Amritsar, August 24
To celebrate the birth centenary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, a national-level function will be held at the Wagah border on September 28. On the occasion, Indo-Pak residents will jointly pay tributes to the martyrs who fought for the freedom struggle. This was disclosed by the information and public relations minister Bikram Singh Majithia at a meeting with mediapersons here.

“An implementation committee has been set up under the chairmanship of union minister for human resources Arjun Singh to celebrate the event at the national level. The panel will look after all the functions being organised in New Delhi and several other states,” said the minister.

Outlining the details of the two-day extravaganza, Majithia said the first day event would include patriotic run, exhibition on martyrs and a light-and-sound programme. A motorcycle rally would be organised from Jallianwala Bagh to Hussainiwala. The evening will see power-packed performances by Gurdas Mann, Sukhwinder Singh, Hans Raj Hans and the Wadali brothers. “The main function would be held on September 28, which may be presided over by the President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Students from all over Punjab would light candles on the occasion at Wagah,” Majitha added.

The festival would start a fortnight ago in Amritsar with illumination of the city, especially the non-descript lane known as Bara Makan (a cluster of dozen houses) in Islamabad where Bhagat Singh took shelter after shooting J.P. Saunders.

To inspire the younger generation and spread the ideology and patriotic messages of Shaheed-a-Azam Bhagat Singh, seminars, debates, painting competitions and kavi darbar would be organised.

Earlier, Majitha held a detailed discussion with the officials of the departments concerned for effective and memorable centenary celebration of the martyr.

Amritsar, August 24
The Punjab government has decided, in principle, to preserve the Bara Makan, a cluster of dozen houses, in the local Islamabad area, to mark the centenary celebrations of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. The entire area would be illuminated on the occasion.

This was disclosed by information and public relations minister Bikram Singh Majithia at a press conference here on Friday.

Bara Makan is the place where Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev took shelter in 1928 after shooting ASP of Lahore J.P. Saunders.It was in the rented house of freedom fighter Sohan Singh Josh in Bara Makan that both the young revolutionaries took shelter after shooting dead the British police officer.

The incident later came to be known as the Lahore conspiracy case. Apart from sheltering revolutionaries on the run, Bara Makan also served as the headquarters of an underground monthly Punjabi magazine, “Kirti”.

This area is replete with acts of courage and sacrifice during the nation’s freedom struggle. Netaji Subhash Chander Bose also took shelter here during his great escape from Kolkata to Kabul through the holy city - one of the best-kept secrets.

Neither the local administration nor the state government had bothered to preserve the heritage associated with the great freedom fighters.

Unfortunately, the famous Bara Makan, the only Hindu area surrounded by a Muslim population before the partition, has already lost its originality with large-scale renovations of houses and the lane.

The Bara Makan lane now lies under the shadow of tall buildings. While portions of the two gates of the Bara Makan lane are intact, the well from where the fugitives used to fetch water during their underground life has been filled with soil and a building constructed over it.

Being a Muslim-dominated village of Amritsar, it was named Islamabad (the abode of Islam) in the early 20th century. Once a tiny village of the Majha region, Islamabad has now emerged as one of the most densely-populated localities of the holy city.

That Islamabad, once surrounded by orchards and cultivated land used to provide sanctuary to the freedom fighters, was not widely known till now.

According to local freedom fighters, Bose interacted with local leaders to put up a united front to oust the British and set up an Indian state during his stay at Bara Makan.

The lanes adjoining Bara Makan have now been named after freedom fighters - Gandhi Lane, Jawahar Gali, Tilak Gali and Lajpat Gali.

Bara Makan (as per official records) had six houses on both sides of the lane. It was said to be perhaps the safest haven for revolutionaries because of its strategic location as the lane (with a dozen houses) has big gates on both the ends which can be locked from both the sides. 

Amritsar, August 24
The local police has busted a gang of drug peddlers with the arrest of five, including a woman, following seizure of 600 gram of smack.

District police chief Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh said the accused used to bring smack from Delhi and Meerut. The narcotics were sold in various localities of Amritsar, especially in Chheharta, Vijaynagar and Maqboolpura, through vendors, including children. The CIA staff of Amritsar in association with the district narcotics control bureau is investigating the cases. The police has also initiated the process of seizure and freezing of properties of drug peddlers, which have been acquired by illegal means through the sale of drugs.

The drug peddlers who have been arrested are Inderpal, alias Ravi, alias Pinka, Raj Karan Singh, a resident of Maqboolpura, Sunny, Rekha and Jagjit Singh, alias Joga Singh. — TNS

Amritsar, August 24
Builders have devised an ingenious modus operandi to escape the scanner of the municipal authorities and other urban development bodies like PUDA and the improvement trust by submitting various plans, besides the approved and sanctioned plans, to hoodwink the authorities allegedly in connivance with field staff.

Municipal corporation commissioner Hussan Lal was alarmed at the methodology used for constructing illegal buildings by the real estate developers. He was surprised at the devious mechanism to circumvent in their bid to violate the stringent building bylaws for commercial and residential plots. Interestingly under the municipal bylaws such type of violations are non-compoundable, while the authorities have turned a blind eye with total disdain to the security and safety of the residents of the area. He said the corporation had already received complaints and was seized of the matter, but it had failed to initiate any action against the builders.

According to the Punjab Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council Building Bylaws, 1997, under section 3.14 monitoring and execution of works and erection of building as per sanctioned plan and approval of the revised plan wherever required, clearly states that to ensure enforcement of buildings and execution of works as per sanctioned building plans, construction activity shall be monitored from the stage of excavation, construction of foundation, plinth, first storey and each subsequent storey. This activity shall have to be monitored by the local authorities from time to time. The bylaws further state that during the course of construction, in case of changed circumstances if substantial deviation from the sanctioned plans are necessitated 

the construction had to be stopped unless revised plans are submitted and got approved from the competent authority. The bylaws further add that violations at front and back shall not be compounded, besides a decrease in the parking area shall not be compoundable.Taking serious note of the illegal constructions in far excess of the approved building plans, the commissioner said he had received a numbers of complaints from various parts of Civil Lines and the Walled City where the builders were ignoring the MC guidelines and going ahead against the spirit of the sanctioned plans.

The commissioner inspected more than 15 building sites and took cognizance of the construction of the buildings which failed to conform to the original sanctioned site plans.

A complaint with regard to the construction of a building at plot 42, Mall Road, allegedly being constructed by ignoring the MC bylaws, has been received. The complainant has alleged that the building under construction opposite Government Senior Secondary School, was constructed in total disregard of the sanctioned plan, besides violating all parking norms as envisaged under the relevant provisions of the bylaws. He further alleged that the builders have constructed four floors over the entire back parking area provided in the plan allegedly in connivance with authorities.

Earlier too, the corporation taking serious note of a hotel building without any sanctioned plan had sent a demolition squad led by the additional commissioner on the posh Albert Road. But the demolition team returned after the alleged interference by the local political leaders who allowed the builders the time to set the records straight.

Amritsar, August 24
The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) plans to hold a mass protest rally on Teachers’ Day. Members have also decided to court arrest at Chandigarh to protest against the non-fulfilment of their long-pending demands.

The PCCTU has urged the Chief Minister to accept their demands immediately to save higher education and also to avoid vitiating the atmosphere in educational institutions. He said the responsibility would lie with the government for the loss of studies if it failed to accept the genuine demands.

Announcing its action plan to the media here on Friday former president and state executive member of the PCCTU H.S. Walia said a rally of teachers from colleges affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University would be held on August 25 at the Bhandari bridge in Amritsar. It will be followed by a rally by teachers of Panjab University at Ludhiana on August 29. Later a state-level rally would be held on Teachers’ Day in front of the office of the DPI (colleges) at Chandigarh. Teachers from across the state would go on a mass casual leave and assemble to launch a struggle to get their demands accepted by the government.

Amritsar, August 24
With a few days left for Rakshabandhan, the markets are brimming with customers purchasing various items to make the occasion special.

Not only the customers are buying stuff for Raksha Bandhan but also other coming festivals of “Tikka” and “Navratras”.

In a bid to lure the customers, the departmental stores, jewellery showrooms, garments shops and other fancy stuff outlets have out up sales with discounts running up to 60 per cent.

Young girls could be seen making a beeline at various gift shops to purchase the sacred thread coming in many colours and designs. The shops are also marketing expensive threads in gold and silver plating for those customers who could afford them.

The market is flooded with different types of “rakhis”, including the ones made of “zari”, different coloured gemstones, with cartoon characters like donald duck, mickey mouse, tweety and pokemons, at a price ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 1,000, depending upon the taste and the choice. Chinese light and musical “rakhis” are in demand.

Keeping in view the festive mood of the people, the shopkeepers have put up huge hoardings and banners trying to attract the attention of all and the sundry in picking up their favourite gifts and presentable items.

Rekha Mehra, a young housewife and compulsive shopper, said the fanciest items in the kids wear and toy stops, alluring packages from India, China and other countries were attracting customers. A range of gifts starts at Rs 100 and goes up to Rs 5,000, depending on one’s purchasing power.

The traditional markets in the Walled City, like Atta Mandi, Guru Bazaar and other closeby markets in the periphery of the Golden Temple offering traditional handmade gift items have also witnessed a large number of people vying to get the best bargain. The shops have put up a special display counters to attract customers. Even the sweet shops have geared themselves up for the festival.

Amritsar, August 24
Senators, syndics, principals of the various affiliated colleges, office-bearers of teaching, non-teaching and officers’ associations of Guru Nanak Dev University and prominent citizens of Punjab have lauded the university for winning inter-varsity sports award, “Maulana Abul Kalam Azad trophy” for the 20th time.

Among others, Dr Balwant Singh, Dr Baljit Kaur, Dr Grunam Singh, Dr H.S. Bedi, Jalandhar Doaba College principal R.P. Bharadwaj, Jandiala (Jalandhar) GGS College principal Geeta Vohra, Pathankot SRAPAB College principal S.K. Sood and syndics congratulated vice-chancellor Jai Rup Singh on winning the inter-varsity sports trophy for the record 20th time.

The trophy would be awarded by President of India Prathiba Patil to the vice-chancellor at an investiture ceremony to be held at Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 29.

The President would also award a replica of this trophy and Rs 2 lakh to the VC for development of sports infrastructure at the university.

The MAKA trophy named after the first education minister of India was instituted in 1956-57 and is a running trophy awarded to the university showing all-round best performance in sports.

Amritsar, August 24
A book titled ‘A Spiritual Sanctuary of Humanity -- Sri Harimandar Sahib’ by Rupinder Khullar and Roop Singh gives a vivid description of the Golden Temple, with some rare pictures complementing the text in Punjabi, which has its English translation running alongside.

The book traces the complete story of the Golden Temple, right from the concept and doctrine of Harimandar Sahib, construction of the Amrit Sarovar, the Dukh Bhanjan Beri, the dome of Harimandar Sahib and installation of the Shabad Guru there. Beginning with the front cover, the colourful pictures of the Golden Temple and devotees paying obeisance there leave the reader spellbound. To add to the effect, couplets from Guru Granth Sahib, which have been given as captions, aptly sum up the views captured by the camera.

For instance, the beauty of the interiors is described as: “The palace of the Lord God is so beautiful. Within it, there are gems, rubies, pearls and flawless diamonds.” The inside front cover says, “While most religious temples are constructed to be elevated high above the ground level, this celestial temple was constructed close to the earth, even below the level of the surrounding grounds, with its entrance virtually at the level of water. Usually, one ascends steps to enter religious temples, but at Harimandar Sahib one descends down…”

Roop Singh has worked as editor of SGPC’s monthly magazine “Gurmat Prakash” for more than a decade. Honoured by many panthic institutions, he is an editor completely dedicated to the study and ideology of Sikh religion. On the other hand, clicking pictures since childhood, Rupinder Khullar loves to capture Indian art, architecture, life and nature. 

Amritsar, August 24
Recording impressive revenue from its Amritsar operations, the Air-India plans to introduce more flights from the city connecting various destinations across the globe.

The general manager, North India, Rohita Jaidka, said there had been a steep increase in the revenue collections from the Amritsar hub.

She said that two years ago the revenue stood at Rs 42 crore, which steadily rose to Rs 68 crore last year and in the current year Air India would register record collection of Rs 125 crore from the 25 flights during a week.

Giving details of the future plans of Air India’s overseas operations, she said it planed to launch its Amritsar-New Delhi-London-New York flight from September 11 on its newly acquired Boeing 777 200 IR aircraft with plush interiors and state-of-the-art facilities.

She said four flights a week would be introduced next month and later they would increase the frequency to six flights a week in view of the increasing demand of a large section of Punjabi diaspora residing in the USA and England.

She said the passengers boarding from Amritsar would have to pay the same fare as was being charged from the passengers boarding the flight from New Delhi.

With the addition of new aircraft to its fleet, Jaidka said they planned to start new operations connecting Delhi and Mumbai to Sydney, Hong Kong, Dubai to meet the growing demand of Indian travellers to these highly visited destinations.

Air India Express, the budget airline, a subsidiary of the national carrier, is also planning additional flights from Amritsar to Dubai as at present it is operating only four flights and two more flights would be added next month to meet the ever-increasing passenger traffic on this route.

She said the airline was also looking at the option to increase its cargo intake from the Amritsar airport as it is emerging as a major trading centre in northern India.

The Air India also planned to launch the Amritsar-New York flight with great fanfare and a gala function to be organised on September 10. She said Praful Patel, minister for civil aviation, and Navjot Singh Sidhu, MP, would flag off the flight connecting Punjab to the United States.

Amritsar, August 24
In a bid to improve the ties between the civil, police and military, a conference was held here recently at the local cantonment to discuss various issues relating to the three establishments.

The conference discussed various issues, including sharing of information between the Army, police and intelligence agencies with regard to enemy agents and terrorist outfits operating in the border areas.

The press note issued by the Army pointed out that the discussion also deliberated on to solve the problems arising out of the land disputes of serving soldiers in the forward areas and also that of ex-servicemen.

The conference was presided over by Major-General K.M.S. Shergill, General Officer Commanding, Panthers Division, along with the Deputy GOC Brig R. Kapoor and attended among others by deputy commissioner K.S. Pannu, DIG, border range, R.L. Bhagat, SSPs of Amritsar, urban and rural, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh and Iqbal Singh, respectively, and other officials from intelligence agencies.

Amritsar, August 24
An AWWA week was celebrated by Panther AWWA from August 17 to 23 to commemorate the 28th raising day of AWWA. Activities commenced with a “run for fun” held on August 17 and concluded on August 23 with the “lady of the year” competition. “Bindi”, “mehndi”, gift wrapping, traditional dress and quiz competitions were also held. Participants took active part in the skit competition on the theme of widow remarriage.

Panther AWWA vice-president Neelam Kapoor said the main objectives of the welfare activities encompassed the complete span of human resource development with a special focus on women and children. Some of these activities included developing of vocational talents, health and hygiene, counselling sessions on various activities, coordination of medical and educational rehabilitation of challenged children and resettlement of “veer naris”.

Events culminated with a cultural programme on August 23 where Neelam Kapoor addressed the families. She also gave away prizes to the winners and participants in all the events.