Amritsar, April 7
The Sikh Coalition would stand alongside two Sikh military officers to call on the US Army to end its ban on turban.

The men, both medical professionals in the army, are being told that they must remove their religiously mandated turbans and cut their unshorn hair and beards when they report for active duty in July.

One of the affected Sikh boys Tejdeep Singh Rattan belongs to Amritsar. He passed 10+2 from Khalsa College here and then went to the USA. He is a son of Dr Hardeep Singh Deep, who is an IMA leader.

Capt Kamaljit Singh Kalsi, a doctor, and Second-Lieut Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a dentist, were part of an army programme that pays for medical education in return for military service.

At the time of their enrolment, military recruiters had assured both men that their turbans and unshorn hair “would not be a problem.”

Capt Kalsi and Second-Lieut Rattan maintained their Sikh identity throughout the
graduate school, during specialised army training, at army ceremonies, and in army
medical facilities.

Four years later, the army is telling the two Sikhs that the recruiters’ assurances were false and that they would have to forsake their religious practices.

According to Dr Charnjit Singh Gumtala, patron of the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM), next Tuesday the Sikh Coalition would launch a campaign to protect Sikhs’ right to serve in the US Army with their Sikh identity intact.

That day marks Baisakhi - the day Sikhs received their articles of faith. On April 14, 2009, the coalition will file a formal complaint with the Department of Defence’s Inspector-General on behalf of Capt Kalsi and Second-Lieut Rattan.

“After four years of training in army facilities, I was shocked to learn that the army would go back on its promise and expect me to choose between my faith or my service to the country,” said Captain Kalsi in an e-mail to The Tribune.

“There is nothing about my religion that stops me from doing my job. I know I can serve well without compromising on my faith.”

In 1981, the US Army banned “conspicuous” religious articles of faith for its service members. However, Sikhs and other soldiers of faith, who were part of the army before the 1981 rule change, were allowed to stay.

As a result, Col Arjinderpal Singh Sekhon, a doctor, and Col G.B. Singh, a dentist,
continued to serve in the US Army with their turbans and unshorn hair for the
next 25 years.

They both retired in 2008. Despite this, Capt Kalsi and Second-Lieut Rattan are being prohibited from taking up the very same positions in the UC Army today.

Amritsar, April 7
Displaying exemplary courage, a woman overpowered two snatchers in the posh Ranjit Avenue area, when they tried to snatch her purse.

She was on a rickshaw along with her daughter and was going for shopping near Vishal Megamart here.

Both the snatchers were later handed over to the Ranjit Avenue police and a complaint has been lodged in this regard.

Meenakshi Rogers, a resident of the housing board colony, while talking to The Tribune, said both the accused tried to snatch her purse.

However, she jumped from the rickshaw due to which the motorcycle of the accused got unbalanced. She and her daughter caught hold of both the accused.

The people of the surrounding area immediately gathered on the spot and started beating the two accused.

However, when contacted, Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh SSP feigned ignorance
about the incident.

Surinder Kumar, SHO said he was not aware of the incident, as he was out of the police station in another case.

Nawanshahr, April 7
“Though the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been coaxing the Rajasthan people to use the Right to Information Act to seek details of the expenditure incurred by the former Chief Minister Vasundera Raje, during his poll rallies in Rajasthan, his own office was denying information sought by Human Empowerment League (HELP) regarding details of aid sanctioned by the Prime Minister National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for Medical Treatment,” alleged HELP activists - Gurvir Singh, Deepak Bali and Parvinder Kittna here today.

The HELP has sought information regarding rules and regulations to get aid from the relief fund and demanded list of patients and MPs from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pardesh and Chandigarh, who have received aid for the needy people from the fund.

Amit Aggarwal, Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Prime Minister’s Office, in a letter, has stated that the disbursement out of the fund was made at the Prime Minister discretion and in accordance with the PM’s directions.

But, the details of the patients and MPs, who have received and recommended aid out of the fund, was denied.

“As the information sought is of third party and purely personal and has neither any relationship to any public activity or interest nor will any larger purpose be served through such disclosure, hence, it can not be provided as it is exempted under section 8 (1) j of the RTI Act-2005,” said the letter in response of the demand of providing list of MPs.

Besides, while denying to provide the names of the patients who have received aid along with the amount sanctioned, the CPIO said,“ The applicants furnish the financial and medical details of the patients for availing financial assistance from PMNRF and they may not like their details to be revealed by PMNRF to other persons. As such, the information sought can not be provided.”

The HELP activists said the drive was launched for mobilising funds for PMNRF and the donations were made by the public ranging from the school children to the industrialists towards the fund.

“There is no logic in maintaining secrecy of the utilisation of the fund for which the donations from public have been mobilised,” said the HELP activists.

“Though the CPIO of the PMO has been denying information on the pretext of exemptions under section 8 (1) j of the RTI Act-2005, but this section also states that no person could be denied the information which can not be denied to Parliament or state assembly,” further said activists, adding that they would file a petition against the denial of information by the CPIO of the PMO before the appellate authority under section 19 (1) of the RTI Act-2005.

Gurdaspur, April 7
Taking steps to check female foeticide, Deputy Commissioner Nilkanth Avadh today directed all the owners of ultrasound centres and specialist doctors to provide all information online on the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Chairing a meeting here today, he asked them to maintain separate registers for
pregnant women.

Among others specialists in the medical field and owners of ultrasound centres participated in the meeting.

The Deputy Commissioner said for female foeticide society and misuse of advancement in medical sciences were responsible. He said the offence carry imprisonment for three years and Rs 50,000 as fine.

Hoshiarpur, April 7
Bahujan Samaj Party National General Secretary Narendra Kashyap condemned the shoe throwing incident by a press reporter of Hindi daily Jarnail Singh on Union Home Minister P. Chidambram in a press conference at New Delhi today.

Narendra, at a meeting of party workers, alleged that the Congress was fully
responsible for the incident as it had not punished all those persons responsible
for the massacre of Sikhs during 1984 riots, which caused resentment among
the Sikh community.

Referring to the recent formation of Third Front, he claimed that on account of corrupt and failure of the NDA and UPA on all fronts, people fed up with these alliances, would now vote in favour of Third Front.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati would emerge as leader
of the front. She would become the next Prime Minister of the country, claimed
Narendra Kashyap.

During his recent extensive tour to the various constituencies of Punjab, he had received a positive response not only from the Dalits but also from the Swarn communities of society.

Kashyap hoped that the BSP would win a number of seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections from Punjab.

Hoshiarpur, April 7
The district police booked two fake travel agents last evening for duping Rs 7.57 lakh of two innocent persons in the name of sending them abroad.

According to police sources, the Garhshankar police arrested travel agent Avtar Singh of Dhugga Kalan for allegedly taking Rs 3.01 lakh from Charanjit Singh of Parowal for sending him abroad. He neither sent him nor returned the money.

In another case, the Mukerian police booked Lakhwinder Singh of Muradpur for allegedly duping Rs 4.47 lakh of Jaswant Singh of Dhirowal in the name of sending his son abroad.

Tarn Taran, April 7
Justice Jasbir Singh, Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, inaugurated a fast-track court here today.

The town, which was made district headquarters by the state government about three years back was awaiting for this court since then.

Harash Mehta, Additional Sessions Judge, has been appointed Judge for the fast-track court. Justice Jasbir Singh, while addressing the Judges of the local courts and the members of the District Bar Association, stressed for the speedy disposal of the pending cases in the courts to make sure timely justice was provided to the aggrieved parties.

He said the court of the Sessions Judge could be started from the district in case the district administration provided judicial complex here. District Bar room built by the District Bar Association was also inaugurated by Justice Jasbir Singh.