Chandigarh, June 23
The Chandigarh police today resorted to cane charge and used water cannons to disperse BJP workers, led by party’s firebrand Amritsar MP, Navjot Singh Sidhu, at Matka Chowk here when they attempted to break the barricades and proceed to Raj Bhawan. The party was protesting against the inability of the UPA government to check inflation, which has resulted in spiralling of prices of all essential commodities.

While Sidhu and other BJP leaders dubbed the police action as “repressive” and “unwarranted”, since there was no provocation, ASP Madhur Verma said no prior permission was taken for the rally and the protesters violated prohibitory orders. Sidhu and 29 other BJP workers were taken into preventive custody u/s 107/51, CrPC, and later released. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also condemned the police action and demanded immediate withdrawal of action against Sidhu and others. He also advised the UT police to show restraint in dealing with such cases.

Earlier, to register his protest against price hike, Sidhu arrived at Matka Chowk, around noon along with his supporters on a jeep pulled by horses. Everything seemed fine till the MP decided to proceed to Raj Bhawan to submit a memorandum.

Initially, police officials attempted to stop him from going further by pulling out the jeep driver. Undeterred, Sidhu and his supporters moved towards the barricades on foot, leading to police action.

The pressure from the water cannon not only threw Sidhu and his supporters off balance, a sub-inspector also sustained injuries. In the melee that ensued, Sidhu’s turban also came off.

An infuriated Sidhu later criticised the police action and said it symbolised the repressive attitude of the Union Government. “Congress ka haath aam admi ke gal pe hai; haath mein nahin,” he said, adding that today’s events had once again proved that the Centre was insensitive to the miseries of the common man.

He said the UPA government had completely failed to meet the aspirations of the people and squarely blamed Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for it.

Sidhu, along with Vineet Joshi, member national executive, youth wing, NK Sharma, former president, municipal council, Zikarpur, later handed over the memorandum to additional DC, Inderjit Singh Sandhu. The memorandum urged the Union Government to take immediate steps to curb the unprecedented and record-breaking spurt in inflation graph besides lowering the rates of fuels.

Drama was also witnessed at the Sector 17 police station where Sidhu and his supporters were taken. A large number of BJP workers reached there and shouted slogans against the government. The police resorted to a mild cane charge to disperse them. 

Chandigarh, June 23
One person was buried alive and another sustained serious injuries when the earth caved in during a digging operation on the Punjab and Haryana High Court premises this afternoon.

A private contractor was carrying out repair work on a sewage pipeline on behalf of the UT engineering department when the incident took place. Failure on the part of the UT engineering department to supervise the rescue operation was glaring at the spot.

According to sources, the repair of the sewerage pipeline was undertaken following seepage near a water tank. At about 12.45 pm, around seven labourers were at work when suddenly the earth caved in. When the earth caved in, one of the labourers, Sanjay, a resident of Burail, was declared brought dead at GMSH-16, while another, Ajay, was referred to the PGI in a serious condition.

Seeing the two trapped, the labourers working nearby informed the authorities, following which the PCR was called. Doctors and the fire department, too, were informed. The rescue work took two hours. The firemen and the police had to dig a couple of feet to pull the labourers out.

As the two labourers were working at a lower junction, it made it difficult for them to move up before they were trapped. The victims were given artificial respiration through oxygen cylinders and were administered painkillers by the doctors present.

At 2.25 pm, the rescue workers managed to pull out Ajay, followed minutes after by Sanjay. Sanjay was trapped comparatively deeper, which made it difficult for the rescue workers to provide him the oxygen cylinder.

Chandigarh, June 23
Lack of coordination among the fire department staff and other rescue workers hampered rescue operations after the cave-in on the Punjab and Haryana High Court premises.

The labourers who had been digging the land stood as mute spectators instead of helping in the operation to pull the two trapped labourers out.

Safety measures were also amiss during the entire operation. There was no one to supervisor the operation.

Lack of management hinted at the failure on part of the UT engineering department to handle the rescue operation.

In the absence of support on the edges of the tank, mud kept falling back into it.

The safety equipment was brought in almost an hour after the incident.

Also, rescue workers had to carry Sanjay on a stretcher to the ambulance standing at the entry to the high court.

Chandigarh, June 23
Officials of the crime branch today searched the office of Bipasha Aviation in Jalandhar and seized certain important documents pertaining to the stolen passports case.

Bharat Ghai, operational director of Air Slovakia, was arrested by the crime branch on charges of his involvement in sending people abroad illegally. He was taken along by the sleuths during the raids.

According to sources, investigating officials searched the office and residence of Ghai and seized photocopies of four passports on which Ghai had sent people to Italy.

Ghai has assured officials of providing them with photocopies of all stolen passports that were given to him by Vicky. Ghai had sent people abroad on these stolen passports.

The team was also conducting raids in Ropar and there were possibilities of more arrests later tonight.

DSP (crime) K.I.P. Singh said: “Over 35 persons had been sent on stolen passports to Italy by the gang, which has its roots in Italy also. A Kapurthala-based travel agent Gurjinder Singh, alias Lucky, alias Vicky, and some government officials of the RPO, Chandigarh, and the immigration department were also involved in the case.”

Ghai ran two companies and was arrested yesterday from Jalandhar. They used to charge between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 10 lakh from each client for the job.

The matter came to light when Sukhwant Singh, a resident of Kapurthala, and Raj Kumar, a resident of Patiala, were arrested earlier this month. They disclosed that apart from Vicky, another Jalandhar-based travel agent was involved and had played a major role in sending them to Italy. The two were deported from Singapore last year for travelling on a fake documents. The crime branch had also arrested Neetu, wife of Vicky, who is suspected to be the main culprit behind the stealing of passports from the RPO. Lucky is still at large.

Chandigarh, June 23
To check bungling in the deposition of electricity bills, the finance department has decided to allow the deposition of bills only at e-sampark centres in the city. The decision will come into force shortly.

Currently, the consumers have the option of depositing their bills with the collection centres of the electricity department or with e-sampark centres.

However, the process is cumbersome as it takes many days for the cheques deposited with the collection centres to clear.

IT director Manjit Brar said deposition of bills with sampark centres would mean faster clearance of cheques.

Information of cheques deposited will automatically reach banks. The UT treasury can also keep a track of the cheques and also of the cases in which the amount is pending against consumers.

“The clearance of cheques has gone online and will enable different monitoring officials to see the status of the transaction. This will help in fast recovery of the amount,” said an official.

Every month, around 1.6 lakh consumers use sampark centres for different services like payment of tax, issuance of bus pass, senior citizen cards and disability identity cards, disbursement of pension to the aged, widows and the disabled, payment of electricity bills, issuance of birth and death certificates, payment of water and sewerage bills, open space bookings, community hall bookings, tenant registration, domestic servants registration, general, sticker and postal challan, sale of stamp papers and special adhesive stamps, Chandigarh Housing Board sale and receipt of forms, passport application submission and telephone bill payment, payment of school fee, etc.

The IT department is also planning to accept VAT returns at the sampark centres.

Chandigarh, June 23
Once famous for her ‘noodle-strap’ blouses and curly locks, Mandira Bedi, model turned television actress is crazy for cars and cricket.

In town for the promotion of newly launched Ford Fiesta, Mandira gave a low down on her latest fancies.

“I would rather pick up a magazine that gives latest information on cars than on fashion and lifestyle”, says the diva, who is a style icon for many.

It comes as no surprise that BMW is her favourite car. “I am glad that I own one”, she says flauntingly.

“In fact my BMW adds to my personality and puts me in a different league of style icons”, she hastily adds.

What does Bedi look for while buying a car? The vivacious actress says that for her, buying cars is like entering into a relationship.

It is her love for the speed machines that she came all the way from Mumbai to endorse the newly launched Fiesta.

And her newfound love has even taken over her Bollywood assignments.

For very soon, her fans would see her on the big screen as a cricket buff in “Meerabai Not Out” due to release in a month.

She is however no stranger to Bollywood, having worked in around 10 films.

“Although the new film was supposed to be released during the World Cup but India’s dismal performance had delayed the film’s release”, she avers.

“The film was actually for the World Cup. We made it really quick to coincide its release with the tournament but we all know what happened (India was out of the tournament in the early stages). So we decided to wait for people to hook on to the game again before its releases.”

This ‘Punjab di kudi’ also loves coming back to her own state for rejuvenating her senses and ‘simply for fun’.

“With each passing year, Chandigarh is coming up well in terms of its infrastructure and motivates me to come back again and again”, she articulates.

Bedi is busy into learning golf these days to get listed into the women golfers.

Zirakpur, June 23
Taking serious view of party leaders filing nominations as Independent candidates in the forthcoming municipal elections in the state, SAD chief and MP Sukhbir Singh Badal today expelled rebel SAD candidate N.K. Sharma and his team from the party and said the party would act tough on all rebels in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, the SAD chief said discipline had to be maintained at all costs and he would not tolerate any rebellion. He said the alliance partner BJP would also act against its rebels and was totally against indiscipline.

Asked about his family relations with Sharma, he said nothing was above the party. He further said those who had filed nominations as Independents were not the Akalis.

He said he was there to seek votes for the SAD-BJP alliance and claimed that the combine would sweep the elections here, too, on the pattern of the Bathinda municipal elections where the alliance had swept elections to the PRI institutions. He said the victory of the party was a historic one as no one had got such a victory till date.

When asked about the allegations of pressure tactics by the Congress, he said the Congress was levelling these charges because it had lost and failed to perform.

The SAD leader said the SAD-BJP alliance was working with the sole agenda of development. It’s endeavour was to provide drinking water and sewage facilities to the residents of the urban areas. He said the Punjab Government led by Parkash Singh Badal was the only one in the country to get the planning okayed for 44 cities, including Zirakpur, which was getting grant of Rs 110 crore.

Besides the candidates and local leaders of the combine, Punjab cooperation minister and general secretary of SAD Captain Kanwaljit Singh was present. 

Zirakpur, June 23
A theatre of the absurd is now playing at Zirakpur. The run up to the municipal council elections here is unfolding a hilarious political drama of deception, double crossing and deviousness.

Even as Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal was announcing the removal of former MC chief and Akali Dal member N.K. Sharma from the party during a press conference here, Sharma was busy strengthening his bonds with the BJP, SAD’s traditional allies.

Supporting Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu with full gusto in a rally held in Chandigarh, Sharma even saved Sidhu from the water cannons and later courted arrest.

For the man, who is spending 18 hours a day in Zirakpur campaigning for the elections, being with Sidhu and ‘being seen’ was obviously more important.

Once a blue-eyed boy of Captain Kanwaljit Singh and Sukhbir Badal, Sharma’s presence at the BJP rally has sent a clear signal. “Whatever Sukhbir might say, SAD is still with Sharma and even if he has been forced to throw Sharma out of the party, the BJP is going to be his new home,” said a local leader who requested anonymity.

Sharma is confident to win. Thanks to the alleged underhand support of many SAD and even some Congress leaders. His move to get closer to the BJP in a big way should make his contenders sit up and think.

Sharma’s main contender is formidable Capt Kanwaljit Singh whose hold in the area is phenomenal. Never has the Captain faced defeat from this area and both, urban and rural, population here is all praise for the soft-spoken, honest and effective leader. The strength of the supporters at his rallies and the deafening applause he receives when he gets up to speak still remain incomparable. “No man has ever come back from the captain’s house without his work having been done,” said Harmandeep Singh, a resident.

“But with Sharma, who was once his biggest supporter here and is now on the opposite side, even the Captain would have to keep his fingers crossed. If the elections are free and fair, it is certainly not going to be a cakewalk for Captain,” added Harmandeep.

Though the Congress seems happy to watch the Sharma vs Captain match with increasing amusement, it is also not leaving a single stone unturned to show the Captain down. An adversary of Captain Kanwaljit Singh since the Vidhan Sabha elections days, Kharar MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu has taken over the campaign in Zirakpur.

Zirakpur, June 23
In a campaign where SUVs and snazzy cars are ferrying candidates in the municipal elections here, there is at least one person who is yet to give in the air-conditioned comfort of campaigning.

Moving about on a scooter in the scorching summer, going house-to-house asking for votes, Jagdish Singh Bhola, an independent candidate from ward no. 12 is on a mission for better development of residents in this ward.

Passionate about devoting his life for social service at the age of 72, Bhola, a resident of Wadhawa Nagar, Baltana, has been doing social service since he was in Chandigarh as a part of Sewa Dal. He is living happily with his family -- a wife and two sons. He has been living in Baltana for the past 18 years. He is a self-made man and started his work with nickel plating. He had even sold agarbattis door-to-door.

A staunch believer in God, Jagdish says he wants to devote rest of his life in the service of people. Earlier, he was a supporter of the Congress. He asked the party officials for ticket, but di ction symbol is ‘cycle’.

With his family on his side he starts the day early in the morning and rides on his scooter for campaigning. His scooter is decorated with flags. His main agenda is to build an old age home and a proper park where old people can meet every evening. He says, “I love to help others and will be fortunate if I get a chance to work for people. If your intention is good and will is strong, you will achieve your destination.”

And how does he intend to meet the tough competition posed by party-backed rich candidates? “They are the ones who should be scared of losing to me. They think I am old and alone, but they should know that jiske saath koi nahi hota uske saath bhagwan hota hai (those who have no one on their side have God on their side).” 

Chandigarh, June 23
After days of delay, finally, the Panjab University’s own guidance cell for the students seeking admission to various courses was inaugurated today on the campus. Vice-chancellor Prof R.C. Sobti, inaugurated the cell in the old UIET building.

The aim of the guidance cell-cum-help desks is to assist the students with general information and details like where to get the forms from, where to deposit them, hostel related queries and other course related questions.

Already various students’ political bodies, including PUSU, SOPU, INSO, NSUI and others, have put up their help desks to help admission-seeking students.

Though the university only started having its own guidance cell from last year, the students’ union are doing it since many years now.

Though the insiders claim that the students’ bodies have their political agenda of filling up their vote banks, nevertheless, their assistance to the first timers cannot be negated. On the other hand, the university officials claim that teachers are better equipped with information regarding courses and can guide students better.

However, many teachers in the university rued the fact that the guidance cell was opened at an isolated place where not many students would go.

“If at all, the university authorities were to start a guidance cell they should have done it in a proper way and not merely an eye wash,” said a PU senator.

“What’s the point of opening a cell at the backside of a building where no body goes? How will the first timers who come with their parents from outstations locate the help desk? They would need help to first locate the help desk,” said a PU professor on conditions of anonymity.

Chandigarh, June 23
“If the Punjab government is sleeping over a letter of offer of Central university status to PU by ministry of human resource development for the past one year, its implicitly means that the Punjab government is not opposed to the idea of Central status to PU but for political expediency does not want to openly admit to it,” said Dr Mohammed Khalid, former Fellow Panjab University, while speaking from the dharna site. “If Punjab government is skirting around the issue, the Central Government too is shirking its responsibility as PU is predominantly a Central university in its character and structure,” rued Dr Khalid.

“Recently Punjab has already got one Central university and one IIT, it has no moral right to express displeasure at the demand for Central university status to PU or the simple reason that it is located in Chandigarh,” said Dr V.K. Singh, former chairman, Chinese and Tibetan Languages. “By the indifference attitude towards Central status to PU, the Punjab government is alienating the students, teachers and other employees of the University”, claimed Dr Singh.

Dr Prem Singh, department of laws, while resenting the delay in acknowledging Central status to PU pronounced that we are all set to knock the doors of the Parliament and the State Assembly if the governments fail to take notice of the peaceful protest of chain fast.

“Joint Action Committee is all set to take the issue to the streets and let the people of Chandigarh decide the future of PU, if politicians are failing in their duty,” said Prof Manjit Singh.

Five teachers who sat on the chain fast today were, V.K. Singh, department of Chinese and Tibetan Languages, Mohd Khalid, department of evening studies, Prem Nath, department of laws, Komal Singh, department of public administration and Naveen Aggarwal, UIET.

Chandigarh, June 23
Professor Daljit Singh, former chairperson of the department of chemical engineering and technology, and dean, faculty of engineering and technology, PU, has been appointed as a PhD examiner for the Australian University at New South Wales. Professor Singh will be an examiner for the graduate school of engineering of the university.

Chandigarh, June 23
Chandigarh education department has introduced interactive boards in two government schools, GMSSS-35 and GMSSS-37, here today.

Two types of boards have been installed at these two schools based on different technologies. One is operated by the finger touch or any other pointed object while the other one is operated only through a specially designed pen.

These boards will replace the traditional method of writing with the chalk leaving the classroom more lively, hygienic and attractive too. The most significant feature of these boards is its data storing capacity. The DPI (S) S.K. Setia said, “The best feature is that whatever is being projected, taught on the board can be stored simultaneously and later on this data can be retrieved in the shape of hard copies. This will enable the children to revise and go over the lesson when they want.”

“We have installed two types of boards which run on different technologies though the output is the same. Though, it is an experiment and if successful, we will install them at all the schools,” added Setia.

A workshop on the usage of these boards was organised at the schools where the staff members were given tips to use these boards. The board has multiple features like different colour of pens, eraser, drawing tools, spotlight feature, curtain feature, magnifier, power-point and excel tools, connectivity to single USB cable hand writing recognition. 

Chandigarh, June 23
The Chandigarh education department seems to be on a collaboration spree with almost all the libraries in the city least bothering about checking the success rate of the collaborations done in the past.

Recently, the department has made arrangements with the British Library, Sector 9, Chandigarh, with the noble aim of “inculcating reading habits” among students. The British Library only stocks books of British authors and publishers. How did British methodology inspire students, principals and teachers of government schools, is yet to be found out.

These collaborations are aimed at inculcating reading habits among students. However, the books at the schools of the Central State Library are gathering dust. With an aim to make books easily accessible to students, the Central State Library, in 1990, opened two branches, one at the Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, and another at the Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 47.

But the mismanaged and pathetic conditions of these libraries apparently defeat the purpose of widening the knowledge of school children. One of the reasons, amongst many, for the scanty membership of these libraries is the fact that most of the students studying in these schools come from humble backgrounds. They take little interest in seeking membership or remitting the security fee (refundable) of Rs 150 per person.

Second reason is the lack of reading material and a qualified librarian who could actually help a student like no branch stores any general knowledge book. The attendant at one of the libraries replied, “Actually, I am not a qualified librarian. I am basically a storekeeper. Though, I have been working here for quite a some time, no body has ever asked for this book.”

No employee of the Central State Library was present at any of the branch during public hours (evening) to manage things there. After the school closes, the access rights for the libraries rests with the school chowkidar only. Sources further say that as not a single serious reader is seen in these libraries, anti-social activities also take place after the school closes.