J A L A N D H A R

MC Apathy
Irked teachers kick off cleanliness drive
Nawanshahr, August 19
Fed up with the callous attitude of municipal council authorities, the members of teachers’ colony welfare association on Sunday launched a cleanliness drive in the locality. The association president Vivek Markanda, while talking to The Tribune said the delay on the part of MC officials in constructing the main street of the colony has been generating resentment among the residents.

Members of teachers’ colony welfare association launch cleanliness drive in Nawanshahr. — A Tribune photograph

Missing cash bag: Akali leader demands probe
Nawanshahr, August 19
The controversial issue of the mysterious disappearance of the red velvet bag containing ‘public donations’ worth Rs 51 lakh — which was presented on November 7, 1995 to the then Chief Minister, Harcharan Singh Brar by the then agriculture minister, Dilbagh Singh, at a function here — has resurfaced once again and is all set to create a commotion in political circles.

This chapati supercentenarian could be world’s oldest Hoshiarpur, August 19 If his claims are proven, this supercentenarian from India would become the oldest living person on the planet. Dittu Ram, resident of Dade Baba Mohar Singh in Hoshiarpur district, says he is 128-years old. Dittu Ram of Hoshiarpur says he’s 128-years old.

Lady constable accused of harassing neighbour
Batala, August 19
Prabamarjot Singh resident of Gandhi Camp alleged that he was being harassed by Charanjit Kaur, a lady constable. Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday, he disclosed that Kaur, who was a resident of his neighborhood, issued threats to him and his family, following an altercation.

MC Apathy
Irked teachers kick off cleanliness drive
Parmod Bharti

Nawanshahr, August 19
Fed up with the callous attitude of municipal council authorities, the members of teachers’ colony welfare association on Sunday launched a cleanliness drive in the locality. The association president Vivek Markanda, while talking to The Tribune said the delay on the part of MC officials in constructing the main street of the colony has been generating resentment among the residents. The body has now told the MC to start the construction work within 15 days otherwise the members would gherao the officials and block traffic at Chandigarh Chowk.

Markanda said in December last year the association had organised a ‘Preeti bhoj’ for the MC president Lalit Mohan Pathak to apprise him of the colony problems, including pathetic condition of streets, drains and streetlights. The president had promised to undertake development of the colony on priority basis. Though some development took place in the area, the work on the main street never started. Notably, two months ago, the residents of Ravidass Nagar had held a dharna and disrupted traffic at Railway Station Chowk to protest against the delay in completing the work on the road passing through the locality.

They lifted dharna only on the assurance of the MC chief. The Satgur Nagar residents also invited the council president Lalit Mohan Pathak and councillor Kulwant Kaur at a ‘Ru-ba-Ru’ programme. The MC men were made to answer the residents’ queries related to the lack of proper civic amenities in the area.

Missing cash bag: Akali leader demands probe
Our Correspondent

Nawanshahr, August 19
The controversial issue of the mysterious disappearance of the red velvet bag containing ‘public donations’ worth Rs 51 lakh — which was presented on November 7, 1995 to the then Chief Minister, Harcharan Singh Brar by the then agriculture minister, Dilbagh Singh, at a function here — has resurfaced once again and is all set to create a commotion in political circles.

MLA, Jatinder Singh Kariha, accompanied by ADC, Pritam Singh Johal, while addressing newsmen here on Wednesday, said an inquiry would be conducted to find out the truth behind the disappearance of the bag. Kariha had demanded an inquiry into the matter, by appearing personally before former deputy commissioner, Krishan Kumar at the weekly ‘Jan Sampark Programme’ during the fag end of the previous government. Besides, in 1997, he had raised the issue before the then CM, Parkash Singh Badal, who had ordered a vigilance inquiry into the matter.

“The inquiry ordered about 10 years ago could not proceed properly as the Congress stalwart, Dilbagh Singh, who presented the money bag to the then CM, had died in 1996 causing difficulties to the vigilance officials. Now, the inquiry has been reopened on the plea that the death of the former agriculture minister had nothing to do with the inquiry. The money was collected by the Dilbagh loyalists using his political clout in the name of development of the new district,” said the MLA, adding that now the inquiry would be focused on a Dilbagh loyalist.

When the issue of mysterious disappearance was highlighted in the media in 1997, Congress leader, Harcharan Singh Brar, in his press statements denied having received any such amount. However, after few days, he ammended his statement by saying he had just received a meager amount of Rs 1.50 lakh, which was given to Dilbagh for spending on the development.

In reaction, Dilbagh loyalists led by his son Charanjit Singh Channi (then independent MLA from Nawanshahr) and close associate Pt. Amarnath Gautam, then called a press conference and claimed they had definite proofs that the money had been received by Brar at his residence in Chandigarh. Brar had always evaded the issue when receipt was demanded, they alleged. They even announced to file a writ petition in Punjab & Haryana High Court. Then PPCC president, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal had said there was no entry of any such amount in the PPCC accounts.

Dilbagh loyalists had also been criticizing the SAD-BJP leaders for raising the issue as they claimed that the money was collected from the limited circle of Congressmen. Moreover, they had been saying that the Congress had nothing to do with the money after it had been received by the CM.

The amount belonged to state exchequer and it should have been spent on the development of the district as per the wishes of the people.

State general secretary of BSP and ex- MLA from Balachaur, Hargopal Singh, said MLA Kariha, it seemed, was not serious in finding the truth.

This chapati supercentenarian could be world’s oldest
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, August 19
If his claims are proven, this supercentenarian from India would become the oldest living person on the planet. Dittu Ram, resident of Dade Baba Mohar Singh in Hoshiarpur district, says he is 128-years old.

Though he has no documents to prove it, many residents of his native village believe the man is actually that old. American Edna Parker (born April 20, 1893) is currently the oldest recognised person in the world following the death of Yone Minagawa of Japan on August 13, 2007.

The man, who was today honoured by the Punjab chapter of Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immune-haematology (ISBTI) here, is relatively in good health and is quite active. Talking to The Tribune Ram claimed he was born in 1878 at village Dade Baba Mohar Singh. His father Bani Ram was a leather dealer. He studied up to 4th standard and later started helping his father. After some time he got a job as a watchman in the forest department at Dasuya.

Dittu has two sons, four daughters and 105 grand, great grandchildren. His secrets of longevity: Spiritualism and simple diet routine. The man says he takes one chapati each in the morning, afternoon and night with pure desi ghee and sugar.

He also consumes milk regularly. Dittu’s a God-fearing man and has taken ‘Naam Dan’ from Sant Baba Sarwan Dass of Dera Sach Khand, Balron. The horrific memories of Partition are still vivid in his mind. “Before the turmoil, the Hindus and Muslims were living like brothers. But they turned foes overnight,” says the man. He appreciates tremendous development of country in every sphere, but laments the weakening moral character. Dittu’s younger son Gurmukh Singh was accompanying him.

Lady constable accused of harassing neighbour

Batala, August 19
Prabamarjot Singh resident of Gandhi Camp alleged that he was being harassed by Charanjit Kaur, a lady constable. Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday, he disclosed that Kaur, who was a resident of his neighborhood, issued threats to him and his family, following an altercation. He further alleged that on Saturday the lady police officer along with her mother and brother had come to their house and started hurling abuses. Kaur’s brother brought a gun from his house and fired at them. The assailants manhandled and beat the mother of the complainant. Late in the evening the police recorded an FIR regarding the firing but no arrests have been made so far. — OC