Attack on Dalit youths: police inaction alleged
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 1
Even after three weeks of the incident, the Dharamkot police in Moga district has failed to take any action against the accused who caused grievous injuries to two Dalit youths in a dispute over agricultural land.

Lakhwinder Singh (24) and Surinder Singh (22), residents of Daulewala Kalan village, Moga district, said around 15 persons came in a Mohindra jeep and an Uno car. They stopped the bus in which they were travelling for appearing in a court on September 11 around 8 am.

They said Ranjit Singh, his son Surinder Pal Singh, along with their relatives and supporters assaulted them on the way. The two were rushed to a nearby hospital at Dharmkot from where they were referred to Amandeep Hospital in Amritsar.

They alleged they had also met SSP a number of times, but in vain. They said they had also sent letters to the Punjab State Human Rights Commission but got a lukewarm response and were asked to approach the SSP, Moga.

Mr P.K. Rai, however, refuted the allegations and said a case had been registered against the accused and seven accused had already been arrested.

CM extends Dasehra greetings
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 1
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today extended his greetings to the people of the Punjab on the occasion of Dasehra.

In a message, Capt Amarinder Singh said that Dasehra symbolises the victory of good over evil and shows the way of ideal and virtuous living. Capt Amarinder Singh said such festivals not only cement the bonds of communal harmony, universal brotherhood and amity but also bring joy and prosperity.

Amritsar, October 1
The Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Shiromani Dhadi Sabha today supported creation of fund of Rs 100 crore for the welfare and promotion of dhadis (those who recite ‘Vars’) and other old traditional singing arts so that this glorious tradition is revived.

This consensus emerged on the concluding day of the two-day seminar organised on the occasion of 25th foundation day of the Guru Hargobind Sahib Shiromani Dhadi Sabha at Bhai Gurdas hall here. The sabha urged the state government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) to take up initiative for the preservation of this folk singing art.

Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, president, Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) also mooted the idea of including the detailed subject on Dhadis, which was very much part of Punjabi folk singing for centuries. He said majority of urbanites had very limited exposure to this form of music which had flourished during heyday of Sikh Gurus. These dhadis, were given the pride of place by sixth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind who encouraged them to sing Vars’ in traditional style.

He said it was important to include chapters on dhadis in the syllabi of first to VIII class students to provide information about their traditional art and their contributions to the nation in the times of war and peace.

Mr Ramoowalia rued although Dhadis played pivotal role in establishing the rule of Khalsa, patronage was not coming forth to protect this important aspect of singing. He said age-old traditional art was in the state of neglect and very few people were joining this profession due to lack of institutional and individual backing. He said Dhadis Jatha, which was the ‘weapon’ of mobilizing the Sikh armies to fight Afghan invaders had become a tool to collect offerings during religious functions.

Dr Jasbir Singh Sabar, Prof Ravidas Chair, Guru Nanak Dev University, stressed on intensive practice on traditional equipments and tunes. He said these were absent in today’s Dhadi singers.

Earlier, during the first day of seminar, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh announced to institute Giani Dya Singh Dilbar Memorial Award to encourage Dhadi traditions. He said the award would be presented at Akal Takht after organising dhadi Darbar. He said Rs 51,000 would be awarded to the Dhadi Jatha which would come first in the darbar while Rs 31,000 and Rs 21,000 would given to Dhadi Jathas which remained second and third respectively.

Bathinda, October 1
International Senior Citizens Day was celebrated at Teachers Home here today. People aged over 100 belonging to various parts of the district participated in the function.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rahul Bhandari, said the government was felicitating elderly persons who had crossed the age of 100 years, apart from the NGOs working for the welfare of old-age people.

He felicitated senior citizens hailing from rural as well as urban areas of the district on the occasion. He gave a patient hearing to their grievances. He announced that the administration would extend all help regarding old age pension and medical amenities for them. 

Amritsar, October 1
To provide more facilities, Central Jail here has provided wooden cots to inmates becoming the first jail to do so.

Taking cue from Magasaysay award winner and first women IPS officer, Dr Kiran Bedi, who had taken an initiative to reform conditions of the Tihar jail, Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, jail superintendent, said here he was moved by conditions of the prisoners and wanted not only better living conditions and prisoners engaged in activities like higher education, vocational training, yoga and other allied things.

He felt with wooden cots the prisoners would be able to sleep comfortably in winter and summer and give them a sense of belonging. He said in the first phase women’s hostel comprising 107 inmates had been furnished with cots. These cots had been made by jail inmates.

The DIG (prisons) has also taken the initiative to set up Guru Nanak Dev University’s distance education centre to give a chance to the prisoners to improve educational qualifications and for the illiterates to read and write and take up vocational course like carpentry, television repair, elementary computer courses, etc.

Enthused by reforms by the jail management under the charge of the DIG Singh, BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu gave a grant of Rs 1.5 lakh from his personal funds for fans and cots for prisoners.

He said the jail carpenters’ workshop produced wooden cots while some were outsourced.

Patiala, October 1
Mr Amar Pal, general secretary, All-India Bank Officers Confederation, has assured members that their demand for a second pension option and appointments on compassionate grounds will be taken up at the level of the Indian Banks Association (IBA).

In his keynote address delivered on the occasion of the triennial conference and the 23rd general body meeting of the Associate Banks Officers Association (ABOA), State Bank of Patiala unit, held at Guru Teg Bahadur Hall, Punjabi University, Patiala, here today, he said a charter of demands for the next bipartite settlement would be submitted to the IBA before the expiry of the current settlement.

The confederation represents 2,50,000 officers in the banking industry. Mr Amar Pal inaugurated the conference by hoisting a flag of the ABOA and lighting a lamp. Mr Yogesh Agarwal, Managing Director, State Bank of Patiala, was the chief guest.

Employees of associates banks, who failed to opt for the pension scheme introduced by bank managements a few years ago, are demanding that a second pension option should be introduced by the respective managements.

Apprising the members of various challenges bank officers would have to face in view of technological changes, he advised them to be cautions of any government move to privatise banks and to amend the Banking Regulation Act and anti-labour laws under the pressure of World Bank

He said the ABOA, State Bank of Patiala unit, was one of the major constituents of the All-India State Bank Officers Federation and the All-India Bank Officers Confederation, and was playing a vital role in the bank as well as the trade union movement.

The conference, which was also addressed by other leaders, witnessed the passing of various resolution, including communal harmony, working class unity, index-linked exemption of income tax on salary and perks, merger of associate banks, besides saving public sector banks, which were providing better services to the poor, small businesses, small-scale industries and the agriculture sector.

Mr Amar Singh said 3,000 officers from all over the country participated in the conference.

Mr Yogesh Agarwal appreciated the positive role of the association in the development of the bank. Mr M.J. Walia, chairman of the association, thanked the guests and the members.

The following were elected officer-bearers of the association for the triennial period 2006-09: chairman — Mr M. J. Walia; vice-chairman — Mr Rakesh Jasra; secretary — Mr Amar Singh; organising secretary — Mr Parmod Sharma; and treasurer — Mr Chaman Singla.