Chandigarh, January 7
Disgruntled members of the Sanjhi Adhyapak Sangarash Committee, Mohali, staged a protest in support of their demands outside the office of Harcharan Kaur Brar, DPI (elementary), in Sector 17, here today. They were protesting against the suspension of six teachers from Mohali, who had resisted to attend the seminars during their vacations. The teachers demanded reinstatement of the teachers.

Representatives of the protesting teachers alleged that Brar had adopted the anti-teacher ways to victimise the teachers and held her responsible for the deteriorating situation. They added that they no other official had ever taken such a dictatorial stand against them.

They demanded the state government to call the protesting teachers for talks. Sucha Singh Khatra, president of the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation, termed the suspension of the teachers as illegal and unethical. He said when the Punjab Chief Minister had himself exempted the teachers from attending seminars, why these teachers were placed under suspension for similar reasons.

They threatened that if the authorities concerned failed to revert the suspension of the teachers, they would be forced to intensify their agitation.

The teachers had earlier assembled outside the Sector-37 residence of Brar on January 1 and remained there for over two hours to register their protest. 

Chandigarh, January 7
Its rare that one gets to hear someone who takes after Mahatma Gandhi in attire, philosophy and mannerism. Around 100 students and staff members of KB DAV School, Sector 7, were today spellbound to see and listen to ‘olympian’ peace activist Bernie Meyer, whose everything is evocative of Mahatma Gandhi, courtesy Yuvsatta, an NGO.

Bernie Meyer, 70, who belongs to Olympia, Washington, got his calling in representing the embodiment of non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi. Meyer indeed strikes an uncanny resemblance to Mahatma Gandhi, with his characteristic khadi dhoti and shawl, a bamboo stick and his Gandhi-like spectacles.

“It didn’t happen to me in one day. I was like any other school going child. My teachers taught me the concepts of love and peace that Gandhi lived for all his life. For me it was ‘east meets west’. I realised then that Gandhi’s principles are universal”, he avers.

A holder of degrees in philosophy, history, theology, social change, and urban studies, he has been studying the roots of human violence and training in non-violence since the Gulf War. He is the vice-chairman of the National Council of the Fellowship of Reconciliation and a member of the Ground Zero Centre for Non-violent Action.

After serving as a young priest in Ohio, Bernie even went to jail when the then American President, John F. Kennedy, declared a war on poverty and racism. So what about the prying eyes of people on the streets when they see someone dressed like Mahatma Gandhi? “I get all sorts of reactions but people notice Mahatma Gandhi and not Bernie.”

“However, if I get attention even for a second that is enough for me to drive home my point that we need to learn to live with love and peace, with non-violence as a virtue. Gandhi has shown us the way that how to live and struggle peacefully among ourselves”. The human mind is still evolving and unless we learn the lesson, we could destroy ourselves, he continues.

About his family, he says, “His family members may not agree with me totally but they respect what I believe in. This is my way of finding truth, theirs and yours may be different. At least I am doing what I believe in”, he states while the children sing in the background, “Vaishnav Jan Ko….”.

Chandigarh, January 7
The Board of Finance of Panjab University, at a meeting held today, decided that the UIET-managed MBA courses on the pattern of IIM shall be started with effect from the session 2008-9. MBA would be offered in four disciplines, including retail management, insurance management, secretariat management.

There would be two sections in each discipline with the additional 10 seats and extra faculty. The number of students in each discipline would be 50. It was decided that the evening classes in the UIET will not be started for the time being.

It was decided that only foreign nationals would be admitted under the NRI category and candidates applying for the NRI-sponsored and industry-sponsored seats would not be admitted.

The Punjab government has given a green signal to start various professional and vocational courses like nursing and paramedical at Kauni, Muktsar. The university has also decided to establish a smart classroom that will be attached to either golden jubilee hall or the department of computer sciences.

For the purpose, a multimedia laboratory will also be set up and Rs 6.5 lakh have already been sanctioned for that. Ensuing elections for the PU senate have also been given a nod and Rs 55 lakh have been sanctioned to hold the elections in September-November.

Meanwhile, water arrangement for SSG Regional Centre, Hoshiarpur, and modification of the building has also got clearance. Special concession will be allowed at the regional centres at Ludhiana, Muktsar and Hoshiarpur for the students of the reserved category. They will be charged Rs 1.5 lakh instead of Rs 2 lakh for MBA.

Chandigarh, January 7
The non-government aided colleges of Chandigarh remained closed today as a mark of respect to Rita Bawa, principal of KMV College, Jalandhar, who was murdered along with her two security guards and cook at her official residence on the intervening night of January 5 and 6 by unidentified persons.

The city colleges wore a deserted look as the Chandigarh District Council of Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) decided to endorse the call given by the Principal’s Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh to observe no-teaching day on January 7.

Prof Rakesh Mehta, president, Chandigarh District Council of the PCCTU, had condemned the murder and assured the Principal’s Federation to stand by it against this brutal act of violence.

Deep sense of pain and anguish could be observed among the teaching and non-teaching employees of the aided colleges. The students were informed through the notices put up on the main gates of the colleges. The non-teaching employees were seen informing the students about the tragic incident. Students were further advised not to panic and go back home. Security around the educational institutions was the main point of discussion among the students and teachers.

Chandigarh, January 7
The prosecution today moved an application for review of order for framing of charges in the alleged Mani Majra custodial death case.

Additional and sessions judge Raj Rahul Garg had framed charges under Section 304-II of the IPC while the application requested the court to consider Section 218 of the IPC in the charges.

Section 218 deals with “public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save a person from punishment … while knowing that the record is incorrect or this could cause loss or injury to public…”.

Contradictory DDRs had been registered, which had led to levelling of allegations of fabrication of documents against the accused.

A DDR was registered under Section 309 of the IPC stating that the deceased, Anil Kumar, got injured due to attempt to suicide. Another DDR was registered on the same day stating that the police had received a message from the PGI that the deceased, Anil Kumar, was injured and admitted to the hospital.

Accused Narinder Singh’s wife rued: “There were many others involved in this case besides the sub-inspector. They all should face trial.”

Narinder has been in judicial custody since August, 2007 and his bail plea has been declined by various courts.

Earlier, additional district and sessions judge Raj Rahul Garg, disagreeing with the investigating agency, ordered to frame charges against him under a Section with much severe punishment than the Section proposed by the UT police in the challan.

After the arrest, Narinder was booked by the police following death of a resident of colony No. 4, Anil Kumar, under mysterious circumstances at the Mani Majra police station, where Narinder was posted.

The deceased’s family members alleged that Anil had died due to police torture, while the police had tried to project it as a case of suicide.

Declining the bail application of Narinder on December 10, 2007, the court had deferred the framing of charges and observed: “Prima facie it appears to be an offence punishable under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and not 304-A (causing death due to negligence).”

Chandigarh, January 7
As many as 52 young folk artistes from Himachal Pradesh participated in the two-day solo Himachali nati and folk singing competitions organised under the aegis of the NZCC here at Kala Gram here today. R.T. Jindal IAS, director, NZCC, said the natis were performed as a group dance but the individuals were made to perform solos for judging their potential and talent.

The annual contest was, fifth in the series under the Government of India's Yuva Pratibha Puruskar Yojna, aimed at encouraging the young folklore artistes from different regions, he added. Winners of the top three positions are entitled to a prize money of Rs 10,000, 3,100 and 2,100, respectively. Consolation prizes were also announced.

Following were the winners:

Folk dances: Sirmauri nati: Reena Chauhan (1) Reena Thakur (2) Jayaparkash (3) Kulu Nati: Sunita Thakur (1), Geeta (2) and Yashpal (3): Folk singing: Kumari Uma (1), Reena Thakur (2) and Sanjeev Kumar (3).