Vallah (Amritsar), February 21
The union government is ready to provide all kind of assistance to remove four major afflictions which have badly hit the border state - female foeticide, drug addiction and tobacco and alcohol abuse.

Stating this here today at a health awareness campaign organised by the union ministry in collaboration with the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) at Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ambumani Ramadoss said the central government would be a major partner in the eradication of these evils.

He said awareness campaigns needed to percolate down to every village and every home for ending female foeticide. He assured Chief Minster Parkash Singh Badal that the Centre would extend all help and urged the SGPC to spread awareness at a massive level.

The Health Minister laid the foundation stones at Government Medical College, Bebe Nanki Mother and Child Care Centre (Rs 40 crore) and Guru Teg Bahadur Block for Imaging and Diagnostic Services with Super Speciality wards (Rs 57 crore) under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna. He announced that request for upgrade of two more government hospitals in Uttar Pradesh and West Bangal to the level of AIIMS had been forwarded.

Ramadoss said the country needed 8 lakh doctors besides 1.5 million nurses to meet the growing demand for health care. Hence, the Centre had earmarked Rs 4,000 crore for improving infrastructure and lot of nurses in the budget.

He elaborated that more than 6.40 lakh ASHA workers had been recruited across the country for its 6.38 lakh villages to improve the health services in the rural areas.

CM Parkash Singh Badal said Punjab was ashamed and shocked as it lay at the bottom of 38 districts with the lowest sex ratio in the country. The CM called upon each village panchayats to socially boycott those who were involved in these social crimes. He also urged the Health Minister to pass strict directions to the Border Security Force for effectively sealing the border to prevent smuggling of drugs. Badal pleaded for better liaison between the Centre and state governments to generate employment for youth, who are falling prey to drugs.

He said the state government had already taken steps for rejuvenation of existing infrastructure at Government Medical College, Patiala, at a cost of Rs 30 crore, and Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital at Faridkot in the campus of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences at a cost of Rs 80 crore. He added the appointment of 90 super specialists and approximately 100 medical specialists would be recruited soon in the government hospitals of the state.

Also, Ramadoss, along with his family members, paid obeisance at the Golden Temple. Dilmegh Singh, secretary of the SGPC honoured him with siropa and a model of the Golden Temple.

Kanjhla (Sangrur), February 21
Speaking about the submission of a report, regarding a separate Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) for Haryana, to the Haryana Chief Minister by Haryana Agriculture Minister HS Chatha, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said today that the SAD would not tolerate Congress’ interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs.

Sukhbir said the SAD would oppose the formation of a separate SGPC for Haryana in a big way. He said the SGPC was an elected constitutional body, so nobody could interfere in its affairs.

Sukhbir was here today in connection with the marriage ceremonies of the son of area in charge of the SAD for the Sherpur Assembly constituency Gobind Singh Kanjhla. MP from Sangrur and secretary general of the SAD Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa was also present on the occasion.

Dhindsa said Nehru and Master Tara Singh had reached a pact, according to which no government could interfere in the affairs of the Sikhs and if anything would be done then it would be with the consent of the SGPC.

Regarding the use of drugs as intoxicants on a large scale in Punjab, the Deputy Chief Minister said the state government had set up a narcotic cell under the headship of Inspector General of Police RP Meena. He said special task forces were also being formed at the district level in the state, besides the formation of a task force at the headquarters level. He claimed that people of the state would see results in five to seven months in this regard.

Sukhbir also said the media policy for the state was in the final stages. He said it would also cover the demands of journalists and steps for their welfare. He also said the SAD candidates for the Bathinda and Ludhiana Lok Sabha seats would be announced in 10 days.

Chandigarh, February 21
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has, in a communication to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, asked the state to spruce up its administration to benefit from the increased plan expenditure of the Union government, especially on infrastructure and social security schemes in rural areas.

The letter, in most likelihood sent to all states across the country, points out that the global financial crisis and the recessionary trends would have a negative impact on India’s economy and it was important to take appropriate steps to minimise its impact.

“We have obtained authorisation for additional plan expenditure up to Rs 20,000 crore in the current year, mainly for critical rural infrastructure and social security schemes, with an additional Rs 1,900 for the Pradahan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna and other roads, Rs 4,200 crore for the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Rs 3,500 crore for the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme, Rs 3,050 crore for Indira Awas Yojna, Rs 2,300 crore for Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and Rs 1,000 crore for National Social for Accelerated Programme,” he wrote.

“New scheme is being announced shortly for providing assistance to states to purchase buses under JNNURM for their urban transport system. Since this support will be available only until March 31, state governments need to prepare themselves urgently for availing the scheme,” wrote Dr Singh.

Emphasising the need to push the housing sector, the PM pointed out: “Housing is an employment intensive sector in which the state governments play a dominant role. At this critical juncture, state should come out with new housing schemes, preferably for the low income and middle income housing,.”

Patiala, February 21
Giving a clarion call to people of Punjab to wage a collective war against female foeticide, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, founder patron of Nanhi Chhaan and wife of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, has said religion can play a decisive role in bringing about lasting changes in people’s psychology revolving around their preference for the male child.

Speaking after inaugurating the two-day seminar on "Female Foeticide: Role of Society and Technology," organised by the Department of Social Work of Punjabi University in collaboration with the ICSSR (North Western) Regional Centre, Chandigarh, here yesterday, Harsimrat said it was sad that their state was having the dubious distinction of lowest male-female ratio in the country. “Every fifth household in Punjab commits female feoticide. In our country every year an estimated five lakh girl children are restricted from taking birth out of which 1 lakh cases were from Punjab," said Harsimrat giving harrowing state of affairs prevailing in Punjab.

Addressing the gathering Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh said, “We must make ordinary masses aware about the message enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib prohibiting the discrimination against the girl child”.

Prof Ashish Bose who coined the famous acronym "Bimaru" states delivered the keynote address. Krishan Kumar, director-general of School Education, Punjab, and former Deputy Commissioner, Nawanshahr, known for his "Nawanshahr Model" to check female foeticide also spoke.

Amritsar, February 21
For the first time, Sikh clergy of Takht Hazur Sahib, including Jathedar Giani Kulwant Singh, today complained against two former presidents of the Takht management with Nanded district collector, copies of which have been sent to the Prime Minister, President and Chief Minister, Maharashtra, seeking action against them for allegedly disrupting Maryada during performance of “aarti”.

The two former presidents of the Takht management, Deputy Mayor of Nanded Sahib and other members tried to submit a memorandum against Dr PS Pasricha, former DGP, Maharashtra, and chairman of the Takht management. In the memorandum, they sought that Dr Pasricha be declared “tankhaiyya” (guilty of religious misconduct) for allegedly distorting Sikh history. They alleged that Dr Pasricha had stated that Guru Gobind Singh visited South India to seek help from Marathas, which is contrary to historical facts.

The clergy’s complaint said both former presidents of the Takht, including Ladoo Singh Mahajan, Sher Singh Fauji, Surjit Singh Gill, Deputy Mayor and RS Bitta from Hyderabad, abused them during “aarti” and disrupted the Maryada (Sikh code).

However, Mahajan and Fauji claimed that they entered the sanctum sanctorum with a memorandum in hand as per age-old Sikh tradition. They said it was a tradition of the Takht that a memorandum to be submitted to the Jathedar was read by the Jathedar after “aarti”. He also denied threatening the Sikh high priests. They alleged that Dr Pasricha had instigated the Sikh clergy as he (Dr Pasricha) wanted to pre-empt their move to bring alleged misappropriation of funds during tercentenary celebrations of Gurta-Gaddi.

The signatorie to the complaint included Giani Kulwant Singh (Jathedar), Giani Jotinder Singh (deputy Jathedar), Bhai Partap Singh, head granthi, Bhai Kashmir Singh and Bhai Ram Singh.

Ludhiana, February 21
Ex-servicemen returned their gallantry medals to the government of India in protest against non-acceptance of their long outstanding demand of one-rank one-pension at Pensioner’s Bhawan here today.

The old-time soldiers, including senior officers, gave their medals to Col Bhag Singh, president, Indian Ex-Servicemen League (Punjab and Chandigarh), who will forward it to the government. Col TS Grewal, spokesperson, put the figure of retired personnel who returned thier medals at 700, approximately.

Addressing mediapersons, Col Bhag Singh said, “Ex-servicemen are kingmakers and the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections will show the results in case our demands are not met.”

It was also pointed out that the Sixth Pay Commission had deceived jawans, in particular, naiks, havildars and subedar majors, who will now draw at least Rs 300 less than the earlier pension. He asked, “When all IAS officers, MPs, MLAs and freedom fighters are getting one-rank one-pension, why not retired personnel from the armed forces?”

Ex-servicemen had been adopting peaceful means of agitation, however, the government, by ignoring their legitimate demand for long, was compelling them to launch a large-scale agitation.

Among others present on the occasion included Gen JS Jawanda, Brig PS Toor, Brig Harwant Singh, Col RS Sohi and Capt Sadhu Singh.

Chandigarh, February 21
To prove abetment to suicide, you have to get the victim’s postmortem done, says the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In a significant judgment, Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia has also made it clear the accused cannot be prosecuted for the offence of abetment to suicide, if there is no evidence to suggest the victim ended his life.

The judgment follows a petition filed by Amarjit Singh and other petitioners. They were seeking directions for quashing a case registered on November 20, 2006, at Dhilwan police station in Kapurthala district under Section 306 of the IPC.

Allowing the petition, Justice Ahluwalia asserted: “A striking feature of the present case, which prompts me to exercise the inherent power to quash the FIR is that no postmortem has been conducted.

“Mehardeep Singh, assistant advocate-general, on instructions from an ASI has fairly stated that no postmortem took place. In the absence of any postmortem report, the cause of death cannot be ascertained and there is no material whatsoever to indicate that the deceased died an unnatural death.

“In fact, the complainant in the FIR has also stated that the deceased suffered an attack. The present petitioners cannot be prosecuted for the offence of abetment to suicide, when there is no evidence to suggest that the deceased had committed suicide.

Justice Ahluwalia, in the same judgment, has gone ahead to define “instigation”. Quoting a number of judgments, Justice Ahluwalia has observed: “The principle of law which can be culled out is that instigation for the purposes of abetment would be made out when the deceased is provoked or incited to commit suicide by words or actions of the accused.

“However, the touchstone to determine whether acts or actions constitute abetment by instigation would be whether such acts or action would induce a similarly circumstanced individual, in a given society to which the deceased belongs, to commit suicide.

The abetment case was registered after Joginder Singh ended his life. The prosecution story was that one Mohan Singh Lambardar, along with Malkit Singh and the petitioners, had borrowed money from Joginder Singh. He had been demanding back the money, but the borrowers kept dilly-dallying.

The FIR registered in the matter said Joginder Singh, a day prior to his death, had gone to the house of Mohan Singh and Malkit Singh, but was insulted and pushed out.

It was claimed a note was recovered from Joginder Singh’s pocket, stating he was committing suicide as his money was not being returned.

Before parting with the order, Justice Ahluwalia said: Mere refusal to return the money cannot be said to constitute abetment by instigation. 

Girl’s torture case: Foster parents held
Our Correspondent

Malerkotla, February 21
The local police today arrested foster parents Mohammed Anwar and his wife Naazli of Yasmeen who was tortured by them with hot iron tongs. Later they were released on bail by the investigating officer of the case.

City in charge of the local police station Jasmial Singh at a press conference at the police station here today confirmed the arrest and release of Anwar and Naazli.

A case under sections 342,323, 506 and 34, IPC, was registered against them on February 19 for torturing Yasmeen (8) and Kajal (6) with hot iron tongs.

Meanwhile, residents of Malerkotla have formed the Yasmeen Kajal Atyachar Kand Virodhi Action Committee under the chairmanship of Zora Singh Cheema, president of Bahujan Samaj Traders Association, Punjab, for getting justice to the girls.