on petrol and 8 per cent on diesel. The national average of sales tax on petrol is only 20 per cent. Punjab consumed 35 lakh kilolitre of diesel worth Rs 700 crore per annum, he added. Of it, 11 lakh kilolitre was used in farm sector, he added. As the Capt Amarinder Singh government had repeatedly claimed that the fiscal health of the state had improved, it could afford to reduce the rate of sale tax on petrol and diesel, he added. Mr Joshi said the party would hold small protest meetings in all towns and villages against the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel.
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SAD protest against oil price hike
Bathinda, June 11 Hundreds of party workers participated in the rally that began from Gurdwara Haji Rattan and culminated at the Mini-Secretariat. They blocked traffic in front of the Mini-Secretariat for about half an hour. Addressing the protesters, former minister Sikander Singh Maluka said the prices of essential commodities had already shot up sharply and frequent rise in prices of petrol and diesel over the past few months had pushed people into a tight spot. The oil price hike also didn’t augur well for the debt-ridden farming community of the state. Leaders also came down heavily on the state government and alleged that corruption had spread its tentacles in the entire Punjab. The development works in the state had come to a grinding halt since the Congress came to power. There were hardly any placards or banners with slogans on the fuel hike in the rally. Later, top party leaders held a meeting with the party workers from three districts in connection with observing 400th anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom.
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Procession against caste-based quota
Hoshiarpur, June 11 Carrying placards like “Down with caste-based reservation” and “Abolish the cancer of reservation” etc, they were raising slogans like “Bharat sarkar jaago” and “Aarkshan nahin sarnkashan do” (give protection, not reservation). The protesters carrying torches and pitchers started from Green View Park and passed through main markets to reach the old Sabzi Mandi Chowk. A rally was held there. Dr Kuldip Singh, former state president of the IMA and core group member of the NEF, explained politics behind the recent decision to reserve 27 per cent seats for OBCs. He dubbed the HRD Ministry as “Human Reservation Development Ministry”. He said instead of creating quality educational institutes for primary and secondary education and developing models for human resource utilisation, the ministry was busy creating caste divisions for political gains.
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Mayor, Commissioner tiff blows over
Patiala, June 11 The tiff between the Mayor and the Commissioner had virtually brought work in the local Municipal Corporation to a standstill forcing the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and the Patiala MP Mrs Preneet Kaur, to intervene after which things rolled back to normal. On the face of it the occasion was to celebrate the fourth year of the installation of Mr Vishnu Sharma as the Patiala Mayor. The Commissioner and the Mayor used the occasion to highlight the development works undertaken in the past four years in the city. According to press release, the MC has completed the 70 per cent covering of the ganda nullah at a cost of Rs 5 crore and tenders had been invited from firms to complete the other 30 per cent of the work. The Focal Point area of the city has been acquired by the MC and work on the construction of roads, parks and the setting up of street- lights had been initiated at a cost of Rs 2.73 crore. Listing other achievements, the press release added that the Kabari market, after much opposition from the shopkeepers, had finally been shifted to the Transport Nagar Area. The number of tubewells to cater to the water supply of the residents had been increased from 45 to 83 and 20 more would be sunk in various areas of the city shortly. The release also added that to ease traffic flow in the city, a railway overbridge had come up at the railway crossing No. 22 and work on the railway overbridge at No. 21 had already been initiated.
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Stone of housing society laid
Kharar, June 11 The group is formed and run under the leadership of Mr Ram Jethmalani, former Union Minister. Mr Sunil Bansal of the group told the OSD that the society was coming up with residential units near the City Beautiful. These units would be provided to the members at a nominal price on a no-profit-no-loss basis. He added that the project would be completed in eighteen months.
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25 marriages solemnised
Batala, June 11 Mr Vijay Chopra, editor, Punjab Kesri Group of News Papers, Jalandhar, was the chief guest whereas Mr P.C. Pyasa, Deputy Commissioner Excise and Taxation, Punjab Government, was the guest of
honour. Mr Ashok, president of the federation welcomed the guests. He said the federation had been organising such marriages since 1996. On the occasion couples were gifted household articles and other gifts.
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Devotees told to collect passports today
Amritsar, June 11 The jatha would leave for Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore, by a special train to observe the 400th martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev on June 13.
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PC Khanna dead
Chandigarh, June 11 Mr Khanna, who was the President of the Institute of Town Planners of India, leaves behind his wife, two daughters and a
son. He was cremated this evening. His cremation was largely attended.
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1 killed in shootout over land
Tarn Taran, June 11 The deceased has been identified as Harbhajan Singh of Khemkaran village, a supporter of Harpal Singh group involved in the land dispute. The injured included eight supporters of Harpal while three injured were of the opponent group led by Sardool Singh and Gurbachan Singh of same area. Mr Rajinder Pal, DSP, Bhikhiwind, said a piece of two acres belonging to Sujan Singh of the township was the bone of contention between the two groups. The police had registered a case under Sections 302, 307, 148 and 149 of the IPC and 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. The piece of land had been in the possession of two farmers for the past about 40-45 years and they were not ready to vacate it. Sujan sold the land to Harpal some time ago. During the past 20 days Harpal had destroyed the paddy crop sowed on the land by the two farmers. But, the farmers re-sowed the crop only two days ago. They warned Harpal not to enter in the land in future or he would have to face dire consequences. Harpal, along with his 40-odd armed supporters, was moving towards the land when the opposite group, armed with fire weapons, encountered them. In the ensued shootout between them one person was injured and 11 were injured. The DSP said a case had been registered on a complaint of Harpal against Ranjit Singh, Dilbag Singh, Onkar Singh, Harpal Singh, Gurmail Singh, Daler Singh and Rupa Manawian. The supporters of the Harpal were to be identified.
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Robbers’ gang busted, 5 held
Abohar, June 11 SSP Arpit Shukla said today that SI Major Singh, in charge CIA staff here, laid a naka near Dalmirkhera village on a tip off and intercepted an Indica car (PB 51 F 2240) coming from Sriganganagar (Rajasthan). The driver Vikram, alias Vicky, when asked to produce the documents, could not give a satisfactory answer. He and four other occupants of the car were detained for questioning. Vicky reportedly revealed that the car had been hired at Bikaner but the driver was later thrown out on the way after covering his face and tying hands. Besides Vicky others arrested under Section 411, IPC, were identified as Mahabir of Seetogunno village, Vinod Kumar Dainy of Panjpeer here, Bittu Singh Mazhabi, a local resident and Radhey Shyam of Azeemgarh. Mr Shukla and DSP Amrik Singh Minhas said the interrogation of the culprits led to recovery of two other stolen cars. They had hired an Indica car from Rawatsar also and later threw its driver on the deserts of Sangria. The car was reportedly sold to Mahesh Mittal, a resident of Ghas Mandi, Fazilka. The buyer resold the same to Jagir Singh Sadhuwala after getting fake documents, the police said. Mr Minhas said the police would be able to make a big breakthrough in similar thefts working on the information given by the culprits. Bittu Singh was a promising athlete but became a gang leader to earn easy money.
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14-year-old raped
Rajpura, June 11 Sources in the Shambu Police Post said the matter came to light, when the victim complained of uneasiness to her mother after she returned in the morning today. Later, the victim disclosed to her mother that Happy of Suron village had come to their house at night and had locked the room from inside. Happy had reportedly come to attend a marriage in the victim’s neighbourhood. Giving further details, Mr Harpreet Singh Cheema, In charge of the police post said, in the meantime, the victim’s aunt came there to inquire about her. She found the door locked from inside. She repeatedly knocked at the door and after some time Happy came out. On being asked as to what he was doing there, he replied that he had come to take ice. It was only in the morning that the truth came to light when the victim narrated the whole episode to her mother. She also alleged that Happy had gagged her before raping her and had also threatened her. A case of rape and criminal intimidation has been registered in this regard on a complaint filed by the victim’s father. The police said efforts were on to trace the suspect.
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4 DA instalments for non-govt college staff
Chandigarh, June 11 Information was given after the release of orders to colleges merging 50 per cent DA with pay from April 1, 2004. Mr H.S. Walia and Dr Jagwant Singh, president and general secretary, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) have in a statement welcomed the orders of the government.
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BSc (biotech)-II results today
Amritsar, June 11
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