Chandigarh, March 4
A popular Punjabi analogy aimed at Congress legislator Sukhpal Khaira by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal over the resolution introduced on the turban ban issue in the Vidhan Sabha today saw the Congress announcing a boycott of the assembly for the entire period of the current session till March 9.

What started off as a laugh for the treasury benches when the Chief Minister talked about the traits of a particular bird, which, he said, was found in his Malwa region and could possibly exist in Kapurthala, also from where Khaira is a member, saw Congress members walking out of the House. Failing to get an apology from the Chief Minister, they announced a boycott of the session.

The trouble started when the Chief Minister got up to introduce a resolution, which called for urging the Centre to take up the issue of ban on turbans in schools of the French government. Khaira got up to speak and started narrating the past history of the case to “expose” the fact that the CM had earlier publically said there was no need for a special resolution. Khaira also pointed to the two letters he wrote to the CM following which he was interrupted by minister Master Mohal Lal of the BJP, who demanded that Khaira should limit himself to speaking on merits of the resolution only.

Badal started narrating the analogy of a particular bird while speaking about the actions of Khaira. The Congress legislator objected and demanded that Badal take back the word. The treasury benches also joined issue even as Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon directed that the name of the bird be expunged from the record. Even as the opposition and the treasury benches exchanged words with SAD legislator Bikram Singh Majithia being the most vociferous, the Congress members staged a walkout.

Even though the resolution was adopted in their absence, the Congress members, led by Avtar Singh Brar, after coming back into the House, demanded that the Chief Minister assure them that taunts and jeers faced by them as well as “muscle power” shown would not be repeated. The Speaker assured them that he would ensure this did not happen again even as he told them to take the issue in a sportsman spirit.

Khaira objected to this saying “abuses do not constitute sportsman spirit” and said the CM must apologise. The Speaker, however, asked everyone to move on following which Brar got up to say the Congress was boycotting the House for the entire session.

Later the House also passed a resolution urging that the Centre fix prices for foodgrains on the basis of the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Committee, provide diesel for agricultural purposes at 25 per cent less than the market rate and loans to agriculturists at 4 per cent interest.

Chandigarh, March 4
“Apologise for your unsavoury comments and tell members of treasury benches to behave, otherwise we will stay out of the House” is the message Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has given to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in response to “objectionable” references he made to a member while participating in a debate on the Sikh turban issue in the Vidhan Sabha today.

Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon later expunged those remarks of Badal and told agitated Congress legislators that the Chief Minister had made those comments in his usual humour, without intending to hurt anyone. “Realising your sentiments, I have already expunged those remarks,” he added as members of Congress Legislature Party termed the Speaker’s assurance inadequate and announced their decision to boycott the remaining session.

“We have decided to boycott the remaining part of the current session. We will come back to the House only after the Lok Sabha elections that are going to change the entire political scenario in the state,” said Avtar Singh Brar, deputing for the Leader of Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

“Though the Speaker has assured us that all members of the House will be respected and given equal opportunities, we are not satisfied.

“It would have added to the stature of the Chief Minister for withdrawing the objectionable comments he made besides assuring us that all members of the treasury benches, including ministers, would behave properly,” Brar added.

Like yesterday, several senior leaders of the Congress, including Bhattal, Brahm Mohindra, Partap Singh Bajwa and Lal Singh, were absent today.

Brar, however, said the CLP would be prepared to reconsider its boycott decision in case there is a negotiated settlement of this unsavoury incident. “All we need is an assurance of good conduct from the Chief Minister, failing which we will attend the House only after the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.”

Accompanied by several members of the CLP, including Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Ripjeet Singh Brar, Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Amarjit Singh Samra and Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Brar said as the Congress legislators were walking out of the House, some members of the treasury benches not only gesticulated in highly objectionable manner but also used choicest abuses against them.

“We returned to the House hoping that the Chief Minister would regret the incident and pave way for bonhomie in the House. But it did not happen. Instead, some members of the treasury benches persisted with their aggression that is unbecoming of a ruling party.”

At one stage, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, against whom the objectionable observation of the Chief Minister was intended, said: “The unsavoury comment was actually meant for his own son Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had been holding the sky on his legs both for the Punjab government as well as the Shiromani Akali Dal.” Incidentally, Sukhbir is yet to make his maiden speech in the House.

Chandigarh, March 4
A steep fall in non-tax revenue generation coupled with a whopping 71 per cent of total revenue expenditure going on salaries, pensions, interest and subsidies makes fiscal health of Punjab unstable and insecure.

Three-part CAG report for 2007-08, that was tabled in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today, also presents a grim picture of public sector undertakings and boards citing several non-conformities to the rules and regulations that led to unauthorised drain of funds.

Talking to newsmen here this afternoon, Principal Accountant-General, Audit, RP Singh said 33 per cent of Punjab’s revenue expenditure went to salaries with another 11 per cent going for pensions.

The fiscal liabilities of the state have increased from Rs 38,315 crore in 2002-03 to Rs 55,982 crore in 2007-08. As such the interest liability was a high 24 per cent of the total revenue expenditure.

The quantum of subsidy given by the Punjab State Electricity Board was to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore. The PSEB was still to be unbundled as its transmission and distribution losses continued to be above 22 per cent, 22.53 per cent to be exact.

RP Singh said while the tax collection has shown a 9.78 per cent increase at Rs 882 crore, fall in non-tax revenue was a stunning 32 per cent at Rs 2,490 crore. Capital expenditure, including loans and advances had shown a decrease of Rs 395 cr while the investment in statutory corporations, joint stock companies and cooperatives stood at Rs 3,836 crore during 2007-08. Negligible return on these investments, less than half a per cent, continued to be a cause of concern.

In civil works, the CAG report, the fund management was not up to the mark as there were non-conformities, including non-technical sanctions and diversion of funds from specified projects.

The fund management was deficient as Rs 38.98 crore incurred on works without technical sanction. And Rs 23.21 cr was spent in excess of budget provisions. Non-observation of standardisation and adoption of excess quantity had the effect of avoidable extra expenditure of Rs 5.37 crore.

The CAG report held that there was under utilisation of machinery and non-recovery of its hiring charges in the Department of Soil and Water Conservation where non-achievement of physical targets and evaluation of the schemes also indicated lack of monitoring and control. Vigilance cell has not been formed and flying squad created in 1995 was non-functional.

The CAG report also listed a series of non-conformities in the Departments of Irrigation and Power, Industries and Commerce, Medical Education and Research, Public Works and Home Affairs and Justice.

It also highlighted how many of public sector undertakings, including Punjab State Grains and Procurement Corporation, Punjab Scheduled Castes land Development and Finance Corporation, Punjab State Electricity Board and Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation lost money because of mismanagement, over spending or failure to recover its dues and arrears in times. It also mentions losses on account of subsidies and failure of these corporate bodies to plan their purchases in time.

Chandigarh, March 4
Debate in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today hit a new low with SAD legislators using the boycott of the assembly by the Congress to make repeated derogatory references to former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

Everything went on record, including unparliamentary words used to describe Amarinder. Ironically, this happened despite the fact that Congress members boycotted the proceedings of the House over the refusal of the Chief Minister to apologise for a derogatory reference to Congress legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira earlier.

SAD legislator Virsa Singh Valtoha, while speaking on the Governor’s address, likened Parkash Singh Badal’s fight against Amarinder to that of Yudhistar versus Duryodhan.

The SAD legislator, during his speech, also ridiculed independent legislator Makhan Singh, who read out a parallel address during the Governor’s speech.

Another SAD speaker Amarjit Singh Sahi, while speaking on the Governor’s address, even put the blame for an increase in alcoholism and drug abuse on the former Chief Minister. He said compared to this Sukhbir Badal had chosen to partake of “amrit” before taking on the chair of Deputy Chief Minister.

Sahi also derided the resolution introduced by Amarinder in the previous Vidhan Sabha annulling earlier water agreements. He said he did not understand the “achievement” as Amarinder had given more than ample water to Rajasthan during his tenure.

Both speakers as well as SAD legislator Jagbir Singh Brar showered praise on the Chief Minister as well as the Deputy Chief Minister. Valtoha claimed the present development in the state was happening due to the “soch” of Sukhbir. Sahi said Sukhbir was promoting gyms in villages.

On the development front, the SAD speakers said nothing like this had been ever seen. They said from restarting the Bathinda refinery project to earmarking Rs 3,656 crore to ensure water reached the tail ends of canals, proposing a Rs 5,360 crore expressway project, installing reverse osmosis water plants in 471 villages, reintroducing compensation to border farmers and bringing 14 lakh people under the “atta-daal” scheme, the achievements of the government were countless.

Chandigarh, March 4
A Punjab Congress deputation led by Pradesh Congress secretary Raj Pal Singh today urged the state Chief Electoral Officer to get all hoardings and banners of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal removed from public places.

The delegation, which included general-secretary Ram Pal Dhaipi, secretary Harbhajan Singh Dhatt and secretary (Scheduled Caste cell) Hussan Lal also requested the officer to include the expenditure on banners and hoardings in the election expenditure of the SAD.

Raj Pal also stressed that the maximum number of paramilitary forces should be posted on election duty in the state to ensure a free and transparent poll and avoid any incidents of violence.

Chandigarh, March 4
The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today unanimously passed a resolution condemning the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan player in Lahore yesterday. The resolution moved as a suo motu statement by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at the beginning of zero hour was passed in one voice. Terming the terrorist attack as a “serious threat to the entire South Asian region”, Badal said it was a matter of grave concern and asked the union government to make efforts to mobilise international opinion against such acts.

The Punjab government had come under criticism on Tuesday when it failed to condemn the November 26 terror strikes in Mumbai and list victims of the terrorist attack in the obituary references. Only a passing reference to Mumbai incident was made in the House.

Today, Badal said: “The House condemns yesterday’s tragic murderous terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore and expresses shock and anguish over this incident.’’

The resolution was seconded by Avtar Singh Brar of the Congress and passed unanimously. Both Brar and Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon also condemned the terrorist attack in Mumbai.

In zero hour, Randeep Singh Nabha pointed out that despite assurance by the Chief Minister, 11 goons, who had demolished the house of a Dalit, Ajaib Singh, at Ageti village of Nabha, were roaming freely. He demanded their immediate arrest.

Chamkaur Sabib legislator Charanjit Singh Channi pointed out the increasing loss to human life and crop by stray animals. Badal assured him that legislation was being prepared to deal with the growing menace.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira of the Congress raised the issue of publication of newspaper advertisements higlighting government’s achievements after the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct. He demanded registration of an FIR against those violating the code.

Earlier, Badal assured Khaira that he would order an inquiry into the alleged bungling and non-utilisation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) during the term of former Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner. Khaira also wanted to know if the money (over Rs 8 lakh) spent under the miscellaneous head had been spent on air-conditions in the office or home of the DC?

Khaira also raised a point of order questioning the “allocation of sand mining work”. He accused the treasury benches of being “involved in a scandal” leading to the sale of sand at a rate of Rs 1,500 to 1,800 per trolley. At this, Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia raised a strong objection and wanted Khaira to withdraw his allegation. But, a persistent Khaira demanded a CBI inquiry into the entire matter in the question raised by Naresh Kataria about the revenue generated from the sand dunes in the Dharamot and Makhu areas.

Chandigarh, March 4
Elated at the success of distributing paddy bonus directly to farmers through cheques, the Punjab government has decided to run a lottery to give the beneficiary farmers a chance to have a go at attractive items of daily utility, which will come as a bonus on bonus.

Says Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh, “We have decided to run a lottery by treating each of the 6.5 lakh cheques issued to farmers towards payment of paddy bonus to them as tickets for the special draw.”

“Our endeavour is that every village in the state should benefit from this bonus-on-bonus lottery,” he says, holding that prize winners in the special lottery will get handsets (mobile phones), bicycles, sewing machines, motorcycles and television sets. These are some of the items which every household needs these days.

Formalities of the draw are being worked out. A formal approval to run the lottery has already been given.

Since the Centre was closely monitoring the disbursement of bonus at Rs 50 a quintal, Punjab came up with a unique software that indicated not only the size of the field, but also the yield per acre in different pockets of the state.

There was some resistance from commission agents who wanted the payment of bonus to be routed through them. “Since bonus is the prerogative of the farmer, the money should go to him directly,” was the stand taken by the state procurement agencies.

Special cells were set up to rectify discrepancies or inaccuracies, especially mistakes in spellings of the names of beneficiaries or their villages. Payments in more than 90 cases have been made to the farmers by the banks concerned.

Chandigarh, March 4
The Punjab government has decided to withdraw all legal proceedings against those industrial units who have settled their claims with Punjab Financial Corporation (PFC) and obtained No Objection Certificates (NOC) from the corporation. These industrial units had been up in arms against PFC for failing to withdraw legal proceedings initiated against them.

Talking to TNS here today, Manoranjan Kalia, Industries and Commerce Minister, Punjab, said directions had been issued to the corporation to file applications in various courts for withdrawal of cases against 19 industrial units.

“Since these units have already cleared their accounts with PFC, we will not pursue court cases filed against them,” he added.

The Tribune had earlier highlighted that though these units had been pleading for the withdrawal of cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, the state government officials had insisted that law would take its own course.

The state government had been pursuing cases against these units on the ground that the dues were paid only after the due date for payment was over.

It may be noted that PFC has filed as many as 155 cases under section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act for non- recovery of loans advanced by the corporation to the industrial units. However, 19 of these units, who had availed term loans from the corporation and subsequently failed to honour the post-dated cheques issued to PFC, had settled all accounts with the corporation after cases were filed against them.

These unit owners had been contending that they had paid two per cent extra penal interest as the payment was delayed beyond the due date.

They said NOCs were later issued to them and their securities released, but the legal proceedings initiated against them were causing them a lot of harassment.

The issue was also taken up by the MLA from Barnala, Kewal Singh Dhillon, in the Punjab Assembly today. He said as the industry was passing through recession, the government should come to the help of these industrialists. 

Mahawa (Indo-Pak border), March 4
Border Security Force (BSF) jawans shot dead a Pakistani smuggler in the intervening night of March 3 and 4. However, the injured accomplice of the deceased managed to escape from the spot taking advantage of fog and crops across the barbed fence. The BSF seized 8 kg of heroin, besides recovering two pistols and live cartridges.

The BSF came under heavy fire from Pakistan smugglers, who were armed with sophisticated weapons. Due to this, the BSF had to retaliate resulting in the death of the smuggler. As many as 192 rounds were fired by the BSF in self-defence during the half an hour cross-firing between the jawans and the smugglers. This is for the first time that the smugglers were armed with sophisticated weapons.

Himmat Singh Gill, IG, BSF, revealed that the BSF jawans observed some movement near the barbed fence followed by throwing of about four packets of heroin. When the jawans challenged, the smugglers opened fire at them. He said the deceased smuggler could not be identified till now. He said during search, the jawans spotted some blood spots up to the Zero Line depicting that his accomplice was injured during the firing.

The BSF also apprehended Karachi resident Kazamuddin (40), who was hiding in the crops. However, the IG said whether he was an accomplice of the deceased or not, it was still part of the investigations.

He said the BSF was going to lodge a strong protest against the failure of the Pak Rangers to catch the accused or even stop such smuggling acts.

Mohali, March 4
Within a span of two years, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has once again heavily taxed the candidates by revising the fee structure for the conduct of board exams for middle, matric and senior secondary classes.

While the enhanced examination fee, ranging between 15 per cent and 50 per cent, will be applicable to the candidates appearing in the examination for the academic session 2010-2011, the substantially hiked affiliation fee, ranging from 100 per cent to 500 per cent and other type of miscellaneous fee charged from candidates, has been made applicable from academic year 2009-2010.

The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the board. In case of middle class, the examination fee for regular candidates has been increased from existing Rs 250 to Rs 280, for private candidate the fee has been increased from Rs 350 to Rs 400. The registration fee and admission fee has been increased from Rs 50 to Rs 60 and Rs 40 to Rs 50, respectively.

Sources said for matric class, the regular candidate would have to pay Rs 400 instead of Rs 350 and the private candidate would have to pay Rs 550 instead of Rs 500. The migration fee for matric and senior secondary class has been increased from Rs 200 to Rs 250 and for migration from one school to another and one board to another board has registered an increase, varying from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000.

Similarly, the examination fee for senior secondary class has been increased with a regular candidate would have to pay Rs 500 instead of Rs 450 and for private candidate the increase has been of Rs 50. The fee of additional subject for regular and private candidate from outside Punjab has been increased by Rs 20 and Rs 30, respectively.

Further burdening the students, the fee for issuing of provisional result card and confidential result has been increased by Rs 100 each. The additional form fee has been increased by Rs 300 and fee for change of centre has been increased by 50 per cent to 150 per cent.

Amritsar, March 4
The state government has not given additional charge to a senior bureaucrat to run the affairs of Guru Nanak Dev (GND) University in the absence of regular Vice-Chancellor.

According to sources in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), file pertaining to giving additional charge to the Commissioner, Jalandhar Division, could not be completed even two days after the resignation of Dr Jai Rup Singh who has joined as VC of the Central University to be opened in Punjab.

This is for the first time in four decades since the inception of GND University that it is sans VC. Senior officials, including the Registrar, the Controller of Examinations and Dean, Colleges, all are ad hoc. According to sources in the CMO, the charge of the VC had not been given to the Commissioner, Jalandhar Division, as per practice. Even the Director, Academic Staff College, has postponed all UGC-sponsored courses. Though the financial and academic powers were given to the Dean, Academic Affairs, and officiating registrar by the outgoing VC, it could not be implemented due to procedural problems.

Some interviews and exams have been put off. The term of Dr RS Bawa as Registrar has completed. Director, Research, Dr SS Chahal has also proceeded on two months’ leave.

Chandigarh, March 4
A court here today granted bail to former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and 15 others facing trial in the Amritsar Improvement Trust land scam case. The additional district and sessions judge granted them bail till April 4.

The counsel of the former CM sought exemption from personal appearance for him on medical grounds. Another accused Krishan Kumar was not present in the court. Chaudhari Jagjit Singh, former Local Government Minister was also present in the court.

The Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, has filed charge sheet against 16 persons, including former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and former Minister for Local Government Chaudhri Jagjit Singh, in connection with the the case. A former chairman of the trust Jugal Kishore Sharma, former chief town planner, PUDA, KK Kaul, former secretary of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Nachattar Singh Mavi and his former under-secretary Tara Singh are also named in the case.

The six trustees of the improvement trust, coloniser Subhash Chand, who was allegedly a beneficiary along with his three directors Vicky, Rohit and Gurcharan Singh, have also been chargesheeted.

The 16 accused have been summoned in the court on April 4. The bureau had registered the case in September 2008 following a report of the committee of the Vidhan Sabha.